Theyre not selling pancakes anymore at the old pancake house on Lombard Street in San Francisco. Theyre selling things that go for $1 million. Theyre round and golden, and look like small pancakes but are not priced like small pancakes. The old International House of Pancakes just reopened as a rare coin store, the biggest in the Bay Area. The roof is still pointy. The bathroom is still in the same place. The faded sign in front still says pancakes but good luck finding one. Welcome to Witter Coins, said Dustin, the armed guard, who doesnt open the double-locked front door until he sizes you up, which is something they never did when the place was a pancake house. Inside are case after case of metal discs. Some are shiny but the most valuable ones arent. Some you can hold in your hand and flip, as they do at the beginning of the Super Bowl. But the most valuable ones you cant, as you would risk getting oil from your fingers on the coin. That would not be a good idea, said store owner Seth Chandler, who has been collecting coins since he was in grammar school and who hands out old pennies to kids who come in the store, as if strewing seeds. You can never tell when a penny might take root and turn that kid into the kind of grown-up who will pay $1 million for the 1855 gold piece on display in the front case. Chandler sold it to a Bay Area collector some weeks ago. Its one of 14 gold coins minted by the Kellogg assay house in San Francisco during the Gold Rush when the new San Francisco mint could not keep up with demand. On the back of the coin it reads, Fifty Dolls. San Francisco was a busy place back then and they didnt have time to spell everything out. Chandler said he gets to keep the coin on display for a while, to celebrate the stores grand opening. The $1 million coin is not for sale, but plenty of six-figure coins are. Photos by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle In addition to the free pennies and the $1 million gold piece, Chandler has got nickels for $200, dimes for $26, quarters for $350 and half dollars for $500 and up mostly up. None of them is for carrying in your pocket and buying stuff with. Most high-end coins are slabbed graded by professionals and encased in clear plastic holders, where they can never be felt, fondled or flipped. Flipping a coin or carrying one in your pocket is a terrible thing to do, Chandler said, and so is making it shiny with metal cleaner. No serious collector cares if a coin is shiny. Cleaning a coin damages its features. Chandler must regularly break the bad news to widows who bring in for appraisal their late husbands old collections, newly spruced up, that the metal polish knocked a coins value in half. It was then that Dustin the guard unlocked the door and in walked San Francisco hotel owner Goldeen Sanford with a briefcase full of coin albums that hed been saving since he was a kid and that he had decided it was time to part with. The Witter staff grabbed their loupes and began studying the heads and tails of scores of Indian head pennies, although they did not call them heads and tails. They called them obverse and reverse. You have some really cool coins, Chandler said, bestowing the highest compliment he hands out. Sanfords face shined bright, even if his pennies didnt. Sanford said he had been in the building countless times before, for breakfast. 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. I do miss my pancakes, he said. Whoever thought a rare coin store would end up here? The two men would talk turkey later, in the back room. In coin stores, important things take place in the back room. Coins for buying things may be on the way out, Chandler conceded, as society becomes more and more cashless. And newer collectible coins cranked out by the zillions by the U.S. Mint are generally poor investments. But scarce old coins for collecting, he said, are different. With a coin, youre holding history in your hand, he said. A society puts its highest aspirations and its greatest leaders on its coins. In that regard, rare coins may have an edge over rare postage stamps. Take presidents, Chandler said. Guys like Lincoln, Washington and FDR made it to long-running coins some worth a small fortune. Guys like Warren G. Harding, Millard Fillmore and Richard Nixon made it to short-lived stamps none worth much. Even more valuable than some of his coins, Chandler said, is something else Witter Coins offers. There is a small parking lot left over from the buildings days as a pancake house, with 12 spaces. In the Marina district, free parking is nearly as rare as an 1855 gold piece. Its only for when youre in the store, Chandler said. Unless you buy a $1 million coin. Then you can park all day. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. 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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 A so-called coronavirus super-spreader has fully recovered from the disease and thanked the NHS for his treatment. Steve Walsh, from Hove in East Sussex, is still in quarantine at Guys Hospital in London, having contracted the disease at a conference in Singapore. He earned his "super-spreader" moniker in reports because he stopped off for several days at a French ski chalet where five Britons were later infected with the virus. Mr Walsh has also been linked with five more cases of coronavirus in the UK, including two doctors one of whom worked at a Brighton surgery that has temporarily shut. Steve Walsh, who has been linked to cases of coronavirus (Sky News) Speaking from hospital, Mr Walsh said in a statement: I would like to thank the NHS for their help and care whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus. As soon as I knew I had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus, I contacted my GP, NHS 111 and Public Health England. The County Oak Medical Centre GP practice in Brighton is cleaned after being temporarily closed following reports of a member of staff contracting the coronavirus (PA) I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed. When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves. I also thank friends, family and colleagues for their support during recent weeks and I ask the media to respect our privacy. Mr Walsh reportedly volunteers as a scout leader and works for gas analysis company Servomex. A spokesman from the Scouting Association told Yahoo News UK: We are aware that an individual from the Brighton area who volunteers with the Scout Movement is suffering from coronavirus. He contracted the virus while out of the UK. This volunteer has not been to any Scout meetings since his return to the UK. We wish him well and hope he recovers soon. A spokesman for the company, which appears to be based in Crowborough, East Sussex, told the Daily Telegraph: We are very pleased that Steve Walsh has made a full recovery. We continue to provide support to him and his family. We are working with public health authorities to ensure the welfare of our staff and communities and wish anyone with the virus a quick and full recovery". French independent group Utac Ceram, which carries out technical tests required for the approval of vehicles and their equipment, will open a test center in Morocco, according to French business daily lesechos.fr. An agreement will be signed shortly with Moroccan authorities on this center to be operational by mid-2021, added the French news outlet. The center will test the vehicles endurance, reliability , said Laurent Benoit, CEO of Utac Ceram, which hopes to attract auto-makers operating in Morocco, such as PSA and other manufacturers. With its 500 engineers and technicians, the French group offers services in all areas of land mobility: regulation and homologation, testing and technical expertise (environment, safety, endurance, reliability), certification, events and driver training. The company has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, China and Japan. Moroccos automotive industry is growing at a rapid pace due to incentives and competitive factors attracting more and more investors and car parts makers. These factors include Moroccos proximity to the European market, modern infrastructures, free trade zones, qualified manpower, open economy and stability. The man who killed the black bear that the Pennsylvania Game Commission has described as the largest wild bear ever seen in York County recently was found guilty of illegally taking game. Gregory Myers, 67, of Newberry Township, was found guilty February 5 and ordered to pay a $1,200 fine plus $117 in court costs by District Judge Richard Thomas, who did not also impose a $5,000 replacement fee requested by the commission. Thomas found Myers not guilty of a second charge of resisting or interfering with the commissions investigation into the incident. The possibility of a revocation of Myers hunting license will be determined by the commission at a future date, noted State Game Warden Amy Nabozny. According to the commission, Myers used a crossbow to shoot the bear, which weighed 480 pounds field-dressed and was estimated at 560 pounds live-weight, on November 12, 2018, two days after the close of the archery hunting season for bear in 2018. He was hunting on a farm in Fairview Township, York County, at the time. Game wardens confiscated the skull and preserved hide of the bear at the hearing, noting that they will remain in York County for use in the commissions education programs. In 2018, when the statewide bear kill was 3,153, hunters legally harvested four bears in York County. Last year, when a record 4,653 black bears were killed across Pennsylvania in all hunting season, just one bear was taken legally in York County. Among the 58 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties where bears were harvested in 2019, York was at the bottom. Lycoming County topped all counties in 2019, with 284 bears taken by hunters, followed by Clinton and Tioga counties, each with 267 bears killed. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com. CAIRO - Sudans leader said Wednesday the government will fully co-operate with the International Criminal Courts efforts to prosecute those wanted for war crimes and genocide in connection with the Darfur conflict, according to an international rights group. Transitional authorities announced Tuesday they agreed to hand over former autocrat president Omar al-Bashir to The Hague-based court along with other former officials wanted by the ICC. We agreed no one is above the law, and that people will be brought to justice, be it in Sudan or outside Sudan with the help of the ICC, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, head of the countrys transitional Sovereign Council, was quoted as saying by Human Rights Watch. Burhan didnt mention al-Bashir by name, according to the HRW statement. His comments came during a meeting with Kenneth Roth, HRWs executive director, and Mausi Segun, the groups Africa director Wednesday in Sudans capital, Khartoum. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok also confirmed the governments commitment to co-operate with the ICC, HRW said. Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a member of the Sovereign Council and a government negotiator, said Tuesday the transitional authorities agreed with rebel groups in Darfur to hand over those wanted by the ICC to face justice before the tribunal. New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Sudans announcement could mean that al-Bashir will finally face justice for grave international crimes in Darfur. Al-Bashir, 76, faces three counts of genocide, five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes for his alleged role in leading the deadly crackdown on a rebel insurgency in Darfur. The indictments were issued in 2009 and 2010, marking the first time the global court had charged a suspect with genocide. Victims and their families have waited more than 15 years for justice for widespread atrocities committed in Darfur, said Roth. Now they may finally see former president al-Bashir and the other ICC suspects in court. The ICC has indicted two other senior figures in al-Bashirs regime: Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein, interior and defence minister during much of the conflict, and Ahmed Haroun, a senior security chief at the time and later the leader of al-Bashirs ruling party. Both have been under arrest in Khartoum since al-Bashirs fall. Also indicted were Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb and a senior Darfur rebel leader, Abdullah Banda, whose whereabouts are not known. HRW said that transferring the five Sudanese under ICC arrest warrants to the court would be a major step toward accountability after years of obstruction. For a decade after his indictment, al-Bashir confounded the court based in The Hague, Netherlands. He not only was out of reach during his 30 years in power in Khartoum, but he also travelled abroad frequently to visit friendly leaders without fear of arrest. The military overthrew al-Bashir in April 2019 amid massive public protests against his rule, and he has been jailed in Khartoum since then. Human Rights Watch demanded the transitional government urgently invite ICC officials to Sudan to discuss terms of co-operation and how to move forward with the prosecutions. When popping the big question, creativity is encouraged. So one airman recently used the opportunity to go a little bit over the top -- of the world, that is. Capt. Stuart Shippee, of the 393rd Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, proposed to his girlfriend Marie Lisman by launching a weather balloon into space with a ring soaring high above the Earth, according to a recent news release. The proposal took place in August. Along with friends, and with Lisman by his side, Shippee, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber pilot, launched the balloon with a decoy ring (phew) which flew up to 96,000 feet, according to Shippee's video recording of the launch, now posted on YouTube. Lisman thought Shippee was just sending up a military challenge coin -- but he swapped in the ring at the last minute, the video shows. Once the balloon burst at high-altitude, it traveled back down to Earth, landing in a nearby cornfield, where Lisman and Shippee retrieved it using a GPS system attached to the package. Once she picked up the container, Lisman saw the decoy ring perched on a stand while Shippee got down to one knee to propose with the real ring. Shippee said was glad he made weather balloon experiments a personal hobby, enabling him to understand the mechanics of a successful launch. "I would send them as high as I could in a container before the weather balloon popped, then let them come down and retrieve them using a global positioning system, all while recording their height," Shippee said of his experiments. "Between my air engineering degree and my pilot training, I had to rely heavily on them both to pull this off." Weather balloons typically gather data on atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind speed and humidity. But in this case, the weather had to be relatively clear in order to pull off the feat. "If anything went wrong, the whole thing would fail," Shippee recalled. The growing global helium shortage didn't help his stress either, he said. "While I inflated the balloon, my hands were just trembling because I was so overwhelmed by it all," he said. Despite the particularly hot August day in Missouri, the weather cooperated. Luckily, Shippee and friends found the balloon's location in the tall, unkempt cornfields before Lisman did, the release said. "When I first picked up the balloon payload, I did not see the imitation ring until I looked down and [Shippee] was on his knee," Lisman said. "I was speechless! After the long day and difficult search for the payload I was very happy to have the ending be so special." Congratulations to the happy couple. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214. Read More: Here's Why the Army Is Buying Fewer JTLVs Next Year BBC One has ordered A Perfect Planet, a brand new five-part natural history super-landmark from Silverback Films fronted by David Attenborough. A Perfect Planet in a fusion of blue chip natural history and earth sciences explains how the living planet operates. This five-part series will show how the forces of nature weather, ocean currents, solar energy and volcanoes drive, shape and support Earths great diversity of life. In doing so, it will reveal how animals are perfectly adapted to whatever the environment throws at them. From the white wolves of Ellesemere Island to bears in Kamchatka, vampire finches of the Galapagos to golden snub-nosed monkeys of China, the series will combine a global view of the planet from space with intimate animal stories from the most spectacular habitats. From the Indian Monsoon to Hawaiian volcanoes, tidal islands of the Bahamas to the extremes of the Arctic winter, A Perfect Planet will take the audience on a stunning visual journey that will change the way we see our home. The final episode in the series looks at the dramatic impact of the worlds newest global force of nature humans. David Attenborough said: "Oceans, sunlight, weather and volcanoes together these powerful yet fragile forces allow life to flourish in astonishing diversity. They make Earth truly unique a perfect planet. Our planet is one in a billion, a world teeming with life. But now, a new dominant force is changing the face of Earth: humans. To preserve our perfect planet we must ensure we become a force for good." Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, says: "BBC One continues to lead the way in natural history programming, and Im thrilled that Sir David Attenborough will be our trusted guide to A Perfect Planet. It will be a breathtaking series celebrating the intricate systems that allow our planet to thrive, bringing together a unique perspective with groundbreaking camera technology." Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery, says: "We at Discovery are proud to be a part of A Perfect Planet. With Sir David Attenborough leading the journey, audiences will be in awe of our world and the perfect conditions that created it, and will be reminded what we need to do to preserve it." A Perfect Planet, a 560 for BBC One, is a Silverback Films Production for BBC and Discovery, co-produced with Tencent Penguin Pictures, ZDF, China Media Group CCTV9, France Televisions and The Open University. The Executive Producer is Alastair Fothergill, and the Series Producer is Huw Cordey. It was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, and Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Natural History and Science. It will tx on BBC One and Discovery later this year. Share this story 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. Malcolm X's assassination case to be re-investigated by team that exonerated 'Central Park 5' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com It was 55 years ago, this month, when the fiery civil rights activist and Nation of Islam leader Malcolm X was gunned down in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom. Three Nation of Islam members were convicted of his murder. But now, a new Netflix series has prompted the New York City district attorney's office to review those convictions and re-investigate who's actually responsible for killing Malcolm X. "Who Killed Malcolm X?" looks into the assassination of the man born Malcolm Little and the subsequent convictions of Thomas Hagan, Thomas Johnson and Norman Butler. PHOTO: Talmadge Hayer, one of the men convicted of killing Malcolm X, March 29, 1980. (Afro Newspaper/gado/Getty Images, FILE) According to the producers of the Netflix series, questions linger over the guilt of Johnson and Butler. MORE: Malcolm X Through the Years "There's been considerable doubt about the guilt of two of the three men convicted in the assassination of Malcolm X," said Phil Bertelsen and Rachel Dretzin, co directors and producers of "Who Killed Malcolm X?" So much so that the Innocence Project, a nonprofit that seeks to exonerate the wrongly convicted, met with Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance about the case, according to Vance's spokesman, Danny Frost. "He has determined that the district attorney's office will begin a preliminary review of the matter, which will inform the office regarding what further investigative steps may be undertaken," Frost said in a statement emailed to ABC News. PHOTO: Portrait of human rights activist Malcolm X reading stories about himself in a pile of newspapers, circa 1963. (Photo by Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, FILE) Frost confirmed that Senior Trial Counsel Peter Casolaro, who was part of the team that re-investigated and dismissed the "Central Park Five" case in 2002, also will assist with the Malcolm X case. Bertelsen and Dretzin cited several reasons for reexamining Malcolm X's murder. "The primary reason is that the only assassin (Thomas Hagan) caught at the scene and carrying a weapon, said that the other two men -- Thomas Johnson and Norman Butler -- were innocent at the trial," they said via email. "Ten years later, when attorney William Kunstler attempted to reopen the case, Thomas Hagan maintained the innocence of Johnson and Butler, and named the men he said were the real accomplices in a sworn affidavit." Story continues Hagan, who also used the aliases Talmadge Hayer and Mujahid Abdul Halim, served 44 years in prison and was released in April 2010. Norman Butler, aka Norman 3X Butler, aka Muhammad Abdul Aziz, was released on parole in 1985. He's now 81 and has spent decades trying to clear his name. PHOTO: Police escort Norman Butler into a jail in New York. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images, FILE) Thomas Johnson, aka Thomas 15X Johnson, aka Khalil Islam, died in 2009. MORE: The importance of black history and why it should be celebrated beyond February Hagan has insisted that the other two men convicted are innocent. PHOTO: Thomas 15X Johnson, 30, center, arrives at the police station to be booked for the homicide of Malcolm X, March 3, 1965, in New York City. (Bettmann Archive/Getty Images, FILE) "I just want to testify that Butler (Aziz) and Johnson (Islam) had nothing to do with it. I was there, I know what happened and I know the people who were there," Halim testified in court on Feb. 28, 1966, as reported by The New York Times. "There's testimony that provides an alibi for the two wrongfully convicted men," Bertelsen and Dretzin told ABC News. That testimony, they said, "persuasively argues that Butler and Johnson could not have been at the Audubon that day." They said that since Johnson and Butler were known enemies of Malcolm X they either would not have been allowed into the Audubon or would have been noticed by security. As to who they think aided Hagan in the assassination? It's a question they address in the series. "The sworn affidavit given by the confessed assassin, Thomas Hagan, named his four accomplices -- none of whom were ever investigated or questioned," said Bertelsen and Dretzin. They said their documentary explores the possible involvement of a Newark, New Jersey, man, William Bradley, aka Al-Mustafa Shabazz. Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, told ABC News in an emailed statement late Thursday that "words cannot express" how she feels about Vance considering reopening the investigation into her father's death. "I hope these investigations will bring about clarity and transparency regarding this devastating, criminal act against my family and all the `devoted followers of a beloved Malcolm," she added. "My father lived his life advocating for and in the pursuance of truth. He deserves the same dedication to truth from all of us." Barry Scheck, part of O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team" defense, is the co-founder of The Innocence Project. He released a statement on the reopening of the Malcolm X case: "We are grateful that District Attorney Vance quickly agreed to conduct a review of the conviction of Muhammed Aziz. Given the historical importance of this case and the fact that our client is 81 years old, we are especially encouraged that Mr. Vance has assigned two respected prosecutors, Peter Casolaro and Charles King, to work on this re-investigation We look forward to working cooperatively with them to see that justice is done." YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a meeting with ambassadors of OSCE countries to Armenia, the Prime Ministers Office said in a news release. During the meeting the Prime Minister addressed in detail the situation around the Constitutional Court, the upcoming referendum on Constitutional amendments and the circumstances of holding the referendum. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also spoke about the broad agenda of reforms of the Armenian Government, the democratic changes taking place in Armenia and the governments anti-corruption policy. The PM also answered various questions given by the ambassadors. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday supported the calls by Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in future elections. But he said such a decision should pass through a legislative process. The President spoke at a meeting with the Nigerian Community in Ethiopia (NICE). He assured Nigerians at home and abroad of his administrations resolve to defeat terror groups, like Boko Haram, ISWAP and other groups of criminals across the country. President Buhari urged Nigerians to support and cooperate with security agencies, who he said were ready to defend and preserve the unity of the country. The meeting, which was moderated by the Chairman/Chief Executive of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, observed a minute silence in honour of about 30 Nigerians burnt to death by Boko Haram terrorists in Auno, Borno State, on Monday. A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the President spoke on Diaspora voting while responding to a question by the leader of NICE, David Omozuafoh. I have said it severally that I am not against it (Diaspora voting). However, you will need to convince the National Assembly to amend the relevant laws to make Diaspora voting a reality, the President said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates More than 50 years ago, a woman known only as Dorothy died alone in an Adelaide nursing home. Dorothy had no family, and few possessions except a "precious" 1917 copy of the famous Persian poetry Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam that had been dedicated to her by a lover who used a pen name, Nekome. A pressed red rose inside the cover has survived more than 100 years. Dorothy's lover had filled in the blank pages between Khayyam's work with 35 original poems, love notes, photos, and illustrations so perfectly executed that they appear - at first glance - to be part of the original work. Myles Dunphy's book of love poems will be on display at the State Library on Valentine's Day. Credit:Louise Kennerley "Once upon a day, When the Gods were gay, We went where love may, Singing on her way, don't forget my dear," wrote Nekome to "his Girl Dorothy". SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Connect , the leading conference and exhibition for enterprise communications and collaboration, is pleased to announce the finalists for The Best of Enterprise Connect awards program. Best of Enterprise Connect recognizes excellence and innovation in the enterprise communications and collaboration industry. Judges vetted 50 entries with a focus on factors including technology advancement, innovation and business impact. Finalists for The Best of Enterprise Connect Awards include: OVERALL Best in Enterprise Connect Genesys Genesys Predictive Engagement, with new features to be announced at Enterprise Connect. Genesys Predictive Engagement, with new features to be announced at Enterprise Connect. Glia Glia Conversational Compliance AI Framework, part of Glia's Digital-First Customer Service platform, provides the framework to provision, measure and manage AI-driven Virtual Assistants to converse with customers and Operator Assistants to guide agents. Glia Conversational Compliance AI Framework, part of Glia's Digital-First Customer Service platform, provides the framework to provision, measure and manage AI-driven Virtual Assistants to converse with customers and Operator Assistants to guide agents. Journey Journey Identity Platform, which aims to make it easy for enterprises to establish trusted interactions with their customers that simultaneously solve for security, customer experience and privacy using an encrypted network and a platform of best-in-class identity solutions that can be dynamically applied using the enterprises existing mobile app. Journey Identity Platform, which aims to make it easy for enterprises to establish trusted interactions with their customers that simultaneously solve for security, customer experience and privacy using an encrypted network and a platform of best-in-class identity solutions that can be dynamically applied using the enterprises existing mobile app. Mio Mio's new intercompany federation for Microsoft Teams, Slack and Webex Teams, enables users to seamlessly chat with their external business contacts who use a different messaging app. Mio's new intercompany federation for Microsoft Teams, Slack and Webex Teams, enables users to seamlessly chat with their external business contacts who use a different messaging app. Omilia Natural Language Solutions Omilia Cloud Platform miniApps, zero-touch natural language microservices that handle a single dialog task; instantly deployable to any call center provider and seamlessly adapted to any CCaas Service Creation environment. Omilia Cloud Platform miniApps, zero-touch natural language microservices that handle a single dialog task; instantly deployable to any call center provider and seamlessly adapted to any CCaas Service Creation environment. Pexip Adaptive Composition, an AI-powered technology with real-time face detection, auto-framing and optimized use of screen real estate; works with any camera-enabled device. Best Innovation for Meeting Rooms Avaya Avaya IX Spaces, a simple cloud solution that integrates friction-free web meetings and team collaboration into one app. Avaya IX Spaces, a simple cloud solution that integrates friction-free web meetings and team collaboration into one app. Kramer Electronics VIA GO, which gives iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC and Mac users instant wireless connectivity with advanced presentation technology, featuring content streaming for 4K mirrored images and video playback. VIA GO, which gives iOS, Android, Chromebook, PC and Mac users instant wireless connectivity with advanced presentation technology, featuring content streaming for 4K mirrored images and video playback. RingCentral For a new product that will be announced at Enterprise Connect. Best Innovation in Customer Experience Journey Journey Identity Platform, which aims to make it easy for enterprises to establish trusted interactions with their customers that simultaneously solve for security, customer experience and privacy using an encrypted network and a platform of best-in-class identity solutions that can be dynamically applied using the enterprises existing mobile app. Best Application of Artificial Intelligence Genesys Genesys Predictive Engagement, with new features to be announced at Enterprise Connect. Genesys Predictive Engagement, with new features to be announced at Enterprise Connect. Pexip Adaptive Composition, an AI-powered technology with real-time face detection, auto-framing and optimized use of screen real estate; works with any camera-enabled device. Adaptive Composition, an AI-powered technology with real-time face detection, auto-framing and optimized use of screen real estate; works with any camera-enabled device. Theta Lake Compliant Collaboration Archive, new module within Theta Lakes Compliance Suite for record keeping, archiving and eDiscovery requirements for video, audio and collaboration chat, with on-demand compliance risk analysis using AI and ML across leading UCaaS platforms (RingCentral, Webex, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, LogMeIn, Red Box). Best Innovation for Advancing Employee/End User Engagement Embrava Embrava Desk Sign, a smart sensor IoT device designed for Hot Desking, Office Hoteling and Activity-Based Working. Embrava Desk Sign, a smart sensor IoT device designed for Hot Desking, Office Hoteling and Activity-Based Working. Mio Mio's new intercompany federation for Microsoft Teams, Slack and Webex Teams, enables users to seamlessly chat with their external business contacts who use a different messaging app. The Best of Enterprise Connect awards recognize leading companies making a significant impact on the enterprise communications and collaboration industry, said Eric Krapf, Enterprise Connect General Manager and Program Co-Chair. This years finalists truly represent the most innovative companies influencing the future of this space through their technological advancements and initiatives. Winners will be announced during an awards presentation at Enterprise Connect 2020 on Wednesday, April 1. 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 briana.pontremoli@informa.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b431988-3855-4027-aca0-f6e687d531d0 Global investment platform OurCrowd is intensifying its incubator and early-stage investment activity to grow early stage tech companies. Led by CEO Jon Medved, OurCrowd is a global crowdfunding venture investing platform and Israels venture investor, which invests in and already operates five tech incubators with partners in Israel and globally. OurCrowd has competed for, and over the last two years has won, government licenses to operate four incubators in Israel, together with an array of leading partners. These include: Labs/02 in Jerusalem (with Reliance Industries and in collaboration with Hebrew Universitys Yissum); Labs/08 in Beersheva (with Reliance Industries the owner of Jio telecommunications company, and in collaboration with Soroka Medical Center, and the Israel National Cyber Directorate); Freshstart in Kiryat Shemonah (with Tnuva, Tempo, and Finistere Ventures); and CanNegev in Yeruacham (with Perrigo and BoL Pharma). In addition, the firm recently announced its participation in a global consortium to run an agtech/foodtech incubator in New Zealand together with Sprout, Finistere, Fontera, and Gallagher. This is the first of a planned major expansion of incubator opportunities globally. With $1.4 billion of committed funding, and investments in 200 portfolio companies and 20 venture funds, OurCrowd offers access to its membership of 41,000 individual accredited and institutional investors, family offices, and venture capital partners from over 183 countries to invest alongside, at the same terms. Its portfolio is diversified across sectors and stages, ranging from seed and series A through late stage and pre-IPO firms. Since its founding in 2013, OurCrowd portfolio companies have been acquired by some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including Uber, Canon, Oracle, Nike, and Intel. FinSMEs 12/02/2020 Two days after two CRPF commandos were killed and six injured in an encounter with naxals in Bijapur district, director general of CRPF Anand Prakash Maheshwari on Wednesday said morale of the troops is high and anti-naxal operations will continue. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief was speaking to reporters after visiting the injured personnel at a private hospital in Chhattisgarh's Raipur city. "The CRPF is a brave force. They have inherited valour. This (naxal menace) is our professional challenge and we are prepared to deal with it. Neither me nor my boys believe this (Bijapur encounter) to be an accident," he said. The injured personnel were getting the best possible treatment he said, adding that their morale is high and they will return to the battlefield. Two personnel of the 204th battalion of the CRPF's elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and a Nxal were killed and six, including a deputy commandant, were injured in a gunfight with ultras in Pamed area of Bijapur on February 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Richmond school could honor Michelle Obama on Wednesday night by becoming the first educational institution in Northern California to be named after the former first lady who has championed causes ranging from womens rights and early education to public health. Board members of the West Contra Costa Unified School District are scheduled to vote Wednesday evening on the proposal to rename Wilson Elementary School, located at 7150 Portola Dr., to Michelle Obama Elementary School. The school is temporarily being housed in El Cerrito while contruction takes place on the Richmond campus. The vote, which comes about five months after the proposal was first presented, follows two recent public meetings where attendees supported the change, according to a board agenda. School officials said the measure would not have a financial impact. Maisha H. Cole, the schools parent-teacher association president, wrote a letter to the five-member board in September requesting the change to honor Obama. Cole said she understood the renaming of a school only occurs under certain circumstances, but the schools rebuilding, which is expected to be completed by the fall for the new school year, marked a monumental feat for the district and presented an opportunity for the new name. We just felt like we are going to have a brand new school, a brand new learning environment, why not a new name? Cole told The Chronicle before Wednesday nights vote. We got nothing but good feedback. In her letter, Cole wrote that PTA members and the school community believe a name change would be fundamental to this fresh new start. While schools more often are named after presidents to honor their legacies, she said, not every child looks up to or sees themselves in the same leaders. Our idea was to create a new legacy, Cole said. Woodrow Wilson doesnt look like most of our children. Michelle Obama does. 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. Michelle Obama Elementary in Los Angeles is the only other school in the state to honor the first lady in its name, according to the California Department of Education. If the West Contra Costa board approves the change, the school would be renamed in August in conjunction with the buildings opening. The school was originally named after President Woodrow Wilson when it was constructed in the 1920s. In our minds we were just doing something to benefit our children, Cole said. Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the permanent location of the school, which will be housed in Richmond when construction is completed for next school year. Alejandro Serrano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alejandro.serrano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @serrano_alej Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - SKRR Exploration Inc. (TSXV: SKRR) ("SKRR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed an option agreement to acquire 100% of the Cathro gold exploration project located approximately 50km northeast of La Ronge, Saskatchewan (the "Cathro Project") from Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (the "Vendor"). Cathro Project Overview & History The 3,277 ha Cathro property covers a suite of LaRonge Greenstone Belt volcanic rocks known to host structurally-controlled gold mineralization including the historic Contact Lake Deposit (SMDI 0619), located approximately 10km south of the property. The first mineralization in the area was identified by prospectors in 1958. During the 1960's Great Plains identified Au-bearing quartz shears associated with metavolcanic rocks. They completed airborne EM and magnetic geophysical surveys, followed up by geological mapping and trenching and a shallow 7-hole diamond drilling program. The area was mostly dormant until the late 1980's when Cogema became active in the area. The last significant work program was in 1994 by Uranerx Exploration who identified a number of target area using soil sampling and prospecting. There are four documented gold occurrences within the claim boundaries. Vidgy Lake (SMDI 2294) has seen the most historic work. The Vidgy Lake mineralization is associated with a 100m-wide by 2km- long shear zone developed along an intrusive -metavolcanic contact. Quartz veins within the shear zone commonly carry visible gold. Highlights from a 1988 program by Cogema returned the following results: Sample # Sample Type Au g/t Description 492RR-1404 grab 72 quartz in meta volcanics 492RR-1406 grab 100 grey quartz 492RR-1452 chip (width unknown) 21.2 quartz veining 492RR-1456 chip (width unknown) 29.2 quartz with visible gold 492RR-1459 grab 18.8 quartz with visible gold 492RR-2013 grab 38.7 quartz with visible gold Cogema exposed the main Vidgy Zone over a strike length of 21m with a maximum vein width of 2.5m. Five lines of continuous chip samples collected at 4.0m intervals across the Vidgy structure returned the following results: Chip Sample Width (m) Au in g/t 2.0 8.1 2.7 4.4 2.5 5.6 2.0 1.5 2.0 0.93 In 1989, Cogema followed up with an eight-hole, shallow-depth drill program which returned best results of 2.03 g/t Au over 0.7 m and 1.16g/t Au over 1.5m. Highlights from the other documented occurrences include: SMDI 2295 Beranek North: 6.6 g/t Au from a 1m chip sample SMDI 2269 Beranek South: 9.2 g/t Au from a grab sample of sheared quartz SMDI 2296 Bartlett Lake: 9.36 g/t Au from a panned soil sample The above results were taken directly from the Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index "SMDI", a searchable database maintained by Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources that contains individual reports on known mineral showings within Saskatchewan. The Ministry cautions that although reasonable care is taken in compilation of results, all persons who rely on the SMDI information do so at their own risk. The assay results are historic in nature and pre-date rules as per NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical results as current and SKRR is not treating the historical results as current. SKRR has not verified the assay results nor has SKRR done the drilling and sampling necessary to verify the assay results. SKRR cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the subject properties. Terms of the Option Agreement Under the terms of the option agreement, SKRR may acquire a 100% interest in the Cathro Project by making certain staged cash payments and share payments of common shares in the capital of SKRR to the Vendor. Cash payable: CAD$4,000 upon receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Option Agreement (the "Approval Date"); SKRR common shares: 250,000 on the Approval Date; 250,000 on or before the 1st anniversary of the Approval Date; 100,000 on or before the 2nd Anniversary of the Approval Date; 100,000 on or before the 3rd Anniversary of the Approval Date; 100,000 on or before the 4th Anniversary of the Approval Date; and 100,000 on or before the 5th Anniversary of the Approval Date. Net Smelter Returns Royalty ("NSR Royalty"): 2.0% NSR Royalty to the Vendor with SKRR's option to repurchase 1.0% NSR Royalty for CAD$1.0 million, leaving the Vendor with a 1% NSR Royalty. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ross McElroy P.Geo, a director of the Company and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About SKRR Exploration Inc.: SKRR is a Canadian-based precious metal explorer with properties in Saskatchewan - one of the world's highest ranked mining jurisdictions. The primary exploration focus is on the Trans-Hudson Corridor in Saskatchewan in search of world class precious metal deposits. The Trans-Hudson Orogen - although extremely well known in geological terms has been significantly under-explored in Saskatchewan. SKRR is committed to all stakeholders including shareholders, all its partners and the environment in which it operates. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Sherman Dahl President & CEO Tel: 250-558-8340 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 Information This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements that address the TSX Venture Exchange approval of the option agreement, conduct exploration work on the Cathro Project, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. 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. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52376 Migrant workers will be most negatively affected by the travel limits that Chinas local governments have imposed to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus, Eli Friedman of Cornell University tells Axios. What's happening: After travel restrictions were put in place over the Lunar New Year holiday, migrant workers with jobs in cities under lockdown cant get back to work. These laborers often have no safety net or savings, so the loss of what might be weeks of income could plunge them into dire financial straits. Many industries, particularly manufacturing, rely on cheap migrant worker labor. (There are an estimated 288 million migrant workers in China.) Without employees, companies based in quarantined cities may be forced to shut down operations. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is taking some measures to help workers by requiring employers to continue to cover basic living expenses. Yes, but: Officially, China has only one labor union, which is controlled by the Communist Party. That means it largely fails to challenge true power imbalances in the system. Officially, China has only one labor union, which is controlled by the Communist Party. That means it largely fails to challenge true power imbalances in the system. Employees don't have any mechanism for expressing their interests, Friedman said. Another concern: There's a lack of access to affordable medical care. For migrant workers specifically, there is a lot of data that shows their medical insurance coverage is abysmal, Friedman said. That means its harder for migrant workers with the coronavirus to receive timely treatment, and they may be staying at home for longer periods of time potentially infecting others. The bottom line: Migrant workers are among Chinas most vulnerable, and much of Chinas manufacturing industry depends on them. If they cant get back to their jobs soon, both they and the companies they work for will suffer. FARMINGTON Fotis Dulos has been cremated, but his attorneys are fighting to exonerate him and possibly file malicious prosecution and legal malpractice lawsuits as a way of clearing his name. Attorney Kevin Smith, a member of his criminal defense team, told Farmington Regional Probate Judge Evelyn Daly during a hearing Tuesday that his client's interest in his estate should be considered. Daly appointed attorney Christopher Hug, of the Hartford law firm, Robinson + Cole, as the temporary administrator of the Dulos estate. When he died from an apparent suicide on Jan. 30, Fotis Dulos was facing murder charges in the death and disappearance of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, two foreclosure proceedings and $2.5 million in lawsuits filed by his mother-in-law. Smith said he expects all the criminal charges to be dismissed on March 3 during a proceeding in state Superior Court in Stamford. But he and lead defense attorney Norm Pattis have filed a request for court officials to continue the prosecution with the estate of Fotis Dulos as the defendant as a way of bringing the case to trial. If the charges are dismissed, he and Pattis will consider filing wrongful death, malicious prosecution and legal malpractice lawsuits to exonerate their client, he said. His last instructions were to make sure that his name was cleared and that he was exonerated, Smith said. READ MORE: See what Michelle Troconis wants back from Fotis Dulos home Smith and Pattis want a temporary administrator who wont be hostile to their clients interests to be appointed. We feel as though Mr. Dulos interests should be heard, Smith said. Dulos was cremated, according to his death certificate that Smith provided to the probate court. The New York Medical Examiner is waiting on toxicology results before determining the cause of death, Pattis said. His sister, Rena, had said the family planned to return him to his native Greece. Dulos died with about $200,000 in a Fidelity 401K account and he had about $14,000 in a separate personal account, Hug told the court. "Unfortunately, it doesn't appear there was a tremendous amount of liquid assets," Hug said. As the temporary administrator, Daly said Hug has about 30 days to inventory the assets and debts of Dulos so the court can give what's left to his five children. The 45-minute proceeding offered details into the life Fotis Dulos was leading in the time leading up to his estranged wifes disappearance on May 24. His girlfriend Michelle Troconis, who was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the case, wants her gray bath and hand towels back, as well as her juicer, bathroom soap tray, plant and a host of other ordinary items, including a lemon squeezer, a crepe maker and her daughters sporting equipment, according to a request filed in the probate case by her her attorney. She lived with Dulos at the Jefferson Crossing residence for about two years, said her attorney Jon Schoenhorn. She hasnt been allowed to go back to the house by Superior Court order, Schoenhorn said. With the unfortunate death, we want to make sure the contents of the house that are hers are not disposed of. Madonna, the 16-year-old cat belonging to the mother of Fotis Dulos, went into hiding after his apparent suicide attempt. It took several hours on Sunday to coax the cat out and she has been left with someone who could care for her until an owner could be found, Hug said. Anna Curry, who Dulos listed as his best friend on bond documents, has expressed interest in taking ownership of the cat, Smith said. Curry helped post Dulos $6 million bond and remained by his side at a New York hospital until he died. Attorneys for Fotis Dulos and his mother-in-law, Gloria Farber, have been sparring in court filings over the care of his Jefferson Crossing home since the apparent suicide. Farber paid off the mortgage to the home in July after her daughter disappeared and then filed foreclosure proceedings against Dulos to take possession of the property. Her attorney, Richard Weintsein, has been leading the charge in keeping the Jefferson Crossing home preserved with all its contents intact until an inventory of his assets can be completed. Weinstein told the court he paid $2,000 to have the propane tanks filled so the pipes in the 14,000-square-foot home wouldnt burst in the cold. The house is now secure, Hug said, with new locks, a newly reset alarm and instructions to Farmington police about who is allowed in the house and on the property. The Savings Bank of Danbury also started foreclosure proceedings on the Sturbridge Hill Road home in New Canaan that Dulos was trying to sell through his company, Fore Group. His company also owns 80 Mountain Spring Road in Farmington and the property at 585 Deercliff Road in Avon. Jennifer and Fotis Dulos were involved in a two-year acrimonious divorce when she disappeared on May 24. The divorce was officially dismissed by the court last week. Fotis Dulos was also being sued by Farber for what she claimed were $2.5 million in unpaid business loans made to his high-end real estate company. Arrest warrants said police believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait for his estranged wife at her New Canaan home as she dropped off their children at school. Around the time she was reported missing that night, police said Fotis Dulos and Troconis were captured on video in Hartford dumping bags of garbage that were later determined to contain Jennifer Dulos blood and clothing. Fotis Dulos, 52, and Troconis, 45, were each charged last year with two counts of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. On Jan. 7, Dulos was also charged with murder, felony murder and first-degree kidnapping. Troconis and Dulos close friend and former attorney, Kent Mawhinney, 54, were also charged that day with conspiracy to commit murder. Book by former PGC officer highlights unusual wildlife encounters Dick Bodenhorn has published a book highlighting some of the unusual encounters he had while working with the Pennsylvania Game Commision. Jihadists aligned with the Islamic State group have killed five security personnel, including two soldiers, in three separate attacks in northeast Nigeria's Borno state, sources said Wednesday. In the first attack on Monday, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP) jihadist group aboard trucks attacked a military post in Tungushe village near the state capital Maiduguri, killing a soldier and injuring another, a military officer told AFP. "The terrorists attacked around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT), leading to a gun battle in which a soldier was killed and another one was injured," said the officer, who asked not to be identified. He said two insurgents were killed in the incident while a gun truck was recovered along with weapons. The militants withdrew and attacked troops in nearby Gajiganna, where they killed a second soldier and seized a gun truck, according to anti-jihadist militiaman Ibrahim Liman. Tungushe, which lies 22 kilometres (13 miles) from Maiduguri, has been repeatedly targeted by ISWAP and fighters from the rival Boko Haram faction, attacking troops and raiding the village for food and livestock. Around the same time on Monday, insurgents on motorcycles and in four trucks fitted with machine guns stormed into the town of Rann near the border with Cameroon, attacking troops and militia positions. "We lost three of our colleagues in the Rann incident," Liman told AFP. "Our consolation is that several terrorists were killed in the fight, including their commander, and one of their trucks was recovered," he said. Rann is some 175 kilometres northeast of Maiduguri, where some 35,000 people displaced by the jihadist violence are sheltering. The town has also come under repeated attack by ISWAP and Boko Haram militants. On Tuesday, ISWAP issued a statement claiming responsibility for three attacks, including the ones in Tungushe and Rann, resulting in the "killing and wounding" of several troops and the burning of 20 public buildings. The militants have recently stepped up deadly assaults in the restive northeast. On Sunday, jihadists killed at least 30 people in an overnight raid on Auno village along the highway leading to Maiduguri where travellers had stopped to comply with a nighttime curfew. The decade-long jihadist uprising has killed 36,000 people and displaced around two million from their homes in northeast Nigeria. The conflict has spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State-run engineering firm on Wednesday said it has signed a pact with Rosoboronexport, Russia, for cooperation and undertaking projects for defence systems. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during the 5th India Russia Military Industrial conference held in Lucknow, said in a statement. The aim of the MoU is to cooperate and undertake joint projects and operations for defence systems. This will help in leveraging BHEL's capabilities in the in association with Russian OEMs under the Make in India' initiative and offer indigenous support and solutions to the Indian defence forces, it added. Comedian speaks to Al Jazeera after he was banned by Indian airlines for heckling pro-govt presenter Arnab Goswami. An Indian stand-up comedian, who recently faced a flight ban for confronting a pro-government TV presenter, told Al Jazeera he does not regret his actions. When you get a chance like this, if you do not confront him and try to tell him that what hes doing is really causing damage I wanted to actually genuinely have a good conversation with him and then I did exactly what a Republic TV journalist would do, I pointed my camera, I shot it and I put it up, Kunal Kamra told Al Jazeera in Doha. Kamra, 30, was slapped with a flight ban by four Indian airlines after he berated anchor and journalist Arnab Goswami on board a plane during which he asked the senior journalist if he was a coward or a nationalist. Goswami, the head of Indias Republic TV, is known for shouting at his guests on live TV. The 46-year-old journalist has even called for war against Indias neighbour, Pakistan. Kamra has used his edgy humour to criticise government policies but he insists he is bipartisan and does not favour any Indian political party. He has often lampooned Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, during his shows. The comedian has more than 900,000 followers on Twitter and has used his handle to express his anti-establishment views, while millions watch his YouTube show Shut Up Ya Kunal, which he started in 2017. Has he emerged as the poster boy of free speech in India? I am uncomfortable with the idea of poster boy. I speak from the heart. I do not take the responsibility of being an alternate media. I am still an artist deeply rooted in the art form, he told Al Jazeera. Fighting the establishment is my side profession. Al Jazeeras Saif Khalid and Sorin Furcoi spoke to Kamra in Doha while he was visiting the Qatari capital for his show Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 15 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Baton Rouge, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Baton Rouge with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Baton Rouge. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana please visit https://www.help.org/the-best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-facilities-in-baton-rouge-la/ 2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (in alphabetical order) AppleGate Recovery 4451 Bluebonnet Blvd. Suite E, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-263-6722 Addiction Recovery Resources, Inc. 4933 A Wabash Street Suite 203 Metairie, LA 70001 504-780-2766 Baton Rouge Comprehensive Treatment Center 11445 Reiger Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-361-2933 Brentwood Hospital 1006 Highland Ave. Shreveport, LA 71101 318-678-7500 Capital Area Human Services 4615 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225-922-2700 Cenikor Foundation 2414 Bunker Hill Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 888-236-4567 Louisiana Adult & Teen Challenge P.O. Box 73681 Metairie, LA 70033 318-209-4524 Louisiana Health and Rehab Center, Inc. 2121 Wooddale Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 225-231-2490 Narconon New Life Retreat 35059 Bend Rd. Denham Springs, LA 70706 225-330-7766 OBrien House 446 N. 12th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 225-344-6345 Odyssey House Louisiana 1125 North Tonti New Orleans, LA 70119 504-821-9211 Salvation Army of Baton Rouge Alcohol Drug Rehab 7361 Airline Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA 70805 225-355-4483 St. Christophers Addiction Wellness Center 150 Cora Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70815 225-387-1611 The Grove Recovery Center 5311 Dijon Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 225-300-4850 Townsend 5620 Read Blvd, 5th Floor New Orleans, Louisiana 70127 888-498-1426 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team. Total confirmed cases: More than 45,000 Total deaths: At least 1,115 5:15 pm: Quarantined evacuees demand oversight in new petition against CDC After the CDC released an isolated patient who tested positive for the coronavirus back into the general quarantine at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, the other patients started a petition to demand better oversight at the facility. "A lot of sentiment had been expressed that we need to make some suggestions and get some feedback," said quarantined patient Jake Wilson. Wilson shared the petition a day after a woman who tested positive for the coronavirus was mistakenly released from UC San Diego Medical Center and sent back to the military base with the rest of the evacuees. NBC San Diego 4:43 pm: Outbreak could mean big losses for Chinese box office 4:03 pm: New York City health officials clear all seven suspected cases None of the people suspected of having COVID-19 in New York City tested positive for the disease, city health officials said. The city was monitoring six residents and one visitor at a local hospital for the new coronavirus. There were 13 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Wednesday, including an evacuee from Wuhan, China who is under quarantine at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. A mistake in the lab led U.S. health officials to release the patient from a San Diego hospital before discovering the person was infected. A Chinese security guard wears a protective mask as he waits to take temperatures while standing next to a sign instructing people to wear masks, February 12, 2020 in Beijing, China. Kevin Frayer | Getty Images 3:27 pm Canceled China flights top 85,000 Airlines have canceled more than 85,000 China flights because of outbreak, according to aviation consulting firm Cirium. That count is set to rise in the coming weeks as more than a dozen international airlines have scrapped or reduced China service altogether. The cancellations, logged between Jan. 23 through Feb. 11, account for more than a third of scheduled flights, to, from and within China, Cirium said. Close to 20% of international flights to and from China, or 9,239 trips were cancelled, and 37%, or 76,338 flights were canceled. The impact will likely dent airlines' first-quarter results as they process refunds to customers booked on those routes. Between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4, refunds were up 1,140% for U.S-to-China travel, and up 731% for U.S.-bound travel from China, according to the Airlines Reporting Corporation, which processes airline tickets. 2:41 pm: China works to boost economy To combat a potential economic slowdown amid the outbreak, Chinese policymakers have taken major steps to restore investor confidence and boost business activity. Fiscal and monetary policies put in place over the past couple weeks include injections of cash by the central bank, tariff exemptions and targeted reserve requirement cuts. Rattner, Li 2:12 pm: Mobile World Congress canceled after major tech companies pull out Organizers of Mobile World Congress, the world's largest trade show for the mobile phone industry, have canceled the conference slated to start in Barcelona in less than two weeks. Facebook and other major companies have pulled out of MWC in recent days amid growing fears over the outbreak. "With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event," GSMA said in a statement. Browne 2:03 pm: WHO cautions that the stabilization of cases in China could change New coronavirus cases in China appear to have stabilized in recent days, but world health officials cautioned the public against reading too much into those numbers. "The outbreak could still go in any direction," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of World Health Organization, warned. The slowing number of new cases "must be interpreted with extreme caution." -Lovelace 12:57 pm: As coronavirus spreads on ship, Princess Cruises offers crew two months of vacation Carnival's Princess Cruises is compensating its crew and more than 2,600 passengers quarantined on a ship off the coast of Japan as an outbreak of the new coronavirus that's ravaged mainland China spreads among those aboard. The company has offered guests a second cruise for free as well as a full refund for the current cruise, including the cost of onshore excursions and tips paid to staff, adding that it will cover the costs of of the gratuities.For the crew, the company, which faces mounting scrutiny for its treatment of crew members on board, is offering the crew two paid months of vacation, the company confirmed to CNBC. -Feuer 12:45 World Health Organization to provide an update on the coronavirus outbreak World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference at 1 p.m. ET to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more people than SARS. Watch it live here. -Feuer 12:29 pm: IMF chief says coronavirus 'clearly more impactful' on global growth than SARS IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told CNBC's Sara Eisen on Wednesday the new coronavirus that started in China is "clearly more impactful" on the world economy than the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic. "China was different [then], the world was different," said Georgieva, in an interview with Ivanka Trump from a State Department event on economic empowerment for women. During the SARS outbreak, China was only 8% of the global economy, Georgieva pointed out. "Today, China manufactures 28%, with possible impact through value chains on other countries." Belvedere 11:50 am: CDC prepares for community outbreaks in US The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing for the coronavirus, named COVID-19, to "take a foothold in the U.S.," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters. "At some point, we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. or in other countries," said Messonnier. "This will trigger a change in our response strategy." Lovelace 11:42 am: Fed Chairman Powell says economists should soon see whether the outbreak has impacted U.S. growth Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said the impact from the coronavirus in the U.S. will start showing up in "economic data coming up fairly soon." He told a Senate panel it was "too uncertain to even speculate about what the level of that will be, and whether it will be persistent, or whether it will lead to a material change in the outlook. But we do expect that there will be some effects." Powell said the impact will be "substantial" in China, "important but maybe less substantial in their immediate trading partners. And we'll be looking at the economic data." Franck A woman wearing a mask is seen as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Shanghai, China February 10, 2020. Aly Song | Reuters 11:25 Boeing warns coronavirus could hurt first quarter aircraft deliveries Boeing warned that the outbreak could hurt aircraft deliveries in the first quarter of the year, as traffic in Asia slows sharply because of the epidemic. A day earlier, Boeing reported no new aircraft orders and said it delivered just 13 planes in January. More than 85,000 flights to, from and within China equal to more than a third of scheduled flights have been canceled between Jan. 23 and Feb. 11, aviation consulting firm Cirium said Wednesday. "I can certainly see that impacting, as a result of the traffic, impacting some near-term, first-quarter deliveries for a lot of us," Boeing's CFO Greg Smith told a Cowen investor conference. Josephs 10:49 am: US Army secretary offers help to China The U.S. Army is fully prepared to help China combat the deadly coronavirus that's spread across the country, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "The U.S. Army is built for this," he said. "When we're called, we'll be locked and loaded to respond." China has brushed aside help from global forces to stop the virus, including offers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Bursztynsky 9:55 am: Carnival says earnings could take a big hit if it has to halt Asia operations Carnival Cruise Lines said the coronavirus epidemic could dent earnings this year by as much as 65 cents per share if the cruise line is forced to suspend Asia operations. "While not currently planned, if the company had to suspend all of its operations in Asia through the end of April, this would impact its fiscal 2020 financial performance by 55 cents to 65 cents per share, which includes guest compensation," the company said in a statement. Fitzgerald 9:18 am: Gucci owner closed half its stores in mainland China Gucci owner Kering initially had strong sales in January but saw a steep drop at the end of the month because of the coronavirus, executives said on its fourth-quarter earnings call. The luxury-goods maker changed inventory distribution and production schedules because of lower demand and reduced customer traffic in China. The company, which also owns Balenciaga and Saint Laurent, closed half its stores in mainland China and its open locations have reduced hours. Miller 9:12 am: Boeing sees hit to airline profits, stagnant air cargo market due to coronavirus The global air cargo industry is unlikely to grow this year because of the challenges in the China market due to the coronavirus, a senior executive at Boeing said. The coronavirus crisis has dimmed hopes of a rebound for air cargo after its worst year in the decade since the financial crisis, the International Air Transport Association, a group of 280 global airlines, said last week. Travel restrictions to and from China and a more than two-thirds drop in capacity offered by Chinese airlines will hit airline revenues, said Ihssane Mounir, the planemaker's senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing. "China has reduced capacity by 70%; that is money, that is revenue," he told reporters at the Singapore Airshow, whose attendance has been sharply reduced as dozens of companies stayed away due to concerns about the virus. Reuters Health workers wearing protective moves a patient to isolation ward during exercise in handling suspected coronavirus patient in Sanglah General Hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on February 12 2020. Johanes Christo | NurPhoto | Getty Images 9:05 am: Quarantined cruise ship passengers say 'it's terrifying' Two passengers aboard the quarantined Princess Cruises ship that's docked in Japan told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that containment measures to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading have failed. Gay Courter said many passengers on the ship, including her husband, Phil, and herself, haven't been tested for the deadly virus outside of initial temperature taking. "We take our temperature once a day, voluntarily," Phil Courter said. "We are supposed to call if our temperature goes higher than the standard they've set. But that's voluntary, there's nobody checking on anybody. Frankly, it's terrifying," he added. Bursztynsky 8:14 am: OPEC slashes oil demand forecast OPEC has dramatically lowered its forecast for oil demand growth this year, citing China's coronavirus outbreak as the "major factor" behind its decision. In a closely-watched monthly report published Wednesday, the Middle East-dominated producer group downwardly revised its outlook for global oil demand growth to 990,000 barrels per day in 2020. That's down by 230,000 bpd from the previous month's estimate. The amended forecast is likely to reinforce the case for OPEC and allied non-OPEC producers, including Russia, to impose additional output cuts sooner rather than later. "The impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on China's economy has added to the uncertainties surrounding global economic growth in 2020, and by extension global oil demand growth in 2020," OPEC said in the report. Meredith 7:55 am: Diamond Princess cruise ship cases climb to 175 Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan, with one quarantine officer also infected, bringing the total to 175, the health ministry said. About 3,700 people are on board the cruise ship, which usually has a crew of 1,100 and a passenger capacity of 2,670. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said in parliament that he wanted to expand testing to all passengers and crew on board, and that authorities could muster resources to do more than 1,000 tests a day, according to national broadcaster NHK. The British-flagged Diamond Princess is managed by Princess Cruise Lines, one of the world's largest cruise lines and a unit of Carnival Corp. Reuters Medical workers inspect the CT (computed tomography) scan image of a patient at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University following an outbreak of the new coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China February 2, 2020. China Daily via Reuters 7:50 am: Motor racing-Chinese Grand Prix postponed Formula One's Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the country, the organiaers said. The FIA and Formula One said in a statement that they had jointly decided to postpone the race, which was scheduled for April 19 at the Shanghai International Circuit. "As a result of continued health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus as a global health emergency, the FIA and Formula 1 have taken these measures," the two bodies said. Reuters 7:10 am: Cruise ship stranded at sea reportedly allowed to dock in Cambodia A cruise ship that had been turned away from a number of different countries over fears someone on board might be infected with the coronavirus has received permission to dock in Cambodia, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing the Holland America Line. The MS Westerdam cruise ship, which is reported to have 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members on board, will dock in Cambodia to allow passengers to disembark. The ship, which has said it does not have any sick passengers, had been turned away from Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and the island territory of Guam. 6:30 am: Singapore's United Overseas Bank keeps $2.2 billion aside for firms hit by coronavirus India's efforts to evacuate its citizens from the coronavirus-epicentre Hubei province and its capital Wuhan were a logistical nightmare since the entire operation had to be done in a region sealed from all sides, Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri said on Monday. As the news of the outbreak began emerging in the middle of January, the Indian Embassy stepped up efforts to locate hundreds of Indians, mainly students, residing hundreds of kilometres apart in the central Hubei province and Wuhan - the epicentre of the virus outbreak, Misri said. It was a logistical nightmare as data had to be collected about Indians stranded in the virus-hit areas while many left for home for the Chinese New Year holidays, he told PTI here. India issued its first travel advisory on January 17 which was followed by more stringent measures including cancellation of visas for Chinese and foreigners travelled to China as the virus grew more virulent. Misri said the embassy had to first locate the Indian citizens in Hubei province, establish contacts with them, receive their consent for a 14-day quarantine, followed by the most difficult part of the operation - to get approvals from China's central, provincial and local governments as the city and province were locked down from January 23. Wuhan, which has a number of higher educational institutions, including medical colleges, is situated over 1,150 kms from Beijing. Wuhan has attracted hundreds of Indian students to study medicine and other professional courses in the city's universities. Ahead of the first Air India flight on February 1, the mission sent two of its diplomats - Deepak Padma Kumar and M Balakrishnan - to Wuhan by road through Changsha city despite travel bans and fears of the virus. Then a large number of buses were hired, permits procured in areas under lock down to transport them to the airport which turned out to be a massive exercise. The airport was closed from January 23 besides all local transportation. The operations to get permission to operate buses and send them to 40 odd locations to pick up waiting Indians were coordinated by Acquino Vimal, the deputy ambassador, and Priyanka Sohoni, First Secretary (Political) in the mission. In some areas, roads were dug up to prevent people's movement and entire operation to pick up the students on both the days had to be conducted from the control room in the embassy hundreds of miles away, Misri said. But 10 Indians could not make it to the flight as they were not allowed by the Chinese immigration officials to board the plane because they had high body temperatures. Air India's B747 aircraft made two flights to Wuhan city - the ground zero of the coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 900 people, infected 40,000 others and spread to 25 countries, including India, the US and the UK. In the first flight, 324 Indians were evacuated and another 323 Indians and seven Maldivian citizens were flown back in the second flight. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also evacuated their citizens through special flights. Several hundred Pakistani students are held up still in the virus-hit areas as their government has declined to evacuate them ignoring their pleas. Misri said that about 80 Indians were still in Hubei and the embassy is in touch with them through e-mail, social media and phone calls. The embassy has received 28,000 emails and receives about 100 calls a day from Indians who were stranded in Wuhan and Hubei province and has been coordinating with the Chinese officials to ensure proper supplies to them. About chances of their evacuation, Misri said the embassy is exploring all avenues. Also read: Coronavirus outbreak in China may be over by April, say medical experts Also read: World Health Organisation names coronavirus as COVID-19 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Monday that the state would sue the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its revocation of the Trusted Traveler programs for residents of New York State. The programs allow pre-approved members to use expedited lanes at the U.S. airports, and when crossing international borders, according to the DHS website. The suit challenges the constitutionality of the governments maneuver against residents of the state. New Yorkers are no longer eligible to participate in most of the Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry (entry from abroad); NEXUS (entry from Canada); SENTRI (entry from Canada and Mexico) and FAST (for truck drivers entering the US from Mexico). TSA Pre-Check is the only Trusted Traveler program that is not suspended, but the DHS has indicated that it too may face the chopping block. US Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler airport kiosks (Credit: CBP/James Tourtellotte) Ken Cuccinelli, acting DHS deputy secretary, said Roughly 175,000 New Yorkers will be kicked out of Trusted Traveler programs and wont be able to renew. He added that no others will be able to join. In addition, a further 80,000 people whose applications had been approved or were being processed will be removed from the program. This suspension makes it more difficult for the citys frequent travelers including truck drivers traveling to and from Canada and Mexico to conduct their business. The suspension is effectively a sanction against the states economy by the federal government. The Trump administration suspended the program as a part of its intensified attack on Democratic Party-controlled sanctuary cities and states. The measure against New York is a direct response to the state legislatures passage of the Green Light law, which allows undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license. To date, fifteen states and the District of Columbia have passed green-light laws. New York, however, has an additional measure which prevents federal authorities from accessing Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), records such as drivers licenses, adding a layer of difficulty for federal authorities to capture undocumented immigrants. DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf said of the Green Light law, An aspect of the law which Im most concerned about is that it prohibits the DMV from providing ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and CBP with important data used in law enforcement, trade, travel, and homeland security. ICE uses the information as they investigate and build cases against terrorists, and criminals who commit child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and financial crimes. Unfortunately, because of this law, they can no longer do that. According to researchers at Syracuse University, the majority of those detained by ICE have no criminal conviction and under the Trump administration, from 2016-2018, those without a criminal past increased from 55 to 62 percent of detainees. Of those detainees without criminal records are thousands of children. The Trump administration has continuously spewed lies and falsifications in its fascistic war on immigrant workers. In his State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump blamed the death of an elderly woman on New York Citys sanctuary-city policies, saying Just 29 days ago, a criminal alien freed by the sanctuary city of New York was charged with the brutal rape and murder of a 92-year-old woman. The killer had been previously arrested for assault, but under New Yorks sanctuary policies, he was set free. If the city had honored ICEs detainer request, his victim would be alive today. By exploiting this tragedy and suspending the Trusted Traveler programs for New York residents, the Trump administration is attempting to eliminate the sanctuary city status of New York City and further dismantle the democratic rights of every person living in the United States. Sanctuary cities are areas which more closely follow the US Constitutions right to due process, which prevents authorities from detaining anyone who is not suspected of committing a crime. Under US law, undocumented immigration status is not a criminal but a civil violation. While these measures ensure the police and other local government agencies withhold cooperation with the detention and deportation of immigrants, they do nothing to block the operations of ICE agents and other federal officials and contain many loopholes. Significantly, there has been no serious opposition from the Democratic Party to this latest attack by Trump. The response from the Democrat mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, was to glorify the New York Police Department (NYPD). De Blasio tweeted Every time @realDonaldTrump opens his mouth he lies so Im never surprised, but to exploit the murder of a 92-year-old woman in a craven attack on the extraordinary work the NYPD has done to protect our city is as loathsome as it gets. Hes a corrupt disgrace. Despite the mayors bluster, the de Blasio administration has done little to defend immigrants. A report by the Immigrant Defense Project noted that court police officers in New York City are still collaborating with ICE to conduct arrests. This has contributed to a 1,700 percent increase of arrests outside of courtrooms from 2016-2018, largely of immigrants who came into court for minor infractions. New Yorks Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, has likewise offered almost no resistance to Trump. After the Trusted Traveler programs suspension was announced, Cuomo tweeted that he was still waiting for a day and time to have a real meeting to have a substantive discussion about these serious issues with the Trump administration. The Democratic Party, holding office in sanctuary cities targeted by the Trump administration, has not only been unable to stop attacks on immigrants but has played critical roles in enabling them. The recently failed impeachment trial of the president pressed by the Democrats did not raise one of his crimes against immigrants as a cause of his removal from office but instead focused on tilting the administration toward a more aggressive policy toward Russia. In June, a majority of Democrats voted in favor of giving the Trump administration $4.6 billion in funding for immigrant concentration camps. Democratic Congresswoman and Democratic Socialists of America member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted to bring the bill to the floor of the House for a vote, thus playing a critical role in its passage. It is notable that the arguments of the suit against the Trump Administration, promoted by state Attorney General James, a fixture of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, are thoroughly reactionary and are couched in the language of national security. The suit appeals to the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, enacted in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, saying, [t]he process of expediting known travelers across the borders of the United States can permit inspectors to better focus on identifying terrorists attempting to enter the United States. Aged 44 and readying for her eighth Olympics in Tokyo, Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitina makes light of her record-breaking survival in a sport dominated by teen prodigies. "I love gymnastics. I tell myself: why not train and perform while you still can?" Chusovitina said during a recent interview in Tashkent. "If I'd stopped, I think I would have strongly regretted it." But while the desire to compete still burns in Chusovitina, she said she has given her word to her family, whom she calls her "strongest motivation", that the Tokyo Games this year will be her "last Olympics". Chusovitina started her career competing for the USSR but after it collapsed she got her first taste of the Olympics at Barcelona in 1992 in a team representing the ex-Soviet states. There, she scooped team gold but she had to wait another 16 years -- and four Games -- for an individual Olympic medal. That came when she won silver on the vault in Beijing in 2008. At that point, Chusovitina was representing Germany, after moving there in 2002 to get her son Alisher treatment for leukaemia that proved successful. But Tokyo will be her fifth Olympics representing her Central Asian homeland of Uzbekistan -- a nation of 33 million where she is so revered that she has featured on postage stamps. Her appearance at the Rio Games in 2016 made her the only gymnast ever to compete in seven consecutive Olympics. Chusovitina told AFP during a break from practising vaults that it was Alisher, now 20, who persuaded her to call time on a her career in top-level sport. "He worries about me a lot, that I might get a bad injury or fall ill." Her own favourite Olympic memory remains returning home from Beijing where her vault performance saw her share the podium with gymnasts from China and North Korea who were both a decade younger than her. "When I got back the doctor gave me the news that my son was finally healthy," she recalled. "I think for a mother that is news that you cannot compare any medal to." - A new chapter - Chusovitina's longevity as a top-level athlete may be no big deal to the star, but it is a continued source of inspiration for the young gymnasts who train with her daily at the Republican Gymnastic Centre in Tashkent. "She is already an athlete of such a high level," said Lyudmila Li, Chusovitina's trainer. "She knows her body and what it can do. Our only job is to help her maintain those levels." Chusovitina's husband Bakhodir Kurbanov is himself a former Olympic competitor, representing Uzbekistan in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1996 and 2000 Games. He sacrificed his own career for his wife's and focused on helping Alisher battle leukaemia, a decision that causes him no regrets. "We didn't plan for a fourth Olympics, let alone an eighth, but she has made us proud," Kurbanov said during an interview in their modest apartment on the outskirts of Tashkent. "My son and I just try to keep up with her." For the moment, Chusovitina is focused on Tokyo but she has plenty of plans for retirement. One is to set up a gymnastics academy in Tashkent to bring through the next generation of Uzbek gymnasts. Another is to take the beam and the vault to the stage in a "gymnastics theatre show" that she hopes will be both a fitting farewell to her career in professional sport and a way of popularising the sport locally. "I want our people to love gymnastics, to see how beautiful it is," she told AFP. "When people see (the show) they will run to put their children in gym classes." The United Nations Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock during a recent press conference has warned that the ongoing locust outbreak in east Africa could become a 'major humanitarian plague'. He further also warned that the locust crisis also has the potential to be the most devastating plague of locusts in any of our living memories if we don't reduce the problem faster than we're doing at the moment. Back in 2019, the outbreak in East Africa came after heavy rainfall in the region and it brought a swarm of desert locust to the region, resulting in a complete loss of crops. During the same press conference on February 10, another UN official further said that the 'waves and waves of swarms' are spreading further across the region, destroying crops. He also noted that 'over the weekend locust further moved into northeastern Uganda'. The swarms reportedly migrated to Kenya from Ethiopia and Somalia, which have not seen an invasion at this high level in over two decades. READ: UN Warns Of major Shock As Africa Locust Outbreak Spreads Furthermore, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO) senior locust forecasting officer Keith Cressman has also reportedly said that a medium-size swarm of locusts can, in a single day, eat the same amount of food as the entire population of Kenya. However, he also added that the organisation is expecting any day the locusts will move across the border into the southeast corner of South Sudan. 'State of emergency' The Prime Minister of Uganda has also called for an emergency meeting to address the swarm invasion which could heavily affect the food supplies in the country. Earlier this month, Somalia even declared a state of emergency due to the swarm invasion. The FAO reportedly also noted that the situation could get worse with new breeding that will produce more locust infestations in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. READ: Swarms Of Locusts Enter Uganda After Kenya, Ethiopia; UN Fears Food Security Threat Cressman in a statment 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. The UN agency had said that it requires $70 million, of which they had mobilised $15.5 million till January 30, to support rapid control operations and measures to protect livelihoods and prevent deterioration of the food security situation. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu had warned that the locust upsurge threatens to provoke a humanitarian crisis. QU appealed for urgent funding to tackle the outbreak in order to protect livelihoods and food security and said that the needs will rise if the outbreak spreads to South Sudan and Uganda. (With agency inputs) READ: "Where It Begins": Young Hungry Locusts Bulk Up In Somalia READ: Kenya Suffers Worst Locust Swarms In 70 Years Beirut: When the overcrowded tent cities reached breaking point, the displaced sought refuge in the mosques. When the mosques filled up, they built flimsy shelters in the olive groves. Then when winter came, they had little to shield them from the biting cold other than their coats and blankets. Now the civilians of Idlib, Syria's last rebel bastion, have nowhere left to seek shelter. "There is no house of concrete or of mud or even a chicken coop that is not inhabited," Maad al-Khalaf said. "People are in dire need of any shelter. Even a tent sometimes is not available." Civilians flee from Idlib to find safety inside Syria near the border with Turkey on Tuesday. Credit:DHA/AP Khalaf, 41, once a proud landowner, has been forced to share a tent with his wife and children and another family on abandoned farmland near the Turkish border. The Khalafs are among more than 1 million people who have fled their homes since the Russian-backed Syrian offensive began last April. Some 700,000 of those have been displaced in the past 10 weeks, after a short-lived ceasefire collapsed in December. By Kim Hyun-bin SAN FRANCISCO Samsung Electronics' mobile chief Roh Tae-moon said Wednesday (KST) that the spread of the deadly coronavirus may affect overall supply chain management of technology industries. But the senior Samsung executive dismissed concerns that the virus would have a serious impact on Samsung's mobile business as the company was effectively "managing the situation" with its parts suppliers. "Regarding whether the coronavirus will have an impact on our manufacturing, the virus is costing Samsung Electronics a bit because the issue is more about supply change management as a whole. We are handling the issue with our suppliers to minimize any potential impact on our flagship handsets including the Galaxy S20," he told reporters in a news conference at the Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Roh stressed the impact of coronavirus on Samsung's supply chain would be "limited," though the firm is constantly monitoring the situation for any changes. From smartphones to TVs, much of the world's consumer technology is either manufactured in China or relies on parts made there. Samsung runs mobile phone manufacturing lines in China. He said Samsung Electronics had postponed all marketing events scheduled to promote the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Flip in response to the spread of the virus. As a back-up marketing plan for China, Roh said Samsung is launching various campaigns to promote the new phones online, adding this will ensure delays of promotional events will not impact sales. "Samsung won't abandon the Chinese smartphone market. We should do well in India and I think we can do. Samsung expects to see some improvements from these markets from this year and I believe we could see a (profit) turnaround," Roh told reporters on the sidelines of the unpacked event. Samsung's market share in China is a low single-digit, while in India, it ranks No. 2 after its chief Chinese rival Xiaomi. Samsung may face a possible downturn in the global mobile phone industry, however, the executive remained rather positive despite any looming difficulties ahead. "I can't tell you the specifics of the next foldable smartphone lineup, but Samsung is preparing various foldable phones to succeed the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip. There are lots of technology challenges ahead before releasing new mobile devices equipped with wow factors other than the recently-released Galaxies. Samsung will release a new smartphone with the best form factor and at the right time." Roh said the Galaxy Z Flip was the result of three years of development to ensure greater portability when the device is folded. "I personally hope the Z Flip will appeal more to millennials," he said, adding Samsung was aiming to push the released foldable handsets to mass market from the latter half of this year, at the earliest possible date. "The initial response to the new Galaxies looks good from clients and I have high expectations that their sales will exceed earlier forecasts and previous models," Roh said. Samsung shipped 36 million Galaxy S10s. Roh is well-regarded for his knowledge of engineering and design and has been put in charge of improving Samsung's reputation when it comes to quality. Under his predecessor, the company released the Galaxy Note 7, which had a battery problem that caused devices to catch fire. Samsung also had to delay the Galaxy Fold due to display issues. Roh said while Samsung Electronics is competing with Apple on the global market, his division won't chase the Cupertino-based iPhone designer in content-driven businesses. "My conclusion is Samsung should go back to basics. Samsung will do what we can do well. In terms of content and relevant service, I think we should collaborate with global players, strategically. As we have to offer the best experience to users with the right timing, Samsung's mobile division is shifting the business's main path," Roh said. Samsung Electronics previously attempted to create its own mobile operating system. It also invested in music and cloud computing-oriented services products with the company introducing Bixby an "artificial intelligence" platform. However, these failed to impress. While Roh is better known as a "cost-cutter" and a firm believer in active outsourcing, he told reporters that Samsung doesn't have any plans to massively increase its outsourcing for materials and components. Reuters Lawmakers from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling conservatives have backed a position paper on 5G mobile networks that recommends tougher rules on foreign vendors while stopping short of banning China's Huawei, sources said. The document was drafted by Christian Democrat leaders to address the concerns of party rebels who see Huawei as a threat to national security. It is intended to lay the ground for Merkel's coalition government to adopt a common position on 5G after months of divisive debate. The move rebuffs US President Donald Trump's calls on Washington's allies to bar the Chinese telecoms giant from next-generation networks after Britain stopped short of an outright ban and the European Union-backed a rules-based approach. Several party sources said on Tuesday that Christian Democrat lawmakers had supported the four-page paper that, instead of imposing any individual bans, sets out the principles of a risk-management approach. "State actors with sufficient resources can infiltrate the network of any equipment maker," it said. "Even with comprehensive technical checks, security risks cannot be eliminated completely they can at best be minimised. "At the same time, we are not defenceless against attempts to eavesdrop on 5G networks. The use of strong cryptography and end-to-end encryption can secure confidentiality in communication and the exchange of data." Ironing out differences with a bloc of pro-American lawmakers led by Norbert Roettgen, head of parliament's foreign affairs committee, marks an important step towards building a broader consensus in Merkel's ruling alliance with the Social Democrats and across party lines. It will also be important for Germany to present a coherent position at a security conference in Munich this weekend that will be attended by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. (Also read: Huawei participation in India's 5G trials a step in the right direction; could speed up commercial 5G rollout) Huawei dependency It would be costly and potentially risky for Germany, Europe's largest economy, to exclude Huawei. Its three network operators are all customers of the Chinese vendor and Berlin is concerned that such a move might provoke trade retaliation by Beijing. With that in mind, the paper makes a clear distinction between access, transport and core networks that are especially sensitive, thus allowing different handling of Huawei components in the various parts of the 5G network. The paper suggests using products from several companies to avoid a "monoculture", and calls for the concept of trustworthiness to be anchored in proposed tweaks to Germany's telecoms and IT security laws. "Equipment makers can only be trusted if they verifiably fulfil a clearly defined security catalogue that rules out any influence from a foreign state on our 5G infrastructure," the document says. The draft would also give operators until 2025 to swap out equipment from existing 4G networks that was supplied by vendors who fail certification checks, a position that would mitigate the cost to operators of ripping and replacing it. The position paper also calls for Germany to push for a wider European industrial policy to ensure that its own companies can build all elements of internationally competitive and secure 5G networks. It pushed back against hostile foreign takeovers, in an apparent reference to U.S. Attorney General William Barr's recent call to invest in Swedish equipment maker Ericsson or Finland's Nokia to gain a 5G foothold. Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm and Nokia's Rajeev Suri are due to meet Merkel on Thursday, according to officials from the German government and the companies. Bloomberg burn Re: Towers over Trump, Your Turn, Thursday: I agree with Ken Phelps that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg can stand up to President Donald Trump. While the Democrats have many strong 2020 candidates, Trump will attempt to destroy any one of them who wins the primary. We know that money and power are Trumps focus. Bloomberg has more of each and will not blink when attacked from all angles. It is time to fight fire with fire to save our democracy. Barbara Moschner Think hard, America President Donald Trumps State of the Union claims cannot gloss over his falsehoods. Andrew Yangs political slogan MATH Make America Think Harder speaks to the need for recognition and understanding of our changing country, among other things. To me, it also speaks to the need for more fact-checking of Trumps lies, exaggerations and misdirection from the truth. Americans need to think harder and look deeper for the truth and consequences of his and the GOP lies and misinformation. So thank you, Express-News, for providing fact-checking and in-depth articles to make Americans think harder. Our free press is a key element supporting American democracy. Journalists will make America great again. Eileen Block, Kerrville On ExpressNews.com: AP FACT CHECK: Trumps exaggerated great American comeback Road time up I wonder if the Bexar County commissioners have driven Perrin Beitel Road to Austin Highway lately. The construction project, according to the Bexar County website, was scheduled for completion in fall 2018. It is now February 2020 and we are still driving on a poorly made, temporary road. I wonder how many other Bexar County projects are more than a year past completion date? Chuck Wiatrowski Ministers are facing a backlash for putting free speech at risk today after unveiling plans for Ofcom to regulate 'harmful but not illegal' online content. Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said 'regulation is coming' as she laid out proposals for Ofcom - which already polices TV, radio and broadband - to be responsible for ensuring the internet is a 'safer place'. The watchdog would have powers to impose huge fines on companies that fail to protect vulnerable users. There are suggestions that penalties could be up to 5 per cent of revenue, which would be millions of pounds for a tech giant like Facebook. However, while the government insists the measures are designed to tackle problems such as online suicide forums, there is alarm that they could hammer legitimate internet content. The move could potentially apply to any news site with a comments section as well as social media, although the government previously said it would not 'duplicate' effective press regulation. There are fears the controls could end up spreading to editorial and critics warn that there are 'grey areas' that 'raise more questions than they answer'. The Adam Smith Institute said there was a danger of giving Ofcom 'the extraordinary power to decide what speech is and is not allowable on hundreds of thousands of websites'. The response to the consultation on the government's Online Harms White Paper was published by Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan (left) and Priti Patel (right) today Matthew Lesh, Head of Research at the think-tank, said the government should 'be wary' of giving Ofcom extra powers. 'The government is right to back down from broad brush censorship of the internet in favour of tackling criminals online but there remain grave concerns for all of us. The government has not stated what content is and is not in scope and what powers this regulator will have and it remains unclear how freedom of expression will be protected. 'We should be wary about giving Ofcom the extraordinary power to decide what speech is and is not allowable on hundreds of thousands of websites. Any speech that is legal to say offline should also be legal to say online in a free country no-one should have the power to force anyone to censor legal speech.' Mr Lesh pointed out that former Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright wrote to the Society of Editors last April, stressing that publications that are already 'well regulated' by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) would not be affected. But he said there were significant 'grey areas' in the latest proposals. 'This response doesn't mention it at all and notably it still says every site with a comment section - which includes online news site - will be in scope,' he added. 'So you would think newspapers would very much potentially be on the chopping board right now.' Mr Lesh also warned that exemptions for specific publications would 'raise more questions than they answer' about what is a news site and what is not. Proposals were put out for consultation in August which suggested allowing the regulator to issue fines against platforms and websites it judges to have failed to protect users from seeing harmful videos such as those depicting violence or child abuse. The penalties could be based on company revenue, potentially meaning they will be worth millions of pounds. The latest plans confirm that ministers are 'minded' to make Ofcom the watchdog, with tough powers that could include blocking sites and holding senior management liable. However, it says decisions will not be be taken until the Spring, and the exact punishments are not finalised. The response to the consultation on the Online Harms White Paper, published by Lady Morgan and Home Secretary Priti Patel today, stressed that there would be 'protections' to ensure the measures did not hit free speech. It says platforms will need to ensure that illegal content is removed quickly and minimise the risk of it appearing, with particularly strong action needed on terrorist content and online child sexual abuse. It also says future legislation will protect freedom of expression by not targeting or punishing individuals who access content which is legal, but may be offensive. Instead, the proposals suggest that 'companies will be required to explicitly state what content and behaviour is acceptable on their sites in clear and accessible terms and conditions, and enforce these effectively, consistently and transparently'. Internet giants including Facebook, Google and Twitter are set to be covered by the government proposals for making the internet safer The Government said the proposed legislation will apply to companies that allow the sharing of user-generated content - such as images, videos and comments. However, while ministers previously insisted that editorial content would not be covered, the response does not state explicitly that the regulator will only be looking at user-generated comment. Internet giants including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram are seen as the main targets of the proposed new rules, which are part of government plans to make the UK the 'safest place in the world to be online'. Facebook's head of UK public policy, Rebecca Stimson, said: 'Keeping people safe online is something we take extremely seriously. We have clear rules about what is and isn't allowed on our platforms and are investing billions in safety. 'Over the last few years we've tripled the size of our safety and security team to 35,000 and built artificial intelligence technology to proactively find and remove harmful content. 'While we recognise we have more to do, our regular transparency reports show we are removing more and more harmful content before anyone sees it and reports it to us. 'We look forward to carrying on the discussion with Government, Parliament and the rest of the industry as this process continues.' The Internet Association, the trade body which represents internet firms including Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter, called for clarity on 'issues of concern', including potential punishments for not removing content which could be considered harmful but is not illegal. Daniel Dyball, UK executive director at the Internet Association, said: 'Internet companies are committed to working with Government to achieve our shared goals of keeping people safe online and ensuring that the internet continues to deliver benefits to the economy and society. 'We will continue our constructive engagement on the issues of concern that are still under review - for example the scope of regulation, treatment of legal but potentially harmful content, and enforcement powers - and look forward to the full consultation response in the spring. 'These are complex topics, and it is essential that we find a solution that both enhances digital safety and fosters a thriving internet economy.' The Institute of Economic Affairs warned that 'vague' commitments on free speech were not enough. Victoria Hewson, the think-tank's Head of Regulatory Affairs, said: ''Everyone wants children and vulnerable people to be safe and terrorism to be tackled but handing power over what people are allowed to say and see online to a regulator is not a proportionate way to achieve this... 'A vague duty on Ofcom to 'pay due regard to safeguarding free speech' offers little consolation, and giving such powers to an independent regulator, with no clarity as to how its decisions can be appealed and challenged, threatens fundamental rights and the rule of law. Dame Melanie Dawes (pictured) has been named as the new head of regulator Ofcom 'The government is getting ahead of themselves by suggesting who the regulator will be before they have published the full consultation response on the substance of the proposed law. This disjointed approach does not inspire confidence that a rigorous process is being followed.' Lady Morgan said: 'With Ofcom at the helm of a proportionate and strong regulatory regime, we have an incredible opportunity to lead the world in building a thriving digital economy, driven by groundbreaking technology, that is trusted by and protects everyone in the UK. 'We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections, accountability and transparency people deserve.' Ofcom's interim chief executive Jonathan Oxley said: 'We share the Government's ambition to keep people safe online and welcome that it is minded to appoint Ofcom as the online harms regulator. 'We will work with the Government to help ensure that regulation provides effective protection for people online and, if appointed, will consider what voluntary steps can be taken in advance of legislation.' The regulator has also announced the appointment of a new chief executive, civil servant Dame Melanie Dawes, as part of its preparation for a new wider role. Concerns about the impact of social media on vulnerable people come amid suicides such as that of 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell in 2017, who was found to have viewed harmful content online. Molly's father, Ian, spoke of the urgent need for greater action in an emotional foreword to a Royal College of Psychiatrists report, in which he described the 'wrecking ball of suicide' that 'smashed brutally' into his family, blaming 'pushy algorithms'. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. A Florida jury acquitted a Chinese woman Wednesday of trespassing at President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort after she testified she didnt understand a security guard who told her to leave. However, jurors did find Jing Lu, 56, guilty of resisting a police officer without violence during her Dec. 18 arrest. The incident marked the second time in 2019 that a Chinese national was charged with illicitly entering Trumps Florida resort. Prosecutors told jurors that Lu purposely intruded in a calculated and planned manner. She has been in custody since her arrest because her visa to remain in the United States has expired. Prosecutors said she ignored a warning to leave the grounds and returned through a side entrance and continued taking pictures. Mar-a-Lago is now Trumps official residence, moving there from New York City last year, but he was not in Florida when Lu was arrested. Lu, testifying through a Mandarin interpreter, said she paid $200 for a Chinese guide to drop her off at various South Florida locations. She said her language barrier prevented her from understanding a security officers orders to leave the property. Security guard Murray Fulton told jurors he used hand gestures to make his warnings clear to her. Lus tour guide then took her to Palm Beachs Worth Avenue shopping district, where she was stopped by two Palm Beach police officers. They testified that she wouldnt consent to being questioned and resisted when they tried to handcuff her. Lu testified that she was scared when the officers approached her, adding that she didnt know why she was being handcuffed. Palm Beach County Judge Mark Eissey set Lus sentencing for Friday. She faces up to one year in jail on the misdemeanor charge. Mar-a-Lago has had a rash of security breaches, with at least three trespassing events over the past 14 months, two of them involving Chinese nationals. Last March, Yujing Zhang, a 33-year-old Shanghai businesswoman, gained access to Mar-a-Lago by telling Secret Service agents she was there to swim. Club staff then confused her for a members daughter and admitted her before she was stopped in the lobby by a suspicious clerk who alerted other agents. Zhang was carrying a laptop, phones and other electronic gear, which led to initial speculation that she might be a spy, but she was never charged with espionage and text messages she exchanged with a trip organizer indicated she was a fan of the president and wanted to meet him or his family to discuss possible deals. Zhang was found guilty in September of trespassing and lying to Secret Service agents. She was sentenced in November to time served and ordered deported. Now, there are times in winter when weather deserves extensive coverage. But having lived through the famous blizzard of 1967 and withstood a polar vortex or two, I consider myself quite beyond winter whimpering. At the first snowfall of every season, I gain some additional immunity by rereading Jack Londons short story To Build a Fire. In it there is this: When it is 75 below zero, a man must not fail in his first attempt to build a fire. This is especially true if his feet are wet. If his feet are dry, and he fails, he can run along the trail for half a mile to keep his blood moving. But the blood in wet and freezing feet cannot be kept moving by running when it is 75 degrees below. No matter how fast he runs, the wet feet will freeze even harder. Milestone Systems annual MIPS brings together a rich community of video, security, and technology solution partners focused on advancing innovation. Special guests including Milestone officers, industry leaders, renowned futurists, authors, and a popular TEDx speaker will share their inspirations. Milestone will also showcase three start-ups from its Kickstarter Contest with compelling technologies and businesses that comprehensively address pressing security and societal issues. Milestone Systems, a global provider of open platform video management software (VMS), is hosting the 2020 Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS) conference, in Dallas, Texas on February 17-19, 2020. Partners, customers and influencers are invited to register for the special two-day event. Applied innovation in video surveillance Milestone will feature a variety of speakers and topics, including TEDx speaker Anders Sorman-Nilsson, and one of the Top Ten Futurists in the world, Gerd Leonhard. The event will also include an exhibition pavilion featuring products and programs from partners including Axis Communications, Dell, Intel, Herta, Lenel S2, and Seneca Data and an innovation showcase with the three most promising ideas from Milestones incubator program, Kickstarter. We glimpse at the future through the ideas of our Kickstarter contestants" MIPS is a one-stop destination for applied innovation in video surveillance, notes Tim Palmquist, Vice President for the Americas at Milestone Systems. Each year we hear from an array of speakers that challenge our thinking about todays technology and the new frontiers of tomorrow. We see new products and programs from the most innovative companies in our industry. Together with XProtect, they serve the needs of our many customers. Finally, we glimpse at the future through the ideas of our Kickstarter contestants. MIPS is a hub for business, network connections and, above all, novel ideas! Video analytics Leveraging the power of the open platform, the Milestone XProtect video management software (VMS) is compatible with more than 8,500 security and surveillance devices, and more than 450 software integrations from over 3,500 technology partners. Technology partners include providers of network video cameras, cloud solutions, DVRs and NVRs, servers and storage equipment, alarm and detection systems, video analytics, GPS technology, laser and radar scanners, emergency call boxes and more. The open platform provides an opportunity to innovate freely as circumstances and opportunities dictate, not as a VMS provider dictates, says Palmquist. This freedom of innovation has already yielded some of the very best technologies and collaborations in the security industry. It has also resulted in scalable and future-proof systems in healthcare, education, city surveillance and other verticals where Milestone is the platform of choice and where professionals accept nothing less than freedom of choice to do their jobs at the best of their capacity. Milestone Marketplace 2.0 Integrators will promote their installation experience and connect with technology partners on Marketplace Milestone will launch version 2.0 of the Milestone Marketplace on its website which will enable customers to find resellers and integrators that deliver video solutions based on their pain points or location. Integrators will promote their installation experience and connect with technology partners on Marketplace hereby allowing end-users to access information on the latest innovations. By launching Milestone Marketplace 2.0, we are inviting customers to search for the latest and greatest technologies in our community. Milestone supports the co-creation of solutions, allowing our community to supply best-in-class technology for a variety of customer needs, says chief sales and marketing officer at Milestone, Kenneth Hune Petersen. Integrated cloud-based solutions A large part of the MIPS 2020 Dallas event focuses on the many advantages of an open solution, with the Milestone XProtect VMS platform enabling reliable and efficient integrations with thousands of third-party hardware and software products. Detailed discussions of solution applications as well as previews of new integrations and partnerships help integrators, resellers and partners of all types to shape the future of their own businesses. Cloud-based services and integrations will soon take video management systems to a new level MIPS 2020 promises to usher in new integrated cloud-based solutions, which will greatly impact the future of how video systems are designed, deployed, and monetised. Cloud-based services and integrations will soon take video management systems to a new level, expanding how security professionals think about technology and their own business models. Open for startups Additionally, three finalists in Milestone's annual Kickstarter contest will demonstrate their visions. MIPS 2020 participants will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite software coder with the winner being announced during the gala dinner. Milestone believes in inspiring talent to make the world see through connecting new technology ideas, business strategy, and innovation. Three 2020 finalists will have a chance to showcase their visions directly to the Milestone Community of partners and customers at the MIPS2020 conference and beyond. They are: Benoit Koenig is the co-founder and COO at Veesion. Benoit was confronted with shop-lifting on a regular basis in his family-owned supermarkets. During his studies in Artificial Intelligence, he saw the great potential of deep learning applied on video data, which inspired him to start Veesion with two other engineers. Veesion are developing a gesture recognition technology to detect shoplifting in the retail industry. Commenting on Benoits idea and company, Palmquist noted, Veesion is what MIPS is all about. This is an innovation that addresses a major commercial issue for retailers around the world but does so using technology in a respectful, considerate and intelligent manner. I am proud and encouraged that Veesion is enabled by the open platform. Jennifer Ivens is the founder of Canscan, a technology company that provides automated container inspection services. It was impatience and ambition that prompted her to leave her position as a logistics analyst for an ocean carrier to go into this business for herself. Canscans idea is the next-level shipping container checking system, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) called Virtual Checker. Jennifer and her team have come up with an innovation that addresses many social, economic, and criminal issues. It has the potential to avert some of the human tragedies we hear of and see on television across the globe each year, Palmquist said. Zeljko Tepic has over 15 years of experience in the development of client/server and cloud architectures. He works on projects involving advanced algorithms, signal processing, Artificial Neural Networks, deep learning, generic algorithms, fuzzy logic, spectral analysis, and more. Venzo Secures idea is to provide seamless awareness of critical events by transparently displaying an intuitive alert timeline on top of the XProtect Smart Client camera views. The solution will give customers the option to dynamically arrange a view of the cameras in the Smart Client which are closest to the event at hand, and to handle any related events, alarms, analytics or metadata inside the Milestone XProtect video platform, including those from third parties. Smart city managers, emergency responders, and police will benefit from this new technology enabling them to better respond during a crisis. This technology is poised to save lives, and I am proud that Milestone is supporting Venzo through our Kickstarter program, commented Palmquist. Over 750 attendees are expected to attend MIPS 2020 at The Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Centre on February 17-19, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Remember the crazy spike in Bitcoin's valuation during 2016-2017 and how it completely changed the way people looked at cryptocurrency, and how everyone wanted a piece of it? Youtube: Onecoin It's during this time that one woman actually took the trouble of starting their own cryptocurrency, managed to generate billions of dollars, only to be termed as a Ponzi scheme with her disappearing with $4 billion (approximately Rs 28,500 crores) worth of cryptocurrency. That's the story of OneCoin and its infamous founder Ruja Ignatova. What's OneCoin? Onecoin was advertised as a better and more powerful substitute to Bitcoin, and it had all the features Bitcoin did -- it could be mined using a computers resources, you could transfer money with encryption safely without leaving a trace, all using your smartphone, among other features. The brand boasted of a member base of 1.7 million. Youtube: Onecoin They also offered courses in cryptocurrency, trading investments, asset management etc, sold educational materials on discounted prices for participants who were already a part of the network. The whole enterprise, however, worked more like a pyramid-scheme company, where participants would get rewards by getting more people under their network in the form of -- you guessed it right -- OneCoin. They advertised OneCoin being the safest using Blockchain, as well as following KYC (Know Your Customer) to keep a track of people and prevent illegal acts like money laundering. They even promised that theyll conduct a monthly audit of the blockchain. Dr Ruja Ignatova: The face of OneCoin Dr Ruja Ignatova was the face of OneCoin since the very beginning. Originating from Bulgaria, at OneCoins first public event in 2016, she encouraged fans claiming that Onecoin was in fact a Bitcoin killer. She along with her team of fraudsters showed to the world how the brand was progressing and expanding. Investors were waiting to make the most of the platform and in 2017 this was soon going to happen. At an event in Lisbon, Ruja was being anticipated by its investors who wanted to discuss these concerns with her, however, she never showed up for the event -- a rare occurrence. Her phone became non-responsive. She wasnt responding to emails too. She was gone. False valuations, promises and safety When the police investigated OneCoin, they discovered the dark misinformation behind fancy gala parties and events to lure people on to the platform. Investigators discovered that the coins werent mined, unlike conventional cryptocurrency. Instead, programmers carefully programmed the coin to change their values. They even discovered that it didnt really have blockchain, meaning the transactions could be easily tracked. In fact, the people running OneCoin were actually allocating fake coins to its members that didnt really exist, completely taking away peoples hard-earned money. Facebook: Konstantin Ignatov Ruja Ignatovas Brother Admitted To The Scam While Ruja Ignatova was nowhere to be found, her brother and former bodyguard Konstantin Ignatov took over Onecoin in Rujas absence, but not for long, as in a few months he was arrested when he entered LAX International Airport. During the investigation, he signed a plea deal admitting his role in the multi-billion dollar cryptocurrency scam. Where is Ruja Ignatova now? Konstantin Ignatov, in his testimony to the FBI, mentioned that Rujas last known location was in Bulgaria, before the event in Lisbon. He said that he doesnt have any further information regarding her whereabouts. He even tried hiring a private investigator but had no luck. Further FBI investigations locate her last whereabouts at Athens, as she was thought to have boarded on a Ryanair flight from Sophia. At the time of writing this story, Ruja Ignatova's whereabouts are still unknown. Multiple people involved with OneCoin have been prosecuted with fraud in China, UK and US, according to reports, with the process of recovering investor money currently ongoing. Thomas Jefferson wrote, The most sacred of the duties of government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens. But the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has clearly abandoned that principle under the leadership of Attorney General William Barr, and thats why Barr needs to go. In an unprecedented and deeply unnerving move, the DOJ intervened this week in the impending sentencing of Trumps former ally and intermediary with WikiLeaks during the 2016 election, Roger Stone. The prosecutors had submitted their recommendations to the federal judge in the case, arguing that Stone should be given something within the federal sentencing guidelines for witness tampering and lying to Congress, so a total of seven to nine years in prison. President Trump tweeted that the recommendations for sentencing were horrible and very unfair situation. After Trumps tweet, the DOJ filed a memo significantly lowering the sentencing recommendation something unheard of by federal prosecutors, especially in cases of perjury and witness tampering and actions which strike at the pillars that uphold our justice system. Then, in another unprecedented move, all four prosecutors handling Trump ally Roger Stones case resigned from the case, with one prosecutor even quitting his job as the special assistant US Attorney in the Washington DC office. In September 2017, Roger Stone gave false testimony to Congresss House Intelligence Committee, which was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election at the time. Stones involvement was exposed by Special Counsel Robert Mullers investigation. He was then convicted by a federal jury early last year of lying to Congress and tampering with witnesses during the 2016 presidential elections. Mullers investigation exposed multiple other Trump team members who have subsequently been convicted for criminal acts, including Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Michael Cohen, and George Papadopoulos. The antics of this administration have gotten so bad that we no longer question whether every move Trump makes is in his self-interest rather than in the interest of the nation (see: the Senate impeachment trial). But any person who has ever lived under a dictatorship can tell you that when the federal institutions bow unquestioningly to the whims of a volatile and narcissistic political leader, democracy may have already gone down the drain. The actions of William Barr, the nations top law enforcement official, spelled trouble for the nations democracy since before he stepped onto the scene in his second act as Attorney General (his first being for then-president George H W Bush from 1991 tp 1993). When former AG Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Muller investigation in March 2017, Trump began attacking Sessions for not investigating Hillary Clinton, his opponent in the 2016 election. Then, in an apparent bid for the job and while he Sessions was still AG, Barr sent an unsolicited 19-page memo to the White House and the DOJ in June of 2018 attacking Muellers investigation. In September 2018, Jeff Sessions resigned from his role as AG and in February 2019, Barr stepped in. At the end of the Mueller investigation, the Special Counsel released the full report to Barr of his investigations findings. Barr then sent Congress a four-page letter in March 2019 completely mischaracterizing the Mueller reports findings. Barr then left this misleading letter as the only information available to Congress and the Americans public. Mueller later stated that Barrs letter didnt capture the context of the Trump probe at all. The DOJ was created after the end of the Civil War, when a large and increasingly expensive amount of litigation involving the US prompted concerned Congress to create "an executive department of the government of the United States" with the Attorney General as its head. The Act creating the DOJ came into law on July 1, 1870 and stipulated that the institution was empowered to handle all criminal prosecutions and civil suits in which the United States had an interest. The mission of the DOJ is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law;to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. And while the US Attorneys offices fall under the leadership of the AG, prosecutors are supposed to be independent and have a duty to uphold the rule of law in fact, our whole adversarial criminal system depends largely on the independence and impartiality of our government prosecutors. Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Show all 13 1 /13 Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Bolton Trump claimed to have fired Bolton, his national security adviser, while Bolton claimed he offered to resign. An anonymous White House source that Bolton's departure came as a result of the national security adviser working too independently of the president AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Anthony Scaramucci Scaramucci lasted only six days in his role as Trump's communications director before being fired by John Kelly, the incoming chief of staff Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rick Perry Rick Perry announced his resignation just as he became embroiled in the president's impeachment scandal. The White House said Mr Perry was asked by Donald Trump to work with Rudy GIuliani in regards to Ukraine. AP Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rex Tillerson Tillerson, Trump's first secretary of state, was fired after a series of clashes with the president over policy Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Mattis Mattis served as secretary of defense from the beginning of Trump's administration until retiring on 1 January 2019. However, the president later claimed that he had "essentially fired" Mattis Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Comey Comey was fired as director of the FBI early in Trump's presidency after serving in the role for four years prior. His dismissal is widely thought to have been related to the Russia investigation Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Reince Priebus Priebus, Trump's first chief of staff, was forced out after six tumultuous months AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out David Shulkin Veterans affairs secretary Shulkin claims that he was fired, the White House claims that he resigned Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Kelly Kelly, Trump's second chief of staff, was forced out after 17 months in office. His departure was a confused affair though it is clear that Trump wanted Kelly out AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Michael Flynn Flynn lasted 24 days as Trump's national security adviser before being fired for lying to the FBI Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Lee Cisna Cisna served as director of citizen and immigration services between October 2017 and June 2019 before being asked to resign amid a major personnel change in the department of homeland security Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Madeline Westerhout Westerhout served as Trump's personal assistant after leaking private information about his family AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Mira Ricardel Ricardel was forced out of her role as Deputy National Security Advisor after first lady Melania Trump publicly called for her to be fired The Justice Department itself is designed to be independent of the president and stands as one of several institutions that can curb presidential overreach. But not if the head of that institution doesnt care, and certainly not if the President and the Republican-led senate that prostrates to him doesnt see the value in separation of powers, either. Its clear that Barr sees himself as the Presidents counsel, not as the lead justice official for the United States of America and its people. The federal judge in the case can decide whether or not to follow the DOJs revised sentencing recommendations, but it doesnt matter in the long run because Trump can, and probably will, use his Art. II, Sec. 2 constitutional power to pardon Stone. We know that Trump and his nepotistic, inept administration is corrupt to the core, but we remain hopeful that our institutional checks and balances will preserve and uphold our democratic form of government. Eager to take the lead of Trumps rabid pack of sycophants, AG Barr has all but shackled himself to the President, bending the law to fit the Trumpian will. I fear that the outrageous and entirely unconstitutional antics of this administration and key players like Barr have exposed major faultlines in our democracy for the world to witness and pry open, as Russia already has. From the Mueller investigation to the impeachment and now the DOJs intervention in the sentencing of a convicted criminal on behalf of the president, America is starting to look, smell and feel more like a right-wing dictatorship every day. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 15:08:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close FUZHOU, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turning her folding table upside down, You Xiaoling rested her phone on the join of the table's legs with the camera facing down toward an exam paper. It was 7:00 p.m. and You, who teaches a senior class in a high school in east China's Fujian Province, started a livestreaming session with her students to analyze the exam paper. As schools across China are required to delay the opening of the spring semester due to the coronavirus outbreak, teachers like You are moving their classes online. "Online streaming is the 'trendiest' way of teaching I've ever seen in my career," teased You, who has over 22 years of teaching experience. Her computer is too outdated for livestreaming, so she uses her mobile phone. The upside-down folding table is a creative solution for a phone holder that she invented. Online teaching is a challenge for many teachers. To prepare her first broadcast, You and her colleagues spent an entire evening in an online chat group discussing details such as how to set up the phone, use the software and interact with students. Yao's folding desk is just one of many creative solutions for holding phones. A video showing teachers using daily objects such as electrical wires, calendar stands and electric fan bases to hold up their phone has been viewed over 8 million times on China's Twitter-like Weibo. The students also welcome such change in teaching methods. "Taking classes at home is something I wrote about in my fictional essays when I was a child, I never imagined it would come true," said Lan Xinping, a senior student at You's school. Lan thinks the method is flexible as she can have a small break for snacks and water when the content is something she already understands, but it is also strict, as they need to punch in on time and hand in homework on the platform. "More importantly, we can interact with the teacher anytime by sending real-time messages on the screen," Lan said. "We can also review the video many times after class." During You's broadcast, typing the numbers "111" on the screen is the code for "I don't understand." You said teaching online requires more preparation. "As I cannot see their reactions, I want to make sure that I've explained everything thoroughly, and often I have to extend the class time," she said. Some teachers appear more relaxed and active online, especially young teachers. They ask students for likes during the broadcast just as many online celebrities do, and students are often very generous in filling the screen with thumb-ups, You said. Teachers are usually the only ones speaking during the broadcast, and sometimes they take a pause and invite their students to chat. "The first thing many teachers say during the chat is 'Haven't heard your voice for a long time, miss you guys!'" said Lan. "And most students reply on the screen with 'We miss you too!'" Lipstick diaries: 7 lipstick lovers reveal their favorite kiss-proof picks originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Explore our GMA Valentines Day guide with DIY ideas, gift picks for your Valentine or Galentine, romantic dinner recipes and more. Whether you are getting together with your besties for Galentine's Day or prepping for a sweet date night kiss, having a lipstick that will stick around for a while doesn't sound like a bad idea. Amiright? MORE: Rihanna launches new 'Savage x Fenty' subscription box for $60 There are many mattes, liquids and cream textures that can all do the trick when it comes to lipsticks that are vibrant and long-lasting. With the huge variety of options out there, it can be a little daunting trying to figure out where to start when shopping for something new. Who better to ask than lipstick lovers who are in the know? Beauty editors, influencers and bloggers... that's who! With that, GMA has tapped seven trusted sources to find out exactly which lipsticks to get during the month of love, hugs and lots of kisses. "Good Morning America" has affiliate partnerships, so we will get a small share of revenue from your purchases through these links. All product prices are determined by the retailer and subject to change. By visiting these websites, you will leave GoodMorningAmerica.com and any information you share with the retailer will be governed by its website's terms and conditions and privacy policies." Shahd's Batal's kiss-proof pick: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color in Uncensored PHOTO: Shahd Batal (Courtesy Shahd Batal) Instagram: @shahdbatal "My favorite budge proof lipstick is Stunna by Fenty Beauty because the formula lasts all day with the thinnest coat, it's not drying like many liquid lipsticks and the colors are very universal, especially the red! It's really tricky finding the perfect red as a WOC but Rihanna figured it out. It's my go-to lipstick for a night out & I'm not afraid to wear it to dinner." - Shahd Batal, beauty and fashion influencer, YouTube vlogger Story continues Ellarie's kiss-proof pick: Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Hennyways PHOTO: Ellarie (Brandon Lundby) Instagram: @ellarie "I can eat or drink Henny-thing, and it stays put!" - Ellarie, beauty influencer, YouTube vlogger, entrepreneur Cat Quinn's kiss-proof pick: Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lipstick in Lover PHOTO: Cat Quinn (Courtesy Cat Quinn) Instagram: @catquinn "If I sweep this on in the morning, it will still be there at the end of the day after a workout, coffee, lunch, long meetings, and dinner. I've even kissed my fiance wearing it, and there wasn't a single trace of it on his lips. And I'm not the only one who loves it! We've talked to brides, makeup artists, chemistry professors, bloggers, teachers, actresses everyone who tries it absolutely swears by it." - Cat Quinn, beauty director, Refinery29 Dana Oliver's kiss-proof pick: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in PMS PHOTO: Dana Oliver (Courtesy Dana Oliver) Instagram: @danaoliver "Yes, it's a matte lipstick, but the hydrating, non-drying formula is nearly as perfect as Rihanna's cupid's bow. I remember wearing it for New Year's Eve and I didn't have to reapply, even after drinking glasses of champagne and nibbling on truffle French fries. Not to mention, the rich, chocolate color is a total throwback to the '90s dark lip trend made popular by style and music icons like Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Lil' Kim." - Dana Oliver, Yahoo lifestyle beauty director, Verizon Media Kristina Rodulfo's kiss-proof pick: Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Riot PHOTO: Kristina Rodulfo (Courtesy Kristina Rodulfo) Instagram: @kristinarodulfo "I am all about a matte lipstick and Nars makes some of the best. I recently wore Riot, a vibrant red, on a date and it not only lasted through a greasy Italian dinner, but also didn't transfer after a few pecks on the lips. Would it last through a full makeout session? I can't say, but I was impressed because red can be risky, but it didn't move." - Kristina Rodulfo, senior beauty editor, ELLE.com Jenny Jin's kiss-proof pick: Ilia Color Block High Impact Lipstick in Knockout PHOTO: Jenny Jin (Courtesy Katharine Friedgen) Instagram: @jyjin "I find that a lot of lipsticksparticularly the ones that claim long wearare very drying. Ilia's is one of very few that don't turn my lips into shriveled raisins after an hour. The color is full coverage upon application, but it gradually wears down to a nice stain (as seen here). No matter how many cups of coffee I drink (or how many times I lick my lips throughout the day), I still have a pretty wash of color left behind whenever I use this stuff. Plus, it's one of the cleanest lipsticks out therewith no parabens, phthalates, etc. (Thank goodness, too, given the aforementioned lip licking.)" - Jenny Jin, senior beauty editor, PureWow Maya Allen's kiss-proof pick: Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bawse PHOTO: Maya Allen (Ruben Chamorro) Instagram: @mayaalenaa "I've never met a red I've loved more than this one. My love affair with this lipstick started three years ago and it's been my #1 Bae ever since. When I put this fiery-red shade on, I instantly feel Independent, fierce, empowered, and unapologetic. It's a mood-boosting red that always signifies a good start to a fun night. I can depend on it to last through many rounds of Mimosas at boozy brunches, and to calm my nerves at bone-chilling job interviews since the stunning shade practically begs for compliments. I'm low-maintenance when it comes to upkeep, yet extremely extra when it comes to snapping selfies. My favorite thing about this liquid lipstick is I don't ever have to worry about re-applying it and it feels so comfortable." - Maya Allen, digital beauty editor, MarieClaire.com Editor's note: This was originally published on Feb. 6, 2019. TAIPEI, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Taiwan's government on Tuesday raised its travel warning for the new coronavirus, advising people not to visit Hong Kong or Macau unless they have to, and to take precautions if going to Singapore or Thailand. The announcement comes as the death toll from the coronavirus epidemic in mainland China soared past 1,000 with a record daily rise in fatalities. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard Editing by Shri Navaratnam) Expressing concern over the Congress debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday the time to act is now as he called for a "surgical action" to revive the outfit. The Congress drew a blank for the second time in a row and saw its vote share dipping from 9.7 per cent in 2015 to 4.27 per cent this time. Moily, a former union minister, argued that the Congress could not perform because its "votebanks have been transferred to AAP as they thought only he (AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal) can defeat the BJP." "That's how the people have come to that conclusion.. no use in supporting Congress party; otherwise it will benefit BJP," the former Karnataka Chief Minister told PTI. "We are concerned. Scenario of Delhi is that people (voters) didn't take the Congress seriously. They thought that they should not divert their votes, our own votebanks which normally used to come to us, have gone to AAP," he said. Moily said the Congress is concerned and worried about the humiliating defeat in Delhi, adding, "it's a lesson which we have to learn." The focus now should be on reviving, rebuilding and rejuvenating the party, he said. "The Congress requires total rejuvenation. You can't point (fingers at) out one or two leaders (for electoral setbacks), accountability will have to be taken by every Congressman...rank and file," Moily said. "Now, this is the time to act for rejuvenation of the party. It has to be revamped. Surgical action will have to be taken so that it starts yielding the results," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Gloucester County jury has found a man not guilty of murder in the stabbing death of his father. Joseph I. Zambuto, 38, claimed he acted in self-defense when his dad, also named Joseph, was killed in a confrontation at the sons Monroe Township home in May 2015. The prosecution said the son acted in a fit of anger and was the aggressor. The defendant was overwhelmed by Wednesdays verdict. He was very emotional, defense attorney Jeffrey Zucker said. He had his 6-year-old daughter and his mother in the courtroom it was a pretty emotional scene. Hes obviously very pleased. This was Zambutos second trial in the case. The first ended in a hung jury in 2017 when jurors could not reach a verdict. The jury in his second trial deliberated Tuesday afternoon and for a few hours Wednesday before finding him not guilty of first-degree murder and weapons offenses, as well as lesser included offenses of aggravated manslaughter, passion provocation manslaughter and reckless manslaughter. Jurors deliberated about six hours in all. The conflict between father and son centered on the younger Zambutos plans to sell his home and the home where his parents lived next door he owned both houses and move with his fiancee and young child to Puerto Rico. Zambuto was a successful stock trader and was moving for tax reasons, and to get away from his domineering father, Zucker said during the trial. The defense argued that the elder Zambuto was a controlling and violent man who was angry about his sons plans and came to his sons house to confront him. The younger Zambuto was laid up in bed with a broken foot when the encounter occurred. The son testified that his father brought a 13-inch collectible knife from the Rambo 3 movie to the house and threatened him with it. The prosecution argued that the son had the knife in his own home and drove it into his fathers chest. The knife was part of a collection belonging to the son that he said had previously been moved to his parents home in an effort to baby-proof the young couples house. First Assistant Prosecutor Paul Colangelo expressed his appreciation for the jurys service following the verdict. Though disappointed in the result, we appreciate the attention paid by the jury to the presentation of evidence in the case and thank its members for their service and consideration, he said. Zucker called the death a tragedy, but said this was a case of self-defense. Zambuto, who now lives in Puerto Rico, is free to return home and resume his life. His life has been on hold for five years, Zucker said. First Assistant Prosecutor Paul Colangelo presents a piece of evidence to Monroe Township Police Officer Nick Iacovone during the murder trial of Joseph I. Zambuto in Gloucester County Superior Court, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media 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. Woman In Iran Dies Of 'Suspected Coronavirus,' Patients In Russia Recover 02/12/20 Source: RFE/RL A woman has died in Tehran of a suspected coronavirus infection, an Iranian state newspaper reports. Without citing any sources, the daily IRAN newspaper said on February 12 that the 63-year-old Iranian woman died in hospital three days earlier. An investigation has been ordered into the cause of her death, according to the report. Kianush Jahanpour, a spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry, denied the report, insisting that there have been "no cases of coronavirus in Iran." Russian Patients Discharged Meanwhile, Russia has discharged its second patient hospitalized with the new coronavirus after the patient fully recovered from the disease, officials say. A tourist from China hospitalized in the Siberian region of Zabaikalye was discharged on February 12 after tests showed he was "completely healthy and poses no danger to people around him," according to local health officials. The previous day, a hospital in the Tyumen region bordering Kazakhstan discharged a Chinese female student who had also been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. Both patients suffered from a mild form of the disease, doctors said. People who were in contact with them are still under quarantine. The COVID-19 has killed more than 1,100 people in China, where the overall number of infections now stands at more than 44,000. As the epidemic spread to more than 20 countries around the world, Russia reported only two confirmed cases of infection with COVID-19, according to the country's consumer-protection agency Rospotrebnadzor. Russia has evacuated dozens of its citizens from China and placed them under quarantine in the Tyumen region. The government has halted most of Russian air traffic to China, suspended all trains connecting Russia to China, and closed the land border between the two countries. Moscow has also temporarily stopped issuing work visas to Chinese citizens. Uzbeks Send Medical Supplies Elsewhere, Uzbekistan is sending protective cloths, disposable gloves, masks, and other supplies to China to support Beijing's efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. President Shavkat Mirziyoev signed the relevant decree on February 11, the government said, as a fully loaded military cargo plane departed the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The February 12 cabinet statement said the government was preparing a second shipment. Chinese authorities have been reporting shortages of protective medical equipment since the COVID-19 virus emerged late last year. So far, there have been no confirmed cases in Uzbekistan or the other four Central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan has stopped all regular flights to China, its major trade partner, as a protective measure. The country's Health Ministry said 771 Uzbek citizens who had recently returned from China remained in quarantine. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP Canberra: An Australian senator on Tuesday sparked a controversy by claiming that the eco-terrorists were responsible for the unprecedented bush fire crisis in the country. Senator Concette Fierravanti-Wells, who is also a senior member of the ruling conservative Liberal party and a former government minister, made the remarks while addressing the countrys Parliament on Tuesday. The 59-year-old senator also called on the nations spies to investigate the bush fire crisis, which according to her, was caused by the Eco-terrorists. "This season has been dominated by natural causes, mainly lightning," he said in January. Fierravanti-Wells claimed that the vast number of fires that started around the same time "not only gave the impression of the possibility of arsonist attack but also suggests a level of coordination." "Who are they? What was their motive and intent? Are they lone actors or part of a sinister collective conducting Eco-terrorism?" she asked. Fierravanti-Wells is the latest lawmaker from Prime Minister Scott Morrison's party to blame arson for the bush fires. However, Head of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Shane Fitzsimmons, said that arsonists were not the main cause of the fire that tore through millions of hectares of south-eastern Australia in 2019. The bush fires have reignited Australia's climate change debate, and the senator's comments echo online disinformation about the cause of the flames. Over months blazes scorched more than 10 million hectares in the country's east and south, killing at least 33 people and an estimated billion animals while destroying more than 2,500 homes. It is believed that the massive bush fires were exacerbated by prolonged drought and worsened by climate change in the country's hottest and driest year on record. Governors of the South-east geo-political zone, on Wednesday, endorsed the new community policing model of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), for effective security in the zone. Rising from the South East Geo-political Security Summit, initiated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, the governors in a communique read by the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, David Umahi, said that contents of the new community policing strategies of the police were not different from their security measures already in place in the zone. Mr Umahi disclosed that South-east governors, before the summit, had a closed-door meeting with the Inspector General of Police, at the Government House, Enugu, where the police chief explained to them extensively the concept and effectiveness of the community policing in addressing security challenges in the zone. Other governors at the event include the host governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and the governor of Imo State, represented by his deputy, Placid Njoku. Speaking further, Mr Umahi added that all security concerns raised by the traditional and religious leaders in the South-east zone, including those presented by the Imeobi of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, at the last meeting of the South East Governors Forum, have been addressed in the community policing strategy of the Nigeria Police Force. The governor, who maintained that the people of the zone will begin to see a lot of positive changes as a fallout of the summit, pointed out the governors have agreed to invest in social intervention programmes for teeming youths. According to him, The community policing was proper and explained to us in full details and it is not different from our Neighbourhood Watch and the Vigilante operation, the Forest Guard, the gate keepers, the herdsmen and farmers conflict committees and others. And so we saw that this is totally in tandem with what we pray. We decided as your governors to embrace this initiative of community policing, which is an official endorsement in line with what the police and what we are doing to safeguard the lives and property of our people. In his address, IGP Adamu Abubakar, who described the South-east summit as the best in the country, noted that the event was convened within the framework of our community policing initiative and as part of the strategies of Nigerian Police to employ all inclusive strategy towards helping us in the achievement of our internal security management, particularly in the South Eastern states. The IGP disclosed that the community policing approach was necessitated by the increasing complexity of crime and the challenges of policing the vast and diverse country such as Nigeria, stressing that this requires that the Nigerian police should continually engage the citizens in seeking their input and soliciting their support. He appreciated the governors of the South-east, the traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders across the states of the zone for their active participation in the event which he said was the 6th and the best of the security summits across the six geo-political zones of the country. All the summits ended in a very successful outcome and I am delighted to confirm that the strategies jointly developed as well as the partnership we built at the meetings that were so far held, have been effective in addressing the security tricks that are peculiar to each of the geo-political zones. Earlier in his address, Mr Ugwuanyi who welcomed the Inspector General of Police to Enugu State, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed optimism that the summits outcome will facilitate rejigging and re-tooling of the security architecture in the South-east geo-political zone and bring it up to speed with emerging dimensions of insecurity and criminality. While noting that the summit was both timely and most compelling, Mr Ugwuanyi congratulated the Inspector General of Police and his team for the great initiative, maintaining that his administration has not rested on its oars in providing a safe and secure environment for residents to live, work and enjoy their leisure. According to him, We have strengthened our Neighbourhood Watch Associations, blazed the trail in enthronement of Forest Guards which is a novel initiative of the South East Governors Forum and have continued to support the security agencies in our state with security patrol vehicles, communication gadgets, etc. We have institutionalized the needed collaboration between our Neighbourhood Watch groups, Forest Guards and security agencies especially in the area of intelligence sharing. Enugu State Security Trust Fund law is in place to ensure sustainable support for security agencies in the state while the State Forest Guards law is before our State House of Assembly. We are also on the threshold of deploying our Automated Drone Surveillance Solution to give the needed impetus to our security surveillance. Mr Ugwuanyi who stressed his administrations commitment to security and welfare of the people as enshrined in the countrys constitution, expressed hope that the outcome of the interactions will chart the course for improved security of the South East zone as a significant co-factor in our economic development. Other speakers at the event were the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr Njoku; President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo; Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma; Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Lawrence Agubuzu; and the Guest Speaker, Felix Asogwa, who presented the Keynote Address. Source: Enugu State Government BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkish Armed Forces will strike at the Syrian regime forces in case of repeated provocation by the Syrian government, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports with reference to Turkish media. Erdogan noted that Turkey doesnt intend to turn a blind eye to the provocations of the Syrian regime, adding that Turkey will do everything in order to force the Syrian regime to comply with the Sochi agreement. The Turkish president said that 15 Turkish soldiers were killed and 45 were injured in Idlib district. Earlier, Erdogan said that Turkey decently responded to Syrias shelling a convoy of the Turkish military. On Feb. 10, the Turkish army stroke at 115 targets of the Syrian Armed Forces after Turkeys observation post was shelled and five Turkish soldiers were killed in the shelling. As many as 101 Syrian soldiers were killed in the strikes. Three tanks, two artillery mortar strongholds were destroyed and one helicopter was shot down. The Sochi agreement was concluded on Sept. 17 2018 by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the agreement, the cease-fire in the Idlib region would be preserved, with the withdrawal of heavy arms and radicals from the region. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Smuggled gold weighing 1.066 kg and worth Rs 44.96 lakh was seized at Jaipur International Airport here from two passengers, who hid the yellow metal in their rectum, a Customs official said Wednesday. Both the accused were arrested upon landing at the airport from international flights coming from Bangkok and Dubai late on Tuesday night, the officer said. "Acting on the intelligence and profiling, two passengers were detained for interrogation. They were concealing gold paste pallets in rectum, which were recovered after the due process. Both the accused have been arrested," Customs Deputy Commissioner Yatish Mani told PTI. He said both men were working as carriers for petty cash and do not know the source and delivery clients. They do not hold any past crime record, he added. The arrested accused were identified as Mohammad Bilal, a resident of Ghaziabad, who had landed at the airport from Bangkok and Mahamood Abdul Nazir, a resident of Kasaragod in Kerala. Gold weighing 590 grams (Rs 24.65 lakh) and 476 grams (Rs 20.31 lakh) of 99.5 per cent purity was recovered from the respective accused. The two men are being further interrogated about the nexus between the source and delivery clients, the officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) . , - . , . ... BUCKS COUNTY >> Police in Northampton, Lower Southampton and Upper Makefield townships report the following incidents and arrests: Lower Southampton THEFT >> In the early morning hours on Monday, Jan. 10 two individuals made off with the entire change machine from the Feasterville Laundromat along Bustleton Pike. The male appears to be "cracking himself up" while he hatches his scheme... Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Congress and the Supreme Court should not sit idly by as the executive moves to scrap the two-decade-old military agreement with the United States. In a statement on Wednesday, Del Rosario criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement a 1998 pact that legally allows the entry of a large number of American troops, exempting them from passport and visa regulations so they can participate in military activities in the Philippines. EXPLAINER: The Visiting Forces Agreement Like some senators, Del Rosario believes ending the VFA is as good as terminating two other major military agreements the Mutual Defense Treaty, which states that each country would come to the defense of the other in case of an attack by a foreign country, and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which allows the US military to maintain barracks and weapons storage structures inside five Philippine military camps. "This continuing shift in foreign policy casting aside a long time reliable ally in favor of an aggressive neighbor that has been blatantly demonstrating its lack of respect for international law is incomprehensible and harmful to our country and our people," Del Rosario said without elaborating. Duterte's foreign policy has been characterized as a pivot away from the US and towards China even as Beijing rejects Manila's arbitration win that invalidated its sweeping claims in the South China Sea. "What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy which should be resisted. It is our earnest hope that this most unfortunate decision to abrogate can be revisited," Del Rosario said. "Our people must take a stand. We appeal to our esteemed institutions such as Congress and the Supreme Court to lead us," he added. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III earlier said he is inclined to support the stand that the Senate should be consulted on the termination of any treaty the same way the ratification of an agreement needs its concurrence. A similar case was presented to the Supreme Court following Duterte's pullout from the International Criminal Court, which is reviewing the country's bloody war on drugs. Petitioners said the move requires Senate concurrence but the high court did not decide on the issue until the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, took effect in March 2019. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in a separate statement on Wednesday said lawmakers can challenge the VFA termination before the Supreme Court, but noted that the Constitution does not require Senate action to effectively terminate a treaty. "Although a treaty is considered part of the law of the land, it does not belong to the class of ordinary statutes that pass through the entire legislative process; i.e., its abrogation is not similar to the repeal of an ordinary statute," Guevarra added. He shared Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Felimon Santos' view that the Philippines' can live without the VFA. "We survived the historic termination of the Military Bases Agreement; Theres no reason why we shall not survive the termination of a mere Visiting Forces Agreement, Guevarra said. Santos said the Balikatan, or the annual military exercises between Filipino and US troops, will still push through since it is initially set for May before the VFA is effectively terminated. The VFA remains in force for 180 days after either party notifies the other of its intent to abrogate the pact. READ: 318 PH-US military activities still pushing through before VFA ends Duterte pushed through with terminating the VFA despite concerns raised by several officials, including his Foreign Affairs Secretary, Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. In a Senate hearing last week, the senior diplomat pushed for a "vigorous review" of the VFA instead, saying the continuance of the agreement "is deemed to be more beneficial" for the Philippines. He highlighted the benefits that the Philippines has been getting from the VFA: military assistance, financial grants, and deterrence against possible attacks from other countries, among others. The Philippine Senate also passed a resolution calling for a thorough review of the VFA before coming to a decision regarding its fate. Duterte ordered the termination in response to the US' cancellation of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa's US visa. The Philippine senator known to have close ties with Duterte acknowledged that the revocation of his visa may have something to do with alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch as chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018. The Duterte administration has repeatedly criticized the US for meddling in the Philippines' local affairs. Eight Democratic candidates, including incumbents Pat Cotham and Ella Scarborough, will vie in the March primary for three at-large Mecklenburg County commissioner seats. No Republicans filed to run for the at-large spots. Trevor Fuller, the third at-large incumbent commissioner, is running for U.S. Senate. The only other primary for county commissioner is in District 3, currently held by Chairman George Dunlap, a Democrat. His challenger is Cade Lee, a UNC Charlotte student. In fiscal year 2020, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners which also includes six representatives elected by district approved a $1.9-billion budget, allocated across affordable housing, social services, public health, parks and greenways, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, among other initiatives. Many of those budget priorities seem under-funded, according to more than 3,000 residents who responded to a recent Mecklenburg County budget survey for fiscal year 2021. Commissioners had adopted their budget, representing a $160 million increase from the previous fiscal year, following the 2019 county property tax hike. The eight at-large candidates are: Scarborough and Stevenson did not respond to a Charlotte Observer survey for this story. Affordable housing crisis Theres an estimated deficit of 34,000 affordable housing units in the Charlotte area. While all candidates recognize the urgent need to aid lower-income residents, they disagree on possible solutions namely, a combination of physical housing stock, comprehensive social services and shared resources with the city. Story continues McKinnon said Mecklenburg will not build its way out of this crisis, especially with steep population growth. Ray McKinnon One option, McKinnon suggested, is to assuage the costs developers encounter within the affordable housing market. Where we can offer relief or incentives to, effectively, reduce property taxes on developers who are building affordable units specifically for those at or below thirty-percent of the area median income, must be considered, McKinnon wrote in response to the survey. But if there are tax-relief incentives, we must have a claw-back if those affordable units arent kept affordable for at least a decade. Cotham said the county must do a better job of identifying root causes and then proactively preventing problems, such as financial literacy, mental well-being and eviction policies. Rental subsidies are so helpful to neighbors who have worked to get into safe housing, Cotham wrote. Data shows that if a person or family is in stable housing the result is less need for services and a higher standard of living and more success for their children. Leigh Altman But Tera Long said she believes that rental subsidies represent a temporary solution to a long-term problem. The (county commissioners) should carefully analyze how other successful places, including large cities, are addressing it and develop a master plan of execution, Long wrote. Whats clear is that the market alone wont solve this growing problem and local government must incentivize the building of low-cost housing. Lloyd Scher, alongside other candidates, advocated for increased collaboration with city and nonprofit partners to combat the affordable housing crisis. Leigh Altman, a political newcomer who substantially outraised her opponents, said commissioners should focus on increasing residents household wealth and purchasing power. The County should significantly scale-up efforts to train and connect adults who are ready to work to good-paying jobs in tech, skilled trades, and healthcare among other hiring industries with labor shortages in our region, Altman wrote. Public support for arts funding At-large candidates are divided over Mecklenburgs responsibility to support the arts after the failed quarter-cent sales tax last November. Some candidates say taxpayers shouldnt bear the burden for the arts, arguing that a number of county services are also under financial strain. Given the Countys responsibility for critical safety-net social services, CMS funding, our long-neglected parks, as well as other essential priorities, solving the long-term financial plan for our arts community may require a deeper commitment from both the business community and the City, Altman wrote. But other challengers counter that without a vibrant arts and cultural scene and the countys backing residents will suffer from associated benefits, including economic growth. Cotham is a proponent of giving funds to specific arts groups a framework that would give the county better oversight and control of taxpayer dollars, she said. Adding small grants for smaller groups would benefit them so much, Cotham wrote. There are many ways we could make a difference without spending $20M a year as the tax would have done. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham McKinnon has a similar philosophy that stops short of fully funding local arts organizations. The county (and other municipalities) should offer funds to help private non-profits meet any funding gaps, McKinnon said. The County must also ensure that smaller organizations which are local-artist led have access to public funds. Long said she does not favor raising taxes on our hard-working citizens. But Long said she would support creating county-funded meeting spaces. Tera Long Such spaces could provide a community gathering place where local artists could promote and sell their work, Long wrote in her survey response. Scher said a strong arts and parks community is critical for making the Charlotte region sustainable and livable. He said that a future sales tax referendum must be transparent to voters. We need to go back to the voters of Mecklenburg and this time outline exactly where the money will be spent... Scher wrote. It is imperative we rebuild the public trust to help get bonds (passed). Lloyd Scher Looking ahead to November Two Democratic county commissioners Vilma Leake, of District 2, and Mark Jerrell, of District 4 are running unopposed. Democrat Elaine Powell, vice chair of the county commissioners, will defend her District 1 seat in north Mecklenburg against Jim Puckett, the former incumbent. District 5 in southeast Charlotte is open after Susan Harden, a major proponent of the sales tax referendum, announced she wouldnt seek re-election. Democrat Laura Meier, a former CMS teacher, faces Republican Matthew Ridenhour, the former incumbent. And in District 6, in south Mecklenburg, Democratic incumbent Susan Rodriguez-McDowell is running against Republican Joel Levy, an attorney, this November. Click a candidate's name to read an explanation to his or her answer. What should be the role of the county which allocates $22 million for affordable housing in closing the affordable housing gap and promoting other initiatives, such as rental subsidies? Lloyd Scher We need to work closely with the city of Charlotte and create safe and affordable housing. There are nonprofit organizations like Crisis Assistance Ministry that can help by providing the costs of deposits and the first and second months; rent to help individuals obtain housing. I am familiar with the old Section 8 program and if it is still available we should work with the federal government to provide help with our citizens. I am not sure if those programs are still available with the federal government. If not we should be looking into creating a similar program in Mecklenburg. Patricia Since being elected in 2012, I realize that issues are more complicated than they seem. I have long advocated for the county to become more involved with housing as the current situation is dire and I do not believe the city can do it alone. We must help. Often we react to problems, but I think we need to also try to prevent problems. Our Health Department through the Village Heartbeat Program is doing a great job preventing chronic health problems. We need a comparable program for housing. We have a dire need in housing our neighbors who earn 30% of the area medium income (AMI). We have 27K in that category. In a "perfect world" it might make sense to build housing with different financial levels, but we have an enormous amount of people at the lowest level and we are not responding aggressively enough. I think we can do many things. First, we can donate funds to help the city with their funding. We have done that and we need to continue. But we also need to identify root causes and increase our efforts to prevent evictions and other serious matters leading to homelessness. We need to talk more to the state to get them to change policies on evictions and leasing that unfairly hurt low-income residents. We need more classes on budgeting, financial literacy and caring for a home/apartment. Rental subsidies are so helpful to neighbors who have worked to get into safe housing. Data shows that if a person or family is in stable housing the result is less need for services and a higher standard of living and more success for their children. Too many of our people are so stressed about housing and lack thereof. We have to "attack" this problem from many different angles. Social workers also need to be able to Identify mental health issues that also add to the securing of stable housing. Finally, we should not blame developers -- it happens too often. They are in business to make money; they are not social workers. But many want to help! We need to help them "make the numbers work" by assigning them special inspectors who show-up quickly to save them funding on the project. Many Faith Communities want to help in different ways and we need someone to engage them for better results. This is an "all hand on deck" project. We can do it! George Dunlap It is the responsibility of the County Commission to support families. Providing all of the supportive services we provide wont mean much if the families are not in a stable environment. Affordable housing is a community problem and one way we can help improve the condition of our community is by helping to close the affordable housing gap to include providing rental subsidies, setting an affordable tax rate, offering tax breaks to seniors, along with other initiatives that support homelessness. Cade Lee The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) must be proactive in affordable housing and economic mobility opportunities. Rather than being reactive once residents are homeless, we must strengthen our economic mobility programs and job opportunities; guarantee legitimately affordable housing options; and invest in community development to end the cycle of homelessness and economic disparities. We must continue the expansion of rental subsidies and affordable housing vouchers, while taking a comprehensive approach to work with CMS and community partners to end youth homelessness; provide adequate funding to end 'school lunch debt' and let families send their kids to school without obstacles; and ensure proper funding and opportunities for our elderly residents such as expansion of Aging in Place to reach veterans, families, single parents, and a broader age range. We cannot look at affordable housing without talking about economic mobility, as residents do not become homeless or impoverished spontaneously. The BOCC must work with the community and private partners to guarantee: affordable housing options for residents earning under 30% AMI; an end to predatory real estate and developer behaviors that lead to gentrification; and equitable economic development and commercial development across Mecklenburg to ensure job and financial security to all residents. When elected, I will form partnerships with businesses and developers dedicated to growing communities, not those growing their bank accounts to the detriment of low-income communities. We must invest in environmentally sustainable housing with companies like ICAST, which reduces our carbon footprint, the environmental impact of multi-family housing, and provides green jobs. By investing in solar, green housing, and multi-family housing, we reduce economic mobility gaps, provide for traditionally underserved communities and we show our commitment to people and the planet over profits. Leigh Altman The lack of affordable housing is one of voters' top priorities across the county. Although affordable housing historically has been in the wheelhouse of the city, this current County Commission has made new investments in shelters, home repair programs, and the establishment of a rental subsidy program. I strongly support this, and I believe the county should use every opportunity to increase affordable housing stock. That being said, the county remains responsible for public health, mental health, welfare, education, and the environment. These are core functions for which the county is chiefly responsible at the local level, and we have some severe gaps in funding for these critical priorities. In the housing crisis, in addition to working to increase affordable housing units, I think it is also important to focus on ways to increase the household wealth of our residents and their purchasing power. The county should significantly scale-up efforts to train and connect adults who are ready to work to good-paying jobs in tech, skilled trades, and healthcare - among other hiring industries - with labor shortages in our region. Ray Shawn McKinnon The reality is that we will not build our way out of this crisis. While our population has grown by 22% from 2007-2017, according to a study by UNCC, new units only increased by 14%. We aren't building even as fast as our population growth; we are growing faster than we can even build units. This doesn't even take into account the other factors which contribute to the housing crisis--namely, wages. In the purview of the commission, it is important to constantly consider the trickle-down costs of fees associated with development and permitting. Where we can offer relief or incentives to, effectively, reduce property taxes on developers who are building affordable units--specifically for those at or below 30% of the area median income, must be considered. But if there are tax-relief incentives, we must have a claw-back if those affordable units aren't kept affordable for at least a decade. Tera Crumbley The county should assume a leadership role and form an intergovernmental committee including BOCC, the City Council and legislators. Grassroots organizers and businesses should be given a seat at the table. They need to discuss the problems the people face holistically, consider all pooled resources available, discuss all working models and analyze their success. Lack of quality public transportation, for example, makes it more difficult for many to access affordable housing. Carefully analyze how other successful places, including large cities, are addressing it and develop a master plan of execution. What's clear is that the market alone won't solve this growing problem and local government must incentivize the building of low-cost housing. On the other hand, I am convinced that rental subsidies represent a temporary solution to a long-term problem. One creative idea that has been raised to specifically address homelessness, is to convert vacant facilities into sustainable long-term housing. I am also impressed with the model that the Mens Shelter utilizes. Men live at the shelter for a while and then can move into an apartment style building. The men are required to pay in 30% of their income. Concerned people in our community have found some good, working solutions in our city, but it just is not enough. Finally, we need to incentivize teachers and develop and provide world class education broadly so we can build strong middle class instead of just leaving people behind and scrambling to survive. In light of recent developments at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, including a change in top leadership and scrutiny over a faulty security system, what responsibility do commissioners have in overseeing how county taxpayer money is used within the school district? Lloyd Scher When I was a county commissioner I was able to create an earmark to provide teachers with increase in their summer supplement. I would like to study if we can do something similar to make sure the money goes to budget request by the school board. I would like to review each line item of the school board's budget request like we do the county budget. I would like to arrange quarterly meetings reviewing how the money given by the county is being properly spent. We can no longer just give money to the school board as a blank check without making sure it is being spent correctly. It is like the bond money we have given them in the past and it is not used to build the schools, which was requested and then we learned the bond money was shifted to another project. We have a fiduciary responsibility to the public to make sure the money is being spent wisely and for the purpose it was intended. Patricia Since 2012 I have heard commissioners complain that the state does not give us authority to oversee where our CMS funding is applied and whether it was diverted from their budget requests. It would help build trust if we knew exactly how the funds of the people are used. I think it is unfortunate that CMS must do their budget before they know what funds they will receive from the state. I wish the county and CMS would do our budgets like the state: every two years with minor tweaks in the other year. Then we would be "on the same page" with funding. It would also result in less finger pointing and more collaborative solutions. George Dunlap There have been changes in both the leadership of the school system and leadership on the school board. Both boards are working together to improve the relationship between the two boards, as well as improve accountability. The County Commission has no direct supervision of the school board, which is directly accountable to the citizens, just as the County Commission is. We are a funder of the school system; therefore, it is in the best interest of both boards to have a good working relationship so that collectively we can address the educational concerns of our community. Cade Lee For too long, Mecklenburg residents have tolerated a lack of accountability and lack of transparency in regards to the county budget, including the largest recipient of county funds: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). The Mecklenburg county commissioners can no longer sign over a $690.9 million check to CMS without discretion, oversight and proper public input. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) must engage in a transparent and accountable budget process, unlike what was done in 2019 for the FY 2020 Budget. The District 3 incumbent and Chairman broke the NC Open Meetings Law by cutting the public out of the process and facilitating secretive emails and closed-door meetings. In regards to the CMS budget, commissioners must implement a series of requirements for CMS and the budget requests prior to signing off on a multimillion dollar budget. The BOCC must be proactive in protecting our children, teachers, and staff of all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. We must invest in easy-to-use door barricade mechanisms for every classroom door (as deToledo High School in West Hills, CA did). We must strengthen partnerships with CMPD, the Sheriffs department, and school administrators to guarantee consistent school security plans. As District 3 County Commissioner, I will pursue partnerships with reproductive healthcare facilities to implement Sexual Health and Well-Being Centers in CMS schools (as L.A. County Schools have done) to better facilitate mental and reproductive healthcare access. Programs like these provide contraceptives, STD screenings, and sexual health education to students who might not normally have access. As a county commission, we must guarantee increased teacher pay and teacher supplements; funding, support, and resources for our existing public schools; equity, accessibility, and parent-district cooperation for all students with special needs or disabilities; and equitable course offerings, support systems, and opportunities for every student -- no matter their zip code. I know far too many parents of disabled children who have not had the support they deserve from CMS. All of the problems with equity, accountability, and transparency with CMS begin with the check the BOCC writes during each budget process. I refuse to sign off on a budget for CMS without a detailed plan provided to the BOCC and the public which explains budget priorities, equity plans, school safety improvements, and resource allocations. If CMS wants the next BOCC to sign off on a budget of more than $690.9 million, residents must know the budget priorities of CMS and must be provided with an end-of-year report of where the money actually went. Leigh Altman All of our governmental bodies must be transparent and accountable to our residents for policy decisions and taxpayer expenditures. I have high hopes that the new superintendent will correct the mistakes of his predecessor, and we need to give him a chance to do that. Equally important, residents need a school board, City Council, and County Commission operating in close collaboration with interlocking services. A child cannot succeed if she does not have access to high-quality education in our county schools (a school board function). But even if she has a good school, her trajectory will be curtailed if her parent or guardian cannot access employment due to lack of housing or a decent transportation system to get to work (a city function). If her family has no access to healthcare, mental health services, parks, recreation, and a range of supportive services for adults, children, and at-risk populations, her caregiver may not be able to maintain the job or keep the house which keeps her in her school (a county function). In short, the three legs of local government - the school board, the city, and the county - must work closely and collaboratively for our residents to prosper. Ray Shawn McKinnon The county commissioners have a responsibility to ensure that every dollar is spent is done so properly. It is vital that the commissioners and the members of the school board meet regularly and mutually respect the jobs of the other. Just as commissioners are elected by the citizens of Mecklenburg County, the members of the school board are, too. The county commissioners also allocate a considerable amount of money to the Sheriff and the DA--folks who are also directly elected by citizens of Mecklenburg County. While I think we must faithfully and diligently ensure that the public's funds are properly spent, I am reluctant to get in the position of dictating to any colleague, who is also duly elected by the citizens, how to govern the bodies over which the citizens have given them charge. In saying all of these things, however, it is the responsibility of the commission to ensure that they ensure that tax-payer dollars are spent well. That doesn't, however, mean they then become the policymakers and governing board over those boards. Tera Crumbley It is my understanding that many commissioners are frustrated that they direct so much money to CMS but see little progress. If commissioners want to hold the BOE accountable, they must be willing to use their position to provide oversight, apply public pressure as needed, and even hold town hall meetings. They must be forthright in making all the information public and work to create greater awareness. Then the public can begin to hold them accountable. Public pressure from the BOCC, citizens, and media are powerful tools. The BOE needs to do a better job showing how they are spending tax dollars. It may be that current policy does not require sufficient disclosure and could require a rewrite. Closer oversight of all county programs is an area where we could improve. With the park system in Charlotte-Mecklenburg ranked No. 96 out 100 cities by The Trust for Public Land, how can commissioners improve and prioritize accessibility to parks for all residents? Lloyd Scher In 1992, the Mecklenburg County Commissioners worked with the city to merge the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Police Department. The county took over the city parks and we spent millions repairing and updating city parks. The city took funds from the Park & Recreation Department for years to help balance the city budget. It appears the county is following in their footsteps by cutting funds to our Mecklenburg County Parks Department. Parks are a very important part of our community it helps provide and a livable part of our community. We need to make sure we stop cutting funds to our parks department to provide recreation and help with a sustainable community. Patricia That same report said we are second nationally in park size with Nashville being first. We have increased funding for parks and have two 110,000-square-foot recreation centers being built. We have expanded greenways and updated park facilities including swimming pools, gold courses and splash pads for adults and children. We have also won national awards. We are the largest county, but the state has not built any state parks here, but other counties near Raleigh have benefitted greatly from the state spending on parks. I have never had any resident talk to me about needing to walk to a park to make their life better. Our community is more diverse and residents like different things. I think there is "more to the story" when it comes to this ranking of 96. I am proud of our Park and Rec Department and our Park Advisory Board. Another partnership, Partners for Parks, also does amazing work. The State Park and Recreation Association honored me and another former commissioner with an award for our advocacy for greenways in 2018. George Dunlap When you consider that there are more than 3,500 counties across the United States and that only 100 counties chose to participate, when you understand that many of the amenities afforded to Mecklenburg County residents are not measured in the rankings, when you consider that just a few years ago, Mecklenburg County Parks were the best in the nation: I am less concerned about what the Trust for Public Land says than I am about what the citizens of Mecklenburg County say. Can we do more for our residence? Yes! And we will continue to improve our recreational services, along with our parks and greenways. We are in the mist of our 10 year capital planning process, which will be the road map to getting us to where we need to be and making sure that all residence have access to Park and Recreational amenities. Cade Lee It is vital to understand that there is no easy solution to the environmental and climate crises facing Mecklenburg. We are more than 200 miles behind our greenway mileage goal -- and weve been behind for decades. Greenway and park development is geographically inequitable and centered around communities who have the privilege to advocate for the expansions. The first step for commissioners to improve and prioritize accessibility to parks and greenways for all residents is to begin large-scale land acquisition for greenway and parkland. The idealistic goal of having every Mecklenburg resident within a few minutes' walk to a greenway or park is no longer attainable because we have tolerated a group of leaders who have not prioritized equity, access, and an end to local environmental degradation. As the next District 3 County Commissioner, I am dedicated to emphasizing access to neighborhood parks and greenways that reach areas of Mecklenburg. Not only must we prioritize access to parks and greenways and begin large-scale land acquisition, but we must guarantee equitable access to these parks and our greenway system; keep our environment clean and free of pollution; and provide adequate funding for the upkeep and restoration of our existing parks and greenways. Our air quality and environmental pollution are worsening every day, and asthma rates are skyrocketing in children because of our failures to protect our environment. As a county commission, we must address disparate health issues impacting at-risk populations such as communities of color, children and pregnant women, the elderly, disabled individuals, and low-income communities. By prioritizing at-risk communities most affected by the climate crisis, we make progress at closing socioeconomic disparities across the county. We must pass a Climate Emergency ordinance for Mecklenburg County to develop a path to sustainability, environmental restoration, and access to green space for every resident -- no matter their zip code. Leigh Altman I'm the mother of three school-age kids, and I believe it is disgraceful how we have failed to ensure a clean and green future for our children. Parks demand a serious commitment from the county, including a focus on environmental equity for all our neighborhoods. Parks are critical for air quality, rejuvenation, and healthy bodies. Equally, we must protect and expand green spaces within our increasingly densely-urbanized county; they are a critical part of a larger green commitment to walkability and connectivity via greenways, sidewalks, and pathways which ensures all our residents can safely access public transportation. Ray Shawn McKinnon As is true in many instances, so much can happen when we first listen. We have an incredibly able and hard-working board of parks commissioners. We must utilize those incredible volunteers and experts in this field and take our leads from them. These citizens, some of whom I have had informative and illuminating conversations, have incredible recommendations which should be heard and heeded. That commissions is reported to have suggested that we have over $1B of unmet needs to get our parks to par. But specifically, from conversations that I have had with parks commissioners, we need focus on these four areas: Land acquisition, Removal of barriers to access, capital improvements, and staffing growth. Obviously, there is a need to balance all of the pressing needs of the county and find ways to meet these ends while under the constraints of limited revenue. Tera Crumbley There are at least two places we may find additional funds for public parks. First, we need to reexamine the issue of debt financing and service fees. There is real money to be found there. Secondly, as the daughter of a man who spent a lifetime of service at the Chamber of Commerce, nobody recognizes the importance of attracting business to Charlotte more than I. That being said, I also understand that we need to look at those deals closely as investments through the lens of the job creation and effective economic development. Some of the deals cost too much and help too few Charloteans. As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, we can be more discerning. Last year, voters rejected a quarter-cent sales tax that would have helped pay for local arts and parks. What do you think the county should do, if anything, to preserve and support local arts organizations? Lloyd Scher We need to go back to the voters of Mecklenburg and this time outline exactly where the money will be spent. The public wants details how the bond money will be spent; too many times they have been burned by funds being mover from one area to another. It is imperative we rebuild the public trust to help get bonds past for the betterment of the county. As stated in the section on parks we need both parks and a strong arts community to help attract businesses and at the same time provide parks and an arts development to make Charlotte/Mecklenburg an attraction to new businesses and help with create a sustainable and livable community for people to enjoy. As a commissioner I will encourage to go back to the voters for the park and arts bond to make sure the citizens understand how and where the money will be spent. Patricia Adding small grants for smaller groups would benefit them so much. There are many ways we could make a difference without spending $20 million a year as the tax would have done. I think we should increase our funding but with "some strings attached" on specific programs that reflect our priorities. Many schools resist school trips uptown because of the end of grade testing. Could we have summer programs for children and teenagers (maybe an expansion of Studio 345) that include snacks/lunch? The sheriff has started some programs in the detention center; maybe we could supplement their programs which would be therapeutic. Programs for veterans and seniors could possibly be developed to be more inclusive. I attended Senior Culture Block with music from the '50s and '60s and seniors exercised to it from chairs. I would like to see more of that. With the remodeling of Spirit Square, many small groups will be in need of space. Maybe we could find somewhere outside of uptown for them to continue to thrive at a minimal cost. Adding small grants for smaller groups would benefit them so much. There are many ways we could make a difference without spending $20 million a year as the tax would have done. George Dunlap The arts are a critical piece to the fabric of our community. The arts are not just for the rich, as some would have you believe. Millions of dollars in economic development are generated in this community as a result of the arts. The number of jobs created and other services are provided provided because of the arts. The educational benefits provided to the community and the upward mobility it provides to some who are less fortunate, warrants additional financial support from the county. Cade Lee First, it is important to point out that the Quarter-Cent Sales Tax Referendum was a misleading campaign that sought to provide millions of dollars to a private arts organization and an incomplete plan for parks and education. I, along with many other members in the community, stood strongly against the Quarter-Cent Sales Tax Referendum due to the huge inequities and misrepresentations within the For campaign. The funding for education, if equally dispersed across schools, could never have covered all of the programs the campaign said it could. The land supposedly earmarked for greenways and parks was not guaranteed to be used for land acquisition, keeping us far behind our mileage goal. The most troubling part was that a restructured, private arts organization would be getting $22 million per year. With all of that said, I am an advocate for public funding of the arts. However, I want private, inequitable organizations out of the process. We need an independent committee through Mecklenburg County to approve grants and partnerships with local groups -- not simply funding private groups. Our investments need to be at the grassroots community public level. An example of public funding of the arts is when Austin, Texas, City Councilors voted to use the hotel tax for arts and cultural funding, rather than putting the funding burden on everyday citizens. As aforementioned, I am a strong advocate for local arts groups and I am aware of the contribution they add to the growing and diverse culture of Mecklenburg. However, we must pursue partnerships, public committees, and public funding through the annual budget process to allocate funding to the arts. Using our last sales tax increase for a private arts organization is not a top priority of Mecklenburg residents. While we must publicly fund the arts and culture programs, we must prioritize access to truly affordable housing options, job opportunities, education, and health and human services including gun violence and domestic violence prevention. Leigh Altman We need to have a serious community conversation on how to fund the arts, a term which encompasses not only well-known programs found in uptown but in music classes across our county's schools as well as in vital programming for adults of all ages throughout Mecklenburg. This discussion must reflect how important the arts are to the mental and emotional well-being of our residents and also to our economic growth. Indeed, our ability to attract businesses and to present Charlotte as a world-class city is closely tied to our having a robust, flourishing, and diverse arts scene. For this reason, I support an increase in the County's budget to nurture arts programs across our county. However, given the county's responsibility for critical safety-net social services, CMS funding, our long-neglected parks, as well as other essential priorities, solving the long-term financial plan for our arts community may require a deeper commitment from both the business community and the City which has a revenue stream of tourism dollars at its disposal. Ray Shawn McKinnon I vocally opposed the proposed sales-tax increase. Not because I don't appreciate and acknowledge the benefits of arts and parks but because of the unanswered questions, and the reality that an increase at that time would have limited our ability to utilize that tool in the future for any other need, including transportation. But we do have a role to play in preserving and supporting local arts organizations. Although I am not in favor of fully funding private non-profits, the county (and other municipalities) should offer funds to help private non-profits meet any funding gaps. The county must also ensure that smaller organizations which are local-artist led have access to public funds also. Tera Crumbley Fully funding schools means a prominent place for the arts in our classrooms. I also favor the creation of county funded meeting spaces. Such spaces could provide a community gathering place where local artists could promote and sell their work. I do not favor of raising taxes on our hard-working citizens. Candidate Info Lloyd Scher Lloyd Scher Email Addressls712@yahoo.com EducationUNC Chapel Hill, bachelor's political science, sociology 5/1976; Miami-Dade Junior College Miami, Florida 5/1973, AA Industrial Relations; Central Piedmont Community College; non-degree computer and sign language courses. Professional experiencePresident and founder Video Taping Services, 1978 Previous public offices held (if any)Mecklenburg County Commissioner, 1992-2000; Mecklenburg ABC Board of Directors, 2013 to present. FamilySingle foster parent WebsiteCountycommissioner2020.com/ Patricia "Pat" Cotham Patricia Email Addresspatcotham@gmail.com EducationUniversity of Missouri-Columbia, 1968-1973, bachelor of journalism, bachelor of arts, Spanish. Professional experienceFour years nonprofit -- helped individuals with criminal record find jobs; 10 years, small business owner, executive search-placed professionals nationally and internationally, heavy focus on internal audit, tax, accounting, engineering and consulting; two years, image consultant focused on banking industry; 20 years sales and management in Fortune 500 companies (TX, SC, LA, GA, NC, IL, PA); five years retail-customer service manager (while caring for disabled father/mother-in-law). Previous public offices held (if any)At-Large Commissioner 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018. FamilyOne adult daughter who served in N.C. House for 10 years; two young grandsons. Websitewww.patcotham.org George Dunlap George Dunlap Email Addressgdunlap1234@att.net EducationMaster's of Public Administration, UNCC; bs, criminal justice, UNCC; AA, police science, CPCC; AA, correctional science, CPCC. Professional experienceLaw enforcement, 27 years service, USMC. Previous public offices held (if any)Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education FamilySon, Damion D. Dunlap Websitewww.vote4dunlap.com Cade Lee Cade Lee Email Addresscade@votecadelee.com EducationFinishing a B.A. in International Studies and a B.S. in political science at UNC Charlotte. Professional experienceFounder of March For Our Lives at UNC Charlotte; former bakery and coffee shop manager. Previous public offices held (if any)N/A FamilyI come from a family of educators. My mother has been a public school teacher and specialist for her entire career. My sister is a special needs teacher to focus on an area of education that few people talk about or focus resources in. We all learned our work ethic and our relentless determination to fight for what is right from my grandmother. Before moving to Charlotte-Mecklenburg, I resided in Raleigh with my mother, sister, and grandmother. I now live in University area with my 2-year-old dachshund-hound mix. Websitevotecadelee.com Leigh Altman Leigh Altman Email Addressvoteleighaltman@gmail.com EducationJuris Doctorate, with honors, Florida State University College of Law, 1997; New College of Florida, B.A., 1994. Professional experienceCouncil for Children's Rights Charlotte, NC 2013 - 2014 Higgins & Owens, PLLC Charlotte, NC 2012 Law Office of Leigh B. Altman Charlotte, NC 2010 - 2011 Gary Leshaw & Associates Atlanta, GA 2003 - 2009 Office of the Attorney General of Georgia Atlanta, GA 1997 - 2003 Lead attorney for Georgia's Commission on Equal Opportunity Lead attorney for Georgia's Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs Previous public offices held (if any)None Family My husband and I have three boys who attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. WebsiteLeighAltman.com Ray Shawn McKinnon Ray Shawn McKinnon Email Addressray@mckinnonformeck.com EducationBA, Biblical Theology and Christian Ministry, John Wesley University Professional experienceI have served in several roles in vocational ministry for the past 20 years: as a youth pastor, executive pastor, missions pastor, celebrate recovery oastor and currently serves as a senior pastor. Worked with families experiencing homelessness, as well as served families experiencing housing insecurity. President of the South Tryon Community Development Corporation. Previous public offices held (if any)I have never served in elected office. However, he is currently a Housing Commissioner with INLIVIAN (formerly Charlotte Housing Authority), a member of the Democratic National Committee representing North Carolina, a member of the NC Democratic Party Executive Committee, NC Democratic Party Executive Council, Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Executive Council, and was a member (before he resigned to seek public office) of the Leading on Opportunity Council. He has also served as President of Young Democrats of Mecklenburg County, 3rd Vice Chair of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, Vice Chair of Precinct 222. FamilyMarried to Kelly McKinnon, a CMS educator working at the central office; four sons and a granddaughter; a cat and a dog. Two sons in CMS, one who is a freshman at CPCC, and one who is a senior at ECU. Each of our boys were adopted. If you're trying to do the math and figure out how we have a granddaughter, her dad was 15 when we adopted him; we were 25. Websitewww.mckinnonformeck.com Tera Crumbley Tera Crumbley Email Addressteracrumbley@yahoo.com EducationBA, psychology; BA, anthropology; graduduate certificate in teaching secondard education 4.0, UNCC Professional experienceFormer West Charlotte teacher, former foster mother, grassroots organizer Previous public offices held (if any)none FamilyHusband, Doug Long; son, Pedro Loera; daughter, Svetlana Long. Websitewww.voteLong2020.com Concerns about a further commercial stamp duty hike by a potential Sinn Fein-led government continue to weigh on property shares, including Hibernia Reit, the countrys largest stock market-listed office landlord. After issuing a trading update, Hibernia shares edged higher but have nonetheless shed around 10% of their value during the election campaign when it became clear Sinn Fein was surging in the polls. Hibernia owns major swathes of office space in the Dublin docklands and central Dublin and is valued on the market at 876m, well below the value of the offices it owns. In the update, chief executive Kevin Nowlan said lettings in the Dublin office market ended the year strongly following a summer lull, and it had made progress in filling vacant office space. Hibernia and other Irish property shares were hit last year by an unlikely combination of Brexit, as well as the decision by rival office landlord Green Reit, led by Pat Gunne and Stephen Vernon, to sell up. The property veterans, who had built up holdings in Dublin and Cork, said Green Reit shares were severely undervalued. All sorts of Irish-exposed real estate shares, as well as the banks and residential landlord Ires Reit, have been hit in recent days amid investor concerns over Sinn Feins policies that may include a stamp duty hike and State-wide residential rent freezes. Broker Davy said Hibernia shares trade at a 27% discount, and far below levels seen in stocks exposed to the London office market. The broker noted Hibernias recent share buyback programme and the potential to do more of the same in the future. A Syrian civilian was killed on Wednesday in a clash between the Syrian army and a US patrol in the town of Khirbet Ummo in Qamishli city in northeastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported. The report said the Syrian army stopped four US military vehicles at the checkpoint in the town of Khirbet Ummo, adding that hundreds of civilians gathered at the checkpoint and prevented the patrol from passing. In the process, the US forces fired live ammunition and gas grenades on the people, killing one and wounding another, according to SANA. Afterwards, the civilians attacked the convoy and damaged four vehicles of the US forces, prompting the US forces to bring additional vehicles to tow the damaged ones. It is worth noting that the U.S. forces have bases in northeastern Syria mainly in areas controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces militias. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People come up with unique ways to smuggle drugs and money via airport. More often than not, these ultra genius methods get caught by the airport security. One such incident recently happened at the Delhi airport. A security personnel intercepted Murad Ali as he had suspicious behaviour when he reached Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, to board an Air India flight to Dubai. YouTube According to PTI, when his baggage was checked, foreign currencies were found concealed in food items like cooked mutton pieces, peanuts, biscuit packets and other eatables."This is a unique and peculiar way of concealing foreign currency for smuggling," PTI quoted CISF spokesperson, Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh, as saying. A video of the security personnel cracking peanuts, opening sealed biscuit packets and digging into oily meat pieces is going viral. They can be seen extracting an assortment of Saudi Riyal, Qatari Riyal, Kuwaiti Dinar, Omani Riyal and Euro rolled into these food items. According to the report, the estimated worth of the seized cash is Rs 45 lakh. The passenger and the currencies were handed over to Customs authorities for investigation. YouTube Even though this 'brilliant' idea to smuggle money failed, some people on the Internet seemed impressed: Holy crap!!!! The planning of these thugs !! Victor Yankee (@victor_yankee) February 12, 2020 Kya brilliant idea he.. next time they may put in goats ass and transport. narasimhas (@Lotusfeetns) February 12, 2020 creativity level rituraj choudhary (@rituraj08824806) February 12, 2020 Thanks for sharing the tips & techniques... very informative... Azad (@LabAzadHain) February 12, 2020 Very innovative. How did he get caught..? NeoNeanderthal (@priyadarshic) February 12, 2020 Must say quite innovative but its #CISF Chandra (@Karn_Chandra) February 12, 2020 Imagine the amount of food the passenger would have been carrying to hide Rs 45 lakh worth of currencies in coins and notes. The idea really seemed like it might have worked but the airport security is air tight, unlike the containers these food items were being carried in. WED Amy Trinh, 28, and Evan Phillips, 28 Since meeting at Central Saint Martins, Amy Trinh and Evan Phillips have built impressive resumes: Trinh interned at Louis Vuitton, Craig Green and Stella McCartney; Phillips assisted Richard Quinn with his first collections before working on development at Simone Rocha. Both of their careers shifted course, though, when Trinh got engaged in 2018 and discovered that the type of unconventional wedding dress she wanted didnt exist. I realized there was something missing, she says, namely, dresses that could be worn more than once. She reached out to Phillips to help her create a dress, and that conversation became the starting point for their bridal-inspired ready-to-wear label WED, which debuted last year. The pairs goal is to create garments that can be worn both on and long after a persons wedding day. Its about making bridal wear more sustainable and changing the mentality that a wedding dress should be boxed up and never worn again, Phillips says. The pair also want to reimagine what wedding attire means in a world where the concept of marriage is changing and becoming more inclusive. Their new collection, which will be their second to date, will be shown by appointment in Paris. The garment drapes are based on a swirling movement, explains Phillips of the pieces, which include an A-line taffeta skirt with a dramatic spiral-like silhouette. This season, the designers have also collaborated with the 300-year-old English mill Stephen Walters, and have repurposed many of the companys dead-stock fabrics, from a quilted jacquard to a striped satin. South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho has been on quite a wild ride this awards season. That trip reached its climax Sunday when he made history with "Parasite," the first non-English-language film ever to win a best picture Oscar. The film, a vicious satire about the widening gap between rich and poor, took home four Academy Awards -- for best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature after winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes, a Golden Globe and two Baftas. "We never write to represent our countries," said the 50-year-old Bong. "But this is (the) very first Oscar to South Korea. Thank you." Later, as he accepted the prize for best international feature, he said in English, eliciting laughs from the audience: "Yeah, I'm ready to drink tonight." As the night wore on and "Parasite" kept collecting awards, Bong was overcome. "It's very hard to believe. It's such a great honor," he said backstage. Bong -- who is known for his dark and genre-hopping thrillers -- already had a series of critical and commercial hits behind him before "Parasite" and is one of South Korea's best-known faces. His triumph on Hollywood's biggest night should take him to new heights. The significance of Bong's win "cannot be underestimated both for Korean cinema and non-English language cinema as a whole," Jason Bechervaise, a professor at Korea Soongsil Cyber University, told AFP. "It will obviously go down in the history books." - Artistic elite - Bong grew up in an elite artistic family in Seoul -- his maternal grandfather was a renowned novelist while his late father and all of his siblings are university professors in fields including fashion and fine art. He studied sociology at the South's prestigious Yonsei University and reportedly took part in street protests while enrolled there during the country's pro-democracy movement in the 1980s. Bong once told an interviewer he had been arrested for using petrol bombs. He was among the first wave of South Korean filmmakers to blossom after the country's full democratisation, which opened the door for a cultural renaissance. His "Memories of Murder" -- a 2003 feature film based on real-life serial killings that rattled the nation in the 1980s -- was seen as a metaphor for a repressive society under military rule. Bong's 2006 monster blockbuster "The Host" portrayed an incompetent government left helpless in the wake of a disaster. In 2014, parallels were drawn between the film and the Sewol ferry sinking that killed 300, mostly schoolchildren. His 2013 "Snowpiercer" depicted a dystopian future in which the last humans on Earth -- who survived a failed attempt to stop global warming -- travel endlessly on a train separated according to class, and the lower class revolts. Tilda Swinton, who was in "Snowpiercer," also starred in Bong's Netflix-produced 2017 sci-fi action-adventure "Okja" about a country girl trying to save a genetically-engineered beast from a greedy multinational firm. Quentin Tarantino -- whose "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood" won two Oscars on Sunday -- once likened the South Korean to "Steven Spielberg in his prime". Bong is "not a filmmaker who has come out of nowhere, he's been an established director for close to 20 years and has made exceptional films," Bechervaise told AFP. "He's also very charming and sociable. This has been a factor, I think, in how far the film has gone having done hundreds of interviews, possibly more, and mingling with voters and the Hollywood elite." - Political subtext - Throughout his career, Bong has often tackled dark and difficult subjects including violent crime, systematic oppression and the climate crisis. He also has candidly spoken about dealing with severe anxiety, in a country where mental health has long been a taboo topic. "All his films are sociology-in-motion, and all his films have a political subtext," said Michael Hurt, a sociologist at the University of Seoul. "They're all deeply inoculated with socially critical, political thought, without being preachy or obvious about it. Few other directors can do this." LONDON -- British police said on Tuesday that two more arrests had been made over the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants found in the back of a truck near London last year while investigations indicated they had died of overheating and lack of oxygen. The victims, who included two 15-year-old boys, were found on an industrial estate in Grays in Essex, about 20 miles (32 km) east of London in October. Mostly from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces in north-central Vietnam, their deaths shone a light on the human smuggling trade. Autopsies had concluded that the provisional cause of death was a combination of hypoxia - oxygen deprivation - and hyperthermia - overheating - in an enclosed space. Essex Police said a 22-year-old man had been arrested in Northern Ireland on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating unlawful immigration. He was now in custody in Essex. Last week, British police along with German authorities detained Gheorghe Nica, 43, who was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant, at Frankfurt Airport. Nica, who lives near Grays, appeared in court on Saturday accused of 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and is due to reappear at Londons Old Bailey court on March 16. Our teams are continuing to progress hundreds of lines of enquiry and are working with the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies from across the globe to further their lengthy and complex investigation, Essex Police said. Maurice Robinson, the British driver of the truck who hailed from Northern Ireland, admitted last November plotting to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. British authorities are also trying to extradite Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Ireland on charges of manslaughter, human trafficking and immigration offences. He is due at Dublins High Court on Wednesday. Police have said the Vietnamese victims were found not long after the container arrived in Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium. The refrigerated unit was picked up at Purfleet dock, not far from Grays, while police believe the truck cab was driven over from Ireland. File image The residents of Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests, celebrated the stupendous victory of the Aam Adami Party (AAP) in 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, on February 11. AAP's Okhla candidate Amanatullah Khan trounced his BJP rival Braham Singh by a margin of 71,827 votes. After the first few rounds of counting, Singh was leading by 194 votes, but subsequently, Khan took the pole position. Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar fall under the Okhla constituency. To mark the occasion, many offered free food and biryani at Shaheen Bagh and celebrated Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led party's victory. Shaheen Bagh has become the epicentre of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) as women with young children have been staging a sit-in protest there for nearly two months. "It is the victory of all of us. All of us elected Amanat bhai (Khan) as our leader. He has helped the women and youngsters of this area in every sphere -- from health to education, infrastructure to jobs. He got many youngsters employed," Shamima Bano of Shaheen Bagh said. Women protesters erupted in joy with loud rounds of applause as they hugged each other. "The AAP truly brought development to the aam aadmi (common man). My kids go to a nearby government school. We all go to the AAP government's mohalla clinic for treatment. My mother-in-law is being treated for her knee problem for four years," Mehjabeen Qureshi said at the protest site. "The AAP understands the needs of the citizens," she added. The excitement was palpable at Batla House, Noor Nagar, Abu Fazal Enclave, Zakir Nagar and the adjoining areas when the news of the AAP winning big emerged. Asim Khan, a garment dealer, said, "We have seen Jamia Nagar change in the last five years. We voted for AAP's honesty and transparent policies. Not only Jamia Nagar, entire Delhi voted for real 'vikas' (development), which is Arvind Kejriwal." Sharvari (75) of Shaheen Bagh said, "Amanatullah is like our son and his victory is not by chance. The AAP has understood the pulse of Delhi. Today we want to distribute biryani to all those politicians who called our protest politically motivated and accused us of eating sponsored biryani." The elections in the national capital took place in the midst of massive protests in the city and elsewhere over the new citizenship law, an issue that was strongly raised by the top BJP leadership during the campaigning, which often turned bitter and vitriolic. The political opponents of the BJP accused the saffron party of carrying out a "divisive" campaign to polarise the voters by consistently highlighting the over-50-day demonstration by women at Shaheen Bagh. Though the BJP campaign focussed on issues related to national security, the AAP focussed on its achievements in the fields of education, healthcare and infrastructure. Zubair Ahmed, a restaurant owner at Batla House, said, "We are going to distribute free food today and on February 14 to poor people in the honour of the AAP's victory." Sanjeeda Ahmed, another resident of the area, said, "Okhla is seen as an industrial area. No one ever bothered to develop this area, but the AAP brought development in terms of health, schools and roads here." The Virginia legislature on Tuesday approved two different bills that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses in the state. Both chambers of the legislature passed separate immigrant drivers license bills on Tuesday along party lines on the final day of the states so called crossover period, during which the Senate and House can approve legislation pass by the other chamber. The Senates version allows for illegal immigrants to obtain a license if they can prove theyve filed an income tax return, but the license would not be valid for use in elections. The version approved by the House applies fewer restrictions. Democrats took control of the Virginia legislature in 2019 for the first time since 1992, and have introduced a flurry of legislation generally stymied by Republicans, including sweeping gun control measures and relaxation of abortion restrictions. The effort to extend drivers licenses to illegal immigrants follows similar legislation in 14 other states, including New York. New Yorks legislation not only allows illegal immigrants to obtain licenses, but also attempts to block the Department of Homeland Security from viewing state DMV records in order to ameliorate immigrants fears that applying for a license might lead to deportation. In early February, DHS announced it would ban New Yorkers from applying to Trusted Traveler Programs due to the states adoption of the law. Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, announced on Wednesday that he had spoken with DHS secretary Chad Wolf and agreed to allow the DHS partial access to the states DMV records. Cuomo said he plans to meet with President Trump on Thursday to discuss the issue. More from National Review KYODO NEWS - Feb 12, 2020 - 15:44 | All, World U.S. and German intelligence agencies for decades obtained foreign secrets through rigged encryption devices sold to more than 120 countries including their allies via a Swiss company they secretly owned, the two countries' media said Tuesday. The Central Intelligence Agency and the German federal intelligence service BND had since around 1970 jointly owned and operated the Swiss firm Crypto AG to break codes that countries used to send encrypted messages, according to a joint reporting project by The Washington Post and German public broadcaster ZDF. At times, including in the 1980s, Crypto accounted for about 40 percent of the diplomatic cables and other transmissions by foreign governments that were decoded and mined for intelligence by the National Security Agency, a U.S. code-breaking body involved in Crypto's operations from 1970, according to the report. The encryption devices are still in use in more than a dozen countries around the world, it said. [Corbis/Getty/Kyodo] Referring to the operation, code-named "Thesaurus" first and later "Rubicon," the CIA said, "It was the intelligence coup of the century" in its report obtained by The Washington Post and ZDF. "Foreign governments were paying good money to the U.S. and West Germany for the privilege of having their most secret communications read by at least two (and possibly as many as five or six) foreign countries," it concluded. The report said at least four countries -- Israel, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain -- may have been aware of the operation or were provided intelligence from it by the United States or West Germany. The operation allowed the American and West German spies to monitor Iran's mullahs during the 1979 hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and caught Libyan officials congratulating themselves on the 1986 bombing of a Berlin disco, among other major events in history, according to the report. The major U.S. daily disclosed the list of countries and bodies that purchased Crypto products between the 1950s and the 2000s -- Japan, Italy, Turkey and the United Nations among others. But America's major adversaries including the Soviet Union and China were never Crypto customers, according to the report. Fearing the disclosure of its involvement in the operation would trigger European outrage, the BND under the unified Germany left the Crypto partnership with the CIA in 1993. The CIA, which bought the Germans' stake, kept going until 2018, when the agency sold off the firm's assets, said the report citing current and former officials. Related coverage: Kobe Steel, Pasco hit in latest cyberattack cases: Defense Ministry NEC comes under major cyberattacks, defense data possibly breached Data of over 8,000 at M'bishi Electric feared leaked in cyberattack Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSXV: CDB) (OTCQB: CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") announces that at the Special Meeting of Shareholders held today, shareholders voted to increase the number of Directors to six (6) and elected Mr. Luis Valencia Gonzales as a Director of the Company to fill the vacancy created by the increase, to hold such office until the Company's next annual general meeting. The voting results were as follows: Resolution For Against To increase the number of directors 285,361,151 shares (99.93%) 209,082 shares (0.07%) For Witheld To elect Luis Valencia Gonzales as director 285,377,751 shares (99.93%) 192,482 shares (0.07%) "Luis is a welcomed addition to to the Cordoba Board." stated Eric Finlayson, President and CEO of Cordoba. "He brings a wealth of experience as an executive and business consultant in Colombia, which will be invaluable as we seek to develop the San Matias Copper-Gold-Silver Project." About Cordoba Cordoba Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of copper and gold projects. Cordoba is developing the San Matias Copper-Gold-Silver Project, which includes the Alacran deposit and satellite deposits at Montiel East, Montiel West and Costa Azul, located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Cordoba also holds a 25% interest in the Perseverance Copper Project in Arizona, USA, which it is exploring through a Joint Venture and Earn-In Agreement. For further information, please visit www.cordobaminerals.com. Information Contact Evan Young +1-604-689-8765 info@cordobamineralscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept 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/52365 Your Colleagues State bar association honors Abramovsky for her academic work SCHOOL OF LAW STAFF New York States top experts in torts and insurance law have honored School of Law Dean Aviva Abramovsky with their highest academic award. The Professor David D. Siegel Award, named for a longtime Albany Law School faculty member and authority on New York practice, recognizes academic contributions to this area of the law. Its given by the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. Abramovsky accepted the award at the sections awards luncheon at the bar associations annual meeting last month in New York City. I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by the New York State Bar Association, and particularly by the TICL Section, says Abramovsky. I have dedicated most of my academic career to the nuances of insurance law, and it is the ultimate compliment to have my work acknowledged by the leading insurance law practitioners and experts in our state. UB Law alumnus Dennis McCoy, a past president of the TICL Section and current member of its executive committee, submitted the nomination. The sections officers made the final decision on conferring the award. McCoy said the honor recognizes Abramovskys body of work, particularly in insurance and insurance coverage law, as well as her active role with the state bar, for which she chairs the Task Force on Autonomous Vehicles and the Law. It also acknowledges the symbiosis between legal practice and the academic study of law. We want to recognize academics who are interested in New York law and who are active in the state bar association, McCoy said. Professor Siegel would lecture a lot with the state bar, and we want to encourage the academic community to carry on in his spirit. One of the deans main academic interests is in insurance law, and insurance coverage in particular, and she not only writes on it but has litigated cases in that area. And shes very active in the New York State Bar Association. All of those things came together as factors that made her an obvious choice. For those who practice in this area, McCoy said research into the law helps inform their work. In terms of the development of the law in New York, we are secondhand recipients of academic work, he said. In the research that we do for cases, particularly in the insurance area, things that people write for journals come to our attention. Were looking more at case law, but academics help us in terms of shaping the law and interpreting it. Abramovsky has written numerous articles and legal treatises, including McKinneys Uniform Commercial Code forms for New York. She is the current editor of LSN Insurance Law, Legislation, & Policy, and she served as editor and academic adviser for the Connecticut Insurance Law Journal. She also contributed to the British Insurance Law Associations 2013 Book Prize winner, Research Handbook on International Insurance and Regulation, and her scholarship has been recognized as a litigation essential by LexisNexis. Prince Jackson was feeling blue Tuesday as he stepped out for lunch in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old son of the late pop star Michael Jackson wore a dark blue short-sleeved shirt along with loose blue jeans for the lunch outing in the Studio City area. Prince completed his casual outfit with trainers and accessorized with a watch and several bracelets. Lunch outing: Prince Jackson was spotted Tuesday grabbing lunch in the Studio City area of Los Angeles He had his long brown hair parted down the middle and gathered in the back. Prince was accompanied by a male companion for lunch at a Sweetgreen salad shop. Prince has a younger sister Paris Jackson, 21, and little brother Bigi, 17, who was previously known as 'Blanket'. Paris and Prince were born to Michael and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe, 61. Salad shop: The 22-year-old son of the late pop star Michael Jackson wore a dark blue short-sleeved shirt along with loose blue jeans for lunch at a Sweetgreen salad shop Bigi was conceived by artificial insemination and delivered by an anonymous surrogate mother. Michael died in June 2009 at age 50 from an overdose of sedatives administered by his personal physician. The 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland focused on two men who alleged they were sexually abused as children by Michael. Supportive sibling: Prince is shown with his younger brother Bigi, formerly known as Blanket, after graduating in May 2019 from Loyola Marymount University Leaving Neverland resulted in a backlash against the 'King of Pop' and a reassessment of his legacy. The Jackson estate last February sued HBO for breaching a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract by broadcasting the documentary. The case is currently being considered by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During a working visit of the Ukrainian delegation to NATO Headquarters, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Zahorodniuk has met with Minister of National Defense of Poland Mariusz Baszczak. Today, on February 12, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Zahorodniuk has met with Minister of National Defense of Poland Mariusz Baszczak during a working visit of the Ukrainian delegation to NATO Headquarters. The main topic of the meeting was current areas of cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries. In this context, the parties highlighted the further development of military and political cooperation and the importance of Poland's role in Ukraines joining the Enhanced Opportunity Partnership program, the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports. It is noted that the ministers exchanged views on further activity of the joint unit of the Grand Hetman Kostiantyn Ostrogski Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), as well as the training of Ukrainian units within the framework of the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine. In addition, the parties expressed their vision on enhancing security in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea region, territorial defense, counteracting hybrid threats and exchanging information on the security situation in border areas, as well as in the military and historical field. ol Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:27:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LAGOS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government is working hard to identify the cause of a strange disease that has claimed lives in central north state of Benue, an official said late Tuesday. Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) while giving an update on the yet to be diagnosed disease, said the National Rapid Response Team is supporting the state government to investigate the strange fatal illness in Obi area of the state. The area was ravaged by the strange disease three weeks ago which resulted in the deaths of four people. The senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Abba Moro, had disclosed on the floor of the Senate that 15 people died of the strange disease while 104 were hospitalized. Ihekweazu said infective causes, including the known Viral Hemorrhagic Lassa Fever, had been ruled out. He told reporters that water samples were tested for possible chemical poisoning, noting that the last known death from the affected area was reported on Feb. 7. "We are closely monitoring those who have contracted the disease. We tested for Lassa fever and Yellow fever and the results were negative. So, we are waiting for the final results," Ihekweazu said. The state government had said it would likely take samples of water, sand, fish, and plants in Oye Obi for examination abroad. Continued wintry weather continues to improve the winter bald eagle watching scene at the southern end of Onondaga Lake. Volunteers from the Onondaga Audubon club have been conducting weekly surveys this winter of bald eagles on the lake specifically on Murphys Island behind the Destiny USA mall and in the trees near the Honeywell Visitors Center in Solvay. Alison Kocek, president of the Onondaga Audubon club, said 14 bald eagles were spotted last weekend. A lot of people got nice photos of them that they posted on the (Bald Eagles on Onondaga Lake) Facebook page, she said. The birds congregate each winter behind the mall in the trees overlooking the open water near the countys sewage treatment plant and the mouth of Onondaga Creek. The warm water coming out of the plant keeps the water open and attracts schools of gizzard shad and other fish. The eagles are there for the food. They eat fish and occasionally a duck or a goose. It is the largest winter roost of any urban area in the state. On one day last winter, a total of 103 bald eagles were spotted. The main vantage point for seeing the eagles, is in the parking lot behind Best Buy, close to the road in the back of the Destiny USA mall; from on top of the first level parking ramp near Best Buy and along the Creek Walk along Onondaga Creek. The end part of the creek walk is closed this time of year, but occasionally eagles can be seen overlooking the open water along the creek looking for food. The birds visible from the mall parking lot can be seen roosting about 100 yards away in the trees. Bring a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope. And or course, dress for the cold weather. We asked Kocek to rate the chance of seeing a bald eagle on the lake (on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest) going into this weekend. She gave it a 7. The weather has been fluctuating, but (is expected to cool) down again before the weekend, she said. MORE: How to see wintering bald eagles on Onondaga Lake Upstate coyote hunt contest winner takes home $2,440, record number taken DEC: No license required for 'Free Fishing Weekend" this Saturday and Sunday Stroke survivors with high levels of optimism may have lower inflammation levels, reduced stroke severity, and less physical disability after three months, according to a study. Researchers from The University of Texas in the US, examined the relationship among optimism, inflammation, stroke severity, and physical disability for three months after a stroke, in a study of 49 stroke survivors. Understanding how these elements relate to or impact one another may provide a scientific framework to develop new strategies for stroke recovery, they said. "Our results suggest that optimistic people have a better disease outcome, thus boosting morale may be an ideal way to improve mental health, and recovery after a stroke," said Yun-Ju Lai, a postdoctoral fellow at The University of Texas. Post-stroke inflammation is detrimental to the brain and impairs recovery. Optimism has been associated with lower inflammation levels and improved health outcomes among people with medical conditions, the researchers said. However, no prior studies assessed if this association exists among stroke patients, they said. This pilot study is a secondary analysis of data collected from a repository of neurological diseases. As optimism levels increased, stroke severity and the inflammatory markers -- interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) -- decreased even after considering other possible variables. However, this was not true of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), another marker for inflammation. "Patients and their families should know the importance of a positive environment that could benefit the patient. Mental health does affect recovery after a stroke," Lai said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Since being removed there's been a mad rush to get a piece of 'Byron history' The 'Disco-dong' was removed a year after installation on NSW mid north coast There has been a mad rush to get a piece of infamous art which became controversial because it looked like giant silver penis. The 'disco-dong' was dismantled 12 months after it was erected in Byron Bay's main street after causing outrage in the community because of its likeness to a phallus. But since being pulled down it's become more popular than the entire time it was on display, with people lining up for hours to get a piece of history. The 'Disco-dong' stands tall in all its glory being being dismantled by Byron Shire council in late 2019 The Byron Bay shire council paid $55,000 for the work by Melbourne artist Corey Thomas, reports ABC news. The 12-metre high sculpture was made up of thousands of aluminum birds, designed to represent the Byron Bay lighthouse. But when it was installed it was famously nicknamed the 'disco-dong' and 'seaside shaft' and was widely criticised across social media. While the sculpture was widely criticised, it had a strong group of supporters as well. During the campaign to have the sculpture removed fans from the 'Byron Disco Dong Appreciation Society' hung a sign off the artwork- saying 'hands off our dong'. The 12- metre high sculpture was made up of thousands of aluminum birds, designed to represent the Byron Bay Pieces of the 'Disco-dong' sculpture adorn a Christmas tree The sculpture was pulled down in September and the the thousands of silver birds were put up for sale by council before Christmas. Each of the 3,500 birds were sold individually. The sale was so successful, the $64,000 raised actually cost more than the council paid for the sculpture itself. Fans lined up for hours to get their hands on a piece of the iconic sculpture when it went for auction. One of those was Annie Briggs, who told ABC news she wanted to have her own part of the story. 'I was interested because it was just a bit quirky and here was so much hoo-ha about the sculpture I thought it would be good to get a little bit of Byron history,' she said. The sculpture was dismantled and each of the 3,500 birds were sold individually Another supporter - Richard Holloway -bought his own share of the sculpture and has repurposed it as piece of art in his backyard. 'It's just nice to have a little memorabilia and a reminder of what once was,' he said. He said the artwork's placement was probably part of the reason it was so controversial. 'I thought it was a very attractive work of art but just in the wrong location,' he said Hyderabad: Questioning the haste with which the state government wants to demolish the Secretariat building at Saifabad, the Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the state government not to disturb the existing structure until the court issues further orders. Expressing its doubts about the architectural plan of the new construction for the Secretariat complex not being available yet and yet making arrangements to raze the existing building by shifting the offices to other places, the court said that it seems the government is in a mighty hurry to demolish the buildings. While dealing with petitions challenging the impending demolition of the Secretariat buildings, the division bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A. Abhishek Reddy on Wednesday observed: "Why the state government is in a hurry to demolish the existing Secretariat buildings when it has not taken final decision on structural plans, designs of the proposed new Secretariat complex? The bench was dealing with a batch of PILs filed separately in 2016 by Congress MLA T. Jeevan Reddy, advocate Tera Rajinikanth Reddy and the Forum for Good Governance, an NGO represented by its secretary M. Padmanabha Reddy. They sought grant of a stay on shifting the offices of the Telangana Secretariat to other buildings and demolition of existing structures to construct new buildings in its place. Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy and Prof. P.L. Vishweshwar Rao, vice-president of Telangana Jana Samithi, also filed PILs challenging the impending demolition of the Secretariat buildings. Following earlier directions of the court, the state government had filed an additional counter-affidavit in the case and urged the court to permit it to proceed with construction of an integrated secretariat building after analysing different architectural plans which would be submitted by the architectural consultants. The Additional Advocate General submitted that the area to be allotted to various departments will be finalised only after the cabinet approves the designs and final plans of the proposed new complex to be furnished by the architects. After perusing the contents of the additional affidavit, the bench wanted to know why the state government has shown such hurry in wanting to demolish the existing structures and laying the foundation stone for the new secretariat when no final decision has been made on the plan and design of the proposed complex. Therefore, the stay granted earlier not to demolish it will continue, the bench noted. The bench said that today, with computers, it does not take much time to design a building. Without having architectural designs, plans, cost estimate, area to be allotted for each department and so on, the cabinet took the decision to demolish the existing structure, which is not reasonable. A decision has to be based on relevant facts, the bench observed, and made it clear that the court stay will continue until further orders. If you are like me, when you first started with DIY cleaning using kitchen cupboard ingredients, you may have started using vinegar for everything. You may have washed windows and toilets and shelves with vinegar, you may have put it in your dishwasher and washing machine, made face masks and hair rinse with it, and otherwise sneaked it in everywhere a cleaning product was needed. And everything may have smelled like vinegar, but what a miracle this stuff is! Except then you may have learned, whoops, this stuff is strong ... like, maybe it etched big white splotches into your marble countertop? I still love vinegar for cleaning, but there are some household items that do not feel the same way. There is a common perception that vinegar can clean everything, but it isn't the catchall ingredient that you might think it is, Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications at the American Cleaning Institute, tells Consumer Reports. And ain't that the truth. Consider the following: 1. Stone Countertops Once I left half a lemon face down on my stone countertop (rookie mistake) and had a perfect half-a-lemon etched into my countertop afterward. Acid and many stone countertops do not mix though some types of stone can handle it better than others. The acid etches and dulls the pretty finish, and can even lead to pitting. 2. Clothing Irons Some people suggest using a little vinegar to clean the inside of your iron, but it's not a good idea. The acid can eat away at the heating element and wreck the whole thing. Read the instruction manual for your specific iron (good times, I know) and follow those directions for cleaning. 3. Dishwashers Really, running vinegar through the dishwasher seems kind of like a great way to freshen it up. And many a blogger recommends using vinegar instead of rinse aid. When we previously wrote an explainer on rinse aid, we noted, "Many DIY advice-givers recommend using white vinegar, but while it might make your crockery coruscate, its high acidity can damage your dishwasher, especially any rubber parts in the rinse-aid cavity." When Consumer Reports tested vinegar to see if it would remove water film, It didnt do a thing, said Larry Ciufo, head of the dishwasher lab at CR. It was perhaps better than nothing back in the day, but there are specially formulated dishwasher cleaners today that work really well. If you are still interested in the idea of using vinegar in your dishwasher, double-check with the appliance manufacturer and get their blessing first. 4. Washing Machines I know a lot of people who use vinegar as a fabric softener. I have probably even recommended it at some point! But just like with dishwashers, it can corrode the rubber parts, like seals and hoses, causing leaks ... and nobody wants a leaky washing machine. My front-loading washer is dependent on a big rubber seal around the front to keep the water from pouring forth across the floor; and indeed, CR notes that front-load washers are especially susceptible to vinegar-related damage. 5. Egg Messes Real Simple suggests not using vinegar to clean up messes that involve eggs "because the acid will react with the eggs, changing their consistency and making it more difficult to remove." I made a little egg mess to test this, and while I didn't notice a change in the egg glop after using vinegar, I did find it easier to clean up using hot water and a sponge. 6. Greasy Messes It would seem like something acidic would cut through grease, but greasy messes respond better to alkaline cleaners, like baking soda or Borax. For messy, grease-laden cookware and appliances, try a mix of baking soda and dish soap. 7. Electronic Screens Another one I learned the hard way. Vinegar works for windows, so hey, why not computer screens? DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! Not on your computer, phone, tablet, or television, says the person who had to live with a permanently streaked computer screen for a few years. Vinegar can mar a screen's surface and can hamper the responsiveness of a touch screen. CR suggests using a soft sponge or cloth dampened with water. "For stubborn spots, try a solution of dish soap highly diluted with water, applied to the cloth and not to the screen itself. (As a guideline for how much soap to use, Panasonic recommends a 100:1 ratio of water to soap.)" 8. Wood Furniture and Flooring Vinegar can eat away at the protective finish on some wood floors and furniture, making them appear sad and cloudy rather than rich and shiny. Use all-natural products that are specifically made for wood for best results. For everything else, embrace the vinegar! Call police to order or we ... The lack of security infrastructure at President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club seemingly contributed Wednesday to the exoneration of a Chinese woman accused of trespassing. Lu Jing, 56, told the court Tuesday that she understood club security didnt want me there after she went through the open front gate of the private, members-only club in Palm Beach on Dec. 18. She left, only to return to the presidents primary residence through an un-gated service road accessible from South Ocean Boulevard. Prosecutors called Lus escapade into Mar-a-Lago a calculated decision. But jurors seemed to have doubts as to whether Lu knew she was not allowed at the presidents primary residence. Lus public defenders pointed out that the members-only club did not post signs warning against trespassing or taking photographs. There was no guard at the service road either which is actually a staff exit marked only with a One-Way traffic sign. Woman arrested for trespassing at Trumps Mar-a-Lago is another Chinese national On Wednesday, Lu was acquitted of the trespassing charge, even as it became clear during a Tuesday trial that she had twice set foot on club grounds without permission. She was convicted of a single misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence. The result here is understandable from the perspective of the criminal law, under which defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence and the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, including that she knew she was trespassing, said David Kris, a former assistant attorney general for national security in the Obama administration and founder of the consulting firm Culper Partners. But it raises a different set of questions with respect to the adequacy of physical and communications security at the facility, Lus daylong trial Tuesday notably revealed details about security at Mar-a-Lago. At one point, a state prosecutor asked Mar-a-Lago security guard Murray Fulton to point out in open court the exact location of various security cameras guarding the property on an aerial photograph. Story continues Also disclosed: the total size of the clubs security staff (13 guards), its apparent lack of a secure perimeter and the fact that staffers maintain daily lists of members and approved guests on digital tablet devices. The Palm Beach State Attorneys Office did not respond to the Heralds questions about the national security implications of such disclosures. Prosecutors declined to comment as they left the courtroom. The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cagey Chinese spy or fawning Trump fan? Mar-a-Lago intruders trial may offer up clues Trump was not at the club on the day of Lus incident. Secret Service handles security when the president is in town, significantly strengthening operations. Lu, who police said was traveling in the country on an expired visa, testified that she just wanted to take photographs of the presidents estate late last year after being dropped off at the club by a Chinese tour guide she hired online. She said she wandered through the Palm Beach clubs open and unguarded driveway entrance and onto the property. Not speaking English, she said she did not understand why a security guard walked over from another part of the property and told her to leave. Lu Jing, charged with loitering and prowling at Mar-a-Lago, the South Florida home of President Trump, appears in court in Palm Beach County on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2019. To her right is her interpreter. State prosecutors pointed out that Lu then came back through a side entrance, walked 125 yards onto the grounds and resumed taking pictures. Staff called police. After leaving the club a second time, Lus tour guide drove her to Palm Beachs Worth Avenue shopping district, where she was stopped by Palm Beach Police Department officers. In testimony, the cops said she would not consent to being questioned and then resisted when one tried to handcuff her. Hampered by a language barrier, she said she was scared when the officers approached her for questioning after she left the property and did not understand what they wanted. Lu faces up to a year in prison on the count of resisting, a misdemeanor. She continues to be held in the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center, where she has been confined since her Dec. 18 arrest. She likely faces deportation. Her sentencing is scheduled for Friday. Lus arrest came amid rising concern over potential Chinese spy activities in South Florida, which has spawned an investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami. That concern was heightened last year after the arrest of another Chinese tourist, who showed up toting a purse bristling with electronic devices, and after the Miami Herald told the story of Cindy Yang, a former Asian spa operator who became a Mar-a-Lago fixture, selling package tours to Chinese nationals that often led to encounters with the president or his relatives. Trump declared the historic estate and members-only resort his primary home last year. In this April 7, 2017, photo, President Donald Trump gestures as he and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after their meetings at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. Only club members and their guests, as well as members of the public who buy tickets to attend events and political fundraisers, can enter the property. None of those circumstances applied to Lu, the trial revealed. The trial featured Lu taking the stand in her defense. Speaking through Mandarin interpreters, she described herself as a confused and apparently stubborn tourist. In cross-examination, prosecutors focused on Lu testifying that she believed the security guard who approached her at Mar-a-Lagos main entrance didnt want me to be there. Despite that, Lu nonetheless came back through a side entrance, they argued. This is not an honest mistake, said Palm Beach County Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Dorman. This was a calculated decision. But Lus public defenders, Schnelle Tonge and Jessica Vega, argued that their client had seen no signs warning against trespassing or taking photographs, didnt realize she couldnt be on the property and didnt understand the hand gestures a security guard made telling her to leave. They said she thought she was being told not to take pictures at the front entrance, so she walked around the side. Throughout the proceedings, Lu seemed hampered by her lack of English. At an earlier hearing, she asked the judge through an interpreter: Who is Mar-a-Lago? While the trial featured some confusion over the specific entity that owns the club it is Mar-a-Lago Club, Inc., which is part of the Trump Organization, the presidents private business the propertys ultimate beneficiary was not in doubt. When asked in court Tuesday who owns Mar-a-Lago, the clubs director of security, Richard Cartolano, wearing a blue three-piece suit and glossy yellow tie, put it simply. President Trump, Donald J., he said. By Trend The parliamentary elections were successfully held in Azerbaijan a few days ago, Spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang said at a press-conference in Baku. Shuang was commenting on the early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan held on February 9, Trend reports on Feb. 11. In this regard, the Chinese side congratulates Azerbaijan and sincerely wishes the Azerbaijani people further success in the development of the country, spokesman said. "The Chinese side appreciates bilateral relations with friendly and fraternal Azerbaijan, Shuang said. While strengthening mutual support and establishing cooperation with Azerbaijan at the highest level within the One Belt - One Road Initiative, China wants the relations between the two countries to rise to a new level." The parliamentary elections were held in Azerbaijan on February 9. Some 1,314 candidates were registered within the early parliamentary elections. The candidacies of 246 people were nominated by 19 political parties, 1,057 were self-nominated, 11 - by initiative groups. Twenty-one percent accounted for female candidates while 79 percent male candidates. As many as 5,426 permanent polling stations operated in 125 constituencies of the country. Some 883 international observers and 77,790 local observers were monitoring the voting process. Among the local observers, 35,152 were representatives of political parties. International observers represented 58 countries and 59 organizations. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 16:57:08|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Soldiers are seen at the al-Sinak Bridge after it was reopened in Baghdad, Iraq on Feb. 12, 2020. Iraqi security forces on Wednesday reopened areas in downtown Baghdad and warned that anti-government protests go on only in al-Tahrir Square under the protection of the Iraqi forces. Mass anti-government demonstrations have been continuing in the capital Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since October of 2019, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday reopened areas in downtown Baghdad and warned that anti-government protests go on only in al-Tahrir Square under the protection of the Iraqi forces. A statement by Baghdad Operations Command (BOC), responsible for the security of Baghdad province, said that the security forces reopened al-Khalani and Wathba Squares, as well as al-Sinak Bridge and al-Rashid Street, and the security forces want to protect the demonstration in Tahrir Square and at the same time to secure traffic movement in the capital. "BOC warned demonstrators of rushing outside al-Tahrir Square, or using violence against the security forces, because they will take legal measures," the statement said. In the early morning, the security forces began to lift the concrete barriers from al-Sinak Bridge and clean up the nearby squares and streets to open them in front of the vehicles movement. The latest move came after cooperation between the security forces and peaceful demonstrators inside al-Tahrir Square, the epicenter of Iraq's anti-government protests, according to the statement. Mass anti-government demonstrations have been continuing in the capital Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since October of 2019, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities. Jim Carrey has been dubbed a 'sleazebag' after he told a female journalist that the she was the 'only thing left to do' on his bucket list. Charlotte Long interviewed the actor during a promotional junket for Sonic The Hedgehog. She asked the 58-year-old what goals he still had left to accomplish in his life, to which Carrey replied: 'Just you.' Awkward: Jim Carrey has been slammed as a 'sleazebag' after a comment he made to a female journalist who asked him about his 'bucket list' In a video of the interview, the Heat magazine reporter laughs and says: 'I don't know what to say to that,' with Jim replying: 'Just own it'. Carrey provoked fury from social media users, with one saying they 'lost respect' for the Dumb and Dumber star. One user wrote: 'Such a huge fan of @JimCarrey but lost respect for him today. This is really unacceptable, I wish and hope he apologises to you.' Another said: 'Unfortunately it turns out Jim Carrey is a massive sleazebag.' Another user added: 'Why is this kind of thing still going on? Well handled, you're a legend.' MailOnline has contacted Heat magazine for comment. A representative for Jim said the remarks were ;clearly and good-naturedly referring to the interview as being on the top of his bucket list. It was in no way a reference to the journalist herself'. Comment: Charlotte Long, a journalist for Heat magazine,asked the actor what he still had left on his bucket list and he replied: 'Just you' Response: The moment, which was caught on video, has provoked a reaction from social media users who thought the actor was being 'creepy' It comes after Carrey was branded 'rude' and 'awkward' when he joked that Margot Robbie had a successful career thanks to her good looks. JIM CARREY'S COMMENTS IN FULL Charlotte Long: In the film, Sonic has a bucket list, and I was wondering, with all you've done in your career and your life, is there anything still left on your bucket list? Jim Carrey: Just you CL: Oh, wow JC: That's it. It's all done now CL: I don't know what to say to that JC: Just own it CL: Err, ok, I'm owning it now Advertisement The film star made the remark when they appeared on a recent edition of The Graham Norton Show. He gushed over Margot, saying: 'Its incredible that youve got as far as you have with your obvious physical disadvantages. 'Its unbelievable, its really something. That's pure talent right there!' Margot appeared to take the joke in good humour as she laughed at the quip Jim had made, but viewers were not as convinced as they branded the interaction 'rude', 'awkward', and 'creepy.' Taking to Twitter to share their disdain for the actor's remark, one wrote: 'That joke Jim Carrey make towards Margot Robbie about her looks and talent was so awkward. Kudos to her for just laughing and taking it on the chin, I'd have slapped him.' 'Rude and downright embarrassing': Jim was recently blasted fans for joke implying Margot Robbie's successful career is thanks to her looks (pictured in Wolf Of Wall Street) While another added: 'Margot Robbie was my spirit animal tonight with her barely concealed disdain for the rude, manic and downright embarrassing Jim Carey (sic).' Continuing that sentiment, one viewer said: 'Well I for one think @MargotRobbie was very gracious in the face of huge condescension and blatant rudeness from Jim Carey (sic)' Another hit out at the star by writing: 'Jim Carey basically telling Margot Robbie her career is based on her looks. To her actual face. What?! She looked a bit blind sided.' The reaction to Jim's joke wasn't all negative though, as some viewers defended it and said he was 'commending' the actress, rather than trying to offend her. Joke: The actor took a moment to gush over Margot, saying: 'Its incredible that youve got as far as you have with your obvious physical disadvantages' In response to a fan hitting out at the actor, one claimed: 'Jim Carrey was genuinely commending Margot Robbie - the comment about her making it despite obvious physical disadvantages was a secondary afterthought. 'If he was scorning anyone, it was Hollywood, of whom Jim is famously critical - not Margot, whom he was clearly complimenting.' Another said: 'The fact it was said in jest makes it a joke? One Margot Robbie herself laughed at but one you are feeling you have to be offended on her behalf for? Reaction: There was a mixed response to Jim's joke about Margot's physical appearance 'You're right though, and we're all wrong, including Margot Robbie. Liberal feminist Jim Carey is actually a sexist now right? (sic)' Jim's new film follows titular character Sonic The Hedghog, voiced by Ben Schwartz, as he tries to navigate Earth with his newfound human friend Tom Wachowski, played by James Marsden. They head on a comedy-filled adventure in order to prevent the evil Dr. Robotnik (Carrey) from capturing Sonic and using his powers for world domination. "The Farewell" [For China Daily] Chinese-American film director Lulu Wang's comedy drama "The Farewell" won Best Feature award Saturday night at the 35th Film Independent Spirit Awards. The awards, held in the US coastal city of Santa Monica in Los Angeles County, honor the finest achievements of American independent filmmakers. The film, written and directed by Wang, stars Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin and Zhao Shuzhen among others. Based in part on Wang's life experiences, the film follows a Chinese-American girl returning to China to say goodbye to her terminally-ill grandmother. Zhao, who plays the grandmother in "The Farewell," won Best Supporting Female award, while Willem Dafoe won Best Supporting Male award for his role as Thomas Wake in the psychological horror film "The Lighthouse." Renee Zellweger took home the award for Best Female Lead for her performance in the biographical drama "Judy." Adam Sandler nabbed Best Male Lead award for the crime thriller film "Uncut Gems." Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, the directors of "Uncut Gems," took home the prize for Best Director. South Korean black comedy thriller "Parasite" won Best International Film, while the Best Documentary award went to "American Factory," the first film from former US.First Couple Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions. (Source: china.org.cn) Instead, the President appears to have drawn a lesson about impunity from his experience and seems committed to accelerating his bid to subvert constitutional and political norms. This may augur a period of expansive power plays by the President -- as he runs for reelection and that could become even more intense if he wins a second term. In another sign of his defiance, Trump last week fired officials, including White House Ukraine specialist Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, who were subpoenaed to testify in the impeachment inquiry in a manner that might have been interpreted as witness intimidation in a regular context and is likely to chill future accountability. On Tuesday, he said that he would "certainly" expect the military to look at disciplining Vindman, who testified that he was troubled by the President's call with Ukraine's President in July. Trump has also launched searing personal attacks on senators who voted to convict him, and questioned the faith of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led the impeachment process there. OTTAWA, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calian Group Ltd. (TSX:CGY) has been selected by a global satellite communications operator for the provision and installation of new radio frequency (RF) satellite ground systems. Calian SED, a global supplier of communication systems solutions and products, will support the satellite operators existing systems as well as future deployments. Delivery on the contract, valued at over CAD $30M, starts in the current fiscal year and is expected to be completed within approximately two years. The contract will be reported within Calians Advanced Technologies segment. We are excited to be working on this program, said Patrick Thera, President, Advanced Technologies. We have an excellent reputation for quality in our satellite ground systems. This win further demonstrates the value we bring to customers for their complex requirements of higher frequency bands, which are used in high throughput satellite applications. About Calian Calian employs over 3,400 people in its delivery of diverse products and solutions for private sector, government and defence customers in North American and global markets. The Companys diverse capabilities are delivered through four segments: Advanced Technologies, Health, Learning and Information Technology. The Advanced Technologies segment provides innovative products, technologies and manufacturing services and solutions for the space, communications, defence, nuclear, government and agriculture sectors. The Health segment manages a network of more than 1,800 health care professionals delivering primary care and occupational health services to public and private sector clients across Canada. Learning is a trusted provider of emergency management, consulting and specialized training services and solutions for the Canadian Armed Forces and clients in the defence, health, energy and other sectors. The Information Technology segment supports public- and private-sector customer requirements for subject matter expertise in the delivery of complex IT and cyber security solutions. Headquartered in Ottawa, the Companys offices and projects span Canada and international markets. For further information, please visit our website at www.calian.com, or contact us at ir@calian.com Kevin Ford President and Chief Executive Officer 613-599-8600 Patrick Houston Chief Financial Officer 613-599-8600 Media inquiries: Simon Doyle 613-599-8600 x 2205 DISCLAIMER Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Such statements are generally accompanied by words such as intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar statements. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price competition; scarce number of qualified professionals; the impact of rapid technological and market change; loss of business or credit risk with major customers; technical risks on fixed price projects; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, and including currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the business services industry. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, please see the Companys most recent annual report and other reports filed by Calian with the Ontario Securities Commission. Calian disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No assurance can be given that actual results, performance or achievement expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements within this disclosure will occur, or if they do, that any benefits may be derived from them. A person in western Montana's Gallatin County is being evaluated at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital after becoming ill following travel to mainland China and will be tested for the novel coronavirus. It's the first reported person under investigation for the virus in Montana, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. The Gallatin City-County Health department emphasized that the person is being tested and monitored, but has not been diagnosed with the virus. Results from testing, done by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are expected sometime this week. Novel coronavirus is the cause of a respiratory illness outbreak that was first detected in Wuhan, China. In the United States a total of 12 people have tested positive for the virus, according to the CDC, out of 398 cases under investigation. Cases have been confirmed in Washington, California, Arizona, Wisconsin, Illinois and Massachusetts. About 42,500 cases of the virus had been confirmed globally by Monday, and more than 1,000 people have died, with the majority in mainland China. Jim Murphy, the state health department's Communicable Disease Control and Prevention bureau chief, said Monday the state has been notified by federal health officials of about 15 people with a recent travel history in China and is working with those people to monitor their health. Matt Kelley, the health officer with the Gallatin City-County Health Department, said Monday the risk to people in the county and state is very low, but that he wanted to make information public to avoid the spread of rumors or confusion. We wanted to share with people who were expressing concern the information we have and we wanted to do that in a consistent way and in a widespread way, Kelley said. Kelley said five people in Gallatin County who have recently traveled to China are working with the state and local health departments to be monitored. The person who is being tested went to the Bozeman hospital after becoming ill. The hospital is taking special precautions to protect employees and others, Kelley said. "This is the first person that weve been monitoring that has shown the symptoms," Kelley said. The risk to anyone in the county remains very low. "The exposure of this person is really small and we don't even know what is making this person ill," Kelley said. "The things we would tell people in Gallatin County today are really the same things we would have told them last week take care of yourselves and take the same precautions that you take for influenza." Murphy said that when people travel from China to the United States, those who are being allowed back in the country are screened by federal health workers for symptoms. Those who are not sick and travel back to their home states are flagged for the state health department. The state then works with local health departments to monitor those people for about two weeks, the longest known incubation period for the virus. Murphy pointed out about 97% of those who have been tested for the virus in the United States have not had it. "We're optimistic that our person is going to also test negative and we should know that mid-week," Murphy said. The CDC has the only lab that can do testing, but Murphy said Montana's state labs should be able to test for the virus by the end of the month. He said the low diagnosis rate shows the screening systems set up at major airports are working. "This person, for instance, was somebody that was on our monitoring list and as a result we were able to reach out and make contact and when something changed in the person's health status, a medical evaluation was going to occur," Murphy said, adding that those on the monitoring list generally have restrictions placed on their movement to limit the possible spread of a potential illness. Montana has had four deaths from influenza this year, with 4,033 cases reported in the state and 186 hospitalizations. All counties have reported at least one case. There is no vaccine for the novel coronavirus, but the CDC recommends people generally avoid spreading respiratory viruses and the flu by avoiding contact with people who are sick; washing your hands; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; staying home when you are sick; and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Roughly two dozen countries around the world have taken precautionary measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as the death toll continues to rise. This page has updates from Feb. 12. For updates from Feb. 13, click here. US Total Rises to 14 as Wuhan Evacuee Tests Positive The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that another person has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The individual was one of the Americans evacuated from Wuhan and quarantined in Southern Californias Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego County on Feb. 7. One other evacuee at Air Station Miramar tested positive for the virus on Feb. 10. The CDC has said that the two patients arrived on different flights and were housed in different facilities on the base. At this time, there is no indication of person-to-person spread of this virus at the quarantine facility, but CDC will carry out a thorough contact investigation as part of its current response strategy to detect and contain any cases of infection with this virus, CDC on-site team lead Dr. Chris Braden said in a statement. The new case is the 14th to be detected in the United States and is the eight known case in California. More Cases Reported in Singapore Singapores Ministry of Health announced on Feb. 12 that three more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the national total to 50. None of the three new patients have reported a recent travel history to China. However, one patient, a 34-year-old Singaporean man, was in Malaysia on Jan. 26. He began having symptoms of the virus on Feb. 1 and tested positive on Feb. 11. Malaysia currently has 18 known cases of coronavirus. Among the countrys 50 cases, 15 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital, while eight are in critical condition in the intensive care unit, according to the announcement. Also on Feb. 12, Lawrence Wong, Singapores Minister for National Development, said during a press conference that it was too early to tell how far the virus has spread in the population. Many people have asked how this situation would unfold in the coming days and weeks. And the honest answer isit is still too early to tell, he said. We really cannot say whether it will get better; whether it will get worse; what sort of situation is going to unfold. We have several scenarios. We can very well expect to see more cases coming up in future. UK Confirms 9th Case of Virus The UKs Department of Health has confirmed another case of COVID-19 after a woman who recently arrived from China tested positive at St Thomas Hospital on Feb. 12. Professor Chris Witty, Chief Medical Officer for England said that the new patient takes the national total in the UK to nine. This virus was passed on in China and the patient has now been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at Guys and St Thomas in London, he said. Mobile World Congress Canceled Organizers of the worlds biggest mobile technology fair are pulling the plug over worries about the viral outbreak from China. The annual Mobile World Congress show will no longer be held as planned in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 24-27. Global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event, John Hoffman, head of the organizing body, said in a statement Wednesday. The decision comes after dozens of tech companies and wireless carriers dropped out, with the latest cancelations by Nokia, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Britains BT on Wednesday. Other big names that have already dropped out include Ericsson, Nokia, Sony, Amazon, Intel, and LG. The companies cited concerns for the safety of staff and visitors. Organizers had sought to hold out against growing pressure to cancel the annual tech extravaganza, which had been expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors from about 200 countries, including 5,000 to 6,000 from China. Cruise Ship Finally Set to Dock Holland America said its Westerdam cruise ship, which has been rejected by about a half-dozen countries over fears of the mysterious new virus that has ravaged parts of China, will be able to dock at a port in Cambodia. The operator said it will disembark Thursday while passengers are able to go on shore, the Carnival Corp.-owned company said in a statement. The cruise ship has been rejected by Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. territory of Guam. There are no confirmed coronavirus cases on board, Holland America has said. Read more here. F1 Chinese Grand Prix Postponed Formula Ones Chinese Grand Prix in April has been postponed due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the country, organizers said on Wednesday. The race, in an important market for Formula One, was originally set to be held in Shanghai on the 19th but the governing FIA and Formula One said they had jointly agreed to postpone it. As a result of continued health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus as a global health emergency, the FIA and Formula One have taken these measures, the two bodies said in a statement. All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for the Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve. A host of international sporting events have been cancelled due to coronavirus, including the all-electric Formula E motor racing series that abandoned plans for a race in the Chinese city of Sanya next month. WHO: Greatest Fear Remains Outbreak in Ill-Equipped Countries The greatest fear of World Health Organization officials is a fresh coronavirus outbreak springing up in an ill-equipped country, director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference on Wednesday. Our greatest fear remains the damage this coronavirus could do in a country like DRC, he said at the organizations headquarters in Geneva after speaking of the Ebola outbreak. Dr. Michael Ryan, head of the organizations emergency committee, told reporters earlier this week that the health system in China, where most of the patients are, is delivering a high level of care. Imagine this disease establishing itself in a weaker health system, he said. This disease may appear relatively mild in the context of a sophisticated health system. That may not be the case if this disease reaches a health system that is not as capable as that of China. Organizers Agonize Over Whether to Scrap Mobile World Congress The worlds biggest wireless trade fair was thrown into doubt Wednesday after more big tech companies and mobile carriers including Nokia, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom pulled out over worries about the viral outbreak from China. Theyre the latest in a string of tech companies to pull out of the event scheduled for Feb. 24-27. Ericsson, Amazon, Sony, LG, Cisco and Intel have already decided not to attend. Nokia said Wednesday it has decided to withdraw from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain after a full assessment of the risks related to a fast-moving situation. The Finnish telecom infrastructure company said the health and well-being of employees was a primary focus and that canceling its involvement was a prudent decision. HMD Global, a separate Finnish company that makes Nokia phones under license, also said its pulling out. So did German carrier Deutsche Telekom, which said it wasnt an easy decision for us. Vodafone said it was dropping out after careful consideration while Britains BT said canceling was the most responsible decision. The departures of Nokia and Ericsson leave Chinas Huawei, a major sponsor of the fair, as the only remaining major network gear maker still planning to attend. Labs Find Problem With US-Issued Coronavirus Test Kits Multiple state labs found problems with coronavirus test kits issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) centered on inconclusive lab results, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of one of the CDCs centers, said on Feb. 12. Kits were sent to all 50 states, some of which already tested them as part of a normal procedure, as well as multiple countries. Some state labs reported some inconclusive lab results, Messonnier told reporters on a phone call. We hoped everything would go smoothly as we rushed this, Messonnier said. All clinical specimens are still being sent to the agency for validation and the CDC will keep providing verification of the results even after state labs get the test kits up and running, Messonnier said. Read more here. Virus Spreading Much More Rapidly Than SARS: US Official Though there are still many unknowns about the new coronavirus, officials know that it is spreading much faster than SARS, according to Dr. Tony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease. It is certainly more deadly than a typical influenza but it is not nearly as deadly as SARS, which had a mortality of about 9 to 10 percent. But SARS did not spread as easily as this virus, Fauci said during an appearance on Bloomberg TV on Feb. 12. For example, in an entire year there were only 8,000 cases of SARS, which then just dissipated and went away. Right now, in the first 2 months or seven weeks, as it were, we have 45,000 cases. So we have more than five times as many cases in a month and a half with this infection then we had with SARS in an entire year. The 45,000 case number is from Chinese authorities but the true number of cases is much greater, Fauci said, because people who show few or no symptoms generally arent counted. Japanese Airliner Suspends Flights to China and Hong Kong Japanese budget carrier Peach Aviation announced on Wednesday the suspension of several flights between Japan and Hong Kong and Japan and China due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. From Feb. 10 to March 27, Peach 079 from between Osaka and Shanghai is suspended. From Feb. 11 to March 28, Peach 080 between Shanghai and Osaka, Peach 899 between Tokyo and Shanghai, and Peach 898 between Shanghai and Tokyo are suspended. From Feb. 17 to March 28, Peach 963 from Okinawa and Hong Kong, Peach 964 between Hong Kong and Okinawa, Peach 063 and 065 between Osaka and Hong Kong, and Peach 064 and 060 between Hong Kong and Osaka are suspended. One Additional Infection Case Reported in Hong Kong One new case of coronavirus has emerged in Hong Kong, according to Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Center for Health Protection, bringing the citys total to 50. The new patient, a 51-year-old man, is a coworker of a patient who has already tested positive for the virus. The Hong Kong government also confirmed that 10 Hongkongers who have the virus and are currently in Chinas Hubei province, had not been infected in Hong Kong. Sara Ho, senior manager at Hong Kongs Hospital Authority, stated that one infected patient, a 25-year-old man who tested positive on Feb. 4, has recovered and been discharged from hospital. It is the first recovery from the virus in the city. Ho added that four infected patients are in critical condition, while two others are in serious condition. Airbnb Extends Service Suspension in Beijing Major lodging provider Airbnb announced Wednesday that all bookings in Beijing have been further suspended until April 30, according to Reuters. On Monday, Airbnb had announced the suspension in Beijing until Feb. 29. An Airbnb spokesman said Chinese authorities have requested that bookings in Wuxi, a city in coastal Chinas Jiangsu province, and Yongchuan District in Chinas megacity of Chongqing, be suspended as well. Germany Reports 2 New Cases Two new cases have been reported in Germanys southern state of Bavaria, local newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Feb. 11, citing the Bavarian health ministry. The latest cases bring Bavarias total known cases to 14all of them related to local automotive supplier Webasto. Among the 14, at least eight are employees of Webasto. With the two new cases, Germany has a total of 16 confirmed cases of the virus. The spread of infection at Webasto has been traced back to a Chinese female employee. She became ill while staying in Germany from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23, during which she gave training at Webastos headquarters in Stockdorf, which is near Munich. She tested positive for the virus after returning to China. 10 Hongkongers Infected in Hubei Ten people from Hong Kongseven in Wuhan and three in another city Enshihave been infected with the Novel Coronavirus, local broadcaster RTHK reported, citing the citys Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. All 10 are in stable condition according to the bureau. Georgia State Officials Monitor 200 People Health officials in the state of Georgia are monitoring nearly 200 locals who recently returned from China, local broadcaster WSB-TV reported, citing the states Department of Public Health. None of those who are being monitored had visited Chinas Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. They are now under self-quarantine for 14 days. There are 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, none of them in Georgia. General Motors Suspends Production in South Korea General Motors Koreathe South Korean units of U.S. automaker GMannounced that it will suspend operation at one of its three assembly plants in South Korea on Feb. 17 and 18, according to Yonhap News Agency. The suspension is caused by a shortage of Chinese parts due to the coronavirus outbreak. The production suspension will disrupt production of Chevrolets Trailblazer SUVs. Mongolia Halts Coal Exports to China Mongolia is suspending its coal exports to China until March 2, state-owned news agency Montsame reported on Feb. 11, citing the countrys State Emergency Commission. The suspensions will apply to four border checkpoints with China. The halt was made in response to two confirmed cases of coronavirus at a border crossing in Khaliut, a city in Chinas Inner Mongolia, according to the announcement. The commission added that the export halt to China only applies to coal, and other minerals such as copper and iron ore can still be shipped to its neighbor. Monroe County in New York Quarantines 6 Locals Health officials in Monroe County stated on Feb. 11 that six locals have been placed under voluntary quarantine as they are suspected to have contracted the Novel Coronavirus, according to local outlet WROC-TV. The six people will be under quarantine for two weeks and they currently dont exhibit any symptoms of the virus. Singapore, Malaysia Establish Joint Working Group Singapores Ministry of Health announced on Feb. 11 that Singapore and Malaysia will establish a joint working group to further enhance cooperation to prevent and control the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. The announcement added it is important that the two neighbors work closely because of high travel volume between the two. Currently, Malaysia has 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus while Singapore has 47, after the latter reported two additional cases on Feb. 11. Two new patientsa 35-year-old Singaporean permanent resident and a 39-year-old Bangladesh national who holds a Singapore work passhave no recent travel history to China. Outbreak Could Affect Sino-US Trade Deal U.S. National security adviser Robert OBrien said on Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak is not going to change the phase one deal with China. However, he cautioned the outbreak could affect Beijings ability to fulfill terms of the phase one deal, particularly on its commitment to the purchase of U.S. agricultural goods. OBrien made the remarks while speaking at the Atlantic Council. Under the deal signed in January, Beijing is committed to buying $200 billion worth of additional U.S. goods and services over the next two years, including $40 billion to $50 billion of agricultural products each year. The coronavirus is not slowing down the Chinese Communist Party from doing exactly what it wants to do, said OBrien, pointing to Chinas activities such as pressuring its regional neighbors, and attempting to steal intellectual property and force technology transfer. On Feb. 9, Beijing deployed a military aircraft to circle over half of Taiwan, according to Taiwanese media, a move that has escalated cross-strait tension. Another Chinese jet flew close to Taiwan the following day. On Feb. 10, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted four members of the Chinese military for stealing about 145 million Americans data and trade secrets by hacking credit-reporting agency Equifax. Japan Bans Travelers from Zhejiang Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a ban against travelers holding Chinese passports issued in eastern Chinas Zhejiang province on Feb. 12, according to newspaper Mainichi Shimbun. According to local outlet NHK, Japan already has a similar ban against holders of Chinese passports issued in Hubei, the epicenter of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, travelers who have been to Hubei in the past 14 weeks are also banned from entry into Japan. Chinese Falun Gong Practitioner Forcibly Held in Coronavirus Quarantine After Torture A Chinese prisoner of conscience who was severely tortured to the point of losing consciousness was taken to a quarantine facility for coronavirus patients, according to a website that documents the persecution of the meditation group Falun Gong in China. Gong Fengqiang was arrested on Dec. 27 last year because of his faith in Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website. The meditation practice has been persecuted by the Chinese regime since 1999. While in custody, he was abused in a detention center by Chinese Communist Party officials and lost consciousness. He was then taken to a coronavirus quarantine center because officials had sought to cover up the incident, according to the Chinese edition of the website. Read more here. Chinese Officials Allowed to Seize Personal Property Amid Viral Outbreak Officials from two virus-stricken cities in southern China may now confiscate private property in an effort to combat the coronavirus outbreak that has pushed the countrys health system to the limit. According to a notice posted on Feb. 11, the city and district level authorities in Guangzhou city can, when necessary, temporarily expropriate houses, venues, transportation vehicles, and other facilities from companies or individuals. The government could also ask for relevant organizations to produce or provide disease control equipment or daily supplies, according to the notice. It noted that the officials carrying out such measures should compensate parties accordingly and return the materials if possible. Read more here. Japan Cruise Ship Virus Cases Jump to 175 Including Quarantine Officer Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan as well as one quarantine officer, bringing the total to 175, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. About 3,700 people are aboard the ship, which usually has a crew of 1,100 and a passenger capacity of 2,670. The ministry said tests are being conducted for others who are deemed to need them and it will announce the results later. Read more here. For updates from Feb. 11, click here. From The Epoch Times Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Have you seen the image of that woman during President Trumps 2017 inauguration who threw back her head and screamed NOOO! like Luke Skywalker did when he found out Darth Vader was his father? Well, the woman has since become a meme. And while its always unacceptable to ridicule or belittle anyone made in the image of God, I remember an insightful remark about this womans show of emotion. For her and for many others, the 2016 electoral results meant that hope itself was lost. For those who gnashed their teeth at the inauguration, politics had taken on the role of religion in their lives. Januarys cover story of TIME magazine all but admits this, although the hope is noticeably revived. Charlotte Alter, the author of the forthcoming book The Ones Weve Been Waiting For, makes no effort to hide the fact that for many millennials, political reform has become a kind of gospeland they its evangelists. In a few years, writes Alter, millennials will be a majority of the electorate, and with historically favorable views of socialism, low views of organized religion, and liberal views on sex and gender, the up-and-coming generation looks ready to reverse what older voters have tried to accomplish by electing conservatives. Alter is not only okay with this, shes more than okay. Her tone throughout the TIME article is triumphant. She cant wait for millennial leaders and voters to transform America, nor does she expect their zeal to lessen, even as they age. The odd thing throughout the article is that Alter never bothers to argue that these ultra-liberal views are true. For her, young voters passion to change to world, together with the fact that theyre young, are all the evidence she needs to know that theyre right. If millennials and Gen Zs political views are near-religious, then the devotion to that religion that Alter describes and reflects can be called a cult of adolescence. I used that term last year on BreakPoint after 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg was applauded for shouting, How dare you? at a room of adults at the United Nations. Its also the same cult we saw after the Parkland high school students slammed adults as ignorant and lazy for not passing the gun control laws they wanted. Writing at First Things last month, Theodore Dalrymple compares the activism of millennial progressives with an account by a young Marxist who traveled to Syria to fight for ISIS. Like this recruit to totalitarian ideology, Dalrymple thinks the rising generation of American voters is seeking more from politics than just good laws. Theyre seeking salvationtheyre seeking a cure for the worlds evils, and an escape from what feels like a meaningless existence. Having abandoned any hope that these things will come from God, theyre left hitching their hopes to the next election, to the next Supreme Court ruling, or the next session of Congress. There is an evangelical tone to their declarations, Dalyrmple writes, a sorting of the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats, the saved from the damned. They do not merely want formal changes[t]hey demand a reform of the human heart and intend to bring it about. But of course, politics can never deliver those things. For those who look to activism and policy to fill what Dalrymple calls their existential void, the only thing worse than losing elections might be winning them. I dont know whether Alter is right about the way millennials will vote in the long-term. If theres one thing weve learned in the last few years, political pundits struggle to predict the future. Whenever they tell us an outcome is inevitable thats almost reason alone to doubt it. But what is inevitable, Im much more certain, is disappointment for anyone who makes politics their religion. As Christians who have answers that actually can satisfy and a gospel that actually can change hearts and the world, we should see in that disappointment a chance for truth and love, not for gloating. Originally posted at breakpoint.org Top model Adut Akech takes the cover story of WSJ. Magazines March 2020 Womens Fashion edition captured by fashion photographer Mikael Jansson. For the session Adut was joined by Adonis Bosso, Ayobami Okekunle, Fatou Jobe, Hamid Onifade, Kyla Ramsey, and Mayowa Nicholas. In charge of styling was Lisa Jarvis, with set design from Gerard Santos, and casting direction by Piergiorgio Del Moro. Beauty is work of hair stylist Rudi Lewis, makeup artist Mark Carrasquillo, and manicurist Barbara Warner. Not only is Adut truly committed to everything she does, but she is also conscious of her special role in the fashion world and how her example can positively influence other young girls, says. She is a model, in both senses of the word. Valentino designer Pierpaolo Piccioli on Akech. Akech on her early years in the refugee camp: So many family members had also fled there that, until she relocated to Australia at age 6, she did not understand her circumstances. Honestly, I didnt know I was in a [refugee] camp. I still have good memories of those days, Akech says. My mom somehow made it happy. We had food to eat, clothes to wear and somewhere to sleep. The bigger thing was being fearful each night, not knowing what was going to happen the next dayif someone was going to attack the camp. Naomi Campbell on Akech: When I laid eyes on that little baby, I was just taken aback by her grace and beauty, says Campbell, who met Akech on set for the 2018 Pirelli calendar. I have her over and make sure she eats, is sleeping. Campbell even taught Akech, who is afraid of flying, her extreme airplane-seat-cleaning technique. Akech on her advocacy: She has dedicated her success, including a 2019 model of the year award at the British Fashion Councils Fashion Awards, to raising awareness of refugees. I want to tell them there is nothing to be ashamed of. I want to educate people [that refugees] are ordinary people, she says. Nothing frustrates her more than those who ask her, Arent you lucky? I cant change past generations, but I can do something now, says Akech. I am a South Sudanese refugee. I want to be able to say that proudly. Photography Mikael Jansson for WSJ. Magazine www.wsj.com This article is featured in WSJ. Magazines March 2020 Issue, out on newsstands Saturday, February 15th. Boris Johnson risked a major row with Donald Trump today by claiming the UK's extradition arrangements with the US are 'imbalanced' and suggesting they need to be reviewed. But the Prime Minister insisted his treaty concerns had nothing to do with a growing Transatlantic clash over UK demands for the extradition of Harry Dunn's alleged killer, Anne Sacoolas. The issue of extradition was raised in the House of Commons by Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Minister's Questions. The Labour leader claimed the UK's extradition treaty with the US was 'lopsided' and was a barrier to Ms Sacoolas being brought back to Britain. Mr Johnson agreed with Mr Corbyn that elements of the arrangements do favour the US but insisted that had no bearing on the case of Mr Dunn. It came as the slain Briton's family accused the Foreign Office (FCO) of being 'engaged in a cover-up' over the teenage motorcyclist's death. The FCO has said it has 'no plans' to launch a public inquiry despite reports that Ms Sacoolas had worked as a spy for the CIA. Boris Johnson today said he believed parts of the UK's extradition arrangements with the US needed to be reviewed Mr Johnson said current arrangements with the US were 'imbalanced' but rejected Jeremy Corbyn's suggestion that the issue was linked to the case of Harry Dunn Facing Mr Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, Mr Corbyn told the Commons: 'This morning, Charlotte Charles, Harry's mum, said 'we thought we had bridged the gap with the government but they have not been honest with us'. 'This is only the latest case of our country's one-sided extradition treaty with the USA. 'This lopsided treaty means the US can request extradition in circumstances that Britain cannot. 'While the US continues to deny justice to Harry Dunn, will the Prime Minister commit today to seek an equal and balanced extradition relationship with the United States?' Mr Johnson replied: 'To be frank I think you have a point in your characterisation of our extradition arrangements with the United States and I do think there are elements of that relationship that are imbalanced and I certainly think that it is worth looking at. 'But it is totally different from the case of Harry Dunn and Anne Sacoolas and we continue to seek the extradition of Anne Sacoolas to face justice in this country.' Mr Corbyn said the case of Mr Dunn had 'everything to do with' the current extradition arrangements because the US refuses to extradite Ms Sacoolas 'because of this lopsided treaty'. The UK and the US have long had a bilateral extradition relationship with the current rules formally agreed by Tony Blair's government in a treaty signed in 2003. Harry Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in the UK in August last year Nineteen-year-old Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year. Ms Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy. She was charged with causing Mr Dunn's death by dangerous driving in December. But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected an extradition request from the UK for her last month. It has been claimed in recent days that Ms Sacoolas had worked as a spy for the CIA. The FCO responded to questions from the 19-year-old's family on Wednesday - saying the case had been handled 'properly and lawfully throughout'. Mr Dunn's parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, along with family spokesman Radd Seiger, said they now 'believe the FCO were complicit' in Anne Sacoolas's departure from the UK. The family had demanded answers from Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab as to whether he was notified of Mrs Sacoolas's history with the CIA and if she was still serving at the time of Mr Dunn's death. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 09:04:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- More state and government leaders and heads of global institutions have expressed their sympathy to China over the novel coronavirus outbreak and voiced support to the country's fight against the epidemic. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India highly appreciates China's effective measures to fight the epidemic, and is willing to provide support and assistance to China in the battle. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain fully supports the prevention and control efforts of the Chinese government, and is willing to work side by side with China and continue to provide assistance. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa extended sympathy to China and wished it an early victory in the battle against the epidemic. Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos extended deep condolences to the Chinese people and expressed the hope that China's resolute measures and unremitting efforts will contain the epidemic in a rapid manner. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that under the strong leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, China will eventually contain and eliminate the epidemic. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said that tremendous efforts made by the Chinese government to combat the epidemic have positively contributed to the global and regional public health security. Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde expressed his appreciation of and firm support for China's commitment and efforts to prevent and control the epidemic. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, praising and supporting China's anti-epidemic measures, said that his country stands ready to provide China with any assistance within its capacity. China has made great efforts against the outbreak, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, adding that the UN firmly supports the measures taken by the Chinese government and people to tackle the epidemic, and hopes that all countries work together to deal with the outbreak in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said that the resolve and resilience of the Chinese people are admirable, while expressing his confidence that under the strong leadership of Xi, China will defeat the epidemic soon. China's efforts to control the source of the virus and contain its spread have bought valuable time for the rest of the world, said World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that without China's efforts, the number of global cases would be much higher. The global health agency firmly supports China's efforts to prevent and control the epidemic, and will send a team of specialists to work with Chinese experts, the WHO chief added. Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Zambia's President Edgar Lungu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Moldova's President Igor Dodon, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, President of the Federated States of Micronesia David W. Panuelo, Samoan Head of State Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell, foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Angola and Norway, as well as the head of the United Nations Development Program, the International Civil Aviation Organization Council president, director general of the UN Industrial Development Organization and other people in charge of various international and regional organizations also extended their support and sympathies. Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Auburn, California for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 6 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Auburn, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Auburn with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Auburn. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Auburn, California please visit https://www.help.org/best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-auburn-ca/. 2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Auburn, California (in alphabetical order) Aegis Roseville 1133 Coloma Way, Suite C Roseville CA 95661 916-774-6647 Chapa-De Indian Health Program Inc Substance Abuse Services 11670 Atwood Road Auburn, CA 95603 530-887-2800 Granite Wellness Centers 12183 Locksley Lane, Suite 101 104 Auburn, CA 95602 530-885-1961 Hope Canyon 2821 Lange Avenue San Diego, CA 92122 619-343-2395 Hope, Help and Healing, Inc. Outpatient 11960 Heritage Oak Place, Suite 20 Auburn, CA 95603 530-885-4249 New Dawn Treatment Centers 9960 Business Park Drive, Suite 160 Sacramento, CA 95827 866-969-4300 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. Despite recent revelations of the lack of concern for safety at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the January 14 annual report by the Financial and Management Control Board (FMCB) shows little change from their charted course. The unelected body is proceeding with further budget cuts, privatizations and fixation on capital delivery, all of which have been found to be the main factors behind abhorrent safety in nearly all sectors of the Greater Boston transit systems operations. The content of the report, along with the FMCBs recent calls for the addition of 60 privatized buses, also signals preparations for what will be a long and protracted attack carried out by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and future boards against transit workers. This is a continuation of the slow-motion attrition against workers and commuters, ramped up since the formation of the FMCB five years ago that has resulted in the lowering of wages and pensions, decaying infrastructure, fare hikes and unsafe conditions. Through the common tactic of the ruling class to never let a good crisis go to waste, the FMCB was undemocratically formed by Baker in 2015 after a record-level snowfall immobilized the underfunded and indebted MBTA. This unelected board was further armed with the temporary suspension of the Taxpayer Protection Act, a 1993 statute protecting against the privatization of public services. The suspension of the Act allowed the FMCB to privatize the cash collection and warehousing departments. Then, utilizing threats of privatizing driving and maintenance jobs, the MBTA and the Carmens Union signed a contract, which reneged on already agreed upon raises for current workers, lowered wages for new employees, and allowed the privatization of expanded services. The FMCB utilized contract concessions in pay as well as new tiers in wage increases for new employees to justify purging hundreds of employees, offering buyouts for voluntary retirement, only to hire new lower-paid employees in their stead. The number of employees went from 6,547 in fiscal year 2017 to 5,643 in fiscal year 2018. It was 6,198 as of June 30, 2019. A Safety Review Panel (SRP) report in December found that safety was being sacrificed in the interest of capital development. The report noted that the most seasoned and knowledgeable employees accepting management sponsored buy outs ... resulted in significant brain drain [at the MBTA.] With no clear succession planning or employee development processes in place, the organization finds itself limited in its ability to effectively run the system. The SRP was informed of a particularly egregious demonstration of the lack of attention to safety, in which professional in-color training manuals used for Right of Way training for employees had stopped being printed by an external vendor due to budget constraints. Even though these manuals depict all of the different color-flagging devices used in Right of Way signaling, staff resorted to printing the manuals in black and white to cut down on expenses, resulting in all of the various colored flags appearing as black objects in the training manual. The FMCBs 20-page annual report gives scarcely any concrete proposals on improving safety, merely mentioning the need of a safety report at each future FMCB meeting. On the other hand, the text is filled with plans for future attacks on workers and hiring more employees to meet aggressive capital initiatives. Part of the fiscal year 2020 budget is allocated for an additional 80 positions in capital delivery, the department that reviews, authorizes and oversees new construction projects in and around transit properties. The report directs the MBTA General Manager (GM) to immediately establish both a regional/urban rail and bus transformation office, which shall have no other responsibilities outside the transformation mission. This transformation means developing and maintaining the business case to support the investments needed, as well as developing and implementing a stakeholder engagement plan. The report further notes, The level of investment and the complexity of mission ... will require consideration of new contract mechanisms and new labor practices. It also calls on the state legislature to support public-private partnership and reform proposals in Bakers transportation bond bill, and that greater use of the talent and innovation in the private sector is critical and tools that provide the Authority with greater leverage over long term performance of the private sector [are] essential. Some legislation has already been introduced on this frontal attack on workers. Bill MA H3153, which is in committee, threatens MBTA workers and retirees pensions. The bill calls a special commission to investigate and report on retirement benefits provided to employees of the MBTA. It states: The report shall analyze the feasibility of providing retirement benefits to future employees of the Authority under current laws as opposed to any other statutory or contractual plan or system ... Also, to be examined are all retirement benefits currently received, relevant contractual provisions and applicable federal and state laws and the legal effects of changing or removing these benefits. Plans for further privatization are also under consideration. In what FMCB Chairman Joseph Aiello referred to as a gift to the next board, the FMCB is proposing the addition of 60 new buses to be privately contracted. This will no doubt be used as a bulwark for future attacks on MBTA workers. Any savings from these buses, joined with high public demand for fare-free MBTA services, could be one of many tactics used to pit commuters against MBTA workers in order to garner support for privatizing existing services. Never mentioned are the billions syphoned from Massachusetts tax revenue by predatory bond debt payments. The MBTA, along with myriad other crucial social infrastructure in Massachusetts, are funded to a high degree by bonds, enriching lenders like Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank through predatory interest payments. Nearly $500 million, half of which is interest, goes annually from the MBTA budget to bondholders. Massachusetts bond debt has gone from $18.6 billion in 2008 to $27.2 billion in 2018, bringing the yearly payment of interest alone to approximately $1 billion. In Massachusetts, the number of people with yearly income exceeding $1 million has grown substantially, almost doubling from 10,458 in 2010 to 18,205 people in 2017. The combined net worth of the 18 billionaires in Massachusetts is $64 billion, more than enough to pay off the states bond debt and modernize and expand rail service throughout Massachusetts and beyond. The reality is that no concessions by the bankrupt transit unions will stop the relentless siege by finance capital on transit workers and riders alike. Just as they have done for decades, the unions are preparing to tell workers that they have no choice but to hand over their hard-won gains, benefits and rights in order to keep the MBTA solvent. While the capitalist class, its bought-and-paid-for political representatives, and their unelected boards, organize and work in the interest of financial trusts and investments, workers, students and youth must respond in kind, democratically forming their own independent rank-and-file committees to organize and defend their class interests, including the basic social right to free, high-quality and safe transportation. The appointment of supposed workers representatives to the financial board, including FMCB member Brian Lang, president of UNITE HERE Local 26, has done nothing to protect riders and transit workers. On the contrary, with Lang the FMCBs attacks on workers are able to run like clockwork, ironically the only part of the MBTA that does. TOKYO The 3,600 people aboard the Diamond Princess, locked down for more than a week and desperate for information, have been reduced to peering out windows as hazmat-suited workers take away the newest coronavirus patients and mysterious buses, their interiors shrouded by curtains, come and go from the port. They have Wi-Fi, but it is spotty, and even if it were not, they might search in vain for information about their plight from tight-lipped Japanese authorities. Experts in crisis management said the government was offering a textbook example of how not to handle a public health crisis. Repeatedly explain what is known, and what is unknown, and when people can get more information about what remains unknown, said Dr. Hana Hayashi, a public health strategist at McCann Healthcare Worldwide Japan. It sounds very simple, but by continuing to do this, peoples concerns will be reduced. Vatican Media via Reuters ROMEWhen Pope Francis opened the door to the possibility priests could be married in special cases, a pronouncement he made at the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon Region last October at the Vatican, it nearly split the Catholic world of 1.3 billion followers in two. Liberal Catholics who have pinned their hopes on this pope modernizing the ancient and powerful patriarchy felt, at last, their time had come. Conservatives, who view this pope as a direct threat to some of their most passionately held beliefs, threatened a schism, going so far as to wheel out Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI (who many still consider their pope) to criticize his successor publiclyeven though it later appeared the retired 92-year-old pontiff was just an unwitting pawn. Francis recent predecessors have all refused even to consider the issue of allowing married men to become priests, ruling immediately that celibacy is not negotiable. By not throwing out requests from prelates in the remote regions of the Amazon to ordain deacons to perform sacraments that only priests are allowed to perform, thus reaching out to the faithful who dont have access to regular clerical visits, Francis set off what could have led to a true schism in the church. Bishops Ask Pope to Approve Married Priests, and Open the Way to Women Deacons Now many are wondering if his choice to close the door firmly was simply in the interest of keeping the church together, but the possibility of a schism still has not been ruled out. Francis Apostolic Exhortation, called Querida Amazonia or Beloved Amazon, was released Wednesday in Rome by the Holy See Press Office and followed up by several syntheses and canned interviews in multiple languages lest anyone not understand it. The document is flowery and poetic, focused on the environmental impact of greed and globalization. It doesnt even specifically mention the request by Amazon church leaders to ordain local deacons who understand the language and culture, but rather urges bishops in Latin America to be more generous about encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to choose the Amazon region. He also calls the idea of facilitating a greater presence of ordained ministers narrow in scope and instead says that lay people (who, by the way, have been carrying all the weight for the church there for decades) should be more involved. Story continues For those who knew ordaining married men was a long shot, there was still a glimmer of hope the pope might compromise and instead allow women to be ordained as deacons, who are essentially lighter versions of priests who can do everything except perform the sacraments. Here, too, Francis closed the door, somehow justifying that giving women more power would somehow compromise the power they supposedly have by not being part of the clergy. Throughout his papacy, Francis has continued to tell nuns and devout Catholic women that by giving them more power in the church hierarchy, he would put them in direct competition with male clergy, implying they would never win that battle. Francis has exhibited a woman problem from the start of his papacy, both in the language he has used and the continuous references to women only as maternal caretakers. In the exhortation, he admits that many communities in far-flung areas are only sustained because of the presence of strong and generous women but in the same breath cautions against reducing the Church to functional structures. He warns that giving women power as deacons would lead to a reductionism of their role as religious women and lay women in the church. That approach, he says, would narrow our vision; it would lead us to clericalize women, diminish the great value of what they have already accomplished, and subtly make their indispensable contribution less effective. It's Not Just Benedict, Christian History is Full of Forgeries With the idea of giving women more power clearly rejected, he then goes on to applaud womens contribution to the church, limited as that might be, dubbing it the tender strength of Mary before calling for the creation of new feminine services, whichwith the public recognition of the male bishopallow their input to affect decisions taken in the community. This would also allow women to have a real and effective impact on the organization, Francis writes. The most important decisions and the direction of communities, while continuing to do so in a way that reflects their womanhood. Conservative Catholic traditionalists have, for the moment at least, dodged the bullet and will have no choice but to be pleased with the contents of the document they have feared for so long. The threat that allowing married men to be ordained as priestseven late in life and even to ensure that all Catholics could be ministered towould lead the way to the end of celibacy altogether has subsided. To those extremely devout Catholicsmany of whom are not priests but live by self-imposed sexual abstinencethere is no question that priestly celibacy demonstrates an important sacrifice to God, even though it was only instituted as a rule for the clergy about a thousand years ago. Before that, clerical celibacy was not required, and often after that, especially during the Renaissance, it was not honored. Liberals will see this as a compromise by this pope in order to keep the church united, essentially making the Amazon take one for the team rather than answering the earnest desire of that regions Catholics to be more devout. The priest shortage still exists. Catholic communities in some regions still see a priest only once a year. Since the average time it takes for a seminarian to become a priest is five years from college graduation, even if this exhortation sparked a surge in vocations, it would not have any immediate impact on the ministerial void. The Amazon case could easily have been used as a precedent for how to combat priest shortages in other remote areas. And if a number of regions allow married priests (the Amazon region spans nine countries in South America), then surely the whole world would soon want them. The celibacy question is one that traditionalists know they could still lose easily. And precisely because sexual abstinence is not written in canonical law, as such, it is subject to a liberal-minded pope who could abolish it altogether. Most against lifting celibacy tend to fear that it is a step that could liberalize the church in other ways. Opening the door to married priests could lead to ordaining women as priests, some fear. Female priests are not accepted by traditionalists because of the belief that a priest has to be in Gods male likeness. Another aspect of Francis open-mindedness that the conservatives particularly despise links back to his Latin American heritage and his respect for local traditions. On this contentious issue for which he has been widely criticized by mostly European and Americans, his exhortation does not give ground. During the synod in Rome last fall, Francis allowed representatives from the Amazon to bring along five so-called Pachamama wooden statues which depicted, among other things, a naked, pregnant figure in the likeness of an indigenous Amazonian woman, not the usual white Virgin Mary symbolism associated with mainstream Catholicism. So angry were many conservatives at the very presence of these pagan figures, which were briefly stolen and thrown into Romes Tiber River, that they have since used them widely on social media and elsewhere to try to show Francis church as one in spiritual decline. Many of these conservatives have accused the pope in an open letter signed by 100 priests and lay scholars of sacrilegious and superstitious acts for worshiping false idols even though his own intent was to allow the visiting prelates to feel more at home. Francis addresses this in the text, pouring cold water on those who criticized him. Let us not be quick to describe as superstition or paganism certain religious practices that arise spontaneously from the life of peoples, he writes. It is possible to take up an indigenous symbol in some way, without necessarily considering it as idolatry. A myth charged with spiritual meaning can be used to advantage and not always considered a pagan error. The question of married priests and women deacons may be quieted for the moment, but it will surely resurface. The document hints that this case may be closed, but the discussion is not entirely stifled. Pope Francis has remained faithful to what he said prior to the Synod, Cardinal Michael Czerny, a great supporter of the pope and under-secretary of several Vatican congregations, said in an email after release of the document. The possibility of ordaining married men already exists, for example, in the Eastern Churches. This discussion has been going on for many centuries, and the Synod freely addressed it, not in isolation, but in the full context of the Churchs Eucharistic and ministerial life. The official line is, of course, that married Catholic men would not be able to devote themselves entirely to the priesthood if they had spouses and children. Some who support it have gone so far as to say that married priests would help combat pedophilia in the priesthood. But that argument is flawed and would only stand up if it meant that allowing priests to marry would translate to increased interest in the priesthood or might beget better screening of those entering the vocation due to competition. One of the biggest factors in the clerical sex abuse crisis is a clear lack of adequate screening of seminarians who might be prone to pedophilia. Also, of practical concern to the church may be the upkeep of married priests with large families. Priests often take the vow of poverty, relying entirely on local dioceses for food, housing, and financial support and leaving the church all their possessions when they die. Families would complicate that scenario. 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. Bayview, Excelsior, Fillmore, Western Addition The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Excelsior office. | Photo: Courtesy of Open Door Legal Many people think of the legal needs of low-income people as being relegated to the criminal justice system, where public defenders are available. But that's just the beginning, says attorney Adrian Tirtanadi. "People dont seem to understand with what frequency other legal issues arise for marginalized people," Tirtanadi notes. Substandard housing, immigration, and family custody issues disproportionately affect San Francisco's poorest residents, who are then unable to afford a lawyer to help navigate them. That's why, seven years ago, Tirtanadi and fellow attorney Virginia Taylor launched Open Door Legal, a nonprofit, pro bono legal aid office serving low-income clients in Bayview. Now, thanks to a $1 million grant from the city, they've expanded to two more offices a permanent one in the Excelsior (60 Ocean Ave.) and a temporary one in the Western Addition (1111 Buchanan St.), with a permanent outpost there set for this spring. Open Door Legal founders Adrian Tirtanadi and Virginia Taylor. | Photo: Courtesy of Open Door Legal Tirtanadi and Taylor founded Open Door shortly after their 2012 graduation from the USF School of Law. It's seen a massive client base since the very beginning within a year of opening its Bayview outpost (4634 3rd St.) in 2013, it had taken on 290 legal cases. Despite minimal advertising and outreach, the onslaught of cases continued. "The overwhelming demand in the first two years was very challenging to deal with," Tirtanadi said. Since then, Open Door has more than doubled the cases it handles every year in 2019, there were about 650. A sign placed in front of the Excelsior office. | Photo: Open Door Legal/Facebook The neighborhoods Open Door works in all have public housing nearby, and often lack other legal services, Tirtanadi told Hoodline. By opening where its clients already live, Open Door can help them save money and time on transit to the Financial District, where many of the city's legal offices are located. "Bayview is an hour one-way to go downtown," Tirtanadi noted. Story continues In addition to immigration, housing and family law, the nonprofit's practice areas include consumer law, wills/probate law and torts law (which includes civil assault or trespassing). "Like a primary care doctor, we always want to be available for our clients," Tirtanadi said. If a client has multiple, overlapping issues, Open Door's lawyers can consult on them simultaneously, rather than bounce them around between specialized practices. A "very robust" Salesforce case management application helps keep them organized, Tirtanadi said, and for the most challenging cases, attorneys have a list of mentors that volunteer on an on-call basis for advice. Tirtanadi says housing is his clients' number-one issue, including eviction, housing denial and rent miscalculation cases. "We have a lot of protections in the Bay Area, but these protections need to be enforced," he said, adding that the area has a lot of "bad actors." The Bayview and Excelsior offices are located in ground-floor storefronts, to help keep them accessible. Many of Open Door's clients began their legal cases by simply walking in, after seeing the nonprofit's signage outside. However, the Western Addition office is still awaiting its own retail space, set for Fillmore Street and Golden Gate Avenue. Until April, it's temporarily located in a room at the Rosa Parks Senior Center. Open Door currently has 27 full-time employees, but Tirtanadi says the organization is always looking for more lawyers to volunteer. Those without a legal background can assist in marketing, recruiting and technology development. And now that it's expanded to two more neighborhoods, Tirtanadi says he's excited for Open Door to take on even more cases helping immigrants fight to remain in the U.S., getting substandard housing fixed, and getting refunds for customers who were defrauded. "Legal services can move the needle on poverty quickly," he said. WYOMING, MI -- Authorities have released the name of a 24-year-old man who was killed in a crash over the weekend on U.S. 131 in Wyoming. Police said Marcus Welch, of Grand Rapids, was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday, Feb. 9. The crash occurred around 4:50 p.m. on U.S. 131 just north of 54th Street SW. Welch was driving in wintry conditions when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the cement median barrier, according to police. His vehicle continued to spin out of control and was struck broadside by another southbound vehicle. The man was the lone occupant in his vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured. Weather was considered a factor in the crash, police said. A winter weather advisory was issued for Kent County between noon and midnight on Sunday. The crash closed the highway for about 1.5 hours. The incident remains under investigation by the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. Read more: Grand Rapids street to be removed, transformed by Grand Valley State Grand Rapids has 24K lead water service lines to replace Next storm for Michigan has 2 things to watch The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ajumako Enyan Essiam has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for the area, Rasheed Etuaful, to answer for allegations made against him in the missing excavators saga. According to the Ajumako Enyan Essiam NDC, there was a purported memo on some social media platforms which suggested that the NPP parliamentary candidate requested for the National Executive Committee to refrain from probing the first Vice-Chairman of the NPP in the region, Ekow Horace Ewusi. There was a purported memo on some social media platform which was written by the NPP parliamentary candidate calling on the National Executive Committee to refrain from prosecuting Ekow Horace Ewusi and in a rebuttal, to the story, Rasheed Etuafo rather attributed the memo to the NDC in Ajumako, the Constituency Communication Officer for the NDC in Ajumako, Galahad Alex Andoh, said to Citi News. What we want Etuafo to do is to come out and prove his innocence because a lot of people are asking whether indeed he has benefited from the proceeds from the sale of excavators as that memo alleges because in the said memo it was actually stated that Ekow Ewusi is the financier and the backbone of Etuafo so he should come out and clear himself and he should also tell Ekow Ewusi to also come out and clear his name. The scandalous act of missing excavators, missing pieces of gold and the whereabouts of the pickups seized from the small scale miners have been a serious concern to all citizens of Ghana and so a circulated memo purporting that the NPP parliamentary candidate of Ajumako Enyan Essiam is a beneficiary of such proceeds raises major concern, he stated. The NDC also wants the NPP parliamentary candidate to react to the allegation that 29 cars were given to him by Ekow Ewusi meant to be distributed to taxi drivers. It also called on the Police to investigate the content of the memo. citinewsroom Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 15:18:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANTIAGO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chile's trade ties with China remain solid and based on long-term growth despite the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, Chile's exports authorities have said. China is not only Chile's main trading partner, but "beyond economy and trade, there is a humanitarian relationship" between the two nations, Jorge O'Ryan, director of ProChile, an official agency dedicated to promoting Chilean exports, told Xinhua. ProChile announced a donation of 11,000 crates of vitamin C-rich fruits, mainly cherries and cranberries, to hospitals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak in central China. Chile values its "excellent ties" with China, marked by the sincerity of both sides in fulfilling obligations, said O'Ryan, adding that the two trading partners "have always seen this relationship as one of long-term trust." Considering the epidemic as "a temporary problem, " O'Ryan said "we will continue to export to China, and we hope it will be resolved soon." On Friday, government officials met with representatives of exporters to discuss the prospects for Chilean exports amid the epidemic and propose measures to mitigate any potential impact. "China accounts for nearly 30 percent of our exports," said Jorge Valenzuela, president of the Chilean Federation of Fruit Producers known as Fedefruta. The outbreak "is an emergency like any outbreak that occurs around the world, but our ties with China are deep and long-standing ... so this situation is not going to stop or slow down bilateral relations," said Valenzuela. The Chinese authorities have "taken special and protective measures in the face of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic," said Miguel Canala-Echeverria, general manager of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association known as Asoex. "China is an important partner," said Juan Carlos Dominguez, executive president of the Chilean Meat Exporters' Association, adding that "we will continue to do business and maintain this great friendship with China." China is Chile's main trading partner and leading exports destination. About 31 percent of Chilean exports went to the Asian country in 2019, according to Chile's National Customs Service. ALBANY The lack of proper notification and unclear language appear to be some of the reasons why Albany County lawmakers will have to redo their new 5-cent paper bag tax, which was supposed to take effect March 1 but is now delayed. The county's legislators last year approved the tax, which was supposed to coincide with the statewide ban on most plastic grocery bags. Albany is one of a handful of counties that opted to charge a tax or fee on the paper bags that stores will offer in lieu of plastic. Part of the idea is to encourage consumers to switch to reusable bags. County officials, though, were taken aback on Monday when they learned that the bill they passed to allow the tax didnt meet the standards of the state Department of Taxation and Finance. While the new plastic bag ban will be largely carried out by the Department of Environmental Conservation, the fee is being handled by the state tax agency. I dont know what the outstanding issues are, the bills author, County Legislator Joanne Cunningham, said of the state's objections to the county measure. It certainly sounds like there are minor issues, Cunningham said, adding that she used a similar tax law from Suffolk County on Long Island as a template. In addition to Albany and Suffolk, Tompkins County and New York Citys five counties are also charging the nickel fee for paper bags. Im just trying to solve the problem, said Cunningham, who has reached out to her fellow county lawmakers to figure how to fix the errant legislation as soon as possible. State Department of Taxation and Finance officials on Tuesday wouldnt comment on what was wrong with the county tax legislation. But a message from the agency referenced the need for a certified letter regarding the new tax that apparently wasnt sent. Additionally, a note from an agency lawyer, Melanie Spaulding, said state officials would be happy to work with the county legislature to provide simple language to use in the new tax bill. Spaulding couldnt be reached for comment Tuesday. More for you State blocks Albany County's planned 5-cent paper bag tax Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The current bill, introduced last winter, is known as the Albany County Reusable Shopping Bag Incentive Act. Most of it appears to be quite straightforward in how it implements the tax, which directs 3 cents to the state Environmental Protection Fund and 2 cents to the county. The bill language also notes that without plastic bags, Albany County will experience a new environmental problem that results from the overuse of paper bags. This will yield to increased landfill use for the increase in paper bag usage, prices in local grocery and convenience stores increasing due to the increased costs associated with a move from plastic to paper bags and other potential unintended negative consequences. At the same time, those in the paper bag industry have warned that there will likely be a paper bag shortage as the state reduces the use of plastic bags next month. The law directs stores in Albany to post signs explaining that there is now a nickel paper bag charge a fact that will also be printed on receipts. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU 12 Feb Julia Montes is set to make her primetime comeback through the new Kapamilya series, "Burado". As reported on PEP, according to Dreamscape's Deo Endrinal, the actress will be working alongside Nadine Lustre in the said drama which will be filmed at several international locations including Thailand and India. Aside from the two actresses, the series also co-stars Zanjoe Marudo and Paulo Avelino as the leading men, with the addition of Thai actor Denkhun Ngamnet. Montes made her return to the Philippines last year after months of hiatus to spend time with her family in Germany. Her last drama was the 2018 series, "Asintado". It is noted that Dreamscape has produced Montes' many hit television series throughout the years, including "Walang Hanggan" and "Doble Kara". This will be Montes' second project since her return, after previously announced as part of the cast of ABS-CBN's upcoming weekly action drama, "24/7". (Photo Source: Deo Endrinal Instagram) NASA is looking for more astronauts to launch to the space station, fly to the moon and maybe journey to Mars. The space agency announced Tuesday (Feb. 11) that it will accept applications for its next class of astronaut candidates from March 2 through March 31. The new recruits, the 23rd group to be selected over the past 60 years, will become part of NASA's Artemis program to move humanity beyond Earth orbit and build upon two decades of astronauts living and working in space. "We're celebrating our 20th year of continuous presence aboard the International Space Station in low Earth orbit this year, and we're on the verge of sending the first woman and next man to the moon by 2024. For the handful of highly talented women and men we will hire to join our diverse astronaut corps, it's an incredible time in human spaceflight," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "We're asking all eligible Americans if they have what it takes to apply," he said. Related: How to become an astronaut More: 15 space travel tips from an astronaut NASA will again accept applications for new astronauts beginning March 2 through March 31, 2020. The new recruits, members of NASA's 23rd class of astronaut candidates, will train for expeditions to the space station and Artemis flights to the moon. (Image credit: NASA) In response to receiving a record number of applications during its last recruitment more than 18,000 people applied for the 2017 class NASA has increased its eligibility requirements and added a new step to the application process. As in past years, applicants need to be U.S. citizens and either have a degree in the sciences or engineering or be qualified as a test pilot. Candidates must also be able to pass a physical for long-duration spaceflight, including vision correctable to 20/20 in each eye (eyeglasses and LASIK are allowed) and be able to fit into both NASA's spacecraft and spacesuits. New this year is the requirement for a master's degree in a STEM field, including engineering, math or biological, physical or computer science. Alternatively, those applying can have completed a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine degree, or two years of towards a Ph.D. program in a related science, technology, engineering or math field. Candidates must have at least two years of related professional experience or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Related: The human body in space: 6 weird facts To be eligible for NASA's 2021 astronaut class, applicants need to be a U.S. citizen, have at least a master's degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field, have two years of professional experience and be able to pass the physical for long-duration spaceflight. (Image credit: NASA) In addition, all applicants will, for the first time, take an online assessment that will require up to two hours to complete. Details about the online assessment were not yet available, but according to NASA, it is "consistent with modern hiring practices across the government and industry." "With the increased interest level that we experienced in our previous application period, we made the decision to move several assessments to the beginning of the process as a pilot, to help ensure that the applications that are evaluated by the Astronaut Rating Panel best reflect the requirements of the position," NASA's astronaut selection website explained. Applications will be accepted through the USAJobs website beginning on March 2. The number of people who will be selected is still to be determined. "We target the number of people based on the missions that are planned. So you look at the missions that you have today, look at what the normal retirement rate is and then you figure out what all the jobs are supporting the design folks, executing the plans, training and fly outs and still flying the space station 24/7. So we base it off of that," Mark Geyer, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, told collectSPACE.com on Monday. NASA expects to select the new class in mid-2021, when they will begin at least two years of basic training before becoming eligible for flights on Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon commercial crew spacecraft, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft or NASA's Orion spacecraft flying on the agency's new Space Launch System (SLS) heavy-lift rocket. NASA's corps currently includes 48 active astronauts, including the 11 members of the 2017 class who graduated in January. NASA has been recruiting astronauts since 1959 with the selection of the original Mercury 7 pilots. To date, more than 350 Americans have been chosen for the corps, with 347 qualifying for spaceflight assignments. Click through to collectSPACE to see members of NASA's most recent astronaut class talk about what it takes to be selected. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, will be supporting business opportunities between French producers and importers, key buyers and food industry experts visiting Gulfood. This year, 80 French exhibitors will be part of Gulfood, the world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition. This show will be the opportunity to announce the international launch of Frances F&B dedicated brand: Taste France, said a statement. The event will run from February 16 to 20 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Within France global commitment to share French way of life, Taste France aims to specifically promote F&B products worldwide. French gastronomy quality is recognised all over the world; Taste France takes a step further by gathering F&B industry players around their common interests. From the perspective of claiming a joint identity for all French F&B companies while promoting the diversity of their products besides their ability to innovate, Taste France also strengthens the approach of the French offering by communicating on conviviality and sharing principles. Thanks to their genuine and reachable products, French exhibiting companies will be gathered around strong values: excellence, diversity and authenticity. Gulfood 25th edition focused on Rethinking food issue is a relevant opportunity to internationally launch such an innovative brand, where key actors meet to discuss the industry challenges of the next decade. Christophe Lecourtier, Business Frances CEO, said: I am extremely proud to launch our new brand Taste France here in Dubai at the dawning of Expo 2020, the first World Expo ever held in the region, that tends to cement Dubais legacy to empower future generations. France has been a partner of Gulfood since its beginning in 1987 and I have to admit that the global dimension of this show that kept growing ever since firmly influenced our choice to unveil Taste France here in Dubai, as this event perfectly fits with the international ambition of Taste France, which is to unify and promote the whole French Food & Beverages industry, he said. During this five-day event, 80 French exhibitors, including 40 per cent of new companies, will highlight their latest trends and products across four pavilions dedicated to World Food, Dairy, Meat & Poultry and Beverages. Products highlighted among French pavilions will play with texture and taste and will include organic production besides innovative packaging. With the support of French exhibiting companies, I can tell you that we look forward to unveil more about Taste France during the five days of the show, Lecourtier added. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the top importers of all French food and beverages categories, followed by Egypt and Lebanon. Since 2010, a 50 per cent increase in demand for French F&B products has been recorded in the UAE. The International launch of Taste France on this key location will reinforce already well-established relationships between French and Middle Eastern companies. Among the 80 French exhibitors: 50 exhibitors showcasing world food products in Sheikh Saeed Hall; 12 dairy companies from yogurt and cream to cheese and milk in Hall 1; eight beverages including juices and alcohol-free drinks in Zaabeel 4-6 Hall; 10 meat and poultry producers in Hall 3. The French Pavilion is supported by the following regions: Bretagne Commerce International (West of France), DEVUP Centre Val de Loire (Center of France) and Hauts de France (North of France), it stated. TradeArabia News Service Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 08:29 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063e770a 1 Editorial #Editorial,KPK,corruption-eradication-commission,Yasonna-Laoly,politics,politicians,PDI-P,harun-masiku,wahyu-setiawan,bribery-case Free After over a month, the investigation into a bribery case involving former General Elections Commission (KPU) member Wahyu Setiawan and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masiku has raised more questions than have been answered. Huge challenges stand between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and resolution of the case, not only because of internal problems within the antigraft body, but also the semblance of a conflict of interest on the part of the ruling party, the PDI-P. The probe into the high-profile case took a new twist after KPK leaders returned two police officers and two state prosecutors, who had been involved in the arrest of Wahyu and other suspects, back to the National Police and Attorney Generals Office (AGO), respectively, even though their assignments in the commission had not yet ended. One of the police officers, for example, was not due to complete his stint at the KPK until September. Previously Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly had stirred controversy, which many observers regarded as a serious violation of the ministerial code of ethics, for appearing in a press conference in defense of Harun, who still remains at large. Yasonna, a PDI-P member, however, has so far not received any rebuke from his boss, President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who is also a PDI-P member. Fellow Cabinet members have also refrained from criticizing Yasonna. Yasonna also came under fire for insisting that Harun had not returned to Indonesia since leaving for Singapore on Jan. 6, although a Tempo investigation found that the PDI-P politician had in fact visited his home in the South Sulawesi regency of Gowa upon arrival from overseas. Yasonna was proved wrong and later dismissed the director general of immigration, Ronny Sompie, for failing to provide him with the correct information. Regardless, Yasonnas bravado and the lack of any consequences for his actions have sent the worrying message that the government tolerates this sort of unorthodox behavior. The principle of good governance that President Jokowi has oftentimes proclaimed has been reduced to mere rhetoric in this very case. Which leads us to the next question what is it about Harun that a minister is prepared to risk his reputation to jump to his defense and that law enforcers, despite the hi-tech devices and skilled human resources at their disposal, have failed to locate him? Meanwhile, fears about the global coronavirus epidemic have to some extent distracted public attention from the bribery case. Nevertheless, the KPK leaders have been efficient in providing updates. Since the arrest of Wahyu they have held talks with House of Representatives leaders three times behind closed doors, which only goes to show the political nuances of the case. The KPK will put its credibility on the line if it cannot capture Harun as soon as possible. His arrest will also ensure his safety, which his family has expressed worries about given that he is a key witness in the case. The longer his whereabouts remain unknown, the more difficult it will be to resolve the bribery scandal. NRC online data in Assam goes missing India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 12: The NRC data stored online showing the list of included and excluded candidates has gone missing from the official website. It may be recalled that the details were posted in October 2019 following an order of the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, leader of the opposition in Assam, Debabrata Saikia sent a letter to the Register General and Census Commissioner, informing him about the data going missing. NRC would impact all religions, won't allow it: Thackeray "The data have vanished especially when appeals process has not even started due to the go-slow attitude adopted by the NRC Authority. There is, therefore, ample scope to suspect that the disappearance of online data is a mala fide act and is prima facie a deliberate violation of the directive issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court," Saikia also wrote in his letter. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 Officials at the NRC office, however, said that the data should be back in a few days. The data was stored in the cloud storage and since the service period expired and the renewal of the subscription was not done following the transfer of former coordinator Prateek Hajela, the data is missing. The new coordinator would undertake the renewal process, following which the data will be back, the official also said. COUNCILLOR James Collins may have missed out on a seat in the 33rd Dail Eireann, but he says he will continue to promote the best interests of Limerick, a task he looks forward to with relish. The former Mayor was eliminated on the sixth count with 3,150 votes. Fine Gaels Maria Byrne, Labours Jan OSullivan, and Independent candidate Frankie Daly followed him, leaving the four successful candidates as Maurice Quinlivan Sinn Fein, Willie O'Dea Fianna Fail, Kieran O'Donnell Fine Gael, and Brian Leddin Green Party. Rebecca Barrett National Party, Mary Cahillane Solidarity, Michael Ryan Aontu, and Jenny Blake Social Democrats were also eliminated. Id like to thank all those who voted for me and all those who supported me on my campaign. I had a great mix of young and old, male and female, and people of several different nationalities all working together on my campaign, said Cllr Collins, after the count on Monday. Unfortunately we didnt get enough votes on this occasion. Id like to congratulate all the candidates who put themselves forward, and wish my very best to the four TDs chosen to represent Limerick in the next Dail, he added. The owner of Collins Bar, Dooradoyle, ran alongside fellow Fianna Fail candidate, Willie ODea. Cllr Collins ran with a number of key points in his campaign, including better housing and transport services and a Limerick-wide ban on incineration. Limerick needs a strong voice in the next Government. I look forward to continuing my work as a local representative promoting the best interests of Limerick. Juul Labs paid a company to place ads on student-focused websites including the Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Seventeen magazine, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Why it matters: The suit, based on the findings of a two-year investigation, contradicts the e-cigarette companys denial that it sought out teenagers to buy its products. Juul is responsible for the millions of young people nationwide addicted to e-cigarettes, reversing decades of progress combatting underage tobacco. Maura Healey said in a press conference Wednesday Background: Healey opened an investigation into Juul in 2018 over concerns about the marketing and sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The claims in the filing are the strongest to date confirming Juul's influence on young people. The filing: Juul rejected initial marketing pitches from an ad company that touted the sleek, technological design of its devices for adults. Instead, the filing shows marketing images of stylish, young models vaping. The complaint alleges Juul sent e-cigarettes to consumers who provided student email addresses at high schools. The investigation also revealed an email from 2018 in which a Juul customer service representative instructed a student on how to get around age restrictions for online buying. The big picture: Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have sued Juul over its marketing practices. The federal government raised the age to buy tobacco products to 21 and limited sales of some flavored e-cigarette products. Massachusetts passed several laws affecting the e-cigarette industry, effective June 1. The other side, per Juul's senior director of communications Austin Finan: While we have not yet reviewed the complaint, we remain focused on resetting the vapor category in the U.S. and earning the trust of society... "As part of that process in the U.S., we are preparing comprehensive and scientifically rigorous Premarket Tobacco Product Applications, stopped the sale of flavored pods other than Tobacco and Menthol in November, halted our television, print and digital product advertising, implemented a $1 billion restructuring plan, refrained from lobbying the Administration on its draft flavor guidance and support the final policy. Our customer base is the worlds 1 billion adult smokers and we do not intend to attract underage users." Go deeper: Juul's very bad, no good rotten year Until his arrest earlier this year, Zhou snr was an international fugitive who had gained infamy due to his dealings with organised criminals and Chinese Communist Party influence networks in Melbourne, as well as his deep ties to gaming giant Crown Resorts. Moving offshore In 2017, Zhou snr was attracting increasing law enforcement attention in China and Australia. He began telling associates (who spoke to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on condition of anonymity) that the Grand Hotel and Casino Resort in Vanuatu was the perfect place to shift his Melbourne operations. The Grand Hotel & Casino, Vanuatu. Built in 2003, the eight-level hotel overlooks the Port Vila harbour and features 15 gaming tables, 136 slot machines, a VIP top-floor gaming room, a restaurant, conference rooms, four bars, a pool and a spa. For Zhou, the casino seemed an ideal place for a new start. He hoped that there he could operate with minimal oversight. It turned out that was not possible. Zhou snr's powerful backers, who included the the cousin of President Xi Jinping, Ming Chai, were themselves attracting attention from security agencies concerned about the Chinese government's attempts to seed influence in the South Pacific. Flight records show that on a trip to Vanuatu to scope its casinos in late 2017, Zhou snr was accompanied by Ming. And a source close to the casino purchase deal has claimed that, when the Vanuatu venture foundered late last year, a plot was hatched to bribe Vanuatus Prime Minister. Exactly how Mr Anderson became involved in the casino deal is a mystery. It is one the high profile Sydney lawyer is, for the time being, not keen to help solve - he has not responded to multiple efforts to contact him. There is no evidence that Mr Anderson has been involved in or knew about any wrongdoing or that he even knew that Zhou snr maintained ultimate control of the business which Mr Anderson directed alongside Zhou snr's son. Loading But it was not the first business dealing connected to Zhou that the Sydney legal figure has facilitated as a solicitor. Property records show that Mr Anderson was the lawyer who, in April 2019, helped one of Tom Zhou's high-roller associates place a caveat on a Melbourne house, presumably to help recover a debt. The house is owned by a drug trafficker. Multiple inquiries The revelations about a respected Sydney lawyer's dealings with the company directed by a child of Tom Zhou come at an acutely sensitive time for the casino industry. A major inquiry headed by former judge Patricia Bergin is examining links between Australian casinos and suspected organised crime figures. The Bergin inquiry, along with several other state and federal inquiries, were launched after The Age, the Herald and 60 Minutes exposed Zhou snrs dealings with Crown, which runs Melbournes only casino and is building Sydneys second casino at Barangaroo. One strand of Ms Bergin's inquiry concerns how much vetting a casino and its lawyers must do before they partner with high-roller agents - known as junkets - such as Tom Zhou. Vetting is required because junkets are notorious for being controlled by Asian organised crime groups known as the triads. Junkets are paid by casinos to lure high-rollers through their doors, an arrangement the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission recently warned is facilitating large scale money laundering. Zhou's junket business in Melbourne made tens of millions of dollars by striking partnerships not only with Crown, but other casino firms across the nation. This is despite the fact that Chinese court records from 2012 and 2013 reveal Zhou's alleged involvement in organised crime activity. He has been accused in various Chinese courts of extortion, standover tactics, arranging for acid to be thrown in a mans face and fleeing China in 2013. Zhou snrs multi-million dollar gambling empire in Australia began collapsing last year due to media attention and intensive investigations by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. ASIO has separately been tracking figures such as Zhou, who maintained close connections to powerful Chinese Communist Party figures despite his criminal past. In Australia, Zhou set up a network of Chinese Communist Party influence organisations under the auspice of the Chinese Communist Partys United Front operation and supported by the Chinese consulate in Melbourne, even though he was subject to a long-standing Interpol red notice. According to court files and briefings from local and overseas security sources, Zhou also allegedly operated with the triads - the Chinese organised crime groups which run not only junkets but money laundering, human and drug trafficking rackets in Australia and Asia. Over the last decade, the triads have also been moving into South Pacific nations and security analysts are tracking if they are doing so with the tacit support of Chinese government agencies. One phenomenon noted recently by security officials in Australia is the use of Vanuatu passports by both Chinese criminals and government influence agents. Tom Zhou and Ming Chai. Vanuatu visit In September 2017, Zhou and President Xi's cousin Chai (who has also faced corruption allegations, though he has never been charged) flew to Vanuatu on their private jet escorted by an off-duty Australian Border Force officer, Andrew Ure, who was moonlighting as a security agent. The flight to Vanuatu would ultimately trigger a range of inquiries by Australian agencies, including one into why a border force agent was running security for an alleged crime boss and the Chinese President's nephew. Though Zhou snr's name does not appear on the paperwork of Sunny Red, the firm that would buy the casino resort, sources say he made no secret in Melbourne's Chinese business community that he was behind the South Pacific venture. Loading Soon, word of that fact reached Vanuatu police. Sources in Vanuatu and Australia with knowledge of the deal say it collapsed in mid 2019, after Vanuatu police and gaming authorities were tipped off by Interpol that Zhou was wanted for serious financial crime in China. The concern about allowing someone like Zhou snr to operate in Vanuatu was obvious. A Port Vila casino would have allowed him to bring huge amounts of money and thousands of people to Vanuatu and to run a shadow banking operation with minimal oversight. A source who had direct dealings with a businessman hired by Zhou to facilitate the deal said that Zhou and several Melbourne associates made multiple panicked trips to Vanuatu in late 2019, hoping to resurrect the deal. The source said those associates made payments to undisclosed third parties to secure meetings with Vanuatu officials in late 2019. Loading The source, who has reported his allegations to Australian authorities, said Zhou's associates also planned to bribe the Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai after the casino licence was blocked. The businessman accused of bribery refused to answer questions when contacted. Some adults and teachers may think young people want to spend all of their time using social media. But a recent survey shows that may not be true. It found that students sometimes want to turn off their electronic devices to get away from the pressure to take part in social media. For the study, researchers led a series of discussions at classes in the United States. They asked young people what they thought about social media. The survey was a project of Common Sense Media, a non-profit group based in California, and a learning games platform called Kahoot!. Eight out of ten students said that "some people think too much about their social media posts and are always trying to be perfect." About a third said it was acceptable to post a version of yourself on social media that's not 100 percent real." The students also talked about the issue of publishing unkind or hateful comments online. More than half of those questioned said that social media are "tearing us apart more than they are bringing people together." Learning about digital citizenship With this in mind, how can teachers help? Today, we will look at how teachers can support good digital citizenship through safe, kind and healthy use of social media. Common Sense Media defines digital citizenship as thinking critically, behaving safely, and participating responsibly in the digital world. For more about this subject, see the VOA Learning English series on News Literacy. Find out what your students feel Teachers can begin by talking with students about how they use social media. How does it make them feel? Do the young people want to change anything about the way they interact with others online? Teachers should learn what computer application programs their students use most often. Teachers should then use this information to keep in contact with students and share homework assignments. Teach how to talk about social media problems Next, define the words cyberbullying, digital drama and hate speech. Young people need to recognize the differences among these issues and know how to deal with them. Common Sense Media has free lesson plans for all grade levels on digital citizenship. They include videos and other images to explain the ideas at the students level. Digital drama is the everyday arguments and small problems that come up between friends or with other people you know online or via text message. Hate speech means expressing hatred of a particular group of people. For younger students, this is called being mean. Teachers should let students know they are available to help when students face online problems. Use social media to stay in touch Experts say teachers should choose a social media app their students often use. Limit posts or messages to once per class period or to what is necessary to provide information to students. Bayly DiPilato is an English teacher and lives in New Jersey. She told National Public Radio that she did not want to use Facebook to communicate with students because it is too personal. Although her students have email, she found they do not often look at it. DiPilato instead chose the social networking service Twitter to give out homework and reading materials. She says Twitter lets her share information quickly and show how to use social media in a professional, healthy way. Make sure to set limits Another idea is to get students to ask questions on the shared app, as one persons question is probably shared by others. Teachers have to make sure they do not help one individual without giving the same information to all students. Experts also say teachers need to set time limits for using social media with students. Teachers could say they will only answer questions until nine at night on school nights, for example. They need to explain that adults, too, need to unplug sometimes and get away from their phones and computers. Protect your students privacy Part of digital citizenship is related to privacy. When sharing something done in class, teachers must remember to post pictures of students work but not of the students themselves. This is done to protect the online privacy of students. Social media, electronics and digital resources are an increasingly large part of students lives. Experts say that with the guidance of teachers and other adults, young people can learn to become good digital citizens. Im Jill Robbins. Dr. Jill Robbins reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Quiz - What is Good Digital Citizenship? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story survey n. an activity in which people are asked questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something platform n. the computer equipment using a given operating system post n. a piece of writing or image that is published online participate v. to take part; to join or share cyberbullying n. using digital devices, websites, and computer apps to threaten, harm or anger someone See UNICEF's campaign on Cyberbullying with questions and answers on specific platforms like Twitter and Facebook. What do you think of teaching good digital citizenship? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. A Delhi court Wednesday expressed displeasure over CBI's investigation into a bribery case involving its former Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who was given a clean chit, and asked as to why an accused with "bigger role in the case was roaming free" while the probe agency arrested its own DSP. The court was anguished that Someshwar Srivastava, whose name had cropped up during the investigation, was not arrested in the case but CBI's DSP Devender Kumar was arrested in 2018 and later got bail. Srivastava is the brother of Dubai-based businessman and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad, who is one of the main accused in the case. In its charge sheet filed Tuesday, the agency has not arrayed Srivastava as an accused. However, the CBI said probe is on to ascertain his role in the case, along with certain other persons. Along with Asthana and Kumar, the CBI has also given clean chit to RAW chief S K Goel, who was under the scanner in the case, sources said. While perusing the charge sheet, the judge asked, "Why Srivastava not arrested? Manoj Prasad seems to be a weaker link. Why Srivastava is roaming free? 'Itni nazar-e-enayat kyun (why so much mercy)?' You arrested your own DSP, without considering his career, which might have been ruined. You curtailed his life and liberty while Srivastava is enjoying his life." "Why are certain accused who seem to have a bigger role in the case were roaming free while the CBI has arrested its own DSP," asked Special CBI Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal. The CBI said the probe was on to ascertain Srivastava's role and a supplementary charge sheet might be filed. It further added that a Look Out Circular (LOC) has already been issued to prevent Srivastava from leaving the country. At this, the court said, "What is LOC? Nothing. India is huge. He is enjoying his life. It's very strange that main persons are roaming at large . He is the principal actor. There are more evidence against him than Manoj." The judge put up the matter for further consideration on February 19, saying that he might call the previous Investigating Officer of the case if required. Asthana, who was never arrested, and Kumar were named in column 12 of the charge sheet in the case since there was not enough evidence to make them accused. The CBI registered the case against Asthana on the basis of a complaint from Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Babu Sana, facing probe in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. During the hearing, the names of Asthana and Goel, who have been given clean chit by the CBI, did not come up for deliberations. Prasad was arrested on October 17, 2018 and got bail on December 18 the same year. The CBI's failure to file a charge sheet within the mandatory 60-day period had in December 2018 led a Delhi court to grant statutory bail to Prasad. The trial court had on October 31, 2018 granted bail to Kumar, arrested on October 23, after the agency chose not the oppose his application. Sana, in his complaint to the CBI, had alleged that he paid a bribe of Rs 2 crore to Asthana to be spared of any action in the investigation linked to Qureshi and the money was paid over a 10-month period -- starting from December 2017. Sana was being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI, headed by Asthana, when he had accused him for accepting bribes. The agency had arrested Prasad in the case when he returned from Dubai on October 17, 2018. It was alleged by Sana that Prasad and his brother Someshwar had taken Rs 2 crore to arrange a clean chit to him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives to speak during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb. 10, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Wins New Hampshire Republican Primary President Donald Trump glided to victory in New Hampshires Republican primary on Feb. 11, The Associated Press reported. The president led with roughly 83 percent of the vote and had already amassed more votes in the New Hampshire primary than any incumbent president in history. Meanwhile, the former Governor of neighboring Massachusetts, William Weld, came in at a distant second with 9 percent of the vote. The Washington Examiner reported that the president won over 100,000 votes among Republican and independent voters, more than double that of former President Barack Obama when he won among Democratic voters in New Hampshires 2012 primary, when he ran uncontested for reelection. Trump previously won the New Hampshire primary in 2016, but narrowly lost to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the November general election. Trump has since benefited from strong support from the Republican Party, and his campaign has worked to take control of the nominating process to turn Augusts GOP convention into a four-day infomercial for his campaign. Trump held a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on the evening of Feb. 10. Throughout his attendance at the New Hampshire primary, the president remained typically vocal on Twitter, sharing a number of tweets about his rivals. The president also retweeted a number of tweets declaring he had won the New Hampshire primary, before criticizing what he called the fake news media for looking hard for the Big Democrat Story. Wouldnt a big story be that I got more New Hampshire Primary Votes than any incumbent president, in either party, in the history of that Great State? Not an insignificant fact! Trump wrote. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) declared victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, narrowly beating Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) finished fourth and former Vice President Joe Biden followed closely behind in fifth place. Sanders pledged to unite a fractured party if he becomes the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump in the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3. Russian airstrikes kill 4 civilians in Syria The White Helmets civil defense group said four civilians were killed and three others wounded in the attacks. Russia has carried out airstrikes in northwestern Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone, killing at least four civilians, a Syrian civil defense group announced Wednesday. ASSAD REGIME CONTINUES ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS The Syrian opposition aircraft observatory said the Russian jets targeted areas near the western Aleppo province. The Bashar al-Assad regime and its allies have continued intensified air and land attacks on civilian settlements in the Idlib de-escalation zone. GREELEY, Colo., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Colorado-based CBD-hemp extraction company Vantage Hemp Co. announced today it is gearing up for its production launch next month for high-quality CBD extracts. With over 1-million lbs of certified hemp biomass harvested, and a large-scale, high volume extraction facility, Vantage Hemp Co. is positioned to be a leading supplier of CBD-hemp. Our company is developing strategic partnerships with global entrepreneurs and brands to help move their businesses forward. We are connecting with buyers and partners who can benefit from our high-quality, certified hemp biomass and extracts, says Harvinder Johal, Director of Vantage Hemp Co. Vantage Hemp Co. is launching operations at its 35,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art extraction facility in Greeley, Colorado and is an emerging leader in extraction science, innovation and technology. The company is led by an experienced world-class team of professional growers and industry experts specializing in medical, pharmaceutical, business operations, and extraction. The Vantage Hemp Co. team includes Chief Science Officer and former Harvard Medical School professor, Dr. Daniel Chinnapen , Facility and Operations Manager, Kurt Delehoy, and Extraction Manager, Justin Vincent. The company specializes in the production of GMP compliant, high-quality distillates, isolates and full-spectrum oils for established brands. Vantage Hemp Co. is actively processing over 1-million lbs of biomass the company harvested this past season. Recently, Vantage Hemp Co. exhibited at the largest gathering of hemp and CBD business professionals in the U.S. to discuss its unique and innovative CBD-hemp extraction process and partnership opportunities. The company will exhibit and lecture at other global cannabis, CBD and hemp conferences and expos this year. Those interested in connecting with Vantage Hemp Co. can visit the companys new website to find out which upcoming events theyll be attending. If you are interested in learning more about Vantage Hemp Co. and how extracts can benefit your products, visit www.vantagehemp.com . About Vantage Hemp Co. With 800-acres of U.S. certified hemp biomass and large-scale, high volume extraction facilities, Colorado-based Vantage Hemp Co. has CBD extraction down to a science. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology and a meticulous focus on every detail from seed-to-extract, this small startup turned industry leader consistently delivers pharmaceutical grade, GMP compliant CBD extracts (including full-spectrum oil, distillate and isolate) that companies can trust. Learn more at www.vantagehemp.com. Media Contact: Karim Marier karim@marigoldpr.com +1 (514)-706-0113 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38f74390-b137-4276-ab0c-5b9e40631a4e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b30ed78-ef1c-449d-b44f-1b2a5f23ced1 Stephanie Gil, an assistant professor in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, has been awarded a 2020 Sloan Research Fellowship for computer science. The award from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is one of the most prestigious designations bestowed on early career scientists in North America. Independent panels of senior scholars select winners based on recipients' research accomplishments, creativity and the potential to become leaders in their field. "I feel very honored," says Gil, "and I appreciate what this recognition shows about the academic community around me at Arizona State University." Gil is one of just 126 new fellows chosen from nearly 1,000 nominees. She also is the seventh faculty member from ASU to be selected for this award since the first fellowships were announced in 1955. Alongside garnering the esteem of the scientific community, Sloan Fellows receive $75,000 across two years to advance their research. For Gil, the award means additional support for the work she and her team are doing to coordinate control across systems of multiple robots. This research has implications for future applications ranging from groups of delivery drones to fleets of autonomous vehicles. Gil is currently working to endow teams of differing types of robots with capabilities to support search and rescue crews and other emergency services. "One area of opportunity relates to communication," says Gil. "There are times when emergency crews have trouble communicating with each other in remote areas. So we are looking at means through which groups of robots such as drones can act as a communication infrastructure. These devices can evaluate local conditions and organize themselves spatially to keep rescue workers in contact with each other as they progress across a given landscape." Gil says that she and her team are now starting to bridge the fields of robotics and communications. "One of our most challenging questions is how communication itself can be used as a sensor," says Gil. "Consider that a camera is a sensor. And the use of cameras in robotics has advanced a whole realm of research in mapping, for example. But when mapping data is communicated between robots, the wireless signals themselves also contain valuable information. Extracting this information and considering the new capabilities that it represents for robot learning and coordination is an understanding that I want to develop." Gil was nominated for the Sloan Research Fellowship by Sandeep Gupta, director of the School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, one of the six Fulton Schools. "Dr. Gil demonstrates very strong potential, both in her track record of impactful scholarship and in her visionary research plan, which holds great promise for deep societal impact on many levels," says Gupta. "In academia, she has demonstrated an impressive aptitude for working across field lines to produce cutting-edge, innovative science, and her educational objectives are well aligned with the ASU vision for education at the deepest levels. Dr. Gil's proven excellence in both teaching and research demonstrates the outstanding promise she holds in becoming highly successful in her future scientific endeavors." Gil's work also has been recognized by the National Science Foundation. In April 2019, she won a Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award, which provides a $500,000, five-year grant to researchers with the potential to serve as role models and lead advances in their field. Sloan Fellowships are part of the broader mandate of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, a not-for-profit grantmaking institution dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge. Grants are presented to directly support scientific research, but also to improve the diversity of scientific institutions and to enhance public engagement with science. Moreover, all of these endeavors are dedicated to improving global welfare. This service orientation is firmly part of Gil's own mindset. "I feel very strongly about focusing our efforts on technology development that addresses real-world challenges," says Gil. "This includes involving our students -- from undergraduates to doctoral candidates -- across all of our work. It is important that they see we are not operating in a bubble. Our research is directed toward improving society." ### Proposed contract parking at the former Kmart lot remains under consideration as developers, city officials and neighbors met this week to ponder the future and build trust. "I think weve gained a lot of ground," said Mike Mattingly, the legal representative for Camegaran LLC, which owns the property. Caitlin Doran, president of the Slatterly Park Neighborhood Association Board, said she saw opportunity in sitting down with developers after Januarys public hearing ended in a standoff of sorts. "While we might not see eye to eye on everything, we thought we could work together," she said of the desire to help create a plan for future potential development. Rochester City Council Member Mark Bilderback said progress has been made, but work to build trust remains following the two meetings, which have involved Mayo Clinic representatives. ADVERTISEMENT "They are going to continue to meet," he said, saying the engagement process is moving forward with positive results. Kelly Dunagan of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association said participation by Patrick Regan of Camegaran has helped build some trust. She said hes demonstrated that hes been looking at the neighborhood and can identify specific concerns. "I think he will be someone we can work with," she said, citing her key concerns revolve around the potential for overflow parking in neighborhood streets and the possibility of added traffic on First Avenue Southeast, if its allowed to become a shortcut to the former Kmart property. The ongoing discussions have been split between the parking proposal and the potential for future uses, according to participants who attended Mondays invite-only meeting. The meetings started after a proposed three-way agreement involving Camegaran, Mayo Clinic and the city failed to receive City Council approval last month. The proposed lease agreement is required to move ahead with Camegarans plan to lease up to 1,357 parking spaces to Mayo Clinic for use by Saint Marys Hospital employees. In recent weeks, versions of the document have reportedly been passing between the involved parties with tweaks made to address council members and neighbors concerns. An updated version is expected to be reviewed by the council during its next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 19. But Council Member Mark Bilderback said approval isnt certain. ADVERTISEMENT "I dont know if anything is a for-sure deal," he said. Doran said early revisions appear to show promise. Among them is a clause that could prompt changes at 5, 7.5 or 10 years, if development opportunities arise. Erin Sexton, community relations director for Mayo Clinic, said the expected changes to the proposed lease stem from cooperative efforts during the two meetings. "The discussions have led to an improved proposed lease that offers assurances on the interim use of the site for parking, milestones demonstrating progress toward future development, and a commitment to a community-engaged approach to the development process," she said. Mattingly said some changes continue to be made, but he expects a final draft could be ready today. A copy of the latest version is expected to be posted with the Feb. 19 meeting agenda this week. Mattingly said the agreement will retain a call for the creation of a small-area plan to help guide future development in the area bordered by South Broadway Avenue and the Zumbro River on the west, Fourth Street Southeast at the north, Third Avenue Southeast at the west and Ninth Street or 9 Street to the south. Small-area plans are typically prepared at city expense in an effort to identify potential uses and a vision for a specific property or area of the city, but the proposal calls for broader engagement, requiring Camegaran and Mayo Clinic to provide a combined $30,000 to fund the proposed planning effort, with the city committing an additional $30,000. ADVERTISEMENT Bilderback, who voted against the agreement in January in response to neighborhood opposition, said the lease agreement likely provides the best avenue for moving forward in the planning process. "I think the future would be up in the air if this doesnt pass," he said. Dunagan and Doran said concerns and opposition are likely to linger in the neighborhoods bordering the parking lot. "There are a lot of people in the neighborhood who just dont want a parking lot there," Dunagan said. Doran said she hopes continued discussions, along with changes aimed at creating better uses for the site, will help build trust. "The neighborhood getting a seat at the table is a good thing," she said, adding that cooperation is better than the standoff that appeared to emerge in January. The RochesterCity Council held a public hearing on the parking proposal for the former Kmart property in January. As a result, additional public testimony on the issue wont be part of the meeting planned for 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. However, the council is accepting comments by email at communitydevelopment@rochestermn.gov. TWO high-ranking police officials confirmed on Wednesday, February 12, that Lieutenant Colonel Jovie Espenido is among the 357 policemen on President Rodrigo Dutertes drugs watchlist. Espenido was among those relieved from his post in the latest revamp at the Philippine National Police (PNP) and reassigned to the office of the PNP chief. One of the sources, who have asked not to be named for security reasons, said Espenido allegedly serves as a protector of the rivals of the Parojinog clan in the illegal drugs trade. Espenido was the police chief of Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental when police raided the Parojinog clan's properties on July 30, 2017. Fifteen people, including mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, were killed. The mayor's son Reynaldo Jr. and daughter Nova Princess, who was the Ozamiz vice mayor, are still in prison for illegal drugs charges. Duterte praised Espenido after the Parojinog raids. Eight months before the Ozamiz raids, Espenido served as police chief of Albuera town in Leyte. During his term, Albuera mayor Rolando Espinosa was gunned down by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group agents inside his detention cell in Baybay City for allegedly resisting the implementation of a search warrant. PNP Chief Archie Gamboa neither confirmed nor denied the information. No comment, he said. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in an interview with reporters Wednesday, said, "Malabo 'yun." But he said the President would investigate if the information reaches him. On February 7, 2020, Gamboa ordered the relief of Espenido from his post as Bacolod City Police deputy director for operations and head of the City Drug Enforcement Unit. The two high-ranking officials said Espenido was relieved because of his involvement in the illegal drugs trade. (SunStar Philippines) Scientists provide guidelines for minimizing the risk of spreading disease between elk and cattle in Southern Alberta Transmission of diseases from wildlife to livestock is a common threat in Alberta, according to new research by University of Alberta biologists. Foothills in the southwestern part of the province are home to wild elk as well as cattle on ranchlands--and when the species intermingle, the potential for disease to spread grows. "One of the biggest risks to the livestock industry is the transmission of disease from wildlife to livestock," said Mark Boyce, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. "There is a long list of diseases that occur between livestock and wildlife, including anthrax, bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and many species of worms. And in addition to infecting one another, many of the diseases that are shared by wildlife and livestock are zoonotic, meaning that they also can infect humans." The researchers used data gathered from combined with cattle management information from 16 cattle operations in southern Alberta to identify locations and times where the probability of disease transmission is high. For example, the highest risk occurs in winter months, when livestock and elk are in the same pastures and accessing the same resources. Based on these data, the researchers have developed guidelines to help producers minimize the risk of infection. "Livestock management that minimizes the risk of contact with wildlife will reduce the risk of disease transmission," said Boyce. "This includes keeping cattle in pastures near farm buildings during winter and calving season. It is also important to keep mineral supplements and hay next to ranch buildings, again to reduce the contact between cattle and elk. ### This study was led by PhD student Mathieu Pruvot, supported by the Boyce lab. Marco Musiani from the University of Calgary, and Margo Pybus, adjunct professor at UAlberta, also collaborated on this research. Funding for this study was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Shell Canada, as well as the Alberta Conservation Association and Alberta Innovates. The paper, "Integrating livestock management and telemetry data to assess disease transmission risk between wildlife and livestock," was published in Preventative Veterinary Medicine(doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104846). Latinas in the United States of America comes from a long line of influential and inspirational Latin American women. There are several iconic Brazilian women worthy of being remembered. For as long as there are people who need inspiration, these women's stories will serve as a motivation for people to strive and fight for their beliefs. Here are some of the iconic Brazilian women whose legacy will forever continue to inspire women and the people of color: Dandara Dandara is a controversial woman figure in Brazilian history. She was seen as a fierce capoeira warrior in Quilombo dos Palmares. It is the biggest settlement of runaway African slaves in Brazil until its operations ceased in 1695. Based on legend, she was believed to be the spouse of Zumbi Dos Palmares, the last monarch of the quilombo. However, Dandara's feature in the Book of Heroes, arguments opened when some historians claimed that she was a fictional character. Other historians defended her existence. Historians are still in the process of thoroughly studying the oral stories that spoke about Dandara. Madalena Caramuru Madalena Caramaru is the daughter of a trader from Portuguese and a woman from the Indigenous Tupinambas. She was the first woman in Brazil to become literate. She was taught to read and write by either her father or her husband. As one of the iconic Brazilian women in history, she once used her literacy to write a letter to the regional Catholic missionary, Father Manuel de Nobrega, where she requested the Church to stop its maltreatment to indigenous minors. She also wrote to request support for women to be educated. Although the letters and the petitions were accepted by Father Manuel de Nobrega, the Portuguese royalty denied the request. Maria Quiteria de Jesus She was born in 1792. Even though she had never gone to school, she learned how to ride horses, hunt in the wild, and use firearms on the farm where she grew up. These skills had helped her play her role in the pro-revolutionary troops in 1822. She hid her identity by cutting her hair and dressing like a man. She was accepted in the army for her skills and strength as a fighter. In 1996, she was recognized for her bravery and was proclaimed as an army patrol. Maria Firmina dos Reis Maria Firmina dos Reis, an Afro-Brazilian author who wrote the first abolitionist novel entitled Ursula. The novel she wrote told the story of life under slavery. It was written in the point-of-view of an African girl who was kidnapped from her hometown where she was exposed to a lifetime of cruelty. An article from Remezcla stated that Ursula is also considered the first novel created by a woman from Brazil. Iya Nasso Iya Nasso is a freed African slave who co-created the first temple primarily made for the Candomble, an Afro-Brazilian spiritual tradition. Casa Branca do Engenho Velho, a house of worship, helped spread the Candomble in the different regions of Brazil. Priestesses who were initiated there had also opened their temples. It was believed by many people that Iya Nasso and her co-founders Iya Acala and Iya Adeta were priestesses from the Ketu and Oyo towns in Nigeria. There is no other information about the life of Iya Nasso. After more than a century and a half, the Candomble is still standing in Salvador, Bahia. What just happened? Nvidia GeForce Now is shaping up to be a decent way for hopping onto the cloud gaming bandwagon, but the service recently took a hit from publisher Activision Blizzard, who've decided to remove their entire catalog of Battle.net games from GeForce Now's content library. The term 'cloud gaming wars' likes to be thrown around quite a bit, and it seems Nvidia has had the first casualty on its hands after Activision Blizzard decided to pull down its entire catalog of games including Overwatch, WoW and the Call of Duty franchise from GeForce Now. As noted earlier, the service was launched with several lucrative features, including a free tier option and the ability to let users play their existing library of games, as long as they could prove title(s) ownership. However, there's another string attached to the business side of things that dictates content availability, requiring a publisher/developer's consent for making their games playable on GeForce Now. Activision Blizzard was one such publisher that requested its games to be removed from GeForce Now, which means players who even own a copy of their titles won't be able to use GeForce Now to play/stream it. The decision prompted the following response from Nvidia: As we take GeForce NOW to the next step in its evolution, weve worked with publishers to onboard a robust catalog of your PC games. This means continually adding new games, and on occasion, having to remove games similar to other digital service providers. Per their request, please be advised Activision Blizzard games will be removed from the service. While unfortunate, we hope to work together with Activision Blizzard to reenable these games and more in the future. In addition to the hundreds of games currently supported, we have over 1,500 games that developers have asked to be on-boarded to the service. Look for weekly updates as to new games we are adding. It seems unlikely that Activision Blizzard will reverse their decision since the publisher recently entered into a multi-year agreement with Google over multiple gaming fronts. The strategic partnership will not only put YouTube as Activision Blizzard's exclusive esports streaming platform but the latter will also use Google's cloud services to power 'new player experiences' which, as noted earlier, could potentially mean Google Stadia getting a much-needed boost from Battle.net's games catalog. LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the European biometric surveillance solutions market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Herta Security with the 2019 Europe Customer Value Leadership Award for its highly scalable and cost-competitive solutions for facial detection. With a wide customer base covering government, transportation, finance, and sport event venues, Herta's robust facial recognition technology improves the performance of existing IP cameras and security platforms without requiring additional hardware purchases. "Using machine learning techniques and a graphic processing unit (GPU)-built approach, Herta processes video surveillance data entirely in the cloud. Its real-time, reliable, and effective biometric video surveillance solutions employ advanced technologies to deliver speed, accuracy, and ease of use; it helps produce results 40 times faster than with traditional CPUs," said Danielle VanZandt, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "The high-tech facial recognition, deep learning algorithms, and GPU allow customers to combine existing live camera processing with video capture. It also adds high-level features designed to detect gender, age, ethnicity, and partial facial concealment recognition." Herta has established itself as the only European company to use GPU edge analytics, which enables it to deliver real-time observance, and incident alerting functions to security teams when events or suspicious activities occur. With its unique ability to operate and store within the cloud, Herta allows organizations to save on storage and server costs, offering an overall fast and cost-effective way to manage data collection. Herta presents a range of options that include demos, automatic software updates, and renting. Depending on the sector and end-user needs for their video surveillance system, it also provides flexible pricing options. Furthermore, it has an impactful customer service team that strives to establish a well-rounded customer experience. With offices in Spain, Singapore, and the United States (Los Angeles, California), its customer service teams address all performance issues across time zones. "Herta stands out for its customer-focused culture in the facial recognition space. Its solution allows customers to continue using existing surveillance techniques and IP camera hardware, helping them lower their CAPEX," noted VanZandt. "The company strives to be the leading biometric surveillance solutions provider to governments, delivering real-time facial recognition and detection deployment to thousands of cameras on a global scale." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that demonstrates excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. The award recognizes the company's unique focus on augmenting the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and customer base expansion. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Lindsey Whitaker P: +1 (210) 477-8457 E: [email protected] SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Related Links www.frost.com The organizations report noted that young dissidents targeted Ahmad Alam al-Hoda at a time when the full scale of the clerical regimes crackdown on recent unrest has yet to be determined. It also pointed out that al-Hoda himself had previously developed a reputation as one of the leading proponents of a brutal response to the unrest, has explicitly called for the execution of those who destroyed posters of Major General Qassem Soleimani as part of widespread street protests. In a development that came as a surprise to foreign observers who assumed Soleimani was a popular figure among Iranian citizens, his image became an object of public aggression in mid-January, less than two weeks after he was killed in a US drone strike. The relevant protests were sparked by the revelation that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had shot down a commercial airliner outside Tehran, just after its missile strike against the American forces in Iraq. Slogans condemning the IRGC quickly emerged from memorial gatherings for the 176 victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. As the head of the IRGCs foreign special operations wing, the Quds Force, Soleimanis image had always been a common sight in public places. But it became especially prevalent following his death and the resulting funeral procession that was staged in Tehran to showcase is supposed popularity. Preexisting posters and memorial displays were reportedly both vandalized during Januarys protests, which were largely centralized on university campuses spanning at least 17 provinces. The destruction of Soleimanis image was a notable counterpoint to the funeral, which Iranian state media claimed was attended by more than a million people. Some international media outlets repeated this description uncritically, although critics of the Iranian regime explained that the authorities had used a variety of tactics to justify their outsized estimates. The NCRI released its own reports on this subject, noting that attendance at the funeral had been mandatory for government employees and that others had been provided with material incentives and free transportation in exchange for appearing in the guise of mourners. As part of their larger response to Soleimanis funeral, the NCRI and other dissident groups also stated that his role as the head of Irans foreign terrorist operations had made him widely despised, not beloved. And even prior to his death, there was a clear basis for this conclusion in the form of widespread unrest and mass uprisings. Both in January 2018 and in November 2019, nationwide protests gave rise to slogans that included the demand for the clerical regime to forget about Syria and focus on the Iranian people instead. By the time of the first uprising, it was estimated that Iran was spending upwards of 12 billion dollars per year on its support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, much of it in the form of arms sales and the maintenance of local paramilitaries under the nominal command for Qassem Soleimani. Additional spending and additional Quds Force operations were targeted at Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, and various regions of smaller-scale Iranian influence. And in recent years, this has coincided with the Islamic Republics worst economic crisis since the 1980s. The effects of government mismanagement and misplaced priorities have been amplified by the White Houses adoption of a maximum pressure strategy for dealing with Iran, which has seen sanctions on the regime systematically increase since shortly after President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a precursor to their apparent misunderstanding of Soleimanis relationship to the Iranian people, many Western commentators warned that these sanctions might prompt most of the countrys 80 million people to throw their support behind their government. But two nationwide uprisings and countless intervening protests would seem to suggest that the Iranian people were keen to direct their rage against the clerical authorities; once again proving that mullahs regime is the root to all the social problems, as people chanted Our enemy is here, they lie it is the U.S.. This, in turn, presented a serious challenge to Tehrans account of its own hold on power a challenge that was made even stronger by the loss of Soleimani as a symbol for the regimes foreign strength and influence. It was in response to those circumstances that Alam al-Hoda declared, It is a calamity that a bunch of mercenaries and spies walk around and come and tear down martyr Soleimanis posters. These people who are cooperating with the enemy are fifth columnists. They must be court-martialed. In any war, this is the law of the land and they execute fifth columnists on the battlefield. This reference to an active battlefield was reminiscent of remarks delivered in an interview with state media last year by former Iranian Justice Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi. When asked about the threat posed to the regime by the leading Iranian opposition group, the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran, he said, We are at a time of war. Now is not the time to talk. Now is the time to fight them; now is the time to subdue them. In the same interview, Pourmohammadi reiterated his prior justifications for the regimes mass execution of MEK members, in which he played an active role. As a member of one of the death commissions convened in the summer of 1988 as a response to Supreme Leader Khomeinis fatwa regarding opposition groups, Pourmohammadi helped to interrogate political prisoners over their religious and political views, in order to determine which would be executed. Over the course of several months, an estimated 30,000 people were killed. To the extent that Pourmohammadi or any other official has faced scrutiny over this history, it has come almost entirely in recent years, prompted first by a leaked audio-recording from the time of the killings and later by the regimes acknowledgment that the PMOI still presents a significant challenge to the theocratic system. In the midst of the January 2018 uprising, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei gave a speech in which he noted that the opposition group had planned for months to facilitate the rapid spread of protests while popularizing slogans like death to the dictator and other explicit calls for regime change. Insofar as support for the PMOI is still considered a crime punishable by death, Khameneis warning provided additional justification for a violent crackdown on the 2018 uprising. Accordingly, several dozen people were killed, and thousands were arrested. Judiciary officials also threatened the death penalty for anyone who was determined to have played a leading role in the protest movement. The crackdown ultimately succeeded in containing the nationwide uprising, but only after several weeks, and not before the opposition leader, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi called for supporters to use the initial protests as a starting point for a year full of uprisings. Scattered protests throughout 2018 helped to keep regime authorities on edge while setting the stage for the November 2019 uprising, which was sparked by the governments announcement of draconian increases in the price of gasoline. The MEK, relying on an extensive intelligence network inside Iran, determined that roughly 1,500 people were killed by security forces and the IRGC for either participating in that unrest or merely standing in its vicinity. Half of those victims have been identified by name, and human rights advocates have expressed concern that the total number of casualties could continue to rise as a result of the mistreatment of arrestees and hospitalized activists. Those concerns have only grown with the news of live ammunition being used once again to break up protests in January. As recently as February 1, the website Iran Human Rights was warning about the possibility of mass executions. Although not apparently connected to political protests, the relevant report noted that 20 inmates at just one prison, Rajai Shahr, had been moved into solitary confinement as preparation for their sentences being carried out. It is unclear whether all 20 individuals were hanged on Wednesday as planned, but if so, it would mean that the judiciary nearly matched in one day the number of executions it is known to have carried out during the entire prior month. According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, there were 24 hangings in January, of which five were for non-violent offenses and only eight were formally acknowledged by regime authorities. This lack of transparency points to the likelihood that even more executions were carried out but were not made known through activist networks. And of course, the record of official executions does not reflect the impact of unlawful killings either by security forces or by interrogators at institutions like the so-called torture factory that is Evin Prison. Nearly two months after the outbreak of the latest nationwide protest movement, there is still very little information available about persons arrested in connection with it. One Iranian attorney retained by a number of those arrestees was quoted on Thursday as saying that in many cases, prosecutors have not opened files on the accused, who have not been allowed any contact with their lawyers. No meaningful conclusions can be drawn from this fact alone, but there are grounds for concern that the regime may be taking a turn toward more hardline jurisprudence in general, given its sensitivity about the Soleimani killing and the growing social presence of the MEK. In fact, this may be having a retroactive effect even beyond the November uprising. In a nutshell, the regime must increase its oppression to avoid its downfall. Yet, the Iranian people, with their bravery in November and January protests, showed their will to continue their quest for freedom. On Wednesday it was announced that a group of dissidents was facing multiple additional charges after having already been convicted of propaganda against the state and forming an illegal organization as a result of their signing a letter calling for the supreme leaders resignation. Eight of the signatories have already received sentences ranging from one to 26 years in prison, and now each of them could face additional punishment for insulting the supreme leader, disturbing public order, and spreading falsehoods. The Womens Committee of the NCRI similarly reported that an activist by the name of Rezvaneh Ahmad Khanbeigi was sentenced to six additional years in prison on February 2 after having already been sentenced to four and a half years for participating in the protests. And if stories like these are signs of a worsening crackdown, there is a lot further than the regime could go in the same direction. At the same time, Thursdays protest gathering at Alam al-Hodas office suggests that the activist community is aware of this danger and is working to push back against it. But it is difficult to say what the effect of this pushback may be. On one hand, Tehran has already stepped up its repressive tactics in response to prior demonstrations. But on the other hand, Soleimanis death signifies that the regimes strength is being undermined by pressure from beyond its borders as well as among its own people. Amy Klobuchar finally got the moment she desperately needed. Now the question is whether she can hold on. Klobuchar, who looked on track to finish in third place in New Hampshire, strode to the stage at a hotel here in Concord with the confidence of a candidate who, after a year's worth of fits and starts, finally got a chance to introduce herself as a winner. Her newfound status, after months as an underdog, means she now faces the litany of challenges that confront a candidate who defied expectations but has yet to face substantial scrutiny over her background. And her operation in coming primary contests -- Nevada, South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states -- is meager, compared to her rivals. Visit CNN's Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 race "Hello, America," she said to cheers on Tuesday night. "I'm Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump." The crowd followed her lead, chanting, "Beat Trump, vote Amy." "My heart is full tonight, while there are still ballots left to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way," Klobuchar said. "We have done it on the merits, we have done it with ideas, and we have done it with hard work." Klobuchar sought to hold on to her underdog status by pointing out she had been counted out before. But then the senator nodded to the night that changed her campaign: Friday night's Democratic debate in Manchester. "Then they predicted that we wouldn't make it to the debate," she said wryly. "And man, were we at the debate in New Hampshire." A strong debate turn The senator turned in her strongest debate performance of the cycle last week, pitching her pragmatic progressivism to an electorate who -- for the first time -- would vote mere days later. "I do not have to biggest name up on this stage, I don't have the biggest bank account. I'm not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people," Klobuchar said passionately. "I'm asking you to believe that someone who totally believes in America can win this, because if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me." Klobuchar's campaign was almost instantly imbued with more momentum than they had ever experienced. They raised millions in the following 24 hours, were crowned the debate's winner by many pundits and, most importantly, saw a massive influx of help in New Hampshire, with 3,000 new volunteer shifts getting booked between the debate on Friday night and primary night, four days later. The senator had turned in plenty of strong debate performances, using her nimbleness to gamely hammer candidates across the Democratic spectrum. But none garnered the kind of reaction she got on Friday night. Supporters who had never donated to her campaign logged on in the minutes after and donated. Her events began to swell in New Hampshire, with overflow crowds becoming the norm. And even casual Democrats began to feel the urgency around her candidacy. "This is the only political event we've come to," said Adeline George, a New Hampshire voter from Seabrook who wasn't supporting the candidate before the Democratic debate. "She meets the measure. She really does impress us." Klobuchar, as the momentum swelled and her campaign reached its one year-anniversary, even began joking with people in New Hampshire, "We launched a full year ago, but we're finally surging." Even the expectations of top Klobuchar aides began shifting around the debate. Before the contest, senior Klobuchar aides confided that they would have been fine with a finish in the top five. After the debate, though, internal expectations began to match those outside the campaign, with an aide telling CNN that "anything in the top four" would be acceptable. On Tuesday night, Klobuchar celebrated defying expectations. "Tonight in New Hampshire, as everyone had counted us out even a week ago -- thank you, pundits -- I came back and we delivered," she said. Can her momentum carry her forward? Now, though, the difficult part begins. Klobuchar is also about to experience an uptick in scrutiny -- namely of her tenure as county attorney of Hennepin County, the largest in Minnesota. Klobuchar got a taste of this in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary. When questioned about the case of Myon Burrell, a teenager who was sentenced to life for the killing of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards, Klobuchar struggled to defend the totality of her record. More pressingly, though, the Minnesota senator has shown no ability to win over Latino or black voters, the backbone of the Democratic electorate, and voting blocs that will be key to any success Klobuchar may have in Nevada and South Carolina, the next states in the nominating contest. And the senator's operation in the forthcoming early states -- Nevada, South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states that will vote on March 3 -- is paltry compared to other campaigns. The Klobuchar team scrambled after Iowa to move a bulk of their organizers to New Hampshire and others to Nevada. The expectation is that organizers currently in New Hampshire will quickly make their way to Nevada and South Carolina in the coming days, a senior aide said. The campaign currently has 50 staffers in Nevada, according to an aide, many of whom are newly on the ground and transplants from Iowa. And, partly with the money the campaign expects to raise from its strong finish in New Hampshire, Klobuchar's campaign announced a seven-figure ad buy in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, that will focus intently on taking on Trump and her plan for her hypothetical first 100 days in office. The campaign's plans for South Carolina are less clear. Aides would not disclose how many staffers they have on the ground and it does not appear that the state will get the same kind of influx of money as Nevada. And the aide told CNN that by this weekend they will have staff deployed in several Super Tuesday states, but not all of them. "Tonight is great," said a senior campaign aide. "Tomorrow, the works starts." Stop the discrimination and panic, and let common sense prevail, say U.S. officials, doctors, entrepreneurs and health experts, urging the American public to guard against any xenophobia surrounding the novel coronavirus. NEW YORK, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- As China races to contain the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and minimize its international spread, Chinese nationals living abroad are having to fight a battle of their own -- of stigma and discrimination. The 2019-nCoV, which started in the Chinese city of Wuhan and can cause respiratory illness and pneumonia, has infected 42,638 people on the Chinese mainland as of Monday. In the United States, only 12 cases have been confirmed and the immediate risk of the virus remains low to the general public. However, false health information, including warnings to avoid Asian food and Asian-populated areas, has circulated, while a barrage of vicious discussions and derogatory jokes about Chinese people or Asians in general have gathered momentum online. "I am very concerned and it's unfortunate. There's no reason for the American public to fear Asians in our community, and it really saddens me to hear these stories," Nancy Messonnier, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told Xinhua. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 4, 2020. Guterres voiced concern about the possibility of discrimination against certain groups of people due to the novel coronavirus epidemic.(Xinhua/Wang Jiangang) Her words were echoed by Dr. Marybeth Sexton, assistant professor at the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine. "All of the infected patients are either isolated at home or hospitalized, and public health officials are closely monitoring anyone else who is at high risk of having had exposure," Sexton said. "There's no reason to assume that anyone you meet in public, of any ethnic or racial background, poses a risk to you." It is critical that the American public guards against any xenophobia surrounding the novel coronavirus and lets common sense prevail, as urged by U.S. officials, doctors, entrepreneurs and CDC experts during their interviews with Xinhua. A so-called virus of misinformation and disinformation could be a greater danger than the novel coronavirus itself, observers have said, adding that a concern for public health should not justify anti-Asian sentiments. FIGHTING RACIAL STEREOTYPING In recent weeks, an 8-year-old boy in Washington State wearing a face mask was told by a Costco sample-stand worker to go away because he may come from China; students at Columbia University in New York City were welcomed by a Chinese-language message reading "Wuhan virus isolation area" on a blackboard in a university library; the health services center of the University of California at Berkeley (UC-Berkeley) listed xenophobia toward Asians as a "normal reaction" in an Instagram post on managing fear and anxiety about the viral outbreak; videos of Asian people eating bats accompanied by inaccurate speculation about the cause of the virus and dehumanizing comments went viral; and The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece titled "China is the Real Sick Man of Asia." Media reports of the above incidents sparked public outcry, prompting many to speak out and action to be taken. Costco has since apologized to the boy and his family; Columbia University has called on students to report any racist incidents; UC-Berkeley has revised its handout, which now reads "Be mindful of your assumptions about others" and "Self-awareness is important in not stigmatizing others in our community"; the viral bat-eating video was discovered to have been shot in the Pacific Island nation of Palau, where the dish is a delicacy; and social media users have slammed The Wall Street Journal's piece for resurrecting an archaic stereotype while making light of a serious outbreak, with an online petition, which demands an apology from the outlet to the Chinese community and either a retraction of the article or a rectification of its title, soliciting over 113,000 signatures within days. Meanwhile, Peter Koo, New York City Council member for the city's 20th district, which includes Flushing, where over a third of its 150,000 residents are Chinese Americans, has warned against calling the virus the "Wuhan coronavirus" or "China coronavirus." "(Viruses are) color-blind. Naming a virus after a country or a city is an unfair insult that exacerbates discrimination against people from China," Koo said. New York City Councilman Peter Koo speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Flushing, New York, the United States, Feb. 7, 2020.(Xinhua/Guo Peiran) WEARING A MASK DOESN'T MEAN ILLNESS A recent video on Twitter showed a man attacking a mask-wearing Asian woman at a Manhattan subway station while cursing at her, shouting, "Don't touch me!" The man called her "diseased," according to Tony He, the New York resident who posted the video. Asian people often wear face masks for daily self-protection from germs, allergies and dust. Since the viral outbreak, many mask-wearing Chinese people living abroad have become victims of abuse due to the heightened fear caused by the coronavirus among the American public. Noting his office has received complaints from parents whose kids wearing face masks are being bullied at school, Koo said while Americans usually might only wear face masks when they are sick, they should still not stigmatize Asians for wearing them. "I hope the Americans will understand that when Asians wear face masks, it does not mean they are sick. But it takes time and education to change cultural perceptions," said the councilman. Scott Sieber, the councilman's deputy chief of staff with years of experience in Asian communities, said that as an American, he actually appreciates when Chinese people wear face masks. "To me, it's someone being precautious and also looking after people around him or her. I understand this as I am familiar with the culture," Sieber said. The CDC and doctors in general believe there is no need to wear a face mask in the United States, only urging people to wash their hands often and avoid being out in public when sick. Charlie Woo, co-founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based toy manufacturing company Megatoys, however, called on Asian Americans to keep explaining they are not sick when wearing face masks. "If any Asian feels more comfortable wearing face masks, he or she has every right to do so," Woo said, who is also vice chair of the Committee of 100 -- a group composed of elite Chinese Americans striving to ensure full inclusion in the country and advance U.S.-China relations. "The United States has racial issues since the beginning. Hopefully, we make progress one day at a time," Woo said. CHINATOWNS STILL SAFE Angela Wang, owner of a decade-old hair salon in Flushing, said a third of her regular customers used to be non-Chinese, but two days after her employees started wearing face masks, they all stopped coming, in addition to a significant drop in the number of her regular Chinese customers. "All of us have taken off the masks, but our business declined by 90 percent in the past week. If customers are not coming back and the rents are not going down, we might have to shut down within two months," said Wang, who came to the United States 18 years ago from east China's Zhejiang province. Inside a hair salon in Flushing, New York City, the United States. (Xinhua/Miao Xiaojuan) Wang's hair salon is but one of many struggling economically, as Flushing's economic activities have dropped by about 30 percent recently. A sales manager at a spacious dim sum restaurant, who asked to remain anonymous, believes this could be the heaviest blow to their neighborhood in many years. Seeing the virus fear put a dampener on businesses in Chinatowns and Asian communities like Flushing, city officials have told citizens not to change their day-to-day activities. As Mark Treyger, New York City Council Member for the city's 47th district, tweeted, "Stick to the facts about coronavirus by getting your info from trained medical professionals and reliable sources. Basic hygiene rules apply. Call out hate when you see it, and continue to shop, dine and go about your normal everyday routine." New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot even took the initiative to dine at Chinese restaurants and attend Chinatown celebrations, sharing her experiences on Twitter. "I've been disheartened by reports of bias and discrimination against the Asian community recently. Let me be clear - our public health response is about a virus, not a group of people," she tweeted Thursday, with a picture of her and two others dining at a Chinese restaurant. Then on Sunday she tweeted again, "Today our city is celebrating the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown, a beautiful cultural tradition with a rich history in the city. I want to remind everyone to enjoy the parade and not change any plans due to misinformation spreading about coronavirus." People watch the Chinese Lunar New Year parade in Manhattan's Chinatown of New York City, the United States, Feb. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) INFLUENZA BIGGER THREAT IN U.S. While the novel coronavirus continues to dominate headlines, officials and doctors have to remind the American public that influenza is actually a bigger threat. Councilman Koo pointed out that in New York City, where there are no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus yet, the average person has a much higher chance of getting sick from the flu than from the virus. Dr. Sexton also said, "Getting a flu vaccine is very helpful. If people are sick with respiratory symptoms, they should put on a mask in a healthcare waiting room to avoid infecting other people." The CDC estimates that so far this season, there have been at least 22 million illnesses, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths from the flu. No wonder then that in a recent interview with The Boston Globe, Prof. Paul Watanabe, director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, said, "anti-Chinese racism centered around the coronavirus outbreak isn't just ugly, it's illogical." "The fact of the matter is we are facing a health crisis right now in the United States, and it's a domestic one and it's the flu," Watanabe said. When it comes to any merger, you often cant trust the reason the firms are merging, particularly if financial rather than operational managers are driving the process. When it comes to hostile takeovers, you can bet you are being misled, because the rhetoric will address synergy and the power of the two firms together, but the folks driving the effort know the more likely goal is to destroy the acquired company. Carl Icahn, who is one of the most feared corporate raiders in the world possibly the most feared is behind this one. He is known to be the death of firms he touches, while he almost always benefits personally to a high degree. Ill share some observations on Xeroxs attempt at a hostile merger with HP Inc., which I expect to fail, and then close with my product of the week: an interesting gaming laptop from HP. Hostile Mergers: A Game of Misdirection One exception to the usual pattern was Oracles hostile acquisition of Peoplesoft. In that case, Oracle was up front about the fact that it wanted to shut down and absorb Peoplesoft, which was the result. Given the goal was to shut down Peoplesoft, Oracle got rid of a painful competitor and was able to acquire most of the customers, because migrating off Peoplesoft wasnt easy and Oracle executed sharply. This isnt to say the Peoplesoft customers were happy. They mostly werent, but Oracle did do what it said it would do. Generally, hostile mergers are about either destroying a competitor (as was the case with Peoplesoft) or acquiring key technology that the entity backing the merger wants to access. For instance, when Broadcom attempted a hostile acquisition of Qualcomm, it was believed to be backed by Apple, which appeared to want to eliminate iPhone competitors and gain control of Qualcomms intellectual property, potentially returning it to market leadership. The U.S. government blocked the move as a matter of national security, likely out of concern that it would have handed 5G leadership to Huawei and China. That alone could have shifted the balance of power from the U.S. to China. Strangely, Broadcom went on to acquire CA, which suggests that it had another reason for a fast merger the most likely being that it didnt want its financials to settle. One way to hide poor financial performance is to create lots of noise, and mergers create lots of noise. The irony here is CA was a company that also was built by rapid acquisitions and treating customers badly. Even the rumor CA was going to acquire a firm would lead to that firms customers running for the hills. At least that merger didnt appear to be hostile. Xeroxs Hidden Agenda What brought up the latest speculation is the A list directors Xerox brought forward last week, which made it look like it wanted to replace HPs diverse and industry-focused board with one heavy in CEOs and seeming superstars. With an acquisition, particularly a hostile acquisition, the board that remains when the acquisition is over generally is the board the acquiring company started with or, in this case, a board heavy with Carl Icahn employees and arguably controlled by him, even though his name doesnt show up either on the Xerox board or the proposed board. Now, if industry experts ran Xerox, as opposed to financial types, you might assume that the goal might be to eliminate a competitor. However, HP is far broader than Xerox, suggesting that even at the current price, Xerox would be overpaying massively for the benefit it likely would get. Financial types dont overpay for anything it isnt in their nature. So, this effort seems to be focused on getting access to a valuable asset, or assets, that most investors dont realize HP has. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Given the level of effort, the asset or assets must be significant, and I think I know what one or both may be. HPs Hidden Jewels HP has two hidden jewels that are significantly undervalued: its 3D printing technology and its print head technology. The first is beginning to play in manufacturing, particularly automotive, and has the potential to massively change manufacturing on a global scale. They not only has created technologies to handle plastics, and plastics in color, but also moved recently to metals and has volume and cost advantages. It has the potential to redefine manufacturing and is on a path that eventually could turn a factory into what effectively is a large printer. This is big, but it still pales in the face of the second technology. HPs print head technology has been adapted to several industries and falls under the general category of microfluidics. Now, applied, this could do things like revolutionize the way car dealerships fix chips in expensive cars (it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair a paint chip in Bugatti, for instance), or it could transform healthcare. This last has massive potential if you understand that blended medications or, more accurately, the steep prices associated with them are a big contributor to excessive medical costs. Further, its currently not easy to match medications with each patients unique body. With the proper sensors, HPs microfluidics technology could do both. It could blend low-cost medications in place, potentially at a fraction of the cost of preblending them, and it could administer exactly the right amount of medicine for a patients unique requirements. That could remove much of the cost of the medications think chemotherapy for instance and virtually eliminate overdoses and massively reduce addiction. This isnt potentially a million dollar or even billion dollar technology it is a trillion dollar technology. Once applied, it has the potential to make HP the most valuable company in the world. Given this is already in lab use, in production, this isnt as far out as you might think. Wrapping Up: Misdirection When a company controlled by a corporate raider like Carl Ichan takes an interest in something, it means there is a part of that something he knows is massively undervalued, because the cost of his effort will be extreme, and he is not known for losing money. Figuring out what he really is after is critical to understanding his strategy, particularly if you are already an investor, because he likely is trying to take a gain that you otherwise might get and make it his own. A D V E R T I S E M E N T He knows how to monetize and sell the most valuable technologies, and he isnt exactly known for leaving much behind, which is why his skill set is known as corporate raider. Those of us who recall what he did to TWA are hoping he doesnt do the same thing to HP. Id almost bet the hidden buyer he has in the wings is connected to China, as it has both the money and the interest in making sure these revolutionary technologies migrate along with jobs and revenue out of the U.S. Since Im focusing on HP this week, I thought Id pick one of the more interesting notebooks I saw at CES. It has a second smaller display above the keyboard, and the touchpad is relocated to the far right so it more easily can be used as you would use a mouse while gaming. It is rigged with a dongle that allows it to play Xbox games from the Microsoft cloud. HP Omen X 2S RTX Studio Laptop While not a cheap date at US$1,999, it provides the combination of full-on desktop performance with a usage model that most serious gamers who need a portable solution would appreciate. I didnt get a chance to do much more than get a feel for the ergonomics which are good but it has an impressive industrial design. While not lightweight by any measure, it is still light enough to carry in a backpack and for those who want a truly powerful gaming system to take with them, this might be the ideal choice. Be aware, though, that it is a tad too large to play easily in an airplane seat. It has the new 2070 Nvidia RTX ray tracing card and an Intel 9th generation processor with six cores, as well as a 1-TB SSD drive, so it likely will outperform your gaming desktop machine. It looks awesome. The second screen is handy if you are playing a game and also watching your email, messaging, or looking for an alert or if your boss, teacher or spouse is sneaking up on you. Its performance means it also is good for photo or video editing, and it would be amazing for those who want the latest automatic Photoshop features showcased in Intel and Adobes CES demonstrations to work properly. While I chose this laptop partially because of my interest in HPs hidden gems this week, another part of HP that stands out is its PC unit, which is one of the most innovative and balanced units in the segment. Its newOmen X2S RTX Studio 15 Laptop is one of the most interesting products in the companys line, so it is my product of the week. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network. BILLINGS Montana regulators have given conditional approval to plans to inject clean water underground around the city of Colstrip to flush out water reserves polluted by coal ash from the small community's namesake power plant, state officials said Wednesday. Some details are still in the works, but pumping water into the 54 injection wells could begin by next year, said Sara Edinberg, a hydrogeologist with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Leaking ash ponds at the plant operated by Talen Energy have contaminated groundwater in the area with boron, sulfate and other potentially harmful materials. Contaminated water seeps from the ponds at a rate of about 240 gallons per minute. That translates into more than 126 million gallons of polluted water annually. The ash pond cleanup at Colstrip could cost an estimated $400 million to $700 million and is expected to last decades. It's being carried out under a 2012 legal agreement reached by Talen's predecessor, PPL Montana, and state officials. Most Colstrip residents and businesses get water from the Yellowstone River. But some ranches rely on the underground water reserves for their livestock. The cleanup plan covers two of the power plant's four units. Talen is required to post a $107 million bond to ensure the work is completed. Some of the pollution that's deepest underground would not be pumped out under the plan approved Tuesday, and instead is expected to naturally decrease in concentration over time. Talen would monitor the plume of pollution to make sure it does not become a risk to human health or the environment. If Talen can't show the plume is decreasing, state officials said they would require additional work to remove the pollution. Company representatives did not immediately respond to email and telephone messages seeking comment. Cleanup plans are still pending for the plant's other two units, where the pollution is ongoing and expected to be more complicated to resolve. "Part of the pond is unlined and will remain in contact with groundwater long-term, meaning the ash in this area acts as a continuing source of impacts to groundwater," Edinburg said. The state holds about $170 million in bonds for cleanup and closure work. State lawmakers have raised concerns over whether enough money will be available in the long term. The Colstrip plant was built in the 1970s and 1980s. Units 1 and 2 shut down earlier this year after Talen and the plant's five other co-owners said they were not longer economical to operate. Coal has become less desirable among utilities over the past decade. There's been rising concern over the pollution it emits even as coal's share of the power market has shrunk because of competition from cheap natural gas. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Love Island's Shaughna has come under fire for her various comments about scaffolders, following her heartache with co-star Callum. The democratic services officer, 25, was left devastated earlier this week when Callum - who she was coupled with from the start of the show - ditched her for new girl Molly, after which she stated: 'I should have never trusted a scaffolder'. It has been reported that angry builders have taken to Ofcom to complain over her swipe and insisted she is discriminating with her comment. Shocker: Love Island's Shaughna has come under fire for her various comments about scaffolders, following her heartache with co-star Callum The Sun report that Shaughna sparked Ofcom complaints due to her complaints. When Callum returned to the villa alongside Molly, raging Shaughna said to Laura Whitmore: 'Im happy for Callum. I should have never trusted a scaffolder anyway.' Echoing her sentiment himself, when new boy Jamie asked Shaughna on a date on Tuesday night, Callum said: 'I hope hes not a scaffolder'. In a bid to remain neutral, Laura jumped to the defence of tradesmen by saying: 'I feel bad for all the scaffolders of the UK'. Fuming: It has been reported that angry builders have taken to Ofcom to complain over her swipe and insisted she is discriminating with her comment Happy days: Echoing her sentiment himself, when new boy Jamie asked Shaughna on a date on Tuesday night, Callum said: 'I hope hes not a scaffolder' When Shaughna asked Jamie "Have you ever considered being a scaffolder?" Her scaffophobia is real #loveisland #LoveIsland2020 More response came after Callum said before Shaughna's date with Jamie: 'I hope he's not a scaffolder'. In response to Callum weighing in on the situation, Twitter users wrote: 'C:Better not be a scaffolder When did he have the right to comment? S: If his a scaffolder Im running. If his from Manchester Im running... 'His brain cells couldnt calculate what she said properly. #LoveIsland... Everyone getting hyped over Shaugna getting picked for a date, then Callum pipes up "I hope he's not a scaffolder"... Shocker: The fallout from Casa Amor left her heartbroken and single, but unlucky in love Shaughna could well be set for a change in her romantic fortunes with the arrival of a brand new bombshell who admits shes definitely his type on paper Shocker: In response to Callum weighing in on the situation, Twitter users wrote: 'C:Better not be a scaffolder When did he have the right to comment? S: If his a scaffolder Im running. If his from Manchester Im running' Uh oh... In a bid to remain neutral, Laura jumped to the defence of tradesmen by saying: 'I feel bad for all the scaffolders of the UK' 'Are you taking the p**s bruv? What was your thought process behind this statement? #LoveIsland.' The fallout from Casa Amor left her heartbroken and single, but unlucky in love Shaughna could well be set for a change in her romantic fortunes with the arrival of a brand new bombshell who admits shes definitely his type on paper. The Islanders will be surprised by the arrival of hunky Scotsman Jamie Clayton on Tuesday evening, and hes already got his eyes set on newly single Shaughna and Demi Jones. Democratic services officer Shaughna, 25, admits she's 'been left speechless' by the 28-year-old recruitment consultant's 'banter' as the pair flirt up a storm during an outdoor lunch date. One of Sanderss biggest advantages at this point is that no clear moderate alternative has emerged. The alternatives are splitting votes. Buttigieg and Klobuchar both see themselves as the strongest alternative, as does Michael Bloomberg, who is now faring pretty well in national polls of Democrats. 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. Josh Kraushaar of National Journal predicts that the race has a long way to go. In 2016, the Republican Party awarded delegates on a winner-take-all basis, which meant that Trump could build a solid lead even with narrow primary wins. The Democratic Party awards delegates proportionately. The most likely long-term outcome is a muddle, Kraushaar writes, with Sanders slowly racking up more delegates than his rivals but well short of the majority necessary to win the partys nomination. Bill Barrs Justice Department: After Watergate, the Department of Justice created a new ethos that was meant to keep future presidents from abusing their power. That ethos would ensure that the department was the most independent, least partisan agency of the executive branch. Presidents would continue to set policy, obviously, but they would not influence specific investigations. They would not use the law to protect themselves and their allies or to punish their political rivals. Our law is not an instrument of partisan purpose, said Edward Levi, the first post-Watergate attorney general, appointed by President Gerald Ford. Griffin Bell, who succeeded Levi and was appointed by President Jimmy Carter, described the Justice Department as a neutral zone in the government, because the law has to be neutral. President Trump has never hidden his disagreement with this ethos. He believes that the Justice Department should report to the president and act in his interest, including punishing a presidents opponents and protecting his allies. A Good Samaritan has appealed for help for a wheelchair-bound victim of the Columbine shooting who is now homeless and forced to stay at an LA nursing facility. Richard Castaldo was 17 when he was shot outside his high school in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999. More than 20 people were wounded and 13 killed in one of the darkest days in American history. Hollye Dexter, a gun control activist, met Castaldo, 37, at a Survivors of Gun Violence event last year in Los Angeles and said she noticed he was ill. 'We called 911. We has him taken to the hospital. He was very sick with a MRSA infection which is life threatening,' she told CBS this week. Hollye Dexter, a gun control activist, met Castaldo at an event last year in Los Angeles and said she noticed he was ill (pictured: Castaldo at the nursing facility) Richard Castaldo was shot outside his high school in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999 (pictured: at a press event on his release from hospital). Dexter said: 'I just see that picture of him as a 17-year-old with braces, and I just think, "How did we fail him?" Here he is, 20 years later, and we failed him as a society. And it breaks my heart.' After spending a few weeks in intensive care Castaldo was moved to a nursing home where he has been for the last five months with nowhere else to go. Castaldo, who moved to Los Angeles to work in sound engineering, lost his home in the 2012 housing crisis. He moved to an apartment but was evicted after failing to pay the rent. 'They can't release him because he's homeless -- because Richard was evicted last year he can't pay his rent.' Dexter told 9News. 'I asked what the intake paperwork said, and it just said "homeless man." And I just get so choked up thinking about it. 'I just see that picture of him as a 17-year-old with braces, and I just think, "How did we fail him?" Here he is, 20 years later, and we failed him as a society. And it breaks my heart.' Dexter is trying to raise funds for Castaldo and find him somewhere to live so he can be released. However, she worries that donations could interfere with his disability benefits so instead is asking for advice via email at AHomeForRichard@gmail.com. Columbine massacre survivor Richard Castaldo attends at March For Our Lives Los Angeles on March 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California Around 11.20am on April 20, 1990, Castaldo and his friend Rachel Scott were sitting outside Columbine High School eating lunch together near the west entrance of the school when two of their fellow students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, opened fire on them. Castaldo was hit with eight separate bullets, one of which lodged in his spine, paralyzing him from the chest down. Scott was shot four times, once in the head, and died instantly. In total, 12 students and one teacher were killed in the Columbine shootings, and 21 students including Castaldo were injured. CCTV footage shows Eric Harris (left) and Dylan Klebold (right) on tape during their shooting spree. Witness accounts said the killers were laughing and having fun In total, 12 students and one teacher were killed in the Columbine shootings, and 21 students including Castaldo were injured. Both Harris and Klebold committed suicide following the shootings. The family of Mr Castaldo filed lawsuits in August of 2000 against the parents of Harris and Klebold as well as those who sold guns to the killers. The families of several other victims were also part of the lawsuit. After a bitter legal dispute lasting more than a year, Mr Castaldo and around 30 other victims' families received a collective $2.85million settlement. When a mailroom worker at an Amsterdam office building noticed an unusual hissing sound coming from one of the packages being sorted Wednesday morning, he tossed it away. Moments after the parcel left his hands, it exploded. Less than an hour later, in Kerkrade, a Dutch town near the German border, a second package mailed to a local business blew up. Nobody was wounded in either case and police officials compared the size of Wednesdays blasts to a small fireworks explosion, saying that the bombs would have caused nonfatal injuries had anyone been holding them. But the attacks were just the latest in a spate of parcel bombs directed at businesses across the Netherlands that have set the authorities on edge and they were the first to actually detonate. The police believe that the latest attacks were most likely linked because the mail bombs were accompanied by letters demanding money in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin to prevent future attacks. The ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance are initiating procedures concerning the asset declaration of Democratic Coalition leader Ferenc Gyurcsany, Fideszs communications chief told a press conference. Istvan Hollik said that the former Socialist prime minister had failed to answer questions concerning his muddled asset declaration, insisting that something is very wrong. According to Hollik, Gyurcsany had been paid dividends totalling over 2 billion forints (EUR 6m) by his Altus holding company in the past four years. He bought securities for 641 million forints and paid 225 million in deposit for an obscure property, he said. He also renovated his home for 100 million forints and has a house in the western provinces worth the same amount, Hollik said, adding that Gyurcsany had also spent 70 million forints on his childrens schooling and 80 million on their accommodation. Those figures certainly do not show Gyurcsany as a straightforward average Hungarian, Hollik said, adding that Gyurcsany had acquired his billions of forints through privatisation robbery, exploiting his old communist party ties. In response, DK said in statement that Fidesz should look into the pockets of politicians close to the party if they want to see wealth concealed or of dubious origin. Gyurcsanys asset declaration meets all legal requirements, they said, adding that what Gyurcsany spends his legitimately earned and taxed income on is no business of Hollik or any other member of the Fidesz mafia. MTI Photo: Kovacs Tamas The US economy shed 11,000 auto and auto parts jobs in the month of January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly report released last week. This represented almost all of the 12,000 jobs lost in the manufacturing sector as a whole. Over the last 12 months, 24,000 jobs had been eliminated in the auto industry, according to the bureaus report. Januarys figures show that the jobs bloodbath in the auto industry is continuing unabated after the United Auto Workers sabotage of the General Motors strike last fall. The union, which is embroiled in a massive bribery and corruption scandal which has implicated much of its top leadership, forced through a sellout contract after isolating the strike which ratified the closure of four GM facilities. A fifth, Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, is slated to idle for the 18 months starting at the end of February. The assembly line at the Ford Rouge assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan [Credit: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File] The unions betrayal of the GM strike paved the way for similar sellout deals at Ford, which will close its Romeo Engine plant in Michigan in 2022, and at Fiat Chrysler, whose Marysville Axle plant may close next year. While General Motors is carrying out forced overtime at many plants in order to make up for production lost to the strike, Ford and Fiat Chrysler are carrying out temporary layoffs and plant shutdowns throughout the country. Ford recently announced temporary layoffs at Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and is cutting hours at its Chicago Assembly Plant on the south side of Chicago. Fiat Chrysler (FCA) offered buyouts to 3,900 workers at its Belvidere Assembly plant at the end of January, fueling fears that the plant is preparing to close completely. The company laid off 1,371 workers last May after cutting a shift at the plant. Both US-based and foreign automakers and suppliers are in the midst of a jobs purge in response to a slowdown in the global industry and to prepare for the introduction of electric and self-driving vehicles, which require far less labor to produce. General Motors ended production at its Oshawa plant in Ontario, Canada, in December, and Ford laid off 400 workers at its Oakville, Ontario, plant last week. Ford announced in 2019 that it would close plants across Europe, including one factory in Blanquefort, France, three factories in Russia later that year, and its engine plant in Bridgend, Wales, in the United Kingdom in 2020. This was in addition to 7,000 white collar job cuts announced last year. The company, already under strain from investors and credit rating agencies to quicken the pace of its global fitness program, has now been thrown into a deep crisis by its disastrous 2019 financial performance. In Germany, Volkswagen announced plans to cut 20,000 jobs in Germany. The IG Metall has indicated its willingness to support these cuts, and is also helping Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, to slash 10,000 jobs in Germany by the end of 2022. While tens of thousands of autoworkers have already lost their jobs in the United States and Europe, the bulk of the layoffs last year took place in India (350,000) and in China (220,000). Chinese auto sales, which had experienced decades of uninterrupted growth to become the worlds largest auto market, suffered its first decline in a generation in 2018, due in large part to the impact of the Trump administrations trade war measures. The coronavirus outbreak, which has caused extended plant shutdowns in Chinas motor city Wuhan, has wreaked havoc on global auto supply chains. The Trump administration is attempting to utilize this public health crisis to pressure companies into shifting to suppliers outside of China. The fact is, it does give business yet another thing to consider when they go through their review of their supply chain, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox News. So, I think it will help to accelerate the return of jobs to North America. More broadly, the January jobs report points to a continuing economic stagnation confronting American workers. Just 225,000 new jobs were added to the US economy in January according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly Employment Situation released last Friday, compared to 304,000 added in January 2019. The majority, a total of 144,000 jobs, were added in primarily low-wage, precarious sections of industry. Unemployment rose slightly to 3.6 percent, still slightly lower than last January, when it was 4.0 percent. However, for roughly a decade the official unemployment rate, which does not count the underemployed or those discouraged from looking for work, has grossly underestimated the actual state of unemployment. The number of long-term unemployed (without work for 27 weeks or more) and those who have given up looking for work is increasing, from 19.3 percent of the total unemployed in January 2019 to 19.9 percent of the total unemployed in January 2020. Wages rose by a mere $0.07 per hour to an average of $28.44. However, this figure masks widening income inequality. Around 44 percent of US workers earn low wages under $16.00 per hour. Low-wage employment dominated job growth in January. Construction work rose by 44,000 jobs, leisure and hospitality by 36,000 and transportation and warehousing by 28,000. The BLS also reported that the year 2019 saw the greatest number of major work stoppages (strikes) in the US out of any year in the past decade. There were 425,000 workers who participated in strikes, with the majority of workers who were on strike in the education sector. The longest strike with 29 lost working days was the strike of General Motors workers in September through October. The systematic destruction of higher-paid manufacturing work and its replacement with low-wage, precarious work is one of the many factors fueling the growth in opposition to capitalism among American workers. The growing strike wave in the US is a part of the resurgence of the class struggle worldwide, throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe and Africa. The fight against corporate rule and to protect jobs requires a strategy to link all of these struggles of rank-and-file workers under an international and socialist program, in contrast to the pro-corporate nationalism of the trade unions in every country. Attorney General Maura Healeys lawsuit against Juul Labs, Inc. alleges that the e-cigarette giant made no effort to verify the ages of more than 10,000 customers it shipped products to in violation of state regulations issued in 2015. In addition, Healeys office says Juul maintained customer accounts for more than 1,200 Massachusetts residents that listed high school email addresses, including schools in Beverly, Malden and Braintree. The complaint, filed on Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court, says Juul shipped its products to customers with fake names like PodGod." By the summer of 2017, roughly 40,000 email addresses on Juuls email marketing list were associated with customers who had failed the companys age verification process, according to an analysis commissioned by Juul. In Massachusetts, the company shipped e-cigarettes to underage high school students and recent graduates from Brookline High School, Hanover High School, Longmeadow High School, Weston High School and the Bridgewater-Raynham School District High School, the complaint alleges. Healey told reporters Wednesday that her office had put together the case based on multiple depositions and hundreds of thousands of pages of company documents." The AGs investigation focused on Juuls sales and advertising practices, which her office notes intentionally targeted children and teens. As part of their investigation, Healeys office alleges Juul purchased advertisements on websites intended for children as young as elementary school students, like Nickelodeon, Nick. Jr. and Cartoon Network. Her office also contends that Juul recruited celebrities and social media influencers with underaged followers, like Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, Kristen Stewart, among others, to promote their products. Healey has been a vocal opponent of vaping, citing the rise in nicotine addiction among the youth, in Massachusetts and across the country. The research is clear: flavor in tobacco products increases their appeal to young people and promotes initiation, Healey said previously. In December, her office announced suits against eight out-of-state online vaping retailers for illegally selling flavored tobacco products to Massachusetts consumers. The suit comes after the Baker administration in November adopted the strictest regulations on tobacco in the country. It also comes the day Public health officials finalized new regulations affecting all e-cigarette products. The regulations restrict the sale of flavored e-cigarettes to smoking bars and establish identification requirements for stores to verify the age of customers looking to buy tobacco. They also restrict the sale of vape products with more than 35 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter to retail tobacco stores and smoking bars. The council approved an earlier version of the regulations in December on an emergency basis, allowing the sales of unflavored vaping products to resume after a temporary ban on all e-cigarette sales that the Baker administration had instituted amid a national outbreak of vaping-associated lung illnesses. Material from the State House News Service was used in this report. Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022 Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit Dollar drops in Armenia Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021 Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19 Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties Copper rises in price Erdogan's spokesman, Biden's adviser discuss Armenian-Turkish relations Armenia deputy defense minister: No one can rule out border tension at any moment New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia official: Those 100 soldiers absence will not assume any change in terms of border tension Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78 Reuters: Over 1.13 million cases of COVID-19 detected in US per day Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies 2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Deputy PM Matevosyan: About 1,190 subvention programs implemented in Armenia from 2018 to 2021 243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia MP: It would be right to put pressure on Azerbaijanis to remove their firing positions Oil is getting more expensive Nearly 10,000 people detained in Kazakhstan in connection with riots Tokayev: CSTO peacekeepers will pull out from Kazakhstan within 10 days Newspaper: Armenia businessmen pay customs duties to Azerbaijanis to go to Iran European Parliament speaker David Sassoli dies Alikhan Smailov appointed Kazakhstan Prime Minister Newspaper: Health minister makes decision full of contradictions in terms of Covid-related restrictions in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia authorities once again showed their being unprincipled, worthless, opposition MP says Germany teacher who had cannibalism fantasies is sentenced to life in prison Israel's military and other security services undergo largest rearmament in years Spain PM calls for a debate to consider COVID-19 endemic disease Flyone Armenia and Pegasus receive permission for Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights Pope condemns "baseless" ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines Arab foreign ministers to visit Beijing Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road Armenian FM has a phone call with his Polish counterpart Macron travels to French Riviera to discuss internal security issues Artsakh Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's aggressive behavior aims to disrupt Russian peacekeepers' activities US COVID-19 cases reach 60 million European Parliament President hospitalized due to immune system dysfunction Washington and Ankara discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey WHO excludes emergence of deltacron strain In Karabakh Azerbaijanis shelled tractor Indian Defense Minister tests positive for COVID-19 US-Russia talks on security guarantees lasting for seven hours already NEWS.am daily digest: 10.01.22 Pashinyan appoints Hayk Mkrtchyan as Deputy Governor of Kotayk province Blast in eastern Afghanistan kills nine children Pashinyan: One of key priorities of Armenia presidency at CSTO is strengthening of crisis response mechanisms Internet cut off in Kazakhstan Armenia, Kazakhstan ombudspersons confer on Armenian communitys rights Armenia, Russia defense ministers discuss Kazakhstan Turkey defense minister meets with their envoy in process of normalization of Armenia relations Iranian Foreign Ministry reports progress in Vienna negotiations Dollar continues going up in Armenia New attempt by migrants in Belarus to storm Poland border Skat Airlines resumes Yerevan-Aktau and Aktau-Yerevan flights New Covid-related restrictions to be introduced in Armenia Karabakh police: Firefighters also targeted by Azerbaijan shooting (PHOTOS) Artsakh Defense Army has not fired on Azerbaijan positions Azerbaijani military are protesting amid military awards deprivation Azerbaijanis open fire in Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh MFA: Events in Kazakhstan are result of actions planned by Turkey Armenia army General Staff has new deputy chief Australia to buy US $ 2.5 billion of armored vehicles Artsakh emergency service: Search for soldiers remains continued during holidays Kazakh Colonel Nazanov dies after heart attack Australia begins to vaccinate children aged 5-11 with COVID-19 vaccine Putin: Peacekeeping contingent to stay in Kazakhstan for a limited period Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit court session is closed Azerbaijan commandos conduct military exercises Part of the Great Wall of China collapsed due to earthquake Armenia MP: Turkey, Azerbaijans regional calculations have mixed up Copper prices decline Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit trial resumes Gold is getting cheaper EU is ready to support in addressing Karabakh crisis 126 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Fire in residential building in New York leaves 19 people killed National Center for Infectious Diseases Yerevan branch employees protesting outside center Karabakh President: Radical Pan-Turkic circles are actively involved in process in Kazakhstan Oil is getting more expensive Mars helicopter Ingenuity preparing for difficult 19th flight Interior ministry: About 8,000 people detained in Kazakhstan Earthquake hits Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone Researchers create substitute for egg whites from fungus Kazakhstan official information channel removes message about 164 casualties EC says construction of new nuclear power plants in Europe will require 500 billion in investment Ghost ship that sank 343 years ago discovered in US Post-COVID-19 antibodies may attack healthy cells, scientists say Pope says he was praying for Kazakhstan Media: 164 people die in Kazakhstan during riots Peskov: CSTO session does not plan to sign documents yet Criminal cases launched after bomb threat in Armenian, Belarus embassies in Moscow Norwegian military surrender panties before demobilization Iranian MFA says Tehran is ready for talks on downed plane of UIA Ukraine Russian defense minister says information war is on all fronts A recent study by scientists in Peru has found that the waters of the Chillon River, on the outskirts of Lima, are laden with pollutants. After performing an analysis that spanned several weeks last November, biologists from Lima's Cayetano Heredia University found that the river had 12 times the maximum permissible levels of pollutants for drinking water. Environmental microbiologist Oscar Aguinaga said the most concerning pollutant in the river was E. coli, a type of bacteria common in the gut and in the faeces of many animals. Aguinaga said one source of pollution was a sewage treatment plant that no longer has the capacity to treat the increasing volume of waste coming from the city. One local resident said she often sees dead animals and debris floating in the river where she and her neighbours used to swim when they were children. The high levels of contamination, according to Aguinaga, do not allow the use of river water to irrigate farm fields and birds looking for drinking water no longer seek refuge there. Lima has multiple water sources, including lagoons, wells, springs, and the rivers Rimac, Lurin and Chillon. The Chillon accounts for at least 10 percent of the water used in the city. The river rises in the Peruvian Andes and flows for more than a hundred kilometers (60 miles) through Lima and into the Pacific Ocean. Chaotic urban growth that can be traced back to the 1980s has now turned the last few kilometers of the Chillon river into a virtual garbage dump. (Pic Credit: Representative Image/ Pixabay) When officers tried to arrest Williams on Thursday, he rammed a sergeants car with the vehicle he was in and then ran over an officers foot, Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said earlier this week. Williams then got out of his car and ran away before he was caught. Kim Myung-joon, president of Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) / Courtesy of ETRI By Baek Byung-yeul As advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology continue to change the way we live, many countries are jumping on the bandwagon of the emerging technology to in efforts to stay ahead of the competition. Korea has displayed significant growth in the information technology sector and recently drew up plans to become the world's third largest player in terms of "digital competitiveness" by 2030 by fostering talent and increasing investments in the sector. Kim Myung-joon, president of Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), said the country's top electronics institution will spearhead key initiatives that support the country's vision to accomplish the goal. "We have entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and ETRI is playing a role to make the country that can best deal with AI technology," Kim said in a recent interview. Kim, who stepped into a three-year-term seat in April 2019, vowed to make ETRI a "National AI Research Institute" by committing its resources to research and development that could lead to digital transformation. "As an organization that presides over the research activities of information and communication technology of Korea, we are making efforts not only to intellectualize the industry structure but also to enhance the individual lives of people in safe and convenient ways," he said. Established in 1976, ETRI has contributed to the nation's economic and social development through research, development and distribution of core technologies in electronics, telecommunications and convergence technologies. One of its technological achievements that helped Korea expand its prowess was commercializing code division multiple access (CDMA) technology in 1996, a third-generation (3G) mobile technology that allowed mobile phones to be used across networks internationally and support multimedia features such as video streaming, music downloads and video conferencing. ETRI researchers also developed DRAM in conjunction with academia and industry in 1986, helping Korea become one of the leading countries in the semiconductor business. The development of DRAM also transformed the country's industry structure from labor and capital-intensive to technology-intensive. Kim said ETRI will continue to develop source technologies in AI to help the country stay ahead of the competition. "As the leading research institution specialized in ICT, I can proudly say ETRI has greatly contributed to the economic development of Korea by developing technologies ranging from DRAM to CDMA," the president said. "With an aim to make the country an AI powerhouse, ETRI has set up a mid- and long-term goal, which is developing AI technology and various derivative technologies such as intelligent robots, autonomous unmanned vehicles, cloud and future computing, and next-generation semiconductors." Kim agreed that the importance of AI technology can never be overemphasized as technology can help create added value when it is integrated with other technologies. "AI technology doesn't just mean a software technology. It is a new mechanism that can present the whole new paradigm in economy and society. In that sense, AI gurus, business leaders and many countries are trying to embrace the world that will be controlled by assisted, augmented and autonomous intelligence technologies," he said. Kim added ETRI is trying to secure AI technologies that can see, listen and learn like humans. "Our long-term research in AI is focused on language intelligence, voice intelligence, visual intelligence and smart data analysis. These technologies enable us to process the enormous amount of data much faster and more accurately than human beings ever could," he said. Kim also stressed the need to foster talent in AI to catch up to industry-leading countries such as the United States and China. "According to data from Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP), Korea lagged 2.3 years behind the U.S. in AI technology capability. Also, more than half of renowned AI gurus are working in the U.S. with China right behind. As the two countries are investing heavily in AI research, the technological gap between them can grow even bigger," he said. "In response, Korea also joined the race for AI dominance as it began running state-funded graduate schools specializing in AI. ETRI, which has about 400 employees carrying out AI research activities, will also strengthen cooperative efforts with students studying in the AI schools." ETRI President Kim Myung-joon, center, poses with Yoshua Bengio, second from right, scientific director of Mila Quebec AI institute after agreeing to forge a partnership at the institution's office in Montreal, Jan. 10. / Courtesy of ETRI Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick suspends presidential bid originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Deval Patrick, the 63-year-old former governor of Massachusetts has suspended his run in the Democratic presidential race. "The vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical wind at the campaigns back to go on to the next round of voting. So I have decided to suspend the campaign, effective immediately," he wrote supporters on Wednesday. He was governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015 and was the first African American elected to the position. His departure from the presidential field means there is no longer any black candidate running for the Democratic nomination -- a huge shift for a field once lauded for its diversity. MORE: Deval Patrick: Everything you need to know about the 2020 presidential candidate Patrick, who joined the 2020 presidential race in November, said he aimed to be the alternative choice for voters who are unsatisfied with the current candidates. However, his polling numbers were never competitive and the two-term governor never made it to a debate stage. "I wouldn't be in it if I didn't think I could win it," he told ABC News' Whit Johnson in mid-November. PHOTO: Governor Deval Patrick (D) Massachusetts on 'This Week' (ABC News) Patrick said at the time he was hoping to be competitive in South Carolina, formerly a state where former Vice President Joe Biden has strong political ties and a presumed foothold. "I think you know," Patrick told ABC News, "the objective is to be competitive everywhere." MORE: Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick vows to 'earn my way' to future presidential debate stages A former managing director at Bain Capital, the private equity firm co-founded by 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Patrick graduated cum laude from Harvard with an English degree and later returned to earn a law degree, again with cum laude honors. MORE: Deval Patrick: 'I wouldn't be in it if I didn't think I could win it' Story continues Patrick grew up on Chicago's South Side. He and his wife, Diane, have two grown daughters, Katherine and Sarah, and one grandchild. Patrick said he'd intended to announce his candidacy about a year earlier, but his wife was diagnosed with cancer and required surgery. Now cancer free, she encouraged his 2020 bid. The former Massachusetts governor also spoke with former President Barack Obama before declaring his candidacy. Patrick said Obama offered valuable political insight. "He's equally encouraging and open to others who have thought about it and who have gotten in. And I appreciate it," Patrick said of Obama. Patrick also previously told ABC News that while some candidates are personal friends, such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who hails from the same state, he was focused on becoming the unifying force during a divisive time in politics. In an interview in early November, Warren had even named Patrick as a potential member of her cabinet. She later dismissed the notion that his bid would have complicated her own candidacy. 1995 25 years ago The Rochester City Council will discuss the $500,000 proposal to building an animal control facility. The current facility on Elton Hills Drive near North Broadway is in poor condition. Forestville State Park would expand by about 350 acres under a bill introduced earlier this week at the Minnesota Legislature that would transfer state forest to the park. 1970 50 years ago A drive to raise $20,000 to help construct the new Rochester campus of the Minnesota Bible College was launched this week by seven Churches of Christ in southeast Minnesota. ADVERTISEMENT Rochester Police Chief James Macken Jr. today announced the formation of a two-man drug and narcotics team to probe a growing drug abuse problem in the city. 1945 75 years ago Rochester Mayor Paul A. Grassle has filed as a candidate for re-election. The mayor stated there is still unfinished work, especially if the city enters a postwar period. Mayor Grassle stated he is wishes to lead the city through this transition with another term. Miss Kathleen Anderson of Rochester has been awarded a fellowship in aeronautical engineering at Brown University, Providence, R. I. Miss Anderson is a Rochester graduate of 1942, attended Rochester Junior College and last fall entered Pembroke College, womens division of Brown University, in the course of micro-biology. 1920 100 years ago Steps have been taken toward the closing of dance halls and other places in Owatonna where the spread of the influenza epidemic could be augmented. Movie theaters will be allowed to stay open at this point. Fostering of the Boy Scout movement in Rochester is believed one of the best possible things to do for the future welfare of the soon to be young men of the community. CROWN POINT A Highland man was arrested Monday on charges alleging he shoved his pregnant girlfriend Sunday and fired a shot that traveled through a neighbor's window and wall. Marco A. Cruz, 23, is accused of becoming enraged and pushing his girlfriend, who is 23 weeks pregnant, in the stomach Sunday after she told him they needed to buy laundry soap. The woman told police Cruz arrived home from work about 8:30 a.m. Sunday and had been drinking beer before the confrontation about 10:30 a.m. inside their apartment at the Porte De Leau Court complex, Lake Criminal Court records state. Cruz ordered the woman to sit in a bedroom as she held their 1-year-old child and repeatedly told the baby, "You're going to be without a mom or dad," records allege. Cruz began slamming furniture and breaking doors before grabbing a black pistol and shutting himself in the bedroom, records allege. The woman told police she heard him cock the slide on the gun and put a round in the chamber, which he frequently does as a scare tactic when they argue. The woman heard a loud pop before Cruz opened the door and repeatedly said, "Oh, my God," records allege. Representative image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Mahindra and Mahindra on February 8 reported a mixed bag of earnings for the quarter ended December 2019 with profit declining 72.8 percent YoY due to one-time loss on impairment of investments. Revenue from operations fell 6 percent, while EBITDA grew 5 percent and margin expanded 160bps YoY. Auto segment margin during the quarter improved significantly to 7.3 percent from 5.8 percent YoY, while farm equipment margin remained stable at 19.4 percent against 19.1 percent YoY. Here are the highlights of Mahindra and Mahindra's earnings conference call as compiled by Narnolia Financial Advisors: Management Participants: Pawan Goenka MD, VS Parthasarathy Group CFO & Group CIO The management expects automotive segment growth to be in-line with industry growth in FY21. Hence, the guidance is of 2-4 percent growth for PV, 4-6 percent for CV and 5 percentYoY for Tractor industry. The rural demand should pick up based on 8 percent above normal Rabi sowing and increased reservoir levels. Find All Earnings Related News Here The BS-VI cost impact is Rs 15,000-20,000 for petrol cars while Rs 50,000-60,000 for diesel cars. The pass through may happen in phases considering the slow-down in the industry. Ssangyong Motor Corporation (SYMC) M&M has taken an impairment of Rs 600 crore in Q3FY20. SYMC has also impaired the assets worth KRW 57 billion (Rs 342 crore). Further the management committee has come up with a turnaround plan for SYMC by 2023. Needs $450-500 million of investment to be funded through external borrowings, 3rd party and M&M. Half of the investment amount will be utilized in repayment of loans and rest in product development. The company has already entered in agreement with labour union where the union has agreed to take a hit on their compensation. The company will look into new export markets such as; Russia and Vietnam. The new product developed in collaboration with M&M will bring synergies to the organization. Ford and M&M collaboration Ford will launch a new product this week while M&M will launch by the end of March 2020. M&M will utilize Fords plant to expand its engine capacity which will lead to a cost saving of Rs 400 crore. The companies are working on C-SUV platform which will fetch a saving of Rs 1,000 crore if both the companies had developed the platform separately. Q1FY21: E-KUV, New Thar Q2FY21: Atom EV (mass mobility) Q4FY21: W-601 (brand new platform) Q1FY22: Z-101 Q2FY22: E-XUV-300 Q2FY22: K2 platform for tractors where the launches will carry on for next 2 years. (CNN) The threat of a virus spreading at work raises a perennial issue: What can a manager ask employees to do when they're showing signs of being sick? Or when their employees are worried about being exposed to a contagious illness? Though the chance of contracting the coronavirus in the United States is still extremely low, the news of how quickly it has spread in China coupled with what is already a bad flu season in the US, has employers on alert for how best to keep all employees safe and healthy. What should a manager do if an employee doesn't want to travel? Growing concerns about the coronavirus have forced US employers to face some tough decisions about sending employees overseas for business trips. Employers are legally obligated to provide employees with a healthy, safe work environment and several are opting to err on the side of caution. Cisco, Amazon, Ericsson and Sony just announced they will not be participating in the Mobile World Congress in Spain later this month over coronavirus fears. If, however, an employee tells his manager he doesn't want to go on a scheduled business trip for fear of catching something, in many circumstances the company can still insist he go -- especially if travel is part of his job description. "But it's more of a best practice for employers to see how they can accommodate the employee and try to resolve their concerns. It's better for the employment relationship," said Alka Ramchandani-Raj, an attorney specializing in workplace safety at the law firm Littler Mendelson. For starters, a lot will depend on where the employee plans to travel and what health risks are associated with that area. A manager should find out more about the employee's specific concerns, said Amber Clayton, the director of the Knowledge Center at the Society for Human Resource Management. Then if the company believes the trip would be safe, the manager should cite the official guidance it has from health authorities, such as the Centers for Disease Control or the World Health Organization, Ramchandani-Raj said. The manager and employee should also assess whether the trip is essential. If so, explore what the company can do to make the employee feel safer traveling. That could mean providing protective gear and giving the employee proper training on how to use it. If you determine the trip isn't essential -- or if the concerned employee is pregnant, older or has a health condition that puts her at higher risk -- figure out other ways the same work can be accomplished, perhaps through video conferencing. In all cases, "communication is key," Ramchandani-Raj said. Should a company send an employee on a trip despite her concerns, the employer puts itself at risk if the employee does contract a virus while away. "The employee could take legal action, saying 'You sent me into a situation of risk,'" Clayton cautioned. And if the employee comes back and spreads the virus to others at work, worker compensation for others who get infected may become an issue, she noted. Can a manager send a sick employee home? Everybody thinks they're a hero for coming to work sick. But their colleagues may not appreciate it. "Companies should have clear policies and procedures in place to prevent the spread of illness," Clayton said. That includes explicitly encouraging people to stay home -- or to leave the office -- when they're not feeling well and not punishing those who do, especially when a global health emergency has been declared. Asking someone who is showing signs of being sick to stay home has to be done in the context of their well-being. "Let them know you're there to support them," Ramchandani-Raj said. If they're not feeling great but feel they can still work, encourage them to telecommute if possible. If an employee refuses and they're struggling to function well, you might say you can't let them work on site because you're worried about their health as well as everyone else's in the office. If you feel their illness poses a direct threat to colleagues' safety, you may be able to insist they be evaluated by a doctor, Ramchandani-Raj said. But in all instances managers must be careful not to make assumptions and discriminate against anyone in the process. For example, in the case of the coronavirus, which started in China, a manager in a US office should never assume that an employee of Chinese descent is at any higher risk of carrying the disease than anyone else in the office. Or if an employee complains about a colleague who is having coughing fits, the manager needs to observe that behavior directly and speak with the colleague in question to see if he's not feeling well and wants to go home. "What you don't want is retaliatory or discriminatory conduct from one employee to another. That can become bullying," Ramchandani-Raj said. You can, however, try to accommodate the complaining employee by letting him temporarily work in a different area or even work from home. Where can a manager with questions go for help? Managers who aren't sure how to handle a health situation involving an employee should go to their HR representative or the company's employee safety director, Clayton said. And they can keep abreast of the latest guidance for businesses on the coronavirus and other active health concerns by checking the sites of the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This story was first published on CNN.com, "Flu season. Coronavirus. How managers can handle sickness and paranoia at the office." 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 A convicted murderer with ties to Western Massachusetts, who recently escaped in Vermont while on furlough, was taken into custody early Wednesday, authorities said. William Wheelock, 55, was located by Vermont State Police and the FBI shortly before 2 a.m. in a residence on Park Avenue in Rutland City, Vermont. He was taken into custody without incident, state police said. Wheelock was convicted in 1987 of second-degree murder and sentenced to serve 21-99 years in prison. He was released on furlough on Jan. 28 and was living in transitional housing in Bellows Falls. Nine days after his release, he cut off and discarded his electronic monitoring device, state police said. Bellows Falls and state police searched for Wheelock, who has a distinctive 666tattoo on his left eyelid, for several hours after he escaped. A warrant for his arrest was issued by the state Department of Corrections. In Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has introduced several schemes in the last six years. AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is also implementing several welfare schemes since the last eight months. Hyderabad: Welfare schemes are playing a key role in the elections. This was proved in the recent Delhi assembly elections and the Telangana assembly elections held in 2018. In vote bank politics state governments, particularly the regional parties that are in power, are giving top priority to welfare schemes. In Telangana, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has introduced several schemes in the last six years. AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is also implementing several welfare schemes since the last eight months. These schemes however are eating into nearly half the annual budget. Late Y.S Rajasekhar Reddy, when he was Chief Minister of the united state of AP, launched several welfare schemes and became known as the father of welfare schemes. Arogyasri, free treatment to poor people in corporate hospitals, fee reimbursement, free power to the farm sector, and loan waiver for farmers are some of the important schemes introduced by YSR. These schemes continue in both Telugu states. They helped Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy retain power in the 2009 assembly polls. During the YSR regime every family in the state benefited from government schemes. The popularity of these schemes impelled state governments to announce welfare schemes even when the financial position of the state was poor. In the 2018 Telangana assembly elections, pensions and the Rythu Bandhu scheme played an important role in the TRS retaining power. In the name of Navaratnalu, AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is implementing several schemes. Not all welfare schemes have an impact on people. For the schemes to have a lasting impact, they must be free of the usual corruption. For example, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal introduced some welfare schemes just five months before the elections and they helped him return to power this week as they were effective schemes from which people actually benefited. Before the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, the then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu introduced welfare schemes such as Pasupu-Kumkuma, and investment subsidy to farmers on the lines of Rythu Bandhu, but the people did not believe him and he was defeated in the election. According to official records, in the last eight months, the Andhra Pradesh government has spent `14,795 crore on several welfare schemes benefiting approximately 1.5 crore people. Telangana State Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had introduced around 450 welfare schemes for various sections of society during his previous tenure between 2014 and 2018. Among them there are some individual benefit schemes such as Rythu Bandhu, Aasara pensions, Kalyana Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak and KCR kits. Airbnb has released its neighbourhood hotline number and is encouraging its hosts to install noise monitors as part of the short-term rental platforms ban on party houses. Starting Monday, Canadian residents with concerns about disturbances, including house parties, can call 855-635-7754 to speak with someone about the issue. While emergencies and safety incidents should always be reported to local authorities, this additional urgent communication channel aims to address both immediate disturbances as well as long-term issues within the community, the company said in a press release Wednesday. Residents can also report issues and link to problematic listings at airbnb.ca/neighbours. The phone line is part of a party house ban that began in the U.S. last November following the death of five people at a California rental at Halloween. But Airbnb stepped up its measures last week after three men were killed at a Jan. 31 party in a downtown Toronto condo that was rented on the platform. Airbnb has also arranged for its hosts to receive a discount on three different noise monitoring devices. The monitors that sell for between $50 and $260, plus subscription fee, detect sound but dont record. The devices measure the decibel level in the home in real-time and flag the landlord if the levels get too high, Airbnb said. Even though it does not record, we do tell our hosts to disclose it in their listing description, like we do with cameras, so that everyone is aware, the company said in an email. Last Thursday, San Francisco-based vice-president of policy and communications Chris Lehane flew to Toronto to announce a crackdown on party houses, including a partial ban on Canadian renters under 25. The platform will no longer allow people under that age to rent an entire home in their own community unless they already have an established track record on Airbnb. But short-term rental critics say the measures arent enough that if Airbnb is serious about safety, it needs to immediately comply with the bylaw provisions that Toronto is hoping to implement by the fall. Those new rules would require Airbnb hosts to register with the city and pay an accommodation tax. Landlords would be prohibited from renting out entire homes, including condos, that are not their principal residence. Lehane said Airbnb will comply once the bylaw is fully implemented. Torontos bylaw is still being challenged in court by a group of landlords, who want a review of a provincial tribunal decision that upheld the citys regulations. KL (Deemed to be) University was awarded an overall DIAMOND rating by QS IGAUGE, after a rigorous audit spread across nearly 7 months! With this honour, KL (Deemed to be) University is now among the top 15 Universities in India a rare achievement that cements its position as one of Indias leading educational institutions providing international standard quality education and building future ready leaders. The rating comes after KLU was placed #81-85 Rank in QS India University Rankings of 2019, adding yet another feather to its cap. QS IGAUGE has shared the break-down of ratings across the categories, and KLU has received the highest possible ratings in 5 areas viz. Diamond Ratings for - Teaching & Learning, Employability, Facilities, Social Responsibility & Research! Commenting on the accolade, Mr. K Satyanarayana President, KL (Deemed to be) University said, The honour we receive for our work is truly humbling. International rankings and ratings of Indian universities always create newer, better opportunities for us to reach out to the larger audience. A remarkable paradigm shift in the Indian higher education system, given the recent Union Budget accommodations for skill development and higher education, has given a serious impetus to the Indian public and private sector institutions to do better. At the end of the day, the common goal has to be development, growth and success. Our goal at KL (Deemed to be) University has always been to maintain excellence in quality education that is affordable, and allows students to be skilled and employable. With the honour of the DIAMOND rating, I believe we are on the right path and will continue to build future ready leaders, now and always! KL (Deemed to be) University, celebrating its 40 years in 2020, is one of Indias leading educational institutions promising quality, affordable and excellent education. Recognised by UGC as a Category 1 University and awarded an A++ Grade by NAAC, its objective is to build future ready leaders. Across both its campuses in Vijayawada & Hyderabad, its 8 schools spanning Engineering, Architecture, Science & Humanities, Fine Arts, Management, Hotel Management & Pharmacy, the institution boasts of nearly 16000 students from across India and several international countries, making it a truly global educational village! About QS IGAUGE: QS IGAUGE rating was developed to provide a much more detailed insight into the unique higher education landscape of India. When one looks at rankings, which are based on six to nine indicators, it does give an overview of institutions that are echelons of quality. Both rankings and ratings put together, provide students and stakeholders with a better understanding of the choice of institution for them. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006169/en/ [February 12, 2020] Instacart Drives Job Creation And Revenue Growth For Grocery Industry, New Data Shows SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by Dr. Robert Kulick of NERA Economic Consulting released today reveals the positive economic impact that Instacart, a North American leader in online grocery, has on the broader U.S. retail grocery industry. The study leverages statistical analysis to quantify Instacart's role deemed "The Instacart Effect" in driving significant increases in retail grocery employment and revenue. The study found that by creating additional customer demand for grocery stores, Instacart increased retail grocery employment by 23,000 net jobs and drove significant incremental revenue across four states. According to the study, the entry and expansion of Instacart into local markets acts as an economic complement to grocery store employment, bringing incremental business to the store while creating an e-commerce footprint for retailers. "Instacart is changing the way customers engage with grocery stores by creating a complementary online service that would be prohibitively expensive for traditional retailers to offer on their own. The result is increased grocery demand, which translates into higher grocery store employment and revenue. The data indicates that in 2019, "The Instacart Effect" was responsible for an increase of more than $620 million in revenue and over 23,000 jobs in the grocery sector in California, New York, Illinois, and Washington. These findings demonstrate that Instacart has played an important role in helping the grocery industry compete in a challenging economic environment," said Dr. Kulick. "It is often assumed that disruptive innovations necessarily displace traditional modes of commerce and employment. However, with Instacart the opposite is true. While Instacart is changing the way customers interact with grocery stores, it is an example of how innovation can benefit industries and their workers." Using rigorous statistical methods and analyzing data from California, Illinois, New York, and Washington, the study demonstrates a robust relationship between Instacart adoption in local markets and employment and revenue in the grocery industry. Key findings of the study include: Grocery Employment Increases When Instacart Enters a Market - When comparing retail grocery employment prior to and following Instacart's entry into a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), there is a direct connection between Instacart's entry and employment. On average, Instacart's entry is associated with a 4% increase in retail grocery employment in an MSA, as grocers add employees to support the increased business at their store. These roles are direct employees of grocery stores and include jobs such as cashiers, stocking associates, and deli counter clerks, among others. Instacart Creates Net Grocery Jobs - In 2019 specifically, Instacart's adoption was directly responsible for more than 23,000 jobs across MSAs in the four states studied. These are net retail grocery jobs that would not have existed had Instacart not entered and expanded in the market. Instacart Drives Significant Incremental Grocery Revenue - As online grocery grows, so does the revenue it drives across the grocery industry. Across MSAs, Instacart increased incremental grocery revenue by over $620 million in 2019 alone. "The Instacart Effect" is a National Phenomenon - The results indicate that the magnitude of "The Instacart Effect" is statistically equivalent for each state. Thus, the findings suggest that "The Instacart Effect" is a national phenomenon. At the state level, the study finds: In California , "The Instacart Effect" created over 11,500 additonal jobs and $337 million in incremental revenue. , "The Instacart Effect" created over 11,500 additonal jobs and in incremental revenue. In Illinois , "The Instacart Effect" created over 3,400 jobs and $75 million in incremental revenue. , "The Instacart Effect" created over 3,400 jobs and in incremental revenue. In New York , "The Instacart Effect" created over 6,600 jobs and $154 million in incremental revenue. , "The Instacart Effect" created over 6,600 jobs and in incremental revenue. In Washington , "The Instacart Effect" created over 1,900 jobs and $56 million in incremental revenue. "Investing in an online retail experience is critical to the success of grocers competing for consumer attention today. The technology and fulfillment needs are complex, and the cost is prohibitive for many. But, with Instacart's support, more than 75 California retailers across 3,500 stores are now online, offering delivery and pickup services that meet the growing needs of their customers," said Ron Fong, California Grocers Association President and CEO. "What Instacart is bringing to the state of California and the rest of the U.S. is a growth runway for brick and mortar grocers that deserve the opportunity to continue to serve their local communities for many generations to come." "Today in the U.S., grocery is almost a $1 trillion industry but it's only now going through its first big wave of tech innovation. Change in a business sector often comes at the detriment of incumbents, and we've seen this play out again and again across industries. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Since day one, our goal at Instacart has been to lift up our brick and mortar grocery partners and give retailers of all sizes an edge in an increasingly competitive industry," said Nilam Ganenthiran, President of Instacart. "While we've long seen in our own internal data that Instacart can incrementally boost retail partner sales between 50% to 80%, this study shows that when Instacart enters a market the tides turn and 'The Instacart Effect' drives meaningful job creation and increased revenue for the grocery industry." The retail grocery industry represents 17% of retail employment and 13% of retail sales. The study highlights the increased competition facing grocers, which has led to significant economic pressure on the industry. More grocery retailers are turning to delivery solutions like Instacart to compete and this data provides statistical evidence that the partnerships are helping with retailers' overall growth. Instacart today partners with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers to offer delivery from more than 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Instacart delivery is currently available to more than 85% of households in the U.S. and more than 70% of households in Canada. To read the full study, click here . Methodology The study, conducted by Dr. Robert Kulick of NERA Economic Consulting, applies a broad array of rigorous statistical methods using data from California, Illinois, New York, and Washington to evaluate whether Instacart increases grocery employment by creating incremental demand for the retail grocery industry and quantifies Instacart's effect on incremental grocery sales. The findings are based on the results of three distinct statistical models, with multiple statistical techniques applied to each model to rule out alternative explanations for the relationship. The evidence for a causal relationship is further supported by the application of seven falsification or "placebo" tests to the results of each model. About Dr. Robert Kulick Dr. Robert Kulick is an Associate Director at NERA Economic Consulting, specializing in the economic analysis of competition, regulatory, intellectual property, and labor and employment issues. Much of his work involves the use of econometric analysis to evaluate the effects of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, entry of new firms, and competition on labor market outcomes, including employment, wages, and productivity. Dr. Kulick holds a PhD in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a BA in economics with high honors from Princeton University. About NERA NERA Economic Consulting is a global firm of experts dedicated to applying economic, finance, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. For half a century, NERA's economists have been creating strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony, and policy recommendations for government authorities and the world's leading law firms and corporations. NERA serves clients from more than 25 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. About Instacart Instacart is a North American leader in online grocery and one of the fastest growing companies in e-commerce. Instacart's same-day delivery and pickup services bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada in as fast as an hour. Instacart has partnered with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix, Sam's Club, Sprouts, Walmart Canada, and Wegmans, among others, to deliver from more than 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart's delivery service is available to more than 85 percent of U.S. households and 70 percent of Canadian households. The company's cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the e-commerce platforms of some of the world's biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information or to start shopping, visit www.Instacart.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instacart-drives-job-creation-and-revenue-growth-for-grocery-industry-new-data-shows-301003464.html SOURCE Instacart [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Photo : Screenshot from: Apple Official Website) (Photo : Screenshot from: Apple Official Website) (Photo : Screenshot from: Apple Official Website) According to DigiTimes, Apple is rumored working on several upcoming products, including iPad, Apple Watch, iMac, and "AirPod Pro Lite," along with supply chain partners in Taiwan amid fallout from the new Coronavirus. Apple has faced a difficult situation with regards to production, which forced them to shut down all stores and offices in China. Read Also: Here Are The Top 2020 Tech Predictions for Tesla, Netflix, Apple and More What are AirPods? First released in 2016, Apple's Airpods skyrocketed as users quickly purchased the wireless earphones making it the company's best product yet. It has also been vastly known for its sleek design, simple controls, great battery life, and quick charging, easy connectivity to Apple devices, and wide range Bluetooth. Looking at the product, it is identical to the EarPods that Apple has been selling, but without the cables attached, which come with their own pocket-sized charging docks or cases. Difference between AirPods 2 and Airpods Pro Even though there is a huge gap on the price tags, which the AirPods 2 are on sale for $159 and the AirPods Pro for a whopping $250, there are quite some good and unique features on the latter which includes an all-new design, active noise-cancellation for Apple users to enjoy. The AirPods Pro now has noise-canceling features on these new wire-free earphones, which is very convenient for those who want to just get on with work or with their day without having to hear background noises on their listening device. When it comes to the battery life, the AirPods can go for as long as five hours of battery plus 19 more added by the charging case while the AirPods Pro can only go for 4.5 hours plus 19 more added by the charging case, but users are required to turn off noise canceling to get the maximum battery life on this device. As for its connectivity and controls, both tie in this category as there is not much of a difference when it comes to using and connecting this device. But as sound quality goes, the AirPods Pro packs a punch compared to the second-gen earphones, which has been sporting artificial bass and treble enhancements. AirPods 2 are richer, fuller, and clearer with or without the noise-canceling feature turn on. Read Also: Better Apple Airpods Alternatives on Amazon This 2020 Whether DigiTimes' claim about this is true or not, is pretty much unclear as they are also known for being unsuccessful in forecasting future products. Only time will tell if Apple is indeed working on developing new products with Taiwan while being in the middle of the virus outbreak. It is advised that avid Apple users out there should look out for the company's announcements regarding this matter while it is only to be rumored at the moment, but without a doubt, if there is some truth to this device being worked on, "AirPods Pro-Lite" could also be another reason for Apple to elevate their name more when it comes to technology development. Read Also: Apple Products That You Must First Buy Before iPhone 12 Release . 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ten people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College here last week, police said. IMAGE: Delhi Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal (in green sweater) addresses students during a protest, against the alleged molestation of students by a group of men who had gatecrashed a cultural festival, at Gargi College, in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo The accused are between 18 and 25 years of age, they added. Over 11 police teams were looking into the technical details available and also visiting various sites in NCR to identify the suspects and investigate the case, the police said. Many people are being questioned and multiple suspects have been identified, they added. According to the police, the accused persons were outside the college when the fest was underway. A senior police official said the accused are students of various colleges in Delhi and NCR areas. They gathered outside the gate of the college, vandalised a car and then broke in, he added. Police said the accused jumped over the barricades placed by the college security staff, outnumbered them and then misbehaved with the women students. Officials said the investigation was on and more people could be arrested. Students of Gargi College have been boycotting classes, demanding that the fact finding committee constituted following the incident show its findings. A case was registered on February 10 at the Hauz Khas police station under Indian Penal Code sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). A group of men had broken into the institute during the 'Riverie' fest on February 6 and allegedly groped, harassed and molested the attendees. The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their ordeal. Students and teachers also posted on other social media websites about the incident. Over 100 students held a protest on February 10 outside Gargi College. The students had alleged that Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police personnel were deployed close to the gate from where the men entered. "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Bishop Gadsden is one of the premier life plan communities in the industry and Ziegler is proud of its longstanding relationship with Bishop Gadsden, said Tad Melton, Managing Director, Ziegler. Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the successful closing of the Bishop Gadsdens $100,555,000 Series 2019A/B Bonds. Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community is a thriving life care retirement community on over 143 acres on James Island, just 10 minutes from downtown Charleston. Nationally recognized for its architectural design and high-quality programs and services, Bishop Gadsden offers residents the amenities, support, and freedom to live truly extraordinary lives. Founded in 1850, Bishop Gadsden is a not-for-profit, faith-based retirement community, affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Welcoming everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, Bishop Gadsden has more than 500 residents with 260 apartment and cottages residences, 69 assisted living, 19 memory care, and 50 skilled nursing residences, along with 400 employees that shape its vibrant character. The Series 2019A/B Bonds will finance capital improvements consisting of: A new 8 cottage Independent Living Pocket Neighborhood; A replacement health care facility featuring household neighborhoods that will include 64 long-term care beds, 32 rehabilitation beds and 32 memory care units; and The expansion/renovation of the existing assisted living facility to modernize the units and increase the total unit count to 80. Bishop Gadsden is one of the premier life plan communities in the industry and Ziegler is proud of its longstanding relationship with Bishop Gadsden, said Tad Melton, Managing Director, Ziegler. The projects funded with the Series 2019A/B financing will result in one of the most progressive, contemporary skilled nursing and assisted living environments in the United States. Bishop Gadsden is constantly raising the bar for the industry and we identified extraordinary demand from the bank and public market sectors for the opportunity to lend to and invest in Bishop Gadsdens debt. Said Sarah Tipton, CEO of Bishop Gadsden, Bishop Gadsden is enthusiastic about this expansion which will bring our signature excellence in healthcare and rehab to the greater community. We have long benefitted from Zieglers expertise and leadership in structuring financial solutions that enable our continued strategic growth. Bishop Gadsden values its partnership with the Ziegler team and their demonstrated commitment to our mission and future success. Ziegler is one of the nations leading underwriters of financing for not-for-profit senior living providers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its senior living clientele, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, seed capital, FHA/HUD, capital and strategic planning as well as senior living research, education, and communication. For further information on the structure and use of this issue, please see the Electronic Municipal Market Access systems Document Archive. For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com. About Ziegler: Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. We have a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales & trading and research. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com. Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees. # # # Warren lost badly in a state that neighbors her home in Massachusetts and failed to place in the top three even in the population-rich areas along the border. There were signs of more trouble ahead as an aide said her campaign was pulling back the rest of its reserved television ads in South Carolina. Those funds, along with other money, will be redirected to radio and print advertisements in the state, as well as television commercials in Nevada and Maine, the aide said. Nearly five years ago, the United Nations passed a resolution announcing the 11th of February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science as a way to recognize women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Here at the Star weve compiled a list of ten Canadian women pioneers, scientists and all around groundbreaking individuals in STEM that you dont want to sleep on. 1. Julie Payette Engineer, astronaut, Wonder Woman Payette, who is currently the governor general of Canada, is also a former astronaut, engineer, scientist and corporate director. Payette flew two rocket missions and spent a total of 25 days in space. She has served at both NASA and as a chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, according to her website. Payette obtained her Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from McGill University and a Master of Applied Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto. She worked as a system engineer with IBM Canada between getting her degrees and was a visiting scientist at the IBM Research Laboratory in Zurich, Switzerland after completing both. Payette can also converse in six languages, play the piano and has sung with four musical groups. 2. Joanne Liu Physician, professor, president Liu is a pediatric emergency physician at Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal, seeing 25 to 50 patients a shift as well as an associate professor at the University of Montreal. But if that wasnt enough to blow you away, Liu is now going on 24 years with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), a French-based non-for-profit. The Star previously reported that since her first field mission, Liu has been on more than 20 assignments to 16 countries. She has worked in Somali refugee camps in Kenya, created a program to treat rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo, treated tsunami survivors in Indonesia in 2004, and helped devastated earthquake and cholera victims in Haiti. In 2013, Liu was elected the president of MSF. 3. Ursula Franklin Scientist, activist, metal-bender Franklin was a German-Canadian metallurgist, physicist and Holocaust survivor. Over the course of her lifetime, Franklin accumulated honours including the Order of Canada in 1982 and the Pearson Peace Medal in 2002. In 1967, she became the first female professor to join the University of Torontos department of metallurgy and material sciences. In 1984 she became the first woman named a University Professor at U of T, the institutions highest honour. She retired in 1989 but continued to fight for equality. In 2001 she and three other retired professors launched a class action against U of T alleging the institution had paid women less than men for decades. The settlement led to about 60 retired female faculty members receiving compensation. Franklin died in 2016 at the age of 94 in Toronto. 4. Roberta Bondar Neurologist, astronaut, photographer Bondar was the second-ever Canadian to travel to space after Marc Garneau, and the first Canadian woman and neurologist in space. She later became head of an international space medicine team working with NASA to study how human physiology changes in space flight and during recovery. Her team published a number of papers over the next 10 years, and discovered how their research could be applied to illnesses here on Earth. She was chancellor at Trent University for six years and started an educational foundation in her name. In her spare time, Bondar is also a renowned photographer. 5. Saadia Muzaffar Activist, author, tech entrepreneur In 2012, Muzaffar founded TechGirls Canada, a hub for Canadian women in science, technology, engineering, and math. She also co-founded Tech Reset Canada, a group of business people, technologists, and other residents advocating for public-service innovation. In 2017, she was featured in Canada 150 Women, a book about 150 of the most influential and groundbreaking women in Canada. In 2018, Muzaffar became the second member to resign from an advisory panel, formed to assist Waterfront Toronto with how best to deal with data privacy issues, digital systems, as well as ethical and safety issues around the use of technology in its Sidewalk Toronto plan. 6. Donna Strickland Nobel Prize winner, physicist, professor Strickland is the third woman to win a Nobel Prize for physics, the second Canadian woman to win one at all. The prize was for developing the chirped pulse amplification technique, described by the academy as generating high-intensity, ultrashort optical pulses. The technique now has broad applications, including use in corrective laser eye surgery. Strickland is a professor at the University of Waterloo and in 2018 was listed as one of BBCs 100 Women. In a previous interview with the Star, Strickland reflected on her position as a female scientist being the first to win the prize in 55 years. She said she cited Goeppert-Mayer in her thesis and reflected that the scientist who won the prize decades ago was not paid for most of her work. 7. Elizabeth Bagshaw Pioneer, phyisician, rebel with a cause In 1901 Bagshaw enrolled in the Women's Medical College in Toronto, formally known as the Ontario Medical College for Women. As the College did not have the power to grant degrees, she was also registered as an "occasional student" at the University of Toronto, enabling her to obtain her degree from that university. According to the Canadian Library and Archives, she later moved to Hamilton to become a full-time obstetrician. From 1932 until 1966, Bagshaw spent Friday afternoons as the medical director of Canada's first and illegal birth control clinic. The clinic became legal in 1969 and has been supported by government grants. She retired at the age of 95 and died at the age of 100 in 1982. 8. Tamar Huggins Author, educator, tech trailblazer A social entrepreneur, according to her website, Huggins has helped Black and female tech founders raise over 1.1 million dollars to launch their tech startups in Canada. In 2015, Tamar launched Tech Spark Canadas first technology and design school committed to empowering girls and children of colour through innovative tech education when she realized the importance for young girls and children of colour to see positive reflections of themselves within the tech industry. In 2017, Tamar was honoured as one of Canadas top 150 Black women creating impact across the nation by CBC and Herstory In Black. Tech Spark educated over 1,500 youth in under two years and is on track to educate 70,000 youth by 2022, according to her website. 9. Eugenia Duodu Chemist, advocate, tech CEO Duodu is a chemist and the CEO of Visions of Science Network for Learning (VoSNL), a charitable organization aiming to advance the development of youth from low-income and marginalized communities through meaningful engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and research.VoSNL works with Toronto Community Housing (TCH) and Peel Housing Corporation in 24 locations across Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton, serving more than 500 youth from Grades 3 to 12. In a previous interview with the Star she said, I have this deep sense of purpose to uplift and empower those around me, especially youth. I want my legacy to be the lives impacted/changed as a result of my presence and work. Duodu is the recipient of the Harry Jerome CIBC Academics Award by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) as well as the Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award. 10. Ann Cavoukian Data scientist, former Privacy and Info Commissioner, Game changer Cavoukian is the former Privacy and Information Commissioner of Ontario and was the first commissioner to be appointed for a third term. She created the concept of Privacy by Design, which takes privacy into account throughout processes centering the protection of personal, medical and financial data. In October 2010, regulators at the International Conference of Data Protection Authorities and Privacy Commissioners unanimously passed a Resolution recognizing Privacy by Design as an essential component of fundamental privacy protection. Cavoukian is currently leading the Privacy by Design Centre of Excellence and is also a Senior Fellow of the Ted Rogers Leadership Centre at Ryerson University. Correction - Feb. 12, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly referred to Ann Cavoukian as the former Privacy and Information Commissioner of Canada. As well, the previous version mistakenly said Julie Payetteobtained her BEng at University of Toronto. In, fact, she obtained it from McGill University. Canadian SMEs that wish to have smoother operations, increased productivity, and decreased risks need to set aside time to begin IT strategic planning meetings. Organizations across Canada can more readily support customers, offer competitive pricing and services, and recover quickly from any type of technological or natural disaster when they employ optimal IT strategic planning. Canada SMEs must recognize that IT strategic planning is a detailed outline and not just a simple plan. The approaches your IT strategy will employ to protect IT infrastructure must be clearly spelled out. Without appropriate IT strategic planning, your IT infrastructure will not be fully optimized to support your business goals. The more effort that is utilized to create an IT strategy will help you anticipate and proactively meet the ever-changing needs of your business. Its no secret that most Candian SMEs in any given industry heavily rely on their IT infrastructure and cloud-based apps to conduct their day-to-day business, states award-winning Microsoft partner in Calgary, Carl Fransen of CTECH Consulting Group. Since more departments are inter-linked through IT protocols allow accounting, scheduling, payroll, logistics, and others to easily access information. Systems are united and communicating together more than ever before, which increases Canadian SMEs efficiency and decreases costs. When it comes to IT strategic planning, your company must have a plan that is a solid backbone and also flexible enough to react at a moments notice. Technology is not stagnant, and cybercriminals certainly are not either. When you develop your IT strategic planning process. Your IT consultants should consider the following factors: Market Condition Proprietary Technology Performance Indicators Areas That Need improvement Satisfaction Levels Employee Resources & Training Staff Support Needs Industry Compliance Requirements Budgets & ROI Current Infrastructure This is in no way a comprehensive list of factors that should be considered. However, it is a good starting spot that can help you and your IT consultants begin creating an IT strategic plan that works for your organization. Benefits for Canadian SMEs that Implement IT Strategic Planning Organizations that take the time to appropriately plan the IT strategy will find they rarely have to play catch up, unlike companies that wait until it is too late to start planning. The more proactive Canadian SMEs are in regards to planning for their future IT needs, the more benefits they can achieve. Consider how organizations using Windows 7 handled their lifecycle management. Some took the news that Windows 7 support would end in January 2020 poorly because they had not planned for the eventuality that they would need to upgrade their systems and train their employees. Other organization decided to make the switch to Windows 10 sooner than later in order to have ample time to upgrade their infrastructure. Rather than scrambling, organizations that had an effective IT strategy in place utilized the remaining support time to ensure their current processes were switched over. Proactive IT strategy planning provides a host of other benefits such as: Increased Efficiency Higher Profits Fewer Cyber Crime Risks Improved Continuity Better Alignment of IT and Business Goals Ability to Plan for Future IT Needs Regulatory Compliance Met Reduced Downtown Minimal Operations Disruption Canadian SMEs that wish to have smoother operations and decreased risks need to set aside time to begin IT strategic planning meetings. Those who already have an IT strategy in place should revisit their plan to ensure what is outlined continues to meet the technological needs of the organization. A former McDonald's worker whose life was transformed when a modelling firm reached out to her through her direct messages has spoken about her journey in a bid to inspire others. Just over a year ago Tanya, 23, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, worked as a McDonald's Crew Member in The Galleries, on a salary of around 7 per hour. However after she was scouted by the agency J'adore Models and signed immediately after a meeting she is now jet-setting across the world earning a few thousand pounds per week. The young model now travels between Dubai, Germany, London and Manchester working for different model agencies and posing for well-known brands including Superdrug, Public Desire and Beauty Bay. Tanya (pictured during a photoshoot in London), 23, worked as a McDonald's Crew Member in The Galleries, Washington, Tyne and Wear, before she was scouted by a modelling firm Tanya (pictured in Dubai) now flies across the world after she was contacted by the modeling firm J'adore Models through her direct messages The young model worked at the fast food chain on a salary of around 7 per hour before she was signed to the modelling agency While at McDonald's, Tanya would post photos on Instagram of her holidays and close ups of her face without any filters. J'adore Models, a Manchester based agency, then reached out to her in her direct messages and after a meeting, they signed her immediately. Now, Tanya is also signed to MGM Models in Germany and W Model Management in London and hopes her story will help to inspire others to never give up on their dreams. She said: 'It completely took me by surprise. It's like I'm living in a dream. It's a totally different life to what I was living. Tanya said the offer to take up modelling as a professional career came as a surprise to her Tanya (pictured left at a shopping centre in Newcastle upon Tyne and right at the Zero Gravity Beach Club in Dubai) is also signed to MGM Models in Germany and W Model Management in London The 23-year-old Tanya (left and right) said she hoped her story would help show that 'dreams can happen' and that it did not matter where you are from Tanya did not think she would be where she now is and said she was finding life much better now 'I want to let everyone know that anyone can do this. Dreams can happen. I didn't think any of this would ever happen but it did. 'Don't think that you're not going to get what you really want in life. It can come to you when you don't expect it to. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you do. 'I'm finding life so much better now. It's so fun meeting new people. I'm so much more confident now. The model (pictured at the Jumeirah Al Qasr in Dubai) now flies across the world for her job The 23-year-old would post photos of herself on Instagram before she was scouted by the modelling agency Tanya (during photoshoot in London) said she previously thoughts she could never be a model but after achieving the success she has now feels better in herself 'When I was a kid, I always looked up to the likes of Kate Moss but thought I was ugly and that I could never be a model. 'I feel so much better in myself now. You really never know how other people view you.' Tanya continues to share photos on Instagram at @tanyaslasagne and has begun sharing advice about modelling on her YouTube channel with the same name. Old York Cellars winery in Ringoes was well established when owner David Wolin went looking for a place to set up a tasting room at Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrence. The available space, located near the popular Cheesecake Factory, had room for a kitchen, prompting the owner to open a restaurant as well. The tasting portion of Old York Cellars Tasting Room and Kitchen opened early last year, with the restaurant debuting in June. The menu is Spanish-inspired cuisine crafted by chef-partner Jose Diaz, an experienced chef who trained in Spain with renowned chef Ferran Adria at the internationally known restaurant el Bulli. The dishes have been designed to accompany or incorporate Old York Cellars wide selection of wines. The setting is casual at Old York Cellars, where some customers stop in to take advantage of happy hour when wine flights are $5 instead of the regular $10 for a day membership. Flights when we visited were a choice of three whites, three reds or three dessert wines. We tried all three trios and found favorites among the nine wines including the Chardonnay, Vidal blanc, Beaujersey (a local version of Beaujolais) and blackberry. We visited in January, so many of the vineyards award-winning wines had sold out during the holidays, but we were happy with our selections. To start our meal and accompany our wines, we opted for the cheese platter, $20, which was ample to share. Portions of manchego, gouda and murcia cheeses, plus marcona almonds, olives and pan con tomate (tomato bread) filled the plate, topped with a drizzle of excellent olive oil. The chef showed his skill with seasonings with the pan con tomate, which was pleasantly flavorful despite the use of pale winter tomatoes. We were happy with our entrees; the grilled octopus, $18, and trio of grilled lamb chops were tender and excellent, as was the pork tenderloin in the Spanish sandwich, $15. Accompanying the entrees were side dishes of al dente vegetables summer squash and broccoli and patatas bravas, which are spicy Spanish potatoes. At least one entree was accompanied by simpler cubed potatoes, which were not as tasty as the patatas bravas. For dessert we shared an order of flan, $8, which was unlike any we had tasted. Lightly sweetened and airy, it was reminiscent of an old-fashioned egg custard. Coffee would have been a nice accompaniment so we were disappointed that the servers couldnt figure out how to operate the cappuccino machine. Hopefully that has been rectified. From the mall entrance the wine sales dominate the entranceway, but if you go deeper inside you will find the casual dining area where the sometimes exquisite dishes are served. This restaurant is worth a visit if you like Spanish cuisine; our servers warned that it is quite busy on weekends, including during the popular Sunday brunch. Old York Cellars also has a Bridgewater Commons satellite location. OLD YORK CELLARS TASTING ROOM & KITCHEN This earnings season has been anything but kind to integrated oil and gas companies like Equinor (NYSE:EQNR). The company served up humdrum earnings on Feb. 6, only to have Wall Street turn up its nose, sending shares down 4%. Things are tough all over in the oil and gas industry, so the market's reaction isn't all that surprising. However, there were some bright spots in the otherwise gloomy numbers. Here's what investors need to know. By the numbers Metric Q4 2019 Q3 2019 Q4 2018 Change (YOY) Revenue $15.2 billion $15.6 billion $22.4 billion (32.1%) Net income (loss) ($230 million) ($1.1 billion) $3.4 billion N/A Adjusted net income $1.2 billion $1.1 billion $1.5 billion (20%) Earnings (loss) per share ($0.07) ($0.33) $1.01 N/A Operating cash flow $1.8 billion $4.2 billion $4.2 billion (57.1%) Production 2.20 million BOE/D 1.91 million BOE/D 2.17 million BOE/D 1.3% Like most of its counterparts across the globe, Equinor saw a drop in revenue due to lower commodity prices during the quarter. Equinor's year-over-year 32.1% revenue plunge, though, was particularly steep relative to its peers. That's especially true considering the company's production increased slightly. However, Equinor had a very strong Q4 2018 in terms of both production and realized oil and gas prices, so this can be chalked up to a "tough comp." Unsurprisingly, given the large revenue decrease, net income and earnings per share also tumbled. Adjusted net income strips out impairments resulting from higher-than-expected costs for ramp-up of new fields, drilling, and field development, as well as costs associated with an increase in proven reserves and changes in foreign exchange rates. The decline in operating cash flow is particularly concerning, as Equinor's cash on hand is also near the low end of its 10-year historic range: Highlights from the quarter The biggest news from the quarter was the start-up of production at the Johan Sverdrup deepwater field in the North Sea in October. Equinor boasts that the project was "ahead of schedule and more than 30% below the original cost estimate." Management expects the project to pay for itself by the end of 2020, a speedy turnaround. In October, Equinor made a final investment decision for the Hywind Tampen offshore wind farm development in Norway. The project will provide the five Snorre and Gullfaks offshore oil platforms with power, making them the first oil platforms in the world to be powered by a floating offshore wind farm. The wind farm will consist of 11 wind turbines with a total capacity of 88 MW, and is expected to provide 35% of the annual power demand of the platforms. Earlier in the year, the company announced a contract to develop an offshore wind farm in the U.S. Equinor's board plans to increase the quarterly dividend by 4% to $0.27 per share. The company is also in the middle of a $5 billion share buyback program that is expected to continue through 2022, with a $225 million tranche of buybacks expected in mid-2020 ($675 million when shares owned by the Norwegian government are included). What management had to say In a statement, CEO Eldar Saetre argued that the results were actually "solid": Record high production, reduced costs and continued strong capital discipline contributed to solid results in a quarter with lower commodity prices. For the year we delivered competitive returns and strong growth in capital distribution. Going forward, we expect to grow production, returns and cash flow from a world-class project portfolio, representing 6 billion barrels to Equinor with an average break-even oil price below 35 dollars per barrel. The board proposes an increase in the quarterly dividend of 4% and the launch of the second tranche of our $5 billion share buy-back programme, based on an even distribution for the rest of the period. What's next for Equinor For 2020, Equinor expects to deliver around 7% production growth, but long-term growth will be slower: about 3%, on average, from 2019 to 2026. Management projects average annual organic capital expenditures of $10 billion to $11 billion in 2020 and 2021, and about $12 billion in 2022 and 2023. That would represent a 20% increase over 2019's full-year organic capex of $10 billion. Equinor believes it will have the capacity to generate about $30 billion in after-tax organic cash flow from 2020 to 2023, achieving a 15% return on average capital employed, assuming oil prices of $65 per barrel (a big assumption; see below for more). The company has announced a goal of achieving carbon-neutral global operations by 2030, and reducing the net carbon intensity, from initial production to final consumption, of energy it produces by at least 50% by 2050. As part of this effort, it plans to aggressively develop its wind portfolio. Par for the course You can hardly blame Equinor for posting lackluster results when all of its big oil peers were doing the same, and for the same reasons. When oil, gas, and petrochemical prices are all down and refining margins are low, there's simply nowhere for an energy company to hide. Unfortunately for Equinor and its peers, oil prices have now fallen below their fourth-quarter lows, which means Q1 2020 isn't shaping up to be any better than Q4 2019. Most investors will probably want to wait until the industry shows signs of stabilization before jumping in. And as attractive as a 5.8% yield is, even dividend investors may be concerned about Equinor's negative cash flow and comparatively low cash reserves and choose to look elsewhere in the sector. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 20:18 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206427724 1 National anti-corruption,novel-baswedan,KPK,Corruption-Eradication-Comission,corruption-eradication,Mahathir-Mohamad,Malaysia Free A Malaysia-based foundation called the Perdana International Anti-Corruption Champion Fund (PIACCF) has bestowed an award on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan. The award ceremony on Tuesday evening also marked the launch of the new foundation, which sees itself as a support system for anticorruption officials who are intimidated, criminalized or threatened in carrying out their duties. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad presented the accolade to Novel and to the late Malaysian deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais who was represented by his brother Richard for their contributions to fighting corruption. Morais was abducted and murdered in 2015 while investigating a corruption case. Meanwhile, Novel had acid thrown into his face by two attackers in 2017, severely injuring his eyes. I want to say thank you for the attention, support and award given by this international foundation, Novel said after receiving the award, as quoted by news agency Anatara. Just now we talked about the threats and risks that people who fight to eradicate corruption face. But when the world pays attention, it is no longer just the domain of each country, which I hope can provide new strength for everyone who chooses to fight corruption, Novel said. KPK workers union head Yudi Purnomo Harahap said the KPK was proud of the award Novel had received. [Eradicating corruption] is very risky, because fighting against corrupt officials is not an easy struggle. Those who commit graft often have a lot of money, connections, power and authority, Yudi said. Novel has dedicated the award to everyone involved in eradicating corruption in Indonesia. (hol) Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, banning unlawful assembly of people, has been imposed in North Goa district following intelligence inputs about possible terror threat along the western coast. North Goa District Magistrate R Menaka, in a notification issued on Monday, said the order imposing CrPC Section 144 will be in effect for 60 days, from February 11 to April 10, unless withdrawn earlier. The notification said Section 144 has been imposed in view of the prevailing situation in the country, and intelligence inputs regarding possible terror threats along the western coast of India and the possibility of anti-social elements committing crime in Goa or elsewhere. "It is absolutely necessary to take speedy measures to prevent danger to human life, and thwart and prevent any type of terrorist activities which may affect the security of the state and create disturbance of public order and tranquility," Menaka said. The district magistrate has ordered that the owners of houses, buildings, hotels, lodgings, private guest houses, and paying guest accommodations of religious bodies strictly verify the antecedents of all persons before letting out their premises on lease or rent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A file photo of a DNA kit used for investigating rapes, shown during a press conference at La Rochelle tribunal in France, on April 14, 2014. (Xavier Leoty/AFP via Getty Images) OC Approves Funds to Clear Its Rape Kit Backlog LOS ANGELESOrange County supervisors approved a grant on Feb. 11 to help clear a 30-year backlog of sexual assault kits. DNA testing from these kits can help prosecute rapists, providing closure for some victims who have been waiting decades, said District Attorney Todd Spitzer and Supervisor Don Wagner, who have jointly made the commitment to clear the backlog. Backlogs in processing rape kits have been an issue across the country, with the non-profit End the Backlog estimating hundreds of thousands of kits sit untested in police facilities. Other California counties have also started to address the issue. Santa Clara County in the north announced Feb. 11 that it had completed its efforts to clear its backlog of about 270 cases. Santa Claras Board of Supervisors approved funding for the efforts in 2018. Orange County has about 1,500 kits to test. The grant of approximately $600,000 the Board of Supervisors recently approved supplements a federal grant the county received last year. The effort is estimated to cost more than $1 million. Wagner anticipates that kit testing will result in prosecutions, and thus provide closure to many victims. It certainly is my hope that we will be able to identify some cases that can still be prosecuted, he told The Epoch Times. You go back 30 years, some of these people obviously are dead, theyve moved away, they may be in jail on other charges somewhere else. So thats the closure aspect of it. I would anticipate that coming out of the closure of this backlog, there will be some cases. Donald P. Wagner, a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors who is working with District Attorney Todd Spitzer to address the countys backlog of sexual assault kits. (Courtesy of Donald P. Wagner) Wagner said that the kits ended up getting concentrated in the sheriffs and the DAs offices due to a lack of funding for the forensics labs. They ended up with an inundation of these kits. So it just sort of aggregated over time and there was never really the funding and/or the political will to deal with the backlog, he said. Spitzer became district attorney about a year ago, and he said in a statement released Jan. 20 that clearing the backlog has been a prime concern for him since the get-go. I have doubled down on that commitment, Spitzer said. The District Attorneys Office is fully invested in getting these untested kits tested to provide these victims justice and a safer Orange County. In 2017, the Board approved funds to hire more forensic scientists, but the funds were not enough to clear the backlog. In September 2019, the state passed a law that all rape kits must be tested within 120 days. Wagner said that its important to know that current cases are being tested in a timely manner. Wagner emphasized the necessity of knowing the proper protocol if you experience a sexual assault. If youre a victim of a crime today, hard as is it, dont shower, dont bathe, get to a hospital, get tested and give us the opportunity to timely deal with the crime, he said. Immediately seek help because it will be prioritized. That is the most important thing right nowmaking sure that the current crimes are investigated and prosecuted. S.S. Rajamouli's Bahubali 2 Records Shattered By His Own, Film Earns Rs. 400 Crores Even Before Release STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, a lifelong Staten Islander who is a prosecutor in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sex-abuse trial, called the walker of the alleged rapist a prop during a courtroom exchange Tuesday, according to a Page Six report. At times Mr. Weinstein has walked up this aisle without the walker,'' Assistant District Attorney Illuzzi-Orbon reportedly said to the judge. "The walker has been there as a prop. The statement drew a quick retort from Weinsteins defense lawyer, the report said. It is not a prop -- enough!, Weinsteins attorney Damon Cheronis reportedly said. The exchange came after the defense argued that the prosecution should be barred from discussing its clients physical condition during closing arguments, PageSix reported. Weinstein denied the walker was a prop on Tuesday, Deadline reported, sarcastically telling reporters, Ill Have A Race With You." Weinstein, 67, has been seen using a walker to leave and enter the courthouse on other occasions, he has been partially carried by individuals to and from the courtroom. Illuzzi-Orbon, the former Midland Beach resident, is no stranger to the spotlight. Before being appointed as lead prosecutor of Weinsteins case, she handled multiple high-profile cases, including a 2007 weapons trial against rappers Ja Rule and Lil Wayne, and while working as senior trial counsel in the Manhattan D.A.'s office she also prosecuted the case in the kidnapping and killing of 6-year-old Etan Patz. Weinstein is facing life in prison on rape and predatory sexual assault charges. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin later this week. Coronavirus outbreak adding to tensions in a city where trust in government has evaporated and China has few friends. Hong Kong, China Minnie Li has thrown herself into Hong Kongs protest movement for the past few years, even joining a hunger strike last summer. But these days the Shanghai native and university lecturer is greeted with flyers warning that mainland Chinese like her are not welcome all in the name of shielding residents from potential coronavirus carriers from the mainland. I dont feel hurt, said Li. I see this as the cross-infection of politics in the current outbreak. The coronavirus that emerged in central China in late December 2019 has ravaged the mainland, killing more than 1,100 people and infecting 45,000 others. Since Hong Kong confirmed its first case on January 22, there have been 49 reported cases and one death in the semi-autonomous territory. The outbreak in Hong Kong comes right on the heels of seven months of anti-government protests, triggered in June last year by a now-abandoned extradition bill that would have allowed suspects to be sent for trial on the mainland. The scale of the protests revealed increasing concern that Hong Kongs freedoms guaranteed under the one country, two systems framework governing the territorys transition from British to Chinese rule in 1997 was being undermined; a view only reinforced by the Hong Kong governments slow response to public anger over the extradition bill and its reliance on the police to address the unrest. That outrage has increased since the new viral outbreak, with Hong Kong residents complaining about officials failure to prepare for a protracted epidemic and ensure adequate medical supplies. Last week, public hospital employees went on strike to try and force the authorities to close all border crossings with the mainland. Staff from Hong Kongs Hospital Authority went on strike this month to demand the government close all borders with the mainland to contain the coronavirus [Jerome Favre/EPA] Some observers say the coronavirus outbreak has opened a new front in the campaign against perceived interference from the mainland in Hong Kongs internal affairs. The outbreak comes just when protesters have increasingly turned from mass mobilisation to everyday resistance, said Edmund Cheng, a political scientist at City University of Hong Kong who specialises in social movements. They condemn the government as failing to protect the publics wellbeing so they see fit to take it upon themselves to act. Renewed anxieties Despite the protesters clamouring to completely seal the border, two crossings remain open, although visitors from the mainland are now required to go into a 14-day quarantine. The pressure to close the borders reflects not only fear about a new and unknown infection but is also rooted in the long-simmering tensions between the people of Hong Kong and mainland Chinese after tourism and migration from the mainland boomed in the wake of the 1997 handover. In the summer of 2003, a few months after the SARS epidemic had battered Hong Kongs economy, Beijing relaxed visa restrictions, enabling hundreds of millions of Chinese tourists to visit and help the territory recover. Under the one country, two systems framework, Hong Kong maintains border controls, but Beijing handles visa issuance. The visa scheme soon mushroomed to cover 49 mainland cities, bringing in 51 million tourists in 2018, accounting for four in every five visitors to Hong Kong. By 2018, the city, which has a population of 7.5 million, had a higher visitor-to-resident ratio than even New York City, according to the Peterson Institute in Washington, DC. The tourism boom contributed between 2 and 4 percent of the citys GDP but sowed anger and frustration in a densely populated city proud of its Cantonese language and identity. Mainland visitors mostly speak Mandarin Chinese. The visitors were attacked as locusts infamously in a 2012 newspaper advertisement and blamed for adding to overcrowding and other social ills. Hong Kongers came to resent parallel traders from mainland China who took advantage of multiple-entry visas to buy products in Hong Kong to sell at a profit back home [File: Bobby Yip/Reuters] Over the years, scandals over food safety on the mainland, including contaminated baby formula, milk and pork, fuelled a cottage industry of parallel trading, with people just across the border in Shenzhen taking advantage of a multiple-entry visa policy to buy supplies in Hong Kong and sell them on the mainland for a profit. Tensions flared as residents in Hong Kongs border neighbourhoods blamed the mainland shoppers for pushing up the price of basic necessities. By 2015, when the Chinese government put a brake on the expanding visa scheme and limited visits by Shenzhen residents, the issue had become fodder for nativists vowing to defend Hong Kong. [For the people of Hong Kong], our governments lack of autonomy is no longer simply a political problem but now also a public health issue, said Lee Siu Yau, who studies immigration policy and identity at Education University of Hong Kong. You can draw a straight line from the immigration issue to the current furore over keeping open some of the border crossings. Virus does not discriminate These days, as discussions of ballooning infections and mounting casualties on the mainland dominate the online forums where protesters used to strategise, there was little mention of the mainland Chinese who have played a significant role in Hong Kongs protest movement. Wuhan-born Edward Leung, the founder of a nativist political party currently serving six years behind bars, coined the protest slogan: Retake Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times, that has come to define the movement. Leung left his native Wuhan as a baby with his family a few years after the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. Since the handover, there has been increasing friction between Hong Kong people and mainland Chinese [Kin Cheung/AP Photo Another student leader, Nathan Law who was invited to represent Hong Kongs protesters at US President Donald Trumps State of the Union address in Washington, DC was born in Shenzhen. By some estimates, some 1 to 1.5 million Hong Kong residents are recent migrants from the mainland. In all, about 40 percent of the territorys population was born elsewhere, overwhelmingly in mainland China. With the coronavirus outbreak adding to the sense that the mainland is the source of Hong Kongs woes, some in the territory see Chinas Communist Party and the Chinese people as one and the same and accuse all mainland Chinese of being complicit in opposing the Hong Kong protesters. That includes the whistle-blower doctor who died last week from the infection. When news of his death filtered out late on Thursday night, words of mourning were soon drowned out by cynical remarks and outright condemnation of the deceased doctor. To make their case, some social media users dug out the doctors postings in support of the Hong Kong police, a force painted as the enemy by protesters. But when Li, the lecturer, called out the discrimination and pointed out how ineffective and misguided it would be as a protective measure, she said she was attacked in a barrage of nasty comments on Facebook. It seems in order to maintain the momentum of the movement it now has to be fuelled by hatred and xenophobia, said Li. Thats a real shame. In two months, the offensive against Idlib has generated around 700,000 new IDPs. One of the Churchs main missions is to deal with the humanitarian crisis. Some 30,000 people, mostly Muslims, have benefitted from its Open Hospitals project in the past three years. Its task is to heal bodies and help rebuild society. Damascus (AsiaNews) A humanitarian catastrophe" is still a real possibility in Syria, given the latest reports from the United Nations, which show that over the past two months, the offensive against Idlib has already generated about 700,000 new internally displaced persons. Such an "impressive" number comes on top of the other millions" who became refugees in the past few years, this according to Mgr Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Damascus. Speaking to AsiaNews, the cardinal noted that the countrys situation remains critical and the Church is increasingly acting like a field hospital". At present, the main problems are in north-western Syria, where the regular army has been involved in a massive offensive in the Idlib region, the last stronghold still in the hands of jihadi groups and Turkey-backed rebel forces. Since December, 689,000 people have been displaced, a figure bound to rise in the coming weeks in the event of an escalation, as David Swanson, spokesman for the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) points out. In his recent dual appeal, Pope Francis could not hide his pain for the the plight of so many women and children, as well as people forced to flee because of the military escalation. On this occasion, the pontiff again urged the international community and [. . .] all the actors involved to use diplomatic channels, talks and negotiations, in accordance with international humanitarian law, to safeguard the lives and welfare of civilians. Pope Francis, explains Card Zenari, is referring to the situation in Syria using two images: The Church as going forth and the Church as a field hospital. In fact, one of its main missions is humanitarian outreach, thanks also to the help from Christians all over the world and from various Catholic institutions. The cardinal reminds us that the poor, the sick and the hungry are knocking on our doors. The latest IDPs join 13 million people affected by the war. These people need humanitarian assistance, food and medicines. More than half of Syrias population are in need. In this context, the Church is smaller in number but very much involved. We are in the front line to meet basic needs, bring medicines, help against the cold. Here the temperatures are below zero and the distress is great; the cold compounds the hunger. To meet the huge demands, the Syrian Church with the help of the Holy See and Pope Francis himself launched the Open Hospitals project three years ago with two medical facilities in Damascus and one in Aleppo. These hospitals, said Card Zenari, started their activity 120 years ago" and today are among the few functioning medical facilities. "At the end of 2018, the World Health Organisation estimated that only 44 per cent of Syrias hospitals were still in operation; the rest were either shuttered because of war damage or operating at a minimum. A year later, the figures are even worse. The assistance offered by the three Catholic hospitals is essential in a country where "eight out of 10 people live below the poverty line". Last December, more than 30,000 patients were treated but the goal is to treat 50,000, the poor of any ethnicity or religion. Since Christians are but 2 per cent of the population, most patients are Muslims. The work has two goals, heal bodies and send people home and heal society. It is also rewarding for the nuns working in the hospitals. Several times our Muslim friends say it is touching to see Christians care for children and seniors. We try to heal the body and rebuild social ties; as a result, respect for Christians is growing. Regrettably, the situation in Syria is not improving, the cardinal said. We shall have to continue our efforts and deal with the health emergency. For this reason, the help and solidarity of the Churches and Catholics around the world is important; above all, it is crucial to keep our eyes on Syria and not let the curtain fall" on the tragedy "that is taking place. The worse way of being killed is by silence and indifference. Thirty-nine Vietnamese people found dead inside a refrigerated trailer in Essex, north-east of London, last October, died of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) and hyperthermia (overheating) in an enclosed space, British police said on February 11. Thirty-nine Vietnamese people were found dead inside a refrigerated trailer in Essex, north-east of London, last October. (Photo: xinhua/VNA) British police revealed the provisional autopsy results while they are pushing ahead with investigation and identification of suspects. Our teams are continuing to progress hundreds of lines of enquiry and are working with the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies from across the globe to further their lengthy and complex investigation, Essex county police said in a statement. Gheorghe Nica of Basildon in eastern England, was detained in Germanys Frankfurt airport on January 29. At a trial in Chelmsford, the UK, on February 1, the 43-year-old was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. A second man, who is 22, was arrested in Northern Ireland on February 2 on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating unlawful immigration. He remains in police custody in southeast England but has not been charged or named yet. Another suspect from Northern Ireland, Eamonn Harrison, 23, is being held in Ireland on charges of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. He has a Dublin High Court hearing scheduled for February 12. Prosecutors allege that Harrison drove the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, where it was put on a ferry to England and picked up at the other end by Maurice Robinson Robinson, who also is from Northern Ireland and has been charged with manslaughter. Harrisons lawyers have argued that the UK should not be able to seek his extradition from Ireland because the alleged offenses took place in Belgium./. VNA Essex lorry incident: Bodies, ashes of remaining 23 victims brought home The bodies and ashes of the remaining 23 victims in the Essex lorry incident arrived at Noi Bai international airport, Hanoi on November 30. Not everybody knows that the second-largest canyon in the U.S. can be found here in Texas. Even fewer people know that one of the best places to take in Palo Duro Canyon is in one of the secluded cabins operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dubbed "the Grand Canyon of Texas," Palo Duro Canyon State Park lies in the heart of the Panhandle, about 30 miles southeast of Amarillo. The canyon is known for its rugged beauty and colorful history. ALSO READ: $30M still needed to make Palo Pinto, North Texas' first state park in over 20 years, a reality You can explore the canyon by foot, mountain bike, horse or car. The state park also offers more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. With so many things to do, you need to spend a few days there to enjoy it all. You can rough it, pitching camp at one of its numerous sites. Or you can opt for a few creature comforts that make you feel at home, without losing the touch of the great outdoors. Three beautiful brick cabins, all built nearly 100 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps, are located at various spots along the canyon rim. All three feature stairs leading down to the cabins with a beautiful view. A wooden privacy fence encloses them on three sides. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Get to know the 'Grand Canyon' of Texas, the Palo Duro Canyon Each cabin sleeps four and rents for $110 a night, with a two-night minimum required on weekends and holidays. Do not come expecting a four-star hotel. No pets, smoking or cooking (except microwaves) are allowed inside the cabin. No fires are allowed in the fireplace if a burn ban is in effect. Each unit contains: A/C unit Heater Picnic table Outdoor grill No tents allowed Microwave Bathroom Sink Toilet Shower Two fireplaces One queen size bed Two twin beds Linens are provided What you do get for your money is a fantastic experience soaking in the canyon's endless peaks and valleys, and colorful red rock scenery. Due to ice and snow conditions on area roads, the park is closed until the end of February. But you will want to book early for Spring Break. To check cabin availability, visit the Palo Duro Canyon State Park lodging webpage. Danny Hermosillo is the Sr. Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/12/2020 -- According to the new market research report "Level Transmitter Market by Technology (Capacitance, Radar, Ultrasonic, Differential Pressure/Hydrostatic, Magnetostrictive, Radiometric), Industry (Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Water & Wastewater, Power, Metals & Mining), and Region Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Level Transmitter Market is expected to grow from USD 3.0 billion in 2018 to USD 3.7 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 3.85% from 2018 to 2024. Level transmitters are very easy to install, highly robust, resistant to turbulence, and require little maintenance. The need for more accurate and reliable continuous level measurements for inventory management, process efficiency, and safety applications has driven the level transmitter market growth. Food & beverages and pharmaceuticals industries have been witnessing steady growth owing to the increasing purchasing power and rising consumer demand. Thus, the increasing demand for process automation in these industries drive the growth of the level transmitter market. Speak to Our Analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=23472700 Diffrential pressure/hydrostatic level transmitters held largest size of the overall level transmitter market in 2017 Differential pressure/hydrostatic level transmitters are one of the most commonly used technologies for measuring liquid level in process industries such as chemicals, petrochemicals, refining, and power generation. Moreover, with advantages such as robust measuring process, uninfluenced by disruptive factors such as dust, foam, vapor, buildup, and contaminants; versatility; and cost-effectiveness, differential pressure level transmitters are expected to hold the largest share of the level transmitter market during the forecast period. Differential pressure level transmitters provide reliable protection against overfilling, high measurement certainty without mechanical wear; they also provide accurate and reliable measurement even in the vacuum and high-temperature conditions. Thus, with these advantages, differential pressure level transmitters are estimated to hold a significant market share during the forecast period. Oil & gas industry to dominate level transmitter market from 2018 to 2024 Safety and reliable level measurement is the most critical concern in the oil & gas industry. The level of the gas and water mixture must be measured quickly and reliably so that the gas drying process can be run effectively without any interruption. Moreover, oil from a well contains solid materials in the form of sand, and these solids need to be removed before further processing of the oil. Level transmitters provide high performance and cost-effective measurement of continuous level, point level, and interface in a wide range of applications in the petrochemicals and oil & gas industries. Level transmitters are used in a variety of processes in the oil & gas industry, including level monitoring to check for toxins such as methanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (2-butoxyethanol), ethylene glycol (1,2-ethanediol), hydrotreated light petroleum distillates, and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). Browse in-depth TOC on "Level Transmitter Market" 66 Tables 31 Figures 133 Pages Ever-increasing population and rapid urbanization have brought changes in consumption patterns of products and services across end users in APAC. The rising demand for electricity, growing exports of chemicals, and increasing number of wastewater treatment plants are expected to drive the growth of the level transmitter market in APAC. The region produces 8,010 thousand barrels of oil daily. Considering the growing energy demand and the importance of reducing carbon emissions, APAC is expected to lay down new pipelines. For instance, China is expected to increase the total length of its pipelines to 240,000 KM by 2025 from 112,000 KM in 2015. Even India has planned to lay many intercity gas pipelines for a seamless fuel supply at a low cost. This would lead to the creation of more new pipelines and pipeline infrastructure. Ask for PDF @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=23472700 In 2017 the level transmitter market was dominated by key players such as Endress+Hauser (Switzerland), Emerson Electric (US), VEGA (Germany), Siemens (Germany), and KROHNE (Germany). About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sigit Pamungkas (The Jakarta Post) Brantas River, East Java Wed, February 12 2020 Another day: A treasure hunter walks to the riverbank after searching for valuables in its depths. The Brantas is the largest river in East Java. From the time of the Kediri and Majapahit kingdoms to the end of the Dutch East Indies, the river was a busy and bustling passage for both merchants and warships. 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 month-long budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly beginning from February 28 is expected to be stormy with the opposition BJP likely to raise the state governments reported move to rollback the 'Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yozana' (MMKAY). The BJP will also raise the issue of reports that another welfare scheme might be withdrawn by the JMM- Congress-RJD coalition government led by Hemant Soren, a BJP leader said. A spurt in Naxalism in state will also be highlighted during the session, he said. The saffron party has 25 MLAs in the 81-member House. TheKAY was launched by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on August 10 last year. TheKAY, a flagship scheme of the previous Raghubar Das government, helped farmers get a maximum of Rs 25,000 - Rs 5,000 per acre with the upper limit being five acres - per annum in addition to Centre's Rs 6,000 per annum under the kisan yojana. On February 9, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh had expressed concern over the move while the saffron party's state unit spokesman Pratul Shahdeo had said that his party would protest if the farmer-friendly scheme was scrapped. "During the budget session, our MLAs will also raise reports of abolishing the land registration fee of Re 1 for women purchasing land," BJPs spokesman Pratul Shahdeo told PTI. The BJP's decision to raise the issues comes after former chief minister Babulal Marandi's announcement on Tuesday that he will merge the JVM(P), which he had floated 14 years ago after quitting the saffron party, with the BJP. A formal merger ceremony will take place on February 17 at Jagannathpur Maidan, in the presence of BJPs former president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, present BJP president J P Nadda and BJP vice-president Om Prakash Mathur. The JVM-P has three MLAs, but two of them--Bandhu Tirkey and Pradip Yadav- have rebelled and Tuesday's meeting decided to expel them from the party. Marandi will be the lone legislator of the party after doors were shown to the two others. Meanwhile, the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition government in Jharkhand will present the state budget for the fiscal 2020-21 in the House on March 3. This will be the first full budget to be presented by the coalition government after it assumed power in the state on December 29 last year, ousting the BJP-led regime. During the budget session, the House will be functional for 18 days, an official release said. The decision in this regard was taken at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by the chief minister, here on Tuesday. A supplementary budget of Rs 4,210 crore for the current fiscal was passed in the Assembly in January. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A shocking video has emerged of what it said to be a convicted rapist who is stripped, beaten, whipped, and then has his head shoved into a filthy jail cell toilet. The man begged for mercy as he was pummelled him in his jail cell while it was captured on a banned mobile phone. The leaked video - allegedly filmed at HMP Pentonville, north London - showed the man, dressed in a blue shirt and grey jogging bottoms, crying as he was made to take off his clothes and repeatedly lashed with a cable by the baying lags. Last week he was thought to have been found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl with two other men at a flat in Enfield, north London, in August 2016 - after an accomplice held a machete to her throat and took her captive. The man begged for mercy as he was pummelled him in his jail cell while it was captured on a banned mobile phone All three defendants in the case are due to be sentenced on March 19 at the same court. Graphic footage circulating on social media shows the man surrounded by angry lags in his cell as they order him to take off his clothes. He is led to the bathroom and told by an inmate: 'Take off your clothes before I whack you in the head, bro.' He reluctantly takes off his sweater before another prisoner rips his shirt and punches him. He is then forced to turn around and repeatedly whipped across the back with a cable. The prisoners make him take off his trousers, as he pleads: 'I can't do any more. Bro, come on, bro.' But the man filming says: 'Put his head in the toilet.' He tries to leave the bathroom but is shoved back inside, complaining: 'That's too much. You're violating me right now.' He reluctantly takes off his sweater before another prisoner rips his shirt and punches him. Inmates respond by punching and kicking him in the torso as he cowers against a wall. A second clip shows him screaming 'oh my days' as the lags force his head inside the toilet bowl and whip and kick him repeatedly. One viewer on social media said: 'Don't like being in a scary position? Shouldn't do it to others.' A third added: 'Jail justice is wild.' A jury was told that the victim had travelled to London from Bristol on August 13, 2016, where one of the men held a machete against her throat and robbed her while the other defendants watched. One of the men then falsely imprisoned her at a residential block in Enfield and she was forced to perform oral sex on each of the men. Detective Sergeant Charlotte Carter, of the Metropolitan Police, said: 'The victim and her family have shown tremendous strength and patience in supporting a prosecution. 'I would like to commend their courage, particularly in facing the defendants in court. It is due to their strength that three dangerous individuals have been convicted. 'I am hopeful that sentencing will reflect the severity of these offences and the trauma suffered by the victim.' A Prison Service spokesman added: 'A prisoner was treated for minor injuries after an alleged assault at HMP Pentonville on 9 February and police are now investigating. 'We are spending an extra 100 million, as part of a 2.75 billion investment, on cutting-edge technology to stop phones getting into custody.' Unsuspecting Michigan residents are getting calls from telephone scammers pretending to be state workers seeking personal information, warns the Michigan attorney general, State Police and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Officials have received multiple complaints from residents who have been contacted by scammers pretending to be MDHHS employees in Kalamazoo County who then ask for personal information that could be used to steal identities, according to a state press release. The scammers often use a practice known as spoofing, which allows phone calls to appear as if they are coming from real department phone numbers, the press release said. If you are ever asked by an unsolicited caller to give out personal information, dont do it, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in the press release. Hang up the phone immediately and report anything that you suspect might be a scam to our office. In the past several months, multiple local health departments have also received reports of scammers posing as public health officials from residents in Bay, Jackson, Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw counties. MDHHS does not call clients and ask for detailed personal information over the phone, said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. At most, a department caseworker would ask for a date of birth or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have any doubts, ask to call the worker back and use the local office switchboard to connect. The Michigan State Police offers tips on how to avoid becoming a scam victim: Never give personal information to an unknown caller. Do not respond to unsolicited emails from an unknown sender. Confirm the identity of a contact by independently speaking with the identified source, such as your bank, credit card company or government agency. Use a reliable source to confirm the contacts phone number or email. Report any suspicious contacts to police. Those who wish to make a report about scam calls can contact the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division. A complaint can be filed online or by calling 877-765-8388. KOLKATA, India, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It was a big and proud moment when the IEM-UEM group handed over the PCB maker machine (a mini-CNC, designed in the Innovation Laboratory by the researchers of IEM-UEM group) to MAKAUT (Maulana Abul Kalam University of Technology, formerly WBUT, the state University of West Bengal) on 16th January 2020. It is being handed over by Prof. Dr. Satyajit Chakrabarti, Director, IEM-UEM group and Prof. Dr. Biswajoy Chatterjee, Vice-Chancellor of UEM Jaipur to Prof. Dr. Saikat Maitra, Vice-Chancellor of MAKAUT. This PCB maker is capable of printing/manufacturing any circuit board fed through a computer software. The IEM-UEM group is an acclaimed educational group amongst the industry-centered academic training organizations of today. The IEM group has risen to fame for its strong foundation in teaching and R&D in multifaceted areas. Since its inception, the IEM group has surpassed innumerable benchmarks of achievements and accreditations. Today IEM flaunts a colossal network of expansive operations led by an awe-inspiring student force who are the torchbearers of a better tomorrow. The IEM-UEM Group has opened up the doors for young minds who dare to dream. It encourages the spirit of free enquiry and imagination. In this temple of learning, dreams take shape. The educational group attempts to inculcate the sense of human values and discipline in students to make them respectable human beings. It encourages learners to learn, to realize their potential and imbibe the best practices. IEM Group has been ranked 'A' Category by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) IEM-UEM Group has MoU with several renowned foreign universities such as Brunel University, London, ESC Rennes School of Business, France, De Montfort University, UK, Iwate Prefectural University, Japan, UNLV Nevada, USA, SUNY Buffalo University, SDSU California etc. to name a few. Right from its inception the placement cell of IEM has consistently provided for 1 to 2 jobs on average for all its students. Website | Facebook | YouTube This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE IEM-UEM group Related Links https://iem.edu.in She's been a regular face at New York Fashion Week this season. And Victoria Justice was back for another show on Wednesday, attending the RaisaVanessa presentation at Spring Studios with her half sister Madison Reed. The 26-year-old beauty flashed her toned mid-section in a pink crop top. Pretty in pink: Victoria Justice showcased her trim physique while attending the RaisaVanessa New York Fashion Week Show on Wednesday Victoria's cropped top was of velvet material and featured look puffy sleeves. She teamed the look with a pair of high-waisted PVC trousers that hugged her toned and lean legs. The former Nickelodeon star added to her 5ft5in stature with some trendy pointed toe heeled boots. Stunner: The beauty's makeup consisted of a dewy complexion, blushed cheeks and a bold dark pink lip that matched her top Designer: Victoria's cropped top was of velvet material and featured look puffy sleeves Sister sister: Victoria's younger half-sister, Madison Reed, 23, joined her as her guest Victoria's brunette tresses were styled straight and sleek with attention on her glam. The beauty's makeup consisted of a dewy complexion, blushed cheeks and a bold dark pink lip that matched her top. The Eye Candy star's appearance comes after she attended the Alice and Olivia Fall/Winter show on Tuesday. There, she spoke to Extra at the event about her friendship with Bachelor Peter Weber. Top spot: Here is (L-R) Madison Reed, Justice, Madison Guest and Devon Windsor 'I'm just so happy for him and all the success he's having,' she shared when asked if she had any picks as to who would win his heart. 'Every time I watch the show it's a little weird because we like grew up together in a sense, I don't know, it's just crazy.' She continued: 'We've been through a lot together so I'm still getting used to the fact that Peter is the Bachelor. It's very bazaar.' Victoria revealed last year via an Instagram post that she had been friends with him since she was nine. 'We've been friends since I was 9 back in Florida & our moms are good friends. Surprise pals: Victoria revealed last year via an Instagram post that she had been friends with him since she was nine Victoria said: 'I'm just so happy for him and all the success he's having,' when asked on Tuesday if she had any picks as to who would win his heart on The Bachelor Pilot Pete was also good friends with Bella Thorne before appearing on the reality show. Victoria stunned in a cream turtle-neck top that was tucked into her tan suede pleated skirt at the Alic & Olivia show on Tuesday. She kept warm with a matching overcoat over the top and completed the look with white knee-high boots. Victoria's hair was once again left out and her glam complete with a dark vampy color lip. The beauty is currently filming a new movie, Push, with Matthew Daddario. 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 Darland students celebrating early GCSE maths success This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 12th, 2020 A group of secondary school students in Wrexham are celebrating success after achieving top grades in their Maths GCSEs. Between them, the high-flyers at Darland in Rossett achieved a 36 A* grades and four A grades in GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Numeracy. Students who showed a flare for the subjects were entered for their GSCEs early and they received their results last month. Head of department, Dr Edwards said: Most of them are now studying the Additional Mathematics course, and will achieve Distinctions. They worked hard in the subject, prepared well for the exams, and did a brilliant job. All of us in the maths faculty are very proud of them, and were pleased to see them getting the success they deserve. Headteacher, Joanne Lee, added: We have very professional and supportive staff at Darland High School that want the best for every single student. These pupils have shown a flare for the subject and theyve been encouraged and supported over the last four years. Our maths faculty led by Dr Edwards are a very strong team. Theyve seen results continue to rise steadily over the last number of years, and they continue to achieve very strong outcomes for the students of Darland High School. But Dr Edwards and his team wont get complacent. With 36 A* grades in the bag, theyre now working with students to break the school record of 41 students with A* grades. This could mean over 82 A* grades between them, as each student will sit two GCSE exams in Mathematics and Numeracy. These 20 students have performed exceptionally well, and should be very proud of their achievements. They can now go on to achieve further maths qualifications that will support them as they move towards A-Levels and further study. This article is adapted from The Climate Beat, the weekly newsletter of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism initiative committed to more and better climate coverage. THE MOST EXCITING PLACE for a climate journalist right now has to be the business beat. Investors face growing pressure to stop funding the fossil-fuel industry. Climate activists have been demanding such divestment for years, but now the calls are coming from the heights of the financial community. Its a titanic clash of economic interests, bursting with drama, substance, and consequence. Can news organizations give the story the attention and visibility it deservesand make clear that whats at stake are not only corporate balance sheets and stock valuations but also humanitys chances of preserving a livable climate? Recently, each week has brought another jaw dropping development on this front. Most recently, it was Goldman Sachs, the worlds second-largest investment bank, telling clients on February 3 to sell shares of ExxonMobil, which not so long ago ranked as the worlds most valuable company. ExxonMobil has lost a staggering 41 percent of its value in the past six years, and Goldman foresees more choppy water ahead, warning that the oil giant might not be able to sell all the fossil fuel it has under development, Reuters reported. ICYMI: Australias fires are a climate reckoning for the Murdoch press On January 14, it was BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, delivering the same downbeat verdict for the entire fossil-fuel industry. Climate change has become a defining factor in companies long term prospects [and] is compelling investors to reassess core assumptions about modern finance, Laurence D. Fink, BlackRocks founder and chief executive, wrote in his annual letter to business leaders around the world. With $7 trillion in assets under management, BlackRock will begin shunning fossil-fuel stocks, Fink added, and encourage companies to prepare for a future in which the world might actually achieve the Paris Agreements goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Then, on January 31, Big Oil was knifed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchangeon live television, no lessby Jim Cramer, long one of the loudest cheerleaders for American capitalism. Cramer, whose CNBC show Mad Money flickers on the walls of countless investment firms across the country, declared that he was done with fossil fuels. Oil and gas majors such as Chevron and BP remain quite profitable in the short term, Cramer said, but their death knell is clear, because younger investors just dont want to own such environmentally unsustainable companies. In a final twist of the blade, Cramer likened Big Oil to Big Tobacco, predicting a mass exodus from fossil fuel stocks: Its going to be a parade that says, Look, these are tobacco, and were not going to own them. Will this latest crisis for Big Oil end any differently? Its an epic story to track, with no shortage of anglesbig and small, local and global. Sign up for CJR 's daily email The blustering Cramer is derided by some of his media colleagues, but his opinion is almost tame compared to that of the Bank of England, which is actively preparing for the fossil fuel industrys possible demise. The Bank has been warning for years about a carbon bubble that could bankrupt investors and destabilize the global economy much like the 2008 financial crisis did. The bubble stems from the vast amounts of fossil fuel reserves that currently count as wealth on oil company balance sheets and stock market valuations but cannot be burned without driving global temperatures well past 2 degrees C. Later this year, the Bank will administer stress tests requiring Britains largest private banks and insurance companies to demonstrate they can remain viable if those reserves stay in the ground and the wealth they represent evaporates accordingly. Meanwhile, activists, scientists, and even leading presidential candidates are demanding with increasing vigor that fossil-fuel reserves do stay in the ground, even as oil companies are being sued by dozens of governments for their decades of lies about fossil fuels risks. Jeremy Grantham, a legendary investor and billionaire who predicted the 2008 financial crisis and the tech bubble before that, expects no reversal in this trend. Energy companies knew that oil was a dangerous product and they obfuscated it, Grantham told Bloomberg Green. It will take us a while, but they have to become pariahs. To be sure, Big Oil has survived other crises in its long history. When investigative journalists at InsideClimate News and the Los Angeles Times revealed in 2015 that ExxonMobils own scientists had warned company executives as early as the 1970s that excessive fossil-fuel use could have catastrophic consequences, activists seized upon the expose, and leading newspapers repeated the news. But little national TV coverage followed, and soon the media moved on. Climate coverage, broadly, reverted to taking oil company statements at face value, as if those companies and their leaders were not responsible for decades of deception and obstruction. Will this latest crisis for Big Oil end any differently? Its an epic story to track, with no shortage of anglesbig and small, local and global. The climate story has always been, at bottom, about money: how much would it cost to heed the science, who would pay, and how long could the reckoning be postponed? Now the bill for years of denial and delay is coming due with speed and force. Solutions abound for decarbonizing the world economy. Does Big Oil still have the power to block them? Or has a tipping point been reached? That is the story the media is now called upon to tellwith accuracy, fairness, and relentless clarity about all thats at stake. Some additional news and coverage of note: Speaking of fossil fuel companies, The Nation digs into a recent Chevron ad campaign that pushed disinformation , under the guise of eco-consciousness. But the ad wasnt produced in-house by the oil giant, or even by a leading advertising firm it was produced by The New York Times s T Brand Studio. At a time when the public needs credible climate reporting more than ever, Amy Westervelt reports, analysts argue that news organizations should keep their journalistic distance from companies driving the climate crisis. The Times s Chevron campaign stands in stark contrast with The Guardian s recent decision to ban fossil fuel advertising outright. On the Saturday before the Iowa caucuses, more than 1,000 people marched in the streets of Des Moines for climate justice. But you wouldnt know it from looking at the press. According to organizers of the Climate Crisis Parade, journalists were no-shows, despite press releases being sent to 400 outlets and hours of pre-parade picketing in front of the Iowa Events Center, where news media from around the world were gathered for the caucuses. Journalists have no obligation to cover what they do not consider news, but climate apparently played a major role in Iowa voters choices; InsideClimate News breaks down how Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders, the caucus victors, both made climate action central to their platforms in the state . On the occasion of Black History Month, Yes! Magazine describes how Black farmers across the United States are on the front lines of climate solutions , using indigenous and heritage farming practices to tackle food insecurity, trap carbon from the air, and reverse damage done to the land by early European settlers. We need agriculture that does not lose our carbon, and does not deplete our people, one California farmer tells Yes! . Last week, Antarctica recorded its warmest temperature on record, surpassing the old record, set in 2015, by nearly a full degree Centigrade. The Guardian reports that this is further evidence that Antarctica is among the fast-warming places on eartha fact with enormous consequences for everywhere else on earth, given the sea-level rise and carbon release into the atmosphere that will follow melting ice. Can Miami be saved? Via public records request, the Miami Herald obtained information on extensive plans by the Army Corps of Engineers to protect Miami-Dade Countyand its 2.8 million peoplefrom rising seas and storm surge. The plans, which carry a projected cost of $8 billion, include 10-13 foot sea walls spanning much of the coast, the elevation and floodproofing of thousands of properties, and coastal mangrove replantinga natural solution which has been shown to break up the strong waves from hurricanes as well as clean the water and store carbon dioxide. PREVIOUSLY: Alaskas earthquake watchdog logs off Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mark Hertsgaard is the co-founder and executive director of Covering Climate Now and the environment correspondent for The Nation. Trump appointee rules against Christian school expelled from state voucher program Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge has ruled against a private Christian school that was booted out of Marylands school voucher program for low-income students over the institutions nondiscrimination policy. U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher sided with the state by denying a motion filed on behalf of Bethel Christian Academy in Savage asking the court to allow the school to continue participating in Marylands Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today program. The academy, which aims to provide students with authentic Christian learning and a biblical worldview, was removed from the BOOST program after the 2017-2018 school year. The school had accepted low-income students with BOOST program vouchers for two years before a state advisory committee reviewed the academys parent-student handbook that was updated in 2017. The handbook outlined the schools religious beliefs and practices and contained a statement on nondiscrimination in an admissions policy page. The statement explained that Bethel does not discriminate based on race, color, national and ethnic origin. The policy does not include the words sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally, the handbook also stated that the academy supports the biblical view of marriage defined as a covenant between one man and one woman and that God immutably bestows gender upon each person at birth as male or female to reflect his image. [F]aculty, staff, and student conduct is expected to align with this view, the handbook stated. The school maintains that it does not consider sexual orientation in its admissions process. But once admitted, school policies apply equally to all students regardless of their sexual orientation. For the 2019-2020 school year, Bethel scrubbed the statement about the biblical view on marriage from its student admissions section. According to The Baltimore Sun, Maryland officials argued that the school shouldnt be eligible to receive BOOST funds since state law prohibits tax dollars from going to institutions that lack adequate discrimination policies, considering the handbook does not include sexual orientation and gender identity in its statement on discrimination. Not only was Bethel Christian Academy removed from the BOOST program, but the state demanded the academy repay the money it was given for past BOOST students. The amount its being told to repay totals over $100,000, according to the schools legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom. However, Bethel Christian Academy contends that the state has violated its First Amendment rights of religious freedom and free speech. The school sought a preliminary injunction in federal court, hoping it would be allowed to continue accepting BOOST students while the merits of the lawsuit are mitigated. But Judge Gallagher, who was nominated to the bench by President Donald Trump, contended that the school did not prove the basis of their case. The judge reasoned that it wouldnt be practical for Bethel to be temporarily allowed back in the program if it eventually loses the lawsuit. This request asks for the Court to nullify Defendants determination about Bethels eligibility from June 2018, to enjoin Defendants from enforcing any version of the legislations nondiscrimination requirement in the future, and to order Defendants to reinstate Bethel into BOOST, the judge explained in her opinion. Courts have consistently noted that mandatory injunctions are especially drastic remedies that are generally disfavored. ... Furthermore, the extraordinary nature of the preliminary injunction sought in this action is primarily a result of Bethels delay in seeking preliminary injunctive relief. Gallagher added that if Bethel had sought to enjoin enforcement of the nondiscrimination provision in 2017, a preliminary injunction could have merely prevented Defendants from removing Bethel from BOOST. Presently, preliminary injunctive relief would require this Court not only to circumvent the Advisory Boards annual review process for BOOST applications, but also, by extension, to enjoin enforcement of the 2019 nondiscrimination provision (or some future version), which has never been applied to Bethel, Gallagher noted. To obtain the preliminary injunction, the judge wrote, the school bears the burden of proving that it will succeed on its claims that the state violated the free exercise and free speech clauses of the First Amendment. Bethels likelihood of success depends primarily on whether the Court would subject Defendants enforcement of the nondiscrimination provision to strict scrutiny, Gallagher stated. At this point in the proceedings, the Court does not have a justifiable evidentiary basis to apply strict scrutiny, and thus, Bethel has not demonstrated a likelihood of success. She stressed, however, that her ruling was not on the merits of Bethels claims and in no way suggests that some or all of the Plaintiffs claims] will not ultimately prevail in this case. The school is being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a prominent legal group devoted to defending religious freedom rights. ADF has won several Supreme Court cases in the past decade, including the successful defense of a Colorado Christian baker punished by the state for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. The government may not discriminate against religious schools simply because it dislikes their religious beliefs, ADF Senior Counsel Ryan Tucker said in a statement. Marylands families deserve better; thats why were asking the court to stop the state from targeting and denying children scholarships simply based on the beliefs and policies set out in their schools parent-student handbook. Last November, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a statement of interest to the court in favor of Bethel Christian Academy. The government may not attempt to regulate religious beliefs, compel religious beliefs, or punish religious beliefs, the DOJ argued. It may not discriminate against individuals or religious organizations because of their religious beliefs or status, or for speaking on religious topics or sharing their religious beliefs. DOJ cited the 2017 case of Trinity Lutheran v. Comer. Like the church preschool in Trinity Lutheran, Bethel is otherwise eligible and fully qualified to participate in the BOOST program, the DOJ stated. It meets all of the programs other eligibility requirements, and has represented to the Court that it does not, and will not, discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. A Rhode Island woman who cheated relatives, her closest friends and her husbands firefighting colleagues out of nearly $5 million to fund a lavish lifestyle should face the harshest sentence possible, federal prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum Thursday. Monique Brady, 45, of East Greenwich, was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence. She pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and obstructing an IRS investigation. The prosecutor in her case is asking a judge for more than 10 years in prison, the maximum under federal sentencing guidelines. Bradys lawyer did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The prosecutor wrote the sentence is justifiable because of the insidious nature of defendants long-term fraud scheme, the unimaginable way in which she exploited close personal relationships to commit fraud, the devastating effects her fraud had on the victims, and the need for just punishment and adequate deterrence. Brady solicited investments for her real estate management company, which she said had contracts for large-scale rehabilitation work on properties across New England. In reality, prosecutors said, Bradys firm was often hired by banks for small tasks like mowing grass or changing locks, and did no work on 98 of 171 projects for which she solicited investor funds. She cheated 23 victims out of $4.8 million, prosecutors said, and used the money to buy a million-dollar home with a $9,400-per-month mortgage, vacations, and plastic surgery, among other luxuries. There was no motive for defendants conduct other than pure, unadulterated greed, the prosecutor wrote. Her victims included her best friend from childhood, her best friend from law school, her stepbrother and a woman who was a grandmother-like figure to Bradys children, authorities said. Bradys husband was a Warwick firefighter, and three of her victims were his colleagues, they said. Brady has shown no remorse and as authorities closed in on her, she bought a one-way ticket to Vietnam, prosecutors said. Since she has been held, she has made 202 unauthorized phone calls from jail using the personal identification numbers of nine other inmates, prosecutors said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Fraud Liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Tuesday appeared before the Royal Courts of Justice here for his appeal against extradition to India to face fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crores, where his lawyers claimed "multiple errors" in a magistrates' court's order. The 64-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, who remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017, avoided the usual scrum of reporters at the court entrance and went in with his lawyers separately. "I'm just here to listen," he said, when asked for a comment. Justice Stephen Irwin and Justice Elisabeth Laing were told by Mallya's barrister that Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot's verdict in favour of extradition in December 2018 was flawed and also questioned the admissibility of some witness statements submitted by the Indian government. Clare Montgomery opened her arguments to try and establish that Mallya had no fraudulent intentions when he sought bank loans for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines because he is no "fly by night figure but an immensely wealthy man" who was not running any sort of "ponzi scheme" but a reputable airline, which fell into economic misfortune along with other Indian airlines. In what she described as a "very dense case", which has proved extraordinarily difficult to manage as there are "any number of rabbit holes" to go down, Montgomery said: "She (Arbuthnot) did not look at all of the evidence because if she had, she would not have fallen into the multiple errors that permeate her judgment." The hearing is scheduled for three days with Mallya's barrister to lay out her oral arguments, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on behalf of the Indian government set to counter on Wednesday. A verdict may be handed down at the end of the hearing on Thursday, but judgment could be delayed to a later date depending on how the hearing progresses. Representatives from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were present in court as Montgomery once again sought to raise questions over whether the CBI behaved "properly in bringing charges" against Mallya under former Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who she said may have been guilty of "misconduct". Judge Irwin intervened to question whether she could re-enter these pervious claims, which had already been rejected at the magistrates' court level and sought clarifications on where the law may have been wrongly applied by the Chief Magistrate. Mallya had received permission to appeal against his extradition order signed off by former UK home secretary Sajid Javid last February only on one ground, which challenges the Indian government's prima facie case against him of fraudulent intentions in acquiring bank loans. The High Court has already accepted Judge Arbuthnot's conclusions on all other aspects of the extradition case, including so-called "extraneous circumstances" of Mallya being pursued by the Indian authorities for political reasons of a clash between the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress party. Some of the other grounds invoked in last year's hearing claimed Mallya would not receive a fair trial in India, which was also dismissed as the judges upheld Arbuthnot's ruling on the matter that the wide media interest in the Mallya case would ensure justice. His legal team had also sought to challenge the Indian government's assurances that Mallya would be held in safe prison conditions at Barrack 12 in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, which was dismissed by the High Court. At the end of a year-long extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in December 2018, Judge Arbuthnot had found "clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds" and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the CPS on behalf of the Indian government. Mallya remains on bail involving a bail bond worth 650,000 pounds and other restrictions on his travel while he contests that ruling. Also read: Budweiser, Hoegaarden beers to be back in Delhi as tribunal stays ban Also read: Buying liquor online? Be careful of such frauds, especially in Mumbai ROME - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Italy would continue to work on making sure the arms embargo on Libya is complied with and for a permanent cease-fire. Di Maio wrote the statement on his Facebook account Wednesday after meeting Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj and interior minister Fathi Bashaga in Tripoli. ''Italy will be decisive in every European choice. No one knows Libya like we do, no one like Italy has it a few hundred kilometres from its coasts,'' he wrote, during the unscheduled visit to the country. ''There is a risk of terrorism that we must not underestimate, countries that do not know peace and that continue to arm the parties on the ground. We cannot accept this.'' He went on to say that ''today the international community is facing a lot of doubts and one certainty: that the 2011 bombings were an unforgivable error, and that we are paying for this mistake now. But the time has come for a different signal.'' Di Maio wrote that ''we are employing an inclusive approach, involving all Libyan municipalities and speaking to all those active on the ground. The aim is to restore adequate security so that our firms can begin investing again. This is not one path, it is the path. That of good sense and those who actually have the future of the Libyan people and the security of its citizens at heart.'' 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. What do surgeons practice on? Mannequins, hopefully. But in the military, where train as you fight is the watchword, realism can be sorely lacking. That's why the Department of Defense is funding a study by the American College of Surgeons with help from the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota. The group is studying a new platform to simulate surgery, injury and patient assessment at the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD). The center's staff tested the Advanced Module Mannequin (AMM) last month, according to a Navy news release. AMM lets trainers exchange limbs or parts on the mannequin based on which injury or procedure will be practiced, instead of using a completely different mannequin. "The hope [is] to get to a point where one training mannequin is all that's needed, and those who run training scenarios can adjust the mannequin according to whichever scenario they're trying to mimic," Daniel McConnell, a NMCSD's bio-skills training and simulation center training specialist, said in the news release. "Theoretically, the ACS and AMM aim to create a completely integrated training mannequin." Related: Ranger Medics Save Lives in Afghanistan with Blood Transfusions While Under Fire AMM lets surgeons operate directly on the simulated patient, eliminating the use of a "cut suit" - a backpack-like device on a mannequin that mimics human anatomy. It also gives simulated vital signs in real time, eliminating the need to have a trainer list them off. As AMM enters its testing phase, DoD officials are hoping this will serve as a new way for surgical and trauma teams to maintain their skills outside of the operating room. Capt. Gordon Wisbach, NMCSD bio-skills training and simulation center surgical director, said in a news release he's looking forward to seeing how the project progresses. "It's hard to appreciate it when you view the study within this isolated capacity, but as time goes on, data gets released and we start talking about the next steps," Wisbach said. The study is currently recruiting surgeons to try it out so ACS can make modifications based on their feedback and survey responses. -- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg. Read More: The Marine Corps Must Get Smaller to Get Better, Commandant Says Syrian forces backed by Russian fighter jets retake key government positions as Turkeys Erdogan warns of swift revenge if more Turkish troops are attacked. Syrias army is trying to fully capture the countrys last rebel-held territory. Backed by Russian fighter jets, it has just recaptured the al-Nairab village in Idlib province that Syrian opposition rebels had regained. This comes as Turkey sends more troops into those areas after facing direct confrontation with Syrian forces. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned of a swift response if Syrian government forces continue to attack Turkish troops. Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra reports from Istanbul, Turkey. Cebu (CNN Philippines, February 12) Over 70 Filipinos who have arrived from Taiwan were trying to force their way out of the Mactan Cebu International Airport after refusing to be quarantined, an airport official said Wednesday. Airport General Manager Steve Dicdiccan said at least 78 Filipinos refused to undergo quarantine, which erupted into a commotion. Regional police have already deployed additional forces to the airport. This comes as questions hound the government after it announced a travel ban against foreign nationals, non-Filipino citizens and non-holders of permanent visas coming from the country which asserted itself as an independent state from China. The government's travel ban lumped Taiwan with mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. This is a developing story. Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report. The war between Mr. Trump and what he calls the deep state has entered a new, more volatile phase as the president seeks to assert greater control over a government that he is convinced is not sufficiently loyal to him. With no need to worry about Congress now that he has been acquitted of two articles of impeachment, the president has shown a renewed willingness to act even if it prompts fresh complaints about violating traditional norms. The president is entitled to staffers that want to execute his policies, that he has confidence in, said Robert C. OBrien, the national security adviser, who supervised Colonel Vindman and his brother, Yevgeny Vindman, also an Army lieutenant colonel, who was dismissed last week from the National Security Council staff even though he did not testify in the House hearings. Were not a banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is. The presidents involvement in Mr. Stones case generated vigorous protests and calls for an investigation into whether he improperly sought to skew the prosecution in favor of a longtime associate and adviser. Hours after Mr. Trumps tweets criticizing the Justice Department for seeking up to nine years in prison for Mr. Stone, the department reversed gears and said it would ask for a lesser sentence. The Justice Department rejected any link to the presidents tweets, while Mr. Trump insisted that he had nothing to do with the case. But the withdrawal of the four career prosecutors working on the case left the unmistakable impression that they thought something improper had happened. The American people must have confidence that justice in this country is dispensed impartially, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, wrote in a letter asking the departments inspector general to investigate. That confidence cannot be sustained if the president or his political appointees are permitted to interfere in prosecution and sentencing recommendations in order to protect their friends and associates. REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Harper College, one of the largest community colleges in Illinois and winner of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Award for Best Practices in Community College Budgeting, has selected Oracle Cloud Applications to help support its mission to enrich its diverse communities by providing quality, affordable, and accessible education. With Oracle Cloud, Harper College will be able to better serve the needs of its higher education students by taking advantage of a complete and integrated suite of applications to break down silos; quickly and easily embrace the latest innovations; and improve user engagement, collaboration, and performance. Opened in 1967 and named after Dr. William Rainey Harper, a pioneer in the country's community college movement, Harper College is one of the nation's premier community colleges. Supporting the learning goals of about 35,000 students annually, Harper College needed to increase the efficiency of its core business processes. Turning to the cloud to meet this objective, Harper College will be implementing Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Cloud, Oracle Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) Cloud, and Oracle Human Capital Management (HCM) Cloud. Backed by a referendum affirmed by the community in which it serves, Harper College began to execute on its community driven plan to continue to provide affordable education and to keep its communities and local business competitive in a rapidly changing environment. One priority of the Ensuring a Strong Future plan is to maintain and improve campus infrastructure. The cornerstone of this priority required Harper College to invest in technologies to increase efficiency and support state-of-the-art technologies. "Since its formation, Harper College has been a pioneer in delivering quality, affordable education," said Patrick Bauer, CIO of Harper College. "Moving business processes to the cloud with Oracle was a natural evolution and will help to reduce costs while providing an easier path to innovation. Managing finance and HR on the same platform will enhance business processes, improve insights, and increase efficiency to help us continually advance our student services." With Oracle Cloud Applications, Harper College will be able to bring HR and finance teams together, create a single source of truth, automate manual processes, and drive end-to-end business innovation. Oracle ERP Cloud and Oracle EPM Cloud will enable Harper College to accurately and efficiently process financial information, track project statuses, and identify patterns in operational and financial data. In addition, with Oracle HCM Cloud, Harper College will be able to help faculty and staff provide the highest level of service to students by improving the entire workplace experience for employees, candidates, and HR professionals. "To respond to rapidly changing educational needs resulting from a decline in overall student enrollment in the U.S. and a decrease in state funding, institutions need real-time visibility across the entire organization," said Hari Sankar, group vice president, product management, Oracle. "With Oracle Cloud Applications, Harper College will be able to manage its finance and HR processes on a single platform. This will not only help drive efficiencies and improve decision-making, but also help Harper College deliver the best possible experience for its students and staff." Oracle ERP Cloud was named the sole Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Midsize Enterprises[1] and a Leader in the "Magic Quadrant for Cloud Core Financial Management Suites for Midsize, Large and Global Enterprises[2]." Oracle EPM Cloud was named a Leader in the "Magic Quadrant for Cloud Financial Planning and Analysis Solutions[3]" (with the highest position for its ability to execute) and "Magic Quadrant for Cloud Financial Close Solutions[4]." In addition, Oracle HCM Cloud was recently named a leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises [5] for its fourth consecutive year and placed the furthest for Completeness of Vision within the 2018 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for Midmarket and Large Enterprises [6]. Additional Resources Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Midsize Enterprises, Mike Guay , John Van Decker , Christian Hestermann , Nigel Montgomery , Duy Nguyen , Denis Torii , Paul Saunders , Paul Schenck , Tim Faith , 31 October 2018 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Core Financial Management Suites for Midsize, Large and Global Enterprises, John Van Decker , Robert Anderson , Greg Leiter , 13 May 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Financial Planning and Analysis Solutions, Robert Anderson , John Van Decker , Greg Leiter , 8 August 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Financial Close Solutions, Robert Anderson , John Van Decker , Greg Leiter , 21 October 2019 Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises, Melanie Lougee , Ranadip Chandra , Jason Cerrato , Chris Pang , Ron Hanscome , Jeff Freyermuth , Sam Grinter , Helen Poitevin , 23 September 2019 Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for Midmarket and Large Enterprises, Melanie Lougee , Ranadip Chandra , Ron Hanscome , Helen Poitevin , Chris Pang , Jeff Freyermuth , Sam Grinter , John Kostoulas , Jason Cerrato , 15 August 2018 Gartner Disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Oracle The Oracle Cloud offers a complete suite of integrated applications for Sales, Service, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain and Manufacturing, plus Highly Automated and Secure Generation 2 Infrastructure featuring the Oracle Autonomous Database. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. SOURCE Oracle Related Links http://www.oracle.com 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. Scharfe, sachbezogene Kritik am Inhalt des Artikels oder wo angebracht an Beitragen anderer Forumsteilnehmer ist erwunscht, solange sie hoflich vorgetragen wird. Personlichkeitsverletzende und diskriminierende Ausserungen hingegen verstossen gegen unsere Richtlinien. Sie werden ebenso geloscht wie Kommentare, die eine sexistische, beleidigende oder anstossige Ausdrucksweise verwenden. Beitrage kommerzieller Natur werden nicht freigegeben. Zu verzichten ist grundsatzlich auch auf Kommentarserien (zwei oder mehrere Kommentare hintereinander um die Zeichenbeschrankung zu umgehen), wobei die Online-Redaktion mit Augenmass Ausnahmen zulassen kann. Die Kommentarspalten sind artikelbezogen, die thematische Ausrichtung ist damit vorgegeben. Wir bitten Sie deshalb auf Beitrage zu verzichten, die nichts mit dem Inhalt des Artikels zu tun haben. Das Nutzen der Kommentarfunktion bedeutet ein Einverstandnis mit unseren Richtlinien. 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. T he fight for the right to challenge US President Donald Trump later this year came into clearer focus last night, as Senator Bernie Sanders won the Democratic Partys New Hampshire primary and former vice-president Joe Biden limped in a distant fifth. While an ebullient Sanders celebrated, Biden slunk off early to South Carolina, which holds its primary at the end of this month. Biden is hoping his eight years serving under president Barack Obama will earn him victory in a state with a large percentage of black voters. If he loses in South Carolina, his campaign is all but finished. This is Bidens third campaign for the presidency and he is still yet to win a primary election. Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, came second to Sanders last night. Buttigieg won 24 per cent of the vote behind 26 per cent for the Vermont senator, and well ahead of Bidens eight per cent. Feel the Bern: Sanders in New Hampshire last night / AP After scoring a virtual tie with Sanders in last weeks Iowa caucus, Buttigieg has been the surprise of the two first legs of this long primary season. He has established himself as the centrist candidate versus the socialist Sanders. In his various presidential runs, Sanders has always done best in these early races. New Hampshire neighbours his home state of Vermont. Young and lower-income voters in the state have been drawn to his crotchety tirades against the economic elites, and his plans to end tuition at public colleges and universities and introduce NHS-style free healthcare. Loading.... However, the dynamics and demographics of the campaign will now change rapidly, and Sanders will be at less of an advantage. Nevada, which is nearly a third Hispanic, comes next on February 22, followed by South Carolina a week later and then on March 3, Super Tuesday when voters in 13 states, including big ones such as Texas and California, go to the polls. The rapid scaling up of the elections should favour candidates with strong establishment networks, union support and money. Pete Buttigieg / AP Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg has bypassed the early primaries to focus on Super Tuesday, flooding those states with advertising in the hope that he can burst through as a viable centrist alternative. Bloomberg will have been encouraged by the collapse of Biden, previously the great hope of the Democratic establishment. But will have been unnerved by the growing swagger of the Buttigieg campaign. Bloomberg has deep pockets and a sterling record as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and three-term mayor. But he will turn 78 on Friday. Buttigieg is inexperienced but young, and is clogging up the centrist path Bloomberg was hoping would clear out for him once Biden had faltered. The evolution of these primaries has rattled many Democrats who want, above all, a candidate who can beat Trump. What they now fear is a choice between Sanders, a socialist, who for all his popularity with parts of swathes of the Democratic base stands little chance of winning a national election; and Bloomberg, a former Republican who is not considered a real Democrat. Mike Bloomberg / AFP via Getty Images Rahm Emanuel, the ex-mayor of Chicago and Obamas former chief of staff, said on Sunday that one of the threats to the party right now is a rupture in the core. To win nationwide, the party needed a candidate who moves those swing moderate voters. Voters who for now, at least, are enjoying the fruits of a long economic boom under Trump. Handing the nomination to Bloomberg would, many Democrats fear, feel like outsourcing the most important job the party has to offer. Even if he represented the best hope of beating Trump, he would feel like a compromise choice. TODO: define component type apester Sanders alluded to Bloomberg in his victory speech in New Hampshire, saying that as the campaign progressed: We are taking on billionaires and we are taking on candidates funded by billionaires. The biggest surprise last night was Amy Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota, who came in a strong third with 19 per cent after what she called her happy, scrappy campaign. Her supporters hope she will build on this result to become an alternative for the centrist voters being sought by Bloomberg, Buttigieg and Biden. Amy Klobuchar / AP While most of the candidates stayed in New Hampshire until the results were in, so they could thank their supporters, Biden beamed in for just three minutes via video from South Carolina. Were going on and were going to win in Nevada and in South Carolina, he said. He also told a crowd in South Carolina that the overwhelmingly white states of Iowa and New Hampshire were just the opening bell of the campaign. Many Democrats think that handing the nomination to Mike Bloomberg feels like a compromise He said: You cannot win the Democratic nomination for president, and you shouldnt be able to win it, without black and brown supporters. Sadly for Biden, the latest polls show his support among those black and brown supporters is crashing as Bloombergs popularity has surged. Last nights losers included Senator Elizabeth Warren, who came fourth and will struggle to stay in the race. The results also prompted two candidates to drop out: Andrew Yang, a tech entrepreneur who talked about future automation in work; and Colorado senator Michael Bennet, another moderate who failed to gain traction. Trump held a rally in New Hampshire on Monday evening, as he did shortly before the Iowa caucus, demonstrating his political muscle and hoping to intimidate his rivals. His large, boisterous crowd contrasts with the thin attendance at Democratic events. Loading.... Yesterday morning, however, he focused on Bloomberg, whom he has known for many years in New York. Linking to an audio clip in which Bloomberg discussed the aggressive policing tactics he had approved as mayor, Trump wrote: Wow, Bloomberg is a total racist. Later in the day, his tweet was removed. However, he may be right to worry that Bloomberg could snap up the nomination. The New York Times columnist Tom Friedman articulated the thinking of many Democrats yesterday. He wrote: So who is the right Democratic candidate? I will tell you who it is not. It is not Bernie Sanders. Sanders would be too easily caricatured as an extremist Che Guevara by the Trump campaign. Bloomberg, by contrast has the right stuff a moderate progressive with a heart of gold but the toughness of a rattlesnake for what is going to be an incredibly big, brutal task: making Donald Trump a one-term president. ST PAUL Thom Petersen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, said it was a jam-packed week leading up to the Minnesota State Legislature reconvening for session on Feb. 11. The commissioner said the department hosted visitors from Colombia and Taiwan to discuss trade relationships. The department of agriculture sees itself as "real ambassadors and connectors," said Petersen. "We're lucky to be home to a lot of big agriculture companies in Minnesota, from Land O' Lakes, General Mills or Hormel," said Petersen. "So it's really important for us, those relationships." He said that discussing delegations back and forth, and respective needs is crucial to keeping Minnesota's ag economy stable. "(Colombia and Taiwan) are both very interested in trading with us, and very friendly to the United States and to Minnesota in particular," said Petersen. ADVERTISEMENT Petersen said work around export market relationships has "really been heightened" this last year with the Chinese market cut so much. "We've been really focused on growing our other markets, which we have done," said Petersen. "After losing a big bucket in China, we went after some of our smaller buckets." Most of those smaller bucket countries like Taiwan and Colombia have a growing middle-class, said Petersen, which means they have more disposable income to buy protein. "Those are growing economies we are trying to be aggressive in," said Petersen. "Hopefully we can continue to pull out of the downturn we've had for the last five to six years." Focuses for legislative session The focus for the ag department will be a bonding request for the Rural Finance Authority, that distributes a suite of loans to Minnesota farmers. "We're running precariously low on funds," said Petersen. He said on Feb. 6 that the department had about two weeks of funds left, so they were hoping to pass a bonding proposal early in the session to fund the Rural Finance Authority to the tune of $50 million. ADVERTISEMENT "Which we think would do about two years of loans," said Petersen. The RFA includes user finance loans, beginning farmer loans, restructure loans, livestock loans and more. Another priority in the regular bonding bill will be money to keep up with the MDA's lab, which provides data and analytical support critical to protecting the state's food supply, ag industry and environment. "Having that lab is important for our farmers and our agriculture economy," Petersen said. Other legislative priorities are the continued awareness and resources for farmer mental health, as well as farm safety. Thom Petersen ADVERTISEMENT Kelvin Fletcher's wife Eliza looked glum on Wednesday as she and the Strictly star left their house to take a spin in a new 150k Bentley. The couple continued to put on a united front following the release of various pictures of Kelvin and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Oti Mabuse, with whom he was seen with at two hotels in the space of hours on Saturday. In the face of the scandal, the couple, were spotted leaving the property they share with their children and getting into the Bentley together while Eliza looked to have put her wedding ring back on after taking the jewellery off the previous day. United front? Kelvin Fletcher's wife Eliza looked glum on Wednesday as she and the Emmerdale star left their house to take a spin in his new Bentley Back on track? The couple continued to put on a united front following the release of various pictures of Kelvin and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Oti Mabuse, with whom he was seen with at two hotels in the space of hours Eliza wore a black ensemble, adding a chunky camel coat to the look. She kept her hands stuffed inside her pockets - having recently been spotted without her wedding ring on. Kelvin was low-key for the casual drive with his wife. Earlier in the day, Eliza kept a low profile as she left to run errands, their son Milo, 13 months, with her in a carrier. Her hand was covered Milo's blanket as she headed to her car, having been spotted without her wedding band earlier this week. Kelvin, meanwhile, was driving a new set of wheels, as he stepped out in the midst of the dramas involving various hotel visits over the weekend. Weathering the storm: In the face of the scandal, the couple, were spotted leaving the property they share with their children, seen getting into a 150k Bentley together Back together: Meanwhile, Oti Mabuse beamed at her husband Marius Lepure as they arrived at The Heston Hyde Hotel in London on Wednesday Loved-up: The Strictly professional, 29, and Marius, 37, were seen for the first time since she was spotted having a 3.30am nightcap with Kelvin That was then... At 3.30am on Saturday (pictured), Kelvin and Oti were seen arriving at the Karma Sanctum Soho hotel for a drink - in images that are said to have caused stirs at home The star, 36, was seen going for a spin in a brand new Bentley - worth around 150k. The hunky actor also shares daughter Marnie, three, with his wife. He inspected the sporty green motor, eventually getting inside and giving it a test drive. Meanwhile in London, Oti beamed at her husband Marius Lepure as they arrived at The Heston Hyde Hotel in London on Wednesday. The Strictly professional, 29, and Marius, 37, were seen for the first time since she was spotted having a 3.30am nightcap with Kelvin. Off for a spin: They were seen getting into Kelvin's recently-purchased car Getting out: Eliza wore a black ensemble, adding a chunky camel coat to the look Downcast: . She was sure to keep her hands stuffed inside her pockets - having recently been spotted without her wedding ring on Dressed down: Kelvin was in a camo bomber jacket and jeans for the casual drive Stony-faced: Eliza looked downcast as she kept her ring finger covered while heading out earlier in the day on Wednesday Stern: He kept a low profile as he stepped out Back again: Eliza was once again sporting her wedding ring despite taking it off the day before Downcast: Eliza kept a low profile as she left to run errands, their son Milo, one, with her in a carrier. She was sure to keep her ring finger covered by Milo's blanket as she headed to her car, having been spotted without her wedding band earlier this week Kelvin - who won Strictly 2019 with Oti, 29, and went on to take part on the Strictly live tour - took to the roads around his countryside home. Despite being known for his role as Andy Sudgen in Emmerdale, where he played the character from 1996 to 2016, and storming to victory on Strictly having taken part at the last-minute thanks to Jamie Laing dropping out, Kelvin is also a professional racing driver. Speaking with the Daily Mirror in 2017, Kelvin said: 'If all else fails, if I dont go any further with racing and I cant get another acting job, I would happily be a stay-at-home dad.' Kevin was involved in the 25th British GT Championship, where he rode in a Nissan 370Z GT4, in 2017 Behind the wheel: The former Emmerdale star, 36, was seen going for a spin in a brand new Bentley, outside the home he shares with his wife Eliza and their children Errands: Kelvin used the test drive as an opportunity to run some errands Married: Oti, who married her husband Marius Lepure in 2016, is 'mortified' their close friendship is causing issues in their marriage (pictured in June 2019) Casual: She sported a white hoodie and skinny black leggings, adding a black coat and trainers to the ensemble The star has been left batting away rumours that he and Oti spent an evening together at a hotel on Saturday. But Kelvin has reportedly claimed that he has Uber receipts proving that he didn't party all night with Oti. He is said to be 'furious' his 'honour is being questioned' after he was spotted having a 3.30am nightcap with the professional dancer over the weekend. Kelvin has also reportedly cancelled a guest appearance on Oti's other BBC One show, The Greatest Dancer, where she is a judge alongside Cheryl, Matthew Morrison and Todrick Hall, in a bid to put his 'upset' wife Eliza Marsland first. Wrapping up warm: The hunky actor sported a tan jacket with a fur trim hood, jeans and white trainers as he inspected the sporty green motor Tour break: The Strictly tour wrapped up over the weekend, meaning Kelvin could return home Boy racer: Also known for his role as Andy Sudgen in Emmerdale, where he played the character from 1996 to 2016, Kelvin revealed in 2017 that he is now a professional racing driver too A source told the Mirror: 'They were both just innocent drinks...Kelvin is furious his honour is being questioned and can prove it.' While a different insider told The Sun: 'Kelvin told Eliza he'll curb late night drinks as he understands how bad it looked. 'He needs to win back her trust as Eliza is getting increasingly frustrated with his close relationship with Oti. Get your motor running: Kelvin - who won Strictly 2019 with Oti, 29, and went on to take part on the Strictly live tour - took to the roads around his countryside home Under the radar: The star has been left batting away rumours that he and Oti spent an evening together at a hotel on Saturday Another passion: The Manchester native has kept his hopes up about the future of his acting career but has prepared alternative plans in the world of racing He said in 2017: 'If all else fails, if I dont go any further with racing and I cant get another acting job, I would happily be a stay-at-home dad' 'Cancelling his TV record is his way of showing he's putting her first, rather than Oti.' Kelvin and Oti are also said to be teaching a masterclass and a gala dinner in June on a Queen Mary 2 cruise ship in New York, which was arranged after their Strictly win in December. MailOnline contacted Kelvin's representative for comment. It comes after new images emerged showing Strictly's Kelvin and Oti arriving at a hotel just hours after their 3.30am nightcap at a separate hotel. The Emmerdale star and Strictly pro were spotted in the early hours of Saturday morning heading into the Karma Sanctum Soho hotel, before they were seen arriving minutes apart at the Lincoln Plaza Hotel later on that day. Ding dong! It was a busy morning at Chez Fletcher, with many people coming and going Home again! The tour is done and dusted for another year Supplies: Kelvin returned from the shops with a carrier bag in his hand Cold: He was wrapped up warmly against the February climes While Kelvin and his fellow Strictly tour stars have been staying at the Intercontinental 02, he left the establishment at 10.54pm and was seen arriving at the Lincoln at 11.15pm before Oti arrived at 11.40pm. The latest images from their busy Saturday saw the duo arriving at the Lincoln Plaza Hotel, which is around an 18 minute drive from the Intercontinental 02. Since the first batch of pictures emerged, Kelvin's wife Eliza was spotted without her wedding ring amid claims she was left irritated by the images, however the couple went on to put on a united front when she dropped him at a train station. Reunited: Before the new pictures came to light, Kelvin's wife proved all was forgiven as she kissed him goodbye at the train station on Tuesday While Eliza went on to share a glam snap to Instagram on Tuesday where she revealed she was recording a Valentine's advert, she said: 'When they ask 'Can you make it extra huskier?' No problem!!!! Here we go with the Valentines adverts! #VO.' To which her grovelling husband gushed over the post and commented: 'How many filters have you used here?! Come on you don't even need one!,' followed by cheeky and crying laughing emojis. Kelvin cut a low-key figure over the weekend when he was seen headed into the various establishments alongside his dance partner. When the first group of images came to light, Kelvin's wife Eliza has been keen to put on a united front, despite claims she was irritated by the snaps. 'Furious': The 2019 winner is said to be 'furious' his 'honour is being questioned' and has cancelled an appearance on Oti's The Greatest Dancer, where she is a judge alongside Matthew Morrison, Cheryl and Todrick Hall (centre L-R), in a bid to put his wife Eliza first Grovelling: Eliza shared a glam snap to Instagram on Tuesday where she revealed she was recording a Valentine's advert, with her grovelling husband gushing over it She was seen kissing the star goodbye at the train station on Tuesday. A source close to Kelvin said the Strictly champ rushed home to 'reassure her all is good between them' after Liz dramatically unfollowed him on social media. The couple appeared to have an emotional goodbye, with Kelvin, who looked dapper in a tweed jacket and flat cap, wrapping his arm around his wife before pulling her in for a lengthy kiss. Three hotels, two co-stars and a nightcap: A timeline of Kelvin and Oti's Saturday Saturday 8 - 3.30am The co-stars are spotted arriving at Karma Sanctum Soho hotel for a nightcap after heading out with pals Saturday 8 - 10.54pm Kelvin leaves the Intercontinental 02, where he is staying alongside his Strictly tour co-stars Saturday 8 - 11.15pm Kelvin makes the 20 minute drive from the Intercontinental 02 to the Lincoln Plaza Hotel Saturday 8 - 11.40pm Oti arrives at the same hotel Advertisement Earlier in the day, the mother-of-two looked stony-faced as she emerged from their family home carrying a bag of clothes to her car. With her head bowed, Eliza left the house lugging a bin bag full of clothes to the car. The actress, who was pictured for the first time since unfollowing her husband on Instagram, was noticeably not wearing her silver diamond engagement ring and wedding band and continued to leave her rings off later in the day. Eliza was reportedly 'upset and angry' her husband was pictured enjoying a night cap until 3am on Saturday morning with his dancer partner Oti. A source revealed Eliza was unhappy with Kelvin going out partying while she was at home caring for their two young children. Eliza decided to unfollow Kelvin on Instagram after it got 'too much' seeing the pictures of her husband out late at night. Kelvin was seen with his arm around Oti's waist as they waited to be let into the hotel, following the evening out with the rest of their Strictly co-stars. Champions: The Emmerdale actor won the Strictly Glitter Ball last year alongside Oti, who's also a judge on The Greatest Dancer A source told MailOnline: 'Naturally Eliza wasn't happy after finding out Kelvin had been out late drinking with the Strictly lot. 'It wasn't easy for her to see him still out at 3:35am, while she's at home looking after their two young children. Any woman would be upset if they were in the same situation. 'In the heat of the moment she unfollowed him on Instagram, it was just a shock for her to see him out so late.' 'But now she's had the chance to speak to Kelvin face-to-face after he came home and they're spending today together, she feels silly for unfollowing him and admits she acted on impulse.' Kelvin rushed home to be with his family in a bid to reassure Eliza. The Sun reports Oti, who married her husband Marius Lepure in 2016, is 'mortified' their close friendship is causing issues in their marriage. The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Tuesday laid a trap at an unusual place to uncover a case of bribery -- a tea stall in Malad that was allegedly used by a government servant to accept bribe money. The ACB arrested the tea stall owner Jagdish Patel, 29, while he was accepting 10,000 on behalf of Prakash Dubey, 50, a labour contractor attached with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). According to the ACB, the complainant in the case is a construction contractor who had undertaken renovation work of a house in Malwani at Malad. Dubey, who is attached to the P North Ward in Malad West, learnt about the renovation work and demanded 20,000 as bribe to allow the work citing irregularities in the renovation. The complainant, who did not wish to pay any bribe, approached the ACBs Worli office on January 22. ACB sleuths verified the claims of the complainant and then decided to lay a trap on Tuesday. However, Dubey asked the complainant to hand the bribe over to a tea stall near his office. ACB officers caught Patel red-handed while accepting money surprising customers who had gathered to have tea. Dubey, too, was later picked up from his office. ACB officers stated that government servants are using third parties to avoid legal tangles and traps. Last month, the ACB arrested three constables attached with the Dharavi police station for allegedly accepting a bribe of 25,000 to permit a makeshift eatery to operate on a footpath. The bribe was to be handed over to a cake shop near the Dharavi police station in which the shopkeeper was also arrested. The law has a provision to arrest non-government servants in case they are assisting in accepting bribes. We are ensuring that the traps are not hampered even if the government servants themselves are not ready to accept the money, said a ACB officer. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BIG CAT COUNTRY 8 p.m. on Smithsonian Channel. This new nature series centers on two prides of lions along the Luangwa River in Zambia, dramatically narrating their hunts and power struggles. (An example: A herd of buffalo is coming to drink. The herbivores dont see the lions Until its too late.) In other words: Cats this is not. WATCHMEN (2009) 6:30 p.m. on IFC. Those who watched HBOs recent, radically reimagined TV riff on Alan Moores Watchmen graphic novel can see a very different take on the material in this film adaptation, which was directed by Zack Snyder. With a cast that includes Billy Crudup and Carla Gugino, this version adheres more closely to the graphic novel than HBOs version but wasnt nearly as well received by critics. Zain Bahrain, a leading telecoms operator in the kingdom, has appointed Duncan Howard as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. In a management restructure announced by Zain Bahrain Chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Khalifa, Mohammed Zainalabedin, Zain Bahrains General Manager, takes on the new role of Managing Director. Shaikh Ahmed said Howard has a proven track record and extensive experience to play a pivotal role in driving the company's business through his new position as a CEO. He also praised Zainalabedin for being part and parcel of the Zain Bahrains success story through his past role as a general manager. His great efforts have contributed in positioning Zain Bahrain as a leading telecom company in Bahrain, he said. Howard comes to Zain Bahrain from Zain Group, where he had served as Chief Commercial Officer since 2014. In his new role, Howard will look to enhance the companys prominent presence in the kingdom. Shaikh Ahmed said: With his deep understanding of the Zain brand, solid operational, commercial and digital innovation expertise, and a strong history of working within the telecommunications sector across the region, we are confident he will lead the company to greater achievements in the years to come. Shaikh Ahmed continued: Mr Zainalabedin made his mark in the success of Zain Bahrain since its establishment in 2003. With his new position as a managing director, he will certainly continue to play a pivotal role in the company and support Zain Bahrain to reach an advanced phase of growth and expansion. Having joined Zain Group in 2014, Howard has been a key part of the Zain Group executive management team, focusing on commercial and operational performance across all markets. He led the Zain brand refresh and laid the foundations for the establishment of Zain Business initiative, which was rolled out across all operations. With more than 20 years of experience in mobile, television, and fixed telecoms across the Middle East, Europe, and North America, Howard has served in a number of senior roles with reputable telecom providers throughout his career. Howard holds an MBA from the Open University UK, and a BA (Hons) in System Analysis from the University of West England. TradeArabia News Service The newly appointed head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak assures that no laws that will in any way restrict freedom of speech in the country will be adopted. "I can guarantee you and say on behalf of the President of Ukraine that he is the guarantor of freedom of speech and free media. Therefore, no laws that would in any way limit the rights of freedom of speech in our country will be adopted. Therefore, this is the work of the Verkhovna Rada, of course, we will see after it," Yermak said at his first press conference after the appointment in Kyiv on Wednesday morning. Tech jobs are coming to New York City in droves. All the big tech companies even Amazon, which abandoned plans for a headquarters-style campus a year ago are expanding in the city. But many local workers could miss out because they are not receiving the training they need for well-paid careers in tech, according to a new study by the Center for an Urban Future, a nonprofit research group. The study echoes one of the concerns of opponents of a deal that would have cleared the way for a new Amazon office park in the city that tech wealth and good jobs would bypass current New Yorkers. And those natives would be left struggling with the downside: the higher housing prices and living costs in neighborhoods gentrified by newcomers. Closing the opportunity gap in New Yorks tech economy, the study concludes, will require more initiatives that truly prepare workers for careers that can be ladders to the middle class. Per Scholas, a nonprofit founded in 1995 and based in the South Bronx, is an example of how this can be done, according to the study. Over 25 per cent of the world's population -- or two billion people globally -- now uses In February 2018, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had said had 1.5 billion monthly active users (MAUs) who are exchanging nearly 60 billion messages on a single day. India is among the biggest markets for In July last year, WhatsApp had said it has over 400 million users in India. The Facebook-owned company on Wednesday said WhatsApp supports more than two billion users around the world, and asserted that its platform is secured with end-to-end encryption by default. "We know that the more we connect, the more we have to protect. As we conduct more of our lives online, protecting our conversations is more important than ever," it said in a blog. Last year, WhatsApp had received flak after an Israeli spyware was allegedly used to target journalists, lawyers and human rights activists through its platform. In fact last week, Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had slammed WhatsApp saying identification of message originators remained an outstanding concern with the messaging platform. He had questioned how millions of messages are generated and replicated on the "same day, same issue, same geographical area". "...but I have one problem still going on. Who is the initiator of that sin... You must remember, India is emerging as a big global power and there are forces that want to create hurdles...but you don't allow your platform to be abused for that, that is my appeal," the minister had said. In October, WhatsApp had said it was suing NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm, that is reportedly behind the technology that helped unnamed entities' spies to hack into phones of roughly 1,400 users globally, including 121 in India. In the days that followed, the Indian government had said it wants to conduct an audit of WhatsApp's security systems. In its blog post on Wednesday, WhatsApp emphasised that every private message sent using its platform is secured with end-to-end encryption by default. "Strong encryption acts like an unbreakable digital lock that keeps the information you send over WhatsApp secure, helping protect you from hackers and criminals," it added. It said messages are only kept on the user's phone. "...no one in between can read your messages or listen to your calls, not even us. Your private conversations stay between you," it said. WhatsApp -- which has been criticised by rival Telegram for not being as secure as it claims to be -- said strong encryption is a necessity in modern life. "We will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. For even more protection, we work with top security experts, employ industry leading technology to stop misuse as well as provide controls and ways to report issues - without sacrificing privacy," WhatsApp said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jinshan Hong and Daniela Wei (Bloomberg) Hong Kong, China Wed, February 12, 2020 18:45 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20642558b 2 Business China,health,virus,retail,economy,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,luxury Free Neither the glitzy jewelry stores in Chinas upscale shopping malls nor its spicy hotpot restaurants that once saw long waiting lines are likely to come back to life anytime soon as their owners plan to wait out the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Big consumer firms from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd. to Yum China Holdings Inc. have closed as many as 80 percent of total stores as China races to curb the contagion which has already killed over 1,100 people and infected more than 44,000 in China. As local authorities ask residents to stay indoors and take drastic measures against those testing positive with the pathogen, shoppers are wary of stepping out dealing a body blow to consumer companies after lost out on this years Lunar New Year Holiday. The bustling festive week, when millions travel and shop, had seen a US$140 billion spending spree in 2019. Brokerages from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to UBS Group AG have pared Chinas 2020 growth forecast on virus hit. Chow Tai Fook, the worlds biggest jewelry chain by revenue which has temporarily halted operations in about 80 percent of its stores in mainland China, has no planned date for reopening. Those outlets will remain closed until further notice, according to a company spokesperson. Majority of the remaining stores have reduced their operating hours, she said, adding that there were no plans to cut staff. Chow Tai Fook has more than 3,600 outlets in mainland China. Yum China Holdings Inc., which has 9,200 outlets across over 1,300 cities in China, has temporarily closed over 30 percent of restaurants, Chief Financial Officer Andy Yeung said in an earnings call with analysts on Feb. 6. We cannot forecast when nor at what rate the closed restaurants will be reopened, and the traffic will be restored, he said. We may be required or otherwise decide to close additional stores or modify our operations in response to the outbreak. Haidilao International Holding Ltd., Chinas largest hotpot restaurant chain, too has no time line for reopening its 550 stores shut since Jan. 26. We are closely monitoring the situation and paying attention to governments gradual plan for resuming operations, said Yang Xibei, a spokeswoman of Haidilao in a WeChat message. Fast Retailing Co. still hasnt reopened 350 Uniqlo stores in China while Ryohin Keikaku Co., closed two more Muji stores taking the total to 140 as of Feb. 11. Such indefinite shutdowns in China are likely to crimp President Xi Jinpings resolve to spur growth in the largest Asian nation that was suffering from the worst economic slowdown since 1992 even before the novel coronavirus struck. Itll also be a wake-up call for consumer goods giants that had been relying heavily on Chinese consumers to fuel growth. Meanwhile Chinas cities continue to look like ghost towns and the worlds biggest consumer companies have begun taking a hit. Nike Inc. said last week that it has closed about half of its company-owned stores in China due to the virus contagion and expects it to have a material impact on its operations in the country. Rival brand Adidas AG has closed a significant number of stores in China, as have its franchisees. Starbucks Corp. said Jan. 29 that it has closed more than half of its coffee shops in mainland China about 2,000 locations but was yet to calculate the impact. Representatives of Nike, Adidas and Starbucks didnt immediately respond to requests for an update on closed stores. The new chief executive of Invest NI has been getting to grips with the role he took over from Alastair Hamilton last year. That has included visiting some of the province's biggest companies, like Bombardier in east Belfast - where he's met the chief of the aerospace manufacturer's new owner, Spirit AeroSystems. This week he visited Denroy Plastics with a group including Denroy customer Sir Martin Donnelly, managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland. But Kevin Holland's former territory of China, where he worked for three years as a diplomat, is also on his mind. Invest NI employs seven Chinese nationals in offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. But the offices have been temporarily shut. Networking events and meetings have also been halted due to coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people in China. "I have a video conference with all of my team tomorrow so I will see how they are getting on but they are physically at their homes now and not in the offices," Mr Holland said. "Then we will evaluate day by day and week by week what happens next, and just stay engaged with them and try and help them." Mr Holland was formerly employed in the British Embassy in Beijing, and regularly visited Belfast as part of its outreach to encourage UK companies to explore the China market, particularly healthcare. But he said there could ultimately be business opportunities when the virus is contained. "China is a global economic powerhouse with a market of 1.5 billion people, hungry for growth and development. It's a critical global market," he said. "It's having a tough time from coronavirus but it will recover from that and the Chinese Government will invest a lot of money into economic stimulus after the virus settles down in a couple of months' time. So I think there will be many opportunities created out of that and it creates opportunities for UK and NI companies." But Invest NI said it was too early to speculate on the types of economic opportunities which might arise. The international business executive, who is originally from Bristol, praised Northern Ireland as a place to live. "I've been moved to lots of countries around the world but personally moving to Northern Ireland is wonderful. It's a beautiful place. People are very welcoming," he said. Being a newcomer himself is helping put him in the shoes of potential foreign investors. "I've been here for 90 days and it's the longest I've spent in a single country in 25 years. So it's been wonderful going out to meet companies, visit universities, talk to the Chambers of Commerce, visit the councils and hear their views," he said. He had worked with Invest NI in China, including hosting and organising client workshops. "One of the team from Invest NI sat about two metres from me in the Embassy in Beijing," he said. Mr Holland spent 15 years with international healthcare company Baxter, and he's keen to help develop that sector here. But he believes Invest NI has a strong sector mix in the companies it helps, ranging from advanced manufacturing to financial and professional services, as well as cyber security and information technology. It's now in a strategic planning process for 2030. "We're looking at the future of work and what are the type of businesses that are going to be successful in this 10-year timeframe and then we will use that to look at what are the new areas we want to move into," he said. Its 25 international offices are crucial but new ideas are being developed, including a new hub in London. "We've set up a facility that businesses can come into, you can do hot-desking, smart-desking, you can use it for client meetings or to launch a new product or meet investors in London. We've had a soft launch and will go to full launch soon," he said. "We will then try and replicate that in some other locations. Probably the next one will be Dublin. Clearly south of the border is a very important driver for the economy." He says he's heard the arguments in favour of lowering corporation tax here. "For us, when we go overseas to encourage companies to build businesses here, it's a very useful thing to have in our suite of offerings," he added. "I don't think it's essential but it is an advantage." He's also happy that an Executive is now in place. "For me, when I took the job there was no Executive and now there is. We welcome that. We look forward to working with Economy Minister Diane Dodds," he said. Brexit is also looming large but he regards NI as well placed for a prosperous future, with what he sees as three well-meaning neighbours - Britain to the east, the US to the west and the Republic to the south. "Before the January 31 Brexit date, we'd worked with about 2,500 businesses coming into workshops," he said. "We've been able to give 90 to 100 grants to businesses to prepare for life after the EU. "As we go through the next 10 or 11 months, there's intensive discussions and negotiations to have between the UK and Europe on exactly how things will work from January 1, 2021 and then we will be building a package of support around that." Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 04:50:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday deplored the injury of three children in a blast near a school in Abu Issa village, west of the Libyan capital Tripoli. "UNICEF is deeply saddened at reports that three students were injured due to an explosion near Al Jeel Al Saed school, 40 km from Tripoli, that took place on Monday morning," UNICEF said in a statement. It called on Libya's rival parties to protect all children all the time and keep them away from harm's way, in line with the International Humanitarian Law. The east-based army has been leading a military campaign since April 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government. The fighting killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 civilians to flee their homes. McLaren Northern Michigan expects increase in COVID patients during the upcoming weeks As of Jan. 3, McLaren Northern Michigan had 20 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, as well as three in the intensive care unit. Medical Robotics & AI in Healthcare Industry Update AVRA Medical Robotics, after clearing debts have resumed its development of fully autonomous surgical bot. The Indian robotics company is positive about its approval from the FDA and have earned the CE Mark approval from Europe regulatory body. AVRA is hopeful of their surgical robot utility clearance in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Japan. Surgeons, are to get assistance over a wide range of operation procedures using from the autonomous bot. At present, ARVA is focusing on the development of treatment-independent and precision-guidance system for non-invasive skin-resurfacing aesthetic procedures. While the project continuities, AVRA has appealed to the US FDA for fund raising to develop medical robot products. Simultaneously, Titan Medical Inc, a Toronto-headquartered sport surgical system developer, have also petitioned USD 85 Mn to US FDA for the development of its sport robot-assisted surgery gadget. Lately, the company have put the filling on hold, until they discover a potential buyer. In APAC, a scientist of the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology in China invented robot brain worm. Robot brain worms is a novel drug delivery technique that can eliminate possibility of drug toxicity in cancer patients. CloudMinds Technology is making headline in China. As coronavirus brings doom days in Wuhan, the Beijing-based developer of cloud artificial intelligence, teamed up with China Mobile, donated 5G powered disinfecting cleaning Cloud Robots. Thus, it is can be concluded that medical robotics are game changers in the medical sector. Meanwhile, Healthcare Artificial Intelligence is another technology that is observed to contribute significantly to the medicine industry. In January 2020, Microsoft has launched its five-year healthcare artificial intelligence program. The reputed American information company designed AI for Health program to bet tall challenges of the healthcare sector. The resolution of global care crisis due to fault in diagnosis and treatment procedures are major take offs from the USD 40 Mn program. The main agenda of the program is to accelerate medical research and improve community health. The AI for Health program also take into account partnerships with reputed companies that can assist in building a secured ecosystem for sharing medical data. Hence, it is evident that healthcare artificial intelligence is a stupendous initiative absorbed by the medical industry. You Can Get Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5681 Segmental Analysis The worldwide medical robotics market is studied by product, end-user, and application. By product, the market segments are rehabilitation robotic systems, surgical robotic systems, non-invasive radiosurgery robotic systems, hospital and pharmacy robotic systems, and others. Laparoscopy, cardiology, neurosurgery, pharmacy, and orthopaedic surgery are application segments. Hospitals and clinics, rehabilitation centers, specialty centers, and others are end-users. The healthcare artificial intelligence market segments are based on application, component, end user, and technology. By component, the market segments are software, hardware, and services. By application, the market segments are virtual nursing assistant, robot-assisted surgery, clinical trial, dosage error reduction, automated image diagnosis, and preliminary diagnosis. By technology, the market segments are querying method, machine learning, and natural language processing. By end user, the market segments are pharmaceutical & biotechnology, hospital & diagnostic centers, and academic & research laboratories. Regional Outlook The healthcare artificial intelligence market and medical robotics market in North America are expected to experience a sharp rise in their valuations on conclusion of their study period. The global market of healthcare artificial intelligence is expected to thrive at 51.9% CAGR by 2023. The worldwide medial robotics market at 23.21% CAGR can value at USD 23,432 Mn by 2025 Key Players Stryker (US), Smith & Nephew (UK), Intuitive Surgical (US), Aethon (US), InTouch Technologies, Inc. (US), Mazor Robotics (Israel), Medtech SA (France), Renishaw plc (UK), ReWalk Robotics (US), Ekso Bionics (US), McKesson Corporation (US), and Medrobotics Corporation (US) are prominent companies in the global medical robotics market. Next IT Corp, General Vision, Google, DEEP GENOMICS, Intel Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V, GENERAL ELECTRIC, Microsoft Corporation, Stryker, CloudMedx Inc, IBM Watson Health, and NVIDIA Corporation are some reputed names in the healthcare in artificial intelligence market. Medical Robotics Market Related Sample Pages Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1311 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 Twenty two office bearers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Nagaland joined the opposition Naga Peoples Front (NPF) in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at a function held in Dimapur on Tuesday. According to a NPF press statement issued on Wednesday, the BJP leaders were welcomed to NPF by partys president Shurhozelie Liezietsu. More leaders from the saffron party are expected to join the opposition camp in coming days, it stated. Nagaland, which has the inner line permit (ILP) regime in place, doesnt come under the purview of the CAA and the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance has been maintaining that the legislation would have no impact in the state. Under ILP provisions, all outsiders, both foreigners and Indians who are not residents of the particular state need to obtain a permit before entering it. Addressing the event, Nagaland BJPs minority unit president Mukibur Rahman stated that enactment of CAA was the prime reason for them to quit BJP and join NPF. He said that the CAA would lead to entry of illegal immigrants to the region and ILP provisions wont be enough to stop them from entering Nagaland. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A beloved Le Moyne College professor who once served as the longtime director of the Vatican Observatory has died. The Rev. George Coyne, PhD, died Tuesday at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse after a battle with cancer. He was 87 years old. Coyne had served as Le Moynes McDevitt Chair of Religious Philosophy since 2012. He joined the college after spending 28 years as the director of the Vatican Observatory -- one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world -- near Rome. Considered one of the most influential Jesuit scientists in the world, Coyne believed science and faith could coexist. Le Moyne President Linda LeMura mourned Coynes death in a statement released Wednesday. Le Moyne was privileged to have him here for the past eight years, and he spent the final years of his life doing what he loved -- teaching young people about astronomy, LeMura said. "He will be missed immensely by his fellow Jesuits, his faculty colleagues, and by everyone at the College. Born in Baltimore in 1933, Coyne dedicated his life to science and his faith. Coyne joined the Society of Jesus when he was 18, the college said in a statement, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1965. During his journey to become a priest, Coyne earned degrees in mathematics, philosophy and sacred theology. He also earned his doctorate in astronomy. Coynes research interests ranged from studying the surface of the moon to the birth of stars. 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. It means that Ukrainians will be able to travel without visas for 90 days Open source Ukraine has signed visa-free agreements with the Marshall Islands. Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk informed about it on his Telegram channel. "The government approved the Agreement between the governments of Ukraine and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the abolition of visas. The approval of the resolution will allow carrying out the internal procedures necessary for the Agreement to enter into force," he stated. It means that Ukrainians will be able to travel without visas for 90 days during the period of 180 days. As we reported earlier, the new visa rules for short-term trips to EU countries came into force on February 2. The new EU rules on short-term visas will be applied from February 2, 2020. They will simplify the process of applying for a visa to enter Europe for legal visitors, facilitate the development of tourism, sports, and business and at the same time provide more resources to counter the risk of illegal migration and threats to internal security," the message reads. Aimee Lou Wood has revealed she once confronted a former classmate who bullied her at school. Speaking to The Guardian, the Sex Education star explained that she attended an independent secondary school where people made fun of her Stockport accent. They were all posher than me, the 25-year-old said. The mum of a friend would take the p*** out of my Stockport accent. I was getting so badly bullied, but I pretended none of it was bothering me. All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Show all 17 1 /17 All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Nadia Murad, 2018 The Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 'for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict'. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Malala Yousafzai, 2014 The Pakistani activist, who champions female education, became the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at 17 years old, receiving the accolade 'for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education'. Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 2011 The Liberian politician was one of three female recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, all of whom received the recognition 'for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work'. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Leymah Gbowee, 2011 The Liberian peace activist, who also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, lead the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace movement, which contributed towards the Second Liberian Civil War coming to an end in 2003. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Tawakkol Karman, 2011 The journalist, politician and human rights activist from Yemen was the third person who jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, having co-founded and lead the group Women Journalists Without Chains. Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Wangari Muta Maathai, 2004 Wangari Muta Maathai, a social, environmental and political activist from Kenya, passed away in 2011. Seven years prior, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize 'for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace'. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Shirin Ebadi, 2003 The Iranian political activist, human rights activist, lawyer and former judge co-founded the Defenders of Human Rights Centre in Iran. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 'for her efforts for democracy and human rights', having 'focused especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children'. Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Jody Williams, 1997 American political activist Jody Williams received the accolade 'for their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines'. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Rigoberta Menchu Tum, 1992 The Guatemalan-born K'iche' Indigenous feminist and human rights activist became the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 'in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples'. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 The Burmese politician, who is the first State Counsellor of Myanmar and the leader of the National League for Democracy, received the Nobel Peace Prize 'for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights'. Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Alva Myrdal, 1982 Alva Myrdal, a Swedish sociologist, diplomat and politician, jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Garcia Robles in 1982. She was a leader of the disarmament movement. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Mother Teresa, 1979 Regarded as one of the most prominent humanitarians in history, Roman Catholic nun Mother Teresa was awarded the accolade in 1979. She passed away less than two decades later. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Betty Williams, 1976 In 1976, Betty Williams, from Belfast, Ireland, was one of two women to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Williams co-founded the Community of Peace People, previously named the Northern Ireland Peace Movement. Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Mairead Corrigan, 1976 Mairead Corrigan was the second recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976, having co-founded the Community of Peace People alongside Williams. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Emily Greene Balch, 1946 Emily Greene Balch, an American sociologist, pacifist and economist, was a leader of the Switzerland-based Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, a role that resulted in her being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Jane Addams, 1931 Sociologist and activist Jane Addams became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. She was the first international president of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. AFP via Getty Images All the women who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Baroness Bertha von Suttner, 1905 Baroness Bertha Sophie Felicita von Suttner was the first woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, and the second female Nobel laureate after Marie Curie in 1903. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905, having become a campaigner for disarmament. Getty Images Lou Wood went on to recall how one school bully used to call her names. He called me Bugs Bunny all the time, she said. I messaged him and he said he thought about it a lot and felt guilty. It was a catharsis. The actor said she would suggest anyone being bullied always confront their tormentors. I would advise people to talk to their school bullies. The chances are they are now adults who feel really bad about it. When Lou Wood went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she presumed people would make fun of her accent like they did at school. I thought everyone was going to take the p*** out of my Stockport accent again, but my group couldnt have been 28 more different people, she said. My best friend had been to prison. I thought it was amazing, and I felt way less alone. Sex Education star says she thought masturbation was only a boy thing The actor's comments come after she revealed in an interview that she used to think masturbation was only a boy thing. When I filmed a masturbation scene, extras were asking me, What do you mean you had a scene like that? Thats only for boys, she told BBC Newsbeat. The actor went on to explain how important comprehensive sex education in schools is, adding that she felt like a weirdo for wanting to masturbate when she was a teenager. Food, jobs, sex... its a very key part of life and we dont know enough about it, she said. I wish I knew it was normal to want sex for pleasure, and not just to make babies. TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)-Two Indiana agencies have launched the first-ever joint statewide vape education prevention and training. While some school corporations in our area are planning to attend the training, others have been holding their own training for parents, teachers, and students for more than a year. "Our officers and or school resource officers will have contact multiple times a week this is something that within a student population nationwide is becoming more and more of an epidemic," said Aaron Gilman a School Resource Officer with the Tippecanoe School Corporation. That's why school resource officers at TSC decided to start a vaping education program. The program warns parents, teachers, and students about how addictive e-cigarettes can be. "When you are dealing with a product like this particularly with a young mind the ability for that product to become so addictive to that student is huge," added officer Gilman. While TSC has been holding vape education classes since January of 2019, the state of Indiana is beginning its own set of classes that will be made available to school corporations across the state. Those classes are something educators from the Lafayette School Corporation are planning to attend. "We will be able to get educated on things that we need to be educated on and possibly prevention program, said Les Huddle the Superintendent of Lafayette School Corporation. Huddle says they hope that taking the training offered by the state, will allow the school corporation to start their own vape education program. "We will gather the information and put a plan in place and hopefully we will get something implemented as soon as we can, said Huddle. School resource officers at TSC say since educating teachers and school staff about what e-cigarettes look like they have confiscated more of them from students. For more information on where and when the state will be holding the vape education programs click here. Sudan has agreed to hand ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir and others to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, a member of Khartoum's ruling body said Tuesday. The Hague-based ICC has charged Bashir and three of his former aides with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudan's western region during a brutal conflict from 2003. "Those who have been indicted by the ICC, they have to go there," Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishay, a member of the ruling sovereign council said, without mentioning their names. His remarks, quoted in a statement issued by the sovereign council in Khartoum, came as a government delegation met rebel groups in the South Sudanese capital of Juba. Taishay said the talks focused on justice and reconciliation in Darfur, where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict erupted. Taishay said they had agreed several mechanisms for achieving peace in the region. "First, all those who have been indicted by the ICC should appear before the ICC," he said. "Second, a special court be set up to investigate crimes committed in Darfur." The conflict in Darfur, the size of France, erupted when ethnic minority African rebels took up arms against Bashir's then Arab-dominated government, accusing it of marginalising the region economically and politically. The ICC has charged Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict. It has also indicted three of his former aides, Ahmed Haroon, Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussain and Ali Kushied. "We cannot achieve justice unless we treat the suffering of the victims because this is a truth that we can't escape from," Taishay said. "In Darfur, crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed." Bashir has denied the charges. Bashir was ousted by the army in a palace coup last April after months of protests against his iron-fisted rule of three decades. He was detained following his ouster and has since been jailed on corruption charges. Anti-Bashir protesters, residents of Darfur and rebel groups from the region have consistently demanded that the ousted ruler be handed over to the ICC. For years before his ouster and despite the ICC indictments, Bashir had regularly visited regional countries as well as Russia and China. Days before the protests erupted in December 2018, he visited Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, becoming the first Arab leader to do so since the Syrian conflict began in 2011. In 2018, Bashir helped broker a tentative peace deal in South Sudan after five years of intense conflict in the world's newest country, which won independence from Khartoum in 2011. Residents wait at a rest area after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a mobile station in Hong Kong on Sunday. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Few of the citys older residents have been fully inoculated, leaving them highly vulnerable as the city battles an outbreak of the new variant. India's flagship motor show Auto Expo came to a close on Wednesday after witnessing over 70 product launches and unveils, recording a total of 6.08 lakh visitors over eight days. This edition of the Auto Expo witnessed over 352 product displays from 108 exhibitors, including eight global premiers, over 70 launches and unveils, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement. Keeping in pace with the trend for eco-friendly vehicles, the expo also saw launch of 35 electric vehicles, while 15 concepts were showcased. New participants included Chinese players such as Great Wall Motors and Haima Automobile along with Olectra. The expo, however, missed the likes of Toyota, Honda, BMW, Audi and two-wheeler majors Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Co, which had stayed away from the show. The biennial motor show had kicked off on February 5 at India Expo Mart here under the shadow of coronavirus outbreak as officials of Chinese participants stayed away from pavilions, on a day when China's Great Wall Motor announced an investment of USD 1 billion to tap into the country's auto market. Reflecting on the experience of the latest edition of the expo, SIAM President Rajan Wadhera said, "Auto shows globally have evolved and transformed from being mere static displays to providing a unique and enriching experience for every segment of the society at large. Auto Expo- The Motor Show 2020 saw a great response with an overall footfall of 6.08 lakh, enabling them to Explore The World Of Mobility." Keeping in tune with the changing landscape of the automotive industry globally which has also been reflected in India, major manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Voklswagen and Skoda along with new entrants such as Kia and Hector showcased their range of electric vehicles, concepts and upcoming SUVs during the expo. Like the previous editions, this year witnessed many celebrities who were part of the grand Auto Expo canvas. Some of the names include Shah Rukh Khan, Huma Qureshi, Gul Panag, Narian Karthikeyan, Daler Mehndi, Angad Bedi, Nafisa Ali, Designer Gauri & Nainika, Kusha Kapila, Rahul Singh, Soha Ali Khan and Kat Kristian. SIAM Director General Rajesh Menon said the expo "saw an excellent showcase of clean vehicles, safe vehicles, connected vehicles, electric and fuel cell vehicles and futuristic concepts". The auto expo is organised by SIAM with support from the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). (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. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The man who allegedly shot and killed 8-year-old De'Maree Adkins in February 2017 was found guilty of murder by a Fort Bend County jury Wednesday. The jury sentenced Jacobe Payton to 78 years in prison. As previously reported by the Houston Chronicle, Adkins was killed on Feb. 25 when the Honda she and her mother, Latoyia Thomas, were in collided with a speeding Pontiac at Beltway 8 and West Fuqua. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday took a swipe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who had played up his religious identity as a devout Hindu to counter the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign in the run-up to last weeks assembly elections. In a tweet that started with a congratulatory line for the Aam Aadmi Partys spectacular victory in the Delhi elections, Vijayvargiya asked Arvind Kejriwal to introduce recital of Hanuman Chalisa (a hymn propitiating the deity) in schools of the national capital. Why deprive Delhis students of the blessings of Bajrangbali, Vijayvargiya asked in his tweet to Arvind Kejriwal. The tweet started with a quick congratulatory message before getting down to delivering his punch. Certainly, whosoever comes to Lord Hanuman gets his blessings. Now the time has come that Hanuman Chalisa recitation should be made compulsory in all schools, madrasas and other educational institutions of Delhi. Why should Delhi children remain deprived of the blessings of Bajrangbali? Watch | Introduce Hanuman chalisa in schools & madrasas: Vijayvargiya to Kejriwal The BJP general secretarys pointed stress on Hanuman Chalisa was a reference to the many occasions in course of the last few weeks when Kejriwal underscored his religious identity to blunt the BJPs sharply ideological campaign. Vijayvargiya later told news agency ANI that he had tweeted the suggestion to Arvind Kejriwal since he had given credit to Hanuman ji for his victory in the Delhi elections. So, I thought school children should also get the blessings of Hanuman ji, he said. In his victory speech on Tuesday also, the chief minister had referenced the Hindu deity, Hanuman, and then set off to one of the citys most popular temples to the deity to seek blessings. When Kejriwal was asked if he could recite Hanuman Chalisa on a television channel, he quickly made his point by singing verses from the hymn. It was seen as an effort to counter the narrative by rivals who were trying to unite the Hindu vote by extensively focusing on the Shaheen Bagh protests against the amended citizenship law and driving home the message that he was part of the tukde tukde gang. Kejriwals references to Hanuman and recital of the hymns had also triggered many taunts from the BJP. PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday evening, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion jointly traveled to the Netherlands to partake in a series of meetings with several government officials. These meetings will include discussions with Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and discussions with St. Maarten representative in the Kingdom Council of States Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz. Additionally, Prime Minister Jacobs will also attend the Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting; scheduled for this coming Friday, together with Minister Plenipotentiary Rene Violenus. During these important meetings, amongst other pressing matters, we plan on presenting the position of the Government of Sint Maarten in relation to the matter of the request for liquidity support for 2018 and 2019, said Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. In addition, during this travel, work meetings on a more technical level will be held between the support staff of the Ministries from St. Maarten and the Netherlands. This is a part of a continuous effort to strengthen partnerships with our Kingdom partners. A medical worker prepares to receive the first batch of patients of the novel coronavirus pneumonia at Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 8, 2020. Xinhua-Yonhap By Josephine Ma At least 500 hospital staff in Wuhan had been infected with the deadly new strain of coronavirus by mid-January, multiple medical sources have confirmed, leaving hospitals short-staffed and causing deep concern among health care workers. While the government has reported individual cases of health care workers becoming infected, it has not provided the full picture, and the sources said doctors and nurses had been told not to make the total public. The reason for this edict was not explained, but the authorities have been trying to boost morale among frontline medical staff, especially following the death of Li Wenliang, who was killed by the disease weeks after being reprimanded by police for warning colleagues about the new virus. A slide circulating online, however, reveals the scale of infections among medical workers in Wuhan. It said that by mid-January there had been about 500 confirmed cases among hospital staff with a further 600 suspected ones. A source from a major hospital in Wuhan with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the slide was authentic. Medical staff discuss at a temporary hospital converted from "Wuhan Livingroom" in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 10, 2020. Xinhua-Yonhap The figures shown on the slide were also in line with the figures given by two other doctors from major hospitals in Wuhan. Those infected included at least 100 staff from both Wuhan Xiehe Hospital and Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, with a further 50 cases each from Wuhan Number 1 Hospital and Zhongnan Hospital. A research paper published by doctors from Zhongnan Hospital in The Journal of the American Medical Association last Friday said at least 40 medical workers had been infected. Apart from hampering the capacity of hospitals to contain the outbreak and treat patients, medical specialists said the rate of infections among frontline staff was an important indicator of how easily the disease, which has killed more than 1,000 people, could be transmitted and the risks of contracting the virus in hospital. A doctor from a major hospital in Wuhan, who requested anonymity, said the development had hit morale, adding that many medical workers were "devastated" when they saw the CAT scans of colleagues who had been infected. "That is why we have been crying out for more donations of medical supplies, especially hazmat suits," one doctor said, describing how a quarantine area set aside for sick medical workers was now full. "We have seen too many colleagues falling ill because of insufficient protection." Doctors and medical experts have said that a shortage of protective gear, overlong working hours and well as lack of awareness about how contagious the virus was had been major factors in the large number of infections. Photo taken on Feb. 11, 2020 shows the site of a teleconsultation at the west campus of Wuhan Union Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Xinhua-Yonhap Yu Changping, a respiratory specialist with the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, developed a fever on January 14 and was later confirmed to have contracted the virus. He said he was not sure when he became infected since he treated many patients every day and the chance of getting infected was high. "The virus is too contagious. We did not have enough understanding about the virus," he said. Yu was admitted to hospital on January 17 with another colleague from the same department and is still being treated. The deaths of at least three Wuhan health care workers have been reported so far including that of Li, whose case triggered national storm of outrage about initial attempts to cover up the outbreak. The deputy director of Li's department, Mei Zhongming, is also reported to have become infected. It is also unknown if any patient was infected by sick health care workers. According to Li's own posts on the social media network Weibo, he contracted the disease on January 8 from a patient, but only started showing symptoms two days later. Ian Lipkin, John Snow professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, said the risks faced by health care workers were high even with protective gear. The death of Li Wenliang triggered a public outcry. South China Morning Post "The reason for this is that physicians and health care workers have a very intimate relationship with their patients, and even with personal protective equipment, sometimes we use it late, sometimes we get exposed inadvertently, and the efforts we make to support them with fluids and such place us at extremely high risk," he told a briefing on Sunday after visiting China at the invitation of the government. "In addition, those individuals who are working in hospital settings may be immunosuppressed because frankly they're exhausted the viral load that they receive may be larger." A second doctor from a major hospital said health care workers also had to face dire shortages of manpower because many have fallen sick. "Just a very rough estimate, 100 nurses and doctors can look after 100 ordinary beds and 16 ICU beds. If they are sick, not only do they occupy 100 beds, but the staff taking care of 100 beds are gone. That means a hospital loses the capacity of 200 beds." "That is why the authorities have to keep sending medics over to Wuhan, not only because there are not enough beds, but because of a lack of health doctors and nurses to take care of the sick beds." The Chinese authorities have mobilised around 10,000 additional medical staff to treat patients in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, and more protective gear has been sent to major hospitals in the city. But frontline doctors warned of that health care workers in other cities, especially those with less attention and supplies, faced a higher infection risk. A card with a portrait of Dr. Li Wenliang at Li's hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, Feb. 7, 2020. EPA-Yonhap More people have fled fighting in Syria over the past 10 weeks than at any other time in the nearly nine-year-old conflict and the city of Idlib, where many are sheltering, could become a graveyard if hostilities continue, two United Nations agencies said on Tuesday. Syrian government forces are shelling their way northwards, backed by Russian air raids, driving people towards the Turkish border as they try to seize remaining rebel strongholds near Idlib and Aleppo. Turkey, which backs the rebels and is fearful of additional refugees, has retaliated militarily, with displaced civilians caught in between. Its the fastest-growing displacement we have ever seen in the country, Jens Laerke from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, adding that nearly 700,000 people have fled since December, mostly women and children. Of Syrias 17 million people, 5.5 million are living as refugees in the region, mostly in Turkey, and a further six million are uprooted within their own country. Civilians are struggling to find shelter, amid harsh winter conditions with snow, rain and wind from Storm Ciara. Mosques are full and makeshift camps are overcrowded, said Andrej Mahecic, a spokesman for the UN refugee agency. Even finding a place in an unfinished building has become nearly impossible, he told journalists in Geneva, describing the humanitarian crisis as increasingly desperate. After BJP's poor poll performance in the national capital, the party's newly-elected MLA Om Prakash Sharma stated that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal sympathises with terrorists. This statement of Sharma was followed by a meeting with his party's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari in Delhi on Wednesday. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the Delhi assembly polls with 62 seats as per the final results announced by the Election Commission on Tuesday night, while BJP secured victory in the remaining eight constituencies in the 70-seat Delhi assembly. Speaking to ANI, Sharma termed Kejriwal as a 'corrupt' man, stating that the AAP chief plays the role of the Pakistan Army's spokesman. Furthermore, making a big allegation, he called Kejriwal as a 'terrorist'. "Arvind Kejriwal is a corrupt man. He sympathises with terrorists, plays the role of the Pakistan Army's spokesman, raises questions on the Indian Army and supports the "Tukde-Tukde" gang. Indeed, terrorist is the appropriate term for him," Mr Sharma said. Earlier, BJP MP Parvesh Verma had also called Kejriwal a "terrorist" over his alleged support to an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest in south Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. On February 3, even Union Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that there is enough evidence to prove Arvind Kejriwal is a 'terrorist'. He had said, "Today, Arvind Kejriwal's party supports Shaheen Bagh. What is it that you support? Breaking Assam away from India, Jinnah's idea of independence? Standing at a place where slogans of breaking India are being raised is also terrorism." "Mr Kejriwal is making an innocent face today and asking if he is a terrorist. You are a terrorist. There is plenty of proof. You yourself had said you are an anarchist, there is not much difference between an anarchist and a terrorist," Javadekar had said at a press conference. The BJP however improved its tally, managing to win five more seats than it did in 2015. The Congress, which drew a blank in the previous elections, failed to open its account yet again. READ: Delhi polls: EC declares results for all 70 seats; AAP bags 62 seats, BJP wins 8 READ: 'Never expected Congress to lose so badly': says Digvijaya Singh after Patry's Delhi rout Delhi elections result Soon after the counting of votes for the 70 seats of Delhi Assembly began at 8 am, AAP managed to take an early lead leaving Congress and BJP behind. Celebrations broke out at the AAP headquarters as early vote-counting trends showed a comfortable victory for the party. With time, the margins between AAP and BJP, Congress increased following which the Arvind Kejriwal-led registered a thumping victory. While AAP's Sanjeev Jha recorded the biggest victory margin of over 88,000 votes from Burari, AAP's Amanatullah won Okhla with a margin of 71,000 votes. Patparganj constituency witnessed a neck to neck contest between AAP's Manish Sisodia and BJP's Ravinder Singh Negi with the latter leading all throughout the counting only to trail behind Sisodia in the end. Sisodia, however, won with only a thin margin. READ: BJP's Vijayvargiya lashes out, tells CM Kejriwal 'make Hanuman Chalisa recital compulsory' READ: SCOOP: Debutant AAP MLAs may get ministerial berths, Sisodia to remain Kejriwal's deputy India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), a part of Fitch group, on Wednesday downgraded YES Bank's long-term issuer rating to 'IND A-' from 'IND A', while maintaining it on 'Rating Watch Negative' (RWN). The rating downgrade was attributed to continued delay and inconclusive quantum of the anticipated equity infusion in YES Bank. Ind-Ra opined that the delay in capital infusion could adversely impact the bank's franchise and potentially create challenges on asset and liability side. The bank has sizable foreign currency liabilities and institutional deposits. "This rating action is a follow up of the rating rationale published by the agency on January 28, 2020, where the agency had stated that the rating would be reviewed in February 2020," Ind-Ra said in a report. The cash-strapped bank continues to remain in discussions with various potential investors, but has failed to reach a conclusive outcome. In December, YES Bank in a filing to the bourses disclosed that its board was willing to favourably consider London-based Citax Holdings' $500 million offer, adding that it would continue to evaluate other potential investors to raise capital upto $2 billion. Among others who showed willingness for fund infusion were US-based Capital International ($120 million), GMR Group and Associates ($50 million), billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's wife Rekha Jhunjhunwala ($25 million) and Aditya Birla Family Office ($25 million). Also Read: YES Bank gets shareholders' approval to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore Last month, YES Bank rejected $1.2 billion investment offer made by Canadian industrialist Erwin Singh Braich/SPGP Holdings. According to Ind-Ra, the capital infusion 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, as well as for the bank's ability to continue to serve its customers adequately. Although the liquidity position of the YES Bank seemed adequate at end-September 2019 (liquidity coverage ratio of 114 per cent), but in the absence of any swift capital raise, the bank's ability to manage its asset and liability maturities could get tested further, the report said. Also Read: Yes Bank board approves fundraising of Rs 10,000 crore; rejects Erwin Singh Braich's offer Ind-Ra said that raising sizeable capital in the very near term could be challenging and could require various regulatory and other approvals. The rating could be reviewed towards the end of February 2020. For rating AT1 instruments, Ind-Ra considered the discretionary component, coupon omission risk, and write-down/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 three 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. Last week, YES Bank received shareholders' nod to raise capital up to Rs 10,000 crore via issuance of equity shares or other convertible securities. At the Extraordinary General Meeting, the lender also received approval to increase authorised share capital of the bank to Rs 1,100 crore from Rs 800 crore. By Chitranjan Kumar Former Bombay Restraunt View Photos Sonora, CA After a fire caused major damage in December of 2009, a former restaurant building at 301 South Washington Street will be demolished this weekend. City of Sonora Community Development Director Rachelle Kellogg says the upper floor of the former Bombay Restaurant was removed a few years after the fire per an order from the city. She adds, The inspector ordered that done in order to secure the building. And recently the building has been more and more deteriorating. So, on January 21st the city issued a notice and order to the owner of the building to expedite getting the building down. The owner listed for the property is Amarjit Singh. There had been a delay in demolishing it due to a long ongoing lawsuit related to insurance issues regarding the building, but Kellogg indicates that the litigation has apparently now been resolved. Moyle Excavation has been hired to remove the building this Saturday, February 15, between 6am-6pm. The northbound lane on Washington Street will be closed between Church and Gold streets. A detour will be in place for traffic. It is unclear at this time what the future holds for the property. The fire occurred on December 15 of 2009 and Sonora Fire Department investigators determined that the cause was an electrical malfunction in the space connecting the kitchen and dining areas. Click here to view our Washington Street webcam that overlooks the Bombay Restaurant. BHPs best and brightest turned up en masse at Richmond warehouse space Butler Lane to farewell boss Andrew Mackenzie, who leaves for good next month. Along with current BHP chairman Ken MacKenzie - whose speech was described by one attendee as an investor relations presentation" - there was former chair Don Argus, now presiding over the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Australia advisory board. From left, BHP chief executive Mike Henry, former CEO Andrew Mackenzie and chairman Ken MacKenzie at the company's Melbourne headquarters. Credit:AAP Other ghosts of mining past at the Tuesday night dinner included ex-ANZ chair Charles Goode, whose loyalty to BHP over Robert Holmes a Court in 1986 split the Potter Partners brokerage, and one-time Rio Tinto chairman Leigh Clifford. Also spotted: Alumina chief executive Mike Ferraro, Pacific National boss Dean Dalla Valle, corporate spinner John Connolly, former Labor national secretary turned BHP lobbyist George Wright, Orica chairman Malcolm Broomhead and Gresham managing director Bruce McLennan, who worked on South32s demerger from BHP. (Karen Wood, South32s chairwoman, was also in attendance and gave a speech.) 59 Shares Share An excerpt from Dottoressa: An American Doctor in Rome. The great bidet mystery: Whats it for? Americans can live here for decades thinking Italians go to the trouble of installing bidets just so they can soak their feet. If theyve read Henry Miller, they add so women can wash before and after sex. The truth is that every Italian of whatever gender uses the bidet dailyyoure not clean after defecation if you havent cleansed away every trace of feces. Except in case of dire necessity they wont move their bowels anywhere but home, next to their own bidet. I remember on a visit to Italy in the early seventies somehow innocently revealing to an Italian my assumption that he pulled up his pants after only using toilet paper. A major gaffe. Americans say shit in frustration and hot shit in admiration but have barely a nodding acquaintance with the real thing, with the unfortunate corollary that many of them walk around emanating a faint fecal odor. Italians acquaintance with their stool is hands on. When they grasp each others habits of anal hygiene, each side cordially considers the other filthy (Americans just use toilet paper? Italians wash WHAT with their fingers?). Fastidiousness lying in the eye of the washer, an Italian is disgusted by the idea of having bits of feces clinging to her, but finds it normal to wash daily there and only there; an American is disgusted by the idea of getting up-close-and-personal with his anus but cant imagine a day without a shower. Italians dont get their bidet habit from France, where the fixture is indeed ladies-only, but from their neighbors to the south: Arabs, like Asians, wash every time they move their bowels, and bequeathed this healthy custom to the Italians. Doing the bidet for your baby or your aged mother is a far more intimate gesture of tenderness than Jesus washing his disciples feet. American female hygiene used to leave much to be desired, but as a daily observer of vulvas I was happy to see around the turn of the millenium that it began improvingdue to an uptick in the popularity of cunnilingus? Italian women are always washing, some of them after every pipi. Its part of a general acceptance of the body and its natural functions. They believe in being clean but not in being Sanitized, in bidets but not Bidettes. The same companys brand of panty liners will be perfumed in the U.S., scentless here. I was once having coffee with a dozen middle-aged friends in a house so new it still lacked internal doors. One of them said to the host, Why dont you leave the place as-is? That way people can keep conversing while theyre on the pot. Everybody smiled and nodded. Theres long precedenta classic subject for tourist snapshots is the twenty-four-seat marble public toilet in the ruins of Ostia Antica, just outside Rome. Another time I was enjoying a sauna along with several Roman women, when an American came in and sat down naked on the bench. The Italians glared. Seeing that she didnt take the hint one spoke up and sent her out to find a towel to put under her butt, giving them the chance in her absence to rail against filthy foreigners who thoughtlessly contaminate public spaces. Not only wont Italians sit directly on the wood in a sauna, but they will endure painful thigh cramps to avoid putting bare skin on public toilets, which in the name of hygiene are often stripped to seatless porcelain. An Italian patient who works as a tour guide told me, Foreigners are horrified that we dont have toilet seats in public restrooms, were horrified that they would consider sitting down on one. A medical corollary: Italians find the rectal route a perfectly fine way for getting drugs into the system. I once co-authored a scientific paper with Professor Pranteras ulcerative colitis research group showing that an innovative enema twice a week worked as well for warding off relapses as the standard six horse pills a day, and gave fewer side effects. The paper got turned down by an American medical journal with the puzzled comment, Who on earth would choose an enema when they can take a pill? Italians are finicky about other body parts as well. They shudder when the French carry unwrapped baguettes under their arms, they ask fellow-passengers to remove their feet from the facing train seat, and they slip their shoes back on to cover the two steps from my dressing room to my exam table. My take is this: Americans consider our whole underside to be intrinsically dirty and mentally airbrush it out. Italians think bodies are amenable to cleansing, so theyre constantly aware of its potential contamination. Goes back to when the Romans, with their mania for washing, lost out to Christians, who for centuries considered bathing a sinful cult of the body. Susan Levenstein is an internal medicine physician and author of Dottoressa: An American Doctor in Rome. Image credit: Shutterstock.com The French government's pension reform, which has sparked weeks of strikes and protest, will be debated in parliament in its original form without amendments, after a parliamentary commission failed to address all 22,000 modifications proposed by the opposition in the nine days allotted. The special commission on pension reform in the National Assembly spent nine days and 75 hours addressing the 22,000 amendments to the bill, most of which (19,000) were introduced by the hard-left France Unbowed lawmakers (France Insoumise), explicitly to slow down the process. On Tuesday night the commission finished its examination of the bill having addressed only 8,000 of the amendments. It announced that on Monday 17 February, parliament will debate the original draft of the legislation presented by the government. This has never happened since a 2008 constitutional reform introduced the idea of a review commission for all draft legislations. The president of the commission, Brigitte Bourguignon, of the ruling La Republique en Marche (LReM) party, admitted the situation was regrettable. "It's a situation that I agree to with regret, she said, adding that the commission's work will not go unheeded. Guillaume Gouffier-Cha, the bill's sponsor, could introduce the 20 or so amendments that were approved by the commission. The ruling party blames the situation on France Unbowed and the avalanche of amendments, which it says denigrates the work of parliament. The opposition says the government is moving too fast by pushing for the bill to be debated and voted on by the beginning of March, ahead of local elections later in the month. Jean-Luc Melenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, swore to continue the fight during the main debates, to bring down what he calls President Emmanuel Macron's stubbornness. The party, along with two other leftist groups in parliament, have said they will try to introduce a no confidence vote to slow down the process. The government could decide to resort to constitutional clause 49-3 which allows it to push through legislation without parliamentary approval, a move that could further anger the opposition, which claims the reform is being pushed through against the will of the people. Unions, meanwhile, are calling for a day of action on Monday, as debates on the bill begin. Public transit, which has returned to normal since an unprecedented six week strike over December and January, could be blocked. Unions are also calling for a general strike on Thursday, 20 February. (with wires) The Mercy Catholic Medical Center Mercy Philadelphia Campus on 54th Street in West Philadelphia on Nov. 5, 2019. The facility faces closure as an inpatient facility amid financial pressures. Read more Trinity Health expects to end inpatient services at its 157-bed Mercy Catholic Medical Center-Mercy Philadelphia Campus, a Catholic stalwart that has served as a health-care safety net for poor families in West Philadelphia for more than 100 years. After careful consideration, we have come to the financial realization that our Mercy Philadelphia campus simply cannot continue operating in an acute-care capacity over the long term, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Ann DAntonio said Wednesday. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. It is, however, the decision we are called to make. No date for closure has been set. The potential closure of Mercy Philadelphia, which employs 900, as an acute-care hospital would follow the demise of Hahnemann University Hospital last year and St. Josephs Hospital in 2016. Mercy Philadelphia which opened as Misericordia Hospital in 1918 as a mission of the Sisters of Mercy has a very high load of Medicaid and Medicare patients and a high percentage of uncompensated care, according to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Those factors make it harder for hospitals to operate at a profit. Hospital officials said the facility has lost money for six of the last seven years. They also said Mercy Philadelphia has lost a quarter of its patient volume since 2013. The hospitals occupancy rate fell to 67.8% for the year ended June 30, 2018, from 74.5% five years earlier. That decline was driven in part by the long-term trend toward the delivery of health care on an outpatient basis, a shift that is making it harder for many hospitals to keep their beds full. That trend has contributed to a 33% reduction since the late 1990s in the number of licensed acute-care hospital beds in Philadelphia, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. As part of an effort to remain viable, Trinity, which is based in Michigan and is one of the nations largest nonprofit hospital chains, announced in early 2018 a $15 million expansion of the emergency department at Mercy Philadelphia, which is at 501 S. 54th St. It opened last fall but wasnt enough. In the coming months, we will begin the slow, deliberate and informed process of transforming our campus away from an inpatient hospital, shifting toward a model that can better and more sustainably serve the West Philadelphia community in the future. While we do not yet have all the answers, we promise to keep our patients, physicians and colleagues informed throughout every step of this process, DAntonio said in an emailed statement. In 2018, Mercy Philadelphias emergency department had more than 48,000 visits, nearly as many as Hahnemanns ER. Pennsylvania law does not allow freestanding emergency departments, which means that the busy department would go away if inpatient services stop. A new Philadelphia law, enacted last year in response to Hahnemanns abrupt and chaotic closure, requires 180 days notice of a planned hospital closure. State law calls for 90 days between the approval of a closure plan by the state Health Department and actual closure. No time frame has been set on what will happen at Mercy. But late last year, Mercy announced plans to close the hospitals crisis center for mental-health emergencies, just a month after it closed a similar facility at the Mercy Fitzgerald Campus in Darby. The hospital voluntarily relinquished its license after its center failed a November inspection, and was cited by the state for overusing restraints. Trinity is expected to shift much of the inpatient care provided at Mercy Philadelphia to its 188-bed Mercy Fitzgerald, which is less than three miles away in Delaware County. City Councilmember Jamie R. Gauthier, whose district includes Mercy Philadelphia, said the hospital is a vital provider of care to that part of the city. We are proactively engaging Mercy, city officials, and other stakeholders to ensure that there is transparency in their plans, that hospital employees are supported, and that people in West and Southwest Philadelphia continue to get the medical care they need and deserve, she said. Independent TD for Cork South West, Michael Collins, has apologised for calling Shane Ross "a scumbag", saying "I probably was tired" when he made the comment. The 51-year-old, re-elected to Dail Eireann on the first count as he topped the poll in last weekend's election, said the language used was "over the top". While Shane Ross accepted Deputy Collins's apology, the original comment prompted a furious response from former Junior Minister John Halligan, who said Deputy Collins was "beneath contempt". I am absolutely disgusted at the language used by Michael Collins TD in describing Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross," the former Waterford TD said. At a time when so many political figures and decision-makers are inundated with online abuse, this man - who says he always tries to play the ball and not the man - has gone out of his way to further fan the flames of hatred and kick a fellow politician while he is down. Collins is beneath contempt. Deputy Collins, from Schull, has had a difficult relationship with the former Transport Minister, who lost his seat in Dublin Rathdown in last weekend's election. On the campaign trail, Deputy Collins described Mr Ross as "a clown" and in the immediate aftermath of his win last Sunday at the count centre in Clonakilty he said the outgoing Transport Minister was now "on the scrapheap of Irish politics". He repeated that claim during post-count celebrations but also referred to Mr Ross as "a scumbag". Speaking on RTE radio's Today with Sean O'Rourke programme, the TD apologised for the comment, stating that "very little drink" had been taken and that he normally "plays the ball and not the man or the woman" in politics. "I probably was tired," he said. "I met people at the door who were absolutely furious and there's no other word in Cork south-west with the way the previous government had carried on with so many terrible decisions that were made against the people of rural Ireland... I give an apology for that word but I certainly don't give an apology for what has happened to rural Ireland and for me to stand up on behalf of those people. Mr Collins said he withdrew the "scumbag" comment saying his language was over the top. Joining the conversation the former Independent TD for Dublin Rathdown Shane Ross told Sean O'Rourke he accepted Mr Collins' apology and congratulated him on his re-election. "Of course I do," Mr Ross said. "There's no way that I could do anything else". He added people often use colourful language in the heat of battle and afterwards. Mr Collins had previously claimed that Mr Ross, while Minister, had wrecked rural Ireland, referring to increased Vat in the tourism sector which he said had led to the closure of businesses in his constituency and elsewhere. On RTE Radio he also referred to the new measures introduced by the last government to cut drink-driving levels, stating that the policy should have been considered in light of its impact in rural areas. Mr Ross, also speaking on Today with Sean O'Rourke, said he understood Deputy Collins's sentiments about rural Ireland but that the number of deaths on roads on rural Ireland have reduced since he introduced tougher drink driving measures. He said he also accepted that increased Vat in the tourism sector has damaged businesses, but said that he had opposed, and fought against, the measures which were ultimately adopted by the last government. Mr Ross also said he believes it will take quite a long time for a new government to be formed and urged Mr Collins to "get in there and talk and push for what he believes in" as it was currently a very fluid situation. Listen to the full exchange below: - Additional reporting Digital Desk New Delhi, Feb 12 : Delhi Chief Minister-elect Arvind Kejriwal will retain all the Cabinet ministers who were part of his last government, the AAP said. Speaking to IANS, an Aam Aadmi Party leader said all the Cabinet ministers will take oath on February 16 along with Kejriwal. "Kejriwal will retain the Cabinet ministers - Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Kailash Gahlot, Gopal Rai, Rajendra Pal Gautam and Imran Hussain," the leader said. The confirmation came amid speculation that the third government of Kejriwal may have new names in the Cabinet. "Kejriwal believes that the people have liked the government and its work. So, we have decided that the Cabinet ministers will be retained," the leader added The AAP on Tuesday won 62 of 70 seats in Delhi. Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party chief, was elected to the New Delhi seat for a third time by a margin of 21,697 votes. Among the AAP Cabinet ministers, Sisoida bagged the seat with the smallest margin. Sisodia won the Patpadganj seat with a margin of 3,207 votes, Kailash Gahlot retained his Najafgarh seat by a margin of 6,231 votes. Cabinet minister Rajendra Pal Gautam retained the Seemapuri seat with a margin of 56,108 votes and Gopal Rai was re-elected to Babarpur with a margin of 33,062 votes. Imran Hussain won from Ballimaran with a margin of 36,172 votes and the margin of Satyendar Jain's victory was 7,592 votes. Kejriwal, who made it a hat-trick to the Chief Minister's office, will take oath on February 16 at the Ramleela Maidan -- similar to the last two times. W&M professor develops measurement for the effect of social media on students Social media research: Leandra Parris adapted existing rumination scales, tailoring hers to adolescent social media use by creating items with the language that students used in her focus groups to describe their thoughts about social media. Courtesy photo Photo - of - Hide Caption Leandra Parris, assistant professor of school psychology at William & Mary, has developed the first scale to measure social media rumination in adolescents. She hopes to bring it to local schools in Williamsburg to educate administrators and teachers about the prevalence of social media rumination. Before this research, I didnt realize the great extent to which social media has an impact in students lives, affecting both friendships and romantic relationships, Parris said. {{youtube:medium:center|uPaZveS-eXk, Parris discusses her research}} Social media rumination was not Parris' focus when she first started her research. She was working on developing a program for at-risk high school students in the Urbana-Champaign area in Illinois, studying factors that affected students learning such as peer relationships. When students continually brought up social media without being prompted, Parris knew she had to explore more. The students spoke of how social media affected their relationships at school and how they constantly thought about it in a negative way. Parris reviewed the research about social media rumination and decided to create a scale to measure a concept no one else had studied before in this way. Parris adapted existing rumination scales, tailoring hers to adolescent social media use by creating items with the language that students used in her focus groups to describe their thoughts about social media phrases such as I obsess about whats happening on social media and I find it hard to not think about social media. The scale has been tested through a survey of students nationally. Now that it is ready to be implemented in schools, Parris hopes to bring it to the Williamsburg area. She hopes the scale will inspire prevention efforts that target the negative effects of social media. Along with prevention, the scale provides opportunities for more research. Parris wants to study how students thoughts about social media influence bullying. The influence of technology has always been a special interest for her, and she has a background in cyberbullying research. While developing the scale, Parris learned that social media rumination influences the relationship between bullying and stress, but not when it comes to cyberbullying. Intrigued by this finding, she is eager to find out why. Parris encourages schools to look at the link between social media rumination and bullying, saying that if there is a decrease in one, there will likely be a decrease in the other. The scale will help schools do just that and also help educators create interventions to overcome it, Parris says. Parris has many ideas for what interventions in schools could look like. School psychologists can teach students about mental health and how to deal with the stress of social media. They can also help teachers incorporate mental health topics into lessons and teach them how to help students combat the stress that comes with it. If you have a school climate where students understand that social media isnt necessarily positive, and the school educates students that social media doesnt show reality and that it can negatively impact their well-being, it will change the way students think about it, Parris said. She is now working on publishing the scale, so that researchers and schools can use it worldwide to improve students mental health and school experience. Technavio has been monitoring the industrial valve actuators market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.05 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005677/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the industrial valve actuators market from 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Advances in industrial valve actuators have been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, high cost associated with automating pipeline and transportation infrastructure might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Industrial Valve Actuators Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Industrial Valve Actuators Market is segmented as below: Product Electric-valve Actuators Pneumatic-valve Actuators Hydraulic-valve Actuators Mechanical-valve Actuators End-user Oil and Gas Chemical and Petrochemical Power Water and Wastewater Metals and Mining Other End-users Geographic segmentation North America APAC Europe South America MEA 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=IRTNTR32180 Industrial Valve Actuators Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our industrial valve actuators market report covers the following areas: Industrial Valve Actuators Market Size Industrial Valve Actuators Market Trends Industrial Valve Actuators Market Industry Analysis This study identifies expansion of oil terminals as one of the prime reasons driving the industrial valve actuators market growth during the next few years. Industrial Valve Actuators Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the industrial valve actuators market, including some of the vendors such as ABB Ltd., Danfoss AS, Emerson Electric Co., Flowserve Corp., General Electric Co., Georg Fischer Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., Rotork Plc., Schlumberger Ltd. and The Weir Group Plc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the industrial valve actuators market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Industrial Valve Actuators Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist industrial valve actuators market growth during the next five years Estimation of the industrial valve actuators market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the industrial valve actuators market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of industrial valve actuators market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005677/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Actor Song Kang-ho, third from left, waves as he arrived at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. He, along with some other members of the "Parasite" team, returned to Seoul after wrapping up their U.S. trip to Los Angeles for the 92nd Academy Awards. / Yonhap 'Parasite' likened to 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' By Kang Hyun-kyung, Park Ji-won Can the Korean cinema boom last? If so, for how long? While watching the broadcast on Monday of director Bong Joon-ho winning awards at the Oscars for the critically acclaimed film "Parasite", some were wondering if Korean cinema is capable of producing masterpieces like it again in the future. Among others, "Parasite" has been lauded for its rare combination of artistry and commercial success. Experts are divided but in general they were not so positive about the prospect for further homegrown movies that can rock the global movie market like Parasite has. Cho Jun-hyoung, a senior researcher at the Korean Film Archive in Seoul, said there are few filmmakers who are as talented as Bong Joon-ho or Park Chan-wook, another film-making sensation. "Korean cinema is currently dominated by filmmakers in their 50s, better known as the '586' Generation, and post-Bong Joon-ho filmmakers appear to be hard pressed," he said. "As the generation dominates in other fields, so it is in the film industry." Cho said Bong and a few other talented filmmakers triggered the Korean cinema boom, which began from the late 1990s through to 2011. But he said there are no other subsequent filmmakers who truly standout as Bong and Park have created movies that can meet the tough conditions of artistry and commercial success. "What's worse is that the two greats appear to have passed their peak," he said. "But I think Korean cinema can be a subject of interest in North America in the next couple of years due to the stunning success of 'Parasite.' But whether it can be sustainable or not is a different story." Korea's cinema boom was rekindled in the 1990s with the arrival on the scene of some talented filmmakers. Cho said deregulation and the lifting of censorship during the Kim Dae-jung government in the late 1990s also helped Korean cinema enter a new era. "There was a market for movies and moviegoers flocked to theaters," he said. Kuwait-based Gulf Bank has signed up as a client of Instimatch Global, an international digital network for institutional money market lending. This marks Instimatchs entry into the Kuwaiti market, with Gulf Bank joining over 80 leading institutions from across Europe and the Mena region on the Instimatch network. These include banks, corporate treasuries, pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers and family offices. Founded in 2017 in Switzerland, Instimatch Global is changing the way cash deposit transactions take place, by digitalising traditional voice brokerage and by moving from local to global execution. Its cloud-based network connects borrowers with lenders within the huge unsecured money markets, providing more efficient access, better pricing and the ability to diversify counterparty risk. Gulf Bank is one of the leading banks in Kuwait, with a broad offering of consumer banking, wholesale banking, treasury, and financial services. Gulf Bank has a large network of 58 branches, with total assets of KD6 billion ($19.6 billion), and is rated 'A' by the four leading credit rating agencies. Gulf Bank will be able to use the Instimatch network as part of its treasury operations, in order to source additional money market opportunities, with full control over counterparties. Abdulwahab Al-Banna, assistant general manager at the banks Treasury Department said: Out of all the alternative systems I have seen, Instimatch is by far the best. Daniel Sandmeier, CEO of Instimatch Global, commented: Were delighted to welcome Gulf Bank to our rapidly expanding cash deposits network. This step marks another important milestone in our development in the Gulf region. Kuwait offers a uniquely attractive opportunity for lenders on our platform, as the Kuwaiti government guarantees deposits.- TradeArabia News Service Team AvenueWest This type of lodging is more than just a place to stay; it is a much-needed service provided for employees experiencing a training or transition. It in turn helps employers achieve their business goals by cultivating more engaged and focused employees. In todays competitive and ever evolving world of business travel, it is essential for lodging suppliers to meet and exceed the needs of professional travelers. The Corporate Housing Providers Association / CHPA, announced the nominees for the 2020 Tower of Excellence Awards for member companies and individuals that are advancing the professionalism and excellence in this segment of the business travel industry. AvenueWest is honored to be recognized in two categories this year. AvenueWest is a former winner of the Company of the Year award, and this year AvenueWest is being recognized for innovation and impact within the ever growing $10 billion-dollar corporate housing industry. Winners will be announced and honored on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at the annual industry event and meeting in Austin, TX. The CHPA Innovation of the Year Award recognizes a company that has made significant progress in innovative advancements related to the industry. Angela Healy, CEO of AvenueWest states AvenueWest is honored to be recognized by CHPA and to be associated with the other award nominees. Together, this group of nominees is leading the industry into the next level of service and lodging solutions. Secondly, the new CHPA Industry Impact Award recognizes professionals in the Corporate Housing industry for their long-term history of exemplary service and accomplishments to CHPA and the corporate housing industry. Kimberly Veazey, the founder of AvenueWest, is humbled to be included as a nominee for this the inaugural year of the Impact Award. Having interacted with both Charlie and Gavan through our leadership and work with CHPA, I can appreciate all the efforts and impact these other honorees have made in the industry, expressed Ms. Veazey. I am also thankful for the leadership and tireless work the staff of CHPA commits to the growth and evolution of this industry. In a world before AirBnB, Sonder, and Lyric, AvenueWest saw the business potential for fully-furnished residential rentals. In 1999, AvenueWest Corporate Housing started as a small real estate management company but quickly grew to the largest provider of corporate housing rentals in Colorado. Driven by the development of new ideas, meaningful innovation and vision for corporate growth, in 2010 AvenueWest Global Franchise, LLC was launched. This enabled the national expansion of the AvenueWest Managed Corporate Housing business model. In 2018, AvenueWest Global Franchise, LLC, was named by the State of Colorado as a Colorado Company to Watch. This award acknowledged the drive, excellence and influence of AvenueWest as a growing company in the state. Founded on the principles of service, quality and choice, AvenueWest Global Franchise now has 16 local real estate franchise brokerages and just launched AvenueWest Canada to further its North American expansion. Today, AvenueWest still has the same mission statement it started with in 1999. We can best serve our tenants and property owners by always improving the quality of everything we do as a team. We are committed to the process of becoming a continuously self-improving organization. There are two secrets to the companys success, says Ms Healy. First, we work hard to run AvenueWest as a team and develop a place where our employees enjoy coming to work, take pride in what they do and create lasting solutions for the tasks at hand. Secondly, we believe in doing business the old-fashioned way, person-to-person with high standards for customer service. We are able to offer the relocating or traveling professionals more than just a temporary place to call home. We also help them get to know and love their new city like we do. Many of our customers come back to us time and time again because they know they can depend on us for reliable information about the city their employees are relocating to. We are now poised for strong growth, believes Ms Healy. We have proven our original business model and we have perfected and proven our franchise model. We will start by growing to 25 offices by the end of 2020. In addition, AvenueWest has identified over 230 North American cities, where the AvenueWest business model will work and there is sufficient lodging demand. According to CHPA, This type of lodging is more than just a place to stay; it is a much-needed service provided for employees experiencing a training or transition. It in turn helps employers achieve their business goals by cultivating more engaged and focused employees. It is estimated that the annual collective U.S. domestic employee transfer volume for Fortune 500 companies is 244,595. As businesses expand and require specific talent, they rely on AvenueWest Managed Corporate Housing to meet the housing needs of their employees. The average AvenueWest tenant stays over 100 days. These furnished rentals are a true home away from home. About AvenueWest AvenueWest Managed Corporate Housing was founded in 1999. In 2010, AvenueWest Global Franchise was established to expand the business and corporate housing services throughout the United States. In 2019, AvenueWest Canada was launched to continue to expand the franchise program into Canada. Currently, AvenueWest Global Franchise has 16 offices located in Atlanta GA, Boulder CO, Colorado Springs CO, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Denver South / DTC CO, Northern Colorado, Las Vegas NV, Phoenix AZ, Raleigh NC, Sacramento CA, San Francisco CA, Scottsdale AZ, St Louis MO, Tucson AZ and Toronto, Ontario Canada. Our Vision: AvenueWests vision is to provide quality Managed Corporate Housing by professionally servicing a unique niche of business travelers with investment owners properties. Our Mission: AvenueWests primary objective is to provide high quality condominiums, townhomes, lofts, single family homes and apartments to meet the short-term executive housing demand. We can best serve our tenants and property owners by always improving the quality of everything we do as a team. We are committed to the process of becoming a continuously self-improving organization. http://www.AvenueWest.com DES MOINES, Iowa The top officials at a state-run institution for people with severe disabilities directed the purchase of sexual lubricants, silk sheets or boxers and pornographic images in preparation to study patients' sexual arousal, according to a new lawsuit filed by former employees at the facility. The lawsuit, filed Monday by six former employees at the Glenwood Resource Center, claims former Glenwood Superintendent Jerry Rea and other managers purchased a dedicated computer, software program and joystick for the sole purpose of sexual arousal research at the facility. The former employees, who include former Glenwood center doctors and top administrators, further claim in a 37-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa that the patients' medications were changed to prepare for the study. "They intended to use, and did use, highly vulnerable GRC patients as the 'guinea pigs' in research experiments," the suit says. The lawsuit was filed in the midst of an ongoing federal investigation into the Glenwood Resource Center. The U.S. Department of Justice alerted state officials late last year that it is investigating whether patients' rights were violated. Outside the Glenwood Resource Center administration building on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Glenwood. The suit claims that the facility's administrators failed to "obtain informed consent" from the patients' guardians "prior to beginning research." "Defendants were forced to later scramble to get consent on behalf of patients that had been experimented on after receiving notice of a new Department of Justice investigation of GRC in 2019," it says. The center includes residential homes for patients with severe intellectual disabilities. Many of the roughly 200 residents, who often cant speak, walk or feed themselves, also have a dual diagnosis of mental illness. The Iowa Department of Human Services, which oversees the Glenwood Center, is conducting its own inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing. Story continues The suit claims that the administration's actions led to a decline in the quality of care at the facility, and an increase in patient deaths. In a general statement in response to the lawsuit's specific allegations, DHS spokesman Matt Highland said: "The Department is not going to comment on pending litigation, but DHS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve and our employees. We continue to take all necessary action to address all allegations." Human experiments: Superintendent at Iowa care center fired amid allegations Defendants named in their official and individual capacities are: Jerry Foxhoven, the former director of the Iowa Department of Human Services who was ousted in June 2019; Richard Shults, a DHS administrator who retired last month; Jerry Rea, the ex-superintendent at the Glenwood center; and Mohammad Rehman, the center's current medical director. The suit also names the Glenwood Resource Center and the Iowa Department of Human Services as defendants. The plaintiffs are Kelly Brodie, who served in various management roles; Dr. John Heffron, a former physician; Kathy King, a former employee and current patient guardian; Dr. Michael Langenfeld, a former physician; Katherine Rall, director of quality management; and Jamie Shaw, a nurse practitioner. They all left or were forced out during Rea's two years of running the center. The lawsuit claims the defendants violated plaintiffs civil rights, conspired to violate those rights, wrongfully terminated the plaintiffs, violated Iowas whistleblower law and interfered with physician-patient relationships. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages as well as damages in an amount that will fairly and justly compensate Plaintiffs for the violation of their civil rights, mental anguish, pain and suffering, lost earnings and benefits and damage to their reputations. Alleged retaliation and reprisals The former employees claim the managers schemed to "creatively destroy" the health care system designed to protect patients at the center. That included excluding the now-former workers from planning meetings and removing care standards designed after the Justice Department investigated the institution about 20 years ago. The former employees said they brought their complaints to various state officials, but top managers including Rea, the recently ousted superintendent conspired to silence, punish and retaliate against the workers over several years in some cases, according to the lawsuit. "Each of the plaintiffs was exposed to a toxic and hostile work environment, suffered repeated public humiliation, loud and personal disparagement, and professional embarrassment," the suit says. The former employees claim that over a period of time, they were systematically removed after they complained about treatment decisions at the center. Last spring, a Des Moines Register investigation showed Glenwood employees repeatedly warned state officials that medical care at the center had dangerously eroded. Fourteen severely disabled residents died there between June 2018 and April 2019, more than double the usual rate. The lawsuit claims that Rea and Rehman, the ex-superintendent and current medical director, instituted policies, against the judgment of doctors, that were aimed at limiting the number of prescription medicines given to patients. "After Plaintiffs were forced out of (the Glenwood center), the quality of care severely declined because of the new facility leadership and its director of medical care, and the rate of deaths and other adverse events for (Glenwood center) patients increased significantly." Focus on sexual arousal research The Justice Department is investigating allegations of human experimentation at the Glenwood Resource Center that includes sexual arousal studies and hydration studies. The lawsuit highlights that Rea, the former superintendent at the center, had a long-standing interest in sexual behavior studies. An old bio page noted that he studied assessment and treatment of deviant sexual behavior in persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities. According to the ex-workers, the top managers named in the lawsuit sought to transform the Glenwood center into a research facility that advanced Rea's interest in clinical research involving sexual arousal and sexual deviancy. Rea patented "an apparatus for detecting and monitoring the sexual arousal of an individual" more than 20 years ago, according to the bio and information on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's website. The lawsuit claims top managers directed that patients' medications be changed for their participation in research activities, including the level of dopamine given to patients but that the change put patients at risk because some require an array of carefully calibrated medications. In at least one instance described in the lawsuit, the interference with patient medication caused seizures and behavior that were later used to justify an increased use of physical restraints that were contrary to federal standards established for the center. At one point, according to the lawsuit, top managers directed that public funds be used to buy "silk sheets or silk boxer shorts," sexual lubricants and "stock photos which included pornographic images" as part of plans for sexual arousal research on patients. The "plaintiffs ... were vocal in their opposition to Defendants' outlandish schemes and unlawful actions," the suit says. Follow Barbara Rodriguez on Twitter @bcrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Glenwood Resource Center patients were research 'guinea pigs': lawsuit Portland, OR, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global tooling industry generated $200.8 billion in 2018 and is expected to garner $368.5 billion in 2026, registering a CAGR of 8.0% from 2019 to 2026. The report offers a detailed analysis of drivers & opportunities, key investment pockets, market size & projections, competitive scenario, and changing market trends. An increase in consumption of consumer electronics & electrical devices, advancements in renewable energy, and a rise in focus on customizations of products for automotive products facilitate the growth of the global tooling market. On the other hand, an increase in the adoption of 3D printing and the trade war between China the U.S. hinder the growth to some extent. On the other hand, advancements such as penetration of IoT and automation are projected to offer a number of lucrative opportunities in the coming future. On the basis of product type, the dies and molds segment held nearly two-fifths of the total share of the global tooling market in 2018 and is expected to maintain its dominance by 2026. This is due to the utilization of dieing and molding as a production technique for the manufacturing essential automotive and aerospace parts. On the other hand, the machine tools segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 9.0% throughout the forecast period. Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2539 Based on end-user, the automotive segment held the lions share in 2018, contributing more than two-thirds of the total market share. This segment will account for the highest share due to significant growth in the production of automotive vehicles across the world. Contrarily, the electronics and electrical segment is expected to portray the fastest CAGR of 11.6% from 2019 to 2026. Based on region, Europe contributed to nearly two-fifths of the market share in terms of revenue in 2018 and is expected to maintain its leadership status by 2026. This is due to the production and consumption of tools for the huge automotive industry in France, Germany, and Italy. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 9.0% from 2019 to 2026. The report offers a detailed analysis of leading market players such as Bharat Forge, Doosan Machine Tools, Carlson Tool & Manufacturing Corp., Omega Tool Corp., Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Samvardhana Motherson Group, Parpas S.p.A (GRUPPO PARPAS), Sandvik AB, Unique Tool & Gauge Inc., and Yamazaki Mazak Corporation. Have Any Query? Ask our Research Experts: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2539 About Us: Allied Market Research, a market research and advisory company of Allied Analytics LLP, provides business insights and market research reports to large as well as small- & medium-scale enterprises. The company assists its clients to strategize business policies and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. Allied Market Research provides a one-stop solution right from data collection to investment advice. The analysts at Allied Market Research dig out factors that help clients understand the significance and impact of market dynamics. The company applies the clients insight on factors such as strategies, future estimations, growth or fall forecasting, opportunity analysis, and consumer surveys among others. As follows, the company offers consistent business intelligence support to help clients transform into a prominent business firm. Incidents of white supremacist propaganda more than doubled in the US in 2019 , the second year in succession to have seen a leap of more than 100 per cent. Three years into the presidency of Donald Trump, a leader who was criticised after failing to condemn racist hate groups who terrorised the city of Charlottesville, experts say college campuses are a focal point for much of the propaganda being disseminated. Three groups in particular Patriot Front, American Identity Movement and the New Jersey European Heritage Association were responsible for approximately 90 per cent of the activity, a report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found. It said that incidents of white supremacist propaganda had been identified in every US state except Hawaii. White supremacists see propaganda distribution including fliering, leafleting and stickering as a convenient and practically anonymous way to promote their messages of hate and intolerance, said ADL chief executive officer Jonathan Greenblatt. Charlottesville one year on Show all 15 1 /15 Charlottesville one year on Charlottesville one year on Mary Grace, from Durham, North Carolina, walks through the downtown mall area August 11, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville has been declared in a state of emergency by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam as the city braces for the one year anniversary of the deadly clash between white supremacist forces and counter protesters over the potential removal of Confederate statues of Robert E. Lee and Jackson. A "Unite the Right" rally featuring some of the same groups is planned for tomorrow in Washington, DC. Getty Charlottesville one year on Chris Jessee (R) hands out placards to people visiting downtown Charlottesville as the city marks the anniversary of last year's 'Unite the Right rally' in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, 11 August 2018. On 12 August 2017, a bloody clash between white supremacists and counterprotestors in Charlottesville left three people dead and dozens injured Getty Charlottesville one year on A member of the Virginia State Police waits outside the park where a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee is located August 11, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville has been declared in a state of emergency by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam as the city braces for the one year anniversary of a deadly clash between white supremacist forces and counter protesters over the potential removal of Confederate statues of Robert E. Lee and Jackson. A "Unite the Right" rally featuring some of the same groups is planned for tomorrow in Washington, DC Reuters Charlottesville one year on A woman displays a shirt ahead of the one-year anniversary of 2017 Charlottesville "Unite the Right" protests, in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 10, 2018. Reuters Charlottesville one year on A sign reading "Strength, which was taken down at the request of police officers, hangs by the statue of Civil War Confederate General Robert E. Lee, ahead of the one-year anniversary of 2017 Charlottesville "Unite the Right" protests, in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 10, 2018. Reuters Charlottesville one year on Law enforcement arrives ahead of the one year anniversary of 2017 Charlottesville "Unite the Right" protests, in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 10, 2018 Reuters Charlottesville one year on A vendor displays wares on the mall as State Police lock down the downtown area in anticipation of the anniversary of last year's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. The Governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlottesville AP Charlottesville one year on A Police bike patrol takes a break in the downtown area in anticipation of the anniversary of last year's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. State and local authorities framed the weekend's heightened security as a necessary precaution. AP Charlottesville one year on State Police arrest a local resident, John Miska, in the locked down downtown area in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Miska purchased razor blades, which are banned items, in a downtown drugstore. On the the anniversary of white supremacist violence, state and local authorities framed the weekend's heightened security as a necessary precaution. AP Charlottesville one year on State Police escort local resident, John Miska, red hat, after he was arrested in the locked down downtown area in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Miska purchased razor blades, which are banned items, in a downtown drugstore. On the the anniversary of white supremacist violence, state and local authorities framed the weekend's heightened security as a necessary precaution. AP Charlottesville one year on A group Anti-fascism demonstrators, march in the downtown area in anticipation of the anniversary of last year's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, AP Charlottesville one year on A group anti-fascism demonstrators march in the downtown area in anticipation of the anniversary of last year's Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., AP Charlottesville one year on People receive first-aid after a car accident ran into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville, VA on August 12, 2017. A vehicle plowed into a crowd of people Saturday at a Virginia rally where violence erupted between white nationalist demonstrators and counter-protesters, witnesses said, causing an unclear number of injuries AFP/Getty Charlottesville one year on Alt-right rally members in Lee Park in Charlottesville, VA on Saturday August 12, 2017 White nationalist 'Unite the Right' rally, Charlottesville, USA Rex Charlottesville one year on A counter protester who got hit with a stick by alt-right member covered with blood on his face in Lee Park in Charlottesville, Rex While we know extremists and hate groups are emboldened by the current environment, this surge in fliering and propaganda distribution powerfully demonstrates how bigots are able to spread their message without compromising their anonymity. The ADL, which describes itself as the world leading anti-hate organisation and which was formed in 1913, identified three groups as being behind 90 per cent of the material. It said the Texas-based Patriot Front was responsible for 66 per cent of all propaganda incidents, far more than any other group. The group distributed propaganda in all but two states, Hawaii and Delaware, but was most active in Texas, California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia and New York. Trump's lowering of the flag until 8 August shows 'ignorance' of White House towards neo-Nazis, former FBI chief says It said since its formation in August 2017, Patriot Front has used its own iteration of patriotism to promote its white supremacist and neo-fascist ideology. In 2019, the group continued to use red, white and blue colour-schemed propaganda. Experts say Patriot Front was formed from members who broke from another white supremacist group, Vanguard America, in the wake of the Unite the Right white supremacist rally in the Virginia college town of Charlottesville. In the summer of that year, violence broke out after white supremacists and other neo-Nazis marched through the city with flaming torches, purportedly to protest against a decision to remove statues of Confederate officers. A young woman, Heather Heyer, an anti-Nazi demonstrator, was killed after one of the white supremacists, 20-year-old James Alex Fields, drove a vehicle into a group of people. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life and 419 years in jail as part of a plea deal that saw him escape the death penalty. Mr Trump faced a wave of criticism when he said there had been very fine people on both sides at Charlottesville. Oren Segal, of the ADLs centre on extremism, said the barrage of propaganda featured veiled white supremacist language with a patriotic slant, is an attempt to normalise the white supremacists message. Additional reporting by Associated Press It's hard to put a price on a place where a president grew up. A brush with history doesn't count in housing comps, but it can spur buyers to go above and beyond a list price. And when you factor in the cost of living in Hawaii, prices can really spiral. So while $2.2 million for an otherwise unremarkable home on Oahu may seem exorbitant, it's a pittance if you're into presidential history. From 1964 to 1967, former President Barack Obama resided in this Craftsman-style, 1,976-square-foot home in Honolulus Manoa neighborhood. Some members of the Muslim community on Wednesday launched an indefinite sit-in against the amended citizenship law and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC ) here. The indefinite dharna began at Dana Mandi here near Jalandhar bypass on the lines of the ongoing Shaheen Bagh protest in Delhi. "This is another Shaheen Bagh in Ludhiana. Our protest will continue until the Modi government withdraws this Act (CAA)," said Maulana Abul-Ur-Rehman Sani, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid. Shaheen Bagh in Delhi has become the epicentre of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) as women with young children have been staging a sin-in there for nearly two months. Sani, while addressing the media, said the CAA, the NRC and the National Population Register (NPR) were against the spirit of the Constitution and a "conspiracy" by the BJP-led central government to"divide" the country. The sit-in by members of the community was to be organised near the statue of B R Ambedkar but was shifted to Dana Mandi here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New York: In the last 24 hours 20,000 people in Idlib packed their belongings and fled to escape bombing. Mostly women and children, they travel in open trucks or by foot during the day and at night. As they move, they look to the sky and wonder if they are about to be bombed. Civilians flee from Idlib to find safety inside Syria near the border with Turkey on Tuesday. Credit:DHA/AP They head north and west into the ever smaller space considered safe near the Turkish border. Most camps are full. Many sleep in the open in fields. The crisis in north western Syria has reached a new level. These 20,000 are in addition to the nearly 700,000 people who have fled since December. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 19:08:24|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close CANBERRA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed to a new approach to closing the gap between indigenous Australians and the wider population. Morrison on Wednesday tabled the 12th Closing the Gap report in Parliament, revealing that indigenous children still trail non-indigenous children in literacy, numeracy and writing skills. Closing the Gap was established in 2008 with the goal of reducing the disadvantages faced by indigenous Australians in health, education and employment outcomes. According to the latest report the country is on track to meet only two of the seven targets; early childhood education and secondary school graduation rates. Morrison told Parliament that the "top-down, government-knows-best" approach had failed, flagging an overhaul of the framework. "Closing the Gap has never really been a partnership with Indigenous people," he said. "The targets that were set for Indigenous Australians, not by Indigenous Australians, do not celebrate the strengths, achievements and aspirations of Indigenous people." "They don't tell you what's happening on the ground, or stirring under it. They don't tell you how realistic or achievable these targets were in the first place." "I'm very hopeful that a new approach that's more locally-led and more collaborative will take us much further than the top-down, one-size-fits-all, government-led approach ever could." Wednesday's report found that the indigenous child mortality rate is 141 per 100,000 -- twice that of non-indigenous children. Life expectancy at birth for indigenous males was 71.6 years, 8.6 years less than non-indigenous males, and 75.6 years for indigenous females, 7.8 years less than their non-indigenous peers. Responding to Morrison's speech, Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Opposition Labor Party, agreed that Closing the Gap, which was instituted by a former Labor government, has failed. "After 12 years, it is tragic that we aren't on track for five of these seven targets, including life expectancy, child mortality and employment," he said. "It is an indictment that, of all of these targets, we are on track for only two. "We can and we must do better. "We speak of closing the gap, but the truth is that on so many of these measures, there is a gap. It's a chasm." He used his speech to again endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a landmark document released by delegates from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in 2017. It calls for a First Nations Voice to Parliament that would give indigenous Australians a say on law and policy affecting them to be enshrined in the Constitution. "At its most basic level, the denial of a constitutionally enshrined voice is a denial of the Australian instinct for a fair go," Albanese said. "The voice is a modest request that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples be consulted about issues and policies that directly affect them. That's what it is. "And it shouldn't be beyond our capacity to take the hand of friendship which has been reached out to us and is waiting to be shaken." Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 15:08:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan National Police (ANP) operations team has arrested 10 criminal suspects in Kabul and its surrounding districts within the past 48 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. "A total of 10 suspects involving in different criminal cases were arrested by ANP in Kabul city Police Districts and districts on the outskirts of Kabul province within the last 48 hours," the ministry said in a statement. The arrestees were taken to the Kabul police headquarters for screening and possible legal process, the statement added. The ANP also seized two rounds of weapons, one hand grenade, a stolen car license plate during the operations, that were part of preventive measures being adopted to ensure a high level of security and safety in the national capital with nearly 5 million population. In addition, the Afghan border police discovered up to 48,000 Tablet-K in Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport, according to the statement. "The drugs have been elaborated inside the protein cans being taken into the country. A man was also arrested in connection to the smuggling, with his file referred to the related organs for further investigation," the statement added. The Tablet-K is the street name for a drug with stimulant effects that often sold in Afghanistan. Nas Majeed was seen apologising to Demi Jones for dumping her as he prepared to exit the villa at the start of Tuesday night's episode of Love Island. Sports science graduate Nas, 23, shocked Demi, 21, and fans of the ITV2 show, when he returned from Casa Amor with Eva Zapico, 21, on his arm last week. And moments after learning that the public had voted him out, Nas pulled Demi to one side to express his remorse at the way things had ended between them. Apologies: Nas Majeed was seen apologising to Demi Jones for dumping her as he prepared to exit the villa at the start of Tuesday night's episode of Love Island The south Londoner told Demi: 'I know its obviously tricky the way things panned out, but I genuinely wish you all the best and I do apologise for probably the way I have gone about it.' Responding to his apology, Demi said: 'Obviously, I was upset with what happened, but everything happens for a reason.' Nas continued: 'Hopefully now you can just go on and absolutely smash it, because I know you will, 110 per cent.' Saying sorry: Moments after learning that the public had voted him out, Nas pulled Demi to one side to express his remorse at the way things had ended between them Words of encouragement: Nas told bubbly redhead Demi, 'Hopefully now you can just go on and absolutely smash it, because I know you will, 110 per cent' He then said: 'Come here, my lovely,' before sharing a departing hug with Demi. 'Im gonna miss you so much,' said Demi, prompting Nas to respond: 'Im gonna miss you, too.' Speaking later in the Beach Hut, Demi admitted: 'Nas is such a big part of my Love Island experience. He's such a big personality. There's gonna be a big hole in the villa, I think.' Nas and Eva, as well as Rebecca Gormley and Jordan Waobikeze were ousted from the Love Island villa on Monday night in a shock mass ousting. Missing you: Speaking in the Beach Hut, Demi admitted: 'Nas is such a big part of my Love Island experience. He's such a big personality. There's gonna be a big hole in the villa, I think' Plans: Nas and Eva Zapico revealed plans to continue seeing one another outside of the show Big cheers: The new couple were cheered as they made their exit from the South African villa Unbeknown to the Islanders, the public had been asked to vote for their favourite couples following Sunday's episode, with the results being revealed the next day. Rebecca and Jordan had first been announced as the duo set to leave the villa and, after their fellow contestants bid them farewell, a second phone chime was heard ringing out before it was revealed that Nas and Eva would also be going home. Both booted out couples met during the Casa Amor split last week, meaning they have only been in their respective pairs for a few days. For Eva and Nas, the public vote comes after the 23-year-old builder broke the heart of 21-year-old Demi, as he came back from Casa Amor with Eva on his arm, whilst Demi was still single and hoping they could resume their romance. Dumped! Their elimination from the show was announced at the end of Monday's episode And they're off: Also during the episode, Rebecca Gormley and Jordan Waobikeze were seen packing their bags on Monday, after being voted least popular couple by the public The style adviser has since moved on and started getting to know Luke Mabbott, and the pair shared a kiss during Mondays episode. The result with the two least popular couples leaving the villa shows something of a dramatic turnaround for Nas, who at one point was deemed one of the most popular contestants as he struggled to find love with any of the girls. And as things looked up when he was successfully paired with Demi Jones, the public rooted enthusiastically for the couple - until Nas dumped her for Eva during Casa Amor week. Love Island continues on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV2. Cupid: Later that evening, Siannise Fudge and Luke Trotman played matchmaker and set about creating a date for the pair on the day beds Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas showed her support for her stepbrother tonight as the pair attended a London party together. The actress, 30, who dated the royal for two years, joined Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe at Phonica Records to celebrate his audio technology company IRIS' partnership with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. Cressida, who is engaged to property developer Harry Wentworth-Stanley, seemed in good spirits and was seen embracing her sibling as the pair laughed together. Looking her usual stylish self, Cressida sported a pair of contemporary over-sized blue mom jeans, teamed with a royal blue knitted vest layered over monochrome T-shirt. Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas hugged her step-brother Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe as they attended the IRIS and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing partnership celebration at Phonica Records in London this evening Cressida, who is engaged to property developer Harry Wentworth-Stanley, seemed in good spirits as she cuddled and laughed with her sibling She completed her outfit with a pair of white trainers and a black formal coat. The actress wore her blonde tresses in a chic up-do and donned natural make-up, dainty earrings and various gold chain necklaces for the occasion. Meanwhile, Jacobi looked casual in an all black ensemble, accessorising with a pair of silver bangles by Zimbabwean silversmith Patrick Mavros. Jacobi, 34, is the only male among Cresida's siblings and previously worked as a DJ and club organiser following a career as a financier. IRIS, of which he is founder and CEO, was established in 2018. As Aston Martin Red Bull Racing's new partner, it will supply the team with audio enhancement software and equipment to be used on the pit wall at the race track, in the simulator and Ops Rooms at the factory, and for all of its Live Demo events. Cressida sported a pair of contemporary over-sized blue mom jeans, teamed with a royal blue knitted vest layered over a monochrome T-shirt Jacobi, 34, is the only male among Cresida's siblings and previously worked as a DJ and club organiser following a career as a financier In addition, IRIS will work with the Team to bring a new immersive audio experience to fans. Cressida, a daughter of Jacobi's mother Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon by another marriage, is likely to be enjoying some down time after filming the intense ITV drama White House Farm. The actress played schizophrenic Sheila Bamber in the latest small-screen adaptation of the White House Farm killings that shook the quiet village of Tolleshunt D'Arcy in Essex in 1985. The drama tells the story of notorious mass murderer Bamber, who shot dead his two adopted parents, their other adopted child Sheila, and her two six-year-old twins Daniel and Nicholas, before framing his sister for the murders following the massacre. Cressida, who announced her engagement last year, dated her now fiance before her relationship with Prince Harry, with the couple reuniting two years ago. The actress wore her blonde tresses in a chic up-do and donned natural make-up, dainty gold earrings and various chain necklaces for the occasion Cressida, a daughter of Jacobi's mother Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon by another marriage, is likely to be enjoying some down time after filming ITV drama White House Farm The actress was romantically involved with the royal from 2012 to 2014, but reportedly struggled with the attention the relationship attracted. Cressida has since tried to keep her love life relatively low-profile. It is uncertain if Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will attend her wedding, however Cressida did attend their nuptials, alongside fellow ex Chelsy Davy. Former city worker Jacobi has previously spoken openly about how tough being in the public eye is for his beloved sister, and how she coped with the attention while dating Prince Harry. He told Evening Standard: 'She's not a tough cookie at all. She's a very sensitive, sweet girl, all my family are they're incredible. 'It's challenging, you can't deny it. It's not something that is easy for anyone dating a royal or marrying into the family or anyone in the royal family themselves. I think on some level it is different to any other type of fame.' WESTON To get ahead of expected rising schools costs in the coming years, Westons Board of Selectmen is pushing for better collaboration between itself and other town bodies. Obviously our budgets are high, and they tend to be running higher than the cost of living, First Selectman Chris Spaulding said at Tuesdays meeting. From my perspective, thats not a sustainable trajectory. The proposed $54 million education budget, approved by the Board of Education in January, represents a 2.89 percent increase over last year the lowest increase in the past three years. However, a multiyear analysis has revealed the district will continue to see a 3 percent yearly increase in its budget for the forseeable future, Superintendent of Schools William McKersie said. The selectmen reviewed various items for potential cost-savings, ranging from transportation to the districts health insurance plan. Members also floated the idea of having the Board of Finance give more guidance earlier in the budget process. We did, for the most part, try to stay away from programs and classes, BOE Chair Tony Pesco said of the approved budget. This is not a solution. This is a way to get by into the year. Next year we will be faced with something similar. Pesco noted the budget process highlighted a need for more long-term thinking to address rising costs. Were getting closer and closer to what was always viewed as untouchable, he said, adding a plan that was both affordable and maintained a high standard of education was needed. The district has cut back $2.5 million in the past two years, including five central office positions, according to McKersie. In this years budget, the BOE also eliminated a central office support position budgeted for $100,573. Weve been on a reduction plan, McKersie said. The final approved budget was well below McKersies initial proposal of a 5.5 percent increase, which was the subject of some scrutiny. Spaulding said it appeared the administration and BOE were not in unison. Im not getting involved in what you guys are internally doing, he said. It appeared to me the 5.5 percent increase was not fully anticipated by the board. Meanwhile, Selectwoman Samantha Nestor said a solution was needed to halt the momentum and level out the rising costs. One of the challenges is you cant change the boulder from rolling down the hill in a months time, she said. Its an exercise in futility. With contracted costs like wages and insurance contributing to 80 percent of the budget increase, McKersie said, The option to move the needle financially is very slim. The selectmen will next meet on Tuesday to discuss the first selectmans budget proposal. A review of the town budget and education budget is scheduled for Feb. 20, before heading to the finance board. dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com WASHINGTON A Republican group opposed to President Donald Trump's emergency declaration to fund a wall along the U.S. Mexico border is running a new ad on "Fox and Friends" Tuesday using sound bites from Texas Republicans Ted Cruz and John Cornyn opposing former President Barack Obama's 2014 order protecting eligible illegal immigrants from deportation. The ad, funded by the group Republicans for the Rule of Law, will run as the Democratic-led U.S. House is scheduled to vote on a resolution introduced by San Antonio Democrat Joaquin Castro opposing Trump's executive order. The 30-second ad features Cruz calling Obama "an unaccountable monarch" in November, 2014, after his administration expanded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to cover additional illegal immigrants. "If this president can impose his own immigration laws unilaterally, we stop having a constitutional system of checks and balances," Cruz said in a snippet retrieved by the Republican group. "It's the power of a monarch or an emperor." Only on HoustonChronicle.com: Federal officials say delayed $4B in Harvey aid will be tied up until May The ad also makes use of a 2014 Cornyn sound bite accusing Obama of "abusing executive authority." Cruz and Cornyn's Senate offices had no immediate comment Monday. But Cornyn told a Politico reporter Monday that he "probably" won't support disapproval resolution of national emergency declaration. Cornyn has expressed misgivings about an emergency declaration, but has not broken from the White House, suggesting that the president is "using existing authorities that Congress has given him to get access to reprogram other funds." Cruz, a strong backer of Trump's wall proposal, has made no explicit statement about Trump's declaration, saying only that he wants to see the underlying legal justifications. The Republicans for the Rule of Law ad follows an earlier campaign by a coalition of conservatives who sought to block congressional interference in the special counsel investigation of alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russia. The group has now turned its attention to Trump's emergency declaration, which could come up for a Senate vote in the coming weeks. "Declaring an emergency in the absence of one is an affront to the rule of law," said Chris Truax, a spokesman for the group. "No president should ever be allowed to invoke 'emergency' powers simply because he can't get what he wants through the normal political process. That is a gross abuse of the Office of the Presidency and sets a dangerous precedent for future presidential administrations." More on Texas politics: Four reasons Beto shouldn't run for president, and four reasons he should Democrats have accused the administration of manufacturing a sense of crisis on the border. "He is taking duly appropriated funding intended for the military, law enforcement, and many other priority areas in order to follow through on his campaign promise," said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who has identified nearly $520 million worth of military projects in Texas that he says are at risk. Cuellar, who represents the border city of Laredo, was among the lawmakers who negotiated a $1.37 billion border security package, which helped avert another partial government shutdown. Trump, who has sought more than $5.7 billion for the wall, has indicated he will redirect funds from the military and other parts of the government. Castro, rallying Democrats on the eve of Tuesday's House vote, made a plea for bipartisan support. "We are asking all members of Congress to respect the Constitution with us," he said. "I hope that they will vote their conscience." Some Republicans have argued that Democrats are forcing Trump's hands by holding back on wall funding. "The question about our nation's border security is not whether there is a crisis; there is," Texas Republican Roger Williams wrote in an essay in the Austin American-Statesman. "The question is, do we have the political courage to do something about it?" At least 16 states have sued to block Trump's move. Meanwhile, dozens of former senior national security officials and 26 Republican former lawmakers have written separate letters rejecting the president's national emergency declaration. TEXAS TAKE: Catch the political news you need every weekday at HoustonChronicle.com. Shakespeare couldn't have written a love story as complex as the one Married At First Sight just delivered. On Wednesday's honeymoon spectacular, ice cube dealer Michael Goonan pulled off the unlikeliest marriage rescue since Beau Ryan kept Kara. Relegated to the doghouse after downing three bottles of Cab Sav and being 'a bit of an a**ehole' to his wife, Stacey Hampton, Michael turned on the waterworks for the apology of the century. The result was this season's first confirmed consummation. Bet you Sportsbet lost heaps on that one! The ice cube king and his ice cold queen: On Wednesday's honeymoon spectacular, Michael Goonan pulled off the unlikeliest marriage rescue since Beau Ryan kept Kara Michael and Stacey 'You could have Shakespeare out here and he couldn't write a better apology than I just said,' Michael boasted after pulling a marriage out of his hat. Bless him. He thinks Shakespeare is still alive. The night before, Hurricane Michael had left a technicolor burp trail of chaos and destruction in his wake as he ran riot on the streets of Fiji. The morning after: The night before, Hurricane Michael had left a technicolor burp trail of chaos and destruction in his wake as he ran riot on the streets of Fiji. Stacey was not happy 'Shakespeare couldn't write a better apology than I just gave': Oh, what a difference an emasculating apology makes. Michael somehow got Stacey to drop the strop 'My idea of fun is getting a bit loose,' he explained to producers. Mike, a random wedding to a woman you've never met is 'a bit loose'. What you did last night makes Todd Carney look like a teetotaller. Do you agree? Email Alex.Michael@mailonline.com Stacey was seething. She had the look of a woman ready to pop down to the hotel computer room to find a Fijian hitman on the dark web. But, oh, what a difference an emasculating, scripted apology makes. The incredible turnaround took place during a picnic that afternoon, when Michael finally had enough electrolytes in his system to start grovelling. 'I have something to tell you,' Stacey said, a short while after they'd made up. The life drained from Michael's face as he prepared for the pregnancy announcement. But what we got instead was a genuinely heartbreaking moment, as Stacey discussed the tragic deaths of her father and brother. Wow, look at me now! The incredible turnaround took place during a picnic that afternoon, when Michael finally had enough electrolytes in his system to start grovelling Heaven is a place on earth: When Stacey finally offered a mild compliment, Michael's eyes widened like he'd just witnessed the second coming of Christ 'I feel really lucky to have you in my presence,' Stacey conceded later that night. It didn't sound like much, but Michael's eyes widened like he'd just witnessed the second coming of Christ. In fairness, a compliment from Stacey is just as miraculous. Mishel and Steve Falling for you: Over in Queenstown, New Zealand, Mishel and Steve spent their whole honeymoon literally falling for each other Over in Queenstown, Mishel and Steve spent their honeymoon literally falling for each other. As it turns out, Mishel is a closeted adrenaline junkie - which is weird because she has the coordination of a Woolworths shopping trolley. It was like FailArmy: The Movie, with the pair face-planting their way through a tour of New Zealand's most daring attractions. Short stack: As it turns out, Mishel is a closeted adrenaline junkie - which is weird because she has the coordination of a Woolworths shopping trolley They each took turns laughing in each other's faces as they stacked on the ski slopes and plowed luges into oncoming pedestrians. Eventually, Mishel's need for speed ran dry and she started having notably stroppy withdrawals. Everything was a hassle. Steve finally cracked it over a fireside beverage. I don't want any problems! Eventually, Mishel's need for speed ran dry and she started having notably stroppy withdrawals. Steve finally cracked it and the fight was on! When Mishel gets angry, she starts bobbing her head like an emu, so this fight was a sight to behold. At this stage, her face went bright red. I couldn't tell if that was because a) She's 'pausing again (Mishel's verb for a 'menopausal hot flush'), or b) Nobody told her you can get sunburned at the snow. So emu-tional: When Mishel gets angry, she starts bobbing her head like an emu, so this fight was a sight to behold Connie and Jonethen Kiss off! The story of this boring honeymoon: shy Connie is desperate to end a year-long kiss drought and Jonethen is just not feeling it The story of this boring honeymoon: shy Connie is desperate to end a year-long kiss drought and Jonethen is just not feeling it. Cut to Dr Trisha Stratford, who has been brought in to explain that it's not the experts who are wrong, but us, the viewers, for doubting the viability of these wet blankets. And what do we do with wet blankets, Trisha? No, not smell them! We donate them to goodwill, or we throw them out, because they are RUBBISH. The fixer: Cut to Dr Trisha Stratford, who has been brought in to explain that it's not the experts who are wrong, but us, the viewers, for doubting the viability of these wet blankets Ivan and Aleks A mild ride: Who would've thought Aleks and Ivan, the couple who had the wildest wedding, would be responsible for the most tame honeymoon? Who would've thought that Aleks and Ivan, the couple who had the wildest wedding, would be responsible for the most tame honeymoon? 'Unique individual' Ivan lost his phone down the back of a Rolls-Royce and broke the seat trying to retrieve it. That's about it. 'Unique individual': Ivan lost his phone down the back of a Rolls-Royce and broke the seat trying to retrieve it. That's about it 'We're in a Rollsy, you don't need to be using your phone!' Aleks complained. Come on Aleks, it's 2020. Do you know how interesting you have to be just to make people look up from their phones? You're going to have to bring more to the table than bogan abbreviations of luxury vehicles. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine POTTSTOWN Borough council unanimously approved site plans Monday night for a proposed $208 million sustainable energy facility on Keystone Boulevard that is expected to generate more than 100 jobs. Now called the Pottstown Sustainable Energy Park, or PSEP, the project is being proposed for 11 acres at 405 Keystone Blvd. The company uses a new process called "gasification" to... The Iraqi capital of Baghdad woke up carpeted in white by only its second snowfall in a century. The last recorded snowfall in the city was in 2008. Delighted residents declared it an omen of peace. "It is the first time we've seen snow in Baghdad," 60-year-old Hassan Zahar told Reuters. Iraq has grappled with months of unrest, beginning with an anti-government protest movement which engulfed the country in October, and the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general in Baghdad in early January, Twitter "We've seen sleet before, but never snow. I looked at the faces of all the people, they were astonished," he said. "A few minutes ago, I was covered with snowflakes. In my hair, on my shoulders. I invite all the people to enjoy peace, because the snow means peace," he said. #1 Snow-covered palm trees are a sight to see pic.twitter.com/WmRFbVJQmD Hassan Hadad (@Abufellah) February 11, 2020 #2 Snow in Baghdad today, the first time in a very long time pic.twitter.com/exaSsejBlj Hanan (@hananjx) February 11, 2020 #3 Snow moment in #Baghdad I guess this the first time Baghdad got snow on it ! #Baghdadsnow #snow pic.twitter.com/1gI8uDC52h Mustafa (@msiq88) February 11, 2020 #4 Were so simple and kindness people,today morning the snow fall n our joyful n happiness when we saw this view and for the first time for a while at Baghdad makes everyone of us happy n imagine ourselves as we in Europe GOD blessed iraq and his people #snow pic.twitter.com/XwL4w4xCyQ Mustafa Al-Alawi (@Mustafa_Al3lawi) February 11, 2020 #5 The temperature hovered around freezing point and the snow mostly melted into grey puddles when it hit the ground. Traffic policeman Murtadha Fadhil, huddling under a balcony to keep dry, declared the snow "a new sign of the new Iraq." "It's a sign of hope. We hope Iraqis will purify their hearts and politicians will work for the prosperity of all Iraqis." AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, Jason Nicholls, explaining the reason for this rarity - he said it was due to cold air from western Russia traveling in the upper levels of the atmosphere and making its way to the city. Snow is commonly seen in the northern part of Iraq, particularly in the mountainous areas. For most citizens in Baghdad, it is a rare sight. Firas al-Khalidi has said spoken out after Ilham Ahmed discussed holding a conference in Cairo in March writes Enab Baladi. A member of the Cairo Platform, Firas al-Khalidi, has commented on the statements of the president of the executive committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Ilham Ahmed, to the paper Asharq Al-Awsat, about the SDCs work to hold a Cairo 3 conference in March, and that the council would be part of the Cairo Platform, represented on the constitutional committee. Khalidi told Enab Baladi that any statement outside the Geneva declaration of 2012 and UN Resolution 2254 was out of tune and outside the umbrella of the Syrian opposition. He said that any attempt to take a unilateral direction in terms of dealing with the Syrian regime or negotiating with them away from the other partners in the opposition and revolutionary forces meant moving outside the consensus. He added: All those who go outside the consensus, which is included by Resolution 2254, does not practically have the right to be part of the current opposition. The negotiations process with the regime was defined by the authority represented in the Syrian Negotiations Committee, which serves as the container for all Syrian opposition platforms and movements, and which gains its legitimacy from the Syrian people and the United Nations and the international Small Group, according to Khalidi. The Cairo conference emerged from the First General Conference in Cairo, and then joined with the High Negotiations Committee. Ilham Ahmed said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that: We hope for a political solution to resolve the Syrian crisis and are working with the United Nations in accordance with Resolution 2254, and denied that the council would be part of any secondary tracks, whether the Sochi conference in Russia or Astana in Kazakhstan. She said that the council was, with the peace process in Geneva and its four baskets, and would be part of the constitutional committee to write the constitution for our country, and if Russian efforts are focused on that, we will be with them. She said that the council was always ready for negotiations, whether in Geneva or with the government directly, and was working on amending the constitution and other concerned committees, and had a clear vision about the solution. Ahmed also addressed the meeting of the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, with Syrian opposition members in Cairo, and said that the council was working to hold a Cairo 3 conference in March, and that it would be part of the Cairo Platform represented in the constitutional committee. This was after negotiations with the Syrian regime in the attendance of a Russian adviser at the Hemeimeem base, and then moving to Damascus and holding talks with Ali Mamlouk. 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. WASHINGTON The vote on the budget deal Congress passed Thursday night to avert a second government shutdown reflected the sharp divisions among Texas lawmakers in both parties over President Donald Trump's insistence of money for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Reluctantly, 87 Republicans voted to approve the bipartisan spending agreement, which does not give the president most of the money he wants for a wall. Eight of them were from Texas. On the other side of the aisle, 19 Democrats broke from the majority of their caucus and voted against the deal. Six of them were Texans, many of them border region lawmakers who opposed virtually any more wall money. Texas' two Republican senators also split: John Cornyn was one of 87 senators who voted yes; Cruz was among the 16 senators - liberals and conservatives alike - who voted no. Like many of the other conservatives who opposed the bargain, Cruz said the $1.37 billion it provides for physical barriers did not come close to Trump's $5.7 billion request, nor what Cruz argued is needed to bolster the border. "This bill does not deliver on the promises we made to the American people to keep our communities safe," Cruz said in a statement. "Washington Democrats do not want to secure the border, but Texans and Americans do." Both Cruz and Cornyn withheld judgment on Trump's emergency powers declaration, which has been controversial with conservatives and liberal alike. Cornyn has raised questions in recent days about using emergency powers to redirect congressional spending. Cruz also expressed reservations, but blamed Democrats for forcing the issue. "Democrats' intransigence has left the president with no other choice but to take executive action," he said. "I am a constitutionalist, and I have long advocated that every president, Republican or Democrat, be bound by the Constitution and federal laws. I will wait to see what specific course of action the president pursues and what legal authorities are cited as a basis for it." Related Content: Texas Republicans wary of border deal Many Texas Republicans who voted to approve the deal did so with reservations. "We were forced by the Democrats to do nothing or to vote on a spending bill that funds the barrier in the Rio Grande Valley but falls short on other parts of our southern border," said Pete Olson, a Republican from Sugar Land. There were mixed feelings on both sides of the vote. "I reluctantly voted against this bill," said freshman Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw. "There are many things to like in this bill and many examples of good-faith compromises. But this vote was about the border security debate, an issue which shouldn't be debatable in the first place." Texas Democrats who voted for the spending agreement did so to keep the lights on in government. "In order to avoid this calamity once again, Democrats have responsibly brought to the floor a bill to fund the government, so as to avoid the consequences wrought by the last Trump Shutdown," said Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee. Many border Democrats, however, voted no in protest. "I voted against this bill, not as a rejection of compromise but as a rejection of the underlying motivations about a crisis at our southern border and against furthering an erroneous narrative that portrays the border as a problem," said freshman El Paso Democrat Veronica Escobar. "More than anyone, border residents value safety and security, but the border has never been more secure, and our communities have been safe for decades." Said Lloyd Doggett: "Call it a 'wall' or a 'fence,' build it with steel, not concrete, but it is still a colossal waste of taxpayers' money for an imaginary crisis in conflict with fundamental American values." Besides Doggett and Escobar, four other Texas Democrats voted against the deal: Joaquin Castro, Sylvia Garcia, Vicente Gonzalez, and Filemon Vela, long an outspoken opponent of the wall. Castro said he's planning a bill to block Trump's emergency declaration, which is designed to use more than $3 billion in military construction funds. Besides Olson, seven other Texas Republicans who voted yes: John Carter, Mike Conaway, Michael McCaul, Kay Granger, Bill Flores, Mac Thornberry and Will Hurd. Granger was one of the House negotiators who hammered out the agreement after the 35-day partial government shutdown. Hurd, who represents a border district in West Texas, has been on outspoken critic of Trump's immigration and border policies. Maputo, Mozambique (PANA) - Mozambiques economy is recovering from the effects of Tropical Cyclones Idai and Kenneth last year, but for growth to accelerate further and become more inclusive, it is important that economic policies remain prudent and reforms continue, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director, Mr A book entitled "February 11," the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, was launched Tuesday at the UN headquarters, which is hailed as the first book to highlight the role of women in science for sustainable development. At a press briefing launching the book, Nisreen El-Hashmemite, one of the co-authors of the book, said the book is also a first to focus on an international day observed by the UN and to feature girls in science as authors. Introducing the logo on the book cover, she pointed to the 17 colored dots placed on an entangled but "infinite" loop, saying the dots represent the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and the loop symbolizes the idea of sustainability. El-Hashmemite, also an Iraqi scientist, said the proceeds of the book will go towards global programs supporting and empowering women and girls in science, particularly those in developing countries. Lara Louise Bevan-Shiraz, a 15-year-old British girl and another co-author, shared with the press her story of writing a chapter of the book as well as her experience of growing up as a girl polymath. Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020 and also a woman in science, expressed her appreciation of the new book from the audience seat. Earlier on Tuesday, Bevan-Shiraz presided over the opening segment of the fifth International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly. The ongoing assembly is expected to last two days. In December 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring Feb. 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - California law gives special privileges to people who rely on a certified service animal. But these days, a lot of people are getting doctor's notes to qualify their pet as a therapy animal. Landon the therapy dog (left side) and Koda the service dog (right side) pictured side by side. Landon the therapy dog (left side) and Koda the service dog (right side) pictured side by side. A service dog is trained for one person to perform a task whereas a therapy dog is for everyone. Owner of a service dog named Koda, Niculina Archer said her dog has saved her life many times. "He gives me a reason to live, he has saved me when I feel like I still don't have a reason," Archer said. It took Archer two years to train Koda. Service dogs can work by their owner's side at their job if the employer agrees with it. The dog helps them with tasks, whereas a therapy dog is not trained to be by a specific handler but help more so as a volunteer. Raley's is one of the local stores in Chico that employed Archer and Koda. One Raleys employee said she thinks more places shouldn't discriminate on people who need service dogs. "it's a great idea if the service animal feels a seizure is going to come on, we don't know that person and the dog knows that and senses it and the dog can jump in front of that person and that person doesn't smack his head on the cement floor." "I think places like Raley's needs to keep doing the good deed of hiring people that have service animals and allowing it." Archer broke down the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog. "A service dog is tasked trained for one person," Archer said. "So it could be medical or psychiatric such as PTSD or diabetes alert or seizure alert dogs. Therapy dogs are for everybody, so you know anyone can pet them, anyone can go up to them, they are there for the public's happiness." An owner, Lynn Bishop of therapy dog Landon explained the difference on when you can touch a working dog. "A service dog is just for one person," Bishop said. "It's not supposed to be pet by other people, it's like a dog where you're not supposed to go up to them," Bishop said it's opposite with a therapy dog. She said with a therapy dog you don't have to ask to pet them, like her therapy dog, Landon. She said the kids know they have permission to pet Landon. RELATED: Student therapy dog 'Landon' is making a difference at Chico schools Bishop stressed the fact that it's very important to not touch a service dog while it is working and to make sure you always ask the owner beforehand. WASHINGTON President Donald Trumps Federal Reserve chairman said Wednesday a lengthy closing of the Portal Bridge or Hudson River tunnels could deliver a hit to the U.S. economy. Powell, testifying before the Senate Banking Committee, acknowledged the economic threat if the century-old infrastructure should fail before it is replaced. "If it were sustained, yes, Powell said. Things happen and we fix them and they dont show up much in GDP, but if theyre sustained, then, yes. Powell was responding to a question from U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., after the Trump administration raised the rating on the Portal Bridge, making it eligible for federal funding, but not the Gateway Tunnel under the Hudson River. The century-old tunnels were damaged by Hurricane Sandy and need to be repaired, and the 109-year-old Portal Bridge gets stuck in the open position, severing the railroad link between Washington and Boston. Amtrak warned a year ago that the region would lose $100 million a day in economic activity if the tunnels has to be shut down for repairs. That has a significant economic impact and I would urge the Fed to look at that as a question about our infrastructure needs, Menendez said. "Thats why Im so frustrated by the administration not seeing the importance of what we call the Gateway Project. 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. Ananya Panday has been reportedly roped in as the leading lady of Vijay Deverakonda's film Fighter. She will start shooting for the film from mid-march or early April. Janhvi Kapoor was earlier in the running to bag the role. Fighter: Even before his debut in the Hindi Film Industry, South superstar Vijay Deverakonda is already a star in Bollywood, all thanks to his controversial yet widely-loved film Arjun Reddy, which was remade in Hindi as Kabir Singh. Tapping into his nationwide popularity and give it a boost, the actor is now all set to display his acting skills and on-screen charm in the film Fighter. Produced under the banner of Karan Johars Dharma Productions, the shooting of the film has already kickstarted. For the leading lady of the film, the makers of the film were considering newbies Janhvi Kapoor and Ananya Panday. Since Janhvi Kapoor has time and again expressed that she has a crush on Vijay and would like to do a film with him, it was expected that she might bag the project. However, the latest report by a news portal suggests that it is Ananya Panday who has been finalised as the leading lady of the film. Ananya Panday, who is currently shooting for her upcoming film Khaali Peeli, is expected to start shooting for Fighter from mid-march or first week of April. A source has revealed to a news portal that the actress is excited to start shooting for the film with Vijay Deverakonda. Touted as a Mixed martial arts action film, Fighter will be helmed by Puri Jagannadh. Also Read: Mr Lele first poster: Varun Dhawans funny character prompts ROFL memes on social media Two films old, Ananya Panday has shined through as one of the most promising newcomers of Bollywood. She made her debut with Student Of The Year 2 and later starred in Pati Patni Aur Woh. Her upcoming films include Khaali Peeli opposite Ishaan Khatter and Shakun Batras next alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi and Deepika Padukone. Also Read: Krystle DSouza hot, sexy photos and videos in HD, HQ: 50 pictures, images, and wallpapers of ALT Balajis Fitrat actor Also Read: Mirzapur 2 teaser: Pankaj Tripathi starrer release date revealed! For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App History suggests any peace negotiation has only a small chance of succeeding, because agreement requires compromise, which in turn requires leaders willing to make concessions and sell them to their publics. When it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict, neither condition seems to exist, writes Richard N Haass. Enough time has passed to read and digest all 180-plus pages of what the US government calls Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People. It is also referred to as the latest American peace plan for the Middle East. Except it is not. The proposal overseen by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, President Donald Trumps son-in-law, and released by Trump on January 28 is not a plan for peace. If it were, it would not have been developed by the US and Israel without meaningful Palestinian input. It would not have been released with a just-indicted Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu standing by Trumps side, in the midst of the US presidents impeachment trial and are-election campaign. To be fair, the plan does include a number of desirable features. It calls for two states, the only approach that could satisfy Palestinian nationalism and allow Israel to remain democratic and Jewish. It allays Israeli security concerns. And it is realistic: it recognises that the more than 1m Palestinian refugees can be accommodated only in a Palestinian state and that the large settlement blocs containing hundreds of thousands of Israelis must become part of Israel. These pluses, though, are more than offset by the plans overwhelming pro-Israel bias. The Palestinian state would exist on only 70% of the lands occupied by Israel since 1967. Israeli territory would surround the entire Palestinian state. Israel would be sovereign over all of Jerusalem, while the Palestinian capital would be located in the citys outskirts. Israeli settlements would exist in the Palestinian state. What is more, the plan requires the Palestinian entity to be a full democracy with world-class financial institutions before it could become a sovereign state. The country, including Hamas-controlled Gaza, would need to bedemilitarised. Israel would determine when the Palestinian state had fulfilled these criteria. This is a recipe for a state in principle but not in practice. Just as important is what the plan does not include: a process for realising it. Instead, Kushner is counting on Arab states, fed up with the Palestinians and quietly working with Israel to counter Iran, to pressure the Palestinians into accepting his offer. It is true that the Arab governments are preoccupied with Iran and have grown weary of the Palestinian cause. But their domestic politics will never allow them to force the Palestinians to accept Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem or the annexation of land. Rejection of the plan by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation underscores this political reality. Kushner further misreads the situation by hoping promised economic aid will lead Palestinians to demand their leaders accept the plan. No amount of money will prompt Palestinians to sacrifice their national aspirations. It would be understandable if the Palestinians rejected the plan outright. Like most temptations, though, this one ought to be resisted. Serial rejection of peace proposals has not served the Palestinians well. Nor has the passage of time. Israel has thrived; the Palestinians have not. What is on offer today is much less than what was on offer in the past. The lesson is that what is imperfect can become more imperfect. Palestinian leaders would be wise to call for direct negotiations with Israel. There is no need for the US to be present. The Trump administration is so blatantly in Israels camp that it has effectively forfeited Americas traditional role as honest broker. Negotiations could be based on the new proposal or on other ideas. Both sides would have to commit not to undertake any unilateral action in advance of or during the talks to implement selective aspects of the Kushner plan. Among other things, this would stop Israel from proceeding with any annexation of territory. For their part, the Palestinians would eschew calls for violence. History suggests any peace negotiation has only a small chance of succeeding. Agreement requires compromise, and compromise requires leaders who are both willing and able to make concessions and sell them to their respective publics. It is not at all clear these conditions of ripeness exist. This bleak assessment could change in the wake of Israels March 2 election. It is possible a new government and prime minister will forego unilateral action and be willing to offer the Palestinians more than is in the White House plan. If so, the Palestinians should seize the opportunity and negotiate in good faith. Richard N Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, previously served as director of policy planning for the US State Department (2001-2003), and was President George W Bushs special envoy to Northern Ireland and coordinator for the future of Afghanistan. JACKSON, MI Meaghan McGill hated reading when she was younger, but now shes a childrens book author. The way it happened was crazy and ironic, but Im happy it happened that way, she said. A 2007 Lumen Christi High School graduate, McGill took a writing for children class to earn her last three credits from Spring Arbor University. When met with an assignment to write a childrens book, she started with a memory from her childhood. Instead of going to summer camp, we would go to my grandparents for the day, McGill said. After watching her sew every day, McGills grandma taught her the technique when she was 8 years old. Together, they made a quilt that is now on display in McGills home. In her book, originally titled Grandma and Me, the main character Charlotte makes a quilt with her grandmother and proudly wears it as a cape. After graduating from SAU in 2017, McGills professor shocked her by suggesting she send it out to be published. Her book was published by Mascot Books Dec. 13 under the new name Crafty Charlotte and the Magic Room. McGills 88-year-old grandmother was eager to see the book from the moment a contract was signed. She got the first signed copy and she has shown all of her friends, McGill said. She was very surprised that it was a memory I have held onto for so long. McGill has been blown away at the response the book has received. She has received feedback across the country and even read the book over Skype to a fifth-grade class in South Carolina. It lights me up, McGill said. Its just amazing to see children with it. Its a very cool experience and feeling. Although she works at Henry Ford Allegiance Health as a physician recruit, she does anticipate writing more. While Crafty Charlotte and the Magic Room was publishing, she penned another childrens book based on a memory of being home schooled as a child. Its a look into a different kind of learning, a brother and sister being home schooled and how their mom is their teacher, McGill said. McGill hopes her books can promote how important it is for children to read and challenges herself to read more now as well. In 2019 she read 74 books, and her goal is to read 75 during 2020. She has finished nine already. McGill will be reading her book to several Jackson Public Schools classes during March is Reading Month, Kriss Giannetti, director of communications said. TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BWR Exploration Inc. (TSX.V: BWR) (BWR or the Company) is pleased to announce that Mr. Felix Lee has agreed to join the Board of Directors of BWR (the Board) as an independent director, replacing Mr. Marcel Robillard who resigned from the Board, to enable him to focus on his role as President and CEO of Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX.V: PUMA). Mr. Lee is currently the 37th President of Prospectors Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). In addition to presiding over PDAC, an internationally recognized mining organization, Felix is an economic geologist with over 30 years of experience in the mining sector. Felix is a registered Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in the province of Ontario and a member of the Society of Economic Geologists. He received his B.Sc. in Geology from McMaster University, and earned his MBA at York University and Northwestern University. Felix was most recently a Director and Principal Consultant with CSA Global Canada, an international mining and geological consulting firm, where he managed the day-to-day operations of the firms Toronto office in conjunction with the firms twelve other offices worldwide. Prior to his position with CSA, Felix was owner and president of Toronto-based mining and geological consultancy, A.C.A. Howe International Limited. Felix left CSA Global Canada in late 2019, to pursue involvement in the junior resource sector and has recently agreed to head up a private junior exploration company in NW Manitoba. Mr. Robillard served as a director since December 2016. It has been a real pleasure to work with Marcel over the last three years, said BWRs President Neil Novak. Marcels guidance and support have been invaluable in advancing BWR forward over the past few years, particularly with his hands-on insight into the Little Stull Lake Gold Project in Manitoba, where he was project geologist during Pumas drilling campaign. in 2007/08. We wish Marcel all the best in his future endeavors. BWR Exploration Inc. is a public company focused on exploring for base and precious metals, with its flagship Little Stull Lake Gold Project in NE Manitoba along with other exploration projects in Northern Ontario, and Northern Quebec, Canada. Management of BWR includes an accomplished group of exploration/mining specialists with many decades of operational experience in the junior resource sector. There are currently 79,502,461 shares issued and outstanding in the Company. Neither the Toronto 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. For more information about BWR please visit our website: http://www.bwrexploration.com or call/email: Neil Novak, P.Geo., President, CEO & Director, BWR Exploration Inc. 82 Richmond St. E Toronto, ON M5C 1P1 Office: 416-848-6866 nnovak@bwrexploration.com The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced five-day work week for its officers and employees beginning February 29 and extended the current work hours by 45 minutes. The government is of the view that the new structure would not only improve the quality of life of its employees but will also cut down expenses on fuel and electricity. State employees have been demanding the five-day work week since the last many years. The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray here, which will benefit nearly 20 lakh officers and employees. At present, the work hours of the government employees in Mumbai are from 9.45 am to 5.30 pm and from 10 am to 5.45 pm in the rest of Maharashtra including lunch time of 30 minutes. The employees currently get holidays on every second and fourth Saturday. The new work hours will be from 9.45 am to 6.15 pm including the lunch break for 30 minutes between 1 pm and 2 pm. Peons in the government departments will, however, have to report to work at 9.30 am everyday. "With the five-day week, offices all over the state will have the same working hours. Lunch time would be for the maximum 30 minutes between 1 pm and 2 pm," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement. However, offices covered under Factory Rules, Industrial Disputes Act and essential services like the police and fire brigade, government colleges, polytechnic colleges, sanitation workers are excluded. Apart from the Central government employees, the five-day week structure is currently in place for employees of Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal governments. "Due to the five-day week, expenses on electricity, water, diesel and petrol will be saved. Government employees can now spend time with their families which will boost their quality of life," the statement said. At present, the total working days for government employees in Maharashtra are 288 in a year, while the total working hours per day are 7:15 hours excluding the 30-minute lunch time. The total work hours in a month are 174 hours and in a year 2088 hours. "Due to the five-day work week, the total work days in a year will be 264, while the working hours per month will be 176 and 2112 hours in a year," the CMO said. Maharashtra Gazetted Officers Association president G D Kulthe has hailed the five-day work decision. "The five-day week structure will benefit women employees. All government employees and officers' associations have welcomed the decision," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If youre yearning for that laugh-out-loud on the subway, damn-I-left-my-book-at-home kind of read, look no further than R. Eric Thomass Here for It. Thomas, a columnist for Elle.com since 2016, has been a prominent voice in political and cultural humor for years, producing headlines like Literally 10 Photos of Nancy Pelosi Ripping Paper and Important Political News: The Mayor of Minneapolis Is Hot. And while Thomass personality is certainly on display in everything he writes, his essay collection offers a more intimate view of the writer. He manages to draw on experiences that most people (read: me) would bury in the back of their consciousness and Thomas doesnt just explore these memories, he skewers them. That time he, and his admittedly white-sounding name, earned a reputation as a white nationalist? Its in the book. The habitual Tuesday nights he spent staking out Columbia Universitys Coming Out Group (while never setting foot inside a meeting)? Its in the book. He takes on more solemn topics as well: racism, homophobia, depression, suicide all of which are handled with a care that may seem at odds with humor writing. Thomas is a master of tone, joking about the size of his prom dates corsage ([it] had its own gravitational pull) just pages ahead of an emotional reflection on the very same friends death. He doesnt use his wit to deflect from the pain of these experiences he uses it to enhance them. Katie Simbala Perhaps the truest testament to Thomass power as an essayist is a closer look at his readers (including me!). Thomas is a gay black man from Baltimore whos married to a Presbyterian pastor. Im a straight, white, non-practicing Jewish woman from Oregon. Though, outwardly, Thomas and I have little in common (you know, aside from the whole writing as a profession ruse weve both fallen prey to), I found myself relating to almost every essay in Here for It. The feelings of otherness and insecurity that Thomas lays bare are universal. (I think my apologies to anyone whos ultra-secure and feels seen in every setting.) Story continues RELATED: Why Oprah's New Book Club Pick Is Drawing Controversy David Sedaris and Gary Janetti are easy comparisons, but apt ones. Thomas has the same gifts for elevating the mundane and finding the humor in lifes hardships, and he executes both beautifully in this book of essays. Here For It is available on Feb. 18. James Dalton Medical Offices approaching front View Photo Angels Camp, CA Literally, years in the making, a multi-million-dollar clinic near the heart of downtown Angels Camp is about to swing open its doors for business. In fact, the first operational day of the James Dalton Medical Office, part of the Mark Twain Medical Centers network of clinics and specialty centers, will be this Thursday, Feb. 13, less than a week before its official ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 a.m. According to Dignity Health-Mark Twain Medical Center (MTMC) officials, the new facility, which is located at 590 Stanislaus Street behind Froggys Auto Wash & Lube, just received state licensing. This is a community effortit has taken over ten years to make this a reality and it would not have happened without the perseverance of the Mark Twain Medical Center Foundation, exclaims Doug Archer, President and CEO of Dignity Health-MTMC. The Foundation was responsible for contributing $2.6 million towards the $7.5 million project. Archer describes the project as a powerful example of friends and neighbors working together to better their community. He adds, It is fitting that the facility is named for the late James Dalton, longtime Foundation board member with a vision for expanding local health care services the Dalton Family are generous donors to this project. A Full Suite Of Rural Health Care Services Offering comprehensive health care clinic services, the James Dalton Medical Office, as reported here, will provide primary care, including womens and pediatric services, orthopedics, tele-psychiatrics, counseling services, laboratory, and diagnostic imaging. The MTMC medical offices in the Angels Camp Town Center are closing in tandem with their move into the new building, and patients formerly seen at that location are receiving directions to report to the new facility for their appointments and care. Hospital officials anticipate residents of Angels Camp and neighboring communities on the Highway 4 corridor will have a localized center in which to establish local health care relationships with primary care physicians. Archer notes that this is a key first step towards achieving and maintaining good health. Among the primary care doctors seeing patients at the new center is Dr. John Krpan, who relocated his family to Calaveras County from rural Alaska in 2002 and seized upon the opportunity to return and care for patients in the county. He comments, I personally knew Jim Dalton and I am honored to work in a clinic named after hima great mangave a lot of his time, wisdom and wealth. Krpan describes Dalton as a quiet advocate for patient access to care and his namesake center just one of his many legacies. Our team is both honored and proud to provide care in such a truly outstanding setting. 'Worst criminals look better than some of my colleagues': Jharkhand Congress chief quits PC Chacko quits as Delhi Congress in-charge, blames Sheila Dikshit for party's decline India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 12: Delhi's Congress in-charge PC Chako quit the party after the poor performance in polls on Wednesday. This comes a day after party's Delhi unit chief Subhash Chopra also resigned after taking responsibility for the dismal electoral show. "The downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 when Sheila ji was the CM. The emergence of a new party, AAP took away the entire Congress vote bank. We could never get it back. It still remains with AAP," Chacko told ANI. That didn't go down well with Milind Deora, a Congress leader from Mumbai. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 "Sheila Dikshit ji was a remarkable politician and administrator. During her tenure as Chief Minister, Delhi was transformed and Congress was stronger than ever. She dedicated her life to Congress and the people of Delhi," said Deora in a Tweet. Delhi Election Results 2020: Full list of winners The Congress drew a blank for the second time in a row and reduced its vote share from 9.7 per cent in 2015 to 4.27 per cent this time. The Congress did not win any seat in the 2015 assembly elections but had managed to garner a 9.7 per cent vote share. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 15:12 [IST] CONCORD, N.H. It took a year of campaigning, countless stump speeches and an especially strong night on the debate stage for little-known Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar to break into the top tier of the 2020 campaign in New Hampshire. Now she has less than two weeks to make it count. The Minnesota senator began working Wednesday to turn her better-than-expected night into enough momentum to be competitive in next-up Nevada, South Carolina and beyond. For Klobuchar, that means consolidating establishment and moderate voters, picking up traction with black and Latino Democrats and introducing herself to most everyone else. Klobuchars campaign launched two new television and digital ads in Nevada on Wednesday. She was headed to Las Vegas after a fundraiser in New York and was set to hold a Thursday campaign rally and speak at a town hall sponsored by a major Latino rights group. She also plans to stump over the next week in California and other states that vote in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests. A third-place finish in New Hampshire on Tuesday counted as a victory for a candidate who spent much of the campaign boasting about being in the top five of the crowded field. Klobuchar used the moment to put her no-nonsense appeal in the spotlight. She spoke of growing up the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, becoming the first female senator from Minnesota and defying expectations in the 2020 race. The senator appeared to benefit Tuesday from former Vice President Joe Bidens sliding support, picking up moderate and conservative voters looking for an alternative to liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, the New Hampshire winner, and rejecting political newcomer and second-place finisher Pete Buttigieg. But Klobuchars quest is still an uphill climb. She has polled poorly among minority voters, a big obstacle in more diverse states like Nevada and South Carolina. Although she will likely see a bump in support, more donations and new media attention, Klobuchars challenge is to set up the infrastructure to capitalize on her moment. Sara Burnett, Holly Ramer and Michael Casey are Associated Press writers. Chinas largest smartphone maker can secretly access American cellular phone networks, giving it access to sensitive information, U.S. officials claim. Huawei Technologies Co. has for over a decade been able to use a backdoor method intended only for law enforcement to gain access to U.S. cellular networks and private information without the knowledge of the networks, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The backdoor interface, which telecom-equipment makers are required to include when building cellular networks, gives law enforcement with authorization, such as a warrant or court order, access to the private electronic communications of customers. In most cases, authorities must notify the network operators before obtaining access, and operators are not legally authorized to use the backdoor access themselves. We have evidence that Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world, said national security adviser Robert OBrien. Last year, the U.S. informed Britain and Germany about Huaweis capabilities in an effort to convince both countries to block the Chinese tech company from their networks. Huawei pushed back on the allegations, saying the company has never and will never do anything that would compromise or endanger the security of networks and data of its clients. We emphatically reject these latest allegations. Again, groundless accusations are being repeated without providing any kind of concrete evidence, Huawei said. A senior Huawei official argued that such access is extremely implausible and would be discovered immediately. The use of the lawful interception interface is strictly regulated and can only be accessed by certified personnel of the network operators. No Huawei employee is allowed to access the network without an explicit approval from the network operator, the Huawei official said. In November, the Federal Communications Commission blocked Huawei from accessing billions of dollars in federal broadband subsidies over concerns that Huawei could use its inroads into American broadband infrastructure to spy on the U.S. and steal sensitive data. Story continues Critics of that decision voiced concerns that the move could compromise the administrations trade negotiations with China and said equipment from Huawei is already deeply integrated into U.S. broadband infrastructure. Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.), a longstanding China hawk, said the revalations about Huaweis capabilities should serve as a warningt to U.S. allies. The freedom-loving world cant sit back and let surveillance state communists infect our infrastructure. Trusted tech comes from trusted suppliers, and Huawei is the Chinese Communist Partys puppet. Our current and future allies need to think very carefully before they get into bed with the CCP, he said in a statement. More from National Review The UK's 40 most romantic destinations have been named - and it's Windermere in the Lake District that's No1. The ranking came from a poll of 2,000 Britons who were asked to name the country's most idyllic spots for couples in the lead up to Valentine's Day. In second place is Scotland's Loch Lomond, while the Cornish beach town of St Ives is third. Windermere in the Lake District, pictured, which has been named as the most romantic destination in the UK Taking fourth place is the Peak District National Park followed by the village of Grasmere, also in the Lake District, in fifth. The picturesque Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water is sixth and Durdle Door in Dorset is seventh. The rest of the top 10 is made up of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh (eighth), The New Forest in Hampshire (ninth) and Royal Crescent in Bath (10th). Coastal destinations in the top 40 include Tenby in Wales, Langamull on the Isle of Mull and Liverpools Crosby Beach. Popular green spaces making the list are the New Forest, Richmond Park and Windsor Park. And although the research found that 64 per cent would opt for the countryside when thinking of romantic places, London sights including St Pauls Cathedral, Little Venice and Greenwich Park are in the top 40. According to research, the second most romantic place in the UK is Loch Lomond, pictured, in the Scottish highlands The research, commissioned by Premier Inn, also revealed that the ideal romantic place has a viewpoint to watch the sunset (61 per cent), a quiet and secluded area (58 per cent) and greenery (44 per cent). More than half of those polled said its important to visit romantic destinations with a partner to keep the relationship strong and 47 per cent had revisited a favourite spot. A fifth even admitted to visiting the same scenic place with a previous partner. And an eighth of those polled, via OnePoll, went to a romantic destination on a first date. The research also revealed that the average couple goes on two sentimental weekends away together each year, costing around 187 each trip. The Cornish beach town of St Ives, pictured, is named as the third most romantic spot in the UK And while 63 per cent said they think of places as romantic if they have memories of visiting there with a partner, more than half said even if they havent been somewhere, they can tell its romantic potential based on photos. A fifth said they choose to visit destinations theyve seen on TV or in films, and a quarter revealed they want to show their other half places they visited as a child. A third said wanting to cover off areas of the UK theyve never seen makes them decide where to travel to with a partner. Meanwhile, half of those polled said they believe UK romantic spots are underrated compared to those abroad. Taking fourth place on the list of the most romantic spots in the UK is the Peak District National Park, pictured An aerial view of fifth-place Grasmere from the slopes of Silver How fell Bourton-on-the-Water, pictured, has come sixth in the ranking Simon Ewins, managing director for Premier Inn UK, said: 'In the lead up to Valentines Day its great to celebrate what we have on our doorstep. 'The UK clearly has lots of romantic destinations for days out or weekends away to escape the busy every day and enjoy quality time away. 'Whether you opt for a city skyline or secluded green space, there are plenty of idyllic spots to enjoy. 'Its important not only on Valentines Day but throughout the year to experience new destinations with a partner and enjoy what the UK really has to offer.' As per sources, senior functionaries of the RSS have directed all its affiliated organisations to reach out to people over the next three months to convince them about the Citizenship Amendment Act. Since December 2019, there have been nationwide protests against this legislation. Moreover, the Sangh Parivar leadership, according to sources, expressed its concern at the shrinking support base of tribal people, Dalits, and the minorities. This assumes significance in the wake of BJP losing key state elections such as Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi in the last two years. Read: Sentries, Dog's Bark Foil Bid To Attack RSS Ideologue Gurumurthy's House With Petrol-bomb Loss in tribal-dominated regions a cause of worry BJP was in power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for 15 years until its loss in the 2018 Assembly election. By winning all 12 seats in the Bastar region, Congress dealt a huge blow to BJP that had nurtured this region since the 1970s. In fact, the RSS reached out to the pan-India tribal population in a significant manner by setting up the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram. The recent defeat of BJP in the Chitrakot and Dantewada by-elections reportedly increased the apprehension of the Sangh Parivar. Furthermore, it is likely that BJP will commence a campaign to counter the growing influence of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad. Sources reveal that the RSS has suggested installing more statues of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Read: Delhi Elections: RSS & BJP Leaders Cast Their Votes; Ram Madhav Expects A 'big Change' What is the CAA? The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they will not be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, the mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for these communities has been reduced to five years. The opposition contends that the Act discriminates on the basis of religion. Read: RSS May Be Pleased But Dalits, Tribals Disappointed Over SC Ruling On Reservation: CPI Read: 'BJP Doesn't Define Hindus': Old Ally Shiv Sena Jumps To Agree With RSS, Cites Examples - The vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has given assurances to customers of defunct savings and loans companies - He added that the government has so far paid about GHc13 billion to depositors of banks and other financial institutions - This follows an earlier directive given by President Akufo-Addo to the ministry of finance and the Bank of Ghana Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, says all customers of defunct savings and loans and microfinance companies will be paid their locked up funds in full, including DKM customers who were affected in 2015. This is the second time a high government official has made the assurance following a directive by President Akufo Addo to the Bank of Ghana and the Ministry of Finance, to provide liquidity for the customers to be paid. The Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) has however criticized government for not paying the customers despite these directives. READ ALSO: Chris Rock and Steve Martin heartlessly mock Jeff Bezoz over his divorce Speaking at a town hall meeting in the Ashanti region, Dr. Bawumia noted that the government has already spent over GHc13 billion in payments to depositors of banks and other financial institutions. He added that President Akufo-Addo has promised no depositor would lose his investments. He went on to say that the government is in the process of clearing the mess created by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the foreign sector. In other news, a reporter with American media company, Bloomberg, has ranked Ghanas economy as one to watch in the near future. Bloombergs reporter, Noah Smith, argued that the country has performed creditably on development metrics and simply needs to break free of dependence on commodities. The report added that there are key indicators that show a country is becoming a pacesetter. It listed United Kingdom (UK) as the country that set the tone for change in Europe, Japan as the change-maker in East Asia and possibly Ghana being the country to watch in West Africa. It has been argued that Ghana has certain advantages in the sub-region with regard to geography, institutions and human capital. As a country with a coast, Ghana has two ports that are used to ship and receive goods and with over 31 million people. The country is therefore well-positioned to create a substantial domestic market. The report goes on to say that Ghana is well branded with regard to essential aspects of a nations building process such as quality of governance, freedom and democracy and the ease of doing business. READ ALSO: Apple fined almost GHc150 million for slowing down older versions of iPhones Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana President Akufo-Addo is a "wicked old man" - Angry protester fumes | #Yencomgh 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 US Senator Bernie Sanders has won the Democratic presidential primary in the key state of New Hampshire, giving a big boost to his campaign for the 2020 White House bid as the race to his party's nomination gathers momentum over the next few months. President Donald Trump, 73, who is seeking his reelection, won the New Hampshire Republican primary with a massive vote. Sanders, 78, who lost to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primaries in New Hampshire, was ahead of his closest rival Pete Buttigieg. With more than 85 per cent of the votes counted, the Senator from Vermont took 26 per cent support, followed by Buttigieg closely with 24.4 per cent and Amy Klobuchar coming third with 19.8 per cent of the votes. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden were headed for distant fourth and fifth spots respectively. "Now that we've gained another victory in New Hampshire, the establishment and financial elite are going to throw everything at us except the kitchen sink. And I have a feeling that the kitchen sink is coming pretty soon as well," Sanders said after his victory in New Hampshire. The Republican party and the Trump campaign said that Sanders winning the Democratic primary reflects that socialism has gained momentum in the Democratic party. "One thing that is clear: Bernie Sanders winning his second state in a row shows how Socialism is now the mainstream in today's Democrat Party," Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. "The Democrat story in New Hampshire is the continued dominance of big government socialist policies and the success of their standard bearer, Bernie Sanders," said Brad Parscale, Trump 2020 campaign manager. "No matter which Democrat eventually emerges from their months-long dumpster fire of a primary process, we know the contrast will be President Trump's record of accomplishment and optimistic view of the future versus Democrats and their socialist, job-killing agenda," he added. Ahead of the US Presidential election later this year, White House hopefuls are contesting for their party's nomination in primary elections, known as primaries, across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PITTSBURGH, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "Due to my business and the needs of my support staff I required an improved label printer," said an inventor from Farmington, Connecticut. "This inspired me to develop a better label printer that would be simple to use." She developed the SINGLE TAB PRINTER to meet professional organizational needs by providing conveninet one-at-a-time tab printing. It may help a person be better organized at home or work. Additionally, it would be versatile for use for hanging file folders, binders or notebook applications. The original design was submitted to the Connecticut sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-CPC-416, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com Today the European Parliament will vote to approve the EVFTA and the accompanying EVIPA The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement EVIPA will be the first new-generation free trade agreements approved by the European Parliament (EP). Regarding the approval schedule, the EP set the voting schedule to ratify the EVFTA and EVIPA on February 12. If approved, the EVFTA will remove 99 per cent of tax lines, creating favourable conditions to boost trade between Vietnam and the EU such as textile, seafood, agricultural, or timber products. Vietnamese exports are expected to increase by 20 per cent in the next two years, as previously reported by VIR. According to research by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the EVFTA and EVIPA are expected to increase Vietnam's GDP by 4.6 per cent and exports to the EU by 42.7 per cent by 2025. The European Commission estimates that the GDP of the EU will increase by $29.5 billion, and exports to Vietnam by 29 per cent by 2035. Besides, the EVFTA also has extensive commitments on services, government procurement, as well as labour and intellectual property. Once approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam, the EVFTA will take effect immediately. Following EU internal procedures, the EVFTA needs to be ratified by the EP and then approved by the European Council to take effect. As for the EVIPA, this agreement must be ratified by both the EP and the parliaments of all 27 EU member states. Deputy Minister Bui Thanh Son met with European Parliament President David Sassoli Earlier, during his visit to Brussels, Belgium and Strasbourg, France as the prime minister's special envoy, on the afternoon of February 11, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had an important meeting with European Parliament President David Sassoli and many parliamentarians to discusse mutual issues to prepare the vote for the adoption of the two agreements by the EP. The EVFTA and EVIPA were signed on June 30, 2019 in Hanoi after seven years of negotiations. The broad and deep commitments will replace bilateral investment agreements (BITs) between Vietnam and EU member countries, which will help Vietnam continue to reform its economic structure as well as improve institutions and the business environment in Vietnam, facilitating EU investors to do business in the country. Once the agreement comes into effect, the EU will eliminate import duties on about 85.6 per cent of tariff lines, equivalent to 70.3 per cent of Vietnam's exports to the EU. Seven years after the EVFTA officially takes effect, the EU will eliminate import duties on a further 13.6 per cent of tariff lines, equivalent to 99.7 per cent of the value ofVietnam's exports. For the remaining 0.3 per cent, the EU commits to giving Vietnam a tariff quota with an import duty of zero per cent. For EU exports, Vietnam committed to eliminating 48.5 per cent of tariff lines as soon as the agreement comes into effect (accounting for 64.5 per cent of import turnover). SAVP 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 Elsewedy Industrial Development, a leading regional industrial park developer, service provider and subsidiary of Elsewedy Electric, has kickstarted one of its biggest roadshows across Europe, in Paris, France. As a part of this initiative which opened during the French Egyptian Commercial and Industrial Day, Engineer Ahmed Elsewedy, president and CEO of Elsewedy Electric and chairman of Elsewedy Industrial Development, and Engineer Mohamed El Kammah, CEO of Elsewedy Industrial Development met with key representatives from the French industry to promote Egypt as a significant investment destination, as well as highlighting Elsewedy Industrial Developments broad scope of businesses, said a statement from the company. The roadshow will continue through Munich, Stuttgart and Dusseldorf in Germany, over next few days. In light of the long-standing bilateral relations between Egypt and France and the emerging opportunities in Egypt, Elsewedy Electric signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its clients Business France, a key player who is enhancing French exports and investments worldwide and foreign investments in France. This MoU aims at promoting joint business initiatives and opportunities between the two organisations through combined efforts. As a part of this agreement the companies will also, employ their capabilities to expand cooperation and optimise gains for their respective counterparts in Egypt, Africa and Middle East. Engineer Mohamed El Kammah, CEO of Elsewedy Industrial Development, said: As a market leader in integrated industrial development in the region, we have strong business ties with our clients and looking forward to further expand our relationships with smart and savvy business stakeholders who recognise the potential for strong returns from investing in Egypt. Our industrial parks provide a valuable opportunity for investors given the cutting-edge facilities and service offerings as well as a strong supply of well-trained human capital, he said. Philippe Garcia, commercial counsellor at the French Embassy in Egypt and Business France Director, said: Now, more than ever, fostering business relationships in Africa, and notably Egypt, is among our priorities for French investors. Our objective is to position Paris as the European destination for venture capitalists from Africa. The signing of this MoU plays an important role in the exchange of investment information and opportunities between French investors and the significant opportunities available in Egypt and Africa, he added. The objective of the event is to raise awareness around Egypt's geo-economic importance and exploring opportunities for investment in the imports and exports of products and services with Egypt as well as key sectors for investment and development with more than 150 EU dignitaries, diplomats, investors, bankers, manufacturers and key business decision makers. Several dignitaries and diplomats spoke at the event including Mister Stephane Romatet, French Ambassador in Egypt; the Egyptian Ambassador in France; Mister Christophe Lecourtier, CEO of Business France and Mister Phillipe Garcia, Commercial Counsellor of the French Embassy in Egypt. Engineer Ahmed El Sewedy shared his perspective as an investor in the Egyptian market and the significant business opportunities available in Egypt. The event was followed by a series of fruitful business to business meetings to answer questions and share mutual expertise. Engineer Ahmed El Sewedy, president, and CEO of Elsewedy Electric, said: As a pioneer in the areas of energy solutions and infrastructure, Elsewedy Electric plays a key role in highlighting Egypts diverse investment opportunities and prospects to the world. The same value we bring to our clients strong geographical presence and deep market insight, world-class technical and commercial competencies, are mainstays of the Egyptian investment experience as well. With a prime geographic location, strong and mutually-beneficial free tariff agreements with neighbour countries, Egypt is positioned as a key industry hub for the Middle East and North Africa, he added. Going forward, Elsewedy Industrial Development and Elsewedy Electric will be taking their expertise to Germany in cooperation with key partner, Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The roadshow will continue to highlight efforts made by the Egyptian government to support ease of investment in Egypts new industrial zones. Engineer Mohamed El Kammah, CEO of Elsewedy Industrial Development will participate in a panel discussion to present the portfolio of products and solutions to key prospects and interested manufacturers. Elsewedy Industrial Development builds fully fledged sustainable industrial and logistics parks capitalizing on more than a decade of diverse experience. With five industrial cities in operation and a land bank of 25 million sq m across 10 projects in Egypt and Africa, Elsewedy Industrial Development provides state-of-the-art infrastructure and manufacturing facilities, utilities and value-added service offerings for over 250 clients including Loreal, Mantrac, Kapci, Indomie, and many others, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Cebu and Iloilo have expanded their ban on live swine, pork and pork products to the entire Mindanao area amid threats of African Swine Fever. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed Tuesday an order imposing a 90-day ban on pork, boar semen, pork-related products and byproducts as well as other products which have been commingled with pork from all regions of Mindanao. Despite the strict measures taken by the provincial government to prevent the entry of the ASF virus into the province of Cebu, there is still a prominent risk of the virus entering Cebu from other areas of Mindanao, read the order that takes effect on Thursday. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. also released a similar order expanding the pork ban in his province. Mindanao has been added to the list of areas covered by the Iloilo provincial governments pork ban aside from Luzon, as well as other countries such as Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Belgium, Bulgaria, Moldova, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, South Korea, and China. Zamboanga Peninsula also enforced Tuesday its 60-day total ban to control the spread of ASF. It was in Davao Occidental where ASF was first reported to have reached Mindanao, prompting the provincial government to place it under a state of calamity after 10,000 hogs were affected by the disease. Other provinces such as Misamis Oriental, Davao City, Mati City in Davao Oriental and Southern Leyte earlier enforced bans on the entry of live pigs and pork-based products from affected areas. Dr. Eugene Mende of the Philippine Veterinary Drug Association said the country is projected to lose 1.1 million metric tons in pork production and 800,000 metric tons of pork supply due to the ASF. Around 200,000 pigs, equivalent to 1.7 percent of the total hog population, died or were culled after they were infected by the virus. ASF has already affected 627 barangays in the Philippines, Mende said. By James Oliphant and Simon Lewis MANCHESTER, N.H. By James Oliphant and Simon Lewis MANCHESTER, N.H. - Democratic U.S. presidential hopeful Joe Biden told reporters in New Hampshire on Tuesday he was headed to South Carolina later in the day - before the results of the nominating primary vote underway in the New England state are even released. His rivals continued to barnstorm schools, churches and doughnut shops in their last chance to persuade New Hampshire voters that they were the party's best bet to take on President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election. Recent state polls showed U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive from neighboring Vermont, leading the crowded field, followed by two moderates: former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. New Hampshire is the second contest of the U.S. presidential party nominating cycle. While few votes are on offer, it gives candidates a chance to build momentum for their campaigns. Here are some scenes from the campaign trail on Tuesday: 'HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOORS' Sanders thanked a handful of supporters at McDonough Elementary School in Manchester, which was hosting a polling place. "Our people have knocked on hundreds of thousands of doors in the snow and the rain and the cold, and I think that's why we have a chance to do really, really well here tonight," Sanders told reporters. "We're gonna beat Donald Trump because to defeat him youre gonna need the largest voter turnout in the history of this country - that's what you're gonna need," he said. The Sanders campaign said volunteers knocked on 250,000 doors on Saturday and Sunday, while U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's campaign hit 163,000 from Saturday through Monday. Nearly 250,000 people cast ballots in the state's 2016 Democratic primary, which Sanders won in his unsuccessful fight for the party's nomination against Hillary Clinton. Party officials have said they do not expect turnout on Tuesday to match the record set in 2008, the year of Barack Obama's first presidential campaign. BIDEN MOVING ON Biden, who finished a disappointing fourth in last week's Iowa caucuses and is trailing in polls in New Hampshire, is moving on to what he hopes are more welcoming states. While visiting a Manchester donut shop, he told reporters that he will head to South Carolina later on Tuesday. The abrupt move suggests Biden views his fortunes in New Hampshire poorly. His campaign was banking on strong support from black voters - who remember him fondly for his role in Obama's historic presidency - in South Carolina, which votes on Feb. 29. "We're still mildly hopeful here," Biden said. But he dismissed the idea that South Carolina has become a do-or-die state for his candidacy. That meant he would be addressing his New Hampshire supporters - and the volunteers who made up his campaign organization - by video link rather than in person. "The rest of the nation is out there," Biden said. "There's an awful lot of electoral votes to be had, and we're going to see." Warren, a progressive who represents Massachusetts in the Senate, told reporters in Nashua what she thought of Biden's early departure: "It says that he's not here to fight for their votes in New Hampshire." The day after Trump sought to steal Democrats' primary spotlight with a Manchester campaign rally, the White House said that Vice President Mike Pence would also travel to South Carolina this week. 'MORE PERSUASIVE' Chris Herbert, 70, a New Hampshire state representative, said he voted for Sanders in the 2016 primary, but cast his vote for Warren on Tuesday. "I think she might be more persuasive," he said, citing her success in setting up the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. But Herbert said he would also be happy with Sanders as the nominee over more moderate candidates. Warren started her day by visiting a polling location in Portsmouth, where she met a group of passionate supporters. "Warren has a plan for me!" the crowd chanted, as well as, "It's time, it's time, it's time for a woman in the White House!" Warren handed out doughnuts to volunteers and took photos with voters, along with her husband Bruce Mann and dog Bailey. 'FEELS GOOD' Buttigieg's supporters greeted him at a Manchester school before dawn, waving blue and yellow "Pete 2020" campaign signs and chanting "President Pete." The 38-year-old military veteran shook hands and took selfies with the enthusiastic crowd. "It feels good out here," he said, smiling as reporters asked how he thought he would fare in Tuesday's primary. Kathy Carswell, 60, said she picked Buttigieg for his youth and ability to bring people together. Some of the older candidates were qualified but had less of a chance than Buttigieg against Trump, she said. "I think (Buttigieg) can bring the country back together again, instead of separating it," said Carswell, without referring to other candidates by name. Rebecca Balzano, a 38-year-old restaurant cook, called Buttigieg "too new, too young" and said she voted for Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist. BLOOMBERG MICROBOOST Democratic voters in the state are faced with a lengthy ballot listing 33 names - including top-tier candidates, former hopefuls who have already dropped out of the race and some contenders who never attained a national profile. One name not on the list is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a late entrant to the race who is skipping the first four contests. That did not stop voters in the mountain hamlet of Dixville Notch from picking the billionaire founder of the media company that bears his name as a write-in candidate when they voted just after midnight on Tuesday. He won three of the five ballots cast. For a graphic on Calendar of each states Democratic nominating contest and its allocated delegates: https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ELECTION-CALENDAR/0100B31F26V/index.html (Reporting by John Whitesides, James Oliphant, Simon Lewis, Amanda Becker, Colleen Jenkins and Tim McLaughlin in New Hampshire, Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Will Dunham and Paul Simao) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. 6 killed in bomb explosion outside military university in Afghan capital EditorDong Zhaohui Time2020-02-12 11:05:34 Afghan security forces gather at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 11, 2020. At least six people, including an assailant, were killed and 12 others wounded after a suicide bomb explosion struck outside a military university in western side of Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Afghan Ministry of Interior confirmed. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Xinhua) KABUL, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least six people, including an assailant, were killed and 12 others wounded after a suicide bomb explosion struck outside a military university in western side of Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Afghan Ministry of Interior confirmed. "One suicide bomber detonated his explosive roughly at 7:00 a.m. (local time) in Char Rahi Qambar locality, Police District 5. As a result, three military personnel and two civilians were killed and 12 people, including five civilians, sustained wounds," the ministry's spokesman Nasrat Rahimi wrote on Twitter. The spokesman added that the number of casualties may change. The blast occurred outside Marshal Fahim National Defense University when military cadets and university staff were arriving and waiting to enter the compound, eyewitnesses told Xinhua earlier in the day, adding the nature of the blast was suicide car bombing. The explosion also damaged several vehicles running along the busy road, they said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The same university was attacked by a suicide bomber in late May last year, and Islamic State (IS) militants claimed responsibility for the bombing. Afghan security forces gather at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 11, 2020. At least six people, including an assailant, were killed and 12 others wounded after a suicide bomb explosion struck outside a military university in western side of Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Afghan Ministry of Interior confirmed. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Xinhua) Afghan security forces gather at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 11, 2020. At least six people, including an assailant, were killed and 12 others wounded after a suicide bomb explosion struck outside a military university in western side of Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Afghan Ministry of Interior confirmed. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Xinhua) Afghan security forces gather at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Feb. 11, 2020. At least six people, including an assailant, were killed and 12 others wounded after a suicide bomb explosion struck outside a military university in western side of Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, Afghan Ministry of Interior confirmed. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Xinhua) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Houston, United States Wed, February 12, 2020 12:07 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063f9655 2 Science & Tech astronaut,NASA,space Free Wanted: The next generation of astronauts to walk on the Moon and journey to Mars. You'll need a relevant Master's degree, be prepared to live and work 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth on the International Space Station, and be a US citizen. NASA announced Tuesday it was seeking to boost its astronaut corps, which currently stands at 48 active personnel, as part of plans to dramatically expand its crewed space missions in the coming years. "We're celebrating our 20th year of continuous presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit this year, and we're on the verge of sending the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "For the handful of highly talented women and men we will hire to join our diverse astronaut corps, it's an incredible time in human spaceflight to be an astronaut. We're asking all eligible Americans if they have what it takes to apply beginning March 2." - Tough competition - The requirements for a Master's degree in science, engineering or mathematics (STEM) can also be met by being two years into a STEM PhD, or by being a test pilot, one of the most well-worn paths to the astronaut corps. A medical degree -- or one in osteopathic medicine -- also works. The candidates will need at least two years' professional experience, or, in the case of pilots, 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time. And, for the first time ever, candidates will be asked to complete a two-hour online test. The process is competitive. The last class of 11 NASA astronauts, which graduated in January, were picked from a record-breaking 18,000 applicants. Their resumes are stellar: One of them, Jonny Kim, is an emergency physician and a veteran of 100 combat operations with the Navy SEALs, where he earned a Silver Star. He also has a mathematics degree and doctorate in medicine from Harvard. NASA expects to select the next class by mid-2021, and the candidates will then embark on a two-year training program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. It will include classes in spacewalking at NASA's underwater Neutral Buoyancy Lab, robotics, the systems of the International Space Station and piloting the T-38 training jet, Russian language lessons, and the building blocks of the Artemis program to return to the Moon by 2024. The privileged few will join the 500 or so people who have ventured into space, as NASA looks to resume sending US astronauts to the ISS on private US rockets, go back to the Moon and head onward to Mars in the 2030s. Traditionally, about half of new recruits have come from the military, especially test pilots who fly dangerous experimental aircraft, including the likes of Alan Shepard, the first American in space and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon. And the pay? For civilian candidates, it starts at the 11th grade for federal workers at $53,800 to $70,000. Topics : astronaut NASA space Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 13:37 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206406eb8 2 National coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-Indonesia-zero-case,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Terawan-Agus-Putranto Free Indonesia has criticized a US study questioning why the world's fourth most populous nation had not yet recorded a case of coronavirus, calling the findings an insult and insisting it was on high alert. The virus has killed more than 1,100 people in China and spread to dozens of countries around the world -- but the Southeast Asian nation of more than 260 million has not reported a confirmed case since the outbreak. A study by Harvard University public health researchers this week found Indonesia should have reported a coronavirus outbreak and could have undetected cases given its extensive air links to China and the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Indonesian health minister Terawan Agus Putranto called the Harvard report "insulting" late Tuesday and said the country had proper testing equipment. "They can be baffled but it's a fact" there are no cases, he told reporters in Jakarta. "I am just telling you like it is. "Hopefully there won't be any cases and we will keep praying, but we're being vigilant at the highest level." The Harvard study also added that Indonesia's surveillance efforts should be "rapidly strengthened". The country -- which attracts more than two million Chinese tourists a year and hosts thousands of guest workers -- has shut down all flights to and from mainland China in response to virus fears. And the government has said it tested dozens of suspected cases, but none were positive. "The bottom line is that we're following international standards," Putranto said. "We're not hiding anything." The World Health Organization said earlier this month it is particularly concerned about high-risk nations with weaker health systems, who may lack the facilities to identify cases. More than a decade ago, Indonesia was hit hard by an avian influenza outbreak, but it avoided a more recent Zika virus outbreak unlike neighboring Singapore, a health expert said. "It's not the same in every country," said Chairul Anwar Nidom, a biochemistry researcher at Indonesia's Airlangga University. "Is it possible that Indonesia has coronavirus cases? of course... But it's also possible that it doesn't." There were no Ukrainian army casualties in the past day. Russia's hybrid military forces on Tuesday mounted five attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. Read alsoUkraine reports five enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 10 "The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire five times on February 11," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 12, 2020. The enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, and rifles. Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the villages of Orikhove and Krymske. There were no Ukraine army casualties in the past day. No enemy attacks were reported from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on February 12. With the recurring security challenges bedeviling the country, the Nigerian government has set up a committee to collect and harmonise data on her citizens with the objective of fighting the influx of foreigners aiding insecurity in the country. Tagged the Citizen data management and harmonization committee, the committee was unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday, an official said. Mr Buhari was, however, in Ethiopia on Tuesday and flew from there directly to Maiduguri on Wednesday, indicating his role in unveiling the committee was done by a representative. According to a statement by the ministry of interiors spokesperson, Mohammed Manga, on Wednesday, the committee would use standard methods of data collection and would work with different government agencies to arrive at desired goals. It has assured that it would enhance speedy harmonisation of Nigerias numerous citizen identification data held by different government Ministries, Departments and Agencies with a view to ensuring a single database owned and managed by the Federal Government, the statement read in part. According to the statement, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who doubles as the chairman of the committee, assured that efforts are in place to fight terrorism as such would leave no stone unturned in ensuring national security and public safety of Nigerians and foreigners alike. According to him, the harmonisation of the database has become imperative because of the present global security challenges and the urgent need for Nigeria to join the international community in the fight against transnational crimes and criminality. Mr Aregbesola further set up three Sub-Committees (Citizen Data Management and Harmonization, Central Crime Data Management and Harmonization, and Limited and Temporary Visa Restrictions) for speedy and efficient delivery of the presidential mandate as contained in the terms of reference of the committee. He urged members to commence the review of the recent limited and temporary immigrant visa restrictions by the United States of America, with immediacy. Develop and implement systems and processes that will address the security concerns raised by the US and submit their interim report on or before February 14, 2020, the minister said. Mr Aregbesola thanked the president for granting them the opportunity to serve the nation and assured that all hands will be on deck to ensure that the committee carries out its assignment in record time. Members of the committee present at the inaugural meeting include Minister of Interior Chairman Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Minister of Police Affairs Governor of the Central Bank Inspector General of Police Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service Director-General, State Security Services Director-General, Nigeria Intelligence Agency Advertisements Director-General, National Identity Management Commission Director-General, National Population Commission Others are Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission Accountant General of the Federation. The presidential committee is expected to prepare and submit its final report on or before March 16. The word bipartisan is often tossed around in political discourse as the gold standard of politics to which our elected officials should aspire. But sometimes that should be taken with a grain of salt. The downside of reaching across the aisle was on full display at the New Mexico Legislature last week when Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, with support from Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, booted a reporter for KRQE News 13 and her camera equipment from a public meeting of the Senate Conservation Committee deliberating a hazardous waste bill. Nothing like progressives and conservatives finding common ground. Reporter Rachel Knapp was doing her job when Sedillo Lopez (who was chairing the meeting because Chairwoman Liz Stefanics, D-Cerrillos, was presenting a bill), asked Knapp if she had permission from the chair to record the proceedings. She didnt. I just figured it was a public meeting, Knapp replied, as reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican. Im Rachel with Channel 13. Im a reporter. Woods jumped in, saying he opposed Knapps filming. I just prefer this not to be spliced and edited to be used against someone, he said, before adding, incredibly, legislators might not be totally truthful if they are afraid of how their comments might be edited in a newscast. Public relies on media to be eyes and ears Memo to Sen. Woods: Its the news medias job to make judgments on what comments are newsworthy. The public relies on journalists to do that rather than having politicians do it or sitting for hours to watch committee meetings online. And how does being less than truthful help? Then, Sedillo Lopez a former law professor who should know better told Knapp: Im sorry. Im going to have to ask you to leave. Sedillo Lopez can point to a Senate rule stipulating that photography, video or audio recording of committee meetings, may, upon request, be allowed with the permission of the chair. And Knapp had not sought permission from Stefanics, who said she supports transparency and called the incident unfortunate. No lawmakers stepped up for reporter Other committee members left the room to tell Knapp they didnt agree with the decision, but they didnt stand up and say so during the committee meeting perhaps not wanting to offend Sedillo Lopez or make her look any worse than she already does. Bill Anderson, general manager of KRQE, called the incident not acceptable and offensive. He said he assumed it was simply an error in judgment but added, Nothing good happens in government when these people close the door and want to talk when no ones listening. Melanie Majors, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, said the public has a right to know whats going on in a committee hearing at the Legislature and reporters have the right to use their tools to capture the proceedings. A number of senators, in the wake of Sedillo Lopez asking Knapp to leave, voiced support for transparency. Some of them, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican, told Knapp they disagreed with the decision. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said Rachel Knapp should not have been asked to leave the committee room. Senators fix to let sun shine in is on tap today Meanwhile, Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, is doing something about it. He has proposed a change that would eliminate the permission requirement for reporters or members of the public to record proceedings. SR 2 is scheduled to be heard Wednesday in the Senate Rules Committee chaired by Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque. So there is a possible silver lining here. All it will take is for all those senators who talk transparency to walk the transparency talk. Get Steinborns two-paragraph legislation on a fast track and approve it. Theres plenty of time left in the session if lawmakers are serious about letting more sunshine into these committee hearings. Oh, and Sedillo Lopez and Woods should apologize to a reporter who was just doing her job. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Sorry! This content is not available in your region A Ukrainian opposition lawmaker on February 12 was given a notice of suspicion for allegedly threatening the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, an offense that is punishable with a maximum five-year prison sentence. Prosecutors made the announcement at the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) office concerning Sofia Fedyna, a member of parliament in the European Solidarity party headed by former President Petro Poroshenko. Investigators say she and blogger Olena Sambul, while livestreaming on YouTube and Facebook, publicly threatened the presidents life on October 26 when commenting on his visit to the war zone in eastern Ukraine. "I was handed a notice of suspicion for threatening the president with words [like] 'and you know, there is shelling, and you know, there are grenades exploding, and it is thoughtless to go to the front in a white shirt [without a bullet-proof vest], Fedyna said. She said her words spoke the truth and this is not a threat or a warning, it is a realitybut for reality people dont get punished....Today, in fact, I am being incriminated for a trumped-up crime, which means that we are [all] sliding downhill into a mass concentration camp. On February 6, DBR investigators handed Sambul, a war veteran and volunteer, a notice of suspicion for threatening Zelenskiys life. Four days later a court in Kyiv ordered her to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, surrender her passport, and obey summons from investigators. The preventative measure is in effect until April 9. Based on reporting by RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service, Deutsche Welle, and Interfax J eremy Corbyn has slammed Boris Johnson over deportation flights to the Carribbean in a fiery clash in the Commons. At Prime Minister's questions, the Labour leader accused the government of being "cruel and callous" over its handling of the issue, saying it had "learned nothing" from the Windrush scandal. Mr Corbyn cited the case of one offender who came to this country aged five and was the victim of county lines grooming and compelled to carry drugs. He said: The Government has learned absolutely nothing from the Windrush scandal. This cruel and callous Government is trying to mislead the British people into thinking its solely deporting foreign nationals who are guilty of murder, rape and other very serious offences. Boris Johnson reacts during PMQs / PA The PM hit back: It is entirely right that foreign national offenders should be deported in accordance with the law. The heated session came after a charter flight to Jamaica removed 17 people, some of whom have lived in the UK since they were children, who had been released from prison after serving time for serious offences. The flight went ahead despite a last-minute order from the Court of Appeal. The last two Randalls grocery stores in The Woodlands are scheduled to permanently close at 10 p.m., Saturday with both stores experiencing high levels of customers in the final weeks of operation. The stores, which are located in the shopping centers in the Village of Grogans Mill and the Village of Panther Creek, were tabbed for shuttering in late January by company officials. The announcement of the closures was followed by a quick reduction in perishable food goods available for sale at both stores, with meats, vegetables and dairy products not being restocked and supplies dwindling quickly. Despite the lack of many food products, customers have been flocking to the two stores for deals on other products. Bruce Cunningham, a member of the village association board in Grogans Mill and a co-founder of The Woodlands Farmers Market, said there have been deliveries of pallets filled with dry goods and other items like pottery at the Grogans Mill location since the closure was announced. Within days of the closures being made public, both stores began to display books, pottery, non-perishable canned foods, holiday trinkets, planters and other random items for sale at dramatically reduced prices. Employees at the two stores have had a mixed fate, with some full-time staffers telling The Villager that they were transferred to full-time jobs at the nearest Randalls still open on FM 1960 in Houston while others have declined part-time jobs at reduced hours at the other location. Several college-aged employees reported being hired by other businesses in the community, notably at The Republic Grille and the YMCA. Some older staff said they were merely retiring after learning of the closures. Township officials have been scrambling in the weeks since the closure announcements to try to help find replacements for the two stores, which are intended to be grocery stores under George Mitchells original vision for The Woodlands in the early 1970s. However, that task may prove difficult due to a plethora of other, newer grocery stores within a 5-mile radius of the two Randalls, including three different H-E-B grocery stores, a Walmart Super Center and a Whole Foods. Here is a quick timeline of the two stores closures: Jan. 10: Gordy Bunch, chairman of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, said township officials received an official letter from Randalls corporate executives on Jan. 10 announcing the two stores would be closing in mid-February, something he said was mildly surprising. Related: 2 Randalls stores in The Woodlands to close Jan. 13: Christy Lara, director of public relations and communications for Albertsons, Tom Thumb and Randalls, said the two closures in The Woodlands are among five total closures in the Houston region in the latest round of stores shuttering in a challenging economy. In such a competitive environment, our company must sometimes make tough decisions to close underperforming stores so that we can reinvest in our remaining stores in the marketplace, Lara said in an email to The Villager. We are working diligently to place as many employees as possible in other locations, and we remain committed to the Houston market area. We invite customers to shop at our remaining Randalls locations throughout the Houston and surrounding area, several of which were remodeled in 2019. Jan. 22: The Woodlands Township Board of Directors discussed of the impending closure of two Randalls grocery stores during a regular meeting. The two locations in The Woodlands are store No. 2673, located at 2250 Buckthorne Place, which is at the intersection of South Millbend Drive and Grogans Mill Road; and store No. 3054, 4775 West Panther Creek Drive, which is located off The Woodlands Parkway near the intersection with Gosling Road. Both are in areas with numerous apartment complexes within walking distance and also have pharmacies, which is something local officials see as a benefit to residents. Newly-elected Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said there is a lot of resident concerns about the sites, and that in addition to the replacing of the store, residents have told her that the Grogans Mill Village Center needs to be freshened up. Sekula-Gibbs also said keeping sales tax dollars in The Woodlands was critical. I think this is an important matter for not only the residents, but people who drive through, Sekula-Gibbs said on Jan. 22. For people who live close by, like I do, we appreciate the loss it is going to inflict on the neighborhood. The key for me as a director is we do work hard to fill that slot as soon as possible. If we dont freshen it up, there is still going to be that complaint. The residents want it to be comparable to other village centers, and I think that is a reasonable request. We want sales tax dollars coming out of that center, we dont want people bypassing it and doing their shopping elsewhere. Related: Woodlands Economic Development Committee to address Randalls closures Feb. 4: Members of the townships Economic Development Committee discussed the closures during a meeting, and while officials said they cannot do much because the issue is a real estate development matter, officials will do whatever they can to help. Director Ann Snyder, who earlier in the meeting was chosen to remain as the chairperson for 2020, said she has been meeting with various real estate officials, property owners and developers in hopes of helping coax along a solution to the issue of replacing the two grocery stores. However, she noted, the township is limited in how involved it can become. It is a priority (replacing the stores), it is definitely something we consider important to maintain the village centers, Snyder said. The Grogans Mill village center needs some helpit needs to be refreshedit is a retail center from the 1970s but it is now 2020. The good news is, the Randalls closure will not affect the farmers market. Related: Woodlands business owners in Grogans Mill Shopping Center join forces to save their stores from demise Feb. 7: Nine businesses formed a mechants association in the Village of Grogans Mill shopping center with a goal of saving their businesses and attracting more customers to the center after the closure of the Randalls. The meeting, hosted at Maine-ly Sandwiches, was organized by Bruce Cunningham a popular local figure who is on the Village of Grogans Mill Village Association board and also heavily involved in The Woodlands Farmers Market, hosted each Saturday in the parking lot of the shopping center. Cunningham has been working behind the scenes to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by business in the townships oldest shopping center first opened in 1973 as the impending Feb. 15 closure of the Randalls store raises worries about customer foot traffic. Owner of New Lotus Moon, Rebecca Schner, was elected the informal leader of the merchants association, and offered tips to help cope with the situation. Schner told each of the business owners and manager representatives present that they could take several steps to raise the profile of the shopping center and help attract customers. If we are all depressed, it is going to show. When people come into (my store) at night, theyre talking about the Randalls closure and what is next, Schner said of some customer interactions shes had in recent weeks. There is nothing wrong with telling people you need their support. It is going to be alright. Putting a very positive spin on this is a very important thing to do. When people come into your store, tell them this is not your first rodeo and we expected (the Randalls closure) at some point. This is the time when well see this center grow. With no new tenants lined up for either space, the storefronts could be empty for anywhere from two months to longer, said township President and General Manager Don Norrell. jeff.forward@chron.com ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergy & Asthma Center, the largest specialty practice serving pediatric and adult patients across the DMV, today unveiled its redesigned website commemorating its 25 years of dedication to delivering state-of-the-art allergy and asthma care for patients in a new up-to-date, highly-engaging website. Largest specialty practice in the DMV. The new launch of premierallergist.com comes at a critical time when a patients' experience with a medical practice's website is just as important as their experience with the care they receive. Allergy & Asthma Center understood this, which prompted them to make an array of changes, not only in where their site lives and how it functions, but how visitors interact with content and, most important, the safety of patient information. The most noted changes include: A new 25 th anniversary logo displayed prominently at the top of every page. anniversary logo displayed prominently at the top of every page. A new vibrant new home page complete with lively images and restructured format enabling visitors jump to key information, including services, insurance info and setting an appointment. Practical layout and navigation structure to better illustrate the breadth and depth of Allergy & Asthma Center's offerings and access to them. More prominent call-to-actions and updated web forms, applying User Experience (UX) principals at the basis of the design. An intuitive, HIPAA-compliant appointment scheduling tool that makes selecting the right doctor at the right location fast and easy. Hosting on Google Cloud for exponentially faster loading times and state-of-the-art security (critical for HIPAA compliance). "Launching the new website alongside celebrating our 25 years in business has been a great way to start the year," said Dr. Prasad Nataraj, Medical Director for Allergy & Asthma Center. Prospective patients deserve the best of both worlds their experience with our practice online and when they walk through our doors. This patient-centric thinking is what we strive to improve so that we can thrive for another 25!" The new website was developed by PracticeBeat's best-in-class patient access, acquisition, and retention platform. For more information visit www.practicebeat.com. About Allergy & Asthma Center Allergy & Asthma Center, one of the largest single allergy, asthma and clinical immunology practices in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., was established by Prasad M. Nataraj, M.D. in 1995. Our experienced team of healthcare professionals offer treatment to both adults and children of all ages, and our 20 convenient locations span across Maryland and the DC Metro area. Both our staff and our specialists are passionate about adhering to core principles that make our practice exceptional, including: Patient-centered care, accessibility and availability, compassionate medical council, innovative medicine, attention to the underlying source of the problem, and patient empowerment and education. www.premierallergist.com Media Contact: Kathy Ruxton 703.340.6343 [email protected] SOURCE Allergy & Asthma Center Dr. Jiang Yanyong, who became a hero after exposing the SARS epidemic, is currently under house arrest, after he wrote to the Chinese leader to demand redress for the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989. (NTDTV) SARS Whistleblower Under Heightened House Arrest, Suffering Memory Loss When people in China learned that the Chinese authorities tried to cover up the coronavirus outbreak and then silenced eight doctors who had informed their friends about the new pneumonia, they were reminded of Dr. Jiang Yanyong, who risked his life to expose Chinas SARS coverup back in 2003. Jiang is an 88-year-old retired military surgeon who worked at Beijings No. 301 Hospital. After working to expose the true numbers of SARS cases in China he was acclaimed as a SARS hero or SARS whistleblower. Shortly after Dr. Li Wenliang, one of the eight coronavirus whistleblowers, passed away on Feb. 7, Jiang Yanyong became the most searched name on the Internet in China. House Arrest and Tightened Surveillance Hong Kong-based Information Center for Human Rights & Democracy (ICHRD) recently revealed that since Feb. 7, the day Li Wenliang died, several plainclothes police officers have been guarding the front entrance of Jiangs residence in Beijing. He was placed under house arrest in March last year, after writing a letter to Chinese leader Xi Jinping demanding redress for the Chinese regimes crackdown on the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement in 1989. When he tried to seek medical treatment for neurological deterioration on Apr. 8, 2019, the guard at his residential complex would not let him leave the building. Jiangs wife, Hua Zhongwei, told ICHRD on Feb. 7 that Jiang is currently recuperating at home after receiving medical treatment for pneumonia and is now in stable condition. Hua told ICHRD that since 2004, Jiang has no personal freedom and cannot go abroad to visit his relatives, including his daughter who lives in California. When Jiang wanted to tour Hong Kong, he couldnt get approval from the authorities to leave mainland China. Hua said she felt very distressed and sorry about Li Wenliangs death. Severe Memory Loss According to an exclusive report from the Guardian, a friend of Jiang disclosed that when Jiang was denied treatment in April last year, he was very angry. Later, he was given medication, which has resulted in severe memory loss. Another friend said: We havent seen him for a long time and cant contact him. We heard his brain has been severely affected. The Chinese regime is known to routinely persecute prisoners of conscience by forcibly injecting drugs that damage the nervous system. The Guardian report did not say if Jiangs friends suspect that Chinese authorities deliberately gave him harmful medication because he is considered to be a political dissident. SARS Hero When the SARS virus began spreading in China in late 2002 and early 2003, Chinese media were ordered to not report on the epidemic. On April 3, 2003, Zhang Wenkang, then Chinas Minister of Health, held a press conference to announce that there were only 12 cases of SARS in Beijing, and that SARS has been brought under effective control. He encouraged foreigners to attend business meetings and expos in Beijing and Guangdong Province, saying that Beijing is a safe place to live and visit and daily life in Guangdong is normal. The following day, Jiang emailed an 800-word letter to state broadcaster Chinese Central Television (CCTV) and Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV to report the much higher figures he collected. Jiang said he learned from medical staff in two of Beijings hospitals that there had been at least seven deaths and 106 cases of the disease. Although neither broadcaster published his letter, it was leaked to Western media outlets. A journalist from Time Magazine contacted Jiang on April 8 and published the numbers in his letter that same day. I simply couldnt believe what I was seeing, Jiang wrote in his e-mail to Chinese media, All the doctors and nurses who saw yesterdays news were furious. His letter directly led to the sacking of Beijings mayor and the Minister of Health on April 21. Chinese authorities quickly assumed the role of SARS hero, actively identifying and quarantining suspected SARS cases, while keeping the real SARS hero, Dr. Jiang, out of the spotlight. The authorities have also tried various methods to erase Jiang from peoples memory. For instance, they later granted the title SARS hero to Zhong Nanshan, who managed the SARS outbreak in 2003 by developing effective strategies to identify and isolate SARS patients. In recent years, when Chinese state media publish articles about the SARS epidemic, there is absolutely no mention of Jiang, while Zhong is exalted as a national hero. Zhong is currently the leading scientist of the National Health Commission expert panel for the novel coronavirus. Although he is well respected as a top medical expert in the country, Chinese netizens have questioned his moral integrity. Before the Chinese authorities finally admitted that the virus is spread between people, Zhong apparently helped the Chinese authorities downplay the severity of the contagion. Jeffrey Donius moved his belongings into the home in Bay Township, Michigan A man has been arrested after he set up home in another persons property and even put up his own mailbox and changed the locks. Jeffrey Donius moved his belongings into the owners' second home in Bay Township, Michigan, according to police. The 55-year-old from Shelby Township, north of Detroit, threw the legal owners' property out of the house, the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office said. Donius was also said to have tried to lay claim to the home by changing the locks and even putting a new mailbox up. The alleged squatter may have been casing properties in Charlevoix County and other areas, according to the sheriffs office. Stolen property was found from a break-in reported in Evangeline Township deputies said, as well as items that are not currently reported stolen UpNorthLive reported. The 55-year-old was thought to have been casing properties both in and outside of Charlevoix County Stolen property was found in the house from a break-in reported in Evangeline Township Donius has been charged with home invasion by police and is currently being held in the Charlevoix County jail on a $50,000 bond. The sheriff's office refused to reveal the location of the property to protect the legal owner's privacy when contacted by the Dailymail.com. Anyone with information is asked to call the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office at 231-547-4461. AKRON, Ohio A 62-year-old Akron man died Tuesday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head during a six-hour standoff with police at his apartment in the citys Kenmore neighborhood, according to the Summit County Medical Examiners Office. Paul Coteat was found dead after SWAT officers entered his apartment on the first floor of a two-story building on the 1200 block of Wilbeth Road, according to police and the medical examiners office. The incident began around 10 a.m. Tuesday when an Akron Municipal Court bailiff tried to evict Coteat, according to police. Coteat was late on his rent, so a magistrate had granted his landlords request for an eviction, court records show. A spokeswoman for North Hill Rentals, which owns the apartment building, declined to comment on this story. Coteat refused to leave his apartment and threatened that he had a gun, according to police. The bailiff called for police, who evacuated the building and brought in negotiators to de-escalate the situation. Coteat fired a shot at the officers, but no one was struck, police said. Officers called for SWAT teams, including from Akron police, Summit County Sheriffs Office and the State Highway Patrol. The teams negotiated with Coteat for a few hours. Coteat fired additional shots at officers, and the SWAT teams fired about a dozen canisters of tear gas into the apartment, police said. Around 4:20 p.m., officers looked inside and saw a man who appeared unresponsive on the floor of the living room. They used a robot to detonate a device that broke open the front door, and found Coteat, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police officers did not fire at Coteat during the standoff. To comment on this story, visit Wednesdays crime and courts comment section. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Wednesday stressed on timely completion of the ambitious project of setting up a national maritime museum at Lothal, a Harappan-era archeological site in Gujarat. Patel, who visited Lothal, said the ancient port city will be developed as a popular tourist destination, according to a release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) here. In the Union budget presented nearly two weeks ago, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed an allocation of Rs 3,150 crore for setting up a national maritime museum at Lothal, situated near the Gulf of Khambhat, around 75km from Ahmedabad. "It is important to make sure the museum, to be built with central funds, gets completed in time. We will train local youths to develop Lothal as a tourist destination. "As stressed by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is our responsibility to preserve this rich heritage," Patel was quoted as saying by the PIB release. In March last year, the PM had laid the foundation stone for the museum, also called the Lothal Maritime Heritage Complex. At that time, Modi had said the complex will showcase the maritime strength of ancient India and have world-class facilities. During the day, Patel also visited Adalaj ni Vav (Adalaj Stepwell) in Gandhinagar district and world famous Rani Ki Vav (Queen's Stepwell) in Patan district, said the release. Patel, along with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, is slated to inaugurate a two-day conference on people's participation in managing tourist destinations in the Rann of Kutch on Thursday, said the release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Colorado authorities are seeking the public's help in finding information about 30,000 bees that were stolen from a local farm that is already gearing to close up in March. Karl's Farm Dairy in Northglenn, Colorado, shared in a Monday Facebook post that there were 30 hives in total that were stolen. The Northglenn Police Department is investigating the case. Karl's Farm Dairy in Northglenn, Colorado, shared in a Monday Facebook post that there were 30 hives in total that were stolen The Northglenn Police Department is investigating the case 'Boris, the beekeeper didn't do this for profit but for his mental health, giving his honey away to those he valued most,' the farm shared in their post. 'He was invited out today but was simply too sickened to leave his house.' The farm added that Boris had started with only two hives. Boris paid rent for using the property by selling the honey from the bees, CBS4 reports. According to the city's website , Karl's Farm was one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels of land in Northglenn The estimated value for the stolen bees comes to about $15,000 The estimated value for the stolen bees comes to about $15,000. 'If somebody took those bees and didn't know much about beekeeping it's a very good chance that those bees are now gone,' said Shannon Sublette, whose family owns the property. According to the city's website, Karl's Farm was one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels of land in Northglenn. WASHINGTON Democratic lawmakers criticized Census officials Wednesday saying with only weeks until the 2020 count is fully underway the bureaus preparations are woefully inadequate to accurately track the nations population. There are grave challenges facing this years Census and, to be honest, I dont have full confidence that the administration is equipped to handle them, said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. The committee held a hearing focusing on a new Government Accountability Office report that cited challenges facing the Census Bureau, including hiring enough workers, partnering with enough community groups and protecting its computer systems from hacking. Without timely and appropriate actions, the challenges ... could adversely affect the cost, accuracy, schedule and security of the enumeration, the report concluded. Census officials defended their readiness noting among other goals, a plan to hire as many as 500,000 people who will go door to door to count people who havent responded to the questionnaire. As of Wednesday, the bureau had 2.3 million completed applications, officials said. Were way ahead of whats needed, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham told lawmakers. "We are on mission, on target and on budget...We are not behind." But Maloney said the GAO report seems to be sending flashing red lights. We have to respond to these red flags, she said at the end of the three-hour hearing. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said she's concerned the Census Bureau is not as ready as it should be for the 2020 count. Her committee held a hearing Wednesday. Plans for the nationwide count have been underway for years. The population survey is key to apportioning Congressional districts and determining the distribution of billions in federal funds for schools, infrastructure and health systems. Civil rights groups have raised concerns about whether the Census Bureau has been properly funded and whether it has enough staff to accurately count people, particularly historically hard-to-count minority communities. Story continues GAO officials said the bureau has met some early targets, but has fallen short on several key measures. J. Christopher Mihm, managing director of Strategic Issues for the Government Accountability Office, said the bureau has missed milestones for establishing community partners, which he called key to helping count hard-to-count communities. We need people to be encouraged to participate in the Census This is what partnerships do. They are trusted partners in the community, Mihm said. Dillingham said hes confident the bureau will have enough community partners and could supersede the number from the last Census. But in an exchange with Dillingham, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Florida, questioned why the full list of community partners was not yet available. Dillingham said the release wasnt up to him and he didnt know who would decide that. Thats outrageous, Wasserman Schultz said calling it a deliberate obstacle to accurately count hard-to-count communities. Dillingham took issue with her charge and promised to get the information, but didnt say exactly when. But Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina also questioned when Dillingham will release information about the community partners. I need you to get that to this committee this week, he said. Dillingham hesitated. That was a softball question, Meadows said. I need it this week Turn around and ask your staffers behind you. Dillingham did. I got a firm yes for you, he responded to Meadows. While Republicans also questioned whether Census officials were ready, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan complained Democrats failed to oversee the preparation of the Census and instead spent too much time pushing back on the administrations plan to add a citizenship question to the Census. That effort failed. I still do not understand why the Democrats do not want to know how many U.S. citizens are living in the United States of America, said Jordan, the top Republican on the committee. Democrats, including Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico, repeatedly urged Census officials to remind people the question will not be included in the questionnaire. We are in fact ensuring that everyone knows that, Dillingham said. Nick Marinos, director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at the GAO, said the bureau has made process in addressing cyber security concerns, but some challenges remain, including guarding against disinformation on social media. He also said the bureau needs to make sure its systems are tested before going live in a few weeks. Were in a pressure cooker of time, he said. Officials from the Census Bureau and the Government Accountability Office prepare to testify Wednesday at a hearing of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congress questions whether Census Bureau ready for the 2020 count Theres been much ado about Alberta Premier Jason Kenneys views on climate change this week, after he publicly referred to the energy transition to come, when economies around the world begin to wean themselves off oil. A Calgary Herald columnist called it a significant public shift for Kenney, well-known defender of Albertas beleaguered oil industry and carbon tax opponent. Kenney himself disagrees he said at a press availability Tuesday that hes been acknowledging the energy transition for a very long time but observers say the public-facing rhetoric about oils last barrel represents a shift. We have an obligation to do our part to address the challenge of climate change, to reduce greenhouse gas, including carbon emissions our industry is doing just that, Kenney told reporters. He says the Alberta oil industry should have a role to play, arguing tens of millions of barrels will be consumed before demand decreases, and he wants Alberta to supply them. According to the International Energy Agency, they project that there will be growing global demand for crude oil between now and at least 2040, he said. Still, observers said Kenneys views on a changing climate and the need to transition away from oil, in particular are increasingly relevant as the debate over how to cut Canadian emissions focuses on Alberta and the oilsands. Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary, said he hasnt seen many instances of Kenney talking about a transition away from oil. If anything, he says Trudeau has made similar arguments and been criticized by Kenney. Trudeau said something quite similar, and the response was, Oh, Trudeau wants to shut down the oilsands. And in fact, all he was talking about is a transition, Bratt said. Kenney is stating the obvious, but theres a marked shift in rhetoric for the premier talking about Alberta moving off oil, he added. In public, at least. Theres always been a difference between some of his real red meat type speeches and his private behaviour in meetings, and people have remarked on that, that he is a very skilled politician in that way. Heres what Kenney has said publicly about climate change and the transition away from oil: The Calgary flood climate change and weather events not linked (2013) One of Kenneys first public statements on climate change came after the Calgary floods in 2013. Just after Calgary and surrounding areas were deluged by rising water. Kenney, then the federal minister of immigration and MP for Calgary southeast, did an interview with Kevin Newman about the devastation and response. The veteran CTV anchor asked Kenney if he thought the flood had any link to climate change. Kenney said no. He added that the spring in Calgary had been cool: We had some rain for three days and a heavy runoff that led to this situation, and, you know, I, the stuff that Ive read in commentary from scientists suggests that theres not been, theres not a connection between weather events of this nature and broader climate issues. Although there may have been less general chatter about climate change seven years ago, scientists had established the link between a changing climate and extreme weather. In October 2013, four months after the flood, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a 2,216-page report that predicted extreme weather events would become more frequent and intense thanks to climate change. On the Alberta campaign trail theres a spectrum of views (2019) After the Harper government was defeated in 2015, Kenney looked west. By the spring of 2019, he was at the helm of Albertas newly forged United Conservatives and attempting to form government for the first time. However, that required balancing leadership with the need to accommodate a very wide range of views which resulted in multiple so-called bozo eruptions, including some about climate change. In response, Kenney said that he personally believed in man-made climate change, but wouldnt remove party members who denied it, saying that there are a spectrum of views on the issue. Among those expressing controversial views were Randy Kerry, a UCP candidate and former Kenney campaign manager who called climate change a hoax in a Facebook screenshot from 2007. (He was later removed as a candidate for other reasons.) Karri Flatla, a Lethbridge UCP candidate who ran against former NDP environment minister Shannon Phillips, called climate change a mythology in a Facebook post from 2016. In an interview at the time, Flatla said she did in fact believe in climate change science, she just disagreed with the carbon tax. The UCP take office and cut environmental programs (2019) Since taking office in April, the Kenney government has faced criticism that it isnt taking climate change seriously. The newly formed government has eliminated Albertas carbon tax though it replaced it with a plan for big emitters called TIER cancelled programs encouraging renewable energy, launched a $30-million war room to fight what it calls misinformation about the oil industry and started a $2.5-million inquiry into an alleged conspiracy to landlock Alberta oil. The provinces stand-alone offices for climate change policy and environmental monitoring have also been dissolved. The Canadian Press obtained an email sent last fall by Alberta Environment and Parks deputy minister Bev Yee describing the move, which she said would help things like business integration and overall efficiency. In an email to The Canadian Press at the time, department spokesperson Jess Sinclair said the climate change office was folded into Alberta Environment in order to ensure that [department] policy is developed with an eye to the overall management of pollution in the province. Greta Thunberg speaks at Alberta Legislature (2019) When Greta Thunberg a 17-year-old world renowned climate change activist arrived in Edmonton in October last year to deliver a speech on the steps of the legislature in front of thousands of people, Kenney was attending the opening of a new gas pipeline just outside the city. Hed been elected on a promise to tirelessly work on getting pipelines built and bring back jobs to the crippled energy-based economy of Alberta. At the time, Kenney decried Thunbergs visit as part of a foreign-funded campaign targeting the province, which he says wants to landlock Alberta oil from having coastal access via pipelines and hamstring the energy industry. People around the world want the right balance between economic opportunity and environmental responsibility, Kenney said. Thats exactly what projects like this do. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: This is the hilarious moment a desperate 'crash for cash' attempt backfires as the alleged scammer is hit on the head by wiper blades. Dashcam footage shows a male pedestrian waiting to cross Queen Street in Dublin before he throws himself onto the bonnet of the vehicle. The man moans as if in pain as he splays his legs and rolls his head back. Seconds later, though, the windscreen wipers - set to intermittent - swing across and smack the alleged 'victim' on the top of the head. He flinches and yelps then slides off, before running away from the vehicle. The bizarre stunt outside McGettigan's Bar was shared on local media last January after it was captured on dashcam by a driver. Dublin local Nicole Cummins, 22, shared the clip which has clocked up more than 13,000 views, with the caption: 'Ah Dublin, ya can't beat it can ya?' Dashcam footage shows a male pedestrian (pictured) waiting to cross Queen Street in Dublin before he throws himself onto the bonnet of the vehicle The man feigns a moan of pain as he splays his legs and rolls his head back. Seconds later, the windscreen wipers swing across and smack the alleged 'victim' on the top of the head The bizarre stunt outside McGettigan's Bar was captured on dashcam by a Dublin motorist, and shared later on social media where it received over 13,000 views One social-media user replied to Ms Cummins with 'Don't say this is yours hahahahaha' before she responded: 'No I wish it was.' So-called 'crash for cash' scams typically see people stage road accidents in the hopes of receiving compensation. Dublin local Nicole Cummins, 22, shared the clip which has clocked up more than 13,000 views, with the caption: 'Ah Dublin, ya can't beat it can ya?' MailOnline reported last March how an alleged 'crash for cash' scammer ran into the path of a passing car and hit the bonnet so hard that he left a dent. Ryan Johnson, 19, was driving in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, when the man ran into the road and struck the front of his car. The motorist reported the incident to Humberside Police, although officers said at the time that the circumstances of what happened were 'disputed'. FILE PHOTO: Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, chief of the banned Islamic charity Jamat-ud-Dawa, looks over the crowed as they end a "Kashmir Caravan" from Lahore with a protest in Islamabad By Mubasher Bukhari and Asif Shahzad LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani Islamist Hafiz Saeed, accused by India and the United States of masterminding 2008 attacks in Mumbai, was jailed for 11 years on Wednesday on terrorism financing charges, a Pakistani government prosecutor and his lawyer said. The religious group leader was the first high profile figure convicted on terrorism financing charges in Pakistan, which denies regular accusations that it shelters militants. The unprecedented ruling came ahead of a meeting of a world financial watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), next week to decide whether to blacklist Pakistan over a failure to curb terrorism financing. Amid pressure from the FATF to take action against Saeed's militant groups, Pakistan charged him in December with collecting funds for his organizations, which are listed as terrorist organizations by the United Nations. He pleaded not guilty. "Hafiz Saeed and another of his close aides have been sentenced in two cases of terrorism financing," prosecutor Abdul Rauf Watto told Reuters. "The total punishment in both the cases was 11 years but he will serve five and a half years in jail as the two punishments will run concurrently," Saeed's lawyer Imran Gill said. "We will appeal against the verdict." Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), or the Army of the Pure, a group blamed by India and the United States for the four-day Mumbai siege, in which 160 people, including Americans and other foreigners, were killed. The U.S. State Department praised the ruling in a statement on Twitter. "(The) conviction of Hafiz Saaed and his associate is an important step forward - both toward holding LeT accountable for its crimes and for Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terrorist financing," it said. Saeed has denied any involvement and says his network, which spans 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services, has no ties to militant groups. Story continues It is funded by charities Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF). The JuD said Pakistan had been taking what it said were illegal and unconstitutional actions lately against Saeed and the groups, under pressure from the West, and to please the FATF. GRAY LIST Saeed's groups disavow armed militancy inside Pakistan, but say they offer vocal and moral support for rebel fighters in Indian-administered Kashmir in the disputed Himalayan region. The two nuclear-armed nations have fought two wars over Kashmir. Pakistan, included on a so-called gray list compiled by the FATF, has been under increasing pressure to curb the militants' financing. Blacklisting would likely result in tough financial and banking restrictions that could cripple Pakistan's already struggling economy. The United States has offered a reward of $10 million for information leading to the conviction of Saeed, who has been arrested and released several times over the past decade. The United States has long pressed Pakistan to try Saeed, who is designated a terrorist by the United States and the United Nations. Saeed and his group's charities have entered mainstream politics under a plan backed by Pakistan army in a bid to integrate militants into society. They contested a 2018 general election under a new name, Milli Muslim League (MML), but did not win any seats. Western analysts say Saeed's groups are considered part of state-backed proxies nurtured and supported by the Pakistani military to counter India in the region. The military denies that. (Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore and Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Robert Birsel) An appellate court has rejected an appeal by a reputed gang member who is serving a life sentence for the 2005 murder of a carjacking victim who identified him for authorities. Ahmad Johnson, 37, had appealed his Feb. 3, 2010 murder conviction, citing ineffectiveness of his trial attorney during the trial, starting with jury selection. Among his arguments for a new trial, Johnson said his attorney failed to have key witnesses testify. Johnson, who is serving a life sentence plus 60 years, carjacked a Jersey City mans vehicle on March 3, 2005 and used it in a drive-by shooting of his girlfriends father two days later, according to authorities and court proceedings. Prosecutors had said Johnson was angry because his pregnant girlfriends family didnt think much of him and convinced her to have an abortion. Johnson was arrested in May on the carjacking charge and posted bail. Knowing that the victim, Piotr Raczek, would testify that Johnson was the carjacker and that he would then be tied to the Newark shooting, Johnson confronted Raczek on Thorne Street on Aug. 31, 2005, and shot him dead. The jury needed just five hours to convict Johnson, of Irvington. At his sentencing, Johnson dropped to the floor, trying to hit his head, and remained unresponsive throughout the hearing cringing coward who wouldnt even accept his sentence like a man, the prosecutor said. He showed up at the hearing in a wheelchair, even though he could walk, prosecutors said at the time. The appellate panels 11-page decision was issued on Feb. 10. In 2018, the panel heard the case and returned it to the lower court to conduct "an evidentiary hearing on all of the assertions raised by defendant ... in order "to ferret out the facts and possible strategies underlying the actions of defendants trial and appellate attorneys in connection with defendants claims of ineffective assistance. Johnson is serving his sentence at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton. He is eligible for parole on June 5, 2112. 4 prosecutors resign in protest Four prosecutors abruptly withdrew on Tuesday from the case of President Trumps longtime friend Roger J. Stone Jr. after senior Justice Department officials intervened to recommend a more lenient sentence for crimes he committed in a bid to protect the president. In an extraordinary decision overruling career lawyers, the Justice Department recommended an unspecified term of incarceration for Mr. Stone instead of the prosecutors request of a punishment of seven to nine years. The move coincided with Mr. Trumps declaration on Twitter early Tuesday that the government was treating Mr. Stone too harshly. To some, the surprising reversal in the politically sensitive Stone case underscored questions about Attorney General William P. Barrs willingness to protect the departments independence from any political influence by Mr. Trump. (New York Times) Sen. Bernie Sanders narrowly wins the New Hampshire primary. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) New Hampshire primary 2020: Bernie Sanders claims narrow victory (Associated Press) With a third-place finish, Klobuchar bursts to the center of the Democratic presidential race (Washington Post) Entrepreneur Andrew Yang ends his bid for the presidency (ABC News) Trump withdraws Treasury nomination of ex-U.S. attorney who oversaw Stone prosecution (CNN) Trump suggests military should consider disciplinary action against Vindman (NBC News) National news A masked woman walks a street in the Chinatown district of San Francisco. (Ben Margot, Associated Press file photo)AP Coronavirus quarantine ends for 195 Americans at California air base (San Bernardino County Sun) Trump calls Bloomberg a total racist over stop and frisk, which the president has supported (NBC News) Senate GOP blocks three election security bills (The Hill) U.S.-Mexico border crossings continue to drop, but Mexican migrants surging (Washington Post) Native American burial grounds threatened by blasts for border wall construction, Arizona congressman says (CNN) FAA agrees it must boost safety oversight for Southwest Airlines (Reuters) D.C. statehood bill advances to House floor; likely to pass for first time in history (Washington Post) Widespread flooding will persist: Heavy rain swamps South; more is on the way Wednesday (USA Today) South Dakota Senate rejects ban on transgender treatment for minors (The Hill) A womans remains were found at a landfill. Police believe she was dumpster diving (CNN) Westminster Dog Shows Best in Show Award goes to Siba, a standard poodle (CNN) Dolphins shot, stabbed and killed off Florida coast. Theres a $20,000 reward for answers (Miami Herald) World news Medical workers with protective suites walk away from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship on Tuesday in Yokohama, near Tokyo. AP Coronavirus live updates: China death rate appears to slow as 39 new cases found on cruise ship (The Guardian) Cruise ship with 2,000 onboard refused port by five countries amid coronavirus fears (The Guardian) How can the coronavirus spread through bathroom pipes? Experts are investigating in Hong Kong (CNN) U.S. ready to sign peace deal if Taliban abide by promise to reduce violence (NBC News) Thousands of Iranians mark revolution anniversary amid peak tensions with U.S. (Reuters) Esper says its unfortunate that Philippines ended military agreement with U.S. (CNN) Boris Johnson promised frictionless trade after Brexit but now his government admits new border checks are inevitable (Business Insider) UK commits to building high-speed rail line dubbed the most expensive in the world (CNBC) Delhi election: Is the verdict a vote against Narendra Modi? (BBC) China crossing into Taiwan airspace was completely inappropriate, says State Department official (CNBC) Omar al-Bashir: Sudan agrees ex-president must face ICC (BBC) Mr. Stewart, like other Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee, vigorously defended Mr. Trump during impeachment hearings in the fall that focused on the presidents pressure campaign on Ukraine. And he has been sharply critical of the handling by the Justice Department and F.B.I. of an investigation into the Trump campaigns ties to Russian interference in the 2016 election. They want to take away my vote and throw it in the trash, Mr. Stewart said of Democrats just before the impeachment vote in the House. They want to take away my president and delegitimize him so he cannot be re-elected. Mr. Stewart, 59, has long been interested in the post of intelligence chief, people close to him said. He is well-liked by congressional Republicans and is thought to enjoy support from Senate Republicans, who would confirm him if he is nominated. But Democrats are likely to balk at the selection of a House lawmaker with such a political track record. Senate Republicans could have the votes to approve on their own a nominee like Mr. Stewart, but some have said they want to see a nominee with bipartisan support. Senator Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, was cool to Mr. Ratcliffes nomination and is likely to influence the White Houses ultimate choice. The clock is ticking on a decision. Mr. Maguire cannot serve past March 11 under federal law. Before then, the administration must have a director nominated and confirmed or be forced to find a new acting director. The OPEC HQ building in Vienna, Austria. Photo: Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Representatives from top oil producing nations are set to meet in Vienna on Tuesday to discuss the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, will hold an emergency meeting of its technical committee on 4 and 5 February to discuss coronavirus and its impact on oil prices, according to multiple reports. A secretary at OPECs headquarters in Vienna confirmed that a meeting was taking place on Tuesday but said they couldnt comment on what it was about. Market watchers and analysts expect OPEC members, which include Saudi Arabia and Iran, to discuss potential production cuts to support oil prices in the face of lower demand from China. Oil prices are now at levels where we would expect a supply response from both OPEC and shale producers, Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a note to clients on Monday. Much of China has been under lockdown for a week and a half in response to the coronavirus epidemic, which has limited oil production and consumption. Chinese refineries are cutting throughput by 10% to 20%, with some located in central China cutting as much as 40%, said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at Nordic bank SEB. BPs finance chief said on Tuesday that demand for oil in China has reduced by 1 million barrels per day since the outbreak began. How large the run-cuts will be through February 2020 remains to be seen, but somewhere between 10% to 20% seems like a fair bet, Schieldrop said. That means 1.4m-2.8m barrels per day in lost crude oil processing and crude demand for February. The price of crude has fallen by almost $15 (11.60) since the start of January and entered a bear market on Monday. Saudi Arabia is likely to continue pushing for production cuts to prop up prices, Deutsche Bank strategists wrote in a note to clients on Monday. CNBC reported that OPEC members were considering proposing production cuts of 500,000 barrels per day. Such a decision would require another extraordinary meeting of OPEC members and allies, including Russia, later this month. Story continues Goldman Sachs analysts said they saw a 50% chance of OPEC cutting production. Such a decision would extend a cut of 500,000 barrels per day agreed in December. Expectations of a possible production cut pushed oil prices higher on Tuesday morning. Crude (CL=F) was up 1.8% to $51.04 per barrel and Brent (BZ=F) was up 1.1% to $55.05 per barrel. OPEC may extend and deepen production cuts but the kind of demand destruction is worrisome, said Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com. Fundamentals in the market remain bearish with global demand growth falling, rising output from the likes of the US, Norway and Brazil, leaving OPEC with no firepower to support prices longer term by cutting output. Separately on Tuesday, BP (BP.L) reported a slump in annual profits due to lower oil prices. Underlying replacement cost profit, BPs most closely watched measurement, was $9.99bn (7.7bn), down from $12.72bn (9.8bn) a year before. Profit attributable to shareholders was $4bn (3.1bn), a 57% reduction on the year before. LONDON On a finger numbingly cold morning, Lara Maiklem swung open a metal gate tucked behind a pub in southeast London and scrambled down a set of slick stone steps onto the banks of the River Thames. The river runs through the city west to east, bisecting London as it winds past the new skyscrapers and old docks that line its banks. But twice a day, the low tide pulls the flowing edges of the Thames back dropping the river level by 20 feet in some areas revealing centuries of forgotten London life in the fragments that poke out from the newly exposed land, known as the foreshore. This is when the mudlarks, like Ms. Maiklem, come out. What you are looking for are straight lines and perfect circles, she said, her eyes scanning the surface of the mud for man-made artifacts. They sort of stand out from the natural shapes. LINCOLN, Neb. Supporters of banning job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity are hopeful that growing support from business leaders will finally push the measure to passage in Nebraska. This issue often gets tied up in partisan politics, but it really is a nonpartisan issue when you make the business case, said Abbi Swatsworth of OutNebraska, a gay rights advocacy group based in Lincoln. Its about the perception of the state as a welcoming place. Omaha and Lincoln business leaders have long been in favor of banning job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and a key statewide business group joined them last month. It was the latest sign of concern among state business leaders that Nebraskas lack of an anti-discrimination law is harming efforts to retain and attract workers in a tight national labor market. But such a law has been repeatedly voted down in the Legislature. Its firmly opposed by Gov. Pete Ricketts and some religious groups. And its such a touchy political issue that a blue-ribbon panel of Nebraska leaders last summer danced around the topic when they recommended changes for moving the states economy forward. Ricketts and other opponents maintain that Nebraska can be open to all workers without passing a law they say could trample on the religious convictions of business owners. Policies like (this) discriminate against people of faith and divide our communities, the Nebraska Catholic Conference said. Nationwide, 25 states and Washington, D.C., have adopted laws barring workforce discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, enacted either by their state legislatures or the state agencies that arbitrate such discrimination cases. Iowa has had its law since 2007. In all, more than half the nations population now resides within states that have put such workplace protections in place. Additionally, federal courts with jurisdiction over ten other states covering an additional one-fifth of the nations population have ruled that the federal Civil Rights Acts bar on discrimination based on sex also covers sexual orientation and gender identity. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on that federal issue last fall. Nebraska, through Attorney General Doug Peterson, urged the high court to take up the case of a Michigan funeral home that fired a transgender employee. Peterson argued that the lower court was wrong to extend the federal sex discrimination law to include lesbian, gay or transgender employees, saying such a change should come from Congress, not the courts. Four times in the past five years, the Legislature has voted down passing a discrimination measure on the state level. Its not yet clear whether lawmakers will seek to revive the latest bill Legislative Bill 627 in the current session. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a leading voice for business in the state, in previous years had taken no position on such a law. That changed last month when the chambers board unanimously supported it as part of a package of policies intended to advance the state economically. State chamber President Bryan Slone said the move was consistent with a report this summer from a blue-ribbon panel of Nebraska business leaders that laid out a 20-year strategy for growth in the state. Ricketts disputed that, noting that the Blueprint Nebraska report did not reference such a law. Blueprint was designed to unify Nebraskans around initiatives that can move our state forward, not to pit people against each other on hot button issues, said Taylor Gage, a spokesman for Ricketts. But Slone said the board decided that the law was supportive of Blueprints call for Nebraska to promote diversity and inclusion as a way to retain and attract workers, as well as Blueprints goal of making Nebraska the most welcoming state in the Midwest. Gage, in a statement, specifically noted that the law was not included in Blueprints final report. That raises questions about the process by which Blueprint reached its final recommendations and whether Ricketts had a hand in them. He was a co-founder of Blueprint and served on its advisory board. Blueprint leaders say the reports section on diversity and inclusion started with the work of a subgroup that focused on the issue. Carmen Tapio, the CEO of a North Omaha telemarketing firm who headed that working group, would not specifically say whether its recommendations included endorsing such a law. Our committee looked specifically at addressing the issue of equity in our state, on multiple fronts, she said. Regardless, the job of putting the work of all 16 Blueprint subgroups into a final consensus report fell to Blueprints staff and its 21-member steering committee, made up of business and industry representatives from across the state. I can tell you there was a vigorous debate on whether to include the diversity section, said Tanya Storer, a Whitman, Nebraska, rancher who served on the steering committee. In the end, she said, the committee worked for a compromise that reflected differences of opinion. Tim Burke, CEO of the Omaha Public Power District and a steering committee member who backs the job discrimination law, said the group decided to keep its recommendations to a more general endorsement of diversity and inclusion, leaving the how for Blueprints implementation phase. The reports final wording seemed to reflect that dance. Even a general list of types of diversity that included both gender and sexuality was struck late in the process. What was left was the reports broad, nonspecific embrace of diversity and inclusion. We are trying to find a common path forward, said Jim Smith, executive director of Blueprint. In the end, Smith said all steering committee and advisory committee members had a chance to offer input on the reports final draft, including Ricketts. Gage said the governor did offer input on language in the reports diversity section to align it with the views and priorities of the steering committee. Burke, who is the Omaha chambers chairman this year, said he remains hopeful that Blueprint can serve as a catalyst for change on the discrimination issue, something Swatsworth of OutNebraska said would be welcomed. She said the issue affects lives well beyond the workplace. She knows of gay people in rural Nebraska who quietly live in fear of being outed, knowing it could cost them their jobs. And she said many millennials who grew up with gay friends want to see them legally protected. For (millennials), it seems like it should be a nonissue, she said. Theres a sense everyone should be treated on the merits of their work, and someones private life shouldnt influence their ability to do their job. Here are the companies the Yahoo Finance team is watching for you today. Shopify (SHOP) is climbing this morning after posting a big beat on earnings and revenue last quarter. Shopify provides those back-of-the-house services like payment processing and marketing tools for small businesses. It saw revenue soar 47% last quarter and it boosted guidance for the rest of the year. Shopify is up more than 60% in the last 3 months. Things arent looking good for Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY). The home goods retailer said its same-store sales fell more than 5% in December and January, as the company struggles to attract customers to its stores. On the bright side, same-store sales from Bed Baths e-commerce channel grew about 20% in that two month period. CEO Mark Tritton said the company is going through short term 'growing pains' as it tries to modernize the business. Google (GOOGL) is set to take on the European Union in court today over antitrust fines. The tech giant is looking to overturn the first of three large fines this first one being worth $2.6 billion. EU regulators are saying that Google favored its own shopping ads over those from smaller European companies. The EU has fined Google nearly $9 billion over a decade-long saga. Good news for Apple (AAPL). China's Foxconn, the company that's a key supplier to the iPhone maker, is looking to restart some of its production facilities soon, according to Reuters. Production lines have been closed in China over the coronavirus outbreak. Foxconn wants half of its plants up and running by the end of the month and to be at 80% capacity by the end of March. One of the three Supreme Court judges hearing the plea against former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs detention recused from the case on Wednesday. Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar announced his decision to step back from the case as soon as the bench took up the petition filed by Omar Abdullahs sister Sara Abdullah Pilot. I will not be part of this (matter), Justice Shantanagoudar said. The judge did not elaborate. The other judges on the bench today were justices NV Ramana and Sanjiv Khanna. Justice Shantanagoudars decision led the top court to defer the hearing on Sara Abdullah Pilots petition. A new bench will be constituted to take up the case on Friday. Watch | Omar Abdullahs sister moves Supreme Court against his detention under PSA Omar Abdullah, who has been in custody for six months, was detained hours before the Centre approached Parliament on August 5 last year to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to the erstwhile state, now split into two union territories. As he completed six months in custody, the government ordered his continued detention under the Public Safety Act that empowers authorities to hold any person for two more years. His sister rushed to the Supreme Court against the detention order that she claimed was illegal and filed a Habeas Corpus petition. She argued that Omar Abdullah was a votary of peace and there was overwhelming evidence in the form of tweets and public statements to prove the same. Sara Abdullah Pilot also extensively quoted from the governments dossier on the former chief minister that formed part of the material which formed the administrations decision to issue the detention order. The reports on the contents of the police dossier on Abdullah have invited sharp political criticism. Omar Abdullahs sister has pointed to portions that cited Abdullahs political influence even during the peak of militancy to support his detention under PSA. In her petition, Pilot said: That the dossier states that the capacity of the subject (detenu) to influence people for any cause could be gauged from the fact that he was able to convince the electorate to come out and vote in huge numbers even during peak militancy and poll boycotts. In other words, the detenu is accused of convincing people to participate in elections in huge numbers and exercise their democratic right to vote despite threats from militants. Someone robbed PJs Cafe in Hot Springs early Monday. Some ones it had to be more than one person unbolted the automatic teller machine from the floor of the lobby of the Symes Hotel and toted it away in the hotels firewood wheelbarrow a couple of weeks earlier. Fergies Pub and Grill on Main Street was hit last Labor Day weekend, with property damage and stolen cash totaling several thousand dollars. So far, none of the Hot Springs cases have been solved. Its a sleepy little town. This is Mayberry, you know," Leslee Smith of the Symes Hot Springs Hotel and Mineral Baths said. "Our doors to the hotel are open at night, but now were having to hire a security person for every night of the week, Smith said. Smith and family have owned and operated the Symes for nearly a quarter of a century, attracting crowds and music acts from across the Pacific Northwest, and sometimes beyond, each Friday and Saturday night. She figures there was between $2,000 and $3,000 in the stolen ATM, which has yet to be recovered. These guys came in through the back door, the lights in the lobby were off, and they didnt see the camera going out the back side of the hotel toward the parking lot, she said. I hope they get them. Its just rude to break into a small business and terrorize a community. PJs Cafe owner John Graham said thieves made off with close to $1,000 in cash and raffle tickets on Monday, much of it money raised to help cover his wifes medical expenses. Patty Graham has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and began five-days-a-week radiation treatments Tuesday in Kalispell. John Graham said the scoundrels apparently first tried to pry open the back door of the restaurant on East Broadway with a crowbar that looked like it had been used to stir blue paint. A neighbor told Graham a man from Idaho who does a lot of walking around town recently showed him a blue pry bar. "He said he was pretty proud of it," Graham said. When the metal door frame failed to give way, the encroacher or encroachers apparently broke out an entire window high up the wall to an electrical room to gain entrance. They stole the cash register with the raffle money in it and pried open drawers, even one that wasn't locked. The emptied cash register and bank bags were found later in the day by a woman walking her dog in the city park, barely than a block from the cafe. "So they were on foot," said Graham, who figures the intruders were looking for more. A benefit dinner for Patty Graham on Saturday raised a substantial amount, but that money was taken home for safekeeping. Usually we dont have anything in there that adds up to $100, and thats just miscellaneous stuff, John Graham said. In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Grahams daughter, Tanya, thanked everyone who came to the dinner to support her parents. We have an amazing community and we feel blessed to be a part of it, she wrote. Her next post on Monday read: PJs was robbed last night. We are asking that if anyone has any information that you contact us (at) 741-2233 or Hot Springs police (at) 741-3314. Up at the Symes, Smith said thereve been a couple of tips, but we have actually not solved the crime. No one at the Hot Springs Police Department returned calls to the Missoulian on Tuesday. Smith said police Chief Eric Pfleger had been to the Symes to investigate, and one of his two peace officers, Logan Martin, was over Saturday to show her how to download the video footage onto a thumb drive. So they have that now, Smith said. John Kasida isnt holding out hope. A 10-year resident of Hot Springs, he called the Missoulian to report the string of thefts and called on news media to make the robberies top of the page news. Im not trying to be a jerk about it, but this is threatening to me, Kasida said. Its been going on and on. Ive already lost everything I owned. Kasida said his home was broken into shortly after he moved to town by persons still unknown, and all the friends I know, their houses are getting robbed. Now, Kasida said, it looks like the handful of businesses in the town of 550 have become targets, and the police seem powerless to stop it. Kasida said a lot of methamphetamine is going around the Flathead Reservation. I think thats whats causing this problem, he said. Were just like every community when it comes to a meth problem, Smith said. But here you can see it. Its so visual because there are so few residents. Everybody kind of knows whos on it but cant prove it. It seems to me the police should be able to question anybody, but they have to follow the law, and I know theyre working on it. Meanwhile, when the Symes gets a replacement ATM, Smith is planning to place it in a vintage old phone booth in the corner from which the pay phone has been removed. Maybe well put an iron gate with a padlock on it to be locked outside of business hours, she said. The back doors and upstairs fire escapes will be locked at night from the outside, allowing exit but no entrance. And the desk will be staffed around the clock. Penny and John Graham opened PJs Cafe on Feb. 17, 2017. Theyve opened the doors at 5:30 a.m. and closed at 2 p.m. seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays. Even on Monday, while they had to close during the investigation, they opened for business later on, John said. Drawing for the firewood raffle was scheduled for Friday, Valentines Day. Thats kind of kicking us in the butt, Graham said. I told my wife every time I think were getting our heads up out of the hole, somebody kicks us in the belly. Fergies Pub owner Charlie Scott said she has received no updates from police on the early morning break-in last September. It remains a devastating blow to her and her business. Its very traumatizing to get broken into, Scott said. You feel very vulnerable and you dont know who to trust. I guess you just have to let it go. Smith holds out hope of something getting resolved. Im pretty tired of looking over my shoulder, she said. You know, its just sick. Weve been here (at the Symes) since 1996 and except for them picking up a small trinket once in a while, we really havent had hardly any theft. It feels bad. For the whole community. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 6 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. 12.02.2020 LISTEN The National President of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Alexander Danso has advised parents of Senior High School students to pay attention to their wards' education. His statement follows the punishment of some seven female students of Ejisuman SHS who were seen in a viral social media video making comments that border on sex. The students were expelled from the schools boarding house as a form of punishment. Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Danso called on parents and guardians to give full attention to their wards especially when they return from school. Parents must show interest in their wards' education. There are some parents who wouldn't even visit their children to know whether they are progressing or not, the moment they dump their children in the school. You should be visiting your child to know whether he or she is progressing or retrogressing. Secondly, when he or she comes home, go through his or her chop box and then find out if there are some foreign materials. If yes, then you question him or her, he stated. Background Authorities at the Ejisuman Senior High School in the Ashanti Region recently expelled seven female students from the school's boarding facility after they allegedly posted a video on social media that contained sexual innuendos. According to authorities, the video which has gone viral has dented the image of the school. A letter announcing the sanctions against the students and addressed to the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the Ghana Education Service stated that: the management of the school at a meeting with the affected students and their parents arrived at that decision. The seven who are all final year students were accused of using a mobile phone which is prohibited in basic and high schools to upload a video on social media where unprintable words that border on sex were spewed out. Parliament to deliberate on mobile phone use by SHS students The Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu Kortoe, has hinted that the Committee will sit to deliberate on the issue of usage of mobile phones in Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country. In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Kortoe said the outcome of the meeting will be communicated to the GES and Education Ministry. The time has come for the committee to even sit and critically look at how best we can help solve this problem of our students using mobile phones for such activities instead of productive activities. We will take it up and offer suggestions to the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service. citinewsroom By AFP ISTANBUL: Turkey's president accused Russia of committing "massacres" in its support of the Syrian government on Wednesday, escalating a war of words as more Turkish reinforcements arrived on the ground. Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to strike Syrian regime forces "everywhere" if its soldiers come under renewed attack, but Russia hit back and accused the Turks of failing to "neutralise terrorists" in the northwestern province of Idlib. Turkey has shored up its positions in recent days in Idlib -- the last rebel bastion in Syria -- with hundreds of vehicles carrying artillery and soldiers. And a new convoy of Turkish armoured vehicles arrived Wednesday in the town of Binnish, northeast of Idlib city, in a new deployment, an AFP correspondent said. Turkish officials say they have lost 14 soldiers in the past nine days and claim to have killed scores of Syrian government troops as they try to push back forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian forces backed by Russian airstrikes have pressed ahead with an offensive to retake Idlib from rebel groups that began in December, despite a 2018 deal agreed between Turkey and Russia in Sochi. The offensive -- which has retaken numerous towns and a crucial motorway -- has killed hundreds of civilians and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing for safety in harsh winter conditions. Erdogan's direct criticism of Russia is a rare move since 2015 when Turkey shot down Moscow's fighter jet that had strayed into its airspace. The tensions over Idlib highlight the complexity of ties between the two countries, whose rivalry stretches back into their imperial pasts and has been characterised by centuries of mistrust. "The regime, backed by Russian forces and Iran-backed militants, are continuously attacking civilians, committing massacres and shedding blood," Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling party in parliament. He said Turkey would do "whatever necessary" to push Syrian forces back behind the 12 observation posts it set up in Idlib under the Sochi deal. "I hereby declare that we will strike regime forces everywhere from now on regardless of the Sochi deal if any tiny bit of harm comes to our soldiers at observation posts or elsewhere," he added. In return, Russia accused Turkey of failing to honour the 2018 deal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the Turkish side "had taken upon itself an obligation to neutralise terrorist groups" in Idlib. New Hampshire is looking like a bust for two once-promising candidates. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are not projected to win any delegates in Tuesday night's New Hampshire primaries. With half of precincts reporting, Warren has 9.4 percent of the state's Democratic vote and Biden had 8.6, below the 15 percent they'll need to earn a delegate, CNN reports. Warren and Biden both came at least 10 percent behind the top three candidates with 56.9 percent of precincts reporting on Tuesday. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was in the lead with 27.1 percent, followed by former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 23.6 percent and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at 19.7 percent. New Hampshire has 24 delegates up for grabs, making it a pretty small piece of the 3,979-delegate puzzle that makes up the country. A candidate will have to win half of those delegates to win the Democratic nomination. More stories from theweek.com Bipartisan group of senators to meet Ukrainian president this week Brokered convention gets close 2nd place in FiveThirtyEight's Democratic nomination forecast 8 Republicans join Democrats in vote to limit Trump's military powers in Iran Trisha Krishan, who was last seen in Rajinikanth starrer Petta, has too many films lined-up for release this year. No wonder, the 36-year-old is one of the busiest actresses in the South film industry. This year the talented actress will be seen in the Tamil thriller Garjanai which is directed by Sundar Bala. Filmmaker Jeethu Joseph's Malayalam thriller Ram starring Mohanlal in the lead along with Trisha is also set to arrive in theatres this year on October 22. Apart from these two films, Trisha also has Koratala Siva's upcoming directorial venture Chiru 152 in her kitty. Featuring megastar Chiranjeevi in the lead, the Telugu movie is expected to come out this year on August 14. However, the makers of the action-entertainer are yet to make an official announcement regarding the same. As if three releases weren't enough, Trisha may have one more film hitting the screens this year. Yes, you heard that right. The Petta heroine has just wrapped up shooting for her Tamil film Raangi which is helmed by M Saravanan. The action thriller, produced by Allirajah Subaskaran under the banner of Lyca Productions, also stars Anaswara Rajan and Uzbek actor Bekzod Abdumalikov in key roles. Just a while back, Trisha posted a picture on her Instagram story from the sets of her film and wrote, "And its a wrap. See you in the theatres. Love team #Raangi." Her co-star Bekzod shared the same photo on his Instagram account and said, "Finally the final scene was shooted! Despite the very cold weather, we did it.#raangi #raangimovie #bukhara #uzbekistan #finalscene." Last year, Trisha unveiled the first look poster of her film on social media and it garnered positive feedback. The movie has been written by AR Murugadoss and has been shot at various foreign locations including Los Angeles. While the makers haven't locked the release date, Raangi will definitely make its way to the theatres sooner than later. Is Trisha Krishnan Planning to Get Married In Las Vegas? Find Out! Mohanlal's Ram: Trisha Krishnan's Character Is Revealed! Temperature experiments found that a shrew-like species may not be able to adequately respond physiologically to prolonged heat waves Numerous questions remain unanswered as to how the planet's species will respond to climate change. A new paper in the journal Frontiers in Physiology suggests that at least one species of marsupial "mice" may struggle to adapt to a warming world. The study found that changes in ambient temperatures experienced during the development and growth of yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) can influence their behavioral and physiological traits. "This has important implications in terms of how this species will respond to changes in the climate," said lead author Dr. Clare Stawski, associate professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology. "Individuals raised in warm conditions appear to have less phenotypic flexibility, suggesting that they may not be able to respond effectively to prolonged increases in temperature." Phenotypic flexibility refers to the ability of an organism to adjust to a new type of environmental stress. In this case, Stawski and colleague Dr. Fritz Geiser, a professor at the University of New England in Australia, wanted to see how antechinus might respond to temperature swings for varying time periods. The experiment involved 19 juvenile antechinus, which were split into two groups and subjected to different temperature regimes ranging from 16.7 degrees Celsius to 24.7 degrees Celsius. Infrared sensors attached to individual cage lids measured their activity and custom-made data loggers recorded their behavior. Once the miniature marsupials reached adult age, the scientists measured metabolic rates, body mass and other physiological parameters across another set of experiments. These included putting them into temperature-controlled chambers where they experienced further variations in temperatures. Overall, the yellow-footed antechinus were more active with lower metabolic rates at warmer temperatures. This is typical for many mammals shifting from winter to summer. However, the results from the experiments also suggested that while individuals can withstand short periods of warmer temperatures, they don't have a particularly effective strategy to endure prolonged heat waves. That's not good news, considering that Australia's national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), projects "very high confidence" that hot days will become more frequent and hotter in the future. Australia is home to at least ten species of insect-munching antechinus. While they superficially resemble rodents, these marsupial carnivores behave much differently. For example, their love lives: The animals engage in a short but frenzied period of mating, after which the males die from stress-induced immune system breakdown. Another difference is that antechinus can enter a state of decreased physiological activity, or torpor, in response to colder temperatures or other environmental factors. Stawski noted that the results of the current study can likely be used to make broad assumptions about all antechinus species, as they share a similar ecology in terms of reproduction and habitats. "Further, I do think our results could also be applicable to other small marsupials that employ daily torpor," she said. In previous studies, Stawski, Geiser and their colleagues have investigated how small marsupials might respond to wildfires. They found that torpor can be a very effective means for surviving a wildfire, both during a fire if the animals are in a safe refuge and after the fire when resources are limited. However, the recent fires that have enveloped vast regions of Australia is another story entirely. Some estimates claim the fires have killed more than one billion animals. "Torpor during a fire is only beneficial if the refuge protects the torpid animal," Stawski noted. "It is likely that many torpid animals perished during the current wildfires in Australia due to their severity. Further, as these wildfires are occurring during summer and heatwaves, many animals would be unable to effectively employ torpor due to the high temperatures." ### Notes to Editors Please link to the original research article in your reporting: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00049/full Corresponding author: Dr. Clare Stawski Email: clare.stawski@ntnu.no Corresponding Author's Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology Frontiers is an award-winning Open Science platform and leading Open Access scholarly publisher. Our mission is to make research results openly available to the world, thereby accelerating scientific and technological innovation, societal progress and economic growth. We empower scientists with innovative Open Science solutions that radically improve how science is published, evaluated and disseminated to researchers, innovators and the public. Access to research results and data is open, free and customized through Internet Technology, thereby enabling rapid solutions to the critical challenges we face as humanity. For more information, visit http://www.frontiersin.org and follow @Frontiersin on Twitter. The Philippine military on Wednesday stood by the presidents decision to scrap a security agreement with the United States, saying the country could now develop its own defence capabilities and alliances, and would do fine without it. Manila: The Philippine military on Wednesday stood by the presidents decision to scrap a security agreement with the United States, saying the country could now develop its own defence capabilities and alliances, and would do fine without it. The military chief backed President Rodrigo Dutertes termination of the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and said doing so would allow the Philippines to expand its modernisation program and its engagement with Australia and Japan both US allies. Armed forces commander, General Felimon Santos, said planes and ships were being procured from countries other than the United States, such as South Korea, while Filipinos were now doing the leg work on intelligence gathering on Islamist extremists. You know these sentiments of soldiers, we are all high morale, he told reporters. It will make us more eager to build up our own capabilities. Despite his defence and foreign ministers last week speaking favourably of the VFA, Dutertes decision was not a complete surprise given his disdain for the Philippines close ties with Washington and what he sees as subservience to an abusive and hypocritical former colonial ruler. He has been determined to build a strong relationship with China, despite a history of diplomatic friction, and some unease among a US-leaning defence apparatus wary about Beijings militarisation and island-building in the South China Sea. Dutertes spokesman Salvador Panelo said US disagreement with the firebrand presidents move was motivated by its own strategic interests, and that it was time for the Philippines to be militarily independent. Reliance on another country for our own defences against the enemies of the state will ultimately weaken and stagnate our defence mechanisms, Panelo said in a statement. We must stand on our own and put a stop to being a parasite to another country in protecting our independence and sovereignty. But the move defies domestic opinion, with polls consistently showing Filipinos mistrust of China and strong approval of the United States, where millions of their relatives live, including those of some of Dutertes cabinet ministers. The VFA is the legal framework for the thousands of rotating US troops involved in as many as 300 joint exercises a year in the Philippines. Some lawmakers hope it can be saved in the 180 days before the termination takes effect, and worry that without it, two other US military agreements will be irrelevant. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday said the decision was a move in the wrong direction at a time when Washington and its Asian allies were trying to press China to abide by international rules of order. Dutertes spokesman Panelo rejected that, calling it a move in the right direction that should have been done a long time ago. Dutertes opponents are dismayed and see the move as his personal favor to China, among them former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario, who called his decision incomprehensible and harmful. What is unfolding before us must be considered a national tragedy which should be resisted, he said. Technavio has been monitoring the railway traction motor market and it is poised to grow by USD 2.37 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 4% 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/20200211006069/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the railway traction motor market from 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) An increased demand for rail logistics due to rising trade activities has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, delay in execution and development of railway projects might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Railway Traction Motor Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Railway Traction Motor Market is segmented as below: Type DC motors AC motors Synchronous motors Geographic segmentation North America APAC Europe South America MEA 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=IRTNTR30703 Railway Traction Motor Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our railway traction motor market report covers the following areas: Railway Traction Motor Market Size Railway Traction Motor Market Trends Railway Traction Motor Market Industry Analysis This study identifies smart railways gaining popularity as one of the prime reasons driving the railway traction motor market growth during the next few years. Railway Traction Motor Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the railway traction motor market, including some of the vendors such as ABB, Alstom, Bombardier, GENERAL ELECTRIC, Siemens and Traktionssysteme Austria. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the railway traction motor market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Railway Traction Motor Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist railway traction motor market growth during the next five years Estimation of the railway traction motor market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the railway traction motor market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of railway traction motor market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006069/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ From Delish Heres some exciting news to start your Wednesday: JustJared reports that Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are expecting their first child together. Multiple sources confirmed Turners pregnancy to the outlet. One said the two have been keeping it quiet. The couple is keeping things very hush hush but their friends and family are super excited for them, the source said. A second explained that Sophie has decidedly been choosing outfits to wear on and off the carpet to accommodate her changing body. Jonas and Turner were last photographed out together in London on January 30: Photo credit: Neil Mockford - Getty Images Jonas and Turner have not publicly commented on the report yet. The pregnancy comes almost one year after they got married legally in Las Vegas in May 2019. They had their formal second wedding later in that summer in France. Turner spoke to Rolling Stone in March 2019 about how she never expected to get married in her early 20s until she met Jonas. She was 21 when the couple got engaged after almost a year of dating. I was fully preparing myself to be single for the rest of my life, she told the outlet. I think once youve found the right person, you just know. I feel like Im much older a soul than I am in age. I feel like Ive lived enough life to know. Ive met enough guys to knowIve met enough girls to know. I dont feel 22. I feel like 27, 28. She talked to Glamour UK earlier that year about how enormously happy Jonas makes her. A lot of [my happiness now] is to do with being with a person Ive fallen in love with, who loves me more than he loves himself, and who wants to see me find my own happiness," she said. "That was probably the biggest thing that pushed me to find who I am and find my happiness in things other than acting. You Might Also Like The defense rested its case Tuesday in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial without him testifying, setting the stage for closing arguments in a landmark #MeToo trial punctuated by graphic testimony from six of the disgraced Hollywood mogul's accusers. As expected, Weinstein chose not to take the witness stand, avoiding the risk of having prosecutors grill him on cross-examination. He confirmed the decision in open court after meeting behind closed doors with his lawyers for a half-hour as speculation swirled that they still hadn't talked him out of it. Judge James Burke, after learning about the decision, asked Weinstein if he was sure that's what he wanted. "Yes," Weinstein responded. Following a court holiday on Wednesday, jurors are expected to hear defense closing arguments Thursday, followed by the prosecution Friday. Jury deliberations are slated to start Tuesday. By not testifying, Weinstein followed the example of defendants in other high-profile sex crimes cases. They include Bill Cosby, who didn't take the witness stand either time he was tried for drugging and molesting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home. After a mistrial in 2017, a second trial resulted in the comedian's conviction. Weinstein, 67, is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a different woman in 2006. Other accusers were called as witnesses as part of a prosecution effort to show he has used the same tactics to victimize many women over the years. Weinstein has maintained that any sexual encounters were consensual. The defense case mainly relied on the testimony of three witnesses, whom Weinstein's lawyers used to try to cast doubt on the accounts of two of the accusers. The Associated Press Jussie Smollett is facing new charges Actor Jussie Smollett faces new charges for reporting an attack that Chicago authorities contend was staged to garner publicity, according to media reports Tuesday. The charges include disorderly conduct counts, according to the reports that cite unidentified sources. Smollett, who is black and gay, asserted he was the target of a racist and homophobic attack in January 2019. Smollett was originally charged the following month with disorderly conduct for allegedly staging the attack and lying about it to investigators. The charges were dropped in March 2019, angering police officials and then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Cook County Judge Michael Toomin in August appointed former U.S. attorney Dan Webb as a special prosecutor to look into why the charges were dropped. Webb was also charged with looking into whether a county prosecutor's calls with a Smollett relative and an ex-aide of former first lady Michelle Obama unduly influenced the decision to drop charges. Smollett told police he was walking home early on Jan. 29, 2019, when two masked men approached him, made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing. He said his assailants, at least one of whom he reported was white, told him he was in "MAGA country" a reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America great again." Several weeks later, authorities alleged that Smollett had paid two black friends $3,500 to help him stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on "Empire" and wanted to drum up publicity for his career. The Associated Press Queen's grandson announces divorce Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, and his wife, Autumn, are divorcing after 12 years of marriage. The couple said in a statement Tuesday that the separation was sad but amicable. They plan to share custody of daughters Savannah, 9, and Isla, 7. The 42-year-old Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and will be the first of the queen's eight grandchildren to divorce. Three of the monarch's four children had marriages that ended in divorce, including Anne, who split from first husband Mark Phillips in 1992 and married naval officer Timothy Laurence, her current spouse. Peter Phillips married Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly at Windsor Castle in 2008. Announcement of their separation comes after queen's grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan quit royal duties, seeking financial independence and more time in North America. The Associated Press Guest Commentary Matthew Lau One of the big policy issues for the federal government this year, as well as in the Conservative leadership race, is immigration. By a margin of 63 percent to 7 percent, according to a recent Leger poll, Conservative voters want their new leader to decrease rather than increase immigration to Canada (the other 30 percent were indifferent or didnt know). The calls for more restrictions on immigration, however, should be rejected in favour of a more open policy that allows for greater personal and economic freedom. Given the consensus view of good economists that free trade is eminently desirable and a main driver of the economic progress achieved around the world for the past two centuries, it follows that the free movement of labour across borders is also a good thing. Indeed, having a more open immigration policy is one of the easiest ways the federal government can increase economic freedom, improve economic growth, and cut poverty. The main economic effect of a more open immigration system would be to allow labour to move to where it is most productive and to make available to Canadians more opportunities and options in their economic dealings. Some people have argued that immigration is economically harmful because immigrants steal jobs from domestic workers and drive down wages, but this is nonsense. (If immigrants are economically harmful because they take jobs away from domestic workers, then by the same logic, grocery stores are economically harmful because grocery stores take work away from families by eliminating their need to grow their own food). A more serious economic objection to immigration is the potential fiscal cost: immigrants might represent a significant burden to taxpayers if they consume more government services than they pay for through taxes. This concern, while often exaggerated by opponents of immigration, is a valid one. However, it does not justify a more restrictive immigration policy. One solution to the fiscal costs issue, proposed by Gary Becker, is that if immigrants represent a net cost to taxpayers, then the government should simply sell the right to immigrate (while still allowing some free immigration for humanitarian purposes). The current system or a more restrictive one, which outright denies many people the right to immigrate, effectively charges a cost of infinity to many people who want to move to Canada. But if an immigrant is expected to cost taxpayers, say, $20,000, then selling the right to immigrate for $20,000 is surely much more reasonable than setting the price at infinity. A yet better solution is to reduce the fiscal burden on taxpayers by curtailing the government programs creating the burden. Some people have argued, for example, that Canadas public health care system would be unable to handle the extra demand created by immigration unless much more money is raised through tax hikes. However, this is really a health care spending problem, not an immigration problem. Canadas health care system a government monopoly lacks competition, prices, costs to consumers, and a normal labour market. Because of this, it is doomed to inefficiency, excessive costs, and a substandard level of service regardless of how much immigration there is. The problem of too much government control in health care (and other areas) should not and cannot be solved by having more government control of immigration. If the goal is to reduce poverty and strengthen the economy, we should want less government control and more economic freedom and that includes allowing more immigration. Matthew Lau is a research associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. The Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) has been instrumental in exposing the regimes wrongdoings since the mullahs came to power, most notably surrounding human rights abuses and the secretive nuclear program. They have also been helping the Iranian people to organize their anti-regime protests over the past few years. Once the Iranian regime has been crushed, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) will rule for a six-month transition period until free and fair elections can be held. The NCRI is a coalition of Iranian Resistance groups, with the MEK as its largest member, and serves as a parliament-in-exile. The Beginning The MEK was founded by three engineers Mohammad Hanifnejad, Said Mohsen, and Ali-Ashgar Badizadgan on September 6, 1965. The trio were members of the Freedom Movement (sometimes called the Liberation Movement), which was created in 1961. The Freedom Movement championed the democratic principles enshrined in the fundamental laws of 1905-09 [Iranian] Constitution and supported political freedom and the separations of power. The group was allowed to hold meetings and print newsletters for two years, until June 5, 1963. On that date, large demonstrations, supported by the Freedom Movement, swept Iran following the arrest of Ruhollah Khomeini (more on him later) for criticizing the monarchy. The Shahs police (SAVAK) responded with massive firepower and killed thousands of people, in what is now known as the June Uprising. Then, the Shah outlawed the Freedom Movement and sentenced Bazargan to ten years in prison. After two years, the three engineers came together, hoping to find a new way to bring democracy and freedom to Iran, but they knew they needed a new strategy. It would, after all, be foolish to follow the same path as the Freedom Movement and meet the same end. The trio formed a discussion group with twenty of their most trusted friends and on September 20, 1965, held the first meeting of the MEK. The MEK members were mainly professionals living in Tehran, who met twice a week to discuss religion, history, philosophy, and revolutionary theory. Over the next six years, the MEK discovered the true interpretation of Islam, which is tolerant, democratic, and in-line with modern values. They developed a strategy to replace Irans dictatorial monarchy with a democratic government, but regrettably, they were arrested by the Shah before they could put it into practice and all but one of the MEK leaders were killed. During the 1979 revolution, the Shah was deposed and Massoud Rajavi, the one surviving MEK leaders, was released from prison. Khomeini took power in Iran, but rather than embrace the MEK, he tried to bribe them into abandoning their democratic beliefs. When they didnt, he banned their group and tried to massacre them. But he couldnt kill their spirit. Sean Sullivan We are thrilled to welcome Sean. His expertise adds immense value to our clients and positions us as one of the strongest environmental teams in the state." Sean M. Sullivan, an accomplished environmental attorney, has joined Robinson Bradshaws Research Triangle office as a shareholder. We are thrilled to welcome Sean, said Emily Sherlock, chair of the firms Environmental Practice Group. His expertise adds immense value to our clients and positions us as one of the strongest environmental teams in the state. Sullivan advises clients throughout the country regarding all major federal environmental programs, with a particular emphasis on hazardous waste, Brownfields redevelopment, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and emerging contaminants. In recognition of his accomplishments in environmental law, Sullivan has received accolades from award publications including Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Super Lawyers and Business North Carolinas Legal Elite. Sullivan was previously a partner at Troutman Sanders in Raleigh. He received his law degree cum laude from American University and his bachelors degree with honors from the University of Miami. Robinson Bradshaw is a Carolinas-based corporate law firm celebrating 60 years of providing comprehensive legal services to our clients. We represent businesses across the country ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Visit http://www.robinsonbradshaw.com for more information. Former Vice President Joe Biden left New Hampshire early and then bungled a reference to the state as he addressed supporters Tuesday night from Columbia, South Carolina. 'It is important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken,' Biden said, meaning to say Iowa and the Granite State, where people were still voting as he boarded a jet and flew south. 'But look, we need to hear from Nevada and South Carolina as well.' Biden pointed out that 99 per cent of black voters hadn't selected a Democratic candidate yet, nor 98 per cent of Latinos. 'Tell them, it ain't over man, we're just getting started,' the ex-veep said. 'The fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning,' Biden said. Biden, long considered the Democratic frontrunner, decided against sticking around New Hampshire, with some polls suggesting he could come in fifth place. By the time he started speaking, polling looked right, as he was in fifth with just 8.5 per cent of the vote. Vice Joe Biden left New Hampshire before voting ended and materialized in South Carolina instead Supporters in New Hampshire had to watch their candidate on livestream as he left the Granite State early BYE BYE BIDEN: Vice President Joe Biden didn't hang around for the New Hampshire results, hightailing it to South Carolina where he's expected to do better A flight tracker shows the trajectory of former Vice President Joe Biden's jet - leaving Manchester, New Hampshire and touching down in Columbia, South Carolina before voting was over Tuesday night in the Granite State Vice President Joe Biden decided to ditch his New Hampshire primary event in Nashua, New Hampshire Vice President Joe Biden's primary night event at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua will not feature Vice President Joe Biden Former Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to leave New Hampshire Tuesday before the results of the first-in-the-nation primary come in Former Vice President Joe Biden is leaving the Granite State Tuesday instead of addressing supporters at a planned event in Nashua The vice president was on the ground at polling locations Tuesday morning in New Hampshire, before his planned departure to South Carolina Vice President Joe Biden, captured talking to reporters Tuesday morning, has downplayed the important of New Hampshire's primary, as the voters in New Hampshire and Iowa are primarily white The vice president is now losing to Sen. Bernie Sanders in two national surveys and he's tied for fourth place in New Hampshire, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average His campaign announced mid-morning Tuesday that he would address supporters 'via livestream' from a South Carolina Launch party with surrogate Cedric Richmond, a congressman from the state, which was only added to the former vice preisdent's schedule Monday. Jill Biden came out first, followed by Richmond. 'When we lost Beau we came to the low country to find a sense of peace,' she told the crowd. 'South Carolina was the place we were able to take a breath again. And this state opened its arms and embraced our family.' 'You helped us heel,' she said. Skipping over Nevada, which caucuses a week from Saturday, she said, 'Iowa and New Hampshire have had their say, but now it's your turn.' She talked about how there woudl be a 'fresh start here in the Palmetto State.' 'You know Joe!' she yelled. Richmond touted the former vice president's familiarity as his strength. 'The most important thing about Vice President Joe Biden is he knows what he knows and he knows what he doesn't know - and he's not going to govern and help our communities in spite of us,' Richmond said. He introduced Biden as the '46th president of the United States of America.' Once onstage, Biden talked of the unfairness of counting him out of the race without minority voters having spoken. 'We're not going to let this election taken away from you,' he said at one point. 'You shouldn't be able to win the Democratic nomination without black and brown voters,' he said at another. 'We just heard from the first two of 50 states. Two of them. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 per cent,' Biden said. 'That's the opening bell, not the closing bell.' He also went on a riff about how close he is to President Obama - talking about how his grandchildren and Obama's two daughters are friends and visit each other's colleges. 'All I know is I get to pay for the plane ticket,' Biden cracked. The announcement that Biden would skip his planned event in Nashua, New Hampshire came minutes after the release of another national poll that showed Sen. Bernie Sanders had pulled ahead, now leading the Democratic pack by 10 points. Biden, on the other hand, is in second with his support practically cut in half. Last month, before his fourth place showing in the Iowa caucuses, he was receiving support from 30 per cent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, according to the Monmouth University Poll. On Tuesday, he had held on to 16 per cent. Sanders, who's likely to win the Granite State primary - as he's topped every poll but one conducted this month and benefits from next-door-neighbor status - is now 10 points ahead of the former vice president nationally. He's at 26 per cent support, according to the Monmouth survey. Last month, Sanders was the pick of 23 per cent of the party. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg got a sizable bump coming out of Iowa - where he won the caucuses by the traditional delegate measure, while Sanders snagged the popular vote. In January, Buttigieg sat at 6 per cent nationally, now he's at 13 per cent. Even before his decision to leave the state on primary night, Biden has been downplaying the importance of New Hampshire. The Real Clear Politics polling average has him tied for fourth place with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, with Sanders, Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar taking the top three spots. He suggested he'd likely get thumped by not only Sanders but Warren, who like Sanders represents a neighboring state. 'You're always behind the eight ball when you're running in New Hampshire and you have two people from the neighboring states,' he said Monday on CBS 'This Morning.' And he argued that Iowa and New Hampshire don't matter that much, since the voters in the states don't represent the Democratic party's racial make-up. 'Nothing's going to happen until we get down to a place and around the country where there's much more diversity,' Biden said, alluding to South Carolina - where he's heading for New Hampshire primary night - and Nevada, the state that caucuses next. Biden's Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield told reporters at a Bloomberg News breakfast Monday morning that she didn't think lousy finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire would impact Biden's chances with black voters in South Carolina. 'It goes back to the long relationship he has with the African-American community,' she explained. But a national poll out Monday from Quinnipiac - the first poll ever to show Sanders ahead of Biden nationwide - showed an erosion of support for Biden among black voters as well. In December, Biden was the choice of 51 per cent of black voters, by February that number moved down to 27 per cent. Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula recently gazetted the new toll tariffs for 2020, outlining fee increases for toll roads across the country. The gazette also included the fees schedule for the controversial Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) also known as e-tolls. These toll fee increases mean it is even more expensive to drive from Johannesburg to Durban and Cape Town, but many South Africans may still prefer this to the perceived expense of flight tickets. However, once you factor in the maintenance and fuel costs associated with driving to these cities, it is actually cheaper to fly. We compared one-way flight prices with the maintenance and fuel costs of these trips, as well as the updated toll fees. Travel costs Toll fees for one-way trips to these cities reflect only a portion of the cost of the trip the most important costs are fuel and maintenance. We can calculate the fuel and maintenance cost per kilometre for each of these trips using guidance provided by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). These figures are used to calculate travel allowance for employees, which is tax-deductible. We used the rates for a car worth between R255,001 and R340,000, based on the average new car value in South Africa, which exceeded R300,000 in 2018, The per-kilometre fuel and maintenance rates for this value bracket are listed below: Fuel rate R1.24/km Maintenance rate R0.51/km We used these rates and the new toll fees to compare the cost of a trip to Durban and Cape Town by motor vehicle to that of a one-way flight. Durban Flights vs Driving Below are the new toll fees for the route to Durban via the N3 toll road. The route was defined according to the toll route map listed on the Automobile Association (AA) website. N3 Toll Class 1 Fees De Hoek R51 Wilge R71 Tugela R76 Mooi River R53 Mariannhill R12.50 One-way Trip R263.50 Below is the total price of a trip via motor vehicle to Durban compared to the cost of a one-way flight with Mango Airlines, based on airline prices at the time of writing. Durban (one-way) Flying vs Driving Fuel Maintenance Tolls Total Price Driving (568km) R708.86 R294.79 R263.50 R1,267 Flight (Mango Airlines) R560 Cape Town Flights vs Driving Below are the new toll fees for the route to Cape Town via the N1 toll road. The route was defined according to the toll route map listed on the Automobile Association (AA) website. N1 Toll Class 1 Fees Grasmere R21 Vaal R69.50 Verkeerdevlei R59.50 Huguenot R41.50 One-way Trip R191.50 Below is the total price of a trip via motor vehicle to Cape Town compared to the cost of a one-way flight with FlySafair, based on airline prices at the time of writing. Cape Town (one-way) Flying vs Driving Fuel Maintenance Tolls Total Price Driving (1,403km) R1,750.94 R728.15 R191.50 R2,671 Flight (FlySafair) R1,190 Flying is the cheaper option It is apparent from the comparisons above that if you factor in maintenance, fuel, and toll fees, it is much cheaper to fly to Cape Town or Durban than to drive there. In both cases, the price of a flight is less than half of driving meaning that even if you take a passenger on your road trip, you will still be paying more. Flying to these locations also buys you convenience and time. From Johannesburg, it will take you around six hours to drive to Durban and 15 hours to travel to Cape Town via car. Flights to these cities are only one and two hours respectively and are much safer than driving on South African roads. The comparison above shows that unless you are travelling with three or more people and are especially concerned with saving money, flying to these locations is usually the better option. Now read: It now costs R500 in toll fees to drive from Joburg to Durban and back The Nifty50 is likely to head towards 12,150 levels on February 12 tracking positive trend seen in other Asian markets. The Nifty50 snapped two-day losing streak to reclaim 12,100 levels on February 11. Trends on SGX Nifty indicate a positive opening in India with a 30 points, or 0.25 percent, gain. The Nifty futures were trading around 12,157-level on the Singaporean Exchange. Lets look at the final tally on D-Street the S&P BSE Sensex rose 236 points to 41,216 while the Nifty50 closed with gains of 76 points at 12,107. Sectorally, action was seen in power, metals, bankex, energy, healthcare, and consumer durables space while profit-taking was seen FMCG, and telecom space. Mixed performance was seen from the broader market space as the S&P BSE Midcap index rose 0.35 percent while the S&P BSE Smallcap index fell 0.18 percent. Some good news for the economy after a report suggested that India has received foreign direct investment (FDI) of $463.44 million in the food processing sector in the first half of the current fiscal, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. The country had received $628.24 million FDI in the food processing sector during the full fiscal year 2018-19 and $904.90 million during 2017-18, it added. On the macro front, the Indian rupee on Tuesday settled almost flat at 71.28 (provisional) against the US dollar ahead of release of the key domestic macro-economic data. On the institutional front, FPIs were net sellers in Indian markets for Rs 209 cr while the DIIs were net buyers to the tune of Rs 344 cr, provisional data showed. Big News: As many as 482 companies on the BSE will declare their results for the December quarter which include prominent names like Hindalco, Info Edge, ABB, Ashok Leyland, IRCTC, PI Industries, Aarti Industries, Ipca Laboratories, Torrent Power, Natco Pharma, VIP Industries, NBCC, Dish TV, Suzlon, Prakash Industries, etc. among others. Hindalco: PAT likely to fall by 27% YoY Ipca Laboratories: PAT likely to rise by 6% YoY Torrent Power: PAT likely to fall by 5% YoY Ashok Leyland: PAT likely to fall by 83% YoY (All estimates are from Motilal Oswal) Technical View: Nifty formed a Grave Stone Doji kind of pattern on daily charts It closed below its 50-DMA placed at 12,120 In the next trading session if the index trades below 12099 levels then it can come under selling pressure which can eventually drag it down towards recent lows of 11990. If bulls manage to defend 12099 levels then the sideways trend may prevail but a strong close above 12170 is required for resumption of the upmove towards 12266 levels Traders are advised to wait for at least a strong close above 12138 levels before initiating fresh longs whereas intraday traders shall consider a short side trade if Nifty remains below 12099 levels suggest experts. Three levels: 12099, 12172, 12200 Max Call OI: 12500, 12200 Max Put OI: 12000, 11500 Stocks in news: State-owned engineering firm BHEL on Tuesday reported 17 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 161.81 crore for December quarter 2019, mainly due to lower revenue. Public lender IDBI Bank on Tuesday said its loss widened to Rs 5,763.04 crore for the December quarter from Rs 4,185.48 crore in the year-ago period. Siemens Ltd on Tuesday said its consolidated net profit rose 15 per cent to Rs 265.8 crore for the quarter ended on December 31, 2019, mainly on account of reduced expenses. Healthcare services provider Aster DM Healthcare on Tuesday reported a 33.77 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 151.43 crore for the quarter ended on December 31, 2019. Technical Recommendations: We spoke to SMC Global Securities and heres what they have to recommend: Dabur India | Buy | LTP: Rs 508.75 | Target price: Rs 546 | Stop loss: Rs 480 | Upside: 7.32% Nippon Life India Asset Management | Buy | LTP: Rs 403.65 | Target price: Rs 441 | Stop loss: Rs 360 | Upside: 9.25% Godrej Agrovet | Buy | LTP: Rs 570 | Target price: Rs 622 | Stop loss: Rs 525 | Upside: 9.12% Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Members of the royal family are bracing themselves following Prince Harry and Meghan Markles stunning exit. A few royals are going to have to pick up the slack once Harry and Meghans departure is official, including some of Queen Elizabeths children. While Prince Charles already has a packed schedule, Her Majesty is reportedly looking to give his sister, Princess Anne, one of Harrys abandoned titles this spring. Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say goodbye to the royals At the beginning of the year, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family. In the coming months, the couple plans to step away from the royal spotlight and split their time between the UK and North America. They have yet to announce where they plan on setting up their second home, but potential landing places include Canada and Los Angeles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also plan on becoming financially independent from the crown. This means they will no longer accept public funding and will need to finance their yearly endeavors on their own. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Go On Double Date With Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez https://t.co/Q5b9nK1LOf E! News (@enews) February 9, 2020 Because they are no longer performing their royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan will lose their HRH titles. They will, however, keep their title as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and will be allowed to use the name of their charitable foundation, Sussex Royal. The Sussexes will not use their HRH [His or Her Royal Highness] titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their U.K. family home, the palace explained. What title will Princess Anne get? With Prince Harry and Meghan losing their royal titles, Queen Elizabeth will be free to hand out those names to active members of the royal family. According to Town and Country, Queen Elizabeth is thinking about giving one of one Harrys abandoned titles to her daughter, Anne. The title up for grabs is the Captain-General of the Royal Marines. Harry will be giving up the title this spring once Megxit becomes official. Congratulations to Princess Anne! No one is more deserving than her! #PrincessAnne@RoyalFamily https://t.co/TYOyUWwkw5 Duchess Royal (@things_royal) February 9, 2020 Sources claim that Queen Elizabeth is about to announce the new title for Anne. But before that, Harry is expected to attend another royal engagement in the UK. The public appearance will be Prince Harrys last as a senior member of the royal family. After the event is over, he is expected to return to North America with Meghan and their son, Archie Harrison. When will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle be back in the UK? Meghan and Harry returned to the UK shortly after announcing their exit. In the weeks following the shocking announcement, Harry met with high-ranking members of the royal family while Meghan returned to Canada. Prince Harry spent a few weeks in the UK before reuniting with Meghan Markle. The two have remained in North America ever since, though sources say that they will be returning to the UK in the near future. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Will Return To The U.K. For Final Royal Events https://t.co/fS5jCh86MY Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 12, 2020 Queen Elizabeth has reportedly asked the Sussexes to attend the yearly Commonwealth service at the beginning of March. The event is held inside Westminster Abbey and attendees will include leaders from the Commonwealth nations, such as Canada. Meghan and Harry are expected to bring their son, Archie, with them to the event. The engagement will be Harrys last before Megxit becomes official. Is this why Harry and Meghan really left the royal family? While we wait to see what happens to Prince Harrys titles, there has been a lot of speculation about why he and Meghan really left the royal family. The two seemingly stepped down because they wanted to live a quieter life, but some fans believe money may have been a motive. Harry and Meghan recently appeared at a summit in Miami that was hosted by JP Morgan. The two reportedly spoke at the event and were paid anywhere between $500,000 to $1 million for their appearance. #PrinceHarry close friend reveals real reason for his move to #Canada | HELLO! I feel sad for him because he was so small, yet big enough to have suffered terribly when his beloved mother, #PrincessDiana was killed in that Paris tunnel. RIP. https://t.co/L9OQWw7hrj Naila Aziz Ahmed (@Lady_Nyla) February 7, 2020 This has led to a lot of reports about how the two are planning on raising money by booking private speaking events around the world. If that is true, Harry and Meghan could make millions of dollars on an annual basis. In fact, some experts believe that the two could earn as much as $100 million this year along, something that could have played a part in their decision. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not commented on the reports surrounding their exit. With rise in Omicron cases, SC to conduct hearings virtually for next two weeks Can't allow every person who thinks of some solution to COVID-19 to file petition: SC Introduce Cheetahs, but where will the big cats roam India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 12: Supreme Court's go-ahead to the central government's ambitious plan to introduce African cheetahs has renewed enthusiasm among wildlife lovers. The graceful animal that was declared extinct in the country in 1952, has inspired campaigns for a fresh introduction mainly by the nationalistic sense of loss. The idea is not new. In 1970s, the government made an attempt to import cheetahs from Iran, which has the only surviving population of the Asiatic cheetah. But Iran declied the offer citing precariously low population. During the UPA-II regime, then environment minister Jairam Ramesh pushed the project to repopulate the only large mammal to have gone extinct in India. In May 2012, the court stayed the cheetah plan, and in April 2013, it ordered translocation of lions from Gujarat while quashing the plan for introducing African cheetahs to Kuno-Palpur. The cheetah plan was revived in 2017 when the government sought permission from the Supreme Court to explore possibilities "in conformity with the applicable law to reintroduce cheetahs from Africa to suitable sites" other than Kuno-Palpur. With Supreme Courts January order, there are some key questions that needs to be answered before we lay out the red carpet. Supreme Courts 2013 order In its 2013 order restraining the Environment Ministry from importing African cheetahs into Kuno, Madhya Pradesh,the supreme court had observed that there are many seriously threatened Indian species such as the lion, the Great Indian Bustard, Bengal florican, the dugong, and Manipur brow-antlered deer which deserve immediate conservation action. The challenges Before making any attempt at expensive rewilding India's threatened natural spaces with cheetahs, which require large grassland ranges, one should consider the viability of such a programme. It is important to understand that the imported Cheetah's have to be sourced from Namibia - along with big cats such as lions, tigers and leopards. It is also essential to create a viable habitat for the cheetah as it thrives in these areas. There is also a huge expenditure involved in stabilising a foreign species when conservation programmes for many endangered species in India continue to be underfunded. The reintroduction of Cheetah's will be an added pressure that a small group of introduced predators will impose on an ecosystem, crucially on the prey base that currently sustains tigers and leopards. Supreme Court allows introduction of African Cheetahs in India NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 Environmentalists also question if India has adequate habitat for cheetahs, one of the widest ranging of big cats, and known to travel across areas in excess of 1,000 sq km every year. Reportedly, India has lost about 90 to 95 per cent of its grasslands, 31 per cent in just a decade between 2005-15 - so where will the cheetah roam, if it were ever returned to the wild? Vice President Venkaiah Naidu here on Wednesday held a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Dang Thi Ngoc. Dang, who arrived in India on Tuesday, is on a three-day visit. "Deep-rooted ties underpinned by shared heritage. VP @MVenkaiahNaidu welcomed Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh ahead of their talks," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. "Vietnam is a close strategic partner in ASEAN and plays an important role in our #ActEast policy," he added. India and Vietnam will hold delegation-level talks. The visiting vice-president will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. "India and Vietnam links are built on the foundation fo close cultural as well as civilization links and marked by mutual trust and understanding as well are strong corporations--regional and international fora," Kumar had said. After Delhi, the vice president will also visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash A Pakistani doctor has sent an email to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, volunteering to go to China to help fight against the coronavirus. "I want to volunteer to help on the front-line of China's fight against the virus alongside the Chinese doctors in Wuhan or elsewhere in China where doctors are needed. Because I have a heartfelt connection with China," said Farhan Ullah, a doctor from Lower Dir, northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He was a medical student in Gannan Medical University in Jiangxi, China from 2011 to 2015. He then spent another four years studying medicine in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Speaking of the racial abuse and discrimination against Chinese people since the virus was first reported in Wuhan, Farhan Ullah said, "We are against the virus, not the Chinese. The virus is a threat, not the Chinese nation. I want to tell the international community that there is a nation called Pakistan that has love for China regardless of anything." Farhan Ullah gave a thumbs-up for the effective measures that the Chinese government has taken to contain the epidemic. "The lockdown of the epicenter of Wuhan, the special hospitals built in days and the rapidly assembled medical staff and facilities have all impressed me." Farhan Ullah is still awaiting a response from the embassy. "China is my second home. I hope to see people in China get back to their normal lives." Police monitor the crowds in the Holyland during recent St Patricks Day celebrations Nearly 3,600 complaints about student behaviour were made to our two universities in a four-year period. People raised concerns over a range of off-campus incidents including antisocial behaviour, excessive noise and disorder - much of it fuelled by alcohol. Between 2015 and 2019 a total of 3,566 student misconduct incidents were reported to Ulster University (UU) and Queen's University (QUB). UU had more than double the overall number of complaints, recording 2,510 misconduct reports compared to QUB's 1,056 over the same period. The figures were obtained after a Freedom of Information request by this newspaper. UU and QUB each have a student population of around 24,000, with the former including all its campuses - Belfast, Jordanstown, Magee and Coleraine - in the FoI request. The statistics come as universities prepare for the St Patrick's Day festivities, which have seen trouble in the Holyland area of south Belfast in recent years. However, residents say problems with student behaviour are a year-round issue, and the figures obtained by this newspaper are merely the tip of the iceberg. Read More In December a traffic accident in one of its streets turned into a street party as students gathered at the scene, played music and drank alcohol. Hundreds of bystanders gathered in Jerusalem Street as emergency responders attempted to free a woman trapped in a car. The Holyland area, where many properties are rented, has long been popular with students. Last week a report said that despite the swathe of purpose-built student accommodation in Belfast, the Holyland remains a draw for students to live. The Holyland Transition Study, authored by Ulster University Professor Paddy Gray, said there is "little evidence to support the view there will be large scale movement of students out of the Holyland". The south Belfast streets are often the epicentre of chaos during St Patrick's Day and the annual university freshers' celebration. Two years ago 17 people were arrested following widespread disorder on March 17. Brid Ruddy, who chairs the College Park Avenue Residents' Association, said: "It's the tip of the iceberg. It's not the full picture." She explained how incidents of student misconduct are also reported to other bodies and authorities, such as Belfast City Council, the PSNI and the Community Safety Partnership, which will make the overall statistics much higher. "A lot of criminal damage goes unreported," she added. "Wing mirrors and wipers are pulled off on a daily basis, but what happens is that owners decide to pay the repairs themselves rather than put it through their insurance and deal with the excess." The figures show the number of incidents has fallen slightly year on year following campaigns by the universities and the PSNI. In 2015/16, 931 incidents were reported, compared to 868 in 2018/19. Both universities said they fully investigate any complaints or reports of antisocial behaviour received as part of their respective disciplinary procedures. The PSNI said it deals with each report in a variety of ways, such as issuing a penalty or community restorative notice, or making official referrals to the universities. Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: "We have consistently asked young people living in rented accommodation and visitors to the area to look after themselves, their property, to respect the area, and highlighted the need to be good neighbours." Mr Kirkpatrick acknowledged the actions of some students have an adverse impact on residents, but stressed "significant work" is being done to address this. "Local police constantly patrol and respond to calls for assistance in the area, but far too many calls are from residents who feel frightened, or are just fed up with the behaviour of some young people, who I very much doubt would behave in the same manner in their own home or community," he added. "Police have a presence at university freshers' events to provide both crime prevention information and safety advice for students in the area. "While we do not want to see young people gaining a criminal record, we deal with every report and every incident in a proportionate manner." A Belfast City Council spokesperson said it continues to work in partnership with the PSNI, the universities and other statutory agencies. However, Ms Ruddy said the current strategy undertaken by both institutions and stakeholders is "not effective" in tackling the problem. She added: "We want some form of community restorative justice introduced. The issues are not being resolved." A Federal Minister has collapsed in the middle of a parliament during a speech by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Veteran Affairs Minister and Member for Gippsland Darren Chester was rushed to hospital after falling ill during parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday. The Minister has confirmed he is in good health but will undergo testing after suffering a medical episode. The Minister was seen wringing his hands with his head bowed in the moments before he fell ill. Parliament staff, ministers and other colleagues rushed to check on him - including several with medical backgrounds - Dr Mike Freelander and Dr Katie Allen, reports The Age. The incident unfolded during the Prime Minister's Closing the Gap speech on Aboriginal affairs. But a large number of ministers remained in their seats and the Prime Minister did not pause despite the commotion behind him. The Veterans Affairs Minister has thanked his parliamentary colleagues for their support since being taken to hospital. Veteran Affairs Minister and Member for Gippsland Darren Chester was rushed to hospital after falling ill during parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday 'Rumours of my demise have been exaggerated. Thanks everyone for their kind messages of concern and the bipartisan medical team of MPs, Parliament staff and colleagues whove rallied to check on my welfare,' Minister Chester wrote. 'I feel fine and just going to have a few tests done. #lovegippsland.' A number of high profile identities have offered their well-wishes for his recovery on Twitter, including Lucy Turnbull. The Minister was even able to laugh about the incident after the event, saying he would be employing a 'food taster' after a follower joked he had been poisoned as part of political espionage. Federal Minister Darren Chester collapsed in the middle of a parliament during a speech by Prime Minister Scott Morrison Parliament staff surround Minister Chester after his medical episode in parliament on Wednesday The Minister is surrounding after falling in parliament The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has alleged that the recent trend of bomb detonation in the state is the third layer of Adams Oshiomholes plan to discredit him. In a phone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the governors spokesperson, Crusoe Osagie, said the explosion that rocked the residence of the factional secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawrence Okah, in the state, has nothing to do with the governor. The third move is now setting up bombs, blowing up places, and shooting empty buildings and so on. Their intent is to create an irretrievable breakdown of law and order in Edo State which is to necessitate declaring a state of emergency and seizing (of) government from Obaseki, Mr Osagie told this reporter on Wednesday morning. A bomb was detonated at Mr Okahs residence around 12.30 am on Tuesday, leaving damaging impacts on the structure at large. Another was recovered by Nigerian polices anti-bomb unit from the scene, the Vanguard newspaper reported. Mr Okah accused the state governor of having a hand in this attempt on his life, even though the latter denied. Mr Okah is one of those against Mr Obasekis second term governorship ambition. This is the second time in eight days that his residence would be attacked. His residence was ridden with live bullets last week Tuesday by unknown gunmen. And again, on Tuesday at 12.30 a.m. (yesterday), I heard a sound, a boom. I called my security men and they said it sounded like a bomb. The one they threw into my bedroom did not detonate. If that one had detonated, you would not have seen me to talk to. That was targeted at my room. If it had exploded, it would have been a different story. I just want to advise Mr Governor. He has threatened me before and he has carried out the threat. By the grace of God, we are alive to speak to our people, to let them know what is going on. We pray to God for those we helped not to turn around against us. By the grace of God, I am one of those that helped this government to be but the governor has turned around now and wants to kill us, the Vanguard quoted Mr Okah saying. Meanwhile, the internal crisis in the Edo State chapter of the APC is one of the central concerns which informed the partys reconciliatory committee inaugurated on Tuesday, in Abuja. Obasekis Reaction Mr Osagie recounted how Mr Oshiomhole has allegedly tried to oust Mr Obaseki, due to the latters alleged refusal to allow the former lord over his affairs in the state. He said the rise in violence in the state started three months ago when Osagie Ize-Iyamu joined the party and teamed up with the Edo People Movement (EPM), a group allegedly sponsored by Mr Oshiomhole. He appealed to the President and Inspector General of Police to pay special attention to the crisis in the state before it gets out of control. We believe they are going to intensify their violence in the coming days because the presidency and the national leadership of the party has just reconstituted an acceptable reconciliatory committee. The so called bombs going up were intentionally set up by this guys; Ize-Iyamu and some of these guys that work with Oshiomhole in the Edo People Movement (EPM) and their objective is to shake-up and distrupt the APC in Edo State, the Governor alleged. So far, no casualty was recorded neither has there been any arrest in relation to detonated bomb at Mr Okahs residence. Oshiomholes reaction PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Oshiomhole for reactions to the allegations levelled against him by Mr Obaseki. I dont have any comment nor reaction to the allegation, Simon Ebegbulem, the Chief Press Secretary to the APC national chairman, said to this reporter. To the Editor: Re Sanders Is Winner in New Hampshire (front page, Feb. 12): Bernie Sanders is the dream candidate for Donald Trump. He is not even a real Democrat and never got any significant legislation passed in the Senate. He talks about health care and a free education for all, but would have no legislative pull to bring that off. He is 78 and recently had a heart attack. He is popular with younger voters, who generally have low turnout, because he promises them free stuff. Bernie Sanders would be another George McGovern, who lost every state but Massachusetts. He would certainly make Mr. Trumps campaigning easier. Mr. Trump would raise the specter of socialism and it would not be a lie. George Magakis Jr. Norristown, Pa. To the Editor: About 10 years ago, my sister came down from Vermont to celebrate Thanksgiving. As we were sitting down for drinks the night before, her cellphone rang. She answered it and said: Oh, wow! Hello. No, I cant think of anything. Thank you. I asked her who it was. She said: That was Senator Sanders. He wanted to know if I had anything on my mind. Im an Amy Klobuchar man. But anyone who counts Bernie out is a damned fool. David D. Turner New York To the Editor: The total of the votes for the moderates in the New Hampshire election far exceeded those for the so-called progressive wing. Instead, the emphasis has been on Bernie Sanders apparently seizing control in the Democratic race. He won by a small margin, and even if his support is combined with that of Elizabeth Warren, who like him had a geographic advantage, what is significant is that a large majority of New Hampshire voters repudiated them in favor of those with more moderate stances. This is what is significant in the primary. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. On February 11, Iran celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Mass celebrations took place in Tehran and elsewhere in the country. Usually, Iranians are heard chanting Death to America during the marches, however one of the participants of the rally chanted Death to Armenia. Obviously the Iranian Turk intended to incite some kind of provocation, however he didnt dare to demonstrate himself for long, because if Iranians were to hear those words they would most likely show the fascist where he belongs, writes Infoteka24. It is a well-known fact that Armenians enjoy a special, warm and respectful attitude in Iran, not only by the people but also the government of the Islamic Republic. Armenia has always supported its neighbor Iran in international arenas in difficult situations, and Iran reciprocated with gratitude and assistance, which cant be said about the Turkic states of the region Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Azerbaijani separatists bearers of pan-Turkic ideology, are creating no few problems for Iran inflaming atmosphere of hostility and hate towards the Iranian people and authorities and threatening the countrys security. We are sure that such a manifestation of Armenophobia in the Iranian capital should not remain unpunished and the countrys law enforcement agencies will seriously deal with the Azerbaijani provocateur, the source writes. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan A view of the Boeing booth at the Singapore Airshow in Singapore on Feb. 11, 2020. (Edgar Su/Reuters) Boeing Records Zero January Orders for First Time Since 1962 Boeing Co booked no new orders for airplanes last month, the first time it has come up empty-handed in January since 1962, as the U.S. planemakers once best-selling jet, the 737 MAX, remained grounded following two fatal crashes. The airplane maker, struggling with a crisis that dates back to the second of the two crashes last March, also said it delivered just 13 planes to customers last month. A year ago, it sealed 45 orders after cancellations in January and delivered 46 planes. Most airline customers are avoiding placing fresh orders for the 737 MAX until the aircraft is cleared by regulators to fly again, leaving Boeing trailing European rival Airbus SE and swallowing huge monthly financial losses. The Paris-based planemaker last week posted its biggest January order haul in at least 15 years, as it booked gross orders for 296 aircraft or 274 net orders after cancellations. Boeing saw its worst year for orders in decades in 2019 as it struggled with the 737 MAX crisis, leading to its first halt in 737 production in 20 years in January and the departure of Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg in December. A worker leaves the Boeing 737 factory on December 16, 2019, in Renton, Washington. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) The company has continued to push back its expectations for when the MAX will fly again, meaning it cannot deliver planes to customers and get paid for them. That has resulted in billions of dollars in losses both for the company and its suppliers, who have had to lay off workers amid uncertainty over the return of the 737 MAX jets. Airlines, on the other hand, have been forced to pull the 737 MAX out of their flying schedules until the middle of 2020, causing thousands of flight cancellations. Boeings own debt doubled to $27.3 billion in 2019, and it continues on a skyward trajectory, as the planemaker compensates both airline customers and suppliers, while fighting lawsuits and paying workers salaries. An estimate by Fitch Ratings has pegged Boeings debt peaking at more than $32 billion to $34 billion after a continued rise in the first and second quarters of 2020. In a fillip for the company, the Federal Aviation Administration earlier on Tuesday hinted that it was close to conducting a certification test flight on the grounded 737 MAX, although it still does not have a timetable for lifting the flight ban. Last week, the FAA called senior U.S. airline officials and told them that the agency could approve the 737 MAXs return to service before mid-year a faster time frame than the planemaker itself has assumed Reuters reported citing people briefed on the calls. Not an everyday find: German Archaeologists came across a Russian spy radio Not an everyday find: Archaeologists from the Rhineland Regional Council were amazed when they came across a Russian spy radio instead of Roman traces in the Hambach open-cast mine during excavations. Hidden in a large metal box. "When the box was opened, it hissed," Dr. Erich Claen, head of the LVR Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments in the Rhineland, told journalists. In the container: a Soviet radio type R-394KM, code name Strizh, a digital HF spy radio. It was developed in the early 1980s in the Soviet Union (USSR) and used by the countries of the Warsaw Pact in the final phase of the Cold War. It was the last model before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. Photo: Jurgen Vogel / LandesMuseum Bonn The device has a digital news system and a digital frequency display. It was used by agents abroad as well as by special units and was available with Russian or English text on the front. The spy version is known by the Russian code name "Strizh" (English: Swift). In the LVR-Landesmuseum in Bonn there is currently not only the mysterious radio to see. Under the title "Gods, Graves and Agents", spectacular finds from the year 2019 are on display until 29 March: https://bodendenk malpflege.lvr.de//de/aktuelles/veranstaltungen/AusstellungAiR2019.html 73 Tom DF5JL DENVER, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Flowhub , the cannabis retail management platform for modern dispensaries, today announced the appointment of Craig Gomulka as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Scott Schell as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The strategic hires bring key technical and business expertise to Flowhub's executive team as the company accelerates its platform innovation and product-led growth following its $23 million Series A funding round. Gomulka and Schell will report directly to CEO Kyle Sherman. "Our mission at Flowhub is to make safe cannabis products accessible to every adult on planet earth, and to do that we need to hire the best in their field," said Sherman. "Craig and Scott will be instrumental in our ongoing goal to deliver the most reliable and robust cannabis retail platform for our customers. These individuals will tackle the financial and product needs that come with a company growing at a rate like ours as we continue to drive the industry forward." As CFO, Gomulka will oversee Flowhub's financial management as it enters its next stage of growth. Gomulka has over two decades of experience spanning finance, operations, business development, partnerships, and investment transactions in the healthcare, technology and financial sectors. Most recently, Craig served as CFO at Health Fidelity and earlier Vice President of Finance at Highmark Health. "It's not very often that you get to be a part of a movement like the one taking place in the cannabis industry right now. I was drawn to Flowhub because of the positive work the company is doing to advocate for change," said Gomulka. "Flowhub is more than a SaaS leader, it's part of the roots helping cannabis entrepreneurs thrive in a highly regulated landscape. I'm looking forward to leading an environment of stability and vitality as we continue on a high growth trajectory." As its newly appointed CTO, Schell will optimize Flowhub's product-led vision with a continued emphasis on innovations for mobile enhancements, deeper data insights, broader ecosystem flexibility and delivery functionality. With over 25 years of experience, Schell is an architect, entrepreneur and seasoned technology executive with an aptitude for leading global organizations. He has worked at leading enterprise software companies like Convercent, LogRhythm, Avaya and Maptek, and will apply this expertise at Flowhub to add new integrations, features and functionality. "The technology stack that powers today's modern cannabis business needs to meet complex compliance requirements, provide an openly-integrated and customizable platform, and deliver unparalleled consumer experiences," said Schell. "As the technological backbone of the dispensary, Flowhub makes cannabis retail management both intuitive and powerful, and I'm excited to grow the platform to empower even more customers to run their dream dispensaries." These hires come at a time of significant momentum for Flowhub, as the company launches forward after its $23 million Series A funding round in October 2019 led by e.ventures, Evolv Ventures and Poseidon. Over the past year, Flowhub has entered into the Oklahoma and Missouri markets, brought on 15 new partners and welcomed 55 employees that expanded its team by 121 percent. The company also debuted significant enhancements to the Flowhub platform, including the Stash App for mobile inventory management, the Cashier App for enhanced point-of-sale capabilities with iPad compatibility, the Specials Engine for managing discounts across all stores and Order Ahead for in-store pickup with integration partners Dutchie and Jane. To learn more or request a demo, visit www.flowhub.com . About Flowhub Flowhub is the cannabis retail software company that helps modern dispensaries thrive by delivering compliance, point of sale, inventory tracking, and business intelligence data from a single, highly customizable platform. With first-to-market mobile check in and inventory management applications, Flowhub processes over one billion dollars in cannabis sales annually and empowers more than 900 cannabis retailers and their partners to grow revenue, simplify compliance, speed checkouts and manage inventory for improved consumer experiences. Flowhub is a privately held company headquartered in Denver. Investors include Poseidon, Evolv Ventures, e.ventures, Green Lion Partners, Phyto Partners, Altitude and Arcadian. For more information visit flowhub.com . SOURCE Flowhub Related Links https://flowhub.com/ Innoviz solid-state LiDAR will enable driverless port operations, a step forward for Shaanxi as one of China's leaders in autonomous vehicle development ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Innoviz Technologies , a leading provider of high-performance, solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software, today announced cooperation with Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Co. in Xi'an, China to deploy autonomous trucks for an upcoming project in one of the biggest ports in China. Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Co. Ltd., better known as Shacman Trucks outside China, is one of the largest truck manufacturers in China.Shaanxi consists of four truck companies, delivering over 150,000 new trucks worldwide each year, including 10,000 trucks per year for the mining sector. The company is also one of the leaders in China in the field of autonomous driving research and development. At the first stage of the project, InnovizPro LiDAR is being utilized in Shaanxi Truck's autonomous proof of concept project at the Chinese port, with Shaanxi's ultimate goal being the deployment of up to 600 trucks at this site. The Innoviz LiDAR used in this proof of concept project provides sensing, mapping and location functions for autonomous driving at speeds of under 30 kilometers per hour in the harbor area. The LiDAR is used to create detailed maps, as well as provide software to compare the point cloud image created by the LiDAR in real time to the location provided via preloaded maps generated by LiDAR. This includes real-time identification of "free space" or "drivable space", as well as object detection. One major task for the trucks is to enable autonomous loading and unloading of containers in the port area. After testing many potential LiDAR solutions, Shaanxi Trucks chose InnovizPro, a first-of-its-kind solid-state LiDAR sensor, due to the solution's reliability and price/performance advantages. Integration of location sensors such as retroreflectors is also possible in these geofenced areas, enhancing the ability of the LiDAR to fully understand its surroundings. Chinese legislation stipulates that by May 2020, all trucks are required to have at least two Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS): a mandatory camera and either a radar or LiDAR system. "I have been introducing excellent Israeli technologies to Chinese OEMs for many years, and I am very excited about the future of Innoviz's LiDAR at Shaanxi Trucks and other Chinese OEMs," said Mr. Shen Yong, Director of Xiamen Zhongxinyun Intelligent Co., the system integrator for this project, which is responsible for the sensor fusion. "Innoviz sees tremendous opportunity in extending autonomous technology to the trucking sector," said Omer Keilaf, CEO and co-founder of Innoviz. "We are therefore looking forward to the work ahead for this project with Shaanxi Trucks." About Innoviz Technologies Innoviz is a leading manufacturer of high-performance, solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software that brings vision to the automotive, drone, robotics, mapping and other industries. Innoviz's offerings include InnovizOne, for automotive-grade applications, InnovizPro, which brings vision to various industries, and its perception software, designed to complement the hardware offerings with advanced AI and machine learning-based classification, detection and tracking features. Innoviz is backed by top-tier strategic partners and investors, including Magna International, Samsung, Aptiv, Magma Venture Partners, Vertex Ventures, SoftBank Ventures Asia, China Merchants Capital (SINO-BLR Industrial Investment Fund, L.P.), 360 Capital Partners, Glory Ventures, Naver, Shenzhen Capital Group, New Alliance Capital, Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services, Phoenix Insurance Company and others. For more information, visit www.innoviz.tech. Media Contact for Innoviz Chelsea Lauber Antenna Group for Innoviz innoviz@antennagroup.com Press Release 12 February 2020 Amsterdam - Today, Booking.com, one of the world's largest online travel companies and a digital technology leader, announced the finalists of the 2020 Booking.com Technology Playmaker Awards. In its third year, the awards recognize and celebrate women who are transforming businesses, industries, and communities through technology and inspiring the next generation of female tech leaders. Among the inventive tech minds shaping business and society today, this year's finalists include a software developer leading a 'coding caravan' that teaches programming to girls in Kyrgyzstan; the founder of an online educational platform that promotes financial inclusion among girls and women in Argentina; and an organization that aims to coordinate the international tech community's response to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people. Advertisements This year's shortlist consists of 45 finalists across nine categories, representing 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Japan, Israel, India, Nigeria, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Recognized as current or up-and-coming trailblazers in technology, each finalist was selected for their pioneering advancements in technology, disruptive use of technology for business and society, or unwavering commitment to pushing the diversity agenda. Collectively, their contributions range from technology innovations in MedTech and female health, renewal energy, fintech and digital payments, to creating opportunities for women tech entrepreneurs and women-impact startups, and elevating the discussion surrounding diversity and inclusion in tech to new levels. Launched in 2017, the awards recognize and celebrate women who are transforming businesses, industries and communities through the innovative use of technology, while inspiring the next generation of tech leaders. The awards also honor champions of change who are challenging the status quo to help make the tech industry more welcoming, diverse and inclusive. "Each of this year's Technology Playmaker Award finalists has demonstrated outstanding achievements in technology, whether through innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, business leadership and community impact, mentorship and inspiration for the next generation, or the pursuit of greater inclusivity. Whether from emerging economies or more established tech epicenters, these women technologists and advocates for diversity, are joined together by a remarkable talent and optimism for what the future of the tech sector will bring," said Gillian Tans, Chairwoman of Booking.com. The full list of finalists can be found on the Technology Playmaker Awards website. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, March 26, 2020 in London, UK. The nine distinct award categories were designed to recognize the weight and breadth of the contributions that women are making across the technology sector. Each category winner will receive a prize of 5,000, which they can opt to donate to a chosen charity or cause. The Technology Playmaker of the Year 2020 will be selected from one of the eight eligible individual category winners and will receive an additional 10,000 prize. Photo: Booking.com The keynote speaker at the award ceremony will be Rana el Kaliouby, pioneer in artificial emotional intelligence (Emotion AI), co-founder and CEO of MIT spinoff and category-defining company Affectiva, and author of the forthcoming book, Girl Decoded. Attendees will also hear from Booking.com Chairwoman Gillian Tans and the Technology Playmaker of the Year 2019, Linda Liukas, founder of Rails Girls, a global movement teaching girls to program. "I'm excited to be part of Booking.com's celebration of women who passionately bring their ambition and talent to tech every day, but may often go unnoticed. Initiatives like the Booking.com Technology Playmaker Awards not only encourage more women to join tech and STEM, but also empower those who are already in the field to flourish and reach their full potential, and add the richness and diversity of perspectives that our industry needs," said el Kaliouby. Winners will be chosen by an esteemed 14-member judging panel comprised of global technology executives, entrepreneurs, founders and leading advocates of diversity and inclusion. The panel includes Sheree Atcheson, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Monzo; Kimberly Bryant, Founder and CEO of Black Girls CODE; Ruth Chandler, Chief People Officer at Skyscanner; and Julien Codorniou, Vice President of Workplace from Facebook as well as Gillian Tans. "We introduced this awards program to highlight the achievements of women in technology and celebrate the diversity of talent across the industry with the hope that it will inspire more to pursue a career in tech. We are proud of our progress, but also aware that more work needs to be done to create a more welcoming environment in tech for everyone," continued Tans. "Global research by Booking.com reveals that one in five women working in tech feels that her contributions are under-appreciated, marking a clear obstacle to reaching true gender parity. We need to continue to challenge existing culture, processes and mindsets if we are to further diversify the technology industry and make it a more appealing and inclusive space for people of all kinds to thrive." Beyond the award categories celebrating women's achievements in various aspects of technology, this year the Champion of Change category honors an individual (everyone, not just women) who is tackling the under-representation of women or promoting greater diversity and inclusion within the IT and technology workforce. Notes to the Editor: Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among 6,898 respondents (from the UK, USA, France, Brazil, The Netherlands, Germany, China, Australia, India and Spain). 789 respondents were from the UK. All respondents completed an online survey from August 2nd to September 6th, 2018. Respondents include high school and undergraduate students entering the field, early career and experienced technology professionals and those returning to the sector. Quantum engineers from UNSW Sydney have created artificial atoms in silicon chips that offer improved stability for quantum computing. In a paper published today in Nature Communications, UNSW quantum computing researchers describe how they created artificial atoms in a silicon 'quantum dot', a tiny space in a quantum circuit where electrons are used as qubits (or quantum bits), the basic units of quantum information. Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak explains that unlike a real atom, an artificial atom has no nucleus, but it still has shells of electrons whizzing around the centre of the device, rather than around the atom's nucleus. "The idea of creating artificial atoms using electrons is not new, in fact it was first proposed theoretically in the 1930s and then experimentally demonstrated in the 1990s -- although not in silicon. We first made a rudimentary version of it in silicon back in 2013," says Professor Dzurak, who is an ARC Laureate Fellow and is also director of the Australian National Fabrication Facility at UNSW, where the quantum dot device was manufactured. "But what really excites us about our latest research is that artificial atoms with a higher number of electrons turn out to be much more robust qubits than previously thought possible, meaning they can be reliably used for calculations in quantum computers. This is significant because qubits based on just one electron can be very unreliable." Chemistry 101 Professor Dzurak likens the different types of artificial atoms his team has created to a kind of periodic table for quantum bits, which he says is apt given that 2019 -- when this ground-breaking work was carried out -- was the International Year of the Periodic Table. advertisement "If you think back to your high school science class, you may remember a dusty chart hanging on the wall that listed all the known elements in the order of how many electrons they had, starting with Hydrogen with one electron, Helium with two, Lithium with three and so on. "You may even remember that as each atom gets heavier, with more and more electrons, they organise into different levels of orbit, known as 'shells'. "It turns out that when we create artificial atoms in our quantum circuits, they also have well organised and predictable shells of electrons, just like natural atoms in the periodic table do." Connect the dots Professor Dzurak and his team from UNSW's School of Electrical Engineering -- including PhD student Ross Leon who is also lead author in the research, and Dr Andre Saraiva -- configured a quantum device in silicon to test the stability of electrons in artificial atoms. advertisement They applied a voltage to the silicon via a metal surface 'gate' electrode to attract spare electrons from the silicon to form the quantum dot, an infinitesimally small space of only around 10 nanometres in diameter. "As we slowly increased the voltage, we would draw in new electrons, one after another, to form an artificial atom in our quantum dot," says Dr Saraiva, who led the theoretical analysis of the results. "In a real atom, you have a positive charge in the middle, being the nucleus, and then the negatively charged electrons are held around it in three dimensional orbits. In our case, rather than the positive nucleus, the positive charge comes from the gate electrode which is separated from the silicon by an insulating barrier of silicon oxide, and then the electrons are suspended underneath it, each orbiting around the centre of the quantum dot. But rather than forming a sphere, they are arranged flat, in a disc." Mr Leon, who ran the experiments, says the researchers were interested in what happened when an extra electron began to populate a new outer shell. In the periodic table, the elements with just one electron in their outer shells include Hydrogen and the metals Lithium, Sodium and Potassium. "When we create the equivalent of Hydrogen, Lithium and Sodium in the quantum dot, we are basically able to use that lone electron on the outer shell as a qubit," Ross says. "Up until now, imperfections in silicon devices at the atomic level have disrupted the way qubits behave, leading to unreliable operation and errors. But it seems that the extra electrons in the inner shells act like a 'primer' on the imperfect surface of the quantum dot, smoothing things out and giving stability to the electron in the outer shell." Watch the spin Achieving stability and control of electrons is a crucial step towards silicon-based quantum computers becoming a reality. Where a classical computer uses 'bits' of information represented by either a 0 or a 1, the qubits in a quantum computer can store values of 0 and 1 simultaneously. This enables a quantum computer to carry out calculations in parallel, rather than one after another as a conventional computer would. The data processing power of a quantum computer then increases exponentially with the number of qubits it has available. It is the spin of an electron that we use to encode the value of the qubit, explains Professor Dzurak. "Spin is a quantum mechanical property. An electron acts like a tiny magnet and depending on which way it spins its north pole can either point up or down, corresponding to a 1 or a 0. "When the electrons in either a real atom, or our artificial atoms, form a complete shell, they align their poles in opposite directions so that the total spin of the system is zero, making them useless as a qubit. But when we add one more electron to start a new shell, this extra electron has a spin that we can now use as a qubit again. "Our new work shows that we can control the spin of electrons in the outer shells of these artificial atoms to give us reliable and stable qubits. "This is really important because it means we can now work with much less fragile qubits. One electron is a very fragile thing. However an artificial atom with 5 electrons, or 13 electrons, is much more robust." The silicon advantage Professor Dzurak's group was the first in the world to demonstrate quantum logic between two qubits in silicon devices in 2015, and has also published a design for a full-scale quantum computer chip architecture based on CMOS technology, which is the same technology used to manufacture all modern-day computer chips. "By using silicon CMOS technology we can significantly reduce the development time of quantum computers with the millions of qubits that will be needed to solve problems of global significance, such as the design of new medicines, or new chemical catalysts to reduce energy consumption," says Professor Dzurak. In a continuation of this latest breakthrough, the group will explore how the rules of chemical bonding apply to these new artificial atoms, to create 'artificial molecules'. These will be used to create improved multi-qubit logic gates needed for the realisation of a large-scale silicon quantum computer. (Alliance News) - Defence firm Babcock International Group PLC on Wednesday edged its profit guidance slightly lower, and added it expects a GBP85 million one-off hit from its oil and gas business. The oil and gas unit is part of Babcock's Aviation division, which it announced it would restructure "in response to current trading". For the year ending March, the company now expects underlying operating profit at around GBP540 million, which would represent an 8.2% decline from GBP588.4 million the year prior. Babcock's previous guidance for financial 2020 was for operating profit in the range of GBP540 million and GBP560 million. The company held its forecast for underlying revenue of roughly GBP4.9 billion, which would reflect a 5.1% year-on-year retreat from GBP5.16 billion. Free cash flow is still forecast at GBP250 million and the net debt is also expected to be reduced, Babcock added. Underlying earnings per share are expected to meet analyst forecasts which range between 71.1 pence to 71.4 pence. This would represent a year-on-year fall as high as 15% from 84.0p. The company added that its order book and pipeline is at a record level of GBP34 billion. In its Aviation unit, Babcock said it restructuring "to ensure we remain on track to deliver for the medium term". Trading in the Aviation unit during the first nine months of Babcock's financial year was mixed, with challenges in southern Europe and in the oil and gas business offsetting "good performances" in the UK and internationally. "There have been delays in the award of new contracts for aerial emergency services in Italy and Spain. Since then, we have won or been selected as preferred bidder for contracts worth around GBP600 million but the delays have pushed revenue into future periods," Babcock said. The company added: "Oil and gas continues to be a tough market. The three large providers of helicopter services who operate worldwide in oil and gas have all emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with reduced debt and written-down assets. This has effectively reset global market pricing levels, forcing us to respond quickly to remain competitive. We will also exit our oil and gas businesses in Ghana and Congo." In oil and gas, Babcock expects to write down assets and leases, resulting in exceptional costs of GBP85 million. Elsewhere, Marine "continues to perform well and exceed expectations", Land has progressed amid "strong trading" in South Africa but Babcock reported mixed fortunes at Nuclear. Babcock said: "In Nuclear, revenue growth in UK defence continues in line with our expectations, underpinned by ongoing submarine engineering support work. The civil nuclear market remains subdued and we continue to progress closer integration of our nuclear engineering businesses." Shares in the company were 2.2% lower at 544.19 pence each in early dealings in London on Wednesday. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Many of the 700,000-plus Rohingya who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 have tried to leave overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh AFP/MUNIR UZ ZAMAN Some 130 people were packed on the fishing trawler that was trying to get across the Bay of Bengal to Malaysia, coast guard spokesman Hamidul Islam told AFP. Seventy of them had so far been rescued. Many of the 700,000-plus Rohingya who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017 have tried to leave overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district on boats headed for Malaysia. Islam said the boat was one of two vessels that was making the hazardous journey. "We have found one capsized boat. All of them were mainly from the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar. We haven't found any sign of the second boat yet. We will continue our operation," Islam said. "So far we have recovered 14 bodies and 70 people alive," coast guard commander Naim ul Haq told AFP, adding that navy and coast guard boats were searching near St Martin's island. "They were lured by traffickers," border guard commander Faisal Hasan Khan said. Malaysia is the favoured destination of the Rohingya as it is a Muslim majority nation and has a sizeable Rohingya diaspora. With few opportunities for jobs and education in the camps, thousands have attempted to reach other countries in Southeast Asia. Since last year, Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies have picked up over 500 Rohingya from coastal villages and boats as they waited to board boats. At least seven suspected traffickers were shot dead in 2019 in clashes with police. Trafficking often increases during the November-March period when the sea is safest for the small fishing trawlers used in the risky trips. The latest wave of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar's Rakhine state joined about 300,000 who had already fled the country to camps in Bangladesh. An estimated 25,000 Rohingya left Bangladesh and Myanmar on boats in 2015 trying to get to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Hundreds drowned when overloaded boats sank. A medical worker gives thumbs up to a child who receives medical treatment in hospital. [Xinhua] As pregnant women and children are particularly susceptible to novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP), special care and protective measures have been taken in many places throughout China to protect them from the virus. Taiyuan Establishes Maternal and Child Treatment Team A medical team comprised of 168 professionals, including 10 obstetrics and 23 pediatric experts, was established in Taiyuan, a city in North China's Shanxi Province, to stand ready to conduct treatment services for any maternal and child infection cases at the city's designated hospitals. Measures have been taken to strengthen the management of key areas in hospitals, including the neonatal room, delivery room and maternity ward. Family members are required to reduce frequency of visits and the numbers of accompanying persons are limited, to reduce the inpatients' risk of being infected by the virus. More efforts have been made to promote the knowledge of epidemic prevention to pregnant women and children's parents through phone calls and WeChat, a popular instant messaging app. Gansu Opens Hotline, Offers Psychological Counseling Services As the NCP spreads, the Women's Federation of Gansu Province and women's federations at the city and prefecture levels in the province have actively organized professional psychological counselors and opened counseling hotlines to provide psychological care to medical staff, community workers, parents and children. The province's women's federation has recently launched comprehensive crisis intervention services to fight the outbreak, which include rights protection, psychological counseling, domestic-violence investigations and publicizing epidemic-related policies and regulations. Moreover, the federation opened a psychological crisis intervention hotline via the federation's official WeChat account in cooperation with the Gansu Women and Children's Psychological Counseling Association. The federation announced the contact information of the province's volunteers' team of women and children's psychological counseling and the volunteers' teams of psychological counseling of the women's federations at the city and prefecture levels in the province. Zhou Zhiling, President of the association, said that being unable to go out for a long time may cause anxiety, panic and other negative emotions, especially among children and teenagers. She suggested that family members should show more tolerance and care for each other and try to ease the bad mood by playing games or reading books together with their children at home. Sichuan Provides Daily Services to Quarantined Families To curb the spread of the virus, the quarantine sites were set up in Sangyuan Town in Qionglai, a city in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, to conduct medical observation of those who had close contacts with confirmed cases. Zhao Xiyao, Deputy Director of the Sangyuan Health Center, volunteered to work in the sites, providing services and caring for those in quarantine. The father of a family came back from Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and was diagnosed as a confirmed case during observation. The mother of the family and her two children needed to be quarantined separately. Zhao took the initiative to look after the two children, playing with the children every day, bringing them toys and giving them thoughtful care. (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) Several members of the Philippine National Police are now considering optional retirement after they were included in a list linking them to illegal drugs. PNP Chief PGen Archie Gamboa made the revelation in an interview on CNN Philippines' On the Record Tuesday, saying it was a suggestion which only the individual can decide on. "My very words to them is that look here is an option na pwede niyo tanggalin 'yung hirap sa [you can prevent hardship for the] PNP, because they will undergo a series of validation. There will be a lot of sleepless nights on the part of the validation committee to process all of them. I told them if you are guilty, the more reason you should go for optional retirement. But if you're not and you think you cannot get the justice or the proper clearance to clear your name... I told them you have the option to retire," he said. Gamboa said there were 15 out of the 357 names on the list who were "signifying" taking this option. Of the 15, he said the highest ranking is a brigadier general. "Although seven of them already have orders because they will compulsorily retire this year or some have already opted for optional retirement. There are eight new volunteers " Gamboa said. He clarified however, that optional retirement does not necessarily mean being free of potential cases. "Siguro we do not say that probably they are guilty that's why they're retiring. Kinlaro ko 'yan sa [I made that clear with the] 357 na look when you retire, it doesn't mean to say that you're guilty but you're not yet off the hook. Once you get hooked in drugs, either pushing or using, the full force of the law will still be upon you and you will be transferred to another list that would still be subject for monitoring on the part of the PNP... it's either you go guilty for case buildup or you clear your name. It's as simple as that. When you clear your name, you get delisted. Our recommendation to the President. And if you get listed after because you're positive, then you'll be subjected for case buildup. Yun lang yung [Those are the only] two courses of action of which you can go," said Gamboa. Cases can either be criminal or administrative, he said, and this action is being done to cleanse the ranks of the PNP. Earlier this month, Gamboa ordered the verification of the alleged involvement of 357 policemen in illegal drugs with the PNP chief telling CNN Philippines that these policemen are in President Rodrigo Duterte's drug watch list. Gamboa spoke to majority of these policemen who reported in Camp Crame on February 7, saying the adjudication and validation process will begin on February 10, and that they hope to finish the entire process in a month. The National Adjudication Board will present the final list to Gamboa, which will later on be endorsed to the President for action. Watch the full episode here. ROCHESTER HILLS Ervin Spivey, 33, of Sebewaing was arrested Feb. 4 by the Oakland County Sheriffs Office after he reportedly broke into a Rochester Hills high school. According to Capt. Michael Johnson, Spivey was traveling from Sebewaing to Tennessee when the vehicle he was driving broke down. Spivey traveled by foot until he ended up at Stoney Creek High School. This story contains spoilers from To All the Boys Ive Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You. Lara Jean Covey finds herself in quite the love triangle in the new romantic comedy To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. She has two options for a love interest: heartthrob jock Peter Kavinsky and sweet musician John Ambrose McClaren. The sequel to Jenny Hans smash hit To All The Boys Ive Loved Before premiers on Netflix on February 12th, but before audiences even saw the connection between Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and her childhood crush John Ambrose spark onscreen, a heated debate arose on social media, with fans vehemently taking sides: Team Peter or Team John. Although this decision makes our heads spin, Jordan Fisher (who plays John Ambrose) thinks its an easy choice. undefined What are those reasons, you ask? Fisher thinks that Peter (played by Noah Centineo) and LJs undeniable connection is enough for teenagers in love to stick together, despite long-term compatibility doubts. Still, first loves have a way of holding a certain space in our hearts, and Fisher thinks that Lara Jean wont forget about her childhood crush on John Ambrose, even though she (major spoiler alert!) chooses Peter over John at the end of the second film. undefined As for which guy Fisher thinks fans will root for, the actor is torn. undefined Although we headed into the second film thinking that no one could sway our devout loyalty to Peter Kavinsky, we have to admit, John Ambrose McClaren makes a strong case for himself in To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. First of all, he plays the piano beautifully (which Fisher himself improvised during the film), he enjoys spending time with the elderly, and he hosts great treehouse pizza parties. Similarly, Fisher played host to the cast while filming the movie, inviting his co-stars to eat hot dogs and watch anime movies in his apartment. We had a really lovely time together, he recalls. Story continues Gregg DeGuire, Getty Images Aside from his musical talent and innate hospitality, John Ambrose also knows how to bring the romance. For instance: The long-awaited moment when he and Lara Jean step out of the friend zone is a picture-perfect scene. The pair makes snow angels and dances in basically a real-life snow globe before finally kissing. However, Lara Jeans face quickly fills with the realization that she wants to be with Peter when John leans in for another kiss. Fisher explains what he thinks his character was feeling in that loaded moment. undefined This understanding and patience is what we think will allow John Ambrose to stay in Lara Jeans life as a friend, regardless of her relationship with Peter. We could see that patience paying off for John the next time Peter and Lara Jean hit a bump in the road, but alas, well just have to wait until the third film to find out. The final installment of the trilogy, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean, has already been filmed, though Netflix has yet to release a premiere date. When summing up the debate between Team Peter and Team John, Fisher notes that some fans are straight up Team Lara Jean, and for now, thats where our loyalties lie. (Natural News) A grossly overweight, self-proclaimed expert on whiteness is planning to host an academic forum at Dartmouth University in early February entitled Whats Up with White People? that, as its name implies, will openly demean and insult people with fair skin as being members of some type of second-class species. According to reports, the self-loathing, pasty white Matt Wray of Temple University in Philadelphia will attempt to provide answers as to why some people are apparently perplexed by white people. Having previously authored such pedagogical gems as Introduction to White Trash: Race and Class in America, White Trash Religion, and Three generations of imbeciles are enough: American eugenics and poor white trash, Wray is apparently an expert in all things white trash (perhaps due to personal life experience?), and thus wants to preach what he thinks he knows about the subject. The talk is being advertised as an open-to-the-public discussion forum that aims to provide a field guide for people to learn all about the different types of white people and how you can learn to spot them in their natural habitats. In other words, Wray sees white people as some type of zoo exhibit to be inspected by inquiring eyes in order to denigrate and patronize. In Wrays own words, the event will offer a sociological and cultural analysis of what produces and sustains certain white social types. In Wrays view, there are four primary types: white nationalists like Richard Spencer; transracial lunatics like NAACP leader Rachel Dolezal; left-wing social justice warriors (SJWs); and, of course, President Donald Trump. Dartmouth claims Wrays views dont represent those of the college, even though the college is paying for him to speak there Where Wray, as a typical deluded, self-hating, obese, ivory tower, white male professor, falls into the mix isnt precisely clear from these four categories. Though a best guess would be some combination of an ethnically-confused Dolezal and a raving, anti-white Antifa terrorist. Nevertheless, Dartmouth students, many of whom are white themselves, will be forced to foot the bill for Wrays racist little forum which is hardly shocking in the anti-white social climate of modern-day America. If such a forum were focused on any other racial or ethnic groups besides the usual white whipping boy, there is no way in hell that it would ever have been approved by Dartmouth to take place let alone receive funding directly from the school. But because whites have become the new scapegoat for every evil in society, this type of racist event is not only welcomed but also sponsored using student tuition money. Somehow this type of garbage qualifies as social science at places like Dartmouth, which apparently has no problem claiming that it doesnt endorse Wrays views while simultaneously funding their purveyance. Speaking to reporters about this controversial event, Dartmouth spokeswoman Diana Lawrence tried to defend the forums taking place by claiming that: Dartmouth is and will remain committed to robust debate, respectful dialogue, and discussion, with the understanding that such interactions will sometimes be difficult or disagreeable. She then added that: As an academic community, we are committed to free speech and open inquiry in all matters. Our students, faculty, and staff enjoy the freedom to speak, write, listen and challenge ideas in pursuit of better learning and understanding. So it wouldnt be a problem, then, for Dartmouth to sponsor and host a similar forum entitled Whats Up with Black People? that tries to answer the perplexing questions of why theres so much crime, poverty, and dependence on social welfare in Americas inner cities? We wont be holding our breath. Sources for this article include: LifeZette.com Temple.Academia.edu NaturalNews.com In late January, the Indigenous Saami reindeer-herding community, Girjas, won a significant legal battle against the Swedish state. The Swedish Supreme Court legally recognised the Indigenous communitys ancestral claim to the land they live on and awarded Girjas Saami Village in Gallivare the right to manage hunting and fishing in its territories without the Swedish states approval. This landmark ruling comes amid a climate emergency which threatens the lives and livelihoods of billions of people. Indigenous governance of lands and biodiversity are key measures that can help address the climate crisis. As such, Girjas fight to take back the control of their lands should be seen as urgent climate action, too. Indigenous communities the world over have the necessary traditional knowledge and experience to survive and thrive without hindering the future of the planet. Yet, they bear the brunt of the climate crisis. The dominant lifestyles and politics of countries that are currently in control of ancestral Saami lands, from Sweden and Norway to Finland and Russia, have long been threatening Saami culture, food security, traditional livelihoods and the wellbeing of the lands we all depend on. But the threat is more serious now than it has ever been before because of the ongoing climate crisis. The ancestral lands of the Saami people make up almost half of Swedens territories. If it was not for the colonial theft of these lands, Sweden could not have become the prosperous and progressive nation that it prides itself to be today. Sweden is the product of a mentality which sees it fit to exploit Indigenous lands and people to its benefit. And this mentality is still alive and well today in its state-backed extraction industries that deplete Indigenous lands, policies that force Indigenous communities to migrate and persistent cultural genocide efforts such as the eradication of Saami languages that cause invaluable losses and intergenerational trauma. Despite the victory, the Girjas court case against the state made it clear once again that Sweden is not willing to acknowledge and address its colonial history. Throughout the trial, the state tried to frame the issue at hand as an administrative dispute, rather than what it actually is: A peoples righteous fight to take back what was stolen from them. State attorneys even tried to claim that Girjas Indigenous identity is irrelevant to the case. Emphasising the fact that Sweden has not yet ratified the International Labor Organization Convention 169 on the rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, they argued that Sweden has no international obligation to recognise special rights for the Saami and invited the court to assess the case relying solely on the states own laws, without giving any special consideration to the identity of the Girjas and their connection to the land. Julia Rensberg, from the Saami youth association Saminuorra, outlined during the final proceedings of the case last autumn how the state has tried to resolve the dispute through laws and regulations that were unilaterally imposed on the Saami and that fit the states agenda only. She said it was necessary to remember who founded those laws and during what time they were founded. Indeed, the states lawyer opposing Girjas, Hans Forssell, did not shy away from citing outdated and blatantly racist 19th-century documents to legitimise Swedens non-recognition of Saami rights to land. Asa Larsson Blind, Chairman of the National Union of the Swedish Saami People, responded to the citation saying This is quite upsetting. Everybody knows that these texts exist, and the state said that they would no longer support these kinds of statements. I do not understand why they gave weight to them by pressing them into a legal process. While the lines of argument used by the Swedish state in its case against Girjas were undoubtedly disturbing, they were not shocking to anyone familiar with the Scandinavian states established attitudes towards Indigenous rights. Beyond referring to racist 19th-century documents in court proceedings and refusing to ratify the ILO Convention 169, the Swedish state also uses a problematic discourse of renewable energy to argue that Saami interests must give way to broader environmental and economic concerns. As Stockholm Universitys Rebecca Lawrence explained in a 2014 research paper, it attempts to make legitimate the argument that there is, quite simply, more room for wind power up north than in the more heavily populated and industrialised southern areas of Sweden, rendering Saami land uses invisible. The Swedish states treatment of the Saami has also been under repeated criticism from international organisations like the Office of the High Commissioner of the UN and the Council of Europe. Indeed, we can no longer ignore the problem that is at the core of the ongoing fight against climate change. But climate actions, technologies and Green New Deals cannot achieve sustainable change if they ignore the plight of Indigenous communities, serve colonial interests and help sustain the same harmful systems and mechanisms that we have today. Countries like Sweden should no longer be allowed to show off their green credentials while actively contributing to the looming climate catastrophe by ignoring the plight of Indigenous communities. A delegation of Saami and Inuit activists at the COP25 in Madrid last year tried to draw attention to the importance of land back movements in the fight against climate change. Julia Rensberg, who was part of the action in Madrid, said: The land is us, and we are the land. We are here to stand in solidarity with our Indigenous relatives and we call on you to have our backs! We must come together to break the toxic culture of Green Colonialism that is taking a hold of the environmental movement. Girjas victory against the Swedish state should be seen as proof that despite all obstacles, Indigenous communities have the power and resolve to take big and powerful actors to task who stand in the way of sustainable climate action. While it is not clear what this victory would mean for Saami beyond Girjas, the courts decision provides new hope to find communal ways to survive and thrive on this planet. Indigenous activists from Sapmi in Europe, to the Amazon, and the Wetsuweten territory in lands claimed by Canada, are holding the frontline of ecological and social breakdown for all of us. Through resistance and community organising they are working tirelessly on multiple fronts to dismantle social constructs that feed into Indigenous invisibility, anti-blackness, hetero-patriarchy, and white supremacy. This is the kind of resistance that is key to averting the climate crisis. Non-Indigenous people must become allies and follow the lead of radical Indigenous visionaries like Girjas. Only then, will there be a real chance for just, democratic and sustainable futures for all of us. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. B ernie Sanders has narrowly won New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary, solidifying his front-runner status in the nominating race to run against Donald Trump. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was in second place on Tuesday night after edging out Mr Sanders in last week's chaotic and disputed first contest in Iowa. Last nights contest dealt a setback to moderate Joe Biden, who appeared likely to finish a disappointing fifth, but it was a good night for Senator Amy Klobuchar, who was riding a wave of momentum from a strong debate on Friday towards a third-place finish. Mr Sanders fended off attacks from rivals who warned his far-left views would lead the party to defeat in the November 3 election against Republican president Mr Trump. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg a primary election rally on Tuesday night / AP Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight, Mr Sanders told supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire, as he delivered his victory speech. Mr Biden, the former vice president who was once the front-runner in the Democratic race, limped to his second consecutive poor finish after placing fourth in Iowa. Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar speaks at her election night party / AP He is certain to face growing questions about his campaign's viability and his ability to consolidate moderate support against a surging Mr Buttigieg and Ms Klobuchar. Mr Biden fared poorly in two previous runs for president before winning election in 2008 as President Barack Obama's Number two. He hopes to stay afloat this time until the February 29 contest in South Carolina and a series of contests in other Southern states on Super Tuesday on March 3, where his support among African Americans will be a strength. Without strong showings there, his race could be over. TODO: define component type apester "It ain't over, man. It's just getting started," Mr Biden told supporters in South Carolina. US Senator Elizabeth Warren, a progressive ally of Mr Sanders who was considered a favourite in New Hampshire three months ago, also had a bad night. She finished fourth, and also will face questions about her continued viability. Loading.... The results began to thin the field of Democrats seeking the right to take on Mr Trump in the November 3 election, with businessman Andrew Yang and Senator Michael Bennet dropping out after it became clear they would finish well out of the running. Hong Kong: Quarantine surveillance enhanced The Government today said it will enhance surveillance of people under compulsory quarantine by asking those who choose not to share their real-time locations to wear electronic wristbands. The Department of Health, since February 8, has been issuing compulsory quarantine orders to all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland and those who have been to the Mainland in the past 14 days. People concerned are required to stay at home or other dwellings for a 14-day quarantine, while those with symptoms will be referred to the department for further handling. The Government explained that it decided to improve surveillance of compulsory quarantine after reviewing the operation. Apart from those being transferred to the Tso Kung Tam Outdoor Recreation Centre, if people under quarantine fail to share their real-time locations via their mobile phones at boundary control points, they will be asked to wear electronic wristbands. This will allow authorities to monitor whether they are staying at the dwelling places they disclosed. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will request those concerned to share their real-time locations everyday as well as conduct surprise video calls, while the Department of Health will make telephone calls to them. The Government has further strengthened manpower to assist the office and the department with implementing compulsory quarantine measures and surveillance work. The Government noted that if it cannot contact people under quarantine successfully, it will consider issuing warrants against them. The Government stressed that people under quarantine must strictly comply with the orders, adding anyone who leaves without permission may commit a criminal offence and face a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and a fine of $25,000 upon conviction. For the two people under quarantine on Police's wanted list earlier, Police have contacted them and taken their statements. The Government stated it will consider taking further action. This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The lobby of the CIA Headquarters Building in Langley, Virginia, U.S. on August 14, 2008. REUTERS/Larry Downing/File Photo Thomson Reuters The CIA secretly bought a Swiss company that sold encrypted devices and rigged them to spy on clients, according to confidential documents published by The Washington Post and ZDF Tuesday. The company, Crypto AG, sold gadgets and software to spies, diplomats, military officials, and private companies for decades. CIA agents secretly listened in on all communications that used the company's devices, and the CIA's leaked report called it "the intelligence coup of the century." Crypto AG was dissolved in 2018, and the two companies that bought its assets deny any involvement with the CIA. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. In leaked documents, newly published by The Washington Post and ZDF, the CIA describes how it pulled off "the intelligence coup of the century:" for decades, a company that sold encryption devices to more than 120 countries was secretly owned and operated by the CIA itself. The company, Crypto AG, was acquired by the CIA at the height of the Cold War. Through a classified partnership with West Germany's spy agency, the CIA designed Crypto AG's encryption devices in a way that let the agency easily decrypt and read all messages sent by the company's clients. Some details of Crypto AG's coordination with US intelligence agencies had been previously reported a 1995 investigation by The Baltimore Sun revealed that the National Security Agency reached an agreement with Crypto AG executives to secretly rig encryption devices. However, the newly-published CIA report unveils the full extent of the US' operation of Crypto AG. For decades, Crypto AG was the leading provider of encryption services. It boasted hundreds of clients ranging from the Vatican to Iran, generating millions of dollars in profits. The CIA maintained control over the company until at least 2008, when the agency's confidential report obtained by The Post was drafted. Story continues Crypto AG was liquidated in 2018, and its assets were purchased by two other companies: CyOne Security and Crypto International. Both have denied any current connection to the CIA, and Crypto International chairman Andreas Linde told The Post that he "feels betrayed" by the revelation. "Crypto International and Crypto AG are two completely separate companies without any relationship," a spokesperson for Crypto International said in a statement to Business Insider. "Crypto International is a Swedish owned company that in 2018 acquired the brand name and other assets from Crypto AG ... We have no connections to the CIA or the BND and we never had." A representative for CyOne Security did not immediately respond to Business Insider's requests for comment. In a statement to Business Insider, CIA press secretary Timothy Barrett declined to confirm or deny the report, saying the agency is "aware of press reporting about an alleged U.S. government program and do not have any guidance." Crypto AG began selling encryption devices in 1940, marketing a mechanical device that was powered by a crank. The CIA reportedly purchased the company with a handshake deal in 1951, which was renewed with a secretive "licensing agreement" in 1960. In the decades that followed, the CIA oversaw technical advances in Crypto AG's devices, shifting to electronic devices. The company reportedly contracted with Siemens and Motorola to modernize its gadgets. The CIA's surveillance continued through the 1990s and 2000s, even as Crypto AG's revenue began to dwindle. It was ultimately dissolved in 2018 and sold for between $50 million and $70 million, according to anonymous current and former officials quoted by The Post. Read the full report by The Washington Post and ZDF here. Read the original article on Business Insider Sen. Bernie Sanders pulled out a narrow victory in New Hampshires Democratic primary on Tuesday, the Associated Press projected, with two more moderate candidates, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, close on his heels. With 90 percent of the vote counted, Sanders, the Vermont independent, was also declared the winner by CBS, CNN, ABC and NBC. He led Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., by less than 2 percent of the vote. Klobuchar, the senator from Minnesota, came in third place. In 2016, when the Democratic primary was was essentially a two-person race, Sanders cruised to victory over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire by a margin of over 22 points, earning 60 percent of the vote. Let me say that this victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, Sanders said in Manchester, prompting his supporters to chant Bernie beats Trump! in response. Sanders asserted that he was two for two in the first contests of the Democratic primary. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a primary night event on February 11, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The reason that we won tonight in New Hampshire, that we won last week in Iowa, is because of the hard work of so many volunteers, Sanders said. When it comes to delegates awarded to the candidates on Tuesday, however, Sanders tied Buttigieg in New Hampshire with nine delegates apiece. Klobuchar earned six delegates. Despite tensions between some of his supporters and Buttigiegs, Sanders pledged that, whoever ended up as the nominee, We are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country. A little more than a week after upsetting Sanders in the Iowa caucus delegate count, Buttigieg nearly pulled off a second improbable win in the Granite State. You asserted that famous independent streak, Buttigieg told his supporters in a speech in Nashua, adding that the results showed that We are here to stay. Congratulating Sanders on his strong showing tonight, Buttigieg stressed that his competitors for the Democratic nomination are on the same team. Story continues Klobuchar used her speech Tuesday to try to introduce herself to Americans especially those in the states with a more diverse electorate that are next to cast votes who may have missed her strong debate performances. Hello, America, Im Amy Klobuchar, and I will beat Donald Trump, the senator said, telling New Hampshire residents,because of you, we are taking this campaign to Nevada. We are going to South Carolina, and we are taking this message of unity to the country. Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Ind., at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua on Tuesday. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid) The news was less encouraging for other candidates in the crowded field. After a disappointing eighth-place finish, businessman Andrew Yang, who ran on a pledge to institute a universal basic income, announced he was ending his long-shot bid for the White House. I will support whoever is the Democratic nominee, Yang told his supporters. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., also exited the race, after failing to register in the final standings. Former Massachusetts Gov. Duval Patrick said he would make a decision on his campaigns future on Wednesday. New Hampshires 24 delegates are awarded proportionally, but a candidate must meet a 15 percent threshold of support in order to receive a share. In perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, two former frontrunners, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who finished in fourth place, and former Vice President Joe Biden, who came in fifth, each received less than 10 percent of the vote and will not earn any delegates there. The fight were in, the fight to save our democracy, is an uphill battle, but our campaign is built for the long haul, and were just getting started, Warren said in a speech that came with just a third of the votes counted. Warren also decried the uptick in attacks between rival candidates in the Democratic field. We cannot afford to fall into factions, she said. In a letter sent Tuesday evening to her supporters, Warrens campaign said she still has a path to victory. Sensing that his prospects for a strong showing in New Hampshire had dimmed, Biden left the state Tuesday morning as voting got underway. He headed to South Carolina, where he is expected to do better in the Feb. 29 primary, thanks to his support among African-Americans. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., at her election night party, Tuesday in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) You have no idea how great it is to be back in South Carolina, Biden said at a rally in Columbia, noting that the states electorate is made up of the the most committed constituency of the Democratic Party, the African-American community. But after disappointing showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Biden now faces a must-win contest in the Palmetto State. It aint over, man, were just getting started, he assured his supporters. President Trump, as expected, won overwhelmingly in the GOP primary in New Hampshire, but with less than the "95 percent" approval among Republicans that he has boasted he can expect. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld got about 9 percent of the Republican vote, and together with minor candidates, reduced the presidents share to around 86 percent. At a Monday night rally in Manchester, Trump encouraged his supporters to cast a vote for the weakest candidate in the Democratic field, to give him an easy opponent to beat in November. He didnt say who that might be, but Republican Party officials in other states have reportedly been pushing for crossover votes for Sanders. Under New Hampshire law, voters who have registered as undeclared can cast their vote in either partys primary. According to New Hampshires secretary of state, the state has 415,871 undeclared voters, more than those registered as either Democratic (276,385) or Republican (288,464). _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Full coverage, FAQs & more: 2020 Election Center Treasury Department sent information on Hunter Biden to expanding GOP Senate inquiry Trump adds six new countries to travel ban list Romney and Trump have a long-running love-hate relationship The establishment isn't stopping Bernie Sanders Are insects the food of the future? Arakhamia says his words were "taken out of context". Chairman of Ukraine Parliament's leading Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia on Wednesday apologized to Ukrainians for his words regarding possible resumption of freshwater supplies to the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Donbas. The words he said at a TV panel show were "taken out of context", the MP claimed following massive outrage his statement caused among Ukrainians. These words "made a lot of noise, and today we're forced to make excuses for what was never there," he wrote on Facebook. Arakhamia says the faction never raised the issue of restoring water supply to the occupied Crimea. "Our position has been and remains unhindered the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an illegally annexed part of Ukraine, the restoration of sovereignty over which we will seek by all legal means," Arakhamia emphasized. However, he noted that he never authored the idea of resuming water supplies to the peninsula in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied part of Donbas. "If you carefully watch the show, you will see that it was the moderator who voiced such an option, then inquiring my personal opinion on the issue," Arakhamia emphasized. He believes that the question was worded as if there are no alternatives. "And I replied that I would consider this a sufficient compromise. And I repeated three times that this was my personal position," the head of the Servant of the People faction emphasized. "The issue of compromises is, in fact, very difficult for our society. Some believe that it is better to have water flowing than to see soldiers' blood shedding. Some strongly disagree with this. But we all definitely agree that we want a better future for our country, but not at the expense of concessions on the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added. Arakhamia underlined serious legal and diplomatic content behind such an allegedly simple question as water supplies. "And you can't address the issue within 30 seconds at a talk show. And let it be a lesson for me for the future," he said. "I'd like to apologize to the citizens of Ukraine, IDPs, Crimeans, whom my words may have insulted, even though they were taken out of the general context and actually were an interpretation of assumptions I had never voiced," added Arakhamia. Read alsoZelensky's envoy comments on manipulation over resumption of water supplies to Crimea "I grew up in Mykolayiv; Crimeans are our neighbors. I love Crimea very much, and we will never allow any form of legalization of the illegal annexation of our territories. Crimea was, is, and will be a part of Ukraine," the faction chair summed up. According to UNIAN, David Arahamia, while speaking at a TV panel show, suggested he would agree to a compromise regarding the resumption of water supply to the occupied Crimea. The host asked Arakhamia what his position would be if the situation arose where Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to make concessions regarding Donbas in exchange for Ukraine resuming water supplies to the annexed Crimea. "If you bring water to Crimea, while getting a great advantage in the negotiations on Donbass, my personal position is that I'll consider this a sufficient compromise. I would go for it because it's Ukrainian citizens who will be using water in Crimea," Arakhamia said. The newly-appointed Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, said this statement was Arakhamia's "personal opinion". As UNIAN reported earlier, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, former Member of Parliament of Ukraine Refat Chubarov said he considered it unacceptable to discuss the possibility of ensuring Donbas settlement at the expense of Crimea. "Who is Arakhamia to trade our territory!? If someone in the government thinks it is possible to surrender the whole people of the Crimean Tatars, surrender the Ukrainians who are 500,000 there [in Crimea] We must not allow the state to sell us for water, for any combination involving Donbas," Chubarov told TV channel UA:Crimea. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's permanent envoy for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Anton Korinevych assured the resumption of water supply on to the peninsula through the North Crimean Canal was ruled out until the end of its occupation. UNIAN memo. Water coming from the Dnipro River in mainland Ukraine through the North Crimean Canal provided up to 85% of the peninsula needs. After the occupation of Crimea by Russia in the spring of 2014, the supply of water through the canal was stopped by the decision of the Ukrainian authorities. Water reserves in Crimea are replenished from natural runoff reservoirs and underground sources. At the same time, ecologists pay attention to the fact that regular use of water from underground sources led to soil salinization there. Crimea's occupying authorities regularly urge local residents to save water on the peninsula. Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication team, Eric Adjei, has attributed all the bad press about former President John Dramani Mahamas administration to the ruling government. He also claimed the introduction of the Power Distribution Services (PDS) concession was a way to manipulate the system and milk the state by leading figures in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their personal comfort. When you go looking for Satan and come across any NPP member arrest him . . . Every member of the government in power is a connection [guru] person, always seeking contracts in the name of government for their personal interest that will cause financial loss to the state," he alleged. A charged Eric Adjei, contributing to discussions on UTVs Late News, outlined some corrupt practices perpetrated by members of the current administration that makes them stand head over shoulders over their contemporaries on the corruption measuring scale. Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi, peacefmonline.com, [email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A war of words between politicians has prevented the speed limit along a key Brisbane road from being lowered to 40km/h, despite concerns from all sides about pedestrian and traffic safety. More than 50,000 vehicles a day travel in and out of Brisbane on Ipswich Road through the south-western suburb of Annerley, which has a 60km/h speed limit. Residents want the speed limit reduced through Annerley along Ipswich Road. Credit:Google Maps For years, residents and independent councillor Nicole Johnston (Tennyson) have been calling for a speed reduction to as low as 40km/h as the road slices through Annerley in the wake of numerous incidents and near-misses. But the council says it cannot refer the issue to the state government's speed management committee as the request will not meet the committee's guidelines for a speed reduction. His stovepipe hat and thick beard make him instantly recognizable. He was a gifted politician and was unusually witty. He delivered the Gettysburg Address, memorized by schoolchildren and carved into marble at the monument in Washington that bears his name. There are many reasons that Abraham Lincoln usually finds himself at the top of lists of our most beloved and greatest presidents. Today, on his 211th birthday, it would be appropriate to examine one specific characteristic that made Lincoln great his fierce civility. We are not enemies, but friends. This famous line from his first inaugural address was spoken in what was about to become the most divided time in our countrys history. He said this just before the outbreak of a civil war and the attempted secession of half of the country. In the coming years hundreds of thousands of Americans died at the hands of their fellow countrymen. Friends? This war threatened to divide our union into two countries and tested whether a nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. These words, pleading for friendship, were more than mere sentiment for Lincoln. He believed that our commonalities as Americans and members of the human race were stronger than the issues that threatened to tear us apart. Today, one does not have to look far to see that everyone seems angry about everything. Outrage drives Internet traffic. Cancel culture is pervasive. If someone speaks outside party lines, the reaction is not merely to silence him and his point of view but to destroy him. Dont just make him shut his mouth and recant, but also make sure he loses his job and suffers public ridicule. These are the actions of an unhealthy republic and one that is not friends but enemies. Lincoln understood that to build a strong country and a better future he would have to work with those who disagreed with him, and that included many who simply were not his biggest fans. Doris Kearns Goodwins marvelous book Team of Rivals is the story about the cabinet that Lincoln built out of those who were previously his political rivals. A lesser man would have been threatened by this, kept them at arms length, and brought in only yes men. But he rose above that. When there was a vacancy for the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Lincoln told a friend he would rather have swallowed his buckhorn chair than to have nominated [Salmon] Chase, but he knew what would most benefit the country, so he did. He saw the skill and talent of these men and realized they had significant capacity to strengthen America. Story continues Of course, some may say that they were still members of his own party. Anyone can get along with those on the same team if that means his side wins. But Lincolns civility did not extend only to Republicans. He treated those in the Democratic Party and even the Confederate army with respect and was not viscerally angry with those who opposed him. At the end of the Civil War, he could have become a tyrant and run roughshod over the South, but he chose to be magnanimous. When the war had been won, Sherman wrote to Lincoln and inquired, What was to be done with the rebel armies when defeated? And what should be done with the political leaders, such as Jeff. Davis, etc.? One can imagine how many leaders today would respond to this question. Many would make certain that their enemies were acutely aware of their loss and would make certain that they were meant to feel the shame of a conquered people. Not Lincoln. He said that he wanted to get the men composing the Confederate armies back to their homes, at work on their farms and in their shops. He did not ask for punishment or humiliation. He wanted them to be treated not as conquered foes but as fellow citizens. He further said, Let them have their horses to plow with, and, if you like, their guns to shoot crows with. I want no one punished; treat them liberally all round. We want those people to return to their allegiance to the Union and submit to the laws. One week before he was shot, Lincoln visited Richmond, with the Confederate surrender imminent. He asked that, before returning to Washington, the military band play Dixie. Its good, he said, to show the rebels that, with us in power, they will be free to hear it again. Lincoln had a deep belief in human dignity and understood that everyone including those with different skin color, and those in other armies are worthy of respect. Our forefathers were dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, he said in the Gettysburg Address. Edward Everett, a pastor and former secretary of state, preceded Lincoln at the podium and spoke for nearly two hours. The president spoke for about three minutes. Afterward, Everett wrote to Lincoln and said, I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes. However, Lincoln did not merely happen upon these words as he sat down to write a speech. He had been ruminating on the principles that he espoused in his address for years, and, being the master orator that he was, condensed all of his belief in human dignity, personal freedom, and liberty into 272 words. Our nation needs more leadership that resembles the admirable traits of President Lincoln humble, kind, self-deprecating, not easily intimidated, principled, non-reactionary, magnanimous, and peacemaking. President Lincoln isnt walking through the door anytime soon. But if our politicians and we the people will endeavor to emulate his example, and lay down our weapons of hostility, vitriol, name-calling, and malice, our country will be a better place. Until the day comes when Americans see each other not as enemies, but friends, we will continue to swallow one another in mutual bitterness that increases the slide toward our becoming a more divided nation. On President Lincolns birthday, let us fondly hope for a new birth of political civility. Let us strive to be better than we have been and pledge to see those on the other side of the aisle as worthy of dignity and honor and respect. Let us pray that we will be able to embrace all of our fellow citizens with malice toward none and with charity for all. More from National Review Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump Trump's India visit: PM Modi promises memorable welcome India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Feb 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday promised a "memorable welcome" for US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania, who are scheduled to visit later this month. "India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship," PM Modi tweeted. "India and USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world," posted the Prime Minister. A trade deal on the cards: What to expect from Donald Trumps India visit PM Modi tweeted hours after President Trump told reporters in the US that he was looking forward to his first visit to India and indicated that the two countries may sign a trade deal. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 The US President will tour Delhi and Ahmedabad in the Prime Minister's home state Gujarat, where they are to address an event at a stadium on the lines of "Howdy, Modi" In Houston, Texas, last year. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 12:30 [IST] Ever since the Nepal government announced its plan to quarantine evacuees from coronavirus-hit Wuhan in Bhaktapur province, locals here are demonstrating against the same as the proposed isolation centre is extremely close to human settlements. People fear that they would be infected from the virus which first originated from Wuhan city and has so far claimed the lives of 1100 people in China itself. "If they want to keep them then they should use vacant hospitals or else reserve hotels, there are many more options, why should bring them here only? We won't accept it. If they only care for about 180 citizens then they should get rid of us," Bimala Tamang, one of the protesting residents told ANI. The government initiated the process of evacuation of Nepalis from Hubei on February 1. The embassy of Nepal in Beijing requested those interested in returning home to submit applications. By February 2, 180 Nepalis including three minors have submitted application. However, the government still has not been able to confirm the evacuation date. The government has not been able to finalise the location to house China evacuees as they will have to be quarantined for two weeks once they return home before they are released. As of now, two buildings of Nepal Electricity Authority Training Centre in Bhaktapur have been vacated to quarantine Nepalis returning from China. Multiple rounds of meetings and consultation with locals have failed to reach any conclusion. Locals of Kharipati have been demanding a health centre in the area as a precautionary measure. "We have to go to Bhaktapur main area to buy even a paracetamol. I am a patient of diabetes and blood pressure and I need a health care facility here for us. They (China returnees) should be treated but we also need the hospital facility as they are going to be near our residences," Kamada Lamichhane, another local who participated in a meeting with government officials on Tuesday said. Not only locals but even elected representatives from Bhaktapur district are against the plan of setting up a quarantine facility in the densely populated area which comes against the standards of the Health Organization. Prem Suwal, elected representative from Bhaktapur took up the issue at the parliamentary meeting on Tuesday. "Quarantine for people to-be-evacuated from China which is being set up at Bhaktapur's Kharipati was surveyed in the morning by officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Health Ministry. However, it is being opposed by locals. Such kind of quarantines should not be kept in the middle of a densely populated area. It should be kept far away from residential areas as per standards of WHO. I would like to attract the attention of the government over the issue," Suwal said while addressing the session. Other places such as Ichangu and Shivapuri of Kathmandu also have seen protests as the government begins adding on infrastructure and facilities in the area to quarantine evacuees. A local body of Shivapuri last week issued a notice rejecting the Center's decision to set up a quarantine facility in the area. Nepal is yet to announce the dates to send aircraft to evacuate its nationals from Wuhan. However, the government has said that preparations are complete. Minister for Health and Population, Bhanubhakta Dhakal, while addressing a Parliamentary Committee Meeting on Tuesday claimed that quarantine facilities are ready to house the evacuees. As per minister Dhakal, 43 hospitals in Kathmandu Valley have been kept on standby with isolation beds in case any of the evacuees show signs and symptoms of coronavirus. The government had issued notice to all hospitals around Kathmandu to submit a contingency plan two weeks earlier and, as per the same, has increased the number of satellite hospitals. As per the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of five hospitals have been nominated as hub hospitals whereas the number of satellite hospitals have been increased to 36 from 15. A Public Interest Litigation has been filed by Advocate Ritesh Poudyal at Nepal's Apex Court against the government, demanding Nepali people interested to come back from China should be brought back soon. On January 19, Nepal became the first South Asian nation to confirm infection from the new strain of coronavirus, named as 'Covid-19' by WHO, which has been declared as a global health emergency with reports of it having spread to over two dozen nations around the globe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haiti - News : Zapping... Coronavirus COVID-19 Global report February 12 Wednesday, February 12, 2020, the number of people infected worldwide (laboratory confirmed cases) rose to 45.203, an increase of 2.065 cases (500 cases less than the previous day, 2nd day of consecutive decline); 1,116 deaths (+ 9.6%) or 98 more than the day before (1,018) and 4,983 people healed or 699 people (+ 16.3%) more than the day before (4,284) and 3.8 times more healing than deaths compared to 4.2 times the day before. To date, there have been 518 infected people outside of China (laboratory confirmed cases) including 2 deaths 1 in the Philippines and 1 in Hong Kong. Towards new prisons The divisional commissioner, Noel Charles Nazaire, Director of the National Penitentiary Administration (APENA) declared that the authorities envisage in the medium term, the construction of a penitentiary complex in the region of Ganthier which will include workshops as well as other Centers in Carrefour and Petion-ville to deal with prison overcrowding and for security reasons. The Peligre hydro power station stopped The 54 MW of Peligre is not available following the shutdown of the last turbine of the hydroelectric power plant on February 10 due to the low level of the lake water. The Electricity of Haiti (EDH) assures the population of the metropolitan area that a plan for the rapid and sustainable improvement of production is being implemented... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29962-haiti-flash-the-end-of-blackouts-not-for-tomorrow.html Police officers and penitentiary accomplices... Following the attempted escape to the National Penitentiary on January 28th https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29917-haiti-flash-170-weapons-24-telephones-drugs-and-other-discoveries-at-the-national-penitentiary.html , the first elements of the investigation reveal the involvement of certain agents of the National Penitentiary Administration (APENA) informed Noel Charles Nazaire, the Director of APENA, also announcing the arrest of 2 police officers suspected of involvement in the attempted escape from Hinche civil prison https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29560-haiti-flash-the-mutineers-of-hinche-prison-release-their-hostages.html December 18, 2019. USA : Donation of equipment and materials to the PNH On February 9, the Ambassador of the United States in Haiti, Michele Sison, joined the Director General of the National Police of Haiti, Rameau Normil, to take part in a ceremony to hand over equipment, tactical supplies and vehicles essential to the units of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) more specifically for the Intervention Corps for the Maintenance of Order (CIMO), the Office for the Fight against Drug Trafficking (BLTS), and the Border Police (POLIFRONT). Employer representatives reunited with Moise Tuesday noon, representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham-Haiti) of the Haiti Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIH), the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) and the Franco-Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFHCI) met with President Jovenel Moise to discuss the current socio-economic situation and the enormous challenges faved by the country and possible solutions to combat smuggling and tax fraud. HL/ HaitiLibre Last week Peter Weber sent the drama packing. Now, hes ready to get down to business and find out who is in it for the long-haul. He only gives out four date roses this week and sends two ladies home. Lets take a look at who received date roses out of the remaining six women; Madison, Natasha, Kelley, Victoria F., Hannah Ann, and Kelsey. Peter Weber | Manny Carabel/Getty Images It is evident that Madison is sticking around on The Bachelor The first two one-on-one dates are with Madison and then Natasha. The pilots time with Madison goes well, of course. They are both smitten with each other and spend a romantic day in a fishing village, where they walk along a beach. A Peruvian man catches fish for the couple while they pull them in. Later on, Madison and Weber make out on the deck of a different boat after discussing how much they like each other. At dinner, the 23-year old from Alabama tells Weber that her faith is essential to her. He admits that his religion could be stronger, and he does like how religious she is. Of course, he gives her a rose, and no one is shocked. The 31-year-old event-planner from New York finally receives her first date with Weber. However, we know that hes waited so long for this one-on-one because there arent any sparks between them. Im falling in love with Madison, Weber explains. But I dont know if Im there yet with Natasha. So tonight I just have to be very honest with Natasha, and with myself. The date goes well, but the two are stuck in the friend zone. He sends Natasha home. Kelsey redeems herself from champagne-gate The 28-year-old Miss Iowa and Weber go on a one-on-one date four-wheeling through the mountains. Then they run up the hill and make out overlooking a breathtaking view. I know that we really connect on a deep level, Weber tells Kelsey. I want you to know how much I admire your strength. Later that night at dinner, Weber comments on how the pair was able to make it through an entire day without any crying. They laugh about it, and he yet again gives Kelsey a date rose. Three angry women go on a group date with Weber on The Bachelor Hannah Ann, Victoria, and Kelley go on the group date. None of them are happy about it. In fact, they are out-right pissed off that they have to go on a three on one with Weber. Weber takes Hannah Anna aside first, and Kelley immediately lays down on the bench out of sheer boredom. Hannah wrote Weber a poem. He says its the sweetest thing ever. It is complete with little hearts in the place of the dots for each letter i. A young teenager might have written the poem in high school, but Weber finds it adorable. Next, Weber takes Kelley aside, and Victoria F. is more pissed off than ever. Relationships can be easy and still be fun, Kelley says to Weber. Kelley is very secure in her relationship with Weber and the most likely to be ready for a long term relationship. She tries to explain this to the young pilot. Then we move right along to the exact opposite. Every single time we are together, you are always in a mood, and I just dont know how to move forward if this keeps happening, Victoria says to Weber when he takes her aside. The 26-year-old medical sales rep from Virginia says that her connection with him is not very easy. In the end, to viewers confusion, he gives the date roses to Hannah Ann and Victoria F. He sends the most mature person home, Kelley. Read more: The Bachelor: Who Received Date Roses During Episode 6? Fans Feel the Last Girl Did Not Deserve Hers Federal regulators are expanding their investigation of the market dominance of giant tech companies, demanding detailed information on five companies acquisitions of smaller firms back to 2010. The Federal Trade Commission announced the move Tuesday, issuing orders to Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Googles parent Alphabet. Hundreds of takeovers of smaller companies are involved. FTC Chairman Joseph Simons said that as a result of the review, the government may require the tech giants to unwind earlier acquisitions and divest their assets if it finds violations of antitrust law. All of our options are on the table, Simons said in a conference call with reporters. If there are some transactions that are problematic, then we have that opportunity and that ability to go back and challenge them. Short of requiring divesting pieces of companies, other options could include putting assets into a separate unit or mandating changes in how the companies conduct business, Simons said. The focus of the review is on acquisitions with a smaller value, about $100 million or less, that didnt trigger government reporting requirements. But Simons said the regulators are interested in tech industry mergers of all sizes. The FTC staff also will look into whether companies may have manipulated the value of some acquisitions to evade the reporting requirements, he said. The FTC, the Justice Department and a House committee have been investigating the conduct of Facebook of Menlo Park, Google of Mountain View, Amazon and Cupertinos Apple, and whether they aggressively bought smaller potential rivals to suppress competition and hurt consumers. Some critics have pointed to Facebooks acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp, for example, as deals that should be questioned. The popular services are among some 70 companies that Facebook has acquired over the past 15 years or so, giving it what critics say is massive market power that has enabled it to snuff out competition. The five FTC commissioners voted unanimously to issue the special orders to the tech companies. The agency is asking the companies for information and documents on the terms, scope, structure and purpose of acquisitions made between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2019. The two Democrats, Commissioners Christine Wilson and Rohit Chopra, said in a separate statement that they support the demand for information on the acquisitions. But they said the agency also should study how tech companies advertising practices affect the collection, use and sharing of personal data. Google faced antitrust scrutiny more than a decade ago over its acquisition of DoubleClick, a competitor in digital advertising. Apart from the government and congressional investigations, state attorneys general from both political parties are conducting antitrust probes of Google and Facebook. In the Google investigation, they have asked for internal documents related to how it sells ads and tracks the behavior of people who use its search engine and other products. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes A spokesman for Facebook declined to comment on the FTC action. Spokesmen for Google and Amazon said the companies had no immediate comment; spokesmen for Microsoft and Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple have said they will fully cooperate with the antitrust investigations. In congressional testimony, their executives have denied accusations that they operate as monopolies, laying out ways in which they say they compete fairly yet vigorously with rivals. Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust who is leading the panels probe, called the FTCs new action an important step in correcting the decades of inaction by antitrust enforcement agencies that have led to consolidation in the digital marketplace and across almost all sectors of our economy. Cicilline has said that Congress and antitrust regulators wrongly allowed the big tech companies to regulate themselves, enabling them to operate out of control, dominating the internet and choking off online innovation and entrepreneurship. He has suggested that legislative changes may be needed, though he has called breaking up the companies a last resort. Marcy Gordon is an Associated Press writer. BPs new boss set out the boldest climate plan of any major oil company, pledging to eliminate almost all of the carbon emissions from its operations and the fuel it sells to customers. Bernard Looney, the companys chief executive officer for just a week, set an ambitious agenda for whats becoming an existential challenge for the oil industry. While peers including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total SA and Equinor ASA have responded to investor pressure by adopting targets for emissions curbs, none has promised to zero-out all emissions from the fossil fuels they pump from the ground. The worlds carbon budget is finite and running out fast; we need a rapid transition to net zero, Looney said in a statement on Wednesday. We have got to change and change profoundly. Only Spains Repsol, a smaller refiner and energy producer, has gone further by pledging to fully eliminate Scope 3 emissions, which include fuel it buys from third parties and sells to consumers. While Looney struck a confident tone, he faces an enormous task. The new CEO didnt have detailed answers to questions about how to eliminate carbon from one of the worlds largest oil companies, which tapped the first fields in Iran in the early 20th century and drilled wildcat wells on the Alaskan frontier more than 60 years ago. I appreciate you want more than a vision -- you want to see milestones, near-term targets, some ways to measure progress, Looney said in a question and answer session posted on BPs website. We do not have those for you right now, but will announce more measures in September, he said. Radical change For BP to survive the energy transition in a world thats gradually falling out of love with oil, it will need to make big investments in new sources of clean energy, ensure cash keeps flowing from its fossil fuel assets, while also funneling generous returns to investors. Its a tricky balancing act that its closest peer Shell is already struggling to master. BPs commitment to do all this while still boosting free cash flow and shareholder returns is really the key challenge, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Biraj Borkhataria. As he presented his strategy in London, Looney said BP will remain an oil and gas business for a very long time, while also acknowledging that production will decline in the long term. Whatever is pumped in 2050 will have to be de-carbonized and the CEO said hes big believer in the viability of the technology to capture and store CO2 emissions. BP also announced structural changes alongside its emissions target. Looney will dismantle its upstream and downstream businesses and reorganize them into a an entity made up of 11 new teams that will be more integrated and focused. For us the statement represents a step change in terms of vision for the company and one that moves the group toward the biggest reorganization and modernization in at least two decades, if not a century, analysts at Barclays Bank Plc said in a note. The magnitude and radical nature of this shift should not be underestimated. Targeting Scope 3 emissions is a big step for an industry that produces the bulk of the worlds planet-warming emissions. To fulfill the pledge, Looney or one of his successors may one day face a hard reckoning -- either shift energy production to renewables, invent commercially viable technology to store the carbon emitted from burning oil and gas, or stick with fossil fuels and accept that production will have to drop. BPs own operations emit the equivalent of about 55 million tons a year of carbon dioxide, while the oil and gas it pumps from the ground adds another 360 million tons, the company said. Looney plans to eliminate both those sets of emissions on a net basis by 2050 or earlier. This is what we mean by making BP net zero, Looney said. It directly addresses all the carbon we get out of the ground as well as all the greenhouse gases we emit from our operations. These will be absolute reductions, which is what the world needs. Trans-Atlantic divide BP also aims to reduce by half the carbon intensity of the products it markets -- crude and fuels it purchases from other companies and sells to its customers -- by offering people more choice of low- and no-carbon products. BPs own upstream operations produced 1.14 million barrels a day of liquids in 2018, but it actually refined 1.7 million a day and its total sales to consumers were 2.74 million barrels a day, according to its annual report. The move increases the divide between oil companies on either side of the Atlantic. The European majors are heeding societal and investor pressures to drastically reduce their carbon footprint. Pledges from their American counterparts ExxonMobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. are more modest, focusing on reducing methane emissions and more generally aligning themselves with the Paris Climate Agreement. In the early 2000s, the company re-branded itself as Beyond Petroleum under another visionary CEO, John Browne. But big investments in solar power largely failed. In one of his last interviews before leaving office, Looneys predecessor Bob Dudley warned against Big Oil moving too fast on new technologies to counter climate change, because their failure could lead to financial ruin. However, circumstances are changing. Becoming greener is no longer a choice for the worlds largest polluters. The damaging effects of rising global temperatures are increasingly evident and established investors are starting to worry about the vulnerability of their portfolios to a climate crisis. It was among the most debated subjects in this years World Economic Forum in Davos. Last month, BlackRock Inc. added its significant weight to a $41 trillion investor group thats pressing the biggest emitters to change their ways. The Church of England Commissioners, one of the activist investors that has been pressuring Big Oil, praised BPs move. This is the ambition that the world needs, Edward Mason, head of responsible investment, said in a tweet. Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero/The Daily Beast As anxiety mounts within the Democratic Party over which candidate is best suited to defeat President Trump in November, Democrats on Capitol Hill are increasingly turning to someone whos saved their bacon before: Mike Bloomberg. The billionaire former mayor of New York Citywho spent tens of millions of dollars to help Democrats win back the House in 2018is rising in Democratic primary polls as former Vice President Joe Biden falters. He seems primed to compete in states that are holding primaries on Super Tuesday and beyond, where hes flooded the airwaves with TV ads and set up scores of field offices. After receiving his first endorsement from a congressional Democrat on Jan. 13, Bloomberg has since picked up eight more, giving him more support on Capitol Hill than Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), or former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of Indiana. Most of those backers are moderates, and several have announced their support for Bloomberg since last weeks primary-muddling Iowa caucus debacle. Democratic lawmakers and aides told The Daily Beast that outreach from the Bloomberg campaign has ramped up dramatically in recent days: Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), whos made clear he does not plan to endorse a candidate in the primary, said hes heard from Bloomberg-world almost every day for the last week. Bloomberg, said campaign co-chair Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), is the buzz in the caucus. Thats the buzz right now. For a sizable faction of Democrats, its not hard to see the appeal. Bloomberg marries fiscal centrism with staunchly liberal stances on key Democratic issues like gun control and climate change; his record as New York City mayor, to them, is a unique strength and offers a compelling alternative to other candidates backgrounds. But there are also some closer-to-home reasons for Democratic lawmakers to back Bloomberg: some suspect that backing the billionairewhos used his massive fortune to benefit the political fortunes of dozens of members of Congresscould be a way for some lawmakers to increase their chances that he air-drops a few million into their own races this year. Story continues Asked if that was factors into the calculus for some Democrats, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)who has not endorsed any candidate for presidentpaused. Oh, he said with a sarcastic edge, Im sure it doesnt. A New York City Democratic elected official, speaking anonymously to discuss the issue candidly, said the possibility that Bloomberg might support them down the road is almost certainly playing a role in Democrats endorsement calculations. Im sure thats part of it, the official said. Whether its real or imagined, discussed or not, Bloomberg is a guy who can fund an entire campaign for somebody. No Bloomberg supporters, of course, say that any hopes for an influx of his money are informing anyones decision to endorse. Thats a ridiculous assertion, said Rep. Max Rose (D-NY), the first House Democrat to back Bloomberg. If that were the case, everyone would have endorsed Tom Steyer a year ago. Come on, man. A spokesperson for the Bloomberg campaign also downplayed the idea that this calculation played into Bloomberg backers decisions, noting that the billionaire candidate has already committed to investing millions of dollars to help Democrats keep the House and take the Senate. He has already cut a $10 million check to House Majority PAC, a group committed to supporting House Democrats, no matter who theyve endorsed for president. Any calculations of future support aside, Bloombergs prolific past support of congressional Democrats puts him in a category all his own in the 2020 primaryand perhaps even in modern campaign history. As presidential candidates hustle to woo lawmakers who could give them an edge in whatll be a long, painstakingly-fought primary, only one of them can credibly say they have played a role in making a bunch of seats blue. Its an ironic turn for a former Republican who endorsed George W. Bush in 2004 and, up until very recently, was still giving generously to Republicans. In 2016, for example, Bloomberg was more supportive of GOP candidates than Democrats, and dropped $6 million to back Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)a leading Republican on gun controlin a race Democrats wanted desperately to win. But the Trump era saw Bloomberg shift decisively to Democrats. He pledged to spend $100 million to help Democrats take back Congress in the 2018 midterm, and his personal PAC spent every dime of a $38 million sum boosting Democrats and attacking Republicans. To many, that is reason enough to consider his past GOP support water under the bridge. Theres probably nobody who did more to elect the current class of freshmen and give us a majority, said Kildee. Several Bloomberg endorsers, such as Reps. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) are freshmen Democrats who won that year in races where Bloomberg money flowed freely. On Tuesday, Stevens told The Daily Beast that the formerly GOP-aligned billionaire would be able to win over Democrats and voters in midwestern districts like hers. His vision is the exact opposite of Donald Trump's, she said. It's not divisive, it's unifying. When it was noted that Bloomberg was heavily involved in her 2018 race, Stevens responded a lot of people were very involved in my race. Plenty of lawmakers are able to recall a time Bloomberg came to the rescue. Connolly, for example, faced a tough re-election fight in his northern Virginia district during the tea party-fueled wave in 2010. In the races home stretch, Bloombergs political organization bankrolled $150,000 in TV ads touting Connollys record on gun controlan important issue in a district touched by the Virginia Tech mass shooting years earlier. Connolly ended up winning by 981 votes. Id never met Michael Bloomberg, Id never talked to him, he told The Daily Beast. That's the kind of thing you don't forget when I needed help, who was there? Michael Bloomberg was there. Bloombergs lengthy and generally cozy history with House Democrats is just one of several advantages hes poised to turn to as his standing in the primary increases. Ironically, some said, his back-and-forth partisan alignment has given him a reputation that defies orthodoxy, even though elements of his recordparticularly his embrace of stop-and-frisk policing as mayor of New Yorkcarry toxic baggage with Democratic voters that could be as hard to overcome as his financial support of Republicans. Hes sort of a safe pick because youre not really aligning yourself, said the New York City elected official. Everyone is in a bucket: If youre with Bernie or Warren, youre in that bucket; If youre with Biden or Pete, youre seen as moderate. I think Bloomberg, even though hes probably falling into that bucket, hes an outlier. Hes got his own money and will do whatever he can. Rose, the Staten Island congressman who first endorsed Bloomberg, has a unique history with the candidate hes endorsed: hes actually been on the other end of the former mayors millions. Bloomberg personally contributed $5,400 to the campaign of former Rep. Dan Donovan, the Republican incumbent who Rose defeated in 2018. But less than two years later, Rose couldnt be more bullish on Bloombergs prospects to pick up support on the Hill. Youre gonna see more and more and more each and every day, each and every week, said Rose. Mike Bloomberg is going to be the nominee. And then Mike Bloomberg is going to win the presidency. 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. Five men have been charged in federal court in Philadelphia with a scheme to sell oil from Iran, which is under U.S. sanctions, to a refinery in China for millions of dollars in profits, prosecutors announced Tuesday. The men four based in Texas and one in New York were each charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act related to the economic sanctions against Iran. They were identified as Nicholas Hovan, 33, of New York, and Daniel Ray Lane, 38; Robert Thwaites, 30; Nicholas James Fuchs, 26; and Zhenyu Wang, 39, all of Texas. If convicted on both counts, each man would face a maximum of 25 years in prison. Four of the men were arrested in Philadelphia and made court appearances in the city Tuesday, prosecutors said. The fifth was arrested in Texas. Lane is the president of Stack Royalties, an oil and gas investment firm based in Dallas. Prosecutors say he offered to launder money through his company. Thwaites is listed on the companys website as a vice president. Representatives of Stack could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The 13-page criminal complaint, dated Feb. 7 and initially sealed, chronicles a series of secretly recorded phone calls and in-person meetings, two of which occurred in Philadelphia. The first recording mentioned, provided by a confidential source, is of a meeting in London last June with an unnamed person who said Hovan and a second individual could assist in brokering a deal with U.S. citizens for Iranian oil. On July 31 in Philadelphia, prosecutors said, the confidential source met with Hovan and the second individual, identified as Person No. 2 in the complaint. During the secretly recorded meeting, Hovan and Person No. 2 claimed to represent major oil buyers in the United States, Panama, and China. Hovan claimed to know the son of Chinas minister of energy and said that individual alone could handle six million barrels of oil, prosecutors said. Hovan, according to the complaint, also said he had other connections and referred to participants later identified as Fuchs, Thwaites, and Wang. At one point, Hovan excused himself to make a phone call, then returned to say his investors had no problem with Iranian oil, quoting their reactions as, Iran? Whatever, who cares." At a Sept. 18 meeting in Dallas, Fuchs allegedly said Lane had mercenaries willing to protect the shipment of Iranian oil for approximately $100,000. In a Nov. 25 call involving Hovan and the other unnamed people, an undercover agent said he had a potential lead for financing based in Philadelphia. That led to a meeting on Jan. 8 at the Hotel Monaco across from Independence Hall. Hovan and Person No. 2 "pitched the details of the oil deal to the undercover agent posing as an investor, including the oils Iranian origin and the Chinese buyers, with the intention of convincing the undercover agent-investor to provide $10 million to finance the deal, according to the complaint. In a Jan. 15 call, Thwaites was talking to the undercover agent when he added Wang to the call, and Wang said he would be working on a fee protection agreement that for an additional $4 a barrel covered a politician, the banks, the inspection, and the person signing the contract." The undercover agent expressed concern that the payment to a politician looks like a straight ... bribe. According to the complaint, Wang laughed and said, 'It is a bribe. It is. I dont want to sugarcoat it. It is a bribe. The alleged conspiracy, which also involved creating a shell corporation in Poland and obtaining offshore accounts in Antigua, was expected to generate approximately $28 million a month in profits, prosecutors said. In a statement, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said Tuesday: By devising a scheme to purchase oil from Iran, conceal its origins via a refinery in China, and make tremendous profits, the defendants were attempting to enrich themselves and the nation of Iran thus jeopardizing the safety and security of the United States and our allies. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement: The sale of oil is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy. At the same time the United States was increasing its sanctions in order to pressure Iran to stop its malign activities, these defendants put greed ahead of country. NSW Police aimed to conduct almost a quarter of a million personal searches last financial year as part of a quota-driven system slammed as a politically motivated "numbers game" by the state's ex-top prosecutor. Figures revealed under freedom-of-information laws show individual police area commands are set targets for the execution of powers such as searches and move-on orders, as well as addressing an array of crimes, with people in some areas targeted for searches at nearly 13 times the average rate. The internal statistics show police aimed to undertake 241,632 searches in the financial year ending June 2019, an eight per cent rise on the previous year's target. The actual number of searches undertaken was 238,813, about 100 fewer than 2018. The search target for 2019-20 is 237,089. Threat Level for Gibraltar Remains Unchanged A meeting of the Gibraltar Contingency Council took place on the 11th Febuary 2020, to review security and civil contingency matters, including Gibraltars preparedness for Coronavirus Disease. The meeting was co-chaired by His Excellency the Governor and the Deputy Chief Minister, in what was the Governors last GCC meeting. The GCC assessed that there was no change in the threat level with a terrorist attack remaining as likely; but, there is, however, no specific intelligence to suggest a direct threat to Gibraltar. The GCC will continue to closely monitor threat intelligence and clinical advice as it relates to Gibraltar, and Gibraltars Law Enforcement Agencies together with GHA will continue to take the necessary measures to keep the Public safe. As ever, the Public is asked to remain vigilant and to report any security and law enforcements concerns to the Royal Gibraltar Police. They are also advised to regularly check www.wuhan.gifor latest updates on Coronavirus COVID-19. Firecracker films have been commissioned by Channel 5 to produce a one-off documentary, The Great British Urine Test: The National Health Check. The programme will be produced by Firecracker Scotland, with Executive Producer Elspeth OHare. The show was commissioned by Dan Louw at Channel 5. Doctor and TV personality, Dr Christian will host the doc. Alongside Dr Amir Khan, Dr Christian get an insight into the state of the nations health using tests that will decode the secret messages in participants urine. To carry out the National Health Check, the programme has placed Pee Pods in four major cities, and invited members of the general public to participate. The results will reveal which city drinks the most alcohol, which city consumes the most fast food and which comes out the highest when it comes to drug taking. Elspeth OHare, Creative Director at Firecracker Scotland commented: It is extraordinary what we can now tell about our health and lifestyle from our pee; from early signs of cancer and markers for pollution to how much booze weve drunk and what weve eaten in the last week. We loved working with Dr. Christian Jessen and Dr. Amir Khan who used their expertise, empathy and humour to bring this ground breaking science to life. Commissioning Editor, Dan Louw added: I was shocked when I found out that weve all been flushing away a vital diagnostic tool that could stop us from getting ill. We laughed when we first thought about doing this show, but Ive been genuinely inspired by the incredible science being done in this area which actually has the power to change the way we think about our bodies. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} Share this story I was in class again last nighthow rude of Democrats to have their primaries on the one night a week I teach class, so I cant drunk-blog the thing live and watch the media make fools of themselvesso Im late to the after party. Rest assured that like Jane Fonda, I wore recycled sustainable clothing and jewels to the after party, to fight climate change. Of course by mid-morning today, there has been an avalanche of analysis by the media punsters, but isnt it funny that nearly everyone says the same thing: Disaster for Biden! Klomentum! Sanders underperformed, which is a euphemism for we really dont want to just come out and say that Bernie won New Hampshire. Everyone is remarking that Sanders didnt come close to the huge margin of victory he enjoyed over Hillary Clinton in 2016, but I havent yet heard anyone say the obvious: Bernies 2016 romp was party a measure of how bad a candidate Hillary Clinton was. I guess lots of media figures are concerned their group life insurance rates might go up. Next: In 32 years of running for president, Joe Biden still has yet to win a single primary contest. If he doesnt absolutely crush South Carolina, hes done. He says hes staying in until Super Tuesday in early March, but if he bombs in SC, Democrats are going to try to move him out of the race within 24 hours so they can give the Stop Bernie movement a fighting chance. Related, from the NY Post: Biden Donors Panicking After Disastrous New Hampshire, Iowa Results. Next: While everyone is watching the Democrats clown show, hardly anyone seems to be noticing that Trump totally crushed it in New Hampshire yesterday. True, he was uncontested, but its his raw vote total that ought to be terrifying Democrats. Get a load of this vote trend: New Hampshires population has been relatively stable over the last 25 years so population growth does not explain this, and I understand that a lot of this total includes low propensity voters the Trump campaign appears to be targeting very effectively. Another reason to think that Trump will outperform his polls in the November election, just as he did in 2016. Finally, no sooner do we note the existence of the Mayor Pete Platitude Generator than the candidate does it for us. This is a real Tweet last night from his impishness: Im starting to wonder if Mayor Pete isnt putting us on, that this is all a McKinsey prank to see how far a flyblown lab creation can get in the Democratic Party. (Forget Bulworth: Find us a young guy with an unpronounceable name and well see how far we can carry it off!) Either that or Mayor Pete is a Kang and Kodos alien invader from The Simpsons, always twirling, twirling towards freedom! Makes as much sense as anything right now. In three separate cases at Hyderabad and Mumbai airports, smuggled gold weighing 2.512 kgs worth Rs one crore was seized by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs officials. Acting on specific intelligence that a passenger travelling from Dubai to Hyderabad would be carrying a suitcase having smuggled gold concealed in it, officers of DRI launched an operation on February 11 and intercepted three persons at the exit gate of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. One of them had just landed at Hyderabad from Dubai and two others from Jaipur. The examination of the suitcase revealed that it contained a toolkit which included a hammer. The smuggled gold was concealed in the hammer and gold weighing 931 grams was found in it. The value of the gold is Rs 39 lakh in the market. In the same Modus Operandi used by three more persons in which one person came from Dubai to Mumbai and was handing over the suitcase to two persons who came from Jaipur was intercepted and smuggled gold weighing 931 grams was seized. In addition to the above two cases, DRI officers intercepted two more persons at the Hyderabad RGI Airport who were travelling from Dubai to Hyderabad on February 11. During the examination of the contents of the baggage of one of the passengers, gold weighing 160 grams was recovered. The second passenger was found to be carrying 490 grams of gold paste. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NDC National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi has accused President Nana Akufo-Addo of spending millions of cedis on foreign travels. Speaking on Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV, Sammy Gyamfi stated that NPP and Akufo-Addo are spending borrowed funds on consumption. President Akufo-Addo and his useless globetrotting activities in 9 months in 2019, this wasteful President spends Ghc 63 million on foreign travels, He also noted that former President John Mahama used borrowed funds to improve infrastructure in Ghana but his successor is only interested in chop chop. Its not true the debt position today is better than it was under John Mahama because the NPP have added almost Ghc110, billion...Akufo-Addo and his government has borrowed more but nothing to show for it...they spent the peoples money on tea party and travels, he stated. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived in Varanasi on Wednesday. She will visit Azamgarh later today and meet the people, who were injured in police action, during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC). Meanwhile, Priyanka is scheduled to address over six rallies in Uttar Pradesh starting from February 23 to take on the BJP government over farmers' issues. Her first rally will be on February 23 in Eastern UP's Basti district. The Congress will take on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government on issues like stray cattle, payment of dues to sugarcane farmers, irregularities in the procurement of paddy and suicide of farmers in Bundelkhand. The party will also press for its demands regarding loan waiver for farmers, 50 per cent subsidy on electricity bills, cowsheds and watchdog allowance in every village. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Winona County Sheriff Deputy Adam Carlson and police dog Cleo took home top honors last weekend at a competition in North Dakota. While at the U.S. Police Canine Association in Fargo, the team also was certified for another year of narcotics detection. This is the second year in a row that Carlson and Cleo have been awarded the first-place trophy. Carlson and Cleo beat out 38 teams by posting perfect scores in vehicle- and room-search scenarios, with Cleo demonstrating her accuracy, speed and ability to search for narcotics. The event was attended by dog teams from Minnesota and North Dakota. Carlson and Cleos victory comes on the heels of their success in November as part of the U.S. Police Canine Associations National Patrol Dog Certification in Florida, where, as part of a team that included officers from Houston, Austin and Douglas counties, they placed first in the region team competition that included more than 90 other dog teams. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Oscar winning film Parasite was mostly built using movie sets, but inspired by real neighborhoods in South Korea's capital. ((UPSOT- TRAILER "it's a very opportune gift")) A tale of two cities, really, told through two families, and of struggles of social class. ((UPSOT- TRAILER Rich people are really gullible" "How should I describe the mother?")) Follow Reuters on a tour of of the real-life sights that the wealthy Park family and the poor Kims mirror of the deepening inequality there. ((UPSOT- TRAILER ''Your parents look good'' ''They look unemployed, mostly'')) The Kims' squalid basement apartment takes place in the real world Ahyeon-dong, one of the last shanty towns near downtown Seoul. For those who live in the neighborhood, the film hit close to home -- like Lee Jeong-Sik whose Pig Rice supermarket features in the movie. (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) OWNER OF PIG RICE SUPERMARKET, LEE JEONG-SIK, SAYING: "It's definitely a neighborhood that isn't faring well. Watching the film made me feel like they put my life right in there." In contrast with Seongbuk-dong, known as South Korea's Beverly Hills, where most homes -- just like the Park's mansion -- are hidden behind high walls, spiked fences, and monitored by security cameras. Eom Hang-Ki owns the real life pizza shop the Kims fold boxes for, before they start working for the Park family. She's hoping the film's success lasts long after the Oscars. (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) OWNER OF PIZZA PLACE WHO HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 2004, EOM HANG-KI, SAYING: "I'm so thankful he won the four awards including Best Director. The film helped with our sales, a lot of places are contacting us and more foreigners are coming to visit. I hope this lasts long." Rosenberg Police Department A Houston man excavating lines died Wednesday after a trench collapse in Rosenberg, officials said. The man, identified by Rosenberg police as 32-year-old Rigoberto Ochoa Gonzalez, was one of three people working for a telecommunications contractor excavating lines near FM 2218 and Bryan Road, police said. Two workers were inside the trench when it collapsed about 12:23 p.m., trapping Gonzalez. The third worker was operating machinery. Spaceflight Industries, owner of both Spaceflight, Inc. and BlackSky, is selling the Spaceflight, Inc. portion of its business to Japanese industrial corporation Mitsui & Co. and Yamasa . The pair will own the company in a 50/50 joint venture after its closing. The deal will see Spaceflight continue to operate as an independent business based in the U.S. and headquartered in Seattle, with the same mission of providing rideshare launch services for small satellite payloads. Meanwhile, Spaceflight Industries will use the funds generated from the sale (the terms of the deal were not disclosed) to re-invest in its BlackSky business. BlackSky is an Earth observation company that deals in geospatial intelligence. It currently operates four satellites in orbit, with eight more planned to join its constellation sometime later this year. The deal also means that Mistui & Co, which is one of Japan's largest businesses and operates in infrastructure, energy production, IT, food, consumer products, mining, chemicals and more, will now be in the rocket launch rideshare business as well. Mitsui also has an aerospace arm that includes a space business which provides satellite development, launch and operation services. It noted in a press release that Spaceflight will become "the cornerstone" of its space strategy pending close of the deal. Spaceflight has been offering its services since 2010, launching a total of 271 satellites on 29 separate rocket launches. In 2020, Spaceflight is planning 10 missions. The company's business seems poised to grow as more launch providers and more small satellite operators enter the market, with many predictions indicating sharp uptakes in orbit-based businesses to come over the next decade. This arrangement is perhaps indicative of things to come in the space industry, as more young companies look at their overall business and determine how best to delineate things to continue their growth and return funds on investment to stay on mission. SpaceX, for instance, has confirmed it's looking at spinning out its Starlink business and taking that public, a move that could generate significant funds for it to then funnel back into its core launch business in pursuit of its goals of making humans multi-planetary. The deal still has to undergo review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) because there's a national security interest involved, given Spaceflight's past work. This is expected to take multiple months, and the companies say they anticipate the deal will close sometime during Q2 2020 if everything is approved. By PTI BEIJING: The only patient infected with the novel coronavirus in Tibet was discharged from hospital on Wednesday after 18 days of treatment. The 34-year-old patient is from Suizhou city in Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus. He travelled from Hubei's capital Wuhan to Lhasa, the provincial capital of Tibet by train from January 22 to 24. ALSO READ: Coronavirus - DMK seeks Centre's help for evacuating Indians on quarantined ship off Japan On January 25, he developed symptoms of cough and fever, and later went to the designated medical institution in the region and was hospitalised. He was confirmed to be infected with the new virus on January 29, becoming the first and only confirmed case in the region. "When I learned that I was a confirmed case, I felt great stress and was very upset. The medical staff gave me meticulous care. I sincerely thank the doctors, nurses and the Tibetan people," state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the patient as saying. ALSO READ: China welcomes support from BRICS to its efforts to combat Coronavirus "After receiving treatment, the patient's temperature has returned to normal for 14 days, and two nucleic acid tests had negative results," Puncog Zhaxi, president of the Third People's Hospital of Tibet said. "In accordance with the country's latest novel coronavirus pneumonia diagnosis and treatment scheme and consultation of an expert team, the patient has met the standard of cured and can be discharged from hospital," Puncog Zhaxi said. As of Tuesday, Tibet has not reported any new or suspected cases or deaths caused by the virus for the 13th consecutive day, the Xinhua report said. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak has gone up to 1,113 with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of infection jumped to 44,653, health officials said on Wednesday. The virus was officially named "COVID-19" by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday. After naming the virus as "COVID-19", WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease". The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease, Ghebreyesus said in Geneva. Several countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country. [February 12, 2020] PAST Receives Generous Grant From Battelle to Accelerate STEM Education Impact The PAST Foundation and Battelle announced today that a $400,000 grant from Battelle will expand the "Innovation in Teaching" Fellowship program. This program will provide free professional development to 200 select teachers in Ohio who collectively will impact 15,000 Ohio students during the 2020-2021 school year. In addition, the grant will support scholarships to enroll 400 at-risk, high-needs students in Central Ohio Summer STEM camps. "This funding enables PAST to support the scale of two of our primary PAST mission pillars-expanding STEM literacy and competency of teachers, and creating more opportunities for students to engage in STEM career exploration and exposure," said Dr. Annalies Corbin, President & CEO of the PAST Foundation. "Educational partnerships like the one we enjoy with Battelle allows both organizations to expand our collective reach, which benefits students of Central Ohio." "At Battelle, we believe every student deserves access to quality STEM learning opportunities, regardless of their socio-economic status or ZIP code," said Wes Hall, Interim Senior Vice President of Education and Philanthropy. "We are excited to partner with PAST to bring engaging summer STEM camps to students and new resources to support teaching strategies in classrooms across Central Ohio." About Battelle Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org. For more information contact Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or [email protected] or T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544 or [email protected]. About PAST Foundation For 20 years, PAST, a non-profit organization, has been a leader in designing STEM education across the nation, bringing problem-based learning to educators and experiential programs to students. Recently, PAST's Innovation Lab was named as a promising example to Re-imagine High School as featured in Forbes. PAST has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its Excellence in Innovation in the STEM 2026 vision report. PAST was the only educational entity in Ohio to be included in this publication. PAST was also recognized in 2014, by CGI (News - Alert) America and former President Bill Clinton for their outstanding work, and again in 2015 for their achievements in improving STEM education in rural America. In 2015, the PAST Innovation Lab was recognized by the White House Summit on High School Design. For more information on PAST Foundation and how you can link learning to life, visit https://pastfoundation.org/ or contact Lori Trent at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005651/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MALTA A wooded property that the town aimed to preserve might be the next piece of land to be developed. The owner of 12 Hearn Road is threatening legal action if the town does not reverse the forest's zoning designation from land conservation to commercial. Supervisor Darren OConnor said Northway Saratoga Holdings LLC of Levittown on Long Island is arguing that the town overreached its authority when it rezoned the parcel in July 2018 after it formerly was approved for commercial development. We would love to see the land conserved, OConnor said of the 35.8 acres in Malta Ridge. The argument is that the town is taking the property by regulation. OConnor said the town rezoned the property to protect Drummond Creek, home to beaver and other wildlife, and to avoid issues of runoff into Saratoga Lake. OConnor said the rezoning took into consideration that the lot is rugged, with steep ravines and wetlands, making any development limited. A medical building that Northway Saratoga Holdings once had approval to erect there, was delayed several times and never built, he said. Still, OConnor said he must consider the legal landscape. I dont want to subject the town to risk of expensive litigation on this, the supervisor said. The attorney for Northway Saratoga Holdings LLC, Stephanie Ferradino, said she could not comment on the matter. However, Mark Hammond who lives next to the property said hes upset with the prospect of commercial development next to his house that he built in 1985. I was elated when it was zoned land conservation because the area is sensitive environmentally, Hammond said. There are steep slopes with springs, the creek, a whole host of wildlife in there. We are running out of that in Malta, the county and the state. (Undeveloped) land is in short supply. We have got to preserve what we have left. Hammond has been going to every Town Board meeting, listening closely to the discussion of the property, which is on the agenda again on Monday, Feb. 24. He said the Town Board is sympathetic to his concerns but doesnt have many options. The board has considered rezoning it residential, allowing for a subdivision, as a compromise with the owner. However, Hammond argues there are fewer regulations on home development than there are for commercial. Either way, he said it will destroy the propertys old growth black locust trees, the ground water and the habitat of wildlife, which in addition to beaver, includes owls, deer and fishers. It will have an impact, he said. It will change everything about living here. Town Board member Cynthia Young said she is not sure that the owner would compromise with a residential designation. She said there is also the issue of traffic on Hearn Road, a loop that intersects with Route 9. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Hearn Road cant handle the traffic it has now, Young said. OConnor said the town would love to purchase the property, which is assessed at $771,000 and on the market with NAI Platform for $2.3 million. However, he said the town does not have the money to do that. There is no way the town can do that, OConnor said. We could go through eminent domain, but that is not a path the town would take either. Hammond said he appreciates the town's efforts, but is unsure what can be done. Its not going to be an easy fix, Hammond said. But we have to slow down development. BIRMINGHAM, Ala.A Tennessee hillside collapsed, roads were flooded and rivers were rising across the Southeast on Tuesday after a day of heavy rains that once again threatened a Mississippi lake where a dam previously was in danger of failing. The National Weather Service said minor to moderate flooding was expected from central Mississippi to north Georgia following downpours. The Tennessee River was predicted to crest about 7 feet above flood level at Perryville, Tennessee, on Sunday. Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee, tons of rock and soil slid off a 70-foot hillside and blocked the northbound side of a U.S. 441 spur linking the tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the National Park Service said. At least 45 dump truck loads will be required to clear the road, officials estimated, but no injuries were reported. Multiple roads were covered with water or washed out because of rainfall that exceeded 5 inches in spots across central Alabama, and forecasters said totals could reach 6 inches by nightfall. Schools opened late or closed in parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana because of flash flooding. A flood watch stretched from eastern Texas to Mississippi, and parts of Alabama were under flood warnings. North of Birmingham in Cullman, the sheriffs office said Deputy Adam Clark and his police dog were badly injured in a wreck during heavy rains overnight. The cause of the crash was under investigation. In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level just weeks after heavy rains caused a mudslide that put the earthen dam in danger of failing. Pumps had been used to lower the lake level by about 8 feet since mid-January, but officials said the water had risen to an even higher than before because of recent storms. It has risen over 8.5 feet from our low elevation during pumping and continues to rise, said a statement by Kristen Campanella, emergency management director in Oktibbeha County. Officials also were monitoring the site of a potential dam failure in Yazoo County, where the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said a 40-acre lake in a subdivision was leaking around a culvert and washing away dirt, threatening four homes and a church. Five homes were evacuated after a levee breach in Leake. Elsewhere in Mississippi, 25 homes had been damaged and four people were hurt in wrecks caused by vehicles hydroplaning on wet roads, according to the state. The damage was worst in Yazoo, where a dozen people were displaced from homes. In addition, the National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday that an EF-1 tornado touched down Monday about 2.5 miles northwest of Piave, Mississippi, in Greene County. The twister caused minor roof damage and uprooted several trees, the weather agency said. The Tennessee Valley region has received 550% of its normal rainfall during the past seven days, James Everett, senior manager of the Tennessee Valley Authoritys River Forecast Center, said in a briefing. Rainfall averaged around 6 inches across the valley, but some places got as much as 9 inches. Were getting a brief break in rainfall today, but we expect it to pick up tomorrow through Thursday, Everett said. To manage all of the water, the TVA will continue storing water in large mountain reservoirs to help reduce flooding downstream, Everett said. The agency plans to adjust its strategy for water storage and flows depending on how much more water falls on the already saturated ground, he said. Isolated tornadoes and winds in excess of 60 mph are possible in some areas of the South after nightfall Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. With the weather system moving eastward, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice instructed emergency officials to be ready for flooding in addition to high water that already had led to school closures in the state. By Jay Reeves The Ministry of External Affairs was on Wednesday awarded for its e-governance initiatives and implementing the e-office. The e-office is an initiative that envisages at the creation of digital and paperless workplaces by streamlining the work flow in inter and intra government processes. The award was bestowed on the ministry for achieving a compliance rate of more than 80 per cent. The award was handed over by Minister of State (PMO) Jitendra Singh at the National Workshop on E-Office. The MEA won an award certificate for doing commendable work in implementation of the e-office, officials said. The emphasis of the government on service delivery and citizen-centric governance is reflected through steps to implement four mission mode projects of e-Kranti (fourth pillar of the Digital India Programme) namely e-Office, e-Procurement, immigration, visa, foreigner's registration, and tracking system (IVFRT) and passport seva projects (PSPs). These are presently operational in the MEA and missions abroad. A number of e-governance and automation projects have been also undertaken by the MEA in consonance with the aims and objectives of Digital India such as Foreign Service Institute Alumni Portal, E-Audit Portal, Revamped Know India Programme and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Portals, Diplomatic Identity Card Registration and Issuance System etc. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) " Fundamentally, its a comedy, explains Paapa Essiedu about Pass Over, the play hes about to star in at the Kiln Theatre. Given that its about two black men trying to rise above racism and not get shot by the police, this is slightly surprising. You look at the Black Lives Matter movement, or the incidents that came to light internationally as a result of them. Some are so mad, so ridiculous, that if they werent so tragic they would be funny. A police officer ripping a school child from their desk and flipping them on to the floor? Its absurdist. But its real life, you know. But Antoinette Nwandus play is also about brotherhood, friendship, trust and aspiration, he says. Riffing on Waiting for Godot and the Exodus story, its UK premiere will be the first time the Kiln will be in-the-round. The play was at the heart of a media storm when it opened in Chicago in 2017, after one white critics review suggested violence against black people was perpetrated within the community itself, rather than by racist police. Essiedu has not read that review, nor seen Spike Lees adaptation for Amazon Prime. He has a magnetic but disarming quality, darting between intense seriousness (I cant speak on behalf of people who write in critical spaces, he says, slightly loftily, when we discuss potential critical responses to the play), and chilled jokiness his commute to the Kilburn theatre from his south London home is a f***ing shlep! He seems mildly sceptical about our encounter, which doesnt feel entirely unwarranted; before we meet I read interviews that are framed unconstructively around his race. Essiedu returns to the stage amid a burgeoning screen career (Kiri, The Miniaturist and Press most prominently), having previously starred in Jamie Lloyds Pinter season, Danai Guriras The Convert, and as the first black actor to play Hamlet for the RSC. He took the role in Pass Over, to be directed by Kiln boss Indhu Rubasingham , because he wanted to do a political play (he also really loves theatre, and admits to being a f***ing theatre geek). Paapa Essiedu and Gershwyn Eustache Jnr in rehearsals for Pass Over / Marc Brenner Rehearsals are taking place at a time when the conversation about racism in the UK feels particularly charged; a few weeks ago it focused on Meghan Markle, now it seems to have been taken over by Piers Morgan and Laurence Fox whom Essiedu immediately shuts down any mention of, saying: Im not going to dedicate any of my time to talking or thinking about him. He does think that the plays American setting shouldnt let London audiences off the hook. Britain has clearly got a very complicated and not particularly well thought through relationship with its own history and legacy of racism. This play is interesting because its set in America. You see policemen shooting black men, which is an image were so encouraged to think of as something that happens there, right? The police in America are racist, Americans are racist. But theres no difference in this country, apart from our policemen dont walk around carrying guns. So youre not literally going to often see a black man shot by a policeman. Even though thats happened. Look at Mark Duggan or the guy at Stockwell Tube, he adds, referring to Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes, shot in 2005 by police who mistook him for a terror suspect. Its a universal problem from the top down, he tells me. Youve got the Prime Minister ... and hes got a rap sheet as long as this play of historical racist comments. I wonder how he anticipates the audience will respond, and he talks of the power of storytelling, its ability to make people challenge themselves. I think youve got to be quite courageous to really look at yourself without bias or getting defensive first. This thing about Meghan Markle, or Stormzy saying racism 100 per cent exists, speaks to an idea in this country thats been perpetrated by the media, that its worse to be called racist than it actually is to be a racist. Paapa Essiedu at the Kiln Theatre / Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd On the day we meet, Daniel Kaluuya is reported as saying he is tired of interviewers asking him about race. I echo and applaud what Daniel is saying, Essiedu says. He tells me he did an interview the other day where he essentially made the same request. If, for example, Id rocked up and requested his take on the Baftas diversity row, he adds, Id have to ask, Are you asking that question to George MacKay or Anya Taylor-Joy? If not... I just think thats weird! He laughs. You cant say you just happened to see me and wonder if I might be interested in it. Weve got to see this as an issue that doesnt just affect the people oppressed by it. I ask how it felt to talk to journalists about playing Hamlet, when his race was often the first subject raised. Yeah, really frustrating. It makes me ask questions about journalists and what is interesting for newspapers. If youre being interviewed by a white interviewer, its coming from a place of intellectual jousting, but for me its like, this is who I am. I wake up in the morning and Im not surprised that Im black. Especially at that time, I was like 25 when I was playing that part. It was my first major role, and interview after interview [was] like, he puts on a comical posh voice, What does it feel like to be a black person playing Hamlet for the RSC? When all I want to do is focus on doing it, which is daunting enough, and also to talk about myself. Theres no Hamlet-survivors Whats-App group, but Essiedu has talked to David Tennant about what an all-encompassing experience it is. After youve done it, you dont wanna think about it again, he says. I imagine it gave him confidence for life, but he says he still fears each job will be his last. Im still constantly certain Im about to get found out. I dont think he needs to worry. Pass Over runs at the Kiln Theatre, NW6 (020 7328 1000, kilntheatre.com), Feb 13 to Mar 21 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anfield Energy Inc. (TSX.V: AEC; OTCQB: ANLDF; FRANKFURT: 0AD) (Anfield or the Company) applauds the Trump Administrations proposal to create a strategic uranium reserve as part of its FY21 Federal Budget. Under the proposal, the Department of Energy would have US$150M per year for a period of 10 years at its disposal to purchase uranium from US producers. This proposal reflects the Administrations Nuclear Fuel Working Group (NFWG) priorities. Corey Dias, Anfields CEO, stated, We are very pleased with the US governments proposal to create a strategic uranium reserve. This is a critical first step to provide US uranium producers and near-term producers with a dedicated, improved domestic market for its material. Moreover, the NFWG may have additional recommendations on which the Administration might act that could further improve the prospects of US-based uranium miners and producers. Anfield is well-positioned to contribute to the Uranium Reserve. With its 25 Wyoming-based projects led by the advanced and low-cost Charlie ISR uranium project the Company has created an ISR uranium mine-and-mill complex which is underpinned by a Resin Capture and Processing Agreement with Uranium One which allows Anfield to process up to 500,000 pounds of uranium per year. In addition, Anfield has created a conventional mine-and-mill complex within Utah and Colorado which is underpinned by its 750-ton-per-day Shootaring Canyon mill, one of only three licensed, permitted and constructed conventional uranium mills in the US. Charlie Uranium Project Inexco Oil began exploration drilling on the Charlie Project in 1969 and over a two-year period completed 215 holes, comprising 91,000 ft. of drilling. A joint venture was formed with Uranerz USA, Inc. (Uranerz) in 1974 and an additional 715 holes were completed, including 57 core holes, totaling 283,906 ft. Cotter acquired the project from Uranerz and proceeded to evaluate it for both conventional open pit and in situ mining methods. Cotter excavated a 200 ft. test pit in 1981 on a small ore zone east of the main trend. Falling uranium prices in the 1980s halted further development on the project. Anfield acquired the project from Cotter in 2019. BRS Engineering has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Charlie on behalf of Anfield. Based on the PEA, processing will take place be via the In-Situ Recovery (ISR) method. Wellfield solutions will be delivered via pipeline to Uranium Ones Christensen Ranch for initial processing using its ion exchange and the resulting loaded resin will be shipped to the Irigaray Central Processing Plant (ICPP) for final processing. The project area consists of one State of Wyoming mining lease, totaling approximately 720 acres. The current 10-year mineral lease will expire on June 20, 2026 and is renewable under an exclusive right. Highlights from the PEA include: A pre-tax project Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 60% and a Net Present Value (NPV) of US$18.9 million, based on a discount rate of 8% and a uranium price of US$65 per pound; Average annual production of approximately 297,500 pounds of uranium per year; Estimated capital expenditure (CAPEX) includes an initial US$6.7 million during pre-production and US$20.8 million in sustaining capital during production for a total life of mine CAPEX of US$27.5 million; and Estimated direct operating costs of US$11.88 per pound of uranium. The West Slope Project The West Slope Project, located in Montrose and San Miguel Counties of southwestern Colorado, consist of nine Department of Energy (DOE) leases, associated with adjacent lode mining claims and leases, covering 6,913 acres on which past uranium production has taken place. Between 1977 and 2006, approximately 1.3Mlbs of uranium and 6.6Mlbs of vanadium were produced from these mines. In 2007, Behre Dolbear was commissioned by Cotter to produce a Technical Report for the West Slope Project (Technical Report on Nine Properties Held by Cotter Corporation in Montrose and San Miguel Counties, Colorado, USA, August 16, 2007). Using available data and using a cut-off of 0.05% uranium, Behre Dolbear estimated an in-place Measured Resource of 2.1Mt of uranium at an average grade of 0.25% for a total of 11Mlbs of uranium and an in-place Measured resource of 1.2Mt of vanadium at an average grade of 1.2% for a total of 53Mlbs of vanadium. Historical Resources - West Slope Intercepts greater than 0.05% U3O8 U3O8 V205 Property Tons (millions) % Pounds (millions) % Pounds (millions) JD-6 0.16 0.15 0.48 0.75 2.4 JD-7 0.77 0.26 4.0 1.1 17 JD-8 0.31 0.24 1.5 1.3 7.9 JD-9 0.23 0.24 1.1 1.2 5.7 SR-11 0.17 0.29 0.99 1.9 6.6 SR-13A 0.01 0.22 0.26 1.4 1.7 SM-18N 0.097 0.23 0.45 1.1 2.1 SM-18S 0.047 0.26 0.24 1.5 1.3 LP-21 0.19 0.23 0.87 1.2 4.6 CM-25 0.092 0.36 0.66 1.7 3.2 Total 2.1 0.25 11 1.2 53 Anfield considers these estimates to be historical in nature and cautions that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and Anfield is not treating these historical estimate as a current mineral resource or mineral reserves. NI 43-101 Disclosure The PEA completed for the Charlie Project has been authored by Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G. Principal Engineer, of BRS Inc. The purpose of the PEA is to provide an independent analysis of the potential economic viability of the mineral resources of the project. The author has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Results of the PEA represent forward-looking information. This economic assessment is preliminary in nature and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative, geologically, to have the economic considerations applies to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. About BRS BRS, Inc. is an engineering and geology consulting corporation with expertise in mining and mineral exploration. Of particular note, it specializes in uranium exploration, mineral resource evaluation, mine design, feasibility, mine operations, and reclamation. It has completed numerous uranium projects including technical reports and feasibility studies for underground, open pit, ISR, and conventional uranium mills. Representative projects include technical reports and due diligence for project financing for conventional uranium projects including the Sheep Mountain and the JAB-RD open pit in Wyoming, the Cibola Project in New Mexico, the Coles Hill, Virginia open pit and underground mine, and numerous ISR uranium projects in Wyoming and Paraguay. Douglas L. Beahm, P.E., P.G., the principal engineer at BRS, is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 with 40 years of professional and managerial experience. Mr. Beahm has a proven track record in a variety of mining and mine reclamation projects including surface and underground mining, heap leach recovery, ISR, and uranium mill tailings projects. Mr. Beahms experience includes coal, precious metals, and industrial minerals, but his emphasis throughout his career has been on uranium. About Anfield Anfield is a uranium and vanadium development and near-term production company that is committed to becoming a top-tier energy-related fuels supplier by creating value through sustainable, efficient growth in its assets. Anfield is a publicly-traded corporation listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (AEC-V), the OTCQB Marketplace (ANLDF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (0AD). Anfield is focused on two asset centres, as summarized below: Wyoming Irigaray ISR Processing Plant (Resin Processing Agreement) Anfield has signed a Resin Processing Agreement with Uranium One whereby Anfield would process up to 500,000 pounds per annum of its mined material at Uranium Ones Irigaray processing plant in Wyoming. In addition, the Company can both buy and borrow uranium from Uranium One in order to fulfill some or all of its sales contracts. Anfields 24 ISR mining projects are located in the Black Hills, Powder River Basin, Great Divide Basin, Laramie Basin, Shirley Basin and Wind River Basin areas in Wyoming. Anfields two projects in Wyoming for which NI 43-101 resource reports have been completed are Red Rim and Clarkson Hill. The Charlie Project, the asset which was the core component of a recently-announced transaction between Anfield and Cotter Corporation, is located in the Pumpkin Buttes Uranium District in Johnson County, Wyoming. The Charlie Project consists of a 720-acre Wyoming State uranium lease which has been in development since 1969. Arizona/Utah/Colorado Shootaring Canyon Mill A key asset in Anfields portfolio is the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Garfield County, Utah. The Shootaring Canyon Mill is strategically located within one of the historically most prolific uranium production areas in the United States, and is one of only three licensed uranium mills in the United States. Anfields conventional uranium assets consist of mining claims and state leases in southeastern Utah, Colorado and Arizona, targeting areas where past uranium mining or prospecting occurred. Anfields conventional uranium assets include the Velvet-Wood Project, the Frank M Uranium Project, the West Slope Project as well as the Findlay Tank breccia pipe. An NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment has been completed for the Velvet-Wood Project. The PEA is preliminary in nature, and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment would be realized. All conventional uranium assets are situated within a 200-mile radius of the Shootaring Mill. On behalf of the Board of Directors ANFIELD ENERGY INC. Corey Dias, Chief Executive Officer 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. Contact: Anfield Energy, Inc. Clive Mostert Corporate Communications 780-920-5044 contact@anfieldenergy.com www.anfieldenergy.com Safe Harbor Statement THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS IN THIS NEWS RELEASE THAT ARE NOT PURELY HISTORICAL ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INCLUDE ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE. EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN, MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS THAT ARE PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY, OR THAT INCLUDE SUCH WORDS AS ESTIMATE, ANTICIPATE, BELIEVE, PLAN OR EXPECT OR SIMILAR STATEMENTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES FOR THE COMPANY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MINERAL EXPLORATION AND FUNDING AS WELL AS THE RISKS SHOWN IN THE COMPANYS MOST RECENT ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY REPORTS AND FROM TIME-TO-TIME IN OTHER PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY. OTHER RISKS INCLUDE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING THE CAPITAL NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, THE REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS, COMPETITIVE COMPANIES, FUTURE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE COMPANYS ABILITY AND LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR ITS EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE COMPANY WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, THAT THE COMPANYS EXPLORATION EFFORTS WILL SUCCEED OR THE COMPANY WILL ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, AND THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, OR TO UPDATE THE REASONS WHY ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY BELIEVES THAT THE BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE ARE REASONABLE, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THOSE BELIEFS, PLANS, EXPECTATIONS OR INTENTIONS WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER ALL OF THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN AND SHOULD ALSO REFER TO THE RISK FACTORS DISCLOSED IN THE COMPANYS PERIODIC REPORTS FILED FROM TIME-TO-TIME. THIS NEWS RELEASE HAS BEEN PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY WHO TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS. Lahore, Feb 12 : A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday convicted Mumbai blast mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed in two terror-financing cases. Saeed has been convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act Section 11-F(2) - pertaining to membership, support and meetings relating to a proscribed organisation - and 11-N (punishment under Sections 11-H [fund raising] to 11-K [money laundering]), reported Dawn. ATC judge Arshad Hussain Bhatta announced the verdict. He has been sentenced to prison for five and a half years and a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. The sentences in both the cases will run concurrently. The court also granted him the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure (reduction of period of sentence of imprisonment). The court directed the authorities to keep Saeed in custody until further orders. The cases were filed by the Counter-Terrorism Department's (CTD) Lahore and Gujranwala chapters. The case filed by the CTD's Gujranwala chapter was initially being heard in a Gujranwala ATC but was shifted to Lahore on the directions of the Lahore High Court. Residents of Baghdad rushed to have snowball fights or take photographs Tuesday as the Iraqi capital woke carpeted in white by only its second snowfall in a century. The last recorded snowfall in the city was in 2008, but it was a quick and mostly slushy affair -- and prior to that, it had been a century since Baghdad saw any flakes. Iraqis young and old said it was the first time they had ever seen snow falling in Baghdad. The city's iconic palm trees were daintily outlined in white, and the tarpaulins of the long-running anti-government protest camp in Tahrir Square in the city centre were sprinkled with snow. People on their way to work stopped their cars to snap pictures or break out into impromptu snowball fights. "Snowfall may continue until Wednesday given the very cold weather," said Amer al-Jaberi, media head of the Iraqi Meteorological Centre. "This cold wave came from Europe," he told AFP. The people of Baghdad are more used to heat than cold. The highest temperature recorded in the capital was a searing 51 degrees Celsius (124 degrees Fahrenheit), a record it has neared several times in recent years. South of the capital, snow also carpeted the Shiite holy city of Karbala, which draws pilgrims from round the world to its famed shrines, the golden-domed mausoleums of Abbas and Imam Hussein. Snowfall is more common in northern Iraq, where snow covered the war-battered city of Mosul, but in the centre and south there is rarely enough precipitation. Iraq has been hit by a succession of extreme weather events in recent years. In 2018, chronic water shortages sparked a health crisis in the centre and south but the following year, heavy rains caused deadly flooding and heavy damage to homes and crops. Blistering temperatures then hit the north triggering wild fires and scorching crops. Experts say Iraq lacks the funding or infrastructure to cope with climate change and the desertification of once productive land. China on Wednesday welcomed the support extended by the BRICS countries in its efforts to combat the deadly coronavirus epidemic that has brought the country to a virtual standstill, describing it as an epitome of the support Beijing has received from the international community. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak has gone up to 1,113 with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of infection jumped to 44,653, health officials said on Wednesday. Russia, the current chairman of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) on Wednesday issued a statement extending support of the BRICS group to the firm commitment and decisive efforts of the Chinese government to combat the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic. "The BRICS countries are ready to cooperate closely with China and call for the international community to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the World Health Organisation in order to prevent, protect and control regional and global public health safety, providing a coordinated public health response to the epidemic outbreak," state-run Xinhua agency quoted a statement from BRICS Chairman Russia as saying. "The BRICS countries commit to work together in a spirit of responsibility, solidarity and cooperation to bring this outbreak under control as fast as possible. They underline the importance of avoiding discrimination, stigma and overreaction while responding to the outbreak," it said. In the statement, Russia also said that they support strengthening of scientific research cooperation on infectious diseases that pose threat to public health," it added. China welcomed the move, saying the statement delivers positive and constructive messages. "They are also important partners for China. This statement delivers positive and constructive messages, voices support for China's efforts and calls for greater international cooperation in safeguarding public health security," Geng Shuang, the spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, said in an online media briefing here. "At this critical stage, the statement demonstrates the BRICS spirit of helping each other during difficult times. It is also an epitome of the support China has received from the international community. We highly appreciate it," he said. "We will continue to work with the international community including the BRICS countries to combat the epidemic and safeguard regional and global public health security," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Million Heartsexternal icon a national initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in five years is now congratulating hospitals and health systems that excel in preventing cardiovascular events through the new Million Hearts Hospitals & Health Systems Recognition Program. The Million Hearts Hospital & Health System Recognition Program acknowledges institutions working to systematically improve the cardiovascular health of the population and communities they serve through the priority areas of: 1) Keeping People Healthy, 2) Optimizing Care, 3) Improving Outcomes for Priority Populations, and 4) Innovating for Health. The program also creates new opportunities to promote innovative approaches to tackle the leading causes of heart disease and stroke. The Million Hearts Hospital & Health System Recognition Program is an on-ramp for hospitals to get involved in Million Hearts and to be appreciated for the work they are doing. It also enables participants to identify new areas and ways in which they can prevent cardiovascular events. Some 1.6 million people in the U.S.external icon have a heart attack or stroke each year. High-performing hospitals and health systems can have lifesaving impact preventing heart attacks and stroke. Through the Million Hearts Initiative, we aim to highlight these hospitals and health systems commitment to prevention as we work together to inspire even greater innovation and achievement, said Laurence Sperling, M.D., executive director of Million Hearts. The Million Hearts Hospitals & Health System Recognition program is now open. Applications received by March 31, 2020, will be among the first to be considered and to be awarded this designation. Eligible applicants range from health systems with multiple hospitals, hospitals with and without ambulatory medical practices, and medical practices not affiliated with hospitals. Applicants can apply onlineexternal icon on a quarterly basis. In addition to reviewing the information submitted in support of selected strategies, applicants must attest to being free from sanctions and current investigations for serious institutional misconduct or a record of serious infractions within the last three years. All eligible hospitals and health systems are encouraged to apply. Multiple designees may be selected. ### About Million Hearts Million Hearts 2022 is a national initiative co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes within 5 years. It focuses on a small set of priorities selected for their ability to reduce heart disease, stroke, and related conditions. CDCs Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention provides leadership and support for the Million Hearts initiative, which began in 2012. The agency collaborates extensively with CMS, sets priorities, and leads the communications, partnership development, research, translation, and evaluation efforts for the initiative. Published on 2020/02/11 | Source Gyeonggi-do Pocheon, Chunhye's Natural scenery and tourist attractions are in the limelight as a background for dramas. Advertisement SBS drama "Dr. Romantic 2" and tvN's "Crash Landing on You" were recently all filmed in Pocheon. The scene where Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) and Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) find out they once met on the bridge of Sigriswil in Switzerland before they met in North Korea, was taken in the Hantan River Sky Bridge in Pocheon. The Pocheon Hantan River Sky Bridge is a 200-meter-long, wobbly walk-only bridge that opened in May 2018, and the valley can be seen from a height of 50 meters. The exterior of Doldam Hospital, the backdrop of the SBS drama "Dr. Romantic 2" is actually a former family hotel located in Sanjung Lake in Pocheon. The beautiful sceneries of Lake Jungsan and Mt. Myungsung were often shown to enhance its image. Currently, the Sanjung Family Hotel is not under operation, but the number of tourists wanting to become Teacher Kim (Han Suk-kyu) from the drama and leave memories behind against the backdrop of Doldam Hospital is increasing. "Although there is only a small number of tourists this low season, the increase in the number of tourists visiting the filming locations of the dramas has helped revitalize the local economy", a city official said. "This year, we will make efforts to attract popular dramas to become the Mecca of hallyu tourist spots". ___________ "Dr. Romantic 2" is directed by Lee Gil-bok, Yoo In-sik, written by Kang Eun-kyeong, and features Han Suk-kyu, Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung, Kim Joo-hun, Shin Dong-wook, Yoon Na-moo. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2020/01/06~Now airing, Mon, Tue 22:00 on SBS. ___________ "Crash Landing on You" is directed by Lee Jeong-hyo, written by Park Ji-eun, and features Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun, Kim Sun-young, Kim Jung-nan. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2019/12/14~Now airing, Sat, Sun 21:00 on tvN. The state executive meeting of the Maharashtra BJP will be held at Nerul in Navi Mumbai on February 16. The one-day convention will also select the new state unit president of the saffron party, sources said on Wednesday. Senior BJP leader and former Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil is the incumbent president of the state BJP. Newly-appointed BJP national president J P Nadda will address the conclave, sources added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Bloomberg Opinion) -- A somber feeling is spreading among Germanys elites, as the long-term implications of Brexit sink in. Of the European Unions 27 member states, Ireland obviously has the most to fear from the U.K.s departure. But Germany may be second. Thats because Brexit changes not only the remaining EU but also Germanys role within it and in ways the Germans have for half a century been trying to avoid. European integration, starting in the 1950s, was for West Germany a way of atoning for its own nationalist and belligerent past. Its citizens were eager to subsume part of their identity in a post-nationalist, rules-based, non-militarist and largely mercantile entity, in return for being accepted again by their neighbors. Occupied by three of the Allied Powers, they didnt have full national sovereignty, so they didnt worry about ceding more of it to Brussels. To move this European project forward, the Germans relied on different kinds of support from the Allies. To build the structures that later became the EU, they needed France. The French, however, especially under President Charles de Gaulle, saw Europe differently: as reconciliation with Germany, yes, but also as a new vector to project French power, the better to keep the mightier Anglo-Saxons at bay. Those Anglo-Saxons were of course the U.S. and the U.K., the other two powers the West Germans needed. The U.S. protected them against the Soviets, and kept international order generally. And the Brits were basically a smaller, more familiar and European version of the Americans, and thus a welcome counterweight against the French. In fact, German Francophilia was always less a phenomenon than a policy, imposed top-down; by contrast, German Anglophilia spread from the bottom up (even if it wasnt often reciprocated). It helped that the Brits after the war competently ran and rebuilt northwestern Germany the ancestral homelands, as Germans noted tongue-in-cheek, of the Anglo-Saxons and the Hanoverian kings of England. Once the Beatles showed up in Hamburg, it was basically love all the way. Story continues The West Germans also had political motivations for wanting to hug the U.K. inside the European club, against the stubborn resistance of de Gaulle. Germany and France have always had clashing economic traditions. The French one, called dirigisme, is based on state intervention and looks askance at free markets and free trade. The German one, called ordoliberalism, is based on restricting the state to narrow functions (such as antitrust) and otherwise leaving markets and trade pretty free. The Germans thus saw the Brits, like the Dutch, as more naturally aligned in values than the French. Having the U.K. in the club meant that the north could gang up in the Council of Ministers (the body in Brussels where member states decide policy). And it did. A fluid Nordic bloc has usually had enough votes to veto southern ideas it didnt like, even as the European club expanded its membership. Projects driven primarily by the Brits and Germans include the single market, rigorous competition policy and liberal trade deals. Projects they successfully prevented (at least until now) include a European industrial policy, which tends to be French code for coddling national champions. Brexit means that the center of gravity in the EU has now shifted southeast, in the European Parliament but above all in the Council. With the U.K., the north (defined as Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the Netherlands) had a blocking minority of 36.8%. Without the U.K., that share has dropped to 27.8%, too small for a veto. Even when Austria and the Baltics are included, the north can now be overruled. Other fault lines crisscross this political geography that are just as treacherous for Germany. They run not only between north and south but also between west and east. For example, the Visegrad four (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) have joined to reject the EUs migrant policy, which they see as dictated by Germany after the refugee crisis of 2015, and theyve rallied support from Germanys traditional partners, such as Austria. Depending on the issue, other alliances are constantly taking shape, often aimed against the largest member state, Germany. Geographically and politically, Germany thus finds itself, once again, squeezed in the uncomfortable middle. Historically, this tension is known the German Question and has repeatedly led to troubles. Owing to its awkward scale, as one former West German chancellor put it, Germany was always either too weak (in the 17th and 18th centuries) or too strong (in the late 19th and early 20th) for the continent to be stable. Other powers either ganged up against it or were dominated by it. As the writer Thomas Mann memorably put it, the continent is forever condemned to choosing between a German Europe or a European Germany. Having the U.K. in the EU mitigated that dilemma. Britain was weighty enough economically, demographically, militarily to balance Germany, France and the continent. And nobody was happier about being balanced than the Germans, for the last thing they want is to be forced to lead, knowing that this will invariably rekindle old resentments against them. Brexit means that balance is gone again. The German Question is back. The Brits shouldnt have been surprised that Germany wasnt more forthcoming during Brexit negotiations; for Germans, the cohesion of the EU, and the relationship with France, simply takes precedence. Nonetheless, many Germans have regrets. Some are pushing for a German-British Friendship Treaty to complement whatever deal the EU and the U.K. come up with. Unspoken is an almost primal plea: Dear Brits, please dont leave us continentals to ourselves. To contact the author of this story: Andreas Kluth at akluth1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Boxell at jboxell@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andreas Kluth is a member of Bloomberg's editorial board. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist. 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. The Israeli military regularly strikes sites in Gaza using out-of-date intelligence that can be well over a year old, bombing blind with no real-time check for civilians causing unnecessary deaths, Air Force personnel have revealed. Instead, Israeli air force members told The Independent serious structural problems and a culture of destroy, destroy, destroy rewards military personnel for identifying fresh targets on the 25-mile long strip rather than checking the validity of thousands already in the database, known as the bank. If those targets run out, as happened during longer campaigns like the 2014 war with Gaza, they said the air force was told to simply keep dropping bombs. The servicemen said while moving targets, such as militant commanders, are watched by aircraft prior to the strikes, static ones are usually not. Their allegations cast doubt on statements by the Israeli military (the IDF) that it does everything it can to prevent unnecessary killings in Gaza, a besieged strip home to two million people and one of the most densely populated places on earth. Another worry concerns the calculation of permitted civilian casualties or so-called collateral damage in major military operations, like 2014s Protective Edge. Over 1,400 Palestinian civilians and six civilians on the Israeli side were killed during the 51-day war, according to the United Nations. Gaza airstrike: 'We had no warning' The servicemen said if the threat level against the Israeli military increases in one part of Gaza, and the operational mode and accepted level of collateral damage is raised, that is applied to the entirety of the Strip, regardless of the intensity of the threat in other areas, raising questions about proportionality. Rights groups warn these practices are driving up civilian death tolls and in specific instances may violate international law. The Israeli army declined to comment on the specific allegations but told The Independent: The army has a detailed organisational structure in which decisions are made. On its website, it outlines how it mitigates casualties. The IDF has repeatedly in the past denied allegations it has committed illegal strikes. Formally there is a use by date for each target after which time two new sources of intel have to be found to re-incriminate it. But there are too many targets to check in comparison to the number of researchers, said one Air Force intelligence personnel (A), whose identity has been concealed for security reasons. A said targets have routinely not been checked for sometimes more than a year. Expired targets are not necessarily the priority. Usually, researchers are assigned projects to find new targets. It is a hassle, they prefer to discover something new, A added. And so, [in times of conflict] targets are selected from the bank regardless of whether they are up-to-date. This is a structural problem. The same air force intelligence member said that at a systematic level, masses of targets are being bombed without visual check as there are not enough drones. The atmosphere is not encouraging people to take [verification of targets] seriously. There is less discipline. It is a price that civilians pay, A added. A second member of the air force (B), told The Independent this becomes a major issue during longer operations, like 2014 when for a lack of targets, the orders were to simply keep dropping bombs anywhere in order to make noise. There was a lot of focus on, I can say with certainty, making noise. Those were the words that were said too, to make noise, to create a sense of fear on the other side, a sense that [the conflict] was continuing, B added. These allegations were corroborated by other testimonies from personnel collected by Israeli organisation Breaking the Silence (BtS)and handed to The Independent. Israeli advocacy groups say this shatters international assumptions that Israel, which has one of the most advanced and well-equipped militaries in the world, is engaged in clean warfare in Gaza that aims to mitigate casualties. BtS, a rights group made up of Israeli veterans, is so concerned about major structural problems that it has called for an external probe saying that most of the civilians killed in Gaza were killed according to protocol. The common person thinks we have precise weapons, with precise intelligence led by technology that is all clean, but a dive into this exposes that this is a complete misunderstanding of what is going on, said Yehuda Shaul, BTSs founder. We believe the problem in Gaza is systematic. Its the orders, its the entire structure of the planning and execution of the operation rather than one soldier, one event, one unit. We would like to see an external Israeli civilian investigation into the rules of engagement and protocol of the IDF in Gaza. Yael Stein, research director for Israeli rights group BTselem, said the Israeli armys insistence on only conducting internal reviews is part of a whitewashing mechanism to reduce scrutiny from outside. There are never any real investigations, they never investigate policy. It is Israel putting a lot of effort into creating a facade that they are investigating to make the world think that they are being thorough, she said. We believe the problem in Gaza is systematic. Its the orders, the entire structure of planning rather than one soldier, one unit Yehuda Shaul, Breaking the Silence The revelations come amid mounting pressure on Israel to change its conduct in Gaza, including a possible investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Gaza has been crippled by a 13-year Israeli and Egyptian blockade first imposed after militant group Hamas violently seized control of the coastal enclave in 2007. Israel and several other countries consider Hamas a terrorist group and say the blockade is needed to keep the group from arming. The Israeli military and militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008. The ICCs top prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced in December she wants to open a probe into war crimes committed by all sides in the Palestinian Territories since the start of the 2014 war. The Israeli military, already accused by UN experts of committing possible war crimes in the Strip, vehemently denies that it has violated international law and says it does not recognise the courts jurisdiction. Hamas is also in the ICCs and UNs crosshairs for its conduct, including indiscriminately firing at Israeli civilians. Among the major events likely to be examined will be the cross-border flare-ups over the last year and a half which have seen the armed wings of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fire hundreds of rockets at southern Israel and the Israeli army conduct hundreds of bombings within the Strip. Attack, Attack, Make Noise Human Rights Watch said last week that it believed that during the last major escalation in November, at least two Israeli strikes that killed 11 civilians were likely unlawful. During a 14 November bombing that nearly wiped out an entire Palestinian family, including five children all under the age of 14, HRW found that the Israeli military failed in their legal obligation to carefully assess the nature of their target, to check for civilians and to ensure that they attack only combatants and military objectives. Left-leaning Israeli daily Haaretz cited defence officials saying that in this strike, which killed nine people in total, the military had again used outdated intelligence and had not conducted a prior inspection of civilian presence at the site. Gerry Simpson, HRWs associate crisis and conflict director, said consequently both the Israeli strikes and Palestinian rocket fire highlights the need for ICC scrutiny. The Israeli army told The Independent it thought HRWs report was factually unfounded, deficient and biased and jumps to baseless legal conclusions. The army did not directly address Haaretzs claims. The target was corrugated iron structures in a central Gaza agricultural district, that were home to the two families of brothers Rasmi, 45, and Mohammed Abu Malhous, 40, according to relatives and neighbours. Just past midnight on 14 November three air-dropped munitions pounded the area as approximately 20 members of the family were sleeping, eviscerating the homes. Nine people, including Rasmi, Mohamed, their wives and five children were killed, the youngest aged just one year old. The remaining members of the extended family said one adult and nine children were also injured, some of whom were interviewed by The Independent. Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Show all 9 1 /9 Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Gaza strike 'We had no warning' One of the children injured in the 14 November airstrike in Gaza Bel Trew Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Family members compare a photo the Israeli army tweeted of the alleged target and a photo of Ramsi who was killed in the strike Bel Trew Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Relatives show a photo of Mohamed who they say looks nothing like the PIJ commander named as the target of the strike Bel Trew Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Relatives of the Abu Malhous family, who lost nine family members in an Israeli airstrike, search through the remains to find belongings in Gaza Bel Trew Gaza strike 'We had no warning' A pair of children's jeans, is one of the few items that survived an Israeli airstrike on two homes in Deir al-Balah central Gaza Bel Trew Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Satellite imagery shows before and after the strike which destroyed the homes of Rasmi and Mohamed Abu Malhous, that the IDF said was a military compound Imagery Planet Labs 2020 Gaza strike 'We had no warning' Satellite imagery shows the structures were consistently in place since at least 2008, supporting the family's claims they had been living there for over a decade Google Earth. Gaza strike 'We had no warning' The children who survived the strike are traumatised, family members said Bel Trew Gaza strike 'We had no warning' A family member looks at the remains of what were the homes of Rasmi and Mohamed Abu Malhous, killed alongside their wives and children in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Bel Trew Little is left of the structures: in their place are three yawning craters. The area is flanked by open agricultural fields and just a few hundred metres away is a sprawling UN compound. The Israeli militarys Arabic spokesman at first claimed the strike had successfully killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander he named as Rasmi Abu Malhous, but the army revised its statement, later claiming it had hit a military compound. After conducting an internal review, the army said that it had miscategorised the shacks, adding they should have been identified as a civilian complex with some militant activity but gave no further information. However, the military appeared to cycle back when speaking to The Independent this week, saying the target was identified as a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military compound used to conduct military activity. The statement did not elaborate on the kind of activity. The army said it was first designated in June 2109 in accordance with the relevant IDF intelligence doctrine and claimed it had been vetted several times lastly just days prior to its attack. During the planning and execution of the strike, the IDF expected that no civilians would be harmed by the strike, the statement read. In practice, as was later realised, although military activity indeed was conducted in the compound, it was a not closed off [sic] and used solely for military activity Civilians were, unfortunately, also present during the strike, it added. During the planning and execution of the strike, the IDF expected that no civilians would be harmed Israeli military statement The Independents own investigation into the strike, including interviewing the family and neighbours, visiting the bomb site and examining satellite imagery of the area dating back to 2008, found evidence that appears to counter many of the claims about the military nature of the target. The Independent also found that the bombing had not only killed nine civilians but, according to the Gaza Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, it took out a nearby well civilian infrastructure prompting further questions over the proportionality, and so legality, of the strike. None of the half dozen family members, including injured children The Independent interviewed individually, recognised the photo of the alleged PIJ commander that was originally identified as the target by the IDFs Arabic spokesman. Neighbours and relatives maintained that the family had been there since at least 2007: satellite imagery provided by HRW of the site in 2008, 2014, 2016 and immediately prior to the attack in 2019 that was analysed by The Independent appears to corroborate this. There is nothing obvious above ground in the imagery to suggest it is a military compound. Satellite imagery shows the structures were consistently in place since at least 2008, supporting the familys claims they had been living there for over a decade (IGoogle Earth) (Google Earth.) Gaza strike: why didnt they see the children? Relatives said Rasmi was a retired police officer in the Palestinian Authority (run by Fatah, a rival to Hamas and PIJ) and Mohamed was a goat-herder, claiming there was no military activity at the site. One member of the community at the time of the strike told The Independent they believed one of the brothers may have been a member of the PIJ. However, neither the PIJ nor the Israeli authorities have publicly identified either of them as members of group or its armed wing. The PIJ regularly identifies its martyrs. We had no warning, no one informed us the place would be hit even though there were so many children inside. It just happened all of a sudden, the house, the ground was shaking, said Salmiya, 70, Rasmis mother who lives a few hundred metres away. There is no military site there, or a weapons store, there isnt even a flour store. There were no fighters. If it was a weapon store, we would have seen more explosions or any signs or effects from it, said Hamdan Abu Malhous, Rasmi and Mohameds cousin. Mr Abu Malhous queried how, if the Israeli military had checked the target in the days prior to the attack, they did not see the children. The whole family has lived there since the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza [in 2005], including children who are not hidden. They were clearly there playing by the home, in the street in the area, from sunrise until sunset, he said. The Israelis use drones day and night. Their machines and drones are so sophisticated they can photograph and identify an ant. How did they not see them? Family members compare a photo the Israeli army tweeted of the alleged target and a photo of Ramsi (Bel Trew) There are not enough drones While the air force personnel The Independent spoke to were not involved in this particular strike they said it was indicative of a wider problem and further evidence that the use of old or incomplete intelligence during bombing campaigns was systemic. The airmen painted a picture of a detailed official procedure to select and verify targets that is undermined by serious structural problems. They said this was compounded by the complexity of operating in Gaza, a densely populated territory where irregular construction occurs frequently, and military infrastructure is often co-located with civilian housing. The servicemen said that protocol dictates a timeframe for each type of target. For example, a large Hamas base would not necessarily have to be checked for a year since it is not likely to change. But a less permanent structure like the huts in the Gaza strike should have been, according to protocol, checked every few months for civilian presence. The selection of targets takes place in a factory, which for high-value targets is manned from the Israeli military headquarters: the Kirya in Tel Aviv. Personnel member A said according to military protocol, researchers need two independent types of intelligence that point to a possible target. Once the target is approved by senior officers it is transferred to operational intelligence, where a tactical team including weapons experts plan the strike in advance. Detailed photo presentations are usually pieced together to assist the pilots. There is also a system which automatically flags planned targets that are too close to sensitive buildings such as hospitals and mosques. In the planning phase, the unit consults lawyers who are supposed to provide legal advice on sensitive targets and the acceptable level of collateral damage in line with international law. A pair of childrens jeans is one of the few items that survived the airstrike (Bel Trew) But personnel A said the line of questioning is the wrong way around and so most targets are green-lighted. The lawyers will only ask the team if they think the strike would be proportionate which is usually answered in the affirmative rather than investigating the details of how the soldiers came to that conclusion. If the target passes these rounds, it is banked, joining thousands of other targets ready for an escalation or war. In theory, researchers are expected to constantly loop back through their targets, checking whether there have been any new developments that may heighten the threat to civilians. In practice, however, once targets are banked, they are rarely removed from the system, even if there have been serious changes on the ground or a significant period of time has passed. Research teams are also under pressure to, and rewarded for, creating new targets. This means targets are being attacked without a serious intelligence evaluation beforehand, personnel A said. They do not go back to check unless it is a time-sensitive target [like a targeted killing], he added. Targets are being attacked without a serious intelligence evaluation beforehand Israeli air force intelligence personnel Personnel B agreed, saying particularly during the 2014 war most of the air force targets that were attacked werent cleaned meaning when the military has confirmed no uninvolved civilians are present at the site of the bombing target prior to the strike. There was no capacity. I dont know if there was a will, but for sure there was no capacity We didnt look at every target, B said. The problem lay in the number of drones. Israel has an extensive number of unmanned aircraft that hover over Gaza both during and outside of conflict situations however personnel B said they are not just used by the air force but by all of Israels security and intelligence arms and are often not available ahead of strikes. There isnt enough [of them], he continued. Raining bombs These problems are heightened during periods of heavy bombardments, like the 2014 war when personnel were ordered to make it rain bombs, B said. The Gaza Strip is a small place, and this target bank runs out pretty quickly, B added. Pretty quickly we kind of ran out of exactly what to attack. He said it got to the point in 2014 where people within the air force were even questioning why the military campaign was still going on. Everyones talking about what were doing here because the bank was finished, B continued. There was a sense we got from above, from the IDF command, that we needed to: attack, attack, make noise. We ran out of exactly what to attack in Gaza. [But] there was a sense from IDF command that we needed to: attack, attack, make noise Israeli air force serviceman Internal reviews are a cover-up During the longer operations (like 2014) there are different operational modes: how many civilians can be killed or injured per target, and what damage is permitted to infrastructure and buildings around it, both said. Personnel A said, however, these phases are a blanket statement for the entire operation irrelevant to the actual risk to troops in specific areas. Instead, everything is elevated across Gaza, raising questions about proportionality. The military can move up a phase, allowing more civilian casualties, if they feel the fire from the Palestinians is more intense but also if the Palestinian attacks are seriously damaging morale in Israel or even if the army believes international opinion would permit it, the personnel claimed. This is corroborated by several other testimonies gathered by Breaking the Silence and shared with The Independent. BTSs Mr Shaul said this protocol had to be reviewed. The army moves to a higher operational mode, elevating collateral damage levels in one part of Gaza, meaning more people will die on the other side of the strip. Does that sound legitimate? He said this is why the armys internal reviews, like the most recent one into the 14 November strike, are a cover-up. They are side-tracking us from the real problem which are the rules itself. The IDFs investigations look into the violations of norms and rules and I am saying the norms and rules are the problem. Most of the targeted civilians in Gaza were killed according to protocol. Relatives of the Abu Malhous family search through the remains to find belongings (Bel Trew) There is not way you can attack Gaza without killing a lot of people The other issue is the difficulty of trying to operate in the densely populated territory. Many military targets in Gaza are co-located with civilian infrastructure due to the nature of the terrain and how Hamas and other militant groups operate in the Strip. The Israeli military has repeatedly accused both organisations of using human shields. Personnel A said, in theory, there are detailed protocols to work out how many people may be hurt or killed by a strike, including completely scientific statistical models that calculate damage. But that does not apply to the haphazard landscape of Gaza, A continued. There is no way to accurately assess damage in Gaza. Any assessment is a bad assessment. There is no mathematical model for Gaza, it is too crowded to model, the serviceman said. There is no way to accurately assess damage in Gaza. Any assessment is a bad assessment Air force intelligence personnel A added that since you cannot do serious intelligence work on a single building its impossible for thousands of targets. Personnel B agreed, saying it is hard to operate in one of the most crowded neighbourhoods in the world. This was particularly acute during the 2014 Gaza war when under-pressure commanders ended up green-lighting the phases of the war which permitted the highest levels of collateral damage. [There is] no way you can attack without killing a lot of people, no way, never, you cant. Unless everyone gets out of there, B said. In the end, the Strip is a finite area. The population has to move somehow. They cant all disappear. So sometimes, you let loose. Thats the commanders spirit. He says to the cell commanders: Guys, its up to you, the highest collateral damage rate, okay. Ms. Stein said that rather than systemic flaws in the protocol being the main problem, the overarching message from the Israeli government is that Palestinians lives do not matter. Its a matter of political will. As long as they continue to see Palestinians lives as irrelevant and something you can dispense of very easily, I dont think it will change, she said. Its a matter of political will. As long as they continue to see Palestinians lives as irrelevant.. I dont think it will change Yael Stein, BTselem There were little children killed [in the 14 November strike] and everyone was saying it was legal. In the end who cares? Children were killed. Back in Gaza, the relatives of the November strike victims are left picking their way through the few remains of the homes for belongings, trying to make sense of what happened. The grandparents said the children who survived, some of them with severe injuries, are suffering from trauma and wake up screaming in the night. We had to dig the children out when it first happened. There is just nothing left of the home, it is like the earth swallowed them up, said Awad Abu Mismeh, 20, Rasmis son. Why use three massive bombs to take out two families, some goats and a few huts. We want to know why? (Natural News) On Monday in this ANP story titled Bioweapons Expert Warns ANP: The Nazi Death Science Biological Warfare Work Going On In America MUST Be Stopped! This Is What YOU Can Do To Help Protect America In A Worst Case Scenario, Coronavirus Could Collapse Americas Heathcare System we reported that wed be taking a look at some alternatives to some of the major medications that Americans use with coronavirus a threat to the worlds pharmaceutical supply chain and China supplying the majority of drugs in America so well be doing that in this story as well as taking a look at some very concerning news out in the last few days. (Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) While the mainstream media and others have called this coronavirus possibly being a bioweapon a conspiracy theory, time will certainly tell. With a new warning from an expert that coronavirus could eventually infect 60% of the worlds population another sign of just how far this outbreak could spread, we get more proof from this story over at Focus Taiwan that were really only seeing the tip of the iceberg in the number of coronavirus deaths and just how lethal this virus really is from medical experts whove been studying the outbreak there. And the following paragraphs from their story both confirm what we had reported in this January 30th ANP story titled Weathering The Coming Storm: How To Overcome Our Own Bodies Immune Systems Attempts To Kill Us Understanding The Deadly Cytokine Storm as well as add a chilling new dimension to reports of people with the disease being cured; it often comes back with a frightening vengeance! From Focus Taiwan.: Experts have blamed a form of systemic inflammatory response syndrome called cytokine storm for killing some novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected patients who were not very sick in the early stage of infection but eventually died of multiple organ failure, according to Chinese media reports. The epidemic, which started mid-December in Wuhan, in Chinas Hubei Province, had claimed more than 800 lives in China as of Feb. 8, including Li Wenliang (???), a 34-year-old ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital who tried to issue the first warning about the deadly coronavirus outbreak late last year but was silenced by the Chinese authorities. Li was confirmed Feb. 1 to have been infected after treating a patient who later tested positive for coronavirus. He died on Friday. While most victims have been middle-aged, elderly or suffering from chronic disease according to official Chinese data, Lis death, as well as that of a 39-year-old man in Hong Kong, drew media attention as the epidemic has attacked more than 37,000 people in 28 countries around the world. According to Chinese media reports, Zhong Ming (??), a physician at the department of critical care medicine of Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai, warned that in some novel coronavirus cases, patients who developed only moderate symptoms at the onset of the disease later fell seriously ill and died of multiple organ failure. He termed the condition a storm of inflammations And with this story over at the Guardian reporting that a super spreader of the virus had unknowingly infected at least 11 others in 3 different countries, a perfect example of how quickly this disease can spread without people even knowing they had it, how many more such super spreaders are now on the loose across the world with even the Associated Press reporting millions had escaped Wuhan before the quarantine was launched? As mentioned previously above, this new story over at the Guardian is absolutely mind-blowing with a coronavirus expert warning that 60% of the worlds population could eventually be infected by the virus, hinting at something not only straight out of our worst nightmares but helping us to understand why the US Department of Defense is now setting up mass quarantine camps across the US as Mac Slavo reports in this new story over at SHTFPlan. It appears that things are about to get real. via GIPHY Once again reminding us of the movie 12 Monkeys where one person intentionally flew with a killer virus to numerous cities to infect and eventually kill off most of the worlds population with a novel virus, just imagine how much damage might be caused all across the planet with over a million people from Wuhan on the loose, with authorities having no idea where they have gone! Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com But he called for the rain forests and its indigenous people to be protected The Pope instead urged them to 'pray' for more priests and send missionaries Pope Francis has declined to approve the ordination of married men to address the priest shortage in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI. In an eagerly-awaited document, Francis did not even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons. He instead urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region, where the faithful living in remote communities can go months or even years without mass. Francis' dodging of the issue disappointed progressives, who had hoped he would at the very least put it to further study. Pope Francis did not even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons Retired Pope Benedict (pictured right with Pope Francis last month) emphasised his support for the continuation of celibacy in the priesthood in a recent book And it relieved conservatives who have used the debate over priestly celibacy to heighten opposition to the pope, whom some have accused of heresy. The document, Beloved Amazon, is instead a love letter to the Amazonian rain forest and its indigenous peoples, penned by history's first Latin American pope. Francis has long been concerned about the violent exploitation of the Amazon's land, its crucial importance to the global ecosystem and the injustices committed against its peoples. He addressed the document to all peoples of the world 'to help awaken their affection and concern for that land which is also ours and to invite them to value it and acknowledge it as a sacred mystery'. 'Beloved Amazon' is in many ways a synthesised and focused version of Francis' 2015 landmark environmental encyclical, Praised Be, in which he blasted wealthy countries and multinational corporations for destroying the world's natural resources and impoverishing the poor for their own profit. Francis said he has four dreams for the Amazon - that the rights of the poor are respected, that their cultural riches are celebrated, that the Amazon's natural beauty and life are preserved, and that its Christian communities show Amazonian features. Francis had convened bishops from the Amazon's nine countries for a three-week meeting in October to debate the ways the church can help preserve the delicate ecosystem from global warming and better minister to the region's people, many of whom live in isolated communities or in poverty in cities. The Argentinian Jesuit has long been sensitive to the plight of the Amazon, where Protestant and Pentecostal churches are wooing away Catholic souls in the absence of vibrant Catholic communities where the Eucharist can be regularly celebrated. Progressives were disappointed that Francis did not approve married priests or female deacons. Pictured: Pope Francis, flanked by monsignor Leonardo Sapienza and Archbishop of Westminster cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, at his weekly audience at the Vatican today In their final document at the end of the October synod, the majority of bishops called for the establishment of criteria so that 'respected' married men in their communities who have already served as permanent deacons be ordained as priests. In addition, the bishops called for the Vatican to reopen a study commission on ordaining women as deacons, a type of ministry in the church that allows for preaching, celebrating weddings and baptisms, but not consecrating the Eucharist. Francis had created such a commission in 2016 at the insistence of religious sisters who want more say and roles in church governance and ministry, but the group ended its work without reaching consensus. Francis did not mention either proposal in Beloved Amazon and didn't cite the synod's final document in his text or in a single footnote. Pope Francis urged Amazonian bishops to 'pray' for more priests in their region. Pictured: The Pope greeting worshipers today during the weekly general audience at the Vatican Amazonian bishops have called for married men to become priests as there is a major shortage in the region. Pictured: The Vatican's St Peter's Square But he did say in his introduction that he wanted to 'officially present' the synod's work and urged the faithful to read it in full, suggesting that he at least valued the input. Francis did echo many of the synod's recommendations, calling for greater lay participation in the life of the church and saying the training of priests in the Amazon must be overhauled so they are more able to minister to indigenous peoples. He said 'every effort should be made' to give the faithful access to the Eucharist. 'This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region,' he wrote. Francis dismissed suggestions that ordaining women to any ministry would serve them or the church. While agreeing that women should have greater decision-making and governance roles, Francis argued that they must find 'other forms of service and charisms that are proper to women'. The Catholic Church retains the priesthood for men, arguing that Christ and his apostles were male. While Eastern rite branches have married priests, and Anglican and Protestant priest converts can be married, the Roman rite church has had a tradition of priestly celibacy since the 11th century, imposed in part for financial reasons to ensure that priests' assets pass to the church, not to heirs. In the weeks leading up to the document's release, the question of a celibate priesthood made headlines after the publication of a book penned by the retired pope, Benedict, and a conservative Vatican official, Cardinal Robert Sarah, reaffirmed the 'necessity' of a celibate priesthood. Benedict's participation in the book sparked controversy, since it appeared the retired pope was trying to influence the thinking of the current one, despite his promises to remain 'hidden from the world' when he resigned seven years ago. Francis dodged the issue altogether, dedicating instead the entire first half of the document to the 'injustice and crime' committed against the Amazonian peoples and its environment by local governments and foreign corporate interests, illegal mining and extraction industries. 'We cannot allow globalisation to become a new version of colonialism,' he wrote. He said the church in the Amazon must have social justice at the forefront of its spirituality, saying ministry that focuses excessively on discipline and rules will turn people away when in fact they need 'understanding, comfort and acceptance'. The traditionalist blog Rorate Caeli, which has been highly critical of Francis, said that by closing the door to a married priesthood and female deacons, the document was 'the best possible document we could have hoped for in the current pontificate and in the current age'. Clare Dixon, Latin America chief for the British Catholic aid agency Cafod, focused on the environmental good it might do in the global debate about how to fight climate change. 'But Francis is also imploring us to listen to the wisdom of the people of the Amazon, insisting that we learn from the way they live with the environment rather than in competition with it,' she said. Francis called for the church to incorporate indigenous traditions and cultures into its ministry, including song and dance, myth and festivals, and urged patience when confronted with apparently pagan practices and symbols. It was a reference to the controversy that punctuated the synod over the appearance in the Vatican of wooden statues of a pregnant woman that critics said were pagan idols. At one point, a conservative activist stole the statues from a Vatican-area church and threw them in the Tiber River in a videotaped stunt that galvanised traditionalist opposition to Francis and the synod itself. In his document, Francis said indigenous practices and symbols should not be written off immediately as superstition, paganism or idolatry. 'A missionary of souls will try to discover the legitimate needs and concerns that seek an outlet in at times imperfect, partial or mistaken religious expressions, and will attempt to respond to them with an inculturated spirituality,' Francis wrote. WASHINGTON The Texas Democrats competing for the partys nomination for U.S. Senate are talking about health care more than anything else, and it is one of the few issues that offers a sharp dividing line between the dozen candidates in the race. Amanda Edwards father died of cancer when she was 17. Her mother has cancer now. She gave up a safe path to a second term on Houstons City Council with health care at the top of her mind. She wants to expand the Affordable Care Act to include a government-backed insurance plan. Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, a longtime labor organizer, says she learned from the negotiating table to always start big: Shes pushing for Medicare For All, essentially doing away with private health insurance. So is Sema Hernandez, who says she learned working as an insurance agent how dirty insurance companies are. MJ Hegar, a decorated former Air Force pilot, says she knows how good government health care can be. So does Chris Bell, who was on a low-cost government insurance plan as a congressman when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Both think everyone should be able to access Medicare if they want, but consumers should still have choices in the marketplace. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Longtime state Sen. Royce West, meanwhile, has for years joined Democrats in urging Republican leaders to expand Medicaid as Texas remains the nations leader in uninsured residents. Democrats across the nation see health care as their best issue, and its no different in Texas for those challenging three-term incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a key player in the GOP's attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Cornyn has had more than two years to prepare for the inevitable attacks, and has already labeled all of their proposals as socialist takeovers of the health insurance market, as championed by Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Even we were surprised at how quickly all of our major opponents have, in some form, adopted the Warren/Sanders approach of forcing everyone out of their employee insurance into a government run plan, said Krista Piferrer, a spokeswoman for Cornyn. She said Cornyn has long supported legislation that helps the uninsured and protects those with preexisting conditions, but also sees Obamacare for the cost-prohibitive, job-killing program that it is. The Democrats are going all in. It is the No. 1 issue, said U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat who chairs House Democrats' campaign arm. I can tell you this firsthand coming from a district that Donald Trump won, I can tell you from polling in some of the toughest districts in the country, it is the No. 1 issue that people want us to address, the cost of health care. House Democrats last year passed legislation that would allow the government to negotiate lower prices for drugs in Medicare, which has gone nowhere in the Senate. Theyre already running ads about how the GOP stalled it. Trump renews call for drug price controls Democrats wont be alone in making big promises on health care through November. In his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump urged Congress to act on drug prices, saying Get a bill to my desk, and I will sign it into law without delay. Trumps comment made even as the White House threatens to veto the bill that passed the House drew shouts from Democrats in Congress who attended the speech. The president also vowed to always protect patients with pre-existing conditions, despite his administrations support for the Texas legal challenge seeking to strike down Obamacares most popular provision. Cornyn and the Republicans say they have a replacement to protect those with pre-existing conditions. Texans shouldnt have to fear being denied access to affordable health insurance because of a pre-existing condition, said Cornyn last spring as the Protect Act that he cosponsored was introduced. This legislation will give them peace of mind they can choose an insurance plan for their families that offers quality, patient-centered coverage. An analysis of the bill by the New York Times, however, found that the language in it does not clearly protect those with pre-existing conditions from higher premiums, and that patients with cancer, diabetes and HIV, for example, would have significantly less protection than they have under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats in the senate primary argue the issue matters more in Texas than anywhere else. The state has the highest uninsured rate in the nation, and over 900,000 Texans received subsidies last year through the ACAs federal marketplace. The state is one of a handful that hasnt expanded Medicaid to cover more low-income adults using federal money made available by the ACA and state efforts to expand Medicaid coverage for new mothers and children have failed. Profit off our pain, suffering and illness Texans in a recent Texas Lyceum poll listed health care as the top issue facing the nation. And polling suggests a big appetite among Texas residents for universal healthcare something many in the Democratic Senate primary are promising to push. By having a health care system where private health companies profit off our pain, suffering and illness, weve created the most expensive health care system in the world, Tzintzun Ramirez said. Im glad were having the debate were having inside the Democratic party, but what we also need to understand is private insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies are going to continue to spend hundreds of millions to continue the broken system we have. She argues universal health care would be a boon for small businesses and entrepreneurs who wouldnt have to foot the bill for health care for their employees. And she says unions many of which have members who are happy with their current coverage would be freed up from negotiating for better health coverage and could make gains on pensions and other benefits. Annie Mama Garcia, who runs a Houston-based health care-focused nonprofit, wants to build a universal healthcare system in America like the one in Spain, where her daughter was treated for a heart defect as an infant. Though Garcia lives five minutes from the Texas Medical Center, she says she still flies back to Spain annually for her daughters checkup. Mostly, Garcia said the trip is to see the same team that saved her daughters life, who she knows she can trust. But Garcia says she also knows there wont be any surprises. She knows how much the flight costs, how much an Airbnb will be. The doctors visit will be free. Financially its a better bet, she said. Most in the race wouldnt go that far. They need it now While Hegar says she was believes she had the best health care when she was in the military, she wouldnt force it on anyone. We are a nation and a state that values individual rights and freedoms, Hegar said. A lot of people are happy with their plans. I would argue they dont know how good it is on Medicare, but I can tell you this if private insurance is going to survive when people have access to Medicare theyre going to have to get better to be able to compete. Bell has a similar belief. On these issues its always a little easier to figure out your position when youve had personal experience, he said. His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during his last year in Congress. She did six months of chemotherapy treatments every two weeks. Each one cost $6,000, Bell said. She also had surgery, but he didnt remember the cost. You can just do the math on that and realize making the congressional salary at the time with over $200,000 in medical bills, that would have been - well, impossible, Bell said. Had he not had congressional insurance, he says, we probably wouldve been one of those families looking at bankruptcy. Edwards said she learned quickly how important health coverage is when her father was diagnosed with cancer when she was 10. He was able to get good care and his life expectancy doubled. Its something that touches me very directly, she said. Even though my dad had a terminal illness ... The difference of my dad dying when I was 17 versus my dad dying when I was 14 was light years away in terms of the lessons I learned. She argued there isnt time to start anew with Medicare For All. People who need health care, they need it now, said Edwards, who supports bolstering the ACA and gets her health care through the federal marketplace it established. They dont need to wait and watch Washington debate it. West also supports building on whats already in place. In Texas, prices for coverage under the ACA this year range from $201.26 per month to $1,251.45 per month, depending on age. In the second lowest cost silver plans, considered the benchmark from which subsidies are calculated, the cheapest runs $319.39 for a 27-year-old; $389.49 for a 40-year-old; and $827.13 for a 60-year-old. We dont need to throw the baby out with the bathwater, West said. Ive never seen a perfect piece of legislation An ultimate objective should be to have a health care system everyone can share in. ben.wermund@chron.com Letters: Who stands out, and should stand outside, on this list? Sydney man Anthony Sampieri, who bound and raped a seven-year-old girl inside a Kogarah dance studio, has been sentenced to life in jail. The 56-year-old, who pleaded guilty to 10 charges related to the attack including three counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, was sentenced in Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday. Anthony Sampieri has been jailed for life over the 2018 assault. Source: Nine News Sampieri also admitted charges related to sexually explicit and harassing phone calls he made to women in the months before the Kogarah attack. In handing down his sentence, Acting Judge Paul Conlon said he agreed with the Crown that the November 2018 attack can "only be described as any parent's worst nightmare". He sentenced Sampieri to life in jail with no non-parole period. Sampieri - on parole at the time for a rape in Wollongong - raped, punched and bound the seven-year-old in the toilets after consuming the drug ice. The court heard the girl was detained for up to 50 minutes and Judge Conlon said it would have been "terrifying" for the victim, who would have had "grave fears" for her safety. "The offender demonstrated a callous disregard for the child," he said. The seven-year-old girl was raped at a bathroom at a Sydney dance studio. Source: Nine News Judge Conlon added that Sampieri subjected the young girl to sexual abuse of the "most horrifying and degrading kind". Sampieri had admitted he said he was in such a state of sexual excitement by the time he was in the dance studio facility, he would have attacked anyone who had walked in. "Using crystal meth, I believe that led me to what I did," Sampieri told a sentence hearing last week. Judge Conlon described mechanic Nick Gilio as brave for confronting the knife-wielding Sampieri after he found the girl in the toilets after the attack. Gilio suffered several large cuts to the back of his head, neck and abdomen. "The victim, the family ... the whole community are indebted to the courage you displayed," he said. More to come. 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. Pelosi, Schumer Call for Investigation Into Reduced Sentencing Recommendation for Roger Stone The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate called for an investigation into the decision to reduce the sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump. Prosecutors asked a judge this week to sentence Stone, 67, to seven to nine years in prison for making false statements to Congress, obstructing a congressional investigation, and tampering with a witness. But the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a memo recommending a sentence far less than seven to nine years, though it is still recommending some jail time. The four prosecutors working on the case resigned after the memo was filed. Two worked on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which ended after establishing no conspiracy or cooperation between the Trump 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said there should be an immediate investigation of why the sentencing recommendations by the prosecutors were overruled by DOJ officials. In a Feb. 11 letter to the departments Inspector General Michael Horowitz, Schumer alleged that the situation has all the indicia of improper political interference in a criminal prosecution. Horowitz should investigate the matter to figure out how and why the Stone sentencing recommendations were countermanded, including which DOJ officials made the decision and which officials, if any, were involved, the 69-year-old senator wrote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif), 79, also called for a probe into what happened, claiming Trump, 73, engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone when he wrote on Twitter about the case. Former adviser to President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after being found guilty of obstructing a congressional investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 election, in Washington on Nov. 15, 2019. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Donald Trump speaks to reporters about Roger Stone during an unrelated event in Washington on Feb. 11, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) It is outrageous that DOJ has deeply damaged the rule of law by withdrawing its recommendation. Stepping down of prosecutors should be commended & actions of DOJ should be investigated, she wrote in a statement on Twitter. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), 72, another top Democrat in the House, charged that Trump and Attorney General William Barr, 69, overruled career prosecutors to help Stone. The Committee will get to the bottom of this, Nadler wrote in a statement. The DOJs revised sentencing recommendation came just hours after Trump wrote on Twitter about the original recommendation: This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice, the president wrote. The recommendation to issue a revised recommendation came before Trumps tweet, a DOJ spokeswoman told news outlets on Tuesday. She said there wasnt any contact between the department and the White House before the decision to file the memo was made. Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he didnt speak with department officials about the sentencing recommendation, though he argued that he had the absolute right to get involved. He declined to answer directly if he would pardon Stone. Trump early Wednesday wrote on Twitter: Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress! The United States made it clear to Russia and Turkey that they do not like what is happening in Idlib, Robert O'Brien, White House national security adviser, said on Wednesday. According to him, there is a very bad situation in Idlib and they have told Russia and Turkey that the US did not like it, RIA Novosti reported. The US is not ready to solve the problem with its troops that they did not create, he added. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said earlier he had called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the offensive in the Idlib province and withdraw from Turkish observation posts by the end of February, otherwise threatening with a military response. Four de-escalation zones have been created in Syria according to the deal reached in May 2017 at the talks in Astana by representatives of Russia, Iran and Turkey. The territory of three of them in 2018 came under the control of Damascus. The fourth zone is still not subject to the government of the republic. Moreover, most of it was captured by terrorists from Al-Nusra Front. Russia and Turkey agreed in Sochi in September 2018 on the creation of a demilitarized zone in Idlib, where there are more than a dozen different units. Normal life may be disrupted on Thursday as a few pro-Kannada organisations have given a call for a statewide 'bandh' demanding implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report regarding reservation for unemployed youth in central government jobs as well as in the private sector. The protest organised by the " Sanghatanegala Okkoota", comprising a few factions of " Rakshana Vedike", has been backed by Ola-Uber cab drivers' association, a few auto unions, farmers' associations, street vendors association, trade unions and transporters' associations. On the bandh, Praveen Shetty, leader of one of the factions of KRV, said a mega rally will be taken out from Anekal Toll Gate to the Chief Minister's residence. Later, representatives of various protesting organisations will submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa demanding implementation of the report. "We have decided to join the sit-in demonstration because it is about the job guarantee to the children born in It is about employment to those who are born in this soil," Shetty told reporters. Ola-Uber Drivers' Association president Tanveer Pasha said the bandh has his organisation's support. The All India Trade Union Congress and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions have extended their "moral support" to the bandh call. I hope that in this dangerous time of the virus it can also be an opportunity for Christians, and for everyone, to maybe show more solidarity, to slow down their lives which are usually so busy, so that maybe people can be more with their families, have more time to pray, to reflect on the sense of their lives, perhaps spend more time doing other things, he said. Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks as Senator Bernie Sanders listens during the eighth Democratic 2020 presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., February 7, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Former Vice President Joe Biden's disastrous results in Iowa and expected flop in New Hampshire have some establishment Democrats panicking. Sen. Bernie Sanders' simultaneous rise in national polls and strong support across the early states are intensifying their fears that the party won't pit a moderate against President Donald Trump. The veteran Democratic strategist James Carville made headlines when he said he's "scared to death" the party would nominate Sanders, who he believes would lose to Trump. While Carville went public with his concerns, many other Democrats are trying to avoid offending Sanders' supporters. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Former Vice President Joe Biden's disastrous results in Iowa and expected flop in New Hampshire have some establishment and moderate Democrats panicking. Sen. Bernie Sanders' simultaneous rise in national polls and strong support across the early states are intensifying their fears the party won't put up a moderate to challenge President Donald Trump. The veteran Democratic strategist James Carville made headlines this week for attacking Sanders, calling him an "ideological fanatic" whose appeals to a small, fringe voter base wouldn't translate into a broad coalition in a general election. "We've got to be a majoritarian party," Carville said in an MSNBC interview that went viral. "The urban core is not going to get it done. What we need is power. We have one moral imperative, and that's to beat Donald Trump." Critics of Sanders argue the Vermont lawmaker will alienate conservative Democrats and swing-state independents who are turned off by democratic socialism and his most liberal policy positions. They say he'll hurt down-ballot candidates running in purple and red states and districts. "There's no chance in hell we'll ever win the Senate with Sanders at the top of the party defining it for the public," Carville said. Story continues Unite or bust While Carville is spouting off, other Democrats are trying not to publicly tick off Sanders' supporters and stress that the party has to unite around whoever becomes the nominee. Adrienne Elrod, a spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign who is a self-described moderate, said she and many other former Clinton supporters were "starting to come around to the notion that Sanders is a more viable candidate in the general than people give him credit for." She cited Sanders' capacity to generate enthusiasm among young voters and appeal to working-class white voters and those who supported President Barack Obama and then Trump in 2016. Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden talks to journalists during a campaign event in Mt Pleasant, Iowa, U.S., January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Reuters She suggested establishment Democrats like Carville didn't have their finger on the pulse of young voters and the party's diversifying base. But she conceded that Sanders' major challenge was appealing to conservative Democrats. "Can he bring the people like my parents in Arkansas who are moderate Democrats and aren't going to vote for Trump but feel very weird voting for Sanders?" she told Insider. Robert Zimmerman, a Democratic National Committee member and donor from New York, argued that Carville's opinion wasn't necessarily "the gospel." "Democrats have got to come out of group therapy, get off their yoga mats, and understand we're in for a tough election and we've got to stay focused and united," Zimmerman told Insider. Andrew Feldman, a Washington-based Democratic strategist, similarly condemned Carville's comments, calling them "out of touch" and "petty." He argued that the establishment should listen to the voters and let the process play out so the candidate with the most enthusiasm moved on to the general election. "That kind of rhetoric is completely detrimental to the ultimate goal of beating Donald Trump," he told Insider. "It plays right into Trump's argument that we're in disarray, that we can't get our act together." Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Bernie Sanders Rally Hollis Johnson/Insider Biden's implosion and a 'tremendous backlash' Democrats across the political spectrum agree Biden may not be viable if he fares poorly in New Hampshire and Nevada and crucial donors abandon him. A Democratic pollster, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about the race, said Biden was unlikely to last if he found himself with less than 20% support in national polling after New Hampshire. "There's no precedent for somebody finishing as badly as he's going to in Iowa and New Hampshire and ever even winning a nomination," he said. "You can say all you want about Iowa and New Hampshire not being representative they aren't but still, these are significant states with intense campaigning where people had a chance to size him up and he was found wanting." Elrod agreed that Biden couldn't stay in the race if he didn't come in first or second place in Nevada and win the fourth voting state, South Carolina. "People know him they know him and they're not supporting him," she said of Biden. The pollster warned it's "entirely possible" that there would be a "tremendous backlash" from the Democratic establishment if Sanders moved closer to the nomination. "We are walking into a dangerous game here," he said. "There's no question this has a chance of becoming a train wreck." Read the original article on Business Insider There are more than 42,000 coronavirus cases across China. Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters Irish people in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, are having medicines specially ferried to them by foreign affairs officials. Pharmacies in Wuhan are running low in certain medicines, such as statins which are needed to control cholesterol. The Herald understands one Irish national is having these drugs sent to them through special delivery by Irish embassy officials in China. A number of Irish people remain confined to their apartments in Wuhan after declining an offer to take a rescue flight which landed in the UK more than a week ago. Most stayed because they would have to leave their Chinese partners behind due to the lack of a visa. The three Irish people who took the flight to the UK remain in quarantine until later this week in Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside, as a precaution. It comes as it emerged that two Bord Bia employees in China have returned to Ireland to escape the coronavirus outbreak. Other State agencies have banned such travel and are requiring staff to work from their Chinese residences. Both Bord Bia employees returned to work in the food promotion agency's Dublin office on Monday after spending two weeks working from their family homes. They were screened and cleared of any coronavirus risk by HSE staff, the agency has confirmed. More than 1,000 staff at Indeed's Irish operations have been given the green light to return to their Dublin offices today, after tests in Singapore found that family members of an Indeed staff member there do not have the virus. The recruitment company had shut its offices in Dublin on Monday - as well as in Singapore and Sydney - and asked staff to work from home while the Singapore case was investigated. Meanwhile, an expert committee overseeing plans to deal with any case of the coronavirus which would hit this country met in Dublin yesterday. To date 65 people have been tested for the virus and all have proved negative. Another three people are now being tested at the National Virus Laboratory in UCD but these are also expected to test negative. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre issued new guidelines on how to handle the swabs taken for testing from people suspected of having the virus. Samples should be collected wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. Estimated turnaround time is 12 to 24 hours for same-day results samples. Stigmatisation Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says the official name for the disease caused by the new coronavirus is Covid-2019. It comes after the death toll from the virus passed 1,000. Tens of thousands of people have been infected. The word coronavirus refers to the group of viruses it belongs to, rather than the latest strain. Researchers have been calling for an official name to avoid confusion and stigmatisation of any group or country. "We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease," a WHO spokesperson said. (Natural News) For months the Trump administration and the Pentagon have been trying to convince our NATO and European allies not to allow Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build the continents 5G network, despite the fact that equipment made by the firm is much cheaper than comparable gear made by U.S. and European competitors. The reason why the administration is so adamant about ditching Huawei is because U.S. intelligence agencies along with American tech firms have plenty of evidence proving their central point: That allowing Huawei to build the next-gen Internet would give Beijings military and intelligence operatives back doors into highly sensitive corporate and government data. In recent days, British media reported a tense telephone exchange between President Donald Trump and newly installed British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is supposed to be an avid ally. Trump effectively chewed out Johnson over his decision to use Huawei to build non-core elements of Britains 5G network, trying to explain that the security risks were too great. Indeed, Trump is right. Even if the U.S. builds its own network and Europe uses Huawei, the U.S. is at risk because of our membership in NATO and because of American-European ties regarding business, trade, law enforcement, intelligence-sharing, and other activities. But, as Zero Hedge noted Tuesday, the Trump administration is obviously upping its pressure campaign. Someone within the White House authorized the leak of highly sensitive information regarding Huaweis activities to The Wall Street Journal, which was no doubt intended for consumption by our British ally. In particular, the WSJ reported: U.S. officials say Huawei Technologies Co. can covertly access mobile-phone networks around the world through back doors designed for use by law enforcement, as Washington tries to persuade allies to exclude the Chinese company from their networks. Intelligence shows Huawei has had this secret capability for more than a decade, U.S. officials said. Huawei rejected the allegations. The U.S. government kept this highly classified intelligence secret until late last year, when American diplomatic officials provided the evidence to their counterparts in Germany and the U.K. That was a reversal from earlier U.S. policy, when, in the past, officials in Washington argued they didnt need to provide hard evidence of the threat. Huawei does not disclose this covert access to its local customers According to the WSJ, telecom equipment makers are required by law to build into their hardware ways that authorities can access networks for the purposes of law enforcement and intelligence-gathering. (Related: Deep State arrests top Chinese telecom exec without telling POTUS Trump as he dines with Xi: Was it a setup?) They also must build the gear in a way that manufacturers cannot gain access themselves without getting the permission of the network operator. However, the paper said, quoting U.S. officials, Huawei builds its equipment in such a manner that secretly keeps the manufacturers ability to access networks without the carrier or operator knowing it. In other words, the company builds its equipment so that it doesnt have to ask operators for permission to access their networks. And of course, all corporations in China are controlled directly or indirectly by the Communist regime. We have evidence that Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world, said National Security Adviser Robert OBrian, the WSJ reported. Huawei does not disclose this covert access to its local customers, or the host nation national-security agencies, said another unnamed senior U.S. official. American officials did not disclose whether they had actually seen Huawei use its equipment to covertly access networks, and they also did not provide any details about the alleged backdoor access. But some did say the U.S. has been aware of the issue since observing it in 2009, in older 4G gear. Bottom line: While Huawei officials have said they have never been asked by the Chinese government to spy on Beijings behalf, clearly the backdoor exists for a reason. Sources include: WSJ.com ZeroHedge.com Reporting from Delhi during election season, it would have been tempting to come away with the conclusion that Narendra Modis ruling national party, the BJP, were a sure thing to seize back power of the capitals assembly. Under Modi and his home minister Amit Shah, the BJP has become a vast and well-oiled election-winning machine. While Congress the party of Gandhi and Nehru has been in decline, Modis Hindu nationalists stormed to a landslide victory in the 2014 general election and then, last year, did even better. Their strategy for the Delhi election, which was held on Saturday and the results counted yesterday, was to bring down upon the capital all their nation-leading might at once. A Jewish woman has astonishingly revealed how she once lived next to Adolf Hitler and even saw a coffin being taken from his flat. Alice Frank Stock, 101, spent years living in the same apartment block as the Nazi dictator while growing up in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s. Her amily lived on Prinzregentplatz in Munich, just doors away from one of the most notorious figures in history, who moved in to the block in 1929. Mrs Stock said she would sometimes see Hitler being rushed into the building while flanked by towering SS guards, most likely fearful of an assassination attempt. Rumours were also rife about his nocturnal activities, including the mysterious fate of his niece Geli Raubal, with whom he was reportedly in a relationship with. Alice Frank Stock spent years living in the same apartment block as the Nazi dictator while growing up in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s. She's seen aged 101 in her Bristol care home (left) and as a young woman in the 1950s The centenarian's family lived in this apartment block on Prinzregentplatz in Munich - just doors away from one of the most notorious figures in history Mrs Stock says she once saw a coffin being carried out of Hitler's apartment, which she and others thought could have been the body of Geli after she shot herself. But she said Hitler was mostly unseen by her and her family, who were later forced to leave Germany for London, England just days before the outbreak of World War Two. Now living in Druid Stoke Bupa care home in Bristol, Mrs Stock can still remember her days living in the affluent area and her encounters with her infamous neighbour. 'We lived in a house - a big house - and there were two entrances,' she said. 'One was our apartment, number 14 - the other was either number 13 or 15. That's where Hitler lived. 'We heard many [rumours], from the cook and others. We saw a coffin being carried out of the entrance.' 'I think a niece of Hitler's was living there and then she died. There was speculation of how and when she died. 'I think there was truth in it that the coffin was carried out and in it was a woman. But there was no confirmation ever - and you couldn't talk openly.' Alice Stock Frank, aged 3, with her brother Richard, aged 6. Alice spent more than a decade living in the same apartment block as Adolf Hitler when she was young Raubal did indeed take her own life in Hitler's Munich apartment in 1931 with his gun at the age of 23 - although theories about his involvement in the death persist today. Hitler's relationship with her - the daughter of his half-sister - was a matter of controversy even within the Nazi party. It was rumoured among contemporaries that the pair were in a romantic relationship - despite the 19-year age gap and family ties. Adolf Hitler is pictured in Munich in 1937 alongside Italian dictator Benito Mussolini Despite her close proximity to the Fuhrer, Mrs Stock said she rarely saw him - and never had any personal interactions. She said: 'I never spoke to him. Once I went to the opera - I got tickets through the school, it was in the royal box. I was very pleased. 'I got there in the evening and there were SS men saying: 'You can't come in here - go two boxes further down'. 'As the curtain went up I looked at the royal box - and there was Hitler sitting there. I saw him once or twice coming home too. His car would draw up. 'Two SS men would jump out stand either side and he would rush up to the house - terrified obviously of someone who would try and kill him.' Mrs Stock also revealed that the fear of retribution was strong even at the early stage of Hitler's career. 'We had a wonderful cook who was elderly and very Catholic - and very anti-Hitler,' she said. 'Once she went out and saw a photo of Hitler hanging on the wall and she said: 'Yes he should be hanged, the scoundrel - but not like this!' 'I said: "You'll get us all into a concentration camp".' When asked what she would say to Hitler knowing what she knows now, she said: 'I wouldn't want to talk to him because my feelings would be too strong - I couldn't.' Alice Frank Stock and her husband Roy are seen on their wedding day in 2004 (left) and during a holiday in the 90s (right) The pensioner was born in the city of Augsburg before moving with her family to Munich as a three-month-old baby in 1918. She spent her formative years there before being sent to study in Lausanne, Switzerland at the age of 17 due to the growing threat to Jewish people in Germany. She then moved to London in 1937 with her parents two years later to attend secretarial college - just two days before the start of World War Two. The family were forced to sell a 200-year-old violin to stump up the 1,000 needed to enter England - which Mrs Stock managed to smuggle out of Germany. Alice Frank Stock is pictured in the 1950s Talking about being Jewish in a society that was rapidly becoming outwardly antisemitic, she said: 'In my school people were on the whole decent. My classmates were decent, too. But I can tell you of one incident, in an English lesson. 'The teacher said: "Of course, we Germans face our God as free men while the Jews roll in the dust". I didn't say anything. 'I went out into the corridor after and he said: "Look Frank, I didn't know you were Jewish". 'I said: "Professor, why would you make such remarks? You don't believe it yourself, do you?". 'He said: "You must go with your times". That is the key sentiment, why thousands joined the [Nazi] party - because you had to go with your times if you wanted promotions.' Mrs Stock worked for the BBC and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) after leaving Germany. She would listen to radio transmissions from her birth country during the war and flag up anything noteworthy to her superiors - such as a large gathering of soldiers. She then met her husband Roy Macdonald Stock - a Military Cross winner - while working for the OECD in Paris in 1966. The pair were together for 38 years before they married in 2004, and do not have any children. Alice Frank Stock's parents August and Valerie in 1930. She then moved to London in 1937 with her parents just two days before the start of World War Two They left the French capital in 2009 and retired to Bristol, where Roy was from originally. He sadly died in 2011. Mrs Stock, who recently celebrated her birthday, added: 'I have had a good life. [I would advise] lots of walking and hiking, along with the occasional glass of red wine.' Hitler's apartment on Prinzregentplatz was also the birthplace of the Nazi party. He remained the property until 1934, when he moved due to becoming Chancellor. Although he retained ownership he returned infrequently, preferring to spend his time in Berlin or The Berghof, a rented villa near Berchtesgaden. The building in Munich still stands and has been occupied for various usages over the years. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 19:19:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Here are the latest developments: -- A total of 4,740 patients infected with the novel coronavirus had been discharged from hospital after recovery by the end of Tuesday. The proportion of patients who recovered from the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) in China had increased to 10.6 percent Tuesday from the lowest 1.3 percent on Jan. 27. The only patient infected with the novel coronavirus in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region was discharged from hospital after an 18-day treatment Wednesday afternoon. -- China's National Health Commission said on Wednesday that it received reports of 2,015 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 97 deaths on Tuesday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. By the end of Tuesday, a total of 1,113 people had died of the disease and 44,653 confirmed cases had been reported on the Chinese mainland. The number of daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection fell from a peak of 3,887 on Feb. 4 to 2,015 on Tuesday, with a decrease of 48.2 percent. -- Hubei reported 1,638 new confirmed injection cases and 94 new deaths on Tuesday. Wuhan reported 1,104 new infections and 72 new deaths. -- Replicating Beijing's SARS treatment model in 2003, Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) Hospital, a 1,000-bed hospital built in 10 days in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, has received 925 patients as of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. -- The city of Huanggang, one of the hardest-hit cities in Hubei, had identified 13,000 feverish individuals during a screening campaign that covered communities, public spaces, road checkpoints as well as enterprises and public institutions. Everyone with a fever has been quarantined and put under observation in hospitals. -- Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said the epidemic peak should appear in mid-to-late February, but the inflection point is still undetermined. -- Hubei Province has fired or disciplined a group of officials for breaching work disciplines and shirking responsibilities in the fight against the epidemic. -- China's air transport market registered negative growth in January due to the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak. -- The Ministry of Commerce released a circular to arrange for the steady supply of daily necessities in key cities to win the battle against the new virus. Supply of daily necessities include rice, flour, cooking oil, meat, eggs, dairy products, vegetables and instant food. -- China's Ministry of Justice has set up an online platform to offer legal consultation services for the public in an effort to promote orderly and law-based prevention and control of the epidemic. -- Chinese students will be able to attend classes online or study via television as schools postpone the start of new semester due to the virus outbreak. -- Chinese authorities called for improved humanistic care and a safer working environment for medical staff at the frontline against the COVID-19, as well as stronger publicity for deeds of outstanding figures among medical personnel. They demanded financial subsidies be provided to frontline medical staff and epidemic prevention workers, and easy access to identify occupational injuries for medical personnel. The Government adopted a resolution approving the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the mutual abolition of visa requirements. We are introducing a visa-free regime with the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The government approved an agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the abolition of visas, Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk said after a government meeting on Wednesday. According to him, citizens of the two countries will be able to travel to these countries without visas for up to 90 days within 180 days. The prime minister also noted that the adoption of the resolution will allow carrying out domestic procedures necessary for the agreement to enter into force. ish According to Plato, At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet and the reams of romantic verse that will be unleashed for Valentines Day is testament to his wisdom. For Amy OConnor, however, it was the heartbreak that often comes with love which was the catalyst for the publication of her debut poetry collection. When a significant relationship came to an end, OConnor found that poetry provided some solace in the emotional fall-out. Poetry in a way was my outlet, it was a medium through which I could express my emotions and I think I really fell in love with it then because it was my way of dealing with everything. I was putting it down on paper and getting it out. It was a stress reliever and a coping mechanism. The 26-year-old Tipperary native, now based in Cork, was encouraged to take the leap from just writing for herself to sharing her poetry with the world when she began to receive encouragement from friends and family, as well as her online followers on the social media platform Instagram. Over the years, I might read something to my dad or someone in my family but for a long time, I wasnt showing my work to people. I was probably going through the worst of the break-up about two years ago when I was in Canada and I was writing quite a bit. I would write in the evening and the girl I was living with would ask if she could see some of my work. I had nothing to lose so I showed my stuff to her. "She said that it really connected with her. When I understood that other people could relate to it, that is when I got a bit of confidence and thought maybe this belongs in the world and I shouldnt be keeping all of it to myself. OConnor, who works in communications, ultimately took the self-publishing route to launching her collection, A Beautiful Complexity. Originally, like most people involved in writing, I wanted to go down the traditional publishing route but only a select number of publishers will work with poets. I put a sales pitch for the book together and I sent it off but while I was waiting to hear back, I was doing my research into self-publishing. OConnor received positive feedback from publishers but no deals were forthcoming so she began the self-publishing process. OConnor says she would recommend it to others who want to get their work out into the public domain. The whole process took about eight months from when I decided to self-publish to when I got my proof copy. I would recommend it to people, if you want a piece of art that you want to get out there and people are saying no, I dont think that should stop you. The whole thing cost me about 1,500, so it is affordable. "The likes of Amazon will do print per purchase, so you dont have to go away and buy a thousand copies of your book and hope that they sell. OConnor has also found a sizeable audience for her poems on Instagram, where a new generation of poets are now showcasing their work. There is a whole scene online, on Instagram and Facebook. Its shorter poetry because we are consuming things online at a quicker rate. I like the work of people like Rupi Kaur and Lang Leav. The work of contemporary poets such as Kaur and Leav attracts an audience of millions on social media but OConnor acknowledges that there is still a view that it is not proper poetry. There is an argument out there about whether Instagram poetry is real poetry I know in the literary world, they often dont think so but I think it takes a skill to be able to put so much emotion into a short space and resonate with the reader. However, OConnor also acknowledges that there are drawbacks to sharing ones work online. It is fantastic to be able to engage one-on-one with people who appreciate your writing because you dont get the opportunity to do that a lot. But there will be some days when I will take a break from the account. "You have to prioritise your head space and your mental health. I cant be constantly be fixated on what others think of my work or the demand for it either. "The last thing I want is to be just writing to keep the account going. If you are going to go online with your work, do it for the love of it and not for the demand. LAVUMISA A syndicate of shoplifters is alleged to be using aggressive tactics to pull off the shelves large amounts of goods within minutes once they hit a shop. The gang, which is believed to be from the Manzini Region, has become a menace to retailers throughout the kingdom. Information gathered was that the gang moves around the country and plunder, goods from shops in a very systemic and professional way. The shoplifters, who travel in groups of not less than four, have been described as very cunning. Damage According to Lavumisa businessman Vincent Mcintyre, the gang can get in and out of a shop in five minutes, but the damage would be very huge. Just recently, the gang struck at Ok MMark in the small border town and made away with stock worth over E2 000 in just five minutes. The shoplifting operation was exposed by a CCTV footage which was taken from the supermarket. In the footage, four women are seen moving around the shop carrying empty baskets, which are never filled with anything yet the people are seen taking some items off the shelves. To distract the attention of security, the women usually surround one member of the gang who would then stuff underneath her clothes as much goods as she could carry, while the other members act as lookouts. Then it would be another members turn until they are all satisfied with their loot. At the Lavumisa supermarket, the group of women were seen stealing selected products like shoe polish, powdered milk and 2litres of OROS juice, all in five minutes. It is suspected that the culprits wear special type of clothing or use something to avoid being detected by security systems as they go for the exit to load up their loot in a car. The goods are believed to be sold off cheaply to readily available buyers who then sell the items in the streets and to unsuspecting commuters in public transport vehicles. Footage After viewing the CCTV footage from the Lavumisa shop, this reporter approached several other retail outlets who also confirmed knowledge of the prowling shoplifting syndicates. The thieves are said to hit several shops located in the same town in a single day. They are such a menace. At some point, we even teamed up with other retailers and distributed pictures of known suspects in a bid to catch the culprits, said a manager of a clothing outlet in Nhlangano. Other interviewed retailers also said they were aware of the marauding gangs. In a bid to mitigate the damage caused by the syndicate, many have decided to invest in CCTVs and product protection systems. File image A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stormed back to power in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at the Raj Niwas in New Delhi on February 12. The meeting lasted for around 15 minutes. Sources said the two discussed the oath-taking ceremony which could take place over the weekend. As per procedure, Kejriwal is also likely to tender his resignation to pave the way for his fresh swearing-in as the chief minister. Kejriwal will also hold a meeting with the newly-elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs. The legislators will then elect him as the leader of the legislature party, following which he will stake claim to form the government. The Lt Governor had dissolved the Sixth Legislative Assembly of Delhi on February 11. The AAP has won 62 of the 70 assembly seats, leaving the BJP with just eight seats. The Congress drew a blank for the second successive assembly elections in Delhi. As the number of coronavirus cases rises worldwide--more than 43,100 as of Tuesday--U.S.-based businesses are playing a crucial role in the fight to limit the spread of the virus. These include companies that we've spotlighted here on the pages of Inc., including Inc. 5000 and Best Workplaces honorees, as well as mentors in our Founders Project. We asked Inc. CEOs to tell us about their part in the battle, and the responses flooded in. Here are just a few of the stories we heard. Lighthouse Lab Services Before a clinical lab can test for illnesses like coronavirus, it needs to be properly equipped, staffed, and validated. Lighthouse Lab Studios can provide all of that, and last year it booked $5.1 million in revenue, making it No. 4,341 on the 2019 Inc. 5000. One machine the company sells is the Thermo Fisher QuantStudio, which can test for the presence of coronavirus using a nasal or cheek swab. Unlike old methods that use cultures and take three to five days, the machine can produce results in three hours. The company has received a number of inquiries from both current and potential customers asking about getting equipped and validated for coronavirus testing, says Jon Harol, founder and CEO of Lighthouse, which is based in Holly Springs, North Carolina. So much so that the company recently debated whether to dedicate a branch of its business to the virus. The verdict: not just yet. "But we have our finger in the air," Harol says. "If it started to spread in the U.S., and we see a demand for testing, I think we're in position to pivot into that pretty quickly." Xenex Xenex makes a robot that disinfects hospital rooms and labs using light from a xenon lamp. The robot, called LightStrike, flashes high-intensity ultraviolet light that deactivates the DNA of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. A two-minute LightStrike cleaning cycle eliminates 72 percent more pathogens than a manual cleaning, according to a 2018 study by MD Anderson Cancer Center. The robot is already being used in more than 500 hospitals and labs, including the Mayo Clinic and London's Kings College Hospital, says Xenex CEO Morris Miller. While the company hasn't yet been able to test against the coronavirus specifically--it could be months until there are samples available for testing--Miller says it will be effective since the LightStrike is a full-spectrum device, meaning it operates in every light wavelength in which pathogens live. Concerns over the coronavirus have led to an uptick in business for Xenex, with several hospitals using their emergency funds to buy one or more of the $100,000 LightStrike robots. Miller founded the company in 2008 in San Antonio, Texas, and recently served as a mentor in Inc.'s Founders Project. Zogics Zogics sells gym equipment--but not just barbells and cardio machines. The company also sells cleaning products like disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, and electrostatic sprayers used to decontaminate facilities. The company has seen a 50 percent increase in sales of its wipes and sanitizers in the 30 days ending February 10 compared with the previous 30 days, according to founder and CEO Paul LeBlanc. Sales of its electrostatic sprayers, which have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to coronavirus, have seen a 300 percent increase. And it's not only gym operators that have come calling. "We've seen a sharp increase in sales for disinfecting products going into office buildings, schools, recreational facilities, first responders, and the military," says LeBlanc. Lenox, Massachusetts-based Zogics came in at No. 3,759 on last year's Inc. 5000 list with $10.2 million in revenue, and was named one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces in 2019. Georgetown Home Care Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 08:04:45|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli soldiers during clashes after a protest against the U.S. Mideast peace plan, at the West Bank city of Ramallah, Feb. 11, 2020. Thousands of Palestinians demonstrated on Tuesday in the West Bank and Gaza against the U.S. Mideast peace plan, known as the "Deal of the Century." (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) A terrible case has come to light in China, in which a person in southwest China sprinkled petrol on himself and tied firecrackers on his body. This is simply because the local authorities refused to celebrate the person's birthday. The authorities did not allow him to go to the birthday venue as a precaution regarding the coronavirus. Pak court sentenced Hafiz Saeed of five years imprisonment According to Chinese media, 59-year-old Wang, a resident of Chongqing, booked the Parta Hall with 10 tables at the end of last month. Public gatherings are not being allowed by authorities across China to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. So, for this reason, the party was asked to cancel. Big disclosure: Nepal closes its resort after 08 deaths Last week, Beijing's municipal officials announced that parties and group dinners in restaurants would be temporarily banned in the Chinese capital to prevent the spread of the virus. Xinhua said that after the party was canceled, the person armed with firecrackers reached the village committee's office where he tied firecrackers to his body. He also put petrol on his body and started showing a lighter by trying to intimidate and threaten the village committee to allow the birthday party. The news agency Xinhua reported that local lawyers accused Wang of abusive behavior on Tuesday. WHO gives official name to coronavirus, death toll crosses 1017 Software updates slowing you down? We've all shared the frustration -- software updates that are intended to make our applications run faster inadvertently end up doing just the opposite. These bugs, dubbed in the computer science field as performance regressions, are time-consuming to fix since locating software errors normally requires substantial human intervention. To overcome this obstacle, researchers at Texas A&M University, in collaboration with computer scientists at Intel Labs, have now developed a complete automated way of identifying the source of errors caused by software updates. Their algorithm, based on a specialized form of machine learning called deep learning, is not only turnkey, but also quick, finding performance bugs in a matter of a few hours instead of days. "Updating software can sometimes turn on you when errors creep in and cause slowdowns. This problem is even more exaggerated for companies that use large-scale software systems that are continuously evolving," said Dr. Abdullah Muzahid, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. "We have designed a convenient tool for diagnosing performance regressions that is compatible with a whole range of software and programming languages, expanding its usefulness tremendously." The researchers described their findings in the 32nd edition of Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems from the proceedings of the Neural Information Processing Systems conference in December. To pinpoint the source of errors within a software, debuggers often check the status of performance counters within the central processing unit. These counters are lines of code that monitor how the program is being executed on the computer's hardware in the memory, for example. So, when the software runs, counters keep track of the number of times it accesses certain memory locations, the time it stays there and when it exits, among other things. Hence, when the software's behavior goes awry, counters are again used for diagnostics. "Performance counters give an idea of the execution health of the program," said Muzahid. "So, if some program is not running as it is supposed to, these counters will usually have the telltale sign of anomalous behavior." However, newer desktops and servers have hundreds of performance counters, making it virtually impossible to keep track of all of their statuses manually and then look for aberrant patterns that are indicative of a performance error. That is where Muzahid's machine learning comes in. By using deep learning, the researchers were able to monitor data coming from a large number of the counters simultaneously by reducing the size of the data, which is similar to compressing a high-resolution image to a fraction of its original size by changing its format. In the lower dimensional data, their algorithm could then look for patterns that deviate from normal. When their algorithm was ready, the researchers tested if it could find and diagnose a performance bug in a commercially available data management software used by companies to keep track of their numbers and figures. First, they trained their algorithm to recognize normal counter data by running an older, glitch-free version of the data management software. Next, they ran their algorithm on an updated version of the software with the performance regression. They found that their algorithm located and diagnosed the bug within a few hours. Muzahid said this type of analysis could take a considerable amount of time if done manually. In addition to diagnosing performance regressions in software, Muzahid noted that their deep learning algorithm has potential uses in other areas of research as well, such as developing the technology needed for autonomous driving. "The basic idea is once again the same, that is being able to detect an anomalous pattern," said Muzahid. "Self-driving cars must be able to detect whether a car or a human is in front of it and then act accordingly. So, it's again a form of anomaly detection and the good news is that is what our algorithm is already designed to do." Other contributors to the research include Dr. Mejbah Alam, Dr. Justin Gottschlich, Dr. Nesime Tatbul, Dr. Javier Turek and Dr. Timothy Mattson from Intel Labs. ### This story has been published on: 2020-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Minutes before 5 a.m., emergency crews were called to near Erie Street and Mayfield Avenue in the Austin neighborhood for a report of a fire in a single-family home, according to the Chicago Fire Department. They found a man on the roof, clinging to the building, according to fire officials. He had used a window to escape the blaze but flames were approaching him as he waited for the firefighters who would eventually rescue him. Peter Gade, director of graduate studies and a Gaylord Family Endowed Chair, made the comments while speaking during a Journalism, Ethics and Democracy capstone class on Tuesday morning A journalism professor at Oklahoma University is currently in hot water after he compared the phrase 'OK, Boomer' to the n-word. Peter Gade, director of graduate studies and a Gaylord Family Endowed Chair, made the comments while speaking during a Journalism, Ethics and Democracy capstone class on Tuesday morning. The class, offered at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is the only one offered for journalism students in the semester. Gade had been advocating for more traditional journalism practices when he made the comments, according to student paper OU Daily. A student in the class made a comment asserting the importance of changing with the times as journalists need to keep up with younger generations. The class, offered at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is the only one offered for journalism students in the semester Gade had been advocating for more traditional journalism practices when he made the comments. A student in the class made a comment asserting the importance of changing with the times as journalists need to keep up with younger generations. It was then Gade made his comparison It was then that Gade made his comparison, claiming that the student's comment was the equivalent to telling him 'OK, Boomer.' The class collectively chuckled but found themselves feeling daunted by his next comment. 'Calling someone a boomer is like calling someone a n****r,' Gade continued. Several students reportedly left the class as Gabe tried defending his remarks. Others condemned the offensive remarks. 'My f*****g professor just had the NERVE to say OUTLOUD IN CLASS that calling someone a Boomer is like calling a black person A N****R,' one student from inside the class said as she took to Twitter. 'My f*****g professor just had the NERVE to say OUTLOUD IN CLASS that calling someone a Boomer is like calling a black person A N****R,' one student from inside the class said as she took to Twitter Students also shared that they would be boycotting the professor's class, potentially hindering their graduation progress. 'I have to have this class in order to graduate,' a student said. 'But I have to stand with my fellow students. I shouldnt have to chose between my education and advocating for whats right.' The Black Emergency Response Team at OU released a statement stating that they expected 'full action to be taken against the professor and college.' 'In addition, we expect accommodation be made for the students who have experienced trauma because of this,' they added in the statement. Students also shared that they would be boycotting the professor's class, potentially hindering their graduation progress 'I have to have this class in order to graduate,' a student said. 'But I have to stand with my fellow students. I shouldnt have to chose between my education and advocating for whats right' The sentiment was shared by the school's local chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, who said they weren't surprised the comments were made in their setting. 'Nor, are we surprised that people still don't understand that insults like "OK, boomer" do not create the same uneasiness that the historical slur n****r does.' The NABJ chapter called for 'an enhanced curriculum dedicated to the education of social and cultural competency for all students.' They also demanded an increase in diverse faculty and staff, even among higher administration. OU NABJ asked for a staff position to be created for a 'chief officer of diversity and inclusion' at the Gaylord College. The chapter also demanded that 'tangible repercussions' be enacted for the professor statement. The Black Emergency Response Team at OU released a statement stating that they expected 'full action to be taken against the professor and college' 'In addition, we expect accommodation be made for the students who have experienced trauma because of this,' they added in the statement The sentiment was scared by the school's local chapter of the National Association of Black Journalist, who said they weren't surprised the comments were made in their setting Interim University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. said in a statement that Gade's comments were protected by the First Amendment. 'While the professor's comments are protected by the First Amendment and academic freedom, his comment and word choice are fundamentally offensive and wrong,' he said. 'The use of the most offensive word, by a person in a position of authority, hurt and minimized those in the classroom and beyond. 'Our University must serve as an example to our society of both freedom of expression and understanding and tolerance. His words today failed to meet this standard. #WeAre speaks for our community; his words today do not.' Gade, the Gaylord Family Endowed Chair at OU, has been on the faculty since 1998. Interim University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. said in a statement that Gade's comments were protected by the first amendment He did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. An email attributed to him was sent to students, apologizing for the remarks. 'I made an inexcusable mistake this morning in class with my choice of a word. I was wrong. I am sorry,' Gade said in the email 'I realize the word is hurtful and infuses the racial divisions of our country, past and present. Use of this word is inappropriate in any - especially educational settings. 'I offer my deepest and most sincere apologies. In the coming weeks. I will strive to show that I am an instructor and teacher who is trustworthy and respectful of all. Please give me that opportunity.' The university has grappled with a number of racially charged incidents in recent years. Last year, two students were involved in a video in which one women wore blackface and used a racial slur. The university also severed ties with a fraternity in 2015 after several members took part in a chant caught on video that used racial slurs and referenced lynching. 'OK boomer' is a Generation Z and millennial retort to older people who don't understand the passions of younger generations. This could be anything from climate change, to mental health or financial inequality. Farewell Reception for Governor Yesterday evening, the Chief Minister hosted a Farewell Reception in honour of the Governor, Lt Gen Davis and Mrs Davis, at which the Governor was presented with a set of miniature keys in sterling silver. SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI A man charged with operating while intoxicated showed up super drunk to his court hearing, according to Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith. The incident occurred when James Gird was in a Shelby Township courtroom on Feb. 6. He was charged with OWI on Dec. 30, 2019. Magistrate James A. Verploeg noticed Gird had a difficult time carrying on a conversation and ordered a test to be administered, according to a news release. When he was tested, prosecutors found he had a BAC of almost 4 times the legal limit. Clearly this defendant has a real issue with alcohol, and it must be addressed before an innocent person is seriously harmed, Smith said in a release. We will hold those who drink and drive accountable, whether it is on our roads or even in a court parking lot. Gird also admitted having a couple shots and they found a partially empty bottle of vodka in his car, WXYZ in Detroit reported. Gird was arraigned and given a $25,000 bond on Feb. 7. Wednesday Registration, Art Works with Michael Jia; 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Normal Public Library; registration required; normalpl.org. Teen Maker Wednesday; 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday, Normal Public Library; ages 12-18; introduction to video game coding. Character vs. Gender in Mathematics and Beyond; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Schroeder Hall, room 138, Illinois State University, Normal; speaker: Eugenia Cheng, scientist in residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and author. Thursday Lunch and learn; 12:10 p.m. Thursday, McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington; topic: What We Do at the SBDC of McLean County and IWU; speaker: Karen Bussone, director, McLean County Small Business Development Center at Illinois Wesleyan University. State of Illinois Hiring Fairs; 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Bloomington Public Library Community Room; in partnership with Illinois Department of Employment Security; with 6-8 employers with available positions in production, IT, logistics and healthcare; bring resume. Black History Month keynote address; 7 p.m. Thursday, Old Main Room, Bone Student Center, Illinois State University, Normal; speaker: Adolph L. Reed Jr.; topic: 40th anniversary of the Atlanta Child Murders. McLean County Barn Keepers meeting; 7 p.m. Thursday, Evergreen FS Building, Bloomington; speaker: Rita Frazer, president, National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Bernalillo County has reached a $100,000 settlement in a racial profiling suit filed by a black woman who was stopped by deputies three times in less than a month, but never cited or even issued a warning. Sherese Crawford was working a temporary assignment in New Mexico as a deportation officer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2017. Her lawsuit describes three stops on Interstate 40, one by former deputy Leonard Armijo and two by deputy Patrick Rael. These deputies reminded her that her skin color not the reality of whether she has violated any laws and not the hard work she has put into becoming an exemplary law enforcement officer, herself dictates how other law enforcement officers will treat her, ACLU of New Mexico Legal Director Leon Howard said in a letter to Sheriff Manuel Gonzales on Monday. A review of 82 BCSO traffic stops on I-40 between January and July 2017 found that 17% of the motorists who were stopped were black, according to Howards letter. For comparison, 2.6% of New Mexicos population is black. Gonzales said in a statement Tuesday that his office does not condone the actions by the deputies mentioned in this incident. Both were disciplined, required to attend additional training and removed from their positions. One has since resigned. Crawfords lawsuit, filed in late 2017, outlines the explanations she was given for each stop. Two of those passing on the right side and tailgating were incontrovertibly contradicted by dash camera footage, Howard wrote. Howard pointed out in an interview that not all BCSO vehicles are outfitted with dash cameras. Crawford was also stopped when, according to the deputy, her license plate came back as a skip, indicating her rental car could have been stolen. She later confirmed that the car was properly registered. In his letter, Howard encouraged the sheriff to implement mandatory implicit bias training and to allow a qualified professional to review BCSO polices and procedures to ensure they are free of bias. He has also requested a meeting with the sheriff within two weeks to discuss whether BCSO intends to follow those recommendations and offered the ACLUs assistance in implementing implicit bias training. We have a sheriff right now who has not shown that he is receptive to change and to responding to the community to create a more fair and transparent police department, he said in the interview. In his statement, Gonzales said the Sheriffs Office offers and requires multiple training courses in cultural diversity, unbiased policing and constitutional law. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is one of the most diverse law enforcement agencies in the country, he said, and as the chief law enforcement office of the largest county in the only minority-majority state, diversity is one of our strongest assets as we work with our community. Elizabeth Warren has insisted she would stay in the race for the White House despite a weak showing in New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary, telling her supporters in a speech on Tuesday night: I am here to get big things done. Our best chance of beating Donald Trump is with a candidate that will work, she said, a candidate who can build a campaign to unite our party and a candidate who can build a movement who is ready to take on corruption and win. Ms Warren then referenced Amy Klobuchar, who appeared to place in third according to early results in New Hampshires primary. Amy and I are the only candidates in this race who are not either billionaires or supported by Super PACs, she said. The Massachusetts senator added: Tonight, I am here to say thank you. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters The comments came as iresults showed Mr Sanders in first place, followed by Mr Buttigieg and Ms Klobuchar, respectively. Both Mr Sanders and Ms Warrens home states border New Hampshire, and the two candidates were seen as popular progressives to lead the state. But Ms Warren suffered a dip in polls as more moderate candidates like Mr Buttigieg and Ms Klobuchar had strong showings in Iowas caucus the week prior. Still, she appeared hopeful for her campaign on Tuesday night, telling supporters: "We're headed for a long fight." Ms Warren's campaign also released a memo to staffers that was later obtained by multiple outlets on Tuesday afternoon, in which the campaign manager appeared to describe the senator as an underdog candidate who was in it for the long haul. That memo claimed Mr Sanders faced a "ceiling" of support in the race that would prove true throughout the primary process, while Joe Biden, who appeared to place in fifth in New Hampshire, was on the verge of his campaign collapsing. LOS ANGELES and HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cacique Inc. one of the top authentic Mexican food brands and leading producer of Hispanic style cheeses, creams, chorizos and salsas in the U.S., announced today it has named award-winning agency GALLEGOS United as its agency of record (AOR) for advertising. GALLEGOS United will be Cacique's lead agency driving overall brand strategy, creative development across all media channels & social media. The agency's work on behalf of the brand is expected to begin immediately. Cacique Inc.'s appointment of GALLEGOS United comes on the heels of a competitive review among multiple agencies as part of its recent bolstered marketing efforts. As Cacique continues to extend its portfolio of authentic, high-quality Mexican foods rich in heritage and tradition to even more people across the country, the company ultimately elected to consolidate advertising efforts to a single agency with demonstrated success in reaching multiple diverse audiences with a unified approach. "Committed to leading the Mexican foods category and accelerating our household penetration, we sought collaborative, creative partners who would work with us to continue to elevate our authentic products," said Gil de Cardenas, CEO of Cacique Inc. "After learning more about the depth and breadth of GALLEGOS United's capabilities and approach to the total marketing mix which aligns directly with our evolution toward connecting the Cacique brand and foods with when, where and how consumers are navigating the moments of their lives it became evident that GALLEGOS United is an ideal partner to help us realize our growth goals." The decision was aided by the fact that GALLEGOS United is an agency seasoned in understanding the complexity of unique challenges brands face when looking to reach new audiences through campaigns that connect and resonate authentically with today's culturally diverse American consumers. The agency's groundbreaking, award-winning work with Chick-fil-A, Comcast, Coronado Brewing Co., Turbo Tax and the California Milk Processor Board (got milk?) are examples of success in this area. "This is a special opportunity and mission that we feel privileged to be on - an ambitious vision, with smart and collaborative leaders at a growing company, plus the responsibility of playing a pivotal role in driving growthit doesn't get much better," said John Gallegos, founder and CEO of GALLEGOS United. "Cacique is a 46-year-old, family owned company with a rich heritage, a lot of momentum and strong affinity among a loyal base of consumers. We're thrilled to be onboard to help harness Cacique loyalists' love for the brand and capture the broadly growing popularity for and exposure to authentic Mexican foods, further driving their business growth and cultural impact." About GALLEGOS United Founded in 2001, formerly known as Grupo Gallegos, GALLEGOS United is a creatively driven, agency dedicated to providing clients with strategic marketing solutions that push the boundaries and propel business growth. GALLEGOS United counts Comcast, Coronado Brewing Co., California Milk Processor Board (Got Milk?), TurboTax and Chick-fil-A as clients, to name a few. GALLEGOS United is part of UNITED COLLECTIVE, a communications group comprised of five interconnected independent agencies. For more information, visit gallegosunited.com. About Cacique Inc. Family-owned and founded in 1973 on the principles of Family, Quality, Integrity and Authenticity, Cacique is now one of the country's top authentic Mexican food brands and the #1 brand of Hispanic cheeses, creams, yogurts, chorizos, dips and salsas in the United States. Headquartered in Monrovia, California, Cacique remains dedicated to producing authentic, fresh and high-quality Hispanic products. For more information about the full portfolio of Cacique products, please visit caciqueinc.com or call (800) 521-6987 or (626) 937-3505. SOURCE GALLEGOS United Related Links http://www.gallegosunited.com The Ghaziabad district administration on Wednesday distributed spinning wheels to it employees following a Union government's directive to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhi, an official said. Spinning wheels have been distributed to administrative employees and a few other people as Mahatma Gandhi had officially suspended the non-cooperation movement on February 12, 1992 after the Chauri Chaura incident, District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey told PTI. He said Gandhi adhered to non-violence and halted the movement after a police post was set afire and 22 policemen died in Chauri Chaura. The spinning wheels, with five teachings of Bapu carved on them, would bring around positivity, the DM said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CitiusTech will now enable medical technology companies, providers, payers, and life sciences organizations to modernize their mission-critical IT. CitiusTech, a leading provider of healthcare technology services and solutions, today announced a partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate digital transformation and cloud adoption across healthcare organizations. As a Google Cloud partner, CitiusTech will enable medical technology companies, providers, payers, and life sciences organizations to modernize their mission-critical IT by integrating digital solutions on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). CitiusTech now has a practice focused on GCP that empowers healthcare companies to undertake enterprise-wide digital transformation. The partnership with Google Cloud further strengthens CitiusTechs capabilities to help healthcare organizations tackle their data interoperability challenges, modernize healthcare applications, implement advanced analytics and undertake cloud migration at scale. Bringing together Google Clouds technology and CitiusTechs proven understanding of the complex healthcare environment, our partnership will support healthcare organizations through digital transformation in key areas such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and hybrid cloud., said Manish Sharma, Sr. Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships at CitiusTech. Our combined technology will empower payers and providers to drive better outcomes and improve care quality. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. The board of the academy of the Cesars, France's equivalent of the Oscars, says it will ask for a mediator to be put in charge of deep reform of how it's run, after more than 200 actors, directors and others in France's film industry signed an open letter demanding profound reform. The Academy is already under fire after Roman Polanski's new film topped the list of this year's awards, despite a warrant for the director's arrest in the US for statutory rape. Dozens of people involved in the film industry, including actors Berenice Bejo and Omar Sy, producer siblings Eric and Nicolas Altmayer, and director Jerome Salle, denounced what they call a "dysfunction" in the Academy, and "opaqueness" of its accounting. In an open letter published Monday, they pointed out that that the founding statutes of the Cesars have not changed "for a very long time" and that the academy's 4,700 paid members (who are not made public) do not get a vote or a say in how the Academy functions nor how the ceremony is organised. In response to the letter, the Academy's board said it would ask the National Centre for Cinema, a culture ministry agency, to appoint a mediator in charge of reforming that will be in charge of "deep reform" of its statutes and governance. Previous annoucements not enough The Academy, created in 1975, and presided since 2003 by producer Alain Terzian, previously had announced measures to boost female representation in its membership and leadership, after director Claire Denis and writer Virginie Despentes, both feminist activists, were excluded from a ceremony to announce the contenders for this year's awards. The Academy apologised, and Terzian announced an essential modernisation of the institution, detailing measures that would insure parity in the electors (currently 35 per cent women), and the governing board. The signatories of Monday's letter said the measures were insufficient, given that the Academy system is inherently elitist and closed. They called for the members to elect their own leaders, like is done for the Oscars. Calls to snub Polanski Late Tuesday a number of French feminist groups published an open letter urging Cesar voters to ignore Polanski's film, An Officer and a Spy, titled "J'accuse" in France. The Academy has been widely criticised for allowing the film on the shortlist, as Polanski has been wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl since 1978 and is persona non grata in Hollywood. France's equality minister, women's groups and film critics condemned the decision to include the film, but the Academy said it could not be expected to take "moral positions" when awarding films. The feminist groups also called for a protest outside the award ceremony on 28 February in Paris's Salle Pleyel auditorium. $2.5 Billion in Assets Across Two iShares ESG Sector Leaders ETFs iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) yesterday received more than $600 million in investment from Ilmarinen, Finland's largest pension insurance company. This marks the second time Ilmarinen has reallocated assets toward iShares ESG-integrated strategies from traditional benchmarks. Established in 1961, Ilmarinen has made sustainability an integral aspect of its overall company philosophy and investment strategy for decades. The firm is responsible for providing pension insurance for 1.2 million people and has about EUR 50 billion in ESG-integrated investment assets. "ESG has been a core component of our investment strategy for a long time. Until recently, however, implementing sustainable strategies in our indexed public equity portfolio has been difficult because many parts of the market lacked a suitable ESG-oriented benchmark," said Anna Hyrske, head of responsible investing at Ilmarinen. "Advances in ESG data and analysis, indexing and portfolio construction have helped us achieve our sustainability goals and meet our performance objectives." LDEM seeks to track an index composed of more than 400 emerging market large- and mid-capitalization high ESG performing companies relative to their sector peers1 in 26 countries. Excluded from the index are companies involved in tobacco, alcohol, gambling, nuclear power, nuclear and conventional weapons, and controversial weapons as well as other controversial business involvement.2 Choice and Conviction Drive ESG Growth "Ilmarinen is pioneering an approach to re-orienting its entire portfolio toward more sustainable solutions," said Salim Ramji, Global Head of iShares and Index Investing at BlackRock. "More and more clients globally have conviction about the impact of sustainability risks on their portfolios and are integrating ESG into their investment allocation decisions as a result." iShares previously worked with Ilmarinen to launch its iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL), which launched in May 2019 with nearly $850 million from the Finnish firm. SUSL is the largest equity ETF launch in the past 15 years, and has subsequently attracted another $1 billion in investor flows, more than doubling the fund to $1.9 billion in assets3. Across SUSL and LDEM, the Sector Leaders ESG ETF range has $2.5 billion in assets. "Assessing a portfolio's environmental, social and governance characteristics through a risk lens is becoming standard for many investors," said Carolyn Weinberg, Managing Director and Global Head of Product for iShares. "With over $26B in assets invested in more than 80 ETFs globally, iShares is continually innovating to expand our range of ESG index strategies to help meet our clients' investment objectives, from implementing screens to targeting high ESG-rated companies." Today's announcement is the latest example of BlackRock continually delivering on its commitment to clients to make sustainability its standard for investing and provide clients with a growing number of options to invest sustainably. About BlackRock BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of December 31, 2019, the firm managed approximately $7.43 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate Twitter: @blackrock Blog: www.blackrockblog.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock. About iShares iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 900+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and $2.24 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock, trusted to manage more money than any other investment firm4 1 As determined by MSCI, the index provider. 2 Exclusion screens based on revenue or percentage of revenue thresholds for certain categories and categorical exclusions for others. 3 AUM as of January 28, 2020. 4 Based on $7.43 trillion in AUM as of 12/31/19. Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. A fund's environmental, social and governance ("ESG") investment strategy limits the types and number of investment opportunities available to the fund and, as a result, the fund may underperform other funds that do not have an ESG focus. A fund's ESG investment strategy may result in the fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole or underperform other funds screened for ESG standards. International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks often are heightened for investments in emerging/ developing markets or in concentrations of single countries. This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative, educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change. The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, "BlackRock"). BlackRock is not affiliated with Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company. The iShares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by MSCI Inc., nor does this company make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with MSCI Inc. 2020 BlackRock. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005200/en/ Contacts: Matt Kobussen (646) 231-0599 Matt.Kobussen@BlackRock.com His two straight losses will complicate his fundraising efforts, Democratic operatives warn, at a moment when some Biden donors have also been quietly considering former mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York. "How do you raise the money? How do you convince donors small and large that they should continue to invest in you?" said Leah Daughtry, a veteran party strategist who ran the 2008 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, sketching out the challenges for the Biden camp as well as for other struggling candidates including Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. "You've got to blow it out of the water in Nevada and South Carolina to convince small and large donors you continue to be worth the investment," she added. "You need that money because Super Tuesday is three days after South Carolina. You don't have a lot of time to pivot." On Tuesday, Biden did not even stay in New Hampshire for a previously planned primary night event. Instead, he flew to South Carolina, which has a predominantly black electorate in Democratic primaries and will be the first state to reflect the preferences of the voters who have most buoyed his candidacy. Loading After he arrived, Biden addressed supporters at the New Hampshire event by live stream, where he vowed that the next two contests would go very differently than the first two. "We're going on and we're going to win in Nevada and in South Carolina," he said. Kate Bedingfield, a deputy campaign manager for Biden, told reporters Monday that Biden would "absolutely" have the money to compete on Super Tuesday. She said she also believed that Biden's perceived South Carolina firewall would hold whatever the outcome in New Hampshire, citing his longstanding relationships with black voters. But there is increasing competition in that state, from candidates including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who won New Hampshire, and Tom Steyer, the hedge fund billionaire who is spending heavily in South Carolina. Loading Some leading South Carolina Democrats say that there are warning signs for Biden on the ground there, too. "While it's true there's a lot of familiarity and good feelings toward the vice-president because of his association with President Obama, that familiarity and good will does not stay without some cultivation and some work," Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a longtime state representative, said in a phone interview. "There are indications that the vote may have been taken for granted to some extent." In recent weeks, Biden and his team sought, increasingly aggressively, to keep expectations low in New Hampshire. But they still continued to campaign here in recent days, to the frustration of some supporters in and out of South Carolina, who told aides that he should abandon New Hampshire and beeline south to shore up his standing and work toward a resounding victory. Biden's final 24 hours in New Hampshire showed a candidate trying the kind of multitasking that is never ideal on the campaign trail: simultaneously seeking votes from New Hampshire residents while also looking toward contests in more favourable states. He even took time Monday to call top South Carolina supporters, expressing his commitment to the state. At his rally Monday night, he spoke confidently of how he would fare "heading south and across this country." And Tuesday, just moments before he visited a Dunkin' [Donuts] filled with reporters waiting for him, his campaign announced he would be heading to South Carolina later in the day. "We're still mildly hopeful here in New Hampshire," Biden said when he came inside the store, even as he noted that "the rest of the nation is out there". Yet in the last days of the race, there were ominous signs for Biden here. His numbers in state and national polls dropped. His message veered wildly between a wide range of subjects, and he was inconsistent in his willingness to lash his rivals. Voters who fit the profile he was targeting older, moderate, sceptical of the progressive candidates repeatedly expressed their interest in centrist alternatives to him, such as Klobuchar and Buttigieg. Amid the visit of the 25-strong EU parliamentarian delegation to Kashmir on Wednesday, CPI-M leader Yousuf Tarigami questioned the central government on its motives. He also questioned the government on why Opposition leaders were not being allowed to visit the Jammu-Kashmir Union territory. While interacting with a news agency Tarigami said, "Since the visit of this foreign diplomats' delegation is being felicitated by the government, it is pertinent to ask as to what exactly the government wants to achieve through this exercise? If they are facilitating the visit of foreign delegations, why are they not allowing Indian Opposition leaders to visit Kashmir and meet the people?" Diplomats from over 25 countries like Germany, Italy, New Zealand, France, and Canada on Wednesday arrived Kashmir to witness the ground reality in the region. The visit also comes more than six months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The CPI-M leader also accused the Narendra Modi led government of making false claims about normalcy in the valley. "The government has disturbed the region after the abrogation of Article 370. They have ruined the economy of the state. If they are claiming normalcy then why have they slapped the draconian and unlawful Public Safety Act (PSA) on former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir on farcical grounds?" Yousuf said. READ | Second batch of foreign envoys arrives in J&K; will visit Baramulla, Srinagar & Jammu 25 Foreign envoys visit Jammu and Kashmir Earlier on Wednesday morning, the second batch of foreign diplomats reached Jammu and Kashmir to see the ground reality of the situation in the region. The visit comes almost half a year after the Parliament scrapped the former state's special status and split it into two Union Territories. The second batch included diplomats from across 25 countries including--Germany, Canada, France and Afghanistan. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats visiting the Kashmir valley within a month. The delegation includes diplomats from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland, and Rwanda. The delegation met with fruit growers in North Kashmir before reaching Srinagar, where they also met media representatives, civil society groups and politicians. READ | 3 detained for protesting against visit of foreign envoys in Srinagar READ | Foreign Envoys' visit demystifies J&K situation, busts Pakistan's lies: The key takeaways (With ANI inputs) Samsung has made a point of making 5G available for every Galaxy S20 variant, but that doesn't mean the phones will always come equipped with 5G. People in the UK, countries in mainland Europe and elsewhere will also have the option of buying the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra in 4G (read: LTE) variants. In some countries, like Russia and South Africa, the 4G variant appears to be the only one on offer in pre-registration campaigns. That's not surprising when 5G is still rare or non-existent in most parts of the world, but it's worth noting if you're going phone shopping. Just don't expect to see any changes. Engadget confirmed at Samsung's London event that the 4G versions are functionally identical to their 5G counterparts aside from the lack of that (usually) speedier data connection. There doesn't appear to be a price advantage, either. If you have the choice, then, you might as well go with the 5G model. Even if your carrier doesn't support 5G yet, you'll have an extra bit of futureproofing for any potential carrier upgrades. Follow all the latest news from Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event here! Jaunpur: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra receives warm welcome from party workers and supporters at Mahadev Bazaar in Jaunpur on her way to Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh on Feb 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Azamgarh: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meet the victims of police atrocities suffered during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests, Bilariyaganj in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district on Feb 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Azamgarh: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during her visit to Bilariyaganj in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district to meet the victims of police atrocities suffered during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests, on Feb 12, Image Source: IANS News Azamgarh: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meet the victims of police atrocities suffered during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests, Bilariyaganj in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district on Feb 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Azamgarh, Feb 12 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday arrived in Bilariyaganj in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district to meet the victims of police atrocities suffered during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests. She told the victims: "Wrong has been done to all of you, and we have to stand against this injustice. This government is entirely against the poor people." Priyanka Gandhi assured the women that she would stand with them and help them in their fight against citizenship laws. The victims of the violence were brought to an empty plot where they met the Congress General Secretary. Her visit to Azamgarh is a major embarrassment for the local MP Akhilesh Yadav, who is the Samajwadi Party president. Posters proclaiming Akhilesh Yadav as "missing" had appeared in Azamgarh on Sunday when he did not visit his constituency after the incident though he did send a party delegation later. It may be recalled that the Uttar Pradesh police had forcibly removed about 200 anti-CAA women protesters from Jauhar Park of Bilariyaganj town in Azamgarh in the wee hours of February 5. The police lathi-charged the protesters and used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. They had also detained hundreds of protesters, including women and children. According to sources, the police crackdown began at around 3 a.m. on February 5. Women protesters said that a posse of policemen had started pressuring them to vacate the protest site. When they refused, the police used tear gas shells and batons and rubber bullets against them. Several protesters were injured in the ensuing melee and others fled to save their lives. Meanwhile, Congress workers who accompanied Priyanka Gandhi were stopped at the barricades that had been erected in Bilariyaganj. Journalists were also stopped from moving ahead. This led to a heated exchange between the police and the party workers. Earlier, Priyanka was given a rousing welcome at Mahadev Bazaar in Jaunpur while she was on her way to Azamgarh. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 07:16 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063e4b70 1 National PAN,political-party,Zulkifli-Hasan,amien-rais Free At least 10 National Mandate Party (PAN) members were injured in a violent dispute during the second day of the partys national congress in the Claro Hotel in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Tuesday. In a video of the incident posted on Twitter, several congress participants are seen throwing chairs at each other after the congress leader adjourned the meeting. Begini suasana keributan pada Konggres partai PAN yg katanya Partai Islam Partai Allah tapi kenapa para kadernya tdk bermoral gini ya... Miriiiiiiiis !!!! pic.twitter.com/e3cPYFQjb8 Petruk (@Petruk07139808) February 11, 2020 The head of the Southeast Sulawesi Police's General Crime Unit, Sr. Comr. La Ode Aries Elfatar, said four of the injured members were being treated at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Kendari. Several entrances to the meeting room were also damaged in the ruckus. The fight started when supporters of one of the candidates vying to be party chairman, Mulfachri Harahap, entered the meeting room to protest the congress committee's decision to postpone the meeting. The organizing committee told congress participants to stay outside the meeting room during the recess, but supporters of incumbent chairman Zulkifli Hasan chose to remain inside, triggering the clash. Mulfachri said he predicted that a fight would break out because of what he described as poor management on the part of the organizers. The registration system is very bad; many people who were not eligible to attend the meeting were given membership cards. Some people also entered the congress without membership cards, he said as quoted by kompas.com. Meanwhile, Southeast Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Merdisyam said his team had already secured the meeting room following a request from the events organizers. We will not be involved in deciding what started the fight, since its their internal matter, Merdisyam said. (dpk) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 18:35:20|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China will take measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in colleges and universities, an education official said Wednesday. Wang Dengfeng, a senior official with the Ministry of Education, said at a press conference that the ministry had required postponement of school semesters amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Colleges and universities will reopen on a staggered schedule to avoid travel peaks of students, he said, adding that all schools must carry out disinfections after reopening. Students coming from areas hard hit by the coronavirus epidemic, and those with close contacts of confirmed cases or those having symptoms such as fever and cough, might need to be put in quarantine. Other students will need to have their health conditions checked on a daily basis, according to Wang. Students from Hubei Province, where the epicenter city of Wuhan is located, will not be able to leave for schools outside the province until they meet local requirement, he said. Internationally-famed fashion designer Wendell Rodricks passed away at his home in Colvale village in Goa on Wednesday evening at the age of 59. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mapusa) Gajanan Prabhudesai said information about Rodricks' death was received around 6.30 pm and a team was immediately sent to his residence. He said Rodricks died after collapsing at his residence, adding the cause of death is yet to be ascertained. A Padma Shri award-winning designer and known for infusing modern aesthetics with traditional Goan influences, Rodricks was also an author, environmentalist and gay rights activist. Born in Mumbai, Rodricks studied fashion designing in the US and France from 1986 to 1988. He is often credited for pioneering the concept of 'resort wear' when it was not a popular idea in India. He worked on the planning of the first ever Lakme India Fashion Week and often showcased his collections at the fashion weeks. In 2010, he revived the weaving of the traditional Goan Kunbi Sari and showcased the design at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was among the first to tweet about Rodricks' death. "Deeply saddened to hear about the sudden demise of my very good friend and designer, Wendell Rodricks. His excellency in his work and skills are irreplaceable and shall always be cherished. We will truly miss him. My heartfelt condolences to his family & dear ones," he posted. Fashion Design Council of India chairman Sunil Sethi said Rodricks' sudden death due to heart attack has shocked to the fashion industry. "I still can't believe that he is dead. I spoke to him just two days ago and invited him for our finale. I was also working with him on his museum. He has died too young. "Entire fashion industry is shocked. I got to know that he suffered a heart attack. People did notice a little change in his health, but nobody realised it will lead to this. It's too sudden. He was a legend," Sethi told PTI on the sidelines of the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. A tribute was also paid to Rodricks at the fashion event later in the evening. Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani also condoled his death. "Shocked to hear about the untimely demise of Wendell Rodricks, one of India's most renowned designers. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. May his soul rest in peace," she tweeted. Apart from fashion, Rodricks was a known travel enthusiast with he and his partner Jerome Marrel travelling to many countries. He was also an author, having written books like "Moda Goa - History and Style", his memoir "The Green Room" and "Poskem: Goans in the Shadows". Rodricks was working on his passion project Moda Goa Museum, which is dedicated to the history of Goan costumes, and had posted about it just three days ago. Fashion designer Rina Dhaka said she was "devastated" to know about Rodricks' passing away. "I had known him since '90s. It is a great loss. He was a brave man and always vocal about his views and worked a lot for the local people of Goa," Dhaka said. Designer Samant Chauhan said, "It's a very sad I remember how inspiring he was, a perfectionist. I really admired him both as a person and a designer." "Shocked and heartbroken. Much too young to go like this. Just can't believe it," tweeted Soni Razdan. "Really sad to hear about the passing of Wendell Rodricks, fashion designer, activist, a son of Goa and a wonderful human being," musician Ehsaan Noorani tweeted. Director Madhur Bhandarkar, in whose film "Fashion" Rodricks had a role, said the designer's death came as a shock. Designer Rahul Mishra called Rodricks' death a "personal loss". "He was always encouraging. When I first showcased in Gen Next, he gave me a standing ovation, very few people in the fashion industry support you the way he did. He always promoted young talent and had a great vision," Mishra said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Libyas oil production is down to less than 200,000 bpd, and the uncertainty surrounding the outage create complications for OPEC+ as it looks to cut deeper. Libyas civil war entered a dangerous new phase a few weeks ago when the Libyan National Army (LNA) and associated militias blockaded oil export terminals as a way of applying pressure on the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. The standoff continues, and Libyas output has plunged to around 180,000 bpd, according to estimates from late last week. On Sunday, Libyas Azzawiya Oil Refining Company said that it was ceasing refining operations for the time being because it does not have enough crude oil. The National Oil Company warned in January that production would ultimately fall to zero because storage would fill up and oil fields would need to be idled. The outage is significant, totaling between 800,000 bpd and 1 million barrels per day (mb/d). Brent crude has collapsed below $55 per barrel because of the coronavirus, and the oil market appears largely indifferent to the disruption in Libya. The fear is over destroyed demand in China, and broader economic damage from the mass quarantine. Against that backdrop, its hard to imagine where Brent would be trading had the outage in Libya never occurred. What is more, Libyan oil production could recover again soon if agreement is reached next week in Geneva following the meeting now of the conflicting parties in Cairo, Commerzbank wrote in a note on Monday. Over 1 million barrels of additional oil per day from Libya could possibly push the Brent price towards the $50 per barrel mark in the short term. Now, OPEC+ is negotiating another round of cuts in order to keep the market from collapsing further. OPECs Joint Technical Committee (JTC) proposed 600,000 bpd in deeper reductions, and extending the cuts through the end of 2020. Related: Oil Sinks To Prices Not Seen Since 2018 If OPEC+ proceeds as expected, the additional 600,000-bpd cut will take the total cuts from 2.1 to 2.4 mb/d. Add in another 300,000 bpd of unilateral reductions from Saudi Arabia and the total becomes 2.7 mb/d. But how does Libya figure into this? Libya could stay offline or come back online at any moment. In our view, the oil market might get confused about the role of Libya in relation to the proposed OPEC+ deal, Standard Chartered wrote in a report on Tuesday. We understand that the forecast market balances used to calibrate the proposed cut assume that Libyas output returns immediately at its previous 1.1mb/d. The OPEC+ accounting assumes Libya bounces back, and the reason for that is to remove Libyan exports as a potential bearish factor, Standard Chartered added. [I]f they were to return quickly it would require no fine-tuning of the agreement and any slower return would represent an additional market tightening. The investment bank said that its possible that the market might not fully appreciate this Libyan aspect in the short run; it could incorrectly see the 0.6mb/d cut as purely determined by the coronavirus and think that extra Libyan exports would require further cuts from OPEC+ to balance the market. So, OPEC+ is assuming Libya bounces back so that there is no bearish surprise. But the civil war could just as easily drag on indefinitely. If that occurs, that would tighten up the market relative to what OPEC+ is assuming. Recent negotiations in Geneva did not lead to a ceasefire and the war continues. Another round of talks is scheduled for later this month. This means the blockade is likely to remain in place at least a few more weeks, JBC Energy wrote in a note. However, the firm said that uncertainty will persist, and there is a formidable challenge for OPEC+ in terms of timing. Libyas return could easily come sooner than the [OPEC+] cuts, whilst it would in any case most likely outpace them in terms of size, JBC added. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: HABARI HIZI ZINAPATIKANA KWENYE APP YA UDAKU SPECIAL, BONYEZA HAPA KUIDOWNLOAD KWENYE SIMU YAKO BURE The will was deposited with one of his lawyers that I cannot tell you, Yego spoke to a local daily. This was something he did sometimes back before his condition deteriorated and lost his voice. He made sure he shared out his property among all his children and dependants, Yego said. We informed the government about his wish and we hope that they will abide by it, Yego went on. Join AJIRA YAKO Group for Daily Job Updates CLICK HERE The Late Mzee Moi before his death had drafted a substantive will to project the kind of way his multi-billion property will equally be distributed among his kin.That was revealed on Thursday when one of his close confidants disclosed that he had wished that the property be shared among all of his children, with one already dead.Bishop Silas Yego said Moi began preparing the document after beginning to get ill. Yego who is a retired AIC cleric said after the completion of the will Moi presented it to a lawyer whose name, he, Yego, with-held.Moi fathered eight children namely Jennifer, Jonathan, Raymond, Philip, John mark, Doris, June, and Gideon.Yego also added the government had been served with a copy of the same and it is his wish that they will abide by it as the preparations for Mzee Mois send-off gain momentum.Moi invested in banking, real estate, transport and logistics, large-scale farming, education, and media.Moi will be buried on February 12 at his Kabarak home in Nakuru County, a funeral appearing to be one of its kind in the history of prominent deaths in the country.Ministry of Interior has also declared the Tuesday of February 11 to be a public holiday for the members of the public to also pay their tribute to the fallen leader.The body will be presented to the parliament Buildings for viewing from Saturday, February 8.The funeral service will be held on the 11th at the renovated Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi before the cortege leaves for the final rites in Kabarak.Of the eight children in the Moi family, only four are known:He is the most known in the family. He is currently the Senator for Baringo County.Gideon evidently appeared to be his fathers favorite, always depicting the urge to following his footsteps.Philip came into the limelight when many a time his estranged wife Ms. Rosanna Pluda sued him over child support. He ever served in the military.He is the current MP of Rongai Constituency which is found in Nakuru County. He has maintained a low profile even when in the tough sphere of politics.A renowned safari rally driver of his time. He was off politics even though he grew up in the environment to mould him into active politics. He died in April 2019 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.He has been out of the limelight pursuing his career in silence. He works at the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources as a geologist.Twin sister to Philip Moi. She was betrothed to the late Simon Choge who died in 1998. Choge worked as Jonathans navigator in the safari rally driving.She is the last born of the eight, though adopted. She schooled at Kenya High School before proceeding to Canada for her tertiary.She too has kept to a low media profile. She is a prolific businesswoman and is married to a Briton. Federal Report Faults Southwest Airlines and FAA on Safety Southwest Airlines continues to fly airplanes with safety concerns while federal officials do a poor job overseeing the airline, a government watchdog said on Feb. 11. The airline has flown more than 150,000 flights on 88 jets it bought on the used-plane market and which had unconfirmed maintenance histories, the Transportation Departments inspector general said in a report. That put more than 17 million passengers at risk, according to the report. In 2017, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors began finding potentially serious gaps in Southwests process for verifying the condition of the planes, including major repairs that werent documented and maintenance records that didnt meet FAA standards. Meeting U.S. standards normally takes up to four weeks per plane, but people hired by Southwest approved 71 of the planes on the same day, the inspector general said. Southwest said 80 of the planes have been inspected and returned to flying, and the last eight are undergoing maintenance. The FAA gave the airline until this summer to bring the planes in compliance with federal rules because it accepted Southwests argument that the issues were low safety risks, the inspector general said. The watchdog office added that FAA has not given its inspectors enough guidance on reviewing risk assessments and evaluating an airlines safety culture. As a result, FAA cannot provide assurance that the carrier operates at the highest degree of safety in the publics interest, as required by law, the inspector general said. That is so even though FAA representativesranging from senior executives to local inspectorsexpressed concerns about the safety culture at Southwest Airlines. Southwest said it has taken steps to address the reports key findings, and it adamantly disagreed with the critique of its safety culture. Southwest maintains a culture of compliance, recognizing the safety of our operation as the most important thing we do, airline spokeswoman Brandy King said in a statement. The airline works to improve each and every day, any implication that we would tolerate a relaxing of standards is absolutely unfounded. A photo shows debris of the crashed airplane of Ethiopia Airlines, near Bishoftu, a town some 60 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 11, 2019. (Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images) The report is another setback for the FAA, which is being investigated by Congress for its approval of the Boeing 737 Max, the plane that was grounded after two crashes killed 346 people. Critics have said the agency is too cozy with airlines and aircraft manufacturers. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said the report highlighted very concerning lapses in FAAs safety oversight. He said his committee is investigating many of the same issues. The inspector general said the FAA accepted Southwests justification that any lapses at the carrier were low safety risks. It said the agency has failed to strike a balance between collaborating with industry and managing safety risks. FAA cannot provide assurance that the carrier operates at the highest degree of safety in the publics interest, as required by law, the report said. The FAA agreed with all 11 of the inspector generals recommendations to improve oversight of Southwest, including new training for inspectors who monitor the nations fourth-biggest airline. The inspector general began investigating FAAs oversight of how Southwest handles risk after an engine explosion caused a passengers death in April 2018. The review found a number of problems. In addition to insufficient maintenance records on used planes, for nearly two years Southwest frequently failed to give pilots correct information about the weight and balance of loads on their planes, which the inspector general called an important safety lapse. A NTSB investigator is on scene examining damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane in this image released from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 17, 2018. (NTSB/Handout via Reuters) Last month, the FAA proposed a $3.9 million fine for improper weight calculations on more than 21,500 flights. Southwest can fight the penalty. Southwest has said it has improved its system for calculating weight and balance of cargo. The report also said FAA did not evaluate Southwests risk assessment after a hard landing last year during dangerous gusty windshigher than Southwest pilots are trained forat Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. Both wings of the Boeing 737 were damaged when they hit the runway during the first of three attempted landings before pilots flew to another airport, where they landed safely. The incident was first reported last month by The Wall Street Journal. By David Koenig Photo: Corey Griffith/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Charlotte. Bicyclist killed in Saturday hit-and-run, police seek suspect Read the full story on Spectrum News North Carolina. Man terrorizing west Charlotte neighborhood Read the full story on WCNC. Charlotte-area nursing homes flagged for past abuse and neglect Read the full story on WCNC. Renewed fight in Charlotte over money for the arts Read the full story on WCNC. 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. Police have identified the bicyclist killed Saturday night after a hit and run accident in north Charlotte. Videos from multiple houses show the same man attempting to break-in. WCNC Charlotte has learned this man has been arrested at least 15 times in the last three years. The federal government is now using a new alert system to help warn people about nursing homes with histories of past abuse and neglect. 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. Russia on Wednesday accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Moscow on Syria and of aggravating the situation in Idlib where Syrian forces have made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion in a nine-year-old war. That offensive has fuelled violence in Idlib, in northwest Syria and bordering Turkey, forcing thousands of civilians to flee and drawing in the Turkish military which has seen 13 of its soldiers killed by Syrian shelling in the last 10 days. In one of the strongest signs yet that Syria is placing relations between Moscow, which backs the Syrian government, and Ankara, which backs Syrian anti-government rebels, under increasing strain, the Kremlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Defence Ministry all accused Turkey of bad faith. The Kremlin said Turkey had failed to deliver on a promise to neutralise militants in Idlib, something it called unacceptable, the Foreign Ministry reminded Ankara its forces were in Syria without the blessing of the Syrian government, and the Defence Ministry said Turkish troops were seriously aggravating the situation on the ground in Idlib. The Defence Ministry also flatly rejected an allegation made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan who said Russian forces and Iran-backed militias were "constantly attacking the civilian people, carrying out massacres, spilling blood". 'Non-fulfillment' "Statements by Turkish representatives about alleged attacks by Russian forces on civilians in the Idlib de-escalation zone do not correspond with reality," the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement. "The real reason for the crisis in the Idlib de-escalation zone unfortunately is the non-fulfilment by our Turkish colleagues of their undertakings to separate moderate opposition militants from terrorists." It said the presence of Turkish troops and armour in Idlib was making the situation there much worse, as was the transport of weapons and ammunition across the Syrian-Turkish border. Story continues Russia took issue with Turkey after Erdogan said his military would strike Syrian forces by air or ground anywhere in Syria if another Turkish soldier was hurt as the Syrian government fought to regain control of Idlib. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow remained committed to a deal on Syria it had struck with Ankara, but that Russia considered militant attacks in Idlib to be unacceptable and in contravention of that same agreement. Russia, a close ally of the Syrian government, hashed out a deal with Turkey in 2018 to create a de-militarised zone in Idlib, but those agreements and others between the two countries have come under strain amid mounting tensions in the region. "In particular, according to this document (the agreement), the Turkish side undertook to ensure that terrorist groups in Idlib were neutralised," said Peskov. "We continue to note with regret that these groups are carrying out strikes from Idlib on Syrian forces and also taking aggressive action against our military facilities," Peskov told reporters. "This is unacceptable." (REUTERS) Angry, frustrated, and disappointed Ghanaians have already declared the former Ghanaian leader, John Mahama corrupt, the reason he lost the 2016 elections. Therefore, I don't have anything significant about Mahama to write. I am neutral and not affiliated with any political party in Ghana. My articles are, therefore, based on the current Ghanaian leader, Nana Akufo Addo, who has won the heart of each Ghanaian that he is pure as snow and above all, the Messiah to save poor Ghanaians and get rid of corruption, while in fact, he is a thief among thieves. If I am residing in Ghana, my articles wouldn't be different from what I am providing today on ModernGhana news. I am not scared of Akufo Akufo and I believe he knows too well about that. Akufo Addo can't bully, intimidate or kill me. He mustn't even think about it. I am not hitting against Akufo Addo because I hate him but I want Ghanaians to understand that he is equally corrupt like John Mahama. Above all, in the past in Belgium, I have written similar articles against the Belgian government, its royal family and the police. I am not like the empty barrel columnist who lives in America, making all that stupid noise, yet so scared to write an article about the US government's role in creating Aids and Ebola in Africa. We need to educate our children to let them know the truth and if you can't write such an article don't be jealous to attack someone who can. Monkeys are not responsible for Aids and bats are not responsible for Ebola. The two diseases were man-made biological weapons, period. My article identifies who I am and that's how it will be until the creator calls me to sleep in my grave. Nobody can stop me and no fear or pressure can stop me. It's clear why Akufo Addo is enjoying the fear which has fallen on Ghana because everyone fears to criticize his bad corrupt government but what he shouldn't forget is, he can enjoy the media silence but his corruption and bad governance are visible. Free education means something significant since he has given every Ghanaian the opportunity to educate his or her child but he is a bad leader since he lacks the knowledge to create jobs and maintain a flexible sustaining economy. Look at all the treasures in the country, plus the discovery of oil, yet he can't utilize the resources to create a better future for Ghanaians and the worst of all, his bad leadership has abandoned projects left by the former government. Which intelligent leader will do that? Do you want me to praise you for doing this? Do you want me to lay the red carpet for you to pass on for abandoning projects which belong to Ghana but not for the NDC? Any intelligent person will never attack me for writing about this because this foolish act in any country will not take Akufo Addo to the next level. You talk of getting rid of corruption but Ghana at the moment is the third corrupt country in the world. While countries around the globe are evacuating their nationals from coronavirus epidemic China, you have decided not to do that and you think this makes you a good leader? In our country are foreign embassies of both developing and developed countries, the latter knows about your poor leadership, the fact that it is wrong to interfere in Ghanaian politics they are quiet but that doesn't mean they don't see what is going on in the country. Akufo Addo, accept the fact you are a bad leader for abandoning projects which have cost Ghana millions of dollars just because they were started by the former government, NDC. Your actions are unprofessional, therefore, next time, Ghanaians mustn't be angry if Trump calls Africa a 'Shithole continent.' Recently, I wrote an article entitled ' Akufo Addo Must Apologize To Ghanaians And Take Over Uncompleted NDC projects and also on February 2, 2020, submitted an article: A Humble Request From The Minister Of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, asking him to persuade the Ghanaian leader to take over the projects as soon as possible. Ghanaians are known to be intelligent people but God only knows the reason they have failed to show that wisdom. Abandoning educational and medical projects which belong to Ghana uncompleted because they were started by the opposition, NDC doesn't permit Akufo Addo to be in office for the second time. If he doesn't take over the abandoned projects, every intelligent Ghanaian must deny him the opportunity to be in the office the second time because this is the best evidence that he is a bad leader who doesn't deserve to be in the office for the second time. Finally, don't be worried about my already published articles, be worried about what hasn't been published. First child Car Seat Clinic to be held next week Island police officers have completed a child seat installation training scheme and can now train members of the public. Community Road Safety Officers have now carried out their IOSH accredited child car seat training and are holding their first Car Seat Clinic on Monday 17th February at Douglas Fire Station, Peel Road from 10 am to 4 pm. IOM Constabulary said on the scheme: 'We know that car seat checking services are very much needed on the Isle of Man with our earlier research showing that more than half of parents surveyed dont feel they have enough information about what car seat they should be using for their child nor how this should be fitted properly. 'This was borne out when we commissioned a car seat checking expert to visit for a one day fit and check event and out of the 57 car seats checked, just under 70% had fitting errors.' Anyone interested in attending the course needs to pre-book by emailing berni.kneale@gov.im, or call 631543. You can also speak to the team for advice at the Isle of Man Bump, Baby and Toddler Show at the Villa Marina on Sunday 23rd February from 11 am until 4 pm. New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Delhi Police Crime Branch will bring bookie Sanjeev Chawla to India on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, a top-placed source in Delhi Police told IANS. A top Delhi Police official, on condition of anonymity, said: "In order to extradite Sanjeev Chawla to India within a month, the Delhi Police Crime Branch team went to London several times. Finally, the efforts have yielded results. Delhi Police Crime Branch DCP G. Ram Gopal Naik with his team reached London on Sunday to complete the legal formalities." "Scotland Yard will hand over Chawla to the Crime Branch team at around 2.30 a.m. on Thursday at Heathrow airport. This is being done keeping security in mind," the source said. When asked where will he be taken after he lands in India, the source said: "He is not an ordinary criminal. He is being extradited to India under a special treaty after 19 years. First, his medical examination will be done then, as per the rules, he will be taken to court where we will seek his police custody." (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in) Australia-produced Netflix thriller Clickbait has announced further cast. Abraham Lim (The Catch), Jessica Collins (Revolution), Ian Meadows (Dead Lucky), Daniel Henshall (Okja), Motell Foster (Foxhole), Jaylin Fletcher (Snowpiercer) and Camaron Engels (Malibu Rescue) have joined the cast. They join previously-announced cast Zoe Kazan (The Big Sick, Ruby Sparks), Betty Gabriel (Get Out, Counterpart), Adrian Grenier (Entourage, Affairs of State) and Phoenix Raei (Stateless, The Heights). The 8 part series from Tony Ayres (pictured, The Slap, Nowhere Boys, Wanted), David Heyman (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Harry Potter, Gravity) from NBCUniversal International Studios and Tony Ayres Productions is currently filming in Melbourne. It is created by Tony Ayres and Christian White. Set in the US, the series explores the ways in which our most dangerous and uncontrolled impulses are fuelled in the age of social media and reveals the ever widening fractures we find between our virtual and real-life personas. Lim will play Ben Park, a ruthlessly ambitious junior news producer who lives for clicks, likes, and views. Ben is willing to wade into ethically murky waters if it means getting what he wants. Collins will portray Emma Beesley, a seemingly successful woman seeking spiritual and emotional nourishment. Emmas well-put-together facade starts to crumble when shes unwittingly drawn into the Brewer case. Meadows is Matt Aldin, Nick Brewers best buddy and colleague, Matt does his best to support the Brewer family through an unimaginably complex crisis. Hensall will play Simon Oxley, a traumatized social media moderator who is looking for a way to gain some control over the situation. Foster will portray Curtis Hamilton, a former colleague of Sophies who has a reason to bear a grudge against Nick Brewer. Fletcher is Kai Brewer, Nick and Sophies youngest son whos naturally athletic, loyal and popular. When his parents are put on trial in the court of public opinion, he doesnt know what to believe. Engels will play Ethan Brewer, Nick and Sophies eldest son. Effortlessly smart, but when he attempts to become a hero in real life, he quickly learns that his online skills dont necessarily translate. Source: Deadline Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) A speeding jeepney hit several students crossing a pedestrian lane in Makati City on Wednesday night, leaving seven injured and one dead. The Makati City Police Station said the jeepney, whose driver was identified as Crisalde Tamparong, 31, hit the crossing high school students at J.P. Rizal St. near corner Mabini St. In Brgy. Poblacion at 7:20 pm. The victims were ages 13 to 17 years old. All of them were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati and Makati Medical Center. Makati Police chief PCol. Rogelio Simon said that charges of homicide and reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injury will be filed against Tamparong. The suspect was also ordered to undergo drug test. CNN Philippines' correspondent Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report - Ghana Railway Company has announced that it would on Wednesday, February 12 and Friday, February 14, 2020, offer free train rides on its Accra-Nsawam line - The train is expected to depart from the Nsawam station to Accra to 5:45 am and depart from Accra station to Nsawam at 5:30 pm each day Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The Ghana Railway Company has announced that it would on Wednesday 12th February and Friday 14th February 2020, offer free train rides on its Accra-Nsawam line. This comes after the railway company addressed technical challenges that occurred while conducting a test run on the line with its regulator, the Ghana Railway Railway Development (GRDA). The train is expected to depart from the Nsawam station to Accra to 5:45 am and depart from Accra station to Nsawam at 5:30 pm each day. READ ALSO: Government clears legacy debts owed bulk oil distributors - Senyo Hosi A statement from the Ghana Railway company noted that GRDA has given certification for GRCL to commence passenger service on the line. The statement assured Ghanaians that the rail line has been certified by its regulator as fit for commercial purposes. "After successfully addressing the technical challenges, the GRCL conducted a joint test run with Ghana Railway Railway Development (GRDA), the Regulator, to ensure the suitability of the line for passenger service. In the light of this, GRCL will provide free passenger service from Accra to Nsawam on Wednesday 12th and 14th Friday, 2020. The train will depart from Nsawam station to Accra to 5:45 am and depart from Accra station to Nsawam at 5:30 pm each day,"excerpts from the statement. READ ALSO: AU appoints Akufo-Addo as 'Champion of African Union Financial Institutions' In other news, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been appointed by the African Union(AU) as the Champion of the African Union Financial Institutions. His appointment was made at the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of AU on Monday, February 10, 2020, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The creation of African Union Financial Institutions is aimed at speeding up the unification and socio-economic development of the continent by 2063. READ ALSO: I am not responsible for unresolved murder cases in A/R - Minister fumes President Akufo-Addo is a "wicked old man" - Angry protester fumes | #Yencomgh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Panaji, Feb 12 : Citing intelligence inputs about "possible terror threats" along the Western Coast, the North Goa district administration on Wednesday imposed section 144 for a period of two months. According to an order issued by North Goa District Magistrate R. Menaka, the prohibitory order had also been issued in order to prevent the possibility of "anti-social elements" committing crimes in the state. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has been under criticism from the Opposition in the recent past, for indiscriminately imposing section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Prohibitory orders were issued in both districts of ahead of the Supreme Court's decision on the Ramjanmabhoomi temple issue in mid-October, but the order continued to be in place for more than a month. * * * Stock markets across the globe are back on the front foot Wednesday morning after officials in Hubei reported a lower number of confirmed cases, and a lower number of deaths, in their morning update, inspiring optimism that the "People's War" - as President Xi put it - against Covid-19 can be won. Interestingly enough, while the market felt satisfied that Chinese health authorities are finally getting a handle on the virus now that Beijing and Shanghai have joined the ranks of cities suffering 'partial lockdowns', most of the major newsflow concerning the outbreak shifted to Britain, where a 'super spreader' who picked up the virus in Singapore has apparently wreaked havoc on the country's national health system, having infected at least two medical personnel. Officials at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex confirmed late Tuesday that a member of their hospital staff was among the eight confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK announced earlier this week. The Worthing staff member is different from a locum doctor working in Brighton who is also among the eight confirmed cases. Yesterday, it was reported that two prisoners at HMP Bullingdon - including one who was recently extradited from Thailand - are being tested for the virus and being held in isolation. They are both reported to be suffering flu-like symptoms. As of Tuesday evening, a total of 1,358 people have been tested for coronavirus in the UK, of which 1,350 were confirmed negative and eight positive, the Department of Health said. But as the WSJ reminded us last night, virus tests are often inaccurate and can even rule out patients who are obviously suffering from symptoms of viral pneumonia. The health-care worker at Worthing went on to treat "a small number" of patients over two days before he was pulled into a quarantine. As Worthing hospital posted signs calling for patients to immediately report any mysterious flu-like symptoms, the seventh Brighton and Hove schools issued warnings to parents about the coronavirus outbreak on the south coast, prompting some to keep their children home. Two families with children at Carden Primary School have been told to isolate in place. The Guardian also reported some details about the British man and alleged druggie who was expatriated back from Thailand and may have carried the virus with him. The 31-year-old man's name is Mark Rumble, was flown back to the UK on Jan. 27. He was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand, last November In other news, CNBC conducted an interview with a couple stuck aboard the Diamond Princess, two of more than two dozen Americans stuck on board the ship. The couple said the experience of watching people get carted off the ship day to day has been "frankly terrifying", and they questioned why authorities have been evacuating healthy people in recent days. "They say [Feb. 19] - if we're healthy on that date we can go. They say we're all safest here quarantining in place. If that's true, then why are they offloading buses of people who they don't want to get sick? We've had 100 new cases since the quarantine started. This is not making sense." Will they ever go on another cruise? "It'll be a while." The couple added that they had found a hospital in Fla. that would take them under quarantine conditions, and aren't sure why they need to stay here on a cruise ship moored in Japan if they haven't tested positive for the virus. Since being quarantined eight days ago, 136 passengers and crew aboard the 'Diamond Princess' have been found to have contracted the virus, making it the center of the largest outbreak outside mainland China. In Wuhan, intensifying supply shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other critical supplies are beginning to weigh on the local population, who have been trapped in place for more than two weeks, according to an Epoch Times reporter. Super market in #wuhan running out of supplies, people lining up to buy, some starting to steal, one of the many scenes in #China during #CoronavirusOutbreak #COVID19 https://t.co/FNypJGppPn Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferatntd) February 12, 2020 A brave team of AFP reporters who have been documenting the effort to combat the virus on the frontlines of the outbreak published a sweeping report on Tuesday exposing how truly isolated Wuhan had become. Racing fans received some disappointing news last night when it was reported that the Chinese Grand Prix is expected to be postponed because of the outbreak. The Formula-1 race was scheduled to be held in Shanghai on April 19. In other news, Indonesia has rejected experts suspicions that health officials might be hiding instances of viral infection. In Russia, two Chinese who were found to be infected and quarantined in Siberia last month have recovered, and been released. Both had 'mild' forms of the virus. Russia has closed its border with China and North Korea because of the outbreak and suspended Last night, we reported that the death toll from the virus had climbed above 1,000 as Hubei reported another 94 deaths. Finally, we leave readers with a sliver of good news: A cruise ship with no coronavirus patients that had been denied by four countries, and was in danger of running out of food and fuel in the next day or two, has been allowed to dock in Cambodia. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 23:02:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved five million U.S. dollars in additional financing to the Scaling-Up Participatory Sustainable Forest Management Project, which will help the Laos improve sustainable forest management, community livelihoods and climate change mitigation. This additional financing, sealed on Tuesday will help Laos to manage its production forests, and the villages that depend on them, in support of a greener, more inclusive and sustainable pattern of economic growth, a press release from WB Lao country office quoted Nicola Pontara, WB Country Manager for Laos as saying on Wednesday, "This is consistent with the aspiration of the Lao authorities to prioritize development support to poor villages." The project has achieved significant results since 2013, boosting livelihoods in more than 650 forest-dependent villages in 13 provinces out of Laos' 18 provincial administrative divisions; and improving the planning and management of 41 of the country's 51 Production Forest Areas, covering 2.3 million hectares. This remarkable progress has been instrumental to reduce deforestation and the associated carbon emissions, said the WB press release. Since the original project started, new economic opportunities in sustainable forest management have emerged not only for villages but also for the private sector. Realizing this potential will require additional financial and technical support, especially on areas related to community engagement and governance issues. "The additional financing for this project will help strengthen the governance of natural resources through more sustainable forest management. It will also create new exciting opportunities for private sector investments," said Stephen Danyo, WB Senior Environmental Specialist in Laos. The additional funding comes from the WB International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, which helps the world's poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve lives, according to the release issued on Wednesday. Issues related to fisheries subsidy, an important subject for India, will figure prominently in the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference meet in June at Kazakhstan, an official said. The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the 164-member World Trade Organisation (WTO). Trade ministers of all the member countries participate in the deliberations. The 12th Ministerial Conference will take place from June 8-11 this year at Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan. "This time fishery subsidies will figure prominently in the meeting. Although talks on the matter are not moving at a healthy pace, developed nations want a significant reduction in fishery subsidies," the official said. The official added India wants an equitable and balanced outcome in the negotiations as the country provides support to its small and marginal fishermen who depend on the sector for sustenance. Unlike rich nations which provide billions of dollars of subsidies to their fishermen, India's subsidy amounts to only about Rs 770 crore. The government provides subsidy on things like fuel and boat. Unlike India, fishing community of developed countries use highly mechanised boats for fishing, which are called mother boats wherein they have processing units also. Developed countries want to intensify negotiations on fisheries subsidies so that an agreement can be clinched at the Kazakhstan meeting. "As a developing country, India provides minimal subsidies to fisherfolk. A WTO agreement should consider needs such as these," the official said. At the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference, held at Buenos Aires in Argentina in December 2017, members had agreed to continue to engage constructively in fisheries subsidies negotiations, with a view to adopting an agreement by the next ministerial conference. Meanwhile, India is drafting a national fisheries policy to promote marine fishery, acquaculture and mariculture. The only existing policy is on marine fisheries from which the production stands at 4.3 million tonne annually, but there is no policy on inland fisheries that produce the rest 23 million tonne. The sector provides livelihood to about 16 million fishermen and fish farmers at the primary level and about twice the number along the value chain. The share of fisheries sector in the total GDP (at current prices) increased from 0.40 per cent in 1950-51 to 1.03 per cent in 2017-18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new bill introduced in the western US state of Utah calls for polygamy to no longer be considered a felony but instead a simple infraction that would be on par with getting a traffic ticket. The bill, which was unanimously approved on Monday by a committee in the state senate, will now go before the full senate for consideration. Bigamy -- the practice of having more than one spouse -- is currently considered a felony in Utah, where an estimated 30,000 people still practice it. They risk up to five years in prison and a fine of up to USD 5,000. The bill's lead sponsor, Republican state senator Deidre Henderson, argued that the current law was unenforceable and only serves to isolate polygamist communities while failing to protect potential victims. "The law is a failure. It hasn't stopped polygamy at all and it's actually enabled abuse to occur and remain unchecked," Henderson said. She added that making polygamy a felony offense had stigmatized families and led to a culture of secrecy. Henderson also pointed out that the bill calls for stiffer penalties for crimes linked to bigamy, including forced marriages. The bill has received the support of the Utah branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the practice should be decriminalized when consenting adults are involved. "One of the reasons we would agree with decriminalization is that victims themselves are oftentimes part of polygamist families and so feel very afraid to come forward and report issues of abuse because they themselves are guilty of polygamy," Marina Lowe, legislative and policy counsel at the ACLU of Utah, told AFP. Opponents of the bill, including former members of polygamous groups, however have warned that the new law, if approved, will only encourage abuse. "The bill won't do anything to help the victims. It will empower the abusers," said Melissa Ellis, vice president of Sound Choices Coalition, who fled a polygamous clan. Amelia Anthony, who also left a plural marriage and has become a victims' advocate, said the bill "condones and gives more power to abusers and fanatics who will take the newfound 'freedom' to the extreme." Polygamy has been practiced in Utah by some religious groups since before it became a state. Even though it is illegal, officials have largely opted not to prosecute those who engage in it, instead adopting a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints abandoned polygamy in 1890 and strictly prohibits it today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bold acrylic paintings of African-American women on fabric canvases. Smiling faces of hundreds of San Antonians. Black ranchers cattle brands detailed on posters. These images are among the art installations on display at the San Antonio International Airport in commemoration of Black History Month. We hope to communicate some of the nuances and celebrate the diversity in our community, said Matt Evans, the airports arts and culture manager. If all you do is fly out of Terminal A, youll get a great idea of who we are as San Antonians. At the exhibit opening this week, the Galleries @ SAT played host to artist Kaldric Dow, photographer Sarah Brooke Lyons and landscape architect Everett L. Fly. Also speaking was La Juana Chambers Lawson, president of the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum. On ExpressNews.com: SAAACAM works to remember, chronicle local black history Lawson shared the names of prominent African-Americans whove contributed to San Antonios legacy, including former Mayor Ivy Taylor and the late Rev. Raymond A. Callies, who led the citys first Martin Luther King Jr. Day March and started what is believed to be the largest march honoring the civil rights leader in the nation. She also talked about the Sutton Family, noting the 12 children of Samuel J. Sutton Sr. and Lillian Viola Smith excelled in business, education, law, medicine, politics and social service. They all earned college degrees, and 10 of the siblings received postgraduate degrees. The museums headquarters is in the historic Sutton homestead at 430 N. Cherry St. Lawson said the city should think of Black History Month as a celebration of people whose legacies and contributions should be acknowledged, unearthed and repatriated. The exhibits, which are on display at the airport through the end of march, are open to the public. Dows paintings are on a wall at the lower level of Terminal A. Lyons photographs are mounted on the walls between Gates A-4 and A-6. Several of the posters featuring historic African-American cattle brands researched by Fly are on the lower level of Terminal B. Dow, whos from Houston, studied at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His focus for these paintings was acute attention to lighting and skin tone, expressed through dynamic colors. The artist said he uses found fabric for his series. He said whether the textures reject the paint or accept it adds another dimension to his work. Fly, a 2014 national humanities medalist and founder of the museum, is renowned for helping preserve historic sites across the nation. In and around San Antonio, his research has uncovered several forgotten African American settlements and cemeteries. The work on exhibit at the airport showcases Flys research into cattle brands, which revealed more than two dozen brands registered to African-American ranchers by 1900 across Bexar County. The 13 posters on display will include Jane Warrens Lazy YOK brand. According to Carlos Guerras book, 300 Years of San Antonio and Bexar County, Warren was the only black woman with a brand registered in Bexar County before 1945. On ExpressNews.com: Museum hosts exhibit spotlighting African American cowboy contributions to San Antonio region Photographer Lyons called 1005 Faces a personal project. She wanted to showcase San Antonios diversity through the faces and thoughts of the community, providing a clear image of what the city truly looks like. In 2013, Shokare Nakpodia asked her to be the official photographer for the inaugural Dream Week San Antonio. During the two-week event she took hundreds of photos of people each holding a sign with their own unique messages, which became her 1005 Faces exhibit. Nakpodia asked her why she chose 1,005. Because nobody thinks about 1,000, she said in a 2014 UTSA Spectrum interview. One thousand comes and goes out of your mind. One thousand and five is a little bit more interesting. vtdavis@express-news.net BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Turkish Zorlu Energy company is looking to establish its branch in Kazakhstans Almaty city, Trend reports with reference to Turkish media. The branchs operations will be aimed at investments attraction to the area of renewable energy, solar energy and other energy spheres. The information said that Zorlu Energy company is especially interested in investing in Kazakhstans solar and wind energy, as well as planning to implement projects to expand country renewable energy capacities by at least 250 MW. Based on some estimates, Kazakhstans potential for solar energy production ranges from 3.9 to 5.4 billion WH per year, whereas the ceiling of wind power is 920 billion kWh per year. Currently, 90 RES facilities of 1,050 MW of capacity are operating in Kazakhstan including 19 wind parks (283.8 MW), 31 solar parks (541.7 MW), 37 hydropower plants (222.2 MW) and three biopower plants. The number of RES facilities is to be increased from 90 to 108 with the total capacity of 1,655 MW this year. Established in 1993, Zorlu Enerji is an energy company that aims to operate on different fields of energy sector providing a global scale integrated service. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. House panel on Tuesday will hear calls for requiring new safeguards as part of any effort to speed the adoption of self-driving cars on U.S. roads. At the same hearing, groups representing automakers and tech companies will tout benefits of autonomous vehicles and warn the United States risks falling behind China and others without new legal backing. U.S. lawmakers have been divided for years over what consumer and legal protections should be added to any self-driving legislation. Jeffrey Tumlin, director of transportation for San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency will tell the Energy and Commerce subcommittee that Congress should require manufacturers to include event data recorders in autonomous vehicles to "preserve all information from sensors before a collision." Tumlin's written testimony, reviewed by Reuters, adds Congress should "ensure that every safety incident involving an autonomous vehicle is documented in a national database that is available to researchers and the public." California requires companies testing self-driving cars to disclose all crashes involving the vehicles on public roads, even when under manual control. Those reports are made public as is data on disengagements of self-driving cars. Other states do not require those disclosures. John Bozzella, who heads an auto trade association representing General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp , Volkswagen AG and others, will testify "the worst outcome would be for Congress to delay the enactment of meaningful legislation that would establish the needed federal framework to realize these safety and mobility solutions." Current regulations essentially bar deployment of vehicles without steering wheels and human controls unless they get approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency last week granted its first-ever temporary exemption for a fleet of riderless delivery vehicles from SoftBank Group Corp backed Nuro Inc. Story continues Automakers oppose requiring airplane-style certification of new autonomous vehicle technologies before they are deployed on U.S. roads and note NHTSA can demand removal of unsafe vehicles. Daniel Hinkle, a counsel at a trial lawyers group, says in his testimony that "those who are injured or harmed by automated driving must be able to hold the driver manufacturer accountable." Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the top Republican on the panel, cast the issue in geopolitical terms, noting Chinese self-driving car developers in 2019 "logged the second-most miles of any country testing" in California. "China is using our infrastructure, testing on our roads, collecting information on our citizens, and stealing our technology to beat us. There is a global race to (autonomous vehicles). Do we want China to win that race, or do we want to lead?" she said. Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, will urge Congress to require tests for self-driving cars to ensure they can properly detect other vehicles and hazards and call for a mandatory manual override in all self-driving cars. Chase argues it is misleading to argue the United States was falling behind in commercial deployment. "We are behind in establishing comprehensive safeguards to ensure that this progress happens without jeopardizing or diminishing public safety," her testimony says. (Reporting by David Shepardson' Editing by Lincoln Feast.) The United Nations has warned that the ongoing locust crisis in eastern Africa could become a major humanitarian plague. The locust outbreak in east Africa comes after heavy rainfall in the region in late 2019. It brought a swarm of desert locust to the region, resulting in a complete loss of crops, Sputnik reported. UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock, during a Monday press conference at UN headquarters in New York, warned that the outbreak has the potential "to be the most devastating plague of locusts in any of our living memories if we don't reduce the problem faster than we're doing at the moment". UN Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) senior locust forecasting officer Keith Cressman noted that a medium-size swarm of locusts, which can contain up to 150 million insects, can, in a single day, eat the same amount of food as the entire population of Kenya. "We're expecting any day they will move across the border into the southeast corner of South Sudan," Cressman said. "A swarm in one day can eat the same amount of food as everybody here in the tri-state area (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York). So not taking action in time -- you can see the consequences," Cressman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday ignored a plea from President Donald Trump and voted to advance a war powers resolution that would hamper his ability to take military action in Iran. Trump implored lawmakers not to pass the measure at is would 'show weaKness' and let Iran 'have a field day.' 'Don't let it happen!,' the president wrote on Twitter. The Senate, however, voted to move the resolution forward with a final vote expected on Thursday. Eight Republicans senators defected to vote for the measure - a sign that it will pass when the chamber takes its final vote. They were Mike Lee of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Todd Young of Indiana, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Jerry Moran of Kansas, and Rand Paul of Tennessee. Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar did not vote. President Donald Trump pleaded with the Senate not to pass a war powers resolution that would hamper his ability to take military action in Iran Trump took to Twitter before Wednesday's procedural vote to make his appeal. 'It is very important for our Country's SECURITY that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution. We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani. If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don't let it happen!,' the president wrote. The resolution would require Trump to end all hostilities regarding Iran within 30 days unless he gets explicit approval from Congress. Lawmakers in both parties pushed for the resolution after Trump ordered the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani without informing Congress. The House has passed a similar measure but would need to pass the Senate version in order to get a resolution to the president's desk for his signature. Should that happen, Trump is expected to veto it and neither chamber is expected to have the two-thirds of votes it needs to override such a veto. The Senate resolution, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, came after Trump sent members of his Cabinet to Capitol Hill to brief senators on the killing of Soleimani. The briefing went so badly that Republican Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee came out of it vowing to vote for Kaine's resolution. 'The worst briefing I've seen at least on a military issue in the nine years I've served' in the Senate, Lee said after the briefing. Lee and Paul exited the January briefing - which was conducted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, and CIA Director Gina Haspel - and went straight to the television cameras to rail about what they heard. 'That briefing is what changed my mind. That briefing is what brought me on board,' Lee told reporters after it concluded. 'I'm now going to support it. I walked into that briefing undecided and I walked out of that briefing decided specifically because of what happened in that briefing.' Lee did not mince words about his feelings on how the Trump officials treated him in the briefing. 'They had to leave after 75 minutes while in they're in the process of telling us we need to be good little boys and girls and not debate this in public. I find that absolutely insane,' Lee said. 'One of the messages we received from the briefers was do not debate, do not discuss the issue of the appropriateness of further military intervention against Iran, and if you do, you'll be emboldening Iran,' Lee added. 'I find this insulting and demeaning.' Democratic Senator Tim Kaine sponsored the resolution Sen. Mike Lee was upset after a briefing on the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper leave the Capitol after that January briefing It is not acceptable for executive branch to tell us 'we can't debate the appropriateness of military intervention in Iran. It's unAmerican, it's unconstitutional and it's wrong,' the senator from Utah noted. Three other Republican senators - Jerry Moran of Kansas, Susan Collins of Maine, and Todd Young of Indiana - have said they will vote for Kaine's resolution. That gives Democrats the numbers they need for passage, which is just a simple majority of senators. 'We should not be at war with Iran unless Congress votes to authorize such a war,' Kaine said Wednesday. 'While the President does and must always have the ability to defend the United States from imminent attack, the executive power to initiate war stops there. An offensive war requires a congressional debate and vote. This should not be a controversial proposition.' 'This is not directed toward President Trump, it would apply equally to any President,' Kaine said. 'It's fundamentally about Congress owning up to and taking responsibility for the most significant decision that we should ever have to make.' Kaine removed any specific reference to President Trump and made it a broader defense of Congress' role in declaring war in order to gain Republican support. Perhaps the most telling thing about the most noticeable New Hampshire speech was not what was said but where it was delivered. Joe Biden was already campaigning in the city of Columbia when the numbers came in, having flown out of town before it was official. No matter. Having come in a dismal fifth behind Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobachar and Elizabeth Warren, and struggling to scrape together 10 per cent of the vote, the former vice president could have gone to the South Pole, never mind South Carolina, and still been unable to hide from the truth. Bungling paramedics in hazmat suits dropped a suspected coronavirus patient as they carried her on a stretcher in Romania. The 32-year-old teacher was being transferred into an ambulance after being quarantined when she returned from a trip to China with flu-like symptoms. Video footage shows one of the medics lose his footing and fall on the floor with his legs in the air, sending the stretcher crashing to the ground. They quickly scramble to lift her up again and successfully get her into the back of the ambulance on the second attempt. Red-faced officials insisted the unnamed woman was not injured in the incident. One of the medics lost his footing and fell on the floor with his legs in the air, sending the stretcher crashing to the ground Officials insisted the Romanian teacher was not injured in the embarrassing incident It was also later confirmed that her flu-like symptoms were actually caused by flu, and not the coronavirus. The woman had returned to Romania after teaching English in the city of Kunming, in Southern China's Yunnan Province, on February 1, flying back via Hong Kong and London. She started feeling ill after she arrived home in Suceava, in north-eastern Romania's Suceava County and went to see her doctor. When she said she'd just been to China, medics decided to isolate her. She was put on a drip and a covered stretcher before being transferred to an isolation unit at the Iasi Hospital for Infectious Diseases. The woman had returned to Romania after teaching English in China and was put in quarantine She was cazrried into an ambulance by medics in hazmat suits but it turns out she only had flu Silvia Buleac, of the Suceava Public Health Authority, said: 'On her return in the country, she presented at the hospital with feverish conditions. 'She was monitored and put under observation. 'We have contacted family members, we will investigate those who were on the plane with this person.' Hospital medic Carmen Dorobat said the woman was now in good health. She said: 'The patient was brought to us with a fever and a cough. It is not a particularly serious condition, but the case needs our attention.' A prisoner who is being tested for coronavirus after he was transferred from a jail in Thailand has been named as Mark John Rumble. Thai authorities have confirmed the identity of the 31-year-old, who was taken to HMP Bullingdon after arriving in the UK around two weeks ago. He is one of two prisoners at the jail being tested for the virus, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said will be called Covid-19. The men are being held in isolation at the prison near Bicester, Oxfordshire, after reportedly suffering flu-like symptoms. Access to one of the wings of the Category B prison has been restricted. 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 viral infection, which is believed to have begun in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has so far killed 1,115 people with only two of the deaths outside China. There have been more than 45,000 cases of coronavirus across the world. As of Tuesday evening, a total of 1,358 people had been tested for coronavirus in the UK, of which 1,350 were confirmed negative and eight positive, the Department of Health said. Google street view image of HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester, in Oxfordshire. (Google) A healthcare worker at Worthing Hospitals A&E department is among the eight confirmed cases. A female locum doctor, who had been working at County Oak Medical Centre, in Brighton, is also among the group. Boris Johnson has praised the response of the NHS and said anyone concerned should simply follow their advice. Speaking in Birmingham, the prime minister said: We are a great country, we have got a fantastic NHS, we have got fantastic doctors and advice, and they should simply take the advice of the NHS. People have every reason to be confident and calm about all that kind of thing... all the coronavirus, and any threats from disease. Additional reporting by Press Association Thousands of Kenyans gathered in a stadium to mourn the death of their former President Daniel Arap Moi. People gathered at an open-air stadium on Tuesday to mourn the death of their longest-serving President, who died at the age of 95 on February 4. Moi's body draped in the Kenyan flag was brought to the stadium alongside marching soldiers while people sang gospel songs as they waited for the cortege to arrive. Read: Swarms Of Locusts Enter Uganda After Kenya, Ethiopia; UN Fears Food Security Threa According to media reports, Moi was seen as a virtual dictator of Kenya and was blamed for rampant corruption in the country. Moi was elected the president of the country in 1978 after the then President Jomo Kenyatta died. Moi remained in power until the end of 2002 but he was booed to retirement after his term limits forced him to step down. Moi was elected twice as the president of the country, once in 1992 and then again in 1997. Read: Kenya: 13 Students Killed & Dozens Injured In Stampede At A Primary School As per reports, Moi jailed thousands of activists, academics, students and they were kept in underground cells without any charges. Corruption flourished and poverty deepened during Moi's rule as the country plummeted into a deep economic crisis. In 2004, an investigating report by Kroll said that accused Moi and his inner circle of stealing $2 billion from the state funds. The accusation at the time was dismissed by the government. Read: FILE: Kenyan Marathon Ace Wilson Kipsang Banned From Racing By Integrity Unit Moi was diagnosed with dementia Moi was diagnosed with dementia in August 2017 and was hospitalised under a critical condition in October 2019. Moi was discharged in November 2019 only to be hospitalised again for knee surgery. Moi was placed on life support after he suffered from gastrointestinal hemorrhage which led to multiple organ failure and eventually to his death. Moi's legacy may be questionable but his funeral was attended by leaders from across the region, including the Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, Rwandas President Paul Kagame, South Sudans Salva Kiir, and Ugandas Yoweri Museveni. Read: Kenya: Video Of Lioness Saving Her Cubs In Crocodile Infested River Is Winning Hearts YEREVAN, 12 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 12 february, USD exchange rate up by 0.24 drams to 479.29 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.60 drams to 523.34 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.09 drams to 7.59 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.47 drams to 622.07 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 29.46 drams to 24200.67 drams. Silver price down by 1.09 drams to 272.83 drams. Platinum price down by 38.76 drams to 14854.79 drams. TOWAMENCIN Dr. Mayank Amin, Montgomery Countys self-proclaimed "Superman" pharmacist, broke out his signature costume Sunday as about 1,600 people got a COVID-19 booster shot during a clinic at North Penn High School. Skippack Pharmacy, of Schwenksville, hosted the booster clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the high school, 1340 S. Valley Forge Road. Amin said... J.C. Roberton has written a new book, Driving A Smart Bargain: How to Get the Best Possible Price, Buying or Selling. The authors ground-breaking analysis identifies and highlights critical principles that wont be found elsewhere else in the literature on Negotiating. In this book, J. C. Roberton: (a) Articulates for the first time the four interrelated Principles of Bargaining (Knowledge, Deception, Risk and Time) that determine the ultimate outcome; (b) Points out boldly how patterns of behavior that arent always acceptable elsewhere are necessary and accepted components of bargaining; and (c) Demonstrates that the frequently-voiced opposites of Win-Win versus Win-Lose are not mutually exclusive, but are both critical steps in the bargaining process (an issue that has thoroughly bedeviled other writers on the subject). The author also provides an incisive set of guidelines on how to work successfully with lawyers. The books mantra says it all: Bargaining can be taught. Bargaining can be learned. Bargainers are made, not born. J.C. Roberton, a Yale graduate and Marine veteran who earned a law degree from Stanford and an MBA from U.C. Berkeley, practiced corporate law for several years in California before converting a brief overseas trip into six years managing a major hospital complex in Abu Dhabi. He subsequently participated in several start-up ventures and real-estate sales, and most recently devoted his talents to writing this book. Published by Page Publishing, J.C. Robertons engrossing book is a thought-provoking guide to the art of bargaining in any type of negotiation. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Driving a Smart Bargain: How to Get the Best Possible Price, Buying or Selling at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com A species of insect-munching 'sex craved' marsupials could find it difficult to handle the warmer temperatures caused by climate change, a study claims. Researchers from the University of Science and Technology in Norway studied the yellow-footed antechinus to see how it responds to changes in temperature. An estimated one billion animals perished in Australia's recent wildfires and questions loom over the ability of wildlife to adapt as the world gets warmer. The new study involved subjecting groups of antechinus to different heat ranges as they grew to adulthood to see how they develop. They found that those exposed to hotter temperatures were not 'particularly adept' at adjusting to the prolonged heat that is expected in Australia in future. Scroll down for video Researchers from the University of Science and Technology in Norway studied the yellow-footed antechinus to see how it responds to changes in temperature (stock image) Experiments revealed that behaviour of the marsupials' - whose males die after 'frenzied' sex - could shift when faced with rising ambient temperatures experienced during the antechinus' growth period. Lead author Dr Clare Stawski, said changing behaviour could have important implications in terms of how the species reproduces and will respond to change. 'Individuals raised in warm conditions appear to have less phenotypic flexibility, suggesting that they may not be able to respond effectively to prolonged increases in temperature.' Phenotypic flexibility refers to the ability of an organism to adjust to a new type of environmental stress. Dr Stawski's team wanted to see how the antechinus might respond to temperature swings for varying time periods. They experimented on 19 juvenile antechinus, and split them into two groups which were subject to different temperatures ranging from 62 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Infrared sensors attached to their cages measured their activity and custom-made data loggers recorded their behaviour. Once the miniature marsupials reached adult age, the scientists measured their metabolic rates, body mass and other physiological parameters. They found the yellow-footed antechinus to be more active and have lower metabolic rates at warmer temperatures, which is typical for many mammals shifting from winter to summer. However, they also discovered that the mammals are not particularly adept at enduring the prolonged heat waves associated with climate change. The findings do not bode well for the carnivorous marsupial. Australia's national science agency has projected with 'very high confidence' that hot days will get hotter and strike more frequently in the future. Australia is home to at least ten species of antechinus, and while they superficially resemble rodents, they behave very differently, especially in their love lives. They experimented on 19 juvenile antechinus, and split them into two groups which were subject to different temperatures ranging from 62 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit (stock image) The males die from stress-induced immune system breakdown after a short-but-frenzied period of mating. Another difference is that antechinus can enter a state of inactivity - called torpor - in response to changing environmental factors. Dr Stawski noted that the study, published in the Frontiers in Physiology journal, could shed light on all antechinus species, as they share similar habitats and sexual behaviours. In previous studies Dr Stawski and her colleagues investigated how small marsupials might respond to wildfires. They found that torpor can be a very effective means for surviving a wildfire, in the period after a fire when resources are scarce, but stressed that this was only true if the mammals were holed up in a safe refuge. On the estimated one billion animals that perished in Australia's recent wildfires, she added: 'It is likely that many torpid animals perished during the current wildfires in Australia due to their severity. 'Further, as these wildfires are occurring during summer and heatwaves, many animals would be unable to effectively employ torpor due to the high temperatures.' The findings have been published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology. In Iran, the Resistance Units put up posters of Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and Massoud Rajavi, the Leader of the Iranian Resistance, in Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz, Rasht, Mashhad, Ahvaz, Gachsaran, and Karaj. These posters contained the messages: My vote: regime overthrow Overthrow of the inhuman regime is certain Rebellious neighborhoods have frightened the mullahs Rebellious cities will uproot the religious dictatorship Flowers have blossomed from the blood of the martyrs Down with Khamenei, long live Rajavi Whether January or November, our fight will be in the streets While on February 8 and 9, ex-pat Iranians and their supporters in Brussels, Geneva, London, Oslo, Rome, Stockholm, Toronto, and Washington, DC, staged rallies in support of the Resistance Units, where they condemned the Iranian regime for its brutal crackdown on protests and political opposition. The rally participants called on the international community to support the Iranian peoples desire for regime change and urged the United Nations to immediately send a fact-finding mission to Iran to visit the prisons and the thousands arrested during the November 2019 uprising. Maryam Rajavi sent a video message to the rallies, where she explained that the mullahs stole the anti-monarchic revolution from the people and put in place another dictatorship. She said: For over 40 years now, our nation has been under the occupation of criminals that have generated a record replete with corruption, theft, destruction, death, and export of terrorism and warmongering. Dictators, both the Shah and the Sheikh, believe that they are entitled to a lifetime of dictatorship. That is why they recognize no bounds when it comes to shedding the blood of innocents. But our people have always been rebellious towards and refused to surrender to, the ruling religious fascism. They have not ceased the struggle for freedom even for one day. The more than 1,500 martyrs of the November uprising, and the 120,000 executed political prisoners all champion the same message: The Iranian people deserve freedom, democracy, and equality and are paying the price to achieve it. She then urged the international community to: refer the dossier of the regimes crimes to the United Nations Security Council take action to secure the release of those arrested adopt a firm policy on the regimes human rights violations, terrorism, and warmongering recognize the rights of the Iranian people to overthrow the regime The Deputy Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mame Yaa Aboagye says Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is a nightmare to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). To her, the voice and accurate information by Dr. Bawumia on national issues makes the opposition party shiver. She stressed that the Vice President is a thorn in the flesh of NDC members. The Vice President was NDCs nightmare in office and out of office due to his sound economic deliveries, she said. Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, addressed the citizens at a Town hall meeting in Kumasi under the theme; "Demonstrating Fulfillment Of Our Promises". He touched on major feats that the government has achieved since its inception and among other things noted that Ghana's GDP growth over three years has made the nation one of the fastest economies in the world. According to the Vice President, about 78% of the current government's manifesto has been fulfilled. Notwithstanding the difficult economy we inherited, we had to get on with it and start to fix the problems. We were cognizant of our many promises. In fact, at the direction of President Akufo-Addo, we put together a dashboard of manifesto promises immediately after we were declared winners of the 2016 election, and before we were sworn into office. We have been using this dashboard to track our manifesto promises since, the Vice President stated. Mame Yaa Aboagye also lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his splendid performance in the first term of his administration. NPPs first term has been nothing but phenomenal since 1992. As indicated by the Vice President, Ghanas trade balance recorded a surplus in 2017, 2018, and 2019, free WiFi (Internet) service in all tertiary and secondary schools across the country to aid teaching and learning, introduction of digitization (National ID system and Tax Identification Number) to aid fight corruption and shore up revenue for the government at the same time and the flagship Free SHS programme, all under NPPs first term...Indeed, the data speaks for itself, she said. She added Dr. Bawumia is blessing and a great asset to this country; four more for Nana to do more for you. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 08:31:03 OUTOTEC OYJ PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 12, 2020 AT 9:30 AM Outotec to deliver process equipment to a gold project in Cambodia Outotec has been awarded a contract from Renaissance Minerals (Cambodia) Limited, a subsidiary of Emerald Resources NL, for the delivery of process equipment to the greenfield Okvau Gold Project. The order value, booked into Outotecs 2020 first quarter order intake, is approximately EUR 13 million. Outotec's scope includes the delivery of an Outotec HIGmill high intensity grinding mill, a semi-autogenous (SAG) mill, TankCell flotation cells, an OKTOP Conditioner, thickeners and spare parts. The Okvau Gold Project is located in the Mondulkiri province of eastern Cambodia. The 2 million tonnes per annum operation will be the first large-scale mining project in the country. Project commissioning is expected in the second quarter of 2021. We are pleased to be part of Cambodias first significant gold processing project with Emeralds highly credentialed gold project development team. Outotec's leading technologies such as energy efficient ultrafine grinding, proven flotation technology for low grade sulphide ore and superior thickening technology, enable our customer to do profitable business sustainably. This order will strengthen Outotec's position as a supplier of advanced minerals processing technologies in Southeast Asia, says Paul Sohlberg, head of Outotecs Minerals Processing business. For further information please contact: OUTOTEC Paul Sohlberg, interim President - Minerals Processing business unit tel. +1 289 983 0362 Saija Kinanen, Director - Corporate Communications tel. +358 20 529 2044, +358 40 187 5353 e-mails firstname.lastname@outotec.com DISTRIBUTION Main media www.outotec.com Russia must fully meet its Minsk commitments as Ukrainians continue to die as a result of the Russian aggression. 5 years after the establishment of a Package of Measures for the Minsk agreements implementation, Ukrainians continue to die as a result of Russian aggression. Russia must cease its aggression and fully meet its Minsk commitments, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Facebook. On February 12, 2015, after many hours of negotiations of the Normandy Four at the summit in Minsk, a package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements adopted in September (Protocol of September 5, 2014 and the Minsk Memorandum of September 19, 2014) was approved with a view to de-escalating the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The document was signed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of France Francois Hollande, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The declaration of the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany and the Russian Federation was also adopted. The package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements provided for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine; removal of all heavy weapons by both parties at a distance to create a security zone; OSCEs effective monitoring and verification of the ceasefire regime and the removal of heavy weapons; release of all hostages; safe access, delivery, storage and distribution of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The package also stipulated the restoration of social and economic ties between the occupied territories and the rest of Ukraine; restoration of banking system; restoration of full control over the state border by the Government of Ukraine throughout the conflict zone; withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under OSCE supervision. ol Udaipur: The incidents of targeting the ATM are not taking the name of the stoppage. The same miscreants carried out this boon in Savina police station area late at night which has targeted the Bank of Baroda ATM located in the Eklingpura area. The same miscreants cut the bank's ATM with a cutter and cleaned the cash of millions of rupees kept in it. The police was informed from there when the siren sounded in the head office of the bank. "Law should be made on population control", says Giriraj Singh Due to the absence of any guard at the same ATM, the miscreant carried out this incident. At the same time, after getting information about the incident, Savina police reached the spot and inspected the entire case. The looting incident on Eklingpura's main road has once again raised a question mark over the night patrolling system of the police. The situation will be cleared only after the bank officials reach the spot about the amount kept in the ATM, but they said that there were 12 lakh rupees in it. Big disclosure: Nepal closes its resort after 08 deaths In the initial investigation of the same police, three crooks have been revealed. In this case, the miscreants came to the ATM and sprayed it on CCTV so that they could not be caught in it. After this, they broke the shutter lock and reached inside. Once again he sprayed on CCTV there too. The siren rang in the head office of the bank while cutting the ATM. Police were informed by the bank but by the time the police reached there. By then the crooks had escaped doing their work. Haryana CM Flying team raids HUDA offices Mattia Binotto on Tuesday answered "no" when asked if he would rule out Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari in 2021. But he said keeping Sebastian Vettel in red "is our first choice at the moment". British media sources are reporting that Hamilton, 35, will begin his talks with Mercedes on Wednesday about a new contract that could be worth up to an incredible $77 million. At the same time, Binotto said Ferrari's negotiations with quadruple world champion Vettel, whose own contract is running out, have already begun. "Obviously it is something we are discussing with him and we will continue discussing, but he is certainly our first option, our preference," he said. "I think we have two fantastic drivers - the best possible pair of drivers in Formula 1," Binotto was quoted as saying by Sky Italia. "He (Vettel) worked very well in the winter - I think he will do very well this year." However, Binotto warned that there may not be a fast decision, insisting that Ferrari will focus on "winter testing and the first races" initially. Vettel, 32, at least appears unlikely to retire. "I feel young enough," he said. "You spoke about Lewis, he's even older. So that's not a limitation. So yeah, happy to keep going." It is clear that the German has now lost his clear number 1 status at Ferrari, but Binotto said he is not worried that relations between he and Charles Leclerc will continue to break down. "They are professionals," Binotto said. "For his part, Leclerc must continue to grow as a driver, and Seb must show that he deserves Ferrari. "I find them to be motivated and very relaxed, even amongst themselves." (GMM) A man was arrested Tuesday in connection with two homicides that occurred hours apart and within two miles of each other in South Bexar County. Michael Morales, 36, is accused of killing Felix Pacheco Garcia over a drug debt and his common-law wife, Mary Sanchez, hours later, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Tuesday night. He originally faced two charges of murder, but on Wednesday, the charges were upgraded to two counts of capital murder by the District Attorney. He is being held on a $2 million bond for the two charges. Officials initially thought the deaths, the departments first homicides of the year, were unrelated and a coincidence. Salazar said detectives linked the two together on a hunch. The first killing occurred between 11 p.m. and midnight Monday, detectives estimated, at Garcias home in the 1900 block of Sandy Circle. Detectives said Garcia, 37, and Morales began arguing over a drug debt that Garcia allegedly owed Morales, investigators said. That argument turned into a violent struggle, Salazar said. Appliances were jostled, water pipes were broken. The fight spilled outside the home where Morales took out a screwdriver from his pocket and allegedly stabbed Garcia several times, investigators said. Garcias body would lay in the back yard until his 6-year-old child found him dead at about 8 a.m. The childs mother, who was Garcias estranged wife, and several other children went to the residence before school to check on him, Salazar said. Morales then went to his home in 900 block of Mogford where he called 911 about his injuries and was taken to a medical facility. Deputies said he gave a false story to hospital and EMS personnel detailing how he got a wound to his eye and a bite mark to his chest. Once he was back at the Mogford home, Morales told Sanchez, 45, about what happened between him and Garcia, investigators said. Obviously, the victim in the case became irate, Salazar said. There was an argument over the fact that he was telling her that he caused somebodys death, Salazar said. Salazar said Morales retrieved a high-powered rifle and shot Sanchez at least once in her upper body. She died instantly, investigators said. Theres some indications that there was some drug use, Salazar said. Morales may have been on meth when the killings occurred, Salazar said, noting that investigators are still awaiting toxicology results. Sanchezs 25-year-old daughter was at the home when the incident occurred, Salazar said. She told deputies they had been fighting Monday night and into Tuesday before the shooting. There is some sort of explanation that (Morales) tried to give that there was a struggle over the rifle, Salazar said. At this point, we dont believe that. Morales then drove away from the scene, ramming through a gate at the Mogford home. Deputies captured him several miles away from the home, Salazar said. Salazar said deputies were not aware of a history of domestic violence between Morales and his common law wife, but speculated there may have been one. I dont think a husband or wife all of a sudden shoots their significant other with a deer rifle, Salazar said. Morales confessed to both crimes, Salazar said. He did not say anything to reporters Tuesday night as he was being taken to the Bexar County Jail for booking. Earlier Tuesday, Salazar said violent crime in the county has decreased, but family violence incidents have skyrocketed. Thats a grim trend we dont want to see keep climbing, Salazar said. Were doing our very best but its a crime that takes a long time to prevent because its an escalating crime. So, we are telling anybody that if youre experiencing family violence on any level and if you dont get yourself out of that situation or try to get some help, its not something that goes away on its own, the sheriff added. A slap today becomes a punch tomorrow, becomes a choke the next day, and it ends with this. Salazar said domestic incidents like this are frustrating for everyone because its like a slow-moving train wreck that you can see coming for months or years in advance. Weve absolutely got to put a stop to this, Salazar said. And if I come across as angry, I am. Its frustrating. Its my job to protect my county and the deputies that Ive got are doing a great job of that. Theyre bringing down violent crime, but this is a crime that keeps going up. Weve got to figure something else out. What were doing is not working. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 20:56:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Wednesday that Iran's developing of satellite rockets has nothing to do with the country's military activities, Press TV reported. "The satellite carriers have nothing to do with the subject of missiles, and constitute a completely non-defensive and non-military issue," Hatami was quoted as saying. According to Hatami, a satellite might be used for defense-related purposes, but the carriers are totally non-defensive in nature. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday accused Iran of trying to improve its ballistic missile skills through the satellite launch and vowed to exert more pressure. Oppo Find X2 Leaked Image Confirms Vertical Triple-Rear Camera Module News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Oppo is preparing to launch its next-generation flagship smartphone called the Find X2 on February 22. The Chinese manufacturer had also sent out the media invites for the launch event which will be taking place in Barcelona, Spain. Ahead of the official unveiling, the key features of the device are making splashes via leaks online. In the latest developments, the real-life image of the device has surfaced over-the-web. The new leaked real-life images of the Oppo Find X2 shows the back panel of the handset. The device can be seen sporting three cameras that are aligned in a vertical position on the top-left. The renders of the device had surfaced online last week itself where the device's fascia, as well as the rear panel, was tipped. The previous render also indicated a triple-rear camera module. The leaked live image doesn't reveal the camera specifications. However, the primary sensor which is in square-shape is speculated to be a periscope telephoto sensor. The handset has been earlier leaked with a 48MP Sony IMX689 Omni-directional sensor. The primary sensor could be aligned with a 13MP telephoto sensor with a 5x hybrid zoom and a Sony IMX708 ultra-wide-angle sensor. The Oppo Find X2 is said to debut with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with 5G network connectivity. It might be launched with a 6.5-inch curved display with 1440 x 3168 pixels QHD+ resolution. It is said to be a 120Hz panel which is currently being offered by the Asus ROG Phone II and the Poco X2 only. The front panel is said to feature a 32MP Sony IMX616 camera to click selfies and for video calling. The battery capacity of the device is undisclosed, however, it is confirmed to launch with 50W wireless and 65W Super VOOC flash charging technology. via Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Previous versions of this story incorrectly described the number of new buses that VIA Metropolitan Transit plans to add in coming years, and the amount of federal money the system receives annually. For four consecutive months, bus ridership statistics in San Antonio have shown year-over-year increases, and riders have flocked to busy routes where they can board more frequently, thanks to a $10 million infusion of city funds. In the four closing months of 2019, total VIA Metropolitan Transit ridership was up 3 to 6 percent over the same months in 2018, a trend CEO Jeff Arndt attributes to the addition of buses on key routes, which reduced wait times from 60 minutes to 30, from 30 to 20 or from 15 to 12. Four months of increases - not just one - gives me more confidence, he said. Twelve minutes is really the sweet spot in urban bus transit. Thats when people dont need a bus schedule. But Arndt acknowledged a VIA news release from Jan. 28 saying more people are riding VIA today than in the past five years simply was wrong. VIAs own figures show 2019 systemwide ride totals are down some 6 million from 2015, mirroring a yearslong national trend that urban planners say has little to do with how people feel about mass transit. Mike Fisher Arndt said he hoped the reduced wait-times would be the norm across VIAs 1,226-square-mile service area if and when voters agree to a sales tax transfer this year that would add funding under the banner of VIA Reimagined. The 10-year program promises some 75 new buses on the existing 96 routes, some on dedicated lanes arriving as quickly as every 71/2 minutes. Eventually it would deploy advanced rapid transit vehicles that might look like passenger rail cars but run on pavement with rubber tires. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer The newly released stats show the effect of putting more buses on 18 busy routes starting in October 2018, when the city began its annual infusion of $10 million into the bus system. The biggest gainer of all the routes was the No. 3 skip bus on San Pedro Avenue. From May 2018 to October 2019, it gained an average of 2,741 riders per weekday, up almost 42 percent over the previous year. A lot more of my peer group are riding buses in general and this one in particular, Sara Guizar, 28, said as she waited for the No. 3 one recent afternoon at the San Pedro Avenue and Oblate Drive. She works at a bakery downtown, often visits a sick relative during the day in a downtown hospital, and does her grocery shopping and banking with VIAs help. Within four minutes, a bus pulled up. At about the same time, one of Guizars new bus friends, Christa Williams, rolled up in her wheelchair from a nearby home for addicts in recovery. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox Ive been using the bus for about two years, said Williams, whose long red hair almost reached her muscular forearms. I go to Palo Alto College. I go to Rolling Oaks Mall. Im headed to a feed store off Bandera, then later to the Family Dollar. I go a lot of places. I like the community thats on the bus. With that, she hugged Guizar and took off across San Pedro, rocking side to side like she was racing someone to beat the pedestrian crossing signal. The two women werent atypical of No. 3s working-class ridership. A scaffolding assembly worker from Gadsden, Ala., said he had been riding the bus for several months after losing his job and car. An older couple, the husband using a walker and on oxygen, had just returned from the H-E-B across the street and said they did all their doctor visits by bus. Mike Fisher That particular day in that part of town, no one was riding the bus because they just wanted to reduce their carbon footprint. People said they had sold their cars to pay the rent and buy medicine. As former Mayor Henry Cisneros told the City Council recently: We are a poor city. We have the lowest per capita income of any major Texas city. If you want to break your heart, ride the bus and ask people about their lives. Ten other VIA routes showed double-digit percentage gains in average daily ridership compared to the final months of 2018. They included No. 607 (Medical Center/Ingram Road), up 35 percent; No. 618 (Ingram/Westlakes), up 26 percent; No. 88 (Bandera Road), up 26 percent, and No. 20 (New Braunfels Avenue), up 25 percent. Five other routes made gains of 3 to 9 percent. Three routes No. 615 and No. 616, connecting the Kel-Lac bus hub with Heritage Park and Sky Harbour, and No. 82 (Culebra) lost average daily ridership despite the addition of buses. The gains and losses are a small piece of a complex mosaic of urban bus ridership in San Antonio and throughout the United States. In cities across the country, fewer people have been taking the bus, a trend that has been developing since about 2014. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer On ExpressNews.com: VIAs new Brooks Transit Center hopes to connect a community In 2009, VIA had almost 43 million riders annually. By 2015, those numbers had dropped by nearly 2 million. They declined further to about 35 million in 2019. In the past year, according to the American Public Transportation Association, there were bus ridership declines of 3 to 9 percent in Phoenix; Orlando, Fla.; suburban Chicago; Minneapolis; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Philadelphia; and Milwaukee, among the largest urban bus agencies. Mass transit critics like the Cato Institutes Randal OToole suggest America is rebelling against regimented, expensive and heavily subsidized government transportation, but the real reasons behind the decline do not reflect sustained negative feelings about mass transit, other analysts said. No one has identified a scientifically-certain explanation for the decline, said Michael Walk, a research scientist and urban planner for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. But several factors contribute to the steady drop in transit riders, he said, including: Cheap gas prices and low-interest car loans that have made car ownership more affordable. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft, which have cut into short-trip mass transit. The suburbanization of jobs. Millions of people living in or moving to suburbs are finding closer jobs there, where mass transit is less efficient compared to the city center. More people work at home. U.S. census figures showed in 2017 that 5.2 percent of workers, about 8 million, labored at home, up from 3.3 percent in 2000. New passenger rail lines in cities such as Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Denver, Cincinnati and Kansas City, among others, which have cut into bus ridership. The gig economy, which has allowed many people to take mass transit less often. Just working from home one day a week is a 20 percent drop in transit ridership, Walk said. Those people arent saying they dislike mass transit. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Its difficult to get someone to use transit if they can afford a vehicle, which remains two to three times faster than transit on average, though less safe and more polluting. Walk acknowledged that in urban planner circles there is an awareness of the bus stigma among some people, though he knew of no empirical data supporting that. I know its out there. We talk about it, but I dont know whether its real or perceived, he said. I think there may be a perception among nontransit riders that there is a safety or security concern on the bus. Thats a real challenge to attracting some new riders. The amount of federal funding that agencies like VIA receive is only partly affected by levels of ridership. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Arndt said VIA has been receiving about 12 percent of its revenues annually from the Federal Transportation Administration for the past five years, the same five years that have seen a decline in riders from 41 million to 35 million. VIAs 2019 budget was $250 million. The federal funding formula would impress a calculus major, but the basics are that VIA loses more in funding because of its lack of mass transit than from declining ridership. Funding also is determined by factors like population density - Texas cities are far less dense than those in the Northeast and on both coasts - and the total miles an agencys bus fleet travels annually. But the popularity of VIA buses clearly matters to Arndt, perhaps now more than ever, because VIA Reimagined is the regions only effort at to create something resembling mass transit in an auto-dependent city that has $5 billion in state highway construction currently underway or in the planning stages. Making VIA buses more popular by reducing wait times and introducing them to a new generation of young urban workers in downtown San Antonio might help ensure a victory at the polls when voters are asked to divert sales tax revenue that funds the citys aquifer protection program to mass transit needs. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio officials: City could keep aquifer protection program while shifting sales tax to public transit That money would plant the seeds of bus rapid transit mainly more frequent buses on more routes and, supporters hope, whet the civic appetite for longer, faster buses on dedicated lanes that would cross the city like efficient light rail, but cost hundreds of millions fewer dollars. VIA Reimagined is like a 10-year snapshot of our 2040 plans that people have heard of lately through the ConnectSA strategy, Arndt said. And now with the data showing conclusively that more frequent buses increases ridership, we no longer say we believe this. Now we say we have proven it. Bruce Selcraig is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read his stories on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | BSelcraig@express-news.net By Kang Seung-woo Concerns are rising that the deadlock in the denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea is likely to be prolonged as key American officials involved in the bilateral negotiations have been leaving their jobs. Alex Wong, U.S. deputy special representative for North Korea, leaves Korea from Incheon International Airport, Wednesday, after talks with South Korean officials. He has been named as U.S. representative to the United Nations, raising concerns that the nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States could prolong. / Yonhap Ukrainian air carrier SkyUp is ready to make a special flight to the Chinese city of Wuhan to evacuate Ukrainian citizens, it is waiting for a signal from the Ministry of Health, Hromadske ezine has reported. "We don't need much time to prepare for the flight. Our plane is ready, the crew is ready too. The plane will fly at 5 a.m. in the morning immediately after we receive the command from the Ministry of Health. There is no exact date so far. It was tentatively said that the flight is expected this week, but there is no specific date and time. As soon as the plane takes off, the Ministry of Health, together with SkyUp, will give a briefing, where we will report on all the detail of the evacuation," the company said. SkyUp noted that they couldn't tell the exact duration of the flight, however, there would be one aircraft and it would come down in Almaty. There was a moment of confusion at Spring Street Studios, the hub of New York Fashion Week, on Monday morning. Designers usually close out runway shows with a wave and a bow, after the final march of their models. But that didnt happen at the Luooif Studio show. The music ended and house lights dimmed, and then a 23-year-old stylist emerged on the runway cradling a laptop in his hands. He turned the screen toward the audience, displaying photos of two young Chinese designers. One was Lena Luo, a founder of Luooif Studio; the other was her collaborator, Ekcee Chan, who designs the footwear. Both were supposed to be there in person it would have been their first time at New York Fashion Week. But they had been banned from visiting the United States amid concerns over the deadly spread of coronavirus. Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Government's Assurance have paid a working visit to Ghana and West Africa's biggest steel and iron manufacturing company, B5 Plus. The 17-member Committee toured the factory on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, to verify whether or not the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, spoke the truth on the floor of Parliament when he said the company was performing well after its first phase was commissioned in September 2019. The $80 million factory located at Kpone in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana falls under the One District One Factory (1DF1), a flagship industrial initiative of the President Nana Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Committee on Government's Assurance is one of the Standing Committees of Parliament. It is enjoined by the Constitution of Ghana and the standing order of Parliament to examine, scrutinize and pursue promises, assurances and undertakings, given by a Minister from time to time. The MPs arrived at the factory at about 11:20am and were taken round the fabrication, melting and rolling plants, by officials of the company led by its Director, Mukesh Thakwani. Mr. Thakwani briefed the lawmakers on the operations of the company. He revealed that the factory was situated on a 400 acres land and currently providing about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs According to him, the company will provide over 10,000 jobs when it is fully operational. He explained that B5 Plus believes in delivering quality products and that the company was not only supplying Ghana alone buy the entire West African sub-region. The Director however appealed to Government to provide electricity and water to the factory and solve land litigation issue. Chairman of the Committee, Collins Owusu Amankwah, speaking with the media shortly after the tour, said the MPs were highly satisfied with the work that company was doing. However, he stated that the Committee would intervene to address concerns raised by the company including the shortage of water and electricity and solve land litigation issue. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Hailing the results of the Delhi assembly polls as a "good sign", senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Wednesday said those who spread "religious hatred" and tried to capitalise on the new citizenship law were wiped out. Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) achieved a successive landslide victory in Delhi after the 2015 polls on Tuesday, decimating its main challenger BJP. Talking to reporters here in Chhattisgarh, Singh took a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his pre-poll appeal to voters vis-a-vis the Shaheen Bagh protest. Singh was in Chhattisgarh to attend the funeral of state health minister T S Singh Deo's mother in Ambikapur district. "Amit Shahji had asked people to press the voting button with such force that the current is felt in Shaheen Bagh. (the then CM of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state) Mehbooba Mufti's daughter has given a good statement by saying that the button was pressed (by voters) in such a way that it (BJP) got electrocuted," he said. It was a "good sign" that all those forces that spread "hatred" in the name of religion and tried to derive a political mileage from the new citizenship law by seeking to divide Hindus and Muslims were "rooted out" by the people in the elections, he said. Speaking on the Congress' performance in Delhi, which drew a blank, Singh said the entire votes got shifted to the AAP as people backed the person and the party which they believed could defeat the BJP. He also said that the Congress had secured more votes in Delhi than the AAP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. "The same results will be replicated in Bihar and West Bengal (where elections are due in 2020 and 2021, respectively)," he said. Singh termed the recent Union Budget as "disappointing" while citing "rising unemployment" and the "poor condition fo the economy". "Due to less collection of GST, states are not getting their due share and the state governments are being cheated. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman can cut budget from anywhere (any fund), but the Constitutional rights of the state should not be snatched," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I read that the Ghanaian passport is ranked 78th by something called the 2020 Henley Passport Index. According to this index, our passport provides visa-free/visa on arrival access to 65 destinations, while we need visas to get to 161 destinations. My thoughts are on Ghana passports and the joys and mostly woes of possessing one because I am currently trying to organise a trip and I am wondering if it is too late to get another passport. I could write a tome about the experiences I have had carrying and trying to travel with a Ghanaian passport. The first time I faced the problem of not being able to undertake urgent travel because I needed a visa was in 1976 when the Graphic tried to send me to Nigeria to cover the story of the murder of General Murtala Muhammed, the then Nigeria military ruler. This was before visa-free travel in ECOWAS countries. My Nigeria visa had expired two weeks earlier and in those days, trying to get a Nigerian visa here in Accra was a most unpleasant experience. We gave up after three days. It is probably worth recounting that later on, having a Ghanaian passport came in very handy when General Sanni Abacha, another Nigerian military ruler, died suddenly in 1998, and I was able to travel immediately from London to Nigeria and report for the BBC, where I worked at the time. It was one of the rare times that carrying a Ghanaian passport gave me an advantage over my colleagues with their UK and EU passports. And yet it was not always thus. Time was when the whole world did not imagine that all Ghanaians wanted to live outside Ghana. Indeed, during the time that we were struggling to get Nigerian visas, Ghanaian passport holders did not require visas to enter the UK. That requirement only started in the 1980s. Visas I recall that for years, Ghanaians did not need a visa to travel to the then West Germany. Then visas were introduced. My most interesting story about a Ghanaian trying to get a visa to West Germany was in 1981 when a young man applied to the West German embassy in Accra for a short-stay tourist visa. His application was refused. The young man appealed to the then Vice-President J.W.S. de-Graft Johnson to intervene on his behalf. The Vice-President wrote a passionate letter to the German Ambassador who very reluctantly intervened and the young man got a six-month tourist visa. Three weeks after he got to West Germany, word reached the embassy here in Accra that the young man had applied for political asylum. Needless to say, there were a lot of embarrassed faces and the process of getting tourist visas in Accra became even more difficult than before. Once the ECOWAS ease of movement protocols came into place, and we could travel around West Africa, the rest of the world appeared determined to keep us out of their countries. And then, of course, came 9/11, and travelling, especially air travel, became one huge wahala, to borrow a famous phrase. Getting visas was never one of the most pleasant of life's tasks; after 9/11, it has become the most time-consuming and humiliating exercise. Only one of my grandparents was alive when I was born and she died before I turned 15. Now I have to answer questions about the beliefs of my grandparents at consular offices before I can get a visa. One particular incident with the Americans, sticks in my mind. This was back in 1995 when I was living in the United Kingdom. I had been getting visas and travelling in and out of the United States for 25 years and I then applied for what I thought would be a routine renewal of a five-year visa. It took a wholescale drama to get the visa but that was nothing compared to what happened when I presented the passport to the Immigration officer at JFK airport on arrival in New York. The officer asked me if I was sure I hadnt manufactured the US visa myself in my kitchen! He told me he had heard enough tales from Ghanaians to know that was not an outrageous suggestion. At the end of the drama, he asked me why I was still travelling on a Ghanaian passport, all these years after I had settled in the United Kingdom!!. Transit visas? I recall this incident because of a current situation that I face. Why on earth do we have to get transit visas simply to change flights in Amsterdam on a KLM ticket? Are Ghanaian passport holders known to sneak away into Amsterdam while being herded through the stipulated queues at the airport to change flights? The earliest appointment date that is available to get an interview for the transit visa is three to four weeks away. Ought the possession of a Ghana passport be enough reason for making life so difficult? I admit everybody is subjected to many of the weird things that now come with travel around the world and not only us, Ghana passport holders. All the same, it is difficult not to take it personally. For years, I thought only criminals got fingerprinted and now computers around the world all have the prints of all my 10 fingers. Nobody has come up with an explanation for me yet, but there seems to be something inside my body that sets off the alarm when I go through the x-ray machines at airports. I, therefore, have to submit to the body search and I feel totally violated. A recent vigorously intimate search by an enthusiastic official at JFK airport has not helped. She made me feel anew the burden of my slightly above average size breasts as she seemed to think they were other than natural! For years, I have had problems at airports with immigration officers who claim that the photographs on my passports do not look like me when I present myself before them. I am not quite sure whether it is the passport photo that does not do me credit or whether the photo flatters my real life looks. This used to lead to good-natured banter but now I feel I am watched with a lot of suspicion. I have gone through the list of countries that do not insist on visas for Ghanaian passport holders. My next trip should be to Vanuatu; problem is I might have to take a KLM flight, and I would still need a transit visa. Source: Elizabeth Ohene/Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video by Austin Bay February 11, 2020 Two months have passed since Dec. 9, 2019, the day Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz exposed the profound damage done to a judicial institution vital to successfully defending America in a world of complex threats: the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, or FISC. The damage done to American public trust in the court is not incidental. Trust is a source of strength, among friends or in the world's most powerful nation. Trust promotes cooperation, which enhances systemic strength. When trust disappears, expect discord seeding division and weakness. The FISC was created to protect a citizen's constitutional rights while permitting intelligence community surveillance of legitimate suspects. To protect necessary cloak-and-dagger secrets, the FISC meets in secret. A secret court in a free society requires two things: (1) legitimate existential threats to citizens and assets: (2) trust in security agency professionalism and integrity, and trust in the judgment of the court judges. Unfortunately, the abuse of the FISC by corrupt members of U.S. security and legal agencies -- specifically within the FBI and DOJ -- may have squandered that trust forever. Evidence is emerging that other corrupt actors, perhaps in the CIA, conducted illegal surveillance. With the documented abuse acknowledged, America needs an FISC-type legal tool to combat covert threats like terrorism, transnational crime and enemy espionage. Twenty-first-century digital and financial connectivity, and commercial jet transportation, reduce police and Pentagon response time. A FISC with integrity must also protect an American citizen's constitutional rights from crooks and crony government. Horowitz discovered premeditated fraud on the FISC by a DOJ attorney. In 2016, the attorney "altered" email from "the other U.S. government agency" (CIA) and submitted a fraudulent application for a warrant to the court. So the FISC approved the warrant. The target: Carter Page, a Naval Academy graduate and a former Trump presidential campaign associate. Spying on Page -- an innocent man -- opened a door to spying on President Donald Trump. Following Horowitz's report, the FISC's then-presiding judge, Rosemary Collyer, issued a public order regarding the Page application and the FBI's lack of "candor": "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 FISC expects the government to provide complete and accurate information in every filing with the Court." Collyer should chastise herself as well. She and her colleagues failed to responsibly question the application. The FBI alleges a Naval Academy grad associated with a presidential campaign in an election year is a Russian asset? Judge, wake the hell up. Page was actually a CIA asset. Trump administration Attorney General William Barr knows the court is a national security asset and wants to save it. On Feb. 6, he put his personal reputation on the line and issued a memo requiring the FBI to have him sign off on FISC applications. Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz pegs the FISC's structural weakness: Alleged perpetrators have no defender. So assign a lawyer to question government evidence. To restore public trust, the individuals who abused the court must be investigated, arrested, tried, convicted and sent to prison. They committed an array of crimes -- including criminal mishandling of classified material. The FISC is a classified court. In the past, the public expected responsible reporters to scrutinize government operations. In the FISC saga, contemporary mainstream media served as a PR tool for crooked cops and spies. So-called elite press outfits like The New York Times and The Washington Post unquestioningly touted intelligence leaks that have proven to be false. Though mainstream media outlets take scant notice, angry calls to disband the court have not faded. The decibels will increase when federal prosecutor John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Russia collusion hoax becomes headline news. I wager Durham will expose crony government at its worst -- dirty government officials, bureaucrats and agents who are politically exploiting and criminally manipulating the U.S. national security structure to harm their political opponents. We shall see. The third-party contractor will also test emissions from the buildings stack, which will require ethylene oxide to be emitted like it would be during regular operations, according to the release. IEPA staff will be on site to monitor all of the testing. Chief of the Presidential Office claimed that so far, there are no respective agreements Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Presidents Office Open source Currently, there are no plans for arranging a meeting of Ukrainian and Russian leaders before the Normandy Format summit; however, there still is such a chance. Andriy Yermak, the newly appointed head of the President's Office said so on his first briefing on Wednesday, February 12. "As for the meeting with Vladimir Putin, the president is the one to make the decision. If he sees that the meeting is necessary, it could become a step to get the actual results from the talks in the Normandy format, we do not rule it out. However, so far, there have been no agreements, no talks in this regard", Yermak said. As is known, during the Normandy meeting in Paris in December 2019, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France agreed to host the next summit in four months (in April 2020). The Paris package included the following commitments: The Daily Beast Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed a wealth tax on the richest Americans, blasted big businesses for turning huge profits while paying little in taxes and said he believed billionaires should not exist. After his win in Tuesday's Democratic primary in New Hampshire solidified Sanders' status as a contender for the nomination, one Wall Street billionaire fired back. Former Goldman Sachs chief Lloyd Blankfein has lashed out at Bernie Sanders. Credit:Bloomberg Lloyd Blankfein, the former Goldman Sachs chief executive, took aim at Sanders on Twitter, saying the Vermont senator would "ruin our economy" if elected president. He added that Sanders did not care about the military and was just as polarising as President Donald Trump. More than 3,000 Tongans, including members of the Pacific countrys royal family, attended the state funeral of Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva in the capital Nukualofa last September. Another 2,000 attended a memorial service in Auckland, New Zealand. Pohiva, aged 78, died in Auckland Hospital after suffering pneumonia. He had been in poor health for some time. Akilisi Pohiva [Source: Wikimedia Commons] Pohiva, who had served as prime minister from 2014, was a significant figure in Pacific politics for several decades. A former school teacher, he led Tongas so-called pro-democracy movement, which aimed to establish a more representative parliament within the tiny kingdoms authoritarian feudal monarchy. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Pohiva would be remembered for his lifelong commitment to championing democracy. Other tributes came from Frank Bainimarama, Fijis prime minister and former military coup leader, who praised Pohivas recognition of the urgency of climate action, and the NZ pseudo-left group Organise Aotearoa, which hailed him as a powerful progressive leader. In fact, Pohivas successive governments represented a privileged layer of business owners and the upper middle class, and proved totally incapable of meeting both the democratic aspirations and basic social needs of the vast majority of the population, which numbers 108,000. The indigenous Tongan monarchy is said to date back 1,000 years. The ruling family claims its heritage from King George Tupou I who converted to Christianity under the influence of Wesleyan missionaries and united Tongas 170 islands in 1845. In 1900, a treaty of friendship with Britain was signed, which gave Britain control of foreign affairs, and kept out other predatory powers. George Tupou I (17971893), King of Tonga [Source: Wikimedia Commons] The treaty remained until 1970, when Tonga became formally independent. Throughout its 175-year modern history, the royal family, supported by a layer of chiefly nobles and the churches, has ruled Tonga in a dictatorial manner, maintaining a lavish lifestyle while overseeing the impoverished and disenfranchised population. There was no reform under Pohiva that made any positive difference to ordinary Tongans. Today the monarchy remains firmly in charge, despite constitutional changes in 2010 that made a majority of parliamentarians elected, rather than appointed by the King and 33 chiefly nobles. A feudal land system still sees land ownership allotted by the nobles to selected families, and women barred from owning land. Since riots in 2006 decimated central Nukualofa, followed by the 2008 global financial crisis, the Tongan economy has continuously deteriorated, with entrenched poverty and social crisis, including a methamphetamine epidemic and high levels of non-communicable diseases. The start of the major fires due to the 2006 Tonga riots in Nukualofa [Source: Wikimedia Commons] Three decades of Pohivas pro-democracy movement confirms that the working class and rural poor, both in Tonga and across the Pacific, can achieve democratic rights and decent living standards only armed with a socialist program. The pro-democracy movement emerged in the mid-1980s, supported by sections of the state bureaucracy and businesses. As historian Ian Campbell noted, demands for reform were modestthe typical requests of a new elite for less hereditary privilege and a sharing of power. Pohiva and others concentrated on criticising corrupt practices, like the sale of Tongan passports to foreigners and wasteful spending on ministerial travel. [1] Pohivas role as a protest organiser saw him fired from the public service. Posturing as an opponent of the privileged elite, he gained a popular following and was first elected into parliament in 1987. He told Radio NZ that year: The existing system is very much like a dictatorship... People have no voice in the present government and we need more representatives of the people. Feleti Sevele, first commoner to serve as Prime Minister of Tonga since the 19th century [Source: Wikimedia Commons] However, there were never proposals to abolish the monarchy and nobility. Feleti Sevele, a key figure in the pro-democracy movement, wrote in 1987 that to do so would be tantamount to stripping off some of the most fundamental and stabilising elements of Tongan society. Reflecting the aspirations of the growing entrepreneurial class, Sevele called for a greater proportion of aid from New Zealand and Australia to be directed to the private sector, including fruit exporters and light manufacturing, rather than to government and quasi-government agencies. [2] In 2005, after decades of stagnation and rising inequality, the government was shaken by a public service strike over low wages, which escalated into a demonstration by 10,000 people demanding democracy. In response, the monarchy promised reform and Sevele was appointed the first non-noble prime minister in 2006 after becoming a close friend of Prince Tupoutoa, later King George Tupou V. Pohiva initially supported Sevele, but soon grew frustrated with the governments refusal to include him and other pro-democracy leaders in decision-making. According to journalist Kalafi Moala, Pohiva formed alliances with people who used to be supporters of the royal family and government but had been embittered for one reason or another, including former Police Minister Clive Edwards, former Superintendent of Prisons Semisi Tapueluelu, and businessman Uliti Uata. [3] The November 2006 riot, which followed speeches delivered to a rally by Pohiva and his right-wing allies, destroyed businesses owned by Sevele, and the royal family, as well as Chinese-owned businesses which sections of the Tongan petty bourgeoisie viewed as rivals. Australia and New Zealand dispatched armed forces to restore order and protect business interests. Pohiva was charged with sedition over the riot, but the charges were dropped in 2009. Moving to defuse deepening opposition to the entire ruling set-up, Sevele and King George V promised more democratic elections in 2010: for the first time the majority of the legislature, 17 out of 26 seats, would be elected by the people, a move which was hailed internationally as a democratic transition. The nobles, however, retained 9 seats, while their Privy Council exercised extraordinary veto powers over legislation. Significantly, New Zealand and Australia helped fund the reform process. The two regional imperialist powers, Tongas main source of foreign aid, had supported the absolute monarchy for decades but became increasingly concerned about popular unrest. Canberra and Wellington also demanded pro-business measures, including the withdrawal of the royal family from business ventures, government spending cuts and the privatisation of assets. After a term in opposition, Pohiva was finally elected prime minister by MPs following the 2014 election. In 2017 however, King George VI showed the monarchys entrenched power by dissolving parliament, triggering a new election. The nobles opposed the governments decision to ratify a United Nations womens rights treaty, changes to the education system, and the dismissal of three cabinet ministers, including one who was convicted of bribery. Pohiva benefited from ongoing disgust with the monarchy and was re-elected in 2017. Among the population, however, there was growing disenchantment. In August 2016 Moala, the journalist who had been a media advisor to Pohiva, said the government was failing to live up to expectations, in particular promises to reduce poverty. While the royal family, nobility and a small business elite has continued to live in luxury, youth unemployment is estimated at 40 percent and most families rely on subsistence agriculture and remittances from family members working abroad. Manufacturing, mainly small-scale industry and handicrafts, contributes only 3 percent of GDP. Tourism is the major source of hard currency. The monarchy and nobles have either owned or had interests in telecommunications companies, satellite services, and energy generation and distribution. Wages remain extremely low. A labourer earns just 20.97 paanga per day, about $US9.00. In November 2018, the Statistics Department estimated that 23 percent of adults and 33 percent of children live in poverty. The Pohiva government continued attacks on freedom of speech, which had previously been a central issue for the pro-democracy movement. Pohiva had been imprisoned in 1997 for 26 days for leaking information about ministerial expenses to the Taimi o Tonga. The newspaper, Tongas major daily, was briefly banned in 2003 and 2004 for criticising the government. Last August, however, Pohiva himself threatened to block Facebook, as anger toward the monarchy erupted when his government abandoned further proposed constitutional reforms. This followed the forced resignation or sacking of senior journalists at the Tongan Broadcasting Commission in 2017, in apparent retaliation for criticism of Pohivas administration. The government also tried to shut down Atenisi University, founded in 1975 by the late Dr. Futa Helu, a supporter of the pro-democracy movement, to teach philosophy, literature, history and other courses. The institute was long seen by the monarchy as a threat for its emphasis on secularism and critical thinking. Last year the government banned Atenisi from recruiting students, claiming it was not properly accredited. Following a legal battle, in November 2019 a court lifted the ban, finding that the government had no legal justification. Notwithstanding the pro-democracy leaders quarrels with the monarchy and the nobles over the division of power and privileges, they proved to be just as fearful and hostile toward the poor and working people, and just as tied to imperialist powers. Pohiva displayed contempt for the poor, telling parliament in June 2019 that the main cause of hardship in Tonga includes slothfulness and dependent lifestyles. A map of the South Pacific, showing the location of the Tongan islands [Source: Wikimedia Commons] Tonga is increasingly caught up in global geo-political tensions and rivalries. Canberra, Wellington and Washington are all seeking to confront Chinas influence in the Pacific, including Tonga. Incapable of pursuing an independent path, Pohivas government turned to Beijing for financial aid, and joined Beijings international Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, while at the same time maintaining ties with Australia and New Zealand, which control much of the judicial system and carry out regular military exercises with Tonga. In December 2017, the International Monetary Fund increased Tongas debt distress rating from moderate to high risk, citing its vulnerability to natural disasters and noting that upcoming loan repayments to China would reduce Tongas foreign exchange reserves, double its debt-servicing costs, and could force the country to borrow yet more money. The experience of Pohivas movement confirms the key tenets of Leon Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution: including that in countries of belated capitalist development the bourgeoisie is incapable of carrying out a democratic revolution. Trotsky, the leader alongside Vladimir Lenin of the Russian Revolution in 1917, explained that only a socialist and internationalist revolution led by the working class and supported by the peasantry can bring about genuine democracy. The Tongan working class and rural poor can achieve democratic rights and decent living standards only with a program to abolish the monarchy and the capitalist profit system and reorganise society along socialist lines. New organisations must be built to fight for the complete political independence of the working class from all the parties and representatives of the ruling elite. This requires a movement that is international in scopenone of Tongas urgent problems can be resolved within Tonga alone. Only through a unified struggle with workers throughout the Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and other countries can the working class in Tonga end neo-colonial oppression and gain control over the productive capacity and resources it requires to answer its social needs and those of the rural poor. The way forward in Tonga and across the Pacific is the establishment of sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist party and publisher of the World Socialist Web Site. Notes: [1] Island Kingdom: Tonga Ancient and Modern, Third edition, 2015, page 249. [2] Aid to the Pacific Reviewed in Class and Culture in the South Pacific, 1987, pages 7475. [3] In Search of the Friendly Islands, 2009, page 40. Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major has spoken of his regret in not seeing the Northern Ireland peace process through to the end. Although he was appointed a Companion of Honour by Queen Elizabeth on New Years Day 1999 in recognition of his efforts in laying the foundations for the peace process, the former Conservative leader said his biggest regret was not being involved in negotiating what would become the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The biggest single regret of my career was we didnt get to finish it, he told delegates to the European Financial Forum at Dublin Castle this evening. While he paid tribute to his successor, former Labour leader and Prime Minister Tony Blair for what he described as an exemplary job in negotiating the peace deal, I always regretted that I wasnt there to finish it. He recalled meeting with former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, whom he described as a good friend, over a glass of whiskey at Dublin Castle in December 1993 when they made a pact to do everything we could do to find common ground between the British and Irish governments on achieving peace in the North. While the discussions were at times fraught and the tensions lead to him snapping what he jokingly described as a weak pencil in half that lead to a great row the two emerged better friends than when they began the discussions, he said. The result was the Downing Street Declaration between Ireland and the UK in December, 1993 that set out their respective stalls for the peace negotiations that would ensue. He also paid tribute to the clergy as well as the women involved in the peace movement in the North whom he said were very helpful in sending the message to communities on both sides of the political divide that violence was no longer acceptable. But on a more somber note, he warned the gathering of banking, financial services and investment leaders that anxious times are ahead as a result of Brexit. Describing Brexit as an entirely self-inflicted wound, he said he never agreed with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his mantra to get Brexit done. I need not mince my words. I think that leaving the European Union was the worst foreign policy decision, he said. He said it would be extremely unwise if the deal resulted in a hard border, noting that The Troubles was sparked by the killing of a border customs agent. And aside from worries over reigniting political tensions, he said he believes the damage to Europe may be intense while the fallout for businesses as a result of Brexit could be costly. I dont think it was a great deal, he said. It was quick and flimsy, he said, adding he believes the deal proposed by former UK Prime Minister Teresa May would have been superior in the long run to the one reached by Boris Johnson. A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has faulted the claims by the former governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari, that chieftains of the party are being persecuted in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also described as untrue, the allegations made by the ex-governor. Mr Yari, on Tuesday, led a faction of the APC in the state to submit a petition to the partys National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, in Abuja. He accused the PDP-led government in the state of forcing its members, especially elected local government chairpersons and councillors to join the PDP. He also accused the state government of intimidation and harassment and trying to break their fighting spirit by forcing its members to decamp, while threatening those who refused to do so. He blamed the people who he said do not mean well for the party, for its present situation. We have been used to the intimidation and harassment in Zamfara State since 2010 when the state government was PDP, same with the federal government and the entire National Assembly. But we are more organised now have the leader of the party and the government at the centre. What we are looking for is support from here. I can say that let them put out ballot boxes tomorrow in Zamfara and see how APC will be declared because the state has never been under PDP since 1999, he said. APC faction reacts In a statement, another APC faction loyal to a former senator, Kabir Marafa, said there is no iota of truth in all the claims made by the former governor. It said Mr Yari is only jealous of the successes recorded by the state government in the area of security. The chairman of the faction, Surajo Maikatako, said while all political parties should be allowed to function without any hindrance, harassment and intimidation as guaranteed by the Constitution, the creation of a parallel government by some disgruntled politicians, abusing and casting aspersions on our respected judicial officers and the judgement of the Supreme Court should not be supported by any democrat. It said the monthly meeting of Mr Yaris faction was solely aimed at distracting the state government from governance, making unguarded utterances that threatens the fragile peace achieved in the state, calling on people to revolt against the government, is counterproductive and causing more harm than good and must be discouraged by all. While urging Mr Yari to have fear of God and allow the new government in the state to do what he failed to do, the faction said he must allow peace to reign in the interest of the people of the state. For genuine reconciliation, the faction urged the National Reconciliation Committee of the party under the leadership of Bisi Akande to ignore Mr Yaris claims that all is well in the party in the state. This is even as it said APC remains divided in Zamfara. Equally untrue is the assertion that APC in Zamfara is now one under one leadership and can win elections in the state anytime. This is far from the truth! The fact is, APC remains divided. Our faction is back to court, challenging the outcome of the party congresses conducted in 2018 and Yaris faction cannot win election in Zamfara state today, the statement read. The rift that split the APC into the Yari and Marafa factions handed Zamfara to the PDP as APC candidates who won all the elective positions last year were sacked by the Supreme Court which agreed that the party did not conduct valid primaries to nominate the candidates. PDP reacts It is not true, Zailani Baffa the governors spokesperson, told PREMIUM TIMES. He said the state governor, Bello Matawalle, has worked with people of the opposition party for about nine months and has in no way, intimidated or harassed them. He explained that three members of the APC, who were arrested, were arraigned on charges based on security. They were remanded in prison by the court, not by the government. It has nothing to do with state government or politics. If it is intimidation, nobody will take you to court because you know you are going to lose. I think this is just political. This is what they have been doing, he said. Responding to the allegation of forcing chairpersons to defect, the explained that when the governor came in, he was the only PDP leader and decided to work with the APC leaders. All the 14 local government chairmen were APC with their councillors. There was pressure on him to remove them but he insisted he will work with them. If he wanted to remove them, he would have done so long time ago, but today, he has worked with them for nine months. Advertisements Its after then, they realised he is a better ruler and so nine decided to move to PDP. Even as I speak with you, six local government chairmen are in APC and the governor has not intimidated any of them. Mr Baffa said it is very unfortunate that the APC is faulting the deeds of the APC. They are losing and have to use sentiments. So, all what they are saying is not true, he said. BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke over phone with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on Tuesday night, expressing confidence in a full victory in the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic and achieving goals of economic and social development. Xi noted that at this critical juncture when China is battling the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, President Joko's phone conversation with him reflects Indonesia's friendship with and support to China as a comprehensive strategic partner. Xi expressed appreciation for the trust and understanding extended by Indonesian friends. China and Indonesia, both major developing countries, should join hands in shouldering the responsibilities of major countries and achieve new progress, Xi said. China is ready to continue to carry forward the traditional good-neighborly friendship with Indonesia, continue to deepen the synergy of their development strategies, and well implement key projects on the joint construction of the Belt and Road, such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, to bring more benefits for the two peoples, Xi said. Xi stressed that fighting the epidemic is currently the top priority of the Chinese government. China has given full play to its system advantage, waged a people's war in epidemic prevention and control, adopted the most rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures, and achieved positive results, he said. The Chinese nation is one that has endured hardships and possesses an indomitable spirit, with ever stronger rallying power and combat capability in face of greater difficulties and challenges, Xi said. China has the capability, confidence and certainty to score an outright victory over the epidemic, and at the same time achieve goals of economic and social development, he said, expressing belief that China will attain greater prosperity after overcoming the epidemic. With its commitment to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has been safeguarding the life and health of the Chinese people, and at the same time fulfilling responsibility for the cause of global public health, Xi said. China will continue to strengthen cooperation on the prevention and control of the epidemic with Indonesia and other countries in an open and transparent manner to safeguard regional and global public health security, Xi said, stressing that China will continue to take good care of foreign nationals, including Indonesians, in China in the same way as it looks after its own citizens. A friend in need is a friend indeed, Xi stressed. Since the epidemic broke out, China's neighboring countries, including Indonesia, have provided valuable support for China in various ways, giving testimony to the fact that they as neighbors have been sharing weal and woe, sticking together through thick and thin, and helping each other in difficult times, he said. Xi expressed hope that regional countries will work hard to maintain bilateral exchanges and cooperation while taking appropriate steps in epidemic prevention and control, acting in a way that serves the common interests of both sides and countries in the region. Joko expressed sympathies to the Chinese government and people over the epidemic on behalf of the Indonesian government and people. At this difficult time when China is battling the epidemic, Joko said, Indonesia as China's sincere partner will always firmly stand by the Chinese people and work with the Chinese people to score a victory over the epidemic as soon as possible. Indonesia has provided a batch of medical supplies to China, he said, adding that the country is ready to continue to offer necessary assistance in response to the needs of the Chinese side. Indonesia is willing to work with China to continue to promote the construction of the Belt and Road, Joko said, expressing belief that the Indonesia-China friendship will be deepened and bilateral ties will be elevated to higher levels following the test of the epidemic. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 04:01:46|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close by Burak Akinci ANKARA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkey expressed willingness to start the frozen EU accession process, but chronic differences and rising tensions with the bloc over energy resources in eastern Mediterranean are on its way, experts said. "We think it is time to open a new page in the accession process," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last week in Ankara at a meeting with the ambassadors of EU countries, calling on the bloc to review its decision to suspend high-level meetings between the two sides. "We see a constructive approach of EU's term president Croatia on this issue," Turkey's top diplomat noted, warning of a growing "distrust between the two sides" at a time when one of the biggest countries of the bloc, Britain, has pulled out. Analysts expressed skepticism on a tangible result of Turkey's keenness to get the accession process back on track. "If there is an initiative from both the EU and Turkey, there could be some progress," Murat Onsoy, a scholar of international relations from Hacettepe University, told Xinhua. Onsoy said the general attitude toward Ankara's membership of the two biggest EU members, Germany and France, does not seem favorable. "As in the past, France is still opposed to Turkey's full membership and a domestic political crisis within Germany's largest national party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), may hamper a possible reconciliation," said the expert. Turkey has been a candidate country to EU since 2005 but accession negotiations have been at a standstill for several years, following a prolonged period of state of emergency declared by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of a botched coup aiming to topple his government in 2016. Ankara has launched a massive crackdown on U.S.-based preacher Fethullah Gulen and his followers, blaming them for the coup. However, the EU said that Erdogan used the coup as a pretext to silence all dissent, officially freezing accessions talks, accusing his administration of baffling the rule of law. Recently, Turkey has been preparing a new initiative to accelerate the accession process to the EU. Accordingly, Turkey will complete regulations for six more accession chapters, including the fight against terrorism, on which there was disagreement regarding the definition of "terrorism," sources told Xinhua, without further elaborating. Despite the intention of Turkey to move on, there are several challenges confronting the restoration of ties. The biggest one is the dispute over energy exploration off Cyprus. Last month, EU members Greece and Cyprus, and Turkey's regional rival Israel signed an agreement to move ahead with construction of an undersea pipeline to deliver gas to European markets. "At the current state of affairs, it wouldn't be realistic to expect a compromise concerning the energy dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean where Turkey is adamant to protect what it calls its vital interests in this region," noted Onsoy. Last November, the EU adopted restrictive measures against Turkey over its drilling activities in eastern Mediterranean. The signing of a deal between Turkey and Libya on the demarcation of maritime jurisdiction zones in eastern Mediterranean was also criticized by the EU. Some analysts believe that Turkey is essential for the EU's growing strategic interests in the Middle East and North Africa, regions of conflicts and rivalries. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Bioxytran, Inc. (OTCQB: BIXT) ("the Company"), a developmental stage biotechnology company. CEO of the Company, David Platt, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by commenting on the Company's latest press release detailing the use of BXT-25 as a late stage treatment for the Coronavirus patients. "Through our development of BXT-25, we have a device approved by the FDA to measure the amount of oxygen in the entire human body," said Platt. He then explained that the Coronavirus is a respiratory virus, which affects the patients' lungs. "Most of the deaths occur when the patients develop ARDS, which is fluid in the lungs," said Platt. "We think it's a great opportunity for us to help patients suffering from a respiratory condition, in this case the Coronavirus, in late stage and maybe save their lives." "Is anybody currently working on any similar developments?" asked Jolly. "As far as we know, we are the only ones," shared Platt. He then explained that the device approved by the FDA has the ability to measure the amount of oxygen in the human body, allowing users of the device to monitor a patient's progress. "The rate of death from ARDS is 50%," said Platt, noting that this can occur among patients in the ICU and can be caused by numerous conditions and viruses. The conversation then turned to the Company's goal to secure a partnership that will allow them to distribute their Coronavirus treatment to China. "Where are we at and where do we go from here?" asked Jolly. "Most of the companies are interested in treating the prevention of ARDS, developing drugs for the prevention of the Coronavirus," explained Platt. "ARDS is considered 'late stage'," he added. "So, we're looking for a partner who is interested in working with this stage." To close the interview, Platt explained that the Company's primary reason for developing BXT-25 was to treat ARDS in the early stages of strokes. "At the end of the day, we are a treatment for stroke, but it's a platform technology to deliver oxygen with a molecule that can do it very efficiently," closed Platt, noting that the technology is therefore an effective form of treatment for ARDS in a respiratory illness like the Coronavirus. To hear David Platt's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7502794-bioxytran-inc-discusses-the-use-of-bxt-25-as-a-late-stage-treatment-for-the-coronavirus Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/ About Bioxytran, Inc. Bioxytran Inc. is a developmental stage biotechnology company. The company is working towards a first-in-class oxygen treatment platform for victims of brain stroke trauma. The first product to proceed to testing is BXT-25, which will be evaluated as a resuscitative agent to treat strokes, especially during the all-critical first hour following a stroke. The product will also be evaluated for its efficacy in treating other brain trauma issues. BXT-25 is based on a new molecule designed to reverse hypoxia in the brain. Hypoxic brain injuries such as ischemic strokes, could be treated with BXT-25 via an intravenous injection that quickly allows the drug molecule to travel to the lungs and bind with the oxygen molecules. From the lungs the molecule mimics a red blood cell traveling to the brain. Since the molecule is 5,000 times smaller than red blood cells it can penetrate the clot and deliver the oxygen to the critical areas in the brain blocked by the clot. To learn more, visit our website: http://www.Bioxytraninc.com. Investor Relations Resources Unlimited NW LLC 860.908.4133 info@resourcesunlimitedllc.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined under federal law, including those related to the performance of technology described in this press release. These forward looking statements are generally identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Known material factors that could cause Bioxytran's actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements are described in the forward looking statements and risk factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and those risk factors set forth from time-to-time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bioxytran undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except to the extent required under federal securities laws. About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona. SOURCE: Stock Day Media 602-441-3474 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52352 A mother of two was arrested and charged with the murder of her five-year-old daughter in Marietta, Georgia Tuesday. Shekinah Akbar, 30, was arrested for the murder of her five-year-old daughter, according to authorities. The girl was found unresponsive with strangulation marks around her neck in the Cumberland Crossings Apartment Complex, AJC.com reported. She was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to the hospital. Developing: A child is dead. Cobb police investigators are inside an apartment working to find out how it happened. Were asking officers about the person theyre questioning, Live at 4. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/th15LD0EgS Chris Jose (@ChrisJoseWSB) February 10, 2020 During the investigation, a Toyota Camry with a Alabama plate that belonged to Akbar was towed from the scene. It was later determined that Akbar was the mother of the deceased girl. According to jail records, Akbar was a resident in Mobile before moving to Georgia and was arrested for a misdemeanor charge by Mobile police in 2008. Akbar has now been charged with murder, aggravated assault related to strangulation and first-degree cruelty to children. Akbar is currently being held in the Cobb County Adult detention Center. Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson with Canada's Justin Trudeau at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, in August last year. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/Reuters Boris Johnson on Monday declared Britain will seek a comprehensive free trade agreement similar to Canadas in post-Brexit trade negotiations with the EU. The prime minister set out Britains trade priorities in a speech in London, saying the UK would be happy with an Australia-style deal if the EU would not agree to a Canada-inspired arrangement. What exactly do Canada and Australia-style trade deals involve and how feasible are they? A Canada-style deal: Zero tariffs, zero quotas but only on goods Canada struck a trade deal with the EU, known as CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement), in 2017. The defining feature of the deal is it imposes no tariffs on most physical imports and sets no quotas, meaning there isnt an upper limit on the amount of product that can be imported or exported. Britain is looking to the CETA deal for inspiration in part because of the time constraints on negotiations. Britain has just 11 months to strike a deal with the EU and so an off the shelf template could help speed negotiations. Its probably the best I think that the UK could go for, Peter Dixon, an economist at Commerzbank, told Yahoo Finance UK. The big drawback of a CETA-style agreement is it only covers physical goods. If it was applied to the UK, it wouldnt mean that we have financial services that was covered and thats a big deal for the UK, Dr George Buckley, chief European economist at Japanese bank Nomura, told Yahoo Finance UK. From left, sitting: Former president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker looks on as Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau and the then European Council president Donald Tusk signing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in Brussels, on 30 October, 2016. Photo: Thierry Monasse/AFP via Getty Images Britain exported 117bn ($129bn, 99bn) of services to the EU in 2018, according to Nomura, equivalent to about 5.5% of GDP. Much of that comes from banking and other financial services sold from the City of London. Johnson has signalled he wants CETA to be a starting point for negotiations, with ambitions to bolt on provisions for free trade of financial services. However, that could prove difficult. Weve already heard from [Irish leader] Leo Varadkar on that issue. If you cant agree a deal on fishing then dont expect to get a deal on financial services is pretty much what he said, Buckley said. Story continues READ MORE: EU offers UK 'best in class' trade deal but wants fishing access Even though a CETA-style deal is the best the UK could go for, it will ultimately be worse economically than full EU membership. CETA offers free trade but not frictionless trade. They will require rules of origin checks, stuff like this, which of course is very onerous, Buckley said. Deutsche Bank said in a note to clients that a zero tariffs, zero quotas trade deal would lead to a significant increase in costs for cross border trade. The bank cited increased border checks, the need to set up parallel work streams to meet EU standards, and the fact that financial services trade would likely be limited. An Australia-style deal: Trading on WTO terms with tariffs Johnson has said that if the EU wont play ball on a Canada-style deal hes happy to settle for an Australia-style deal with the bloc. An Australia deal doesnt exist at the moment, Dixon said. The phrase appears to be a rhetorical device used by Johnson to avoid saying no deal. Australia negotiated a partnership with the the EU in 2008, which streamlines systems to make trade smoother, but the two parties still trade under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. If the UK ended up with an Australia-style agreement it would involve adopting WTO trade terms. Tariffs would be applied to UK goods and services being exported to Europe, at an average rate of 5.1%. READ MORE: Pound slides as Boris Johnson threatens hard Brexit It doesnt sound like a huge number in the grand scheme of things, but when you consider the amount of cross border trade, that starts to add up, Dixon said. The other problem, the bigger problem I suspect, is the controls and checks on flows of goods across borders will significantly slow down the process. Under WTO rules you have significant trade frictions with the EU that it doesnt currently have and that most businesses will be keen to avoid. The cost of European goods everything from car parts to fruit would likely rise. EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. Photo: Francois Lenoir/Reuters The UK could look to counter some of the negative economic effects by putting zero tariffs on EU imports. However, WTO rules require that all nations must have tariffs applied equally. If you accept that there are going to be zero tariffs on European goods coming in, then youd have to have zero tariffs elsewhere, Buckley said. An Australia-style deal is ultimately not really something that the UK would aspire to in trade with the EU, Dixon said How feasible is the Canada option? Both Johnson and EU negotiator Michel Barnier this week said they wanted an ambitious free trade deal with zero quotas and zero tariffs, suggesting a Canada-style deal could be possible. But Johnson and Barnier hugely differed when it came to what such a deal would involve. The EU wants the UK to follow EU standards on everything from environmental protection and workers rights to tax and state aid rules. READ MORE: Boris and Barnier spar in first Brexit trade skirmish The UK wants to be free to diverge from the EU, accepting that exports would have to follow EU specifications but arguing products bound for elsewhere or the internal market shouldnt have to follow the same rules. The problem with [a Canada-style deal] is that it will require a certain degree of regulatory harmonisation, Dixon said. And thats the sticking point. It requires and UK and the EU to be much closer together in terms of their negotiating stance than they currently are. Boris Johnson outlines his government's negotiating stance with the European Union after Brexit, during a speech at the Old Naval College in Greenwich, in London on 3 February. Photo: Frank Augstein/Reuters The gulf will likely narrow as negotiations progress. The important thing is these are starting points, Buckley said. At some point youd expect the two of them to come together and find somewhere to agree. Its always a case of trying to reach a middle ground and if you know youre going to reach a middle ground, and it needs to be in the middle, you might as well start out as wide apart as you possibly can. I think thats why these negotiating positions sound potentially a lot worse than they will end up being. READ MORE: Britain has officially left the EU here's what happens now However, a key question is whether negotiations allow enough time for the UK and EU to converge. CETA took five years to negotiate, three years to approve and ran to more than 1,000 pages. Even if it acts as a starting point, significant changes will likely be needed. I know theyre talking about this as an off the shelf deal, but nothings ever off the shelf, Buckley said. You cant simply pick up a trade agreement and take it over to somewhere else. Deutsche Bank said in a recent note to clients that only a bare bones deal between the UK and EU is likely given the time constraints. Should the UK government stick to its pledge about leaving the transition period by the end of 2020, it is unlikely an agreement of wide scope can be negotiated, analysts wrote. READ MORE: Firms demand 'seat at the table' in post-Brexit trade deals On February 15, 2020, Victor Pinchuk Foundation and Yalta European Strategy (YES) will host the 4th Ukrainian Lunch in Munich, titled Ukraine Moving Ahead and organized on the margins of the Munich Security Conference. With a new Ukrainian leadership elected in 2019, reforms and economic transformation move forward, while a solution seems still elusive with regards to the conflict in the East, despite the first steps made. What are the main internal and external factors that will shape Ukraines policy in the years to come? And how will they impact on Ukraines Euro-Atlantic perspective as well as on European security as a whole? World and Ukrainian leaders will address those questions and share their outlook on what lies ahead, reads the statement on the Victor Pinchuk Foundation website. Richard Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations, will moderate the discussion. Among the speakers will be Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia; Mircea Geoana, Deputy Secretary General of NATO; Peter Hultqvist, Minister for Defence of Sweden; Miroslav Lajcak, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania; Kurt Volker, Former Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations of the United States of America, former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the NATO; Stanislav Asieiev, Author of Radio Liberty and others. As noted, selected leaders from politics, business, experts and media from Ukraine and the world will attend the event. ol Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Emal Haidary (Agence France-Presse) Kabul, Afghanistan Wed, February 12, 2020 08:21 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063e6824 2 World #Afghanistan,#suicide-bombing,military,academy,Taliban Free A suicide attack targeting a military academy in the Afghan capital killed at least five people early Tuesday, the first major assault in the city in months. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the dawn attack, which came after nearly three months of relative calm in Kabul. The ministry of defence said five people were killed and at least six injured. The interior ministry, however, said six people died -- two civilians and four military personnel -- after the suicide bomber detonated the device at around 7:00 am (0230 GMT). Twelve others were wounded, ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said in a statement. The blast happened near the Marshal Fahim military academy, where the country's security officers are trained. "It was a big explosion that rocked our house. We also heard gunfire afterwards. Ambulances rushed to the area quickly," Samiullah, a resident who like many Afghans goes by one name, told AFP. A security source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told AFP that the attacker was on foot when he targeted a vehicle near a checkpoint as it was entering the academy. President Ashraf Ghani called the bombing "a crime against humanity" while repeating his call for a nationwide ceasefire. "The great nation of Afghanistan wants an end to violence, a ceasefire and a lasting peace," he said in a statement. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was unaware of any claim for the bombing, adding that the insurgents were "investigating" the incident. The Islamic State group are also active in Kabul. - Taliban talks - In recent weeks the Islamist extremist Taliban have refrained from attacking major urban centres in an effort to keep talks with the United States on track, but violence in the provinces has continued. The last major attack in Kabul was in November, when at least 12 people were killed after a minivan packed with explosives rammed into a vehicle carrying foreigners during morning rush hour. Four foreign nationals were among those wounded. The military academy has been the scene of several attacks in the past, including one claimed by the Islamic State group last May. Tuesday's blast came as Washington and the Taliban wrangle over a possible deal that would see US troops begin to leave Afghanistan in return for security guarantees. There appeared to have been little progress in reaching a deal in recent weeks, however, prompting the insurgents to blame the White House and what they said were a growing list of demands. Late Tuesday, Ghani said on Twitter that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had called to inform him "of the notable progress made in the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban. The Secretary informed me about the Taliban's proposal with regards to bringing a significant and enduring reduction in violence." "This is a welcoming development," Ghani said The United States and Taliban had been negotiating for a year and were on the brink of an announcement in September 2019 when President Donald Trump abruptly declared the process "dead", citing ongoing unrest. Talks were restarted in December in Qatar, but paused again following an attack near the US-run Bagram military base in Afghanistan. In his annual State of the Union address on February 4, Trump renewed his vow to negotiate a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. "We are working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home," he said, offering his blessing for the negotiations with the Taliban. Snow and ice could cause problems The road has been closed. Follow the latest updates from our travel feed below The Dobbin Road in Armagh has been reopend folowing an earlier crash. Diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted onto the Vicarage Road, delays are expected. Our live updates from across Northern Ireland are compiled by @TrafficwatchNI, @BBCNITravel and @PSNITraffic. There are many examples of successfully doing this throughout the country, Heitzman said. It is the most sustainable result, as well as best preservation practice to adaptively reuse one of the most beautiful and significant buildings in our community. Police arresting people with a poached wild animal and their body parts is no more news in Nepalfor they happen too frequently. However, perhaps a very few Nepalis have heard that owls are also smuggled from the country. Experts say owl smuggling is also a significant problem in the field of wildlife conservation in Nepal, which needs immediate attention. Besides apparent commercial reasons, there are some interesting cultural factors that contribute to the illegal trade. The misunderstood creatures Owls are known in Nepali as latokosero, ullu, or huchil among other names. There are 23 species of owls in Nepal. Owls are silent hunters with binocular visions and highly sensitive hearings. Owls, being the apex predators, hunt and feed upon rats, snakes, amphibians, fish and many more. Most of the owls are nocturnal in nature (they sleep during the daytime and hunt at night), hence they are hard to spot. It might be possible that you may have only heard an owls hooting while around the time you go to bed. Raju Acharya, the Executive Director at Friends of Nature, says owls are the misunderstood creatures and hence preyed. He informs that some people believe that owls have medicinal value. This is the first reason why the smugglers and poachers eye the owls. Acharya, who has worked in the field of owl conservation and research, further states that the owls are considered to be a messenger of the evil forces in some communities. In contrast, most of the Hindus consider them as vahanas (vehicles) of Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This is another reason why they are captured and smuggled to India, he says, adding many Indians would put owls in captivity and kill them on the day of Laxmi Puja every autumn in the belief that the Goddess of Wealth should not leave their house without her vahana. Acharya estimates that approximately 2,000 owls are smuggled out of the country every year. He believes the illegal market extends further to the Middle East where each owl can be sold in price as high as Rs 500,000. Manshanta Ghimire, an ornithologist and President of Pokhara Bird Society, informs that many of the owls are illegally smuggled to Wuhan of China, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus epidemic nowadays, dead or alive. Ghimire says the illicit trade continues as various body parts of the animal are used to make medicines and to ferment alcohol. The owls are also domesticated in many parts of the world, he says. Many people capture owls as their hobby. They are caged in such a manner that they cannot even fly or look for food themselves. Alarming apathy Despite the intensity of the problem, the issue has not been considered serious by the concerned stakeholders, alleges Karan Bahadur Shah, a veteran zoologist of the country. Although Nepal has a strong policy on wildlife conservation, Shah insists that such policy benefits only if it is effectively implemented. If it was another animal of high value, he laments, such news about the smuggling or threat would be presented very sensationally. According to Owls of Nepal, a book published by Friends of Nature, while most of the owl species found in Nepal are listed in the least Concern categories in IUCN Red List, many of the species are enlisted as endangered or critical in Nepals National Red List of Birds. Acharya states that the numbers of owls are decreasing day by day due to hunting, capturing and smuggling. Similarly, they are losing their safe habitats owing to increasing deforestation. Owls are actually very helpful friends for farmers, says Acharya. These creatures hunt rats of our fields during the night time. But people destroy their nests, believing that they bring evil. We are unknowingly creating an imbalance in our ecosystem. Conserving the owls Wildlife conservationists are actively working on minimising the hunting and smuggling of owls as well as spreading awareness in general public about the importance of the predatory birds. For example, Nepal Owl Festival is celebrated every year on the first weekend of February to make the public aware of the situation of owls in the country and their importance in the ecosystem. Nepal is one of the four countries in the world to host such events for the conservation of owls. This year, the Ninth Owl Festival was organised at Rangbhang, Bhaisegauda in Syangja district of Gandaki province on February 7-8. Organised by Friends of Nature, Rangbhang Club and Millenium Trek Management Committee, the event was a blend of nature and culture. The event promoted the idea of owl conservation by showcasing the local culture and traditions. The event also included a temporary owl museum, awards for the people contributing to the conservation of nature, presentation of wildlife research findings, and bird watching among others. The locals performed traditional dances and games, hoping the village would attract domestic and foreign tourists during the Visit Nepal Year 2020. By Daniel McConnell, Juno McEnroe, and Cianan Brennan A so-called super grand coalition made up of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and the Green Party is being proposed in a bid to deny Sinn Fein power. While both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are prepared to initially sit back and allow Sinn Fein attempt to form a government, it is being suggested that such a three-way government would reflect the reality that 75% of voters voted to keep Sinn Fein out of office. While there is a strong desire throughout Fine Gael to leave office and go into opposition, several leading figures said the journey out of government is not straightforward without risking a second general election. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has so far ruled out any prospect of a deal with Sinn Fein or Fine Gael. He is likely to come under increasing pressure to back down on his stance relating to one or other party if he wants to fulfil his wish of becoming the next taoiseach. Ahead of the Dails return on Thursday week, negotiations will begin between Sinn Fein and other left-leaning parties today to begin exploring how a government may be formed. The partys team of negotiators, led by Pearse Doherty along with Matt Carthy, Eoin O Broin, and Louise OReilly, will first meet with representatives from Solidarity People Before Profit and the Green Party, with further meetings expected with the Social Democrats and the Labour Party as the week progresses. Divisions within Fianna Fail over the possibility of a potential power deal with Sinn Fein were again evident ahead of a meeting of the reduced parliamentary party meeting tomorrow in Leinster House. Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan warned that Sinn Feins manifesto election promises, if implemented, would turn the country into Venezuela. Mr OCallaghan said there was no purpose in going through the charade of talks with Sinn Fein about coalition options. No one voted to compel Fianna Fail to go into government with Sinn Fein, he said, adding that its voters would be annoyed if the party did so. Mr OCallaghan said he would refuse to serve in a government involving Sinn Fein, if the opportunity arose. He would sit on the Fianna Fail backbenches instead, he told RTE. Timmy Dooley, who lost his seat in Clare, said he did not know if there is an appetite to work with Sinn Fein. There has to be a compromise if there is to be a government. I think all party leaders should sit down and talk, he said. Earlier, Sligo-Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry said talks between both sides may well take place but this did not mean a coalition. Meanwhile, Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall has played down concerns about Sinn Feins past. It is not about personalities and it shouldnt be about the past either, she said about expected talks between her party and Sinn Fein and any coalition plan. Nonetheless, she said Sinn Fein TD David Cullinanes chanting of Up the Ra caught on camera this week in Waterford was concerning and unsavoury. The Green Party will also meet with Sinn Fein today and lay down its bottom lines for sharing power, while Labour will also hold its first post-election meeting. Speaking at Sinn Fein headquarters in north inner-city Dublin yesterday, Mr Doherty said he welcomed the fact Mr Martin has apparently softened his stance towards a Fianna Fail coalition with Sinn Fein, adding that they have now recognised that this election has changed everything. We won this election, he said. The people came out in their hundreds of thousands to say they want Sinn Fein, and we have smashed through that barrier that has seen two parties dominate the stage for the past 100 years. Hyderabad: People and students demonstrated on Tuesday, angry at the excessive use of force by the police against the students of Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi. Students of Nizamia College here in Hyderabad boycotted classes and staged protests, while students of the MANUU carried out a march on the campus. Police stopped women from protesting at Mehdipatnam. Unani students of UG and PG courses boycotted classes at the Nizamia Tibbi College in solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islamia who were beaten up by the Delhi police when they tried to march towards Parliament. The Nizamia students took out a protest march raising slogans against the Delhi police and condemned the police. Women students said that the Delhi police crossed all limits and brutally attacked even women, hitting them on their private parts and chests. We never dreamed of such an India where citizens are treated as if they are enemies of the country by their own police, said many of the students. They want to know why students should be deprived of their constitutional right to protest democratically. They said the whole world has seen the two faces of the Delhi police. They were silent spectators when a gunman fired on the students, but the same cops acted tyrannically towards peaceful protesters, unmindful of the law. They said those who gave us the slogan Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao are now hitting girls and women. The students are demanding stern action against the police who indulged in this abuse of power. MANUU students carried out a march in solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia. Mudassir Ahmed, a research scholar, said, We are not seeking liberty from the rule or power of a democratically elected government. We are seeking liberty and independence from economic crisis, starvation, unemployment and injustice. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 Trend: Two Armenian servicemen were killed as a result of gunshot wound in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region occupied by the Armenian armed forces, Trend reports on Feb. 12 referring to Armenian media. Twenty-year-old serviceman Tigran Manvelyan was fatally wounded under unclear circumstances on February 12 at 11:30 (GMT+4). On the same day, twenty-year-old serviceman Tigran Mkhoyan was also fatally wounded at 13:00 (GMT+4) under unclear circumstances. The investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances of the incident, the report said. 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. Fianna Fail need to work out what went so wrong for them, writes Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe. The arrival into the RDS of Dublin City Lord Mayor, Fianna Fails Paul McAuliffe, the partys Dublin North-West candidate, brought a sigh of relief for party strategists and stalwarts. For hours on the second day of counting in the general election, expected electoral gains and new seats for Fianna Fail had suddenly started to turn into bitter disappointments, a political virus, as sitting TDs were dropping everywhere across the country. This was supposed to be the moment: after nine years in opposition, a charged and optimistic campaign driven by positive polls had pointed to the Soldiers of Destiny adding to their Dail ranks. But it was not to be. Instead, by dinnertime on Monday, 14 sitting Fianna Fail TDs looked set to lose their seats. And faces were dropping at the RDS count centre in Dublin. That was why McAuliffes arrival into the Dublin 4 venue brought relief for the party. The Fianna Fail lord mayor finally looked on track to win the last seat in Dublin North-West after a protracted battle in the three-seater. There had been jibes from others that McAuliffe was going to lose. But that didnt come to pass, and the party instead managed to retain seven seats in the capital, one more than in 2016. But darker clouds were settling over other parts of the country, as the party woke up to the brutal reality of the losses inflicted on it by the electorate over the weekend. Senior party figures said its support for Fine Gael over the last four years under the confidence and supply agreement, had hurt Fianna Fail badly at the ballot box and Sinn Fein had got that message out. Like dominos, sitting TDs began falling in the day, and this continued into the evening, as counting in the 39 constituencies moved towards the finish line. The night before, former party communications spokesman Timmy Dooley lost in Clare, as did Brexit spokeswoman, Lisa Chambers, in Mayo. The latter was a huge loss for party leader Micheal Martin, who had stood by Chambers during the recent votegate controversy and shared the political stage with her so many times during Brexit media events. Chambers was more than magnanimous about her defeat: It is really disappointing. It is one of those things in politics: sometimes you succeed and sometimes you dont. We are on course to be the largest party, but it is a very fractured Dail. Then there was the loss of John Brassil in Kerry, Margaret Murphy OMahony in Cork South-West, while the winds of political change also took out Bobby Aylward in Carlow-Kilkenny, Kevin OKeeffe in Cork East, Fiona OLoughlin in Kildare South, and Shane Cassells in Meath West. The loss of Cassells was a big shock for the party. In a Facebook message after his defeat, he said: Wasnt to be today... Beidh la eile. Party HQ was putting on a brave face, and pointed to the newer TDs including in Kerry, Carlow-Kilkenny, and Cork East. But there were recriminations as the election casualty list grew. Back in the RDS, Fianna Fails long-time general secretary Sean Dorgan, looked on quietly as jubilant crowds gathered around Paul McAuliffe, in anticipation of his election. Dorgan knew there were different scenes playing out for party members in other count centres. Slowly, he stepped forward, and the outgoing Dublin mayor gave him a long and strong embrace. Both knew the significance of the 11th-hour win. One loss, in particular, struck a chord for Fianna Fail. John Curran had succumbed to the Sinn Fein surge in Dublin Mid-West. Many view this loss as a sign that Sinn Fein has eaten into Fianna Fails traditional working-class vote, particularly in Dublin. Defeated Fianna Fail TD Lisa Chambers with Cllr Annie Mae Reape at the count centre in Castlebar on Sunday. Picture: Michael Donnelly. It was also a tough day for Malcolm Byrne, who lost in Wexford. He was only in the Dail for its full eight sitting days since his by-election win last November. The party must accept that we will form a centrist opposition, tweeted Byrne afterwards. Amid the fallout, there are now questions about why Fianna Fail took risks running two candidates in places; whether there was any backlash over its decision to back repeal in the 2018 abortion referendum, and how the election campaign resulted in seven fewer seats than its 2016 Dail tally. There will be much deliberation over Fianna Fails losses and whether this was just a shock election that saw a Sinn Fein surge disrupt voting expectations across the political spectrum. But there is also a dawning realisation that its confidence and supply agreement with the last government seriously damaged the party. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to name Toopakulagudem Barrage being constructed on river Godavari as Sammakka Barrage in the name of the great Adivasi warrior and Goddess of the forest. Mr Rao instructed the engineer-in-chief Muralidhar Rao to issue a GO naming the Toopakulagudem Barrage as Sammakka Barrage. The Chief Minister had decided to visit the Kaleswaram Project on Thursday and in this connection he held a review with concerned officials at Pragathi Bhavan on Wednesday. During the meeting he said that the development in Telangana state is becoming a possibility and happening as planned with the blessings of the three crore goddesses. He reminded that with the completion of irrigation projects certain baron lands are getting Kaleshwaram waters and many barrages and reservoirs have been named after different goddesses. With the completion of the Kaleshwaram he said that from the forthcoming rainy season water inflow will increase. Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday reallocated portfolios to some newly inducted members of the cabinet a day after the allocation. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had allocated on Monday the portfolios to 10 of the 11 turncoat MLAs who had defected from the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) to contest elections on the BJP slate. The MLAs were inducted into the cabinet on February 6. Some of the new ministers had publicly expressed their dissatisfaction over the portfolio allocation. BC Patil, who was first allotted the forest department, has now been made the agriculture minister. Anand Singh, who got food and civil supplies, is now the minister for forest, ecology and environment. K Gopaliah, who was earlier allocated the small scale industry and sugar ministries, has now been given food, civil supplies and consumer affairs. The portfolios of Shivram Hebbar and Shrimant Patel have also been changed. Despite opposition, however, Yediyurappa did not change the portfolio of K Sudhakar, who has been given the medical education department. The reallocation of portfolios drew criticism from opposition leaders, who accused the MLAs of blackmailing the CM. Congress leader VS Ugrappy said: The CMs decision should be final but I feel sorry for Yediyurappa that he cant even decide what portfolio should be given to whom. The turncoats are blackmailing the CM and government to get their pound of flesh in return for helping the BJP form the government in the state. One of the newly inducted ministers, however, said that the CM had rectified injustice to the MLAs. Injustice was done, which has been rectified. I dont know what the problem of the opposition is, if portfolios are reallocated. After all it is the prerogative of the chief minister, the minister said on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the only turncoat MLA who was not inducted into the cabinet, Mahesh Kumtahalli, reportedly turned down the chairmanship of Mysore Sales International Limited(MSIL), a state-owned marketing organisation. Kumtahalli was not immediately available for a comment. ISTANBUL - Starting on Wednesday, Turkey's military will strike Syrian government forces anywhere in Syria without being bound by the Sochi agreement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a group of lawmakers of his AKP party. ''If there is the smallest injury to our soldiers on the observation posts or other places, I am declaring from here that we will hit the regime forces everywhere from today, regardless of Idlib's borders or the lines of the Sochi agreement'', Erdogan said on Wednesday, referring to a 2018 ceasefire agreement. ''We will do this by any means necessary, by air or ground, without hesitating, without allowing for any stalling,'' he told members of his AK Party in Ankara. Erdogan went on to say that ''we are decided to reject the regime out of the limits established (with Russia) in the Sochi memorandum before the end of February''. ''Turkey will not remain a spectator'', added Erdogan, noting that the number of Turkish victims in Idlib due to government artillery fire has risen to 14 over the past 10 days, one more than previously reported. Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Fungicides Market by Type (Chemical and Biological), Crop Type (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds & Pulses, Fruits & Vegetables), Mode of Action (Contact & Systemic), Mode of Application, Form, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global fungicides market is estimated to be valued at USD 18.7 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 24.5 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of 4.6%. Factors such as the changing climatic conditions and the rising demand for high-value crops, particularly fruits & vegetables, are projected to drive the growth of this market. The development of biofungicides with the least or no effect on the environment provides growth opportunities for manufacturers in the fungicides market. The biological segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Biological fungicides or biofungicides comprise beneficial microorganisms that are used to control fungal diseases. Many of these beneficial microorganisms are naturally found in the soil. Biofungicides are mostly used before the occurrence of disease. Their efficiency increases if used in combination with good agricultural practices. Most biological fungicides are labeled for use on edible crops, such as herbs and vegetables. Biological fungicides help in improving the nutrient uptake of certain elements and also can be used in rotation with conventional fungicides to reduce the risk of resistance development. The cereals & grains segment is projected account for the largest market during the forecast period. By crop type, the fungicides market is segmented as cereals & grains, oilseeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, and other crop types. The dominance of the cereals & grains segment is attributed to the increasing consumption of fungicides for these crops, particularly in the Asian and North American countries. In addition, due to the increasing demand for crops, such as corn, wheat, rice, and sorghum, across various industries, the consumption of crop protection chemicals is projected to increase for improving the yield of these cereals. Due to these factors, the segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Asia Pacific held the largest share in the fungicides market for the cereals & grains segment, majorly due to the high production of crops, including corn, wheat, and rice, in countries such as the US, China, India, and Japan. The liquid segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. By form, the fungicides market is segmented into liquid and dry. Water-based forms such as suspension concentrate and liquid concentrates require the addition of inert ingredients to increase the efficiency of the fungicide. Liquid forms of fungicides increase the phytotoxicity potential of plants, resulting in a wide application of liquid fungicides, globally. Due to these factors, the segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific market is estimated to account for the largest market share due to the high adoption of innovative fungicides for improving the yield of crops in the region. According to the FAOSTAT, the Asia Pacific region contributed to more than 60% of the global population in 2017, with China and India being two of the most populous countries in the world. Hence, the increase in food demand in this region has led to a surge in the use of fungicides. There are more global players in the market that are focusing on entering the Asia Pacific region through the adoption of strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions or partnerships. The Asia Pacific fungicides market is projected to grow at the highest rate due to the increase in demand from countries such as India and China. Key Topics Covered 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Overview of the Fungicides Market 4.2 Fungicides Market, By Form 4.3 Asia Pacific: Fungicides Market, By Country and Key Crop Type 4.4 Fungicides Market, By Mode of Application and Region 4.5 Fungicides Market: Major Regional Submarkets 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Macroeconomic Indicators 5.2.1 Upsurge in Global Pesticide Consumption 5.3 Market Dynamics 5.3.1 Drivers 5.3.1.1 Changing Climatic Conditions Lead to Crop Disease Outbreaks 5.3.1.2 High Demand for High-Value Crops 5.3.1.3 Growing Launches of Novel Fungicide Products 5.3.2 Restraints 5.3.2.1 Growing Resistance to Fungicides 5.3.2.2 Fungicide Residue Problems 5.3.3 Opportunities 5.3.3.1 Advent of Precision Farming Can Create Opportunities for Foliar Applications 5.3.3.2 Application of Biological Fungicides to Boost the Demand 5.3.4 Challenges 5.3.4.1 Stringent Regulations and Long Duration of New Product Approvals 5.4 Regulatory Framework 5.4.1 North America 5.4.1.1 US 5.4.1.2 Canada 5.4.2 Europe 5.4.2.1 Data Requirements for Plant Protection Products 5.4.3 Asia Pacific 5.4.3.1 China 5.4.3.2 Australia 5.4.3.2.1 Approval of Active Constituents for Use in Australia 5.4.3.3 India 5.4.4 Brazil 5.4.5 South Africa 5.5 Patent Analysis 6 Fungicides Market, By Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Biological 6.2.1 Microbials 6.2.1.1 Microbials Dominated the Global Biological Fungicides Market 6.2.2 Botanicals 6.2.2.1 North America Led the Botanical Fungicides Market 6.3 Chemical 6.3.1 Triazoles 6.3.1.1 Triazoles Have the Highest Application in Rice Crops 6.3.2 Dithiocarbamates 6.3.2.1 Thiram and Mancozeb are Largely Preferred Among Dithiocarbamate Fungicide Groups 6.3.3 Strobilurins 6.3.3.1 Europe is Estimated to Dominate the Strobilurin Fungicide Market 6.3.4 Phenylamides 6.3.4.1 Systemic Mode of Action Favors the Growth of the Phenylamides Segment 6.3.5 Chloronitriles 6.3.5.1 Low Risk of Resistance Boosts the Consumption of Chloronitriles 6.3.6 Other Chemical Fungicides 7 Fungicides Market, By Crop Type 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Cereals & Grains 7.2.1 Corn 7.2.1.1 Demand for Corn is Increasing in Developing Countries Due to the High Protein Consumption in Emerging Markets 7.2.2 Wheat 7.2.2.1 Europe is the Largest Fungicides Market for Wheat 7.2.3 Rice 7.2.3.1 The Growth of the Rice Segment is Driven By the Growing Adoption of Fungicides in the Asia Pacific Region 7.2.4 Other Cereals & Grains 7.3 Oilseeds & Pulses 7.3.1 Soybean 7.3.1.1 South America is the Largest Consumer of Fungicides for Soybean Cultivation 7.3.2 Cotton 7.3.2.1 Higher Adoption of Fungicides in Cotton is Fueling the Growth of the Market in the Asia Pacific Region 7.3.3 Other Oilseeds & Pulses 7.4 Fruits & Vegetables 7.4.1 Apples 7.4.1.1 Sdhi Chemical-Based Fungicides Provide Essential Nutrients for Better Yield of the Apple Crops 7.4.2 Pears 7.4.2.1 Rising Global Trade of Pears is Expected to Boost the Fungicides Market in Europe 7.4.3 Grapes 7.4.3.1 Europe Dominated the Fungicides Market for Grapes 7.4.4 Cucumbers 7.4.4.1 Steam Canker and Wilt Disease are the Major Causes of Yield Loss in Cucumbers 7.4.5 Potatoes 7.4.5.1 Europe is Projected to Witness A Higher Demand for Fungicides Application in Potatoes 7.4.6 Other Fruits & Vegetables 7.5 Other Crop Types 8 Fungicides Market, By Mode of Application 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Foliar Spray 8.2.1 Foliar Spray Segment Projected to Dominate the Asia Pacific Region During the Forecast Period 8.3 Chemigation 8.3.1 Chemigation Helps in Reducing the Volume of Fungicides Applied Per Acre of Cropland 8.4 Seed Treatment 8.4.1 Seed Treatment With Fungicides Offers Long-Lasting Protection Against Fungal Diseases 8.5 Soil Treatment 8.5.1 Countries in Asia Pacific and RoW Give High Preference for Soil Treatment 8.6 Post-Harvest 8.6.1 High Post-Harvest Loss in the Asia Pacific Region Boosts the Demand for Fungicides 9 Fungicides Market, By Mode of Action 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Contact 9.2.1 Low Risk of Fungal Resistance and Economic Price Drives the Contact Fungicides Market 9.3 Systemic 9.3.1 High Efficacy of Systemic Fungicides to Boost Its Demand 10 Fungicides Market, By Form 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Liquid 10.2.1 Emulsifiable Concentrate 10.2.2 Suspension Concentrate 10.2.3 Soluble Liquid Concentrate 10.3 Dry 10.3.1 Water-Dispersible Granules 10.3.2 Wettable Powder 11 Fungicides Market, By Region 11.1 Introduction 11.2 North America 11.3 Europe 11.4 Asia-Pacific 11.5 South America 11.6 Rest of the World (RoW) 12 Competitive Landscape 12.1 Overview 12.2 Competitive Leadership Mapping 12.2.1 Visionary Leaders 12.2.2 Dynamic Differentiators 12.2.3 Innovators 12.2.4 Emerging Companies 12.3 Competitive Leadership Mapping (Start-Up/SME) 12.3.1 Progressive Companies 12.3.2 Starting Blocks 12.3.3 Responsive Companies 12.3.4 Dynamic Companies 12.4 Market Share Analysis, 2018 12.5 Competitive Scenario 12.5.1 Acquisitions 12.5.2 Expansions & Investments 12.5.3 New Product Launches 12.5.4 Agreements, Collaborations, Approvals & Partnerships 13 Company Profiles 13.1 BASF SE 13.2 Bayer AG 13.3 Corteva Inc. 13.4 Syngenta AG 13.5 FMC Corporation 13.6 UPL Ltd. 13.7 Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. 13.8 Nippon Soda Co. Ltd. 13.9 Isagro S.p.A. 13.10 Nufarm 13.11 ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd. 13.12 Nissan Chemical Corporation 13.13 Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. 13.14 Koppert Biological Systems 13.15 Bioworks, Inc. 13.16 STK Bio-AG Technologies 13.17 Verdesian Life Sciences 13.18 Seipasa S.A. 13.19 Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha Ltd. 13.20 Nutrichem For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/e5kio6 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Censor Board is back at what it does the best-chop off several parts of a film at the pretext of making it more 'Sanskaari'. Just a few days before the official release of Imtiaz Alis film Love Aaj Kal, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) decided to chop off certain scenes from it. Maddock Films Even when Love Aaj Kal was going to be passed with a U/A certificate, most of the intimate scenes between Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan have been cut short. The list that is doing rounds on the internet has a list by CBFC where they have listed what all they are axing. 1. The list consists of a kissing scene, at the very beginning of the film and a subsequent lovemaking sequence, which has been reduced. 2. The board has even asked the makers to blur the visuals of cleavage which is visible in the love-making scene. 3. The CBFC has also asked Imtiaz Ali and the team to omit shots of Kartik and Sara undressing. 4. If we talk about verbal chop offs, a sexually abusive word has been replaced with ass. Words including f**k, f*****g have also muted. 5. Haraamzaadon has been replaced with Saale besharmo. Finally, after all the omissions, the Central Board of Film Certification handed over the U/A certificate to the producers of Love Aaj Kal on 5 February. The film is the remake of the 2009 movie by the same name. The original movie featured Sara's father Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles and explored two love stories set in different time periods. The film starring Sara and Kartik also features Randeep Hooda and Arushi Sharma in significant roles. The movie, which is set to release on February 14 will revolve around complications of love between the lead couple Veer (Kartik) and Zoe (Sara). Goldman Sachs is in discussions to feature Prince Harry as a guest speaker for its interview series "Talks at GS," according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The Duke of Sussex will likely want to speak about two issues of personal interest: mental health and the needs of military veterans, said the person, who declined to be identified because the event isn't secured yet. While the prince and spouse Meghan Markle recently announced that they would seek financial independence and step back from royal duties, the "Talks at GS" events aren't a paid appearance, the person said. As the Mirror first reported, Harry spoke with Goldman about the possible collaboration starting in November, the person confirmed. Earlier this month, Harry was reportedly a guest speaker at a JPMorgan Chase client event in Miami. But the person pushed back on the assertion in the Mirror article that the talks could "pave the way for the Sussexes to forge a lucrative future relationship" with New York-based Goldman. Goldman began holding its "Talks at GS" a few years ago as an informal series for employees held in the auditorium of its headquarters in downtown Manhattan. In 2018, as the company began a campaign to loosen its image with the public, it began posting the interviews on streaming platforms including Spotify and Youtube. Previous guests ranged from CEOs like Robert Iger of Disney to athletes including David Beckham and writers such as Malcolm Gladwell. New York, Feb 12 : Whether it is 'Sholay', 'Singham', 'Baaghi' or 'John Wick', when it comes to cinema we enjoy seeing bad guys get their punishment more than seeing them be forgiven, because people find these narratives more meaningful and thought-provoking, says a new study. "We like stories in which the wrongdoers are punished and when they get more punishment than they deserve, we find it fun," said study lead author Matthew Grizzard from Ohio State University in the US. "Still, people appreciate stories of forgiveness the most, even if they don't find them to be quite as fun," Grizzard added. The study, published in the journal Communication Research, involved 184 college students who read short narratives that they were told were plots to possible television episodes. The students read 15 narratives: one-third in which the villain was treated positively by the victim; one-third in which the villain received a just punishment; and one-third in which the villain was punished over and beyond what would have been a suitable penalty for the crime. For example, one story involved a person stealing $50 from a co-worker. Participants read one of three possible endings. In one scenario, the victim bought coffee for the thief (under-retribution/forgiveness); in another, the victim stole a $50 bottle of whiskey from the thief (equitable retribution); and in the third version the victim both stole his money back and downloaded porn onto the thief's work computer (over-retribution). Immediately after reading each scenario, the participants were asked if they liked or disliked the narrative. More people liked the equitable retribution stories than those that involved under- or over-retribution, the study said. The researchers also timed how long it took the readers to click the like or dislike button on the computer after reading each of the narratives. They found that readers took less time to respond to stories with equitable retribution than it did for them to respond to stories with under- or over-retribution. "People have a gut-level response as to how they think people should be punished for wrongdoing and when a narrative delivers what they expect, they often respond more quickly," Grizzard said. When the punishment did not fit the crime, the participants took a bit longer to respond to the story with a like or dislike. According to the study, participants thought stories in which the bad guys were over-punished would be the most enjoyable and those in which the bad guys were forgiven would be the least enjoyable to watch. Equitable punishment was in the middle. But they also said they would appreciate the stories about forgiveness more than the other two types of narratives. They also paused for the over-punishment narratives, they did not find them more meaningful, only more enjoyable. "That suggests the pause may have been simply to savour the extra punishment the villain received," Grizzard said. Californias 2020 primary is now part of Super Tuesday instead of being relegated to near the end of the early election cycle, and Democratic candidates are making many Golden State stops ahead of the vote. Being late on the primary calendar didnt stop presidential hopefuls of decades past from campaigning in the Bay Area, however. A search through The Chronicles archive turned up photos of Democratic candidates across the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s shaking hands, making speeches and fundraising around the region. Chronicle photographers captured everyone from eventual nominees to historic long shots to also-rans, and many of these photos havent been seen since those campaigns long ago. Chronicle photographers were on hand when Robert F. Kennedy landed at San Francisco International Airport the day before the California primary in 1968, as well as at a campaign stop in Chinatown. Kennedy won the state primary the next night and then was fatally shot after delivering his victory speech in Los Angeles. During the 1972 presidential election, New York Rep. Shirley Chisholm campaigned in the Bay Area several times. Chisholms run for the White House was historic: She was the first African American major-party candidate and the first woman to run a national Democratic campaign for president. Today there are organizations supporting me in 30 states, and more are coming in, Chisholm said during a visit to San Francisco in November 1971, announcing she would take part in Californias primary. Chisholm pitched herself as an independent alternative to tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum candidates running for the nomination. She scolded her hosts, members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, for being hung up on middle-class values, reporter Carolyn Anspacher wrote. You will never be really free until we are all free, Chisholm said. And you will not be free until you join the movement. Two weeks before the California primary, Chisholm was back in the Bay Area, speaking at Laney College in Oakland. She did not expect to win the nomination against the heavily financed campaigns of Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern. But if I come in third or fourth in the primary, that will give me leverage and strength at the convention. She finished her day at a fundraising reception at the Oakland apartment of Black Panther Huey P. Newton, giving an impassioned rooftop pledge to about 150 supporters. Im not getting out for anybody. Let George and Hubie fight it out. Im clean, Im not bought. Chisholm received the most votes of any state from California, with 157,435 votes, or 4.4 percent, and came in fourth in the state primary and in the overall delegate count. The eventual nominee in 1972, George McGovern, lost dramatically to incumbent Richard Nixon. In 1988, the Democratic primary campaign got off to a rough start when, in early May 1987, front-runner Gary Hart quit the race over media reports of marital infidelity. The remaining candidates including current 2020 candidate Joe Biden, then a U.S. senator from Delaware were called the seven dwarfs. A poll in 1987 showed that two-thirds of registered Democratic voters were dissatisfied with the collection of candidates. Only Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and the Rev. Jesse Jackson could muster support in the double digits. But months later, Hart announced that he was getting back into the race, without any real campaign staff. This will be like no campaign youve ever seen, Hart said. Im going directly to the people. It didnt work he was out again by March. By Super Tuesday, Dukakis and Jackson had emerged as front-runners. A few days ahead of the California primary, Dukakis visited San Franciscos Ocean Beach to discuss environmental issues with local leaders and a group of fourth- and fifth-graders. Pacing Ocean Beach in black wingtips, Michael Dukakis yesterday lectured San Francisco schoolchildren on the virtues of compost, the evils of acid rain and the miracle of biodegradable plastics, then-Chronicle Political Editor Jerry Roberts wrote. (Dukakis) was nice, said 11-year-old Chris Bernardo. He knew about gill nets and he knew about sea mammals. The adults were more impressed, especially with Dukakis opposition to offshore oil drilling. He was very cautious about issuing platitudes but seemed to have a good grasp of details, said the Sierra Clubs Steve Krefting. It was refreshing to hear a candidate talking that way. More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. Dukakis won California and the nomination but lost to George H.W. Bush in the general election. Steve Ringman / The Chronicle 1984 More from Chronicle Vault Not Your Century: 1999 The last impeachment acquittal. S.F.s 1984 Democratic convention: Historic, but not smooth. Cow Palace convention: When the GOP held a wild national convention in the Bay Area. Changing expectations: Dianne Feinsteins early S.F. years. Here to stay: The legend of the woman who saved the cable cars. From the Archive is a weekly column by Bill Van Niekerken, the library director of The Chronicle, exploring the depths of the newspapers archive. Its part of Chronicle Vault, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting more than 150 years of San Francisco stories. It is edited by Taylor Kate Brown, The Chronicles newsletter editor. Sign up for the newsletter here and follow Chronicle Vault on Instagram. Contact Bill at bvanniekerken@sfchronicle.com and Taylor at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com. New Jersey police said Tuesday theyve shut down a Newark opioid mill, as thousands of residents continue to die from overdoses every year. Police arrested three men and seized more than 15 pounds of fentanyl on Sunday, the state attorney generals office said. The mill was linked to more than 70 overdoses and 29 deaths. Col. Patrick Callahan, acting superintendent of the State Police, said they saw significant decreases in area overdoses whenever they shut down a drug mill. We know were saving lives," Callahan told NJ Advance Media Tuesday. The investigation into Newark mills began in November. Dealers often stamp brand names onto the wax folds used to package drugs, authorities said, and investigators traced folds found at overdose scenes to a location on Hobson Street. When officers searched it Sunday they found dozens of stamps labeled Thanos and Thor, among others, names linked to overdoses in more than a half-dozen counties. Three men were arrested and face nine drug and weapons charges, including possession with intent to distribute, authorities said. Dereemus Botts, 34, of Irvington, Whydia Durham, 46, of Union and Nelson Johnson, 30, of Newark are in jail ahead of a Thursday detention hearing. We were able to discover something which should alarm everybody," state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Tuesday. There was no heroin found there, it was all fentanyl." Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that can be 100 times more powerful than morphine, and it has ravaged New Jersey. Grewal said the doses seized were enough to kill hundreds of thousands of people in its pure form. In addition to arrests Grewal has previously said officers shut down 11 heroin mills last year and seized more than 4.5 million doses the state is expanding treatment options, giving away naloxone, and educating student athletes about the dangers of opioids, among other efforts. State officials have said that multi-pronged approach was why the death toll did not go up last year after years of increases. About 3,021 people died of suspected drug-related overdoses last year, according to preliminary data, a slight decrease from the year before. The State Polices opioid task force is bolstered by a $2.9 million federal grant, Callahan said, and works with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Grewal stressed that state and federal agencies are still able to collaborate despite being at odds in court over New Jerseys immigration policies. Brian Michael, Special Agent in Charge with Homeland Security Investigations in Newark, said in a statement that the partnerships were crucial to tackling the fentanyl crisis. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. (Bloomberg) -- Cisco Systems Inc. said revenue this quarter may decline more than analysts projected, indicating that corporations are still cautious about increasing spending on their computer networks.Sales in the third quarter, which ends in April, will drop as much as 3.5% from a year earlier, the San Jose, California-based company said Wednesday in a statement. Analysts on average expected revenue of $12.6 billion, in line with the midpoint of Ciscos forecast range. Adjusted profit will be 79 cents to 81 cents a share. Analysts had projected 80 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Cisco is predicting a second consecutive quarterly revenue contraction, showing that its main business of selling expensive networking hardware is still struggling amid tepid spending by corporations and government agencies. While a push into software and services had eased the companys reliance on hardware, such as switches and routers, that machinery still provides the biggest chunk of revenue. Ciscos customers in certain markets and areas are putting off signing orders, Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins said. Its just lower close rates and taking longer to get closed, he said in an interview. That tells you its a pause and not a cliff. Cisco shares declined about 4% extended trading. They had earlier closed at $49.93 in New York, leaving them up 4.3% in the last 12 months. That compares with a 23% gain in the S&P 500 Index. The company said net income in the fiscal second quarter rose to $2.88 billion, or 68 cents a share, from $2.82 billion, or 63 cents, a year earlier. Revenue fell 4% to $12 billion. Excluding certain items, Cisco posted profit of 77 cents a share. On average, analysts were predicting profit of 76 cents on sales of $11.98 billion. Ciscos hardware business generated sales of $6.53 billion in the period ended Jan. 25, a decline of 8% from a year earlier. Applications, its software unit, also dropped 8% to $1.35 billion and security revenue expanded 9% to $748 million. Story continues In Europe, orders would have increased if not for the U.K., where companies and the government held off. Similarly, in Asia, China revenue dropped 30%, Robbins said. Without that drag, Asia as a region would have shown growth. In the U.S., Ciscos largest and most profitable region, the company was hurt by slower server sales and the ongoing decline in orders from phone and internet service providers. Robbins expressed his confidence in a rebound once issues including Brexit, trade and the health crisis in China are resolved. Theres a lot of sprouts out there that lead me to continue to be optimistic, he said. Cisco, whose gear handles much of the worlds internet data traffic, has said that telecommunications service providers have pared spending on computer networks. Many are devoting the bulk of their budgets to purchases of radio equipment to build out coverage of new fifth generation, or 5G, cellular networks. Once those networks have been built out and are generating traffic, investment will shift to the kind of gear Cisco makes, for connecting the computers that handle the data-processing element of wireless services. (Updates with CEO comments in the fourth paragraph.) To contact the reporter on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alistair Barr at abarr18@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Jillian Ward For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Ascend Performance Materials, the largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, announced today it signed an agreement to purchase Poliblend and Esseti Plast GD from D'Ottavio Group. The acquisition includes a manufacturing facility in Mozzate, Italy, the masterbatch portfolio of Esseti Plast GD and the engineering plastics portfolio of Poliblend, which consists of virgin and recycled grades of PA66, PA6, PBT and POM. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005673/en/ Ascend Performance Materials CEO Phil McDivitt and D'Ottavio Group president Giancarlo D'Ottavio signing an agreement for the purchase of Poliblend and Esseti Plast GD. (Photo: Business Wire) "This strategic acquisition marks an important transformation for our company as we grow our European manufacturing and distribution footprint. More importantly, it helps us provide our customers with a broader portfolio of high-performance, sustainable products to meet increasing demand," said Phil McDivitt, Ascend's president and CEO. Poliblend was founded in 1999 and offers compounding and masterbatch services, including color and additive concentrates that enhance the appeal and end-use performance of plastics products, packaging and fibers. Its certifications include ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO TS 16949. "The ability to offer our sustainable products in an ever-changing global business environment is a game changer for Ascend," said John Saunders, Ascend's European leader. Giancarlo D'Ottavio, Poliblend's president, will continue to run Poliblend's operations and join Ascend's European management team. "This is an exciting chapter for Poliblend. Combining the shared expertise of our companies creates opportunities to expand our reach while continuing to provide the high-quality products and service that our customers have come to trust," said D'Ottavio. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter. About Ascend Performance Materials Ascend Performance Materials is a global premium provider of high-quality plastics, fibers and chemicals and is the world's largest integrated producer of PA66 resin. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Ascend has nine global locations, including five fully integrated manufacturing facilities located in the southeastern United States and an engineering plastics compounding facility in Europe, all dedicated to innovation and safe production. With three of the world's largest chemical processing facilities, Ascend's materials form the building blocks for products used in everyday applications from apparel to airbags, cable ties to circuit boards and carpets to car parts. Ascend's 2,600-person global workforce is committed to making a difference in the communities we serve and leading the development of material solutions that inspire everyone, everywhere, every day. About Poliblend and Esseti Plast Poliblend S.P.A. manufactures and markets various basic technopolymers (PA-PBT-POM), elastomerized, reinforced and loaded compounds, self-extinguishing, lubricated for the global market. With a large fleet of dedicated extruders, Esseti Plast is a leader in the production and sale of colored masterbatches and specific additives. More information about Poliblend can be found at https://www.poliblend.it/it/chi-siamo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005673/en/ Contacts: For further information: Ascend Performance Materials Alison Jahn, Vice President, Global Communications Tel: +1 713-210-9809 Email: ajahn@ascendmaterials.com For editorial inquiries and clippings: EMG Rita Verschuuren Tel: +31 164 317 024 Email: rverschuuren@emg-pr.com Scott Morrison had his Trump Lite moment when he stared blankly at the Australian people and told them that an internal report which they were not allowed to see had found $100 million in sports grants were legitimate. It said much about the lack of transparency that is at the heart of Australian politics and its parlous state. Trump lite? Scott Morrison was less than transparent with the Australian people. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Today I am proposing a six-point clean-up of politics and government in Australia. But first, a detour to Donald Trump. Read the transcript, the US President said, ad nauseam, in his defence against impeachment, concerning his telephone call with the Ukrainian President and the revelation that he withheld military assistance until the Ukrainians launched an inquiry into his potential Democratic opponent, Joe Biden. Too bad the transcript he urged all to read wasnt actually a verbatim transcript but a self-serving, obfuscating summary. Scott Morrison read selectively from the report by Phil Gaetjens, his former fixer and now secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, on the sports grants affair. Gaetjens found no surprise that the then sports minister, Bridget McKenzie, had a clear conflict of interest in failing to declare her membership of a clay-shooting club to which she made a grant. Indian pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on China to source fermentation-based active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates to manufacture these medicines, but the coronavirus outbreak there has disrupted the supply. India may face a shortage of antibiotics, vitamins, and even diabetes medicines if no alternative source of raw material for these drugs is found soon. Indian pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on China to source fermentation-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates to manufacture these medicines, but the coronavirus outbreak there has disrupted the supply. The prices of certain APIs have already jumped 25-30 per cent in the domestic market, according to industry sources. Plants manufacturing these APIs in China are shut in view of lockdown there. Indian formulation units (medicine manufacturers) typically have a buffer stock of around two months, and some medicines from the stock are already in circulation. My supplier in Hebei province in China which does not even share a border with Hubei province, where Wuhan is in a lockdown, informed that people are confined to their homes and factories are shut until further notice. I am not receiving regular supplies of chemicals and intermediates from China, said an API manufacturer in India. He apprehended a shortage of antibiotics, vitamins and diabetes drugs if the supply disruption continued. For metformin, the most-common prescribed diabetes medicine in India, the entire supply of fermentation APIs comes from China. Industry representatives met senior officials of the department of pharmaceuticals on Monday and apprised them of the current inventory of raw materials. They requested the government to ease pollution norms to allow indigenous units to alter their product portfolio and produce fermentation APIs in the country. But a senior industry executive, who was a part of the meeting, doubted if Indian API units could switch their products so swiftly. It would take some time for the Indian units to start making the APIs which are currently imported from China. They have their own export commitments and other contracts, he said. The government, too, appeared concerned about the emerging situation. A senior official admitted that the government had already checked if there were alternative sources to procure these APIs. For fermentation APIs, there is no other option. We have to wait and see how the situation pans out. "We are considering the industry proposal to relax pollution norms to step up supplies here if needed, he said. Meanwhile, the sources indicated that the government may source anti-HIV drugs from Cipla in a bid to treat coronavirus cases in India. The company did not respond to e-mailed queries. Photograph: Srdjan Zivulovic/Reuters Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 12:37:33|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday signed into law a decree to create the new National Amazon Council. The new council will be under the supervision of the office of the Vice President Hamilton Mourao, and will be in charge of organizing inter-ministerial actions for the "protection, defense and sustainable development" of the Amazon Rainforest region. There used to be an Amazon Council in Brazil created in 1995. It was attached to the Environment Ministry and formed by several government offices, as well as governors from the states in the Amazon Rainforest region: Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Para, Rondonia, Roraima, and Tocantins, in the northern region; Mato Grosso, in the midwestern region; and Maranhao, in the northeastern region. With the decree, Bolsonaro inaugurates a different council, which does not have the participation of the governors of the states located in the Amazon Rainforest region and consists only of 14 cabinet members. According to the president, the council's creation is a response to criticism to his handling of the government's environmental policies, including foreign censure. "I hope we can give due answer to those who criticize us. Last year, an European Chief of State dared say that our sovereignty over the Amazon was relative. And other authorities spoke similar things in the past," said Bolsonaro, recalling an episode last year when French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the Brazilian government's response to the massive forest fires in the Amazon region. In the ceremony to sign the decree, President Bolsonaro also reiterated his criticism about the size of the indigenous lands in Brazil, saying the extension of the reservations is "abusive." "No one is against giving due protection and land to our indigenous brothers, but the way it was made, amounting to 14 percent of the country's territory, is a bit abusive," the president said. Bolsonaro is against the demarcation of more indigenous lands. Last year, he tried to change the responsibility over demarcations from the National Indigenous Foundation (Funai) to the Agriculture Ministry. The measure was met with much criticism, as the Agriculture Ministry has a pro-agribusiness stance and agribusiness leaders. After the Congress vetoed Bolsonaro's action, he attempted to issue a new decree which was overturned by the Supreme Court for a second time. James Kennedy screamed at his girlfriend Raquel Leviss for missing his DJ set during a Gay Pride party at TomTom Bar on Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules. The 27-year-old reality star returned to DJ at TomTom after being fired from SUR last year by Lisa Vanderpump, 59, for body-shaming Katie-Maloney Schwartz, 33. Her husband Tom Schwartz, 37, and his business partner Tom Sandoval, 36, allowed James to DJ at their bar though Katie admitted she would have picked someone else. Pride party: James Kennedy screamed at his girlfriend Raquel Leviss for missing his DJ set during a Gay Pride party at TomTom Bar on Tuesday's episode of Vanderpump Rules 'James is lucky that my husband is, like, a really nice guy,' Katie said. James was still miffed with Katie as he got ready for the Pride celebration with Raquel, 25. 'Katie got me fired, and then Katie quit, you know? What is she doing all day, sitting on her a** in Valley Village with her feet up on the couch, doing absolutely nothing?,' he complained to Raquel, a new server at Sur. Raquel asked James about where he stood with Lala Kent, 30, after they recently patched up their friendship. In trouble: Raquel later got in trouble for missing her shift to catch James performing 'She has completely cut me out of her life again,' James said. He explained how their falling out involved rapper 50 Cent's online feud with Lala's fiance Randall Emmett, 48, over unpaid debt. 'In case you've been living under a rock, 50 Cent decided to call out Randall on some money that he thought Randall owed him,' James said in a confessional. Cut out: James explained why Lala Kent cut him out of her life after they just rekindled their friendship Getting ready: The 27-year-old reality star got ready for the Pride party with Raquel 'He wrote, ''Gimme my money by Monday.'' So you know, I'm liking posts, I'm thinking this is funny. I post a picture and I'm like, ''I need my money by Monday.'' Guys, this isn't just no f***ing Instagram feed when you're at Denny's having breakfast, okay? This is across America, viral! I found it hilarious, and it kind of landed me in a bad place with Lala,' he added. Lala meanwhile said that supposedly sober James should have been on his best behavior since they just rekindled their friendship and said his posts were 'not funny in any way, shape or form'. James while back at TomTom asked manager Max Boyens for a drink, ordering: 'a soda water, with lime and a little bit of you know'. Mystery drink: James asked TomTom manager Max Boyens for a drink, ordering: 'a soda water, with lime and a little bit of you know' He played his DJ set at TomTom while Raquel was on a float with Lisa and restaurant staff. James became apoplectic on the phone with Raquel for missing his performance. 'Hey, go f*** yourself! How dare you miss my whole set! What the f*** is wrong with you?,' he screamed at her. He's back: Lisa Vanderpump fired James from Sur but he was allowed to DJ at TomTom Screaming session: James screamed at Raquel for missing his set 'I didn't have any service,' Raquel explained. 'I've been in the parade. I didn't know when your set was. You didn't tell me. I asked you so many times. I've been on the parade,' she told him. 'This is bulls***!,' he yelled back. No service: Raquel explained that she lost phone service and did not know what time James was playing Raquel despite being on shift at Sur eventually made it to TomTom where James smoothed things over with her. 'I love you. I was just upset because you missed my set and you're the one person I want to impress,' he told Raquel softly. 'Aww. You do impress me, every day you impress me,' she replied. Made it: Raquel despite being on shift at Sur eventually made it to TomTom where James smoothed things over with her Tender moment: James kissed Raquel on the cheek after declaring his love for her They hugged and James planted a kiss on Raquel's cheek as they made up. Raquel in a confessional admitted that she was hurt by his words. 'When James called me, I was obviously really upset because he wasn't even hearing me out. But I don't want to upset him because he does explode at times,' she said. Hurtful words: 'When James called me, I was obviously really upset because he wasn't even hearing me out. But I don't want to upset him because he does explode at times,' Raquel said in a confessional Lala at the event also spoke with James who apologized for upsetting her. 'I f***ed up. You know, like, what a dummy,' James said. Lala who has made her sobriety a priority told James that she realized after the incident that they were completely different people now. Not funny: Lala Kent also spoke with James at the event over his post about her fiance Randall Messed up: James acknowledged that he messed up and called himself a 'dummy' Big heart: Lala told James that she forgave him 'I know that he was f***ed up when he did that post and I can't allow people to get to me to the point where I may fall off my rocker,' Lala said in a confessional. She told James that she forgave him and they exchanged cheers over their 'non-alcoholic' drinks. Lala asked for a sip of his drink, but James declined as she declared that it wasn't non-alcoholic. Alcoholic drink: James mentioned his 'non-alcoholic' drink, but Lala doubted that it was alcohol-free 'I think James has a lot of issues. I think he has an addiction problem. He has a bunch of bobbleheads around him, including his girlfriend, that don't give a s*** about what his future may hold, which could get very ugly and sad,' Lala said in a confessional. James at TomTom also spoke with Lisa who was more worried about his sobriety than his returning to DJ. Lisa reminded him that it wasn't her decision to have him there and called him out for drinking. Catching up: Lisa Vanderump at TomTom also caught up with James and called him out for drinking James also spilled that Raquel was at TomTom instead of being at Sur. Raquel finally showed up at Sur and was chewed out by manager Peter Madrigal for being late. 'I just lost track of time. Honestly, have I ever been late or missed a shift before?,' Raquel said. Taking off: James left as Raquel was being scolded by SUR manager Peter Madrigal Lost track: Raquel insisted that she lost track of time as Peter said it was unacceptable for her to be so late 'I feel really, really bad about missing the shift. I really do. I ran over to TomTom to see James finish up his set. He called me, he was super upset that I missed his set,' she told Peter. 'You're obligated to me while you're here, not your boyfriend,' Peter told her. 'You have to figure out where your priorities are, alright? In relation to your boyfriend or your job.' Lisa before the Pride event prepared materials at her Villa Rosa estate with her crew. She had a candid conversation with Ariana Madix, 34, who had been speaking with Lisa about coping with depression. Boyfriend or job: Peter told Raquel, 'You have to figure out where your priorities are, alright? In relation to your boyfriend or your job' Candid conversation: Lisa also talked with Ariana Madix about her depression Ariana admitted to having suicidal thoughts including a recent incident in which she was driving on the freeway and thought about driving off the edge. 'How is that a real thought?,' Ariana asked Lisa who offered her a few shifts a week at the restaurant to help get her out of the house. Ariana said she was under the impression that her depression was situational and would disappear after she moved from an apartment into a new house, but it has continued. Dark thoughts: Ariana admitted to having suicidal thoughts including a recent incident in which she was driving on the freeway and thought about driving off the edge Suicide Prevention Lifeline The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 provides people in distress, or those around them, with 24-hour support. Or, to connect with a counselor through the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741. Advertisement Ariana was looking forward to celebrating Pride for the first time being open about her bisexuality. She joined in on the Pride festivities that included Lisa sitting next to shirtless Brett Caprioni who held an umbrella for her. The British restaurateur complained of a broken toe and also got carried around by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy. Coming out: The reality star was looking forward to celebrating Pride for the first time being open about her bisexuality Pride celebration: Katie and Ariana participated in the Pride event in West Hollywood Personal trainer: Lisa rode with her shirtless personal trainer and Sur staffer Brett Caprioni Broken toe: The British restaurateur complained of a broken toe and got carried around Lisa earlier spoke with Scheana Shay about getting along with newcomer Dayna Kathan. Scheana strongly denied that she was jealous of Dayna who started dating her ex Max. She started crying as she explained to Lisa that she simply didn't 'vibe' with Dayna. Show newcomer: Lisa earlier spoke with Scheana Shay about getting along with newcomer Dayna Kathan Getting emotional: Scheana started crying as she denied being jealous of Dayna Jax Taylor spoke with Dayna at the Pride event and she complained about Scheana being mean to her. Dayna called Scheana a 'b***' and immature and earned a high-five from Jax. Scheana got a ride on the shoulders of a sheriff's deputy and sang her song Good As Gold atop the bar. Bar duty: Jax Taylor while behind the bar talked to Dayna about her problems with Scheana Good times: A sheriff's deputy gave Scheana a ride on her shoulders Her song: Scheana also was on top of the bar singing her song Good As Gold She later confronted Dayna for saying that she's been mean to her. 'Are you 34 or 16?,' Dayna asked her. Scheana admitted that she had a lot going on right now and was overwhelmed. Face to face: Dayna asked Scheana if she was age 34 or 16 Actions first: The show newcomer confronted Scheana for hazing her 'I haven't been fair to you and I'm really sorry,' she told Dayna. Dayna said that she was ready to move on and they both went inside together to have a shot. Vanderpump Rules will return next week on Bravo. A HOMELESS man was jailed for two years after he caused 15,000 worth of damage to multiple TV screens in a bookmakers outlet after claiming he "blamed Paddy Power for ruining his life." Philip Barry (32) later said he had smashed the twelve TV screens in the Cork city bookmakers outlet just so he could be sent to prison and would have a warm bed for the night rather than being left homeless on the street. However, a Cork Circuit Criminal Court judge warned that Irish prisons are not there to cater for the homeless. Barry, who is originally from Ballincollig, Co Cork, had used a heavy stool to smash twelve 55 inch TV screens in the Paddy Power outlet on Cornmarket Street in Cork on June 4 2019. Terrified customers fled the bookies during the incident. He was jailed for three years, with the final 12 months suspended, after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage before Judge Brian O'Callaghan at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Aidan Noonan previously explained that the background to the incident was that Barry had blamed Paddy Power for ruining his life. Defence counsel, Alison McCarthy BL, said the major factor in the incident was that her client was very distressed and emotional at being homeless. She told the court that the damage was caused by her client in a desperate attempt to be sent to prison so that he would have safe accommodation for the evening. Ms McCarthy pointed out that her client had later voluntarily gone to the Bridewell Garda Station in Cork and made full admissions about the incident involved. Judge O'Callaghan heard Barry had a total of 103 previous convictions. These included convictions for criminal damage as well as public order and minor assault. However, the court was told that Barry was entirely conviction-free for nine years to 2018 during a period in which he was living in his family's home. An alcohol-problem resulted in him being asked to leave. Ms McCarthy said that the lack of a permanent home and instability in his life were the background to all his problems. She said he is deeply remorseful over the criminal damage incident. Judge O'Callaghan was told that Barry has been in custody since June 5 last after he was unable to raise the 100 in his own bond required to avail of High Court bail. On a previous occasion, Barry told the court that he had absolutely nothing to live for at the time of the malicious damage incident. "I just lost it. I had no family, no friends. I did it to try and get some help. I didnt want to be on the streets, he explained. "I gambled - they destroyed most of my life." The judge was told that a relative was now offering to provide secure shelter for him. However, Judge O'Callaghan noted that it was a serious incident and that there was a risk posed to both staff and customers in the bookmakers shop which the court had to take into consideration. The judge stressed that businesses in Irish cities and towns were entitled to run their operations in a peaceful manner and without risk of attack. He noted Barry's plea, his co-operation with the gardai and the fact he had been conviction-free for almost a decade until 2018. Judge O'Callaghan acknowledged the background to the incident but warned the behaviour of the defendant cannot be condoned. "The Prison Service does not exist to look after homeless people. They (jails) are not there to provide social support services," he said. He imposed a two year sentence and directed that Barry stay away from both alcohol and drugs on his release from custody. He was also warned not to enter any bookmakers premises in Ireland after he completes his sentence. Industry experts and analysts said the European Unions decision to partially suspend trade privileges afforded to Cambodia indicated the economic blocs frustration at the deteriorating democratic situation in the country, but was also an attempt to alleviate the impact on workers. After a year-long withdrawal procedure, the EU Commission said on Wednesday it had decided to suspend the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade privileges on all travel goods and sugar exports, but imposed only a partial suspension on garment and footwear products. The suspension would affect 20 percent of exports to the EU, amounting to $1.1 billion of exports annually, the Commission said. The withdrawal amounts to around one-fifth or 1 billion of Cambodia's yearly exports to the EU. Unless the European Parliament and the Council object, this will take effect on 12 August 2020, the statement reads. According to the list of export codes released by the Commission, products such as mensand boys t-shirts and trousers, certain kinds of mens underpants, briefs and pajamas, and womens tracksuits, pantyhose and tights would be tariffed at standard EU tariffs. But all sugarcane related products and travel goods, such as suitcases, leather gloves and rucksacks, would be fully tariffed starting August 12. Cambodia exported 45 percent of its products to the EU in 2018, accounting for around $5.8 billion. It was also the second largest beneficiary of the EBA privileges, only second to Bangladesh. Kaing Monika, deputy secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said the group was preparing a statement in response to the announcement. He said they were still calculating the exact impact specifically on garment exports. But, he added, that they would continue to talk to buyer about the new tariffs and regretted the targeting of the garment sector. It is a regret for our garment sector, he said. We have good working condition and respect of workers rights. We dont just say it. We have reports recognized by the ILO. Government spokesperson Phay Siphan could not be reached for comment on Wednesday and the Foreign Ministry said it will issue a statement responding to the Commissions decision. Khun Tharo, program coordinator at labor rights group CENTRAL, said the EU was trying to find a balance in terms of its future approach to the Cambodian government. While the Commission had to impose some tariffs to uphold its stand on human rights violations, he said, it was keeping the door open for the government to reverse its course. There is still a window open in the next six months for the government, Khun Tharo said. Stephen Higgins, managing partner of Mekong Strategic Partners, said the final decision was less harsh than feared, adding that it would have a modest impact on Cambodias economy. He said this impact could also be offset by China, through a trade agreement. The two countries are currently in the nascent stages of negotiating a free trade agreement. Theyve clearly calibrated the suspension to minimise the impact on the workforce, while clearly sending a strong message to the Cambodian government, he added. The investigation into the EBA was launched following concerns raised by the EU over the human rights record of Cambodia. The Commission said on Wednesday that it saw no significant progress on improving the rights situation. "The European Union will not stand and watch as democracy is eroded, human rights curtailed, and free debate silenced. Today's decision reflects our strong commitment to the Cambodian people, their rights, and the country's sustainable development," said Josep Borrell, Vice-President of the European Commission. Human Rights Watchs Phil Robertson said Prime Minister Hun Sens government did not give the economic bloc much choice on suspending some trade privileges. Its his governments failure to act to respect rights and fix problems identified by the EU that is driving this decision. PM Hun Sen should recognize this reality and come to the negotiating table now, said the deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch. Meanwhile, garment manufacturer H&M said it strongly agrees that human rights violations in Cambodia must be addressed, but it also warned that the EUs decision to partially suspend EBA trade privileges to Cambodia would have a negative impact on workers. The partial withdrawal of the EBA will have a negative impact on the employment of the people in textile industry. The textile industry employed around 1,000,000 people and is a key driver for the Cambodian economy, reads the statement. The Cambodian government called the decision by the European Commission unjust and claimed that it is politically driven, failing to respect Cambodias sovereignty. In a statement published on its website, the Cambodias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision failed to recognize and respect the fundamental issue of Cambodias sovereignty, which cant neither be the subject of negotiation for trade preferences nor be a trade-off for any development assistance. But the government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen also expressed its commitment to continue to address concerns raised by EU with regards to land disputes, labor rights and press freedom in the country. Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland on Wednesday said its consolidated net profit declined 86.68 per cent to Rs 57.11 crore for the third quarter ended on December 31, 2019. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 428.76 crore for the December quarter of 2018-19. Revenue from operations declined to Rs 5,188.84 crore for the third quarter as compared with Rs 7,489.64 crore in the same period of previous fiscal, Ashok Leyland said in a regulatory filing. "The industry continued to witness a decline in volume (39 per cent). Ashok Leyland also witnessed a volume drop in this quarter," Ashok Leyland MD and CEO Vipin Sondhi said. The company has been seeding its range of heavy duty BS-VI vehicles in the market, well before the April 2020 deadline, he added. "Along with the roll-out of the BS-VI vehicles, we will also be introducing our unique modular business platform that will give our customers the flexibility to choose vehicles as per their requirement," Sondhi said. Ashok Leyland Whole Time Director and Chief Financial Officer Gopal Mahadevan said the company continues with its productivity and cost reduction programmes started earlier. "These initiatives have helped us achieve a sizeable reduction in costs. We are also focusing on cash flows and conserving resources for future growth initiatives," he added. Shares of Ashok Leyland on Wednesday ended 1.81 per cent down at Rs 81.35 apiece on the BSE. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Beijings iconic Summer Palace tourist resort is the home of a huge new ice rink thats opened just ahead of the Winter Olympics. The rink measures 300,000 square meters and consists of two areas designed for different types of activities. The city has opened seven municipal ice rinks and four snow resorts to the public. Since 2014, ice and snow activities in municipal parks have attracted nearly 2 million visitors, according to the Beijing Municipal Administration Center for Parks Jan 11, 2022 07:26 PM The mother of 2012 Delhi gangrape victim broke down in court on Wednesday as she demanded fresh death warrant for the four convicts in the case. I am here from one and a half years, I am here and waiting for them to avail their legal remedies. However, even I am victims mother, and even I have some rights. I would request you to please issue the death warrant, said Asha Devi as the court offered to give one of the convicts Pawan Gupta the legal aid. Guptas father pleaded before the court that no lawyer is willing to take the case of his son and sought time. ALSO WATCH | This is delay tactics: Delhi gangrape victims mother breaks down in court The father of the 23-year-old victim objected to the offer of legal representation to Gupta, but Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana said he has to follow the law. This court is of the opinion that any of the condemned convict is entitled for legal aid till his last breath, said the judge. After asking for a layer to be finalised for Gupta, the court posted the matter for hearing on Thursday following which an angry Asha Devi left the court. Public prosecutor Irfan Ahmed and amicus curiae Vrinda Grover, meanwhile, were of the view that death warrant can be issued. Since there is nothing pending in the court of law, the execution date can be fixed, said Grover. The application was moved after the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted liberty to the authorities to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts. The Tihar jail authorities had also filed a status report before the trial court on Tuesday stating that no legal option was preferred by any of the four convicts - Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) - in the last seven day period, granted by the Delhi High Court. The trial court had on February 7 dismissed the petitions of Delhi government and Tihar jail authorities seeking fresh date for execution of the four death row convicts in the case. They had taken note of the high courts February 5 order permitting the convicts to exercise their legal remedies within one week. It is criminally sinful to execute the convicts when law permits them to live. The High Court on February 5 has permitted the convicts, in the interest of justice, to exercise their legal remedies within one week from the same order, the court had said. The date of execution, first fixed for January 22 in Tihar jail, was later postponed for 6 am on February 1 by a January 17 court order. The physiotherapy intern 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. Six people - the four convicts, Ram Singh and a juvenile - were named as accused. The trial of the five adult men began in a special fast-track court in March 2013. Ram Singh, the prime accused, committed suicide by hanging himself in Tihar jail days after the trial began. The juvenile, who was said to be the most brutal of the attackers, was put in a correctional home for three years. He was released in 2015 and sent to an undisclosed location amid concerns over a threat to his life. He, when released, was 20 years old. Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay and Pawan were sentenced to death in September 2013 by the trial court. Many Alabama citizens are glad that the Alabama Resolution to Declare Pornography a Public Health Crisis was unanimously passed in the Senate. There is no question that it should pass with strong bipartisan support in the House as it has in multiple other states. Declaring pornography a public health crisis in Alabama is not a political, moral, or religious statement, and it has nothing to do with censorship of legal material. Instead, this needed resolution has everything to do with equipping the public with important facts and raising awareness on the health and justice issues related to consumption of illegal, hardcore pornography. As a marriage and family therapist in private practice for 20 years, I have become intimately familiar with the devastating effects associated with todays easily accessible internet pornography. Because I frequently focus on infidelity recovery and sexual intimacy enhancement cases, I have become very familiar with the often long-term negative effects of hardcore internet pornography on sexual intimacy, sexual performance, trust, fidelity, and self-esteem in committed relationships. I am also familiar with the isolation, anxiety, depression, compulsive sexual behavior, and erectile dysfunction associated with pornography addiction. I know very well the challenges and benefits of recovery. What I did not know about hardcore pornography until halfway through my career was the often immediate and damaging effects of exposure to hardcore internet pornography on the developing brain of a child. Families have brought in their children to our clinic, boys and girls, ages 6-11, who were addicted to internet pornography. By addicted, I mean they were hooked after one or two exposures to pornography and would go to great lengths to gain access. For example, one little girl was getting in trouble at school for stealing iPhones from womens purses to gain access to pornography and acting out the scenes she had seen on an infant sibling. An 11-year-old boy who could not get access to pornography at home was breaking into a neighbors home in the middle of the night to access their computer. These were good kids from good homes whose developing brains had been hijacked by a highly addictive and traumatizing material. Their parents also noted that their children were different in that they had become unable to bond, had normalized views about sexual violence against others, and their personalities had become eerily flat. At the same time I was working with these families, three trafficking survivors were referred to me, two of whom were forced to create pornography. At another point in my career, I also worked with a court appointed sex buyer/pedophile who had been addicted to pornography since age 5 and who told me that pornography use had shaped his attitudes and taste for underage girls. I began to research the patterns I was witnessing and discovered that these were not isolated cases at all but were a microcosm of a quickly growing epidemic in our society. My eyes opened to the intersectionality of all forms of sexual exploitation and the direct and indirect role of illegal hardcore pornography. Despite what people often assume, hardcore pornography is legal obscenity and is not protected free speech, however, our federal obscenity laws are not currently being enforced, leaving our community vulnerable to its often-devastating effects. The Alabama Resolution to Declare Pornography a Public Health Crisis is a critical piece of legislation and it has passed with nearly unanimous bipartisan support in 15 other states. Research backs up my own experiences. Numerous neuroscience-based studies have revealed the potentially harmful effects of pornography on the brain, in particular, the developing brain of children and adolescents. Todays mainstream pornography is no longer the softcore centerfold of past decades but is child-, incest-, and rape-themed, hardcore, violent, highly degrading material. Exposing a child to this material can have traumatic effects and is tantamount to a form of child sexual abuse. Todays hardcore pornography is also driving the demand for trafficked women and children. Internet pornography is shown to normalize the notion that women are sex objects to be used and men are users. Over 35 studies link pornography use to un-egalitarian attitudes toward women and sexist views. As Internet forums for people struggling with pornography addiction attest, pornography use can escalate to fetishes and compulsive sexual behaviors such as purchasing prostituted women or children for sex. Buying people for sex fuels the commercial sex trade, and is the reason why sex trafficking exists. Just as smoking was once normalized as neutral or healthy by physicians in the media and its harms once covered up by misinformation, we are experiencing an unacknowledged public health crisis which is having irreparable effects on the lives of individuals, families, and society-at-large. It is time for our state to wake up and address these serious issues so that this generation of children has a chance at a life of freedom, dignity, and healthy intimacy. Melea Stephens is a practicing marriage and family therapist, founder of the Rescue Innocence Movement, and a board member of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. Vietnam's Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau on Wednesday said that the novel coronavirus has impacted the tourism sector in his country. Speaking about the effect of the deadly virus that traces its origins in the seafood market of Wuhan in the central Chinese province of Hubei, Chau told ANI, "It has impacted business, especially the tourism. Every fourth visitor who comes to Vietnam is from China. The impact inflicted on tourism is also suffering from shortages of supply as many Chinese factories are part of the global supply chain." Coronavirus has claimed over 1,000 lives in mainland China. The novel coronavirus, named Covid-19 by the WHO, was first detected in China's Wuhan city in December last year and has since spread to more than 25 countries. Further focusing on the countermeasures undertaken by Vietnam to fight the epidemic, Chau highlighted that his country has conducted the number of inter-agency meetings in order to identify the measures and steps in order to quarantine the epidemic. For the time, Vietnam has been able to cure six cases out of the total 15 cases who were had tested positive for the virus. "We hope that a vaccine to fight against the virus will soon be developed," he added. The World Health Organisation declared the nCoV epidemic in China as a global health emergency of international concern. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tulip - one of the UK's largest meat processing firms - has announced that more than 120 jobs will be lost at its Bodmin site. The company first started a consultation at closing the 'unsustainable' Cornish site in October last year. Tulip said that the site was 'unsustainable to maintain operations under the existing business model'. Following the consultation, the Bodmin plant will now remain open but a total of 124 out of 270 jobs have been lost as part of meat firm's recovery plan. Tulip bosses said the decision comes after 'extensive discussions' with site managers, employee representatives and customers. The company said in a statement: It is always disappointing to have to lose people from our business, but we are satisfied that the improvements which have already been implemented at the site as a result of significant efforts of all parties, together with the additional changes which will now be actioned, will ensure a sustainable future for the site. Tulip is the UK's largest pig producer and operates 12 production facilities throughout the country. The campaign being waged by leaders of the Yesha Council to annex parts of the West Bank is not only intensifying, but expanding in scope as well. What was once a campaign limited to pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown to encompass the Donald Trump administration and its leaders, until recently the settlers best friends. One possible consequence is that the settlers will end up distancing themselves and the religious Zionist movement that backs them from Netanyahu, pushing him into the arms of the Blue and White in a unity government. Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council and considered the foreign minister of the settler movement, has emerged as the most strident proponent of the attacks on Netanyahu and the US administration. It all began when settlers erected a protest tent outside the Prime Ministers Office on Feb. 4. We all respect the president of the United States, Trump, who leans in Israels favor much more than his predecessors, said Dagan. But Mr. Prime Minister, we elected you in an election in the State of Israel, we didnt elect Trump, we didnt even elect Jared Kushner. The State of Israel is not a banana republic. We wont be a tool for the internal intrigue within the White House. The settlers blame infighting at the White House for the delay in annexing the territories, a provision of Trumps peace plan. The disagreement involved US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who originally supported the immediate annexation of at least part of the territory, and White House seniors Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, the architects of Trump's deal of the century, who opposed it. Friedman was eventually forced to walk back his earlier position and on Feb. 9 clarified that imposing Israeli sovereignty on any part of the territories before the upcoming election would put implementation of the peace plan at risk, and with it the US agreement to recognize the settlements and their annexation as part of the overall plan. Until now, Friedman was considered one of the settlers' closest friends. Left-leaning Haaretz has called him, the settler in the White House and warned that Friedman's unilateralism could lead to a break with the Palestinians and harm any chances of renewing the peace process. Friedman has visited the settlements regularly and made use of his speeches to explain why he thinks it is important to protect them. In February 2018, he warned that evacuating settlers would lead to civil war in Israel and that Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley is vital to the countrys security. His ardent advocacy on behalf of the settlements has not helped him since he voiced his opposition to immediate annexation. Dagan attacked the ambassador in language far from diplomatic: I very much respect David Friedman, but our prime minister is Benjamin Netanyahu, not David Friedman. The period of the High Commissioner is over, said Dagan in a statement, referring to the British authority that ruled over Palestine before the establishment of Israel. As Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu must show the same level of leadership as Menachem Begin, and announce today that he will bring his annexation proposal before the Knesset either tomorrow or Sunday. There is no reason to dilly-dally or drag it out until after the election since it might not happen then. I call on Benjamin Netanyahu to put our dear friend in the US administration in his place. Sometimes even dear friends need to be put in their place and told that we are a sovereign country and sovereignty will be extended to Judea and Samaria [West Bank] as the public in the State of Israel expects. David Elhayani, head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, the settlers' umbrella organization, told Al-Monitor that they plan to recruit support from the leaders of the evangelical community in the United States, one of the largest interest groups with sway over the administration. The settlers believe that only support and assistance from within the United States will force the Trump administration to support Israeli sovereignty now. Elhayani, a secular Likud supporter, opposes the Trump plan because it allows for the possibility of a Palestinian state. He claims that Netanyahu had actually planned to immediately annex West Bank territory, but the Americans stabbed him in the back in anger when they realized that his supporters on the right would not agree to the plan because of the Palestinian state provision. The settlers' discontent has entered the political arena with just three weeks to go before the March 2 election. Members of Yamina, the religious Zionist party with its powerbase in the settlements, have attacked Netanyahu and demanded that he impose Israeli sovereignty now. According to media reports, the Feb. 9 Cabinet meeting began with a sharp verbal exchange that some ministers said led to shouting and to Netanyahu angrily pounding the table. After Netanyahu described the plan, for the most part correctly, as his greatest diplomatic achievement, because it meant US recognition of the settlements, Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced Yaminas opposition to recognition of a Palestinian state and outrage at the Likuds attacks on his party. From where you stand now, you would support [Palestinian] statehood if the Palestinians meet all the conditions, Smotrich said to Netanyahu. Minister Gila Gamliel responded, We could only dream of this kind of agreement, so dont come lecturing the prime minister. Stop prodding and trying to interfere with such an enormous achievement. Minister Yariv Levin also came to Netanyahus aid, stating, Your [Smotrichs] stubborn insistence on raising it here causes us enormous damage and puts our ability to come to terms with the process at risk. The discussion ended with Netanyahu making the interesting comment that he does not need a government decision to agree to a Palestinian state. The Americans are not asking for that, he said. Against the backdrop of this developing conflict, there is increasing fear among Yamina and the settlers that Netanyahu might come to prefer forming a unity government with Blue and White, which has expressed support for Trump's plan. One Yamina minister who spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, said, Netanyahu will not hesitate for a minute. If a unity government provides him with the opportunity to remain prime minister for no matter how long, he would prefer that over having a fourth round of elections in the course of a single year, when his trial has already started. While people in Netanyahus inner circle dont deny this, they couch it differently. Another Likud minister who requested anonymity, asserted, This is a historic achievement, but instead of celebrating American recognition of the settlements, the settlers are piling up obstacles, all because of some mention of a Palestinian state, even though such a state will never be created, because the Palestinians will fail to meet the basic conditions [set out in the plan]. They [the settlers] would rather burn the plan, and with it our relationship with the friendliest administration ever, all in the name of a radical ideology. Yes, a coalition with Blue and White is a reasonable option if there is no other choice, and if [Blue and White leader Benny] Gantz and his fellow party members agree to President [Reuven Rivlin]s [rotation agreement] outline. Kejriwal has given not only Modi and Shah some food for thought, but also to jaded Opposition leaders who must now wonder whether taking on the BJP's majoritarianism by the horns, as they have been doing so far, is the appropriate strategy in such extraordinary times, notes M K Bhadrakumar. IMAGE: Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by wife Sunita, Manish Sisodia and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders offers prayers at the Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, February 11, 2020. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo The meaning of the Delhi state election results will take time to sink in, although it seemingly turns out to be the chronicle of a tale foretold. Indeed, scouring the opinion of 'Delhiites' -- I am not one amongst them anymore -- through conversations during the past one month, it was crystal clear as I boarded the morning flight for home in Kerala on Tuesday that Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party was heading for a spectacular victory. The only suspense was whether the BJP's tally would hit double digits in the 70-member state assembly. In the event, it didn't. Kejriwal has been proven right. However, what has happened is more complicated than a simple, straightforward tale of people placing their trust in a competent politician. Such fairy tales are not the stuff of politics; the focus of Manik Sarkar on social development indicators was, after all, never in doubt two years ago in Tripura. Clearly, Kejriwal's spectacular victory is more -- much more -- than a matter of endorsement of his track record as chief minister during the past 5-year period, which has been truly exceptional by Indian standards. The heart of the matter is that Kejriwal has presented to the country an 'alt-politics', which makes the Delhi election result a highly significant signpost for the future. Kejriwal presented a deft combination of style and substance, which people found appealing, including sections of the 'middle-class' electorate that is disproportionately present in the national capital, especially the trading community, which had voted for BJP in the 2019 general election. How did Kejriwal pull it off? Fundamentally, as we could have witnessed through the past month once the electoral battle was joined in Delhi, Kejriwal presented himself as the common man. He drew attention to his responsive governance with a human face, while in power -- the social subsidy for water and electricity supply; the mohalla clinics that made available healthcare to the poor; the smart schools; the corruption-free administration that kept middle men and dalals at arm's length and so on. It was unmistakeable that Kejriwal belonged to planet earth, while in comparison, Amit Anilchandra Shah contrived to look as if he had just landed from planet Mars attired in full battle gear. Shah lost the battle when he sounded more and more like an extraterrestrial as the campaign wore on -- while on the other hand, Kejriwal refused to oblige him with a bruising battle and instead taunted him repeatedly with an invitation to deliberate and discuss. The battle was conclusively lost when Shah's field commanders wantonly branded Kejriwal as 'anti-national' and 'terrorist', which was so patently absurd that all that the the latter's campaign workers had to do was to simply turn up at homesteads, knock on the door and pose the disarming query: 'Do you see Kejriwal as your son or as a terrorist?' Simply put, Kejriwal had an option to plunge into battle with gusto with lances and spears but preferred to ignore the silly barbs aimed at him by Shah & Co. The core of his alt-politics was to defeat the strategy of the BJP, which the Modi-Shah duo had perfected in the smithies of electoral politics since 2014, by making it look abrasive and divisive -- even superfluous -- in the prevailing Indian conditions. To be sure, Kejriwal has given not only Modi and Shah some food for thought, but also to India's jaded Opposition leaders who must now wonder whether taking on the BJP's majoritarianism by the horns, as they have been doing so far, is the appropriate strategy in such extraordinary times. Kejriwal had no qualms about presenting himself as a practising Hindu. He neither wasted breath over the raging skirmishes over the CAA/NPR/NCR nor showed interest in turning the Delhi election into a futile, unproductive 'secular versus communal' fight. Of course, it is well-known that Kejriwal never once visited the Shaheen Bagh protests, the iconic event of resistance to the BJP's divisive and polarising campaign directed against the Muslim voters. Nonetheless, ironically, the controversial AAP candidate Amanulla Khan thrashed the BJP nominee in the Okhla constituency. All in all, therefore, the election results showed that Kejriwal tapped into the right-of-centre shift in the locus of Indian politics, while fundamentally speaking, hoisting his flag with a left-leaning compass and offering a road map of sensitive governance to navigate the vast open space of social democracy in a poor country such as ours. One can sense that the ideology-laden traditional Left parties would have a problem in identifying with Kejriwal's 'alt-politics', while applauding his magnificent election victory. On the other hand, the de-ideologised Congress party is caught in a state of abject bewilderment and fear like a deer in the headlights. Yet, by sidestepping the agitational politics of majoritarianism and Shaheen Bagh protests alike, Kejriwal has reset the narrative and secured a massive mandate. It is a pivotal achievement that any patriot and nationalist will celebrate, given its potential to expand beyond the capital region if only the Opposition leaders were to discard the quixotic notions of tilting at windmills and accept, howsoever grudgingly, that there could be more than one idea of India. The stunning reality is that so long as politics is about winning elections, the majoritarianism that has been in a state of denial in independent India all through since Partition and began surging in the most recent decade can be neutralised effectively the Kejriwal way -- by making it look irrelevant and obsolete. The Lassa fever death toll has risen to 70, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said on Tuesday. The Nigerian health agency, in its weekly situation report on the status of the disease, said since the beginning of the year, more suspected and confirmed cases have been reported. In the reporting week, it said there were 482 suspected cases of the disease with 104 new confirmed cases and eight deaths reported. The number of new confirmed cases increased from 104 cases in week five to 109 cases. Of these, four new health workers were affected in Ondo, Delta and Kaduna states in the reporting week six. The total Lassa cases were reported from 19 states Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Kano, Kogi, Kaduna, Delta, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Enugu, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Katsina, Benue, Adamawa, Sokoto and Oyo. Spike This latest statistics implies that there is an increasing spread of the disease across the country. Situation report for week 6 From January 1 to February 9, Nigeria recorded 1708 suspected cases, with 472 confirmed cases, four probable cases and 70 deaths from 92 local government areas in 26 states. READ ALSO: NCDC said, cumulatively, from week one to week six, 70 deaths had been reported with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 14.8 per cent. Of these, 74 per cent of all confirmed cases were recorded in three states: Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi. Cases breakdown by states These three states, in the last few years, have been topping the Lassa fever chart in the country. This has been raising concerns among health experts and scientists who believe the government is not seeking a serious solution to curbing the disease. Predominantly among the age group infected are those between 21-30 years. Also, the male to female ratio for confirmed cases is 1:1.2, same as previous week. For week six, there has been a significant increase in the number of suspected cases compared to that reported for the same period in 2019. Map showing affected states Scourge Nigeria since the beginning of the year has been battling with the scourge of the Lassa fever outbreak which has now been reported in 26 states. There has been a spike in the number of new confirmed cases in this reporting week compared to the last four consecutive weeks. The disease has become an epidemic in the country as it has become a year-round outbreak with cases rising from November and peaking by May. The disease though treatable, still records a high number of deaths and confirmed cases. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Wednesday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting December quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their earnings are IRCTC, P&G Hygiene, Ashok Leyland, City Union Bank, Torrent Power, Suzlon, Hindalco among others. IndusInd Bank: Moody's Investors Service has today affirmed IndusInd Bank Limited's domestic and foreign currency issuer ratings of Baa3/P-3. Moody's has also affirmed the bank's domestic and foreign currency bank deposit ratings of Baa3/P-3, foreign currency senior unsecured rating of Baa3, foreign currency senior unsecured MTN program rating of (P)Baa3, and Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA of ba1. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: The company informed the exchanges BSE and NSE that the company board, at its meet today will consider and evaluate proposals for raising of funds either by issuance of bonds / debentures / non-convertible debt instruments or any other securities or any combination thereof, for refinancing of bonds/FCCBs/loans, subject to all necessary regulatory, statutory and shareholder approvals. IDBI Bank Q3: The company's (YoY) consolidated net loss widens to Rs 57 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 41 crore, recorded in a year-ago period. Total income stayed flat (YoY) at Rs 62.6 crore in the October-December quarter of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 62.4 crore in the same period last financial year. Other income registered a growth of 85% (YoY) at Rs 13 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from Rs 7 crore, booked in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Gross NPA reduced to Rs 495 crore in Q3 FY20 from Rs 553 crore in Q3 FY19, registering a decline of 10.5%. Company's Net NPA declined 68% YoY to Rs 6 crore this quarter compared to Rs 213 crore reported in the same period a year ago. BHEL Q3: The company reported 17.3% drop (YoY) in consolidated net profit to Rs 158.8 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 192 crore, recorded in a year-ago period. Total income declined 22.6% (YoY) to Rs 5,679 crore in the October-December quarter of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 7,336 crore in the same period last financial year. EBITDA registered a growth of 50.3%(YoY) to Rs 328 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from Rs 219 crore, booked in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Hexaware Q3: The company reported 8.7% decline (YoY) in consolidated net profit to Rs 168 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 184 crore, recorded in a year-ago period. Total income rose 3.2% (YoY) to Rs 1,529 crore in the October-December quarter of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 1,481 crore in the same period last financial year. EBITDA declined mere 0.2% to Rs 201 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from Rs 202 crore, booked in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Aster DM Healthcare Q3: The company reported 33.7 % rise (YoY) in consolidated net profit to Rs 151.4 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019 as against Rs 113.2 crore, recorded in a year-ago period.Total income rose 8% (YoY) to Rs 2,322 crore in the October-December quarter of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 2,150 crore in the same period last financial year. Company's EBITDA registered a growth of 46% (YoY) at Rs 385 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from Rs 263 crore, booked in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. CESC Q3: The company reported 1.7 % rise (YoY) in consolidated net profit to Rs 176 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 1732 crore, recorded in a year-ago period.Total income declined 3.5% (YoY) to Rs 1,648 crore in the October-December quarter of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 1,707 crore in the same period last financial year. Company's EBITDA registered a growth of 37% (YoY) at Rs 277 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from Rs 202 crore, booked in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Q3 Earnings Today: Indian Railway Catering And Tourism Corporation, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care, Ashok Leyland, City Union Bank, Natco Pharma, Torrent Power, Sunteck Realty, Suzlon Energy, Sterling And Wilson Solar, Vadilal Enterprises, Power Finance Corporation, Future Lifestyle Fashions, IPCA Laboratories, PI Industries, Hindalco Industries, Dish TV India, Hindustan Foods, Info Edge (India), Aarti Industries, NBCC (India), ABB India, Alfred Herbert, Amrutanjan Health Care, Bajaj Steel Industries, Balaji Telefilms, Bannari Amman Sugars, Ashiana Housing, Divi's Laboratories, BMW Industries, Bodal Chemicals, Bharat Dynamics, Finolex Industries, Goodyear India, Industrial & Prudential Investments, Jamna Auto Industries, Ramkrishna Forgings, Rail Vikas Nigam, Schaeffler India, Sundaram Brake Linings, VIP Industries among others will release their December quarter earnings today. Tri-State COVID cases surge, but number falls in Washington County While the number of new COVID-19 cases in the Tri-State area skyrocketed in the past week, the number cooled slightly for Washington County. NEW YORK The defense rested its case Tuesday in Harvey Weinsteins rape trial without the disgraced Hollywood mogul taking the witness stand, setting the stage for closing arguments in a landmark #MeToo trial punctuated by graphic testimony from six accusers. As expected, Weinstein chose not to testify, avoiding the risk of having prosecutors grill him on cross-examination about the vile allegations. Asked as he left court if he was thinking of testifying, Weinstein said: I wanted to. Defense lawyer Arthur Aidala added that Weinstein was ready, willing, able and actually quite anxious to testify and clear his name but didnt do so because his lawyers felt prosecutors failed miserably to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Jurors are expected to hear the defenses closing argument Thursday, followed by the prosecutions closing Friday. Jury deliberations are slated to start Tuesday. Court is closed Wednesday and again on Monday for holidays. By not testifying, Weinstein followed the example of defendants in other high-profile sex crimes cases. The include Bill Cosby, who didnt take the witness stand either time he was tried for drugging and molesting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home. After a mistrial in 2017, a second trial resulted in the comedians conviction. Weinstein, 67, is charged with raping a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on a different woman in 2006. Other accusers were called as witnesses as part of a prosecution effort to show he has used the same tactics to victimize many women over the years. Weinstein has maintained any sexual encounters were consensual. The Associated Press has a policy of not publishing the names of people who allege sexual assault without their consent. It is withholding the name of the woman accusing Weinstein of raping her in 2013 because it isnt clear if she wishes to be identified publicly. After the jury left for the day, Weinsteins lawyers sparred with prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon over her plan to mention in her closing argument that his physical appearance has changed significantly since the time of the alleged assaults. Weinstein has hobbled into court each day with a walker, parking the device behind the defense table. His lawyers say its needed because of recent back surgery, but Illuzzi said it seemed more like a prop put there to sway jurors sympathies. Michael R. Sisak and Tom Hays are Associated Press writers. President Trump has wisely identified intellectual-property theft as a key tension between the U.S. and China, and he has properly pressured China to fully respect Americas intellectual property (IP). So why, then, is the Trump administration risking Chinese control of the global IP system? The threat is real and immediate, but understanding it requires some background. Different nations have their own IP systems, with varying procedures and degrees of protection for patents, copyright, and trademarks. But in a global economy, a patchwork of patent systems means that without some sort of harmonization, an inventor would have to file hundreds of different patent applications, each with its own terms, costs, and conditions. So the developed nations set up the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 1967 to set international IP norms, coordinate several key IP treaties, and establish a streamlined patent application, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which allows a single patent application to be filed and respected in hundreds of countries. (My organization is an accredited non-governmental organization with WIPO.) Over time, WIPO has invited developing countries, which tend to be weak on IP, to join the organization and its treaties in order to encourage them to improve their own IP regimes. Thats of benefit to those developing countries and critical to the United States, since in any given year around 60 percent of U.S. exports are from the IP-intensive industries. Our economy depends on the products of innovation protected by patents, trademark, and copyright, and WIPO is key to encouraging member nations not only to respect U.S. intellectual property, but also to raise their own standards of IP protection. The director general of WIPO is a critical if unappreciated position in a critical if unappreciated organization. When WIPOs directorship has fallen into the hands of bureaucrats from countries without strong IP rights, bad things have happened. But for the last 12 years, the U.S. has been fortunate that WIPO has been in the hands of Francis Gurry, a patent lawyer from Australia, who has skillfully guided the organization through difficult and controversial debates and managed the concerns of developing countries while keeping the interests of IP owners and creators paramount (since patent-filing fees fully fund WIPOs budget). Story continues The Trump administration has been skeptical of the value of the United Nations in general to an America-first agenda, and I myself would be fine if most of the United Nations fell off a cliff. But some UN agencies, especially WIPO, matter a great deal to the U.S. economy, as well as to the rest of the developed world. Neglect of this agency by Rex Tillerson, John Bolton, and the rest of the Trump foreign-policy team helped contribute to Francis Gurrys decision to retire, and that has created a vacuum that China has been happy to fill by nominating Wang Binying to replace him. By most standards Ms. Wang has been an efficient bureaucrat at WIPO, but WIPO executives are nominated by their governments, so Ms. Wang is an appointee of the Chinese Communist Party. And since Chinas global investment in the developing world buys a lot of votes at UN organizations such as WIPO, Ms. Wang is considered the leading candidate to replace Gurry. Using similar strategies, China has recently gained influence over several UN agencies, including the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. All of these moves should concern the U.S., but none more than the threat to the global IP system from Chinese control of WIPO. Under a Wang directorship, would China have improper access to pending patent applications during the critical 18 months while WIPO conducts an international patent search? During that period, secret information is now held securely in Switzerland, but where will pending PCT patent applications be stored under Binyings directorship? In a Chinese cloud? Will the servers be moved to China to reduce costs? Will they be connected to equipment from Huawei? As WIPO advises developing countries on equipping their patent offices, will Huawei be a recommended supplier? And will U.S. companies such as Intel, Qualcomm, Pfizer, and Boeing be able to trust their most secret inventions to such a system? Youre kidding yourself if you think China will not take full advantage of having control over the organization that stewards the global IP system. China has already placed key personnel at WIPO in the PCT system and the Madrid Treaty bureau that manages trademark and design. With Ms. Wang as director general, China will have an entire team in place, with access to the most sensitive new technologies and global innovations. What a coup it will be for China to gain control over the global IP system at the same time that the U.S. is pressuring China over IP theft and what a monumental miscalculation by those President Trump has trusted to further one of his key foreign-policy goals. Talk about playing the long game vs. the short game. The election for WIPOs top spot is on March 7. Candidates for the directorship remain from Japan, Singapore, and Colombia, and all of these would be superior choices from the perspective of the U.S. and other nations that create the kinds of innovative products that are targets of Chinese espionage and theft. But only immediate attention from the White House can prevent WIPO from becoming dominated by China, which would pose risks to the entire global IP system, and thus to U.S. security and innovation. More from National Review House surgeons from Kasturba Medical College Hospital serving at the government Wenlock hospital staged a dharna on Wednesday in protest against non-disbursal of stipend for the past ten months. The protestors alleged that their stipend has not been disbursed despite a written order from Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on December 24 last year. As per the agreement reached between KMC and government, these house surgeons have been offering services at Wenlock hospital, Lady Goschen and other designated primary health centres in Dakshina Kannada district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Multiple signs are currently pointing toward a U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan. What they're saying: Defense Secretary Mark Esper said today that he's comfortable with a smaller U.S. troop presence, national security adviser Robert O'Brien said he's "cautiously optimistic" an announcement is forthcoming, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the Afghan president to fill him in on a possible deal. As O'Brien reiterated last night, President Trump believes "it's time for America to come home" after 18 years, though he cautioned that a full withdrawal is not imminent. He also noted that withdrawal deals have collapsed in the past. Two American soldiers, Sgt. Javier Jaguar Gutierrez and Sgt. Antonio Rey Rodriguez, were killed on Saturday by a soldier in an Afghan army uniform, per AP. Trump traveled to Dover Air Base Monday to pay his respects. The U.S. has engaged in stop-start negotiations with the Taliban over the past year to set conditions for an American withdrawal. Despite promising during his 2016 campaign to end the war, Trump was convinced early in his presidency to keep a large U.S. presence in the country. Now, he reportedly wants all American troops out of the country by November's election. A deal seemed within striking distance last September but fell apart after a deadly Taliban attack and the scuttling of a summit Trump hoped to host at Camp David. Despite U.S. demands for a ceasefire, the Taliban only grew more aggressive in recent months, possibly to strengthen its leverage in negotiations. American airstrikes also increased to the highest levels in years. The state of play: Recent negotiations in Qatar seem to have proved fruitful. One senior diplomat told the NY Times that a deal is 95% complete, at least in principle. The complete outline of the deal isn't known, but it includes assurances from the Taliban that Afghanistan will not be used in the future as a base for terror groups like al-Qaeda. The U.S. is also demanding a reduction in violence before and after the deal is complete and negotiations on power-sharing between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted yesterday that Pompeo had notified him of "notable progress." Esper said he'd be comfortable with a troop reduction in the shorter-term to about 8,600, from 12,000. Between the lines: Former CIA deputy director Michael Morell told Axios last year that the negotiations are a charade designed to provide the U.S. a face-saving way out of Afghanistan." The bottom line: But leaders from both parties, including the Democratic presidential candidates, are weary of the war and looking for a way out. Polls suggest Americans tend to consider the war a failure. 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. The shortage of materials and various labor-related problems attributable to the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus have affected the production and business activities of large foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises in Vietnam. Workers at a factory owned by Jasan Textile and Dyeing Vietnam Co., Ltd, a Chinese-invested firm in Haiphong City. The Wuhan coronavirus has affected the production and business activities of FDI enterprises in Vietnam According to a report by the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the influence of the coronavirus on the countrys socioeconomic development, among the 50 localities employing Chinese laborers, Bac Ninh has taken the lead with 9,000 laborers, followed by Haiphong City with more than 4,300 people and HCMC with nearly 4,200 people, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported. Of the total, nearly 5,500 Chinese people have returned to Vietnam for work after the Lunar New Year holiday. Most of them have been quarantined. However, over 11,000 others will return to Vietnam in the coming weeks. To ensure the smooth operation of enterprises hiring Chinese laborers, Vietnamese workers must work overtime to complete the jobs of Chinese laborers who have yet to return. If the epidemic is not brought under control soon, the Vietnamese labor market will be negatively affected. The demand for laborers in the tourism, catering and other sectors will plunge, which may increase unemployment and other social troubles, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The epidemic has directly affected the agriculture, industry, construction, trade and service sectors. Once enterprises production is affected, investment in the country will fall. Due to the impact of the coronavirus, potential investors from China and other countries have postponed their plans to seek investment opportunities in Vietnam. In addition, the demand for nonessential goods will fall, leading to large inventories and stagnant production. The lack of input materials for FDI projects triggered by the closure of border crossings with China has hindered the progress of these projects in Vietnam. The Ministry of Planning and Investment cited complaints from LG Vietnam, claiming that if the coronavirus is not brought under control within the next two weeks, it will face a shortage of input materials for production. In addition, hundreds of containers of input materials for Samsung are stuck in Lang Son Province. If customs procedures for these containers are not completed soon, Samsungs sales may plunge by 50% this year. As for Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Iron and Steel Co., Ltd, in Ha Tinh Province, besides its inability to import materials from China, thousands of its laborers will not return to work until February 15. Moreover, Apple aims to increase its exports by 30% this year, but it is dependent on original equipment manufacturers, such as Samsung, Foxconn and LG. Therefore, if these firms sales dip, Apples export revenue will also drop. SGT VN seaport enterprises to taste the heat of novel coronavirus in Q1 The novel coronavirus has caused problems to most of the roadway logistics firms, however at sea it is having a mixed affect. San Francisco has officially named Jason Lally as its new chief data officer.Lally, who has been with the city for close to seven years, replaces Joy Bonaguro, the first-ever CDO, who stepped down from her position in September 2018. Lally has managed operations at DataSF, the city's data team, since Bonaguro's departure.Under Bonaguro, the city saw the expansion of numerous data initiatives, including creating processes to inventory, monitor and standardize open data. (Gov. Gavin Newsom last month named Bonaguro the state's Chief Data Officer, a position within the state Government Operations Agency.)Lally started with the city in 2013 as a mayor's innovation fellow for the Office of Civic Innovation , where he worked on various data projects for the city. From there, he was hired by Bonaguro and rose within the organization to become manager of the city's open data program, after which he was promoted to manager of data services in 2017.Speaking with, Lally said that working with Bonaguro helped set the stage for the work being done now."Our goal [at the time] really was to take that original policy idea [of open data] and institutionalize it into the way we do our work," Lally said of his work with Bonaguro. "My job really was to bring process and automation wherever we could to make open data as easy and accessible as possible."Lally said that his team will continue making open data valuable by not just making it accessible to city staff and residents, but by adding context and meaning to it, as well."We've done a pretty good job at making our data available ... but what does it mean in context? How do these things relate to one another? So we're really trying to do more of that for our city staff and analysts, but also for the public, for our internal and external users alike."Lally also said that he will be looking to improve the team's work around user-oriented data development, while also experimenting with different ways in which data analytics can be deployed to measure and mitigate issues across city departments.Before entering the public sector, Lally spent over seven years with PlaceMatters , a nonprofit think tank focused on civic engagement and planning, according to his LinkedIn. He holds a bachelor's degree in information sciences and technology from Pennsylvania State University and a master's in city and regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania.Government Technology, Techwire Lata K. McGinn, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-founder of Cognitive Behavioral Consultants. This five-day training program, now in its seventh year, was created by Dr. Lata K. McGinn in response to requests from clinicians who often learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through self-study and are looking to increase their ability to apply CBT strategies in their current practices. CBT Foundational Workshop Scheduled for Clinicians The Five-Day Training provides participants with 33 CE credits and the required hours necessary to apply for credentialing through the Academy of Cognitive Therapy Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants (CBC) will host a Five-Day Foundational Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) workshop July 6 through July 10, 2020 at the Schwartzberg Training Center at CBC, located at 1 North Broadway in White Plains, New York, only thirty minutes north of Manhattan. This Workshop is for mental health professionals and students interested in building and deepening their understanding of CBT principles in clinical practice. Thirty three Continuing Education Credit Hours will be offered for this training to NY Social Workers and all Psychologists. This intensive five-day training program, now in its seventh year, was created by Dr. Lata K. McGinn in response to multiple requests from clinicians who often learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through self-study or workshops and are looking to increase their ability to apply CBT concepts and strategies in their current practices. Clinicians also have the valuable opportunity to receive ongoing consultation following the training. Upon completion, attendees will have received the required hours of training in cognitive behavior therapy necessary to apply to become a Certified Diplomate through the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. The training will cover a range of strategies, foundational to advanced, including: Creating a CBT case conceptualization with the clients participation to produce meaningful treatment plans and guide therapeutic interventions Defining behavioral targets with precision and measuring treatment outcomes Utilizing specific cognitive and behavioral strategies, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure and response prevention, skills training and more Using CBT with couples, parents, and children/adolescents Mental health professionals and students interested in building and deepening their understanding of CBT principles in practice are invited to attend. Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants (CBC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CBC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants, SW CPE, is recognized by the New York State Education Departments State Board of Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0219. Workshop registration postmarked before June 8th is $1,400 or $1,200 for students. For more information or to register, visit http://cbc-psychology.com/events/five-day-cbt-foundational Questions can be directed to 914-385-1150 or via email at training@cbc-psychology.com. Group rates are available upon request. About Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants, LLP CBC is a clinical and training center comprised of internationally recognized mental health professionals who have researched, pioneered, and are highly experienced in training and providing consultation to mental health professionals, as well as delivering cutting edge evidence-based treatments that help adults, adolescents, and children live more fulfilled lives. Founded in 2004 by Drs. Lata K. McGinn and Alec L. Miller, leaders in the fields of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, the CBC team provides a large array of Clinical and Wellness services to the public, provides Custom Designed Programs for schools, agencies, and businesses, and Continuing Education for Professionals in the field of psychology. Government is providing over 1000 infrastructure projects across the country to make senior high school education more accessible to the children of Ghana, Vice President Bawumia has stated. This major investment in education is anchored on the firm conviction of the Akufo-Addo administration that the key to economic transformation is human capital, not natural resources, hence the need to equip Ghanas next generation with the requisite skills and knowledge to move the nations development agenda. The Vice President shed more light on the Akufo-Addo administrations philosophy on education when he addressed participants at the two-day Government Townhall and Results Fair taking place at the Great Hall of the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, on Tuesday 11th February, 2020. The empirical evidence is very persuasive that the key to economic transformation is human capital, not natural resources. This is why President Akufo-Addo has placed an emphasis of making sure that every Ghanaian child, regardless of the financial circumstances of their parent will have access to free senior high school education. This was a promise we made prior to the election in 2016 and one that we have fulfilled. It is the most significant social intervention introduced in Ghana since independence. We are investing and building capacity for the future of this country. We had a big challenge however. We did not have sufficient infrastructure in most schools to accommodate the increased numbers (The free SHS has resulted in a 69% increase in enrollment). Today, 1.2 million children are benefiting from free SHS. The question we faced was Whose Child Should be left at home? In response to this challenge we introduced the double track system as a temporary solution to the problem while we construct new school infrastructure. The thinking here is akin to how churches have first, second and even third services to deal with large numbers. There are people who say that we should have finished building the schools before introducing free SHS but I would say that it is better to educate a child even under a tree than to have them sitting at home. With that same logic we would have had to finish building all the hospitals we need before introducing the NHIS! Vice President Bawumia defended the introduction of the double track system, insisting that without the double track system, hundreds of thousands of students would not be able to access free SHS. Those who are criticizing the double track system have not been able to offer an alternative. Abolishing the double track system means abolishing free SHS as we know it. Whose child should stay at home? This is why government is investing in the construction of new infrastructure at senior high schools across the country and some schools are no longer on the double track. The double track system will therefore be over in just a few years for all schools when the infrastructure is completed. Interestingly the Government of Kenya, facing similar challenges, has asked our Ministry of education to assist them to introduce the double track system in Kenya. Vice President Bawumia urged the electorate to give the Akufo-Addo administration four more years to do more for Ghana, saying We need a government that is committed to the free SHS system. A government that is prepared to commit the resources to finance it. Can we entrust the Free SHS policy to someone who did not believe in it in the first place? To someone who said it was a gimmick? To someone who said if he had GHC2 billion he would not spend it on Free SHS? To someone who says he would abolish double track but has no alternative to offer? Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Trudeau government has made its case for why a country like Canada should win a seat on the United Nations Security Council. There hasn't been any discussion of the drawbacks. It fell to Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, also in Ethiopia to promote her country's competing UNSC bid, to reflect on the pitfalls of sitting at the world's biggest table. "You have to take a stand on some policy decisions that, as a non-member, you don't have to," she told CBC News. The Conservative Party leader, nicknamed "Iron Erna" in memory of Britain's Margaret Thatcher, says she sees the seat at the world's biggest table less as a prize, and more as a responsibility. "I think it's an obligation that you have. As supporters of multilateralism, as supporters of rule of law, you have to take the burden of the Security Council. Because it's also a burden." Indeed, the matter before the Security Council this week is a perfect example of how membership has its burdens, as well as its benefits. Outside a bubble inhabited by the administrations of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the "deal of the century" peace plan drawn up by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner has been widely received as an attempt to legitimize future Israeli annexations. On Tuesday morning, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was at the UN Security Council to denounce the plan, drawn up between the U.S. and Israel with no Palestinian involvement. Opposition to the Kushner plan is one of the few things that unites Palestinian factions and of the 15 members of the UN Security Council, the only one that seems inclined to vote for it is the one that made it: the United States. Watch: Trudeau on why Canada wants a seat on the UN Security Council (note: poor audio quality at source) This Tuesday, the council was scheduled to vote on a motion brought by Tunisia, condemning the document as a land grab and a violation of past UNSC resolutions. Story continues Anxious to avoid a 14-1 vote that would require the U.S. to use its veto and leave its isolation evident, the U.S. manoeuvred to postpone the vote at the last minute, leaning heavily on Tunisia and co-sponsor Indonesia. But the issue will almost certainly be back in one form or another. Natural target for pressure While Canada's votes in the UN General Assembly on the Israeli-Palestinian issue have produced tensions at home, a UNSC vote carries far more significance and would expose Canada to strong pressure from Washington, as well as from domestic lobbies. Looking at the current composition of the council, it's not hard to see which country the Trump administration would choose as the easiest to lean on to take its side and save it the embarrassment of total isolation. That's partly because Washington tends to assume that Canada is a natural ally that will fall into line, and partly because the Trudeau government is already more pro-Israel than most of the council. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press Canada would then have to weigh the cost of irritating Washington against the cost of abandoning its principles on international law. If it's not on the council, it wouldn't have to make that choice. Being on the council would make Canada a natural target for arm-twisting by a U.S. administration that doesn't hesitate to use trade as a threat to coerce other nations over non-trade issues. Canada is much more susceptible to that kind of pressure than its European competitors. It's about fighting for the rule of law in international politics, it's about fighting for multilateralism, it's about taking care of the big issues of the future. - Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg The Trudeau government has adopted a fairly successful policy for handling the Trump administration: act friendly, lay low and try not to attract too much attention in the hope that it will one day all be over and normal programming will resume. Being on the Security Council even in one of the 10 non-permanent positions is the opposite of that low-profile approach, given that all member states are obligated to comply with council decisions. Representatives of Canada, Norway and Ireland stress the friendly nature of the contest between them, to be decided in June, and the fact their governments share the same priorities and perspectives. "I don't want to do a competition saying Canada's bad at this and Norway's good at that, because we are in fact partners on so many issues," Solberg told CBC News. That begs the question: does it really matter who wins? Watch: Many meetings - and handshakes - as Trudeau lobbies for UN Security Council seat If Canada's rivals for the position were countries with an illiberal government, such as Italy under Matteo Salvini, or a government with denialist tendencies around climate change, such as Australia's, then the outcome of the vote would matter more when it comes to things the Canadian government cares about. After all, one of the main reasons for claiming the seat is to prevent it going to governments that don't share your priorities, don't support a rules-based international order, or, for example, want to stall action on climate change. That is not the case with either Ireland or Norway. As small, democratic countries, they are every bit as committed to a world governed by rules as Canada. Little space between countries Indeed, it's difficult to imagine many votes where the three countries wouldn't come down on the same side. The Israeli-Palestinian issue is one of the few; Canada might be inclined to abstain on votes where Norway and particularly Ireland could be expected to vote against the U.S. and Israel. Erna Solberg describes her country's priorities in terms that could have come from the lips of Justin Trudeau or his foreign affairs minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne. "It's about fighting for the rule of law in international politics, it's about fighting for multilateralism, it's about taking care of the big issues of the future: oceans, climate, gender equality, making sure the sustainable development goals are functioning." In practice, allowing Norway or Ireland to WIN would achieve the main policy goals Canada has for the seat. The real loss would be the political blow to the Trudeau government, whose domestic rivals could be expected to use it to pillory the claim that "Canada is back." But from the point of view of having a member who will do the right thing (by the standards of the Trudeau government), things would be mostly the same. And it might even save Canada some uncomfortable choices. Watch: Trudeau: 'The UN Security Council is a place where the biggest issues facing our world are debated, discussed and advanced.' What is CISF - AC (Exe) LDCE Exam? Central Industrial Security Force Assistant Commandant Executive Limited Departmental Competitive Exam (CISF AC(EXE) LDCE) is one of the competitive exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for filling the vacancies of Assistant Commandants (Executive) in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The number of vacancies to be filled on the results of the examination will be specified in the notice issued by the Commission. To be eligible, the candidates should have completed 4 years of regular service in the rank of Sub Inspector (GD)/Inspector (GD) including the period of basic training and should have the clean record of service till the issue of offer of appointment. The candidates applying for this examination should ensure that they fulfil all the eligibility conditions for admission to the examination. Their admission at all the stages of examination for which they are admitted by the Commission viz. Written Examination, Physical and Medical Standard Tests or Personality/Interview Tests will be purely provisional subject to their satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions. After the notification of the Rules of the Examination in the Gazette of India by Ministry of Home Affairs and notification of examination by the Commission, the candidates will have to fill in the application form on-line on the UPSC website and a hard copy of the same are to be routed through proper channel to the CISF authorities for verification and onwards transmission to the Commission. The scrutiny of applications for deciding the eligibility of candidates with reference to the stipulated eligibility conditions will be done by the Central Industrial Security Force. CISF AC (Exe) LDCE-2022 Exam CISF Assistant Commandants [Executive] Limited Departmental Competitive Examination Short name CISF AC (Exe) LDCE Conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Post Assistant Commandants (Executive) Organisation Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Frequency Once a year Number of vacancies Approximately 23 Application mode Online Admit card mode Online Selection process Written exam, physical test and interview Official website www.upsc.gov.in CISF AC (Exe) LDCE 2022 Notification Candidates who are aspiring for the post of Assistant Commandant in CISF are advised to refer the official notification available on the UPSC website. One should meticulously check all the important details of the CISF Assistant Commandant before applying online. CISF Assistant Commandant Exam Dates 2022 The UPSC will shortlist the candidates for the post of Assistant Commandant through the written exam followed by the physical test and an interview. The Commission will conduct the written exam on March 13, 2022. CISF AC (Exe) LDCE notification 2022 December 01, 2021 Online application process December 01 to 21, 2021 Admit card release date February 2022 Exam date March 13, 2022 Result date April 2022 Interview July 2022 Final result August 2022 CISF AC (Exe) LDCE 2022 Vacancies The tentative number of vacancies to be filled on the basis of the selection process will be 23. Contrary to his earlier plan, the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, will not be in court for Agba Jalingos trial to show solidarity with the detained Nigerian journalist. Mr Isiguzo told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday morning that the information about the next court sitting got to him late. Mr Jalingo is scheduled to appear before a new judge, Sule Shuaibu, this Thursday, not on Friday as earlier reported. Mr Shuaibu is the administrative judge of the Federal High Court, Calabar. He takes the case over from a judge within the same high court, Simon Amobeda, who withdrew from it after a secret recording where he (Amobeda) allegedly made some biased remarks against Mr Jalingo, was leaked to the press late last year. Mr Jalingo, the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, was arrested on August 22, over a report alleging that Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, diverted N500 million belonging to the state. The journalist, detained in Calabar prison, is facing treason charges. The court has refused to grant him bail. The NUJ president, Mr Isiguzo, has all along been planning to fly from Abuja to Calabar with other leaders of the union to show solidarity with Mr Jalingo during the next court sitting. I have asked that they furnish me with information on the next court sitting, I will personally be in court, and once I am in court be rest assured that all the journalists and the leadership of NUJ (in Cross River) would join me to the court, Mr Isiguzo told PREMIUM TIMES in December. The NUJ president, in an interview with AIT on Tuesday reiterated his resolve to mobilise the leadership of the union to Calabar for Mr Jalingo. By next court sitting, I am going to lead leaders of the union from the national secretariat to the court to solidarise with Agba Jalingo to demonstrate to him that we have not abandoned him in detention, he is one of us and we will be there all through, he told AIT. You know the issue of intimidation, harassment, victimisation of journalists, clampdown on the media, it thus appears it is on the increase, he added. But, when PREMIUM TIMES called Mr Isiguzo at 10:34 a.m. on Wednesday to inquire about his preparation for Mr Jalingos court session, he said he would no longer travel to Calabar because nobody told him the journalists trial is this Thursday. Yesterday somebody called me and said the next court sitting is in two days time, I said how come people stay till two days to a court sitting and thats when somebody is calling me to tell me. What happen to informing me at least a week to that time so that I could easily prepare and get across to Calabar, Mr Isiguzo said. I have already planned something out of Abuja for tomorrow, nobody told me until two days to the court sitting, he added. Mr Jalingo has reportedly been disowned by the NUJ, Cross River State Council. The NUJ chairman in Cross River, Victor Dan, reportedly said Mr Jalingo is not a member of the union, apparently justifying why the union at the state level has been silent over the incarceration of the journalist. While several groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and Amnesty International, have been calling on the Nigerian government to free Mr Jalingo, the NUJ in Cross River is not known to have spoken up or issued a single statement condemning the journalists detention and trial. Its true, they told us he (Jalingo) is not their member, the spokesperson of Amnesty International in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said of a meeting he had in Calabar with the NUJ chairman, Mr Dan, over Mr Jalingos travails. Mr Sanusi travelled to Calabar and met Mr Dan on November 15 to press upon the NUJ in the state to speak out on Mr Jalingos case. The meeting took place at the Ernest Etim-Bassey Press Centre, Calabar. Mr Dan declined comment on the matter when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him. Unpleasant and misleading as the label is, the story of the British coronavirus super-spreader gives an indication of how easily transmitted such a virus is in a world of (relatively) cheap and easy travel. Steve Walsh, to grant him the dignity of his correct moniker, picked up the infection himself at a conference in Singapore, before unwittingly infecting some more people at a ski resort in France and again on his return home to East Sussex. Fortunately Mr Walsh, who is also a scout leader going by the more complimentary nickname Shere Khan, sought medical attention before he met any of his young charges and has made a recovery. The reported incidence of infections and fatalities is on an upward trend. Now, more than 40,000 individuals, mostly in China, are believed to be harbouring the coronavirus, and deaths from it, again mostly in China, have crept above the 1,000 mark. Despite some draconian restrictions on travel within and from China, and from other territories such as Singapore, Korea and Japan, there is no doubt that the virus will spread. Delhis outsized influence on the national polity upsets people outside the city. Arvind Kejriwals emphatic victory is seen by many political analysts as yet another opportunity for him to emerge on the national scene, even though Delhi has only 14 million voters and seven members of Parliament. Whether Kejriwal does emerge as a serious challenger to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s virtually hegemonistic control over the national polity is anybodys guess, but his success in defending his fortress in Delhi needs to be understood, even if a binary election has the effect of exaggerating the winning margin. Kejriwals stupendous success is somewhat surprising if one looks at his partys performance in the last two elections in Delhi, the municipal elections in 2017 and the Lok Sabha elections in mid-2019. In both, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) performed miserably and the BJP had a clean sweep, with even greater margins than before. The AAPs victory, therefore, goes against the grain. It can be argued that though the BJP had, similarly, swept the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, winning not just the seven seats, but also leading in 60 assembly segments, the AAP swept the assembly elections held just nine months later. There are, however, differences between the two situations. One, though it led in only 10 assembly segments in the 2014 elections, the AAP polled almost 33% of the votes while the BJP polled 46%. The gap widened substantially in 2019, with the AAPs vote share falling to just 18%, while that of the BJP ballooning to 54%, a substantial lead. Even the Congress did better with over 22% of the votes in 2019, coming second in five of the seven seats. What was particularly worrying for the AAP was that it came in second only in two constituencies, with three of its candidates losing their deposits. The second important change was that in 2015, the AAP was the challenger, untested but full of enthusiasm, while, this time around, it was the incumbent, being tested on its promise of good governance. And it is this which has yielded rich dividends for Kejriwal. By concentrating on only a few areas electricity pricing, free water, schools and health issues, the AAP has come out looking much better than its challengers. Objectively speaking, the performance in these spheres is both patchy and at the cost of long-term growth, but its approach seems to hit the right notes with the electorate. The fact that the vast majority of students who fail in Class 9 are now thrown out of the system means that the pass percentage at the board levels has gone up, though at the cost of the poor, first-generation learner. But a number of the better-performing government schools have been spruced up and exposed to improved pedagogies, which has added to the image of improved school performance. Similarly, in health, the numbers of mohalla clinics set up in three years is less than the target set in the first year, and their performance is often substandard. Similarly, major government hospitals have seen shortages that prevented operation theatres from functioning for long periods, but the overall image was of innovation and sincerity. What has helped Kejriwal is that with the effective privatisation of health and school education, large segments of vocal and active voters are not users of government facilities, and have not seen the changes themselves, but go along with the prevailing narrative. Kejriwals ability to reach out to the people directly, bypassing the role of the bureaucracy, has also endeared him to the voters. More important, his success in minimising the effect of national issues by going along with the Modi government on Article 370 and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act meant that charges of indulging the anti-nationals did not cut any ice with the voters. This stance of AAP also enabled the BJP voters to plumb for Kejriwal without feeling that they were compromising on their nationalist ideology. The AAPs equivocal stance on Shaheen Bagh, and other issues seen as close to the Muslims, did not hurt it with the minorities. During the parliamentary elections, the AAP was not seen as viable opposition to the BJP, and, so, the Muslims voted for the Congress in substantial numbers. This time around, they recognised that it was the AAP which could stop the BJP, not the moribund Congress. The Delhi BJP, on the other hand, has nothing to offer the voters of Delhi. It has not seen power at the state-level since 1998, and the performance of the three municipal bodies that it runs is unsatisfactory. In fact, its credibility is so low that in the last municipal election, the BJP replaced all sitting councillors. Unfortunately for them, this did not lead to better performance with the municipal bodies still seen as corrupt and ineffective. What worked against the BJP is also the attitude of the Delhi voter who trusts Modi, as shown in 2014 and 2019, but who feels that Kejriwal is a better bet locally. The challenge before Kejriwal will be how to sustain this subsidy culture in the absence of capital investments in health, education and infrastructure, something Sheila Dikshit could do so well for 10 years (2003-2013) because she could save ~20,000 crores in subsidy payments due to the privatisation of electricity supply. This cushion is no more available. Shakti Sinha is former director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. He retired as a secretary in the Delhi government. The views expressed are personal A record 208 entries were considered for the John Maddox Prize in 2019, awarded annually to a member of the scientific community who, in the face of harassment and intimidation, stands up for science. Last years winner was Bambang Hero Saharjo, an Indonesian scientist who regularly faces death threats and legal action for testifying against companies that have started forest fires in his country. His wife told the Financial Times that she worries he may not live to see their teenage daughters marry. Unfortunately, this story is not unusual. According to a new report by Scholars at Risk (SAR), between September 2018 and August 2019, 324 acts of violence were carried out against members of a higher education institution because of their views, research, or actions. SAR examined attacks that occurred on higher education communities in Afghanistan, Ecuador, Sudan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Yemen, as well as individuals who were targeted in Brazil, India, and Pakistan. As polarization increases around the world, so does the threat, and the occurrence, of violence toward individuals who raise their voices. Many of these threats toward international scholars come from intolerant, even authoritarian regimes that want to silence critics. Often these attacks were justified by state actors on legal grounds ostensibly related to national security, sedition, or defamation. China has long been in the practice of clamping down on what authorities there view as dissent, but worrying signs are surfacing in Iran, as well as in such places as Brazil, Turkey, and Hungary. Academics in the United States are not immune from similar pressures. As political tensions rise and divisiveness fractures discourse, the space for civil conversation and open dialogue as well as dissent is diminished. Consider the experience of University of Iowas Sarah Bond. Bond published an article making the case that white nationalist views were indirectly supported by art historians mistaken belief that ancient Greeks and Romans intended for their statues to be white when modern technology has recently revealed they were originally painted. She became the target of an outrage mob harassing her and calling for her to be fired when a few right-leaning media outlets covered her article with headlines like Prof: white marble in artwork contributes to white supremacy." Inclination to take offense to contentious research or ideas and respond with outrage and intimidation isnt limited to any one group. Examples show this trend cuts across ideological lines. This poses a significant risk to the academy, an institution defined by intellectual dynamism and the drive to challenge conventional wisdom. While its hard to track the questions never asked, polling confirms a risk of self-censorship. A 2017 Knight Foundation/Gallup survey found that 61 percent of college students felt their campus climate chilled free speech. Additionally, 2019 research conducted with our foundation and public opinion firm YouGov found that 50% Americans think higher ed is going in the wrong direction, and a significant reason for this with 44% of those dissatisfied citing it as a major reason for their view was the perception that colleges no longer serve as places were ideas can be freely debated. The data are concerning. However, when universities are empowered as forums for the open exchange of ideas, students and scholars have the potential to drive transformational progress. Their academic freedom and open expression set an example for thoughtful consideration and civil discourse that can benefit all people. Scholars must feel safe to seek the truth without fear of intimidation and threats. We cannot afford to silence researchers whose ideas may seem unpopular. Their work, even if it seems disruptive to the status quo, has the potential to help us understand our world. While intimidated scholars may bear the immediate cost of efforts to shut down their work, its our society that stands to lose out on the progress that results from rigorous, open inquiry. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper reviews an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Philippine Department of National Defense in Manila, Nov. 19, 2019. The Philippine governments decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States is a move in the wrong direction, the U.S. defense chief said, as Washington competes with Beijing in the South China Sea region. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the U.S. received official notification about Manilas decision to end the military pact late Monday, and he wanted to hear from his commanders about the move, considered by security analysts as a formal downgrading of the longtime bilateral military alliance. We have to digest it. We have to work through the policy angles, the military angles, Esper told reporters Wednesday morning (Manila time) while traveling in a plane from the U.S. to a NATO meeting in Europe, as he gave his first public comments on the move, which officials in Manila had been threatening to make for weeks. He said the Philippine decision was unfortunate but U.S. officials had six months to study its implications. I do think it would be a move in the wrong direction, he said, emphasizing this comes at a time when the U.S. and other regional allies are trying to say to the Chinese you must obey the international rules of order. And as we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think its a move in the wrong direction for for, again, for the longstanding relationship weve had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries, Esper said, according to a transcript released by the Pentagon. The Philippines, a former American colony, is among countries that have contending territorial claims in the South China Sea, a vital waterway for international shipping and trade. China claims almost all of the sea, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan have their own overlapping claims to portions of the disputed waters. For nearly two decades, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been negotiating a code of conduct to regulate behavior in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has carried out freedom of navigation flights and sailing in the sea. Since taking office in June 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned of cutting military ties with the U.S., but his rhetoric softened after Donald Trump was elected U.S. president later that year. Dutertes anger was touched off again in recent weeks after the former national police chief who had led his administrations controversial war on illegal drugs, Ronald dela Rosa now a senator said that the United States had revoked his American visa. Dela Rosa surmised that it had something to do with the drug war that he used to enforce. The campaign has left nearly 6,000 suspected drug addicts and dealers dead, according to government figures, and has been described as a humanitarian disaster. Duterte also railed against members of the U.S. Senate for backing Philippine Sen. Leila de Lima, his arch nemesis who has been jailed for what she calls trumped up charges of profiting from illegal drugs. Adopted in 1999, the VFA allows for joint military exercises after the U.S. vacated two of its largest overseas military installations the Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base. In 2017, some of that training was put into action as U.S. intelligence officers aided Philippine troops in their successful battle against Islamic State militants in the southern city of Marawi. Philippines: We must stand on our own On Wednesday, Philippine Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. admitted that the VFA termination would affect the militarys ability to combat threats, along with training efforts that have been positive for both nations. Since we have sent the notice, ongoing training activities will push through unless discontinued. Others will not be implemented, Santos said. It will affect our rescue operations definitely. But we already presented to the defense secretary our plan to move forward to fill the gap, he said without elaborating. Salvador Panelo, the presidential spokesman, said that the VFA should have been scrapped a long time ago. Such a commentary is expected given that the VFA favors the U.S. and its abrogation affects its global strategic defensive positioning, Panelo said in a statement responding to Espers comments. It is about time that we strengthen our defense capabilities. We must stand on our own and put a stop to being a parasite to another country in protecting our independence and sovereignty, Panelo said. He said relying on another nation to boost the military would weaken defenses. We are friends to all, enemies to one. Should any country, however, threaten our territorial integrity and assault our sovereignty, we will rise by our own resources and valiantly defend our motherland the way our forefathers did during their time, he said. Security analyst Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said he hoped the VFA termination would lead to new negotiations. It will give us an opportunity to negotiate another agreement that will be more advantageous to us, he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. This doesnt mean were putting behind our good relationship with America. Were just asking for a good deal with America thats advantageous to our interest. He said the Philippines strategic location in the Asia Pacific guaranteed a good bargaining chip. Before they can enter Guam, Hawaii, mainland U.S., they have to go through the Philippines first, he said. We are their natural barrier, we have a very good location. Meanwhile, according to Esper, the Philippine announcement does not signal the end of negotiations. Weve got to work through it, and and well just take a deep breath and take it one day at a time, he said. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. At least 500 hospital staff in Wuhan had been infected with the deadly new strain of coronavirus by mid January, multiple medical sources have confirmed, leaving hospitals short-staffed and causing deep concern among health care workers. While the government has reported individual cases of health care workers becoming infected, it has not provided the full picture, and the sources said doctors and nurses had been told not to make the total public. The reason for this edict was not explained, but the authorities have been trying to boost morale among frontline medical staff, especially following the death of Li Wenliang, who was killed by the disease weeks after being reprimanded by police for warning colleagues about the new virus. A slide circulating online, however, reveals the scale of infections among medical workers in Wuhan. It said that by mid-January there had been about 500 confirmed cases among hospital staff with a further 600 suspected ones. A source from a major hospital in Wuhan with knowledge of the situation confirmed that the slide was authentic. The figures shown on the slide were also in line with the figures given by two other doctors from major hospitals in Wuhan. Those infected included at least 100 staff from both Wuhan Xiehe Hospital and Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, with a further 50 cases each from Wuhan Number 1 Hospital and Zhongnan Hospital. A research paper published by doctors from Zhongnan Hospital in The Journal of the American Medical Association last Friday said at least 40 medical workers had been infected. Apart from hampering the capacity of hospitals to contain the outbreak and treat patients, medical specialists said the rate of infections among frontline staff was an important indicator of how easily the disease, which has killed more than 1,000 people, could be transmitted and the risks of contracting the virus in hospital. A doctor from a major hospital in Wuhan, who requested anonymity, said the development had hit morale, adding that many medical workers were devastated when they saw the CAT scans of colleagues who had been infected. Story continues That is why we have been crying out for more donations of medical supplies, especially hazmat suits, one doctor said, describing how a quarantine area set aside for sick medical workers was now full. We have seen too many colleagues falling ill because of insufficient protection. Doctors and medical experts have said that a shortage of protective gear, overlong working hours and well as lack of awareness about how contagious the virus was had been major factors in the large number of infections. Yu Changping, a respiratory specialist with the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, developed a fever on January 14 and was later confirmed to have contracted the virus. He said he was not sure when he became infected since he treated many patients every day and the chance of getting infected was high. The virus is too contagious. We did not have enough understanding about the virus, he said. Yu was admitted to hospital on January 17 with another colleague from the same department and is still being treated. The deaths of at least three Wuhan health care workers have been reported so far including that of Li, whose case triggered national storm of outrage about initial attempts to cover up the outbreak. The death of Li Wenliang triggered a public outcry. Photo: EFE-EFA The deputy director of Lis department, Mei Zhongming, is also reported to have become infected. It is also unknown if any patient was infected by sick health care workers. According to Lis own posts on the social media network Weibo, he contracted the disease on January 8 from a patient, but only started showing symptoms two days later. Ian Lipkin, John Snow professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, said the risks faced by health care workers were high even with protective gear. The reason for this is that physicians and health care workers have a very intimate relationship with their patients, and even with personal protective equipment, sometimes we use it late, sometimes we get exposed inadvertently, and the efforts we make to support them with fluids and such place us at extremely high risk, he told a briefing on Sunday after visiting China at the invitation of the government. In addition, those individuals who are working in hospital settings may be immunosuppressed because frankly theyre exhausted the viral load that they receive may be larger. A second doctor from a major hospital said health care workers also had to face dire shortages of manpower because many have fallen sick. Just a very rough estimate, 100 nurses and doctors can look after 100 ordinary beds and 16 ICU beds. If they are sick, not only do they occupy 100 beds, but the staff taking care of 100 beds are gone. That means a hospital loses the capacity of 200 beds. That is why the authorities have to keep sending medics over to Wuhan, not only because there are not enough beds, but because of a lack of health doctors and nurses to take care of the sick beds. The Chinese authorities have mobilised around 10,000 additional medical staff to treat patients in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, and more protective gear has been sent to major hospitals in the city. But frontline doctors warned of that health care workers in other cities, especially those with less attention and supplies, faced a higher infection risk. Infections among health care workers are now less serious than in January, one of the Wuhan doctors said. The biggest concern is protective gear, but as long as there is gear, it is unlikely we will get infected. But the doctor warned that the situation may be worse in other cities in Hubei province and said he had heard that many health care workers in the neighbouring city of Ezhou had been infected. Hospital clusters have also been reported in different parts of the country. In the island province of Hainan, the local health commission said a doctor and nurse had become infected after being exposed to a patient for six minutes even though they were wearing masks. In Fuxing hospital in Beijing, six medical staff, five patients and four caretakers were reportedly infected by a patient. A source said the hospitals president Li Dongxia had been sacked as a result. Zhang Ke, a doctor at Beijings Youan hospital, which specialises in communicable diseases, said cross infections between patients and doctors were a serious concern, particularly as many hospital wards were not designed to handle communicable diseases. Even in designated hospitals, receiving and treating patients was quite chaotic in Wuhan. Fever patients rushed to hospital and they hospitals became an incubator for the virus because their design is less scientific than that of the communicable disease hospitals. During the Sars outbreak in 2003, 18 per cent of mainland medical staff and 22 per cent of Hong Kong medical staff were infected. I estimate we will see 10-20 per cent of medical staff infected, he said. Additional reporting by Laurie Chen 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. More from South China Morning Post: This article At least 500 Wuhan medical staff infected with coronavirus first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. At the moment, no one is close to being the last candidate standing. But unless another Democrat rapidly consolidates support, Mr. Sanders could continue to win primaries and caucuses without broadening his political appeal, purely on the strength of his rock-solid base on the left a prospect that alarms Democratic Party leaders who view Mr. Sanders and his slogan of democratic socialism as wildly risky bets in a general election. The Biden team stoked that sense of alarm on Wednesday: Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, a co-chairman of Mr. Bidens national campaign and a former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, warned on a conference call with reporters that Democrats would risk down-ballot carnage if they selected Mr. Sanders. If Bernie Sanders was at the top of the ticket, we would be in jeopardy of losing the House, Mr. Richmond said. We would not get the Senate back. Yet in a reflection of the multidimensional melee that allowed Mr. Sanders to claim victory in New Hampshire with the smallest plurality of any winner in decades, Mr. Richmond also criticized two other candidates, Mr. Bloomberg and Mr. Buttigieg, lumping them into the same risky group and arguing that Democrats should not take a chance with a self-defined socialist, a mayor of a very small city, a billionaire who all of a sudden is a Democrat. Mr. Mellman said Mr. Sanders would continue to benefit as long as there was a relative abundance of moderate candidates in the race. The longer more of those people stay in, he said, the easier it is for Sanders to skate through. There is no sign that any of the half-dozen major candidates left in the race are headed for the exits: Mr. Buttigieg and Mr. Biden will have to contend in the Nevada caucuses against Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who finished a strong third in New Hampshire, while on the left Mr. Sanders still faces a dogged competitor in Ms. Warren. Unless one candidate comes out of Nevada and South Carolina with a powerful upper hand, it is quite likely that the same atomized delegate count could continue into Super Tuesday, when 15 states and territories, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all delegates in the Democratic race, cast ballots on March 3. SHELTON, CT / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE Amer.:NNVC) (the "Company"), a leader in developing novel nanomedicines to treat viral diseases, reports that Dr. Makarand "Mak" Jawadekar, a veteran Pharma industry expert professional, has been duly appointed as an Independent Director to its Board of Directors. He is also appointed as a member of the Board's Audit Committee, Nomination Committee, and Compensation Committee. Dr. Mak Jawadekar has been serving as a strategic advisor to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies through his independent consultancy since 2010. He has over 35 years of experience in the Pharma Industry spanning both Business and Research activities. He has extensive experience in joint ventures, alliance management, contracting, outsourcing, benchmarking, performance metrics, pharmaceutical research and development, drug delivery technologies, formulations, clinical supply manufacturing and packaging, clinical trial materials, pharmaceutics, and pharmaceutical sciences. He also has deep knowledge and global experience working across the United States, Europe, India, and other parts of Asia, including Japan and China. He has helped create several Pharma R&D Partnerships, Joint Ventures, and Collaborations during his career. "We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Jawadekar has joined our Board. His breadth and depth of experience in developing collaborations and alliances would be highly valuable to the Company, as we advance our drug candidates further into the regulatory pathway," said Anil R. Diwan, PhD., Executive Chairman of the Board and President of the Company. Prior to his consultancy practice, Dr. Jawadekar was at Pfizer, Inc., as Director, Portfolio Management & Analytics, and as Vice President, Asia Colleague Resource Group, in the Pfizer Global R&D division. Mak held roles of increasing responsibility from 1982 to 2010 while at Pfizer, in technical, management, and business development positions. In these roles, he has worked in the areas of Drug Delivery Technology Assessment, Strategic External Alliance Management, Strategic CMC, Pharma R&D, Clinical Manufacturing, Manufacturing Technology Transfer and Scale-up, beginning as a research scientist in formulations development. Dr. Jawadekar has presented at many professional meetings and has participated in various Panel Discussions/Round Tables around the globe. US President George W. Bush invited Dr. Jawadekar to accompany him on a trip to India in 2006. Recently, he accompanied Honorable Congressman Todd Rokita (R) Indiana, on a business mission to India in 2019. He has accompanied Presidents of Pfizer R & D to India in 2007 and also in 2009. During February 2018, he worked with Mr. Tonino Lamborghini, Chairman, Tonino Lamborghini S.p.A. of Italy to establish strategic collaborations in India, working through India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr. Jawadekar serves on the boards of two other public companies, namely: Preveceutical Medical Inc. (PREV), and Cardax, Inc. (CDXI), as an independent board member. He also serves on the Strategic and Scientific Advisory Boards of a number of companies, including Actinium Pharma (ATNM), Saama Technologies, Inc., Diant Pharma, Inc., and Tonino Lamborghini SpA, Italy. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors at Abilities Inc., a NY based, non-profit organization. Mak holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Minnesota, and was honored with an honorary D.Sc. degree by DYP Mumbai University, recommended by the President of India, in February, 2011. The Company believes Dr. Jawadekar's long history as a pharmaceutical and biotech professional, particularly in alliance development and management, in business strategy, and in pharmaceutical sciences, and CMC in drug delivery, render him well qualified to serve as an independent member of the Board of Directors. In another news, the Company advises that Mr. James Sapirstein is leaving the Board of Directors of the Company. He tendered his resignation due to increased workload in his role as the CEO of AzurRx BioPharma, Inc. (AZRX). Mr. Sapirstein joined AzurRx as CEO and President in October 2019, and had advised the Company of his intention to retire from our Board of Directors. The Company and Mr. Sapirstein have no differences of opinion and Mr. Sapirstein has continued to advise the Company on various strategic aspects as the Company is progressing toward filing its first IND application, and in its financing efforts. "We sincerely appreciate Mr. Sapirstein's various contributions to the Company as an independent Director, and we wish him continued success in his career," said Mr. Stan Glick, Lead Independent Director, on behalf of the Board and the Executive Management of the Company. About NanoViricides NanoViricides, Inc. (www.nanoviricides.com) is a development stage company that is creating special purpose nanomaterials for antiviral therapy. The Company's novel nanoviricide class of drug candidates are designed to specifically attack enveloped virus particles and to dismantle them. Our lead drug candidate is NV-HHV-101 with its first indication as dermal topical cream for the treatment of shingles rash. The Company is also developing drugs against a number of viral diseases including oral and genital Herpes, viral diseases of the eye including EKC and herpes keratitis, H1N1 swine flu, H5N1 bird flu, seasonal Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis C, Rabies, Dengue fever, and Ebola virus, among others. The Company's technology is based on broad, exclusive, sub-licensable, field licenses to drugs developed in these areas from TheraCour Pharma, Inc. This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future events. Actual events could differ materially and substantially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by NanoViricides, Inc. are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's expectations include, but are not limited to, those factors that are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in documents filed by the company from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Although it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors, they may include the following: demonstration and proof of principle in preclinical trials that a nanoviricide is safe and effective; successful development of our product candidates; our ability to seek and obtain regulatory approvals, including with respect to the indications we are seeking; the successful commercialization of our product candidates; and market acceptance of our products. FDA refers to US Food and Drug Administration. IND application refers to "Investigational New Drug" application. CMC refers to "Chemistry, Manufacture, and Controls". Contact: NanoViricides, Inc. info@nanoviricides.com Public Relations Contact: MJ Clyburn TraDigital IR clyburn@tradigitalir.com SOURCE: NanoViricides, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576087/Dr-Mak-Jawadekar-Joins-the-Board-of-Directors-of-NanoViricides-Inc Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tim Ross and Alex Morales (Bloomberg) London, United Kingdom Wed, February 12, 2020 17:55 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20642091e 2 World Twitter,Facebook,social-media,hoax,UK Free The UK government will announce plans later Wednesday to regulate social media firms as part of a crackdown on damaging online activities such as child exploitation and incitement to violence. The broadcasting regulator Ofcom will be given the role as the new watchdog, two people familiar with the matter said. The regulator is likely be given the power to fine companies such as Facebook and Twitter if they fail to protect UK users from harmful content, though this will not be formally announced on Wednesday, one of the people said. The UK is trying to get to grips with ungoverned areas of the internet as it increasingly dominates modern life and exposes children in particular to harmful experiences, including abuse, bullying and terrorist material. The announcement risks inflaming tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has already pushed back against Prime Minister Boris Johnsons plans to roll out in April a digital services tax to target internet giants as international efforts to devise a global solution drag on. The latest proposals, which would place a duty of care on internet companies, add to a series of measures UK authorities are already taking. As well as the digital services tax plan, last month, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham unveiled a code of conduct designed to protect childrens data online so theyre less exposed to damaging content. But so-called online harms represent one of the trickiest areas to regulate because of the vast amount of material that gets posted daily on social media sites, as well as the need to strike a balance between protecting free speech and determining what content needs to be removed. Implementation of the plan will fall to Melanie Dawes, a civil servant at the Ministry of Housing who Ofcom announced on Wednesday will take up the role of Chief Executive Officer in early March. The regulators interim CEO, Jonathan Oxley, issued a statement saying Ofcom shares the governments ambition to keep people safe online. We will work with the government to help ensure that regulation provides effective protection for people online and, if appointed, will consider what voluntary steps can be taken in advance of legislation, Oxley said. A teenager has spoken of the anxiety and despair caused to her when she was asked to engage in a sex act after she was picked up by a 42-year-old man while hitch hiking two years ago. Petras Petrikauskas of Newbridge Park, Skibbereen, Co Cork pleaded guilty to offensive conduct of a sexual nature arising out of the offence in West Cork on March 5 2018. He was jailed for nine months at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday. The court heard he was previously convicted for masturbating in the presence of teenage girls. The victim in the case has waived her right to anonymity to discuss the case. In an interview on the Neil Prendeville Show, on Cork's Red FM, the victim said she had been "living in fear" since the incident. "Emotionally this has been one of the hardest things I have gone through. I am constantly living in fear." She has hitch hiked for many years. "I have been hitch hiking around my local area for years because I have no other way to get around. That night I saw him going around the roundabout and then doubling back to pick me up. "And then he dropped me off and went away for about ten minutes and came back and was very insistent that I get back in to the car. "He wasn't doing anything that evening and would drop me where I needed to be going. "And when I got back in to the car that is when the incident took place. It was about 6.30pm or 7pm. It was just getting dark. He basically demanded that I give him a hand job. "The whole time in the car I felt very uncomfortable. He wouldn't take his eyes off me. Smarmy smile on his face. It was terrifying." She said astonishingly Petrikauskas warned her that hitch hiking wasn't safe and that something could happen to her. Yet she says that it was Petrikauskas himself who ended up putting her through all the mental anguish of recent years. "I had to fumble with him and jump out of the car while it was still moving and run for my life to the closest house with lights on. I rang my Mum and she was brilliant but it terrified her because she thought she would never see me again. She was terrified he was going to pick me up again. She said her fight or flight instinct kicked in the car. She went straight to the gardai with her complaint. She paid tribute to the gardai for their assistance since the traumatic incident. At one point she thought she wouldn't be able to get through the courts process. "At the time I was in the last year of my school and it effected that. I used to hitch hike home from school or hitch to school if I got up late. "My family has no means of transport. My mum has a heart condition and can't drive. We have always hitch hiked to get around. Now I don't want to go out on my own. I have a slight fear of older men. I have nightmares. It has effected my mental health. Meanwhile, whilst sentencing Judge Sean O Donnabhain said it was essential that people be protected even when they are hitch-hiking. "I come from an older generation when hitch-hiking was much more common than it is now. It is still an innocent and legitimate way to get about and it has to be protected. The accused was previously convicted under the Public Order Act for three previous incidents where he masturbated in the presence of teenage girls. In one incident he was at a nearby picnic table when the two girls saw him engaged in this act. In another, it happened when he gave them a lift. All three of those incidents dated back to 2013. The Lithuanian national paid 1,200 compensation and expressed remorse for his behaviour. The judge imposed an 18-month sentence with the last nine months of it suspended. "As a company whose brands are part of a legacy more than 300 years in the making, we know from experience that embracing the power of change is core to our success," said Deirdre Mahlan, President, Diageo NA. "This move represents a significant shift, not just in where we work, but how we work, enabling us to eliminate boundaries, be bolder, more future-focused, and closer to a nucleus of diverse consumers." The offices feature bright, colorful and immersive spaces that leverage the spirit of the city's neighborhoods, Diageo's broad portfolio of iconic brands, and breathtaking 360-degree views of the surrounding skylines. The workspace is open plan with suggested "neighborhoods" for teams, but no assigned seating. Designed for maximum connectivity, employees can experiment with a wide variety of dynamic spaces that incorporate state-of-the-art technology, some intended for higher energy work, with others, like sound-proof phone booths and libraries, facilitating privacy and focus. Sitting high above the city on the 41st floor is a stunning showcase bar, "Bar Deco," which serves as the headquarters' beating heart. A multifunctional space, it is at Bar Deco where meetings are held, ideas transpire, meals shared, cocktails poured, and moments celebrated. With the move, Diageo brought with it 350 new jobs to the city, while preserving roughly 150 existing Diageo jobs in New York City. "Situating ourselves in the heart of one of the world's most exciting cities allows us to expand access to diverse talent pools and capabilities," said Laura Watt, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Diageo NA. "With our new space we sought to create an amazing experience for our people, and a place where they could do the best work of their lives, while celebrating life." Diageo North America's new home also embraces cutting-edge technology and leading sustainability practices, as well as the company's commitment to inclusion and diversity. Additional features include: Commissioned design features such as vintage advertisements, bespoke murals, employee-sourced photography, and custom neon fixtures Wellness-focused design, including height-adjustable sit-stand desks, and a floor plan that encourages movement throughout the day Ideation rooms featuring modular furniture for a variety of configurations to maximize creativity Tech-driven sensory booths for liquid innovation employee tasting panels On-site Tech Cafe where employees can access real-time help from live tech staff, for efficiency Spacious Mothers' nursing rooms with best-in-class equipment Disability access throughout, including Bar Deco Meeting spaces are Zoom-enabled, as well as fitted with smart boards to digitally capture notes Copious amounts of natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows Daylight harvesting reduces energy required to light offices High-efficiency heating and cooling systems conserve energy Topical pop up featured art, e.g. artwork by African-American artist to celebrate Black History Month Three World Trade Center is part of the revitalized World Trade Center campus, an historic and thoughtful urban renewal project linking some of New York City's most exhilarating neighborhoods and brimming with innovative architecture, renowned public artwork and grand open spaces. About Diageo Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo NA. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. Media Contact: Kristen Crofoot, (917) 445-2835, [email protected] SOURCE Diageo North America Related Links http://www.diageo.com French justice officials have opened an investigation in connection with the 2017 killing of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia to determine if there was a French connection, they said Wednesday. One of those suspected of being complicit in Caruana Galizia's murder, Maltese businessman Jorgen Fenech, owns hotels and a racing horse stable in France that might have been used to make payments to Maltese political aid Keith Schembri and ex tourism minister Konrad Mizzi. Caruana Galizia was probing alleged payments to Schembri, cabinet director to Malta's prime minister, and Mizzi, who formerly served as energy minister, when she was killed by a car bomb on October 16, 2017. Joseph Muscat, the Maltese premier at the time, subsequently resigned following accusations that he had interfered to protect Schembri and Mizzi. Fenech was co-owner of a group that won a large energy concession from the Maltese state. In December 2019, Caruana Galizia's family and the French media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) accused Fenech in a French court of being an accomplice to murder and corruption. His French activities might also have served to pay those hired to carry out the bombing, their legal motion argues. The investigations by French officials charged with fighting corruption and financial and fiscal violations "will be carried out in close cooperation with Maltese justice officials in charge of investigating the murder," the French financial prosecutor said in a statement. Three men accused of the murder itself have also been arrested, and Fenech has been indicted on charges of being an accomplice. Caruana Galizia had revealed that a company based in Dubai, 17 Black, paid two million euros to Schembri and Mizzi. After her death, a group of journalists who took up her investigation showed that 17 Black was owned by Fenech. British newspapers claim that China's Formula 1 race, currently scheduled for April, will be called off within the next 24 hours. F1's authorities were already "monitoring" the alarming situation with the coronavirus epidemic, and the FIA has now issued a new statement. "The FIA will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming races and, if necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motorsport community and the wider public," it reads. Subsequently, multiple authoritative media sources claim that the decision to at least postpone F1's Shanghai round has now been taken, with an announcement due in one or two days. "From a sporting point of view, it would be bad to lose a grand prix," Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto told Sky Italia at the launch of the team's 2020 car on Tuesday. "It is always nice to go to China. "Having a month without races is also not good for Formula 1." It is expected that F1 will officially announce the race's postponement on Thursday or Friday, but Binotto acknowledged that rescheduling it amid the sport's longest ever calendar will be difficult. "Putting it later will be difficult, given that it is a very dense calendar - we already have seven back-to-back pairs of races. That period would then become very difficult (if China is rescheduled)," Binotto added. (GMM) Throughout his 40-year career, Bixby has earned the reputation as the go-to lawyer for some of the most challenging probate and trust cases. He is regularly called upon by the courts to serve as a guardian and conservator in trust and probate family law cases involving financial exploitation. His practice is focused on all aspects of estate planning, fiduciary administration, probate court litigation, and family law, and he often serves as an expert witness at trials. The CSB is funded by the members of the Massachusetts Bar through licensing fees. The Board manages the fund, which is used to compensate losses caused to clients who were victims of lawyer malfeasance. A valid claim requires that the lawyer in question, while providing legal services within a lawyer-client relationship, stole, embezzled or misappropriated money or other property that rightfully and legally belonged to the client. "The CSB has done an impressive job providing support to clients who were harmed by the infrequent, but highly unfortunate, experience of working with an unscrupulous Massachusetts-licensed attorney. I am honored to join the organization's board to continue providing this assistance to members of the public who use the services of Massachusetts lawyers," said Bixby. Bixby also serves as a board member for the Visiting Nurses Association of Boston Foundation, VNA Care Network Foundation and VNA Private Care, Inc., as well as the Family Firm Institute, New England Chapter. He has served as a Fiduciary Litigation Committee Fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel for 13 years, and currently serves on many committees/sections with the Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston Bar Association and American Bar Association. He received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 1977 and his A.B. from Brown University in 1974. About the Clients' Security Board The all-volunteer CSB was established by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in 1974 to reimburse clients whose lawyers misappropriated client money. For the last 25 years, the CSB has paid an average of $2 million per year to reimburse client-victims. The Board has jurisdiction to make reimbursements only when the lawyer who is the subject of the claim was a member of the Massachusetts bar and has been disbarred or suspended by the Supreme Judicial Court, has resigned or has died. About Burns & Levinson LLP At Burns & Levinson, we provide high-level, client-centric and results-oriented legal services to our regional, national and international clients. We are a full-service law firm with over 125 lawyers in Boston, Providence and other regional offices. Our areas of expertise include: business/finance, business litigation, divorce/family law, venture capital/emerging companies, employment, estate planning, government investigations, intellectual property, M&A/private equity, probate/trust litigation, and real estate. We partner with our clients to solve their business and personal legal issues in a collaborative, creative and cost-effective way. For more information, visit Burns & Levinson at www.burnslev.com. Contact: Amy Blumenthal or Kristen Weller Blumenthal & Associates Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer (617) 879-1511 (617) 345-3555 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Burns & Levinson Related Links http://www.burnslev.com (Bloomberg Opinion) -- It might be the first workplace tip I was ever given: Always propose a solution when pointing out a problem. The U.S. seems finally to have taken the adage to heart for its approach to Chinas Huawei Technologies Co. Attorney General William Barr suggested on Friday that the U.S., either directly or in a consortium with private American or allied companies, consider taking a controlling stake in Huaweis biggest telecommunications-equipment rivals: the European companies Ericsson AB and Nokia Oyj. Sure, the proposed solution might be ill-considered in this context there is such a thing as a bad idea but lets keep things upbeat and try to find a way to make it workable. Where theres a will, theres a way, and all that. Having a positive cross-Atlantic proposal on the table is a refreshing change from the U.S.s general tone over the past 14 months, characterized as it has been by sniping and threats toward nations considering Huawei kit for the fifth-generation mobile networks that are crucial to making the Internet of Things a reality. (As early as 2009, the U.S. found so-called back doors in Huaweis mobile-phone networks and has been telling allies such as the U.K. and Germany about them since late last year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.) The U.K., which has been actively managing the role of Huaweis gear in its network for a decade, has plowed ahead irrespective, albeit with some important checks and balances which seem a sensible way of limiting malicious actors access. As Barr himself said on Friday, It's all very well to tell our friends and allies that they shouldn't install Huawei, but whose infrastructure are they going to install? QuicktakeHow Huawei Landed at the Center of Global Tech Tussle The proposal was welcomed by some, not least by Cevian Capital AB, the activist fund thats Stockholm-based Ericssons biggest shareholder. No surprise there. Takeover talk helps a share price, and both Ericsson and Helsinki-based Nokia have been among the five worst-performing stocks in the MSCI World Information Technology Index in the past decade. Story continues To find a workable solution, a good place to start is to identify the problem. Barr stated it thus: The question is whether, within this window, the United States and our allies can mount sufficient competition to Huawei to retain and capture enough market share to sustain the kind of long-term and robust competitive position necessary to avoid surrendering dominance to the Chinese. That makes it seem like a question of capital. But if cash is what Nokia and Ericsson need, the solution is not simply to acquire them. Were Ericsson to become the target, the buyers would likely need to spend $40 billion on the deal money that would go straight into the pockets of existing investors before a cent was injected into the firms operations. That seems a shoddy allocation of taxpayers money. If equity was indeed the means by which to invest, then perhaps a capital increase would be the best option? But for shareholders to stomach the sort of dilution involved, there would have to be a clear way for the firm to benefit from the proceeds and translate them into more value. QuicktakeThe 70-Year-Old Spy Alliance the U.S. Says It May Cut Off Why would either firm need the capital? Their disadvantage to Huawei in recent years has been their inability, first, to invest in research and development at the same pace, and second, to see their customers network costs subsidized with generous financing offers. Huawei has benefited from as much as $75 billion in state-backed financial assistance over the years, the Wall Street Journal reported in December. That helped it charge about 30% less than rivals for its gear. Its all very well seeking a market-based solution, but China has been leaning on the scales. Being undercut by Huawei has made it harder for Nokia and Ericsson to foot the massive R&D expense thats needed while theyre having to compete more viciously on price. Thats left them lagging in key technologies related to 5G such as network slicing, a much sought-after technique that will let carriers allocate their capacity more efficiently. Catching up could cost each firm $5 billion, a significant sum similar to what theyre each already spending annually, which already represents an eye-watering 20% of sales. The companies probably have three years before carriers start seeking such capabilities with gusto. The best approach from the U.S. would therefore be to help with both those costs and customer financing. Investing in R&D would have the corollary benefit of creating well-paying American jobs, adding to the combined 24,000 people that the two Nordic companies already employ in North America. Interestingly, on the financing side, the U.S. already has just the mechanism in place with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which will have a budget of $60 billion to help developing countries and businesses purchase equipment. The agencys chief has intimated it plans to help counteract Huawei. It started operations in December. Ensuring it has the necessary budget scope also to help firms in developed economies will be essential. Barrs suggestion may not be a practical one Larry Kudlow, an adviser to President Donald Trump, acknowledged as much by saying that the U.S. would not be buying either firm but hopefully it signals a change in American thinking that could lead to workable solutions. To contact the author of this story: Alex Webb at awebb25@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Melissa Pozsgay at mpozsgay@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Alex Webb is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Europe's technology, media and communications industries. He previously covered Apple and other technology companies for Bloomberg News in San Francisco. 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. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AJC blasted the discriminatory "blacklist" released today by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of Israeli and international companies that have business activities in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. "The world body's endless hypocrisy and double standards toward Israel are staggering," said AJC CEO David Harris. "Of all the situations in the world in which territory is disputed, the UN chooses only to focus on Israel. Why? We call on Secretary General Guterres to denounce this outrageous assault on the Jewish state. "Preparation of the list of 112 business entities was mandated by a 2016 Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution. The council, since its establishment in 2006, has repeatedly singled out and censured Israel, while ignoring massive human rights violations in other parts of the world. Most egregious is the Council's agenda item 7, as it subjects Israel to separate scrutiny in a way not done for any of the other 192 UN member states, including the world's serial human rights violators, some of whom actually sit in the UNHRC. "We urge those principled Human Rights Council member states to reject this blacklist, which evokes echoes of Nazi-triggered boycotts and blacklists against Jews, when they convene later this month," said Harris. "This initiative should never have received the support of governments seeking to encourage the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to engage in direct negotiations and pursue an enduring two-state accord." Release of the blacklist today comes amidst persistent efforts by the BDS movement, a global initiative to boycott, divest from, and impose sanctions on Israel. The BDS movement, which rejects Israel's very existence, will no doubt use the UN database to intensify its policy of intimidating companies that do business in or with Israeli population centers in the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and the Golan a first step in its strategy to boycott all Israeli goods. The database initiative, as seen in previous boycott efforts targeting Israel, would hurt not only the listed companies, but also inflict economic hardships on hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank, who earn their livelihood as employees of such companies or depend on their services and products as consumers. "The long history of the Arab boycott of Jewish manufactured products and goods, first launched by the Arab League in 1945 three years before Israeli independence to weaken the Jewish state, and maintained during the Arab-Israeli conflict, never produced positive results. Its attempted revival in the form of a UN 'database' is counterproductive to the goals of securing an enduring peace and sustainable development in the region," said Harris. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org In response to a question from deputy of the Prosperous Armenia Party Mikayel Melkumyan during a parliamentary session today, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said the Armenian authorities cant consider privileges for cars imported to Armenia with the countrys colleagues in the Eurasian Economic Union anymore. The deputy stated that his Kazakh colleagues have complained about the flow of cars exported from Armenia where, before the end of 2019, customs clearance was cheaper so long as there were national duties, not Eurasian duties in Armenia, and as a result, many Kazakh car dealers would receive cars from Armenia. Nevertheless, the Kazakh car dealers are setting privileges for themselves. The VAT in Armenia is 20%, in Kazakhstan 12%. Why isnt Armenia lowering the VAT in order to compete in the Eurasian markets? Melkumyan asked. Based on his information, in 2019, Armenia imported about 190,000 cars, of which 22,000 were re-exported to Kazakhstan and 77,000 were re-exported to Russia. In response, Grigoryan noted that if those cars were produced in Armenia, it would be possible to try to protect the interests of the Armenian automobile industry since, in this case, Armenias arguments would be weightier. Grigoryan also reminded that Armenia had initially been prohibited from maintaining the duties for cars so that the countrys auto market could adapt to the new conditions, but alongside that, it was stated that cars imported during the transitional period are only envisaged for use in Armenia so that there is equal competition in the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union. The Kannada film industrys biggest venture ever, KGF, is soon to return with its second chapter with an even bigger star cast. Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is to play an antagonist role and Raveena Tandon is tipped for a special appearance. The latest buzz in the industry is that KGF Chapter 2's Telugu version has been sold for Rs 40 crore. However, there has been no official confirmation of this by the team piloting the film. There is also speculation that the offer is for Rs 30 crore but the producers are holding out for Rs 40 crore. With the Telugu version of KGF 1 doing good business in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, demand for the sequel has skyrocketed. Directed by Prashanth Neel, KGF Chapter 2 starring Yash is nearing completion. While the release is tentatively slated for December 2020, the film could be ready as early as April. Hombale Films, which is producing the venture, has a couple of other Kannada releases lined up, which could push KGF Chapter 2 to a later date, sources say. That apart, the latest actor to join the team for shooting is Rao Ramesh, a popular Telugu actor. On Rao Ramesh's role, director Prashanth Neel said it will be kept a secret for fans to guess. Ben Bradley A Tory MP has called for woke society to address the taboo subject of white working-class boys being hit by inherent disadvantage. Ben Bradley said the educational attainment of white boys from disadvantaged backgrounds was inferior to that of boys of every other ethnicity. The Mansfield MP said white boys need more help in a Westminster Hall debate on Wednesday. He earlier said on his Facebook page that woke society is marginalising the issues of white males and called for a move beyond identity politics where its almost frowned upon to raise the plight of white lads in communities like Mansfield. Read more: EU chief takes dig at Boris Johnson for talking about Australian-style Brexit Bradley later told MPs: By age five, already, white boys from disadvantaged backgrounds are 13% behind disadvantaged black boys or 23% behind disadvantaged Asian girls. Only around a third of white working class boys pass their maths and English GCSEs, they are 40% less likely to go into higher education than disadvantaged black boys. These white working-class boys are being let down by an in-built and inherent disadvantage. I am concerned this is being brushed under the carpet, not by government necessarily but by modern society which refuses to see the plight of young white males, even those from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am concerned that in too many places, this is a taboo subject, its something we cant talk about, the fact that white boys need more help. Ben Bradley shares a joke with Boris Johnson while canvassing in Mansfield during the General Election. (Frank Augstein-WPA Pool/Getty Images) He concluded: We are missing a trick if were not focusing on ensuring all children get access to a good education and lifes opportunities: children of all ethnicities and backgrounds. That means we cant continue to not talk about the plight of disadvantaged white boys who are consistently bottom of the pile. We hear a lot in the media and this place [Parliament] about white male privilege and it seems to overtake discussion a lot. Read more: EU decision to scrap clock changes after Brexit could affect UK business, report warns Story continues I would challenge those people to come to my community, where men spent their whole lives digging coal underground to keep your lights on and are now dying of lung disease as a result, to talk to them about their privilege which their children and grandchildren that I am talking about need help. Bradley has previously hit out at woke identity politics that only prevails inside the M25. He hit the headlines last month when he labelled a call to ban sports banter in the workplace as lefty claptrap. Brexit briefing: 323 days until the end of the transition period The Executive chairman of Initiative For Girls' Right and Health Development, Miss Ayodeji Bello and other key state actors in Osun State have intensified the campaign against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). At an event at the Ajose Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Ayodeji who is a graduate of Sociology and Anthropology from OAU and also fellow of the Barack Obama Young Leaders Program gathered and young persons and educated them on the need to end the practice. The Nigerian Voice reports that the event was in commemoration of the Zero Tolerance Day for FGM with the theme 'unleash youth Power' brought many youths from various schools in the state together and they learn more about FGM and it's danger. Thee Wife of the Ooni of Ife, Queen Naomi Ogunwusi was made the Ambassador for Zero Tolerance for FGM. Queen Naomi used the avenue to appeal to people of Osun to stop the practice of FGM and leave female children the way God created them. Also in Osogbo, as part of activities marking the Zero Tolerance Day for FGM, an event was organised by key state actors on FGM abandonment led by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Bukola Olaboopo, the Permanent Secretary, Pharmacist Omolara Ajayi and the United Nation Population Focal Point Person on FGM, Mrs Aduke Obelawo. During the event in Osogbo, 582 students of Fakunle Unity Schools were sensitised on the danger of the FGM practice. Also, people of the state drawn from different sectors including artisans, commercial motorcycle operators, market women, women groups, wife of political office holders, women professionals and others were gathered at the Moremi Hall at the state secretariat and enlightened on the need to end FGM in Osun. At the event in Ife, Ayodeji said her NGO which will mark its 5th anniversary in May this year was focusing on the campaign to end FGM because of its consequences on girl child. Ayodeji said "We are focusing on making Comprehensive Sexuality Education a tool to crusade positive behavioural change in exchange for harmful traditional practices like FGM. We hope the laws against FGM within the state would be enforced". Speaking further, Queen Naomi disclosed that she was not a victim of FGM and insisted that cutting the girls was wrong. She, noted that the part cut off has special purpose assigned to it by the God. She also pledged continue support and champion the campaign to end FGM in Nigeria, beginning with Ile- Ife. Her words "Famale genital cutting is never the solution to end promiscuity. Beheading one's someone is never the antidote for headache. Rather, children should be educated better on sexual health and reproduction which is also one of the things IGRHD is focused on." Also speaking on the occasion, Chief (Mrs) Morounranti Ashabi said the practice of FGM violates the rights of the girl and called for the abolition of the practice. NEW HAMPSHIRE RESULT 1. Bernie Sanders (nine delegates) 2. Pete Buttigieg (nine delegates) 3. Amy Klobuchar (six delegates) 4. Elizabeth Warren (no delegates) 5. Joe Biden (no delegates) 6. Tom Steyer (no delegates) 7. Tulsi Gabbard (no delegates) 8. Andrew Yang - dropped out 9. Write-ins 10. Deval Patrick - dropped out Advertisement Joe Biden's campaign unveiled a new ad Wednesday morning claiming the former vice president isn't giving up despite shocking losses in Iowa and New Hampshire. But the advertisement cane after an adviser admitted the vice president's camp is 'scared,' and another said there was 'blood in the water.' Biden's message of resilience in the campaign comes after he prematurely abandoned New Hampshire before the polls closed after it became clear he wasn't going to win the first-in-the-nation primary state. Instead Bernie Sanders took first place - with Bernie Sanders taking fifth place. With the results almost finalized on Wednesday morning, Biden's 8.4% showing raised questions over whether he can keep going without a tub-thumping victory in South Carolina, the next election, and a good performance in the Nevada caucuses. The new advert was squarely aimed at an African-American audience which Biden now sees as the key to surviving in the race - which he claims he can still win. Biden's campaign has referred to South Carolina as his 'firewall,' and contrasted his support among black voters with that of Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, the former South Bend mayor who took second place in New Hampshire, both of whom have struggled to gain traction among minority communities. Nearly two-thirds of Democratic primary voters in South Carolina are black. 'So much we've gained is under attack,' Biden is heard as images of him speaking to supporters both on-stage and in intimate settings flashes across the screen. 'We have a tremendous opportunity to take the next step forward,' he prompted. 'We don't feel no ways tired. We've come too far from where we started. Nobody told me the road would be easy, and I don't believe you've brought me this far to stop now.' Biden had taken his private jet to South Carolina while voting was still under way in New Hampshire. 'If you don't like what's going on in this country, you only have one thing to do: work. Together we can and will win. Let's take back this country now,' the ad concludes as audio can be heard of supporters chanting, 'We want Joe!' Joe Biden's campaign released an ad Wednesday morning claiming the former vice president is just getting started in his bid to earn the Democratic nomination after startling losses in the first two primary contest states Behind Biden's brave-face approach, advisers admit they are 'scared' after the former vice president performed so poorly in the first caucus and primary, coming in fourth and fifth place respectively. 'This is horrendous. We're all scared,' a Biden adviser to Politico, speaking anonymously since the comments conflict with the face the campaign is broadcasting. 'I think we're going to make it to South Carolina. I know we're supposed to say we're going to and we're going to win. But I just don't know,' the adviser admitted. Biden has claimed that while his competitors might best him in Iowa and New Hampshire, they won't be able to maintain the lead in more diverse states, claiming he has the most support from minority communities than any other candidate. But polls are showing that Biden's African American support is already starting to slip. A Quinnipiac poll released in late January showed Biden with 52 per cent support from black voters, but the same polling service released a survey Monday that showed he now only holds 26 per cent support from that same demographic. Your browser does not support iframes. A Biden adviser admitted, however, that the campaign is 'scared' after the candidate performed poorly in Iowa and New Hampshire The former vice president has said he would do better in more diverse states, claiming he has the most support from the black community than any other candidate Dick Harpootlian, a former state South Carolina Democratic Party chair who is helping Biden's efforts in the state, said, 'It's all about South Carolina.' Harpootlian has also come under fire for comments seen as racist, and billionaire Tom Steyer called on Biden to denounce him during Friday's debate in Manchester, which he refused to do. 'There's blood in the water,' Quentin James, executive director of The Collective, a political committee that backs African-American candidates, said, according to Politico. 'Black voters are starting to leave him now,' he continued. 'A big reason lots of black voters were with Biden is they thought he was the best person to beat Trump. And they thought one reason for that is that he had the support of white voters. Now they see he has done so poorly with white voters and he no longer looks like the electability candidate.' Biden, who led in most polls throughout the campaign leading up to the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, didn't even crack double-digits Tuesday night. With nearly 90 per cent of reporting accounted for, Biden holds only 8.4 per cent as of Wednesday morning. Biden still has to get through caucuses in Nevada next weekend before South Carolina votes in their primary the following week. 'We just heard from the first two of 50 states,' Trump told a room in South Carolina, which was made up of mostly African American supporters. 'Two of them. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not ten percent two,' 'Where I come from, that's an opening bell,' he continued. 'It ain't over, man. We're just getting started.' Senator Bernie Sanders (left) emerged as the victor Tuesday night, but former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (right) continued to close the lead over night as more precincts reported results While Biden had a weak showing Tuesday night, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders clinched the first definite primary win for the Democratic Party. Sanders started the night with about an 8 per cent lead over the No. 2 candidate, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, but ended the night with just around a 2 per cent margin. With nearly 90 per cent of precinct reporting in Wednesday morning, Buttigieg continued to close that gap and the two are now sitting only 1.3 per cent apart. The Vermont senator was likely hoping for a bigger win in the state neighboring the one he represents, but many New Hampshire voters expressed as they were entering or leaving voting locations Tuesday that they either wanted a more moderate choice or that their decision was made on a whim as they entered the polling booth. New Hampshire, however, gave the Democrats its first clear winner after reporting was delayed for nearly a week in Iowa after an app malfunction. Buttigieg won the most delegates in Iowa after skirting a win against Sanders by just .1 per cent. And New Hampshire could be chalked up as another potentially too-close-to-call race as senator's lead continues to narrow. The two candidates arguable have equal claims to frontrunner status as it stands now, and the result was almost entirely symbolic since both gained nine delegates at the Democratic National Convention, the crucial measure of success in the Democratic race. Although the duo has called for unity among Democrats in the race, it's clear he party is headed for an even bigger clash between the progressives and moderates. From Sanders' primary night celebration at Southern New Hampshire University, a rambunctious crowd of supporters vehemently booed the jumbo-tron screen when Buttigieg was shown giving a speech at his watch party 30 minutes away in Nashua. Sanders also used part of his victory speech to slam candidates who take money from billionaires an obvious jab at the former South Bend, Indiana mayor. Mid-way into Buttigieg's speech, networks began calling the primary for Sanders, who is the oldest candidate. Buttigieg, the youngest candidate, used his remarks to condemn 'ideological purity over an inclusive victory.' The 38-year-old ex-mayor talked about how he admired the 78-year-old Sanders 'when I was a high school student.' 'And I congratulate him for his strong showing tonight,' Buttigieg said. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar also came up with surprising results Tuesday night when she emerged as the third place candidate after receiving a boost from the debates at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Friday. Buttigieg and Klobuchar made up 44.2 per cent a significant figure indicating New Hampshire voters have an appetite for a more moderate candidate. Sanders appeared in front of cheering supporters to claim victory in Manchester after tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet announced they were leaving the race and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said he was 'considering' his position code for dropping out on Wednesday. Donald Trump, who live-tweeted the vote count, used the time as a chance to take swipes at his rivals, suggesting Buttigieg was 'giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money.' 'A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q.' the president tweeted. Sanders, a socialist, hailed the result as a major victory, but the margin was hardly convincing. Buttigieg and Klobuchar had both also hailed their performances, which give them more momentum out of the race than Sanders can claim. Winner: Bernie Sanders takes to the stage in Manchester, New Hampshire, after squeaking out a narrow victory over Pete Buttigieg and seeing Amy Klobuchar surge into third place Pete Buttigieg (left) invited his mother Anne Montgomery (center) and his husband of five years, Chasten Buttigieg (right), onstage after his speech on primary night Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang (left) and Colorado Senator Michael Bennet (right) dropped out of the race Tuesday night Sanders emerged on stage at his primary night celebration when more than 75 per cent of precincts had reported their results and nearly everyone was calling the victory for the Vermont senator. After almost two minutes of cheering, Sanders, with his wife Jane behind his right shoulder, was finally able to speak. 'This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump,' he lauded as the few hundred attendees went wild, chanting 'Bernie beats Trump.' 'With victories behind us, popular vote in Iowa and the victory here tonight, we're going to Nevada, we're going to South Carolina we're going to win those votes as well,' he predicted. Nevada is next on the list in the early primary states and will hold its caucuses February 22 and South Carolina will follow with its primary on the 29. Sanders also ran some counter-programming from his earlier attacks this past week aimed at his fellow Democratic candidates, claiming he has 'appreciation and respect for all the Democratic candidates we ran against.' Sanders gave a shout out to the four candidates who fell behind him in New Hampshire: Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Warren and Biden. 'And what I can tell you, with absolute certainty and I know speak for every one of the Democratic candidates is that no matter who wins, and we certainly hope it's going to be us, we are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country,' Sanders rallied the Democratic candidates. The crowd at the primary watch party counted down the clock as it approached 8:00 p.m. poll closing time like it was the New Year's Eve midnight ball drop ringing in a new year. Sanders is coming off a self-declared win in Iowa as well, where he won the popular vote but South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg took the most delegates. Sanders' campaign said they are demanding a recanvass. In 2016, the Vermont senator won the New Hampshire primary with an astounding 60.4 per cent to Hillary Clinton's 38 per cent. He's looking for a repeat win Tuesday night. Amy Klobuchar greets supporters with her daughter Abigail Bessler and husband John after coming in a surprising third place finish Elizabeth Warren gave an early concession speech in New Hampshire but vowed to campaign on as she came in fourth place in the Granite state Amy Klobuchar defied early expectations, which did not see her making it past the first round of primary contests, let alone coming out ahead of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in one of them. The Minnesota senator got choked when she thanked her supporters at her primary night party. 'My heart is full tonight,' she said. 'While there are still ballots left to count we have beaten the odds every step of way. Thank you New Hampshire. We are on to Nevada because the best is yet to come.' Klobuchar ranked near the bottom of the polls when she entered the presidential contest in February of 2019, famously giving her kick off speech in a Minnesota blizzard. While some candidates gained steam in the first-in-the-nation primary election, Elizabeth Warren lost some of her forward momentum. Widely viewed as the most likely female candidate to earn the nomination, the Massachusetts senator fell behind Klobuchar Tuesday night, coming in fourth place when she was expected to have the neighboring-state advantage. This was a slip from Iowa, where she placed third behind Buttigieg and Sanders. Warren gave an early concession speech Tuesday night before the race was officially called where she congratulated Sanders and Buttigieg on their strong showing. 'I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out,' she said in pointed reference to those who have questioned how her presidential campaign can continue. New Hampshire was a nice refresher for the Democratic Party after the Iowa caucuses were thrown into chaos last week when an app malfunction caused precincts to resort to paper recording, call-in reporting and manual tabulations of results. The official outcome was not announced until nearly a week after the caucuses were held last Monday and Buttigieg emerged with 26.2 per cent to Sanders' 26.1 per cent. Meanwhile, New Hampshire state officials reported no election problems. The primary contest in the New England state is run by state officials unlike Iowa's caucuses, which are run by party leaders and local volunteers. 'We've got this. We know what we're doing here. The only way it will last that long if the numbers are so close we have a virtual tie,' New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley told reporters on a phone call Monday. 'Everything here is paper ballot. Nothing is connected to the internet. The ballots are immediately impounded by the state police. There is just no question for anyone to have any fear,' he added. The state uses paper ballots that are filed in with a pencil. Those ballots are then counted by machines that are not connected to the internet. Afterward, state police officers collect the printouts of final tallies and deliver them to the statehouse. With the first two primary competitions behind the candidates, Buttigieg in moving onto the Nevada caucuses with the most delegates at 22 and Sanders is just behind with 23. By 2023, Ukraine plans to fully synchronize its energy system with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk said this at a joint briefing with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 11, the Government portal reported. Ukraine offers the European Union to start a structured dialogue to work out the agenda under the European Green Deal," the prime minister said, adding that "by 2023 we plan to fully synchronize the Ukrainian energy system with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E)." "This goal can only be achieved in close cooperation with the EU," he noted. Summing up, Honcharuk stressed: We are interested in increasing EU engagement in the development and implementation of reforms in Ukraine. At the same time, we also want greater access to EU markets and financial instruments. " At the end of the meeting, the prime minister commended active cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in preparation for the Ukraine Reform Conference, to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 7. ish A ctivists have welcomed the first-ever Islamic funeral held for a sex worker in Bangladesh. Sex work is legal in the Muslim-majority nation and it has 12 major brothels, but when they died sex workers were until now denied Islamic funeral prayers and usually buried in unmarked graves, or dumped in rivers. Last week Hamida Begum, a 65-year-old woman who worked at one of the worlds largest brothels in the village of Daulatdia, died and was given a full Islamic funeral with more than 200 people in attendance. The historic moment came about after a coalition of sex workers persuaded local police to talk to local faith leaders about honouring Ms Begum with a full Islamic funeral. Activists in Bangladesh welcomed the historic funeral / AFP via Getty Images Police chief Ashiqur Rahman, who oversaw the negotiations, told AFP news agency: "The imam was initially reluctant to lead the prayers. "But we asked him whether Islam forbids anyone from taking part in the Janaza [funeral prayers] of a sex worker. He had no answer." Her 35-year-old daughter Laxmi, who is a sex worker in the same brothel and helped campaign for her mothers funeral, and son Mukul Seikh were among more than 400 guests at the burial events. Laxmi said: "I never dreamed that she would get such an honourable farewell. My mother was treated like a human being. "I hope from now on every woman who works here, including me, gets a Janaza just the way my mother did." Laura Mallett was sentenced to nine years behind bars after admitting starting the blaze. (SWNS) A woman who was previously convicted of having sex with older men and setting their homes on fire has been jailed once again for arson. Laura Mallett, 25, visited the home of a "vulnerable" 65-year-old acquaintance and asked him to supply her with alcohol, a court heard last week. When the homeowner refused to drink with her and went upstairs, Mallet set fire to his sofa and fled the house leaving him trapped inside. Appearing at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, Mallet was sentenced to nine years after admitting starting the blaze at an earlier hearing. The court heard how the offence was carried out in Maltby near Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in the early hours of 31 December, 2018. At the time of the encounter the homeowner had a restraining order against Mallet after being subjected to an earlier assault and criminal damage. Emergency services rushed to the scene after a passing off-duty police officer saw the house was on fire. Mallett was sentenced to nine years at Sheffield Crown Court. (Wikipedia) After fleeing the property Mallet watched the fire from a nearby address as firefighters and neighbours rushed to help. The victim was able to escape unscathed. Mallet was arrested shortly afterwards and later charged with arson with intent to endanger life. The defendant has previously been convicted for sleeping with men up to 40 years her senior and committing arson on their properties. Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Paul McIntyre of Rotherham CID said: Its important to recognise the background to this incident, where Mallett had essentially taken advantage of a very vulnerable man and had used him for money, alcohol and somewhere to stay. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Dog remained by owners side after he was killed by falling tree branch Staff member at Worthing Hospital is one of the eight UK coronavirus cases School head subjected to homophobic abuse after painting LGBT crossing "At the time of this offence, the victim had a restraining order against her after being subject to an assault and criminal damage. Story continues On the night of the fire, Mallett had enticed her way in to the property, but was quickly angered when the victim refused to have a drink with her. Thanks to a passing police officer, and the fast and brave actions of neighbours, the victim was rescued from the property and brought to safety. He then spent two days in Rotherham Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim and witnesses, and I am really pleased that Malletts been handed the sentence she deserves. Mallet was also ordered to pay 170 costs. Brain-eating amoebae can cause particularly harmful forms of encephalitis, and more than 95% of people who develop these rare but devastating infections die. Despite the high mortality rate, there is currently no single effective drug available to fight these microbes. Now, however, researchers have designed some new compounds that show promise in the laboratory as treatments, according to a report in ACS Chemical Neuroscience. Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris are two types of amoebae that can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. They are single-celled microorganisms that live in water and soil, and can enter the body through the nose or open wounds. These pathogens can then move to the central nervous system, where they destroy brain cells. In the very few cases that have been treated successfully, patients were given high doses of many different antimicrobials. However, these drugs generally lack specificity and can have toxic effects at high levels. To make progress toward a single drug, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui and colleagues turned to quinazolinones. These compounds are effective against a wide spectrum of human foes, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and cancer, but they had never been tested against brain-eating amoebae. The researchers synthesized 34 new quinazolinone derivatives and studied their effects on N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris. Some of the new compounds were effective at killing the microorganisms and limiting the harm the pathogens could do to human cells in a Petri dish. In some cases, attaching silver nanoparticles to the derivatives enhanced that activity. The most effective compounds contained chlorine, methyl or methoxy groups, and their toxicity for human cells was low. The researchers say their results show that quinazolinones are good candidates for drug development studies. ### The authors acknowledge funding from the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and the Husein Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry in Pakistan. The abstract that accompanies this study is available here. 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 on Twitter | Facebook Pennsylvania State Police asked for the publics help Wednesday in investigating the rape of an unconscious teenage girl last month at a party in Williams Township. "The assault occurred between an unconscious female and two males," state police at Belfast said in a news release. "Videos and photographs of the act were circulated throughout multiple people at the party." The victim is from Hunterdon County, New Jersey, according to police. The news release labels the incident involuntary deviate sexual intercourse/rape, a first-degree felony under state law. The assault was reported to have occurred in the overnight hours between about 11 p.m. Jan. 17 and noon Jan. 18 on Canal Road. Police ask anyone with information on the incident to contact Trooper Lindquist with state police at Belfast. The phone number is 610-759-6106. The incident number to reference is PA 2020-144197. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Pope Francis has dismissed a proposal to allow married men to be ordained as priests in the Amazon region, marking one of the most significant decisions of his papacy. The proposal was put forward by Latin American bishops in 2019 to combat the scarcity of Catholic priests in the region. But in an apostolic exhortation focusing on environmental damage to the Amazon, he sidestepped the proposal and called for bishops to pray for more priestly vocations instead. The pope also urged bishops to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region. In 2017, Pope Francis raised the prospect of lifting the celibacy rule to allow married men to be ordained as the lack of Catholic priests has seen the Churchs influence decline in the Amazon region. Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Show all 55 1 /55 Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis celebrates the Holy Mass at the Phoenix Park, in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis arrives at Phoenix Park for a Papal Mass of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin EPA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures A vigil takes place at the site of the mass grave which contained the remains of 796 named babies from the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home in Tuam. The vigil coincides with the Phoenix park mass which is taking place in Dublin held by Pope Francis. Excavations at the site in 2017 revealed underground structures which held babies bodies with ages ranging from 35 weeks to three years old with most of the dead buried in the 1950s when the facility was run by the Bon Secours Sisters, a Catholic religious order of nuns who received unmarried pregnant women to give birth Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Children queue for communion during Pope Francis' closing Mass PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures The Stand4Truth rally gathers outside a former Magdalene laundry in Dublin as part of the demonstrations against clerical sex abuse PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis leads the Holy Mass at Phoenix Park AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis arrives to celebrate the Holy Mass at the Phoenix Park AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures The names of the victims are read out as a vigil takes place at the site of the mass grave which contained the remains of 796 named babies from the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis leads the Holy Mass at Phoenix Park AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures A member of the clergy carries a bowl of incense PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures A vigil takes place at the site of the mass grave which contained the remains of 796 named babies Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Members of the public pray as they watch Pope Francis deliver a Papal Mass of the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park EPA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis passes by a banner of a protester as he leaves St Mary's Pro-Cathedral AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis speaks during his visit to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on Christchurch PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on College Green PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Members of the public wave at Pope Francis as he travels through the city Getty Images Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis laughs as he leaves St Mary's Pro Cathedral during his visit to Dublin Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Two boys wave flags after climbing a post as they wait for Pope Francis Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pairs of baby shoes are hung from black ribbons on Gardiner Street in Dublin in memory of the children who died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Crowds on O'Connell Street PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis memorabilia on sale on O'Connell Street PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis arrives at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral during his visit to Ireland to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on O'Connell Street PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis addresses the congragation at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Stephen O'Brien selling bottles of holy water from the St Mary's Pro Cathedral PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis prays inside St Mary's Pro Cathedral Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures A man waves a rainbow flag behind a model of a pope which stands in the window above a bar Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures People hold a banner against Pope Francis on the way to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Nuns wait by the side of the road for Pope Francis Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures A model of a pope is placed in the window above a bar as crowds wait for Pope Francis to travel through the city Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Crowds on O'Connell Street, Dublin waiting to see Pope Francis as he travels in the Popemobile PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis waves to wellwishers as he arrives at Dublin Airport Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures His visit, the first by a Pope since John Paul II's in 1979 is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of Catholics to a series of events in Dublin and Knock PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis talks to journalists aboard a plane flying from Fiumicino aiport to Dublin AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures LGBT protestors from Dublin Pride and We Are Church with flags and umbrellas on Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin to remember the victims of clerical sex abuse ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis disembarks from the aircraft as he arrives at Dublin Airport Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Woman wait for Pope Francis to drive past, in Dublin Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivers a speech watched by Pope Francis in St. Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Protesters hold banners during a demonstration against clerical sex abuse, in Dublin Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis plants a tree during a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis walks with the President of Ireland Michael Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain WMOF2018/Maxwell Photography/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Reuters Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis, center, is flanked by Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, right, as they arrive to meet authorities, in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Protestors wearing baby shoes, to signify the children who died in mother and baby homes in Ireland, protest in Dublin ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Franci PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis exchanges gifts with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar AFP/Getty Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Pope Francis speaks with President Michael D Higgins in his study during a visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Navy band march prior to the arrival of Pope Francis at the Presidential residence in Dublin AP Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures Eddie McGuinness from Dublin LGBTQ Pride carries a rainbow flag across Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis PA Pope Francis visits Ireland in pictures A message left by Pope Francis in the visitors book at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park PA But traditionalists were alarmed that the move could ruin the church and change the centuries-old commitment to celibacy among priests. In January this year, Pope Francis predecessor, the former pope Benedict XVI, spoke out against allowing married men to become priests and defended clerical celibacy in a controversial book written with conservative cardinal Robert Sarah. In the book, titled From the Depths of our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy and the Crisis of the Catholic Church, the authors urged bishops, priests and laity to let themselves be guided once more by faith as they look upon the church and priestly celibacy that protects her mystery. Pope Benedict XVI finishes his last general audience in St Peters Square at the Vatican (REUTERS) In the apostolic exhortation, which is a teaching document used to encourage Catholic faithfuls, Pope Francis instead focused on saving the Amazon rainforests and credited women with keeping the Church alive. He praised the roles of women who baptised, catechised, prayed and acted as missionaries in the absence of priests in some Amazonian communities. For centuries, women have kept the Church alive in those places through their remarkable devotion and deep faith, said the pope. We must keep encouraging those simple and straightforward gifts that enabled women in the Amazon region to play so active a role in society, even though communities now face many new and unprecedented threats. The pope also wrote of the Amazon being an ecological dream and said it was impossible to separate the care of people and the care of ecosystems. The harm done to nature affects [the indigenous peoples] in a very direct and verifiable way, since, in their words, we are water, air, earth and life of the environment created by God. For this reason, we demand an end to the mistreatment and destruction of mother Earth. The land has blood and it is bleeding; the multinationals have cut the veins of our mother Earth. The exhortation comes after a three-week synod was held last year to discuss the Catholic Churchs position in backing indigenous people defending their territorial rights and way of life in the Amazon. The Amazon rainforest and its indigenous communities faced a massive surge in wildfires during 2019, fuelled by Brazillian president Jair Bolsonaros pro-business policies that weakened environmental protections and encouraged deforestation. In addressing the fires, Pope Francis had strong words: The businesses, national or international, which harm the Amazon and fail to respect the right of the original peoples to the land and its boundaries should be called for what they are: injustice and crime. They frequently resort to utterly unethical means such as penalizing protests and even taking the lives of indigenous peoples who oppose projects, intentionally setting forest fires, and suborning politicians and the indigenous people themselves. He added: All this accompanied by grave violations of human rights and new forms of slavery affecting women in particular, the scourge of drug trafficking used as a way of subjecting the indigenous peoples, or human trafficking that exploits those expelled from their cultural context. We cannot allow globalization to become a new version of colonialism. A juror on the Roger Stone trial said she wants to 'stand up' for the four prosecutors who withdrew from the case in response to their sentencing recommendation being changed by Department of Justice leadership. Tomeka Hart said she had remained silent about the case for months out of concern for her safety and 'politicizing the matter.' But the events this week led to her to post on her Facebook account that she 'can't keep quiet any longer.' A copy of the posting was shared with CNN. Hart confirmed to CNN that she wrote the post but did not want to discuss it further. 'I want to stand up for Aaron Zelinsky, Adam Jed, Michael Marando, and Jonathan Kravis -- the prosecutors on the Roger Stone trial,' she wrote in the post that was shared with CNN. 'It pains me to see the DOJ now interfere with the hard work of the prosecutors. They acted with the utmost intelligence, integrity, and respect for our system of justice.' On Tuesday, all four federal prosecutors who took the case against Stone to trial withdrew after top Justice Department officials undercut them and disavowed the government's recommended sentence against Stone. The mass withdrawal was set in motion on Monday when the prosecutors from the DC US Attorney's office, who are Justice Department employees, wrote in a filing that Stone should be sentenced seven to nine years in prison after he was convicted on seven charges last year that came out of Mueller's investigation, including lying to Congress and witness tampering. In the revised sentencing recommendation, filed Tuesday afternoon, federal prosecutors asked for Stone to still be sentenced to prison, but said it should be 'far less' than the office had asked for a day earlier. The prosecutors declined to say how much time in prison Stone should serve. When Herald photographer Louise Kennerley decided to do some kitchen renovations at her home in Maroubra, events took an unexpected turn. As the cabinets (white, circa IKEA 1990s) were unscrewed from the wall, an extensive passage of faded handwriting was revealed. We aren't talking Egyptian hieroglyphics or convict inscriptions but it was dated more than 25 years ago on January 11, 1994. Andrew Castle viewing the writing on the wall. Credit:Louise Kennerley It has some historical significance, giving an insight into the events of the time. The cupboards came down the day after the fire danger day, which was dubbed "catastrophic Tuesday". One line said: "We have just had four days of the worst bushfires in the whole of NSW possibly worse than Ash Wednesday fires of Victoria about six years ago." Simon Cowell had to halt filming for Britain's Got Talent after a escapologist nearly drowned on stage as his stunt went horribly wrong. The judges- Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams- were at auditions at The Lowry in Manchester last week when they were each given a key. But soon after the escapologist submerged himself in water, things descended in chaos after David was not asked for his key before the assistant returned to the stage. Horror: Simon Cowell had to halt filming for Britain's Got Talent after a escapologist nearly drowned on stage after a stunt went horribly wrong Once it became clear David's key was still on the table, the illusionist, who was handcuffed, was left distressed as he realised he wouldn't be able to escape- but the audience thought it was all part of the act. A source told The Metro: 'It was horrible. David looked absolutely mortified as Simon started trying to signal producers to stop production and a medic was called in. 'It looked like it was part of the act to begin with, but it soon dawned on everyone that it wasn't. Oh dear: The judges- Simon, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams- were at auditions in Manchester when they were each given a key at the start of the act 'That this was a real problem that threatened their safety, thankfully they were able to correct themselves but there was a real moment where we thought it could end in disaster and it was clear everyone was beginning to panic.' MailOnline has contacted Britain's Got Talent for comment. Never one to shy away from making an entrance, Simon arrived on the red carpet for the Manchester auditions in a classic car-boat emblazoned with the Union Jack. Simon and David were spotted arriving on the vehicle which emerged from the river before driving up to the entrance for the venue where the auditions would be taking place. Elsewhere, the music mogul reportedly decided the X Factor won't return for another series in 2020. Insiders at ITV have revealed Simon has made the decision to 'rest' the talent series for 12 months, meaning its usual competition won't return to screens until 2021. The X Factor is contracted for one more series, but head boss Simon feels it's the 'right time' to put the show on a one-year break, so future series can benefit. Britains Got Talent airs later this year on ITV. What happened then to Biden is what's happening to him now. The more the voters get a look at the actual Joe Biden, and not just his resume, the less they like him. We can focus all we want on policy statements, voting records, etc. But in the end, the voters always choose the most persuasive candidate. But anyone who really knew Biden and his personal political history also knew that we've been in this place before with him. On paper, Biden has always seemed more formidable than he ends up being on primary election day. His short-lived previous presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2008 both ended with no primary victories or even top-two finishes. The answer is Biden's cachet in this election cycle has always been what people assumed his strengths would be. A long-time senator and former vice president from a blue-collar state like Delaware was presumably a natural threat to President Donald Trump in the general election. All the polls said so for what seemed like more than a year, didn't they? But the more important questions to answer are: What happened? Why did Biden fall out of favor so quickly? Yes, there are a couple of examples of candidates who failed in Iowa and New Hampshire who went to win their party's presidential nomination. But none failed as spectacularly as Biden has. After a humiliating fifth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary and an apparent fourth-place finish in Iowa, former Vice President Joe Biden's presidential hopes are finished. You can expect him to maybe stay in the race for another three weeks or so until the Super Tuesday primaries are over, but that's about it. Biden, other than his many U.S. Senate election wins in his tiny state of Delaware, has never been a very persuasive candidate for a wider selection of Democrats. As long as his candidacy most closely mirrored that of a "generic Democratic challenger" to Trump, he was going to lead the field in the polls. But once the voters got a closer look at the real Biden with his actual campaign persona, they quickly changed their minds just as they always have. All of us got to see an example of how Biden starts strong, but finishes weakly, just a few days ago in New Hampshire. At a town hall campaign event, a Democratic Party voter asked told Biden she had a tough question for him. Biden played it brilliantly at first, comically taking off his jacket as if he physically needed to prepare for the tougher question. Then the woman proceeded to ask Biden if he could recover from his weak finish in Iowa. Biden began by trying to explain that Iowa's caucus system is different and he quickly asked the woman if she had ever been to a caucus. When the woman answered that she had, Biden fell off the proverbial cliff, calling her a "lying dog faced pony soldier." It was bizarre and insulting, (the woman told reporters she felt humiliated by the comment), despite the Biden campaign's insistence that it was just a good-natured jibe. The predictable effects of the impeachment process didn't help Biden, either. Shining a repeated light on the fact that Biden's son Hunter did receive a lucrative foreign job he wasn't apparently qualified for certainly didn't help Biden's brand. With the impeachment trial wrapping up the same week as the Iowa caucuses and less than 10 days before New Hampshire wasn't ideal for team Biden. But Democrats will be foolish to put too much stock in the allegations against the Biden family as the reason for the former vice president's latest campaign demise. At best, the allegations of corruption are more like one of those fake excuses people use for not choosing a candidate when the real reason is they just don't personally connect with him or her. Biden's lack of persuasive abilities outside of Delaware is what's always doomed his White House aspirations. A few more years of experience and opposing Trump were never going to change that. More than three decades of history was staring the Democrats pushing Biden's campaign all along, and they should have seen this coming. Now, the big question is who will reel in those Biden defectors in the future primary races. So far, it appears the lion's share of Biden's voters have swung to former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with a decent share also going to Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. That development could be enough to derail the path to the nomination for Sen. Bernie Sanders. But Sanders seems likely to pick up all or most of the voters still supporting Sen. Elizabeth Warren's flagging campaign. Some Biden supporters may also switch to Mike Bloomberg, but Bloomberg will now have to work harder to snatch them away from Buttigieg and Klobuchar. In some ways, Bloomberg's challenges have just become harder because he's squaring off against two Democrats claiming the "moderate candidate" mantle instead of just one. All of the remaining Democrats still have to pass that all-important persuasion test. Biden's "great pretender" campaign is all but officially over, but his inevitable exit from the race will only make the harsh spotlight shine brighter on the remaining field. It's not clear yet whether the new contenders are going to be competitive for the rest of the primaries, or just the temporary beneficiaries of Biden's fall. Jake Novak is a political and economic analyst at Jake Novak News and former CNBC TV producer. You can follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny. WORDEN Three people were hurt in two Tuesday morning accidents on Interstate 55 accident near Worden. According to Illinois State Police, at 6:51 a.m. Tuesday traffic was moving slowly on I-55 northbound near Exit 33 because of an earlier accident. State police said a Union Pacific Railroad truck driven by Brian Womack, 48, of House Springs, Missouri, was in the right lane when it was struck in the rear by a Honda Pilot driven by Elizabeth McMahon, 33, of Hamel. The third straight victory of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party in the assembly elections in New Delhi has rekindled the hopes of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to revive his plans to float a federal front of regional parties at the national level as an alternative to the two national parties the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. The TRS chief told reporters in Hyderabad on January 25 that the AAP was likely to win the elections, reflecting the peoples opinion against the BJPs divisive politics at the national level. He announced that he would soon conduct a meeting of all regional parties and like-minded chief ministers in Hyderabad opposing the CAA and NRC, which are anti-constitutional. A TRS leader familiar with the development said KCR would use the meeting as an opportunity to revive the concept of the federal front with a common national agenda, as an alternative to the BJP and the Congress. It may not materialize immediately, but it would definitely be a beginning in that direction, he said. In fact, KCR mooted the idea of a federal front before the general elections last year. He flew from one state to another to discuss the idea with regional satraps like H D Deve Gowda of the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, M K Stalin of the Dravidra Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, Naveen Patnaik of the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Hemanth Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Back home, he also held talks with Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress party. Though some leaders evinced interest in his federal front concept, it did not work out and many of them preferred to join hands with the Congress under the umbrella of the Maha Gatbandhan at the initiation of Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu to fight against the BJP. However, with the BJP returning to power with a massive mandate in May 2019, the ideas of a grand alliance as well as a federal front fell flat. Now, the TRS chief has seen an opportunity to revive the federal front, with BJP losing one state after the other to regional parties in the last few months and the Congress still unable to gain strength on its own completely. The TRS leadership is of the view that after Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi, there is every possibility that regional leaders will hold sway in next years assembly elections in different states, like Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal and DMK in Tamil Nadu and Laloo Prasad Yadav in Bihar. By the next elections, even the Nationalist Congress party and JD(S) can be roped into the federal front plan, the TRS leader quoted above said. However, senior TRS leader and former MP B Vinod Kumar, considered to be close to KCR, said it is too early to talk about the formation of a federal front since it is more than four years to go for the next general elections. However, one thing is certain. Regional parties ruling different states are gaining strength because they are able to fulfil the aspirations of the people, while the so-called national parties have failed. That is why leaders like KCR, Naveen Patnaik and Kejriwal have emerged successful. It is an indication of the future political scenario in the country, Vinod Kumar said. BJP, however, doesnt see any such federal front taking shape at all. There is a possibility of these parties rehashing the federal front model all over again. But with their inherent personal greed for power, they can never come together as an electoral coalition. However, there will surely be a fresh attempt to restart a high decibel campaign against the BJP nationally, Telangana BJP spokesperson K Krishna Sagar Rao said. Political analyst and Osmania University professor K Nageshwar, too, feels there is no possibility of such a front at least before the elections. Front politics is all about arithmetic, as there is no chemistry between any two parties. If at all there is one, it will only be in the post-poll scenario, he said. Meanwhile leaders of various opposition parties in the country reacted cautiously to KCRs idea of reviving the federal front. Trinamools Lok Sabha floor leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said, Let us see what the plans are. Before the last Lok Sabha election, KCR was the first chief minister who flew down to Kolkata to meet West Bengal CM and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee to form a federal front. But nothing happened afterwards. Former Congress MP and Telangana leader Madhu Yakshi Goud was more scathing in his comments. KCR has allied with the NDA in 2014, and has supported Modi in every bill since. He had tried to form a third front with Mamata Banerjee and Stalin, but failed because any front cannot work without the Congress. He is playing into the hands of Modi-Shah, and is dividing the anti-BJP vote. In the Telangana assembly elections, the BJP leaders were aligned with the TRS and even helped them electorally. This is just to help the BJP, Madhu Yakshi Goud said. The Left also reacted cautiously to the idea with Sitaram Yechury, of the CPI(M) saying We have seen many such proposals of a federal front or a similar arrangement in the past. So, let us wait and see if anything concrete comes out of the latest plan. Federal Front is an idea which is not very easy to implement and it has many layers. With inputs from Saubhadra Chatterjee. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament launched its regular session on February 12. A number of issues are on the agenda. The MPs will vote on a number of legislative initiatives which were discussed yesterday. The lawmakers will continue to debate some other bills at first and second hearings. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said a trade agreement with India was possible during his upcoming visit later this month but only if it was the right deal, indicating perhaps that negotiators from the two countries have not found it yet. But the lack of it would not be a trip-breaker. The president seemed excited about the visit, especially the rally he is expected to address in Ahmedabad together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mirroring the Howdy, Modi event the two leaders addressed in Houston. Trump had asked for this event, according to people close to the discussions. Trump and first lady Melania Tump start on a two-day visit to India on February 24, the two sides have said in simultaneous announcements. Ahmedabad is likely to be their first stop, followed by New Delhi and a brief stopover in Agra on the way back to the United States. Also Watch l US President Donald Trump to visit India from Feb 24: All there is to know A trade deal was seen as the chief goal for the trip when the two sides began planning the presidential trip. But a sense of uncertainty has set in now. We wanted to do something, (but) we will see, President Trump said to reporters at the White House, when asked if he is expected to sign a trade deal during the visit. If we can make the right deal, we will do it. Trump did not elaborate. But the United States is looking for greater access to the Indian market for its dairy producers and makers of medical devices and some other concessions, for a near-term deal, with the larger and more complex issues of a Free Trade Agreement and others kicked down the road to another time. Indians, in return, are seeking the restorations of its benefits under a preferential US trade regime called the Generalized System of Preferences, which were terminated by the Trump administration last summer for Indias refusal to concede more market access to US companies. People close to these discussions say most of the significant issues have been resolved, but they would not go so far as to declare it done and ready for signing. The trade deal was expected to be the defining achievement of the visit, something akin perhaps to the 2006 civil nuclear deal announced during President George W Bushs visit to India. But the right deal may not be ready in time for the visit, and the president, who has made the pursuit of a better trade deal for the United States a key part of his presidency, appears prepared to go without one and he seemed more excited about the Motera stadium rally and the millions of people he expects to see there. Trump is expecting to see 5-7 million people from the airport to the stadium. Speaking to reporters at the White House he seemed to have kept himself abreast with the latest on the stadium that it was new and was still being built and that it was the largest stadium in the world, which it will be. Having that many people, he joked, would make him feel not so good compared to the crowd sizes of 50,000 he is drawing at home. Northern rail network fast-tracked as HS2 finally confirmed A new high-speed rail network across the north of England could be built five years earlier than planned after Boris Johnson criticised intolerable delays to upgrades. The prime minister said that an integrated network called High Speed North would be created by combining the proposed new express line across the Pennines with the northern phase of HS2. It is believed that ministers will aim to open the network partially by 2035. The existing forecast is up to 2040. Mr Johnson told the Commons that condemning the north to get nothing for 20 years would be intolerable. The pledge came as the prime minister ended almost a year of uncertainty by confirming that the HS2 line would be built in full. An official review led by Doug Oakervee, the former HS2 Ltd chairman, began last summer amid concerns over the cost and schedule of the 330-mile Y-shaped network, which is due to connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The Times Business welcomes bold step forward The Times PM claims he can cut cost of HS2 by a third Daily Telegraph Johnson sacks HS2 bosses over poor management Daily Mail Line will never be carbon neutral in 120-year lifespan The Times HS2 has stolen my childrens inheritance The Times Heathrow runway thrown into doubt but roads will be upgraded The Times UK third fastest growing economy in G7 The Times Comment Johnson has rediscovered the can-do spirit of the Victorians, Philip Johnston Daily Telegraph PMs support for HS2 is worth the risks, Leader FT >Yesterday: Dangerous criminals out in days, No 10 fears A judicial review halted the removal of 25 serious and dangerous offenders at the last minute after claims that they had been denied access to lawyers. The prime minister is planning to accelerate moves to limit the powers of campaign groups and individuals to use the process to challenge ministers. Dominic Cummings, his most senior adviser, said that the Court of Appeal decision was a perfect symbol of the British states dysfunction, and that there would be urgent action on the farce that judicial review has become. Some 50 people described by officials and ministers as foreign criminals who committed serious offences had been expected to be on the chartered flight that left Britain for Kingston at about 7.30am yesterday. The Times Comment Im on Patels side in the deportation row, Allison Pearson Daily Telegraph Reshuffle: Remainers back in favour Boris Johnsons Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday will not be a revolution Government sources said as ministers prepared for a limited shake-up that will see several Remainers promoted at the expense of Leavers. Remain-supporting Chloe Smith, Oliver Dowden and Lucy Frazer are all tipped to be promoted to the Cabinet at the expense of Brexit supporting ministers like Geoffrey Cox, Andrea Leadsom and Theresa Villiers. Ms Smith is tipped for a wider Minister for the Union role based at the Cabinet Office while Mr Dowden is a straight swap for Baroness Morgan running the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport department. Daily Telegraph Ofcom to be handed expanded role as internet watchdog Broadcasting regulator Ofcom is to become Britains first internet watchdog, given the role of holding online platforms to account for illegal and harmful content. Nicky Morgan, digital media and culture secretary, will announce the expanded role on Wednesday, according to government officials. The online harms legislation, which is still being drafted, intends to place a legal duty of care on companies such as Facebook and YouTube for ensuring their users are not exposed to illegal material. Ofcom will have to decide when and how those companies have breached that duty of care, and then choose whether punishment should extend to fines or legal prosecution. The new system aims to force tech giants to act on child exploitation, self-harming and terrorist content on the internet, but critics have pointed out that this could have knock-on effects. FT Tories warned there is no quick fix for Blue Wall The Blue Wall seats won by the Conservatives in Decembers general election suffered over the past decade from weak economies and the unwillingness of residents to get on their bikes and move elsewhere, according to two new studies. A report from the Resolution Foundation think-tank, released on Wednesday, found the seats won by the Tories across northern England known as the Red Wall before the election were neither particularly old nor poor, but their towns economies had been left behind the rest of the country and their inhabitants tended to stay put rather than move to more dynamic areas. The foundation warned that there would be no quick fix for these areas because any help from central government would be offset by the rollout of universal credit reforms, which would hit harder in the Blue Wall than elsewhere. FT Red Wall Brits hit by falling wages, bad jobs and sluggish house prices, study finds The Sun >Today: Hunt sceptical about building 40 hospitals The governments plan to build 40 new hospitals was highly ambitious and its funding promises needed a lot more thinking and ambition, the former health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said. Mr Hunt has taken over as chairman of the health select committee after returning to the backbenches rather than accept a demotion from foreign secretary when Mr Johnson defeated him last summer. However, he has generated questions over a possible conflict of interest as some have raised concerns that his job involves scrutinising the impact of decisions he made while health secretary. In an attempt to demonstrate his independence Mr Hunt has given an interview to the Health Service Journal in which he expresses scepticism about several of Mr Johnsons main pledges. The Times >Yesterday: Odds on Thornberry victory lengthen Recent odds from betting company Ladbrokes have revealed that Ms Thornberrys popularity has plummeted. The loyal Corbynite is currently at the bottom of the pile as her odds increased to 100/1 to replace Mr Corbyn. Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer will be the frontrunner in the contest after securing the backing of three vital unions: Unison, Usdaw and Community. The bookies have slashed his odds of becoming next Labour leader to just 1/7. Shadow Business Secretary Ms Long Bailey has seen her odds drift to 8/1. While Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has been given a 10/1 shot in the betting. Daily Express Corbyns pick for deputy, wants a Labour tabloid The Times BBC in dire warning over scrapping licence fee The BBC has warned the Government that the UK will be weakened should it decide to scrap the licence fee, in a shock last ditch plea. In a speech likely to antagonise the Government as it considers whether to turn the corporation into a subscription service, the BBCs chairman has said the outfit is one of the nations greatest assets. Sir David Clementi is set to say that we need to remind ourselves what exactly is at stake if the licence fee is scrapped. The timing of the comments will likely raise eyebrows in Downing Street as Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, readies himself to appoint a new Culture Secretary. Daily Express More Sanders holds off surge from Buttigieg to win New Hampshire primary Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: News in Brief The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Karnataka wing has demanded the state government to intervene in the Shaheen Primary and Higher school play issue to ensure justice to innocent children. "The act of police questioning and interrogating small children who are innocent is condemning. ABVP demands the state government to intervene and do justice to the small children," ABVP said in a release. Police questioned students of Shaheen School after a play against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Register of Citizens (NRC) was staged by the students during Republic Day celebrations. The child rights groups, teachers and educationists had issued a statement condemning the police interrogation in the incident. Karnataka police had sealed the offices of the school after its students participated in the play, which was enacted on the Republic Day, January 26. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had protested alleging that the play at Shaheen School in Bidar was derogatory. In the play, the participants were shown staging an anti-CAA sequence where there were dialogues encouraging non-cooperation with anyone asking for documents. A case was registered against the school management. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Various parts of the body can be affected, and symptoms such as throat tightening or closure, trouble breathing, swollen mouth, hives, dizziness and vomiting can occur within minutes or up to two hours after coming into contact with the allergen. Up to 20 percent of patients have a second wave of symptoms, called biphasic anaphylaxis, hours or even days after their initial symptoms have subsided. The most common anaphylactic reactions are to foods, but individuals can also react to insect stings, medication and latex. With the rates of food allergy affliction now at 1 in 10 people in the U.S. and over 250 million worldwide, the rate of anaphylaxis is increasing. Further, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 39 percent of people with anaphylaxis may have had idiopathic anaphylaxis, a reaction that can not be explained by a known trigger. "Anaphylaxis represents one of the most urgent of medical emergencies, in which rapid diagnosis and prompt and appropriate treatment can mean the difference between life and death Although there has been steady progress in our understanding especially in the context of mouse models of the disorder the basic clinical management of anaphylaxis has changed little in decades." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology The impact of anaphylaxis on the individual and their family can be significant. "The first time I saw my child have an anaphylactic reaction, I was changed forever," said Hillary Tolle Carter, Food Allergy Mother and Advocate. "You can no longer accept that food allergies are no big deal. It affects every aspect of your life. Every time food is involved you have to plan ahead, ask questions and be prepared with safe options for your child. The constant fear of that next anaphylactic reaction can take a serious toll on the entire family." E.A.T launched the Anaphylaxis Challenge in the spring of 2019 and brings together communities invested in preventing or ending life-threatening anaphylaxis. The Challenge will accelerate progress by encouraging cooperation among those working within food allergy and across disease states to seek new and better solutions to take the life-threatening fear out of allergic reactions. Dozens of researchers from private companies and public institutions entered The Challenge by submitting research business plans with potential solutions to help detect, prevent and/or better treat anaphylaxis (other than administering epinephrine). The award money will serve as seed funding to help accelerate and advance the research and development required to bring these promising treatments closer to commercial viability. Winner: Massachusetts General Hospital and Vedanta Biosciences, Inc. "We are grateful for this recognition from E.A.T as we continue to advance our microbiome-derived product candidate for the potential treatment of food allergies in collaboration with Dr. Shreffler," said Rose Szabady Ph.D., Associate Director of Immunology, Vedanta Biosciences. "Mounting scientific evidence suggests that the microbiome plays an important role in food allergies, and this award recognizes the importance of further understanding the effects of the microbiota on the human immune system," continued Szabady. "We believe this work will shed light on the mechanisms by which our interventions modulate allergic immune response, and in turn, support continued development of our product candidate for patients seeking options other than avoidance." Winner: Boston Children's Hospital "We are most honored that our project was chosen by E.A.T's Panel. By targeting an immune mechanism central to the pathogenesis of food allergy and anaphylaxis, we aim not only to prevent this life-threatening complication but also to restore the immune system's tolerance to the allergenic foods," said Talal Chatila MD, PhD from Boston Children's Hospital. "We anticipate our studies will help bring forth a novel set of therapeutics for the treatment of food allergy-related anaphylaxis to the benefit of the patients and their families." Honorable Mentions The Challenge is a multi-year, multi-investment process whereby E.A.T, in collaboration with its Panelists, will provide funds, guidance and hands-on support to the most promising efforts. These include both the immediate awarding of $1 Million to the Winners as well as a commitment to partner with and consider future funding for a select group of Honorable Mentions which includes: Basar Bilgicer, PhD, University of Notre Dame ; Erik Eglite , Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, and Mark Kaplan , Indiana University School of Medicine , for their allergen specific cHBI approach which inhibits the allergic reaction to a specific allergen without broad immune suppression. ; , Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, and , , for their allergen specific cHBI approach which inhibits the allergic reaction to a specific allergen without broad immune suppression. Melanie Dispenza , MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University , for her work in BTK (Bruton's tyrosine kinase) inhibition for preventing anaphylaxis. , MD, PhD, , for her work in BTK (Bruton's tyrosine kinase) inhibition for preventing anaphylaxis. Maria Curotto de Lafaille , PhD, and Scott Sicherer , MD, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , for their work in pro-allergic memory B cells and pursuing ways to erase food allergy memory. Dr. Joon Yun, M.D., an E.A.T Challenge Panelist and president of Palo Alto Investors explains the benefit of the Challenge model: "Grand Challenges can help nurture innovations in areas of unmet needs. The excitement and momentum associated with Grand Challenge competitions can help attract more attention, people, ideas, and funding to the issues of life-threatening anaphylaxis and food allergies." Other distinguished Challenge Panelists include: Benjamin Carter , Partner and Portfolio Manager, Southpoint Capital Advisors , Partner and Portfolio Manager, Southpoint Capital Advisors Marianna Castells , M.D., PhD., Harvard Medical School ; Brigham and Women's Hospital , M.D., PhD., ; Brigham and Women's Hospital Eric Edwards , M.D., PhD., Founder Kaleo Pharmaceuticals , M.D., PhD., Founder Kaleo Pharmaceuticals Stephen J. Galli , M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine , M.D., School of Medicine Chris Gordon , Managing Director, Private Equity, Bain Capital , Managing Director, Private Equity, Bain Capital Ron Laufer , M.D., M.P.H., Founder, Acuris Partners , M.D., M.P.H., Founder, Acuris Partners Thomas Platts-Mills , M.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine. , M.D., School of Medicine. Marc Saiontz , Senior Advisor and former Managing Director at American Securities LLC "I am extremely grateful to our Panelists who committed immense time, thought, analysis and heart to this process over the past six months," said Elise Bates, President and Cofounder of E.A.T. "With their guidance and expertise, we have an exciting outcome for this first phase of our Challenge. Both winners have a clear path ahead based on positive results from initial animal and human studies." Kindly hosted by Bank of America Private Bank on Thursday, February 27, the awards event will feature the winners and their work as well as a discussion about investing in food allergies with E.A.T Panelists Dr. Eric Edwards and Dr. Joon Yun as well as a representative from Bank of America. To inquire about this event, please email [email protected] About End Allergies Together (E.A.T) E.A.T is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused solely on raising money for food allergy research. E.A.T was cofounded in 2015 by Elise and Greg Bates and Kim and Tom Hall, who have children with severe food allergies, to help bridge the significant gap in research funding for this growing epidemic now affecting nearly 1 in 10 Americans and 250 million people globally. Since inception, E.A.T has committed to eleven promising research efforts across thirteen leading institutions. Press Contacts: Kriskey + Lane Communications Susan Kriskey, [email protected] Marni Lane, [email protected] SOURCE End Allergies Together (E.A.T.) Juan Guaido visited the White House and the World Economic Forum during tour aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido appeared to have breezed through security at an airport near Caracas on Tuesday, returning home without incident from a risky international tour that included a White House meeting with United States President Donald Trump. He entered Venezuela via the countrys main airport, Maiquetia. Guaido, who is recognised as Venezuelas interim president by more than 50 countries, was received at the White House in the US and feted at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland after slipping out of the country in January in defiance of a travel ban by the government of President Nicolas Maduro. US President Donald Trump raising his thumb during his meeting with Venezuelas opposition leader Juan Guaido at the White House in Washington, DC [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] Outside the airport on Tuesday, less friendly crowds awaited him. Dirty traitor! and Get out! they shouted as an SUV whisked him away. Guaido backers shouted his name in support: Guaido! Guaido! Im bringing with me the commitment of the free world willing to help us recover democracy and Freedom, Guaido said on Twitter. We begin a new moment. He now faces an opposition movement that has struggled to maintain the frenetic street protests of 2019 and has been unable to end Maduros grip on power. Maduro calls Guaido a puppet of Washington, which has implemented a broad sanctions programme against Maduros government in an effort to force him from power. Venezuelas economic collapse has led nearly five million people to emigrate, creating a migration crisis in nearby Latin American nations. Guaido is urging Venezuelans to remain unified and to take to the streets again, demonstrating their will to end the socialist government that the opposition leaders calls a dictatorship. Opposition lawmakers who met him at the airport said they were heading to a public square in Caracas. [February 12, 2020] CarSaver Taps USAA Auto Executive For COO Role NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CarSaver is pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Pollard to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Pollard joins CarSaver from USAA where, as Vice President and Head of Digital Car Buying Customer Experience, she was responsible for the company's auto buying program strategy and day to day operations, and where her leadership led to a 25% increase in auto sales and a 23% increase in customer satisfaction. "We are very excited Heather has joined the CarSaver team. CarSaver at Walmart experienced over 300% growth in 2019 and having a COO with Heather's breadth of knowledge and experience in the industry will help continue our momentum. I admire USAA for their amazing culture and am impressed with the car buying service they built under Heather's leadership. We know she will make a big impact at CarSaver," said Chad Collier, CarSaver CEO and Founder. When asked about the move to CarSaver Pollard said, "Digital car buying is poised for rapid adoption as auto dealers, manufacturers and lenders recognize that customers are demanding change and expecting greater levels of transparency. With an incredible partner like Walmart, who is focused on saving customers time and money, and CarSaver's mission to change the way the world buys and sells cars, we have a unique opportunity to bring all stakeholders together to deliver an unparalleled experience." Pollard added, "My role is to harness the company's resources and deliver these cutting-edge tools to the market as quickly as possible. I am honored to be a part of the CarSaver's leadership team." There's a major shift in automotive e-commerce as everyone is looking to expand their online experience. CarSaver's e-commerce platform provides digital retail solutions for dealers, manufacturers and lenders to sell cars and facilitate loans online with unprecedentd reach through the largest retailer in the world. A number of manufacturers, dealers and lenders have approached CarSaver to leverage its technology to expand their offerings and drive competitive differentiation. Collier says, "CarSaver has built one of the premier e-commerce platforms in the industry, and we are focused on addressing the number one complaint in America -- auto-related problems. Our mission is to resolve these problems and help dealers, manufacturers and lenders deliver the full end-to-end experience that meets today's customer demands." CarSaver recently relocated their company headquarters from Miami, FL to outside Nashville, TN. The move to the Music City brings the company closer to the heart of the auto industry, including the headquarters of Nissan and Mitsubishi, as well as Walmart's headquarters in Bentonville, AR. "Nashville has welcomed us with open arms, and we couldn't be more excited to be a part of this great community", said Collier. About CarSaver CarSaver is an end-to-end e-commerce platform that makes it easier to buy and sell new and used vehicles online. CarSaver developed and manages the auto buying program for Walmart, https://www.walmart.com/cp/auto-buying/2304465. CarSaver helps Walmart's customers and employees save time and money with everyday low prices and a no-cost lifetime powertrain warranty on new and used cars. CarSaver has built a network of top dealers, banks and insurance providers to provide an "all-in-one" experience for customers who receive up-front, transparent pricing and payment information that includes all taxes and fees, so a customer can buy online and choose to have the vehicle delivered or pick it up at a local certified dealer. CarSaver's e-commerce platform is also being "white-labeled" to power digital retail solutions for lenders, manufacturers and dealers to sell cars and facilitate loans online. Additional information about CarSaver can be found at www.CarSaver.com , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CarSaverUSA/ on Instagram at CarSaverUSA. Dealers can find more information at http://www.carsaverdealers.com/ For Press inquiries please contact us at: [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carsaver-taps-usaa-auto-executive-for-coo-role-301003935.html SOURCE CarSaver [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Belgian Paralympic athlete Marieke Vervoort revealed two years ago that in 2008, she had been approved to receive euthanasia. The Paralympian was an accomplished wheelchair racer, having won gold and silver at the London 2012 Paralympics, and silver and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games. However, she suffered from an incurable degenerative muscle disease that caused constant pain, seizures, and in Vervoorts case, paralysis in her legs. In October 2019, Vervoort made the decision to end her life through euthanasia at the age of 40. Euthanasia remains a controversial medical procedure. Euthanasia is when a person makes a conscious decision to die, and asks for help in doing so. This might be receiving a doctor or other person to help them. Its different from assisted suicide, where someone assists an person in taking their own life but the final deed is still done by the individual. While some proponents, like Vervoort, argue that it can ease suffering, and give a person agency over their own life, others argue that euthanasia is unnatural, and is difficult to properly control especially in the case of patients who might not be able to fully consent. Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002. However, its still currently only legal in a handful of countries, including the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Canada. Although Vervoort felt euthanasia gave her agency over her own life especially as her condition worsened her death still highlights many aspects of the moral and legal questions that need to be answered when it comes to the procedure. Much of the current debate still taking place wonders whether anyone should be able to access it, under what circumstances, and the extent to which we should honour the individuals choice. Having the right conversations Recommended Paralympic champion Marieke Vervoort ends life through euthanasia My research sought to provide insight into how we can frame our conversations around euthanasia through speculative design. The field of design is often described as a problem-solving activity. However, many problems are often simply too complex to be solved. This particular branch is unique its a method of designing that uses hypothetical prototypes or scenarios to highlight problems rather than solve them. Speculative designs can help consider any potential unintended consequences in a proposed scenario. I sought to address the complicated moral dilemma of euthanasia by creating The Plug, an applied thought experiment which aimed to think through the consequences of patient control in euthanasia for dementia. Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Show all 9 1 /9 Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal USA Assisted Suicide is legal in the states of California, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Vermont Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal The Netherlands Human euthanasia is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Belgium Human euthanasia is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Colombia Human euthanasia is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Luxembourg Human euthanasia is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Switzerland Assisted suicide is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Germany Assisted suicide is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Japan Assisted suicide is legal Getty Countries where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal Canada Assisted suicide is legal Getty Some terminal conditions, such as dementia, pose more complications for euthanasia. For example, in the Netherlands, an increasing number of people are opting to use euthanasia after being diagnosed the syndrome. An advance euthanasia directive is a document in which a person outlines what decisions should be made in the future, should they be unable to make those decision themselves. Currently, many advance directives make statements such as, when I am no longer myself, or when I cant recognise my children, to outline when euthanasia should be administered. However, these conditions are hard to measure and comply with. These advance euthanasia directives are also largely ignored by physicians having to perform euthanasia, because the symptoms of dementia clash with due care criteria the criteria that a patient must fulfil in order to be administered euthanasia. Famed Paralympian Marieke Vervoort opted for the procedure last year, prompting debate to be reignited all over the world (AFP) In the Netherlands, one study found that only three per cent of advance directives are complied with. A person with dementia is often unable to consent at the time of death, which makes it difficult to establish whether the persons suffering is hopeless and unbearable one of the due care criteria for euthanasia in the Netherlands. A hypothetical implant The Plug is a hypothetical implanted advance euthanasia directive that would trigger a swift and painless death once the conditions described in the advance euthanasia directive are reached. My research was intended to address several issues, such as the rights of a person whose personality might be changed because of dementia, the need for advance directives to be much more detailed, as well as the difficulty that physicians may face when performing euthanasia. This scenario was designed to ask a number of questions about advanced euthanasia directives, including how conditions can be measured, and, if they cant, what decision should be made and whether it still should The Plug would deal with the consent issue by creating a situation where the person requesting euthanasia is the one who consents. The person they might become as a result of dementia is deliberately excluded in this scenario in order to address who should have the right to decide the person before dementia, or during dementia. The Plug would hypothetically be installed in cognitively competent people who might be afraid of developing and living with dementia. The device would be connected to other health-trackers and sensors installed in the home and potentially even loved ones to measure if the pre-programmed conditions the patient wants to avoid are coming to pass. If this was the case, The Plug would be triggered, causing the person to die peacefully in their sleep. This scenario was designed to ask a number of questions about advanced euthanasia directives, including how conditions can be measured, and, if they cant, what decision should be made and whether it still should. The applied thought experiment of The Plug has encouraged much conversation among expert stakeholders. It raised awareness about the need for advance directives to be much more specific. Additionally it highlighted the need to acknowledge the contrast in the rights of a person before and after living with dementia. The role of general practitioners was seen as very important, and it is recommended that these doctors initiate end-of-life conversations early, both with the patient and their loved-ones. In places where euthanasia becomes legal, GPs may need additional support or education in order to be able to do this well. In order to die with dignity, people are increasingly planning their own death. But dementia complicates matters. A person requesting euthanasia must be suffering intolerably and must be able to confirm the request at time of death. However, in many cases with dementia, that wish can no longer be confirmed when the time comes. As debates around euthanasia continue, its important to consider all the inherent moral dilemmas that come with it. Marije de Haas is a lecturer and designer at Loughborough University. This article first appeared on The Conversation After earning Rs 40 crore, Saif Ali Khan's latest release, Jawaani Jaaneman, is all set to release in Saudi Arabia on February 13. Produced by Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Saif and Jay Shewakramani, the film marked the debut of Pooja Bedi's daughter, Alaya F and also cast Saif Ali Khan and Tabu in the lead roles. In her official statement, Deepshikha Deshmukh said, "I am super elated that 'Jawaani Jaaneman' will be Saif's first film to release in Saudi Arabia. Right now there are only 55 screens, but they have a massive plan of taking the number of screens upto 1000 in the next one year. I think it is going to be a fantastic market in the coming months for Indian Cinema." Directed by Nitin Kakkar, Jawaani Jaaneman chronicles the story of a 40-year-old man whose life turns upside down when he discovers he has a 20-something daughter. Jawaani Jaaneman Movie Review: Saif Ali Khan's Swag Makes Your Heart Go 'Ole Ole' Speaking about the film's plot, Saif had earlier said, "This story is about a man accepting his age, his responsibilities and his journey in life. I think the father is one of the most important people in our lives. A lot of people mess up being a father and create children that need therapy, that need friendship and that need all kinds of things to fix their problems because they are not ready to be responsible fathers." Jawaani Jaaneman hit the theatres on January 31, 2020. Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - The United States Tuesday agreed to support the DR Congo government in the restoration of peace and the fight against corruption, as well as the improvement of the business environment, an official source said here [February 12, 2020] National Philanthropic Trust Donors Recommend 62,858 Grants Exceeding $1.67 Billion In 2019 National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), the largest national, independent donor-advised fund (DAF) sponsor, finished the decade by granting a record 62,858 gifts to charities on behalf of its donors, totaling more than $1.67 billion in 2019, representing an increase in value of 62% compared to 2018. "NPT was founded almost 25 years ago when no one knew what a DAF was. Since then, DAFs have become the fastest-growing giving vehicle because of their extreme flexibility and ease of use. Every demographic utilizes DAFs, from millennials to baby boomers," said Eileen Heisman, CEO of National Philanthropic Trust. "While our donors have diverse philanthropic values and goals, they share a tremendous dedication to charitable giving. During Giving Season 2019, I spoke to many existing and new donors. The commitment they expressed to supporting causes that are important to them was energizing." 2019 NPT Year in Review, Jan. 1 to Dec. 31: - $1.67 billion in grants (62% increase from $1.03 billion in 2018) - 62,858 grants to US and international charities (35% increase from 46,452 in 2018) In addition to cash contributions, NPT donors contributed illiquid assets to their DAFs to fund their philanthropy. NPT helped liquidate these assets, like stocks, business inerests, and real estate, as well as art and cryptocurrency, and turn them into grantmaking dollars. Donors also sought to increase their DAF impact by choosing NPT's proprietary impact investing options for their DAF accounts. In 2019, NPT donors recommended grants to a wide range of causes and charities in the U.S. and around the globe, including women's rights in Atlanta, literacy programming in Denver, wildfire relief in Australia, and infant mortality in Morocco. NPT's UK affiliate, NPT Transatlantic, also saw record grants to charities in 2019. The London-based organization issued grants exceeding $29.1 million (22.8), representing a 75% increase compared to 2018. A New Decade in DAFs "As we begin a new decade of philanthropy, there are four key things to consider or watch in regard to DAFs," said Heisman. "First, DAFs will continue to be a particularly attractive option for families as the 'great wealth transfer' accelerates. Second, philanthropic services at financial institutions, financial advisors, and DAF providers will become integral to effective philanthropy. Next, Americans will acknowledge the role tax policy plays in charitable giving. And, finally, technology will influence the simplicity of DAF grantmaking." About National Philanthropic Trust Founded in 1996, NPT is the largest, national, independent donor-advised fund sponsor. Since its founding, NPT has raised nearly $16.9 billion in charitable contributions. NPT has made more than 311,000 donor-recommended grants exceeding $7.7 billion to charities around the world. NPT ranks among the largest grantmaking institutions in the United States. NPT annually publishes the Donor-Advised Fund Report, the sector's authority on the state of DAF philanthropy. NPT offers DAF resources for individuals, advisors and charities. More at NPTrust.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005109/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 00:17:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Albania and Turkey signed here on Wednesday an agreement on the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a press release. The agreement was signed by Albania's Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. At a joint press conference after their meeting, Cakaj said the agreement will facilitate movement and eliminate administrative and bureaucratic barriers to the use of driving licenses between Albania and Turkey. According to the press release, the two ministers also signed a memorandum of understanding between the diplomatic academies for the exchange of diplomats and a "joint declaration" that aims to boost efforts and coordinate approaches within international organizations to the fight against organized crime, illegal trafficking, extreme violence and terrorism. During their meeting on Wednesday, the two officials discussed areas of common interest, such as furthering bilateral economic and trade relations; the importance of improving the quality of regional cooperation; and deepening interaction in multilateral organizations, Cakaj noted. Cakaj also expressed his gratitude to his Turkish counterpart for the support and solidarity that the Turkish government has extended to Albania since the first hours after the devastating earthquake that hit the country on Nov. 26 last year. During his official visit to Albania, Cavusoglu also met with President Ilir Meta and Speaker of Parliament Gramoz Ruci. A hardcore criminal wanted in over a dozen cases was arrested from Punjab, while two other "habitual criminals" were booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) here, police said on Wednesday. Dilbagh Singh, a resident of Simbal camp here, was arrested from Amritsar in Punjab by a police party, a police spokesman said. He said Singh was wanted in 13 FIRs registered under various sections of the Arms Act, the NDPS Act and the Ranbir Penal Code in four police stations areas in Jammu since 2009. The charges include six cases of attempt to murder, the spokesman added. Two more habitual criminals -- Bikramjeet Singh alias "Vicky" of Gangyal and Paramjeet Singh alias "Pankaj of Sehora -- were booked under the PSA here to curb their activities, the spokesman said. On the recommendation of police, he said, the district magistrate, Jammu, issued the PSA warrant against the duo on the weekend. "The warrant was executed by Station House Officer of Police Station Gangyal, Inspector Sunil Singh Jasrotia, with their arrest on Monday," the spokesman said, adding they were lodged in Central Jail, Jammu. In a separate case, an absconder, Jagjeet Singh, was arrested after a hunt of over 30 years from Digiana area of Jammu on Tuesday, he said. "He was wanted in 13 gambling cases and evading arrest since 1981," the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CONCORD, N.H. Amy Klobuchar rode a late-breaking wave of momentum over the past week to finish third in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, vaulting from relative obscurity into contention for the Democratic nomination for president. Klobuchar, a 59-year-old U.S. senator from Minnesota, received 20 percent of the vote with 90 percent of the vote counted, behind Sen. Bernie Sanders at 26 percent, and Pete Buttigieg at 24 percent. It was a stunning turn of events for Klobuchar, who finished in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses and just a week ago was in fifth place in the polling of New Hampshire voters. Hello America. Im Amy Klobuchar, and I will beat Donald Trump, Klobuchar said, introducing herself to the nation in front of a jubilant crowd of supporters at a hotel here after the results were announced. Everyone had counted us out. I came back and we delivered. We are taking the message of unity to the country, because we know in our hearts that in a democracy it is not about the loudest voice or the biggest bank account. It is about the best idea and the person who can turn those ideas into action, Klobuchar said. She repeatedly referenced the words grit and resilience. She connected her hardscrabble family story to her ability to defy predictions by becoming the first woman from Minnesota elected to the U.S. Senate, and said this tough spirit was at the heart of what makes America great. Sen. Amy Klobuchar at her election night party in Concord, N.H. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP) My story is nothing compared to the resilience that Ive seen all over this country, she said. America deserves a president who is as resilient as her people. And Klobuchar explicitly referenced her desire to receive support from independents and Republicans in addition to Democrats, and promised to unite the country after four years of President Trumps tumultuous and divisive presidency. Donald Trumps worst nightmare is that the people in the middle, the people who have had enough of the name-calling and the mudslinging, have someone to vote for in November, she said. Story continues Klobuchars surge appeared to come at the cost of support for other candidates who had looked much stronger a few months ago: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who had only 9 percent, and former Vice President Joe Biden, who had 8.5 percent. I made up my mind in the voting booth, said Susan Zlotnick-Hale, a retired physician. The focus has to be on getting whos in the White House out of the White House. Zlotnick-Hale chose Klobuchar, she said, because shes competent, she has proven herself as a senator and a prosecutor, and believe it or not, yes, shes a woman. Klobuchar had always seen an opportunity in New Hampshire, but a confluence of events came together more favorably for her than she could have imagined. Unlike in Iowa, when the Democratic presidential candidates debated each other two weeks before voters went to the caucuses, the debate in New Hampshire came just a few days before the primary. Klobuchar had been confident in her debate performances in the past, and was waiting for a moment when one of them could have a real impact on her chances. Klobuchar campaigning in Manchester, N.H. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) New Hampshire provided the perfect storm. The debate went exceptionally well for her. Her closing statement, in which she spoke directly to voters and showed some emotion, appeared to resonate. If you have trouble stretching your paycheck to pay for that rent. I know you and I will fight for you. If you have trouble deciding if youre going to pay for your childcare or your long-term care, I know you and I will fight for you, Klobuchar said. A senior campaign adviser to Klobuchar told Yahoo News they had raised $5 million since the Friday debate. It cant be overstated how important the debate was, the Klobuchar adviser said. Meanwhile, Biden, coming off a fourth place finish in Iowa, essentially conceded New Hampshire before it was even close to over, saying in the opening moments of the debate that he expected to take a hit in the voting. And while the Iowa result elevated Sanders and Buttigieg, it still left many Democrats at least in New Hampshire casting around for an option that was not as far left as Sanders, and with more experience than Buttigieg. Klobuchar, rather than Warren, was the beneficiary, indicating a preference in the Granite State for a moderate Midwestern rather than a Northeast liberal. Klobuchars finish was all the more impressive given that Warren had a significant organizing presence in this state, in large part because of her ability to draw volunteers from her neighboring home state. New Hampshire has a unique system, a semi-open primary in which over 400,000 voters out of 980,720 are undeclared and can vote in either party primary. The absence of a Republican primary pushed undeclared voters who might have otherwise voted in a GOP primary into the Democratic contest, which is likely to have played to Klobuchars advantage as well. Klobuchar at a campaign event in Exeter, N.H., on Monday. (Elise Amendola/AP) The question now for Klobuchar is how she will weather the attacks on her record as a prosecutor in Hennepin County starting in 1998. Those began in earnest even before the vote was counted in New Hampshire, during an appearance by Klobuchar on ABCs The View. Sunny Hostin, one of the co-hosts on The View, pressed Klobuchar about her role in the 2002 prosecution of Myon Burrell, a 16-year old African-American teenage boy who was sentenced to life in prison for shooting an 11-year old girl. It is one of the most flawed investigations and prosecutions that I think I have ever seen, Hostin told Klobuchar. Klobuchar said that all of the evidence needs to be immediately reviewed in that case, but Hostin pressed her on what she will do to make that happen. And that issue will be of intense interest to voters in the next two states in this process: Nevada and South Carolina. South Carolina, in particular, has a huge number of African-Americans in its Democratic electorate. And much has been made within the Democratic Party of the fact that the first two contests in Iowa and New Hampshire have shaped the race without any voting in states with any significant minority populations. Each time I come to New Hampshire, I say, yes this is very much America, but its different. You got a whole lot of beautiful vanilla brothers and sisters in New Hampshire. You dont see too many Jamals and Latishas, said Cornel West, a philosophy professor at Harvard who is a prominent surrogate for Sanders, at a get-out-the-vote event Tuesday morning. On CNN, former South Carolina state Sen. Bakari Sellers urged pundits to slow down and let some black people vote. Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders with local African-American leaders during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Columbia, S.C., last month. (Randall Hill/Reuters) Buttigieg has his own problems with minority voters. His support from African-Americans has been abysmal, probably due in part to issues with the black community in South Bend. But Klobuchar scored very well in exit polls among voters who said their highest priority is a candidate who can unite the county, and who can beat President Trump. She led Buttigieg 31 percent to 29 percent on who can unite the country, and trailed him 21 percent to 27 percent on who can beat Trump. Warrens decline may give Sanders an edge in consolidating the left wing of the party, but there may be a significant number of Warren voters who switch to Klobuchar or Buttigieg as well. Bidens voters are probably more likely to move to Klobuchar or Buttigieg. And while Klobuchar and Buttigieg battle it out, they have to worry also about the billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer and even more so about former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also a billionaire who may see those candidates as small obstacles in the path to the nomination. Michael Filler, a 63-year-old retired school psychologist, was at the Klobuchar primary night event on Tuesday evening. He had chosen to support her back in November but told Yahoo News he had been discouraged until the last few days. The surge is pretty surprising, he said. I really think it was that darn debate performance. Filler said he worries about Klobuchars ability to keep her campaign financed, but that if she can get a look from the next few states, she has a shot at winning the nomination. He said he felt pretty good about Klobuchars ability to stand toe to toe with Trump in a debate. It was easy to do with Clinton, because nobody liked her anyways, Filler said. But if he did it with Amy, shes likable, and shes got a sense of humor. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: SEATTLEThough Genette Hofmann is still using her brain, last month she donated a bit of it to science. Hofmann needed the surgery her Seattle surgeon was looking deep into her brain, where he found the trigger for the epileptic seizures that had disrupted her life for 30 years. But to get there, he teased out a bit of healthy tissue the size of a lima bean, and with her blessing quickly sent it to some researchers, who were eager to study brain cells while they were still alive. Thats how Hofmann joined a long line of epilepsy patients whove helped scientists reveal basic secrets of the brain knowledge that could pay off in better ways to measure consciousness in brain-injury patients and new treatments for a variety of diseases. Research volunteers such as Ruth Nall, who made a different kind of contribution in a California hospital room, reading sentences aloud as a network of surgically implanted sensors kept close track of how her brain worked. Since she was going to have electrodes implanted anyway, she reasoned, why not help out? Plus, she added, Id have visitors. Epilepsy disrupts the brains electrical activity, producing recurrent seizures that involve strange sensations, behaviours, emotions and, sometimes, loss of consciousness. Most people with epilepsy dont need surgery and can control seizures with medications. But when surgery is necessary, research scientists can ask to piggyback on the procedures for a rare chance to study the brain directly. For decades, studies of epilepsy patients have revealed secrets of the brain, like how the two halves operate differently. And research with H.M., a now-deceased Connecticut man whos been called the most famous patient in the history of neuroscience, revealed key insights into how memory works. The disease has a long history of revealing the importance of the brain to memory, emotion and everything we call the self, says Christof Koch, chief scientist at the Allen Institute in Seattle, where Hofmanns cells were analyzed. Seizures have taught us more about brain and the mind, and the relationship between the two, than any other disease, he said. Hofmanns brain cells were rushed to the institute on life support in a cooler rigged up with artificial cerebral spinal fluid and oxygen. At the lab, researcher Herman Tung sliced the pearl of brain into thin sheets for viewing with a powerful microscope, readying it for a three-part series of experiments. After resting for an hour after slicing, Hofmanns brain cells were ready for their star turn under the microscope. Researcher Katherine Baker found a single brain cell and recorded its electrical activity. She injected dye that spread into the threadlike dendrites of the neuron to reveal its shape. Baker removed the cells nucleus for the third step: a readout of which genes are turned off and which are turned on. About three-quarters of such donations at the Allen Institute come from epilepsy patients; the rest come from cancer surgeries. The Allen Institute is building an online atlas that makes information on hundreds of human brain cells freely available for study. The institute hopes that will provide a new avenue, beyond brain scans and animal studies, for tackling conditions like Alzheimers disease and autism. For Hofmann, 57, the decision to contribute to the study was simple, even beyond her own epilepsy. She spent years caring for a grandmother with dementia. It was the easiest decision Ive ever made, she said. This will be my chance to make a difference. Dr. Andrew Ko, who performed Hofmanns surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, stressed that its important to make sure patients understand the difference between whats needed for therapy and whats optional for research. At Harborview, Ko talks to patients about treatment while a research co-ordinator discusses the opportunity to participate in studies, he said. Nall, the California woman, underwent surgery too. But before that, doctors had to discover the spot that was triggering her seizures. To do that, surgeons often implant arrays of 100 or more sensors on and within a patients brain, to eavesdrop on its activity and catch the trigger in the act of causing a seizure. Patients being monitored in this way may spend a week or more in a hospital room as doctors wait for seizures to happen. During that time, patients dont have a lot to do. For neuroscience researchers, a group of people with implanted brain electrodes and plenty of time is a golden opportunity. It is rare that you have the opportunity to study the brain in such a detailed way in awake people, says Dr. Joshua Rosenow of Northwestern University. In some cases, researchers use the implanted electrodes for stimulation. A few years ago, to explore the role of a certain part of the brain in perceiving faces, Dr. Josef Parvizi of Stanford University activated that area in a 41-year-old patient. The man was looking at Parvizi, who was next to his hospital bed, when the stimulation began. You just turned into somebody else, the patient told Parvizi. Your nose got saggy and went to the left. You almost look like somebody Ive seen before but somebody different. That was a trip. Other times, the brain electrodes are used to monitor what happens as patients do specific mental tasks. Patients may sniff odours, do math, sing, read specific words or sentences aloud, listen to music or speech, look at faces on a screen, name objects in line drawings, stick out their tongues, or do other things meant to create specific brain activity. All the while, scientists track whats going on in their brains. There is an explosion of studies in this field, because it is immensely important to know the timing of events in the brain, which areas light up first and which follow, said Parvizi. And when area A lights up, what does area B do? The monitoring of Nalls brain provided data for several papers published in the past couple years. One of her experimental tasks sounds a little strange: During her 2013 hospital stay she was asked to repeat the sentence, I never said she stole my money over and over, putting an emphasis on a different word each time. Those changes altered the meaning of the sentence. Researchers had sought her help in learning how the brain produces and controls speech, perhaps a step toward helping people unable to talk. That goal struck a chord with Nall, of Waterford, who recalled that an uncles voice was stilled by Lou Gehrigs disease. Looking back, she said shed encourage others to take the same step. It is something you feel good about later, she said. Let your life be defined by the lives that you change. Two weeks after Hofmanns surgery, a scar curves from the top of her right ear to her forehead hairline. So far, so good, she said. No seizures. Part of her brain is gone, but she doesnt feel anythings missing. In fact, happy memories have surfaced, things I havent thought of since I was a girl. Contributing brain cells to science makes me so proud and so satisfied, she said. It makes me feel more connected to the human race. Editor's note: Michael D'Antonio is the author of the book "Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success" and co-author with Peter Eisner of "The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence." The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. View more opinion articles on CNN. (CNN) Somewhere in Donald Trump's chest beats a wounded heart. It is the part of him that can't stand it when an unflattering photo of him is shared all over the internet. This happened to him last week when a photo proliferated on social media in which it appears that the wind blew the President's cover, or rather his hair, exposing a white boundary where an orange-y tan meets his hairline. Other images of the same hair-blown moment show a less distinct color contrast in the President's hairline, causing speculation that the viral photo had been edited. Confirming this speculation, the account that posted the photo, claimed to be controlled by a photographer named William Moon, said that the coloring of the photo had been altered using the Apple smartphone photo app. "...photoshopped obviously," huffed Trump as the photo whirled around the internet. "Anything to demean!" He is right that some nasty folks will do anything to demean others. But since Trump has done more than anyone to bring us the dreadful media environment we now must endure -- with nonstop mockery, deception and insults -- it's hard to think anything other than he's gotten a little bit of his own medicine. But on a deeper level, this incident both explains politics in the Trump era, and suggests how his own method of mass communication might be turned against him. Trump, we must recall, rose to power and fame by calling other people ugly (and worse) and demeaning them with nasty nicknames. As a publicity-seeking businessman, and then in his work as a reality TV host, Trump regularly criticized others as fat, unattractive or insufficiently sexy. Women received most of these barbs, but some men, especially short ones, became his targets too. As puerile as Trump's nasty comments have been, they were delivered in a style that resembled the shock jock banter found on some radio shows and podcasts. The method allowed him to create the illusion that perhaps he was only joking, like an insult comic who creates an exciting kind of tension by behaving in a way that might earn a punch in the nose in any other setting. The "jokes" bonded Trump to his audience who, safely situated out of the line of fire, reveled in the spectacle. With the rise of social media, Trump could send out attacks all day long, hoping one might catch fire. His followers became part of the action, amplifying and spreading the attacks. In this way the awful nicknames Trump pasted on his opponents, and photos with nasty captions, become "memes," which spread like viruses. The most powerful memes tap into the baser human emotions including fear, disgust and hatred. They also make his followers feel like they belong to a community of like-minded, or perhaps, like-hating souls. In this way the insults function like wartime propaganda, making people feel like they are part of an urgent battle against an enemy who, let's face it, isn't really human in the same way as us. As President, Trump has replaced the political consultant James Carville's old maxim -- "It's the economy stupid" -- with "It's the memes, stupid." Whether he's posting a fake video that shows him punching a man with the CNN logo in place of a face or a picture doctored (ridiculously) to make him look like the movie hero Rocky, Trump is ever busy sending out visceral messages that bypass chunks of language to hit our emotional sensors. When Trump recently re- tweeted a fake image of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer in Muslim garb he leaned on bigoted tropes to provoke hatred against them and Muslims. In classic meme fashion, a simple image delivered a complex message that would bypass thought and go straight to a viewers' emotion. Trump has far outstripped his rivals in the use of memes, and he has done it with the help of supporters who busily create new content, ostensibly hoping the President will post it. This phenomenon has been studied by social media expert James Cohen, at Long Island's Molloy College. Trump has often posted the work of a "memesmith." According to Cohen, many memesmiths seek to have their memes tweeted by the President. As they pursue this goal, they become a form of free creative labor for the Trump campaign. As Cohen noted, Trump and the right have overtaken the opposition in the war of memes, and many on this side of the political divide "believe that the left can't meme." Cohen has found evidence that Democrats are catching up, noting that Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang are supported by their own memesmiths who are starting to push back in the social media universe. Meme dynamics are subject to several wild card factors that no one can control, Cohen told me. One is that internet jokes grow stale, which leaves openings for newcomers who might, for example, attack Trump as a symbol of power rather than support him as a renegade. The other is the power of spontaneity. Although it doesn't seem that the Sanders or Yang campaigns played it up, the Trump-tan-hairline picture showed how he could be hurt by a gust of wind and the meme dynamic. He who lives by the meme, can also be wounded by it. This story was first published on CNN.com 'With viral meme, Trump gets a taste of his own medicine' ORLEANS As a choreographer, educator, hair stylist, and planning board member, Andrea Shaw Reed has looked to bring out the beauty in people and places. Now she wants to bring what shes learned to another board, where she hopes to learn more. The board of selectmen is five people, she said in a recent interview. You have to wrestle with ideas, to listen to the people youre talking to so you can move forward. If you dont get the approval of town meeting, youre not successful. The benchmark for success is not whether you put on a good show. Reed is one of three hopefuls to take out papers for two selectman seats up for election in May. Incumbents David Currier and Mefford Runyon have done so as well. It was a decision by the selectmen in 2010 to set up a series of work groups on the towns future that drew Reed, with her background in arts education and the non-profit community, into the world of planning. Out of the groups recommendations to the selectmen, the Village Center study and Village Center and Main Street design plans took off, she said. As did her civic involvement after Chet Crabtree urged her to join the planning board. I watched Ken McKusick, Chet, and John Fallender, how they talked to each other, she recalled. Ken McKusick was a statesman. There was divergence of opinion. I wasnt sure I had the skill set, but I knew I could study leadership here. He was building consensus. Nine years later, Reed, now its chairman, is completing her third term on the board. Its a full circle, given that she and her husband, Dr. Timothy Reed, chose to locate here more than 22 years ago in part because Orleans had decided to hire a town planner. It was a sign, she said, that this town was investing in its future. Reed was already familiar with this end of the Cape, where she enjoyed girlhood summers at the house her parents rented with friends in Wellfleet. She was raised in Chevy Chase near Washington, D.C., where her father was head of research and development for the Atomic Energy Commission. When you grow up with someone thinking about the country in your house, it changes the conversation at the dinner table, Reed said. Her mother and her mothers father were both social workers, and her aunt is still teaching dance at age 86. Its your obligation, she said of the lessons she learned. If you see something you can do and make better in the world, youre obligated to do it. While earning a bachelors in theatre and dance at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, Reed made visits to Wellfleet to paint and have her work critiqued by artist Walter Dorrell, former owner of the Kendall Gallery. After graduation, Reed performed a jete across the county to land at UCLA, with NYU one of the two top programs for dance in the U.S. I had lived in the New York area, she said. LA was a lot scarier and the program was bigger and tougher. I had to prove something to myself, that I could cut it. The choreography and performance major thrived, enjoying the cultural mix. When she returned to the D.C. area with her masters degree, she freelanced as a dance educator, using her art to connect people back to something alive and vibrant in themselves, she said. I did not become a dance therapist, because I valued the art form more than the therapeutic. I think the art form has something to offer that can be healing, but thats not the primary reason. It makes me very respectful of good design and process. Reed went on to work at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Washington, where she rehabbed the art department and the school built a studio for her. A comfortable berth, but husband Tim had gotten a match for his medical residency in Cleveland and the couple decided to move to Ohio. After teaching dance and exercise there, Reed got involved with a program in the public schools, one that continues to this day. We were training artists to go into classrooms with core education for math, social studies, and science and translate their skill set to get kids up and on their feet, she said. Its whats now called performance assessment. How do we know the kids learned what we thought we taught them? They could demonstrate that through the performing arts. While living in Cleveland and beginning a family, the couple continued to vacation in Wellfleet. Tim, who had talked about being an independent practitioner on the Cape, opened the Yellow Pages one day and called up Dr. John Eten of Orleans Medical to get the lay of the land. Their lunch conversation turned into a job offer; Eten had been looking for someone to run his practice while he went sailing for three months in a boat hed been building. Thats what I got for my birthday present in 1998, Reed said. We were moving to the Cape. Wonderful as that sounded, she had concerns. I was worried about the education the kids would get, she said. I didnt know much about the community college and the quality of the schools. I was stupid. I had no idea that kids here were treated like an endangered species. She credits Nauset Superintendent Tom Conrad, then principal of Nauset High, for insisting on excellence. He brought the model of the scholar athlete and built the arts. As outreach director of the Academy of Performing Arts, she was deeply involved in building those arts programs with a coalition that included the Academy, the Nauset schools, and the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. But three years into a five-year state program, their funding got gutted, Reed said. The Academy didnt have the infrastructure to keep me. There was a job offer to teach in Boston, but she had school-aged children here. While cutting Reeds hair, Judy Perez, owner of N.Y. Hair Co. and Spa, gave her some good advice. Youre not paying attention to where you are, Reed recalled Perez telling her. What pays here is cleaning houses, real estate, and cutting hair. With your fine arts background, you should go to hair school. Ill hire you the minute you get out. True to her word, Perez did just that. Reed has worked with her for 15 years, also aiding the business as its strategic planner. She still cuts hair one day a week. Something else kept me there, Reed said. She required continuing education. You had to be in school and keep learning. She was an artist Shes very intuitive. Her mission was to find something beautiful about each person and bring that out. Every person has some connection to beauty. Reeds first house after moving to the Cape was near the Community of Jesus, which held another surprise. The Tapestry Dance Company was over there, she said. I was amazed that in this little tiny town there was a dance company affiliated with Paul Taylor, having Paul Taylor dancers come and set dances on them I got invited to do choreography and improvisational workshops for them. When Reed asked why the Community devoted such attention to the arts, she was told it was basic to the celebration of their religious values. They have an obligation to create beauty in the world. (They) may call it the presence of the Holy Ghost. I can look at it secularly. We both knew beauty when we saw it. That perspective has guided her service on the planning board. Ken McKusick set the tone as the godfather, she said. Steve Bornemeier, Chet, all the guys on the board set this tone: Lets rethink. Lets look at what we have and build on the cool stuff. We value what we have, but the world is changing around us. Lets identify what we have and leverage it. She said the town is fortunate to have some really smart department managers, and cites Director of Planning and Community Development George Meserveys work in obtaining a state grant for the majority of funds for the Main Street redesign. The chamber of commerce refers to it as a beautification effort. Reed is pleased with the lighting enhancements that are promised. Were championing pedestrians, people riding bikes, she said. The idea is to encourage use of the village center by making sure its safe and beautiful. As a cancer survivor, Reed said, shes very mindful of how much time I have left and how I want to spend it. That time may include learning more about the complex choreography of being a select board member, with the goal of pulling the community together. Lets steer in the right direction, she said, with everyone in the boat or at least as many as want to be in the boat. 15.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Adam DiSabato told the Ohio House that Rep. Jim Jordan knew about the OSU wrestling sexual abuse and begged him to lie about it. Cleveland.com reported: Adam DiSabato, a former captain of the OSU wrestling team during the late 80s and early 90s, told members of the House Civil Justice Committee that Jordan and other team officials knew about open-shower team facilities that facilitated sexual harassment and abuse of team wrestlers, an allegation Jordan has denied. He also said Jordan called him repeatedly in July 2018, after media outlets quoted his brother, Michael DiSabato, saying Strauss abuse was common knowledge to those surrounding the wrestling program, including Jordan. Jim Jordan called me crying, groveling begging me to go against my brotherThats the kind of cover-up thats going on there, he said. The Gym Jordan Ohio State sex abuse scandal is not going away, and it is not a coincidence that Jordans name came up again in testimony before the state legislature. Rep. Jordan has lied on a consistent basis about his knowledge of, and role in the cover-up. Jordans political career is living on borrowed time, which is why he has cozied himself up to Donald Trump. People who embrace Trump reveal their lack of character. Jim Jordan knew that wrestlers were being abused, and he is trying to save his political career by urging them to lie. A criminal president has found the perfect criminal surrogate in Jim Jordan. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Driver Brett Miller placed himself in some rare company by surpassing the $90 million mark in purse earnings on Tuesday (Feb. 11) at Miami Valley Raceway. The 46-year-old Miller, who returned to his native Ohio roots at the beginning of 2019 after a decade stint as one of the top drivers on the East Coast, is enjoying another banner season in 2020. Following up on a 518-win campaign in his first year on the Miami Valley, Scioto Downs and Hollywood Dayton circuit, Brett has won 51 times already this year. The cousin of Hall Of Famer David Miller has exceeded $5 million in purse earnings in nine of the last 10 years. is congratulated by Miami Valley Racing Operations Manager Helen Carlo and Race Secretary Gregg Keidel on reaching both the 8,500 wins and $90,000,000 earnings plateaus on Tuesday afternoon. (Conrad photo) Brett Miller is congratulated by Miami Valley Racing Operations Manager Helen Carlo and Race Secretary Gregg Keidel on reaching both the 8,500 wins and $90,000,000 earnings plateaus on Tuesday afternoon. (Conrad photo) Millers landmark score came in a conditioned/claiming event behind Motor City Man, owned by Jeannette Conrad and trained by Greg Henderson. Three races later Brett was back in the winners circle having guided Majestic Player A to victory in the featured $24,000 Open Handicap Trot. Majestic Player A's win by open lengths in 1:53.2 represents the quickest trotting mile of the current meet which began, on Jan. 3. It was the first time that Miller has sat behind the six-year-old gelded son of Majestic Son and he was duly impressed. He looked good on paper, but raced even better than it looked, Miller said. I didnt rush him out of the gate, but when I asked him for go, he had plenty. The new owners have themselves a real nice horse. Walter White set the early pace, hitting the first two timing stations in :28.1 and :57.2 before the winner took charge just prior to the 1:25.1 three-quarter clocking. Jeffrey Fought, Brian Carsey and Casey Myers purchased Majestic Player A from abroad after noticing his 15 victories out of 29 starts Down Under. Walter Haynes Jr. trains Majestic Player A, who surpassed $100,000 in converted U.S. dollars with this score. In other Tuesday matinee action, three divisions of the second leg of the R. J. Brown trotting late closer decided the finalists for a $20,000 championship tilt next week. Winners of the $12,000 splits were The Bombean (Tyler Smith, 1:59.3, $6.00), Mary Mag Delene (Hugh Beatty, 1:58, $6.40) and B Three Seven (Beatty, 1:57.2, $13.40). Others who also qualified for the final are This Man Raps, Ms Toni, LaDolfina, Avalon, DC Mr Dominator and Stone Cold Blue. Pier Hanover and Docs Swan Song are also eligible should any of the top nine money winners in the series fail to enter the final. A pair of final elimination heats in the Survivor Series for $5,000 claiming mares were also contested. Nice Trip, driven by Jason Brewer, captured the first division in 1:54.2 with Allspeedallthetime, steered by Brett Miller, victorious in the other, clocked in 1:55.4. Joining that pair in the $15,000 series championship on Feb. 18 will be Rock The Baby, Over Speeding, Desires Lady, Jetstream Johnnie, Love Love Me Do, American Sweet Pea, Lucky Seven Oflodi and Endeavors Ladyluck. (Miami Valley) The Chinese national, who was quarantined at a hospital here for possible exposure to novel coronavirus and who was discharged on Tuesday, has thanked the authorities for the medical treatment and care. The 31-year-old Chinese man was admitted to the civic-run Naidu Hospital on his arrival in the city on February 7 after he vomited on a Delhi-Pune flight. A civic health official here said that the man from China, an Economics graduate, had come to India for tourism. "His samples sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) tested negative and he was discharged from the hospital on February 11. Before leaving, he thanked the medical staff and said that despite being in a foreign country, he was made to feel at home," a health officer said. "He told us that he was happy with the kind of brotherly treatment he got at the hospital," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PATHANKOT: A major mishap was averted when the Jammu-bound Lohit Express derailed just as it was about to halt at the Pathankot station on Wednesday morning. All passengers are safe. Four trains, including the superfast Vande Bharat Express, were delayed as the track was to be cleared by railway authorities, officials said. The Guwahati-Jammu Tawi Lohit Express had slowed down to 10kmph near the Pathankot station when there was a sudden jolt as the last compartment went off track at 10.36am, eyewitnesses said. Shambu Rai, a passenger, said: Suddenly, we felt a sharp jerk and heard a loud noise. Fortunately, the train was slow and came to a halt. We found that the last compartment had derailed. Had the train been at a speed, it could have been worse. Station superintendent Ashwani Kumar said the authorities were trying to ascertain the reason for the derailment and the priority was to restore traffic. Social Security is arguably one of the most important social programs in our society, and millions rely on its benefits to pay the bills and cover food, living or health care expenses. Despite its necessity, in 1990, the New Mexico Legislature made the grave mistake of passing legislation imposing the states income tax on Social Security benefits. For decades, Americans work diligently in order to provide for themselves and their loved ones, paying taxes and contributing to the Social Security trust fund so that when the time comes for them to retire, they have some financial stability. Due to this tax, that is often not the case in New Mexico. In fact, New Mexico is one of only 13 states that taxes Social Security benefits for mature adults, costing the average recipient nearly $700 a year. Social Security is often the only form of income for many recipients, with the average benefit being about $13,900 a year. So, for approximately 65,000 New Mexico residents whose Social Security benefits are taxed by the state, the essential money they need for medicine, housing, food and caregiving is being taken away. This is not only unacceptable, its unjustifiable. New Mexico currently ranks second-highest in the nation for the percentage of seniors living in poverty. Not only do these struggling mature adults depend on Social Security for income, but so do the nearly 200,000 caregivers in New Mexico who support loved ones. As president and CEO of RetireSafe a non-profit with a mission to educate and advocate on behalf of mature Americans I am inclined to question the reasoning behind taxing the Social Security checks of retirees, the disabled and their dependents because it completely undermines a system designed to lift this population out of poverty. Since the implementation of this tax, New Mexico has experienced significant socio-economic issues that have rippled through the states population. For example, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, 12.2% of residents in New Mexico age 65 and older lived in households at or below 100 percent of the poverty threshold nearly 3% higher than the national average. Furthermore, retirees themselves simply do not support taxing their limited benefits, as they are already facing significant challenges in their retirement years. Recent polling conducted by RetireSafe in Iowa found that for individuals ages 45 to 64, 58 percent say the cost of living is their biggest concern about retirement. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they have gone without medication due to the high cost of prescription drugs, and only a meager 38 percent of respondents feel confident about Social Security. Yet, in the face of these concerns, states like New Mexico continue to impose this type of archaic taxation and put the lives of retirees at stake. If the New Mexico Legislature and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham worked together to repeal this onerous policy, they could create significant benefits for the state. Caregivers could use the additional money for medication, travel expenses to doctor appointments, and nursing services for when they arent around. Not only would the repeal of this tax attract more retirees to the state, but the extra money could be injected straight back into the economies of local communities, spurring further economic stimulation. We can all agree that mature adults should be able to retire comfortably and with dignity. The best way for the state of New Mexico to ensure that is by repealing this grossly unfair tax. This tax puts the lives of tens of thousands of Americans at risk, and aging adults shouldnt have to choose between life-saving medications and whether they can afford their next meal. We encourage the state of New Mexico to listen to constituents and ease the economic burden on seniors during their retirement by repealing the Social Security income tax today. Where the bills stand House Bill 29 (full repeal) and House Bill 77 (exempt the first $24,000 in Social Security benefits from tax) were tabled by the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The committee can vote at any time to revive the bills. Senate Bills 68, 81 and 170 would repeal or reduce the tax on Social Security; each awaits a hearing in the Senate. 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 Pope Francis has not granted a request from the Amazon bishops to allow for the ordination of married deacons to address a shortage of priests in their remote territories. The failure is seen as a blow to the indigenous people of the Amazon region in terms of their access to pastoral care and, in a larger context, as a victory for conservative forces within the Catholic Church who saw any such reform, even on a limited basis, as undermining Church traditions. In his just-published post-Synodal apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia, or Beloved Amazon, the 83-year-old Francis, who was installed as pope in 2013, and whose efforts to modernize the Church and make it more inclusive have been highlighted more through his personal example and writings than institutional reform, addresses other ways to evangelize the remote territories of the Amazon, including for bishops there to encourage missionary vocations to the area. Bishops from nine South American countries had met with Francis in Rome in October and voted at the end of their synod to recommend that the pope allow married deacons to be ordained as priests to allow the indigenous people of the Amazon region, where there is an extreme shortage of Catholic priests, to have more frequent access to the consecration of the Eucharist, a sacrament whose celebration is reserved to priests. Some Catholics in the Amazon region reportedly go months without being able to attend Mass where the Eucharist is consecrated because of the extreme shortage of priests there. The request from the South American bishops was in its intent a request for an exception to the rule of celibacy and not a request for reform within the Church as its parameters were mainly for elderly men of proven character, particularly from indigenous tribes, to be allowed to be ordained as priests. Ordination to the priesthood is reserved to celibate men, though some married Anglican clergy who converted to Catholicism have been allowed to serve as Catholic priests and some other Eastern rites in communion with Rome allow married men to be ordained as priests. Beloved Amazon does not as well reference the Synod on the Amazons discussions of the ordination of women as deacons, something that Francis seemed willing to consider again when he told the October gathering that he would reopen the work of a 2016 commission that he had originally appointed to explore the issue and its history in the Church and whose results he never released. Instead, he said the commission had not reached agreement around the issue. Last month, a book defending priestly celibacy, From the Depths of Our Hearts, was published in France with retired Pope Benedict XVI as co-author. The publication was seen as a direct challenge to Francis and his more liberal-minded papacy, and Benedict subsequently directed that his name be removed from future editions. A man holds a warrior flag during the sixth day of blockade of the CN/VIA train tracks in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in support of Wet'suwet'en's blockade of a natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press via AP) Canadian industries are bracing for potential shutdowns as anti-pipeline blockades continue in Ontario and B.C., grinding railway traffic to a halt in some parts of the country. The rail disruptions have stalled shipments of a range of products, including grain, perishable food and chemicals such as chlorine, and threaten to stop production for some companies if the protests continue. This is more than a rail problem. This is a Canadian economy problem, Ryan Greer, the senior director of transportation policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview. Every day and every hour that it continues puts companies in a difficult position regarding their business decisions and their customers... for us and our members, this is extremely troubling. Canadian National, the countrys largest railway, said it would be forced to shut down significant parts of its network if the blockades are not removed. Canadian Pacific said in a statement that it has also been affected by the blockades and is monitoring the situation closely. Demonstrators set up blockades in British Columbia and Ontario in solidarity with opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project that crosses the traditional territory of the Wetsuweten First Nation in northwestern British Columbia. Transport Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement released Wednesday that the federal government is closely monitoring the protests and has an open line of communication with its provincial counterparts. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right in Canada, but individuals who choose to use this right must do so in accordance with the law, Garneau said. There are active court injunctions in place that were taken by CN to ensure service can resume, and they must be respected. Bob Masterson, the chief executive of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, said in an interview that some companies are just one day away from shutting down operations. Story continues Nothing is moving. At the last count from CN there was well over 200 trains basically stuck on major lines into the Port of Prince Rupert and between Ontario and Quebec, Masterson said. Its a critical situation. The Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission warned on Wednesday that a disruption thats just a few days long will cause a massive backlog with economic losses that are ultimately borne by farmers. Delays will result in farmers being unable to deliver their grain, meaning they cant be paid at least until service resumes, Dave Bishop, the Alberta Barley Chair, said in a statement. We are still recovering from the harvest from hell and need reliable grain movement in order to get back on track. Brendan Marshall, head of economic and northern affairs at the Mining Association of Canada, said some producers are already curtailing production in an effort to prolong operations while the disruptions continue. Olin, a U.S.-based company that produces chlorine and operates a facility in Becancour, Que., said that it may have to curtail or cease all production in Canada if there is no immediate solution to the ongoing rail issues. The Becancour facility serves about 100 customers, half of which are Canadian companies located in the eastern part of the country. According to Olin, about 85 per cent of Canadian municipal drinking water is treated with chlorine or chlorine derivatives. Olin is alarmed by the current freight rail situation in Canada, and we are concerned that customers and municipalities will not receive shipments of vital chemicals, including chlorine, within one week, John Fischer, the companys chief executive, wrote in a letter addressed to Transport Minister Marc Garneau. A disruption of this magnitude will have direct and immediate negative impacts on manufacturers, and untold ripple effects downstream and to the Canadian economy and public health. Across the country, industry groups across Canada are calling on all levels of government and law enforcement to end the blockades and disruptions to rail service. Marshall said the disruptions are just the latest in a series of challenges impacting the countrys reputation of a reliable transport system. CNs potential shut down comes just days after Garneau issued a Ministerial Order requiring the slowdown of trains with 20 or more cars carrying dangerous goods following a derailment of a Canadian Pacific Railway train carrying crude oil in Guernsey, Sask. Last November, a strike at CN saw service disrupted across the country. CN and CP have also grappled with tough winter conditions and strained capacity which, in some cases, has led to a backlog. The reliability of the transportation system is a significant investment determinant, Marshall said. And while some of these challenges are beyond the control of decision makers, some of them arent, and we need to find a way forward where the scale and frequency of these disruptions is reduced. With files from the Canadian Press Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. KAMPALA Hundreds of environmentalists, kids and other stakeholders joined a run in the capital on Sunday in what appeared to be a waking up of Ugandans on Climate Change. Conservationists took part in the Run 4 Climate change geared towards supporting environmental programs in Bududa district spearheaded by Tree Adoption Uganda. Matters concerning the climate are are very pertinent and this is why some parts of the country including Bundibugyo, Kasese, Kampala received disastrous floods recently. Mr. Stuart Manigaruha, the director plantations development at National Forest Authority lauded Tree Adoption Uganda for its exceptional work of engaging communities in Nakasongola, Nakaseke, Luwero and being able to monitor and take care of the trees. He further encouraged the youths to more plant trees so that they can enjoy the best resources like their ancestors did. Dr. Charles Batte, the Founder and CEO of Tree Adoption Uganda thanked the partipants for taking part in the inaugural Run 4 Climate and being ambassadors of change. Batte revealed that they are going to plant over 30, 000 trees spread throught the year with the help of the locals and the affected parties. Mr. Samson Natsambwa, the deputy Chief Administrator Officer The efforts that you have put are not wasted , I left the village at 1: 00am in the morning from a function were I was a bestman but I had to make it regardless of the situation available. He promised to bring more leaders and stakeholder on board next year. Relatedly, the 5.5Km run was flagged of by Vanessa Nakate a prominent activist who also later joined the run and was seen running behind the rally ace Ponsiano Lwakataka who took part in the noble cause. Related Subscriber content preview Over the past few decades, most companies have given religion less attention in their diversity/inclusion programs than other categories, such as race or sexual orientation. By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer NEW YORK It has become standard practice for U.S. corporations to assure employees of support regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation. There's now an intensifying push to ensure that companies are similarly supportive and inclusive when it comes to employees' religious beliefs. One barometer: More than 20% of the Fortune 100 have established faith-based employee resource groups, according to an AP examination and there's a high-powered conference taking place this week in Washington aimed at expanding those ranks. . . . Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi broke down in a Delhi court Wednesday requesting a fresh date to execute the four death row convicts for the gang rape and murder of her daughter and later sat on a protest outside the court premises. IMAGE: Nirbhaya's mother broke down in tears after the court delayed the hanging of the four convicts in the December 2012 gang rape of her daughter. Photograph: ANI Photo "I too have some rights," she said to the judge after the court offered a lawyer to one of the four convicts -- Pawan Gupta -- from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), after his father said he had no lawyer to represent him at the time. Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana consoled her saying, "Every lawyer here, this entire proceeding, is for giving you the justice." Nirbhaya's father, who was also present in the courtroom, added that giving a lawyer to Pawan at this stage was an injustice to the parents. "Law has given them (convicts) right and not letting them avail that too will be an injustice," the judge replied. After the court's hearing, Devi joined a protest being held by women rights activist Yogita Bhayana outside the Patiala House Courts premises over the delay in hanging of the four convicts. "There is no appeal pending in any court in the country... I appeal to the Supreme Court to issue the death warrant as this court (trial) is in no mood to issue one," Devi said while talking to media, adding that she was 'losing hope'. While raising slogans for hanging of the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh, 32, Pawan Gupta, 25, Vinay Kumar Sharma, 26, and Akshay Kumar, 31 -- Devi said: "We are waiting for justice. I assure rape victims that they will also get justice. But today I myself have lost hope." Bhayana said, "The people of this country are losing hope with every passing day. When will convicts be hanged?" The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), 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. FLINT, MI -- A former UAW executive who started his career working at a General Motors plant in Flint used more than $1.5 million in bribes and kickbacks to purchase property, houses and cosmetic surgery for a relative, federal prosecutors say in a new sentencing memorandum. The filing in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, Feb. 11, details what prosecutors describe as Michael Grimes pay-to-play scheme, requiring vendors to provide kickbacks, but also recognizes his prompt agreement to accept responsibility for his actions and his significant cooperation" in the continuing United Auto Workers corruption scandal. Grimes pleaded guilty in September to stealing from fellow union members through kickbacks from vendors over a period of nearly 12 years as he rose through the UAWs ranks. The formal charges he agreed to were conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Although sentencing guidelines call for him to serve from 46 to 57 months in prison as a result, the government is recommending U.S. District Judge Bernard A. Friedman sentence him next week to just 24 months in light of Grimes significant cooperation." Norwood Jewell, another UAW official with Flint roots, also pleaded guilty to a criminal charge for his role in the UAW- Fiat Chrysler bribery scheme. Jewell pleaded guilty 10 months ago to a count of conspiracy to violate the Labor Management Relations Act and was sentenced to 15 months in a minimum security federal prison camp in Wisconsin. Its not known yet where Grimes, who started working for GM in Flint in 1972, will serve whatever sentence he receives. He was elected shop chairman at UAW Local 659 in 1987 and re-elected in 1990. In 1992, he was moved up to the UAW International Unions sourcing committee, which evaluated GMs use of outside companies and proposed ways to bring work back into the corporation. Prior to that promotion, Grimes was a former bargaining chairman at the old AC Rochester Flint West plant. In August 1990, he led a strike there that started one month before the expiration of the UAWs national agreement with GM. MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach his attorney, Mike Manley, for comment on the governments sentencing memorandum Tuesday. Grimes himself told Friedman in September that he began taking kickback from vendors after getting into a financial burden. The sentencing memo says the bribes came from vendors who received massive orders of UAW-branded merchandise including watches and jackets. After contracts were signed with vendors, they wrote checks to Grimes, including a $10,000 payment to pay for a cosmetic procedure for Grimes relative," the memo says. In another case, Grimes used a vendors $530,000 cashiers check toward a $630,000 house in the Fenton area. Federal agents executed a search warrant at Grimes residence in Florida in March 2019, and he quickly agreed to cooperate with the broader UAW corruption investigation. The sentencing memo says Grimes was the instigator of the crimes he was accused of but appears genuinely remorseful for the crimes he committed and regrets the pain he has inflicted on the UAW membership, his coworkers and his family. European markets closed higher Wednesday as traders monitored corporate earnings and the spread of the new coronavirus. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed provisionally up 0.6%, hitting a record high as most sectors and major bourses were in positive territory. Autos shares soared 3.8% to lead gains while utilities bucked the upward trend to fall 0.4%. China's National Health Commission reported 2,015 new cases of coronavirus and 97 deaths across the mainland on Wednesday. The outbreak, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has killed 1,113 people in the country, has led to the shutting down of factories, businesses and transportation in China. On Wall Street, stocks rose with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up over 180 points while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes were also in the green. Back in Europe, euro zone manufacturing output plunged more than expected in December, falling 2.1% month-on-month against the expected 1.6% slide, according to Eurostat. In corporate news, Heineken's CEO will step down on June 1. Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, who has held the chief executive position for 15 years, will be replaced by the head of the company's Asia-Pacific region. The announcement came ahead of the company's full year earnings report on Wednesday. The world's second-largest beer maker projected operating profit in 2020 to grow by a mid-single digit percentage after 2019 earnings came in level with expectations. Heineken stock jumped 5%. Harris County District Attorney Kim Oggs campaign on Tuesday criticized the Houston Police Officers Union president for a blog post soliciting donations to a political action committee with the goal of the prosecutors re-election defeat. Ogg told union President Joe Gamaldi in a news release to get with the program of keeping residents safe. And she called his post, written for a Febuary 2020 issue of the HPOU publication Badge & Gun, a misguided attempt to get contributions via inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech. I ask Mr. Gamaldi to work along with us, Ogg said. Instead, he is trying to raise money and play election-year politics while being paid for working as a police officer. His efforts to undermine the District Attorneys office, which is the peoples law firm in criminal court, does not make anyone safer. Evidence-based prosecution is the way to build community trust in law enforcement. Gamaldi responded to the press release on Twitter, criticizing Oggs supposed definition of hate speech and alleging as he did in his blog that she lets violent criminals off with easy sentences. According to DA,when pointing out her countless failures, it equals hate speech, he tweeted. He also challenged her to a debate. She should be much more concerned about the implosion of her office than what the union president has to say about her failures, Gamaldi said in a phone call. In her press statement attacking Gamaldis statements about her, Ogg said she considers law enforcement a partner in her fight to make Harris County safer. The unions blog post referenced Ogg and her management team as nothing short of a train wreck. He titled the article, Kim Ogg must go! Here are the early stages of our coordinated Plan to defeat the most criminal-happy district attorney in history. They have completely dismantled a once-proud office and contributed to a revolving-door justice system that reduces the safety of our officers, the community, and erodes the faith of the public in our criminal justice system, he wrote. Gamaldi said the union has already begun running targeted digital ads against Ogg and several judges, under the title Harris County Deserves Better. The union this month endorsed its legal counsel, Mary Nan Huffman, in the Republican district attorney primary. It endorsed Todd Overstreet, a long-time criminal defense attorney, in the Democratic primary. Ogg and Overstreet are running against former prosecutors Carvana Cloud and Audia Jones in the March 3 election. Huffman will oppose former prosecutor Lori DeAngelo and defense attorney Lloyd Wayne Oliver. samantha.ketterer@chron.com PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance, the honorable Ardwell Irion, opened the 2020 Tax Summit hosted by the Finance Ministry last Wednesday, February 5th. In attendance were representatives of the tax administration, the receiver office, section business taxes, financial policy management & control, the treasury, ICT department, fiscal affairs, the finance department, the cabinet of the minister of finance, the World Bank and CARTAC (the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre) The minister expressed his appreciation to the key players in the financial arena for attending, especially those representing The World Bank and CARTAC, who traveled to St. Maarten. The minister emphasized the importance of the internal specialists who will have to carry us further with the results of this summit. We are fortunate to be able to bring together all these distinct experts in such a short time, said minister Irion. I trust that you will contribute to, as we reflect on, the existing plans and understand the situation we are in. We aim to find a sustainable solution for the challenges that we face and I am convinced that we have the best team to give direction to reaching our objectives. Addressing the three principal topics, public financial management, the tax organization and fiscal reform, the small group of experts jointly assessed the current situation and established the steps necessary to improve all three areas, which effect public finances and the customers otherwise referred to as the taxpayers. The desired outcome is: to be a modern functioning tax administration with a sound legislative foundation, operating autonomously with individual organizational planning, budget management and human resource management. And to obtaining sufficient skilled and qualified human resource with the aim of eventually operating a paperless organization. As for the tax regime, it was confirmed that since 2015 legislation was being drafted with the aim to simplify the tax system, maximize revenue and to create an attractive investment climate. Notwithstanding the numerous changes in government, which has contributed to the delay, the principles of the tax reform have remained the same. Final calculations of the proposed amendments, for which reliable data is required in order to move forward, are still pending. The relationship established with CARTAC is one of the IMF Regional Technical Assistance Centers (RTAC) located around the world in the Pacific, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, India and Central America. These Centers were created to assist countries to strengthen their human and institutional capacity to design and implement sound macroeconomic policies that promote growth and reduce poverty. CARTAC is already rendering results at an affordable annual cost of US$ 150.000, compared to millions that consultants would cost. Additionally CARTACs approach of support is to assist and share the knowledge in order for the recipient, in this case St. Maartens civil servants, to learn and carry out the improvements themselves. Projects such as cleaning up the data and reporting are such exercises that are to commence within the next two months. Short-term, medium and long-term goals, not exceeding three years, were established to commence in March of this year of which several will run simultaneously. While many more details were discussed, assistance relating to data analysis is expected from the World Bank in the short term. Important aspects required for success is to ensure that all who are required to contribute to the treasury do so. In light of this, the tax reform will also aim at capturing the informal sector. Former Temple University fraternity president Ari Goldstein, center, arrives at the Stout Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia for the start of his rape trial on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. Read more Ari Goldstein invited the 21-year-old woman up to his room at the Temple University fraternity house, the end to a night of partying at Alpha Epsilon Pi. The two had met before, the woman testified Wednesday, and theyd had sex before as well. On this night, in November 2017, she and Goldstein then the fraternitys president began having sex again. But this time, the woman said, she asked him to stop when he shoved his hand into her mouth and held his arm down against her chest. And after he did, she said, Goldstein forced her to perform oral sex on him, holding her head as she said she cried and told him no. The accusations by the woman, now 23, marked the beginning of Goldsteins sexual-assault trial Wednesday. Goldstein, now 22, is charged with forcing himself on two women on separate occasions inside his room at the fraternity house the encounter with the woman who testified Wednesday morning, and another incident in February 2018 in which he allegedly attempted to assault a freshman. The Inquirer does not identify sexual-assault victims without their permission. Assistant District Attorney Zachary Wynkoop said in his opening statement that the case centered on Goldsteins refusal to listen when women declined his sexual advances. What this case is really going to boil down to is one word, two letters: No, Wynkoop said. Goldsteins attorney, Perry de Marco Sr., described the criminal allegations as sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll gone wild, contending that much of the behavior expected to be described during the trial is routine on college campuses. The women accusing Goldstein of crimes, de Marco said, are simply confused, contending that situations can be clouded because a woman can dress like a hussy, dance with men, take drugs with them, and lead them on. We have no idea, in todays world in sexual matters, what is right and what is wrong, de Marco said, adding: If you dont want to get burnt, dont stick your foot in the fire. Temple suspended Goldsteins fraternity in April 2018, after one of his accusers reported her allegations to police. The woman who took the stand Wednesday morning said she did not report her encounter to authorities until after the other womans allegation had been publicized on the news. She testified that in the initial aftermath of her alleged assault by Goldstein, she described his behavior to her friends, but didnt want to become involved in a prolonged legal process. I kind of just wanted the whole situation forgotten, she said. Testimony was expected to continue throughout the week. (Newser) Nissan filed a civil suit Wednesday seeking $91 million in damages from the Japanese automaker's former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, reports the AP. Nissan Motor Co. filed the case in Yokohama District Court to recoup some of the monetary damages suffered, it said, as a result of years of misconduct and fraudulent activity" by Ghosn. The claim was calculated by adding the costs from what Nissan called Ghosn's corrupt practices, such as rent for overseas property, use of corporate jets, and payments to Ghosn's sister, as well as costs for the internal investigation into Ghosn's alleged wrongdoings. Ghosn's representatives said in a statement they couldn't comment as they had yet to see the legal documents. Nissan's maneuvers continue, they said, while noting Nissan had claimed larger damages before. story continues below Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades and saved it from near-bankruptcy, was arrested in Japan in November 2018, and charged with underreporting his future compensation and breach of trust in diverting Nissan money for personal gain. He was awaiting trial but skipped bail and showed up in Lebanon late last year. Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon, and he's unlikely to be arrested. A date had not been set for his trial, and Ghosn has said he was worried his ordeal would never end. Bail conditions also barred him from seeing his wife. He has repeatedly lashed out at Japan's judicial system, where the conviction rate is higher than 99%. Japanese authorities recently issued an arrest warrant for Ghosn and three Americans, accused of helping his escape. Separately, they issued an arrest warrant for Ghosn's wife on suspicion of perjury. Wednesday's lawsuit comes on top of the civil case Nissan filed against Ghosn in the British Virgin Islands in August last year. It alleged unauthorized payments, sought to regain a luxury yacht, and pursued other damages. (Read more Carlos Ghosn stories.) Effective February 1, 2020. Cherokee County Administrator Steve Bratton finalized a three-year contract that gives the county round-the-clock maintenance for a fleet of 220+ modes of transportation and equipment. A team of EVT and ASE certified technicians will provide efficient year-round mobility, maintenance, and maximum fleet availability for the county vehicles, including waste trucks, tractor-trailers, emergency vehicles, and county equipment. Many years of fleet management experience allowed Vector Fleet Management to develop and implement innovative cost reduction strategies that bring down the costs of fleet maintenance and fleet management through preventative measures. These cost-effective programs will exceed Cherokee Countys fleet maintenance requirements while complying with OEM regulations. Fleet maintenance services include: Using a Fleet Management Information System, or an FMIS, to schedule and monitor preventative maintenance. Cherokee Countys fleet operation will increase extending reliability and unit life expectancy. Utilizing an innovative preventative maintenance checklist developed over the last 10 years that identifies new and existing issues. Improving Cherokee County department services by encouraging engagement, developing relationships, and creating collaborations, to support agreed-upon goals with Cherokee County. Maintaining community support by continued use of local vendors for fast-moving products such as pads, brake, tires, rotors, and filters. Negotiating agreements with major suppliers that cut overhead costs. Inventory reports identify out-of-date components, pull them from the inventory list, then return for a refund prior to a customer purchase. This method also frees up valuable part room real estate and increases efficiency. A comprehensive customer feedback system identifies ways that Vector Fleet Management can improve, including modifying an existing process to work faster, identifying and awarding outstanding employees, and identifying employees not living up to company standards. All suggestions are reviewed and resolved to mitigate further issues. Regular site visits, with and without notice from corporate representatives as a quality control measure and to identify customer service issues. Routine meetings between Vector Fleet Management, Cherokee County managers, department heads, and purchasing directors to review goal achievement and note any budget matters, operational adjustments, and unspecified program objectives changes by Cherokee County. Vector Fleet Management looks forward to providing exceptional fleet availability for Cherokee County while lowering costs. About Vector Fleet Management A dedicated fleet maintenance service provider with corporate offices based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Vector Fleet Management is involved with industries ranging from government fleet maintenance (including county and municipal levels) and commercial fleet maintenance (including construction and mining) to utilities/communication, food service/beverage, energy and transportation, even offering custom programs. Additionally, the company is proud to be U.S. owned and operated, and has been a trusted partner for contract fleet maintenance since 1988. Vector Fleet Management continues to invest in its employees, tooling, systems, diagnostics and additional products. With modern diagnostic equipment and its Fleet Management Information System and expertise with several other FMIS platforms, the company is able to provide customers with competencies that save time and money, with commitments governed by Performance Thresholds accountability metrics which ensure the highest level of service excellence. Vector Fleet Management corporate offices are located at 9300 Harris Corners Parkway Suite 350 in Charlotte and can be reached by calling (704) 912-0377. For more information visit http://www.VectorFleet.com. Iraq has slipped into an unofficial civil war between pro and anti-Iran factions. Iran has used force against anti-Iran protesters, and is responsible for most of the 550 protesters killed since the protests began in October 2019. These deaths have exceeded the casualties caused by Islamic terrorists. Half the deaths have been in Baghdad and Iraqis know Iran is a big fan of shooting protesters. In the same time period over a thousand protesters in Iran were killed. The Iraqi government is in chaos because the parliament contains a mix of pro and anti-Iran members plus a lot of members who are pro-Iran only because they are being bribed or intimidated by Iran. The parliament has called for the departure of all American troops but only the prime minister can approve that, and make it law and at the moment there is only an interim prime minister because parliament is deadlocked in selecting a new prime minister. The stalemate is influenced by Iranian pressure but the major disputes are about corruption and who gets to control the most lucrative (for thieves) ministries. The January 3rd American UAV missile attack that killed Quds Force supreme commander Qassem Soleimani had a considerable and continuing effect on Iraqi politics. Soleimani was the Iranian most responsible for years of attacks on the Americans and the deaths of hundreds of American troops. He was also responsible for the deaths of even more Iraqis, including many Shia who opposed Iranian influence in Iraq. The missile attack that killed Soleimani also eliminated several key Iraqi militia leaders that supported Iran. Removing Soleimani encouraged anti-Iran protestors who were continuing their efforts to reduce corruption and get some more honest and effective politicians into leadership jobs. Since Soleimani was killed Iran has been trying to use Iraqi nationalism against the American presence as a way to expand Iranian power in Iraq. So far its been more smoke than fire. Iraqi politicians are not eager to back anything Iran wants because months of anti-Iran protests made it clear that Iran did not have as much popular support as they thought. Much of the Iranian support was induced by fear of retribution by the notoriously ruthless Iran backed PMF militias. Iran sees those militias as a key ally in Iraq but is having a growing problem with militiamen losing faith in the pro-Iran cause. Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr became another casualty of the Iranian campaign to control the Iraqi government. Sadr misinterpreted the popular reactions, which suddenly acquired a more anti-American element. This, Sadr discovered, had been created by Iran ordering its Iraqi supporter to push the anti-American line big time. There were still anti-Iran and anti-corruption protests but local and foreign media concentrated on the new anti-American angle. Sadr ordered his armed supporters to use force to suppress anti-government protestors. The reaction to that was much more anti-Sadr than he expected. Suddenly Sadr was tagged as just another opportunistic, pro-Iran Iraqi leader. Sadr had guessed and wrong and, even though he remained hostile to Iranian influence in Iraq, he was an opportunistic Iraqi politician who was willing to kill Iraqi Shia if he thought it would increase his power. The U.S. is ignoring any Iraqi government orders to leave and making plans to move more operations to the autonomous Kurdish north just in case. The Kurds are OK with this because the Arab dominated Iraqi government wants the Kurds to be less autonomous and the Kurds oppose that because the autonomy has turned the Kurdish north into the safest and most prosperous part of the country. This angers many Iraqi Arabs. The American move was being planned before the latest crises (anti-Iran protests and more Iran-backed violence) simply because the Kurds are more reliable and effective than the Iraqi Arabs. The Hezbollah Connection With some Israeli assistance, by way of carefully monitoring what goes in Lebanon and with Hezbollah for decades, the Americans are now concentrating on what Hezbollah is up to in Iraq. There has long been some Hezbollah activity and influence in Iraq. Despite that, few Iraqi Shia saw the need to follow the Hezbollah example and establish a private army to intimidate the government to favor the Shia. In Lebanon, the Shia were a minority while in Iraq they are the majority and have controlled the government since the last Sunni dictatorship was eliminated, along with Saddam Hussein, in 2003. General Soleimani was the Iranian responsible for looking after pro-Iran paramilitaries throughout the region and Hezbollah was considered the crown jewel of that collection. For the last decade, Soleimani spent most of his time in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq cultivating and expanding these Iran-backed militias. One of Soleimanis greatest achievements was the creation of a multi-national Shia mercenary force in Syria after 2012 to protect the Assad forces from the rebels. This largely Afghan force was much reduced in size during the last few years because the rebels were defeated and Iran was having cash flow problems because of renewed American sanctions. Iranian leaders saw their favorite general (Soleimani) as the best hope for figuring out how to strike back against Americans and Israelis who, for decades, have been used by Iranian leaders as the scapegoats for any and all problems that Iran might encounter. These accusations were never true and now the majority of Iranians realize that and are angry at their corrupt and inefficient government for the deception, as well as squandering Iranian wealth for so long. Soleimani was supposed to win some spectacular victories against Israel and America and thus justify all the band behavior by Iranian religious leaders/rulers. With the loss of Soleimani, the Iranian leaderships are even more desperate and likely to do something spectacularly stupid and destructive. The Other Problem The main problem in Iraq is corruption, the extent of this corruption can be seen in the international surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. In 2019 Afghanistan ranked 162nd out of 180 nations in international rankings compared with 168 in 2018. Corruption is measured annually in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. Corruption is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually Yemen/15, Syria/13, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/9) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (Finland, New Zealand and Denmark) are over 85. The current Iraq score is 20 (versus 16 in 2018) compared to 71 (71) for the UAE (United Arab Emirates), 60 (64) for Israel, 69 (75) for the United States, 26 (27) for Nigeria, 44 (43) for South Africa, 16 (16) for Afghanistan, 39 (40) for Turkey, 53 (49) for Saudi Arabia, 14 (16) for Yemen, 30 (30) for Ukraine, 45 (44) for Belarus, 58 (60) for Poland, 80 (81) Germany, 65 (61) for Taiwan, 39 (40) for Turkey, 41 (40) for India, 28 (28) for Russia, 57 (54) for South Korea, 41 (39) for China, 14 (17) for North Korea, 37 (35) for Vietnam, 85 (84) for Singapore, 73 (73) for Japan, 40 (37) for Indonesia, 38 (38) for Sri Lanka, 29 (33) for the Maldives, 34 (34) for the Philippines, 32 (32) for Pakistan, 26 (28) for Bangladesh, 26 (30) for Iran, 29 (30) for Burma, and 28 (28) for Lebanon. Iraqs corruption score has changed for the better since 2012 when it was 18. February 11, 2020: Its been eleven months since ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) declared its caliphate (c0nquered lands) was temporarily gone but ISIL was still around and members were ordered to switch to guerilla warfare. The caliphate was gone in Iraq by late 2017 but required another 16 months to destroy the Syria portion. February 10, 2020: In the north (Mosul), police arrested a wanted ISIL commander. There are dozens of ISIL officials like this who are well known to the police in Iraq and Syria, have rewards offered for their arrest or death, and are running out of places to hide. Further south, outside Baghdad, an Iran-backed militia took credit for a roadside bomb attack on an American supply convoy for one of the American bases. The bomb damaged one vehicle and caused no casualties. February 8, 2020: The U.S. confirmed rumors that the U.S. and Israel had formally agreed to coordinate anti-Iran efforts. Israel is concentrating on Lebanon and Syria while the Americans concentrate on Iraq while still maintaining a presence in Kurdish controlled northeast Syria. It had always been pretty obvious that the U.S. and Israel were cooperating is blocking Iranian efforts to build a land-bridge from Iran to Lebanon. That required Iran to get past American efforts in Iraq and eastern Syria to block Iranian road access to Syria and Lebanon. In Iraq, Shia religious leader Muqtada al Sadr ordered his militias to withdraw from battles with anti-Iran and protestors. For two days the Sadr militiamen had been using lethal force against the protestors. That backfired because the protestors did not back off, they just got angrier and now they were accusing Sadr of being no better than other corrupt politicians. February 6, 2020: Iraq has so far refused American requests to bring in Patriot air defense batteries to protect American bases from additional Iranian ballistic missile attacks. Iraqi officials believe the delays are not at the request of Iran but an effort to obtain a bribe to expedite the paperwork. This is a lucrative source of corrupt money for government officials, even if delaying approval causes serious harm to Iraqis or the economy. This has actually happened regularly in the past. The Americans want the Patriot battery to protect key installations from Iranian ballistic missile attack. January 31, 2020: In the north (south of Mosul), someone fired five rockets at the Qayyarah airbase, which is used by American and Iraqi forces. There were no casualties. The Americans have systems that can track where rockets came from and went looking for whoever fired them. The lost likely suspects are ISIL or an Iran-backed militia. January 30, 2020: The plight of ISIL in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere is one reason why global Islamic terrorism-related deaths have fallen by over 50 percent since 2014 when there were 35,000 fatalities. The decline was largely attributable to one Islamic terror group in particular, ISIL that suffered major setbacks in the last few years. As a result global terrorism deaths fell to 19,000 by 2017, less than 16,000 for 2018 and the decline continued into 2019. This activity is most visible in the GTI (Global Terrorism Index), which counts all forms of terrorism. But Islamic terrorism is the main cause and for years ISIL was the deadliest practitioner. That led to a curious situation in Egypt which in 2018 dropped out of the top ten as they suppressed most of the ISIL activity in Sinai. In 2017 Egypt was number three but now it is at eleven. The top ten consists of Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, India, Yemen, Philippines, and Congo. India, Philippines, Yemen and Congo all have Islamic terrorism accounting for a minority of the deaths. Somalia is one of the areas where there have been fewer deaths in the last few years. Al Shabaab has learned that the most profitable approach is to carry out fewer dramatic, high visibility attacks and otherwise conserve your manpower and resources. Thus the emphasis on spectacular attacks in major cities like Mogadishu or against an American military base. January 26, 2020: In Baghdad, Iran-backed Shia militiamen again fired rockets into the Green Zone in an effort to hit the American embassy. January 21, 2020: Russia revealed that it had moved one of its own S-400 batteries to eastern Syrias Hasaka province. The battery is stationed outside the border city of Qamishli, which is controlled by Kurds but also has Syrian troops present to prevent an attack by the Turks. This S-400 battery is now 100 kilometers from the Iraq border and the S-400 search radar has a range of 600 kilometers, meaning it now covers most of the Iraqi border with Syria. Russia also claims that it tracked six American F-35s flying along the Iran-Iraq border on the 7th. This was when Iran fired 16 ballistic missiles at American bases in Iraq. The U.S. had no comment on the F-35s. January 16, 2020: In the west (Anbar province), a car bomb went off on the Saudi border, killing one policeman and wounding five others. This is the first such attack on the Saudi border in two years. The bomb was believed to be the work of Iran-backed PMF militias operating in the area. Saudi Arabia wants American forces to remain in Iraq, something Iran does not agree with. January 15, 2020: In the north (Nineveh province), Turkish F-16s bombed the base of a pro-PKK (Turkish separatist Kurds) Yazidi (Kurdish) militia, killing four people, including civilians, and wounding more, January 14, 2020: In Iraq, two rockets hit the Camp Taji, a joint Iraqi-American military base outside Baghdad. The rockets caused no injuries and it was believed Iran backed PMF militiamen were responsible. January 13, 2020: In the west (the Syria border), ISIL launched two attacks on border crossings in the past two days. One attack failed the other succeeded and killed one soldier and wounded four. In both operations, all the attackers died. January 11, 2020: In the south (Karbala), a senior Iran-backed PMF commander was shot dead, along with several associates by several unidentified gunmen. Such killings are more and more common in Iraq. January 9, 2020: In the west (Anbar province), there was another Israeli airstrike against Iranian weapons being stored near the Al Bukamal crossing into Iraq from Deir Ezzor province. There were eight deaths, all of them pro-Iran militiamen. Congress Delhi in-charge P. C. Chacko tendered his resignation from his post on Wednesday to party interim President Sonia Gandhi. The resignation comes a day after the party's dismal performance in the Delhi Assembly polls in which it scored a zero. This is the second resignation in the party following its complete rout in the Assembly poll. On Tuesday evening, party State chief Subhash Chopra quit after owning the defeat. He said that he could not do much for the party, and hence was leaving the post. This is not the first time that Chacko has offered his resignation from the Delhi in-charge post. Last year also he had put in his papers, but was asked to stay on till the elections. After Tuesday's poor showing, the rift within the party is now out in the open with the first salvo coming from Sharmistha Mukherji on Twitter, who said "we should shut shop" while attacking former union minister P. Chidambaram after he expressed happiness about the BJP's dismal show in the Delhi Assembly elections. The Congress, which ruled the state for 15 years, could not perform well in the elections, and the local leaders were quick to put the blame on the central leaders. MDC 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 [February 12, 2020] K2 Intelligence Financial Integrity Network Double Down on Cross-Border Deal Compliance Solutions with CFIUS Advisory Services NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- K2 Intelligence and Financial Integrity Network (FIN) today launched CFIUS Advisory Services, the first significant offering by the combined entity since merging in September 2019. This offering will be dedicated to helping a broad range of dealmakers with investments, mergers, and acquisitions that implicate the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and foreign investment review mechanisms outside of the United States. With CFIUS Advisory Services, K2 Intelligence and FIN will assist a broad range of clients including law firms, private equity and other institutional investors, financial institutions, strategic acquirers, sellers, and acquisition targets with respect to matters falling within the scope of CFIUS, particularly as investors and acquisition targets seek to navigate the new regulations promulgated by CFIUS to implement the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA). The K2 Intelligence and FIN teams are experts in the CFIUS process and related U.S. regulations as well as the existing or developing national security review regimes in other countries, including the UK, Germany, Canada, and Australia. These new services build on the deep, industry-leading expertise within the combined firm to help clients manage financial and economic security risks. "In an increasingly global business and investment world, complying with regulation is not a new challenge, but one that is becoming more complex," said Robert Brenner, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer of K2 Intelligence. "As CFIUS and FIRRMA bring national security to the forefront of investment decisions, entities will need a fresh set of eyes to examine transactions both large and small. Our deep investigative acumen and independent fact-finding, coupled with professionals who helped shape these rules in government, will help clients across industries and sectors identify, mitigate, and monitor risks, encouraging more successful outcomes across the board." K2 Intelligence and FIN professionals will assist clients in all phases of the CFIUS review process, including transaction assessment, mitigation and remediation, and monitoring and compliance. The new practice will work closely with the firm's interdisciplinary team of experts made up of former U.S. government officials including those from key CFIUS agencies such as the Department of the Treasury, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Commerce; policy and decision-making bodies at the White House such as the National Security Council and National Economic Council; and former regulators, law enforcement and intelligence professionals, prosecutors and attorneys in private practice, compliance officers, technology experts, forensic accountants, and cybersecurity experts. The team has extensive experience assessing and mitigating risks stemming from a broad range of investment transactions involving defense, technology, artificial intelligence, energy, and other sectors. "As national economic security concerns create more demands on investment and financial transparency, there is a premium on the ability of investors, banks, and commercial actors to understand and assess the security implications of their investments and to manage that risk proactively," said Juan Zarate, Co-Founder and Chairman of FIN. "The emphasis placed on foreign investment reviews and CFIUS demonstrates how national security has become a critical part of the global business ecosystem. As rules, regulations, and risks change over time, organizations can rest assured that there are dedicated professionals in our firm who can manage the complex policy, regulatory, and enforcement environment unfolding. We are excited to launch our CFIUS Advisory Services to help guide our clients through the challenges to come and to keep them ahead of the curve." Read more about K2 Intelligence and FIN's CFIUS Advisory Services. About K2 Intelligence Financial Integrity Network (FIN) K2 Intelligence is an industry-leading investigative, compliance, and cyber defense services firm founded in 2009 by Jeremy M. Kroll and Jules B. Kroll, who is credited with originating the modern corporate investigations industry. Redefining 21st-century corporate intelligence, the firm combines subject-matter expertise with cutting-edge technology, bringing to bear the industry's best multidisciplinary teams to solve its clients' most difficult problems. With offices in New York, London, Washington, DC, Madrid, Geneva, Los Angeles, and Chicago, K2 Intelligence advises governments, companies, boards, and individuals in business areas including investigations and disputes, regulatory compliance, cyber defense, construction and real estate, strategic risk and security, and private client services. With the addition of Financial Integrity Network (FIN) in 2019, the firm assists financial institutions, sectoral clients, and governments with strategic advisory, policy, controls, and training to protect against the full range of illicit financing threats. For more information, visit www.k2intelligence.com or www.finintegrity.com. CONTACT: Paula Zirinsky Global Chief Marketing Officer [email protected] Lindsay Sweeney Media Relations Manager [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/k2-intelligence-financial-integrity-network-double-down-on-cross-border-deal-compliance-solutions-with-cfius-advisory-services-301003399.html SOURCE K2 Intelligence [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Three accused have been arrested on Wednesday in connection with alleged gang rape and murder of a six-year-old girl whose body was found in a pit here. The minor was found dead in Mahubana under Ramgarh police station of Dumka on February 7. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Animesh Naithani said, "We have arrested three people. One was arrested in Mumbai and was brought here on transit remand. Two others were also arrested. They have accepted the crime." "Cases have been registered against them under rape, POCSO act, and murder section. Action will is also be taken against them for hiding evidence," he said. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hunt to find patients who came into contacted with infected GPs Worthing Hospital staff member confirmed to have coronavirus A&E worker is one of eight confirmed cases in UK so far Chinese Grand Prix postponed Two prisoners at HMP Bullingdon in isolation over fears they are infected WHO announces new name for the disease: Covid-19 39 more cases found on Diamond Princess cruise ship including quarantine officer China death toll continues to rise but rates of new cases are slowing down Efforts are attempting to trace a limited number of patients who came into contact with two GPs diagnosed with coronavirus in the UK. One of the doctors had been working as a locum at Worthing Hospital and is among the eight confirmed cases of coronavirus to date. Public health officials know that the pair worked at a nursing home, Worthing A&E and two GP practices between them. Their direct contact with patients is thought to be limited to about 12 people, although they have come into contact with non-patients and other NHS staff. A healthcare worker at Worthing Hospital is among the eight confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. (PA) A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton. (PA) The search comes as staff at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex received a memo on Tuesday telling them a staff member working in the A&E department had been diagnosed with the disease. It said: "They treated a small number of patients on 4th and 5th February before they became unwell, followed advice and self-isolated." Read more: Coronavirus cases may ease in summer before re-emerging in winter, experts say A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said all services at the hospital, including surgery and out patients, are operating normally. It is understood the healthcare worker at Worthing Hospital is not the same person as the locum doctor working in Brighton, who is also one of the eight cases. Staff at the West Sussex hospital received a memo on Tuesday telling them a member of staff working in the A&E department had been diagnosed with the disease. (PA) A source told the PA news agency on Tuesday that one of the GPs, who was a locum at County Oak Medical Centre, had only carried out one day of admin work there recently and had not had any direct contact with patients. Story continues On Wednesday morning, the surgery, which was closed for a deep clean, reopened with a "limited service". Confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK so far (PA) Chinese Grand Prix cancelled Formula One has confirmed that the Chinese Grand Prix will be postponed following the outbreak of coronavirus. The disease has claimed more than 1,000 lives in China, and it has been decided that the race, originally scheduled to take place in Shanghai on April 19, can no longer go ahead as planned. The F1 race becomes the latest sporting event to be cancelled in China. The sport's governing body, the FIA, said in a statement: "In view of the continued spread of novel coronavirus and after ongoing discussions with the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of People's Republic of China (CAMF) and Shanghai Administration of Sports, the Chinese Grand Prix Promoter, Juss Sports Group, has officially requested that the 2020 FIA Formula One Chinese Grand Prix be postponed. "The FIA, together with Formula One, have have jointly decided to accept this official request from the promoter and postpone the 2020 FIA Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 19 April. "As a result of continued health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus as a global health emergency, the FIA and Formula One have taken these measures in order to ensure the health and safety of the travelling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains of primary concern." Possible new cases It is understood that two prisoners at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire are being tested for the illness and are being held in isolation. Access to one of the wings of the Category B prison has been restricted, and one of the men is understood to have recently been transferred from a Thai jail. They are both reported to be suffering flu-like symptoms. Read more: Brits stranded at sea after cruise ship refused entry to Thailand over coronavirus fears New name The World Health Organisation has announced a name for the new coronavirus Covid-19. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), told a press conference a name was decided that "did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease. Dr Ghebreyesus described the outbreak as "a very grave threat for the rest of the world. Cleaning equipment arrives at the County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton following reports a member of staff there was one of those infected with coronavirus. (PA) Coronavirus in the UK As of Tuesday evening, a total of 1,358 people have been tested for coronavirus in the UK, of whom 1,350 were confirmed negative and eight positive, the Department of Health said. On Tuesday, Boris Johnson praised the response of the NHS and said anyone concerned should "simply follow their advice. Read more: Coronavirus: how to wash your hands to ward off infection Speaking in Birmingham, the prime minister said: "We are a great country, we have got a fantastic NHS, we have got fantastic doctors and advice, and they should simply take the advice of the NHS. "People have every reason to be confident and calm about all that kind of thing... all the coronavirus, and any threats from disease. A Florida truck driver whose dog was killed by police during a traffic stop Monday has died in jail, authorities said Wednesday. John Baker, of Spring Hill, Florida, was in the Passaic County Jail on aggravated assault charges after the stop Monday on the Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Ringwood. He was still in the intake portion of the facility on Tuesday night when he suffered a medical issue, possibly a seizure, at 10:08 p.m., said Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriffs Office. Baker was taken to the emergency room at St. Josephs University Medical Center in Paterson. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 11:21 p.m. His cause of death is still being investigated. Earlier this week, Wanaque officers saw Baker driving erratically on the Greenwood Lake Turnpike, and he pulled over after crossing into Ringwood. Baker, who police said was driving while intoxicated, was ordered to keep his pit bull in the cab of his tractor trailer, which was hauling luxury boats. During the stop he opened the door and let out the dog, which charged at the group of five officers from Wanaque and Ringwood. An officer fired one shot at the dog, and another shot it four times. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:13:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Zhang Yizhi, Zhang Boning FUZHOU, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Within two days, 32,000 shorts-shaped pads loaded in volunteers' minivans were shipped to 10 hospitals in Wuhan and the neighboring city of Xiaogan in Central China's Hubei Province to aid women fighting the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak there. The sanitary products, donated by Hengan Group, a sanitary napkin manufacturer based in eastern China's Fujian Province, are part of a campaign to show care and respect for female medical workers and patients on the frontlines. Since the virus outbreak picked up speed in late January, tons of supplies from home and abroad have been donated and shipped to Hubei to ease the shortage there. However, there was one basic need left unnoticed: sanitary pads. "Female medical workers here are in dire need of comfortable pads. It is difficult to purchase such products due to the lockdown of Wuhan and other cities," said Lin Jing, a nurse of the first medical team sent from Fujian to Wuhan to aid the epidemic prevention and control there. On Feb.7, a netizen named "Liang Yu Stacey" on China's twitter-like Weibo launched the campaign "reassurance for sisters fighting the virus," calling to attention women's needs for sanitary pads in Hubei. The initiative became a trending topic on Weibo, attracting over 53 million views and 51,000 comments. "We understand that there is a shortage of medical supplies in Hubei, but women's basic needs should also be seen, understood and respected," one comment read. Companies including Hengan and charity groups answered the call quickly and started donating hygiene products to hospitals and aiding medical teams in Hubei. Chinese company Kingdom Healthcare has donated 28,800 shorts-shaped pads and Purcotton has donated 20,000 pads. Meanwhile, feminine care brands owned by overseas companies including P&G, Kimberly-Clark and Unicharm have donated at least 2,700 boxes in total. As of 5:00 p.m. Monday, 170,000 shorts-shaped pads and other hygiene products have been sent to 26 hospitals in epidemic-hit cities. More people are taking action. Zhejiang Women and Children's Foundation launched a project to raise funds on Weibo to purchase 10,000 such pads, which cost about 705,000 yuan (101,000 U.S. dollars). So far, the project has raised over 116,800 yuan. Hengan Group is also planning on expanding its donation. The company said it will work with e-commerce platforms and online influencers in various ways including launching an appeal for donations during live stream shows. Lin was glad that people across the country show growing concerns over their needs in this difficult time. "We are doing our best to treat and comfort patients, and people are also showing care for us," the veteran nurse said. "It is such a heartwarming surprise." As of Feb. 9, a total of 11,921 medics across the country have been dispatched to Hubei to join the local medical personnel to fight the virus, according to the National Health Commission. At least half of them are women. The chief executive of French oil major Total, Patrick Pouyanne, has dismissed the idea it might buy Irish-founded Tullow Oil, which is its partner in East Africa and Guyana. Total is a partner in all growth markets for Tullow Oil whose market capitalisation has shrunk to around 633m (747m) from 3.28bn in September. It is slashing its workforce and restructuring its portfolio. Amid industry speculation about a potential Tullow takeover target, Mr Pouyanne said, when asked whether Total might buy Tullow: Stop dreaming... No. As of late 2019, Tullow was saddled with $2.8bn (2.56bn) in debt, a hangover from the last oil price crash which saw Brent crude prices plummet to below $30 a barrel in 2016. High debts can make buying assets a more attractive option than a corporate sale. Offshore Guyana, Tullow owns 60% and Total 25% of the Orinduik block, estimated to hold around 5.1bn barrels of oil equivalent. Total also holds 25% in the Kanuku block, adjacent to Orinduik, in which Tullow holds 37.5%. While two of Tullows previous wells in Orinduik produced heavy oil, calling into question the quality of the reservoir, other wells targeting deeper layers have produced lighter oil, reviving hopes for the commercial viability commerciability of wells targeting the so-called Upper Cretaceous. Mr Pouyanne said he expected two or three wells to be drilled offshore Guyana this year. Total, Tullow, and their Orinduik partner Eco are due to meet this month and discuss next steps for their drilling off Guyana. In Uganda and Kenya, Total and Tullow have partnered to bring the countries first oil projects onstream, but both projects have hit snags . Onshore Uganda, a deal for Tullow to sell a chunk of its stake to Total, fell through in August due to tax disputes with the government . Reuters File Photo / Hearst Connecticut Media Police arrested a 26-year-old Beaumont man accused of crashing into multiple vehicles and firing a gun at another while intoxicated Wednesday morning. Ryan Rogers was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and driving while intoxicated. Plans for a bridge to connect Northern Ireland and Scotland could follow similar plans to the Oresund Bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden. (Getty) Boris Johnsons proposal to link Scotland and Northern Ireland with a bridge is not only possible but could be built within 15 years, according to a structural engineer. Ian Firth, a fellow at the Institution of Civil Engineers, said there were a "huge number of technical challenges" in the prime ministers idea for a crossing between the two areas across the Irish Sea. But the bridge designer said "anything is possible if you throw enough money at it" and that such a structure could be built within 15 years. The proposal of a bridge over the 20-mile gap between Northern Ireland and Scotland has been modelled on the Oresund Bridge, which runs for five miles across the Oresund strait between Sweden and Denmark. Boris Johnson told MPs to 'watch this space' over proposals for the bridge. (AP) One idea for the bridge that Firth suggests is a cable-supported floating bridge with towers supported by large, submerged pontoons connected to the sea bed by cables. A bridge above the water faces the potential issue of ships hitting bridge supports, so they would need to be spaced by about 1km apart, meaning no more than two ships could pass at any one time. Read more: A bridge too far? UK looks at linking Scotland to Northern Ireland A potential solution to this could be to not have a bridge at all, and instead submerging a tube and tethering it to the seabed, Firth saidFirth. However, a tunnel could limit safety options in the event of a fire or an accident, according to The Conversation. Firth described the project as being "right up there" with the toughest bridges built thus far in the world, and said he thought such a plan would be "eye-wateringly expensive. Possible routes for the bridge connecting Scotland to Northern Ireland. (PA) Chris Richards, head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Civil Engineers, said the proposal should be put to the National Infrastructure Commission and subject to a "comprehensive and independent" study. Downing Street said this week that a "range of officials" were looking at the idea of a bridge, but was unable to say how many civil servants were examining proposals. Story continues Read more: All the times HS2 was 'given the green light' The prime minister's official spokesman said it was a "proper piece of work" and that Johnson was "ambitious" about infrastructure projects across the country. Johnson has repeatedly spoken about such a bridge, even though experts have warned that the depth of the Irish Sea and the presence of dumped munitions would cause problems for any project. Portpatrick in Scotland is one of the starting points being considered for the bridge. (Getty) The project could cost a reported 20bn, although Johnson has previously said it would "only cost about 15bn. Read more: EU chiefs dig at Boris Johnsons Australian-style Brexit The prime minister told MPs "watch this space" when asked about the prospect of a "Boris bridge" in Parliament in December 2019. The distance from Larne to Portpatrick, one of the most likely routes for a bridge, is around 45km. There is no problem with distance, money or the Beaufort's Dyke explosives disposal area, according to the prime minister. Government sources said it was possible to build a bridge with a tunnelled section to cope with some of the difficulties caused by the depth of the Irish Sea. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK BEIJING (AP) The number of new cases of the coronavirus in China dropped for a second straight day, health officials said Wednesday in a possible glimmer of hope amid the outbreak that has infected over 45,000 people worldwide and killed more than 1,100. Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of emergencies for the World Health Organization, said it is "way too early to try to predict the beginning of the end of the crisis in China. But he said: "The stabilization in cases in the last number of days is very reassuring and it is to a great extent the result of the huge public health operation in China. China has locked down an unprecedented 60 million people in an effort to curb the spread of the virus, which has hit hardest in the city of Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province. The country's National Health Commission said 2,015 new cases were counted on Tuesday, the second straight daily decline and down from nearly 3,900 a week ago. Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the situation is still grim but we have seen some positive changes. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva that the numbers must be interpreted with extreme caution, adding: This outbreak could still go in any direction. At the same time, he noted that the number of other countries reporting cases about two dozen has not changed since Feb. 4. All but one of the deaths recorded so far have been in China, as have more than 99% of all reported infections in the world. In principle at the moment, theres no evidence out there that this virus is out there causing efficient community transmission in other countries, Ryan said. We have a window of opportunity to shut this virus down. At the end of a two-day meeting aimed at speeding the development of new tests, drugs and vaccines for the new virus, WHO said scientists had agreed upon a set of global research priorities but warned it could still take considerable time before any licensed products might be available. Story continues In other developments: ECONOMIC FALLOUT Chinese President Xi Jinping promised tax cuts and other aid to industry as the ruling Communist Party tries to limit the mounting damage to the economy. The country is struggling to restart its economy after the annual Lunar New Year holiday was extended to try to keep people home and contain the virus. Traffic remained light in Beijing, and many people were still working at home. Companies are facing increasing losses because of the closing of factories, offices, shops and other businesses in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed. A large cluster of cases in Tianjin, a port city southeast of Beijing, has been traced to a department store, Chinese state media said. One-third of Tianjin's 104 confirmed cases are in Baodi district, where the store is situated, the Xinhua News Agency reported. A salesperson in the store's home appliance section was the first diagnosed on Jan. 31, Xinhua said, and a series of cases followed. None of those infected had visited Wuhan recently, and with the exception of one married couple, they worked in different sections of the store and did not know one another. Meanwhile, organizers of the worlds biggest mobile technology fair the annual Mobile World Congress show, set for Feb. 24-27 in Barcelona, Spain canceled the event because of worries about the viral outbreak. The decision came after dozens of tech companies and wireless carriers dropped out, including Nokia, Vodafone, Ericsson, Nokia, Sony, Amazon, Intel and LG. The extravaganza had been expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors from about 200 countries, including 5,000 to 6,000 from China. Elsewhere around the world, DBS bank in Singapore cleared its office, telling 300 employees to work from home after it learned that an employee had been infected. The city-state has 50 confirmed cases. And a Formula One race in Shanghai in April was added to the list of canceled events. CITIZEN JOURNALIST DISAPPEARS A citizen journalist reporting on the epidemic in Wuhan has disappeared, activists said, becoming the second to vanish in recent days amid tightening controls on information in China. Fang Bin, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, stopped posting videos or responding to calls and messages on Sunday, activists Gao Fei and Hua Yong said, citing Fang's friends. His phone was turned off Wednesday. Fang had posted videos of Wuhan's overcrowded hospitals, including bodies in a van waiting to be taken to a crematorium. The last video he posted was of a piece of paper reading, All citizens resist, hand power back to the people." Another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, vanished on Friday. Non-sanctioned reporting on the outbreak by actitivists is challenging the Communist Partys tightly policed monopoly on information on an unprecedented scale. CRUISE SHIP WOES Passengers aboard a cruise ship that has been barred from docking by four governments may finally set foot on land again. Holland America Line said the MS Westerdam will arrive Thursday morning in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship has been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand, though its operator said no cases of the disease have been confirmed among the more than 2,200 passengers and crew. And in Japan, 39 new cases were confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama, bringing the total to 174 aboard the Diamond Princess. TWO RUSSIANS FLEE QUARANTINE Two Russian women who were kept in isolation for possible inflection by the virus say they escaped from Russian hospitals because of uncooperative doctors, poor conditions and fear they would become infected. Both women were hospitalized after returning from Hainan, a tropical island in China popular with Russian tourists. One said she jumped out of a hospital window to escape her quarantine, while the other broke out by disabling an electronic lock. Two cases of the virus have been reported in Russia. NO EVIDENCE YET OF MOTHER-TO-FETUS SPREAD In a study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet, Chinese scientists reported there is no evidence so far to suggest the virus can be passed from mother to child in the womb. The study looked at nine women who all had the COVID-19 virus and gave birth via cesarean section in a hospital in Wuhan. Scientists examined samples from the newborns, including the amniotic fluid, cord blood and throat swabs, and they all tested negative for the virus. But the researched acknowledged the study was small. To date, two cases of the virus have been confirmed in babies, including a newborn diagnosed just 36 hours after birth. It is unknown how the child was infected. ___ Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Elaine Kurtenbach in Singapore, James Heintz in Moscow, Grant Peck in Bangkok, Kelvin Chan and Maria Cheng in London and Joe McDonald, Dake Kang, Yanan Wang and researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report. - Read all the AP stories about the coronavirus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak - Cement volumes up 14 percent YoY- Margins improved despite subdued realisations- Acquisition of Murli Industries to complete by Dec 2020- Capacity expansion remains on track - Trading at 8.9 times FY20 estimated EV/EBITDA ------------------------------------------------- Dalmia Bharat, Indias fourth-largest cement maker, delivered strong financial results in the December quarter. Volume-led top line growth and margin expansion gave a fillip to the operational performance. Its market share also improved as volumes grew considerably faster than those of the industry. Key result highlights Dalmia Bharats quarterly revenues rose 12 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 2,418 crore on the back of 14 percent growth in cement volumes. However, subdued realisations (down 2 percent YoY) across its key operating markets had an adverse impact on top line. Decline in slag prices supported gross margins. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin got into shape as it improved 120 bps YoY to Rs 455 crore. Dalmias strong volume play got a helping hand from the ramp-up of Kalyanpur Cements and robust demand across eastern markets. Persistent weakness in South India, mainly stalled projects in Andhra Pradesh, hurt cement offtake as well realisations. Increase in EBITDA per tonne to Rs 892 was driven by declining cost pressures. Reduction in power and fuel costs and employee expenses resulted in 4 percent savings on the cost front. The limestone mines and GST incentives of Murli Industries have been restored and Dalmia expects to complete the acquisition by December 2020. The upgradation of Murli Industries, having 3 million tonnes of capacity, will diversify Dalmias presence in the western market. To further strengthen its domestic footprint, the company is undertaking 8 million tonne capacity expansion in eastern India (across Bihar, Bengal and Odisha). These plants will be commissioned in phases during FY21 and FY22. The capital expenditure for first nine months of FY20 stood at nearly Rs 1,000 crore, which was primarily directed towards capacity addition in the eastern market. For FY21, the company expects a capex of Rs 750-800 crore for completion of these investment projects. In addition, there will be a small capex (Rs 100-150 crore) for maintenance purposes. During April-December of FY20, the company has repaid Rs 620 crore of debt through internal cash accruals. The balance sheet continues to build up and the net debt/EBITDA ratio reduced to 1.32x at the end of the December quarter. The leverage is expected to remain at current levels as the capacity expansion will be funded through a mix of debt and internal accruals. Outlook and Recommendation The company has churned out strong operational metrics in the quarter gone by. The uptick in volumes was quite impressive against a weak industrial backdrop. While cement demand has come off marginally in FY20, the management is hopeful of a demand recovery and expects volumes to grow on the back of infrastructure spending in eastern and north eastern markets. Softening pet coke and oil prices should lend support to margins. Dalmia continues to turn out quarterly numbers that show stability and has consistently outperformed larger peers both on the volumes as well as margin front. The current capacity utilisation levels of 70-75 percent provide sufficient headroom to capture incremental market demand. The valuations (8.9 times FY20 estimated EV/EBITDA) are at a discount to sector leaders and the stock appears a promising pick for investors having a long-term horizon. Follow @Sach_Pal For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page Disclaimer: Moneycontrol Research analysts do not hold positions in the companies discussed here A trade deal on the cards: What to expect from Donald Trumps India visit India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 12: US President Donald Trump who will visit India on February 24 and 25 has hinted at a trade deal. I am looking forward to going to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friend of mine. He is a great gentleman, Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. On the possibility of signing a trade deal, Trump said that he will do it if we can make the right deal. Trump will visit New Delhi and Gujarat. "The trip will further strengthen the US-India strategic partnership & highlight the strong & enduring bonds between the American & Indian people," the White House had tweeted. Donald Trump to visit India on Feb 24, 25 Meanwhile, preparations are on for a grand event that would be held at Ahmedabad. The visit by Trump is significant in the wake of Pakistan trying to rake up the issue of Article 370 at the UN. Pakistan is being backed by China, but the two nations have not had much success so far with other foreign nations on the issue. Sources said that Trump would stay at the ITC Maurya. During his visit, the emphasis would be on a trade deal. China and Iran would also be discussed during the visit, the official also said. Meanwhile, a grand event on the lines of the Howdy Modi is expected to take place at Ahmedabad. During his visit, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are likely to sign a short term trade deal. This is aimed at granting US companies more access to Indian markets and also restore the trade benefits for India that were withdrawn last year. The timing of the visit would, however, depend on the timing of the trial by the US Senate. The trial is expected to commence this week and would determine whether Trump would be removed from office or not. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 US Army officer who testified at Trump impeachment loses W House job It may be recalled that Trump had expressed his inability to take part in the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest in 2018. While the timeline of the visit this year is not exactly known, the official cited above said that they are working out a mutually convenient date. In November last year, Trump while responding to a question on the invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "He wants me to go there." I will be going at some point to India, he had also said. At the reception (Photo: VNA) At the reception in Hanoi, the Deputy PM acknowledged the serious intention of the investors, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always encourages and facilitates the participation of domestic and foreign firms in power projects in Vietnam. He informed the guests that the demand for electricity in Vietnam is growing at an average 10 percent a year. Vietnam is diversifying its sources of power in the direction of reducing coal-fired power and raising the share of gas-fuelled power and renewable energy, Dung said, adding that gas-fired power is slated to account for 12 percent of total electricity generation, equivalent to 17,000 MW, by 2030. Deputy PM Dung also said investment by US investors in Vietnam will contribute to improving the trade balance between the two countries. The investors affirmed their wish to invest in LNG power projects in Vietnam to develop the clean energy source, ensure sufficient power supply for both production and consumption and expand the high quality workforce in the gas-fired power sector. They said they had conducted thorough study of conditions related to investment, and pledged to make long-term and effective investment in LNG power projects in Vietnam. Update: Officers placed on leave, investigations ordered in growing scandal over rogue arrest of black Portland man West Linn police apparently have no plans to reinvestigate an officer who deleted racist texts from his phone, denied their existence and admitted violating basic police tenets in a wrongful arrest case against the city that led to a $600,000 settlement. The police department in a statement Tuesday condemned bigotry but said Tony Reeves, the lead detective involved who has since been promoted to sergeant, already faced discipline in the case. West Linn Capt. Peter Mahuna said he can understand how the community is outraged by the incident, detailed in a story posted Monday by The Oregonian/OregonLive. The news organization detailed how West Linn police targeted an African American man from Portland on a trumped-up theft charge for a friend of the former police chief. Theres a saying that building community trust for police is like a piggy bank, Mahuna said. Every good contact is like a nickel or dime going into the bank. But when you have an incident like this, theres a huge withdrawal, and youve got to start and rebuild that trust. Mahuna, who declined to discuss the merits of Fessers 2017 arrest, said Reeves was investigated earlier in the case, but he declined to say how Reeves was disciplined. The other West Linn officer involved, then-Lt. Mike Stradley, now works for the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Trainings and runs its survival skills and tactics training for new police recruits from around the state. Department Director Eriks Gabliks said his agency will be doing fact finding to gather more information about the case and Stradleys role. Gabliks called the article on the discrimination case a very difficult story to read. The department does not train police officers to act improperly. We train officers to be law enforcement professionals and to respect the constitutional rights of all individuals, Gabliks said. Michael Fesser, 48, sued West Linn police in 2017, alleging racial discrimination and unlawful arrest, saying they targeted him for arrest in Portland that February as a favor to a fishing buddy of former West Linn Chief Terry Timeus. The fishing buddy was Eric Benson, Fessers employer at the time. Fesser said his arrest was in retaliation for his complaints about a racially hostile workplace at Bensons A&B Towing in Southeast Portland. The city of West Linn agreed to settle his federal suit for $600,000, planning to write a check to Fesser for $405,232 in damages and $194, 768 in attorney fees by Thursday. West Linn police denied any liability, saying the payout agreement was made to avoid additional expense, uncertainty, and drain on public resources, according to a statement. The city of West Linn and the West Linn Police Department do not tolerate any acts of discrimination or disparate treatment by its employees, the statement said. As we move forward, the West Linn Police Department strives to learn from both our past mistakes and our successes. The case uncovered unprofessional, racist and crude banter between West Linns Reeves and Benson, the owner of A&B Towing, as they secretly recorded audio of Fesser at work on Feb. 25, 2017, without a court order. Later that night, West Linn officers, drawing on the help of Portland gang enforcement officers, moved in to arrest Fesser during his drive home. 4 Parts of West Linn Detective Tony Reeve's deposition Stradley, a retired Portland police veteran working for West Linn police at the time, had told Reeves that Fesser was a gang associate and helped connect Reeves to Portlands gang enforcement team to help make the arrest. Stradley admitted in a deposition he hadnt had any contact with Fesser in more than two decades and said he recalled only that Fesser hung out with gang members in the late 1980s and 1990s and attended gang-related trials. Prosecutors declined to pursue an aggravated theft allegation against Fesser, who now runs a prison ministry and transitional support program for people leaving prison. He was later indicted on first-degree theft charges after Fesser filed a suit against Benson and his towing company. Benson and his company paid Fesser about $415,000 to settle that suit in state court, and the criminal charges were dismissed against Fesser. Fessers lawyer Paul Buchanan said he was disturbed that Portlands gang enforcement team assisted West Linn police with Fessers arrest with apparently few questions asked. The case "illustrates the Portland Polices complicity and highlights how Portland Police will brand a black man as a young person, and that branding can follow the individual literally for his entire life, even when, as in Michaels case, the individual grows up to live a life of integrity and service,'' Buchanan said. As part of the negotiated settlement, West Linns police chief, two police captains, the mayor and city manager have agreed to meet with Fesser. No date has been set but the West Linn officials and police agreed to meet within 30 days of a request by Fesser, and the face-to-face session is expected to last at least one hour, held at either City Hall or the police department. Mahuna said he was disturbed to read in The Oregonian/OregonLive that Fesser fears setting foot in West Linn. For the upcoming meeting, Mahuna said he hopes Fesser recognizes, We dont have an ax to grind against him. He said officers now receive more training on implicit bias and procedural justice and have participated in multi-agency summits on equity. I hope Mr. Fesser realizes the city of West Linn is not in any way going to retaliate against him, he said. We hope he feels comfortable coming to our city. Conversation and dialogue are always a good thing. Fesser said the meeting is important to him and he plans to bring his two teenage sons, one an eighth grader and the other in his first year of high school. Were willing to go back for some healing, he said. This here should be talked about. West Linns current police chief, Terry Kruger, was on vacation and not immediately available for comment. The West Linn investigation of Fessers arrest was limited, finding Reeves had failed to properly secure and document cash and a cellphone seized from Fesser the night of his arrest and that Reeves used indecent, profane and derogatory language in the course of the case, according to court records. By March 2018, he was promoted to sergeant and he remains on the job. Fessers suit revealed that Reeves, who was the lead investigator, deleted his text message exchange with Benson and later told a West Linn lieutenant investigating his role that the communications didnt contain any racist or homophobic remarks. Fesser and his lawyer, Paul Buchanan, recovered the text message exchange from Bensons phone replete with racist and derogatory comments. This makes my blood boil, longtime West Linn resident L. Diane Sandefur said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. I was raised in West Linn. I am now 58. What an embarrassment they are and disgusting too. Mr. Fesser is a courageous man who took on the old boys and thankfully wins here. Another reader offered to accompany Fesser to his meeting with police and city officials and several bemoaned the lack of significant discipline and Stradleys current position training recruits at the states basic police academy. How on earth do any of these officers still have jobs? Nikki Suydam asked in a Facebook post. West Linns City Council was briefed on the settlement in an executive session Monday night. But it took no public action on the $600,000 payout. West Linn attorney Tim Ramis, who serves as the city attorney, said the city doesnt have to approve the settlement in public session because it is represented by the insurance carrier CityCounty Insurance Services. The decision is made by the insurance carrier, not made by the city, so it would not come before the city of West Linn, Ramis said. Thats unlike larger cities, such as Portland or Multnomah County, which are self-insured up to about $1 million. In Portland, large settlements typically go before the City Council for approval. Fessers arrest by West Linn police occurred the same month of the high-profile firing of West Linn Officer Tommy Newberry for a series of racist posts on his Facebook page, including endorsements of violence against Black Lives Matter demonstrators. Newberry challenged the firing and an arbitrator upheld it but ordered the city to pay Newberry at least $100,000 in lost wages, finding that fellow officers, including then-Chief Timeus, knew about his social media posts and did nothing to address them. The arbitrators ruling was among the evidence presented in Fessers federal suit. In the Newberry case, the arbitrators rebuke of West Linn police was strong: The evidence in this case established that Department management, including Newberrys Supervisor, was clearly aware of the content of his Facebook postings and did nothing in the form of reasonable and prompt action to remove the postings that clearly violated the Policies. The Departments top management, including the Police Chief, all viewed Newberrys Facebook postings and took no steps to address the issue. The police department issued a statement about the settlement late Tuesday. FULL STATEMENT FROM WEST LINN POLICE DEPARTMENT: A negotiated settlement has been reached in the case of Michael Fesser v. City of West Linn, et al., filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. This lawsuit was initially filed in 2018 with the Multnomah County Circuit Court, with alleged events taking place during 2017. After careful consideration by the Citys insurance carrier and external legal counsel, it was determined that a cessation of litigation expenses was in the best interest of the City and allows us to focus on our core mission of service to the community. A settlement of $600,000 is expected to be paid by the Citys insurance provider to the Plaintiff and his attorneys after all documents have been properly executed. This settlement is not an admission of liability; it seeks to avoid additional expense, uncertainty, and drain on public resources. The City of West Linn and the West Linn Police Department do not tolerate any acts of discrimination or disparate treatment by its employees. In 2018, when the allegations were first reported, an internal investigation was conducted and swift and appropriate disciplinary personnel action was taken. The West Linn Police Department is proud of its diverse workforce and actively works with its officers and staff to constantly maintain awareness through ongoing special trainings and education in areas such as harassment, diversity, equity, inclusion, implicit bias, and procedural justice. Under the current leadership of Chief Terry Kruger, the Police Department embraces a culture of enhanced awareness, training, and open community conversations. The Police Department was an integral part of the Multi-City Equity Summit in 2019 and looks forward to continued partnerships with the West Linn Alliance for Inclusive Community, West Linn-Wilsonville School District, and other community leaders on initiatives to further improve on these critical issues in 2020 and beyond. As we move forward, the West Linn Police Department strives to learn from both our past mistakes and our successes. Our officers, from the newest hire up to the Chief, make every effort to ensure that they are serving the community with the utmost professionalism and dedication. -- 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 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 00:42:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A woman who tried to open the door of a passenger plane midway through a flight was sentenced to two years in prison by a British court Wednesday for endangering the safety of an aircraft and assaulting a crew member. In June last year, 26-year-old Chloe Haines caused the Jet2 flight en route to Dalaman in Turkey to divert back to Stansted airport, about 68 km northeast of central London. While trying to open the door, Haines yelled, "I'm going to kill you all" after mixing alcohol with medication, local media reported. Two Royal Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane back to Stansted airport before Haines was arrested by police. A cabin crew member allegedly sustained scratches as she tried to prevent Haines from opening the plane door. Haines, who had admitted endangering the plane safety and attacking cabin crew member, sobbed through much of the hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court. Jet2 calculated that the incident cost them 86,000 pounds (about 111,579 U.S. dollars), the court heard. The bank said it is passing on costs it is being charged to keep cash on deposit with the European Central Bank. Photo: REUTERS German mobile bank N26 which is backed by billionaires Peter Thiel and Li Ka-Shing, said it will end UK operations citing the country's departure from the European Union. The Berlin-based neobank will close UK accounts on April 15, N26 said in a statement Tuesday. Customers with money in their accounts will need to withdraw or transfer it by the deadline and payments received after that date will be returned to the sender's account. N26 blamed Brexit for the abrupt withdrawal. The firm started services in the UK in October 2018, more than two years after the country voted to leave the EU, calling the market its first outside of the eurozone. Still, the company said that the timings and framework outlined in the withdrawal agreement mean that it won't be able to operate in the UK with its EU license. "While we fully respect the decision that has been taken, it means that N26 will in due course be unable to serve our customers in the UK and will have to leave the market," chief banking officer Thomas Grosse said in the statement. The bank said the majority of N26's staff in the UK will move into new roles at the company. Meanwhile, the EU swiftly rebuffed calls from the UK government that London's financial services firms should enjoy continued access to the single market even if the country breaks away from the bloc's rules after Brexit. The UK Treasury had included the demand for so-called permanent equivalence in a draft of its opening positions for next month's trade negotiations with the EU. "Certain people in the UK should not kid themselves about this: there will not be general, ongoing open-ended equivalence in financial services," EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Bloomberg Toronto Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire was arrested last week for allegedly masturbating to a hardcore porn video while seated in his car outside of a Dollar Tree in Florida, it was revealed Wednesday. A witness called police in Dunedin, Florida on Friday to report that McGuire, 24, was 'sitting and masturbating in a white Mercedes SUV in the parking lot,' according to an incident report provided to the Daily Mail. The team trains in Dunedin. McGuire was charged with misdemeanor exposure of sexual organs. 'The vehicle had perfectly clear tint and was occupied by a tall white male subject,' read the officer's report. 'As I approached the vehicle... I could clearly observe the male subject was naked from the waist down. 'The subject's shirt tail was barely covering his genitals and his sweatpants were around his ankles. The subject, later identified by his Washington Driver's License as Reese Jackson McGuire, saw the Sheriff's Deputies approaching his vehicle and was hastily trying to pull his pants back up.' McGuire, 24, was arrested last Friday for allegedly exposing himself while he was in an SUV in the parking lot of a strip mall in Dunedin, Florida View of the Dollar Store parking lot in Dunedin, where McGuire is accused of masturbating McGuire was immediately apologetic and did not attempt to deny anything, police said. There is police video and audio from the incident, but a department spokesman told the Daily Mail that it cannot be released until the discovery portion of the court proceeding. 'Reese was instructed to make himself decent and then exit the vehicle,' the report continued. 'As Reese exited the driver's side door, he repeatedly stated, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, this is really embarrassing." 'I asked Reese why his pants were down and he replied, "I really shouldn't have been doing that." 'Reese was still struggling to get his sweatpants on correctly and I could observe he currently had an erection which was very apparent. I detained Reese in handcuffs and placed him in the rear of my cruiser with the air conditioning on and the COBAN systems activated.' The arrest took place on Friday afternoon, prompting police to ask McGuire why he chose to masturbate in such a public place during the day. 'I directly asked Reese why he chose to masturbate in a visible area with people around,' the report read. 'Reese stated he "wasn't trying to be seen". I pointed out that he was in a vehicle with no tint, and parked in the busiest portion of the parking lot, surrounded by cars on all sides and masturbating at 2 PM on a Friday afternoon. Reese acknowledged that he should have known people would see him.' The complainant claimed that as she exited her vehicle, she could 'clearly see the driver of the Mercedes had his pants fully down and was stroking his penis.' The police also asked McGuire how he came to be parked in that particular strip mall. McGuire, who said he is staying nearby, did not have a clear answer. 'After lunch Reese stated he came to the parking lot and began "hanging out,"' the report said. 'I asked Reese why he came to this parking lot in particular. Reese stated he did not know, it just seemed like a good place. I pointed out the high foot traffic and vehicles in and around the entire parking lot and Reese acknowledged this.' Police discovered the pornographic video when McGuire unlocked his phone to give officers the address at which he is staying during spring training. The Blue Jays acknowledged the arrest in a statement. 'The Blue Jays are aware of the recent police incident involving catcher Reese McGuire,' a team statement read. 'He has been in communication with the club and we are working to gather more information. Out of respect for the legal process, neither he nor the club will comment any further at this time.' Reese is due back in court on March 16. McGuire was selected No. 14 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was traded to the Blue Jays in 2016. He made his MLB debut on September 6, 2018. Since then, McGuire has appeared in 44 games, hitting .297 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs. Realtors Say Legal Weed Biz a Plus For Housing It seems as though legalized marijuana is said to be good for almost everything. Now a new study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has added real estate to the list. The impact is clearer when it comes to commercial properties, but agents saw differences in the residential sector as well where medical and/or recreational use of the substance has been legalized. The NAR study, Marijuana and Real Estate: A Budding Issue (yes, NAR went there) grew out of a survey conducted with over 150,000 of its members, equally divided between those who operate in the commercial area (including building owners and managers) and those who practice residential real estate. The study looked at states where marijuana has been legalized for medical purposes, for recreation, and for both, examining how it is grown, harvested, stored, sold, and consumed within those states. NAR found more impacts from legalization over time so divided some of the findings according to whether it occurred after or prior to 2016 which accounts for the dual percentages reported. "As more states legalize marijuana, the real estate market will progressively have to adjust," said Dr. Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights for NAR. "From property owners, to manufacturers, to those who simply want to engage for leisure - it all touches real estate in some form." In states were marijuana is legal in some form, between 9 percent and 23 percent of members who responded to the survey said they believe the inventory of available homes is tight for multiple reasons, including all-cash purchases from within the marijuana industry. While most respondents hadn't seen any changes in property values near dispensaries, between 7 percent and 12 percent said they had seen an increase in values while 8 percent to 27 percent said they had seen values decline. "Residential practitioners are getting used to the new normal of having marijuana legally used within rental properties, while homeowner associations are tasked with setting new rules to address consumption and growth," said Lautz. The majority of respondents reported that homeowner associations have rules that place certain restrictions on smoking and growing marijuana in homes or common areas. Only around 3% answered that specific homeowner associations do allow growing or smoking in home or common areas. Three-quarters of members had never tried selling a grow house but among residential practitioners who had, 29 percent said they had a difficult time doing so. Twenty-seven percent of those in more recently legalized states reported difficulty compared to 25 percent in states that legalized before 2016. Because Federal banking laws prohibit use of checks or credit cards to purchase marijuana, it is usually an all-cash business. About one-fifth to a quarter of landlords said they were unwilling to accept cash for rent in any instance, while about 10 percent said they would only refuse cash from an illegal federal activity. Forty-two percent of those in states where only medical marijuana is legal would accept cash rent, as would two-fifth of those where both medical and recreation use is allowed. Among commercial practitioners, NAR found an increased demand for land, warehouses and store fronts that are intended for marijuana. In states where both uses are legal, more than a third of those polled said they saw an uptick in requests for warehouses or properties used for storage. In those same states, up to one-quarter of members said the demand for storefronts grew, while one-fifth said there was a greater demand for land. "When the business of marijuana is discussed, some have a tendency to focus on only the buyers and sellers of the product," said Lautz. "However, these numbers show that marijuana has been a boon to commercial real estate." Marijuana as a business has prospered for more than a decade and that growth continues to evolve. In the states where medical and recreational marijuana have been legalized for three years or more, each saw increases in the demands for commercial properties. As in residential uses, the effect on commercial property values near dispensaries was mixed, but about 20 percent reported an increase. There were fewer reports of declines. Many respondents said leases had been modified to accommodate the marijuana industry, especially where legalization occurred prior to 2016. About half of respondents in medical marijuana states reported no issues leasing a property previously used to grow marijuana as did 35 to 49 percent of those where both uses were legalized. The most common problem among these properties were lingering odors, followed by moisture issues. Both matters were more common in areas where recreational marijuana has been legal for a longer period of time. The national average is 25 breaks a year for every 100 miles of mains. The context Two water main breaks in January caused major subway delays, as did two breaks last year and one in 2018. But most water main breaks do not cause widespread delays on streets or in subway tunnels. The Environmental Protection Department has recorded more than 400 water main breaks nearly every year since 1998. The timing The city says 44 percent of water main breaks happen in December, January and February. Thats when pipes face extreme pressure, from getting chilled overnight and warmed during the day. The freeze-thaw cycle certainly plays a part in causing breaks, Mr. Sapienza said. If you have 20 degrees one day and 45 degrees the next day, that presents a challenge. The solutions The city says it replaces roughly one mile of water mains every week. Mayor de Blasios administration plans to spend $800 million over the next two years on new water mains and related infrastructure. City workers also try to step in before a problem occurs. They work on modulating pressure, which involves slowly opening valves to keep them limber. You can think of it as Pilates for pipes. Equipment can also detect the telltale sign of leaky pipes: a distinctive whooshing sound. And there is the human ear. Anastasios Georgelis, the deputy commissioner for water and sewer operations, said workers know what trouble underground sounds like. It could be a couple hundred feet away, but youre going to hear it, he said. More than 3,000 people have been quarantined in Kerala, the first state in India where three confirmed cases of the deadly novel coronavirus were reported. Even as the State governments swift intervention, effective surveillance system including massive quarantine of people contained spread of the epidemic, the question of who will the cost of quarantine is complicated with no specific answer. Quarantine is inevitable and is justified considering the risk of infection. But, the burden of confinement imposed by quarantine is a major issue and now the big question is who will compensate the financial losses incurred by individuals who are being kept off their duties. Even when the World Health Organisation has stipulated 14 days of quarantine, the Kerala government has gone beyond and imposed 28 days of quarantine. Health minister K. K Shylaja said that the government has set 28 days of quarantine as a precautionary measure. A huge number of medical students from the state are pursuing courses at the Wuhan University in China, the epicenter of the virus. The state has high population density. So the government has decided 28 days of quarantine period, the minister had said earlier. The government has extended the quarantine period but is not accountable for the financial loss of the people kept in isolation. For daily labourers or private sector employees, losing pay for 28 days is not an ideal situation. The burden should not be entirely on the citizens, the government should bear the cost. Those in isolation are paying a heavy price for helping the government avoid spreading of virus, said a medical professional who didnt want to be identified. If the daily wage of a person under quarantine is Rs.800, he loses Rs.22, 400 for 28 days of his quarantine period. Private companies ask employees to go on leave, but it is not clear whether they will be paid for the non-working days. In Kerala, there are cases where an entire family is under isolation and they are given food by either relatives or neighbours. In such cases, the impact of isolation will be much higher, in terms of financial loss and social confinement. This is an evolving epidemic and exact details of the epidemiological sequence of the virus is yet to be known. Studies are underway. The usual recommendation for quarantine is double the days of maximum incubation period. Though there is no practice of compensating for the wage loss of people under quarantine, it is the states responsibility to bear the cost. It is unafir that people under isolation have to bear the brunt of quarantine, remarked Dr. Vijayakumar, public health expert. Update: Visible confirmed it will also carry the Galaxy S20 Ultra starting with late March. The original article is as follows. Visible confirmed the Galaxy S20 lines availability details on its network immediately after Samsung announced its new flagships on Tuesday. Verizons prepaid unit hence stated it will start retailing the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ on March 6. Advertisement Visibles promo prices for early adopters of the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ will stand at $984 and $1,176, respectively. The company revealed as much in a release sent to media outlets earlier today but has yet to say anything about potential pre-orders. Visible customers and those looking to join the growing network should expect more details on the matter to follow this week. The big four are already offering pre-orders on all three devices as of today. The current state of affairs suggests Visible wont be retailing the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Not a huge surprise as thats the only member of the series that supports milimeter-wave 5G. Advertisement The other two models only offer sub-6GHz connectivity in the context of the next generation of networking. As only Verizons 5G network leverages that tech in the U.S., Visibles understandably not committing to the Galaxy S20 Ultra. On the other hand, Verizons subsidiary will apparently retail the regular Galaxy S20 several weeks before Verizon itself does. Even if that wasnt the case, the Galaxy S20 Ultra is far from a natural fit for Visibles target audience. Prepaid users in the U.S. are hardly a demographic that regularly pays a premium for the latest and greatest smartphones. Even the regular Galaxy S20 will likely be a tough sell to many Visible customers. Samsung Galaxy S family in the year of visible price hikes While often mentioned along with U.S. MVNOs, Visible is actually a Verizon-owned prepaid brand launched two years back. Besides aggressive pricing plans, its main draw is accessibility; joining Visible is as simple as visiting its website or downloading its app. The firms offerings include truly unlimited data, calls, and texts. Advertisement As for Samsungs latest handset series, the Galaxy S20 line raises the quality bar in nearly every way imaginable. From camera performance and build quality to software and AI, the new smartphones focus on premium experiences across the board. The privilege of enjoying that technological leap is, unfortunately, dependent on your willigness to swallow another major annual price hike. Again, the new phablets start at nearly $1,000 in the U.S. Samsungs decision not to release a Galaxy S10e successor shows its near-term flagship strategy is becoming bolder. Only time will tell if that approach pays off, though the Galaxy S20 family likely wont be a huge hit among U.S. prepaid customers no matter what. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed March 14 for the bye-election in Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State. INECs national commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, disclosed this on Wednesday via a statement. This means four bye-elections will now hold on February 14. The commission earlier last week announced the same date for bye-elections in three constituencies in Kwara, Sokoto, and Niger states. INEC said the bye-elections were a result of the deaths of the lawmakers holding the seats in the national and state assemblies. It added that the polls will hold simultaneously. READ FULL PRESS RELEASE It will be recalled that on 6th February 2020, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed Saturday 14th March 2020 for the conduct of bye-elections in three constituencies following the deaths of some serving members of the National and State Assemblies. The Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives had declared a vacancy in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency of Niger State; the Honourable Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly had declared a vacancy in Patigi State Constituency while the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly had also declared a vacancy in the Kebbe State Constituency. Subsequently, the National Assembly, through a letter dated 10th February 2020, informed the Commission of the death of Honourable Adamu Muhammadu Fagen Gawo, Member representing Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, who died on 31st December 2019. Consequently, the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives has declared the seat for Babura/Garki Federal Constituency vacant. The Commission has therefore fixed Saturday 14th March 2020 for the bye-election to be held simultaneously with the other bye elections on the same date. The Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency has been uploaded on the Commissions website and other social media platforms. Festus Okoye Esq. National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee. 12th February 2020 The former New York Times publisher Arthur 'Pinch' Sulzberger Jr quietly filed for divorce from his second wife last week after five and a half years of marriage. Sulzberger, 68, filed for divorce from financier Gabrielle Greene at the New York Supreme Court on February 4 in a 'contested matrimonial' suit, according to the New York Post. Greene, 59, spent a brief time as chairperson of Whole Foods after being appointed to their board of directors in 2003 and is currently a partner at an advisory firm. No further information on the divorce was available from the sealed court records. Former Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr.(R) and Gabrielle Greene Sulzberger have filed for divorce in a 'contested matrimonial' suit in New York after five and a half years of marriage Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., and Gabrielle Greene, pictured together, left, in 2014 with Russ Clune and Amy Pickerin, filed for divorce in a New York Supreme Court on February 4, 2020 The couple is due back in court to face Judge Douglas Hoffman on February 27. Sulzberger married Greene at a ceremony in the Outermost Inn in Martha's Vineyard on August 30, 2014, six years after his split from first wife Gail Gregg. Greene is stepmother to current New York Times publisher Arthur Gregg (A.G.) Sulzberger, 39, a son from Pinch's marriage to Gregg. Pinch announced his split from Gregg in 2008, going on to date Mexican philanthropist Claudia Gonzalez until some time in 2012. Gonzalez is believed to have had a hand in the unexpected departure of former Times CEO Janet Robinson in December 2011. Greene was first announced as Pinch's new girlfriend at a New York Times gala in June 2013 and they were married just over a year later. Arthur Sulzberger Jr. is pictured, left, with his first wife Gail Gregg, Carol Fuhrman and his father Arthur Sulzberger at the 100th-anniversary celebration for the New York Times in 1996 Arthur Sulzberger, right, with former girlfriend Mexican philanthropist Claudia Gonzalez who he dated until some time in 2012 - she is believed to have been involved in a former CEO's exit She is currently a partner at Californian advisory firm Fontis Partners and a partner at investment firm RC/Fontis which specializes in 'natural food and beverage and personal care'. Greene was also announced to the Whole Foods' board of directors in 2003 and spent a brief stint as chairperson. According to the New York Times' announcement of their marriage, Greene graduated from Princeton and received a law degree and an M.B.A from Harvard. She also had a previous marriage that ended in divorce. Pinch met his first wife Gail Gregg at Thanksgiving 1973 when visiting his mother in Kansas during his senior year at Tufts University. According to The Trust, a book from Alex Jones and Susan Tifft on the famous family who own the Times, the couple immediately fell in love and had moved in together by January 1974. The book described Gregg as 'forceful and self-assured the very strengths he [Pinch] tried to cultivate in himself, though his way of expressing them tended to be cocky and confrontational.' They were married for 33 years until making 'the difficult decision to separate' in 2008. 'We are fortunate to have the love and support of our two children, other family members and close friends and colleagues. This is a private matter and we will not discuss it further,' they said in a joint statement. Gabrielle Greene is the stepmother of current NYT publisher A. G. Sulzberger, pictured in 2019 A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, took over from his father in 2017 Arthur Sulzberger Jr. holds up four fingers to indicate the four Pulitzer Prizes won by the New York Times in 2013 - the paper won 60 Pulitzer Prizes in total during his time as publisher Pinch passed on the role of New York Times publisher to his son A.G. in December 2017 but remained on the board of directors. A.G. Sulzberger is the fifth generation of the Ochs-Sulzberger family to serve as publisher since Adolph Ochs, his great great-grandfather, bought the Times in 1896. Pinch took over from his own father, Arthur O. Sulzberger, in 1992 and went on to preside during an era of rapid change brought on by the rise of digital media. The Times published its first color photo in 1993 and its first web edition in 1996. The newspaper's 2011 move to charge online readers through a pay wall was watched closely, with some doubting consumers would pay for content they were used to getting for free. The Times won 60 Pulitzer Prizes during Sulzberger's leadership but weathered controversies including a 2003 plagiarism scandal involving reporter Jayson Blair and the 2014 firing of Jill Abramson, the paper's first female executive editor. The Nigerian Army says its troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) have continued to neutralize more terrorists, capture gun trucks and a cache of arms in several encounters across North East. The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Aminu Iliyasu, a colonel, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja. Mr Iliyasu said the troops had continued to sustain the ongoing counter terrorism operations, making life unbearable for the marauding remnants of the Boko Haram/Islamic States West African Province (ISWAP) criminals. He said the troops of 25 Task Force Brigade in conjunction with civilian JTF unleashed superior fire power on some ISWAP terrorists at Njaba along Damboa-Bale road on Sunday. He said several of the insurgents were neutralised while others escaped with gunshot wounds at the end of the encounter and one of the terrorists named Koise Bulama was captured alive. Items recovered from the terrorists are one Buffalo gun truck, one anti-aircraft gun, three machine guns, two AK47 rifles and 141 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition. Others are one suicide vest, one Improvised Explosive Device Box, 10 motorcycles, one pumping machine and some mechanical tools. On the same day, some elements of Boko Haram suffered yet another defeat in the hands of troops of 121 Battalion in Pulka, Gwoza LGA in a failed attempt to attack the troops location. The dogged troops repelled the attack and neutralised one insurgent in the process while others retreated in disarray under the cover of darkness, he said. Mr Iliyasu further disclosed that troops of 112 Task Force Battalion deployed at Ngwom in Mafa local government also thwarted an attempt by the Boko Haram terrorists to infiltrate their defensive location. He added that the troops neutralised one of them while many of them escaped with various degrees of gunshot wound as evident from the trails of blood discovered along the insurgents withdrawal route. He said the troops recovered one Baofeng Handheld Radio, one Rocket Propelled Gun bomb, 101 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and two rounds of 60mm mortar bombs abandoned by the escaping criminals. Mr Iliyasu added that the troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Tungushe in Konduga local government area engaged some Boko Haram terrorists mounted on six gun trucks and neutralised three of them. He said one Buffalo gun truck, one Anti-Aircraft gun, two AK-47 rifles, two AK 47 Rifle Magazines and 60 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition were captured from the insurgents after the encounter. He said one gallant soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter. Similarly, on the same day, troops of 3 Battalion (Main) deployed at Rann in Kala/Balge LGA of Borno State delivered a devastating blow on some Boko Haram elements. READ ALSO: The insurgents attacked the troops location in 4 Gun Trucks alongside a number of their foot soldiers. The vigilant troops responded swiftly, engaging the criminals in a brief fire fight that lasted for about 20 minutes. At the end of the encounter, the heroic troops neutralized two of the criminal insurgents. Equally, the troops captured one General Purpose Machine Gun, one AK 47 Rifle, one Baofeng Handheld Radio and 33 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition. It is also heart-warming to note that seven women and nine children held hostage by the criminals were rescued while two Boko Haram flags, one motorcycle and one motorcycle engine were recovered, he said. Mr Iliyasu also disclosed that the troops also arrested 11 high profile Boko Haram/ISWAP logistics suppliers within Biu local government area of the state. (NAN) Advertisements Why did the Stone matter so clearly warrant resignation? The president has used Twitter to denounce and pressure department officials, senior administration lawyers and the Mueller team. When he did that to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, his deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, and the special counsel Robert Mueller, they stuck it out. They must have thought that the best way to serve the rule of law was to hold off or humor the president, maintaining regular order as much as possible even as Mr. Trump raged that he could not fully control his department. And there is a case to make for their choice. Mr. Sessions stood up to the president and adhered to his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Mr. Mueller was not fired and completed his investigation in the Russia matter. But this time, the president got what he wanted. Mr. Trump attacked the department sentencing recommendation as an unacceptable miscarriage of justice that was horrible and unfair. And then the department did switch positions on the sentencing, criticizing its own prosecutors for failing to be reasonable in their recommendation to the court. This, then, could be seen as the extreme case, whereas normally a lawyer might decide that working from the inside is the best, most responsible answer to the presidents behavior. Still, if resignation had been seen earlier as viable, even necessary option, its possible that we would not have arrived at this point. Mr. Sessions could have resigned over the presidents public calls for him to ignore his recusal requirements or prosecute Hillary Clinton. If Mr. Mueller had resigned over the presidents attacks on him and refusal to sit for an interview, he might not have completed his report but he would have rendered a devastating and unequivocal judgment. And, without a report he felt compelled to rely on, Mr. Mueller might have felt himself more at liberty to testify in detail to Congress. The nations largest teachers unions want to end active shooter drills while students are in class, contending the practice can trigger trauma instead of confidence in a crisis. Schools should focus on training faculty and staff and pour resources into threat assessment programs, mental health officers, physical security and improving school climate, according to a white paper released Tuesday from the American Federation of Teachers, National Educators Association and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. If schools choose to do lockdown or active shooter drills, the groups wrote, they should omit simulations that mimic actual incidents, give parents advance notice and announce the drills before they begin. Unfortunately, (lockdown drills) will be a new social norm, because if we dont train them, they wont know what to do if the real thing happens, said Craig Straw, Texas City ISDs director of security and school safety. About 95 percent of schools across the country hold drills to prepare students and teachers for the possibility of a campus shooting, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The call to rethink active shooter drills comes after several life-like simulations in schools have drawn national attention and criticism. Trainers shot teachers and staff with plastic pellets at one active shooter training at an elementary school in Indiana last spring, although no students were on campus at the time. Parents at a suburban Orlando, Florida, school raged against school officials in December 2018 after they warned of a code red over a loudspeaker and sent automated texts to teachers that there was an active shooter on campus. The administrators did not say it was a drill, and some students were so afraid that they texted their parents good bye messages, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some schools, including one in Dayton, Ohio, fired blank rounds of ammunition during lockdowns to familiarize students and staff with the sound of gunshots. In Texas, school districts are required by state law to hold several types of emergency drills a year, including lockdown, fire evacuations, shelter-in-place for hazmat scenario and shelter-in-place for severe weather. The Texas Education Agency will release rules this summer about the number of each type of drills schools must conduct, but it currently recommends schools hold at least two simulated lockdowns each school year. The trainings were required after a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County left 10 dead and 13 wounded on May 18, 2018. However, each district differs in how it conducts the exercises. Perhaps no districts in the state have changed how they approach training and preparing for potential shootings more than those located near Santa Fe ISD. Clear Creek ISD, for example, created a local mandate to conduct multiple drills nearly one year before that approach was enshrined in state law. There, school administrators warn parents, teachers and students of the exact date and time of a drill. They use a specialized curriculum about several types of drills for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and do not use any sound effects or role-playing when conducting the drills. Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Greg Smith likened it to the bomb drills of the 1960s, in which students would hide under their desks in the event of a Soviet missile attack, and routine fire drills that have occurred for decades. Weve tried to do it in systematic way, and weve created some good muscle memory for people to respond to various threats out there, Smith said. That muscle memory came into play in late 2018, when one of the districts elementary schools had to enact what is known as a lockout as police pursued a felony suspect near the campus. Brian Palazzi, the districts director of safe schools, said campus administrators brought all the kids inside, locked all the exterior doors and did not allow anyone to enter or leave until the lockout was lifted. Despite the chaos outside, it was calm inside the school, he said. The teachers got the kids off the playground and things were going on as normal, Palazzi said. The kids werent scared because they had done it before. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Other Houston-area districts have chosen to be more realistic. School officials in Texas City ISD, also located near Santa Fe, give parents about a weeks notice before a drill but never disclose the date and time beforehand. The district uses an app that flashes warnings across all computers inside a school and on the cell phone screens of every teacher and employee describing the threat or type of emergency situation. Teachers can mark the status of each of their students, indicating whether they are all accounted for and if any are missing or injured. Those reports feed back to a central database, which allows law enforcement and district officials to pinpoint a threat and know where and how to treat students and staff. During lockdown drills, police officials bang on classroom doors to see if students make noise in response, Texas City ISDs Straw said. Only law enforcement officers are allowed to open classroom doors in those scenarios, even if a drill is finished The district does not use actors pretending to be shooters roaming halls, nor does it try to simulate the sound of gun fire. Straw said the district uses the same drill curriculum used by Clear Creek ISD and spends about an hour and a half debriefing with school staff following each drill. For teachers who say this causes stress, weve been doing fire drills for years. Students are used to hearing the sound of the drill and they dont panic, Straw said. The teachers unions and Everytown discouraged unannounced drills. They said schools should focus on training faculty and staff and pour resources into threat assessment programs, mental health officers, physical security and improving school climate. And, they said, drills should be coupled with trauma-informed methods to address students well-being, and track data about the effects of drills. Julia Louis-Dreyfus bundled up with a big scarf Tuesday as she headed to a talk show taping in New York City. The 59-year-old actress wore a burgundy and black scarf along with a long black overcoat and bright red trousers as she arrived at The Late Show With Stephen Colbert studio. Julia completed her stylish outfit with black open-toed heels and carried a black purse. Fan favorite: Julia Louis-Dreyfus acknowledged her fans with a wave Tuesday as she headed into a talk show taping in New York City She accentuated her natural beauty with rosy cheeks, eye makeup and red lipstick. Julia and Will Ferrell, 52, on Sunday presented the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood. They co-star together in the upcoming black comedy Downhill, which is a remake of the 2014 international comedy Force Majeure. Downhill had its world premiere last month at the Sundance Film Festival and will be released in theaters Friday. Cute smile: The 59-year-old actress beamed as she arrived at The Late Show With Stephen Colbert studio Busy star: Julia has been promoting her new comedy Downhill It will be the first film to be released under the Searchlight Pictures name following Disney's acquisition of the Fox studios. The film follows a married couple who reevaluate their lives during an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps. Julia also is a co-producer of the film by directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Oscars presenters: Will Ferrell and Julia on Sunday presented the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the 92nd Academy Awards in Hollywood Downhill be released alongside Sonic the Hedgehog, Fantasy Island and The Photograph. Julia also will voice Laurel Lightfoot in the computer-animated urban fantasy Onward scheduled for release on March 6. She signed a multi-year deal last month with Apple TV+ to develop new projects for the streaming service as both an executive producer and star. Investors trapped in Neil Woodford's Income Focus fund will finally be able to access their money. Savers in the fund, which is now being managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments, will be allowed to start placing buy and sell orders today at noon. Renamed the LF ASI Income Focus, it will officially reopen tomorrow at midday. Savers in Neil Woodford's Income Focus fund, which is now being managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments, will be allowed to start placing buy and sell orders today at noon Any orders placed between today and then will be calculated at the share price on noon tomorrow. Link Fund Solutions, which supervises the management of the fund, suspended it last October after its manager Woodford resigned. Now worth 251million, it has lost investors 26 per cent of their money since its launch in April 2017. Anyone who pulls money out this week will crystallise a heavy loss, and Aberdeen hopes many investors will remain. Since it was appointed to run the fund, it has moved savers' money out of the more hard-to-sell stocks which Woodford had chosen and into liquid stocks 'which we believe will drive sustainable income and capital growth', it said. The top ten holdings now include bus company National Express, packaging firm Mondi, OneSavings Bank and travel firm Tui. Last month, savers in the larger Woodford Equity Income fund began to get money back after being trapped in it since last June. That fund was not considered salvageable by Link, after it fired Woodford from running it in October, and is being wound up, with some facing losses of up to 40 per cent. A Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, and a former senator, Shehu Sani, were at the Federal High Court in Abuja Monday to observe the trial of an activist, Omoyele Sowore. A former chairman of Nigerias human rights commission, Chidi Odinkalu, was also in court for the trial. Mr Soyinka arrived at about 8:50 a.m., five minutes after Mr Sowore arrived at the court. When PREMIUM TIMES approached the Nobel Laureate to speak on his appearance in court, he declined to comment and said any comment could land him in detention. The way I came into the court with two legs, that is how I want to go out of the court with my two legs, he said jokingly. Also speaking was Mr Sowore, who said he is not enjoying his freedom as his movement is restricted to Abuja, where he has no house or family. Mr Sowore and a co-accused, Olawale Bakare, are standing trial on a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, fraud, cyberstalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari. READ ALSO: Messr Sowore and Bakare were arrested on August 3 by the State Security Services (SSS) for planning a protest popularised with the hashtag #RevolutionNow. The SSS had on December 6 rearrested Mr Sowore at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja a day after he was released from their custody. The publisher and Mr Bakare were released the night before on the order of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu after spending 124 days in SSS custody. Mr Sowore was later released on December 24, 2019. The trial was yet to commence on Wednesday at the time of this report. Manchester United stars took a break from their warm-weather training camp by heading for a night out in Marbella. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who sit in eighth place, have been working in Spain during the new Premier League winter break. Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Co were seen visiting Marbella's celebrity hotspot La Sala after being given some time off. Manchester United stars, including Harry Maguire, took a break from their training camp United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka was seen visiting Marbella's celebrity hotspot La Sala in free time United midfielder Jesse Lingard was another who went to La Sala on Tuesday evening The Red Devils travelling party, which did not include surprise January signing Odion Ighalo, spent the evening dining at the venue before returning to their five-star hotel in Estepona. Ighalo has been trying to get up to speed away from his team-mates, with his exclusion down to fears he would not be allowed back into the UK following the coronavirus outbreak. Solskjaer is prepared to hand the new addition his debut when United return to action at Stamford Bridge on Monday night. United face top-four rivals Chelsea in the Premier League with the Red Devils six points off the Blues. Solskjaer was given a boost on Tuesday night with midfielder Paul Pogba closing in on a return to fitness. The Alabama Democratic Conference has endorsed billionaire philanthropist and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for president, the organization announced Tuesday. The ADC is the Alabama Democratic Partys largest black caucus. The endorsement comes after Bloomberg gave the keynote speech at the conferences 60th annual convention on Saturday. He has shown a keen interest in the ADC, said Joe L. Reed, the groups chairman. He has visited the state twice in the last two months. Aside from the keynote address, Bloomberg also made a campaign stop at Alabama State University, where he attacked President Trumps character. Lets face it, Donald Trump is the worlds biggest schoolyard bully with no respect for civility or decency or facts or honesty, Bloomberg said to the crowd at ASU, which interrupted him frequently with applause. And our party needs a candidate who can go toe-to-toe with him and take the fight to him. The ADC also touted Bloombergs success as a businessman -- the former mayors wealth largely comes from his financial service company, Bloomberg L.P., which provides terminals to many Wall Street firms -- and experience leading New York City for 12 years. The Alabama Democratic Party will not be making an endorsement in the race since it runs the state primary, while Sen. Doug Jones, Rep. Terri Sewell and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin are backing former Vice President Joe Biden. A CMU student charged in the bathtub drowning of a 14-month-old girl is headed towards trial. Grace Nellie Hunt, 22, was scheduled for a preliminary examination on Thursday, but on Tuesday waived it. A preliminary exam establishes whether enough evidence exists to send the case to trial. Hunt faces two felony charges in the death of a 14-month-old girl on Sept. 13, 2019; involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year/$7,500 felony, and second-degree child abuse, a 10-year felony. The child was found unresponsive in a bathtub in CMUs Keewadin Village and a call was placed to 911 at approximately 8:50 p.m. Bystanders performed CPR on the child until they were relieved by CMU police officers when they arrived on the scene. She was taken to McLaren-Central Michigan, where she was declared dead. There was no evidence that drugs or alcohol played a role, Isabella County Prosecutor Dave Barberi said previously, but he added that his office felt that the level of negligence in the case was high enough to warrant criminal charges. Charges were filed against Hunt in early January after a decision to file charges was made in December. The prosecutors office notified Hunt of the charges at the time to provide her an opportunity to surrender, but held off submitting the paperwork until after the holidays. Keewadin Village is a CMU-owned apartment complex just southwest of campus proper. The people who live there are mostly students with families, non-traditional students and graduate students. A trial date is not set. READ MORE: On Friday, I walked into a packed theatre for one of the first screenings of my latest film, Shikara. Three hundred people, most of them Kashmiri Pandits, stood up and applauded. But one lady at the back screamed that the film wasnt representative of her pain. She wanted more. I was accused of commercialising the tragedy of a community which was exiled 30 years ago. I have spent many days thinking about what she said. And I realise that what she wanted was more hate. She wanted a film that demonised Muslims, and that sowed even more animosity and bloodshed. In fact, one of her issues with the film was that Muslim actors were playing Pandit characters. After a week of shrill accusations, controversy and introspection about what I could have done differently, I have come to the conclusion that I am not that storyteller. I will never peddle hate for profit. I started working on Shikara 11 years ago in 2008. This film was made as a tribute to my mother. She came to Mumbai from Srinagar for a week to attend the premiere of Parinda and could never return. She briefly went with me to Kashmir during the shoot of Mission Kashmir in 1999. She visited her home which had been looted by the militants. Everything was gone. Despite seeing her house ransacked, she kept saying that it will be fine one day. She hugged the neighbours and left with the hope, that some day, she can return. She died in exile in 2007. I am my mothers son, and when I was making this film, the predominant thought in my mind was that my film should not incite violence. My ambition was to represent the reality fully, but without provoking the viewer to feel vengeful. So in the January 19, 1990 sequence, the militants who come to burn the Pandit homes are in the shadows. I purposely did this because I believe that violence is faceless. I hoped to begin a conversation with Shikara and I am happy to say that this has happened. I have received countless messages and emails from Kashmiri Pandits thanking me for bringing their story to the world. I feel fulfilled. As for the haters, I have only thing to say as Munna put it so beautifully in Lage Raho Munnabhai Get Well Soon! Vidhu Vinod Chopra is a film director, screenwriter and producer. His films include Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, the Munna Bhai series, and most recently, Shikara The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four more Australians have been diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. A quarantine officer is among 39 more people who have been diagnosed with the virus on the cruise liner, which is docked in Yokohama in Japan. The new cases include seven Americans, two Canadians and the ship's first teenage patient. There are now 174 cases of coronavirus on the boat including 15 Australians. Medical personnel outside the quarantine zone in front of the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The boat now hosts the largest concentration of coronavirus outside of China Medical staff dressed in protective clothing prepare to board the Diamond Princess in Yokohama, Japan There are currently 174 cases of coronavirus on the boat including 15 Australians. Pictured: medical staff inside the ship More than 3,600 people are trapped on the boat in quarantine, 208 of whom are Australian. The Diamond Princess has been called a 'floating prison' by those on board, with passengers stuck on the vessel until the quarantine period finishes on February 19. The boat is currently hosting the largest concentration of the disease outside of China. Olivia Capodicasa is one of the Australian passengers in quarantine and revealed what conditions are like for those stranded on board. 'People with cabins that don't have light, or windows or a balcony, are a priority,' she told the Sunrise program. Australian Olivia Capodicasa said she is confined to a windowless cabin and only allowed outside briefly for exercise and fresh air 'When we're out there we have to wear our masks, our gloves, any protective gear. We can just walk around and breathe in the fresh air. I did a few sprints because I was just dying to get moving.' She also said she was optimistic despite her mundane environment. 'I think that's the only mindset you have to have when you're locked in a room,' she said. Quarantined Australian passenger Claire Hedger posted an Instagram update on Wednesday afternoon thanking staff for their tireless help on the ship. Claire Hedger posted this image on Instagram from quarantine on board the Diamond Princess 'We are being so well looked after during this crazy situation. And thankfully we continue to remain healthy and comfortable,' Ms Hedger posted. 'The last seven days have gone pretty quickly and the next seven days will be over in no time. 'Princess Cruises have been very generous, the crew are working like crazy and the Japanese health authorities are working very hard - there are even volunteers working around the clock.' Japan initially screened all 3,711 passengers and crew last week after an 80-year-old passenger who left the ship in January was confirmed to have the virus. Nearly 300 people were selected for further tests because they showed symptoms or had contact with known patients, resulting in 61 initial positive tests. Since then, the tests have expanded to those who had contact with the infected passengers, producing a spiralling number of confirmed cases. The deadly coronavirus has killed more than 1,100 people. Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - MarijuanaStox announces publication of an article that discusses The Yield Growth Corporation (CSE: BOSS) (OTCQB: BOSQF). The company has been aggressively addressing demand for health, wellness, and beauty products infused with premium-cannabis and hemp-based products internationally with subsidiary, Urban Juve in addition to psilocybin mushrooms. Denver, Oakland, and Santa Cruz are Just the First to Legalize Over the last year, Denver, Colorado, and Oakland, California decriminalized the possession of products containing psilocybin or psilocin. Then, just weeks ago, the Santa Cruz City Council voted to pass a resolution that decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms in the city. "Entheogenic plants offer many in our community a way out of the addictive pharmaceuticals known as opioids," said City Councilman Chris Krohn, as quoted by The Hill. "People came forward at last night's meeting telling of the beneficial effects of how these plants changed their lives." Another city councilman, Drew Glover added, "With the passing of this resolution Santa Cruz has taken an important step in acknowledging the impact that the war on drugs has had on communities while at the same time giving people the liberty to choose how to address their medical needs, providing a potent tool to address issues like PTSD, addiction, and depression." D.C. may even join those cities this November 2020. In fact, according to The Washington Post, the D.C. Board of Elections decided that the proposal can be placed on the November ballot for a vote. "If approved, the District would join a handful of other cities that have passed similar measures in recent months." However, the proposal must still get a sufficient number of signatures from supporters before it can be added to the ballot officially. Better, the Decriminalize Nature DC group in D.C. is fighting for the decriminalization of mushrooms. The group is asking that D.C. "cease prosecution of residents of the District of Columbia for non-commercial planting, non-commercial cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, and/or possessing entheogenic plants and fungi as defined in D.C. Official Code 5-115.08," as highlighted by WUSA9. Story continues Vermont lawmakers could also decriminalize certain psilocybin. In fact, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act would allow adults to visit licensed medical facilities to have the psychedelic administered under professional supervision. In order for the initiative to qualify for the November 2020 ballot, 112,020 signatures must be collected by July 2. Even better, Marijuanmovement.com reports that activists in roughly 100 cities across the U.S. are hoping to replicate that resolution with the goal of decriminalizing certain psychedelic substances through ballot initiatives and legislative action at the local level. Magic Mushrooms Showing High Levels of Psychological Benefits 2020 has been a big year for psilocybin mushrooms so far. While the federal government still classifies it as dangerous, clinical evidence reveals that it does hold medicinal and therapeutic properties for the treatment of depression, alcohol addiction and many psychological disorders. Experts at Johns Hopkins recently launched the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, for example. The U.S. FDA granted "breakthrough status" to COMPASS Pathways' psilocybin-assisted therapy just last year, which allows the FDA assist in the development of a promising drug to treat serious illnesses. Researchers at New York University found psilocybin mushrooms caused a "rapid and sustained" reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with cancer, as reported by the Financial Post. Plus, a one-time, single dose of the drug combined with therapy helped improve the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients for up to five years, say researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, as highlighted by Science Focus. In fact, in a 2016 study, it was found that psilocybin helped produce immediate, substantial, and sustained improvements in anxiety and depression. Six months after that study, 60% to 80% of study participants saw significant reductions in anxiety or depression, distress, and overall quality of life. Five years later, more than 70% of the participants said the therapy resulted in long-term positive life changes for them. "Adding to evidence dating back as early as the 1950s, our findings strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising means of improving the emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of patients with life-threatening cancer," said lead researcher Stephen Ross, as quoted by Science Focus. "This approach has the potential to produce a paradigm shift in the psychological and existential care of patients with cancer, especially those with terminal illness." Yield Growth Corporation is a Major Beneficiary of Mushroom Story "With increasing awareness around the therapeutic potential of mushrooms, I expect to see this trend continuing, and we are preparing to meet the potential future demand for these products with Flourish Mushroom Labs," says Yield Growth CEO Penny White. "With more dollars being put behind studying mushrooms for therapeutic use, I expect we will see more and more action to decriminalize psilocybin. We believe we are at the forefront of a true renaissance in therapeutic, plant-based medicine." To date, Yield Growth has made substantial headway with the sprouting mushroom story. Just recently, the company announced that subsidiary Flourish Mushroom Labs Inc. entered into a binding letter of intent with Acres Agricultural Canada Corp. to jointly form a company in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Acres Flourish Labs (SVG) Ltd. to build a laboratory for the cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms and for research and development into compounds and therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms. The agreement contemplates that the proposed research and development of psilocybin for therapeutic use is within the purview of St. Vincent's Plant Breeders' Protection Bill, 2019 and the wider establishment of a viable and sustainable modern medicinal industry in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The proposing parties are aware of and keenly interested in the conducive climatic conditions as exist in Saint Vincent for the controlled cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms, coupled with the existing offshore medical academic programs which can create an ideal environment for the advancement of the necessary scientific studies in Saint Vincent. "We are very excited to be the first publicly traded company to announce a legal path to cultivate and research psychedelic mushrooms," says Yield Growth and Flourish CEO Penny White. "There is a renaissance of psychedelic medicine for which investor interest could go viral at any time. We are planning to enter this space with first mover advantage to deliver value to our shareholders." In addition, Flourish Mushroom Labs Inc. completed the acquisition of a catalogue of mushroom formulas as the foundation of a mushroom edibles business. The formulas and know-how acquired relate to formulations that may be used to create ready to eat packaged food products or packaged food products that may be mixed with mushroom varietals of the consumer's choice. The formulations include soups, teas, hot cocoa, elixirs and truffles. Flourish has engaged the developers to create additional products to add to the base catalogue and commercialize the formulas, going to market first with mushroom based soups and coffees. "Our research indicates that edible mushrooms are in a period of high growth," says Yield Growth CEO Penny White. "Yield Growth intends to add to its cannabis wellness assets through acquisitions in companies. Edible Mushrooms may experience hyper-growth as the movement to decriminalize psilocybin (magic mushrooms) grows, similar to how the popularity of hemp has grown with the legalization of cannabis." For more information, visit the company's website at https://yieldgrowth.com. About MarijuanaStox MarijuanaStox.com is a leading web destination for all cannabis related companies. Investors can also find current marijuana-related quality financial, medical, legal and social news. MarijuanaStox.com is a media agency in North America dedicated to the cannabis industry, helping companies that operate in the space to attract quality investors, working capital and real publicity. Since 2005, we have had public companies in the US and Canada have rely on us to grow and succeed. Legal Disclaimer Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media which has a partnership with www.MarijuanaStox.com is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media, which has a partnership with www.MarijuanaStox.com, is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement between Winning Media (partners of MarijuanaStox.com) and The Yield Growth Corp, Winning Media has been paid four thousand dollars for advertising and marketing services for The Yield Growth Corp. We own ZERO shares of The Yield Growth Corp. Please click here for full disclaimer. Contact Information: 2818047972 ty@marijuanastox.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52351 Samsung has now revealed that through a partnership with Google, its Galaxy S20 series will be the first non-pixel devices to pack Live Caption accessibility features. The company made the announcement today near the end of the keynote at its annual Samsung Unpacked 2020 event. Google Platforms & Ecosystems SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer took to the stage to peel back the details. The accessibility-based feature is aimed at making it easier for the hard-of-hearing or otherwise hearing-impaired to interact with video content. Specifically, thats content that doesnt come with captions. Its explicitly designed to add captions to almost any video content. Live Caption also works entirely on-device via three separate AI learning models. That doesnt solely work with videos where audio is easy to hear either. Instead, its intended to work as well with audio that isnt clear. Google highlighted that during the features launch with a video of a young girl that was difficult to understand while speaking. Advertisement This is the same Live Caption feature already found on Google Pixel handsets Googles Live Caption feature is not entirely exclusive to Samsungs new Galaxy S20 models. The feature first appeared on the search giants own Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL handsets. Google later rolled out the feature to its Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets, as well as its Pixel 3a series mid-rangers. That update arrived in early December of last year. That means that not only does Live Caption work in video content on Samsungs new Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. It will actually work across podcast apps and any other app that supports video media formatting. In some cases, that will work with audio too such as in audio messaging apps, allowing users to read messages that are otherwise video-free. Where the launch of this feature differs is primarily in how its been included. Through its partnership with Googles Android team, these are going to be the first Android devices that dont bear Pixel branding that ship with Live Caption available right out of the box. Advertisement The Galaxy S20 comes with the power to drive this powerful AI It isnt immediately apparent why no other smartphones running Android have launched yet with Live Caption. But it isnt difficult to imagine that running three AI algorithms concurrently is a power-hungry process. So it isnt out of the question that its the underlying hardware in the Galaxy S20 series thats making Live Captions possible. The Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra are some of the most powerful devices around. To begin with, Samsung has packed its newest handsets with the Snapdragon 865. Thats the most powerful 64-bit octa-core processor released to-date by Qualcomm. Backing that up, Samsung incorporated a minimum of 12GB of RAM in the US. Outside of the US, 8GB RAM will be the minimum. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra will ship with up to 16GB. But that isnt the standard RAM either. Samsung has used LPDDR5 RAM, thats as much as 30-percent faster and 20-percent more efficient. So there will be plenty of power here for driving the new Live Captions feature seamlessly for whatever media it does work with. London Fashion Week aims to use technology to show off its designs to crucial Chinese consumers who are not attending because of coronavirus. Caroline Rush, the head of the British Fashion Council, said measures such as greater virtual coverage of catwalk shows and product promotions were planned for Chinese editors, buyers and investors who could not be there. The BFC said Chinese attendance at LFW, which starts on Friday, will be significantly reduced due to the virus. Counterparts at Milan Fashion Week suggested about 1,000 buyers, journalists and stylists were likely to miss out on their event later this month. Chinese fashion industry figures are understood to wary about going overseas for fear of spreading the virus. Travel restrictions in and around China also make getting to Europe difficult. The European events hope Chinese buyers will place orders online instead, with Milan and London both promising to ramp up virtual coverage. The BFC is also stepping up sanitary measures at its base 180 The Strand with a deep clean every evening to stop the potential spread of any virus. More hand sanitisers will be available. Rush, below, said organisers were adopting government guidelines and going above and beyond. She added: We know some crucial media, buyers and retailers arent able to travel We are looking at how many platforms our content reaches and what packages we can make accessible to those audiences, so they are not just seeing the collections but capturing the conversations on topics like sustainability that happen during fashion week, which is what a lot of visitors find incredibly valuable. Information and content distribution to China will be increased over London Fashion Week to ensure that the reach of the shows, presentations and exhibitions will support ongoing commercial and editorial partnerships. Last year, Bain & Company said Chinese consumers accounted for a third of global luxury goods sales. The BFC has helped UK designers break into the Chinese market. Peter Pilotto and Roksanda Ilincic were showcased at Shanghai Fashion Week last year. In 2018, Rush announced a two-year partnership with Chinese fashion giants JD.com and Ruyi. The first designer to show their collection at LFW on Friday is Chinese, Yuhan Wang, and another, Bosideng, kicks off proceedings on Sunday. Rush said some Asian models have been unable to travel, so making sure we have the diversity on the catwalk, I think, will be more challenging. "God of Revival," the highly anticipated new single from GRAMMY-nominated, world-renowned worship leaders Bethel Music, is now available. An impassioned anthem of praise and prayer featuring Bethel Music co-founders Brian & Jenn Johnson, "God of Revival" pleads for a new awakening, an outpouring of His Spirit on families, cities and nations. Recorded live at Bethel Church in Redding, California, the prophetic song also calls upon worshippers to seek a fresh faith in the God of the impossible-the God who lights the darkest night. Produced by Brian Johnson and Joel Taylor, "God of Revival" was penned by Johnson and Phil Wickham, writers of 2019's Dove Award-winning Worship Recorded Song of the Year, "Living Hope." Reflecting a season of renewal within the Bethel Music community, "God of Revival" is the title-cut from the collective's forthcoming compilation slated for release later this year. Listen to Brian Johnson talk about the story behind the song: "As a Bethel Music community, we are experiencing an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, igniting fresh hunger in each of us to go after more of God no matter the cost," Brian Johnson says. "We have reached a turning point from which we have resolved that no matter what happens around us-we serve an amazing God. Revival is here and now." This spring, audiences around the country can experience Bethel Music on "The Roadshow 2020" Tour, presented by Compassion LIVE. The 16-city outing kicks-off March 5 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and also features Matt Maher, Martin Smith of Delirious?, Unspoken, Apollo LTD, Elle Limebear and Peabod. Click here for a complete list of cities and dates. Tags : brian and jenn johnson bethel music bethel music god of revival brian johnson Bethel Music's Brian Johnson Talks About their New Song "God of Revival" bethel music new single bethel music news CORVALLIS, Ore. A Washington man was arrested in Benton County, accused of trying to lure a child online. Daniel Baldie, 33, of Vancouver was taken into custody on Friday after a two-and-a-half week undercover operation by the Benton County Sheriffs Office. In January, a deputy posed as a minor and responded to an online ad seeking younger girls, the sheriffs office said. During the conversation, Baldie reportedly offered to drive to Corvallis to meet the child and drive her back to Vancouver for sex. Baldie was arrested when he arrived, deputies said. He was taken to the Benton County Jail and faces charges of luring a minor, first-degree online sexual corruption of a child and attempted using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct. Vancouver police then searched Baldies home and interviewed his wife as a possible co-conspirator for second-degree attempted rape of a child. Several electronic devices were seized for examination, and the couples three children were taken into protective custody. The public should report any suspicions of online enticement of children to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by clicking here or calling 1-800-843-5678, police said. Is it always safe to go soaking in Oregons natural hot springs? Its a question worth asking this winter following two medical emergencies, including one death, at rustic hot springs located in Cascade Mountain forests. Soaking is, by and large, a safe activity. But it can be dangerous for people with pre-existing health conditions, pregnant women, or anyone who isnt staying hydrated. While youll usually see warning signs at spas and hot spring resorts, you wont see any at natural hot springs found in national forests. There are more than a dozen publicly accessible natural hot springs around the state, from the foothills of the Cascades to the high desert of southeast Oregon. Visitors usually access shallow soaking pools at the end of a short hike, where water temperature varies as it comes to the surface from geothermal sources. READ MORE: 8 ways to stay safe while soaking in natural hot springs At built-up hot springs as well as hot tubs at swimming pools and spas the Oregon Health Authority requires the posting of signs with a host of warnings for the elderly, pregnant women, kids and people with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and communicable diseases. Signs also warn against drinking alcohol and soaking alone, and recommend that people take breaks every 15 minutes. Theres no such requirement on national forest land, where hot springs are often remote, water can be unpredictably hot, and theres no easy access to emergency services. Typically, we do not have signage specifically about medical warnings, said Stephen Baker, regional spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. Even at developed recreation sites, despite the improvements and facilities available, these are still remote, natural settings and people should prepare accordingly. Baker said the forest service issues plenty of warnings about the many environmental dangers on public lands, like downed trees or landslides. When it comes to personal safety, visitors are responsible for themselves. Steam rises from the warm waters of McCredie Hot Springs, a natural hot spring found along Salt Creek in Oregon's central Cascades.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Injuries are common in these natural spaces, but incidents at hot springs remain relatively rare, officials said. This winter, however, has been an exception. In January, a 25-year-old woman died while soaking at Terwilliger Hot Springs in Lane County. Officials have not yet released her cause of death, saying only that she suffered from a medical event. Less than a week earlier, crews were dispatched to Bagby Hot Springs east of Salem to rescue a man who was stuck in a soaking pool for more than 30 hours. He had fallen ill while soaking and was too weak to get out, the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office said. Officials declined to offer any more details about the incident. And in February, a pair of would-be soakers had to be rescued from the Clackamas River after their kayak capsized while trying to access Austin Hot Springs, a location with dangerously hot water thats off-limits to the public. Its still unclear how this winters hot springs incidents were related to the hot springs themselves. Medical events can come up even at regulated resorts, though those, too, remain rare. Breitenbush Hot Springs is a private resort in the Willamette National Forest, where natural hot spring water is cooled to a maximum of 108 degrees. Among the roughly 26,000 guests that stay there every year, only a rare few require medical attention. Brinton Reed, a spokesman for Breitenbush, said theres a team of workers who maintain water temperature, and medical personnel who are always on call. Most of the time they deal with people who are sick, Reed said, but occasionally they respond to incidents involving soakers. Dehydration is by far the biggest one for us, Reed said. As far as Im concerned, thats the greatest risk. Soaking in hot water can increase risk of dehydration, which can result in lightheadedness, rapid heart rate or fainting effects that can be accelerated when drinking alcohol. When soaking in a remote location, dehydration can mean a much more difficult and dangerous hike back to the trailhead. Soakers should also avoid natural hot springs that are especially hot, which can cause severe burns. Water can also sometimes carry invisible hazards, like staph bacteria, arsenic and even a deadly amoeba that enters the nose and eats the brain though in Oregon those remain rare occurrences. Signs warning the public of health dangers do go up when high levels of bacteria are found in the water, like the E. coli outbreak at Umpqua Hot Springs in 2016. Anna Meyrick of Portland soaks in the main pool at Umpqua Hot Springs above The Umpqua River.Jamie Francis/The Oregonian Forest rangers in charge of maintaining popular soaking sites said they usually worry more about hazard trees and illegal campers than medical events. Their message to soakers is the same one issued to hikers in the national forests: Be responsible and enjoy at your own risk. Mark Turney, spokesman for the Umpqua National Forest, said the remote hot springs were part of the unpredictable forces of nature, and should be respected as such. Signs will warn of environmental hazards, but personal health hazards are up to each visitor to know for themselves. We work very hard to make sure that the signage in the area is appropriate for the area itself, Turney said. People need to know where theyre going and what theyre getting into. Medical emergencies at the hot springs may get more attention, he said, but authorities are more frequently called upon to respond to issues involving drugs, alcohol or hiking accidents. In September, one man died and a woman was injured after they fell off a cliff while hiking back from Umpqua Hot Springs. We try very hard to ensure the safety of everyone who goes there, but unfortunately given the size of the forest and the law enforcement that we have, we cant be everywhere at once, Turney said. At Terwilliger Hot Springs in the Willamette National Forest, rangers have been putting their efforts into clearing out trees burned by the Terwilliger fire in 2018. Theyve also replaced a vault toilet and are brainstorming ways to combat illegal overnight camping. Posting general health hazards are just not at the top of their to-do list. Jonathan Erickson, a recreation manager for the Willamette National Forest, said these rugged environments called for personal responsibility when it came to health issues. Any visitor to public lands, whether theyre going to hot springs or going on an arduous hike, needs to at some point make a decision of whats healthy for them and safe for them, Erickson said. Still, he said hed be open to posting health warnings if officials deemed it necessary. Any incident including the death this winter can be an opportunity to reevaluate the way things are done, Erickson said. However, forest officials said they had not taken any new signage into consideration. The agency instead encouraged people to plan ahead and prepare and to consult a doctor before doing any physical activity thats out of the norm, be it soaking or going on a hike. Really, all of those activities have some level of risk, Erickson said. --Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB Works to convert a stormwater pond into an attractive lake for the Katikati community continue to progress. Western Bay of Plenty District Council, in response to a community request, has been busy assessing the technical viability of converting the large typically dry stormwater pond in the Highfields subdivision into a permanent lake. Work on the next stage of the lake development has just been completed with the raising of the pipes at the two outlets and the cutting of weeds and willows that have grown over the last few years. This recent work is part of an overall plan to convert the stormwater pond into an attractive lake which will in turn compliment Haiku Park. Over the last three years, several stages have been completed. These include the initial feasibility study undertaken by engineers, Tonkin Taylor, followed by geotech work to determine the viability of permanently raising the water level by one metre behind the stop bank. Bores have been put down to measure the ground water levels starting with no water in the proposed lake and further measurements will continue to be taken during the period the lake is filling. Council is very mindful of the possible impact this lake could have on the stop bank and the housing close to the proposed lake says Councils group manager infrastructure services Gary Allis. The stop bank was constructed many years ago and the pond was developed mainly to catch sediment during the construction phase of the Highfields subdivision. Therefore we have to be quite sure that we understand the risks and potential problems that may arise with the raising of the lake level. It is planned to raise the water levels by 0.5 metres at a time, holding the initial level for a time while monitoring for any changes. If the technical evidence shows that there is little or no affect the water level will be raised to the next level. The development of the surrounds with planting (native grasses and sedges) is subject to the technical evidence should there be little or no affect. Emmanuel Macron has defended the French teenager who received death threats after calling Islam a 's**t religion' saying: 'We have the right to blaspheme.' The French president spoke out as 16-year-old Mila, from near Lyon, was moved to a new school to 'guarantee her safety.' Mr Macron said: 'The law is clear - we have the right to blaspheme, to criticise, to caricature religions. 'The republican order is not a moral order what is outlawed is to incite hatred and attack dignity.' French teenager Mila (pictured on a French television programme ) received death threats after calling Islam a 's**t religion' and has now been moved to a new school Emmanuel Macron has defended the French teenager saying: 'We have the right to blaspheme' He added an interview with Le Dauphine Libere newspaper: 'In this debate we have lost sight of the fact that Mila is an adolescent. We owe her protection at school, in her daily life, in her movements.' Mr Macron said that by finding her a new school, where she began lessons on Monday, 'the state has fulfilled its responsibilities'. He said children needed to be 'better protected' against 'new forms of hatred and harassment online that can be destructive'. Mila criticised Islam after she made a live broadcast on her Instagram account last month in which she talked openly about her sexuality. A Muslim left a comment saying she was a 'dirty lesbian' and a 'dirty w***e'. Mila hit back in an Instagram video saying the Koran was 'full of hate' and calling Islam a 's**t religion'. She went on: 'I am not racist, not at all. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you will not make me regret it. 'There are still people who will get excited, I clearly don't give a damn, I say what I want, what I think.' In a subsequent television appearance she stood by her comments, saying: 'I absolutely do not regret what I said, it was really what I thought.' Defending her right to 'blaspheme', she said: 'I don't have to hide for this reason. I don't have to stop living for this. 'But I would still like to say that in some way I am a little bit sorry towards the people who I might have hurt who practise their religion in peace, and I never wanted to target human beings,' she said. 'I simply wanted to... blaspheme... I wanted to talk about a religion, and say what I thought about it, and that's all.' After her outburst the teenager was subjected to a barrage of further abuse, including threats to rape and kill her. Mila (pictured) was removed from her sixth-form college in Lyon and has faced a torrent of insults and threats to rape and kill her Mila est notre invitee dans #Quotidien pour sa seule et unique interview. pic.twitter.com/cZ1VqObHrR Quotidien (@Qofficiel) February 3, 2020 France's public prosecutor has launched an investigation into 'death threats, threats to commit a crime and harassment' against Mila but has also opened an inquiry into whether she 'provoked religious hatred' in her diatribe. Abdallah Zekri, general delegate of the French Council for the Muslim Faith (CFCM), told French radio: 'This girl knows exactly what she has done. They who sow, reap.' Zekri added that the teenager's comments were not covered by freedom of expression but were insulting and provocative. But Mohammed Moussaoui, the new head of the CFCM, later conceded that criticism of Islam had to be accepted and no remarks justified death threats. He said: 'We have to accept all the debates and refuse all violence.' Mila started at her new school on Monday after France's education ministry stepped in to find a 'positive solution'. The teenager had been taken out of her previous educational establishment in Lyon after receiving a barrage of abuse over her Instagram video. 'We have found her a solution which guarantees her safety and allows her to continue her life and education,' education minister Gabriel Attal told LCI television. 'It's a positive solution, it was very difficult for her not to return to school.' Asked if the move was 'geographically feasible', the minister said he would not provide details about the school's location. Secularism is a zealously guarded ideal in France but left-wing politicians and elites have been accused of failing to stand up for the teenager. 'It is the left that traditionally defends secularism in this country. It saddens me that it has not done so in this case,' her lawyer Richard Malka told The Times. 'No human rights association has protested or expressed solidarity with the girl whose life has suddenly been plunged into hiding.' Senator Bernie Sanders narrowly won the New Hampshire Democratic primary election Tuesday, consolidating his hold on the progressive left wing of the party and his position in the race as a front-runner, fending off a surge from moderates Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, who came second and third. Former Vice-President Joe Biden, who entered the race as a front-runner and continues to lead in polls, finished a poor fifth amidst growing talk of fading prospects. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a progressive like Sanders, came fourth in yet another sign of rapidly diminishing chances. Senator John Bennet and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, whose unorthodox run and style had generated a lot of interest and headlines, dropped out of the race after performing poorly in the primary, and the field will narrow further as the race travels to other and larger, and more diverse states. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, Sanders said to supporters. He had tied the first race, the Iowa caucuses, with Buttigieg, who is riding high with two close finishes for the top in two states now. Klobuchar is also being watched after the surprising third position. Next up, on February 29, are the states of South Carolina and Nevada, both of which have large populations of African Americans and Hispanics. Biden, who came fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire is hoping to put his campaign back on track in South Carolina, for instance, where he holds a sizable lead in polls among African Americans. Biden will find billionaire Tom Steyer waiting for him there though, as the latter has also focussed on that state to shore up his chances. The big prize, of course, will the Super Tuesday contests on March 3, when 11 states hold their primaries and caucuses. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who has been surging in polls, has been focussed on these states as his key to nomination. Justice dept recommends lesser sentence for Trump confidant Meanwhile, the US department of justice triggered a massive controversy Tuesday by recommending a lesser sentence for Roger Stone, a a long-time confidant of President Donald Trump, for lying to Congress and witness tampering. The justice department overturned the recommendation of six to nine years by federal prosecutors, shortly after a tweet from Trump who sought a lighter punishment for his associate. The two were not connected, the department has insisted. All four prosecutors who dealt with the Stone case, from the office of the US attorney for the District of Colombia, withdrew from the proceedings in protest Jurors of a Washington DC federal court had convicted Stone last November of all seven counts of lying to congress and witnesses tampering in connection with his efforts to coordinate the release of hacked Democratic party documents by WikiLeaks in the run up to the 2016 elections. His sentencing is set for next week. The UN health agency on Wednesday cautioned it was "way too early" to say whether COVID-19 might have peaked or when it might end, following a drop in the number of new cases. "I think it's way too early to try to predict the beginning, the middle or the end of this epidemic right now," Michael Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies programme, told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BINGHAMTON, NY -- A team of mechanical engineers at Binghamton University, State University of New York investigating a revolutionary kind of micro-switch has found another application for its ongoing research. After finding a new type of MEMS (microelectromechanical system) that allows better control, the researchers have used that knowledge to build an air-pressure sensor that could improve many everyday devices. "This is the same mechanism as devices we've designed in the past, but it's a different application," said principal investigator Shahrzad "Sherry" Towfighian, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Binghamton's Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. "The heart of the sensor still consists of four electrodes, and conventional sensors have two electrodes," said Towfighian. "That allows us to better tune the properties of the system." The study was funded through a $480,958 grant from the National Science Foundation. Binghamton University PhD student Mark Pallay conducted much of the research under the supervision of Towfighian and her co-principal investigator, Distinguished Professor Ronald N. Miles of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Pallay has since graduated and started working at Seagate Technology as a research and development engineer. One advantage of this MEMS -- a microscopic device with moving parts that is produced in the same way as electronics -- is its self-contained design. There's no need for a computer to analyze the readings, making the response time faster and more reliable. "It not only senses the pressure but also triggers a switch," Towfighian said. "Usually a sensor needs to sense the pressure, process it through software to decide if the right conditions have been met and then trigger the switch. This one is a compact pressure sensor and switch, so by sending the voltage to one of the electrodes, you can make it work at different pressures." As with all the MEMS switches that the Binghamton University team has designed so far, this new offering can have a multitude of uses, such as measuring barometric pressure, monitoring oxygen for premature babies at hospitals or detecting tire pressure in vehicles. "Sometimes it's critical to detect the pressure threshold," Towfighian said. "For example, you're in an airplane and you want the air masks to come down if the air pressure drops below a certain amount. It's very easy to set the bias voltage to trigger automatically." She added that the way the switch is built with four electrodes also means a longer lifespan: "Often there is a problem with the current devices that they have a limited lifespan because of having two electrodes, but having two other electrodes enables us to make it more durable and increase the life of the device." The paper, "A Tunable Electrostatic MEMS Pressure Switch," was published in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. ### KAMPALA/KIGALI The management of Trinity Bus Company, a Rwandan public transport firm, has called for a thorough probe to establish the circumstances in which one of its cross-border buses from Kigali on Tuesday caught fire in central Uganda. Joseph Tulya, Katango regional police spokesperson said that the Rwandan registered Trinity bus burst into flames at Buwama along the Masaka-Kampala Highway with passengers escaping unhurt but their belongings burnt to ashes. The bus registration number RAD 644G with 50 passengers on board was traveling from capital Kigali to Ugandan capital Kampala. When it reached the place near Buwama police checkpoint, smoke started coming out and eventually it caught fire, said Tulya. All these passengers managed to escape without any injury. But all their properties got burnt in the bus, the police spokesman added. In an interview with The New Times, Dodo Twahirwa the Managing Director of Trinity Bus Company said the bus was new and in good condition. At least mechanically. It had no problem, he said adding that the driver had parked the bus and gone out to respond to a traffic check in Buwama. Coming back into the vehicle, he realized it was so hot and he told the passengers to immediately disembark, Twahirwa said. He asked Ugandan authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter without any delay. Related REGINAThe Saskatchewan government has appointed a special mediator in a contract dispute that has dragged on for more than two months at a Regina oil refinery. Labour Minister Don Morgan said veteran arbitrator Vince Ready will try to help refinery owner Federated Co-operatives Ltd. and the union for about 700 workers to reach an agreement. He said it is in the interest of both parties to negotiate a contract at the bargaining table. We are appointing a special mediator to help resolve the impasse because of the impact of the dispute on Saskatchewan families, communities and businesses, he said in a news release. Also on Wednesday, a judge found Unifor guilty for the second time of violating a court injunction that said members could not prevent traffic from moving in and out of the plant. Justice Neil Robertson fined the union $250,000 on top of a $100,000 penalty last month. Ready, who has worked in labour relations for more than five decades, is to begin his work Tuesday. Premier Scott Moe said he hopes Readys appointment will be the first significant step toward an agreement. It is my true hope that were able to move forward and move forward swiftly in finding a resolution to this situation that is best for all involved and best for all in the province, Moe said. Federated Co-operatives said it looks forward to getting a deal done. Since the premiers first offer of a special mediator, we have welcomed this appointment and the opportunity to have productive bargaining, the company said in a statement. We look forward to meaningful discussions with Mr. Ready that lead to a long-term, sustainable agreement that works for both parties. The news was also met positively by Unifor. I applaud the governments decision for appointing the mediator and we hope he can help us in getting a settlement, said Local 594 president Kevin Bittman. Negotiations have gone nowhere because of the companys stubbornness at the bargaining table, he said. The Co-op is seeking to gut our jobs and our pensions during a time of record profits, Bittman said. We have asked for the standard industry pay increases and to leave the pensions that FCL promised they would not touch three years ago. Federated Co-operatives locked out workers Dec. 5 when the union issued strike notice. Pensions are the main sticking point in the contract fight. The company has said Unifors barricades at the Co-op refinery site were leading to gasoline shortages in some communities because trucks hauling fuel werent able to get in or out of the plant. Ready is to recommend terms for an agreement if the two sides cant reach a deal with his help within 20 days. Ready was involved in trying to find a solution in a prolonged forestry strike on Vancouver Island going back to July. A tentative deal was reached this week. He was part of negotiations in the 2014 teachers strike in British Columbia and published a binding report resolving a stalemate between B.C. Ferries and its employees union in 2007. He also resolved a violent dispute at the Giant gold mine in Yellowknife in 1992. That strike resulted in the deaths of nine workers in a mine explosion. Miner Roger Warren was convicted of setting up the blast. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Oakbrook, Illinois-based Affiliated Benefit Consultants Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1986, Affiliated Benefit Consultants offers a full suite of benefits consulting services to clients throughout the United States. John Araujo and his associates will continue to operate in their current location under the direction of Tom Lannen, head of Gallaghers Great Lakes region employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. is a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Source: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Topics Mergers Illinois A.J. Gallagher People who fled their homes in northwest Syria amid government offensive say they have been left with no shelter. Idlib province, Syria As soon as he heard reports that Syrian government forces were moving towards his home city of Saraqib, Muadh al-Ahmad decided to flee. We knew what was coming. Families did not want to be buried under the rubble of their own homes so we got up and left, the 34-year-old told Al Jazeera. According to al-Ahmad, the city in northwestern Syria quickly turned into a ghost town in the few days that preceded Syrian government forces attack on the city, backed by Russian and Syrian fighter jets. We left in an endless stream of trucks and cars moving towards the unknown, said al-Ahmad. I cant imagine the day of judgement being any different, he said. Russian and Syrian warplanes were in the skies, targeting anything that moved, even the people leaving their homes, he added. He now lives with his young family in Atma camp, one of the many camps for displaced people along the Turkey-Syria border. He told Al Jazeera that the biggest struggle was the harsh weather conditions, with the winter temperatures falling below zero. Were exposed to freezing temperatures without even a heater or fuel to keep us warm. In most places, humanitarian aid and NGOs are nowhere to be found. According to the United Nations, air and ground attacks displaced approximately 100,000 people from their homes in the last week. Some 700,000 people have fled from northwestern Syria since December, when the Syrian government launched its latest offensive on the region as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad tries to regain control of the whole of the country. The UN has described the displacement as one of the worst humanitarian crises in Syrias nearly nine-year-long war. The mass flight comes amid clashes between Syrian government forces and Turkish-backed rebels that have spiralled in recent days into a near all-out conflict. In the latest military escalation, Syrian government forces killed five Turkish soldiers on Monday, prompting a military response which Ankara said hit scores of Syrian government targets. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said Turkey would hit al-Assads forces anywhere if any more Turkish troops were hurt. Much of the fighting in recent days has focused on rebel-held towns and villages around the strategic M5 highway. Aid organisations say they are scrambling to cope with the thousands of displaced people moving to camps near the Turkish border [Muaath Hussein/Al Jazeera] Painful, humiliating Ahmad al-Khader, who was displaced from his home in Maaret al-Numaan in January, said fleeing was a painful and humiliating experience. Without a car of their own, he and his wife Souad, 59, had to spend every last penny to pay a truck driver who transported them along with hundreds of others to the nearest safe area in the northern suburbs of Aleppo, he told Al Jazeera. When the couple reached the camps for internally displaced people (IDP) along the borders, they said there were no tents to take them in. We live in a cold and humid abandoned shop, said the 68-year-old, who complained of having to live off of donations. We have to accept charity to stay alive, he added. 200209185803604 Like other IDPs Al Jazeera spoke to, al-Khader complained of the cold weather which has taken over the region, saying that charities were unable to provide heaters or warm clothes. With no heating facilities nor fuel, our elderly bodies are exposed to extremely low temperatures at night. Im not sure we can take it for much longer, he told Al Jazeera. The war has scattered al-Khaders family across northwest Syria. After my three children and their families were pushed to separate corners of north Syria, I didnt imagine anything could be worse. But seeing my home and all that I owned levelled to the ground was simply heartbreaking, said Souad as she recounted how Russian and Syrian government warplanes targeted her neighbourhood. Within minutes, it was all gone. We didnt have anything to take with us, she added. Humanitarian aid organisations have complained that the deteriorating conditions since the start of the month have left them scrambling to cope with the thousands of people moving into IDP camps along the Turkish borders. On the streets Omar Hussein, 29, who was displaced from his home in Atarib in the western countryside of Aleppo, was unable to find shelter for his wife and two children at IDP camps along the Turkish borders. When we finally got to Idlibs western suburbs, the situation along the borders was even more devastating, than what we left behind, Hussein told Al Jazeera. Hussein said he left Atarib on Saturday after Syrian government planes bombarded the city, dropping barrel bombs and firing heavy artillery and missiles. Within hours, whole neighbourhoods had been cleared and thousands of people were pushed out of onto the streets in sub-zero temperatures, he said. By the time we reached the camps, they were overflowing with displaced people, he said. We couldnt find a single tent to spend the night, he added. However, unlike others, who were left without shelter, Hussein said a local family took him in. If it wasnt for these good people, my wife and young children would have been left to freeze on the street, he said. But were some of the lucky ones. Thousands of others have no shelter, he said. Why cant the world hear us cry? Omar Youssef reported from Idlib province. Arwa Ibrahim reported from Doha. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Child rape charges against a woman and her boyfriend were dropped on the first day of their trial because the victim denied any sexual abuse while testifying. The joined trials for Ezekiel Maestas and Jamie Martinez, both 32, began Tuesday in Tierra Amarilla District Court. Martinez was accused of holding down an 8-year-old close family relative while Maestas raped the boy in spring 2018. They both faced one count of criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 13, while Maestas also faced one count of possession of a controlled substance. But Judge Jason Lidyard ordered that Maestas be released from custody immediately, online court records show. Henry Varela, spokesman for the District Attorneys Office in Santa Fe, said the alleged victim changed his story on the stand. The child victim testified and denied sexual abuse and did not disclose any sexual abuse to the jury, Varela said in an email. As a result, the Judge issued a directed verdict and the defendants were acquitted of all charges. The charges cannot be refiled, Varela said. The alleged victim and his then-7-year-old brother said in safe house interviews in May 2018 that they were molested by Maestas, and both had injuries that were consistent with sexual assault, according to court records. Martinez was not in custody while awaiting trial. The DAs Office attempted to have her held in jail until trial, but Lidyard denied the motion because prosecutors didnt provide any evidence of a crime in their motion. She had no previous criminal history in New Mexico. Maestas was initially released on his own recognizance as well, but he was later booked into the Rio Arriba County jail for violating his conditions of release, court records show. In February 2016, Maestas was charged in Espanola Magistrate Court for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at gunpoint, but the charges never made it to District Court, where felonies are handled. District Attorney Marco Serna told the Journal in 2018 that the alleged victim changed her story and that the office couldnt proceed with charges. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 14:59:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHENYANG, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Mario Cavolo, an Italian American living in China, felt compelled to balance the negative narratives surrounding how China handled the novel coronavirus outbreak, and his comments went viral. Cavolo posted an article "Something's Not Right Here Folks" on social networking platform LinkedIn on Feb. 5, comparing the global reactions to 2009 H1N1 virus with current novel coronavirus based on figures and facts, countering what he calls "vicious attacks" on China and Chinese people. "Something's not right with the way humanity is responding to what's happening here," wrote Cavolo, who juggles the roles of an author, entrepreneur and a public speaker. He has been in China for two decades. "This vicious, political, xenophobic and racist attacks and smearing of all things (about) China needs to stop," he wrote, referring to hateful comments online and blindfolded criticism on China's efforts to battle the virus. In an interview with Xinhua, Cavolo said that the rise of China has been an incredible thing. "It feels in many ways like a threat to a Western superior position. That's definitely one of the big pieces that are at the root why there are always so many negative comments about China." "We are at a time when people are required by the circumstances of life to sacrifice. There is no conspiracy here. It is just tragedy," he added. By Tuesday morning, around 1.7 million people had read the original article with almost 3,000 comments. Some Chinese media outlets published his article. Cavolo said his target readership are like-minded people, and the majority of the responses are positive. "I'm thrilled that the message I wrote came to unite tens of millions of people at this very important time for China," he said. For the negative comments on his article, Cavolo did not feel bothered. "Their response is exactly the reason why I wrote the article," he said. "I knew someone would reply in a very negative way based on nothing but hearsay, attitude and emotions." He chose to stay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, during the outbreak. "We do feel some concerns because nobody wants to contract a dangerous disease, so it's okay to be worried. But with everything we are practicing, it is safer to stay put," he said. Cavolo and his family live in Shenyang. "This is my home, and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else," he said. The overall confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection on the Chinese mainland had reached 44,653 by the end of Tuesday, and 1,113 people had died of the disease. Almost all the provincial-level regions have dispatched medical personnel to Hubei Province, which is hit hardest by the virus. By Feb. 9, Liaoning Province had sent over 1,300 medical staff to Hubei. "We don't need anti-China sentiments. It is not helpful. We are in the middle of a tragedy. China is protecting people all over the world, not just Chinese people," he said. Cavolo wrote in his article that it is impossible not to marvel at China's broad and active domestic response directed by the provincial-level governments to restrict movement, transportation and business for a period of time. "If you think about the responsibility of a dutiful citizen, 1.4 billion people in China have voluntarily stayed at home, doing what should be done -- not spreading the virus. It's amazing," he said. There is no accurate number yet about how many people have been staying at home at the call of the government in a joint effort to prevent the spreading of the virus. Some netizens claimed that was about 200 million. Cavolo said what he described in the article was based on what he witnessed over the past weeks. "Everyone has pulled together to offer help to those in need. For example, the security guards at local communities, who are at the gates of apartments, are ready to take temperatures and make sure everyone going in and out wear masks," he said. In 2014, Cavolo had his first book on China published featuring the rising middle class. His second book on China was in print four years later. Cavolo said his third book will specifically focus on China's northeastern region and Shenyang, and the novel coronavirus outbreak will become "an integral part of the story." A Meath pensioner who is forced to travel with her disabled adult son on a train to and from Dublin every day due a lack of help for wheelchair users says the stress of the commute is wearing her out. Pina Cassoni (aged 67) has taken on the gruelling task of travelling 20km from her home in Skyrne, Co. Meath, to the M3 Parkway alongside her son Joseph (aged 41) who is paralysed from the waist down every morning to ensure he can safely access the safety clearance gap between the train and the platform on his 40-minute journey to work. She makes the same journey again in the evening to help her son cross the clearance gap again and bring him home. People who want to access assistance are required to give Irish Rail four hours notice. The mother and son, who have become so disillusioned with the flawed system, say the service was a nightmare when Joseph began commuting last year and they were depending on a guessing game as to whether someone would actually turn up to help. It resulted in Pina having no choice other than to accompany her son to and from Dublin twice a day, travelling nearly four hours per day in total. Pina said that in the last few weeks kindhearted and dedicated staff members have been trying to bridge the gap for the service and are taking it upon themselves to try and ensure Joseph is accommodated from the Docklands side on his return trip. However, it is not always possible and exhausted Pina has to be ready to make the journey. They are calling on the Government to make public transport more accessible for wheelchair users. Pina said: "Joseph gets the train at the M3 Parkway into the Docklands to work every day. Sometimes there will be somebody there to help him and sometimes there isn't, you just never know. "We have gotten to know the staff over the last number of months and they have been fantastic to us. When I make the call into the station to inquire if there will be anyone to assist Joseph sometimes if they can, they will arrange for someone to come from another station to help him but they do that on their own initiative they do not have the resources that they need. "It makes me so angry. Able-bodied people can come and go without having to give advanced warning, they just get on the train. Nobody knows what it's like unless you have a loved one in a wheelchair." "I would love for one of those TDS to sit in a wheelchair and go through what Joseph has to go through every day and see if they could manage it. It is wearing me out mentally and physically but I do it because I have no choice. He is all I have." Joseph said he resents having to rely on assistance at all and points out that public transport systems in other countries are more inclusive. He said: "I understand that the staff need to be given notice so they can be there but if I at the last minute get an extra workload on and I need to stay an extra hour, it doesn't give me that flexibility. The trainee auditor was just seven when he contracted a rare virus as a result of the chickenpox that left him unable to walk. Pina and Joseph Cassoni. Pic: Seamus Farrelly Joseph said: "On days I know who is working and I know I can trust that person, I feel a bit more confident. Most of the staff are really helpful and go out of their way to do their best. "When I go into the station, look around and see if I can see the person and if there is nobody there I have to go up and knock on the train driver's window and because I'm down low, I can't even see in. Joseph described one time he one evening he tried to board a train without his mother but actually fell off the ramp. "One evening there was no one there to meet me and the driver had to put the ramp up for me to access the train. When county councils build ramps they have to be at a certain angle so they are not too steep so if you can imagine these are makeshift portable ramps and they just plonk them down and put them up the steps so they are pretty steep. "I have heard that the staff are told not to physically touch the person that they are helping so this driver puts the ramp down, puts his foot on the side of it to steady it and left me to go. I tried going up on it by myself and the next thing I knew the chair was tipping backwards and I fell completely back on the ground. I was mortified. "My ideal situation would be not to require assistance at all. If I could, like the way the Luas works, just get on and off by myself I'd be chuffed. Even if they had some sort of mechanised ramp. Joseph's mum Pina explains how the condition eventually left him unable to walk. Pina said: "He got chickenpox when he was seven. A doctor called to the house one night and when she saw him she said wrap him up in a blanket and bring him straight to Drogheda. "He was sent to Crumlin and he was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological condition in which the spinal cord is inflamed. "The doctor told me that he didn't know if he would pull through and if he did there was a high chance that he could be brain-damaged. I felt like my world was falling apart. "He was in an isolation ward and I remember going back to sit by his bed and all I did was cry that whole night. I never prayed as much in my life. Joseph Cassoni. Pic: Seamus Farrelly "Thankfully he did pull through but they told me he would never walk again. I just broke down, I was absolutely brokenhearted. "He spent ten-and-a-half months in hospital between Drogheda, Crumlin and the Rehab in Dun Laoghaire. Everyone says you are too overprotective with him, but when you only have one and there is nobody else you do whatever you can to keep them safe." Joseph said he is frustrated that he has to depend on others to use the rail network. He said: "National transport should be accessible there is no real excuse for it. "It is quite frustrating at times. I hate depending on people when really I shouldn't need to." A spokesperson for Irish Rail has said: "While we are continually working to reduce advised notice periods, and are in the process of developing an accessibility app to give customers greater assurance that assistance is booked and provided, assistance will be required for the foreseeable future due to the safety clearance gap between the train and the platform. "As part of new fleet orders, we will be seeking tenderers to enhance accessibility access further to and from new trains, and all elements of our investment programme will ensure accessibility is prioritised." Donald Trumps proposed federal budget is an announcement that the American ruling class is deepening its offensive against the social rights and living conditions of the US and international working class. The proposed cuts would transfer trillions of dollars from the masses of working people into the hands of the financial aristocracy and affluent upper-middle class, with devastating consequences for hundreds of millions of workers from cradle to grave. The budget plan exposes the utter fraud of Trumps claim to represent the forgotten men and women. Trump proposes to cut $900 billion from Medicaid, $500 billion from Medicare, $24 billion from Social Security and billions more from food stamps, after school programs, funds to aid homeless students, subsidies for rural schools and student loans, and aid to impoverished infants and their mothers. It also places the US military on a war footing against great power rivals Russia and China, including a $50 billion plan to modernize the US nuclear arsenal. Trumps proposed cuts to departments such as Education (8 percent), Interior (13.4 percent), Housing and Urban Development (15.2 percent), Health and Human Services (9 percent) and Environmental Protection (26.5 percent) are steps toward dismantling social programs and all government regulation of corporate activity. President Donald J. Trump talks to members of the press [Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian] The announcement of the White House budget proposal begins the staged process in which the Democratic Party feigns indignation over the proposed cuts only to ultimately accede to many of the demands. Under conditions where the vast majority of Americans are demanding increased spending on social programs, higher taxes on the rich and a redistribution of wealth from the top to the bottom, the inevitable outcome of bipartisan budget negotiations will be to shift the entire political establishment further to the right. This was previewed by Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. When asked last Thursday about Trumps forthcoming budget, she said: I say to my members all the time: There is no such thing as eternal animosity. There are eternal friendships, but you never know on what cause you may come together with someone you may perceive as your foe right now. Everybody is a possible ally in whatever comes next. This offer of friendship to Trump came less than 24 hours after the collapse of the Democratic Partys impeachment effort, a process in which Pelosi and Democratic impeachment managers called Trump a traitor and stooge of Russia for withholding $391 million in military aid to the right-wing nationalist government in Ukraine, which provides money and arms to far-right paramilitary forces. Speaking the language of McCarthyism, the lead Democratic impeachment manager, Adam Schiff, said Trump was obstructing the US from arming Ukraine, an imperative that ensures we can fight Russia over there so we dont have to fight Russia here. The denunciations of Trump by the Democratic leadership on questions of imperialist foreign policy and the Democrats crusade for internet censorship contrast with their appeals to bipartisan friendship on social and domestic policy. From the day Trump took office, the Democratic Party has facilitated Trumps attack on living conditions and democratic rights, first by diverting and suppressing mass protests that erupted immediately following Trumps January 2017 inauguration and in response to his travel ban and attacks on immigrants, and then, over the last three years, by voting for major elements of Trumps agenda. Last year, the Democrats voted overwhelmingly to support passage of Trumps record $738 billion Pentagon budget, which allowed the government to continue to detain prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and provided $3.6 billion in back-fill funding for Trumps border wall. The Democrats voted as well to provide Trump with $4.6 billion to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) despite massive opposition to family separation and the detention of immigrant children, ongoing issues which the Democratic Party and corporate media have essentially blacked out from national coverage. These are only the most egregious examples. A version of Trumps corporate tax cut, which the proposed budget will extend, was initially proposed by the Obama White House. Obama slashed funding for food stamps, Medicare and other programs. Some Democratic presidential candidates are using Trumps budget proposal as an opportunity to demand further deficit reduction, verbally opposing Trumps budget but focusing their attacks on Bernie Sanders proposals to increase social spending. The Washington Post noted yesterday after Trumps budget was leaked in the Wall Street Journal: Former vice president Joe Biden has warned Democrats not to embrace an agenda that calls for unrealistic social policy goals, and Buttigieg declared at a town hall event in Nashua, N.H. on Sunday that it was time to get serious about the rising deficit, even though its not fashionable in progressive circles to talk too much about the debt. The Democratic-aligned corporate media has greeted Trumps budget with far less concern than the prospect that Sanders will win the Democratic nomination. In the lead-up to yesterdays New Hampshire primary, MSNBC television commentator Chris Matthews claimed that socialists will carry out executions in Central Park, while NBC News analyst Chuck Todd compared Sanders supporters to Nazi brown shirts. This language shows that however serious their internal conflicts, both factions of the ruling class are allied in the existential struggle to protect the wealth of the financial aristocracy from the growing mood of social opposition from below. They do not fear Sanders, a long-time Washington insider and loyal Democratic caucus member. What they fear is the growing leftward movement among workers, youth and students reflected in the support for Sanders, which the Vermont senator may not be able to control. All factions of the ruling class view the mass demonstrations in France, Chile, Puerto Rico, Sudan and elsewhere as ominous signs of what is to come. Trumps crisis-ridden government, having emerged victorious and politically strengthened by the Democrats impeachment debacle, is preparing for the class battles ahead by building a fascistic movement and threatening to stay in power regardless of the outcome of the 2020 elections. Sections of the Democratic Party are using a different technique, elevating figures like Sanders and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to feed popular illusions that the Democratic Party can be reformed, that the ruling class can be pressured to enact progressive social policy and that no independent social struggle is required. This is a hopeless utopia. Even if Sanders manages to win the nomination in the face of attacks by the Democratic Party establishment and backroom efforts to stop him by the Democratic National Committee, his entire program amounts to asking the network of generals, spies and CEOs who run America to voluntarily relinquish trillions of dollars. In explaining the futility of Franklin Roosevelts New Deal, Leon Trotsky wrote that the New Dealers wind up by appealing to the monopolists not to forget decency and the principles of democracy. Just how is this better than prayers for rain? The Socialist Equality Partys candidates in the 2020 electionsJoseph Kishore for president and Norissa Santa Cruz for vice presidentcall on workers and youth to break with the two parties of American capitalism and harness their immense social power in the struggle for control of the commanding heights of the world economy. The entire budget proposed by Trump totals $4.8 trillionfar less than the $27 trillion possessed by the worlds 2,170 billionaires. Redistributing the worlds wealth requires the building of a mass revolutionary movement to confiscate the wealth of the financial aristocracy and place the worlds productive forces under the democratic control of the international working class. New York governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday that he has partially revised the states decision to block the federal government from accessing its motor vehicle records, after the Trump administration responded by announcing that New Yorkers would be barred from federal fast-travel programs. Cuomo, in an interview with a Long Island radio station, said that he had spoken with the Department of Homeland Security after acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolfs announcement that New Yorks new law granting illegal immigrants drivers licenses and blocking the federal government from accessing DMV records would prevent New Yorkers from applying for Global Entry programs, which ensure expedited cross-border travel. The corresponding lack of security cooperation from the New York DMV requires DHS to take immediate action to ensure DHSs efforts to protect the Homeland are not compromised, Wolf announced. You want access to our DMV database for trusted traveler? You can have it, Cuomo said he told top DHS officials in response to the announcement. The governor claimed he stopped short of offering the administration unfettered access and said he would still resist efforts to use the registry for immigration enforcement. He added that he planned to meet with President Trump on Thursday to discuss the situation. Its pure politics, and thats what Im going to say to the president tomorrow, Cuomo said. New Yorks Green Light law, which took effect in December, allows illegal immigrants to receive state drivers licenses and, to ensure that they are not discouraged from applying for licenses, also blocks DHS from accessing the states DMV records. Twelve other states and the District of Columbia also have passed laws allowing illegal immigrants to obtain licenses, but New York was unique in blocking DHS from accessing its DMV records. Cuomos comments come after attorney general William Barr announced that the Trump administration would be conducting a significant escalation to its efforts against sanctuary cities for unconstitutionally interfering with federal immigration enforcement. More from National Review Ulefone has joined a number of other companies by announcing it will be skipping MWC 2020. Ulefone has reached out to announce that it will not attend MWC 2020 due to a threat that is Coronavirus. The company said that it decided to withdraw from this years Mobile World Congress in order to assure the safety of its colleagues, partners, and customers. Ulefone was looking forward to MWC 2020, but it will not attend due to Coronavirus Ulefone says that it was looking forward to coming to Barcelona. MWC is probably the most important tradeshow for smartphone OEMs, as it is the largest tradeshow for them. Advertisement It is a great platform for companies to share their products and connect with both business partners, and consumers. Ulefone regrets skipping MWC 2020, but it believes it made the right decision. The company said that it will release a number of new products soon. It will announce their release online, not host a press conference or anything of the sort. Ulefone also thanked GSMA for doing its best to ensure the safety of all attendees. Ulefone believes GSMA did a great job as far as that is concerned, but it still decided not to attend as a precaution. Advertisement The company is looking forward to next years Mobile World Congress, as it definitely plans to attend. The company was expected to announce the worlds first 5G rugged smartphone As a reminder, Ulefone was expected to show off its first 5G rugged smartphone at MWC 2020. That device is named the Ulefone Armor 8, and it is fueled by the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 SoC. Ulefone has joined the likes of LG, Intel, Amazon, Vivo, Sony, and a number of other companies that have withdrawn from MWC 2020. Advertisement Some other companies announced that they will scale back their attendance, but have not withdrawn completely. Those companies include ZTE and TCL, who will not host any press conferences, but will have booths at the show. A rumor was circulating the web yesterday, claiming that GSMA will meet on Friday in order to discuss the cancelation of MWC 2020 altogether. Well, if HONORs Global PR Head is to be believed, that will not happen, or at least its not in the plans currently. It seems a bit late for GSMA to completely cancel MWC, but well see what will happen. The judge in the case in which a woman who ran a red light and killed a Normal Park schoolteacher is appealing her workhouse sentence has recused himself. Defense attorney Jonathan Turner said he did not know why Judge Don Poole decided to step away from the case. The judge on Tuesday morning had heard an appeal from Neshala Massengale, who ran a light at the intersection of Brainerd and Elmwood Road in January 2019, crashing into Bethany Schklars vehicle. Ms. Schklar sustained a serious head injury and died a few days later. Ms. Massengale pled guilty to speeding and driving without insurance in General Sessions Court in August and was sentenced to 90 days in the workhouse, followed by nine more months of house arrest and community service days. She avoided vehicular homicide charges despite going around 50 miles per hour in a 35-mile-per-hour zone. Investigators pointed out that the sun made it difficult to see what color the light was, and her defense attorney said she was on her way to work. Ms. Massengale was only appealing the 90-day active time sentence, citing how crippling it would be when it came to her ability to provide for her children as a single mother. If I go to jail, I do not have any way of supporting my kids, and I will lose my house that Ive been in for over six years, I will lose the career that allows me to take care of my kids, said Ms. Massengale. I do not receive any governmental assistance or aid, which I am very proud of. And again, I want to offer my sincerest condolences to Ms. Bethanys family. I would do anything to bring her back, but unfortunately that I cannot. I just ask the judge to see that I am not a horrible person. Ms. Schklars mother was unimpressed with Ms. Massengales apology. She alluded to a social media post, where the defendant allegedly made remarks about getting her curves back a few weeks after the crash. She said Ms. Massengale did not seem to be apologetic or remorseful on the post. She pleaded with the judge to impose the maximum punishment. I recognize the sentence you impose will not bring Bethany back to us, nor will it alleviate the financial stress Josh faces every day, said the mother of the Teacher of the Year. I simply ask for you to consider the value of my daughters life to her husband, her son, her friends, her students, to her family and to me as her mother. Alongside the defendants willful and heedless actions as she made her decision. In this horrific year, only one person has dared to say to me that Everything happens for a reason, and the reason here is very simple, said her mother. Ms. Massengale has admitted she willfully chose to drive that day, even though she was prohibited by law from doing so because she lacked proof of financial responsibility. The officer who responded to the crash said that Ms. Massengale was remorseful every time he spoke to her after the crash, and the probation officer told Judge Don Poole that she had been in perfect compliance with her house arrest rules. After listening to the testimony from various sources, Judge Poole had decided he needed a few days to think about how he should rule. There were questions about case law and whether or not he was imposing a new sentence, or just reinforcing an already-established one. Im not going to make a decision today, said the judge on Tuesday. Im going to review everything thats been presented today, and, quite frankly, I would like to look at some law as well in regard to this. I would like to, if its not a complete inconvenience to either side, come back on Thursday morning. (Newser) Weddings aren't cheapunless someone else is footing the bill. New Jersey authorities allege that very arrangement played out in the case of Taisha Smith-DeJoseph, who they say embezzled $561,777 from the church whose finances she oversaw as a volunteer, per a press release. The 43-year-old has been charged with 13 crimes in connection with her alleged activities at St. Paul's Baptist Church in Florence, reports NJ.com. story continues below The church itself reached out to the Financial Crimes Unit of the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office after fearing money was missing. The probe uncovered bank accounts that Smith-DeJoseph opened that were ostensibly for the church but were allegedly used instead by Smith-DeJoseph to pay for her wedding, rent, car loan, credit card, and other bills over a 5-year period that ended in March 2019, reports WPVI. (Read more embezzlement stories.) First woman to lead a major UK accounting firm joins the leading impact investor LeapFrog Investments, the Profit with Purpose investment group, has appointed Sacha Romanovitch to its management board as a non-executive director. This follows the recent appointment of Julia Gillard, the first female prime minister of Australia, to LeapFrog's peak advisory body, the Global Leadership Council. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006160/en/ BIMA Doctor Camp Employee conducting a client health check BIMA is one of LeapFrog Investment's portfolio companies Accra, Ghana (Photo: Business Wire) Founded in 2007, LeapFrog and its companies now reach 188 million people with healthcare or financial tools and the firm has been ranked by Fortune as one of the top 5 companies to change the world, alongside Apple and Novartis. The management board oversees the firm's growth and performance. As the first female CEO of a major accounting firm in the United Kingdom, Sacha introduced ground-breaking changes to embed "profits with purpose," diversity and future fit leadership, which saw the firm exceed 500m in revenues. As member of Grant Thornton's global board, she led oversight of the development of member firms employing over 40,000 people across 140 countries. In 2018 the firm was honoured at the Queen's Awards for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility. Sacha was also the inaugural chair of Access Accountancy. Sacha is currently CEO of Fair4All Finance, the new institution created after the UK government committed dormant assets to fund financial inclusion. Fair4All Finance exists to increase the financial well-being of people in vulnerable circumstances through access to fair and affordable financial products and services and through investing to create a transformational change at scale. Sacha is also co-chair of the Inclusive Economy Partnership, convened by the UK Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This brings together business, government and social sectors around three initial challenge areas of financial inclusion, mental health and transition to work. Dr Andrew Kuper, founder and CEO of LeapFrog investments, said: "I am delighted to welcome Sacha to the management board, following an extensive global search. Her proven track record in governance and stakeholder engagement at the highest level, and focus on rigorous impact investing in financial inclusion businesses, make her incredibly well-placed to support LeapFrog's growth and success." Sacha Romanovitch, non-executive director at LeapFrog Investments, said: "LeapFrog is demonstrating the outsize results that a serious commitment to its methodology of Profit with Purpose can achieve. I am proud to be joining this leading global impact investor. And I look forward to sharing my experience with its management board, leadership and community. Access to financial services and healthcare LeapFrog's areas of investment focus is vital to increase prosperity, improve opportunities and foster economic development." LeapFrog's recent record-breaking $744 million impact investing fund presents a strategic opportunity to expand the firm's impact while generating strong returns for investors. Over the decade since launch, LeapFrog companies have grown on average at 35 per cent a year. Several have been acquired or invested in by industry leaders including Prudential PLC, Allianz, AXA XL, Standard Chartered, Goldman Sachs and Fidelity. At the same time, over 155 million of the 188 million people reached by LeapFrog's companies live on under $10 per day per person. The appointments of both Ms. Romanovitch and Ms. Gillard will support the leading impact investment firm in meeting its ambitious targets: to generate top tier investment returns while reaching 1 billion lower-income people with essential services by 2030. About LeapFrog Investments LeapFrog invests in exceptional businesses in Africa and Asia, partnering with their leaders to achieve leaps of growth, profitability and impact. Founded in 2007, LeapFrog's companies now reach 188 million people across 35 countries with healthcare or financial services. LeapFrog companies have also grown on average at over 30 per cent a year from the time of investment. 155 million of the people reached by LeapFrog companies are emerging consumers, living on less than $10 per day. LeapFrog's companies now provide jobs or livelihoods to over 128,000 people. Inspired by LeapFrog's strategy of Profit with Purpose, global institutional investors have committed over US $1.5 billion to the group's private equity funds. LeapFrog was ranked recently by Fortune as one of the top five Companies to Change the World, alongside Apple and Novartis, becoming the first private investment firm ever listed. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006160/en/ Contacts: Media Hannah-Jean Humphries +44 2038198593 or hannah-jeanhumphreys@leapfroginvest.com Catherine Bergersen +44 203 8198 583 or catherinebergersen@leapfroginvest.com More information at: www.leapfroginvest.com FEBRUARY is I Love to Read month, which is good for the farmers who are finally able to take a breather before the spring thaw arrives probably in early March, this year. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion FEBRUARY is "I Love to Read" month, which is good for the farmers who are finally able to take a breather before the spring thaw arrives probably in early March, this year. To offer them (and you) some food for thought, I want to look at sustainability issues for agricultural producers, in the midst of a climate crisis fueled by a warming atmosphere and rising levels of greenhouse gases. To begin, you cant expect the provincial government to help. By action (and inaction), Premier Brian Pallister has repeatedly indicated the agricultural sector is exempt from initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most recently, it was news that grain-drying operations will not be subject to his Manitoba version of a carbon tax. This was coupled with a promise (without specifics) to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline and biofuel in diesel. If I were an agricultural producer concerned about the direction in which the planet was headed, with its implications for my farm as well as my family, these kinds of political armwaves would be trivial to the point of being insulting. Unless farmers live in an alternate universe, they share the planet with the rest of us, and therefore share the same responsibility for changing how we live together. In fact, any farmer who has inherited the family farm or who intends to pass it along to the next generation is likely more invested in sustainability than the city person who has never seen a live chicken. Right now, it seems the Manitoba government is ignoring sustainability issues in the agricultural sector, in the apparent belief that Progressive Conservative votes in rural areas can bought like (dry) beans, for a bit of purple gas and a boot shine. The PC party may have a firm base in rural areas it will never have in the city of Winnipeg, but if thats true, then those rural areas should use their clout to at least get the current government to do something constructive for everyone. For example, when Greyhound went out of service in western Canada, Manitoba (alone, I think, compared to all the other provinces where it operated) did nothing. So all those rural voters now have to drive, if they can, everywhere and given how much secondary and tertiary health care is delivered only in Winnipeg or Brandon they need to do it when they are sick, too. To be fair, the provincial government does not seem to care much about public transportation in Winnipeg, either, despite the fact the largest source of Manitobas greenhouse gases, by sector, is transportation in other words, those vehicles that burn the ethanol and biodiesel additives Pallister was intending to increase. Cuts to subsidies for transit in Winnipeg mean New Flyer is now making electric buses for other places, when they could be making them to be used here, running on Manitobas hydroelectric power and providing more jobs to Manitobans. Anyway, back to the farm. Expect no help from the provincial government, and likely little more from the feds, who prefer to play big-picture games. Look to your rural municipality for the kind of co-operative assistance you need to figure out what climate change is going to mean for your own area not the lines drawn on the map, but according to the watershed in which you operate. Floods affect everyone and so does drought. Plan together for both. Sustainability literally begins at home. A sustainable future for your farm depends on you doing what is greenest for your own situation. There are various carbon-counting tools available on the internet figure out what parts of your operation produce the most greenhouse gases, and see what can be done to reduce your outputs. It could be as simple as not burning stubble, for example. Every gallon of purple gas, even cheaper, produces GHGs. Find ways of burning less better for the planet, and for the bottom line. 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. New equipment? Share it with a neighbour or figure out how to borrow or loan it instead of purchasing. On the other side of the ledger, figure out how much carbon is sequestered or put down in the soil by different kinds of crops or farming operations. Perhaps plant trees, to balance off carbon-intensive farming. Create your own carbon budget, aiming for a negative number at the end of the year. If the provincial government wanted to help, it could both provide incentives for doing this, and assess penalties for ignoring GHG emissions (anyone listening?). One other suggestion: sell local. Relying on markets elsewhere for your main income is unsustainable in the long run, and makes you vulnerable to geopolitics, pandemics and other things entirely beyond your control. Successful farmers today have to be smart. It makes sense to use that aptitude for green, because sustainable farming is a large part of a sustainable future for everyone. Peter Denton is an activist, author and sustainability consultant based in rural Manitoba alwaysAI, a software company dedicated to making computer vision (CV) accessible to all developers with its innovative and easy-to-use platform, announced today that its beta program is open for all software developers to quickly create and deploy CV applications on the edge. The move builds on the momentum of its recent private beta program, which attracted more than 1,600 developers since it opened in October 2019. We see enormous interest in computer vision and how it can drive new value for enterprise applications and developers it makes AI and IoT come alive in the real world, said Marty Beard, co-founder and CEO of alwaysAI. We love evangelizing the value of this exciting new technology, and I believe we are fundamentally changing the way developers create, prototype and deploy computer vision applications at the edge. Developers, from beginners to experts alike, are encouraged to open their free account at http://www.alwaysai.co and start creating, prototyping and deploying CV apps on ARM-based devices including cameras, drones, wearables, industrial monitoring equipment and transportation units. Making Development Easy In the open beta, developers get immediate access to a growing, searchable catalog of pre-trained computer vision models, a full set of CV primitives including image classification, object detection, tracking, counting, face detection and now human pose estimation and semantic segmentation, as well as an expanding array of supported edge environments. In addition, developers get an open channel of communication with alwaysAIs rapidly growing developer community and direct access to the engineering team. alwaysAIs accessible and user-friendly platform enables developers to create and deploy computer vision applications in three simple steps: Step 1: Choose a computer vision model. Browse alwaysAIs growing catalog of high-quality models, which are pre-trained, benchmarked and guaranteed to work across a wide variety of edge environments. Step 2: Develop an application. Use alwaysAIs robust, model and hardware-independent APIs to rapidly prototype and refine applications. Step 3: Deploy an application to the edge. Use alwaysAIs command line interface and performance assessment tools to test and deploy their applications on ARM32, ARM64 and x86 platforms, and with popular accelerators. And with alwaysAI, inferencing happens on the edge, so there is lower latency and no required cloud hosting or inference charges a significant cost and time savings. Growing Demand from Developers Co-founders Marty Beard and Steve Griset started alwaysAI with the intention to democratize computer vision and help all enterprise developers leverage CV in practical and affordable ways. We have seen communications like messaging and speech get automated and proliferated across a wide variety of end-points. But vision arguably the most powerful human attribute has simply been too difficult for technologists to implement and deploy, Beard said. With the open beta program, we are broadening access and offering new features that make it even easier and more powerful for the everyday developer. Developers from a wide variety of backgrounds and industries agree: We have found the alwaysAI platform to be a powerful tool in creating computer vision applications, said Dave Tunney, managing director at SparroWatch. alwaysAI is helping us solve real-world problems with computer vision. The alwaysAI platform is simple to use, and we are happy with its performance. The guys at alwaysAI have been great in supporting our development. AI systems integrator SparroWatch Ltd. At Seafloor Systems, our challenges are uniquely positioned to use a computer vision platform like alwaysAI because the very nature of our work is on the edge, said Marcos Barrera, lead robotics and AI research engineer at Seafloor Systems, Inc. We not only have to contend with the physical limitations of working on the water but also have to balance between the constraints of power and data acquisition on remote unmanned autonomous surface vessels. alwaysAI gives us the freedom to be innovative in our solutions because their team built the platform with flexibility at the core. Maritime drone manufacturer Seafloor Systems Inc. Our platform works seamlessly with alwaysAI so developers can deploy, manage and update their computer vision on fleets of connected IoT devices, said Alison Davis Riddell, chief operating officer at balena. We're excited to be working with alwaysAI and their powerful developer platform, which makes it fast and easy to create computer vision applications at the edge. Software company balena Inc. From IoT to robotics and automation, alwaysAI continues to be our go-to platform of choice for computer vision development, said Dean Pfutzenreuter, co-founder and chief technology officer at productOps. It's quick, easy to use, stable and highly flexible, even for the most challenging computer- vision projects on the edge. Using alwaysAI helps us get our computer vision work for clients done faster than ever before. Software development consultancy productOps Inc. alwaysAI allowed my team and I to focus on what mattered, said Christian Piper, Vision Systems FIRST robotics team lead. The platform provided a way to implement complicated features easily. Using the vision system, even with little experience on how machine learning and image analysis works, we were able to implement a vision system that was more robust than any other team in our worldwide competition. Not-for-profit STEM engagement program FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). We are currently building an in-home ambient monitoring sensor and app that tracks a person's movements and analyzes them given specific metrics for providing preventative and health monitoring solutions, said Raffy Rabin, chief solutions architect at Cherish Health. The alwaysAI platform and system is very easy to use, and the development team is very easy to work with. I was able to prototype and get a working demo up and running in less than a day. AI health solutions company CherishHealth. New Computer Vision Features alwaysAIs computer vision software is now available on NVIDIAs Jetson systems. The combination of alwaysAI's software and NVIDIA's Jetson hardware will provide intelligent sight to devices that run autonomous machines, smart cities, retail services and other advanced computer vision applications. NVIDIAs Jetson Nano is a small, powerful computer that lets a developer run multiple neural networks in parallel for applications like image classification, object detection, segmentation and speech processing. The Jetson Nano is the ideal platform for creating high-performance deep learning, computer vision projects at the edge. The alwaysAI platform also makes it easy to build, test and deploy computer vision applications for autonomous driving applications, including a pedestrian and bicyclist detector equipped with semantic segmentation. Autonomous vehicles need to determine how far away pedestrians and bicyclists are, as well as their intentions. With semantic segmentation, detections are done pixel-by-pixel, rather than with bounding boxes. In certain scenarios like foot and bicycle traffic in bustling urban areas the autonomous vehicle needs much more detailed information about the exact location of a pedestrian or a bicyclist. alwaysAI makes that fast and easy. In opening up the beta, alwaysAI carefully listened to its growing developer base, offering more of the powerfully optimized tools they want. The alwaysAI platform recently released an easy-to-deploy image for both Raspberry Pi 3B+ and the Raspberry Pi 4. Enterprise software developers and hobbyists alike are tapping into the alwaysAI platform to get their edge computer vision projects up and running. alwaysAI is an awesome product ... it makes computer vision development on the edge simple, said Tomas Migone, hardware hacker in residence at balena. The tools are easy to use, and the documentation is straightforward. Developing with alwaysAI is a great experience. I'm looking forward to continuing using it for computer vision projects. For more information about alwaysAI, or to join the companys open beta program, visit http://www.alwaysai.co. About alwaysAI: alwaysAI (http://www.alwaysai.co) brings deep learning computer vision to embedded and IoT devices. By providing a professional catalog of pre-trained models, innovative set of computer vision APIs, and growing array of supported edge environments, alwaysAI accelerates the time it takes to get a computer vision app up and running. Based in San Diego, alwaysAI is led by a team of technology veterans who are passionate about democratizing access to computer vision. Co-founders Marty Beard and Steve Griset have more than 40 years of combined experience in enterprise software, mobility, cloud applications and cybersecurity. Media Contact Stephanie Casola alwaysAI Marketing Manager stephanie.casola@alwaysai.co 858-692-6075 Aldi has announced a new way of sourcing Scotch beef with an aim to provide a long-term and economically sustainable solution for farmers. The retailer has developed the new Beef Cross Dairy Supply Chain model in the hope of providing a long-term solution for the sector. It will integrate the dairy and beef supply chains from farm to retailer, and give farmers a guaranteed price per kilogram for Scotch Aberdeen Angus beef over each 12-month period. Led by Aldi in partnership with Scotbeef, G Barbour & Company, Harbro and Genus ABS, it is believed to be the first end-to-end contracted integrated scheme of its kind in Scotland where a farmer, processor and retailer are working together collaboratively. Richard Barbour, of G Barbour & Co, beef farmers based in Dumfries & Galloway, said it is a positive development for the industry. Over recent years the Scottish beef industry has experienced severe price pressures, with many cutting livestock numbers or even exiting the industry all together. By guaranteeing a fixed price per kilogram for the beef we produce each year, it will allow us to forecast further into the future and provides more certainty going forward. By taking away pricing volatility, Aldis Beef Cross Dairy Supply Chain model reinjects an element of certainty and confidence into what is such a crucial industry for Scotland, he said. The model uses Aberdeen Angus beef cross dairy calves. Dairy cows must give birth to one calf annually in order to produce milk and this model uses local dairy cows, which have been artificially inseminated by an Aberdeen Angus bull, to produce an Aberdeen Angus beef cross dairy calf. In the new model, Mr Barbour will buy Aberdeen Angus sired calves from a select group of local dairy farmers, which will then remain on his farm for the rearing, growing and finishing stages of beef production, before being sent to Scotbeefs abattoir at Bridge of Allan. It comes as Scottish beef farmers and producers continue to experience depressed prices. In the last year alone there has been a sizeable reduction in the wholesale price of beef which, combined with uncertainties around future support payments for the industry, has forced some farmers to consider their future in the industry. Preliminary information indicates task force members were attempting to apprehend an individual wanted on an out-of-state arrest warrant for homicide when the subject produced a handgun, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement. In response, officers fired upon the subject. The man was later pronounced deceased at the scene. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro responds to protesters at Netroots Nation Conference in the Philadelphia Convention Center on Friday, July 12. Shapiro announced Wednesday that his office has created a new, statewide Conviction Integrity Unit. Read more People wrongly convicted of crimes in Pennsylvania have a new source of hope, after Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday that his office has created a new, statewide Conviction Integrity Unit. Our focus will be to collaborate with Pennsylvania counties lacking the necessary resources to properly revisit and analyze past convictions, Shapiro said in a statement. He appointed Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser, a former public defender who more recently served as Somerset County district attorney, to lead the unit. He did not indicate how many additional staff would be assigned to the unit or whether the work of reviewing cases had begun. A statewide program will be valuable since almost all conviction-review units are run out of district attorneys offices in large urban areas, said John Hollway, of the University of Pennsylvanias Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice. It raises a question about how plausible claims of actual innocence are going to be handled in offices that might only have one, two, or three assistant district attorneys, Hollway said, noting that three-quarters of DAs offices nationwide are small offices with an average of four attorneys. Its unrealistic to think that an office that thinly staffed is going to have the capacity to dedicate somebody to these types of cases. In Philadelphia, a dozen people have been exonerated by the Conviction Integrity Unit established by District Attorney Larry Krasner in 2018. It remains the only such county-specific unit in Pennsylvania. Hollway said there could be jurisdictional challenges to the Shapiros initiative. Its not yet clear whether the attorney general would rely on counties to refer cases for review, or how it would elicit support from county prosecutors who might be reluctant to reopen old convictions. Lindsay Vaughan, executive director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, said the groups executive committee had not yet been briefed but will meet with Lazzari-Strasiser this week. At that time, we expect to begin to hear more details and formally start the conversation on what the unit is, how it will work, what our role will be, and the complex jurisdictional issues it presents, Vaughan said. But area prosecutors said they were open to the idea. We are currently exploring referring appropriate cases prosecuted by our office for review by that Unit, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in an email. Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub did not indicate that he planned to refer cases but said in a statement that he supports the concept. All convictions must be able to withstand scrutiny from secondary and outside sources, he said. "When it comes to convictions, there is no margin for error. We must get it right. It is unacceptable for me for even one innocent person to have been wrongfully convicted. And this unit will hopefully further insure that it does not occur. Agartala, Feb 12 : Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader and former Tripura Finance and Health Minister Badal Choudhury on Wednesday demanded an increase in the wages of convicted prisoners in the state. Choudhury in a letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar said the convicted prisoners in Tripura are getting a daily wage of Rs 33 for their work inside the jail while the convicted prisoners of other states are getting higher wages. "Convicted prisoners in West Bengal are getting Rs 93 per day followed by Rs 80 in Bihar and Rs 75 in Assam. Thus, the daily wages of the convicted prisoners in Tripura should be at least Rs 70," said Choudhury, deputy leader of the opposition Left group in the Tripura assembly. He said the jail authorities have also been deducting a 20 per cent amount from the wages (Rs 33) of the convicted prisoners. "There is no account of this deduction and prisoners are also not aware why this amount is deducted from their wages and for what purpose and how much is in their credit," the sitting eight-time legislator informed the Chief Secretary in his letter. He said that the jail authorities are providing only 500 grams of rice per day to the inmates of the jail against the stipulated 700 grams. The Left leader said there are many convicted prisoners whose conviction period was over long back but due to lack of initiative, they have not been released from the jails. "According to the Bengal jail code, convicted prisoners who have been in jail for many years, after observing the formalities, have the right to go on parole to meet their families and relatives for a stipulated period. This system is also not being followed by the jail authorities, said the former MP. He said on an average 500 to 600 convicted and undertrial prisoners are lodged in the Central Jail, which is also called the "Central Correctional Centre", at Gautam Nagar in Sepahijala district, but some portions of the buildings of the jail are in a dilapidated condition and the staff strength of the jail is also very less. "The separate prisoners block for women inside the jail, where generally 50-60 convicted and under trial prisoners are lodged, is also in a very bad state," the CPI-M leader stated. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/12/2020 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 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum AJ Vollmoeller feels he and Season 10 star Brandon Reid are kindred spirits and Brandon is his "spirit animal."AJ and his wife Stephanie Sersen , who starred on Season 8 of , offered colorful commentary while watching back parts of Brandon and Taylor Dunklin 's honeymoon in Panama during Lifetime's February 5 broadcast of : Couples Couch, which features former MAFS couples reacting to encore broadcasts of the show's tenth season.A clip showed Brandon frustrated and annoyed after Taylor woke him up one morning with a camera in his face. Brandon later told his wife the incident gave him a panic attack and really freaked him out because he likes his privacy."He's not good with the cameras either," Stephanie pointed out."He's me," AJ noted."He seems a lot more toned down though," AJ said."Than me?" AJ asked."Yeah," Stephanie noted."Really?" AJ questioned, expressing surprise. "I'm pretty toned!"AJ cracked himself up before another clip played of Taylor asking Derek Sherman to take a picture of her while they were boating in Panama.Brandon told the cameras his wife had a large following on Instagram and he found it a little "bizarre.""If it's already bothering him, it's going to bother him way more," Stephanie reasoned."I feel you bro," AJ said, speaking to the TV."Like, I feel him 100 percent with the frustrations with production and with this bothering him with [Taylor] always on the f-cking phone."AJ then added of Brandon, "I feel like he's my spirit animal," which made Stephanie laugh.Since Season 10 couple Meka Jones and Michael Watson missed out on the boating experience with the other four couples in Panama due to a fight they had, AJ compared them to Kate Sisk and Luke Cuccurullo from their own edition of .Kate and Luke had ongoing problems in their marriage because Luke wasn't attracted to his wife.AJ then added Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally also missed out on fun activities when they wed on . (As fans may recall, Mia was actually arrested in the airport before her honeymoon, and the couple ran into more issues later on)."Well, no, maybe not," Stephanie said."You can trace back to every [season]. There's always that couple," AJ explained."Well, [ Shawniece Jackson ] and [ Jephte Pierre ] started out this way and now look at them!" Stephanie shared."I'm just saying there's always that couple that excludes themselves from everybody," AJ said.Suddenly, Zach Justice went missing as all the couples, except for Meka and Michael, were swimming in the ocean during their honeymoon, and Brandon joked about how the "dapper" personal trainer was probably trying to look good on TV."It's all about looking good on TV, and then when you look like me on TV you get nothing but hate mail! [Brandon] knows what's up!" AJ said, making his wife laugh.Brandon said he got to find his partner for life and his best friend with whom he could have that "white picket fence" future with children running around."'White picket fence' -- who wants that?" Stephanie joked."I do," AJ sheepishly admitted with a laugh."No, we want like a marble gate that says 'Keep Out,'" Stephanie said with a laugh."Yeah!" AJ agreed.Later during the honeymoon footage, Brandon told the other grooms it felt like he and Taylor had already been together for years because they were both so comfortable.Meanwhile, Taylor told the girls how Brandon had decorated their hotel bathroom with rose petals, candles and a bucket of cold champagne while he waited in the bath tub for her."Nice approach. I think he's my favorite because I relate to him the most," AJ shared.Taylor and Brandon went on to build a romantic connection in Panama, and Taylor called her husband "so sweet" and "nice." In turn, Brandon told his wife she's mind-bogglingly beautiful."I like him, I was wrong on my initial judgement," AJ admitted.Brandon and Taylor continued to bond during their honeymoon in Panama and appeared to have a blast together after their one fight about Taylor filming Brandon in the morning, however, the trip ended in flames.At the end of the honeymoon, Brandon made it known he was totally fed up with having cameras follow him around.During the latest episode of 's tenth season, Brandon told a crew member, "You're trying to play me," before putting his hand over a camera lens.Taylor called her husband "abrasive" and "rude" to the show's production team, and she didn't like what she was seeing.Taylor recalled telling Brandon, "The difficult person that you're being on camera is not somebody I really want to be married to. I like being married to the sweet, kind Brandon."Taylor's words apparently set Brandon off, and all he paid attention to was the "I don't want to be married" part of her statement."He takes that and runs with it," Taylor explained. "He responds like, 'Oh, you don't want to be married to me!' He takes off his ring, he throws it and says, 'We don't have to be in this marriage,' and he leaves."Taylor therefore packed all of their bags and mentioned how Brandon had left his wedding ring and passport behind in the room."Brandon was having a full-blown meltdown," Taylor told the cameras.Brandon was then shown yelling and swearing in the van outside of the hotel that also held the four other couples."I ain't got time for this sh-t," Brandon said, before Taylor could be heard saying, "I tried."Brandon then told his wife, "No, you didn't try to do sh-t... You know what, f-ck you, Taylor. F-ck you!""Calm down," Taylor requested."I'm gonna calm down when I'm in Washington," Brandon replied. "F-ck y'all."'s tenth season, which currently airs on Wednesday nights on Lifetime, also stars Katie Conrad Jessica Studer , and Austin Hurd To read jaw-dropping spoilers on how Brandon and Taylor's marriage turned out and whether they're still together, click here Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group Good morning. (If you dont already get California Today delivered to your inbox, heres the sign-up.) My colleague Thomas Fuller wrote about how he stumbled across yet another twist in the homelessness crisis. Heres his dispatch: Its the innocuous questions that sometimes elicit the most surprising answers. Two months ago I asked a couple I had gotten to know at an Oakland homeless camp what kind of work they were finding. The couple, Kim Hansen and John Hebbring, told me that they had scored a gig on Craigslist delivering eviction notices for a legal documents company. Both had been evicted in the past and now they were the ones knocking on doors. Believe me, we see the irony, Mr. Hebbring told me. [Read the full story here.] The couple agreed to let me follow them around delivering eviction notices, opening a window onto a particular aspect of the gig economy. The mother of 2012 Delhi gangrape victim has appealed to the Supreme Court to issue death warrant for the four convicts in the case. Asha Devi had earlier approached the Patiala House court with a petition for fresh death warrant, which posted the matter for hearing on Thursday. I appeal to the Supreme Court to issue the death warrant as the Patiala House Court is in no mood to issue a fresh death warrant. The judge does not want to fix a date for hanging the convicts and is supporting them, said Asha Devi. She also appealed to the Arvind Kejriwal government to ensure that loopholes in the law are removed for speedy justice. The public have once again elected AAP for five years. So remove loopholes in the law due to which the convicts continue to take the law for granted for a longer period of time. The Delhi jail should bring changes in the manual so that no convict escapes the death penalty, Asha Devi said. She also protested outside the Patiala House court demanding that the four convicts should be hanged. Asha Devi had moved a fresh petition before the Delhi court after a weeks time given by the high court ended on Wednesday. But the father of one of the convicts, Pawan Gupta, sought more time saying they are not able to find a lawyer to represent his son. The court then offered legal aid to Gupta, saying a condemned convict is entitled to legal aide till his last breath. Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana then posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday. This upset Asha Devi who broke down and left the court premises. The judge, however, expressed displeasure over delay from Guptas side. The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) then provided his father with a list of its empanelled advocates to chose from. The Supreme Court will hold a hearing on Thursday on Centres plea against Delhi High Court orded that the four convicts can be hanged together only when they have exhausted all the legal remedies. Asha Devi said she hopes the apex court issues guidelines in the matter. The hearing in the Supreme Court on February 13 may be important. We hope the Supreme Court gives a guideline tomorrow because Nirbhayas case is constantly going to the Supreme Court, she said. Now our last hope is on the guideline of the Supreme Court. Only the Supreme Court can give a decision in this regard. It has to be seen how much we have to struggle in this case. How long the guilty continue to take advantage of loopholes in laws, she added. The date of execution, first fixed for January 22 in Tihar jail, was postponed for 6 am on February 1 by a January 17 court order. The trial court later, on January 31 stayed, till further orders the execution of the four convicts in the case, who are lodged in Tihar Jail. The Tihar jail authorities had filed a status report on Tuesday before the trial court stating that no legal option was preferred by any convicts - Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) - in last seven-day period, granted by the Delhi High Court. Asha Devis 23-year-old daughter, paramedical student, was gang-raped and brutalised in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. She died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. Six people - the four convicts, Ram Singh and a juvenile - were named as accused. The trial of the five adult men began in a special fast-track court in March 2013. Ram Singh, the prime accused, committed suicide by hanging himself in Tihar jail days after the trial began. The juvenile, who was said to be the most brutal of the attackers, was put in a correctional home for three years. He was released in 2015 and sent to an undisclosed location amid concerns over a threat to his life. He, when released, was 20 years old. Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay and Pawan were sentenced to death in September 2013 by the trial court. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the Regional Government Department of Andalucia, Spain, through Extenda, held a Spanish Industry Day at GA-ASI's Poway, California, headquarters on February 11, 2020. Twelve companies participated from the Andalucian aerospace industry. The event was organized by GA-ASI, a leading manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, and Extenda, Andalucia's export support agency. During the event, the Andalucian companies learned about GA-ASI's procurement process and supply chain dynamics, and presented their capabilities for potential support for GA-ASI RPA programs. The event gave GA-ASI an opportunity to learn about the Andalucian aviation industry's capacities first-hand. GA-ASI supplies the MQ-9 RPA to the Spanish Air Force and is seeking to increase its number of Spanish defense industry suppliers. "It's been a great pleasure to host a cross-section of Spanish aerospace suppliers," said Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI. "As a global provider of Remotely Piloted Aircraft, GA-ASI is always enthusiastic about working with companies that share our drive for innovation." The following companies attended the event: Hispano Aeronautica, Sofitec Composites, Airgrup, Aertec Solutions, Airtificial Aerospace Defense, CiTD, DHV Technology, Integrasys SA, Seven Sols, AYESA Air Control, Alter Technologies and Malaga-based MADES also participated. GA-ASI and Extenda worked together on a similar event in 2017 in Malaga, Spain. Hi-resolution images of the MQ-9 are available to qualified media outlets from GA-ASI. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar. With more than six million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com. Predator, Lynx, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005282/en/ Contacts: Steven Henden General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. +1 (858) 524-8101 ASI-MediaRelations@ga-asi.com Thousands of African students in China are watching as the coronavirus continues to spread. They are hoping that their governments will get them out of China soon. Solomon Yohannes of Ethiopia is a third-year engineering student at Wuchang Technology University in Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. As he sat in a room at the school, he said almost all of Wuchangs 15,000 students have left, but about 200 foreigners, most of them from Africa, remain. Staying in rooms to prevent infection We are counting on the next two to three days for some solution, Yohannes told VOAs Afaan Oromo service. Until then, he and others will not leave their buildings. He explained that when going out, people have to wear masks and other protective devices to guard against infection. Another student at Wuchang called on the Ethiopian government to take action. We want the government to take us out of the country as every other government is doing, he told VOAs Amharic service. The student noted that the United States and India took many of their citizens out of China. We also want to tell the government to at least take us out of the city where the crisis is right now, he added. There are about 61,000 Africans studying in China. Many now face food shortages, isolation and questions about the future. Last week, tests showed that a 21-year-old student from Cameroon had the coronavirus. He was studying in Jingzhou, a city about 230 kilometers from Wuhan. He is the first African student reported to be infected with the virus. Hermes Koundou is from the Central African Republic. He is a third-year engineering student at Nankin University, about 530 kilometers east of Wuhan. He said students there are careful about being with other people. We buy food online, you see, and we cook inside our rooms because it is not easy to get to the common kitchen over there, as many people are there cooking, Koundou told VOAs French to Africa service. And you never know, you could be in contact there, with a student already infected with the coronavirus. So, we stay in our rooms. Masks, wifi, and a hotline Antony Waigwa of Kenya is at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wuhan. He is working toward a Doctor of Philosophy, the highest degree offered at the university. Waigwa said that he and other students have been offered masks, free wi-fi and a telephone hotline for information about the virus. The situation is tense. We're just afraid of contracting the disease, Waigwa told VOAs Swahili service. He said the students are trying to stay safe by not leaving the schools grounds. The Ethiopian Ambassador to China, Teshome Toga Chanaka, said his countrys embassy is closely watching the situation. He added there are about 100 Ethiopian students in Wuhan city and about 300 in Hubei province. He said the embassy is in contact with student groups but said both the government of China and the World Health Organization have advised against fleeing the area right now. This is a very serious matter, the ambassador told VOAs Amharic service. We are very much concerned, of course, about the situation. But we also have confidence in the prevention and control measures the government of China is taking. He added that several different agencies need to work together to organize student evacuations. He said many African embassies are in touch with one another and ready to act, if needed. Im Jill Robbins. Salem Solomon wrote this story for VOANews.com with reporting from Eden Geremew, Sora Halake, Patrick Nnduwimana, Idd Ligongo and Timothee Donangmaye. Jill Robbins adapted her story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story outbreak n. the sudden or violent start of something unwelcome, such a disease isolation - n. the state of being alone or separated from others kitchen n. a room or area where food is prepared degree n. an award or recognition offered by a school after completion of a study program wi-fi n. technology enabling computers and other electronic devices connect to the internet or communicate with one another wirelessly evacuate v. to remove (someone) from a dangerous place What do you think of the African students situation? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 22:01:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JAKARTA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- An Indonesian immigration office has expelled six Australian and Dutch citizens back to their countries after they were allegedly conducting researches without having official permits, a senior official said on Wednesday. The six foreigners had been detained for conducting researches in the archaeology sector in East Nusa Tenggara province's district of Rote Ndao before securing licenses from the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology and Higher Education, said Sjachril, Head of the Immigration Office in the province's capital of Kupang. "Consequently, the immigration office uses its authority to conduct deportation," he said. The foreign nationals were deported to their countries through the I Gusti Ngurah Rai international airport in Bali resort island, the official said. According to him, they were caught by the task force for surveillance of foreigners in the province on January 17, Indonesia's national news agency Antara reported. By Azernews By Abdul Kerimkhanov Fully occupation of seven electoral districts out of 125, as well as partially occupation of three constituencies in Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh, as a result of the Armenian aggression have been reflected in the interim report of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission of 29 January 2020. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys said these in its official website on February 10, while commenting on the February 9 snap parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan. In order to grant the constitutional rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) expelled from these territories, 523 polling stations were set up throughout Azerbaijan, the ministry said. "The IDPs from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, deprived of voting in their home towns, exercised their voting rights in these polling stations arranged specially for them," the statement reads. The MFA informed that the Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region took part in the elections in Khankendi and Shusha constituencies and became the elected representatives of the region. As was recalled, Azerbaijans Central Election Commission and the Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region, invited the Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin in the region occupied by Armenia to participate in the parliamentary elections voting. Note that on 9 February 2020, snap elections took place to the Parliament of Azerbaijan. The elections were held in full compliance with the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the Electoral Code and the international obligations of Azerbaijan. Some 5,573 polling stations were set up throughout the country, and according to preliminary data of the Central Election Commission. Slightly less than half (47.81 percent) of voters took part in voting and exercised their voting rights. "The highest number of registered candidates in the elections so far - 1,314 candidates - have been running for the parliament, and this indicates the comprehensiveness and fairness of the candidate registration process, as well as the competitive electoral environment. The elections were also marked by such moments as a significant increase in the number of registered women candidates compared to the previous elections, ensuring broad pluralism with the representation of candidates from 19 political parties," the statement reads. As many as 883 international observers, who came to the country at the invitation of the Azerbaijani side, and about 78,000 local observers monitored the elections process. At the same time, 199 representatives from 132 foreign media joined the observation of the elections. "The absolute majority of both international and local observers confirmed that the elections were free, democratic and transparent. If any election-related shortcomings are recorded, they will be seriously investigated," the statement reads. The parliamentary elections of 9 February 2020 constitute the next important step in the democratic development of Azerbaijan. Around one million Azerbaijanis were expelled from their homes in the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding seven regions of Azerbaijan as a result of Armenian occupation in the war in early 1990s. A government school teacher was arrested in Rajasthan's Alwar district for allegedly raping a minor girl and two others held for their involvement in kidnapping her, police said on Wednesday. All three accused were produced before a court from where they were sent on three-day police remand, they said. "The girl was found staying with a woman in Aligarh in UttarPradesh. A government teacher has been arrested for raping the girl whereas two others were arrested for kidnapping her. They have been sent to three-day police remand," the area police station in-charge said. On February 2, the family members of the victim lodged a complaint with police after she went missing while grazing cattle. According to police, a private tutor Surendra Jatav who knew the girl had dropped her in Alwar on bike where government school teacher Subhash Mahlawat raped her. He confiscated her mobile phone and then sent her on a train to Jaipur. When the train reached Jaipur, Anita Jatav received her and then took her to UP's Aligarh district, police said. On Tuesday, Mahlawat and the two others were arrested under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Twitter announced today that over the holidays it identified and shut down "a large network of fake accounts," as well as many others "located in a wide range of countries," collectively abusing a feature that let them match phone numbers to user accounts. TechCrunch previously reported this same issue on December 24, which is also the day Twitter says that it "became aware" that the abuse was taking place. Security researcher Ibrahim Balic found that a bug in Twitter's Android app let him submit millions of phone numbers through an official API, which returned any associated user account. We recently discovered an issue that allowed bad actors to match a specific phone number with the corresponding accounts on Twitter. We quickly corrected this issue and are sorry this happened. You can learn more about our investigation here: https://t.co/Z6Q4geQ8jo Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 3, 2020 The feature is intended, if you have enabled it, to let friends who have your number look up your Twitter handle. But obviously submitting millions of numbers goes "beyond its intended use case." If you had turned this feature off, you weren't affected by this bug. Fortunately for users in the EU this was opt-in there. But for the rest of the world it's opt-out so if you had a phone number associated with your account, you may have been affected. Furthermore, the phone numbers include those provided for purposes of two-factor authentication, so those outside the EU may have been vulnerable to this exploit without realizing it. It seems that after Twitter was alerted to the issue and shut down the original network (presumably Balic's), its investigators identified many more accounts that were exploiting this flaw, though a representative declined to provide a number or estimate. Story continues "We observed a particularly high volume of requests coming from individual IP addresses located within Iran, Israel, and Malaysia," wrote the company in a security bulletin. "It is possible that some of these IP addresses may have ties to state-sponsored actors," the post continued. This suspicion was justified by the observation of unrestricted access to Twitter from the IPs in Iran, where the platform is blocked from general access suggesting government involvement. Belic, when contacted by TechCrunch, said that his work was not state-sponsored in any way. Any account suspected of abusing the feature was suspended, and the API itself has been modified to prevent any further exploitation of this type. I've asked the company how many accounts were suspended and will update this post if I hear back. Twitter has had numerous incidents where it exposed or leaked user data over the last year. In addition to sharing rather too much data with its ad partners, the company admitted it used phone numbers used for two-factor authentication to serve targeted ads. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 16:14:59|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close WUHAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 310 medical workers from other parts of China have arrived in Huanggang, one of Hubei Province cities hit hardest by a novel coronavirus outbreak, to aid local colleagues in treating patients and containing the epidemic. They are the third groups of doctors and nurses dispatched from Shandong and Hunan provinces, which had already sent 550 medical personnel to Huanggang. The doctors and nurses are from departments of critical care, respiratory and infection. Huanggang reported 2,398 confirmed cases, only after Wuhan (19,558 cases) and Xiaogan (2,751), by the end of Tuesday, according to the provincial health commission. Health authorities in Huanggang said thanks to the help of medical staff from Shandong and Hunan, the city's treatment capacity has been significantly enhanced. A Berkshire pub owned by the same family for 250 years has been named Campaign For Real Ales (CAMRA) Pub of the Year for 2020. The Bell Inn in Aldworth came out on top from a national shortlist of sixteen pubs, which was then whittled down to four finalists. CAMRAs top pub in London was named as the Hope in Carshalton, but the venue failed to break through into the final four. The Hope does, however, celebrate its fifth year as the winner of the London category, and commemorated the achievement by launching five new cask ales when the shortlist was announced in autumn. Joining The Bell Inn in the top four this year were the Swan With Two Necks in Pendleton, the George & Dragon in Hudswell and the Red Lion in Preston, Hertfordshire. The Bell Inn is the only pub in Berkshire to boast a Grade II-listed interior, and last won CAMRAs Pub of the Year award thirty years ago to the day. It was praised by the judges for this years prize for its community focus and relaxed atmosphere. The judges were impressed with how a stranger entering the pub was treated like a regular straight away, said competition organised Ben Wilkinson. Its clear that the local customers use the pub as a community centre as well as a place to drink, and the warm welcome and knowledgeable staff made us feel right at home. Owner Hugh Macaulay said: The Bell Inn has been in my family for 250 years and my mother and father were running it when we last won the award. Its a wonderful thing to be recognised for driving quality year after year. Not much has changed because we have kept our interior unspoilt all this time, and intend to keep it that way for years to come. STOCKHOLM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial Solutions (SSME:ASAI), the leading specialist in enterprise-strength conversational AI, announced today that it is partnering with Blue Prism as part of the company's Technology Alliance Program (TAP) to enable enterprises to easily add advanced conversational interfaces to their business automations. Blue Prism's Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology is revolutionizing the corporate digital transformation journey by allowing enterprises to be more agile and cost effective using autonomous Digital Workers (software robots) to carry out mission critical processes, while empowering the human workforce to focus on driving the business forward. Now using Teneo, Artificial Solutions' award-winning conversational AI development platform, those automations can be easily connected directly to end-users through a natural language interface. "Driving innovation through intelligent automation capabilities is key for enterprises looking to grow in a competitive marketplace. Artificial Solutions will allow our customers to easily extend their connected-RPA sequences into conversational AI applications to maximize the benefits of both technologies, while delivering the 24/7 experience end-users are demanding," says Bruce Mazza, VP of Blue Prism's Technology Alliance Program. Besides extending the zero-intervention proposition of RPA, Teneo delivers several key benefits to Blue Prism customers. Available in over 35 languages running over any device, service, or channel, Teneo's unique hybrid natural language model combines the advantages of machine and linguistic learning to facilitate rapid development and deliver precise and predictable understanding. In addition, Teneo enables enterprises to own the data generated by conversational AI applications and to reuse it to increase personalization, deliver actionable data back to the business and maintain the conversational system. Enterprise strength capabilities including support for privacy regulation, collaboration and system roll-back makes Teneo ideally suited for large multi-national businesses. "We're delighted to join TAP and provide Blue Prism's customers with access to connectors that will easily allow them to extend their RPAs to end users via a conversational AI interface," says Robert Wilson-Fry, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships of Artificial Solutions. "Teneo's highly conversational capabilities deliver the essential accuracy needed when understanding a user's intent. You don't want the wrong RPA to be started because your chatbot misunderstood ambiguous words such as 'leave' and proceeds to lock-out an employee from the front door, when all they wanted was to take their holiday, not quit the company." About Artificial Solutions Artificial Solutions is the leading specialist in enterprise-strength conversational AI, a form of Artificial Intelligence that allows people to communicate with applications, websites and devices in everyday, humanlike natural language via voice, text, touch or gesture input. Designed for the global enterprise, the Company's advanced conversational AI platform, Teneo, allows business users and developers to collaborate on creating sophisticated, highly intelligent applications that run across 35 languages, multiple platforms and channels in record time. The ability to analyze and make use of the enormous quantities of conversational data is fully integrated within Teneo, delivering unprecedented levels of insight that reveal what customers are truly thinking. Artificial Solutions' conversational AI technology makes it easy to implement a wide range of natural language applications such as virtual assistants, chatbots, speech-based conversational UIs for smart devices and more. It is already used daily by millions of people across hundreds of private and public sector deployments worldwide. For more information, visit www.artificial-solutions.com About Blue Prism Blue Prism's vision is to provide a Digital Workforce for Every Enterprise. The company's purpose is to unleash the collaborative potential of humans, operating in harmony with a Digital Workforce, so every enterprise can exceed their business goals and drive meaningful growth, with unmatched speed and agility. Fortune 500 and public-sector organizations, among customers across 70 commercial sectors, trust Blue Prism's enterprise-grade connected-RPA platform, which has users in more than 170 countries. By strategically applying intelligent automation, these organizations are creating new opportunities and services, while unlocking massive efficiencies that return millions of hours of work back into their business. Available on-premises, in the cloud, hybrid, or as an integrated SaaS solution, Blue Prism's Digital Workforce automates ever more complex, end-to-end processes that drive a true digital transformation, collaboratively, at scale and across the entire enterprise. Visit www.blueprism.com to learn more or follow Blue Prism on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn. Blue Prism's customers will also have access to Teneo Developers, Artificial Solutions online development portal that gives free access to Teneo and other resources such as Teneo Connectors, a pre-built library of intelligent connectors that span a range of business and AI assets including RPA (robotic process automation) and CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service). Media Contacts: Artificial Solutions Sara Claridge sara.claridge@artificial-solutions.com Mobile: +44-7968-626838 Blue Prism Andre Fuochi andre.fuochi@blueprism.com Mobile: +1-469-394-7274 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/artificial-solutions-international-ab/r/artificial-solutions-and-blue-prism-partner-to-add-conversational-ai-to-business-automations,c3019028 The following files are available for download: Rend Collective will be releasing their new album CHOOSE TO WORSHIP on March 27. As a follow-up to their critically acclaimed album "Good News," (2018) which included the hit single, "Counting Every Blessing," Northern Ireland's Rend Collective brings us their 7th studio album, CHOOSE TO WORSHIP. Including declarative anthem, "YOUR NAME IS POWER" and contemplative title-track, "CHOOSE TO WORSHIP," this release is full of exciting new sounds and messages for the listener. "CHOOSE TO WORSHIP," is a spirit-filled journey that reminds us that, in every high and every low, choosing to worship something greater than ourselves is a daily decision that we get to make. TRACK LISTING 1. I CHOOSE TO WORSHIP 2. Revival Anthem 3. DAY OF VICTORY 4. SING IT FROM THE SHACKLES 5. MY ADVOCATE 6. STILL007. UNCONDITIONAL 8. BEHOLD HE COMES 9. DEFIANT 10. YOUR NAME IS POWER 11. REND THE HEAVENS 12. WHOLEHEARTED 13. YOUR NAME IS POWER Hailing from a small town off the coast of Northern Ireland, Rend Collective (Gareth Gilkeson, Chris Llewellyn, Ali Gilkeson, Patrick Thompson and Stephen Mitchell) wants to be known as a celebration band, worshiping for God's Glory and fame. Since the release of their first album, Organic Family Hymnal, the group's authentic and energetic style of worship has attracted an international audience, with career sales of more than 300,000 albums. The group saw early success as their first ever single "Build Your Kingdom Here," peaked at No. 12 on the National Christian Audience Chart. Their 2014 release The Art of Celebration, charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart within the first week of its release. Known for their electric, lively worship, the band has been a part of several major tours with top artists such as Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Kari Jobe, Lecrae and more. Rend Collective is currently preparing to embark on two headlining tours in 2016. The group's latest album As Family We Go, released in August 2015, hitting No. 19 on the U.K. Albums Chart and No. 9 on U.K.'s Digital Albums Chart, making it the highest debut for a Christian album in the U.K. in almost 20 years and the highest ever Christian album debut on the U.K. Digital Albums Chart. As Family We Go also hit the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Christian albums chart in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand and landed in the top ten albums overall in seven countries including the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Tags : rend collective rend collective new album rend collective choose to worship rend collective sing it from the shackles President Donald Trump on Wednesday lauded Bill Barr for 'taking charge' of Roger Stone's case just hours after he denied asking the attorney general to roll back the sentence request for his longtime political ally. Even as Democrats howled that he was interfering in the neutral administration of justice to help Stone, Trump railed online against the Mueller probe and what he termed 'rogue prosecutors.' Four federal prosecutors either quit or took themselves off the Stone case Tuesday in a dramatic move that a Justice Department official acknowledged was an act of protest. Prosecutors wanted Stone to serve jail time for lying to Congress about his contacts with Wikileaks as well as witness intimidation. 'Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!' Trump Tweeted Wednesday morning. President Donald Trump called the original sentencing recommendation for longtime advisor Roger Stone a 'disgrace,' and called the proposed sentence 'ridiculous.' On Tuesday he denied speaking to Bill Barr about the sentencing recommendation. But on Wednesday he congratulated Barr for 'taking charge' of the case In another tweet, he wrote: 'Two months in jail for a Swamp Creature, yet 9 years recommended for Roger Stone (who was not even working for the Trump Campaign). Gee, that sounds very fair! Rogue prosecutors maybe? The Swamp!' He tagged the morning show Fox and Friends and prime time host Tucker Carlson, who has said Stone deserves a pardon. Amid the stunning turnaround from prosecutors, Stone faced up to nine years in jail for what prosecutors call 'contempt for this court and the rule of law,' having clashed with the judge over a gag order. Now, prosecutors advised the court to rely on its own judgement in meting out a sentence. Trump's 'swamp creature' line may have been a reference to former Senate Intelligence Committee aide James Wolfe, who received a two-month sentence for lying to investigators conducting a leak investigation about his contacts with journalists. He pleaded guilty and said he was lying to cover up an affair. A Justice Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on the president's tweet praising the Attorney General for 'taking charge' of the case. Trump congratulated Barr for 'taking charge' of the Roger Stone case. Stone is a longtime political advisor to Trump who prosecutors wanted to get up to nine years for lying about his contacts with WikiLeaks Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering. Trump brought up the two-month sentence given to a former Senate Intelligence Committee aide who pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators Trump congratulated Barr (l, with FBI Director Christopher Wray) for 'taking charge' of the Roger Stone case Trump on Tuesday denied asking his attorney general to roll back prosecutors' recommendation that longtime advisor Roger Stone face serious jail time after the Justice Department did a sudden 180-degree turn in court and every prosecutor on the case quit. Barr has been a zealous defender of Trump's prerogatives, and drew Democrats' ire when he issued a four-page summary of the Mueller report that Mueller complained did not capture the 'context' of his deep examination of Russian election interference and contacts between Trump advisors and Russians. The Department of Justice dramatically reversed its demand to jail Stone Tuesday just hours after Donald Trump slammed it on Twitter as a 'miscarriage of justice' though officials said the timing was coincidental. The reversal prompted the extraordinary decision by four experienced federal prosecutors to remove themselves from the case with one resigning his position with the government entirely. Trump stood by his decision Tuesday afternoon, calling the original recommendation a 'disgrace,' and terming the proposed sentence 'ridiculous.' 'I thought it was ridiculous,' Trump said. 'No I didn't speak to the Jus I'd be able to do it if I wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe. But I didn't speak to them. I thought the (original) recommendation was ridiculous, I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous,' Trump vented. 'I look at others that haven't been prosecutors.' He said he considered it an 'insult to our country.' He called them 'the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell.' But he also maintained: 'I have not been involved.' 'I think it's a disgrace. See what happens.' Trump declined to say whether he was considering commuting Stone's sentence, whatever it turns out to be. But he did suggest another man he considers a political enemy, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, might face a military investigation. 'We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want. General Milley has him now. I congratulate General Milley,' Trump said, referencing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley. 'He can have him. And his brother also,' Trump said. 'We'll find out,' he added, without explanation. According to its updated filing, which came after Trump's overnight tweets: 'The defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is 'sufficient, but not greater than necessary' to satisfy the factors set forth in' sentencing guidelines. 'Based on the facts known to the government, a sentence of between 87 to 108 months' imprisonment, however, could be considered excessive and unwarranted ... Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case,' the updated memo said. Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Donald Trump's confidant Roger Stone to serve between seven and nine years in prison after his conviction in November 2019 A senior Justice Department official told ABC News "it does appear" the the prosecutors asked to be taken off the case as a form of protest. But the official denied Trump's nearly 2 am tweet played a role in the turnaround, calling it an 'inconvenient coincidence.' Stone has been a Trump confidant for decades, and served as an informal advisor during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's denial came after prosecutors filed a new memo in the Stone case leaving it to the judge to recommend the appropriate sentence. Leaders at the department, which is headed by Attorney General Bill Barr, found it extreme and excessive, and disproportionate to Stone's offenses, one official said. Shortly after the announcement, the lead prosecutor in the case, Aaron Zelinsky, used a court filing to announce that he had resigned 'effective immediately' as a special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He retains a federal post in Maryland. A second, Jonathan Kravis, followed him shortly afterwards, resigning from government service as an assistant U.S. attorney. A third federal prosecutor, Adam Jed, also withdrew as counsel to the government in the case. Later Tuesday, it was revealed that prosecutor Michael Marando withdrew from the case. Kravis served in the public integrity of the Justice Department, served in the White House counsel's office under Barack Obama, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Jed clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. All four used court filings to announce their departures, apparently to the surprise of their own colleagues in an unmistakable sign of protest. Zelinsky was a member of Mueller's team, but remained after Mueller departed to work on the Stone case. Trump had tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday morning: 'This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' Just before midday, the DOJ announced its walk back but one official told Fox News the decision had been made before Trump's Twitter rant. All three were seasoned prosecutors who worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's team. The official did not explain why the reversal had not been announced until after the tweet. The DOJ has not said what sentence it will now seek. The move prompted immediate anger and derision from Democrats with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying: 'They'll probably recommend the presidential medal of freedom!' He said he was asking the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate whether Bill Barr had directed the reversal. Veteran 'dirty trickster' Stone is due to face sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on February 20, after a jury in November found him guilty on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Attack: Democratic congressman Bill Pascrell likened Trump and the DOJ's move to a banana republic Trump tweeted Monday night: ''This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' (pictured: at a campaign rally in Manchester last night) Prosecutors will now have to ask the judge for permission to abandon their initial recommendation and submit a new one. 'We look forward to reviewing the government's supplemental filing,' Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, said in an email to Reuters. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation. Long-time consigliere: Roger Stone has been advising Donald Trump on politics for more than 20 years, including in 1999 during his first putative White House run Jackson, the judge, has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Besides, judges invariably frown upon crimes that they see as perverting the functions of the criminal justice system, such as making false statements or obstructing an investigation. The Justice Department plans to refile the recommendation later Tuesday. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position onFlynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. The White House referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department. Stone is one of several people close to Trump who faced charges stemming from then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has the power to pardon people for federal crimes, although he has yet to use it in the cases of other former aides convicted in the wake of the Mueller investigations. His tweet hunted he could use that power, or his power to commute sentences if Stone were to get the level of custody demanded by prosecutors. Stone's own defense had asked for probation. Senior Democratic lawmakers expressed amazement at the move but Trump loyalists said they now hoped Mike Flynn - the disgraced former national security advisor who is currently trying to get out of his guilty plea to lying to the FBI - would also get 'clemency.' Outrage: Senior Democratic lawmakers including senators Chuck Schumer - the Senate minority leader - Chris Van Hollen and Sheldon Whitehouse all expressed anger at the move to abandon the call for a nine-year sentence Trump-world reacts: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor whose daughter Sarah was the White House press secretary, was among the president's supporters calling for Mike Flynn to also be affected by the apparent presidential intervention into a prosecution During the trial, prosecutors pressed their case that Stone lied to lawmakers about his outreach to WikiLeaks - the website that disclosed many hacked Democratic emails ahead of the 2016 U.S. election that proved embarrassing to Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton - to protect Trump from looking bad. Stone, who has labeled himself an 'agent provocateur' and has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian election interference. Stone's colorful trial featured references to the film 'The Godfather Part II,' an impression of Senator Bernie Sanders by prosecution witness Randy Credico, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign chief executive Steve Bannon and former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates. Those witnesses said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about Clinton. In truth, he had no such information. Stone was also accused of tampering with Credico's testimony, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI. In emails and texts, Stone told Credico among other things: 'Prepare to die,' 'You're a rat. A stoolie,' and 'Stonewall it.' Prosecutors also charged that Stone had threatened Credicos therapy dog, Bianca, saying he was 'going to take that dog away from you.' Abraham Lincoln stands not only as Americas greatest president but also as its greatest lawyer. At the time of his election to the presidency in 1860 he was the most prominent practicing lawyer in the state of Illinois. As a politician and as president, Lincoln was a profound student of the Constitution and constitutional history. Perhaps most important, Lincoln was Americas indispensable teacher of the moral ground of political freedom at the exact moment when the country was on the threshold of abandoning what he called its ancient faith that all men are created equal. How can it be that lawyers know so little of the giant of their profession? Former federal judge Herbert Stern is himself a prominent practicing attorney who has found much to learn from Lincolns legal career. As a teacher of practice skills to trial lawyers he frequently asks a rhetorical question: would you rather have an edge in the facts of a case, an edge in the law of a case, or Abraham Lincoln for your lawyer? In his view, the practitioner who can learn to emulate Lincoln as a lawyer holds the key to greatness in the profession. But Lincoln is such an imposing figure that his stature obscures the man. As we view him historically, from the end of his life to the beginning of his career, he remains a figure whose greatness makes him difficult to know or understand. If we can follow him as a young man, as he finds his vocation and his calling, he may become a more familiar and accessible if no less admirable man. The young Lincoln In 1831 Lincoln left home at age 22 to strike out on his own in the struggling frontier town of New Salem, Illinois. He had no trade and few prospects. The single most striking fact about him as a young man is his genius for friendship. As one of his New Salem contemporaries recalled (as recorded in the interview notes of William Herndon quoted by David Herbert Donald), Lincoln had nothing[,] only plenty of friends. He was obviously one of the most likable men who ever lived, a man who radiated decency. Moreover, the better his acquaintances got to know him, the more they liked him. Those who got to know him best, such as the acquaintances with whom he shared boarding rooms as an impoverished young man, became lifelong friends. The student of Lincoln who can see him through the eyes of these friends will have a similar experience. His genius for friendship manifested itself in memorable ways. As a young man, for example, Lincolns physical stature and strength made him a formidable wrestler. He made friends by wrestling, although this was not the kind of wrestling that is a branch of show business or in which the outcome of the match is agreed upon by the contestants in advance. Upon his arrival in New Salem, he was challenged to a match by Jack Armstrong, the leader of a gang called Clarys Grove Boys. The match is famous in the annals of Lincoln lore and was examined in extraordinary detail by Lincoln scholar Douglas Wilson in the first chapter of his book Honors Voice. Although several conflicting eyewitness accounts of the match exist, the accounts generally agree that Armstrong narrowly escaped losing to Lincoln by some sort of sharp practice. The match ended in rancor, but Lincoln and Armstrong immediately became fast friends. Their friendship had momentous consequences in Lincolns legal career. Lincoln joined the Illinois militia to fight in the Black Hawk War in 1832. He later claimed only to have been bloodied in the course of his service by a few mosquitoes. In his militia company, Lincoln apparently made friends by wrestling and was elected the captain of the company (the first election he ever won). Armstrong served as a sergeant in Lincolns company. Candidate for office Discharged later in the year, Lincoln returned to New Salem and ran for the state legislature at age 23. He lost the race while receiving an enormous vote of confidence from his fellow townsmen who knew him best. In the town of New Salem, Lincoln won an astounding 92 percent of the vote, receiving 277 of the 300 votes cast. It was the only direct election that Lincoln ever lost. Lincoln proceeded to win every succeeding election (eight in all, including two for president) in which he stood for office before the public. The only races he lost (closely) were those for the Senate in 1854 and 1858, in which he sought election by the state legislature. Following his 1832 loss, Lincoln ran again for the state legislature in 1834 and won. He was reelected in 1836, 1838, 1840 and 1854. In the legislature Lincoln was a ferociously partisan Whig who quickly became a skilled debater and party leader. During his service in the legislature, Lincoln studied law and became a lawyer. Upon leaving the legislature in 1842, Lincoln devoted himself to legal practice full time and rapidly became recognized as an accomplished practitioner. While practicing law he remained active in politics. In 1846 he was elected to Congress. Although Lincoln wanted to run for reelection to Congress, he did not do so. He felt bound to honor an informal agreement among the Whigs in his district to serve only one term and he therefore stood down. In 1854, Lincoln reentered politics to oppose the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the handiwork of Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas. Lincoln denounced the Kansas-Nebraska Act in his great Peoria Speech of 1854, making a comprehensive case against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the expansion of slavery into the territories. He resigned the seat in the state legislature that he won that fall to seek Illinois open Senate seat, but narrowly lost to anti-Nebraska Act Democrat Lyman Trumbull when Lincoln threw his support to Trumbull in the last round of balloting. Friend in need Lincolns law practice grew apace with the national political crisis of the 1850s. In 1857, immediately prior to Lincolns ascent to the national political stage by virtue of his epic battle with Senator Stephen Douglas in the senate race the following year, Lincolns friendship with his former wrestling foe Jack Armstrong led to the most famous trial of Lincolns legal career. On the evening of August 29, 1857, in a moonlit grove in central Illinois, two assailants beat James Metzger in what seems to have been a drunken brawl. He died two days later and his attackers James Norris and William Duff Armstrong were charged with murder. According to the charge, Norris and Armstrong had assaulted Metzger in concert and inflicted fatal blows to the head, Norris from behind with a wooden piece of a wagon frame and Armstrong from the front or the side with a slung-shot (a lead ball encased in leather with a cord attached for swinging). Following the indictment Armstrongs lawyer moved for a change of venue while Norriss unaccountably did not. Armstrongs motion was granted and venue was transferred from Mason to Cass County. Tried first, on November 7, 1857, Norris was promptly convicted of manslaughter after a one-day trial. Four eyewitnesses at the trial placed the time of the attack at 11:00 p.m. and claimed to have observed the attack under the light of a bright moon high in the sky. Medical testimony established that the blow to the back of the head by Norris had been fatal. Armstrongs father Lincolns old friend Jack Armstrong died shortly thereafter. It was said to have been his dying wish that his wife Hannah do whatever was necessary, including selling the family farm, to secure their son a defense. Hannah Armstrong wrote Lincoln, now practicing in Springfield and the most prominent lawyer in the state. She sought his representation in the defense of Duff Armstrong. Lincoln immediately undertook the defense as a token of his old friendship and declined all offers of compensation. Friend in deed When the case was called for trial in Cass Countys courthouse in Beardstown, Illinois, Lincoln made his first courtroom appearance for Armstrong. The prosecution moved for a continuance. This motion too was granted and the case was not called for trial again until May 1858. Historian John Evangelist Walsh has now gathered virtually every scrap of evidence regarding the trial in his book Moonlight: Abraham Lincoln and the Almanac Trial. The book wildly charges that Lincoln committed misconduct in connection with the trial. Perhaps because of the familiarity of the trial story Walsh felt compelled to wring a new charge of scandal out of evidence that simply does not support it. More notably, however, reliable evidence also provided by Walsh on the contrary demonstrates Lincolns utter probity as a trial lawyer. Immediately before the trial, for example, Armstrongs brothers arranged for the disappearance of Charles Allen, the prosecutions critical eyewitness; Lincoln promptly ascertained the circumstances of Allens disappearance together with his whereabouts and assured his attendance at the trial. Walsh also establishes Lincolns sheer doggedness in the preparation of Armstrongs defense. Following his retention, and with the time afforded by the continuance until May, Lincoln carefully investigated the case the prosecution had introduced against Norris and calculated how best to use it to his advantage. He procured expert medical testimony establishing that Norriss blows to the back of Metzgers head by themselves could account for all Metzgers traumatic injuries. He interviewed witnesses including the owner of the weapon with which Armstrong had allegedly attacked Metzger. In what seems to constitute a fine piece of detective work, he ascertained that the owner would testify that the weapon remained in his possession at the time of the murder. He found eyewitnesses who would testify that, although Armstrong had attacked Metzger, he had done so harmlessly with his bare hands. And Lincoln did not rest in his efforts until he discovered how he could raise reasonable doubts about the credibility of the critical eyewitness testimony of Charles Allen. Moonset At trial the prosecution introduced eyewitness and medical testimony supporting the charge against Armstrong, climaxing in Allens testimony. As the closest observer of the assault, Allen was the star witness in the prosecutions case. Allen testified that in the moonlight overhead he had seen Armstrong attack Metzger frontally with the slung-shot and in the conclusion of the direct examination dramatically demonstrated the manner of Armstrongs attack. In Armstrongs defense Lincoln introduced the eyewitness and medical testimony of the witnesses he had found to rebut the prosecutions case. He called the owner of the alleged murder weapon to testify that the weapon had been in his possession at the time of the murder. In unorthodox fashion Lincoln concluded his defense of Armstrong by recalling Charles Allen, the prosecutions star witness, for cross examination. Lincolns cross examination of Allen is the stuff of legend. Lincoln elicited Allens distance from the assault 50 to 60 feet or upwards and focused on Allens ability to see what he had described, questioning him repeatedly about the location of the moon at the time of the attack. Allen steadfastly responded that the moon was bright and just past its highest point overhead at the time of the attack. With Allen emphatically committed to the location of the moon at the time of the attack, Lincoln pulled a copy of the Jaynes Medical Almanac for 1857 from his briefcase showing the time of moonset in central Illinois on August 29, 1857. Lincoln showed that according to the almanac moonset that evening had occurred at 12:03 a.m., just one hour after the time Allen testified he had seen the assault under a high moon. Courtroom observers exploded in laughter. As Allen was reduced to a laughingstock, Lincoln passed the almanac to the jurors. (Walsh includes a copy of the relevant almanac page in the books illustrations.) The jury concluded its deliberations in an hour with a verdict of acquittal. (Lincoln sat for the photograph at the top immediately after the jury returned its verdict. It is the only photograph of Lincoln wearing a white coat.) Into history The following month Lincoln returned to politics. On June 16 he stood before the state Republican convention in Springfield and accepted its nomination to run for the Senate against Stephen Douglas. In his famous speech accepting the nomination, Lincoln electrified the convention, asserting that the institution of slavery had made the United States a house divided against itself. Slavery would either be extirpated or become lawful nationwide, Lincoln predicted, provocatively quoting scriptural authority to the effect that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Having fulfilled the offices of friendship as an attorney in the trial of Duff Armstrong, Lincoln stepped straight into history as the hero of Americas freedom and the martyr of its ancient faith. (First published in slightly different form in the September 2000 issue of Bench & Bar of Minnesota. Posted annually in honor of Lincolns birthday.) Photo: Rick Cooper/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Phoenix. Man who doesnt drink beer steals 2,142 beers, Phoenix police say Read the full story on 12NEWS. Popular Phoenix Costco store to close Read the full story on 12NEWS. Phoenix police say woman suspected of fatally shooting a man Read the full story on Houston Chronicle. $1 Beer Night returning to Phoenix Rising matches in 2020 Read the full story on 12NEWS. 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. After his arrest, police say the suspect admitted to robbing the stores and said he would exchange the stolen beer for cash or drugs. According to employees, the Costco store is going to close, but an exact date is unknown at this time. The company did not want to give a comment. Police in Phoenix have arrested a woman sought in connection with a homicide case. They say 48-year-old Rene Perkins was taken into custody about 6 p.m. Monday on suspicion of fatally shooting Isaack Drain last week. MINNEAPOLIS - Target admits a onesie it carried in some stores misidentified the mascot for the largest university in its home state. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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. MINNEAPOLIS - Target admits a onesie it carried in some stores misidentified the mascot for the largest university in its home state. The Minneapolis-based retail giant apologized to University of Minnesota Golden Gophers fans Tuesday for carrying a maroon onesie with the words "Minnesota Badgers," the nickname of Big Ten rival Wisconsin. The fan website GopherHole.com tweeted a photo from a woman who noticed the onesies while shopping Sunday at a Target in Minneapolis. "Colour us red," Target said in a statement. "As a Minnesota-based company, we know we are home to the Gophers." Kileigh Carpenter, a former University of Minnesota employee who spotted the onesie, told the Star Tribune she was "happy to see both fan bases unite." The onesies were available at four Minneapolis-area stores. Target said two were purchased and the remaining 22 were returned to the vendor. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Representatives from Uzbekistan and the European Union will hold the fifth round of negotiations to reach a new comprehensive bilateral deal in Tashkent in March, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday, after leading figures from both parties met on Tuesday TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) Representatives from Uzbekistan and the European Union will hold the fifth round of negotiations to reach a new comprehensive bilateral deal in Tashkent in March, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday, after leading figures from both parties met on Tuesday. Negotiations between Tashkent and Brussels to conclude an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement have been ongoing since February 2019, and the fourth round of talks were held between the head of the Uzbek mission to the EU Dilyor Khakimov and the European External Action Service's director for Russia and Central Asia Luc Devigne on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry stated. "The parties exchanged views on the negotiation process on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and practical issues of holding the next round of negotiations in March 2020 in Tashkent," the ministry's statement read. The new deal will replace an existing agreement that has been in force for two decades. A similar agreement was signed between the EU and Kazakhstan in 2015. Additionally, Khakimov and Devigne discussed the potential participation of leading EU representatives at the first Tashkent International Investment Forum, scheduled to take place in the first week of March. In late January, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell held bilateral talks in the German capital of Berlin. The two parties discussed regional cooperation and collaborative solutions to meet the challenges presented by climate change. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids has replaced nearly 1,200 lead water services lines over the last three years. It has 24,635 left to go. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the city commission received an update on the efforts to replace all of the citys public and private lead service lines by 2038. The state mandated the process be done in 20 years, but one city water official said the city might have to seek an alternate timeline due to staffing and funding constraints. At this point, it can be done, said Wayne Jernberg, assistant manager for the Grand Rapids water system. But it will be difficult based on the staffing we currently have and available contractors to do the work. Jernberg said his department will propose increases to its budget over the next five years to really attack some private side lead services lines while continuing capital projects. Seeking state funding remains a priority for Grand Rapids legislative team. The city met the Jan. 1 deadline of submitting an inventory of its lead water service lines to the state. The city water system serves about 80,000 customers. Grand Rapids also sent out letters this month to all property owners who are -- or are presumed to be -- serviced by lead water service lines. The letter explains the measures taken by the water department to control lead levels and provides steps to take to further reduce exposure to lead. Those include: Run the cold water tap for at least five minutes. Use only cold water for drinking and baby formula preparation lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Remove your faucet aerators the small attachment at the tip of the faucet that filters and softens the flow of water at least once a month and clean them out. Small particles may accumulate in the screens. Make sure your home plumbing materials are evaluated by a licensed plumber. Rental property owners are responsible, as noted in the letter, to notify tenants of the potential of lead lines on the property. Lead within water systems and distribution pipes is a major concern we should be aware of, said James Hurt, the citys public works director. However, the city of Grand Rapids water system continues to deliver high quality water to the citizens of Grand Rapids. The city began treating its water for lead and copper in 1994. Its treatment uses orthophosphate to create coating on inside of pipes and prevent lead flakes from chipping off into the water. Last year, the tests showed 6 parts per billion, which is well below the state action level of 15 ppb. The city hasnt tested above 6 ppb since 1998. Grand Rapids water system's lead sampling results for 1994-2019. (Courtesy photo | City of Grand Rapids) A service line is a pipe that connects the water main, typically running under the street, to a water customers property. Elevated lead levels in blood can stunt a childs physical growth and development and cause health, learning and behavioral problems. Since 2017, Grand Rapids has used emergency leaks and capital projects as opportunities to replace lead service lines. It replaced 302 lines in 2017, followed by 392 lines in 2018 and 484 lines in 2019. Those projects were divided nearly evenly among the three wards. Of the remaining lead lines, 40 percent are in the First Ward, compared to 30 percent each in the Second and Third wards. On Tuesday, Commissioner Nate Moody asked water department staff to inform residents that the citys lead replacement service only goes up to the water meter. It doesnt include piping or fixtures inside the building. Commissioner Joe Jones also emphasized a need to be clear in keeping residents informed to avoid misinformation. We cant afford for the citizenry to be confused, he said. Theres the potential of people fearing were looking at something similar to whats happening with our brothers and sisters in Flint. Mayor Rosalynn Bliss noted that most lead poisoning in children is not from water, but rather lead paint in older homes. Grand Rapids has a program -- Get the Lead Out -- that assists low income families in funding lead abatement of homes built before 1978. In 2018, the state of Michigan made changes to its lead and copper regulations. Bliss said cities pushed back on the unfunded mandate and city leaders continue to ask for funding assistance. Grand Rapids received a $1 million state grant in 2018, which was used to fund 250 lead service line replacements. Jernberg said hell continue to push for more state help. Lead water service lines replaced in Grand Rapids in 2017-19. (Courtesy photo | City of Grand Rapids) Regulation changes at the state level have been a factor in the citys push to eliminate lead service lines, but Jernberg noted that the city began removing lines proactively in 2017. While the city can replace private and public lead service lines, it needs to obtain signed access agreements from property owners to carry out such projects. For more information about the citys lead service line replacement program, call 311 or 616-456-3000, or visit the citys website, here. Grand Rapids gets its drinking water from Lake Michigan. The city draws water from a valve set a mile out into the water along the Ottawa County shore, about halfway between Holland and Grand Haven. Read more: Election changes proposed in Grand Rapids Complicated mess hits 9 months as village council members are no-show again How driverless are Grand Rapids autonomous shuttles? Press Release February 12, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 717: Sen. Leila M. de Lima: Duterte's cancellation of VFA is a grievous error 2/12/20 Duterte's termination of the VFA is epically wrong. It is a gigantic geo-political blunder, and a grievous misstep that may further unsettle the functioning of our very own government -- one that is supposedly built on constitutionalism and the principle of checks and balances. VFA is an important cog in a whole system of defense and security arrangements with the US that includes the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) from which the Philippines has benefitted for many years, particularly in the matters of joint training and exercises of our soldiers, the modernization program of the AFP, and the ready assistance to our countrymen during calamities. We also have a working partnership with the US in countering terrorism and cyber attacks, and in checking the inflow of trafficked persons and illegal drugs to the country. This set-up with the US, of which the VFA is an integral part, has likewise allowed us preferential treatment in foreign military financing and procurement of defense equipment from the US. While indeed it may be timely now to review certain provisions of the VFA -- or even the MDT and EDCA - its sudden termination without benefit of evaluation by the legislative branch and the defense and foreign affairs departments smacks of deliberate intent to set aside any generally beneficial agreement with the US or any other foreign Western power, especially if we are to seriously consider the aggressiveness of China in grabbing our territories in the West Philippine Sea and in threatening the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. I join former SFA Albert Del Rosario in his warning of a domino effect of the VFA abrogation on other security pacts with the US (and probably with other governments as well) that "would only serve to actualize our pivot to China against the strong and vehement objections of our people." It really looks like the endgame for Duterte in all of these is to align the Philippines more closely with China and Russia, away from the US and our other old allies. Worse, the unilateral - nay, dictatorial - move of Duterte to abrogate the VFA is a stinging slap to the institution of the Senate, which has the shared treaty-making power under the Constitution. In Senate Resolution No. 289 in the 17th Congress, which was authored by Sen. Frank Drilon and signed by a significant no. of the senators, including myself, we emphasized that "the principle of checks and balances, historical precedent and practice accepted as law in most jurisdictions require that a termination, withdrawal, abrogation or renunciation of a treaty or international agreement can only be done with the same authority that gave it effect - executive ratification with Senate concurrence." I am praying for the spirit of independence and the sense of statesmanship to prevail among my colleagues at the 18th Congress as they are being called to assert the institutional role and prerogatives of the Senate in this current crisis, and in the face of an overreaching autocrat. I hope they affirm the language and spirit of the Drilon resolution. I hope also that this time around, should a proper case be filed with it, the Supreme Court, will act and act urgently, on the same core issue that was raised previously in the minority Senators' petition questioning the constitutionality of Duterte's unilateral withdrawal from the Rome Statute. SC cannot afford to remain passive when confronted with such issues of transcendental importance to our system of government and the running of our major institutions of power. Hindi pwedeng pabayaan lang ang isang Pangulo -- lalo pa ang ganitong klaseng panggulo -- to decide all by himself on vital matters like this that impinge on our national life and our standing in the international community. Sana ang pambansang interes at ang kapakanang panlahat -- na siyang kabalintunaang ginagamit na rason ni Duterte (ayon kay Panelo) sa pagsantabi sa VFA - ang siyang tunay na manaig sa isyung ito at sa lahat ng usaping sangkot ang sambayanang Pilipino. ### (Access the handwritten version of Dispatch from Crame No. 717, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_717) FRESNO, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresno-based Cannable, the newest cannabis delivery company, announced today the launch of its delivery service throughout the Central Valley of California. Cannable will deliver a variety of cannabis brands directly to consumers, including locally produced 36 North. "We felt a sense of urgency to get our Cannable delivery services up and running this year," said Fresno-native and Vice President of Sales Jeff Tuel. "We are committed to giving consumers a safe and legal option in cannabis so we can eliminate the illegal and untested products that are prevalent in the state." Cannable offers a large selection of premier brands with the best variety in California. All products delivered by Cannable have been tested by a fully compliant, state-licensed lab and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). The company's secure, online platform provides a traceable, safe and seamless purchase experience. Cannable customer service representatives have extensive cannabis knowledge to help with product selection. Customers can browse the website 24 hours a day with orders accepted from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (PST). Delivery is scheduled for same day or next day depending on location. Drivers are hired by Cannable and are professionally trained with full background checks to ensure customer safety and security. Beginning in March, Cannable will carry Fresno's first hometown brand, 36 North. This premium line of cannabis is produced in the Central Valley and will initially include flower and pre-rolls. A full suite of products will be available later in the spring at thirty6north.com. 36 North will be delivered exclusively through Cannable at launch. "We are locally owned and operated with extensive experience and leadership in agriculture," added Tuel. "From our farm in the coastal valley of Santa Barbara to our world-class manufacturing facility in Parlier, customers can trust that 36 North and all the cannabis products delivered by Cannable are legal, safe and compliant." By law, the adult (21 and over) ordering the product must be present at the time of delivery to show identification, sign for and receive the order. Delivery is free on orders over $100. Delivery fees for orders under $100 range from $2.99 to $4.99. Registration details, delivery map, quantity maximums and other information can be found under the Frequently Asked Questions section at cannabledelivery.com. Cannable is a subsidiary of Greenbrier Holdings, a fully integrated California cannabis company, that recently completed a 20,000 square foot world-class cannabis manufacturing facility in Parlier, Calif. Greenbrier Holdings grows, manufactures, distributes and now delivers cannabis directly to consumers (through Cannable). About Cannable Cannable is a legal and compliant cannabis delivery service in California's Central Valley. Based in Fresno, Cannable offers a secure platform for consumer online ordering and delivery. Delivery through Cannable is available same day or next day depending on location. For more information, visit cannabledelivery.com SOURCE Greenbrier Holdings Related Links https://cannabledelivery.com The United States (US) presidential election campaign is officially in full swing, but all the debates are taking place on one side. They indicate a deep divide within the Democratic Party about how to address the social ills of the US and how to defeat Donald Trump. The results of the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary have consolidated Bernie Sanders as the front-runner for the left-wing of the party. The surprise has been the rise of Pete Buttigieg as a favourite of the partys centrist supporters. While former vice-president Joe Biden is not out of the running, it will take a small miracle for him to resurrect himself. Added to the mix is the intrusion of billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who is not yet on any ballot but is spending his way up the poll rankings. The goal of Democratic voters is to choose a candidate who can defeat Mr Trump. If Mr Sanders wins a few more primaries, the Left-wing will have settled on a candidate. Mr Buttigiegs path is longer, but so long as he comes first or second in most of the remaining primaries, the only other centrist alternative will be Mr Bloomberg. The polling totals of all the centrist candidates are roughly equal to those of the leftists. The intra-party fissures within the Democrats perfectly reflect those existing in American society today. While New Delhi is obviously neutral in all this, it would probably wince if a left-wing candidate wins the Democratic nomination. Democratic primaries may seem boringly parochial but they are not without global significance. Actor Ananya Panday is all set to star opposite Telugu sensation Vijay Deverakonda in his Hindi debut film, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror. The film is a Karan Johar production. The film, reportedly, went on floors in January, mixed martial arts-heavy action film, will be directed by Puri Jaganadh. Quoting a source, the report said that the makers wanted a young face. Ananya is eager to work with Vijay and is expected to start shooting mid-March or in the first week of April. This is the third film that Ananya is doing with Karan Johar. After making her debut in Student of the Year 2, she also bagged a Shakun Batra directorial that will also feature Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Ananya is currently shooting for Khaali Peeli, which also stars Ishaan Khatter. The film is also a remake of a Telugu film, Taxiwaala. Incidentally, Taxiwaala also starred Vijay Deverakonda. The young Telugu actor hit national limelight after starring in the controversial Arjun Reddy. The films Hindi remake, Kabir Singh starring Shahid Kapoor, was equally controversial. Also read | Bigg Boss 13: Samir Soni bats for Arti, believes it would be wrong if Sidharth Shukla wins, Archana Puran says That Sid is a jerk In early January this year, Ananya had shared a new still from the film, which features Ishaan and her. Sharing it, she had written, Driving into 2020 #KhaaliPeeli. The picture showed them inside a taxi (what else!) -- while Ishaan has a relaxed expression on his face and is sporting a khaki-coloured shirt, worn by Mumbai taxi drivers, Ananya has a worried expression on her face. She wears mehendi on her hands. In August last year, another still from the film was unveiled which showed Ananya and Ishaan posing by a taxi. Vijay Deverakonda, who saw the launch of his upcoming Telugu film World Famous Lover, reportedly said the said film would be his last love story. He said, Im aware there would be a lot of excitement among everyone about my film. Weve invested lot of efforts in World Famous Lover. But I would like to maintain a low profile about this project. World Famous Lover will be my last love story. I can see myself changing and I am entering a new phase in my career. Follow @htshowbiz for more Member of Parliament for Juaboso Constituency on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Western Region, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, claims the much-talked about missing excavators are secretly being moved back from their hideouts to the appropriate place. According to him, the resurfacing of the missing excavators is based on the public backlash, forcing the government to clandestinely move the seized excavators to their rightful place near the Aviation Social Center. "Vanished" Excavators Flying Back To Base Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Hon. Mintah Akandoh stressed that he personally witnessed some of these earth-moving equipment being driven to the Centre on Monday. He added that the excavators cannot belong to individuals since they were being carted to a security zone. " . .there was even a military officer in a Land Rover who came out of his car and exchanged pleasantries to the watchman at the place... . .My strong suspicion which is my humble opinion is that the excavators which vanished into thin air have suddenly developed wings to fly back one after the other. In fact, it is based on my suspicion that I followed the payloader carrying the excavators to see where they were being carried to, he asserted. Missing Excavators Saga The current hullabaloo over some missing excavators seized from some illegal miners sums up the challenges in the country's fight against galamsey. In 2017, government set up a joint military/police task force, Operation Vanguard and later the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining to stem the tide of the galamsey menace. However, their operations have been without controversy or incidents of crimes as three members of the Operation Vanguard team were arrested for their alleged involvement in a bribery and extortion racket. A few weeks ago, reports emerged that about 500 excavators have gone missing after they were seized by the Operation Vanguard team. Arrest Prof Frimpong-Boateng, the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), who announced that the excavators had vanished, subsequently issued a letter directing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest and interrogate one Ekow Ewusi, after learning that he reportedly sold some of the confiscated items from illegal miners. Subsequently, a video making the rounds on social media indicates how the Committee reportedly engaged some party folks on some mining concessions in order to raise money from the illegal activities to support the NPP. No Evidence But, While admitting that he has no evidence to conclude the earth-moving equipment was part of the missing excavators, the NDC MP was emphatic that once they are being relocated to a security zone, they are part of the seized excavators gone "missing". Where the seized excavators are parked at the Aviation center, I saw some of the excavators being moved to the place described as a security zone. I followed up when I saw the excavators being carted and they were taken to the security zone. Because I wanted evidence, I got down from my car... What I saw was that there were parked excavators near the Aviation Center and they were bringing in others and that is what I saw yesterday. Before the issue of missing excavators started, I have been observing that they have been moving the excavators at night to places to engage in galamsey, he alleged again. . .For me, I am attesting to what I saw yesterday with my naked eyes at the Aviation Center; whether they are going to use the excavators to catch fish or put up story-buildings, only God knows. What I can attest to is the account I have given, because I followed the payloader carrying the excavators to the Aviation Center, he insisted. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Saginaw Valley State University-produced literary art magazine, Still Life, was 2-for-2 for its first two issues when it came to earning top recognition from American Scholastic Press Association judges. Now producers of the magazine -- which features creative writing and imagery submitted by Bay and Saginaw county residents -- are planning a public release party for its the third issue this week. For its second issue, Still Life recently was announced as one of 114 publications nationally to receive a first-place designation in the magazine category for the American Scholastic Press Association's annual contest. Still Life received the same distinction for its first issue, published in 2017. "As a writer, you want to know that you're being heard and that your stories are being told," said Chris Giroux, the SVSU associate professor of English who serves as the faculty editor of the magazine along with Hideki Kihata, SVSU professor of art, and Helen-Raica Klotz, director of the SVSU Writing Center. "This award shows that others believe what our writers are saying is meaningful," Giroux said. For the third -- and latest -- issue of Still Life, the publication staff will host a release party at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Saginaw Art Museum, 1126 N. Michigan in Saginaw. The release party also will feature an open mic night for poetry. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Still Life magazine is a publication dedicated to providing Bay and Saginaw county community members an opportunity to share their creativity. The publication -- produced yearly by the SVSU Writing Center -- features poetry, other creative writing pieces and photography. The publication is intended to capture the essence of the region's people, places and relationships, producers say. Copies of Still Life can be found at Bay City's Alice and Jack Wirt Library, Saginaw's Butman-Fish Branch Library, and SVSU's Writing Center. The publication is available digitally at www.svsu.edu/writingcenter/contestspublications/. Originally supported by a grant from the SVSU Center for Academic Innovation, Still Life is generously funded by Saginaw neurologist and author Debasish Mridha. Although the Still Life submission deadline is July 15 of each year, the publication accepts submissions year-round. Car giant Nissan has launched a 70million ($90million) lawsuit against its former chairman Carlos Ghosn. Filing its lawsuit at Yokohama District Court in Japan, Nissan said it was claiming damages from Ghosn 'as a result of years of misconduct and fraudulent activity.' Nissan said the claim covered Ghosn's alleged private use of corporate jets, use of overseas properties without paying rent, funds linked to fraudulent activity, as well as payments to his sister and lawyer in Lebanon. Another one: Japanese car maker Nissan has launched a new 70million lawsuit against its former chairman Carlos Ghosn The car group, which has a large factory in Sunderland, said it expects the amount claimed in damages to 'increase in future.' It added that the current sum covers 'resources and costs related to Nissan's internal investigation into Ghosn and his misconduct legal and regulatory costs incurred in Japan, the US, the Netherlands and other territories.' Nissan's latest 70million lawsuit against comes on top of the civil case filed by the car group against him in the British Virgin Islands in August last year. The August filing related to alleged unauthorized payments and, among other matters, plans to take back a luxury yacht called 'Twig' used by the former car guru. Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades and saved it from near-bankruptcy, was arrested in Japan in November 2018, and charged with under-reporting his future compensation and breach of trust in diverting Nissan money for personal gain. Then, on New Year's Even, Ghosn appeared in Lebanon, publishing a bombshell statement, claiming: 'I have escaped injustice and political persecution.' Ghosn's escape, the details of which remain shrouded in secrecy, means he has become one of the word's best known international fugitives. A date had not been set for his trial in Japan, and Ghosn said he was worried his ordeal would never end and he would not get a fair hearing. The bail conditions also barred him from seeing his wife. He has repeatedly lashed out at Japan's judicial system, where the conviction rate is higher than 99 per cent. Ghosn's spectacular fall from grace is, however, seen by some as a stunning corporate 'coup d'etat' stoked by resentment at Japan's Nissan over a lopsided alliance with French carmaker Renault. Escape: Ghosn was able to escape from this secure property in Japan Fighting talk: Nissan said it had 'intensified' its campaign to recover damages from Ghosn Nissan has now said it may also pursue separate legal action over what it called 'groundless and defamatory' remarks made by Ghosn in a two-hour news conference he held in Beirut on 8 January. At the highly-charged press conference Ghosn said: 'My unimaginable ordeal is the result of a handful of unscrupulous, vindictive individuals.' This week, Nissan said it had 'intensified' its campaign to recover damages from Ghosn, particularly in the wake of his 'illegal flight from justice.' Nissan claimed its actions were necessary to make Ghosn accountable for the 'harm and financial losses incurred by the company as a result of his misconduct.' Nissan, which makes the Z sportscar, Leaf electric car and Infiniti luxury models, is also facing trial in Japan as a company in relation to the Ghosn scandal. It has indicated it will agree to any penalties. Earlier this week, lawyers for Nissan and Ghosn faced off in new proceedings in a Dutch court, where the car group is defending itself in a 15million unfair dismissal suit relating to his abrupt removal in 2018 as the head of NMBV, a joint venture between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. Ghosn's lawyer, Roeland de Mol, said in the Dutch court that he was pushing for 'a full debate on the reasons of Ghosn's dismissal... Mr. Ghosn is ready for a fight.' Nissan's corporate reputation has been sorely tarnished over the Ghosn fiasco, and its sales have dropped. Ghosn's replacement, Hiroto Saikawa tendered his resignation in September after acknowledging he had received dubious income. Saikawa said he did not know about the money and he does not face any charges. Nissan's share price was around 56 a year ago, but stands at around the 34 mark today. Technavio has been monitoring the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market and it is poised to grow by USD 102.69 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 18% 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/20200212005364/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market from 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Favorable government regulations and initiatives has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, challenges associated with hydrogen refueling facilities might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market is segmented as below: Application Stationary Transport Portable Geographic segmentation Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR32196 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our hydrogen fuel cell stacks market report covers the following areas: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market Size Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market Trends Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market Industry Analysis This study identifies growing adoption in material handling applications as one of the prime reasons driving the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market growth during the next few years. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market, including some of the vendors such as Ballard Power Systems Inc., Bing Energy Inc., Freudenberg SE, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte. Ltd., Hydrogenics Corp., Nuvera Fuel Cells LLC, Plug Power Inc., PowerCell Sweden AB, Proton Power Systems Plc and Sunrise Power Co. Ltd. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stacks Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist hydrogen fuel cell stacks market growth during the next five years Estimation of the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the hydrogen fuel cell stacks market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of hydrogen fuel cell stacks market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005364/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ (Natural News) The FCC wants to allow the telecom industry to share the same 1675-1680MHz band that existing weather satellites use in order to advance 5G. This will inevitably cause disruptions and delay weather alerts. In order for 5G to work, new towers and transmitters will need to be installed every 500 feet. Over a million new towers will need to be erected to get the kind of connectivity that 5G promises to deliver. This influx of transmitters, operating on the same radio network bands as weather satellites, could disrupt communication between weather satellites. Weather forecasters are now sounding the alarm over 5G. U.S. meteorologists warn FCC that 5G will disrupt weather forecasts U.S. meteorologists wrote a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and warned that 5G technologies have the potential to disrupt weather satellite communication. According to the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Association and the American Geophysical Union, the potential disruptions of 5G are deeply concerning because they could delay public service alerts. The letter is a stern response to the FCCs proposal for weather satellites to share a radio spectrum band with mobile companies. The meteorologists argue that sharing the connection could put weather alerts at risk and cause delays in getting life-saving data to the public. The letter warns that inevitable interference would postpone dissemination of vital information to the public to aid and protect life, property, businesses, and government operations. According to John Porter, an executive at AccuWeather, The loss of seconds can mean the difference between safety and grave risk to life and property. (Related: False promises? Experts say the marketing hype around 5G is misleading.) NASA warns FCC that 5G will disrupt measurements of atmospheric water vapor This isnt the first warning to the FCC and the telecom industry. Another serious letter, penned by Senators Ron Wyden and Maria Cantwell, asks the FCC not to issue licenses for 5G until the FCC approves the passive band protection limits that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determine are necessary to protect critical satellite?based measurements of atmospheric water vapor needed to forecast the weather. The two Senators warn that the unchecked sale of wireless airwaves and the ongoing push to make 5G work will inevitably damage the effectiveness of US weather satellites and harm forecasts and predictions that people rely on to protect their property and their family. The telecom industry is in a rush to implement 5G. In order to do so, millions of small cell transmitters will need to be mounted throughout cities and communities. Municipal buildings, electric utility poles, schools, city parks and even street signs will be used to hold small cell transmitters that will set up a grid of microwave radiation that will pulse through homes and communities and effect human brains in negative ways. (Read more: Technological terror: 10 Reasons why 5G could cause a global catastrophe.) NASA, NOAA and the American Meteorological Society agree that future commercial broadband transmissions in the 24GHz range will disrupt forecasters ability to collect water vapor data. As the 5G networks expand, their radio wave interference will grow. The closer these transmitters get to meteorological sites, the more disruptions will occur. Regardless of all the warnings surrounding 5G, the telecom industry and their representatives call these serious concerns scare tactics. We cannot allow these scare tactics to prevent us from reaping the huge societal and economic benefits of 5G networks, said Brett Tarnutzer, the head of GSMA, the organization that represents mobile network operators. We urge everyone to simply look at the facts and not get drawn in by misleading rhetoric. The problem for the telecom industry is just that the facts on 5G are coming out and they dont look so appealing, especially when it comes to human health risks. Sources include: WakingTimes.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com BBC.com Zimbabwe has the capacity to test and detect the 2019 novel coronavirus and has established a centre for safe isolation and treatment of identified cases. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is in the process of securing rapid test kits, which produce results in 15 minutes. The Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (formerly Harare Central Hospital) laboratory will be used for testing of the virus, while Wilkins Hospital will be for the isolation of suspected and confirmed cases. Wilkins Hospital will be used as a training centre for coronavirus and other infectious diseases. Zimbabwe has since activated surveillance systems, with special focus on the main ports of entry and exit such as the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport. Ground ports of entry such as Beitbridge are also under surveillance. Zimbabwe, which is an all-weather friend of China, is under threat from the virus since there is a lot of movement by citizens conducting business in either country. So far, 1 700 people are under surveillance after returning home from zones that have cases of coronavirus. Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo, the acting permanent secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga and other senior officials in the Health ministry, on Monday visited the two institutions to make sure thematic systems were ready to deal with coronavirus. At Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, the team was taken around the laboratory by the hospital chief executive, Dr Tinashe Dhobbie, where they saw the machines and other equipment to be used for testing the virus. Harare City Council health services director Dr Prosper Chonzi took the team around Wilkins Hospital, showing them the process of receiving patients, isolation rooms, preparedness of staff in terms of handling patients and protecting themselves up to the stage of disposal of bodies if patients die from the virus. Dr Moyo said he was happy with the preparedness of the two institutions in managing coronavirus, although a few things needed to be improved. Speaking after touring Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Dr Moyo said: I have seen the equipment available here and all relevant equipment for testing for 2019 novel coronavirus. I am satisfied with the level of precautions that they have to take. We are ready for anything in terms of the arrival of 2019 novel coronavirus. We are able to detect and pick up coronavirus from the shoulders of our sampling systems requirements. These few machines, we have one in Victoria Falls and all the ports, for now we are going to start testing at this laboratory. Dr Moyo said the hospital could do a lot of samples in a short period, with one of the machines getting up to 96 results within a two-hour period. We want to move further; we are also sourcing for some other kits which are the rapid test kits, which will enable us to get the results in 15 minutes, we are in the process of securing rapid test kits, he said. For now, what we have is adequate, very high calibre equipment, so we are satisfied with what we saw. We start with suspects based on the symptoms and then the laboratory test is the one that is most essential in confirming that someone is a carrier of coronavirus. Dr Moyo said he was satisfied with the level of preparedness at Wilkins Hospital, where personnel was trained in handling patients. Its a process which has to be followed and there are no short cuts at all, he said. Everyone has to be protected. I am very happy with the facility; it is of high standard. There are one or two things that we have suggested that they will do to make it final. Thousands of people have contracted the virus in China and suddenly its you in Zimbabwe. Just imagine the psychological impact it will have on our health workers, especially the ones who are going to receive the first ones. Dr Moyo said they were supporting training of hospital staff at Wilkins. Dr Chonzi said training of hospital staff for all urban local authorities will start tomorrow. We will train trainers; we want to train down to the shop floor, he said. Coronavirus is highly contagious and there is no cure for now as with most viral infections. Only experimental treatments have been used in China with success in stabilising patients. An anti-retroviral, Kaletra (ritonavir and lopinavir) has been used. Coronavirus symptoms include pneumonia, high fever, flu like symptoms, chest pains, diarrhoea and shortness of breath. Prince Andrew is no longer a working royal so why is he speaking on behalf of Queen Elizabeth? Royal followers were quite confused recently when the disgraced royal conveyed a message to the Chinese ambassador on behalf of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Its true that the monarch has been outwardly supportive of her son in recent weeks despite forcing him to step down from royal duties in late 2019. However, since hes no longer a working royal, youd think hed be more careful speaking about such serious matters. Do Prince Andrews recent comments prove that hes still in the queens good graces? Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew | Chris Jackson/Getty Images The Duke of York had dinner with the Chinese ambassador to Britain Most royal followers expected Prince Andrew to slink away silently after being forced into retirement by Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family. But now hes causing all kinds of controversy after having dinner with the Chinese ambassador, Liu Xiaoming. Over the weekend, Xiaoming tweeted that the Duke of York offered his and Queen Elizabeths sympathies over the current coronavirus situation in China. According to the social media post, Prince Andrew is still speaking on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. The Chinese ambassador said he spoke to Prince Andrew about the coronavirus crisis If Prince Andrew is no longer working as a senior royal, then he certainly shouldnt be speaking for the queen. But thats precisely what the Chinese ambassador said he did. Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi and Chinese people: At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. It was conveyed by Duke of York. pic.twitter.com/RZItxQ26WS Liu Xiaoming (@AmbLiuXiaoMing) February 8, 2020 Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi and Chinese people, Xiaoming wrote. At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. It was conveyed by Duke of York. The palace refused to confirm the statement, Vanity Fair reported. They would only say that the alleged incident was a private meeting and they refused to expand on what transpired. Queen Elizabeth seemingly forgave Prince Andrew for his involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein case Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew | Samir Hussein/WireImage The queen hates scandal more than anything, but that wasnt enough to make her disown her son, Prince Andrew. Mere days after the news broke that the Duke of York would be resigning from royal duties effective immediately, Her Majesty was spotted riding horses with him on the grounds of her private estate. Even though Prince Andrew is her son, royal followers were not pleased with this development and accused the queen of being too soft with her son. The extent of Prince Andrews involvement is still unclear. But we do know that at the very least, his friendship with Epstein cast a negative cloud over the whole British royal family. Prince Andrew will also walk Princess Beatrice down the aisle It wasnt just the Chinese ambassador getting Prince Andrew in trouble with the public. After the Palace announced the date of the upcoming royal wedding for Princess Beatrice, they also made it a point to specifically say the Duke of York would be walking his daughter down the aisle. The statement sent a huge message about Prince Andrew being forgiven for any past transgressions. Considering all the ways Queen Elizabeth has been keeping her son in the fold, its not too shocking after all that Prince Andrew felt empowered to speak on behalf of his mother the queen. "The health of New Jersey residents relies on both the economic underpinnings of good jobs and economic investments, along with commitment to community programs and social determinants of health," said NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett. "New Jersey hospitals provide both, in abundance. They are anchor institutions that support the well-being of communities all across our state." The 2020 Economic Impact Report provides data gathered through 2018 N.J. Acute Care Hospital Cost Reports. In addition to statewide totals, the report also provides breakdowns by county and by individual hospital. Key findings include: New Jersey hospitals recorded $24.7 billion in total expenditures in 2018, an increase of more than $1 billion from the 2017 total of $23.6 billion . hospitals recorded in total expenditures in 2018, an increase of more than from the 2017 total of . Those expenditures ripple throughout state and local economies, including $3.7 billion in goods and services purchased from other businesses. in goods and services purchased from other businesses. New Jersey hospitals pay more than $9 billion in salaries, providing spending power that further supports the economy. The 2020 Community Benefit Report is based on data reported by nonprofit hospitals in accordance with nationwide standard definitions from the Catholic Health Association. The $3.2 billion total for 2018 surpasses the 2017 tally of $2.8 billion. Details include: The largest category totaling $2 billion is the amount of free and discounted care provided by the state's hospitals, including $370 million in charity care for those without insurance; $314 million in unpaid costs caring for Medicare beneficiaries; $135 million in unpaid costs caring for Medicaid beneficiaries; and $1.2 billion in unpaid, uncollectable patient care costs, also known as bad debt. is the amount of free and discounted care provided by the state's hospitals, including in charity care for those without insurance; in unpaid costs caring for Medicare beneficiaries; in unpaid costs caring for Medicaid beneficiaries; and in unpaid, uncollectable patient care costs, also known as bad debt. Hospitals provided $61.3 million in community health improvement services, with more than 31 million encounters with community members. These programs focus on health improvement in communities through education, prevention and other services. Examples of community health improvement services include immunization clinics, health screenings and nutrition and fitness programs. in community health improvement services, with more than 31 million encounters with community members. These programs focus on health improvement in communities through education, prevention and other services. Examples of community health improvement services include immunization clinics, health screenings and nutrition and fitness programs. Community benefit also includes the costs of training the next generation of physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals, which is critical with workforce shortages intensifying as the population ages. These education programs are valued at $260.7 million , serving 32,874 people. , serving 32,874 people. The total also includes $880.7 million in other community benefit services, which include voluntary contributions to municipalities and community groups, medical research and subsidized health services that fill a specific community need but are operated at a loss. "Hospitals make sizeable contributions to their communities. In fact, looking at these two reports side by side shows that hospitals' community benefit contributions represent 13 percent of their total economic activity," said Sean Hopkins, senior vice president of NJHA's Center for Health Analytics, Research and Transformation (CHART). Both reports are available online, with added features. The 2020 Economic Impact Report (www.njha.com/resources/economic-impact-report/) provides searchable data fields by county and individual hospital. The 2020 Community Benefit Report (www.njha.com/community-benefit-2020/) provides a photo gallery of hospital community benefit in action across New Jersey communities. Based in Princeton, NJHA is a not-for-profit trade association for healthcare providers across the continuum whose collective goal is to improve the health of the people of New Jersey. SOURCE New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) Related Links http://www.njha.com Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Self-Driving Car Market Demand Analysis & Opportunity Evaluation, 2019-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The United States is considered as the major hub for companies in autonomous vehicle development, whereas the country's automotive vehicle manufacturers are focusing on establishing AV fleet and ride-hailing services. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation published Automated Vehicles 3.0 for explaining their approach to autonomous vehicles. The study includes preparation for automation through pilot programs and guidance, prioritizing safety, and enhancing and protecting the freedom of country's citizen freedom by emphasizing autonomous vehicles along with human-motorized vehicles and other road users. The country is the home for maximum number of autonomous vehicles companies, with having 163 headquarters and the second place is hold by Germany with 22 company's headquarters. Several companies including Detroit-based Big-3 automotive manufacturers and other ride-sharing companies such as Lyft and Uber are also focusing on R&D for the development of AVs. On the basis of infrastructure, the country has relatively very few number of charging stations for electric vehicles. The United Kingdom has started altering their standards and regulations and has also offered financial support for introducing driverless cars in the country by 2021. The Department for Transport is planning to legalize the driverless cars to operate on public roads and also establishment of a Center for Autonomous and Connected Vehicles. In November 2017, the finance minister of the country announced more support for electric vehicles as the antecedents to AVs. Germany is considered as the one of the major country for the research and development, industry partnerships and road infrastructure quality for the deployment of autonomous or self-driving vehicles. The mass production of self-driving vehicles in the country involves development of software prototype and the production of electronic components. Various autonomous vehicle manufacturing players in German market have entered into the strategic alliance for facilitating and supporting vehicles testing. For instance, In 2018, BMW AG announced the partnership with KPIT Technologies Limited and TTTech Computertechnik AG for the research and development of software for supporting level 3,4,5 function of self-driving vehicles and facilitating autonomous driving among people. In the European market for self-driving or autonomous vehicles, Germany contributes majorly to market owing to presence of numerous OEMs which are focused on producing self-driving car models with higher level of automation. Furthermore, automotive manufacturers along with their tier-1 suppliers in the country owns about 51.0% of the patents filed between 2010 to 2017 out of 5,800 autonomous vehicle filed patents globally. In Asia Pacific, Singapore is also considered as one of the major country contributing to the development of self-driving cars. For instance, In October 2019, ABB received a contract for delivering and commission integrated smart charging points for automated guided vehicles (AGV) in Tuas port of Singapore. The contract includes designing and supplying of charge point, 450kW high power chargers, transformer and associated control and monitoring equipment and medium and low voltage switchgear. Key Topics Covered 1. Market Definition and Research Methodology Market and Product Definition Research Objective 2. Market Dynamics for Global Self-driving Cars Market Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends 3. Industry Analysis Policy & Regulatory Landscape Recent Developments 4. Global Self-driving Cars Market Analysis 5. Market Segmentation Level of Automation Type End-users Region 6. Competitive Landscape Company Profiles of Top Players Audi AG BMW AG Ford Motor Toyota Motor General Motor Tesla For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uqdovt Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Married At First Sight's Jonethen Musulin was filmed kissing his co-star Cathy Evans in a pre-season trailer for the Channel Nine show. The scene was rather confusing for fans in retrospect, as Jonethen is partnered with Connie Crayden and Cathy is paired with Josh Pihlak. The 27-year-old project officer explained the situation on Wednesday, telling Hit 105.5 Coffs Coast the kiss was only for publicity purposes. Please explain! Jonethen Musulin (right) was filmed kissing his co-star Cathy Evans (left) in a pre-season trailer for Married At First Sight, despite being partnered with another woman 'It was a prior thing, they got all the couples to mix up for the photo shoots, so [viewers would] not know who gets married to who,' he said. 'It was more just to keep everyone guessing.' Jonethen added that the trailer was filmed after the couples had been scientifically matched by the experts but before their wedding ceremonies. Phew! The 27-year-old project officer (pictured with his 'wife', Connie Crayden) explained the situation on Wednesday, telling Hit 105.5 Coffs Coast the kiss was only for publicity purposes The trailer, which aired in November, showed Jonethen and Cathy almost kissing in a romantic scene filled with lights. The 26-year-old logistics investigator walked through a 'tunnel of love' towards the Gold Coast hunk, before leaning in to smooch him. Just before their lips met, the trailer quickly cut to another scene. No scandal here! 'It was a prior thing, they got all the couples to mix up for the photo shoots, so [viewers would] not know who gets married to who,' Jonethen said Will they last? Cathy is paired with 28-year-old truck drive Josh Pihlak on Married At First Sight Cathy and Josh, a 28-year-old truck driver from Sydney, are one of the strongest couples on the show. After their wedding aired last week, they have gone from strength to strength and even had sex on their honeymoon. Jonethen and retail assistant Connie, 27, have taken things at a slower pace, waiting until the last day of their honeymoon to kiss. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Ten people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College here last week, police said. The accused are between 18 and 25 years of age, they added. Over 11 police teams were looking into the technical details available and also visiting various sites in NCR to identify the suspects and investigate the case, the police said. Many people are being questioned and multiple suspects have been identified, they added. According to the police, the accused persons were outside the college when the fest was underway. A senior police official said the accused are students of various colleges in Delhi and NCR areas. They gathered outside the gate of the college, vandalised a car and then broke in, he added. Police said the accused jumped over the barricades placed by the college security staff, outnumbered them and then misbehaved with the women students. Officials said the investigation was on and more people could be arrested. Students of Gargi College have been boycotting classes, demanding that the fact finding committee constituted following the incident show its findings. A case was registered on February 10 at the Hauz Khas police station under IPC sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). A group of men had broken into the institute during the 'Riverie' fest on February 6 and allegedly groped, harassed and molested the attendees. The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their ordeal. Students and teachers also posted on other social media websites about the incident. Over 100 students held a protest on February 10 outside Gargi College. The students had alleged that Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police personnel were deployed close to the gate from where the men entered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Only registered Democrats will be allowed to vote in Arizonas presidential preference election on March 17. The deadline to register to vote or to change your party affiliation to Democrat is midnight Feb. 18, according to Pima County Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez. Since the Democratic Party is the only one taking part in this election, only registered Democrats will be eligible to vote. Those not eligible include registered Republican, Green Party and Libertarian Party voters. Also, voters who do not list a party preference are not allowed to vote in the election. Rodriguez said about 40% of voters in Pima County are registered Democrats, meaning about 60% of local voters will not be allowed to cast ballots in the election. The Republican Party is not taking part in the election. Arizona law requires that voters must be registered to whatever parties are taking part in the election, which is different than a primary election. If you are not sure of your party affiliation, you can check online at www.recorder.pima.gov/VoterStats/VoterInfo Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: Members of the delegation of foreign envoys during an extensive interaction with civil society, politicians, business leaders and media in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. PDP leaders Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Mazi Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, Feb 12 : PDP leader Khalid Jahangir and Congress state general secretary Usman Majeed were among a group of politicians who met the delegation of foreign envoys in Srinagar on Wednesday. After the meeting, Jahangir told IANS that he raised the issue of political detentions in Kashmir. He said he told the delegation members that the majority of the people in Kashmir hate the mainstream leaders. He said he told them that the three former Chief Ministers who have been detained must be released. "The former Chief Ministers must be released if there are no charges against them and they are not involved in any unlawful activity," he said. "A peaceful political process is needed in Kashmir." He said he raised the issue of the day to day problems faced by the people in Kashmir and said that it is the responsibility of the Central government to mitigate the sufferings of the people. Majeed told IANS that he was not representing his party but met the foreign envoys in his individual capacity. "I raised the issues of business losses, Internet blockade, detention of politicians, development activities in Kashmir," Majeed said. He said he told the delegation members that there is a disconnect between the administration and the people and elections in J&K should be held as soon as possible. "I told them the government of India should compensate for the loss of Article 35A and that the fight for restoration of statehood will continue." Twenty five foreign envoys began their two-day Jammu and Kashmir visit on Wednesday with a Shikara (boat) ride on Dal Lake in Srinagar. The envoys will travel to Jammu on Thursday after interacting with representatives of civil society groups in Kashmir. (Zafar Iqbal can be reached at zafar25@gmail.com) The Chinese government has denied involvement in the 2017 Equifax breach after the Department of Justice indicted four members of the countrys military for the crime. Geng Shuang, a spokesman for Chinas foreign ministry, said that the countrys agencies never engage in cybertheft of trade secrets, according to a report by The New York Post. The denial came after US Attorney General William Barr announced the indictment of four members of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army for allegedly hacking the credit-reporting agency, stealing the personal information of nearly 150 million consumers. Geng also accused the US of engaging in large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyberstealing, spying and surveillance against foreign governments including China individuals and businesses, the Post reported. Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts dropped out of the Democratic presidential race on Wednesday, just three months after entering it, ending a last-minute campaign that seemed to fizzle out almost as soon as it had begun. Mr. Patrick had hoped to capture delegates in his neighboring state of New Hampshire and to carve away former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.s support among black voters in South Carolina. But while Mr. Biden has lost support, Mr. Patrick did not gain any. In the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, he received less than 0.5 percent of the vote. I believed and still believe we had a strong case to make for being able to deliver better outcomes, he said in a message to supporters. But the vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical wind at the campaigns back to go on to the next round of voting. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/12/2020 -- Transparency Market Research delivers key insights for the seafood packaging market in its published report, which includes global industry analysis, size, share, growth, trends, and forecast for 20192027. In terms of revenue, the global seafood packaging market is projected to register a CAGR of ~5% during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific is estimated to hold the highest share in the global seafood packaging market, owing to a rise in exports of scallops, squids, oysters in this region. China accounted for more than 35% of the global seafood packaging market in 2019, in terms of value. This growth can be attributed to increasing consumption of fish and molluscs in the region. For instance, high exports of crustaceans and molluscs seafood types were recorded in 2018, according to FAO. Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and other ASEAN countries are anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for players in the seafood packaging market over the forecast period. Moreover, Europe is anticipated to offer positive prospects for players in the seafood packaging market over the forecast period of 2019-2027. Multinational food packaging companies plan to invest high amount of capital to develop advanced packaging technologies such as MAP for seafood packaging. Quality, safety, theft prevention, and traceability are the major focus areas of global companies, while designing advanced seafood packaging solutions. With the increasing demand for improved packaging technologies from end users, the companies are rethinking their strategies to invest in the growing market. Request PDF Sample For More Information@ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=28769 It has been noticed that the seafood packaging companies are collaborating with technology providers to offer smart & intelligent packaging solution for products such as trays and pouches to their customers. Instead of focusing on mass production of early-stage products, seafood packaging converters strive to develop products that maintain product integrity and enhance quality. An amalgamation of packaging technologies with existing products has helped seafood packaging manufacturers to achieve better profit margins. Advanced seafood packaging technologies are very helpful in building direct digital relationships with consumers through the package itself. This has boosted the development of new product solutions in the seafood packaging industry, which, in turn, are anticipated to create new growth opportunities for packaging converters over the forecast period. Governors of the South-east geo-political zone, on Wednesday, endorsed the new community policing model of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), for effective security in the zone. Rising from the South East Geo-political Security Summit, initiated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, the governors in a communique read by the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, David Umahi, said that contents of the new community policing strategies of the police were not different from their security measures already in place in the zone. Mr Umahi disclosed that South-east governors, before the summit, had a closed-door meeting with the Inspector General of Police, at the Government House, Enugu, where the police chief explained to them extensively the concept and effectiveness of the community policing in addressing security challenges in the zone. Other governors at the event include the host governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and the governor of Imo State, represented by his deputy, Placid Njoku. See photos: The governors and other dignitaries taking a group photograph after the summit The governors and the IGP at the summit South-east governors endorse NPF community policing model Religious leaders and traditional rulers at the summit Other attendees at the summit President Trump's Senate acquittal and his rise in polls have been a disappointment for Tehran's regime. Iran was counting on Trump's removal from the office that could have resulted in the removal of sanctions on Iran. Taking the domestic protests of the Iranian people against the mullahs into account, Trump's acquittal acts as an important factor in predicting a bleak future for the regime in Tehran. During the four-month process of impeachment, Iranian officials attempted to propagate false news, fueling hollow hopes among the nation's forces. The IRNA news agency wrote on November 16, 2019: "If the impeachment succeeds, the Trump sanctions will be lifted, the US will come back to the nuclear agreement process and Europe will not have to abide itself to the policies of the United stated in regard to Iran." In the eyes of some of the regime's political analysts, the current circumstances including a possible new impeachment congressional investigation can be positive for Iran because it occupies the U.S. president with domestic problems and he will have less opportunity to think about other countries, such as Iran. IRNA adds: On the other hand, the key to Trump's impeachment plan is to weaken his campaign in 2020; all Democratic candidates promise to return to the nuclear agreement with Iran if they win the next presidential election. An "Asia" newspaper article published a few days before the Senate vote states: Psychological shock from Trump impeachment could have a positive impact on the Iranian economy in the short-run. Trump's impeachment to be voted on in the House of Representatives today. Given the majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives, the impeachment is highly likely to be voted on, no matter if the Senate approves of the impeachment or not. It could weaken Trump's power and his decisions. These were the commentaries and optimism of the regime's officials, which were published in the regime's media before the Senate vote. The regime's intent in offering such optimism was to boost the morale of its forces. The lies and fake news of this regime have been institutionalized over the past 41 years, and most recently the world has witnessed the lies of the Iranian regime about the Ukrainian airliner that was hit by IRGC missiles. The regime needs to convince its own forces that they are still strong and will deliver lies upon lies, even to its own forces. Mullah Al-Khamenei must be disappointed: Via Fars News Agency. Ben Fordham claims Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack only has a 'matter of time' left as the Nationals leader after a text message leak revealed he wanted taxpayers to foot the bill for a lavish party. Mr McCormack's office encouraged Nationals to charge taxpayers for flights and accommodation to an event in Melbourne, where the party would mark their centenary celebrations. The leaked message on Wednesday comes after Mr McCormack's leadership was last week challenged by former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce. Mr Fordham told Sky News that Mr McCormack is not a 'leader' and he would soon be replaced. 'The moment people sense there's blood in the water, the sharks all circle. Michael McCormack, he's only got a matter of time,' Mr Fordham said. 'I just hope for the government's sake that time is a short amount of time.' The 2GB radio host said being 'nice' and a 'decent bloke' was not enough to lead a party. 'I feel sorry for Michael because he's a really decent bloke, really lovely fella, but there's a lot of nice people out there who just cannot cut the mustard when it comes to getting the job done,' Mr Fordham said. 'I feel terrible saying this, but he cannot lead, he's a hopeless leader.' Mr Fordham said Barnaby Joyce had too many flaws but suggested David Littleproud could be a potential candidate as the National leaders. He added the divisions within the National Party were about the Coalition. 'It's about the government being unstable. This will be around Scott Morrison's neck, even if he's the leader of the Liberal Party,' Mr Fordham said. Politicians can bill taxpayers for travel expenses if trips are for the 'dominant purpose' of conducting parliamentary business and represent value for money. Attending a formal party meeting falls within this scope. Mr McCormack's office encouraged Nationals to charge taxpayers for flights and accommodation to an event in Melbourne, where the party would mark their centenary celebrations Mr McCormack has sought advice from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority to ensure the plans were above board. 'IPEA advises travel to this event would, in broad terms, meet the above definition,' a spokeswoman for Mr McCormack told AAP on Wednesday. 'But as always, this is a matter for MPs and senators to determine.' The advice to Nationals came from the deputy prime minister's chief of staff. 'The intention was to hold a party room meeting but this was subject to IPEA advice and confirmation closer to the time,' Mr McCormack's spokeswoman said. 'The location of this meeting is a matter for the National Party and a decision will be made at the regular party room meeting in Canberra on February 24.' The leaked text message comes after Mr McCormack survived a leadership challenge last week. A small group of Nationals still want him gone. Queenslander Llew O'Brien quit the party after the failed leadership coup, claiming the defection was partly motivated by the Nationals' use of taxpayer funds for travel costs. Mr O'Brien pointed to one party meeting timed to coincide with the Melbourne Cup. Hours after he resigned, a handful of Nationals rebels conspired with Labor to hand him a parliamentary promotion, humiliating the government by torpedoing their pick for the job. Senator Bernie Sanders has won the crucial New Hampshire primary, prompting a surge of enthusiasm for his presidential campaign. It was a disastrous night for Joe Biden, who finished fifth after Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren the worst ever showing for a former Vice President who openly contested the New Hampshire Primary. Biden, once the Democratic frontrunner, has suffered some huge setbacks in recent months. The New Hampshire race was tight, however. With just over 95% of the vote reported, Sanders led Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, by less than 2 percent a margin of nearly 4,000 votes. Still, Sanders claimed the night as a "great victory" and even promised that the win signified "the beginning of the end" for President Trump. Surrounded by his family, the 78-year-old socialist revealed that his election strategy was to build an "unprecedented multi-generational, multi-racial political movement in order to defeat the most dangerous president in modern history. Earlier in the night, Trump took to Twitter to offer his own commentary on the political drama as it unfolded. Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight. Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money. Very interesting! he said, before noting that the media was desperate to find a Democratic win amongst the NH results. Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight. Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money. Very interesting! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 The Fake News Media is looking hard for the Big Democrat Story, but there is nothing too fabulous, he tweeted. Wouldnt a big story be that I got more New Hampshire Primary Votes than any incumbent president, in either party, in the history of that Great State? Not an insignificant fact! The Fake News Media is looking hard for the Big Democrat Story, but there is nothing too fabulous. Wouldnt a big story be that I got more New Hampshire Primary Votes than any incumbent president, in either party, in the history of that Great State? Not an insignificant fact! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 Sanders claimed victory in Iowa on account of winning the popular vote, despite Buttigieg securing more delegates and thus technically being confirmed as the winner. The caucus descended into chaos after an app developed to tabulate and report the results began exhibiting technical malfunctions. Putting Iowa behind them, Buttigieg congratulated the veteran Senator on his latest victory. "I admired Sen. Sanders when I was a high school student, he said, according to CNN. I respect him greatly to this day, and I congratulate him on his strong showing tonight. Tweeting as the results were finalized, Biden appeared to brush off the brutal loss: Iowa and New Hampshire were just the beginning, he wrote. Now, were taking this campaign to Nevada and South Carolina, and we have to give it all weve got. With the impeachment trial behind him and his opposition floundering, President Trumps re-election is looking increasingly likely. Indeed, the latest Monmouth University 2020 election poll found that the majority of voters whether they support the President or not are pretty convinced he will secure the White House for a second term in November. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Michael Ciaglo/Stringer Will Maule is a British journalist who has spent the past several years working as a digital news editor. Since earning a degree in international relations and politics, Will has developed a particular interest in covering ethical issues, human rights and global religious persecution. Will's work has been featured in various outlets including The Spectator, Faithwire, CBN News, Spiked, The Federalist and Christian Headlines. Follow him on Twitter at @WillAMaule. NATO to step up against Daesh terrorists in Middle East NATO chief also cited the alliance's training mission in Afghanistan meant to reduce violence between the government and Taliban militants. NATO is "ready to step up" to fight against Daesh/ISIS and provide more security in the Middle East, the alliance's secretary general told reporters Wednesday. NATO CHIEF URGED MINISTERS TO REITERATE THEIR COMMITMENTS At a two-day meeting in Brussels, NATO defense ministers are discussing security and stability in the Middle East with a special focus on the fight against Daesh, as well as the alliance's role in Afghanistan and its response to Russian missile deployments. "It is extremely important for us that ISIS never returns," Jens Stoltenberg underlined, referring to the "horrendous violence" caused by the terror organization. Stoltenberg urged the ministers to reiterate their commitment to NATO's training mission Iraq, which he said plays a crucial role in the fight against Daesh. He added that other ways of helping Iraq and other countries in the region would also be on the table during the talks. A day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a crushing defeat in Delhi Assembly elections, its former ally Shiv Sena said that the poor poll performance is a failure of Union Home Minister Amit Shah rather than of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda. The BJP is losing state elections continuously because it faced tough competition from either a party or a leader in state polls unlike in the Lok Sabha elections where Modis charisma won them power single-handedly, the Sena said in its mouthpiece Saamana. The Sena mouthpiece, which said that the win for Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi election was not surprising, has been backing Kejriwal for its model work carried out in the national capital in last five years. Also Watch l Delhi gives thumbs up to Kejriwal: What it means for AAP, BJP & Congress Home minister Amit Shah had made Delhi election a matter of honour, not prime minister Narendra Modi. JP Nadda recently took over the reins of the party, but the real impresario was Amit Shah. He wanted to win an election before his tenure as party president ended. They lost Jharkhand as well as Maharashtra. AAPs flag is fluttering in the national capital while Shiv Sena chief minister is installed in the financial capital, the editorial said on Wednesday. Shah had led the BJP charge in Delhi, addressing a slew of rallies and even going for door-to-door campaign. He also took feedback from party workers. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party further said that the poll debacle is defeat of ego, arrogance and the attitude of what we say is the rule attitude. It credited Kejriwal for its campaign, which was focused on development and the work carried out by his party as opposed to the BJPs polarisation attempt that failed to click with voters of the national capital. The BJP tried to build its poll campaign around issues such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and labelling the Shaheen Bagh protest in Delhi as agitation of Muslims alone, but the electorate did not fall for such polarisation and voted in favour of Kejriwal, said Sena. All the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi were won by the BJP last year, but in the Assembly polls it faced a strong local alternative in the form of Kejriwal, who sought votes on the basis of the work he did, it further said. The AAP made a stunning comeback in Delhi, winning 62 of the 70 seats in Delhi Assembly. The BJP though improved its tally, it couldnt reach the double digit and came second with a score of eight. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Some of them, like Marcus Sabo, the mens leader and the first to be forced out last week after he could not re-register with the police department, will be OK. Wayside officials say they are looking at ways to retain him and five of the staff members until they can find other employment. Another half dozen residents are currently in the final two phases of this comprehensive program and either have jobs outside the mission or soon will be eligible for employment. An Iranian health official on Wednesday said in the past three days an unnamed new brand of illicitly distributed spirit has claimed five lives in Chabahar, a south-eastern Iranian port city, with six more victims having a very low chance of survival. Speaking to the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) Mohammad-Mehran Aminifard, the Chancellor Iranshahr Medical Sciences University, said casualties are expected to increase if people consume the unnamed poisonous spirit. Iran has zero-tolerance for alcohol consumption, so an official warning about the illicitly sold brand that has led to the hospitalization of at least 21 and death of five so far is not likely to be issued. The media are also banned from openly discussing the issue. Some people do not seek medical care when they are poisoned by illicit spirit for the fear of prosecution. Consumption of alcohol is punishable by law. Hundreds are hospitalized for alcohol poisoning every year and tens lose their lives. Consumption is so high that in 2013 the health ministry finally established self-support groups similar to Alcoholics Anonymous and then the first rehabilitation center for the treatment of alcoholism. The Islamic Republic banned alcoholic drinks immediately after the victory of the 1979 revolution. Although Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians are allowed to produce and consume alcohol in private, the rest of the country enjoys bootleg alcohol behind closed door, sometimes at the cost of loss of life, blindness or liver failure. In April 2019 Mostafa Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister and prominent politician, said the zero-tolerance policy of the government about alcohol was a failed policy and called on the government to reconsider it to stop fatalities of bootleg alcohol. Developers need to be more inclusive with AI and robot design, researchers say In a new short paper in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence, Roger A. Sraa from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and co-authors Eduard Fosch-Villaronga from Leiden University in the Netherlands, and Adam Poulsen from Charles Sturt University in Australia discuss what a queering of robots might entail. "It is imperative that we construct mechanisms and policies that acknowledge the importance of inclusivity, diversity, and non-discrimination, also for the LGBTQ+ community in the development and use of robots and AI," the researchers wrote. They point out that technology is not developed in a vacuum, but instead reflects biases and reproduces societal values and beliefs. Sraa is active in robot and cyborg research through the newly started Immersive Technology and Social Robots Lab at NTNU, and has been active in queer and gender debates, including starting the NTNU LGBTQ+ networks for employees. Sraa and his co-authors highlight the lack in the inclusion of queer perspectives on robots and machines. This, they argue, should be better recognized in both the research and design of the robots of the future, and should prod developers and designers to be more inclusive in how they build and create the machines that increasingly walk, talk and act among us. ### FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OMNIA Partners today announced the following additions to its executive team: Denise Woodside will serve as the Executive Vice President, Operations. As executive vice president, Mrs. Woodside is responsible for the sales and enterprise operations of each subsidiary of OMNIA Partners, including member services, analytics and sales enablement. Denise Woodside named Executive Vice President of Operations at OMNIA Partners. Kevin Heath named Executive Vice President of Partner Development and Contracting for OMNIA Partners. Prior to joining OMNIA Partners, Mrs. Woodside served as the vice president of field sales for MSC Industrial Supply Co. in the United States and Mexico. Mrs. Woodside spent more than 20 years in the office products industry, where she held several executive leadership roles including vice president North American sales operations, managing director over the healthcare and group purchasing teams and leader of pricing and strategy for Office Depot, Office Max and Grand & Toy. Subsequently, she served as vice president strategic growth responsible for enterprise level new business development and the transformation of product shift from core supplies to adjacent categories in technology, interiors furniture, digital print and workplace facilities. Kevin Heath will serve as the Executive Vice President, Partner Development and Contracting. As executive vice president, Mr. Heath is responsible for the supplier relations, business development and sourcing of each subsidiary of OMNIA Partners. Mr. Heath joins OMNIA Partners after a 22-year career with Georgia-Pacific. He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer responsible for sourcing and procurement of all direct and indirect products and services for Georgia-Pacific. Previously, Mr. Heath was Vice President Strategic Sourcing & Procurement for MRO & Capital, responsible for the sourcing of process equipment, engineering and construction services, and maintenance repair and operating supplies for their manufacturing operations. Mr. Heath also held various leadership positions with Georgia-Pacific's Engineering & Maintenance and Manufacturing operations. Prior to Georgia-Pacific, Mr. Heath worked for Domtar Industries and Mead Publishing. Announcing the additions, OMNIA Partners President and CEO Todd Abner said "We are thrilled to have Denise and Kevin join our management team. Their outstanding operations and management expertise will support the rapid growth of OMNIA Partners, and accelerate our mission in serving both the public and private sectors." About OMNIA Partners Shaping the future of procurement through power, access and trust. OMNIA Partners is the largest and most experienced purchasing organization for public and private sector procurement. Our immense purchasing power and industry-leading suppliers have produced an extensive portfolio of procurement solutions and partnerships, making OMNIA Partners the most valued and trusted resource for organizations nationwide. To learn more about OMNIA Partners, visit www.omniapartners.com. SOURCE OMNIA Partners Related Links https://www.omniapartners.com Jury still out for some black voters on Bloomberg after 'stop and frisk' apology originally appeared on abcnews.go.com When former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched his unconventional White House bid, he faced his controversial criminal justice record head-on, expressing remorse for his longstanding support for "stop-and-frisk" policing -- a controversial tactic that was found to be racially discriminatory. The billionaire presidential hopeful has made strategic efforts to explain why he once championed the highly-criticized policy, which disproportionately impacted blacks and Latinos -- part of a critical voting bloc for any Democrat looking to secure the presidential nomination. With minorities now making up nearly a third of the overall electorate in 2020, his previous support for stop and frisk could prove to be a hurdle for Bloomberg as he asserts himself as an equality advocate who can galvanize a blue coalition of Democrats to defeat President Donald Trump in November. I was wrong and Im sorry, Bloomberg said to a predominantly black church in Brooklyn before announcing his late presidential run last November. He has then reiterated his regret to reporters, voters and community leaders during his campaign blitz through 2020s battleground states. His initial admission has been coupled with policy rollouts addressing criminal justice reform, gun violence, climate change, and economic equity -- promoted in partnership with prominent black leaders who are willing to vouch for his candidacy ahead of Super Tuesday. (MORE: Videos contradict Bloomberg's apologies to black voters) My sense is that folks are still listening. Although we're almost on the eve of Iowa caucuses and primaries, [voters are] still very open to his message but he's still introducing himself to a lot of voters, said Steve Benjamin, mayor of Columbia, S.C, and co-chair of Bloombergs national campaign. I think it's important to look at the totality of his leadership and that's what he's been communicating to folks. And I think as it relates to criminal justice policy, the goal is to look forward. So, we're going to talk about exactly how 21st-century policing works to bring communities together, Benjamin said, adding that the campaign has been actively pushing past negative perceptions by familiarizing voters with the successes of Bloombergs leadership. Story continues Of course, they may hear about stop and frisk either in the news, or on social media, but they also see the significant investments he's making in voter registration and fighting voter suppression, or they learn more about the young men's initiative, or what he did to actually reduce crime in New York, Benjamin said. Bloomberg, for his part, continues to face questions on his record. His efforts hit a snag Monday night when a series of video and audio clips of the former mayor making controversial remarks about criminal justice emerged on social media -- less than a day after a new poll showed him gaining traction with African American voters. "Ninety-five percent of your murders, murderers and murder victims fit one M.O.," Bloomberg is heard saying in one audio clip, reportedly recorded during a 2015 speech at the Aspen Institute. "You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, 16 to 25. Thats true in New York, thats true in virtually every city. And thats where the real crime is." In another recording of unknown origin, Bloomberg is heard saying, "the way you get the guns out of the kids hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them." According to the Aspen Times, Bloomberg later attempted to block footage of his 2015 Aspen Institute speech from being made public. One critic called the remarks "devoid of humanity," but was not surprised to hear the words come out of Bloombergs mouth. The resurfacing of those audio clips comes on the heels of a new poll that shows Bloomberg cutting into Joe Bidens support among African American voters -- a demographic the former vice president has relied on to form the backbone of his constituency. A nationwide Quinnipiac poll released Monday shows Bloomberg with 22% support from African Americans -- a 15-point boost from the same polling outfit two weeks earlier -- and within striking distance of Bidens 27% support, down more than 20 points since late January. In a statement released Tuesday in response to the video and audio clips, Bloomberg reiterated his apology for failing to address the impact of stop-and-frisk on minorities. "I inherited the police practice of stop-and-frisk, and as part of our effort to stop gun violence it was overused," the statement read. "By the time I left office, I cut it back by 95%, but I should've done it faster and sooner. I regret that and I have apologized -- and I have taken responsibility for taking too long to understand the impact it had on Black and Latino communities." On The View last month, ABCs Sunny Hostin asked the presidential hopeful why he waited until he was about to run for president to apologize for supporting the New York Police Departments discriminatory police practices, after standing by his record in January 2019 when he was asked about it during a Naval Academy conference. (MORE: Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg hits 2020 campaign trail in Mississippi) I apologized when enough people said to me you were wrong and I thought about it and I wish I'd done it earlier. I just didn't, Bloomberg told Hostin, adding that In my heart of hearts, I tried to do things to make this country better. .@sunny to @MikeBloomberg on apologizing for his controversial NYC stop and frisk policy: It sounds like a political move to me. I apologized when enough people said to me you were wrong... and I wish I had done it earlier I just didnt. he says. https://t.co/f8u2wbJuik pic.twitter.com/T5vc52C0sK The View (@TheView) January 15, 2020 The campaign appears eager to close that chapter of Bloomberg's criminal justice record. As recently as last month, his national campaign chairman, Michael Nutter, told MSNBC that the former mayor "has acknowledged that mistake and now wants to move forward." However, his acknowledgment has netted mixed results with black voters. In a recent Washington Post/Ipsos poll, Bloomberg was tied among black Democratic-leaning voters at 4% with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who is African American and had focused much of his campaign on highlighting issues impacting disenfranchised minority communities. Booker has since dropped out of the race. Yet, in that same poll, the former New York City mayor netted the second-highest ranking, 17%, when Democratic-leaning black voters were asked which candidate they definitely would not consider voting for. Only Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ranked higher at 23%. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at the Bounce Innovation Hub, Jan. 8, 2020, in Akron, Ohio. (Tony Dejak/AP) Stockton, Calif., mayor and rising star Michael Tubbs, who is African American, stood by Bloomberg's side on Dec. 11 as the billionaire admitted that the New York City Police Department's policing tactics got out of hand, adding, maybe I should have paid more attention. At the height of the New York Police Department's use of stop and frisk in 2011, 685,724 NYPD stops were recorded, according to data collected by the New York Civil Liberties Union. Of those who were stopped, 53% were black and 34% were Latino. Some 88% of the people who were stopped were innocent. In the landmark Floyd vs. City of New York class action lawsuit, Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled in 2013 that stop and frisk violated constitutional rights through indirect racial profiling. The ruling called for immediate changes to the NYPDs police practices and appointed independent monitoring to ensure compliance with the reforms ordered by the court. Under Bloombergs mayoral tenure, New York City appealed the ruling. However, his successor, Mayor Bill de Blasio, withdrew that appeal in 2014 in favor of a joint resolution on moving forward. As Bloomberg invests in voter outreach ahead of the primaries, he has focused on mending his record primarily in African American enclaves. He has not provided any formal apologies in Latino communities, though Latino residents in New York were also directly impacted by stop and frisk police tactics. Regardless, acknowledgment of the policys impact is critical if he is to net vital support among minorities, political experts told ABC News. Questions about mass incarceration, criminal justice, and restorative justice are at the forefront of voters minds, even though they may not show up as the very first thing on polling, said Leah Wright Rigueur, author and assistant professor of public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. There's an understanding ... every single candidate, particularly on the Democratic side, needs to have a position on mass incarceration that is in tune with the base of people in the party, she continued, noting that the Democratic primary cannot be won without the support of black voters. (MORE: How Michael Bloomberg's late bid for the Democratic Nomination could go) Tubbs, the mayor of Stockton, defended the presidential hopeful, telling reporters at a stop in his home state that while stop and frisk was not a good policy, at least the mayor acknowledged it. If you look at every candidate in the field, there's an issue with criminal justice. You have folks who wrote the 1994 crime bill which created mass incarceration ... but I think a leader is one who apologizes. Tubbs' arguments point to a larger challenge across the Democratic field: Several presidential candidates have imperfect records on criminal justice. Former Vice President Joe Biden continues to face criticism over his drafting of the 1994 crime bill, a bipartisan measure signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton. While the bill was intended to decrease crime, critics say it subsequently increased mass incarceration among black and Hispanic Americans. Biden has since apologized for that impact. (MORE: Biden defends about face on crime law he helped create) New York City resident Nicholas Peart said he isn't swayed by Bloomberg's turnaround. The 31-year-old Harlem resident was a college student when he found himself at the center of the Floyd vs. New York City case. He provided witness testimony that sought to prove that NYPD officers conducted racially discriminatory stops against people of color. During his testimony, Peart recounted the harrowing details of being held at gunpoint by an officer on his 18th birthday while celebrating with friends in Manhattans Upper West Side neighborhood. He recalled incidents of being stopped while getting milk at his local grocery store, and another instance of being patted down after walking out of a gym. Peart, who was not charged with a crime on any of the occasions on which he was stopped, later shared the experience in a viral 2011 New York Times op-ed entitled, Why is the NYPD After Me -- a first-hand account of his growing up in New York during the Bloomberg era. One thing that no mayor wants is the reputation of violating someone's constitutional rights, Peart told ABC News. When you are in office, you're supposed to protect and serve, and that wasnt honored. Even during the case, there was a lack of acknowledgment about the wrongdoing that was happening. There was this idea that if you continue to stop black and brown people, it will stop crime, which is completely racist. Bloomberg vehemently defended the policy, famously pushing back against critics during a weekly radio appearance in 2013 by refuting reports that stop and frisk was disproportionately affecting black and Latino residents the day after the city council required the NYPD to reduce the police tactic. I think we disproportionately stop whites too much and minorities too little. Its exactly the reverse of what they're saying. I don't know where they went to school, but they certainly didn't take a math course or a logic course, Bloomberg said in defense of the practive. He received a barrage of criticism from New Yorkers who felt offended by his remarks. Michael Bloomberg had no sense of what everyday New Yorkers -- particularly New Yorkers of color, working people, and low-income people -- he had no sense of what their lives were like, because if he had any sense he would have ended the stop and frisk practices, or at least not so vociferously attacked the critics as he did literally for a decade, said Darius Charney, a senior staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional rights who was the lead counsel in the Floyd vs. New York City case. I think he was completely disconnected from the lives of millions of New Yorkers and basically anyone outside the economic and political elite of the city, he added. Six years after Floyd vs. New York City, Peart questions the timing of Bloomberg's black voter outreach. I think hes doing this now because of the change in the climate and people being aware of what was happening, Peart said. For him to run for president and he wasn't able to protect the rights of New York City residents, just imagine, some of the policies that will come if he was to become president. I can only imagine some of the things that he will let slide." (MORE: Bloomberg Apologizes for Stop and Frisk police practice) Benjamin says hes confident the presidential hopeful can earn African American support, telling ABC News, every vote is picked up one at a time. He's expressed to me just some of the horrors he saw when the murder rate in New York was two times as it was before he left office," Benjamin said. "He really wanted to commit himself to taking guns off the street. He's acknowledged and apologized for what happened. But it's going to have to continue to be a part of the narrative, as he continues to sell himself to Americans. When asked what he would say to voters who called his outreach inauthentic and strategic, Bloomberg told ABC News in December, "All I can tell you is that Ive probably worked harder since I left City Hall than before, in terms of taking on the NRA, in terms of running 'Every Town' (an anti-gun violence group), going across this country to stop crime, and unfortunately a lot of it is happening among young people. I'm very proud of what we are doing and we are going to keep doing it." Rigueur, the Harvard professor, said that for Bloomberg to succeed it will be essential for him to overcome the challenges that loom over his push to build a diverse coalition. For Michael Bloomberg to jump into the race without offering some kind of mea culpa action and policy would be essentially a write-off, Rigueur said. It would be political suicide because there's no room for a punitive criminal justice vision or platform within the Democratic Party right now. So there is a lot of strategizing around what is the right way to apologize, how to reach these various audiences, and what is the kind of language you can use that takes accountability, but also side-steps the very real insidious nature that allowed these policies and procedure to move forward. PHOTO: 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg talks to supporters during an event to open a campaign office at Eastern Market in Detroit, Michigan, Dec. 21, 2019. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images) While some voters like Peart are critical of Bloombergs criminal justice record, other voters may be willing to overlook it. A Gallup survey from November found that 60% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would prefer to see the party nominate the candidate with the best chance of beating President Donald Trump, even if that person does not share their views on key issues. For Ed Matthews, a 66-year-old African-American, defeating the president in Novembers presidential election overrides past political transgressions. After living in New York for 20 years before moving to Augusta, Georgia, Matthews told ABC News hes excited that Bloomberg joined the race after seeing him in person at a campaign event. The other candidates that are out there right now, Im just not juiced up. I cant actually say Id vote for them right now, but Mike Bloomberg, I would vote for him, Matthews said. Matthews recounted his life in New York, saying, It wasnt always a happy place and that race was a big issue. He did admit that he was harassed by the police quite a few times during Bloombergs reign, but he noted that his experience was not exclusive to New York City. I got stopped and frisked in New York, I got stopped and frisked in Boston. It really doesnt matter where youre at, or what the policy may be. Its just one of those things that happens. Youd go to the store and youd have to be buzzed in as you approached the door. You didnt feel like a regular customer that could just walk in, Matthews recalled, adding that its just a part of life as a black male. Nevertheless, Matthews said he accepts Bloombergs apology. As long as theres an opportunity to judge based on color, I dont think you can legislate that away. So, when it happened in New York, I understood it. I understand that the mayor just said, Hey, I made a mistake and I can live with that. Mumbai, Feb 12 : Signs of slowing coronavirus spread and Federal Reserve chairman's optimistic view on US economy lifted that global markets on Wednesday. The Sensex added 350 points while the broader Nifty finished above the 12,200 mark. Hindustan Unilever was the top gainer, rising over 5 per cent. Other top gainers included Kotak Mahindra Bank, Nestle India, ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries. Sectorally it was mixed with FMCG being the biggest gainer while PSU banks were the biggest loser. "With fears abating with regards to coronavirus spread and the Fed chairman's optimistic view on the economy, the global sentiments have got uplifted," said Siddhartha Khemka of Motilal Oswal Financial Services The Sensex closed at 349.76 points higher at 41,565.90. It opened at 41,330.85, and touched an intra-day high of 41,671.86 and a low of 41,330.85. The broader Nifty ended at 12,201.20 up 93.30 points. Indusind Bank fell 1 per cent after rating agency Moody's changed its outlook to "negative" on the lender. Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services said: "Investors' appetite for risk improved as coronavirus concerns receded for the second day in a row. The impact of coronavirus has already affected the supply chains and factory activities across the globe, but the ground reality is improving in China and we can expect an improvement in the next quarter". Days after the Supreme Court granted bail to 15 convicts in a 2002 post-Godhra riots case in Gujarat, 13 of them have arrived in Indore and Jabalpur cities in Madhya Pradesh in two groups to carry out the mandated community service, officials said on Wednesday. While six of them arrived on Monday in Indore, where they are engaged in the cleaning work at a temple, seven others arrived in Jabalpur on Tuesday night, where they will work as volunteers in the Narmada Kumbh scheduled to start from February 24, the officials said. These convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment for a massacre in Ode town in Gujarat's Anand district, in which 23 people were burnt alive. On January 28, the Supreme Court had ordered to split these convicts into two groups, sending one to Indore and the other to Jabalpur, and ordered them to regularly report to police stations in these cities. Talking to PTI, Indore District Legal Aid Officer Subhash Chaudhary said, "As per the Supreme Court's bail conditions, these convicts have started community service in the city (Indore). Currently they are engaged in cleaning of the kitchen and other parts of the premises in a local temple." These convicts are also taking part in the morning and evening prayers at the temple besides carrying out other duties assigned to them. As per the Supreme Court orders, these convicts will have to report to the city police station on the first day of every month, Chaudhary said. They will not be able to go beyond the district limits without the permission of Indore District and Sessions Judge, he added. A plan is being prepared for assigning of community services to these six convicts, sources said. Sending them to hospitals and cow shelters for the community service is also being considered, they added. The six convicts, aged between 41 and 65 years, reached Indore on Monday after completing the bail formalities in the respective trial court in Gujarat following the Supreme Court order. Meanwhile, talking to PTI, Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority member secretary Giribala Singh said, "Seven of these convicts reached Jabalpur on Tuesday night. They will be volunteering at the Narmada Kumbh." The Narmada Kumbh, held every five years, is scheduled to be held from February 24 to March 3 on the banks of the Narmada river at Gwarighat on the outskirts of Jabalpur. Apart from the Narmada Kumbh, these convicts will work as volunteers in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, at old age homes, and take care of patients, who have no one to look after, in hospitals, Singh said. Efforts will be made to help them in picking up work as per their choice under the smart city project underway here so that they can earn their livelihood, she said. "All these works will inculcate in them a feeling of serving the community," Singh said. Their identity was being withheld for safety reasons, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 12, 2020] Ohio Valley Insurance and Farmers Edge Form Strategic Alliance to Digitize Crop Insurance Services and Offer Customized, Data-Driven Coverage to Growers Ohio Valley Insurance has struck a new partnership with Farmers Edge, a global leader in digital agriculture, to transform how it delivers insurance services with a superior, data-driven model. Founded in 2003, Ohio Valley Insurance is based in Kentucky and operates across its neighboring states, including Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Missouri, providing crop insurance to growers cultivating diverse crops such as barley, corn, soybean, sorghum, tobacco, and wheat. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005730/en/ Farmers Edge welcomes Ohio Valley Insurance to its partner network. (Photo: Business Wire) Farmers Edge is equipping the insurance agency with an integrated farm risk management platform to automate acreage reporting, streamline and accelerate claims processing, and strategically match growers with the right risk mitigation plan. The platform-FarmCommand- features a suite of digital tools that enhance data management for growers and gives them the option to seamlessly share information to automate insurance processes. Combining field-level data, remote sensing, and AI-driven models, FarmCommand delivers a unique st of imagery-derived maps, highly precise predictive crop models, and automatic crop health change detection to help optimize crop production and monitor fields from anywhere. Experts from Farmers Edge and Ohio Valley Insurance will be attending the National Farm Machinery Show, February 12-15 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville in booths 8099 and 8101. Growers can meet with the companies to learn how they can take advantage of the new alliance and secure premium crop insurance before the March 15 deadline. Demos of FarmCommand will be available to show how the platform enables users to proactively manage risks and predict crop- and weather-related issues before yield is impacted. "Through this partnership with Farmers Edge, we are digitizing our core services to create a stronger, more meaningful connection with our crop insurance customers that shows we truly care about the success of their farms," said Allan Murray, Ohio Valley Insurance owner and crop agent. "Additionally, automating insurance paperwork unleashes tremendous efficiency, and by gaining unprecedented intelligence about our growers' farming operations, we can make data-driven risk management decisions that best protect our clients as well as our portfolios. Everyone wins in this new digital model." "With roughly two million farms in the United States, insurance companies are rapidly adopting digital tools to create a unique customer experience that is faster, more efficient, and fundamentally smarter," said Wade Barnes, CEO and co-founder of Farmers Edge. "Because crop insurance rates are set by the federal government in the United States, offering distinctive, disruptive services is the key to long-term success for insurance companies. Through this new alliance, Ohio Valley Insurance is futureproofing its business with a flexible, scalable model geared toward providing value-added services and outcomes." About Ohio Valley Insurance Ohio Valley Insurance is an equal opportunity provider. For more information, visit https://ohiovalleyins.com/. About Farmers Edge Farmers Edge is a global leader in digital agriculture delivering cutting-edge solutions powered by a unique combination of field-centric data, artificial intelligence, and complete integration. Since 2005, Farmers Edge has transformed the industry with disruptive technologies, and strategic partnerships designed to enhance connectivity across the entire agricultural ecosystem. With the most comprehensive data management platform on the market-FarmCommand-Farmers Edge is revolutionizing the way farmers, agricultural professionals, and agri-businesses interact with data. Moving at the speed of digital with an elite team focused on innovation, machine learning, and IoT, Farmers Edge is creating new opportunities for all stakeholders, shaping the future of agriculture worldwide. To learn more about Farmers Edge, visit FarmersEdge.ca or FarmersEdgeUSA.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005730/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A four-legged, data-gathering robot named Spot is being tested this year on an offshore rig named Skary in the Norwegian Sea. Spot is the brainchild of oil company Aker BP and oilfield software company Cognite, both of Norway, and robotics firm Boston Dynamics. It's part of a team of robots and drones used for aerial and underwater inspections and to help repair leaks. Aided by video sent to operators at onshore control centers, they can take people out of harm's way. Service Sector: "Norwegian Cinderella" holds promising future for automated offshore rigs Spot is equipped with cameras and sensors that allow the four-legged robot to read meters, detect gas leaks and identify unusual sounds and vibrations from turbines and other equipment. The robots and drones will be tested to gauge their ability to perform inspections, capture high-quality data and automatically generate reports. If the tests are successful, more could be used in oil and gas work around the world. Digitalization will be one of the differentiators between the oil companies of the world, in order to be able to deliver low cost and low emissions, Aker BP CEO Karl Johnny Hersvik said in a statement. Our vision is to digitalize all our operations from cradle to grave in order to increase productivity, enhance quality and improve the safety of our employees. Exploring the potential of robotics offshore underpins our digital journey. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox ANN ARBOR--Parents often put their own relationship on the back burner to concentrate on their children, but a new study shows that when spouses love each other, children stay in school longer and marry later in life. Research about how the affection between parents shapes their children's long-term life outcomes is rare because the data demands are high. This study uses unique data from families in Nepal to provide new evidence. The study, co-authored by researchers at the University of Michigan and McGill University in Quebec, was published in the journal Demography. "In this study, we saw that parents' emotional connection to each other affects child rearing so much that it shapes their children's future," said co-author and U-M Institute for Social Research researcher William Axinn. "The fact that we found these kinds of things in Nepal moves us step closer to evidence that these things are universal." The study uses data from the Chitwan Valley Family Study in Nepal. The survey launched in 1995, and collected information from 151 neighborhoods in the Western Chitwan Valley. Married couples were interviewed simultaneously but separately, and were asked to assess the level of affection they had for their partner. The spouses answered "How much do you love your (husband/wife)? Very much, some, a little, or not at all?" The researchers then followed the children of these parents for 12 years to document their education and marital behaviors. The researchers found that the children of parents who reported they loved each other either "some" or "very much" stayed in school longer and married later. "Family isn't just another institution. It's not like a school or employer. It is this place where we also have emotions and feelings," said lead author Sarah Brauner-Otto, director of the Centre on Population Dynamics at McGill University. "Demonstrating and providing evidence that love, this emotional component of family, also has this long impact on children's lives is really important for understanding the depth of family influence on children." Nepal provides an important backdrop to study how familial relationships shape children's lives, according to Axinn. Historically, in Nepal, parents arranged their children's marriage, and divorce was rare. Since the 1970s, that has been changing, with more couples marrying for love, and divorce still rare, but becoming more common. Education has also become more widespread since the 1970s. In Nepal, children begin attending school at age 5, and complete secondary school after grade 10, when they can take an exam to earn their "School-Leaving Certificate." Fewer than 3% of ever-married women aged 15-49 had earned an SLC in 1996, while nearly a quarter of women earned an SLC in 2016. Thirty-one percent of men earned SLCs in 2011. By 2016, 36.8% of men had. The researchers say that their next important question will be to identify why parental love impacts children in this way. The researchers speculate that when parents love each other, they tend to invest more in their children, leading to children remaining in education longer. The children's home environments may also be happier when parents report loving each other, so the children may be less likely to escape into their own marriages. Children may also view their parents as role models, and take longer to seek similar marriages. These findings still stood after researchers considered other factors that shape a married couple's relationship and their children's transition to adulthood. These include caste-ethnicity; access to schools; whether the parents had an arranged marriage; the childbearing of the parents; and whether the parents had experience living outside their own families, possibly being influenced by Western ideas of education and courtship. "The result that these measures of love have independent consequences is also important," Axinn said. "Love is not irrelevant; variations in parental love do have a consequence." ### Axinn is a research professor at the U-M Population Studies Center and Survey Research Center at ISR. The team also included Dirgha Ghimire, a research professor at the Population Studies Center. Study: Parents' marital quality and children's transition to adulthood William Axinn Sarah Brauner-Otto Buses carrying evacuees from Wuhan, China, arrive at the Korea Defense Language Institute in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. /Yonhap By Kim Se-jeong The third batch of evacuees from Wuhan in China, numbering 147, arrived in Korea, Wednesday, and all, but seven, were moved to the Korea Defense Language Institute in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province for a two-week-long quarantine. The government has now evacuated 848 people from Wuhan, the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak, while around 90 Koreans remain there with no plan to leave according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The seven who showed symptoms of coronavirus infection at the airport were sent to the National Medical Center for more tests and will join the others if the results are negative. CHICO, Calif. An unusual staff member whos in the Bidwell Jr. High yearbook is making his rounds at other schools in Chico. Now when students at Emma Wilson Elementary think of their school's mascot, they think of Landon Bishop. Landon is a working therapy dog for special ed students but interacts with any student who needs him. Landon is known for signing yearbooks with his paw print. Niculina Archer is a volunteer and said Landon also dresses up on holidays. One-fourth grader, Katelyn Gallegos said she thinks therapy dogs help students focus better in school. "Every school should have therapy dogs because they comfort people and schools might make children happy and it might be easier to learn when they are happier, Archer said. This is my first time actually ever having a therapy dog and its really nice for me to have him because it just makes me smile when I see him." Terry Bishop is Landon's owner and is an aid for Special Ed. Bishop said that Landon helps students express their feelings without having to force it. On Valentines Day, Landon will be handing out Valentines cards with his paw print on them. Bishop said Landon comes to the Elementary school on Monday and Wednesday. A campaign video from Cannes got the most interactions. Which online campaign is the most effective? (Source: Youtube) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slovakia is preparing for the parliamentary election taking place on February 29. Read more about the election: >> What are the possible scenarios after the election? >> Brief overview of the party manifestos >> Which party has the most transparent campaign? Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Funny videos, live broadcasts of press briefings, rap songs and records from foreign trips. There are many ways politicians try to catch the attention of voters online. Slovakia's politicians had communicated with potential voters on Facebook in the past, but experts agree that the use of social media for campaigning has not been as significant in the past as in the 2020 campaign. Politicians according to a number of interactions: 1. Lubos Blaha (MP, Smer) 792,853 2. Peter Pellegrini (PM, Smer) 355,250 3. Michal Truban (leader of non-parliamentary party, PS/Spolu) 321,106 4. Milan Uhrik (MEP, LSNS) 282,526 5. Andrej Kiska (leader of the non-parliamentary party, Za Ludi) 279,186 6. Jozef Procko (candidate and comedian, OlaNO) 253,183 7. Stefan Harabin (leader of the non-parliamentary party, Vlast) 250,989 Source: Memo98 The non-governmental organisation Memo 98 that monitors media and political campaigns had watched the ongoing election campaign from its start on November 5, 2019 until January 26, 2020. They found that Smer MP Lubos Blaha had dominated social media, followed by PM Peter Pellegrini (Smer) and Michal Truban (PS/Spolu). It is a long-standing trend of generating a large number of interactions," Memo 98 director Rastislav Kuzel said about Blaha. Negative Blaha and positive Pellegrini Blaha, known for his long and provocative Facebook posts and for banning people who disagree with him or criticise him on his official page, had more than 792,853 interactions on his Facebook page. The number is a sum of reactions, comments and shares of his posts. Pellegrini, who came second in the evaluation, had 355,250 interactions. Blaha belongs among the most controversial politicians of Smer and he has been able to utilize Facebook to create a high number of followers by publishing very controversial views and opinions over a long period of time, Memo 98 summed up. The main campaign strategy in his case is to attack opponents, particularly from among opposition parties such as PS/Spolu, Za Ludi, OLaNO, and SaS, Kuzel said. "He also attacks media, NGOs and others who stand for liberal democracy. Its going to be breathtaking, said Elizabeth McGoey, associate curator of American decorative arts. I remember standing on a scaffolding next to the window, one of those first weeks I was there to see it in Providence. I was so in awe of being able to have that proximity to the glass and to understand the scale. And I am so excited that with the installation we have planned, were actually going to be bringing that same experience to the public. As of yesterday, 744 recovered patients have been discharged, while the total number of recovery cases stands at 4,740. China's health authority reported 97 new deaths attributable to the coronavirus, which has now been officially named Covid-19, and 2,015 newly-confirmed cases as of Tuesday. This brings the national totals to 1,113 and 44,653, respectively. As of yesterday, 744 recovered patients have been discharged, while the total number of recovery cases stands at 4,740, South China Morning Post reported. Read alsoThe Guardian: Coronavirus 'could infect 60% of global population if unchecked' Outside Hubei province epicentre of the Covid-19 epidemic new infections on the mainland fell for the eighth consecutive day. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Chinese authorities declared an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin in Wuhan at the end of December 2019. The virus is transmitted from person to person, with its incubation period lasting from two to 12 days. On January 30, the World Health Organization declared global emergency in connection with the spread of coronavirus from China. A former massage therapist has been hit with a life ban from providing any health service after he was deemed a risk to patients for sexually assaulting three women during procedures. Phillip Roy Newman, 68, was given an 18-month suspended sentence in 2016 after pleading guilty to the three counts, leading the Health Ombudsman to bring disciplinary action against him. Between 2009 and 2010, the man sexually assaulted three women while claiming to carry out lymphatic drainage massages. Credit:File image A Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal late last year found Newman posed a "serious risk" and permanently banned him from providing any health service in the future. In his decision published last week, deputy president Judge John Allen, QC, said the likelihood of that risk was high because Newman had shown a "past propensity to offend against patients when they are in a vulnerable and trusting state". Jameela Jamil has set the record straight after an online troll accused her of having a mental disorder which causes her to lie about mental and physical illness. The actress, 33, branded her critic 'unhinged' after they said she has Munchausens, which causes people to pretend that they are ill when they aren't. The troll claimed Jameela's 'contrasting' version of events regarding a car crash and breast cancer scares led them to believe she suffered from Munchausens. Hitting back: Jameela Jamil has set the record straight after an online troll accused her of having a mental disorder which causes her to lie about mental and physical illness Defiant: Jameela was quick to fire back at the allegations, as she described the theories as 'unhinged' before revealing that the injuries she described were from a separate car crash 13 years apart On one occasion, the online user said that Jameela had exaggerated her injuries from a car crash where she claimed she broke her nose, elbow, lost a tooth and had concussion. However footage from the incident revealed that she appeared without any injuries and still had a full set of teeth in place. Yet Jameela was quick to fire back at the allegations, as she described the theories as 'unhinged' before revealing that the injuries she described were from a separate car crash 13 years apart. Fuming: The actress, 33, branded her critic 'unhinged' after they said she has Munchausens, which causes people to pretend that they are ill when they aren't 'Dumb': The defiant star went on to call the critics wild claims a 'dumb internet conspiracy theory', before encouraging them to 'keep coming' Taking to Twitter to express her outrage, Jameela penned: 'First I'm lying about my sexuality, now I'm now being accused of munchausens? What is Munchausen's syndrome? Munchausen's syndrome is a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves. Their main intention is to assume the 'sick role' so that people care for them and they are the centre of attention. Any practical benefit in pretending to be sick for example, claiming incapacity benefit is not the reason for their behaviour. Munchausen's syndrome is named after a German aristocrat, Baron Munchausen, who became famous for telling wild, unbelievable tales about his exploits. Credit: NHS Advertisement 'By an unhinged idiot who didn't even realize in all her 'research' that my car accident injury stories are 'different' because they were about TWO SEPARATE CAR ACCIDENTS 13 years apart? You can keep it.' Jameela has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which is a group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the skin, bones and blood vessels among others. She followed up her shut down tweet with another, which read: 'Ehlers Danlos Syndrome means always having people doubt your illness because you look okay. #edsawareness #itisntinyourhead #imsorrypeopleared**ks.' The defiant star went on to call the critics wild claims a 'dumb internet conspiracy theory', before encouraging them to 'keep coming'. She said: 'You just add to my relevance. I'm gonna keep helping people with eating disorders, and changing laws and global policies to protect kids and their mental health and there's NOTHING you can do about it.' Coming out: Her series of tweets come after she described coming out as queer as 'completely overwhelming' Her series of tweets come after she described coming out as queer as 'completely overwhelming' and said she chose an 'inappropriate' time after she received criticism for her role as a judge on new TV series, Legendary. HBO Max announced that she would serve as MC and judge on its new voguing competition series, with some fans arguing Jameela, who they assumed was a cisgender heterosexual woman, should not host the series. Some viewers felt the actress was not representative of the show's ballroom culture, which was created by primarily black and Latin LGBTQ people in New York City in the 1980s. In response to the criticism she received for her role on the show, Jameela revealed that she identifies as queer. Taking to social media days later, the Good Place star admitted she picked a bad time to come out but also said that, having kept the secret for decades, it always felt like she might blurt it out at anytime. Alongside a selfie, she wrote: 'Well. Last week was a perfect clusterf**k. It was completely overwhelming. 'The sequence of events was insane, a misunderstanding was left uncorrected for too long, and misinformation spread too far, too fast, then my timing was bad, and in a moment of distress and pain, personal things were blurted out because when you have a secret for decades and you're traumatized, it always feels like it might just f*****g burst out of you at any given moment, even the most inappropriate and unfortunate ones. Criticism: HBO Max announced that she would serve as MC and judge on its new voguing competition series, with some fans arguing Jameela, who they assumed was a cisgender heterosexual woman, should not host the series 'I thankfully chose the *most* inappropriate and unfortunate time, maybe ever, for mine. So now you don't have to feel embarrassed about yours. I PEAKED FOR ALL OF US! 'But timing aside. Better out than in, and thank you for the thousands of messages of kindness and deeply personal letters from strangers and people I know, coming out to me privately. I don't take it lightly and am happy for you that you felt ready to tell even one person. 'Do it whenever you feel the time is right, as long as you think you'll be safe. Don't feel bad for hiding it for as long as you need, and move at your own pace. Post: Jameela shared a lengthy message on social media where she said she picked a bad time to say she was queer after the criticism she received 'But feel no shame about getting it off your chest and know you aren't alone. There is a huge community of people who understand you, respect you and stand with you. 'On we go, hoping this week will be calmer than the last, and sending everyone the most love. Jam'. Producers of Legendary have since clarified Jameela will not serve as MC as was previously reported, but she will be a judge. One user commented on Jameela's post and said that, while they appreciated her coming out, they still thought she should give up her judging role on the show. Response: One fan said that they still felt Jameela should step back from her judging role on Legendary so it could be given to someone more involved in ballroom culture Spotlight: Jameela then revealed the show struggled to be made for two years before she and rapper Megan Thee Stallion agreed to take part They said: 'You are a wonderful person and I really appreciate your coming out! You're strong and awesome! 'Nonetheless I still think that you should give your position on Legendary to someone who is more involved and connected with the ballroom scene! 'I'm not blaming you for taking the job but when you hear that transgender people have been wronged and disregarded when they have so much experience in the scene, only because they don't have the following that you have, then you gotta do something sister! Love you, hope you make it right!' Jameela quickly responded and revealed the show struggled to be sold for two years before she and rapper Megan Thee Stallion joined the production. She wrote: 'Hello love. I only signed on because they hadn't managed to sell the show for 2 years even though it's SO amazing. 'Megan and I jumped on board to make sure it got made, because it is 90 percent ballroom talent on and off screen. Role: Producers of Legendary have since clarified Jameela will not serve as MC as was previously reported, but she will be a judge (pictured in December 2019) 'We are just here to bring our followings to the show, and to support and celebrate these talented and inspiring people. We really are a small part of the show, and when people see it, they will see that.' HBO Max had initially announced that Jameela will be both MC and judge, and other judges include Megan Thee Stallion, Law Roach, and Leiomy Maldonado as judges. Dashaun Wesley will be a commentator, and DJ MikeQ will be the DJ. Leiomy, Dashun, and DJ MikeQ all have ties to the dance at the center of the show. According to Out magazine, DJ MikeQ has 'helped to craft the sound of ballroom,' and Dashaun and Leiomy are visible performers. While Law doesn't have any obvious ballroom ties, he is part of the community that created voguing. And that was a problem with Jameela, according to critics, who said she had no ties to voguing, and as a cisgender (her gender identity matches her sex) heterosexual woman, she isn't an appropriate choice for the show. Announcement: Jameela then came out in response to the online criticism she had received, describing Twitter in particular as 'brutal' Jameela then came out in response to the online criticism she had received, describing Twitter in particular as 'brutal'. She wrote: 'This is why I never officially came out as queer. I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it's not easy within the south Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight-up asked about it on Twitter. 'But I kept it low because I was scared of the pain of being accused of performative bandwagon jumping, over something that caused me a lot of confusion, fear and turmoil when I was a kid.' 'I didn't come from a family with *anyone* openly out. It's also scary as an actor to openly admit your sexuality, especially when you're already a brown female in your thirties. Pushed: The Good Place actress said she didn't want to come out, but the reaction on social media forced her to do so 'This is absolutely not how I wanted it to come out, I'm jumping off this hell app for a while because I don't want to read mean comments dismissing this. You can keep your thoughts. 'I know that being queer doesn't qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large following to bring to this show, (as does the absolutely iconic Megan Thee Stallion,) and its beautiful contestants and ballroom hosts. 'Sometimes it takes those with more power to help a show get off the ground so we can elevate marginalized stars that deserve the limelight and give them a chance. 'I'm not the MC. I'm not the main host. I'm just a lead judge due to my 11 years of hosting experience, being fully impartial, a newcomer to ballroom (like much of the audience will be) and therefore a window in for people who are just discovering it now, and being a longtime ally of the LGBTQ community. She said: 'I kept it low because I was scared of the pain of being accused of performative bandwagon jumping, over something that caused me a lot of confusion, fear and turmoil when I was a kid' 'We start shooting tomorrow and I'm really excited to watch these stars shine and be celebrated. I'm excited to work with Leiomy, Dashaun, and Mike Q. As I am with my friend Law Roach and Megan. 'It's f***ing hard to be asked to continue to be patient after so long of waiting for what you want. I know that. South Asian stories are almost never told without white stars. 'But I hope you don't let a few castings designed to help the show get off the ground stop you from supporting the talent from Ballroom on this show. 'They really are f***ing amazing and I'm really honoured to work with them.' Strike a pose! Voguing started at 1960s New York drag competitions called 'balls,' in which black and Latino dancers would participate in voguing competitions Voguing evolved out of the 1960s Harlem ballroom scene. According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, it started at New York drag competitions called 'balls,' in which black and Latino dancers would participate in voguing competitions. The dance, which was named after the fashion magazine, involves exaggerated hand gestures and highlights gender as a performance. It involved and grew in popularity through the '80s, eventually earning wider attention with Madonna's 1990 single Vogue. Diplomats of 25 countries including those from Germany, Canada, France and Afghanistan, on Wednesday reached Kashmir to witness the ground situation in the region nearly six months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats that will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir in the last one month. The delegation will meet fruit growers in North Kashmir before reaching Srinagar where they are scheduled to meet media representatives, civil society groups and politicians of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army will also brief the visiting diplomats on the security situation in Kashmir and are expected to give a detailed presentation on Pakistan's involvement in fomenting and sponsoring terrorism in the newly-formed Union Territory. According to reports, the envoys will have a night halt in Srinagar before moving to Jammu next day where they are expected to meet Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and civil society groups. The delegation includes diplomats from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland, and Rwanda. The fresh batch of diplomats also includes EU representatives, and their participation assumes significance as the EU Parliament recently initiated to bring a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir, the vote on which was later deferred. Also, the India-EU summit is also slated to take place in Brussels next month where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be participating. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 to see first-hand efforts being made by the government in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three city councilors are requesting training for councilors and administrators on equity and inclusion and creation of a statement expounding on those principles. North Adams Council Seeks to Be More Inclusive in Decision Making The mayor reminds the audience that Saturday is the annual Winterfest, being held on Main Street. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. City leaders are considering the creation of a working group to better understand how local legislation may be affecting a broader swath of its citizens, especially those underrepresented in decision making. The request was brought forth by City Councilors Lisa Blackmer, Benjamin Lamb and Jessica Sweeney, and referred to Council President Paul Hopkins. "I'd like to respond to this at our first meeting in March, just so I have some time to think through the structure of this," he said. The councilors said they were inspired to look deeper into how decisions at the council level affect different populations within the city by the council's own resolution two years ago to become more inclusive in decision making and by workshop at the recent Massachusetts Municipal Association convention lead by a representative of the National League of Cities. "This was not just created out of thin air," said Lamb, adding that while councilors may try to keep in mind folks from different demographics or income levels, they may "not necessarily be fully embracing kind of what would be equitable in terms of helping everybody operate at the same level, because we know that just applying everything equally does not mean equitable." The council in 2017 had adopted a resolution declaring North Adams to be "a safe and inclusive community" but the three councilors thought local government should be more proactive in ensuring that vision was being practiced into everyday decisions. Two members of the audience spoke in favor of the working group. "I'm really excited to hear about your discussion about inclusion and equity," said Alicia Canary of River Street. "Yay." One of the examples they put forth in their communique was the idea of curb cuts at crosswalks that while complying with the Americans With Disabilities Act are also beneficial to all residents. "Legislating with an approach that takes diversity, equity and inclusion seriously is not only legislation supportive of underrepresented people, but it is legislation that is good for the entire City," they wrote. The two areas they want the working group to consider is a workshop program for the council and city administrators on how to build an understanding and awareness of "important aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion, in the context of our duties and responsibilities"; and to develop a "statement of equitable practice" that would be considered a "significant commitment and component of our oath of office." "We're thinking about how we interact with people. Some people have had more training than others in their day jobs. So I think that was also part of it, too, to look at how we approach issues and how we think about and how we interact with people that are not necessarily part of a set group, and to get away from the us-versus-them and to be more inclusive," said Blackmer. "I think that it's more of an approach of how we want to approach our jobs." Lamb referred to a training on poverty by Berkshire Bridges that opened his eyes on issues that he thought he had a good grasp, particularly in terms of how taxes and fees are applied. "It really does put a different lens on stuff when it comes to making sure to include those voices and consider them," he said. Sweeney, new to the council this year, said networking groups like the one proposed can also make a difference in "undoing" some past actions by the city that may have been disproportionate in supporting -- or not supporting -- different groups. "This is a small small step toward all of us coming together and being a little bit more aligned in our efforts and coming from the same base of knowledge," she said. The letter states: "Each of us has committed to being a representative of the people of North Adams, and we commend every person who has taken on this role and the responsibilities it carries; from the founding of North Adams through today. But as we move further into a new year and a new council, it is upon us to do the work needed to take meaningful and well informed steps to being truly equitable in our legislative responsibilities going forward." In other business: A communication on the process for requesting opinions from the city solicitor from last year was postpone to the meeting of March 10 to allow the new General Government Committee time to review. An order on adopting the state Berkshire Scenic Mountain Act was postponed to the second meeting of February. Lamb said the Community Development Committee had recently received answers to questions it had sent to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission that will be reviewed by the committee on Feb. 20. An An ordinance on amending fees was postponed to the second meeting in March, although Finance Committee member Wayne Wilkinson said he anticipated there would be several more meetings to go through the list of outdated fees. The council approved the annual bond levels for city officials at the following amounts: city treasurer/tax collector in the amount $250,000; assistant city treasurer at $62,500; and city clerk at $15,000. The council voted to publish and pass to a second reading a recommendation by the Traffic Commission for 10-minute parking on a section of Summer Street near the Ashland Street intersection. Councilor Jason LaForest was the lone no vote; Councilor Marie T. Harpin was absent. The council set the presidential primary election for Tuesday, March 3, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Feb. 12, until 8 p.m. in the city clerk's office. A communique from City Councilor Robert Moulton Jr. about the condition of the Hoosac Mill was referred to the mayor's office. Moulton said he was concerned about reports of more bricks falling from structure, which suffered an A communique from City Councilor Robert Moulton Jr. about the condition of the Hoosac Mill was referred to the mayor's office. Moulton said he was concerned about reports of more bricks falling from structure, which suffered an interior collapse during major snowfall several years ago. Mayor Thomas Bernard said he would have information about the building's condition at the next meeting. A communique from the mayor to declare the former Jarisch Paper Box Co. property on American Legion Drive as surplus property to be sold was postponed at his request because he said further information was needed before taking that action. MANCHESTER, N.H. - Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires presidential primary, edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Partys chaotic 2020 nomination fight. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg cheer at a primary night election rally at Nashua Community College, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Nashua, N.H. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) MANCHESTER, N.H. - Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires presidential primary, edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Partys chaotic 2020 nomination fight. In his Tuesday night win, the 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The dueling Democrats represent different generations, see divergent paths to the nomination and embrace conflicting visions of America's future. As Sanders and Buttigieg celebrated, Amy Klobuchar scored an unexpected third-place finish that gives her a road out of New Hampshire as the primary season moves on to the string of state-by-state contests that lie ahead. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden posted disappointing fourth and fifth place finishes respectively and were on track to finish with zero delegates from the state. The New Hampshire vote gives new clarity to a Democratic contest shaping up to be a battle between two men separated by four decades in age and clashing political ideologies. Sanders is a leading progressive voice, having spent decades demanding substantial government intervention in health care and other sectors of the economy. Buttigieg has pressed for more incremental change, preferring to give Americans the option of retaining their private health insurance while appealing to Republicans and independents who may be dissatisfied with Trump. Their disparate temperaments were on display Tuesday as they spoke before cheering supporters. "We are gonna win because we have the agenda that speaks to the needs of working people across this country," Sanders declared. "This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump." Buttigieg struck an optimistic tone: "Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay." Both men have strength heading into the next phase of the campaign, yet they face very different political challenges. While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, well-financed and with an ardent army of supporters, has cemented his status as the clear leader of the progressive wing of the party. Meanwhile, Buttigieg must prove he can attract support from voters of colour who are critical to winning the nomination. And unlike Sanders, he still has multiple rivals in his own ideological wing of the party to contend with. They include Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire and a growing national following. While deeply wounded, Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina. And though former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on Tuesday's ballot, he looms next month when the contest reaches states offering hundreds of delegates. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would help give shape to their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of colour left in the race. The struggling candidates still in the race sought to minimize the latest results. Warren, who spent months as a Democratic front-runner, offered an optimistic outlook as she faced cheering supporters: "Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started." Having already predicted he would "take a hit" in New Hampshire after a distant fourth-place finish in Iowa, Biden essentially ceded the state. He travelled to South Carolina Tuesday as he bet his candidacy on a strong showing there later this month boosted by support from black voters. Still, history suggests that the first-in-the-nation primary will have enormous influence shaping the 2020 race. In the modern era, no Democrat has ever become the partys general election nominee without finishing first or second in New Hampshire. Sanders and Buttigieg were on track to win the same number of New Hampshire delegates with most of the vote tallied, with Klobuchar a few behind. Warren, Biden and the rest of the field were shut out, failing to reach the 15% threshold needed for delegates. The AP allocated nine delegates each to Sanders and Buttigieg and six to Klobuchar. The action was on the Democratic side, but Trump easily won New Hampshire's Republican primary. He was facing token opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. 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. With most of the vote in, Trump already had amassed more votes in the New Hampshire primary than any incumbent president in history. His vote share was approaching the modern historical high for an incumbent president, 86.43% set by Ronald Reagan in 1984. Weld received about 9% of the vote of New Hampshire Republicans. The political spotlight quickly shifts to Nevada, where Democrats will hold caucuses on Feb. 22. But several candidates, including Warren and Sanders, plan to visit other states in the coming days that vote on Super Tuesday, signalling they are in the race for the long haul. ___ Peoples reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Seth Borenstein and Zeke Miller in Washington, Will Weissert, Holly Ramer and Thomas Beaumont contributed from New Hampshire. ___ Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, "Ground Game." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 12:08 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063f9b80 1 National mahfud-md,Veronica-Koman,activists,human-rights-activists,human-rights-violations,Jokowi,West-Papua,Nduga,Canberra Free Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has dismissed documents on the victims of human rights violations in West Papua recently handed over to President Joko Jokowi Widodo, calling them unimportant. The documents were handed over by Amnesty International Australia and Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman and fellow activists during the Presidents state visit to Australia. Mahfud claimed the documents, which contain details on 57 political prisoners and 243 civilians who had been killed in Nduga, Papua since December 2018, were trash. [The President] has received many such letters. People came up to him to shake his hands in admiration, while at the same time handing over folders and letters to him. We dont know which ones were submitted by [Veronica] Koman, Mahfud said. Jokowi might have not read the documents due to the sheer number of letters he received regularly, he added. Regular citizens also send letters to the President. If [Veronica] indeed [handed over documents], they end up as trash, Mahfud said. Read also: Activists hand details on West Papua civilian death toll to Jokowi Veronica responded to Mahfuds comments, saying that his dismissive remarks would only exacerbate the collective pain experienced by Papuans. Its such a shame; [Mahfuds remarks] are likely to exacerbate their pain, she said on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com. She went on to say that she was not surprised that Mahfud had dismissed the documents, considering that the minister had also made statements in the past that reflected his cavalier attitude toward human rights issues. [Mahfud] previously made a statement that hurt a lot of people, that there was no single human rights violation that occurred under Jokowis presidency. Its not surprising to hear a similar statement from him, she said. Read also: Wamena investigation: What the government is not telling us Veronica said in a statement on Monday that her team in Canberra handed over letters to Jokowi directly during his visit with Australian government officials in the neighboring countrys capital. The letters included the names and locations of 57 political prisoners charged with treason and held behind bars in seven cities across Indonesia, as well as the names and ages of 243 civilians who had died during the Nduga military operation since December 2018, she said. (rfa) After a lengthy legal battle, the T-Mobile/Sprint merger approval is seemingly all but official. Industry sources claim a federal court in charge of the high-profile case already informed the duo about its decision. The two companies reportedly learned about the ruling behind closed doors. However, the official announcement of the tie-ups approval will ostensibly follow later today. Advertisement Whats less clear is whether the two telecom giants will be pressured into even more concessions as part of the ruling. Even so, this turn of events is undoubtedly a win in T-Mobile and Sprints eyes. Most of their shareholders seemingly share that sentiment, as well. The third- and fourth-largest telecom provider in the U.S. announced their consolidation in 2018. They subsequently attempted to wrap it up by mid-2019 but the federal government had different ideas. Even though the Trump administration seems to be more friendly to big businesses than the preceding government, it still opposed the proposed merger. Cue a messy legal battle that few expected. Advertisement An approval only Sprint and T-Mobile can celebrate Regardless of how the two spin it, the controversial merger is arguably a net loss for consumers. In the long term, fewer rivals lead to poorer service and higher prices. Particularly so in an already competition-poor market like wireless. After all, regional monopolies have been an issue in the U.S. telecom market for years now. Be that as it may, the federal court system obviously isnt as concerned for American consumers like some industry watchers are. Despite likely disastrous consequences for the prepaid market, the tie-up valued at $26 billion will now presumably be going through almost immediately. The court approval thats reportedly all but official is the final piece of this consolidation puzzle. Namely, T-Mobile and Sprint already secured other regulatory green lights last year. Advertisement The worst-case scenario is still at least three years from starting. Thats because the two wireless giants promised not to up their existing rates in that period as part of their merger negotiations with regulators. Needless to say, thats not a massive source of solace for consumer advocacy groups that have been opposing this deal from day one. Its still unclear how long Sprint and T-Mobile will take to fully combine their infrastructures. They did have nearly two years to discuss those proceedings, so its unlikely theyll waste a lot of time. After all, shareholders arent a patient bunch and thats the only demographic this merger ultimately aims to please. 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. A new antibiotic with 'a unique approach' to attacking and killing bacteria has been discovered by scientists. Researchers in Canada believe the newly-found corbomycin could be a 'promising clinical candidate' in the quest to tackle the growing issue of microbes becoming resistant to antibiotics. According to the World Health Organisation, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, with an estimated 700,000 deaths worldwide every year. Corbomycin, along with a lesser-known antibiotic known as complestatin, kill bacteria by blocking the function of their cell wall, a phenomenon scientists have observed for the first time. Beth Culp, a PhD candidate in biochemistry and biomedical sciences at university in Hamilton, Ontario Beth Culp, a PhD candidate in biochemistry and biomedical sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, said: 'Bacteria have a wall around the outside of their cells that gives them shape and is a source of strength. 'Antibiotics like penicillin kill bacteria by preventing building of the wall, but the antibiotics that we found actually work by doing the opposite - they prevent the wall from being broken down. 'This is critical for cells to divide. In order for a cell to grow, it has to divide and expand. 'If you completely block the breakdown of the wall, it is like it is trapped in a prison, and can't expand or grow.' Both corbomycin and complestatin come from a family of antibiotics called glycopeptides that are produced by soil bacteria. Tests on mice showed that these antibiotics can block infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a group of drug-resistant bacteria that can cause serious infections such as blood poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. 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 The researchers used a cell imaging technique to make their discovery. Ms Culp said: 'This approach can be applied to other antibiotics and help us discover new ones with different mechanisms of action. 'We found one completely new antibiotic in this study but, since then, we've found a few others in the same family that have this same new mechanism.' The findings were published in the journal Nature and stirred a positive response from other experts in the field. Dr Andrew Edwards, from the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London called the findings 'an exciting development, both in terms of the approach used to discover the antibiotic, as well as the antibiotic itself'. He added: 'The new antibiotic has activity against several problematic bacteria including MRSA. 'Unfortunately, it appears not to be active against bacteria such as E. coli, which cause more than 30,000 cases of bloodstream infection each year in the UK and are associated with resistance to many different antibiotics. 'Interestingly, it also has activity against the bacterium that causes gonorrhoea, which is frequently resistant to antibiotics.' Three cases of drug resistant gonorrhoea were seen in the UK in 2018, worrying experts amid rising STI rates. In terms of gonorrhoea, the number of cases jumped by 249 per cent since 2009. Experts called the rising resistance to drugs a 'major national and international concern'. Despite his excitement at a potential combatant to this, Dr Edwards said: 'There is a long and difficult road to generating an antibiotic that can be used in the clinic. Many new antibiotics fail clinical trials because they are found to be too toxic or not sufficiently effective when given to humans.' Brendan Wren, professor of microbial pathogenesis at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'The study is a promising approach to discovering new antibiotics against MRSA and possibly other bacteria. 'However, as this new group of antibiotics have only been tested in mice, there is still a long way to go before this could be a product as there will be considerations of costs and testing for toxicity and efficacy in humans.' Dr Claas Kirchhelle, Oxford Martin Programme on Collective Responsibility for Infectious Diseases and Lecturer of the History of Medicine, University College Dublin, welcomed the study. He said: 'Both the discovery of a novel mode of antibiotic action and the new method of antibiotic screening are great news. 'However, similar to the announcement of other novel modes of antibiotic action over recent years, we will have to wait and see whether this discovery actually makes it to market. 'Of the many 1000s of promising new pharmaceutical compounds discovered or developed each year only very few actually get licensed after many years of further development and testing.' A man in southwest China doused himself with petrol and tied firecrackers around his waist because authorities cancelled his birthday banquet as a precaution against spreading the coronavirus. The Chongqing resident, a 59-year-old surnamed Wang, had planned to hold a banquet with 10 tables late last month, state news agency Xinhua reported Wednesday. But with authorities across China restricting public gatherings to contain the outbreak, officials told Wang to cancel the party. Hundreds of millions of people across China face restrictions and interruptions to their lives due to efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, which has now infected more than 44,600 people and killed over 1,100. Beijing's municipal authorities announced last week that parties and group dinners at restaurants would be temporarily forbidden in the Chinese capital to prevent the spread of the virus. After his party was cancelled, the Chongqing man showed up at a village committee office armed with firecrackers, which he tied around his waist, Xinhua said. He also poured gasoline on his chest and held out a lighter in an attempt to "scare and threaten the village committee into allowing the birthday party". Local procurators filed charges of disorderly behaviour against Wang on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. Former Minister of Interior Matteo Salvini is facing a potential trial for refusing a migrant boat to dock last July. Italian senators will decide on Wednesday whether far-right leader Matteo Salvini should face trial on charges of illegally detaining migrants at sea last year, for which he could be jailed for up to 15 years. A court in Sicily has recommended that former Minister of the Interior Salvini stand trial for blocking migrants on a coastguard boat last July. Under Italian law, ministers cannot be tried for actions taken while in office unless a parliamentary committee gives the go-ahead. A simple majority of 319 senators is required, with the result of the vote expected at about 18:00 GMT, if not earlier. Salvini had refused to allow 116 rescued migrants off of the Gregoretti coastguard boat where they had been languishing for about a week in difficult conditions until a deal was reached with other European states to host them. A Catania court accused him of abuse of power in blocking them on board from July 27-31, 2019, and of illegally detaining them. Salvini insists the decision was not his alone but had the backing of the government and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Prosecutors in Sicily opened a probe into conditions on board the boat, where the many migrants shared one toilet. The Gregoretti on July 25 took on board 140 migrants who were rescued trying to make the perilous crossing from war-torn Libya to Europe the same day that 110 migrants drowned off the Libyan coast. Some migrants in need of urgent medical care were taken from the coastguard vessel but 116 of them remained trapped on board for almost a week. Under Italys constitution, Parliament can block legal proceedings if legislators feel the minister was performing his job and in the national interest. Cant wait Salvini has repeatedly said he wants his day in court, and most parties have said they will vote for him to go to trial. I will go to the Senate absolutely calm, Salvini said on Monday. Clearly the request for me to be tried will pass. Salvinis League party joined a coalition government as the Five Star Movements (M5S) junior partner in 2018 but gained popularity largely thanks to his tough anti-immigrant stance. 200127074650296 Salvini lost power in the summer after breaking up a coalition with the M5S but retains a strong lead in opinion polls. I cant wait to go to court and look the judge in the eye and explain to him that defending my countrys borders was my right and duty and not a crime, Salvini said. The then-interior ministers closed ports policy, aimed at stopping migrant arrivals from Libya, saw his popularity numbers shoot up. Italy has long complained that its European partners have abandoned it to deal with migrant arrivals alone. The interior minister can limit or forbid entry into or transit through Italys waters on public security grounds except in cases involving military vessels or ships in non-commercial governmental service. ExxonMobil Australia's boss has been labelled a "shameless corporate tax dodger" over his company's record of not paying corporate tax in Australia despite making tens of billions of dollars of revenue in recent years. Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick used parliamentary privilege on Tuesday night to attack ExxonMobil chairman Richard Owen over his company's tax record. Senator Patrick said the gas giant has not paid corporate tax since 2013 and Mr Owen confirmed to a Senate hearing in 2018 he didn't expect the company to pay any until 2021. ExxonMobil Australia chairman Richard Owen arrives for a meeting in Parliament House in Canberra in 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Senator Patrick said over eight years ExxonMobil will have paid less income tax than millions of taxpayers, despite the business using Australia's social infrastructure paid for by people who do pay tax. "Richard James Owen is a shameless corporate tax dodger. He should be called out for what he is. Behind a veneer of professional respectability, he's a hypocrite and a corporate scumbag," Senator Patrick said in the Senate under parliamentary privilege. On Wednesday, a delegation of 25 EU MPs has reached the summer capital Srinagar to take stock of the situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the current situation in the Kashmir Valley. In addition to meeting representatives of local social, political, religious and voluntary organizations, this party will also meet different classes in Srinagar. This time, some women journalists from Kashmir will also present their views on the change of Jammu and Kashmir with the representatives of the European Union, and inform them about the conspiracies of Pakistan and Jihadi elements. Priyanka Vadra will visit Azamgarh today to meet the victims injured in action by police Concerned about the matter, the officials said that in the presence of EU MPs, there is a strong security arrangement in the entire Valley, especially in Srinagar, Baramulla, and Budgam, in the presence of the possibility of any major incident by the terrorists. The movement of common people has been limited by sealing all roads leading to the place where foreign MPs are being held in Srinagar. Apart from this, security arrangements have also been increased in Dal Lake and the police water wing of CRPF and Jammu Schirmer are continuously patrolling the lake. He told that there is also a program to take foreign diplomats visiting Kashmir to Dal Lake. During this time a part of the boulevard road will also be closed for common vehicles. All security agencies and police have been instructed to take full precautions and take all possible steps to completely thwart any terrorist plan. Haryana CM Flying team raids HUDA offices This is the third visit of foreign diplomats in Jammu and Kashmir and the second visit of the representatives of the countries involved in the European Union after the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 on August 5, 2019. is. This visit is considered to be very important before the vote is going to be held in the European Parliament last month on the proposal brought on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. WHO gives official name to coronavirus, death toll crosses 1017 TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HARTE GOLD CORP. (Harte Gold or the Company) (TSX: HRT / OTC: HRTFF / Frankfurt: H4O) is pleased to announce the appointment of Graham du Preez as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective March 2, 2020. Rein Lehari will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis until such time. Mr. du Preez is a senior executive with more than 20 years of finance experience, including leadership roles in a complex, publicly-traded, international mining company as well as junior mining companies. Most recently, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Alloycorp Mining Inc. and Buffalo Coal Corp, both controlled by a mining-focused private equity fund as well as the Chief Financial Officer of Uranium One Inc. from June 2010 until April 2013. Prior to joining Uranium One, Graham held positions in the financial services industry, with a focus on treasury and asset management. Graham qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Honours degree and an Honours Diploma (Tax) from the University of Johannesburg. Sam Coetzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented: Graham is a seasoned financial executive with experience managing operating assets and will be a valuable addition to this team and I am looking forward to integrating him into our new team. Mr. Coetzer added: I would also like to thank Rein for all his efforts the past ten years. Rein has been instrumental in advancing the Sugar Zone Project from an exploration property into a producing gold mine. We wish Rein all the best in his future endeavours. Material Change Report In its press release dated November 1, 2019, the Company announced adjusted 2019 production and guidance, which set out, among other things, that the lower than planned production rates were due to issues around mine development and stope availability. While this information was broadly disseminated to the market via press release on November 1, 2019, the Company subsequently filed a material change report on SEDAR on December 5, 2019 with respect to the adjusted 2019 production and guidance in response to an Ontario Securities Commission continuous disclosure review. About Harte Gold Corp. Harte Gold holds a 100% interest in the Sugar Zone Mine located in White River, Canada. The Sugar Zone Mine entered commercial production in 2019. The Company previously disclosed its production guidance for 2020 of 42,000 to 48,000 gold ounces (for more information refer to the Companys News Release dated January 9, 2020). The Company has further potential through exploration at the Sugar Zone Property, which encompasses 79,335 hectares covering a significant greenstone belt. Harte Gold trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol HRT, on the OTC under the symbol HRTFF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol H4O. For further information, please visit www.hartegold.com or contact: Shawn Howarth Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations Tel: 416-368-0999 E-mail: sh@hartegold.com The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. rachel quester OK, so we are walking. michael barbaro We are walking into the Stan Spirou Field House in Manchester, a.k.a., the Bernie Sanders primary night rally spot. And there are a lot of people lined up outside, despite the fact that it is very cold and snowy on the ground. So were expecting a very large crowd. The crowd is counting down. crowd 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! [CHEERING] michael barbaro This crowd is loving these numbers. Bernie Sanders absolutely in the lead. crowd (CHANTING) Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie! [cheering] michael barbaro Somethings happening! crowd (CHANTING) Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie, Bernie. michael barbaro Bernie is taking the stage right now. He seems very triumphant. archived recording (bernie sanders) Thank you, New Hampshire! Thank you, New Hampshire. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: Bernie Sanders wins the New Hampshire primary, with Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar following close behind him in second and third place, and Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden coming in a distant fourth and fifth place. Alex Burns on what that means for the rest of the race. Its Wednesday, February 12. OK, Alex, Im pleased to be sitting with you, albeit at 12:15 a.m., because we actually have election results to discuss this time. alex burns Its sort of a novel experience, right, for the 2020 campaign? They just count the votes, and the person who got the most votes is the guy who won. michael barbaro And they count them on the same night alex burns Right. michael barbaro as the election. alex burns Right. michael barbaro So I want to start at the top of the results. archived recording (bernie sanders) Let me take this opportunity michael barbaro Bernie Sanders. archived recording (bernie sanders) To thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight. michael barbaro On the one hand, thats the expected result and it has been for months, right? And New Hampshire went for Sanders overwhelmingly in 2016 over Hillary Clinton. So how should we be thinking about the significance of this result tonight? alex burns Look, theres no question that this is an important milestone for the Bernie Sanders campaign. archived recording (bernie sanders) Let me say tonight that this victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump. alex burns It re-establishes him clearly as the leader of the left wing of the Democratic Party, which was not sure to be the case at this point in the race. But you saw Elizabeth Warren really recede as a competitor and Bernie Sanders consolidate his support in a way that positions him pretty well for the next couple rounds of this thing. At the same time, you saw him come out on top with about 26 percent of the vote. michael barbaro Mm-hm. alex burns Four years ago, he won 60 percent of the vote here. Now, there are many, many more candidates running this time, so its not an apples-to-apples comparison. But I do think that when you look at the results in both Iowa and New Hampshire, you see a majority of the Democratic electorate leaning towards those more moderate candidates and Bernie Sanders prevailing mainly because there are more moderates than there are progressives. michael barbaro Right, because one way of thinking about what happened tonight is that Bernie Sanders got around a quarter of the vote, 25 percent, and he won. But another way of thinking about it is that if you add up all the more moderate candidates vote tonight, they collectively got something like 70 percent of the vote. alex burns Right. Now, of course for Bernie Sanderss purposes, winning is winning, right? michael barbaro Right. alex burns But, what that tells you is that as this race advances, if you end up with fewer and fewer moderate candidates, it could become harder and harder for Bernie Sanders to keep winning states. michael barbaro Right, because those votes would likely coalesce around one moderate. alex burns One or maybe two moderates, compared to the three, four, five moderate options we have had in the race up to this point. Sanders is going to need at some point to broaden his coalition within the Democratic Party. And delegate math is a boring and arcane subject. michael barbaro Says who? alex burns Well, I think that between friends, we can say that its an arcane subject. But the way the Democrats hand out delegates, which are ultimately the point system that determine who gets to be the nominee, is really proportional to the share of the vote you get. So its not like winning by 1 percentage point or 1.5 percentage point over Pete Buttigieg means you get all the delegates and he gets zero. michael barbaro Mm-hm. In other words, these kind of victories 26 percent of the vote means functionally you get something like 26 percent of the delegates. It doesnt mean youre collecting just a giant boatload in a state like New Hampshire or Iowa, for that matter. alex burns Right. Theres certainly a value in bragging rights and in momentum michael barbaro Of winning. alex burns and fundraising, for just winning. But in terms of winning delegates to claim the nomination, a larger share of the vote matters almost as much as just actually winning. michael barbaro Well, so when it comes to that question to momentum what does this mean for Sanders? alex burns There is now an 11-day sprint for the candidates until the next contest in Nevada. And what Bernie Sanders now has is an opportunity to try to broaden his support. And to try to go out and get some of those progressives who had been voting for Elizabeth Warren, or some more working-class voters who had been voting for Joe Biden and pull them into his camp, and make himself more formidable as not just a really strong candidate, but as a front-runner. To take control of this race and to do it before one of those moderate alternatives catches up with him. michael barbaro Right. Time here is of the essence for Sanders. alex burns Right. crowd (CHANTING) All the way. Granite State, what do you say? Mayor Pete all the way. Granite State, what do you say? Mayor Pete all the way. michael barbaro So lets talk about who is currently leading that moderate pack, Pete Buttigieg speaker And I dont think you can beat what Petes talking about. He may not win tonight, but number two, that keeps him going. And thats all were looking for. michael barbaro who came in second tonight, just behind Sanders. alex burns Buttigieg came into this state with a whole lot of momentum coming out of Iowa. And just looking at his events, at his crowds over the last week in New Hampshire, you could see a lot of support moving away from Joe Biden and into the Mayor Pete camp. And, but for a couple moments in that debate last Friday, he might have won this state outright. archived recording (pete buttigieg) In this election season, we have been told by some that you must either be for a revolution or you are for the status quo. But where does that leave the rest of us? Most Americans dont see where they fit in that polarized vision. And we cant defeat the most divisive president in modern American history by tearing down anybody who doesnt agree with us 100 percent of the time. alex burns You really saw him take a beating on the debate stage for the first time from every direction. archived recording (linsey davis) Senator Warren, is that a substantial answer from Mayor Buttigieg? archived recording (elizabeth warren) No. alex burns Literally every other candidate on stage went after Mayor Pete. archived recording (joe biden) Mayor Buttigieg is a great guy and a real patriot. Hes a mayor of a small city who has done some good things, but has not demonstrated he has the ability to and well soon find out to get a broad scope of support across the spectrum, including African-Americans and Latinos. alex burns And the one who probably went after him to the greatest effect was Amy Klobuchar. archived recording (amy klobuchar) We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing. alex burns Another moderate from the Midwest, who went out there and made a very, very blunt case that hes just not qualified to be president. archived recording (amy klobuchar) It is much harder to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions. Because I think this going after every single thing that people do, because its popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer I just, I dont think thats what people want right now. michael barbaro And you think that was effective, or it just did enough to hurt him here? alex burns Well, when you look at how Amy Klobuchar finished in New Hampshire I dont want to jump the gun here but she did pick up an enormous amount of momentum at the end. I think you do have to consider the strong possibility that a bunch of moderate voters who ended up with her after that debate would otherwise have been with Pete. michael barbaro So it may have been Klobuchar and her gain here that cost Buttigieg a victory here. alex burns I think thats pretty likely. michael barbaro Mm-hm. alex burns I also think that she has really benefited from the decline of Elizabeth Warren. That there are a lot of voters out there who feel very strongly that theyd like to see a woman elected president, and particularly theyd like to see a woman go up against Donald Trump. And that was a big dynamic fueling Elizabeth Warrens rise, and I dont think that that demand has gone away. And part of what you saw here in New Hampshire was a lot of more moderate and older women who may have been drawn to Warren but were concerned about whether or not she could win the general election suddenly see this other alternative pop up, who is a woman, and a moderate, and from the Midwest, and has a much blunter electability argument in her arsenal. michael barbaro And what exactly is that argument? alex burns The argument is that she has won three statewide elections in Minnesota, which is on the verge of being a swing state. michael barbaro Hm. archived recording (amy klobuchar) Im the only one up on this stage, you can check it out, that has consistently won in red congressional districts. Not once, not twice but three times. alex burns And she likes to tick off and shes very, very happy to do it the list of the numbers of counties that voted for Donald Trump in 2016 that she then carried when she ran for re-election in 2018. Its a little bit of an oversimplified case, because she had a pretty weak opponent in 2018. Its not like it was this battle of the titans thing that she somehow miraculously survived. But for voters, I think especially outside the Midwest, this notion that youre from the part of the country that Democrats lost last time is really appealing. I think its also appealing to people when they hear Pete Buttigieg talking about his identity as a Midwesterner. michael barbaro Youre saying it should not be seen as a coincidence that two of the top three candidates here are Midwestern moderate Democrats. alex burns No, absolutely not. michael barbaro Well be right back. archived recording (elizabeth warren) So the results are still coming in from across the state, but right now it is clear that Senator Sanders and Mayor Buttigieg had strong nights. michael barbaro OK. Fourth up, Elizabeth Warren. archived recording (elizabeth warren) And I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out. michael barbaro You said that Klobuchar benefited from her decline, but help us understand Warrens decline. She got 9 percent of the vote tonight, which was really pretty underwhelming. alex burns So I think part of why Elizabeth Warren became such a strong candidate for a long period of time in this race was that she managed to get out from under Bernie Sanderss shadow. Because she got out there and defined herself so clearly in the eyes of Democrat voters as a daring leader, her own person, someone with big thoughts and big plans, she managed to appeal to a set of voters who werent accessible to Bernie Sanders in 2016, may not be accessible to him today, liberal women who voted for Hillary Clinton, and other people who are pretty progressive but not far left enough to feel comfortable going the full Bernie Sanders. michael barbaro Mm-hm. alex burns And she, for a while, was able to straddle these worlds and look like she was somebody who could bring together these disparate parts of the Democratic coalition. And then she was forced in the early fall to really choose a side over this question of Medicare for all. archived recording (elizabeth warren) So yes, Im with Bernie on Medicare for All. And let me tell you why. I spent a big chunk of my life studying why families go broke. And one of the number one reasons is the cost of health care, medical bills. alex burns And her decision was to align herself far more closely with Bernie Sanders. archived recording (elizabeth warren) That leaves families with rising premiums, rising co-pays, and fighting with insurance companies to try to get the health care that their doctors say that they and their children need. Medicare for All solves that problem. alex burns That made it much tougher for her to continue being this unifying figure within the party. I do think Elizabeth Warren is still, for a lot of Democrat voters, a compelling enough personality and thinker and communicator that she may be tougher to push out of this race than someone like, say, Bernie Sanders would like her to be. But its really hard sitting here tonight to draw the path back to front-runner status for her. michael barbaro Mm-hm. Alex, what do you take away from what weve seen with Warren? What lesson is there when it comes to understanding the Democratic electorate in this race? alex burns I think you see a really low tolerance for anything that they perceive as risk. I think you see the Democratic voters are in a really unforgiving mood when it comes to candidates who they see as making a mistake of any kind, because they want a nominee whos a sure thing for the general election. I think you have consistently seen and heard from voters anxiety about the implications of nominating a woman, even as there is still a lot of excitement about that idea. And I think youve seen the difficulty that candidates have had really up until the last week or so at carving out a durable space for themselves in a race where you have had, on the one hand, Bernie Sanders as this really tenacious leader on the left, and Joe Biden as, until recently, a pretty dominant figure on the political center. michael barbaro When you say low tolerance for risk, I guess Im not understanding that. What makes them a risk? alex burns Well, in the eyes of voters, the notion that somebody could make a big misstep in a debate is anathema to Democrats at this point. The idea that somebody could fumble a big policy question when the hot lights are on, I think, is a hard thing for Democratic voters to process. And I think that you do see pretty conventional assessments of peoples electability kick in as we get closer to primaries. So coming from Massachusetts, not as appealing to somebody whos thinking about electability as coming from Minnesota. michael barbaro Mm-hm. alex burns Somebody who maybe fits demographically a voters idea of what a president looks like may be an easier sell than somebody who would be a historic candidate. michael barbaro Well, I wonder if this low tolerance for risk, if thats also a way of understanding what happened to Joe Biden. tom kaplan This is Tom Kaplan, and Im at Joe Bidens election night party in Nashua. This is a pretty strange party in that Joe Biden isnt going to be here. He already left the state to go to South Carolina. Hes supposed to address the party via livestream. Its fair to say the room here, its not exactly buzzing with excitement. Theres probably not going to be much to celebrate tonight if youre a Biden supporter. archived recording (joe biden) We are in a battle for the soul of the nation. Now Jill and I are moving on to Nevada, and South Carolina and beyond, beyond. And we want you all to know how much we appreciate everything youve done. Look, were going to be back. Were going to be back in New Hampshire. Were going to be back there to defeat Donald Trump in November. Elect Jeanne the next senator again. And up and down the ticket. So dont go away. Youre not getting rid of us. Were coming back, and we love you. Were going on and were going to win in Nevada and in South Carolina. Thank you. michael barbaro And I almost cant believe were talking about the electability candidate, the guy whose ads declared him to be the one person who could beat Donald Trump, coming in fifth place here. alex burns Its really staggering and such an abrupt decline for Biden in this race. I think for months you heard this from voters over and over again. They were willing to give Joe Biden a pass on a lot of stuff that they would not have tolerated from other candidates, because they did perceive him as the electability candidate. That if all they cared about was beating Donald Trump, then the fact that he wasnt so impressive in debates and his message wasnt so clear didnt really matter all that much to them. Except to the voters who saw him the most up close, the people in Iowa and New Hampshire. And when you saw him come in fourth in Iowa, it set off just a devastating chain reaction in New Hampshire. That this was a guy who voters had already been suppressing a lot of anxieties about because they thought he could win suddenly losing and losing pretty badly in the first state. And what has happened here, just over the last eight days, is just a rushing of the air out of the balloon. His support has just scattered to other candidates, probably mostly Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. michael barbaro It felt like Biden knew this was coming, right? He left New Hampshire today for South Carolina, didnt even stay for the results. I think he did some streaming video to a crowd here in Manchester. Is there a version of this, where the story that Joe Biden has been putting forward archived recording (joe biden) This is the long race. I took a hit in Iowa, and Ill probably take a hit here. Traditionally, Bernie won by 20 points last time, and usually its the neighboring senators that do well. michael barbaro that these first two states do not represent his greatest strength and his possibility that thats accurate? alex burns Absolutely. I dont think we can sit here right now and say Joe Biden is totally finished. I think we can say that hes entering by far the most difficult stretch of his campaign. michael barbaro Mm-hm. alex burns There are already signs that Bidens support among black voters may be more vulnerable than he hopes that it will be. But were going to find out soon enough that he staked his claim pretty clearly on the idea that now the rest of the country states that look like the country as a whole, Nevada and South Carolina are going to have their say. And because he has put so much moral weight on those states, it would be very, very difficult, probably impossible, for him to shrug off another loss. michael barbaro OK, so you have brought us at long last to Mike Bloomberg. Help us understand how he fits into all this, particularly in light of what happened to Joe Biden today. alex burns Well, when Bloomberg got into the race in November, what his advisers said was that he wasnt convinced that Joe Biden could make it out of the early states. And that he wanted to essentially be waiting in March if Biden took a dive before then, and you ended up either with Bernie Sanders emerging from February as a front-runner, or just a jumbled split decision among the other candidates running. michael barbaro How do you like that prediction? alex burns Well, I think Mike Bloomberg likes that prediction quite a bit right now. That if the idea for Bloomberg was Biden had to fall for him to rise, at least half of that has happened now. michael barbaro And so, help me understand what their vision of this race is. Hes not been on the ballot these first two states. Joe Biden is, as their prediction required, stumbling. So what needs to happen for the Bloomberg candidacy to take off? alex burns The Bloomberg theory of the case is that as moderates at the national level shift away from Joe Biden, and as people who dont live in these small rural states tune in to his television ads archived recording Mike Bloomberg started as a middle-class kid who had to work his way through college, then built a business from a single room to a global entity, creating tens of thousands of good paying jobs along the way. alex burns check out his campaign appearances, that they will start to see him as the safe option in the race. michael barbaro The electable guy. alex burns The electable guy. archived recording Because theres an America waiting to be rebuilt, where everyone without health insurance is guaranteed to get it, and everyone who likes theirs can go ahead and keep it. alex burns And there is some sign that thats already happening. Theres at least some polling to suggest that a good number of moderate voters and a good number of black voters are shifting, at least somewhat, in Bloombergs direction. michael barbaro Hm. matt stevens This is Matt Stevens. Im here at Andrew Yangs campaign party on primary night here in New Hampshire. michael barbaro So finally wed be remiss if we didnt mention the two candidates who dropped out tonight. matt stevens Mr. Yang is going to announce that hes dropping out of the race for president when he comes and gives his speech here sometime shortly after 8:00. archived recording (andrew yang) Hello, New Hampshire, how are you? alex burns Well, we lost Andrew Yang and we lost Michael Bennet, the senator from Colorado. archived recording (andrew yang) Though thousands of voters came out for our campaign tonight, tonight is not the outcome we fought so hard to achieve. And while there is great work left to be done, you know I am the math guy, and it is clear tonight from the numbers that we are not going to win this race. I am not someone who wants to accept donations and support in a race that we will not win. And so tonight, I am announcing I am suspending my campaign for president. archived recording We still love you, Andrew! [APPLAUSE AND CHEERING] archived recording (andrew yang) Thank you. Thank you so much. archived recording (CHANTING) Andrew Yang, Andrew Yang, Andrew Yang! gene bishop Hi, my name is Gene Bishop. I live in Ashland, New Hampshire. Im 81 years old. And Ive been a political junkie my whole life. And I never, ever, before Andrew came along, I never contributed to a candidate. I never worked for a candidate. But I saw him in March of 2018, 2019. And the first time I saw him, I knew he was something special. Very, very different. And I had to do what I could to help him be successful. So I just cant believe that its over. matt stevens Are you upset? Are you gene bishop Yeah, very upset. Probably just as Im being very selfish, because hes probably very upset, too. Its something that probably he never want wanted to do, but it just hurts. matt stevens You think youd ever get this connected to a candidate, where youd feel this strongly when he drops out? gene bishop Never, no never. He was a big part of my life. alex burns I do think that when you look at the Andrew Yang experience, he is somebody who comes out of this race as a political player in a way that he was not at all two years ago. That he has a following. And when you talk to Democratic voters, even voters who like most people supported other candidates, there is an interest in him. And almost a certain affection for him, that he was often the most lighthearted character in a debate. And people liked the way he talked about the economy. And the question is, if he does want to stay in politics, what does he do with that? michael barbaro Right, he seems to have cabinet member written all over him. If he wants it. alex burns If he wants it. michael barbaro What do we think happens to the Yang Gang? Where do they go? alex burns We dont really know. Because hes one of these candidates, and its a genre of candidate that crops up from time to time, who seems to draw on a constituency that isnt really partisan, It isnt ideological, in the sense that we think of it. Theyre drawn to a candidates personality and world view and just the way they talk about things. michael barbaro I think of Ross Perot. alex burns Yeah, I think thats a pretty good comparison in a lot of ways. And do they go to another candidate? If its anybody, it might be Bernie Sanders, because he does have this following of younger, disaffected liberal men that overlaps, at least somewhat, with the people supporting a Yang. But a lot of them also may just sit out the rest of the primaries, because they may have been drawn uniquely to Andrew Yang. michael barbaro Mm-hm. So its now a little after 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. We had this absolute mess of a situation in Iowa. We have a quite real result in New Hampshire. What is Alex Burns thinking, beyond all the many thoughts that you have already shared with us? alex burns We are still in a really, really muddled race. I think last week we talked about how five candidates in Iowa cracked double digits, and nobody got more than about a quarter of the vote. Well, this time three candidates cracked double digits, and their vote shares were a little bit higher. But you still dont have anybody here running away with the New Hampshire primary the way we saw both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump do in 2016. So there are still a bunch of people in this race who have a great chance to make their case, a couple of people who have a less great chance to make their case, and then Michael Bloomberg sitting out on the horizon. And I think the next three weeks are going to be some of the most unpredictable and fluid that certainly Ive seen in presidential politics. michael barbaro Thank you, Alex. alex burns Thank you. michael barbaro The most common cause of damage was fire from rocket-launcher and artillery systems, as well as mortars. Ukraine's military says 2,576 units of its weaponized armored vehicles and equipment were damaged between April 2014 and June 2016 in the combat zone of the two easternmost regions where a war with Russia-led forces has still been raging. Most of the losses 2,185 units were caused by enemy shelling, armed clashes, and landmine explosions, the Ukrainian-based Defense Express magazine reported on February 11, citing data received from the Defense Ministry, according to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Read alsoUkraine reports five enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 11 Exactly 1,201 infantry fighting vehicles and 440 tanks were damaged during this period, the most among the various armored vehicles. According to the cited data, the most common cause of damage was fire from rocket-launcher and artillery systems, as well as mortars. Forty-five percent of the total damage, or 1,159 armored vehicles, were damaged in July-September 2014. This occurred around the time when Russia reportedly engaged in systematic cross-border shelling of Ukrainian positions, something which Moscow denies. Russia followed up on the purported shelling from its side of the border with regular forces who crossed into Ukraine's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions in late summer, culminating in the disastrous battle of Ilovaisk in which Ukrainian forces found themselves surrounded. Altogether, 2,410 armored vehicles, including 475 tanks, were damaged in the first 365 days of the war. In 2015, Ukraine lost 410 armored vehicles, including many during the battle for Donetsk airport and near Debaltseve in Donetsk region, a key rail-transportation hub that Kyiv eventually lost to combined Russian-separatist forces. Twenty-six armored vehicles were damaged the following year consisting of either infantry fighting vehicles or armored personnel carriers. The former chief of a directorate of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has killed himself in a Moscow courtroom after being sentenced to three years in prison for extortion. Viktor Sviridov, who was found guilty on February 12 of a charge of extorting 10 million rubles ($157,000) from the FSIN's former deputy chief, Aleksandr Sapozhnikov, shot himself at the Chertanovo district court right after the judge pronounced his sentence. It was not clear how Sviridov managed to bring a pistol into the courtroom. Sviridov's lawyer, Grigory Ivanishchev, said his client had hoped to avoid prison because he was suffering from cancer that had advanced to an incurable stage. The Investigative Committee said it has launched a probe into the courts system of checking defendants before admitting them into the courtroom. Based on reporting by Baza, RBC, Kommersant, Interfax, and RIA Novosti As a bunch of foreign diplomats reached Kashmir on Wednesday, CPI-M leader Yousuf Tarigami questioned the motives of the central government behind the move and demanded to know as to why Indian opposition leaders were not being allowed to visit Kashmir and meet the people. Talking to ANI, Tarigami said: "Since the visit of this foreign diplomats' delegation is being felicitated by the government, it is pertinent to ask as to what exactly the government wants to achieve through this exercise? If they are facilitating the visit of foreign delegations, why are they not allowing Indian Opposition leaders to visit Kashmir and meet the people?" Diplomats belonging to 25 countries including Germany, Italy, New Zealand, France and Canada on Wednesday reached Kashmir to witness the ground situation in the region more than six months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. Tarigami accused the Union government of making false claims of normalcy in Kashmir. "The government has disturbed the region after the abrogation of Article 370. They have ruined the economy of the state. If they are claiming normalcy then why have they slapped the draconian and unlawful Public Safety Act (PSA) on former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir on farcical grounds?," the CPI-M leader said. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats that will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir in the last one month. The delegation will meet orchard owners in North Kashmir before reaching Srinagar where they are scheduled to meet media representatives, civil society groups and politicians of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army will also brief the visiting diplomats on the security situation in the Valley and are expected to give a detailed presentation on Pakistan's involvement in fomenting and sponsoring terrorism. According to reports, the envoys will have a night halt in Srinagar before moving to Jammu next day where they are expected to meet Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and civil society groups. The delegation includes diplomats from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, The Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland, and Rwanda. The fresh batch of diplomats also includes European Union (EU) representatives, and their participation assumes significance as the EU Parliament recently initiated to bring a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir, the vote on which was later deferred. Also, the India-EU summit is also slated to take place in Brussels next month where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be participating. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh, and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of the fourth annual Inspire Film Festival, a special screening of one of the films at this years festival Ernie & Joe: Crisis cops will be shown for free at 11:30 a.m. Monday for first responders, law enforcement personnel and teachers. The extra showing of the film, which depicts a new way to deal with mental health issues in policing, is part of the festivals efforts to support the Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force of Montgomery County, founded in 2019. Montgomery County Precint 1 Judge Wayne Mack, one of the many people who banded together to form the task force in early 2019, said the films special showing is proof of the communitys dedication to solving the problem of suicides. The task force was formed after the continued rise in attempted suicides as well as suicides in both The Woodlands and also Montgomery County had caused high levels of concern among community leaders and officials from a dozen entities and organizations. Related: Task force looks to battle rising suicide rates in Montgomery County This film captures and represents what weve been doing in Montgomery County for several years now with Constable Philip Cash and Precinct 1s crisis intervention teams and the programs of Sheriff Rand Henderson has implemented at the (county) jail, Mack said. Our criminal justice system should punish and hold accountable people that break the law. We should never punish disease, and mental illness is a disease just like any other diseasecancer, diabetes or heart disease. Brooke Leax, Production Manager for the Inspire Film Festival, said she and others associated with the festival founded four years ago by local arts advocate Jane Minarovic have a desire to bring films that both inspire the local community as well as highlight important societal issues. Its always our mission to bring incredibly relevant films to our festival audience. Ernie and Joe bring to light the need to treat humans with compassion and understanding and that you truly never know someones story unless you take the time to listen. Thats exactly the type of message we want to share, Leax said in an email to The Villager. We realize that mental health does not discriminate and has touched many people in our community. Anything that raises awareness and helps remove the stigma is something we really applaud and want to support. Ernie & Joe: Crisis cops follows the travails of two San Antonio Police officers Ernie Stevens and Joe Smarro who are members of the San Antonio Police Departments 10-person mental health team. The film illustrates not only how much officers deal with mental health issues while doing their every day jobs, but also how the newly formed unit is changing the way law enforcement respond to, deal with and help suspects or other people suffering from mental health issues or illness. The film is one of 25 being shown at the fourth annual Inspire Film Festival in The Woodlands, which kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 13, and continues through Monday, Feb. 17. The movie will be shown during the festival on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m., which is followed by a question and answer session with both Stevens and Smarro as well as Mondays 11:30 a.m. showing, which is also followed by a panel discussion with the two officers. Mack said in his opinion, the county jails of Texas, do not need to be our largest mental health treatment facilities. Im very excited of the work the Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force of Montgomery County are accomplishing in our community, Mack added. This film exemplifies what a community can do when we make mental health a priority. I would encourage everybody that can to see this film to do so. We are inviting first responders, teachers and others in our community to attend the screening for free on Monday. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss the important mental health issues affecting communities all over the country and right here in Montgomery County. Leax said in addition to showing the film, there are other events planned to raise awareness as part of the festivals philosophy of giving back to the community. Aside from the special event that we are doing on Monday, we have a Tent Talk called Meet Ernie and Joe where they will do a panel discussion and answer questions and chat with guests, Leax added. The film Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops will also show at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday followed by a Q&A with them in the Inspire 300 Theater. This is an opinion column. Joe Reed has been a major player in Alabama politics longer than most folks here have been alive, but he and his political organization, the Alabama Democratic Conference, may have never faced a test like the one they face now betting their relevance and credibility on Mike Bloomberg. Last weekend, ADC endorsed Bloomberg for Alabamas March 3 Democratic primary, and in just a few weeks reality and perception for both will be tested. For Bloomberg, all he has at stake is whether he can win the White House. But for Reed and ADC, its a matter of survival. Decades of influence For decades, Reed has pulled the nifty marketing trick of convincing a lot of people that ADC and Alabamas black electorate were synonymous things. The organizations support has been crucial in Democratic primaries, especially for presidential candidates hoping to reach that partys convention. But along the way, there have been signs that ADC doesnt hold as much sway as it advertises, and it has frequently chosen pragmatism over idealism and establishment candidates over black empowerment. Most notably, in 2008, ADC endorsed Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama. Reed told reporters he just didnt think the country was ready to elect a black man president. I think America is readier to elect a white woman than it is a black man, Reed said then. That wasnt the first time Reed made such a decision. In 1984, ADC endorsed Walter Mondale over Jesse Jackson in the Democratic primary. The Mondale endorsement was the final straw for some of the organizations most prominent elected officials, including state Senate Pro Tem Michael Figures, Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington and state Supreme Court Justice John England. ADC dissidents began a rival organization, the Alabama New South Coalition. A splintered party New South never achieved the following or influence of ADC, but last year, some of its members linked arms with the remaining white Democrats in Alabama to break Reeds absolute control of the state party. With the prodding of Sen. Doug Jones, the national party ordered the Alabama party to change bylaws that ensured Reeds permanent lock on the executive committee. Englands son, state Rep. Chris England, won a party election for chair, which most ADC members boycotted. It seemed, for a moment, Reeds hold on the state party had broken. Then comes Bloomberg. As presidential hopefuls have canvassed Iowa and New Hampshire, Reed has looked for a candidate to join forces with in Alabama. His first two suitors Beto ORourke and Kamala Harris both dropped out before anyone in the country ever cast a vote. But in Bloomberg, Reed has a special opportunity: A viable candidate who needs his help. Bloomberg has bypassed the first four states, putting all his effort into Super Tuesday states, of which Alabama is one. Bloomberg is focusing on moderates not pie-in-the-sky idealists or left-leaning ideologues. He has his own money, but unlike the other billionaire in the race, he has a record in government. But to win, Bloomberg has to do what only Joe Biden has seemed capable of winning over black voters. Bloombergs advertising is sharp, targeting Trump in a sort of audition for the general election. Hes showing Democratic voters what a fall contest might look like. His campaign has a knack for reframing old issues with new language. Bloomberg isnt for gun control, silly. Hes for gun safety. And in Alabama, his TV spots are pushing one message above all others: His cooperation with President Barack Obama. The last time someone campaigned in Alabama by touting their ties to Obama was Yeah. Thats never happened. All in for Alabama Finally, Bloomberg courted and won over ADC, and its organization is now working hard to support his campaign. As Biden foundered in Iowa, Bloomberg focused on pulling the black vote out from underneath him in the South, especially in Alabama. Biden is waking up to this, and already his surrogates are circulating recordings of Bloomberg defending stop-and-frisk. Its fitting that Bloomberg essentially announced his campaign last year in Alabama when, in less than 48 hours, his campaign raised enough signatures to put him on the ballot. If this works, Bloomberg and Reed could both look brilliant, and Reed gets a political redemption story to make his opponents turn green. But if this gambit fails, then their fates diverge. Bloomberg goes back to being a billionaire media mogul who dabbles in politics. Poor him. Reed, though, could be done. When black voters in Alabama chose Obama over the ADC-endorsed Clinton, Reed could chalk off that loss to a historic campaign for a historic figure. But Reed and ADC have now endorsed one old white man over another. All the other variables aside from, of course, the other candidates have been isolated. Finally, theres a real test. Does ADC really speak for black voters? Can it deliver black votes? And if Bloomberg stumbles here because his opponents raise his defense of stop-and-frisk, does Reed catch blame for endorsing a racist? Bloomberg has a lot on the line in Alabama. But on March 3, its Joe Reed who has everything to lose. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram. Read and watch more by Kyle Whitmire Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:09:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NANCHANG, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese cities are upping measures to support medical workers and their families, who have been in the national spotlight with their sacrifices and heroism in the ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak. In north China's Shanxi Province, the provincial women's federation has started weekly deliveries of vegetables, fruits, meat and other daily necessities to families of doctors and nurses who are at the front line to assist the hardest-hit province of Hubei. So far, hundreds of medical families in the province have received such parcels. In Wenzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province, the women's federation also supplies masks and disinfectants, which are in tight supply in most Chinese cities, to needy medical families. The city government of Bengbu, Anhui Province, has asked hospitals and communities to assist the families of medical staff in solving "practical difficulties," including purchasing necessities, their children's education and their elderly parents' care. The province in eastern China also promised a cash bonus of 6,000 yuan (861 U.S. dollars) to doctors and nurses working at the anti-virus front line, and promotions for those with outstanding performances. Some cities are digging into their tourism resources. The city of Chishui in Guizhou Province has waived the entrance fees to its major scenic spots, including a world natural heritage site, for the nation's medics this year in a move to "salute the doctors and nurses at the front line of the epidemic fight." In Beijing, the insurance sector is urged to offer tailored products for medics. Li Mingxiao, director of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission's Beijing Supervision Bureau, said insurance agencies in the Chinese capital had donated 25.8 billion yuan worth of insurance to frontline medics and their families. To contain the spread of the epidemic, Chinese health authorities have dispatched a total of 11,921 medical personnel from across the country to Hubei, the National Health Commission said Sunday. Outside Hubei, a large number of medical workers are also racing against the clock in isolation wards. Some families have seen both the husband and wife busy dedicating their time to hospital work, leaving only the elderly and children at home. In east China's Jiangxi Province, officials called for all sectors of society to take good care of the families of frontline medics as if they were "close family." Liu Ying, an emergency doctor in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi, has been in an isolation ward for more than half a month. "I only sleep for about four hours every day," said Liu, whose wife has just given birth and needs extra care. To Liu's relief, his hospital has arranged staff to supply food to the family while reassuring his wife with daily updates about Liu's work. After some volunteers donated a batch of fresh vegetables to the hospital, the family immediately received a portion. "I feel sorry for my family but at the same time I'm glad that the hospital has come to our aid," said Liu. "We should not only provide full protection of medical staff, but also eliminate their fears and worries by helping their families," said Zhang Wei, director of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, where Liu works. Wu Chongyang and Wang Pinghong, who both work at the hospital, are barely able to focus on their daughter as she prepares for the college entrance examination this year. Xiong Qiuyan, head teacher of her class, offers to tutor her via the Internet every day. "It seems that the entire society is caring for us. It gives us courage and strength in our fight against the novel coronavirus," said Liu. IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mitchael Freeman, COO of Ocutrx Vision Technologies, LLC , a California-based technology startup developing a state-of-the-art augmented reality headset, this week delivered a forward-looking high-tech AR architecture presentation on the evolution of wearables in the healthcare space at the Medical Design & Manufacturing West Conference in Anaheim. The Ocutrx presentation was titled How Wearable Devices, Smartphones & AI Are Changing the Face of Healthcare. It featured the Oculenz Advanced Macular Degeneration ARwear and the ORLenz Surgery Visualization AR headset. The session touched on a range of topics, including the role wearables play in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of some chronic diseases, how 5G technology and other technologies will support the wearables expansion and how augmented reality visualization for surgery can be combined with Artificial Intelligence for collecting data, predicting complications, and improving surgery outcomes. Mitch also explained how specialization of electronics is enabling the design of lower power devices and more reliable and adaptable devices. Freeman demonstrated both a patient-use headset which aids Advanced Macular Degeneration; and a high-resolution, 5G Surgery AR headset featuring 6DOF and digital microscope wireless video streaming. Mitch demonstrated how the surgery visualization is made possible by Ocutrxs WiDtrx 5G wireless video which operates at 60 GHz sending 7 gigabits/per/second of 4K video (IEEE 802.11(a.x)). The latency in the ORLenz WiDtrx systems has tested to be the same or less than a wired connection, such as an HDMI cable, which permits the surgeons ORLenz headset to be totally wireless, tetherless and light-weight with virtually no latency. Conference attendees waited up to an hour to demo each Ocutrx headset. The speed at which wearable technology is developing and proving its utility in the healthcare space is raising a lot of eyebrows internationally, said Freeman. The Ocutrx technology is aimed at both improving surgery protocols and outcomes as well as assisting patients with low vision conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, amblyopia and hemianopsia, but the reality is that our techand other wearable tech currently in our developmentcan and will be used for everything from general healthcare to fitness; from remote disease monitoring to in-home pharma testing; and into advanced surgical telemedicineand the list goes on. The wearables space is growing by leaps and bounds and the demand for this technology is going to be very significant over the next ten years, as hospital and clinics switch from analog optical equipment to AR and other digital visual technologies. This is why Team Ocutrx jumped in early to developed state-of-the-art AR headsets for both the physician side and the patient side of the medical devices. This is the 25th edition of the Medical Design & Manufacturing West Conference, the largest three-day medtech conference in North America. The conference draws 600 healthcare professionals and the expo attracts over 20,000 during the three days. You can learn more about the event here. For more information about Ocutrx and the companys pioneering ARWear technology, please visit www.oculenz.com . About Ocutrx With corporate headquarters in Irvine, California, and a research and development lab in the US Midwest, Ocutrx is a new breed of AR manufacturing company focusing on the best connected lightest weight AR headset housing the largest field-of-vision in the market. At a time when worldwide applications for easy-to-wear and easy-to-use AR solutions are being touted as the next big thing after smartphones, Ocutrx is creating impactful, revolutionary ARWear for medical use. To learn more about Ocutrx and its ground-breaking technology, please visit the company website at www.oculenz.com . Media Contact: Dave Feistel Bastion Elevate (for Ocutrx Vision Technologies) 949-502-6200 ext. 224 dave@bastionelevate.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79d5879d-1b56-4023-9dc0-20a72baedbb9 German lawmakers signed off Wednesday on the first funds for a cross-border project with France to develop a new fighter jet and reinvigorate an ambitious programme aimed at bringing together Europe's disparate military forces. The development of the stealth jet is a crucial part of the nations' joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with Spain, which will also include drones, satellites and other aircraft to help reduce the EU's long reliance on US planes and equipment. The vote comes after months of wrangling between French and German manufacturers over the project, easing Franco-German tensions before President Emmanuel Macron attends this weekend's Munich Security Conference. German MPs approved loans of 77 million euros ($83 million) to launch a research project which aims to build the first prototypes of a "new generation fighter" for European armed forces by 2026. Despite concerns that French manufacturers may be getting a larger share of the project than their German counterparts, MPs in Berlin voted overwhelmingly in favour of freeing up funds for the jet, which would ultimately be deployed closer to 2040. "We are going to do it because we don't want to worsen Franco-German relations, especially just before Emmanuel Macron comes to the Munich Security Conference," the parliamentary rapporteur for the project Reinhard Brandl told AFP. The project had already cleared one key hurdle in December when an agreement was reached between French and German engine manufacturers over how to divide the project. Wednesday's vote clears the way for contracts to be signed with major industrial companies such as Dassault, Airbus and Thales, and is a timely reboot for the previously hamstrung programme. Yet MPs attached certain conditions to their approval, including a demand for a similar, German-led tank development programme to progress alongside the FCAS project. The FCAS initiative is a "symbol of the capacity of Europeans to work together on a single defence project," said Jean-Pierre Maulny, vice-director of the Institute of Strategic and International Relations (IRIS) last June. In reality, Britain announced a rival project known as Tempest in 2018, which has been backed by Italy and Sweden. Such divisions prompted Macron to demand last week that Europeans "develop a greater capacity for action" in the face of global instability. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Galveston, TX (77553) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A few sprinkles possible. High 59F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few sprinkles possible. Low 54F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Two Fort Drum soldiers pleaded guilty Tuesday to burglarizing North Country gun shops and stealing 10 weapons. Rian Patterson, 22, and Devin Diggs, 20, were charged in October after investigators traced the alleged burglars, who were captured on two stores surveillance cameras. The men were both stationed at Fort Drum when two licensed firearms dealers were burglarized in September last year. Investigators used surveillance footage, witnesses and New York states license plate readers to track down the suspects, according to court records. Fort Drum officials also found two guns during a separate search conducted due to drug activity in a unit there. A third soldier who lives in Evans Mills but works at the base, was charged in connection with case. Tyrease Kimmons, 20, admitted to getting three rifles from Patterson and Diggs after the burglaries. Some of the firearms, five in total, were located in a duffel bag under Kimmons bed, court records said. The guns were loaded at the time they were recovered, according the court records. Patterson admitted to the two thefts and possession of stolen firearms. He faces up to years in prison on each of those counts. He also admitted obliterating the serial number on one of the stolen guns, which carries up to five years in prison. Patterson reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Prosecutors wrote they would ask a judge for leniency due to Pattersons acceptance of responsibility. Patterson in court papers said he would not appeal a sentence of more than about 3 1/2 years in prison. Diggs did not sign a plea agreement but nonetheless admitted to the two thefts and possession of stolen firearms. Those charges each carry up to 10 years in prison. Patterson and Diggs are both scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas McAvoy in May. Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992 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 President of the Methodist Conference in Britain has sent a message of support to the leaders of China's official Churches as the country struggles to contain the deadly coronavirus. In her letter, the Rev Dr Barbara Glasson assured the Catholic Church in China and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of prayers as she commended Chinese Christians for their "strong" faith. She spoke of her concern over the increasing number of fatalities caused by the outbreak, and said that the UK Church was "close" to Chinese Christians in prayer despite the geographical gulf. "I am writing on behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain to share our love and prayers for the people of China as you manage the health crisis associated with the Coronavirus outbreak in Hubei province," she said. "We are aware that many people are suffering and anxious and we are very concerned to hear of the rising number of deaths associated with the outbreak. We are particularly mindful of those families who have lost loved ones in recent days." She spoke of her hope that the Chinese health services, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and medical experts would soon be able to "limit" the disease and find a cure. "We thank God for all those who are heading medical research into the disease," she said. "At such times we realise that we are dependent on expertise, advice and cooperation from people across the world." She went on to say that the Methodist Church would be supporting Chinese congregations in the UK and diaspora communities worldwide. "We are glad that the Church in China is strong both in numbers and faith," she said. "We know that you will be working alongside communities to help people be calm and to support those in need. Although we are many miles away geographically, we feel close to you in prayer. "Please be assured of our concern for you all. and our shared faith in the love of Jesus who shows us his strength in our human vulnerability. "We are also mindful of the concerns of the Chinese diaspora community across the world, particularly in the UK, and will be offering our support for them as best we can." The UK Government has declared coronavirus to be a "serious and imminent threat" to public health as the global death toll jumped to 908, with over 40,000 infections. On Monday morning, the chief medical officer for England, Prof Chris Whitty, confirmed four new cases of coronavirus in England, bringing the total in the UK to eight. (Alliance News) - Grit Real Estate Income Group Ltd on Wednesday said it has agreed with Societe Soprima and Residence Massirat Al Houda, a subsidiary of Soprima, to acquire an interest in an approved Organisme de Placement Collectif Immobilier vehicle. The pan-African real estate company said this vehicle is equivalent to a real estate investment trust in Morocco. The transaction will consist of Grit acquiring its share in the Organisme de Placement Collectif Immobilier from Massirat Al Houda. Massirat Al Houda is a sole legal and beneficial owner of a mixed-use property known as Massira Corner, located in Casablanca, Morocco. Massirat Al Houda will transfer this property to the Organisme de Placement Collectif Immobilier prior to the sale. Massira Corner consists of gross lettable area of 16,500 square metres and is anchored by Hotel Onomo on an initial lease period of nine years. The acquisition price to be paid by Grit for acquiring an interest in the Organisme de Placement Collectif Immobilier shall be agreed at an acquisition yield which shall be accretive to shareholders of Grit, the company said. The company said it is targeting to complete the transaction prior to the end of June, which is subject to a number of conditions precedent and the conclusion of binding agreements. "I am excited by the opportunities for Grit to significantly and profitably grow the new REIT vehicle's asset base in Morocco with the inclusion of further potential acquisitions," said Grit Chief Executive Bronwyn Corbett. Grit shares were trading 0.2% higher in London at USD1.18 each on Wednesday, while in Johannesburg the stock was untraded, last quoted at ZAR16.48 a share. By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Market roundup for battery metal markets in 2019 LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Before discussing CRU's outlook and key risks for battery metals in 2020, it is important to first examine the key price drivers in 2019. The EU cobalt metal price fell early in 2019 as a result of trader sell-off and a lack of demand from the chemical sector. Prices recovered some lost ground in August due to Glencore's announcement of intention to put the Mutanda mine under care and maintenance by the end of the year. Lithium prices fell further through 2019, amid subdued demand and persistent oversupply. Prices have potentially hit a floor, with frequent mine cutbacks putting a lid on oversupply. Nickel sulphate prices followed the broader developments of the nickel industry, seeing a price spike after the Indonesia government confirmed its export ban on low-grade nickel ore in Q3. Another key theme of the battery metals markets last year was the changing nature of Chinese EV sales. The Chinese EV market saw year-on-year declines for six consecutive months, putting considerable downward price pressure across all battery metals, particularly cobalt and lithium. Eight key themes for cobalt, lithium and nickel sulphate markets in 2020 CRU's battery metals team operates on a global basis with industrial experts in Santiago, London, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Sydney and Pittsburgh. Below we pick out eight key themes that we expect will steer the market in 2020. Improved EV sales drives improved demand. Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory has started Model 3 deliveries to consumers, and other OEMs including Volkswagen will steadily roll out new EV models to the market this year. Our base case remains that we are likely to see a 20% increase in China . Several risks persist however, including the impacts of Coronavirus and a continued slowdown in China's broader automotive market. Accelerate adoption of nickel-intensive cathode boosts lithium hydroxide. Following Tesla's expansions and maturing technologies, NCM 811 will continue to gain prominence in the EV market. This is likely to accelerate lithium hydroxide demand significantly. Read the full story: https://www.crugroup.com/knowledge-and-insights/insights/2020/battery-metals-review-of-2019-price-drivers-and-themes-for-2020/ Read more about CRU: http://bit.ly/About_CRU About CRU CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events. Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China. CRU employs over 280 experts and has more than 11 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia - our office in Beijing opened in 2004 and Singapore in 2018. When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response. CRU - big enough to deliver a high-quality service, small enough to care about all of our customers. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089062/CRU_Battery_metals_review.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/536199/CRU_Logo.jpg AccuWeather Global Weather Center reports that addition to the ongoing flooding concerns from the Deep South to the Tennessee Valley and mid-Atlantic, severe thunderstorms may also threaten the region on Wednesday. Residents across much of the lower Mississippi River Valley through the Southeast coast have already been on alert following damaging winds and tornadoes that swept through the area last week. Some parts of the South won't have to wait until midweek to be on alert for disruptive storms. One storm that tracked northwest of Jackson, Mi. likely produced a tornado late Monday evening. While the report is still preliminary, radar data strongly suggested a tornado vortex signature and debris being lofted in the air. More widespread severe thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday. The threat includes the potential for isolated tornadoes. The same storm that brought snow to New Mexico on Tuesday, after unleashing damaging winds in California over the weekend, will move into the Deep South Wednesday. "As the storm intensifies over the Southeast on Wednesday, it will draw a lot of moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. These ingredients will help to prime the atmosphere for severe weather on Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday night," said Edwards. In addition to damaging wind gusts and hail, there will also be the potential for a few isolated tornadoes to develop. The risk of nighttime tornadoes will add to the danger. Communities from New Orleans to Nashville should be mindful of the weather around them and have a plan to shelter in place should it be needed in case a tornado warning is issued. Motorists along parts of interstates 10, 20, 40, 55 and 59 should also be aware of thunderstorms in the area for the evening commute, as gusty winds and torrential rains could significantly lengthen travel times. Travelers should remember that floodwaters over roadways are dangerous to drive through. The water can disguise a washed-out road and take control of a vehicle with only a few inches of water. The Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak has had an adverse effect on the production of various consumer electronic goods in China, including iPhones and Macs. Now, it appears that the deadly virus outbreak is causing further delays in deliveries of Apples latest Mac Pro. The Mac Pros that are ordered in the US are usually assembled in the US. However, other markets such as some European countries get their stocks from factories in China. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, Apples various suppliers have closed their factories, which has severely affected the production of the Mac Pro. The delivery date for the base model of the Mac Pro is now extended to as long as March 10, which is a month away from now. Even in the US, estimated delivery dates for the high-end computer are now anywhere from February 24 to February 26. Despite these orders being assembled in the US, there are some components that are still sourced from China, and suppliers might be having a hard time coping up with the pandemic. Other built-to-order (BTO) Apple products such as the iMac, iMac Pro, and the MacBook Pro are facing longer-than-usual delivery dates, and it could be due to the same reason. However, theres no official word on the exact reason for the delays. Apples retail stores and offices in China were meant to reopen on February 10, but there has been a further delay in it. The Coronavirus situation is pretty alarming, and it is affecting a lot of things worldwide, directly or indirectly. A few days ago, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had mentioned that Apple might face issues in the production of next-generation iPhones and predicted a 10% drop in iPhone sales during Q1 2020. Earlier today, GSMA pleaded Barcelona to let it cancel its Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 event due to the global health emergency. PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MedRhythms, a Portland, Maine-based digital therapeutics company that is building direct stimulation therapeutics that use software, sensors, and music to improve walking impairments caused by neurologic injuries and diseases, announced today that its CEO, Brian Harris, will be speaking in Denver, Colorado at the 2020 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) that is held by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This two hour educational presentation will discuss the neuroscience foundation and clinical efficacy in neurorehabilitation of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation, the intervention that MedRhythms is building and scaling with its digital therapeutic platform. This presentation will include a group of leading researchers and clinicians in Physical Therapy. In addition to this presentation, the results of the company's feasibility study in chronic stroke will be presented at the APTA CSM. This study, conducted at Boston University's Neuromotor Recovery Lab, looked at the impact of MedRhythms' digital therapeutic on walking speed, cadence, biomechanics, and walking economy in the chronic stroke population. These results will be presented by members of the Neuromotor Recovery Lab on Thursday, February 13th. "It is an exciting time in the field of neurorehabilitation as novel technologies, including digital therapeutics, are being developed to extend clinical practice and impact the lives of those living with disabling conditions, such as chronic stroke. We look forward to sharing the findings of this study with the physical therapy community," said Dr. Lou Awad, Director of the Boston University Neuromotor Recovery Lab. MedRhythms is building a suite of direct stimulation digital therapeutics across neurology that leverage auditory-motor entrainment produced by rhythm and music as a mechanism of action. The company's first product is targeting the large unmet need in the chronic stroke population. In 2019, MedRhythms formed a Scientific Advisory Board in stroke consisting of world-leading clinicians and researchers: Dr. Magdy H. Selim, M.D., Ph.D. Vascular Neurologist; Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School; Chief of the Division of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Disease, and Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Randi Black-Schaffer, M.D. Physiatrist specializing in Stroke Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation of Young Adults after stroke; Medical Director of the Stroke Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital; Director of the Spaulding Stroke Research and Recovery Institute; Chief of the Division of Stroke and Neurology, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School; fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Diplomate of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. Dr. Lou Awad, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D. Director of Boston University's Neuromotor Recovery Laboratory; Research Faculty Member of the Spaulding Stroke Research and Recovery Institute; Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy in Boston University's College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College; Associate Faculty Member of Harvard University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. Today's announcement follows recent updates from MedRhythms related to the launch of the company's pivotal trial in stroke and the advancement of their pipeline in multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. The pivotal trial is being conducted at the nation's top rehabilitation hospitals, including the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, the Kessler Foundation in New Jersey, Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, and the Boston University Neuromotor Recovery Laboratory in Boston. About MedRhythms MedRhythms, a privately held company headquartered in Portland, ME, is a digital therapeutics company that uses sensors, music, and software to build evidence-based, neurologic interventions to measure and improve walking. MedRhythms is dedicated to developing direct stimulation digital therapeutics, meaning that each therapeutic provides direct stimulation to enable the mechanism of action in each relevant population. The company has an active pipeline of digital therapeutics targeting rehabilitation and prevention in areas of neurologic injury and disease. The MedRhythms team has extensive experience in rehabilitation techniques utilizing music. The company has roots as a therapy services company that launched out of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, which the U.S. News & World Report named the No. 3 rehabilitation hospital in the country. To learn more, visit: www.medrhythms.com. Forward-Looking Statements THIS MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION RELATING TO THE COMPANY THAT ARE BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US AS OF THE DATE HEREOF. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, INCLUDING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE COMPANY'S BELIEFS, DESIGNS, ANTICIPATION, AIMS, GOALS, EXPECTATIONS AND POTENTIAL RESULTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. IN ADDITION, THE WORDS "WILL," "MAY," "BELIEVE," "ANTICIPATE," "INTEND," "ESTIMATE," "EXPECT," "PROJECT," "PLAN," "SHOULD," "COULD," AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, AND THEIR VARIATIONS AND NEGATIVES, AS THEY RELATE TO THE COMPANY OR THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY, ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES, ASSUMPTIONS AND OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THIS MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY SPEAKS ONLY AS OF THE DATE HEREOF AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE THIS COMMENTARY IN THE FUTURE. SOURCE MedRhythms Related Links https://www.medrhythms.com/ Rampur : , Feb 12 (IANS) The spotlight in Rampur has now turned away from Samajwadi Party MP Mohd Azam Khan to his arch rivals - the royal family of Rampur which is locked in an ugly battle over property. Even as the local administration and court-appointed commissioners are busy evaluating the assets left by erstwhile Rampur Nawab that are to be distributed among the heirs, a war of words has begun between the two inheritors. The Khasbagh Palace resident Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan and his elder sister Naghat Abdi, on Tuesday, accused their cousin and Noor Mahal resident, Nawab Kazim Ali Khan of selling portions of properties way back in 2016, even as the decision of the asset distribution was pending in court. They alleged that Nawab Kazim Ali sold out 'his property share' to a Mumbai-based buyer Fareed Ahmed Qureshi, before the Supreme Court judgment was pronounced into the matter. Nawab Kazim Ali Khan promptly denied the charges. In a press release issued later in the evening, he said, "I did not sell my property share. However, they (Muhammad Ali Khan and Naghat Abdi) have lost their mind after losing the case." Nawab Kazim Ali, son of former Congress MP Begum Noor Bano, is a former legislator and his rivalry with SP MP Mohd Azam Khan has acquired legendary proportions. Meanwhile, eight months after the Supreme Court passed judgment for the division of the property among the family members of the erstwhile Rampur Nawab, the locks of royal armoury were opened on February 3 to count the weapons kept in the family's Khasbagh Palace in the presence of administrative officials, court-appointed commissioners and the erstwhile royal family members. Krueger: With some care over the years, the old family barn keeps standing New Delhi, Feb 12 : HMD Global, the maker of Nokia-branded smartphones, on Wednesday announced it was withdrawing from the Mobile World Congress (MWC) due to the outbreak of coronavirus (2019-nCoV). "HMD Global has been carefully monitoring the situation following the outbreak of Covid-19. After much deliberation, we have decided to cancel our participation at MWC Barcelona, 2020," the company said in a statement. "We believe the prudent decision is to cancel our participation at MWC and want to express our sincere thanks to the GSMA and other authorities for their tireless efforts to address the challenges resulting from Covid-19, and they have our full support as they move forward," the company added. Meanwhile, MWC organiser and telecoms lobby GSMA is going to hold a meeting on Friday to decide on the fate of the world's biggest tech event. According to a new report coming out of Spain, GSMA is holding a meeting on Friday, February 14, to decide the fate of MWC 2020, GSMArena reported on Tuesday. Cisco and Facebook have become the latest big tech firms to drop out of the world's largest mobile industry exhibition. Both the companies have joined the growing list of companies -- including LG electronics, Ericsson, Nvidia, Sony, Amazon, Intel, Vivo, and NTT Docomo to not attend the mobile trade show. Chinese health authorities on Wednesday said it received reports of 2,015 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 97 deaths from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. With this, the overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland has reached 44,653 by the end of Tuesday, and 1,113 people died of the disease. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Its pretty standard stuff in Washington: When in doubt, when youve employed all other options and arguments, quote the Federalist Papers. And as Donald Trump grows more and more brazen after his Senate acquittal, there are reasons to harbor doubts. The House Democratic impeachment managers trotted out the papers during their closing argument as they tried to convince Republican Senators that the president abused his power and unjustly obstructed Congress. So, too, did Trumps legal team. So as the president openly applauds his hand-picked attorney general, William Barr, for responding to his tweet complaining that the Justice Department was about to recommend a too-stiff sentence for a longtime friend, Roger Stone, this cold day in Washington certainly feels like an occasion to crack open the Federalist Papers and see what the founders might think of all this. Asked by this scribe how life after the impeachment saga is going, one White House official who speaks regularly with President Trump replied: About the same as before. Not quite. As several legal experts wrote for the Lawfare blog, theres a whole lot more business as unusual going on in the nations capital than before Speaker Nancy Pelosi in October announced her caucus would open impeachment proceedings. To hear White House officials tell it, Trump did nothing wrong. Or at all, really. [Trump] did not talk to Attorney General Barr about this before the sentence. In fact, the attorney general and the DOJ made very clear that they made this decision before any tweet went out, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said Wednesday. They made this decision on their own. Or did they? Look, he's the chief law enforcement officer. He has the right to do it, Gidley added, leaving some notable wiggle room for the boss. What Democratic lawmakers and many legal experts are warning of is a constitutional crisis set off by an unleashed commander-in-chief who has just learned that Senate Republicans will stand by him through, it seems, anything. Trump didnt bring about Americas tribal political era, but he gets every inch and mile from it possible. No matter who occupies the Oval Office in such partisan times, there is mounting evidence that a chamber of Congress controlled by that chief executives party will be anything but a check or balance on his or her power. The incentives are all wrong. The system, including campaign finance laws and the threat of an ideologically pure candidate from an incumbents left or right mounting a serious primary challenge, is, to borrow a phrase from Trump, rigged against the founders notion of checks and balances likely much to James Madisons chagrin. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices [checks and balances] should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary, Madison wrote in Federalist No. 51. Oh, were way past angels here. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary, the countrys fourth president wrote. Internal controls. Novel concept. They seemed to erode a bit this week, however. This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them, Trump tweeted Monday morning, referring to the Justice Department preparing to recommend a nine-year sentence for Stone. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! Hours later, the department announced it would seek a shorter sentence. Imagine that. The president later on Tuesday denied ordering Barr to do anything. In that Trumpian way, he had floated an idea, sending a smoke signal to his team, and it magically happened. But was there ever a clear order, a Nixonian moment? Nope. Another novel concept. Sure, there was sturm and drang. Cable news hyperventilated. White House aides went silent, likely to shield themselves and future career prospects. Senior Democratic lawmakers demanded investigations and hearings, as they do. But what actually happened to Donald Trump? Nothing. And by Wednesday afternoon, it was clear nothing would probably happen. GOP Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, among others, opined after voting to acquit the president that they thought he had learned his lesson about pushing the envelope of presidential power. They were correct. Only, he learned he can push it even further, free of a check or balance from his fellow Republicans in the Senate. Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted, Trump wrote in a Wednesday morning tweet. What the president appears to have learned is there is no check at present, so he can be the balance. Meaning the balance of justice. And if one is the balance, then one can tip it toward oneself just about any time and about anything one wants. Trump unleashedugly & alarming. Hes learned no lesson. Just the opposite. Republican colleagues are denying reality. Hold him accountable, Senate Judiciary Committee member Richard Blumenthal tweeted. The courts yet may. But, for now, House Democrats decision to impeach him has opened a box and the Trump genie has emerged more powerful and more likely to be re-elected. Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Show all 13 1 /13 Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Bolton Trump claimed to have fired Bolton, his national security adviser, while Bolton claimed he offered to resign. An anonymous White House source that Bolton's departure came as a result of the national security adviser working too independently of the president AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Anthony Scaramucci Scaramucci lasted only six days in his role as Trump's communications director before being fired by John Kelly, the incoming chief of staff Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rick Perry Rick Perry announced his resignation just as he became embroiled in the president's impeachment scandal. The White House said Mr Perry was asked by Donald Trump to work with Rudy GIuliani in regards to Ukraine. AP Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rex Tillerson Tillerson, Trump's first secretary of state, was fired after a series of clashes with the president over policy Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Mattis Mattis served as secretary of defense from the beginning of Trump's administration until retiring on 1 January 2019. However, the president later claimed that he had "essentially fired" Mattis Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Comey Comey was fired as director of the FBI early in Trump's presidency after serving in the role for four years prior. His dismissal is widely thought to have been related to the Russia investigation Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Reince Priebus Priebus, Trump's first chief of staff, was forced out after six tumultuous months AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out David Shulkin Veterans affairs secretary Shulkin claims that he was fired, the White House claims that he resigned Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Kelly Kelly, Trump's second chief of staff, was forced out after 17 months in office. His departure was a confused affair though it is clear that Trump wanted Kelly out AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Michael Flynn Flynn lasted 24 days as Trump's national security adviser before being fired for lying to the FBI Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Lee Cisna Cisna served as director of citizen and immigration services between October 2017 and June 2019 before being asked to resign amid a major personnel change in the department of homeland security Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Madeline Westerhout Westerhout served as Trump's personal assistant after leaking private information about his family AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Mira Ricardel Ricardel was forced out of her role as Deputy National Security Advisor after first lady Melania Trump publicly called for her to be fired In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself, Madison wrote. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions. Senate Republicans and Trumps impeachment defense lawyers argued that Trump might have acted inappropriately, but since its an election year, voters not their august elected representatives should decide if that warrants his removal. In fact, a new poll suggests there is a feeling across the country that Trumps re-election is something of a foregone conclusion. While the Monmouth University survey found 55 per cent of those polled believe he should be replaced in the Oval Office, a larger amount an eye-popping two-thirds believe he will win a second term. Those kinds of polls, coupled with a strong economy and the Trump teams warnings about all the Democratic presidential candidates being beholden to socialists on the extreme left, help explain the White Houses palpable confidence. It doesn't matter which one is at the top of the ticket, Gidley said of the remaining Democratic hopefuls. The fact is, they all want to erode what this president has done and, by extension, hurt the American people's future. Storms cause erosion. Impeachment was a storm; so, too, is Trumps presidency. It seems appropriate, then, to think of his supporters loudly chanting Four more years! Monday night at a rally in New Hampshire while realizing the erosion in Washington likely has just begun. Ukraine expects to sign the open skies agreement with the European Union before the end of the year. "We look forward to signing the open skies agreement already this year. This document is now in progress," Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk said at a joint briefing with European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Kyiv on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. Varhelyi assured the Prime Minister of Ukraine that he would do his best to accelerate the signing of the agreement on common airspace. "I hope this can be done already this year," the commissioner added. As reported, Ukraine has been negotiating with the EU on creation of common airspace for several years. ol While there are concerns of a slump in the supply of raw materials and goods from China owing to the coronavirus outbreak there, the situation, in fact, presents an opportunity for India to boost its exports and emerge as a hub for assembling, chief economic advisor to the Centre, Krishnamurthy V Subramanian said. On the sidelines of an event organised by Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta, Subramanian said, India can follow an export-driven model, especially integrating the assembly in india. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor A British law firm filed requests on Wednesday with the authorities in Britain, the United States and Turkey to arrest senior officials from the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of carrying out war crimes and torture in Yemen. The complaints were filed by law firm Stoke White under the universal jurisdiction principle that countries are obliged to investigate war crimes wherever they may have been carried out. The firm filed the complaints to Britains Metropolitan Police and the US and Turkish justice ministries on behalf of Abdullah Suliman Abdullah Daubalah, a journalist, and Salah Muslem Salem, whose brother was killed in Yemen. Lawyers for the men said in the complaint that the UAE and its mercenaries were responsible for torture and war crimes against civilians in Yemen in 2015 and 2019. It named senior UAE political and military figures as suspects. A spokeswoman for the UAE declined immediate comment, as did a spokesman for Londons Metropolitan Police. There was no immediate reply to emails sent to the US Justice Department and the Turkish embassy in London. The case is filed against high ranking officials in the UAE government and ministry of defence, alongside the US mercenaries who have acted under the direct orders of the UAE government, said Hakan Camuz, head of international law at Stoke White. We believe we have compelling legal grounds for authorities in the UK, US and Turkey to investigate and prosecute under the universal jurisdiction laws, Camuz said. He said his clients had fled Yemen for Turkey. Some of the suspects live in the UAE and often travel to Britain and the United States, and others live in the United States. The UAE is a leading partner in a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to restore ousted president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadis government after it was toppled by the Houthi movement in late 2014. In July the UAE said it was withdrawing troops from Yemen but remaining in the coalition. Britain has prosecuted foreigners twice this century for war crimes committed in other countries, under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Afghan national Faryadi Zardad was jailed for 20 years in 2005 for torture and hostage-taking, and Nepalese colonel Kumar Lama was acquitted of torture in 2016. Reuters The board opened the application process Nov. 21 after then-Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced plans to retire by the end of the year. Lightfoot announced his temporary successor would be former Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck. But Beck ended up starting the temporary job as Chicagos top cop when Lightfoot fired Johnson in early December, saying he had intentionally misled her about his conduct after a late weeknight out in October when he was found asleep in his running vehicle near his South Side home. Teresa and Joe Giudice didnt announce their split until late 2019, but apparently, the relationship was over long before that, at least, thats how it seemed in a recent episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Teresa confided in her brother, Joe Gorga, that a visit with her husband didnt go particularly well. Teresa alleged that Joe told her to find someone else and that he felt absolutely nothing for her. Teresa never mentioned what prompted Joes statements, but it seems like the feelings, or lack thereof, have been building for years. The footage for this season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey was filmed before Joe was released from an ICE facility. Teresa and Joe have already spent years apart Joe and Teresa put up a good front during the early years of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. They appeared happy together, and Joe was always quick to come to the defense of his wife. Everything went downhill when the duo was indicted on a series of fraud charges. Both were sentenced to federal prison for their crimes, but their sentences were staggered to ensure the couples four children were never without a parent. Teresas sentence began first. She entered a federal corrections facility in January 2015. She served her time in Danbury, Connecticut, according to E!. 11-months later she was a free woman, but Joe began his stint in federal lockup shortly after that. In March 2016, Joe entered a federal facility in New Jersey. He was sentenced to serve 41 months but was released early. He wasnt home free, though. In March 2019, Joe was released into the care of ICE agents and transferred to a facility to await deportation. In October 2019, He agreed to leave the United States while he awaited his final appeal. Joe never wanted to get married in the first place The latest bombshell might have surprised casual fans, but those who have been keeping up with the troubled couple know that everything between the pair wasnt peachy before Joe headed off to serve his prison term before getting deported to Italy. In fact, it looks like the trouble between them started long before they even said, I do. In a tense conversation, while Joe was still behind bars, he and Teresa bickered about money and prenuptial agreements. Finally, to end the argument, he reminded her that he never wanted to get married in the first place. Teresa had made it clear that she had a crush on Joe for years before they ever got together, and from the sounds of it, getting married might have been all her idea. Joes relaxed attitude about Teresas male friends makes perfect sense now Shortly after being deported, the Giudices sat down for an interview with Andy Cohen. Cohen posed some tough questions to the once-happy couple. One question focused on Teresas alleged beau, Blake Schreck, and whether she cheated on her husband of 20 years. Schreck, who is substantially younger than Teresa, is a commercial real estate agent in New Jersey and has been spotted out and about with Giudice on multiple occasions. They were spotted together in Miami and then again in a New York City bar, according to In Touch. While Teresa has long contended that they are just friends, followers think otherwise. Joes reaction wasnt that of a scorned or jealous husband, though. He was pretty much resigned to the fact that the mother of his children was stepping out on him while he was battling to stay in the country. While some fans believed he took the high road during the interview, others found his cold demeanor telling. Based on what was revealed on The Real Housewives of New Jersey Joe may not have reacted because he truly does not care. A 26-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday afternoon after a man was killed earlier that morning at a house in Armstrong's Point. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. 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 26-year-old man was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday afternoon after a man was killed earlier that morning at a house in Armstrong's Point. Police say the men knew each other, and had both been at the residence on the 100 block of Middle Gate when a dispute broke out, leading to a fatal stabbing. When police arrived at about 7:40 a.m., they located the deceased man, who has now been identified as Michael Bruyere, 34, from Winnipeg. As homicide detectives encircled the residence, a house being used as a rental property, the investigation spread across the city. At about 4:20 p.m., police arrested a man at a convenience store on the 600 block of McPhillips Street. Jordan James Bonwick faces one charge of second-degree murder, and has been detained in custody. In 2017, Bonwick pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully being in a dwelling or house, and was sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 18:16:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's education authorities said on Wednesday they will offer more help to the college graduates in job hunting amid the economic downturn and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. A total of 8.74 million students are expected to graduate from college this year, 400,000 more than last year, said Wang Hui with the Ministry of Education at a daily press briefing in Beijing. The ministry has suspended nationwide offline recruiting activities, which may bring mass gatherings, and is improving the online recruiting services, such as online interviewing and contract signing, said Wang. The authorities would conduct strict reviews on the employers and recruitment information online, Wang added. To curb the spread of the virus, China has postponed the opening of the spring semesters of schools and universities across the country. The ministry would pay extra attention to the students with special needs, including those from poor families or students with physical difficulties, said Wang. "We will also open some online courses or hotlines to guide the students on finding jobs and provide psychological counseling," said Wang. WASHINGTON Inside the Capitol, its as if the impeachment of President Donald Trump never happened. One week after the historic undertaking shuttered to a close, Congress is feverishly back at work emboldened but also arguably diminished by the outcome. Senate Republicans are flexing their new status as Trumps unshakable allies, hitching their election pursuits to his and looking the other away as the president seems to dole out favoritism for friends and payback for critics with apparent impunity. Theyre back to confirming record numbers of judicial nominees viewing impeachment politically as a net gain. We won and they lost, declared Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. House Democrats are frantically reviving their kitchen-table agenda of health care and pocketbook priorities, a direct appeal to voters after spending the past months focused on erecting a firewall against potential wrongdoing by the president. What has become clear in the aftermath of the impeachment proceedings is the stark realization that the legislative branch can only carry the country so far as a check on the executive. Its now up to voters to decide. The outcome leaves Congress adrift, its legislative agenda uncertain, its oversight role challenged. Both parties are in flux as the nations political energy turns toward the presidential primaries ahead of the November election, when voters will also decide control of the House and Senate. Everything is at stake in November, said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic caucus chairman, as he implored Americans to prepare to vote as if your life depends on it. Democrats warn that Trump, far from having learned lessons from becoming the third impeached president, is in fact engaged in an escalating pattern of retribution and political favoritism that started as soon as he was acquitted by the Senate. In a matter of days, the White House reassigned an Army officer, Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a key witness in the impeachment inquiry, from the National Security Council, and pushed his twin brother, a council lawyer, out with him. Ambassador Gordon Sondland was recalled from his post. Then, Trump tweeted it was very unfair that associate Roger Stone was being recommended for up to nine years in prison after being convicted of witness tampering, obstruction and lying to Congress in the Russia probe. The Justice Department swiftly backed off, four government prosecutors withdrew from the case and the White House nixed the nomination of Jessie Liu, the supervising attorney, who was in line for a Treasury post. On Wednesday, Sen. Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on the Justice Departments inspector general to look into the matter. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed there needs to be an investigation. What we are witnessing is a crisis in the rule of law in America, Schumer said. Republicans thought the president would learn his lesson. The lesson the president learned was that the Republican Party will not hold him accountable no matter how egregious his behavior, he said. Some Republicans who indicated the president might temper his behavior acknowledged Wednesday the limits. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said, There havent been very strong indicators this week that he has. I said before that I would hope that the president would learn from that experience, said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. The president is his own person, and Im my own person, and you can judge whether you think he has. Asked if the president has learned any lessons from impeachment, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said: He seems the same as he did two weeks ago. Democrats, though, are displaying only tepid enthusiasm for digging deeper into Trumps alleged wrongdoings after the Senate voted last week to acquit him of the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in the Ukraine matter. Privately, Democrats say there is little expectation the House will issue a subpoena for John Bolton, the former national security adviser whose forthcoming book holds fresh revelations about Trumps pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden that was central to the impeachment charges. Attorney General William Barr is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in late March, it was announced Wednesday. But at a House hearing, Democrats declined to grill budget director Russell Vought, a key White House figure in Trumps Ukraine effort. He had defied a congressional subpoena in the impeachment inquiry, but appeared Wednesday to discuss the budget. Otherwise, House Democrats are returning their focus to the health care, infrastructure and oversight issues that helped bring them to the House majority, and they hope in November will keep them in power. We certainly still have an oversight role to play, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a progressive caucus leader. But what that looks like exactly is difficult to know. Republicans, meanwhile, have a Senate calendar full of more confirmation votes on Trumps judicial nominees poised to reach 200 federal judges since the start of his presidency in a matter of days. At a private lunch with GOP senators this week, Vice President Mike Pence extolled the nations economic numbers and faced hardly any criticisms, senators said. Senate Republicans who were eager during the impeachment proceedings to launch their own investigations into Ukraine and Joe Biden now are unclear on next steps. Instead, a bipartisan group with Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., announced Wednesday it will travel again to Ukraine to shore up relations as the ally confronts Russian aggression. Meanwhile, theres a push from both parties for legislation to lower prescription drug prices and to rein in surprise medical bills, which are campaign priorities. Theres an energy bill in the Senate and lands bills in the House. Those are all legislative longshots in an election year, but perhaps better than the alternative, which is spending their days in the Capitol as many did Wednesday answering questions about Trump in the White House. One Democrat, Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, opened a Banking Committee hearing with the Federal Reserve Board chairman to register his concerns about the post-impeachment environment. So many senators said we know hell get better, we know the president has learned something from this, Brown told reporters later. We know if they dont call him out, it will get worse. ___ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Matthew Daly, Andrew Taylor and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. DES MOINES -- A House transportation panel balked at giving a speed limit bill the fast-track legislative treatment Tuesday, choosing instead to park the issue by the wayside for the 2020 session. I didnt see a rallying cry to bring this up, said Rep. David Sieck, R-Glenwood, who chaired a subcommittee on House File 2166 that failed to produce one speaker supporting the bill. The bill would raise the speed limit from 70 mph to 75 mph on interstates, from 65 mph to 70 mph on controlled-access expressways and from 55 mph to 60 mph on other state primary and county secondary roads. One of the things that stopped the bill in its subcommittee tracks was a projection by a state Department of Transportation lobbyist that the bill would carry a $2.3 million price tag to change 500 signs along the interstate system and about 1,700 other signs along highways where the speed limit would increase July 1. Thats a huge amount of money, Sieck told fellow subcommittee members, who agreed 3-0 to table the proposal for the session. Before the subcommittee decision, representatives for insurance companies, drivers education and safety programs, and the state Department of Public Safety spoke in opposition to a change that likely would have a negative effect on vehicle gas consumption, cause more severe traffic accidents at a time when the state is trying to reduce fatalities and injuries, and generate more speeding violations. Were not in favor of speeding up because we have a hard enough time keeping up with the speeds now, said Andy Nelson of Safer Driving Solutions and a drivers education instructor. My students ask me, Gee, why do we have to drive 55 when no one else is? I wasnt surprised by the outcome, said Rep. Chris Hagenow, R-Urbandale, the bills sponsor, who offered the bill to start the discussion about raising speed limits in Iowa for the first time since 2005. There are certainly stretches of road in Iowa that could support a higher speed limit, Hagenow noted, especially in western Iowa where the limit increases to 75 mph when Interstate 80 motorists reach the Nebraska border. I would be shocked if the bill moved forward, he said after Tuesdays meeting. DPS Commissioner Stephan Bayens told a justice system budget subcommittee earlier Tuesday that Iowa State Patrol troopers issued 70,192 speeding citations last year, including 2,428 tickets for vehicles traveling 25 mph over the posted limit and 628 citations for vehicles that were traveling over 100 mph. The higher the speed limit, the higher people are going to drive and the higher the risk of fatalities will be on our roads, DPS legislative liaison Chandlor Collins told the transportation subcommittee. Mike Sinclair, an insurance industry lobbyist, opposed HF 2166, telling legislators we feel like (a higher speed limit) increases the severity of accidents when they do occur. Previously, Sen. Tim Kapucian, R-Keystone, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he was not interested in raising speed limits in Iowa if the proposal somehow made it through the Iowa House this year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 New Delhi [India], Feb 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that he is extremely delighted that US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are visiting India and assured that the country will accord a "memorable" welcome to the esteemed guests. "Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. Modi's remarks come hours after Trump said he is looking forward to his maiden visit to India. He added that five to seven million people are expected to welcome him in Ahmedabad during his visit. "I am (going to India). He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) said we will have millions and millions of people. He thinks we will have five to seven million people just from the airport to the new stadium (Motera Stadium)," Trump told reporters at White House on Tuesday. PM Modi further said India and US are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. "India and the USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. The robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world," his tweet read. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Modi in Houston in September last year. Trump is slated to pay a two-day visit to India from February 24. During the visit, Trump, who will be accompanied by First Lady Melania, will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, and interact with a wide cross-section of the Indian society, the MEA said in a statement. The announcement of Trump's first official visit to India was earlier made by the White House on Monday, which, in its statement, said that the US President and Modi had agreed during a recent phone conversation that the trip will "further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people". (ANI) (Reuters) - Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO.O), Sprint Corp (S.N) and Facebook Inc (FB.O) on Tuesday became the latest U.S. technology companies to pull out of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona due to the coronavirus outbreak. A number of companies ranging from Japans NTT Docomo (9437.T) and Sony Corp (6758.T) to U.S. chipmakers Intel Corp (INTC.O) and Nvidia (NVDA.O) have already dropped out of the four-day international telecoms conference that draws in more than 100,000 visitors. While we are extremely disappointed that we cannot continue with this event as planned, we believe this is the right decision given the current circumstances, a Cisco spokeswoman said. The virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has spread across the world, prompting many companies to restrict travel to and from the country. It has so far killed more than 1,000 people and infected more than 40,000 people on the Chinese mainland, while spreading to at least 24 countries. MWC, set to kick off on Feb. 24, is the telecom industrys biggest annual gathering, with companies spending millions on stands and hospitality to fill their order books. GSMA, the organizer of the event, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The organizer said on Sunday participants from Chinas Hubei province, where the coronavirus outbreak began, would not be allowed to attend the event and that visitors from China must prove they have been outside the country for at least two weeks prior to the event. We are more prepared than ever, said Catalan regional health councillor, Alba Verges, to local channel TV3. She added that, from a public health point of view, there is no objective cause for the companies to be afraid of attending. The event is important to Barcelona, whose economy got a boost of around 470 million euros ($515 million) last year from the conference, according to GSMA. Chinese companies, including Huawei, ZTE (000063.SZ), Oppo and Xiaomi (1810.HK), are still attending the event. Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), LG Electronics (066570.KS), Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and McAfee have also withdrawn from exhibiting and participating in the conference. Starbucks launches transgender charity campaign Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Starbucks has started a new advertising campaign, #whatsyourname, in the United Kingdom in partnership with Mermaids, a U.K.-based group that pushes trans-ideology. The group is headed by Susie Green, who gained notoriety for taking her 16-year-old son, who identifies as a girl, to Thailand to be castrated. Starbucks' #whatsyourname campaign "celebrates" the companys signature practice of taking a customers name, writing it on a cup and calling it out, by extending it to "transgender and gender diverse people," the American coffee chain says in a statement. Its to celebrate the significance it can have for some transgender and gender diverse people as they use their new name in public. Its a symbol of our warm welcome. It is part of the Starbucks Experience and creates a moment of connection between our baristas and customers," the company adds. As part of the campaign, the company released a commercial showing a trans-identifying teen looking uncomfortable every time her name "Jemma" is called. Only when a Starbucks barista calls "James," that's when the teen is seen smiling. The commercial was created in partnership with creative agency Iris and was inspired by real life experiences of people who were transitioning. We discovered that they found Starbucks stores to be a safe space, where their new name was accepted, and they could be recognized as who they are. We were moved to discover that individuals find our stores a safe space to try out their new names when transitioning. Starbucks is also selling mermaid tail cookies in its stores to financially support the transgender helpline run by Mermaids with the aim of raising at least 100,000 (roughly $130,000). Mermaids has seen over a 600% increase in demand for its helpline service in the past five years, and our support will help grow this service, allowing the charity to employ an additional helpline operator and extend its webchat service, Starbucks says. Mermaids has influenced education protocols and other public policies across the U.K. to enshrine transgenderism in culture. The group is headed by Susie Green, who when her son was 16 years old took him to Thailand to undergo a sex change operation. The group has become highly influential in the U.K., so much so that even law enforcement has targeted its critics. As The Christian Post reported in 2018, feminist activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, was interrogated by police for tweeting her disapproval of Green's decision to take her son to Thailand for a sex change operation. She was specifically targeted for having tweeted the word castration." As far as the transgender ideology stretches I believe it is one of complete submission. Those that even raise questions are silenced with threats and accusations of bigotry, Keen-Minshull commented in an interview with the CP at the time. We all have the capacity to be offended and offensive. We have to decide whether we want to criminalize this offense, she added, noting that in a world of billions I would hope the liberty of free speech is one we would extend to all, not just those we agree with. HONG KONG The news was abrupt and, to some, surprising: Overnight, a Chinese province near Russia, had cut its count of confirmed coronavirus cases by more than a dozen. The revision stemmed from what appeared to be a bureaucratic decision, buried in a series of dense documents from the national government. Health officials said that they would reclassify patients who had tested positive for the new coronavirus but did not have symptoms, and take them out of the total count of confirmed cases. The documents offered little detail or explanation, and skepticism was immediate. A Hong Kong newspaper called the decision a disguise. World Health Organization officials seemed caught off guard when asked about the move at a news conference this week. MONTREAL - Canada's rail system was under stress Tuesday as Via Rail cancelled passenger service on key routes and Canadian National Railway Co. warned it will be forced to close "significant" parts of its freight network unless blockades impeding its lines are removed. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OPP Sgt. Diana Hampson of the liaison team, middle, speaks with members of the Mohawk Territory in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, near Belleville, Ont., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. The members have blocked the CN/VIA train tracks for six days in support of Wet'suwet'en's blockade of natural gas pipeline in northern B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg MONTREAL - Canada's rail system was under stress Tuesday as Via Rail cancelled passenger service on key routes and Canadian National Railway Co. warned it will be forced to close "significant" parts of its freight network unless blockades impeding its lines are removed. Via Rail cancelled service on its Montreal-Toronto and Toronto-Ottawa routes because of a blockade near Belleville, Ont., in support of opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project that crosses the traditional territory of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in northwestern B.C. "Although we remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached, in view of the current uncertainty, VIA Rail is cancelling all departures until Thursday end of day on the Montreal-Toronto and Toronto-Ottawa routes, in both directions," Via spokeswoman Marie-Anna Murat said in an email. A blockade near New Hazelton, B.C., means normal rail activities are also being interrupted between Prince Rupert and Prince George, she said. Via Rail's announcement followed the warning from CN, which has halted more than 150 freight trains since Thursday evening, when demonstrators set up the blockades in B.C. and Ontario. The Montreal-based railway said Monday that long-distance freight shipments in Central and Eastern Canada were already at a virtual standstill. Chief executive JJ Ruest stressed the limited parking space in its network, with traffic backed up from Halifax to Windsor, Ont., and in parts of B.C. approaching Prince Rupert. "CN will have no choice but to temporarily discontinue service in key corridors unless the blockades come to an end," he said in a statement Tuesday. "The impact is also being felt beyond Canada's borders and is harming the country's reputation as a stable and viable supply chain partner." The ongoing blockades are near Belleville, Ont., and New Hazleton in B.C.'s northern interior, while demonstrations cropped up Tuesday in locations ranging from the Halifax port to the B.C. legislature. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce called on all levels of government and police to work together to bring an immediate end to the blockades and to restore all rail service. "From propane to grain and food and consumer items, Canada's supply chains are being severely damaged by the continuing interruptions to Canada's rail services by protesters," the chamber said on Twitter. "The rail system affects the entire Canadian economy and Canadians everywhere, including people trying to get to and from work. They must be allowed to continue to serve the thousands of businesses that depend on them." Industry groups expressed concern about the shutdown as shipments to and from the U.S. and China are delayed or cancelled. "It's a real crisis," said Joel Neuheimer, head of international trade with the Forest Products Association of Canada. Wood, pulp and paper producers have lost tens of millions of dollars so far, he said. "We ship massive amounts of pulp to the United States and to places like Asia, so big negative impacts there," Neuheimer said in a phone interview. "We have members whose customers aren't placing orders right now in the U.S. because they know that it's not going to get there as soon as it needs to get there." Olin Corp., a Missouri-based chemical maker with a facility near Trois-Rivieres, Que., cautioned Ottawa that its tight distribution schedule means the 50-odd Canadian companies it serves will soon stop receiving chlorine used in part to treat drinking water which it says is only shipped by rail. "Olin is alarmed by the current freight rail situation in Canada, and we are concerned that customers and municipalities will not receive shipments of vital chemicals including chlorine within one week," chairman and CEO John Fischer said in a letter to federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau on Tuesday. The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, whose members typically load about 4,500 rail cars a day, is urging government officials to work with police to restore service on the tracks. "In Canada there's not really other alternatives to move stuff around. The highways and trucks especially in Quebec and southern Ontario are already at a very, very high utilization of available capacity," association president Dennis Darby said in a phone interview. Stakeholders from chemical companies to Dannon Yogurt called this week to raise concerns, he said. "They can't get their stuff out." Garneau said he is working with the railways and his Ontario counterpart Caroline Mulroney to find a solution, and that blockage of tracks is "dangerous and illegal." Despite the countrywide impact, he underscored that responsibility for enforcing court injunctions against the anti-pipeline protesters lies with provincial politicians and police. "Obviously we hope it's going to be resolved, but it is up to the provinces to make those injunctions effective by taking action," Garneau told reporters in Calgary. "It's having an important impact on the economy of the country." Earlier Tuesday, Via Rail said 157 passenger trains have also been cancelled, affecting 24,500 travellers on its Montreal-Toronto, Ottawa-Toronto and Kingston-Toronto routes. Ontario Provincial Police said officers are in talks with protesters behind a blockade that sits metres from the tracks, though not across them. OPP spokesman Bill Dickson said an officer of the court read an injunction to the protesters Tuesday morning ordering them to abandon the blockade, which bisects Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, about 20 kilometres east of Belleville. While CN obtained the injunction on Friday, Tuesday marked the first time it was read aloud in accordance with court procedure, Dickson said. Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Chief R. Donald Maracle expressed solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en community in northwestern B.C. and called out actions by the RCMP, which has been enforcing a court injunction on the First Nation's traditional territory and arresting those attempting to block access to the pipeline route. 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. "We call on both federal and provincial governments to demand the RCMP immediately reconsider how it addresses peaceful protests and demonstrations, and allow the opportunity for sound discussion with a common sense approach to achieve peaceful outcomes," Maracle said in a statement. Brendan Marshall, head of economic and northern affairs at the Mining Association of Canada, said buyers of natural resource products were as vulnerable as producers some of whom are already curtailing production. "If you're a facility that's reliant on rail service in order to get your product to a site, then it's kind of like sand through the hourglass when it runs out, the plant can't work anymore," he said. This report by the Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2020. With files from Michelle McQuigge Companies in this story: (TSX:CNR) Brett Coomer, Staff / Houston Chronicle United Airlines' catering workers are giving up food and juices in a 24-hour fast in an effort to accelerate contract negotiations. Roughly 2,500 catering workers, including some 780 in Houston, joined the Unite Here union in late 2018 but don't yet have a contract with United Airlines. Seeking higher wages and frustrated with the pace of negotiations, the workers will fast for 24 hours this week and picket outside of United's downtown office on Thursday and outside of Bush Intercontinental Airport on Friday. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, While waiting for carpooling to start at my daughters pre-K program, I witnessed a fellow parent buying drugs from a man directly in front of the school. I have seen this man aggressively confronting the same parent over money in the past. On that occasion, I was a little confused about what was happening and put it all together after the fact. I declined to report it to the staff, as I really couldnt say for sure what I saw and felt it was speculative. But this time, I definitely saw drugs and money changing hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After some consideration, I reported this incident to the teacher at the carpool. I was initially reluctant because I assume the child of this parent needs all the stability from school she can get. It was pretty obvious that the carpool person knew about the issue already, and he simply thanked me for speaking up. I am so unbelievably pissed off at the parent for doing this so close to the school. Im also afraid to bring too much attention to myself by confronting her. Although, the parent seems pleasant enough despite obvious issues, but her drug dealer? Not so much. My husband has called the school a few times to find out what its response was and to express our concerns, but were playing phone tag with the director. Were now wondering if we should continue to send our daughter there. We have safety concerns because of this behavior, and also because it doesnt seem like the staff is taking the issue seriously. On the other hand, we really like the school, and it has been a positive experience otherwise. Plus, the cost of private school is above our means. What to do? Advertisement Advertisement Do Snitches Get Stitches? Advertisement Dear DSGS, This is definitely a sad situation. I dont want to make excuses for the parent in question, but it seems quite possible that she is dealing with an addiction issueIm assuming that the drug you observed in this transaction was something stronger than marijuanaor was purchasing something for a loved one who is. Either way, she has made choices that are not in the best interest of her child as well as the other families and staff who make up the school community. Instead of playing phone tag, you need to have a face-to-face conversation with the senior-most administrator in the building, such as the director of operations or the principal. Let them know that you are happy with the experience that your family has had at the school thus far but you were deeply disturbed by what you saw and are concerned about the school grounds being a safe place for your child and others. Many schools have employees, volunteers, and school safety agents (the latter is quite the mixed bag, as they are often members of the local police department and can raise a different danger by being present in a house of learning) who surround the campus during drop-off and dismissal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School leadership has a responsibility to make the areas surrounding these institutions as safe as possible. In addition to perhaps bringing additional adults on board to protect the a.m. and p.m. arrivals and departures, they should also send home a reminder to parents that certain behaviors will not be tolerated on school grounds and can lead to expulsion for their children and/or arrest for themselves. No more voicemailsyou need to have this conversation in person, and you should leave it feeling confident about their being reasonable next steps. Dear Care and Feeding, I am the lucky mother of a happy, healthy 6-month-old baby and wife to a very supportive and engaged husband. It has been a very challengingand rewardingyear so far, and I think we have weathered it fairly well: Our daughter is exceptionally healthy, off the charts in weight and height, reaching all milestones in advance. Advertisement Advertisement One persistent issue is my husbands smoking. I showed him your column addressing the dangers of thirdhand smoke, and our doctor spoke to us about things we can do to protect the baby (short of quitting smoking). He tries his best by washing his hands and using mouthwash after a cigarette, and sometimes changing clothes or taking a shower. However, I dont think he can appreciate the way smoke clings to sweaters, hair, etc. He gets very defensive when I bring this up. Sometimes it gets better for a while, but we inevitably backslide. I am concerned that this is affecting our daughter in ways we cant yet see or appreciate. How do I get through to him about this? Advertisement Advertisement Up in Smoke Dear UiS, The issue here isnt your husbands inability to mask the scent of his cigarettes; its that hes still smoking them in the first place. It seems that you have been patient and supportive when it comes to this habit, but it would be unconscionable for me to suggest ways for you help him do a better job at keeping the smell at bay when the appropriate thing for you to do is work on getting him to break the habit all together. Advertisement Advertisement The American Cancer Society is one of many organizations that have resources available for folks who want to help a loved one kick the habit. You can also speak to your family doctor one-on-one for guidance on how to begin the conversation. Advertisement Your husband knows that quitting is the right thing to do, even if he hasnt verbalized it. Tobacco is incredibly addictive, of course, and hes likely been battling with this demon for quite some time. Be sure to approach the topic lovingly and without judgment, making it clear that you only wish to see him live a long, full enough life so that he will see your little one grow up. Best of luck to you all! Advertisement Advertisement If you missed Tuesdays Care and Feeding column, read it here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, I mentioned to my 7-year-old daughter that I was going to vote soon, and she asked a lot of questions that have sparked a periodically recurring conversation about politics. Shes interested in going with me to the polls and mad that she cant vote until shes 18. Its clear that she understands this stuff is important, but obviously, the details and nuances require a lot of explanation. She has always had strong feelings about what is and isnt fair, and shes applying that to this new area of exploration, leading her to jump to a lot of strong conclusions. (Its bad to put kids in jail, so anyone who votes for Donald Trump is bad.) I really dont want to stifle her interest in all of this, but we live in a purple state, and I also dont want her to alienate teachers, caregivers, or family with her brand-new strongly held beliefs. I also want to allow her to explore in this area independent of my spouse and me since I dont want her worldview to be an unexamined carbon copy of ours. Ive found a few books at the library aimed at her age and reading level but nothing that seems to incorporate the current political climate. (Describing Republicans as small-government fiscal conservatives, for example, does nothing to help explain post-2016 reality.) How do I encourage this interest without having her drink from the fire hose of daily news or letting her wander unprotected into the minefield of political partisanship? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Middle of the Road Dear MotR, One of my all-time favorite sitcoms, Family Ties, centered around two aging hippies who found themselves raising four very unique children who were, perhaps, best unified by their lack of interest in their PBS-loving parents peace and patchouli worldview. The eldest son, Alex P. Keaton (played brilliantly by a young Michael J. Fox) took things a step further; instead of merely thumbing a nose at the leftist values that were at the heart of his household, he was a staunch Republican who rhapsodized over President Ronald Reagan the way most kids his age would their favorite pop star. While the Keatons arent a real family, their experiences as they relate to politics ring familiar for parents across the country who find themselves stunned when their progeny develop worldviews that could not be any more different than their own. Regardless of what you do or dont share with your daughter about government and culture, she is exposed to a world that is even bigger than the 1980s pre-smartphone era that was the backdrop to Alexs embrace of Reaganomics. Advertisement What is critical is that we share values and ethics with our children. As you said, the GOP of today cannot simply be differentiated from the Democratic Party by a simple discussion of fiscal conservatism. You are hinting that you may be a liberal voter yourself; you dont think that your child should have some understanding of todays burning issues related to gender, race, class, immigration, etc.? Advertisement Advertisement While I understand your fear that she will simply become a mirror into her parents political leanings if you expose her to them, what is certainly more likely is that your failure to go in depth with her about these issues will leave her open to the influence of peers as well as adults (other relatives, friends parents, teachers, radio and TV hosts, YouTube stars) who may present a very compelling case for some ideas that you find to be absolutely devastating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of being mum about your political views, explain them to her while also being clear that it is OK to be friends with people whom you can respectfully disagree with. (That means not isolating herself from the girl who disagrees with the citys plan to erect new stoplights at dangerous intersections; HOWEVER, the kid who thinks the Mexicans should give us our country back needs to be corrected and left alone, pronto.) Best of luck with the first of many long, long conversations! Dear Care and Feeding, We have four kids: an 11-year-old, 9-year-old twins, and a 7-year-old. As is often the case, we meticulously kept a record of every moment of our eldest childs infancy, along with a detailed scrapbook and tons of pictures. By the time we got through our twins, we had given up on the perfect record-keeping; while we do have lots of pictures, there was no time to appreciate and document every moment with four kids under 5! Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the 7-year-old, who has long since believed we favor her siblings, has come to realize that we dont have the same sort of record of her life and is pissed that we dont love her as much as her older siblings. How can I get her to understand that older siblings sometimes have different experiences without breeding more resentment? No More Baby Books Dear NMBB, Explain to your youngest that it was more important for you to spend time with her than it was to make time to document her milestonessomething that is a lot easier to do with one child than it is with four. As Im certain that you do have a good number of photos, at least electronically, documenting her life to date. Purchase a photo album or baby book (be sure not to get one that asks for specific submissions that may be impossible for you to locate or obtain, such as a lock of her hair or her hospital bracelet) and fill it up together as a family activity. Advertisement Advertisement Jamilah More Advice From Slate Im about to get married and am caught in an argument between my fiancee and my parents. This will be the first time in over five years that our whole family will be together. My parents want to take a picture of just them, me, and my siblings, and a family photo obviously means a lot to them. My fiancee heard this and became immediately offended. She says its rude to exclude her on the day she joins the family and any family photo should therefore include her in it. Were not talking about taking an hour for a separate family photo shoot; my parents simply want one photograph of themselves and their children. I dont understand why my fiancee is so annoyed and now shes even more angry because Im not supporting her side. Should I back up my fiancee on principle, even if I disagree with her? Once upon a time, the recalcitrant illegal miners were all over the place stealing our mineral resources, terrorising the indigenes and at the same time destroying the lands and water bodies. Given the stubborn nature of the illegal miners, I predicted some time ago that it would only take a massive leadership in order to curb the menace of illegal mining. It was, therefore, quite refreshing when the forward-thinking, serious and committed President Akufo-Addo prudently placed an interim ban on small-scale mining activities. That was, indeed, the quintessence of massive leadership. Akufo-Addo, so to speak, did what Napoleon could not do. Despite the small scale miners endless protestations over the temporary ban on their poorly regulated activities, the unwearied President Akufo-Addo persisted. It was, indeed, a pragmatic step to put better data and policies in place to get the sector back on track, given the level of environmental degradation amid polluted river bodies. It therefore came as a huge surprise to some of us when no less a person than former President Mahama bizarrely decided to oppose the NPP governments commendable efforts to curb the activities of the conscienceless illegal miners (See: Stop chasing illegal miners with soldiers Mahama to government; citinewsroom.com/ghanaweb.com, 28/04/2018). Ex-President Mahama was reported to have grouched somewhat plangently: it is true that if we dont do something about it, it will destroy the environment. But we need to apply wisdom. Because weve chased young people involved in illegal small-scale mining with soldiers in the past in this country but it didnt work. With all due respect, what does Ex-President Mahama take discerning Ghanaians for? After all, wasnt he in government for eight years and what did he do to curb the apparent menace? If, indeed, Ex-President Mahama and his NDC government deployed the military in their attempt to halt the menace of illegal mining but to no avail, why didnt they employ alternative solutions? So Ex-President Mahama wants to tell the good people of Ghana that eight years in government was not enough to halt a canker such as illegal mining? Why must he then criticise someone who has put his job on the line to protect our mineral resources and the environment? Former President Mahama was said to have shockingly pontificated: But if we put a blanket ban and send soldiers after the young people that is not the way to go. As you stop illegal small-scale mining, at the same time you must put in place a livelihood package so that as you are displacing people from illegal mining, they have something to do. But when there is nothing to do but you are just chasing them, shooting them, it is not the way to go. Deductively, Ex-President Mahama was suggesting that the security personnel should cease chasing armed robbers with guns and rather offer them alternative livelihoods. How bizarre? In fact, there is an incontrovertible evidence of some galamseyers quitting their jobs and moving to the rural areas to embark on the illegal mining. A criminal shall remain so regardless. Ex-President Mahama opined: We [NDC] decided that we will bring a new mining law that will regulate galamsey that persons who do it well will be able to sustain themselvesSo immediately, the [Akufo-Addo] government must look at these regulations and come up with good policies so that those who want to do it, will do it within the law. I could not agree more with former President Mahama. Indeed, better data and policies are needed to get the sector back on track. But the all-important question we should be asking former President Mahama and his NDC government is: why did they fail woefully to arrest a quagmire such as illegal mining in eight years in office? It is absolutely true that potential economic benefits (employment, tax revenues and development outcomes) can be derived from small-scale mining sector in Ghana. We cannot also deny the fact that small-scale mining is a significant contributor to the economic and social well-being of many people and households in rural, remote, and poor communities in Ghana. However, the way small-scale mining sector is being managed in Ghana, it does not look favourable. The sector is being managed abysmally. Somehow, the laws which govern the small-scale mining sector are confused and inconsistent. Indeed, all the attention is basically being focused on the large-scale mining sector, leaving the small-scale mining sector at a substantial disadvantage. But that said, in order to achieve the maximum benefit, it is extremely important that society as a whole shows interest in promoting and strengthening the role of small-scale mining in national development. In addition, the effective implementation of regulations and fortifications towards the developmental potential of the sector must be the topmost importance to the regulating authorities. It must also be emphasised that societies at large has been both positively and negatively affected by small-scale mining. The positive effects include the promotion of efficient resource use, such as extracting ores from small deposits or from tailings, and thus providing the rural folks and other small scale miners with sustainable incomes. On the other hand, the negative effects include, among other things, environmental degradation, water pollution, the release of mercury and other toxic and hazardous wastes into the free environment, and unforeseen social tensions that can lead to civil unrest. On the preponderance of probability, the negative effects outweigh the positive effects, and therefore it is prudent for any serious, committed and forward-thinking leader to put tabs on the activities of the unscrupulous illegal miners. Sadly, however, it is being reported that a number of seized excavators have gone missing, while the lunatic fringe of the illegal miners are back in business following the lifting on the ban on the small scale mining. How unfortunate? In fact, some of us, as a matter of principle, do not want to accept the weird story that some seized excavators have vanished without a trace. We should, however, take solace in the fact that some suspects have been nabbed and assisting the police in their investigations. Given the criminal intent of the illegal miners , we are, more than ever, urgently required our military power to combat the menace of the impenitent nation wreckers who are bent on stealing our natural resources and destroying the environment. Let us face it, they, the scumbags, are well-prepared, and routinely carry out their illegal activities with military precisions, and can strike as lighting, and as deadly and destructive as molten magma. In theory, the illegal miners invasion of our country side with a view to forcibly digging our mineral resources, polluting our sources of drinking water, destroying the environment and above all terrorising the natives is tantamount to war. It is an open secret that some Ghanaians would often secure plots of land and partner with the foreign illegal miners who have funds to bring in the bulldozers and other big equipment. Even though the small scale mining laws prohibit the use of large explosives, the foreign illegal miners are revoltingly using unstructured methods, and at the same time supplying large explosive, rock crushers and other machines to local miners. How pathetic? As a result of the involvement of the obdurate foreign illegal miners, the dynamics of small-scale mining has somehow changed. The illegal miners have been using bulldozers, pay loaders and extremely heavy machinery. The foreign illegal miners have mechanized artisanal mining, and as a result the level of environmental devastation has been really huge. Let me crave your indulgence just a moment longer to pose: which independent country on this planet (Earth) would its politicians, regulators and law enforcement bodies sit idly while some stubbornly impenitent foreign illegal immigrants despoil its natural resources and denude the environment? Given the extreme dangers associated with illegal mining, it was, in fact, a step in the right direction for President Akufo-Addo to halt the illegal miners, many of whom were using noxious mercury and cyanide in their mining activities. So, it was, indeed, extremely baffling to see former President Mahama criticising President Akufo-Addo over his efforts to curb the illegal mining. Take, for example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) asserts that exposure to mercury even small amounts may cause serious health problems and it is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life (WHO 2017). In a new Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM) publication, Somit Varma, director of the Oil, Gas, Mining & Chemicals Department of the World Bank/IFC, stated: "The social and economic characteristics of small-scale mining fully reflect the challenges facing the world, including: health, environment, gender, education, child labour, and poverty eradication." There is no gainsaying the fact that mephitic mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining is extremely harmful and its health effects on society are significantly worrying (WHO, 2017). It is estimated that about 15% of the world's gold is produced by artisanal and small-scale miners, many of whom use mercury and other toxic substances to extract the minerals from rivers and underneath the ground (BBC, 2013). Unlike some other West African countries, Ghana allows mercury use in mining. Mercury is freely available in shops and can be bought with a canister, bottle, or as a ball wrapped in a plastic cling film, and much of it has been brought in by Chinese miners. Ghana has an estimated one million small-scale gold miners (Galamseyers), and they commonly use mercury to process gold. They mix the mercury with the ore to create a gold-mercury amalgam, and then burn the mercury off so the raw gold remains. The problems stemming from mercury use dont stop at exposure from inhalation. Once used for gold processing, mercury-contaminated water is often dumped on the ground, polluting Ghanas rivers and lakes, and poisoning its fish and those who eat them (HRW, 2014). A typical example of toxic mercury contamination impacting negatively on public health happened in Minamata, Japan, between 1932 and 1968, where a factory producing acetic acid discharged waste liquid into Minamata Bay. The discharge included high concentrations of methylmercury. The bay was rich in fish and shellfish, providing the main livelihood for local residents and fishermen from other areas. Many years passed without no one realising that the fish were contaminated with mercury, and that it was causing a strange disease in the local community and in other districts. It was reported that at least 50 000 people were affected to some extent and more than 2000 cases of Minamata disease were identified. Unfortunately, Minamata disease escalated in the 1950s, with severe cases of brain damage, paralysis, incoherent speech and delirium (WHO, 2017). Minamata disease, also known as Chisso-Minamata disease, is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. Symptoms include ataxia, numbness in the hands and feet, general muscle weakness, narrowing of the field of vision and damage to hearing and speech. In extreme cases, insanity, paralysis, coma and death follow within weeks of the onset of symptoms. A congenital form of the disease can also affect foetuses (See: www.bu.edu/sustainability/minamata-disease). As a bio-accumulative and toxic pollutant, when released into the atmosphere, mercury dissolves in water laid sediments and it can be consumed by fish and then ended up in the food chain of humans (Merem, Wesley, Isokpehi et al. 2016). In that sense, toxic mercury pollution poses an enormous public health hazard and environmental risk (Merem, Wesley, Isokpehi et al. 2016). Through extant research study, it has been established that mercury exposure can happen in the environment as well as in occupational and domestic settings (WHO, 2017). As part of the prevailing predicament, mercury poisoning involves the condition instigated by exposure at an accelerated dosage which could augment fatal health effects on communities. It has been identified that exposure to mercury could crystallise in several ways, including, inter alia, dental amalgam fillings and the consumption of contaminated sea food, and more importantly, the dangers of mercury exposure can happen in and outside of built environments. As a result, most individuals are mainly exposed to methyl mercury, an organic compound when they consume fish containing methyl mercury (Merem, Wesley, Isokpehi et al. 2016). Methylmercury also biomagnifies. For example, large predatory fish are more likely to have high levels of mercury as a result of eating many smaller fish that have acquired mercury through ingestion of plankton. People may be exposed to mercury in any of its forms under different circumstances. However, exposure mainly occurs through consumption of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury and through worker inhalation of elemental mercury vapours during industrial processes (WHO, 2017). In sum, given the extreme dangers associated with illegal mining, former President Mahama was absolutely wrong in criticising President Akufo-Addo for doing everything possible to halt the repulsive activities of the illegal miners. K. Badu, UK. [email protected] MGM Resorts chairman and CEO Jim Murren has told the company's board that he is stepping down, prior to his contract ending, the company announced Wednesday. He will serve in his role until a successor is appointed, it said. Murren has been CEO since 2008, and he has been with the casino operator since 1998. MGM shares shot up more than 7% in after-hours trading on the news, but the stock was last up about 4%. MGM has a market value of about $17.3 billion, and its stock has climbed about 17% over the past 12 months. MGM said its board has formed a committee of independent directors to search for a replacement. The U.S. casino operator also withdrew its financial forecast for 2020, as it assesses how the coronavirus epidemic will impact operations. Wealthy Chinese patronage at Macau and Las Vegas make up a good chunk of business and the virus has clamped down travel and closed companies across China. MGM said it suspended operations at its two properties in Macau for a government-mandated 15-day period, which started on Feb. 5 to prevent the spread of the infection locally. MGM added that it was difficult to weigh the fallout of the epidemic on its business as the suspension could be extended and customer traffic could fall further at its properties. "Although the outbreak has been largely concentrated in China, to the extent that the virus impacts the willingness or ability of customers to travel to the company's properties in the U.S., the company's domestic results of operations could also be negatively impacted," MGM said. In Macau, the company said it was posting about $1.5 million in operating expenses daily across both properties, as it kept some non-gaming operations running to support hotel guests. The epidemic, which originated in mainland China and has killed more than 1,100 people, has taken a toll on casino operators as travel restrictions and fear of the virus spreading have led to cancellations of trips in the Far East. "While the coronavirus will clearly have a near-term impact to MGM China, we remain confident that it will not have a long-term impact on our business," the outgoing CEO said on a post-earnings call with analysts. Read the full press release here. Reuters contributed to this report. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GlobalMed, a leading provider of virtual health solutions, today announced that it will be represented in a speaking session: "Transforming Africa's Health Crisis with Telemedicine," at HIMSS20, the health information technology industry's leading annual conference. The education session by Yaya Mbaoua, Chief Executive Officer of The Mbaoua Group and Krystylle Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of TeleMed United, is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, at 11:30 a.m. in the Level III Lecture Hall, W300 of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. To download a photo of Yaya Mbaoua, click here. To download a photo of Krystylle Richardson, click here. Mbaoua used GlobalMed virtual health technology solutions to reach Zimbabwe's rural areas. The session will address the special needs for bringing care to the underserved with consideration of the logistical challenges of a large telehealth deployment. "Telemedicine programs entail getting rural clinics access to specialists. Those clinics usually don't have a resident physician," Mbaoua said. "The best care you typically have is a traveling nurse who would stop there and provide care. Virtual care technologies enable patients in those remote villages to be seen by specialists in more advanced facilities." The session will also give a practical account of the planning, collaboration, and insight needed to implement a clinically effective, on-budget telemedicine program across disadvantaged regions and multiple organizations. Richardson will join Mbaoua by sharing the experience of a small-scale grassroots telemedicine effort in a Ghana village and the big impact it had on its residents. The 60-minute lecture may be eligible for credits from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Visit www.himssconference.org/program/continuing-education/credits for more information. "GlobalMed is proud to showcase our technology and our customers' impressive achievements at HIMSS20," said Joel E. Barthelemy, GlobalMed founder and CEO. "We continue to be amazed at the multitude of ways that virtual health technology is bringing quality care to some of the most rural areas in the world." At HIMSS booth #6089, GlobalMed will showcase upgrades to their virtual health platform including EHR and dynamic integrations and introduce a backpack-sized telemedicine exam station, and lighter, more affordable exam cameras. To schedule a meeting with a virtual health subject matter expert, please go to https://www.globalmed.com/contact-us/ or call +1 (480) 922-0044. About GlobalMed GlobalMed powers the world's largest, most advanced virtual health platform that support a patient at any point in the continuum of care. Providers are enabled with integrative software and data-capturing tools to deliver a complete and accurate patient encounter for evidence-based treatment and improved patient outcomes. Providers looking to manage capacity, reduce costs, and deliver responsible medicine, will get all they need from one platform. With over 25 million consults delivered in 60 countries and specializing in both federal and commercial spaces, GlobalMed's virtual health platform deploys in its highly secure Azure environment and is used worldwide from the VA, DoD, and White House Medical Unit to rural hospitals and villages in Africa. Founded in 2002 by a Marine Corps Reserve Veteran still serving as CEO, GlobalMed is proud to be a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB). Learn more at www.globalmed.com. Media Contact [email protected] 480-664-8412 SOURCE GlobalMed Related Links http://www.globalmed.com A 32-year-old man who felt that Paddy Powers destroyed his life caused 17,500 worth of damage to one of their outlets by smashing 12 55-inch TV screens has been sentenced to two years in jail. Another reason given by Philip Barry, 32, for the damage he caused was so that he would be sent to prison because at the time he had nowhere to live. Garda Aidan Noonan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that within three hours of Barry smashing up the property at Paddy Powers on Cornmarket Street, Cork, on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, he gave himself up to gardai and said that he had caused the damage. Judge Brian OCallaghan made it a condition of the suspension of the last year of the sentence that Philip Barry would stay away from all betting offices in Ireland in perpetuity. Judge OCallaghan described it as a most serious charge. There were other genuine patrons on the premises as well and their wellbeing was put at risk by these actions. The peripheral risk to other people cannot be ignored by this court. The nature of this business cannot influence in any manner the view of this court. Paddy Powers like anyone else are entitled to operate business in a controlled and peaceful manner without attacks from people like you. It was an intentional act on your part to commit an offence so that you could get in to prison and no longer be homeless. The prison service do not exist to look after homeless people. They are there to put criminals in prison. They are not there to provide social support services. But the court cannot condone a genuine reason for criminal activity to get accommodation you were unable to get otherwise and the probation service vindicates what you say. Backdating the sentence to June 5, 2019, the judge said the accused would have to comply with the directions of the probation service in prison and post-release for a further period of three years. You are in last chance saloon with the probation service," the judge said. Allison McCarthy defence barrister said the accused was out of trouble for a substantial period of time. After offences in his early life he committed no crimes between 2009 and 2018. Ms McCarthy said that it showed the effect secure accommodation could have and that this could be taken as an indication for the future when the defendant would be staying in secure accommodation with a relative. When this case first came to court the defendant was asked in his bail application, Have you a problem with Paddy Powers? The defendant who is of no fixed address, replied: Yeah, I gambled. They destroyed most of my life. Philip Barry said this was not his normal behaviour and that it was totally out of character for him. At another stage in his bail application last June, the man said: I had nothing to live for, I had no family, no friends. I did it to try and get some help. I didnt want to be on the streets. I just lost it. Iran's government on Wednesday rejected US allegations that the Islamic republic's satellite programme has a military dimension, days after the failed launch of its latest satellite. "The subject of satellite launch vehicles and satellites is a civilian matter," Defence Minister Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by state agency IRNA. "We could use a satellite for defence purposes, but the satellite launcher is a completely non-defensive subject and it's the definite and absolute right of the Iranian nation. "There is no prohibition in the world" against this satellite programme, he said. Iran attempted on Sunday to launch a satellite dubbed the Zafar -- Farsi for "Victory" -- but it failed to reach orbit. Washington on Tuesday accused Tehran of using satellites as a cover to develop its missile programme. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the technology involved to launch satellites was "virtually identical" to the know-how for long-range ballistic missiles. But Hatami said Iran was only doing the same as "all other countries" with satellite programmes. Iran would press ahead with its satellite programme and planned to launch a new version of the Zafar by early next year, he added. "The Zafar 2, given its weight, will be launched with the Simorgh launcher," Hatami said, referring to the rocket used in Sunday's launch. "We will still do research on the launcher and the satellites and will certainly continue this research until we are stable in this domain and until we are able to do it sustainably. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taika Waititi poses with the Oscar for Adapted Screenplay for "Jojo Rabbit" during the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, Sunday. /EPA-Yonhap By Eric Zorn Before introducing the winners of honorary Oscars during Sunday night's Academy Awards telecast, filmmaker Taika Waititi made a striking announcement. "The Academy would like to acknowledge that tonight we have gathered on the ancestral lands of the Tongva, the Tataviam and the Chumash," said Waititi, who won the award for best adapted screenplay for "Jojo Rabbit." "We acknowledge them as the first peoples of this land on which the motion pictures community lives and works." "It was a huge moment," said Felicia Garcia, proprietor of landacknowledgements.org, a site aimed at helping cultural institutions in particular "recognize and respect Indigenous homelands" that their buildings and grounds now occupy. Such ritual expressions date back thousands of years, particularly in Waititi's native New Zealand, Garcia said. They became very common there and in Australia some 50 years ago, spread to Canada and in the last several years have gained a foothold in the United States, mainly at cultural institution. Waititi then unexpectedly exposed the practice to a mainstream audience of more than 20 million Oscar viewers, many of whom were no doubt left wondering just what to make of it. The point isn't to provoke guilt, said Garcia, a member of the Santa Ynez Chumash tribe and the curator of education at the Indian Arts and Research Center at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, N.M. "Definitely not," she said when we spoke Monday. Land acknowledgments, also called territorial acknowledgments, are aimed at addressing "gaps in the narrative by telling truths about history and the land" and "at breaking down stereotypes" that suggest American Indians are basically all one people. "They are a starting point, not a solution," she said. "The displacement of Indigenous peoples and the devastating effect that forced relocation has had on these communities has been largely hidden within the nationalist narratives," says Garcia's website. "Acknowledgement statements confront institutional legacies as agents of colonialism." Chicago's Field Museum has one: "The Field Museum resides on the traditional homelands of the Three Fires Confederacy: Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi." Northwestern University has one: "Northwestern sits on the original homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Odawa." Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre has one: "We recognize that Steppenwolf Theatre sits on Native land. ... The purpose of recognizing the original inhabitants of a land is to show respect, gratitude, and appreciation to those whose land we reside on, as well as raising awareness about histories that are often erased or forgotten." Garcia said Hollywood was a particularly appropriate place for Waititi's land acknowledgment, "since the film industry is responsible for the spread of stereotypes and misconceptions about indigenous people." And the timing was right, she said, coming as it did a week after the Super Bowl during which the Kansas City Chiefs and their war-whooping fans perpetuated the cartoonish trivializing of American Indian culture. Though ceremonial land acknowledgment strikes me as performative and therefore somewhat empty, I'm all for anything that provokes a more honest reckoning with all that European settlers robbed from the natives. That legacy, and the legacy of slavery, aren't ones that should be whitewashed, ever forgotten or easily reconciled with our national self-image. Waititi said Sunday that he was speaking on behalf of the Academy. If so, we can expect to hear similar expressions from others at the Oscars in years to come and in many other venues as well. And I would remind those tempted to grouse about how "politically correct" it all sounds that an acknowledgment isn't even an apology much less an offer of reparations. It's a statement of historical fact. Not to scold or shame those of us who have benefited from certain ugly elements in our nation's past, Garcia said, but to inspire us "to learn the whole story." Eric Zorn is an op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune. His commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency. The European Parliament on Wednesday backed a tough EU negotiating position with Britain that emphasises access for EU fishing boats and a continued role for the European Court of Justice. The vote, which passed 579 in favour and 24 against, is non-binding but follows the general lines of a mandate whose details are to be finalised by the European Commission and member states ahead of negotiations. The talks aim to work out the future relationship between the EU and Britain following the latter's exit from the bloc two weeks ago. Currently, a transition period running to the end of the year lets Britain operate almost like an EU member state while the negotiations take place. The parliament stated that Britain going forward "must not have the same rights and benefits as a member state of the EU" and yet has to comply with a number of conditions, including following EU norms and standards. But a British government spokesman in London reacted by saying: "The British people voted to be independent with control over our rules and laws, so we will not accept alignment to EU rules in any way." The European Commission's pointman on Brexit, Michel Barnier, who is to handle the negotiations, has already set out many of the conditions the EU is seeking to impose. He has stressed that the EU wants to ensure a "level playing field" with Britain upholding EU norms on labour, the environment, taxes and state aid, as well as a deal to allow EU fishing boats access to UK waters. From next year, London's powerful financial sector will lose its access to the EU market except where the EU grants sub-sector "equivalences" that can be unilaterally withdrawn at short notice, according to Barnier. The EU also wants the ECJ to be the final arbiter deciding issues relating to European law in a future UK accord. The nonbinding resolution passed by the European Parliament on Wednesday enshrines all those issues, and stresses its determination "to prevent any kind of 'dumping' in the framework of the future EU-UK relationship". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani court has convicted Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack, in the case of Terror Funding. The court has sentenced Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed to five years. "Law should be made on population control", says Giriraj Singh After this decision of the court, it is believed that this action has been taken on Hafiz Saeed due to pressure from FATF. FATF has put Pakistan in its gray list and it was under threat of going blacklist. Earlier in December, the charges were framed against Hafiz and his three close associates Hafiz Abdul Salam bin Muhammad, Muhammad Ashraf, and Zafar Iqbal. Kailash Vijayvargiya's controversial tweet "Delhi People you have done amazing work" Jamaat-ud-Dawa is the organization that used to make money for the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pakistan has been targeted by the FATF and the US for its role. It was Lashkar who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people, including six US citizens, were killed. The US has last week to ensure a factual and speedy hearing in the court of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. said. The international community wants to see justice in the Mumbai attack case. Big disclosure: Nepal closes its resort after 08 deaths Education research received mixed support in the Trump Administrations proposed fiscal 2021 budget, which would eliminate several education research programs under the Institute of Education Sciences and other agencies, as well as removing national assessments from the National Center for Education Statistics. The changes are part of the White Houses proposed $66.6 billion budget for the Education Department in fiscal 2021, a 7.8 percent decrease from fiscal 2020. The plan would collapse 29 programsincluding the mammoth Title I funding for educating children in povertyinto one block grant funded at $4.7 billion less than the current total for the programs. For an analysis of the full fiscal 2020 White House budget proposal for education , check out coverage by Andrew Ujifusa and Evie Blad over at Politics K-12. Among the programs slated for consolidation are several major research grants: The proposed budget would eliminate the the $190 million education innovation and research programthe successor to the Obama-era Investing in Innovation grants which the Trump Administration unsuccessfully attempted to use for a huge investment in research on private school vouchers in 2018 . It would also roll up the $55.4 million regional educational labs and the $32.3 million statewide longitudinal data system grants, which have also been on the chopping block in prior years. Federal investments initially made state longitudinal data systems possiblebut the fact that states have built their own systems shouldnt mean that the federal investment disappears, said Paige Kowalski, executive vice president of the Data Quality Campaign. The reality is that states are investing in these systems on their own because they see value in them, but opportunities to build on these systems are hard to justify in a cash-strapped state budget. Its important to have a conversation about what the federal dollars are being used for, and removing the opportunity to use those dollars to let states innovative around the use of education data does not benefit students. IES Changes Advocates expressed concern over the administrations proposed changes to the Institute of Education Science, the independent research arm of the Education Department. The agency is slated to receive $565.4 million in fiscal 2021 under the proposal, a more than 9 percent cut from fiscal 2020. That includes flat funding for research and dissemination in general education, at $196 million, and special education, at $67.3 million. Within IES, the National Center for Education Statistics would receive an additional $3 million, for a total of $113.5 million in fiscal 2021, to increase technical assistance on improving education data privacy. The White House would also provide $188.7 million, an increase of $28 million from fiscal 2020 for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the set of periodic tests known as the Nations Report Card. Im concerned about what appears to be bit of shoehorning in of reauthorization issues into the budget in a way that I will say I have not seen before in my lifeand Im not new to science or to science policy, said Felice Levine, executive director of the American Educational Research Association, the nations largest education research professional group. She noted that IES would separate responsibility for administering the Nations Report Card from NCES, the statistics center, to a new assessment center. Separating assessment from statistics would be a little mystifying, because NCES builds the database and uses the assessment data generated by the NAEP, Levine said. She argued major restructuring should be saved for the long-awaited reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act. I think its a little problematic in an appropriations request. Its not the first time the Trump administration has proposed major restructuring at IES. Back in 2018, the President planned to combine the Education and Labor departments into a new Department as part of larger governmental reorganization. That proposal met a chilly response in Congress. National Science Foundation The Trump administration also proposed that the National Science Foundation would receive more than $7.74 billion in fiscal 2021, a 6.5 percent cut meaning, among other things, that the agency is expected to fund about 400 fewer research grants in fiscal 2021 than the 8,500 it supported in fiscal 2019. Yet the NSFs education and human resources directorate was less scathed than others in the department; under the White House budget, it would receive just under $931 million, or $3.6 million less than the fiscal 2019 budget. That includes about $223.5 million for the divison of research on learning in formal and informal settings, which includes several programs that support study of K-12 education. For example, the $51.9 million STEM+Computing Partnerships would be eliminated. The program is intended to help support research to develop curricular materials, instructional strategies and other interventions that help K-12 teachers and students better integrate computing and technology into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes. But support for core research grants into STEM learning would more than double, from $25.7 million in fiscal 2019 to a proposed $60.8 million. Wendy Naus, the executive director of the Consortium of Social Science Associations, said the White Houses proposal this year provides more support for social sciences research generally than it has in previous years, but voiced concern for plans for the National Science Foundation to prioritize what she called more applied research in areas such as manufacturing and artificial intelligence. It is hard to see how [the National Science Foundation] can support these activities while maintaining budgets for core and disciplinary research in the social sciences and education at the requested funding levels, she said. We remain concerned about any and all efforts to move the agency away from its basic science, curiosity-driven research mission, which has served NSF well throughout its 70-year history. Naus also argued that cuts to programs intended to increase the number of researchers in STEM fields from traditionally underrepresented groups could make it harder in the long run to build a more inclusive pipeline for students into STEM careers. Programs at historically black, Hispanic-serving, and tribal colleges were cut by 10 percent to 78 percent. Related: Do you have a question about education research, or just want to know what the evidence says about that pesky instructional problem? Let me know! Drop me a line at ssparks@epe.org, or Advertisement A little boy given months to live after being diagnosed with a rare brain tumour when his smile changed spent the last weeks of his life completing a bucket list of adrenaline-fuelled activities. Jack Lacey, four, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, died at home on Monday after doctors discovered he had an aggressive cancer called Diffuse Pontine Glioma in February last year. His parents Wesley Lacey, 29, and Rebecca Oldham, 30, were dealt the devastating news after noticing Jacks smile had changed when the tot began grinning only on one side of his face. Determined to give their little boy the best life possible, secondary school teacher Wes and hospital cleaner Rebecca set up a GoFundMe page seeking donations to fulfill his bucket list, which attracted 45,000 after going viral around the world. Now the heartbroken family have thanked the generous benefactors who allowed them to take Jack and his younger sister Lottie, two, on plane and helicopter rides, holidays, trips to Disneyland and rides in supercars and motorbikes before the youngster passed away. Jack Lacey, four, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, died at home on Monday after doctors discovered he had an aggressive cancer called Diffuse Pontine Glioma in February last year. His parents have now thanks the thousands of people who contributed to his bucket list. Pictured: Rebecca Oldham and Wesley Lacey with their son Jack and daughter Lottie on the London Eye Thanks to the generosity of strangers, Jack was able to spend the last months of his life making his dreams come true. Pictured: Jack tearing up the sand dunes on his mini motorbike Wesley said: 'This last year we have lived a crazy life, it has been a life without limits. 'Jack has done more in the last 11 months than most adults do in their entire lives. 'We received messages from people all over the world wanting to help and do things for us. 'If there was anything he wanted in life he got it. 'We just want to say thank you, theres nothing more to say than it wouldnt have been possible without that support. The toddler's heart-broken parents said they could have never finance Jack's bucket list by themselves (pictured riding a canoe in Wales) Wesley, Jack's dad, said eh would remember his son's smile and interests. Pictured meeting Woody from Toy Story at Disneyland Paris Jack was first diagnosed with cancer in March last year after his parents noticed a change in his smile. Pictured: jack in hospital 'Im going to remember his smile, his interest in absolutely everything, his tenacity and strength of willpower, which was just mind boggling. 'Even at deaths door he was still wanting to play and was pretending to steal our noses, but he was so weak he couldnt lift his arms to put them back.' As well as noticing a change in his smile, Jacks parents became concerned when the tot developed a blink and night terrors and then started to walk with his hands in front of him to feel his way around. After a CT scan at Sheffield Childrens Hospital just three weeks later, doctors confirmed Jack had terminal brain cancer and told his devastated family he had an average life expectancy of just one year. Rebecca with Jack, Charlotte and Wesley. Jacks parents became concerned when the tot developed a blink and night terrors and then started to walk with his hands in front of him to feel his way around 'Even at deaths door he was still wanting to play and was pretending to steal our noses, but he was so weak he couldnt lift his arms to put them back,' Wesley said. Pictured: Jack and Rebecca on holiday in Portugal The youngster fought the cancer until the very end, undergoing one round of six-week combined radiation and chemotherapy at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield throughout March last year Medics told the family Jacks cancer was one of the only types of tumour they couldnt operate on because it had grown in such an integral part of his brain. Over the next 11 months, the youngster fought the cancer until the very end, undergoing one round of six-week combined radiation and chemotherapy at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield throughout March last year to help shrink the tumour and stop it growing. Jack died in his dads arms, surrounded by his mum and sister, while looking at photographs of all his incredible memories and adventures over the last year. Jack died in his dads arms, surrounded by his mum and sister, while looking at photographs of all his incredible memories and adventures over the last year Jack Lacey with his family in front of the light aircraft which took them up for a flight over his hometown. Thanks to thousands of pounds in donations, aeroplane-obsessed Jack was also able to enjoy a year filled with countless trips and experiences - completing a bucket list with hundreds of activities Wesley said: 'I never thought this would happen to us - the odds of winning the lottery were higher than getting this brain tumour. 'Our message is, dont get complacent with their lives and just expect your family to be around. 'Live every day like its your last. Everyone is just in their own little bubble and people never think its going to happen to them.' Thanks to thousands of pounds in donations, aeroplane-obsessed Jack was also able to enjoy a year filled with countless trips and experiences - completing a bucket list with hundreds of activities. 'Live every day like its your last. Everyone is just in their own little bubble and people never think its going to happen to them,' Wesley said (pictured helping Jack on a real motorbike after a visit from Sheffield's Hells Angels group in March 2019) Within days of the diagnosis Jacks parents had organised helicopter and aeroplane rides as well as a visit from the Hells Angels bikers in their home city and day trips to Digger World and Peppa Pig World before visiting Disneyland Paris in May, London in November and Gran Canaria last month as well as Portugal, Greece and Wales. The determined couple put their lives on hold, taking the entire year off work to see their eldest child enjoy his final months to the fullest. Wesley said: 'Jacks appeal went viral all around the globe, we had messages and donations from the Philippines, South America, Poland, the USA, Australia and New Zealand. 'It would have cost us a fortune to do this, theres no way we could have done any of it without these donations - my wage only just covers the bills we have to pay in everyday life,' Wesley said. Pictured: Jack on a small plane for a flight over his hometown (left) The heart-broken parents will organise his funeral and decide how to use the remaining donation money in their sons honour (picture with Jack and Charlotte on holiday in Portugal) 'It would have cost us a fortune to do this, theres no way we could have done any of it without these donations - my wage only just covers the bills we have to pay in everyday life. 'You think that you have seen all of the ugly in the world, watching the news and feeling like the world is empty of love. 'But when something truly awful happens people come out of the woodwork that you never would have expected.' Now Jacks body has been transferred to a cold room at Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice in Sheffield, while Wesley and Rebecca say their goodbyes over the next week, organise his funeral and decide how to use the remaining donation money in their sons honour. What is Diffuse Pontine Glioma Pontine gliomas are malignant (cancerous) tumours that originate from the part of the brain known as the brain stem. These tumours grow amongst the normal nerve cells of the brain stem, making them impossible to remove surgically as the brain stem is a vital area of the brain that controls many body functions. Less than 40 children a year develop pontine glioma in the UK. This is around 10-15% of all childhood brain tumours. Symptoms include squinting, swallowing problems, slurred speech, facial weakness, abnormal gait, difficulty with tasks such as handwriting, gradual decline in school work, changes in personality and behaviour. Unfortunately, very few children are cured from pontine glioma. The only proven treatment is radiotherapy, which can improve a childs symptoms in up to 75% of cases. However, the benefit is usually short-lived and the tumour starts to grow again after a few months. Source: Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust Advertisement Wesley said: We are in hell. We cant actually believe hes gone. The message I would give to other parents is to get their kids checked for everything, no matter how small it seems. To donate go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/last-wishes-for-our-beautiful-3-year-old-boy Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 16:43 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2064175b7 1 National equality,UNJ,gender-equality,Instagram,viral,Twitter Free Instagram posts showing blurred photos of female members of a student executive body (BEM) in a state university in Jakarta have stirred debate on social media about gender equality among university students. The controversial pictures were uploaded to the Instagram account of Jakarta State Universitys (UNJ) Engineering School BEM, @bemftunj, showing ghost-like photos of young female students smiling to the camera, their bodies were clearly visible, with bold and bright text showing their names and positions in the organization. While photos of their male counterparts were unedited, a viewer would need to squint their eyes to make out the female members faces. The photos showed members of the BEM committee for its 2020 term. The posts had been removed from the Instagram account as of Wednesday. Read also: Girls take over leadership posts to promote gender equality The blurred pictures have raised concerns among netizens over the poor sense of gender equality among the BEM members. The pictures went viral after Nadya Karima Melati, a cofounder of the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies, tweeted them on her Twitter account @nadyazura. She wrote that the photos shocked her and raised concerns over the quality of higher education that prompted BEM members to blur the pictures of the female members. She went on to say that a similar thing also occurred in the UNJs School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics BEM, where photos of its female members were replaced with anime-style drawings. Thats crazy as it eliminates the role and existence of women from the story, Nadya tweeted on Monday. As of Wednesday afternoon, the tweet had been liked more than 12,000 times. Gw sebagai sejarawan shock banget sama kualitas pendidikan perguruan tinggi negeri yang BEMnya ngeblur foto perempuan pengurus macam BEM Teknik dan MIPA UNJ atau diganti foto perempuannya dengan anime. GILAK ITU NAMANYA PENGHAPUSAN PERAN/EKSISTENSI PEREMPUAN DARI SEJARAH! pic.twitter.com/bPA30daUaA Nadyazura (@Nadyazura) February 9, 2020 Another Twitter user mentioned that similar practices had occurred in other departments of the university as well. There are more like this in [the university]. Why has gender-based discrimination become common culture on the campus? Twitter user @novalauliady tweeted, while attaching several screenshots from other student bodies within the UNJ. BEM FT dan BEM FMIPA UNJ bukan satu satunya yang melakukan penghilangan/pemudaran anggota perempuannya. Masih banyak di UNJ yang begini. Kenapa ya diskriminasi berbasis gender jadi budaya di kampus? pic.twitter.com/lWsxcapTKI ig: ultrafragile (@novalauliady) February 11, 2020 Responding to the brouhaha, UNJ Engineering School BEM chairman Ibrahim Katoni Baurekso denied that the body blurred the pictures of the female members. We only decreased the pictures clarity, he said on a letter signed on Monday, posted on the BEMs Instagram account. He added that there were female members in the organization who did not want their pictures to be published. This led to a deal between the female members to reduce their pictures clarity upon publishing. It is not true that there is feminism, patriarchy, sexism at UNJ Engineering Schools BEM as mentioned by other people, Ibrahim went on to say. As of Wednesday, no female BEM members had made any statement regarding the brouhaha. Read also: Discourse: RI, Australia face similar challenges in gender equality: Envoy Some Twitter users showed support for the student body, highlighting that people should respect what the female BEM members wanted. Twitter user @Miptahparidi_, who claimed to be one of UNJ Chemistry Education Department's BEM members, wrote that several female members believed publishing their pictures was equal to showing their aurat, or parts of the body that should not be exposed to sight. We have to be open minded, dont we? This means we respect other peoples choices. We shouldnt feel like we have the most extensive insight and those who are not in line with our insight are wrong. [] That is not open minded, but forcing your opinion, he said. He added that the practice of blurring female members pictures or replacing them with cartoon illustrations had been common practice for the past few years at UNJ. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 14:23 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20640e9d1 1 Business JETRO,productivity,manufacturing-industry,Japan,Singapore,Malaysia,Thailand,Vietnam,ASEAN,labor-intensive-industry,workforce Free Indonesias productivity in the manufacturing industry is lower than that of its peers in Southeast Asia, a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has found. The survey captured Japanese companies' perception of the business climate in 20 countries in Asia and Oceania, including in Indonesia, in which the companies have affiliations. According to the survey, Indonesias manufacturing plants productivity only scored 74.4 with an assumption that the respondents Japanese companies productivity was 100. The countrys score is lower than that of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam of 86.3, 82.7, 80.1 and 80.0, respectively. Indonesias productivity is also lower than that of Laos and Malaysia, which stood at 76.7 and 76.2, respectively. If we look at the figure, I also want to point out that Indonesias productivity is below the ASEAN [average productivity score] of 78.2, said JETROs Jakarta senior director, Wataru Ueno, during his presentation on Tuesday. The government is striving to enhance the countrys workforce skills and productivity by developing vocational training centers, allocating more state budget funds for human resources developing and preparing a pre-employment card program to provide training incentives for workers, among other measures. Indonesia needs at least 113 million skilled workers by 2030 to achieve economic growth in priority sectors, such as manufacturing, infrastructure and agribusiness almost double the current number of skilled workers, according to the Research and Technology Ministrys calculations. One of the main reasons why Indonesias industry lags behind Thailand or Vietnam is the formers dependence on commodities that hampers manufacturing sector development, Ueno explained further in a text message on Wednesday. Due to free trade agreements, many industrial products are exported to Indonesia, so the private sector chooses to invest in the resources sector, not the manufacturing sector, and avoids competition with [Chinese products], he added. He also highlighted the countrys lack of human resources, especially engineers. The survey also revealed that Indonesia had the best productivity only in precision machinery where it scored at 100.25. Indonesias productivity also exceeds Vietnam in only three industries, namely wood and pulp, general machinery and precision machinery, Ueno said. JETRO also surveyed the appropriateness of minimum wage set by the local government from the perspective of productivity. More than half of the Japanese companies said they were not satisfied with the minimum wage from the perspective of productivity and this also happened in Cambodia. So as I explained, Cambodia and Indonesias productivity is very low, while the wage increase ratio is very high, said Ueno. JETRO senior director Takenobu Yamashiro said the survey compiled answers from 13,458 respondents from Aug. 26 Sep. 24, 2019. In Indonesia alone, 614 companies took part in the survey. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This Presidents Day weekend, Amerisleep announces exciting deals on their popular mattresses, thoughtfully designed to enhance sleep quality. Amerisleep's 2020 Presidents Day Mattress Sale features a $250 discount off mattresses purchased through their website or in-store. It brings the starting price of these premium mattresses down to $599. The brand offers five different mattresses ranging from firm to soft to meet individual sleeper needs. Customers may apply the coupon code "PRESDAY250" at checkout for the discount. When shopping in-store, you have the option to receive a $250 discount off of a mattress set, instead. If you're interested in an adjustable base, this is the better deal for you. The AS3 mattress, Amerisleep's best selling bed, is medium in firmness and provides the perfect support for different sleep positions. Its adaptability makes it a favorite amongst our customersaccounting for an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 15,000 verified reviews. During the Presidents Day event the AS3 will be priced at $1149 for a queen size mattress and $1449 for a king size mattress. Three out of the five Amerisleep mattresses are available in a newly launched hybrid form as well. The AS2, AS3, and AS5 are now available as hybrids each model features a layer of pocketed coils serving as a targeted pressure relief system. Every Amerisleep mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 20-year limited warranty. All their mattresses have Amerisleep's proprietary Bio-Pur, a plant-based memory foam with enhanced breathability and responsiveness. Its Celliant covers safely turns body heat into infrared energypromoting a temporary increase in local blood flow. All Amerisleep mattresses are made in the USA. Complete your new sleeping environment by taking advantage of this special offer. The Presidents Day Sale launches on February 11th and runs through February 17th. All orders within the continental United States receive free shipping and free returns. You can shop through Amerisleep's mobile-friendly website or visit their stores during this weeklong sale. Customers are invited to visit the brand's retail showrooms in Arizona (Scottsdale Optima Camelview, Gilbert SanTan Village, Glendale Arrowhead Towne Center, Tucson La Encantada), Colorado (Lone Tree Park Meadows, Denver Cherry Creek), Texas (Austin Domain NORTHSIDE, Fort Worth The Shops at Clearfork, Houston Baybrook Mall and The Galleria, Katy LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch), and Oregon (Portland Washington Square). SOURCE Amerisleep Related Links https://www.amerisleep.com As black history month unfolds, and we pause to reflect on the difficult legacy of racism in America, there's one conversation that's especially pertinent to entrepreneurs: Why to hire formerly incarcerated people. Not only is it a principled stand to create job opportunities for the formerly incarcerated. It's also smart business. My personal understanding of this issue is derived from my upbringing as a black boy in Washington DC during the 1980s. It was a sad era marred by excessive sentencing that disproportionately affected black Americanssomething that most of the country agrees about now. We have the largest criminal justice system in the world, with three thousand prisons and jails housing 2.2 million people at an annual cost of $250 billion. Fractured and driven by private interests, our prison system is astronomically expensive, and ineffective. Prison reform is just the beginning The wheels of change are starting to turn, albeit slowly. The Trump administrations 2018 First Step Act, as well as state reforms across the country, aim to reduce prison sentences and reform the bail system. But the name of Trumps bill is accurate: Its only the first step, and we need to think many steps ahead. As more and more people are released from jail and prison, they need a fair shot at integrating back into society. Formerly incarcerated people need housing, healthcare, and most importantly, jobs. And as an entrepreneur overseeing a credit platform that manages billions of dollars, Ive seen the economic benefits for investors and corporate borrowers who increase employment opportunities for marginalized citizens. There is simply no business case for ignoring the swell of human capital emerging from a system operated at unsustainably high costs to taxpayers. Related: Unlocked Potential: From Incarceration to Entrepreneurship The economy needs formerly incarcerated workers The truth is, our country produces too few skilled workers to meet the demands of modern industry. I hear this daily from CEOs and I see it in my portfolio companies. Bureau of Labor and Statistics data found 2 million job vacancies went unfilled in 2019. But six hundred thousand people were released from American prisons and jails in 2019 alone. CEOs like Ron Bergamini of the waste collection business Action Carting are catching on. Bergaminis business employs 1,300 people. He uses a variety of recruiting methods, but after having a number of positive experiences with formerly incarcerated employees, he began accepting applications from job placement organizations focused on criminal justice reform. I have never met a business leader who believes finding good people is easy, he told me. The folks we meet through second chance programs are eager to learn and work. We offer middle class wages for professions in short supply nationwidecommercial truck drivers and mechanics. Any initial reluctance on our part to hire these folks is long gone. Some second chance workers have been with us nearly a decade. Workforce training needs to happen inside and outside of prisons Citizens returning home from incarceration should receive a warm welcome from employers, not a life sentence of exclusionary hiring practices. Now is the time to confront fears and prejudices in the workplace about people who have served time. But in addition to company recruiting practices, prisons should offer expanded human resource programs that prepare returning citizens for the workplace in advance. Investing in job training and skill development programs in local prisons and jails makes economic sense. Our domestic workforce is aging and living longer, so expanding the universe of job candidates provides a hedge against Americas demographic erosion. And data shows that higher education in prisons reduces the rates of recidivism. A bipartisan bill working its way through Congress now, called the Restoring Education and Learning Act (REAL Act), would allow incarcerated individuals to use Pell Grants to fund their college education while in prison, reversing a 1994 ban against Pell Grants for incarcerated people. Related: What Budding Entrepreneurs Can Learn From a Nonprofit Helping ... The government, the education system, and the business sector all have a role to play Successful in-prison education efforts so far include the Bard Prison Initiative, which provides college courses, and the National Restaurant Association, which offers food and beverage industry training. And once incarcerated individuals get out, there are a number of socially conscious business venturesthe Society of Human Resource Management, Dave Killer Bread Foundation and Morgan Stanleyactively working to help companies develop best practices and roadmaps for accessing and developing returning citizens. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. I am fortunate to be involved in the Georgetown University Pivot Program, an innovative partnership between the DC government and the Georgetown School of Business. Returning citizens enter a year-long program offering professional skills training and college-level coursework in business and entrepreneurship, along with an internship and an assigned mentor. Of the first graduating class, not a single participant has re-offended and virtually all are employed. The business sector, the government, and the higher education system should work together. The results will benefit the government, taxpayers, and the economy. Preparing people to leave the criminal justice system before release and contemplating their re-entry to society befits a system intent on reform, not punishment. Helping shrink the system by hiring returning citizens is an act of patriotism. It acknowledges the long shadow cast by mass incarceration on the economy and society, and instead of shrinking away, moves forward to build a better future for all of us. Related: How to Employ the Formerly Incarcerated to Help Grow Your Business Related: Hiring Formerly Incarcerated Employees Helps Your Bottom Line 3 Ways to Support Minority-Owned Businesses From 25 Cents to $25,000 and Beyond: How 15 African-American Entrepreneurs Funded Their Businesses Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Here are two scenes from the same drama. The first scene takes place in California, where the states public university system now requires prospective faculty members to make a statement affirming their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion an officially politically neutral trinity that is widely suspected to be conterminous with progressive notions of what counts as diversity and what sort of inclusion matters. At the University of California, Berkeley, the states flagship school, a recent investigation found that these dont-call-them-loyalty-oaths are being used to cull job applications across multiple departments. In one case in the life sciences, Robby Soave of Reason reported, a pool of 894 candidates was narrowed down to 214 based exclusively on whether their statements cleared the diversity-and-inclusion ideological bar. The second scene takes place across the country, in Washington, D.C., where the Trump administration has drafted an executive order that would give precedence to classical architectural forms in the construction of federal buildings and give local communities and nonexperts a stronger influence over designs. This would reverse a 1960s policy that discourages an official style and favors expert control over the building process, on the grounds that design must flow from the architectural profession to the government and not vice versa. While the University of Californias project of ideological exclusion appears mostly of interest to heterodox academics and conservatives, the Trump draft order has inspired a general media freakout, with editorial pages joining architects in denouncing the idea of political control over political buildings. But these two stories, Californian and Trumpian, belong together because they illustrate the evolution of the culture war. Over the last generation, our nations elite cultural institutions have become more themselves, which is to say they have passed from being mostly liberal to being monolithically so, with strong internal forces like Berkeleys litmus tests pulling them left and no countervailing power remaining on the right. Over the same period, in a trend that obviously feeds into and is fed by the first one, conservative politics has become more populist and anti-intellectual, and conservative voters have become more hostile to universities, the media and other organs of the intelligentsia. This has sharpened one of our many forms of polarization. Conservatives have political power but feel shut out of cultural power, and liberals have cultural power but lack the political power to match. The second half of the equation explains the current liberal fascination with novel forms of political hardball, to make the most of the Democratic Partys next rendezvous with power ranging from mild ideas like abolishing the filibuster to more extreme plans for state-adding, court-packing and Electoral College abolition. But this liberal yearning has its mirror image in the Trump-era conservative desire for cultural hardball for ways to use the power the right still enjoys, the power over laws and budgets, to either regain influence in the commanding heights of culture or weaken the institutions that dominate those heights. As an example of this combative thinking, the conservative intellectual journal National Affairs recently published an essay by Arthur Milikh urging the right to effectively defund the university system cutting subsidies, ending student loan financing and removing tax exemptions. If major public universities are explicitly imposing progressivism as an orthodoxy, the thinking goes, with diversity-and-inclusion statements as the equivalent of a faith profession at a seminary, then why should right-of-center politicians vote to keep them funded? Milikhs sweeping proposal isnt likely to be adopted, but higher education funding cuts championed by Republican governors and the GOP tax reforms bite out of high-dollar endowments represent a more modest version of this impulse. And a similar impulse lies behind the Trump architecture order: Its a repudiation of the idea that there exists some neutral community of cultural expertise to which Republican presidents as well as Democrats should defer, and its a deliberate attempt to use the power of the public purse to shift the balance of power within a specific culture industry. As such, its an act that deepens polarization, by elevating a new culture-war issue. But it also points to one plausible way that polarization might ultimately diminish: not through mutual disarmament, but through the fruitful use of power against power, so that different ideologies balance one another in different spheres and it becomes easier for Americans of all political persuasions to invest in their institutions once again. @DouthatNYT HiPerChill "L" Package Chiller Dairy farmers are always looking for new ways to improve operating efficiencies, says Chris Ancipink, Dairy Farm Equipment Product Manager at Paul Mueller Company. We kept this top of mind when we created the Mueller Milk Tower wash system. Paul Mueller Company introduces two new products to its Dairy Farm Equipment lineup at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, February 11-13, 2020. Visitors can view the HiPerChill L package chiller and the Mueller Milk Tower wash system, both designed to meet the needs of growing dairy operations. Continued market changes in the United States dairy industry have led to more and more farm consolidations. These larger farms demand equipment with increased capacities. Our new HiPerChill L package chiller helps meet these cooling demands, says Mike Mills, General Manager of Dairy Farm Equipment at Paul Mueller Company. The HiPerChill L package chiller handles a consistent high milk flow rate of 20 to 40 gallons per minute, with running capacities of 30 to 100 horsepower. Minimal plumbing requirements, as well as factory startup refrigerant charge and control settings, make it easy to install. Onboard diagnostics, system alerts, alert history, and remote monitoring capabilities add convenience for farmers. Dairy farmers are always looking for new ways to improve operating efficiencies, says Chris Ancipink, Dairy Farm Equipment Product Manager at Paul Mueller Company. We kept this top of mind when we created the Mueller Milk Tower wash system. It provides a convenient, thorough wash cycle, and its control also lets farmers perform and monitor maintenance cooling. The Mueller Milk Tower wash system makes cleaning easy. The wash system, sized especially for the Mueller Milk Tower, provides a quick fill, consistent built-in chemical dosing, and short, efficient wash cycles for quick turnaround times. The wash systems maintenance cooling function, able to operate under high ambient temperatures for extended periods of time, gives farmers more flexibility in their milk pickup schedule. Farmers also benefit from the wash systems HiPerForm Plus control featuring MilkSecure technology to support a cloud-based interface. Remote monitoring reports the status of milk cooling systems to dairy producers including milk volume, milk temperatures, equipment alerts, and more. Data recording helps validate cleaning cycles for regulatory compliance and the controls touch screen interface is available in multiple languages to meet the needs of global markets. Dairy farmers are encouraged to interact with both new products at World Ag Expo booths DS79 and DS80. Paul Mueller Company is headquartered in Springfield, Missouri with manufacturing and sales operations in Iowa, The Netherlands, and Vietnam. Paul Mueller Company employees build innovative processing equipment for dairy farms and a wide variety of other applications in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical facilities worldwide. For more information about Paul Mueller Company products, visit paulmueller.com. There is now a question of whether coronavirus has a longer incubation period than previously believed. Chinese media now reports that one patient was diagnosed 42 days after she returned home from Wuhan. A new study, led by Zhong Nanshan, Chinas top coronavirus expert, found one patient with an incubation period as long as 24 days. Zhong is a renowned scientist that helped control the SARS outbreak in 2003. But a U.S. expert remains skeptical. Wed like to know how it is they can be so sure that there were not other exposures of those individuals to the coronavirus, said Dr. William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, because such a long incubation period would undoubtedly present a larger challenge to the whole public health effort. The frequency of the long incubation period is also in question. It may only happen very, very rarely. But regardless, if that is possible. It makes the public health effort more difficult, said Dr. Schaffner. Chinese officials have said that coronavirus patients can be infectious before showing symptoms, but Dr. Schaffner says that hasnt been confirmed by the United States since American scientists havent seen Chinas data. Although its biologically plausible, the question is whether its common for the virus to spread that way, or if it only happens occasionally. For now, its still unclear. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has said the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region is in the focus of the Russian government. Russia has always taken an active mediating position. The Karabakh issue remains in the focus of attention of the Russian president and the foreign minister, told RIA Novosti agency on February 12. As Rudenko stressed, assistance to the parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is one of Russias unconditional foreign policy priorities. Among the documents signed with the direct assistance of Russia is the 1994 ceasefire agreement that has been so far the basis for truce, Rudenko added. Recalling Russia's mediation efforts, he described as an important step the adoption of the Moscow Declaration in 2008, which is about political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is the first and so far the only document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia," he emphasized. Rudenko further told that Russia carries out its mediation mission in close contact with the U.S. and French partners. He reminded that in April 2019, in Moscow, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov organized a meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian FMs, and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs also participated there. At this meeting, in continuation of the agreements reached between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Vienna last year, specific proposals were worked out aimed at creating an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of the substantive negotiation process on the conflicts settlement, he stated. As for the situation on the border and the contact line of the troops, Rudenko informed that it remains relatively calm. There is communication line between Yerevan and Baku. The parties declare their readiness to continue the search for compromise solutions. We support this attitude. There is a basis for continuing work. The main thing is to show political will, Rudenko concluded. Russia has significant potential to provide substantial impact on the course of events in the Caucasus, in particular, on the settlement of Karabakh conflict. Today, Russia is one of Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which spearheads the OSCEs efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Russia, along with other co-chairing countries the US and France has been mediating the peaceful resolution of the conflict since the signing of a temporary cease-fire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1994. Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijans breakaway region which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. To this day, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions. THE BIG GOODBYE Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood By Sam Wasson Fifty years ago, the screenwriter Robert Towne said to his girlfriend, I want to write a movie for Jack. He meant Nicholson in those days, and possibly even now, there is only one Jack who had just had his breakout role in Easy Rider. A detective movie, Towne explained. Maybe Jane Fonda for the blonde. He knew he wanted to set it in Los Angeles before the war, like a Raymond Chandler novel. But that was about the extent of it. When he told Nicholson, the actor naturally asked, Whats it about? I dont know, Towne admitted. Water. This exchange appears in The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, by Sam Wasson. Not exactly the seminal Rosebud story one hopes to discover in a new history of a favorite film. Still, from that modest inception, great things did come. Four years later, Paramount Pictures released Chinatown, written by Towne, directed by Roman Polanski, produced by Robert The Kid Stays in the Picture Evans. (Faye Dunaway, not Jane Fonda, played the blonde.) And now, almost a half-century later, Chinatown routinely appears on the short lists of best Hollywood films, whether theyre generated by the American Film Institute or the BBC. One panel of British film critics even voted it the single best film of all time. Chinatowns murky and amoral plot involving a corrupt web of stolen water rights and sleazy land development, behind which lurk the even darker sins of murder and incest resonated with demoralized Watergate-era audiences. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, the film lost for best picture of 1974 to Godfather II, but Towne won for best original screenplay. The Big Goodbye is part of a welcome and newish publishing trend: deeply researched and elaborately subtitled books about a single movie, which explore and reframe the film as an inflection point within the broader culture. Three recent and admirable examples are Well Always Have Casablanca: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywoods Most Beloved Movie, by Noah Isenberg; The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in Hollywood, and the Making of a Legendary Film, by W. K. Stratton; and High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic, by Glenn Frankel. S taff at a Superdrug store were left stunned after a badger fell through the ceiling and landed behind a counter. The furry adventurer crept into the shop in Northampton, before dropping down from a ceiling panel to the shock of workers and customers on Sunday. The frightened female scuttled away and hid herself within the store before local conservationists, the Northamptonshire Badger Group, were called in to rescue her. One of the lead volunteers, Sally Jones, told the BBC it was "the oddest rescue we've ever had". The furry drop-in was caught on CCTV inside the store / Grosvenor Shopping Northampton She said they had no idea how the young badger got into the shop, which was closed to the public at the time. "There were four of our members there to catch the badger and we are really perplexed as to how it got into the Grosvenor Centre," she added. The group, which protects the welfare of badgers across Northamptonshire, understands the nocturnal animal may have entered via ducts in the back of the shop. Staff said the badger hit the floor and before trundling off looking a bit dazed". Ms Jones told the BBC that by the time the group arrived to rescue the badger "there were perfume bottles strewn over the floor". She explained they were able to capture her and assess her for injuries before releasing her to a safe location. The Nigerian Academy of Science at its Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on Thursday, February 6, appointed a professor, Ekanem Braide, as President-elect. Ms Braide, who is the immediate past Vice-President of the Academy, will be the first female president of the Academy in 43 years of existence when she takes over office in January 2021. Ms Braide, a professor of Parasitology/Epidemiology was a member of the national committee that achieved the laudable feat of guinea worm eradication in Nigeria. She has a rich professional experience as a researcher and an administrator. She is a former Vice-Chancellor at Nassarawa State University, Lafia. She will take over from Mosto Onuoha (Professor of pure and applied geophysics) and will lead the Academy in achieving an improved quality of life for the Nigerian society through the promotion and application of science and technology; as well as strengthen the nations ability to deliver the fruits of science to society by the acquisition, growth, and dissemination of sound scientific knowledge and facilitation of its use in the solution of major national problems. Abubakar Sambo (Professor of Mechanical Engineering) is the new Vice-President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. He took over from Ms Braide at the recently held Annual General Meeting. Mr Sambo is a former Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, and is currently the chairman of the Ministerial Task Force on Power serving as advisory team on policies and innovative technologies. The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) was established in 1977. The Academy is the foremost independent scientific body in Nigeria dedicated to the development and advancement of science, technology, and innovation in Nigeria and brings scientific knowledge to positively guide policies/strategic direction of the country. Source: Dr M. Oladoyin Odubanjo Executive Secretary Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. Theres no bad blood between us, as long as you promise to subscribe to this newsletter. John Carreyrou was back in San Francisco last week. For the 50th time or so, he guessed. I met the former Wall Street Journal reporter fresh from SFO, on his way to a speaking engagement at Dominican University at San Rafael. He said hed been traveling to San Francisco about 10 times a year since he began reporting the story of Theranos, the blood-testing startup once worth $9 billion, in 2015. Theranos is gone, and its CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, faces a criminal trial this summer over charges that she misled investors and patients over the accuracy of her companys tests. Holmes claimed Theranos had proprietary devices that could detect disease with a drop of blood; in fact, its technicians fed diluted samples through industry-standard testing equipment. The company notified patients and doctors in 2016 that it was voiding two years of test results. Soon afterwards, some patients filed a lawsuit, saying the inaccurate results led to incorrect diagnoses of blood conditions, autoimmune diseases and even cancer, among other errors. Carreyrou never spoke to Holmes, he told me, though he tried repeatedly to get her to talk to him for a series of articles in the Journal and the book that emerged from his reporting, Bad Blood. The paperpack version is out now the hardback came out before her indictment but the last chapter of Bad Blood, Carreyrou said, has not yet been written. He may have a chance to get face to face with Holmes this summer, when her trial is expected to begin. Carreyrou said he plans to attend. I asked Carreyrou what he would ask Holmes, if given the chance. What were you thinking? he said. Didnt you worry about the patients? If you believe her legal arguments in the criminal case, the answer is no. Holmes is accused of wire fraud, and her lawyers argue that because patients didnt directly pay Theranos instead, it was reimbursed for tests by insurers Holmes and the company cannot be accused of a financial fraud against them. Her legal team is seeking dismissal of the charges on those grounds. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle 2015 Carreyrou worries that Silicon Valley has not learned any lessons from Theranos. I hear people say Theranos was an outlier, he said. I dont think you have an Elizabeth Holmes without the culture she marinated in. I am a bit more sanguine than Carreyrou that techs heartland has taken the tale of Theranos to heart. A black turtleneck, blond wig and striking makeup make an instant Halloween costume in San Francisco. And why wait until October? On Feb. 22, a San Francisco nightclub will host Theracon 2020, the first annual Elizabeth Holmes tribute party. If you dont want to dress up as Holmes, Theranos logowear is available on eBay. 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 #DeleteFacebook Its lame. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, taking a shot at fellow billionaire Mark Zuckerbergs creation on Twitter Coming up Cisco and Nvidia report earnings this week. While it wont show up in the prior quarters numbers, look for the companies to provide forecasts for the impact of the coronavirus on their supply chains and customer demand. What Im reading Dan Primack on how a lack of focus led to the fall of SoftBank-backed e-commerce startup Brandless. (Axios) Shwanika Narayan on the status of Bay Area companies manufacturing in China. (San Francisco Chronicle) Biz Carson on Uber employees surprise IPO tax bills. (Protocol) 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 On a Tuesday evening in early January, several Texas lawmakers convened at the Austin Club, an ornate and ritzy venue three blocks from the Capitol, for a fundraiser in support of state Rep. Briscoe Cain. Among the attendees were House Republicans Dan Huberty and Drew Springer, members who typically do not align with hardline conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus like Cain. The guest list at Cains soiree illustrates the broad support he has received from Republican colleagues in his primary battle against Baytown Councilman Robert Hoskins, who is running as a moderate alternative to the incumbent lawmaker with the backing of nearly every mayor in the east Harris County district. Hoskins has not drawn support, however, from moderate House Republicans who in prior election cycles might have opposed firebrand incumbents. Though partly a product of the Texas GOPs newfound aversion to primary infighting, lawmakers and Capitol observers said Cains widespread support also stems from his ability to more deftly navigate the Legislature last session. A reliable antagonist of former House speaker Joe Straus, Cain, R-Deer Park, switched up his approach under Straus successor, Angleton Republican Dennis Bonnen. After working closely with the speaker on certain issues during the 2019 session, Cain privately supported him amid last years scandal in which Bonnen sought to exchange media access for help targeting certain Republican incumbents. Bonnen announced in October he would not seek re-election. Under Bonnen's speakership last session, a number of House Republicans "felt much more comfortable and were able to represent our districts and be much more effective, and I think Briscoe definitely fit that category, Springer, R-Muenster, said earlier this week. Though Cain may have softened his tone from the 2017 session, there is little evidence he has moderated the austere conservative ideology that made him a darling of grass-roots activists and propelled him to an upset primary win in 2016. During the 2019 legislative session, Cain advocated for the state to chip in $2.5 billion for a border wall, proposed to outlaw abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected and in September got kicked off Twitter for saying his AR-15 is ready in response to Democrat Beto ORourkes call for a mandatory buy-back of assault-style weapons. Hoskins said he is challenging Cain in part because the Deer Park Republican has proven unwilling to work with local governments on issues in Austin. That has forced officials from Baytown and other cities to seek help from representatives in neighboring districts, said Hoskins, who has been endorsed by the mayors of Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte and Pasadena, all of which are in Cains House District 128. More information Briscoe Cain Elective office held: Texas House District 128 state representative since 2017 Occupation: lawyer at Fulton Strahan Group, PLLC Age: 35 Robert Hoskins Elective office held: Goose Creek CISD trustee, 2005 to 2011; Baytown city councilman since 2011 Occupation: Training specialist at Enterprise Products Age: 62 See More Collapse Its very obvious the rep has his own agenda, Hoskins said. Also backing Hoskins are five of the six Deer Park city council members, and four of his colleagues on the Baytown city council. Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said Hoskins has a deep understanding of the unique relationship between residents and the energy industry, which has been the recent source of dangerous fires and explosions but also employs many residents in the district. Hoskins has worked for 37 years at a midstream oil and gas company in Baytown. You dont want to have to be explaining to somebody why you need help with this issue in Austin, Mouton said. And with Robert having an extensive amount of experience as an industry employee, he gets that. Cain shrugged off Hoskins endorsements. Of course, my opponent is backed by politicians who don't want to lower property taxes and who want to use taxpayer money to hire lobbyists to represent them, not the taxpayers, Cain said, contending that his own supporters Gov. Greg Abbott and the NRA, among others want a hardworking honest conservative who will fight for their values. Though hardly a factor in his primary, Cains decision to affiliate with Bonnen and House leadership last session has strained his relations with some of the grass-roots conservatives who previously had lauded his uncompromising, rabble-rouser approach to politics. That tension emerged publicly in late January after the Texas Tribune reported that Bonnen had contributed $15,000 to seven House members, including Cain. Michael Quinn Sullivan, chief executive of the Tea Party-aligned group Empower Texans, took aim at the members for accepting the cash, deploying the hashtag #TeamCorruptAustinSewer. In response, Cain said Republican donors contributed the money to Bonnens political action committee for the specific purpose of helping Republicans. This wasn't really Bonnen's (money) in that sense, Cain said. What would be criminal is for Bonnen to hold onto the money and let House members get hurt, like Straus did when 12 members lost in 2018. Bonnens detractors were not buying it. Nice spin ... but no, tweeted Luke Macias, Cains former political consultant. Hours later, Sullivan linked to a post on Empower Texans affiliated site, Texas Scorecard, about the Bonnen contributions. The story noted that Cain received a contribution in late 2019 from Lubbock state Rep. Dustin Burrows, Bonnens accomplice in the backroom offer. Cain again responded to Sullivan one of his early backers in 2016 by tweeting #fratricide. On Monday, Cain argued that his less incendiary approach during the 2019 session did not come at the expense of his conservative values. I found common ground with other members who I worked with to fight for Hurricane Harvey relief, property tax reforms, and common-sense laws that allow us to better secure our churches and schools, all while continuing to be ranked the most conservative member by a non-partisan Rice University study, he said. In a statement, Bonnen said Cain has been shaking up the system as an outspoken although often dissenting force for the conservative movement and has evolved into a brilliantly effective lawmaker in recent years, one who is unapologetically principled and rock-solid in his convictions. Another possible explanation for Cains wide support from the House GOP Caucus is the impending speakers race to succeed Bonnen. That contest, by all accounts, remains wide open. Everybody's a candidate until they say they're not, so everyone's making friends as fast and furiously as they know how, said Bill Miller, a longtime GOP lobbyist in Austin. And showing up at a colleague's fundraiser and letting their name be used for an incumbent, it's just good politics and smart politics. jasper.scherer@chron.com A lorry driver wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated container in Essex has been granted permission to appeal against his extradition to the UK. A High Court judge ruled concerns raised by Eamonn Harrison in relation to the European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities justify examination by a higher court. Mr Justice Donald Binchy said it is in the public interest to explore the issues, noting that they transcend the facts of Harrisons case and could have ramifications for other extradition proceedings. Harrison, from Mayobridge, Co Down, is wanted for his alleged role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men, all Vietnamese nationals, were found on an industrial park in Grays in the early hours of October 23 last year. The 23-year-old, who was arrested at Dublin Port days after the discovery in England, is alleged to have driven the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium and later signed the shipping notice for it. The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking to prosecute Harrison for 41 offences 39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one human trafficking offence, and one count of assisting unlawful immigration. Harrisons lawyers claimed there were manifest errors in the original warrant. They contend that when additional information was sought from UK authorities, it was provided by the CPS, when it should have been issued by a judicial authority namely a judge in Essex. Judge Binchy said there is a need to explore the points raised in a higher court. He formally made an order granting Harrisons extradition to the UK, but placed a stay on the execution of that order pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. He said: I formally place a stay on the execution of the order pending the appeal. Harrison, who is represented in court by senior counsel Siobhan Stack and junior counsel Tony McGillicuddy, has 14 days to lodge his appeal with the Court of Appeal. Dressed in a purple jumper and jeans, he gave a thumbs up to solicitor Paul Tiernan after the ruling was delivered this morning. He was further remanded in custody pending the appeal. The newly appointed head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said that he plans to discuss with head of the parliamentary faction of the Servant of the People David Arakhamia the resonant statement of the latter about the possibility of resuming water supply to the temporarily occupied Crimea, and also stated that he himself didn't discuss this issue with deputy head of Russia's presidential administration Dmitry Kozak. "Regarding David Arakhamia's statement, it was such a difficult day yesterday, that is why I could only read about it on the Internet yesterday. Therefore, today I hope to see David, ask him what he had in mind. But I can tell you that yesterday it was David Arakhamia's personal opinion," he said at a briefing at the President's Office on Wednesday. Answering the question whether he discussed with Kozak the issue of resuming water supplies to the occupied Crimea, Yermak said: "No. Never." Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 61F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. A new University of Liverpool spin out company, CageCapture, has secured 300k funding from Innovate UK to take forward technology to remove toxic pollutants from the air. CageCapture has been formed to commercialise a new cage-based material invented by Dr Ming Liu and Professor Andrew Cooper at the University's Materials Innovation Factory. They designed and synthesised new cage molecule solids that act like a 'cage prison' and can capture low concentration pollutants using a combination of chemical and physical adsorption. The patented technology has been proven to efficiently capture the most common indoor air pollutant, formaldehyde, at both high and low levels and even in humid conditions. Formaldehyde is often released as a pollutant from building materials such as paint and plasterboard, as well as many other household products. It is believed to cause various health problems and is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by WHO. The Innovate UK funding will be used to develop an in-house formaldehyde testing facility to validate the new technology and to explore other applications for the new technology including different pollutants. Dr Ming Liu said: "CageCapture is an exciting new spin out company which has been created to commercialise new cage materials which were developed through our research. "Our technology has been proven in the lab to be more effective at capturing formaldehyde than current methods and this new funding will help us to take this forward and actively pursue collaborators to scale-up manufacturing of the new material." Professor Anthony Hollander, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact at the University of Liverpool, said: "The University's Materials Innovation Factory is known for its world-class research in advanced materials and CageCapture is an excellent example of how leading academic research can be translated into commercial ventures, contributing to economic growth and creating an impact." CageCapture has been awarded a total of 298,754 funding via Innovate UK with matched funding from the University's Enterprise Investment Fund, through the Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) 'follow on funding' competition. ### Notes to editors: Its a high-class but increasingly common problem: being a former magazine editor in a digitized world that cares little about whose name used to be on top of a defunct masthead. (A masthead, for those unfamiliar with the term, lists in careful hierarchy the top staff of a publication and is most often printed on paper which tells you pretty much all you need to know.) At 48, Dan Peres is already an old hand at being a former magazine editor. Conde Nast shut down Details, the mens glossy that he had been editor of for 15 years, in 2015. Overnight Mr. Peres went from two decades spent as a coveted presence at fashion shows and parties in the worlds capitals to a divorced dad adrift in the burbs. He tried to pivot to digital publications, but quickly learned there is little job security in start-ups. He took on some consulting gigs. He was also jotting down stories from his past life, one not many people knew about. I started to have some conversations about next steps career-wise, and during that time I started writing, Mr. Peres said last week, sitting in his home office in Irvington, N.Y., at a wooden drafting desk that he had lugged from Paris. There were experiences I wanted to get down on paper. I wanted to keep my mind sharp. AAPs development agenda gets a thumbs up, as voters seem to have rejected right-wing BJPs divisive politics. New Delhi, India Rajesh Kumar, a 50-year-old property dealer in the Indian capital, says although he voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in national elections held barely nine months ago, he chose his archrival Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi assembly polls. Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (Common Mans Party or AAP) on Tuesday registered a stunning victory in New Delhi by winning 62 seats in the 70-member assembly, stopping Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at eight seats. For AAP, an upstart political party formed in 2012, the victory gave its chief Kejriwal, 51, his third-straight term as chief minister of the capital. Residents of Delhi, I love you, said Kejriwal while addressing AAP workers at the party headquarters amid loud applause from his supporters. AAP supporters dance outside party headquarters in New Delhi [Yawar Nazir/Getty Images] Kejriwal in Delhi, Modi at centre Many voters in New Delhi told Al Jazeera they like the arrangement of having Hindu nationalist Modi as their prime minister at the centre, and a pro-poor politician in the city government. During the national elections, we chose Modi and his BJP, but we want Kejriwal to work for us at the local level. He has done a lot of good work and that is why we voted for him, said Kumar, who lives in southern quarters of Delhi. We benefitted from Kejriwals pro-people policies subsidised electricity, water, and the free bus service for women, he said. The AAP increased its vote share to an impressive 53 percent from 18 percent in the 2019 general elections that saw Modis BJP winning by a landslide. AAPs focus on development issues during its campaigning seems to have been well-received by the voters in the city. The BJP, which was accused of running one of the most religiously polarising election campaigns in India, also managed to get nearly 40 percent of the votes but could not translate them into seats. Similarly, Vijanderi, a 45-year-old homemaker, said she voted for Modis BJP in 2019, but on Saturday, preferred to choose AAP because it works for the poor. AAP stands for issues that concern us, be it healthcare or improving the condition of government-run schools in Delhi, she said. Many said Kejriwal and other AAP leaders are easily accessible to them and solve their problems. If we approach him [Kejriwal] or his leaders even during the night hours, they will listen to our problem but that is not the case with BJP or Congress leaders, said Vijanderi. People voted for freebies However, many BJP supporters believe AAP wooed voters in New Delhi by offering what they called freebies. People became greedy and voted for AAP after the party announced freebies, said Kunwar Pal, 55, who drives an autorickshaw for a living. Kejriwal wants to make everything free. He wants to give people free electricity, water, bus service. But how would the country run if we make everything free? he asked. Political analysts also said the development work AAP did in the last few years and its populist initiatives helped it win the public mandate. AAP government has delivered on certain segments such as providing subsidised electricity and water, improving the condition of government schools and health clinics, said Rahul Verma, a fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. There is positive perception of the performance of the government and that is why despite some of these people voting for PM Modi during the 2019 national elections, preferred AAP in state elections. A child dressed as Arvind Kejriwal cries as she is raised by AAP supporters at party headquarters [Manish Swarup/AP] BJPs divisive campaign rejected Kamlesh Kumari, 48, from south Delhis Saket area told Al Jazeera that people rejected the BJP for what she called the Hindu-Muslim politics, referring to the partys pandering to its core Hindu base by raising polarising issues. BJP tried its best to make an issue out of Shaheen Bagh and play Hindu-Muslim politics but couldnt win the election. Had they focused on real issues, maybe they could have won more seats, she said. Shaheen Bagh is a working-class Muslim neighbourhood in New Delhi where women have been holding a sit-in against Indias new citizenship law for nearly two months. The protest site has emerged as the epicentre of the nationwide protests, in which nearly 30 people have been killed since the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed on December 11. Mohammad Alam, 30, sells mobile accessories near a metro station in southern Delhi. He said Tuesdays election verdict was an answer to those who want to win elections on hate and divisive politics. This is the beginning of a new India. People are becoming alert and dont want to cast their votes on Hindu-Muslim issues but on development and employment. Those who work for public will be voted into power, he said. Analyst Verma, however, said he would not consider the poll result a rejection of BJPs ideological plank. Even among AAP voters, there would be support for BJPs ideology. So this vote is a positive appreciation for the work done by AAP in the state but not a rejection of BJPs or PM Modis politics, he added. Sanjay Kumar, director at the Centre for the Study of Developing Studies, told Al Jazeera that Indian voters make a distinction between the state and the national election. But he argued that the BJPs polarised campaign did not backfire. Vote share of BJP increased. This is only because of its polarised campaign, he said. But AAP spokesman Ankit Lal said his partys victory proves that people will stand up against anybody who wants to divide our society and country. We feel this is an emphatic win for us and a recognition of the work we have done in various sectors, especially in education and healthcare in Delhi, Lal told Al Jazeera. But it was the BJP which made it all about CAA and NRC. Despite repeated attempts, Al Jazeera could not reach a BJP spokesperson for a comment. On first sight, taking in Feather Falls can feel something like the first time you see Yosemite Valley, Lake Tahoe or the Golden Gate Bridge. The difference is you wont share the experience with swarms of people like you would at those other high-profile destinations. On the edge of a high granite cliff on the Fall River in Butte County, bright frothing water powers through a notch and then surges down through a rock chute to a secondary brink, and then feathers out in a free fall to a rocky landing far below 410 feet in all. Rushing water echoes against the high rock walls, punctuated by crash landings into giant blocks of rock. A lookout platform, the most dramatic for any waterfall in California, is perched on a crag on the canyon rim and provides a full frontal, top to bottom. To get there is a 3.5-mile hike, mostly downhill. When I went last week, it took me 1.5 hours one-way. To return, most take a loop route spanning 5.5 miles; it took me 2.5 hours. That made for a round trip of 9 miles that took four hours on the trail. Its long but moderate; most hikers in fair shape can make the trek. Feather Falls gets overlooked because it is located about 45 minutes above Oroville in Plumas National Forest. Its not close to anything. To turn it into an overnighter, a small, free walk-in campground is available for tent campers, and the parking area can work for self-contained RVs up to 16 feet. What to expect From Oroville, as you drive in, you get a reminder of the devastation this region has faced. You pass Lake Oroville, the site of the partial dam breach in February two years ago and now only 63% full, and later, pass through an area devoured by one of the wildfires of the summer of 2018. To great relief, you will find that firefighters held the line a little over a mile from the trailhead, and as you drive in, you are surrounded by forest. At the trailhead, youll see an old Forest Service sign that says that Feather Falls is 640 feet tall. That is an old estimate that proved incorrect when fact-finders hit the trail with a laser rangefinder. Right from the start, the trail enters deep woods. As you descend, a mixed forest of both hardwoods and conifers surround you, with bays, oaks, pines, firs and cedars. The changing scents along the way are amazing. In the first 10 minutes, you reach a Y junction. We turn left. First, you pass a 30-foot spur (signed with an info placard) on your left to a few sandstone boulders with Maidu grinding bowls. You then descend into Frey Canyon, fairly steep for a mile, and then cross the bridge over pretty Frey Creek. If you want to go Cost: Parking, access, camping are free. Facilities: Restroom with chemical toilets, bear-proof garbage cans, small campground with five walk-in sites for tents, trailhead parking available for self-contained RVs up to 16 feet (no turnaround for trailers). Water is turned on in spring. Trail rules: Hikers, dogs permitted. No OHVs. Maps: Plumas National Forest, $14 at district office, available for $20 online at https://store.usgs.gov/. Contacts: Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District, 875 Mitchell Avenue, Oroville, CA; 530-534-6500, www.fs.usda.gov/plumas. How to get there How to get to Oroville: From San Francisco, take Interstate 80 east for 80 miles to the greater Sacramento area and to exit on right signed for I-80 East/Reno. Take that exit and continue on I-80 east for 4.4 miles to Exit 86 for I-5 North. Take Exit 86, merge on to I-5N and drive 3 miles to exit for Highway 99 North. Take that exit to Highway 99 and drive 12.5 miles to Highway 70/Marysville-Oroville. Take that exit to Highway 70 and drive 47 miles to Oroville and exit for Oro Dam Blvd./Highway 162. 150 miles, 2 hours. How to get to Feather Falls Trailhead: Take Oro Dam Blvd./Olive Highway east for 1.7 miles to stoplight (signed for Olive Highway). Turn right (still Olive Highway) and drive 6.6 miles to Forbestown Road. Turn right on Forbestown Road and go 6.2 miles to Lumpkin Road. Turn left on Lumpkin and drive 11 miles to Bryant Ravine Road (signed for Feather Falls). Turn left and drive 1.7 miles to parking, trailhead and campground. 25 miles, 45 minutes. See More Collapse In March and April, in the vicinity of the bridge, there can be zillions of migratory ladybugs. We ran into Eric Willard, who has seen the phenomenon. Theyre everywhere, like coating the ground, rocks and logs, he said. Its like the ground is alive, everything is moving. As of Friday, they had yet to arrive. The trail continues down Frey Canyon toward the Middle Fork Feather River, then finally climbs up and merges with the loop trail. You turn left, and when you top the rim, get a view of Bald Rock Dome across the canyon. You know youre getting close now. Sensors on fire Youll hear it, the sound of rushing water, before you see it. When a guardrail appears on your left, you are just minutes away. Filtered views of the falls emerge in openings between the branches of trees. A spur on your left then leads down to a catwalk that extends to the viewing deck. The sight and sounds of the water rushing over the brink can set your sensors on fire. In late winter, the air is pristine fresh. This is the first time Ive been here, said Fred Coleman, who met at the deck. Id heard about it and I wished Id done this years ago. Most plan a trail lunch here. A platform in the center of the deck makes for both a table and a seat. You also could extend the trip for a half-mile by hiking to the waterfall and a short ways beyond to a series of spurs on your left that lead to a pretty pool and drops that feed the waterfall. These also can make for good picnic sites. On the return trip, most avoid the drop and relentless climb out of Frey Canyon. To do that on the way back, at the fork, you turn left. The climb is long but rhythmic. The forest smells and occasional sweet calls of songbirds help cushion the effort. Back at the parking lot, few leave quickly. You have that good feeling from a day on the trail, and most linger a while, imprinted with the glow of a special place. Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoors writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is one of the exceptional actors we have ever seen in the Bollywood industry. She is a global icon and set her niche quite high with her beauty and acting skills. Ever since Aishwarya Rai was crowned as Miss World, there is no turning back for the actress. For her contribution to Indian Cinema, she was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri award in the year 2009. Today we bring before you 5 best movies of the actor you can watch on Amazon Prime. ALSO READ: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Looks Like A Vision In THESE Blue Outfits; See Pics Sarbjit The film is based on the life of Sarabjit Singh, a farmer who was wrongfully convicted in Pakistan. He died after a fatal assault inside the jail. The movie focuses on his sister Dalbir Kaurs fight against the system to prove his innocence. The film features Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda in the lead role. Her character was appreciated by critics and her fans. Dhoom 2 The movie Dhoom 2 was the first Bollywood to shot in Brazil. Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai were paired for the first time for the film. The plot of the movie revolves around a thief named Mr A played by Hrithik Roshan who teams up with a girl (played by Aishwarya Rai) to steal an expensive diamond. In the movie, she stands out to be the best even with the presence of other huge star casts. ALSO READ: Flashback Friday: Did You Know Aishwarya's Ears Were Bleeding While Shooting 'Dola Re'? Mohabbatein Aishwarya was a part of the multi-starrer movie Mohabbatein which was released in the year 2000. The film also featured Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Jugal Hansraj, Jimmy Sheirgill, Shamita Shetty, Preeti Jhangiani, and Kim Sharma. Aishwarya played the role of Megha, who dies at the beginning of the movie and comes in flashback scenes in the mind of Raj Malhotra (Shah Rukh). Fanney Khan The film follows the journey of Fanney Khan played by Anil Kapoor, who is in a quest to fulfil his daughter Lata's dreams. While Aishwarya Rai Bachchan plays the role of a famous artist named Baby Singh with Rajkummar Rao playing her love interest. 'Fanney Khan' also throws light on the issue of body shaming. 'Fanney Khan', which is the official remake of 'Everybody's Famous', marks Atul Manjrekar's directorial debut. Ae Dil Hai Muskil Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was Karan Johars come back as director 4 years. Before this, his last movie was Student Of The Year. The film tells the story of unrequited love through characters Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) and Alizeh (Anushka Sharma). Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was seen in a completely different avatar in the film and was loved by critics and fans. ALSO READ: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Special Connection And Her Love For Mumbai City; Read ALSO READ: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Photos That Prove Her Love For Red Lipsticks 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. The woman sitting three booths away from us put her head in her hands and sighed, If you two cant get along, Im just going to leave. You know those infomercials for hearing aids where one can zoom in on a specific voice and drown out all other ambient noise? Thats what I needed at IHOP during my recent visit with my toddler. I leaned as close as I could, but their booth had grown silent. Three steaming breakfast specials sat before them untouched. If you cant say something nice, theyd clearly decided, best not to say anything at all. Ive been trying to tuck my smartphone away and be present in my surroundings, open to everyone and everything around me on the advice of author David Sedaris MasterClass. If you two cant get along, Im just going to leave, is exactly the sort of thing Sedaris would overhear, which made me feel like I was on the right track. IHOP drama aside, this new habit has dropped my ear into some rather charming interactions. A couple at Peets Coffee formally discussed the extensive list of Oscar-nominated films theyd already seen. It was one of the most informative conversations Ive ever listened to, and Im including conversations in which Ive participated. These two film buffs knew their silver screens and correctly predicted Parasite as the big Oscar winner. Last week, a pair of women walking along the trail near my house tried to talk each other into voting for Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders respectively. Youd think that in this ignorant and angry climate created by the necktie/steak salesman currently running the country, a political disagreement would turn tense. But just the opposite happened. Both women seemed to consider the others thoughtful argument. One actually said to the other, OK, well, thats a good point. Putting down the phone and being present in ones surroundings obviously forces one to engage with others indirectly or otherwise and Im really enjoying it. Historically, Ive ignored the chorus of kids these days look at phones too much because I suspect that it mostly comes from people who dont know how to work them, but the neo-Luddites may have a point. I didnt realize how much I used my smartphone as a shield against interaction until I started investing in those leggings that have a pocket down each thigh. My trusty iPhone now floats mid-leg while Im out and about listening to the conversations of strangers, and sometimes joining them. I end up talking to children with great frequency, since children like to stare and Ive grown less afraid of them. Any kid that stares at me gets an invitation to interact, and it usually involves them reciting their age to the quarter. Good luck being in a bad mood after someone has monotone-screamed across Target, Im 5. In fact, a few times being off my phone has required me to pull out my phone and add someone to my contacts because miraculously, I have turned a stranger into a friend. This sounds like the kind of thing a Muppet would recommend, but when youre new in town, as I am, youll take all the new friends you can get. 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. A group of San Francisco strangers recently took real-life interaction to a thrilling and questionably legal level when they connected on NextDoor over a Mission District lemon tree. Reader Trina Robbins emailed to explain that she and a collection of neighbors couldnt help but notice an abundant lemon tree in the front yard of an empty, and presumably foreclosed, residence. Taking citrus matters into their own (now quite fragrant) hands, the Lemon Liberation League, which consists of four women of a certain age, two cars and a ladder, pulled up outside the house and relieved the tree of its heavy children. I pointed out to Robbins that the League would have made an ideal Leah Garchik mention and she agreed, noting of the retired columnist, she would have been my first choice. (Honestly, its an honor just to pick up Leahs leftover lemons.) I still take 800 iPhone pictures a day. Ill still respond to a text in four seconds. But now, on the advice of a stranger and with the help of a spandex pocket, I will also listen to your coffee shop conversation and maybe even chime in. Highly recommend. Five stars. Beth Spotswoods column appears Thursdays in Datebook. Email: datebook@sfchronicle.com Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday hit out at Haryana's ruling BJP-JJP coalition, saying there are burning issues facing the state but it seems that the government's motto is "look busy, do nothing". He said during its first 100 days in office, the government has only made speeches and failed to deliver on the governance front. The Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janta Party government completed 100 days in office last week. "Many schools don't have enough teachers, but they (government) are taking no steps to fill up the vacancies for 40,000 teachers. There are other burning issues facing other sections of the society, including farmers, but this government is doing nothing. Their only motto seems to be 'look busy, do nothing'," Hooda said at a press conference here. "They may claim they have done 101 works during their first 100 days in office, the truth is that all they have done is make speeches with nothing on the governance front. We had highlighted mining and paddy scams, but no probe has been ordered so far," he said. The former Haryana chief minister also claimed that at over 28 per cent, Haryana has the highest unemployment rate in the country and rural consumption is down. Hooda questioned the logic behind the state government's pre-budget consultation exercise in the absence of the economic survey report and said it will be difficult to give concrete suggestions. "In the absence of the economic survey report, how will we know what the state's economic situation is," he said. After holding discussions with various stakeholders, including industrialists, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will hold a pre-budget meeting with legislators from February 17 to 19 to deliberate on sectoral allocations. Hooda said he will attend the meeting. The Congress leader claimed that Haryana's debt has increased three-fold from Rs 61,000 crore to Rs 1.81 lakh crore under the BJP regime and demanded a white paper on state's economic situation. "The debt has gone up despite the fact that development works came to a standstill during their (BJP) regime. Power plants, metro rail lines, new railway lines, industrial model townships, mega projects, new universities, and acquisition of land for development works, all this development took place during our time. "What have they done? Let them name a single project they started. The only thing in which they are going ahead like a bullet train is corruption despite their tall claims of zero tolerance towards corruption," he said. On the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, Hooda said the Punjab government recently convened an all-party meeting and is openly claiming that it does not have a drop to spare, but the Haryana dispensation is doing nothing to counter it. "The Supreme Court has already ruled in Haryana's favour, only the execution part of it remains. But the BJP-led government in the state and at the Centre is doing nothing to ensure that the canal construction is taken up at the earliest," he alleged. "If they want our support on the SYL issue, I am ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Where Haryana's interest is concerned, I will firmly stand with them, but I will oppose them wherever the state's interest is compromised," he said. Asked to comment on the Congress' rout in the Delhi Assembly polls, Hooda said, "In a democracy, you have to respect the people's mandate." "As far as the performance of the Congress in the Delhi polls is concerned, there should be introspection in the party at the national level," he said. Replying to a related question, Hooda said, "The country needs the Congress. The Congress is for the country, the Congress has fought for the freedom of the country. It is the moral duty of the Congress to fight for the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BARBERVILLE, FL February 11, 2020 Like a rocket lifting off from Cape Canaveral, defending Super DIRTcar Series champion Mat Williamson, from St. Catharines, ON, made the high line work to win his first career DIRTcar Nationals presented by Bozard Ford Gator to kick-off the 2020 season at Volusia Speedway Park. With a smile as wide as the Victory Lane he and his Buzz Chew Racing crew stood in, Williamson said: Man it feels good to win in Florida! The thirty-lap Feature win did not come easy as Erick Rudolph and Anthony Perrego nearly overtook the Buzz Chew No. 88 in a close battle in turn two. We got lucky when that caution came out. My guys in the infield were telling me Erick [Rudolph] was coming on the bottom. Sometimes you need a little bit of luck to win these things, said Williamson. The 2020 DIRTcar Nationals are already head and shoulders above Williamsons results from 2019. Tonights win is his first at Volusia Speedway Park. We didnt run too spectacular here last year, so to get it for Buzz, who is here, is really cool, he said. Ransomville, NY native Erick Rudolph charged to claim second place in the 26-car field of Big Block Modifieds. It looked like the No. 25R was primed for a run at the lead before the Features only caution flew. I got to second pretty quick there but I fizzled out a bit. Mat [Williamson] had a really good car. Before the restart I was catching him, noted Rudolph. After the restart, he took off and got a buffer on me and I wasnt able to close in on him. This is my best run here to date so I am really happy with that. The week is young and hopefully, we can get a Gator, noted Rudolph. A win at DIRTcar Nationals would be his first. The standout driver of the green and black No. 44 Anthony Perrego was stout in every race session. He found something his Big Block Modified liked and drove on to a third-place finish. Midway through the race, Perrego caught Williamson and Rudolph to make it a three-way battle for the lead. Unfortunately for the Montgomery, NY native, a caution flag flew for Andy Bachetti, who pulled off with engine trouble. That would be the only caution flag of the race. That was definitely a good run racing up against those two cats up there [Wiliamson and Rudolph]. Before that caution, I thought I had a shot at him, said Perrego. We were rolling the bottom pretty good. Once that yellow came out, I think someone knocked some water out on turns three and four so I kind of lost my line there. Perrego never let the leaders out of sight but had to settle for the bottom step on the podium. The 5-time NAPA Super DIRT Week champion and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors World Truck Series star Stewart Friesen cut through the field to finish fourth from his nineteenth place starting position. Matt Sheppard started the night out well with a Heat Race win and a third-place starting position in the Feature. Unfortunately, the 7-time Super DIRTcar Series champion from Waterloo, NY faded throughout the race and was forced to settle for seventh. If history is any indication though, Sheppard and his MSM crew will turn it around for another chance at a Gator. Super DIRTcar Series rookie contender Jessey Mueller took the win in the first Last Chance Showdown number one of the night. Mueller struggled in Time Trials which put him towards the back in his Heat Race but the rookie persevered and qualified for the 30-lap Feature. He started twenty-first and moved up to finish nineteenth against a stacked field of elite Big Block Modified drivers. Join us tomorrow night at Volusia Speedway Park for the race two of the 2020 DIRTcar National presented by Bozark Ford. If you cant make it to the track, log in with DIRTvision and get a month-long Fast Pass to catch all the action live. Stay up to date on social media by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. FEATURE (30 LAPS) 1. 88-Mat Williamson [1][$3,000]; 2. 25r-Erick Rudolph [9][$1,500]; 3. 44P-Anthony Perrego [5][$1,000]; 4. 44-Stewart Friesen [19][$800]; 5. 99L-Larry Wight [10][$700]; 6. 91-Billy Decker [8][$650]; 7. 9S-Matt Sheppard [3][$600]; 8. 49-Billy Dunn [7][$550]; 9. 42P-Pat Ward [16][$500]; 10. 3-Justin Haers [13][$450]; 11. 21a-Peter Britten [11][$400]; 12. 20-Brett Hearn [2][$375]; 13. 7-Rick Laubach [6][$350]; 14. 98H-Jimmy Phelps [14][$325]; 15. 1-Billy Pauch [15][$300]; 16. 83-Brian Swartzlander [25][$275]; 17. 7MM-Michael Maresca [4][$250]; 18. 19-Tim Fuller [18][$250]; 19. 19m-Jessey Mueller [21][$250]; 20. 23-Kyle Coffey [23][$250]; 21. 30-Ronnie Johnson [12][$250]; 22. 46-Jeremy Smith [17][$250]; 23. 5-Matthew Stangle [22][$250]; 24. 48T-Dave Rauscher [26][$250]; 25. 6D-Dillon Steuer [20][$250]; 26. 4-Andy Bachetti [24][$250] Hard Charger Award: 44-Stewart Friesen[+15] The Super DIRTcar Series is brought to fans by many important sponsors and partners, including: Hoosier Racing Tire (Official Tire), SIS Insurance (Official Insurance Provider), VP Racing Fuels (Official Racing Fuel), Chevy Performance Parts, iRacing (Official Online Racing Game) and NAPA Auto Parts. Contingency sponsors include: ARP Automotive Racing Products, ASI Race Wear, Bicknell Racing Products, Billy Whittaker Cars & Trux, Cometic Gasket, COMP Cams, DART, Fox Shox, and Wrisco (Exclusive Racing Aluminum); along with manufacturer sponsors, including: Beyea Headers, FireAde, Intercomp, Racing Electronics and TNT Rescue. Second Century Ventures, the venture capital arm of the National Association of Realtors, made an investment in Updater, a NYC-based digital moving concierge company. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The company intends to use the funds to support growth initiatives, including the acquisition of Bridgevine, a provider of technology for home subscription sign-ups and associated concierge offerings. Bridgevine will become part of Updaters home services division, helping expand app distribution and enhance its suite of products. Led by David Greenberg, founder and CEO, Updater provides a moving platform for households to relocate. With Updater, users transfer utilities, forward mail, connect TV and internet, and more. Hundreds of the most prominent real estate companies in the US (from real estate brokerages to multifamily and relocation companies) use its technology to save clients hours with a branded and personalized moving experience. Updater was a member of Second Century Ventures inaugural 2013 REACH Accelerator class, a technology growth program that provides companies with education, mentorship, an insight panel and industry exposure to facilitate their launch into the marketplace. FinSMEs 12/02/2020 Shootings have a ripple effect: They harm not only those wounded or killed, but everyone adjacent to the violence, including friends and family members, according to a panel of Stanford Medicine experts. The panelists spoke Feb. 4 at an event titled Responding to Gun Violence in America. It was held as part of the Stanford Health Policy Forum series. Maya Rossin-Slater, PhD, assistant professor of health research and policy, said that for students, experiencing a shooting can affect whether or not they go to college, how they fare throughout their lives. In communities that experienced school shootings, prescriptions for antidepressants used to treat depression as well as post-traumatic stress disorder rose by 20% among youth during the two or three years after the events, Rossin-Slater said. Poor mental health has lasting consequences, she added. Gun violence and its consequent mental health problems affect a vast number of U.S. students, said Paul Costello, the panels moderator and a senior communications strategist at School of Medicine. Since the Columbine massacre in 1999, nearly a quarter of a million students have attended school when and where a shooting occurred, Costello said. Panelist Kathy Staats, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine, was an undergraduate at Virginia Tech and a member of a student first-responder squad in 2007, when the university was the site of the then-deadliest mass shooting in the nations history. She said the shooting spree shocked the school community, and the memory still resonates with her every time she hears of another event. On the flip side, when you see the worst in humanity, you sometimes see the best, she said. The community response was incredible. I chose my future career based on that decision, she said, adding that many of her fellow first responders became firefighters, paramedics, nurses and physicians. Most gun deaths are suicides Mass shootings receive the lions share of media attention, yet David Studdert, PhD, professor of medicine and of law, said that two-thirds of gun deaths are suicides. Most of those who attempt suicide do not die, he said, but having a gun available at least triples the chance the attempt will be successful. Those who attempt suicide often dont try again, he said. Suicide is usually an impulsive act, he explained, adding that the vast majority of people who attempt suicide once ultimately die from other causes. Staats said that she and her emergency medicine colleagues will ask patients who have attempted suicide if they have access to firearms because if they attempt suicide with a gun, they will likely be successful. Now that federal agencies have started funding research into gun violence, Studdert and Rossin-Slater said they are planning to study policies intended to reduce harm. Studdert intends to look into the effectiveness of red-flag laws, which allow courts to confiscate the guns of people who are determined to be a danger to themselves or others. Rossin-Slater is studying more than 50 schools in Texas that have experienced shootings, and what sort of interventions helped the students. We want to know how we can best allocate resources, she said. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Northern Ireland wearing a polished but practical outfit she last wore two years ago when pregnant with Prince Louis. Kate wore her much-loved khaki Barbour Defence jacket (249), black skinny jeans and knee-high boots with a tassel detail from British footwear brand Penelope Chilvers (475) for a day at Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. Expand Close Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) She last wore the boots and jacket ensemble in 2017 with a chunky, black turtleneck jumper on a visit to the Robin Hood Primary School, London, but this time round the Duchess opted for a more fitted, fine-knit periwnkle roll-neck. A pair of gold, leaf-shaped earrings finished off the look. The farm visit was part of a whistle-stop tour to highlight the landmark online survey the Duchess launched last month, titled '5 Big Questions on the Under Fives', which gives people across the UK an opportunity to provide their view on raising the next generation. Expand Close Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the Robin Hood Primary School on November 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Chris Jackson/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the Robin Hood Primary School on November 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images) She has already visited Birmingham, Cardiff, Woking and London to carry out engagements in connection with the launch. Earlier this month, the Duchess championed sustainability as she attended the British Academy Film Awards wearing a dress she has worn several times before. Kate arrived at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Prince William wearing a gold-embroidered gown by Alexander McQueen that the royal first wore in 2012 to attend a dinner with King and Queen of Malaysia during a tour of Southeast Asia. By choosing to wear a dress she already owned, Kate was adhering to Baftas new sustainable dress code which encouraged guests to either re-wear something they already own or hire an ensemble as opposed to buying something new. CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Top Strike Resources Corp. d.b.a. Vencanna Ventures Inc. ("Vencanna" or the "Corporation") (CSE: VENI; OTCQB: TPPRF) is pleased to announce that its common shares (the "Common Shares") have been approved to commence trading on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB"), a US trading platform that is operated by the OTC Markets Group in New York. Effective today, Vencanna has commenced trading on the OTCQB under the symbol "TPPRF". The Common Shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbol "VENI". The Corporation wishes to correct an error made in its press release dated December 17, 2019, in which it was announced that the Common Shares had commenced trading on the OTCQB. The Common Shares instead had commenced trading on the Pink Open Market, also operated by the OTC Markets Group, effective December 16, 2019. As stated above, the Corporation has since completed the approval process to commence trading on the OTCQB. "The listing of Vencanna's Common Shares to the OTCQB Exchange is an exciting milestone as we remain continually focused on creating value for our shareholders in multiple ways. Even though Vencanna has been a fully reporting company since its inception and listing to the CSE, we believe that the broader exposure afforded by the OTCQB will raise our visibility within the US investment community and assist in increasing the liquidity of our Common Shares. In addition, we believe that trading on this established US based public market will help to generate exposure for Vencanna among institutional investors both in Canada and the US," stated Vencanna CEO David McGorman. About Vencanna On September 24, 2018, the Corporation announced the completion of a recapitalization financing, the appointment of a new management team and board of directors and commencement of trading on the CSE. The transactions have transitioned the Corporation from an oil and gas issuer to a merchant capital firm, rebranded as "Vencanna Ventures Inc.". The recapitalized Corporation aims to be a go-to capital provider for early-stage global cannabis initiatives with an emphasis on strong management operating in state compliant jurisdictions with barriers to entry. The Corporation looks to provide investors with a diversified, high-growth, cannabis investment strategy through strategic investments focused through-out the value chain (cultivation, processing and distribution, and including ancillary businesses). For further information regarding this news release, please contact: David McGorman Jason Ewasuik Chief Executive Officer and Director Vice President, Originations david@vencanna.com jason@vencanna.com Top Strike Resources Corp. Suite 310, 250 6th Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB T2P 3H7 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly, and without limitation, this news release contains forward looking statements and information concerning the benefits of listing on the OTCQB and statements relating to Vencanna's business, strategies and expectations. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Vencanna, including expectations and assumptions concerning listing on the OTCQB. Although Vencanna believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because Vencanna can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. Without limitation, these risks and uncertainties include: actions and initiatives of federal, state and provincial governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies; import/export and other restrictions for cannabis based operations; the size of the medical-use and adult-use cannabis market; competition from other industry participants; adverse U.S., Canadian and global economic conditions; and failure to comply with certain regulations. Vencanna undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 01:42:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a press conference on the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Jan. 9, 2020. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the budget proposal is "a complete reversal" of the promises President Donald Trump made in the campaign. WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Monday unveiled a 4.8-trillion-dollar budget proposal that slashes major domestic programs and promises a balanced budget by 2035, triggering backlash from U.S. lawmakers and experts. The budget for the fiscal year 2021 -- running from Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30 2021 -- projects the federal deficit will hit 1 trillion dollars for the current fiscal year, reducing to 966 billion dollars for the fiscal year 2021, and hover above 200 billion dollars after a decade, accounting for 4.9 percent, 4.1 percent and 0.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) respectively. The budget includes 4.4 trillion dollars in "savings," bringing the deficit down each year, and putting the federal government on a path to a balanced budget in 15 years, according to the proposal issued by the Office of Management and Budget. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi harshly criticized the newly released budget proposal, saying it is "a complete reversal" of the promises U.S. President Donald Trump made in the campaign. "Once again, the president is showing just how little he values the good health, financial security and well-being of hard-working American families," the Democratic leader said in a statement. "The president's budget is anti-growth, does not create good-paying jobs and increases the national debt," Pelosi added. The largest spending cut in the budget comes from 1.55 trillion dollars in cuts to non-defense discretionary programs, such as education and environmental protection, generated by reducing nominal spending 5 percent between 2020 and 2021 and an additional 2 percent each year thereafter, said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a nonpartisan watchdog group. "Significant further savings are generated from changes to health care, welfare programs, and reductions and reforms to other parts of the budget," the group noted. The budget also extends individual income tax cuts beyond their 2025 expiration, which alone adds 1.5 trillion dollars to the debt, the group said. The White House budget would increase defense spending slightly, but would also trim foreign aid by some 20 percent, which has generated doubts and provoked criticism. "Proposing such reckless cuts to our critical foreign policy tools isn't a serious proposal. If this draconian budget were enacted, it would weaken our security and leadership around the world," Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said in a statement. "Congress will again reject this proposal in resounding bipartisan fashion," the senior Democratic lawmaker added. The budget proposal relies on "optimistic" projections for economic growth and "unlikely" budget cuts to illustrate deficit reduction, said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a non-profit organization. "The reality is that in order to manage our rapidly growing debt, we need to address the big issues -- the aging of our population, rising healthcare costs and inadequate revenues," Peterson said. Making similar remarks, the CRFB said the budget relies on "overly optimistic" economic assumptions and "budget gimmicks that inflate its savings and distract from its actual policy reforms." The budget assumes annual real GDP growth at 2.8 percent for 2020 and 3.1 percent for 2021, averaging 2.9 percent over the decade. "This estimate is about 50 percent higher than those from other forecasters, who project annual growth around (and in some cases less than) 2 percent per year," it said. DETROIT (AP) An industrial site in Oakland County from where a bright green goo seeped through a concrete barrier onto an area freeway could be foreclosed due to non-payment of property taxes, the county treasurer said Wednesday. Five properties tied to Electro-Plating Services Inc. in Madison Heights owe a total of more than $30,000 in taxes, interest and fees from 2017 and 2018, according to the Oakland County Treasurers office. The leak was noticed late last year along Interstate 696, about 2 miles north of Detroits northern city limits. The infamous green ooze site has all of us on high-alert, Treasurer Andy Meisner said in a release. I am doing everything within my power as treasurer to hold the owners accountable and to prevent this burden from shifting onto the backs of taxpayers. Michigan property tax law requires that the state be alerted when a site subject to property tax foreclosure is believed to be contaminated, according to Meisner. Meisner sent a letter Wednesday to Michigans Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. If taxes remain unpaid, the property will become tax foreclosed after March 31, Meisner said. Electro-Plating Services was shut down in 2016 for mismanagement of industrial waste. Owner Gary Sayers is serving a year in federal prison for illegally storing hazardous waste. The Associated Press left a message Wednesday seeking comment from Sayers defense attorney. The leak along the shoulder of I-696 prompted a new investigation that determined high levels of numerous toxins, including hexavalent chromium were in soil and groundwater at the site. Those toxins are associated with cancer, kidney and liver damage. State officials concluded earlier this year that the site posed no risk to drinking water and there was a low risk for the migration of contaminates off site. Cleanup has been costly. EGLE district coordinator Tracy Kecskemeti told Michigan lawmakers in January that efforts to contain the leak had cost at least $200,000 over 24 days. Coursepath and Beekeeper have established a partnership to give non-desk employees direct and easy access to digital training courses. The integration with the Beekeeper app makes it even easier for Coursepath and Beekeeper users to stay up-to-date on internal training and find new courses. With the Coursepath-Beekeeper integration, companies can increase participation in their online trainings by making it easier for frontline staff to access and participate in courses. Beekeeper users can be automatically synced to Coursepath, simplifying account setup in Coursepath and giving them direct access to their favorite courses from a single platform. This fits in seamlessly with the mission of Coursepath, the e-learning platform that allows you to train all your employees in no time at all: Making learning as easy as possible, for everyone! It also aligns with Beekeepers goals to unlock the potential of every single employee by giving them easy access to systems and company information. Participants can access their e-learning courses regardless of time, place or device. This way, they immediately experience how uncomplicated and intuitive the e-learning platform is. The result is an inspiring, fast, and effective learning trajectory with a company-wide knowledge and information exchange. The mobile solution for non-desk employees Beekeeper focuses mainly on non-desk employees, who work at different locations and are not easily reached by the central organization. The app involves all those people and gives them the feeling of sitting next to each other and being part of the team! The platform integrates with existing operational systems and makes them accessible to everyone from one central access point. "Our vision fits in perfectly with Coursepath's," says Alexander Jung-Loddenkemper, Head of Marketplace at Beekeeper in Zurich. "It's also about connecting people and systems, about giving employees the tools to do their job in a meaningful and targeted way. Committed, well-trained staff also help companies stay ahead of the competition. It's about attracting and retaining talent, sharing knowledge, and adapting communication tools to the needs of employees. This makes Beekeeper's mobile-first solution - the most tailored tool for frontline worker communication." Improve user and organizational performance Mujibor de Graaf, CEO and founding partner of Viadesk, sees the cooperation with Beekeeper as a logical step in the process of facilitating the new way of working and learning within organizations: We are constantly looking for smart and sustainable solutions that improve the performance of users and organizations. It is all about connection, the mutual communication that takes place on the platform, and the simplicity of switching between systems. This is very important if you want to create a successful learning culture. We see that increasing globalization and digitalization are changing the demands placed on workers. It is therefore important to flexibly move along with this development and to give people access to the tools they need to do their job, to grow, and to realize their ambitions. Together with Beekeeper, we can give even better shape to this. New Delhi: A Pakistan court on Wednesday convicted Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed for five years in cases of terror financing, news agency ANI reported. Saeed is the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. This is the first time he has been imprisoned since the 2008 attacks. The firebrand cleric was found guilty of "being part of a banned terrorist outfit" and for "having illegal property", said his lawyer Imran Gill. The action came two days before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary in Paris that will decide on Pakistan's blacklisting or greylisting. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, Saeed was also given a fine of Rs 15,000 in each of the two cases. The sentences of both the cases will run concurrently. Earlier on Tuesday, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore accepted Saeed's plea to club all six terror financing cases against him and his aides. The ATC had indicted Saeed and others on December 11 in terror financing cases in a day-to-day hearing. "The anti-terrorism court of Lahore accepted the plea of Saeed and his close aides seeking delay in the verdict in two concluded terror financing cases against them till the trial in other four such pending cases is complete," said a court official on Tuesday after the hearing. According to the petition, four other terror financing cases against Saeed, Zafar Iqbal, Yahya Aziz, Abdul Rehman Makki are pending before the same ATC. "As evidence has been in progress, the court may announce the verdict in six cases including the ones already concluded once the trial is completed," it said. Last month, Saeed had pleaded "not guilty" in two terror financing cases against him. The Counter Terrorism Department had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province and arrested him on July 17. He is held at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. (With inputs from agencies) Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly sunny and bitterly cold. It will feel like it's in the single digits and low teens.. Tonight Partly cloudy and extremely cold. Wind chills around or below 0 degrees. The Supreme Court will hear on Thursday the plea of Vinay Sharma, a convict in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case. Sharma has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against President of India's decision to reject his mercy plea. The bench of Justice R Banumathi will hear the case tomorrow at 10.30 am. Vinay Sharma, one of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, challenged the President's decision to dismiss his mercy petition in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Sharma, through his lawyer AP Singh, has requested the death penalty to be commuted to life imprisonment. On February 1, Vinay's mercy petition was rejected by President Ramnath Kovind. On January 31, the death sentence of four convicts Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur were stayed by a lower court till further orders. These four convicts are currently lodged in Tihar Jail. Pawan Gupta has not exhausted all his legal remedies as he has not filed curative and mercy petitions as yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FREMONT, California, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market intelligence report by BIS Research titled "Global In-Silico Drug Discovery Market- Analysis and Forecast, 2019-2029", the global in-silico drug discovery market was valued at $2.09 billion in 2018 and is anticipated to grow over $7.92 billion by 2029. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.92% during the forecast period from 2019 to 2029. The market is aided primarily by the impressive growth in the underlying services market. Browse 04 Market Data Tables and 121 Figures spread through 159 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Global In-Silico Drug Discovery Market". Drug discovery process is carried out to identify new drug molecules that can attach to a specific target. This method of identifying drugs is based on computation and the entire process is considered linear and consecutive. Various factors make in-silico drug discovery method more productive and a wise approach in comparison to earlier drug discovery methods used for the drug development process. In-silico drug design can play a significant role in all stages of drug development - from the initial lead designing to final stage clinical development. The costs incurred by a pharmaceutical company to bring a drug to market from laboratories through the drug discovery process used before 2010 approached $2 billion with approximately 12 years required for development. However, through in-silico drug discovery, the process cost has reduced to approximately $880 million, and development process can be completed within 10 to 12 years. According to Nitish Kumar Singh, Lead Analyst at BIS Research, "North America is the leading contributor in the in-silico drug discovery market and contributed approximately 41.65% to the global market value in 2018. This region is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period 2019-2029 and continue dominating the global market in 2029. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 13.29% during the forecast period. In addition, the region of Europe also contributed a significant share of 28.40% to the global market in 2018." BIS Research Report - https://bisresearch.com/industry-report/in-silico-drug-discovery-market.html Research Highlights: Software-as-a-service is expected to witness a robust CAGR during the forecast period 2019-2029. However, in-silico drug discovery market for software-as-a-product is anticipated to witness a double digit growth during the forecast period 2019-2029. Charles River is currently the largest shareholder in the global in-silico drug discovery market. Its market dominance is attributed to the company's presence within the market through its services, led by dedicated products. This market intelligence report provides a multi-dimensional view on the global in-silico drug discovery market in terms of market size and growth potential. This research report aims at answering various aspects of the global in-silico drug discovery market with the help of key factors driving the market, restraints that can possibly inhibit the overall growth of the market, and the current growth opportunities that are going to shape the future trajectory of the market expansion. Request for a Sample: https://bisresearch.com/requestsample?id=809&type=download Furthermore, the competitive landscape chapter in the report explicates the competitive nature of the global market and enables the reader to get acquainted with the recent market activities, such as product launches and approvals, partnerships, collaborations, business expansions, as well as mergers and acquisitions, among others. The research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the product sales, manufacturers, service providers, and trend analysis by segment, and growth share analysis by region. Additionally, the report provides a comprehensive analysis and an opportunity analysis for the entire in-silico drug discovery market for 2018 and 2029. This report is a meticulous compilation of research on more than 80 players in the market ecosystem and draws upon insights from in-depth interviews with the key opinion leaders of more than 20 leading and emerging companies, market participants, and vendors. The report also comprises 17 detailed company profiles including several key players, such as Albany Molecular Research Inc., Certara USA, Inc., Charles River, Chemical Computing Group ULC, Collaborative Drug Discovery Inc., Dassault System (Biovia) , Evotec A.G., GVK Biosciences Private Limited, ICAGEN, INC., Novo Informatics Pvt. Ltd., Numerate Inc., PerkinElmer Inc, Schrodinger, LLC, Selvita, Simulation Plus, and WuXi AppTec, among others. Key Questions Answered in the Report What was the revenue generated by the in-silico drug discovery market in 2018 and what is it expected to generate by 2029? What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global in-silico drug discovery market? What are the key development strategies which are implemented by the major players in order to sustain in the competitive market? What are the key regulatory implications in developed and developing regions for in-silico drug discovery market? How each segment of the market is expected to grow during the forecast period from 2019 to 2029, based on: Product type: Software-as-a-service, and consultancy-as-a-service Workflow: Discovery, pre-clinical tests, and clinical tests Software: Molecular modeling, and pharmacophore modeling End user: Contract research organizations, pharmaceutical industry, academic and research institutes (hospitals and other care facilities) Region: Region includes North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , Rest-of-the-World (ROW) , , , Rest-of-the-World (ROW) Who are the leading players with significant offerings to the global in-silico drug discovery market? What is the expected market dominance for each of these leading players during the forecast period? Which companies are anticipated to be highly disruptive in the future and why? Related Reports: Global Human Microbiome Therapeutics Market - Analysis and Forecast, 2019-2029 Global Nanopharmaceutical Drugs Market - Analysis and Forecast, 2018-2026 About BIS Research: BIS Research is a global B2B market intelligence and advisory firm focusing on those emerging technological trends which are likely to disrupt the dynamics of the market. With over 150 market research reports published annually, BIS Research focuses on high technology verticals such as 3D Printing, Advanced Materials and Chemicals, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Healthcare, Electronics and Semiconductors, Robotics and UAV, and other emerging technologies. Our in-depth market intelligence reports focus on the market estimations, technology analysis, emerging high-growth applications, deeply segmented granular country-level market data, and other important market parameters useful in the strategic decision-making for senior management. What distinguishes BIS Research from the rest of the players is that we don't simply provide data but also complement it with valuable insights and actionable inputs for the success of our clients. Contact: Bhavya Banga Email: media@bisresearch.com BIS Research Inc. 39111 PASEO PADRE PKWY STE 313, FREMONT CA 94538-1686 Visit our Blog @ https://blog.bisresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bis-research Connect with us on Twitter@ https://twitter.com/BISResearch Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495163/BIS_Research_Logo.jpg Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council to reject President Donald Trump's Middle East plan, saying it would splinter Palestinian lands and never bring lasting peace. Brandishing a large map of a future Palestine as laid out by Trump, Abbas denounced it as a "Swiss cheese" deal that would give the Palestinians only a "fragmented state" without control of their airspace, territorial waters or East Jerusalem. "Who among you would accept such a state?" Abbas asked, as he warned that Israel would create an "apartheid" situation if it moves ahead with annexation. "I would like to say to Mr Donald Trump that his plan cannot achieve peace and security as it cancels international legitimacy," Abbas said. "If you impose peace it will not last, it cannot last." "This deal is not an international partnership. This proposal was from one state, supported by another state to be imposed." The Palestinians have sought to rally international support against the plan, which Trump unveiled alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 28. But in a setback, the Palestinians dropped plans for a vote on a resolution Tuesday that would denounce the proposal. Diplomats said that the United States has put heavy pressure, including threats of financial repercussions, on Security Council members and that even some European nations were hesitant. A senior US official hailed the development, saying: "By not putting forward a polarizing resolution, the United Nations Security Council demonstrated that the old way of doing things is over." - Israel ex-PM backs Abbas - The veteran 84-year-old leader, long considered a moderate among the Palestinians, rejected the use of violence but said that street protests showed the deep opposition to Israeli occupation. "Our entire people is saying 'No, no, no' to this deal," he said. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, replied that Abbas stood in the way of a solution. "Only when he steps down can Israel and the Palestinians move forward," Danon said. "He is trying to blame the lack of progress on Israel. Complaining instead of leading is not leadership," he said, calling on the Palestinians to find a "realistic solution." Abbas, however, won a show of support as he met in New York with Netanyahu's predecessor Ehud Olmert, who said that any negotiations needed to involve the Palestinian leader. "He is a man of peace, he is opposed to terror, and therefore he is the only partner that we can deal with," Olmert, a centrist who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009, told reporters with Abbas at his side. Whenever negotiations start, "the partner of Israel to these negotiations will be Mahmud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority," Olmert said. Danon, the Israeli ambassador, lashed out at Olmert for going ahead with the meeting. "He is endorsing diplomatic terrorism against Israel. It is shameful," Danon said. - Joint stance by Europeans - The Palestinians previously won support from the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union which have all rejected Trump's plan. On Tuesday, the four European Union members of the Security Council -- France, Germany, Belgium and Estonia -- as well as Poland, which left the council at the end of last year, jointly said that any Middle East solution needs to be based on lines before 1967, when Israel seized the West Bank in the Six-Day War. Trump's plan "departs from these internationally agreed parameters," they said in a joint statement, while applauding "all efforts" to reach a peaceful resolution. The European Union earlier failed to issue a similar joint statement among all members due to resistance from a handful of countries including Hungary, led by right-wing populist Viktor Orban. Trump's plan would establish a Palestinian state but grant Israel sovereignty stretching to the Jordanian border, including over Jewish settlements built since 1967. The plan would recognize contested Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel but allow the Palestinians to establish a capital on the holy city's eastern outskirts. Hours after Trump unveiled the plan, Netanyahu began to move forward with plans to annex much of the West Bank. Despite the Palestinians' refusal to deal with Trump, Abbas said that his first impressions of the billionaire turned president had been favorable. Trump, whose evangelical Christian base is strongly supportive of Israel, has taken a series of landmark steps, such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ending assistance to the UN body that helps Palestinian refugees. "I do not know who gave him this advice. The President Trump I met was not like that," Abbas said. Artistes should always articulate the cultural, political, social and environmental elements of the world through their work, according to Gen Next designers. The first day of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 kick-started with four up-and-coming labels by designers Akhil Gupta, Ananya Modi Jain, Chandrima Agnihotri and Mannat Sethi and Harshna Kandhari, presenting their collections. Akhil said through his brand AKHL, he wants to address the "existential threats" to humanity. "There is no denying that today the climate crisis has become an existential threat to humanity and designers and entrepreneurs of all ages must respond to it the best way they can. "I think it is imperative for young designers to understand their product and their creative vision and find their own unique way of being environmentally sustainable. It's crucial to find the right way to contribute as a designer and a brand," the 28-year-old designer told PTI. Akhil, who worked with fashion industry big-wigs Peter Pilotto, Manish Arora and Amit Aggarwal in Delhi before establishing his label in 2019, presented a collection inspired by tensile structures. To create his dramatic-yet-wearable range, dominated by the shades of grey, he sourced surplus fishing monofilament yarns from villages in the state and reworked them as embroidery yarns. Ananya, a Delhi-based designer, said her label All2Defy is inspired by the socially conscious young generation that is not scared to talk about issues like gender equality and body positivity. "All2Defy is inspired by youth culture - and for me it stems from the lingo that we use and the freedom of speech that we encourage. Each of these inspirations are incorporated through graphics and language in our product," she added. The 26-year-old designer said urban fashion is not only about trends but also reflects one's persona and opinions. "Your style - which isn't just the way you put together your clothes - extends to your body language, your persona, your thoughts and ideas, and your opinions, and this is what makes you unique and this uniqueness is what the youth of today aims to achieve." Chandrima, who launched her eponymous label last year, after working with fashion giants like Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla and Rohit Bal, said it is a duty of each individual involved in the fashion circuit to contribute in the betterment of the society. "With the way our industry is affecting the environmental and social norms, it's the duty of each individual involved in the process to contribute in the betterment of the society by being fair and socially responsible. It is necessary for young labels to address the issues," she said. On the LFW runway, Chandrima celebrated diversity in crafts by blending techniques and fabrics prominent in nomadic communities in India, with international style. "The motive behind it is to sustain the folklore of India and cultural diversity by incorporating Indian crafts and bringing them to global platforms through fashion," she said. Delhi-based designer duo Mannat and Harshna believe relevance of design cannot be defined without keeping the dynamics of social, political and environmental impacts in consideration. "Political volatility impacts minute but crucial details like fabric pricing, social welfare of your workers, etc. With respect to the environment, effects of manufacturing have to be spoken of at large." Mannat said. "Being at a podium where we get a chance to narrate, address and accredit importance to certain issues that are being brought up by the young Indians, is a great opportunity. Design is one face of the industry. Responsibility is the other," added Harshna. For the latest collection of their label GRAINE, the designers reused discarded rubber tyres, meticulously hand cut into strips and other shapes and then embellished the garments with Zardozi handwork. LFW Summer/Resort 2020 runs till February 16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [February 12, 2020] Wells Fargo Ends Mandatory Arbitration For Future Employee Claims of Sexual Harassment Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced that, effective immediately, the company will no longer require arbitration for employees in connection with any future sexual harassment claims. "Wells Fargo has zero tolerance for sexual harassment," David Galloreese, head of Human Resources at Wells Fargo, wrote in an article posted on the company's internal and external websites. "We believe that this is the appropriate change to make at this time for our employees. The treatment of sexual harassment claims has become an increasingly prominent issue across industries. We've taken many steps to create and maintain a workplace environment that promotes and protects the safety and well-being of our employees." Wells Fargo made the decision following internal dialogue and feedback from various stakeholders, including the proponents of a shareholder proposal. Clean Yield Asset Management submitted a shareholer proposal late last year that focused on mandatory arbitration of workplace sexual harassment claims. Clean Yield has since withdrawn the proposal. "Our Board of Directors and CEO Charlie Scharf value and appreciate input from our stakeholders as we consider opportunities to enhance our practices and transparency," Galloreese said. "We are working hard to improve our company for our stakeholders." The company's mandatory employment arbitration policy generally applies to employees hired since December 11, 2015. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,400 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 32 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 260,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune's 2019 rankings of America's largest corporations. Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter (News - Alert): @WellsFargo. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005624/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Assam government is planning to conduct a survey to identify the indigenous Muslim population of the state in order to segregate them from illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. "In the state budget of 2019-20, Rs 100 crore was earmarked for Indigenous Muslim Development Corporation. A survey will be conducted to identify the people from Goria, Moria, Desi and Jola of the tea tribe community of the state, who are considered to be indigenous," Ranjit Kumar Dutta, state minister told reporters here. "This is a sensitive matter. There will be no entry of Bangladeshi origin people in this survey. We will come to know about the indigenous Muslims in this survey," he added. He further said that this is not a political agenda of BJP but a long-standing commitment of the party. "This census is very important because there is a huge number of Bangladeshi Muslims in Assam which is about 19 lakhs. Indigenous Muslims is roughly about 14 lakhs. This is a good step made by the government to identify indigenous Muslims in the state," Muminul Aowal, Assam Minority Development Board chairman said. Meanwhile, Congress state president Ripun Bora alleged that this survey is an eyewash which is being conducted by the government. The Assam government called a meeting today regarding the socio-economic census of indigenous Muslims of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Partnership advances innovation and increases precision of liver-directed oncology therapies for patients WOBURN, Mass., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirtex Medical , a leading manufacturer of targeted liver cancer therapies, today announced a collaboration with MIM Software Inc., a leading global provider of practical imaging solutions in the fields of radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroimaging and cardiac imaging. Under the terms of the agreement, Sirtex's specialized sales teams in the United States, Europe and other key global markets will offer MIM SurePlanTM LiverY90 software alongside the company's SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres to improve treatment precision for patients with hepatic tumors. MIM SurePlan LiverY90 provides timesaving tools and post-treatment dosimetry for interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians treating hepatic tumors with SIR-Spheres. The software allows physicians to quickly calculate the dose delivered by the microspheres to improve treatment decisions and patient care. The technology also incorporates CT, PET, SPECT and MRI scans simultaneously to deliver results on spheres deposition, coverage and absorbed dose, allowing physicians to make informed decisions faster about next steps. In addition to sharing a mission to provide physicians the tools they need to treat cancers, Sirtex and MIM also share a commitment to provide patients the best care throughout the treatment journey. "Given the overlap of their technology and our SIR-Spheres product, Sirtex and MIM have a long history of working alongside clinical care teams," said Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Sirtex. "Now as partners, we will be able to combine our expertise and resources to provide an even higher level of support to treat liver tumors. We are excited to see how this collaboration will benefit physicians and ultimately improve treatment outcomes for patients." "We are proud and excited to partner with Sirtex, mainly because it will provide access to personalized dosimetry for a large number of patients across the globe," said Andrew Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of MIM Software Inc. "The treatment of liver tumors requires a multi-disciplinary approach, so it's a natural evolution for companies like ours to partner to provide an even faster, higher level of support and resources to treatment teams." In the United States, SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres received Premarket Approval (PMA) from the FDA and are indicated for the treatment of non-resectable metastatic liver tumors from primary colorectal cancer in combination with intrahepatic artery chemotherapy using floxuridine. SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres are approved for the treatment of inoperable liver tumors in Australia, the European Union, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and several countries in Asia, such as India and Singapore. About Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) using SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres is a prescription device for the treatment of inoperable liver tumors. SIRT is a minimally invasive treatment that delivers high doses of high-energy beta radiation directly to the tumors. SIRT is administered to patients by interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians, who infuse millions of radioactive resin microspheres via a catheter into the liver arteries that supply blood to the tumors. By using the tumors' blood supply, the microspheres selectively target liver tumors with a dose of radiation that is up to 40 times higher than conventional radiotherapy, while sparing healthy tissue. About Sirtex Sirtex Medical is a global healthcare business with offices in the U.S., Australia, Germany and Singapore, working to improve outcomes in people with cancer. Our current lead product is a targeted radiation therapy for liver cancer called SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres. More than 100,000 doses have been supplied to treat patients with liver cancer at more than 1,300 medical centers in over 50 countries. For more information, visit www.sirtex.com . SIR-Spheres is a registered trademark of Sirtex SIR-Spheres Pty Ltd. About MIM Software MIM Software is committed to enhancing patient care by providing customer-focused and innovative solutions. MIM Software provides practical imaging solutions in the fields of radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroimaging and cardiac imaging. MIM is a privately held company that sells its products globally to imaging centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, research organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Learn more by visiting www.mimsoftware.com . APM-OUS-363 SOURCE Sirtex Medical Related Links http://www.sirtex.com Sylvester Stallone will assume a superhero identity for his new fantasy drama Samaritan. But the 73-year-old actor appeared all too mortal as he donned an extensive amount of grisly special effects makeup during the film's third day of shooting in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday. Stallone stars opposite Euphoria's Javon 'Wanna' Walton in the highly anticipated film set to hit theaters on December 11. Ouch! Sylvester Stallone was spotted on set of his latest film Samaritan in Atlanta on Wednesday sporting some intense special effects makeup On set Stallone can be seen donning a serious slash across his face, as well as a noticeable black eye. Various blood stains, bruises, and scars painted the actor's face for the day's particularly violent shoot. For the portrayal of Stallone's currently unnamed character, Sly was dressed in a rugged ensemble consisting of a blue beanie, flannel button down, faded denim, and treaded boots. The MGM produced picture follows a 'young boy,' played by Walton, who attempts to seek out a mythic superhero that many believed to have vanished following an 'epic battle' that took place 20 years earlier. It takes two: Stallone stars opposite Euphoria star Javon 'Wanna' Walton, who couldn't help but beam as he acted alongside the legendary Hollywood icon Man down! One scene required Stallone to get on the ground and simulate a serious injury One scene required Stallone to get on the ground and act out a serious blow. Lying on his back, a hefty contraption - possibly meant to simulate a vehicle - could be seen rolling near Sly as he laid lifeless. In between takes, Walton could be seen grinning from ear-to-ear while acting alongside Stallone who never seemed to drop the dramatics of his character. On Tuesday evening, Stallone appeared enthralled by his latest project, even taking to social media to express his admiration for director Julius Avery and the caliber of their project. Encouraging: Prior to their first day on set, Stallone commented on Walton's post with some kind words about the 'wonderful things' the duo were going to do on set for the film 'Back from my third or fourth day of filming on Samaritan..it's fantastic...,' expressed Stallone in a video shared to his nearly 12million Instagram followers. 'The director is doing great...the producers are great...it's pretty fantastic to be involved in this.' The actor signed off by admitting he was going to 'get a good sleep' and be 'back at it' once he rejoined his cast mates on set for Wednesday's shoot. Stallone's production company Balboa Productions is behind the superhero drama. On Monday, Walton couldn't help but gush over Sylvester on Instagram just prior to their first day on set. 'First movie with the legend himself @officialslystallone!,' captioned the 13-year-old. He shared a throwback photo of Stallone as his iconic character Rocky, while also tagging the screen legend and the Balboa Productions Instagram page. 'Im gonna bring my A game errrday,' concluded Walton, along with a hoard of excitable emojis. Walton has a personal connection to Stallone, being that he has been training as a boxer since the age of four. Take a seat: Walton shared a photograph of his set chair just before kicking things into gear with Stallone In the post's comment section, Sylvester was eager to provide some kind words of encouragement to his young co-star. 'You are ready, young man we're going to do wonderful things together and really pull out some deep emotions,' he wrote. There are few details surrounding the supernatural drama as it remains in pre-production, but an official release date of December 11, 2020 has been set. He's back! During Super Bowl LIV, Stallone gave fans some major Rocky Balboa Nostalgia when he returned to the iconic steps from the film for Facebook's Super Bowl commercial Big club: The actor was joined by comedian Chris Rock, as well as a slew of Balboa fanatics in workout gear for the commercial's Rocky Balboa Going The Distance Facebook group During Super Bowl LIV, Stallone gave fans some major Rocky Balboa Nostalgia when he returned to the iconic steps from the film for Facebook's Super Bowl commercial. The actor was joined by comedian Chris Rock, as well as a slew of Balboa fanatics in workout gear. The ad was for the website's More Together promotion, which looks to emphasize the way their groups are aimed at uniting people. In a play off of the word rock - set to Twisted Sister's 1984 anthem I Wanna Rock - the site, in the ad, advertised the multiple niche groups they have that relate to the word, name or concept of rock. Rural landlords have been urged to give rent abatements to farm tenants who have been impacted by the recent weather conditions. Some farmers have been severely affected by months of poor weather which has impacted crop planting for the coming season. Landlords are now being urged to consider offering rent abatements to those who are facing severe difficulties as a result of these conditions. The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) said farmers have faced 'unprecedented' weather since the early autumn, leaving many behind with their crop establishment. It comes as the UK experienced its worst winter storm in years as Storm Ciara battered large regions of the country, resulting in swathes of rural areas left flooded. The TFAs National Chairman, James Gray, has now written to the President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) asking for the their support. He said: There are a large number of farm businesses that have completed very little of their planned winter sowing. Now that we are beyond the end of January and with spring crops unlikely to be an option for more than a few, severe economic difficulties are expected for many farm businesses over the coming twelve months, said Mr Gray. I know that tenants will appreciate their landlords sharing the financial burden of the inevitable losses that will be suffered by many farm businesses this year, he added. The TFA is also calling for the government to widen its support for flood affected areas and to confirm derogations from the rules surrounding the Basic Payment and agri-environment schemes. And while the government has been offering support to farms in some of the most severely affected areas, the impact of flooding is 'much more widespread'. Mr Gray said: Farmers from across the country, not just those earmarked by the government, are facing devastating losses this year which will impact their businesses for years to come. Government must do more to help these businesses recover given the severe, uninsurable losses they will face. Part of this is about being flexible with scheme rules so that farmers are not penalised from being unable to comply with cross compliance, given that this will be beyond their control, he said. A study by HIQA has said that improvements have been made in maternity services since its investigation into maternal care in Portlaoise Hospital but it found a lack of clarity and national leadership within the HSE regarding the responsibility for implementing the National Maternity Strategy. HIQA, which has just published an overview of its inspections of Irelands 19 maternity units and hospitals, including Portlaoise, said it found good practice in how maternity services detect and respond to obstetric emergencies. It also identified opportunities for improvement to ensure that maternity services remain safe and effective into the future. Regarding Portlaoise, specifically, it found the hospital had an outdated and restrictive physical infrastructure that did not meet the recommended design and infrastructural specifications for contemporary maternity services. SEE ALSO: Public meeting to be held over soil recovery facility in Monasterevin It also said that Portlaoise had procedures and processes in place to identify women at high risk of complications and to ensure that their care was provided in the most appropriate setting. It found that at Portlaoise fetal ultrasound scans were offered to all pregnant women in accordance with the National Standards. Effective arrangements were in place to detect and respond to obstetric emergencies and to provide or facilitate on-going care to ill women and their babies. SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories It also said that one maternal emergency resuscitation trolley was shared across three clinical areas. Following this inspection, hospital management should review and assess procedures for ensuring the adequate provision of resuscitation equipment in all clinical areas. Mary Dunnion, HIQAs Director of Regulation, said overall, our findings provide assurance that improvements have been made in maternity services since HIQAs investigation into maternal care in Portlaoise Hospital. But she said it was of concern to HIQA that the HSE had made only limited progress in advancing this Strategy since it was approved by the Government in 2016. Sean Egan, HIQAs Head of Healthcare, said services around the country were reliant on front-line medical staff working onerous rosters some on call every three nights and midwifery staff working overtime to address staffing deficits and maintain service levels. He said the poor infrastructure and physical environment across maternity services significantly impacts on a womans comfort, dignity and privacy, and increases the potential risk of cross infection for women and babies. Mr Egan said addressing the ageing infrastructure across many maternity services will require significant funding. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said the report showed that midwives are working at an unsustainable rate to provide care for patients. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said: said that this is further evidence of the chronic understaffing in Irelands nineteen maternity units and that midwives dedication was being used to paper over cracks in the service. The union called for the long-delayed implementation of the National Maternity Strategy and for an immediate HSE approval of midwifery posts to reach safe staffing levels, an end to the HSE recruitment freeze in nursing and midwifery, and a renewed commitment from the next government to implement the National Maternity Strategy, including expanded midwife-led units Jennifer Aniston arrives at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on 16 January 2020. [Photo: AP] Jennifer Aniston has wowed her fans with an abs-baring shoot for Interview magazine. The Friends star, who turned 51 yesterday, shared the birthday surprise with her 27.7 million followers on Instagram. While the release of the March issue cover coincided with Anistons birthday yesterday, it seems the star was unaware of the perfect timing. Read more: Jennifer Aniston's Instagram account breaks Meghan Markle & Prince Harry's world record Thanks to the Interview team for celebrating women at every age... turns out 51 is pretty fun, she wrote in her Instagram post. In one image from the cover shoot, Aniston wears a draped black gown by Versace with a cut-away around her stomach that shows off her toned abdominal muscles. She looks tanned and healthy, sporting beachy waves and a pair of sophisticated Cartier drop earrings. In another image, this time an edgy black and white shot, she wears a Celine biker jacket with nothing but an Azzedine Alaia body underneath and over-the-knee boots. A third look features Aniston in a pale pink satin bralet paired with a leather pencil skirt, yet again showing a hint of her toned midriff. Actor Sandra Bullock, a friend and drinking buddy to Aniston, interviews her over the phone for the cover story, and the pair touch on everything from Friends to her newest project, The Morning Show. While Aniston barely seems to have aged a day during her decades in the spotlight, its hinted that the star puts a lot of effort into maintaining her youthful looks and physique. Read more: Jennifer Aniston reveals how she avoided wrinkling her dress on the way to the SAG Awards As part of the interview, Bullock addressed Anistons preoccupation with health and wellness and her campaign to get her friends involved. Story continues You were just so intrigued by all this new health information that was coming out. Its mental health, physical health, well-being, joy, and you started inviting us all to these lectures at your house where we could all learn together, she said. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK: Two nurses - including one who is pregnant - were reportedly in quarantine after they treated a patient suspected of having coronavirus. They had treated a woman at The Haven in Mill View hospital, Hove, who is thought to have recently returned from holiday in Hong Kong, according to the Brighton Argus. They were being kept in a room next door to the patient, a source said. The nurses were in the room at 8.30pm yesterday evening, after treating the woman in a suspected new case of the deadly illness. Another source claimed that the nurses were working a night shift on the mental health ward when they were told they couldn't leave. The nurses treated a woman at The Haven in Mill View hospital, Hove, who is thought to have the coronavirus The source told Brighton and Hove News: 'The night staff were not allowed to leave and the early shift sent to other wards. 'The woman concerned was assessed in a Mill View assessment room which has now been closed but it is nowhere near the wards so if it is confirmed there will not be a serious risk to the patients.' Public Health England has refused comment and said it will not discuss any new confirmed cases until 2pm tomorrow. Sussex Partnership NHS trust has been contacted for comment. The case comes after the the government announced a new regulation allowing it to forcibly place suspected coronavirus patients in quarantine. Anyone infected with the virus will be kept in quarantine for their own safety and will be forced into isolation if they pose a threat to public health. Meanwhile, one of the largest secondary schools in Brighton yesterday told parents that a 'member of its community' was in quarantine because of suspected contact with the coronavirus. Varndean School, which has around 1,300 pupils, became the fourth school in the city to contact parents to say that a connected individual had been told to 'self-isolate' by Public Heath England for 14 days. A GP surgery in Brighton was yesterday sealed off and cleaned by a team in hazmat suits after it was revealed locum doctor Dr Catriona Greenwood had caught the killer virus today named COVID-19 from 'super spreader' Steve Walsh at a French ski chalet. MailOnline has found at least nine sites in Brighton linked to the city's super spreader or his infected doctor friend including two schools, two health centres and a care home as the area's residents accused public health chiefs of starving them of information A second branch of the surgery, located less than two miles away, was closed today for 'organisational health and safety reasons' the same excuse offered to patients at the Warmdene branch yesterday. Brighton is at the centre of Britain's coronavirus crisis, with six of the UK's eight confirmed cases diagnosed in the city. More than 43,000 people have caught the SARS-like infection worldwide and at least 1,000 have died. Scout leader Mr Walsh, 53, this morning confirmed he was Brighton's 'super-spreader'. The businessman is feared to have infected at least 11 people including five Britons in France, one in Spain and five in Brighton. MailOnline understands Dr Greenwood, also known by her married name Saynor, treated at least one patient at the Warmdene branch of the County Oak Medical Centre last week in an admin locum shift. Dr Greenwood had been a GP at the surgery for almost 20 years before she left Britain last year to start a new life in the French Alps with her family. She returns to the UK periodically to fill well-paid 'locum' shifts. Workers in protective suits inside of the County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton on Monday after a GP at the practice was diagnosed with the deadly virus A source close to the surgery revealed she saw at least one patient at Warmdene in an admin shift. They said: 'She comes back to Brighton for locum work. She carried out an admin shift at the surgery last Thursday.' She is quarantined in a hospital in London. Her husband Bob and one of their three children are also being treated for the virus in France, as well as three others Britons who caught the infection at the same chalet in Les Contamines Montjoie. Dr Greenwood and her husband owned the chalet, located near Chamonix. Mr Walsh had stayed there after flying to the French Alps from a conference in Singapore, where he unknowingly caught the virus at the end of January. Mr Walsh, whose children attend the Cottesmore primary school that sent out an alert to parents today, passed on the infection before showing any symptoms of the killer SARS-like infection. Dr Catriona Saynor (pictured left) quit as a partner in Brighton to live permanently in the French chalet where the British super-spreader visited to ski. She works at County Oak Medical Centreas a locum, according to the medical centre's website. Her husband Bob and their nine-year-old son are also said to have been confirmed with coronavirus Brighton GP surgery the County Oak Medical Centre has been closed for 'urgent operational health and safety reasons' after a member of staff tested positive for the killer coronavirus He claims he has recovered from the never-before-seen virus. He is still quarantined in a London hospital and his family have been asked to isolate themselves 'as a precaution'. Brighton residents have been gripped by fear after the spate of coronavirus cases in the city. Members of a yoga class attended by a coronavirus patient at the Cornerstone Community Centre were told to stay indoors and avoid interacting with people amid concerns they may have caught the virus during the session. It has been shut until February 17 because of 'staffing shortages', according to Allison Ollerenshaw, the chair of trustees. The Grenadier pub in Hove, where the super spreader went for a drink after returning from Singapore with the virus. Staff who were on shift that night have been told to self-isolate Patcham Nursing Home in the north of the city has closed its doors to visitors amid fears a GP with coronavirus visited one of its 24 elderly residents last week Patcham Nursing Home, in the north of the city, last night closed its doors to all visitors as a 'precaution' after an infected GP - either Dr Greenwood or a second, unnamed male doctor - last week visited the facility, which cares for 24 elderly residents. And students at Bevendean Primary School were this morning told they can stay at home if they want after a teacher is in 'self-isolation' over fears they caught the coronavirus. The school, which has more than 400 pupils, said a member of staff had been in contact with someone who had spent time around one of the six coronavirus patients in Brighton. While headteacher of Cottesmore St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Rachel Breen, wrote to parents telling them the two had been isolated to 'reduce the risk of the virus spreading'. It has not closed but said students can stay at home if they wish. Parents of pupils at Varndean School were today emailed to say that a 'person from our school community' has been told by PHE to self-isolate for 14 days, Brighton and Hove News reports. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:41:47|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Three nests with 51 eggs of the nearly-extinct Royal Turtle have been found at wetlands in the Sre Ambel River in southwestern Cambodia's Koh Kong province, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said in a press release on Wednesday. The eggs were spotted by conservationists from the Fisheries Administration, WCS and a local nest protection team, the release said. Royal Turtle, also known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), is one of the world's 25 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises. It is listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as "critically endangered". "The Sre Ambel River System is key to the survival of Royal Turtle because it has beaches, flooded forest and mangrove where they can find their food and breed," said WCS country program director Ken Sereyrotha. He said it had been the first time since 2016 that up to three nests were discovered, as in the last four years, only one nest was found each year. "The increase in the nests resulted from the decision made by the government to end sand dredging business and include the Sre Ambel River System as a protected area for Royal Turtles, and the recent release of 86 Royal Turtles into the river," he said. Royal Turtle has been designated as Cambodia's National Reptile by a Royal Decree issued in 2005. The species was believed extinct in Cambodia until 2000 when a small population was rediscovered. Since then, the Fisheries Administration and WCS have worked together to protect it from extinction. Ouk Vibol, director of Fisheries Conservation Department of Fisheries Administration, said he was happy to see the rise in nests of the Royal Turtle. "The Fisheries Administration will continue to work actively with WCS to conserve Royal Turtles through habitat and beach protection, research and monitoring, and nest protection program," he said. Last summer, Daniel Ament was a typical teen looking forward to his junior year at Grosse Pointe North High School near Detroit. The 16-year-old was an avid sailor and a varsity athlete who ran cross country. But, like many of his peers, he also vaped nicotine and marijuana a habit that eventually landed him in the emergency room. On Sept. 5 he was admitted to St. John Hospital in Detroit after suffering from symptoms resembling pneumonia. His condition deteriorated and he spent 29 days on life support. When he awoke weeks later, he was shocked to learn he had received a double-lung transplant. The Oct. 15 procedure was described by transplant doctors at the Henry Ford Health System as the first double lung transplant in the world for a patient whose lungs were irreparably damaged from vaping. Today, Ament is determined to use his powerful survival story to help others understand the dangers of vaping. Hes started a non-profit foundation, Fight4Wellness and plans to continue speaking to youth and creating public service announcements to remind young people that vaping is more than a recreational pursuit it can be deadly. For me, most of the stuff I heard was that it was completely safe, that it was helping people quit cigarettes, Ament, now 17, tells PEOPLE. I never thought it would be any health risk that serious. He says most other kids dont think its dangerous, either. Its more rare to find someone who doesnt vape, especially around my area, Ament says, noting that he sees kids from all over the country on social media making jokes about their vaping habits. No one cares that it can be harmful, and its an issue everywhere, he says. Literally everyone is vaping and even though the age is 21 its really not stopping anyone. They are going to get it no matter what. It really has to do with stopping them before they get into it. Fight4Wellness Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a New York City-based family and emergency medicine physician who has treated many vaping patients, praises Ament for stepping up to warn his peers. Story continues It is a blessing this young man who had a double lung transplant is alive, and he is so courageous and brave for sharing his story, his testimony of near death, as he is saving the lives of many others via prevention, she says. Nesheiwat calls vaping a teenage epidemic that has affected millions with short-term effects that can often be deadly. Vaping is highly addictive, and many kids are not aware, she said. They are curious, or use it to fit in, for peer pressure, anxiety, or they simply cant quit. Fight4Wellness And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaping is on the rise among youth. From 2018 to 2019, the number of middle and high school students who were using e-cigarettes rose from 3.6 million to 5.4 million. In addition, through mid-January, the CDC reported that at least 60 people have died from vaping-related deaths, with an additional 2,668 people from all 50 states reported hospitalized with significant lung problems related to vaping. Nesheiwat says that vaping affects brain development and can have an impact on mood, behavior, thinking, decision-making skills and judgment. The artificial chemicals used in vaping liquids can damage and destroy cells in the lungs, causing inflammation and cell death. Certain flavors of vape cartridges literally kill bronchial cells, she said, and have been banned. Vaping can also cause nicotine toxicity, which can result in seizures, she says. It can even lead teens to become smokers. Many people who vape will go on to become regular cigarette smokers in six months to a year, Neshiewat said. Smoking is the No. 1 cause of death in this country it causes more deaths than drugs, guns, car accidents, HIV and alcohol combined. Ament, who is recuperating at home with his new lungs, has seen his own life altered significantly. He hasnt yet returned to classes at school a homebound teacher visits three times a week. To this day, he remembers very little of his ordeal. He went from having no symptoms, to coming down with a fever and experiencing headache and fatigue. I went to the hospital and didnt remember anything, and I woke up with new lungs, he recalls. I had no time to process anything. I was freaking out. I was asking the nurses over and over what happened. It was a traumatic experience. Ament lost 40 lbs. and had to re-learn how to walk. He was forced to rely on others during his recovery. But he is determined to not let the harrowing experience define his future. While in the hospital, a doctor suggested he become an anti-vaping advocate. Ament, who has always wanted to start his own business, began thinking about creating a non-profit to help kids realize the important truth that they should never vape, not even once. Fight4Wellness When he makes in-person speeches, he shows kids before and after slides, including photos of the scars that snake across his chest. He makes sure they know that he nearly died. And it seems like his message is getting out there. In just one day recently, more than 20 young people reached out via email to ask for information or how to get help. And while Ament still feels physically weak, he says his new project is empowering and makes him feel like hes doing something good. Ive gotten a lot of support from everyone, Ament adds. I want this to be bigger and to be doing as much as we can, finding more ways we can help people with resources so that I can have more impact. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. During Parliament-Cabinet Q&A session Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan responded to the criticism addressed to the authorities about oppressing the people with opposition views. ARMENPRESS reports PM Pashinyan said, There has never been any voting in Armenia when there are 5 opposition TV channels, there has never been a voting in Armenia when Armenia shares the 8th place with France in terms of freedom of press. What are you talking about? Whose mouth do we shut? Whose car do we burn, he said. Saying Whose car do we burn? Nikol Pashinyan supposedly referred to the incident when his car was burnt down in 2004, when he was the editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak daily. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Six people have been arrested from Bihar on Wednesday in connection with a burglary case registered here in December last year. Police have recovered jewellery worth Rs 1.5 crore and a bike from their possession. Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said that the complaint regarding the burglary was filed on December 8 last year. "On December 9, 2019, received a complaint stating that on December 8, 2019, stating that the complainant and his family members went to attend the marriage of his cousin brother's daughter at GMR Arena Shamshabad while his nephew along with cook Ramashish Mukhiya stayed at home. Later, the nephew also left the house for attending the marriage," Kumar said. "Later, when they reached their house they found that jewellery and cash was missing. They searched for their cook, but he was also missing from his room along with his belongings. The complainant suspected his cook was behind the burglary and filed the complaint," he said. Kumar said that the gang is lead by Bhagwat Mukhiya of Bihar, who gets employed through an agency in the residences of very high profile uptown residents as a cook or domestic help. "Later, he recruits his accomplices in and around the house and loots expensive jewellery and other items," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brexit trade talks are getting off to an acrimonious start in Brussels, with the UK accusing the EU of cherry-picking and being too tough before negotiations have even begun in earnest. Angry British officials have said the EU is trying to impose conditions on the UK that go far beyond the standard of a normal free trade agreement after the European parliament overwhelmingly backed a no-nonsense negotiating mandate on Wednesday. The EU says that Britains closeness to the continent and the interlinked nature of the two economies means the UK government must commit to maintain European standards on the environment, workers rights, and safety including future rules if it wants trade access. Brussels and member states are worried that the UK could slash standards and outcompete European businesses on an unfair basis, and say the restrictions are needed to prevent this if the UK wants to keep tariff-free access to Europes single market. On Tuesday in a debate about the mandate, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was prepared to offer the UK something we have never ever before offered to anybody else, describing the planned agreement as a new model of trade and a unique ambition in terms of access to the single market. But she added: Of course this would require corresponding guarantees on fair competition and the protection of social, environmental and consumer standards. In short, this is plain and simply this level playing field. But after MEPs followed member states in backing the approach at a sitting of the European parliament on Wednesday, a UK government source said: Half the time the EU is telling us they are surprised we are not more ambitious and the other half of the time they are saying were looking for too much. Its now the EU who are cherry picking, suggesting ambition only where it suits them and adding obligations that go beyond a standard FTA. We are clear and consistent about what we want not a bespoke or special FTA, but similar to the one the EU already has with Canada. The EUs trade agreement with Canada, known as Ceta, does not abolish all tariffs and quotas with the EU, as the UK has said it is seeking though it does get rid of most. But the agreement took years to negotiate, while Boris Johnson has said he wants to conclude an agreement by the end of the year. Talks will start in earnest next month, with negotiations expected to take place in both Brussels and London. Boris Johnson has said he would rather leave without a trade agreement and trade on WTO terms than follow EU rules. Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Show all 37 1 /37 Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage AFP/Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People celebrate in Parliament Square Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters gather AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square An EU flag lies trampled in the mud Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty The testy start to negotiations is in contrast to the beginning of discussions on the withdrawal agreement in 2017, where both sides mostly began on good terms. Back in Westminster, No 10 said the UK would not accept alignment to EU rules in any way. Having autonomy over our rules and laws is exactly the same principle that the EU have set out in their mandate. In fact they have said the parties should ensure that the parties retain their autonomy and the ability to regulate economic activity, the prime ministers spokesperson said. That is exactly what we are doing and asking. The political declaration set out our commitment to discuss open and fair competition as part of negotiations on our future relationship. We want a relationship with the EU which is based on friendly cooperation between sovereign equals and centred on free trade. We are not asking for a special bespoke or unique deal but one like the ones the EU has previously struck with other friendly countries like Canada. Panaji, Feb 12 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that he had sought an appointment with Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, amid attacks by BJP MLAs on the religious figure who on February 8 had slammed the CAA, calling it "divisive" and "discriminatory". When asked if he was likely to meet the Archbishop, Sawant told reporters in Panaji on Wednesday: "I will get an appointment with the Archbishop tomorrow or the day after. I have informed him". Sawant, however, dodged direct questions from the media, as to whether he would raise the issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act during his meeting with the religious figure, who wields influence among significant population of Catholics in the coastal state. "I am going to meet him," Sawant said, when asked about the possibility of the CAA being discussed at the meet. On February 8, in a media statement, Ferrao had urged the central government to withdraw the CAA and had also slammed the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register. Reacting to the Archbishop's statement, a number of BJP leaders including Catholic MLAs had slammed the comment, urging him to not mix religion with politics. Catholics account for nearly 26 per cent of the state's 1.5 million population. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee boycotted a hearing on Wednesday, complaining that the committees Democratic chairman Adam Schiff has neglected proper oversight of the intelligence community by failing to hold a hearing on the Justice Department inspector generals report detailing the FBIs FISA abuses. Under your chairmanship, the House Intelligence Committee has strayed far from its mandate of overseeing the Intelligence Community, the panels nine GOP members wrote in a letter to Schiff obtained by the Daily Caller. Until the Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns, Republican Members cannot support distractions from our core responsibilities, they added. The Republican representatives afterwards boycotted a hearing of the Strategic Technology and Advanced Research Subcommittee on the development of artificial intelligence for national security, criticizing the hearing as a publicity event. In December, the Justice Departments inspector general released a report concluding that the FBI omitted crucial details in its requests for warrants to surveil Trump campaign associate Carter Page, specifically that the agency neglected to inform the FISA court that the controversial Steele dossier, cited in applications to spy on Page, was unreliable. The dossier was compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele who was investigating Donald Trump for an opposition research firm hired by the Hillary Clinton campaign. The dossier purported to show connections between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. The DOJ inspector general did not say the FISA court should have declined to grant the warrants, but Attorney General William Barr has disagreed, saying the FBI launched an intrusive investigation of the Trump campaign on the thinnest of suspicions that were insufficient to justify the steps taken. We have gone months at a time in which weve hardly held any oversight-related briefings or hearings at all, the Intelligence Committee Republicans wrote to Schiff. Until the Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns, Republican Members cannot support distractions from our core responsibilities. More from National Review Skeena Intersects 14.82 g/t AuEq over 31.30 metres at Eskay Creek Posted by Publisher Internet Skeena Resources Limited (TSX.V: SKE, OTCQX: SKREF) (?Skeena? or the ?Company? -? https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/skeena-resources-infill-drilling-at-eskay-creek-to-increase-resource-possible-sale-of-project/ ) is pleased to announce additional gold-silver drill results from the 2019 Phase I surface drilling program at the Eskay Creek Project (?Eskay Creek?) located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Four surface drill rigs were utilized for the 2019 Phase I program in the 21A, 21E and HW Zones to infill and upgrade areas of Inferred resources to the Indicated classification. Drill hole results reported in this release are from the 21A, 21E and HW Zones. Reference images are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Company?s website. Phase I Eskay Creek Drilling Highlights: 53 g/t Au, 247 g/t Ag (14.82 g/t AuEq) over 31.30 m (SK-19-172) 21A Zone 02 g/t Au, 70 g/t Ag (15.96 g/t AuEq) over 18.26 m (SK-19-171A) 21A Zone 51 g/t Au, 355 g/t Ag (6.24 g/t AuEq) over 21.00 m (SK-19-201) 21E Zone 83 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag (3.42 g/t AuEq) over 25.00 m (SK-19-208) 21E Zone Gold Equivalent (AuEq) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 75]. Reported core lengths represent 80-100% of true widths and are supported by well-defined mineralization geometries derived from historical drilling. Grade capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length weighted AuEq composites. Processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEq calculation and are disclosed at 100%. Samples below detection limit are nulled to a value of zero. 2019 Drilling Continues to Intersect Increased Grades, While Confirming Widths Infill drilling within the 21A Zone continues to improve upon historically defined grades as demonstrated by 2019 Phase I drill hole SK-19-172 which intersected 14.82 g/t AuEq over 31.30 metres. This drilling confirms the 21A Zone thickness as indicated by the nearest historical drill hole in the current mineral resource model which is located 20 metres down-dip and intersected slightly lower grade mineralization of 7.63 g/t AuEq over 26.90 metres (CA89-080). Likewise, additional up-dip confirmation was provided by drill hole SK-19-061 which averaged 10.56 g/t AuEq over 27.50 metres and correlates very well with previously reported thickness from 2018 Phase I drill hole SK-18-023 that intersected 14.57 g/t AuEq over 31.50 metres. Mineralization within this portion of the 21A Zone is dominantly hosted within the footwall rhyolite sequence with only a minor contribution from the mudstones (refer to attached section). Current Status Eskay Creek Drilling Four surface-based drill rigs are currently on site at Eskay Creek. The Company anticipates commencement of the surface 2020 Phase I infill and exploration drilling program in mid-February 2020. The remaining analytical results from the 2019 Phase I drilling program will be disclosed once all information has been received and validated. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company?s primary activities are the exploration and development of the past-producing Eskay Creek mine, which contains a combined Indicated and Inferred 4Moz, 4.4 g/t gold-equivalent open-pit resource. The Company recently completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on Eskay Creek which highlights an after-tax NPV5% of C$638M, 51% IRR and a 1.2-year payback. Skeena is also exploring the past-producing Snip gold mine. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walter Coles Jr. President & CEO In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Qualified Persons Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Company?s Exploration Managers, Colin Russell, P.Geo. and Adrian Newton, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects. Quality Assurance ? Quality Control Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company?s Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development. Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry?s analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100ppm are re-analyzed using a 50g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-elemental geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute ?forward looking information? and ?forward looking statements? within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management?s expectations.? Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as ?anticipates?, ?believes?, ?targets?, ?estimates?, ?plans?, ?expects?, ?may?, ?will?, ?could? or ?would?.? Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters.? While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have held a telephone conversation to discuss the Syria issue, the Kremlin press service said. According to the statement, the two leaders discussed "various aspects of activities aimed at resolving to resolve the Syrian crisis, focusing on the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone and the need to fully implement Russian-Turkish agreements, including the memorandum of September 17, 2018." After the conversation, Erdogan said that Turkey is determined to drive Syrian forces beyond its observation points in Syrias Idlib province before the end of February. "Turkey is determined to drive the forces of the regime [of Syrian President Bashar Assad] beyond the Idlib de-escalation zone boundaries, beyond our observation points, before the end of February," TASS cited him as saying. According to Erdogan. Ankara is "ready to use any necessary force." The head of state underscored that Turkey would conduct strikes on Syrian army positions "even beyond the territories outlined in Sochi memorandum in cases of attacks against the Turkish military." On February 10, the Turkish Ministry of National Defense said that at least five Turkish servicemen died Monday during a shelling in Syrias Idlib. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to help end ceasefire violations in Syrias Idlib, Tampa Bay, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TeamViewer, a leading global provider of secure remote access and remote control solutions, releases its new Remote Access product today in the US. TeamViewer Remote Access has been tailor-made and specifically adapted to suit remote work needs and small support environments, for customers who need unlimited access to a small number of computers. Starting at only $16.50/month, it provides unattended remote access to three licensed computers. TeamViewer Remote Access is offered alongside the existing Business, Premium, and Corporate subscription plans and enhances the TeamViewer portfolio of remote desktop connectivity products underscoring their vision to connect to anyone, anything, anywhere, anytime. With TeamViewer Remote Access, customers can leverage TeamViewers leading connectivity platform, best-in-class performance, and ease-of-use. Remote Access enables connections from all mobile and desktop devices to Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops. Our users have frequently requested for a more affordable solution that matches their particular needs of connecting to only a small number of computers, says TeamViewer CMO, Gautam Goswami. With TeamViewer Remote Access, we now have a corresponding offer to those requests, where customers can make full use of our connectivity platform without compromising speed, ease-of-use, or security. In this age of ever-increasing demand for productivity no matter where you are or what device you are carrying TeamViewer Remote Access helps our customers get their jobs done efficiently and without distraction or increased travel costs. About TeamViewer As a leading global provider of remote connectivity solutions, TeamViewer empowers users to connect anything, anywhere, anytime. The company offers secure remote access, support, control, and collaboration capabilities for online endpoints of any kind. By innovating with cutting-edge yet easy-to-deploy Augmented Reality (AR) and Internet of Things (IoT) implementations, the company enables businesses of all sizes to tap into their full digital potential. TeamViewer has been activated on more than 2 billion devices; more than 45 million devices are online at any time. Founded in 2005 in Goppingen, Germany, the company employs about 800 people in offices across Europe, the United States, and Asia Pacific. For more information, go to www.teamviewer.com and follow us on social media. In spite of screaming firecrackers and the sharp salutes of bang-snaps thrown onto the sidewalk, Chinatown was a little quieter during this years Lunar New Year parade festivities. Its frustrating, spokesperson Willliam Gee said Monday morning. Hes one of the organizers of the annual televised celebration, which typically draws over three million spectators worldwide. This year, however, he acknowledged there was a slight, yet noticeable decrease in the crowd, estimating about 10 percent fewer attendees than previous years a drop Gee attributes to baseless fears over contracting the coronavirus. The lapse in turnout wasn't so bad, but more concerning was the flood of disgruntled responses from some residents after city officials assured the public the parade was safe to attend. We have had emails from concerned volunteers, parents, citizens of the city and the Bay Area, asking, Why do you insist to continue on with this parade where were going to gather a big group of Asians; where we could get infected? said Gee. Those fears are unfounded just because its a big Asian event doesnt mean youre going to get infected. As of Tuesday, there were 13 diagnosed cases of coronavirus in the United States, with four people infected in the Bay Area. Local public health officials have emphasized the threat of the virus in the Bay Area continues to be extremely low. That could change, but for now, only those who have recently traveled to China or people in close contact with those who have contracted the illness are considered to be at risk. I saw some people wearing masks earlier today, but it looks like a lot of them took them off. Maybe they realized they didnt need them, a parade staffer told SFGATE at the event. Chinatown restaurateurs like San Suns James Cheh say rumors on social media seem to be spreading faster than the virus itself. One person posts about it on WeChat, and the next thing you know, lots of people are worried, Cheh told SFGATE. Located on Washington Street, his restaurant has been serving up a variety of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes to locals and tourists for nearly 30 years. The day of the parade usually drums up a lot of business, but this year was significantly less busy. Because the coronavirus is from China, and most people in Chinatown are Chinese, people are kind of afraid to come in, said Cheh. It makes me feel sad because most of the Chinese people living in the United States... theyve never even been to China. Pointing around the close-to-empty dining area on Saturday afternoon, Cheh said the impact of the rumors was tangible. I can tell you, compared to last year on parade day, it was packed at this point because people want to get something to eat before they go to the parade, he said. Now fewer and fewer people want to come out. Hes not alone. Last week, KPIX reported the lines typically stretching out the door of AA Bakery had all but disappeared after rumors spread on WhatsApp that one of the workers had somehow contracted coronavirus. At the time, Edward Siu of the Chinese Merchants Association also told KPIX foot traffic on the streets of Chinatown was down by 50 percent. Contrary to some bizarre online hearsay, though, coronavirus cannot be passed through food. According to the CDC, it's most likely to spread from person to person via respiratory droplets when the infected party coughs or sneezes. Social media isnt dangerous, but when someone bases their decisions on opinions, not that of experts, you start to enclose yourself in a bubble of fear: of getting sick, of contracting a virus, rather than enjoying yourself and spending time at a celebration of Asian culture, said Gee. He attempted to curtail the spread of misinformation ahead of the parade. Some of the comments Ive been reading basically said, Why should we celebrate an Asian culture that sparked this virus? Were not celebrating the virus, thats insane, said Gee. We understand it came from China but its not of Chinese people. While his sympathies do go out to victims with a death toll of over 1,000 in China, the virus should clearly be taken seriously he also hopes people seek to educate themselves rather than contribute to mounting racism and xenophobia. Were continuing to celebrate Asian culture and were proud to share it with people, said Gee. The amount of crowds at the parade and this weekends street fair prove people want to take a chance and come out. All things considered, the parade seemed to go on "without a hitch," said Gee. About 2,400 people paid for bleacher seats those sold out this year, to his surprise and the streets appeared to be just as packed with vendors, dancers and observers as any other year. Hed like to see a similar turnout at the 42nd annual Chinese New Year Run on March 1. In the meantime, he encourages people to support Chinatowns many restaurants and storefronts. Cheh agrees. Dont be afraid, he said. Just do the noble thing and eat. Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett "Unemployment leads to crime", the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday while directing civic authorities in Maharashtra to mull over providing alternative livelihood options for those who have been barred from plying horse carts at eco-sensitive famous tourist spot Table Land in Panchagani. The top court was hearing the plea of several horse cart owners of Panchagani who have been restrained by the Bombay High Court from plying on the main 80 acre tableland, second biggest after Cape Town in South Africa. A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant said, "We are taking this livelihood arguments quite seriously. The people will lose their livelihood and this aspect needed to be looked into quite seriously". The bench, however, did not agree to the vehement submission of lead petitioner Amit Kishan Bagde and others that the horse cart owners be allowed to ply carts on motorable roads on the main Table Land at Panchagani as their present area of operation was on the slope where tourists are not attracted to come for ride. "At this juncture, considering the topography, we are of the view that there was no error in the High Court order prohibiting the plying of horse carts on the Table Land..," the bench said. However, the bench took note of the submission of loss of livelihood of the horse cart owners and asked the Municipal body of Panchagani to set out a plan for levelling the 20 acre land, which is not plain, near the table land for smooth and accident free plying of horse carts. To make the inclined land motorable for horse carts, the civic body can consider levying cess, the bench said, adding that the authorities can also "consider providing alternative livelihood options to the horse cart owners either by formulating schemes for purchase of taxis or allotment of shop area at a suitable place..." The bench asked the civic body to give a report to the court after six weeks on these aspects saying "unemployment leads to crime". The bench also asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Bombay Environmental Action Group which had moved the High Court, to also suggest measures on alternate livelihood options to the affected horse cart owners. Earlier, the Bombay High Court had refused to allow riding of horse carts on a portion of land at the famous tourist spot, Table Land at Panchgani. The horse carts association had moved the application in HC seeking permission to ply at the northern side of the Table Land as it is much larger than the southern side and is far more scenic. Horse buggies and horses were banned from riding on the ecologically sensitive declared northern side of the Panchgani Table Land, after orders were passed by the High court in 2006. The high court had then also suggested several measures be implemented such as putting up barricades to prevent entry of any vehicles on the Table Land, and restraining putting up of shops on the plateau. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Certain protection and reliefs were granted to the 55 entities through an order passed by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on 15 October, 2018 New Delhi: The government has approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) seeking additional 270 days to complete resolution process of 105 IL&FS group companies. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has also requested the appellate tribunal to release 55 other entities from moratorium, so that they can discharge their debt obligations. Certain protection and reliefs were granted to the 55 entities through an order passed by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on 15 October, 2018. In addition to the 55 entities, the ministry has also asked the NCLAT to release nine companies from the scope and operation of the October 2018 order, according to an affidavit filed by the ministry with the appellate tribunal. Lalpur Wind Energy, Etesian Urja, Khandke Wind Energy, Ratedi Wind Power, Wind Urja India, Tadas Wind Energy, Kaze Energy, Jharkhand e-Governance solutions Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Assam are the nine companies. "For the remaining 105 domestic group entities, extend the scope and operation of the order passed by this tribunal on October 15, 2018 for an additional period of 270 days from the date on which the resolution framework is approved by this tribunal, to enable the new board to successfully complete the resolution of IL&FS Group," as per the affidavit. Passing an interim order on 15 October, 2018, the NCLAT had stayed all proceedings against IL&FS group companies, whose total debt is Rs 94,215 crore. Besides, the MCA has asked to approve the composition of the Creditors' Committee of five SPVs of IL&FS Transportation Networks (ITNL) constituted in accordance with the resolution framework, which includes all financial creditors, including IL&FS group companies that have provided the financial debt. It has also asked NCLAT to "direct that voting by the Creditors' Committee of these 5 ITNL Sale SPVs be held expeditiously to consider and vote on the H1 bid value and that the New Board may be permitted to proceed with the resolution process of these 5 ITNL Sale SPVs under the supervision of Justice D K Jain and NCLT". According to the affidavit, IL&FS has an aggregate debt of Rs 94,215 crore, in which Rs 10,173 crore (around 10.79 percent) is collected from public fund creditors as pension funds, provident funds, employee welfare funds, gratuity funds, and army group insurance funds, etc. Rs 44,075 crore debt, which is 47 percent, is collected from the commercial banks, the affidavit said. Moreover, the aggregate debt of its four key holding companiesInfrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS), IL&FS Financial Services, IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (ITNL) and IL&FS Energy Development Company Ltd (IEDCL)is almost 51 percent, which is Rs 48,000 crore. Besides, these four companies also provided loans to other IL&FS group entities accounts to Rs 26,154 crore, which is around 80 per cent of the total loan provided by the group. According to the government, in the absence of any group insolvency framework currently existing under Indian law, the resolution of the IL&FS group, which is spread across multiple jurisdictions and business verticals, is a taste case for "Group Insolvency" in India and represents a "watershed moment" in the relatively recent and evolving IBC laws. IL&FS group comprised of 302 entities, of which 169 entities are incorporated in India and 133 entities outside. Paris Air Show success for Wrexham business which secured more than 5 million worth of new deals This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 12th, 2020 The Paris Air Show 2019 was a resounding success with one company, Tritech Group, securing more than 5 million worth of new deals during the Welsh Government trade mission, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates has announced. The Paris Air Show is a major event in the aerospace calendar and provides Wales with an opportunity to showcase its capabilities and strategic sites on an international stage. In 2019, the show welcomed a record number of exhibitors and also attracted 316,000 visitors across the week. The aerospace sector in Wales has 160 companies based in the country employing around 23,000 people. Six companies from Wales were on the Welsh Government stand at The Paris Air show which ran from 17-21 June 2019: Tritech Group (Wrexham) Compact Orbital Gears (Rhayader) Denis Ferranti Group (Bangor) Faun Trackway (Llangefni) Qioptiq (St Asaph) Winslow Adaptics (Brecon) Between them, the Welsh Government say businesses also engaged in conversations that could lead to potential orders worth a combined total of 17 million over the coming years, which demonstrates the strength of the aerospace industry in Wales and the importance in building future trading relationships. Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales said: Its fantastic news that Tritech Group who joined me at the Paris Air Show last year made deals worth more than 5 million at the event. This success is very welcome and its also encouraging that there are potentially more deals to be made over the coming months and years by all six companies thanks to our presence at the show. The event is a great occasion for Welsh firms and provides us with a prime platform to demonstrate the excellent capabilities of businesses from Wales. The aerospace industry is a significant part of the Welsh economy and Wales is home to many of the sectors top global companies. As a government we will continue to work hard to enhance Waless reputation as a place to invest and do business. Eluned Morgan, Minister for International Relations said: The Welsh Government recently published an International Strategy, which sets out how we are promoting Wales around the world, and how we intend to strengthen our existing relationships and make new ones with international partners. The news of Tritech Group is a prime example of how Welsh companies are working hard at selling Wales across the globe. Kimberley Coldwell, Business Development & Marketing Manager at Tritech Group Ltd in Wrexham said: Welsh Government Trade Mission support is of compelling importance to Tritech Group as we continue to expand our business to a global entity in a rapidly expanding and developing sector. Paris Air Show 2019 was a significantly successful event for us and has led to new business opportunities worth over 5m, demonstrating the power and value of attending and showcasing capabilities on purposeful platforms. The development of Tritech Group is welcomed by our 565 strong workforce who advocate their pride in contributing to the exceptional standards of manufacturing in Wales. We extend our sincere gratitude to Welsh Government for their continued support to the development of our organisation and can attribute much of our prosperity to Government abutment. The normal life in Karnataka may be disrupted partially on Thursday as a 'bandh' was called by some Kannada outfits demanding implementation of an over three-decades-old report of a committee on providing more jobs for Kannadiga youths in the government and the private sectors. The committee, headed by former union minister Sarojini Mahishi, was constituted in 1984 to recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas in Karnataka. It submitted the report in 1986. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa appealed to the organisations not to cause any inconvenience to the general public as he asserted his government was always pro-Kannada. "Those agitating, if they are willing to talk to me, I'm always ready to talk to them. We have already done several that are possible (to implement the Sarojini Mahishi report), what other things can be done, I'm ready to talk to them," said Yediyurappa. In the wake of the bandh, the Bangalore University has postponed all the post-graduate examinations scheduled for February 13 (Thursday). The bandh is likely to affect cab and autorickshaw services as unions of drivers, including those in app-based aggregators, are supporting it. The government said bus services will be operated as usual and schools and colleges would also function while the police said no permission had been given for any rally and warned of action against those forcing closure of businesses and shops. The protest called by the "Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota", comprising a few factions of "Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV)", has the backing of Ola-Uber cab drivers' association, a few auto unions, associations of farmers, street vendors, trade unions and transporters. Praveen Shetty, leader of one of the factions of KRV, said a mega rally will be taken out from Anekal Toll Gate to the Chief Minister's residence. Later, representatives of various protesting organisations will submit a memorandum to Yediyurappa demanding implementation of the report. "We have decided to join the sit-in demonstration because it is about the job guarantee to the children born in Karnataka. It is about employment to those who are born in this soil," Shetty told reporters. Ola-Uber Drivers' Association president Tanveer Pasha said the bandh has his organisation's support. The All India Trade Union Congress and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions have extended their "moral support" to the bandh call. KRVs another important faction led by T A Narayana Gowda and former MLA Vatal Nagarajs organisation Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha have not supported the bandh. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar said there will be no holiday for educational institutions on Thursday nor will there be any holiday. "I believe that the organisations which have given a call for Bandh will hold it peacefully," said Kumar. Transport minister Laxman Savadi said buses in the city and elsewhere will operate as usual and appealed to the bandh supporters not to cause any trouble to the passengers. Minister for Kannada and Culture C T Ravi said the BJP government has shown 'commitment' towards the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report. We have already implemented the report in the government sector. "In the private sector, we are trying to implement it step by step. A cabinet decision has been taken to implement it step by step," he said. Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao said permission has not been given to the protest and none can forcibly shut shops or businesses. MOGADISHU, Somalia - The current leaders of Somalia and the breakaway territory of Somaliland have met for the first time in the latest diplomatic effort by Ethiopias Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister. Somali presidential spokesman Abdinur Mohamed confirmed Tuesdays meeting to The Associated Press, saying it was brokered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capital. It was behind closed doors and no communique is being released. It was an ice-breaking one, the spokesman said. Ethiopias government has not commented publicly on the talks, which occurred on the sidelines of an African Union gathering. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 as the country collapsed into warlord-led conflict, and it has seen little of the violence and extremist attacks that plague Somalia to the south. Despite lacking international recognition, Somaliland has maintained its own independent government, currency and security system. Somalia considers Somaliland as part of its territory. Several rounds of past talks over possible unification have failed to reach a breakthrough. This weeks meeting is the first since Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi took office in 2017. Somali officials have blamed Somaliland leaders over the failure of past talks, accusing them of failing to show seriousness. Somaliland leaders have dismissed the allegations and insisted that their sovereignty is nonnegotiable. Since taking office in 2018, Ethiopias leader has worked to achieve a number of diplomatic breakthroughs in the long-turbulent Horn of Africa region. Somalias president faces a number of challenges in the months ahead. The country hopes to achieve its first one-person-one-vote election by the end of this year. It would be the first in 50 years. But the United Nations envoy for Somalia has pointed out the lack of effective co-operation between Somalias central government and its states as a major obstacle. __ Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa contributed. People try to travel with all sorts of things but you don't read about this particular incident every day. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists found a package of tiny dead birds in a passenger's luggage at Washington Dulles International Airport on Jan. 27. The agency disclosed the incident in a Monday report. The traveler arrived at Dulles after a flight from Beijing and planned to head to an address in Prince George's County, Maryland. The package in question had a picture of a cat and dog on it, which the passenger claimed was cat food. Cat food it was not: 2.5- to 3.5-inch-long birds were inside instead. The package of pet food from China consisted of tiny dead birds. Because of a potential avian flu threat, the Department of Agriculture incinerated the package. Related Video: 13 Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus in 6 States "These dead birds are prohibited from importation to the United States, as unprocessed birds pose a potentially significant disease threat to our nations poultry industries and more alarmingly to our citizens as potential vectors of avian influenza," Casey Durst, director of field operations for CBPs Baltimore field office, said in a news release. "Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists continue to exercise extraordinary vigilance every day in their fight to protect our nations agricultural and economic prosperity from invasive pests and animal diseases." CBP agriculture specialists seized nearly 4,700 illegal plant, meat, animal byproduct and soil all over the U.S. last year on an average day. They also intercepted more than 300 insect pests at U.S. ports. While this incident may have been about dead birds, an incident in late 2018 involved live ones: An agriculture specialist discovered 70 live birds in the bag of a traveler who had just touched down in New York from Georgetown, Guyana, in South America. Contributing: Cydney Henderson More on those live birds: Traveler caught trying to smuggle 70 live birds through JFK in hair rollers Yes, thousands: Traveler smuggles thousands of live leeches on Canada flight, fined $15K This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tiny dead birds found in luggage at Washington Dulles airport Spending is cut. Budgets are allocated down to the last dollar. IT teams are tasked with doing more with less. Then the cloud invoice comes, and IT managers are faced with a bill they didnt expect. For government agencies, the shock can be especially painful. Unintentionally overspending on cloud services can cause more than just a financial headache. It can waste taxpayer dollars and force important projects to take a backseat. Cloud overprovisioning is a worldwide issue in the enterprise: Global research and advisory firm Gartner found that global enterprises wasted as much as 35% of their total cloud spend, with overprovisioning cited as the leading cause. This waste also occurs in the public sector. A May 2019 Government Accountability Office report showed while agencies are increasing cloud spending, theyre not always able to track their investments. The 16 agencies GAO reviewed had increased cloud investments by more than $1 billion between 2015 and 2018. However, the report found they struggled to track and report cloud spending and savings. Agencies must be ready for increased traffic at any given moment, but this doesnt mean overprovisioning (and overspending) to the levels of that biggest day. In some business cases, agencies can prepare themselves for increased traffic, as the IRS does during tax season. In many cases, though, these traffic spikes come with little warning: a major storm hits and citizens turn to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a vehicle recall is issued and the Department of Transportation sees a surge in website visitors or an illness breaks out and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's digital channels get slammed. So how can agencies fix this problem? It starts with understanding how citizens use agency applications and what investment is necessary in the cloud. Agencies are forced into a difficult situation: They want to capitalize on cutting-edge technologies and improve citizen experience, but they often underestimate true usage costs. Real-time telemetry obtained from cloud infrastructure and applications can be leveraged to better analyze the citizen experience and help agencies understand exactly how much it costs to support those user-friendly environments. Consistent tracking of cloud spending is just the start. To prevent cloud overspending while also ensuring positive citizen experiences, agencies must do more than just monitor their cloud usage and collect data about their system. Observability can give IT teams actionable ways to use this information, increasing efficiency and delivering quick and easy access to mission-specific apps and data. This kind of visibility helps agencies take action quickly so they dont run up costs unnecessarily. For example, if an agency is running 20 cloud instances, but each one is only operating at 10%, it can quickly consolidate those instances, optimizing performance and saving money at the same time. That same on-the-fly decision cannot be made without being able to see the whole system and how efficiently -- or inefficiently -- its running. The same goes for cloud migration. When moving apps from on-prem servers to the cloud, its vital agencies have visibility into every step of the process. A birds eye view of the transition helps detect potential errors with the application architecture, scale or performance early on so cloud migration is efficient. Measuring the baseline performance of applications and infrastructure before the migration even takes place is also important as it is easier to compare performance metrics between on-premise and the new cloud environment. Seeing a difference in performance after migrating can help alert teams to applications that need more attention and let them focus on the critical areas, rather than checking and comparing all of their applications. Measuring baselines also allows teams to conduct appropriate, more accurate sizing in the cloud. Understanding exactly how an agency's system is operating in real time -- and adjusting accordingly -- can be the key to cutting cloud costs, while also maintaining a positive citizen experience and addressing the reporting challenges revealed by GAO. The initial investment in a platform that gives agency IT teams the advantage of visibility will not only cut operational costs and lower the bill for cloud services, but it will also free up IT staff members to focus on innovative, mission-specific work to ensure citizens have a better digital experience with their government. A Gloucester County jury heard dueling versions of events Tuesday morning as attorneys presented closing arguments in the trial of a man charged with stabbing his father to death. Joseph I. Zambuto, 38, claimed he acted in self-defense when his 70-year-old father, also named Joseph, was killed during a dispute at the sons Monroe Township home in May 2015. The prosecution argued that the son acted in a fit of anger and was the aggressor. This is Zambutos second trial on the murder charge. The first ended in a hung jury in 2017 when the jury could not reach a verdict. The son, who worked as a stock trader, lived next door to his parents and owned both homes. He had recently put the houses up for sale and planned to moved to Puerto Rico with his fiancee and their young child. His father, described by the defense as controlling and violent," was upset with that plan and had gone with his wife to the sons bedroom to speak to him. The younger Zambuto had recently broken his foot and was in his bed wearing a medical boot when the killing occurred. The son, who testified during the trial, said the father brought a 13-inch collectible knife from Rambo 3 to the house and threatened him with it. The prosecution argued that the son actually retrieved the knife from inside his home and stabbed his father, leaving a 10-inch-deep chest wound, broken rib, punctured lung and massive bleeding. First Assistant Prosecutor Paul Colangelo holds the knife allegedly used by Joseph I. Zambuto to kill his father in 2015.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media A police officer who responded to the scene testified that the son told him he was often beaten by his father when he was young, and, I never was able to do anything about it. I couldnt help myself this time. Sandra Zambuto, wife of the victim and mother of the defendant, initially told police her husband was not armed when they went to their sons home. Her story changed months later, when she claimed her husband came to the house with a knife and provoked the altercation. She was sitting in a chair watching TV in her sons bedroom with her back to the men as they began arguing. She recalled her son jumping up from the bed, walking in front of her, passing in front of her a second time as he returned to the bed, then hearing a thump behind her, she originally told police. She turned to see them on the floor. The son, who owned a collection of knives, said the weapons had previously been moved next door to his parents house in an effort to baby-proof the home for the young couples child. The prosecution argued that the weapon used in the killing had remained in the sons house. The defendant suffered years of mistreatment by the elder Zambuto, defense attorney Jeffrey Zucker said. The younger Zambutos ex-girlfriend testified about witnessing the father beat his son and threaten him with a knife. The son, who was a successful businessman, was moving to Puerto Rico for tax reasons, but also to get away from his father, Zucker said. The elder Zambuto had control of his sons checkbooks and credit cards, the attorney said. Defense attorney Jeffrey Zucker delivers his opening statement to the jury during the murder trial of Joseph I. Zambuto, 38, of Monroe Township, in Gloucester County Superior Court, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. Zambuto is accused of stabbing his father to death in 2015.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media Zucker reminded the jury about his clients testimony regarding the moments leading up to the stabbing. He told you that his dad came in with this bag that I showed you and he pulled out two checkbooks from his accounts and his father asked him to empty both accounts. He refused. His father was violently upset that there was a for sale sign on his lawn. His father told him, You cant go to Puerto Rico. Joseph said, Im going. Then the knife came out He slid the blade across his sons shin, leaving a 2-inch wound, according to the defense. Zucker showed jurors photos of that injury and of a cut to his clients knuckle from the struggle with the knife. Much time was spent Tuesday discussing Sandra Zambutos role in the case. She provided inconsistent statements because she was taking several medications and was in shock over what had just happened when she was initially interviewed, Zucker told the jury. First Assistant Prosecutor Paul Colangelo challenged that argument, saying she changed her story because she had already lost her husband and now feared losing her son to prison. Zucker accused police of a rush to judgement in charging his client with murder and criticized what he described as a failure by investigators to accurately document which knives were removed from each home, arguing that the only knives removed from the young couples home after the killing were ones belonging to Zambutos fiancee. The couple has since separated. His father had an arsenal of weapons in his house. Use your common sense. Doesnt it make common sense that it was his dad who brought the knife, not Joseph laying in bed with his foot elevated and a medical boot on? His client had a right to defend himself, Zucker told the jury. An individual in our country is permitted to use deadly force if he reasonably believes his life may be in danger or that he may be in danger for serious bodily injury, he said. Ask yourselves ... did Joseph have a reasonable belief that his life was in danger, knowing the type of person that his dad was? Zucker concluded by urging the jury to send his client home to his family. Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt that this case was truly a tragedy. Please dont compound this tragedy by convicting an innocent person." Colangelo took aim at the self-defense argument. One being tormented for his entire life does not entitle him to kill his tormentor unless he reasonably believes that tormentor is going to use deadly force on him, the prosecutor said. Colangelo presented the jury with photos of injuries the victim suffered, including substantial damage to his left hand. Who was trying to ward off a blade? he asked. Who was trying to ward off serious bodily injury resulting in death? This is the senior Zambutos left hand ... sliced through muscle and tendon trying to ward off a blade. He also challenged the claim that the sons knife collection had been removed from the younger couples home, pointing to testimony by the ex-fiancee that she accompanied police when they returned to the home and removed 25 knives from the residence. Theyre trying to peddle the notion that theres no possible way that this Rambo knife could have been in the house because it had been swept, Colangelo said. But you know that it hadnt been swept. There were knives in the residence. Colangelo wrapped up his presentation by returning to the defendants mother. Once you accept that Sandra Zambuto lied to you in an effort to exculpate her son, you have no choice but to dispense with this self-defense claim that the defense is trying to promote, he told the jury. Were confident youll find that the evidence shows in this case that the defendant was angry, he was upset, he had had enough, he had jumped off that bed, grabbed a knife, unsheathed it, ran back across his mother and made a horrible, terrible mistake that he almost immediately regretted. First Assistant Prosecutor Paul Colangelo presents a piece of evidence to Monroe Township Police Officer Nick Iacovone, during the murder trial of Joseph I. Zambuto in Gloucester County Superior Court, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. WASHINGTON For Nayda Alvarez, the U.S.-Mexico border is not a political slogan or a line of demarcation. It's her back yard. With the federal government threatening to construct "border security tactical infrastructure" across her one-acre lot in La Rosita, along the Rio Grande, she is looking at the end of a way of life her family has enjoyed for five generations wooden corrals, farm animals and all. So on Thursday, she took a seat alongside a group of constitutional theorists testifying before Congress on the legitimacy of President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration, which the administration is using to get billions of dollars for a new border wall part of which would run between her house and the river 200 feet away. "The bottom line for me is that the federal government is threatening to take my land to fulfill a campaign promise," Alvarez told sympathetic lawmakers, including several from Texas. Alvarez's real hope, however, could lie not in the halls of Congress, but in a federal courthouse near the U.S. Capitol where she and a group of South Texas landowners are challenging the president's edict. Her lawsuit, which names Trump and Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, seeks to block the administration from diverting some $8 billion in military construction and other funds for a border wall. Hers' comes on top another suit filed by 16 states other than Texas, as well as a Democratic-led resolution in Congress that Trump is expected to veto. Unlike the hundreds of cases that have gone to court over the past decade involving people fighting federal seizures of their land on the southwest border, Alvarez's challenge is tied directly to Trump's two-week old emergency order. Although Trump has said the wall is already going up, the legal jockeying around his move could push any new construction back years, at the same time that the administration seeks money for dozens more lawyers to fight a multitude of individual condemnation cases. In addition to the construction costs, the government has been forced to spend nearly $80 million to acquire land for fencing since 2007, according to congressional reports. With the political fight over executive power intensifying as well, Alvarez has now become the national poster child for the cause of private landowners along the border in Texas threatened by the loss of land. Like many others, she faces not only eminent domain action for a wall, but also for a 150-wide "enforcement zone" to go with it. For Alvarez, a 47-year-old teacher and landowner, that would put her house less than 50 feet from a major federal installation. "Even if my house is spared," she said, "it will never be the same. I will lose my entire back yard, and I will be staring at a wall right outside my back door and windows." Her case has been picked up by Public Citizen Litigation Group, which filed suit in February, a month after she received her third letter from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seeking to survey her land for a wall and threatening to take her to court if she does not cooperate. Alvarez lives next door to her father alongside land where her grandfather lived. The family has lived there for at least five generations. "My grandchild and nieces and nephews play in the same places where their parents played and where I played as a child," she told a panel of the House Judiciary Committee, which is considering changes to the 1976 National Emergency Act being invoked by the White House. "There is no emergency where I live," she continued, "and there is no good reason for the government to take my property to build a border wall in my back yard." Alvarez's property, however, lies in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, about halfway between Brownsville and Laredo, a sector which the Border Patrol has identified as one of the most heavily travelled sectors for migrants of the entire 1,954-mile Mexican border. Some GOP lawmakers questioned her contention that she has never seen migrants from Mexico traversing her family's land illegally. "How can you be so certain?" asked Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, the ranking Republican on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties subcommittee. Alvarez cited the video surveillance cameras around the house. "No drugs, no gangs, no terrorists come across my property," she said. Some of the Texans on the committee came to her rescue, including Houston Democrat Sylvia Garcia, who grew up on a farm in the South Texas town of Palito Blanco. "We always knew when somebody crossed the farm because there'd be either a fence that was left unlocked or some footprints," she said. "There'd be some sign that somebody had traversed our property." Texas U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Tyler, said he sympathized, even as he remains a stalwart backer of Trump's proposed wall. "I certainly appreciate testimony from anybody that lives there," he said, "but of all the nights I've spent all night on the border, I've seen a crisis." For Alvarez, the crisis is the uncertainty of the coming legal battle, which to her is personal, not political. "You've obviously had to hire lawyers, and you've had to fly to Washington, D.C., to defend your property," said El Paso Democrat Veronica Escobar, a member of the committee. "I am very curious about what the government is putting you through." Alvarez testified that her community has been wracked by the same divisions as the rest of the country. "The government has created a loss of family members and a loss of friendships, divisions amongst us in our communities, because people agree and disagree," she said. As for her, she added, "I am here and I am here to fight this." Good morning, Bay Area. Its Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Rep. Jackie Speier wants to the give the Equal Rights Amendment another chance. Heres what you need to know to start your day. The Bay Areas ties to China go deep: Flights shuttle more than half a million Chinese tourists to and from the region each year, local tech giants build their goods there and one in five residents from San Francisco claim Chinese heritage. Those ties mean the outbreak of the coronavirus named COVID-19 on Tuesday has made the Bay Area one of the areas most impacted outside of Asia. Read more from reporters Tatiana Sanchez and Anna Bauman. More: Last flight to China from SFO (for at least a few weeks) leaves Friday. The coronavirus has hurt all travel-related companies, but cruise ship operators have been especially hard hit, Kathleen Pender writes. What you need to know about coronavirus. Supervisor on the move Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Ever since winning a spot on the Board of Supervisors by a landslide just over a year ago, Supervisor Matt Haney has thundered into City Hall. As the District Six supervisor for neighborhoods like the Tenderloin, South of Market and Civic Center, Haney oversees one of the most troubled swaths of San Francisco. While his supporters applaud his stamina and focus, his critics say he has stoked division in City Hall. As his name recognition grows, a chorus of San Francisco political observers are pondering another question: Does Matt Haney have his eyes on the mayors office? Trisha Thadani reports. ERA revived? Alex Edelman / Getty Images Nearly four decades after opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment declared the effort dead, House Democrats will vote Thursday to revive the fight. The House will debate San Mateo Rep. Jackie Speiers bill to remove Congress self-imposed 1982 deadline for ERA ratification a move that comes after proponents recently crossed the 38-state threshold needed to put it in the U.S. Constitution. Dustin Gardiner reports on why Speier introduced the bill and what adding the ERA to the Constitution would actually mean. Cash for shattered glass Paul Chinn/The Chronicle San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin plans to seek $1.5 million from the mayors office to pay for a proposed auto burglary assistance fund that would reimburse city residents for the cost of their shattered windows. While criminals often target tourists who park rental cars in high-profile locations, the city has seen an increase recently in break-ins in purely residential areas. Boudin says its part of a first step in a larger plan if the city will fund it, Evan Sernoffsky reports. More: The Chronicles car break-in tracker Pitchers and catchers report Henry Schulman As pitchers and catchers reported for their physicals Tuesday, reporter Henry Schulman got a look at the Giants new spring training digs a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse, office and training complex in Scottsdale, Arizona. The building is not just designed for comfort although the new locker room rivals that of many big-league ballparks but also to foster communication. But will it help them win? More: Why Giants Alex Dickerson turned down Hunter Pences payment offer for No. 8. Everything Giants in your inbox: Sign up for Giants Splash, the new Giants email newsletter, written by Henry Schulman and John Shea. We expect big things: As open camp with top-notch rotation in place. Around the Bay Former PG&E attorney: The Environmental Protection Agency has named John W. Busterud to head its West Coast office, replacing Mike Stoker, who was ousted from the post last week. Presidential campaign then a book: East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell is writing a book about his dad, Donald Trump and corruption. After Trump tweet blasting original recommendation: The four lawyers who prosecuted Roger Stone quit the case Tuesday after the Justice Department overruled them and said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for President Donald Trumps longtime ally and confidant. Nia Wilson murder trial: Defendant testifies he hears voices, thought victim and her sisters kidnapped his grandmother. 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. Irony upon irony: DoorDash made its contractors go through arbitration instead of a class action. Now a judge has ordered thousands of cases brought against the company to arbitration, potentially costing the startup millions. New Hampshire votes: Five ways California Democrats will be affected by the New Hampshire primary. Californias primary is in March: Read our Voter Guide. International House of Rare Coins: Theyre not selling pancakes anymore at the old pancake house on Lombard Street in San Francisco. Instead, theres a $1 million 1855 gold piece on display in the front case. Feather Falls: Californias world-class hike no one knows about. 10-year switch: Thad Vogler to relocate San Franciscos Bar Agricole, relaunch Obispo. Datebook Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images/Getty Images When actress Barbara Eden attended Lincoln High School, she studied voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and still credits that time specifically with voice teacher Paulina Giovanini, who Eden said taught me everything as foundational in her career. Now more than five decades after her breakthrough TV role on I Dream of Jeannie, Eden is being honored by the Conservatory as a distinguished alumna. Eden talks to Tony Bravo about what shes learned along the way. More from Datebook: Valentines Day: Events for Bay Area singles looking to mingle. Anti-Valentines Day: Say No, thank you to love with these Bay Area events. Review: The Art of Pauline Kael explores the influence of a Bay Area icon. Rage Against the Machine announces reunion tour stop at Oakland Arena. Hearts and violins: S.F. Symphonys married couples on love and work The underestimated pathos and power of clowning. Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact Brown at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com. Bank, who directs The Artist, seems to give this shambling, ursine Nicov the benefit of the doubt. The character resembles other Chekhov artists and thinkers Trofimov, Trigorin, Vanya though none of them go as far as Nicov, who calls for a new religion founded on truth and love. (Genya, run!) And Bank allows lines of Mallesons own invention like Wheres the little girl the kiss of a lover is on my lips (faster, Genya!), to pass without comment. The piece ends, abruptly, with typical Chekhovian irony. Tolstoy found irony indulgent. He thought that a play should have a purpose, tugging its spectator toward greater moral insight. And where can I follow your character? he once griped to Chekhov. To the couch in the living room and back. Accordingly, Michael, Mallesons adaptation of What Men Live By, is a lot more didactic, a riff on The Elves and the Shoemaker shot through with Christian mysticism. No one kisses teenage girls. On a winters night, a bootmaker (J. Paul Nicholas), his wife (Katie Firth) and their elderly yet childlike servant Aniuska (Vinie Burrows), invite a tramp (Malik Reed) into the peasant hut they share, only to discover that he has a talent for cobbling and divination. The plays message, articulated baldly, is this: It seems to men, the tramp says, that they live by care of themselves, but in truth it is love alone by which they live. If Nicov calls for a new religion, Michael promotes an old one, charismatic Christianity. This one-act marks the directorial debut of Jane Shaw, a beloved sound designer, who uses light and sound to situate the spiritual in the real. Chekhov and Tolstoy actually liked each other pretty well. They both laughed at that couch joke. But these stories, adapted for separate occasions and without particular elegance, dont have much to say to one another. Love, the title suggests, is the unifying factor, but eros powers the first play, agape the second. Like mismatched matryoshka dolls, the plays knock together when they ought to nest. Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories Through March 14 at Theater Row, Manhattan; 212-239-6200, minttheater.org. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. The newly-created U.S. Space Force has accused Russia of using a pair of its satellites to tail a U.S. spy satellite, calling it "disturbing behavior" while prompting a reserved response from Moscow on February 11. General John Raymond, the Space Force chief of space operations, first told Time magazine on February 10 that the two Russian satellites had come extremely close and within 160 kilometers of the U.S. satellite. "We view this behavior as unusual and disturbing," Raymond said. "It has the potential to create a dangerous situation in space." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed to AFP the following day that he had received a message from Washington regarding the situation, adding that "Moscow will respond after studying it." He called such maneuvers in space common practice "by many countries," according to Russian news agencies. Russia calls its space probes that follow other spacecraft "inspector satellites." The Russian spacecraft launched in November as one satellite, which later released a second craft from within it, almost "birthing it," U.S. military analysts told Space.com. This is reportedly the first time that the U.S. military has publicly revealed a threat from another country to one of its spacecraft. The Space Force was established in December and is the sixth formal branch of the U.S. military, along with the army, air force, navy, marines, and coastguard. In his 2021 budget proposal, President Donald Trump earmarked $15.4 billion for the new Space Force, which will be a "technology-focused service," according to Raymond. Based on reporting by Time, Space.com, TASS, Interfax, and AFP Agreement capitalizes on artificial intelligence and deep learning to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, including novel bispecific antibodies (BiCKI platform) Collaboration runs for 3 years and will be used for 6 antibody programs NANTES, France, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE), today announced a new collaboration agreement with deep technology innovative start-up MAbSilico, located in Tours, France, to use artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions for therapeutic antibody drug development. OSE Immunotherapeutics plans to incorporate innovative problem-solving solutions like AI for the development of new monoclonal antibodies. MAbSilico solutions have already been tested and validated by OSE Immunotherapeutics and will be used for six antibody programs, including novel bispecific antibodies. AI and numerical simulation can guide therapeutic antibody discovery, help reduce the risk of failure and accelerate the pre-clinical development process of these drug candidates before clinical tests. Nicolas Poirier, Chief Scientific Officer of OSE Immunotherapeutics, stated: We are delighted with this collaboration, we constantly strive to introduce innovative technologies to develop first-in-class products in immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. Due to the devastating nature of these diseases, our development strategies need to be accelerated and artificial intelligence solutions for drug discovery offered by MAbSilico can be a great asset to achieve this goal. While all MAbSilicos commercialized solutions are included in this three-year agreement, OSE Immunotherapeutics also gains early access to MAbSilicos SaaS (Software as a Service) and technologies in development including those for the conception of therapeutic antibodies optimized for bioproduction. OSE provides internal data to MAbSilico in order to feed their algorithms in development and deliver new technology faster. Vincent Puard, Chief Executive Officer of MAbSilico, stated: It is a pleasure to start this collaboration with one of the top French Biotech. This partnership demonstrates the need to fasten new AI-based solutions for antibody drug discovery. We believe that with the trust and collaboration of OSE, we will accelerate the release of our software and new technologies. ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics OSE Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company has a diversified first-in-class clinical portfolio consisting of several scientific and technological platforms including neoepitopes and agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, all ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. The most advanced therapeutic-candidate, Tedopi, is a proprietary combination of 10 neo-epitopes aimed at stimulating T-lymphocytes and is currently in Phase 3 development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients in failure after checkpoint inhibitor treatment (anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1) and in Phase 2 testing in pancreatic cancer in combination with checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo. BI 765063 (OSE-172) (anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody) is under a license and collaboration agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim; this checkpoint inhibitor is currently under Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors. BiCKI is a bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) and targeting innovative targets. FR104 (an anti-CD28 mAb) has successfully completed Phase 1 testing and has potential to treat autoimmune diseases. OSE-127 (monoclonal antibody targeting the CD127 receptor, the alpha chain of the interleukin-7 receptor) is partnered with Servier under an option agreement up to the completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial planned in autoimmune bowel diseases; in parallel, Servier plans a development in the Sjogren syndrome. The Phase 1 clinical phase of OSE-127 is completed and has shown positive results; planned Phase 2 studies in ulcerative colitis and Sjogrens syndrome to start in 2020. For more information: https://ose-immuno.com/en/ Click and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn https://twitter.com/OSEIMMUNO https://www.linkedin.com/company/10929673 Contacts OSE Immunotherapeutics Sylvie Detry Sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com +33 153 198 757 U.S. Media: LifeSci Public Relations Darren Opland, Ph.D. darren@lifescipublicrelations.com +1 646 627 8387 French Media: FP2COM Florence Portejoie fportejoie@fp2com.fr +33 607 768 283 U.S. and European Investors Chris Maggos chris@lifesciadvisors.com +41 79 367 6254 About MAbSilico MAbSilico is a deeptech company, founded in September 2017, which implements computational solutions for the development of therapeutic antibodies, bio-drugs used in an increasing number of pathologies, including oncology. MAbSilicos objective is to propose a software suite that creates a formal approach of antibody development, reducing the risks of failure and the duration of pre-clinical steps, as well as strengthening intellectual protection. Conventional approaches for the discovery and pre-clinical development take two to three years, MAbSilico technologies allow shrinking this time to a few weeks. The technology developed by MAbSilico is the result of more than twenty years of French scientific research, in laboratories affiliated to INRA and CNRS. It is based on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and has partly been funded by the Loire-Valley Region and the MAbImprove Labex. MAbSilico tools have been the subjects of more than ten scientific publications and are covered by an international patent. The MAbSilico team consists in five persons, including three co-founders and co-inventors of the methods. It is located on the INRA Loire-Valley site. Since 2018, MAbSilico has been commercializing its tools in France, Europe and USA, with more than 20 clients: academics, startups and biotechs. MAbSilico is looking forward to extending its commercial effort in Europe and to hire ten persons in Tours for positions in software development, data science, bioinformatics, biology and business development. The implementation of our solutions will be made in close link with our clients to best meet their needs. More information at www.mabsilico.com Click and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn https://twitter.com/mabsilico https://www.linkedin.com/company/18152652 Contacts MAbSilico Vincent Puard vincent.puard@mabsilico.com Forward-looking statements This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as expect, anticipate, believe, target, plan, or estimate, their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Reference Document filed with the AMF on 26 April 2019, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2018, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. A Delhi court has granted bail to one person who was arrested in connection with protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act near Jamia Millia Islamia University here on December 15 last year. Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar granted the relief to Mohd Haneef on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 20,000. During the hearing, police opposed the bail plea and said allegations against Haneef were serious in nature, and the investigation was at its initial stage. Police claimed that he was part of the mob which had allegedly turned violent during protests against the CAA in south Delhi's Jamia Nagar on December 15, 2019. They alleged that Haneef was involved in burning of police booths, pelting stones and hurling petrol bombs at the police personnel wherein several of them were injured. Khalil A Ansari, appearing for the accused, said Haneef has been in judicial custody since December 17 last year, and no useful purpose was going to serve by keeping him behind the bars for any longer period. Ansari said Haneef was falsely implicated in the case and had nothing to do with the commission of the alleged offence. He was at his work place at the time of the incident and was arrested from his residence, the counsel said. The lawyer said the Delhi High Court on February 3 granted bail to co-accused Danish in the case and Haneef should also be released on bail on the ground of parity. The court had earlier sent 10 arrested people -- Haneef, Danish alias Jafar, Sameer Ahmed, Dilshad, Shareef Ahmed, Mohd Danish, Yunus Khan, Jumman, Anal Hassan, Anwar Kala -- to judicial custody. Police had said that some locals, instigated by politicians, participated in the violent protests at JMI and damaged property. The FIR in the case also named seven others, including local politicians and student leaders of JMI university, in the case but they have not been arrested yet. The university had virtually turned into a battlefield on December 15 as police entered the campus and also used force following the protest that led to violence and arson in which four DTC buses, 100 private vehicles and 10 police bikes were damaged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi on Wednesday said that all ministers had been asked about the portfolios they were interested in and they should listen to what the chief minister says. "We should listen to what our Chief Minister says. All the ministers had discussed with Yediyurappa Ji the portfolios they were interested in. Then, they were allocated portfolios," Deputy Chief Minister Savadi told ANI. Rejecting the allegations that senior party leaders were allocated portfolios that involved more money, he said: "This is not the case. There is nothing much in a portfolio. If you have a good heart, the work gets done." Commenting on the alleged groupism in the party, Savadi said: "There is no groupism in our party. There is only one team: BJP's team. We all work together. Everyone is happy and working together," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal has constituted a committee to assess the enhanced compensation to be paid by a builder for construction in the green area in a housing complex in Gurgaon in violation of environmental laws. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel formed a committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of and Forests, the Central Pollution Control Board and the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal. "The committee appointed by this tribunal needs to go into the question whether in the light of the original Deed of Declaration based on sanctioned plan for housing complex in the area of 10.98 acres complex with stipulated open area, revised plan enforced after allotment apartments to the applicants illegally deprived the applicants of their right to ecological services as per the original plan as well as liability for compensation on account of violation of law prohibiting change of common area to the detriment of only to advance private profit," the bench said. The NGT had earlier levied an interim compensation of Rs 68,51,250 on Ambience Developers & Infrastructure Private Limited for building Ambience Lagoon Apartment in Gurgaon. The bench said that the assessed amount does not deal with the loss of ecological services to the applicants who are allottees of apartments prior to the revised plans. "Compensation has been assessed for period from July 2, 2019 only on the basis of violation of law without considering the value of loss of environmental services. The component of compensation is the value of ecological services lost and the violation of law which cannot be the sole basis for determining compensation for loss of environmental services on account of illegal construction in open area," it said. The apartment owners contended that commercial tower construction was not part of the Deed of Declaration and the original sanctioned plan which was for 10.98 acres. The subsequent revised plan, based on EC granted could not affect the rights of the allottees of apartments, prior to the said date, they said, adding that the commercial tower affected the rights of the allottees. The NGT, in its order, had said, "Out of 10.98 acre land which was meant for the project in question, only 7.93 acre land was used and remaining 3.05 acre land, which was open area, was converted into covered area for a commercial tower, irreversibly taking away the rights to ecological services of the persons to whom the flats were allotted." The order had come after perusing a report filed by the the Ministry of Environment, and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) making an assessment of Rs 68,51,250 to be paid as environmental compensation. The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Gurgaon residents Anil Uppal and others seeking action against the builder for construction on the green/open area in a housing complex. "Open areas in the colony are shrinking. Ground water extraction was excessive. Air quality was getting deteriorated. The builder had undertaken construction on designed open spaces, blocking fresh air and sunlight. The approved zoning plans required maintaining at least 15 per cent of the total area as open space. National Building Code of India, 2005 also requires minimum horizontal space between existing building and the new building," the petitioners said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Page said the county did not know yet if the county had insurance coverage. Officials have previously said its insurance companies might not have received notification that Wildhabers lawsuit had been filed. But Page said the county believes it should be covered because it properly reported Wildhabers claim of discrimination in 2017 to a third-party administrator under contract to the county. To emphasize this point at a news conference, his staff members distributed to reporters stacks of highlighted documents, including the contract. Thats the normal process and thats how our insurance and third-party administrator contracts work, Page said, noting that it happened ... two years before I became county executive. Page had told the council less than a week earlier that the settlement would be paid from the countys self-insurance fund, but he said Monday that was not the case. Instead, he said, the county will finance the sum through a bond sale and make payments over a period of years rather than take the full hit in a single year. He said the annual impact to county taxpayers while it is paying back the bond would be $500,000 to $600,000. Click the photo to write a caption and have a chance to win a free subscription to the Norfolk Daily News. Three rescuers were trapped after a three-storey building collapsed early Wednesday when fire department personnel were trying to put out a blaze in Jammu city, officials said. The building, housing a saw mill on the ground floor, collapsed during firefighting in Golepulli area, they said. Several people, including five firemen, were trapped under the debris, an official said adding that two officials and a civilian were rescued and shifted to hospital, the operation to rescue three other officials was going on. A fire department official said they rushed firefighters after receiving a distress call at 4.48 am and were making efforts to put out the blaze when suddenly the building collapsed at 5.30 am. It was not immediately clear whether any other civilian was also trapped under the debris, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Community officers around China have been accused of clubbing pets or stray animals to death in front of horrified residents during their campaigns to stop the spread of coronavirus. No evidence shows the virus can be passed onto pets, according to the World Health Organization. But new videos purport to capture workers killing dogs in broad daylight by beating them with wooden rods. One clip appears to show a black Labrador in Chengdu, Sichuan, being bludgeoned by four volunteers from a community yesterday afternoon, Chengdu Pet Adaptation Platform said One clip, shared by Chengdu Pet Adaptation Platform, appears to show a black Labrador in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, being bludgeoned by four volunteers from a community yesterday afternoon, the organisation said. The pet had not attacked anyone and was waiting for its owner on a street when the volunteers surrounded and attacked it, a post alleged. When the dog's owner arrived, the pet had allegedly died and the officers had left. A separate clip appears to show one officer in Yongjia County, Zhejiang, savagely hitting a dog by the side of a road using a wooden stick when a number of local residents watched on A separate clip appears to show one officer in Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, savagely hitting a dog by the side of a road using a wooden stick. The officer donned a face mask and a sheet of plastic as a makeshift protective suit. He is seen hitting the pooch at least three times as some residents watched on. According to animal activists, the incident took place today in Huangsha Village. It is said officers culled all chickens and dogs after two visitors to the community were diagnosed with the virus on Monday. Just yesterday, a video supplied to MailOnline by animal lovers showed one worker beating a pooch to death with a huge wooden club in broad daylight. A community officer in Nanchong, China, has been caught on camera brutally killing a stray dog with a wooden club. The horrifying incident took place this morning, insiders revealed The horrifying incident took place yesterday morning at a residential complex in the city of Nanchong in Sichuan Province, according to activists. They condemned the community officer of abusing his power and killing animals in the name of preventing the coronavirus. Officials of the community denied online allegations. They claimed that the video showed the workers culling a stray dog which had bitten some residents and caused panic in the complex. Communities around the country allegedly ordered citizens to get rid of their pets - or risk having them culled - amid fears that animals could also pick up the deadly disease. World Health Organization (WHO), however, says that it has not seen any evidence of the virus being passed onto cats or dogs. The new coronavirus has killed at least 1,116 people and infected more than 45,200 globally Wuhan has launched a campaign to screen the health of all residents to identify potential coronavirus patients. Pictured, a health worker donning a hazmat suit checks the temperature of a man at a centralised observation and isolation station in Wuhan on February 5 Officials screened more than 10 million residents after visiting 4.21 million households in 3,371 communities, Wuhan's Communist Party Secretary Ma Guoqiang said at a conference Monday The widespread fears were sparked by comments made by one of China's top experts for infectious diseases. Prof. Li Lanjuan, a member of the senior expert team from China's National Health Commission, last month warned that pets would also need to be quarantined should they be exposed to coronavirus patients. Authorities in China are now trying desperately to stop people from throwing away their pets. Animal welfare organisation Humane Society International (HSI) condemned the Chinese Sichuan workers' behaviour. HSI's spokesperson Wendy Higgins said: 'Any evidence of animals being beaten to death in the street is extremely distressing, no matter what the circumstances. 'If these videos do indeed show dogs being brutally killed in China out of an unwarranted fear of spreading coronavirus, then it is doubly upsetting. 'Community officers should be charged with disseminating accurate and scientifically supported information to the public at this time, not in carrying out cruel and pointless culls of dogs. 'The advice by the World Health Organisation that there is no evidence dogs and cats can be infected with the virus, needs to be heard throughout China.' The Japanese car giant Nissan has filed a civil lawsuit against its former chairman Carlos Ghosn to reclaim some 10 billion yen (83 million euros) for what it says are "years of his misconduct and fraudulent activity." Ghosn, who headed Nissan for two decades and saved it from near-bankruptcy, faces multiple charges of financial misconduct in Japan, including under-reporting his remuneration. He denies any wrongdoing, and fled to Lebanon to avoid facing trial by the Japanese justice system. In the lawsuit filed in the Yokohama district court on Wednesday, Nissan said it is asking for damages "linked to Ghosn's breach of fiduciary duty as a company director and his misappropriation of Nissan's resources and assets." In a statement about the lawsuit, Nissan called Ghosn's practices corrupt, alleging that he had used company property "without paying rent", had made private use of corporate jets, and made "payments to his sister, payments to his personal lawyer in Lebanon." The fines continue to pile up The amount also includes costs related to the investigation against Ghosn with the company indicating the amount was likely to rise, given the fines it faces. Nissan has already agreed to pay a 2.4 billion yen (19.98 million euro) fine to the Japanese financial services agency for having hidden payments to Ghosn in its annual reports. The company said it could also sue Ghosn for "groundless and defamatory remarks" he made when he briefed the media in Lebanon. Ghosn alleges he is the target of a cabal of executives It said it intensified its campaign to recover damages after he fled Japan while out on bail. Ghosn spent more than 100 days in detention in Japan after his arrest in November 2018, and made a daring escape to Lebanon, where he holds nationality. Ghosn has sued Nissan and Mitsubishi for 15 million euros, for illegally breaking his contract. The suit was filed in the Netherlands, and the first hearing was held Monday. He believes Nissan turned on him because executives there were concerned he was moving the firm closer to French partner Renault, part of a three-way alliance with Mitsubishi Motors. The global law firm Jones Day has appointed Sheila Shadmand as Partner-in-Charge of its Middle East region.She succeeds Javade Chaudhri who will continue as a partner advising clients on matters related to transactions, compliance, and investigations in Saudi Arabia and Africa. Shadmand has served as Partner-in-Charge of Jones Days Dubai Office since 2013 and leads the firms Global Disputes and International Investigations practices in the Middle East, said the statement from the company. She is one of the only US-qualified lawyers resident in Dubai who has defended clients before the DOJ and SEC, and has full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts. Shadmand has also served as counsel or arbitrator in numerous high-value ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, and DIAC arbitrations and as an advocate in the DIFC Courts. Jones Day clients throughout the Middle East, and around the world, have been guided by Shadmands terrific legal advice and collaborative approach since she joined the Firm more than 20 years ago, said Stephen J Brogan, Managing Partner of Jones Day. Her successful leadership in Dubai, combined with her experience throughout the region advising several of the firm's largest clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and investigative matters, exemplifies our commitment to the Middle East, he stated. "As Saudi Arabia in particular embarks on a period of remarkable social and economic change designed to fuel its growing economy for the future, this appointment underlines our decades-long support to our clients in the kingdom as they drive prosperity for the region," remarked Brogan. "Shadmands outstanding insight will serve as an excellent foundation as she grows both the relationships with Jones Day clients in the Middle East and the Firms efforts to advance the rule of law throughout the Middle East and into Africa, he added. Shadmand counsels multinational companies on compliance with FCPA, anti-money laundering, anti-boycott, and sanctions laws and defends companies facing enforcement by US agencies, including the DOJ, SEC, and OFAC. She has led and defended investigations into such matters in more than 30 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. Over the past 10 years alone, she has led more than 50 FCPA and other investigations for Firm clients. On her new role, Shadmand said: "Expanding our client relationships throughout the region while it continues to evolve into one of the worlds premier locations for financial and commercial activity is very exciting. Technology and connectivity are bringing our clients closer to places that were previously inaccessible. At the same time and for the same reasons, the increased transparency and rule of law expansion is benefiting more corners of the world than ever before, and helping overcome hurdles to progress in more of the regions economies," explained Shadmand. "Jones Days One Firm approach to client service allows our lawyers to use our skills, knowledge, and cross-border teamwork to assist our clients some of the largest companies in the world in bringing their products, services, and technology to the region. Doing so improves the lives of people." she stated. "When the way of life is better in any given country, our clients businesses can thrive. We are honored to serve our clients in this way and at the same time to be supporting the regions ongoing economic growth, she added. Shadmand joined Jones Day in Washington and while there, she had served on the Summer Associate Committee and the Hiring Committee for many years. In 2009, she relocated to Dubai, serving first as the Administrative Partner of the Firms Dubai Office at its inception, before becoming its Partner-in-Charge. She also serves on the Firm's Advisory Committee. She has been recognised as a leading disputes and investigations lawyer for several years running in Chambers, The Legal 500, The Best Lawyers UAE, and Whos Who Legal: Investigations, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and a number of other news-related broadcasts and print media in connection with her work. Shadmand is a member of the DIFC Courts Users Committee Rules Subcommittee, the DIFC Academy of Law, and has served as a member of an advisory board of the Dubai Judicial Institute, said the statement. Shadmands predecessor as Partner-in-Charge of the Middle East Region, Chaudhri, served as Partner-in-Charge of Jones Days Middle East & Africa Region since 2015. He has worldwide experience assisting private and public-sector companies in transactions and projects in many industry sectors and geographies. Chaudhri advises companies on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances as well as corporate governance, compliance, and internal investigations. He will continue to serve as an important part of Jones Days work in the Region, with particular focus on Africa, it stated. Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers in 43 offices across five continents. The Firm is distinguished by: a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commitment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partnership; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs.-- Tradearabia News Service CONCORD, N.H. It took a year of campaigning, countless stump speeches and an especially strong night on the debate stage for little-known Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar to break into the top tier of the 2020 campaign in New Hampshire. Now she has less than two weeks to make it count. The Minnesota senator began working Wednesday to turn her better-than-expected night into enough momentum to be competitive in next-up Nevada and beyond. For Klobuchar, that means consolidating establishment and moderate voters, picking up traction with black and Latino Democrats and introducing herself to most everyone else. Klobuchar's campaign launched two new television and digital ads in Nevada on Wednesday. She was headed to Las Vegas after a fundraiser in New York and was set to hold a Thursday campaign rally and speak at a town hall sponsored by a major Latino rights group. A third-place finish in New Hampshireon Tuesday counted as a victory for a candidate who spent much of the campaign boasting about being in the top five of the crowded field. Klobuchar used the moment to put her no-nonsense appeal in the spotlight. She spoke of growing up the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, becoming the first female senator from Minnesota and defying expectations in the 2020 race. She pledged to take her green campaign bus to Nevada and around the country and to win the nomination. The senator appeared to benefit Tuesday from former Vice President Joe Biden's sliding support, picking up moderate and conservative voters looking for an alternative to liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, the New Hampshire winner, and rejecting political newcomer and second-place finisher Pete Buttigieg. But Klobuchar's quest is still an uphill climb. The senator has focused almost all her time and campaign resources in Iowa and New Hampshire, building only spare operations in the states that follow on the primary calendar. She has polled poorly among minority voters, a big obstacle in more diverse states like Nevada and South Carolina. Although she will likely see a bump in support, a surge of donations and new media attention, Klobuchar's challenge is to set up the infrastructure to capitalize on her moment. She's starting from behind. Klobuchar's Nevada team wasn't hired until last fall and numbered fewer than a dozen until the campaign redeployed staff from Iowa last week, giving her about 30 people on the ground. Sanders, who essentially tied Buttigieg in Iowa, has been organizing in Nevada since April 2019 and has more than 250 staffers in the state. Biden has more than 80, Buttigieg has about 100 and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has more than 50. Klobuchar is now hoping the appeal that worked for her in New Hampshire will have a similar impact in Nevada on Feb. 22. The three-term senator campaigned as someone who has won even in conservative areas and who could draw support from Democrats, independents and disaffected Republicans to beat Trump. She also points to her record of getting things done in Washington and argues that proposals like Medicare for All, backed by Sanders and Warren, are nonstarters in the Senate. But it was Klobuchar's debate performance that appeared to have the biggest impact on her showing Tuesday. More than half of Klobuchar's supporters made up their minds in the last few days, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 3,000 Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago. Klobuchar went on the attack against Buttigieg and delivered a passionate closing promise to fight for the voters who don't feel seen or heard by politicians in Washington. Those selling points helped convince voters like Linda Muchemore, a retiree from Greenland, New Hampshire, who settled on Klobuchar last week after leaning toward Warren. Klobuchar's record in the Senate spoke to me of somebody who could maybe heal the animosity we have, Muchemore said. I found out that Im not as liberal as I thought I was. Those moderate plans that Amy has speak more to me than Elizabeths more radical, Bernie plans. Klobuchar's late surge over Warren was a surprise twist in the race. Warren, from neighboring Massachusetts, has been leading in the polling, but both women have struggled to convince voters that a woman can win. On Tuesday night, Warren congratulated Klobuchar my friend and colleague and noted how wrong pundits are when they count us out. Klobuchar responded to my friend Elizabeth soon after. People told me just like they told her that they didnt think a woman could be elected," she said. In my case it was elected to the U.S. Senate. No woman had ever done it before. But I came back, I defied expectations, and I won. For much of the race, Klobuchar has lagged toward the back of the pack in fundraising and had just under $5 million in reserve at the end of 2019 - far less than all other leading contenders. Her goal coming out of Fridays debate was to raise $1 million, a lifeline that would allow her to forge on in contests ahead. She quickly reached that amount and, to her own surprise, she doubled it within 24 hours. By Tuesday, her campaign said that sum had climbed to $4 million - and was still going up. That post-debate haul is in line with the $4 million Buttigieg raised in the days after landing at the top, along with Sanders, in the Iowa caucuses last week. The money will help pay for ads in Nevada and South Carolina, which holds its primary the week after Nevada, and to beef up the campaign in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests, when the largest number of delegates are up for grabs of any date on Democrats' calendar. Unlike the other leading contenders in the race, Klobuchar is the only candidate who is not getting extra help from a super PAC or outside group, which can raise and spend unlimited sums so long as they do not coordinate advertising spending decisions with the candidate they support. Much of Klobuchars support has come from donors in her home state of Minnesota, who account for the lion share of her presidential fundraising, according to campaign finance disclosures, which only provide information about donors who give over $200. She also supplemented her presidential run with a $3.5 million transfer from her Senate campaign account, records show. Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press reporters Brian Slodysko and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington and Michelle Price in Las Vegas contributed to this report. A 32-year-old neo-Nazi has been charged with murder less than a month after he was released from prison in Utah. Ryan Joseph Dash, 32, is accused of aggravated murder after a 29-year-old man was shot and killed in the early hours of Sunday in North Ogden. Dalton Wood was found lying at the roadside with a gunshot wound to his chest and his lower extremities. Court records state a 9mm round and a spent shotgun shell were found at the scene. Wood was rushed to hospital but died soon after arriving. Ryan Joseph Dash, 32, is accused of aggravated murder after a 29-year-old man was shot and killed on Sunday night in North Ogden Dash was arrested along with Brian Christopher Jenson, 28. Witnesses described seeing two men fleeing the scene in a dark SUV, Deseret News reported. After identifying Dash, police set up surveillance outside his home and he was arrested after loading his vehicle and preparing to leave. Brian Christopher Jenson, 28, was also arrested 'Dash explained that he had assaulted (Wood's) brother previously, and that in response, (Wood) threatened him. They arranged to meet at a location in North Ogden.' Police said. 'Dash stated that (Wood) was alone, and that (Wood) had his hands in his pocket. He admitted that (Wood) did not brandish a weapon.' Dash is alleged to have admitted to officer he 'then killed the (expletive).' Police said Dash told them he had thrown the guns off an overpass and torched his clothes in a parking lot. Jenson meanwhile admitted he was with Dash but denied firing any weapons. This contradicted other information in the course of the investigation, the court affidavit said. Dash's police mugshot shows that Dash has tattoos of a swastika on his head and the words, 'white power' over his eyebrows. Police were called after shots were fired at 432 E. 1700 North. Dalton Wood, of North Ogden, was lying at the roadside Dash, who has a criminal history dating back to 2008, was most recently paroled from the state prison on January 14. In 2014, he was charged with assault after allegedly stabbing a cellmate 11 times. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to attempted theft for receiving stolen property, attempted possession or use of a controlled substance and aggravated assault in two different cases. Officials assure virus screening of thousands of tourists as cruise liners come to Phuket PHUKET: Phuket Marine Office Director Wiwat Chitchertwong has confirmed that at least 17 cruise ships will be coming to Phuket in the coming months, with four cruise ships filled with tourists coming to Phuket this week. tourismmarinetransporthealthCoronavirusCOVID-19 By The Phuket News Wednesday 12 February 2020, 04:16PM Cruise liner tourists arrive on shore in Patong on Jan 29. Photo: Patong Municipality PR A total of 4,068 tourists and ship crew and staff will arrive in Phuket on two cruise liners tomorrow (Feb 13), Mr Wiwat revealed at a press briefing held at PPHO office in Phuket Town yesterday. Scheduled to arrive at Phuket Deep Sea Port at 7am is a Seabourn Ovation cruise from Hong Kong carrying 919 people, comprising 487 tourists and 432 crew and ship staff. The MV Quantum of the Seas cruise liner from Singapore is to arrive in Patong at 10am with 3,149 people on board, comprising 1,530 passengers and 1,619 crew and ship staff, Mr Wiwat explained. On Friday (Feb 14), a Celebrity Constellation cruise will arrive just after midday, and on Saturday a Star Clipper cruise will arrive at 5:30am, Mr Wiwat said. Mr Wiwat explained that his office has yet to receive information about the number of passengers and crew to arrive on on the Celebrity Constellation cruise and Star Clipper cruise. Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) Chief Thanit Sermkaew said that health officers will be on hand to screen any tourists who choose to come ashore during while cruise ships are in Phuket. As we always do, he said. PPHO officers have been screening people and following up the Wuhan situation closely. Officers are still screening people for elevated body temperature at Phuket International Airport, bus terminals, piers around the island, and other places, Dr Thanit said. Chief Thanit added that according to information provided from screening tourist arrivals in Phuket, the number of people suspected of being infected keeps decreasing, but declined to elaborate further, not even mentioning how many people in Phuket were currently under observation. Chief Thanit and Mr Wiwat were speaking at the daily update meeting to brief the public on the current situation in Phuket concerning the coronavirus. Present at the meeting were PPHO Deputy Chief Dr Krit Sakulpat, Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol and other relevant officials. Mr Wiwat assured, There are no confirmed reports of people infected with the virus on board, as some people believe. It is a different cruise ship. The reference to the infected cruise liners follows Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordering officials to not let any passengers or crew on the Westerdam cruise ship from Japan to disembark at the Laem Chabang port. That order follows Japan itself not allowing any persons on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship to disembark. The ship, holding off the Japan coast, now has 174 people confirmed as infected with the virus. The Diamond Princess, which originally had 3,700 passengers and crew on board, has become the largest single cluster of the newly named COVID-19 disease outside its origin in China, where it has now killed more than 1,100 people. A senior lawmaker from Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party has said that the country should create its own digital yen within the next 2-3 years. The sooner the better. Well draft proposals to be included in governments policy guidelines, and hopefully make it happen in two-to-three years, Kozo Yamamoto told Reuters on Monday. The lawmakers remarks highlight the pressure Japan feels against Chinas progress on digital currency. Last month, another group of Japanese lawmakers, led by former economy minister Akira Amari, said that they are working on a proposal to issue digital currency. Yamamoto today said he would work with Amari to push the government to adopt their proposals. Japan wants to curb the potential influence of Chinas upcoming digital yuan. Norihiro Nakayama, a lawmaker from Japans ruling party, recently said that Chinas digital currency is a challenge to the existing global reserve currency system and currency hegemony and that Japan would need U.S. support to counter Chinas efforts. The Bank of Japan, the countrys central bank, has started initiatives to research digital currencies. Last month, it joined hands with five other major central banks - the Bank of England, the Bank of Canada, the European Central Bank, the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden) and the Swiss National Bank - to explore digital currencies. "If each country manages to control flows of money with their own (digital) currencies, that could prevent a big swing at a time of crisis and stabilize their own economy," Yamamoto said today. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More All data of the final list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), showing details of included and excluded people, have been made offline from its official website. The data disappeared from the website as the service period of the cloud storage provided by IT firm Wipro expired. The subscription renewal was not done as there was no coordinator after the transfer of the former coordinator Prateek Hajela. This prompted the Opposition Congress to doubt it as a "mala fide act". The complete detail of exclusion and inclusion of bonafide Indian citizens in the NRC was uploaded on its official website 'www.nrcassam.nic.in' after the final list was published on August 31, 2019. However, the data was not available for the last couple of days and it created panic in the public, mostly among the people excluded from the list as the rejection certificates were yet to be issued. When contacted, NRC State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma accepted that the data have been made offline, but refuted the allegation of any "mala fide" intent in it. "The cloud service for the huge set of data was provided by Wipro and their contract was till October 19 last year. However, this was not renewed by the earlier Coordinator. So, the data got offline from December 15 after it was suspended by Wipro. I assumed charge on December 24," Sarma told PTI. He informed that the state coordination committee had decided to do necessary formalities in its meeting on January 30 and wrote to the Wipro during the first week of February. "Once Wipro makes the data live, it will be available for the public. We hope that people will be able to access it in the next 2-3 days," Sarma said. Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia wrote to the Registrar General of India and requested him to look into the matter urgently. "It is a mystery as to why the online data should vanish all of a sudden, especially as the appeals process has not even started due to the go-slow attitude adopted by the NRC Authority. There is, therefore, ample scope to suspect that the disappearance of online data is a mala fide act, Saikia said. "Indeed, the deletion of data from the NRC website at a time when the appeals process is yet to start is prima facie a deliberate violation of the directive issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court," said Saikia. "This act also violates the rules pertaining to the NRC, which stipulates various processes post-publication of the NRC," Saikia wrote in the letter. The final NRC was published by excluding 19,06,657 persons. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. After the earlier NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela was released on November 11 following his transfer to home state Madhya Pradesh on a direction from the Supreme Court, Sarma was appointed in his place on November 9. However, Sarma did not join immediately and went on a month-long leave after the Congress and other organisations opposed his appointment due to his alleged "highly partial and controversial" posts on social media. After the news surfaced, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assured the safety of data. "The NRC data is safe," said the MHA. "There is some technical issue in visibility on Cloud. It is being resolved soon," the ministry was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Later in the day, Wipro issued a statement clarifying that the disappearance of the database is due to pending payment, according to a CNBC TV18 report. The Bengaluru-based IT giant revealed that the contract for the project, commissioned by the Registrar General of India and the MHA, expired in October 2019. But no payment was made for renewal, it said. Wiprofurther said that it continued to pay hosting service "as a gesture of goodwill" until January end before pulling the plug. It assured that the data will be restored once the government makes the payment. (With inputs from PTI) NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Are you ready for the new REALiTY? Hosted by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), REALiTY 2020 boldly confronts the big issues impacting real estate today and previews what is coming down the road. Its all happening at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls on February 25-27. With game-changing technologies, leading Canadian companies and brands looking to expand into the Canadian market, REALiTY serves as a premier meeting place for REALTORS, allied industry professionals and fans of real estate, said Tim Hudak, OREA CEO. Will we recognize the face of Canadian real estate in a year or two? Thats the big question well answer at REALiTY 2020. ABOUT THE CONFERENCE More than 70 speakers are scheduled to take the stage, including: Molly Bloom , entrepreneur and author of her memoir, Mollys Game , entrepreneur and author of her memoir, Mollys Game Kortney Wilson , co-host of HGTVs Masters of Flip , co-host of HGTVs Masters of Flip Seth Godin , best-selling author and member of the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame , best-selling author and member of the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame Chris Voss , former FBI negotiator and CEO of Black Swan Group , former FBI negotiator and CEO of Black Swan Group Rob Hahn, founder and Managing Partner of 7DS Associates Major companies backed by big investment dollars and looking to expand in Canada will take the stage, including: Redfin, Compass and eXp Realty who will talk about their plans for Canada and who will talk about their plans for Canada HomeServices of America (Berkshire Hathaway) CEO Gino Blefari who will preview plans for the second largest real estate company in the USA to become a player north of the border CEO Gino Blefari who will preview plans for the second largest real estate company in the USA to become a player north of the border A fireside chat with Miles Nadal, founder and executive chairman of Canadas Peerage Capital Group, which has over $7B in assets across Real Estate Services, Real Estate Groups, and Financial Services REALiTY 2020 will tackle some of the biggest questions in Canadian real estate from emerging industry players, including: Properly, Opendoor and Zillow , addressing where and how the iBuyer model will evolve in Canada and , addressing where and how the iBuyer model will evolve in Canada Purplebricks Canada National Director, Randall Weese, discussing myths and realities of the companys business model National Director, Randall Weese, discussing myths and realities of the companys business model Deloitte Director of Research, Duncan Stewart discussing how AI and 5G networks will impact real estate Director of Research, Duncan Stewart discussing how AI and 5G networks will impact real estate Setter, Parkbench and Key Living, uncovering their visions for the future of real estate tech Canadian real estate leaders will also be returning to share new insights and their voice of experience, including: Raising the Bar Professionalism in the Industry with Chris Alexander, EVP RE/MAX Integra with Chris Alexander, EVP RE/MAX Integra The Up and Outer Markets where Todd C. Slater, President of The Simple Investor, will look at outer markets that will have the greatest growth over the next 10 years where Todd C. Slater, President of The Simple Investor, will look at outer markets that will have the greatest growth over the next 10 years The YPN Power Panel, featuring savvy REALTORS from Century 21, Royal LePage and RE/MAX sharing their advice to stand out in the marketplace and discussing emerging trends To see the agenda, full list of speakers and registration, visit https://realityconference.ca/ For more information, contact: Azerbaijan's ruling Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) party says it has won at least 72 seats in parliament in the February 9 elections. The party's executive secretary, Ali Ahmedov, wrote in a post on Facebook on February 12 that the seat count remains preliminary as the Central Election Commission continues to count the votes. The commission said a day earlier that the ruling party won 70 out of 125 seats in the single-chamber legislature, while nearly all of the remaining mandates went to small parties and independents loyal to President Ilham Aliyev. International monitors have identified widespread procedural violations in the vote count, raising doubts about the fairness of the elections. Aliyev called the vote nine months early to consolidate his authority. The opposition have alleged widespread violations, including ballot box stuffing, in the elections. On February 11, police in Baku detained more than 20 opposition and independent candidates who protested the results of the votes in front of the Central Election Commission building. Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is accompanied by his wife Jane OMeara Sanders as he arrives to speak at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Rick Wilking/Reuters) Bernie Sanders Declares Victory in New Hampshire Democratic Primary Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) declared victory in New Hampshires Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday night in the second contest to find a challenger to take on President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election. With 89.7 percent of precincts reporting, Sanders had 26.0 percent of the total votes. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, followed closely behind at 24.4 percent. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) was third with 19.7 percent. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, Sanders declared Tuesday night. As results were totaling up and Sanders was projected to win, Buttigieg congratulated his rivals and called for unity within the Democratic Party. Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldnt be here at all has shown that we are here to stay, Buttigieg told a cheering crowd. Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks to supporters at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) came in at 9.3 percent while former Vice President Joe Biden garnered 8.4 percent. Biden left New Hampshire for South Carolina before the results started rolling in. It aint over, man. Its just getting started, Biden told his supporters in South Carolina. Businessman Andrew Yang and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) dropped out shortly after the polls closed. Results for New Hampshire rolled in much more smoothly than last week in Iowa, where technical problems caused delays in the counting of votes for several days. Buttigieg narrowly held the lead ahead of Sanders in Iowa. Both campaigns have requested a partial recanvass of the results from Iowa. Up next will be the Feb. 22 caucuses in Nevada and the Feb. 29 primary in South Carolina. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is skipping all four states that are voting in February and will begin competing next month starting with the Super Tuesday primaries on March 3. Four years ago, Sanders, 78, won New Hampshire easily over rival Hillary Clinton with about 60 percent of the vote in his unsuccessful bid for Democratic presidential nomination. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. [February 12, 2020] Culture Trip Dedicates Entire Global Workforce to Day-Long Sustainability Hackathon LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Culture Trip has announced the out-takes from its inaugural company-wide sustainability hackathon. The transatlantic hackathon saw Culture Trip's entire global team dedicate a whole working day to the topic of sustainability. The company partnered with Fortitude Partners who help businesses place sustainability at the core of their operations. The hackathon was the brainchild of Culture Trip founder & CEO Dr. Kris Naudts, who rallied his 300 team members across offices in London, New York & Tel Aviv to down tools and work in cross functional teams to come up with tangible ideas to make Culture Trip a more sustainable business. The hackathon also explored ways to promote sustainable tourism to the nearly 20 million unique users that the site and app attract every single month, and its 8+ million followers across it social media channels. The hackathon came as consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of the travel industry on the environment. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that aviation contributes 4.9% of all human-caused climate change. Last week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global demand for air travel rose 4.2% year-on-year yet this was viewed as something of a slowdown by the industry. Culture Trip's own Cultural Mindset Study has found that 37% of millennials claim that they try to limit the amount they travel due to environmental concerns, compared to just 15% of the baby boomer generation. Teams were tasked with focusing on some of the key areas that are directly impacted by the travel industry, such as carbon, climate, biodiversity and water. Stand out ideas that emerged from the trans-Atlantic hackathon included: 'Elec-Trips' an Instagram-delivered virtual road-trip which uses technology to take on some of the most iconic stretches of the earth's roads an Instagram-delivered virtual road-trip which uses technology to take on some of the most iconic stretches of the earth's roads Travel Pure an international collaboration of local content creators with expertise in sustainability, tapping into Culture Trip's unique international creator community. These Sustainability Champions would promote sustainable tourism in their areas, generating economic benefit to their local communities. Commenting on the hackathon, Culture Trip founder & CEO Dr. Kris Naudts said, "I encourage every company to down tools for a day to collectively think about ways to solve for this worldwide crisis. Travel as an industry has historically lagged behind in terms of suggesting ways in which we can operate sustainably. It is now time for us all to join forces and to start taking action. As well as being an incredible day of innovation and team building, the calibre of ideas that came from the hackathon was simply incredible. The pitches clearly demonstrated the care and passion that our employees feel for the cause and we can't wait to put ideas into action in 2020. We hope this is the first of many such initiatives." A video highlights package of the hackathon can be viewed at: https://jwp.io/s/YFvvp2eh About Culture Trip Culture Trip inspires its users to discover, plan and book trips around the world. Headquartered in London with offices in New York and Tel Aviv, it features stories that reveal what is special, unique and meaningful about a place, its people and its culture. In-house creative teams together with a global network of more than 600 freelance creators produce destination-based stories from around the world, including articles, videos, photography, illustration and animation. Founded by former psychiatrist Dr. Kris Naudts, Culture Trip has been dubbed one of the UK's fastest-growing companies by Forbes UK and won more than 20 awards in 2019 alone. The website attracts approximately 18M monthly unique visitors with 2B+ video views in the last two years alone. The app has been downloaded 2.6M+ times. With a social media reach of 8M+, Culture Trip brings the world to everyone, and in doing so, brings us all closer together. Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089667/Culture_Trip_Hackathon.mp4 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/culture-trip-dedicates-entire-global-workforce-to-day-long-sustainability-hackathon-301003839.html SOURCE Culture Trip [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A new estate on the site of one of Sausalitos most iconic landmarks is for sale. After almost 10 years of planning and restoration, a waterfront Valhalla compound at 201 Bridgeway including three homes is on the market for $11.8 million. Constructed in 1893, the original historic building was named Walhalla and designed as a German Biergarten. Once Prohibition hit it became a hotspot for bootlegging due to its location on the waterfront. It came to fame once again when former San Francisco madam Sally Stanford, who changed the name from Walhalla to Valhalla, purchased the property in 1946 and began operating a restaurant that over the years attracted celebrity customers including Marlon Brando, Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball. A red light at the back of the building suggested that the building may have also been host to Stanfords more illicit activities. Up to the '70s, this was the place to go to if you were on the west coast, Alex Kashef, who bought the property in 2012, said. If you were on the west coast you had to come to the Valhalla and have dinner with Sally. Stanford later became mayor of the town and was a celebrated local figure. Theres a bust of Stanford in Sausalito's visitor center and a water fountain at the town's ferry landing that instructs visitors to "HAVE A DRINK ON SALLY." Zoned commercially, Kashef originally had plans drawn up for a boutique hotel, but quickly met neighborhood resistance. After realizing his vision would never become reality, he tweaked the plans to become a residential estate. As a Sausalito resident, he said he saw the potential in the project early on. Like everyone else who would walk by the property, everyone had dreams for what this property could be, he said. I was the one who wanted to make it come true." The main unit is a 7,800 square foot mansion with six bedrooms, four bathrooms and three powder rooms. It includes a four-car garage and 4,000 square feet of total deck space. An adjacent home is 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and one powder room. It has 300 square feet of covered veranda over the bay. A guest house is 1,300 square feet and includes two bedrooms and one bathroom. Its currently being rented. When you think of Sausalito you think of Valhalla, Lydia Sarkissian, the listing agent with Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty representing the property, said. We are thrilled to be representing such an iconic piece of real estate in Marin county. Sarkissian said she could see the estate used as a family compound or for a young entrepreneur to come in and transform the space into a private club like the Battery in San Francisco. Some of the interiors remain unfinished, leaving the finishing open to the buyer and their vision. Kashef estimates it can be completed within six months. Historical artifacts that have been recovered will be included in the sale. Kashef said they have the chair Sally used to sit in to greet customers, portraits and an original bar that bank robber Baby Face Nelson allegedly worked behind in the early 1930s. Kashef, a local oral surgeon, is selling the property because he wants to spend more time with his children. Its such a unique property with so much history. Just the location itself, theres something magical about it. Joel Goodrich of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury is a co-listing agent on the property. Tessa McLean is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her at tessa.mclean@sfgate.com or follow her on Twitter @mcleantessa. Aer Lingus will reconsider transatlantic flights from Cork as it takes delivery of new, smaller aircraft from 2022, its chief executive has said. Sean Doyle told the Irish Examiner that as Aer Lingus takes delivery of new, smaller aircraft with fewer seats, it will reevaluate prospects for transatlantic flights. If you asked me six years ago would it work, I would say no, but looking at the technology there today we will evaluate it. Narrow body technology makes the economics a lot better. The A321LR and XLR aircraft have 182 seats instead of 330. Out of Ireland they can get to the US which they cant do from other points in Europe. The fact you can get into the North Atlantic with a smaller aircraft means that routes which were too thin for a wide body aircraft may become viable in future and well evaluate whether Cork is in that mix. Norwegian Read More: Aer Lingus has scrapped flights from Cork to Geneva, Dusseldorf and Brussels in recent years, as well as paring back routes to Amsterdam. It introduced new summer routes to Dubrovnik and Nice last year. At the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast in association with RDJ with the Irish Examiner as media partner at the Clayton Hotel Cork City were (from left) Conor Healy, CEO, Cork Chamber; Sean Doyle, CEO, Aer Lingus, guest speaker; Richard Martin, managing partner, RDJ; Paula Cogan, president, Cork Chamber, and Tom Fitzpatrick, editor, Irish Examiner. Picture Denis Minihane. Speaking at a Cork Chamber business breakfast, Mr Doyle reaffirmed the airlines commitment to Cork Airport and said it would also consider reintroducing a domestic route to Dublin and connections to Brussels. Cork is very important to Aer Lingus. We were the first flight into the new airport in 1961, we have a base here, we have three aircraft here all year round and four in the summer. Cork will have to compete for [the new aircraft] with bases like Dublin and Shannon. The technology is very attractive, but the hurdle is still very high. Cork is a point to point market, flying to US markets which are point to point, so its harder to get confidence than at a hub where you get connecting traffic. Well work with the community on it, but there is a high hurdle to overcome. Mr Doyle, a UCC graduate and Cork native, was British Airways director of network, fleet and alliances before succeeding Stephen Kavanagh as Aer Lingus CEO in 2019. He said there was potential to reintroduce both Brussels and Dublin routes from Cork in future. Im looking to evaluate a Cork-Brussels service. Were not ready to commit to it yet but I think its the most credible Euro cities opportunity we have. Since the road infrastructure improved, we dont have the same level of demand to justify a Cork-Dublin air link. But what Im conscious of is a lot of people here want to travel transatlantic with Aer Lingus and driving to Dublin the night before is an inconvenience. I reckon were bleeding traffic to Amsterdam and Heathrow so we are going to evaluate whether we could reinstate a smaller version of a Cork-Dublin network. Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group, will retire in March and be succeeded by current Iberia chief executive Luis Gallego. Asked what the impact of Mr Walshs departure might mean for Aer Lingus, Mr Doyle insisted it would be business as usual. I dont see any change to our strategy. The reason Aer Lingus has been growing is because its been successful and as long as we keep performing there wont be an issue with executing the strategy and investing. "Luis is a great guy, he understands Aer Lingus and hell be as supportive as Willie was. A BMW-driving school teacher who had just returned to Australia from Peru has been hit and killed by a truck on a NSW highway after allegedly being tied up by two people in a nearby home. Brisbane-based teacher Anthony Stott, 43, was killed on the M1 near Cudgera Creek in the Tweed shire on Monday, NSW Police said on Wednesday. Investigators say Mr Stott's BMW was located in the middle of the M1 at 2am (local time) on Monday a short distance from the Kanes Road home where he was allegedly tied up on the NSW Far North Coast. He was struck by the truck while walking along the highway about 7am. Police have released footage of Anthony Stott who arrived in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon. Source: NSW Police Detectives allege Mr Stott was tied to a chair by the two people at their home between 2am and 7am. It is not known how he got to and from the property, and it is also unclear if he was released or broke free from the chair. "We believe he was detained against his will at that premises prior to his death... these circumstances are very troubling," Acting Superintendent Brendon Cullen told reporters on Wednesday. Acting Supt Cullen said Mr Stott had last been seen at Brisbane Airport on Sunday afternoon, having returned home from a trip to Peru. A 38-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man have been charged with taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage. Police recovered Anthony Stott's vehicle in the early hours on Monday morning. Source: NSW Police They were refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on February 17. Mr Stott's relationship with the pair remains unknown. "How he ended up at the property is unclear to us that's what we're seeking assistance with," Acting Supt Cullen said. "We don't know what that relationship is, how he ended up in the house or why." Act Supt Cullen didn't rule out the involvement of drugs. 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. Mother of all announcements is the IPO of LIC. LIC has net assets of more than Rs 31 Lakh crores and is way bigger than TCS and RIL in terms of market capitalisation may end up taking away liquidity from markets. This also means the government will continue to have flamboyant investments and spending with equal focus on infra, reforms and fund through government premium holding disinvestments. LIC also has a lot of investments in various listed companies and it is into insurance business which is earning a top line of approximately Rs 5.61 lakh crore with about 60% coming from individual insurance and group insurance schemes (Rs 2.3 lakh crore and Rs 0.98 Lakh crore for individual and group respectively). This IPO should effectively attract FPIs and international investors which didn't happen well in case of similar big IPO Aramco globally. If that happens then it will be quite a successful strategy of the government to add a fresh infusion of funds in the economy by getting foreign investments as against taking away liquidity from the Indian markets. Also Read: LIC's top 3 priorities before hitting Dalal Street with the mega IPO The government will have to time and size to make the proposition attractive. None the less, LIC carries a brand and net profits at Rs. 2.6 lakh crore annually that are close to 10% size of overall government expenditure besides the state-run insurer holds a stake in 34 of 50 benchmark index companies. LIC earned significant income from the dividend of about Rs 1.76 lakh crore in FY18. The economic impact and governmental decision to monetise and allocate this resource to fresh infrastructure development and fill budgetary deficit can be a historic decision taken for a long time addressing multiple aspects. This will help the government ease a lot of economic parameters which it is struggling to achieve and target primary criteria being fiscal deficit. LIC as a performance and brand is so attractive at this stage that it can attract strong contenders for divestment subscription, especially when the insurance sector is slowly opening up in India, moving from monopoly to multiple players and therefore to untap its value timing is so right. It will also provide lot of retail investors to participate in wealth creation journey of such a big institution which generates wealth through insurance premiums, investments incomes and appreciations of subsidiary and investments. Coal India is a classic example where appreciation has been limited for retail investors primarily because of its size although it is nowhere comparable to LIC, which had generated higher supply with limited overseas participation. Also Read: LIC IPO: 5 things to know about the upcoming share sale The government was not able to complete its disinvestment target this fiscal due to subdued market conditions, lower valuations and potential lesser realisations in the backdrop of an overall slowdown and global recessionary trends, which will also be the consideration going forward to keep a watch on and a key determining factor in the success of LIC's IPO. The good aspect is that the government is very clear about the ownership and control over the institution which it will retain hence there would not be much change in the functioning of the organisation and performance of LIC will be untouched due to this corporate event (IPO). As against other PSU businesses which cannot maintain a steady business due to competition, disruption, management issues, are not able to update obsolete technology and are faced with a lack of product demand - these issues are not faced by LIC and it continues to have a robust demand and enjoys the largest market share. It will also make stock exchanges quite broad-based and will change India's weightage and rating across various global indices including MSCI which is highly tracked globally. When LIC started its operations in India, it was able to create trust in people to take insurance policies besides a large LIC agents distribution network including an attempt to have one agent every house. This was phenomenal for India as a country else we could have seen any international player come and capture this space. While the government divests its stake in LIC, it should also shoulder the responsibility of creating other huge profit-making companies with large market capitalisation, whose reserves can support the Indian economy for key investments and in times of distress as well. Also Read: LIC unions to stage protest against govt's stake sale in life insurer These kind of businesses will be at the level of new-age digital companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and Intel etc. Currently, India is dependent on these global giants leading to a significant outgo of foreign reserves and profits. This is predominantly on account of the government not being able to create such huge technology companies unlike China which has given focus and impetus to creating a few of such companies. While the government has been broadly successful in exploring multiple avenues for divestment including the latest ETF route, however, in case of LIC, it will need to explore a big chunk of stake placement globally including placing the global sovereign funds not only due to its sheer size but the very attractiveness of LIC enables the cause. By diluting its stake in LIC, the government is not necessarily diluting its voting rights in subsidiary and investee companies like NSE, ONGC, RIL, IOC, INFOSYS, Wipro, TCS etc and many others where it holds 12.2%, 9.4%, 6.58%, 6.51%, 5.8%, 4.8%,3.9% respectively, as it still will continue to control similar voting rights. LIC also holds substantial stakes in various banks including heavyweight banks like SBI (9.8%), ICICI and axis bank with 10.3% each and a whopping 51% in IDBI Bank to get a substantial controlling majority. Accordingly, such a unique and large portfolio with all creme de la creme is rare to get and I strongly believe that the government will find it more easier to divest barring the fact that it's sheer huge size will not allow exorbitant p/e multiples and valuations. The government cannot afford to ignore ground-level outreach efforts that will be required to attract investors globally including sovereign funds, although LIC is in most favourite and evergreen insurance business of one of the richest wealth creators Warren Buffett. (The author is Chief Financial Officer at Metropolitan Stock Exchange) Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on Russian authorities to engage in "constructive dialogue" with critics instead of "abusing" counterterrorism laws to silence them. The New York-based watchdog issued the call on February 12 after Russian military courts earlier this month handed down "harsh" guilty verdicts in three "deeply flawed" terrorism cases in which the defendants claimed that they were detained incommunicado, tortured, and received other "ill-treatment to extract confessions." A total of 18 defendants in the separate cases on February 5 and 10 were sentenced to prison terms of up to 23 years. HRW said in a statement that the trials were also marred by the prosecution and judges' refusal to investigate the defendants' "credible claims of abuse," and by their reliance on "dubious expert analysis and use of anonymous, 'secret witnesses.'" "These defendants didn't get a fair trial. The verdicts should be quashed, and allegations of fabrications and ill-treatment adequately investigated," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW. In one of the cases, a district court in the town of Penza on February 10 found seven men guilty of planning terrorist attacks to destabilize the country and sentenced them to prison terms of between six and 18 years. Authorities said the accused belonged to a group called "Set" (Network), but the men all claimed such a group does not exist and that, although they share antifascist views, they mainly play outdoor war games together. Several defendants claimed that they were tortured while in custody, but the Investigative Committee rejected the claims. Also on February 10, a Yekaterinburg court sentenced an alleged leader of the Russian branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic group banned in Russia as a terrorist organization, to 23 years in a maximum security prison. The convict, Eduard Nizamov, said that staff at the detention center had ill-treated him and caused him to be harassed while he was in custody, HRW said. Five days earlier, 10 people were found guilty on charges related to their alleged involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, including creating or membership in a local cell of a terrorist organization, assisting terrorism, and propaganda for terrorism. They were handed prison terms ranging from 11 to 22 years. All of the Hizb ut-Tahrir defendants denied the accusations, saying the case against them was fabricated. Their lawyers challenged the prosecution's use of anonymous "secret witnesses" and the use of statements by people who were exonerated after plea bargains, according to HRW. Williamson said that "abusing counterterrorism laws to silence critics and deny fundamental human rights is unlawful and risks fomenting more resentment against the government." "Instead of steamrolling the dissidents, the authorities urgently need to learn to engage them in constructive dialogue," he added. The global K-12 robotic toolkits market is expected to grow by USD 319.78 million during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005688/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the global K-12 robotic toolkits market from 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Educational institutions across the world have been focusing on providing STEM education over the last decade. Students are also opting for careers and degree programs in STEM subjects owing to high employment prospects. Moreover, governments in developed countries such as the US and the UK are encouraging schools to promote STEM education. These factors have increased the incorporation of technology and hardware systems in classrooms. These products and solutions include interactive learning products for STEM, such as K-12 robotic toolkits. Thus, the increased emphasis on STEM education will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. 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=IRTNTR41136 As per Technavio, the introduction of drones in k-12 robotic learning programs will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. K-12 Robotic Toolkits Market: Introduction Of Drones In K-12 Robotic Learning Programs The popularity of drones for recreational and professional purposes is growing. Schools and educators across the world are introducing drones in STEM learning. Drones help students learn subjects such as geography and cartography through coordinate mapping and distance calculations. In addition, various manufacturers that offer drones for K-12 robotics allow students to build their own drones. This helps them understand advanced designing processes and methods and explore post-school career options in robotics. Vendors are introducing new products to cater to the growing demand for drones. For instance, RobotLAB offers Quadcopter a drone designed to help K-12 students learn robotics. Thus, the introduction of drones in k-12 robotic learning programs will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform K-12 Robotic Toolkits Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the k-12 robotic toolkits market by school level (High school, Middle school and PreK-elementary school), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America and MEA). The North American region led the K-12 robotic toolkits market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America and MEA. During the forecast period, the North American region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as the launch of innovative products, growing use of online platforms for purchasing education and learning products and increasing enrollment in schools. 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: School level High school Middle school PreK-elementary school Geographic segmentation North America APAC Europe South America MEA Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005688/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 10:54:23|Editor: Wang Yamei Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has allocated 848 billion yuan (about 122 billion U.S. dollars) worth of new local government bonds quota, according to the Ministry of Finance. Of the total, 290 billion yuan worth of quota were allocated for special bonds, said the ministry. So far this year, a total of 1.85 trillion yuan of local government bonds quota has been allocated ahead of schedule. China has accelerated local government bond issuance and expanded the new bond quota in recent years to finance infrastructure construction and shore up the economy. Did a 'socialist' win New Hampshire? Can anyone but an 'oligarch' catch him? Sen. Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire's "first-in-the-nation" primary last night and this morning the "also ran" campaigns face existential questions of varying urgency. Can former vice-president Joe Biden recover in the more diverse South Carolina primary at the end of the month? Is the race over for Sen. Elizabeth Warren? Is "Mayor Pete" Buttigieg still the one on the move, or is it now Sen. Amy Klobuchar or is neither going anywhere but down in the next vote and then eventually out? There are questions that the country as a whole might suddenly find of greater interest: Is Sanders really a socialist? Is billionaire Michael Bloomberg really an oligarch? Does any of that matter for the November election? A couple of weeks ago Sanders interrupted a CBS interviewer when she prefaced a question with "you're a self-proclaimed socialist." "Democratic, put that in there please," Sanders politely directed her. Presumably Sanders meant that he's really a democratic socialist, though some argue he should have said social democrat. The fact is he has also repeatedly described himself simply as a socialist the CBS interviewer was correct when she said so; that's a matter of public record. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters "In Vermont everybody knows I'm a socialist," he said in a 1989 speech, and mildly chastised progressives who fear using the word. The 'socialist' label In a 2009 newsletter to constituents, Sanders began with a chuckle about an Alabama Republican congressman. "I bet I'm the only socialist he knows," he wrote, before going on about middle class life in Finland. By the end of that same newsletter Sanders was extolling the lessons the U.S. could learn from social democratic countries, which suggests he just wasn't all that fussy about labels back then. He was happy to associate himself with socialism writ large sometimes, and other times social democracy in particular just as long as no one mistook him for a communist. He was always clear about that. Story continues But it's understandable that journalists would describe Sanders as a "self-proclaimed socialist," partly because he's often said so himself and partly because defining him more precisely than that can be fraught. A deep, dark rabbit hole beckons to those who want to pin down Sanders's ideology to its 12th decimal point of exactitude solely to fasten the most precise label to it. You get a sense of how fine the argument can turn from Marian Tupy's 2016 essay for The Atlantic magazine, Bernie is Not a Socialist and America is Not Capitalist. Tupy argues Sanders is neither a socialist nor a democratic socialist but a social democrat. You might read it and disagree. (Or you might be worn down by it and just give up trying to figure out any of it.) WATCH | Katie Simpson talks to New Hampshire Democratic voters after the state's primary: In any event, there are plenty of examples of Sanders filling in the blanks about himself in language plain enough that it doesn't take a political science PhD to figure it out. Here he is from that same 1989 speech quoted above: "To me, socialism doesn't mean state ownership of everything, by any means, it means creating a nation, and a world, in which all human beings have a decent standard of living." In any case, what's changed to bring out his persnickety side is less likely Sanders's thinking about socialism than his awakening to the broader reality that he's not just running in Vermont anymore. A Gallup poll released Tuesday shows that of a range of possible presidential characteristics race, religion, age only socialism is a turn-off for a majority of Americans. Just 45 per cent say they could support a socialist for president. Even atheists do better at 60 per cent. Socialist or not, Sanders can read a poll. And so his team has developed an aversion to a term he once promiscuously embraced. Likewise it's no wonder his political opponents especially the Republican ones want to make sure the socialist label follows him around like blackflies at a Vermont campground in springtime. The Sanders team knows that game too. Lately, as they've sped along the campaign trail, they've noticed in the rear-view mirror that Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, has pulled into sight behind them. As he's gained on the Sanders team, they've taken to calling him an oligarch. Andrew Harnik/The Associated Press "We should not want the oligarchs or the plutocracy of this nation to be able to buy elections," said Sanders campaign co-chair Nina Turner on TV from New Hampshire Monday. She made a direct reference to Bloomberg, who is spending hundreds of millions of dollars of his multibillion-dollar fortune on his campaign. "Oligarch" derives from ancient Greek and means "rule by a few." Normally when we hear it these days it describes billionaire Russians who made their fortunes in the fire sale (theft, some might argue) of state assets after the fall of the Soviet Union, and who maintain close ties to the Kremlin. From time to time, Russian oligarchs come up in news reports about Donald Trump and his real estate. So it's not a neutral term, it's a pejorative. And naturally there are no speeches or public letters from Bloomberg proudly claiming he's an oligarch the way Sanders used to say he's a socialist. Eric Thayer/Reuters The argument that Bloomberg is an oligarch is really an argument that the United States is an oligarchy, though it's hard to make a solid case for that conclusion. But the view that it's moving in that direction is shared by some scholars who see the political influence of the super-wealthy class the "one percenters" growing commensurately with the almost unrestricted flow of their money into politics thanks to the roll-back of campaign finance regulations. WATCH | Michael Moore on why he's backing Bernie to beat Trump: The mere fact of the billionaire Bloomberg's self-financed campaign, then, is enough for some to conclude he is trying to buy the presidency, and that his success would be another step along the road to an oligarchy of sorts. Sanders is not a Democrat and Bloomberg was a registered Republican when he ran for mayor of New York City. That stacked on top of everything else makes it hard to imagine a bigger bonfire of Democratic traditions than a showdown between them for the soul of the party this summer. WUHAN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, has mobilized more than 34,000 officials, government workers and Communist Party of China members into its 1,100 communities to fight the epidemic. The city committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Tuesday the figure includes 16,700 employees of government units and state-owned enterprises, who will join the teams of community workers in neighborhoods hit hard by the virus. Working at their side will be another 17,700 CPC members, who will extend their reach to all communities and villages, according to the committee. The latest round of mobilization came at a time when the city's community workers were caught short-handed when combing communities in search of confirmed and suspected patients of the new virus, who authorities have vowed to offer timely diagnosis and treatment. Ye Jun, a government worker of the city's Hongshan District has become a temporary community worker for the Guangba Road community. "I designed a WeChat mini-program on which residents can report the health condition of themselves and their family members," Ye said. Ye also phones the residents, especially the elderly who don't use smartphones, to check their health condition. "I make 100 to 200 phone calls every day. Some elderly people are anxious, so I chat with them about their daily life to make them feel better." Ye and other community workers also help residents buy vegetables and daily necessities and deliver them to their homes. "The government workers and Party members who came to help work with the community workers to disinfect the neighborhoods and take the temperature of the residents," said Wang Bi, the community's local Party official. "I like to have a cup of tea in the office, but it's inconvenient to go to the restroom when disinfecting the apartment buildings in my isolation gown, so I try to drink as little water as possible," said Yang Duanhua from the district's judicial bureau, who helps disinfect five seven-floor apartment units twice a day. "It's key to do epidemic prevention work in communities to win the battle against the novel coronavirus," said Chen Rongzhuo, an expert on community management and professor at Central China Normal University. Wuhan, now on lockdown to contain the epidemic outbreak, has reported a total of 18,454 confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection. By Sunday, the city had combed 3,371 residential communities and villages. A total of 10.59 million residents had been checked, representing a 99-percent screening rate. So we finally have actual election results from the state of New Hampshire. They are clear, and they are authoritative and they are a little bit complicated. Hello, America. We are here to stay. Our campaign is built for the long haul. Were going to Nevada. Were going to South Carolina. Were going to win those states as well. Bernie Sanders has won the state by a little bit. Two other candidates who had quite a strong night Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. Not such a good night for Joe Biden or for Elizabeth Warren or for anybody else. New Hampshire. New Hampshire. New Hampshire. Were here together. New Hampshire. You all up here in New Hampshire. After the debacle in Iowa, national attention has focused even more intensely on New Hampshire as the first real clean test of political momentum in this race. People are still undecided. Uh, Bernie. Bernie Sanders, all the way. Mayor Pete. Amy Klobuchar. Oh, Joe Biden. Ill just probably decide Tuesday, five minutes before I go in to vote. New Hampshire is a classic swing state. Ronald Reagan is the winner in the state of New Hampshire. Bill Clinton won it. Its neck and neck. New Hampshire goes to Obama. In 2016, Hillary Clinton prevailed over Donald Trump, but by a tiny margin. Its a state thats very much in play for 2020. Four more, Trump. Four more years! New Hampshire might gauge whether a candidate is able to appeal to certain other constituencies they will need in the general election. We have seen over the last week a real rivalry emerge between Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. Hot, fresh and vegan. Get your Bernie-on-a-stick. New Hampshire is really home turf for Bernie Sanders. He comes from right next door in Vermont. And he also drew strong support, as he did in 2016, from younger voters and more liberal voters. Young voters want Bernie because hes fighting for their future. Hes not fighting for his future. Hes in his future. [cheering] Bernie Sanders came into New Hampshire claiming momentum out of Iowa, based on his lead in the popular vote. Finally, the votes were counted in Iowa. Took them a little while. We won the vote by 6,000 votes. He has been somewhat more aggressive with his primary opponents here We dont have a Super PAC. talking about the difference between himself We dont want billionaires money. and candidates in the race, like Pete Buttigieg, who take money from billionaires and other big donors. We are running a campaign for working people, funded by working people. And that is why we are going to win here in New Hampshire and all over this country. [cheering] The biggest thing this might mean for Bernie Sanders is that he has clearly reasserted himself as the dominant leader on the left wing of the Democratic Party. And then theres Pete Buttigieg. Back in the Obama campaign, we called it no drama Obama, and I havent come up with the right rhyme for Buttigieg. [cheering] Pete Buttigieg has claimed, among the moderate candidates, a sense of momentum in New Hampshire that other folks were not able to take. We cant risk dividing Americans further. The idea that youve either got to be for a revolution or you got to be for the status quo leaves most of us out. His message here has been pretty similar to his message in Iowa, but really focused on the idea that hes the candidate who can win crossover support in the general election. We need a politics that brings all of us in because all of us need a new and better president. After finishing at the top in both Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg now has a tremendous opportunity to put himself forward at the national level as the leader of moderate Democrats. Announcer: Senator Amy Klobuchar! The word that Amy Klobuchar supporters are using to describe what happened here is Klomentum. She came to New Hampshire after a fifth-place finish in Iowa without a whole lot of wind in her sails. Its been funny suddenly seeing media come to all of our events. [laughter] Things just turned around for her dramatically. If Klobuchar had not finished so strong in New Hampshire, it might have been the end of her campaign. If you are tired of the extremes in our politics, and you are tired of the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me. She gets the chance to fight onward to Nevada and South Carolina and Super Tuesday. I would not make any plans that are based on knowing a Democratic nominee anytime soon. Well, I am going to Las Vegas next, so I probably would have a chance to do that. A glitch with the government's new online vehicle checker launched last week has delayed the launch of the UK's first Clean Air Zone in Birmingham designed to charge older cars to drive into the city centre. Birmingham City Council announced that it will not begin operating its scheme until six months after the government website is fixed. The council previously said it expected its clean air zone to be enforced on July 1. Delayed: Birmingham City Council has confirmed it will not launch the UK's first Clean Air Zone until a government website designed to tell drivers if they need to pay to enter the zone is fixed after it was found to be giving out incorrect information The online vehicle checker was launched by the government on 5 February. Motorists enter their vehicle's number plate into the tool to check if they would need to pay a daily fee to driven them into the centre of Birmingham and Leeds - the first UK cities outside of the capital due to introduce clean air zones in 2020. But concerns were soon raised about the accuracy of the information being provided to vehicle owners. It emerged that some of the earliest diesel vehicles meeting modern Euro 6 emissions standards are incorrectly showing as being liable for Birmingham's daily 8 fee, which will not be the case. All Euro 6 emissions diesel cars will comply with the scheme, as will all Euro 4, 5 and 6 petrol-powered models. This means they have been deemed clean enough to comply with the scheme. All cars that fail to meet these standards in Birmingham will - when the zone is launched - face an 8 flat-rate daily fee. The Clean Air Zone vehicle checker tool was launched on 5 February. Drivers enter their vehicle details and the website tell them if they have to pay a daily charge to enter zones being launched in Birmingham and Leeds later this year However, the website has wrongly been telling owners of compliant cars they will face charges of 8 to enter the Birmingham zone from 1 July Transport Minister Grant Shapps said officials were working on the problems, adding that the website was 'not up to scratch' and had asked for 'urgent work' to ensure it was displaying correct charging information. As well as charged for passenger cars, operators of polluting buses and HGV will also have to pay a daily rate of 50 to enter the centre of Birmingham when the zone goes live. Clean air zones involve measures to improve air quality, such as through charging older vehicles to enter city centres. Birmingham, Leeds, Bath and Sheffield are among the towns and cities bringing in the schemes over the next two years. Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Derby, Manchester, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough and York are also proposing to integrate clean air zones in the near future. The Birmingham Clean Air Zone will charge all drivers of pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel cars to enter the zone, within the limits of the A4540 Middleway Ring Road Birmingham's Clean Air Zone explained Birmingham's 'Class D' Clean Air Zone was due to be introduced from 1 July 2020. When it does come into force it will charge all drivers of pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel cars to enter the zone, within the limits of the A4540 Middleway Ring Road. It will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and all revenue raised by the charge zone is promised to be reinvested in Birmingham's transport network. The daily fee for non-complaint cars will be 8. Rod Dennis, a spokesman for the RAC, said the fault was 'disappointing', particularly as the motoring group has been calling for such a website to be provided since the Government announced its air quality strategy in 2017 and the introduction of potential daily charging zones for polluting cars. 'It's somewhat unfortunate that the only thing holding Britain's second biggest city back from reducing vehicle emissions is a website, so it's right this issue gets looked at urgently,' he explained in a statement released on Wednesday. 'But it's disappointing these issues haven't been dealt with much sooner. 'This is a confusing time for drivers, so having certainty about whether they face charges or not is paramount. Anything short of a single, definitive online vehicle checker isn't really acceptable.' Birmingham council said it will not be able to launch the scheme until 6 months after the online checker is fixed and providing motorists with correct information A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: 'The Government has recognised the teething problems with its clean air zone vehicle checker and is working to iron out any issues as quickly as possible. 'Once those issues are resolved, there needs to be a period for motorists to check and prepare and it has been suggested that this be a six-month period in fairness to all concerned. 'This remains in line with the previously-stated clean air zone launch estimate of summer 2020. 'The key message is that if you are driving a Euro 4 petrol vehicle or Euro 6 diesel your vehicle will be compliant with Birmingham's clean air zone.' The second clean air zone in Leeds was originally due to go live last month, but has been postponed until at least July due to a delay in setting up the required infrastructure. Passenger cars won't be charged a daily fee to enter the West Yorkshire city, though taxis and ride hailing vehicles will. You can find out which UK cities are planning to introduce clean air zones, bans on vehicles and other auto restrictions in our full comprehensive guide. . 7 COVID-19 2022 ., . 2022 . 7 COVID-19, . 10 26 , 1% COVID-19 ... US-led coalition says its troops opened fire at checkpoint in northeast Syria after they came under small arms fire. A Syrian civilian was killed and another wounded in a rare clash between US troops and a group of government supporters who tried to block a United States convoy driving through a village in northeastern Syria, state media reported. The Syrian state-run media on Wednesday said the killed man was among residents of a village east of the town of Qamishli who had gathered at an army checkpoint, pelting the US convoy with stones and taking down a US flag from one of the vehicles. At that point, US troops fired with live ammunition and smoke bombs at the residents, the report said. A US military spokesman said coalition forces conducting a patrol near Qamishli encountered the checkpoint occupied by pro-Syrian government forces. After coalition troops issued a series of warnings and de-escalation attempts, the patrol came under small arms fire from unknown individuals, said Colonel Myles Caggins, a spokesman for the US-led coalition. In self-defence, coalition troops returned fire, he said. Hundreds of US troops are stationed in northeastern Syria, working with their local partners from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to fight against the ISIL (ISIS) group. Videos posted on social media appeared to show residents quarrelling with US military personnel. The SAA prevented today a US convoy from crossing Khirbet Amo, south Qamishli, and the villagers supported the SAA and threw stones on the US patrol which shot & killed 1 civilian. In the video, a civilian tells the occupation: "You cannot pass even if there are 100 agreements." pic.twitter.com/I2ehR4k47N Kevork Almassian (@KevorkAlmassian) February 12, 2020 Residents said a Russian patrol from a contingent in Qamishli airport was sent to the village, which lies in an area in northeast Syria where Russian, US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces and the Syrian army all have a presence. The US carries out patrols in northeastern Syria, but it was not immediately clear why the convoy drove into a government-controlled area. Regional tensions The incident marks a rare confrontation involving US and Syrian troops in the region where Russian forces are also deployed and is certain to further escalate tensions. The Syrian war, now in its ninth year, has Russia supporting President Bashar al-Assads government, while Turkey is the rebels main backer. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey will attack Syrian government forces anywhere in Syria if another Turkish soldier is hurt. Forces loyal to al-Assad, backed by Russian air cover, have been advancing into the last rebel-held areas of Idlib and nearby Aleppo countryside, seizing dozens of towns and sparking a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Under a 2018 agreement with Russia in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Turkey established a dozen military observation posts in Idlib, where it backs some opposition groups. Several of these posts have been surrounded by government forces in recent weeks. At least 13 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Syrian artillery fire this month. Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013 and now a Democratic presidential candidate, sought on Tuesday to explain comments he made in 2015 aggressively defending the policing tactic known as stop-and-frisk. Heres a fact check of his statement. What Was Said: I inherited the police practice of stop-and-frisk, and as part of our effort to stop gun violence it was overused. By the time I left office, I cut it back by 95 percent, but I shouldve done it faster and sooner. I regret that and I have apologized and I have taken responsibility for taking too long to understand the impact it had on black and Latino communities. This is misleading. Mr. Bloombergs statement, while technically accurate, omits the role he played in expanding stop-and-frisk in New York City. His 95 percent reduction figure which the Bloomberg campaign said referred to his last two years in office papers over data showing that use of the technique initially expanded rapidly during his time in office and remained at a high level before declining. And it ignores that the decline he cited was at least in part the result of litigation and political pressure. Its true that Mr. Bloomberg did not pioneer the tactic, which allowed police officers to stop people for questioning in practice, often young black and Latino men and to pat down their clothing. Stop-and-frisk has existed in cities across the country since at least the 1960s and was adopted in New York in the 1990s under Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. President Moon Jae-in buys tteok, or rice cake, during his visit to Namdaemun Market in Seoul, Wednesday. He made a visit to the traditional market to show support for merchants, who are suffering difficulties due to a drop in the number of customers following the coronavirus outbreak. The President also wished to demonstrate the government's commitment to all-out efforts to revitalize the economy. / Joint press corps Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief, was sentenced to 11 years in two terror financing cases on Wednesday, four days ahead of a crucial meeting of the Financial Action Task Force in Paris where Pakistan will present its case to escape from being blacklisted. Saeed, a United Nations designated terrorist whom the United States has placed a $10 million bounty on, was arrested on July 17 in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old fiery cleric is lodged at the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail Lahore. Anti-terrorism court Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta sentenced Saeed and his close aide Zafar Iqbal to five and a half years each and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. A total of 11 years sentence will run concurrently. Saeed and Iqbal were sentenced in two cases registered against them in Lahore and Gujranwala cities on the application of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police. Iqbal is the secretary of Al-Anfaal Trust. The JuD chief was slapped with a prison sentence of five-and-a-half years and a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. The sentences of both cases will run concurrently, Abdul Rauf Wattoo, a deputy prosecutor general said. "Saeed remained calm and cool when the ATC judge announced the verdict," another court official told PTI. Talking to reporters, Saeed's counsel Imran Fazal Gill said the verdict against the JuD chief was an outcome of the pressure of the FATF. "We are disappointed over the ATC verdict and will challenge it in the LHC," he said. He said all the prosecution witnesses presented in the court could not prove any allegation against Saeed and Iqbal. "This ATC verdict against Saeed and Iqbal has been given on weak grounds and we are hopeful to get relief from the high court, Gill said. The crackdown on Saeed's outfit last year followed a warning by the international terror financing watchdog to Pakistan to deliver on its commitments to curb terror financing and money laundering. Interestingly, the court on Tuesday accepted Saeed's plea to club all six terror financing cases pending against him in the anti-terrorism court Lahore and announce the verdict on completion of the trial held amidst tight security. However, Wattoo on Wednesday morning filed an application in the ATC requesting it to announce the verdict in two cases against Saeed. Judge Bhutta accepted the prosecutor's plea. Saeed and Iqbal were brought to the ATC in high security to listen to the verdict, a court official told PTI. The verdict comes four days ahead of the crucial meeting of the FATF from February 16 to 21 in Paris where Pakistan will present its case to get itself off the Grey List. The FATF in October last decided to keep Pakistan on its 'Grey List' for its failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad. If not removed off the list by April, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries that face severe economic sanctions, such as Iran. Since Pakistan continues to be in the FATF 'Grey List' , it would be very difficult for the cash-strapped country to get financial aid from the IMF, the World Bank, ADB and the European Union. The FATF is backed by the UN Security Council passed resolutions which made its recommendations binding and in case of deficiencies, sanctions could be imposed. Earlier, the anti-terrorism court in Lahore had reserved the verdict in the two cases against Saeed for February 8 after the completion of the trial. Saeed will undergo imprisonment at the Kot Lakhpat jail where he has been detained since July last. The four other terror financing cases are against Saeed, Iqbal, Yahya Aziz, Abdul Rehman Makki. The anti-terrorism court or ATC had indicted Saeed and his close aides on December 11 in the terror financing cases. On Saturday, judge Bhutta deferred the verdict in two terror financing cases till February 11. In the two cases, the prosecution produced some 20 witnesses in the court who testified against Saeed and his close aides for their involvement in terror financing. Saeed pleaded "not guilty" in both the cases. The CTD had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of the province. The cases were registered against Saeed and others in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan for collection of funds for terrorism financing through assets/properties made and held in the names of Trusts/Non Profit Organisations including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc. According to the CTD, investigation launched into financing matters of proscribed organisations - JuD and LeT - in connection with implementation of UN Sanctions against these Designated Entities and Persons as directed by the National Security Committee in its meeting of January 1, 2019. "These suspects made assets from funds of terrorism financing. They held and used these assets to raise more funds for further terrorism financing. Hence, they committed multiple offences of terrorism financing and money laundering under Anti Terrorism Act 1997," the CTD said. Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. The US named Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice. He was listed as a terrorist under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. "The worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism should not be allowed to develop and test ballistic missiles", Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted on Twitter U.S. administration has accused Tehran of using satellites to develop ballistic missiles. Radio Liberty reported that, quoting the high-level officials - two days after Iran reported a failed attempt to launch the domestic-made satellite on the orbit. "The Iranian regime uses satellite launches to further advance its ballistic missile capabilities that allow it to threaten its adversaries and threaten regional stability. The worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism should not be allowed to develop and test ballistic missiles", Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted on Twitter. He also claimed that the technologies used to deploy the satellites on orbit are in fact identical to those used in the intercontinental ballistic missiles. France previously condemned the launch of the Iranian satellite, too. Paris urged Tehran to adhere by the international commitments within its missile program. Iran denies any allegations, claiming intentions to construct another five satellites by March 2021. NAPLES, Italy, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Change of helm for Kimbo S.p.A., leading coffee producer: the Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Roberto Grasso to be the new Managing Director for the Group. The new Managing Director enjoyed strong support from the entire Rubino family, who see the value of a manager with consolidated international experience in further strengthening the company. With the experience of his extensive management responsibilities within the company, Grasso will be able to contribute to Kimbo's accelerated development plan in Italy and abroad. The Managing Director's contribution will be particularly decisive as regards international markets, with a view to new acquisitions both within the sector and across the entire value chain. This all adds up to further bright growth prospects for the Group, which already has a presence in some 80 countries. Roberto Grasso - Neapolitan, like Kimbo - boasts a long international career as top manager with Ferrero, leading Italian company in the international food industry. His CV features Managing Director positions in various parts of the world, including South America, Switzerland, Scandinavia, India, Australia, and New Zealand. "It is a true honour for me to accept this new position at the helm of Kimbo, a point of excellence in the Italian business community, a name which has contributed much to the history of coffee roasting in Italy and is now recognized abroad as the ambassador of true Neapolitan coffee," comments Roberto Grasso. "The challenge I face will be to continue growing the brand without ever losing sight of the values that have always distinguished it: quality, respect for tradition, and capacity to innovate and take the culture of coffee to the world." Kimbo has been a leader in the coffee market in Italy for more than 50 years and a symbol of Italian coffee and Neapolitan espresso. Careful selection of raw ingredients, production control, and traceability along the entire production chain ensure product excellence while the most selective international certifications attest to its respect for natural resources and the environment. With overall revenues of approximately 200 million euros and the work of 200 employees, Kimbo is marketed in Italy through all distribution channels and abroad. Making Italian coffee known around the world and showcasing the particular qualities of Neapolitan espresso are two pillars in the company mission. The company operates with respect for people and the environment, to make a genuine, quality product, authentically made in Italy, available on national and international markets. www.kimbo.it Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1088997/Kimbo_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1088998/Roberto_Grasso.jpg The winners of the Feb. 4 primary Democrat Kweisi Mfume and Republican Kimberly Klacik will compete in a special general election on April 28 to serve out the rest of the term of the late congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D), who died in October. April 28 is also the day of the statewide 2020 primary, with candidates for U.S. president, all eight congressional seats and two Senate seats and assorted local offices on the ballot. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Funds advised by Apax Partners (the "Apax Funds") today announced they have reached an agreement to acquire Cadence Education, a leading provider of early childhood education in North America, from investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners ("MSCP"). The transaction is expected to complete in March 2020. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Cadence Education serves families and students in more than 225 private preschools through a network of over 40 brands, including the company's flagship Cadence Academy brand. The company's schools serve children aged six weeks to 12 years. With more than 27 years in business, Cadence Education schools offer a proprietary curriculum developed by experts to give students the skills and confidence necessary to excel in their next phase of education. The investment from the Apax Funds will support Cadence Education to continue its impressive growth trajectory, including strategic acquisitions and the expansion of core operational capabilities. Dave Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cadence Education, said: "We are very excited about our new partnership with Apax, which will help drive our continued growth and bring our mission of providing an exceptional education in a fun and nurturing environment to even more children. MSCP has been a great partner to the business, and we thank them for their support." Nick Hartman, Partner at Apax Partners, said: "We look forward to working with Dave and the Cadence Education team to continue to execute the strategy that has established the company as a leader in the early childhood education space. Cadence Education's focus on children and parents delivers industry-leading customer satisfaction which, in combination with a highly-skilled team, positions the company for continued growth." David Thompson, Executive Director of MSCP, said: "We are proud to have partnered with Cadence Education to strengthen its educational offering and deepen its position as a leading provider of early childhood education in the US. Cadence Education is deeply committed to its mission of providing high quality education and care to families, and we have appreciated the opportunity to work with Dave Goldberg and the entire Cadence team during this exciting growth period." Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal advisor, and William Blair and Lazard Middle Market served as financial advisors to MSCP. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal advisor to Apax Partners. About Cadence Education Cadence Education is one of the premier early childhood educators in the United States, operating more than 225 private preschools across the country. With more than 27 years in business, Cadence has developed an unparalleled expertise in preparing students to thrive in the next step of their childhood. Cadence Education provides parents with peace of mind by giving children an exceptional education every fun-filled day in a place as nurturing as home. For additional information about Cadence, please visit www.cadence-education.com. About Apax Partners Apax Partners is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of c.$50 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare, and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For more information see: www.apax.com. About Morgan Stanley Capital Partners Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, is a leading middle-market private equity platform that has invested capital in a broad spectrum of industries for over three decades. Morgan Stanley Capital Partners focuses on privately negotiated equity and equity-related investments primarily in North America and seeks to create value in portfolio companies primarily in a series of subsectors in the business services, consumer, healthcare, industrials, and education markets with an emphasis on driving significant organic and acquisition growth through an operationally focused approach. For further information about Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, please visit: www.morganstanley.com/im/capitalpartners. Media Contacts For Apax Partners Global Media: Andrew Kenny, Apax | +44 20 7 872 6371 | [email protected] USA Media: Todd Fogarty, Kekst CNC | +1 212-521-4854 | [email protected] UK Media: Matthew Goodman / James Madsen, Greenbrook | +44 20 7952 2000 Notes to Editors London-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.com) and Paris-headquartered Apax Partners (www.apax.fr) had a shared history but are separate, independent private equity firms. SOURCE Apax Partners Related Links http://www.apax.com A Belfast man who beat his injured dog to death with two hammers rather than take it to the vet has been jailed for six months. John Boyle, formerly of Ardilea Court, killed his Staffordshire bull terrier after it was hit by a car in November 2017 before placing it in a wheelie bin. He entered a guilty plea at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday for causing unnecessary suffering to the animal. Belfast City Council brought the prosecution after animal welfare officers followed up a report a dog had been knocked down by a car and injured. Animal welfare officers attended the property and found the dogs body. They seized a wooden mallet and metal hammer from the property, both with evidence of dried blood on them. As well as receiving a six month custodial sentence, Mr Boyle was banned from keeping animals for 10 years under Section 33 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Sunday Life reported the 54-year-old originally claimed a friend had taken it away to a farmhouse in the countryside. He only confessed to the crime after animal welfare officers found the body of the dog, saying he couldn't afford to take it to the vet. A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: This was a particularly extreme and harrowing case. Council is committed to thoroughly investigating all complaints around animal welfare issues. "Council takes its duty in this regard very seriously and we trust this sentencing will serve as a warning to anyone who mistreats animals. Last June, a Co Armagh man was jailed after he admitted beating a 11-week-old puppy to death with a hammer and broadcasting the sickening attack online. Kyle Keegan, from Lurgan, was given a 30-month sentence at Craigavon Crown Court for killing crossbreed pup Sparky in February 2018. Sentencing the 24-year-old, Judge Neil Rafferty QC said the puppy's post-mortem report made for chilling reading and added: "There is little can be said that would express the horror of this small dog's death at your hands." Catwoman reunites with an old flame (and meets a new mystery man) as Tini Howard takes over DC ongoing comic Catwoman returns to Gotham City, with a nod to Les Miserables Caroline Brehman / CQ-Roll Call President Trumps latest budget proposal cuts spending with more abandon than purpose. The administrations plan slashes expenditures not to tame deficits, recognize economic realities or enable investments. These are cuts for their own sake, ending programs and services as an end in itself. Trumps budget would shrink spending on the Environmental Protection Agency by 26%, the U.S. Agency for International Development by 22% and the Department of Housing and Urban Development by 15%. It would reduce health care subsidies under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by $1 trillion, food stamps by $181 billion and disability programs by $75 billion over the next decade. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a national reconciliation committee. A ten-person committee was initially set up last year December to pacify the warring factions across different levels of the party in the country. Due to the rejection of the committees leadership by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his supporters, the APC reconstituted a 12-member reconciliatory team to be led by Bisi Akande, the first interim chairman of the party, rather than the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. Mr Obaseki had in his rejection statement faulted both Mr Lawan and the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase. He said the duo, alongside the partys national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, fall short of the most basic of integrity tests and will therefore be of disservice to the objectives of the reconciliatory team. Even though Mr Lawan has been replaced by the party as desired by Mr Obasekis faction, Mr Wase still made the list not as a member but the vice-chairman of the mediating team. The Inauguration The APC National Working Committee, at its headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday, inaugurated Mr Akande as the chairman of the mediating team while the deputy speaker, Mr Wase, was declared the vice-chairman. It is traditional for progressive parties to engage in internal contestation, arguments, disagreements, etc. There is nothing wrong with that. If we have a party where there is no divergent view, something must be wrong. It can only become a problem when we are not capable to forge agreement after disagreement. And particularly when there is no question that we all subscribe to the same share set of values which binds us together as members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Oshiomhole told PREMIUM TIMES and other journalists on Tuesday. READ ALSO: In his address before the closed-door inner caucus meeting, the national chairman said Mr Akande-led team has been tasked to recognise the intra-party conflicts, misunderstanding in any of the 36 states. To identify those involved in the conflicts with the view to resolving the issues. He added that the reconstituted committee was borne out of the resolutions made during the last party NEC meeting and was thoroughly reviewed by President Muhammadu Buhari. In his acceptance remarks, Mr Akande noted the situation of things in the country as the possible reasons for the growing crisis in the party. We have never been to the realm of the angels before, and we cannot say whether they argue or not. We can know for sure that in the society of the imbecile, there is no argument. We are neither angel nor imbecile and it is not a surprise to us as we move along to confront the mountain burden of the economy, insecurity and of corruption in the country, definitely there will be a lot to argument, he said. Apart from Governor Gboyegba Oyetola of Osun State, who was absent and did not send a representative, other members of the reconciliatory team present include the Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello; Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi; Tanko Al-Makura (a senator); Kashim Shettima; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; Aliko Koki; Khairat Abdulrazak-Gwadabe; Binta Garba and John Enoh (secretary). Apart from Edo State, some of the states where the APC is currently battling with internal crisis include Bayelsa, Ondo, Ogun and Enugu. A day ahead of the trailer release for Angrezi Medium, Maddock Films has shared a special message from actor Irrfan Khan, who shot for the film immediately after undergoing treatment for cancer. Irrfan has kept a low profile since his diagnosis in 2018. Hello, brothers and sisters, Irrfan says in a voiceover, in Hindi. I am with you and not with you. This film, Angrezi Medium, is very special to me. I truly wanted to promote this film as passionately as we made it, but there are some unwanted guests in my body and theyre keeping me busy. Ill keep you informed on that front. Irrfan continues, Theres a saying, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. It feels good to hear, but when life really hands you lemons, making lemons is really difficult. Throughout, stills from the film are played over Irrfans voice. We see his co-stars, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan, and Ranveer Shorey, on set, interacting with each other and the crew. Irrfan goes on to say, One doesnt have any other choice but to remain positive. Whether you are able to make lemonade in such situations is entirely up to you. Weve made this film with the same sort of positivity. I hope this film is able to make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Enjoy the trailer, and be kind to each other, and enjoy the film. And yes, wait for me. Irrfan signs off. Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour and left for London in March 2018. He shared the news of his illness with fans and tweeted, The unexpected makes us grow, which is what the past few days have been about. Learning that I have been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour as of now has admittedly been difficult, but the love and strength of those around me and that I found within me has brought me to a place of hope. He had a surgery after wrapping up the shoot for Angrezi Medium in London and was undergoing treatment before the shoot. The original Hindi Medium (2017) was directed by Saket Choudhary and Pakistani actor Saba Qamar played the female lead opposite Irrfan. Follow @htshowbiz for more By Online Desk Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed was on Wednesday sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Pakistan court in connection with two terror financing cases. A court official confirmed to PTI that Saeed was sentenced in the two terror financing cases in Punjab province. The anti-terrorism court or ATC had indicted Saeed and his close aides on December 11 in terror financing case in a day-to-day hearing. The court sentenced Saeed to five and a half years and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. The sentences of both cases will run concurrently. "The anti-terrorism court of Lahore accepted the plea of Saeed and his close aides seeking delay in the verdict in two concluded terror financing cases against them till the trial in other four such pending cases is complete," a court official told PTI after the hearing. According to the petition, four other terror financing cases against Saeed, Zafar Iqbal, Yahya Aziz, Abdul Rehman Makki are pending before the same ATC. The Counter-Terrorism Department in Pakistan registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province and arrested him on July 17. He is being held at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. Saeed-led JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice. The sentencing follows international pressure on Pakistan to stop militant groups from collecting funds in the country and to take immediate action against those still involved in militant activities. The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force in October decided to keep Pakistan on its 'Grey' list for failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups LeT, JeM and others. If not removed off the list by April, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries that face severe economic sanctions, such as Iran. (With agency inputs) Prince Andrews downfall in the British royal family has been one of the biggest scandals in two decades. The third-born child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip has always been known for his playboy tendencies. However, the scandals of his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, have always garnered more interest. However, all of that changed in the summer of 2019 when Prince Andrews friend, financier Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself while he was in prison. The New York businessman was a child sex offender who had served time previously for soliciting a minor for sex. However, new charges surrounding sex trafficking had him locked behind bars. With news of Epsteins arrest and subsequent suicide people began looking more closely at Prince Andrew as well. Things got even worse when one of Epsteins alleged victims, Virginia Roberts, accused the prince of sexual abuse. The final straw was the Duke of Yorks horrible BBC News Night interview where he defended his friendship with Epstein. This caused a ton of outrage and resulted in Prince Andrew resigning from royal life. Prince Andrew refuses to cooperate with the FBI When Prince Andrew withdrew from his royal duties in November 2019 he appeared remorseful. It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my familys work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support, he said in a statement. Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission. Unfortunately, the Duke of York has refused to cooperate with the FBI in their investigation of Epstein. Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation, an insider told the Associated Press. 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. This hasnt helped his image at all. Ghislaine said, Hes coming back to the house. And I want you to do for him (Prince Andrew) what you do for Epstein. Virginia Roberts Giuffre shares details about her previous encounter with Prince Andrew at Ghislaine Maxwells London townhome. pic.twitter.com/IZVYaIfdTt TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 20, 2019 The British royal family isnt sure what to do with Prince Andrew Not only has this scandal put a dark cloud over Princess Beatrices engagement and wedding Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles seem uncertain about how to proceed with the Duke of York. Theyve already been holding crisis talks about him. Both had hoped the Duke of York could perhaps be rehabilitated back into public life in time but that is now looking increasingly unlikely, a source told The Sun. Regrettably, it doesnt look like Prince Andrew knows how to step away silently. Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi and Chinese people: At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. It was conveyed by Duke of York. pic.twitter.com/RZItxQ26WS Liu Xiaoming (@AmbLiuXiaoMing) February 8, 2020 Prince Andrew just returned to the royal spotlight On Feb. 8, 2020, in a move that shocked everyone, Prince Andrew visited Liu Xiaoming, Chinas ambassador to the U.K. Though this was supposed to be a private visit the Duke of York certainly didnt try and keep his visit quiet. He was accompanied by his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and eldest daughter Princess Beatrice and her fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Following the visit, Xiaoming tweeted, Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi and Chinese people: At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. My wife and I invited Duke of York and his family to our residence and celebrated Chinese New Year. Considering Prince Andrews current status and Buckingham Palaces refusal to comment on the visit, we dont think the remaining senior royals are too pleased about this. In fact, though Prince Andrew celebrates his 60th birthday on February 19, councils across the U.K. have been forced to reconsider their flag-flying policy. Hong Kong: One more infection recorded (To watch the video with sign language interpretation, click here.) The Centre for Health Protection is investigating one additional case of novel coronavirus infection, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 50. The new case involves a 51-year-old man who is the colleague of the 55-year-old female patient confirmed on February 10. The man, who lives in On Tao House, Cheung On Estate, Tsing Yi, developed fever since February 3 and consulted a private doctor on February 4. He sought medical attention at Kwong Wah Hospital on February 10 and was admitted for isolation and treatment the same day. He was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital today and is now in stable condition. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period. His close contact, his younger sister, has developed symptoms and will be transferred to hospital for isolation and treatment. According to preliminary epidemiological investigations, the centre explained that some of the confirmed cases are locally infected. It strongly urged the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene. In addition, the Singapore Ministry of Health notified the centre of a confirmed case in Singapore. That patient had contact with a Singapore citizen who travelled to Hong Kong by air on February 2. The centre will update reported novel coronavirus infection cases on its dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A Greenvale, Victoria mortgagee home has been sold at auction for $602,750. It went to auction with a price guide of $560,000 - $600,000. Last sold for $475,000 in 2015, the home sold for a tidy profit. SItuated at 25 Giselle Circuit, the four bedroom two bathroom home is located in the Lavinia Estate. It is a 131 home estate developed by Marantali. Nick Pugliese and Phong Ho of Barry Plant marketed the abode. Set on 420 sqm, this open plan family home is located 30 minutes from the CBD. The median price for a house in Greenvale is $730,000, according to CoreLogic data. Colorado health officials suspended the Union Printers Home license Tuesday, forcing about 115 residents at the Colorado Springs nursing home and assisted living facility to relocate in coming weeks. The suspension came after the Colorado Department of Health and Environment received a complaint about a female resident's death at the nursing home, 101 S. Union Blvd., last week, said Peter Myers, public information officer for the health departments Health Facilities Division. Both a nursing home and an assisted living residence that are housed at the facility are under investigation, Myers said. The decision to suspend operations was made after a "pattern of non-compliance," Myers said. "This action suspends the facilitys license and begins the process of safely transferring residents to other facilities, effective immediately," department spokeswoman Jessica Bralish said in an email. "There have been numerous complaints and subsequent investigations at this facility in the past few years, most notably after a recent resident death. Findings from those investigations demonstrate that Union Printers does not have the ability to provide consistently safe care to its residents." The department plans to work with sister agencies over the next 45 days to transfer the residents at Union Printers to other facilities, Bralish said. "The department has acted swiftly and decisively to close Union Printers home to protect the welfare of its residents and will remain involved until all residents have safe placement at another health care facility," she said. The Colorado Springs Police Department did not respond to The Gazettes request for further information about the woman's death. Union Printers Home representatives did not respond to The Gazettes request for comment. Kansas-based Heart Living Centers LLC took over operations at the facility in 2014. The state health and environment department's records show that a "revisit survey" was completed Jan. 3 for citations issued in October. They included neglect allegations, failure to provide assessments after falls and accidents, and a lack of monitoring and tracking pharmaceutical needs. HISTORY OF CITATIONS In the past five years, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has inspected Union Printers Home at least 63 times, according to department data. Of those, 20 have been in the past year. Such occurrences last year include: In March, the state department found the facility failed to ensure a resident received accurate assessments and timely treatment. The residents condition declined and she was taken to a hospital where she was diagnosed with sepsis, acute kidney injury and urinary tract infection. In August, the facility was cited for failing to store, prepare and serve food under sanitary conditions in one of the kitchens. No one was designated to be in charge of the kitchen, the report found, prompting a citations including improper food temperatures and a severe sewage backup in a mop sink. In October, a state report cited the facility for failure to perform nursing rounds, complete comprehensive pain assessments after witnessing a resident fall and failure to report changes in the residents condition to their doctor. The department's January report said it found the facility to be back in compliance. But Janet Scofield, a resident at Union Printers for the past 10 months, said Tuesday that issues at the facility have been "on-going" despite regular state involvement. "I have spinal arthritis with degenerative disc disease," Scofield, a retired nurse, said. "They ran out of my pain medication five times in 10 months. I am far from the only resident that's happened to." It was "literally impossible" for staff who were "spread thin" to keep up with the needs of the residents, Scofield told the Gazette. ''It's like you tell your landlord the plumbing needs to be fixed and them saying 'No, we're going to evict instead,' " she said. "What we were asking of them was simply to meet state and federal regulations ... we were asking them to meet the minimum standard of care. They would rather be fined by the state than fix things." She worries about residents being moved. "We're a community," Scofield said. "This is our village. We don't want to be split up all over Colorado Springs." It's uncommon for the state department to shut down an entire facility, Myers wrote in an email, estimating the last summary suspension of a nursing home was about 8 years ago. Medicare.gov records show the Printers Home facility was awarded two out of a possible five stars, earning it a below average rating. Facilities are rated based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures, according to the website. The facility received one star out of five for its health inspection rating, putting it in the much below average category. The rating is based on each active providers three most recent health inspection surveys, as well as findings from the most recent three years of complaint information and inspection revisits, according to the website. The website lists the facilitys total number of health citations at 29, above the Colorado average of 7.9 and the U.S. average of 8.2. Union Printers Home has been assessed two federal fines in the past three years: one of $61,770 in March 2019 and one of $31,107 in November 2017, according to Medicare.gov. A 32-year-old Indian man is fighting for his life after sustaining 90 per cent burn injuries while trying to save his wife from a fire at their home in the UAE, according to a media report. Anil Ninan, who hails from Kerala, is in a very critical condition and has sustained 90 per cent burn injuries, his close relative was quoted as saying by the Khaleej Times. "Doctors said his condition is very critical. We are all praying for him," said July, Anil's relative who is in the hospital. However, the condition of his wife is stable. "She is doing okay. She has only 10 per cent burns and is recovering," the relative said. The incident happened on Monday when Anil was trying to save his wife Neenu from the fire that was caused by a short circuit from the electric box placed in the corridor of their apartment in Umm Al Quwain city in the UAE, the report said. The couple, who has a four-year-old son, was rushed to the Sheikh Khalifa General Hospital in Umm al Quwain and was later shifted to Mafraq hospital in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for critical care, Sojan Thomas, vicar of St Thomas Mar Thoma Church in Ras Al Khaimah, told the daily. "We do not know the exact details. But Neenu first caught fire while she was in the corridor. Anil who was in the bedroom ran to his wife and was trying to save her when the flames spread to him," said the vicar, who knew the couple for more than a year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Feb 11 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. THE GLOBE AND MAIL ** Canada's two biggest railways, Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd and Canadian National Railway Co are limiting track space for shipments of oil and other dangerous commodities after the federal government ordered temporary speed restrictions in response to the second fiery oil-train crash since December. https://tgam.ca/2vpeClO ** Freda Huson, a Wet'suwet'en Nation hereditary chief leading the opposition to the construction of Coastal GasLink's C$6.6 billion ($4.97 billion) pipeline, has been arrested, along with dozens of others who have been protesting across Canada in solidarity with her. https://tgam.ca/2vmNWlM ** Human capital management software company Ceridian HCM Holding Inc said on Monday it plans to add more than 2,000 employees in Canada in the next five years, including 500 intern jobs. https://tgam.ca/3buXfRp NATIONAL POST ** Canadian aboriginal group which stands to benefit from Teck Resources Ltd's Frontier oilsands project has said it would launch a legal challenge against the federal government if it rejects the development. http://bit.ly/2SzUHsp ($1 = 1.3293 Canadian dollars) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) Sixgill, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based cyber threat intelligence company, raised $15M in second funding round. The round was led by Sonae IM and REV Venture Partners with participation from Our Crowd, and previous investors Elron and Terra Venture Partners. The funding will be used to increase the companys presence in North America, EMEA and APAC by expanding its customer base of large organizations, law enforcement, government agencies and MSSPs. In addition, the company will strengthen its Automated, Actionable Intelligence (A2I) solution, as well as offerings such as its patent-pending Dynamic CVE Rating. Led by Sharon Wagner, CEO, Sixgill provides an advanced cyber threat intelligence platform that automates all phases of the intelligence cycle collection, analysis and dissemination of data providing organizations with information and actionable insights to protect their various assets in the evolving cyber threatscape. The solution integrates into the platforms that security teams use to orchestrate, automate, and manage security events. It is used by Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, governments, and law enforcement agencies to protect their finances, networks and reputations from cyberthreats that lurk in the deep, dark and surface webs. FinSMEs 11/02/2020 Andrew Yang, the tech-savvy Democratic presidential candidate, who ran on a platform advocating universal basic income and warning against the threats of artificial intelligence, suspended his presidential campaign on Tuesday (local time). "While there is great work yet to be done, you know I am the math guy. It is clear tonight from the numbers that we are not going to win this race. I am not someone who wants to accept donations and support in a race we will not win," Yang told his supporters. "And so tonight, I am announcing I am suspending my campaign for president," The Hill quoted him as saying, with one supporter yelling, "We love you, Andrew." Yang also took to his Twitter to thank his supporters. "I am so proud of this campaign. Thank you to everyone who got us here. ," he tweeted. Yang's announcement comes as results for the New Hampshire presidential primary began pouring in on Tuesday. With 12 per cent of precincts reporting, Yang had only captured two percent of the vote, Sputnik reported. Campaign manager Zach Graumman said that Yang began mulling dropping out amid prospects of a poor showing in two early state primaries. Yang finished poorly in last week's Iowa Caucus. The businessman had launched his campaign in 2017 and surprised political pundits as he qualified for Democratic debates and remained in the race longer than prominent leaders. He climbed into the race's mid-tier in the second half of 2019, according to The Hill. Yang defied expectations and outlasted sitting senators and governors in the race, including Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee. On the debate stage, Yang devoted his time to bat for the universal basic income platform, which he called the Freedom Dividend. In September last year, Yang had launched Freedom Dividend Pilot Program in which as many as 10 American families will receive USD 1,000 per month or USD 12,000 per year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's caused an agricultural crisis in the UK. But foot-and-mouth-disease could help treat pancreatic cancer, scientists claim. A protein from the virus, which causes mouth blisters in animals such as cows, sheep and pigs, was developed into a drug. It was able to completely rid mice of pancreatic cancer tumours, scientists at Queen Mary University of London said, and even extend their lives. They hope that the results of the study could pave the way for new treatments for pancreatic cancer, which has been lagging. Foot-and-mouth-disease could help cure pancreatic cancer, scientists claim. The virus causes mouth blisters in animals such as cows, sheep and pigs Foot-and-mouth disease caused an agricultural crisis in the UK (pictured, carcasses of cattle on a farm in Cumbria, 2001) The study, published in Theranostics, was funded by the UK medical research charity Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. Pancreatic cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. It causes around 9,200 deaths every year. It strikes about 57,600 people in the US every year, and kills around 47,050, according to the American Cancer Society. Only one per cent of people diagnosed with the disease are expected to survive for 10 years or more because people are often diagnosed late, and treatment options are limited. The five-year survival rate has remained at less than five per cent for decades because no effective therapies have been identified. Commenting on the research, Dr Emily Farthing, senior research information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This early-stage research has developed a promising new drug that reduces the growth of pancreatic tumours in the lab. 'And with further research to see if it's safe and effective for patients, we hope that this could one day offer new hope for people with this disease.' In its early stages, pancreatic cancer rarely causes symptoms. When stomach pain, yellow skin and eyes, and weight loss do appear, it may be too late. If the tumour is large or has spread, treating or curing the cancer is much harder. Surgery - the only way of curing the disease - is no longer possible in most cases. A virus that causes fever and blisters in cattle could hold the key to tackling the deadly disease. WHAT IS FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE? Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or hoof-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious virus that spreads among hoofed animals such as cows, sheep, and pig. It causes a fever lasting two to six days and blisters in the mouth and on the feet. FMD is a worldwide concern, as it can spread quickly and cause significant economic losses. The virus has had disastrous consequences for UK farming in the past. In 2001, the agricultural industry was plunged into crisis when farmers had to cull their livestock in swathes to curb an outbreak. There are seven known types and more than 60 subtypes of the FMD virus. It is often confused with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which can affect humans. This viral infection causes lesions to form on a sufferer's hands, feet and mouth. It can also affect the buttocks and genitals. It is most common in children under 10, with outbreaks occurring at nurseries and schools. Advertisement Foot-and-mouth, not to be confused with hand, food and mouth disease which can affect humans, can be fatal to animals. Its destroyed farmer's livestock numbers after first being discovered in Essex - and rapidly spreading across the UK - in 2001. Researchers led by Professor John Marshall focused on a peptide, or protein fragment, taken from the foot-and-mouth-disease virus. It's called VP1 coat protein. The protein targets another protein, called v6 (alpha-v-beta-6). This protein is found at high levels on the surface of the majority of pancreatic cancer cells. Working with drug companies AstraZeneca and ADC Therapeutics, the team combined the virus protein fragment with a highly potent drug, called tesirine, to target pancreatic cancer cells. When mice with pancreatic cancer tumours were treated with the protein-drug combination twice a week for up to five weeks, the tumours were completely killed. The rodents that had v6-positive tumours were given a tiny dose of the protein-drug combination, which stopped the tumours growing completely. But when the dose was increased and given twice a week, the researchers found all the tumours in mice were completely killed. Foot-and-mouth can be lethal for cows (pictured, cows being vaccinated in South Korea). But the study by Queen Mary University suggests it could hold the key to tackling cancer Four or five of the eight mice were 'cured' with the most potent and effective drug developed, the authors wrote. Professor Marshall said: 'Foot-and-mouth disease virus uses v6 as a route to infect cattle, as the virus binds to this protein on a cow's tongue. 'By testing pieces of the protein in the virus that attaches to v6, we've developed a route to deliver a drug specifically to pancreatic cancers.' The team also used the protein-drug combination on human cancer cells in the lab. Some of these cells had v6 on their surface while others did not. The researchers found that cells with v6 responded well to the treatment, while the v6 negative cells needed much higher doses of the drug for the cells to be killed. The team now plans to perform further protein-drug combination tests on mice before moving to clinical trials. Their findings were published in the journal Theranostics. :Hatsun Agro Product Ltd., a Chennai-based firm, will set up India's largest ice cream manufacturing facility at Sangareddy district of Telangana. "The company will commence commercial operations in October 2020. Hatsun will be setting up its unit with a capital investment of Rs 207 crore and create more than 250 direct and 250 indirect employment opportunities. The unit will also benefit more than 4,000 dairy farmers in the region," an official release said. HAP manufactures and markets products that cater to both cooking and consumption, such as milk, curd, ice creams, dairy whitener, skimmed milk powder, ghee, paneer, among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alberta is a tyrannosaur graveyard. There rest great carnivores of the Cretaceous, such as Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus and, of course, Tyrannosaurus rex. Now, paleontologists in the province have announced the discovery of Canadas oldest known tyrannosaur: Thanatotheristes degrootorum, or the Reaper of Death. With its razor-sharp teeth and formidable two-ton frame, the newly discovered species terrorized the region some 79.5 million years ago. Though smaller than T. rex, it still measured about 30 feet long and about 8 feet tall. The new species was at least 2.5 million years older than its closest relatives, which may provide insight into when tyrannosaurs grew from small carnivores into the apex predators that perished 66 million years ago. Prior to the discovery, we knew all the most famous tyrannosaurs like T. rex, Albertosaurus, Gorgosaurus, were all coming from the last 10 or so million years of the Cretaceous, said Francois Therrien, a paleontologist at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, Alberta, and an author on the paper. Now, with the new species, weve actually pushed back the record of tyrannosaurs. The finding was published in January in the journal Cretaceous Research, based on bones discovered by a pair of paleo-enthusiasts. In 2008, Sandra and John De Groot were walking in southern Alberta along the shore where Oldman River meets the Bow River. They spotted something in the ice. We looked down and I kind of said jokingly Hey it looks like a dinosaur jaw! John De Groot said. As he bent over to grab it, his heart started pounding. We looked a little closer and it certainly was. The couple, who own a farm in nearby Hays, had previously collected ammonites and tiny bones while hiking through the shortgrass prairie. But never before had they made such an exciting discovery. It was just kind of this Wow moment of Holy cow! You actually did find some teeth laying here on the ground, said Sandra De Groot. They recovered three large brown chunks of a dinosaur jaw. Two years later, Donald Henderson, a paleontologist at the museum, gave a talk at the school where Sandra De Groot is a substitute teacher. I said Oh hey, we have a jaw at our house, you should come see it, she said. And he said What?! The De Groots donated the specimen to the museum and went with a team of paleontologists to the riverbank and uncovered more skull pieces. The scientists knew it was a tyrannosaur, but not what kind. For nearly a decade, the bones sat in a museum drawer until Jared Voris, a graduate student at the University of Calgary, began examining them. The long and deep snout was similar to Daspletosaurus, another tyrannosaur group, suggesting the two were closely related. He also noticed interesting vertical ridges that lined the dinosaurs upper jaw, in addition to a battle scar on its face. The ridges were things that we had not seen before in another tyrannosaur, especially not another tyrannosaur from Alberta, he said. Voris also observed other features that set the tyrannosaur apart from its relatives, such as its oval-shaped cheekbone and aspects of its skull. Those differences, along with the tyrannosaurs old age, led the team to classify it as a new species, for which they honored the De Groots, and also as a new genus, named basically for the Grim Reaper. (It is only a coincidence that it shares names with Thanos and Groot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.) Lindsay Zanno, a paleontologist from North Carolina State University who was not involved in the study, said the pronounced ridges were intriguing. Despite its scrappy remains, it is an important new animal that borders a vexing gap in the tyrannosaur fossil record, Zanno said. But some paleontologists took issue with calling it a distinct genus. Thomas Carr, a paleontologist at Carthage College in Wisconsin, agreed the specimen had enough unique features to call it a new species, but he would have preferred Daspletosaurus degrootorum. A new genus name strikes me as unnecessary given that the fossils are nearly identical to its closest relative, Daspletosaurus, Carr said. One of the papers co-authors, Darla Zelenitsky, a paleontologist at the University of Calgary, defended the classification, saying the ridges on the tyrannosaurs upper jaws and its distinct cheekbones warranted the new name. Because of all the differences we found, it is very difficult for us to justify this animal as a species of Daspletosaurus, she said. As the team uncovers more specimens, she added, they will likely find more differences between Thanatotheristes degrootorum and the other tyrannosaurs. Enough, perhaps, to forever etch the reapers name on its tombstone. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Kolkata, Feb 12 : A ship coming from Shanghai was quarantined for a few hours on Wednesday at Sagar island, about 150 km from Kolkata, in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, before the 19-member crew was allowed to enter the Kolkata Port in view of the coronavirus scare, an official said. "The captain of the ship, Zhou Yingde, and 18 other members of the crew were quarantined at Sagar island where the doctors examined them. The ship was later allowed to enter the Kolkata port," he said. The crew would be further screened in the port and undergo thermal scanning -- a non-invasive, no radiation procedure that detects, records and produces a careful analysis of skin surface temperature patterns as a reflection of normal or abnormal human physiology. The clearance for the crew to set foot on the eastern metropolis would be given on Thursday, only after their condition is found to be normal. Following a Union Shipping Ministry directive, the Kolkata Port Trust has made it mandatory for crew of vessels using the port, especially those from China, to undergo screening. A health camp has been opened at the port, where ambulances and other necessary equipment have been kept ready. Bank of Ireland shares soared 8% and Irish property companies clawed back some of their sharp losses after the election as global markets climbed. The global surge in stocks and the price of crude oil came as investors decided that the threat of the coronavirus to world economic growth was past its peak. The past 10 years have seen a host of crises, about which much ink has been spilled. While the economic impact on China will take months to calculate, and is certainly not yet fully apparent, it does look like investors have decided the virus is no longer a threat, said IG chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp. Stock indices across Europe and the US rose, while crude oil gushed $1.90 higher to reach over $55.90 a barrel. And shares in cruise operators Royal Caribbean and Carnival rallied in London, although the companies continue to be in the frontline of the virus threat. IAG, the British Ariways, and Aer Lingus owner, also gained by over 1.5%. The global surge spread into Ireland where Bank of Ireland climbed 8% in a huge move seen as a response to its shares having been oversold this week. A clutch of Irish shares with links to property, including the banks, had been hard hit in recent days amid investor concerns that potential rent freezes and a hike in commercial property stamp duty will be promoted by any new Sinn Fein-led coalition in government following the partys sweeping electoral gains. Housebuilders Glenveagh Properties and Cairn Homes rose 5% and 3%, while office landlord Hibernia Reit increased 1.5%. However, the Irish stockmarket-listed housebuilders and property firms had notched up significant declines this week, which come on top of falls for some that have been linked to Brexit in the last three years. Business group, the Construction Industry Federation said it is organising meetings with TDs in the coming weeks. Its affiliated group, the Irish Homebuilders Association wants to tell TDs about the specific challenges preventing homebuilding in their areas, saying there are barriers preventing firms from building new homes. Meanwhile, S&P Global Ratings said it expects that household spending will help the European economy to withstand the potential slow down in world growth caused by the coronavirus, even as Germany remains most vulnerable. For now, sentiment indicators are bottoming out and financial conditions credit spreads and equity markets do not suggest that the coronavirus will cause a big shock to the European economy, said S&P chief economist in Europe, Sylvain Broyer. The relatively small hit to growth that we currently expect should be quickly overcome, not least owing to the resilience of domestic demand, he said. However, Capital Economics in London predicted that the coronavirus outbreak would hit hard at economic output in China. Chinas economy is likely to contract sharply in the first quarter, as a result of the measures that have been taken to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, the economics consultancy said. But a slower recovery that would have larger and more prolonged effects cannot be ruled out until activity has started to return to normal, it said. LANSING Transferring to a four-year college or university from West Shore Community College will now be even simpler thanks to new transfer agreements signed with 25 Michigan colleges and universities. The goal of these agreements is to make the overall transfer experience more efficient, simpler to understand, and easier to navigate while optimizing the number of credits that transfer to four-year institutions for community college students across Michigan, said WSCC President Scott Ward, who serves on the statewide steering committee for this initiative which includes all 28 Michigan public community colleges and 25 public and private four-year colleges and universities. Transfer agreements will allow students to transfer more credits to four-year schools in the areas of biology, business, criminal justice and psychology. The new agreements specify major-specific courses that students should complete while enrolled at WSCC that are common across all institutions in Michigan. The identification of these courses makes it easier for students to complete essential courses before deciding where to transfer. College advisors and counselors now have details available for students about which courses they should complete and how those courses apply to degree programs at the participating universities. Transferring from community college to a four-year college or university is more common than ever, said Erica Lee Orians, executive director of the Michigan Center for Student Success at the Michigan Community College Association. Our community colleges want to ensure that students receive credit for the courses they have completed when they take the next step in their education. The initiative was funded through the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget which included a one-time appropriation to support this initiative, the redesigned Michigan Transfer Network at www.mitransfer.org, work to build stronger math pathways, and efforts to award credit for military experience. A study conducted by the National Student Clearinghouse found that 52 percent of bachelors degree earners in Michigan previously enrolled at a community college, which is higher than the national average of 49 percent. The Michigan Center for Student Success is leading the statewide initiative for the MCCA in partnership with the Michigan Association of State Universities and the Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities. The project continues through fall 2020 and WSCC is working on completing additional agreements in other academic program areas. Developer and investor Poly Australia has expanded its footprint in the CBD office market with the purchase of a tower at 59 Goulburn Street in Sydney for $270 million. In one of the larger deals for the new year, it was sold by SC Capital Partners and is held through fund manager Fortius Funds Management. It was sold to the local arm of the Chinese mega developer on a yield of 4.9 per cent and at $13,867 per square metre, a new benchmark for Sydneys southern CBD precinct. Poly Australia has paid $270m for the 59 Goulburn Street tower in Sydney. The deal has set the tone for what is tipped to be a busy year in office sales, as investors seek a foothold in the strong market. Both Sydney and Melbourne office markets are sitting at record low vacancy rates, as landlords benefit from higher rents due to the low supply. The local arm of Singaporean group SC Capital and Fortius Funds Management significantly upgraded the 26-storey office tower, which takes up close to 20,000 sq m and was built in 1973. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Bay Talent Group Inc. (TSXV: HIRE) ("BTG" or "the Company"), a consolidator of staffing firms with a particular focus on innovative recruitment technologies, is pleased to announce it will be presenting at the Third Annual Gravitas Growth conference taking place on February 20th, 2020 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver, BC. Allan Hartley, BTG's Chief Executive Officer, will be speaking at 11:20 am. "We're honoured to take part in this conference and look forward to presenting BTG's unique consolidation and partnership story," said Mr. Hartley. "We're excited to educate investors about our new revenue generating initiatives and provide insights into our growth strategy for 2020." For more information about the conference and Gravitas Securities Inc., please visit: www.gravitassecurities.com About Bay Talent Group Inc. BTG's strategy is to complete accretive acquisitions of staffing, information technology, and consulting firms that meet BTG's valuation, expertise, geographic, and operational criteria. BTG proposes to create value by providing diversified vertical and cross-selling opportunities to target firms, realizing savings from consolidating operations and leveraging a centralized back-office structure. BTG's two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, Provision IT Resources Ltd. and PTC Accounting and Finance Inc., are boutique consulting firms that offer a range of professional staffing services for accounting, finance, information technology, office administration and human resources. Their clients include large organizations in the financial, government, insurance, and pension fund sectors, as well as, small and medium sized businesses across a broad range of industries. For further information, please contact: Bay Talent Group Inc. Simon Dealy, President Phone: (647) 513-1657 Email: sdealy@baytalentgroup.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements, including statements with respect to the performance of the Company and the business plan of the Company. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in the forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: the limited business history of BTG; reliance on key management; risks related to BTG's acquisition strategy, including that previous and future acquisitions do not meet expectations or potential acquisitions cannot be completed; dependence on and availability of third party financing; the business of BTG is subject to broader economic factors; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; financial results of BTG's operations; unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. The forward-looking statements, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the Company's ability to carry out its business plan as contemplated. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, they can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. 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 press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52358 The acting head of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency acknowledged that agents were out of line last month when they detained dozens of Iranian-Americans and Iranians at a border crossing near Canada in Washington State. While providing January border-crossing statistics in Washington on February 11, Mark Morgan, the agencys acting commissioner, said agents behaved in a way that was not in line with our direction, when they held more than 60 U.S. citizens of Iranian heritage for up to 10 hours or more for questioning. It was a rare admission of misconduct from the agency and the first public recognition of the incidents. Accounts from travelers and advocacy groups reported dozens of people being held over the January 4-5 weekend at an entry point in Blaine, Washington. Their detentions took place after a U.S. drone attack killed Qasem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian commander, in Iraq on January 3. Some travelers were questioned for hours about their political views, and had their personal belongings like passports, car keys, and smart phones, confiscated. Morgan admitted officials at the particular Washington entry point were disorderly. I would say in that one instance leadership got a little overzealous, and we corrected that right away, he said. The detentions prompted lawmakers and local officials to investigate the matter on their own after CBP officials repeatedly denied that Iranian-Americans had been singled out as they returned to the United States. Amid a leaked memo that later emerged directing CBP agents to stop travelers of Iranian descent for questioning, Representative Pramila Jayapal (Democrat-Washington) made inquiries and gave news conferences on the incident. Its deeply disturbing that it took my inquiries, a leaked memo, and press reports for CBP to finally acknowledge that it inappropriately targeted Iranian Americans, Jayapal said in a statement. Still, she wasnt satisfied with Morgans admission, saying his statement was not a sufficient response. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi has condemned the CBP for its illegal and inhumane treatment of Iranian nationals as a brazen violation of human rights. In a statement, Musavi said a complaint could be lodged against such conduct in human rights courts. Such behavior from the U.S. government could be definitely brought to and sued by the human rights tribunals, the spokesman said. With reporting by dpa, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, and Tehran Times A cooling system is planned for the Iroquois Gas Transmission System at 840 Oronoque Road, as part of a system-wide project to increase natural gas supply in New York. The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recently approved a coastal area management site plan for the project . The board added the condition that a licensed Connecticut surveyor survey the property. The report assesses a projects impact on coastal waterways, in this case, the Housatonic River. Project Director Robert Perless said the property is about 600 feet from the river, and said there would be no drainage to or impact on the river. According to City Planner David B. Sulkis, the project, as a utility, is exempt from zoning, but not from a coastal area management review. A building project typically requires site plan approval. In his report, Sulkis wrote, The project does not appear to have any adverse impact on coastal resources. Iroquois previously came before the zoners on Feb. 19, 2008, for a review of its plans to construct two 10,300-horsepower compressor units at 840 Oronoque Road, which the board then approved as a formality because the project is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. That project was constructed in 2008 and operational in 2009. According to the Iroquois website, the Milford cooling station is part of a larger project designed to increase capacity of the existing natural gas pipeline by 125 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to be delivered to New York utilities. In the latest project, Iroquois plans to add horsepower to compression and gas cooling units at its compressor stations in Athens and Dover, N.Y., and Brookfield. The project adds 12,000 horsepower to each New York location, and 24,000 horsepower at the Brookfield site. Milford is receiving just gas cooling equipment. Perless told the board the project was filed on Jan. 31 with FERC. The website states the anticipated FERC approval is early 2021 with construction to start in spring 2023 and to finish by Nov. 1, 2023. According to the plans, the project will add a 60-foot by 45-foot cooling unit that is 15 feet high with associated equipment and accessory structures at the existing Milford compression station. The unit will be constructed on a new concrete pad, approximately 2,280 square feet in size, along with placement of fill, a gravel perimeter, a new driveway and related infrastructure. The project will result in increased stormwater runoff, but this water will be retained within the existing detention pond. In response to a board inquiry about the sound levels generated by the machinery, Michael Kinik, Iroquois director of engineering services, said, FERC gives us strict guidance, and said the average level day and night would be about 55 decibels. FERC wouldnt grant us our certificate if we were exceeding that, said Kinik. Following construction, FERC requires a noise survey and if Iroquois is out of compliance, the company will be forced to fix the problem, said Kinik. In response to another question, Perless said the majority of the natural gas used in the Northeast comes from fracked wells, commenting, Its hard to say exactly what percentage it is, but I would say it is the majority. Perless said this project adds 125,000 dekatherms, which on a peak day, is a little less than 10 percent of the companys volume. A dekatherm is the energy content of 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. On a non-peak day, they may utilize none of it. But primarily youll see this gas flow on the coldest of days in winter, said Perless. He said the project is being built for Con Edison and the National Grid. According to their websites, Con Edison serves New York City and Westchester, while National Grid serves Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. When asked about potential gas leaks, Kinik said the pipeline is welded, so there is really no possibility of leaks. He said the only real spots for leakage is where there are mechanical connections and at facilities. He said the pipeline is inspected annually for leaks and there are gas leak detectors within the buildings. Kinik further said this project would not increase the potential for leaks because it is not adding pressure in Milford. He said in Milford as the capacity drops, the system would only raise pressure back up to the operating pressure. He said the maximum allowable operating pressure is 14,400 pounds. At Milford we are only adding the cooling. Upstream of Milford at three other sites, we are adding compression, said Kinik. The project includes a hydrocarbon abatement system, which are two small units next to the existing compressor building, said Kinik. He said when the operating staff does maintenance, they have to relieve the gas out of the line. He said the standard practice today is to vent that gas into the atmosphere. With these units, the gas will be injected back into the pipe, resulting in less methane emissions at the site, said Kinik. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal sympathises with terrorists, said BJP's newly-elected MLA Om Prakash Sharma after meeting his party's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari here on Wednesday. "Arvind Kejriwal is a corrupt man. He sympathises with terrorists, plays the role of Pakistan Army spokesman, raises questions on the Indian Army and supports 'Tukde-Tukde' gang. Indeed, terrorist is the appropriate term for him," Sharma told ANI. On February 3, even Union Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that there is enough evidence to prove Arvind Kejriwal is a terrorist. He had said: "Today, Kejriwal's party supports Shaheen Bagh. What is it that you support? Breaking Assam off from India, Jinnah's idea of independence? Standing at a place where slogans of breaking India are being raised is also terrorism." "Kejriwal is making an innocent face today and asking if he is a terrorist. You are a terrorist. There is plenty of proof for it. You yourself had said you are an anarchist, there is not much difference between an anarchist and a terrorist," Javadekar had said at a press conference here. The AAP on Tuesday galloped to a landslide victory by winning 62 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections in the face of a high-voltage campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers in its electioneering, spearheaded by Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP marginally improved its tally, managing just eight seats from its 2015's tally of three seats. The Congress, which drew a blank in the previous elections, failed to open its account yet again. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal will take oath for the third straight time at Ramlila Maidan on February 16. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao advised officials not to remove taxi stands, street vendors, pavement dwellers, pavement markets, forcibly without showing them an alternative. He wanted the collectors to evolve a policy for street vendors and told to be humane in their approach. Mr Rao told the collectors to construct at least vegetable and meat markets in corporations and at least one in the smaller towns. He was addressing the collectors conference at Pragathi Bhavan. On other issues, Mr Rao asked the municipal administration department to submit a report on the vacant posts in its ranks. Mr Rao said, the government is ready to fill up vacancies in the municipalities as it did for the panchayat raj department. The municipal administration department should submit a report to the government on the vacant posts. Stating that collectors had been empowered through the municipal and panchayat raj Acts, Mr Rao said that the state government was of the firm opinion that administration can be streamlined by strengthening the institution of collectors. It was said that the government had decided to provide a wireless network to the top district administration to be in regular touch with the collectors and other officials. During the post-lunch session, the Chief Minister held the collectors responsible to rectify the revenue records, some of which are not in proper shape. There was no dispute with regard to 95 per cent of the land parcels, he said. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won the Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire Tuesday. The vote counting showed a close race between the top three candidates, with Sanders at 26 percent, former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg at 24 percent, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at 20 percent. Sanders led Buttigieg by a 4,000-vote margin, while Buttigieg was about 12,000 votes ahead of Klobuchar. Voter turnout was up significantly compared to 2016, when Sanders won a nearly 2-1 victory over Hillary Clinton. Just under 250,000 people voted in 2016, while New Hampshire state officials said that nearly 300,000 people voted in 2020, an increase of nearly 20 percent. The total surpassed the previous record turnout of 265,000 in 2008, when Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama and John Edwards. The state of New Hampshire, now under a Republican administration, changed its rules to make it harder for the large student population to vote, and the percentage of votes cast by young people under 30 fell significantly, holding down the total for Sanders, who won more than 50 percent in that category. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders arrives to speak to supporters at a primary night election rally in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais] Exit polls showed significant differences in the demographic support for the three leading candidates. Sanders won a large plurality among men without a college education, a section of the working class that his campaign has targeted. As a result, Sanders carried the seven largest cities and towns in New Hampshire, including Manchester, the largest city, Nashua, the second largest, the state capital Concord, and the port city of Portsmouth. Support for Buttigieg was concentrated in the suburbs and rural areas rather than the cities, and he carried many of the townships along the border with Massachusetts, home to thousands who commute to work in the Boston metropolitan area. Klobuchars campaign had its strongest support among women with a college education, particularly in upscale suburban areas like those the Democratic Party swept in winning control of the House of Representatives in 2018. While Sanders carried Durham, the town that is home to the University of New Hampshire, the states largest college, Buttigieg won in Hanover, home to the far more expensive Ivy League school, Dartmouth College. The primary results were disastrous for the two Democrats who were regarded as frontrunners for the nomination at various times during 2019, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren from neighboring Massachusetts. Warren received 9 percent of the vote and Biden only 8 percent. Biden, who followed up a fourth-place finish in Iowa with a fifth-place showing in New Hampshire, left the state in the afternoon and made a brief statement on the primary results at a rally in South Carolina, where his campaign may make its last stand on February 29. New Hampshires 24 delegates to the Democratic national convention will be divided nine for Sanders, nine for Buttigieg and six for Klobuchar. Warren, Biden and the other candidates on the ballot failed to reach 15 percent of the vote and therefore failed to win any delegates. Three of the also-rans, businessman Andrew Yang, Senator Michael Bennet, and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who only entered the race in November, indicated they would end their campaigns. The campaign now turns to the Nevada caucuses on February 22, followed by the South Carolina primary a week later, and then Super Tuesday on March 3, when voters in 14 states will elect nearly 40 percent of the delegates to the nominating convention, and where billionaire Michael Bloomberg has already poured in $250 million in advertising to promote his own candidacy to supplant the political corpse of Biden as the standard-bearer of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. In an indication of the ferocity with which the Democratic Party establishment will react to Sanders emergence as the frontrunner for the nomination, the Culinary Workers Union in Nevada issued a flyer warning that Sanders would end their union health care benefits through his plan for Medicare for all. Speaking on MSNBC, Jon Ralston, editor of the Nevada Independent, said this represented the beginning of a stop Bernie movement in the state. In their speeches to supporters on the night of the primary, the three leading candidates signaled their political posture going forward, with Klobuchar and Buttigieg vying with the fading Biden and the billionaire Bloomberg to become the face of the anti-Sanders campaign. Klobuchars performance in last Fridays debate was extravagantly hyped by the media, contributing to her surge in the polls from low single digits to 20 percent in a week. She sought to reprise some of these themes in her speech Tuesday night, calling for the building of a movement of fired-up Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans, claiming that Donald Trumps worst nightmare is that people in the middle have someone to vote for in November. She dropped any attack on Sanders for his self-identification as a democratic socialist and instead talked out of the left side of her mouth, emphasizing her working-class origins. She cited her grandfather, a miner in Minnesotas Iron Range, and her mother, a public-school teacher. As with the debate, media pundits portrayed her victory speech as a tour de force and sought to boost her campaign as a potential right-wing alternative to Sanders. Buttigieg gave a speech full of vague platitudes, in the style of Barack Obama, along with suggestions of generational change, since he is 38, half the age of Biden or Sanders. He made no mention of the two factors that constitute his real credentials in the eyes of the ruling class: his role as a naval intelligence officer in Afghanistan, and his generally right-wing program, aligned with that of the Democratic Party establishment. Instead, echoing Sanders, he ended with a bit of left rhetoric, claiming that a Democratic president would stop enabling corporate greed and start raising wages and empowering workers. One job ought to be enough. Sanders, who spoke last as the winner of the primary, began his speech with a guarantee that he would support the Democratic nomineeno matter who it might be, no matter how right wing, even (by implication) the billionaire Bloomberg. He expressed appreciation for the other candidates, naming Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Warren and Biden. No matter who wins, he said, we are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country. This was a pledge to the Democratic Party establishment that Sanders will fully support the eventual nominee and a reply to a series of attacks by Hillary Clinton, claiming that he had sabotaged her campaign in 2016. Sanders repeated his declarations that health care is a human right, that the wealthy should pay higher taxes, that colleges should be tuition-free, and a litany of other liberal slogans on climate change, criminal justice reform, immigration reform, gun control and womens right to abortion. Supposedly, all these concerns could be addressed by replacing Trump in the White House with a Democrat. While he pledged to take on a long list of greedy corporations and industries, Sanders was, as usual, completely silent about the capitalist system of which they are key elements. He made no reference to the reactionary budget plan made public by the Trump administration on Monday, or to Trumps fascistic rally, held in the same city, Manchester, on Monday night. There is no question that the vote for Sanders was an expression of a shift among working people and youth to the left. The first half hour of the Democratic debate Friday night, which had a wide audience in the state, consisted of Biden, Klobuchar and other candidates bemoaning the prospect that a democratic socialist might win the nomination, supposedly dooming the electoral prospects of every Democratic candidate in the November election. Those who voted for Sanders clearly rejected this type of thinly disguised red-baiting. The New York Times quoted one young voter, employed at Dartmouth, saying, In my world, theres more support for the word socialist than billionaire. Forbes magazinea bible of Wall Streetpublished this weekend a remarkable commentary under the headline, Why Young Voters Are Embracing Bernie Sanders And Democratic Socialism. It concluded, as a matter of obvious fact, Younger people face the frightening realization that they may be the first generation to have a lower standard of living than their parents. The column went on to point out the impossible economic circumstances confronting the younger generation, including a combination of crushing student loan debt, low-wage jobs and escalating home and rental costs. It concluded, In light of their situation, it's not surprising that Bernie Sanders is surging in the polls and the idea of socialism is gaining traction among young people. Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia has said the Akufo-Addo administration has fulfilled 78% of its 2016 manifesto promises, up from the 72% earlier stated. In all, we made 388 promises in our manifesto. The most recent validation exercise at the end of January 2019 shows that we had delivered or are delivering on 303, 78 percent of the promises, up from the 72 percent reported earlier, Dr. Bawumia said. He further stated that the government has delivered 114 of its promises and is delivering 189 others from its 2016 manifesto. Dr. Bawumia was speaking at the Ashanti Region town hall meeting organised by the ministries of Information and Monitoring and Evaluation. The town hall meeting was themed: Demonstrating fulfilment of our promises. Reason for town hall meeting The Government Town Hall Meeting was aimed at providing a platform for the government to account for its stewardship to the people of Ghana . The Minister of Information had earlier said if you look at our constitution, probity and accountability are ingrained in the constitution. We must on a regular basis also update and tell the people what we have done and they will have the opportunity to agree or disagree. citinewsroom Municipal tax on masts and pylons Belgium's national amateur radio society UBA reports the number of cities and municipalities that levy a tax on masts and pylons has risen sharply in recent months A translation of their post reads: Currently, one in four Flemish municipalities already levies such a tax. Although the municipalities involved almost never intend to impose this tax on radio amateurs and other citizens or associations that have a mast for recreational purposes, in many cases no exemption is provided for. There is no reason to panic at the moment, but we still have to follow this issue closely and, where necessary, urge the municipalities to exempt masts with a purely recreational function. The UBA board of directors has decided to hold (at least) an information meeting per province. At these meetings we do not only provide a picture of the situation, but also advice on how to best tackle this problem. The following meetings are already planned: Limburg: Friday 21 February at 8 pm in Genk (room MLB, Steenbeukstraat 1, 3600 Genk). All UBA members are welcome. Whoever wants to attend this meeting is asked to register. East Flanders: Friday 28 February in Sint-Laureins (makers' lab De Shack Leemweg 5, 9980 Sint-Laureins). Due to limited space, this meeting is reserved for the CMs of the province of East Flanders or their substitutes. Flemish Brabant: Friday 6 March at 8 pm in Diest (room DST, Citadel zn, 3290 Diest). All UBA members are welcome. A meeting is also planned in the provinces of West Flanders and Antwerp in the near future, details will follow. If necessary, additional meetings can be arranged later. Source UBA https://tinyurl.com/BelgiumUBA A three-year study of possible solutions to Oceanside beach erosion has stalled after federal funding dried up and now the city is being asked to pony up as much as $1 million to restart it, a city official said Wednesday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched its shoreline feasibility study in March 2016 to examine the effects the Camp Pendleton harbor, built in 1942, has on Oceanside beaches. The citys harbor, built in the 1960s, shares its entrance. The ultimate goal is to get more sand on the beaches, said Kiel Koger, the citys public works director. Studies as early as the 1950s have shown the jetty that extends out into the ocean from the harbors mouth diverts sand that currents otherwise would carry onto the beaches. Other sources of beach sand such as rivers and bluffs also have been stopped by steady development over the last century. Advertisement RELATED Last year, when the latest study began, it was to be 100 percent federally funded, Koger said. However, the money stopped this year, and now the Corps is asking Oceanside to kick in half the remaining costs so that work can resume. They said it will probably be about $1.5 million to $2 million to complete total, he said, and it will take about two more years to finish the study. A similar federal study in Solana Beach and Encinitas set the basis for a 50-year sand replenishment project that was allocated $87 million last year as part of the federal Water Resources Development Act. That project, planned for more than 15 years, could begin as soon as next year. It would use sand from offshore deposits to widen beaches by 50 to 150 feet in those two cities, which, along with the state, will share portions of the estimated $165 million total cost over the next five decades. An Army Corps spokesman was unavailable Wednesday to discuss the Oceanside study. Another Corps project in Oceanside, the San Luis Rey River flood-control excavation, fell through because of problems with the contractor after work was scheduled to begin this fall. That project also would have placed more sand on the citys beaches. Oceanside beaches south of the harbor have eroded steadily since the 1940s. Only a narrow strip of sand remains in most spots south of the municipal pier. Structures along the shore are protected by rock revetments and by annual beach replenishment with sand pumped from the harbor and other sources. Like all coastal San Diego County cities, Oceanside depends on its beaches for tourism, recreation, and protection of its coastal structures from the ocean waves. The goal of the current feasibility study is to gather more information about beach erosion and the possible solutions to it. The Corps has been working on and off on these feasibility studies since about 2000, Koger said. A previous effort also ended when funding for it was cut. Oceanside officials have asked the Corps for a letter that outlines details of the expected costs for the remaining work and the time it will take, Koger said. Once that it received, the Corps request for local funding will be presented to the City Council for a decision. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl If youre in San Francisco and need to get to mainland China, your last chance for the next six weeks is on Friday. The last direct flight, from China Southern Airlines, departs from San Francisco International Airport at 10:40 p.m. Friday, arriving in Guangzhou on Sunday, according to the airlines website. As of Sunday, all other airlines have already ended their flights to mainland China from SFO, which normally has more departures to China than any other U.S. airport save Los Angeles International. Flights are not scheduled to resume until the end of March. China Southerns last inbound flight leaves Guangzhou at 10 p.m. Friday and arrives at SFO at 6:10 p.m. also on Friday, given the 16-hour time change between the two cities. Many flights to Hong Kong, including those on United Airlines, have also been canceled but not all: SFO still has 21 round trips per week through the end of March. The coronavirus, called COVID-19, has killed more than 1,000 people and infected far more as it has begun to spread around the world. The U.S. has shut its borders to most foreign nationals who were in China two weeks prior, and required returning U.S. citizens to observe a quarantine period. China Southern had previously flown to Wuhan from SFO and continued on to Guangzhou, but when Wuhan became the center of the coronavirus outbreak, the airline cut that leg and flew directly to Guangzhou. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The lost flights are costly for SFO, which gets a fee for each aircraft that lands at the airport, and for airport shops and restaurants visited by Chinese travelers. Bay Area residents can still get to China after Friday, but it will require connecting through LAX or John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where China Southern is still running flights, according to its website. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench Newly developed recombinant antigens derived specifically from 2019-nCoV for use in infectious disease research, and assay and vaccine development The Native Antigen Company, one of the world's leading suppliers of reagents that enables research into vaccines and diagnostics for emerging and endemic infectious diseases, today announced the commercial introduction of its Novel Coronavirus antigens, derived from the emerging Wuhan strain. These recombinant proteins offer scientists high-quality reagents to support ongoing infectious disease research, and the development of diagnostics and vaccines. The Native Antigen Company has developed rapid response manufacturing capabilities to produce reagents for emerging epidemic diseases according to the World Health Organisation's R&D Blueprint, which urges the accelerated development of vaccines and the increased availability of accurate and reliable diagnostics for priority emerging infectious diseases. These antigens have been derived specifically from the newly identified Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) using The Native Antigen Company's proprietary mammalian, VirtuE expression system. This system is able to introduce proper protein folding and post-translational modifications to recombinant proteins, which are essential for full biological and antigenic activity. Dr Andy Lane, Commercial Director, The Native Antigen Company, said: "Our mission is to reduce the global burden of infectious disease by developing the highest-quality reagents in rapid response to emerging public health threats. The release of these Coronavirus antigens within one month of the newly identified 2019-nCoV genome being published exemplifies the power of The Native Antigen Company's recombinant protein platforms to prepare reagents in response to new threats. As one of the first recognised suppliers to release 2019-nCoV proteins, we are proud to be able to offer these antigens to in vitro diagnostics and pharmaceutical researchers to help drive the development of serological assays and vaccines that will be vital in stemming the spread of this disease." According to Professor Richard Tedder, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, this represents a major step forward in efforts to contain the outbreak: "The Native Antigen Company's Coronavirus antigens could aid the development of accurate serological assays to identify asymptomatic individuals who have been infected by the virus, and help to assess the true level of infection in any population. The availability of these antigens also supports researchers' efforts to rapidly develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV by providing vital reagents to measure vaccine responses." For more information about The Native Antigen Company's Novel Coronavirus antigens, please visit: https://thenativeantigencompany.com/products/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-spike-glycoprotein-s1-sheep-fc-tag-hek293/ https://thenativeantigencompany.com/products/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-spike-glycoprotein-s2-sheep-fc-tag-hek293/ ENDS View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005318/en/ Contacts: Zyme Communications Dr Michelle Ricketts Tel: +44 (0)7789 053885 Email: michelle.ricketts@zymecommunications.com TOKYO - Japans health ministry said Wednesday that 39 new cases of a virus have been confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at a Japanese port. The update brings the total found on the Diamond Princess to 174 cases. The ministry also said the virus was confirmed in a official who participated in the initial quarantine checks the night the ship returned to Yokohama Port near Tokyo on Feb. 3. The quarantine official is being treated in the hospital. The new cases bring Japans total to 203 people infected by the the new virus, COVID-19. The night of the ships arrival, Japanese health officials began medical checks on all of the ships 3,700 passengers and crew after one previous passenger tested positive for the virus. The U.S.-operated Diamond Princess had completed a 14-day tour during which it stopped at Hong Kong and several other Asian ports before returning to Japan. An 80-year-old man who disembarked in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus, prompting Hong Kong to notify the ship and Japanese authorities, who then ordered the quarantine and testing. Concerns over the virus have rerouted and cancelled other cruises. The Westerdam cruise ship carrying 2,257 passengers and crew is now in the Gulf of Thailand with nowhere to dock after being refused entry in Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand. There are no confirmed cases of the virus on board, but it stopped in Hong Kong less than two weeks ago, which is within the incubation period of the virus. COVID-19 is a coronavirus that emerged in China in December. This month marks the 10th anniversary of Rick Hess Straight Up, making it a propitious time to revisit some favorites from the past decade. For each of the Top 20 which run this month, Ive offered a quick reflection or thought as to why it remains a personal favorite. Now, in the midst of the Trump era, education advocates, funders, and assorted Beltway bigshots are highly attuned to the reasons why we should be concerned about an unchecked executive branch. A few years back, this was a much lonelier beat. I penned this post in the midst of the No Child Left Behind waiver craze, when Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was giving states a pass around NCLB requirements if they embraced the Common Core, teacher evaluation, and the rest of his agenda. At the time, the wise guys kept telling me how ingenious this was and seemed put out by my objections. This imagined newscast from the future sought to illustrate my concerns in a way that might register. Now, on to number 13 , originally published on August 11, 2011. A former monk at a Catholic boarding school who continued to abuse young boys after confessing to having sexual contact with a pupil has been jailed for more than 20 years. Peter Turner, 80, sexually abused two boys after he was forced to leave Ampleforth College, in North Yorkshire, and sent away to work in a parish in Workington, Cumbria. He was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months at York Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting to a string of sexual offences committed more than 30 years ago against three boys aged between nine and 12. Turner, who was previously known as Father Gregory Carroll, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to 11 counts of indecent assault, two counts of buggery and one count of gross indecency with a child. Peter Turner, 80, sexually abused two boys after being sent to work in a parish in Cumbria / PA He served another jail sentence in 2005 after he admitted offences against 10 pupils at Ampleforth between 1979 and 1987. Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said: "You have brought evil into this world when, by your calling, you should have brought hope, help and succour." The judge told Turner: "You were a priest at Ampleforth boarding school. It's a religious school and, no doubt, because of that, that's a comfort to parents because they will be thinking that they are entrusting the care of their child to men of God, instead, in your case it was to a man of evil." The court heard emotional victim impact statements from the three men in which they spoke about the effect Turner's abuse has had on their lives. After sending Turner to the cells, Judge Morris said: "All of them have talked about their shame. They have nothing to be ashamed of, they carry no guilt. I hope this helps, in some way, to put them at peace." Turner admitted committing indecent assault and buggery against a boy at Ampleforth between September 1984 and January 1987, when the boy was aged between 10 and 12. Turner was previously known as Father Gregory Carroll / PA Tom Storey, prosecuting, told the court that Turner abused the boy "comprehensively" in a number of areas of Ampleforth, including during car journeys. He showed the boy pornography, made him perform sex acts on him and himself, touched him sexually and committed buggery. Mr Storey said Turner told the boy it was their secret and gave him sweets and alcohol and taught him how to drive a car in the school grounds. He said: "He described being completely dominated by the defendant and completely at his mercy, unable of saying anything and did not know who to seek help from." He was sentenced to 20 years and 10 months / PA Judge Morris told Turner: "You abused your position as teacher and priest to sexually abuse (the boy) repeatedly, callously and with devastating effects on his life. You have ruined his life and will continue to do so." Turner was removed from Ampleforth in 1987 and sent to work in a parish in Workington after he told the headmaster about having sexual contact with a pupil. While in Cumbria, he went on to abuse two more boys. One of the victims in Workington was just nine or 10 when Turner indecently assaulted him between October 1987 and December 1988. Mr Storey told the court that Turner became "increasingly tactile" with the boy, tickling him before going on to touch him sexually and perform sex acts. The abuse took place in the vestry, on a remote beach and in Turner's car in a lay-by on a walking trip to the Lake District. The court heard that the boy reported the abuse in 2006 after reading an article about Turner's conviction for abusing pupils at Ampleforth. But the CPS took the decision that it was not in the public interest to bring further charges as he was already serving a prison sentence. The third victim was aged between 10 and 12 when Turner committed gross indecency and indecent assault against him between June 1987 and June 1990. The court heard that Turner abused him in the rectory of the church in Workington, performing sex acts on himself and the boy. The court heard that, in 1999, Turner told the headmaster at Ampleforth that he had abused more than one boy at the school. He was recalled from Workington and confined to the monastery at Ampleforth in 2002 after the publication of the Nolan Report into the problem of clerical child abuse. He was seen by a clinical psychologist who felt obliged to tell the police about his disclosures, leading to his conviction and four-year jail sentence in 2005. Turner denied abusing any children in Workington until he entered his guilty pleas on Tuesday. Nicola Gatto, defending, said he had not offended since returning to Ampleforth and recognised that he may never leave prison, which would be "onerous" and "difficult" for him. A progressive evangelical group believes a small percentage of persuadable voters driven by faith could prevent President Donald Trump from winning re-election in 2020. Vice President Mike Pence told a group of West Michigan faith leaders the president is a tireless advocate for religious freedom and promoted his socially conservative policies in Holland while campaigning for Trump last December. Vote for Common Good, a nonprofit political advocacy group, visited Holland last week to convince religious voters in Trumps base that the president does not represent Christian values. Pastor Doug Pagitt founded VCG after the 2016 election to engage religious conservatives and challenge their support for Trump. Pagitt said voters hes met on national bus tours in 2018 and 2020 expressed some buyers remorse due to the presidents actions in Ukraine, rhetoric toward women and minority groups and hardline immigration policies, particularly family separations for undocumented immigrants. We hear someone say almost every day, putting kids in cages as a way to threaten families cannot come to this country is immoral and wrong, and theyre just not gonna stand for it, Pagitt said. Pagitt said the religious anti-Trump coalition includes newly enraged voters who disagree with the presidents policies but primarily oppose his character. Those voters tend are generally younger, women, and older and retirees. he said. It also includes people who may not have been politically active until recently. Still, Pagitt said many religious voters are primarily motivated by a commitment to restricting abortion rights, securing conservative judges and protecting the second amendment. Pence, a born again Christian, hit on all of these points while campaigning for Trump during December 2019 visits in Michigan. In Holland, Pence harshly condemned Democratic presidential candidates for supporting abortion rights while calling Trump the most pro-life president in American history." I couldnt be more proud to serve as vice president to a president who stands, without apology, for the sanctity of human life, Pence said. Its amazing to think we live in a time where leading Democrats advocate late-term abortion and even defend infanticide." Trumps support among evangelical Christians and white Catholics was strong in 2016, according to exit polling conducted by the Pew Research Center. He picked up 81% of white, born again, evangelicals and 60% of Catholics, the poll found. More recent surveys by the Public Religion Research Institute found Trumps favorability among white evangelicals has remained high throughout his first term, hovering between 65% and 77% with an average favorability rating of 71%. Pagitt acknowledged evangelical voters who dont like Trump still may not find a home in the Democratic Party. Pagitt said his group isnt trying to convince lifelong conservatives to permanently change their party affiliation. but instead consider voting for the Democratic nominee or Republican primary candidate Bill Weld. Were kind of saying treat to the Democratic Party like a hotel on a trip, he said. You dont have to live there but you just stay there overnight. Its trying to change the frame a little bit and basically say look, if you dont feel at home in this Republican Party because Donald Trump has poisoned the water, just get out of that water." While Democratic primary candidates have made efforts to engage African American churches, Pagitt said there isnt an analogous effort to recruit white Catholics and evangelical Republicans. VCG embarked on a bus tour of all 50 states that will conclude at the White House in November. Along the way, the group is holding training sessions for local Democratic candidates on how to speak to religious voters and rallies to inspire people to vote their conscience. Its frankly just utterly confusing why people of religious conviction would hold to their Republican identity in voting for Trump, even when it seems so contrary to their stated beliefs, Pagitt said. West Michigans lakeshore communities are highly populated with evangelical voters, Pagitt said. Those areas largely voted for Trump in 2016. Pagitt said 2nd District Democratic candidate Bryan Berghoef, a Christian pastor running to challenge U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland., is one prominent example of a religious voter leaving the Republican Party. Berghoef was once a conservative and Republican voter, according to his campaign, but became disillusioned with the party after the Iraq war in 2003. All of us, including people that have a religious motivation for voting. we tend to sort of move by social forces as much as we do by individual choice, Pagitt said. We think theres a movement afoot, that could really impact voters in West Michigan specifically in Holland." Two weeks after Pence visited Holland last year, the evangelical publication Christianity Today published an editorial calling for Trumps removal from office. The editorial called Trump morally lost and confused. "To the many evangelicals who continue to support Mr. Trump in spite of his blackened moral record, we might say this: Remember who you are and whom you serve, the editorial read. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior. The Trump campaign made several attempts in recent months to rally his evangelical Christian base, holding Evangelicals for Trump rallies in Florida, Iowa and other states. Trump became the first sitting president to attend the March for Life rally in Washington, an annual event to advocate for policies that limit abortion access. Last week, Trump gave remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast -- co-chaired by U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland -- where he pledged his administration is standing up for persecuted Christians and religious minorities all around the world like nobody has ever done." Trump was flanked by Pastor Robert Jeffries and other influential mega-church leaders on stage at rally held soon after the Christianity Today editorial was published. The president told his supporters hes defending religious liberty from intolerant left and claimed God is on our side. Pastor Jeffress can tell you Im good at getting things done, Trump said at the Florida rally. I may not be perfect, but I get things done, right? Read more on MLive: Pence says Trump is an ally of religious freedom at West Michigan church Pastor to challenge Huizenga in Michigans 2nd Congressional District Vice President Mike Pence to hold Michigan campaign rally, visit Farm Bureau event Who is on Michigans March presidential primary ballot? Following the Boko Haram onslaught which left over 30 stranded travellers dead and over 18 vehicles burnt in Auno, a village 24 km from Maiduguri, the House of Representatives on Wednesday asked that the tragedy be investigated. The House also asked the president to declare a state of emergency on security and tasked its committee on defence to investigate the cause of the low morale among troops in the North-east. Auno killings, as media reports now call it, occurred last Sunday when many travellers had to pass the night in Auno, after soldiers had locked the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway gates, which they lock at the curfew time, 6 p.m. But the gates, designed to check the influx of Boko Haram insurgents at night, became the militarys major undoing last Sunday. As charred corpses littered the scene of the massacre, so did burnt vehicles, after the marauders opened fire on the unsuspecting travellers. The insurgents also reportedly abducted many travellers, mostly women after setting vehicles ablaze. Legislative intervention Dissatisfied with this, Mohammed Monguno, the House Chief Whip, moved a motion, arguing that the attack was avoidable. He added that by abandoning the travellers to their fate on the night, the military lost guard of its responsibility to protect the citizens. Backing him, Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) said, among the vehicles stranded at the checkpoint, was a tanker conveying petroleum products to Maiduguri owned by the military. He wondered why the military could detain its own truck and leave it at the mercy of insurgents. - READ ALSO: - He also alleged that the checkpoint was closed 15 minutes before the scheduled time, while also faulting the laxity in intelligence gathering by the troops. It is painful for leaders to stay in their comfort zone while their people are slaughtered, Mr Jaha said. This issue is of national importance. It is the North-east today. Nobody knows where it will affect next, he added. To defend itself against insurgents, the army had adopted a new strategy of withdrawing to super camps, an alternative to the poorly constructed military barracks in rural areas. Mr Jaha wondered why the military introduced super camps in the Auno area while closing checkpoints. Resolutions The House asked its committee on defence to investigate the rationale behind super camps. The House also urged the military authority to henceforth stop the keeping of commuters overnight at a particular period on the Damaturu-Maiduguri road and allow them proceed on their journeys after 6 p.m. On his part, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta), the Minority Leader of the House, reiterated the call for the removal of service chiefs. He said the military commanders are bereft of ideas. When Sihams brother and sister-in-law were killed by a Syrian government rocket, she became a mother to their five surviving children. I used to feel sad because God didnt give me any children, said Siham, looking out onto the dusty street lined with well-watered trees. My brother used to try and make me feel better and say: Dont be sad. My children are yours if you want them. Have them all! And we used to laugh. That was before Syrias civil war claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, including those of her brother and sister-in-law, and his words proved prophetic. A rocket fired from a government tank hit the van in which they were fleeing with their six children from their village in Deraa, southern Syria, in late 2012. The parents were in the front of the van with their youngest child, a boy aged two, while the five older children were in the back. Siham, who had been staying with her brother nearby, heard what had happened and quickly rushed to the scene. After rescuing five of the six children, all she found in the wreckage of the vehicle was her brothers house key, which he always carried in his pocket. Her brother, sister-in-law and two-year-old nephew had been completely obliterated. There was nothing left of them, only ashes, Siham said, tears streaming down her sallow cheeks. The youngest, a little boy, was burnt with them. They were trapped in the front seat. Here he is, she said showing a photograph on her mobile phone of a boy with blond curls and blue eyes. We used to call him our angel. As she talked, she gently cradled the bare foot of five-year-old Sidra the youngest of the five children who survived as she lay on the mattress beside her. God saved me these children. They still have shrapnel in their bodies, but they're alive. Siham God saved me these children, she said, stroking the little girls leg. They still have shrapnel in their bodies, but theyre alive. Overnight she had to learn how to mother them: Falak, 12, Mohammad, 10, Hamouda, 8, Asma, 6, and Sidra, all housed in a tiny, bare apartment in an affluent suburb of the Jordanian capital, having arrived from Syria as refugees in December 2012. I had recently moved to Amman myself with my husband and our two young children who were three and one. I was only three years ahead of Siham on my own motherhood journey making it all up as I went along; strolling the streets of a new city looking for play parks, and; wondering if I would ever find friends and work. It was 2013, and Syrias brutal conflict had been raging for two years. My career as a freelance filmmaker and photographer was just getting started and I was constantly wondering how I could make sense of the Syrian tragedy for myself and those further away. How could I find the individual stories to show the universal tragedy that was unfolding just over the border, and as I discovered, on my very doorstep? From our window, I watched the formerly deserted four-storey building a few blocks down fill up with people. A few weeks before I met Siham, I saw streams of women and children carrying mattresses and bedding into the lobby. From a distance, their home making looked ant-like in its organisation. Their multi-coloured mattresses and bedding stood out in an ironically bright and optimistic fashion against the beige buildings. Within hours there were washing lines slung between windows, the clothes flapping in the dry breeze. When I met Siham, I learned that all of the 24 women in the building were widows, with more than 70 children in their care. I was soon visiting them regularly. Rand Dalgamouni, a talented junior reporter from the Jordan Times, would come with me to translate. As we closed ourselves inside a disused boiler room the only quiet place in the building for an audio interview with Siham I could tell that Rand was as nervous as I was. There is something visceral about hearing someone tell you of their deepest pain. You want them to know you feel it with them, but it is their words you need. And you want them to know you will handle these words as gently as you would a newborn child. I still don't know whether my brother, his wife, and the little boy died instantly, or whether they burned to death as the van caught into flames. It is a thought that follows me everywhere. Siham I still dont know, Siham told us, each of us breathing each others air in the tiny room, whether my brother, his wife, and the little boy died instantly, or whether they burned to death as the van caught into flames. It is a thought that follows me everywhere. But now I have the children they give me strength and they keep my mind off all this. I cook for them. I bathe them. They are more important to me than my eyes. When I look back at the time I spent with Siham and the children, I realise that theirs was the door that first opened for me in that city; theirs were the stories I was first able to tell. As my Arabic improved, I would visit them alone. And as we got to know each other better, the laughter was soon more plentiful than the tears. The last time I visited Siham was to say goodbye, as my family and I were moving away. As we sat chatting and drinking her delicious cardamom coffee, she plucked idly at the top of my shirt. Youd look so much nicer if you had a little bit less neck on show. Why dont you try this on? she asked, holding up her niqab. I could see she was stifling a giggle. Well, why not? I volunteered, squeezing myself into the tight, black fabric. And someone took our photograph. I look like your handbag in this shot, Siham said. This time, they were tears of laughter running down her cheeks. The next time I was in Amman I went back to find her. But the apartment building was empty: The flapping washing and childrens voices gone. I never found Siham and her children again. I do not know where they went. But the photographs I took of them in their apartment are those I hold dearest among the thousands I have taken since. Elementary No. 33 has officially been named Fox Elementary after the Klein ISD board of trustees approved the name during the Feb. 10 board meeting. Fox Elementary, opening for the fall 2020 semester, is named after the Fuchs family. The Fuchs School educated children west of SH 249 before the establishment of Rural High School District No. 1 in 1928, which was renamed Klein Independent School District a decade later. The land on which Fox Elementary is built was owned by the Fuchs family for more than five decades and used as pastureland for dairy cows. Fox is the English variant of the German surname Fuchs. Fox Elementary, located at 4800 Port Aegean Drive, Klein, was one of several projects funded by a 2015 bond. According to a Klein ISD press release, the school will incorporate STEAM education at all grade levels and was designed with flexible and outdoor learning spaces. Klein ISD named Lakita Combs principal of Fox Elementary in January. I am truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve as the principal of Fox Elementary, Combs said in the press release. I look forward to meeting the students and families of this extraordinary community and to get started on our exciting, STEAM-tastic journey designed to bring out the innovator, problem solver, and critical thinker in every student. The preferred elementary school rezoning option presented at the December 2019 board meeting was also approved by the school board Feb. 10. Feedback was gathered on several preliminary zoning options during community meetings in October and November 2019. Related: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to be honored by Klein ISD as alumnus for Black History Month The goals of the rezoning were to establish attendance boundaries for Fox Elementary while relieving overcapacity elementary schools and balancing utilization of schools. The finalized plan has some of the least amount of overcrowding projections when compared to the seven options shown previously. The option entered a 30-day comment period after it was posted to the Klein ISD website Dec. 10. At times it took some clarity or questions whereby a phone call was placed or an in-person meeting was held to further understand the recommendation that was being made and to see if it actually made sense for our ultimate goal, said Robert Robertson, associate superintendent of facility and school services. There were many internal meetings that were held with key departments that would implement the final plan to make sure that we had all eventualities and circumstances covered. Under the preferred option, students who are Northern Point residents attending Blackshear Elementary will move to Kohrville Elementary, relieving enrollment at Blackshear. The plan includes other moves around the district as well. According to Robertson, projections up to 2029 show that the preferred plan is expected to keep most elementary schools from reaching a severe level of overcapacity. Population and Survey Analysts data projects that in 2029, Mahaffey Elementary could reach 123 percent capacity; Bernshausen Elementary, 104 percent; French Elementary, 108 percent; and Klenk Elementary, 100 percent. You would have Mahaffey continue to grow through the projection period where near the end in 2028, 2029, it would reach the tipping point of 120 percent, Robertson said during the December meeting. However, we do have property for an elementary school at the old ... dairy farm that would provide relief in the future for Mahaffey, Metzler, French and Bernshausen. Robertson made clear that rezoning occurs when a new school is built; however, the elementary rezone occurring as a result of Fox Elementary is intended to remain in place for the foreseeable future. For more information on Fox Elementary, visit https://fox.kleinisd.net/. By Trend Uzbekistan and Great Britain discussed the current state and prospects of expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation, Trend reports citing Uzbek media. These issues were discussed at the meeting of Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK Said Rustamov with the UK Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade Graham Stuart in London on Feb. 10. The British minister noted the considerable success achieved by Uzbekistan in implementing comprehensive reforms, particularly in economic liberalization and increasing investment attractiveness. This achievement, which has already been reflected in the improvement of Uzbekistan's position in the UN rating "Doing Business", as well as recognition of Uzbekistan by the British magazine "The Economist" as "country of the year", opens wide opportunities for increasing bilateral trade turnover and volumes of investments as well as expanding cooperation in technological, financial and educational spheres, the news report said. The sides also discussed issues of conducting a number of joint events in the near future, including a session of Uzbek-British Industry and Trade Board in London. Furthermore, British companies were invited to participate in Tashkent International Investment Forum to be held in Uzbekistan on March 5-6, 2020. [February 12, 2020] Ionic Machina Builds Momentum for Modern Data Protection ATLANTA, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Facing the pressure and risks of moving to the cloud, the proliferation of privacy regulations, and a clear imperative to weave security into all phases of the development lifecycle, organizations are turning to Ionic Security for data protection through attribute-based access controls (ABAC), rich dynamic policy, granular encryption key management, and auditable analytics. In their race to the cloud, companies struggle under old perimeter security models. Modern data protection approaches like Zero Trust recognize that a new data-centric approach using contextual policy controls is required. The number of breaches in 2019 has skyrocketed 130% since 2006 and the average total cost of a breach is $3.92 million USD . Since the average size of a breach now exceeds 25K records, costs will continue increasing under new legislation like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which imposes record fines of up to $750 per consumer per incident. Confronted with these risks, organizations are adopting DevSecOps approaches that pull security tools and practices earlier in the development lifecycle . "Policy is the new perimeter and Machina delivers needed innovation to fight this new battle," said Adam Ghetti, founder of Ionic. "We built a rich policy engine paired with encryption key management that's capable of scaling to the largest global environments and is available as-a-service to reduce the friction of going from zero to protected." The SDKs and APIs of Machina Tools provide advanced policy-based data security and access management while leveraging and extending the capabilities of deployed resource-, identity-, access-, and workload-centric solutions. Basic role-based access controls in identity and access management tools are not adequate to address the rich contexts required to make informed decisions about whether this person or service should be trusted to have access to that healthcare data, for example, on this device running on that network. Simplifying the use of modern data protection methods for application developers strengthens privacy by design, especially for data-centric and cloud-native applications. The major cloud service providers recognize that enabling customer-managed trust in the shared responsibility model encourages developer innovation. Amazon , Google and Microsoft all intensified their strategic partnerships with Ionic in 2019. In particular, the launch of Google Cloud External Key Manager acknowledges the importance of data security and privacy with their willingness to give up access to data stored with them. By adding a third party into the risk model, organizations can now move more types of sensitive data to the cloud with confidence. In February, Ionic closed a strategic $40 million growth round led by JPMC, with participation from Google LLC as a new investor as well as our current investors, demonstrating their commitment to our vision and long-term success. Sales momentum in highly regulated industries like financial services and healthcare along with the public sector has been accelerated by increased urgency and risks related to cloud migration, application modernization, and regulations. Data-centric solutions to these problems are the cornerstone of modern data protection initiatives like Zero Trust and standards bodies like NIST, who recently released their Privacy Framework 1.0 . "Following clear industry signals, a strong pipeline, and deepening engagements with existing customers, Ionic has begun scaling our go-to-market team by appointing Doug Bleszinski as new vice president of worldwide sales ," said Eric Hinkle, CEO of Ionic, "Doug and his team will be meeting the growing market needs for security and privacy with solutions for cloud storage and application development. If policy is the new perimeter, you need Ionic to enforce it." Read more about the unique architecture and components that make Machina the policy-driven data protection engine of choice, or contact us for a live demo or consultation. About Ionic Security Ionic enables global businesses and government agencies to accelerate innovation by driving data protection across their organization, regardless of where they are in their journey to the cloud. Ionic Machina is the only enterprise-class data protection engine that delivers real-time data policy enforcement against a rich set of identity and data attributes backed by machine-scale key management, creating a system of record for unified and consistent execution. With over two million licensed users in Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and a growing grassroots developer community, the unique ecosystem relationships of Ionic dramatically accelerate cloud migration and multi-cloud deployments, creating value for enterprises in driving their overall security strategy. Learn more at ionic.com , or connect on LinkedIn or Twitter . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ionic-machina-builds-momentum-for-modern-data-protection-301003275.html SOURCE Ionic Security NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly three in every five men questioned in the US (59%) have suffered from impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction or "E.D.," according to a new survey released ahead of National Impotence Day (14 Feb) by LetsGetChecked, a leading at-home health screening and insights company. Perhaps most surprisingly, age isn't as big a factor as one might think, with 56% of 18-34 year olds being affected, compared to 63% of those over the age of 55. However, older people are more likely to report that they are affected regularly, which may indicate an underlying health issue. The research shows that because the topic is often considered taboo, many Americans underestimate how many men are impacted by impotence. Those questioned believed that impotence affects just 1 in 3 (36%), when the reality is almost twice that (59%). Just 40% of men with erectile dysfunction felt comfortable speaking to their sexual partner about the issue, despite its possible impact on relationships. Less than one in five men (18%) who suffer from impotence have felt able to talk to a friend about it. But erectile dysfunction is having a serious impact on men's mental wellbeing possibly made worse by them not talking about it. While 51% of men questioned say it makes them feel frustrated and 41% say it makes them embarrassed, over a quarter (26%) say it makes them feel "like a failure." And most worrying of all, 4% of men reported experiencing a severe negative psychological impact. Despite this, 60% of men who reported experiencing erectile dysfunction have not talked to a medical professional about it, with many (32%) relying on the internet for help and 28% seeking no advice whatsoever. Most men tend to blame psychological factors for impotence with 41% blaming stress, 34% blaming having "too much on their mind" and 31% believing it is performance anxiety. And while these can all be genuine causes of erectile dysfunction, there is a danger that men could be missing signs of physical health problems which may also be the cause. Many men are unaware that underlying health issues can be a factor in erectile dysfunction, or that its presence could be an indicator of a wider health issue. Just a quarter of those surveyed (27%) were aware that E.D. can be linked to high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol. Just 22% of the men surveyed were aware that erectile dysfunction is often associated with diabetes and only 23% that it can occur in the presence of a hormone imbalance. Dr Robert Mordkin, Chief Medical Officer for LetsGetChecked, said: "There is no doubt that erectile dysfunction is still a taboo subject among men in the US, with most people simply not talking to anyone about it including their friends and partners. As a result, many men presume that they are in a minority if they are being affected by it when in fact, they are in the majority. Understanding that they are not alone and it is not 'all in their head' will hopefully allow men to feel confident enough to at the least, speak to a medical professional about it, and, when appropriate, screen themselves for underlying causes via an at home test. "Seeking medical help for E.D. is important. An underlying medical issue can be revealed and, regardless, this is a treatable condition in most men. As this study shows, erectile dysfunction can affect men across a wide age range and opens an opportunity to uncover other unsuspected health concerns while hopefully limiting a condition which may have a strong negative psychological impact. "Many are not aware this is possible for example, less than a third of Americans are aware that you can be tested for high cholesterol from home." Notes to editors Research carried out by Opinium Research amongst 2,006 men in the USA, 1,178 of which have previously experienced erectile dysfunction, from 7-10 February 2020. About LetsGetChecked LetsGetChecked is a health insights platform which allows consumers to access health testing and telehealth services in the home. The company provides fast, accurate and confidential home health tests, with online results in a matter of days. Their tests cover sexual health, men's health, women's health and general health, available to order nationwide. They have dozens of at-home tests to help men understand and take better care of their health - including cholesterol, psa and testosterone. Serving 30 markets globally, LetsGetChecked is all about empowering people, by making the screening process patient-led, by combining health data and diagnostic results. LetsGetChecked provides accurate insights for patients, enabling them to make better decisions about their health. Available nationwide in the US, Canada, and Europe, LetsGetChecked has corporate offices located in New York City and Dublin. For more information, visit letsgetchecked.com . SOURCE LetsGetChecked Related Links https://www.letsgetchecked.com Opposition members chanted slogans amid an uproar in the Rajasthan Assembly on Wednesday over the recent deaths of children at a government hospital in Kota. Replying to a debate, state health minister Raghu Sharma said 135 children died at Kota's JK Lon hospital between December 1 and January 20. Opposition members protested when the minister started giving out figures of children's death during the previous BJP government's term. Ministers and Congress MLAs also waved newspaper clippings, showing the failure of former health minister Rajendra Rathore, who is now deputy leader of opposition. As the Speaker called the next question, a Congress MLA went over to the opposition benches with a clipping, which was snatched and torn by BJP MLA Vasudev Devnani. Opposition MLAs then stormed into the well of the House and began shouting slogans. BJP member Ashok Lahoti took pieces of the torn clipping and threw them towards the treasury benches. BJP MLAs returned to their seats when the Question Hour ended. Speaker C P Joshi expressed disappointment over the conduct of the MLAs. When he criticised the Congress member for walking up to the opposition benches, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal said the BJP members should also be told that tearing the paper was not desirable. The Speaker said he felt pained by the behaviour of both sides. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said it was unfortunate that the Speaker had to share his anguish over the conduct of the MLAs. He said disagreement by opposition members was welcome but the sanctity of the House should be maintained by everyone. He also assured cooperation in running the House. The deaths at the Kota hospital 100 children died in December had triggered outrage, with the opposition targeting the Congress government in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 20:59:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Russian and Turkish presidents had a phone conversation and discussed the escalation in Idlib in northwestern Syria, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday. Regarding his telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Erdogan said "we evaluated the ongoing process in Idlib. We especially dealt with the damage to our soldiers by Syrian forces and even by Russia." "We reached an agreement about the meeting of our officials of foreign affairs, defense and intelligence in Moscow. We will hold these talks as soon as possible," he told reporters. Erdogan recalled a refugee influx to Turkish borders from Idlib province of Syria, and said "we do not want to look at this asylum movement with much tolerance. We are carrying out some work on the Syrian territory to stop this. We want to settle people there." A Russian delegation held talks in Turkey's capital Ankara on Saturday and Monday over the escalating tension in Syria's Idlib, but the talks failed to yield an outcome. Turkey has recently sent reinforcements to Syria following several exchanges of fire with the Syrian government forces, which killed 13 Turkish soldiers in two separate incidents in Idlib since last week. OWENDALE A parole absconder out of the state of Wyoming was arrested by the Huron County Sheriff's Office after deputies responded to a report of a physical assault, which ended with a foot pursuit Feb. 10. According to Sheriff Kelly Hanson, deputies responded to the call in Owendale after a woman ran to a convenience store looking for help. Hanson said in a press release that the woman's boyfriend was reportedly driving around town looking for her. "While the deputies were responding from different areas of the county, Deputy Nathan Leppek was the first to arrive and saw a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle," the release reads. "He then turned around to attempt to catch up to it in order to stop it." As the deputy approached the vehicle, it appeared the driver was trying to elude the deputy by driving through an empty lot, a yard and a ditch before fleeing from his vehicle on foot. "Deputy Leppk took chase of the suspect on foot and was able to take him into custody near the corner of Mill Street and Fifth Street," the report reads. Police allege that Shane L. Cook, 24, physically assaulted and choked the 20-year-old woman. He also destroyed her cell phone so she was unable to call for help. The man was transported to Huron County Jail and was arraigned on charges of domestic assault and and interfering with electronic communications. During the booking process it was learned that the suspect was wanted for prison parole violations in Wyoming, which were the result of a larceny conviction. Hanson said the man will be extradited back to Wyoming pending the local criminal charges. The courts set the man's bond at $75,000 cash, and he remains lodged in the Huron County Jail. After two dismal performances in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, entrepreneur Andrew Yang has dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. It makes for a quiet end to a campaign in which he spent tens of millions of dollars and successfully vaulted himself into the national spotlight despite his paucity of political experience. Along the way, he injected some big ideas into the mainstream of Democratic debate chief among them a universal basic income and roused a movement of supporters big enough and enthusiastic enough to earn themselves a nickname: The Yang Gang. But in the end, it wasnt enough to make him president. So what next? No sooner had Yang announced he was winding things up than the New York Post reported Democratic consultants and other operatives throughout the Big Apple were buzzing about his potential as a candidate for mayor of the nations largest city. Yang hasnt yet said hes running but its never too soon to weigh up what hed be getting into. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters The mayoralty of New York is one of the biggest jobs in the US. Taken alone, the citys population would make it the twelfth largest state in the union, with the third-largest GDP (after California and Texas). For an ambitious former tech executive whose political instincts are a blend of the idealistic and the technocratic, its possibly the ideal job. Assuming Yang ran for the job as a Democrat, he would have to compete in a primary against the unpopular two-term incumbent, Bill de Blasio, who also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination this year (he fared far worse than Yang, dropping out long before the primaries began). When he was first elected in 2013, de Blasio was heralded as something of a standard-bearer for liberals, but he is now deeply unpopular for various reasons in a very liberal city meaning he could be very vulnerable to a challenge from a high-profile disruptive candidate, particularly one able to attract the kind of media attention Yang has received. Yang would be following in the footsteps of several towering figures in local (and indeed national) history. Among them are Ed Koch, who oversaw the city during the crime wave of the 1980s, and Rudy Giuliani, now Donald Trumps personal lawyer, who is well known for using the broken windows policy on crime, and famously took to the streets in the aftermath of 9/11. But most conspicuous of all is another of this years Democratic presidential contenders. Michael Bloomberg succeeded Giuliani as mayor, initially as a Republican and then as an Independent; he reigned for 12 years, extending the offices term limit in order to do so. If Bloombergs campaign succeeds, itll might make the mayors office all the more tempting for those who, like Yang, probably still harbour dreams of being president. Then again, its not quite that simple. Giuliani too tried to leverage his record as mayor to win the presidency; his campaign turned out to be an unmitigated (and very expensive) failure. And as his presidential campaign ramps up, Bloomberg has found himself in hot water over his mayoral record: his former enthusiastic defence of stop-and-frisk police tactics has revolted much of the Democratic base, and, with a long way to go till the nomination is settled, he will struggle to shake the issue off. So if Yang is pondering whether to run for mayor, he will have to ask himself why. If its because he thinks it might make him president someday, perhaps he should think twice. MivPiv/iStock(NEW YORK) -- A bump by an unknown stranger inside a Brooklyn, New York, club where more than a dozen gang members were celebrating a birthday in 1995, left a man behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Christian Pacheco was 18 years old when he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of Lemuel Cruz on Dec. 2, 1995 inside Con Sabor Latino Lounge in Sunset Park. While Pacheco, now 42, is up for parole in December this year, he has maintained that he is not the one who slashed Cruz's throat during the violent brawl. Prosecutors with the Brooklyn District Attorney Office's Conviction Review Unit (CRU) announced on Monday that Pacheco's conviction should be tossed and to dismiss the indictment in its entirety. However, after fully investigating the case, prosecutors said that "while the investigation did not uncover any error by the police or prosecution, new evidence shows that the testimony that led to the conviction -- which described the defendant slashing the victims neck -- was not credible." "Due process and fairness are both part of the standards of review in all of our reinvestigations and I therefore must set aside this wrongful murder conviction in the interest of justice," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in a statement. Cruz was wrongly blamed for bumping into a member of the Latin Kings gang during the party. Prior to their racially motivated attack on Cruz, they yelled "get the black guy, get the black guy," according to a report prepared by the CRU. Pacheco, a member of the Latin Kings, was stabbed during the melee and collapsed outside of the Third Avenue property. He was arrested, indicted, convicted and sentenced in less than a year all based on a sole witness testimony, who identified Pacheco as the "throat-slasher," prosecutors said. Unbeknownst to the gang, since 1994, federal prosecutors with the Eastern District of the U.S. were investigating their narcotics trafficking activities and did a take down after Pacheco was sentenced in October 1996. Four of the federal defendants became unidentified federal cooperators and came forward with information about Cruz's murder. Those cooperators did not implicate Pacheco or two convicted co-defendants as the killer. Those cooperators' testimonies lead to the overturned conviction of both co-defendants in 2002 and 2005, respectively. Also in the federal probe of the gang, Melvin Garcia, Gregory Pirrone and Eduardo Velez each pleaded guilty to murder in the aid of racketeering and other charges. Garcia, in 2004, "admitted that he caused the deceaseds death by 'cutting him up, slicing him up,'" according to the CRU's report. "At his plea, Pirrone admitted that he participated in the fight and 'agreed to kill' the deceased. Neither Garcia nor Pirrone mentioned the defendant, or claimed that any of the defendants in either the state or federal proceedings were innocent." During Garcia's stint in prison, he left the gang life in 2011 and became a "spiritual person," prosecutors wrote in their report. Garcia said that his new found faith called for him to write a letter in 2013 to prosecutors saying that Pacheco was innocent. Four other participants in the murder became cooperating witnesses in the federal case and said Garcia slashed Cruz's throat. There have been 736 cases tossed in the United States where mistaken witness identification was a factor to a wrongful conviction, according to The National Registry of Exonerations. During the CRU's investigation, they re-tested the evidence from the trial and still found Cruz's blood on Pacheco's shirt. "This evidence shows that the only reasonable explanation for the deceaseds blood on the defendants clothing is he was assaulting the deceased while he and/or other assailants were stabbing and cutting the deceased whereupon the deceaseds blood, flowing from the cutting injuries, was transferred by contact to the defendant," according to the CRU's report. "Regardless of the strong direct and circumstantial evidence of guilt, CRU has concluded that the defendant did not receive a fair trial ... because the evidence upon which the prosecution relied was inaccurate and incorrect." Pacheco was not available for comment on Wednesday. In New York, there have been 268 overturned convictions since 1964 when Paul Gatling was sentenced to 30 years to life for a murder he did not commit. At 81 years old, Gatling's case was overturned in 2016. Of those 268 cases, 94 were connected to a mistaken witness identification. Since the CRU was revamped in 2014 under the leadership of the late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, it has vacated 28 convictions. In the county's history, there have been 74 overturned convictions. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. - Ellen Adarna is known for her overflowing beauty and allure that captivated many - She has once again wowed her Instagram followers as she posted a new photo of her - Her post also gained comments from famous celebrities who expressed their admiration for her - As of this writing, her post has received more than 100,000 likes on IG PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Ellen Adarna recently posted her lovely photo on her Instagram account. She showed off her beautiful face, which captivated the netizens. Aside from netizens, some celebrities reacted as well to her viral post. Jessy Mendiola was one of the stars who reacted to Ellen's post and wrote, "Ganda mo naman!" Aside from her, Iza Calzadoalso told the actress that she is beautiful. Isabelle Daza, Tim Yap and many more also left positive remarks on Ellen's lovely photo. www.instagram.com/maria.elena.adarna Source: Instagram Moreover, the said IG post has now gained more than 137,000 likes as of this writing. A few days ago, the former Home Sweetie Home star also uploaded her swimsuit photo and captioned it with, "See you soon Bali!" The said post also elicited various comments from netizens. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! In a previous report by KAMI, Ellen Adarna posted a stunning photo of her which gained praises from netizens. Ellen Adarna is one of the most gorgeous actresses in the Philippines. She is currently on a showbiz hiatus to focus on raising her child with John Lloyd Cruz. 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! Welcome to a new edition of our Tricky Questions Celebrities feature! This time, we will try to find out if these people will recognize famous celebrities through their smiles. Check out all of our videos on our KAMI YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh U.S. Marines take their positions after storming the beach with their Philippine counterpart during an amphibious landing exercise at the two-week joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise AP Photo/Bullit Marquez Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to end the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US, a decades-old military pact that oversaw the status of US troops in the country for joint military exercises and other activities. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs sent a notice to the US on Tuesday announcing that it intended to unilaterally terminate the agreement. The US Embassy in the Philippines described it as "a serious step with significant implications for the US-Philippines alliance." The move puts hundreds of joint military exercises, counterterrorism activities, South China Sea deterrence missions, and other forms of US security assistance at risk. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The Philippines, a Pacific ally that has been on the front lines of US efforts to confront and deter China, especially in the contested South China Sea, notified the US on Tuesday that it was officially terminating a bilateral agreement on the status of US troops rotating in and out of the country for military exercises. Finally following through on a threat he has made many times, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, a critic of the alliance and a proponent of a foreign policy independent of the US, said he would end the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement. "It's about time we rely on ourselves," the president's spokesman said, according to Reuters. "We will strengthen our own defenses and not rely on any other country." Teodoro Locsin Jr., Duterte's foreign secretary, tweeted late Monday that the Philippines was unilaterally terminating the agreement. The pact will end 180 days after the country notifies the US. The US Embassy in the Philippines confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it received notice of the Philippines' intent to end the agreement from its Department of Foreign Affairs, CNN reported. Story continues "This is a serious step with significant implications for the US-Philippines alliance," the statement read. "We will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests." The US and the Philippines continue to be bound by the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, but hundreds of US military exercises with the Philippines, such as the large-scale Balikatan exercises, could be in jeopardy. Terminating the VFA also puts US counterterrorism support, deterrence in the South China Sea, and other forms of security assistance at risk. The Philippines has been central to the US's efforts to counter China's growing power. Subic Bay gives the US Navy a port to repair and resupply ships that patrol the contested South China Sea, and Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts and Marine F/A-18 Hornets have used the nearby Clark Air Base for training. US special operations troops have also assisted the government's campaign against terror networks in the country's south for roughly two decades. The move to end the VFA followed the US's decision to cancel the visa of Philippines Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a key player in Duterte's bloody war on drugs, the extrajudicial killings of which have resulted in the deaths of thousands of suspects and civilian bystanders. "I'm warning you ... if you won't do the correction on this, I will terminate" the agreement, Duterte said in a televised address in late January, according to The Associated Press. "I'll end that son of a b----." While the VFA is only one part of a collection of security agreements, Philippine officials have expressed concerns that terminating it could have a domino effect. "If the VFA is terminated, the EDCA cannot stand alone, because the basis of the EDCA is the VFA, and if the VFA is terminated, the EDCA cannot be effective," Philippine Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon told reporters before Tuesday's announcement, according to CNN. Drilon added that if the visiting forces agreement and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement "are no longer effective," the Mutual Defense Treaty "would be inutile and would serve no purpose." Duterte has previously threatened to end the other bilateral agreements and called for the removal of US troops from the Philippines, often in response to American criticisms of his drug war or concerns about US efforts to push the Philippines to confront China. Read the original article on Business Insider Posted on February 11, 2020 We are collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts. President Donald Trump posted a five-minute-plus video on social media that falsely implied House Speaker Nancy Pelosi disrespected a Tuskegee airman and other Americans during the State of the Union. The social media posts claim to show powerful American stories ripped to shreds by Nancy Pelosi. But the Trump video which has more than 11 million views was misleadingly edited to make it appear that Pelosi ripped up the presidents speech immediately after he honored the Tuskegee airman, retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee, and other White House guests. In fact, the House speaker did not tear up a copy of the presidents Feb. 4 address until the speech was over. Its fair game for Trump to claim Pelosi disrespected him by tearing up the speech. But, as we show in our video, Pelosi stood and clapped for McGee. She clapped at some point for all the White House guests featured in Trumps video with the exception of conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh. She is currently in the hustle and bustle of New York Fashion Week as she just walked the Oscar de la Renta show on Monday. But Candice Swanepoel seems to wish she were elsewhere as she confessed on Wednesday that she missed her recent getaway to Ochos Rios in Jamaica. The 31-year-old cover girl took to social media to share a bikini throwback photo of herself during her vacation. Not an inch to pinch! Candice Swanepoel showcased her enviable beauty on Wednesday when she shared some throwback photos from her time in Jamaica with her bikini body on show Candice rocked a triangular black bikini top from her swim brand, Tropic Of C. The $90 top kept her ample cleavage modest while drawing attention to her trim frame with the ties wrapped around her waist. She teamed the look with a pair of the matching $80 tie-up bottoms that showcased her long and lean legs. Legs eleven: She teamed the look with a pair of the matching $80 tie-up bottoms that showcased her long and lean legs Model of-duty: She also took to her Stories to showcase her natural beauty while lounging around on a day off Founder: Candice launched her brand, Topic Of C, two years ago Candice kept her feet dry with a pair of sandals and accessorized with a large scarf around her head. The Victoria Secret Angel's hair was styled back and she appeared to be wearing a natural amount of makeup. Candice launched her brand, Topic Of C, two years ago. 'Tropic Of C is a brand with purpose, partnering with like-minded people to make a positive impact on the environment & beyond,' it says on her website. Fashion: The mom-of-two put her best foot forward while strutting down the Oscar de la Renta runway on Monday night in NYC Glamour: Candice stole the carpet when she arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscar party on Sunday night 'This vision is realized through our core values of sustainability, empowerment, community and quality.' She also took to her Stories to showcase her natural beauty while lounging around on a day off. Candice's posts comes after she's been taking the fashion world by storm during New York Fashion Week. Mom duties: Candice juggles her career with being a mother to her two sons Anaca, three, and Ariel, 1, who she shares with her former fiance Hermann Nicoli The mom-of-two put her best foot forward while strutting down the Oscar de la Renta runway on Monday night. She also walked in the Zimmerman show earlier in the day following her appearance at Sunday night's Vanity Fair Oscar party. Candice juggles her career with being a mother to her two sons Anaca, three, and Ariel, 1, who she shares with her former fiance Hermann Nicoli. The pair began dating when she was just 17 after meeting in Paris. They became engaged in August 2015 after ten years together, but split in 2019. She stars opposite Lakeith Stanfield in the romantic drama, The Photograph, out Valentine's Day. And Issa Rae captured attention on the red carpet of the film's premiere at New York City's World at SVA Theater. The Insecure star, writer, creator and producer looked fabulous in a yellow satin gown for the film's debut on Tuesday. A bright star: Issa Rae captured attention on the red carpet her film's, The Photograph, premiere at New York City's World at SVA Theater on Tuesday Rae stunned in the one sleeve, sheath waist dress in a bright blonde yellow color. One of her toned arms was on display as they other was draped in a loose sleeve. She teamed the look with gold, open-toe stilettos and diamond covered small hoop earrings. Bright: Rae stunned in the one sleeve, sheath waist dress in a bright blonde yellow color. One of her toned arms was on display as they other was draped in a loose sleeve Red carpet ready: She rocked a red carpet ready makeup look, with large lashes, a winged eyeliner and a red berry lip For glam, she had her brown hair down to her right side in large old Hollywood curls. She rocked a red carpet ready makeup look, with large lashes, a winged eyeliner and a red berry lip. Though her main co-star didn't appear to be in attendance, the other stars she takes the screen with did rock some great looks on the red carpet. Sheer: Chante Adams, who stars as a character named Christina Eams, echoed Rae's look, also opting for a one sleeve gown The Photograph, written by Stella Meghie, followed Mae Morton (Rae) the estranged daughter of a famous photographer. Mae falls in love with journalist Michael Block (Stanfield) who is assigned to cover Mae's late mother. Chelsea Peretti, Lil Rel Howery, Courtney B. Vance and Chante Adams also star. Will Packer and James Lopez produced. Date night: Lil Rel Howery was joined by Nia Franklin for the premiere. Franklin stunned in a red sequined mini dress, with nude platform stilettos Supporting: Justine Skye opted for a pantsuit for the night in a light brown shade and she seemed to wear shapewear as a top underneath. While, DeWanda Wise showed off some skin in a silky blue dress, with lace at the base of the v-neckline and a button up center The Photograph has been praised by audiences and writer for being a beautiful display of black love, rarely seen on the big screen. And being released by Universal Pictures, it is even more rare to see that story shared from a major film studio. 'Im someone who grew up just loving romance and loving my people,' writer Meghie told Essence. Adding: 'To me, thats what I want to see on the screen. Whether its romantic love, romantic Black love, or familial Black love. Its just what calls to me. Its what I like to write about and itll continue to be a thread.' Cast and crew: Producers James Lopez and Will Packer posed with Adams Adams, who stars as a character named Christina Eams, echoed Rae's look, also opting for a one sleeve gown. Her green dress was adorned with a black pattern and black tie at her waist. The skirt portion of the gown went sheer, revealing a solid green bodysuit bottom, and her toned legs. She teamed the look with black stilettos that tied around her ankles. Classic: Alano Miller rocked a classic grey suit Loving love: Miller had 'love' shaved into the hair on the right side of his head in support of the film Though not in the film, other stars were sure to show support on the red carpet. Justine Skye opted for a pantsuit for the night in a light brown shade and she seemed to wear shapewear as a top underneath. While, DeWanda Wise showed off some skin in a silky blue dress, with lace at the base of the v-neckline and a button up center. Actor Alano Miller rocked a classic grey suit and had 'love' shaved into the hair on the right side of his head in support of the film. Mini me: A young star, Dakota Paradise, portrays a young version of Rae's Mae, flashed a bright smile for cameras Lil Rel Howery posed for cameras in a fur-lined beige coat, black slacks and workers boots. Howery was joined by Nia Franklin for the premiere. Franklin stunned in a red sequined mini dress, with nude platform stilettos. A young star, Dakota Paradise, portrays a young version of Rae's Mae, flashed a bright smile for cameras. She looked absolutely adorable in a black leather dress, white tights, black buckled boots and a plush red coat. Writer in the house: Writer Stella Meghie looked fab in a black, textured satin gown, with a cutout chest and high neckline Colorful: Producer Packer opted for a colorful look with a magenta coat, grey striped trousers and a purple turtle neck Writer Meghie looked fab in a black, textured satin gown, with a cutout chest and high neckline. Producer Packer opted for a colorful look with a magenta coat, grey striped trousers and a purple turtle neck. The film officially releases on Friday, though many theaters begin showings Friday night. By ANI NEW DELHI: Diplomats of 25 countries including those from Germany, Canada, France and Afghanistan, on Wednesday reached Kashmir to witness the ground situation in the region nearly six months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats that will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir in the last one month. The delegation will meet fruit growers in North Kashmir before reaching Srinagar where they are scheduled to meet media representatives, civil society groups and politicians of Jammu and Kashmir. ALSO READ | No restriction, any Indian can visit Jammu and Kashmir: Centre The Indian Army will also brief the visiting diplomats on the security situation in Kashmir and are expected to give a detailed presentation on Pakistan's involvement in fomenting and sponsoring terrorism in the newly-formed Union Territory. According to reports, the envoys will have a night halt in Srinagar before moving to Jammu next day where they are expected to meet Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and civil society groups. Jammu and Kashmir: The second batch of foreign envoys arrive in Srinagar. The batch has 25 foreign envoys, including envoys from Germany, Canada, France, New Zealand, Mexico, Italy, Afghanistan, Austria, Uzbekistan, Poland, as well as envoys of the European Union (EU). pic.twitter.com/pqc8tYShRH ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 The delegation includes diplomats from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland, and Rwanda. The fresh batch of diplomats also includes EU representatives, and their participation assumes significance as the EU Parliament recently initiated to bring a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir, the vote on which was later deferred. Also, the India-EU summit is also slated to take place in Brussels next month where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be participating. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 to see first-hand efforts being made by the government in the region. Wise has worked for the past six years at Daniel Stark Law as a senior litigation attorney. Wise said that his life experiences, and the perspective that comes from those experiences, would shape his approach to serving as judge, lifting up his time as an officer as well as trial experiences in particular. He also said that working with at-risk youth has been near and dear to him over the years. That knowledge and wisdom didnt come from a book it came from a life, Wise said. Theres also the commitment to the law, and the knowledge and the belief that the law must be upheld, because I know what happens when its not. He and his wife, educator Emily Foster Wise, have five children ages 3 to 15. Wise is an elder at Declaration Church. Wise said that he is uniquely qualified because district judges in Brazos County preside over courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they handle civil and criminal cases, and the 272nd court also handles some juvenile cases all areas, Wise said, in which he has experience. Acting Agriculture Minister Adrian Oros has announced on Wednesday that this year, in which work is carried out on the 2021-2027 National Strategic Plan (PNS), the current, "not so positive trend for the Romanian agriculture" will be changed, in the conditions in which we export subsidies and import processed products, and the trade balance deficit with agro-food products is close to one billion euro. "We are in a more special year from all points of view, but for us, with the Agriculture Ministry, it's important how we negotiate and write the National Strategic Plan (PNS) and how we'll finance and support agriculture and food industry in Romania between 2021 and 2027, because we start form a reality regarding the trade balance deficit, more correctly, regarding the trade balance deficit in terms of agriculture and food industry. In 2018, we exceeded one billion euro, and at the end of November 2019, the deficit was close to one billion euro - more precisely 988 million euro. Now, we have a not so positive trend for the Romanian agriculture, we export raw materials, we import high added value processed materials, basically, we export subsidies and, this year, we are trying to change the trend," Oros told a press conference.He mentioned that ever since November 2019, when he took over the Ministry's leadership, he started the drafting of the PNS and the debates with the associative environment, a SWOT analysis being already conducted which identified the priority objectives to be included in the 2021-2027 PNS. Oros added that this PNS draft will be forwarded to the EC services, and, by the end of February, the contract for the consulting services with the World Bank will also be signed, in view of substantiating the interventions for Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy. AGERPRES L ondon has been named the five-star capital of the world today as six of its hotels were honoured in the Forbes Travel Guide annual awards. Known as the Oscars of the hospitality industry, for 62 years Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) has been the global authority on luxury in the world of hotels, restaurants and spas - having 'invented five star' in 1958. This year, Londons Browns Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel; Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square; Rosewood London, The Berkeley, The Egerton House Hotel and The Milestone Hotel & Residences have been added to the prestigious list, which seeks to recognise genuine five-star service. Filip Boyen, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide tells the Standard: London is filled with some of the worlds best properties, so it comes as no surprise that it takes the title as the Five-Star capital of the world. This year, London soars ahead of other major cities with the addition of six new Five-Star winners, showcasing some of the finest large and small properties in the world. We congratulate all the London hotels on our list for their achievements. FTG, whose name is licenced from Forbes Media but has no further association with the company, was formerly Mobil Travel Guide until the mid-2000s. It was founded in 1958 by the oil giant in a bid to encourage people to travel more and use more gas. Now, FTG is an independent and completely anonymous rating system that awards its stars based on 900 standards. This year, the awards has seen 70 five-star, 120 four-star and 81 recommended hotels added to its winners list. Below, we detail what you need to know about the London additions to this years list. Browns Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel Forbes Travel Guide Mayfairs most stylish haunt for nearly two centuries (it opened in 1837), this timeless hotel is made from 11 townhouses, a perfect synergy of old and new. A London institution, Richard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book while staying at the hotel and it has previously counted Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill among its guests (if walls could talk ). Sumptuous interiors make way for marble bathrooms and the wood-panelled Donovan Bar is a must for a cocktail. What FTG says: Expect luxurious touches such as nightcream at turn down and, if you are lucky enough to stay during Wimbledon, fresh strawberries and cream delivered to your room. Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square Forbes Travel Guide Joining its sister property, Four Seasons Park Lane, as the hotel groups second five star property in the capital, Ten Trinity Square is perfectly positioned in the shadow of the Tower of London. Housed in a Grade II listed heritage building, the hotels 100 rooms are coloured in muted tones and soothing grey hues, and the spa offers a couples suite, a hammam and an indoor pool. What FTG says: Ten Trinity sets itself apart for its exceptionally strong service levels and the inclusion of large elephant art pieces - a nod to the owners support of this species. Rosewood London Forbes Travel Guide An Edwardian wonder, smack bang in the centre of High Holborn, Rosewood London lives up to its sense of place philosophy. Housed in the 1914 Belle Epoque building the luxury begins with its Somerset House-style courtyard and extends to its marble and mahogany-laced interiors. As dramatically grand as the public areas are, the 263 rooms and 45 suites enlist a softer, monochromatic approach. What FTG says: The beautifully presented Office Gossip cocktail caught the attention of our evaluator, garnished with roasted cauliflower and pea shoots for a completely destination centric flavour. The Berkeley Forbes Travel Guide The sister hotel of the Claridges and The Connaught - both of which already feature on the FTG list - The Berkley is an art decoed wonder and a fashion set hotspot. Its much-celebrated facelift in 2016 has only lifted the interiors to greater esteem, from its marble-clad entrance hall to its glittering chandeliers. The iconic Blue Bar, painted in its signature Lutyens Blue is a gram staple, but head upstairs to the rooftop pool for Londons most scenic hangout. What FTG says: The Berkeley has a modern elegant design and while its Blue Bar is famed, its the food and beverage program at this hotel that sets it apart. The Egerton House Hotel Forbes Travel Guide Perched on a quiet tree-lined street in Knightsbridge, moments from the V&A and Harrods, The Egerton House Hotel is an opulent home away from home. Built in 1843, each of the 23 rooms and four suites retain the grandeur of a townhouse and pets here are treated like Queens, with embroidered towels, grooming service and a separate food menu that includes a doggy afternoon tea with pawsecco. What FTG says: Egerton House makes you feel like you are staying with rich relatives, the hotel feels closer to a luxurious private home with a super comfy living room for afternoon tea. The Milestone Hotel & Residences Forbes Travel Guide With views across the western end of Hyde Park towards Kensington Palace, The Milestone is a hotel fit for royalty. Its grandiose Victorian facade hides an interior filled with cosy nooks - from the park lounge, where you can indulge in as many scones with jam and cream as you fancy, to its bolthole bar - the cocktails here are served with mini croque monsieurs. The Lehigh Valleys new Allegiant flight base is open and ready for business. Lehigh Valley International Airport officials and employees were joined by local dignitaries Wednesday morning to celebrate the good news for the airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, outside Allentown. Since the announcement on Aug. 20, Ive been waiting with a lot of excitement and a lot of anticipation to finally be able to say to our friends at Allegiant, Welcome to our neighborhood, said Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority that owns and operates LVIA. The new base means two aircraft, 66 new jobs and a $50 million investment. Since announcing LVIA as a flight base, Allegiant announced adding Nashville and Des Moines as flight bases, for 20 total, said Allegiant spokeswoman Hilarie Grey. This is a direct investment in our community thats making our connection with other areas stronger, said state Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh. Its really hard to think about an economic development opportunity for our region that has more value. Its about additional jobs, its about additional capital investment, about investing in our regional asset, its about providing value to all our citizens in terms of great travel opportunities. The Lehigh Valley has been the underdog for a long time, but is now a rising star, said Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Don Cunningham. The airport at one time only saw about 600,000 passengers, and Cunningham said it will break the 1-million passenger mark this year. The underdog is rising up and were ready to lead, he said. Officials and residents are now looking toward whats next, and thats hopefully more destinations. Stoudt was tight-lipped about the locations that come up in conversations with Allegiant, and other airlines. Theres a lot of discussion with their route-planning teams, and really looking at what kind of makes sense, he said of Allegiant. This week, Allegiant announced nine new destinations, including expanded service to San Diego, Las Vegas and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Allegiant first began service at LVIA in 2005, with a route to Orlando Sanford International Airport. That service is one of the most frequently operated routes, Grey said, at times reaching up to three flights per day, and 15 operations per week. Stoudt said having a flight base means LVIA can test out a route to see if it works, the luxury of flexibility. More destinations mean more travelers, and the airport is moving ahead with a $22 million terminal connector, adding a new security screening area with more checkpoint lanes. Stoudt also said officials are working on adding more parking at the airport, both short-term and long-term parking, and that the project will probably mean a parking structure. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 'Western' tourist was found floating in the sea with an 8kg rock tied around his neck off the coast of Pattaya, eastern Thailand. The man, whose nationality is not yet known, was found yesterday afternoon at 1.30pm local time (6.30am GMT). Shocked locals called police in the crime-ridden Sin City resort who are considering whether the man was murdered by being thrown off a boat with the stone attached, leaving him unable to swim to safety. They said the heavily-set man was in his 50s and had been dead for between one and two days. Officers are considering whether he had the rock tied to his neck before being pushed from a boat The man, whose nationality is not yet known, was found yesterday afternoon at 1:30pm local time off the coast of Sin City Officers are also considering whether he had the rock tied to his neck before being pushed from a boat, causing him to drown. Captain Nakhonrat Nontseelard from Pattaya Police said: 'We don't know how the man died but an autopsy should give us a better idea. 'If he was pushed into the water he would not be able to swim. That would be murder.' The victim was found in the sea around 1,300ft off the coast of Koh Larn, a small island popular with tourists. Pictures from the scene show he was wearing blue denim shorts, grey flip-flops and a grey to-shirt. A black leather ruck sack with a phone charging cable, neck pillow, belt and several personal items, also found with the man. Police said the heavily-set man was in his 50s and had been dead for between one and two days Shocked locals called police in the crime-ridden Sin City resort after seeing the man in the sea Police said it was possible that he tied the rock around his own neck before jumping into the sea from a pier. The decomposing corpse would then have risen to the surface. Police Captain Nontseelard added: 'The man could also have been dead before he was thrown into the sea and the rock used to try and conceal the body. Every option will be considered. 'If anybody knows of a tourist who has gone missing they should contact police with any information they have.' Thanonchai Rienpreecha, one of the paramedics from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation that attended the scene, said: 'The foreign man was lying face down with a rope to tied his neck and attached to a large stone. 'There is no clear cause of death but a forensic examination will show if he died from drowning or if he was killed first then thrown into the sea.' The second and final round of the Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants kicked off on February 11, with total financial support of 2.32 million AUD available. Photo: vnmedia.vn The second followed a successful first round in 2019, with three innovation partnerships receiving a total of more than 1.63 million AUD, according to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam. Under the theme Scaling existing AustraliaVietnam Innovation Partnerships, grants of between 100,000 AUD and 1,000,000 AUD will be awarded on a competitive basis to existing partnerships between Australian and Vietnamese institutions to support tested initiatives that are ready to scale up and have the potential to deliver ecosystem-level impact. Grantees will have up to 12 months to implement their proposed activities. The second round of Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants demonstrates our continued commitment to work with the Government of Vietnam in particularly the Ministry of Science and Technology to further enhance the innovation ecosystem. As in the previous round, we will support innovative ideas in different sectors that have potential for wide-scale application, will deliver lasting socioeconomic impact, and can help strengthen the Vietnamese innovation ecosystem, said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said programmes like Aus4Innovation are enhancing Vietnams innovation ecosystem, making it better connected so it functions more effectively. I look forward to more partnerships of this nature; where Australian and Vietnamese partners continue working together to address challenges and create opportunities in our growing economy, he added. Aus4Innovation Partnership Grants is an important part of the 11 million AUD, four year (2018-2022) flagship Aus4Innovation programme to help strengthen the Vietnamese innovation system and prepare for Vietnams economic and digital future./. VNA FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's premier concedes that the growing backlash to health-care reforms including closing the emergency rooms of six community hospitals during the overnight hours may hurt him politically. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. New Brunswick Progressive Conservative MLA Hugh J. A. (Ted) Flemming, Q.C., centre, is sworn in as Minister of Health at the New Brunswick Legislature in Fredericton on November 9, 2018. There is growing backlash in New Brunswick to health care reforms announced Tuesday that include closing the emergency departments of six community hospitals overnight. Dr. Hubert Dupuis, president of Egalite Sante en Francais -- a group that lobbies for equal health services for francophone New Brunswickers -- says the changes are irresponsible and will lead to the defeat of the Tory minority government. Health Minister Hugh Flemming says the changes are needed to improve care and address a shortage of human resources. THE CANADIAN PRESS/James West FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's premier concedes that the growing backlash to health-care reforms including closing the emergency rooms of six community hospitals during the overnight hours may hurt him politically. A defiant Blaine Higgs addressed reporters Wednesday, saying his government is convinced it is doing the right things to ensure the sustainability of the health-care system. "We have to fix our situation in our province, and we have to make decisions that are not popular, but people can understand the facts and the reason," Higgs said. But Dr. Hubert Dupuis, president of Egalite sante en francais a group that lobbies for equal health services for francophone New Brunswickers said the changes are irresponsible. "If there is a critically ill patient in rural New Brunswick, they need to be able to get into an emergency room. We are talking about their health and their lives," Dupuis said Wednesday. He said the move will lead to the defeat of the Tory minority, and accused the province's health networks of being "puppets of the Higgs-Austin government." Dupuis was referring to the minority Progressive Conservative government, which is being supported on confidence votes by the People's Alliance party led by Kris Austin. Karen McGrath, CEO of the province's English-language health authority Horizon Health, said Tuesday the six affected ERs were only seeing an average of five patients per night, and most of those were not emergencies. McGrath and Vitalite Health CEO Gilles Lanteigne said the hospitals were also chosen because they were within 75 kilometres of another hospital with a 24-hour emergency department. Dupuis said that's still too far for someone with a health emergency to go, and the drive to get emergency care should be no more than 30 minutes. "I don't think that people will stand for this. I think there's going to be a movement that's going to start. I think this government, being a minority government, is gone. I think this government is going to fall on this," Dupuis said. Effective March 11, emergency departments in Sussex, Sackville, Perth-Andover, Ste-Anne-de-Kent, Caraquet and Grand Falls will be closed from midnight to 8 a.m. The six impacted communities will get added mental health services, and 120 acute care beds will be converted to long-term chronic care beds, mainly for seniors awaiting a nursing home. Health Minister Hugh Flemming said Tuesday the changes were needed to improve care and address a shortage of human resources. A number of protests were held outside the affected hospitals on Tuesday, and Opposition Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said his party would try to topple the government. "We at the very first opportunity will do everything in our power to bring down this government to ensure the health and safety of our citizens of New Brunswick," he said. Higgs said Vickers didn't attend a briefing from the government on the reforms, and accused the Liberal leader of lashing out without the facts. "It's politics at its worst and it's exactly why our province is in the state it's in decisions without facts," Higgs said. A number of Higgs' own MLAs have expressed concerns with the reforms, but the premier said he believes they'll be supportive once they see the changes working. Green Leader David Coon wouldn't say if he would vote against the government on any confidence motion over the health reforms. "I'm not the kind of person who goes around making threats all over the place like that. We need to convince the government to reverse its decision," he said. The changes are being made by the regional health networks and don't need to come before the legislature for approval. The current standings in the Legislative Assembly are 21 Tories, 20 Liberals, three People's Alliance members and three Greens. There are two vacancies and Higgs has said he'll announce the dates for the byelections in March. Liberal members of the legislature's public accounts committee have brought forward a motion calling on Health Department officials and the two health network CEOs to answer questions about the reforms. "These cuts will put the health of many New Brunswickers at risk and we need the government to explain why it is taking such drastic action," said Liberal MLA Lisa Harris. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020. The Legislatures GOP-led budget committee Wednesday rejected plans to build two state-run facilities for serious juvenile offenders, likely spelling more delays for the closure of Wisconsins embattled youth prison. Voting along party lines Wednesday, the Joint Committee on Finance gave preliminary approval to $102 million in funding for four new county-run centers which is up from the $80 million allocated in the budget. The gap could be filled by the state Building Commission, a panel headed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers that has bonding authority. But the committee also denied DOCs request for $73 million for two state-run facilities in Milwaukee and Outagamie counties for more serious offenders. Proposals by Democratic lawmakers to fund both requests in their entirety were rejected by Republicans. Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr said the decision makes it very unlikely that the Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls near Irma will close by the most recent deadline of July 1, 2021. Theres no sticker shock here, that should have been anticipated, Carr said of the departments funding request. Our ability to fund these facilities in order to do whats best for our kids in this state, it has to be a priority. Obviously it does not appear to be a priority for those who made the decision today. All told, the Department of Corrections had requested about $111 million for facilities in Brown, Dane, Milwaukee and Racine counties. The committees decision reduces Milwaukee Countys request by $8.4 million and funds in full requests by Brown, Dane and Racine counties. The reduced spending for Milwaukee County eliminates a leased space component included in the original proposal that would have added 24 beds. Sarah Wynn, fiscal analyst with the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, said nearly 100 of the residents at Lincoln Hills will relocate to the county facilities, but another roughly 60 inmates will remain. What that means is those kids will have to stay at Lincoln Hills and what that means is that facility stays open, said Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee. The choices that have been made today and going forward mean that Lincoln Hills will not close on the date we want it to close and that those families and those kids deserve. Following years of alleged abuse by staff against inmates at the juvenile facility that has resulted in millions of dollars in legal settlements against the state, lawmakers in 2018 voted to close the youth prison by next January and replace it with smaller, regional state- and county-run facilities. Lawmakers already had pushed back the deadline to July 2021, but Evers has warned that further delays are likely if additional funding is not secured. Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, said it could take a couple budgets before the states juvenile justice system is fully funded. Were not fully funding all parts of these plans, Born said. Were moving forward with a major investment in an important part of this plan for reforming our juvenile system in Wisconsin. Republicans cited pushback from local governments and area residents in Milwaukee and Hortonia as main reasons for their decision not to fund state-run facilities for serious juvenile offenders in those communities. We have to come back with a better alternative, said committee co-chairwoman Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills. The committee did not discuss the proposed $59 million expansion of the Mendota Mental Health Institute on Madisons North Side. Funds for the expansion which is part of the 2018 juvenile justice overhaul plan were approved in the state budget, but need approval from the committee to be released. The proposal would roughly quadruple Mendotas Juvenile Treatment Centers size, allowing for the treatment of more boys at the site and, for the first time, girls. Currently, there is no place in the state that we can send seriously mentally ill female youth to, Carr said. The failure to move on that project is also very concerning to our administration. Evers has warned that failure to approve the funding would force the Department of Health Services to come up with new plans for a smaller expansion. That would further delay a project that is already behind schedule and was not expected to be completed until some 14 months after Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake is slated to close. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan will pay a working visit to Germany on February 13-15, the PMs Office told Armenpress. During the visit the Armenian PM will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference for media representatives. Pashinyan will also meet with President of the Bundestag Wolfgang Schauble. The Armenian PM will meet with the German scientific, expert circles at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of the Social Democratic Party. On February 14 Pashinyan will depart for Munich to take part in the official opening ceremony of the Munich Security Conference. On the sidelines of the Conference the Armenian PM will have several bilateral meetings. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan [February 12, 2020] Digital Realty to Acquire Forty-Nine Percent Interest In the Westin Building Exchange in Seattle SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, announced today it has reached an agreement with Clise Properties to acquire a 49% ownership interest in the Westin Building Exchange in Seattle, Washington. The Westin Building Exchange serves as the primary interconnection hub for the Pacific Northwest, linking Canada, Alaska and Asia along the Pacific Rim. The building is the sixth most densely interconnected facility in North America, and is home to leading global cloud, content and interconnection providers, housing over 150 carriers and more than 10,000 cross-connects. The 34-story tower is adjacent to Amazon's 4.1 million square foot urban campus and overlooks Elliott Bay as well as the downtown Seattle skyline. "This investment represents a significant step towards executing on the PlatformDIGITAL roadmap we introduced last November, adding coverage, capacity and connectivity capabilities to enable our customers' digital transformation strategies," said Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein. "This linchpin asset gives us the opportunity to fully leverage our robust business infrastructure and open up a full suite of enterprise IT solutions to our global customer base. This transaction further strengthens our interconnection platform and demonstrates our commitment to accelerating digital business on PlatformDIGITAL." The Westin Building Exchange occupies a unique position in the communications infrastructure landscape, given customers' growing propensity to deploy IT infrastructure at centers of data exchange around the world, bringing users, things, applications, clouds and networks to the data. Digital Realty's investment in the Westin Building will unlock new possibilities for custoers to scale digital transformation by removing data gravity barriers. The Westin Building Exchange sits at the digital crossroads of the Pacific Northwest and provides direct and virtual access to one of the richest communities of cloud and network providers, powered by Digital Realty's Service Exchange. When fully integrated into PlatformDIGITAL, the Westin Building Exchange will play a strategic role in addressing customers' coverage, capacity and ecosystem connectivity needs with a single data center provider. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the first half of 2020. Upon closing, Digital Realty will assume management and operational oversight for the facility. About Digital Realty Digital Realty supports the data center, colocation and interconnection strategies of customers across the Americas, EMEA and APAC, ranging from cloud and information technology services, communications and social networking to financial services, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and consumer products. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . Media & Industry Analyst Relations Marc Musgrove Digital Realty +1 (415) 508-2812 [email protected] Investor Relations John J. Stewart Digital Realty +1 (415) 738-6500 [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the Westin Building Exchange, the expected benefits and timing of the transaction and PlatformDIGITAL. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-realty-to-acquire-forty-nine-percent-interest-in-the-westin-building-exchange-in-seattle-301003503.html SOURCE Digital Realty [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Advertisement Bernie Sanders appeared set to win the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night - but not by the convincing margin he had hoped to win next door to his home state, as moderate Pete Buttigieg saw his gap close as the votes were counted. Starting the night with an average of 28 per cent as precincts reported their results, Buttigieg closed the 6 per cent gap and after 10:00 p.m., the candidates were less than two per cent apart. Amy Klobuchar also crept up to third place, around 4 points behind Buttigieg, after a strong debate performance on Friday gave her a last-minute surge in the state. She took the stage at her primary night party when about 50 per cent of precincts reporting, choking up at some point while addressing supporters. Elizabeth Warren falls behind Klobuchar next with Biden leading only Andrew Yang, Tom Steyer, Tulsi Gabbard and Michael Bennet. And Yang and Bennet ended their campaigns Tuesday night amid their poor New Hampshire showing. 'A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q.' Donald Trump tweeted. Polls showed Biden was in a tough spot and the 77-year-old candidate fled the state for South Carolina, which holds its primary at the end of the month, hours before polls closed on Tuesday. Your browser does not support iframes. Democratic socialist Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in 1st place in the New Hampshire primary election Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg in second after a strong performance in the Iowa caucuses last week Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar came up in a shocking third place after an impressive debate performance n Manchester on Friday Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, however, dropped to fourth place after placing third in Iowa Former Vice President Joe Biden came in fifth after admitting last week that New Hampshire likely wouldn't vote him the victor in the first-in-the-nation primary Bernie Sanders - seen with his wife Jane - was in the early lead in New Hampshire Richard Johnson, the moderator for Hinsdale, N.H., dumps primary ballots onto a table at the Millstream Community Center in Hinsdale, N.H., as Megan Kondrat and Mike Darcy watch Bernie Sanders supporters at his election night party in Manchester Sanders' primary night party erupted around 7:45 p.m., when the massive screen in the typical college gymnasium at Southern New Hampshire University illuminated and showed Sanders in the lead just 15-minutes before polls closed with more than nearly 30 per cent. Their enthusiasm wasn't deterred when CNN showed that was with just 5 per cent of precincts reporting in. Throughout the night the numbers continued to fluctuate as the gap between Buttigieg and Sanders got smaller and smaller. Supporters filtered into Sanders' primary night celebration as the polling places closed, and a few hundred either took their seats in the stadium-like stands while others stood near the stage where Bernie delivered his victory speech. The crowd counted down the clock as it approached 8:00 p.m. poll closing time like it was the New Year's Eve midnight ball drop ringing in a new year. Sanders is coming off a self-declared win in Iowa as well, where he won the popular vote but South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg took the most delegates. Sanders' campaign said they are demanding a recanvass. In 2016, the Vermont senator won the New Hampshire primary with an astounding 60.4 per cent to Hillary Clinton's 38 per cent. He's looking for a repeat win Tuesday night. Amy Klobuchar came out of the New Hampshire primary with a surprise third place finish and a burst of momentum for her campaign heading into Nevada and South Carolina. She defied early expectations, most of which did not see her making it past the first round of primary contests, let alone besting Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in one of them. The Minnesota senator choked up bit when she thanked her supporters at her primary night party. 'My heart is full tonight. While there are still ballots left to count we have beaten the odds every step of way,' she said. 'Thank you New Hampshire. We are on to Nevada because the best is yet to come.' Klobuchar ranked near the bottom of the polls when she entered the presidential contest in February of 2019, famously giving her kick off speech in a Minnesota blizzard. She ran her campaign based on her Minnesota moderate pragmaticism and her folksy, quick with a quip image. She skyrocketed ahead of Biden and Warren after a strong debate performance on Friday, collecting enough donations - $3 million as of Monday and support to push her to the next round of contests. But while moderates and independents who can vote in New Hampshire's primary have flocked to her, she has not captured the progressive wing of the party, which tends to dominate in primary contests. She acknowledged that Tuesday night. 'I cannot wait to build a movement and win with a movement of fired up Democrats and independent and moderate Republicans,' Klobuchar told the crowd. She asked supporters to stick with her and to donate to her campaign. 'I don't have that big bank account. I don't have that big name of some of those people in the race and I'm not a political newcomer with no political record. What I have is your back,' she said as she asked for their support. The New Hampshire crowd was fired up. While Klobuchar's crowd of supporters waited for her to speak, they tried out a variety of chants and cheers: 'Let's go Amy'; 'Every race, every place, every time, win big'; 'All of us, all of us, all of us'; 'She knows us'; 'Who do we want? Amy? When do want her? 2020'; 'Go Amy, Beat Trump'; and 'Beat Trump, Vote Amy.' In the end, they just shouted 'Amy, Amy, Amy.' Elizabeth Warren had a disappointing placement Tuesday night. The Massachusetts senator came in fourth place - despite being from the neighboring state, which is seen as an advantage. Elizabeth Warren gave an early concession speech in New Hampshire but vowed to campaign on Andrew Yang dropped out of the race Tuesday night Colorado Senator Michael Bennet also dropped out of the race Warren gave an early concession speech Tuesday night before the race was officially called where she congratulated Sanders and Buttigieg on their strong showing. 'I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out,' she said in pointed reference to those who have questioned how her presidential campaign can continue. She warned the road to the Democratic nomination could be a long one. 'We might be headed for another one of those long primary fights that lasts for months,' she said. The Massachusetts senator also made a call for unity calling out Sanders and Buttigieg for the knocks they taken against one another and arguing only a united Democratic Party can beat Donald Trump. 'If we're going to beat Donald Trump in November, we are going to need huge turnout within our party, and to get that turnout, we will need a nominee that the broadest coalition of our party feels they can get behind,' she said. She then made the pitch for herself as that candidate. But Warren was not estimated to receive a delegate out of the New Hampshire contest thanks to her poor finish. She kept her speech positive, however, and pivoted to thanking her supporters, her husband and her dog Bailey, who campaigned with her. 'Tonight I want to say thank you -- thank you to every volunteer, every organizer, every door knocker, every phone banker, every five-dollar donor,' she said. She paused and put her hand on her heart, head bowed, when the crowd yelled 'Warren, Warren, Warren' to her. She vowed to campaign on. 'Our campaign is built for the long haul. And we are just getting started,' she said. Meanwhile, New Hampshire state officials reported no election problems, which will likely give Democrats a clear winner following the debacle of the Iowa caucuses. The primary contest here is run by state officials unlike Iowa's caucuses, which are run by party leaders and local volunteers. 'We've got this. We know what we're doing here. The only way it will last that long if the numbers are so close we have a virtual tie,' New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley told reporters on a phone call Monday. 'Everything here is paper ballot. Nothing is connected to the internet. The ballots are immediately impounded by the state police. There is just no question for anyone to have any fear,' he added. The state uses paper ballots that are filed in with a pencil. Those ballots are then counted by machines that are not connected to the internet. Afterward, state police officers collect the printouts of final tallies and deliver them to the statehouse. Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane leave a New Hampshire polling site after visiting supporters Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar emerged to mingle with voters in Manchester Tuesday morning. Manchester is the most population city in the small New England state of New Hampshire, with a population of more than 112,500 Joe Biden left New Hampshire Tuesday afternoon but his campaign is still holding an event for supporters Pete Buttigieg, who came in first in Iowa, showed up to a polling place in Hopkinton, New Hampshire with Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH) with New Englands favorite: Dunkin' Donuts Klobuchar was in high spirits Tuesday morning after winning two of the first three New Hampshire precincts that voted over night Billionaire Mike Bloomberg took the remaining polling location of Dixville Notch with three write-in votes Dixville Notch has a population of 12 people, and five voted in the primary at midnight. One vote went to Pete Butitgieg, one to Bernie Sanders, and three to Bloomberg but one of them was from a Republican Dixville Notch Hart's Location and Millsfield traditionally cast their votes at midnight on primary election day But it was Amy Klobuchar who came out ahead in one of the state's quirkier traditions: the midnight vote. Residents of three small towns in the northern part of the state gather at their polling places at midnight to vote, making them the first official results in the state. The Minnesota senator won two of the three midnight tallies. Klobuchar, who has recently surged in the polls after winning fifth place in the Iowa caucuses, won Hart's Location with six votes and Millsfield two. The closely-followed Dixville Notch, which has a population of only 12 people, went to billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn't even on the ticket. Ten minutes past midnight, the polling place was closed after five people voted in the Democratic primary in Dixville Notch. One person voted for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, one for former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg and three wrote-in Bloomberg's name. There was one voter who wrote-in for Bloomberg that is a Republican. New Hampshire has a partially open primary election, meaning those not registered with a political party can vote in both the Democratic and Republican primary elections. However, the state does not have a fully open primary because those registered with a party can only vote in that party's elections. As of a 2017 count, Millsfield has a population of 21 and Hart's Location is double the size with 41 people. Millsfield also had five Democratic primary voters two went for Klobuchar, one for Sanders, one for Buttigieg and one for former Vice President Joe Biden. Hart's Location had a slightly bigger turnout with 15 voters in the Democratic primary. But one Democratic winner doesn't mean the party will have their nomination all wrapped and ready to take on President Donald Trump, who held a rally in Manchester Monday night to taunt his political rivals. President Donald Trump made sure he wasn't forgotten as the focus shifted to the Democratic primary. In New Hampshire, the president, of course, came out in a landslide victory against his nearly-non-existent primary competition although opposition candidate William Weld registered a much stronger showing than he did in Iowa. Trump was leading with 86 per cent of the vote with almost a third of the vote in and former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, who was campaigning across the state for months, was below 10 per cent of the vote. It was the second easy victory for the president in as many weeks after Iowa where Democrats were thrown into confusion as the first-in-the-nation primary competiton still hadn't announced a winner nearly a week after the caucuses. To further mock the Democrats, Trump used his favorite social media medium, Twitter, to attack candidates as the results filtered in. 'Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night,' he tweeted as the candidate slipped to fourth place. 'I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a 'nice cold beer' with her husband!' He was referencing a video Warren released when announcing her candidacy where she was standing in her kitchen sharing a brew with her husband a moment that went viral for allegedly being staged. Trump also took a hit a billionaire Tom Steyer, who doesn't even fall within the top five candidates in New Hampshire and placed seventh in Iowa with a measly .3 per cent. 'Impeachment King Steyer (how did that work out?) spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1% of the vote in Iowa, and only 3% of the Vote in New Hampshire,' he taunted. 'Could it be that something is just plain missing? Not easy to do what I did, is it?' No single candidate has yet united the Democrats nationally and the current field of contenders represent all corners of the party: young, old, moderate, liberal, pragmatic, hopeful. And where the candidates enter the field on Tuesday may not be where they exit. Bernie Sanders held his final campaign rally with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Monday night Bernie Sanders: The leader in the New Hampshire polls, Sanders wants the victory. He won the 2016 Democratic primary in New Hampshire but lost the nomination that year to Hillary Clinton. He and Pete Buttigieg are fighting over who came out on top in the Iowa caucuses (Buttigieg picked up the most delegates and Sanders is asking for a recanvass). He needs a clear cut New Hampshire victory to boost him to finish what he couldn't in the last presidential cycle. 'If we win here tomorrow, I think we've got a path to victory for the Democratic nomination,' the Vermont senator told supporters at one of his rallies on Monday. He closed out his campaigning Monday evening with over 7,500 attendees with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a performance by The Strokes. Pete Buttigieg: Buttigieg touted himself the front runner after Iowa's caucus debacle but now he needs to show he comes out on top when all the votes are counted. The youngest candidate in the field, he's come under attack for his lack of experience but has argued his ability to bring out support makes up for never having held national office. Pete Buttigieg walks and N.H. Rep. Annie Kuster while carrying doughnuts to a poling station in Hopkinton 'It feels good out here,' he told reporters on Monday. He fell behind Sanders in the latest round of New Hampshire polls and started to down play a victory in the state in its final hours. 'Look we are competing against home region competition, two New England senators I recognize that, but I still think we're going to have a great night,' he told NBC News in an interview that aired on the 'Today' show Tuesday morning, referring to Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. But the former mayor was up and out early Tuesday morning, bringing donuts to a polling place in Hopkinton and appearing on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.' Amy Klobuchar changes into more comfortable shoes after a rally Amy Klobuchar: A few polls put her in third place going into Tuesday, giving her momentum in the closing hours of the primary. A bronze medal keeps her campaign viable and the cash flowing in. She's already guaranteed a spot on the Las Vegas debate stage thanks to her coming out of Iowa with one delegate but a third place finish or higher gives her bid a big boost going into the next round of contests in Nevada and South Carolina. 'I need your help,' Klobuchar told a rally in Exeter, New Hampshire, her voice breaking as she spoke the words. 'Right now we are on the cusp of something really great,' she said, 'but I can't call everyone you know. So I'm asking you to do that today.' The Minnesota senator won two out of the three small northern New Hampshire towns that gather at their polling places at midnight: Hart's Location and Millsfield. Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren: Polls show them tied for fourth, which is particularly troubling for the former vice president. Both candidates spent Monday explaining why their campaigns are viable and both have announced their next round of campaign stops after Tuesday's vote is counted. Joe Biden is looking ahead to the next round of contests The big question mark is money. Do they have the funds to keep their campaigns afloat until they can rack up a primary win? And when will that win come? Nevada and South Carolina are the next two contests. The pressure will be on. Warren visited her press bus on Monday to give a rare talk about the state of her campaign. The Massachusetts senator doesn't typically discuss strategy. 'I just have to keep fighting. That's, that's what it's all about. I cannot say to all those little girls: 'This got hard and I quit.' My job is to persist,' she said. Biden also lowered expectations for New Hampshire. Elizabeth Warren told reporters she has to 'keep fighting' 'It's an uphill race here,' he told CNN Monday night. 'We're running against two senators from neighboring states, has never been a good thing to happen to any other candidates going in the race.' And he emphasized there are more contests to come. 'The path is South Carolina, and going into Nevada and Super Tuesday,' he told NBC News. The former vice president left New Hampshire Tuesday afternoon to travel to South Carolina to campaign for its February 29 primary. New Hampshire presented a fresh opportunity for Biden, reeling from a surprising fourth place Iowa finish. On Wednesday, two days after the Hawkeye State caucuses, a fighting Biden appeared on the campaign trail, starting at an event in Somersworth. 'We took a gut punch in Iowa,' he admitted, then went after Buttigieg and Sanders by name for the first time. 'I have great respect for Mayor Pete and his service to this nation, but I do believe it's a risk - to be just straight up with you - for this party to nominate someone who's never held office higher than mayor of a town of 100,000 people in Indiana,' Biden said. As for Sanders, he said he feared that the 'democratic socialist' would tank down-ballot races for the party. Biden seemed to be campaigning with a new vigor and he went on that night to create a viral moment when he talked at-length at a CNN town hall about learning to overcome a stutter. But then the former vice president disappeared from the campaign trail for a day and a half, taking his jet to Delaware for debate prep. Joe Biden leaves a polling station Tuesday morning Joe Biden hugs a supporter He returned to New Hampshire for the Friday night debate - and continued up his attacks on Sanders and Buttigieg for another day. His campaign also came out with scathing web ad that compared his record to Buttigieg's - saying that while Biden was saving the auto industry and helping millions of Americans get healthcare, Buttigieg was busying himself with decorative sidewalks and bridges. On Sunday, Biden stopped the attacks - instead arguing at a campaign stop in Hampton that any Democratic candidate could 'restore America's character.' At his next event, he even floated Buttigieg would be a good vice president. In Hampton, Biden called a voter a 'lying dog-faced pony soldier,' which eclipsed anything else the vice president did that day. More drama followed when Jill Biden, the ex-veep's wife, pushed a protester out of her husband's final New Hampshire event. 'I'm a good Philly girl,' she said. The Bidens later went on a bar crawl in downtown Manchester, even though the 2020 hopeful doesn't drink alcohol. By Monday, the Biden campaign announced a South Carolina kick-off event in Columbia, featuring Rep. Cedric Richmond, a congressman from the state and a Biden surrogate. Then, by Tuesday, the Biden campaign made official that the candidate was packing it in and leaving early. He'd address supporters 'by livestream' from his South Carolina event instead. Biden stopped by New Hampshire polling places on his way out of state and touched down in Columbia before voting in the Granite State ended. But, on the other end of this round of contests, Michael Bloomberg and his billions are waiting for which ever Democratic contender emerges from Nevada and South Carolina. The former New York City mayor skipped the four early contests to focus his time and money on the Super Tuesday states, where a third of delegates needed for the nomination will be awarded. Bloomberg has run a rather unconventional campaign, which in national polls and in Dixville Notch has proven to be effective. Klobuchar won both Millsville and Hart's Locations, which have a population of 21 and 41 respectively Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang is out in Keene, New Hampshire talking to voters as they head to the polls. Yang came in third in Hart's Location with three votes of the 15 people who voted in the Democratic primary Joe Biden also jumped on the idea of bringing Dukin' Donuts to a polling location but the former vice president is leaving New Hampshire before the votes even come in as polls show him slipping in the Granite state Joe Biden signs in the snow In an average of the national polls, Bloomberg is shown in fourth place with a mean of 12.7 per cent support from Democratic primary voters. He falls behind Biden, Sanders and Warren, in that order. Bloomberg entered the race in November almost a year later than some of his competitors and has invested much of his attention on winning Super Tuesday, almost entirely ignoring the first four primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. He is also running a very ad-focused campaign and has spent more than $200 million on advertisements to increase name recognition and portray his message. The former Republican New York City mayor has outspent every other candidate running in the primary and his campaign said he is open to spending $1 billion of his own money on running for president, even if he doesn't win the Democratic Party's nomination. He has come under fire from his primary competitors and the Republican Party for trying to buy his way to the nomination and the White House. Winning a tiny precinct where his name isn't even on the ballot, and the fact that he hasn't stepped foot on a debate stage, could attest to the power of money in a presidential campaign. While Klobuchar has been successfully climbing in the New Hampshire polls, it appears her support doesn't translate on a nation-wide scale. Democrats are hoping New Hampshire can help clear up lingering confusion after the Iowa caucus fiasco, where Pete Buttigieg (left) and Bernie Sanders (right) came within just .1 percentage point of each other Buttigieg emerged with 26.2 per cent in Iowa while Sanders came out with 26.1 per cent. They results were delayed for days after a reporting app malfunctioned and caused caucuses to resort to manual reporting and tabulations In two separate polls released Monday, Klobuchar came in third place behind Buttigieg and Sanders, who virtually tied for first in the Iowa caucuses. But a national poll released Monday shows the Minnesota senator in sixth place with only 4 per cent support from Democratic voters. Democrats are hoping the New Hampshire primary will help clear up some lingering confusion over the chaotic Iowa caucuses. The first-in-the-nation caucuses were held last Monday, but official results were delayed by nearly a week after the app intended to report precinct results malfunctioned. Instead, the Iowa Democratic Party had to result to paper and call-in reporting and manual tabulations which can under scrutiny for potentially included human error. Buttigieg emerged in first place with 26.2 per cent and Sanders came only .1 per cent behind with 26.1 per cent. His campaign is now demanding a recanvass. Former Vice President Joe Biden, who topped the polls for most of the campaign until shortly before the primary competitions, surprisingly came in fourth in Iowa behind Buttigieg, Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. In four New Hampshire Democratic primary polls released Monday, Biden came in fifth place, indicating he could slip even further away from his front-runner status by the end of Tuesday night. Donald Trump held a reelection campaign rally Monday in Manchester, on the eve of the primaries, and he bragged Tuesday morning that he hosted the 'biggest political rally in New Hampshire history' The 77-year-old candidate's campaign announced Tuesday that he would be leaving the Granite state before the primary results were in and would head to the second primary state of South Carolina. The announcement was made minutes after the release of another national poll that showed Sanders had pulled ahead, now leading the Democratic pack by 10 points. On the other hand, Biden was shown in second place, with his support practically cut in half. Last month he was receiving support from 30 per cent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents and on Tuesday he held on 16 per cent. Biden has made it clear he feels he will have a better turnout in South Carolina, where there is a much larger portion of minority voters than in Iowa and New Hampshire. Specifically, black voters make up the majority of Democratic primary voters in the state. Buttigieg, Sanders and Klobuchar's campaigns have all been bragging about record crowd size in the state. At Buttigieg's town hall in Nashua, 1,800 people turned out, and 1,113 were in Dover. Sanders' campaign announced that they had 1,981 attendees at a Keene rally. And 1,100 attended Klobuchar's Sunday rally. Donald Trump held a reelection campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Monday, the night before the primary elections in the state and he saw a turnout of upwards of 11,000 people. He's mocked the Democrats for their problems in Iowa - where an app developed by the party failed to count votes as planned. Trump called the caucuses 'fried' and said if Democrats can't count votes, then they shouldn't be able to handle healthcare policy. And he boasted about his own support in New Hampshire. 'Great being in New Hampshire last night. I would say that was the biggest political Rally in New Hampshire history. Incredible evening!' he boasted on Twitter Tuesday morning. Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural-gas pipeline project in British Columbia: Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in an African Union high level breakfast dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Here is the latest news on protests across Canada over a natural-gas pipeline project in British Columbia: Victoria police said four people reported assaults during protests at the B.C. legislature on Tuesday. In a statement today, police said their investigations are ongoing. Protesters blocked entrances to the legislature in advance of the provincial government's throne speech. Police say three people received non-life-threatening injuries. They say a fourth person was not injured but equipment that was being carried was reported to have been damaged. Via Rail has extended the cancellation of some services in Ontario and Quebec until at least the end of the day on Friday because of a blockade near Belleville, Ont. The passenger rail service says it is cancelling all departures on its routes running between Montreal and Toronto, and Toronto and Ottawa. Via had previously cancelled service on those routes until the end of the day on Thursday. The Manitoba government is planning to seek a court injunction to end a blockade at a rail line west of Winnipeg. Premier Brian Pallister says the Justice Department will seek to obtain an injunction and have it enforced within a few days. Pallister says he respects the rights of protesters, but the laws need to be applied and there cannot be what he calls "two-tier justice." In the middle of Ottawas afternoon rush hour, about 100 protesters briefly blocked a downtown intersection. Demonstrating against the pipeline and climate change, marchers paused at Elgin and Wellington streets on the edge of Parliament Hill. Forming a large circle, participants held up cars and city buses for speeches and cheers against the LNG project. A small encampment on the plaza of the National War Memorial boasted banners reading ACT NOW and TELL THE TRUTH. In all, the blockade lasted just a few minutes before the marchers moved away. The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the federal government must step in to resolve tensions over the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northern B.C. Perry Bellegarde says the federal government has a duty to find a way to solve the underlying primary issue: a conflict between the hereditary leaders of the Wet'suwet'en Nation who oppose the pipeline and the elected chiefs who support it. He said the conflict is fueled by the federal government's failure to adequately address questions of who holds jurisdiction over ancestral lands outside reserves. Protests, including rail blockades, have erupted nationally since the RCMP began last week to enforce a court injunction barring protesters from the pipeline site to allow for construction. The federal Liberals have said the matter is a provincial one, and while people have the right to protest, the RCMP is upholding the rule of law. But Bellegarde says in addition to the civil and common law the RCMP is sworn to uphold, there exist generations of Indigenous laws that must be respected as well. Two federal cabinet ministers are weighing in on the protests over the pipeline. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan says rail transportation is acutely important to passengers and natural resources in Canada and Transport Minister Marc Garneau is "seized" with the issue as pipeline protests tie up the network. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the B.C. government has worked hard to mediate the pipeline dispute and he expects it to continue to try to achieve a greater degree of consensus. Asked how he could assure industry that natural resource projects can proceed in Canada, O'Regan says there will always be differing opinions, but with an economy that relies heavily on natural resources and natural resource development, "there's always going to be that friction. There will always be that tension." O'Regan says he couldn't speculate on whether the protests are a foreshadowing of what's to come when construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline ramps up in B.C. B.C. Premier John Horgan says anti-pipeline demonstrators who prevented people from entering the legislature for his government's throne speech on Tuesday need to respect the rights of others. "Peaceful demonstration is fundamental to our success as a democracy," he told a news conference today. "But to have a group of people say to others you are illegitimate, you are not allowed in here, you are somehow a sellout to the values of Canadians is just plain wrong, and I want to underline that." Horgan said he cancelled a news conference on Tuesday because he wanted to take 24 hours to reflect on what happened. Asked what the province can do as the economy is affected by the protests, he said other people have to be allowed "to go about their business in a free and fair way." Mohawk community members at a railway blockade south of Montreal say they'll remain there as long as the RCMP is present on Wet'suwet'en territory in northwestern British Columbia. About a dozen people were at the blockade in Kahnawake today that has been blocking commuter train service along a line from Candiac, Que., since Monday. The protest, which features Mohawk flags, signs of solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en and a pile of snow built up on the tracks, has forced passengers on the line to use shuttle buses instead. One of the Mohawks taking part notes people have still been able to get to work. Tekarontake (teh-gah-ROON'-tah-gay) says he hopes the protest ends today, but Canada will have to "come to its senses" for that to happen. Two hereditary chiefs of the British Columbia First Nation at the heart of a dispute over the construction of a natural gas pipeline are launching a constitutional challenge. Wet'suwet'en Hereditary chief Lho'imggin, who also uses the name Alphonse Gagnon, and Smogilhgim, also known as Warner Naziel, say they want the Federal Court to declare Canada has a constitutional duty to meet international greenhouse gas emission targets. If successful, Gagnon and Naziel believe the legal action could lead to cancellation of existing approvals for projects such as the $40-billion LNG Canada development, which depends on construction of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline across traditional Wet'suwet'en territories in northwestern B.C. Wet'suwet'en supporters are also in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver today challenging an injunction that ended a multi-day blockade at entrances to two ports. The blockade and numerous other protests across B.C., Ontario and Quebec, began after RCMP enforced an injunction and arrested 28 people for allegedly violating an exclusion zone near the Coastal GasLink construction site. About 75 protesters took to the streets in Ottawa as they declared the federal government's efforts to reconcile with Indigenous residents "dead." Some of the demonstrators had been occupying the justice minister's office since Monday, but blocked off an intersection near the Supreme Court this morning and quickly caused a major traffic jam. They say the federal government has killed any efforts at reconciliation by failing to intervene in the development of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Traffic quickly backed up for blocks, and one driver confronted the group saying he was just trying to get to work. The protesters say they plan to reconvene at the Supreme Court this afternoon. Quebec Premier Francois Legault is calling on the federal government to do more to help resolve the anti-pipeline protests that are disrupting rail service across the country. Legault says he's in discussions with Grand Chief Joseph Norton of Kahnawake to peacefully end a railway blockade on that Indigenous territory south of Montreal. The premier says rail transportation falls under federal jurisdiction, while relations with Indigenous communities are a shared responsibility. Legault says he wants to resolve the situation, which has disrupted commuter rail service since Monday, without the use of force. The Kahnawake Mohawks protesting near the rail line say they are acting in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in B.C. opposed to the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Demonstrators who blocked a key intersection in Vancouver for more than 12 hours have left the area as of this morning. The protesters blockaded the intersection near city hall on Tuesday afternoon, severing a key east-west artery as well as a six-lane route connecting to the busy Cambie Bridge in and out of the downtown core. They camped in the intersection overnight under the eye of police, but left on time for traffic to start flowing again by about 6 a.m. Many of the protesters are expected to join another rally in the downtown core later in the day. Victoria police say they are now investigating reports of attacks on some of those who entered the British Columbia legislature during a protest on Tuesday. A statement posted on the Victoria police website says officers are aware of reports in traditional and social media of people being assaulted and injured, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward. Indigenous supporters removed their encampment from the legislature steps late Tuesday after delaying but not preventing the start of the new session and delivery of the government's throne speech. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is weighing in on the protests over a B.C. pipeline project that have disrupted rail traffic across the country. Speaking in Senegal today, he says the federal government respects the right to peaceful protest but the rule of law must also be respected. Protesters have erected blockades across several rail lines in solidarity with those opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline project that crosses the traditional territory of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in northern B.C. The blockades followed the RCMP enforcing a court injunction last week against Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and their supporters who have been blocking construction of the pipeline, a key part of the $40-billion LNG Canada liquefied-natural-gas export project. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020. Katzs is moving into the Heights. The 24-hour New York-style restaurant and bar has officially announced it will open its latest Houston-area location in the Heights in the fall of 2020. The new eatery will be located next to the new H.E.B. at 2300 N Shepherd Dr. Katzs gives a nod to the New York spirit, but is really designed for the Heights, architect Michael Hsu said in a news release. Theres a wraparound porch and a lot of space for people to hang outside. Its got a playful, social, neighborhood feel. Austin architectural firm The Office of Michael Hu has been retained to design the location. The firm has been charged with creating a location that has the feel of a bustling New York deli and bar with a low, glazed tile wall and striped awnings, but retains a style suited for the Heights, complete with rounded parapets and corners. Katzs currently has locations on Westheimer in Montrose and The Woodlands. The new restaurant will reportedly have seating for 130 where patrons can order from the large menu. The interior design will invoke the nostalgia of a New York train station by combining vintage elements with the layering of textures, according to the news release. Steel and glass will connect the interior and exterior dining experiences, and a large skylight and ample windows will allow natural light to filter into the space. The bar area will feature a screen over the bar comprised of hexagonal oak rods that function as a wood veil to shield the bar shelving. Small globes will break the consistency and add whimsy, making it a perfect place to relax with a cocktail and conversation. Also coming with this new location will be a new logo for Katzs, designed by Houston ad agency The Hucksters. The spirit of what we are doing is the being led by our passion to be our best with our staff, food, service, and design, said Barry Katz. For more information, visit: www.katzsneverkloses.com or call (713) 521-3838. This image released by Netflix shows Wong He (left), working with Kenny Taylor (center) and Jarred Gibson in the furnace tempering area of the Fuyao Glass America factory in Dayton, Ohio, in the documentary film, American Factory. The film debuted on Wednesday on Netflix as the streaming services first project backed by Barack and Michelle Obamas new production company. [Photo/Agencies] When a husband-and-wife team wanted to make a documentary on a Chinese-owned factory in Ohio, the company provided them open access. Perhaps it was that unfiltered look at Fuyao Glass America in Moraine, Ohio, that helped motivate members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to award the film American Factory the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature on Sunday. The documentary garnered heightened publicity in April 2019, after it was acquired by former United States president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground as the company's first project, in partnership with Netflix. The film tells the story of Fuyao's first automotive-glass factory in the US, which was set up at a shuttered General Motors plant in 2015, employing 2,000 local blue-collar workers. Fuyao, the largest auto-glass manufacturer in the world, is based in Fuqing, Fujian province. "I think it's a worthy win, and in some ways I was surprised in watching the film that some of the people on the Chinese side, including the CEO of the Chinese corporation, was so open in his remarks. All of that made it into the film," said Stanley Rosen, a political-science professor at the University of Southern California and an expert on Chinese film. The film details the difficulties stemming from cultural clashes between Chinese management and technicians and US workers at the company, providing a window on the impact of globalization in the workplace. The Academy Award went to co-directors Julia Reichert and Ste-ven Bognar, a couple living in Dayton, Ohio, and producer Jeff Reichert. "Our film is from Ohio and China," Julia Reichert said in her acceptance speech. "But it really could be from anywhere that people put on a uniform and punch a clock, trying to make their families have a better life." Bognar expressed his gratitude in his speech, especially thanking the chairman of Fuyao Group in Chinese. "Thank you, Academy. Xie xie (thank you), Cho Tak Wong (Cao Dewang). Thank you to everyone who trusted us to tell your story," he said. China Daily also interviewed Cao about the film in January, as he made an annual visit to the Fuyao plant in Ohio. He said that over three years, the production crew was granted complete access to Fuyao's plants in Ohio and China, "no matter if I was in a meeting or giving a speech", adding that the directors recorded 1,300 hours of life at Fuyao. Cao stressed that one of the key elements of Fuyao's successful operation in the US is "openness". "We don't hide anything," he said. "I made a promise when I landed in Ohio, if (anyone in the US) wants to know the state of China's industry, just come here, that's my promise." "We Chinese and Americans have come together so much in the past five years," Carrie Yount, FGA technical supervisor, told China Daily. "I think we all made such progress to start off, sweeping the floors and getting things built to now. I would say we are family," said Yount, who has worked at FGA for more than four years. The Obamas tweeted to congratulate the American Factory team for the Oscar win. "Congrats to Julia and Steven, the filmmakers behind American Factory, for telling such a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change. Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Ground's first release," Barack Obama wrote after the award was announced. "I think that film (American Factory) presented a very balanced and a very thoughtful look at the impact that globalization has both in the US and in China. It kind of symbolizes what's going in a lot of the rest of the world," said Robert D. Cain, award-winning screenwriter and producer. The film, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in late January last year, has garnered 8.3 points out of 10 on Douban, China's most popular review aggregator. Zhang Chen, a Shanghai-based film investor, said that American Factory made a splash last summer. The documentary has reduced Chinese and American cliched impressions of each other, he said, providing a down-to-earth look at the business cultures of both countries. Li Chao, a Shenzhen-based film critic, said American Factory takes a neutral perspective in depicting US workers and Chinese investors, and it shows their respective shortcomings. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Wednesdday Malacanang will be validating whether PLtCol Jovie Espenido is in President Rodrigo Duterte's drug list. Panelo made the announcement after a report from online news site Rappler said Espenido was among those named in the controversial list. Rappler said this was confirmed to them by two police generals who had knowledge of the list. Espenido figured in the news for leading deadly operations against drug-linked politicians, including the death of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. in 2017. RELATED: 'Free to kill'? Controversial cop vows to uphold human rights Panelo did not specify who would lead the investigation into Espenido's alleged inclusion in the list. Espenido, meanwhile, has not issued a statement on the issue. Earlier this month, Philippine National Police Chief PGen Archie Gamboa ordered the verification of the alleged involvement of 357 policemen in illegal drugs. Gamboa told CNN Philippines that these policemen are in Duterte's drug watchlist. The highest-ranking officer is said to be a brigadier general or a one-star rank official. RELATED: Gamboa: Several policemen looking at 'optional retirement' due to inclusion in drug list Although Panelo said they would investigate the Rappler report, he also described it as "questionable." "Galing pala sa Rappler. Pag galing sa Rappler eh, kwestionable. I am saying it is coming from Rappler, which is known to be spreading false...Medyo I will have to confirm whether true or not.Parang imposible na mangyari yon," Panelo said. Rappler has a tense relationship with the Duterte administration. Last year, its reporters were banned from covering Palace events with Panelo's predecessor, Harry Roque, accusing the news site of publishing fake news Guest Column Mobilizing Young, First-Time Voters Is an Investment in Myanmars Future Ballots are counted during a by-election in November 2018. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy Voting and the electoral process are at the core of a functioning democracy. There is a consensus among political scientists that democracies perform better when more people vote. It is therefore critical that as many eligible voters as possible make use of their right to vote. In many countries, however, low voter turnout remains a significant challenge. Low voter turnout is a societal problem in itself. In addition, international studies show that voter turnout varies significantly between different demographic groups. The groups affected by low voter turnout are different from country to country, but a common thread across the globe is that young, first-time voters are particularly challenging to mobilize. In the Nordic countries statistics show that youth in their early 20s have the lowest turnout. Low voter turnout among youth is also a challenge in Myanmar. There are many reasons that young, first-time voters dont vote. When asked why they did not choose to vote, Nordic youth say lack of knowledge about the different political parties and not believing that ones vote will make a difference. Some youth also say that they do not have time to vote, or that they were away from home on Election Day. Some youth claim that they did not vote because they have no interest in politics. When asked the same question, Myanmar youth explain that lack of time and the need to prioritize studies or working for a living are reasons for not voting. Myanmar youth also say that they find it challenging to obtain sufficient information on the many political parties and how to differentiate between them. From a political perspective, successfully mobilizing young, first-time voters has long term rewards. Studies show that individuals who participate in elections when they are young, are more likely to continue voting later in life. If, on the other hand, a habit of voting is not established at a young age, it is less likely to be formed at all. It should therefore be a priority to ensure that young, first-time voters make their voices heard by voting. In the Nordic countries, the political parties have established parallel political youth organizations, youth wings, to encourage the participation of youth and to increase voter turnout among young, first-time voters. These youth wings make it possible to gain political experience at an early age, and they play a significant part in strengthening the voices of youth in politics. Youth wings educate their members and prepare them to take on roles in politics in the future, and they are therefore an essential recruiting platform. In the Nordic countries, many young people enter the political arena early, thanks to the youth wings. Some take on key political or advocacy roles at an early age. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is only 17. The youngest member of the European Parliament is a 21-year-old Dane. Norways youngest mayor is 22 years old. Finlands Prime Minister is only 34 years old which makes her the worlds youngest state leader. This year, 2020, is an election year in Myanmar and a pivotal moment in the countrys ongoing democratization process. Myanmar will have almost 4.8 million first-time voters in the upcoming election this fall. By comparison, the populations of Denmark, Finland and Norway are respectively 5.6, 5.5 and 5.5 million. Mobilizing Myanmars young, first-time voters to use their right to vote, is important in and of itself, but it is also an important investment in the future. By building habits of democratic participation in young, first-time voters, Myanmar is building the foundations of its democracy of tomorrow. The diplomatic missions of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to Myanmar strongly believe in the importance of mobilizing young, first-time voters. Because of this, the four missions have chosen Mobilization of Young Voters as the topic of this years annual Nordic Day Event on Feb. 14. The event is a joint effort of the four Nordic missions in Yangon to increase awareness about the Nordic countries and our activities in Myanmar. As a part of our Nordic Day 2020, we have invited university students from across Myanmar to an interactive discussion on young voter mobilization. The aim is to gather students, who are also young, first-time voters, to learn about and generate action points concerning elections and youth participation in political processes. Our young diplomats will also share Nordic experiences about youth wings and on how to mobilize young, first-time voters. We believe that including young people in political discussions is crucial, in part because their interests are often different from those of older voters. As Myanmar prepares for its 2020 election, the Nordic countries strongly encourage the people of Myanmar, and in particular young, first-time voters, to strengthen Myanmars democracy by using their votes! This op-ed was written jointly by the heads of the Nordic diplomatic missions in Myanmar. You may also like these stories: Ethnic Voters Face Disenfranchisement in Myanmars 2020 Election When Ultranationalism Triumphs Over the Truth Another NLD Member Abducted by Unknown Armed Group in Western Myanmar ELL Technologies Achieves Significant Milestone With First U.S.-Based Customer TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 /CNW/ - Lingo Media Corporation (TSX-V: LM; OTCQB: LMDCF) ("Lingo Media" or the "Company"), an EdTech company that is 'Changing the way the world learns English' through innovative online and print-based technologies and solutions, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, ELL Technologies Ltd. ("ELL Technologies") has signed an agreement to license its interactive English language learning solution entitled English for Success ("EFS") to Liberty University. Liberty University is one of the largest private, non-profit universities in the United States and one of the largest Christian universities in the world. Liberty attracts students from around the world and currently hosts approximately 700 international students from 70 countries at its campus in Lynchburg, VA. Including its online programs, Liberty serves more than 100,000 students. English proficiency is a challenge and a critical success factor for many Liberty students. English for Success is an interactive language learning solution designed for students from the beginner English proficiency level to the upper-intermediate level. The EFS library of resources includes more than 1,700 lessons, 40,000 audio clips and a unique speech recognition capability to help students with pronunciation. English For Success' learning management system enables instructors to monitor each student's progress and assign tailored lessons based on their individual needs. "We are very excited to work with Liberty University as they seek to expand their reach to attract foreign students who require better English proficiency to their university," said Gali Bar-Ziv, President & CEO of Lingo Media. "We view the selection of our product by an acclaimed university like Liberty as an important endorsement and an indication of the potential opportunity that exists for our solutions in the United States." "We are pleased to be able to offer our foreign students a proven solution to help them improve their English skills at their own pace and according to their unique needs," said Dr. William Wegert, Dean of International Student Programs, Liberty University. "ELL Technologies' offering stood out among the products we considered due to its robust content library and unique customization features." Liberty University's Center for Professional & Continuing Education ("CPCE") selected English for Success after completing a thorough evaluation of alternatives. Key factors in the CPCE's decision included EFS's flexibility and the ability to "white label" and customize the solution for Liberty University's needs. About Liberty University Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the world's premier Christian university, one of the largest private, non-profit universities in the nation, and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 600 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 300 programs are offered online. Utilizing its world-class infrastructure and Christian faculty, Liberty's mission is to train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrow's world. About ELL Technologies ELL Technologies Ltd. is a digital language learning and assessment company that creates innovative SaaS eLearning solutions. The Company offers more than 2,000 hours of English learning content and has courses in Spanish, Mandarin, French and Portuguese, and is based in Toronto, Canada. ELL's products and programs are marketed through established sales channels to key education, government and business organizations in Latin America, Asia and the U.S. Follow ELL Technologies On: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELLTechnologies/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/elltechnologies About Lingo Media (TSX-V: LM; OTCQB: LMDCF) Lingo Media is a global EdTech company that is 'Changing the way the world learns English', developing and marketing products for learners of English through various life stages, from classroom to boardroom. By integrating education and technology, the company empowers English language educators to easily transition from traditional teaching methods to digital learning. Lingo Media provides both online and print-based solutions through two distinct business units: ELL Technologies and Lingo Learning. ELL Technologies provides online training and assessment for English language learning, while Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English language learning programs in China. Lingo Media has established successful relationships with key government and industry organizations internationally, with a presence in Latin America, China and the U.S., and continues to both extend its global reach and expand its product offerings. Follow Lingo Media On: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LingoMedia Twitter: https://twitter.com/LingoMediaCorp YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lingomedialm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lingo-media-corporation RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LingoMedia Portions of this press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. These statements are made in reliance upon Sections 21E and 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from management's expectations and projections and thus readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Lingo Media has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. Lingo Media's expectations, among other things, are dependent upon general economic conditions, the continued and growth in demand for its products, retention of its key management and operating personnel, its need for and availability of additional capital as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by US Federal securities laws, Lingo Media undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. Certain factors that can affect the Company's ability to achieve projected results are described in the Company's filings with the Canadian and United States securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE SOURCE Lingo Media Corporation For further information: Lingo Media, Gali Bar-Ziv, President & CEO, Tel: (416) 927-7000 Ext. 33, Toll Free: (866) 927-7011, Email: [email protected]; To learn more, visit us at lingomedia.com Related Links http://www.lingomedia.com HARTSVILLE, S.C., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Sonoco (NYSE: SON) today declared a $.43 per share quarterly common stock dividend. The dividend will be paid on March 10, 2020, to shareholders of record as of February 26, 2020. According to Howard Coker, president and chief executive officer, this is the 379th consecutive quarter, dating back to 1925, that the Company has paid dividends to shareholders. "Through Living Soils, Moet Hennessy aims to unite its communities across the world and develop a global social responsibility program." Philippe Schaus The rising concern around climate change affects us all. This "Living Soils" forum is intended to move the conversation forward and facilitate a discussion and ultimately raise awareness without taboo. "A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world" - Louis Pasteur. This philosophy has been at the heart of Moet Hennessy's vision for continuous progress on the human side, as well as in terms of knowledge, methods and technology. Climate change, preservation of the soils, water and energy conservation, as well as sustainability in supply chains all factor in to the protection of the "Living Soils". On this occasion, Moet Hennessy made three announcements: In 2020, all of its vineyards in Champagne will be herbicide-free and the Division will provide support to winegrower partners to help them become certified sustainable. Moet Hennessy will invest 20M in a research center in the Champagne Region devoted to scientific research around sustainable viticulture A "University of Living Soils" will be created to encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practices. Its aim will be to enrich the debates on progress toward a more sustainable future for wine and spirits in an inclusive way. Moet Hennessy's vision across all Maisons is to lead the way for future generations, so that all employees, consumers and winemakers can continue to enjoy and discover its wines and spirits in a consistent and integrated way that is respectful of nature. ABOUT MOET HENNESSY Moet Hennessy is the wine and spirits division of LVMH, the world's leading luxury products group. Moet Hennessy, the largest luxury wines and spirits company in the world, encompasses 22 prestigious brands internationally renowned for the richness of their land, the quality of their products and the expertise with which they are crafted: Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Perignon, Ruinart, Krug, Mercier, Belvedere, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Chandon, Newton, Terrazas de los Andes, Cloudy Bay, Cape Mentelle, Numanthia, Ao Yun, Volcan De Mi Tierra, Woodinville Whiskey Company, Clos19, Chateau du Galoupet, Cheval des Andes & Chateau d'Esclans. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089567/Philippe_Schaus.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1034652/Moet_Hennessy_Logo.jpg Contact: Chrystel Brossette, Communication & Press Relations Manager Moet Hennessy Corporate, [email protected] SOURCE Moet Hennessy SNC 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. Plans by Norwegian renewable utility Statkraft for a 40-turbine windfarm, located in the Irish Sea, have taken a step forward. North Irish Sea Array Windfarm Ltd (NISA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Statkraft, has applied, in recent days, for a foreshore licence to carry out a marine survey of a 229 square-kilometre site located between 7km and 17km off the coasts of Dublin, Louth, and Meath. If developed, the 500MW windfarm would have the capacity to power approximately 500,000 homes with renewable electricity. While the concept of the NISA was first mooted more than a decade ago, this proposal is at a very early stage in the development process. In submitting a foreshore licence application for marine survey work, Statkraft said it is gathering the necessary information which would allow a design proposal for the project to be developed. The company said it has had a series of meetings with the fishing industry locally to establish how the proposed surveys can be carried out in the most efficient manner. Statkraft Ireland managing director, Kevin ODonovan told the Irish Examiner: We believe that NISA offers a unique opportunity not only for Ireland but the city of Dublin and surrounding areas. The need to take urgent climate action has never been clearer and, as a society, we are fast moving away from the burning of fossil fuels and towards green energy. 2030 and the targets set in the governments climate action plan will arrive quickly, therefore industry needs to respond and provide solutions. Statkraft already owns and operates 12 windfarms in the UK and the Nordic countries with a combined installed capacity of over 1,000 MW. Newly released video shows students on an Ohio school bus being flung around the vehicle when it tipped on its side after being hit by another car. A Ford Mustang ran a red light and slammed into the side of the Northern Local School District bus on December 19 in Thornville, Ohio, according to an accident report by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The impact spun the vehicles around, and the bus overturned on its right side and slid off the road, striking a guardrail before stopping, the report said. The bus was taking high school students to the Mid-East Vocational School in Zanesville, which is about an hour east of Columbus. In the video, released by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the 30 students on the bus were sitting quietly in the seconds before the accident -- some were looking at their phones while others appeared to be sleeping. The students were jarred by the Mustang's impact. As the bus tips over, they are violently flung out of their seats and hit the roof of the bus, and then fell on top of each other in the seats on the right side. The bus driver can be heard shouting "is everybody OK" over the screaming kids and told them to get out through the emergency windows and doors. It took a couple of minutes for the students to untangle themselves and exit the bus, with many of the students climbing out of the escape hatch on the top of the bus. Eight students and the 74-year-old bus driver were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The driver of the Mustang was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, including a broken back, according to the crash report. Once an investigation is completed, all information will be sent to the Perry County Prosecutor's Office for review, the report said. BEIJING, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At 9:00 am on February 4th, TOJOY's 6,000 employees across 40 cities on 4 continents gathered for a unique online business kick-off ceremony. This was the kick-off for TOJOY's new Smart Business online work model for the epidemic period. At the meeting, Ge Jun, Executive Director of the Board of Directors and Global CEO of TOJOY, announced TOJOY's Ten Measures for Disaster Relief and Self-Care. He announced that as of February 4th, TOJOY has officially and permanently implemented a remote work system for all employees. TOJOY also promises no layoffs or salary cuts during the epidemic period. This move is commendable as Chinese companies are facing pressure to resume work. It is cause for celebration for everyone at the beginning of the Chinese New Year in the face of the epidemic situation. Knowing what a full-company remote work system would require, TOJOY began developing its Smart Business suite with world-class application standards from the very beginning. In 2016, TOJOY founded the TOJOY Network Technology Group to construct the Smart Business platform. "TOJOY Smart Office" was created jointly with IBM, sought out for its reputation as the world's largest information technology and business solutions provider. A team of over 500 top talents, 3 years of research and development, and an investment of over 200 million yuan went into the creation of the "TOJOY Smart Business" system, which now easily supports TOJOY's 6,000 employees across different time zones around the world in the smooth implementation of their remote work. At present, many small and medium-sized enterprises are facing a hard situation across China due to the epidemic situation. For this reason, TOJOY will be opening the "TOJOY Entrepreneur Cloud" to certified members free of charge, in order to help them regain confidence and achieve "online resumption of work" as soon as possible. From this news, as well as that of the implementation of the permanent "Migratory Working System" remote work program for all its employees, we can see that TOJOY is not only considering the health and safety of its employees and partners, but has also observed the pressure on other enterprises to return to work, and made every effort to contribute to the resumption of orderly operations throughout the economy and society. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089494/TOJOY_Publishes_Ten_Measures.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089497/At_the_2020_New_Year_s_Online_Business_Kick_Off_Mobilization_Meeting__TOJOY_promised__no_layoffs__no.jpg YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Cuisine is perhaps one of the best ways of reflecting the hospitality and culture of any nation, and Armenia sure boasts one of the finest traditional cooking in the world. Derian, a cozy Syrian-Armenian restaurant in downtown Yerevan, had very special patrons on February 10. President Armen Sarkissian and King Abdullah II of Jordan were dining there on the first day of the historic, first ever visit of His Majesty to Armenia. ARMENPRESSs Norayr Shoghikyan talked to the restaurateur Hakob Azelyan, the Syrian-Armenian owner of Derian, to find out how it felt like hosting the royal, and of course what was on the menu. We were informed that the President will be hosting a guest at our restaurant, but we didnt know who that guest would be due to security reasons, it was kept secret, Azelyan said. Azelyan and his wife Mirey are running the restaurant together as a family business, and on that special day all members of the family were working. We were anxious in the beginning, but King Abdullah II accepted us very easily. President Armen Sarkissian introduced us to the king, he told him that we came from Syria, we shook hands with the king, and when a warm atmosphere settled our anxiousness subsided, said Mirey. Asked about the menu, Hakob Azelyan said there was nothing extraordinary. The dinner comprised Armenian and Arabic cuisine. We served our entire menu. There was nothing unusual. The menu consisted of veal and chicken barbeque, ghaurma, ishli kofta, manti, Armenian cheeses, strained matsoon, olives, tabbouleh, dolma, hummus and muttabal. We served caramel cake, a fruit assortment and Arabic kanafeh for dessert, he said. Mirey Hamalyan said King Abdullah II liked the food very much and thanked the staff for the hospitality and the delicious meals. The owners of Derian are proud of their high-profile guests, which also include celebrities Elton John and Michael Caine, as well as government officials. However, as true restaurateurs, they dont put a difference between their guests when serving them. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan North Korea illegally exported millions of tons of commodities like coal last year to enhance its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons programs, according to a confidential UN report. Prepared by a UN-appointed independent panel of experts charged with monitoring sanctions enforcement and efficacy on the Pyongyang regime, the annual report -- which has not yet been publicly released -- reveals North Korea continued its weapons program last year in violation of long-standing UN Security Council sanctions. Investigators also concluded that "despite its extensive indigenous capability it (North Korea) uses illicit external procurement for components and technology" to develop weapons. One section of the document seen by CNN said North Korea's ballistic missile program was "characterized by its intensity, diversity and coherence." The report said North Korea conducted 13 missile tests -- and launched 25 missiles -- in 2019. "As well as the sustained pace of launches and the variety of launch locations, 2019 saw the (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) enhance the industrial and operational dynamics of the program, with new weapon systems brought almost to operational effectiveness, increased diversity of missile types and launchers, augmentation of the Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) and Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) types tested through 2017," the report said. Two UN diplomats have confirmed to CNN major conclusions of the report, which indicates sanctions are once again being ignored. The panel's annual report in 2019 leveled similar accusations against North Korea. Exporting coal on barges According to the report, North Korea used barges to export millions of tons of commodities like coal -- via ship-to-ship transfers to Chinese vessels -- to earn money for its weapons programs. A Security Council resolution passed in 2017 punishing North Korea for its weapons development banned the country from exporting coal, iron and seafood to the rest of the world. The report said, "according to a member state, the DPRK exported 3.7 million metric tons of coal between January and August 2019, with an estimated value of $370 million." Some UN member states told the panel that barges had illegally sent the coal to three Chinese ports in Hangzhou Bay as well as other locations along the Yangtze river, according to the report. The panelists said one UN member country claimed North Korea exported at least a million tons of sand from river dredging to Chinese ports -- collecting at least $22 million. China has repeatedly denied it is helping North Korea evade sanctions. A statement from the spokesperson of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations said the leaked report "caused media hypes and baseless accusations against China." "China has always faithfully and seriously fulfilled its international obligations and sustained huge losses and tremendous pressure in the process. China will continue to work towards dialogue and detente, advance political settlement process, and play a positive and constructive role on working towards denuclearization of the peninsula," it said. Petroleum and cyber attacks The report alleged North Korea is also illegally importing petroleum -- another violation of UN resolutions. "The annual cap for 2019, as set by the Security Council, of the aggregate amount of 500,000 barrels of refined petroleum products was exceeded many times over. The Russian Federation and China requested more conclusive evidence to make a judgment," the report said. The UN team also found that North Korea conducted cyberattacks against financial institutions and global cryptocurrency exchanges. According to the report described by two UN diplomats, "these attacks have resulted in monetary losses and have provided illicit revenue for the DPRK in violation of financial sanctions." US relations At the UN, China and Russia have hinted they would support some easing of sanctions on North Korea. But the US, UK and France -- the other permanent members of the Security Council -- remain firmly opposed. On Monday, CNN reported that President Donald Trump had lost interest in resuming talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before the US election in November. Trump's last meeting with the North Korean dictator took place almost exactly a year ago, and both leaders walked away empty-handed. Since then diplomacy -- aimed at achieving the denuclearization of North Korea -- has floundered CNN has approached North Korea officials for comment. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 16:25:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Around 180 television and radio shows will be broadcast without airing fees on television and radio stations across China from February to the end of August, according to the National Radio and Television Administration. This comes as a result of a TV and radio shows promotion campaign launched by the administration to rally public morale in the battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. The shows cover a variety of topics ranging from culture, science, to education and health and include animation series and documentaries, among other works. Among them is the popular game show "Chinese Poetry Conference." The total time length of the TV and radio shows, of which airing rights have been made free thanks to donations from copyright owners amid the virus battle, has reached nearly 1,000 hours, according to the administration. [February 12, 2020] ASG Technologies to Exhibit and Present at 2020 Gartner Data & Analytics Summits ASG Technologies, the only provider of integrated and flexible end-to-end solutions for the information powered enterprise, today announced that it will be exhibiting and presenting at the 2020 Gartner (News - Alert) Data & Analytics Summits in Sydney, Texas, London and Mumbai. With a focus on data as one of the most strategic business assets, ASG, alongside its customers from around the world, will provide attendees with the guidance needed to seize the business opportunity data presents, while reducing compliance risks. In 2019, ASG was recognized as a Leader in the 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Metadata Management Solutions. As the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit is the premier gathering for data and analytics leaders, ASG data experts will be onsite with customers to discuss how enterprises can drive trust and value from their data and provide strategic and tactical advice for how to make it happen. The Summits' focus on helping organizations wield data and analytics as competitive weapons, operational accelerants and innovation catalysts strongly aligns with ASG's mission to ensure organizations have the tools in place to gain insight, maintain compliance and leverage data as their most strategic asset. ASG and Bupa ANZ to discuss governing data with ASG's Data Intelligence solution in Sydney The Sydney Summit takes place February 17-18 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. Kaushik Bagchi, VP Information Management, Asia Pacific at ASG, and Darshil Mehta, Head of Data Strategy at Bupa ANZ, will present at 1:25 p.m. on February 17 and discuss how ASG's Data Intelligence solution helped Bupa govern their data. The session, titled "Bupa ANZ: Data Governance Journey Fueled by ASG Technologies Data Intelligence," will take place in Exhibit Showcase Theater 2. Bagchi and Mehta will highlight the changing data landscape and discuss how organizations like Bupa can leverage data as a strategc asset to help them become more compliant and profitable. The session will also address challenges around data and how organizations are responding to those challenges with well-defined data initiatives. Visit ASG at booth #CI1, where ASG specialists will be showcasing the company's data management solutions. ASG and American Fidelity to present on the art of data science in Texas The Texas Summit takes place March 23-26 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center in Grapevine. ASG's Sue Laine, VP Strategic Technologies, and American Fidelity's Mark Nance, Chief Data Officer, will co-present "Exploring the Art in Data Science" on March 26 at 9 a.m. in Room 3. Laine and Nance will discuss how improving your data ecosystem is both an art and a science, touching on the practice and discipline required to achieve success with new and diverse technologies. They will also highlight why the incremental value of automated data inventory, vertical and horizontal lineage, data ratings and sharing accurate data are key to enterprise organizational success. To learn more about ASG's solutions, visit the team at booth #146. ASG experts to share how ASG's solutions empower trust and value in data in London and Mumbai ASG will also attend the Gartner Data & Analytics Summits in London and Mumbai. The London Summit takes place March 9-11 at the InterContinental London-The O2 (News - Alert), and the ASG team will be available at booth #S25 to share how ASG empowers trust and value in data. At the Mumbai Summit, taking place June 8-9 at the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, ASG experts will be presenting in a theatre session that will touch on how ASG's Data Intelligence solution empowers organizations to leverage data as a powerful business asset. To learn more about ASG's presence at these conferences, visit https://www.asg.com/en/Resources/Upcoming-Events.aspx. For further information or to set up a press meeting onsite, email [email protected]. About ASG Technologies ASG Technologies is an award-winning, industry-recognized and analyst-verified global software company providing the only integrated platform and flexible end-to-end solution for the information-powered enterprise. ASG's Information Management solutions capture, manage, govern and enable companies to understand and support all types of information assets (structured and unstructured) and stay compliant. ASG's IT Systems Management (News - Alert) solutions ensure that the systems and infrastructure supporting that information lifecycle are always available and performing as expected. ASG has over 3,500 customers worldwide in top vertical markets including Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance and Government. Visit us at ASG.com, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005144/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] I had hoped that after years in the trenches fighting over Brexit, we would get some respite from that most toxic and exhausting of arguments, immigration but sadly that has not been the case. Watching the story of the Home Offices chartered deportation flight to Jamaica unfold was like picking at all the old wounds we were meant to be leaving behind. Were supposed to be healing, right? Yet still this row has exposed just how divided we are as a society. It will come as no surprise that, being a great big Leftie North London snowflake, who is obsessed with naive notions such as the rule of law and not treating people differently because of the colour of their skin, I am deeply uneasy about the decision. I hold no candle for many of the people who were being deported the offences they were responsible for include manslaughter, violence and sexual assault. But some of them have been living in the UK since they were children, so why not deal with them here why are we exporting our criminals? I feel that they were rather cynically used as convenient, low-hanging fruit so the Government could virtue signal to their new Brexity, Red Wall voters that they will be the tough guys on brown people. Lets be honest, this is something that a lot of people voted for. Over the last three years, I met so many people who told me they wanted Brexit to control our borders in order to stop so many black and brown people coming into the country, even though they werent coming from the EU. Campaigners outside Downing Street, London, protest against government plans to deport 50 people to Jamaica / PA So, this row is a gift to the Government. It captures perfectly the Trumpian culture war that it desires and is currently winning. Controversies so early in a new prime ministerial term are remembered, and the Tories will want this to stick. It can be used in slogan politics as an attack line wheeled out at upcoming local and mayoral elections: Tories tough on immigration. Labour on the side of the brown criminal. Its pretty unedifying, crude stuff. But its damn effective, as we know. And it distracts from tackling the real issues. Im glad the Government is so angry about rapists. How about doing something about shockingly low prosecution rates? Furious about absent fathers? Well, dont send them hundreds of miles away from their children. This fight captures the Trumpian culture war that the Government desires and is currently winning But what I find most depressing is the damage that is being done to race relations, which are already so frayed and fragile. It feels like the Government has collective amnesia about the Windrush scandal and is happy to revive the hostile environment. The stereotype of the dark-skinned criminal will not be restricted to those who have committed a crime it creates a climate where young men who arent white are seen differently. I just had a heartbreaking chat with a friend who said that she was glad this was happening, as she now knew beyond doubt that she didnt have a place here, and that black lives genuinely dont matter. Ironically, she and many of her friends are seriously considering moving to Jamaica, even though they were born and raised here. Whats even more upsetting is that many will cheer that statement, because hey, thats the new zeitgeist. Suck it up losers! Cheap wins can have profound consequences. Im not too old to dance my pop socks off I get a message from my friend: Im turning 45 and were going clubbing. I reply, Ill come for drinks. Dancings not really my thing these days. Cut to... me at 2am bestride a table, busting out some highly dodgy moves and screaming the words to Like A Prayer. We went middle-aged dancing, and I highly recommend it. We met at a trendy dive bar in Hackney. It was so dark, and the cocktail menus font was so tiny, that we couldnt actually read it. I needed my reading glasses at this point. I can be a bit harsh on the young these days, but they were so polite. There was a bit of a queue at the bar, yet two chaps let me through with great reverence. I loved it. I felt like Dame Maggie Smith. So I ordered a sherry. Then it was on to a brilliant Eighties night at Moth Club. We were the only souls there who were alive then, but we knew all the words to every song. Even songs we didnt know. It was spooky. Like people who come out of a coma and can speak Spanish. We danced like we didnt care. The millennials were impressed. Less so the bouncers who hauled us off the table for health and safety reasons. Youre never too old to go out and dance your pop socks off. Its the best therapy. At least thats what I told myself on Monday as I hobbled to the physio. Just let us watch Love Island in peace As we approach Valentines Day, Elle Macpherson, the model known as The Body, is selling women a libido boost. To be honest, if I looked anything like her, just glancing at my reflection would rev me up. Macpherson is peddling The Super Booster, which apparently makes you feel better than an aphrodisiac and costs 85 for a two-week supply. Youll need a second job, but think of how foxy youll feel... Getty/ Dimitrios Kambouris RTHK: Trump under fire after Roger Stone prosecutors quit US President Donald Trump faced fresh accusations of abuse of power after the Justice Department moved to override its own prosecutors who are seeking a stiff sentence of seven to nine years for Republican political operative Roger Stone. In new turmoil for the administration, the four prosecutors who tried the Stone case resigned as the Justice Department suggested a new sentence of less than half of what was originally recommended. The proposed reduction appeared to be a response to Trump's late-night tweet attacking the recommended sentence. Stone, who was convicted in November of lying to Congress and witness tampering, is a longtime Trump cohort. "This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!" Trump tweeted. Later Trump denied speaking to the Justice Department about the case, while again condemning the sentence proposal. "I thought the recommendation was ridiculous," he told reporters. Stone, who has advised Trump on politics for decades and consulted on his successful 2016 presidential campaign, was arrested in January 2019 at his home in Florida on charges brought by then-special counsel Robert Mueller as part of the Russia meddling investigation. He was charged in connection with his 2017 testimony to lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee which Schiff leads investigating Kremlin efforts to damage Trump's election rival Hillary Clinton. Stone was accused of lying about acting as an intermediary between the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks, which released hacked documents that embarrassed Clinton during the campaign. Stone's conviction on all seven counts in November made him the sixth person tied to Trump to be convicted on charges brought by Mueller. Prosecutors called for a sentence of 87 to 108 months on Monday, saying Stone threatened a witness in the case and implicitly threatened the judge by posting a picture of her on Instagram with what appeared to be a gun sight's crosshairs. He also repeatedly lied to the court and disobeyed a gag order, prosecutors said. In the wake of Trump's late-night tweet, an unnamed senior Justice Department official criticised the sentence to reporters. Later, a new court filing from prosecutors suggested 37 to 46 months might be more appropriate, calling it "more in line with the typical sentences imposed in obstruction cases." (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Harsh attack on the ruling class of Msgr. Boulos Abdel Sater, who calls for a "dignified life" for the country, on givernment to work "day and night" to improve people's lives. Those who encourage "intolerance and divisions" are targeted. Yesterday, Parliament voted to trust the Diab government, 370 people were injured in the street clashes. Beirut (AsiaNews) - "Service" is the ultimate "purpose" of "power". Today the Lebanese "are tired of the controversy" and are "worried about their children's future". This requires initiatives to restore "hope". This is a heartfelt appeal that was launched during the homily of the mass by Msgr. Boulos Abdel Sater, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, who lashes out at a ruling class that has been unable to respond to the needs of the population for months and expresses support for the protest. It is necessary to "ensure a dignified life", adds the prelate, otherwise "it is better to resign". The archbishop's words come at a time of profound change for the country, which could mark a turning point since the resignation of the then Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Yesterday, Parliament granted confidence to the new executive led by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, with 63 votes in favor (out of 84 in total), 20 against and an abstention. However, this was not enough to calm protests, where there were new clashes between citizens and security forces that caused 370 injuries. In a context of deep tension and confusion, the ruling class receieved criticism from another exponent of the Maronite Church and came on the very feast of San Marone. The function was also attended by the head of state Michel Aoun, the President of Parliament Nabih Berry (the only one to have openly applauded some passages of the homily) and the new Prime Minister Diab. The "tens of thousands" of Lebanese who "elected you", underlined Msgr. Boulos Abdel Sater, expect you to "improve" your lifestyle, economy and finances and to "work day and night" to ensure people "have a dignified and decent life". If you are not able, he adds, "it is more honorable to resign" while criticizing "those who encourage intolerance and divisions and consider the country as their property". Having taken office in the past few months, the prelate immediately distinguished himself for some unprecedented stances such as the need to welcome (also) poor students in a prestigious Catholic high schools, above all those who had not been admitted due to lack of financial means. A few weeks later he decided to renounce the Mercedes owned by the archbishopric, used by his predecessor, preferring his private vehicle with a style reminiscent of the pontificate of Pope Francis. From the first days of the protest, in October, Msgr. Boulos Abdel Sater expressed solidarity with the demonstrators and popular movement. The homily of the past few days, some commentators point out, has also impressed a "political note" on the social commitment of the prelate which took place "with the approval" of the top leaders of the Lebanese Maronite Church. "In Bkerke - an expert comments - there has recently been an awareness, that it is time to remedy the mistakes made and that now a prophetic voice is needed". For several months, anti-government protesters considered the local Catholic leadership to be a hostile force, close to the ruling class despite the numerous positions taken by Card. Beshara Rai in solidarity with the protest. The words of the archbishop of Beirut created a new bond between the citizens in the square and the ecclesiastics, who for some time had closed the doors of the churches to avoid getting involved in the clashes. "They banned protesters from accessing churches in the past - a user writes on social media - but found that one of them [referring to the archbishop of Beirut ]- was already inside." The defence ministry has sent the names of three two-star ranked officers from the Army, Air Force and Navy to the government for appointment as joint secretaries in the new department of military affairs headed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, two officials said on Wednesday asking not to be named. The governments approval to post a Major General, an Air Vice Marshal and a Rear Admiral to the department of military affairs is expected soon, said one of the officials cited above. The appointments committee of the Union Cabinet had last month cleared the appointment of two joint secretaries in the new department - Rajeev Singh Thakur, a 1995-batch IAS officer from Rajasthan cadre and Shantanu, a 1997-batch officer from Tripura cadre. At the time of its creation, the government had announced that the department of military affairs would be staffed by a mix of civilian and military officers. The department of military affairs is an addition to the four existing verticals in the defence ministry - the departments of defence, defence production, defence research and development and ex-service welfare. As CDS, General Rawat not only heads the department of military affairs but is also the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters related to the tri-services. He took over as the countrys first CDS on December 31. General Rawats mandate includes facilitating the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of theatre commands. The department of military affairs oversees key matters relating to Indias neighbouring countries including border disputes and incidents, development of infrastructure in forward areas and deployment of forces. These countries include China, Pakistan and Bhutan. Supply of arms and ammunition to friendly neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives also comes under the purview of this department. Monitoring developments in the Indian Ocean region, Afghanistan, West Asia and South East Asia is also one of the responsibilities of the department of military affairs. However, all matters that have an import on the countrys defence policy will be dealt by the Department of Defence, headed by the defence secretary. Issues related to counter-insurgency operations and Siachen glacier also come under the department of military affairs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian market rallied more than 1 percent on Wednesday tracking gains in other Asian markets. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied by over 400 points while Nifty50 reclaimed crucial resistance placed at 12,200 levels. Sectorally, the action was seen in FMCG, IT, Banks, telecom, auto, and metals stocks while profit booking was seen in realty, power, capital goods, and public sector. At 11:00 AM, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 350 points to 41,574 while the Nifty50 gained 97 points to 12,204. We have collated a list of top five factors which could be driving rally on D-Street: Positive Global Cues: 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 D-Street look set to register the second consecutive day of gains largely led by positive trend seen in other Asian markets. According to a Reuters report, Chinese shares fell 0.12 percent, but investors in other equity markets looked past this decline. Shares in Hong Kong rose 0.57 percent to a three-week high. Australian shares were up 0.52 percent, while Japan's Nikkei stock index rose 0.6 percent. Fears of Coronavirus recedes: The global mood brightened after Chinas senior medical adviser said on Tuesday the number of new coronavirus cases was falling in some provinces and forecast the epidemic would peak this month. The number of new cases in Hubei, the province at the epicenter of the outbreak, was 1,068 as of Tuesday, down from a peak of over 3,000 new cases on Feb. 4, and the lowest number of new infections since Jan. 31, said a Reuters report. There have been some encouraging signs with respect to the spread of Coronavirus as news reports suggested that the epidemic could plateau in the next few weeks. However, it continues to remain one of the key monitorable for global markets including India, Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking Ltd told Moneycontrol. Stable crude oil: Oil futures, which have been in a downtrend since the start of the year, rose in Asia from 13-month lows but is still trading around $55/bbl. Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as China reported its lowest daily number of new coronavirus cases since late January. Brent crude was up over 1 percent, at $54.99 per barrel. According to a Reuters report, travel restrictions to and from China and quarantines have cut fuel usage. The two biggest Chinese refiners have said they will reduce their processing by about 940,000 barrels per day (bpd) as a result of the consumption drop, or about 7 percent of their 2019 processing runs. Trump visit to India: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would sign a trade deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi if it was the right one, said a Reuters report. Trump is scheduled to make his first visit as president to the worlds largest democracy later this month. Technical Factors: The Nifty50 reclaimed its 50-Days Moving Average placed at 12,120, and also Tuesdays intraday high of 12,172 on Wednesday which suggests strength in the rally. For bulls to regain control, the Nifty50 has to close above the 12,200 levels on Wednesday. There is immediate support at 12,050-12,000 which is likely to provide support on the lower side, suggest experts. The index shifted its support to 12050-12000 zone holding above said levels can see some more gains towards immediate hurdle of 12160-12200 zone, traders can use buy on dip strategy with keeping overall stop out level below 12000 zone, Rohit Singre, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities told Moneycontrol. Nifty bank closed day at 31300 zone with gains of 242 points, support for the Nifty bank is coming near 31100-30900 zone and resistance is coming near 31500-31700 zone, he said. A new study of people who received medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Ontario found that about three-quarters were cared for by palliative care practitioners at the time of their request for MAiD, and MAiD recipients were younger, wealthier and more likely to be married than the general population at time of death. These findings dispel concerns that MAiD requests are driven by lack of access to palliative care services or by socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The article is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) along with a related editorial. http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.200016 MAiD was legalized in Canada in June 2016, and as of October 2018, 6749 Canadians received MAiD. The federal government and the government of Quebec are currently in consultation around drafting new eligibility criteria for MAiD, after a decision of the Quebec Superior Court that one provision of the previous laws violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "There has been and will be much discussion about socioeconomic vulnerability and access to palliative care, and how these factors influence requests for MAiD," says Dr. James Downar, lead author of the study and a specialist in critical care and palliative care at The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario. "Since this study represents the comparison of MAiD recipients to all deaths overall, and uses Canadian data, it could help inform this discussion and the upcoming legislation." Researchers analyzed clinical and socioeconomic data from 2241 Ontarians who received MAiD, and compared this with data from all 186 814 people in the province who died between June 2016 to October 2018, from databases kept by the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and ICES. Among those who received MAiD, the median age was 75 years and half were women; almost two-thirds of patients (64%) had cancer, 12% of patients had neurodegenerative disease, 8.5% had cardiovascular disease and 7.5% had respiratory disease. Patients who received MAiD reported both physical (99.5%) and psychologic (96.4%) suffering. "[W]e found that people who chose MAiD reported physical or psychologic suffering as the primary reason, despite engagement of palliative care in [77%] of patients, which suggests that for many patients the MAiD requests were not because of poor access to palliative care," write the authors. Almost half of MAiD recipients were married and the majority (85%) lived in a private home before receiving MAiD. They were younger than people who did not receive MAiD and more likely to live in a higher income neighbourhood, which suggests that MAiD requests are unlikely to be driven by social or economic vulnerability, say the authors. Requests for MAiD can be emotionally difficult for patients and families, and any delays can exacerbate distress. The study found that only 6.6% of families reported challenges with access to MAiD and these delays were not associated with socioeconomic status. The authors noted, however, that the MAiD data set included only people who actually received MAiD, so these findings would not reflect the experience of patients who requested MAiD but never received it. "The data presented here do not address the moral question of whether any amount of suffering can justify the hastening of death. However, the growing trend toward legalization and use of MAiD in many parts of the world should prompt the health care and research community to improve our understanding and treatment of the type of distress that leads to a MAiD request," the authors conclude. In a related editorial, Dr. Andreas Laupacis, CMAJ's editor-in-chief, writes, "Downar and colleagues' findings should allay fears that people living in Ontario are choosing MAiD because they have little social support or have poor access to health care. This study found the opposite, which suggests that more attention needs to be paid to ensure that those who are socially or economically vulnerable and eligible for MAiD are aware that MAiD is an option." http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.200213 He cautions that as we move into a new era in which the Canadian government is considering expanding eligibility to MAiD to minors, people with severe mental illness and to those who anticipate losing the capacity to request MAiD in future, Canada will need new safeguards. "If access to MAiD is expanded, new safeguards, specifically tailored to each new indication for MAiD, should be put in place. Then, we must once more proceed with caution, measure carefully and reassess," concludes Dr. Laupacis. ### Podcast permanent link: https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/200016-res The study was conducted by researchers from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario; Sunnybrook Research Institute, The Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Office of the Chief Coroner, Government of Ontario; Queen's University, Kingston. "Early experience with medical assistant in dying in Ontario, Canada: a cohort study" is early-released February 12, 2020. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech in Quezon City on Aug. 27. (Photo by AP) By Zhang Liulu The Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo recently revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte will ask its senior diplomat to notify Washington of Manilas consideration of terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed between the two countries in 1998. By allowing American ships and planes to enter and exit the Philippines in the name of participating in joint military exercises, the agreement accorded legal status to Americas military presence in the country after the US-Philippines Military Base Agreement came out of effect in 1991. The fuse that prompted Pres. Duterte to make the decision was Washingtons refusal to grant atravel visa to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, one of his close political allies, and a major enforcer of drug war, a priority on Duterte administrations agenda. The Philippines has long been plagued by drugs. Serving as mayor of Davao on the island of Mindanao, a seriously drug-ridden area, for more than 20 years, Mr. Duterte knows only too well the damages of drugs to his country. Therefore, since taking office more than three years ago, he has launched the crackdown on drugs with an iron hand, not only honoring his campaign commitment to the constituents, but also largely improving the political and social environment of Philippines. Whatever the comments from outside world will be, Mr. Duterte is determined to continue fighting drugs as, in his opinion, what concerns the authority of his administration and the national dignity of his country. Behind this diplomatic conflict is Americas constant interference in Manilas internal affairs through the exercise of long-arm jurisdiction, which has touched Dutertes political red line and deepened the feud between the two countries. The cancellation of Rosas visa is just the latest case of their unending diplomatic disputes in recent years. At the end of 2019, the US expressed support for Leila de Lima, former Secretaryof the Philippine Department of Justice, in its 2020 government budget act, which drew strong protest from Manila. At a press conference on December 27, 2019, Philippine Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Mr. Duterte would officially reject American President Trumps invitation to visit the US, making him the first president since the Philippines became an independent state who has not visited the US during his tenure. Where is the Philippines-US military alliance going after the VFA is terminated? Historically speaking, the Philippines-US military relation has been undulating with different characteristics in different historical periods. The cooperation between Arroyo and George W Bush on counter-terrorism pushed their military relation to quickly heat up, and the two countries had a honeymoon of bilateral ties under the consensus of America returning to Asia Pacific when Aquino III and Barack Obama were in power. However, after Mr. Duterte and Donald Trump stepped up, their military relation came to a chilling period of adjustment. Faced with a complicated domestic situation and an increasingly straining global strategy, the Trump administration has been contracting in general in the international community, whereas the pragmatic Duterte administration has sought cooperation with countries like China and Russia to ensure a stable external environment. As favorable factors for military cooperation are diminishing, a political war of words may add new uncertainties to the US-Philippine relationship. Disclaimer: This article is originally published on haiwainet.cn, which is the website of Overseas Edition of the People's Daily. The article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Todays nomination process has myriad defects but one manifest virtue: It provides ample time and small early venues for aspirants who, such as Klobuchar, start with more pluck than money, and less notoriety than seriousness. Sanderss coming defeat might send some of his most dyspeptic supporters those most like him into hibernation or opposition. Pouting would be in character for true believers who are self-righteous and ideologically inebriated. But it would not necessarily be fatal to the Democratic Party, which has survived defections before. In 1948, South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond led the Dixiecrats rebellion on the right, and Henry Wallace, Franklin Roosevelts second vice president, led the Progressives departure from the left, yet FDRs third vice president, then-President Harry S. Truman, won anyway. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. India has amended its Citizenship Act of 1955 in December 2019 to allow persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Christian faiths who have illegally migrated into India over the years from three neighbouring Islamic countries, namely, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, to acquire Indian citizenship on a relatively fast track basis. The exclusion of Muslims from the amendment has been criticised by Indias political opposition, sections of the civil society, leftist student groups and others for being unconstitutional, diluting Indias secularism and eroding Indias democracy. The BJP won a huge majority in Indias general election in May last year, consolidating further its impressive victory in the 2014 elections. Amending the Citizenship Act of 1955 has been on the partys agenda all along. In its previous tenure the BJP government had moved the amendment but it could not be passed because the party did not have a majority in the Upper House of Indias parliament, and so the legislation had to be shelved. This time also the party lacked a majority in the Upper House but was able to get the legislation through with the support of a section of the opposition. In other words, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed after an intensive debate in both houses of parliament when all the issues raised by the opposition, including the perceived anti-secular nature of the amendment, were answered by the government. The legislation was passed through an open, transparent and fully democratic process. The constitutionality of the legislation has, nonetheless, been questioned by opponents and the matter will be adjudicated by the Supreme Court of India. This is in consonance with the robust functioning of Indias democracy. The CAA was necessitated because Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Christian minorities who have entered India over decades and settled down in the country could not acquire Indian citizenship under the pre-amended citizenship law. They were, thus, deprived of many benefits of Indian citizenship and had to live precarious lives. These minorities entered India for many reasons- persecution, discrimination, physical insecurity, threat of forcible conversion, and so on. In 1947 minorities in Pakistan, mostly Hindus and Sikhs, constituted about 23% of the population; today they constitute about 5%, with Hindus at about 1.65%. In 1971, at the time of Bangladeshs creation, Hindus constituted 19% of the population, whereas in 2016 they constituted only 8%. These are telling figures that testify to the large scale exodus of minorities from Muslim majority neighbouring countries. This should be contrasted with the number of Muslims in India in 1947 at 92 million and their estimated number today at about 200 million. Not only that, Muslims have occupied the highest positions in the country in all domains, the Indian constitution protects the rights of all minorities and Muslims, along with other minorities are given special rights in the management their religious and educational institutions. Now, these non-Muslim minorities, primarily Hindus and Sikhs, could only migrate to India and nowhere else, given that the historical home of Hindus and Sikhs is India. No Muslim country would either accept them or give them citizenship. But then, amongst those who have entered India illegally over the decades have been Muslims from Bangladesh. They did so not because of religious persecution discrimination, physical insecurity or threat of conversion. They came for better economic opportunities, encouraged also by Bangladesh regimes of the past for political reasons. Their case is different, as they can return to their country of origin, after, of course, identification as illegal migrants. The Indian government estimates that there are about 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India, though the exact number can only be determined after a citizenship roll is established. India is probably unique amongst major powers in not having a system that legally identifies its citizens. It does not have a citizenship register; the system of national identity cards does not exist. This is an anomaly for a country that has a long open border (1758 kilometres) with one of its neighbours (Nepal), a longer porous border (4096 kilometres) with another (Bangladesh), and several thousand kilometres of contested or un-demarcated borders with two others (China and Pakistan- 4056 kilometres and 3323 kilometres respectively). The government has repeatedly clarified that the CAA is to grant citizenship on a one-time basis to a particular group of persons with no alternative options and not to take away the citizenship of any one, much less an Indian Muslim. The CAA has a cut-off date of December 31, 2014, after which no illegal immigrant, whether Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Christian or Muslim would be eligible for citizenship under the amendment. In this larger sense, the CAA is by no means anti-Muslim. The opposition elements in India believe that they have got an issue to put the Prime Minister Modi-led BJP government on the defensive, and hence the resolutions passed by opposition ruled Indian states not to implement the CAA. Unable to have their way in parliament and looking for an issue around which those opposed to the BJP government can coalesce, the opposition is over-dramatising issues and indulging in unrestrained fear-mongering. Outside observers need to better understand the dynamics of internal politics in a raucous democracy like India. However, because the issues of refugees, migration, targeting of minorities anywhere, rise of nationalism have international resonance, western liberal circles, political and in the media, which have anti-Indian lobbies embedded in them traditionally, have picked up the CAA and NRC controversy in India and have begun a malicious campaign against the government, without trying to understand the issues dispassionately. In the process they are showing disrespect for Indian democracy. Worse, they are openly interfering in Indias domestic politics on the side of the opposition. These circles should learn to respect the sovereignty of other countries and curb their tendency to pronounce on internal developments in them. They condemn interference in their internal politics by others and even punish them for this, but openly interfere in the internal politics of other countries. They should not believe that they have a responsibility to shape them or that they have a better idea of how other countries should be governed, more than their elected leaders. They forget that Prime Minister Modi was elected as Indias leader through the largest ever democratic exercise in human history, with more than 550 million voting in an electorate of 830 million. Shri Kanwal Sibal, (former Foreign Secretary of India) This article originally appeared in The Philadelphia Daily News on June 21, 1999. Disaster can bring out the best and the worst in people. Last week, the best of human nature prevailed as friends and neighbors rushed to assist the families evicted from their sinking homes in Wissinoming. By weeks end, city officials had condemned 16 houses in the area bounded by Devereaux Avenue and Hegerman, Vandike, and Benner Streets. At first it looked as if the families faced financial ruin, because the city refused to offer more than emergency relocation expenses. But City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski wouldnt stand for it. Thanks in large part to Krajewskis efforts in City Hall and in Harrisburg, the owners of the condemned houses will be fully compensated. It was Krajewski who persuaded Mayor Rendell to reopen the books on the 1996-97 sewer construction project the homeowners believe is the cause of the structural problems plaguing their properties. The gruff-voiced Krajewski spent hours on the phone daily with State Reps. George McGheehan and John Perzel, who by weeks end had come up with the $1.25 million in state funds to help the Wissinoming homeowners. Krajewski kept a daily vigil in the parking lot outside the local recreation center, from 8 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m., comforting the dispossessed and ensuring that the bureaucracy responded as quickly and compassionately as possible to their needs, no matter how small. She left only after her job was done. Krajewski was one of many heroes and heroines on the scene in Wissinoming last week. Here are a few others: Georgette Shay Georgette Shay, 32, lives with her parents in the house where she was born on Hegerman Street, between Devereaux Avenue and Benner Street. The tiny rowhouse that is their major asset may not be condemned, but it has been hurt just the same. Still Shay, who recently lost her job because her employer went bankrupt, shook off her personal worries and went to work helping her displaced neighbors. When it looked like at least seven families would lose their homes without compensation, Shay organized a petition drive to demand the city make up for their losses. By last Friday, Shay and her helpers had collected nearly 7,000 signatures. Said Shay: Ill fight for anybody thats not getting a fair shake. The petitions will be given to Krajewski to deliver to Rendell this week. We want to keep the pressure on, Shay says. Dolores Ungaro and Andrew Sicinski Dolores Ungaro, who also lives on the so-called safe side of the 6100 block of Hegerman, wasted no time in setting up a relief fund for her neighbors. Ungaro, an employee of First Union National Bank, got the bank to set up an account to accept donations to help the owners of the sinking homes. The Hegerman Street Relief Fund had received $1,700 by last Friday. Ungaro and Andrew Sicinski, owner of Fatheads Bar & Restaurant, have formed a committee to organize more fund-raisers. The first will be held next Sunday at Comedy Cabaret, 11580 Roosevelt Blvd. Tickets are $20 and can be obtained at the Cabaret or Fatheads, Torresdale, and Devereaux Avenues. Sicinski has treated the displaced families to free meals at his bar since the evacuation. Homeowners also have Sicinski to thank for putting them in touch with their lawyer, Gerard Schotzbarger. Michael Cifelli Postal carrier Michael Cifelli has delivered mail to the residents on Hegerman and nearby streets for 10 years. You get to know people, especially in the summer, Cifelli says. Theres always that much-needed drink of water. To repay the blocks many kindnesses, Cifelli is footing the bill for post office boxes for 12 families evacuated from Hegerman Street for as long as they need them. The boxes cost $12 a month each. Its not much, but it is one less thing theyll have to worry about, Cifelli says. Robert Solvibile Sr. Deputy L & I Commissioner Robert Solvibile Sr. is the top L&I official on the scene every day, overseeing the condemnation and demolition. But more than once, Solvibile provided a comforting hand or hug for homeowners overwhelmed by the situation. Hes been very nice and seems really concerned, said George Michell, 75, a Devereaux resident who got the news his house will be torn down Friday. For Solvibile, who has been at L&I for nearly 30 years, this is a conflicting time. I go home at night and I cant sleep thinking about what were doing to these people, Solvibile says. But its my job to keep them safe and I cant stand by and let someone get hurt. DUBLIN, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder in 27 Major Markets 2019-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides the current prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) across 28 Major Markets (USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Brazil, Japan, China, Turkey, Mexico, Denmark, Egypt and South Korea, Argentina, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Austria) split by gender and 5-year age cohort. Along with the current prevalence, the report also contains a disease overview of the risk factors, disease diagnosis and prognosis along with specific variations by geography and ethnicity. Providing a value-added level of insight from the analysis team, several of the main symptoms and co-morbidities of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) have been quantified and presented alongside the overall incidence figures. These sub-populations within the main disease are also included at a country level across the 10-year forecast snapshot. Main symptoms and co-morbidities for the disease include: Feel nauseous or sick Presence of rigid body posture, very little eye contact Blush, sweat, tremble and a rapid heart rate Self-conscious in front of other people and feel embarrassed or awkward Panic attacks, where you have an overwhelming fear and anxiety Clinical depression Alcohol use disorders Reason to buy: Able to quantify patient populations in global Social Anxiety Disorder market to target the development of future products, pricing strategies and launch plans. Gain further insight into the incidence of the subdivided populations of Social Anxiety Disorder and identify patient segments with high potential. Delivery of more accurate information for clinical trials in study sizing and realistic patient recruitment for various countries. Provide a level of understanding on the impact from specific co-morbid conditions on Social Anxiety Disorder prevalence Identify sub-populations within SAD populations which require treatment. Gain an understanding of the specific markets that have the largest number Social Anxiety patients. Key Topics Covered Introduction Cause Of The Disease Risk Factors & Prevention Diagnosis Of The Disease Variation By Geography/Ethnicity Disease Prognosis & Clinical Course Key Comorbid Conditions/Features Associated With The Disease Methodology For Quantification Of Patient Numbers Additional Data Available On Request Top-Line Prevalence For Social Anxiety Disorder Features Of Social Anxiety Disorder Patients Kessler Distress Scale Use In Social Anxiety Patients Age Onset In Social Anxiety Patients Sheelam Disability Scaled In Social Anxiety Patients Abbreviations Used In The Report Other Services & Solutions Reports & Publications Online Epidemiology Databases Online Pharmaceutical Pricing Database For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ojdx9h 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 IsoEnergy Intersects Strongest Uranium Mineralization to Date at the Hurricane Zone Posted by Publisher Internet IsoEnergy Ltd. (?IsoEnergy? or the ?Company?) (TSXV: ISO; OTCQX: ISENF https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/iso-energy-well-financed-for-further-uranium-exploration-at-hurricane-zone-discovery/ ) is pleased to report two new intersections of strong radioactivity in initial drill holes of the winter drilling program at the Hurricane zone.? The Hurricane zone is a new discovery of high-grade uranium mineralization on the Company?s 100% owned Larocque East property (the ?Property?) in the Eastern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan (Figure 1). Highlights: Drill hole LE20-34 intersected 8.5m of uranium mineralization (>500CPS on the RS-125 hand-held spectrometer, the ?RS-125?), including 0m of massive to semi-massive pitchblende measuring >65,000CPS (off-scale on the RS-125). This is the most significant and strongest mineralization drilled to date on the property. Drill hole LE20-32A also intersected 8.5m of uranium mineralization (>500CPS RS-125), including 5m of massive to semi-massive pitchblende measuring >65,000CPS (off-scale on the RS-125). The two drill holes are located on the west end of the Hurricane zone, approximately 75m apart. Geochemical assays are expected within four weeks. The Company remains well-funded with over C$6 million in the treasury. Craig Parry, Chief Executive Officer commented: ?I want to congratulate our technical team and particularly our field crew for safely and efficiently delivering outstanding drill results early in this drilling program. ?Holes LE20-34 and LE20-32A include thick intercepts of off-scale mineralization confirming these as our best drill results to date and we eagerly await the assay results. These great drill results come at a promising time for the sector as the market fundamentals for uranium move towards a phase of higher prices.? Steve Blower, Vice President of Exploration commented: ?It is gratifying to see these substantial thicknesses of strong pitchblende mineralization in the drill core from Drill 1 early in our winter program.? The results bode well for additional drill holes in this campaign, particularly on the western side of the Hurricane zone.? I?m also encouraged by the alteration, structure and elevated radioactivity that we?re seeing at Drill 2, well east of the current Hurricane zone footprint.? Drill Hole LE20-34 (Drill 1) Drill hole LE20-34 was completed as a 25m step-out along-strike to the west of drill hole LE20-30, which was the first drill hole of this winter 2020 campaign (see news release dated February 4, 2020).? LE20-34 intersected strongly altered sandstone before intersecting 8.5m of uranium mineralization >500CPS (RS-125) from 326.0 to 334.5m (Figures 2 and 3).? The interval includes a substantial 2.0m interval of semi-massive to massive black and brown pitchblende that is off-scale on the RS-125 (>65,000CPS).? Mineralization straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity and is shown in a core photo in Figure 4.? Table 1 summarizes the uranium mineralization intersected to date in the current program. Drill Hole LE20-32A (Drill 1) The objective of drill hole LE20-32A was to test a 50m along-strike gap between 2019 mineralized drill holes LE19-09 (4.5m @ 4.2% U3O8, 1.1% Ni, 0.8% Co) and LE19-12 (8.5m @ 3.2% U3O8, 2.1% Ni, 0.2% Co).? Drill hole LE20-32A intersected strongly altered sandstone before intersecting 8.5m of uranium mineralization >500CPS (RS-125) from 329.5-338.0m (Figures 2 and 5).? Similar to LE20-34, the interval includes 1.5m of semi-massive to massive black pitchblende that is off-scale on the RS-125 (>65,000CPS).? Figure 6 is a core photo showing the mineralized interval.? Drill Holes LE20-31 and LE20-33 (Drill 2) Encouraging initial results have been received from Drill 2, 200m east of the current Hurricane zone footprint.? A newly recognized graphitic structural zone was observed in core from drill hole LE20-31, which is likely responsible for the alteration and radioactivity observed in the summer of 2019 in drill hole LE19-26.? This new structural zone sits north of the Hurricane zone trend and is interpreted to be the west end of a strongly graphitic, highly prospective corridor that stretches several kilometres to the east.? Drill hole LE20-33 targeted the new structure at the unconformity but likely overshot the zone, despite intersecting strong sandstone alteration and elevated radioactivity just above the unconformity.? Drilling continues on this section. Next Steps Drill 1 will remain on the west end of the Hurricane zone, continuing to test the current footprint of the zone and extending the mineralization to the property boundary and to the north and south where it remains open.? Assay results from drill holes LE20-32A and LE20-34 are expected within four weeks.? Drill 2 will continue to evaluate the potential to expand the zone to the east.? Further results of this 20-hole program will be reported periodically throughout the winter drill season.? The Larocque East Property and the Hurricane Zone The 100% owned Larocque East property consists of 20 mineral claims totaling 8,371 ha and is not encumbered by any royalties or other interests.? Larocque East is immediately adjacent to the north end of IsoEnergy?s Geiger property and is 35 km northwest of Orano Canada?s McClean Lake uranium mine and mill.? Along with other target areas, the Property covers a 15-kilometre-long northeast extension of the Larocque Lake conductor system; a trend of graphitic metasedimentary basement rocks that is associated with significant uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone, and in several occurrences on Cameco Corp.?s neighbouring property to the southwest of Larocque East.? The Hurricane zone was discovered in July, 2018 and was followed up with a 12-hole drilling campaign in the winter of 2019 and a recently completed 17-hole summer 2019 drilling campaign.? Dimensions are currently 550m along-strike, 40m wide and up to 10m thick.? The zone is open for expansion along-strike and on most sections.? Mineralization is polymetallic and commonly straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity 320 m below surface.? Previous to these results, the best intersection to date was 5.4% U3O8 over 7.0m in drill hole LE19-16A.? Drilling at Cameco Corp.?s Larocque Lake zone on the neighbouring property to the southwest has returned historical intersections of up to 29.9% U3O8 over 7.0 m in drill hole Q22-040.? Like the nearby Geiger property, Larocque East is located adjacent to the Wollaston-Mudjatik transition zone a major crustal suture related to most of the uranium deposits in the eastern Athabasca Basin.? Importantly, the sandstone cover on the Property is thin, ranging between 140 m and 330 m in previous drilling.? In addition to the Hurricane zone discovery, four historical drill holes have intersected weak uranium mineralization at other locations on the Property to date.? Qualified Person Statement The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergy?s Senior Geologist, who is a ?Qualified Person? (as defined in NI 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects).? Mr. Carmichael has verified the data disclosed. ?All radioactivity measurements reported herein are total gamma from an RS-125 hand-held spectrometer.? As mineralized drill holes at the Hurricane zone are oriented very steeply (-80 to -90 degrees) into a zone of mineralization that is interpreted to be horizontal, the true thickness of the intersections is expected to be greater than or equal to 90% of the core lengths.? This news release refers to properties other than those in which the Company has an interest. ?Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company?s properties. ?All chemical analyses are completed for the Company by SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories in Saskatoon, SK.? For additional information regarding the Company?s Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures, please see the Technical Report dated effective May 15, 2019 on the Company?s profile at www.sedar.com. About IsoEnergy IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. ?The Company recently discovered the high-grade Hurricane Zone of uranium mineralization on its 100% owned Larocque East property in the Eastern Athabasca Basin.? IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development and operations. ?The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd. ? Craig Parry Chief Executive Officer IsoEnergy Ltd. +1 778 379 3211 cparry@isoenergy.ca www.isoenergy.ca Investor Relations Kin Communications +1 604 684 6730 iso@kincommunications.com www.isoenergy.ca In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ?U.S. Securities Act?), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder. Forward-Looking Information The information contained herein contains ?forward-looking statements? within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ?forward-looking information? within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. ?Forward-looking information? includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as ?plans?, ?expects?, ?is expected?, ?budget?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?forecasts?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, or ?believes? or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might? or ?will be taken?, ?occur? or ?be achieved? or the negative connotation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company?s planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder,? alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.? The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws ? ? "I am in the bathroom," read one text message read out in court by the judge. "I can't go out because he won't let me go anywhere." Another said: "He threw loads of coke at me and said I could never afford that." Another read: "Mike is fucked. He has lost his mind. He is on coke, like." And another text: "This is scary. Don't text again. I am scared." The sender of the texts was Sophie Tobin, then seven months pregnant, to her friend, Sonia Thompson. At Skibbereen District Court she claimed that Michael Casey, her then on-off partner of less than a year, had assaulted her at his home and had falsely imprisoned her there over a number of hours, charges he denied. Ms Tobin, now 23, had been in a relationship with Mr Casey, now 39, who at the time had been separated from his ex-wife. The alleged offences occurred in the early hours of November 18, 2018, after Mr Casey, of Coorangannive, Skibbereen, had returned home from a family christening in Bantry. Ms Tobin told Judge James McNulty that she had wanted to speak to Mr Casey as the father of her child, and was dropped late at the christening, which had been going on all day. She said she had one glass of wine, was dropped back to Skibbereen, and then dropped to Michael's house. Once his brothers left she said they had a row after Mr Casey began taking cocaine in front of her. She said she told him he would not see the baby if he was taking drugs. She said Mr Casey locked the door and took the key. "I was scared of him," she said, adding that he was "very aggressive" and she locked herself in the bathroom. At one point she said she tried to climb out a window but he pulled her back in by her legs. She said Mr Casey threw Peruvian cocaine in front of her and said she would never be able to afford it. He drew an imaginary line on the floor and told her she was not to pass it, she told the judge. She said when they were outside at one point Mr Casey pinned her to the ground and threatened to throw her into the river. When he offered to drive her home she got into the back seat and she said she was "half in the car, half out of the car" as he drove a short distance before stopping. Ms Thompson, giving evidence, said she used another phone to make audio recordings of what she could hear as Ms Tobin was on the phone. Some of those recordings were played in court. Independent witness Daniel Ring, who went with others to collect Ms Tobin, said she was "hysterical" and disorientated, claiming Mr Casey had been attacking her. When he was present Mr Ring said Mr Casey was "not aggressive in any way". In his evidence, Mr Casey denied Ms Tobin's version of events. "The only time I touched her was when she was trying to jump from the car," he said. Mr Casey said he locked the door but left the key in it, and he said his bathroom door doesn't lock and that the window Ms Tobin claimed she was trying to climb through only opened a few inches. He admitted being angry with her but only because she was shouting and roaring. He said he had told her she could leave any time, but he was not going to let her walk home in the dark. He said he did not know how she got bruising on her body, photos of which were showed to the judge, and said they had not spoken since this incident as Ms Tobin was "absolutely crazy". Mr Casey said Ms Tobin had been "absolutely langers" on the night in question. The judge said Ms Tobin was a credible witness and sentenced Casey, who had 12 previous convictions including three currently under appeal, to 12 months on the assault charge and to another 12 months for false imprisonment. The judge said, as there were "exceptional aggravating circumstances", those sentences should be served consecutively. "One of the aggravating factors is that he has attempted in his evidence to make a liar of this woman in a manner which is unworthy and unfair," Judge McNulty said. For a man who was high on cocaine, after a feed of drink, it's a bit rich for him to say she was erratic. Michael Casey lodged an appeal, with the judge attaching conditions including that there be no communication with the injured party or any state or potential state witnesses, and that he comply with any requests within three hours from gardai for an oral fluid test for the presence of drugs. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas and Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, February 13 2020 No backing down: Workers from the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) stage a rally in front of the House of Representatives compound in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday in protest at the omnibus bill on job creation. The KSPI has threatened to call a strike if the House passes the draft law. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan) The government submitted on Wednesday the controversial omnibus bill on job creation to the House of Representatives but without releasing the document for public scrutiny, as thousands rallied outside the House complex against the bills potential detrimental effect on labor rights. Now that the government has submitted the omnibus bill to the House, deliberations must start to involve the public and they must be more transparent for it to become inclusive, Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia research director Piter Abdullah said. 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 Looking for something different or a new way to celebrate your Valentines Day? Take a road trip to somewhere new and find you and your loved one in an adventure for two. Find a new adventure across Upstate New York in the list below from hiking, to learning to cook a new cuisine, to hugging baby goats. If every day is love day for you, these experiences can be done at any time of year. Lisa Wadsworth and her husband, Shawn of Onondaga Hill try a sample from Andy Watkins, owner of Lakeland Winery located in Lakeland, NY.David Lassman | syracuse.com Make your own wine Lakeland Winery, located in Syracuse, NY, opened in December 2005 and has won top awards in the New York State Fair Wine Competition. Each weekend they offer both wine tastings and wine making classes. While tasting a variety of wines offered at Lakeland Winery, guests are also encouraged to bring food theyd like to enjoy with their wine, or purchase a Charcuterie board onsite. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Explore your tastebuds Chemistry with your date wont be the only thing to discover on The Science of Taste Food Tour. This narrated and guided winter tour through restaurants of Ithaca, NY. Explore one of your five basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami) with each course. Learn the hidden elements of each taste and find out whether or not youre a super taster. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Get snuggly with rescue goats Frederick Farm is home to several goats, each with a different rescue story. The nine-acre farm is located in the Catskill Park within walking distance to the Rondout Reservoir. Guests can stay on the farm and go for hikes with the herd on the property. Get your fill of quality time with the goats as well as cuddles with the kids; two baby Nigerian dwarf goats that are their newest additions. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Wonton are prepared in a Victorian mansion in Corning, NY with an Airbnb experience.Screenshot from Airbnb | nyup.com Have an international food adventure Inside a Victorian mansion in Corning, NY is the kitchen of Frances, a native of Shanghai, China. She has been making wonton for over 30 years and loves to share the joy of cooking the traditional Chinese dish with others. In this course, guests will learn how to make and enjoy an impressive multi-course wonton meal, serving it as appetizer, soup, main dish and a dessert. Her home is a 15 minute walk away from the Corning Museum of Glass filled with handblown art that you can admire and even take home with you. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. A New York State Licensed Hiking Guide takes a couple through some of the most scenic parts of the Catskill Park in Upstate New York.Screenshot from Airbnb | nyup.com Take selfies atop a mountain Find some of the most Instagram-worthy locations in the Catskill Park with a New York State Licensed Hiking Guide. The guide will lead you on a hike and take photos of you and your sweetheart with some of the most beautiful backdrops in Upstate New York. Weather permitting, they will also use a drone to get an aerial tour and pictures and video of your experience. Snacks will be provided as well as a backpack to carry them in if needed. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Learn how to turn photos into beautiful paintings in this class located in Woodstock, NY.Screenshot from Airbnb | nyup.com Release your inner artist Get creative with your date night plans and try your hand at painting your own masterpiece. With over 40 years of art and illustration experience, your instructor ensures you will head home with new skills and a painting that looks even better than the reference photo. Just a short drive out of Woodstock, NY town center, dress ready to paint and let your inner Bob Ross shine. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Making mustard at Crown Hill Farm in Eden, NY.Screenshot from Airbnb | nyup.com Add some spice with a mustard making class Soak in the history, mystery, and mustard at the Crown Hill Farm in Eden, NY, just over a half hour south of Buffalo. The 1850s farmhouse is home to chickens, ducks, and geese and carries a unique history including a suspected murderer, an accomplished lawyer-turned-spiritualist, an internationally renowned author and more. Learn the tales of this historic farm while enjoying views of Lake Erie and making mustard with whatever world flavors you choose. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Preserve the features of your face with a one-of-a-kind Plaster of Paris mask by an artist in Woodstock, NY.Screenshot from Airbnb | nyup.com Preserve your face in a custom mask They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but with this class, you can make a true-to-life Plaster of Paris mask to preserve your visage or the one of your beloved. A professional mask maker of 25 years in Woodstock, NY will take time to carefully create a one-of-a-kind experience and gift to capture a moment in time. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Get cheesy with artisan cheese making class Its time to get cheesy with the one you adore. Located in the Hudson Valley, Acorn Hill Farm raises Nubian goats and make goat cheese, yogurt, fudge and sometimes soap. Learn how to make three different fresh cheeses from chevre to Greek style feta to a whole milk ricotta. You will also get to snuggle up to some baby goats and meet the rest of the milking herd on the farm. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Live out your llama dreams Your adventure begins by meeting the goats, sheep, and cats on Clover Brooke Farm in Hyde Park, NY. From there, your guide will give you some llama and alpaca 101 lessons before heading out a trek with the animals on their 25 acre farm in the Hudson Valley. Walk through gentle pastures, paddocks, past a stocked Bass pond and take as many selfies with the llamas and alpacas as you wish. See more details about this experience on Airbnb.com. Have a slice of heaven with pie making class Meet the Meat Pie at Stone & Thistle Farm in East Meredith, NY, south of Cooperstown. Learn how to make two old fashioned meat pies such as Tourtiere, chicken, beef, lamb or pork using ingredients from the farm. The second half of the experience is making The Perfect Pate such as chicken liver mousse or pate de campagne. Lunch will be enjoyed in the farms restaurant along with a salad and dessert and a drink selection. See more details about this experience on Airbnb. MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Touchpoint Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: TGHI) (Company or Touchpoint), a media and digital technology holding company, today announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with celebrity and reality star Joey Essex to utilize the Touchpoint app to connect and interface with his expansive fan base. The Touchpoint app provides subscribers the ability to live stream exclusive content hosted by their favorite celebrities and elite influencers that use the platform and purchase original merchandise. The celebrity influencer can live stream or record content and upload to the app, providing users access to the content anytime. Joey Essex is an English TV star, international DJ and celebrity influencer. Beginning his career on The Only Way is Essex, he quickly rose to prominence as a premier star in British television. Essex currently stars in the smash hit Celebrity Ex on the Beach, which features his relationship with new-found love, Lorena Medina. Essex has played headlining DJ sets throughout the world, selling out shows at nightclubs in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Dubai, as well as throughout the UK. Essex recently began to expand into the world of fashion with his jewelry brand, Calm Storm, and he will be launching his full fashion brand shortly. Mark White, Chief Executive Officer of Touchpoint, stated, We are extremely excited to have entered into a licensing agreement with Joey Essex to utilize the Touchpoint app. Touchpoint provides subscribers easy access to content, live or recorded, and unique merchandise will be available for purchase. We look forward to building further this relationship with Joey Essex given his dynamic reach. Joey Essex commented, I am extremely excited to begin this partnership with Touchpoint. They are doing something really special with their technology, which will allow me to better reach my fans and get them the exclusive live stream content they want. By providing unique access to my life and sharing insights, I look forward to leveraging the Touchpoint app to enhance my own unique brand. This app will also serve as a home for all of my fashion endeavors. Its an exciting time to communicate with my fan base, and I cant wait to get this technology rolled out. Ill be making further announcements on my Instagram, so stay tuned! About Touchpoint Group Holdings Touchpoint Group Holdings, Inc. is a media and digital technology acquisition and software company. For more information, see http://touchpointgh.com/ . Safe Harbor Statement This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward looking-statements. Potential risks include such factors as the inability to enter into agreements with parties with whom we are in discussions, the uncertainty of consumer demand for the Companys products, as well as additional risks and uncertainties that are identified and described in the Companys SEC reports. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Contact WEST SPRINGFIELD At least one Facebook user identifying himself as a former White Hut worker says he cannot cash his final paycheck. The worker posted repeatedly on the site Tuesday saying he's been told that the payroll account of White Hut has been frozen and funds are not available. White Hut owner Edward J. E.J. Barkett, who closed the West Springfield icon suddenly Friday night, has not returned messages from The Republican. A group of investors lead by Peter Picknelly and Andy Yee are working to buy the restaurant, refurbish it an reopen it. On Tuesday, Picknelly said his interest is in buying the restaurant and operating it going forward. The partners are working with White Huts creditors including banks owed money to complete the sale. Yee said Tuesday he learned of the payroll issue earlier in the day and is working to find out more. He said he wants to interview former White Hut employees for jobs at the reopened White Hut. The Massachusetts Attorney Generals Fair Labor Division handles complaints from workers alleging theyve been cheated out of pay or sick and vacation time. The AGs office asks workers to call its Fair Labor Hotline at 617-727-3465. The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available at mass.gov/how-to/file-a-workplace-complaint. An Apple engineer who died when his Tesla Model X hit a concrete barrier on a Silicon Valley highway had complained before his death that the SUVs Autopilot system would malfunction in an area where a previous crash had happened. The complaints were detailed in a trove of documents released Tuesday by the US National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the March, 2018 crash that killed engineer Walter Huang. The documents say Huang told his wife that Autopilot had previously veered his SUV toward the same barrier on US 101 near Mountain View, California where he later crashed. Huang died at a hospital from his injuries. Walter said the car would veer toward the barrier in the mornings when he went to work, the Huang family's attorney wrote in a response to NTSB questions. Huang also described Autopilot's malfunctioning to his brother, the attorney wrote, in addition to talking with a friend who owns a Model X. Huang, a software engineer, discussed with the friend how a patch to the Autopilot software affected its performance and made the Model X veer, the lawyers response said. Sometime prior to the crash, Huang took his Tesla to a service centre to fix a navigation error, the attorneys response said. But Tesla could not duplicate the problem and it was not repaired. Walter Huang's Tesla following the crash. Source: AP The Huang family is suing Tesla and Californias Department of Transportation for allegedly failing to maintain the highway. Autopilot is a partially automated system designed to keep a vehicle in its lane and keep a safe distance from vehicles in front of it. It also can change lanes with driver approval. Tesla says Autopilot is intended for driver assistance and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. The full NTSB board is scheduled to hold a hearing on the crash on February 25. At that time, it will determine a cause and make safety recommendations. Original crash site wasnt repaired for 11 days NTSB staff members have already recommended that California transportation officials move faster to repair highway safety barriers damaged by vehicles. Story continues A report from the agency says California officials failed to fix the barrier that was damaged in a crash 11 days before Huang was killed. In that incident, a 2010 Toyota Prius traveling in excess of 120 km/h crashed against the attenuator, a cushion that protects vehicles from hitting the end of concrete lane dividers. The 31-year-old driver survived the crash and was treated for relatively minor injuries, the NTSB said. Walter Huang pictured with his wife Sevonne Huang. Source: Minami Tamaki LLP The California Highway Patrol responded to the March 12 crash but did not notify the California Department of Transportation of the damage as it is required to, the NTSB said. Huang's 2017 Tesla Model X was travelling at 114km/h when it crashed against the same attenuator, which the NTSB determined had been damaged and repaired more frequently than any other left-exit in Caltrans' District 4, which includes all of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7 million people. In the three years before the Tesla crash, the device was struck at least five times, including one crash that resulted in fatalities. A car struck it again on May 20, 2018, about two months after the Tesla crash, the NTSB said. California Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Rocco said the department is reviewing the NTSB report to determine its next steps but declined to answer questions. "Safety remains Caltrans top priority," he said. Documents released on second fatal Tesla crash Also on Tuesday, the NTSB released documents from another fatal Tesla crash, this one on March 1, 2019 in Delray Beach, Florida. In that incident, driver Jeremy Banner turned on the Autopilot function of his Model 3 sedan 10 seconds before the crash, then took his hands off the steering wheel, NTSB documents said. The car then drove underneath a tractor-trailer that was crossing in front of it, sheering off the car's roof and killing Banner. It was eerily similar to another Florida crash in 2016 in which a Tesla on Autopilot went beneath a semi trailer. The NTSB said in a preliminary report that it still hasnt determined the cause of the crash. According to the report, traffic was light on the four-lane highway and dawn was breaking when Banner, 50, set his speed at 111km/h and activated the autopilot as he headed to work. The speed limit was 88km/h. Seconds later, a tractor-trailer driven by Richard Wood, 45, pulled from a driveway and began to cross to the other side of the highway. Wood said he saw two sets of car headlights coming toward him, but he thought he had time to make it across. It was dark and it looked like the cars was back further than they was (sic), Wood told NTSB investigators four days after the crash. A photo taken by the NTSB from Teslas front-end video camera showed Woods trailer fully blocking the road 1.5 seconds before the crash. Data from the Teslas computer shows that Banner hit his brakes less than a second before the crash, but the car went under the trailer. Wood says he saw a second car but that one didn't hit the trailer. Palm Beach County firefighters who arrived minutes later found the Tesla about 400 metres down the highway with its engine running. The car had automatically shifted to neutral and turned on its emergency flashers when its computer detected the crash. They said that they had never dealt with a Teslas ignition before and didnt know how to turn it off that requires using a keycard. The department has since given its firefighters additional training. 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. The Donald Trump administration last year gave out more than $1 million in federal grant money designed to aid human trafficking victims to two organizations with lower qualifications than other applicants, prompting a whistleblower complaint. One was a right-wing group founded by a former sex worker turned fundamentalist Christian, and the other group is led by the daughter of a 2016 Trump delegate to the Republican convention, according to a Reuters report. The two groups, Nevadas Hookers for Jesus and South Carolinas Lincoln Tubman Foundation, both received lower ratings than other grant recipients in the $100 million grant program for groups that say they combat human trafficking, according to the whistleblowers report obtained by Reuters. The whistleblower alleges that political considerations, rather than the qualifications of the two groups, appear to have led to the grant awards being directed their way. Hookers for Jesus was founded by former sex worker Annie Lobert, who, according to a Christian Broadcasting Network profile, experienced a sudden conversion to fundamentalist Christianity while in a hospital following a suicide attempt. The group provides a safe house for sex workers who have tried to escape traffickers. But according to documents examined by Reuters, the group prohibits safe house residents from reading secular magazines with articles, pictures, etc. that portray worldly views/advice on living, sex, clothing, makeup tips, and also requires them to attend religious services at Loberts church. Lobert denied to Reuters that she forces residents to attend her church, but added, there is an understanding before they come in here that we are Christian. She has also been an opponent of sex work decriminalization. Hookers for Jesus received $530,000 in federal grant money over three years, a Miami Herald report said. The Lincoln Tubman Foundation was founded, according to Reuters, by the daughter of a prominent local Republican who supported President Donald Trump as a delegate at the 2016 convention. Operating under the name Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force, the foundation was awarded a $550,000 grant over a three-year period. The groups founder, Brooke Burris, told Reuters that she runs the foundation out of her parents mansion-sized home, but is looking for new office space. The whistleblower complaint alleges that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach and Chicanos Por La Causa of Phoenix were both more qualified, but passed over in favor of the lower-rated Hookers for Jesus and Lincoln Tubman Foundation. The Phoenix-based group has publicly opposed the Trump administration over immigration policies. The Palm Beach group is headed by a delegate to the Democratic National Committee. Photo by the United States Department of Justice / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain RACINE A Racine man is facing charges after reportedly entering a local Dollar General store on Sunday and holding customers hostage inside the store while pretending to have a gun. Darrin L. Banks, 49, of the 1800 block of Roosevelt Avenue, was charged on Monday with 10 felony counts of false imprisonment and one misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer. According to the criminal complaint: On Sunday, police responded to Dollar General, 4901 Washington Ave., for a possible robbery in progress. Dispatchers, after receiving multiple 911 calls from customers, reported that a man had entered the store and demanded that everyone go to the back of the store. One caller said they couldnt talk on the phone because they were scared. Other callers said that the suspect was acting like he had a gun and yelling get back and dont go out that door. Several witnesses said that Banks told them you came in at the wrong time, go to the back and Im going to rob this place, keep walking. They believed Banks had a gun concealed and followed his directions. Banks also allegedly told customers its a stick-up. In total, 10 people were confined to the back of the store during the incident. There were no reports of injuries. Tense apprehension Banks reportedly made the store manager call 911 and tell dispatchers that the store was being robbed. Banks became irritated by the questioning and eventually took the phone away from the manager and set it on the counter. He then allegedly told the manager that he did not have a gun and did not want to hurt anyone, he just wanted to die. Officers arrived on scene and located the suspect, later identified as Banks, outside the store. Banks reportedly said he wanted to be shot and did not comply with orders from officers, who attempted to deploy their Tasers. The Tasers were not effective, according to the report, but Banks was detained before he would re-enter the store, after being told by officers not to do so. As of Monday afternoon, Banks remained in custody at the County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond, online records show. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 19 at the Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave. Banks has a criminal history of at least 27 years in Wisconsin, including possession of a firearm by a felon in 1993, burglary in 1994, armed robbery with use of force in 2001, operating while intoxicated in 2002, escape in 2002 and resisting an officer in 2018. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 3 Sad 11 Angry 9 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. F ollowing the release of on-set images earlier today, the first trailer for Wes Anderson's new movie The French Dispatch has landed and it looks epic. It was announced at the end of last year that Wes Anderson would be embarking on the new project, described as a "love letter to journalism." As well as starring favourites like Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, the new feature film also marks Timothee Chalamet's debut in an Anderson film. Murray, McDormand and Swinton are not the only familiar sights in a trailer crammed with Anderson hallmarks: symmetry is there from the off, as is a voice-over and a grand, swelling, 60s-inflected score. Anderson's trademark use of colour is present as well, though flashback scenes are in black-and-white. The cast also includes Anderson regulars Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody, and former Bond villain Mathieu Amalric. Henry Winkler, once the Fonz in Happy Days, also appears. The French Dispatch, Anderson's first movie in two years, follows a group of journalists who work at an American newspaper bureau set in a fictional French city in the 20th century. Searchlight Pictures It is said to be loosely based on the tales of The New Yorker magazine, and will be Wes Anderson's 10th directorial project. Anderson has been nominated for seven Academy Awards throughout his career, including Best Picture for The Grand Budapest Hotel and Best Animated Feature for his 2018 movie Isle of Dogs. Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar speaking to media outside the Financial Forum in Dublin Castle Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie With Sinn Feins election breakthrough in focus, the outgoing Taoiseach and other top officials at a financial conference in Dublin rushed to reassure investors that Ireland remains open for business. Financial and property shares have already been hit hard by the emergence of Sinn Fein, whose manifesto pledged to reduce tax breaks for banks that were bailed out by the State, and to introduce a raft of controls on the private rented sector, from price caps onwards. While accepting that voters had rejected the policies of his Government, Leo Varadkar told the conference that the political centre in Ireland has been shaken... but it has held. Other officials noted that a change in Government would not be accompanied by a radical redrawing of the States policies on winning the business of multinationals and other companies from overseas. All of the major parties are committed to foreign direct investment, Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, told the European Financial Forum. Despite representing a sharp shift to the left in economic policy, Sinn Fein has said it will stick to the States 12.5pc corporation tax rate, which has been key to attracting investments from a raft of companies from big pharma to high-tech to set up here. The party has, however, said that it will impose higher taxes on transfers of intellectual property to Ireland, a move that it says would raise 722m, in what is its biggest budget revenue-raising measure. It has also said it would drop the States appeal against an EU ruling that Ireland gave Apple a sweetheart tax deal worth 14bn. Multinational companies pay more than 7 in every 10 the State receives in corporation taxes, while foreign investors directly employ a quarter of a million workers. The election is the latest risk to hit Ireland, which is the most exposed economy in the world to the damage from Brexit. This, according to Central Bank of Ireland figures, could potentially lop 9bn off economic output by 2028 if the UK does not strike a trade deal with the European Union. That risk has been amplified by the insistence of prime minister Boris Johnson that any deal must be struck this year, or London will trade with the EU on the same terms that it trades with the rest of the world. The UK has set a tight, maybe somewhat unrealistic, timeline for those negotiations, Mr Shanahan said. The outgoing Minister of State for Financial Services, Michael DArcy, chose to stress Irelands post-Brexit attractions to international investors, including financial services. We are the only English-speaking, common law country in the EU, he said. However, Mr DArcy conceded that there will be a reset from the Fine Gael administration that has ruled since 2011. It is a matter for the new Government to put in place a new strategy, he said. But he too stressed there would be continuity in the overall attitude to attracting investment. There will be no change in commitment to foreign direct investment companies, he said. Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf, who was appointed by the outgoing Fine Gael Government in controversial circumstances that drew criticism from Sinn Fein, warned that the Irish economy also faced risks from coronavirus thanks to trade links with China. While he noted that growth has been strong, he also said that the State should not be complacent. Any impact on the Irish economy would be felt through both direct and indirect channels, he said. From a decline in demand for Irish exports to China, to the negative impact on overall world demand and a consequential impact on Irish exports. As China accounts for a large and growing share of world output about 19pc of world GDP in 2018 we would expect a disruption to Chinas economy to have an impact on Ireland, the governor added. Research from the Central Bank issued yesterday noted that a large portion of the export growth experienced by the State last year was down to sales of computer components to China. Conor Ferguson at the funeral of his wife RTE journalist and broadcaster Keelin Shanley at St Pauls Church in Glenageary. Pic:Mark Condren 12.2.2020 Ryan Tubridy at the funeral of RTE journalist and broadcaster Keelin Shanley at St Pauls Church in Glenageary. Pic:Mark Condren 12.2.2020 The funeral of RTE journalist and broadcaster Keelin Shanley at St Pauls Church in Glenageary. Pic:Mark Condren 12.2.2020 Huge crowds have gathered in south Dublin for the funeral of the late RTE broadcaster Keelin Shanley, who passed away last Saturday after battling cancer. The 51-year-old mother-of-two will be laid to rest after a celebration of her life with a Humanist ceremony with four speakers at St Pauls Church in Glenageary, at 12.15pm before a cremation in Mount Jerome. In the ceremony booklet there was a quote from her bereaved family which read: Thanks everyone for all the love, support and kindness over the past few years and throughout her life. It meant so much to Keelin and to us too. The former Six One news anchor is survived by her heart-broken husband Conor Ferguson and their two young children Lucy (13) and Ben (10) along with her father Derry and step-mother June. Read More The eldest of five children, among those who gathered to pay their final respects were her siblings Muireann, Emma, Niamh and Eoin along with her step-brothers Rob and Will and mother-in-law Noeleen. She was pre-deceased by her mum Orna Shanley. Expand Close Keelin Shanley (51) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Keelin Shanley (51) The fourth well-know RTE broadcaster to pass away in less than four months, many of her friends and colleagues from the News and Current Affairs department where she worked for nearly 20 years will also attend. Mourners began arriving from early on including Moya Doherty, Noel Curran. Miriam OCallaghan, Gavin Jennings and Audrey Carville. Also in attendance was Ray Kennedy, Sinead Hussey, Bryan Dobson and Aoife Hegarty. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D Higgins will also attend. Keelin hailed from a family of medics and scientists and originally planned on following suit, having studied Biochemistry at TCD. She lived for a time in Italy where she worked as a researcher for a time before moving back to Dublin in 1993 where she started contributing film reviews to RTE daytime show 12.2.1. Expand Close Ryan Tubridy at the funeral of RTE journalist and broadcaster Keelin Shanley at St Pauls Church in Glenageary. Pic:Mark Condren 12.2.2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ryan Tubridy at the funeral of RTE journalist and broadcaster Keelin Shanley at St Pauls Church in Glenageary. Pic:Mark Condren 12.2.2020 She also worked on technology shows before getting married in 2000 and moving to Paris in 2001 with her new husband. She worked for top news organisations like Radio France Internale and CNN World Report before moving back to Dublin, where she joined Prime Time. She won three IFTA awards for her work highlighting social injustices and also moved onto radio with a f ill-in slot on Drivetime. She also worked on news and magazine programme Morning Edition in 2013 and was fronting RTE Radio 1s News at One when approached to become the new anchor of the Six One bulletin with Caitriona Perry. Lake County Public Libraries has scheduled a variety of programs for the community. The Hobart branch, 100 Main St., will host three upcoming programs: the annual Anti-Valentines Day Party for teens at 2:30 p.m. Friday; Poppin with Anime for teens at 5:30 p.m. Monday; and Crafternoon for children at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. All supplies provided. Register for all programs at www.lcplin.org/branches/ho.htm or at 219-942-2243. The Dyer-Schererville branch, 1001 W. Lincoln Highway (US 30), has three upcoming programs: Power Paws For Kids, where kids read to a therapy dog, at 11 a.m. Saturday; Teen Video Games at 5 p.m. Monday; and a Teen Advisory Board meeting to plan future events at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Register for all programs at www.lcplin.org/branches/ds.htm or at 219-322-4731. The Lake Station-New Chicago branch, 2007 Central Ave., will host STEAM: Exploring Technology for ages 6-15 at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Registration required at www.lcplin.org/branches/lsnc.htm or at 219-962-2409. Indonesia has said it will not bring home nearly 700 hundred nationals who joined the Islamic State group in the Middle East over security fears, but added it would still consider repatriating young children. The issue sharply divided the world's biggest Muslim majority nation with its president saying this week that he was not in favour of bringing back suspected militants and their families who went to Syria and other countries to fight for the group's now crumbled caliphate. Security affairs minister Mahfud MD said that some 689 Indonesians -- including women and children -- in Syria would not be allowed to return home due to security concerns in a country that suffered repeated attacks by IS-loyal groups. "We've decided that the government has to provide security assurance to 267 million Indonesian citizens," the minister said Tuesday, after a meeting with President Joko Widodo near Jakarta. "If these foreign terrorist fighters return home they could become a dangerous new virus," he added. The government would consider repatriating children 10 years old or younger on a "case by case basis", he added, without elaborating. Critics of the plan said it was better to bring foreign fighters home and rehabilitate them instead of risking that they could be further radicalised abroad. "If they're not managed well by the government, there is a possibility they'll be used as proxies by powerful groups that could threaten Indonesia and other countries," said terrorism expert Taufik Andrie. Indonesia has long struggled with Islamist militancy and the country hosts dozens of extremist groups loyal to IS and its violent ideology. In 2018, family suicide bombers from an IS-linked group detonated explosives in several churches in the country's second-largest city Surabaya, killing more than a dozen people. Last year, two militants also linked to IS unsuccessfully tried to assassinate Indonesia's chief security minister, while in November a suicide bomber blew himself up at a busy police station, killing himself and injuring at least a dozen people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SOLAR ENERGY TIPS A Joint Agency Solar Consumer Protection Strategy task force has been created to address predatory sales tactics in California's disadvantaged communities. The group includes representatives of the CPUC, the CSLB and the state Department of Business Oversight. The task force has released a list of tips for anyone considering using the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program to finance energy upgrades. Here is a summary: Don't let anyone pressure you into making a fast decision. Know how much electricity you use and what size solar system you'd need. Check the status of your solar provider's state contractor's license online at www.cslb.ca.gov. If you rely on low-income billing credits, understand that your cost of solar energy may be more than what you pay now. Don't rely on a salesperson's word on how much money a solar project will save you. Review your contract closely, especially the parts explaining how maintenance, warranty and dispute resolution are handled. Remember you have three days to cancel the contract without penalty. CLEVELAND, Ohio Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost are on board with a proposed plan on how to divvy up settlement money the state may receive from drug companies from lawsuits filed over the opioid crisis, a person who represents cities and villages told cleveland.com. However, the plan does not yet have the required widespread support among local government leaders, so negotiations and changes to the plan are expected to continue. Cities and counties throughout Ohio have filed suit against drugmakers, distributors and pharmacies over their role in precipitating the opioid crisis that led to a wave of death and addiction here and across the country. Cuyahoga and Summit counties have settled some of their cases, which are among the thousands of lawsuits consolidated before a federal judge in Cleveland. The negotiations for the plan between Yost, DeWine and attorneys for local governments were ongoing for months and come after the attorney general made arguments in court that his office should administer all of the money that results from settlements and court judgments in the opioid cases from Ohio. Elected officials leaders have balked at those arguments. The plan is detailed in a proposed memorandum of understanding and details how money would be split throughout the state. In its current form, local governments would get 30 percent of the money, which could be used for past and future expenses associated with the opioid crisis, said Kent Scarrett, who represents cities and villages as executive director of the Ohio Municipal League. The state would get 15 percent, said Scarrett, who was briefed on the plan. The remaining 55 percent would be for a foundation that would pay for addiction treatment programs. The foundations money would also benefit local governments, Scarrett said. The plan would also address fees for the private lawyers representing local governments, which have been a major sticking point for Yost throughout the opioid litigation. Negotiations between the state and attorneys for city and county governments began in late October, shortly after drug manufacturers and distributors reached more than $325 million worth of settlements with Cuyahoga and Summit counties to scuttle what would have been the nations first federal opioid trial in Cleveland. The talks were designed to address how the money would get doled out and to ensure its used for expenses solely related to the opioid epidemic. In addition to coming up with a plan, DeWine - who hosted the first negotiations at the Governors Mansion in Bexley - also sought to ease tensions between local governments and Yost. The new plan was hashed out during continued meetings. A meeting Tuesday at the Ohio Department of Public Safety headquarters in Columbus was designed to present the plan to local leaders. Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro were in attendance, though neither county is expected to receive money from companies with which they previously settled. It was not immediately clear whether the plan would garner the support it requires from the vast majority of local governments. Scarrett said he is aware that not all local government are on board and that some may request tweaks. He said his organization is not taking a position on the plan and that its up to each community to decide whether they are on board. However, other local governments, as well as Yost and DeWine would have to sign off on any changes, Scarrett said. Yosts office declined comment, while a spokesman for DeWine said that discussions are continuing and the governor remains optimistic. Budish said at a Cuyahoga County Council meeting Tuesday that progress was made and discussions would continue. Shapiro spokeswoman Greta Johnson officials would continue to discuss it and we do think that Ohio having a plan to place is important for recovery for the state. Cuyahoga and Summit counties are set to go to trial in November for their lawsuits against several pharmacy chains. Cleveland.com reporter Courtney Astolfi contributed to this story. Read more: Cuyahoga, Summit counties opioid trial against pharmacies moved to November Gov. Mike DeWine, seeking to ease tensions in opioid litigation, holds talks at mansion with AG Yost, local leaders Four drug companies reach $260 million settlement to avoid first federal opioid trial in Cleveland Ohio AG Dave Yost again seeks control of opioid litigation, asks appeals court to halt first federal trial MANCHESTER, N.H. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders edged former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday, a closer-than-expected finish that leaves the race for the Democratic presidential nomination still muddled. Sanders topped Buttigieg by about a point when the Associated Press declared him the winner just before midnight. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar came in a surprising third, a finish that built on her well-received performance at Friday's debate in New Hampshire. That could keep the race for the Democratic nominee more unsettled than it often is after the first two contests. Five candidates have at least six national delegates, lead by Buttigieg and Sanders. Sanders' victory was not by the 22-point margin that jolted the race against eventual nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016, when he played the role of upstart challenger. But he didn't stumble either, winning a neighboring state over a large field after leading in almost every poll over the past two months as his rival for the progressive wing of the party Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren slowly faded. At this point of the campaign, we are taking on billionaires and we are taking on candidates who are funded by billionaires, but we are going to win because we have the agenda that speaks to the working people of this country," Sanders said to the crowd at his election night party shortly after 11 p.m. Warren and former vice president Joe Biden ended up fourth and fifth, respectively, disappointing finishes for one-time leading candidates. Analysis: Joe Biden insists he still has a path to the nomination. Others have trouble seeing it. Inside Sanders' election night party Sanders, who won by assembling a coalition on the left anchored by young voters, finished first in the state's largest cities including Manchester, Nashua and Concord. Buttigieg performed best in the southeast part of the state. They both won townships on New Hampshire's Connecticut River Valley that border Sanders' home Vermont. Story continues Sanders arrived on stage at his election party, held in a basketball gym on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University, to chants of Bernie! Bernie! Bernie from supporters with John Lennons Power to the People blasting. Its on to Nevada. Its on to South Carolina, Sanders said, concluding his brief remarks. Its on to win the Democratic nomination, and together, I have no doubt that we will defeat Donald Trump. A few hours before, loud cheers erupted from Sanders supporters when CNN showed him in first place before final results were in early Tuesday night. The crowd, many waving Bernie signs, counted down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! as polls closed. They burst into cheers throughout the night as votes trickled in and Sanders lead maintained. I believe in the movement, I believe in the cause and I believe its time to take America back by the people and for the people, said Scott Dakota, a 55-year-old musician and composer from Keene, New Hampshire, positioned directly in front of the stage where Sanders would be speaking. No recent Democrat nor Republican recent candidate has made sense to me until Bernie Sanders came along, said Dakota, a campaign volunteer who opened his house as a canvassing station. Bernie Sanders brought me back into politics. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., with his wife Jane O'Meara Sanders, arrives to speak to supporters at a primary night election rally in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) 2020 candidates on the issues: A voter's guide to where they stand on health care, gun control and more 'Weve accomplished so much together': Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency John Thyng, 47, of Deering, N.H., wearing a purple SEIU Local 1984 sweatshirt, said hes hopeful Sanders performance in New Hampshire will set the stage for the rest of the country. Hes great for workers, working people, and we need to make a change, Thyng said. We need a revolution and hes the person whos going to help us do it. Standing next to Thyng, Ruth Simcox, 69, a volunteer from Bloomington, Indiana, said shes been volunteering in New Hampshire since last Thursday, mostly helping with canvassing. She said she talked to many Sanders supporters who after Iowa, theyre planning on this being a big night for us. I think Bernie Sanders is one of the truest, honest candidates weve had in a long time, Simcox said. Hes for the people, not for the money. Buttigieg, Klobuchar came close Buttigieg was seen as needing more decisive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire to consolidate behind him the center-left Democrats who fear nominating a democratic socialist like Sanders will handicap the party in November. He did not get that Tuesday, but his continued success is stunning, considering he was a virtual unknown a year ago. As networks called a narrow victory for Sanders, Buttigieg thanked New Hampshire for validating his campaign. Thanks to you, he said, a campaign that some say shouldnt be here at all has shown that we are here to stay." Klobuchar likely took some New Hampshire momentum from Buttigieg. Tonight is about grit, Klobuchar told her cheering supporters as she stood in front of a large, green Amy sign. And my story, like so many of yours, is one of reliance. About half of those surveyed in a CNN Exit Poll said the most recent debate in which Buttigieg took much of the incoming fire was an important factor in Tuesdays vote. Leaving the polls, Marilyn Muir, 88, told USA Today the debate sealed her support for Klobuchar. She was so determined and so honest, said Muir, who is retired. Thats what I felt. Up to then, I hadnt determined who I would vote for. It was between her and Biden, but I went for her. What's next on the campaign trail Sanders, 78, now heads to Nevada for that states Feb. 22 caucuses where he has shown strength with Latino voters. But he faces pushback from the powerful Culinary Union in Nevada, which fears Sanders push for Medicare for All would worsen their members health insurance. A week later, on Feb. 29, is South Carolinas turn, where Sanders could benefit if Biden is unable to marshal support among the African American voters hes been counting on to buoy his campaign. Biden has already pivoted to South Carolina, leaving New Hampshire Tuesday before polls closed. Instead of addressing supporters at a post-results event in Nashua, as had been previously planned, Biden spoke at a launch party in Columbia, S.C. Having lost in Iowa and New Hampshire, where white voters make up a disproportionate amount of the electorate, Biden is pinning his hopes on the voters in more diverse states. Up til now, we havent heard from the most committee constituency in the Democratic Party, the African American community. And the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community, he said. So to hear all these pundits and experts, all these cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them: It aint over, man. Were just getting started. Our votes count too. Results: Follow results from the New Hampshire Democratic primary Supporters cheer at a primary night election rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) ORG XMIT: NHMR307 For the last three decades, Democrats have picked as their nominee the candidate who received the most primary support from black voters, according to Theodore Johnson, a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice. That could be bad news for Sanders closest rival, Buttigieg. He has struggled to connect with a significant share of black voters.The same is true for Klobuchar Even before voting was completed Tuesday, Buttigieg told NBC's "Today" he was getting "the look that we now need as we will travel directly to states like Nevada, South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states that have a lot of racial diversity and where we can make that case eye-to-eye. The next few weeks are a grind Biden had a five-point lead over Sanders in a Post and Courier-Change Research poll of South Carolina Democrats that was released Feb. 2. Buttigieg was fifth, polling behind Tom Steyer and Warren. There have been no recent polls in Nevada, a tougher state to survey because of the complexities of a caucus system over a primary. But Buttigieg was likewise in fifth place, and in single digits, in polls taken there in January. All the candidates also are looking ahead to Super Tuesday, when one-third of the pledged delegates will be divvied up. Early voting has already started in California, the state that will award the largest cache of delegates on March 3. Candidates also will have a chance to shake up the race at upcoming debates on Feb. 19 and 25. And looming after the first four states is former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who skipped the early contests but has been spending heavily on advertising and campaign staff across the rest of the country. Bloomberg adds to the mix another choice for Democrats uneasy about giving the nomination to Sanders. The plethora of candidates competing to be the main alternative to Sanders has made it harder for the center-left wing of the party to head off his momentum. Klobuchars surge to third place in New Hampshire increases the turbulence of the contest. More: Michael Bennet ends campaign for president Iowa failed to perform its usual winnowing of the field after the state party took days to tabulate the results of its caucuses. The campaigns of both Sanders and Buttigieg have asked for those results to be reviewed. While Klobuchar faces significant challenges going forward, her third-place finish is a blow to Bidens campaign. Biden has presented himself as the Democrat who would fare best against President Donald Trump in November. But his poor showing in Iowa followed by Klobuchars surge in New Hampshire punches a huge hole in his electability argument. Warren will also face big questions about her viability after being bested in a state neighboring hers where the Boston media market has made her well known. Sanders, whose campaign is fueled by small donations, has outraised the field. But hes been outspent by Bloomberg and activist Tom Steyer who have poured millions of their own money into their campaigns. I dont begrudge his wealth, but I do begrudge a billionaire thinking he can buy the election, Sanders told NBCs Lester Holt. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Hampshire primary: Bernie Sanders wins with Buttigieg, Klobuchar right behind The gripping trailer was released last month. But Matt Smith was pictured re-shooting scenes for the Marvel film Morbius in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. The actor, 36, transformed into the villain Loxias Crown as filming for the Spider-Man spin-off movie got under way. Villain: Matt Smith was pictured re-shooting scenes for the Marvel film Morbius in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday Matt was dressed in loose fitting suit and tie and looked menacing as he lurked in a doorway. He sported heavy contour and several dots on his face for CGI animation in production. The actor first filmed the scenes in March. Matt wore the same outfit in the Northern Quarter of Manchester, where producers had transformd the UK city into Manhattan. Sad: Morbius tells the story of biologist Dr. Michael Morbius as he inadvertently turns himself into a vampire while attempting to cure his rare blood disease Morbius tells the story of biologist Dr. Michael Morbius as he inadvertently turns himself into a vampire while attempting to cure his rare blood disease. The scientist, played by Jared, gains superhuman strength and vampire fangs before he winds up facing off with Spider-Man in an epic fight in the comic. Venom producer Avi Arad confirmed filming for Morbius would begin as early as February this year but this is the first time both actors have been seen on set. Interesting: He does all he can to find a cure in order to prolong his life, in the trailer clip which is set to a remix of Beethoven's classic Fur Elise Sony Pictures announced plans to make a film adaptation of Morbius to add to Sony's Marvel Universe in November two years ago. Jared was revealed as the leading part in June last year and Daniel Espinosa is directing the superhero movie. Morbius is sometimes the nemesis, sometimes the ally of Peter Parker and the uncertain character first appeared in Spider-Man comics in the '70s. Baddie: He goes on to gain bat-like qualities including a thirst for blood as it teased a potential showdown with The Crown's Matt Smith, who plays the film's primary villain, Loxias Crown Matt meanwhile has revealed that he accepted his part in the film thanks to his Doctor Who co-star Karen Gillan, who has starred in a number of superhero movies. 'Karen's amazing,' Matt told the LA Times. 'She's going to end up ruling the world. 'I can't tell you her exact advice to me I'd have to kill you. But she told me that she really likes it, making those movies. That was enough for me. And that's been my experience so far,' he added. 'I really like the director, Daniel Espinosa, on [Morbius]. I've kind of waited [comic book movies] out a bit. I nearly did one last year and then I didn't. This one felt right because of him.' Morbius is scheduled to be released in July 2020. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has issued a circular demanding community-level childcare workers find and help children whose parents or guardians are not around amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The information of children whose parents or other guardians are unable to perform guardianship duties due to infection or suspected infection, medical quarantine or busy epidemic control work should be reported, according to the circular. The circular stressed a social assistance scheme to help children in need and streamline approval procedures to offer them prompt aid. Hotlines should also be set up to locate more children in need and offer related services, according to the circular. Tuesday Im working with the writer Jennifer E. Smith on an adaptation of her most recent YA novel, Field Notes on Love. Jen was the editor of all three of my books at Random House and became a close friend and now a collaborator. Theres a TV in every room in my Vancouver corporate housing, so Im allowing myself the soothing sounds of Grand Designs in the background. Theres a pleasing amount of British television available here, while at home I get my fix through the apps Acorn and BritBox. I like the abundance of low-stakes dramas, Christmas programming and game shows the Brits have to offer. Theres one game show called The Chase thats a trivia competition with pretty challenging questions, and another called Tipping Point thats just a giant version of those coin pusher arcade games thats unbelievably slow and not that challenging. I love both. And dont get me started on the baking shows Wednesday Speaking of baking, I love cookbooks just as reading material, not even when Im using them for their intended purpose. Theres a sort of relish I make that I found in the Momofuku cookbook thats basically diced ginger and chopped green onion and a little sherry vinegar and soy sauce, and we put it on everything. I use theDonabe cookbook by Naoko Takei Moore a lot too. Donabes are clay pots from Iga, Japan, and theyre great for cooking sushi rice and soups, and there are ones for grilling and steaming too. Theres a store called Toiro that carries them, and their website is full of great recipes and unique kitchen tools and Japanese ingredients. My mom was a missionary kid who grew up in Japan, which is one reason I have such an affinity for the country and its food. Chrissy Teigens cookbooks are also a fun read, and the last time I made her mac and cheese the boys in my house devoured it in about 10 seconds. Thursday My cast mate Skylar Astin and I go to SoulCycle and then to a sushi restaurant called Minami, where they make a type of sushi called oshizushi, which Id never seen until I came here. Its an Osaka-based style of nigiri thats pressed in a mold and then seared on top. Its like cake, Jane Levy once said. Weve all eaten gallons of it while in town. Tomorrow is our last day on set, and Skylar wants a recommendation for something to watch while he packs. I recommend Netflixs The Circle, which I background-binged when I was on a deadline and had run out of Grand Designs episodes. Background binge is different than actual binge in that you can leave the house to go to the store or whatever for anywhere from 1 to 17 hours, and when you get home, youre still pretty much up to speed. This year I think my favorite non-background binge shows in addition to Cheer and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was Netflixs Unbelievable. It was directed so beautifully, and the cast including Toni Collette and Kaitlyn Dever was incredible. I met Merritt Wever at the Golden Globes this year and I gripped her hand while gushing at her for way too long. Being on a musical TV show has reminded me of some of the musical theater that inspired me when I was starting out performing in the chorus of various summer stock productions. I recently made a playlist for my friends daughter who was newly interested that included some of the classics: it had selections from Barbra Streisands Funny Girl, Patti LuPones Anything Goes, Bernadette Peters in Sunday in the Park With George, Ethel Merman in Gypsy, and a few modern selections too: Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen, Sutton Foster in Violet. I try to see everything when Im in New York. The last show I saw was Jagged Little Pill, which had a great cast, especially Kathryn Gallagher. Ive been working with her dad, Peter, on Zoey, and when I went backstage at the Broadhurst, Kathryn showed me a wall of playbills from previous productions there that included her dad in a production of Long Days Journey Into Night in the 80s. Amazing! I just finished a fascinating book about the evolution of Broadway and its theaters called Razzle Dazzle by Michael Riedel. Like so much of New York history, real estate was everything. Brampton, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. (CSE: SNA) (CSE: SNA.CN) ("Star' or the "Corporation") announced in a press release dated January 22, 2020, that the Commercial Court of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (the "Court") had ordered that an Annual General and Special Meeting of the shareholders of Star be held on March 9, 2020 ( the "March 9/20 AGM") . The Court further ordered that if Star's audited financial statements for the financial year ended June 30, 2019 were not available for circulation in accordance with applicable timing rules, Star had leave to adjourn its March 9/20 AGM for no more than thirty days in order to complete preparation of those financial statements. It has now been determined that the June 30, 2019 audited financial statements will not be available in time for the March 9/20 AGM. Therefore, in accordance with the Order of the Court, the next Annual General and Special Meeting of the shareholders will be held April 8, 2020. Shareholders will receive a Notice of Meeting, Management Information Circular and Proxy regarding the March 9/20 AGM and should note that the revised date of meeting is April 8, 2020. The current management team consists of Peter M. Clausi, Interim CEO, Randy Koroll, CFO, Jean-Louis Larmor, Vice-President - Corporate Development, Barney Lassche, Vice- President- Human Resources and Roger S. Peacock, General Counsel. Interim CEO, Peter Clausi, said; "I have only been Star's Interim CEO since December 11, 2019 but in that short time, I have seen its potential. With its product suite, both current and in development, proper and experienced management, the support of a fresh, experienced and engaged Board of Directors and a staff that is committed to a vision of excellence, I am very excited about Star's future. I encourage all shareholders to, where possible, personally attend the April 8, 2020 AGM, meet the new Board of Directors and participate fully in Star's future success." About Star Navigation: Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. owns the exclusive worldwide license to its proprietary, patented In-flight Safety Monitoring System, STAR-ISMS , the heart of the STAR-A.D.S. and of the STAR-ISAMM / STAR-LSAMM Systems. Its real-time capability of tracking performance trends and predicting incident-occurrence enhances aviation safety and improves fleet management while reducing costs for the operator. Star's M.M.I. Division designs and manufactures high performance, mission critical, flight deck flat panel displays for defence and commercial aviation industries worldwide. These displays are found on aircraft and simulators, from C-130 aircraft, to Sikorsky and Agusta Westland helicopters, as examples. Stars' subsidiary, Star-Isoneo Inc., is a specialised software firm, developing complex solutions in engineering, simulation and development for Canadian customers. Star-Isoneo works closely with Star in the development of the Company's MEDEVAC (STAR-ISAMM and STAR-LSAMM ) applications of the patented STAR-A.D.S. technology, and on its current R&D program with Bombardier. Certain statements contained in this Release constitute forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "expected", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Star or its management or board are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect Star's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Mr. Viraf Kapadia's outstanding litigation and the process initiated by Mr. Kapadia for his personal interests under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act are risks to Star. Many other factors could cause Star's actual performance or achievements to vary from those described herein. Should one or more of these factors or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Star does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release. Please visit www.star-navigation.com or contact Mr. Peter Clausi, Interim CEO at 1 416 252-2889 or 1 416 890 1232 or Mr. Lassche at 1 647 779-4274 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52371 Elizabeth Warren has paid tribute to rival Democrat Amy Klobuchar, after the Minnesota senator pushed her saying into third place, and took aim at pundits who had dismissed her campaign. Incomplete results suggested the 70-year-old Massachusetts senator would struggle to get more than 10 per cent of the vote in New Hampshire, far behind Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and also behind Ms Klobuchar, who had a good night, after coming fifth in Iowa. Speaking to supporters in New Hampshire, Ms Warren made clear she intended to stay in the race, and would be contesting next in South Carolina and Nevada. Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started," she said, describing Mr Sanders and Mr Buttigieg as both great candidates. She also found time to praise Ms Klobuchar. 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 I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out, she said, to loud applause. With 40 per cent of of the states precincts reporting, Mr Sanders was on 28, Mr Buttigieg on 26, and Ms Klobuchar on 20. Ms Warren was on just ten points, and was unlikely to secure a single delegate. 'I already have a dog' says Warren when asked who will be her Mike Pence New Hampshire began narrowing the Democrats' unwieldy 2020 class even before the final results were known. Political newcomer Andrew Yang, having attracted a small but loyal following over the past year, was suspending his campaign. He was one of just three ethnic minorities left in the race. Also announcing their departure was Colorado senator Michael Bennet, who ran as a just-the-facts moderate in a race in which liberal candidates grabbed the headlines. Additional reporting by Associated Press PHOENIX The homicide prosecutor who won convictions in the Jodi Arias murder case and other notorious killings in metro Phoenix has been placed on paid administrative leave. Maricopa County Attorneys Office spokeswoman Jennifer Liewer disclosed Juan Martinezs status late Tuesday in response to media inquiries but said the office had no further comment on this personnel matter at this time. Martinez attorney Donald Wilson Jr. declined to comment when contacted Wednesday by The Associated Press. Martinez was reassigned last September within the County Attorneys Office to mostly handle non-homicide cases, a move that the office said would give Martinez time and flexibility to resolve still-pending attorney ethics allegations against him. Arias is serving a life sentence after her first-degree murder conviction in the 2008 killing of boyfriend Travis Alexander. Allegations of misconduct by Martinez accuse him of leaking a jurors name in the Arias case to a blogger with whom he was in a sexual relationship and then lying to investigators about it. Martinez is also accused of staring at a court reporter during Arias trial and making comments about her appearance that made her feel uncomfortable. In 2018, the County Attorneys Office reprimanded Martinez for inappropriate and unprofessional conduct toward female law clerks. Lack of determination driving disconnect between communications service providers and business customers, threatening lucrative business-to-business 5G revenues BearingPoint//Beyond today launched new research that suggests communications service providers (CSPs) are failing to develop the business-to-business (B2B) solutions that are critical to the commercial success of 5G. The study also finds that businesses around the world are more ambitious about the role CSPs will play in 5G than CSPs are themselves. 5G is the first generation of mobile technology that will have a bigger impact on businesses than on consumers1. On average across Europe, Asia and North America, CSPs anticipate a 15% increase in current revenues from B2B 5G services (significant in an industry struggling with sub-2%2 compound annual revenue growth). 75% of enterprises and small to medium businesses (SMBs) believe 5G will be important to their business citing speed, reliability and more advanced solutions as key reasons. Growing disconnect "Businesses want to buy 5G, CSPs want to sell 5G. The problem is that CSPs want to just sell connectivity and standardized 'connectivity plus infrastructure' products, while businesses want to buy more sophisticated, complete solutions that better fit their needs and require the integration of multiple technologies from multiple players," says Angus Ward, CEO, BearingPoint//Beyond. CSPs must look to broaden their role from communications to providing the broader technologies that support business customers. They need to collaborate with customers to co-innovate and co-create more compelling and sophisticated solutions with a wide range of ecosystem partners, including OTTs, web-scale companies, vertical specialists, even competitors, to meet the demands of business customers. "CSPs must learn the art of ecosystem orchestration if they want to monetize 5G at scale," cautions Ward. "Businesses don't want to build these solutions themselves. And while the vast majority would happily work with CSPs, they're not waiting around businesses are already partnering with other companies to solve their business problems. They must move quickly." Regional insights actions Europe: CSPs are pinning their 5G hopes on 4G business models consumer services and enterprise connectivity. Just a third of CSPs believe their role will extend beyond simple connectivity plus infrastructure offerings. Only 10% of European CSPs believe they will become ecosystem orchestrators. 92% of European businesses believe CSPs have a bigger role to play than just providing communications and connectivity. Almost seven in 10 want CSPs to offer 5G solutions that combine their assets with those of partners. Enterprises want to work with CSPs to develop 5G solutions because they can orchestrate ecosystems, manage complex programs and understand 5G technology. "European CSPs must re-engineer their mindsets, and businesses, to capitalize on this opportunity," says Ward. North America: Confidence and ambition are highest amongst North American CSPs. More than three quarters of CSPs agree that creating vertical specific solutions using ecosystems of partners represents a big 5G opportunity. 40% expect to become ecosystem orchestrators. North American businesses agree: 96% believe CSPs have a bigger role to play citing ecosystem orchestration, complex program management and flexibility as reasons they want to work with CSPs to develop 5G use cases. "North American CSPs now need to act fast, building the right partnerships and the right IT platform to enable them to operate an ecosystem required to meet the expectations of their business customers," recommends Ward. Asia: More attention is being paid to 5G connectivity-driven models than higher value solutions by Asian CSPs. Just 17% see themselves as ecosystem orchestrators. Yet 94% of Asian businesses believe that CSPs can do more than provide communications and connectivity nearly seven in 10 think CSPs should offer sophisticated services using an ecosystem of partners. Again, ecosystem orchestration, complex program management and their knowledge of 5G make CSPs attractive partners for Asian businesses. "Enterprises and SMBs alike are practically crying out to work with CSPs on 5G solutions Asian CSPs must heed this call, shake off their doubts and act quickly," advises Ward. The time is NOW "In 5G B2B terms, CSPs are pushing at an open door. 98% of European businesses, 92% of Asian businesses and 87% of North American businesses are willing to buy advanced solutions from their CSP. But these must be solutions that address their specific business needs. The only way CSPs can achieve this is orchestrate ecosystems of partners to co-create compelling new solutions that embed 5G," continues Ward. "If CSPs continue to define their role too narrowly, they will miss out entirely on the high margin opportunities in B2B 5G. Connectivity represents a tiny portion as low as 5% of the revenue for each use case. By not taking a lead now, CSPs are gifting the majority of 5G revenues to a new generation of OTTs. The much higher cost of 5G networks means they are seriously jeopardising the ability to monetize their 5G investments. CSPs must quickly master the art of ecosystem orchestration if they want to monetize 5G at scale. If they don't, technology providers and vertical solution providers will. In Asia, CSPs are already seen as 'second choice' partners for businesses building 5G use cases, in North America CSPs rank third, in Europe, fourth. CSPs have to demonstrate ambition and make up ground quickly. Inaction will cost CSPs billions of dollars," concludes Ward. To download a free copy of 'If B2B is the 'North Star' for 5G revenues: how do CSPs get there?', please visit https://www.bearingpointbeyond.com/en/industries/5g/5g-b2b/. ENDS Methodology BearingPoint//Beyond commissioned a large-scale primary research study to examine the real attitudes of both CSPs and business customers towards 5G, and the potential role of CSPs in the 5G era. Conducted and analyzed in late-2019, research firm Coleman Parkes interviewed 250 technology decision makers from 100 enterprises and 150 SMBs in verticals such as manufacturing, financial services, retail, health, education, transportation and media across Europe, Asia and North America. 90 senior executives within CSPs were also surveyed from these three regions. At Mobile World Congress 2020 Angus Ward will be speaking on: "A Next-Gen Network demands a Next-Gen Organization", Tuesday, 25th February: 3:15pm Hall 4, Auditorium 5. BearingPoint//Beyond's Head of Marketing, Michal Harris, will be speaking on "Unlocking the Value of Partner Ecosystems", Monday, 24th February: 3:45pm Hall 4, Auditorium 4. About BearingPoint//Beyond BearingPoint//Beyond is a rapidly growing SaaS-based BSS and digital platform solution provider helping organizations to reinvent their business model and grow revenue by utilizing digital platforms and partner ecosystems. Our digital platform solutions are designed to help businesses experiment, launch and monetize new offerings at speed, with minimum risk and cost; building connections between technologies and partners, enabling them to collaborate, co-innovate and expand reach with an ecosystem of partners while taking advantage of new technologies such as cloud, IoT AI, 5G and more. This brings organizations closer to their customers, helping drive higher efficiency and automation, to become more agile in the face of competition. BearingPoint//Beyond is owned by BearingPoint. About BearingPoint BearingPoint is an independent management and technology consultancy with European roots and a global reach. The company operates in three business units: The first unit covers the advisory business with a clear focus on five key areas to drive growth across all regions. The second unit provides IP-driven managed services beyond SaaS and offers business critical services to its clients supporting their business success. The third unit provides the software for successful digital transformation and regulatory requirements. It is also designed to explore innovative business models with clients and partners by driving the financing and development of start-ups and leveraging ecosystems. BearingPoint's clients include many of the world's leading companies and organizations. The firm has a global consulting network with more than 10,000 people and supports clients in over 75 countries, engaging with them to achieve measurable and sustainable success. For more information, please visit: BearingPoint//Beyond home page: https://www.bearingpointbeyond.com Homepage: www.bearingpoint.com Annual Report: www.bearingpoint.com/en/about-us/annual-report/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/bearingpoint Twitter: @BearingPoint 1 GSMA Intelligence, "The 5G era report", 2017 2 Ovum, "Mobile Subscription and Revenue Forecast Report: 2019-24" View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005026/en/ Contacts: Press contact BearingPoint//Beyond Michal Harris Head of Marketing Phone: 44 (0)79 6637 1449 E-mail: michal.harris@bearingpoint.com Thanks for joining todays PennLive live discussion. You can share your thoughts, opinions and comments in this pre-moderated discussion. Comments will begin appearing at 11 a.m., when the live chat begins. Please continue to follow the community rules and stay on topic. Central Pa.s most well-known robot is celebrating a milestone. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 Trend: Parliamentary elections is yet another milestone development in political system of Azerbaijan, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said during The John Batchelor Show, Trend reports Feb. 12. To make the legislative branch of the government of Azerbaijan more compatible, more interoperable with the executive branch of Azerbaijani government, we had snap elections, Hajiyev said. Ruling party called for this election. OSCE ODIHR, Council of Europe and some other institutions have been invited to monitor these elections, said the official. Initially, over 2,100 people applied through the party line, or individually, Hajiyev added. More than 1,300 candidates were running in the election process and 21 percent were women, the presidential assistant said. Also, 19 political parties were running in this election process. We saw wider enthusiasm, energy in Azerbaijani society about these elections that it can bring more younger people, including the new political forces to the parliament of Azerbaijan. As a result, parliament of Azerbaijan could also be more adaptable to the innovation, or as we sometime call it, fourth industrial revolution, digital revolution, thats going on in the world. Azerbaijan also prepares itself for this industrial revolution through our partners, Hajiyev noted. Therefore, government institutions of Azerbaijan, including the legislative branch should also be ready to this new challenge. But we see it as more opportunity rather than a challenge. One of the priorities put forward ahead of the government of Azerbaijan by President Ilham Aliyev after his re-election in 2018 was about reforming and restructuring of Azerbaijani government system so that to have more effectiveness and also be ready to face emerging new challenges and also to ensure more sustainable, consistent development of Azerbaijan, the presidential assistant noted. As a result of this we have seen since that time epochal change in the public administration of Azerbaijan, Hajiyev added. Institutions like Presidential Administration have been changed and new people have been brought to this institution. Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan has been changed. Therefore, structural changes and personnel changes complemented one another, because in every reform process, personnel are a key. At the end of the day, personnel are implementing the reform programs. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after reports of a man plunging to his death in north London. Officers were called by the London Ambulance Service to reports of critically injured man in High Road, North Finchley, at 3.20pm on Wednesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said it was reported that the man had fallen from a height. Scotland Yard released no further details about the man. A woman, aged in her 20s, was arrested near to the scene on suspicion of murder. She has been taken into custody at a north London police station. A crime scene has been put in place. Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances. The Met Police said a post-mortem examination and formal identification will take place in due course. Officers are in the process of identifying and notifying his next of kin, they added. The Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise appearance at a farm in Belfast this morning wearing an outfit she last wore two years ago during her pregnancy with Prince Louis. The ensemble comprises a Barbour Defence jacket, which is available to buy for 249 and her trusty pair of Penelope Chilvers boots. The Long Tassel Boots are from British footwear brand Penelope Chilvers and are still available to buy for 475. The Duchess last wore the jacket and boots outfit with a black roll-neck jumper on a visit to the Robin Hood Primary School in 2017. The Duchess on her visit to Robin Hood Primary School in 2017 (Getty Images ) / Getty Images The 38-year-old Duchess knows a thing or two about country dressing, and has worn her Barbour jacket and Penelope Chilvers boots many times over the years. Kate first wore the Penelope Chilvers boots back in 2004 and has worn them hundreds of times in the 16 years since. In Bhutan the boots formed one of her best ever country looks, when she wore them with khaki zara jeans, a white shirt and a khaki leather gilet from The Really Wild Company. The Duchess made the appearance today to promote her early years survey, 5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives, at the Ark Open Farm in Belfast. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday, February 12 released the official notification for the civil services preliminary examination 2020. The application process has begun and the last date to apply for the UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020 is March 3. The Civil Services (preliminary) Examination 2020 will be held on Sunday, May 31. Candidates will be able to register for the examination by visiting the UPSC application website. Here is the direct link to check the notification. UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) examination is the first stage of the exam that candidates need to clear to qualify for the main examination. It is an objective type test consisting of two papers. However, the marks obtained in the preliminary examination is not added for determining the final merit list. Meanwhile, the notification for the Indian Engineering Services (IES) Examination 2020 and India Statistical Service Examination (ISS) 2020 is expected to be released on March 25 which the application process will continue till April 13. Note: Visit the official website of UPSC for latest news and updates on the examination. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Governor Tarek Amer says the assistance is meant to help slash red tape to improve the investment climate Egypt is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about technical assistance on non-financial structural reforms, the central bank governor said on Tuesday. Egypt signed a three-year, $12 billion Extended Fund Facility in November 2016 after allowing its currency to weaken sharply, implementing a valued-added tax and raising fuel prices to reduce its balance of payments budget and deficits. Governor Tarek Amer told an energy conference in Cairo that Egypt wanted to cut down on bureaucracy to improve the investment climate, adding that discussions with the Washington-based IMF fund were ongoing. He also said the priority was to grow the economy to create jobs, saying there was still growth to go for the countrys economy, but he gave no forecast. Egypts economy is expected to grow 5.9% in the year ending in June, the IMF said in October. Egypts population hit 100 million on Tuesday, the statistics agency said, putting pressure on resources and infrastructure. The workforce will reach 80 million within 10 years, according to the World Bank. Search Keywords: Short link: Awkwardly timed trolling by a minister in North Macedonia's caretaker government has angered Greece and reopened the former Yugoslav republic's most divisive issue ahead of campaigning for upcoming parliamentary elections. Labor Minister Rashela Mizrahi, from the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, has repeatedly appeared in front of an old backdrop that doesn't include "North" in the country's name since being installed in early January as part of a custodial, multiparty cabinet. The country officially became North Macedonia after the 2018 Prespa agreement -- and a subsequent referendum and parliamentary vote -- convinced EU- and NATO-member Greece to end years of obstructionism based on fears that Skopje's use of the name Macedonia implied cultural and territorial claims on northern Greece. The push for adoption of the name change and a related drive for EU membership consumed two years of Social Democratic Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his government's attention before Brussels signaled in October that EU expansion was on hold, prompting Zaev to call for early elections to be held on April 12. Permanent backdrops reading "North Macedonia" are reportedly installed at government headquarters in Skopje but not at all ministries. The previous labor minister, Mila Casovska, had patched banners over the old backdrops that used the full name "Republic of North Macedonia" in multiple languages. Mizrahi defended the use of the country's old moniker in a statement on the ministry's website on February 6 by saying "there are no old and new backdrops. There is only one backdrop" at the ministry. But she also cited "a moral obligation" to respond to "injustice," and suggested, "we should thank the deputy prime minister for economic affairs for not changing the board and recognizing deeply that this is the Republic of Macedonia and this is the Macedonian people!" The name change is still a hot-button issue on both sides of the 234-kilometer border that the two countries share. The images of Mizrahi at press appearances in front of signs that said "Republic of Macedonia" roiled Greeks enough to prompt recent verbal protests from Athens that have embarrassed Skopje. North Macedonia's foreign minister, Nikola Dimitrov, on February 9 called for Mizrahi to stop appearing in front of the old name or else be fired by acting Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski. "The state will not allow such infantilism. The Labor and Social Policy Ministry is not her private apartment, just as the constitution is not merely a piece of paper," Dimitrov said, according to RFE/RL's Balkan Service. "The minister may not like the constitution or the Prespa treaty, but that does not entitle her to not apply it. Without the principle of constitutionality and legality, nothing will be left of the state." On February 12, Spasovski proposed that the outgoing parliament dismiss Mizrahi. Choosing Sides The backdrop furor hints at a possible return to the kind of political acrimony that paralyzed the country, stoked ethnic frustrations, and stalled reforms for three years before a pro-Western government took over in 2017. Parliament was expected to vote this week to dissolve itself, beginning the countdown to the April 12 voting with the country's two main parties expected to dominate. They will be battling to lead North Macedonia's 2 million citizens through tricky political waters, with the consolidation of democratic reforms and possible talks on entry to the European Union hanging in the balance. Mizrahi's conservative and increasingly pro-Russian Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) spent years combating the pall of runaway corruption before spending the past two years in opposition. Zaev's center-left Social Democratic Union was in opposition for a decade before governing alongside ethnic Albanian parties for the past two years. VMRO-DPMNE appeals to Macedonians still angry over the Prespa agreement are likely a "populist" attempt at consolidating nationalists' support and battling perceptions that the party has lent legitimacy to Zaev's government, says Angel Mojsovski, a researcher at the European Policy Institute (EPI) in Skopje. Many of the VMRO-DPMNE's supporters opposed the Prespa agreement and several senior party officials have vowed to seek to reverse the name change. But the party also mounted only a half-hearted boycott and suggested voters should vote their consciences in the September 2018 referendum on the switch to "North Macedonia." The name change narrowly passed in the national assembly, known as the Sobranie, with four VMRO-DPMNE votes. Mojsovski says the election campaign may be steered toward debate about the Prespa agreement "because that's what their supporters are asking from VMRO-DPMNE." "I think that [members of the] VMRO-DPMNE are in a very tough position, because they have to have good connections with the international agreement, which is supporting the Prespa agreement," Mojsovski says. "But when they come home and are speaking to their supporters, they are saying that they will not respect the agreement [or will] find new ways to better it or change something. They are sending mixed statements." He predicts that Zaev's Social Democrats will return to issues that earned them their second-place finish in the last elections, in 2016, including continuing economic growth and bolstering minority, language, and other rights issues. "There is nothing more to address, at least for the ruling government coalition, for them to do something new or to say something new," Mojsovski says. "They should just implement what they said [they would do] in the 2016 campaign, because a lot of the stuff was not done -- they were focused solely on getting the EU date for negotiations." EPI focus groups last summer suggested the promotion of democratic institutions and equality issues are high on the list of priorities for North Macedonia's 1.8 million eligible voters, Mojsovski says. They also include concerns about biased judges, stronger worker protections, corruption in public institutions, privileges given to senior officials, and language legislation. Both the VMRO-DPMNE and Social Democrats have already announced overhauls to their programs in anticipation of the campaign, Mojsovski says. "I don't think that they will be focused on making 'black campaigns' against the opponents, but it may come out -- just to poke the opponent in the eye," he says. Keeping EU Hopes Alive A VMRO-DPMNE government fell in 2015 amid allegations that it had illegally wiretapped tens of thousands of Macedonians, including judges, diplomats, journalists, and religious leaders. A mixed-party government took charge in late 2015 after an agreement mediated by the European Union and the United States, but 2016 elections proved inconclusive. Finally, in mid-2017, the Social Democratic Union-led coalition under Zaev came to power following six months of political horse-trading. Zaev's government negotiated and shepherded the Prespa agreement into effect despite significant public opposition to compromise on the country's name. Prior to 2018, North Macedonia had been provisionally referred to as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by the UN and some other international institutions, but most often simply as Macedonia. Relations between Skopje and Athens have been mostly calm since Prespa cleared the path to Macedonian progress toward the European Union and other international institutions. But in October, the European Commission delivered a heavy political blow to Macedonians by putting talk of membership negotiations with Skopje on hold, prompting Zaev to call for snap elections to allow voters to weigh in on the country's future path. Under a 2015 deal mediated by the European Union and known as the Przino agreement, major Macedonian political parties pledged to allow a caretaker cabinet that includes ruling and opposition parties to govern for 100 days ahead of elections to ensure fairness. That government, led by acting Prime Minister Spasovski and including Mizrahi, was sworn in on January 3. The stakes in the April election are high, with the European Union said to be rethinking possible inclusion of North Macedonia in accession negotiations ahead of a planned EU-Balkans summit in the spring. Washington is reportedly pressing the European Council to officially open accession talks with Skopje and neighboring Albania. With contributions by the Macedonian Unit of RFE/RL's Balkan Service WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue President Mitch Daniels announced Wednesday (Feb. 12) that Dan Hasler, executive vice president for communications, plans to retire from his service to the university, effective March 31. Now seven years into his original two-year enlistment with Purdue, Dan has finally persuaded himself and me that it is time for a next chapter of his life, Daniels said. Dans contributions here have been truly unmatched, leading us to a position of literal world leadership in partnerships, patents, licenses and startup companies; overseeing a tremendous 150th anniversary year; and building greater global awareness of the great work of the people of Purdue. Most impressive to me, he brought to Purdue invaluable new perspectives from his earlier careers but quickly became a universally liked colleague of people all over campus. Hasler, who joined Purdue in 2013 as president and chief entrepreneurial officer for Purdue Research Foundation, took on leadership of Purdues 150th anniversary celebration initiative in January 2018 and was named executive vice president for communications in May 2018, where he has overseen marketing strategy, strategic communications, media relations, advertising, licensing, and digital marketing in collaboration with colleges and units across the Purdue system. Its been the high point of a 40-year work life to be a part of the Purdue team, Hasler said. I only wish everyone could see what I have seen: the never ending Giant Leaps of so many young never-say-uncle Boilermakers of all types, mentored and encouraged by a watchful world-class faculty, an amazingly loyal alumni base and a supportive West Lafayette community. Its been nothing short of magical. During Haslers tenure with PRF, Purdue completely restructured its technology commercialization processes and reached record numbers of patents, licenses and technology commercialization based on ever-expanding Purdue research. Hasler established programs and policies to ease the commercialization and startup creation with a number of programs, including the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Startup Fund and an Express License for faculty and staff entrepreneurs with preset terms. Under his leadership, Purdue launched the Back a Boiler income share agreement program, making Purdue the first major U.S. university to offer such a plan. Since its inception in 2016, the fund has invested $13.8 million in Purdue students. The results in technology commercialization and startup creation include six consecutive years of record-breaking growth and activities highlighted by: Nearly 2,000 invention disclosures. More than 1,150 issued patents. More than 250 Purdue-affiliated startups, about 150 with Purdue licensed technology. Nearly 350 new jobs generated. More than $390 million in startup funding. As leader of the institutions 150th anniversary celebration, Take Giant Leaps, and its corresponding Ideas Festival throughout 2018-19, Hasler helped show the world what it means to be a Boilermaker. Events during the year, including a concluding celebration with 13 of Purdues astronaut alumni, drew a total attendance of more than 45,000 people and attracted an additional 475,000 who watched events via livestream. As the celebration drew to a close in fall 2019, he continued the brand promise with a coordinated strategy to launch Purdues next giant leap, an evolved brand to further strengthen the universitys storytelling and visual identity. Previously, Hasler served as secretary of commerce for the state of Indiana and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. His 32-year career at Eli Lilly and Co. included serving as vice president for global marketing, where he was responsible for the commercial strategy and market performance of Lillys worldwide portfolio. He also was chief marketing officer for Eli Lilly USA, led the commercial operations of Eli Lillys largest European group and was general manager and president of Eli Lilly of Brazil. In 2018, Hasler received the Robert C. McDermond Medal for Excellence in Entrepreneurship from his alma mater, DePauw University. Media contact: Tim Doty, 765-494-2080, doty2@purdue.edu President Erdogan says Turkey will push Syrian govt forces beyond observation posts in Idlib by any means necessary. Turkey will strike Syrian government forces anywhere if one more Turkish soldier is hurt and could use airpower if need be, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. Addressing the countrys parliament in Ankara on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey is determined to push Syrian government forces beyond Turkish observation posts in the northwestern Idlib region by the end of February. We will do this by any means necessary, by air or ground, he said. Turkey has set up 12 observation posts in the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria as part of a 2018 deal with Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This month, it has poured thousands of troops and convoys of military vehicles across the border into Idlib, including tanks, armoured personnel carriers and radar equipment, to bolster its existing military positions. Syrian government attacks have killed 13 Turkish military personnel in Idlib this month, prompting a deadly response from Ankara amid concerns over an escalation of violence in the countrys nearly nine-year war. On Tuesday, Erdogan said the Syrian government will pay a very heavy price for attacking Turkish troops in Idlib. Ankara has said it retaliated for both attacks, destroying scores of Syrian targets. Turkish-backed rebels have mobilised to push Syrian government forces out of Idlib, Erdogan said, adding that they must remain disciplined. We have given the message that we will act without compromise to those from the opposition groups who act in an undisciplined way and give the regime an excuse to attack, he said. With backing from Russia, Syrian troops have been on the offensive for weeks in Idlib province and parts of nearby Aleppo, triggering a humanitarian crisis with some 700,000 people fleeing their homes. Hundreds of civilians have also been killed, according to the United Nations. Much of the fighting in the past week has focused on the M5 highway, which links the former economic hub of Aleppo in the north to the capital Damascus in the south. Both Ankara and Moscow agreed in September 2018 to turn Idlib into a so-called de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly prohibited. The Syrian government and its allies, however, have consistently broken the terms of the ceasefire including a ceasefire that started on January 12 launching frequent deadly attacks inside the zone. Strained relations The Turkish military casualties have strained ties between Ankara and Moscow, which back opposing sides in the conflict but have reached a number of agreements in an attempt to find a resolution. On Wednesday, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Erdogan about defusing the situation in Idlib and said the sides should defer to existing Russian-Turkish agreements which deal with the implementation of the de-escalation zones which should be implemented in full. The importance was noted of the full implementation of existing Russian-Turkish agreements, the Kremlin said in a statement after the Putin-Erdogan phone call. However, the Kremlin accused Turkey of flouting agreements it had made with Russia to neutralise armed fighters in Idlib and said attacks on Syrian and Russian forces in the region were continuing. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia considered these attacks unacceptable and in contravention of the agreements made. In particular, according to this document (agreement), the Turkish side undertook to ensure that terrorist groups in Idlib were neutralised, he said. We continue to note with regret that these groups are carrying out strikes from Idlib on Syrian forces and also taking aggressive action against our military facilities, Peskov told reporters on a conference call. This is unacceptable and runs contrary to the Sochi agreements. Erdogan said Russian and Syrian government attacks have targeted civilians, not fighters. Russian forces and Iran-backed militias are constantly attacking the civilian people, carrying out massacres, spilling blood, he said. Reporting from the Syrian town of Bab al-Hawa, Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu said the Syrian government does not recognise the de-escalation zone criteria. Experts told me that, after the last meeting in Moscow between the intelligence chiefs of Turkey and Syria, everybody unwillingly accepted that and knew that the Syrian government would advance towards the M5 highway which is vital for both the Syrian opposition and the government, she said. But it wasnt expected that the Syrian government would take over Saraqeb, and when they tried to move towards the town, that was when the Turkish military established some extra observation posts in order to protect its own military posts and civilians. The M5 links the capital Damascus to the second city of Aleppo through the big hubs of Homs and Hama and has been a key target for the government as it seeks to restore territorial control and rekindle a moribund economy. Koseoglu said the situation on the ground is very tense because both the Syrian government and Turkish side seem to not be compromising in their actions. Right now, Turkey continues with its reinforcements while the Syrian government is enhancing its positions and clashes are under way, she said. US troops open fire on locals in Qamishli In a separate development, Syrias state news agency SANA reported one Syrian was killed and another wounded when US forces opened fire on people after their vehicles were stopped at a checkpoint, east of Qamishli. It was not immediately clear whether the person killed was a civilian or part of the Syrian government forces. SANA said the shooting was followed by an air attack on a village in rural Qamishli, near the border with Turkey. Turkeys state-owned Anadolu agency said two air attacks took place. According to the state news agency, locals had gathered at the army checkpoint in the village of Khirbet Ammu, east of Qamishli, pelting the US convoy with stones and tearing a US flag off one vehicle. At that point, US troops fired live ammunition and smoke bombs at the residents, the report said. State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV aired a cellphone video showing an armoured vehicle flying a US flag standing on a rural road while a car appeared to be blocking its way. People are seen walking past the armoured vehicle, with at least two soldiers inside, one of whom steps down as civilians approach. One individual is seen tearing the US flag down as he approaches the soldier. The US-led coalition said US troops near Syrias Qamishli returned fire after unknown individuals opened fire at their patrol. Photo: The Canadian Press Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires presidential primary, edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Partys chaotic 2020 nomination fight. In his Tuesday night win, the 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The dueling Democrats represent different generations, see divergent paths to the nomination and embrace conflicting visions of America's future. As Sanders and Buttigieg celebrated, Amy Klobuchar scored an unexpected third-place finish that gives her a road out of New Hampshire as the primary season moves on to the string of state-by-state contests that lie ahead. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden posted disappointing fourth and fifth place finishes respectively and were on track to finish with zero delegates from the state. The New Hampshire vote gives new clarity to a Democratic contest shaping up to be a battle between two men separated by four decades in age and clashing political ideologies. Sanders is a leading progressive voice, having spent decades demanding substantial government intervention in health care and other sectors of the economy. Buttigieg has pressed for more incremental change, preferring to give Americans the option of retaining their private health insurance while appealing to Republicans and independents who may be dissatisfied with Trump. Their disparate temperaments were on display Tuesday as they spoke before cheering supporters. We are gonna win because we have the agenda that speaks to the needs of working people across this country, Sanders declared. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump. Buttigieg struck an optimistic tone: Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay." Both men have strength heading into the next phase of the campaign, yet they face very different political challenges. While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, well-financed and with an ardent army of supporters, has cemented his status as the clear leader of the progressive wing of the party. Meanwhile, Buttigieg must prove he can attract support from voters of colour who are critical to winning the nomination. And unlike Sanders, he still has multiple rivals in his own ideological wing of the party to contend with. They include Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire and a growing national following. While deeply wounded, Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina. And though former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on Tuesday's ballot, he looms next month when the contest reaches states offering hundreds of delegates. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would help give shape to their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of colour left in the race. The Delhi assembly elections saw a close fight in at least 13 constituencies where victory margins ranged from below 7,000 votes to as low as 753. Outgoing deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and transport minister Kailash Gahlot were also among the 13 winning candidates with the lowest victory margins. Also, three of the 46 sitting MLAs fielded by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from the same constituencies as in the 2015 polls lost in this election. These include Nitin Tyagi from Laxmi Nagar, Sarita Singh from Rohtas Nagar and SD Sharma from Ghonda. Besides, the party had brought 23 fresh faces this time, of which five lost, including Ram Singh Netaji who shifted to AAP from the Congress and lost from Badarpur. Also Watch | AAP sweeps Delhi: Meet the 8 BJP candidates who defied Kejriwal wave & won An analysis of poll data suggests there were at least nine assembly constituencies this time where the victory margin was less than 5,000. Margins were over 5,000, but less than 7,000 in four segments. AAPs Bhupinder Singh Joon, a fresh face and a lawyer who replaced the party's disqualified MLA Devender Sehrawat, defeated the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Sat Prakash Rana by only 753 votes. Senior AAP leaders blamed Sehrawat for the neck-and-neck contest in the constituency dominated by the Jat community. In the 2015 assembly election, Sehrawat had won the segment by 19,536 votes. Sehrawat, who joined the BJP only months before the elections, used his supporters against the AAP, said an AAP member on condition of anonymity. AAPs Nitin Tyagi, the sitting MLA from Laxmi Nagar, lost the seat to BJPs Abhay Verma in a nail-biting contest. Tyagi, who initially maintained a lead from the east Delhi seat, eventually lost by 880 votes. In 2015, Tyagi had won the seat by 4,846 votes. The third lowest of all victory margins was that of AAPs Pawan Sharma form Adarsh Nagar. Sharma, a fresh face, defeated BJPs Raj Kumar Bhatia by 1,589 votes. Next was AAPs Madan Lal from Kasturba Nagar who won by 3,165 votes. CABINET MINISTERS Among the cabinet ministers in the AAP government, the highest margin belonged to social welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, who won the Seemapuri seat by 56,108 votes. Food and civil supplies minister Imran Hussain registered a victory with a margin of 36,172 votes. Labour minister Gopal Rai won the Babarpur seat by 33,062 votes and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal registered a victory from the New Delhi constituency with a margin of 21,697 votes. PWD minister Satyendar Jain, who had a cliffhanger of a contest, finally won Shakur Basti by 7,592 votes, while Gahlot also won the Najafgarh constituency by 6,231 votes. Sisodia had the lowest victory margin of all cabinet ministers, winning by 3,207 votes. The new Delhi legislative assembly will have 16 first-time MLAs, all from the AAP, including Atishi, Raghav Chadha and Dilip Pandey the trio who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Ahead of United States President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India, the two countries are eyeing to finalise a raft of mega defence deals including procurement of a batch of military helicopters by Indian Navy from American defence major Lockheed Martin at a cost of $2.6 billion. Official sources said talks were underway to wrap up negotiations on procurement of a missile defence system by India from the US for $1.86 billion. As India prepares to receive Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, US defence major Boeing indicated that it was considering to offer its F-15EX Eagle fighter jets to Indian Air Force. The company has already sought a licence from the US authorities for its possible export to India, eyeing a $18 billion contract by the Indian Air Force to procure 114 fighter jets. Government and industry sources said the two sides are likely to finalise the $2.6 billion deal under which the US will supply 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to India. The Cabinet Committee on Security is likely to clear it in the next few days. "We are attempting to close the deal soon," said a source. The US approved the sale of the Seahawk helicopters to India in April last year. The helicopters are expected to boost the Indian Navy's anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations. The chopper is designed to hunt down submarines. The fleet would replace aging British-made Sea King helicopters. Ahead of Trump's visit, the US approved the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to India (IADWS) at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. The Trump Administration notified to the US Congress of its decision to supply IADWS to India. Officials said the two sides may finalise the deal during the US president's visit to India. Defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing in the last six years. The bilateral defence trade touched $18 billion mark in 2019, reflecting growing defence cooperation between the two sides. There has been indication that two sides may announce further deepening of defence ties during Trump's visit on February 24 and 25. Both sides have also been pushing for joint venture and collaboration between private sectors of the two countries in defence manufacturing. In June 2016, the US had designated India a 'Major Defence Partner', intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. Fresh produce being sold at Efate Port Vila Market. The recently passed National Competition Policy seeks to ensure competition is healthy in the economy. A group of immigrants died while illegally crossing the border from Mexico into San Diego on Monday. The incident occurred near Mount Laguna in San Diego County, California. NBC News reports that Border Patrol dispatch responded to a notification that five people were in need of medical assistance near La Posta Indian Reservation on Monday around 2.15pm. The San Diego Sector Customs and Border Patrol characterised the area as "very rural and extremely rugged." The area was especially treacherous Monday, as the National Weather Service out of San Diego earlier reported that there would be heavy snow with poor visibility on Mount Laguna. 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Show all 6 1 /6 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Photos of detained migrants crowded into cells at the US border - with one holding up a sign reading simply "help" - have been released as part of a new report warning of "dangerous" overcrowding. The memo was sent to the Department of Homeland Security by its Inspector General, containing photos taken at border facilities in the Rio Grande Valley over a week in June DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Eighty-eight adult males held in a cell with a maximum capacity of 41, some signalling prolonged detention to OIG Staff on June 12 DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Overcrowding of families observed by OIG on June 11, at a border patrol facility in Weslaco, Texas DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Migrant families overcrowding a border patrol facility on June 11 in McAllen, Texas DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Fifty-one adult females held in a cell designated for male juveniles with a capacity for 40 at Border Patrols Fort Brown Station DHS/OIG 'Dangerous' overcrowding of migrants in US border facilities Migrant families overcrowding a border patrol facility on June 11 in McAllen, Texas DHS/OIG On Monday, between 4 to 5 inches of snow fell on Mount Laguna. Mount Laguna is on the eastern edge of the Cleveland National Forest, which separates the western portion of San Diego from the Anza Borrego Desert in the west. The mountain is approximately 30 miles north of the border. The San Diego Sector CBP reported that two of the five individuals were able to walk out of the area on their own. The pair informed the agents that three other individuals would need to be rescued. Two hours later, helicopters managed to reach the other three individuals. Two were unresponsive and one was in serious condition. Recommended Trump set to divert billions more to border wall from military budget San Diego Sector CBP said that upon arrival the responding agents provided medical assistance, but ultimately all three individuals died. Agents said the individuals were suffering from hypothermia. The CBP said weather conditions forced them to wait to remove the bodies until the next day. Hundreds of people die each year attempting to cross the US border from Mexico. Activist group Border Angels estimates that approximately 10,000 individuals have died attempting to cross the border since 1994. Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed was on Wednesday convicted by a court in Lahore and given a five-and-a-half year prison term in two terror financing cases the first time the US-designated terrorist has been held guilty by the Pakistani judiciary. Singnificantly, the verdict came four days before the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) plenary meeting in Paris to assess action taken by Pakistan to counter terror financing and money laundering. Pakistan has been keen to get off the so-called grey list of the organisation set up to combat terror financing and money laundering. Saeed, who was detained last July, can appeal against the ruling in higher courts. Anti-terrorism court judge Arshad Hussain Bhatta ruled that the five-and-a-half year prison terms given to Saeed in both cases would run concurrently and also fined him ~15,000 in the two cases. In both cases, Saeed was convicted under Section 11-F(2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act for being a member of a proscribed organisation, which entails a maximum prison term of six months, and Section 11-N for facilitating fund-raising by terror groups, for which he was given five years in jail. Saeed was present in court when the judge read out the verdict. The judge directed authorities to keep Saeed in custody until further orders. Malik Zafar Iqbal, one of Saeeds close aides, was convicted in the same cases and awarded similar punishment. Saeed, 69, for whom the US has offered a bounty of $10 million, has been detained without charge several times since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but has never been formally charged or prosecuted in Pakistani courts. US and Indian officials have accused him of a key role in masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people. Saeed recorded his statement in court and pleaded not guilty. The terror financing cases were registered against him in several cities by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province. He claimed the Pakistan government was being pressured by India and the US to file false cases against him, and asked the court to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him. Pakistani authorities have refrained from acting against the LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD, a front for the LeT) for years but they finally banned all groups headed by Saeed last year because of mounting pressure from the FATF and Western powers. The FATF placed Pakistan in its grey list in 2018 and several reports by the multilateral watchdog have highlighted the countrys repeated failure to stop fund-raising by groups such as LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Taliban, Haqqani Network and al-Qaeda. Continued inaction by the country could place it on the black list which would lead to harsher financial sanctions and closer scrutiny of all financial and banking transactions. Saeed was arrested by the CTD last July after 23 cases were registered against him and 12 aides, including his brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki, in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and Sargodha. They were accused of using a network of trusts and non-profit organisations to collect funds for terrorism. This was the first time Saeed was directly named in a case registered against the LeT and its front organisations for involvement in terrorism. The cases named trusts and organisations such as Dawat ul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, Al-Anfaal Trust, Al Hamd Trust, and Al Madina Foundation Trust. The CTD said the accused gathered assets from funds of terrorism financing (and) held and used these assets to raise more funds for further terrorism financing. The assets and organisations of the LeT and JuD were also taken over by the government in compliance with UN sanctions. The last review conducted by the FATF in October 2019 concluded that Pakistan will have to take extra measures to stop terror financing and money laundering. The FATF meetings beginning in Paris on February 16 will assess Pakistans implementation of a 27-point action plan. Western diplomats expect Pakistan to be retained in the FATFs grey list as it has fully or partially complied with only 14 of the points in the action plan A herd of dangerous Nazi-bred supercows are set to be the star attraction at a British farmer's new animal sanctuary. Derek Gow imported a herd of Heck cows to his Devon farm in 2009, the first time the creatures had set foot on UK soil since the Bronze Age. The 54-year-old was forced to slaughter seven of the Nazi-engineered cattle in 2015 after they tried to kill his staff. However the ecology expert has now been given the green light to display the cows as part a new animal sanctuary in Devon. The herd has expanded to 17, but visitors will not be allowed in the same field given the cows aggressive nature. A herd of dangerous Nazi-bred supercows are set to be the star attraction at a British farmer's new animal sanctuary Heck cattle were created by pre-war German zoologists in an attempt to bring back the Aurochs, a wild cow which became extinct in the 15th century Derek Gow (pictured) imported a herd of Heck cows to his Devon farm in 2009, the first time the creatures had set foot on UK soil since the Bronze Age Mr Gow said there was 'no reason' for people to fear the cows, but added: 'I think that is what they said in Jurassic Park about the Tyrannosaur, though.' Heck cattle were created by pre-war German zoologists in an attempt to bring back the Aurochs, a wild cow which became extinct in the 15th century. Depicted in neolithic cave paintings, the breed is characterised by its long set of horns and can weigh close a tonne. Brothers Lutz and Heinz Heck were determined to reintroduce the 'pure' breed of cattle in a bid to return a mythical Aryan past promoted by the Nazi regime. After the end of the Second World War, many Heck cows were slaughtered and an estimated 2,000 are all that now remains across Europe. Mr Gow, an ecologist and expert on reintroducing beavers to Britain, has spent the past year creating an attraction which will include wild boar and English wild cats. Mr Gow (pictured) was forced to slaughter seven of the Nazi-engineered cattle in 2015 after they tried to kill his staff After the end of the Second World War, many Heck cows were slaughtered and an estimated 2,000 are all that now remains across Europe Mr Gow, an ecologist and expert on reintroducing beavers to Britain, has spent the past year creating an attraction which will include wild boar and English wild cats He said: 'The cows are very large, they resemble cave paintings. The Nazis wanted to go out and hunt them, that's why they were made. 'They can be nervous but they're not too aggressive. They look like the extinct animals that used to roam the British countryside, that's why we wanted them.' Nazi brothers who dreamed of breeding Aryan super cow Heck cattle were created by pre-war German zoologists in an attempt to bring back the Aurochs, a wild cow which became extinct in the 15th century. Depicted in neolithic cave paintings, the breed is characterised by its long set of horns and can weigh close a tonne. Brothers Lutz and Heinz Heck were determined to reintroduce the 'pure' breed of cattle in a bid to return a mythical Aryan past promoted by the Nazi regime. The last Auroch is believed to have been killed in a forest in Poland in the 15th Century, as they were hunted extensively. But the Heck brothers, who had no understanding of modern genetics, were determined to 'breed backwards' using types of cattle picked for their resemblance to the ancient beast. Over several years, the brothers selectively bred certain traits such as hardiness, horn length, size and temperament to bring back their idealised version of the 'pure' cow. Lutz Heck was promoted within the Nazi regime and went on to oversee the development of Berlin Zoo, while his brother Heinz was put in a concentration camp for marrying a Jewish woman. Advertisement The rewilding specialist has long harboured an interest in the breed, which resemble cows featured in neolithic cave paintings in France, dating back nearly 20,000 years. He said: 'They're doing really well, we have 17 of them now - there was a new calf born the other day. 'They will be a very large part of the attraction. 'The visitors will be on the other side of the fence from the cows, people won't be able to get in the same field as them. 'They're not aggressive per se, but if there are calves in the field then they can be dangerous so people will not be able to get close to them. 'As long as visitors are on the right side of the fence they will be fine.' Mr Gow added: 'The project is developing rapidly and we hope that people will be able to come to the farm and see the animals and hear talks about what the countryside was once like. 'We are re-wilding parts of the farm and also on the site there will be wild boar, Mouslom sheep, European wildcats and wild beavers. 'It's nice to see everything start to thrive, we're not hard at work farming any more.' Mr Gow hopes to open to the public in May, and visitors can stay in huts on the farm, which cost 120 per night and sleep two people. He said: 'People will come to stay in our shepherds huts and spend the night surrounded by nature. 'It will be a very natural experience. It's going to be very calm and quiet, that's the whole idea.' TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pasinex Resources Limited (CSE:PSE) (PNX.F) (The Company or Pasinex) today announced that they have approved the issuance of 1,500,000 incentive stock options of the Company to Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Andrew Gottwald. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.04 per share for a period of two years from the issue date of February 11, 2020. Steve Williams, President and CEO of Pasinex, commented, I am very pleased that Mr. Gottwald is our CFO as he brings a wealth of relevant experience to the Company and has already shown a strong impact for Pasinex. I look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Gottwald particularly with the challenges in our Turkey business. Visit our web site at: www.pasinex.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors PASINEX RESOURCES LIMITED Steve Williams Steve Williams Evan White President/CEO Manager of Corporate Communications Phone: +1 416.861.9659 Phone: +1 416.906.3498 Email: info@pasinex.com Email: evan.white@pasinex.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Pasinex believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, exploration results, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang is ending his presidential campaign, after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary where Bernie Sanders, Pete Butttigieg and Amy Klobuchar looked set for a good night. The 45-year-old millionaire, one of the few candidates of colour left among the top 10 or so Democrats in the race, had been counting on a strong showing in the Granite state, after managing to secure barely 1 per cent of supporters in the caucuses in Iowa a week ago. But with early results in New Hampshire showing Mr Yang trailing badly, and with just 3 per cent of ballots next to his name, he let it be known he was suspending his campaign. I am a numbers guy, Mr Yang told the Washington Post, before addressing supporters in the city of Manchester. In most of these [upcoming] states, Im not going to be at a threshold where I get delegates, which makes sticking around not necessarily helpful or productive in terms of furthering the goals of this campaign. Mr Sanders, Mr Butttigieg and Ms Klobuchar were the candidates leaving New Hampshire with smiles on their faces. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters Mr Yang, the Ivy League-educated son of Taiwanese immigrants, who was bidding to be the countrys first Asian-American president, launched his long-shot candidacy in 2017 as a virtual unknown. His signature proposal, a universal basic income that would pay every American $1,000 a month, was his answer to the fourth industrial revolution. Andrew Yang's latest campaign featuring his special needs child Donald Trump is not the cause of all our problems, and were making a mistake when we act like he is, Mr Yang said at a Democratic debate on Friday. Mr Yang had a small but vocal slice of supporters, which he often referred to as the Yang Gang, and which often claimed he was not given the same opportunities as other candidates to speak during the Democratic Party debates. Those candidates still in the race will now be vying for their support, no matter how modest their number. During a debate in December, after Kamala Harris had dropped out but while Cory Booker was still contesting, he was asked how he felt about there being so little diversity among the candidates. Its both an honour and disappointment to be the lone candidate of colour on the stage tonight, he said. I miss Kamala, I miss Cory although I think Cory will be back. Mr Yang lasted longer than many had expected, sticking in the race after senators and governors with much greater name recognition, and after initially self-funding his campaign. In the end, he raised more money than most of his rivals, bringing in over $16m in the final quarter of last year. It was a bigger haul than all but the top four candidates Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren. Additional reporting Associated Press She's made a name for herself as a model and activist. And Amber Rose put her new forehead tattoo on display as she stepped out for lunch with boyfriend Alexander 'AE' Edwards and oldest son Sebastian in Sherman Oaks, California, on Tuesday afternoon. The 36-year-old stunner enjoyed some family time at the classic valley restaurant, Casa Vega, after defending the art by declaring that beauty is 'on the inside' with racy red lingerie photo. Bold: Amber Rose put her killer curves on display as she stepped out for lunch with boyfriend Alexander 'AE' Edwards and oldest son Sebastian in Sherman Oaks, California, on Tuesday Amber seemed to be feeling nostalgic as she slipped on a classic Von Dutch T-shirt with the brand's signature scrawled across her chest. She teamed her tight top with a pair of black leggings which highlighted her incredible figure. Adding inches to her frame, she wore a pair of black leather slides while carrying her son's black and red trainers in her hand. Mom mode: The 36-year-old stunner enjoyed some family time at the classic valley restaurant, Casa Vega, just days after revealing her sons names tattooed to her forehead Blessed: Amber seemed to be feeling nostalgic as she slipped on a classic Von Dutch T-shirt with the brand's signature scrawled across her chest Her platinum blonde hair was neatly shaved and she wore a pair of black sunglasses over her eyes. Rose let her know inkwork shine while leaving the trendy eatery, with Bash and Slash written across her forehead in old English manuscript, an ode to her three-month-old son Slash, and almost seven-year-old son with ex Wiz Khalifa, Sebastian. The Slutwalk founder was certainly feeling herself on Instagram with a sexy lingerie photo and the caption: 'Beauty is not whats on the outside.... its whats on the inside that counts. Inside of my p***y and inside of my heart.' Hot stuff: The Slutwalk founder was certainly feeling herself on Instagram with a sexy lingerie photo and the caption: 'Beauty is not whats on the outside.... its whats on the inside that counts. Inside of my p***y and inside of my heart' She revealed the new artwork just days ago and has already caught some slack from talk show host Wendy Williams. Wendy didn't hold back, telling audiences 'Amber you know I love you girl, but, why would you ruin your forehead?' - eliciting gasps from the audience. Amber sent her own form of a clapback online Wednesday morning and addressed fans and foes of her artistic display. 'For the people that are telling me I'm too pretty for a face tat are the same people that would tell me that I'm "too pretty" even if they thought I was ugly and lie to me Lol Or they would just tell me I'm ugly,' she wrote. 'So either way, the moral of the story is to whatever the f**k you want in life. - Muva.' Jeremy Corbyn has called for the extradition of Julian Assange to the US to be halted, praising the Wikileaks founder for exposing US war crimes. Boris Johnson refused to comment on the case, which will begin this month but surprised the Commons by agreeing the extradition treaty between the two countries is unbalanced. The Labour leaders call came as he also demanded to know whether Anne Sacoolas, who drove the car that killed teenager Harry Dunn, is being shielded because she was a CIA spy. On Mr Assange, who faces up to 175 years in a US jail if convicted, Mr Corbyn backed MPs on the Council of Europe who have warned the extradition sets a dangerous precedent for journalists. The one-sided arrangements would be laid bare when the courts decide whether he should be sent to the US on charges of espionage for exposure of war crimes, the murder of civilians and large-scale corruption, he said. Recommended Corbyn attacks Johnson over Jamaica deportation flight Will the prime minister agree with the parliamentary report thats going to the Council of Europe that this extradition should be opposed and the rights of journalists and whistleblowers upheld for the good of all of us, Mr Corbyn demanded. In response, the prime minister said: Im not going to mention any individual cases but its obvious that the rights of journalists and whistleblowers should be upheld and this government will continue to do that. Mr Assange, who is being held in Londons Belmarsh prison, has been indicted on 18 charges 17 under the Espionage Act for conspiracy to receive, obtain and disclose classified diplomatic and military documents. Among Wikileaks revelations was video footage from a 2007 US Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed at least nine men, including a Reuters news photographer and his driver. Key moments for Julian Assange Show all 9 1 /9 Key moments for Julian Assange Key moments for Julian Assange The situation today Assange was arrested after Metropolitan Police officers were invited into the Ecuadorian embassy on April 11 2019. How did it come to this? Ruptly TV Key moments for Julian Assange The break Assange shows the front page of the Guardian on July 26 2010, the day that they broke the story of the thousands of military files leaked by WikiLeaks AFP/Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Wanted A warrant for Assange's arrest was issued in August 2010 for counts of rape and molestation in Sweden AFP/Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Ruling The UK's Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face trial Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Sanctuary Following the ruling, Assange was given asylum by the Ecuadorian governement over fears that his human rights would be violated if he were extradited, he has since remained in the embassy in London Getty Key moments for Julian Assange A friend in Pam Friend Pamela Anderson delivers lunch to Assange at the embassy in October 2016. She has since spoken against his arrest Getty Key moments for Julian Assange Arbitrarily detained A UN panel found in 2016 that Assange had been arbitrarily detained and that he had not been able to claim his full right to asylum. It urged Sweden to withdraw the charges against him Getty Key moments for Julian Assange The cat ultimatum Last year, the Ecuadorian embassy threatened to revoke Assange's internet access unless he stopped making political statements online and started taking better care of James, his pet cat. Assange accused Ecuador of violating his rights Reuters Key moments for Julian Assange Arrest Assange was arrested on April 11 2019. Ecuador revoked his asylum status and invited the Metropolitan Police in to the embassy to arrest him. Reuters The MPs report backs the recommendation of the UN special rapporteur on torture who called last year for the extradition to the US to be blocked. On the claim that Ms Sacoolas is in fact a CIA operative, Mr Corbyn claimed: Now we know the foreign secretary [Dominic Raab] misled the Dunn family, who are being denied justice by the US government, will the prime minister commit to his removal from office tomorrow in his reshuffle? Mr Johnson replied: The Foreign Office has been told Anne Sacoolas was notified to the UK government as a spouse with no official role. We will continue without fear or favour to seek justice for Harry Dunn and his family and continue to seek the extradition of Anne Sacoolas from the United States. Mr Corbyn protested: This lopsided treaty means the US can request extradition in circumstances that Britain cannot. The prime minister acknowledged: To be frank, I think [Mr Corbyn] has a point in his characterisation of our extradition arrangements with the United States and I do think there are elements of that relationship that are imbalanced. I certainly think it is worth looking at. Ukraine stopped providing water on to the peninsula after its annexation by Russia. Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, former Member of Parliament of Ukraine Refat Chubarov says he considers it unacceptable to discuss the possibility of handling the situation in Donbas at the expense of Crimea. "Who is Arakhamia to trade our territory!? If someone in the government thinks it is possible to surrender the whole people of the Crimean Tatars, surrender the Ukrainians who are 500,000 there [in Crimea] We must not allow the state to sell us for water, for any combination involving Donbas," Chubarov told TV channel UA:Crimea, according to RFE/RL's media project Krym/Realii. Read alsoRuling faction's head doesn't mind water supply to Crimea in exchange for Donbas border This was Chubarov's response to Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction David Arakhamia's statement that he would personally agree if water were supplied from mainland Ukraine to Russia-occupied Crimea in exchange for full control of the Ukrainian border in Donbas. Yet, Arakhamia said, it was his personal opinion rather than the position of the parliamentary faction's head. In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's permanent envoy for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Anton Korinevych assured the resumption of water supply on to the peninsula through the North Crimean Canal was ruled out until the end of its occupation. UNIAN memo. Water coming from the Dnipro River in mainland Ukraine through the North Crimean Canal provided up to 85% of the peninsula needs. After the occupation of Crimea by Russia in the spring of 2014, the supply of water through the canal was stopped by the decision of the Ukrainian authorities. Water reserves in Crimea are replenished from natural runoff reservoirs and underground sources. At the same time, ecologists pay attention to the fact that regular use of water from underground sources led to soil salinization there. Crimea's occupying authorities regularly urge local residents to save water on the peninsula. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has assured the House of Representatives will conduct fair discussions into the bills seeking to renew the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN. Cayetano made the statement Tuesday amid consistent calls from his colleagues to set a hearing to tackle the pending measures. READ: We cannot wallow in fear: Cayetano, House leadership urged to tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal Congress is committed to conduct an impartial hearing where those who are against or in favor of the renewal may make their case, Cayetano wrote on a Facebook post. He added the move would be in line with the current administrations stand on the protection of the freedom of expression. A total of eleven bills seeking to renew ABS-CBNs legal mandate remain pending before the committee level less than a month before the lower chambers sessions adjourn on March 11. The networks franchise is set to expire on March 30. Cayetano, however, noted the legislative process cannot be rushed and vowed the issue will be studied thoroughly. While we understand that there are certain interests who want to rush this process, we stand by the leadership of the 18th Congress and the Committee on Legislative Franchises on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation. We also commit that the 18th Congress shall study this issue from all aspects in order to protect the interest of the public, the Speaker added. The franchise renewal case was thrust back into the spotlight following a petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who sought to nullify the media companys existing franchise. The governments top lawyer ran to the Supreme Court Monday for the plea, citing alleged "highly abusive practices of ABS-CBN, including foreign ownership issues and lack of operation permits. The network has denied the allegations, maintaining it did not violate the law and has no outstanding tax liability. Meanwhile, some lawmakers said ABS-CBN can continue operations even after its franchise expires. They said Congress can act on the pending renewal bills at any time during the 18th Congress. A four-year-old girl and her father have been found dead at the bottom of a cliff after a 'hiking fall' in Canada amid a bitter custody dispute with the child's mother. Keira Kagan and Robin Brown were found at around 11pm on Sunday in the snow-filled Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area in Milton, Ontario. Halton Regional Police said they did not consider the deaths homicides 'at this point' but investigations are ongoing. Philip Viater, who is the girl's stepfather, says he and his wife Jennifer Kagan believe that Brown jumped off the cliff in a murder-suicide. Keira Kagan, four, with her mother Jennifer Kagan and stepfather Philip Viater. Viater has said they believe Robin Brown, the girl's father, killed her in a murder-suicide. He added: 'We've been traumatized by this man for three years.' Keira was at the center of a custody battle, court records dating back to 2016 show, with a new hearing scheduled for February 20. Robin Brown was found at the bottom of escarpment around 11pm on Sunday in the snow-filled Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area in Milton, Ontario 'We're not doing well,' Viater told CTV News. 'We go through a cycle of stages between sadness, confusion, anger, helplessness.' The husband added: 'We've been traumatized by this man for three years.' Brown and Keira's disappearance had triggered a massive search operation on Sunday and they are believed to have entered the snowy park some eight hours before they were found. Halton police said the injuries were consistent with a fall. Viater said the hiking narrative did not seem plausible. 'Keira's never been hiking in her life to the best of our knowledge.' He told CTV. 'When you take Keira out for Halloween, she trips 20 times going down the street. She asks us to carry her all the time.' Kagan had brought a court motion late last month calling for an urgent suspension of Brown's access to the child, to only give him supervised access. The father had custody of Keira on alternating weekends, Sunday's fatal outing being part of that time. Halton Police trucks at the scene on Sunday night. Officers said the injuries were consistent with a fall and said there was no indication of homicide, although investigations continue A view over limestone cliffs at Rattlesnake point (file photo) Kagan, a doctor, and Brown, an engineer, were married in 2013 before splitting three years later. Kagan subsequently remarried to Viater and the pair have a son, Keira's younger half-brother, Joseph. Keira's grieving mother described her as 'an absolute angel' who doted on her little brother as 'the most tender and sweet big sister.' The increased incidence of deaths in Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh Armed Forces is largely due to the impact of the criminal subculture, said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday at the Armenian parliament. According to him, he has had meetings with Armenian Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces. "Any such case is a serious problem for all of us," he said adding that they need to understand the origins of this problem. As the PM noted, the criminal subculture impedes civilized communication between military personnel, which leads to hazing, and sometimes ending sadly. As reported earlier, two soldiers have received a fatal gunshot wound in Artsakh. The death of the soldiers caused a public outcry, as since January 2020, 13 military personnel have died in non-combat conditions. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Red Lake Gold Inc. (CSE:RGLD)(FWB:P11) ("Red Lake Gold" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's-length agreement to acquire the Fenelon North Gold Project which is situated near mining projects being advanced by Wallbridge Mining Company Limited ("Wallbridge Mining") and Great Thunder Gold Corp. ("Great Thunder Gold"). "Among other features, the Fenelon North project has substantial coverage of the Jeremie Pluton which is an intrusive structure that has recently come to be understood as increasingly important to gold mineralization discovered in the area (see recent news releases and public disclosures by Great Thunder Gold and Wallbridge Mining). As reference, the Northbound project recently announced by Great Thunder Gold is located entirely within the Jeremie Pluton. Fenelon North provides RGLD shareholders with ownership of a large-scale tenure position in an emerging exploration hot spot while achieving that prospective upside in a very low-risk and highly accretive manner. As a result of the transaction announced today, stockholders of Red Lake Gold stand to directly benefit from geological developments that may result from a broadening of exploration in the Fenelon area," stated Ryan Kalt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Red Lake Gold. The Corporation cautions that results or discoveries on proximal or adjacent properties may not necessarily be indicative as to the presence of mineralization on the Fenelon North Gold Project. Fenelon North Gold Project (https://www.redlakegold.ca/fenelon_north) The Fenelon North Gold Project is comprised of two primary claim blocks, one situated approximately 1km west of the claim boundary of Great Thunder Gold's Northbound project and the other situated approximately 2.5km northeast of the claim boundary of Wallbridge Mining's Fenelon project. The project is also contiguous to tenure held by Balmoral Resources Ltd. Figure 1: Map of the Fenelon North Gold Project See also an available online map: https://www.redlakegold.ca/files/RGLD_Fenelon_North_Gold_Project_Claim_Map.jpeg Recent work by Great Thunder Gold on its nearby Northbound project has outlined Long Wave InfraRed ("LWIR") survey data (see Great Thunder Gold Corp. news release, Great Thunder Options Northbound Gold Property dated February 4, 2020) which also contains areas of interest to Red Lake Gold that are covered by the Fenelon North Gold Project. A map of regional geology associated with the Fenelon North Gold Project can be found at: https://www.redlakegold.ca/files/RGLD_Fenelon_North_Gold_Project_Geology_Map.jpeg The Fenelon North Gold Project was acquired for nominal consideration. A pre-existing two percent royalty on the claims was assumed by the Corporation. Qualified Person Toby Hughes, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101, who has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information presented in this news release. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Ryan Kalt Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Email: info@redlakegold.ca Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently expected or forecast in such statements. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Red Lake Gold Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576150/Red-Lake-Gold-Inc-Acquires-Fenelon-North-Gold-Project A new study has warned that Smartphone apps that promise to detect skin cancers from moles or marks over the skin could be missing out on potential cancers. These apps say the researchers, could be missing out melanomas and could be declaring potentially dangerous lesions as safe. The results of the study titled, "Algorithm based smartphone apps to assess risk of skin cancer in adults: systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies," were published this week in The BMJ. Image Credit: pcruciatti / Shutterstock Every year there are two to three million and 132,000 new cases of non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers respectively around the world. These statistics come from the World Health Organization, which says that exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun and exposure to sunbeds could be one of the most influential risk factors for skin cancers. Early diagnosis often helps in the spread of cancer and results in high rates of cure, say experts. In countries such as Australia, skin cancers kill more men than women say the experts at WHO, and there has been an exponential rise in the number of cases detected in this country. Melanoma is 1.7 percent of the cancers and has a very high risk of mortality wrote the researchers. A team of researchers from the universities of Birmingham and Nottingham in the United Kingdom looked at two popular skin cancer detection apps from the UK - SkinVision, and SkinScan for their efficacy in detecting skin cancers. These apps are widely used in the UK but are not yet approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The authors of the study wrote, "Our review found poor and variable performance of algorithm-based Smartphone apps, which indicates that these apps have not yet shown sufficient promise to recommend their use." They warn the general public against relying entirely on these apps and speak about the risks "created by using Smartphone diagnostic or risk stratification apps." The team of researchers urges physicians and health care providers to be aware of the limitations of these apps that are based on algorithms and to spread awareness among the general public. There have been previous studies, wrote the researchers. In these nine studies, six different Smartphone apps have been reviewed for their efficacy in detecting skin cancers from the moles. SkinVision and SkinScan are regulated under class 1 medical devices in the UK. This means that they carry a low to moderate risk to their users, explain the researchers. These apps use Artificial Intelligence or AI-based algorithms to detect skin cancers from skin lesions. Professor Jon Deeks at the University of Birmingham and Professor Hywel Williams at the University of Nottingham and their teams looked at the nine studies. They looked at the photos that the apps, as well as researchers, analyzed for the presence or absence of cancers. The images that the apps could not assess were excluded, and the other participants were analyzed for this new study. Results showed that SkinScan in a study looked at 15 moles, and of these five had melanomas. The app has missed all five of them. SkinVision similarly was assessed in two studies. In one of the studies, the app had looked at 108 moles and of these, there were 35 moles that were either frankly cancerous or in a stage before actual cancer. The app had a sensitivity of 88 percent. This meant that it missed detecting 12 percent of cancerous or precancerous moles or false negatives. The app had a specificity of 79 percent, meaning 21 percent of the moles that were not cancerous would be flagged or false positives. The team analyzed the studies and wrote that if 1000 persons were screened using these apps, of which 3 percent or 30 had melanomas, SkinVision would miss 4 of the cases and tell 200 individuals falsely that their moles were cancerous or precancerous. Lead researcher Dr. Jac Dinnes, of the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham, said, "This is a fast-moving field, and it's really disappointing that there is not better quality evidence available to judge the efficacy of these apps. It is vital that healthcare professionals are aware of the current limitations both in the technologies and in their evaluations." Hywel Williams, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Nottingham, one of the co-authors of the study, said that if there is a doubt, its best to get checked by a GP. At present, these apps come under the purview of the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Starting this year, they may be regulated by the new Medical Device Regulations. Co-author Jon Deeks, Professor of Biostatistics in the Institute of Applied Health Research, said, "Regulators need to become alert to the potential harm that is poorly performing algorithm-based diagnostic or risk monitoring apps create. We rely on the CE mark as a sign of quality, but the current CE mark assessment processes are not fit for protecting the public against the risks that these apps present." In a linked editorial in the same issue by researchers from the University of Oxford agreed that stricter measures need to be taken to ensure the safety and efficacy of these apps. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Two institutions have been added to the list of schools whose students qualify for free college. The schools, NexTech High School and West Michigan Aviation Academy, bring the total to 24 schools that qualify for the tuition. Like the others, these two schools also are located within the Grand Rapids city limits. The Grand Rapids Promise Zone was initially approved by an authority board on Jan. 13. The promise guarantees tuition-free college for students who live and go to school within the promise zones boundaries. Those schools can be public, charter or parochial. The list originally did not include NexTech High School, a virtual school, and West Michigan Aviation Academy, a charter school. But at a Feb. 11 executive board meeting, members added the schools, bringing the list up to 24 qualifying institutions. The entire list of 24 schools still needs final approval by the full Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority Board. That meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20. As we evaluated the requests that were coming in, we realized that we were probably, we were interpreting the law a little to by the letter, said Josh Spencer, Vice President for Kennari Consulting. Thats the firm that has guided the authority board through the process of creating the promise zone. The boundaries for eligible schools are those that are within the Grand Rapids Public School district. Students must live within the Grand Rapids city limits. The schools went to the authority after not originally being on the list. Board documents state that Chairwoman Teresa Weatherall Neal, the former superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, wanted to rethink the inclusion of the schools due to their unique circumstances. For NexTech High School, it was originally excluded due to its online nature. Spencer said all virtual schools were not included. However, Michigan categorizes it as a Face Virtual" school, meaning there are brick-and-mortar buildings and students are able to have physical meetings with teachers. NexTech students get about 16 hours of instruction at a building within the Grand Rapids city limits, and students are expected to complete 15 hours of coursework from home, according to board documents. Spencer said because the school uses in-person instruction, it was determined to fall within the promise zone guidelines. For West Michigan Aviation Academy, it was the only high school that is located within the city of Grand Rapids but not within the Grand Rapids Public Schools district. Although the GRPS boundaries are the promise zone boundaries, the intent of this was to serve the city of Grand Rapids and its students, Spencer said. The addition of the two schools will not change the $3 million funding goal, Spencer said. He estimated that about 70 more students will be eligible each year, and because so many will be receiving some form of Pell Grant, the financial impact will be minimal. He said a large focus of promise zone scholarships is collaboration among the schools in order to invest in the students of Grand Rapids. So in that spirit, to build that community, including the schools that have that shared mission is critical to the success of a promise zone, Spencer said. Students who qualify for the promise can have up to 60 credit hours -- or two years -- paid for at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC). That includes books and supplies. In order to qualify for the scholarship, aside from residency and school location, students must apply for federal financial aid through completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Once the students total need-based grants are determined, eligible students would receive a scholarship to pay the remainder of their bill for tuition and mandatory fees. For students who do not attend an eligible school all four years, their potential scholarship is pro-rated. Students who attended from grades 9-12 and 10-12 can get 100 percent of the scholarship. Students who attend from grades 11-12 can get 50 percent of the scholarship. Students who only attended their senior year will not receive a scholarship. The executive board also announced that the Michigan Department of Treasury has officially signed off on the Grand Rapids Promise Zone development plan. Meaning the promise zone can now, officially, keep moving forward and go into effect. More on the Grand Rapids Promise Zone: Everything you need to know about Grand Rapids free college tuition promise Tuition-free college approved for Grand Rapids students Class of 2020 could get Grand Rapids Promise Zone college scholarships The 2020 presidential race was always going to be an uphill battle for Elizabeth Warren. Almost from the get-go, political pundits fretted about Warren's electability, setting in motion a self-fulfilling prophecy now reflected in the New Hampshire primary results. Warren's disappointing showing on Tuesday comes on the heels of a stirring debate performance and a strong third place finish in the Iowa caucuses two wins largely ignored by mainstream media commentators, who focused almost entirely on Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, with a spare thought for Amy Klobuchar's rise and Joe Biden's descent. Defeating Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election is priority number one for the Democratic establishment, and a moderate candidate with the potential to sway swing voters and Republican defectors has long been billed as the wisest course. But by constructing a dichotomy between the self-described revolutionary leader Sanders and the aggressively non-threatening trifecta of moderate candidates (not to mention Bloomberg, who is suddenly the darling of cable news), the networks and pundits with the greatest persuasive power have ignored and undercut Warren's unique potential to unite the progressive left and hesitant center. Warren seems to have unfairly inherited some of the hallmarks of Hillary Clinton's reputation. Clinton's devastating 2016 upset sparked practical questions as to whether a woman could win the presidency at all. And Warren's false claim to Native American heritage sealed a reputation for untrustworthiness that has stuck long after that conversation faded away. If Clinton, with all of her name recognition and experience, couldn't win against Trump, what hope could there be for the woman widely considered her successor? Warren's progressive policies and folksy demeanor also framed her for many as a sort of second-tier Sanders, not far enough left for the progressives and too far left for gun-shy moderates. But it is precisely this position that makes her the most electable candidate. Story continues Warren and Sanders are mostly aligned on their signature issues, but how they present these issues is entirely different, as are their proposed paths to achieve them. Sanders does not shy away from the word "socialist." He declares outright that his Medicare-for-All plan will raise taxes. He says billionaires should not exist. These declarations and convictions are brave and they are admirable. But they also inspire commentators like Chris Matthews to worry on-air that a Sanders administration will begin executing the wealthy in Central Park, French revolution style. Warren takes a more measured approach in selling her policies, focusing on how she'll achieve them rather than the eventual outcome. She doesn't say billionaires should not exist, she proposes a wealth tax. Warren doesn't say "socialist," choosing instead to present the economic and social advantages to her plans without the label. The other key difference between Sanders and Warren is that, while Sanders has identified as far left for his entire political career, Warren was a committed Republican long before she became a progressive Democrat. As other commentators have noted, this history might not earn her many points with committed leftists, but it does put her in a unique position to appeal to the moderates and Republicans that candidates like Buttigieg and Klobuchar are trying to court. After all, she used to be one of them. And perhaps most importantly, polls continue to show Warren performing just as well as those candidates, if not better, in hypothetical general election matchups against Trump. Yet the mainstream media seems determined to undermine her viability. Sanders and Buttigieg finished neck and neck in the Iowa Caucuses (whose dubious import is a conversation for another day), with Warren close behind in third. As the dust around the disastrous vote-counting began to settle, the media centered the conversation on Sanders, Buttigieg, and Biden. For example, this headline from The Washington Post reads: "Buttigieg and Sanders take lead, Biden fades in partial results from marred Iowa caucuses," ignoring Warren's close third place finish entirely in favor of Biden's fourth. During Friday's Democratic debate, many critics noted the relatively short speaking time given to Warren in comparison with her white male competitors. Afterwards, coverage again focused on Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Biden, and Sanders, despite Warren having the highlight of the night, when she responded to Buttigieg's embarrassing stumble on a question about race. For what it's worth, Sanders followers have also complained of a media bias against their candidate, and indeed, on-air pundits seem unwilling to concede to the electibility of Sanders either, but they do not ignore him. Eagerness for a moderate candidate may also explain their embrace of Klobuchar following the debate, who was stronger than usual but far from a dominant presence. Even the most politically engaged voter relies at least in part on media analysis and commentary when forming their opinions. Watching Klobuchar's rise from poor showing in Iowa to close third-place in New Hampshire, a distinction separated only by powerful media outlets who declared her debate winner, it's probable her improved standing is attributable at least in part to these assessments. Meanwhile Warren, relegated to a footnote, has lost momentum with voters who cease to believe in her electability a narrative prescribed by the media, not assessed. Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here. More stories from theweek.com Weinstein defense argues prosecutors have 'created a universe' in which 'women are not responsible' In Twitter rampage, Trump attacks federal judge set to sentence Roger Stone The Don seizes the Justice Department New Delhi, Feb 12 : The conspiracy to eliminate the newly elected Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Yadav, who was declared winner from Delhi's Mehrauli Assembly seat on Tuesday, was hatched about 20 days ago. But, because of the election campaign, Yadav was always surrounded by his supporters, and the police was also maintaining a tighter vigil, and the plan was thwarted, the police said on Wednesday. An officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner of Delhi Police on condition of anonymity told IANS: "From the facts that have emerged so far, it does not seem to be the result of a gang war. It seems to be a fallout of an old enmity. However, it is not correct to say anything concrete until the investigation is complete and all the accused/conspirators are arrested." When asked about the basis of denying the gang war angle, the top police officer said: "Actually after talking to the victims, some facts which have come out don't point towards the gang war. Even then, we cannot take this information as categorical. Since the police has to prove the case legally in court, it is necessary to complete the investigation from all angles." After the counting process was almost over and Naresh Yadav was declared winner, he was attacked by unidentified assailants in the Vasant kunj - Kishangarh area on Tuesday night. The MLA was returning from the temple with his well-wishers at the time of the incident. A person named Ashok Mann died in the attack, while Yadav escaped unhurt. After the incident, all the top police officers and a forensic team reached the spot. The police was also searching for any CCTV footage to identify the attackers. According to an Assistant Police Commissioner level officer involved in the investigation, "Even if there is no CCTV footage, we have some important information from the victim side, which will prove helpful in reaching to the attackers. Some people have been detained and this will help us get to the attackers." The officer also said: "The plan was to attack Yadav in the middle of the election campaign. But the presence of the police did not let this happen. After the counting of votes, the attackers felt that now the police and the candidates have all become little lax, so they carried out the attack on Tuesday." (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in) They are a staple of any college campus: leaflets, posters and stickers promoting clubs, meetings and parties. From afar, they look innocuous and most are. But upon closer inspection, a growing number are promoting white supremacist propaganda such as America Is Not for Sale, One Nation Against Invasion and Reclaim America. The distribution of such propaganda on college and university campuses nearly doubled last year, to 630 reported incidents from 320 in 2018, the Anti-Defamation League documented in a report released Wednesday. There were 410 reported incidents in the fall semester, it said, more than double any previous college term since the organization began its tally in 2016. The Anti-Defamation League attributed part of the increase to greater vigilance from those reporting the propaganda. The British government said Wednesday it planned to allow its broadcast regulator to police the internet and issue "substantial fines" to giants that fail to remove harmful content. Media minister Nicky Morgan told parliament she was "minded to appoint" the Office of Communications (Ofcom) in charge of online content oversight. But she said the expanded agency -- dubbed the "first internet watchdog" by UK media -- would lack the power to take down offensive material or block platforms that "fail to fulfil their duty of care". Those suggestions were outlined in a set of proposals published last April by the government of former prime minister Theresa May. Prime Minister Boris Johnson took over last July and first focused on navigating the Brexit crisis. But Britain safely left the European Union last month and his government is now preparing to stamp its own vision on the country. Morgan and interior minister Priti Patel published a report offering Ofcom "the power to issue warnings, notices and substantial fines" to "companies that fail to fulfil their duty of care". The two senior ministers stressed they were equally conscious of respecting freedoms of expression and remaining a "pro-technology government". "We will not prevent adults from accessing or posting legal content, nor require companies to remove specific pieces of legal content," the two senior ministers wrote. "The new regulatory framework will instead require companies, where relevant, to explicitly state what content and behaviour is acceptable on their sites and then for platforms to enforce this consistently." Ofcom was established in 2002 and began to formally oversee television and radio the following year. It receives thousands of viewer and listener complaints a year about potentially biased or offensive programming and other unsuitable material. But Britain has no official internet or regulator and is looking for ways to stop harmful online material from reaching children. The issue gained added urgency in 2017 when a 14-year-old girl killed herself after following a series of accounts about suicide and depression on Instagram and Pinterest. "Two thirds of adults in the UK are concerned about content online, and close to half say that they have seen hateful content in the past year," Wednesday's report said. "In a large survey of young people who had been cyberbullied, 37 percent had developed depression and 26 percent had suicidal thoughts." Social media giants such as Facebook want governments to adopt a common rulebook and oversight bodies that could take the pressure off their own executive teams. The UK government has been consulting top social media managers about its proposals for over a year. Britain's role in drafting a universal solution was boosted by Mark Zuckerberg's appointment in 2018 of former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg as Facebook's head of global affairs and communications. Clegg and Zuckerberg are now setting up an oversight board at Facebook that would issue final rulings on contentious content. The new UK report said social media executives rebelled at the idea of London fining individual managers who failed to tackle harmful content. Making a communal remark on Wednesday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that Uttar Pradesh's Deoband is "Gangotri of terror". Addressing the press in Deoband, the leader said that terrorists like "Hafiz Saeed are the product of Deoband." He repeated his remark that those opposing the amended citizenship law in Shaheen Bagh and elsewhere are leading a "Khilafat movement." Earlier in December, BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan had also hinted a role of Darul Uloom Deoband of Saharanpur in the violence that occurred during the anti-CAA protests in the state Singh said: "I once said that Deoband is a Gangotri of terrorism. All the terrorists - Hafiz Saaed etc, they are the product of Deoband. They are not anti CAA, they are anti-India. It's a Khilafat Movement. Had it not been anti-India, then Sharjeel Imam would not have said to break India and Assam and urge India to become an Islamic Nation. Slogans glorifying Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon would not be raised. Hatred is being injected into women, children. Wherever in India, their population exists, they are doing Khilafat Movement." Union Minister Giriraj Singh in Saharanpur: Maine ek baar kaha tha ki yeh Deoband aatankvaad ki Gangotri hai. Saare bade bade duniya mein jo bhi paida huye aatankvaadi, chahe Hafiz Saeed ka mamla ho, yeh saare ke saare log yahin se nikalte hain. (11.02.2020) pic.twitter.com/VFSuqIhZV7 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 12, 2020 Giriraj repeats Population control remark Commenting on the population of Muslims, Singh making a communal remark said: "Their population has reached 20 crores. Resources available are only 2%. That's why the strictest population control law should be implemented. Those who refuse to accept it, be it from any religion, their voting rights should be taken away." During the Lok Sabha polls, Singh had made similar comments. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev had also called to revoke government benefits to those people who bear more than two children, and that such people should not be eligible to even vote. Sanjeev Balyan's sensational claim: 'Why were madrassa kids brought for protest?" Singh's communal remark Earlier on February 6, Singh in a communal statement alleged that Shaheen Bagh is conspiring against the nation and "suicide bombers" are being trained there. However, he deleted the tweet later, but maintained: "This is a Khilafat movement going on, Sharjeel Imam is saying that let's break the country, PFI pamphlets are saying so. A child dies, and his mother says he is a martyr, what is this if not suicide bombing?" Giriraj Singh fires irresponsible 'suicide bomber' barb on Shaheen Bagh; deletes & defends Jakarta: Under President Rodrigo Duterte's extraordinary presidency, human rights have been trampled, political and media opponents targeted and a bloody fight waged with Islamist separatists in the southern Philippines. But it's the re-orientation of the country's foreign policy away from the United States and towards China since his 2016 election that is potentially most significant for Australia and for south-east Asia. The formal announcement by Duterte's government on Tuesday that it had notified the United States it was scrapping the Visiting Forces Agreement, which helps provide the legal platform for American military presence in the country, could mark a step change in the region's strategic balance. A Dutch scientist has proposed building two mega dams in the North Sea in an attempt to protect 25 million Europeans from rising sea levels. Sjoerd Groeskamp, an oceanographer at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, said a 'possible solution' to global warming's rising effect on our oceans is to build a 300 mile dam between Scotland and Norway and an additional 100-mile barrier between France and England. 'A rise of 10 metres by the year 2500 is predicted, according to the bleakest scenarios,' Groeskamp wrote in a paper to be published this month in the American Journal of Meteorology. 'This dam is therefore mainly a call to do something about climate change now.' A graphic shows the hypothetical locations of the dams between France and England, Norway and Scotland Pictured: A file photo of the Hantangang Dam in South Korea, one of the super dams the costs of the North Sea Enclosure Dyke were estimated on. A Dutch scientist has proposed building two mega dams in the North Sea in an attempt to protect 25 million Europeans from rising sea levels Sjoerd Groeskamp, an oceanographer at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, said a 'possible solution' to global warming's rising effect on our oceans is to build two mega dams in the North Sea 'If we do nothing, this extreme dam might just be the only solution,' he added The project - dubbed the North Sea Enclosure Dyke - is both technically and economically achievable, according to the authors, with costs of the project estimated at 0.1 per cent GDP of the countries combined. The sum, estimated to cost between 250million and 500million, was estimated by taking into account the costs of mammoth dams that have been built in South Korea in recent years. Groeskamp told the Guardian that the calculations had not factored in potential losses, by halting North Sea fishing and increased shipping costs, among other factors. An undated photo shows Afsluitdijk, a major dam and causeway in the Netherlands, which runs from Den Oever in North Holland to village of Zurich in Friesland province, damming off the Zuiderzee, salt water inlet of the North Sea Hannah Cloke, a professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, told the Guardian the plan could work and that it's 'good that were thinking outside the box.' 'I think it is really important that we keep thinking about these ideas, because the future looks very scary,' she added. However, Cloke believes the money, between 250million and 500million, could be used better by making populations resistant to flooding. Should global average temperatures increase 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7F) from pre-industrial times, sea levels could rise as much as 30.3 inches (77cm) by 2100, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). A UN-backed partnership will study the futuristic prospect of floating cities, looking at how platforms at sea might help bail out coastal cities at risk of flooding due to climate change (artist's impression) The lower 1.5C limit enshrined in the Paris Agreement is likely to be breached between 2030 and 2052 if global warming continues at its current pace and unprecedented measures are not taken to stem the increase, a 2018 IPCC report said. In an alternative move, blueprints have been drawn up to create the planet's first floating city. The United Nations is spearheading the revolutionary project, which will see self-sufficient buoyant platforms anchored to the sea bed upon which houses can be built. Each one would be sturdy enough to home tens of thousands of people while also boasting typical town features such as public squares and markets. BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare ("Odyssey") is pleased to announce the addition of Richard W. Clark, FACHE, to our leadership team, serving as President and COO of the company. Odyssey, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, has a diverse network of services treating adults and adolescents for eating disorders, psychiatric conditions, substance use and technology addictions. Odyssey provides a continuum of care including inpatient, intensive residential, partial hospitalization, and outpatient services with operations in nine behavioral health locations with 331 total beds and affiliated outpatient services in seven states. Scott Kardenetz, Odyssey's CEO, said, "We are excited to add Richard Clark to the company's leadership team as our President and Chief Operating Officer. His lengthy and successful career in behavioral health and acute care operations will be of great value to Odyssey as we grow our current services, expand our geographic reach and diversify our clinical offerings. Richard and I share a long track record together in this space I'm looking forward to reuniting with Richard at Odyssey." Mr. Clark joins the Odyssey team with over 33 years of healthcare experience, most recently serving as the President of the Western Group for Acadia Healthcare, where he was responsible for the operations of 48 behavioral health treatment centers and hospitals located in 16 states. Previous CEO positions include Ardent Health Services, Psychiatric Solutions Inc. and Universal Health Services. Prior to Acadia, Mr. Clark was the Chief Executive Officer for Rolling Hills Hospital in Franklin, Tennessee, a 120-bed freestanding psychiatric hospital. "I look forward to working closely with Scott, the Board and the talented team at Odyssey and am excited about driving continued growth and service delivery at this high-quality and diverse healthcare company," shares Mr. Clark. Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare is committed to meeting the highest standards of clinical care, and Mr. Clark's proven track record in both clinical and operational leadership roles have demonstrated this commitment. He has worked diligently to exceed expectations to deliver clinically excellent care that increased patient and stakeholder satisfaction and outcomes for clients and families. Mr. Clark received his Master of Health Sciences Administration from Webster University and his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Eastern Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow and Board-Certified Healthcare Executive through the American College of Healthcare Executives and Fellow of The Nashville Healthcare Council (Class of 2019). About Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare has a growing diversified platform of behavioral health facilities across the treatment spectrum in eating disorder, psychiatric, addiction care, and technology and gaming addiction. Odyssey's treatment centers include Pasadena Villa, Lifeskills South Florida, Magnolia Creek Treatment Center for Eating Disorders, Selah House, Toledo Center for Eating Disorders, Greenfield Recovery Center, Pasadena Villa Outpatient Center-Raleigh and Pasadena Villa Outpatient Center-Charlotte, providing inpatient, intensive residential and continuum services for adults and adolescents. Odyssey extends respect, compassion, and quality individualized treatment paired with concierge-quality amenities at nine primary facilities in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. Related Images image1.png Related Links Odyssey SOURCE Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare Related Links https://odysseybehavioralhealth.com We want to change the way people dress. We want to give them a coat for a variety of different occasions commuting to work, being active outdoors in the cold, date nights, etc., Tranzend launches Ultra Coat on Kickstarter today. Ultra Coat is an ethically upcycled coat made out of coffee grounds and plastic bottles. Ultra Coat has coil-free, tri-zone heating panels that ensure even heat distribution powered by most rechargeable USB power banks. With the click of a button, the embedded carbon-fiber panels heat the jacket within seconds, keeping the wearer warm and comfortable. The coil-free heating is evenly distributed without hotspots. The right-hand pocket houses the wearers separate power bank to run the heating system for hours, and is controlled by a smart temperature controller with high, medium, and low settings. Almost like a personal climate control system for the wearer, Ultra Coat withstands temperatures ranging from 0F to 70F (-17C to 20C). We want to change the way people dress. We want to give them a coat for a variety of different occasions commuting to work, being active outdoors in the cold, date nights, etc., said William Chen, Founder of Tranzend. We want people to continue to reach for Ultra Coat, day in and day out. Our goal is for this to be a functional everyday coat. Ultra Coats sleek, stylish design makes it the perfect match for any and all occasions. The coats slim and compact layer of synthetic down thermal insulation gives all of the warmth without the bulk. Laser-cut microfiber pockets and extra pockets next to the coats adjustable cuffs keep wearers hands warm and their valuables secure. A stitched-in interior snow skirt keeps snow from getting into the coat when wearers are active in extreme climates. Ultra Coat also comes equipped with Tranzends signature magnetic, detachable hood, which attaches quickly to keep out rain or snow. Additionally, Ultra Coat keeps headphones close via a magnetic fastener at the end of the collar so earbuds stay in place and are easily accessible when needed. Ultra Coat is an ethically-produced coat with maximum weatherproofing it is waterproof, water-repellent and UV-protected. Laser-cut pockets and every sewing line are seam-sealed to increase durability and security of the garment. The coat is ultra-stretch, anti-stain and wrinkle-free so it keeps wearers looking sharp. Ultra Coat is machine washable and can tumble dry, but its odor-resistant, breathable fabric keeps it fresh-smelling and comfortable. Ultra Coat is now available to pre-order on Kickstarter starting at $299. Available in a variety of sizes, backers can choose from S to 3XL. For more information about the campaign or to place a pre-order, visit pr.go2.fund/tranzendcoat. About Tranzend Tranzend builds products with three principles in mind: sartorial aesthetic, technology and sustainability. Their team believes this creates an indisputable perspective toward the clothing they produce. Their design integrates sporting elements and heritage fashion from sustainable sources providing every customer comfort and the ability to adapt to different environments. For more information, visit http://www.tranzend.co.uk. STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Soldier of the Defense Army of Artsakh Tigran Manvelyan, born in 2000, received a fatal gunshot wound at a military position on February 12, at around 11:30, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress, adding that the circumstances around the incident are yet to be determined. Investigation is underway. Armenian defense ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan informed on Facebook that one more soldier, Tigran Mkhoyan, has also been killed. In a statement, the Defense Ministry expressed condolences to the families, relatives and fellow servicemen of the two soldiers. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Home Just In Ncell collaborates with Microsoft to deliver cloud service to Nepali businesses Kathmandu, February 12 Ncell, a leading private telecommunications company of the country, has collaborated with Microsoft Corporation to provide Microsofts productivity and communications solutions, cloud resources and online meeting tools to Nepali businesses. The company announced its collaboration with Microsoft Corporation for Microsoft Tier 1 Cloud Service Provider (CSP) amidst a special gathering attended by over 250 corporate clients from various banks, businesses and officials of NGO/INGOs last week. Under this partnership, Ncell will provide three major productsOffice 365 (O365), Azure and Teams to Nepali businesses. Welcoming the guests, Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell, said, The collaboration landscape is changing rapidly. No longer confined to office buildings, the modern workspace allows people to meet, collaborate, and stay connected across organizational boundaries. Ncell and Microsoft are combining resources and experience to focus on the fast-growing collaboration arena, which is a strategic market for both companies. We have collaborated with Ncell to provide our cloud service directly to customers in Nepal, Anh Pham, chief partner officer for South Asia at Microsoft. In the initial phase, we will be providing the cloud service to clients including small and medium enterprises and businesses of the country. We believe that the collaboration contributes towards the development of Nepals digital ecosystem, also providing our services as value-added services. The procedure of the government's assuming responsibility for the budget laws did not generate a legal conflict, argued the Justice Ministry's Secretary of State Olivia Diana Morar on Wednesday, as she presented before the Constitutional Court the government's stance on the challenges moved by the heads of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. "From the jurisprudence and the very definition of the constitutional legal conflict we can easily see that the existence or non-existence of the constitutional legal conflict is not conditional on the nature of the act or action exercised by any of the authorities allegedly in conflict, and Article 114 of the Constitution clearly stipulates that the government can assume responsibility for a draft act, regardless of the said document's regulatory scope, or of the legal nature of the draft act - be it law or emergency ordinance. We therefore consider that the provisions of the Constitution's Article 146 (a) are not applicable in this case, which is why we deem that no constitutional legal conflict has arisen from the government's assuming responsibility for the budget laws," said Olivia Diana Morar.In her opinion, the wording of the challenge referred to the Constitutional Court betrays the intention of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies presidents "to politically speculate any attempt by the government to carry out the governing program", by raising obstacles in its way.The government's representative also said that the MPs had the possibility to submit amendments to the bills and even initiate a censure motion, and added that by assuming responsibility the government has respected the role of Parliament as the sole legislative authority.Upon leaving the Constitutional Court headquarters, Morar said that the main reason why the government chose to assume responsibility was that it didn't want Romania to end up again like in 2019, when the state budget was adopted towards the end of the first quarter, thus triggering "extraordinary bottlenecks" in the administrative operation. AGERPRES More than 3700 passengers, including 200 Australians, are stranded on the ship She claimed her family have had little communication with authorities Speaking from her hospital room, Ms D'Silva said the ordeal has been 'terrifying' Ms D'Silva and her family disembarked the ship and are quarantined in hospital Bianca D'Silva, from Melbourne, will spend her 21st birthday in quarantine in a Japanese hospital after testing positive to the virus onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship on February 5 An Australian tourist struck down with the deadly coronavirus in Japan has pleaded with the Government to let her come home, and likened her symptoms to the common cold. Bianca D'Silva, from Melbourne, will spend her 21st birthday in quarantine in a Japanese hospital after testing positive to the virus on February 5 onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where she planned to celebrate her milestone. The law student is one of 11 Australian passengers to contract coronavirus onboard the 'floating prison', which is docked at Yokohama, south of Tokyo. More than 3700 passengers, including about 200 Australians, remain stranded on the ship. Ms D'Silva, her parents and 14-year-old brother were forced to disembark the ship and go into quarantine in hospital two hours away. Speaking to Nine News via Skype from her hospital room, Ms D'Silva said the ordeal has been 'terrifying'. 'They told me that my mum and dad couldn't come with me. So my mum and dad fought for at least one of them to come with me, because I honestly don't think I could have gone on my own given where we are,' she said. To move around the hospital, Ms D'Silva is forced to be confined to a wheelchair with a portable oxygen tank inside a plastic box (pictured) Ms D'Silva said she started feeling ill while all passengers were cooped up in their cabins for a week during the outbreak 'I just want to come home... the doctors have been lovely but they don't speak much English.' Ms D'Silva said she started feeling ill while all passengers were cooped up in their cabins for a week during the outbreak. 'I got a lot of headaches initially, when I was told we were quarantined, I started feeling hot with a fever,' she said. 'But other than that I feel fine it just feels like I have a cold.' The family has been separated into their own small hospital rooms with their own bathroom, and are only allowed minimal face-to-face contact with one another. To move around the hospital, Ms D'Silva is forced to be confined to a wheelchair with a portable oxygen tank inside a plastic box. The law student is one of 11 Australian passengers to contract coronavirus onboard the 'floating prison', which is docked at Yokohama, south of Tokyo The family has been separated from each other into their own small hospital rooms with their own bathroom, and are only allowed minimal face-to-face contact with one another The 21-year-old claimed her family were left in the lurch and had hardly received any information from authorities about coming back to Australia. 'No one has said a word, my parents have emailed them they haven't got anything back,' she said. Her grandfather, Peter said she was taken off the ship with her parents and younger brother and transported to a hospital about two hours from the port. 'My granddaughter Bianca, who is 21 years old, tested positive and now she's in isolation in the hospital and my three other family members are all in isolation wards over there,' he told 3AW radio on Wednesday. Peter said the Australians aboard haven't heard from the government since they were quarantined. 'These people are in limbo and no one cares about them,' he said. 'That's how it seems because we've had no contact from the government in any way.' Peter said the family had been struggling both mentally and physically, as a result of being trapped in their cabins prior to the diagnosis. 'They were locked up in these two little rooms, 3x3 perhaps, without any access to clean air or anything,' he said. Authorities are yet to confirm the case, while Princess Cruises said 11 Australians aboard were affected. The 21-year-old law student claimed her family were left in the lurch and had hardly received any information from authorities about coming back to Australia 'We are following guidance from the Japan Ministry of Health on plans for disembarkation protocols to provide medical care for these new cases,' it said. 'Since it is early in the quarantine period of 14 days, it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine.' The quarantine end date remains February 19 unless there are any unforeseen developments. Princess Cruises has confirmed all guests aboard the cruise will be refunded their fare, including air travel, hotel, ground transportation and other expenses. There are 44,754 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide and 1112 deaths. The Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR and arrested a man after an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was attacked, leading to death of a party volunteer last night. The attack on MLA Naresh Yadavs convoy took place at around 11 pm on Tuesday at Aruna Asaf Ali Marg in south Delhi when he was coming back from a temple. Yadav escaped unhurt. Another volunteer accompanying the leader was injured, AAP said on Twitter. Yadav won the Delhi Assembly election from Mehrauli. Shots fired at AAP MLA@MLA_NareshYadav and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured. AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 11, 2020 The police ruled out any political motive behind the shooting incident. The cops are scanning CCTV footage to identify the assailants. Also Watch | AAP MLA Naresh Yadavs convoy attacked after poll win, one party worker killed The investigation so far reveals that there was one assailant. Naresh Yadav wasnt the target. The assailant had specifically come to target the man who was shot dead (AAP volunteer), said Southwest Additional DCP Ingit Pratap Singh. Around four rounds were fired at Yadavs convoy by a gunman who, his supporters say, was on foot. The gunman escaped after the attack. The incident is really unfortunate. I do not know the reason behind the attack but it happened all of a sudden. Around four rounds were fired. The vehicle I was in was attacked. I am sure if police inquires properly, they will be able to identify the assailant, Yadav said. Volunteer Ashok Mann has passed away in the attack at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav Today we have lost one of our family member. May his soul rest in peace. AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 11, 2020 Two people were shot in which Ashok Man Ji has died and Harender Ji was injured. I do not know whether they attacked me in particular but they certainly targeted our convoy. Anybody could have been shot in this attack, he added. The injured AAP volunteer was admitted to a hospital nearby. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP registered a landslide victory by winning 62 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly election in face of a high-voltage election campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union ministers and chief ministers in its poll campaign, spearheaded by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. CLEVELAND, OH / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Innovest Global Inc. (OTCPINK:IVST), a diversified industrials company, has engaged international investor relations specialists MZ Group (MZ) to lead a comprehensive strategic investor relations and financial communications program across all key markets. MZ Group will work closely with Innovest Global management to develop and implement a comprehensive capital markets strategy designed to increase the company's visibility throughout the investment community. The comprehensive investor relations campaign will highlight the ongoing success of the Innovest Global industrials platform company model - where Innovest acquires privately-held companies, integrates them into their platform and applies innovation and technology to accelerate revenue growth organically. This proprietary rollup strategy aggressively realizes synergies with other portfolio companies across the Innovest Global platform and has resulted in third-quarter year to date revenues of $47.4 million as compared to $7.8 million on a full year basis in 2018. MZ has developed a distinguished reputation as a premier resource for institutional investors, brokers, analysts and private investors. The firm maintains offices worldwide, including New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Diego, Aliso Viejo, Austin, Taipei, and Sao Paulo. Additionally, MZ Group was recently ranked the No. 1 consultancy in Latin America and No. 7 in the world in business communication. Managing Director and Head of MZ North America's Orange County Office, Chris Tyson, will be advising Innovest Global in all facets of corporate and financial communications, including the coordination of roadshows and investment conferences across key cities and building brand awareness with all financial and social media outlets. Ted Haberfield, President of MZ Group North America, commented: "We are pleased to announce our engagement with Innovest Global, a thought-leader with an innovative business model, significant revenue base and an incredible opportunity to build a sustainable, profitable enterprise. Their unique ability to realize previously unthought of synergies between portfolio companies enables them to organically grow revenues at an impressive rate. We look forward to working with management to communicate the company's value proposition- and what I view as a clear valuation disconnect - to the investment community." "This is a revolutionary time for Innovest Global, having impressive organic year-to-date sales growth across our business segments," said Dan Martin, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Innovest Global. "This is made possible through our greatest asset - our people. I look forward to continued growth supported by breakeven operations, value creation through strategic divestitures on our balance sheet and a robust acquisition pipeline. Together with MZ, we will enhance our investor communications and awareness efforts, while simultaneously migrating our listing status to a major national exchange in 2020," concluded Martin. For more information on Innovest Global, please visit the company's updated investor relations website here or its new investor presentation - viewable by clicking here. To schedule a conference call with management, please email your request to IVST@mzgroup.us or call Chris Tyson at (949) 491-8235. About MZ Group MZ North America is the US division of MZ Group, a global leader in investor relations and corporate communications. MZ North America was founded in 1996 and provides full scale Investor Relations to both private and public companies across all industries. Supported by our exclusive one-stop-shop approach, MZ works with top management to support the clients' business strategy in six integrated product and service categories: 1) IR Consulting & Outreach - full service investor relations and roadshow services; 2) IPO Advisory - preparation services for the Pre-IPO journey; 3) ESG Consulting - providing audit and roadmap guidelines to improve corporate ESG messaging and rankings; 4) Financial & Social Media - lead generation and social media relations; 5) Market Intelligence - real time ownership monitoring; 6) Technology Solutions - webhosting, webcasting, distribution services, conference calls, CRM, and board portals. MZ North America has a global footprint with offices located in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Aliso Viejo, Austin, Minneapolis, Taipei and Sao Paulo. For more information, please visit www.mzgroup.us. About Innovest Global, Inc. Innovest Global, Inc. (OTC Markets: IVST) is a diversified industrial company applying technology and innovation to provide value-added solutions across multiple business markets. Innovest builds long-term shareholder value by acquiring longstanding industrial businesses on great terms and growing them organically through investing in innovative technology and business systems. Organic growth of acquired entities in 2019 over 2018 averaged over 70% on a proforma basis. For more information visit, please click here. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to the Company's future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could impact the Company and the forward-looking statements contained herein are included in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Investor Contact: Indrani Egleston Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Innovest Global, Inc. 440-644-1027 info@innovestglobal.com ir.innovestglobal.com Chris Tyson Managing Director MZ Group - MZ North America 949-491-8235 IVST@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.us SOURCE: Innovest Global, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576121/Innovest-Global-Engages-MZ-Group-to-Lead-Strategic-Investor-Relations-and-Shareholder-Communication-Program Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday evening accepted the resignations of Congress in-charge for Delhi PC Chacko and Delhi Congress President Subhash Chopra, with immediate effect. Both Chacko and Chopra had tendered their resignation from their posts after the party's dismal performance in Delhi Assembly election 2020. Gandhi has appointed Shakti Sinh Gohil as the interim Congress in-charge for Delhi along with his present responsibility of Bihar. A statement released late on Wednesday evening read, "Congress President has accepted the resignations of PC Chacko, AICC Incharge of Delhi and Subhash Chopra, President, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect. Congress President has appointed Shakti Sinh Gohil as interim AICC Incharge of Delhi along with his present assignment of Bihar. The party appreciates the contributions of outgoing AICC Incharge of Delhi PC Chacko and President of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Subhash Chopra." Earlier, Chacko blamed former chief minister Sheila Dikshit for the downfall of the Congress in Delhi. "The downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 when Sheila ji was the CM. The emergence of a new party AAP took away the entire Congress vote bank. We could never get it back. It still remains with AAP," he told ANI. Chopra offered his resignation on February 11 (Tuesday) evening saying, "I take responsibility for the debacle of the party in Delhi Assembly polls. I had less time, but still, I put all my efforts," he was quoted as saying by ANI. The Congress party, in a repeat of 2015 assembly elections, drew a blank by managing to not win even a single seat. Notably, 63 out of 66 candidates of the Congress lost their deposits in Delhi Assembly election, which was won handsomely by the AAP. The BJP finished a distant second after winning eight seats. Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP performed superbly to win 62 seats in 70-member Delhi Assembly, sending a clear message that the political fight in the national capital is now between the AAP and BJP only. Appointment 12 February 2020 Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, one of Texas' leading resorts located right outside Austin, announces Keith Spinden as General Manager. He joins the property from Grand Hyatt DFW in Dallas, Texas. Spinden has worked with Hyatt Corporation for more than 32 years. He began his career in the culinary field and his first role with the company was a cook at Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Connecticut. He was quickly promoted and held various culinary positions ranging from Sous Chef to Executive Chef at Hyatt properties throughout the country. In 2000, Spinden shifted his career path to focus more on hotel management and took a position as Director of Food & Beverage at Hyatt Regency Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, Calif. He also held that position at Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, and Hyatt Regency Chicago where he oversaw the food and beverage operations for the largest hotel in Hyatt's portfolio. Spinden was promoted to General Manager in 2013 at Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center Hotel, and has served in that role at properties including Hyatt Regency Indianapolis and Grand Hyatt DFW. Originally from south New Jersey, Spinden attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He has received numerous recognitions and accolades throughout his career including Hyatt's "Food & Beverage Manager of the Year" award in 2012. He currently serves on the board of Visit Bastrop. Spinden moves to Austin with his wife Debby and 14-year-old son Braedan. Published on 2020/02/12 | Source Actors of Bong Joon-ho's film "Parasite" pose upon their arrival at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday. Actors of director Bong Joon-ho's film "Parasite" returned home to a hero's welcome after the film's historic success at the Oscars. Advertisement Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong and other actors arrived at Incheon International Airport early Wednesday morning, whereas Bong stayed behind in Los Angeles due to other commitments. "Parasite" won best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature film at this year's Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Sunday. "All these great achievements were possible thanks to your continued support. We will strive to introduce Korean culture and arts to international fans through high quality movies", Song said. ___________ "Parasite" is directed by Bong Joon-ho, and features Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Wooshik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun. Release date in Korea: 2019/05/30. The Department of Health- Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced that they are strategically partnering with the goal of achieving the objectives and vision of the UAE of developing an international healthcare model that promotes quality of life and enhances health. This announcement was made during a meeting that took place at the DHA headquarters in Dubai, which was attended by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of HAAD and Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA and a number of officials and specialists from both sides. During the meeting officials from both parties were put in charge of coordinating and putting in place a clear agenda to achieve common goals. At the beginning of the meeting, both parties stressed the importance of cooperation and strengthening relations to achieve shared goals, especially those tied to the smart transformations the country is currently witnessing. The topics discussed during the meeting also included: electronically linking health systems between Dubai and Abu Dhabi through Malafi and Nabidh, health insurance rules and procedures, exchange of data and information related to health regulation, especially the licensing process for doctors , visiting physicians, medical education and research, capacity planning and the outpatient treatment system. Both parties stressed the importance of implementing shared training and occupational growth programmes as well as exchanging experiences and skills, in line with the countrys directives. Both parties also shared the initiatives and plans that they are working on, HAAD presented details on Malafi, which is the first system of its kind in the region, launched for exchanging health information. The new system will link more than 2,000 public and private health facilities, which provides services to more than 3 million people. Meanwhile the DHA shared its latest developmental strategy, Salama medical electronic system and the most important initiatives and expansion plans, which aim to raise the quality of health services provided to the people of Dubai. Al Hamed said: Working with one team spirit is the basis for laying the foundation for the next ambitious stage of the health sector and drawing the features of its future. The next phase will be based on technology, innovation and artificial intelligence. We aim to complete the successful path that our late father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan started, which puts the health and well-being of society at the top of its priority list. He added: We will continue on the path of our wise leadership and work together with the Dubai Health Authority to ensure the health and well-being of our society and achieve a healthier future for all residents of the country. Al Qutami on the other hand stressed that the UAE has witnessed successive booms in the health sector, with its institutions, technologies and medical facilities that are on par with international standards following in the footsteps of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who gave all his attention to human care, health and safety. Al Qutami pointed out that the continuous transformations and accomplishments witnessed in the health sector are the result of the keen interest and generous directives of His Highness Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE President, H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Al Qutami said that the authority looks forward to this partnership and to sharing experiences with HAAD, which has achieved a distinctive health model with many successful experiences, especially in comprehensive care systems. He said that this will directly contribute to reaching a healthier future and at the same time reinforces all efforts made to provide a distinctive healthy climate making it the ideal destination for medical tourists. Al Qutami concluded by saying that partnering with HAAD represents an additional force that supports the UAEs position and enhances its influential role in the movement of medicine development and integrated health care systems. -- Tradearabia News Service By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 23 times, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on Feb. 12. 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 They were together for six years and married for two. And Justin Theroux clearly still has great affection for his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston. The actor, 48, posted a tribute to the former Friends star on her 51st birthday on Tuesday, sharing an image of her looking fierce on his Instagram Story and writing: '...grabbing 2020 & another year just like - Happy Birthday B.' His 'B': Justin Theroux shared this image of ex-wife Jennifer Aniston as he wished her a happy 51st birthday Tuesday. The couple remain friends despite the end of their marriage in late 2017 Theroux added a red heart emoji to his message which revealed his secret nickname for the Hollywood star. The couple separated at the end of 2017 after tying the knot in August 2015 at Aniston's Bel-Air estate. The Leftovers actor was among the guests at Aniston's lavish Thanksgiving party last November along with her best friends Courteney Cox, Jimmy Kimmel, Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. It seems from his social media postings that Theroux is currently on location filming his new Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast, an adaptation of his uncle Paul Tyheroux's cult novel. He shared a photo of himself relaxing with his dog on a rooftop patio against a dramatic city backdrop. New role: It seems from his social media postings that Theroux is currently on location filming his Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast, an adaptation of his uncle Paul Tyheroux's cult novel Jen's close pal and Friends co-star Courteney also took to Instagram to send love and birthday greetings to the actress. 'No matter how hard you might try... theres only one Jennifer Aniston. Happy birthday my dear friend @jenniferaniston! I love you!' she wrote alongside a funny photo of the pair. I In the snap, Cox looks just like her pal while wearing glasses and a blonde wig. The duo - who starred together in Friends for 20 years - looked like siblings as they posed for the silly selfie. 'There's only one': Courteney Cox posted a sweet tribute to Jennifer Aniston on her 51st birthday on Tuesday The birthday girl's Morning Show co-star, Reese Witherspoon, 43, also honored her friend with a sweet message. 'Happy Birthday Jen! Happy Birthday Jen!' Witherspoon began. 'I couldn't ask for a better friend and partner to chase my dreams with. Life is way more fun with you in it!!!' Octavia Spencer also took to the comments of the photo to write: 'Happy Birthday @jenniferaniston.' Besties: The duo are seen hanging out with Friends costar Lisa Kudrow last month Close friends: Reese Witherspoon was the first celebrity to wish Jennifer on her birthday Fresh-faced: Aniston's Friends costar Matthew Perry shared a message with a throwback photo of them together Jen's good friend Ellen DeGeneres shared a typically funny message on her Twitter account as she wrote: 'Happy birthday, Jennifer Aniston. I can't wait for our slumber party tonight. Portia bought Mad Libs!' Proving they're still on friendly terms, ex-husband Justin Theroux also posted a birthday message for the Cake actress on his Instagram stories. 'grabbing 2020 & another year just like - ' Justin wrote alongside a photo of Aniston looking ready to pounce with the graphic of a tiger in the corner of the image. 'Light of so many lives': Rita Wilson wrote a lovely message for the actress Jennifer and Reese first worked together back on Friends twenty years ago in 2000. The mom-of-three played Rachel Green's (Jennifer) younger sister, Jill Green, on the show. Reese acted on the show after just giving birth to her first child, Ava Phillippe, 20, and recently recalled how sweet Jen was to her. 'I was nursing Ava on set, and Jen just kept going, "You have a baby?" I was like, "I know, it's weird",' she told Harper's Bazzar, in October. Sweet: Octavia Spencer also took to the comments of the photo to write: 'Happy Birthday @jenniferaniston' 'Can't wait for our slumber party!': Ellen DeGeneres posted a message for the birthday girl Time to make a wish! Jennifer thanked all her friends and fans for the birthday wishes when the clock struck 11:11 She continued: 'She was so sweet to me. I was really nervous, and she was like, "Oh, my goshdon't worry about it!" I marveled at her ability to perform in front of a live audience like that with no nerves.' And after 20 years the pair returned to the silver screen together for their Apple TV+ hit, The Morning Show. There Reese and Jen play morning TV news co-hosts, Bradley Jackson and Alex Levy and struggle to get along. A second season of the show has been ordered but filming is yet to begin. It is expected to return in November 2020. The Green sisters! Jennifer and Reese first worked together back on Friends twenty years ago in 2000. They played sisters Married At First Sight star Natasha Spencer has become the victim of a 'revenge porn' attack, after an intimate video of her was leaked last week. The 26-year-old financial analyst reported the incident to NSW Police on Tuesday, after the private footage was circulated on social media. The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Natasha's wedding to Mikey Pembroke was watched by more than a million Australians. Crime: Married At First Sight star Natasha Spencer has become the victim of a 'revenge porn' attack, after an intimate video of her was circulated on social media last week. Pictured on Tuesday at Surry Hills Police Station, where she reported the matter to officers The footage in question was apparently filmed last year and involves Natasha and an unidentified male. A NSW Police spokesperson said: 'Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command are investigating a report made on Tuesday 11 February 2020, by a 26-year-old Lane Cove woman concerning an incident that occurred last year.' Natasha was pictured leaving Surry Hills Police Station on Tuesday. She was holding several pieces of paper and talking on her mobile phone. A friend of Natasha's told Daily Mail Australia: 'She is taking this matter very seriously and is devastated. She also fears that it will have a negative impact on her career.' Legal matter: The 26-year-old financial analyst was holding several pieces of paper and talking on her mobile phone while at her local police station Television debut: The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Natasha's wedding to Mikey Pembroke (right) was watched by more than a million Australians It comes after Natasha revealed she was suffering from 'psychological damage' due to trolling from MAFS viewers, before urging people to 'please be kind'. She shared a Facebook post on Monday in which she addressed her critics and also alluded to reality stars who have committed suicide in the past. 'Stop slamming me and my castmates, you're doing psychological damage. If you want me to post suicide articles from reality shows, I'm available,' she wrote. Statement: A NSW Police spokesperson said, 'Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command are investigating a report made on Tuesday 11 February 2020, by a 26-year-old Lane Cove woman concerning an incident that occurred last year' Victim: A friend of Natasha's told Daily Mail Australia, 'She is taking this matter very seriously and is devastated. She also fears that it will have a negative impact on her career' Natasha added that the trolling has led to a truce among the Married At First Sight cast as they support each other. MAFS participants have access to 24/7 assistance from Channel Nine and production company Endemol Shine Australia. In October, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Nine had set up a 'dedicated psychological helpline' for the brides and grooms. Speaking out: It comes after Natasha revealed she was suffering from 'psychological damage' due to trolling from MAFS viewers, before urging people to 'please be kind' Last year, The Sun on Sunday reported that 38 reality stars are believed to have taken their lives since 1986, including two Love Island UK contestants. Natasha is paired with operations manager Mikey, 29, on Married Ar First Sight. They will both feature in the show's first dinner party on Wednesday night. If you're struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 YEREVAN. Past daily of Armenia writes: Recently, a court of general jurisdiction in Yerevan sentenced Armenian Hollywood producer Stepan Martirosyan to 5 years and 7 months in prison. This criminal case has received widespread reaction in the [Armenian] diaspora. According to our information, a number of world-famous faces have even sent a letter to [PM] Nikol Pashinyan asking to review this case. The case is related to Vitaly Grigoryants, the owner of ArmBusinessBank. Stepan Martirosyan is accused of fraudulently stealing another's especially large-size property (...), but the latter claims that Vitaly Grigoryants was able to frame Martirosyan thanks to his good relations with [ex-President] Serzh Sargsyan. It should be noted that Stepan Martirosyan has for a long time been engaged in the United States in activities aimed at the recognition of Armenian Genocide, tried to establish contacts with famous filmmakers and thus publicize the Armenian Genocide. And the movie "The Promise" was shot because of his lobbying. MONTREAL, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glen Eagle Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GER) (Glen Eagle or the Company) is pleased to report that the President Jean Labrecque is purchasing a total of 500,000 shares from the treasury at yesterday price, $0.08 per share, for a total consideration of $40,000. This amount will be reduced from the debt the company has towards Mr. Labrecque. This debt was accumulated by unpaid salary to Mr. Labrecque in the last four months. Consequently, this represents a share for services rendered transaction. The transaction is subject to the approval of TSX Venture and non-interested shareholders at the annual meeting. Jean Labrecque, President Glen Eagle Resources Inc Complexe du Canal Lachine, Suite 308 4710 St-Antoine Street Montreal (Quebec) Tel : 514-808-9807 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. Values in the news release are quoted in Canadian dollars. A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly firing at newly-elected AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy in southwest Delhi when he was returning home after visiting a temple, police said on Wednesday, but ruled out any political angle behind the attack in which a party supporter was killed. Harindar, also an AAP supporter, was injured in the attack on Tuesday, they said. Police have arrested Dharamvir alias Kalu in the case and said there was enmity between him and the deceased 45-year-old Ashok Mann. They have also recovered a country-made pistol and two live cartridges. The hunt for the remaining two accused persons is on, Additional DCP (southwest) Ingit Pratap Singh said. Police said there was no political angle behind the incident. The attack prompted the AAP to question the law and order situation in the national capital. Expressing concern, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, "People responsible for maintaining law and order in Delhi should take action." In a tweet in Hindi, party leader Sanjay Singh said, "Convoy of MLA Naresh Yadav attacked in Mehrauli, Ashok Mann killed. Naresh Yadav was returning home after visiting a temple." Singh said the incident occurred on the Aruna Asif Ali Road near Fortis Hospital. "The incident took place due to personal enmity," he added. Talking to reporters, Yadav on Tuesday had said that after his victory he visited a gurdwara and a church in his constituency and later, a temple in Kishangarh village. While he was returning in an open gypsy car from the village between 10.30 to 10.45 pm, he heard sounds of gunshots, only to realise that his vehicle was attacked. Police said Mann and Harindar, both AAP supporters, were also in the vehicle. "The bullet could have hit anyone. Even I could have lost my life. We travel in such open cars everyday," Yadav told reporters. When he was asked whether there was any political angle to the attack, he had said police are probing the case. Elaborating on the personal dispute between the two, the police officer said Dharamvir and the two others had allegedly threatened Mann a fortnight ago. The two were also involved in petty quarrels. Both were also engaged in a transport business that intensified the rivalry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new farmer-led group in Scotland will examine how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the suckler herd. The group, headed by former NFU Scotland President Jim Walker, will consider proposals for alternative ways to support the suckler sector to mitigate its environmental impact. It will also identify practical ways in which it can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Recommendations will be produced to improve the efficiency, productivity and profitability of Scottish beef. This will include changes to breeding and feeding practises and the restoration and improvement of natural on-farm habitats. Announcing the group, Scottish government's Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: Our beef sector must change and adapt if we are to meet our ambitious climate change and biodiversity targets. I have asked Jim Walker to chair a farmer-led group to specifically look at what our beef suckler herd needs to do and bring forward initial proposals next month. I have been clear that our farmers, crofters and land managers are part of the climate solution, he said. But equally, I am clear that achieving our legally binding commitments will require everyone to consider what they can do to ensure they play their part in driving the sector towards a low-carbon, sustainable future. Jim Walker said the industry has faced multiple challenges over the last 25 years and its resilience and ability to rise to these challenges and adapt is 'remarkable'. Providing progressive beef farmers with the tools to make their businesses more productive and efficient, alongside measures to improve on farm emissions to help fight climate change, is yet another chapter in this story and is potentially game changing. Naturally reared, climate friendly Scotch suckler bred beef needs to be differentiated from imports and dairy beef to give consumers a clear choice. This initiative will give those farmers who want to be involved a real chance of delivering this, helping make their businesses more robust, Mr Walker said. Midwives are being used to paper over the cracks emerging in the countrys maternity services, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said tonight. The INMO was responding to health watchdog Hiqas latest maternity services report. The report found that while key patient outcomes were good and staff were excellent, the maternity system was understaffed and very reliant on midwifery staff working overtime to maintain service levels. The INMO said this is further evidence of the chronic understaffing in Irelands 19 maternity units and that midwives dedication was being used to paper over cracks in the service. The union called for the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy, which would bring staffing levels up to the scientifically safe level of no more than 29.5 births per midwife. The union is calling for immediate HSE approval of midwifery posts to reach safe staffing levels, and an end to the HSE recruitment freeze in nursing and midwifery. INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said: This report rightly celebrates the incredible dedication and skill of Irelands midwives. But their commitment is being abused and their hard work used to paper over cracks in staffing. There is a very clear strategy for the maternity service, but the HSE havent properly implemented it. We need to lift the recruitment embargo, get the staffing levels right, and pay them a fair, competitive wage. Part of this comes down to speed. Whether its recruitment, the strike settlement, or the maternity strategy, the HSEs go-slow approach has left midwives in an unsustainable position. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association also expressed their its own concerns about the findings of the Hiqa report. The findings of Hiqas monitoring report on maternity services outlines a familiar story with our health services a promising national launch of a health strategy, but a lack of follow-through, said IHCA president Dr Donal OHanlon. It is very concerning and disappointing that four years into the lifetime of the National Maternity Strategy, the commitment to fund and implement its recommendations is being delayed. This is failing many, many women. He also called on the next Government to restore the maternity strategys promised 8m-a-year funding, given the fact it has been reduced so dramatically over the past few years. For example, a total of 4.55m was allocated in 2018, none was allocated in 2019 and just 1.5m has since been allocated to each 2020 and 2021. The women of Ireland have been let down by our health services in the past and have been made many promises in recent years, which the Government and health service management must now honour, said Dr OHanlon. Roisin OLeary, patient advocate coordinator with Sage, said: When the strategy was put in place, it was a very good start. But funding needs to be put in place. Otherwise, this is posing a risk to future babies. She added: It is vitally important that there be adequate staffing levels and that people learn from mistakes from patient safety events. Stephen McMahon, co-founder of the Irish Patients Association, said: There is something wrong when the regulator Hiqa raises the same issue over similar reviews and no reform implemented. This should not be a case of leveraging the necessary funds to meet the strategy because of the Hiqa report. It should be good governance to implement an already agreed strategy to save the fragile lives of some babies. A HSE spokesperson said: The Hiqa report is broadly positive and demonstrates good progress in each of the 19 hospitals in compliance with the Hiqa standards. Welcoming the report, HSE CEO Paul Reid, said: The Hiqa report is a comprehensive overview of the 19 maternity hospitals, and acknowledges the progress made at local level. The issue of governance which Hiqa correctly raised is one I addressed soon after I was appointed, as the National Women and Infants Health Programme needed to be part of the chief clinical officers division. That strengthened governance will make a big difference in driving forward the National Maternity Strategy. However, in order to properly implement a strategy of this scale, the HSE needs to secure the necessary funding to ensure the appropriate level of progress can be made. Hiqa findings Beginning February 10, Mongolia has stopped exporting coal to China via its four key gateways on the Sino-Mongolian border in an effort to help prevent the spread of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) from China, according to a Mongolian government release on Monday. The ban will last until March 3, the government noted, Mysteel Global reports. The four gateways, comprising the Gashuun Sukhait, Shivee Khuren, Bichigt and Bulgan border ports, handle most of the countrys coal exports to China. Among them, Gashuun Sukhait in South Gobi province in South Mongolia, bordering Ganqimaodu (Gandsmod) in Bayanuur North Chinas Inner Mongolia, is Mongolias largest conduit for coal exports and most of the coal delivered through the checkpoint is coking coal. In fact, beginning last month Mongolia has urged its citizens in those areas in China with a serious epidemic situation to return home and began restricting cross-border movement since early February, Mysteel Global understands from Mongolian government web posts. However, as of then coal deliveries via the border ports mentioned above had not been affected. What has driven the Mongolian government to tighten the restriction was the emergence of confirmed NCP cases close to the Mongolian border, said a Shanghai-based analyst. On February 8, two NCP cases were confirmed at Urad Middle Banner in Bayanuur city, where the Ganqimaodu checkpoint is located, according to official information. On February 10, Urad Middle Banner also banned the entry of all vehicles and blocked all entrances to areas under its jurisdiction. Mongolia is Chinas largest foreign supplier of coking coal, and most of that countrys coal is exported as raw coal to Chinese stock yards at the border for washing prior to delivery to Chinese coal users. Mongolian coal export volumes are usually low over January-February because of the slowdown of operations at border Customs offices during the Chinese New Year break. During 2019, Mongolia exported 36.6 million tonnes of coal, or 1% more on year, among which almost all coal was sold to China, according to Mongolias official data. Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was on Wednesday sentenced to 11 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan in two terror financing cases. Saeed, a UN designated terrorist whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty on, was arrested on July 17 in the terror financing cases. He is lodged at the Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in high security. A court official confirmed to PTI that Saeed was sentenced in two terror financing cases registered against him in Lahore and Gujranwala cities on the application of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police. The court sentenced Saeed to five and a half years and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. The sentences of both cases will run concurrently. The anti-terrorism court or ATC had indicted Saeed and his close aides on December 11 in the terror financing cases. On last Saturday, Lahore ATC judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta deferred the verdict against Saeed in two terror financing cases till February 11. In the two cases, the prosecution produced some 20 or so witnesses in the ATC who testified against Saeed and his close aides for their involvement in terror financing. Saeed pleaded "not guilty" in both the cases. The Counter Terrorism Department had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province. The cases were registered against Saeed and others in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan for collection of funds for terrorism financing through assets/properties made and held in the names of Trusts/Non Profit Organisations including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc. According to the CTD, investigation launched into financing matters of proscribed organisations - JuD and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) - in connection with implementation of UN Sanctions against these Designated Entities and Persons as directed by NSC (National Security Committee) in its meeting of January 1, 2019 chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan for implementing the National Action Plan. "These suspects made assets from funds of terrorism financing. They held and used these assets to raise more funds for further terrorism financing. Hence, they committed multiple offences of terrorism financing and money laundering under Anti Terrorism Act 1997. They will be prosecuted in ATCs (Anti Terrorism Courts) for commission of these offences," the CTD said. The crackdown on Saeed's outfit last year followed a warning by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force to Pakistan to deliver on its commitments to curb terror financing and money laundering. Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice. He was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It may be recalled that the European Parliament had recently postponed until March a vote on a joint motion criticising Indias CAA and also the revoking of Article 370 at Brussels. New Delhi: German ambassador Walter J. Lindner will be part of the second batch of foreign envoys who will visit Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) this week on the trip organised by the Indian government, sources have confirmed. With more envoys from European Union (EU)-member nations also likely to be part of the group, Prime Minister Narendra Modis expected visit to the Belgian capital Brussels next month for the 15th India-EU Summit seems to be on track. The participation of European envoys in the visit to J&K is being seen a positive indication for New Delhi. It may be recalled that the European Parliament had recently postponed until March a vote on a joint motion criticising Indias CAA and also the revoking of Article 370 at Brussels. PHILIPSBURG:--- Fabian Badejo will sign copies of Fantasies Love-making poems at Van Dorp bookstore in Madame Estate, Wednesday, February 12, from 12 noon to 5 pm, said Jacqueline Sample, publisher at HNP. The book of erotic poems is a perfect gift for your Valentine, said Badejo. Give that special someone a gift of Fantasies for Valentines Day and she, or he, will NEVER forget you. The general public and the stores customers are invited to visit Van Dorp and enjoy this live treat of meeting the author and having their gift book signed, said Sample. Last Sunday afternoon, Badejo gave an exciting reading from his much-talked-about Fantasies to a full house at Shy Snack. The Sip and Chat reading was organized by the United Women Book Club and featured guest poet Marianne Tefft, said Sample. The book signing this Wednesday is a pre-Valentines Day activity and I must thank Van Dorp for hosting it, said Badejo. Interestingly, the author is known more for his serious-topic books and literary criticism. Badejo is also the host of Culture Time, the long-running Sunday program on PJD2 radio, FM 102.7. EDWARDSVILLE The history of Elijah Lovejoy and his war against the Catholic Church in the 1800s was discussed by a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville faculty member as part of Madison Historical Societys speaker series on Sunday afternoon. Emeritus Dean and Professor of Historical Studies at SIUE Stephen Hansen delivered information about Lovejoys beliefs and battles against some of the population in the St. Louis area in the 1820s and 1830s. I dont mean to be denigrating, he was as courageous as Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips as they too were threatened by mobs, Hansen explained to an Intelligencer reporter. But Lovejoy wasnt as important and his paper wasnt picked up. You have these others who went on speaking circuits across the nation, but Lovejoy did not. He added that while Lovejoy is celebrated as a local hero in certain ways, one misconception is that abolishing slavery was his primary fight. When asked why he believes why this misconception is he said that, he was on the right side of history. Hansen believes that early historians were not too concerned with much else but slavery. So when historians came across Lovejoys editorials bashing Catholics for being sinful, they saw it as his way to fight slavery. To a crowd of about 60 attendees at Immanuel United Methodist Church, Hensen went on to describe Lovejoy as someone who viewed slavery as a sin and how his death mattered more than his life. He talked about an incident where a mob of white men had killed and burned an African-American and left his body to be seen for two days in St. Louis, which was what helped spark Lovejoys battle. Lovejoy is horrified and he writes an editorial, Hansen said. It says, See, this is proof ladies and gentlemen, that slavery is a sin. See what slavery has made you do? See how you behave? Anyone who supports this sinful institution (Catholic Church) is also, therefore, committing a sin. Time to repent. Slavery is attacking the very foundation of American freedom. Hansen also talked about one downfall of Lovejoy was his inability to persuade others whereas other prominent figures, like Fredrick Douglass, could. Hansen also explained how he believes Lovejoys death meant more to abolitionists than his life. I do not think that had he lived, that Lovejoy would have become a nationally recognized abolitionist like William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips and others, he explained. His positions against slavery and in support of temperance and anti-Catholicism were not original or unique. Lovejoy died while trying to protect his printing press in Alton from a mob of 150 people who were tired of his editorials. Though he stood his ground, Lovey was fatally wounded by gunfire, Hensen said. Hansen explained that as word spread about what had occurred in Alton, most of the nations newspapers were aggravated, even some who were pro-slavery. He added that those newspapers defended Lovejoys freedom of speech and freedom of the press. So Lovejoy, by dying, became far more influential than he ever was by being alive, Hansen said. The abolitionists were able to take this freedom of the press and freedom of speech and him attacking slavery and make it become in all of our interest all of a sudden. So this is a very neat pivot that the abolitionists were able to make. Ivanka Trump celebrated the one-year anniversary of her women's prosperity initiative on Wednesday by debuting a bold new hairstyle as she left her Washington, D.C. home. The 38-year-old showed off some bright blonde highlights as she made her way out of the home she shares with husband Jared Kushner and their three children, before stepping into a waiting SUV. While her new 'do certainly took center stage, Ivanka's ensemble was not to be ignored; the Senior White House Advisor modeled a $1,850 pleated Max Mara dress with a demure blouse-style top. Feeling fresh! Ivanka Trump showed off new blonde highlights on Wednesday morning as she left her Washington, D.C. home Elegant: The 38-year-old wore a $1,850 pleated Max Mara dress, which she paired with navy high heels New hair, don't care! Ivanka had clearly been to the salon since last stepping out in public, and she happily showed off new chunky blonde highlights The chiffon dress featured a mock-neck with an elegant tie, while the pleated skirt was nipped in at the waist with elastic, allowing Ivanka to show off her curves. Clearly keen to pull out all the stops in celebration of the W-GDP's anniversary, Ivanka also modeled a glamorous makeup look, showing off long lashes, a pretty pink lip color and a smokey eye. Her newly-highlighted hair was left sleek and straight around her shoulders, allowing her to show off the new style to full effect. Not long after departing her Kalorama home, the first daughter took to social media to mark the W-GDP's first anniversary, sharing a video on Instagram Stories, before writing on Twitter: 'Happy Birthday W-GDP!' Ivanka was not the only one to mark the first anniversary of the initiative; she and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo co-hosted an event celebrating the milestone at the White House on Wednesday morning, with the pair paying tribute to all that has been achieved thanks to the W-GDP so far. While welcoming guests to the event, Ivanka also announced new bipartisan legislation on W-GDP that will help to empower women economically in emerging countries. Something different: The Senior White House Advisor's hair was styled in much the same way as it was last Monday (right), however the color was markedly different Party time! Ivanka took to social media shortly after being pictured to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative Hooray! She posted the news on Twitter, writing, 'Happy Birthday W-GDP!' Co-hosts: Ivanka and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chaired an event held in honor of the anniversary on Wednesday morning at the White House It's likely that Ivanka has been working away tirelessly on this legislation behind the scenes; she's kept a rather low profile since last week, when she was last pictured out and about in public. On Monday, Ivanka was seen leaving her D.C. home with colleague Julie Radford before flying to New Hampshire with Vice President Mike Pence. At the time, the first daughter wore a $2,260 black and white checked coat dress by Suzannah over a black turtleneck. She topped off her outfit with a black belt that cinched her waist and a pair of lace-up black boots. Ivanka seemed to be excited to head to New Hampshire on the eve of the primary, and the day before the trip, she took to social media to post throwback photos from when she and her family visited the state in 2016. The first daughter had a bright smile on her face when she left the front gate of her home with her friend Julie on Monday morning. She looked ladylike in her black and white woven frock that was inspired by a vintage hunting coat, according to the London brand's website. Proud: At the start of the event, Ivanka paid tribute to the success that the W-GDP has had during its first year Take a seat: While welcoming guests to the event, Ivanka also announced new bipartisan legislation on W-GDP that will help to empower women economically in emerging countries Special occasion: Clearly keen to pull out all the stops for the W-GDP's anniversary, Ivanka went for a glam makeup look, showing off long lashes, a pretty pink lip color and a smokey eye Sleek: Her newly-highlighted hair was left sleek and straight around her shoulders, allowing her to show off the new color to full effect Demure: Ivanka's chiffon dress featured a mock-neck with an elegant tie, while the pleated skirt was nipped in at the waist with elastic The long-sleeve coat dress features a flattering circular skirt that falls right below the knees and black velvet buttons that run down the front. Her hair was not quite as bright as it was on Wednesday after her latest salon session, however the style was very much the same; she wore her poker-straight blonde hair loose around her shoulders and sported smokey eye makeup and a natural-looking lipstick. Ivanka carried a black leather handbag in her hand as she and Julie walked just a few steps to get to the Secret Service vehicle that was parked in front of her home. She returned to Instagram ahead of their flight to post a photo of herself on the tarmac with Julie right before they boarded their flight. 'My amazing friend and colleague Julie Radford is back from maternity leave and ready to roll!' she wrote. 'Her 1st day back and were headed to New Hampshire with @VP! #primaries.' It seems the first daughter enjoyed a relaxing weekend at home with her three children before her travels. On the go: On Monday, Ivanka was seen leaving her Washington, D.C. home with her colleague Julie Radford before she flew to New Hampshire with Vice President Mike Pence All smiles: Ivanka took to Instagram ahead of their flight to share a photo of herself with Julie, revealing it was her friend's first day back to work following her maternity leave She shared a sweet snapshot of her six-year-old son Joseph gazing at their fluffy white dog, Winter, while lying on his bed in his pajamas. 'Puppy Love,' the proud mom captioned the image. Ivanka has been more active on social media in the past few weeks than she usually is, and that may have something to do with her father's acquittal following his Senate impeachment trial. The first daughter joined the president, first lady, and their supporters in the East Room of the White House on Thursday as Trump gave a caustic victory speech in which he thanked his family and called out the 'leakers and liars' he blamed for impeaching him. Ivanka, who was dressed modestly in a black turtleneck and a slate gray pantsuit, stepped on stage to give her father a big hug. Last Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to acquit Trump on charges brought by the Democratic-led House of Representatives, only the third time in U.S. history that a president has been impeached. Hanging out: On Sunday, Ivanka shared a sweet snapshot of her six-year-old son Joseph gazing at their fluffy white dog, Winter, while lying on his bed in his pajamas Happy: Ivanka was all smiles as she watched her father, President Donald Trump, deliver a caustic speech about his acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial on Thursday Proud: The first daughter gave her father a big hug during his victory speech in the East Room of the White House Ivanka celebrated the news by taking to Instagram to post a throwback snapshot of herself giving two thumbs up while wearing a red, white, and blue USA knit hat at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. She wrote '#Mood' and added an American flag emoji while captioning the image. The first daughter shared the snapshot on her Instagram Stories along with a message slamming her father's impeachment trial. 'This factional fever and incoherent, ill-conceived process has finally ended and the President has rightfully been acquitted,' she wrote. 'It is time for our Country to move forward. Together. POTUS has accomplished so much and is just getting started.' She also posted photos of the covers of The New York Times and The Washington Post that announced the president's acquittal. A Delhi court Wednesday expressed anguish over a death row convict in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case and his father for their unwillingness to accept its suggestion to engage a counsel from the legal aid while being without any lawyer of their own, and said they were delaying the matter. "This is not fair. You cannot delay like this. You are delaying the matter... I am duty bound to give you one (lawyer). Availing or not is up to you. This is a very serious matter. You should have engaged one (lawyer)," Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana said. The remarks by the judge came when Pawan's father told the court that he had removed his advocate and did not need the government lawyer. "I will engage a lawyer. Kindly grant me 2-3 days," he told the judge. Pawan is the only one among the four convicts who has not yet filed a curative petition -- the last legal remedy available to a person which is decided in-chamber. He also has the option of filing a mercy plea. The court directed District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide Pawan's father with a list of its empanelled advocates to chose from, which was followed, and the matter is listed for hearing on Thursday. It said that a condemned convict is entitled to legal aid till his last breath. The court was hearing applications moved by Nirbhaya's parents and the Delhi government, seeking fresh death warrants for the four convicts after the Supreme Court granted liberty to the authorities to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts. "'Fiat justitia ruat caelum (let the justice be done though the heavens fall)'. This court is of the considered opinion that any condemned convict is entitled for legal aid till his last breath. Granting the prayer made in the applications under consideration without hearing the counsel for convict would render further hearings in the instant matter an ornamental and superfluous exercise," the judge said. "However the concern for expeditious Justice expressed by counsel for the victim also needs to be addressed. In view of the same, the list of empanelled advocates on the panel of DLSA is provided to the father/pairokar of the convict Pawan and a copy of the same is also provided to the jail superintendent," he said, adding that Pawan was at liberty to choose any counsel of his choice from the list of the empanelled advocates. The court was informed by the Tihar jail authorities that they served notices to all the four convicts and their counsel to avail their remaining legal remedies provided under law. "However, counsel A P Singh, appearing for Pawan, refused to take the notice saying he no longer represents him," the jail authorities, represented by the public prosecutor, told the court. The judge then enquired from Pawan's father, who was present in the courtroom, and asked whether he wished a legal aid for the convict. The judge called an officer from the DLSA with the directions to bring the list of lawyers. At this stage, Nirbhaya's mother broke down before the court, requesting a date of execution. "I too have some rights," she said. The court consoled her by saying, "every lawyer here, this entire proceeding is for giving you the justice." Nirbhaya's father added that giving lawyer to Pawan at this stage is injustice to the parents. "Law has given them (convicts) right and not letting them avail that too will be an injustice," the judge replied. The date of execution, first fixed for January 22 in Tihar jail, was postponed for 6 am on February 1 by a January 17 court order. The trial court later, on January 31 stayed, "till further orders" the execution of the four convicts in the case, who are lodged in Tihar Jail. The Tihar jail authorities had filed a status report on Tuesday before the trial court stating that no legal option was preferred by any convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- in last seven-day period, granted by the Delhi High Court. The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), 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. Six people including the four convicts, Ram Singh and a juvenile -- were named as accused. The trial of the five adult men began in a special fast-track court in March 2013. Ram Singh, the prime accused, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in Tihar jail days after the trial began. The juvenile, who was said to be the most brutal of the attackers, was put in a correctional home for three years. The juvenile was released in 2015 and sent to an undisclosed location amid concerns over a threat to his life. He, when released, was 20 years old. Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay and Pawan were sentenced to death in September 2013 by the trial court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Medical and Health Workers of Imo Specialist Hospital has urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to restore their pay cut. On Tuesday, t... The Medical and Health Workers of Imo Specialist Hospital has urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to restore their pay cut. On Tuesday, the staff who have also commenced strike, protested against alleged 30 per cent slash in their salary. The workers, including medical doctors, nurses and pharmacists, vowed that they would sustain the protest until their demands were met. The protesters barricaded the main entrance of the hospital, carried placards and chanted labour songs. NAN reports that former Governor Rochas Okorocha during his tenure reduced the salaries of the workers in the health facility. Chairman of the Joint Action Committee, Dr Elias Anumudu, demanded that the government pay their salary in full with the arrears as well as promotion arrears. He said: We embarked on this protest since last week Monday and we have also been on strike to make government see our plight. We will be grateful if the government will resolve the problem immediately to enable us to commence work in the hospital. Dr Justin Echendu said that health workers were being treated badly despite their performance and commitment to excellent service delivery. We were promised that we will get full salary in January but unfortunately we have received the salary and the situation is still the same, she said. CHICAGO - Democrat Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur who created buzz for his presidential campaign by championing a universal basic income that would give every American adult $1,000 per month, suspended his 2020 bid on Tuesday. His national press secretary, Erick Sanchez, confirmed the decision. It came as he expected a poor performance in New Hampshires primary. The 45-year-old was one of the breakout stars of the Democratic primary race, building a following that started largely online but expanded to give him enough donors and polling numbers to qualify for the first six debates. He outlasted senators and governors, and after initially self-funding his campaign, he raised more money than most of his rivals, bringing in over $16 million in the final quarter of last year. It was a bigger haul than all but the top four candidates: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice-President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Yang grew his outsider candidacy by campaigning as a non-politician, someone who mixed unconventional campaign events from bowling to axe throwing with serious talk about the millions of jobs lost to automation and artificial intelligence and the dark outlook for American jobs and communities. The graduate of Brown University and Columbia Law School gave campaign speeches full of statistics and studies that often resembled an economics seminar. His supporters, known as the Yang Gang, donned blue hats and pins with the word MATH short for his slogan Make America Think Harder. Yang promoted his signature issue of universal basic income, which he dubbed the freedom dividend, by announcing during a debate that he would choose individuals to receive the monthly $1,000 checks. The statement prompted questions about whether he was trying to buy votes, but also generated a buzz online and helped the campaign build a list of possible supporters. His poll numbers were high enough, combined with his fundraising strength, to qualify for him for all of the 2019 debates, though he fell short of Democratic National Committees qualifications to participate in the January debate in Iowa. He qualified for the February debate in New Hampshire. Yang spent most of January in the leadoff caucus state, including a 17-day bus tour during which he told voters his finish in Iowa would shock the world. ___ Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game. Photo: The Canadian Press Gavin MacMillan A former bar owner and his manager were sentenced on Wednesday to a total of nine years each for the hours-long drugging and sexual assault of a barely conscious woman in 2016. In passing sentence on Gavin MacMillan, 44, and Enzo De Jesus Carrasco, 34, the judge rejected the defence notion that the helpless 24-year-old victim had played any willing role in the vicious attack. "This was a prolonged, violent and degrading sexual assault," Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot said. "She was not consenting and the accused could not have imagined that she was." Dambrot called defence submissions that the unconscious woman somehow awoke during the assault by the two men and took over as "director" of the activity "entirely incredible." The attack, court heard, had been caught on videotape that was deliberately set up to capture such incidents. The prosecution, which had lambasted the offenders for their "disturbing misogyny," had called for a 12-year sentence for each of the men, who ran the College Street Bar in downtown Toronto. The defence had asked for a maximum of two years for each. In the end, Dambrot settled on seven years for the gang sexual assault, and a further two years to be served consecutively for administering a stupefying drug to their hapless victim. "The victim's cognitive ability was never fully restored," the justice said. The woman's mother, who had previously provided a searing victim-impact statement to the court, said justice had been done. "All we wanted is, for once, victims to be able to come forward and speak up, and not to be put through the hell that they have been," the mother, who cannot be identified, said in a brief interview. "Both her dad and I are so proud of her that she did this." Her daughter, she said, now just wants to get on with her life. The judge, who said he would provide full written reasons for his sentencing decision at a later date, called it wholly unreasonable to believe the woman had played any kind of willing part in the attack, which occurred both on the bar's main level and in the basement. The assault, he said, was callous to an incomprehensible degree. From the outset, Dambrot said, the victim was significantly and visibly impaired, stumbling and crashing into tables. She was either asleep or unconscious throughout, only stirring when the men plied her with cocaine, he said. It was absurd, he said, to believe she was pretending to be unconscious, as the defence argued, and the men knew that. "She's dead, dead, dead," Carrasco was cited as telling MacMillan at one point, the judge noted. An 11-person jury had convicted the men of the two charges in November. They could not reach a decision on a further charge of forcible confinement, something the judge said had no bearing on their other guilty findings. Both men, he said, were equally culpable in a crime that might have been opportunistic at the outset, but quickly became "orchestrated and chillingly deliberate." The BJPs stinging defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls at the hands of the AAP led by incumbent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is a setback of historic proportions. With the results, which became available Tuesday, the BJP will be in the wilderness in the national capital for over a quarter century. This has not happened before. Delhi has been an important national hub of RSS-Jan Sangh (the BJPs predecessor) politics due to the influx of millions of Hindu and Sikh refugees in the post-Partition displacement saga. The Jan Sangh (and BJP) historically alternated in power with the Congress in Delhi. In that bipolarity, the Congress has lately been replaced by the AAP. The BJP last won in Delhi in 1993. The BJP prepared for the recent poll battle as the Duke of Wellington might have prepared for the historic Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon, only it found itself on the losing side, like the Frenchman. While Waterloo had ended the Napoleonic Wars, the degree to which the BJPs future prospects in Delhi and even nationally are adversely affected by the crushing loss in Delhi remains for now a matter of conjecture. Since the Delhi defeat comes on top of a string of losses in Assembly polls that followed the BJPs May 2019 Lok Sabha triumph, and in an atmosphere of the nations economy being in serious trouble, it can no longer be argued with confidence, as some do, that the Delhi voter will automatically give a thumbs up to a BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024. A recent opinion poll had suggested just this in the event of the Lok Sabha polls being held now. This appears to be a completely non-scientific reading. It disregards the political dynamics in the country that could unfold in the next four years. Mr Shah threw everything the BJP had at the AAP. On top of conducting a vicious polarising campaign, frequently made to turn vulgar by senior BJP leaders, the home minister using his clout as the second most important man in his party after the PM rushed in 200 party MPs, scores of former MPs, and a dozen chief ministers to the national capital. It was carpet-bombing in the worst sense when it came to communal and caste propaganda. Delhi had never seen a poll campaign of this magnitude before. The BJPs efforts seemed to many as one of intimidation of voters through a show of force, not excluding the use of financial resources. This has turned into utter humiliation, more so as the Delhi electoral contest is the first since the Narendra Modi government ran a relentless pro-CAA campaign, spearheaded by Mr Shah, in the face of nationwide protests against the questionable amended citizenship law, with Delhis Shaheen Bagh growing into an iconic name for peaceful protests in the Gandhian mould, and becoming a counter-blast to the CAA. Though the BJPs ways are inscrutable, in such circumstances one may ordinarily expect heads to roll. With the rapid changes in technology, financial institutions need to continually grow and evolve to keep up with the times. But trying to do it all yourself can be a stretch for your budget, resources and timeline. Finding the right partner that will help you grow is critical to your success and with the number of options increasing every day, that search can leave your head spinning! Here are five clues you can consider to increase your chances of success. Are They Credit Union-Smart? Early lessons have taught credit unions that taking advantage of the member-centric, personalized approach fintechs offer doesnt always mean that their partners understand the industry in a way that credit unions take for granted in their daily operations. Just because they present you with a promising solution doesnt mean they understand the need to get it right without risk to existing member relationships and meeting compliance demands. Finding the right partner with credit union expertise and an understanding of whats required from a security perspective is a key differentiator in creating and developing solutions to many credit union-specific challenges, from building relationships to selling products. Will They Share Your Vision? When a fintech seems to be the cure-all for member issues and competitive fears that have been plaguing a credit union, thats the time to step back from technology rapture and look to the future. Credit unions need to stand firm on their vision and how this gleaming tech solution will fit into it. Will they share your vision, or are they just bending their own outlook to make the deal work? When its a case of bending rather than buy-in, their own mindset often snaps back to its original position and conflict arises. People, not businesses, sign onto ideas, so credit unions need to reach out, probe, spend time with and ascertain if the fintech management and board are genuinely on the same page the one in your credit unions playbook. Will Your Members Come First? Credit unions like fintechs because they can speed up or enable their ability to offer more innovative products and services to their members. But as the number of fintechs keeps multiplying, the array of solutions, from proven to promising, can present a confusing array from which to choose. If its down to two similar fintech candidates for one opportunity, which to choose? When all else seems equal, the deciding question is which solution, at its core, is better able to help you put your members first. Credit unions need solutions with a range of tools that are ready to go, helping them increasingly understand their members through user-friendly dashboards, painting a fuller picture of their member base through lifestyle and predictive buying insights, and providing immediate analysis of your success. By partnering with the right provider, your marketing and member service teams should be able to operate at the speed of your members with proactive, not reactive, products and services. You need the steak, not just the sizzle and that means testing fintech partnerships or acquisitions according to their ability to help them genuinely put your members first. Data: The Heart of the Deal While many fintech-credit union relationships are based on the possibilities of data, they often start out with very different outlooks: the credit union prizes and protects its vault of member information, and the fintech sees it as the fuel that will let its solution really show its stuff. Credit unions reviewing a fintech partner candidate need to ask themselves if is this a partner that they can trust with their data, according to their rules. The right partner will understand that there is nothing more important to your growth and success than respecting your members and what you know about them. Finding the right partner that appreciates this balance between data security & and data opportunity will offer a faster, more effective route to push that balanced approach forward without putting your institution at risk. No matter how exciting the prospects of what a fintech partnership can offer, it is critical that you take the time to ensure you select the best match for your institution. Using these four areas of review as you go through the selection process can help you feel confident that youll be positioned for success. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 04:12:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 587 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Besides offline, Dogily Petshop finally turned its ways to the online world. Their customers can now search for pets and products from their official website.HOCHIMINH, VIETNAM / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2020 / Dogily Petshop is a renowned pet shop with its many branches in Vietnam. The shop is famous for housing a variety of animals, from cats to dogs to reptiles and birds, etc. According to their recent announcement, the customers do not have to visit their store or farms anymore, and can choose to sell and purchase pets and pets' accessories online nationwide. This new facility is introduced to ease its customers while eliminating the hassle of traveling to the shop.The orders may include dogs, cats, birds, fish, and police reptiles by calling on any of their hotline numbers - 0965.086.079 & 0916.299.911. The store remains open from 8:00 am, and 10:00 pm and the customers can give a call anytime in between, the staff at the stores can help them with the order and advise in case of any confusion.The other option is to make an order online through its official website. First of all, choose the type of pet and pet accessory. Use the search box and enter the type of pet, such as a British shorthair cat or a husky dog, the customers can also search through the category featured on the website. Browse through the product suggestions and lucrative access discounts on the products. There is an option to also put a price filter on pet products and pet accessories from high to low and vice versa.The next and final step is to order the product (be it a pet or pet accessory). Click "Purchase," and the item will be added to the cart, and the buyer will be taken to the payment interface by the site. It is advised to check all the information carefully, including quantity, price, and total payment. Such as if there is a can of pet food for a bulldog in the cart, it is advised to make sure the price is corresponding to the quantity selected. If the information is correct, click "Proceed to PAYMENT." Provide the required purchase details by the website and select the mode of payment and delivery.The payment can be made through bank transfer and pay online via VISA or MasterCard. Additionally, if the customer has a coupon or discount code, make sure to enter it while completing the order to avail of the discount. Once the order is successfully placed, their team will make a confirmation call and complete the procedure. The website also allows chatting with company counselors if the customer wishes to make an order directly or need any support.About the Company:Dogily Petshop is founded by Pham Hoang Long. The company is dealing in pet trading, pet accessories, and breeding, under Dogily Vietnam Joint Stock Company. The store has its branches spread across many provinces of the nation, including Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi. Besides pets and pet accessories, the company also provides pet care services, veterinary hospital and grooming & spa for Aln, Scottish cats or Corgi, Samoyed, Pug, Poodle dogs, and other pets.Contact Details:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopThuCungSaiGon/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8yERXW0PK7AAfWoVjuxCaw Twitter: https://twitter.com/DogilyPetshop Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Dogily/pins/ Scoop: https://www.scoop.it/u/dogily CONTACT:Name: PaulEmail: Send EmailOrganization: Dogily PetshopAddress: 606/121 Ba Thang Hai Street, Ward 14, District 10, Ho Chi MinhPhone: +84 965086079Website: https://dogily.vn/ SOURCE: Dogily Petshop WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (DN.TO) (VRNDF) ("Delta 9" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has completed its final services milestone under an agreement with its Micro Cultivation partner Because You Cann Inc. (Because You Cann). As one of the Company's micro cultivation partners, Because You Cann entered into a Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SCA) with Delta 9 whereby Delta 9 provides services relating to cannabis production facility design and construction, development of standard operating procedures and sanitation programs, consulting on Health Canada licensing, and other services supporting the acquisition of the Health Canada Licence. On February 7, 2020, Because You Cann Inc., confirmed it has reached its final milestone under the SCA and has been granted a cannabis micro cultivation license from Health Canada (the "Health Canada Licence"). Because You Cann is an arms length third party, in which the Company has no ownership control or interest. We are pleased with having achieved this major milestone in our agreement with Because You Cann and thrilled that they are one of the first micro cultivators in Canada to implement and receive a Health Canada Licence for our proprietary and turn-key 'Grow Pod' systems, said John Arbuthnot, Founder and CEO of Delta 9. We are continuing to work to develop our micro cultivation services so that our platform can be the 'go to' platform for cannabis entrepreneurs looking to produce premium quality cannabis products. The Company's cannabis production methodology is based around a modular, scalable, and stackable production unit called a "Grow Pod", which are retrofitted standard 40-foot-high cube shipping containers. Because You Cann's facility has been designed and built using this turn key and state of the art Grow Pod system. Once cultivation begins, the Company plans to purchase premium quality cannabis products from Because You Cann for distribution through the Company's established distribution network, and through Delta 9's branded retail stores. Story continues I am excited to have the partnership, support, and relationship built with Delta 9 and to begin growing cannabis to supply Delta 9's distribution network and cannabis stores, said Serena Donovan, Founder. I am proud to be one of the first women in this industry to produce a premium cannabis product which is hand watered and trimmed and grown with passion. I hope to empower women of all ages to be confident in choosing a cannabis product that is right for them. You will find 'Because You Cann' premium cannabis products at Delta 9 locations soon! Because You Cann operates a 7,200 square foot micro cultivation facility, located in Mossleigh, Alberta. Serena Donovan, founder and CEO of Because You Cann, is an experienced farmer and became interested in the medicinal benefits that cannabis can provide after witnessing them first hand. For more information contact: Investor & Media Contact: Ian Chadsey VP Corporate Affairs Mobile: 204-898-7722 E-mail: ian.chadsey@delta9.ca About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on bringing the highest quality cannabis products to market. Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical and recreational cannabis and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand. Delta 9's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "DN" and on the OTCQX under the symbol "VRNDF". For more information, please visit www.delta9.ca . Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Company's future business plans and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: (i) BYC's proposed micro cultivation operations; (ii) Delta 9's intention to sell BYC's premium cannabis products; and (iii) Delta 9's development of micro cultivation services. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including BYCs cannabis production not being as anticipated, as well as all risk factors set forth in the annual information form of Delta 9 dated April 30, 2019 which has been filed on SEDAR. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Security Guard (NSG) Director General (DG) Anup Kumar Singh on Wednesday denied to have any knowledge of a proposal to merge the country's elite force with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). "I am not aware of any such proposal. NSG is an elite agency of our nation. It is our federal contingency force and holds the position as one of the best forces in the world," Singh told ANI. "NSG has its own important structure. I hope it will continue in its current form," added Singh, saying the NSG is the country's elite agency. The NSG is a counter-terrorism unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was raised in 1984. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian photographer Oleg Ershov has been named winner of the sixth International Landscape Photographer of the Year competition with a portfolio of four images, including, notes the BBC, photographs from England and Iceland. "My passion for landscape photography is based on a love of nature, especially in places where human intervention is not yet visible," says Ershov. This years contest brought in 3,400 entries from 1,000 photographers around the world, adds The Phoblographer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:37:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SUVA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Minister for Foreign Affairs Inia Seruiratu on Wednesday called on other Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) foreign ministers to prioritize establishing a sub-regional response team for humanitarian and disaster relief response. Speaking at the MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting in Suva on Wednesday, Seruiratu said Fiji is working with Australia and a range of partners on the redevelopment of a camp in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city as a center for peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and disaster response. According to a statement from the Department of Information, Seruiratu said regular occurrence of natural disasters in the region has come at a heavy cost to its people, infrastructure and health systems. He said he was proud of the individual efforts of MSG members in mobilizing support for Australia in a timely manner to respond to bushfires recently and that a lot was achieved. He said the capacity to pull together the sub-regional response team for humanitarian and disaster relief response is well within reach and should be prioritized. The MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting ended on Wednesday. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:44:48|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia will be forced to retaliate if the United States decides to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies, a senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday. However, it is premature to discuss what the retaliation would involve as Washington has not yet announced the withdrawal, said Vladimir Yermakov, director of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Moscow relies on the sanity of its foreign partners and calls for the preservation of the treaty "as one of the few remaining pillars of the security architecture in Europe," he said. While the White House mulls pulling out of the treaty, Congress is considering the Open Skies Treaty Stability Act, which, if passed, will prevent the president from unilaterally withdrawing the United States from the pact. The Treaty on Open Skies took effect in 2002 and currently has 34 party states, including Russia, the United States and some other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The confidence-building and arms-control agreement has established a system of observation flights over its members to gather information about their military forces and activities. 12.02.2020 LISTEN The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of trying to sabotage the re-election prospects of legislators by delaying the release of MPs share of the District Assembly Common Fund for the third quarter of last year. The Member of Parliament for Bodi, Sampson Ahi, who raised the issue in an interview with the media on Wednesday said it was a deliberate attempt from the government to stifle us and an attempt to deprive Members of Parliament from working effectively in our various constituencies. Being an election year, they [government] think that when they release our monies to our district or constituencies, we will get resources to work and that is why they have taken that decision to deprive us of resources. We are saying this because, close to two months ago, the government released District Assembly's Common funds to the district assemblies but as we speak, we don't know when they are going to release the MP's share, he complained. Sampson Ahi also said the Minority will consider boycotting the State of the Nation Address if their share of the Common Fund is not released by Friday, February 14, 2020. President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 20, 2020. In response to the threat to boycott the State of the Nation Address, the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Moses Anim, said the Minority's position was uncalled for. It is the duty on Parliament to host the President and every Member of Parliament should sit in there and listen to the message on the state of the nation, Mr. Anim said. MPs are considered in the District Assembly Common Fund allocations. The MPs usually choose a project to be constructed on their behalf by their respective Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies with the amount allocated to them in the common fund releases. The promise to introduce a constituency development fund for MPs was first made in 2009 by President John Atta Mills (of blessed memory). But there have been calls for this arrangement to be scrapped. IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe described the MPs' share of the common fund as a waste of money. He also said it was an excuse of the MP to perpetuate himself/herself in power but not necessarily to do the most important job which is making laws. The Member of Parliament for Akim Oda and Chairman of the Local Government Committee was also advocating for the scrapping of the MP's share to give more power and resources to MMDCEs to execute their development mandate. citinewsroom Ties to China are stronger in the Bay Area than anywhere else in the United States, with flights shuttling more than half a million Chinese tourists to and from the region each year, local tech giants building their goods there, and 1 in 5 residents of San Francisco claiming Chinese heritage. Because of that, the impact of the coronavirus spreading out of China named COVID-19 on Tuesday goes well beyond a health scare in the Bay Area. Last year, Chinese visitors spent $1.3 billion in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties. Shuttered factories in China, vanished customers from local Chinatown restaurants and stores, and canceled flights all have bruised this regions tourist attractions and scrambled family plans. Were checking the news every hour for virus updates, said San Francisco resident Edith Kwong, 41, whose uncle lost his chance to visit the Bay Area after airport officials in Hong Kong repeatedly canceled his flights. Kwong is among many Chinese Americans in limbo, unsure of when or if stranded relatives will arrive. Business owners are concerned, and customers impatient. We dont know when things are going to get resolved, Kwong said. We dont know whats going to happen the next day. Neither do thousands of others throughout the Bay Area, where Chinese Americans compose large segments of the population. San Francisco appears to have the highest percentage of Chinese Americans of anywhere in the country: 21%, as of 2018. New York is next, with just above 6%, although the figure is from the 2010 census and may be higher now. Even so, New York has the most Chinese American residents, 513,000, while San Francisco is next, with 182,823. One in four people living in Millbrae, Cupertino and Saratoga are Chinese American, while Asian Americans many of them descended from China make up the largest ethnic group in Alameda and Santa Clara counties. The regions ties to China show in its demographics, commerce, travel and cultural exchanges. The links are evident in the Chinese dialects overheard on BART and Muni, the merchants and investors drawn to the area, and the immigrant families that have planted roots in the region for generations. Blanchard; John Theres really no place else in the United States with a comparable level of connectivity to China than the Bay Area, said Sean Randolph, senior director at the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, who began studying connections between China and the Bay Area more than 10 years ago, suspecting the relationship was something unique. Now, this association shows in the number of coronavirus cases: With four diagnosed cases, the Bay Area has more than any other region in the U.S. The respiratory illness emerged in December and has spread to dozens of countries. It has sickened more than 43,101 people and killed more than 1,000, most in China. The virus has infected 13 people in the U.S., and local officials have said the risk of infection remains low. Nevertheless, World Health Organization officials on Tuesday called the coronavirus a grave threat. In the Bay Area, that threat has fragmented a unique and intimate relationship with China that has endured for more than a century. Kevin Chan, co-owner of the famed Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Alley, said business has dropped by 70% since the virus broke out. The factory normally sees up to 500 customers a day. People are just scared. They dont come, Chan said. Normally, teachers come to the factory with their students for the Lunar New Year to see how the cookies are made. But this year I dont have any teachers coming. News of the virus spurred Alex Kwan into action. An E-4 specialist in the U.S. Army with a passion for philanthropy, Kwan partnered with the UC Berkeley Chinese Students and Scholars Association to raise nearly $90,000 to purchase medical supplies to ship to hospitals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, and where it emerged. The group is planning to send its first batch of supplies from sanitizing products to hazmat suits this week. I have family in Hong Kong, so this is the right thing to do, said Kwan, an accountant and president of Hop4Kids, a San Francisco nonprofit that combats child poverty. I dont think that just because were in the U.S. we shouldnt help with whats going on in Asia. Kwans girlfriend, Edith Kwong, and her family expected a visit from her uncle, Ng Kin Sang, earlier this month. He traveled from his home in New York to Hong Kong for a funeral and had planned to finish his trip in San Francisco to see his sister, Kwongs mom. Then came the flight cancellations. Things were getting more intense every single day, said Kwong, 41. The airlines started canceling more and more flights. They rebooked him on a United (Airlines) flight on the sixth, but it got canceled. Sang returned to New York Sunday but couldnt stop in the Bay Area. 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. Kwong, who has family in China, said she scours several news sites for daily updates on the virus. She and her family tried to purchase multiple breathing masks shortly after learning of the outbreak, but stores were already sold out, she recalled. Chinese immigrants first arrived in the U.S. in the mid-1800s and migrated to San Francisco in search of better economic opportunities. Many were hired to help build the first transcontinental railroad in 1865, according to the San Francisco Travel Association, the citys tourism board. The citys Chinatown one of the oldest in the U.S. emerged soon after. Chinese tourism also plays a significant role in the regions economy. Chinese visitors to the Bay Area spent more than $1.3 billion last year alone, according to the San Francisco Travel Association. Imports from and exports to China through the Port of Oakland rose in January compared with a year earlier, but concerns about the coronavirus loom as shipping lines say cargo volume is expected to slow over the next few months. The ports maritime director, John Driscoll, said Tuesday that its possible the virus will harm trade growth. The number of visitors from China to the Bay Area has already dwindled as the coronavirus spreads and travel to and from China becomes nearly impossible. Last year, San Francisco hosted 517,700 visitors from China. The year before, China was the second-largest source of international visitors after Mexico, according to the San Francisco Travel Association. But now, theres barely any way for those visitors to get here. Flights to mainland China from any Bay Area airport are halted through the end of March, airport officials said. The last departure from the Bay Area to China is Friday, a China Southern Airlines flight from SFO to the city of Guangzhou. Chan, the fortune cookie baker, predicts the ripple effects of the coronavirus will last several months and said hell consider closing the factory on some days if business doesnt pick up. Its a tragedy, he said. People would rather not come to Chinatown because they think they will become infected. I dont think thats fair. Tatiana Sanchez and Anna Bauman are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com, anna.bauman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez, @abauman2 A woman has made a shocking confession she had sex with her sister's boyfriend of five years on her children's trampoline. Katie, from Sydney, was celebrating New Year's Eve at her sister Melissa's house when she was left alone with the boyfriend after midnight. 'So she had actually gone to sleep... There was just a lot of flirting, and I supposed being drunk and one thing led to another... and we ended up on the trampoline,' she told KIISFM 106.5 breakfast radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O. The following morning, Katie told Melissa about the scandalous encounter. 'She was quite upset about the situation. I'm not sure if she dumped him straight away but they were having problems,' Katie said. The heartbroken sister has since 'mended' her relationship with her partner - but she has given Katie the silent treatment following the betrayal. Poll Would you forgive your sibling? Yes No Would you forgive your sibling? Yes 29 votes No 117 votes Now share your opinion In the live radio segment, a 'devastated' Katie called up her sister to beg for forgiveness. 'I was just wondering if you were ever going to forgive me for what has happened?' Katie asked, to which Melissa responded: 'No, I don't really think I can.' Katie then said: 'I just think it takes two to tango and I've apologised, I've tried calling and messaging you several times to try and mend what we have as sisters. I'm just missing you and I really want you back in my life.' Refusing to give forgiveness, Melissa hit back: 'You've done the most disgusting thing a sister could ever do so I just don't think I could, really.' 'I just don't get it. Why were you that drunk to the point where you... like he obviously would have known what you were doing.' Katie responded: 'Yeah, like I said to you before, I regret it a lot and it was a mistake. There's nothing I can do now to go back in time.' A woman has made a shocking confession she had sex with her sister's boyfriend of five years on her children's trampoline (stock image) Jackie O intervened, asking Melissa why she decided to take her cheating boyfriend back but not her sister. 'I'm not sure if she mentioned, but we [me and my boyfriend] have two kids together so that makes it a bit harder,' Melissa revealed. 'Also, [they did] it on my children's trampoline while I'm asleep, that's just wrong.' Fighting back her tears, Melissa said the couple were trying to work through their relationship for the sake of their two young kids - aged two and four. 'We sort of have mended our relationship but not completely,' she added. Despite the fallout, the sisters both said they hope they could repair their relationship in the future. The temporary reduction in violence, which an Afghan official said is tentatively to be announced by Pompeo and Ghani after a meeting this weekend in Munich, is intended as an expression of good faith on the part of the Taliban. Assuming the designated period is successfully completed, a more formal U.S.-Taliban agreement is to be signed within days. The agreement would include the start of direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government next month, and the beginning of a U.S. troop withdrawal. Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR) Mihai Daraban attended a meeting in Paris on Wednesday of the General Council of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The session of the General Council of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was dedicated to working sessions on the organisation's action strategies, including the Chamber Connect Platform, Chamber Brand, Chamber Connect Congress and "Generation Next, Chambers 4.0" platform, according to a CCIR news statement.Daraban had a meeting with the chairman of the World Chambers Federation, Hamad Buamim, who is also president of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Wednesday. On Thursday, the second day of the meeting, Daraban will have bilateral discussions with high-ranking representatives of the chambers of commerce from several countries.He has repeatedly underscored the need for a united system of chambers of commerce, with an important role in the world economic development."With my election to the General Council of the World Chambers Federation comes the responsibility to fight for the promotion of a global economy, free trade, actions that attract the creation of new jobs and implicitly improved living standards," Mihai Daraban is quoted as saying in the CCIR statement.Daraban was elected to the General Council of the World Chambers Federation at a vote by chamber leaders of over 100 countries. Thus, Romania is represented, for 2020-2022, on the leading forum of the World Trade Organisation.The next meeting of the General Council of the World Chambers Federation will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 5-6, 2020.The General Council is responsible for defining the strategic direction and development of WCF services. It works to promote and reinforce chambers of commerce as facilitators of global trade and drivers of local private sector development and sustainable growth. YouTube, The Oregonian A black man who was wrongfully arrested after reporting racial discrimination to his boss who then sent racist texts about the man to local police officers has been awarded a $600,000 (462,723) payout. Michael Fesser, 48, said in a new interview that he was terrified to go back to the town of West Linn, Oregon following the false arrest. A friend of Mr Fessers boss, who served as the small towns police chief, used local officers as a personal posse to implement an old-boy-style racism that involved arresting the father of eight without probable cause, according to his attorney. The arrest occurred after Mr Fesser told his boss at A&B Towing in Southeast Portland about issues with other coworkers making racist comments and using racial slurs. At one point, the other employees asked Mr Fesser for his opinion about a Confederate flag hooked on to a vehicle in the towing lot, according to court records. Thats when Mr Benson began texting his friend who headed the local police department, reportedly urging him to investigate unfounded claims that Mr Fesser was committing theft while managing the tow companys car auctions. Terry Timeus, the former West Linn police chief, told Mr Benson he would have the case ready to go before Saturday on 21 February 2017, just days before the police department began surveilling Mr Fesser while he worked. Mr Benson cooperated with the police throughout the investigation, providing them with access to company video surveillance cameras and reportedly exchanging homophobic and racist comments about Mr Fesser in texts to a detective on the case. Paul Buchanan, Mr Fessers lawyer, said in a statement to Oregon Live: This case vividly illustrates a ready willingness on the part of the West Linn police to abuse the enormous power they have been given, and a casual, jocular, old-boy-style racism of the kind that we Oregonians tend to want to associate with the Deep South rather than our own institutions. Story continues The case was later dropped against Mr Fesser, but not before he was thrown in jail and accused of stealing from the company he had worked for since 2004. Mr Fesser later told local news channel KGW that he felt a little relief after his lawyer secured the massive payout, one of the largest in the states history for a wrongful arrest, as well as a meeting with the local mayor to discuss the incident. "I have forgiven those individuals in that community," Mr Fesser told the news outlet. "I've forgiven them but I haven't forgotten." Read more Airline pilot receives $300k for wrongful naked arrest in Colorado The Congress-ruled Puducherry on Wednesday adopted an Assembly resolution against the controversial amended Citizenship Act, becoming the first union territory in the country to say no to the law. Earlier, states including Kerala and West Bengal, whose chief ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee, respectively, are at the forefront of anti-CAA movements, had adopted Assembly resolutions against the Act. Amidst an opposition boycott, the one-day special session of the territorial Assembly adopted the resolution tabled by chief minister V Narayanasamy. It also registered strong protest against the National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. Members of the opposition AINRC and AIADMK boycotted the session while the three nominated BJP legislators staged a walk out after registering their objection to the tabling of the resolution. As soon as Narayansamy started reading out the contents of the resolution, BJP members V Saminathan, K G Shankar and S Selvaganapthy were up on their feet and objected to the moving of the resolution. They were heard saying the resolution was a murder of democracy and violation of constitutional provisions. They later trooped out of the House and did not return for the rest of the session. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA as it was totally opposed to the principles of secularism. It was passed after the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues and legislators belonging to the Congress and its ally the DMK spoke on the resolution. Speaker V P Sivakolundhu said the resolution was adopted unanimously. The resolution stated that the CAA had caused pain and chaos among the people at large in the country. The enactment of the legislation in the Parliament had created peaceful agitations across the country, it added. The CAA was shattering to pieces the principles of secularism which is the basis of the constitution, it said. Claiming that there was a hidden agenda in the CAA as the Muslims were ignored, it said the law was totally injurious to the great sacrifices made by Mahatma Gandhi for protection of secularism. The resolution alleged that certain forces were trying to introduce religious sentiments by forgetting the path shown by the first Indian Prime Minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru. If there was any space available for the divisive forces it would only mean that a historic blunder would be committed, hitting the cardinal principles of secularism (and) the great sacrifices made by martyrs and freedom fighters of the country. The resolution also expressed disappointment over the CAA not including the Sri Lankan Tamils, staying at various places and in refugee camps in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, for Indian citizenship. Similarly, the Rohingya Muslims living as refugees in northern states of the country and have also not been included in the Act, it added. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA, the NRC and the NPR. Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi broke down in a Delhi court Wednesday requesting a fresh date to execute the four death row convicts for the gang rape and murder of her daughter and later sat on a protest outside the court premises. "I too have some rights," she said to the judge after the court offered a lawyer to one of the four convicts - Pawan Gupta - from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), after his father said he had no lawyer to represent him at the time. Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana consoled her saying, "Every lawyer here, this entire proceeding, is for giving you the justice." Nirbhaya's father, who was also present in the courtroom, added that giving a lawyer to Pawan at this stage was an injustice to the parents. "Law has given them (convicts) right and not letting them avail that too will be an injustice," the judge replied. After the court's hearing, Devi joined a protest being held by women rights activist Yogita Bhayana outside the Patiala House Courts premises over the delay in hanging of the four convicts. "There is no appeal pending in any court in the country... I appeal to the Supreme Court to issue the death warrant as this court (trial) is in no mood to issue one," Devi said while talking to media, adding that she was "losing hope". While raising slogans for hanging of the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- Devi said: "We are waiting for justice. I assure rape victims that they will also get justice. But today I myself have lost hope." Bhayana said, "The people of this country are losing hope with every passing day. When will convicts be hanged?"The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bank of America says buy Wynn and Las Vegas Sands because coronavirus cases are 'leveling out' Published Wed, Feb 12 2020 7:51 AM EST Updated Wed, Feb 12 2020 4:02 PM EST Bennet did not announce support for any other candidate and hinted that the state would see me again in the future. But he reiterated that his party would be best served by a nominee with broad appeal and a popular agenda, focusing on expanding access to education and fighting climate change. Ryan Litfin & Dale Creed Francis We acquired the land in Rogers many years ago with the anticipation of Rogers being the epicenter for job growth in the years to come, said Ryan Litfin, co-founder and Managing Partner of Vincent Real Estate and Vincent Companies. Vincent Real Estate, a subsidiary of Eden Prairie-based Vincent Companies, has announced that the new Vincent Woods Apartments in Rogers, MN, received its Certificate of Occupancy on January 9 and is now accepting new resident applications for building one, with the final phase of construction on building two winding down. The development is currently 11% occupied with a grand opening event planned for Summer 2020. Vincent Woods Apartments is the first new apartment development in the Rogers area in 20 years. Located less than a 30-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis, Rogers is the fastest growing community in Minnesota, experiencing 78.7% growth over the past decade, as compared to 7.9% of the Twin Cities Metro area, making the development a vital addition to the area. Comprised of two separate buildings, the Vincent Woods Apartment Community is a 168-unit market-rate apartment housing development. Each of the two apartment buildings is designed as a three-story structure with an underground parking garage, the most cost-effective and practical use of the site which is conveniently located near the intersection of Interstate 94 and 101. Nearby Rogers hosts grocery stores, restaurants, and other services. Spacious studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments at Vincent Woods offer a perfect blend of comfort and style. Each model boasts an open-concept layout, giving a large appearance and seamless flow with most including a private patio or balcony. All units feature granite kitchen countertops, over-sized walk-in closets, breakfast bar, and in-home washer and dryer. Select apartments add a separate dining area, kitchen pantry, and electric fireplace. High-Speed Internet Access/Wi-Fi is available. Community amenities include an events room, gym-quality fitness center, business center, pet area, playground, walking trail, and on-site management office. Its been a great pleasure working with all the wonderful people of Rogers to make this desperately needed apartment complex come to fruition, said Dale Creed Francis, co-founder and Managing Partner of Vincent Real Estate and Vincent Companies. The City officials and the community members, especially the terrific neighbors to Vincent Woods, all deserve high praise and credit. We couldnt have done it without them. Now the City of Rogers gets to boast yet another key element as to why their community is one of the best in the state. We acquired the land in Rogers many years ago with the anticipation of Rogers being the epicenter for job growth in the years to come, said Ryan Litfin, co-founder and Managing Partner of Vincent Real Estate and Vincent Companies. Rogers has been very concentrated with industrial and manufacturing facilities for many years. As these businesses have expanded and added jobs, the need for housing continued to increase. The timing couldn't be better. It's so exciting to see a project like this go from a thought in your head while walking a field to coming to life and meeting the demands for housing in Rogers. We do everything with passion or we don't do it at all. For more information on Vincent Woods Apartments, visit Vincent Real Estate at VincentRE.com. Tokyo: The 3,600 people aboard the Diamond Princess, locked down for more than a week and desperate for information, have been reduced to peering out windows as hazmat-suited workers take away the newest coronavirus patients and mysterious buses, their interiors shrouded by curtains, come and go from the port. They have Wi-Fi, but it is spotty, and even if it were not, they might search in vain for information about their plight from tight-lipped Japanese authorities. Experts in crisis management said the government was offering a textbook example of how not to handle a public health crisis. Repeatedly explain what is known, and what is unknown, and when people can get more information about what remains unknown, said Dr. Hana Hayashi, a public health strategist at McCann Healthcare Worldwide Japan. It sounds very simple, but by continuing to do this, peoples concerns will be reduced. With 174 of their number known to be infected the most cases anywhere outside China one of the biggest questions for those stuck on the Diamond Princess off Yokohama is: Why wont Japan test everyone on board for the virus? As of Tuesday, only 439 had been tested, and Japanese authorities have sent mixed messages. For days, officials have said the country simply does not have the ability to test everyone on the ship. But Tuesday, as demands grew, Dr. Masami Sakoi, an assistant health minister, said at a news briefing that the health ministry was considering expanding its testing capacity. Japans insistence that it is an issue of practicality has been met with some skepticism. Critics of the governments handling of the outbreak say that officials simply are not explaining enough of their thinking as they face an epidemiological challenge with no easy playbook. The governments communications strategy has undermined trust, and speculation has sometimes filled the void, including about whether there could be alternatives to keeping so many people locked inside a contaminated vessel. Here you have people locked down on a pseudo prison on a cruise ship, said Kyle Cleveland, a professor of sociology at the Tokyo campus of Temple University who has studied Japans response to another crisis, the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns. Is it really a matter of not having enough tests? In China, after all, where more than 44,000 people have been infected and deaths have surpassed 1,100, health officials are performing thousands of coronavirus tests a day. Unlike Japan, China has been confronting the outbreak since December and has had time to produce test kits. Even so, it is contending with a shortage. Some passengers say that if it were just a matter of logistics, Japan could look for outside help. Id prefer if our countries pitch in and help test everyone, said Vera Koslova-Fu, an Australian on the ship. Still, there is far from universal agreement that Japan should test everyone on board the Diamond Princess, even if it could. Olivia Lawe-Davies, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, said that its experts agreed with the way Japan was handling the quarantine. No country or entity has had to manage this novel coronavirus, for which there are still many unknowns, on an international conveyance with this many people, she said. The most important thing is to ensure that people who are ill receive proper treatment, which the Japanese authorities are doing. Some infectious disease experts questioned whether testing everyone on board would in fact be effective. In reality, people are in the incubation period right now, said Mitsuyoshi Urashima, a professor of molecular epidemiology at Jikei University Hospital in Tokyo. The tests are not absolutely always right. (Proof of that came from a different set of coronavirus patients Tuesday. The health ministry announced that two Japanese citizens who had previously tested negative after leaving Wuhan, China, where the epidemic began, were now infected.) The tests themselves pose their own obstacles. They are not simple throat swabs but instead require mucus from hard-to-reach parts of the respiratory tract. The simplest test, a nasopharyngeal swab, is not surgery, but it comes close, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Its an aggressive medical procedure. The alternative requires pumping saline mist deep into the lungs. You could not do it on healthy people by the thousands, or just go from cabin to cabin doing it, Schaffner said. Both procedures are risky for the medical personnel doing them because they can send the patient into a retching or coughing fit, spewing out virus. And even then, he said, concerns would remain. Im sure a lot of people on board think, If Im negative, Im cleared, Schaffner said. Its not that you could be positive tomorrow. Even if the tests are not scientifically warranted, some public health experts said, they might help calm anxious people on the ship. If it puts peoples minds at ease, it has merit, said Eiji Kusumi, a doctor specializing in infectious diseases at Navitas Clinic in Tokyo. Were dealing with people who are operating out of emotion. One passenger, Sarah Arana, a 52-year-old medical social worker from Paso Robles, California, said, I think it would provide peace of mind. Peace of mind has been hard to come by for many passengers, in no small part because of the Japanese governments limited communications. Passengers isolated in their cabins have been checking their phones for news updates and social media posts, while their families back home are frantically pressing for information. By failing to hold regular and timely news briefings and doling out cryptic information, the government has made the problem seem much larger than it looks, said Hiromi Murakami, an expert on health policy at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. Its mostly bureaucrats who have to deal with a lot of things, and they dont know how to respond sometimes, Murakami said. Theyre not used to dealing with questions. They dont know how to answer them, and they think if they cant answer them, whats the purpose of having a press conference. So they avoid these situations. That may soon prove harder to do. Experts say the Diamond Princess may be only the beginning of Japans challenges with the coronavirus. Probably its a tiny portion of our problem in Japan, said Hitoshi Oshitani, a professor of virology at Tohoku University. If we have a few hundred cases in Japan and there are probably thousands of contacts around these few hundred, the numbers will increase every day. The government has been saying little. On Sunday and Monday, it waited hours to confirm that there were new infections on board, even as the captain of the Diamond Princess announced them to the ship. By Wednesday, Japanese officials moved more quickly to say that 39 additional passengers had tested positive and that a health ministry employee had also been diagnosed with the illness after administering a survey to those aboard the ship. Still, rumors abound. Early Tuesday, Japanese news outlets reported that health authorities were considering taking some elderly passengers off the ship, but officials refused to comment. Passengers on the ship could see that at least two buses, their windows covered in curtains, had pulled up to the port, and claims spread that some people were being allowed to leave. In the absence of official communication, some have found their own way to communicate: Japanese passengers, who make up about half of the 2,666 guests on board, unfurled cloth signs off their balconies. Serious lack of medicine, lack of information, read one. Motoko Rich and Ben Dooley c.2020 The New York Times Company Hundreds of dedicated McDonald's fans queued up in London today to be the first to get their hands on limited edition bottles of the world-famous Big Mac special sauce - and one is already selling on eBay for 10,000. Just 250 bottles of the iconic sauce, which is made using a top secret recipe, were released in Leicester Square to celebrate the launch of the product. For the next six weeks the restaurant chain will be selling a limited quantity of the special sauce for people to add to their home cooked recipes to #MacItBetter. A small run of the pots will go on sale across the UK and Ireland, costing 50p for 50ml, with a seven-day shelf life. Hundreds of dedicated McDonald's fans queued up in London today to be the first to get their hands on limited edition bottles of the world-famous Big Mac special sauce Just 250 bottles of the iconic sauce, which is made using a top secret recipe, went on sale in Leicester Square to celebrate the launch of the product They're expected to sell out quickly, so restaurant staff have been primed for bulk orders and big queues. Several bottles of the limited edition sauce have already made it onto eBay, with one listed with a buy it now price of 10,000. Another - bottle number 204 out of 500, which was picked up at Leicester Square earlier today - has attracted 19 bids and is currently priced at 205. And you'd better be quick if you want to snap one up, as both best before dates are listed as February 26 - just two weeks time. Big Mac sauce bottle number 204 out of 500, which was picked up at Leicester Square earlier today - has attracted 19 bids on eBay and is currently priced at 205 For the next six weeks the restaurant chain will be selling a limited quantity of the special sauce for people to add to their home cooked recipes. Pictured: fans with their bottles of sauce Several bottles of the limited edition sauce have already made it onto eBay, with one listed with a buy it now price of 10,000 The arrival of the pots have already caused a stir online, with many taking to social media today to express their excitement. One fan called it the 'best day ever' while another wrote: 'Over the moon they do Big Mac in sauce pots now, as if I wasn't at McDonald's enough already.' 'Omg. I can't wait to get my hands on Big Mac sauce,' an eager fan tweeted. And another wrote: 'McDonald's are doing Big Mac sauce in a pot?!?! Game changer. Life made.' The arrival of the pots have already caused a stir online, with many taking to social media today to express their excitement The ingredients and quantities used in the much loved condiment have always been a closely guarded secret. In fact, there are 228 million searches results online related to 'Big Mac Sauce', showing that millions of people want to know what goes into it. Michelle Graham-Clare, vice president food and marketing at McDonald's UK & Ireland, said: 'For years customers have been desperate to get their hands on the world-famous Big Mac Special Sauce. 'Many have attempted to recreate it at home to no avail, so we are delighted to finally bring these dipping pots to the UK and Ireland. 'We are looking forward to seeing the imaginative ways our customers attempt to "Mac It Better" in kitchens across the UK, by adding our iconic special sauce to their breakfast, lunch and dinner.' HABARI HIZI ZINAPATIKANA KWENYE APP YA UDAKU SPECIAL, BONYEZA HAPA KUIDOWNLOAD KWENYE SIMU YAKO BURE Moi will not be buried in military uniform. But his military dress (hat, shoes, belt, and uniform) will be in the casket. The uniform, as well as the flag draping the coffin, will be removed by the pallbearers, Mwenda Mbijiwe, a former Air Force officer says. SOMA HABARI HIZI KIRAHISI KUPITIA APP YETU YA UDAKU SPECIAL Join AJIRA YAKO Group for Daily Job Updates CLICK HERE Plans are at the climax as the nation prepares to lay to rest a man many if not all cherish for being an icon of peace, the other sides of his history notwithstanding.The late Mzee Moi will be interred at his Kabarak home by Wednesday afternoon the exercise being considerate of the military precisions -for the fact that he ever was the commander in chief of the armed forces back- and as well the as the Kalenjin traditions being looked at.For the three days Mois body laid in state for viewing, his trademark club, (or popularly Rungu Ya Nyayo), a chair and his Bible and hymns book were put alongside the body. It is thus not clear whether or not the late will be lowered to the grave with the accessories.That out, there are some things which he must be accorded as per the military culture of honoring a fallen commander.Moi will be buried with some military items excluding his military regalia.The ex-officer adds the laying of the wreaths after the interment will be done by top officials from the forces, the president, and close family members before a possible fly-past salute is showcased by fighter jets and gunships.Moi will be laid to rest beside his little-known-about wife Lena Moi.Security in the home and around has been beefed ahead of the ceremony. Heavy trucks have been blocked from plying the Eldoret-Nakuru-Nairobi highway until the funeral which has been taken for a state function is completed.Officers inspect the Kabarak University grounds where Mois final requiem mass will be held.Officers from KDF, CID and the regular police have been mobilized in plenty to aid in enhancing security during Mzee Mois final journey. Nissan Motors filed a lawsuit in Japan on Wednesday seeking $90 million (U.S.) from its former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, who fled the country before his trial on charges of financial wrongdoing. The automaker says 10 billion yen, or $90 million, would cover the monetary damages it says Ghosn inflicted on the company through misconduct and fraud. Nissan said that it expected that amount to increase as it seeks to recover the fines paid to the Japanese Financial Services Agency and other penalties linked to Ghosns alleged misconduct. Ghosn has denied any wrongdoing. In an emailed statement, a spokesman said, Nissans manoeuvres continue, noting that the lawsuit was made public one day before the automaker was scheduled to release its earnings report. Mr. Ghosns lawyers will react on the merits of the case once the content of the claim has been brought to their attention, the statement read. Ghosn was arrested in Japan in 2018 and charged with under-reporting his income and other financial wrongdoing. He fled to Lebanon in late December, an escape that surprised and embarrassed Japanese authorities, which have issued a warrant for his arrest. Ghosn was hailed for years as the rescuer of Nissan, which he made part of a thriving alliance with Renault of France and, later, Mitsubishi of Japan. But his career came to an abrupt end about 15 months ago after he was arrested in Japan and his legal troubles started to play out. Questions are growing about whether Ghosn left Nissan in good shape. It has slipped into a deep slump, with revenue and profit falling around the world. Sales in the United States, a critical market for Nissan, fell 10 per cent in 2019 even as global auto sales were near record levels. Analysts and industry executives blame Ghosn for unrelentingly pushing for growth to the detriment of relationships with dealers who sell Nissan cars. Ghosn has been unapologetic, railing publicly against what he says is a vast conspiracy to take him down. The revival of Nissan, nobodys going to take it from me, he told The New York Times in a January interview. Read more about: The Philippines has informed the United States that it is ending a security agreement that permits American forces to train in the country. A spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said U.S. officials were informed of the decision on Tuesday. The ending of the agreement is set to become official in 180 days unless both sides agree to continue it. The 1998 agreement sets rules for U.S. military forces operating in the Philippines. The two nations hold many joint military exercises and training activities throughout the year. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters the Philippines was withdrawing from the agreement to permit more independent relations with other countries. Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Twitter that President Duterte ordered the end of the agreement. In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Manila called the move a serious step with significant implications for the U.S.-Philippines alliance. It said U.S. officials will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests. The embassy statement added: Our two countries enjoy a warm relationship, deeply rooted in history. We remain committed to the friendship between our two peoples. Duterte has often criticized U.S. security policies while praising those of China and Russia, even though the Philippine military enjoys close historic ties with American forces. Duterte first warned of ending the deal in 2016 after a U.S. aid agency put a hold on money for anti-poverty projects in the Philippines. He then repeated the threat in a speech last month. The speech came after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why. Philippine officials view the cancellation as a punishment for Dela Rosa's leadership of an anti-drug campaign Duterte launched in 2016. The government campaign has killed thousands of mostly poor drug suspects. It has drawn criticism from the United States, other Western nations and human rights groups. Duterte decided to end the security agreement even after military generals and his defense and foreign ministers defended it during a Senate hearing last week. During the hearing, Locsin warned that canceling the agreement would harm Philippine security and could increase aggression in the disputed South China Sea. A U.S. military presence in the waterway has been seen as an important balance to China, which claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. At the hearing, Locsin said the agreement clearly provided security economic benefits to both sides. He proposed seeking changes to improve the agreement rather than ending it. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Kelly Jean Kelly 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 significant adj. important or noticeable implication n. a result or effect that seems likely in the future advance v. move forward commit v. to make a strong decision to do something The defence ministry will now have joint secretaries wearing military uniforms as a proposal has gone to the government for appointing three major general-rank officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force to look after the bureaucratic work related to their respective forces. IMAGE: General Bipin Rawat, second from right, chief of the defence staff, with the three chiefs -- Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, right, Admiral Karambir Singh and General Manoj Mukund Naravane, right, in New Delhi, January 1, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo. The newly-created department of military affairs under the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is also working on a presentation on the working of the services to be made to the Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting starting on February 17. "The proposal for the appointment of the three joint secretaries of the DMA including Major General Narayanan, Rear Admiral RK Dhir and Air Vice Marshal SK Jha has been sent to the government for final approval," defence ministry sources told ANI. Sources said the DMA has also sent a proposal for the appointment of lieutenant general rank officers for appointment as additional secretaries in the ministry. The CDS also has Indian Administrative Service officers including Rajiv Singh Thakur and Shantanu working in the DMA, along with other civilian staff from the Armed Forces Headquarters cadre who man important positions there. The CDS has also divided the work between the civilian and military joint secretaries in a manner where the IAS officers are handling work mostly dealing with other ministries and civilian departments. The parliamentary work is being done by IAS officers, where answers to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha questions are being coordinated by them as well as preparing for standing committee meetings, sources said. Most of the work related to the three services in the defence ministry has come to the DMA, while the leftover residual work has been assigned to the joint secretary (armed forces) in the department of defence. The DMA has also moved in quickly after being set up on January 1 and has cleared multiple files, including the ones about the appointment of the Army Vice Chief and field commanders. The files related to the promotion of officers are also getting cleared in quick time by the DMA, they said. The DMA is an addition to the four existing verticals in the defence ministry -- the departments of defence, defence research, defence production and development and ex-service welfare. The notification said the new department would handle the armed forces, integrated headquarters of the ministry of defence, territorial army, procurement exclusive to services except capital acquisitions and jointness in procurement, training and staffing for the services through joint planning and integration of their requirements. It will facilitate the restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through the establishment of joint/theatre commands. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 By Eldar Janashvili Trend: Several new technologies, including an instant payment system, blockchain and payments using a QR code will be launched at once in Azerbaijan in 2020, Director of information technology department of Azerbaijans Central Bank (CBA) Farid Osmanov said at the VISA Cashless Forum on Driving the Future, Trend reports. Within the framework of the program for the development of non-cash payments, in absolute terms, the volume of non-cash payments should increasing by at least $17 billion per year, Osmanov said. Osmanov also noted that the department is working on introducing blockchain technology in the country in the next few months. In addition, the CBA is working hard on introducing of the payments through the QR code (Quick Response) and M-Pos (mobile point-of-sale) and NFC (Near Field Communication) technologies in Azerbaijan during 2020. Some partner banks can already use these technologies to sell various banking products, Osmanov added. Baku hosts the first VISA Cashless Forum on the Driving the future theme in Azerbaijan, organized with the support of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the CAERC, the Azexport portal and a number of news agencies, including Trend. The forum is attended by representatives of the payment system VISA, CBA, CAERC, experts in the financial sector. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Julian Brazier: Universities in the bottom half of the sector would howl. But here are the reforms we should make to the system. Sir Julian Brazier is a former Defence Minister, and was MP for Canterbury from 1987-2017. Anna Firths recent article on ConHome, makes a compelling case for Conservatives to tackle the left-wing takeover of our universities. The problem with (ignoring universities) is that it allows millions of young people to spend three or four formative years in hard left/liberal leaning institutions, risking a generation that will take years to switch away from Labour. While supporting her excellent proposals on policies to appeal to the young and to deploy them through better use of social media we need to ask a more fundamental question. Why should Britain be almost the only country in the world where the vast majority of students are sent away from home to study mostly academic courses, acquiring in the process huge quantities of debt? Most students in most countries, including all our European neighbours, study from home, thus hugely reducing the cost. For the academically able, it is a precious opportunity to be able to go away to study on a campus a range of subjects, which are profound but dont necessarily have immediate application. Our best universities are among the best in the world. Their role extends beyond economic benefits to both the country and the individual and there is ample evidence of the boost to earning power of their graduates. But that does not extend down the scale. In November, the Education Select Committee published a report denouncing many universities as poor value and inflexible. While stressing the quality of our best institutions, the report highlighted that fact that almost half of recent graduates work in non-graduate roles. In truth, the current model, combining all the costs of residential study with courses which are not mostly vocationally orientated, is failing those with lower attainment levels. What is the alternative? Partly, it is to boost further education, as Boris Johnsons government is doing after a decade of neglect, but the heart of the solution lies in apprenticeships. I was recently privileged to visit the scheme which Marshall of Cambridge has been operating continuously for a century and to speak to some of the young men and women participating in it. They were keen, committed and loyal to the company which offers them a glittering career ahead and they are earning, rather than gathering debt. The youngest homeowner in their number was 19. All participants gain recognised vocational qualifications and those on the more challenging strands can top up to degree status. Interestingly their top strand needed good maths A Levels to participate, a higher standard than many universities require for what claim to be engineering courses. In December 2018, the ONS decided to force the Treasury to account properly for the taxpayers exposure to student loan payments so many of which will never be repaid. It is not just about cost, however. Paying this hidden subsidy is making it possible for hundreds of thousands of young people who lack the academic skills to benefit from a purely academic degree to go away to a university, underperform and then drift on through life with few prospects and heavy debts. Surely there is a strong case for capping student applications, not in arbitrary numerical terms, but on the basis of academic achievement at school? There should be foundation courses for those from disadvantaged backgrounds whose potential may exceed their performance. The funds released from such a cap could then be geared towards assisting the setting up of more apprenticeship schemes and vocational training. Universities in the bottom half of the sector would howl. Many grossly overpay their vice chancellors and senior management team and those salaries and their ability to service the debt some are irresponsibly taking on are dependent on getting bums on seats, whatever the outcome for the youngsters concerned. In capping eligibility for loans by ability, government should make exceptions for universities which offer vocational courses with real job prospects. Leaving aside the top end of the sector, where Britain continues to shine in every international league table, most universities should move to educating most students from home. Again, government can act in students best interests by restricting maintenance grants to more able students, thus discouraging less able ones from multiplying their debt by studying away from home. Whenever people question the wisdom of sending half of all young people to university the sector responds with two sets of statistics one showing that on average graduates do well. This reflects the success of the top half, but the Commons Education Committee report shows the flaw in the argument. Second the sector points to higher participation rates around the world almost two thirds in South Korea is often quoted but conceals the fact that most students study vocational subjects from home there. Government is subsidising a system which is not in the interests of a large part, perhaps half, of the university intake. Instead it should act in their best interests and put the money towards options which offer them prospects of good employment, without huge debts. This is the politics of hope. Conservatives believe that people should acquire a stake in the economy and more widely in society as they progress. There are implications for overseas students. If UK application numbers start to decline, as young people realise there are better options, universities will have a still greater incentive to attract overseas students to keep their revenues up. The government will need to revisit the lack of quality controls on student applications. It would be ironic if the governments sensible approach to curbing unskilled immigration were to be undermined by a growing influx of low attainment students flooding into struggling universities and staying on afterwards without any prospect of a well-paid job. We also need to consider restrictions on university borrowing, as some universities, who have overpaid their senior staff and oversold their prospects, risk going under. As Britain moves into the era of Artificial Intelligence, there may be lessons to be learnt from the Industrial Revolution. While Oxford and Cambridge graduates continued to dominate politics, Britains global expansion was fired by engineers from fringe colleges, the City of London with its Jewish stars excluded from university, and naval officers with their world-beating professional training. The university sector contributed remarkably little to our meteoric rise apart from through the important roles of missionaries and doctors. Today we have many excellent universities contributing a great deal to innovation, and some more lowly ones doing a wonderful job on vocational courses, but too many have become expensive purveyors of second rate academic nonsense, producing graduates with few prospects, heavy debt and an outlook which combines a culture of rights, with an absence of any hope of attainment. Small wonder that apprentices are far more likely to vote Conservative than students. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 18:25 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20642363c 1 World Jokowi,Xi-Jinping,Indonesia,China,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that Indonesia is ready to help China in overcoming the coronavirus disease, now named COVID-19, which has killed more than 1,100 people in the mainland since the virus started spreading in late December. Jokowi confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that he had spoken in a phone call with Xi on Tuesday evening, during which the Indonesian leader expressed condolences for the victims who died from COVID-19 in China. I told [Xi] that Indonesia will always stand together with China through such hard times, Jokowi said. I also said that Indonesia is ready to send assistance should [China] need any kind of necessary support to speed up the handling of [the COVID-19 outbreak], he added. Xinhua news agency previously reported that Xi had spoken over the phone with Jokowi on Tuesday night, during which the Chinese president gave an assurance that China would win the fight against the disease and that it was committed to implementing the most rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures to contain the outbreak. Read also: Xi speaks with Jokowi over phone, says China will 'win' battle against coronavirus Jokowi said he had told Xi during their conversation that Indonesia was confident that China could overcome the COVID-19 outbreak as soon as possible. COVID-19, which is believed to have originated in a market selling wild animals in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed 1,113 in China and infected more than 44,600 people as of Wednesday, AFP reported. The disease has spread to nearly 30 countries and killed two outside the mainland; one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong. Indonesia has evacuated 243 people from Wuhan and surrounding cities in Hubei province on Feb. 2 and airlifted them to Natuna in Riau Islands, where they have been placed in quarantine. Jakarta has also imposed an indefinite travel ban to and from mainland China since Feb. 5, as well as a temporary halt in live animal imports from the country in an effort to prevent the deadly disease from spreading to the archipelago. There have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia so far. (afr) NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday (February 12, 2020) said that the data of the final list of the National Register of Citizens in Assam is completely safe after the crucial data went offline from its official website. The Home Ministry further said that there is some technical issue behind it, which is being fully resolved. ''The NRC data is safe, there is some technical issue in visibility on Cloud. It is being resolved soon,'' a Home Ministry statement said. The statement came after reports emerged that all data of the final list of the NRC has been made offline from the govt's official website due to non-renewal of the contract with the IT firm Wipro, prompting the Congress-led opposition to doubt it as a "malafide act". The complete detail of exclusion and inclusion of bonafide Indian citizens in the NRC was uploaded on its official website 'www.Nrcassam.Nic.In' after the final list was published on August 31, 2019. However, the data was not available for the last couple of days and it created panic in the public, mostly among the people excluded from the list as the rejection certificates were yet to be issued. When contacted, NRC State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma accepted that the data have been made offline, but refuted the allegation of any "malafide" intent in it. Reacting to the development, Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia wrote to the Registrar General of India and requested him to look into the matter urgently. The final NRC was published by excluding 19,06,657 persons. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. After the earlier NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela was released on November 11 following his transfer to home state Madhya Pradesh on a direction from the Supreme Court, Sarma was appointed in his place on November 9. However, Sarma did not join immediately and went on a month-long leave after the Congress and other organisations opposed his appointment due to his alleged "highly partial and controversial" posts on social media. The propensity of the left to throw out the good with what it believes is bad could not be more pervasive. Whether it is dismantling law enforcement or ridding the planet of fossil fuels, the left's ideology and blind rage, fomented by decades of grievance-mongering, drives its willingness to face failure and uncertainty for a mere instant of smug satisfaction. The left's efforts to dismantle law enforcement agencies for perceived corruption and racism are now center stage. This notion, fueled in part by the mainstream media, is resulting in repercussions that are creating havoc in much of the country. Just a few days ago, a gunman in New York City attempted to assassinate police in two separate attacks, resulting in serious injuries. This and similar incidents are a result of increasingly dangerous rhetoric. The left believes that the police are beyond redemption and want to disassemble local and federal law enforcement agencies in toto. That anarchy and lawlessness would reign if their plan ever came to fruition does not faze that side of the political divide. Their irrational plans and radical designs are a product of anger and resentment towards normalcy and the conventional adherence to societal rules and norms. The left has a propensity to discard the good for reasons that are a direct result of flawed and deficient beliefs. Leftists' complete and total captivation and preoccupation with the concept of climate catastrophe is enough to call for the end of energy independence and the banning of fossil fuels. They do not wish to be exposed to any evidence or facts contrary to their narrow beliefs but are willing to chance economic collapse and destruction of all standards of living. The left wants to change direction on a number of policies and institutions without regard for the ramifications. Leftists do not deliberate or concern themselves with what comes next it's expediency in transformation that counts. Border control, capitalism, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are all in their crosshairs. Regrettably, they're ready and willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Acreage Holdings (OTC:ACRGF) is at risk of running afoul of Massachusetts law in its dealings with small cannabis businesses in the state. According to a report in The Boston Globe, the company has admitted that a set of contracts it has with two such entities is "inoperable." The article said that an investigation conducted by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission found Acreage had possibly put itself "in a position to control the decision making" of two companies. Acreage has signed contracts to provide management services and loans to the pair. These privately held companies, Patient Centric and Health Circle, have each applied for two recreational cannabis dispensary licenses in the state. However, according to Massachusetts law, a single company can only control a maximum of three dispensaries. And Acreage is itself an applicant, currently in the running for two licenses under its Botanist brand -- one in the city of Worcester and one in the nearby town of Shrewsbury. It is not immediately clear whether Acreage's relationship with either or both Patient Centric and Health Circle could end up with Acreage effectively in charge. The Boston Globe quoted Cannabis Control Commissioner Britte McBride as saying in a public meeting, "One of the things we've really been concerned about is the management contracts and what those relationships are and whether they form implicitly or explicitly a controlling relationship." Acreage did not comment for the article. It has not yet issued a statement on the matter, although the commission said the company pledged to modify the terms of its contracts with the two smaller businesses. The well-known marijuana stock fell by nearly 4% in Tuesday trading. At the speed of 0.7 mach, Nirbhay subsonic cruise missiles to defend LAC UP: 50-year-old woman suffers Nirbhaya like torture, gangraped, rod inserted in private parts and ribs broken Nirbhaya: Still sad, but at peace knowing that justice has been delivered Nirbhaya case: SC to hear the plea of convict Vinay Sharma on Thursday India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Feb 12: The Supreme Court will hear on Thursday the plea of one of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder convict Vinay Sharma. Convict Sharma has filed a petition in the pex court against the President's decision to reject the mercy petition. Earlier, Sharma, through his counsel A P Singh, has also sought commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment. President Ram Nath Kovind had on February 1 rejected the clemency plea of Vinay. The trial court had on January 31 stayed "till further orders" execution of the four convicts in the case -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31), who are lodged in Tihar Jail. Rejection of mercy petition in Nirbhaya case challenged by killer However, on Tuesday Nirbhaya's parents along with the Delhi government had moved the court seeking fresh death warrants for the convicts after the apex court granted liberty to the authorities to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts. Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber's son Presley Gerber has added another charged post to Instagram. In this new clip, the 20-year-old Versace model is seen holding a gun as he shoots away at a gun range. His face cannot be seen and he has on ear muffs. In the caption, the brother of supermodel Kaia Gerber says that he was really not very innocent before getting his controversial face tattoo that says 'misunderstood.' He wants people to know he is tough: Cindy Crawford's son Presley Gerber has added another charged post to Instagram. In this new image, the model is seen holding a gun as he shoots away at a gun range. His face cannot be seen and he has on ear muffs His tough background: It is not clear why Presley is trying so hard to project a tough guy image when he grew up privileged in Malibu to celebrity parents, but it may have to do with the constant bullying he has received online for years. Seen in London in 2018 with Rande, Cindy and Kaia The caption reads: 'Innocent little me before all the horrid tattoos yall know nothing #waketfup.' It is not clear why Presley is trying so hard to project a tough guy image when he grew up privileged in Malibu to celebrity parents, but it may have to do with the constant bullying he has received online for years. In the comment box, several followers took aim at the young star. Several were not kind. Peterzonis said, 'Twentyvyear old dumb f*ck if l was your father l would kick you out on to the streets ti f*ck cheap hookers it would suit you.' Vypervic added, 'I see a High school shooter in the making. Or an Allah akhbar jihadist.' Amycunning45 offered some sage advice: 'Can you say @cindycrawford and @randegerber it just might be intervention time before he gets too far out of control. @presleygerber you are so much better than the road you are taking.' Tough guy: Gerber took to Instagram Live on Saturday to talk tough and even offer up his address toward anyone who wants to criticize the new inking on his cheek Another had some even better advice: Kb125821 said, 'Presley, please shut off your comments section for your well being. Dont let trolls be trolls.' This comes after the 20-year-old took to Instagram Live on Saturday to talk tough and even offer up his address toward anyone who wants to criticize the new inking on his right cheek [though the body art appeared on his left cheek in the video due to the mirror effect of the selfie video]. He said: 'I just wanted to come on here and be like, if anyone has s*** to say to me about this or anything else and my family or how I grew up or anything. 'MISUNDERSTOOD': Before that the brother of Kaia Gerber took to Instagram to share a snap of his face, showing new tattoo under his right eye 'I will give you my address, I promise, and you can come say it to my face.' Before that the brother of Kaia Gerber took to Instagram to share a snap of his face, showing the word 'MISUNDERSTOOD' tattooed under his right eye. During the Instagram Live, he explained what the tattoo means as he said: 'I don't feel very understood, I guess.' Hitting back: Responding to his critics, the older brother of Kaia Gerber said: 'I will give you my address, I promise, and you can come say it to my face' Changed man: The son of Cindy and Rande Gerber seen before the face tattoo in September 2018 He also defended himself against those who believe he has ruined the model looks he got from his parents. Presley said: 'If I thought this was going to ruin my face or I didn't want this, I wouldn't have done it. I think that's a pretty obvious thing.' The inking was done by NYC based artist JonBoy, who has also tattooed Kendall Jenner, Justin and Hailey Bieber and Zayn Malik among other high profile clients. Fashionistas: Presley's mom and sister, Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber, were seen stepping out together in New York on Monday days after the new inking The artist shared a pic taken with his A-list client, along with the caption 'Sorry mom'. Presley's mother is none other than catwalk queen Cindy Crawford, while his dad is model and tequila magnate Rande Gerber. The new inking comes at an interesting time as just over a year ago he found himself in legal trouble as he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) despite not being of legal age to consume alcohol. 'Sorry mom': The inking was done by NYC based artist JonBoy whom he posed with in this Instagram snap Gerber was pulled over at around 4am on Sunday, December 29, 2019 in Beverly Hills, after police witnessed him speeding in his Tesla, according to a report on TMZ. The website reports that after noticing the smell of alcohol they had the teen do a field sobriety test, which he failed. Presley was booked for DUI and released without charge. He reached a plea deal in July with prosecutors. Legal trouble: The inking comes at an interesting time as Gerber was booked for DUI 'after being caught speeding in his Tesla' at 4am in Beverly Hills back in December 2018 (file picture) Famous family: With parents Cindy and Rande Gerber in June 2018 Presley's lawyer, Scott Spindel, told DailyMail.com: 'Presley Gerber takes this very seriously and is taking the necessary steps to address the allegations.' He added that the teen had no criminal record and had never been previously arrested, was released on his own recognizance and no bail was posted. Last month, Gerber went with little sister Kaia [L] for a sibling tattoo session with New York City tattoo artist Evan Kim [R] Modern canvas: Kaia has eight other tattoos - including a Beatles inspired tattoo that reads 'Strawberry Fields' in homage to their 1967 song Strawberry Fields Forever After the incident, Presley went with little sister Kaia for a sibling tattoo session. Kaia Gerber and her older brother Presley enjoyed a sibling tat session with New York City tattoo artist Evan Kim. The 18-year-old model got two new tattoos - a flower on her wrist and two interlocking arms in the shape of a heart on her shoulder. Kaia has eight other tattoos - including a Beatles inspired tattoo that reads 'Strawberry Fields' in homage to their 1967 song Strawberry Fields Forever. Presley meanwhile has many more tattoos then his younger sister, including her name 'Kaia' inked on his arm and the letters 'HAHA' across his fingers. A jack-knifed big rig caused a major traffic headache Wednesday morning in north Houston. The driver apparently lost control of the truck around 4 a.m. in the westbound lanes of North Loop 610 near Interstate 45, according to Houston police. As a result, the truck lost its load, scattering it across the lanes. Separatists in Cameroon's English-speaking regions kidnapped more than 100 people and torched property in the runup to elections last weekend, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday. State security forces also committed "further abuses" in the two troubled regions, the watchdog said. "Separatist leaders should issue clear instructions to their fighters to end their crimes against civilians," HRW's Central Africa director, Lewis Mudge, said in a statement. "The government of Cameroon should ensure that its security forces put civilians first, by stopping their violations, prioritizing civilian protection, and holding abusers accountable." The nationwide elections on Sunday were to elect a new legislature and local councils. The vote should have been held in 2017 but was twice postponed. But it was overshadowed by a more-than two-year armed revolt in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, home to Cameroon's large English-speaking minority. Years of grievances at perceived discrimination by the francophone majority snowballed into a declaration of independence in October 2017, to which the government responded with a crackdown. The conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives and caused more than 700,000 people to flee, according to tolls compiled by NGOs. The declaration of independence has not been recognised internationally, although the government has lately responded to the crisis by decentralising some of its powers. HRW said armed separatists attacked people wishing to take part in the election, either as voters, campaigners, civil servants or candidates. "The targets included members and supporters of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, which the separatists accuse of failing to show solidarity with their cause," it said. They also burned several election offices, a post office where electoral material was stored and at least seven homes belonging to government officials and candidates. "Rather than protecting civilians from these attacks, government forces committed their own violations against them," HRW said. "Between January 17 and 20, 2020, security forces carried out a military operation in Bali, Northwest Region, destroying over 50 homes and killing several civilians, including two men with intellectual disabilities." The election results and turnout have yet to be published. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference The southern general election, in which Sinn Fein became the lead party, is profoundly disturbing and will seriously impact upon politics here. The vote for Sinn Fein in the Republic was essentially a massive protest vote, particularly by younger voters, not just against the outgoing Fine Gael-dominated government of Leo Varadkar that had been in power essentially since 2011, but also Fianna Fail, hitherto the main Opposition party. Since 2016 the Fine Gael government remained in power under a confidence and supply arrangement with Fianna Fail. This was little different from the DUP arrangement which kept the Conservatives in power at Westminster. In essence, this welcome arrangement provided a stable administration during the extremely challenging and difficult Brexit negotiations, which Varadkar and Simon Coveney conducted with great skill and success, thereby providing a secure foundation for the future development of the Irish economy. In this regard they sought and received solid and enthusiastic support from the leadership of the European Commission, Parliament and member states. However, the irony is that the successful completion of the Brexit transition negotiations meant that this was not a live issue in the election and one that gave no benefit to the governing party. It would appear that eaten goods are fast forgotten. Politics in the Republic has been in flux since the end of the 1990s and the emergence of the Celtic Tiger. The old loyalties to the Civil War parties - Fianna Fail and Fine Gael - have gradually declined. Their lack of ideological, as opposed to emotional historical, differences meant that Irish politics remained largely populist, varying marginally Left-wards and Right-wards as the situation arose. In this general election the combined total for both parties was 43%, a far cry from the past when both parties combined received 80% of the total vote. The vote for Sinn Fein was, therefore, a protest vote against both major political parties arising out of deep dissatisfaction with a number of socio-economic issues. Not least was the high cost of housing throughout the state, but particularly in the greater Dublin area, and persistent problems relating to the delivery of healthcare, which is an unsatisfactory hybrid of public and private services. The high cost of private housing has meant that many young people and families have been unable to purchase their homes and have been pushed into the rental market, where they have to pay inflated rents. The irony is that these problems are a product of the success of the Irish economy. This is the politics of affluence, not poverty. The booming Irish economy, through creating high employment and much wealth, has also generated ambitious social expectations for many people who wish to fully enjoy the success of the second Celtic Tiger. Their exclusion from enjoying that success due to the increasingly high cost of living has created discontent and a questioning of traditional historic loyalties to the hitherto dominant parties. This discontented section of the electorate wanted change and saw in Sinn Fein an answer to that urge for something different. Little did Sinn Fein realise that they were seen in that light. If they had sensed that, then they would have put up more candidates and would have won the biggest number of seats in Dail Eireann. The reality is that Sinn Fein are a party of political fashion that use whatever rhetoric appears to gather popular traction. Their election manifesto's spending plans were a wishlist to all and sundry. Little attention was paid to the north in this election. The restoration of power-sharing at Stormont had no effect. Nor indeed did the controversy over Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy and his defamation of Paul Quinn as a criminal. Paul's brutal murder, which only took place in 2007, may well have excited the media both here and in the south, but made no impact with a southern electorate largely indifferent to the violent history of the republican movement during the Troubles, or indeed post-Good Friday Agreement. Nonetheless, the success of Sinn Fein in the south will disturb both unionists and constitutional nationalists, who will be very wary of Sinn Fein having a role in the national government. They know that the shadow of the IRA looms over contemporary Sinn Fein. They accept that, when the PSNI state as a matter of fact, the army council of the Provisional IRA still exists, that it actually does. They do not regard Sinn Fein as an ordinary democratic party and will be shocked if they become part of the national government. Their presence in the sovereign government will actively hinder, not advance, the cause of Irish unity. The question now remains whether Fianna Fail or Fine Gael will sell out their principled stand against Sinn Fein being in government for the lure of political power. Im hearing lots of complaints from people who spent good money to get Win7 Extended Security Updates, but dont see this months patches. Theres a reason why. Microsoft didnt bother to tell us that you need a new patch, released yesterday, in order to start receiving Win7 ESU updates. You have to download the new patch, KB 4538483, from the Microsoft Catalog, and install it manually before the updates even appear. Folks who spent money to get the February and later patches are livid. Yesterday, after releasing the February updates, Microsoft modified its ESU Procedure page to add this step: Download and install the Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package. For more information, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 4538483 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 4538484 Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package for Windows Server 2008 SP2 The upshot: If you (or your company) paid for extended updates, unless you know by osmosis that you have to install this additional package, and then you download and install KB 4538483 manually, you wont see any February patches. Adding insult to pinheaded injury, if your machine is all prepped to receive Extended Security Updates using the instructions that were in effect before yesterday and you dont install KB 4538483 (or KB 4538484) manually, you wont even see the Office patches for that machine. This new KB 4538483 patch has to be manually installed, even if your machine has passed Microsoft's KB 4528069 tests to verify that ESU is properly set up. Patch Lady Susan Bradley kicks it, While I'm glad that Microsoft offered Win7 Extended Security Updates to small businesses, I'm also concerned that I have now put small businesses at the mercy of what feels like a less-than-planned implementation. In order to get patched by Windows Update, one has to stumble on a brand new blog post out today and download a patch only on the Catalog site. The idea behind paid-for security patches is to make it easier to be patched while you are still running Windows 7, not make it harder to get updates. Need help? Were ready on AskWoody.com. Corporate positions decreased by approximately 33% and operational positions decreased by approximately 13% Total number of positions decreased by approximately 15% across the Company New structure focuses the business on accelerating revenue growth in the Canadian market TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. ("Supreme Cannabis" or the "Company") (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1) today announced the implementation of a new operating structure, including staff reductions, to drive efficiencies and support long-term, profitable growth. As previously announced on January 6, 2020, Supreme Cannabis' board and management team are focused on achieving greater efficiencies and speed to market by rightsizing production, overhead and capital expenditures. At a corporate, operational and international level, the Company's management team is focusing its businesses and implementing new operating models that prioritize near-term revenue growth in the Canadian market. "As Interim President and CEO, I committed to take immediate steps to position Supreme Cannabis for long-term success, including rightsizing the Company's cost structure and focusing our efforts on near-term revenue-generating opportunities," said Colin Moore, Director and Interim President and CEO. "Recent staff reductions were an extremely difficult decision for myself and the Board, but I believe them to be necessary to create a more agile, focused and profitable organization for the long-term benefit of all of Supreme Cannabis' stakeholders. The changes we are implementing will empower our people, drive value for our shareholders and ensure that we continue to deliver a consistent and premium product to our consumers." Under the new optimized organization, reporting structures at the corporate level are being streamlined and vendor contracts and support services have been rationalized. Focusing the Company on near-term revenue generating opportunities and creating a more nimble and effective corporate structure resulted in a 33% reduction in employee headcount at a corporate level. In addition to ongoing improvements to the Company's operational efficiencies, Supreme Cannabis has begun implementing a flatter organizational structure and cost-saving measures across its operating assets, including a reduction in the number of positions at the operational level of approximately 13%. Across the Company, the total number of positions have decreased by approximately 15%. As part of management's enhanced focus on domestic operations and prioritizing near-term profitability, the Company exited its investment in Supreme Heights, its UK and European cannabis investment platform, by exercising its retractable rights to return all investments back to the Company. Supreme Cannabis will continue to achieve capital-light, international exposure to the global wellness and medical markets through its Truverra business and MG Health Lesotho investment. As previously announced, the Company will provide its second quarter financial results for the three and six months ended December 31, 2019, as well as an update on its plan for accelerated revenue growth and strategy to support its transition into a premium cannabis CPG company, after markets close on February 13, 2020. About Supreme Cannabis. The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc., (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1), is a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products and brands. Since 2014, the Company has emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing, premium plant-driven lifestyle companies. Supreme Cannabis' portfolio of brands caters to diverse consumer experiences, with brands and products that address recreational, wellness, medicinal and new consumer preferences. The Company's brand portfolio includes, 7ACRES, Blissco , Truverra, Sugarleaf by 7AC and Khalifa Kush Enterprises Canada . Supreme Cannabis' brands are backed by a focused suite of world-class operating assets that serve key functions in the value chain, including, scaled cultivation, value-add processing, centralized manufacturing and product testing and R&D. Follow the Company on Instagram , Twitter, Facebook , LinkedIn and YouTube. We simply grow better. Forward-Looking Information. Certain statements made in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to: the ability to drive shareholder value; continuing to deliver a consistent and premium product to consumers; winding down its investment in Supreme Heights; continuing to achieve capital-light international exposure to the global wellness and medical markets; and other statements that are not historical facts. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "could", "should", "would", "outlook", "forecast", "anticipate", "foresee", "continue" or the negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking information is current as of the date it is made and is based on reasonable estimates and assumptions made by us at the relevant time in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. However, we do not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated September 17, 2019 ("AIF"). A copy of the AIF and the Company's other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. SOURCE The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. Related Links https://www.supreme.ca/ Vatican City: Pope Francis, in one of the most significant decisions of his papacy, on Wednesday dismissed a proposal to allow some married men to be ordained in the Amazon region to ease an acute scarcity of priests. The recommendation, put forward by Latin American bishops last year, had alarmed conservatives in the deeply polarised 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church, who feared it could lead to a change in the centuries-old commitment to celibacy among priests. Pope Francis poses for a picture with priests during the weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday. Credit:AP Francis delivered his response in an Apostolic Exhortation, three months after the proposal passed by 128 votes to 41 at a contentious Vatican assembly, or synod, of Roman Catholic bishops. Apostolic Exhortations are used to instruct and encourage the Catholic faithful but do not define Church doctrine. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stopped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Tuesday to promote her new movie opposite comedian Will Ferrell, called Downhill, and, while there, the actress shared an interesting story about Russian President Vladimir Putin. While filming Downhill in Austria, Louis-Dreyfus traveled to Vienna, where she visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Louis-Dreyfus shared, "This wonderful gentleman was taking us around and he told this amazing story. Prior to our visit, Vladimir Putin had come and they had given him a private tour." For context, Louis-Dreyfus explained, "All over the museum, they have these gorgeous urns filled with orchids and lilies and all sorts of and it's very, very, you know, Viennese looking, sort of opulent and gorgeous." "Turns out," Louis-Dreyfus added, "Vladimir Putin doesn't like flowers, or the smell of flowers, so they all had to be removed from the museum. While you may be thinking, who doesn't like flowers? That's not the weirdest part of Louis-Dreyfus's story. "Then get a load of this," Louis-Dreyfus said playfully, with a little bit of foreshadowing. "They told us that Vladimir Putin travels with his own bathroom, that they had to set up outside the museum, right in front, so that if he needed to use the facilities, he had his own. And it's his very own Porta Potty that he travels with on the plane. And he uses it on the plane, too." And because Louis-Dreyfus was on a roll with her poop-related puns, the Downhill star concluded her story with the best statement. Louis-Dreyfus stated, "Like, we're all that interested in his sh**. You know what I mean?" The actress also added "it's kind of freakazoid" and that "it feels like Dr. Evil." Hyundai And Canoo to Co-Develop Their All-Electric Skateboard Platform Hyundai And Canoo to Co-Develop Their All-Electric Skateboard Platform The companies will jointly develop an all-electric platform based on Canoos fully scalable, proprietary skateboard design for upcoming Hyundai and Kia EVs and PBVs Hyundai Motor Group expects the new platform using Canoos skateboard architecture to allow for a simplified and standardized development process, lowering vehicle price Hyundai Motor Group is doubling down on a recent commitment to invest USD 87 billion over the next five years for future growth as well as its plan to develop PBVs Editor's Note: LOS ANGELES / SEOUL, Feb. 11/12, 2020 Hyundai Motor Group and Canoo announced today that Hyundai has engaged Canoo to jointly develop an electric vehicle (EV) platform based on Canoos proprietary skateboard design for upcoming Hyundai and Kia models. As part of the collaboration, Canoo will provide engineering services to help develop a fully scalable, all-electric platform to meet Hyundai and Kia specifications. Hyundai Motor Group expects the platform to help facilitate its commitment to delivering cost-competitive electrified vehicles ranging from small-sized EVs to Purpose Built Vehicles (PBV) that meet diverse customer needs. Canoo, a Los Angeles based company creating EVs for subscription only, offers a skateboard platform which houses the most critical components of the vehicle with a strong emphasis on functional integration, meaning all components fulfill as many functions as possible. This feat of engineering reduces the skateboard size, weight and total number of parts, which ultimately provides more interior cabin space and a more cost-effective EV offering. In addition, the Canoo skateboard is a self-contained unit that can be paired with any cabin design. Hyundai Motor Group expects an adaptable all-electric platform using Canoos scalable skateboard architecture to allow for a simplified and standardized development process for Hyundai and Kia electrified vehicles, which is expected to help reduce cost that can be passed along to consumers. Hyundai Motor Group also expects to reduce complexity of its EV assembly line, allowing for rapid response to changing market demands and customer preferences. With this collaboration, Hyundai Motor Group doubles down on its recent commitment to invest $87 billion USD over the next five years to foster future growth. As part of this drive, Hyundai plans to invest $52 billion USD in future technologies through 2025, while Kia will invest $25 billion USD in electrification and future mobility technologies, aiming for eco-friendly vehicles to comprise 25% of its total sales by 2025. Hyundai and Kia both recently announced plans to develop fully electric PBVs. Hyundai presented its first PBV concept as a key pillar of its smart mobility solution strategy at CES 2020 in January. At its CEO Investor Day on January 14, Kia announced its plan to develop PBVs tailored for shared-service companies and logistics companies. We were highly impressed by the speed and efficiency in which Canoo developed their innovative EV architecture, making them the perfect engineering partner for us as we transition to become a frontrunner in the future mobility industry, said Albert Biermann, Head of Research & Development, Hyundai Motor Group. We will collaborate with Canoo engineers to develop a cost-effective Hyundai platform concept that is autonomous ready and suitable for mass adoption. We have been working diligently to develop a bold new electric vehicle and partnering with a global leader like Hyundai is a validating moment for our young company, said Ulrich Kranz, In Charge of Canoo. It is a real honor for us to help Hyundai explore EV architecture concepts for their future models. Canoo unveiled its first electric vehicle for subscription only on Sept. 24, 2019, just 19 months after the companys founding in December 2017. Canoos proprietary skateboard architecture, which directly houses the batteries and electric drivetrain, has enabled Canoo to reimagine EV design in a way that challenges traditional automotive shape and functionality. Canoo reached Beta testing phase within 19 months of inception, and the company recently opened the waitlist for its first vehicle. This is a major milestone for the company and the culmination of the efforts of 300+ experts working to deliver a proof of concept of Canoos backbone architectural systems. Canoos first vehicle will launch in 2021, and is designed for a world in which transportation is becoming increasingly electric, shared and autonomous. To learn more or join the canoo waitlist, please click HERE. ### About Canoo Canoo is a Los Angeles based company creating and offering unique electric vehicles (EV) for subscription only. Canoos first vehicle will launch in 2021 and was designed for a world in which transportation is becoming increasingly electric, shared and autonomous. Canoo is challenging the traditional way of building, offering and using vehicles based on a threefold approach: A new business model that focuses on reducing production and infrastructure costs to make EVs more affordable to customers. A bold design capitalizing on the space EV technology affords, catering to the needs of today's consumers. A subscription model that puts an end to ownership, providing a hassle- and commitment free car experience in modern cities. Founded in December 2017 by a group of experienced automotive engineers and executives, the Canoo team has since been complimented by various experts from successful tech and car companies. Today, Canoo has grown to around 300+ employees covering the entire value chain, bringing together a unique EV with a unique business model for a unique user experience. For more information, please visit canoo.com and follow us at @canoo on Instagram & Twitter. About Hyundai Motor Group Hyundai Motor Group is a global corporation that has created a value chain based on automobiles, steel, and construction and includes logistics, finance, IT and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the groups automobile brands include Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on all challenges, we are working to create a better future for all. While her parents are waiting to appear in court, Olivia Jade Giannulli is having girls' nights with some very important people. According to People, Giannulli was celebrating the launch of Victoria Villarroel's collaboration with lingerie line Oh Polly. Villarroel was Kylie Jenner's former assistant, so the law of celebrity attraction dictated that Giannulli was spotted rubbing shoulders with Jenner and her best friend, Anastasia "Stassie" Karanikolaou. "Olivia Jade was super friendly with all the girls. She arrived with Stassie early in the night around 9 p.m. and said she was happy to be there and support Victoria," a source told People. "Victoria and Kylie were seated across from Stass and Olivia. They chatted a bit over dinner and interacted as a group." Chandler Allen/BFA.com RELATED: Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Listed Their Bel-Air Home It all went down at celeb-beloved Catch LA and the source adds that "the girls drank specialty drinks and chatted and toasted to Victoria throughout the night." It's been almost a year since Giannulli's parents, Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, were indicted in the college admissions scandal. Since they pleaded not guilty, a slew of the other parents involved have been sentenced and some, including Felicity Huffman, have already served their jail time. Olivia has stayed under the radar since the scandal surfaced and her parents were thrust into headlines across the country, though she did return to her YouTube channel in late December with a video titled "Hi again." "This is the best I can do and I want to move on with my life," Olivia said in the video. "It's so hard because I'm not trying to make this about me or how I've been because thats not the point of this." RELATED: Lori Loughlin's Daughters Planned as "Star Witnesses" in College Admissions Scandal According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Loughlin, Mossimo, and nine other parents "conspired to commit federal program bribery by bribing employees of the University of Southern California (USC) to facilitate their children's admission." The parents are expected to be sentenced this fall. Olivia and her older sister, Isabella Rose, have not been charged. Senegal: BBC Afrique fires journalist over a controversial interview on the role of France in Rwanda Journalist Jaques Matand, who worked for BBC Afrique based in Dakar, Senegal was dismissed after being accused of 'a serious mistake' following the interview he did with journalist Charles Onana about his recent book on the role of the controversial French military intervention in 1994 during the genocide of Tutsi in Rwanda. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today joined the Syndicat des professionnels de linformation et de la communication (SYNPICS) in condemning the decision and urging the BBC to reinstate the journalist. The interview of the journalist, a Congolese national and General Secretary of the SYNPICS BBC Section, with Franco-Cameroonian Charles Onana on his book was broadcast on BBC radio and published on its website in November 2019. According to the SYNPICS, the BBC said that the Rwandan government had lodged a complaint, reportedly accusing the BBC of being unfair, biased and inaccurate and threatened legal action against the broadcaster. SYNPICS considers the decision to summarily dismiss Jacques Matand an act of intimidation and harassment against its journalists and called on the BBC French service for Africa to respect the laws of Senegal, the country it broadcasts from. Congolese media and journalists' unions have also publicly condemned the firing and launched a social media campaign , calling on the BBC to reconsider its decision. The General Secretary of the IFJ, Anthony Bellanger, said: BBC management and editors must take responsibility for the content of their programmes, including interviews. It is unacceptable for any media organisation to fire a journalist allegedly under pressure from governments over its broadcast. The IFJ calls on the BBC to reinstate Jacques Matand. ST. PAUL The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is suing Secretary of State Steve Simon, alleging state voting laws illegally discriminate against Minnesota voters who need assistance casting their ballots. State law currently forbids political candidates from assisting any voters with their ballots, including in circumstances when the voter has a disability or language barrier. It is also a crime in Minnesota for one person to help more than three people vote, even if they have challenges doing so on their own. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the nonpartisan litigating group filed its suit against Minnesota on behalf of four plaintiffs, who argue that these state laws violate the federal Voting Rights Act, which "explicitly allows people who need assistance to choose who will help them to ensure voters are not disenfranchised because of disability or language barriers." Staff Attorney David McKinney told Forum News Service that the issue was brought to the ACLU-MN by disabled and non-English-speaking voters who faced barriers or even hostility at the polls, as well as community activists who want to help but are unable or afraid to. Other states have limits to the number of voters one person can assist, but McKinney said he was unaware of any so low as three. Asked about bad actors who could take advantage if these laws were more lax, McKinney said ACLU-MN's case emphasizes the fact that whoever offers assistance should be up to the voter to choose someone they trust, like a caregiver, family member or trusted community member. The suit is not challenging separate laws that criminalize tampering, persuasion or voter fraud. ADVERTISEMENT Among the four plaintiffs is St. Paul City Council member Dai Thao, who was charged in 2018 for assisting a woman who was having trouble seeing and translating her ballot. He was eventually found not guilty on all counts. In the ACLU-MN's Tuesday news release, Thao said, "No one should be prosecuted under these statutes as I was." "I am proud to fight against the injustice of voter suppression," he added. "This statute unfairly limits the ability of vulnerable voters who want to exercise the most basic demonstration of a democracy the right to vote." In addition to Thao, his wife and activist Amee Xiong, St. Paul City Council member Nelsie Yang and activist Chong Lee are plaintiffs. Xiong and Lee say they want to help voters in need of assistance, but feel restricted by state law. All four plaintiffs are Hmong-American. According to the ACLU-MN's complaint, more than 19,000 voting-age St. Paul residents identified as Hmong in 2015. Of those, roughly 28% said they speak English "not well" or "not at all." For those over 65 years old, more than 80% said they have trouble speaking English. McKinney said that population "works, pays taxes, respects the law and contributes to the wealth of diversity in our society, and yet when it comes to quintessential American value of voting, they are oftentimes not able to exercise that." "Immigrant communities have contributed so much to the ethos of the fabric of American life, and yet when it comes to those critical decisions that our politicians make, they are often left out of the process," he said. Minnesota state Rep. Samantha Vang, D-Brooklyn Center, introduced a bill in 2019 to remove the three-person limit, which has not been passed. ADVERTISEMENT A spokesperson for Simon said his office is unable to comment on pending litigation. ST. PAUL The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is suing Secretary of State Steve Simon, alleging state voting laws illegally discriminate against Minnesota voters who need assistance casting their ballots.State law currently forbids political candidates from assisting any voters with their ballots, including in circumstances when the voter has a disability or language barrier. It is also a crime in Minnesota for one person to help more than three people vote, even if they have challenges doing so on their own.On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the nonpartisan litigating group filed its suit against Minnesota on behalf of four plaintiffs, who argue that these state laws violate the federal Voting Rights Act, which "explicitly allows people who need assistance to choose who will help them to ensure voters are not disenfranchised because of disability or language barriers."Staff Attorney David McKinney told Forum News Service that the issue was brought to the ACLU-MN by disabled and non-English-speaking voters who faced barriers or even hostility at the polls, as well as community activists who want to help but are unable or afraid to. Other states have limits to the number of voters one person can assist, but McKinney said he was unaware of any so low as three.Asked about bad actors who could take advantage if these laws were more lax, McKinney said ACLU-MN's case emphasizes the fact that whoever offers assistance should be up to the voter to choose someone they trust, like a caregiver, family member or trusted community member. The suit is not challenging separate laws that criminalize tampering, persuasion or voter fraud.Among the four plaintiffs is St. Paul City Council member Dai Thao, who was charged in 2018 for assisting a woman who was having trouble seeing and translating her ballot. He was eventually found not guilty on all counts.In the ACLU-MN's Tuesday news release, Thao said, "No one should be prosecuted under these statutes as I was.""I am proud to fight against the injustice of voter suppression," he added. "This statute unfairly limits the ability of vulnerable voters who want to exercise the most basic demonstration of a democracy the right to vote."In addition to Thao, his wife and activist Amee Xiong, St. Paul City Council member Nelsie Yang and activist Chong Lee are plaintiffs. Xiong and Lee say they want to help voters in need of assistance, but feel restricted by state law. All four plaintiffs are Hmong-American.According to the ACLU-MN's complaint, more than 19,000 voting-age St. Paul residents identified as Hmong in 2015. Of those, roughly 28% said they speak English "not well" or "not at all." For those over 65 years old, more than 80% said they have trouble speaking English.McKinney said that population "works, pays taxes, respects the law and contributes to the wealth of diversity in our society, and yet when it comes to quintessential American value of voting, they are oftentimes not able to exercise that.""Immigrant communities have contributed so much to the ethos of the fabric of American life, and yet when it comes to those critical decisions that our politicians make, they are often left out of the process," he said.Minnesota state Rep. Samantha Vang, D-Brooklyn Center, introduced a bill in 2019 to remove the three-person limit, which has not been passed.A spokesperson for Simon said his office is unable to comment on pending litigation. ST. PAUL The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is suing Secretary of State Steve Simon, alleging state voting laws illegally discriminate against Minnesota voters who need assistance casting their ballots. State law currently forbids political candidates from assisting any voters with their ballots, including in circumstances when the voter has a disability or language barrier. It is also a crime in Minnesota for one person to help more than three people vote, even if they have challenges doing so on their own. On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the nonpartisan litigating group filed its suit against Minnesota on behalf of four plaintiffs, who argue that these state laws violate the federal Voting Rights Act, which "explicitly allows people who need assistance to choose who will help them to ensure voters are not disenfranchised because of disability or language barriers." Staff Attorney David McKinney told Forum News Service that the issue was brought to the ACLU-MN by disabled and non-English-speaking voters who faced barriers or even hostility at the polls, as well as community activists who want to help but are unable or afraid to. Other states have limits to the number of voters one person can assist, but McKinney said he was unaware of any so low as three. Asked about bad actors who could take advantage if these laws were more lax, McKinney said ACLU-MN's case emphasizes the fact that whoever offers assistance should be up to the voter to choose someone they trust, like a caregiver, family member or trusted community member. The suit is not challenging separate laws that criminalize tampering, persuasion or voter fraud. Among the four plaintiffs is St. Paul City Council member Dai Thao, who was charged in 2018 for assisting a woman who was having trouble seeing and translating her ballot. He was eventually found not guilty on all counts. ADVERTISEMENT In the ACLU-MN's Tuesday news release, Thao said, "No one should be prosecuted under these statutes as I was." "I am proud to fight against the injustice of voter suppression," he added. "This statute unfairly limits the ability of vulnerable voters who want to exercise the most basic demonstration of a democracy the right to vote." In addition to Thao, his wife and activist Amee Xiong, St. Paul City Council member Nelsie Yang and activist Chong Lee are plaintiffs. Xiong and Lee say they want to help voters in need of assistance, but feel restricted by state law. All four plaintiffs are Hmong-American. According to the ACLU-MN's complaint, more than 19,000 voting-age St. Paul residents identified as Hmong in 2015. Of those, roughly 28% said they speak English "not well" or "not at all." For those over 65 years old, more than 80% said they have trouble speaking English. McKinney said that population "works, pays taxes, respects the law and contributes to the wealth of diversity in our society, and yet when it comes to quintessential American value of voting, they are oftentimes not able to exercise that." "Immigrant communities have contributed so much to the ethos of the fabric of American life, and yet when it comes to those critical decisions that our politicians make, they are often left out of the process," he said. Minnesota state Rep. Samantha Vang, D-Brooklyn Center, introduced a bill in 2019 to remove the three-person limit, which has not been passed. A spokesperson for Simon said his office is unable to comment on pending litigation. TIANJIN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Medical student Li Rui's experience of donating blood was a little different than usual. Besides completing a physical examination and blood screening, Li, 25, also had her temperature taken and reported her travel history at a blood center in northern China's Tianjin Municipality. In the lobby of the center, medical workers wearing disposal gloves carefully wiped chair arms and door handles with disinfectant, sprayed alcohol on the ground from time to time, and kept blood donors lined up at least one meter apart from each other. "Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, the number of blood donors is much smaller than usual," said Li, who studies at Tianjin Medical University. "I am a medical student. I know the importance of blood donation at this special time." According to the blood center, the number of blood donors at the center was about 1,200 from Jan. 23 to Feb. 8, down 60 percent from the same period last year. In Tianjin, more than 90 percent of blood donations come from the mobile blood collection vehicles on the street. Blood from Tianjin Railway Station, the largest blood collection point in the municipality, contributes about one-third of the annual blood supply of the city. "We used to collect up to 300 units of blood every day at the donation point," said Li Hongzhu, deputy director of the Tianjin Blood Center. "Since the coronavirus outbreak, we once collected only two units a day." "Affected by the epidemic, we have also reduced the blood supply to hospitals to about 300 units every day," said Li. "In the past, our daily blood supply could reach 600 to 800 units." The blood consumption in hospitals has to be reduced. "We can only offer blood to patients in urgent, dangerous and critical situations," said Li Daihong, a doctor at the First Central Hospital of Tianjin. "Some surgeries have been postponed or suspended." Tianjin has activated a first-level emergency response to contain the spread of the epidemic. In response, the blood center only opens eight donation points across the city and leaves another six in flexible opening hours. All the mobile blood collection vehicles and stations carry out regular disinfection. The center also provides a 24-hour hotline for blood donation appointments. "After taking good personal protection measures, it is safe to donate blood during the epidemic," said Li. "As a medical worker, although I am unable to go to the front line to combat the disease, I can still help patients," added Li Rui. The coronavirus epidemic that originated in China's Wuhan has in a way crippled the rest of the world. The outbreak has not only affected the people but also some major businesses across the globe are hampered. For instance, the biggest mobile event of the year, Mobile World Congress 2020 which was supposed to be held on February 27, 2020, in Barcelona, Spain might get cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Every year, the best tech companies across the globe showcase their latest products and unveil new gadgets at the event but this time the fate of Mobile World Congress is in jeopardy. The major tech brands like Amazon, Ericcson, Intel, Vivo and LG among others pulled out of the MWC just weeks before the mega event. The organizers GSMA, however, confirmed a few weeks ago that the MWC will not be called out even though some of the popular brands have skipped the event. They highlighted the countermeasures they had taken to ensure the safety of the visitors./ "The GSMA is building on its existing plans to protect the health of our attendees, clients and staff at MWC Barcelona. GSMA colleagues around the world are taking strong measures to contain and lessen any further spread of the virus. These measures include adhering to advice from the World Health Organization and other health authorities, respecting travel restrictions where they exist, arriving early in Spain to allow time for self-quarantine and ensuring access to masks, the organizers had said in a statement. However, a new report published in Spanish-language site La Vanguardia, states that GSMA will take the final call on Friday. The report also states that the preparations are underway as workers continue to work at the hall where the event is supposed to take place Several hotels in Barcelona have registered massive cancellations as the coronavirus fears embroil the attendees. Researchers have urged the GSMA to call out of the event because a crowded event like that will invariably increase the risk of transmission of the disease and even if a single person contracts coronavirus, it would cause an outbreak in Barcelona too. The makers, however, had maintained that they would not allow any visitor from the Hubei province and every visitor from China will undergo rigorous screening at the airport. The cancellation of the MWC would also result in the loss in revenue as GSMA had expected over 1, 10,000 attendees at the event. Sudan has agreed to hand ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir and others to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur, a member of Khartoum's ruling body said Tuesday. The Hague-based ICC has charged Bashir and three of his former aides with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Sudan's western region during a devastating conflict from 2003. "Those who have been indicted by the ICC, they have to go there," Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishay, a member of the ruling sovereign council, said in a statement. "One of them is Al-Bashir and (there are) three others," he later told journalists in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, where a government delegation was meeting rebel groups from Darfur. "We agreed that we fully supported the ICC and we agreed... that the four criminals have to be handed over," Taishay said. "We fully supported the claim that the ICC wanted them and they have to be handed over." He did not specify when the decision would be carried out. Taishay said the Juba talks, still ongoing, focused on justice and reconciliation in Darfur, where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict erupted. Taishay said they had agreed several mechanisms for achieving peace in Darfur, including the establishment of a special court to investigate crimes in the region. But "first, all those who have been indicted by the ICC should appear before the ICC," he said. - 'Rule based on justice' - A member of the rebel delegation in Juba also confirmed the move. "We have agreed with the sovereign council in Khartoum to rule Sudan based on justice, especially on issues related to the ICC," Nimir Mohamed Abdurahman told reporters. The conflict in Darfur, the size of France, erupted when ethnic minority African rebels took up arms against Bashir's then Arab-dominated government, accusing it of marginalising the region economically and politically. The ICC has charged Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict. Bashir has denied the charges. The court has also indicted three of his former aides, Ahmed Haroon, Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussain and Ali Kushied. "We cannot achieve justice unless we treat the suffering of the victims because this is a truth that we can't escape from," Taishay said. Sudanese government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Salih also confirmed that the four would be handed over to the ICC. "Bashir and others will be presented to the ICC court. This is a government decision," Salih told AFP. Bashir was ousted by the army in a palace coup last April after months of protests against his iron-fisted rule of three decades. He was arrested following his ouster and has since been sentenced to two years in a detention centre on corruption charges. Anti-Bashir protesters, residents of Darfur and rebel groups from the region have consistently demanded that the ousted ruler be handed over to the ICC. For years before his toppling and despite the ICC indictments, Bashir had regularly visited regional countries as well as Russia and China. Days before the outbreak of mass protests against him in December 2018, he visited Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, becoming the first Arab leader to do so since the Syrian conflict began in 2011. In 2018, Bashir helped broker a tentative peace deal in South Sudan after five years of intense conflict in the world's newest country, which won independence from Khartoum in 2011. Two more Britons have tested positive for coronavirus on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan as the number of cases on board jumped to 174. The two Britons were among 39 new cases confirmed today as passengers on the Diamond Princess face a second week in quarantine in Yokohama. It takes the number of British cases on board to three, after honeymooner Alan Steele was hauled off the vessel and taken to hospital on the mainland on Friday. Mr Steele, who was travelling with his new wife Wendy, said today he was on the brink of being declared clear of the virus. 'Just received great news. My test showed negative to virus and have now been swabbed for second test, if that comes back negative I get released,' he said. The new virus patients also include seven Americans, four Australians and two Canadians, Japanese media said, as well as the ship's first teenage patient. A health worker in a hazmat suit pours disinfectant over part of the Diamond Princess today, in a picture taken by a British passenger who is still quarantined on board British cruise ship passenger Alan Steele, pictured with his wife Wendy Marshall Steele, has tested negative for coronavirus after several days in a Japanese hospital If the Diamond Princess were a country, it would now have largest number of cases outside mainland China. Japan initially screened all 3,711 passengers and crew last week after an 80-year-old passenger who left the ship in January was confirmed to have the virus. Nearly 300 people were selected for further tests because they showed symptoms or had contact with known patients, resulting in 61 initial positive tests. Since then, the tests have expanded to those who had contact with the infected passengers, producing a spiralling number of confirmed cases. In recent days, testing has expanded to 492 people, mostly those showing symptoms or who have had close contact with a confirmed positive case. Of those 492 people, 174 have tested positive so far. 'Currently we have the capacity to conduct up to 300 tests per day, but we are working... so that by the last day of the incubation period, February 18, we will be able to test up to 1,000,' government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said. The ship is due to remain in quarantine until February 19, and authorities do not expect the new cases to change that timeline. However, newly confirmed patients could face a further two weeks in quarantine starting from when they tested positive. Mr Steele was taken to hospital on Friday and separated from his wife Wendy Marshall Steele, whom he married last month. Officials in protective suits, masks and helmets work by the side of a van which is parked at Yokohama port, where the Diamond Princess is under quarantine Japanese vehicles are parked next to a walkway which has been put up to allow supplies to be brought on board the Diamond Princess Boxes of supplies marked for delivery to the Diamond Princess are seen on the shore today On board the ship, the captain told passengers the situation was changing all the time. 'We are following the latest and best public health guidelines from the authorities,' he said in a broadcast that passengers relayed on social media. British passenger David Abel today shared pictures of health workers in hazmat suits disinfecting parts of the ship. 'You sit out on the balcony and you hear people coughing all the way along,' his wife Sally Abel said in a Facebook video. 'It is nothing like a holiday, but it is complete relaxation,' she added. The Diamond Princess has mostly been anchored in Yokohama Bay where workers in protective suits have delivered supplies on smaller boats. The supplies have included food and medication as well as wipes and protective face masks. The ship has also returned to the open sea periodically to collect seawater which can be turned into shower or drinking water. All the passengers have been offered full refunds for the cruise and told they will not incur any charges during the quarantine. People in hazmat suits load supplies from one of three trucks which have driven to the port in Yokohama to help deliver essential goods to the ship Supplies are lifted from the back of a truck in Yokohama, where passengers are bracing for a second week in quarantine Aside from the cruise ship, Japan has identified 28 cases - including at least nine from evacuation flights that brought Japanese citizens out of Wuhan. Some of the passengers evacuated from Wuhan are expected to be released from quarantine soon. possibly by Wednesday evening. The death toll from the virus in China jumped to 1,114 today after another 97 deaths were reported by the country's national health commission. It came after 108 new fatalities were reported on Tuesday, the highest number since the outbreak began. Two people have died outside mainland China, one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong, bringing the global toll to 1,116. More than 44,600 people have been confirmed as infected by the pathogen across China. The virus is believed to have emerged in a market selling wild animals in Wuhan last year before spreading across China. We encourage the media to help inform the public about these behind-the-scene decisions, and encourage broader participation from Massachusetts installers and related renewable energy companies. The altE Store is concerned that a program proposal being considered by the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC), if enacted, will put hundreds of Massachusetts businesses at a competitive disadvantage. On Wednesday, February 12th, the Massachusetts EEAC will hold a meeting to approve their priorities and budget for the year. As it stands the new budget is poised to effectively lock out independent Massachusetts installers from incentives for battery-based solar projects connected to the electrical grid. Instead, it provides those incentives to five national companies doing business in Massachusetts. It is our understanding that the proposed budget does not include any funds to add more Battery Implementers into the program in 2020. The incentives program is referred to in EEAC meeting notes as the Daily Dispatch Battery program. This program is designed to help Massachusetts utilities meet peak energy demand, by using energy stored in home-owner battery systems connected to the electrical grid. In exchange, homeowners would receive incentives up to 50% of the material and installation cost of the battery-based system. Overall this is a great program, avoiding the need for power plants that would only be useful during peak summer demands. It is being driven by the utility Program Administrators as part of the MassSave program, which helps energy efficiency and optimize utilization of the power grid. Vermont, California, and other states are enacting similar programs. What makes this new program so devastating to Massachusetts businesses is the exclusion of smaller regional solar power installers from the program. Individually, they do not have the volume to purchase directly from the vendors included in the program. These smaller companies depend on distributors, like altE, to supply them with equipment from a wider variety of vendors. Furthermore two of the five approved companies are themselves installers and receive extremely valuable promotion from the program websites. See the National Grid program description for details: Connected Solutions Battery Program. The Mass solar loan program encouraged Massachusetts homeowners to choose from any number of qualified solar installers. In stark contrast, this new program drives business to five of the biggest companies in the industry, effectively routing millions of incentive dollars to these national companies while putting smaller, Massachusetts-based independent solar companies at a competitive disadvantage, limiting their growth potential. The exclusive market access granted to these select companies is due to budgetary constraints of the MA EEAC and its utility partners, to the detriment of Massachusetts rate payers and small business owners across the state. They will not be able to take advantage of innovative solutions from other companies that offer commercial and technical advantages. Limiting consumer choice will only lead to fewer options, higher prices, and longer wait times for service. The utility companies use an intermediary to manage interconnects between the homes and the power grid. This company, EnergyHub, has been selected to be the sole source of the Daily Dispatch Battery program. The key technical requirement here is that the equipment (called an Inverter) be able to connect to the EnergyHub system. This connection should be open to any qualified Inverter company. Massachusetts-based independent solar power installers should be able to participate, including the smaller independent companies that have been providing solutions to state residents for more than 20 years. The altE Store will have representatives at the MA EEAC meeting today to voice its concerns. We encourage the media to help inform the public about these behind-the-scene decisions, and encourage broader participation for Massachusetts installers and related renewable energy companies. About altE Store Founded in 1999, altE, Inc. has catered to customers on every continent of the globe. altE fulfills its motto, Making Renewable Do-able, by offering cost-competitive, high-quality renewable energy products and educational services to a broad spectrum of the public, wholesalers, and professional solar installers. altEs headquarters is located at 330 Codman Hill Road in Boxborough, Massachusetts. For more information visit their website at https://www.altestore.com/store/ or contact Toll Free (877) 878-4060. Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Abilene, Texas for 2019. The informational guide recognizes the top 8 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Abilene, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Abilene with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Abilene. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Abilene, Texas please visit https://www.help.org/best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-abilene-tx/. 2019 Best Rehab Facilities in Abilene, Texas (in alphabetical order) 180 House 2102 Amy Lyn Avenue Abilene, TX 79603 888-280-0180 Adult & Teen Challenge of Texas 1099 Flat Rock Road Azle, TX 76030 817-406-4441 Great Oaks Recovery Center 11210 FM 102 Egypt, Texas 77436 877-977-3268 Life Renovations 1 Village Drive, Suite 350 Abilene, TX 79606 325-672-7055 Serenity House 150 Orange Street Abilene, TX 79601 325-603-4067 Shades of Hope 402 A Mulberry Street Buffalo Gap, TX 79508 325-218-4060 Starlite Recovery Center 230 Mesa Verde Drive Center Point, TX 78010 855-389-6786 Riverwalk Ranch 6960 Dick Price Road Mansfield, TX 76063 877-863-3869 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. A 28-year-old Stroudsburg man has been convicted on charges for selling a heroin-fentanyl mix in August 2018 to two people, leading to their deaths. Vincent Ingino was found guilty after jurors deliberated for three hours following a five-day trial in federal court in Scranton, authorities report. The federal jury convicted Ingino on two counts of unlawfully distributing a controlled substance resulting in death, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said in a news release Tuesday. He faces up to life in prison -- there is a 20-year mandatory minimum per count -- when he is sentenced, the prosecutors office said. Ingino sold the drug mix to two people who died a day apart from overdoses, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. A grand jury in November 2018 indicted Ingino on the two counts. Inginos attorney was not available to comment on Wednesday, her office said. U.S. Attorney David J. Freed said, Drug dealers such as this defendant, who profit from their illegal enterprise, bear responsibility for the destruction, damage and death that they cause. ... While we will continue to do all that we can to promote treatment for those with substance use disorders, my office will always hold the dealers who push poison in our streets to account. The investigation was conducted by the FBIs Scranton office, Pennsylvania State Police and detectives from the Monroe County District Attorneys Office, the news release said. When he sold the drugs, Ingino was in a rehabilitative program in Monroe County after two DUI/controlled substance charges and several counts of drug possession from an Aug. 31, 2017, incident, records show. By completing the program, the charges would have been removed from his record. His status, which began in late March 2018, was revoked about 10 days after the grand jurys indictment in the deaths case -- which appears to be about two months past when his six-month stint in the program was to end, records show. The DUI and possession charges were dismissed during a subsequent hearing in early December of that year, records show. Ingino is currently housed in Lackawanna County Prison, records show. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. LAHORE, Pakistan An antiterrorism court in Pakistan on Wednesday convicted Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the group that carried out a deadly attack in Mumbai in 2008, on terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to five and a half years in prison. India and the United States call Mr. Saeed the mastermind of the Mumbai attack, which killed more than 160 people, including six Americans. For years, Pakistan had been under intense international pressure to take action against him and the radical Islamist group he founded, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the United States has offered a $10 million bounty for him. The Hafiz Saeed conviction should have happened many years ago, said Mosharraf Zaidi, a political analyst based in Islamabad, Pakistan. That it did not is a measure of the internal tensions, institutional weaknesses and cognitive contradictions within Pakistan. In the antiterrorism court in Lahore, the eastern Pakistani city where he was based, Mr. Saeed was found guilty of having links with terrorist groups, raising funds for terrorism and having illegal property, said his lawyer, Imran Gill. Over the past 20 years, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent $53.8 billion on issues ranging from public health to economic development. Some 16% of these funds have been spent on the foundation's U.S. programs, which focus on education. The rest is spent on international initiatives, including providing vaccines and family health care in developing countries, expanding economic opportunities, providing emergency relief and much more. But in their 2020 Annual Letter titled "Why We Swing for the Fences," Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, former Microsoft general manager Melinda Gates, say they have not made the progress they expected despite their financial commitments. "If you'd asked us 20 years ago, we would have guessed that global health would be our foundation's riskiest work, and our U.S. education work would be our surest bet. In fact, it has turned out just the opposite," Melinda Gates writes. "In global health, there's a lot of evidence that the world is on the right path like the dramatic decline in childhood deaths, for example," she says. "When it comes to U.S. education, though, we're not yet seeing the kind of bottom-line impact we expected." The goal of the foundation's U.S. initiatives is to increase economic mobility, increase the number of black, Latino and low-income students who go to college, increase college access, improve college graduation rates and support children in their home state of Washington. The Gates have given to education initiatives since 2000, but they have not seen significant improvements in these areas. For instance, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the six-year college graduation rate for American college students has hovered around just 60% for decades. For black, Latino and low-income students, college graduation rates are even lower. Throughout the letter, Bill and Melinda provide explanations for why their education initiatives have not seen the same impressive results as their public health initiatives. Wolters Kluwer's Compliance Program Management (CPM) business has won two major awards for its OneSumX CPM for Regulatory Change Management and OneSumX CPM for Operational Risk software, winning "Solution of the Year" accolades in Finance Monthly magazine's hotly contested FinTech Awards 2020. Finance Monthly is a global publication from the Universal Media stable, providing news, comment and analysis, distributed to more than 195,000 people each month. OneSumX CPM for Regulatory Change Management tracks regulatory changes across a list of global agencies and organizes them to create structured, value-added content that is paired with an easy to use software solution. Clients receive content that flows through a single data feed format, and by linking regulatory changes to their respective regulatory rules in OneSumX CPM's customizable, constantly updated regulatory library, their reporting is more accurate and efficient. OneSumX CPM for Operational Risk, meanwhile, enables organizations to meet and adapt to internal operational risk practices by automating and simplifying the process of collecting, storing, analyzing, tracking and reporting on information relevant to operational losses, risk and control assessments, definition and management of key risk indicators and scenarios. "Our OneSumX CPM solution simplifies the operational risk management and compliance process. As a result it helps financial institutions more effectively manage regulatory compliance and operational risk management," said Steve Meirink, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Wolters Kluwer's Compliance Solutions. "These awards are further independent industry recognition of our leading position when it comes to providing our clients with the regulatory change management and operational risk solutions that they require. On behalf of Wolters Kluwer I would like to thank the editors at Finance Monthly for these accolades." Wolters Kluwer CPM is part of Wolters Kluwer's Compliance Solutions business, a market leader and trusted provider of risk management and regulatory compliance solutions and services to U.S. banks and credit unions, insurers and securities firms. The business, which sits within Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk Compliance division, helps these financial institutions efficiently manage compliance obligations tied to loan and deposit origination transactions and workflows, manage risk and other regulatory compliance obligations, and gain the insights needed to focus on better serving their customers and growing their business. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 18,600 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005029/en/ Contacts: Paul Lyon Director of Global Corporate Communications, Banking Regulatory Compliance Governance, Risk Compliance Wolters Kluwer Office +44 20 3197 6586 Paul.Lyon@wolterskluwer.com MIDDLETOWN School and city officials say the content of a nontraditional Black History Month celebration during which students shared their truths of what its like to be African American was thought-provoking and educational. Middletown High School marked the month Wednesday with a multimedia performance organized by the Minority Student Coalition. The third annual observance was the only club-sponsored, student-led, school-wide assembly during the school year, advisor Yalonda Hart said. The presentation involved spirited step dancing to the beat of a drum, audio, vocal and video components; a majorette show, and silhouettes, or scenes, during which young people revealed their feelings on white privilege, racism, misconceptions about race and ethnicity, and more. Concerns in reaction to social media post by parent Tanisha West ranged from praise (how courageous it was for students to put on the performance, as well as how it was meant to prompt people to examine their own prejudices) to critical (that the show emphasized the divide among various races, and elicited opinions that made students uneasy). The assembly touched on a wide range of topics, including subjects that, by their very nature, were certain to spark difficult conversations. These included skits that dealt with the etymology of the slur n and the concept of white privilege, Superintendent of Schools Michael Conner said in a letter to the community shared by Mayor Ben Florsheim late Monday. The act included skits that students created based on their experiences. Just because its in a song doesnt mean you have the right to say it, one young man told another who approached him and a female student, saying, What up, my n-word)? according to video of the event. It was followed by five students entering the stage with white letter placards spelling out the racial slur. Im happy some students were challenged because of expressing their beliefs, how they feel about these racial stigmas, and stereotypes they face every day, said Common Councilman Ed Ford Jr., a past member of the Board of Education and 2015 graduate. He did not attend the show, but has since heard feedback from constituents. , The lived experiences of black Americans have been experiences of inequality, and many forms of that inequality still persist today including in the lived experiences of our students, Conner said. The presentation was intended to be thought-provoking, and in no way meant to alienate people, the superintendent said. To acknowledge this fact is not intended to shame, divide, or vilify, but to educate. We trust our students to think critically about difficult issues, whether they are presented in a textbook or on a stage, Conner said. West, whose daughter, a MHS majorette and vocalist, was among the performers, recorded the majority of the presentation and shared individual clips on social media. She left understanding the message was for society to abandon the n-word. Everyone uses it for different reasons. No matter what, its controversial, and its inappropriate, so dont use it at all. Black History Month is an opportunity for African Americans to share their experiences whether theyre digging deep or just keeping it surface, she said. West also posed a question on the Parents of Middletown CT Students Facebook page the morning after the show asking for feedback. It elicited a lively discussion and nearly 280 comments. Lets all be accountable for what happened in the past we cant change it, but we can change right now. That was the basis of it all, West said. Her daughter also took part in the Black National Anthem that began the show, and recited a poem, Black Girl. It was all about black girl, embrace your lips, your hips, anything about yourself the melanin in your skin. Do not be ashamed of who you are, because people pay money to look just like you, which is a fact. Thats not white shaming, either, West said. Over the past several years, Middletown Public Schools have undergone a deliberate and meaningful shift in educational strategy to lift up student voices, Conner said. Hes referring to Middletown 2021: Keys to Innovation and Equity Strategic Operating Plan 2018-2021, his blueprint to increase student achievement. Some of Facebook comments said a few students who knew about the content skipped the assembly. District officials closely supervised students during the process of content portions of the assembly containing sensitive content were preceded by content warnings, and all students were given the option of leaving and returning throughout the duration of the program, the superintendent said. Reaction to the production was mixed, and often passionate, Conner acknowledged. Hes fielded concerns as well as praise for the performance from parents and others. The challenging material dealt in honest terms with the plain fact that the history of black people in the United States is a history marked by oppression and violence, Conner said. People in my community werent happy they were challenged on [their views]. I 100 percent understand and agree with them. For a long time, people of color, we have not really had the open space to express what it is were feeling, Ford said. Fully understanding any subject means going beyond what is taught in textbooks, West said. We cant pick and choose the history we want our children to be aware of. This world that we live in is our neighbor, and its very diverse. If you choose not to know, there is a sense of ignorance, because you are unaware. If were not teaching our children to have the right coping skills to deal with such issues, then children are going to be offended, and feel as though people are antagonizing them, West said. For black history, you cant assume these children are going to pick the part of black history already in the textbooks when theyre taught to dig a little deeper, she said. The district scheduled a conversation on racial equity at 7 p.m. Saturday at the high school, 200 La Rosa Lane. All are welcome. By Nancy S. Fitterer Each day, thousands of vulnerable New Jersey residents of all ages and socioeconomic statuses rely on state-funded home health care services to stay independent, healthy, and safe in their homes. Not only do these services help medically fragile children grow up at home among their loved ones and help keep our states seniors in their communities they also keep residents out of costly institutions and save the state money. But New Jersey has not taken the necessary strides to keep these vital services available to those who need them. An increase to state funding for New Jerseys Private Duty Nursing (PDN) and Personal Care Assistant (PCA) programs are critical to ensuring that these vulnerable populations can remain in the safest, most cost-effective and patient-preferred setting: Their own home. The Home Care & Hospice Association of New Jersey (HCANJ) represents home care agencies that provide vulnerable residents with these life-sustaining services every day. Agencies employ quality, trained and certified in-home caregivers to keep families together. From specially skilled nurses who help new parents take their medically fragile newborns home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with the proper care, to compassionate home health aides who help our senior populations age in place with the right supports, these providers carry out the programs services after qualifying patients are deemed eligible. But home health care providers are struggling to recruit and retain enough caregivers due to low state funding for each program, which affects New Jersey residents ability to get the care that they need. In terms of in-home skilled nursing, the state has not raised Private Duty Nursing program rates for more than a decade! As a result, nurses are attracted to hospitals, doctors offices, and other settings where they can make higher wages. Because nurses continue to be attracted to other settings, cases like Zak and Tyler Moellers are unfortunately quite common. The 15-year-old Bloomingdale boys are two of triplets, and have complicated diagnoses that render them non-ambulatory, incontinent, and suffering from upwards of 200 seizures per day. Though they are both authorized for 18 hours of daily skilled care, their mother Dawn struggles to fill these hours with staff even though she works with three agencies! When there are no nurses available or one calls out, Dawn and her husband must miss work, lose out on sleep, and risk ER visits and hospitalizations which cost the family and the state more for their boys. On the other side of the equation, while Personal Care Assistant program rates have recently been raised by $2, it is not close to being enough. As the states mandatory minimum wage has risen, so has the competition. Home health aides who are trained and certified to deliver compassionate care to disabled adults and seniors are increasingly attracted to the fast food and retail industries, which pay comparable wages and tend to be less physically and mentally tolling than home care. Unless the state continues to increase program funding fairly in tandem with the mandatory minimum wage schedule, then agencies that provide these services which save approximately $30,000 per year per New Jersey resident that stays out of a nursing home, according to one member agency will continue to struggle to recruit and retain aides, and even more so will struggle to remain sustainable and risk closing their doors. As a result of lagging rates for personal care assistants, disabled adults and seniors like 63-year-old Manifred Anderson of Jersey City will be forced into nursing homes, where he does not wish to be. Manifred and many others rely on aides to get out of bed, bathe, eat, and go to appointments. When his reliable and compassionate aide, Felicia, left to make more money delivering packages, Manifred was devastated. Not only did he lose a meaningful connection to someone who cared for him, but he lost his ability to live his full life until the agency was able to hire another caregiver weeks later. State funding for New Jerseys Private Duty Nurses and Personal Care Assistant programs dont just go toward wages. Agencies must rely on them to provide caregivers with training, supplies, benefits, and supervision. There is no way to cut corners without risking patients safety. But without any way to increase wages for these vital and life-saving workers, agencies are struggling to hire and retain enough caregivers to keep up with the demand and its New Jerseys most vulnerable residents that suffer as a result. I urge our state government to think of the consequences of stagnant wages for these important workers. They keep families and communities together and save money for the state as a whole. Please support our states in-home caregivers and the vulnerable populations they serve by increasing funding for our Private Duty Nurses and Personal Care Assistant programs. Nancy S. Fitterer is the president and CEO of Home Care & Hospice Association of NJ. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Filmmaker David O. Russell has roped in actor Margot Robbie for his next untitled drama. which will also star Christian Bale. The drama's plot details are kept under wraps and it will be Russell's first feature since the 2015 Jennifer Lawrence starrer 'Joy', reported The Hollywood Reporter. The 61-year-old director is set to write the new film from an original idea and it will be bankrolled by New Regency. The movie will be distributed via its deal with the 20th Century Studios, the outlet's report mentioned. Robbie was nominated in the category of the best supporting female actor in the 92nd Oscar awards for her role in 'Bombshell'. Her movie 'Birds of Prey' is currently running in theatres where she is reprising the role of Harley Quinn. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Infosec's 140% recurring revenue growth fuels rapid trajectory for 2020 Infosec, the leading cybersecurity education and security awareness company, today reports record-breaking 2019 results solidifying the company's leadership in the industry and setting up a significant growth plan for 2020. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005796/en/ Infosec CEO and founder Jack Koziol (Photo: Business Wire) "Our long-time clients honor us with their continued loyalty and we're seeing extraordinary growth in new customers switching to Infosec," said Jack Koziol, CEO and founder of Infosec. "Research and advisory firm Gartner (News - Alert) say the cybersecurity education industry is growing at 54% CAGR. Infosec is growing at 140% and rapidly outpacing the cybersecurity education industry." Infosec's full product line of three innovative, role-based SaaS (News - Alert) cybersecurity platforms - Infosec IQ, Infosec Skills and Infosec Flex - each experienced robust expansion and customer retention, while accelerating the addition of global customers. Growth highlights 140% YoY growth in annual recurring revenue for Infosec software products. Infosec IQ is the market-leading security awareness platform with over 4 million learners who are now more cyber resilient. Infosec IQ more than doubled its customer base in 2019. Customers include now 70% of the Fortune 500. Customer relationships expanded, retaining 104% of subscription revenue in 2019 The Infosec Partner Program for managed services providers (MSPs), value-added resellers (VARs) and OEMs expanded and is now working with 200 partners from around the world wh resell and build security solutions with Infosec products. Launched in April 2019, Infosec Skills has already received recognition for its innovative approach designed exclusively for cybersecurity pros wanting to advance their careers and stay sharp for the latest threats. Infosec Skills named alongside 100 global companies as a BIG Innovation Award winner by the Business Intelligence Group. Significant growth with more than 200 enterprise organizations using Infosec Skills to keep employees sharp and ahead of the latest threats. Infosec Skills boasts more than 600 courses organized into 60 learning paths, mapped to the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. It contains entry, mid and advanced cybersecurity roles backed by research into the skills requested by employers. Innovation and product line of SaaS cybersecurity platforms awarded Staffing expansion to meet growing client needs Voted one of Madison Magazine's Best Places to Work in 2019, Infosec continues hiring additional employees to meet growing client needs. More than 150 employees are now building solid careers in a growing industry with Infosec. Leading the list of open positions are opportunities in Sales, Customer Experience, Content Development and Cybersecurity Curriculum. On the success of the 2019 results, Koziol noted, "Our commitment to delivering uncompromising quality in cybersecurity education and security awareness training will only grow stronger in 2020. The hardworking Infosec team drives our success and never stops producing innovative, high-quality content for our learning platforms." About Infosec Infosec has been fighting cybercrime since 2004. Thousands of organizations and over 2.68 million learners trust the wide range of security-specific classes and enterprise security awareness and phishing training to stay a step ahead of the bad guys. Infosec IQ, Infosec Flex and Infosec Skills provide the most advanced and comprehensive education and training platforms. Founded by CEO Jack Koziol, Infosec is based in Madison, with offices in Chicago and Dulles, Virginia. infosecinstitute.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005796/en/ Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipeg Free Press photojournalist Mikaela MacKenzie. Winnipeg Free Press photojournalist Mikaela MacKenzie has been twice nominated for a 2019 National Pictures of the Year award by the News Photographers Association of Canada. The nominations, both in the single multimedia category, are for MacKenzie's videos accompanying two Free Press stories from 2019: "Homegrown hate," an investigation into a Canadian army reservist recruiting for a neo-Nazi group, and "Overflowed and under pressure," a look at the impacts of fall flooding on North Dakota's sugar beet farmers. Last year, MacKenzie took home a 2018 NPOY award, as her work placed both first and second in the single multimedia category. She also placed third in the portrait/personality category. A Cullman County sheriffs deputy found unconscious in a ravine following a crash during this weeks heavy rains remains critical but is improving. Deputy Adam Clark and his K9, Figo, were injured in a predawn accident Tuesday. Sheriff Matt Gentry said Clark was on duty and responding to a call when dispatchers lost radio contact with him. Once we couldnt make contact, we realized something happened, Gentry said. He described a tireless effort launched to find Clark. Like all Cullman County deputies, Clark had a GPS on his vehicle. That helped narrow down the possibilities as to where Clark could be, but it gave only a general area, not a specific location. Still, he said, without the GPS, I believe it would have taken eight to 10 hours, to find Clark. Deputies, firefighters, police were all searching the area and it was about an hour later when a Cullman police officer spotted Clarks cruiser down a ravine on Alabama 69 South between Bremen and Dodge City. Its just being diligent, Gentry said. I had somebody say they passed by it 10 times. The weather was extremely bad in the early-morning hours, the sheriff said. Once located, first responders went to work to extract Deputy Clark. This is a very fast-moving thing that happens. Asked how long they believed Clark had been in the ravine, Gentry said, We can safely say an hour plus, he said. Because of the heavy rains, it was muddy and slippery. It was not an easy situation to get to, he said. We had to have ropes and other assistance. Once Clark was extracted, he was taken to a Huntsville hospital. He is not yet awake or communicative. Gentry did not elaborate on the specifics of the deputys injuries. The positive is were seeing progress constantly, Gentry said. Were not out of danger yet, but we are making progress in a critical situation which is a blessing. For us as a community, thats huge. Deputies later Tuesday transported Figo to Auburn University, where he is undergoing CT scans and other medical testing to determine the extent of his injuries. The K9 is awake. Were meeting with doctors, discussing what needs to be done, Gentry said. Theyre (Clark and Figo) are very close to each other. Clark has been with the sheriffs office for four to five years. He and Figo have been partners for about a year and have won awards for their work together. Hes a very good deputy, very dedicated to the community, Gentry said. Clarks injury has greatly impacted his coworkers, Gentry said. Thats a pretty traumatic incident, he said. Law enforcement, weve been having tragedy the last couple of weeks. He was referring to last weeks shooting death of Kimberly police Officer Nick ORear. And then to have this on top of it, it makes it touch across the board, he said. The family wanted me to convey how much they appreciate everybody that has assisted in this. They cant thank you enough for your prayers and support, he said. Were not out of danger yet, so were still requesting a lot of prayers, a lot of support. Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen present the award for best live action short film at the Oscars (Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) On Sunday night, Zack Gottsagen, star of the movie The Peanut Butter Falcon, became the first actor with Down's Syndrome to present an award at the Oscars. Zack took to the stage with his friend and co-star Shia LaBeouf to announce the nominees and present the award for live-action short film. Read more: Oscars highlights But despite the pair being close friends, and having spent months together both shooting and later promoting the movie, some took to Twitter in the belief that LaBeouf was somehow mocking Gottsagen as he paused with his line 'And the Oscar goes to...'. A really talented actor with Downs Syndrome presented at the #Oscars last night! Zack Gottsagen really broke down the inequalities of Hollywood! pic.twitter.com/dbit5QpCiw Peter Gillibrand (@GillibrandPeter) February 10, 2020 What a awesome moment for Peanut Butter Falcon's Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen :) #Oscars pic.twitter.com/d1oQpZpAaj Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) February 10, 2020 He wasn't, as anyone who's seen footage of them together would know, but still, the actor's mother Shelley Gottsagen has clarified that LaBeouf would never do such a thing, adding that they have 'beautiful' friendship. I would hate to see any misconception out there. I mean, you know, Shia is just wonderful, you know, we really love him. If anything, I think they were grinning because it was hard to get the envelope open, she told the website TooFab. Read more: The full list of winners at the 2020 Oscars We just love Shia and the respect that Shia and Zack have for each other is beautiful. Their friendship is really, really beautiful. And, you know, it just, it upset me when I thought that somebody was thinking that Shia could have ever had a kind of negative attitude 'cause he's been nothing, nothing, nothing but supportive. Story continues Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen (Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) She went on: They're very tight. They love each other, really encourage each other. Shia's been very supportive of Zack as an actor, his professionalism. He'll really seek out opportunities for Zack and did a lot with promoting the movie, you know, which, Shia always doesn't - that's not really his thing, but he did it for Zack. Shelley even said that it was a promise made by LaBeouf to Zack that signalled the start of the Honey Boy star's sobriety, after Zack pleaded with him not to blow his big break. Shia promised Zack that he wouldn't drink anymore, she said. And he's never had since that day, which is really remarkable. LaBeouf was arrested while making the movie in Georgia in July, 2017, for public drunkenness and disorder, the footage of his arrest going viral. He was sentenced to a period of probation and rehab, during which he wrote the acclaimed autobiographical movie Honey Boy. The swab samples of 40 of the total 41 people quarantined in Maharashtra after returning from the Chinese regions affected by novel Coronavirus outbreak have tested negative, the state government said on Wednesday. While 39 of them were discharged from isolation facilities by Tuesday evening, two others remained admitted at Naidu hospital in Pune and at Kasturba hospital in Mumbai, respectively. Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) has stated that samples of 40 people who were admitted to the isolation facilities have tested negative in laboratory tests, while reports of the remaining one person is expected on Thursday. As many as 27,894 people have undergone screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj international airport in Mumbai since January 18, an official release stated. "Until now 173 people have returned to Maharashtra from the areas affected by the novel Coronavirus (in China). Of them, 90 passengers have completed the 14-day follow up period while follow-up of the rest is taken," it stated. While all the people arriving from China are being admitted to isolation facilities and their swab samples are being sent to the NIV, whereas those arriving from other Coronavirus-affected areas are being kept under observation for 14 days. No positive case is reported from Maharashtra so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Newly confirmed Armed Forces Chief Felimon Santos said the military will survive even without the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US, despite over 300 scheduled activities remaining in limbo. "We will support the President's decision...Anyway, we will live without VFA," Santos told the press on Wednesday, the same day he was confirmed to his new post. His announcement comes a day after the government confirmed that it already sent a notice to the US that it is terminating the defense pact, marking the start of the 180-day period before the VFA's termination. Santos said there were 318 activities initially laid out in 2020 with the US Forces but he assured that they have already made plans to make up for losing the VFA. "We will increase our engagement with other countries just like Japan, Australia and other allied countries. We'll push for the state of Visiting Forces Agreement with other countries," he said. The chief said he is also optimistic that the Balikatan exercises set in May will push through, unless the US backs out. The annual military exercises between Filipino and US troops, is still within the 180-day period of notice. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said the country will manage without the VFA the same way it did after the termination of the Philippines-US Military Bases Agreement in 1991. Again, note this: We survived the historic termination of the Military Bases Agreement; Theres no reason why we shall not survive the termination of a mere Visiting Forces Agreement, he said. However, Guevarra noted that scrapping the VFA renders the two countries' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement "useless," and Mutual Defense Treaty hollow. This is similar to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin's warning about the possible repercussions of doing away with the agreement. He also advised that ending the VFA would signify the "inoperability" of the military's joint activities with its American counterpart. The secretary also raised that the country would stand to lose 10 billion in aid used for training equipment, aircraft and construction of facilities. Meanwhile, a few senators cited economic losses for opposing the termination of the pact. However, Senator Francis Tolentino, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, said the military can still opt to request for military equipment from US before the six-month-long deadline lapses. Before the government sent the termination notice to the US, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President wanted the Philippines to "strengthen its own capability" for the meantime. The end of the VFA was a result of the President's anger towards the US government after the cancellation of Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa's tourist visa. Malacanang also cited the repeated calls of US Senators for the release of detained Senator Leila De Lima who was also a critic of the Duterte administration, jailed for drug charges since 2017. The US 2020 budget law includes a provision that bans Filipinos government officials involved in De Lima's imprisonment. Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report. It took a while for Larry Cowley to build his paper lantern craft. It is not the first time for the 10th grader at Wendell Phillips Academy High School on the south side of Chicago to try his hands on Chinese culture. "One of my friends, she knows a little bit of Chinese that I'd be trying to talk a little bit," Cowley told Xinhua. "I know about the Great Wall of China; red is a lucky color... and it's like a billion people." The boy gained his first knowledge of China through a culture program when he was at the sixth grade. By building red paper lantern craft on Monday, Cowley was participating in a similar cultural program with a dozen boys at his school. "They helped me with that. I know I'm learning new stuff," Cowley said. The boy is most curious about the Great Wall. "I always wanted to see it. I wanna know how long it takes for a person to walk all the way through, I doubt somebody can do that." At the Monday event, which was jointly organized by China General Chamber of Commerce Chicago (CGCC Chicago) and Youth Guidance, CGCC Chicago brought two books to the school students, a pop-up book about Chinese New Year and a book explaining the auspicious patterns in China. The event is an opportunity to know more about China. "It makes me intrigued about the Chinese lunar year. I'm actually enjoying the activity," Lewis Patyk, a 12-year grade student of the school, told Xinhua. "I think it's very creative." Patyk attended a Chinese New Year festival when he was young. "It was amazing. It was so colorful, so creative. It was like if you blink your eye (you) can miss something." "I love the culture, the food. I just love everything about China," the boy stressed. "I know that you all are really good in science, technology, arts, maths. I know that you all are really good at mathematics," he told Xinhua. "How much creativity effort you all put into your food and your culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world." "I was thinking about going to China. I want to see what China is actually like, actually experience the culture. I really wanna experience it for myself." Rebecca Langan, director of external affairs of Youth Guidance, a counseling and a violence prevention program in Chicago committed to school-based programs that enable children to overcome obstacles, focus on education and ultimately succeed in school and in life since 1924, hailed the event as "an opportunity to share cultural dialogue, to learn more about the Chinese culture and to give the students an opportunity to hear from people that look different from them that are different in many ways, but still human." "Phillips is a school where these students were interested in learning. They were interested in talking to people that they had never met before and they were happy to do the event after school," Langan said. "They really didn't know anyone that was from China and they were curious. They wanted to learn more about the culture." Addressing the event on behalf of CGCC Chicago, Daniel Li, manager of Wanxiang America Corporation, talked of Wanxiang America's sponsorship of U.S. high school students to study in China in summer programs, saying CGCC encourages all its members to do so. "We believe people-to-people exchange is the foundation for nation-to-nation relationship. We get to know each other, then we build a trust, we avoid the miscommunication," he said. Wanxiang America is a member of CGCC Chicago, which represents more than 200 Chinese businesses in nine states in U.S. Midwest. Established in 1904, Wendell Phillips Academy High School registers 602 students in 2019-2020 academic year. Rose Parade rejuvenates Stary's love of music, teaching Ronald Stary of Watertown Middle School has returned from the Rose Parade. This year, the parade honored 300 music directors. Picture of a sign with the logo of Tim Hortons on their main cafe for downtown Toronto. (Getty Images) Tim Hortons is revamping its loyalty program in an effort to push more members to register, but one expert says the changes will do little to boost sales for the coffee and doughnut chain. Starting February 26, the program will shift to a points-based system that will see members earn 10 points for each purchase and allow them to redeem a wider range of menu items. Under the previous system, customers were eligible for a free coffee, tea or baked good every seventh visit to Tim Hortons. With approximately 7.5 million Canadians signed up for Tim Rewards, the loyalty program has been weighing on sales as restaurants are forced to give away coffee and food items for free. Jose Cil, the chief executive of Tim Hortons parent company Restaurant Brands International (QSR), said on Monday that the loyalty program dragged comparable sales down three per cent. Comparable sales, a key metric that measures sales at locations opened for more than a year, were down 4.6 per cent in Canada, an all-time low for Tim Hortons. We've attracted far more guests to our loyalty program, far more quickly than we had planned, Cil told analysts. Of those 7.5 million active loyalty members, just 25 per cent are registered online and have shared their contact information with Tim Hortons. A key part of the rewards revamp is to encourage a higher digital registration rate, which will allow the chain to offer exclusive offers to customers based on their purchase history. Joshua Kobza, RBIs chief corporate officer, told analysts Monday that the companys future success will be increasingly dependent on digital capabilities. In the next phase of loyalty, the goal is really about driving two things. One is being able to open up the menu and give more options and the other thing is about moving more into a digital form of the program, Kobza said. That's going to allow us to better understand how our guests interact with our brand and use our brand... and provide more personalized benefits to those guests. Story continues But one loyalty program expert does not believe the changes will help Tim Hortons boost sales. While the new system will provide a wider range of benefits to customers, RewardsCanada.ca founder Patrick Sojka is skeptical that changes will drive additional revenue for the company. I dont think its going to lead to more business at all, Sojka said. The point-per-visit system, he said, will not encourage additional spending, as customers will earn 10 points regardless of how much money they spend. With loyalty programs, its not only about loyalty, but also trying to influence behaviour. And this isnt going to influence behaviour because theres no change on the earning (points) side. How the new program will work Under the new system, registered loyalty members will first select a reward they want to earn points towards before they are able to redeem the item. Tim Hortons said this is to ensure that guests will have a quick and seamless in-store experience. Customers will earn 10 points per eligible purchase, which is defined as worth more than 50 cents and made 30 minutes or more after your most recent transaction. Points can be banked and saved for up to a year. Registered members who dont select a reward level will still be able to redeem a hot drink or baked good after seven visits. As of April, those that are not registered will have to wait every 12 visits to get a free item. The menu items up for redemption will cost members between 50 points for hash browns, classic donuts and cookies, and 220 points for lunch sandwiches and chili. Heres how the point system breaks down: 50 points: hash browns, classic doughnuts, specialty doughnuts, cookies 70 points: brewed coffee, tea, Dream doughnuts, bagels and baked goods 100 points: hot chocolate, French vanilla, iced coffee, wedges 140 points: Classic Iced Capp, frozen beverages, espresso drinks, box of 10 Timbits, yogurt, oatmeal 180 points: breakfast sandwiches, soups 220 points: BELT, farmers breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, chili Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief. A law in Spain which was brought in to prevent the exploitation of workers has enabled a company there to stop paying its staff for smoking and coffee breaks. Energy firm Galp said it was implementing a new law in Spain which requires companies to record employees' entrances and departures from the workplace. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 16:49 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20641f697 1 City GrabCar,kidnap,kidnapping,ride-hailing-application,ride-hailing-service,Grab,police Free A driver for ride-hailing service provider Grab has been cleared of allegations of attempted kidnapping after meeting with his accuser, saying the incident had been the result of miscommunication and his lack of knowledge about South Jakarta roads. The driver, Muhammad Imam, and his passenger, Istiani, agreed on a peaceful resolution to the case after a meeting mediated by police at the Jakarta Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Tuesday. Today I will retract the police report [I made], Istiani said after the meeting, as quoted by kompas.com. The driver and I have apologized and forgiven each other. I apologize to [Imam], his family, and Grab for all the fuss. Istianis harrowing account of her ride with Imam went viral on Twitter and Instagram over the weekend. Read also: Woman uses Grab emergency button to escape shady driver in viral cautionary tale The incident started when she ordered a GrabCar service to two destinations, to her office in the Dharmawangsa area in South Jakarta, and then to Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Bumi Serpong Damai. Istiani had claimed that Imam was driving further away from Dharmawangsa and sped toward a toll road. During the ride, she also said she heard something that sounded like a walkie-talkie. He also frequently looked at her over his shoulder, making her suspicious and uncomfortable. In panic, she pushed Grabs Emergency Help button in the app, after which, in panic, Imam dropped her by the side of the toll road. The frightened Istiani was then picked up by a Grab officer who reported the incident to the police. According to Imam, however, his navigation app had pointed him in the wrong direction. Imam said he had only been a GrabCar driver for a month and was also new to the city, being a native of Brebes, Central Java. I dont really know the South Jakarta area, I only know a bit of West Jakarta, he said. He added that what Istiani thought was a walkie-talkie was just him answering a phone call in a low voice in an attempt not to disturb her. I want to apologize to all affected parties, including Grab, the Jakarta Police, and [Istiani] for this miscommunication. This [incident] also probably happened because I havent fully grasped how to use the Grab application, he said. (gis) WASHINGTON National security adviser Robert OBrien said Tuesday evening there had been absolutely no retaliation involved in Fridays departure of Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council, even as President Trump seemed to indicate that the military would look into whether to take disciplinary action against the Army officer. Vindman, who had been the NSCs director of European affairs, testified in November during the impeachment proceedings against the president, saying he considered Trumps efforts to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate Joe Biden and his son Hunter inappropriate. With his twin brother, Yevgeny, also an Army lieutenant colonel on the NSC staff, Vindman was escorted from the White House grounds Friday. Trump said Tuesday that it would be up to the military whether Vindman is disciplined for his role in the impeachment proceedings. But if you look at what happened, theyre going to certainly I would imagine take a look at that, he said. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images) However, later in the day, OBrien denied that there had been any retribution involved in the ouster of the Vindman brothers. Theres absolutely no retaliation with respect to the Vindmans as far as impeachment goes, OBrien told CBS journalist Margaret Brennan during a question-and-answer session at the Atlantic Council in Washington. But the president is entitled to a staff that he has confidence in and that he believes will execute his policies. Nonetheless, OBrien then seemed to suggest that the Vindman brothers were engaged in an effort to dictate policy to Trump. Were not some banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is or should be, OBrien added. Its really a privilege to work at the White House, its not a right, OBrien said, adding that the Vindmans had each served at the NSC for more than a year. It was just time for them to go back, he said. Their services were no longer needed. Story continues OBrien initially tried to portray the Vindmans departure as part of a larger restructuring of the NSC staff will see more than a hundred staffers mostly career personnel from the military, the intelligence community or other agencies leave their positions. Some of those cuts are already happening. He said that by the end of the week the number of people on the NSC will be down to about 115 to 120. They werent fired, OBrien said of the Vindmans. None of the detailees that leave the NSC are fired. He downplayed the reports of the Vindmans being walked off the White House grounds, describing that as standard procedure for people on their last day of work there. I just wouldnt read anything into that, he said. But pressed by Margaret Brennan of CBS, he acknowledged that Vindmans position was not being phased out and was already being filled by someone else. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: The room was on fire at the University of New Hampshire as the Strokes rocked out for 7,500 Bernie Sanders supporters at a rally Monday night. The band debuted two new songs, Bad Decisions and At the Door, and played some old favorites and covers at the raucous campaign event in Durham, N.H. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sunflower Bean, Cynthia Nixon, and Dr. Cornel West also took the stage. Before closing the show with their 2001 song New York City Cops, the groups frontman, Julian Casablancas, wearing a suit emblazoned with comic-book sound effects, announced that their new album is coming out April 10. Earlier in the week, the band posted a silent video teasing what appears to be the records title, The New Abnormal. While the quintet did a live performance of Bad Decisions, a classic-sounding Strokes tune filled with their signature guitar riffs, they debuted the synthy At the Door via an animated video. They also covered the Talking Heads Burning Down the House and played hits like Someday and Hard to Explain. Joe Raedle/Getty Images In a statement issued before the performance, Casablancas said of their decision to play at the event, We are honored to be associated with such a dedicated, diligent, and trustworthy patriot and fellow native New Yorker. As the only truly non-corporate candidate, Bernie Sanders represents our only chance to overthrow corporate power and help return America to democracy. This is why we support him. The Strokes arent the only band providing a soundtrack to Senator Sanders presidential campaign. Bon Iver performed at a Sanders rally in Clive, Iowa, on Jan. 31, and Vampire Weekend played the following night in Cedar Rapids. While the Strokes released an EP titled Future Present Past in 2016, their most recent full-length studio album came back in 2013 with Comedown Machine. They debuted two other new songs at live shows over the past year, The Adults Are Talking and Ode to the Mets. Story continues Watch their rally performance at the Whittemore Center Arena below: Related content: NORRISTOWN For what prosecutors called crimes of violence and greed, a Philadelphia man faces more than two decades in prison for his role in two armed robberies and an attempted kidnapping at a Norristown used car dealership. Damon Robert Murphy, 33, of the 2100 block of North 32nd Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 28 to 56 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault in connection with incidents that occurred between April and July 2018 at the El Camino Motors used car dealership in the 700 block of East Main Street in Norristown. He is at the center of this corrupt organization. This is a crime of violence and greed, motivated by a desire to steal money, said county Assistant District Attorney Matthew Brittenburg, who along with co-prosecutor Roderick Fancher argued for a lengthy prison term against Murphy. The sentence was imposed by Judge Wendy G. Rothstein. You menaced the victim. You also showed no remorse for your actions. I find you pose a continued risk to the public, Rothstein addressed Murphy. Murphy, who was represented by defense lawyer David Lehman, did not address the judge before learning his fate. I want to preserve my rights for an appeal, said Murphy, who tried at the last minute to withdraw his previous guilty plea but was denied by the judge who found it was made knowingly and voluntarily. Murphy was one of five people from Norristown and Philadelphia accused of conspiring in the two armed robberies and attempted kidnapping at the dealership, robberies that netted the culprits nearly $10,000 in cash and numerous vehicle titles. With the charges, authorities alleged the five defendants operated within a corrupt organization that orchestrated two armed robberies. The first armed robbery occurred about 8 p.m. April 30, 2018, and the second occurred about 6:40 p.m. July 18, 2018. Members of the Montgomery County District Attorneys Violent Crime Unit used wiretaps, surveillance footage and cellphone analysis to link the defendants to the crimes. Detective Mark Minzola testified authorities obtained video surveillance from the El Camino dealership and he narrated the events as the video footage was shown to the judge during Murphys sentencing hearing. Murphy, according to the videotape, positioned a sport utility vehicle in front of the dealership during the July 18 robbery, tried to assist others in forcing an employee of the dealership into the vehicle, punched the victim and then drove the suspects from the scene. In a letter to the judge, the victim said he felt utter terror as some of the men pointed guns at him and then tried to force him into the SUV during the unsuccessful kidnap attempt. Another man, Calvin Berkins, 30, of the 200 block of Nassau Place, Norristown, was sentenced on Tuesday to 7 to 14 years in prison for participating in the incident. Several others also pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with one or both incidents. Theophilus Berry, 33, of North 59th Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison. Charlie Franco, 31, of B Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 153/4 to 311/2 years in prison. Eric Santana, 36, of Bennington Street, Philadelphia, is awaiting sentencing. Authorities alleged that two unidentified Hispanic women conspired with others during the first robbery in April. Detectives alleged the women utilized the ruse of posing as prospective buyers of a vehicle in order to distract the victim and facilitate the armed robbery. Murphy entered the office and pointed a gun at the victim and went through the victims pockets and stole his wallet and iPhone, detectives alleged. Murphy told the victim not to move or he will kill him, detectives alleged, adding the victim was placed in fear for his life if he failed to comply with their demands. The three alleged actors left the business with $8,000 cash and about 100 vehicle titles before fleeing in a vehicle westbound on East Main Street, detectives alleged. Surveillance video was not available at the time of the April robbery, testimony revealed. The same victim was targeted during the second robbery and kidnapping attempt in July. The victim told detectives three males entered the business, including two who pointed guns at him and ordered him to give them his money, detectives alleged. The two armed males forced the victim to his office, ordered him to open drawers and stole about $1,200 in cash, according to court documents. The three men later walked the victim outside at gunpoint and tried to force him into a waiting 2018 Ford Explorer. However, the victim resisted and while he was punched by some of the actors, he was able to run away and all three robbers fled in the Explorer, which also was occupied by two other people, detectives alleged. Video surveillance footage from the dealership helped detectives identify Franco, Santana and Berry, right down to the tattoos they sported on their bodies, as the three males who entered the business. Prosecutors alleged Murphy and Berkins were waiting in the SUV outside the business. Franco and Santana were arrested in Philadelphia on July 24. A sixth man, Michael Dukes, 28, of the 1400 block of Arch Street, Norristown, was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to victim intimidation and a weapons offense. Detectives alleged Dukes contacted the victim and tried to convince the victim to go to a preliminary hearing for Santana and Franco and lie about the robbery and attempted kidnapping. An armed Dukes was taken into custody on Aug. 1 when he went to El Camino to meet with the victim, detectives wrote in court papers. Authorities alleged Berkins was parked near the dealership and was communicating with Dukes, including sending a text message stating, We need something today, while Dukes was trying to intimidate the victim to lie in court. When Berkins viewed police move in to arrest Dukes he fled from the area at a high rate of speed in a vehicle, detectives alleged. After his arrest, Dukes allegedly told detectives that prior to the July 18 robbery he had been sent by others to scout the dealership to ascertain when the victim was arriving and departing El Camino Motors. A venue in London is being lined up to host the COP26 climate change summit if necessary, amid rows over spiralling costs and bungled preparations in Glasgow. The move which would enrage the Scottish government comes despite the government denying any plan to move COP26 when it was alleged after the sacking of its president last month. In fact, talks have opened with the ExCeL convention centre in the capital, a government source told The Independent, while insisting it was only contingency planning. But Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Boris Johnson of playing politics with the biggest issue of our time, adding: He should be called out on it, not indulged. The move follows a damaging row with Holyrood over suggestions the policing bill will top 200m and that some buildings that will be needed have been set aside for other purposes. Claire ONeill, the summit president sacked by Boris Johnson, claimed the prime minister reacted to her call for Ms Sturgeon to be given a key role with salty language. No 10 was then forced to deny an allegation that Mr Johnson referred to the Scottish first minister as that wee Jimmy Krankie woman. The source said: This is fairly standard contingency planning. We do it before most major events. And government sources insisted that discussions with the ExCel began soon after the UK was made host of the COP gathering. Mr Johnsons press secretary told reporters: We are committed to holding COP26 in Glasgow, but the Scottish government need to work with us to make sure this is a successful summit which showcases the UK as a world leader in tackling climate change and represents value for the UK taxpayer. Its standard practice to carry out contingency planning for for major international events at this scale. The first minister said yesterday that the Scottish government will work closely and constructively with the UK government to deliver COP26. I think this issue is above party politics. Ms Sturgeon has risked further inflaming Downing Street this week with a call for climate emergency protestors to play a leading role at the summit in November, sponsored by the United Nations. Calling for COP26 to be inclusive, she said: Thats the kind of movement we need to create around this, that can be a hugely powerful voice for change. She branded the press secretarys comments silly, writing on Twitter: Ive made crystal clear the Scottish government commitment to making COP26 a success and offered PM additional input from us he hasnt yet responded. If he insists on playing politics it will be on him, not me. London and Edinburgh have clashed over both the policing costs and logistics for the 11-day gathering, which will attract tens of thousands of people. Large numbers of officers from the Metropolitan Police will have to be deployed to Scotland, with officials north of the border believing the UK government was slow to realise that. However, a Whitehall official told The Independent that Holyroods estimate of those costs was eye-watering, saying: We do not believe the estimates from the Scottish government are realistic. Edinburgh also says the initial plans did not require use of the Glasgow Science Centre close by resulting in it signing a deal for public events linked to COP26 to be staged there. Mr Johnson has been struggling to ward off criticism of his handling of the summit since Ms ONeill claimed: He has admitted to me he doesnt really understand it [climate change] he doesnt really get it, I think is what he said. A new COP26 president is expected to be appointed in Thursdays government reshuffle, with Michael Gove the favourite after pushing hard to be given the role. Atlanta, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) today announced that Distech Controls TM , an innovation leader connecting people with intelligent building solutions, received ControlTrends Innovative Wireless Product of the Year award for the ECLYPSE Sky Ecosystem and Impact Solution of the Year award for the my PERSONIFY Workplace app . In addition to the product and solution awards, Martin Villeneuve, President of Distech Controls, received the PID (Passion, Integrity and Dedication) award from ControlTrends, and Scott Hamilton, Vice President of Sales, Distech Controls, won Executive of the Year (Large Manufacturer). Judged by a group of independent industry professionals, ControlTrends Awards honor innovation for HVAC and building automation. This years ControlTrends awards are monumental for us as we celebrate our 25th year anniversary, said Villeneuve. Receiving industry honors for two of our new innovations recognizes the commitment of Acuity Brands and Distech Controls to Expanding the boundaries of lighting . When buildings are equipped with Distech Controls solutions and other Acuity Brands solutions that include connected lighting, networked controls and software solutions, building and business owners can enhance services for occupants and employees. For example, end-users can change the comfort settings (temperature, lighting and blinds), room reservations, maintenance reporting, indoor positioning and more using the my PERSONIFY Workplace app. And, the ECLYPSE Sky Ecosystem delivers personalized occupant control for space through Bluetooth communication technology. This new platform allows occupants to easily manage comfort settings within their space via technology they are familiar with, such as a mobile device or app. The product and solution awards recognize the capability of our solutions to leverage an HVAC-based networked platform as the foundation for a smart, connected facility, said Villeneuve. Our solutions resonate with building owners who are seeking technology solutions to provide enhanced occupant experiences in commercial office, education, healthcare and other facilities. The awards were announced during AHR Expo . Click here to see the full list of winners . About Distech Controls Distech Controls connects people with intelligent building solutions through our forward-thinking technologies and services. We partner with customers to deliver innovative solutions that can provide better health, better spaces, and better efficiencies. Our passion for innovation, quality and sustainability guides our business, which serves multiple market segments through worldwide business divisions, service offices and a superior network of Authorized System Integrators and Distributors. Distech Controls, Inc. is a subsidiary of Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. For more information visit www.distech-controls.com About Acuity Brands Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is the North American market leader and one of the worlds leading providers of lighting and building management solutions. With fiscal year 2019 net sales of $3.7 billion, Acuity Brands currently employs approximately 12,000 associates and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with operations throughout North America, and in Europe and Asia. The Companys products and solutions are sold under various brands, including Lithonia Lighting, Holophane, Aculux, A-Light, American Electric Lighting, Antique Street Lamps, Atrius, Cyclone, DGLogik, Distech Controls, DTL, eldoLED, Eureka, Gotham, Healthcare Lighting, Hydrel, Indy, IOTA, Juno, Lucid, Luminaire LED, Luminis, Mark Architectural Lighting, nLight, Peerless, RELOC Wiring, ROAM, Sensor Switch, Sunoptics and Winona Lighting. Visit us at www.acuitybrands.com Distech Controls is a trademark of Distech Controls Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. # # # # # Media Contact: Monica Sanchez monica.sanchez@acuitybrands.com 770-860-2948 A prominent Indian-American has suggested renaming the CAA as the Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, saying it would establish a right perception difficult to challenge. The remarks of Khanderao Kand, director of non-profit organisation Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), came in the wake of widespread protests held across India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The CAA should have been named as Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, Kand said during a panel discussion on the amended citizenship law and abrogation of article 370 in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC on Tuesday. Branding the CAA as a refugee act would have established a right perception difficult to challenge for its opponent, he said, adding that this name would have been appropriate as it gives citizenship to the refugees and does not take away anyone's citizenship. India-born Nissim Reuben, who is an assistant director of the American Jewish Committee's (AJC) Asia Pacific Institute, mentioned that India is right on actions but short on building right perception, emphasising on the need of India and Indian diaspora to engage in public awareness campaigns. Political analyst Sant Gupta, at the event organized by FIIDS -- a policy, advocacy and awareness forum for India and Indian diaspora-related issues -- said the Indian diaspora needs to be actively engaged in political activism. India-born policy analyst and a founding member and former president of Indo-American Kashmir Forum Dr Vijay Sazawal said that the constitutional provision, under which Kashmir trifurcation was done, has been used by the Government of India in the past and hence there is a precedent that will stand in any judicial scrutiny. A Gilgit-Baltistan activist Senge Sering mentioned that India not only has a legitimate right on the region but also should protect the region from being exploited by China under the multi-billion dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is part of its world empire building vision of One Belt One Border initiative. 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RoboMarkets has been named the 'Best Client Service in Forex - Europe' in the Global Brands Magazine Awards. Global Brands Magazine (GBM) is one of the world's most admired brand publications, devoted to news and opinions on companies that are shaping the future of the industry. The UK based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on the 'best-in-class' brands across the globe. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that have stood out among their peers, demonstrating exceptional service and great vision. This year RoboMarkets stood out for their exceptional service delivery, TAT resolutions, award-winning products, rigid trading platform, and excellent customer feedback Commenting on winning the award, Konstantin Rashap, CBO at RoboMarkets, said: "We're very glad that Global Brands Awards jury has honoured RoboMarkets' as the "Best Client Service Forex Company". It's extremely valuable because the Company has recently emphasized on improvement of services to our clients. We implemented a comprehensive approach to studying client experience and we compared the data with our internal business processes. After the analysis, we defined key directions that help clients gain better and safer trading experience. One of the top priorities that we had been working on throughout 2019 was client service and we're very pleased to receive such a high grade of our efforts. Over the past year, we added more than 700 new trading instruments and improved trading conditions and functionality of our terminals. RoboMarkets' has partnered with one of the largest global brands BMW M Motorsport, for the DTM series. Also, we were a Platinum sponsor of 'Autolife' race team throughout 2019 including Dakar 2020 rally and sponsored 'RoboMarkets AEL', the women's volleyball team from Cyprus. We now intend to explore new markets, increase brand awareness and continue our activities to improve our products and services." About RoboMarkets RoboMarkets was founded in 2012 and received European broker license in 2013. RoboMarkets is regulated by the CySEC with the license No. 191/13. The Company provides institutional and retail clients from Europe with quality trading services and competitive trading conditions. The company's clients get access to professional and reliable trading platforms. They have an opportunity to use proprietary up-to-date technological solutions. RoboMarkets provides 24/7 online customer support in 11 different languages. More detailed information about RoboMarkets can be found on www.robomarkets.com. About Global Brands Magazine Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Global Brands Magazine is the most popular brands magazine providing opinions and news related to various brands across the world. The magazine provides the reader with up-to-date news, reviews, opinions, polls on leading brands across the globe. GBM is also a data-centric research organization, bestowing recognition and distinguishing the winners from its competitors and creating a unique brand identity. For more information please visit www.globalbrandsmagazine.com About Global Brands Award Global Brands Award was established with the aim of honouring excellence in performance and rewarding Companies across different sectors. The award honours companies who have performed extraordinarily well in various fields including and not limited to Finance, Education, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Automobiles, Technology & Leadership to acknowledge key players who strive for fineness & provide a platform for recognition. GBM awards also aims to identify, create awareness about the significance of exceptional service delivery & reward their performance with the ultimate global Recognition. The next MEGA EVENT of Global Brands Magazine will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai - Palm Jumeirah on the 18th of April 2020. Nominations are invited from companies to be a part of the grandest ceremony to be held in one of the finest hotels in the world. Please earmark your presence by visiting and registering on our event page. SOURCE Global Brands Publications Limited Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 06:05:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close ROME, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government on Wednesday said it has asked the country's second-largest carrier Air Italy to try to find alternative paths to liquidation, a day after stakeholders announced they would shut down the financially-troubled airline. Transport Minister Paola De Micheli, along with head of Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) Nicola Zaccheo, summoned Air Italy's three liquidators for a meeting. "The government has reiterated its strong irritation with the way the matter has been handled, and for the lack of involvement of the public institutions," a ministry statement read. "The company's representatives have been asked to explore alternative paths to the liquidation, in order to guarantee the best possible protection for the workers, and the continuity of flights," it added. The ministry stressed the government's "priority goal" was to protect employment. It announced that a second meeting between company's liquidators, trade unions, and regional officials would take place next week. Sardinia Island, where the company headquartered, and northern Lombardy -- where it has a major hub at Milan Malpensa airport -- are the two regions that would suffer the most in case of liquidation. On Tuesday, the stakeholders of Air Italy -- namely Sardinia-based carrier Alisarda and Qatar Airways -- announced via the AQA Holding company they had agreed to liquidate the airline and stop all operations due to persisting difficult conditions on the market. After this announcement, Air Italy stated all of its flights up to Feb. 25 would be operated by other carriers "in the scheduled days and timing", while tickets bought for flights after that date would be refunded. The transport minister reacted severely to this announcement. "The decision of Air Italy to liquidate the company is extremely serious, and it implies repercussions on travelers and on air traffic in our country," De Micheli said in a statement issued by ENAC on Tuesday. "The Ministry will take all possible measures in order to guarantee the travelers' rights, and the connections so far covered by the company," added the statement. On Wednesday, the minister said that efforts to define "a new Airports Plan, and a revision of air transport rules" would kick off in cooperation with ENAC later in February. Air Italy had a fleet of 12 aircraft, operating flights across Italy and to various locations in the United States, Asia and Africa. It has about 1,200 employees, according to media reports. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The Manure Management Workshop will teach livestock producers and farmers how to get the most out of manures as fertilizers, as well as to understand state laws and regulations on manure. The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST Feb. 27 at the Martin County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2666 U.S. Highway 50, Loogootee. Workshop speakers and topics include: * Stephanie McLain, state soil health specialist, and Tony Bailey, conservation agronomist/state nutrient specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will explore how manure can build and improve soil health. * Ben Wicker, executive director, Indiana Agriculture Nutrient Alliance, will talk about ways to improve manure and nutrient efficiency for crops. * Greg Slipher, livestock specialist, Indiana Farm Bureau, will explain ways to be a good neighbor while utilizing and handling manure. * Matt Pearson, fertilizer program administrator, Office of the Indiana State Chemist, will discuss current manure rules and regulations. There is no cost to attend, but registration for meals and materials is required either online at https://2020manuremanagement.eventbrite.com or by calling the Martin County SWCD at 812-295-3149. This workshop counts as one of three meetings required for private pesticide and fertilizer applicator (PARP) recertifications. The fee for PARP credit is $10, and attendees who want credit must bring their private applicator numbers and attend the entire program. Continuing credit hours for commercial applicators and 1.5 nutrient management and 1.0 soil and water management continuing education units for certified crop advisers will also be available. This workshop is a partnership with Purdue Extension, the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, and the Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District, and is made financially possible through a grant from Perdue Farms. Contact: Kenneth Eck, 812-482-1782, kjeck@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page King Legacy: 'Fierce Urgency of Now' exists today By Terry Moon Cronk, DOD When Martin Luther King Jr. led the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, he described a "fierce urgency of now," said Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Norquist at the Pentagon Auditorium. Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Norquist makes remarks at the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance ceremony at the Pentagon, Jan. 16, 2020. Image by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee "And he reminded a divided nation that we needed one another, and that we are stronger when we march forward together," the deputy secretary said at the Defense Department's 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance ceremony to celebrate King's legacy. Norquist said that a half-century later, King's words continue to ring true: "'We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.'" Through King's words and personal example, he inspired a nation and showed us the way forward, the deputy secretary said. "' Our very survival,' King said in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 'depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change,'" Norquist said. "Nothing could be more true for each of us here at the Department of Defense, as we work, each day, to innovate and adapt to meet today's challenges with the 'fierce urgency of now,'" he noted. The deputy secretary introduced keynote speaker, retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles, who spoke to the impact the 1963 march had on him. He served as vice commander, Ogden Air Logistics Center; commander, Space and Missile Systems Center; director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization; vice chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; and commander, Air Force Materiel Command. Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles (Ret.) shakes hands with Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Norquist at the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance ceremony at the Pentagon, Jan. 16, 2020. Image by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee A native of Washington, Lyles was a college freshman when he said he was significantly moved by people of all races and both genders taking part in the 1963 march and by King's speech at the Lincoln Memorial, known as the civil rights leader's "I Have a Dream" speech. King, that day in 1963, spoke of "beloved community," and the "fierce urgency of now," Lyles noted. We've accomplished a lot in civil rights but we still have a lot to achieve, even in 2020, and that fierce urgency of now is still relevant, he told the Pentagon audience. "When I think of achieving beloved community, I think of the challenges, and I think today's [needs] are even greater," Lyles said. "We still have some budding racial divisiveness, growing political divisiveness, expanding partisanship and we still need to work on things where we're making progress things like diversity and inclusion and lots of other societal ills and issues," the retired Air Force general said. As in 1963, the urgency of addressing those issues is now, Lyles said. "We can't rest on our laurels, we can't assume they're all done or somebody else will take care of them. We need to address them ourselves." Ten years ago, Congress and the National Defense Authorization Act of 2009 and 2010 challenged then-defense secretary Robert M. Gates to put a commission together to look at diversity and leadership in the military, and Lyles was a member. Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles (Ret.) delivers the keynote address at the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observance ceremony at the Pentagon, Jan. 16, 2020. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James K. Lee The premise was why does the military and civil servants have relatively few women and minorities in top leadership positions? he postured. The commission addressed 16 questions and sought to figure how DOD could ensure a beloved, diverse community that's leading the organizations while accomplishing its mission, Lyles said. Among the recommendations that came out were ensuring diversity and inclusion is a strategic competency in the U.S. military, particularly, in the Pentagon; making sure the tone from the top is very clear; developing future diverse leaders; and offering mentoring and career development to make people the best they can be. Also recommended were efforts to create an outreach for a greater pool of future diverse leaders; ensuring DOD has continued progress such as accountability; and promotion of leaders who champion diversity and inclusion, he noted. Similar to King's objective in the 1963 march, "We tried to ensure that DOD would create a diverse and beloved community for all military organizations at all levels," Lyles said. Published February 12, 2020 New Delhi, Feb 12 : Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Wednesday called for a Bharat Bandh on February 23 against the Supreme Court's verdict on reservation in promotions. Azad asked leaders from the OBC to SC-ST and minority groups to participate in the shut down. He also warned that if the MPs and MLAs of the backward and Dalit classes did not support the call, there would be a demonstration in front of their houses. The Bhim Army has also demanded reservation in jobs and promotions in the private sector. At a press conference at the Press Club of India here, Dalit leader Chandrashekhar said that the BJP government at the Centre is trying to end the reservations. Now, "save the reservation, save the constitution" and "remove the CAA, NRC, NPR, save the constitution" movements will be launched. He said: "On February 17, people from Dalit and backward organisations will march from Mandi House to Parliament. If the central government does not reverse the decision on reservations of the Supreme Court by bringing an ordinance, then India will be closed on February 23. This will be the same kind of demonstration as was done against the earlier decision regarding the SC-ST Act". Chandrashekhar, while advocating reservations in promotions, said that people from these castes join the IPS through reservations but they have to toil hard for promotions to become an IG or DIG because their confidential report gets marked with a red pen. The Supreme Court while hearing a case related to Uttarakhand had said that reservation or quota is not a fundamental right in promotions. 00:00 | Lima, Feb. 12. Last year, Peruvian exports to Australia totaled US$91.6 million, a 56.6% decrease compared to 2018. This situation is expected to improve substantially following the PAFTA's recent entry into force. Minagri also stressed that the main agricultural export products which will enter Australia tariff-free are coffee quinoa , canned asparagus, cacao beans, cacao powder, chocolate bars, maca flour, carmine cochineal, fresh garlic, and frozen mangoes. "Proof of this is that for the first time a chapter on Small/Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as well as on Competitiveness and Business Facilitation is included, which contributes to the development of the country," it emphasized. . In the case of agricultural products, the rate reaches nearly 100%. Background It established that 96% of Inca products would enter the Australian market tariff-free from the first day in force , whereas the remaining 4% would do so in a gradual process over a maximum period of four years. SRINAGAR, India - India took more than 20 foreign diplomats on a visit to disputed Kashmir on Wednesday, the second such trip since Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist government stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status last summer. Indias foreign ministry in a statement said the envoys would meet representatives of the civil society, including youth from different ethnic and religious communities, local business and political leaders, civil administration and representatives of mainstream media. The delegation included envoys from Germany, Canada, Bulgaria, Nigeria, France, New Zealand, Mexico, Italy, Afghanistan, Austria, Uzbekistan, Poland and some members of the European Parliament. Theyll stay in the region for two days. The diplomats were driven in a motorcade amid tight security from the airport to a luxury hotel at a high-security zone. They also went for a boat ride in the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Tahir Qadiry, an Afghan diplomat, told reporters after the boat ride that everything is normal and alright here. We saw children on the way to their school, which is a sign of normalcy. All schools and colleges in the Himalayan region are closed for winter vacations since December, and it wasnt clear what Qadiry was referring to. He also tweeted that the the envoys are interacting with the traders, businesswomen & entrepreneurs in Srinagar about the status of business & tourism. However, social media sites including Twitter continue to be blocked in Kashmir on security grounds even though authorities restored the slow-speed Internet on mobile phones in January. India has been organizing visits for foreign envoys after it ended Muslim-majority Kashmirs semi-autonomous status in August last year. The move was accompanied by a harsh crackdown, including tens of thousands of additional troops in the already heavily militarized region, a sweeping curfew, and thousands of arrests. Authorities have since eased several restrictions, including some Internet services. Outside access to the region, however, remains limited, with no foreign journalists allowed. Wednesdays visit of the envoys comes before Modis trip to Brussels for the India-European Union summit on March 13. These visits are organized as a smokescreen to trick the international community into believing that everything is fine in Kashmir and to support the Indian viewpoint, said Abdul Rashid, a Kashmiri trader. Abrar Ahmad, a student, said that such delegations must come out of the high-security zones to know what Kashmiris are facing and what they want. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both in its entirety. The two countries have fought two wars over control of the region. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training rebels who have been fighting for Kashmirs independence or its merger with Pakistan since 1989. Islamabad rejects Indias charge and says it only provides moral and diplomatic support. About 70,000 people have been killed in the armed uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. The first in the country primary in New Hampshire is finished, with Bernie Sanders narrowly beating Pete Buttigieg. The 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The dueling Democrats represent different generations, see divergent paths to the nomination and embrace conflicting visions of Americas future. Voting in New Hampshire began at midnight for three communities. The rest of the state voted during traditional voting hours on Tuesday. Here are the results: 100% of precincts reported results as of 5 p.m. ET Wednesday Bernie Sanders won with 25.73% of the vote Pete Buttigieg finishes in second with 24.43% Amy Klobuchar finishes in third with 19.82% Elizabeth Warren rounds out the top four with 9.23% Next up, the Nevada Democratic caucuses take place Feb. 22 and the South Carolina Democratic primary is on Feb. 29. 3:56 p.m. Voter turnout surpassed a previous high from 2008 for New Hampshire. As of Wednesday afternoon, with 98% of precincts reporting, more than 295,000 people voted in the Democratic primary. For New Hampshire, that's up from around 251,000 in 2016 (when Sen. Bernie Sanders defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) and nearly 288,000 in 2008 (when Clinton defeated then-Sen. Barack Obama, although both landed the same number of delegates). 11:45 p.m. (Feb. 11) In a tight race with former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar finished in third and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren rounded out the top four. Former Vice President Joe Biden finished in fifth place. 10:45 p.m. Bernie Sanders held a narrow lead over Pete Buttigieg in the New Hampshire Democratic primary Tuesday. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was trailing in third place in Tuesday's results. It was an unexpectedly strong showing for Klobuchar, who surged following a standout debate performance last Friday. With votes still coming in, the race was too early to call. But the night was disappointing for two prominent White House hopefuls. Former Vice President Joe Biden was competing with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for fourth place. Neither was on track to receive any delegates. 10:15 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar said she has redefined the word grit and beaten the odds once again in New Hampshire. Speaking to supporters in Concord on Tuesday night, the Minnesota senator thanked New Hampshire voters before turning her focus to a broader audience. Hello, America, Im Amy Klobuchar, and I will beat Donald Trump, she said. After lagging in the polls for much of the year and finishing fifth in Iowa, Klobuchar gained momentum in the days before the New Hampshire primary in part because of a strong debate performance Friday night. I came back and we delivered, she said. America deserves a president who is as resilient as her people. 10 p.m. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said he will reflect on his lackluster showing in the New Hampshire primary and will soon make some decisions on the future of his Democratic presidential campaign. Patrick, who entered the race in November, had said that a strong showing in New Hampshire was needed to have a credible shot at winning the nomination. But he trailed far behind the leading contenders in early election returns. Patrick said Tuesday night: We needed the winds from New Hampshire at our back to carry us on in this campaign. He also lamented media coverage of his campaign, which he said cemented the idea in the minds of potential supporters that he jumped in too late. Despite being one of the latest Democrats to enter the race, Patrick disputed that he entered too late. But he said the weight of skeptical coverage was in the way. 9:45 p.m. After dropping out of the Democratic presidential primary race, Andrew Yang said that he felt his message resonated but that voters wanted someone with a different profile that they had felt a higher degree of familiarity with and security with. Speaking to reporters Tuesday night, Yang insisted his central campaign promise of universal basic income that would give every American adult $1,000 per month would continue on. Yang declined to endorse any specific Democratic candidate, saying he would get behind anyone who came out in support of the universal basic income and made it a top priority in their administration. Yang said he hopes his campaigns legacy is that he focused on the problems that got Donald Trump elected rather than Trumps actions day to day and talked to voters about the problems they see around them on the ground and not in terms of political talking points. The fact is that Americans feel that many politicians havent been up to the challenge of addressing the problems we see around us, he said. They were hungry for a different type of conversation, a different set of solutions, a different form of leadership. 9:35 p.m. A pair of Joe Biden surrogates tried their best to mask a disappointing night for the absent Democratic presidential candidate at his campaigns New Hampshire watch party. Biden originally planned to attend, but his campaign announced late Tuesday morning that he would instead hold an event in South Carolina. That left former New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and Biden's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, to take his place. Biden Owens said this was "the very beginning of a long marathon to the nomination. And we're ready to go the distance." "While the results don't seem to be what we hoped, we're going to take our campaign to every corner of this country," Biden Owens said. Appearing to the audience via live stream, Biden vowed to return to defeat President Donald Trump in Novembers general election. "I do love New Hampshire," Biden said. And I mean it. 9:25 p.m. Tom Steyer's campaign says that the candidate is not dropping out of the 2020 presidential race. This comes after a reporter erroneously tweeted that Steyer told a New Hampshire crowd that he would suspend his campaign for the presidency. Steve Bottari, an anchor at sister station WMTW-TV, spoke with the Steyer campaign Tuesday. They say reports of Steyer leaving the race are "bogus," noting the candidate isn't in New Hampshire. The campaign said Steyer spent Monday campaigning in Reno, Nevada. Were just getting started, Steyer's Press Secretary Colin Booth said. 8:50 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren addressed her New Hampshire supporters without waiting for results in the states primary. The Massachusetts senator took the stage at her party near the airport in Manchester barely 20 minutes after polls closed in some areas Tuesday. She spoke for 15 minutes, then had attendees line up for her famous selfie line. Warren said that both Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg had strong nights and congratulated her friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for how wrong political pundits are when they count us out. She said Sanders and Buttigieg are both great candidates. She added, I respect them both, but the fight between factions in our party has taken a sharp turn in recent weeks." Warren calls herself the best candidate to unite the Democratic Party, adding, The fight were in, the fight to save our democracy, is an uphill battle, but our campaign is built for the long haul and were just getting started. 8:30 p.m. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announced he would end his 2020 Democratic presidential bid after pinning the campaign's hopes on New Hampshire. As of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bennet had received 0.28% of the vote. 8 p.m. Polls have officially closed in New Hampshire for the states first-in-the-nation presidential primary. At the same time that the polls closed in the Granite State, Andrew Yang announced that he would suspend his campaign. The decision was pretty clear, Yangs campaign manager told PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor. It doesn't feel honest to keep taking money and enthusiasm from our supporters, but also from the Democratic Party." President Donald Trump easily won New Hampshires Republican primary against minimal opposition. Trump was declared the winner as polls in the state closed Tuesday night. Four years ago, the state offered Trump his first primary victory and helped catapult him to the White House. But Trump narrowly lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November general election. 7 p.m. Polls have begun to close in New Hampshire as voters in the Granite State cast their ballots in the nation's first primary. Results are expected to come shortly. Bernie Sanders is fighting for Democratic front-runner status Tuesday. The party is hoping the primary will bring some clarity to a presidential nomination fight that has so far been marred by dysfunction and doubt. Polls started closing at 7 p.m. in some areas of the state and will close at 8 p.m. in other parts. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is hoping to seize the backing of his partys establishment with a strong finish, while former Vice President Joe Biden looks to avert political disaster. He left the state for South Carolina before polls closed. By night's end, New Hampshire could begin culling the Democrats' unwieldy 2020 class, which still features nearly a dozen candidates. 5:30 p.m. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Elizabeth Warrens campaign is arguing that her top rivals have flaws that will be exposed over time in the Democratic presidential primary and that their White House bids arent built for the long haul like hers is. A lengthy memo from Warren campaign manager Roger Lau, obtained Tuesday, draws the sharpest contrasts yet between the Massachusetts senator and her rivals, something the candidate has mostly refrained from doing personally. It suggests Bernie Sanders, the races other strong progressive, has a ceiling for support, while former Vice President Joe Bidens campaign could soon collapse. It argues that Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, wont be able to win states that are more diverse and vote later in the year. Warren finished third in Iowa and isnt expected to win Tuesdays primary in New Hampshire, even though it borders her home state. Her campaign says it has staffers in 30-plus states and is built for a long, possibly protracted race. Laus memo seeks to reassure supporters that she will make it that far. ___ 4 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren says rival Joe Bidens planned trip to South Carolina as the New Hampshire primary unfolds means hes not here to fight for votes. The Massachusetts senator stopped at a polling place in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tuesday afternoon to hug and shake hands with supporters who cheered and waved her campaign signs in a light rain. Warren was asked about the former vice president saying he was heading to South Carolina, which holds its primary later this month. She replied, I think it says that hes not here to fight for the votes in New Hampshire. She added: I think that this is what democracy is about: Get out, talk to voters, fight for every vote." Supporters chanted, Its time for a woman in the White House! Biden's campaign has said he and his wife will travel to Columbia, South Carolina, on Tuesday night for a launch party. The campaign says Biden will address supporters in New Hampshire via livestream. __ 2 p.m. Bernie Sanders hugged and shook hands with supporters outside a Manchester polling place as he awaits the results of the New Hampshire primary. Sanders wouldnt speculate as to whether he expects a resounding victory in Tuesday's primary but said hes hoping for a win. He didnt comment on rival Joe Bidens decision to essentially cede New Hampshire and travel to South Carolina later Tuesday. Sanders says hes proud that we have spoke to tens of thousands of people in New Hampshire. Supporters outside the polling place wished Sanders luck and said they were proud of him. One of those voters was Linda Bouldin, 63, who just moved to New Hampshire where her daughter lives last year. She voted for Sanders in the 2016 Texas primary and I never stopped loving him. __ 11:35 a.m. As votes are counted in New Hampshire, former Vice President Joe Biden is shifting ahead to South Carolina, where success is critical to his campaign. Biden's Democratic presidential campaign says he and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, will travel to Columbia on Tuesday night for a launch party. U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond is Biden's campaign co-chairman and had already been planning to attend the event. The campaign says Biden will address supporters in New Hampshire via livestream while his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, will thank them in person. Biden has a lot at stake in South Carolina, where he has led polling and has long relationships with the heavily black electorate. But other candidates including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and billionaire Tom Steyer have been campaigning hard in the state. Biden says in a release he plans to travel later in the week to Nevada, which holds its caucus vote later this month. __ 10 a.m. The results are in from three communities who take part in midnight voting in New Hampshire. Dixville Notch, Hart's Location and Millsfield all voted at midnight. Amy Klobuchar has the early lead in the Democratic primary with eight votes. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both have four. President Donald Trump is leading in the Republican primary. He has 31 votes. Bill Weld, former governor of Massachusetts, has five votes. RELATED: Get to know the candidates: Candidate Cafe || Conversation with the Candidate Evan Mirand and Robert Sean Leonard in 'My Best Friend Is a Vampire' Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Houston was happening in autumn 1986. The Astros were in a pennant playoff with the Mets. Parking in most of downtown was free. Movie production was in full swing. They Still Call Me Bruce starring Johnny Yune, a horror film titled The Lamp (released as The Outing); the CBS television movie The George McKenna Story starring Denzel Washington (and directed by Washingtons St. Elsewhere co-star Eric Laneuville) and the NBC TV movie Adam: His Song Continues had all been filmed earlier in the year. On September 27 of that year, the horror spoof cum sweet teen-romance comedy My Best Friend Is a Vampire, starring Robert Sean Leonard and Rene Auberjonois, started principal photography in Houston (as did A Tigers Tale, which paired Ann-Margret with C. Thomas Howell). The opening scene shows Leonard waking up from a bizarre dream filled with many of the characters we meet throughout the movie. His mom routinely listens to a police scanner at breakfast checking for speed traps while his dad reads The Houston Chronicle. Immediately we hear code 6 at Kirby and Westheimer, followed by an alert for a radar set-up on the Montrose offramp. Leonard and his best friend are next seen driving onto what is actually the I-45 north onramp from Allen Parkway. A downtown chase sequence between a vampire hunter, cunningly played by English actor David Warner, features a car swerving in front of the sculpture Personage and Birds by Jean Miro with plenty of coverage of Jones Hall and the J. P. Morgan Chase Tower (then called the Texas Commerce Tower). When the chase scene ends, Warner gets busted at a speed trap on Fountain Street, which is actually the Mecom Fountain on Main Street. Notable locales include Milby High School, located in Houstons East End, that doubles as the films Milton High. Tilas and Whole Foods Some locations no longer exist such as Tilas a popular Mexican restaurant that specialized in authentic Mexico City cuisine that was located on the curve at 616 Westheimer where Katzs Deli and Bar now stands. The building was torn down in 1987, says Tila Neuhaus the restaurants owner. Tilas was decorated with lots of neon, and that visual motif is used in multiple night scenes. The original building had a neon clock we called Tilas neon time, says Neuhaus. One day a few months before we closed it was stolen, we never found out what happened. The only sequence not shot in Houston - the Bad Blood Nightclub was filmed in Los Angeles - continues the neon color scheme. And Bad Blood was the working title of the film. Another location was the original Whole Foods Market. A PetSmart now sits at that spot in the Alabama Shopping Center on South Shepherd. Leonard pulls his car into the parking lot driving past the art deco marquee of the then Alabama Bookstore (now Trader Joes). Previously from 1939 to 1983 the bookstore had been the Alabama Theater, which during its heyday screened the first Cinemascope film in Houston as well as exclusive 70mm roadshow engagements. Location manager Mike Harrowing remembers shooting at night at Whole Foods. The store would keep the cash registers open for the crew to buy food while their employees were at the craft service table eating junk food. More challenging was securing a chapel and graveyard to lend atmosphere to the story. It was hard to find a church that would let us shoot because its consecrated ground, explains Harrowing. Forest Lawn Cemetery in South Houston agreed to allow the use of their chapel for filming. More importantly was a graveyard scene that involved wild animals in a carefully choreographed dance where vampires turn into wolves. We looked at the cemeteries on Washington Avenue but the director didnt like that you could see downtown in the background, says Harrowing. Then came the procedural reality of Houston bureaucracy. City laws didnt allow wild animals performing without a lot of paperwork, says Harrowing. Like a circus. The solution was Morton Cemetery in Richmond, Texas in Fort Bend County. Morton Cemetery is where Jane Long (the Mother of Texas, 1798 - 1880) is interred. Training wolves The films best scene and practical effect takes place on a fog-drenched tomb-laden landscape with lots of backlighting. Several female vampires dash into a grove of trees only to turn into wolves that continue to run into the night. The one-take effect comes off seamlessly and restores the viewers faith in movies made without CGI. Trainers working one-per-wolf guided the animals from release cages to containment cages. Wolves are easy to train because they like to perform. They have egos and are extremely smart, says animal handler Nicholas Toth. The alpha wolf was named Farkas. That means wolf in Hungarian, says Toth who runs the animal haven Cougar Hill Ranch in California. Farkas and some of the other wolves also appeared in 1980s Wolfen. On the final night of shooting in Richmond which happened to be Halloween the entire crew celebrated with a costume party at the cemetery when they broke for lunch around midnight. Rona Lamont the costume designer recalls: All the grips were dressed in leotards and tutus and smoking cigars. Not all of the locations have been erased by time. A scene that occurs outside of Leonards best friends house takes place in a unique neighborhood. Shadow Lawn Street juts south off Bissonnet near the right . The road forms a circle that divides into another street complete with a triangle median that includes with a fire hydrant. This apex appears in the movie (where Warners van is parked) and looks the same today as it did 30-plus years ago. Actors then and now Other than Warner and Auberjonois (who passed away in December 2019), lead actor Robert Sean Leonard has had the most lasting career of anybody in the cast. My Best Friend Is A Vampire was his first major film and Leonard went onto a successful streak that included television (House), Broadway and films with directors as diverse as Peter Weir, Martin Scorsese and Whit Stillman. Fannie Flagg, who played Leonards mom was at the time one of the most recognizable performers in the film. Jeremys girlfriends included Cheryl Pollak, who had achieved acclaim as a model for Jordache Jeans, and Cecilia Peck, the daughter of Gregory Peck, as the vampire who infects Jeremy. Cecilia turned to documentary filmmaking and made Shut Up & Sing (2006) about the Dixie Chicks in the aftermath of their anti-George Bush statements at the height of the Iraq War. Kathy Bates, who appears in a single scene as Pollaks mother, had appeared in roles since the early 1970s but it wasnt until later that she would be propelled to stardom in such films as Misery and Friend Green Tomatoes, the latter also featuring Flagg. Bates was nominated as supporting actress in this years Oscar race for her role in Richard Jewell. Gary Chason who was casting extras in the film was recruited to play the part of the drivers education instructor. Chason, whose casting credits include Brewster McCloud and Paper Moon, expertly delivers one of the films best gags: Youll never drive in this town again. I actually made more money as an actor because Robert got sick with flu and they had to keep me on for a few weeks until they could reshoot that sequence, says Chason. Production manager Tina Brawner remembers when Leonard got sick: We had to cast a body double for reverse shots. We sent production assistants to nearly every mall in town to find someone who looked like Bobby in profile. We found this guy who was in town for a band competition who was a perfect match. Perhaps the most touching moment comes during the films dedication in the credits to editor Goran Milutinovic who died in a tragic car accident in the middle of filming. Milutinovic had moved from Yugoslavia to Houston and was a familiar face at the Rice Media Center since the 1970s. He was driving out of the parking lot of The River Cafe (another demolished establishment that was located on the northeast corner of Montrose and Marshall) when a drunk driver collided with his car. My Best Friend Is A Vampire is available on DVD and currently streaming on Amazon. When Rihanna started a lingerie collection in 2018, she teamed up with the start-up behind Kate Hudsons athleisure line Fabletics. But Fabletics and the start-up, TechStyle Fashion Group, faced complaints about deceptive billing tactics and now Rihannas line, Savage x Fenty, which has been praised for using models of different body types and ethnicities in its marketing, is facing some of the same criticism. On Tuesday, Truth in Advertising, a nonprofit organization, said that Savage x Fenty ensnares consumers into unwanted monthly charges, through a membership plan that was difficult to opt out of. It said it had alerted the Federal Trade Commission to the lines business practices, which it believes violate the agencys rules and the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act. When consumers buy items like bras and underwear from the Savage x Fenty website, the brand allegedly enrolls consumers into $50 monthly subscriptions without disclosing all the material terms and conditions of the offer, Truth in Advertising said. The prices that appear when an item is added to a shoppers online cart say, $19.50 for a pair of leggings require a membership. For nonmembers, the price of the leggings can be more than double. Truth in Advertising added that the brand also used dissuasion and diversion tactics when consumers tried to cancel memberships. Andrew Yang's crowd chanted '2024!' as the presidential hopeful officially dropped out of the race Tuesday night. Yang announced he was suspending his campaign as the results of the New Hampshire primary trickled in, putting him in eighth place in the Granite State. Minutes after Yang gave his final campaign speech, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado announced he was dropping out of the race too, becoming the 20th Democrat to do so. Democratic hopeful Andrew Yang addressed supporters Tuesday night in New Hampshire and announced he was dropping out Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet told supporters Tuesday night that he, too, would be dropping out of the presidential race Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang called it quits Tuesday night seconds after the polls closed in New Hampshire Andrew Yang (right) attracted droves of young, internet-savvy supporters who called themselves the #YangGang Bennet had a steep hill to climb, announcing his bid in May 2019, after many of the front-running candidates were already in. Like his fellow U.S. senators, he was also kept off the campaign trail in the vital weeks leading up to last Monday's Iowa caucuses thanks to President Trump's impeachment trial. In New Hampshire, Bennet got help from longtime Democratic strategist James Carville, but it didn't do enough to keep him in. 'I love you New Hampshire, I do,' Bennet told his crowd Tuesday night. 'Whether you knew it or not, we were having a great time together,' he joked. Yang also had a tough fight - having never held elected office. 'My goal when I first started running was to solve the problems that got Donald Trump elected,' Yang told his supporters, adding that he would support whomever the Democrats choose to take on the president. He added that the eventual nominee would take this advice: 'Donald Trump is not the cause of all of our problems. He is a sympton of a disease that has been building up in our communities for years,' Yang said. Yang encouraged his supporters to stay politically active. 'We are just getting started,' he said. 'This movement is the future of American politics. This movement is the future of the Democratic Party.' To that, his crowd urged him to try again, in four more years. The entrepreneur made the centerpiece of his campaign the quest to get Americans a 'universal basic income,' which Yang dubbed his 'freedom dividend.' The idea was to give Americans an income of $1,000 a month to which they could do with it whatever they wanted. Yang broke barriers as the first formdable Asian-American presidential candidate. And for two debates - in December and February - he was the only person of color onstage. While Yang never pulled himself out of the single digits in national polls, he attracted hoards of internet-savvy young supporters who called themselves the #YangGang. Yang also got the attention from a number of celebrities. He got the endorsement of edgy comedian Dave Chappelle, who brought Yang onstage at an event at the University of Iowa last month and hosted two comedy shows in South Carolina for the candidate earlier this month. In Los Angeles he raised funds by selling campaign merchandise - like hoodies and T-shirts - that was a design collaboration with Childish Gambino. Taking inspriration from the company Supreme, Yang's campaign set a pop-up shop in Los Angeles letting several supporters in at a time, which created lines stretching blocks away and viral attention for Yang's candidacy. In the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary Yang hinted that he might have to drop out soon - as he needed funds and more substantial support to carry on. Tuesday night, when thanking his campaign staff, he said, 'Very few people joined this campaign because they thought it was going to be a good career move.' First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 1 April, 1954 MELBOURNE, Wednesday. - A graphic story of the expedition which recently established Australia's first permanent base on the Antarctic Continent, was told by the leader, Mr. Phillip G. Law, when the Danish polar ship Kista Dan, returned to Melbourne today. The base, named Mawson after Sir Douglas Mawson, the Australian explorer, is in Mac.Robertson Land, only 1,500 miles from the South Pole. Members of the Antarctic Research Expedition, Mawson Station, Antarctica, 1954. Credit: Department of External Affairs Antarctic Division The Kista Dan left 10 scientists and staff at Mawson to carry out research work for the first year. This cover image released by Minotaur shows "All the Best Lies" by Joanna Schaffhausen. (Minotaur via AP) All the Best Lies, Minotaur Books, by Joanna Schaffhausen Forty years ago in Las Vegas, Reed Markhams biological mother was stabbed to death as he lay nearby in his crib. The case was never solved. Now, Reed and his adopted sisters agree to take DNA tests to learn more about their ancestry. What begins as a fun family project results in a shock. Their father, powerful Virginia politician Angus Markham, turns out to be Reeds biological parent. How could that be? How did Angus meet Reeds mother and what was the nature of their relationship? Why did he keep his paternity secret? Does he know something about the murder? Might he even be the killer? Reed heads for Nevada to find out. Along the way, he enlists his friend Ellery Hathaway, a suspended Massachusetts cop with a troubled history and her own daddy problems. All the Best Lies marks the third time author Joanna Schaffhausen has teamed them up, but their history goes back farther than that. As a teenager, Ellery was kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer. Her dramatic rescue by an FBI agent was big national news. That agent was Reed. After Ellery became a police officer, she and Reed worked together on murder investigations in Schaffhausens first two crime novels, The Vanishing Season and No Mercy. Now, as they pursue the murder of Reeds mother, the emotional stakes are high, the suspect list grows and someone out there wants to make sure they dont succeed. The writing is crisp, the suspense is intense and the fast-paced tale ends with a twist no one is likely to see coming. Even so, the most appealing thing about this fine series is the complex, evolving relationship between the protagonists. Ellery is a damaged young woman who understandably shuns romantic entanglements. Reed, a divorced father, is protective of the girl he once saved but is increasingly drawn to her courage and beauty. With each novel, they circle each other, drawing ever closer before partially pulling back. The author handles their emotional dance with keen insight and sensitivity. Story continues ___ Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of Americas Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including The Dread Line. ___ Online: https://www.joannaschaffhausen.com/ http://www.brucedesilva.com/ Early in his presidency, Trump would post tweets but rarely responded or looked to Twitter for information. His staff would periodically bring him reports on how well tweets had done and would show him particularly friendly things to repost, according to a senior administration official who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the presidents Twitter use. Attorney General William Barr has accepted an invitation to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on issues including the Roger Stone case and the relationship between President Trump and personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Barrs upcoming appearance on March 31 was confirmed in a Wednesday letter from the Judiciary Committee. In your tenure as Attorney General, you have engaged in a pattern of conduct in legal matters relating to the President that raises significant concerns for this Committee, the letter reads. In the past week alone, you have taken steps that raise grave questions about your leadership at the Department of Justice. On Tuesday President Trump complained on Twitter that the Justice Departments recommended seven-to-nine-year sentence for Stone, a political operative and former Trump-campaign ally, was too harsh. The Justice department then softened its recommended sentence, leading some Democrats to accuse Barr of wielding undue political influence on the case. Congress must act immediately to rein in our lawless Attorney General, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) wrote on Twitter. Barr should resign or face impeachment. Trump has denied that his complaints on Twitter represented a form of political interference. More from National Review Vicat christens its first bulk cement carrier 12 February 2020 Vicat recently christened its first bulk cement carrier 'Capo Cinto' in Nice, France. As well as confirming the French companys community focus in the southeastern part of the country, Vicats acquisition of its first bulk cement carrier, under a partnership with maritime logistics specialist ABCRM, is proof of enduring support for its business in Corsica, and it boosts the quality of the service afforded to local customers, the company said. The acquisition of Vicat's first bulk carrier strengthens the company's position as a major player in the Corsica region. Capo Cinto will carry cement manufactured by Vicat's La Grave de Peille plant not only to the Corsican ports of Bastia, Porto Vecchio, Ajaccio and Propiano, but also to Italy and other Mediterranean shores. The location and activities of the cement plant, which has been operating in the hills above Nice since 1923, make it a pillar of the regional market. Its proximity to the sea is a key advantage for exporting throughout the Mediterranean basin. Being located close to population centres also gives it an ideal opportunity to use local waste as alternative fuel for firing the kiln, making it a component in the groups circular-economy drive. Built in 1997 as a general cargo ship, and named Kurske at the time, in 2019 the vessel was converted to carry cement and rechristened Capo Cinto in reference to Monte Cinto, the highest mountain in Corsica (2706m). Now, as a self-unloading pneumatic bulk carrier, she can carry a maximum cargo of close to 2000t of cement in her 14 x 140t holds. The vessel is sponsored by Vice Admiral Anne Cullerre. The Capo Cinto is precisely 90.67m-long, and she is designed to transport cement, both in bulk and in bags, from Nice to Corsica, mostly, but also to Italy and elsewhere throughout the Mediterranean. For this acquisition, the Vicat group partnered with ABCRM, a family-owned shipping company that shares the same values as Vicat, to form the joint venture ABCV (Agency Bulk Chartering Vicat). Published under New Delhi, Feb 12 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking a complete stoppage of trials being conducted by WhatsApp Pay, a pilot mobile payments project floated by Facebook, unlawfully done on 1 million users in the country. The Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) moved the plea alleging that WhatsApp has been clandestinely continuing beta testing on its payments system, which violates data localization norms in India. "Moreover, it has now been reported that WhatsApp Pay will be rolled out to more customers, despite there being no report submitted to the top court about WhatApp's full compliance with RBI Data Localization norms", said the plea. The plea contends that one million citizens cannot be reduced to guinea pigs, as their sensitive personal data, including financial data, cannot be stored outside India in contravention to the RBI circular, after October 15, 2018. The CASC had filed a writ petition in the top court in 2018 to ensure that WhatsApp complies with the data localization norms as mandated by RBI in its circular issued in April 2018. The application filed through Advocate Archana Pathak Dave cites Pegasus Spyware incident and the need for having secured data systems, where WhatsApp and the entire Facebook Group were recently compromised by the Pegasus virus. WhatsApp had claimed it had received permission to conduct trials of its payments services app in February 2018, before the RBI circular. The CASC contends in the backdrop of non-compliance with the data localization norms issued by the RBI, the trials would become illegal. The Supreme Court had directed the RBI to submit a report, where the latter clarified that WhatsApp was not complying with the said norms. The application cited news reports saying "WhatsApp may get to roll out payments services in phases." In its application, CASC has alleged that any go-ahead to WhatsApp without complying with these norms would be of a "suspicious nature." The prime minister of Thailand said on Tuesday that his government will deny entry to a cruise ship due to fears over the spread of a new coronavirus. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha told reporters in Bangkok that Westerdam's some 2,000 passengers will not be disembarking, but that the ship will be able to refuel and get food and supplies if needed. "Another important matter is the prevention of spreading the coronavirus. There are lots of social media posts about a cruise ship. We are not allowing them to disembark here, but we will provide humanitarian assistance like refuelling. If they would like water and food supplies, we can provide that to them. We need to implement proper measures in this situation, just like other countries have. I hope everyone understands because there are quite a number of passengers on board, over 2,000." There are no confirmed cases of the virus onboard, but it stopped in Hong Kong less than two weeks ago, which is within the incubation period of the virus. The cruise ship, owned by Holland America Line, has already been denied entry to Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. Westerdam will head to Thailand on February 13. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) A member of the House panel set to tackle the long-pending ABS-CBN franchise renewal bills apologized to employees of the embattled network for the delay in case hearings. Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano Jr., vice chair of the House committee on legislative franchises, condoled with the media workers and other affected individuals for all the anxiety the issue has caused. We would like to apologize for the problems that is causing this, especially the anxieties of all the employees, Albano said in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source on Wednesday. Let me assure the ABS-CBN, its families, at ang kanilang mga network na (their networks that) we are doing our best to make sure that we will hear your case right away. Albano assured the bills a total of eleven pending in the lower chamber are already being discussed by him and his colleagues, albeit behind closed doors. The solon, however, admitted it may be difficult to act on the proposed measures before ABS-CBNs franchise expires on March 30 especially when the calendar of discussions remains unclear. I will tell you frankly that masikip na maipasa ang ABS-CBN or even to reject it by the end of our break. But the (leadership) has assured us that this is one of the priority bills that we will tackle, Albano noted. ABS-CBN released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying that the television network appreciates the statement of Albano and the commitment of Congress to go through the renewal process of their franchise. We have issued our statement on the Solicitor Generals accusations, and as directed, we will submit a more detailed response to the Supreme Court within the prescribed period, the statement further said. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said fair court proceedings will be observed, when the chamber eventually decides to hold its hearings on the bills. The official did not give a specific timeline for the hearing, but said that Congress should not be rushed in its legislative process. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told CNN Philippines that there is no pressure coming from the president to the Congress regarding the ABS-CBN case. "Gaya ng ilang beses ko nang sinasabi sa inyo, ang Kongreso lang ang pwedeng mag-grant. Kahit i-veto ng presidente 'yan, pwedeng i-overrule ng Congress 'yan. Kongreso pa rin ang may hawak niyan." [Translation: Just like what I always say, only the Congress can grant (ABS-CBNs franchise). Even if the president vetoes that, the Congress can overrule. The Congress is still in charge of that.] The franchise renewal case was highlighted anew following a petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who sought to nullify the companys existing franchise. Calida cited the network's alleged "highly abusive practices"-- including foreign ownership and operational issues claims that ABS-CBN itself has debunked. RELATED: ABS-CBN clarifies they have no unpaid taxes amid fight to renew franchise Meanwhile, some lawmakers said ABS-CBN can continue operations even after its franchise expires if it secures a provisional authority from the National Telecommunications Commission. They added Congress can act on the pending renewal bills at any time during the 18th Congress, or until the end of June 2022. The European Commission will keep up supporting Ukraine and considers its economic development as priority and highly on agenda, said European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. "I also brought the news on behalf of the new Commission that of course we stand by Ukraine and we will continue to insist on the full and unconditional implementation of the Minsk agreements. We take no compromise when it comes to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and we will continue to stand by itAnother important signal from the new European Commission is that we consider economic cooperation and economic development of Ukraine as a high priority," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday. He emphasized that he welcomed the colossal work of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in trying to unblock the Minsk process. "I think he did a very brave thing, and deserves praise for that. Because, I believe that the work that he is doing in this direction is very important," Varhelyi said. By Deborah Smith Gregory The Newark NAACP supports Newark Superintendent Roger Leon who has requested closure of four low performing charter schools and a halt to the expansion of charters in Newark based on the tremendous strain on the districts budget and their failure to serve a greater cross section of the citys children. The charter schools were first permitted as an experiment to create greater flexibility for innovation and advancing education within public schools in the 1980s. Initially, they were a success and special policies were put in place to accommodate low rents for co-locations within existing schools. Extensive renovations by investors divided buildings into two cities. One part of the building with the newest resources and the other side deprived of some of the basics. Charter schools are also taking fewer students with special needs and fewer students who dont speak English as their first language, according to the Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Policy. The percentage of students with special needs in Newark District schools is approximately 40% higher than in the citys charter schools and the percentage of students identified as English language learners is approximately 11 times greater in district schools than in charter schools. There have been questionable fiscal proceedings about how charter schools acquire buildings, who the renovated buildings belong to, whose money was spent and whose pocket it ended up in, yet questions remain unanswered. As long as the citys district schools were being closed (at least 17 of them), and space was granted at below market value prices for co-location, and as long state legislators stalled bills that addressed stronger charter school accountability, both fiscally and academically, all was well with charter school advocates. Now, those advocates want to cry foul? Rutgers University Professor Bruce Baker said a disturbing pattern has been revealed not just in Newark but around the country. Charter schools are becoming parasitic to their host, the district schools. With the expansion of charter schools, they operate primarily in competition, not cooperation with their host, to serve a finite set of students and draw from a finite pool of resources, Baker said. Such a model emerges because under most state charter laws, locally elected officials boards of education have limited control over charter school expansion within their boundaries, or over the resources that must be dedicated to charter schools. Thus, there is no single, centralized authority managing the portfolio the distributions of enrollments and/or resources or protecting against irreparable damage to any one part of the system (be it the parasites or the host.) Amid accusations of blatant inequities, the NAACP Board of Directors approved a national resolution in 2016 calling for a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools until more transparency and accountability in their operations can be achieved. A task force created to look into the issue published a report entitled, Quality Education for AllOne School at a Time." Among their recommendations: Develop and enforce robust charter school accountability measures by creating and enforcing a rigorous accountability system, monitor and require charter schools to admit and retain all students and require fiscal transparency and equity regarding the sources of revenues and how they are allocated. Three New Jersey legislators -- Assemblywoman Mila Jasey and State Sens. Shirley K. Turner and Ronald Rice Sr. -- have sponsored separate bills that would create that system of accountability. Their bills, however, have never made it to the education committees docket and consequently wound up on the dead bill pile without consideration or a full legislative house vote. It remains to be seen if Sen. Teresa Ruiz, chairwoman of the Senates Education Committee, will post such a bill on the committee docket so it can advance to the full senate. It may just die like a broken winged bird that cannot fly, as have so many past bills. Is charter school expansion parasitic to the district schools in which they reside, like in the classic movie, The Blob where the creature continues to grow, consuming everything and everyone in sight to the detriment of an entire society? Are they killing equity, promoting segregation and eating our most vulnerable children? Deborah Smith Gregory is currently the president of Newark NAACP and chairperson of Alliance for Newark Public Schools. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Police say they are still searching for a man who shot and killed a former co-worker after his recent firing from an Orlando outlet mall. The shooting happened Monday night at the Under Armour store at the Orlando Premium Outlets on International Drive. Orlando police said Eunice Marie Vazquez, a store manager, was killed by recently fired employee Daniel Everett. According to police, the 46-year-old was fired Monday and returned Monday night, when he allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old Vazquez. Witnesses told our sister station WESH that Everett walked into the store, moved to the area where Vazquez was standing and shot her. Customers hid in dressings rooms as one employee ran over to the Reebok store for help. According to police, Everett had created a hit list in which he named other employees. Police said they immediately made it a priority to keep those individuals safe. Sources told WESH that Everett was not well liked at the store and that multiple employees, including Vazquez, had filed complaints against him. The Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, authorities in St. Cloud and the U.S. Marshals Service are actively searching for Everett. Police also made sure that Everett's wife and child are safe. Investigators were at Everett's house Tuesday trying to figure out why he killed his former co-worker. Police said Under Armour management was cooperative with the investigation. Everett is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact Orlando police. Watch the video above to learn more about this story. Pigs are seen at a farm outside Hanoi, Vietnam, June 28, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Kham. Vietnam has requested the U.S. to transfer the genetically altered African swine flu virus it has developed to facilitate vaccine production. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working with a visiting delegation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on cooperation in developing a vaccine against the African swine flu, a deadly incurable disease that is believed not to afflict humans. The Vietnamese side has asked for samples of the genetically modified African swine fever virus the U.S. has successfully developed to serve the work of making vaccines in Vietnam. They have also suggested that Vietnamese technical staff are taken to the U.S. or experts from the U.S. visit Vietnam for a joint project on further studies of the disease and production of a vaccine. Vietnam has also sent to the U.S. 20 separate samples of the African swine fever virus taken from 17 of its provinces so that the U.S. can continue working on the vaccine. U.S. experts said last month they had developed a vaccine against African swine fever, which was confirmed by their experts at the Vietnam visit that ends Friday. The vaccine was developed from a genetically modified prior strain of the virus by deleting a previously uncharacterized gene, I177L, to produce complete attenuation of the virus in swine, it was announced. A report from the American Society for Microbiology said last month that both high and low doses of the vaccine were effective in pigs 28 days after inoculation. The African swine fever was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019 before it spread to all 63 cities and provinces in the country seven months later, forcing the nation to kill around six million pigs, or 20 percent of the total hog herd. The African swine fever virus is shed in blood, saliva, tears, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and secretions from the animal's genital tract. Pigs can thus get infected by mere contact with many different infected sources, mainly other infected pigs, pork and other pig-derived products, but also any other contaminated objects, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Pork makes up three-quarters of total meat consumption in Vietnam, a country of 95 million people where most of the farm-raised pigs are consumed domestically. The country's pork industry is valued at VND94 trillion ($4 billion), and accounts for nearly 10 percent of its agricultural sector. With the domestic pork market hit hard by the viral disease, Vietnam's pork imports during the first 11 months of last year had more than doubled against the same period the previous year to 110,000 tons, according to the Ministry of Finance. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said that as of February 6, new or ongoing outbreaks have been detected in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, the Philippines, South Korea, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. EL SEGUNDO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Kellstrom Defense Aerospace (KDA) has signed a new multi-year extension to an existing distribution agreement with the Sensors and Fluid Management Systems (SFMS) business unit of AMETEK Aerospace & Defense. The agreement builds on a legacy of partnership, with KDA continuing to serve as the exclusive distributor for AMETEK's SFMS products for the global military and government aftermarket, while also providing OEM repair management support and expanded cooperation for new aftermarket solutions for military aircraft sustainment. "We are excited to not only continue, but to expand our current partnership with AMETEK SFMS," said Melissa Orr, Director of OEM Relationships for KDA. "Over the past few years, our partnership has allowed us to create new mission-critical solutions for our customers and ensure aircraft readiness worldwide. We look forward to continuing this growth together." Elaine O'Neill, Vice President and Business Unit Manager of AMETEK SFMS commented, "We are delighted to take our partnership with KDA to the next level and continue to serve our customers with a world-class portfolio of comprehensive aftermarket solutions." About Kellstrom Defense Aerospace: Kellstrom Defense Aerospace (KDA) is a respected global leader for defense aircraft sustainment, deploying an experienced team and complete capabilities to solve customer challenges through OEM strategic distribution, component repair services, engineered products, and logistics solutions for military transporters, fighters, and rotary wing platforms. With operations in Camarillo, CA; Miramar, FL; Macon, GA; Chula Vista, CA; Cambridge, UK; South Windsor, AU; Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the KDA team provides support to the United States military and over 60 partnering nations. KDA is committed to compliance, with hundreds of active export licenses and dedicated contract, export, and security personnel. For more information: www.kellstromdefense.com, www.c130.com, and www.wam-inc.com. Follow @kellstromdef on Twitter. About AMETEK Aerospace & Defense: AMETEK Sensors and Fluid Management Systems is a leader in aircraft and engine sensors for temperature, pressure, flow, fluid level, acceleration, proximity, speed and position. It is a business unit of AMETEK's Aerospace and Defense division, a leading supplier of engine and aircraft monitoring systems; data acquisition units; fuel and fluid measurement systems; heat transfer and cooling systems; and maintenance and repair services. AMETEK Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of $5 billion. For more information, visit www.ameteksensors.com or email aerosales@ametek.com Media Contact: Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc. Ruth Garcia Director, Marketing & Communications PR@kellstromdefense.com SOURCE: Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576050/Kellstrom-Defense-Signs-Multi-Year-Contract-Extension-With-Ametek-Sensors-and-Fluid-Management-Systems SANTA FE The state could invest more in New Mexico-based companies under legislation that won approval 30-9 in the state Senate. The legislation, Senate Bill 136, would allow for up to 11% of the Severance Tax Permanent Fund to be invested in New Mexico private equity funds, businesses and startups. The current cap is 9%. The change would boost the capacity by $113 million. Supporters say the bill would support home-grown businesses and help diversify the state economy, all while adhering to prudent investment principles. Opponents said local investments have historically underperformed the broader market and that the state should just focus on generating market-rate returns. The bill was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Pete Campos of Las Vegas and supported by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. This money comes from land all over the state, funds that we want to be able to invest back in New Mexico businesses, Lujan Grisham said in a written statement. The legislation still requires House approval. The number of "public grievances" registered with the grievances cell has increased from just less than two lakh in 2014 to nearly 19 lakh now as the departments concerned have earned people's trust, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. "When we came in 2014, the number of grievances registered in the grievances cell was not more than two lakh. Today, it is nearly 19 lakh. It is virtually a 10-time increase," he said. Singh said the increase in the number of grievances being registered is because the departments handling them are prompt and responsive, which has instilled confidence and trust among citizens. He said the rate of disposal of grievances is now more than 95 per cent which is an achievement in itself. Addressing a national workshop on e-office and the launch of Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) reforms, the minister asked the state governments and union territories to switch over to e-office (or digitised processes) "as fast as they can". He said e-governance will be the key to India at 75 (when the nation celebrates 75 years of Independence in 2022). "Office in any way is going to be converted into e-office. But, we will have to convert ourselves to work in that office. Things are moving faster than we could anticipate," the minister said, asking employees to adopt to digitisation process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Washington, D.C., February 12, 2020 The New York City Police Department should drop all charges against photojournalist Amr Alfiky and provide a public explanation for his arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested Alfiky, a photo editor at ABC news and a contributor to Reuters and The New York Times, at about 7 p.m. yesterday in New Yorks Lower East Side neighborhood as he was filming the arrest on the street of another individual, according to the journalists friend, Mostafa Bassim, who captured Alfikys arrest on video and spoke with CPJ in a phone interview. Police held Alfiky at Manhattans seventh precinct station for about 3.5 hours, where he was given access to a lawyer and was released after being charged with disorderly conduct, according to Bassim and a report by the New York Daily News, a local daily. Officers confiscated Alfikys press credential, a card issued by the citys police to grant journalists access to restricted spaces, during the arrest and have not returned it, Bassim said. The New York Police Department should drop the charges against Amr Alfiky and return his press credential immediately, said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna. New York journalists should not have to worry about being arrested for doing their jobs. If convicted, Alfiky could face a fine of up to $250 and up to 15 days in prison under New York state law. The NYPD did not immediately respond to CPJs emailed request for comment. According to the New York Daily News, an NYPD spokesman said that Alfiky refused to comply with repeated requests to step back and did not identify himself as a journalist until after he was in custody. However, in Bassims video of the arrest, Alfiky can be heard repeatedly and loudly telling police officers that he is a journalist and offering to show his press credentials as the officers handcuffed him. What does a Muslim in politics do? Where does he go? asks Aditi Phadnis. IMAGE: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan greets MLAs during the budget session of the state assembly in Thiruvananthapuram, January 29, 2020. Photograph: ANI 'Don't use words like "Hindu" and "Muslim",' Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan reproved anchor Rajdeep Sardesai. 'You don't know how much damage these words can do.' To many, it was a bit rich. He's done well for himself using exactly those two words. Here is a brief history of Khan's politics. Khan was the minister for energy in Rajiv Gandhi's government when the Shah Bano debate (1986) was on and he became known as a crusader for the rights of Muslim women by asking his party to define Islamic law in the light of contemporary reality and accept the Supreme Court verdict instead of going by the interpretation of the orthodoxy. When the Congress equivocated on the issue, Khan resigned. When V P Singh's Jan Morcha was formed in 1987, Khan was in the forefront, later becoming the Cabinet minister for energy when V P Singh became the prime minister. He also testified in the St Kitts forgery case. His statement had the effect of tightening the noose around Chandraswami's neck, charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation with forging papers about the account to tarnish V P Singh's image. When the V P Singh government fell, he waited before joining the Bahujan Samaj Party. He lost little time in deposing before the Jain Commission by attesting that the V P Singh government had never discussed in Cabinet meetings the question of Rajiv Gandhi's security (implying Gandhi's assassination was the result of a security lapse). V P Singh attributed his testimony to a 'failure of Mr Arif Mohammad Khan's memory'. But Congress doors remained shut to him because of a cabal of Muslim leaders there. What about the BSP? Couldn't that have been a route to Muslim politics? Khan tried that as well. But he resigned from the BSP when it decided to share power with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. At that time, his logic was that he did not want to be treated as a tradeable commodity. Khan joined the BJP in 2004. His justification was that the Congress was as communal as any other party: After the Gujarat riots, he and Ram Vilas Paswan asked the Congress for a few seats, any seats, even the weakest, to fight communal elements in Gujarat. The Congress refused to give him a single seat. He contested as a BJP Lok Sabha candidate in 2004, but lost. And then he left the BJP in 2007 to go into a spell of hibernation, only to come out and become governor of Kerala in September last year. His explanation for supporting the BJP is that it is fighting Islamic orthodoxy and anyone who does that must be strengthened. But his views on a Hindu Rashtra have never been clearly articulated. In a recent interview, supporting the government's move on Article 370, Khan said he was against any 'special power' to the state, but firmly supported 'greater federal powers' to states. The fact is, Khan's dilemma is actually the dilemma of the Muslim political leadership in India. A modern Muslim in the Congress runs the risk of becoming a symbol of tokenism. In the BSP, he stands reduced to being a mindless deliverer of a vote bank subject to the caprice of one leader. And in the BJP, he is viewed at best with incomprehension, at worst with suspicion. What does a Muslim in politics do? Where does he go? Khan and others like him were, for some time, consumed with the same question: Why is it that an assertion by the Muslim community always ends up strengthening the conservatives? Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Maulana Azad faced similar crises. Sir Syed, who espoused a modern Western education for the Muslims, was viewed with suspicion by sections in the Congress for his 'loyalty' to the British and detestation by the orthodoxy in his own community for selling out on his commitment to Islam. Maulana Azad represented another irony of Indian history -- while possessing a thorough Islamic training, he ended up espousing a secular vision of nationalism, informed by personal religious sensibilities. On the other hand, his opponent Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a modernist with a minimal religious upbringing, ended up vying for a separate Muslim State, informed by purely political considerations. Azad had to resign from the presidentship of the Congress to allow that party to try to bridge the breach between it and the Muslim League and limit the damage from the imminent danger of Partition. He paid the price for his liberal political beliefs as the Congress tried to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. Arif Mohammad Khan aspired to become India's model modern Muslim leader. All he's managed to do is become governor of Kerala. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of Nigeria is the current president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). A professor and diplomat, Muhammad-Bande is most concerned with resolving the development challenges Africa faces, tackling poverty, eliminating terrorism and reducing illegal migration. In his capacity as chair of the current UNGA session Muhammad-Bande participated in the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa How would you assess Egypts chairmanship of the AU? I listened to President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisis speech in which he addressed Egypts efforts and contributions to the AU, especially those related to the Free Trade Agreement which I believe is the most important contribution, along with efforts to eradicate terrorism and to focus on continental infrastructure projects. Discussions between participating political leaders concluded that it is difficult to embark on development or integration efforts in Africa if upgrading the infrastructure is ignored. It is a very important file as was clear from the political discussions of the participating leaders. There was a consensus about the difficulties of carrying out any development or integration in Africa in the absence proper infrastructure, or efforts across the continent to combat terrorism. A number of joint summits were held during Egypts chairmanship of the AU, with the UK, the EU and China. How do such fora impact on African development? It is not particularly useful to itemise these efforts. Egypt did a good job on African files. The results confirm Egypts success in this regard, the proof being developments in a number of files. What happens at summits is often superficial. The real work goes on beneath the surface. Despite continental and international efforts to combat terrorism threats are on the rise, particularly in Libya, the Sahel and Sahara. How can terrorism be fought more effectively in Africa? We need to agree that this is an urgent challenge. African leaders and the UN confirmed that eradicating terrorism is a priority, not only because of its humanitarian repercussions but also because of the way terrorism, climate change, migration, conflicts and human rights are intertwined. It was clear by the end of the AU summit in Addis Ababa that enhancing coordinated efforts to combat terrorism is crucial, though of course we cannot ignore the underlying reasons for conflicts. The international community needs to understand the dangers associated with these conflicts and realise that they are a global challenge. Your presence at the head of UNGA has promoted AU and UN efforts in resolving conflicts, the Silencing the Guns initiative and development in Africa The 74th session of the General Assembly focused on ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Support is needed to achieve these goals, especially when it comes to defining trends, participatory relations, development aid and building a consensus around the ideas we want to implement. Peace, security, mitigating the effects of climate change, inclusive action, as well as the 2030 and 2063 agendas for sustainable development are all African and global development plans. Coordination is important, the evidence being the powerful team from the UN that travelled to Addis Ababa. The AU also has a strong observer team in New York to follow up on updates and conducts talks. The UN secretary-general has a deputy whose main job is to offer advice on African issues in New York, and there is another deputy in Addis Ababa. There are many active platforms for cooperation and coordination between the two sides. Talk about UN reform and increasing Africas representation at the UN is growing. Will these issues be discussed soon in the UN or is this wishful thinking? I think the answer to this question is a combination of the two options. This is a problem that cant remain unresolved. Efforts are being exerted towards this end, but they are being conducted at a slow pace. I dont believe the beat will remain slow and one day the UN Security Council will see reforms that meet the minimum requirements of international expectations. What will be the UNs focus in cooperating with the new president of the AU? Development and peace will be at the forefront because these two issues are more pressing than any other. The interviewer is chief editor of the daily Arabic Al-Ahram. *A version of this article appears in print in the 13 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi, Feb 12 : Veteran fashion designer Wendell Rodricks (60) passed away in Panaji, Goa, on Wednesday evening. The Padma Shri awardee was an environmentalist and a gay rights activist who had been suffering from a prolonged illness, to which he succumbed at 5.45 p.m. on Wednesday. Sources close to the family said that the funeral will take place at 3.30 p.m. on Thursday. Rodricks was a beloved face in the fashion industry who was loved by peers and competitors alike. Years ahead of his time, he was the pioneer of echo fashion in the country and can be credited with introducing the concept of resort wear in India. The champion of 'Make in India', even before the movement was started, Rodricks was the first Indian designer to be invited to the world's largest garment fair -- IGEDO -- in 1995. The first Indian designer to open the Dubai Fashion Week in 2001, Rodricks was also invited to present his creations at the Paris Pret a Porter salon in 2007. FDCI President Sunil Sethi stated, "It's such a shocker. Just two days ago, we were discussing a show which was to take place on February 22. His museum was to open in Goa in March. We were working quite closely together as the FDCI was to take space in the museum which he had been working on over the past two years. "From winning the Padma Shri and writing books to discovering most of India's biggest models and having a celebrity clientele -- there was so much achievement. And he was not finished. There is still something that was left to achieve. It is a sad day for the Indian fashion Industry. Wendell was a legend and he will be missed a lot. I wish Jerome, his partner, all the strength." The designer also authored a number of books, including 'Moda Goa: History and Style', 'Poskem: Goans in the Shadows' and his autobiography 'The Green Room'. Designer Hemant Sagar said, "I first met him when we were both invited to stock in a multi-designer store almost two decades ago, because we were the only two Indian designers with a Western sensibility and he loved a pair of pants I was wearing, made by me. He later bought one of them and was shopping in Paris where he bumped into Karl Lagerfeld who loved them. So that's what dear Wendell was for me, a man always true to himself." Rodricks was also a recipient of the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts Et Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2015. Born into a Goan Catholic family, the 60-year-old designer travelled around the world, from Los Angeles to Paris, to study fashion. He interned at the National Museum of Costume and Fashion in Portugal and the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City. He launched his label in 1989. Part of the khadi movement, Rodricks was a man of vision and was in the process of setting up the Moda Goa Museum and Research Centre before his untimely death. The FAA gave the airline until this summer to bring the planes in compliance with federal rules because it accepted Southwest's argument that the issues were low safety risks, the inspector general said. The watchdog office added that FAA has not given its inspectors enough guidance on reviewing risk assessments and evaluating an airline's safety culture. New Delhi, Feb 12 : Amid continuous rise of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the government for not taking the China virus threat seriously. Taking to Twitter, he said, "The Coronavirus is an extremely serious threat to our people and economy. My sense is that the government is not taking this threat seriously.Timely action is critical." Reacting to Gandhi's tweet, Union Minister Ashwini Choubey said, "It is extremely unfortunate that a big leader is doing politics over this issue. We have done our best for not only the people of our country but also neighborhood countries." However, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan on Monday gave a detailed account in Parliament of the action taken by his ministry to stop and contain the novel coronavirus infection in India. He also said that the government had also evacuated all the Indian students and other professionals working in Wuhan and neighboring cities in Hubei province. Meanwhile, the virus which has posed to be a major challenge in China and research is underway to find a treatment for the deadly novel coronavirus, the World Health Organisation on Wednesday organised a forum in collaboration with the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness. The forum expects outcomes that provide research roadmap with clearly defined priorities and governance framework addressing each of several thematic areas like virus, diagnostics, natural history and transmission, clinical, therapeutics, vaccines, ethics, regulatory science, animal health, data and samples analysis. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Natural News) As the coronavirus pandemic continues to explode across China, the communist Chinese regime faces a desperate choice. I covered this in a special Saturday video report with InfoWars.com (see below), as well as on a hard-hitting interview today with Alan Keyes and Bob Sisson on the IAMtv channel (see video below). Essentially, China must now decide to either run the factories and lose up to 15% of the workers to the virus, or close the factories and lose the nation to economic collapse and political revolution. Yes, its that bad. (Welcome to the end of the world as we know it.) If you run the factories and pretend the outbreak isnt real, you keep the economy humming but you end up sacrifice a large number of workers who get killed by the coronavirus pandemic. While China currently claims a 2.1% mortality rate, realistic assessments put that number closer to 15%. If you close the factories and enforce long-term quarantines to save lives, you suffer a devastating economic implosion, likely followed by massive social upheaval and possible collapse of the ruling communist regime. After all, people only tolerate communism when they have enough to eat and some of them are getting rich. Take away the food, the money and the public safety, and any regime will struggle to stay in power. Watch my full special report interview with Alex Jones to hear more details, courtesy of Banned.video: China is already taking the steps to protect the factories while sacrificing the people Its now clear that China has chosen to restart the factories, declare the pandemic conquered, cover up the reality of the infections and deaths, and order people back to work to keep the economic miracle machine running. In order to achieve this, China must: 1) Fudge all the daily infection and death numbers to create the illusion that the pandemic is waning. Watch for the daily updates to demonstrate a calculated slowing in the rate of infection. 2) Deny the CDC or WHO access to the front lines of the pandemic to avoid them finding out its exploding out of control. 3) Control the media by arresting (and executing) whistleblowers who try to speak out about whats really happening there. Pressure the tech giants to censor independent voices and protect the official Chinese narrative (which is already being done). 4) Find clever ways to fake the science, such as launching new near-instant test kits that have a 50% 70% false negative rate (which has just been done), meaning they fail to diagnose 50% 70% of infections. This allows the government to further claim falling infection numbers. 5) Demand the nations of the world resume air flights and run well-funded propaganda campaigns to invite tourists to return to China. The net result of all this, of course, will be a second wave of exploding infections and deaths, but as long as the communist regime can control the narrative, they can pretend none of this is actually happening. The WHO will obediently parrot the commie narrative, and China will lean on its U.S. spies such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein to pressure the U.S. government to resume international flights and open traveler traffic. China will be seeking to export the pandemic so that other nations share the pain Part of this goal is to export the pandemic to other countries to force them to share the pain of China. If your own ship is taking on water and sinking, the way to regain some competitive advantage is to blow holes in everybody elses ships, in other words. By exporting the coronavirus to Taiwan, Japan, Korea and the United States, China can unleash economic chaos in those nations and shift the blame for a global outbreak, claiming those other nations failed to contain it. Hence the whole purpose of pressuring the WHO to rename the virus, removing the word Wuhan from it entirely, in order to erase its origins from history. Meanwhile, China is hard at work fudging the numbers, burning the bodies, arresting the whistleblowers, executing the dissidents, ordering Google to censor online videos, all while denying the reality of the pandemic outbreak. (The tech giants are more than happy to comply, since they all work for the pro-depopulation globalists now anyway.) Behind the scenes, China has no doubt convinced themselves the coronavirus was an engineered bioweapons attack launched by the USA, and they surely want to return the attack by deliberately sending infected human weapons into Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, sneezing on cell phones and spreading viral mayhem at every opportunity. Factory workers will be pushed until they literally drop dead What all this means is that China is going to power through the pandemic at gunpoint, forcing workers to run the machines until they literally drop dead. At that point, rapid response cremation teams will scurry away with the bodies and heave them into mass ovens that are already running 24/7. China will soon dispense will all safety gear such as hazmat suits, masks and gloves. For one thing, eliminating the gear creates the (false) impression that the virus no longer exists. But more importantly, the government has already come to realize that everyone is going to be exposed sooner or later. They know that roughly 85% will survive exposure and 15% will die. The 85% will be able to come into contact with the virus even while wearing no safety gear, since theyve already been exposed and cured. According to media reports, even Chinas own military and police personnel are already largely infected. Its getting to the point where wearing protective gear is pointless. Effectively, the Chinese government has now decided to run a massive medical experiment called, expose everyone and see what happens. They figure they can still survive after a 15% mortality rate, especially since Chinese citizens own no guns and have no First Amendment freedoms to speak out. Watch my full interview with Bob Sisson and Alan Keyes for more details: Brighteon.com/7a07a1a3-33bc-4111-b4b9-74189dc97507 Once the virus has burned through China, they can deploy the virus as a global weapon with impunity Heres the final step in this nefarious plan: Once the coronavirus burns through the Chinese population, the entire nation of China is now immune to the pandemic, which means China can deliberately release the virus in California, for example, and cause mass chaos across the USA without fear of its own factories experiencing any further disruption. Its an incredibly simple matter to bypass airport screening and CDC measures. You could almost call it amateur hour in terms of bioweapons tactics: You simply inject 100 volunteers with the virus, put them on airplanes to 100 American cities, have them stay in hotel rooms for 3-4 days while the virus incubates, then order them to run around the cities sneezing on everything that other people touch, such as hand rails, grocery products, elevator buttons or door handles. The virus does the rest of the work for you. Within a month, multiple outbreaks are reported across America, and China gets to decry the failures of the CDC, shifting attention away from its own failures, claiming that even the USA cant contain the virus. The CDC has zero defenses against a determined, deliberate spreading of the virus by a malicious party acting with ill intent. Any honest CDC intelligence officer would admit this. Outbreaks are difficult to stop even when the population is obedient and compliant. When bad actors wish to spread a pandemic, its childs play. (12 Monkeys) To achieve this status, China must first sacrifice up to 15% of its own population (well over 100 million people), and it must maintain control over the population through draconian police state measures (i.e. gunpoint control over all speech and ordering people to pretend that no one is missing or dead). In effect, China is now carrying out what can legitimately be called a coronavirus holocaust, complete with cremation ovens, secret police, the executions of political dissidents and much more. And the total deaths in China will almost certainly exceed six million, by the way. Historians will be writing about this Chinese government holocaust for a hundred years, if humanity even lasts that long. Chinas long term plan to destroy America with bioweapons Never forget that China has long followed a plan to completely destroy the United States of America using biological weapons. As J.R. Nyquist writes for The Epoch Times: Did Chinas Plan to Destroy the United States Backfire? In a secret speech given to high-level Communist Party cadres nearly two decades ago, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Chi Haotian explained a long-range plan for ensuring a Chinese national renaissance. He said there were three vital issues that must be grasped. The first was the issue of living spacebecause China is severely overpopulated and Chinas environment is deteriorating. The second issue, therefore, was that the Communist Party must teach the Chinese people to go out. By this, Chi meant the conquest of new lands, in which a second China could be built by colonization. From this, arose the third vital issue: the issue of America. Chi warned his listeners: This appears to be shocking, but the logic is actually very simple. [China is] in fundamental conflict with the Western strategic interest. Therefore, the United States would never allow China to seize other countries to build a second China. The United States stands in Chinas way. We are not as foolish as to want to perish together with America by using nuclear weapons, the general said. Only by using non-destructive weapons that can kill many people will we be able to reserve America for ourselves. The answer is found in biological weapons. Of course, he added, we have not been idle. In the past years, we have seized the opportunity to master weapons of this kind. The ruling Chinese Communist Party considers biological weapons to be the most important weapons for accomplishing their goal of cleaning up America. Chi credits former Party leader Deng Xiaoping with putting biological weapons ahead of all other weapon systems in the Chinese arsenal: When Comrade Xiaoping was still with us, the Party Central Committee had the perspicacity to make the right decision not to develop aircraft carrier groups and focus instead on developing lethal weapons that can eliminate mass populations of the enemy country. In other words, even if China loses 15% of its own population, it is still committed to destroying America at any cost. So we should expect a wave of deliberate biological terrorism to be unleashed on U.S. soil in the months ahead. Bianca was supposed to be returning home to Melbourne on Saturday to celebrate her 21st birthday after a family cruise. Instead, she is in quarantine in a Japanese hospital after being transported in a wheelchair enclosed in a portable oxygen tent made of transparent plastic. The woman from the Melbourne suburb of Sydenham is one of 174 passengers to contract coronavirus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is docked off Yokohama in Japan. Bianca tested positive earlier in the week after experiencing mild fever, but was initially told she could stay on board the ship because she was young and did not have extreme symptoms. I s it a bird? Not quite. It is, in fact, a mug of piping hot coffee made from bird droppings. Whats more, in central London it sells as a super-premium espresso at 30 a cup. The mug in question, unless its me, is a coffee from Westminsters Jacu restaurant and coffee shop. Its 100 per cent clean, 33-year-old owner Arif Graca is quick to mention, which is just as well when the public is questioning every critters propensity to spread disease a pangolin-dropping beverage would not sell, youd imagine. It is a delicious blend, nutty, with nuances of sweet aniseed and no acidic after taste at all. The pays the thing, though. How can 30 be justified? Youre paying for travel cost, provenance and story, Graca maintains. Jacu coffee is a brew made from beans harvested by hand from the excrement of an endangered South American bird of the same name, which has evolved to pick out the ripest coffee cherries in the forest. They undergo a sublime effect in the birds digestive system, which breaks down the cherries outer layer, revealing the bean inside and creating a prized soft flavour. So theres the added labour cost hours spent by skilled workers de-husking berries from poop and the transportation: the beans travel more than 8,000 km from a small forest farm in Brazil. London is certainly a global leader (Harrods master roaster Bartosz Ciepaj tells me the market here has grown 6 per cent for twelve years) and a city not above a storm in a coffee cup. Last year, rows erupted over coffee sold in Coal Drops Yards Le Cafe Alain Ducasse. The 15 Yemen drip has a score of 92 on the Speciality Coffee Associations 100-point scale but many took issue with the price. Were offering an expensive coffee for sure and we know not everyone can afford it, Ducasses general manager Olivier Fellous told the Standard at the time. Chef Ducasse says its perfect. At Roasting Plant, the US-London roaster where a cocktail of fine beans can be blended into a single cup, UK CEO Jamie Robertson talks about the vinification of coffee and borrow wine industry trade speak like terroir to describe soil at individual coffee farms. Bean scene: The Yemen drip at Alain Ducasses Le Cafe costs 15 / Pierre Monetta Returning customers come in and ask for beans from their favourite farm in the same way theyd ask for wines from their favourite vineyard. To underline the point, he says theyve had to open a second site in the Strand this March to meet demand. The trend for accommodating the sophisticated palate continues apace. The Tate advertised for a head of coffee who, among other qualifications, must have extensive experience of cupping evaluating the aroma and flavour profile of potential coffee suppliers. The gig pays 40,000-a-year, 2,700 more than the average annual salary of a London art curator, critics pointed out. Still, the coffee sommelier is truly in vogue. London Coffee Festival founder Jeffrey Young talks to me reverently of supertasters those who are blessed with more taste buds than the average glugger who find it harder to find coffees they can tolerate but dream of the perfect cup (smooth, sweet and often fruity with floral notes) and the elusive God shot, a serendipitous coincidence of perfect bean, pouring conditions and barista skill. He mentions shadowy prestige growers who walk surreptitiously among the crowd, distributing their heirloom beans from clear plastic bags to those they think will truly appreciate their finer flavour. There is a blacker side to the luxe- coffee market, though fraud. The Economist reports of Chinese researchers who are racing to develop an authenticity test for the worlds most expensive coffee beans, Kopi Luwak, which passes through the stomach of civets. In theory, a similar test could be applied to determine provenance at Jacu. Although, as Young puts it, at the end of the day, the more you pay, the more you think about what youre drinking. Ponder that. MONTCALM COUNTY, MI -- A gun rights activist later this month will make a formal pitch to Montcalm County leaders inviting them to join a growing number of Second Amendment sanctuary counties. The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners is giving county resident Jeff Gilmore about 15 minutes at its Feb. 24 meeting to present his position that the county should become a Second Amendment sanctuary. At the boards last meeting in late January, Gilmore led a large group of people who petitioned the move during public comment, according to The Greenville Daily News. Board Chairman Patrick Q. Carr said inviting Gilmore to present indicates the board is interested in potentially considering the sanctuary county proposal. He said he wants to hear Gilmores presentation before he decides where he stands on the issue. I sense from that theres at least some commissioners that are open to the idea of taking up some sort of an action, Carr said. Several counties across Michigan and the United States have taken up gun sanctuary resolutions after Virginia lawmakers earlier this year introduced gun control bills. These bills included red flag legislation, which allows family members or police officers to petition courts for temporary firearm removal if the person is thought a danger to themselves or others. The red flag legislation was turned down. Related: 5 things to know about the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement in Michigan Eight counties in Michigan so far have adopted sanctuary county resolutions. Those counties are Lapeer, Mackinac, Cheboygan, Otsego, Presque Isle, Oscoda, Kalkaska and Osceola. Some other counties are considering similar proposals in the coming days. Under the Gilmores draft gun sanctuary resolution, the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners would declare its support for gun rights provisions in the U.S. and Michigan constitutions, label Montcalm County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County and affirm its support for the Montcalm County Sheriff and Prosecutor in the exercise of their sound discretion to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law. The resolution is symbolic but not without purpose, Gilmore said. Its symbolic, but it serves a great purpose of uniting the people around this issue," he said. "And its a grassroots movement to help build support for it at the state level. Gilmore said gun ownership is particularly important in Montcalm County, which has a population of about 63,000 people. We live in a rural community that severely limits the police response time, Gilmore said. If, say for instance, the Michigan Legislature passes a gun confiscation law, that would put many of us in jeopardy, making it unsafe for the people wanting to protect themselves. That is why we need to pass this resolution and show our unity as a community. Gilmore wants the Michigan Legislature to declare Michigan a sanctuary state and pass a law that would tie the hands of Democrats from passing gun control laws if they gained a majority in the state House and Senate. Theyve been stomping on our gun rights for so long its about time we took a stand against it, he said. Rather than gun control measures, Gilmore said he wants lawmakers to put more tax dollars into public mental health services. He said he believes that could reduce gun violence. Montcalm County Sheriff Mike Williams said hes sworn to enforce any state law on the books until its deemed unconstitutional. He doesnt have jurisdiction to enforce federal law, he said. Williams said he views the sanctuary county proposal as a political statement rather than a binding legal matter. Any resolution passed by the board does not impact his authority as sheriff, because he is an elected official. I think what the group is really looking to do is get an affirmation or reaffirmation from sheriffs or prosecutors around the state that theyll uphold the Constitution; It is largely a statement from them to Lansing or Washington, he said. This is for them to make a statement about gun rights, and I fully support that. The next Montcalm County Board of Commissioners meeting starts at 6 p.m. Feb. 24 on the third floor of the Montcalm County Administrative Building, 211 W. Main St. in Stanton. Read more on the subject from MLive: Gun rights resolution up for consideration in Berrien County Lapeer County votes to become a Second Amendment Sanctuary You cannot have our guns: Group urges Jackson to be 2nd Amendment sanctuary county Gov. Whitmer, Democratic leaders push extreme risk gun bills after national shootings Farm Bills: Farmers' organisations call for Karnataka bandh, likely to be held on September 28 Karnataka bandh over Maratha board: What is open, what is closed Karnataka bandh today: What is open, what is closed India oi-Deepika S Bengaluru, Feb 12: Normal life likely to be hit on Thursday as a collective of pro-Kannada organisations have called for a strike demanding increasing reservation of jobs for Kannadigas in the state. However, the Karnataka bandh on February 13 is likely to be a low key affair. The dawn to dusk bandh has been called by the Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota calling for the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report which recommends job reservations to Kannadigas in the state in both the private and government sectors. Organisations that have extended support The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Lorry Owners Association, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have extended support to the bandh. Schools and Colleges The education department yet to decide if schools and colleges need to remain closed. Depending on the law and order situation, the department will take a call or ask the deputy commissioner's to take a call depending on the law and order situation the respective districts. Karnataka bandh tomorrow: Autos, taxis not to ply KSRTC/BMTC buses to ply normally Meanwhile, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has stated that its services will ply normally as they have not extended any support so far. Indian Railways will also not be affected by the bandh. Passengers can depend on bus and train services on Thursday. You may not get Ola, Uber, auto services In a move that could hit commuters, autorickshaw and cab drivers have come out in support of a strike called by the outfit. Taxi owners also have extended their support. Ola and Uber too are unlikely to render services on Thursday. Emergency services available Emergency services like hospitals, ambulance service, medical shops, milk booths will be open. Hotels will be open Hotel owners have not extended any support to the strike yet, so it seems like most of the eateries will be open on Thursday. Namma Metro will function Namma Metro will function as usual. They will take a call depending on the situation. The new Residence Hall and Entrepreneurial Center will provide over 75,000 SF of academic space and provide housing for 530 ASU students. Capstone, along with its team, collaborated with ASU project stakeholders on the planning, programming and design of the new Downtown Phoenix Residence Hall and Entrepreneurial Center to ensure the Projects program met the Universitys goals and objectives. Capstone Development Partners (Capstone), a national student housing real estate developer specializing in on-campus public-private partnerships (P3), is pleased to announce it has closed on tax-exempt financing for a new on-campus student housing community (Project) on the Downtown Phoenix campus of Arizona State University. Capstone, along with its architect Studio Ma and builder DPR Construction, collaborated with ASU project stakeholders on the planning, programming and design of the new Downtown Phoenix Residence Hall and Entrepreneurial Center to ensure the Projects program met the Universitys goals and objectives. The Project will be located at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Fillmore Street. The first three floors will provide over 75,000 SF of academic space to include dynamic design studios, flexible classroom space, fashion studios, fabrication labs, music practice and ensemble rooms, music recording studios and spaces for live events. The 207,000 SF residential component will consist of thirteen floors and will house approximately 530 students in a mixture of studio and two and four bedroom apartment-style unit types. This is Capstones third P3 with Arizona State University and its second on the Downtown Phoenix campus. Capstone is pleased to again partner with ASU on the development of this new residence hall and entrepreneurial center to provide modern apartment-style housing along with innovative academic space on the Downtown Phoenix campus. We are committed to working diligently with our design, construction and operations team to keep this project on-budget and on-schedule to achieve an on-time delivery in Fall 2021, said William Davis, Capstone Executive Vice President. The Project will have a total development cost of approximately $118 Million. Construction of the Project commenced in January 2020 and the project is scheduled to open in Fall 2021. The Project was designed by Studio Ma and is being constructed by DPR Construction. About Capstone Development Partners Capstone Development Partners, LLC is a leading national student housing real estate developer specializing in on-campus public-private partnerships. The company holds offices in Birmingham, Alabama and Denver, Colorado. Its principals, Jeff Jones and Bruce McKee, have more than 45 years combined experience as leaders in the higher education student housing sector. Since 1997, the principals of Capstone have partnered with nearly 70 public and private colleges and universities and delivered more than 44,000 beds of student housing nationwide. For more information please visit http://www.capdevpartners.com. About ASU Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it. About Studio Ma Studio Ma is an award-winning architecture and environmental design studio delivering innovative, sustainable and unique designs to forward-thinking organizations and individuals. Studio Mas public-private partnership projects for student housing, including those at Princeton University and Arizona State University, have been recognized with multiple awards from the Society of College and University Planners, Student Housing Business and the American Institute of Architects. These on campus projects heighten the student experience and form strong connections to the surrounding community. For more information, please visit http://www.studioma.com. About DPR Construction DPR Construction is a forward thinking general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for advanced technology/mission critical, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and commercial markets. Founded in 1990, DPR is a privately held, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with offices around the world. With a great story of entrepreneurial success, DPR is one of the largest general contractors in the nation with $5.9 billion in revenue in 2018. DPR has been operating in Arizona for more than 25 years with offices in Phoenix and Tucson. For more information, visit http://www.dpr.com. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a supplementary chargesheet against four Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives including Sajjad Ahmad Khan, who was in direct touch with last years Pulwama attack mastermind Mudassir Khan (now dead). Others charged under terror charges by NIA on Wednesday include Bilal Ahmad Mir, Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat and Mehraj-ud-Din Chopan. A NIA spokesperson said the JeMs senior commanders including Mudassir Khan had hatched a criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks in different parts of India including Delhi-NCR. Mudassir Khan was one of the main conspirators in the Pulwama terror attack as well and was killed in an encounter with the police and security forces in Tral area of district Pulwama on March 10 last year. Sajjad was directly in touch with Mudassir Khan while Ishfaq was involved in transportation of arms and ammunitions for strengthening JeM in Kashmir and also harboured the operatives of JeM, spokesperson Alok Mittal said. The February 14 Pulwama attack brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war with the Indian Air Force destroying a terror camp deep inside Pakistans Balakot. Sajjad was sent by Mudassir to New Delhi to set up a base and carry out attacks in the NCR. In the first chargesheet filed in September last year, NIA had mentioned that Mudassir was interacting with other cadres and his handlers in Pakistan through virtual mobile numbers generated mostly in the US to gave shape to the conspiracy for carrying out fidayeen attacks across India. A virtual mobile number works through a server for which users sign up for a service by downloading an app on their smart phones. A number is generated by the app syncing it with a social media platform like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter etc or an email account without linking it to a physical SIM. The internet calls made from within the app are connected to the user on the other side even if he/she doesnt have that app. These virtual numbers are used by terrorists these days to hide their identity as registration with Aadhar or any other photo ID is now mandatory in India to get a physical SIM. The previous chargesheet named Sajjad, Mir and two other JeM members - Tanvir Ahmad Ganie and Muzzafar Ahmad Bhat. Sajjad was arrested by the Delhi police in March 2019 from Old Delhi while he was conducting a reconnaissance of several targets for more attacks and was handed over to the NIA. Others were arrested in consecutive months. NIAs September chargesheet, HT has reviewed a copy, says that Pakistan based JeM terrorist Kari Mufti Yaseer, who infiltrated into India a few months before the Pulwama attack with a purpose to recruit, train and motivate local Kashmiri youth to carry out fidayeen attacks, was using the virtual mobile number +18143261052 through which he was in touch with Mudassir Khan and Tanvir Ganie. Yaseer was sent to India by the JeM leadership to oversee these fidayeen attacks. He is yet to be arrested. Bilal Mir, arrested in April, was using a virtual number - +19016677146 linked to WhatsApp. In one of the chats through this number, Bilal even told Sajjad that he wanted to become a fidayeen like Adil Ahmad Mir. Adil Ahmad Mir was the main bomber in Pulwama attack who blew himself up with the Maruti Eeco van killing 43 CRPF personnel. Bilal sent the video of Adil (Pulwama suicide bomber) on February 14 itself asking Sajjad if such an attack was planned, then he be considered for fidayeen like Adil, NIA chargesheet states. After the Pulwama attack, Bilal also asked Mudassir Khan if he can carry out the next such big attack. On February 15, at about 10.24 hours, Bilal requested Mudassir as next main karunga insha allah (I will carry out the next suicide attack), states the NIA chargesheet. Before his arrest in March from Delhi, NIA says, Sajjad had already conducted a reconnaissance in areas like Civil Lines, BK Dutt Colony, Kashmere Gate, Ghaziabad, Lodhi Estate, Mandi House, Daryaganj, South Block and Central Secretariat. A second shark sighting in a Sydney lagoon has sparked fears that a monster great white has been flushed into the popular swimming spot during a wild storm. The Northern Beaches Council announced a shark had been sighted at Narrabeen Lagoon on Wednesday morning. 'This morning we received a report of a shark in Narrabeen Lagoon near the bridge at Pittwater Road,' council CEO Ray Brownlee told Daily Mail Australia. 'Our Beach Services Team is investigating and warning signs are being erected at key points around the lagoon as a precaution. We ask the community to be aware.' One of the ominous signs read: 'Shark sighted today. Enter water at your own risk.' It comes just three days after an ominous fin was spotted in the same lagoon as the city endured its heaviest downpour in 22 years. A ominous shark fin was captured on video swimming through Narrabeen Lagoon in Sydney's Northern Beaches on Sunday. On Wednesday, there was a second shark sighting, prompting the local council to erect warning signs around the popular swimming spot Despite the warnings, young families and holidaymakers from a busy caravan park across the road have been seen swimming in the water every day. One group was filmed using a homemade slip and slide to drop into the water on Monday, just metres away from where the fin was spotted on Sunday. Several signs have been erected around the lagoon. One read: 'Shark sighted today. Enter water at your own risk' The original shark footage, which appeared to show a dorsal fin breaching the waters in the lagoon just metres from the shore, sparked debate online. Most viewers were convinced it was indeed a shark, but others were sceptical and claimed the fin was more likely a floating tree branch or surfboard. It's not the first time a shark has been spotted in the area. There have been 12 sightings in the Narrabeen/North Narrabeen area in the last four years, according to the Dorsal Watch website dedicated to shark sightings. Among them was a one metre bull shark reportedly spotted at the entrance of Narrabeen Lagoon in April 2016. 'I saw its dorsal fin chasing a school of what looked like poddy mullet from where I was fishing on the sandbank,' they told the Dorsal Watch website at the time. The department stated at the time aerial contractors spotted 'a large figure' in deep water near Narrabeen shark nets but were unable to identify it, the website stated. Another sign warning swimmers that they may be sharing Narrabeen Lagoon with sharks. Despite the warnings, young families and holidaymakers from a busy caravan park across the road have been seen swimming in the water every day Fisherman Stephen Burleigh claimed he spotted a shark dragging a duck under the water in the lagoon in 2007. 'There were half a dozen ducks in the water. I saw four of them moving very quickly to the side but the shark got one and dragged it under the water, five metres under,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald at the time. 'I was worried if there were any children in the water. I stepped back and said ''I'm not fishing here any more''.' The lagoon is opened up to the ocean during heavy rainfall in a bid to reduce the impact of flash flooding on waterfront properties in the suburb. Life expectancy in Australia's regional areas is one to two years lower than in cities. In remote areas it is up to seven years lower. And for Indigenous Australians, most of whom live outside of cities, this gap is even greater. The Closing the Gap report released on Wednesday exposed the unrelenting national shame concerning the state of health of Indigenous Australians, whose children have twice the mortality rate of non-Indigenous children. Why not for Australia's rural residents? A woman sits in her Brooklyn apartment in New York and has a telemedicine video conference with a physician. Credit:AP But there is also the broader health gap in Australia, the city-rural divide. It effectively condemns those who live outside cities to an earlier death. And the Indigenous health gap, which is a part of that city-country divide, will not be closed unless we address the broader challenge. There was another federal announcement on Wednesday funding to train 100 rural doctors in obstetrics, emergency medicine and general practice. But when the problem is so substantial, this is not in itself a sustainable solution. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who campaigned for president on a promise to fix a broken Washington, ended his bid for the Democratic nomination on Tuesday after a dismal showing in the New Hampshire primary. Mr. Bennet had staked all his hopes on New Hampshire, holding 50 town hall events there in the 10 weeks leading up to the primary and campaigning exclusively there in the final stretch, even on the night of the Iowa caucuses. But early results showed him with only 0.3 percent of the vote. Write-in candidates had more. I feel nothing but joy tonight as we conclude this campaign and this chapter, Mr. Bennet tweeted after announcing his departure. Tonight wasnt our night. But New Hampshire, you may see me once again. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 14:36 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206410a4f 1 World Xi-Jinping,Jokowi,China,Indonesia,coronavirus,nCoV,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,wuhan,China-Indonesia Free Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Joko Jokowi Widodo that the Chinese government was confident it would win the battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a phone call on Tuesday night. As reported by Xinhua news agency, Xi said containing the outbreak was the governments top priority, as evidenced by its commitment to implementing the most rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures. #BREAKING: Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks over phone with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, expressing confidence in a full victory in the fight against the novel #coronavirus pneumonia epidemic and achieving goals and tasks of economic and social development pic.twitter.com/QUSdNRTPnZ China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 11, 2020 He went on to say that China would continue to bolster its cooperation on the mitigation of the deadly viral outbreak with Indonesia and other countries to ensure public health safety. Xi also conveyed his appreciation for the trust and understanding extended by his Indonesian colleagues, saying that his recent conversation with Jokowi was a reflection of the robust bilateral relationship between China and Indonesia as comprehensive strategic partners. Jokowi reportedly expressed his sympathies to China on behalf of Indonesia during the phone call. COVID-19, linked to a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected more than 45,000 people since it was first reported early this year with a death toll of more than 1,100 people as of Wednesday. The Indonesian government has imposed a travel ban to and from mainland China since Feb. 5 as well as temporary halt in live animal imports from the country in an effort to prevent the deadly virus from spreading to the archipelago . However, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian objected to the travel ban as he claimed such a move would likely have a negative impact on the global economy. In this situation, we need to be calm. Dont overreact and cause a negative impact on investment and the economy, he told reporters last week. As of Wednesday, there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.(rfa) tech2 News Staff Samsung hosted its Unpacked event in San Francisco last night and launched three major products. First, it unveiled the much talked about flagship smartphone series Galaxy S20 series. The company also unveiled its second foldable screen smartphone Galaxy Z Flip, and we also saw the Galaxy Buds Plus. The Samsung Galaxy S20 series includes three smartphones Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra. Galaxy S20 series pricing, availability The Galaxy S20 is priced at $999 whereas the Galaxy S20 Plus will cost you $1,200. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is priced at $1,399 in the US. The smartphones will be available for pre-order starting 21 February, and they'll be available at retail, it will begin on 6 March in the US. India pricing and availability are not announced yet. Galaxy S20 comes in Cloud Pink, Cloud Blue and Cosmic Grey colour variants. Galaxy S20 Plus is available in Cloud Blue, Cosmic Black and Cosmic Grey colour options. The top-tier Galaxy S20 Ultra comes in two colour variants Cosmic Black and Cosmic Grey. Galaxy S20, S20 Plus specifications Both Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus share a few design details like punch-hole display and a rectangular camera module. The Galaxy S20 features a 6.2-inch QHD+ Infinity O display that comes with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,444 pixels. The display comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Interestingly, the 120 Hz mode only works at 1080p. The 1440p native resolution only supports 60 Hz. As a bonus, touch response speed has been bumped up to a whopping 240 Hz, which means that the phone should feel very responsive. The Galaxy S20 Plus also has similar capabilities, except its larger, as it comes with a 6.7-inch display. Both the phones come with an in-display fingerprint sensor. In terms of cameras, Galaxy S20 sports a 10 MP punch-hole selfie camera (same as the S20 Plus) and on the back, you will see a triple rear camera system. This rear camera setup includes a 64 MP 3x telephoto camera, 12 MP wide-angle camera and a 12 MP ultra-wide camera. The S20 Plus gets a quad rear camera setup which includes a ToF camera for depth sensing. Both the smartphones come with enhanced Super Steady mode. Digital zoom via software can push 30x zoom. The cameras are also capable of recording 8K 24 fps video on the 64 MP telephoto. Coming to the battery, Galaxy S20 houses a 4,000 mAh battery whereas the S20 Plus is equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery. In the 5G variant, S20 offers 12 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage whereas in LTE variant it offers 8 GB RAM and 128 G storage which is expandable up to 1 TB via microSD card. A limitation here is that 5G support is restricted to the sub-6 bands, i.e., you'll get 5G speeds that are faster than 4G, but not dramatically so. This shouldn't matter for a while anyway because 5G coverage is rather sparse. Galaxy S20 Plus 5G comes with 12 GB RAM and up to 512 GB storage, and the LTE variant offers 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. Both the phones run on Android 10 and are powered by a 64-bit octa-core processor. Galaxy S20 Ultra specifications It features a 6.9-inch QHD+ Infinity O display that comes with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,444 pixels. Just like the other two smartphones in the series, this one also comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate at 1080p and 60 Hz at 1440p, along with that 240-Hz touch response. An in-screen fingerprint sensor is also available in this phone. On the camera front, it houses a quad-camera setup at the back that includes a 108 MP primary camera, 48 MP telephoto camera, 12 MP ultra wide camera and a ToF camera. the smartphone supports 10x hybrid optical zoom and a whopping 100X digital zoom called Space Zoom. For selfies, you will get a 40 MP punch hole camera on the front. Galaxy S20 Ultra is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery. In terms of storage, both 5G and LTE variants will offer 16 GB and 12 GB RAM options and 128 GB and 512 GB storage options. The storage is expandable up to 1 TB via microSD card. The Ultra's implements a proper 5G mode that has full support for mmWave radios that can hit speeds of several Gbps when in the right regions. British political scientist Lawrence Broers, who studies of conflicts in the Caucasus, presented his book "Armenia-Azerbaijan: Anatomy of Confrontation" yesterday in Baku. After the presentation, author answered several questions of Vestnik Kavkaza. What is your conclusion: what was the origin of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and who did organize it? The book comes out of 5 years of research. Weve done interviews and field work across the conflict. I spent a number of months in Azerbaijan, one month in Nagorno-Karabakh and two months in Armenia. But the book also draws on previous years, more than a decade of experience as a practitioner of peace building in this context. So it also draws on my field notes from that time. When it comes to the question of origins of the conflict first of all I reject the idea that theres any single factor or explanation. And I bring a number of different levels of explanation. First of all, the structural vulnerabilities in the institutions that existed in the 1980s. Systemic collapse during the Perestroika period. Emergency of new forms of political mobilization and leadership. And deeply imbedded and incompatible cultural narratives between the parties. What prevented execution of the four resolutions of the UN Security Council on Karabakh in the 90s and what prevents it now? In the 1990s, the world was destructed with many different conflicts. There was not enough leverage coming from outside for this conflict as we discussed now. Western powers I think were destructed with this conflict in the Balkans which was more of the priority. And as to why they havent been implemented to this day, as we discussed this idea of liberal peace and a single hegemonic approach to a complete resolution not longer exists in the same way as it did. And what striking about this conflict is the balance of power that preserves among downside actors which reduces the leverage from outside to force outcomes. What are the conditions within the occupied territories of Azerbaijan now? There hasnt been a dramatic demographic growth in those territories as far as Im aware. And as you know theres a de facto jurisdiction that is developing. Im reluctant to comment on how things are because I havent been there for some time. What impact did the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have on economy and demography of Armenia? The conflict of course had a very important impact. It initially had the impact of determining leadership struggles within Armenia. The Karabakh conflict already in the late 1990s established an alternative leadership in the Karabakh Committee that fragmented the Armenian elite. And as you know in 1998 it was Robert Kocharyan who came in power. In that sense, the Karabakh conflict became quite important in determining leadership outcomes. But thats not to support the idea of a Karabakh clan. I think this is a misunderstanding. There are a lot of people who are not from Karabakh in the Karabakh clan. So in terms of the economy, I think its difficult to distinguish because all post-Soviet states went through an economic crash. Armenia was perhaps particularly dramatic but not necessarily because of the conflict. Perhaps more because of the nature of its Soviet economy which was very dependent on industries elsewhere in the Soviet Union. So the conflict generated a war economy. It contributed considerably to the informalization of power. It created certain networks that became powerful players in Armenian politics. And over the long term, it necessitated a form policy of complementarity between Russia and other powers. So in this sense it had an extremely important effect. What do you think about a position of modern Armenia under Nikol Pashinian on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? I think there hasnt been a lot of clarity yet on what the position is. Hes made a number of public statements around, for instance, the need for a solution to be acceptable to Azerbaijan, to Karabakh and to Armenia. He has discussed the Madrid Principles. But what we dont see yet is a road map for his vision. So its kinda difficult to comment. I think theres been a lot of waiting and preparation but no formal policy map. As you know he said that this process should be widened to include the leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh. So a lot of ambiguity I would say. We dont know yet what the offer is. What can reverse the momentum in negotiations and take them to a constructive track? I think there are a number of small steps. One of them has been improving the security contact which is happened. So I think maintaining a low number of ceasefire violations that keeps the political space open for discussion. But there are a number of symbolic steps that could be taken to start to facilitate much more contact across the conflict. You yourself were in a journalist exchange. We need to have these kinds of visits ongoing as a something normal, something that happens regularly and to challenge this very deep sense of animosity that exists to break that down, to create space for different kind of political conversation. What are your plans? You mentioned a film. Our organization Conciliation Resources has supported a team of Armenian and Azerbaijani filmmakers to make a series of films the four films all together and the fourth films like a summary of the first three. And we are presenting that in London on the 18th of February. And we hope after that to make it public. These films combine two perspectives on the conflict. And in the sense, they are an invitation to viewers to make up their minds about what they think happened and to encourage a more realistic debate about the impact of the past and how we think about it in terms of obstacles to progress in the present and the future. GUANGZHOU, China/GENEVA -- The coronavirus outbreak in China may be over by April, the countrys senior medical adviser said on Tuesday, but deaths surpassed 1,000 and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a global threat potentially worse than terrorism. The world must wake up and consider this enemy virus as public enemy number one, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding the first vaccine was 18 months away. As the epidemic squeezed the worlds second-biggest economy, Chinese firms struggled to get back to work after the extended Lunar New Year holiday, hundreds of them saying they would need loans running into billions of dollars to stay afloat. Company layoffs were beginning despite assurances by President Xi Jinping that widespread sackings would be avoided, as supply chains for global firms from car manufacturers to smartphone makers ruptured. Chinas foremost medical adviser on the outbreak, Zhong Nanshan, said numbers of new cases were falling in some provinces and forecast the epidemic would peak this month. I hope this outbreak or this event may be over in something like April, Zhong, 83, an epidemiologist who played a role in combating an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003, told Reuters. The WHO said on Tuesday 1,017 people had died in China, where there were 42,708 cases. Only 319 cases have been confirmed in 24 other countries and territories outside mainland China, with two deaths: one in Hong Kong and the other in the Philippines. World stocks, which had seen rounds of selloffs because of the coronarivus impact on Chinas economy and ripple effects round the world, surged to new record highs on Zhongs comments. Statistics from China indicate about 2% of people infected with the new virus have died, and many had pre-existing medical conditions or were elderly. But the spread of the virus, which causes fever, cough and breathing difficulties, has already caused widespread disruption. St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said Chinas economy was expected to slow noticeably in the first quarter and anyone pricing assets should for now consider the tail risk that the outbreak could get worse. But Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said the financial spillover from the outbreak looked containable, though it was still early to judge the economic impact. China still in 'emergency' - WHO Tedros was less sanguine about the coronavirus, now officially named COVID-19. To be honest a virus is more powerful in creating political, social and economic upheaval than any terrorist attack, he said. Its the worst enemy you can imagine The impact of travel curbs, lockdowns and production suspensions is being felt increasingly on Chinas economy. JPMorgan analysts downgraded forecasts for Chinese growth this quarter and Norwegian energy consultancy Rystad Energy predicted the outbreak would cut growth in global oil demand by a quarter this year. Cisco Systems Inc, Facebook Inc, AT&T and Sprint Corp became the latest U.S. technology companies to pull out of an international telecoms conference in Barcelona because of the outbreak. The organiser of the event, the telecom industrys biggest annual gathering, will discuss whether to cancel it, an industry source said. Inside China, more than 300 companies are seeking bank loans totalling 57.4 billion yuan ($8.2 billion) to help cope with the disruption, banking sources said. Prospective borrowers include food delivery giant Meituan Dianping, smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp and ride-hailing provider Didi Chuxing Technology Co. Workers affected Chinese firm Xinchao Media said on Monday it had laid off 500 people, or just over a tenth of its workforce, and restaurant chain Xibei said it was worried about how to pay its roughly 20,000 workers. Authorities said they would roll out measures to stabilise jobs. The World Bank ruled out any new health loans to China, though technical assistance would be offered. Hubei, where the flu-like virus emerged from a wildlife market in the provincial capital of Wuhan, remains in virtual lockdown, its stations and airports shut and roads blocked. But its health authority reported 2,097 new cases and 103 new deaths on Feb. 10. With public anger rising, Hubeis government dismissed the provincial health commissions Communist Party boss, Zhang Jin, and director Liu Yingzi, state media said. Washington, whose travel measures have offended Beijing, authorized the voluntary departure of U.S. government employees and family members from Chinese-ruled Hong Kong out of an abundance of caution, the State Department said. Dr Anne Schuchat, an official from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said she hoped the first group of Americans evacuated from Wuhan could be released from their quarantine on Tuesday. Off Japans port of Yokohama, the Diamond Princess cruise ship with 3,700 passengers and crew remained quarantined, with the number of confirmed cases at 135. Thailand said it had barred passengers from getting off another ship, Holland America Lines MS Westerdam, though no confirmed infections have been found on board. This essay is part of a series this month, coinciding with the concept of Flagship February, wherein we intend to revisit the flagship beers of regional craft breweries, reflect on their influence within the beer scene, and assess how those beers fit into the modern beer world. Click here to see all the other entries in the series. In my early exploration of the craft beerscape, taking place during my college years in the mid-2000s, there were few styles that held more appeal to me than moderately malty amber and brown ales. By no means was I alone, eitherthese were beer styles that provided the ideal safe harbor in what could be a somewhat intimidating beer world. A classic American amber ale or brown ale was almost always a safe pick for the craft neophyte, lacking the challenging bitterness that might be found in pale ale or IPA, or the roasty astringency of stronger porters or stouts. They promised a mild, warming, welcoming sweetnessalthough far less saccharine than the juice bombs of todaythat helped an emerging audience of beer geeks become gently accustomed with the heart and soul of beer brewing: Malted barley. Eventually, of course, my tastes expanded in all the expected directions. I gained a tolerance, and then an appreciation, for American hops. I came to enjoy the dry, bitter roastiness of classic American stout. My mind was blown, and then reorganized, to include tart and funky beer styles in its mental rolodex. I went on the exact same journey as you likely did yourself but I simultaneously held on to an appreciation for those amber and brown ales of old. It was only a few months ago, in fact, that I wrote Endangered Beer Styles: Amber Ale, a remembrance of how much that subtly malty, balanced style meant to craft beers evolution, neglected though it may be in the modern era. And American brown ale fits right in alongside it, a fellow style that is now largely in hiding, existing on the fringes of a scene that currently shows little interest in subtlety, or flavors that arent immediate and bombastic. And of all the brown ales I regularly turned to during those earlier days of beer exploration, Montanas own Moose Drool Brown Ale must have been the one I drank the most. Hell, I once homebrewed a clone of this beer around 2011 or so, and subsequently based a few recipes (brown ale/rosemary pork stew!) around that beer. Well priced, widely available and dependably more flavorful than many of its competitors, it was a reliable fridge staple of my post-college years; the kind of beer you could offer to most guests without fear that it would be too sweet, too bitter or too anything for their liking, while still being far more engaging than whatever light lager was coming out of the cheap 30-pack. It was (and is) a happy medium of the beer world. Its also one of a few brown ales to qualify as a true flagship for its brewery, Big Sky Brewing Co. Founded in 1995, Big Sky has long been a standard-bearer for its state, even as the number of breweries in Montana has crept slowly upwardas of last year, it was actually #2 in the nation in terms of breweries per capita, thanks to a lower population than many states. Big Sky, however, has maintained its status as Montanas largest craft brewer, with Moose Drool as its most enduring symbol. Surviving the move from bottles to cans, along with various redesigns (the current, lime-green cans are a bit odd to behold), the appetizingly named Moose Drool conjures an image that is uniquely Montana, with a nod to the states wide swaths of wilderness. In terms of construction, Moose Drool is an ideal example of what homebrewing textbooks used to stress was American brown ale, citing a distinction between this style created by American homebrewers and the classical English brown ales that came before. In comparison with those historic British brown ales, the American version was amplified in all the usual ways: A touch stronger, a bit more assertively roasty, and with a greater flavor/bitterness presence from American hops. In effect, it made American brown ale a bit less of the nutty, bready English ale and more the milder little brother to American robust porter, although some of the English brown ale character did remain intact. In recent years, however, as fewer brewers bother with brown ale at all, these old distinctions are far less likely to matter in any substantive waymore and more often, brewers simply label some taproom one-off as brown ale and leave it at that. In the case of Moose Drool, however, the results actually are distinctive enough that the beer makes a case for its own sub-genre. So lets get to that tasting. Tasting: Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale First, heres how Big Sky describes this particular beer: Its chocolate brown in color, with a creamy texture. A malty beer with just enough hop presence to keep it from being too sweet. The aroma mostly comes from the malt with a hint of spice added by the hops. Moose Drool is brewed with pale, caramel, chocolate, and whole black malts; and Kent Goldings, Liberty, and Willamette hops. Theres multiple references to the hops there, but its safe to say that to a modern palate, Moose Drool reads as a malt showcase, not that this is a bad thing. On the nose, it really is quite lovely, with a delicately structured profile reminiscent of black bread, hazelnuts, light roast coffee and cacao nib nuttiness. The nutty quality evokes both the signature tone of Columbian breakfast coffee and the toasty sweetness of a bowl of Grape-Nuts cereal, but no note is really dominant. Its an aroma that gives an incredibly accurate impression of what the beer will taste like. On the palate, Moose Drool is quite nutty, with notes of dark bread and slight, dry cocoa powder. Theres sweetness present, but its quite mildonce again, especially in comparison to styles like modern hazy IPA, which trend ever sweeterwith a gentle, deep toastiness. Its easy to drink, and invites the drinker to dip a toe into those darker flavors without also coming across the increased astringency/bitterness of more overtly roasty beers. Its a palate that is malt-driven, but in a different way than many amber ales, which are all about that caramel sweetness. This, on the other hand, is a drier and nuttier maltiness that is arguably even easier to drink, and I think you can also make the claim that is scratches a particular itch that is distinct even from porterless roast, more toast. It is avowedly its own thing. In the course of this Flagship February series, Ive revisited some beers that were pleasant, and some that seemed to have been left behind a bit by the development of the beer scene, but Moose Drool is perhaps the first time I find myself saying I wish that beer like this was more common today. Brown ale is a minor niche, to be certain, but the particular space that Moose Drool carves out between porter and lighter ales is ground we used to explore far more often, and now have a tendency to collectively overlook. Its a reminder: There are realms of flavor out there being underutilized in the beer scene, and sometimes all it takes is revisiting a classic to make you pine for what was once easy to come by. Jim Vorel is a Paste staff writer and resident craft beer geek. You can follow him on Twitter for much more drinks writing. The head of the World Health Organization's says there are "concerning instances" of coronavirus transmission from people who have not traveled to China, a development that could mean there is a bigger problem. This comes as the death toll surpassed that of the SARS epidemic in 2002/2003. Chinese Officials Authorized to Seize Personal Property to Counter Deepening Coronavirus Crisis Officials from two coronavirus-stricken cities in southern China have been authorized to confiscate private property in an effort to combat the outbreak that has pushed the countrys health system to its limits. According to a notice posted on Feb. 11, city and district-level authorities in Guangzhou city can, when necessary, temporarily expropriate houses, venues, vehicles, and other resources from companies or individuals. The government can also ask relevant organizations to produce or provide disease control equipment or daily supplies, according to the notice. It noted that officials carrying out such measures should compensate parties accordingly and return the materials if possible. Meanwhile, the city of Shenzhen issued a similar notice the same day that authorizes local officials to expropriate supplies, equipment, and venues from the public to meet the needs of frontline health workers, provided they return the items or offer compensation. The Shenzhen notice also allows the government to shut factories, companies, schools, and limit public gatherings as well as the use of sites that are susceptible to the outbreaks harm. Health workers in protective gear evacuate residents from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the coronovirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Heng He, a U.S.-based political affairs commentator, voiced skepticism about such measures. While similar emergency policies have been utilized in other countries, Heng doubts the regimes capacity to honor its pledge to provide compensation. Doesnt matter whether this is consistent with the constitutional lawthe Chinese Communist Party doesnt even obey their own laws, he said. Heng said the policy appeared to be a new way for Guangdong authorities to rob riches from the public. Even though they said there will be compensation, a lot of people have experienced such compensation during forced demolitiona lot [of the compensations] are symbolic, he said. Forced demolition campaigns have been a recurring issue in China over the past two decades. According to a 2019 report by Beijing Shengting Law Firm, at least 751 complaints were filed from 2014 to 2017 over forced demolitions, and in 43 percent of the cases, officials didnt follow any legal procedures. Heng said that the notice of authorization may enable officials to profit off the nations misfortune. Residents in other cities have reported local officials abusing the lockdown rules. A few citizens in the province of Hebei, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Epoch Times that local officers have blocked transportation in their neighborhoods, and only allow people to go through if they offer some form of bribery, such as expensive wine. Some netizens echoed the same sentiments on Chinese social media. Personal properties So where should these people go? One asked. Others also relayed fears that given the authorities censorship of the on-the-ground situation, the policy could be a barometer of the outbreaks severity. A Chinese couple wear plastic coats and protective masks as they shop for groceries at a supermarket in Beijing, China, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) To date, more than 80 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, have entered into at least a partial lockdown to prevent further spread of the deadly virus. In addition, citizens across China are told to wear masks when in a public setting, while schools in over a dozen provinces have postponed the new term for the second time in about two weeks. About two dozen major international airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, have suspended flights to China. American, on Feb. 11, extended its suspension to late April, saying it will make any adjustment if necessary. With 99 percent of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, but one that holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world, Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a press conference on Feb. 11. PM Honcharuk expects EU-Ukraine Open Skies deal to be signed in 2020 15:15, 12.02.20 886 Today, the parties are in talks to determine when the document could be signed. PORT ARTHUR Finances, diversity and stability were the themes of the annual state of education speech hosted by the Port Arthur Education Foundation on Tuesday. The featured keynote speaker, state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, touted recent legislative changes that will keep more money in local districts, while calling on stakeholders across the state to come together to solve issues facing teachers and students. We were able to invest $11.5 billion in public education this last year, Creighton said. We reduced our reliance on what is called Robin Hood, where local tax money is taken from school districts, sent to Austin and then sent all over the state to other districts that need a lift up, that need help. Under the new financing formula, Creighton said Port Arthur alone will be able to keep between $12 million to $13 million that would have gone to other districts under former policies. And that is your tax money that is contributed to schools, he said. And then in Austin we increased the state share of public education to lift up those in districts that need it the most that dont have property-wealthy areas or industry or other tax-base to rely on. The recapture system, often referred to as Robin Hood, redistributes funds from schools in areas with high property value to those in areas with low property value. Port Arthur Independent School District Superintendent Mark Porterie highlighted the districts clean audit and diversity in students in an impassioned speech. When you talk about diversity, we put another definition to diversity in Port Arthur, Porterie said. Let me tell you this. We have students from Mexico, we have students from El Salvador, we have students from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Senegal, China, India, Italy, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Ecuador and Israel. Now who is more diverse than the Port Arthur Independent School District? Porterie touched on the importance of Career and Technical Education, a key focus of the event with industry professionals providing financial support to the foundation. Students from those programs and Lamar State College Port Arthur lined the room with presentations and examples of what they experience and work on in their programs A team from the Computer Technology class at Memorial High School presented a very amazing, beautiful and colorful computer, as described by Ariana Toson, a senior at the school. I think learning these skills in high school is very important, because everything these days is based off technology, Toson said before the speeches began. Whether it be your phone, your home PC or your car. Other programs on display included nursing, where students can graduate as a certified nursing assistant and join the workforce right away. Jesus Medina, who is part of the automotive technology program in PAISD said the best part of taking advantage of career and technology courses in school is that they are free. Betty Reynard, the president of Lamar State College Port Arthur, spoke about state accolades the college has received and noted upcoming renovations to several buildings on campus. Creighton closed out his speech by calling for everyone to come together to ensure the success of education in Port Arthur and in Texas. The thing that we have to promote all of us collectively is that we are going to stay at the table for our kids, he said. We cannot be stagnant, we cannot sit still, we cannot be idle, and we cannot say with regard to any individual child thats just the way it is, we cant do any better. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes See tweets from a Bay Area woman who has been stranded on the open seas in the photo gallery above. A Bay Area woman is finally going home after being stuck on a cruise ship that was barred from docking by four countries and the U.S. territory of Guam due to fears over the new coronavirus. Christina Kerby of Alameda is one of the more than 2,000 passengers on the MS Westerdam, which finally announced Wednesday it can disembark passengers in Cambodia. Sharing her experience on Twitter of being stranded on the open seas, Kerby has become an unofficial spokesperson for the ship. On Wedneday morning, she tweeted, "Homeward bound! The #Westerdam is headed for Cambodia. We're told by the captain that it may take a few days to get everyone on chartered flights to Phnom Penh and then home. Elated at the prospect of touching land tomorrow. Until then, Ill work on my towel animals. @HALcruises." A statement on Holland American Line's website said the Westerdam is sailing to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship arrived Thursday morning local time. It said the cruise will end there and passengers will disembark over several days and transfer via charter flights to Phnom Penh to catch flights home. MORE: Cruise ship barred by 4 governments set to dock in Cambodia The spread of the COVID-19, the new pneumonia-like virus that originated in China, has caused a multitude of obstacles for travelers and especially for those on a handful of cruise ships. While Holland America Line said no cases of the virus have been identified among the passengers and crew on board the MS Westerdam, another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, has confirmed at least 174 cases of the disease. That ship is quarantined in Yokohama, Japan. Kerby left behind her husband, two kids (ages 5 and 10) and her job at Blue Shield in San Francisco to travel on the MS Westerdam with her mother. "My mom is an avid traveler and wanted to do something special with me and my brother, so she booked a month-long voyage," Kerby wrote in an email. "Shes been on the ship since mid-January. My brother did the first leg of the cruise with her, from Singapore to Hong Kong, and then he disembarked in Hong Kong and I got on. He got the better half of the trip!" Being in limbo on the open seas has been an "emotional roller coaster," Kerby said, and for days passengers and staff didn't know when and where the ship would disembark. But she said the situation isn't dreadful, and that's why she started posting on Twitter. "There is a ton of fear out there right now about the coronavirus, and understandably so," she said. "My heart goes out to the passengers on the Princess cruise and I would never try to make light of their situation. I just want people to know that were OK, the Westerdam is OK, and its not as dire as people might think if they only read stories in the news. People need to form their own opinions of the situation and Im hoping that my tweets will help. "Also, Holland America has been doing a great job of taking care of the passengers and crew during this stressful time. I know well get home soon." Kerby said the experience on the Westerdam has been similar to most any cruise except there aren't any shore excursions and passengers have their temperatures taken to check for the new coronavirus. The Westerdam's last stop since leaving Hong Kong on Feb. 1 was in Koashiung, Taiwan, on Feb. 4. Because no one on the ship has the virus, the passengers have been able to enjoy the ship's amenities, and Kerby has shared her daily activities in amusing messages on Twitter. "Would type more but am currently in spin class," she wrote in one message. "Good morning from the #Westerdam , getting set up for poolside yoga class while the rest of us patiently wait for the nacho bar to open," she tweeted in another. Kerby has been keeping to a routine to stay sane. She starts her days with coffee in her room at 7 a.m., spin class at 9 and after that an omelet at the buffet. "Ive been exercising a ton," she said. "The ship offers great fitness classes and workout facilities. Probably not exercising enough to work off all the dessert Ive been eating, but the sweat and endorphins have helped me feel better." Her afternoons are filled with activities, like a lecture on the history of Japan or a walk around the deck. Evenings begin with happy hour by the piano bar and then she enjoys dinner with her mom and her moms' friends before taking in a magic show or dance performance. "Its an easy life I can see why old people like cruises!" she said. But she said the best thing about the experience has been the camaraderie and connecting with other passengers and the staff. "They have incredible stories," Kerby said. "One woman from South Africa who works in the salon told me she just joined the ship 12 days ago in Hong Kong and will be onboard for the next nine months. What a way to start her contract. She was incredibly sweet and positive though. Everyone has been lovely." Through Twitter, she has also heard from people all over the world who have reached out to offer support and share a laugh. Some have sent her photos of their kids. "The responses have blown me away," she said. "Its been wild." She added, "Yes, its a stressful situation onboard, but it helps to be human about it." Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. LONGVIEW A man accused of aiding the escape of the suspected shooter of a southwestern Washington deputy is set to change his plea to guilty. Matthew Veatchs pending plea would leave one person facing charges stemming from the April shooting, which killed 29-year-old Cowlitz County Deputy Justin DeRosier, The Daily News reported. Veatch would be the second of three people to take a plea deal with prosecutors over charges of aiding Brian Butts' attempts at escaping. Police say Butts shot DeRosier, who was checking on a disabled motor home in Kalama. In a brief exchange of gunfire, police killed Butts on April 14 after a manhunt. In court Tuesday, Veatch's lawyer asked to strike the Feb. 18 trial and set a "change of plea" hearing for that day. Court documents refer to it as a guilty plea hearing. Veatch has told officers that he was at his residence when he heard a gunshot and that Butts then arrived, according to police records. Police say Veatch told them he led Butts away through a forested area, even as Butts said he "shot a cop." Only Savannah Eastman still maintains her innocence. She is set for trial Feb. 25. Ricky Roberts Jr., pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of rendering criminal assistance in a Jan. 8 deal with prosecutors. Under the deal, Roberts Jr. must testify in Eastmans trial. The Associated Press New Delhi: In a bizarre catch, bundles of foreign currency notes worth Rs 45 lakh were recovered from one kg peanut shells, semi-cooked minced mutton balls and biscuit packets at Indira Gandhi International Airports Terminal-3 on Tuesday evening. Officials said the currency was found with a 26-year-old man who was scheduled to board a flight to Dubai. He was caught when he was spotted hurrying with his baggage for the check-in. According to officers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards the airport, the surveillance and intelligence staff spotted a man who was frequently switching queues at the check-in counters around 6.30 pm. When our team approached him for assistance, and asked him if he was about to miss his flight, he said he only wanted to get his check-in his bags registered with the airline. On enquiry, he revealed his identity as Murad Alam from Saharanpur, UP. He said he is travelling to Dubai on tourist visa. When we asked him what he was carrying, he said there were eatables in his bags. Our men asked him to cooperate for a detailed scanning of his bags but he insisted on completing registering his baggage first, said a senior CISF officer requesting anonymity. The officials grew suspicious and the man was taken to a random checking area. On X-ray screening of his baggage, we noticed suspicious images inside his bag. The bags were opened and we recovered packed food and snacks. When we asked him to open the packets, he said it was mutton and he cant open it as he is a vegetarian. Our men opened the packet and found mutton balls in it. When one of these balls were cut open, bundles up currency notes were found inside. From another packet, we recovered peanut shells glued together. Currency notes were stuffed in them. Some biscuit packets with the man had foreign currency concealed, said the officer. Hemendra Singh, assistant inspector general, CISF, said the notes included Saudi riyals, Qatar riyals, Kuwaiti Dinars, Omani riyals and Euros. The currency recovered is worth Rs 45 lakh. Because the man could not produce any valid document for carrying the currency, he was handed over to the Customs for further investigation, Singh said. The man said he worked as a manager at a company and belongs to Saharanpur in UP. Initial probe suggests he is a carrier who had been promised a good sum to deliver the money to a contact in Dubai. He said he had made three similar trips to Dubai last year, the officer said. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 12 : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) 2019 report has found glaring omissions on the part of Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra in purchases and use of funds. The CAG report for 2013-18 was tabled in the Kerala Assembly on Wednesday. Latching on to the findings, and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala (Congress), here on Wednesday, demanded a NIA probe and removal of Behra from his post. Such a thing had never happened in any state of the country, he added. Speaking to the media, Sunil Raj, Accountant General, said 25 rifles and a large number of cartridges were missing from the police storage. "Our role is to find the faults and place that before the authorities. The Public Accounts Committee also will look into it," Raj said. The report also points to collusion between Keltron, the state public sector company, and the police in purchases. It also says, Rs 2.81 crore meant to construct housing for policemen was diverted to build villas for top police officers. Bullet-proof vehicles were purchased against the guidelines, it added. However, a top police officer said no rifles were missing and the discrepancy occurred because it was shifted from one police camp to the other. "The missing cartridges issue is being probed," said the officer. "Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has always been protective of Behra. No one knows why he is protecting Behra. Rifles and cartridges are missing and there are other incriminating revelations in the CAG report," said Chennithala. Kerala politicians' penchant for taking up CAG reports is legendary. The classic example of that is the Palm oil import case in the early nineties. The issue still crops up here and there and surfaces, especially during elections. (CNN) Air Italy has suspended operations after its owners decided to liquidate the company, leaving customers with flights booked after February 25 in the lurch. Italy's second biggest airline after flag carrier Alitalia said Tuesday that the decision to wind up the company was made at a meeting of its shareholders. Alisarda, founded by the Aga Khan, controlled 51% of Air Italy, while Qatar Airways had a 49% stake in the company. In a statement, Qatar indicated that it would have been ready to invest more in the airline. "Even with the changing competitive environment and the increasingly difficult market conditions severely impacting the air transport industry, Qatar Airways has continually reaffirmed its commitment, as a minority shareholder, to continue investing in the company," Qatar said in a statement. It added: "Qatar Airways was ready once again to play its part in supporting the growth of the airline, but this would only have been possible with the commitment of all shareholders." Air Italy, previously known as Meridiana, said that flights from Tuesday through February 25 would be operated by other carriers. Flights booked after that point will be refunded. The airline, which was based in Sardinia, operated flights throughout Italy and to long-haul destinations including New York, Miami and Los Angeles. It also offered direct flights from Italy to locations in Africa, including Cairo and Lagos. Air Italy is the latest in a string of European airlines to suffer from fierce competition and shifting business models. Primera Air ceased operations in October 2018. In February 2019, German airline Germania filed for bankruptcy and British airline Flybmi stopped flying. Icelandic budget carrier Wow Air left passengers stranded when it suddenly ceased operations a month later. Meanwhile, the Italian government has being propping up Alitalia while it looks for investors to relaunch the company, according to Reuters. The grounding of Boeing's 737 Max plane has added to pressure on the industry. Air Italy had three Boeing 737 Max jets in its fleet. And the coronavirus which has caused dozens of carriers to cancel flights to China has injected further uncertainty into the outlook for the aviation industry. Fewer Chinese tourists and a shock to the global economy from a slowdown in China would hit demand for flights. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Air Italy stops flying and goes into liquidation." To Fred Rush, some scenes are just too ugly to reenact, especially for middle school history students. Rush is president of the NAACP of Ocean County-Lakewood, and the scene in question involved students at Toms River Intermediate School East, where district officials say the reenactment was for a lesson on the barbarity of slavery, with students told to lay on the classroom floor and pretend to pick cotton while their teacher kicked their feet and imitated the sound of a whip cracking. There are some things you dont play out, Rush said, adding that the race of the students directed to take part in the reenactment was irrelevant. Its not appropriate, no matter who the students are, Rush said. If its wrong, its wrong." The incident came to light after being reported to the district by one of the students who had participated, according to a statement issued by the district on Tuesday, which also said saying the complaint was being investigated. As we comb through and further investigate the details of the alleged incident, we are keeping in mind that our curriculum has evolved to include more hands-on, authentic activities, the statement read, in part. It seems initially clear that there was no ill intent but that better judgment could/should have been used with regard to the alleged instructional methods, particularly as it pertains to recognizing the sensitivities of all students. The statement did not identify the teacher or the student who had complained, or the race of either one. Asked by a reporter on Wednesday, Healy said the student was not African-American. The incident represents an unusual bit of unwanted attention for the district in recent months, when Toms River school officials, staff and students have waged a publicity campaign to attract attention to state aid cuts it has suffered under Gov. Phil Murphys school funding formula. Rush said the teacher may have been well-intentioned, and that he was aware that role-playing is an educational tool used to deepen students appreciation of the subject matter. Nonetheless, Rush objected to use of the technique in this case, insisting it was in poor taste. The Asbury Park Press reported the identity of the teacher as Lawrence Cuneo, the mayor of Pine Beach. The mayors office told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday that Cuneo, who is white, was at work in the school district and he was not immediately available for comment. The teacher told New Jersey 101.5 that the lesson was meant to show students how degrading and despicable slavery was. Cuneo, who has worked at the district since 2000, earns $74,176, according to state pension data. To help districts and individual teachers develop their own lesson plans on slavery, a state panel known as the Amistad Commission offers curriculum resources, a summer institute for teachers and other programs, along with recommendations for appropriate books for students, said Michael Yaple, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Education. But, Yaple said in an email, the panel does not tell teachers how to teach. The resources teach about slavery in a historical context, but the Commission doesnt provide experiential lesson plans. NOTE: This article was edited to clarify that Superintendent of Schools David Healy was responding to a reporters question when he revealed information about the race of the student who complained about the reenactment. Healy did not put forth the information as a mitigating factor in the incident. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips A little more than a week after the Iowa caucus descended into a chaotic mess that was unable to produce a clear winner, the contest in New Hampshire was also narrow but a little more definitive. While Iowa traditionally holds the first caucuses in the presidential election, New Hampshire has held the first primary since 1920. The goal for presidential candidates is to win early-voting states and create name recognition and a sense of momentum, as well to pick up their first delegates, who will eventually choose the nominee in summer. Sometimes a clear favorite for the nomination emerges quickly, but the last two major Democratic primary contests, pitting Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton and then Bernie Sanders against Clinton, have lasted from the Iowa caucuses in January through to late spring. As the votes were counted in the Democratic primary, winners and losers amongst the much winnowed field emerged as the candidates already headed off to the next contests in Nevada and South Carolina, where they will encounter far more diverse electorates. WINNERS Bernie Sanders The Vermont democratic socialist senator should now be considered the frontrunner in the race after winning this contest. His supporters will cheer a remarkable resilience that has seen him ascend to the top of the contest. His detractors will point to worries over uniting the party and sign of a waning enthusiasm compared to 2016. Amy Klobuchar The Minnesota senator is the one true surprise of the night, powering her way into third place off the back of a strong last debate performance where she successfully made an emotional appeal to the voters and took effective swipes at her centrist rivals, especially Pete Buttigieg. Pete Buttigieg The supporters of the former South Bend mayor might have hoped for more after a strong result in Iowa that allowed him to declare a victory even as others declined to do so amid the chaos of the count. But a strong second in New Hampshire is still much to crow about as he heads off to political turf that might prove more challenging to a candidate with a clear problem attracting minority voters. Story continues Donald Trump He isnt running in the Democratic race but Trump will probably relish the ongoing fight between the leftwing and centrists factions of the party one that the New Hampshire results have done nothing to heal. Coverage of the election also dulled media attention to Trumps apparently successful, and shocking, intervention in the sentencing of his old friend and ally Roger Stone. LOSERS Joe Biden Joe Biden fled New Hampshire before the polls closed and now we know why. Crashing to a fifth-place finish, even behind a rapidly ailing Elizabeth Warren, is a hammer blow to a candidate whose core message is meant to be his electability and ability to win elections. He headed straight to South Carolina skipping the next state of Nevada but the doubts over his candidacy must be raging. Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator with a progressive record expected more than fourth place from a neighboring New England state. But having disappointed twice in a row, and with a trajectory that appears headed downwards, the Warren campaign now looks seriously holed below the water line. Andrew Yang Goodbye to the Yang Gang. The tech entrepreneur who wants to give every American a monthly income certainly added to the conversation and won himself a small army of fanatic supporters. But it didnt win him many votes when the actual contests began. He dropped out last night. HOLYOKE The 5-year-old boy who brought a loaded gun to school on Dec. 6 showed his sister the weapon during a shared gym class, according to court records made public in the case Tuesday. Juan A. Barreto-Hernandez pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Holyoke District Court to charges of reckless endangerment of a child and improper storage of a firearm. The 54-year-old former corrections officer is the grandfather of the child and the owner of the gun, police have said. The boy, a preschooler at E.N. White Elementary School, never took the weapon out of his backpack, according to investigators. After he showed the gun to his sister, the girl immediately went to school officials, who in turn called police. There is no indication the boy threatened any other students with the gun, a police narrative says. Barreto mentions he does not believe (his grandson) has any issues at school, the report reads. Holyoke District Court Judge Matthew Shea released Barreto-Hernandez without requiring that he post bail, but ordered him not to possess any firearms. Shea set a pretrial hearing in the case for April 15. The defendant had a current license to carry a firearm and two guns were properly registered in his name, police said. The police narrative says the little boy stuck a black fanny pack with a .22-caliber Ruger loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition inside his backpack before school. There was no ammunition in the chamber of the firearm, the report says. It adds that Barreto-Hernandez spoke with police and consented to a search of his home. With the defendants assistance, investigators found a second gun and ammunition in a lock box Barreto-Hernandez had tethered to his bed. His bedroom door also had an exterior deadbolt at the top, the report says. He told police he was in a hurry that morning and, in his haste, stuck the second gun in the top drawer of his bureau. Barreto-Hernandez told investigators he believed his daughter, the boys mother, went into his bedroom that morning to borrow a sweatshirt and neglected to slide the exterior lock when she left. He believes the boy purloined the pistol while his mother was in the room. He has always preached firearm safety to the children, the police report says of Barreto-Hernandez. It is unclear whether the 5-year-old has faced any discipline in connection with the incident. (Newser) As pollsters predicted, Bernie Sanders has won the New Hampshire primary for the second time in a row, giving him the first clear win of the primary season after the chaos in Iowa last week. But while Sanders' win may have been expected, the other New Hampshire results have shaken up the race: Pete Buttigieg was a close second, while Amy Klobuchar surged to third place, leaving former frontrunners Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden in fourth and fifth place. Sanders and Buttigieg will be awarded nine delegates each. Klobuchar gets six and Warren and Biden will leave the state with zero. Andrew Yang and Michael Benet withdrew from the race after disappointing results Tuesday, while others, including Tom Steyer, failed to make much of an impact. Some takeaways: "Winning is winning." Sanders is now the clear frontrunner, although he won New Hampshire with only around 27% of the vote, which is a record low, Lisa Lerer and Shane Goldmacher write at the New York Times. "But winning is winning and the moderate ledger of the Democratic primary is as fractured as everto Mr. Sanderss great advantage," they write. story continues below Klobuchar gains momentum . The senator from Minnesota had long been considered an also-ran, but a strong debate performance Friday and a shift in her direction from voters undecided until the last minute gave her "legitimate and instant momentum," Aaron Blake writes at the Washington Post. "New Hampshire should at least give her a platform in this race in the weeks ahead, which isnt a complete given for the candidates who failed to nab a top-three spot," he writes. . The senator from Minnesota had long been considered an also-ran, but a strong debate performance Friday and a shift in her direction from voters undecided until the last minute gave her "legitimate and instant momentum," Aaron Blake writes at the Washington Post. "New Hampshire should at least give her a platform in this race in the weeks ahead, which isnt a complete given for the candidates who failed to nab a top-three spot," he writes. Buttigieg looks ahead . Buttigieg also has momentum after his impressive delegate win in Iowa and second-place finish in New Hampshire, writes Lauren Gambino at the Guardian. "With a higher national profile and a more robust fundraising operation, Buttigieg is perhaps better poised to capitalize on the momentum out of the early state contests," she writes. "But he has failed to prove he can win support from black and Latino voters that will be critical in the days to come." . Buttigieg also has momentum after his impressive delegate win in Iowa and second-place finish in New Hampshire, writes Lauren Gambino at the Guardian. "With a higher national profile and a more robust fundraising operation, Buttigieg is perhaps better poised to capitalize on the momentum out of the early state contests," she writes. "But he has failed to prove he can win support from black and Latino voters that will be critical in the days to come." Biden's time could be up . Biden predicted he would lose in New Hampshire and left the state before results came out. While Biden's supporters believe his "firewall" in South Carolina will save his candidacy, there is no question that a fifth-place finish, which followed a poor result in Iowa, is not a good sign for a candidate who campaigns on his electability, Niall Stanage writes at the Hill. "There are signs Bidens standing with the African-American community is declining," he writes. "If that happens, its likely game over for the former vice president." . Biden predicted he would lose in New Hampshire and left the state before results came out. While Biden's supporters believe his "firewall" in South Carolina will save his candidacy, there is no question that a fifth-place finish, which followed a poor result in Iowa, is not a good sign for a candidate who campaigns on his electability, Niall Stanage writes at the Hill. "There are signs Bidens standing with the African-American community is declining," he writes. "If that happens, its likely game over for the former vice president." Warren's "stunning" collapse . Ryan Lizza at Politico considers Warren's collapse even more stunning than that of Biden, since on paper New Hampshire seemed to be very favorable territory. But Lizza isn't writing her off yet: He notes that she has a strong fundraising and organizational operation, as well as strong favorability ratings, which "might all be resurrected if voters fail to consolidate around one of her opponents and return to her." . Ryan Lizza at Politico considers Warren's collapse even more stunning than that of Biden, since on paper New Hampshire seemed to be very favorable territory. But Lizza isn't writing her off yet: He notes that she has a strong fundraising and organizational operation, as well as strong favorability ratings, which "might all be resurrected if voters fail to consolidate around one of her opponents and return to her." Bloomberg has a chance. Michael Bloomberg's decision to skip the first four states and focus on Super Tuesday was a gamble, but it might be paying off, Stanage notes at the Hill. "Bloombergs only real chance has always involved Sanders emerging as the front-runner, moderates taking fright about his chances against Trump, and no one else claiming the centrist mantle," he writes. "That's exactly what seems to be happening." (Read more New Hampshire primary stories.) While law enforcement officers are within their rights to carry out their lawful duties, the use of force should be proportional and strictly limited to those situations where it is absolutely necessary. Both IPOB supporters and security forces must at all times respect and protect human rights of all. She has been a fixture on EastEnders as the lovable Sharon Mitchell for 35 years, and during this time has endured her fair share of scandals and forbidden love. And Letitia Dean spoke to heat magazine this week about how she is 'living vicariously through [her] character.' The 52-year-old actress candidly discussed Sharon's latest raunchy affair with Keanu Taylor (played by 26-year-old Danny Walters) and why she believes the storyline is empowering to older women. Scandal: Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Mitchell on EastEnders, spoke to Heat magazine this week about how she is 'living vicariously through [her] character' It was revealed on the soap last year that Sharon has fallen pregnant at the age of 49 after a very risque rendezvous with her daughter's boyfriend, Keanu. Sharon has been married to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) throughout her time on the show however the pair have endured a very rocky relationship full of twist and turns. Not to mention Sharongate, which Letitia describes as her all time favourite moment. This occurred back in 1994 when 25.3 million tuned in to watch the taped confession that she had sex with her husbands brother play out in The Queen Victoria pub. Risque: The 52-year-old actress candidly discussed Sharon's latest raunchy affair with Keanu Taylor (played by 26-year-old Danny Walters) However, the newest twist in the saga is Letitia's 'favourite current storyline.' Admitting that her on-screen relationship with Keanu has been the subject of much envy, she quipped: 'I got a lot of, "You lucky bastard!" And I was. 'I've been very blessed with my young leading men.' Icon: Letitia discussed why it is empowering for women to see the chemistry between her and her young lover on the screen, as she thinks 'it happens' in real life' Reflecting on their steamiest scene together, which saw them enjoy a dalliance on a kitchen table, she recalled: 'With the leg up? Yes! I had to dig deep to remember what that was like, I can tell you... 'Im living vicariously through my character.' She continued: 'It was a little awkward to start with, but you just laugh your way through it, and I did wear my drawers.' Parents to be: It was revealed on the soap last year that Sharon has fallen pregnant at the age of 49 after a very risque rendezvous with her daughter's boyfriend, Keanu Letitia also reflected on why it is empowering for women to see the chemistry between herself and her young lover on the screen, as she thinks 'it happens' in real life.' Out now: Read the full interview in this week's heat magazine The actress said: 'You don't all have to look like Claudia Schiffer to have that happen, do you? 'I think a lot of women have been through that situation.' She continued: 'You hear a lot of women saying they feel invisible as they get older. 'And it was nice trying to portray that situation without making it sleazy.' Letitia revealed the next big storyline for Sharon will be having her baby. This comes as quite the shock not only considering her age but with plenty of expected drama with Phil throwing her out of the house. The icon is proving that after 35 years, she is still the heart of the show. She described it as an 'honour' to be on EastEnders for so long and how it really is a 'family.' Six activists who planned and participated in a protest against private prisons at Geo Groups headquarters in Boca Raton two months ago were rearrested during a Palm Beach County court hearing Tuesday. Records show the six people who were originally arrested the day of the protest on Dec. 3 and charged with misdemeanor trespassing are now facing two additional felony charges: false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment, along with misdemeanor criminal mischief. An additional activist was rearrested on Friday at her Broward home and another protester, who lives out of town, is also facing the same charges. The decision to upgrade the charges was made after Boca Raton Police investigators completed a follow-up investigation, according to an arrest report. The Palm Beach State Attorneys Office has also filed with the court the formal document with the false imprisonment charges. Geo Group, which also runs adult detention centers for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is based in Boca Raton. The contractor runs one ICE detention center in Florida, the Broward Transitional Center in Miramar. During the December protest, the activists blocked the entrances to the companys parking garage with concrete-filled tires and barrels, as well as the doorways to physically impede business as usual. However, according to new charging documents filed with the court Tuesday, police later discovered that there was actually a security guard inside the building when the protesters blocked the entrances and exits, consequently holding him there against his will. The overnight guard, identified in the report as 32-year-old Trayon Drummond, told police that he saw people getting out of a moving truck at around 6 a.m. When he went to go push a door open, a man slammed a barrel in front of the door, not letting him out. I didnt know what it was. It could have been terrorists, Drummond told police. According to the report, the panicked guard noted that a protester wrote a letter and stuck it on the window for Drummond to see. He said the letter said: Youre not a hostage but you must quit your job. Story continues Based on the statement from Drummond, that he felt in fear and was not free to leave, being blocked in by the subjects, and based on the suspects working in concert, as a team, to coordinate the blocking and shutdown of the access doors, elevators and parking facilities of the Geo Group building, probable cause exists for the arrests of [the defendants] for violation of false imprisonment, Boca Raton Detective Terrence Payne wrote in the report. According to Florida law, the term false imprisonment means forcibly, by threat, confines, abducts, imprisons, or restrains another person without lawful authority against their will; or secretly confines, abducts, imprisons, or restrains another person without lawful authority against their will. Sabarish P. Neelakanta, the lawyer representing all the defendants Carlos Naranjo, 36; Mathi Paguth, 40; Nicholas Vazquez, 22; Alexis Butler, 25; Ellen Vessels, 34; Christian Minaya, 39; Wendy King, 36; and David Hitchcock, 30 told the Miami Herald: A lot of what is stated [in the report] is in disagreement with the truth. Ill tell you this: that the facts will tell a very different story about how this all transpired, Neelakanta said, adding that its no secret that there are many political issues surrounding Geo Group and private prisons in general in todays political world. Individuals who protest against potential abuse are oftentimes targeted and made to feel like what they do is criminal. I think theres a bigger story here than what may be within the four corners of this police report. Court documents say police believe they have enough evidence to prove that the protesters conspired to commit false imprisonment because they knew where every entryway and exit of the property was, which is indicative of prior reconnaissance of the facility. Investigators also say the probable cause is sufficient because the activists used social media to plan and rally protesters ahead of the demonstration. A GEO corrections vehicle patrols outside of the Great Plains Correctional Facility in Hinton, Okla, Monday, July 10, 2017. Craig Trocino, director of Miami Law Innocence Clinic and longtime appellate and post-conviction attorney in Miami, told the Herald assuming they can prove whats written in the report, it could conceivably amount to a conviction. I dont see a prohibition here but it appears calculated, Trocino said. They can add and supersede charges even months later, assuming they can prove them. However in this particular context, it seems like its designed to send a message to future protesters. You have to ask yourself: Why these heavy charges and why now? These new charges change the calculus of the case quite significantly. U.S. Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, whose district oversees the protest location, told the Herald in an email: Obviously, I want to know why a group of protesters are being charged with false imprisonment for protesting a private prison company. Boca Raton Police spokesman Mark Economou told the Miami Herald that after taking testimony, dissecting social media media, body cam footage and surveillance video, investigators concluded that there was enough evidence to charge these individuals, even all these months later. And let me make this clear, we have no problem with protestors and their first amendment rights. However, I think this sends a message that if a protest crosses the line criminally, then the law is going to be applicable whether you are protesting GEO group or protesting outside a non profit that feeds the homeless or protesting outside the public library, the law will be enforced if criminal activities take place, added Economou. We will not allow our government to separate innocent families. We will not allow private companies to profit off the suffering of children, the protesters told the Herald in December. We will not allow their workers to sit undisturbed in air-conditioned offices while people are deprived of their humanity. In early 2019, banking giants Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and others announced they would sever ties with the private prison industry specifically GEO Group and CoreCivic, the largest operators of private prisons and detention centers in the country because it was a risk to their business following national outrage over private companies profiting off the detainment of adults and children. Public resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for correctional, detention and community-based facilities could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, GEO Group said at the time, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A host of both big and small banks still provide more than $2.6 billion in credit to the industry, according to a recent report released by three research watchdog groups: In The Public Interest, Public Accountability Initiative and the Center for Popular Democracy. Merryfield, a Boston, MA-based new clean label rewards app, closed a $3.5M seed funding round. Backers included members of the management team and high-net-worth individual investors. The company intends to use the funds to make new hires to further build out the platform and support its go-to-market plans with its collective of member brands. Co-founded by David Mayer, a former healthcare private equity investor, and Joe Dickson, former director of quality standards at Whole Foods Market, Merryfield is a curated, membership-based loyalty solution for purpose-driven consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. Founding member brands are Applegate Natural & Organic Meats, Beyond Meat, Califia Farms, Good Culture, GoMacro, Health-Ade Kombucha, Justins, Once Upon a Farm, Thinksport, RightRice, Stonyfield Organic, and Vital Proteins. The iOS app is free for consumers and launches in April 2020. By Trend Uzbekistan has prepared and sent a humanitarian aid cargo to China, which continues to battle the spreading coronavirus outbreak, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan. The aid was sent via the IL-76MD aircraft, which is on its way to Beijing. As part of the sent package, the cargo includes: disposable sterile medical gloves, protective overalls, filtering face masks, special medical uniforms, medical masks, and medical gauze. Uzbekistan's First Deputy Minister of Health Bahodir Yusupaliyev leads the delegation on route to Beijing. Uzbekistan also plans to send a second humanitarian cargo in the near future. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Since then over 1,000 people have died and over 45,000 people have been confirmed as infected. Some sources claim the coronavirus (or COVID-19) 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. Aside from Mainland China, the cases of coronavirus spreading have also been confirmed in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, the US, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Macau, France, Canada, the UAE, India, Italy, Russia, Philippines, the UK, Nepal, Cambodia, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Sri Lanka. Opinion banner Business Insider An entrance to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 10. AP While the US Justice Department has concluded that the Chinese military hacked into the credit-reporting service Equifax, it was the broken US political system that made such a hack possible. A combination of lobbying and ideological inflexibility has made it impossible for Congress to pass good federal privacy and cybersecurity legislation. Americans are electing politicians who let other countries steal our stuff. And some people seem fine with that. This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Sure, according to the Department of Justice, Chinese military hackers broke into the credit-reporting service Equifax in 2017, stealing the personal data of millions of Americans in one of the worst security breaches ever. According to the DOJ's complaint, they did this by exploiting a weakness in the dispute-resolution website within Equifax's system. That alone, of course, is troubling. But what's even worse is that it was American corruption that made the whole thing easy. You better believe China is trying to steal your stuff China doesn't just use its military to steal trade secrets. It also uses it to steal anything that could be used to put pressure on a US citizen. It's accused, for example, of stealing personal information belonging to millions of government workers back in 2015. Chinese authorities put a lot of stock in surveillance, as evidenced by the massive surveillance state they've set up in their own country. They believe data is power. This is why it is so upsetting that the US government has been so feckless when it comes to protecting our data. For years tech companies have been lobbying against privacy and cybersecurity legislation on a federal level. And that combined with a Republican Party captured by a near-religious anti-regulatory mania basically left a key under the mat for the Chinese military to walk right in and loot an American company. Story continues What's more, corporate carelessness in data-breach situations basically goes unpunished, so there's no deterrent for stupid behavior. Equifax's stock took a hit after it announced the hacking (two months after it happened, I might add), but it has since fully recovered and then some. The breach was a blip. The stock and the company also powered through a $575 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission last July. And in the quarter following the announcement of the breach, Equifax reported quarterly revenue of $875.7 million, up 5% from the year before. The company made more money in 2018 than it did in 2017, and it made more in 2017 than it did in 2016. No harm, no foul, no incentive for corporations to review their behavior when it comes to security. The same thing happened when Facebook paid a $5 billion fine for its privacy violations. The quarter before the fine was announced Facebook made $15 billion in revenue and had already set aside $3 billion for the fine. If the government wants companies to change their behavior, maybe it should mete out some punishments that actually matter. So it goes Privacy and cybersecurity laws in this country are a mess, and that makes it easier for companies to be careless with our data. States have a range of laws requiring companies to report security breaches at a certain time, require the implementation of data-security measures, and allow state attorneys general to seek damages and monetary remedies. And when those laws get tough, like the California Consumer Privacy Act, tech companies and yes, Equifax will tell you it's a tech company go into hyperdrive trying to weaken them. They do this, in part, by narrowing what qualifies as personal information, thus restricting when and for what consumers can invoke their rights to retribution or legal protection. On the federal level cybersecurity and privacy regulations have been beaten back because of a one-two punch of lobbying and ideological intransigence. Take, for instance, the case of GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, now head of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. As Politico reported, Johnson has repeatedly blocked efforts to better protect our data. In 2012, Johnson basically torpedoed bipartisan privacy and cybersecurity legislation on the basis that it was a regulatory overreach and bad for business. He continues to make that argument in his committee, blocking legislation on everything from election security to the spread of encryption on personal devices. It doesn't matter what the question is; the answer is "no." Johnson and his ilk have spent so much time looking out for corporations that they've had little time to consider the implication for voters. As Congress ties itself in knots trying to decide whether American tech companies need to be held accountable for undermining the public trust in everything from basic science to democracy (they should), the Chinese have already decided what they're going to do. They're going to exploit the lack of consensus in Washington to build a database of information about every American. They will then figure out which ones are easy to exploit, aside from the obvious marks on Capitol Hill of course. The lack of ideological or political flexibility that is preventing us from fighting back against this intrusion is an American problem. We can either vote for politicians with the ability to stand up to corporations and the willingness to cooperate and compromise, or we can let people like Johnson crack the door open and let the Chinese military walk in and steal our stuff. Read the original article on Business Insider This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here. The day after I saw my dad for what would turn out to be the last time, I surprised myself and told someone Im queer. It was first-year move-in day at college. I had just left behind the breezes of Southern California for the 90-degree temperatures and relentless humidity of late August in New York City. Soaked in sweat but giddy, I took a break from sorting out storage bins and dorm decor to sit on the floor and get to know my three new roommates. Early into our conversation, I suddenly said, Im pretty sure Im bisexual. Advertisement I remember inelegantly shoving it into our early introductions, unprompted. To my roommates, Im sure this brief declaration was as laid-back as the tie-dyed crop top I was wearing that day. (It said stay rad across it. I know.) But for me, it sparked a moment of exhilarated panic as my mother and auntboth of whom did not know about my recent self-discoveryreturned to my room. As the two of them struggled to help me organize my life in our itty-bitty shared space, I whispered from the floor: Dont mention what I said earlier. Im not out to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actually, I wasnt out to anyone, except a few close friends. My mom and sisters were largely progressive, but I had also been raised in a Catholic home and attended Catholic school through eighth grade. My father, meanwhile, was a kind of atheist, nonvoting libertarian, often hellbent on defending his own political apathy. In one of the very last conversations I ever had with him, he kept trying to press my buttons. As he drove my mother and me to the airport to begin my college journey, he shared tongue-in-cheek admiration for our future female president: Carly Fiorina. (This was 2015.) He laughed and I rolled my eyes, but it felt clear I couldnt tell him what I was realizing about myself. Advertisement Advertisement In the latter half of my high school years, I hadnt quite come out to myself either. I consistently explored the now virtually nonexistent corners of queer Tumblr. (Remember #girlskissing? No?) After I used every silly, drunken senior-year Model U.N. party as an opportunity to kiss my girlfriends, my own sexual fluidity started to become a little clearer. I had come to see historically womens colleges as queer havens (thanks, also, to Tumblr), so I chose one for myself. I decided that a journey of coming out could be safely relegated to college, and maybejust maybeif I got a girlfriend, I would have reasonable enough proof to open the conversation at home, with my mom and, somehow, my dad. Advertisement Less than two weeks after I arrived at my dorm room, my dad died of a sudden heart attack. I had just finished my first week of classes. I felt a devastating relief that I wouldnt ever have to come out to my father. My immediate grief saw me fluctuating between long days in bed and spurts of typical freshman social energy. I felt most alive after campus activities related to the queer community. I joined a Facebook group called HELLA GAY MOVIE NIGHTS. I attended monthly LGBTQ dance parties. I performed in our musical theater societys Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast. Advertisement Advertisement I emerged more fully out of the closet, but I still hadnt come out to family. In fact, I felt like I was living a double life: one part of me idle and in mourning and the other, out. The thrill of that felt so distinct from my grieving self that it was almost as if the openly queer part of me was unburdened by my lossso separate and distinct that my old life, and its sudden tragedy, began to feel less real. Advertisement Advertisement Returning home for breaks during the school year shattered that illusion. My grief ruled me. I came to a realization: While I wanted to share my new self, my new life, with my mom and sisters, I felt a devastating relief that I wouldnt ever have to come out to my father. I had no way of knowing how he would react, but I took comfort in knowing Id never have to face even the slightest disapproval, criticism, or judgment from him. It was a dark kind of consolation. Advertisement Advertisement Then I met my first girlfriend. I fell in love with her. I envisioned a future with her. In a few clumsy, emotional conversations, I finally shared my secretand my relationshipwith my family. They were awkward, but ultimately happy to embrace this part of me. Advertisement When you lose a parent in your teens, you immediately imagine all the milestones youll hit without them: graduation, a first job, a wedding, and a family of your own. But I also started to realize that my father might not even recognize me anymore, not only because of how I had aged but also because of who Id become. I began to have recurring dreams where he came back to life and I was tasked with welcoming him back to our world, back to our family, and to the new me. I would update him on all he had missed. It took this chimerical notion to make me rethink my relief: If any of these dreams ever took place on my wedding day, its possible that my father would look right past me, because I might be next to a woman. Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a year later, that realization launched a kind of second mourning. I lost him first, then, later, lost the opportunity for him to ever know who I am. To know me at my happiest. I felt intense guilt and shame about the comfort I had initially taken in avoiding the conversation. Advertisement Around that time, I realized something else. I wanted to tell my most elderly family members who I was before they were gone too. This presented obstacles. My living grandfather is an octogenarian from the Middle East. My living grandmother and her sister are 92 and 100 years old, respectively. These two women live in my familys home. They are all deeply Catholic. Last May, my grandfather was set to visit New York City for my commencement. A few weeks prior to the ceremony, my mother mentioned to me over the phone that if my then-girlfriend would be celebrating with us, I owed him a conversation before his trip to avoid any surprises. Before I could gather the will, my girlfriend and I broke up, and my grandfathers lymphoma kept him in California. Advertisement Soon itll have been another year since then. I still havent come out to any of them. Ive worried that Ill experience the same parallel grief when their times come. After college, I stayed on the East Coast, so perhaps I really fear being absent in the last years of their lives. Perhaps I dont want to trouble them with an exasperated conversation in their old age. Perhaps I want to spare myself the pain of rejection. Advertisement Advertisement Another part of me believes they already know. They dont comment on my short haircut or my unshaven body hair when Im home, and theyve stopped asking me about my romantic prospects. Maybe theres a mutual, unspoken understanding between all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I think back on the dark nights scrolling through Tumblr or that steamy move-in day with my quiet coming out, I look fondly on a person who was finally allowing herself to live the life she wanted. I dont judge her for hiding before. I dont scoff at her past fears. Instead, I respect her for waiting for the moment to be right for her. More than a half-decade later, Ive discovered a different side of that person. The side that accepts the person her father knew when he died. And the side that, when it comes to revealing her full self to the rest of her familys elders, gives herself permission to be OK with what they may never know. The Chronicle of Ganja in the Vedic Era The use of cannabis and its antecedents goes far beyond the time of AD and BC. After some existential discoveries, it became quite evident that it is one of the oldest herbs originated from the central regions of Asia. There are many references in the Hindu books which exemplify the use and consumption of cannabis for medicinal and religious purposes. Cannabis AKA Ganja or Bhang, catches its mention in the Rigveda (an oldest Sanskrit Vedic text), which is considered one of the ancient and sacred collections of texts in the Hindu religion. Soma, a ritual drink prepared from the extraction of poppy plants and cannabis, was highly extolled in those days. Furthermore, in the Atharvaveda, the advantages of Banga are explained in detail, one of the five sacred plants that help relax body and mind. Bhanga is acknowledged as cannabis by many scientists. Conversely, many scholars believe and identify it as wild grass. There are numerous contradictions over the early use of cannabis in ancient times. Some suggest it was first cultivated in Japan owing to its fibrous element and was used as a food source. while others proposed its presence and consumption in India way before 1000 CE for its psychoactive properties and benefits. For instance, Oki Islands, an archeological site near Japan, encompassed cannabis achenes from about 8000 BC, which indicates its use during the time. Additionally, the early Indian texts rhetorically illuminate the use of Bhanga as an appetite improver and pain reliever. For instance, Gerrit Jan Meulenbeld, a researcher and scholar of Indology and Ayurveda (Indian Medicine),claimed Chikitsa-Sara-sangraha originally written by Vangasena is one of the initial Indian texts that comprise of cannabis recipes for a happy and blissful life. However, the blooming technology and scientific researchers have given intricated answers, resulting in illegalization and ban of cannabis. Get Sample R&D PDF of Cannabis Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/cannabis-marijuana-market-100219 Retrogressive Evolution in Marijuana Production The provocatory use of cannabis has raised a million questions among scientists and scholars, but the question still remains unanswered, whether the excessive consumption of cannabis is hazardous to human health or not? Lets dig deep and find out. Hindus consumed cannabis because they believed or rather accepted it as a sacred plant, that had extraordinary benefits. Another reason for their acceptance was Shiva, who is regarded as one of the strongest and powerful deities in the Hindu culture. Lord Shiva is associated with cannabis; this highly motivated and instigated the use of cannabis among devotees. However, modernization and civilization brought in a revolutionary change in the outlooks of marijuana. After the British colonized India, the norms and laws concerning marijuana changed radically. The Britishers found the use of marijuana outrageously extensive in colonial India. The concerns regarding the aftereffect of marijuana among native people propelled them to investigate the problem thoroughly. There was a commission appointed by British India to look into the matter. An innumerable amount of interviews was conducted by the medical experts across India to understand the substance wholly and completely. After a thorough investigation and study, six volumes of conclusions and data were presented. The commission concluded the use of hemp (Bhang) is ancient and holds religious sentiments among Hindus. For instance, in 1798, the British Parliament enacted a tax on bhang, ganja, and charas with an intention to reduce cannabis production and consumption. This act was introduced for the natives health and stability. Furthermore, in 1894 the British Indian government finished another encompassing study of cannabis in India by the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission. It stated, the excessive use may certainly be accepted as very injurious, though it must be admitted that in many excessive consumers the injury is not clearly marked. The injury done by excessive use is, however, confined almost exclusively to the consumer himself; the effect on society is rarely appreciable. It has been the most striking feature in this inquiry to find how little the effects of hemp drugs have obtruded themselves on observation. In all but the most exceptional cases, the injury from habitual moderate use is not appreciable. In all light Cannabis in India progressed steadily due to its utmost religious values. In the present era, cannabis still remains well-liked extensive use of cannabis on special occasions in various regions of India. For instance, Thandai, which is a mixture of Bhang, milk, and dry fruits, is consumed as a religious offering during holi and maha Shivaratri by the devotes. Browse Detailed Research For Legal Marijuana Industry: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/cannabis-marijuana-market-100219 Legalization and Popularization Continues After the mid-20th Century, Cannabis began to proliferate across the world. It became one of the coolest and ubiquitous drugs among the indigenous of westerners. However, with the surge in drug abuse, especially among millennials, the concern arose, which led to the ban of cannabis in various nations around the world. The trepidations regarding the potency of marijuana and its use have steered the safety expectation for legalization. Mental health experts are conducting regular research to quantify and depict the side effects of marijuana in young adults for legalization. For instance, one out of 10 adults is likely to use cannabis on a regular basis if it was legalized. On the other hand, regulatory bodies in the united states are instigating the recreational use of Cannabis. In 2014, Colorado became the first state to legalize cannabis for 21 years and above. Following the legal litigation of Colorado, other states are also focusing on the action. For instance, Andrew Cuomo, New York Governor, stated, this will be the year that his state legalizes recreational cannabis. If those efforts prove successful, New York would become the 12th state to put cannabis laws in place and could quickly become home to the second-biggest cannabis industry in the nation. Weighty Impact on the Marijuana Industry with Product Innovation Companies are focused on product innovation to cater to the rapidly sprouting consumer demand. Cannabis is no longer limited to smoking joints or chillums; the introduction of edible-marijuana-mix has outshone the choice and variety of products one can offer. Marijuana-infused food and beverages have given consequential scope to the cannabis industry. As per the Fortune Business Insights report, the cannabis market is predicted to reach USD 97.35 billion by 2026. Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/cannabis-marijuana-market-100219 Authors Bio: Name Aman Singh Gandhi Aman is presently working as a content writer at Fortune Business Insights. His key focus is to deliver quality content to his audience. He specializes in blog writing, articles, and press releases. As a writer, he believes in learning and exploring different areas to communicate with his readers vividly. Joe Biden announced that he was running for president in April 2019 and soon led the Democrats crowded field by 25 points. His position in the Obama administration gave him instant access to top party donors and campaign operatives. He was endorsed by high-profile New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein before he even entered the race. His name recognition was as universal as possible, and his pitch to votershes Uncle Joe, the hotheaded but trustworthy ol rascal whos just as comfortable negotiating in Congress as he is bullshitting with the boys down at the union hallwas already locked in. Advertisement With 75 percent of precincts reporting on Tuesday in New Hampshire, Biden was in fifth place with 8.3 percent of the vote. In Iowa, he placed fourth. He now trails a socialist in national polls and is quickly being caught by a small-city ex-mayor who barely clears the age requirement and a guy who endorsed George W. Bush and Dick Cheneys reelection at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As writer Jedediah Purdy noted, Bidens campaign was always about confidence: the confidence that he would be an electable candidate because everyone else had confidence in him too. But his campaign rallies failed to generate the enthusiasm or attendance that his rivals did, his debate performances ranged from adequate to totally incoherent, and he didnt even raise that much money. Theres not much for him to fall back on now that the confidence in his collective appeal is beginning to collapse. Advertisement Advertisement Right now, Biden looks likely to become the fifth consecutive Democratic candidate in an open primary who failed to become president despite starting with major support from the partys most powerful figures. In 2000, designated Clinton successor Al Gore put down a challenge from liberal free-thinker Bill Bradley in the primarya CNN story from March 1999 described Gore demonstrating his hold on the Democratic establishment with an orchestrated rollout of endorsementsbut lost, as it were, to George W. Bush. In 2004, John Kerry succeeded in reining in outsider candidate Howard Deanwhod been denounced as an unelectable McGovern-Mondale extremist by the Democratic Leadership Councilbefore Iowa but also lost to Bush. (In the partys defense, it didnt necessarily anoint KerryDick Gephardt, another experienced moderate, was also runningbut it definitely didnt want Dean to be the nominee, in part because of his then-radical belief that the Iraq war was a bad idea.) Hillary Clinton started the 2008 primary cycle with advantages in polling, endorsements, and large-donor fundraising, but lost to Barack Obama. She nearly lost an even larger lead in the 2016 primary, and then, in the general election well, you know. Advertisement Advertisement Now theres Uncle Joe, who seemed to believe his party connections and public association with Obama would be so strong that hed be able to coast to a primary win without having to spend significantly on ads, develop any signature proposals, or even appear that often in public. Theres still a little time left to, like, start doing that stuff: Bidens polling leads in Nevada (Feb. 22 caucuses) and South Carolina (Feb. 29 primary) are shrinking, but they still exist, and wins there could help him keep his numbers up in the southern Super Tuesday states where hes been expected to do well with black voters. But the candidate whose sales pitch was that he came with forward momentum pre-installed is, so far, completely inert. If he still wants to win, hell have to earn it just like everyone else, without any help from his important friends. New Delhi, Feb 12 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory child rights body, has moved the Supreme Court seeking court-monitored SIT probe into allegations that children were sold by the shelter homes of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, in Jharkhand. A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant issued notice on Monday to Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra governments and tagged the matter with pending matter connected with protection of child rights in school. Citing protection of children, NCPCR sought direction to appoint top court monitored probe, which could conduct time-bound investigation and examine all such organisation in Jharkhand. "During course of inquiry by petitioner (NCPCR), shocking revelations were made by the victims which included the fact that the children were being sold in the children's homes. These facts were emphatically brought to the notice of the state government (Jharkhand) but continuous attempts were made to sabotage and derail the inquiry," the plea said. For the first time, the statutory body, alleging discrepancies in children's homes' in various states, moved the top court under Article 32, seeking enforcement of fundamental rights of prohibition of trafficking under Article 23 of the Constitution. The plea, filed through advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi, cited cases of child rights violation in Jharkhand and indicted the authorities for developing a cold approach in the case of children. The child rights body took cognizance of media reports stating that a member of Missionaries of Charity was arrested in Ranchi, Jharkhand, for her involvement in child trafficking in 2018. The plea cited gross irregularities observed by a member of NCPCR, who visited a centre of Missionaries of Charity at Ranchi, and this information was shared with chief secretary and Director General of Police of Jharkhand. The plea said discrepancies have been observed in the state government authorities' response, and the information received by NCPCR from Missionaries of charity on September 8, 2018, shared details of 78 child care institutions instead of 80. Owners of Ukrainian enterprises in Donbas turned to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies regarding their property Open source During the talks of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, the Ukrainian side once again raised the issue of the "nationalized" enterprises. Darka Olifer, the press secretary of the head of the Ukrainian delegation of Leonid Kuchma, reported that on her Facebook page. "The Ukrainian side pursues raising the problem of returning state and private property in the territory of the isolated districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. A list of enterprises whose owners have applied to the law enforcement bodies of Ukraine regarding the loss of their property has been transferred," reads the message. It is also reported that the subgroup on socio-economic issues discussed the issues of water supply in the occupied Donbas involving the Red Cross. As it was reported earlier, as Minsk hosted another session of the Trilateral Contact Group, Ukraine and Russia discussed possible areas for further disengagement of troops and vehicles in Donbas. Ukraine insisted on four sections, while the Russian side offered six. On January 16, Ukraine's delegation chose the following areas: the railroad bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska, near Avdiivka, Nooselivka-II and near Hnutove checkpoint. Russia insists on Schastya, Veseohorivka, Pozsadky, Hnutove, Shyrokyne and near Avdiivka. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held the phone talk with Germans Chancellor Angela Merkel. They discussed the issue of three extra areas for disengagement of forces in Donbas. The sides expect that the progress in this issue will be reached during the next Minsk Talks on February 12. The head of the Ukrainian State informed the interlocutor about the security situation in Donbas. The Federal Chancellor expressed concern over the non-observance of the ceasefire regime by the illegal armed forces, the Presidents Office reported. On February 11, Valeriya Lutkovska was dismissed from Minsk contact group and replaced by Hennadiy Kuznetsov, the officer of Ukraine's Special Forces. Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) slumped 7.79% to Rs 176.25 after the US drug regulator rejected the company's cancer drug application for Taclantis in its current form. SPARC, in an exchange filing made after market hours on Tuesday, said it has received a complete response letter (CRL) from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for the new drug application (NDA) for Taclantis (Paclitaxel Injection Concentrate for Suspension). SPARC said it is reviewing the CRL and intends to work with the USFDA as soon as possible to address the concerns raised. USFDA sends a complete response letter to communicate it has completed its review of a new or generic drug application, and it decided that it will not approve it for marketing in its present form. SPARC had informed the bourses on 1 July 2019 that USFDA has accepted the company's NDA for Taclantis, a novel formulation of Paclitaxel developed with SPARC's proprietary Nanotecton technology. Paclitaxel is one of the most widely used cytotoxic agents and is approved for the treatment of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company is a global pharmaceutical company. The company reported a standalone net loss of Rs 55.51 crore in Q3 December 2019 as compared a net loss of Rs 69.02 crore in Q3 December 2018. Net sales declined 1.4% to Rs 19.60 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Portugal US United States Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette gestures during an interview at the LNG terminal of the deepwater port of Sines after visiting the port, in Sines, southern Portugal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. The US government and american companies are expressing interest in the expansion of the port. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) SINES, Portugal (AP) The U.S. government and businesses are eyeing an Atlantic port in Portugal as a springboard for expansion and an increased presence in Europe, the U.S. energy chief said Wednesday. The planned expansion of Sines ports container and liquefied natural gas terminals present an enormous opportunity for U.S. industry, as well as the government, Dan Brouillette, the U.S. Energy Secretary, told The Associated Press. This is the closest (European) port to the U.S., he said in an interview at Sines, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) south of the Portuguese capital Lisbon. This port serves as an important gateway to Europe. The rapid development of fracking in the United States has allowed it to boost LNG exports and offer low prices. The U.S. government has long argued that the European Union is over-reliant on Russian gas and is keen for American companies to rival Russian supplier Gazprom. Sines received the first U.S. shipment of LNG to Europe, in 2016. The Portuguese government would like to act as a conduit for American LNG through a gas pipeline from Sines to the rest of Europe. But regulators in France and Spain, whose countries a pipeline would cross, dashed those hopes by rejecting the project last year. Against a backdrop of transatlantic trade tensions, Brouillette vowed to keep pressing EU leaders to adopt the Sines pipeline project. He told the AP the pipeline would help provide energy diversity and security for Europe. The port of Sines, which is well-placed to serve shipping between Europe and North and South America, also plans to grow its container terminal. That project has drawn the interest of China, whose ambitious Belt and Road strategy aims to build infrastructure around the world and increase Beijings influence. Brouillette said the U.S. isnt setting itself up as a challenger to China in Portugal, which like other EU countries has attracted large Chinese investments in recent times. But he noted that he had brought around a dozen senior U.S. business executives with him on his trip to Sines. Portuguese Infrastructure Minister Pedro Nuno Santos said the visit is evidence of the importance (the U.S.) places on Sines. TSI 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 REGINA, Saskatchewan, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Information Services Corporation (TSX:ISV) ("ISC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has been named to the list of Saskatchewans Top Employers for 2020. This is the twelfth consecutive year that ISC has been recognized in the provincial competition. Saskatchewans Top Employers is an editorial competition recognizing employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Employers throughout Saskatchewan were evaluated by the editors at Canadas Top 100 Employers using the same criteria as the national competition: (1) Physical Workplace; (2) Work Atmosphere & Social; (3) Health, Financial & Family Benefits; (4) Vacation & Time Off; (5) Employee Communications; (6) Performance Management; (7) Training & Skills Development; and (8) Community Involvement. In comparison to similar organizations, ISC is rated among companies which offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The editors reasons for selecting ISC are posted at eluta.ca . These include: ISC supports new mothers and fathers (including adoptive parents) with maternity and parental leave top-up payments, to 95 per cent of salary for up to 17 weeks, and offers the option to extend their paid leave to an unpaid leave of absence. ISC invests in ongoing employee development with subsidies for professional accreditation as well as tuition subsidies for courses taken at outside institutions. ISC helps employees plan for the future with retirement planning assistance and a defined contribution pension plan -- employees nearing retirement may also take advantage of phased-in work options. For information about working at ISC, including benefits and career opportunities, please visit isc.ca/careers . About ISC Headquartered in Canada, ISC is the leading provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. Throughout our history, we have delivered value to our clients by providing solutions to manage, secure and administer information through our Registry Operations, Services and Technology Solutions segments. ISC is focused on sustaining its core business while pursuing new growth opportunities. The Class A Shares of ISC trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISV. Media Contact Shea Haverstock Manager, Corporate Communications 306-787-1343 shea.haverstock@isc.ca Jennifer Aniston celebrated her 51st birthday in style as she partied at the upscale Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening. The award-winning actress was chauffered to the intimate bash in a black SUV as she joined the likes of Friends co-star Courteney Cox and The Handmaids Tale's Elisabeth Moss. Keeping a relatively low profile for her big day, the media personality displayed her all-black outfit as she stepped out of the vehicle, featuring a statement gold watch, a diamond ring and a selection of chic necklaces. Woman of the hour: Jennifer Aniston celebrated her 51st birthday in style as she partied at the upscale Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening With her tresses worn in her trademark straight style, the woman of the hour complemented her beauty with light touches of neutral-toned make-up as she made her way to her party. Long-time friend Courteney, 55, who rose to fame with Jennifer during their 10-year run on the famous sitcom, was every inch the supportive friend as she was pictured in attendance, carrying a Romo shopping bag - seemingly for the birthday girl. The Cougar Town director nailed business chic in a monochrome-coloured shirt, tucked into a pair of classic high-waisted jeans. Courteney swept her dark hair back into a ponytail and popped on a pair of spectacles. In good company: The award-winning actress joined the likes of Friends co-star Courteney Cox (pictured) and Elisabeth Moss Girls' night out: The brunette held hands with American jewellery designer Jennifer Meyer, who created The Morning Show star Jennifer's secret wedding bands in the past Hi there: The Handmaids Tale's Elisabeth, 37, greeted the valet with a huge wave as she was also in attendance The lap of luxury: The screen star was chauffered to the intimate bash in a black SUV Off she goes: At one point, the blonde beauty appeared to brush her blonde locks away from her face with her hands Time to party! Keeping a relatively low profile for her big day, the media personality displayed her all-black outfit as she stepped out of the vehicle Heading in: The TV and film star's tresses were worn in her trademark straight style as she joined an entourage Rounding things off, the Dirt actress added a touch of edge to her appearance with a leather biker jacket and towering black stilettos. The duo and their Friends co-stars Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer have stayed pals since the end of their show. The brunette held hands with American jewellery designer Jennifer Meyer, who created The Morning Show star Jennifer's secret wedding bands in the past. Mad Men's Elisabeth, 37, greeted the valet with a huge wave as she opted for punk chic in a slogan tee and a black blazer. She brings gifts! Long-time friend Courteney, 55, was every inch the supportive friend as she was pictured in attendance, carrying a Romo shopping bag - seemingly for the birthday girl She means business: The Cougar Town director nailed business chic in a monochrome-coloured shirt, tucked into a pair of classic high-waisted jeans Less is more: Courteney swept her dark hair back into a ponytail and opted for a minimal make-up Effortlessly stylish: The blonde went for a comfy look as she sported a black longline cardigan, teamed with a low-scoop vest Standing tall: Rounding things off, the Dirt actress added a touch of edge to her appearance with a leather biker jacket and towering black stilettos Warm greetings: She parked her car as she held onto a wad of cash to give to the valet All in the details: The Alabama native popped on a pair of reading glasses and accessorised with hooped earrings Jennifer was in good company as she also joined screenwriter Molly McNearney, who is the wife of Jimmy Kimmel and worked together in coming-of-age comedy Dumplin', Saturday Night Live comedian Kevin Nealon and Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford. Olivia Jade, the YouTube star who found herself at the center of last year's college admissions scandal, was seen arriving at the same hotel that evening. The 20-year-old turned up to the venue with her sister Isabella Rose Gianulli, 21, for a separate night out. It emerged in March that their parents Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli allegedly bribed the girls' way into University Of Southern California. Eye for fashion: The actress opted for punk chic in a slogan tee and a black blazer Intimate: Saturday Night Live comedian Kevin Nealon, 66, also left the swanky venue Heading home: The group were believed to have left the venue at around 11:30pm after around three-and-a-half hours at the affair Industry friend: Jennifer was in good company as she also joined screenwriter Molly McNearney, who is the wife of Jimmy Kimmel and worked together in comedy film Dumplin' Looking good: The fimmaker, 41, stood out from the crowd in a floral print dress Full House star Lori and Desperate Housewives icon Felicity Huffman were the two biggest names to be caught up in the scandal. Felicity pleaded guilty to paying a $15,000 bribe and was sentenced to 14 days in jail, but got an early release after 11 days. Lori and her fashion designer husband apparently paid $500,000 to falsely pass the girls off as potential college rowers on USC's team. Here come the boys: Chace Crawford cut a casual figure in a dark denim jacket and skinny jeans Heading off: The Gossip Girl star, 34, finished off his outfit with white box-fresh trainers Surprise attendees: Lori Loughlin's daughters Olivia Jade, 20, (R) and Isabella Rose Giannulli, 21, (L) made surprise appearances at the venue There she is: The YouTube star, who found herself at the center of last year's college admissions scandal, was seen arriving at the same hotel Family time: Rising actress Isabella was dressed in a quirky leather look with monochrome platform trainers by Nike History: It emerged in March that their parents Lori and Mossimo Giannulli allegedly bribed the girls' way into University Of Southern California Women in black: The young siblings twinned in all-black ensembles Fresh-faced: The sisters were joined by singer Madison Beer, who appeared to step out without make-up Bye! Courtney was spotted hopping into the passenger side of a black car after the party Cute! One of Jen's guests received a sweet kiss on the forehand as they waited for their ride home Let's go! Many of the guests jumped in taxis after celebrating Jen's birthday Here you go! Courtney proved to be a keen tipper as she handed the valet a 20 dollar note The Marley and Me star boasted Instagram wishes from a range of her celeb friends, including Lisa Kudrow, fellow birthday girl Sheryl Crow and Laura Dern. Screen star Laura, 53, won the best supporting actress Oscar on Sunday - the same night Jennifer's first ex-husband Brad Pitt took home the prize for best supporting actor. Jennifer's second ex-husband Justin Theroux was also among her celebrity well wishes on her big day. Watch every episode of Friends on soon-to-be-launched HBO Max, or on Stan in Australia now. Dressed down: Madison looked casual as she left the hotel wearing a tracksuit Home time: Jennifer was also spotted outside waiting for her cab home Glam: Courtney headed out with some of her gal pals after Jen's event Pretty: Molly carried her purse and jacket as she headed for her car Fine company: Courteney used her Instagram earlier in the day to send her best wishes not only to Jennifer but also to fellow birthday girl Sheryl Crow 'There's only one': She also posted a snap, where she bore a striking resemblance to Jennifer in aviator reading glasses and a blonde wig 'Always beautiful and keeps getting more beautiful': Jennifer and Courteney's Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow also sent her wishes with a throwback snap Amicable: Jennifer's second ex-husband Justin Theroux was among her celebrity well wishes on her big day, as were Courteney and Lisa 'Wowza!' Laura Dern, who won the best supporting actress Oscar on Sunday, also joined in the well-wishes Fresh-faced: Aniston's Friends costar Matthew Perry shared a message with a throwback photo of them together 'Light of so many lives': Rita Wilson wrote a lovely message for the actress Sweet: Octavia Spencer also took to the comments of the photo to write: 'Happy Birthday @jenniferaniston' 'Can't wait for our slumber party!': Ellen DeGeneres posted a message for the birthday girl The Central Bank has urged the next government to keep a firm grip on public spending and reduce public sector debt. The regulator has also said it does not want to be given the powers to regulate mortgage costs and force banks to reduce mortgage borrowing rates. Our policy advice does not refer to the composition of budgetary policy thats absolutely a matter for government, said the Central Bank director of economics and statistics Mark Cassidy. Our advice only recommends to the overall fiscal stance and the need for a prudent overall stance in the coming years, he said. He said that when the economy is close to full capacity any government must not add to pressures that could lead to overheating. It was up to government to decide the composition of spending and how to fund it through taxation, Mr Cassidy said. The Central Bank has forecast economic growth to slow this year and next with GDP expected to grow by 4.8% in 2020 and 4.2% in 2021; down from an estimated 6.1% in 2019. The election results are not reflected in any of its latest forecasts and it has also shied away from commenting on the three main parties housebuilding promises for the next five years, which range from 100,000-200,000 new homes in that timeframe. New CSO figures showed house completions reached a decade-high, of 21,241, last year. The Central Bank expects a 40% increase in the next two years, with 26,000 houses being built this year and 30,000 next. It said an achieveable level of new builds would be around 34,000 per year over the medium term of 10 years. We do see supply coming more in line with demand requirements, Mr Cassidy said. In a research note, Goodbody chief economist Dermot OLeary said the housing targets of Sinn Fein looked very ambitious, saying future builds of apartments could be under threat if Sinn Fein were to implement some of their policy proposals if they came into power. The Central Banks overall economic forecasts are based on the assumption that some form of EU-UK free trade deal will be agreed. The long-term impact of such a deal on the Irish economy would be for a 1.2% rise in the unemployment rate, and 50,000 fewer jobs. The Central Banks call for prudent finances was echoed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and S&P Global Ratings. Director of the budget office Annette Connolly said that the public finances face risks, saying that revenues were driven by corporate tax receipts. This poses a major challenge for the delivery of public services, she said. Anticipating protracted negotiations to form a new government, ratings firm S&P said it still expected the next coalition to follow the EU spending rules. It said Irish GDP growth will continue to rank among the strongest in the developed world. Nevertheless, we are projecting a marked slowdown in GDP growth toward 3% on average between 2020-2022, also reflecting the risk that Irelands second most important trading partner, the UK, departs the customs union and single market at the end of this year, without a trade agreement with the EU, it said. Maybe I give you a copy of Memento Mori by Muriel Spark, and you like it so much to go on the read all of her other novels. Thats the simplest example of this. The odds are, though, that you wont just read her stuff. Youll also be attracted to writers who are described as being like her or writing in the same post-war Britain or by authors whose paths crossed hers. The White House formally announced on January 31 that President Donald Trump had canceled all restrictions against the use of anti-personnel land mines by the US military. Outside of the Korean Peninsula, the US has not officially used land mines since the Gulf War of 1991. A press statement from the desk of White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, The Department of Defense has determined that restrictions imposed on American forces by the Obama Administrations policy could place them at a severe disadvantage during a conflict against our adversaries. The President is unwilling to accept this risk to our troops. Grisham also stated that the Department of Defense is issuing a new landmine policy that will authorize Combatant Commanders, in exceptional circumstances, to employ advanced, non-persistent landmines specifically designed to reduce unintended harm to civilians and partner forces. Anti-tank and anti-personnel land mines removed from the border between the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay and Cuba [Credit: Department of Defense] Announced several days before his State of the Union address on February 4 and his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial on February 5, Trumps reversal of land mine restrictions is a signal to the US military and his fascistic political base that the administration is committed to aggressive imperialist wars, including ground wars, with massive military and civilian casualties. Grisham concluded her brief statement by declaring, President Trump is rebuilding our military, and it is stronger than ever. The President will continue to support and equip our troops so that they will forever remain the greatest fighting force in the world. It is well known internationally that anti-personnel land mines and cluster munitions are among the most indiscriminate and deadly weapons of war that continue to kill civilians, especially children, long after military conflict ends. Prior to the international ban on land mines in 1997, up to 25,000 civilians were killed and thousands more injured and maimed each year by explosive devices, which can remain active for decades. Since the ban, the number of civilians killed by land mines has fallen by 75 percent, down to 6,500 per year. The continued presence of land mines around the world is a reminder of the nature of the crimes committed against humanity over more than a century of imperialist war. There are currently an estimated 78 countries in the world with approximately 110 million active mines on their territory, the majority of which are in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Egypt has 23 million unexploded mines in areas of its northern coast that were placed by Allied forces in World War II and the Sinai Peninsula which was contaminated with landmines from 1956 to 1973 during the wars between Egypt and Israel. The US has never completely ended the use of land mines and has refused to sign the international Mine Ban Treatyalso known as the Ottawa Treatythat was agreed to by 160 countries in 1997 and implemented in 1999. The Pentagon officially ended use of the weapons outside of Korea after the Gulf War for pragmatic military reasons related to the aerial deployment of more than 100,000 self-destructing land mines in Kuwait that became a barrier to ground troop movement and resulted in US casualties. Like that of the administration of George W. Bush, the Obama White House refused to sign the Mine Ban Treaty on the grounds that doing so would jeopardize US national defense needs and security commitments to our friends and allies. This snubbing of the international community did not prevent Barack Obama from receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2009, one month after he announced the US would continue using land mines. In June 2014, the Obama administration announced a ban on the production and acquisition of anti-personnel land mines, and in September 2014 implemented a policy that committed the US to stop using cluster munitions and to destroy its stocks, not because they indiscriminately kill human beings, but because they were unreliable. The fraud of the Obama administrations land mine policy is revealed in its continued use of such weapons in the Korean Peninsula. In this unique circumstance, the US military scattered approximately 1 million land mines south of the demilitarized zone after the Korean War ended in 1953 in order to protect American bases in the area. Thousands of South Koreans have been killed in unmarked minefields over decades. According to the website JustSecurity.org, The US has limited stocks [of land mines] to draw on. In 2014, the Pentagon disclosed that the US has an active stockpile of just over 3 million anti-personnel mines in the inventory. The US last produced antipersonnel mines in 1997, when it manufactured 450,000 ADAM artillery-delivered and 13,200 air-dropped CBU-89/B Gator mines. It has spent years on a costly, but as yet unresolved, search for alternatives to antipersonnel mines. The plan to remove the Obama-era restrictions has been underway since the early days of the Trump White House in 2017. As stated by the Pentagons chief spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman on February 3, the change in policy was the result of an extensive conversation with different departments of the executive branch. The new land mine initiative is part of a broader military and geopolitical shift that began with the reorientation of foreign policy contained in the National Defense Strategy announced by then Secretary of Defense James Mattis in January 2018. The renewed use of cluster bombs and anti-personnel land mines that kill and maim over a wide range is an integral part of the Pentagons war plans that include infantry combat against the US great power rivals, Russia and China. According to a report in the New York Times on Friday, Former Defense Department officials said the debate about reintroducing land mines and other so-called area-denial weapons came to a head in 2017 as the administration analyzed Russias rapid invasion and annexation of Crimea. The Times went on to report that as of October 2019 the Army had invested $60 million with Northrop Grumman and Textron to develop new anti-vehicle mines at Picatinny Arsenal, an Army weapons research center in New Jersey. While the new Defense Departments policy documentsigned by current Defense Secretary Mark Esperfocuses on the development of self-destruction and self-deactivation features that limit the risk of unintended harm to non-combatants, it is unmistakable that the White House and Pentagon are mapping out scenarios for major new wars against enemies with formidable ground war capabilities. In its drive for global domination, the Pentagon is envisioning minefields that either self-destruct or self-deactivate after a specified period of time or are permanent and can be turned on and off at will by remote control. The White House policy change has heightened tensions with its European allies, at least at the moment. In a rare formal criticism of Washington, the EU issued a statement that said that the ban on anti-personnel land mines had saved tens of thousands of people in the past twenty years ... Their use anywhere, anytime, and by any actor remains completely unacceptable to the European Union. Similar meaningless statements have been made by US Democrats such as Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who said, This decision, like so many others of this White House, reverses the gains we have made and weakens our global leadership. Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Malaysia Stainless Steel Shaft Market Outlook and Projections, 2019-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Malaysia stainless steel shaft market was valued at USD 82.4 million in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 115.9 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.02%, during 2020-2027. The rising demand for high-quality shaft material from large and heavy end-use industries is a major factor expected to propel the market growth over the forecast period. In addition, superior chemical properties exhibited by stainless steel is also anticipated to impact the growth of stainless steel shafts in the country. The market is classified into multiple steel grades. Few commonly used grades fall in either SS 300 grade series or in SS 400 grade series. The former is further segmented into SS 301, SS 302, SS 303, SS 304, SS 310, SS 316, SS 317, SS 321, and SS 347, while the latter is categorized into SS 410, SS 416, SS 420, and SS 431. Among the SS 300 grade series, grade SS 304 is an extensively used grade due to its wide array of application in different industries including mining, aerospace, motor & pump, and food equipment. On the other hand, SS 410 is the commonly used grade in SS 400 grade series owing to its low-duty hardening applications. Concurrently, few other stainless steel grades used for manufacturing of shafts belong to 200, 500, or 600 series. In the current scenario, the Malaysian steel industry is largely impacted by the National Policy on Industry 4.0. The policy is concerned with digital transformation of the manufacturing sector and its related services. Furthermore, the new policy is anticipated to take into consideration the latest and future global developments along with the technology use. This is likely to include gradual shift from the commodity-based products and upgrade the value chain. As per the Malaysian Steel Institute (MSI), steel industry in Malaysia is under significant pressure majorly due to the rising expenses associated with the ease of doing business, competition from regional steelmakers, and low production capacity utilization rate. However, according to MSI, local Malaysia steel industry is anticipated to benefit from the industry 4.0 revolution and will experience advantages concerning increased flexibility, productivity, efficiency, and quality. Moreover, increased number of R&D activities will be carried out by the steel manufacturers in the country. A primarily steel import dependent country, Malaysia, imported around 7.9 million metric tonnes (MMT) of steel in 2018, which was a 4% increase from the previous year. However, during the same year, the total steel exports from the country declined. China remained the largest source of imports for Malaysia and accounted for a total import of 2.1 MMT in 2018. The major imported products were hot-rolled, bars and cold-rolled, whereas the major steel export products included cold-rolled, pipes & tubes, and galvanized sheet. As of now, there are a limited number of stainless steel shaft manufacturers in the country as compared to the suppliers or other steel product producers. However, according to the Malaysian Iron and Steel Industry Federation, the country has over 100 steel manufacturing and processing facilities. Key Topics Covered Market Definition Market Segmentation & Product Overview Research Methodology Market Dynamics Drivers Restraints Industry Analysis Manufacturing Standards & Compliances Risk Analysis Production & Consumption of Steel in Malaysia Malaysia's Top Steel Producers Outlook Pricing Analysis Trade Outlook Malaysia Stainless Steel Shaft Market Market Economic Indicators Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) Market Segmentation Grade Diameter Verticals Competitive Scenario Top Stainless Steel Manufacturers Key Suppliers of Stainless Steel Shaft Company Profiles Stainless Steel Shaft Manufacturers Steel Manufacturers Companies Mentioned Shunto Steel Industries PR Components Pvt. Ltd. Nippon Steel Tata Steel K. Seng Seng Sdn. Bhd. Ann Joo Resources Berhad Lion Group Management Services Sdn. Bhd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gygn4j Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. 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 For Rebecca Frasure of Forest Grove one of now 135 people diagnosed with the new coronavirus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship -- so far, the uncertaintys been worse than the disease. She had a light cough. Now she doesn't, and she doesn't have a fever. But she doesn't know if she'll get other symptoms. She doesn't know when she'll be released from the Tokyo hospital holding her in quarantine. She doesn't know exactly when she'll be allowed to return home. And she doesnt know whatll happen to her husband, Kent, whos currently quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess. I need a hard date when I will know when I will be out of here, Frasure said Monday from her hospital bed. When I will be cleared. When I can go home. The Diamond Princess has been docked just south of Tokyo, with those who arent infected like Rebeccas husband Kent Frasure quarantined on board. The sick, like Rebecca Frasure, have been taken ashore for quarantine and treatment in hospitals. The disease, now called COVID-19, is raging through Asia, striking China particularly hard. It has infected tens of thousands and killed more than 1,000 people. It has symptoms similar to the flu, but much about it is unknown. Countries around the world are taking extreme measures to stop its spread. The United States is routing people flying in from Wuhan, China the city where the disease is believed to have started to Air Force bases, for example. There have been 12 confirmed cases in the United States as of Jan. 21, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rebecca Frasure, 35, has at least six more days to go at the hospital in Tokyo. But shes relatively lucky. Although the disease can kill, her symptoms have been mild to nonexistent. Two officials with the U.S. Embassy came to visit her at her request, she said, but they didnt tell her much more than what she already knew: She will be retested for the virus by the end of the week and that if she comes out negative for coronavirus, she will be free to go as early as Monday, she said. But then theres her husband to consider, who will be on the ship at least until Feb. 19, according to Princess Cruises quarantine timeline. The couple FaceTimed on Monday when Kent Frasure was allowed to leave his suite on the ship and go on deck. For Rebecca Frasure, the only outside time she gets is her view through the approximately 5-by-5-foot window to the left of her bed. She can see the sky, some trees and a parking lot. It was sunny Monday, not a cloud in the sky, she said. I just feel like I could go out there and feel the breeze, she said. Rebecca Frasures mother, who lives in Beaverton, said she is thankful that her daughter isnt showing coronavirus symptoms. But she is worried about the impact being separated from each other could have on her son-in-law and her daughter. They are basically in solitary confinement, Nancy Landes said. I worry about their mental health. Thats why Landes looks forward to her daughters regular Facebook posts, she said. Its good to see that shes still hanging in there, she said. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Some allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders are beginning to map out how he might govern and what his administration could look like if he wins the presidential election - a once inconceivable concept for many congressional Republicans and Democrats who regard his ideas as impractical. Independent advisers in contact with Sanders' campaign are informally speculating about who could be tapped to lead key agencies like the Treasury Department, what legislation would be prioritized, and which executive orders Sanders would approve amid congressional resistance to his agenda. Sanders, who won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night after a top showing in Iowa last week, has proposed more than $50 trillion in federal spending and vast new government mandates - from a national rent control standard to a ban on exporting crude oil - that have until recently been far outside the Democratic mainstream. Interviews with more than a dozen internal and external advisers reveal how his campaign team is squarely focused on locking up the Democratic primary, but his success has led others to try and gauge out what might be next. Many of them spoke on condition of anonymity because the process remains so fluid and many decisions haven't been made. His inner circle of advisers, which includes aides to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and a number of Washington outsiders, have not started a process yet for designing the architecture of a potential administration and strongly cautioned such talk is premature and not occurring in the campaign, which they stressed is focused on winning the nomination and defeating President Trump. But Sanders' momentum during the primary has led allies to debate ways he could put his ideas into action. And as he rises in national polling, Sanders is expected to face greater scrutiny about how he could translate his sprawling domestic policy agenda into legislative reality. His 2020 campaign has relied heavily on outside experts and advocacy groups once confined to the fringes of Democratic politics, while also elevating to key positions those with closer ties to the party establishment. Some parts of Sanders' policy agenda remain unchanged from 2016 - advisers say Medicare-for-All and a $15-an-hour minimum wage would likely top his list of first priorities. He has expanded his 2016 agenda by adding policies such as "Green New Deal," a housing guarantee for all Americans, the elimination of all student debt held in America, and an aggressive wealth tax on multimillionaires and billionaires. Critics say it is unclear if Sanders' team is up to the daunting legislative and policy challenges ahead, while supporters see a major asset in their rejection of the traditional Democratic channels and policy priorities. Sanders has hired three former aides to Reid, who had a knack for holding the line during public debates while also cutting deals with Republicans at opportune times. Faiz Shakir, Sanders' campaign manager, is seen as bringing a steadying approach to the senior leadership of the campaign, while deputy campaign manager Ari Rabin-Havt and national policy director Josh Orton were also brought in from "Team Reid." At the same time, Sanders has retained longtime advisers in key roles. Warren Gunnels, who has served as an aide to Sanders for more than two decades, is viewed as one of the most crucial voices in stewarding his economic policy agenda, in part due to the loyalty Gunnels showed Sanders even when the Vermont senator was a little-known House back-bencher from Burlington. Jane Sanders, the senator's wife, has also helped craft the 2020 campaign's climate and housing policies. Sanders advisers have also clashed repeatedly with the major Democratic think-tanks that have traditionally driven Democratic policy-making. His policy team, working with national political director Analilia Mejia, has instead consulted with environmental and immigration activist organizations like the Sunrise Movement and the Center for Popular Democracy. They have also worked with labor-funded groups such as the Economic Policy Institute; The Democracy Collaborative, an international organization tied to leftist Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party in the United Kingdom; and new think-tanks such as the People's Policy Project, which was founded in 2017 and is funded by small dollar donations. These groups, currently regarded as marginal players among Washington insiders, could gain new prominence should Sanders run the table in the election. His staff has also increasingly turned to a clutch of economic advisers who have largely flown below the radar - such as Darrick Hamilton, of Ohio State University, on economic and jobs policy; Tara Raghuveer, of the "People's Action" network, on housing policy; Sarah Anderson, of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, on business taxes; and Carol Zabin, of the University of California, Berkeley, on Sanders' Green New Deal proposal. Other economists who have previously worked with the Sanders campaign are also the source of speculation by people who work with the campaign to play roles in the White House or Treasury Department should he capture the White House. Some of the most frequently cited names for top economic posts include Jeffrey Sachs, of Columbia University; Stephanie Kelton, a former Sanders aide now at Stony Brook University; Robert Reich, a Clinton administration labor secretary; and Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel laureate also at Columbia University. The economists and experts in Sanders' orbit in general have less White House and Washington experience than those at large liberal think-tanks such as the Center for American Progress and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, some of whose leaders have historically gone on to fill crucial posts for previous Democratic presidents. Skeptics say Sanders' rejection of the Democratic policies and institutions may make it difficult to enact legislation, arguing Sanders has not passed much legislation through Congress during his approximately three decades there. (Sanders has pointed to his record of passing bipartisan amendments through a GOP Congress, as well as his recent work with Republicans on the war in Yemen.) Trump faced similar tensions in his takeover of the White House and Republican Party, with bitter battles erupting routinely between longstanding GOP aides and Washington outsiders who disagreed over his direction. "You're clearly going to get people with less Washington experience in a Sanders administration, which means they'll bring a fresh eye to new ideas and problems, but who may also know less about how to get things done," said Howard Gleckman, a policy expert at the Tax Policy Center, a non-partisan think-tank. Campaign officials defended circumventing the traditional Democratic think-tanks, arguing they are conflicted by corporate donations and millionaire donors that Sanders is trying to break the party free from. "In this campaign, Bernie and our staff are building policy in an unprecedented, grassroots way: by listening directly to the needs of people and generating plans that will actually solve the problems caused by toxic greed of powerful interests," said Shakir, the campaign manager, in a statement. "This campaign is not taking its cues from the same Washington apparatus that has developed policy that for too long has left millions of working people, young people, and people of color behind." The scale of policies envisioned would be extremely difficult to execute, experts said. Democratic party leaders remain dubious both of Sanders' political viability and, in some cases, the breadth and scale of his agenda. Republicans have railed against Sanders' policies as representing a massive government takeover that would undermine American capitalism, with Trump warning against socialism in his State of the Union Address. Asked about Sanders on Tuesday, both Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., declined to criticize him. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, downplayed Sanders' showing in Iowa and said "some aspects of his proposals I just don't think are practical." "There is a major difference between being the leader of a movement and being the head of government," said Timothy Naftali, a historian at New York University. "Could Sen. Sanders build a coalition in Congress - that does not exist at the moment - big enough to pass his legislation? Right now, Sanders' 'democratic socialism' appears to define only a minority within the Democratic Party." Some Sanders allies concede the difficulty they would face in convincing Democratic lawmakers and institutions to cooperate in pushing their agenda. A Sanders administration would also likely precipitate immediate battles with some of the most powerful institutions in American life - from the U.S. military, given Sanders' pledge to shrink the defense budget, to America's immigration enforcement apparatus, whose power Sanders has vowed to curb. Despite his dozens of legislative proposals, Sanders has promised to in his first week in office send Medicare-for-all legislation to Congress - even though many if not most congressional Democrats oppose the effort to nationalize America's health insurance industry. Sanders' $30 trillion single-payer bill would force every American onto a government insurance plan within four years, while expanding the Medicare program to provide dental, vision, and other forms of care at no cost. A multi-trillion infrastructure package aimed at addressing climate change would also likely be one of the first legislative packages pushed in a Sanders White House, as well as policies aimed at establishing a $15 an hour minimum wage and boosting the percentage of American workers who belong to a union. Multi-trillion-dollar housing and education programs, as well as a criminal justice overhaul, are also expected to be at the top of the list. These bills could face steep odds unless Sanders can find many more allies in Congress. Only a small minority Democratic Senators agree with the need to eliminate private insurance to establish a single-payer system, while just 14 Senate Democrats have co-sponsored the Green New Deal legislation. Sanders could lose support even further if he picks key congressional allies - such as Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., his national health policy co-chair - to fill spots in his administration. There are other strategies Sanders might adopt if he were to win in November. He has said if elected he would leave Washington routinely to join striking workers on the picket line in a way that would be unusual if not unprecedented for a sitting commander-in-chief. Top campaign aides have also prepared a list of possible executive orders for Sanders to implement if elected, including ending construction on Trump's border wall and reinstating legal status for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, which would allow him to bypass Congress altogether. Sanders' list of potential unilateral actions, recently obtained by The Washington Post, includes criminal justice measures such as legalizing marijuana in all 50 states. Although many Democrats and Republicans have viewed possible Sanders presidency as extremely improbable for years, and continue to do so, his success in Iowa and New Hampshire may give them pause. Some allies also point to how quickly Trump reshaped the Republican Party on issues such as trade and immigration - and wonder if a similar realignment would be possible in the Democratic Party under Sanders. "If you were sitting there in 1931 or 1963, you could not have predicted what FDR's New Deal or LBJ's Great Society would be," said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Sanders' campaign co-chair. - - - The Washington Post's Erica Werner contributed reporting to this story. hemanthp wrote: Ian and Orange, I can see your point but there is nothing cynically preposterous in the argument in support of D. If the reprisals are removed it would make people to make the meekest of complaints which they otherwise would not have made as they would introspect and realize its not worth it (I am not saying that they would ignore it... but just that they might talk to some colleagues, discuss with family before filing a case). But now they need not really do that. legitimate more legitimate proven reason tripled increased two thirds GMAT Tutor in Montreal If you are looking for online GMAT math tutoring, or if you are interested in buying my advanced Quant books and problem sets, please contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com Signature Read More Just because nothing bad will happen for doing something is no reason to think people will do it. Something good needs to happen. To give an absurd example, if I tell you 'eat this piece of scrap metal, nothing bad will happen', knowing that nothing bad will happen is not going to make you any more likely to eat the metal. The same is true in this question. That there are no negative consequences for filing a false harassment claim is no reason to think false claims will be filed. There would need to be some benefit to the person filing the false claim, and I can't see what that benefit could possibly be. If the claim is false, the person filing the claim is not going to receive any kind of compensation or other benefit. There's sure to be paperwork and tribunal appearances that would consume the complainant's time. Most importantly, accusing someone of racial or sexual harassment is an extremely serious thing to do; it can very easily ruin that person's career. It's not the type of thing people do frivolously, though you'd need to assume that people would for D to be the answer here. That's why I said above that D requires one to make some absurdly cynical assumptions about human behaviour.Further, one could easily contend that D actually strengthens the argument. Some people who arevictims of harassment might, in the past, have been reluctant to pursue a claim because they were concerned they lacked the evidence to prove their case. That is, they might have been concerned that their claim woud be deemed 'invalid'. Knowing that there will be no negative consequences if they are unable to prove their case might make itlikely that thesevictims of harassment will file a claim. The conclusion of the passage has nothing to do with the number of claims which are actuallyor found to be valid - the conclusion is simply that more legitimate victims have come forward with their complaints. If answer D is true, it may in fact be thethat so many new legitimate victims came forward, and rather than weaken the argument, it may actually explain why the facts presented in the argument are true.One final point: we aren't concerned here with whether the number of legitimate complaints actually. The argument is true as long as the number of legitimate complaints. So to weaken the argument, it is not enough only to establish that there were false claims; you'd need to establish that a fullof complaints were illegitimate. That is, for D to be the answer here, the campaign publicity would need to have inspired so many false complaints as to cause the total number of complaints to triple. As I discussed above, I can't see how one could reasonably think that could be the case.So I stand by what I said above. I think it's a very poorly contrived question; it's illogical, and requires one to introduce assumptions which I find completely unreasonable._________________ Travelers return amid anti-epidemic inspection By:Huang Ziling | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-02-07 11:50 On February 4,the 26th day of the Spring Festival travel rush, the passenger flow of Shanghai Railway Station remained at a low level. Two hundred and fifty-four passenger trains were cancelled at Shanghai Railway Station on Tuesday. It was estimated that 20,000 passengers would be dispatched and 80,000 would arrive, including 25,000 at Shanghai Railway Station, 10,000 at Shanghai South Railway Station and 45,000 at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. All people entering Shanghai must register their health information and declare this in the dynamic monitoring system for the health status of people coming to Shanghai now. Before they leave the station, the staff will check the passenger registration information again. (Staff disinfect at the exit) In the Shanghai Railway Station, staff will measure the body temperature of departing and arriving passengers. All passengers in and out of the station wear masks, follow theguidance of the stations staff, consciously abide by the order, and actively cooperate with the anti-epidemic inspection work. After the anti-epidemic inspection, passengers can enter the subway station from the railway station. At present, body temperature screening systems at nine metro stations have been set up to detect suspicious cases. Chinese envoy calls on int'l community to respect leadership of Sudanese gov't on Darfur issue UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Security Council and the international community should respect the leadership of the Sudanese government on the Darfur issue, a Chinese envoy said on Tuesday. The situation in Darfur remains generally stable and is in a critical period of transition, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said at a Security Council meeting. China appreciates the efforts made by the Sudanese government to maintain peace and stability in Darfur and promote the political process, he said. He added the Security Council and the international community should fully recognize the efforts made by the Sudanese government, respect its leadership on the Darfur issue, strengthen communication and coordination, and earnestly listen to its views and suggestions. The envoy called on the council to review the sanctions against Sudan in a timely manner and set up a roadmap for lifting the measures. The council should send a positive signal to Sudan and provide greater assistance to its government in maintaining regional peace and stability. The western Sudanese region of Darfur has been plagued by a war between Sudanese government forces and the indigenous population since 2003. Barber Side Chats: Black History From the Barber Chair Why the Black Barbershop Matters, Straight From the Barbers Mouth The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. The fight for racial equality must be heard. Amplify is our series devoted to elevating black voices and brands, spotlighting issues, and taking action. The Black barbershop experience has long been a point of pride for Black men, a source of economic strength for Black communities and a bedrock of tradition within Black culture. More than just a cut and shave, barbershop culture has been and still is center for neighborhood news and Black entrepreneurship. RELATED: 21 Best Natural Hair Products for Black Men So its fitting that we dive into the significant contributions the barbershop has lent to the rich tapestry that is Black history. Keep reading to find out when, why, and how the Black barbershop culture not only survived, but continues and will continue to thrive. The Roots of Black Barbershop Culture Despite what India Arie might have told us, we are our hair, or at least to a degree. The history behind Black hair care is very telling, and it reveals a lot about the society African Americans live in today. Professor Quincy Mills of Vassar College lays out the history of the Black-owned barbershop in his book Cutting Along the Color Lines. The most powerful point Mills touches on is how the Black-owned barbershop found itself as an epicenter of community and commerce. As with many stories in Black history, the Black barbershop road originates with slavery, Mills says. In the 1800s, Black-owned barbershops typically served wealthy white clients. In most cases, barbers were enslaved men who increasingly earned their way into freedom. Barbering became one way African Americans could cultivate a paid craft, while controlling what little free time they had available. More importantly, barbering was the start of financial independence, offering the opportunity for free Blacks to plant the seed of what would become economic sovereignty for themselves and their communities. Cutting Along the Color Lines by Quincy Mills From $16.44 at Amazon.com Following the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, we see younger barbering generations open shops in Black communities to serve Black men. This of course marks the beginning of barbershop culture we know today. Just like church or the local bar, the barbershop signifies a safe space where Black men congregate to share stories, do business and draw strength in supporting each other. This sense of community and responsibility has been established over generations. Brooklyn born master celebrity barber Vernon Scott attests to the impact of the barbershop within the community by offering this insight: The powerful unspoken aspect of Black barbershops is that it is a safe place for the community literally and physically. Safe from gang violence, safe to express your opinions, safe for kids to wait for hours until parents get off work. Scotch Porter founder, barber and hair care expert Calvin Quallis offers an excellent example by reminding us why we celebrate the Black barbershop with the powerful story of barbering success Alonzo Herndon. Mr. Herndon was an American barber and entrepreneur born into slavery in 1858 [who later] started a barbershop with his earnings as a farmhand. His barbershop business expanded to three shops in Atlanta, Quallis explains. He then took those earnings, invested in real estate owning more than 100 houses, a commercial block and a large [personal] estate, he continues. As his personal fortune grew, he purchased a failing insurance company. At the time of Alonzo Herndons death in 1927 he was one of the countrys wealthiest Black citizens. Celebrity barber and owner of New Orleans-based unisex salon Team Hairbenders, Darrl (Dee) Robert Jr. known as professionally as The Real Hairbender makes the point that the profession of barbering in itself, makes a powerful impact on his community. Robert Jr. explains that barbershops uniquely play a role in circulating the Black dollar. We matter because of dictation for example; other ethnicities purposely plant their businesses next to ours to feed off of our clients. Recognizing this and wanting to keep his clients spending power within the Black community he explains: Now if a client sits in my chair and asks Hows the nail shop next door? My reply would be Go to Beedy or Jess across the river or in Laplace. Theyre sisters, professional, and a whole lot better than the people next door. Robert Jr. uses his influence to refer his clients business to places he knows will have a lasting impact. The Modern Barbershop The barbershop continues to evolve and progress in both a physical and figurative sense. Barbering guru and Burke Avenue CEO Craig Whitely, known professionally only as Craig the Barber, tells us about the transformation of the barbershop throughout the decades. Craig recounts that the barbershop has served a different purpose throughout various eras. In the 1960s [the barbershop] was a place of intense racial conversation and mobilizing groups during the Civil Rights era, Whitely explains. In the Bronx in the 1980s it was a place where I was introduced to this new music called Hip-Hop and the life lessons of saying to No to crack. Whitely continues by forecasting more changes to come, predicting that younger generations will definitely have a different experience than he has had. But the one thing that I know for certain is that they too will be culturally impacted in an equally positive light, he assures. Thankfully, today Black men have the luxury of choosing from a wide range of styling options, but looking back it wasnt always that way. For the better half of the twenty-first century most Black men that sought employment lived by the mandate: Keep thy curls in check. Keep it short. Keep it tame. Dont attract attention. However, the cultural paradigm of mens grooming has shifted significantly, now embracing all natural hair textures, Black men can relish in their Black excellence by using products made especially for their hair. There is still more work to do, but the Black grooming renaissance is opening Black men up to a brave new world of self-care products and possibilities. The upgraded version of the modern barbershop is a reflection of the upgrade of the Black male experience. This evolution in grooming has of course translated into a shift in consumer behavior. Scott insists its a huge evolution. With the abundance of information, and the progressive man just taking more pride in not only his appearance but hygiene specifically hair and skin regimens, its driving the industry and production of specific mens products forward. According to a 2018 Nielsen study, Black men are spending major money in the grooming category relative to the percentage of the population African Americans make up as a whole. This means Black men have earned higher expectations for both their barbers as well as the brands making products catering to their different needs. Expert Picks for 5 Best Black Hair Products SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Combo Pack We asked expert barbers to weigh in and share their favorite products that both celebrate Black hair, but also keep it looking great. Thanks to its wide range of products for both men and women catering to curls of all types, SheaMoisture comes highly recommended by all of our experts. $29.99 at Amazon.com Scotch Porter Hair Care Collection Truthfully my favorite product right now is a part of our newly reformulated Hair Care Collection. Our Moisture-Rich Leave-In Conditioner and Smoothing Hair Balm are my daily must haves. They keep my hair moisturized and soft, during the cold winter months and my waves are very defined and shiny. - Calvin Quallis $32.99 at ScotchPorter.com SheaMoisture Mango and Carrot Kids My wife introduced me to the brand SheaMoisture when we were searching for the most ideal hair products for my sons hair. I love the variety of options, and of course, my son loves how they smell. As do we. - Craig the Barber $18.99 at Amazon.com Pura D'or Anti-Thinning Shampoo and Conditioner [La Barber Brew] is my go-to grooming product right now. Its made locally in New Orleans and I had behind the scenes access on how it was manufactured. I love the fact that it moisturizes beards without weighing them down. - Dee Robert Jr. If you're not in New Orleans, we suggest trying PURA D'OR Biotin Anti-Thinning Shampoo and Conditioner. $39.99 at Amazon.com SheaMoisture Beard Products [SheaMoisture] has the perfect balance for natural kinky, curly hair maintenance with essential oils to sustain healthy hair, and an array of products to style, hold, twist and volumize. This has made them my kit essentials, and preferred products for personal use. - Vernon Scott From $8.97 at Amazon.com With a growing industry of new talent and widening market of products its an exciting time for Black male grooming. For a tangible way to support Black culture consider purchasing products from Black owned business that specializes in nourishing your Black roots. You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. London: Police in Northern Ireland charged a 52-year-old man on Wednesday with murdering Lyra McKee, a journalist shot dead during a riot involving Irish Republican Army dissidents last year. The killing of McKee caused widespread shock in a region still scarred by decades of violence known as the Troubles, in which more than 3500 people died. Journalist Lyra McKee was shot and killed when guns were fired during clashes with police in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Credit:AP The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the man, who has not been named, was charged with murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and "professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation." The suspect is due to appear in court in the city of Londonderry on Thursday. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- My brother, a pharmaceutical salesman, called Monday to invite me to join him on a Mediterranean cruise this summer. The cruise, which will originate in Spain and go to Italy, is something hes thought about for a few weeks. Now that hes booked, he wants company. Are you sure thats a good idea, I said immediately after he broached his travel plans. My reflexive response appeared to startle and disappoint him. What do you mean? he asked before quickly deducing the reason for my skepticism. Ah, the coronavirus. Im pretty sure the planet will have figured it out by then, he said without a hint of indecision. His confidence shamed me. I hope hes right. Fear of the unknown is an unpredictable emotion. So is the psychology of crowds. Its one thing to know that millions of people in China are currently quarantined in cities and required to wear surgical masks covering their faces whenever they venture into public. Its quite another thing to learn that each day brings more coronavirus virus deaths and infections (primarily in China). Meanwhile, while the rest of the world grows increasingly reactionary and xenophobic. America is not exempt. Our government and industries are struggling mightily to observe rational and scientific coronavirus protocols in the face of the unknown. Collectively, American leaders in politics, business, and healthcare face difficult soul-churning questions. How does one protect the general public and uphold American values without discriminating based on irrational fears? Royal Caribbean, the Miami-based cruised line, has been caught squarely in the coronavirus crosshairs. It announced Friday that it would ban all Chinese nationals from its cruise ships regardless of the last time they were in China. The move was announced after four passengers who had come from China began to exhibit feverish symptoms. They did not test positive for coronavirus, but, out of caution for public safety, the cruise line said it would ban all travelers and ship staff who held a Chinese passport. Then, just as quickly, the sweeping ban was rescinded on Monday. The company said that after further review, it would keep its policies in line with government policies that oversee the ports where the company docks it ships. Governments around the world are racing to understand the virus, how it spreads, and the way the deadly disease can be stopped from ravishing other nations. On any given day, the path and reach of the virus can change and public reaction is certain to follow suit. On the Friday that Royal Caribbean announced its ban on Chinese nationals, Xiao Liu, a 34-year-old scientist at Princeton University arrived at Port Canaveral, Fla., with her husband and 3-year-old daughter prepared to board a ship called the Mariner of the Seas. According to a New York Times recount of Lius experience, a health care worker checked her familys temperatures and asked whether they had been in recent contact with anybody from mainland China. The answer was no. It didnt matter. The family was healthy, but the health care worker didnt allow Liu on the cruise because she carries a Chinese passport. This is clearly racial discrimination. What makes me different from other passengers? My Chinese passport! Liu told the New York Times. This is the tricky and frightening moment America now finds itself. Tough questions are being debated in real time as a highly contagious disease threatens health, freedoms, and social values. Here at home, Asian Services in Action, Inc. (ASIA), a group that serves Northeast Ohios immigrant and refugee communities said in a statement released last week that it had heard of suspicion and mistreatment of Asian Americans and, in particular, of Chinese Americans in Northeast Ohio. We urge people not to let unfounded fears fan flames of bias against anyone of Asian descent, said the statement signed by ASIA CEO Elaine Tso. In a follow-up email with The Plain Dealer reporter Julie Washington, Tso wrote, We have heard about reduced patronage of Chinese owned/operated business in the period surrounding the news about the coronavirus. There were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio as of Tuesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonetheless, fear continues to influence behavior. This begs the question. What can the individual do in the wake of a growing world health crisis? There are no easy answers. I suppose one could start with the following. Stay studiously informed. Wash your hands frequently. Go ahead and book the cruise. Most of all, dont panic. Recent columns by Phillip Morris: America must stop being a Turkey and suffocating itself with cheap plastic bags: Phillip Morris These $40 haircuts have the potential to save countless lives: Phillip Morris What comes next for Collinwood High depends on creative ideas, cooperation: Phillip Morris What lessons do the Buttigieg dogs have to offer America?: Phillip Morris TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SAM Seamless Network , the intuitive security system for smart networks announced a partnership with BitDefender , a global cybersecurity leader protecting over 500 million systems in more than 150 countries. The partnership enables ISPs to offer complete enterprise-grade security on all devices both in and out of the home, against all attacks such as phishing, and malware, and across all smart devices connected to the network. SAM Seamless Network will be showcasing its security offering at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, located in the South Village meeting area at SV131, February 24th-27th, 2020, where both BitDefender and SAM Seamless Networks will also be featured together on the panel entitled " Securing Supply Chain Vulnerabilities " on Thursday 27th February at 14:30. For more information or to set up a meeting, please visit their website here . The announcement between BitDefender and SAM follows the successful cooperation between the two companies whose combined offerings empowered Telenet, a Liberty Global entity, to become the first European ISP offering IoT security to its customers. The solution combines SAM's network, IoT, device security fingerprinting and PC security protection together with BitDefender's end-point protection. "We have seen a rapid increase in attacks on home devices this last year and with 5G on the near horizon, we expect them to rise even more in 2020," said Sivan Rauscher, CEO and co-founder of SAM Seamless Network. "We are very proud to be partnered with a global company like BitDefender. Its leading expertise in anti-virus together with our IoT security solution enables ISPs to offer a complete privacy and security service to customers." "We detected a dramatic change in the security landscape before anyone else, so we virtually invented the smart home security segment. Since then, we have kept investing in new technologies to make sure we stay well ahead of the competition." said Ciprian Istrate, Bitdefender's Vice President for Consumer Solutions. "Our IoT Security Platform integration will help SAM Seamless Network provide best-in-class technology for home cyber threats protection." As demand for home security and privacy grows, SAM Seamless Network also announced a partnership with Liberty Global , one of the world's leading converged video, broadband and communication companies, with operations in six European countries under the consumer brands Virgin Media, Telenet and UPC. Liberty Global plans to integrate SAM's solution in its routers to secure every connection point even outside the home. The service will be available to all Liberty Global's customers by 2021. "71% of US broadband households that own smart devices are concerned about cybersecurity. Twenty-five percent of those who do not own smart home devices are also concerned about privacy and security, which prevents them from buying smart devices," said Lindsay Gafford, Research Analyst at Parks Associates. "As households adopt more smart home devices, owners rely more and more on a router/gateway with strong security software to prevent unauthorized access and protect their privacy. One-third of households with 1-4 smart home devices have adopted this method, increasing to 50% of households once they adopt 10 or more devices." SAM's cybersecurity software protects local area networks and their customers' connected devices directly at the source of entry at the ISPs via the router. The software is installed on top of any gateway (legacy and pre-market), without involving additional labor. It has an ultra-light footprint, and does not require any extra hardware or additions to be installed on the connected devices. Integrated with a solution like Bitdefender, SAM allows a single-point of management for all devices including all anti-virus software, without moving from one device to another and with full visibility of security status and alerts on the home network. About SAM Seamless Network SAM provides a software-based security solution that integrates seamlessly with any platform and protects local area networks by securing the gateway and all of its connected devices. Installed remotely on existing gateways, SAM doesn't require any additional hardware or a technician to provide comprehensive network security. The solution is offered as a service, allowing users to have the enterprise-grade protection including virtually patching vulnerabilities such as KRACK and other high-level, targeted attacks. SAM works with leading chipset manufacturers, including Intel, to provide network security from the source. To learn more about SAM, visit www.SecuringSam.com . About BitDefender Bitdefender is a global cybersecurity leader protecting over 500 million systems in more than 150 countries. Since 2001, Bitdefender innovation has consistently delivered award-winning security products and threat intelligence for the smart connected home, mobile users, modern businesses and their networks, devices, data centers and Cloud infrastructure. Today, Bitdefender is also the provider vendor of choice, embedded in over 38% of the world's security solutions. Recognized by industry, respected by vendors and evangelized by customers, Bitdefender is the cybersecurity company you can trust and rely on. www.bitdefender.com . Media Contact: Gina Shaffer US: +1(707) 533-1504 IL: +(972) 54-649-3485 [email protected] SOURCE SAM Seamless Network Related Links http://www.SecuringSam.com The Punjab Police is concerned about the growing use of technology in a narco-terrorism racket from across the border in Pakistan, with about 40 movements of sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) noticed in the Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozpur and Fazilka districts. The states director general of police, Dinkar Gupta, has expressed the need for modern anti-drone technology to check the menace of these UAVs that have been making drugs and weapons drops in the region since last year. Gupta said that the state police was in talks with the Indian Air Force, Border Security Force, Indian Army and intelligence agencies to counter the drone menace, which, he feared, could lead to the next round of militancy in the state. One of the major narco-terrorism modules, headed by former Indian Army Naik Rahul Chauhan, was involved in carting 75kg of pure heroin and at least seven pistols between November and December 2019. The module, operating from the Jat Regiment Centre in Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly, was busted on January 9, 2020. This drone, seized by the police, has been used for cross-border sorties along the border with Pakistan. It covers a distance of between 2.18 km and 2.78 km in about 14-18 minutes, police said. According to Chauhans interrogation report, details of which were accessed by HT, a Pakistani national named Waqar got in touch with him when he was running surveillance drones for the Indian Army in Nowshera sector of Jammu & Kashmir last July-August. Chauhan was later contacted by another source, identified as Choudhary, over a WhatsApp call from a Germany-based number, and a meeting was set up with Choudharys associate in Ambala. During interrogation, Chauhan admitted to operating drones from the border villages of Dhanoa Khurd and Mulaekot to pick up heroin and pistols from Pakistan. The jawan used three drones purchased from Chandini Chowk (Delhi), Ghaziabad and Pune, and made cross-border sorties at the height of 1,200 feet on November 27 and 30, and then on December 8, 9 and 17, 2019. A part of a half-burnt drone, used to smuggle firearms across the border, was found by Punjab Police. These sorties, he told interrogators, were made from border villages between 3am and 4am to avoid detection, and the distance covered from the launch area to the pick-up point in Pakistan was between 2.2 and 2.8 kms, with flying times generally between 14 and 18 minutes. Data gathered from the drones showed that the last flight on December 19 was 26 minutes, 54 seconds long. Further investigation by the police revealed that the money used to buy the drones was provided by convicted drug smuggler Lakhwinder Singh (in Amristar jail since September 2019), and his accociates Ajaypal and Dharminder. Before Chauhans drugs-weapons module was busted, Punjab Police seized seven weapons consignments sent across the border from Pakistan by pro-Khalistan separatists using high-endurance drones. A total number of eight terror modules have been busted since August 2019, with 41 alleged terrorists and their accomplices arrested. Seventeen AK- and MP-series assault rifles have been recovered, along with 10 pistols and 23 Chinese-made hand grenades. In addition, four drones, five satellite phones, and some fake Indian currency have also been recovered. About 1,100kg of heroin was seized in the state from March 2017 till this January, according to police data. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Senate on Wednesday held a valedictory session to honour late Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu, who until his death represented Imo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressive Congress. The Session which started at 11:00am and ended 2:35pm, had Senators eulogizing and reliving individual experiences and last moments with the deceased lawmaker who died on December 18, 2019. The Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC Kebbi North), who opened the floor for valedictory speeches described the lawmaker as an icon who had an active and impactful political life. Late Senator Benjamin Chukwumeka Uwajumogu was a distinguished colleague who excelled in very facet of his senatorial duties, whether to his constituency or in his committees duties as well as his usually articulate contributions to Senate debates. As an industrialist, he could be best described as a colossus. He was a think-tank for several birds of both private and public sectors; amongst them, is the Nigeria Shippers Council. In politics, Late Senator Benjamin Chukwuemeka Uwajumogu could also be described as a political icon. He has a rare stewardship with exemplary leadership qualities. He lived an active and eventful political life, Yahaya said. The lawmaker, added that Uwajumogu who was the only Senator elected on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) from the South East Geo-political zone in the eighth senate served as Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and member of other Senate Committees on Agriculture, Marine, Housing, Banking, Army, Custom and Petroleum. A total of 34 Senators paid glowing tributes at the valedictory session held by the Senate in honour of the deceased. Among the lawmakers are: Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Minority Whip, Philip Aduda; Senator Rochas Okorocha (APC Imo West); Ezenwa Francis (PDP Imo East); Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu West); Oluremi Tinubu (APC Lagos Central); Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central); Olamilekan Adeola (APC Lagos West); Yusuf A. Yusuf (APC Taraba Central); Biodun Olujimi (PDP Ekiti South); Michael Nnaji (PDP Ebonyi South); Gershom Bassey (PDP Cross River South); and Abba Moro (PDP Benue South). Others are: Isaku Abbo Elisha (PDP Adamawa North); Fadshunsi Adenigba (PDP Osun East); Abdulfatai Buhari (APC Oyo North); Barau Jibrin (APC Kano North); Bala Ibn NaAllah (APC Kebbi South); Francis Alimikhena (APC Edo North); James Manager (PDP Delta South); Albert Bassey Akpan (PDP Akwa-ibom North East); Ali Ndume (APC Borno South); Sani Musa (APC Niger East); Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central); Clifford Ordia (PDP Edo Central); Matthew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South); Samuel Egwu (PDP Ebonyi North); Obinna Ogba (PDP Ebonyi Central); Sarajudeen Ajibola (APC Osun Central); and Isa Jibrin (APC Kogi East). In his closing remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said, Senator Uwajumogu gave a very good account of himself as a human being. Calm, cool, calculated and purposeful. He joined us a little bit late in the eighth senate, and being the only Senator of APC extraction from the South East, he was close to everyone especially in the APC caucus and the entire Senate. Every time there was a seeming crisis, he would preach 'let us unite, let us work for Nigerians who have sent us here'. That was in the eighth senate. In the ninth senate, he was delayed in joining us, so he took his oath of office after the inauguration. He remained the same person up till the last day of the debate in which he participated here. When he stood up here to contribute, in his intervention on the maltreatment of traders of Nigerian extraction in Ghana, he emphasized the need for us (members of the National Assembly), the government and people of Nigeria, to stand for our citizens wherever they are. After the close of plenary, he followed me to the office and he said, Senate President, you need to take this matter up with the executive arm of government, so that they act fast. I assured him we would do our best as leaders of the senate, to meet the executive arm of government to expedite action. Nigerians have been suffering in many parts of the world, especially in Africa. That was coming after the South African Xenophobic attack on Nigerians, and we all felt very strongly that our citizens must be defended wherever they are, especially those who are doing legitimate businesses, and those who are not should be prosecuted through the legal processes in those countries rather than killing and beating them up. So, he lived and died for his people. As a politician, he had a very good trajectory, having served as State Assembly member and Speaker of that legislative arm of government in Imo State, and of course here in the Senate, he was a friend to everyone. Normally, youll find a committee Chairman in a lot of controversies and tendencies, but I think Senator Ben Uwajumogu was not someone who was controversial. He was always straight to the point, no controversy but deep in his submission. He has gone, but he has left humanity for us and to continue to remember him, frankly, is to continue to do those things that he believed in, lived for, and died for. For us in the Senate, and indeed this ninth Assembly, theres nothing more important to us than working for Nigerians. That is what our late colleague believed in, and worked for, Lawan said. Signed: Ezrel Tabiowo Special Assistant (Press) to President of the Senate Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Louisianas Small Business Protection Act (SBPA), passed in the 2019 Legislative Session and effective as of Feb. 1, aims to help make small business owners aware of proposed regulations that could negatively impact their business entities, according to Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. According to recent government data, Louisiana small businesses are responsible for employing nearly one million state residents and account for 99.5% of all Louisiana businesses. Under the SBPA, the Secretary of States office has created a database of both current and proposed rules and regulations. This will allow businesses to provide input before regulations take effect, rather than forcing businesses to react to regulations. The Small Business Protection Act took effect on Feb.1, the database is live now. Businesses can register for updates and view the database at smallbiz.sos.la.gov. Source: Office of the Louisiana Secretary of State Topics Legislation Louisiana Commercial Lines Business Insurance President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Kurdamir. The head of state first laid flowers at a statue of the national leader in the Heydar Aliyev Park. Head of Kurdamir Executive Authority Jeyhun Jafarov informed President Ilham Aliyev of the work carried out in the region *** As part of his visit to Kurdamir, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the newly renovated Pirili-Muradkhan-Sor-Sor highway. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed President Ilham Aliyev of the technical indicators of the road. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the highway. *** President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the presentation of the agropark owned by Global Agro LLC in Karrar settlement of Kurdamir region. *** President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the Kurdamir branch of Azerkhalcha Open Joint-Stock Company. Chairman of the Board of Azerkhalcha OJSC Vidadi Muradov informed the head of state of the conditions created at the enterprise. President Ilham Aliyev met with carpet weavers. Welcoming the enterprise team, President Ilham Aliyev said: - I congratulate you on the opening of the carpet factory and wish you every success. I am glad that a carpet factory is opening in Kurdamir District as well. A lot of work has recently been carried out in this direction. There are plans to open 32 factories, of which 11 are already in operation. One factory is officially opening in Kurdamir district today. According to the information available to me, about 100 jobs have been created here for women. This is a very positive fact. On the one hand, we provide jobs to citizens, especially women. On the other hand, our ancient art, the art of carpet weaving will develop. You continue this art, share your experience and knowledge with the younger generation. Thus, you are gaining new opportunities for yourself, while at the same time making an important contribution to the future successful development of our country. After all, carpet weaving is our ancient art, while carpets are export-oriented products. Our main task now is to increase exports in the non-oil sector. There is a great demand for Azerbaijani carpets in the world. Foreign visitors to our country show great interest in carpets. Considering that 3,170,000 foreigners visited our country last year and their number will further increase this year, the demand for our carpets will also increase. You will have more work to do. Here you will be provided with a good salary and excellent working conditions. It is possible to say that all workers of the factories that have recently opened under the umbrella of Azerkhalcha are satisfied. Carpet-weavers: And we are very pleased. Thank you very much, we are grateful to you. We wish you a long life. May Allah protect you! Carpet-maker Yeman Abdurahmanova: Mr. President, welcome to our district, to our enterprise. We have been waiting for you with great pride. We are glad that you are here to meet with us. On behalf of all the women representing the intelligentsia of Kurdamir district, our elderly mothers and weavers, I would like to express our deep gratitude to you. Mr. President, greetings to you, your family, children and grandchildren. May Allah grant you good health and a long life, so that you continue the legacy of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Dear Mr. President! May the day come when you sign the Victory Day order. Mr. President, I apologize, maybe I talk a lot. The carpet factory in Kurdamir began to operate in the 1930s. Our mothers and grandmothers continued this work, and now it is being continued by us. In 1989, a carpet factory was opened in Kurdamir. We gathered all the girls. Initially, there was a factory only in the village of Shilyan of Kurdamir district. After a carpet factory was opened in the city of Kurdamir, workshops were created in the villages of Yenikand, Kohnabazar, Kohunlu and Shilyan. However, there is a huge difference between those workshops and now. There is a huge difference both in terms of equipment and in terms of the ornaments. The new workshops play a major role in the sale of our products. When meeting with our girls, I always say: remember those working conditions? Our beautiful workshop is now equipped according to European standards. May Allah grant good health to both our President and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. You value our art and do everything to keep it alive. After 2001, the factory stopped its operation. When women asked me as a carpet specialist why the carpet factory wasnt working, I was embarrassed to answer. And now I feel a sense of great pride. Mr. President, on behalf of not only the carpet weavers but also of all the elders of Kurdamir, I express my gratitude to you. You have eliminated the differences between cities and villages. Today, villagers also use gas, are uninterruptedly provided with electricity and water. Mr. President, in May 2017, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Azerkhalcha Open Joint-Stock Company, you awarded me the Taraggi medal as a leading carpet specialist. I said at the conference for all the weavers of Kurdamir to hear: this medal is not only mine. It belongs to all carpet-weavers. An ASAN xidm?t Center has opened in our city today. All office buildings have been built. Whatever department or organization one visits, everywhere one is greeted with a smile and politely escorted. And all this is thanks to you. Nobody will forget that. Mr. President, we had to travel for more than an hour and a half from the village of Shilyan to the city. Now we can reach the outermost parts of Shilyan in just five minutes. Greetings to you on behalf of all elderly mothers, thank you, thank you very much! May Allah rest the souls of your father and mother. May their souls always be your support. On behalf of all the mothers, greetings to you, your children and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. Thank you very much! President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you for your kind words. Yeman Abdurahmanova: Thank you very much. These words are coming from the heart, I am being sincere. President Ilham Aliyev: I know. You are absolutely right. Very large changes have taken place in Kurdamir district recently. I said at the opening of the ASAN xidm?t center today that I visited Kurdamir for the first time as President in 2005. There were problems with electricity at the time. It is possible to say that there were no roads, there was no gas, there was no water, there were no jobs. As a result of the comprehensive measures taken, we have gradually resolved all these issues. First of all, there should be a supply of electricity, after which all the villages of Kurdamir should be provided with gas. Only two villages have not been supplied with gas yet. This will be accomplished this year or in 2021. Thus, gas supply rate will reach 100 percent. Half, or 50 percent of roads, have been renovated. The remaining 50 percent will be fully renovated by 2023. The problem with drinking water in the city of Kurdamir was resolved in 2013. Modular type water treatment facilities have been installed in the villages. More than 40 new facilities will be installed. Such a beautiful factory has been opened to create jobs. You will see how beautiful the ASAN H?yat complex and the ASAN xidm?t center are. A total of 320 types of services will be provided there. At the same time, there will be nice cafes, public places, a cinema and places for children's entertainment there. So a community center has been set up. The establishment of such a center in Kurdamir is evidence of a special attitude to the district because this center will cover six districts. The establishment of a carpet factory is of particular importance. As you noted, it is possible to say that we were about to lose this art in the regions. In the regions, there were machine tools left over from the old days only in the houses. Weavers worked on an individual basis. There were practically no orders and it was impossible to sell the woven carpets. You are well aware that you need equipment, facilities and material to create a carpet. Yeman Abdurahmanova: Praise be to Allah, everything is available. President Ilham Aliyev: How can you weave a carpet without all this? And how to sell a woven carpet? Therefore, our art of carpet weaving was alive only in the city of Baku perhaps. However, each of our regions has its own school of carpet weaving. Therefore, the goal of creating 32 factories across the country was to keep this art alive in the regions, to attract women, to create excellent conditions for them to earn good money, to benefit our citizens and the state. We are achieving this. I am sure that all the carpets woven here will be worthy of the highest price and you will pass on this art to the younger generation through these factories. I can see that there are young girls among you. I am sure that they will gain experience and then will attract their children. Thus, our ancient art of carpet weaving will live forever. I congratulate you once again and wish you success. Thank you! Carpet-weavers: Thank you very much, we are grateful to you! The head of state then cut the carpet woven here. ALBANY A group convened by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to identify billions of dollars worth of Medicaid savings for the state met for the first time Tuesday, providing some insight into how the panel intends to arrive at its recommendations. Chaired by Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, and Dennis Rivera, former head of SEIU Healthcare, the 21-member panel will meet just three times before it must submit a list of recommendations to the governor and Legislature in mid-March for consideration in the state budget due April 1. Its task: Find $2.5 billion in savings for the 2021 state budget and recurring savings for future-year budgets, and do so without affecting local governments and beneficiaries, according to directives handed out by Cuomo. Its obvious to everybody sitting around the table here that this is a complex task, said Dowling at the groups first meeting at the Albany Capital Center. This is difficult. The time is short. And issues are complicated. But we have a major obligation to put every effort into coming up with the right resolutions here. We have to keep in mind the importance of the beneficiaries that benefit from Medicaid, the importance of Medicaid as a program itself. As a visible reminder of the sensitive task ahead of it, the panel was met by protesters both inside and outside the center Tuesday. Some were in wheelchairs, and many held signs with messages such as You cut Medicaid, you kill me. They urged leaders to balance the state budget which faces a $6.1 billion gap in the next fiscal year by taxing the rich, not by cutting Medicaid, a program that provides health coverage to roughly 6 million poor and disabled New Yorkers. Medicaid is a New York success story, said Lara Kasall, coordinator of Medicaid Matters, a statewide coalition representing beneficiaries, before the meeting. We have more people covered, we have more people living independently in their own homes, more people living without the fear of economic ruin thanks to Medicaid. Cuomo convened the Medicaid Redesign Team the second of its kind since 2011 to help bring down what he said is unsustainable spending on the program, which makes up 43 percent of next years multibillion-dollar budget hole. Inside the meeting hall, state budget director Robert Mujica explained that while the state budgets for 3 percent growth in the program each year, a rate the administration considers sustainable, projected program growth is slated to hit 6.7 percent in the coming years unless changes are made. New York previously brought its Medicaid spending down to sustainable growth levels following the 2011 formation of a Medicaid Redesign Team. From 2012 to 2018, the states share of Medicaid spending grew an average of 2.2 percent per year, compared to an average nationwide state-share spending growth of 5.3 percent, Mujica said. But New Yorks share has been on the rise once more, he said, driven by rising enrollment, a rising minimum wage, payments to financially distressed hospitals, and a boom in the long-term and personal care industries. Munica's presentation was disrupted roughly 10 minutes in by protesters who chanted and carried signs throughout the room. During the interruption, the state cut audio and visual to a livestream it was hosting on the Department of Health's website for several minutes while protesters were escorted out. During a separate presentation, state Medicaid Director Donna Frescatore identified long-term and personal-care services for the chronically ill and disabled as one of six areas where Medicaid may need to be course corrected. Others include state payments to distressed hospitals, prescription drug costs, a rise in taxi livery and medical transportation use, health homes and care management for people with complex conditions and diseases, and program integrity meaning abuse, waste and fraud. She also outlined the process members of the public and stakeholders can follow if theyd like to submit savings and policy proposals to the MRT. The state has set up a new website where people can submit their ideas. They must be submitted by noon on Feb. 21, in order to be considered by the panels second meeting, scheduled for March 4 in New York City. A date and location for the third meeting has not been scheduled yet, but Frescatore said it will be sometime in mid-March. RM OF HEADINGLEY It was a satisfying sight for Harrison Powder: a freight train stopped, hundreds of metres up the track from a blockade erected by a group of demonstrators. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. RM OF HEADINGLEY It was a satisfying sight for Harrison Powder: a freight train stopped, hundreds of metres up the track from a blockade erected by a group of demonstrators. Powder was among a group of 10 along a windswept country road, about 25 kilometres west of Winnipeg, protesting RCMP enforcement of a court-ordered injunction in northern British Columbia and the arrests of community leaders from Wetsuweten Nation. A spokesman for CN Rail said train movements on the line stopped Wednesday because of the blockade. Demonstrators block a portion of the Canadian National rail line just north of Wilkes in Diamond, MB, Wednesday morning. (Danielle DaSilva / Winnipeg Free Press) "Canada should remember this, so should the RCMP and industry the next time they go invading Indigenous territory trying to force a pipeline through," said Powder, a member of Bigstone Cree Nation in Alberta, and a Winnipeg resident. "They should remember what happened here with this incident, because it can happen again." Province seeks injunction to end rail protesters blockade Click to Expand Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister: We want to take action immediately." Posted: 9:30 PM Feb. 12, 2020 The Progressive Conservative government plans to apply for a court injunction to prevent protesters from continuing to disrupt rail traffic on the CN main line in Manitoba. Premier Brian Pallister said Manitoba Attorney General Cliff Cullen has instructed the Justice Department to prepare the application to empower the RCMP to take the necessary action to prevent disruptions to rail service. Read Full Story Just before 11 a.m., as temperatures dipped to -29 C (with a windchill value of -46 C), protesters set up the blockade on the Canadian National rail line running adjacent to Wilkes Avenue, west of Provincial Road 334, and built a fire next to a nearby outbuilding. The CN Rivers subdivision is the companys main line through Manitoba, and runs west to Melville, Sask. Several police cars including RCMP, CN police, and Canadian Pacific rail police were on scene in the early afternoon to monitor the demonstration. Officers mostly remained in their vehicles during the time a Free Press reporter was on site, stepping out to talk with the protesters occasionally and allowing access for a maintenance worker to perform a safety inspection on the rail line (which demonstrators didnt object to). Manitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said the Mounties and CN police are monitoring the protest, and an RCMP liaison officer was attending to the site. "We are mindful of our roles and responsibilities to the public to keep the peace and to be part of the solution," Manaigre said in a statement. "The role of the division liaison team officers is to establish a dialogue and maintain open and ongoing communication. "These specially trained officers are an essential part of building a relationship of trust, respect, and mutual understanding between the police, protesters and the affected public." Demonstrators say they will enforce the blockade as long as their resources allow, including overnight and in the days to come, or until RCMP cease operations in Wetsuweten territory. They called for more people to join the Manitoba demonstration in Diamond, where a CP rail line intersects the CN track. Recent events have included demonstrations in Winnipeg that shut down the intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) With his face covered by a camouflage scarf, Powder said the efforts by the group of "land defenders" on the quiet stretch of road is part of a larger national effort to restrict train traffic in response to RCMP actions in northern B.C. CN has been forced to shut down significant parts of its Canadian network due to blockades near Belleville, Ont., and on CNs northern mainline in B.C., between Prince George and Prince Rupert. The company has cancelled hundreds of trains since blockades began six days ago. On Monday, RCMP confronted and arrested seven Wetsuweten protesters, including three community matriarchs. Mounties were enforcing an injunction to allow Coastal GasLink access to the territory to build a liquid natural gas pipeline. While the project has received approval from the 20 elected First Nations band councils whose territory the proposed pipeline crosses, it has not received the support of eight of the nine Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs. During the past week, the B.C. blockade has served as a rallying cry around the country. Recent events in Winnipeg have included demonstrations that shut down the downtown intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street, and a youth occupation of Liberal MP Dan Vandal's St. Boniface riding constituency office. Federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau issued a statement Wednesday, saying the federal government is closely monitoring the protests. "The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right in Canada, but individuals who choose to use this right must do so in accordance with the law. There are active court injunctions in place that were taken by CN to ensure service can resume, and they must be respected," Garneau said, referring to orders issued in Ontario and B.C. "Police forces in our country act completely independently of all levels of government. First and foremost, their priority is to ensure the safety of all people in Canada." On the cold Manitoba prairie, blockade supporter Black Turtle, a grandmother and member of a group called the Urban Warriors Alliance, said she and others will carry out the demonstration as long "as creator allows." "This will really affect the economy. It will affect certain peoples pockets," she said. "Those peoples pockets that were affecting here are the ones we want to get the message to. "If we all stood up all at once, Indigenous people and non-Indigenous alike, those who love mother earth and who want a good home for their grandchildren if we all stood up at the same time, we could stop this madness." danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca with files from Ryan Thorpe Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A California startup focused on verifying peoples identities in order to help them talk to their elected representatives, ePluribus, is changing its name to Be Heard.The companys name switch comes amid some changes to the company; it started with tools to help people easily look up their elected leaders and sent them messages but it has since launched an identity management app to provide verification and validation of its users.(EPluribus) is difficult to pronounce and remember, and many people do not intuitively connect ePluribus to the motto that is its namesake, the company wrote in an email. We think that Be Heard conveys a similar dedication to the democratic process while being easier to pronounce, to remember, and to understand. It was our motto from the beginning for a reason: We want to help anyone, anywhere stand up for what they believe in and cut through the noise.The names of its products will stay the same.The most recent of those products, Unum ID, is an enabler of the rest of the companys services, co-founder Aidan McCarty toldat the annual TechCrunch Disrupt conference in October. That is, because it can help verify a persons identity, it can also give elected officials and their staff more confidence that a person reaching out to them is actually their constituent.The company verifies users through their mobile phones, email addresses and home addresses.The service could, in the future, have myriad other applications for government work drivers' licenses, passports, health-care and even security clearances could all use services like Unum ID, McCarty said. One particular area of interest for the company is municipal IDs, a trend that has picked up across the country as local government has looked for better ways to provide services to hard-to-reach citizens.Ultimately this is going to be a single source of truth for all of the different services in your life, McCarty said. The very first application of that is civics because its something that everybody understands and theres a very clear use case [for] the tech.The product, launched shortly after Samsung NEXT invested in the company, has a somewhat unique twist to it. It is run on a private blockchain, which means that it operates like a normal blockchain decentralized governance of a common ledger but access to the blockchain is limited. Therefore, only verified users with the right permissions can make changes to the chain.And in the name of security, the blockchain itself doesnt store identity information. All identification data is stored on a persons mobile device, and the blockchain simply contains public keys to denote users.Theres literally no database of information to breach, McCarty said. Its only stored on the persons phone, encrypted with their biometric [data]. So its incredibly secure.That means that if somebody loses their phone or for some reason cant access their account, they must re-verify themselves, McCarty said. However, the company is interested in setting up another private blockchain that will actually store backup information that could only be accessed by the user with biometric verification. Bengaluru: Various Kannada organizations have called for a bandh on Thursday across the state, including the capital city Bengaluru, demanding priority for Kannadigas in employment in the private sector, especially in software industry. Though differences surfaced among the groups, the protestors got a shot in the arm as former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief minister Siddaramaiah extended their support to the bandh. Several auto, Ola, Uber and airport taxi unions have pledged their support to the protest. Those who are arriving in Bengaluru from various locations have been advised to arrange their own transport. The government has not declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday and left it to the discretion of the district commissioners to take a call. Kannada organizations have been demanding implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi Committee report which recommended preference for Kannadigas in employment in the private sector. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 20:40:24|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close A staff disinfects a carriage on a high-speed train at Zhengzhou high-speed railway maintenance station in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 12, 2020. Maintenance workers did the cleaning of the air-conditioning system on the high-speed trains at Zhengzhou high-speed railway maintenance station Wednesday to guarantee the clean air flow on the carriages during the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic. As the number of people back to work has shown an upward trend, Zhengzhou high-speed railway system has increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of the air-conditioning system and other facilities. (Xinhua/Li An) Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes successfully had several charges dismissed in the criminal case against the former Silicon Valley CEO. On Tuesday, a federal judge in San Jose dismissed some of the charges against Holmes and the company's ex-president Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani. The judge ruled prosecutors could not continue to pursue charges that allege Holmes and Balwani defrauded doctors or customers who used Theranos blood tests that did not work as advertised. Because the tests were paid for by their insurance companies, individuals were not technically defrauded of money or property. A May 2019 view of the Camden Waterfront shows, at the rear and from the left: One Port Center; the BB&T Pavilion; the Adventure Aquarium; and the Battleship New Jersey. In the center from left to right are the Triad 1828 tower; the corporate headquarters of American Water; and the Ferry Terminal Building. Read more For more than a year, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and state Senate President Steve Sweeney have been at war over certain tax breaks for businesses. Despite apparent agreement about some proposed reforms such as requiring community benefit agreements from recipients and more rigorous oversight a major roadblock remains. Murphy is determined to cap at $300 million the total annual dollar amount of these tax breaks; Sweeney and his Senate allies would rather cap the number of tax breaks awarded to individual applicants and have no limit on the total overall. We support the proposed reforms outlined in a report released last week, as well as Murphys call for an overall cap on the total amount spent on tax breaks each year. This battles larger context is Sweeneys loyalty to South Jersey political powerbroker George E. Norcross III, the Murphy nemesis who masterminded the 2013 consolidation of N.J. Economic Development Authority tax breaks into two Grow New Jersey (Grow NJ) and the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program (ERG). Together these programs aimed to help attract investment in communities across the state, and also promised $1.6 billion to companies moving to or expanding in Camden alone. If only the Murphy-Norcross fight, with its opposing narratives, dueling task forces, and somewhat overlapping recommendations, were about getting Trenton to rethink its corporate welfare business. The 2013 act ramping up New Jerseys tax breaks followed a number of setbacks to the state, including a sluggish rebound from the recession and the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. When used strategically, such breaks can stimulate growth, but they must be managed effectively. Too often, theyre handed out in exchange for ephemeral promises about creating jobs and encouraging private investment. Theres scant data that tax breaks in general yield anywhere near the benefits to a community they provide to a companys bottom line. Jackson Brainerd, a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures, told Sweeneys special Senate committee last September that there is no evidence such incentives bear any relation to the broader performance of a states economy. And the public money that underwrites tax breaks is revenue unavailable for more pressing purposes. The Senate committees report made a number of sound recommendations including creating an Inspector Generals Office to evaluate tax breaks and other state economic development programs. This in itself would dramatically improve a process that seemed more about maximizing the size of incentives in order to cover amenities such as corporate helipads than creating jobs or hiring local residents. READ MORE: Fix N.J.s bloated and broken tax breaks | Editorial READ MORE: As tax-credit controversy rages on, Gov. Murphy tours Camden businesses Supporters of the Senate recommendations question whether an overall cap would disadvantage New Jersey, where taxes are higher than in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and other competing states. Meanwhile, progressive organizations and tax break foes such as New Jersey Policy Perspective and N.J. Working Families are as adamant as the governor about the necessity of an overall cap. Murphys office points out that competing states have such caps, and that commonsense budgeting practices suggest placing no limit on potential fiscal obligations is a bad idea. We agree: an overall cap is a smart move. The car of a police inspector parked in front of his home was set on fire by a man here in Maharashtra, an official said on Wednesday. The incident took place when on Tuesday night when a man set ablaze the car of Inspector Sanjay Patange, attached to the Bhudargad Police station in Kolhapur district, after pouring kerosene, he said. No casualty was reported in the incident. The accused in the case, Subhash Desai, has been taken into custody, the official said. Desai allegedly committed the act to take revenge on Patange who had initiated action against an illegal shop erected by the accused, he said. Meanwhile, in a separate case,a mob attacked a police party that went to raid a gambling den at Akurde in Bhudargarh taluka of the district on Tuesday, he added. Assistant police inspector Amit Deshmukh and head constable Anil Chavan were injured in the incident, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BRIDGEPORT A state man who was involved in a New Haven drug ring was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, according federal authorities. Hakeem Basir, 56, of Waterbury, also was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to four years of supervised release, for trafficking heroin, federal authorities said in a release. The case evolved from a joint investigation headed by the DEA New Haven Task Force, FBI and New Haven Police Department into a New Haven-based drug trafficking organization that acquired and distributed heroin and cocaine, the release said. The investigation found Basir distributed heroin at locations in Waterbury and Hartford. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 500 grams of heroin, more than 300 grams of fentanyl, more than one kilogram of cocaine, three firearms, over $90,000 in cash, vehicles, jewelry and precious metals, federal authorities said in the release. A grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Basir and 18 other people with narcotics trafficking offenses on April 19, 2019, the release said. Basir and several other members of the conspiracy were arrested on April 25, 2018. Basir has been detained since his arrest and he pleaded guilty on Aug. 9, 2019 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, the release said. Further, the DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Hamden, West Haven, North Haven, Branford, Ansonia, Meriden, Derby, Middletown, Naugatuck and Waterbury police departments. The Connecticut Department of Correction, Milford Police Department and East Haven Police Department assisted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall, the release said. Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Aiken, South Carolina for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 6 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Aiken, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Aiken with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Aiken. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Aiken, South Carolina please visit https://www.help.org/best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-aiken-sc/. 2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Aiken, South Carolina (in alphabetical order) Aiken Center 1105 Gregg Highway Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 649-1900 ALPHA Behavioral Health Center 804 Fair Street Camden, SC 29020 (803) 432-5813 Axis I Center of Barnwell 1644 Jackson Street Barnwell, SC 29812 (803) 541-1245 Cornerstone 1612 Rivers Street Greenwood, SC 29649 (864) 227-1001 Faith Home Christian Recovery 144 Faith Home Road Greenwood, SC 29649 (864) 223-0694 Three Rivers Behavioral Health 2900 Sunset Boulevard West Columbia, SC 29169 (803) 796-9911 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. (ANI) In a meeting that lasted over 100 minutes, the Chief Minister invited the Prime Minister to the historic event of the distribution of 25 lakh house-site pattas to the landless poor in the state on Telugu New Year day Ugadi on March 23. The house sites are part of the Nava Ratnas included in the YSRCP manifesto. The important features in the letter submitted to Narendra Modi by the Chief Minister include seeking the handing over of 800 acres of saline land in East Godavari to the state government. The Chief Minister said that the state government intends to complete the Polavaram Project by 2021 and sought assistance for the rehabilitation package for all the families to be evacuated as per the schedule. He said that the total estimated cost of the project turned out to be Rs 55549 crores and Rs 33010 crores was needed as part of the R & R package. He recalled that the Central water Resources Ministry has estimated the cost of the Polavaram Project to be Rs 55549 crores in February 2019. The Chief Minister informed that the project is yet to get administrative sanction for which special efforts have to be made by the Centre. He informed the Prime Minister that so far the state government has spent Rs 3320 crores for the project which has to be released by the Central Water Resources Ministry. The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that the state needs special status to overcome the financial constraints and reminded that it did not need the approval of the Finance Commission. He also recalled that the 15th Finance Commission had made it clear that according special status to the state was in the purview of the Centre. Taking this into consideration he urged the Prime Minister to accord special status to the state. The Chief Minister informed that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the Centre had agreed to clear the financial deficit of Rs 22948.76 crores to the state and the Centre has to give an additional amount of Rs 18969.26 crores. He asked the Prime Minister to expedite the clearance of the amount as soon as possible. The Chief Minister informed that the Centre had released only Rs 10,610 crores during this financial year and urged the Prime Minister to direct the Union Finance Ministry to release the pending funds. He also urged the Prime Minister to take the initiative for the construction of Kadapa Steel Plant and release funds for Ramayampet Port. He also sought the release of funds for the linking of Krishna and Godavari rivers. With reference to the allocation of Rs 2500 crores for construction of the state capital, he reminded that only Rs 1000 crore was released by the Centre. He sought the release of the ending funds for the purpose. Regarding the allocation of funds for the backward districts, the Chief Minister reminded that only Rs 1050 crores were released during the past seven years and there has been no allocation for the past three years. The Chief Minister also urged the Prime Minister to take steps for setting up the High Court in Kurnool. He outlined the need for decentralization of administration and development in the state and the efforts being made by the state to that effect. He informed the Prime Minister that the state Cabinet has approved to have the executive capital in Visakhapatnam, the legislative capital in Amaravati and the judicial capital in Kurnool for which a Bill was passed and the state Assembly has approved it. With reference to the decision of the government for the abolition of the Legislative Council, the Chief Minister reminded that the decision was taken since it had lost its utility and going against the bills passed by the Legislative Assembly. He urged the Prime Minister to direct the Central law department to take necessary action in this regard. The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to direct the Central Home department to approve the Disha Act enacted by the state Assembly to provide protection to the women in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala's Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on Wednesday said that they were working towards promoting new tourism destination in the state in an attempt to boosts the sector's contribution in state GDP. Speaking during the Question Hour proceedings in Kerala Assembly session, Surendran said that responsible tourism is being given priority in the state. "Instead of focusing just on conventional tourism destinations that were just limited to the Travancore region, the government had taken steps to promote new tourism destinations in North Kerala. Most foreign tourists arrived on beaches in Kasaragod last year more than Kovalam. This is clearly a paradigm shift," he said. The minister also said that the new tourism destinations are emerging in Kerala and the tourism industry contributes to 10 per cent of Kerala's GDP, which can be scaled up to 12 per cent. Senior Congress MLA PT Thomas raised the issue of Nobel laureate and renowned biophysicist Michael Levitt and his wife getting stranded in a houseboat in Alappuzha after protestors prevented their boat from leaving during Bharat Bandh. He asked the minister about how the government had failed to give security and what action was taken on the incident. Replying to him, the minister said stringent action was taken and those who blocked the boat were arrested. "The incident was unfortunate. Anti-social elements were responsible for it. Michael Levitt and his wife had arrived as a state guest but their houseboat trip was a private one, the government was not informed. But we have taken stringent action against those behind the incident," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Northern Ireland's road safety television advertisements, well-known for using shocking imagery to get their message across, have fallen victim to budget cuts. The advertisements have been widely praised for bringing home the deadly consequences of drink-driving or drinking whilst using a mobile phone. At a meeting of Stormont's Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday during a briefing on road safety and driver and vehicle regulation, MLAs were told of how millions had been taken out of the budget for the campaigns. They were told as well as cutting the length of the ads the use of music has been changed from well-known artists to stock tunes. Head of road safety strategy promotion and outreach at the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Lynda Hurley said that her budget had been cut from a high of 3million in 2013 to just 700k for the current financial year. Mrs Hurley told MLAs her budget two years earlier had been 1m. She said the budget had traditionally been in the 1.5m to 2m region but accepted that "there are budgetary constraints everywhere across our department and other departments". Mrs Hurley said that as a result of the budget cuts she was forced to rethink the DfI's road safety advertising campaign. "We looked at some campaigns on television and reduced them in length so we could still get the maximum number of campaigns out with the money available," she explained. "A lot of those campaigns may have been around 50-60 seconds long with certain music which helped emphasise the message. Expand Close Dolores Kelly Liam McBurney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dolores Kelly "We reduced the campaigns to 30-40 seconds and removed the music and put in library music which doesn't cost the same amount of money to our budget, but the core message of those campaigns are still there." Mrs Hurley explained that the peak of the funding coincided with the lowest road deaths on record in 2012 when 48 people died. SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly said insurance companies had an obligation to contribute to road safety campaigns. Mrs Hurley said in the past the department had been quite successful getting sponsorship from the insurance industry for television ads. "In recent years it has been very difficult to get insurance companies to sponsor the campaigns, they want a payback guarantee of airtime and how frequently they are going to be on TV and what dividend there is going to be for them," she said. She clarified that the campaigns were created in advance and sponsorship was sought after, saying the insurance companies had no control over the content of the advertisements. Mrs Kelly said: "They have no legal or moral obligation it seems, but it might be something worth exploring." Previous ads have shown an entire classroom of children being killed by a man speeding along a country road, while another showed the slowed down effects of a crash inside a vehicle when not wearing a seatbelt. Another campaign showed the bereaved loved ones of people killed in road accidents sharing the effect of their loss. The campaigns date back to the mid-1990s and are well remembered for their graphic content. They originally fell under the remit of Stormont's old Department of the Environment. Rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan have left 5,135 people killed or injured since 2002, a new report by a U.S. government group says. The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR), John F. Sopko, says his report is the first to look at the human cost of rebuilding Afghanistan following the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. SIGAR monitors the billions of dollars the United States spends in Afghanistan. The report, called The Human Cost of Reconstruction, was released on February 11. It said that 2,214 people have been killed in mostly U.S.-led projects to rebuild the country. It said the deaths were the result of Taliban and other militant attacks from 2002 through 2018. It did not include accidental or other deaths connected to the reconstruction projects. The report added that another 2,921 people were wounded in the rebuilding efforts - from the construction of roads and bridges to building schools. Such projects are often seen as easy attack targets. Other projects included counter-narcotics, governance, and mine removal. SIGAR said the most dangerous job was road construction, which made up 30 percent of all casualties. More than 70 percent of those killed or injured -- and about 86 percent of those kidnapped -- were Afghans. Almost all of those Afghans were civilians.The deaths included 284 Americans, both civilian and military. SIGAR also found that 1,182 people were either kidnapped or went missing. The report did not say how many of those kidnapped had been recovered. Most of the casualties, the report shows, happened during the height of the reconstruction efforts -- between 2008 and 2011. The United States has spent nearly $1 trillion in Afghanistan, the majority of which has been spent on security and war-fighting costs. About $137 billion has been spent on Afghan reconstruction and aid since 2002. An earlier SIGAR report released last month said the poverty rate in Afghanistan is climbing. In 2012, 37 percent of Afghans were considered to be below the poverty rate, meaning they survive on less than $1 a day. Today that figure has risen to 55 percent of Afghans. The latest findings come during renewed U.S.-led peace talks with the Taliban. The talks are aimed at opening the way for withdrawing American troops. The Taliban today controls or has influence over about half of Afghanistan. They carry out almost daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, government officials and those seen as linked to the government. The 18-year-long war in the country has been deadly for Afghan civilians. The United Nations first began documenting civilian casualties of the Afghan war in 2009. It estimates that between then and October 2019, a total of 34,677 Afghan civilians have been killed. The deaths happened during insurgent attacks as well during fighting between militants and Afghan security forces and allies in the U.S.-led coalition. On Tuesday, Afghanistans interior ministry said a suicide bomber killed six people near a military academy in Kabul, the Afghan capital. The Taliban denied involvement in the bombing and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. It was the first major attack in the capital this year, and took place in the morning near the government-run defense university. Im Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story with information from the Associated Press, Reuters and RFE/RL. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think of this story? Write to us in the comments section below. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story reconstruction n. the act or process of building something that was damaged or destroyed again monitor v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time narcotics (plural) - n. a drug (such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana) that affects the brain and that is usually dangerous and illegal casualties (plural) n. a person who is hurt or killed during an accident, war, etc. insurgent n. a person who fights against an established government or authority figure - n. a value that is expressed in numbers Half a year ago, I thought that the Democratic nominee for president would be one of these four candidates: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, or Kamala Harris. This wasnt just my view, it was widely shared among those who, unlike me, are sometimes right about modern political horse races. Now, Kamala Harris is long gone, and the Biden and Warren campaigns are on life support. With Harris gone and Warren seemingly on her way out, only two female candidates remain: Amy Klobuchar and Tulsi Gabbard. The latter is the favorite of some Republicans, but not enough Democrats to make the debate stage. Warren, as I said, is on life support. Thus, its quite possible that Klobuchar, off of her third place finish in New Hampshire, will become the last woman standing in the Democratic race. Six months ago, who expected this? I didnt expect it one week ago after Klobuchars weak showing in Iowa. Does Klobuchar have a realistic shot at being the Democratic nominee? I have no clear idea, and if I had one it would probably be wrong. I will say that Klobuchar is the very model of a Democratic establishment favorite. More than anyone other than Biden who entered this contest, she fits that bill. Harris, Cory Booker, Beto ORourke, and Kirsten Gillibrand all came with bells and whistles. Klobuchar is just plain Amy, long time loyal mainstream Democrat. Thus, theres no reason why, with Biden in terrible shape, establishment Dems and center-left Democratic voters wont rally behind, if they think she has a decent shot at beating Sanders and as good a shot as anyone who remains in the field at beating President Trump. And if Klobuchar becomes the favorite candidate of the establishment, she will have some kind of shot at the nomination. The key, then, is for Klobuchar to follow up her solid New Hampshire showing with solid showings elsewhere. That wont be easy. How much, if any, would being the last woman standing help her with female voters? Does she have the infrastructure to compete in the upcoming states? Will she receive more than de minimis support from African-American voters? What impact will Mike Bloombergs candidacy have on hers? Was her New Hampshire showing the product of what one reader describes as that states tendency to elect sappy candidates and women? Beats me. FiveThiryEights prediction record, though not that good anymore, is still better than mine. It doesnt see Klobuchar having a path to gaining a majority of delegates via the primaries and caucuses. However, FiveThirtyEight does see a 33 percent chance of a contested convention. Sean Trende also believes a brokered convention (to use his phrase) is a realistic possibility. In that event, Klobuchar could be part of the mix but, again, only if she follows up New Hampshire with strong showings elsewhere. The bottom line: A fifth place finish in Iowa and a third place finish in New Hampshire isnt enough to make one excited about Amy Klobuchars chances. Ordinarily, it would barely be enough to keep her bid alive (just ask Elizabeth Warren who finished third and fourth in these races). But this isnt an ordinary race and Klobuchars situation is very different from Warrens. All I can say with confidence is that (1) Klobuchar has a good chance of being the last woman standing and (2) contrary to what I believed until recently, she is not a no-hoper. A young man meets a beautiful Damsel at a wedding and is love struck, they become friends and what emerges is a beautiful relationship born out of love and mutual respect. Midway through a flight from a close pals wedding at Calabar in Nigeria, he proposes to his Queen in the presence of other close pals with the support of the Pilot and cabin Crew on boardLove Brewed in a true African pot!!. Kennedy Osei is the son of Ghanaian Business Mogul, Dr. Dr. Osei Kwame Despite and is currently the General Manager of Despite Media. View this post on Instagram Premiering soon A post shared by Fadda Dickson (@faddick) on Feb 2, 2020 at 8:30am PST Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Flash Clare Fearnley, New Zealand ambassador to China, recorded a video message on Tuesday, expressing support to the Chinese people in the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak. Speaking in fluent Mandarin in the video, Fearnley says that New Zealand stands with China in facing and overcoming difficulties brought by the outbreak. She also uses a Maori phrase "Kia kaha" (meaning "stay strong") to show her support for the Chinese people. At the end of the video, the ambassador writes "" (Stay strong, China) in traditional Chinese characters with a calligraphy brush, giving her best wishes and support for people in China. In a letter she wrote to China on Feb. 6, Fearnley expressed her solidarity with those struggling in the midst of the outbreak and praised China's efforts to combat the epidemic. Over the past decades, New Zealand and China have strengthened their relationship in various fields and made people-to-people exchange a priority. China is the largest trade partner of New Zealand, and more and more Chinese students are choosing New Zealand as the study destination, she wrote in the letter. "We will face the difficulties together and eventually we will overcome the crisis together," she said. New York man Lee Chen, 53, revealed Tuesday that Sarah Lawrence cult leader Lawrence Ray, 60, used his apartment from 2011 to 2016 and was often surrounded by his group followers A New York man who was lured into the Sarah Lawrence College cult has told how he allowed the group's mastermind to use his apartment for five years. Lawrence Ray, 60, moved into his daughter's Sarah Lawrence College dorm in Bronzeville, New York in 2010 after being released from prison and sexually manipulated and exploited her roommates, creating a cult that ran for about a decade. On Tuesday Ray was charged with physical and psychological threats and coercion, extortion, forced labor, sex trafficking and money laundering for running the group, which was exposed in a piece by The Cut in April 2019. Lee Chen, 53, revealed Tuesday that Ray used his Upper East Side apartment as a meeting space for the cult from 2011 to 2016, where the cult leader forced him to watch students having sex. Chen bought the apartment on the Upper East Side for a little under $300,000 in 2004. He sold it in 2017 for $825,000 after evicting Ray. Chen and Ray met in 2005 at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Chen was serving around 80 days for violating his supervised release on a suspected-hacking-related offense and Ray was there for a child-custody dispute. Afterwards the two ended up being friends and Ray crashed at Chens Upper East Side apartment on East 93rd Street before using it as a meeting space for his cult in 2011. Chen first was introduced to the cult when Ray grabbed him out of his room and told him to watch two students having sex. 'I was shocked' by the sex scene, Chen told the New York Post. He said Ray told him to watch the pair have sex more than once. 'I thought he would be upset, and when I looked at him, he was smiling broadly, looking at me,' Chen revealed. Eventually Chen got sucked into the cult under Ray's influence. Ray tried to influence Chen by asking him about his childhood traumas. According to Ray's former landlord at East 93rd street (shown), he brought people to watch the students having sex on more than one occasion. The landlord, Lee Chen, said it 'upset' him but that he was 'dragged' to watch more than once 'Unfortunately, misfortune of misfortune upon misfortune, this guy latched onto me, and stupidly, Im sitting there trying to mind my own business, and hes saying, "Oh, your parents you didnt have enough love when you were younger,"' Chen said. 'That was the approach he took to try to suck me in.' Chen, who has not been charged in the case, said he absolutely thought Ray had a strange relationship with the students and he was very upset when he asked him to watch sex sessions more than once. But he says he was unable to kick Ray out due to his persuasive personality. 'Its difficult for me to convey to you his coercive abilities unless youve experienced it yourself,' he said. 'He has unusual mannerism. He has this habit of not only changing the subject but talking you to death.' 'I realize it sounds strange, but every time I complained about [his involvement with the students], he roundly chastised me for having a bad mood and negatively affecting the children,' Chen explained. Ray moved into his daughter's Sarah Lawrence College dorm in Bronzeville, New York in 2010 after being released from prison and sexually manipulated and exploited her roommates, creating a cult that ran for about a decade. Campus pictured above 'And stupidly, while it was occurring, I was thinking, "This guy does make sense, maybe I shouldnt get upset."' Chen said when hed tell Ray to get the students out of the apartment, Ray would deflect and start talking about Chens childhood. 'When youre in the middle of it its extraordinarily difficult to pull yourself away from this and see the complete absurdity of it all,' he said. Ray's old 2010 mugshot. He met the landlord in prison when they were both serving short sentence for non violent crimes. He was locked up for violating the terms of his custody agreement with his ex-wife. He left prison and moved in with his daughter, which is when he allegedly started the cult 'I mean, Im not making excuses. I could have been more responsible and taken the responsibility upon myself to stand up and say, "No more." I mean, eventually, I did, but too late. Because all these other people were adversely affected as well,' he added. Authorities say Rays cult was first started in his daughters college dorm room after he moved in upon being released from prison in 2010. He allegedly sexually manipulated his daughters roommates and friends. Prosecutors say that Ray subjected at least seven victims to fake 'therapy sessions' where he extracted 'intimate details about their private lives, vulnerabilities and mental health struggles.' In some cases he extracted false confessions from them and used those confessions to extort them. Authorities say he managed to extort $1million from five of the victims' families for over a period of nearly a decade. Of that money, $500,000 came from forcing one of the girls intro prostitution. He also instructed another of the students to drain $200,000 from their parents' savings account, and told others to open lines of credit for him or borrow from people they knew. Mary Cowen, wife of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, has given an update on his health following a bleed to the brain last year. Speaking to Midlands 103 radio at the Laois Offaly election count over the weekend, Mary said the Clara native is making "slow and steady progress." Mary attended the count centre in Portlaoise with her daughters as her brother-in-law Barry Cowen was returned to the Dail for a third time. It was the first time he was elected in the absence of his brother. The former Fianna Fail leader is continuing to receive treatment but is no longer in a full hospital setting following a bleed to the brain last July. His wife said crucially that Brian is now starting to see the progress himself. "He's beginning to see progress now himself which is very encouraging for him, whereas we've seen progress before him because we've been with him from day one when he was very seriously ill. "He's very encouraged by what he's doing at the moment, he's very determined and hopes to walk again and get out and come home soon," she concluded. Mary continued to explain that Brian "hadn't been feeling well for a few days" prior to collapsing and suffering a stroke. "He was going to see his consultant in the Beacon on July 4 and was admitted and was going to have a routine procedure the next day and that night, Brian collapsed and had a stroke. He was transferred quickly to St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin where Mary says he was resuscitated and transferred to ICU. He remained in Vincent's for five months. "He is now in rehab and that's where he is at the moment." He is now working on his rehabilitation, undergoing various therapies and strengthening up in the gym with various exercises. Mary said she ignored any negative comments made about her husband in the wake of his health scare and insisted that the overall response was a positive outpouring of well wishes. She thanked those who passed on messages of support to Brian, herself and their family. She said Brian is looking forward to getting home to Tullamore but admitted medics do not know when that will be possible. Brian was keeping a close eye on the Laois-Offaly constituency over the weekend where his brother Barry took the second seat. His other party colleague to be re-elected was Sean Fleming TD in Laois. Peter Ormond missed out in the shake-up for the last seat. New Delhi, Feb 12 : After scoring an Oscar for "Toy Story 4", Disney-Pixar has lined up its next animated urban fantasy film "Onward" for March. The film will release in India on March 6. Pratt has voiced the character of Barley Lightfoot, the big brother to Holland's Ian Lightfoot. Set in a suburban fantasy world, "Onward" is about two teenage elf brothers who embark on an quest to discover if there is a little magic left in the world. "The story is inspired by my own relationship with my brother and our connection with our dad who passed away when I was about a year old," said director Dan Scanlon. "He's always been a mystery to us. A family member sent us a tape recording of him saying just two words: 'hello' and 'goodbye'. Two words. But to my brother and me - it was magic," Scanlon added. Scanlon's personal inspiration for "Onward" kicked off development for Pixar Animation Studios' 22nd feature film. "We started with the characters first," said Scanlon, adding: "We wanted to tell the story of two brothers. We knew one would be shy and awkward, and we wanted to pair him with a brother with a completely opposite personality-someone who has every intention of teaching him about life-but maybe doesn't really know a lot himself." On getting Holland on board, the director said: "Tom has an infectious charm and sincerity that makes you root for him in every character he plays." "Chris brings equal parts huge heart and fantastic humour to his character," noted producer Kori Rae. Pratt is also excited about the animated film. "I can attest! I took about 20 people to a screening-half of them children. Everybody left saying it was their favourite movie ever. Lot of grown man tears. You have made something so very special. Cannot wait for the rest of the world to see your story. Really proud of this one," the actor tweeted recently. Earlier this week, "Toy Story 4" took home the statuette for Best Animated Feature. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE The state Senate passed a broad proposal Wednesday aimed at turning around New Mexicos chronically underfunded retirement system for police, firefighters and other public employees. The proposal, backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, now heads to the House. The legislation would require government agencies and their employees to pay more into the pension system, and it would substantially revise how retirees annual cost-of-living adjustments are calculated. Supporters said the changes, while difficult, are necessary to ensure the Public Employees Retirement Association is healthy enough to withstand an economic downturn. We need to act now, said Sen. George Munoz, a Gallup Democrat and sponsor of the bill. We could lose these funds completely. Senate Bill 72 was passed 25-15 after an hour of debate. The vote didnt fall along party lines, with a mix of Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the debate. Democratic Sen. John Sapien of Corrales assailed the bills changes to the system of annual cost-of-living adjustments. It would ultimately leave retirees with smaller annual raises than they get now, he said, even after retirees had agreed to other painful changes to the retirement system seven years ago. Were asking them to give again with promises of profit-sharing that are not going to come to fruition, Sapien said. The legislation would freeze many retirees cost-of-living adjustments for two years and then move to a profit-sharing model with annual raises fluctuating from 0.5% to 3%, depending on investment returns and the financial health of the pension fund. Most retirees now get a 2% raise each year. The bill has been a priority of Lujan Grisham. Its largely based on recommendations from a task force she appointed. We have made promises to New Mexicos current and future retirees, Lujan Grisham said in a written statement, and these changes will ensure those promises are kept. A stable and solvent PERA matters to all New Mexico taxpayers. The complex proposal includes an injection of $76 million to help improve the financial health of the pension funds. The proposal was amended on the Senate floor Wednesday to leave in place a cap on how much employees can receive in retirement. State workers can now retire at 90% of their final average salaries, a limit that will remain in the law even if the bill is passed. A previous version of the legislation had called for lifting the cap which would have allowed people to retire with pensions exceeding their annual salaries, if they worked long enough. But senators on Tuesday opted to stick with the current 90% cap. To reach the governors desk, the bill must be passed by the House by next Thursday. In her 16th-century Tudor-style home in England, legendary supermodel Claudia Schiffer is surrounded by beautiful things. She and her husband, film producer Matthew Vaughn, have an art collection that includes works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, and even an Ed Ruscha painting that says marry me, which Vaughn commissioned as his proposal to Schiffer. (They later commissioned a companion painting that reads yes.) Along with the couples photographs of their three children, the Ruscha paintings are likely some of the most sentimental items in the dwelling. But recently the former face of Guess Jeans added some brand-new, highly personal decor items to the space: ceramics and glassware she designed herself, in collaboration with two brands. Both Portuguese, one is the glass and ceramics purveyor Vista Alegre, and the other is Bordallo Pinheiro, the porcelain manufacturer known for producing items in interesting shapes such as vegetables and animals. The two collections include three glass vases and five butterfly-themed tableware pieces and were first revealed during the Maison et Objet design trade fair in Paris in January. Below, Schiffer tells AD about the inspiration behind the pieces. Architectural Digest: How did this partnership come about? Claudia Schiffer: I was given my first Bordallo Pinheiro piece years ago by my Portuguese friends Carlos and Filipa, who for my birthday gifted me the cheese platter with gray mice sitting on it. Ive since collected nearly everything Bordallo has made, and I decided to confess my love and ask them to bring my ideas to life. The collaboration with Vista Alegre then followed on naturally from this. Courtesy of Bordallo Pinheiro AD: What were some of your biggest sources of inspiration for the collections? CS: Growing up near the Rhine in Germany, surrounded by countryside, I often drew inspiration from nature, like butterflies. With this in mind, when I developed the vases, I chose naturalistic colors that really explored that sense of bringing nature into the home. Story continues AD: Will you be using the pieces in your own home? Do they match your current decor? CS: Im so pleased with this collection and hope I havent driven Bordallo Pinheiro and Vista Alegre too crazy! I am already showcasing all the pieces in my homes and London office. Courtesy of Bordallo Pinheiro AD: Do you have any favorite Bordallo Pinheiro pieces in your homeaside from the new collection? CS: I have so many favorites, but I particularly like the naturalistic shapes of the leaves, mushrooms, peppers, and aubergine pot, which I use for things like garlic and fresh herbs. The watermelon bowls I use for fruit. They are beautifully detailed with smoothly painted skins on the outside and vibrant red with textured black seeds on the inside. I have recently added the new nut shapes to my collections as well. When Im serving fish, out come the fish. And for Christmas, I use the red Christmas designs. Photo: Homem Cardoso AD: Both Vista Alegre and Bordallo Pinheiro are Portuguese brands. Did that inspire the collection at all? CS: Yes, their heritage is very inspiring. This year Vista Alegre celebrated its 195th-year anniversary and Bordallo Pinheiro its 135th. I know how difficult it is to make great ceramics and glassware; its a fine art that takes years to perfect. Both Vista Alegre and Bordallo Pinheiro have it down perfectly and also adjust to our aesthetic sense of today. AD: Do you find interior design to be at all similar to fashion? CS: Its the same process. It only works if you love it. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Law enforcement blitzed Missoulas downtown area Wednesday after an apparent gunshot blew out the back window of a police officers patrol vehicle, setting off a eight-block shutdown in the heart of downtown Missoula for several hours. By the day's end, Missoula police had no suspect in hand, nor a description of the suspected shooter. Most lockdowns had been lifted by late afternoon and the investigation remained ongoing as Missoula police searched around the intersection of Woody and Spruce streets for additional evidence and witnesses. No one was injured in the suspected shooting and police believed the public was no longer in danger after closures lifted, according to officials. There are multiple officers working to unravel what happened this morning, trying to determine, if they can, a person thats responsible, Missoula Police Sgt. Travis Welsh said. City and county services downtown largely ground to a halt Wednesday, as anyone trying to enter the area was turned around by law enforcement officers armed with rifles. Businesses in the immediately area were advised to lock their doors. Staff at City Hall were told to draw their blinds. County employees were initially told not to leave their buildings, while others were filtered out of buildings and away from the threat, which remained unknown into Wednesday night. Well catch the coward that did this to one of our officers, Missoula City Councilman Jesse Ramos told the Missoulian. This is not acceptable in Missoula. If you mess with an officer you mess with the whole city of Missoula. The officer was traveling northbound on the 400 block of Woody Street around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday when he reported the back window of his patrol car had been shot out, Welsh told reporters at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. The officer immediately sought cover and prepared to counter the suspected shooter. He was not able to see anybody in the immediate vicinity or anyone who presented a threat to him, Welsh said. Law enforcement flooded into the area and snipers took to the rooftops. City and county buildings went on lockdown, as did Providence St. Patrick Hospital two blocks away. Welsh said police began interviewing witnesses and scanning the area for evidence, including surveillance footage that may have captured the incident, as the area remained on lockdown. Coordinating the investigation, as well as downtown morning traffic, made the search for evidence particularly complicated, Welsh said. After law enforcement had drawn a clear perimeter, the SWAT team arrived with two armored vehicles. From the Missoula County courthouse, a Missoulian reporter watched as the team helped a woman and her infant from a parked car in the center of the perimeter on Woody into the armored vehicle. After moving the woman to a safer location, the SWAT team went door to door clearing buildings within the perimeter before returning to the police station at City Hall. John Haines, staying at the Uptown Motel where the SWAT team focused much of its attention Wednesday morning, said he was told to stay inside. Haines, who was ale to see the snipers on the courthouse rooftop, said he was not afraid during the ordeal. Its just part of what has to happen, Haines said. Down the block, Erin Keffeler, a manager at Bagels on Broadway, said the shop saw plenty of business directly connected to the action outside. People are drawn to commotion, Keffeler said. We had some people in here from the residential places that couldnt get back into their places. Throughout the day, Keffeler received phone calls from 911 keeping the business updated on the situation, she said. While acknowledging the serious response by law enforcement, Keffeler said it was a little concerning no suspect had been apprehended. Investigators immediately sealed up the patrol vehicle involved and will soon conduct a search of the car, Welsh said. At the time of the press conference, Welsh said a bullet or projectile that fractured the patrol cars window had not been found. Still, police had gathered enough information to believe it was gunfire that set off Wednesday mornings events. Right now, that seems to be the only consideration we have given the officers report, as well as statements from witnesses we have already obtained, Welsh said. In a statement late Wednesday, Missoula Mayor Engen said assisting law enforcement agencies included Missoula County, the Montana Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of Interior, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the FBI. Missoula Emergency Services was also on hand. From my view in the command post, our law enforcement professionals in the Missoula Police Department acted swiftly, appropriately and professionally to ensure the safety of our employees and of the larger community, Engen said in the statement. Fortunately, no one was physically injured, and thats a remarkable outcome in itself. Welsh said the officer involved, who was not identified Wednesday, was a little shaken up, but was able to recover and act due to his training. Welsh told reporters it was possible every law enforcement officer in the northwest part of the country was aware of Wednesdays incident in Missoula, and police continue to track down any information available. Officers are on alert, and theyre prepared to deal with similar-type threats and certainly theyll engage in the duties they engage in every day, which is to serve our public, Welsh said. Theyre still on patrol, still doing their duty and still available for calls for service. Anyone with information about the suspected shooting is asked to call MPD Detective Guy Baker at 406-396-4127. Photos: Law enforcement officers search downtown after reports of shots fired Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to the Ark Open Farm in Newtownards, near Belfast (PA) Sinn Feins leader in Northern Ireland was not available to meet the Duchess of Cambridge on her visit to the region. Kate flew into Northern Ireland on Wednesday for a brief trip, during which she visited the Ark Open Farm in Co Down. She was greeted on arrival at Belfast City Airport by First Minister Arlene Foster, before being whisked to the Newtownards attraction to promote her early years national survey. Delighted to welcome the Duchess of Cambridge to Belfast earlier. The Duchess will enjoy a wonderful Northern Ireland welcome at the Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. Lots of excited children . . . and adults. @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/a5mpoy0OFK Arlene Foster #ProudofNI. (@ArleneFosterUK) February 12, 2020 Ms Foster said she had been delighted to welcome the duchess to Belfast. She tweeted: The Duchess will enjoy a wonderful Northern Ireland welcome at the Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. Lots of excited children and adults. Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill had also been invited to greet the duchess, but Sinn Fein told the PA news agency she had not been available. The party said in a statement: Michelle ONeill was not available, but agreed with the First Minister that she would meet and greet the British royal while visiting. Formerly, Sinn Fein members did not attend events with members of the royal family. This included refusing to take part when the Queen made an historic visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011. The Queen and then Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness shook hands in 2012 (PA) However there was a landmark change in 2012 when the former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness met and shook hands with the Queen. The late Mr McGuinness also attended a state banquet at Windsor Castle in 2014, where he took part in a toast to the Queen. A five-and-a-half year old girl from Oman who was operated upon in December last year became the youngest to undergo Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in the country, doctors at Vikram Hospital, Bengaluru, said at a press conference here on Wednesday. The girl is doing well and is recovering. Normally, it takes six months for a patient who has undergone DBS to show full results. In patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, DBS is usually performed on patients who have suffered from the disease for at least four years. But in this case, the girl was suffering from DYT16, a Dystonia-Parkinsonism disorder. DBS is a neurosurgical procedure involving the placement of a neurostimulator, which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific targets in the brain for the treatment of movement disorders. Dr Prashanth LK, Consultant Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders Specialist, Vikram Hospital, said, "For the past two years, she was completely bedridden and dependent on her parents. Her limbs had an abnormal posture. World over, only 10 to 15 patients have been documented to have suffered from this rare genetic abnormality. In medical literature abroad, DBS is said to have been done in a two-year-old patient but not in India. Here, we do DBS in adults for various conditions apart from Parkinson's like Dystonia and tremors. We did the surgery for seven hours last December and in one-and-a-half months, she has shown good improvement." DBS for DYT16 has been done only for four other individuals worldwide till date. However, there were challenges in doing the surgery for such a young patient. First, the battery that is normally fixed under the collar bone in adult patients couldn't be fixed there as her supple skin could not accommodate such a large device in that area. Hence, the doctors fit the device in her abdomen. "In view of her low weight and subcutaneous fat, we placed the DBS battery in the abdominal wall," said Dr Kiran Khanapure, Functional Neurosurgeon, Vikram Hospital. Asked if a smaller battery was used in the patient, Dr Prashanth said, "The company that manufactures the battery only does it in sizes meant for adults so we had to make do with its original size." The patient will be going back to Oman later this week and doctors will schedule a follow-up after a few days. The patient and her parents only spoke Arabic. Fortunately, the cost of the surgery, Rs 11 lakh, was covered by insurance in Oman. DYT16 is usually transmitted in an autosomal recessive manner like consanguineous parentage or both parents having one abnormal gene. There is no specific curative treatment for DYT16 yet. French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, jailed in Iran since June, ended a six-week hunger strike on Wednesday, according to her lawyer. Adelkhah responded to a written request from civil and political activists and ended her hunger strike at midday (0830 GMT) today, lawyer Said Dehghan told AFP. Dehghan expressed relief that Adelkhah had ended the hunger strike that she began on December 24, but said she remained fragile. Her mental and physical condition is not good, she has been weakened, he said. Her voice was difficult to hear and she has difficulty walking. Adelkhah, a specialist in Shiite Islam and a research director at Sciences Po University in Paris, is in Evin prison in Tehran as she awaits her trial. Adelkhahs French colleague Roland Marchal was arrested while visiting her, according to Dehghan, who represents both academics. Their case has raised tensions between Iran and France, which has called for them to be released as a gesture of goodwill. Iran has repeatedly criticised France for what it calls its interference in the case. The Islamic republic does not recognise dual nationality. (AFP) AviaRent Invest AG has confirmed the acquisition of an inpatient care home in the Austrian town of Unzmarkt for its European Social Infrastructure I (ESI I) special fund. The acquisition was signed end of 2019 for an undisclosed sum. The Sonnenhof care home at Gartengasse 10, which was built in 1997... Photos: AviaRent Invest AG [] (Kitco News) The upbeat December gold imports number out of China is just a temporary relief before a steep drop in gold demand this year due to coronavirus fears and growing economic uncertainty, according to analysts. Capital Economics described Chinas positive December gold imports, which were around 150 tons, as a flash in the pan. The latest data from Chinas customs authority showed that imports of gold increased three-fold in m/m terms in December. This tallies with a seasonal pick-up in jewellery demand in the run-up to Chinese New Year, wrote Capital Economics commodities economist Alexander Kozul-Wright. This surge in demand will not hold in China, said Kozul-Wright, citing high local-currency gold prices and slower economic growth in China. Looking ahead, we expect high local-currency prices in India coupled with a slowdown in Chinese economic growth to curb physical demand for gold in 2020, the economist wrote on Tuesday. Capital Economics projects slower economic growth in China even if the coronavirus outbreak is contained. We dont expect a sustained revival in Chinese gold imports anytime soon, added Kozul-Wright. Goldman Sachs has also slashed its 2020 forecast for Chinas GDP to 5.2% from 5.8%, while shaving off about 2% of annualized growth off this quarter. Chinas physical demand first took a hit in May of last year when gold prices surged in local currency terms and demand in Q2 dropped 27%. While there has been a gradual improvement since, the year as a whole was down by a combined 15% against 2018, to 848 tons, said Rhona OConnell, INTL FCStone head of market analysis for EMEA and Asia regions. Due to higher gold prices mixed in with coronavirus uncertainty this years Chinese New Year celebrations were very subdued when it came to gold purchases, OConnell wrote on Tuesday. The change in price range has taken a much longer time than usual for price-elastic consumers to re-adjust, as economic uncertainties have kept buyers on the sidelines, she described. It will take time for China to recover from the coronavirus with gold demand projected to fall about 10% in 2020, said OConnell. A large portion of gold jewelry demand in China is based on an adornment factor rather than an investment opportunity, OConnell pointed out. This section of the market is likely to take more time to recover as consumers keep their powder dryespecially while the population remains in lockdown in a number of regions with the government restrictions on travel and logistical issues, along with workers not back from New Years travel (only 20% have come home so far), she noted. We would expect to see another contraction in gold demand this year and a further 10% reduction is perfectly possible. The University of Virginias 2018 report on the institutions ownership and treatment of enslaved people centuries ago tells the tale of a 10-year-old black girl who was savagely beaten unconscious in 1856 by Noble Noland, a student who deemed her reply to his questions too insolent.. The attack's prominence in the report is part of an ongoing effort to account for and atone for the ways the university encouraged, enabled and profited from slavery. Violence toward blacks was commonplace at many other U.S. institutions of higher learning in the 19th century, when slavery was baked into the crust of society. Enslaved workers endured beatings, rapes and other inhumane treatment while erecting buildings on campus, providing meals, cleaning rooms and otherwise helping these universities and its students ascend to greatness. In recent years, Virginia, Harvard and other schools have acknowledged how they used the labor of enslaved blacks, accepted thousands in contributions from plantation owners and upheld the racist systems that falsely validated the mythology of white supremacy and black inferiority. Servants quarters, mentioned in the $510 bill, stands on the grounds of the Virginia Theological Seminary in an undated picture. In 2009, the College of William & Mary, a public university in Virginia, established The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation which includes symposiums, courses and research into the colleges link to slavery. In 2017, Rutgers University in New Jersey renamed buildings on campus after prominent African Americans including Sojourner Truth, who was once enslaved by the family of a Rutgers president. Following its 2018 report, Virginia founded the Universities Studying Slavery consortium of about 40 schools that share resources while researching their own pasts. In November, Harvard announced a university-wide initiative that would encourage rigorous research into the schools connections to slavery. This emphasis will help us build on efforts through the Office for Inclusion and Belonging and across the schools to ensure that discussion and understanding about our past can help us think differently and move us ever closer to a Harvard where all of us can thrive, wrote university president Lawrence Bacow in an open letter. Story continues More than monuments As schools acknowledge their past role in slavery, they also wrestle with the question of reparations. Theres an interest in repentance and to provide some type of restitution in repenting for an action, said the Rev. Joseph Thompson, director of multicultural ministries at Virginia Theological Seminary. In repenting, if some sort of damage has been done, address that. Politics: In a world full of African American Democrats, black Republicans stand alone More: Report: Sen. Mitch McConnell's family owned 14 slaves in Alabama Diversity? #SiliconValleySoWhite: Black Facebook and Google employees speak out on big tech racism To help atone for its past use of slave labor to build parts of its Alexandria, Virginia campus, the seminary recently announced a $1.7 million reparations fund to be used to aid the descendants of those workers and of those who lived in the community during the Jim Crow era when the seminary participated in that unjust and racist regime, said Thompson, noting that the campus was home to segregated worship services and its first black student wasnt admitted until the 1950s. Because of that history, theres a need to take the step to do reparations. Henry Martin held multiple positions as a servant for the University of Virginia, including as the university's janitor and campus bell ringer. "Corks and Curls," documented Martin's 53 years of service to the University of Virginia, describing him as incredibly faithful and trusted. Thompson has begun working with genealogists and historians to identify those who might be eligible for monetary reparations, but other forms of recompense are also being considered, such as scholarships or community development grant funds. Nothings off the table, he said. Lasting effects Thompson says hes received positive feedback about the seminary's reparations plan, but the topic continues to be controversial. Some argue that the stain of slavery is fading, which makes reparations moot, but Tamara Lanier disagrees. She believes she is a descendant of Renty and Delia, an enslaved father and his daughter who were photographed naked in the 1850s. A Harvard biologist commissioned the daguerrotype images as part of his efforts to prove that whites were biologically superior to blacks. they are believed to be the earliest photos of enslaved people in the U.S. Virginia Theological Seminary, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is under the denomination Episcopal Church. The seminary recently announced a $1.7 million reparations fund to aid families affected by its previous policies. More than 150 years later, Harvard continues to use their images. Lanier said Harvard profits from the images and has sued to try to force the university to give them to her. Harvard countered that it uses the images in modern times to emphasize the humanity of Renty and Delia. The way in which the university displayed the images of the daguerreotypes,...was designed specifically to call people's attention to the fact that these (people) were not chattel, president Bacow told Harvards Crimson in April. Civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump suggests apologetic universities donate funds to struggling historically black colleges and universities schools that might not have existed if African Americans had been allowed to attend the schools where they worked for free. Behind the urgency With such a long history of ignoring their complicated pasts, why are schools addressing their roles in slave culture now? The urgency comes from the things that are going on in society, Thompson said. Social pressure has come from Ferguson, Trayvon Martin and videos where people can see that what black people have said about their reality is true. A handwritten bill for $510 for the brick work and material for servants building per contract. Social pressures didnt carry as much weight in the 18th century when that Virginia student, Noland, nearly killed a 10-year-old girl for displaying more agency and self-assertiveness than he felt she had a right to express. He was initially reprimanded and expelled but only because he had damaged someone elses property. But an apologetic letter he wrote to the girl's owner persuaded university leaders to reverse the decision. Going forward, Thompson hopes his seminary's example of offering more than an apology will encourage others to follow suit. I hope it probably will have influence and effect on things other organizations want to do, he said. Were among the first to step out and do it. Sometimes, just having a precedent ... it makes all the difference in the world to encourage others to do the same. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Some colleges atoning for slavery by offering their own reparations By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Here is a hasty post on the NH primary results; Im racing to get this under the wire before putting up a temporary Water Cooler, because Im sure this is what you want to talk about. As readers know, Im really fascinated by institutional factors, and so this post will have virtually no focus on the horse race at all (leading to a new version of hot, in hot take I suppose). In consequence, Ill focus mostly on the Sanders campaign, because his campaign is the most the only? interesting campaign institutionally (except for Bloombergs, of course). So to the hot takes: (1) State Polls Are Useful As Narrative Constructs Here is a table comparing the final polls for Iowa and New Hampshire (left column) with the actual results (right column): Poll Result (Please forgive the ugly screen dumps; I write in haste. I like dks poll aggregation because it doesnt have any secret sauce; I dont care which Nate is right about what). As you can see, in IA the pollsters got neither the order, nor the percentages correct. OK, OK, IA is notoriously tricky. In NH, the pollsters got the order right, but the percentages wrong; they missed Klobuchars late surge (based on her debate performance?), and they missed Warrens collapse. Its possible that the campaigns have, as it were, the commercial versions, more accurate than those available to the great unwashed. Its also possible that voters make up their minds at the last minute, particularly in an election year with a large number of candidates and enormous stakes. From the Washington Post: Preliminary exit polls suggested that nearly half of voters made their decisions in the past few days. That is considerably higher than the 36 percent of Iowa Democrats who made their decisions in the days before last weeks caucuses. Its also roughly double the percentage of New Hampshire voters who decided in the days before the 2016 primary, a contest that had been effectively narrowed to Sanders and Hillary Clinton. The exit poll, conducted by Edison Media Research for the National Election Pool, The Washington Post and other media organizations, only underscored how undefined and unpredictable the Democratic race has been. What goes on out there in the biomass is still mysterious. Thank heavens. (2) Sanders Supporters Should Avoid Triumphalism (Apologies for the fingerwagging!) Sanders thanks his volunteers: Sen. Bernie Sanders: "The reason that we won tonight in New Hampshire, we won last week in Iowa, is because of the hard work of so many volunteers." pic.twitter.com/ehl6mTcE90 The Hill (@thehill) February 12, 2020 This is true, as long as we admit that the work was carefully structured by what looks like a calm and collected campaign staff. And its important to avoid triumphalism in the sense of coasting for any given primary, when the field seems to be won: I mean triumphalism in this sense: .@berniesanders supporters are chanting We are unstoppable. Another world is possible. pic.twitter.com/wYdHUnozZZ Cara Korte (@CaraKorte) February 12, 2020 Yes, another world is possible (thank heavens). But we are unstoppable? One likes to see esprit de corps in the troops, certainly, as well as confidence in ones own capabilities; but if (as Napoleon did not quite say) every Sanders volunteer carries a Marshalls baton in their knapsack, then thinking like a Marshall will be important. Elan is not enough when facing machine gun fire. How will an army that believes itself to be unstoppable cope with a loss? Say, in South Carolina? Or a horrid war of attrition on the way to the convention? (This is an extremely high level version of mean Bernie Bros; I think a lot of the extremely online Sanders supporters are, perhaps, over-confident.) (3) The Party Establishment Has Defense in Depth As readers know, I consider the unique institutional characteristic of the Democrat Party to be its control over the ballot supply chain: who gets on it; how it is counted. Its noteworthy that the Iowa caucus showed how ballot control could be used to the detriment of one candidate; New Hampshire, with paper ballots, did not have similar problems (if you consider that Iowa had problems). If we look ahead on the calender, NV is a caucus state, with a history of convention issues, and votes to be reported with another app of unknown provenance, still under development (!). Of course, every state is different, and so different approaches to ballot control are to be expected; Jon Ralson, of the infamous fake chair-throwing story in 2016, is to be a moderator for the pre-caucus Nevada debate. California, among other defenses, has an extremely complicated balloting process, whose evident effect is to disenfranchise voters. Alert reader SB send in the following image: SB writes: Thought this might be of interest. I will be 60 years old this year and I dont know how to fill out the [family blog] Vote By Mail envelope. Attached photo of the instructions and the envelope. (I covered anything that might be identifying information) 1. The internal instructions say to Sign, date and seal the return envelope but in the signature box on the envelope, there is an additional line that says Address as registered in Los Angeles County (Mailing/P.O. Box not acceptable) Its a very small space. There is no mention of including an address in the instructions. 2. Date it is unclear where to write the date a. write the date over the black letters M M D D Y Y Y Y or b. write the date above where the area is clear? I first contacted the State Registrar who sent me to the County which appears to be an automated system so I couldnt figure out how to get through to anyone by phone. Their website has an email address, so Ive sent an email to the LA County Registrar. This is so stupid.but the last thing I want to do is void my ballot because I didnt put the date in the correct place or did or did not include an address Or not stupid, eh? (The California Democrat process for allowing independent voters to vote in their primary is also famously convoluted, such as to make a putatively open primary closed. There is also the new California VSAP digital voting system in Los Angeles, which is an open invitation to election fraud. Its not an accident that insitutional factors in the Democrat Party are coming to the fore, now that millions of newly involved voters are experiencing them for the first time. Stoller has an interesting thread on this: 1. Why is Bernie popular among Dem voters but not Dem elites? Studying monopolies in different markets has give me a new perspective on the Democratic Party. Because the Democrats, as it turns out, are a concentrated market. Here's how it works. https://t.co/uj6TsDV43s Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) February 12, 2020 I greatly admire Stollers deep knowledge of the Democrat Party at a granular level; but Im not sure about his model of what a party is; I think cartel may not be quite as big a hammer as he thinks. Reader comments on this point welcome! (4) Sanders Theory of Change Is Not Disproven The Sanders fundraising operation is doing brilliantly, the Sanders media operation is holding its own, and the Sanders canvassing operation is holding its own as well. How about the Sanders theory of change? The Times gives two key results: Younger voters preferred Sanders overwhelmingly, while older voters favored Buttigieg and Klobuchar. pic.twitter.com/OGOMbtI7R3 NYT Graphics (@nytgraphics) February 12, 2020 The Democrats house is a house divided by class; taking income as a proxy for class, Sanders clearly gets the working class, and Buttigieg (and surely Warren) get the PMC (who, see Thomas Frank, currently dominate the Party). I do expect it will cease to be divided, but how? That remains to be seen. Sanders must bring in new voters; his theory of change is to expand (and organize) the electorate (which the liberal Democrats, by their actions, vociferously oppose). Has he done so? In principle, yes, since the working class greatly outnumbers the PMC. We are seeing hints of a working class, well, wave from IA (the Ottumwa meatpackers, etc.) and hints here in NH, but I dont think were seeing enough to make a judgment. Perhaps in CA. (5) Consider a Brokered Convention in Milwaukee Those who want Sanders to win on the first ballot must expect Sanders to start winning outright majorities. Hes not doing that. I doubt very much he will do that in Nevada (hat tip, Harry Reid), or South Carolina. If Sanders wins California, that will be an amazing achievement, but the California Democrat Establishment is as nasty as they come. I dont believe that the Democrat Party establishment will ever roll over, and allow Sanders to be nominated even if he leads in the delegate count. Too many little Madisons need too many ballet lessons for the Democratic strategists, consultants, lobbyists, media assets, and party elites to simple concede power, even to the future of their party. So, I assume that the Sanders campaign is gaming this out. A point to consider is that the Milwaukee convention is currently an omnishambles (and perhaps, like IA seems to have, been, a chaos ladder?) If we end up with the Milwaukee equivalent of Grant Park in Chicago 1968, that would probably hand the election to Trump (something most Democrat elites, deep down, would be quite happy with), but more important, could destroy the army that the Sanders campaign so carefully put together, rendering it incapable of independent operation following the convention after a collapse in discipline and subsequent backbiting and recrimination. For some, that might not be a bad thing. Conclusion Many are now giving Sanders the dreaded front-runner status. This is often equivalent to the dreaded vote of confidence for a baseball manager, as the media prepares itself to leisurely pull the wings off the front-runner fly. Well see if that happens this year. [February 12, 2020] Businessolver Announces Vision 20/20 Conference Tour WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Businessolver, a leader in SaaS-based benefits administration technology and services, launches this year's Vision 20/20 event series, where clients and partners engage with industry experts to develop and improve their benefits strategies for today's multigenerational workforce. The Vision tour kicks off in Scottsdale, AZ, April 30-May 1, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, and then moves to Boston on May 28-29 at the Marriott Boston Long Wharf. The final event takes place in Chicago at The Ritz-Carlton on June 25-26. This year's theme is "Your Decade to Disrupt," which calls to mind the legacy of game-changing innovations in decades past and highlights the opportunities HR professionals have to keep disrupting in the decade ahead. Vision 20/20 provides a preview of Businessolver's latest advancements in benefits administration technology and services, consumer-directed accounts innovations, artificial intelligence-driven benefits solutions, and presents key market insights for empowering HR teams to leverage these innovations to deliver better business outcomes. "The workforce in 2020 expects a modern employee experience, from technology to communications to the way we view our employers as playing a role in overall employee well-being," says Businessolver President and CEO, Jon Shanahan. "Our Vision events provide HR professionals with a unique occasion to connect with their peers and develop benefits strategies that improve employee engagement, support top talent attraction and retention, and ultimately enhance their organization's bottom line." Embracing innovation in a changing benefits landscape Vision 20/20's two-day sessions will include an annual market landscape analysis by Shanahan, best practices for HR professionals, and a hands-on product training session in Benefitsolver. There will also be a pre-conference workshop on successful strategies or transforming benefits engagement into a year-round, personalized journey. Each event will also feature Nicholas J. Webb, inventor, author, and entrepreneur, as a keynote speaker providing his unique perspective on the power of positive disruption in the HR industry. "The future is the subject of massive disruption! The good news is, HR leaders who understand the DNA of disruption can lead their markets in growth, profitability, happy stakeholders and customers," says Webb. New sessions this year include an overview on how organizations can optimize voluntary benefits, as well as interactive whiteboard sessions tackling real-world challenges HR is facing today. At the Boston event, attendees can join "Expanding the Power of Pooling," a dedicated forum for Trusts, Associations, and Pooled Insurance groups to discuss the unique features of their organizations and explore potential technology solutions. All of these sessions are designed to empower HR professionals in developing and implementing benefits strategies that achieve tangible business results, from cost containment to streamlining administration and beyond. For this year's tour, Businessolver is proud to partner with leading providers in employee benefits to support the benefits needs of our clients and their employees. These include Visionary sponsors Allstate/InfoArmor, Voya, and Cigna; Innovator sponsors AFLAC, Pets Best, The Hartford, MetLife, and Securian; and Leader sponsors Unum, Transamerica, Ultimate Software, and Prudential. For more details about Vision 20/20 events, visit https://www.businessolver.com/vision. About Vision 20/20 Vision 20/20 events bring together like-minded HR professionals, thought leaders, and the Businessolver community to discuss key trends in the benefits industry today and communicate a clear vision for the future. Attendees in all three locations (Scottsdale, Boston, and Chicago) will get immersed in deep discussions and strategy sessions on benefits administration best practices, employee engagement, effective workforce communications, artificial intelligence and machine learning, consumer accounts administration, regulatory compliance, and more. They'll also receive an exclusive inside look at Businessolver's business and product roadmap, including select access to experience new system updates before they go live to the public. Agenda, registration, and travel details for all three Vision 20/20 events is available at https://www.businessolver.com/vision. Media Contacts Kristin Korzen, Edelman (on behalf of Businessolver) [email protected] 312-233-1278 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/businessolver-announces-vision-2020-conference-tour-301003565.html SOURCE Businessolver [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Delhi: Two Indian crew on board a cruise ship off the Japanese coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Indian Embassy in Japan said on Wednesday as authorities confirmed that 174 people have been infected with the deadly disease. The cruise ship Diamond Princess, with 3,711 people on board, arrived at the Japanese coast early last week and was quarantined after a passenger who deboarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the virus on the vessel. A total of 138 Indians, including passengers and crew, were on board. "Due to the suspicion of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection, the ship has been quarantined by Japanese authorities till February 19, 2020," the embassy said in a statement. "Altogether 174 people have been tested positive for nCoV, including two Indian crew members." All the infected people have been taken to hospitals for adequate treatment, including further quarantine, in accordance with the Japanese health protocol, it said. The Indian embassy said it is monitoring the evolving situation and is in touch with concerned Japanese authorities. "Embassy officials have also reached out to the Indian nationals on board and sought their cooperation after explaining to them the health and safety regulations of Japanese authorities. The Embassy is also taking up concerns raised by the Indian nationals on board the cruise ship with concerned authorities in Japanese Foreign Ministry as well as the cruise company," the statement said. Giving details, the embassy said those who have not tested positive, irrespective of their nationality, have not been allowed to disembark except the critically ill passengers and crew members who have been allowed to be taken to hospitals for further treatment and quarantine. Media reports had earlier showed a video of Indian crew members pleading to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United Nations to segregate the Indians on board the ship on an urgent basis. One of the crew members in the video, identified as Binay Kumar Sarkar, said, "Please somehow save us as soon as possible. What's the point if something happens (to us)...I want to request the government of India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi-ji, please segregate us and bring us back home safely." Those on the ship have been asked to wear masks and allowed limited access to the open decks as they are advised to remain in the cabins most of the times to contain the spread of the virus, according to media reports. Meanwhile, the operator of the ship on Monday vowed to refund all 2,666 passengers due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Carnival Japan Inc., the Japanese branch of Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., which operates the ship, said refunds will be offered via travel agencies through which the passengers made their bookings. The company will additionally cover all costs incurred by those quarantined aboard the ship since last Tuesday, when passengers were originally scheduled to disembark at Yokohama. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak rose up to 1,113 with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of infection jumped to 44,653, health officials said on Wednesday. The outbreak originated in central China's Hubei province in December last year. The virus was officially named "COVID-19" by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday. Several countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country. (With inputs from PTI) Coronavirus Super Spreader Released From UK Hospital A British man who was dubbed by the media as a super spreader of coronavirus, known officially COVID-19, was discharged from a London hospital after making a full recovery, said the National Health Service in a statement on Wednesday. Steve Walsh is believed to have infected about a dozen people while traveling, having contracted the virus in Singapore. Mr. Walshs symptoms were mild and he is no longer contagious and poses no risk to the public, he is keen to return to his normal life and spend time with his family out of the media spotlight, Keith Willett, the strategic incident director for the UK health agency, said in a statement on Wednesday. The official said he tested negative twice for COVID-19 in two days. I would like to thank the clinical team who treated Mr. Walsh in hospital along with staff who worked hard to limit the spread of coronavirus and treat the small numbers who have contracted the illness, he said. Walsh issued a statement to media outlets on Wednesday that he is happy to be home and feeling well. In a previous statement earlier this week, he said that his thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus. As soon as I knew I had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus I contacted health officials in the UK, he added. I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed. When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves. People wear protective masks as they cross a footbridge at a mall in Beijing, China, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) According to the BBC, he works for a company that provides gas equipment and is believed to have caught COVID-19 in Singapore before infecting at least 11 other people at a French ski resort. They include five other UK citizens who stayed with him at the resort. The virus is believed to have sickened tens of thousands of people in China, and the outbreak is centered in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Chinese officials have implemented lockdowns and transportation bans in dozens of cities. Dr. Tony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, meanwhile, told reporters on a call that COVID-19 is spreading more rapidly than SARS, which sickened thousands in China in the early 2000s. For example, in an entire year there were only 8,000 cases of SARS, which then just dissipated and went away. Right now, in the first 2 months or seven weeks, as it were, we have 45,000 cases. So we have more than five times as many cases in a month and a half with this infection then we had with SARS in an entire year, he told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday morning. The Senate voted 51-45 on Wednesday to advance a resolution that would limit President Trump from pursuing military action in Iran without congressional approval. Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to move Sen. Tim Kaine's (D-Va.) resolution forward for a floor vote. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) didn't vote as they were likely on the presidential campaign trail, and recent 2020 dropout Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) didn't vote either. President Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday to encourage senators to vote against the resolution, saying "this is not the time to show weakness" to Iran. He'll very likely veto the bill, and the Senate won't have the votes to overturn it. ....If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Dont let it happen! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 The act came in response to escalating tensions with Iran, especially after Trump authorized a strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that senators voted to advance the resolution to a full floor vote. More stories from theweek.com The sidelining of Elizabeth Warren Authoritarians aren't like Mao anymore. They're like Trump. The Don seizes the Justice Department Members of the Iowa chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America applauded extreme risk legislation introduced by two minority House Democrats last week. The bill would empower law enforcement officers to ask a court to temporarily block a persons access to guns if there is evidence they pose a threat to themselves or others. House Minority Whip Jo Oldson, D-Des Moines, and Rep. Kristin Sunde, D-West Des Moines, said the bill is needed to curb gun-related deaths in Iowa and would make Iowa the 18th state to adopt such legislation. Not only do extreme risk laws save lives they also have the support of the majority of Iowans, said Traci Kennedy, a volunteer with the Iowa chapter of Moms Demand Action. As a gun owner myself, I can tell you it is possible to put an end to this gun violence and protect responsible gun owners right to own a gun. On average, 212 people in Iowa die by gun suicide every year equaling 80 percent of all gun deaths in the state, according to the organization, which also reported that in the last decade, gun deaths have increased 24 percent in Iowa. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Two suspected letter bombs have exploded in the Netherlands. One of the explosions happened at a business in Amsterdam and the other at a post sorting office in the southern city of Kerkrade, according to police. Nobody was injured in the blasts. Last month, letter bombs were sent to several businesses in the Netherlands, followed by a warning letter. Police did not reveal details about the warning letters. There have been no arrests announced in the investigation into those explosive devices, none of which went off, and police have not given details about a possible motive. It is not clear if the two explosions were linked to the letter bombs delivered in January. A day after the Gujarat government said it will "review and rectify" a circular regarding reservation for women in the Lok Rakshak Dal (LRD) recruitment, hundreds of female aspirants from the open category on Wednesday took out a foot march to protest against the decision. The women marched from Collector Office to Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, where they also held a sit-in protest on the issue. As per the circular issued in 2018, women from socio- economic reserved categories cannot compete with female aspirants from the open category for government jobs. The protesters were among the 3,000-odd women who had appeared for a competitive exam for the posts of LRD (police constable) last year. They alleged that the government's decision is one- sided and it will harm the meritorious women candidates from the unreserved category. "We want the government to listen to us before making any changes in the GAD circular issued in August 2018. It appears that the state government has taken this decision out of pressure. This is injustice to the women from general category," a woman protester said. "We will not back down till the government holds talk with us over the issue. We are now heading towards Raj Bhavan as part of our protest," she added. The protesting women received support from various caste groups, including Dinesh Bambhaniya of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, Raj Shekhawat of Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena and Lalji Patel of Sardar Patel Group. "If the government can listen to them (reserved category candidates and leaders), then it must also listen to us. You cannot scrap a notification just like that. We also have a say in that. What we are asking is totally constitutional," Lalji Patel said. "We have sought Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's time to discuss this issue. Our women are ready to start their fast if we are not taken into confidence before making the changes in the circular," he added. The BJP government in the state had on Tuesday announced that it will study and rectify any discrepancy that exists in a 2018 circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) regarding reservation for women in recruitment in the LRD. This circular had triggered a protest from female aspirants from reserved categories. Women from reserved categories have been staging a protest for over two months at Gandhinagar's Satyagrah Chhavni, demanding the circular be scrapped as it prevents them from competing with women candidates from the open category, where the cut-off marks are lower. They say the circular is against the spirit of reservation. Since 2014, women have enjoyed 33 per cent quota in Gujarat police jobs. Out of total 9,000 posts, around 3,000 were reserved for women candidates appearing for LRD exam in 2019. "We have decided to review and rectify it. The BJP government is committed to safeguard reservations provided to SC/ST/OBC communities under the Constitution. Within a few days we will implement the decision," Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja had said. The protesters from reserved category have argued that the cut-off marks of women from the open category is much lower than that of reserved category women. This, they said, curtails their chances of qualification for such jobs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lord Ashcroft: Labour are in a pickle, but the Tories must keep their heads down. Lessons from my new polling report. Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information about his work, visit www.lordashcroft.com and www.lordashcroftpolls.com. Many Conservatives reading Diagnosis of Defeat, my polling report on the Labour Partys predicament, will probably have felt a flicker of schadenfreude. It is certainly true that Labour have very deep-rooted problems that go well beyond Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn, the proximate causes of their disastrous defeat. The belief among former Labour supporters that the party had ceased to represent them while taking their votes for granted had been growing for many years, as they explained in devastating detail in my post-election focus groups. Worse still, the voters who deserted Labour see the partys problems in a completely different light from that of many of the members who will decide its future. While Labour defectors said they did not want Corbyn to be Prime Minister, distrusted Labours policies and felt the party did not listen to them not least because it had tried to stand in the way of Brexit members were more likely to point to the media, Conservative lies, and the voters, as well as blaming Brexit for dominating an election in which they felt they would otherwise have been on stronger ground. Three quarters of them think Labour did not deserve to lose, and nearly six in ten think their partys values are closer to those of the British public as a whole than the Tories a view shared by just one in twenty Labour-Conservative switchers. Uniquely, they consider Corbyn the best Labour leader of recent times, and two thirds of them think the party had the right policies and only need a strong leader and a good campaign to be in a strong position at the next election which only 15 per cent of Labour members expect to result in another Tory victory. Several Labour MPs have urged serious study of the research, knowing real change is needed if the party is to recover. But other senior figures are eager to take the party down a different branch of what must surely be the wrong direction. Andrew Murray, a Corbyn adviser and leader of the powerful Unite union, writes in Tribune that Labour should not get caught up in the arid binary of whether the result was down to Brexit or Corbyn, and he is right about that. While Labours cloudy Brexit policy and parliamentary obstructionism were damaging, the partys transformative message about a different kind of society failed to impress the voters because of the communications failure of the election campaign. Though Murray correctly notes that Labours long decline predates both Brexit and the Corbyn leadership, his remedy a revival of class struggle and mass action seems a million miles from the lives and priorities of the actual people we spoke to over the last month for my report. Ultimately, the Labour Party will have to decide for itself whether it wants to get back in touch with those people or scurry back down the rabbit hole of socialist theory. Conservatives, meanwhile, should ignore Labours travails completely, and act as though they are already faced with the kind of Opposition that is ready to supplant them at any moment. In fact, there are a number of points in my report that should concentrate Tory minds. Nearly a quarter of Labour defectors, including 17 per cent of Labour-Conservative switchers, still identify with Labour or think of Labour as their party. Voters as a whole are as likely as not (and Labour defectors are more likely than not) to say they would trust Labour more than the Conservatives with Britains public services. Though only a minority say they think the Labour Party wants to help ordinary people get on in life, stands for fairness, or that its heart is in the right place, voters as a whole are still more likely to say they are true of Labour than the Tories. One in five Labour defectors, and 14 per cent of Labour-Conservative switchers, say 2019 was an unusual election and the reasons I didnt vote Labour were very specific I will probably vote Labour again next time. Only 17 per cent of Labour defectors, and only a quarter of Labour-Conservative switchers, say they cannot see themselves voting Labour again in the future. Listening to the former Labour voters in our focus groups, all of which took place in what would once have been thought the partys heartland, one of the most striking things was the sense that they felt liberated from the tribe, and empowered by the experience of changing their vote and seeing the result. They have high hopes for Boris Johnson and the Tories, but their support is strictly conditional on delivery. Delivery of what? This is part of the problem. Another striking finding from my research was the idea that rather than a fourth Tory term, this was a new beginning, a completely new Government. As one put it, Johnson represents a lot of hope and a fresh start an invigorating accolade, but also perhaps a worrying one for a Prime Minister who finds expectations not only high but perilously unspecific. The trust Labour squandered over Brexit will not return simply because the legislation taking us out of the EU is complete. But by the same token, nor will previously frustrated leave voters stick with the Tories simply out of gratitude for getting Brexit done. What have you done for me lately? will be the question in four or five years time. Labour are in a pickle, but the Tories must keep their heads down. An award-winning restaurant named after British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal owes $10.8 million to its unpaid staff, creditors and landlord Crown Casino among others. Judge David Yates accepted evidence that exclusive Melbourne restaurant 'Dinner By Heston' was insolvent and could not pay back its debts during a Federal Court hearing in Sydney on Wednesday. Those debts were estimated at $10.8 million, including $4.4 million in unpaid wages owed to the restaurant's staff. In addition, $1.885 million is owed to the restaurant's principals and landlord Crown Melbourne, which is evicting the restaurant, is owed $1.1 million. A restaurant named after British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal (pictured) owes $10.8 million to its unpaid staff, creditors and landlord Crown Casino among others Judge David Yates accepted evidence that the restaurant 'Dinner By Heston' (pictured) was bankrupt and could not pay back its debts during a Federal Court hearing in Sydney on Wednesday The restaurant's financial administrator said the debts may be understated, according to Justice Yates. Dinner by Heston is located at the Crown complex in Melbourne and is owned by the company Tipsy Cake Pty Limited. While Heston was a driving force behind the swanky restaurant's concept, he has no ownership of it. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that he had any interest in the company which underpaid its staff. The restaurant on its website promotes itself as 'one of the world's most exciting restaurants' and an 'ultra-modern dining experience'. It was deemed a two-hat restaurant in the 2019 Good Food Guide. While Heston was a driving force behind the swanky restaurant's concept, he has no ownership of it. Dinner by Heston is actually owned by the company Tipsy Cake Pty Limited The restaurant appointed provisional liquidators late last year, after Tipsy Cake missed its deadline with the Fair Work Ombudsman to pay back millions in underpaid wages owed to staff. A report found Dinner by Heston's chefs were regularly working 25 hours overtime unpaid, driving their hourly wage well below the award wage, to $15-$17 per hour. Crown Casino is in the process of terminating the restaurant's lease. The restaurant appointed provisional liquidators late last year, after Tipsy Cake missed its deadline with the Fair Work Ombudsman to pay back millions in underpaid wages owed to staff On Wednesday, it was revealed that Heston would not appear on the upcoming season of MasterChef Australia. A Channel 10 spokesperson told the Herald Sun: 'Heston has been a longtime member of the MasterChef Australia family, but he will not be appearing in the upcoming season. 'Season 12 of MasterChef Australia is currently in production, and we look forward to showing viewers our amazing new judges and an incredible cast later in the year.' Channel 10 did not provide a reason why Heston won't be featured this year. ANDOVER, Mass., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capsule Technologies, a leading global provider of medical device integration, clinical surveillance, and patient monitoring for hospitals and healthcare organizations, announced today that their systems passed all required tests at the IHE North American Connectathon, which took place January 20 to 24 in Cleveland, Ohio. Capsule has participated in the IHE Connectathon testing for the past 10 years. Sponsored by Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), a not-for-profit organization that promotes the adoption and use of interoperability standards, the IHE Connectathon is the healthcare industry's largest, most rigorous interoperability testing event. Representatives of medical technology providers and healthcare IT gather annually to collaborate and test implementations of IHE profiles and communication standards. IHE's unique testing environment allows vendors to test, re-test, and debug their systems in minutes because participants are working in unison toward a common goal. At the 2020 IHE Connectathon, Capsule concentrated on two IHE Profile categories Device Enterprise Communication and Alert Communication Management testing the Capsule Medical Device Information Platform (MDIP) with 10 protocols and 10 partners. Capsule's enterprise platform demonstrated that it can successfully integrate with all electronic health records (EHRs) and other healthcare IT systems using the IHE standards. "To help drive advances in patient care, it is critical that health information technology providers ensure their systems are able to seamlessly share information and using open standards is the most efficient way to achieve this goal," said Kevin Phillips, vice president of product management and marketing for Capsule Technologies. "Our goal is to make the complex simple and the simple insightful. The successful attainment of IHE's interoperability standards confirms that Capsule's Medical Device Information Platform complies with the industry's leading connectivity protocols." A variety of standards are supported by Capsule's integration, monitoring, and surveillance solutions. The MDIP can export comprehensive, streaming data from our industry-leading library of connectivity drivers for over 900 different medical devices in HL7 using the IHE PCD technical framework specification, including device measurements, settings, waveforms (IHE PCD-WCM), and alarms (IHE PCD-ACM). These capabilities are now standard in Capsule's MDIP. The 2020 IHE Connectathon also included, for the first time, the full integration of the Capsule platform with the clinical surveillance capabilities added in 2019 with the acquisition of Bernoulli Health (now known as Capsule Surveillance). Unique to the Capsule Surveillance solution is the application of multi-variate rules to create clinically actionable alerts based on real-time trends in the patient's condition while filtering out the spurious alarms that contribute to alert fatigue. Capsule Technologies will next demonstrate the connectivity of MDIP at the upcoming 2020 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida from March 9 to 13. Visit Capsule in the HIMSS exhibition hall (booth #2441) and preview Capsule MDIP v11.0 which will be available Spring this year. 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 2,700 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 [email protected] SOURCE Capsule Technologies Related Links http://www.capsuletech.com Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he is "extremely delighted" that United States President Donald Trump and his wife will be in India later this month and added that they will be accorded a memorable welcome. In a series of tweets, the prime minister said India and the US share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. "Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world," he said. President Trump will be visiting India on February 24 and 25. Modi said the visit is a very special one and will go a long way in further cementing the India-US friendship. "India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests," the prime minister said. " " Samurai were part an elite class of Japanese warriors who fought to defend their medieval lords. Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program In the Land of the Rising Sun, samurai movies are a century-old tradition. Pop culture frames the swordsmen as near-mythic figures. We're told samurai belonged to an elite class of Japanese warriors who always fought fair, loyally defended their medieval lords and hewed to a unifying honor code known as "bushido." Scriptwriters thrill in pitting them against dark-robed ninja assassins. A fearsome mercenary, the standard movie ninja carries razor-sharp throwing stars and has mastered a unique martial art called "ninjutsu." Things get even hairier when the director gives him supernatural powers like flight or invisibility. Magical talents aside, just how accurate is our modern outlook on samurai and ninjas? To find out, we interviewed three historians and learned some surprising things in the process. Advertisement War and Peace Japanese history is broken down into eras and periods. Particularly relevant to our discussion are the Sengoku Period of 1467 to 1603 and the successive Tokugawa (or "Edo") Period that lasted until 1868. The Tokugawa Period takes its name from a shogun family that assumed control of Japan in 1603. Shoguns were hereditary military dictators who'd been ruling the country since 1192. On paper, they served Japan's emperors. Yet in practice, these figures were far more powerful and it was they who truly called the shots. Earlier centuries had been plagued by constant warfare. But things stayed calm under the Tokugawa regime. International trade was tightly regulated and the shoguns took pains to discourage political squabbling. This was also a time when Japan redefined its relationship with samurai. As Thomas Conlan a professor of East Asian history at Princeton University told us via email, "The samurai became an identifiable social status only in the 1590s. Before then, all of society was militarized and there was no distinction between peasants and warriors." Such ambiguity didn't sit well with General Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A game-changing warlord, he issued a nationwide "Sword-Hunt Edict" in 1588. This prohibited farmers from owning weapons of any sort. Under the new rules, only samurai and samurai alone could bear arms. "Basically, people who were known to have fought in battles recently were considered samurai and were forbidden to go back to farming, and people who were known to be currently farming land had to surrender their weapons," says historian Nick Kapur of Rutgers University in an email. "In a lot of cases, it was self-reported and people basically got to choose." Hideyoshi's reforms carried over into the Tokugawa Period. In effect, they laid the groundwork for a rigid, hereditary caste-like system that put samurai above artisans, peasants and merchants. By then, the feudal wars that defined the Sengoku Period had long passed. With no battles to wage, the samurai were given bureaucratic and administrative roles. " " In late 1863, a photographer captured a delegation of four samurai from the Satsuma clan who went to Yokohama to discuss the murder of an English merchant, as well as to normalize relations between their clan and British diplomats. Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program Advertisement Waxing Nostalgic Hindsight has a way of glamorizing warfare. Just ask Sarah Thal, a historian of "early modern and modern Japan" who teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "During the long peace of the Tokugawa era, when samurai came to work more as administrators than as fighters, many romanticized the earlier times of war (in the 12th to 16th centuries for instance) when samurai actually fought," she says in an email. The last shogun was overthrown in 1868. Afterward, Japan entered its reformative Meiji Period, which embraced industry and centralized governance. Historically, the samurai had served feudal lords and enjoyed special privileges. But all that soon changed. "The official status of samurai was abolished in 1869 and their privileges revoked in the early 1870s," Thal explains. "With the abolition of their lords' domains, many former samurai were out of work, unable to get jobs in the new government. "In the 1890s, they, their children, and many Japanese began trying to define a 'Way of the Samurai' that operated both as a nostalgia for the supposedly moral, good old days and as a critique of the modernizing trends of the time," Thal says. Enter Nitobe Inazo. A diplomat and author, he radically transformed the way future generations would look at samurai. In 1899, Inazo published an influential book called "Bushido: The Soul of Japan." The text presents itself as an introduction to "bushido." According to Inazo, this was the traditional, universal code of conduct observed by real-world samurai. Except it wasn't. "The so-called 'samurai code' of bushido did not exist in the [Sengoku] heyday of samurai warfare," Kapur notes. The word "bushido" itself wasn't coined until the peaceful Tokugawa Period. But it's from "Bushido: The Soul of Japan" that we get some of the most pervasive myths about samurai values and behavior. "Samurai were not all the moral, noble, well-to-do spiritual swordsmen depicted in film," Thal says. "They did not have a single, coherent moral code that defined how they thought and acted." "Just like warriors anywhere else," adds Kapur, "samurai raped and looted and pillaged and were constantly betraying their lords." " " While samurai were real warriors in Japanese history, the stories of mercenaries known as ninjas are, well, kind of fabricated. tunart/Getty Images Advertisement The Lowdown on Ninjas Speaking of misconceptions, it's time to talk ninjas. Supposedly, they were sellswords who performed covert operations, gathered intelligence and last, but not least assassinated people in the cover of darkness. The neighboring Iga and Koka regions in southeastern Japan are usually cited as the training grounds where all ninjas honed their deadly skills. Sometimes, you'll even hear that ninjas formed a hereditary class or caste, not unlike the samurai. Scores of Japanophiles, movie buffs and martial artists have embraced ninja lore. Every year, some enthusiasts get dressed up in jet-black garb to celebrate "Ninja Day" Feb. 22. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but the storied mercenaries are ... kind of fabricated. "Ninja as we know them today did not actually exist," Kapur says. The word ninja, he says, comes from "two Chinese characters meaning 'stealth' and 'man' ()." By the way, "shinobi" and not "nin" is how most Japanese-speakers pronounce the first character. Medieval Japan had its share of folks who snuck into castles and embraced undercover warfare. Historical records show samurai weren't above such tactics. "We have a lot of documents about these activities, but [they] were carried out by a variety of people," Kapur says. "There was never any specialized class of assassins living in hereditary clans and selling their services for hire. This is pure myth which, like the myths about the samurai, was created during the long and peaceful Edo period." Despite this, ninja fables are nothing new. "Even by the 18th and 19th centuries, ninja had become a pop culture phenomenon in Japan," Thal says. "So there were all sorts of fantastic, fictional depictions in art, literature, drama and the like." Now That's Interesting George Lucas has said that one of his inspirations for the original "Star Wars" movie was a 1958 Japanese samurai film called "The Hidden Fortress." Another classic samurai picture, 1961's "Yojimbo," was loosely adapted into the Sergio Leone western "A Fistful of Dollars." Advertisement Originally Published: Feb 11, 2020 A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit that had challenged the Dallas School Districts policy of allowing transgender students to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed a 2018 decision by U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez of Portland that threw out the suit. Hernandez found the school district policy did not violate the privacy rights of other students who may object to sharing the spaces. A three-judge panel of the appeals court said the school districts carefully-crafted Student Safety Plan seeks to avoid discrimination and ensure the safety and well-being of transgender students." The opinion by Judge A. Wallace Tashima said the bathroom policy doesnt infringe on privacy or parental rights under the 14th Amendment or free exercise rights under the First Amendment. It also doesnt "create actionable sex harassment under Title IX, the opinion said. Lawyers met in Portland last year to argue the case before the appeals panel. Parents for Privacy -- about half a dozen parents of current and former Dallas students contended that Hernandez failed to recognize that allowing students of one sex to access the privacy facilities of the opposite sex violates the 14th Amendment right to bodily privacy. The parents also argued that the policy violates Title IX by turning locker rooms and restrooms into sexually harassing environments and forcing other students to not use them to avoid potential harassment. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in any federally funded education program or activity. Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the LGBTQ advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon argued that not allowing transgender students to use the restrooms or locker rooms aligned with their gender identities would amount to discrimination. Any students concerned about their privacy could change in individual toilet stalls in the locker rooms if desired, they said. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive (@ChaudhryMAli88) HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin will discuss with her Latvian counterpart Arturs Krisjanis Karins in Helsinki bilateral energy and infrastructure cooperation, the Finnish government said in a statement. "The prime ministers will discuss cooperation between Finland and Latvia in the energy and infrastructure sectors, as well as environmental cooperation between the Baltic Sea countries," it said. "Urgent EU issues, such as the European Green Deal, climate policy and... the long-term EU budget for 2021-2027, which should be agreed by the EU heads of state or government at a special meeting of the European Council on February 20," the statement said. During the visit to Finland, Prime Minister Karins will also meet with President Sauli Niinisto. Vietnam is not only a pioneer in experimenting with 5G, but also aims to be a manufacturer of 5G telecom devices that could be launched on the market as early as this year. Le Dang Dung, acting president and CEO of Viettel Group, said that Viettel is confident that it can master modern technologies. Viettel has deployed IoT connectivity technology based on 4G LTE-M and NB-IoT. It has become one of the first 50 network operators in the world using this technology. With Viettel, Vietnam can catch up with leading countries in the world such as the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea in the use of 5G technology. Few 5G device manufacturers exist globally, with the world market controlled by a few companies including Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia. Vietnam is not only a pioneer in experimenting with 5G, but also aims to be a manufacturer of 5G telecom devices that could be launched on the market as early as this year. According to Tao Duc Thang, deputy general director of Viettel, the military telco joined forces with suppliers to research and develop 5G devices, which are not simply 5G BTS (based transceiver station), but also core networks to support 5G and 5G terminal devices. Viettel set up a team in charge of 5G technology development in 2015. It plans to complete the trial version of 5G broadcast station version 1, test the network of 5G stations by 2020, and be ready to commercialize the products by 2021. Nguyen Cuong Hoang from Viettel said Viettel has more than 1,000 IT engineers and 300 experienced engineers working in its 5G research and development program. The group has allocated a budget of VND500 billion for the development of Microcell 5G and it is building a 5G Lab worth VND200 billion. It is working with partners from the US, South Korea and India on chipsets, hardware and software for 5G. Hoang also affirmed that Viettel will try Microcell 5G service in June 2020 on Viettel network. All the hardware and software for 5G equipment are made in Vietnam. Viettel commits to follow the program, Hoang said. Meanwhile, Vingroup, a new name in the field, has unexpectedly stated it will manufacture 5G telecom devices. Ngo Hoang Anh from VinSmart, a subsidiary of Vingroup, said the company is focusing on research and will manufacture 5G and IoT devices. It has also built a lab to support the research and development of 5G phones and 5G devices. VinSmart plans to launch its first 5G phones by July 2020. In August, it will begin experimenting with 5G telecom devices. It is also working with Cisco and Intel to develop 5G network equipment. Le Ha Vietnam works with developed countries to deploy 5G Both Viettel and Vingroup have stated they will commercialize 5G telecom devices by 2020. Actively encourage sick employees to stay home. Separate sick employees. Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees. Perform routine environmental cleaning. Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps, such as checking the CDCs Travelers Health Notices and checking themselves for symptoms of respiratory illness. Additional measures are recommended for employees who themselves have 2019-nCoV infection or who have a sick family member who is infected. Ill with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have traveled from China in the last 14 days Ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have been identified by Public Health as a recent close contact of a confirmed 2019-nCoV case or had recent close contact with someone who is being evaluated for 2019-nCoV infection. Watch for any changes in your health for 14 days after leaving China. If you get a fever or develop a cough or difficulty breathing during this 14-day period, avoid contact with others. Call your doctor or health-care provider to tell them about your symptoms and your recent travel. WA Paid Sick Leave: As of Jan. 1, 2018, employers in Washington state are required to provide paid sick leave to their employees. WA Paid Family Leave: Paid Family and Medical Leave is a new benefit for Washington workers. When a serious health condition prevents an employee from working, paid family leave is available. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after coughing or sneezing, using the restroom, and handling and preparing food. Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid contact with people who are sick. Stay home while sick and avoid close contact with others. Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands. Clean hard surfaces (desks, tables, countertops, sinks) daily. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (door handles, faucets, railings), bathrooms and health rooms at least once a day. Use alcohol wipes to clean keyboards. Clean surfaces with fragrance-free soap or third-party certified cleaners. Thorough cleaning with soap and water will remove most microorganisms. Use EPA safer disinfectants registered for influenza on hard surfaces. Clean the surface first to remove all organic matter. Apply the proper concentration of disinfectant and allow the required wet contact time. Pay close attention to hazard warnings and instructions for using personal protective items such as gloves and eye protection. Use disinfectants in a sufficiently ventilated space. The information below is being provided by Public Health to businesses in King County, Wash. It is applicable wherever you are located. The one caveat is that you should be in touch with your own local public health organization.As you may know, China is experiencing an expanding outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This virus emerged in Hubei Province, China in December 2019. The virus can spread from person-to-person, and cases have been detected in a number of countries internationally and in the United States.At this time, the immediate risk to the general public in Washington and the United States is considered to be low. There is no evidence that 2019-nCoV is spreading in Washington or in any community in the U.S.The risk for novel coronavirus infection is related to having been to China in the past 14 days and having direct contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus infection. Risk is not related to race, ethnicity or nationality.Should this situation change, we have provided pandemic preparedness resources below. These have been developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the last 10 years and were updated in 2017. Its always good practice for American businesses, large and small, to be prepared for possible widespread of a flu-like virus.Sharing accurate information during a time of heightened concern is one of the best things we can do to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading and to prevent harmful behaviors resulting in stigmatization and discrimination. Please help by educating your workforce about coronavirus and providing resources where they can continue to get current and accurate updates. See the resource list below.CDC recommended strategies for employers to use now:More details about each of these recommendations are available from the CDCs new February 2020 guidance for businesses: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/guidance-business-response.html Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Several coronaviruses cause mild respiratory illnesses such as the common cold. Other coronaviruses have caused more severe illness, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). 2019-nCoV is a new coronavirus that had not been seen in humans before December 2019.Experts believe that the 2019-nCoV primarily spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets from a cough or sneeze can travel up to about six feet. Another person can become infected if these droplets enter their mouth, nose or eyes directly or through their contaminated hands. An infected person who coughs or sneezes into their hands and touches surfaces such as phones, tables, door handles, or toys can contaminate them. While some coronaviruses can be spread to others through contaminated surfaces, coronaviruses generally do not survive on surfaces for a prolonged period of time. It takes 2 to 14 days after a person gets the virus in their body to become ill.Individuals who are:ORIf an employee meets the above criteria, they most likely have a common respiratory infection but should be evaluated further. Offer the employee a mask, if available, to prevent the spread of droplets when coughing and sneezing. Ask them to return home and advise them to immediately notify their health-care provider about their symptoms and recent travel.seeking care in person, individuals should always call their health-care provider and tell them that they are being evaluated for 2019-nCoV infection. The health-care provider will work with Public Health to determine next steps.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers from China arriving in the U.S.February 2, 2020 at 2 p.m. stay at home, away from others, and monitor their health for 14 days. This measure was put in place because of the increasing number of cases of 2019-nCoV in China.There is no recommendation for people without symptoms arriving before this time to restrict their activities. All travelers from China arrivingFebruary 2, 2020 at 2 p.m. can continue to attend work and should take the following steps:Individuals who are asked to self-isolate due to travel history and are well may return to work and their usual activities after 14 days. Public Health does not require employees to submit a doctors note before transitioning back to work.Employees can benefit from several policies designed to ensure pay during times of illness. These include:Places of employment do not need to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of germs. You can help employees reduce their risk of getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, by encouraging them to take simple steps which will also prevent 2019-nCoV. These include:In addition, we recommend that businesses be sure to follow their regular cleaning and disinfection program.Public Health does not currently recommend that people wear masks to protect themselves from nCoV when in public, including in workplace settings. This infection is not currently spreading in the U.S. Additionally, there is uncertainty about the scientific effectiveness of using masks in public to prevent illness. Public Health recommends that all individuals stay home and away from others when sick.However, in China, Japan, and other Asian countries, mask use is customary and acceptable. Please communicate to your workforce that if employees wear masks, we should not assume that they have been exposed to coronavirus or any other illness. Because mask use is customary in some cultures, its not appropriate to make assumptions about why someone is wearing a mask or to stigmatize or discriminate against people who choose to wear masks.The CDC reports that the severity of illness or how many people will fall ill from 2019-nCoV is unknown at this time. If there is evidence of a 2019-nCoV outbreak in the US, employers should plan to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and be prepared to refine their business response plans as needed. For the general American public, such as workers in non-healthcare settings and where it is unlikely that work tasks create an increased risk of exposures to coronavirus, the immediate health risk from nCoV is considered low.All employers need to consider how best to decrease the spread of acute respiratory illness, like the flu and like nCoV, in their workplace in the event of an outbreak. They should identify and communicate their objectives, which may include one or more of the following: (a) reducing transmission among staff, (b) protecting people who are at higher risk for adverse health complications, (c) maintaining business operations, and (d) minimizing adverse effects on other entities in their supply chains.Yes, all employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from nCoV while ensuring continuity of operations. During a 2019-nCoV outbreak, all sick employees should stay home and away from the workplace, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene should be encouraged, and routine cleaning of commonly touched surfaces should be performed regularly. It is much easier to develop a pandemic flu response plan before there are many people infected locally. Businesses should ensure the plan is flexible and involve your employees in developing and reviewing your plan. The CDC offers many suggestions about strong elements of an infectious disease outbreak response plan, including how to protect employees from exposures to the virus, human resources policies, flexible work locations and hours, identifying essential functions needed to assure business continuity of operations, planned triggers for when these policies will intensify or stop, communication plans and how school situations will affect the business. More guidance is here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/guidance-business-response.html As with any newly emerging infectious disease, knowledge evolves with time. Early on, it is difficult to know the ways in which the disease spreads, how effectively it spreads from person to person, and how severe the infection is. Public Health Seattle & King County will continue to update the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) website as more information becomes available, at www.kingcounty.gov/ncov SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) On Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced a resolution calling for reparations for the city's African-American community. Back in December, the NAACP San Francisco branch called for reparations for African-American residents using income from the city's hotel and marijuana taxes. "Reparations are a financial recompense for African Americans whose ancestors provided free labor for hundreds of years and lived through the Jim Crow era. The enslavement and overall persecution of African Americans in the U.S. has enriched the U.S. and created disparities in income, wealth and education between blacks and whites and almost every other population," Walton said. Walton's resolution calls for a working group to convene, tasked with developing a reparations plan. Amid a housing shortage throughout the Bay Area, San Francisco supervisors also approved an ordinance amending buyout regulations for landlords in order to help tenants stay in their units. Supervisors approved the ordinance, initially introduced back in December by Supervisor Hillary Ronen, unanimously. The ordinance requires landlords to file a declaration under penalty of perjury prior to starting buyout negotiations; requires a 30-day minimum between buyout negotiations and an agreement; and requires landlords clarify whether an eviction settlement agreement filed within 120 days of the start of buyout negotiations is a Buyout Agreement, which is subject to regulation. "With speculative rents and sale prices continuing to break records, landlords have a powerful incentive to remove and replace tenants," Ronen said. "But some landlords see cash buyouts as a way to get long-term tenants to move out quickly and avoid our condo conversion restrictions." Ronen said tenants sometimes feel pressured to accept cash buyouts. In 2018, the city reported 379 buyouts, with the greatest number of buyouts happening in the city's Mission District, which is located in Ronen's supervisorial district. During Tuesday's meeting, supervisors also approved the city's purchase of 1939 Market St., the future site of a housing complex with units that will all be affordable. Once built, the building will provide housing for low-income seniors, with a focus on LGBT residents. Also, during the supervisors' meeting, Supervisor Matt Haney announced he's introducing a ballot measure for the November 2020 election. The measure, called The Clean City Act, aims to reform the way the city's streets are cleaned. The measure would create a new department of Street Cleaning and Sanitation to cover street cleaning, taking over for the large Public Works Department, according to Haney. Additionally, the measure would mandate basic cleaning of streets, and the management of trashcans and public restrooms. "I don't have to tell anyone that our current system for keeping San Francisco clean has completely failed," Haney said in a statement. "Public Works just isn't doing the work that common sense dictates they should be doing to make our streets clean. Just putting a new "Mr. Clean" in place is not going to change that, we have to design a system that can deliver results," he said, referring to the appointment of Interim Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried. Degrafinried replaces former Director Mohammed Nuru, also known as Mr. Clean. Nuru resigned Monday, following his arrest by FBI agents late last month in connection with an alleged scheme to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner for help in obtaining a restaurant concession. 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. Officials in Assam have reassured that data pertaining to the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam going offline is a temporary thing and the issue will be resolved in a few days. The data, which contains information on applicants included and missing from the list released in August last year, went missing after NRC officials failed to renew contract with Wipro, the IT firm responsible for cloud storage of the data. The contract with Wipro for cloud storage of the data expired in October last year. The data went offline from December 15 after the company suspended its usage, said a senior official at the state NRC coordinators office on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to media. The official said the lapse happened after previous NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela, who was transferred from the post to Madhya Pradesh following a Supreme Court directive, failed to renew the contract. Hajela left Assam in November and the new state coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma took charge in December after the data had already gone offline. We are in touch with Wipro to renew the contract and the same will be done within the next few days. Once that happens the data will appear online again and applicants can view their details, the official said. Data on details included in the NRC final list, which excluded 19 lakh applicants, was released online on September last year following a Supreme Court order. With the data going offline, applicants are unable to view their details or download the lists which includes their names. Meanwhile, Opposition Congress said it suspects the issue could be the result of some malafide act and asked NRC officials to look into the suspicious development. It is a mystery as to why the online data should vanish all of a sudden, especially as the appeals process has not even started, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia wrote to NRC state coordinator Sarma on Tuesday. There is ample scope to suspect that the disappearance of online data is a mala fide act. (It) is prima facie deliberate violation of the directive issued by the Honble Supreme Court, it added. The appeal process for those excluded from the NRC list is yet to begin as various petitions alleging anomalies in the inclusion and exclusion of names are pending in Supreme Court seeking re-evaluation of the list. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON George Andah, Deputy Minister for Communications has reiterated that there will be no internet shutdown in the country. Reports that emerged indicated that government is contemplating shutting down the internet prior to the December elections because of the abuse of social media. However, contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FMs morning show 'Kokrokoo', George Andah said shutting down the internet is not an option; its about regulating or being responsible in the use of the internet. The caution is that if we are not responsible maybe there will be no option than to regulate the use of the internet but shutting down the internet before during or after the election is not an option; its not even on the table . . . it was misreporting. Watch his submission in the video below Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 10:14 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063eb3e3 1 City Formula-E,Jakarta-2020-Formula-E,Jakarta-ePrix,jakpro,Jakarta-administration,criticism,infrastructure Free City-owned developer PT Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) will soon start constructing the track for the Formula E electric vehicle race in the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta, despite criticism about the projects cost. In the next few days, Jakpro will begin to prepare for the construction of infrastructure [for the track]. It must be in detail, said city secretary Saefullah at City Hall on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com. Saefullah said that Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and State Secretary Pratikno, who is also the chairman of the Medan Merdeka Area Development Steering Committee, would later elaborate on the Formula E track construction plan. He said that the car racing infrastructure had to be completed by April as it would have to be tested prior to the race on June 6. The infrastructure must be completed in time for the racing tests two months before the event, he said. A politician from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Gilbert Simanjuntak, previously criticized the budget plan of Rp 1.6 trillion (US$1.1 billion) for Formula E infrastructure construction. He compared Jakartas plan to Hong Kongs, which hosted the 2018-2019 Formula E season and only spent about 300 million Hong Kong dollars ($39 million). I dont understand what makes the cost in Jakarta more than twice the cost in Hong Kong, while construction materials are quite the same, Gilbert said, adding that there should also be a clear plan on the management of the infrastructure after the race. In response, Saefullah said that the budget plan had been made based on various calculations. Eventually, there will be an audit, Saefullah said, arguing that a budget audit would be carried out by both the city administration and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). Jakartas residents can also conduct surveillance if there is something that needs supervision, he added. Saefullah said the city administration would ask for help from various parties to disseminate information about the construction of Formula E infrastructure so that it would not disrupt the daily activities of residents. We ask for your understanding for any inconveniences that may occur during the preparation," Saefullah said. The race, which is also known as Jakarta e-Prix, will be the first time Indonesia has held a Formula E race. Anies announced in September 2019 that Jakarta had secured a deal to host the race for five consecutive years. The steering committee initially did not approve a proposal requesting the Monas area as the racing venue due to its designation as a cultural heritage site, asking the city administration to look for alternative locations, including on Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman and around the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium area. It later changed the decision, allowing the city to hold the race in the Monas complex provided it preserved the cleanliness, vegetation and security of the Medan Merdeka area. The city is also required to coordinate with relevant agencies to avoid making any changes to the function of the area as a cultural heritage site or causing damage to the environment. (syk) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BAIC BJEV, the NEV unit of BAIC Group, sold 2,006 new vehicles in the first month of 2020, a year-on-year plunge of 55.54%, according to a statement from its parent company BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd. Compared to December 2019, the NEV manufacturer posted a sales plunge of up to 94.52%. Besides, the outputs reached 1,602 units last month, versus 142 units for the year-ago period. Photo source: BAIC BJEV) BAIC BJEV is among a number of Chinese automakers that suffered sharp downturn in January. The Spring Festival holiday, a traditional off-season for auto sale, came earlier than the previous year, leading to the fewer demands. Besides, auto sales in December 2019 were inflated by the discounts offered by dealers to boost sales around the Double 12 online shopping day and the Christmas holiday. The outbreak of new coronavirus has further worsened the market climate. Last year, the Beijing-based NEV maker saw its annual sales fall 4.69% from a year earlier to 150,601 units, while it was still honored the national champion for the seventh year in a row by full-year BEV sales. In a bid to move upscale, the company has made the higher-priced EU Series serve as the major sales contributor instead of the EC Series. Saddled with the NEV subsidy phase-out and market slowdown, BJEV still fulfilled restructuring of product lineup with a wide-ranging segment coverage. At the 10th anniversary held last month, BAIC BJEV released the development roadmap for the next decade. Ma Fanglie, BJEVs president, said the company is ambitious to complete more than three BEV-focused platforms and develop over 10 NEV series that embrace 40 all-new products so as to satisfy people's travelling demands in various scenarios. Mama Lees Taiwanese beef noodle soup is worth the trip. Photo: Melissa Hom Nothing is quite as comforting and fortifying as a bowl of noodle soup. And niu rou mian, or Taiwanese beef noodle soup, brimming with chunks of long-simmered beef and noodles in a savory broth, is among the most comforting and fortifying. Many consider it to be the national dish of Taiwan, and it has been a staple of New York Citys Chinatowns for decades. But young Taiwanese-American chefs have of late been putting their own grass-fed spin on their grandparents comfort food. Herewith, a list of the absolute best bowls in New York. The Absolute Best 1. Mama Lee 213-12 48th Ave., nr. Bell Blvd., Bayside; 718-767-8680 Partaking of the absolute best bowl of Taiwanese beef noodle soup in New York requires a trek deep into Queens and likely entails a subway or two and the Q27 bus. In Bayside, youll find the matriarch and chef in question, one Mei Lee. Shes quick with a cup of complimentary corn tea and may recommend one of the many over-rice dishes, but if you insist on the beef noodle soup, youll be amply rewarded. The bowl brims with a heap of stewed beef and bright-green bok choy, while the broth gets its incredible richness and depth of flavor from beef knees and shanks that are boiled for eight hours with ginger and onions. Lee cubes and browns the shank before braising, which gives it a wonderful roastiness and a meaty texture. But the chef has another explanation for her soups high quality: The fat has a nice fragrance, she says when asked her secret. It tastes like butter. Nonetheless, this is a well-balanced bowl with spices like cinnamon, star anise, and chile playing a supporting role to the beef and broth. The calligraphy behind the counter was painted by Papa Lee and reads, Yi Ping Xiang, or No. 1 Taste. Indeed! 2. Ho Foods 110 E. 7th St., nr. First Ave.; 347-788-0682 The beef at Ho Foods cant be beat. Photo: Melissa Hom Faithful fans line up nightly at Richard Hos tiny restaurant, which serves the most cheffed-up version of the Taiwanese comfort-food classic in New York. Hos beef noodle soup begins with cows feet and pasture-raised-beef shank bones that luxuriate for 24 hours along with star anise, cinnamon, garlic, scallion, tomato, and seaweed, among other things. In a separate pot, what is surely the best beef shank being used for the dish in town cooks in the same broth. The two are combined to create a sumptuous bowl. Take your pick of thin or wide noodles, the latter offering a pleasantly chewy alternative. For ultimate decadence, ask for the rich and spicy option and add tendons. The dollop of marrow, beef-tallow-enriched hot sauce, and wobbly tendons combine to clear the sinuses and warm the body. 3. ChiMaMas Noodle House 45-37 C Bell Blvd., nr. 45th Rd., Bayside; 718-631-8881 The sign for this Queens shop proudly proclaims Since 1950, but its clear from examining the black-and-white photos that the vintage refers to ChiMaMas original and extant location in Taichung, Taiwan. One large color photo features an ornate vermillion ink stamp that reads, ji xiang (auspicious), surrounded by garlic, ginger, and chiles, a harbinger of whats to come when you order the niu rou mian. The soup here is unique in that the base broth is made from pork bones combined with ginger and Chinese wine. ChiMaMas also has the distinction of being the only place on this list (and possibly in the whole city) to use boneless beef short rib, rendered super-tender and flavorful thanks to a braise with soy sauce and star anise. The finished product a combination of the pork broth along with the meat and the braising liquid is offset by suan cai, crunchy pickled mustard greens, making for some mighty fine slurping. 4. 886 26 St. Marks Pl., nr. Second Ave.; 646-882-0231 Chef Eric Sze named his purple-neon-bathed restaurant for his homelands telephone code. Much of the menu consists of his updated versions of Taiwanese comfort foods, but Sze doesnt fool too much with the beef noodle soup. The rich beefiness comes from oxtails that surrender all their luscious gelatin after 16 hours, resulting in a silky broth. The noodles are appropriately springy, and the beef shank itself is quite tender. Its a comforting, slightly newfangled version of the Taiwanese classic. 5. Happy Stony Noodle 83-47 Dongan Ave., nr. Broadway, Elmhurst; 718-335-0500 Chef Chih Shen Stony Hsu makes his broth from beef neck bones and Chinese aromatics, including goji berries, fermented bean paste, and star anise. Chef Stony takes a light touch with that last ingredient, its licorice note a mere whisper rather than the shout it so often becomes elsewhere. Generous bowls of suan cai to add to your soup grace every table. Dont be shy about munching on the crunchy, piquant green bits while you wait for your noodles; everybody else does. The thick-cut braised beef shin is extra tender, and for an even more fortifying bowl, you can supplement it with jiggly bits of translucent amber-hued tendon. For a real taste of Taiwan, ask your server for Taiwanese Kong Yen vinegar, which is made from glutinous rice and tomato paste and acts as a great foil to the rich meat and soup. 6. Hwa Yuan 42 E. Broadway, nr. Catherine St.; 212-966-6002 The cold sesame noodles prepared here by chef Chen Lieh Tang according to his father Shorty Tangs recipe are the stuff of legend. What many diners dont know is that the old man also made a superb beef noodle soup with a wonderful depth of flavor and just a hint of chile heat. Its listed on the menu as braised beef noodle soup (a Tang family classic). Theres no option to add tendon, but dont worry: Chef Tang throws in a bit to keep the concave slices of beef shin and crunchy bok choy company. The flavor of star anise is definitely there but not overpowering. 7. Very Fresh Noodles 425 W. 15th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; no phone As the name implies, the noodles in the La Mei Taiwanese beef noodle soup served at this busy Chelsea Market stand are the freshest around. Order a bowl and one of the cooks will go to work slapping and stretching broad bands of biang biang mian as you watch from your seat at the counter. The chewy ribbons are a novel, fun accompaniment to the broth, which, in addition to the usual ingredients, includes tomato and orange peel. Instead of the standard radial cut, the beef shank is sliced vertically, then chunked, giving it a meatier texture. 8. Four Four South Village 38-06 Prince St., nr. 38th Ave., Flushing; 718-886-5001 Flushings Four Four South Village packs its bowl with tendon, tripe, and rib finger meat. Photo: Melissa Hom Its all about nostalgia at this downtown Flushing restaurant decorated with vintage radios and black-and-white photos of Four Four South Village, a Taipei community built in 1949 for the military personnel of the 44th Arsenal of the Combined Logistics Command of the Chinese army. It was in these settlements, known as juan cun, where the classic Taiwanese comfort food is said to have originated. Take a seat and the server will bring over a dry-erase marker and a menu with boxes to check. Youll want to check off box 113, a tasty trifecta of braised beef, tendon, and tripe known as hong shao niu san bao mian in Mandarin. Instead of the commonplace beef shin, the restaurant uses rib finger meat, the flesh from between the ribs. The other thing that sets Four Four South Village apart is the springiness of its noodles, round strands that easily maintain their chewiness through an entire slurping session. She recently detailed the male nudity featured in the forthcoming Jane Austen adaptation of Emma, which is due for release on Friday. And following her discussion about the racy scenes, Anya Taylor-Joy attended the photo call at The Soho Hotel in London on Wednesday afternoon. The actress, 23, looked nothing short of elegant as she posed with a tea cup and saucer in the middle of a beautifully book-lined room. Emma: Anya Taylor-Joy attended the photo call at The Soho Hotel in London on Wednesday afternoon Anya ensured all eyes were on her in the pretty printed Zimmerman gown, which featured different horiztonal patterned panels in different shades of pink. The floor-length dress featured a high neckline and puff sleeves and was accessorised with a pair of delicate drop earrings. She swept her blonde tresses up into a sleek ponytail, and highlighted her pretty visage with an expertly-applied pallet of make-up. Lovely: The actress, 23, looked nothing short of elegant as she posed with a tea cup and saucer in the middle of a beautifully book-lined room Stunning: Anya ensured all eyes were on her in the pretty printed Zimmerman gown, which featured different horiztonal patterned panels in different shades of pink Pictured: Emma was joined by actors Bill Nighy, Johnny Flynn and director Autumn de Wilde Also in attendance at the shoot was screen icon Bill Nighy, who will play Mr Woodhouse in the upcoming adaptation - which is set for release on Friday. Joining them was principal character Johnny Flynn who plays George Knightley in the film and the director Autumn de Wilde. Bill looked dapper in a navy blue suit which he complemented with a shirt in a paler hue as well as a pair of black thickly-rimmed glasses. Model looks: Anya ensured all eyes were on her in the pretty printed gown, which featured different horiztonal patterned panels in different shades of pink Co-stars: Joining them was principal character Johnny Flynn who plays George Knightley in the film and the director Autumn de Wilde Looking good! Bill looked dapper in a navy blue suit which he complemented with a shirt in a paler hue as well as a pair of black thickly-rimmed glasses The photo call comes after Anya appeared on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, and discussed the level of male nudity in Emma. The Split star discussed the scene in the film where Lovesick actor Johnny, 36, rips off his clothes in a nod to the famous Colin Firth scene in Pride and Prejudice. She said: 'We weren't shy about [male nudity] in the film. We thought it was about time that we utilise the female gaze! It was time for that.' Oh my! Anya detailed the male nudity featured in the forthcoming Jane Austen adaptation, which is due for release on Friday Of the period drama and the choice for the male costumes, Anya went on: 'It was also interesting, because no one really knows how the men got dressed... 'You see a lot of scenes of women pulling the corsets and all of that, but the whole production of men getting dressed too, you couldn't do it by yourself if you were wealthy, and so it was interesting.' Touching again on the racier side of things, the Metro's review of the movie reads: 'With a cheeky bit of nudity and erotically charged waltzing theres enough to get even Fifty Shades fans hot under the collar. Its all in the mind, people'. Anya's rise to fame began when she was 16 on a shopping trip to Harrods, when she was spotted by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Models and the woman who similarly discovered Kate Moss. Open and honest: The Split star discussed the scene in the film where Lovesick actor Johnny Flynn, 36, rips off his clothes in a nod to the famous Colin Firth scene in Pride and Prejudice Her interest: She was referencing her co-star Johnny's naked scenes After embarking on a catwalk career, ambitious Anya broke into the film business in 2015 in the horror movie The Witch. Recurring roles in Atlantis and Peaky Blinders followed. And her star is set to go further on the rise as she portrays Emma in the movie - set for release on Friday. When Lorraine asked if it was scary starring alongside names such as actor Bill Nighy and comedian Miranda Hart, Anya said: 'Yeah, the first day of rehearsals, I definitely walked in and said, 'This isn't GCSE drama anymore! I really need to bring it up... To the top: Anya's rise to fame began when she was 16 on a shopping trip to Harrods, when she was spotted by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Models and the woman who similarly discovered Kate Moss 'But the cast were so lovely to me and really supportive and we had such a good time making it. It was really, really fun to get to know everyone. We just had a blast.' Talking about Jane Austen's character of Emma being someone you want to both 'shake' and 'cuddle', Anya said: 'She just gets a bit confused. I definitely wanted, in this adaptation, to show her making mistakes... 'And I wanted there to be moments of wanting to shake her and go, 'What are you doing with your life?' And that just made it so much more fun to play, because it really does change on a dime. It's a story of redemption at the end of the day. And she pulls through.' WASHINGTON, D.C.--The emergency department is being increasingly utilized as a patient's best or only treatment option for opioid use disorder (OUD). New analysis in Annals of Emergency Medicine shows that the prevalence of patients who visited emergency departments at four Indiana hospital systems for repeat opioid-related emergencies jumped from 8.8 percent of all opioid-related visits in 2012 to 34.1 percent in 2017--nearly a four-fold increase in just five years. "Emergency departments are vital partners in treatment for opioid disorders. Less frequently discussed is the value of emergency department data that can be applied to predict and prevent emergencies among at-risk patients," said Casey P. Balio, PhD candidate at IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI and lead study author. "Because the ED is such an important site for care, we need to identify opportunities for treatment and support that help increase efficiency across systems of care and benefit patients." Patients with greater numbers of previous opioid-related ED visits, previous unique number hospital systems for which they've had an ED encounter, heroin use being documented at the encounter, those insured by Medicaid or uninsured relative to privately insured were more likely to have a future emergency department encounter for opioid-related emergencies, according to the analysis. The analysis of 9,295 patients in four Indiana hospital systems was conducted with data from a statewide regional Health Information Exchange system that examined prescription history, visit detail, and community characteristics. "Consolidating patient information from multiple emergency departments can improve risk assessment and help identify more opportunities to provide patients with treatment, particularly those who have multiple ED visits for opioid-related health emergencies. More effective use of health information can enable more efficient care for these individuals," said Balio. ### Annals of Emergency Medicine is one of the peer-reviewed scientific journal for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Annals of Emergency Medicine is the largest and most frequently cited circulation peer-reviewed journal in emergency medicine and publishes original research, clinical reports, opinion, and educational information related to the practice, teaching, and research of emergency medicine. British exports have hit a record high amid booming demand beyond the sclerotic European Union, official figures show. In a sign that Brexit has not held back trade, UK companies sold 689billion of goods and services overseas last year, up 5 per cent on 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics. Goods exports were up 6.4 per cent to around 372billion as a 0.9 per cent fall in sales to the EU was more than offset by a 13.6 per cent rise to the rest of the world. Exports up: UK companies sold 689bn of goods and services overseas last year, up 5 per cent on 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics China is now Britain's third largest export market behind the US and Germany having leapfrogged France, the Netherlands and Ireland. The reports was seized on by ministers as Brexit negotiations about Britain's future relationship with the EU get under way. The Government wants a trade deal with the EU while also seeking to use the UK's new-found freedom from Brussels rules to sign a string of agreements with countries around the world including the US. Trade secretary Liz Truss said: 'The UK is an exporting superpower and these new statistics show that UK companies are exporting record levels of goods and services. As a newly independent trading nation, we will strike new trade deals with key partners across the world, open up new markets and make it even easier for our businesses to meet global demand.' Britain is becoming less reliant on the EU for trade, according to the ONS report. While British firms sold 170.6billion of goods to EU countries in 2019, exports to the rest of the world hit 201.5billion. That meant non-EU countries accounted for a record 54 per cent of exports last year, up from 40 per cent at the turn of the century. Pablo Shah, senior economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, said the surge in exports last year may have saved the UK from recession. But striking a cautious tone, he added: 'This exposes significant underlying weakness, and suggests that a slowdown in international trade or in the economies of major export partners could well pull the rug out from under the feet of the UK economy.' A major source of concern is the impact of the coronavirus on China where the death toll has topped 1,000. Exports of UK goods to China rose by more than 40 per cent last year to over 26billion. With the Chinese economy set to slow sharply as the spread of the virus forces factories, shops and other firms to close their doors, it is feared that demand will not be as strong this year. Overall, Britain ran a trade deficit of 29.3billion last year, as 718.3billion of imports outweighed 689billion of exports. There was a goods trade deficit of 129.6billion and a trade in services surplus of 100.3billion. Cars were the biggest goods export, though the value fell 4.5 per cent to 31.6billion amid a shift from diesel engines to greener alternatives. Among the fastest growing exports were fish and shellfish, rising 13.1 per cent to 2.1billion. Photo credit: Hearst Owned From Town & Country At Los Angeles International Airport recently, the handsome chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant was detained for trying to bring into the country an unusual cargo: 40 frozen piranhas. In a duffel bag, no less. Virgilio Martinez, whose restaurant, Central, in Lima, Peru, is ranked among the worlds best, claimed to be unfamiliar with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection list of restricted species. And who can blame him? The number of prohibited imports is so vastfrom the sublime (poulet de Bresse, widely considered the Rolls-Royce of chicken) to the ridiculous (Kinder Surprise eggs)that its easier to keep up with the ever-multiplying Kardashians. Whats next? asks designer Josie Natori. You almost need a road map to find out whats allowed and not allowed. Its so hard to keep track. Photo credit: Hearst Owned Its a state of affairs thats likely to become even more of a head-scratcher in 2020 and beyond. While some states, such as Illinois, have rolled back laws on, say, recreational marijuana, other states are taking the opposite tack on more extravagant highs. Beginning in 2022, the sale of foie gras (the fattened liver of duck or goose) will be illegal in New York City; transgressors could face up to $2,000 in fines. Motivated by concerns over animal cruelty (mostly over the process of gavage, or force-feeding, which is how most but not all foie gras is produced), the ban by the city council has chefsespecially those working in upscale French kitchensup in arms in a way not seen since beluga caviar was banned 15 years ago. The proposed ban will undeniably affect upstate duck farmers and the thousand or so New York City restaurants that serve foie gras, but the sacre bleulevel indignation (Will they come for veal next? Not my truffles!) is nothing compared to the fits of pique gripping California as the state readies itself for a possible ban on exotic skins. Having successfully outlawed the sale of all new fur products statewide (beginning in 2023), Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill enforcing a ban on the import or sale of crocodile and alligator skins effective January 2020. Story continues Its ridiculous, says Farah Makras, a San Francisco socialite and fashion plate. The ways that animals are raised or whether they are treated well is the problem, not customers. Photo credit: Hearst Owned That is an opinion shared, not surprisingly, by Jason Stalvey, a New York designer of high-end accessories made from alligator. He sees exotic skins as collateral damage in fashions race to embrace more ethical production practices. Unfortunately, taking a stand against exotics actually works against sustainable efforts that have been in place and overseen by the government for the last 40 years, says Stalvey, whose namesake line counts Beyonce and Gigi Hadid as fans. A federal judge appears to agree, having issued a temporary restraining order against the ban after the state of Louisiana sued California, claiming that the regulation could hurt its economy. A hearing wont be held until late April. Should animal rights activists prevail, its safe to assume their patrician adversaries everywhere, from Pacific Heights to Pacific Palisades, will find a way to bypass regulators. When they originally banned fur in San Francisco, everyone was going to Los Angelesor even just 10 minutes outside San Francisco, Makras says. And were so close to Nevada. People will just go to Reno or Vegas. Someone will make millions opening a little fur shop just over the border. Its amusing to imagine the lengths to which the one percent might go to acquire their decadent but outlawed goodiesgrandes dames going through customs with Birkins stuffed with tins of beluga! Snakeskin minibags concealed under wigs! Third or fourth homes in Idaho! Well, as a last resort they could just bring in everything, from absinthe to Cuban cigars to underaged raw-milk cheese, on their private jets, as theyve always done. As one executive from a marquee label known for its prized exotics confided (on condition of anonymity), Luxury clients are highly mobile They go where the inventory is! And its not as though they can get in trouble any deeper than the odd fine. The onus, after all, falls mainly on the retailers. There is no exotic skin or fur fashion police coming after you, quips Emily Holt, a former Vogue editor and owner of the tony Bay Area boutique Hero Shop. Photo credit: Hearst Owned Dont be so sure. After all, it wasnt so long ago that the members of the Shiny Set, as Nicholas Coleridge famously called Americas couture-wearing dames in his book The Fashion Conspiracy, were shocked to discover that one of their newfound luxuries, the shahtoosh shawl (that gossamer-thin, mylar-warm, status-conferring, handwoven scarf from Kashmir that went from nowhere to everywhere in the late 1980s and early 90s), was in fact on the banned list of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Longtime readers will recall that in the summer of 1999 more than 100 ladies who lunch, including Nan Kempner, were served subpoenas ordering them to appear before a grand jury and to bring with them any and all shahtoosh shawlsand items made from the Tibetan antelope, chiru, or ibex. As it turns out, the animals were being slaughtered in great numbers by poachers. It was the biggest slap in the face of society since Dewi Sukarno terrorized the scene. What do you mean, people have to turn in their shahtooshes? Pat Buckley asked a reporter at the time. Some of our friends will have to call a moving van. The viability of the California skin ban is unresolved, but if the shahtoosh smackdown taught socialites anything, its that they need to be creative if they want to save their skins. Says Makras, If there is a will, there is a way. This story appears in the March 2020 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW You Might Also Like Olivia Wilde made her directorial debut with Booksmart in 2019, but one of the actresss next projects will be more about whats happening behind the scenes. During day two of the 2020 MAKERS Conference, the 35-year-old told Katie Couric shes focused on encouraging more women to direct their first film hoping to build a pipeline of talented female directors that will disrupt the boys club in Hollywood. We're used to this narrative of this scrappy young film school guy that could be the next Steven [Spielberg], Wilde told Couric. Theres not as many people to draw from with women .... women, who out of the gate who had something, so we need to empower more women to have their first film made. After gaining critical acclaim for Booksmart a coming-of-age film about two teenage girls Wilde says she feels a responsibility to lift up other women around her and give them opportunities to thrive. I believe deeply in this idea of once you're in that spot, you have to start mentoring other women and do what the men have done for years, which is give the job to their buddies or someone who looks just like them, Wilde said. The actress described taking this approach with Kaitlyn Devers, one of the 23-year-old stars of Booksmart, after Devers expressed an interest in directing. Olivia Wilde and Katie Couric speak onstage during the 2020 MAKERS Conference on February 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for MAKERS) She has a band and so I said, You have an easy way to do this. Build your [music] video, start your reel, Wilde recalled of her advice. I think it's about encouraging but also helping them get the job make the calls, help people get in the room. For a long time, I feel for one woman to feel she was breaking through all the barriers and glass ceiling, there was this sense that I must go at it alone because if I bring others with me, it'll be hard to get through this small crack in the ceiling. But Wilde says thats changing. I have even felt that it was being part of a boys club, and now it's a part of being part of a girls club proudly, said Wilde. For a long time, it was like, if I hang with the guys, I'll be more powerful, and that really shifted for me over the past couple years. Wilde revealed she now thinks about who her collaborators and mentors are, and realized that women, not men, have helped her get in the door. It's not about getting in with the dudes, stated Wilde. Its about finding a woman who totally believes in you and understands your situation and can actually empower you in a real way. Story continues For Wilde, that woman has been Little Women director Greta Gerwig, who has shared names of people she trusts for Wilde to use something thats more powerful than it might seem. By recommending them to me, she's making them unavailable for her projects, Wilde revealed. But she so wants to support me and my next endeavor that she's like, Okay, you have to call these five people. They're my trusted allies. Gerwig and Wildes relationship is a perfect encapsulation of the change that the actress hopes to bring herself. Sharing your brain trust, sharing something you've learned ... that has a huge effect, Wilde admitted. But for a long time, people have felt, like, Okay, I have to protect these secrets for my own success. Watch Wildes full session below: Read more about the 2020 MAKERS Conference Follow the 2020 Makers Conference livestream at Makers.com. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One US Air Force The Pentagon's 2021 budget request included a new paint job for the next version of Air Force One, the president's personal jet. The new colors would be a change from the scheme introduced under President John F. Kennedy, under whom the presidency also got its first jet-powered aircraft. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The Pentagon's latest budget request, released on Monday, revealed a new paint scheme for Air Force One, which some observers say looks a lot like President Donald Trump's own private jet. The new red, white, and blue paint job would be a change from the light blue color scheme designed by President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, in the 1960s and which has appeared on every presidential aircraft since. On October 19, 1962, Boeing delivered a highly modified version of the civilian 707-320B airliner with the serial number 62-26000. It would be tasked with Special Air Missions and get the call sign "SAM Two-six-thousand." It was the first jet aircraft built specifically for the US president, and when he was on board the call sign changed to "Air Force One," which was adopted in 1953 for use by planes carrying the president. The SAM 26000 would carry eight presidents in its 36-year career Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton as well as countless heads of state, diplomats, and dignitaries. Below, you can take a tour of the SAM 26000, which is now on display at the National Museum of the Air Force and which one Air Force historian said could justifiably be called "the most important historical airplane in the world." President John F. Kennedy was the first to use the new presidential jet. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One entry National Museum of the US Air ForceAt Kennedy's request, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and industrial designer Raymond Loewy developed a new paint scheme for the plane. Story continues Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force Source: US Air Force In addition to the blue and white colors they picked, the words "United States of America" were painted along the fuselage, and a US flag was painted on the tail. Kennedy reportedly chose the font because it resembled the lettering on an early version of the Constitution. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force Source: US Air Force, Michael Beschloss In June 1963, the plane flew Kennedy to Berlin, where he delivered his "Ich bin ein Berliner," or "I am a Berliner," speech. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force During the flight into Berlin, "The Russians put MiGs (fighter planes) up on both our wings so we would stay in the corridor over East Germany to West Berlin. They didn't want us to spy," said Col. John Swindal, who became commander of Air Force One at the start of Kennedy's presidency. Source: US Air Force A few months later, on November 22, 1963, the plane was witness to a more tragic scene, carrying John F. Kennedy's casket back to Washington, DC, after his assassination in Dallas. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air ForceThat afternoon, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson helped staffers pull the the casket into the rear of the plane, where seats had been removed to make space. Johnson was sworn in as president on the plane prior to takeoff. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force Retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Hames, who worked as a steward on Air Force One between 1960 and 1975, was one of the crew members who helped remove seats to make room for the casket. "We served a lot of beverages (Scotch) on the way back," Hames said in 1998. "It was a long ride back to Washington. Nobody wanted to eat. Mrs. Kennedy was in shock. She still had on the blood-stained clothes." Source: CNN, The New York Times "You can stand on that spot where President Kennedy's casket came in you think about the horror of what was going on and the shock of what happened," Underwood said. "You can look forward toward the nose of the aircraft and know that's where the transfer of power took place, and you can see where Mrs. Kennedy sat near the body of her slain husband." Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force Source: CNN After takeoff at 2:47 p.m., Swindal, Air Force One's pilot at the time, took the plane up to the unusually high altitude of 41,000 feet, which was the aircraft's ceiling. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force Source: The New York Times, US Air Force "He didn't have any idea whether this was part of a large conspiracy," Swindal's son said after his death in 2006. "He wasn't going to take any chances with a new president in the plane." Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force Source: The New York Times The SAM 26000 played a prominent role in the presidencies after Kennedy as well. Boeing VC-137C Air Force One National Museum of the US Air Force In 1998, retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Hames, a steward on Air Force One between 1960 and 1975, said the SAM 26000 "was so much faster that we had less time to prepare meals, but we got the job done." Kennedy was a "great person for soup. It was a comfort food for him," Hames told The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1998. "President Johnson was kind of different. He told me that any beef prepared aboard Air Force One had to be well done. He didn't care for rare beef the way the group from New England did." Nixon "ate fairly light ... cottage cheese," Hames said. "President Ford ate almost anything, but he was in such a short time." In 1964, Johnson invited reporter Frank Cormier and two colleagues into the plane's bedroom for an improvised press conference. Johnson, who had just given a speech under the hot sun, "removed his shirt and trousers," while answering their questions and then "shucked off his underwear" and kept talking while "standing buck naked and waving his towel for emphasis." Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN In 1970, the plane shuttled Henry Kissinger, then Nixon's national security adviser, on 13 separate trips to secret peace talks with the North Vietnamese in Paris. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: US Air Force In February 1972, the SAM 26000 flew Nixon to the People's Republic of China for his "Journey for Peace," making him the first US president to establish ties with the Communist-run country. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: US Air Force As Nixon exited the plane in China, a "burly" aide "blocked the aisle" to keep staffers from following Nixon, Kissinger said later. Nixon didn't want anyone messing up his photo with the Chinese premier. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN Three months after ferrying him to China, the SAM 26000 took Nixon on an unprecedented visit to the Soviet Union. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Unsuccessful presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey was reportedly given a ride on the plane by President Richard Nixon, according to retired Chief Master Sgt. Stan Goodwin. During the trip between Washington and Minnesota, Humphrey made 150 phone calls to tell people he'd finally made it aboard Air Force One. During a week of meetings with Soviet leaders, Nixon reached a number of agreements. One set the framework for a joint space flight in 1975. Another was the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT), which contained a number of measures to limit the manufacture of strategic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, US Air Force In December 1972, the plane was relegated to backup duty after the Air Force got another Boeing VC-137C with the serial number 72-7000. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: US Air Force But the plane continued carrying high-ranking officials on important trips. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air ForceIn October 1981, it took former presidents Carter, Nixon, and Ford on an uneasy trip to Egypt for the funeral of President Mohammed Anwar Sadat, who had been assassinated a few days before. Then-President Ronald Reagan did not attend because of security concerns. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: UPI Secretary of State Alexander Haig, as Reagan's official representative, took the stateroom, leaving other officials with regular seats. The former presidents were "somewhat ill at ease," Carter said later. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN "It was one and only time that I'd seen three presidents and two secretaries of state standing in line to go to the men's room," said retired Chief Master Sgt. Stan Goodwin, who manned the radio on the flight. Things were also tense among staffers on the trip. They reportedly bickered over who got bigger cuts of steak at dinner. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: Ronald Kessler, CNN But it was Nixon, whose resignation in 1974 led to Ford taking office, who "surprisingly eased the tension" with "courtesy, eloquence, and charm," Carter wrote later. Carter and Nixon's interaction on the plane led to them developing a friendship. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: Douglas Brinkley In March 1983, the SAM 26000 carried Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the US. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air ForceIt left the presidential fleet in 1990, but continued to carry government officials on official trips. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: US Air Force Before the Gulf War started in 1991, it took Secretary of State James Baker to talks with Iraqi leaders about the invasion of Kuwait. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: US Air Force Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern who became embroiled in President Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998, flew on the plane during a trip to Europe with Defense Secretary William Cohen. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN The SAM 26000's last time carrying a serving president came in January 1998, when it was called into duty to pick up Clinton. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air ForceThe Boeing 707 that was acting as Air Force One got stuck in the mud at Willard Airport in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The SAM 26000, waiting nearby as an alternate, was called in to pick up the president. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN, CNN The SAM 26000 was officially retired in March 1998, after logging more than 13,000 flying hours and covering more than 5 million miles. While it made more 200 trips in 1997 alone, the lack of parts for the plane as well as its high exhaust and noise levels led to its retirement. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN, The Cincinnati Enquirer Then-Vice President Al Gore took the plane's final flight, traveling from Washington to Columbia, South Carolina. "If history itself had wings, it probably would be this very aircraft," Gore said after the trip. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN, The Cincinnati Enquirer In May 1998, the plane arrived at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. In a nationally televised event, the Air Force retired the plane and turned it over to the National Museum of the Air Force. Screen Shot 2018 05 13 at 6.04.19 PM National Museum of the Air Force Source: US Air Force In 2013, with the imposition of mandatory budget cuts called sequestration, the Air Force ordered the museum to save money, which led the museum to shut down the buses that took visitors to the plane. Screen Shot 2018 05 13 at 6.04.35 PM National Museum of the Air Force Source: CNN By 2016, however, the plane had become a centerpiece at the museum, with a prime location in a $40 million hangar that opened that summer. Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 Air Force One National Museum of the Air Force Source: NPR Read the original article on Business Insider LONDONPolice in Northern Ireland charged a 52-year-old man on Wednesday with murdering Lyra McKee, a journalist shot dead during a riot involving Irish Republican Army dissidents last year. The killing of McKee caused widespread shock in a region still scarred by decades of violence known as the Troubles, in which more than 3,500 people died. The killing of McKee caused widespread shock in a region still scarred by decades of violence known as the Troubles, in which more than 3,500 people died. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the man, who has not been named, was charged with murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organization. The suspect is due to appear in court in the city of Londonderry on Thursday. McKee, 29, was observing anti-police rioting in the city, also known as Derry, when she was killed in April 2019. The New IRA, a small paramilitary group that opposes Northern Irelands peace process, said its members shot McKee by accident while firing at police. McKee was a rising star of journalism, who had written powerfully about growing up gay in Northern Ireland and the struggles of the generation of cease-fire babies raised after the 1998 Good Friday peace accord that ended three decades of sectarian violence. The IRA and most other paramilitary groups have disarmed, but a small number of dissidents refused to abandon violence, and have targeted police and prison officials in bombings and shootings. Hundreds of people attended McKees funeral, including the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland and political leaders from Northern Irelands Protestant and Catholic communities. Her death helped spur a successful effort to get feuding politicians to revive Northern Irelands power-sharing government, which had collapsed in 2017. Police Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said the charge would not end the investigation into McKees death. I have always said that a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing, he said. Buying in FMCG, metals, financials and auto counters along with positive global cues helped equity market to settle in the green for the second day in a row on Wednesday. The S&P BSE Sensex rallied 350 points or 0.85 per cent to end at 41,566 while NSE's Nifty50 settle at 12,201, up 93 points or 0.77 per cent. FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever (HUL) zoomed over 5 per cent to end at Rs 2,262 apiece on the BSE. It was the top gainer on the Sensex. The stock hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 2,271 during the day. HULs m-cap stood at Rs 4,89,464 crore (Rs 4.89 trillion). ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries (RIL), HDFC Bank, Infosys, and TCS were the other major contributors to the index's gains. Broader market, on the other hand, underperformed frontline indices. The S&P BSE MidCap index slipped 47 points or 0.29 per cent to close at 15,789 levels while the S&P BSE SmallCap index lost 13 points or 0.09 per cent to settle at 14,737. Among the sectoral indices on the NSE, Nifty FMCG gained the most - up nearly 2 per cent to 30,986 points, followed by Nifty Metal and Nifty Auto indices. Buzzing Stocks Shares of were locked in 5 per cent upper circuit at Rs 20.90 on the BSE on Wednesday after reports emerged saying that a US fund house is eyeing a big stake in the cash-strapped bank. The private sector lender's stock has been frozen upper circuit for the fourth straight day. In the past week, the stock has rallied 41 per cent against 1 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. Shares of Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) slipped 10 per cent to Rs 172 on the BSE on Wednesday in an otherwise strong market after the US health regulator rejected the cancer drug application. SPARC on Tuesday said the company has received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for the new drug application (NDA) for Taclantis (Paclitaxel Injection Concentrate for Suspension). GLOBAL MARKETS Global share nudged higher on Wednesday amid hopes the worst of the coronavirus in China may have passed, although prevailing uncertainty about the outbreak kept investors wary. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.9 per cent while Chinese shares reversed early losses to trade up 0.41 per cent. Oil prices extended gains as China reported its lowest daily number of new coronavirus cases since late January, stoking investor hopes that fuel demand in the worlds second-largest oil consumer may begin to recover from the epidemic. For over 70 years, Fender has championed musicians who push the boundaries of guitar forward and Fender Next represents the iconic guitar-maker's continued commitment to that legacy. The inaugural program was met with much success, as members of the 2019 Fender Next class such as Kingfish, Jessie Reyez, Larkin Poe and Ashley McBryde were all nominated for Grammys in 2020, with six collective nods among them. Program alumni like Sam Fender, Wallows, lovelytheband, Cautious Clay and King Princess also took their careers to new heights in 2019. "It was incredible to see four Fender Next artists from our inaugural group nominated for several awards this season, and we're proud to have provided resources and supported them on their musical journey," said Fender CMO Evan Jones. "This new class of artists has taken guitar in a new, innovative direction, and Fender is proud to support their advancement to the next phase of their careers. These players show that guitar is alive and thriving in music, as it continues to be used in fresh, inventive ways across all genres." In 2020, Fender will expand the fan interactivity of Fender Next across several mediums. To accomplish this, the brand has launched a dedicated microsite serving as the hub for all things Fender Next - from weekly updates on the program's artists, to tour and album announcements, and even news on upcoming Fender events. Along with these regular updates, Fender will spotlight one of the program's 25 artists each week on the microsite and across the brand's social media channels. These features will include live performance content, interviews, and gear recommendations directly from the artists. Watch and read the first feature on The Black Pumas here. Finally, Fender will continue to expand the experiential consumer touch points of Fender Next in 2020 by holding interactive live events across the globe that feature Fender Next Artists. To kick this off, Fender will return to SXSW 2020 at the legendary Mohawk in Austin, Texas to host live artist performances for fans. This year's Fender Next group includes a batch of 25 rising artists (9 US artists and 16 global) across genres, generations, genders and backgrounds that are expanding the world of guitar in music and culture. The global artists in the 2020 class were hand-selected by Fender's best-in-class artist marketing team via a submission process and span genres, such as pop, country/Americana, R&B, hip hop, indie and alternative rock. This diverse group is more than 50 percent female and represents the face of guitar around the world with acts hailing from 10 countries across five continents. Artists include: Black Pumas (US), Omar Apollo (US), Orville Peck (Canada), The Regrettes (US), Beabadoobee (UK), Dana Williams (US), Ambre (US), MIYAVI (Japan), girl in red (Norway), SE SO NEON (South Korea), Mdou Moctar (Niger), Skegss (Australia), Phum Viphurit (Thailand), Bones UK (UK), Easy Life (UK), Eliza & The Delusionals (Australia), Joy Crookes (UK), Katie Pruitt (US), Keshi (US), Leonardo Aguilar (Mexico), Madison Cunningham (US), Running Touch (Australia), The Marias (US), White Reaper (US), Yola (UK) and more. A full list of Fender Next artists, including their bios and headshots, can be found here. Watch the Fender Next sizzle video here. "Since 1946, Fender has been supporting artists at every stage of their career and our second annual Fender Next program continues our commitment to elevate and amplify artists that are moving music forward today," said Matt Watts, VP of Marketing at Fender. "We're excited to introduce this year's Fender Next class, which will have our dedicated support in reaching new audiences through our world-class marketing efforts. It's truly a globally-diverse group of extraordinary artists that are sure to inspire the next generation of fans and players." Aimed at supporting up-and-coming musicians, Fender will drive increased exposure for the new class of Fender Next artists through the brand's award-winning content, advertisements, experiential marketing and social channels with approximately 9 million fans. Depending on the act, possible benefits include: Select guitar, amp, effects pedals, accessories and audio equipment serving artist needs across the signal chain Fender's industry-leading marketing efforts, including: social media promotion and takeovers and PR/communications support, as well as the opportunity to be featured in Fender marketing launches and ads To bring fans even closer to their favorite artists, Fender will collaborate with musicians to develop social media/campaign creative content, as well as "Fender Sessions" featuring intimate performances and conversations with artists reflecting their passion points and latest releases. That content will be distributed by exclusive partners, as well as on Fender social media and artist channels Inclusion on official playlists through music streaming services, like Spotify, Apple Music and more Inclusion of select artist songs in Fender's digital learning platform, Fender Play, and new play-along platform, Fender Songs For additional information on Fender Next, Fender products or to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender. ABOUT FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION: Since 1946, Fender has revolutionized music and culture as one of the world's leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC)whose portfolio of brands includes Fender, Squier, Gretsch guitars, Jackson, EVH and Charvelfollows a player-centric approach to crafting the highest-quality instruments and digital experiences across genres. Since 2015, Fender's digital arm has introduced a new ecosystem of products and interactive experiences to accompany players at every stage of their musical journey. This includes innovative apps and learning platforms designed to complement Fender guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories and pro-audio gear and inspire players through an immersive musical experience. FMIC is dedicated to unlocking the power of musical expression for all players, from beginners to history-making legends. SOURCE Fender Musical Instruments Related Links http://www.fender.com Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the first day of the NATO ministers meeting, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the bloc's member states have agreed to take on some of training of Iraqi troops that had previously been carried out by the US-led coalition, Sputnik reports. "Today, allied ministers ... agreed in principle to enhance NATO's training mission," Stoltenberg told reporters. He went on to say that the bloc states are in Iraq "on the invitation of Baghdad, adding that they will only stay there as long as they are "welcome." Prior to the meeting, Stoltenberg held another press conference on Tuesday, touching upon the recent escalation of tensions in Syria's Idlib Province as well as the possible deployment of new anti-missile systems in Europe. The meeting was focused on key issues, including the Alliances training mission in Iraq and the fight against international terrorism. Ministers will also discuss NATOs presence in Afghanistan, the challenges posed by Russias missile systems and NATO-EU cooperation. Mandan-area District 34 voters could see a Republican primary challenge for who is the party's North Dakota Senate candidate. District 34 Republicans met on Tuesday for their convention, endorsing Reps. Todd Porter and Nathan Toman and former North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Al Anderson for the district's open Senate seat. Small business owner Doug Larsen also offered his name for the Senate endorsement. Larsen said he is weighing whether he will compete with Anderson in the June 9 primary election for the Senate nomination. He had announced his candidacy on Friday, after talking for a long time with his wife, Amy, about a run. Longtime Sen. Dwight Cook, R-Mandan, is retiring and not seeking reelection, leaving District 34's Senate seat open. Anderson said he looks forward to the primary and the process ahead. "It doesn't matter if I have competition or not -- that's always a good thing; and so from my standpoint, I'm just going to work real hard, get out and touch as many people as I can, find out what the key issues are for them and move forward," he said Wednesday. Anderson was state commerce commissioner from 2011-16. He was appointed by then-Gov. Jack Dalrymple after retiring from 30 years in the oil and gas industry, including six years as manager of Tesoro's Mandan Refinery, now owned by Marathon Petroleum. He also served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He announced his candidacy more than six months ago. Larsen, who also is a lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota National Guard, said he will decide by the end of the month if he will pursue the primary. He said he chose to run out of an interest in "financial transparency and accountability," seeing the right time in his family life for an election bid. He'd like to see more serious conversations about property tax relief. "I think it might be time to put some fresh eyes on this, some business eyes, some people that have been small business leaders, not necessarily managers," Larsen said. Porter, first elected in 1998, owns Metro Area Ambulance. Toman, first elected in 2012, works in information systems for Ducks Unlimited. Republican District 34 Chairman Cody Schulz said about 125 people attended the endorsing convention. Anderson, Larsen, Porter and Toman were the only candidates, he said. "I was very excited about the number of participants as well as new participants," Schulz said. "There was a lot of energy in the room." District 34 Democrats so far have no candidates after their Feb. 1 endorsing convention. Party spokesman Alex Rohr said "nobody is ready to announce in District 34 yet." Legislative candidates have until April 6 to file petitions or certificates of endorsement with North Dakota's secretary of state to be included on the June 9 primary ballot. Twenty-three Senate seats and 46 House seats are on North Dakota's 2020 ballot. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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 list, which does not accuse any of the companies of illegal activity, was compiled at the request of the U.N. Human Rights Council following a 2016 U.N. resolution passed at the behest of Arab countries. The resolution mandated the naming of companies that were bolstering settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights through certain kinds of business activities. Those include providing surveillance gear, equipment to either build settlement structures or demolish Palestinian ones, banking and financial services, and tools used to usurp water or land. ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor officials are considering imposing a carbon tax on the citys internal operations that rely on fossil fuels and generate carbon emissions. Revenue from it could help fund climate-action efforts to reduce the citys carbon footprint, Tom Crawford, the citys chief financial officer, told City Council this week. This would be a mechanism for us to self-fund internally, he said, adding it could have a $30,000 impact on the general fund next fiscal year, plus impacts on other city funds. Council will learn more about it during a March 30 budget presentation related to the citys sustainability efforts and proposed carbon-neutrality plan, Crawford said. The goal is to both encourage conversion to more sustainable practices and capture costs associated with current carbon emissions, City Administrator Howard Lazarus said of the carbon tax idea. Its not a penalty. Its an inducement for us to look at how were going to make the conversion. As for what aspects of the citys operations might be taxed for carbon emissions, Lazarus said he thinks the biggest issue is the citys vehicle fleet. The tax could help encourage more conversion to electric vehicles, something the city has gradually started to do in recent years. Its a way to be responsible and find the funds that we need to make the conversions, Lazarus said, adding the carbon tax could start with the new fiscal year July 1. Mayor Christopher Taylor said hes excited about it, noting its something the citys sustainability office has explored to help meet the citys 2030 carbon-neutrality goal. Im excited to see how we can use it to better understand the carbon impact of city operations so that, within the municipal organization context, we can internalize the externalities, he said, adding theres also work to do communitywide. City Council approved a resolution in 2017 calling on federal lawmakers to put a price on carbon to account for the societal cost of carbon and reduce pollution. At the council meeting where the city carbon tax idea was floated this week, a city resident aired concerns about the climate impacts of a trip to Germany that some city officials, including Taylor, are planning to take in May. Theyre going to Germany to discuss climate-action initiatives with Ann Arbors sister city Tubingen, Taylor said. Ann Arbor resident Ken Garber, a science writer and climate activist involved with the local chapter of The Climate Mobilization, spoke out before council, arguing flying is the worst thing a person can do to the climate. Theres a reason why climate activist Greta Thunberg and prominent climate scientists refuse to fly, said Garber, who points to the website NoFlyClimateSci.org as a good resource about why some either dont fly or fly less these days. In addition to CO2 emissions, burning jet fuel releases nitrogen oxide, which converts to ozone in the lower atmosphere, Garber told council. Now, ozone higher in the stratosphere is good because it blocks the suns harmful UV radiation, he said. But in the troposphere where jets fly, its a powerful greenhouse gas. Jet engines also produce condensation trails known as contrails, which contribute to the formation of heat-trapping clouds, amplifying the greenhouse effect, Garber said. A person flying roundtrip between Detroit and Germany is responsible for the equivalent of 6.73 metric tons of CO2, more greenhouse gas than the average American emits in a full year of driving, Garber said. A group of city officials flying to Germany could wipe out a years worth of emissions reductions from a 142-panel solar array installed atop a city fire station, Garber said. Taylor said earlier this month up to six city officials could go on the trip, per Tubingens invitation, and the city would purchase carbon offsets to account for the emissions. Thats no solution, Garber told council this week, arguing offsets almost never take into account the full impacts and non-CO2 heating effects of air travel. There are other reasons why they dont work, but every flight is adding demand to the aviation industry and encouraging further investment in expanded runways, terminals, aircraft investment that should be going into renewables, he said. Garber said he couldnt claim moral superiority on the issue, as he has flown a lot during his lifetime despite knowing the harm he was inflicting on the planet. I only quit flying four years ago, so I speak out of a sense of shame and belated responsibility to our young people, he told city officials. Im not asking you not to fly. I just thought you should know the facts. City officials plan to have a deeper discussion about carbon-neutrality efforts March 30. One of the citys projects in the works is a potentially $50 million solar farm. Lazarus will present his 2020-21 budget recommendations to council April 20, followed by a public hearing May 4 and council adoption May 18. Staff is working at a brisk pace to put together the carbon-neutrality plan, he said. Im confident it will be a really great plan and one that we can take action on, he said. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor takes next step on potentially $50M solar farm Ann Arbor unveils concept for carbon-neutral fire station of the future Task force releases draft recommendations for Ann Arbor central park Ann Arbor pedestrian, stormwater tunnel construction to begin soon Strong opposition to Native American mascots, team names shown in University of Michigan research New Delhi, Feb 12 : A Delhi court on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Sharjeel Imam, a JNU student facing sedition charges. Imam, whose six-day judicial custody ended today, was nabbed from Kako in Bihar's Jehanabad district on January 28 for allegedly making seditious and inflammatory speeches against the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Following this, he was sent to police custody for five days which was further extended by three days. On February 6, he was sent to judicial custody for six days and was produced before court at the end of the remand period. The Crime Branch had registered a sedition case against him on January 26 for delivering a provocative speech on January 13 after its video went viral. Subsequently, he went into hiding and the police launched a manhunt to nab him. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh also followed suit and filed cases against him. In a purported video, Imam was seen talking about splitting the North-East from India to block the implementation of the NRC. I have stayed fairly quiet in recent months on matters political, even though we are right in the midst of a political season. That is not because Im not interested or not invested. I am both interested and invested. To be honest, Ive not made up my mind about who I will support when Michigan holds its primary. By then well have gone through Super Tuesday and well likely know who has the upper hand in the Democratic field (my party affiliation). One of the reasons why Ive remained quiet is that there is so much noise out there that Ive not felt as if my voice would add anything to the conversation. Ive not felt as if I could help bring some clarity to the situation. I am profoundly disturbed by the current national political scene. We have a President who not only is breaking all norms but seems to delight in it. I didnt have much hope for him going in and hes shown himself to be even more narcissistic and dangerous than I could have imagined in 2016. The impeachment process ended as I feared, with the President feeling vindicated and free to do as he pleases. Whether the process was worth going through only time will tell, but unless the Democrats get their act together, he could end up back in the White House. Faith in the Public Square. At the same time, there is the danger of getting sucked into what is often called the swamp of politics (I don't believe politics is necessarily dirty, but power does corrupt). Thus, I've written another book focusing on the Lord's Prayer that I've titled Ultimate Allegiance, which serves to remind us that before any political allegiance, there is a higher allegiance to the realm of God, where justice, mercy, and humility reign. From a faith perspective, I do believe people of faith have a role to play in the public square. I've written a book that expresses that vision titledAt the same time, there is the danger of getting sucked into what is often called the swamp of politics (I don't believe politics is necessarily dirty, but power does corrupt). Thus, I've written another book focusing on the Lord's Prayer that I've titledwhich serves to remind us that before any political allegiance, there is a higher allegiance to the realm of God, where justice, mercy, and humility reign. So, Ive watched as a sizable portion of the Evangelical community has embraced this immoral and irreverent figure as their champion. The tragedy is that he is not the cause, but the symptom of something that runs deeper in our psyche. I believe that is rooted in fear. What produced him is fear of change, especially demographic change. The United States has never been a Christian nation in an official sense. However, from our earliest days, there has been a Protestant majority that has defined the nations identity, at least until recently. That is no longer true. For at least some in our midst, this is something to resist. That resistance is seen in anti-immigrant proclivities. We see it in anti-gay activities. We see it in Islamophobia and other forms of religious discrimination. Many outside the Christian community look at this and assume that this represents the Christian faith. The alternative voices are not being heard. That includes those who live within the evangelical community who dont back Trump and those of us outside that community (a community I once called home). There is another way, one that is just, is loving, and is humble. That path is not an easy one. Its not a quick fix either. No politician is going to save us from ourselves. One thing I do know is that while electing President is important, unless we pay attention to what happens locally, change will never come. It starts with city council and school board elections, county commissions and state legislatures. It involves voting for school bond measures and supporting cultural opportunities. Yes, electing a President is important but it is not the only thing. As far as the faith community, it will take a concerted effort to change the conversation. Ive tried in my preaching and writing and actions to exhibit a vision of justice and mercy and grace. I believe that for change to happen well have to start at the local level. With the changing demographics of our communities that will require interreligious cooperation. Public Health IOM prepared if coronavirus arrives IOM Government said 'extensive preparations' have been made in the event of the coronavirus arriving here. Plans to deal with an outbreak of an infectious disease within the community have been discussed by senior officers across government and all relevant actions are being undertaken. The Public Health IOM team is continuing to monitor the latest information and advice on coronavirus, based on guidance from Public Health England. Island residents can access the latest advice, alongside additional local information for those concerned about friends or family, on the Isle of Man Government website. There are currently no confirmed cases of coronavirus here - eight cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the UK. Travel advice remains under review as the situation develops - people returning to the Island in the last 14 days from mainland China, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau and who experience a cough, fever or shortness of breath should avoid contact with others, stay indoors and phone their GP or the Manx Emergency Doctor Service (MEDS). They should not visit the Emergency Department at Nobles or Ramsey Cottage Hospital in person. The UK Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to mainland China and has recommended that British nationals should leave the country if they can, to minimise their exposure to the virus. The Duchess of Cambridge ditched the wellies and anorak she wore for her morning visit to Ark Open Farm near Belfast this morning, for an apron, as she moved onto Social Bite cafe in Aberdeen this afternoon. Kate Middleton, 38, who is known as the Countess of Strathearn while in Scotland, is speaking to patrons as part of her tour of the UK to promote her landmark survey on the early years, looking at parents' experiences with young children. The mother-of-three looked stylish in a baby blue poloneck jumper, black skinny jeans and heeled boots as she joined the cook in the cafe's kitchen to help prepare food for the homeless. The visit was the final leg of the tour of the four nations, to promote the landmark survey on the early years, '5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives' conducted by Ipsos MORI. The Duchess of Cambridge ditched the wellies and anorak she wore for her morning visit to Ark Open Farm near Belfast this morning, for an apron, as she moved onto Social Bite cafe in Aberdeen this afternoon Wearing her hair in loose curls and sporting gold drop leaf earrings, Kte was pictured meeting locals to talk about her survey. The Duchess is meeting with employees, supported volunteers and customers who have experienced homelessness, to hear how experiences in the early years of life can have a significant effect on lifelong outcomes. Following visits in England and Wales last month, Kate today took the survey to Northern Ireland and Scotland where she heard from local people about how experiences in the early years can have a significant impact on later life. The final day of the Duchess' nationwide tour comes as the number of responses to her survey reached 200,000, making it the biggest ever survey of its kind conducted in the UK, with nine days to go before it closes on 21st February. Kate Middleton, 38, who is known as the Countess of Strathearn while in Scotland, is speaking to patrons as part of her tour of the UK to promote her landmark survey on the early years, '5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives' The mother-of-three looked stylish in a baby blue poloneck jumper, black skinny jeans and heeled boots as she joined the cook in the cafe's kitchen to help prepare food for the locals The Duchess of Cambridge said: 'Over the last eight years I've had the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life, facing all sorts of challenges. What has struck me most is that so often the challenges people face in later life, whether mental health, homelessness or family breakdown can so often be traced back to experiences in their earliest years. 'It prompted me to delve deeper into the early years landscape and learn more from the experts, the scientists and the amazing people providing services on the ground. But now is the time to get the views from everyone in society. 'I wanted to hear directly from people across the UK and it's great to have been able to talk to people in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and across England about their experiences. I want to thank the 200,000 people who have filled it out because each and every response will help show us what society really thinks about raising the next generation. I am excited to hear from even more people before it closes on 21st February.' Wearing her hair in loose curls and sporting gold drop leaf earrings, Kte was pictured meeting locals to talk about her survey The Duchess is meeting with employees, supported volunteers and customers who have experienced homelessness, to hear how experiences in the early years of life can have a significant effect on lifelong outcomes This afternoon the Duchess visited the Ark Open Farm near Belfast and spoke to parents and grandparents from across the community about the themes covered in her survey, including the role that parents and society play in ensuring children have the best possible start in life. The final stop on Her Royal Highness' tour of the four nations was the Social Bite cafe in Aberdeen where she spoke with employees, volunteers and customers who have experienced homelessness about how early childhood experiences can have a lasting impact. Social Bite runs social enterprise cafes across Scotland and distributes food and hot drinks to people experiencing homelessness. The organisation also employs staff who have experienced homelessness themselves. Conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of The Royal Foundation, '5 Big questions on the Under-Fives' aims to spark a national conversation on the early years that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come. The survey was launched on the 22nd January and follows eight years of work by The Duchess. It is designed to bring together the thoughts of as many people as possible recognising that everyone has a role in ensuring strong, healthy foundations for the youngest in our society that will positively affect their lifelong outcomes. The visit was the final leg of the tour of the four nations, to promote the landmark survey on the early years, '5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives' conducted by Ipsos MORI The findings should provide a vital source of information for the early years sector, helping it to better understand public perceptions of the importance of the early years, and the first-hand experiences of parents, families and carers. This public feedback will also help to focus Her Royal Highness' work through The Royal Foundation as she endeavours to provide children across the UK with the best foundations to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. To promote the survey, The Duchess visited MiniBrum at Birmingham Science Museum on 21st January and both Ely and Careau Children's Centre in Cardiff and HMP Send in Woking on 22nd January. She also visited LEYF Nursery in Southwark on 29th January. FEBRUARY 12, 2020 With the Texas primary elections less than a month away UTSA and the Council on Foreign Relations will today cohost Election 2020: U.S. Foreign Policy Forum, a nonpartisan event. The forum will feature former government officials from Republican and Democratic administrations discussing issues central to U.S. national security, especially those that are of particular interest to San Antonio. UTSA is providing a live feed to the event for individuals who cannot attend. UTSA is one of only four universities in the nation that was chosen to cohost a forum with the Council on Foreign Relations leading up to the 2020 caucuses and primaries. Forum panelists include Richard N. Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and former special assistant to George H.W. Bush; Stephen J. Hadley, former national security adviser to George W. Bush; Jeh Charles Johnson, former secretary of homeland security to Barack Obama; and Mary Beth Long, former assistant secretary of defense to George W. Bush. As Americans choose their next president, CFR can serve as a resource to help them understand the international issues at stake in the election, Haass said in a press release. [This event] will offer informed analysis of the global forces shaping our world today and how those issues affect citizens where they live. The conversation will delve into several critical foreign policy challenges facing the primary and general election candidates, such as how the U.S. should manage relations with Iran, how a trade war with China will affect the economy, how a U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement might benefit American workers, and how the situation in Venezuela can be improved. The forum will be moderated by Margaret E. Talev, White House and politics editor for Axios and a political analyst for CNN. As Americans choose their next president, CFR can serve as a resource to help them understand the international issues at stake. RICHARD N. HAASS, President of the Council on Foreign Relations The forum will be 78:30 p.m. in the Student Union, Retama Auditorium (SU 2.02.02), on UTSAs Main Campus. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The forum is free and open to the public, but all guests are asked to register online in advance. Parking will be available in the Ximenes Avenue Garage, located between the Student Union and Applied Engineering & Technology Building. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Beirut, February 12, 2020 Iraqi authorities should conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the killing of Al-Rasheed TV chief executive officer Nizar Thanoun and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday morning, unidentified individuals with machine guns opened fire on Thanoun in front of his home in western Baghdads Al-Jamaa neighborhood, according to news reports and a report by Al-Rasheed TV. The attackers fired from a motorcycle without license plates and then fled the scene, according to those reports. Thanoun died at the scene, according to a report by the Press Freedom Advocacy Association in Iraq, a local press freedom group. Iraqi security forces cordoned off the scene and have opened an investigation into the killing, according to the report by Al-Rasheed TV. Iraqi authorities must conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing of Al-Rasheed CEO Nizar Thanoun and determine whether his killing was related to his work, said CPJs Middle East and North Africa Representative Ignacio Miguel Delgado. Iraqi authorities have an appalling record of letting killings go unpunishedincluding those of members of the mediawhich only encourages further deadly attacks. Al-Rasheed TV is a Baghdad-based broadcaster owned by Saad Assim al-Janabi, head of the Iraqi Republican Assembly Party, an opposition party that does not have any seats in parliament, according to those news reports. Thanoun was a senior member of the party, according to an obituary post on Facebook by al-Janabi. In November 2019, the broadcaster was among eight outlets that were suspended by Iraqs media regulator over their critical coverage of protests against alleged government mismanagement, as CPJ documented at the time. The three-month suspension was issued on November 12 and is set to expire today, according to CPJs research. The Iraqi Interior Ministry did not immediately reply to CPJs emailed request for comment. CPJ emailed Al-Rasheed TV today to ask if Thanoun or the network had received threats for their coverage, but did not immediately receive a response. On January 10, Dijlah TV reporter Ahmed Abdul Samad and camera operator Safaa Ghali were killed after unknown gunmen opened fire on their car in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, CPJ documented at the time. Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace, by Application (Aerial, Land, and Marine), Type (Push-pull, Pull-pull), Platform, Material, End-Use (Commercial, Defense, Non-Aero Military), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace is anticipated to grow from USD 8.8 billion in 2019 to USD 11.9 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. The ever-growing passenger traffic, rising expenditure by defense authorities, and increasing demand for commercial aircraft are expected to drive the mechanical control cables industry for military and aerospace. Major companies providing mechanical control cables are Triumph Group (US), Crane Aerospace & Electronics (US), and Elliott Manufacturing (US). Based on material, the jacket material segment is projected to grow with higher CAGR during the forecast period Based on material, the jacket material segment is expected to grow with a higher CAGR across the forecast period. Jackets are the outermost layer of wire. Without a jacket, cables are susceptible to abrasion, heat and oxidation damages, as well as weather-related damages. Jacket materials are categorized into thermoplastic and thermoset. Based on type, the push-pull segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in the mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace over the forecast period Push-pull control cables and rods are mechanical devices that are used in applications which actuate the predefined motion, i.e., forward and backwards motion in a particular direction. Such cables are used primarily in the flight control and landing gear systems of an aircraft. The increasing demand for commercial air travel, especially from emerging economies of Asia Pacific, is fueling the demand for new commercial aircraft. According to Boeing and Airbus forecast outlook, the world will require 39,620 and 33,070 new aircraft by 2035. North America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR across the forecast period According to the World Bank, the North American region contributes up to 28% (approximately) of the world's GDP. North America is also considered as a key region for maritime activities, and the growth of coastal shipping in this region is also propelling the demand for military ships. The US also procured 49,099 vehicles for its army and over 6,000 vehicles for its naval force in 2018. In June 2018, the US Army awarded a contract worth USD 258 million to General Dynamics Land Systems to modify 116 Stryker vehicles. Such modernizations will drive the market for mechanical components, such as mechanical control cables. Key Topics Covered 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 4.1 Attractive Opportunities in Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace 4.2 Mechanical Control Cable Market for Military and Aerospace, By Type 4.3 Mechanical Control Cable Market for Military and Aerospace, By Platform 4.4 Mechanical Control Cable Market for Military and Aerospace, By Region 5 Market Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Market Dynamics 5.2.1 Drivers 5.2.1.1 Increasing Air Passenger Traffic and Demand for Commercial Aircraft 5.2.1.2 Increasing Demand for Military Land Vehicles 5.2.1.3 Increasing Demand for Military Vessels 5.2.2 Restraints 5.2.2.1 Existing Backlog of Aircraft Deliveries 5.2.2.2 Absence of Major Military Vehicle OEMs in the Middle East and Asia Pacific 5.2.3 Opportunities 5.2.3.1 Presence of Aircraft Manufacturers in the Asia Pacific Region 5.2.3.2 Military Modernization Plans 5.2.4 Challenges 5.2.4.1 Complexities Associated With Manufacturing and Installing Wire Harness 6 Industry Trends 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Process Flow Chart for Mechanical Control Cables 6.2.1 Reeling Into Wire Harness 6.2.2 Twisting the Wire on the Wire Twisting Machine 6.2.3 Cutting, Coating, and Covering 6.2.4 Inspection and Dispatch 6.3 Criteria for Aerospace Mechanical Control Cables Selection 6.3.1 Fire Safety 6.3.1.1 Flammability 6.3.1.2 Smoke & Toxicity 6.3.2 Component Design 6.3.2.1 Weight 6.3.2.2 Strength & Stiffness 6.3.3 Airline Operations 6.3.3.1 Durability 6.3.3.2 Reparability 6.3.4 Manufacturing 6.3.4.1 Raw Materials 6.3.4.2 Reproducibility 6.4 Technology Trends 6.4.1 Fly-By-Optics 6.4.2 Lightweight Cables 7 Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace Market, By Type 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Push-Pull 7.2.1 Increased Demand for New Commercial Aircraft is Fueling the Adoption of Push-Pull Cables 7.3 Pull-Pull 7.3.1 Growth of Military Vehicles is Expected to Drive the Demand for Pull-Pull Cables 8 Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace, By Platform 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Aerial 8.2.1 Commercial Aviation 8.2.1.1 Narrow Body Aircraft 8.2.1.1.1 Increase in Domestic Travel and the Availability of Low-Cost Carriers is Increasing Demand for Narrow-Body Aircraft 8.2.1.2 Wide Body Aircraft 8.2.1.2.1 Large Aircraft Orders are Expected to Fuel the Wba Segment and Thereby Increase the Demand for Mccs 8.2.1.3 Very Large Aircraft 8.2.1.3.1 Growing Preference for Long-Haul Journeys is Expected to Drive This Segment 8.2.1.4 Regional Transport Aircraft 8.2.1.4.1 The Growing Presence of Domestic Airlines Drive the Market for Regional Transport Aircraft 8.2.2 Business & General Aviation 8.2.2.1 Business Jets 8.2.2.1.1 Growing Affordability of Travelers Drive the Business Jets Market 8.2.2.2 Helicopters 8.2.2.2.1 Production of Cost-Effective and Multi-Purpose Helicopters Increases the Demand for Mechanical Control Cables 8.2.2.3 General Aviation Aircraft 8.2.2.3.1 Increased Flight Training Activities is Driving This Segment 8.2.3 Military Aviation 8.2.3.1 Fighter Jets 8.2.3.1.1 Increasing Emphasis on Strengthening Combat Capabilities Expected to Drive the Demand for Fighter Jets 8.2.3.2 Transport Aircraft 8.2.3.2.1 Growing Procurement Activities of Transport Aircraft is Expected to Drive the Transport Aircraft Market 8.2.3.3 Helicopters 8.2.3.3.1 New Procurement Plans are Expected to Drive the Military Helicopters Market 8.3 Land 8.3.1 Main Battle Tanks 8.3.1.1 New Product Developments, Product Launches, and Procurements Drive the Military Battle Tanks Segment 8.3.2 Armored Fighting Vehicles 8.3.2.1 Development of Light, Mobile, Fuel-Efficient, and Cost-Effective Armored Fighting Vehicles is Expected to Drive Its Market 8.3.3 Light Tactical Vehicles 8.3.3.1 Procurement Plans and New Modernization Programs are Expected to Drive the Market for Light Tactical Vehicles 8.3.4 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles 8.3.4.1 Protection Against Improvised Explosive Devices, Rocket-Propelled Grenades, and Small Arms Fire is Expected to Drive This Segment 8.3.5 Amphibious Armored Vehicles 8.3.5.1 Procurements and Demand for Amphibious Armored Vehicles Will Drive the Mechanical Control Cable Market for Military and Aerospace 8.4 Marine 8.4.1 Aircraft Carriers 8.4.1.1 Focus on Optimizing the Construction of Ships and Material Procurement Will Drive the Aircraft Carriers Market 8.4.2 Amphibious Ships 8.4.2.1 Naval Expansions and Modernization Programs in Asia Pacific Stimulates the Amphibious Ships Market 8.4.3 Destroyers 8.4.3.1 Development of Destroyers With Electric Propulsion Drives Its Market 8.4.4 Frigates 8.4.4.1 Procurement Programs Propelling the Market for Frigates 8.4.5 Submarines 8.4.5.1 Investments on the Development of Advanced Submarines are Stimulating Its Market 8.4.6 Corvettes 8.4.6.1 Major Procurement Activities Related to Corvettes are Driving the Demand for Mechanical Control Cables 8.4.7 Offshore Patrol Vessels 8.4.7.1 Regional Tensions Coupled With Low-Cost Capabilities Offered By Opvs is Increasing Its Market in Asia Pacific 9 Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace, By Application 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Aerial 9.2.1 Flight Control 9.2.1.1 Increased Aircraft Orders are Expected to Drive the Demand for Flight Control-Based Mccs 9.2.2 Engine Control 9.2.2.1 Increasing Mro Activities is Driving This Segment 9.2.3 Auxiliary Control (Doors, Lavatory, and Seating) 9.2.3.1 Increased Demand for Premium Economy Seats in Aircraft Will Fuel the Demand for Aircraft-Based Mechanical Control Cables 9.2.4 Landing Gears 9.2.4.1 Advancements in New Landing Gear Technologies Propelled the Demand for New Aircraft Components 9.2.5 Others 9.2.5.1 Modernization in Aircraft Cabin Management Will Help Aircraft Cabin Management Service Providers to Develop Advanced Cabin Control Systems 9.3 Land 9.3.1 Engine Control 9.3.1.1 High Engine Repairs and Replacement in Military Vehicles Will Drive the Demand for Military Vehicles-Based Mechanical Control Cables 9.3.2 Brake Control 9.3.2.1 High Demand for Mechanical Brake Control Cables for Light Tactical Vehicles is Driving This Segment 9.3.3 Others 9.3.3.1 Development of Light, Mobile, Fuel-Efficient, and Cost-Effective Armored Fighting Vehicles is Driving the Market for Mechanical Control Cables 9.4 Marine 9.4.1 Engine Control 9.4.1.1 Mro Activities and Constant Support of Spare Part Provisions are Expected to Drive This Segment 9.4.2 Others 9.4.2.1 Frequent Replacement and Repairs of Mechanical Components Used in Marine Vessels are Expected to Drive the Market for Marine-Based Mechanical Control Cables 10 Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace, By End-Use 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Commercial 10.2.1 OEM 10.2.1.1 Significant Demand for New Aircraft From the Asia Pacific as Well as Middle East Regions is Driving the OEM Segment 10.2.2 Aftermarket 10.2.2.1 Increase in Commercial Aircraft Fleet is Expected to Drive This Segment 10.3 Defense 10.3.1 OEM 10.3.1.1 Rising Demand for New Aircraft in North America Will Increase the Demand for Aircraft-Based Mechanical Control Cables 10.3.2 Aftermarket 10.3.2.1 The Increasing Aircraft Modernization and Retrofitting Activities is Expected to Increase the Demand for Mechanical Control Cables 10.4 Non-Aero Military 10.4.1 OEM 10.4.1.1 High Procurement of Armored Vehicles in North American and European Region is Expected to Increase the Demand for Mechanical Control Cables 10.4.2 Aftermarket 10.4.2.1 Growing Military Vessel Modernization Programs in Asia Pacific Region is Expected to Increase the Demand for Mechanical Control Cables 11 Mechanical Control Cables Market for Military and Aerospace, By Material 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Wire Material 11.2.1 Wire Material is Used Widely in Flight Control, Engine Control, Auxiliary Control, and Landing Gear Applications 11.3 Jacket Material 11.3.1 Jacket Material is Used to Protect the Insulation and Conductor Core From External Physical Forces 12 Regional Analysis 12.1 Introduction 12.2 North America 12.3 Europe 12.4 Asia Pacific 12.5 Latin America 12.6 Middle East & Africa 13 Competitive Landscape 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Ranking of Market Players, 2019 13.3 Competitive Scenario 13.4 Competitive Leadership Mapping 13.4.1 Visionary Leaders 13.4.2 Innovators 13.4.3 Dynamic Differentiators 13.4.4 Emerging Companies 13.4.5 Competitive Scenario 13.4.6 New Product Launches 13.4.7 Contracts 13.4.8 Partnerships, Agreements, and Acquisitions 14 Company Profiles (Business Overview, Products Offered, Recent Developments, SWOT Analysis, Customers and Application Areas, Unique Value Proposition, Right to Win, Growth Strategies) 14.1 Crane Aerospace & Electronics 14.2 Triumph Group 14.3 Elliott Manufacturing 14.4 Orscheln Products 14.5 Glassmaster Controls Company Inc. 14.6 Loos & Co. Inc. 14.7 Bergen Cable Technology Inc. 14.8 Cable Manufacturing & Assembly Inc. 14.9 Wescon Controls 14.10 Tyler Madison Inc. 14.11 Escadean Ltd. 14.12 Sila Group 14.13 Cablecraft Motion Controls 14.14 Ringspann GmbH 14.15 Lexco Cable Mfg. 14.16 Drallim Industries Limited 14.17 Grand Rapids Controls, LLC 14.18 VPS Control Systems Inc. 14.19 AeroControlex 14.20 Kuster Holding GmbH For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/33cpe1 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. That means all the deals. The F.T.C. wants the companies to provide documentation on the terms, scope, structure, and purpose of every transaction. No clandestine acquihire is too small for scrutiny under this order. Last year, Alphabet spent $1 billion on deals not deemed big enough to name. Apple reported more than $600 million in costs related to a bevy of small deals in its latest fiscal year. Go back a decade, and the number of deals caught in the F.T.C.s net will number in the hundreds. The big threat: Ultimately, the F.T.C. could unwind mergers if it thinks they harmed consumers by stifling competition. Facebook has been here before. The company has been in the F.T.C.s crosshairs for a while, with the regulator opening an antitrust inquiry into its acquisition practices last year around the same time it was hit with a $5 billion fine for data privacy breaches. As a result, it changed its behavior in pre-emptive and defensive ways, the NYTs Mike Isaac wrote at the time. Will the other tech giants also now reconsider their acquisitive ways? On the other hand... This week, a federal judge approved Sprint and T-Mobiles mega-merger against the wishes of state attorneys general, and President Trump praised trillion-dollar tech companies for pushing the stock market higher. And the F.T.C.s words may not match its deeds, says Shira Ovide, writer of the NYTs forthcoming tech newsletter: Heres a hard truth about legal investigations, particularly antitrust cases involving multiple tentacles of state and federal government: They take FOREVER. Todays American tech stars could be irrelevant by the time there is any resolution. Insert cliche that this time could be different, but predicting government paralysis or inaction isnt a bad bet these days. What are the odds that all this amounts to three years of shouting, and then nothing? Oh, the irony: At the end of the F.T.C.s press release, the agency asks readers to like its page on Facebook. Counting the cost of the coronavirus The coronavirus, now officially known as COVID-19, may have peaked, but the global economy will need time to recover. Chinese officials reported the lowest number of new cases since the end of last month, and suggested that the outbreak may end by April. Other experts arent so sure, and the World Health Organization said the virus should be public enemy No. 1, with a vaccine at least 18 months away. A popular Fiesta nonprofit has reversed a controversial land sale to the grandson of its chairman, unwinding the transaction weeks after a key partner threatened to suspend an annual infusion of cash unless it did so. But the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation is refusing to abide by another condition of payment sought by the partner, the Rey Feo Consejo Educational Foundation, a separate nonprofit composed of former Rey Feo royalty and members of the business community. The consejo foundation raises money to support the scholarship program and the reign of the current Rey Feo, Spanish for ugly king. At its board meeting in December, the consejo foundation voted to suspend its annual payment of $100,000 to the scholarship foundation, led by Johnny Gabriel Sr., until it repurchased vacant property on the far East Side that it sold last year to a trust owned by Regan Gabriel, the grandson of Gabriel Sr. The vote to suspend the payment also sought representation by consejos on the scholarship foundations board, among other conditions. ENTER TO WIN: Four tickets to Morgan Wallen at the San Antonio Stock & Rodeo Show At the time of the land sale, more than 70 percent of the scholarship foundations board consisted of Gabriel family members, including Gabriel Sr. and four of his children. The IRS, which regulates nonprofits, requires that at least 51 percent of the voting members on their boards be unrelated. Gabriel Sr. has said he recently reduced the share of relatives to about 45 percent, although his four children remain on the board. Sandy Saks, a member of the scholarship foundations board, dismissed the consejos demand for representation. We like our board the way it is, Saks said. The consejos, they have a lot of members. Its not the consejos (who want representation). It is a few members. They go rogue. And its embarrassing. Saks added, Those conditions are not part of the contract were under so they cant amend the contract. A contract between the two nonprofits, in effect since 2018 and expiring at the end of this year, stipulates that the consejo foundation will pay the scholarship foundation $100,000 in exchange for the right to use the Rey Feo name, as well as the crowning of the consejo foundations selection for Rey Feo. This year, Rey Feo LXXII is Thomas Aguillon. The consejos have selected restaurateur Augie Cortez for the following years throne. Jon Gary Herrera, regent of the consejo foundation, put a positive spin on the recent tumult. We have been very pleased and applaud the Rey Feo Scholarship Foundation for taking the immediate steps that they have in order to bring that land back that was in question, Herrera said, and also (having) started a process of additional transparency for their financial records. Despite the scholarship foundations refusal to allow consejos onto its board, the consejo foundation will make its annual payment in October for Cortezs reign in 2021, Herrera said. The contract is coming up for renewal anyway, Herrera said, noting it likely will be renegotiated this summer. Some consejos had been incensed to learn of the land transaction. In 2015, developer Tom Rohde donated about 2 acres to the scholarship foundation on behalf of former Rey Feo LXVIII Darren Casey, who received a $50,000 credit for the donation to his overall fundraising goal that year. Rey Feos preside over a number of Fiesta events and are expected to raise at least $250,000 for scholarships during their one-year reign. At the time, the land was worth about $96,000. But about two years later, H-E-B purchased a large swath of land nearby with plans to develop it into a master-planned campus for manufacturing and distribution. The grocery company broke ground on the 871-acre project in 2018. That year, Gabriel Sr., owner of the Dons & Bens and Gabriels Liquor store chains and longtime chairman of the scholarship foundation board, knew the value of the donated land at 518 Saints Haven eventually would rise due to H-E-Bs investment potentially up to $1 million, according to Rohde, the lands original owner. But rather than list the property for sale to the public, the foundation board voted in 2018 to sell it for $95,000 to Gabriel Sr.s grandson, Regan. The proceeds about $89,000 went back to the charity. According to Bexar County land records, Saints Haven LLC, the trust owned by Regan Gabriel, granted the land back to the scholarship foundation last month. We did not buy the property back, Saks said. We rewound the transaction as if it never happened. We did not pay (Regan Gabriel) one extra dime than what he paid. It was unclear whether the scholarship foundation will eventually sell the land, Saks added. At this point, she said, were evaluating all of our options to figure out how to maximize the return for the scholarship program. bchasnoff@express-news.net In case you didnt know, our Prime Minister and other high-level dignitaries fly aboard their own aircraft with their own entourage of security personnel, pilots and support staff. That plane if often borrowed from Air India. But soon that will stop. According to this year's Union Budget, our PM and President will soon be receiving an order of two new aircraft from aeroplane-maker Boeing that are loaded with features similar to what's seen on US Air Force One -- the dedicated plane that carries the US President in the air. Reuters The Need for A New Aircraft The orders have been placed for Boeings 777-300 ER (which stands for extended range). The 777-300 ER is one of Boeings most successful line-up of wide-body aircraft designed for long-range flights. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi used to travel in an Air India Boeing 747 -- an iconic aircraft that is often called as the queen of the skies, along with a dated Boeing 737 managed by Alliance Airlines. Need for new aircraft arose due to non-availability of spares for the old aircraft with heavy costs to maintain their dated equipment. And the new aircrafts will be loaded with the same cool tech that is seen on the US AirForce One that Trump uses to travel the world. Getty Images Infrared Missile Jammers And Trackers Costing a whopping Rs 8,458 crores, these aircrafts will be flying VVIPs and their safety in the sky is of utmost importance. The 777s will be equipped with a set of top-of-the-line defence systems -- a Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures or LAIRCM as well as Self-Protection Suite or SPS -- developed under the guidance of US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA). LAIRCM comes loaded with a missile warning sensor that will detect if a missile is locked on to the aircraft from afar. It also gets a laser transmitter assembly as well as a control interface unit that can help in tactfully jamming infrared missiles. VIP Suites In The Aircraft The earlier Boeing 747 was identical to the commercial one being used by Air India. However, the 777-300ER is going to be different. Boeing 777-300ER on commercial airliners like Etihad and Emirates are seen to have first-class suites and cabins, and the Indian AirForce One will get a slightly similar treatment. The space that is normally consumed by seats on a commercial aircraft is converted into rooms/VIP enclosures for the dignitaries to relax during the flight. Conference Room In The Sky For communicating with people, the aircraft will be equipped with a conference room, with necessary equipment onboard for conducting the broadcast, including Wi-Fi over an encrypted network. Patient Transport Unit The aircraft will also get a patient transport unit to provide medical attention to anyone on board, in case such a need arose, with necessary medical equipment to be ready at all times, during emergencies. Reuters Flown By Trained IAF Pilots The new Boeing 777-300ER will fly at the hands of trained Indian Air Force pilots that have clocked necessary amounts of hours learning to fly the wide-body aircraft. They are also trained to use onboard emergency technology to keep the VVIPs on board safe and sound. Faster and More Fuel-Efficient Engines Even though the 777-300 ER is slightly smaller than the 747, it is loaded with a ton of new tech to make flying safer and smoother. Theyre fitted with new engines developed by GE that are not only faster but also more fuel-efficient, enabling non-stop long-haul flights. Moreover, slightly smaller form-factor of the aircraft compared to the 747 will result in the aircraft be approved to land in numerous airports across the world. Im sure many of us have daydreamed a little about driving our dream car - but crashing it? Thats a far away nightmare to be sure, but not for Bengaluru resident Sunny Sabharwal. The 28 year old director of Fun World and Resorts India Private Limited was out for a ride in his lime green Lamborghini Gallardo on Sunday evening, when things took a turn for the worst. At CTO Circle, right across from Cubbon Park Metro Station, Sabharwal crashed the Italian sportscar into a police kiosk - severely damaging both the kiosk and his vehicle. Twitter Fortunately, no one was inside the kiosk while the accident happened. The crash was pretty intense - causing a gaping hole in the kiosks concrete wall, while decimating the furniture inside. Twitter Soon after the crash occurred, senior police officials said that passers-by and other commuters gathered around the kiosk to see what had happened and Sunny allegedly slipped away in the crowd. When pictures of the crash went viral on WhatsApp on Sunday evening, Sunny allegedly received several queries from his friends and family members about his condition. He went back to the spot and clicked a picture of himself with a thumbs up sign at the damaged kiosk, the police official said. Twitter You heard that right - the guy returned to the scene of the crime, to take this extremely responsible photograph. Twitter According to The News Minute, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Ravikante Gowda formed a team to investigate the matter. DCP Traffic (East) M Narayana, the lead investigating officer gathered CCTV footage and tracked down Sunny. On Monday, the investigating team went to Sunnys residence in RT Nagar and informed his family members that he had been booked for rash and negligent driving. His family initially denied it. We showed them the CCTV footage and also the picture where he posed in front of the kiosk. He was arrested and we imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. Since section 279 is bailable, he was let go after the arrest as he obtained station bail, a senior police official said. Cambodia deserves a place at the top of any Asian travel itinerary. From unrivaled natural landscapes and unspoiled beaches to a wealth of cultural and historical sites to explore, Cambodia has something for everyone. Here we take a look at just a few of the country's highlights so that, whether you're heading to Cambodia for rest and relaxation or a cultural experience, you can plan your perfect trip. Angkor Wat UNESCO World Heritage Site As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest religious monuments in the world, Angkor Wat rightfully tops many Cambodia must-see lists. Millions of people flock here each year, and it's easy to see why. Few places offer such a stunning sunset whilst the temple walls decorated with thousands of bas-reliefs are truly awe-inspiring. So iconic is Angkor Wat that it features on Cambodia's flag and on its banknotes. For centuries the capital of the Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat UNESCO World Heritage Site holds more than just religious importance. The monuments, urban plans, and communication routes give visitors an unparalleled insight into the Khmer civilization. Here you can find more information about Angkor Wat. The site's most noteworthy elements include lotus-bud shaped Khmer towers and elaborate decorative elements whilst the basins and canals are also not to be missed. Cambodia's Street Food Experience Cambodia's gastronomic scene is buzzing and there is no better place to try the delights of Cambodian cookery than to join the locals at one of the many street food vendors throughout the country. From breakfast through to dinner, the most delicious traditional dishes are prepared at stalls in the street and eaten outdoors at plastic tables. Some of the best street food specialties to try include: Lort Cha stir-fried egg noodles Nom Ka Chai chive cake snacks Nom Pao steamed pork buns. Opt for a vendor with plenty of local customers for the most authentic, and tasty, experience. Tropical Islands with Beautiful Beaches Visit Cambodia's tropical islands and you'll be blown away by the natural beauty of the beaches with white sand and clear blue waters. Less developed than the shores of neighboring Thailand, beach-goers can enjoy some truly unspoiled landscapes. Koh Ta Kiev is one of the islands that travelers seeking relaxation and tranquility should head to whilst Koh Thmei is a great choice for wildlife. Take a hike or go bird watching in Koh Thmei and you'll be sure to spot a vast array of creatures. With no internet, Koh Totang offers the perfect opportunity to really disconnect from it all. Feel in touch with nature as accommodation is fully eco-friendly and the showers use rainwater. A million miles from the stresses of everyday life. Phnom Penh, a Vibrant Capital City Phnom Penh is Cambodia's bustling capital city. Expect motorbikes speeding through the streets, colorful markets and the general buzz of city life in full swing. Travelers from across the globe can feel at home here amongst the many cafes, bars, and excellent restaurants. The central market is an impressive spectacle with stalls selling absolutely everything from unique clothes and accessories to street food of every kind. When in Phnom Penh, the National Museum of Cambodia is well worth a visit and a great way to learn about the country, from ancient times right up to the 21st century. Spend Time in Nature at The Elephant Valley Project Elephant tourism is popular and widespread in Cambodia but it is very important to choose activities that are ethical and have the wellbeing of the animals at heart. One of the best places to spend time with these beautiful animals in Cambodia is The Elephant Valley Project. A once in a lifetime opportunity to walk alongside elephants in their natural jungle habitat, The Elephant Valley Project is the largest captive elephant sanctuary in Asia with over 1,500 hectares of forest. With just 10 resident elephants, the animals have abundant space to roam, supporting the project's mission to protect and care for these majestic creatures. Visitors can take a day trip or even stay overnight for an immersive experience and a chance to volunteer on projects such as reforestation. The Elephant Valley Project is located in Cambodia's Mondulkiri province. If all this is enough to convince you to visit Cambodia, here are some practical considerations to take when planning your trip: When's the Best Time of Year to Visit Cambodia? The tropical climate of Cambodia means average annual temperatures range from a mild 68F to 80F (20C - 30C). Most travelers head to Cambodia during the cold season, from November to February, as cooler temperatures provide optimal conditions for exploring. Cambodia experiences a wet season from June to October, despite the heavy rainfall, you shouldn't immediately rule out visiting during these months. As downpours are generally in the early afternoon, it's possible to organize your day to miss the worst of the rain. What's more, going to Cambodia during the wet season is a good way to avoid crowds at some of the best-known monuments which get busy in peak season. How to Get around Cambodia The best of Cambodia can be seen by traveling between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The most convenient ways to do so are by domestic flight or by private car with a driver. Several airlines offer domestic flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports and, with the flight taking just 45 minutes, this is the quickest option. Private cars, on the other hand, offer greater flexibility and the chance to learn from the driver's expert knowledge. If you are seeking the ultimate authentic experience, however, try out some of the local transport options such as the Remork-moto, Cambodia's version of the tuk-tuk and Motodups, a speedy motorbike taxi service. What Should I Take with Me on a Trip to Cambodia? What to wear: Clothing should be lightweight and light-colored to protect from the hot sun. Opt for materials such as linen and cotton which offer the most comfort in humid climates such as that of Cambodia. Footwear suitable for walking and trekking is a must. If traveling during the wet season, be sure to pack a good waterproof coat and shoes in case you get caught in a heavy downpour. What to take: high-factor sunscreen is essential, especially when visiting exposed sites such as Angkor Wat. Also, carry a refillable water bottle with you at all times and stay hydrated. It's very important to make sure you have the correct visa for Cambodia. If you're traveling from a country eligible for the Cambodia eVisa you can apply online in advance and should take a printed copy along with your passport to present at the border. Most Sundays at our church, Pastor Leslie begins service with a welcoming prayer asking for strength to love our neighbors, all our neighbors. Last week, she decided to dump her planned sermon to let the congregation share their ideas about what responsibilities people of faith hold in these times. In these times was deliberately vague. But I was heartened that in addition to naming political polarization and amnesia about the suffering of the poor and homeless amid news of our booming economy, several members of the nearly all-white congregation despaired about immigration. The owner of a neighborhood restaurant was beside himself because, out of nowhere, two of his longest-serving employees had their work permits revoked by immigration authorities. Others noted the general fear in the community not just fear that immigrants have, but that all of us have who love and depend on those immigrants. In that moment, I felt there was nowhere I could go to get away from the daily traumatic burden of carrying grief and worry about whats happening both at the border and in communities all over America. The news stories bring an unending torrent of pain: There are still so-called unaccompanied alien children being held in detention centers in Chicago and across the country as a result of President Donald Trumps zero-tolerance enforcement policy, which separated children from their families so parents could be prosecuted for crossing the border illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is still reportedly treating immigrants and their friends and family cruelly and without regard to their humanity. Last week, an unarmed Hispanic man was shot in the face by ICE agents as he attempted to intervene in an ICE house arrest. According to the victim, the agents attempted to detain his housemate without identifying themselves or explaining on what grounds they were making the arrest. The Trump administration used the incident to double down on so-called sanctuary cities Attorney General William Barr announced lawsuits, the withholding of funds and possible criminal prosecution against cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration detainers. According to ICE, the target of the arrest was released by the New York City Police Department on charges of possessing forged papers even though he had been deported to Mexico twice and had been convicted of assault in 2011. Basically, the administration blames NYPD and sanctuary city status for an unarmed bystander getting shot in the face during a federal house raid. Less violent, but equally heartbreaking, are the stories of U.S.-born children separated from their parents because, for instance, their dad was granted a deportation deferral but their mom wasnt. Or the stories of states refusing to accept legal refugees who need communities in which to settle. Or the stories of immigration officials arresting, detaining and deporting immigrants who were lured to immigration offices for interviews as they sought legal status based on their marriages to U.S. citizens. I sat thinking about all the angst rocking immigrant communities as, one by one, people shyly asked for the microphone and said it was our responsibility to also recognize and savor all the good that was happening in the neighborhood and the world. They also said that it is our responsibility to not tune out of whats going on because its so painful. And that its our responsibility to have humility. And, I thought, courage. The courage to keep fighting for what we believe is right even when its obvious that the people who hold the highest titles and positions can lie and act in their own self-interest with impunity. And the courage to do what Pastor Leslie asked us to do. She said that we would not be praying for the poor, the weak and the pained. This week we were asked to pray for the rich, those in positions of power and those who lead. They, Pastor Leslie said, were the ones who needed our blessings, appeals and the divine guidance to find humility, wisdom and brotherly love. Courage is not bravery it means doing something despite intrinsic fears. It will take courage to not see our political opposites as enemies. It will take courage to not be overwhelmed with fear about what the next four years will bring and not act out of anger instead of seeking to understand. Humans are hardwired to cluster into tribes and respond to outsider threats by uniting against the other. Will enough of us have the courage to pray for the political or national other over the next eight months? estherjcepeda@washpost.com California businessman and Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer is ready to make a more aggressive play to win Texas. Steyers campaign on Thursday will open its first campaign office in Texas, choosing Houston as a home base. Steyers Texas political director Omar El-Halwagi said the campaign is going to be opening more offices and will make a true statewide push in advance of the March 3 primary. While Steyer hasnt fared well in Texas polling, he has done well in early voting states like Nevada and South Carolina. A new poll of South Carolina voters released last week showed Steyer, 62, in second place, trailing only former Vice President Joe Biden. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox We are getting our message out and its appealing to a more diverse electorate, El-Halwagi said. Steyer is a relative newcomer to politics who has been active in bringing awareness to climate change and was an early supporter of impeaching President Donald Trump. He has said he plans to commit more than $100 million of his own money to win the White House. Steyers campaign will open its office at a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday at 3811 Fox St., Houston. Locals and companies alike are indirectly contributing to the fight against the new coronavirus by keeping doctors and nurses fed. Lunchtime on February 11, 2,000 packages of milk and four fridges are delivered to National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanois Dong Anh District. "These are gifts from a company, who promised to make milk deliveries every four days until the epidemic is under control," said Pham Thi Nguyet Quyen, head of the hospitals social affairs department. In February, 15,000 packages of milk will be donated to the hospital. The milk was distributed to four departments where 112 nurses and 41 doctors are treating around 70 suspected cases of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) infection. "We provide milk in the hope medical staff and patients could improve their health, immune systems and recover soon," Ha confirmed. Quyen (R) hands food to an emergency department staff member. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Duong. Has firm is not the only organization to show support, another local company having donated VND60 million ($2,583) on February 10. "We read that some nurses fighting the epidemic had their wives and husbands evicted by landlords," Nguyen Thi Ha Bac, a company representative explained. Six managers at Bacs company donated money directly to the hospital after learning how to protect themselves from infection. Besides, a pharmaceutical company gifted medical supplies; another 1,000 bottles of antiseptic mouthwash and 1,000 boxes of food. Many local citizens are also "empowering" doctors fighting the deadly virus. On the evening of February 8, a staff member of a Hanoi hotel delivered instant noodles, bread and 100 "banh chung" (sticky rice cakes) to the hospital. Knowing doctors and nurses have been quarantined to treat patients, the man encouraged his friends and colleagues to follow suit. "The banh chung were meant as nightly snacks. He said we should let him know if we needed anything else," Quyen noted. Sometimes, the "soldiers" battling the virus receive local specialties like glutinous rice cakes or a truck of watermelons. "There are a lot of patients these days, and not many of us get the chance to eat on time. These presents help us when we are forced to skip a meal," said head nurse ouf outpatient department Nguyen Thi Dung. According to Dr Nguyen Trung Cap, head of the emergency department, pressure from the Covid-2019 is not as much as SARS because medical authorities have been proactive in studying the new virus. However, for medical staff at the hospital, what proves exhausting is the fake news and inaccurate information available online, he added. Doctors and nurses have to wear layers of protective gear during their shifts, making them sweat profusely and inhibiting simple task like drinking water or using the toilet. "The material and moral support of citizens and organizations motivate us in our quest," said Dr Tran Hai Ninh, head of the general internal medicine department. Vietnam officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak an epidemic on February 1, and the country had confirmed 15 cases of infection. Six people have so far been discharged from hospital after doctors declared them free of the new coronavirus. As of Wednesday morning, the global death toll from the epidemic had climbed to 1,115 and confirmed infections topped 45,000, of whom over 4,500 have recovered. The horrors of female genital mutilation suffered by tribal girls in northern Kenya has been laid bare by survivors and perpetrators of the procedure. Women from the indigenous Pokot tribe told how they were cut without their consent on the orders of family members, or else ran away from home after finding out they would be subject to the potentially-lethal surgery. Meanwhile a group of women who used to perform the operation told how girls were subjected to the surgery with no anaesthetic, and punished if they cried or flinched. Their stories were revealed by British charity One Woman At A Time, which aims to help women escape from a life of FGM, abuse and forced marriage. Christine was brought up in a village that does not practice FGM, but ended up being cut after she was married off to a man from a neighbouring settlement where the procedure is common Christine was secretly cut while giving birth to her child (pictured together) and knew nothing of the procedure until the wound got badly infected One survivor, identified only as Christine, told how she grew up with her grandmother in a village that doesn't practice FGM, before she met and married a man from a neighbouring village. After they were wed she was then taken to live with him and his in-laws in a village where the practice is common, where she was quickly ostracised. She said: 'I wasnt allowed to cook him food or milk the cows as I was told I was unclean. Other women avoided me saying I was a bad omen and that I turned their milk sour. 'Also, they said that I smelt, as I wasnt cut, so they would hold their noses in exaggeration when coming by me. Salome ran away from home aged 13 when she learned she would be cut - travelling across the Savannah for three days without shoes and sleeping in trees to avoid lions 'When the cows died, they blamed me. The loneliness and being treated that way, I was so frightened.' A short time later Christine fell pregnant with a baby boy- named Silas - and when it came time for her to give birth she was given into the care of tribal birth attendants. She described the birth as 'really painful', and said the birth attendants were forced to hold her legs down as the baby was delivered. Unbeknown to Christine, her mother-in-law had paid one of the attendants to perform FGM while she gave birth, even cutting her baby's head in the process. She only discovered what had happened after she contracted a potentially-fatal infection and was taken to doctors. Describing the type of wound inflicted on Christine, a six former cutters - who say the stopped the practice in 2012, shortly after it became illegal in Kenya - explained that it involves full removal of the labia and partial removal of the clitoris. The vulva is also sewed together to prevent sexual intercourse. Women often have their legs bound together while the cut heals, with a follow-up inspection to ensure she is 'small' enough not to bring shame on her family. No crying or even facial gestures must be shown, if they show fear they will forfeit getting a young man and instead will get an old man, one of the women revealed. Christine revealed that doctors referred her to police, who were sent to arrest the tribal birth attendant, who pointed the finger at Christine's mother-in-law. She claims the mother-in-law subsequently paid off the officer, and no action has ever been taken over her mutilation. Worse was to come. Gladys became the victim of forced marriage and FGM before she turned 12, and suffered through a dangerous birth because of the effects of the operation Despite suffering a painful birth, Gladys was back at school just a few days later - trying to make a better life for herself and her son 'My husband threw me out and kept my son, so I returned home but my uncles said Id shamed the family. The only one who would take me in was my grandmother,' Christine added. Shunned by the only villages she had ever known, Christine was given support by One Woman At A Time to reenter education and is now studying to be a teacher. Another women, called Salome, said she was just 13 years old when she learned that she was going to be cut and married off to an older man she had never met. Rather than subject herself to that fate, she fled her home village with no idea of where she was going and only one shoe. 'I just ran and hid, ran and hid. It took me three days to get over the mountain running in the day and I slept in trees at night, in fear of lions,' Salome said. 'After a few days I was exhausted and met a woman at the stream who seemed kind and I told her what had happened.' The woman took her to a refuge, where Jean Anderson - founder of One Woman At A Time - first met her. Salome is also studying a teaching course, and has since got back in touch with her parents, who welcomed her back. Ortum school in Kenya, where many of the girls who have been rescued from FGM are taken to be educated A third girl, 15-year-old Gladys, became the victim of both FGM and forced marriage before she turned 12, when is when she arrived at the Ortum school, where many of the rescued girls are educated. She recently fell pregnant during sex that she insists was consensual, and in October suffered through risky and painful birth due to FGM. Despite being in pain, she soon returned to school in order to take a three-hour exam in her efforts to build a life for herself. The Pokot are a tribe that live across Kenya and Uganda, where about 750,000 speak the native language. Their tribal rituals and customs evolved from a need to ensure the survival of the family in an often harsh environment, but are viewed as increasingly outdated. Of the 750,000 Pokot speakers, only around 35,000 are thought to practice a tribal lifestyle, not all of whom subscribe to FGM. Traditionally, the cutting season happens between November and December and involves young girls aged between 12 and 16, with the idea being to keep them 'pure' for marriage. As with child marriage, the practice has now been outlawed in Kenya, with a maximum penalty of life in jail if a girl dies during the procedure, but so far there have been no successful prosecutions. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport apprehended a passenger trying to smuggle Rs 45 lakh worth of international currency. The passenger identified as Murad Alam was found to be carrying the currency hidden inside groundnut shells, biscuit packets and other eatable items. The security agency shared the video of the bust they made on microblogging site Twitter. In the video, the personnel are seen opening the groundnut shells to remove rolls of currency tied together with a string. Vigilant #CISF personnel apprehended a passenger namely Mr Murad Alam carrying high volume of foreign currency worth approx. INR 45 lakh concealed in peanuts, biscuit packets & other eatable items kept inside his baggage @ IGI Airport, Delhi. Passenger was handed over to customs. pic.twitter.com/AJgO6x4WjN CISF (@CISFHQrs) February 12, 2020 We also see biscuit packets being opened to show hollowed out biscuit pieces with the currency notes placed in the middle. Even food items were not spared, a block of currency was hidden inside a curry-like food item. He was on his way to Dubai when he was apprehended by the security force personnel. The passenger has been handed over to Customs. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 19:30:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The cured patient (L) receives a bouquet from medical staff at the Third People's Hospital of Tibet, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Chogo) Tibet's only coronavirus patient was discharged from hospital after an 18-day treatment at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. LHASA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Clutching a hospital discharge certificate, the only infected patient of the novel coronavirus in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region walked out of an isolation ward and bowed low to the medical staff Wednesday afternoon. "You cured my illness and treated me like family," the patient, surnamed Zhang, said to the doctors and nurses. The 34-year-old man came from the city of Suizhou, central China's Hubei Province, the hardest-hit province amid the ongoing outbreak. "I booked the train tickets and prepared to travel to Tibet during the Spring Festival holiday," Zhang recalled. He even visited Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, for business and bought some items that he might need in Tibet before his departure. When his train left Wuhan on Jan. 22, he expected a wonderful journey in the remote and mysterious region. "I didn't realize what the situation was at that time, and didn't know the strong human-to-human transmissibility of the virus," he said. The cured patient (2nd R) walks with medical staff at the Third People's Hospital of Tibet, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Chogo) Zhang didn't feel sick on the train. It was only after he learned Wuhan was locked down that he realized the outbreak had become serious. He arrived in Lhasa, capital of Tibet on Jan. 24, the eve of the Chinese New Year, and developed symptoms of atony, sore muscles, cough, and fever one day later. He checked his temperature, which was 38.1 degrees Celsius. He then decided to go to the hospital. Based on the current knowledge, the incubation period of the virus can be as long as 14 days. Zhang was confirmed to be infected with the new virus on Jan. 29 and was also the first and only confirmed case in the region. "I had several nightmares that night, dreaming I was hopeless against the deadly virus. I felt great stress and was very upset," he said. But the medical staff gave him meticulous care, encouraging him to fight against the virus and provided psychological counseling. He remembered the head nurse Sonam Yangjen, a Tibetan, told him the good news about more and more cured patients reported across the country, and other medical staff continued to talk with and encourage him. "No matter where you come from, you are my patient. We will do our best to cure you," said Hua Demi, head of an expert team that treated Zhang. Zhang said he was deeply moved when the nurses checked on him in the ward at 3 a.m. and doctors took the risk of being infected by the virus and insisted to take care of him. More than 150 medical staff from different ethnic groups participated in Zhang's treatment and based on Zhang's condition and the unique plateau climate, the hospital worked out a tailored therapeutic schedule for him. The cured patient thumbs up to medical staff at the Third People's Hospital of Tibet, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Chogo) Thanks to those efforts, Zhang's appetite improved a week ago. The head nurse brought him some homemade traditional yak broth to satisfy his hunger. Zhang was discharged from hospital after an 18-day treatment at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. "I sincerely thank the doctors, nurses and the Tibetan people," he said. "After receiving treatment, the patient's temperature has returned to normal for 14 days, and two nucleic acid tests had negative results," said Puncog Zhaxi, president of the Third People's Hospital of Tibet. "In accordance with the country's latest novel coronavirus pneumonia diagnosis and treatment scheme and consultation of an expert team, the patient has met the standard of cured and can be discharged from hospital," Puncog Zhaxi said. As of Tuesday, Tibet hasn't reported any new or suspected cases or deaths caused by the virus for the 13th consecutive day. On Feb. 8, 32 close contacts of Zhang had been discharged from their two-week isolated medical observation. Financialnewsmedia.com News Commentary PALM BEACH, Florida, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global CBD size is projected to continue its seemingly ever accelerating growth and is expected to reach USD 23.6 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 22.2%, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing adoption of cannabidiol (CBD) infused products in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, personal care and cosmetics, and nutraceuticals along with its medical applications is expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Availability of marijuana-derived CBD products in dispensaries as well as government-approved pharmacies and stores and high efficacy of marijuana-derived CBD compared to hemp-derived CBD are some of the pivotal factors for the growth of the segment according to Grand View. Ease of availability of a wide range of CBD based products to the consumers is one of the key factors driving the growth of this segment. Furthermore, increasing adoption of cannabidiol infused pharmaceuticals for various conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, autism, and anxiety is anticipated to support the growth of this segment over the forecast period. Active Companies from around the market with current developments this week include:Puration Inc. (OTCPK: PURA), Kona Gold Solutions, Inc. (OTCPK: KGKG), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED), PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK:POTN), Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA). The rising Awareness of the health benefits of CBD infused products is expected to grow the market for years to come, according to several industry reports. CBD infused products offer wide-ranging health benefits with few side effects and low risk of addiction. Recently, CBD drinks are increasing in both popularity and availability as cannabis products and marijuana has become legalized in states across the country. CBD to consumable products may make it easier for consumers to incorporate it into their lifestyles and gain these benefits. Currently, cannabis-based concentrates, extracts, and edibles are becoming highly popular among consumers. It is expected that U.S. consumer sales of CBD will reach around $1.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2022. However, regulation and compliance on the use of CBD in the food and beverage industry have the potential to hampers the growth of the market. The market is expected to exhibit significant growth in the forecast period due to rising adoption of natural products over pharmaceutical products is an opportunity for this market. Puration, Inc. (OTCPK:PURA)BREAKING NEWS:PURA Makes Bid For Hemp4mula CBD Confections Backed By $5 Million Investment - Puration today announced making a formal proposal to Kali-Extracts (KALY) to acquire KALY's Hemp4mula CBD Infused Confections operation. On Monday, earlier this week, PURA announced closing on a $5 million investment to fund the prospective acquisition of cannabis infused beverage, edible and topical operations. The $5 million investment is structured as a debt facility whereby funds can be drawn as needed to fund acquisitions. The drawn funds would be secured by the acquired asset and the debt can be repaid in stock at $0.10 per share. Hemp4mula is the first target acquisition for PURA in an anticipated series of acquisitions. Hemp4mula currently includes two products, Hemp4mula Gummies and Hemp4mula Gum each infused with 10mg of CBD extracted from hemp.Read this and more news for PURA at:https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-pura/ In the CBD/Cannabis industry developments and happenings in the market include: Aphria Inc. (NYSE: APHA) (TSX: APHA) recently announced that it closed its previously announced strategic investment from an institutional investor for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$100,000,001. Pursuant to the Offering, the Significant Investor has agreed to purchase 14,044,944 units of the Company at a price of C$7.12 per unit. Each unit is comprised of one common share of Aphria and one-half of one common share purchase warrant of Aphria. Each warrant will entitle the Significant Investor to acquire one common share at a price of $9.26 for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. As previously disclosed, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to finance international expansion, working capital and general corporate purposes. PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK:POTN) announced this week its estimated total revenues for calendar 2019, which were recorded as more than $15 Million. Since the Company's revenue results essentially represent those of Diamond CBD, its subsidiary, this means that since acquiring Diamond CBD in 2017, the Company has achieved aggregate gross revenues exceeding an amazing $55 Million from Diamond CBD products (2017, 2018 and 2019). Kevin Hagen, President and CEO, stated, "Surpassing a $50 Million revenue milestone in just 3 years represents a significant achievement and attests to the strength of the Company's brands and high levels of consumer preference for its products." Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED) leases former Concession 5 Vineyard property to Niagara College - Thanks to a new agreement, Niagara College's Teaching Winery will take over operations at a Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard property owned by Canopy Growth, sowing the seeds for an environmentally sustainable site and new learning opportunities for the College's wine students. Canopy Growth announced today that the Concession 5 Vineyard, located next to its Tweed Farms greenhouses in Niagara-on-the-Lake , will be leased to Niagara College, to be operated by the NC Learning Enterprise Corporation (NCLEC). The College - which is home to the first and only commercial Teaching Winery in Canada , as well the first Commercial Cannabis Production program in the country - is committed to maintaining the vineyard according to environmentally and socially sustainable. Kona Gold Solutions, Inc. (OTCPK: KGKG), a hemp and CBD lifestyle brand focused on product development in the functional beverage sector, announced last month the Company has scheduled its second meeting with one of the largest supermarket chains in the Southeast, consisting of 550 locations over its portfolio of supermarkets. The Company will also be meeting with a Florida based, fourth generation run, food distributor as well, who covers the Southeast United States. DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. 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Contact Information: email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com +1(561)325-8757 Population Care | Quality Measures solution displaying non-compliant patient list NCQA certification is a powerful confirmation of the caliber of our Population Care solution as the engine that helps bring quality-rich, value-based care to our clients. SPH Analytics (SPH), a leader in healthcare analytics and population health management, announced that its Population Care | Quality Measures solution has achieved National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) certification for its measure engine supporting NCQA-Certified HEDIS quality measures. HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness and Data Information Set) measures, as established by the NCQA, are one of the most widely used group of performance improvement tools in healthcare. The certification validates SPH Analytics quality measure engine in its calculation of measure performance and care gap reports. SPHs solutions allow its healthcare organization clients to track and compare quality performance across their member and patient populations. NCQA certification is a powerful confirmation of the caliber of our Population Care solution as the engine that helps bring quality-rich, value-based care to our clients, said Amy Amick, President and CEO of SPH Analytics. Certified measures further support our clients accreditation requirements, performance improvement initiatives, and value-based contract requirements. Over half the health plans in the United States, including the top 50 largest health plans in the nation, partner with SPH Analytics for patient/member engagement services, healthcare survey management, and insightful quality and cost analytics that empower them to take targeted actions to measurably improve patient experience and population health. SPH Analytics will demonstrate its Quality Measures HEDIS solution in Booth 4775 at the 2020 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, March 913, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. For more information about SPH Analytics and its healthcare analytics and solutions, visit SPHAnalytics.com. HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). About SPH Analytics SPH Analytics (SPH), a leader in healthcare analytics and population health management, empowers clients to analyze and interpret their clinical, financial, and consumer experience data to maximize their performance. SPHs Population Care, Population Value, and Population Engage solutions are built on the innovative Nexus Platform, providing insights and impact to integrated health networks, ACOs, hospitals, ambulatory care providers, physician groups, and health plans. SPHs quality measure dashboards, financial risk measurement, healthcare survey and patient outreach solutions, and consulting services empower clients to meet the Triple Aim by improving population health, reducing overall cost of care, and improving the patient experience. SPH Analytics is a recognized leader in the industry, earning accolades as a top ranked population health vendor by KLAS, ranked the number one analytics firm out of the top 50 disruptive health IT companies by Black Book Research, and ranked number one in MACRA and MIPS Support Technology for Value-Based Care by Black Book Research. SPH Analytics has been providing insights to clients for more than 35 years and serves clients in all 50 states. Corporate headquarters are in metro Atlanta. SPH Analytics is a portfolio company of the $3 billion STG Partners. For more information, call 1-866-460-5681 or visit http://www.sphanalytics.com. About NCQA NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's website (http://www.ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices. Damaris Rodriquez, pictured with her husband Ray Rodriquez, was seen in disturbing surveillance footage crawling naked in a jail cell where she was kept for four days, and where she 'died of starvation' Disturbing surveillance footage has emerged showing a mother-of-five's final hours after she was locked up in a Washington state jail for four days when her husband called 911 for help while she suffered a mental health episode. Damaris Rodriguez, 43, was found dead in her cell at South Correctional Entity, known as SCORE, in Des Moines on January 3, 2018, after she had been incarcerated for 106 hours - despite not being charged with any crime. The shocking footage, obtained by DailyMail.com, has been described by the family's attorney as a 'window into hell' and captures four days of alleged neglect by authorities. The mother-of-five is seen being carried into a jail cell, apparently in handcuffs, by three officers and being left lying face down on the floor Rodriguez, is then left in the cell who seems to be handcuffed, appears limp and does not resist the officers. When they leave her face down on the floor, she continues to lie there barely moving and twitching slightly Rodriguez had a history of bipolar disorder, her family said It shows the mother in distress, as she is seen stripping naked, crawling along the cell floor, banging on the door and appearing to vomit and hallucinate. Attorney Nate Bingham told DailyMail.com that starvation, after she didn't eat for the four days she was kept in the jail, ultimately caused her death. Jail staff had written in her medical notes on the day she died that she was at risk of starvation ketoacidosis but still failed to seek medical help, it is alleged. Two other inmates have died at the facility in the two years since Rodriguez died. Rodriguez's family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the correctional facility, saying she was wrongly arrested when she was suffering a 'mental health episode' and needed medical help. The incident began when Rodriquez's husband, Rey, called 911 on December 30 2017 asking for medical help when his wife was suffering 'a psychiatric problem'. In the distressing 911 call shown on CBS News, Rey tells the dispatcher in Spanish: 'She's having a psychiatric problem and isn't behaving normally. She's being violent and has already hit me twice and I need a medic.' Instead of medical assistance, police arrived and arrested her for fourth degree assault and booked her into SCORE, the lawsuit states. Rodriguez was found dead in her cell four days later. The family's attorney Nate Bingham told DailyMail.com that 'the videos speak for themselves', chronicling the mother's four-day decline. 'It's a terrible case and obvious that she was in medical and mental distress and needed help,' he said in a phone interview Wednesday. 'She was living this for four days and never saw a doctor.' Footage first shows Rodriguez getting out of the back of a police car outside the facility. She is seen walking on her own and then she appears to stumble and officers then pick her up and carry her. Surveillance inside the booking office then shows her being carried by three officers through the reception area. Rey called 911 on December 30 2017 asking for medical help when his wife was suffering 'a mental health episode'. Instead, officers arrested her for fourth degree assault Damaris Rodriguez, 43, was found dead in her cell at SCORE jail on January 3 2018, after being incarcerated for four days. The shocking video shows the mother in apparent distress, as she is seen stripping naked and crawling along the floor One shocking clip from December 31 shows her naked crouched on the floor and crawling slowly around the cell, before she crawls backwards into the bench and pushes herself underneath it She is then set down on the floor in the middle of the jail cell, a camera inside the cell shows. Rodriguez, who seems to be handcuffed, appears limp and does not resist the officers. When they leave her face down on the floor, she continues to lie there barely moving for several minutes, the footage shows. Around 20 minutes later, she is then seen being moved into another cell, where she begins walking in circles. Footage the following day shows her naked, crawling and apparently vomiting. One shocking clip dated December 31 shows her naked crouched on the floor and crawling slowly around the cell, before she crawls backwards into the bench and pushes herself underneath it. Rodriguez lies in a fetal position face down on the floor under the bench and occasionally flails her arms in front of her. On January 3, in the hours before she died, surveillance shows that Rodriguez's demeanor appears to have deteriorated further. Footage shows her drinking water from the tap, gagging and shivering uncontrollably and knocking on the cell door. Bingham said the facility's staff were unable to communicate with Rodriguez during her incarceration because she was so mentally ill. Rodriguez's family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the facility. Rodriguez was locked in the cell for 106 hours without charge, despite federal law stating inmates must be released or charged within 72 hours He also alleges that Rodriguez's exact time of death is unknown because it was a while before officials noticed her unresponsive. Jose Marte, Rodriguez's oldest son, told CBS that she had a known history of mental health disorders having been diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder in the past. He also said she had 'never been arrested' before. Bingham told DailyMail.com the family was confused by the response given by authorities to their requests to help her. 'They did not understand what was going on or why she was being arrested or why he was not getting medical help as that was what they asked for and what she needed,' the attorney said. The lawsuit claims that Rodriquez died from ketoacidosis, a buildup of acids in the blood which can happen when blood sugar levels are too high for too long. The suit states it is 'an easily diagnosable and treatable metabolic condition'. 'My mother had never been arrested,' Jose Marte, Rodriguez's oldest son said Rodrigues is seen being carried into the cell on December 30 2017, the start of her four-day deterioration which resulted in her death The lawsuit claims that Rodriquez died from ketoacidosis, a buildup of acids in the blood which can happen when blood sugar levels are too high for too long According to Bingham, Rodriguez developed the condition due to starvation, after she didn't eat for the four-day duration of her being held. 'She did not eat for four days when in the jail and that seems to be the obvious cause,' he told DailyMail.com. 'There is such a thing as starvation ketoacidosis and that seems to be what happened here.' The condition can make the sufferer 'delusional' and experience 'psychoses' and that it causes them to suffer 'intense thirst' which leads them to 'chug water' which then kills them from 'water intoxication'. The family's attorney said jail staff were aware that she was at risk of developing the condition. Medical notes made just hours before she died stated she was at risk of water intoxication but rather than seeking medical help, staff just moved her to a cell that had no water supply. 'The day she died they came to this realization and made medical notes on this and just moved her to a dry cell where there was no water,' he told DailyMail.com. 'And there she lay down and went to sleep and never woke up.' As well as her treatment in the facility, questions are also being asked around why she was able to be incarcerated in the four days leading up to her death. Under federal law, inmates must be charged with a crime or released within 72 hours of their arrest. Rodriguez spent a total of 106 hours behind bars and was never charged of a crime or taken before a judge. Marte said his family wants justice for his mother's death and wants to make sure 'people can know about these type of situations that are happening in these jail systems'. 'I feel like all of this could have been prevented,' he said. SCORE said in a statement to CBS News that it extended its 'condolences to all involved' and that 'since this incident, our employees have received comprehensive training in crisis intervention.' It also said 'no malicious criminal act contributed to her death.' On SCORE's website, it says the 'inmate death' happened at approximately 11:45 p.m. January 3 2018 when 'Corrections Officers at South Correctional Entity discovered an unresponsive female in a medical observation unit. 'Corrections and Medical staff immediately began resuscitation efforts until the King County Medics arrived. The inmate was unable to be revived and pronounced dead.' According to the website, two other inmates have died in the institution since Rodriguez, with both cause of deaths described as 'unknown'. A 52-year-old male died in April 9 2019, four days after he was booked into the jail on April 5. This was followed by the death of a female inmate in September. Bingham believes this sends alarm bells around the treatment endured by inmates in the facility and said the two deaths were being investigated. He slammed NaphCare which provides correctional healthcare at SCORE, saying it showed 'obvious systemic neglect'. Bingham said that NaphCare 'leave a trail of bodies wherever they go'. The family's attorney Nate Bingham said the footage was 'a window into hell' Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global RegTech market size is expected to reach USD 55.28 billion by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 52.8% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The rising number of fraudulent activities has been a significant factor driving the growth. Additionally, increasing need for risk and compliance management has led to the increased adoption of regulatory technology (RegTech) solutions. Implementation of these solutions helps reduce compliance costs and improves efficiency. It also speeds up business processes, enhances their reliability, and reduces hassle for customers and the risk of compliance failures. RegTech solutions include transaction monitoring, risk and compliance management, regulatory reporting, identity and control management, and regulatory intelligence, among others. Customers can choose an appropriate RegTech solution depending on their preference owing to the presence of a wide variety of solutions in the market. The risk and compliance management segment held the largest revenue share in 2018 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 49.7% over the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for compliance management. The regulatory intelligence segment accounted for over 12% of market share in 2018 and is expected to expand at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. A large number of small and medium enterprises are deploying RegTech solutions to avoid additional compliance costs and the costs incurred due to frauds. In 2018, U.S. led the regulatory technology market in North America. U.K. is expected to continue to dominate the Europe market over the forecast period owing to the entry of a large number of companies in the market. The European Union established various regulatory standards to monitor the increasing number of fraudulent activities in the financial sector. Regulatory compliance is expensive for both financial institutions and regulators and is also time-consuming. Choosing appropriate standards for managing fraudulent activities in a rapidly transforming financial industry is a necessity as well as a challenge. Further key findings from the study suggest: Risk and compliance management segment generated the highest revenue in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 49.7% over the forecast period North America is projected to expand at a CAGR of 51.6% from 2019 to 2025 owing to various advancements in information technology and growing adoption of RegTech solutions, especially in the financial industry Key players operating in the regulatory technology market include NICE Actimize; PwC; IBM; London Stock Exchange Group plc; BWise; Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc.; Accuity; RIMES TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; Wolters Kluwer; Compendor; Infrasoft Technologies Ltd.; and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, among others Request a Sample Copy of the Global RegTech Market Research Report @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/regulatory-technology-market/request/rs1 Grand View Research has segmented the global RegTech market on the basis of organization size, application, and region: RegTech Organization Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025) SMEs Large Enterprises RegTech Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025) Risk & Compliance Management Identity Management Regulatory Reporting Fraud Management Regulatory Intelligence RegTech Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2015 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany France Asia Pacific China India Japan Latin America Brazil Mexico Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Africa Access full research report on global RegTech market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/regulatory-technology-market The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Centre on a plea seeking formulation of schemes for the upliftment of de-notified nomadic tribes like the 'Banjara' and the 'Gadia Luhar'. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notices to the ministries of social justice and tribal affairs, seeking their stand on the public interest litigation (PIL) that wants such nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes to be brought into the mainstream. Salek Chand Jain, who moved the PIL, has contended that despite formation of several commissions by the central government for upliftment of these tribes, nothing has been done till now. Jain, who claims to be a social worker, has also contended that such tribes were branded as criminals by the British, during their rule in India, as they had participated in the 1857 revolt. The petition claimed that the British enacted the Criminal Tribes Act to marginalise such communities and to prevent them from settling in one place. It has sought directions to the government to make and implement a scheme for ensuring that such de-notified nomadic tribes get to enjoy the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, receive basic education, and are provided housing facilities and basic amenities. The petition has also urged the court to direct the government to bring schemes for rehabilitation, providing medical facilities and ensuring economic development of such tribes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A human skeleton found behind a diner in Patterson, N.Y. has been positively identified as a Danbury woman who went missing more than two years ago, Danbury police confirmed Wednesday morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, said Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour Wednesday morning. LaelCira DeLima, 53, has been missing since she left her home around 5 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2017. On Feb. 1 this year, a hunter scouting out a new area behind Putnam Diner off Route 22 in Patterson, N.Y. stumbled across a human skull. After he called police, investigators turned up more skeletal remains and several articles of clothing. Ridenhour said the case is still under investigation, but said he believes at this time there is no indication of foul play. The identification was made by investigators in Putnam County, Ridenhour said. The Putnam County Sheriffs office has jurisdiction over the case, said Capt. Lisa Ortolano. Last November, police again asked for the publics help in locating DeLima, before the missing womans bones were found. Basically around 5 she was going to Walmart to pick up prescriptions, Detective Lt. Chris Carroccio said at the time. She picked up her kids from school, told them to lock the door behind her, and she left. Weeks after DeLima was reported missing, authorities found her red Honda Accord abandoned in the parking lot of the diner The owners there told Hearst Connecticut Media they called police about the car after they noticed it hadnt moved from its spot in nearly a week. Rena Hanziargriou, who owns and runs the diner with her father, said they didnt contact police earlier, because they thought the car was one of their employees who was borrowing a red Honda from his sister with Danbury markings. It was only after the car did not move in five days that Hanziargriou said she called the police. Description GIS 12 February, 2020: The Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage is organising its annual National Drama Festival 2020 in 10 languages namely Urdu, English, Marathi, Telugu, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Tamil, Bhojpuri and Creole. The objective of this competition is to provide a platform to the public especially the youth to demonstrate their talents in the field of Performing Arts and to promote the assortment of languages. It will also enable youngsters to show more involvement in extracurricular activities beside their academic endeavours. The Ministry also provides training in Performing Arts and focuses several components such as: awakening; relaxation; body expression; diction; articulation of texts; improvisation; text work; scenography; administration, management and organisation of creative works. Moreover, Arts Officers at the Ministry prepare participants of different categories at primary school, secondary school and National levels. The goal is to professionalise the talents of the participants and help them explore classic and contemporary forms of arts by evoking themes relating to the social and individual issues. The competition will be held as follows: - Language Period for screening, preliminaries and finals Last date for submission of entries Urdu March - April 17 February 2020 English March - May 17 February 2020 Marathi March - May 05 March 2020 Telugu April - June 27 March 2020 French May - July 30 March 2020 Hindi May - July 03 April 2020 Mandarin June - August 20 May 2020 Tamil July - September 11 June 2020 Bhojpuri August - October 27 July 2020 Creole September - November 31 August 2020 Interested participants are kindly requested to fill in the application form available on the website of the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage at the: http://culture.govmu.org On Feb. 4, the president gave his State of the Union speech to Congress and to the American people. The annual address is meant to be a unifying tradition, a return to the qualities that have defined the American spirit since our founding: equality for all, freedom of faith, a level playing field and the opportunity to reap the rewards of the hard work we sow. The State of the Union is a measure of who we are, where we stand and where we are going. It is a time to reflect on our storied past and instill hope for our future. President Trump began his address by highlighting statistics of our growing economy: 7 million new jobs; an all-time low in the average unemployment rate for African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans; and the real median household income is at its highest level in history. The unemployment rate for women is the lowest it has been in the last 70 years with, as he said, women filling nearly 72% of all new jobs added. BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tuesday said the Chinese government and military and their relevant personnel had never engaged in cyber theft of trade secrets. Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks when commenting on reports that the United States on Monday indicted four members of the Chinese military for allegedly breaking into the computer networks of the Equifax credit reporting agency. Geng said the Chinese government's position on cybersecurity is consistent and clear. "We firmly oppose and combat cyber attacks of any kind. China is a staunch defender of cybersecurity." He said that it had long been an open secret that relevant departments in the United States, in violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, had been engaging in large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber stealing, spying and surveillance activities on foreign governments, enterprises and individuals. "From the case of WikiLeaks to Edward Snowden, the U.S. hypocrisy and double standard on cybersecurity have been fully revealed," said Geng. Geng said according to abundant information that has been made public, U.S. agencies have been engaging in cyber intrusion, surveillance and monitoring activities on foreign governments, institutions, enterprises, universities and individuals, including its allies. "China is also a victim of this. We have lodged stern representations to the United States and asked it to provide explanations and immediately stop such activities," said Geng. We are nothing but dust in a universe of nothing but dust. Consciousness arises as an emergent property from that dust, behaving according to the everlasting laws of Truth. by Panduka Karunanayake "Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions" David Hume, In: Treatise of Human Nature. Carlo Fonseka was passionate about reason. That passion and Humes assertion formed the dilemma that embodied his intellectual life like a problem and its solution in a thick mist, seeking each other for an elusive embrace. Carlo as we endearingly called him must have acquired his passion for reason early in life, from his teachers at Maris Stella College, Negombo and St. Josephs College Colombo, and also through the influence of the rationalist Abraham Kovoor, one of his mentors. Whereas human beings relentlessly pursue their passions (or perhaps passions pursue them, like demons secretly pursue their victims), Carlo turned tables around and passionately pursued reason. The young, eloquent rationalist, freshly returned from the UK with a PhD, was an instant hit in our nation in the 1970s. For many of us, being a schoolboy then was blissful indeed. Carlo, E.W. Adikaram, Arthur C. Clark and Carl Sagan enthralled us with their crisp arguments, nourished our growing minds with infallible facts, and broadened our horizons with illuminating scientific findings giving us different strokes of reason from their respective vantage points and through their diverse, often incompatible styles. There were periodicals to read too, such as the Vidya magazine and the Navayugaya newspaper. It was the golden era of rationalism, and one wonders how unscientific hocus pocus like astrology, survived the day. It was also probably the last decade or so of exactitude in language usage. Here too, Carlo was a role model to us. Listening to him explaining something complex was alone enough to tutor us on how to select the right word or put it in the right place in the sentence. In the 1980s, Carlo was one of the last quintessential medical academics. Back then, he taught Physiology, but there was much more in his teaching. He injected a little bit of rationalism and added a pinch of history and philosophy into it. But, most importantly and consequentially, he reconceptualized his subject to make it the truly foundational basis of the medical knowledge that a doctor needed. To give an example, the basic conceptualization of body fluid compartments that he taught us in the first term (which hardly occupied a paragraph or two in textbooks then) is still used by generations of doctors to successfully treat their patients with dengue and sepsis although he himself knew very little of these and dengue wasnt even in textbooks then. That was how foundational the Physiology he taught was. But as Carlo grew old and more interesting, a down-and-out rationalism was no longer enough for him. He must have suffered from a nagging feeling that seeing the world through reason alone was like walking with just one leg. This unease too must have had its roots in early life, perhaps at school when his mind was so completely captivated by the Arts. He could recite from memory extensive passages of Shakespeares Hamlet right down to his final illness. He reminded us that if the last remaining library on earth was burning, it was more important to save Shakespeares works than Newtons: Newtons, being facts of nature, can always be rediscovered while Shakespeares, once lost would be lost forever. A man so restlessly curious and so widely read whose mind was trained to categorize all that we know and encounter in the universe into the three transcendentals of Truth, Beauty and Goodness is inevitably bound to perceive the existence of the other leg. These are tough dilemmas. To lesser minds, the only way to deal with them would be to choose one of the transcendentals and ignore the value of other two to spend the career exalting one at the expense of the others. It is the beauty of Carlo Fonseka that he chose not to do that and instead accepted, even celebrated, this dilemma as part of the human condition that beautifies and emboldens us rather than stupefying and paralyzing us. His compendium of essays, articles, lectures and orations published in 2016, Essays of a Lifetime, amply corroborated this. Of course, the full story doesnt hang so briefly or easily. It was a story that evolved over a lifetime. If Kovoor mentored him at the start, Martin Wickramasinghe may have inspired him in later years. It was also a case of incessant hard work reading, thinking, debating, writing and rewriting, rethinking. In the 1990s, as my first (and so far the best) boss, he summed up practical wisdom for me in just four words: "Nothing worthwhile comes easy." Be that as it may, in a story we often remember only the beginning and the end. For instance, when we celebrate civilizations, we do so by marvelling at aqueducts and colosseums by comparing them to untouched jungles and rocks, rather than exalting the hard work of more primitive, tentative masonry that went in the intervening centuries. Besides, the beginning and the end come together to reveal the moral of the story quite nicely. The story of his life thus progressed from unbriddled Marxism to an accommodation of the practicalities of stark economic truths; from being a stickler to the meaning of letters to being a wise man who reads the spirit of the writing; from being a dispassionate rationalist who attacks religious orthodoxy and myth to being a compassionate human being who could live and let live, even inside a small, tolerable puddle of myth if it has to be that; from being an abrasive, uncompromising political animal to being a pragmatist who sees opposing factions as complementary parts of one society. As a result, Carlo in his later life would not speak so abhorently about private medical schools, only about substandard private medical schools; would not ask for the pound of flesh, only seek to make new friends; would not walk on fire, only tend to the burnt souls that mythwalking might leave in its wake. Naturally, in his earlier, more rigid years he made enemies as much as he attracted fans, and in later years he soothed many hearts as much as he disappointed some of his earlier followers. That is what must necessarily come to a man who refuses to stay in one place, who realizes the existence of the other leg too and starts walking with both. Thus, he began as an iconoclast destined to be a maverick, and thankfully, ended up as the icon of his own style: a combination of indelible reason and ungovernable passion, made immeasurably valuable by a lifetime of voracious reading and incessant questioning, made enormously useful to all by his cogent argument and generous engagement, and made irresistably attractive by his impeccable enunciation and colorful delivery. But as Carlo changed, so did the times in the opposite direction. Today, reason has fled and unscientific hocus pocus engulfs society. Exactitude in language is a curse, not a sign of erudition, and those who possess it are condemned to a life of unceasing mental torture whether in public life or the academia. The value of education has been detached from societal goals and is realigned with economic goals, its lofty purposes replaced by new managerialism, and great teachers displaced by prolific researchers. Today, for foundational knowledge we browse Wikipedia; for 3-dimensional role models we click on the 2-dimensional YouTube. Has he left us, then, when we need him more? There may be only a few or perhaps not even one who agreed with him at all times and on all matters. But there are many who admired him, whether openly or grudgingly, for his signature personality. The minds of each one of those admirers have both benefitted from his and acquired some of its traits. That as his hero Bertrand Russell implied in his essay "The Free Mans Worship" is how we overcome the transience of our physical state and its vulnerability to natures laws, how we overcome the limits of the human condition, and how we transcend the impermanence of existence. We are nothing but dust in a universe of nothing but dust. Consciousness arises as an emergent property from that dust, behaving according to the everlasting laws of Truth. But consciousness makes its own laws, the ephemeral laws of Beauty. And conscious beings come together to make their own laws, the tentative laws of Goodness. With some minds like Carlos, that consciousness has not only understood this nature and its laws the laws that it can free itself from, as well as those that it cannot but has also strived to live beyond its own physical existence and has succeeded. While the body has succumbed to natures laws and perished, the mind has defied them and will live on. Carlo lives on in what he has left behind in and for us. The writer first met Professor Carlo Fonseka as a candidate in the Physiology viva, where he obtained a Distinction. After graduating as a doctor from the North Colombo Medical College, he then worked as a demonstrator in Professor Fonsekas department. He currently teaches Medicine in the University of Colombo. They kept in touch throughout, until the Professors final illness. CHEYENNE Since President Donald Trump raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 years this past winter, states have begun contemplating other means of increasing regulations on products like cigarettes, vaporizers and cigars within their own borders. Wyoming is not least among them. From bills considering limitations to an outright ban on mail-order tobacco products to legislation imposing penalties for tobacco sales to individuals under 21 years of age, the Wyoming Legislature is anticipated to be seriously weighing a number of new regulations on the tobacco industry. Legislation to raise the minimum purchase age for nicotine products, for example, arrived in the Capitol with a broad coalition of supporters that include the tobacco industry, while legislation examining outright bans on mail-order tobacco products easily passed the two-thirds voting threshold needed for introduction in the Senate. Meanwhile, two taxes on nicotine products one on e-cigarettes, another imposing $1.50 on a pack of cigarettes could potentially receive play this year, marking one of the most significant years for tobacco regulation in recent memory. However successful each of those bills will be, however, remains up to lawmakers. While increased regulation on tobacco is supported by industry and lawmakers alike, the prospect of new taxes could remain a heavy lift among state lawmakers. The recent albeit surprising support for regulation, said Senate Revenue Committee Chairman Cale Case, R-Lander, could potentially mean some willingness to compromise. I think people are ready to put a tax on vaping products, but at a lesser amount than the tobacco products, he said. Other legislation like a bill to increase taxes on a pack of cigarettes by $1.50 announced by Rep. Sara Burlingame, D-Cheyenne this week could face taller hurdles, even as theyve been pitched as a means to offset the high health care costs driven by the litany of health problems tied to smoking. Meanwhile, Wyomings tobacco taxes remain well-below the national average, with the latest increase bringing Wyomings tax rate to just 31 cents below the national average. Jason Mincer, the Wyoming government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, says his organization also sees taxes as one of the best deterrents to preventing underage smoking, arguing that raising taxes on cigarettes could potentially reduce the rate of underage smoking by roughly 16 percent while simultaneously reducing the number of adult smokers by 5,000 people, according to 2019 estimates by the American Cancer Society. While the minimum age provision could potentially throw a wrench in arguments around tobacco taxes as a deterrent to smoking for young people, Mincer said the legislation could help to offset a large portion of the approximately $258 million in public health expenses connected to tobacco use. Anything to cut those costs, he feels, could help make the case for the legislation on its own. With the revenue situation the state is in, we really see this as a good fit right now, Mincer said in an interview Tuesday. The deadline for individual bills to be introduced in their house of origin is Friday. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Wednesday referred to Deoband as 'Gangotri of terrorism' while blaming it for the birth of 'most terrorists'. In a statement that may invoke controversy, Singh said, "I had once stated that Deoband is the Gangotri of terrorism. All the major terrorists from across the world have taken birth here... be it Hafiz Saeed's case. They all have come out of from Deoband." He made these remarks while addressing a public event in the Deoband town. The Union Minister also called for the implementation of a population control law and added: "without its implementation, the country cannot move on the path of development." In November 2018, Singh has sparked a controversy by stating, "Earlier, Deoband's name was Deovrant. I do not know what it is about this place, it produces people similar to Baghdadi (ISIS chief) and Hafiz Saeed - Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi government formation Latest Updates: BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari has offered to quit after his party's poor performance in elections. Auto refresh feeds The newly-elected MLA along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said. Ankit Lal, AAP's social media in-charge tweeted: "Multiple shots were fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav & @AamAadmiParty volunteers accompanying him to his home in Mehrauli after visiting a temple as part of victory procession. Miscreants in another car opened fire near Fortis. 1 dead and 1 injured. Police is at the spot." "Shots fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYada and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from the temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," the AAP said in a tweet. However, the final call regarding the venue was yet to be taken, the AAP leader said. After the selection of the Legislature Party leader, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal will be apprised of it. Thereafter, a notification will be issued. Another AAP leader said the party was considering two dates for the chief minister's oath-taking ceremony 14 and 16 February. The Ramlila Maidan was being considered as the probable venue for the ceremony, he said, adding that a grand event was being planned. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of the party's newly-elected MLAs at his residence here on Wednesday, senior party leader Gopal Rai said. At the meeting scheduled at 11.30 am, the MLAs will choose the AAP's Legislature Party leader, Rai told PTI on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the AAP's stupendous victory on Tuesday comes nearly eight months after it suffered a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in which the party drew a blank while the BJP won all seven seats. Asserting that he could have been killed, AAP MLA said, "Two people were shot in which Ashok Man Ji has died and Harender Ji was injured. I do not know whether they attacked me in particular but they certainly targeted our convoy. Anybody could have been shot in this attack including me. "The incident is really unfortunate. I do not know the reason behind the attack but it happened all of a sudden. Around 4 rounds were fired. The vehicle I was in was attacked. I am sure if Police inquires properly, they will be able to identify the assailant," Naresh Yadav, AAP MLA said. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Yadav on Wednesday said that police should thoroughly check the CCTV footage to identify the assailants who shot at his convoy. Southwest Additional DCP Ingit Pratap Singh told ANI that investigation into the firing on the convoy of AAP MLA, Naresh Yadav last night so far has revealed that there was one assailant. Naresh Yadav wasn't the target but the assailant had specifically come to target the AAP worker, Ashok Mann, who was shot dead. As Arvind Kejriwal completes a hattrick of wins to retain chief ministership of Delhi, the stage is set for Aam Admi Party supremo to pitchfork himself again as Narendra Modi's national alternative. This time, however, we may see a different approach from Kejriwal. Past defeats have chastened the politician but also honed his survival instincts. Kejriwal's ambition has not lessened, only made sharper by experience. To understand why such a trajectory is inevitable, we need to look closely at his political graph. The Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR in connection with the firing incident at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy and said that all angles are being probed. Delhi Police said that investigation is on and working "on all angles" to find out the motive behind firing the shots at Naresh Yadav's convoy. The MLA urged the police to thoroughly check the CCTV footage to identify the assailants who shot at his convoy. But there seem to have been two strands to the AAP's strategy. The first is that of projecting the positive governance model of the AAP. The second strand seemed to avoid engaging in communal talk, steering largely clear of the Shaheen Bagh protests, and not making any specific references to the Muslim community. What does the BJPs loss in Delhi mean? Is it that the Hindutva platform of hate has no takers? Is it that Hindutva pales before real vikas? Is it that a majority of the voters of Delhi are not communal? How should one assess Kejriwals thumping victory in broader political terms? There are no clear answers. The transformation of Kejriwal from a combative chief minister at the start of his second term to a more statesmanlike leader towards the end of it is as obvious as daylight. But it has been a critical factor in ensuring he gets a third term as the Chief Minister of Delhi. This was a stark departure from the Kejriwal of November 2016, who had reached the police station in Mayapuri to ensure the release of Fatima, mother of Jawaharlal Nehru University's missing student Najeeb Ahmad, or the Kejriwal of 2018 who sat on a dharna protesting against the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. In the run up to the Delhi elections, a reporter asked Arvind Kejriwal why he hadnt visited Shaheen Bagh. "What will I do there?" he replied. "I am the chief minister of Delhi. I have been elected to preside over the states education, electricity, health, roads and so on." The Governor dissolved the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday. "Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday dissolved the Sixth Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with effect from 11 February." the official said. "A new order will be issued for the formation of the Seventh Legislative Assembly after the final results come," the official added. After the selection of the Legislature Party leader, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal will be apprised of it. Thereafter, a notification will be issued. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal to meet Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today morning. Later today he is expected to hold a meeting with the newly-elected party MLAs at his residence. Pandey, who also unsuccessfully contested from the Northeast Delhi Lok Sabha seat in 2019, won the Timarpur seat by a margin of over 24,000 votes. Chadha, who had also registered victory from Rajinder Nagar, defeated his BJP rival Sardar R P Singh by a margin of 20,058 votes. He too had contested from the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat but lost to BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri. The new Delhi Legislative Assembly will have 16 first-time MLAs, all from the Aam Aadmi Party, including Atishi, Raghav Chadha and Dilip Pandey. Atishi, who was fielded from Kalkaji, won the seat by defeating BJP candidate Dharambir Singh by a margin of 11,393 votes. She unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections last year from the East Delhi constituency against BJP's Gautam Gambhir. The final voter turnout was 62.59 percent, five percent less than 2015. The votes polled under NOTA category 43,108 constituted about 0.5 percent of total votes polled, as per the figures released by the Election Commission on its website. The election, largely seen as a battle between the AAP and the BJP, was held on Saturday, sealing the fate of 672 candidates -- 593 men and 79 women. Over 43,000 votes in the just-concluded Delhi Assembly polls were cast in the None of the Above (NOTA) category, according to official figures released on Tuesday. Counting of votes were held on Tuesday after the elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly. Losing the Delhi Assembly polls and a Shiv Sena chief minister in the country's financial capital Mumbai (Maharashtra) would be "deeply hurting" Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who wanted to secure at least one victory for the BJP after stepping down as its national president, it said. "This is rare as elections in India are generally contested on sentimental issues," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party took a dig at former ally BJP, saying the Aam Aadmi Party's win indicated the defeat of arrogance and the attitude of "what we say is rule". The Shiv Sena praised Delhi Chief Minister and AAP president Arvind Kejriwal, saying he single-handedly took on the "army of BJP leaders", including chief ministers and central leaders, and successfully showcased the works done by his government in fields like education and health. The Shiv Sena on Wednesday said Aam Aadmi Party's campaign designed around the works done by it won it a landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly polls while the BJP's "polarisation attempt" failed to click with voters of the National Capital. The main accused Kalu told the police that he had not come to attack the AAP MLA but to attack party volunteer Ashok Mann and his nephew Harendra due to personal enmity. He also alleged that Ashok Mann had attacked his nephew in the past. But according to India Today reports, four people have been arrested by the Delhi Police. Three accused have been identified as Kalu, Dhami and Dev who are residents of Kishangarh village. The AAP worker who was killed in the shooting was also a resident of the same village. Delhi Police on Wednesday said that the accused gunman who shot at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's envoy on Tuesday night has been arrested. "It is a case of personal enmity and it has nothing to do with politics. Further investigation is underway." the police said. Kejriwal will also hold a meeting with the newly elected Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. The legislators will then elect him as the leader of the legislature party, following which he will stake claim to form government. As per procedure, Kejriwal is also likely to tender his resignation to pave the way for his fresh swearing-in as the chief minister, which according to ANI is slated to be held on this Sunday, 12 February. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at the Raj Niwas on Wednesday, a day after he scripted a spectacular victory sweeping the Delhi polls. The meeting lasted for around 15 minutes. Sources said the two discussed the oath-taking ceremony which could take place over the weekend. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marginally improved its tally of seats from three to eight. The AAP, with its vote share of 53.6 percent, fell short of its 2015 Delhi Assembly polls tally (54 percent), while the BJP bagged its second best of 38.5 percent, six percent more than last time. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has won 62 out of 70 seats. The AAP's stupendous victory comes nearly eight months after it suffered a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in which the party drew a blank while the BJP won all seven seats. The newly-elected MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party have officially elected Arvind Kejriwal as the leader of the AAP's legislative party, following which he will stake claim to form the government in Delhi. He will be taking oath on Sunday as Delhi chief minister. The grand old party accepted defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls and vowed to rebuild and revive itself at the grassroots level in the National Capital. The party, which ruled Delhi for 15 years, suffered a major loss in the third consecutive Assembly election since 2013 as did not have a known figure who could replace three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit who died last year in July. CNN-New18, PC Chako quits as Delhi's Congress in-charge after the party's poor performance in polls on Wednesday. This comes a day after party's Delhi unit chief Subhash Chopra also resigned after taking responsibility for the dismal electoral show. The ruling AAP galloped to a landslide victory by winning 62 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections in the face of a high-voltage campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers in its electioneering, spearheaded by Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP marginally improved its tally, managing just eight seats from its 2015's tally of three seats. The eight newly-elected BJP legislators are expected to meet Delhi party unit chief Manoj Tiwari in Delhi on Wednesday evening. The eight BJP MLAs are Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Mohan Singh Bisht (Karawal Nagar), Jitender Mahajan (Rohtas Nagar), Ajay Mahawar (Ghonda), Anil Kumar Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Abhay Verma (Laxmi Nagar), Om Prakash Sharma (Vishwas Nagar) and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (Badarpur). AAP leader Manish Sisodia, addressing media a day after his party thumping victory in the Delhi assembly election, credited the win to the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal government's track record on development and providing services. He also said that all cabinet ministers would be also be sworn in on Sunday, along with newly elected legislative leader Kejriwal. Though the BJP only won 8 seat, it had marginally improved its tally of seats from three to eight. The AAP, with its vote share of 53.6 percent, fell short of its 2015 Delhi Assembly polls tally (54 percent), while the BJP bagged its second best of 38.5 percent, six percent more than last time. BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda is expected to hold a meeting with all the general secretaries of the party on Wednesday evening at the party headquarters in Delhi, reports ANI. The editorial said: Home minister Amit Shah had made Delhi election a matter of honour, not prime minister Narendra Modi. JP Nadda recently took over the reins of the party, but the real impresario was Amit Shah. After stepping down from the post of BJP president, Shah wanted to secure at least one win for his party which has been losing elections in state Assemblies after its huge victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the Marathi daily said. Though JP Nadda was recently appointed the BJP president, the party's campaign for the Delhi polls was steered by Amit Shah, it stated. In party's mouthpiece newspaper, the Sena noted that losing the Delhi Assembly polls after missing out on having a BJP chief minister in Mumbai would be "deeply hurting" Amit Shah. The BJP's poor showing in the Delhi election is more of Amit Shah's defeat than Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, an editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana said on Wednesday, say multiple reports. He further claimed that BJP will meet the "same fate like Delhi in Bihar Assembly polls," scheduled to be held later this year. "This kind of polarised politics and the card for dividing society that is being played by the ministers of the BJP is not going down well with people of Delhi and India. You can see the reflection of that in results emerging in states like Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh," Sibal said. After his Congress's drubbing in the Delhi Assembly polls, its leader Kapil Sabil on Wednesday said the party "does not have a leader to project". "We do not have a leader to project. This is the issue within the party. We will look into it and resolve it at earliest," Sibal told ANI . The one-and-a-half-month-long campaign should be themed "Har Kaam Desh Ke Naam", the letter stated. Javadekar urged the ministers to issue immediate directives to officials in this connection. The information and broadcasting minister shot off the letter on Tuesday evening, asking all his ministerial colleagues to inform people about their ministry's "public welfare work" through television, newspapers, outdoor and digital mediums between 15 February and 31 March. Hours after the BJP faced a stunning defeat in Delhi elections, all Union ministers received a letter from their Cabinet colleague and senior party leader Prakash Javadekar asking them to design a campaign to highlight the welfare work done by their respective ministries. Hooda's comments come after Kejriwal led AAP won 62 seats in the Delhi polls on Tuesday whereas Congress drew a blank. "Win and loss in the not the question here- how Congress has performed is the main cause of concern," he added "In a democracy, I always respect the mandate of the people. Delhi elections results are a cause of concern that needs introspection at the national level. Congress should make a plan for the future," said Congress leader at a press conference. Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday called for introspection at a national level following the party's failure to secure a single seat in Delhi Assembly polls. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday offered to quit the post after the saffron party suffered a rout in the Delhi Assembly election on Tuesday, according to reports. India Today also reported that the party high command has turned down his resignation and has asked him to continue on his post. The ruling AAP galloped to a landslide victory by winning 62 of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections in the face of a high-voltage campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers in its electioneering, spearheaded by Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP marginally improved its tally, managing just eight seats from its 2015's tally of three seats. The eight newly-elected BJP legislators are expected to meet Delhi party unit chief Manoj Tiwari in Delhi on Wednesday evening. The eight BJP MLAs are Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Mohan Singh Bisht (Karawal Nagar), Jitender Mahajan (Rohtas Nagar), Ajay Mahawar (Ghonda), Anil Kumar Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Abhay Verma (Laxmi Nagar), Om Prakash Sharma (Vishwas Nagar) and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (Badarpur). AAP leader Manish Sisodia, addressing media a day after his party thumping victory in the Delhi assembly election, credited the win to the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal government's track record on development and providing services. He also said that all cabinet ministers would be also be sworn in on Sunday, along with newly elected legislative leader Kejriwal. Earlier last week, the Kejriwal had said his reciting the 'Hanuman Chalisa' has hurt leaders of the BJP and alleged that the saffron party had been mocking him ever since he recited the 'Hanuman Chalisa' on a TV channel. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday congratulated AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal for the landslide victory in the Delhi elections but he also took a jibe at him, asking for Hanuman Chalisa to be introduced in all educational institutions of Delhi. Though the BJP only won 8 seat, it had marginally improved its tally of seats from three to eight. The AAP, with its vote share of 53.6 percent, fell short of its 2015 Delhi Assembly polls tally (54 percent), while the BJP bagged its second best of 38.5 percent, six percent more than last time. BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda is expected to hold a meeting with all the general secretaries of the party on Wednesday evening at the party headquarters in Delhi, reports ANI. The editorial said: Home minister Amit Shah had made Delhi election a matter of honour, not prime minister Narendra Modi. JP Nadda recently took over the reins of the party, but the real impresario was Amit Shah. After stepping down from the post of BJP president, Shah wanted to secure at least one win for his party which has been losing elections in state Assemblies after its huge victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the Marathi daily said. Though JP Nadda was recently appointed the BJP president, the party's campaign for the Delhi polls was steered by Amit Shah, it stated. In party's mouthpiece newspaper, the Sena noted that losing the Delhi Assembly polls after missing out on having a BJP chief minister in Mumbai would be "deeply hurting" Amit Shah. The BJP's poor showing in the Delhi election is more of Amit Shah's defeat than Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, an editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana said on Wednesday, say multiple reports. Taking on Congress veteran P Chidambaram who welcomed the AAP win as "defeat of bluff and bluster", Mukherjee in a tweet had asked the former minister if the state Congress units should shut shop in case the party had decided that others will take on the BJP across states. PC Chacko after resigning from Delhi's Congress in-charge on Wednesday, responded to Sharmishtha Mukherjee tweet, saying; "I don't want to comment on Sharmistha Mukherjee's statement. It is a courtesy to congratulate the winner and we did that:" He further claimed that BJP will meet the "same fate like Delhi in Bihar Assembly polls," scheduled to be held later this year. "This kind of polarised politics and the card for dividing society that is being played by the ministers of the BJP is not going down well with people of Delhi and India. You can see the reflection of that in results emerging in states like Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh," Sibal said. After his Congress's drubbing in the Delhi Assembly polls, its leader Kapil Sabil on Wednesday said the party "does not have a leader to project". "We do not have a leader to project. This is the issue within the party. We will look into it and resolve it at earliest," Sibal told ANI . The one-and-a-half-month-long campaign should be themed "Har Kaam Desh Ke Naam", the letter stated. Javadekar urged the ministers to issue immediate directives to officials in this connection. The information and broadcasting minister shot off the letter on Tuesday evening, asking all his ministerial colleagues to inform people about their ministry's "public welfare work" through television, newspapers, outdoor and digital mediums between 15 February and 31 March. Hours after the BJP faced a stunning defeat in Delhi elections, all Union ministers received a letter from their Cabinet colleague and senior party leader Prakash Javadekar asking them to design a campaign to highlight the welfare work done by their respective ministries. Hooda's comments come after Kejriwal led AAP won 62 seats in the Delhi polls on Tuesday whereas Congress drew a blank. "Win and loss in the not the question here- how Congress has performed is the main cause of concern," he added "In a democracy, I always respect the mandate of the people. Delhi elections results are a cause of concern that needs introspection at the national level. Congress should make a plan for the future," said Congress leader at a press conference. Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday called for introspection at a national level following the party's failure to secure a single seat in Delhi Assembly polls. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday offered to quit the post after the saffron party suffered a rout in the Delhi Assembly election on Tuesday, according to reports. India Today also reported that the party high command has turned down his resignation and has asked him to continue on his post. Delhi government formation Latest Updates: BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari has offered to quit after his party's poor performance in elections. A day after the party's rout in Delhi elections, the knives are out in the Congress with leaders blaming each other and raising questions on whether the party has outsourced the task of defeating the BJP to others. Kapil Sabil on Wednesday said the party 'does not have a leader to project'. "We do not have a leader to project. This is the issue within the party. We will look into it and resolve it at earliest," Sibal told ANI. PC Chacko after resigning from Delhi's Congress in-charge on Wednesday, responded to Sharmistha Mukherjee tweet, saying: 'I don't want to comment on Sharmistha Mukherjee's statement. It is a courtesy to congratulate the winner and we did that.' Taking on Congress veteran P Chidambaram who welcomed the AAP win as "defeat of bluff and bluster", Mukherjee in a tweet had asked the former minister if the state Congress units should shut shop in case the party had decided that others will take on the BJP across states. After BJP's poor performance in polls, BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda is expected to hold a meeting with all the general secretaries of the party on Wednesday evening at the party headquarters, reports ANI. Meanwhile, eight newly-elected BJP legislators are expected to meet Delhi party unit chief Manoj Tiwari in Delhi on Wednesday evening. The eight BJP MLAs are Vijender Gupta (Rohini), Mohan Singh Bisht (Karawal Nagar), Jitender Mahajan (Rohtas Nagar), Ajay Mahawar (Ghonda), Anil Kumar Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Abhay Verma (Laxmi Nagar), Om Prakash Sharma (Vishwas Nagar) and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (Badarpur). PC Chako quits as Delhi's Congress in-charge after the party's poor performance in polls on Wednesday. This comes a day after party's Delhi unit chief Subhash Chopra also resigned after taking responsibility for the dismal electoral show. The grand old party accepted defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls and vowed to rebuild and revive itself at the grassroots level in the National Capital. The party, which ruled Delhi for 15 years, suffered a major loss in the third consecutive Assembly election since 2013 as did not have a known figure who could replace three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit who died last year in July. Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at Raj Niwas in Delhi. Later today he is expected to hold a meeting with the newly-elected party MLAs at his residence. After the selection of the Legislature Party leader, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal will be apprised of it. Thereafter, a notification will be issued. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on 16 February at Ramlila Maidan, reports ANI. Delhi Police on Wednesday said that the accused gunman who shot at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's envoy on Tuesday night has been arrested. "It is a case of personal enmity and it has nothing to do with politics. Further investigation is underway." the police said. But according to India Today reports, four people have been arrested by the Delhi Police. Three accused have been identified as Kalu, Dhami and Dev who are residents of Kishangarh village. The AAP worker who was killed in the shooting was also a resident of the same village. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has called a meeting of the party's newly-elected MLAs at his residence on Wednesday, senior party leader Gopal Rai said. At the meeting scheduled at 11.30 am, the MLAs will choose the AAP's Legislature Party leader. Meanwhile, before the meeting, Kejriwal is also expected to meet Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today morning. The Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR in connection with the firing incident at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy and said that all angles are being probed. Delhi Police said that investigation is on and working 'on all angles' to find out the motive behind firing the shots at Naresh Yadav's convoy. The MLA urged the police to thoroughly check the CCTV footage to identify the assailants who shot at his convoy. A person was killed after some unidentified people opened fire at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy in southwest Delhi's Kishangarh village on late Tuesday night, police said. The newly-elected MLA along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said. This comes right after AAP swept the Delhi Assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats. An emotional and exuberant Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the people of Delhi for giving rise to a 'new kind of politics' as his Aam Aadmi Party stormed to a landslide win in the Delhi Assembly polls. The AAP's stupendous victory comes nearly eight months after it suffered a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in which the party drew a blank while the BJP won all seven seats. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has won 62 seats. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marginally improved its tally of seats from three to eight. The AAP, with its vote share of 53.6 percent, fell short of its 2015 Delhi Assembly polls tally (54 percent), while the BJP bagged its second best of 38.5 percent, six percent more than last time. In the Lok Sabha polls held in May, the BJP had polled over 56 percent votes in Delhi, more than the combined vote share of the Congress (22.5 percent) and the AAP (18.1 percent). The Congress registered its worst-ever performance with its vote share slipping to four percent. Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday dissolved the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday. "Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday dissolved the Sixth Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with effect from 11 February." the official said. "A new order will be issued for the formation of the Seventh Legislative Assembly after the final results come," the official added. News18 reported that the new government is likely to be formed on 14 February. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for his party's win in the Delhi Assembly elections and wished him "the very best" in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the National Capital. Congratulations to AAP and Shri @ArvindKejriwal Ji for the victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections. Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2020 Kejriwal responded on Twitter: "Thank u (you) so much sir. I look forward to working closely wid (with) Centre to make our capital city into a truly world class city." 'New kind of politics' Kejriwal, in a brief address to supporters and party workers at AAP headquarters when the results began to crystallize in favour of his party, said a new kind of politics has emerged from the Delhi Assembly polls with people rewarding the party which built schools, hospitals and provided cheap electricity round-the-clock. "Delhiites, you have done an amazing thing (Dilli walo aapne ne gazab kar diya). I love you," Kejriwal said. "It is a victory of all and every family who considered me their son and gave us a huge mandate. In the country today, Delhiites have given birth to a new kind of politics, which is called "kam ki rajniti" (politics of works)," Kejriwal, who won the New Delhi seat, said. Constituency Const. No. Winning/Leading Candidate Leading Party Losing/Trailing Candidate Trailing Party Margin of votes Adarsh Nagar 4 Pawan Sharma (Won) AAP Raj Kumar Bhatia BJP 1,589 Ambedkar Nagar (SC) 48 Ajay Dutt (Won) AAP Khushiram Chunar BJP 28,327 Babarpur 67 Gopal Rai (Won) AAP Naresh Gaur BJP 33,062 Badarpur 53 Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (Won) BJP Ram Singh Netaji AAP 3,719 Badli 5 Ajesh Yadav (Won) AAP Vijay Kumar Bhagat BJP 29,123 Ballimaran 22 Imran Hussain (Won) AAP Lata BJP 36,172 Bawana (SC) 7 Jai Bhagwan (Won) AAP Ravinder Kumar BJP 11,526 Bijwasan 36 Bhupinder Singh Joon (Won) AAP Sat Prakash Rana BJP 753 Burari 2 Sanjeev Jha (Won) AAP Shailendra Kumar JD(U) 88,158 Chandni Chowk 20 Parlad Singh Sawhney (Won) AAP Suman Kumar Gupta BJP 29,584 Chhatarpur 46 Kartar Singh Tanwar (Won) AAP Brahm Singh Tanwar BJP 3,720 Delhi Cantt 38 Virender Singh Kadian (Won) AAP Manish Singh BJP 10,590 Deoli (SC) 47 Prakash @ Prakash Jarwal (Won) AAP Arvind Kumar BJP 40,173 Dwarka 33 Vinay Mishra (Won) AAP Parduymn Rajput BJP 14,387 Gandhi Nagar 61 Anil Kumar Bajpai (Won) BJP Naveen Chaudhary AAP 6,079 Ghonda 66 Ajay Mahawar (Won) BJP Shridutt Sharma AAP 28,370 Gokalpur (SC) 68 Surendra Kumar (Won) AAP Ranjeet Singh BJP 19,488 Greater Kailash 50 Saurabh Bharadwaj (Won) AAP Shikha Roy BJP 16,809 Hari Nagar 28 Raj Kumari Dhillon (Won) AAP Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga BJP 20,131 Janakpuri 30 Rajesh Rishi (Won) AAP Ashish Sood BJP 14,917 Jangpura 41 Praveen Kumar (Won) AAP Impreet Singh Bakshi BJP 16,063 Kalkaji 51 Atishi (Won) AAP Dharambir Singh BJP 11,393 Karawal Nagar 70 Mohan Singh Bisht (Won) BJP Durgesh Pathak AAP 8,223 Karol Bagh (SC) 23 Vishesh Ravi (Won) AAP Yogender Chandoliya BJP 31,760 Kasturba Nagar 42 Madan Lal (Won) AAP Ravinder Choudhry BJP 3,165 Kirari 9 Rituraj Govind (Won) AAP Anil Jha BJP 5,654 Kondli (SC) 56 Kuldeep Kumar (Won) AAP Raj Kumar BJP 17,907 Krishna Nagar 60 S. K. Bagga (Advocate) (Won) AAP Dr. Anil Goyal BJP 3,995 Laxmi Nagar 58 Abhay Verma (Won) BJP Nitin Tyagi AAP 880 Madipur (SC) 26 Girish Soni (Won) AAP Kailash Sankla BJP 22,719 Malviya Nagar 43 Somnath Bharti (Won) AAP Shailender Singh BJP 18,144 Mangol Puri (SC) 12 Rakhi Birla (Won) AAP Karam Singh Karma BJP 30,116 Matia Mahal 21 Shoaib Iqbal (Won) AAP Ravinder Gupta BJP 50,241 Matiala 34 Gulab Singh (Won) AAP Rajesh Gahlot BJP 28,075 Mehrauli 45 Naresh Yadav (Won) AAP Kusum Khatri BJP 18,161 Model Town 18 Akhilesh Pati Tripathi (Won) AAP Kapil Mishra BJP 11,133 Moti Nagar 25 Shiv Charan Goel (Won) AAP Subhash Sachdeva BJP 14,072 Mundka 8 Dharampal Lakra (Won) AAP Azad Singh BJP 19,158 Mustafabad 69 Haji Yunus (Won) AAP Jagdish Pradhan BJP 20,704 Najafgarh 35 Kailash Gahlot (Won) AAP Ajeet Singh Kharkhari BJP 6,231 Nangloi Jat 11 Raghuvinder Shokeen (Won) AAP Suman Lata BJP 11,624 Narela 1 Sharad Kumar (Won) AAP Neel Daman Khatri BJP 17,429 New Delhi 40 Arvind Kejriwal (Won) AAP Sunil Kumar Yadav BJP 21,697 Okhla 54 Amanatullah Khan (Won) AAP Braham Singh BJP 71,827 Palam 37 Bhavna Gaur (Won) AAP Vijay Pandit BJP 32,765 Patel Nagar (SC) 24 Raaj Kumar Anand (Won) AAP Pravesh Ratn BJP 30,935 Patparganj 57 Manish Sisodia (Won) AAP Ravinder Singh Negi BJP 3,207 R K Puram 44 Pramila Tokas (Won) AAP Anil Kumar Sharma BJP 10,369 Rajinder Nagar 39 Raghav Chadha (Won) AAP Sardar R P Singh BJP 20,058 Rajouri Garden 27 A Dhanwati Chandela A (Won) AAP Ramesh Khanna BJP 22,972 Rithala 6 Mohinder Goyal (Won) AAP Manish Chaudhary BJP 13,873 Rohini 13 Vijender Kumar (Won) BJP Rajesh Nama Bansiwala AAP 12,648 Rohtas Nagar 64 Jitender Mahajan (Won) BJP Sarita Singh AAP 13,241 Sadar Bazar 19 Som Dutt (won) AAP Jai Parkash (J.P) BJP 25,644 Sangam Vihar 49 Dinesh Mohaniya (Won) AAP Shiv Charan Lal Gupta JD(U) 42,522 Seelampur 65 Abdul Rehman (Won) AAP Kaushal Kumar Mishra BJP 36,920 Seema Puri (SC) 63 Rajendra Pal Gautam (Won) AAP Sant Lal LJP 56,108 Shahdara 62 Ram Niwas Goel (Won) AAP Sanjay Goyal BJP 5,294 Shakur Basti 15 Satyendar Jain (Won) AAP Dr. S. C. Vats BJP 7,592 Shalimar Bagh 14 Bandana Kumari (Won) AAP Rekha Gupta BJP 3,440 Sultanpur Majra (SC) 10 Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat (Won) AAP Ram Chander Chawriya BJP 48,052 Tilak Nagar 29 Jarnail Singh (Won) AAP Rajiv Babbar BJP 28,029 Timarpur 3 Dilip Pandey (Won) AAP Surinder Pal Singh (Bittoo) BJP 24,144 Tri Nagar 16 Preeti Tomar (Won) AAP Tilak Ram Gupta BJP 10,710 Trilokpuri (SC) 55 Rohit Kumar (Won) AAP Kiran BJP 12,486 Tughlakabad 52 Sahiram (Won) AAP Vikram Bidhuri BJP 13,758 Uttam Nagar 32 Naresh Balyan (Won) AAP Krishan Gahlot BJP 19,759 Vikaspuri 31 Mahinder Yadav (Won) AAP Sanjay Singh BJP 42,058 Vishwas Nagar 59 Om Prakash Sharma (Won) BJP Deepak Singla AAP 16,457 Wazirpur 17 Rajesh Gupta (Won) AAP Dr. Mahender Nagpal BJP 11,690 AAP heavyweights survive scare Among the AAP heavyweights who won the elections after close contests were Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Raghav Chaddha and Atishi. Delhi cabinet ministers Gopal Rai, Satyender Jain also were among prominent winners. Sisodia, who led AAP's education reform efforts, defeated his BJP rival Ravinder Singh Negi by over 3,000 votes after an initial scare. AAP's Okhla candidate Amanatullah Khan had a lead of 81,000 votes over BJP's Braham Singh. The city's Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar fall under the Okhla constituency. Shaheen Bagh has become the epicentre of protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as women with young children have been on a sit-in protest there for nearly two months. Seelampur, which also witnessed violence during an anti-CAA protest, saw AAP's Abdul Rehman emerging victorious against Kaushal Kumar Mishra of the BJP. Rehman defeated his rival by a margin of 25,000 votes. Rebel AAP leader Kapil Mishra, who had joined the saffron party, suffered a crushing defeat in the Model Town constituency at the hands of AAP's Akhilesh Pati Tripathi. 'Less blame game, more work' Reacting to his party's defeat, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said people must have given the mandate after careful thinking. "Our vote percentage has increased from 32 percent to around 38 percent. We hope that there would be less blame game and more work," he told reporters. Tiwari rejected the charge of Opposition that his party fought the polls on a "divisive" agenda. "We do not practice politics of hatred, our principle is 'sabka saath sabka vikas'. In elections much is talked about as per emerging developments. But, we would never want that some people block a road for protest and cause problems to others. We opposed it (Shaheen Bagh road block) in the past and still do," Tiwari said. Some BJP leaders also cited lack of a chief ministerial face, organisational shortcomings, failure to reach out to voters in unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters, and differences of leaders in Delhi party unit as possible reasons for the party's "humiliating" defeat. Tiwari, however, said the causes of BJP's debacle will be "reviewed" on the party forum. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday said "freebies" given out by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led to its massive victory in the Delhi Assembly polls. outcome, Talking to reports, Vijayvargiya said, "The issue was about freebies. Kejriwal will say from where the issue of development came into the elections? Freebies announced, especially during the last six months, in Delhi have had an impact on these elections." Queried on whether the BJP's defeat also stemmed from the party not projecting a CM candidate, he said it was a matter of discussion, though he added "We have formed governments even in the states where we had not declared a CM face during the poll campaign.""We have formed governments in Haryana and Tripura," he pointed out. BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain alleged that the party's poor show was due to Congress "shifting" its votes to the AAP in the elections. "BJP is the only party which has gained and our seat tally increased while even the number of AAP seats has gone down. Congress shifted its vote to the AAP yet we gave a good fight," Hussain told reporters at the Delhi BJP office. Congress falls to nadir In the first Assembly polls held in Delhi in 1993, the saffron party had bagged 42.82 percent votes. It secured 34.02 percent votes in 1998 and 35.22 percent votes in 2003. It bagged 36.34 percent votes in 2008, 33.07 percent votes in 2013 and 32.19 percent votes in 2015. However, the worst-hit was the Congress, which entered campaign mode much later than its opponents, with its vote share dipping further to 4.3 percent. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those who campaigned for the Congress. The grand old party was in power in the National Capital from 1998 to 2013. In the 1993 Assembly polls, it had secured 34.48 percent votes. When it captured power in Delhi in 1998, it had bagged 47.76 percent votes, followed by 48.13 percent and 40.31 percent votes in 2003 and 2008. In 2013, its vote share fell nearly by half to 24.55 percent and the party managed to win only eight seats. The Congress's vote share dipped further to 9.65 percent in 2015 and to 4.27 percent in 2020. NOTA (none of the above) registered a 0.46-percent vote share. The Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP), led by Mayawati, had fielded 68 candidates in the National Capital. It bagged a mere 0.71 percent votes. Opposition takes shots at BJP Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, in an apparent dig at the prime minister, said "jan ki baat" won over 'mann ki baat'. "There is a (BJP-led central) government in Delhi with so-called nationalistic views, which used the entire machinery and force in the Delhi Assembly polls but failed before the broom. Kejriwal was termed as a terrorist. Instead of focusing on local issues, they (BJP) tried to bring in international issues and change people's minds, but failed. The people of Delhi have stood firmly behind Kejriwal for his honesty and willingness to work for their betterment," Thackeray said, albeit without mentioning the BJP. "There were some people who were under the illusion that they are the only ones who love the nation while all political opponents are anti-nationals. The people of Delhi have shown such people their place," the Shiv Sena chief said. Thackeray congratulated Kejriwal and people of Delhi on behalf of Maharashtra and the Shiv Sena and wished them good luck. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the results of the Delhi elections indicated that "winds of change" were blowing in the country. "The series of BJP's defeat in elections will not stop now," he added. "The BJP, as usual, played the communal card to polarise votes, but failed. The Delhi Assembly poll contest was only between the Aam Aadmi Party and BJP, hence one might claim the saffron party's vote share is soaring," Pawar said. He said the Delhi poll results indicated that the "winds of change" are blowing in the country. "The results are not surprising to me," he said. The elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly were held on 8 February. A total of 672 candidates, including 593 men and 79 women, were in the fray. While Kejriwal was the star campaigner for the AAP, Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath were among those who extensively campaigned for the BJP. With inputs from PTI MANCHESTER, N.H. At a polling station here Tuesday afternoon, a middle-aged woman arriving at an elementary school to vote stopped to take a photo of the dozens of demonstrators representing various candidates chanting and singing for a crowd of assembled news cameras. This is unusual, she told me. Usually when I come to vote its pretty boring. The Democratic race for the nomination to face Donald Trump in the November election didnt get any less unusual or any more certain with Tuesday nights results of the New Hampshire primary. Bernie Sanders won, but not as commandingly as he did in 2016. Pete Buttigieg finished among the top two candidates for the second contest in a row. Amy Klobuchar lay claim to a surge in her prospects with a strong third-place finish, while fourth-place finisher Elizabeth Warren promised to fight on and Joe Biden skipped town before his fifth-place results were even announced. Thank you New Hampshire! Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for this great victory tonight, Sanders told his supporters shortly after 11 p.m. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump. Were going to Nevada, and to South Carolina, and were going to win those states as well. Hello America, I am Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump, an overjoyed Amy Klobuchar told her supporters when it was clear she had finally broken through into the medal count. My heart is full tonight, while there are still ballots left to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way. As of 11:30 p.m., with 90 per cent of the vote in, Sanders led with 26 per cent of the vote, followed by Buttigieg at 24 per cent, Klobuchar at 20 per cent, Warren at 9 per cent and Biden at 8 per cent. No other candidate had more than 5 per cent of the vote. The primary election in New Hampshire is the first in the country, held one week after Iowa kicks off the whole candidate-selection process with its caucus event. Both traditionally lay claim to huge influence on the nomination outcome. No Democrat since 1972 has ever won the nomination without placing first or second in New Hampshire. But after a week of intense campaigning and overkill media attention, its not clear that the race for the Democratic nomination is close to being won by any candidate. Perhaps the odd thing is that so many watching expect it to be. The United States has set up a months-long candidate-selection process that involves contests in all 50 states, plus possessions such as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, but has come to expect a likely winner to be obvious after only two states representing less than 1.5 per cent of the population have voted. Though that is the perplexing tradition, this year seems set to break the mould. In another sign of just how odd a year this is, the earliest results reported showed a district where the same candidate won both the Republican and Democratic contests and the winner was not on either ballot. The district of Dixville Notch (five registered voters), has for decades opened its polls at midnight on primary day and then immediately reported results minutes later as soon as everyone in town has voted in order to brag that they are first in the nation. This year Mike Bloomberg, who is contesting the later states as a Democrat but was not on the ballot in New Hampshire, won both Republican and Democratic contests because voters wrote his name in. (Voters unsatisfied with the available options are allowed to write-in any name they like.) Obviously that early result didnt reflect any wider New Hampshire voting trend, but the billionaire former New York City mayors unusual campaign was on peoples lips here after the release of a poll showing Bloomberg having risen to third place nationally among Democrats, with possibly surprisingly strong support among Black voters. Bloomberg has spent hundreds of millions on advertising already, and is hoping to make a splash on so-called Super Tuesday on March 3 when many states, including some of the largest ones, weigh in. All of the leading candidates coming out of New Hampshire announced their determination to continue, although long shots Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet dropped out. Sanders and Warren planned immediate trips to Super Tuesday states, while Klobuchar announced her first ad buy in Nevada. Biden left town before the results here were even announced, heading for South Carolina, which votes Feb. 29 and where he hopes his strong support among Black voters will launch him back into contention. After a massive rally in downtown Manchester Monday night, which drew blocks-long lineups and snarled traffic across the urban area, Donald Trump easily won the Republican primary. There was another candidate on the Republican ballot, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, who had attracted roughly 9 per cent of the vote in early returns. A lonely Weld supporter, Manchester resident Richard Slingsby, told me outside a polling station Tuesday that he wasnt hopeful for victory but felt it was important to show opposition to the sitting president as a registered Republican. Donald Trump has just not proven himself to be a capable leader of the United States. My personal opinion is that he has embarrassed us on the world stage. Thats a sentiment widely shared by Democrats. Voters here seemed fixated on determining which candidate could beat Trump, many impressed with Buttigiegs organization and with Klobuchars moderation. Both Buttigieg and Sanders finished the contest hosting large, energized crowds at multiple events Monday. Warren supporters demonstrating in front of polling stations on Tuesday chanting Dream big! Fight Hard! were visited by a doughnut-bearing Warren who told them she planned to persist her campaign focusing on a message that she could be a consensus candidate to emerge from the split field in a long campaign. Democrats are facing the possibility of a campaign, for the first time in most Americans memories, that could extend right up to the convention in July. The last time a truly contested convention for the nomination was held was 1952, when Adlai Stevenson was elected on the third ballot before going on to be crushed by Dwight Eisenhower in one of the most lopsided electoral college results in history. Trump seems more vulnerable and less popular among the general public than Eisenhower was, but a consensus among pundits seems to hold that the Democrats would prefer an earlier victory to allow a focus on the general election to take over both party resources and public attention. Next up on the nomination calendar is the Nevada caucus on Feb. 22 and then the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, followed quickly by Texas, California and a host of other states on Super Tuesday, March 3. Read more about: A Florida father who told police his three-year-old daughter had been abducted by strangers from his front yard lied by claiming they were strangers when the girl had in fact been taken by her mother. An Amber Alert was issued for three-year-old Madeline Meija on Monday after her father, Lester, called 911 claiming she had been snatched from his car in his driveway in Apopka while he was back in the house retrieving his keys. He told police the person who took her was a man and that he'd never seen him before. When four people - including the girl's teenage mother Tania Fortin-Duarte, 18, - were arrested later in the day after police tracked the kidnappers' car down, Lester said he had no idea why they took his daughter. Madeline with her father Lester after they were reunited on Monday (left). He has since admitted he knew she had been taken by her 18-year-old mother Tania (right) This is the moment three-year-old Madeline Meija was rescued from the abductor's car on I-1O near Tallahassee, Florida, on Monday, five hours after being reported missing. Her mother's boyfriend Kevin Olmeda-Velis, 19,is shown in the background being cuffed On Tuesday, however, Apopka Police Department revealed Lester had made the story up. He was not at home, as he claimed, when she was taken and was in fact at work. Madeline was being looked after by a relative who called him to tell him Tania had come to take the toddler away. Lester phoned 911 but the dispatcher told him because the girl was with his mother, there was no crime to investigate. He then fabricated the abduction story to get their attention. 'Mr. Mejia was scared he would not see his daughter again so he provided the abduction story in hopes it would assist in recovering his daughter,' a police statement on Wednesday read. Tania and her boyfriend, Kevin Olmeda-Velis, 19, were booked on kidnapping charges. While police say she did not use any force in taking the child, she did not have legal custody so it is still considered kidnapping. Another two men who were taken into custody have since been released to ICE. No charges have been brought against Lester, but authorities say they are still investigating. The girl's father told police he had put her in the back of his car in the driveway of their home in Apopka on Monday when he went back inside to get the keys. He was in fact at work and she was being looked after by a relative This is the black Honda with Texas plates that abducted the girl on Monday Police in Florida issued an Amber Alert for Madeline after her father called 911 on Monday morning 'Although Mr. Mejia was not forthcoming with the information he provided to the Apopka Police Department he did have lawful custody of his daughter and Ms. Duarte unlawfully removed Madeline from his custody. 'The Apopka Police Department continues to investigate this matter, and is thankful that Madeline was found safe and returned to Mr. Mejia,' the statement continued. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement sprang into action when the Amber Alert was called in. They mobilized a police Cessna plane to patrol the highways which eventually found the kidnappers' black Honda almost 250 miles from Madeline's home in a little under six hours. They notified police troopers on the ground who then surrounded the vehicle and arrested the girl's mother, boyfriend, and the two other men on the side of the road. Madeline was reunited with her father hours later. He said afterwards: 'It was anguish not knowing what was happening to my daughter. 'Im happy for my baby coming back,' Lester Mejia told WFTV9. Boeing issued a stark warning Wednesday about the impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, saying there was "no question" it would hammer the aviation industry and the broader economy. The virus has killed more than 1,100 people and infected tens of thousands in China, and spread to over two dozen other countries in what is now considered a global health emergency. Major airlines have halted flights in and out of China, where a lockdown has been imposed in the worst-affected areas, while several countries have banned arrivals from China. "You have several global airlines that have limited their traffic in and out of China, that's revenue," said Ihssane Mounir, the US plane maker's senior vice president of commercial global sales and marketing. "You have business trips not happening, you have cargo not going in and out. "It will have an impact on the economy, it will have an impact on revenues, it will have an impact on these carriers... there's no question about it." Mounir was speaking in Singapore to reporters at Asia's biggest air show, which has seen over 70 exhibitors withdraw and a fall in visitor numbers due to virus fears. Singapore has reported 47 cases of the virus so far and has raised its health alert level to the same as during the 2002-2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. The vast exhibition centre hosting the four-day show has been unusually empty, pockmarked by deserted booths of companies who have pulled out. Organisers have been using thermal scanners to check the temperature of those attending and have advised participants to avoid handshakes and instead greet one another by waving or bowing. - Stormy skies ahead - Boeing's warning came against a backdrop of mounting evidence that the aviation industry is heading for severe turbulence due to the virus outbreak. Aviation consultancy Ascend by Cirium warned this week that the impact on aviation could be worse than during the SARS outbreak, which battered economies across Asia. SARS, like the new virus, emerged in China and spread to other countries, killing hundreds. Rajiv Biswas, chief regional economist at consultancy IHS Markit, said Asia-Pacific commercial aviation "has become increasingly dependent on mainland Chinese tourism and business travel over the past decade". Many Asian airlines have established direct flights to a growing number of cities across China following a boom in tourists from the world's number two economy, he said. There are other signs of the virus's economic impact, with extended holidays and movement restrictions imposed by China causing major disruption to global supply chains. The South Korean unit of US car company General Motors on Wednesday announced a partial suspension of operations next week due to shortages of parts from China. Japanese auto giant Nissan and South Korea's Hyundai Motor have also been affected. Boeing gets some aircraft components from China, but Mounir said he was not yet seeing any impact on these operations from the coronavirus. However the delivery of Boeing planes to China and potential Chinese orders for new aircraft would be delayed, he said. The US manufacturer meanwhile said its executives have been busy reassuring customers that its 737 MAX, which has been grounded since March last year following two deadly crashes, will be fit to return to service. "Trust is earned, we're going to have to earn it again," Mounir said. Boeing, which halted deliveries of the jets and temporarily ceased production after the crashes, is targeting mid-2020 to win regulatory approval and resume flights. "As you can imagine the conversations are not always easy... We've got a whole army of folks who are involved every waking moment in this process," he said. mba/sr/je BOEING IHS Global Insight MARKIT GENERAL MOTORS NISSAN MOTOR Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Human rights advocate, Amnesty International, says a decision to hand over ousted Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court (ICC) would be a welcome step towards justice for victims and their families 3. The Coach & Horses, Soho Has any pub been so eulogised as the Coach? It probably helps that so many of its regulars are journalists, and often have been. Still, old stories dont keep a place going; the Coach still thrives because it hums with a crowd who love it, who sing loudly at the piano, who put away pints and come in with their idiosyncratic drinks orders. At some point last year, there was a worry it would all go down the pan as Fullers wrestled back control from long-standing landlord Alistair Choat and his daughter Hollie. The pair put up a wonderfully spirited campaign to cling on, but it wasnt to be. The Choats are still missed, for their humour and welcome, but it has to be said Fullers havent wrecked the place. In fact, it might even be better. The loos arent covered in graffiti, sadly, but the beer is fresher, theyve more spirits behind the bar and service is swift. Few live in Soho these days; this place is a reminder of when all the characters did. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 By Matanat Nasibova Trend: A cable plant of one of the leading enterprises of Azerbaijans Sumgayit Technological Park (STP), intends to increase the volume of its products abroad, STP PR manager Rashad Aliyev told Trend. STP exported cable products worth more than $6.3 million to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan in 2019, Aliyev added. "This year, the plant intends to continue to increase the volume of supply and export cable products to many more countries, PR manager said. Our efforts will be mainly aimed at expanding the market share in Central Asia." PR manager said that STP exported a big batch of high capacity power cables to Kazakhstan in 2019. "STP has fully complied with its obligations within the signed contract, Aliyev said. As a big number of infrastructure projects are being carried out in Kazakhstan, the potential for expanding STP's cooperation with local private and state companies in this country is quite big. Taking into account this fact, STP carefully explores this direction and envisages the establishment of closer contacts in these markets in the future," Aliyev said. The Sumgayit Technological Park, commissioned in December 2009, is a complex of big plants specializing in various fields of production. Being a unique project in the region, STP fully meets the demand in the domestic market and is able to export a sufficient volume of products to the foreign market. Previously, the plant produced cables with a voltage of 10, 35, 110, 220 kV. STP has begun to produce cables with a voltage of 500 kV since 2016 for the first time in the history of Azerbaijans industry. Currently, STP residents are 12 plants and more than 30 production sites provided with the latest European and Japanese technological equipment. Some 2,000 people work there. The plant has been provided with modern German equipment. A Colorado Springs man who agreed to an open relationship with his girlfriend fatally shot her new partner after discovering them in bed together, an El Paso County jury found Tuesday in convicting him of first-degree murder. Andrew J. Firkins Jr., 47, was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole in the March slaying of Nicholas Laduke, 37. Fourth Judicial District Judge Marla Prudek imposed the mandatory sentence minutes after the panel delivered its verdict, capping a seven-day trial. Testimony showed that the love triangle erupted into violence at an apartment that Firkins and girlfriend Shelby Stallwood had shared in the 4600 block of Winewood Village Drive, near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Barnes Road. Prosecutors argued that Firkins lashed out in jealousy after finding Stallwood and Laduke together in the couples guest room. Hours earlier, the trio had gone to lunch together at a Colorado Springs Mexican restaurant, where they ordered several rounds of drinks over the course of two to three hours. Firkins had agreed to let Laduke stay at their apartment for the next couple of nights, to wait out a coming snow storm, according to the testimony. That evening, Firkins and Stallwood fell asleep together in their room. Firkins awoke to find she wasnt at his side and went to investigate, discovering them in bed together. The jury deliberated for about three hours before rejecting Firkins attorneys argument that Laduke attacked first. A home is somewhere you should feel safe and secure, one of Firkins public defenders, Kelly McCullough, told the panel in asking for an acquittal during closing arguments. McCullough also sought a lesser conviction, urging the jury to consider the encounter between Laduke and Stallwood a highly provoking act. Among facts in dispute was whether Stallwood broke the ground rules of the couples open relationship. The defense said she agreed not to have sex with someone new in their apartment. Prosecutors said they had no such rule. Details of the unconventional relationship could have proved pivotal if the jury had rejected the top charge of first-degree murder. If the panel had concluded that Firkins were provoked into acting in the heat of passion, he could have been eligible for second-degree murder conviction carrying a maximum sentence of 32 years, said Colorado Springs attorney Shimon Kohn, who wasnt affiliated with the case. Stallwood testified she couldnt remember if shed had sex with Laduke before the shooting, but prosecutors said she was embarrassed to admit the truth in front of strangers in court. Soybeans Lower in Early Trading, With November Weakest Barchart - 39 minutes ago Soy futures are mostly 2 to 5 cents lower so far for Tuesday. Soon to expire January is up 2 in very thin activity. Nearby Soybean futures fell 23 3/4 to 26 3/4 cents on Monday, a more than 1% drop.... ZSF22 : 1374-2 (unch) ZSPAUS.CM : 13.4354 (-1.90%) ZSH22 : 1381-4 (-0.23%) ZSX21 : 1234-0s (+1.79%) ZSPX21US.CM : 12.3270 (+1.90%) Cattle Futures Down Triple Digits to Begin Week Barchart - 39 minutes ago Live cattle futures closed the Monday trading session with $1.07 to $1.47 losses. Feb contracts have dropped $4.02 since 12/30 with 7 of those 8 sessions red. USDA reported the bulk of the weeks activity... LEG22 : 136.250s (-0.78%) LEM22 : 136.225s (-1.07%) GFF22 : 160.925s (-0.72%) GFH22 : 165.350s (-0.79%) Cotton Futures Split, with Nearby Futures Strongest Barchart - 39 minutes ago Front month cotton futures are a tale of two crop years, with crop up 76 to 87 points this morning while new crop December is 2 points lower. Cotton futures were off their high at the close on Monday,... CTH22 : 116.18 (+0.83%) CTK22 : 113.94 (+0.77%) CTZ21 : 111.55s (+0.25%) Crude OIL 4h Elliott Wave Analysis: Trades Into Resistance Area EW-Forecast.com - 59 minutes ago Crude oil made nice and strong five waves down in November, which is a bearish structure so we assume that energy has turned into a higher degree correction CLG22 : 79.29 (+1.35%) Markets Still Not Wowed Market Tea Leaves - Tue Jan 11, 5:39AM CST Yesterday the markets still didn't trade Higher. Can this change today? Bulgaria's leaders self-isolate after speaker COVID-positive AP - Tue Jan 11, 5:17AM CST SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) Bulgarias top leaders are self-isolating after being in contact with the parliamentary speaker who tested positive for the coronavirus, the countrys chief health inspector... $SPX : 4,670.29 (-0.14%) $DOWI : 36,068.87 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,614.43 (+0.14%) Factory farming dispute vexes Spain's coalition government AP - Tue Jan 11, 4:26AM CST MADRID (AP) A spat over factory farming is causing tension in Spains left-of-center coalition government, with the farm minister on Tuesday describing the consumer ministers criticism of the... $SPX : 4,670.29 (-0.14%) $DOWI : 36,068.87 (-0.45%) $IUXX : 15,614.43 (+0.14%) She is a small screen siren. But Scheana Shay was enjoying the delights of the big screen on Tuesday night, attending the Fantasy Island premiere in Los Angeles. The 34-year-old was a brunette bombshell as she hit the red carpet at AMC Century Center 15 to watch the supernatural horror movie. Glowing: Scheana Shay was enjoying the delights of the big screen on Tuesday night, attending the Fantasy Island premiere in Los Angeles Schena showcased her enviably chiseled midriff in a busty sleeveless black crop top as she posed up a storm for the shutterbugs. Flinging her black hair over her right shoulder, she let her fleece-lined bomber jacket slide beguilingly off her left one. The Vanderpump Rules personality wore a massive pair of hoop earrings and accentuated her unmistakable features with makeup. Place to be: The 34-year-old was a brunette bombshell as she hit the red carpet at AMC Century Center 15 to watch the supernatural horror movie Scheana slid into a pair of high-waisted black trousers that featured kinky straps dangling down the front to the knee. The TV star, who used to be married to record producer Mike Shay, rounded off her look with a pair of low-top black leather boots. This past Sunday she slid her curves into a shimmering silver gown for the 3rd Annual Griot Gala Oscars after-party at the Beverly Hills restaurant Ocean Prime. Party circuit: This past Sunday she slid her curves into a shimmering silver gown for the 3rd Annual Griot Gala Oscars after-party at the Beverly Hills restaurant Ocean Prime Scheana is now running around with a hunky Australian rugby player called Brock Davies whom she showered with praise in Us Weekly recently. She shared that he 'treats me right, Ive never been with someone who made me feel so loved and not insecure. We are a good fit for each other.' Scheana added: 'We are both loud outspoken personalities so we butt heads at times, but any issue weve ever had has been resolved in less than 30 minutes.' [February 12, 2020] Harris Williams Advises Kronos Foods, Inc. on its Sale to Entrepreneurial Equity Partners Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces that it advised Kronos (News - Alert) Foods, Inc. (Kronos), a portfolio company of Grey Mountain Partners, LLC (Grey Mountain), on its sale to Entrepreneurial Equity Partners (e2p). Kronos is a leading provider of on-trend, value-added specialty protein, bakery and sauce products. The transaction was led by Tim Alexander, Brant Cash, Brant Wilczek and Richard Furseth of the Harris Williams Consumer Group. "Kronos' differentiated offering of world cuisine, premier innovation and customer-centric culture has driven significant growth over the past several years," said Tim Alexander, a managing director at HarrisWilliams. "Ensuring investors fully appreciated Kronos' story and capabilities required an advisor with extensive expertise in food. We are excited to find a partner for our client in e2p that we believe will build upon Kronos' recent momentum." "Investors are attracted to the food and beverage sector for its stability and are particularly looking for businesses with a proven history driving growth through innovation. Companies like Kronos, with a leading position in Mediterranean foods and the flexibility to expand into new, value-added protein and bakery products, are positioned to thrive in the evolving food industry," said Brant Cash, a managing director at Harris Williams. Since 1975, Kronos has led the specialty protein industry in innovation, starting with the successful development and marketing of the first standardized gyros cone. Kronos has now expanded beyond Mediterranean foods into bold, on-trend world cuisine via its lines of value-added specialty proteins, bakery products and sauces. Grey Mountain is a Boulder, Colorado-based private equity firm that focuses on partnering with management to create lasting value through operational improvements and strategic growth initiatives. Grey Mountain invests at the small end of the middle market in companies across a wide range of industries, manages approximately $700 million of assets and is currently investing from its third fund. e2p is a middle market, Chicago-based private equity firm focused on control-oriented investments in the food and consumer packaged goods industries. e2p's team of professionals includes experienced food and consumer packaged goods executives and investors who bring an entrepreneurial mindset and extensive industry networks to supporting and collaborating with portfolio company teams. Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC (News - Alert) Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). The Harris Williams Consumer Group has completed more than 60 transactions in recent years across a variety of verticals, including branded consumer products; consumer services; food, beverage and agribusiness; and restaurant and retail. For more information on the Harris Williams Consumer Group and other recent transactions, visit the Consumer Group's section of the Harris Williams website. Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 5th Floor, 6 St. Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AE, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: [email protected]). Geschaftsfuhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business. For media inquiries, please contact Katie Langemeier, associate brand manager, at +1 (804) 648-0072. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005668/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SALEM, Ore. -- Supporters of the controversial cap-and-trade bill made their voices heard at the Oregon Capitol on Tuesday. Officials with the group Renew Oregon said more than 1,000 people attended a rally to show their support for Senate Bill 1530. If passed, it would impose a cap on carbon emissions and charge the state's largest polluters if they go over the cap. Diane Phillips, who is from Azalea in Douglas County, said she and some friends carpooled in a Prius to get to the rally. "I'm just a very concerned person about the earth and world that we live in," Phillips said. "I want to make the life that I have available for my grandchildren." The group Timber Unity held a protest last week in opposition to the bill, saying it could cost them their jobs. RELATED: Trucks circle Oregon Capitol for second Timber Unity rally Supporters of the bill not only waved signs outside the statehouse and heard speeches but also marched around the Capitol building on the sidewalk. Oregon State University student Laura Rathbun said she wants lawmakers to act now. "It could be amazing what we could do as an example here in Oregon if we actually did something," Rathbun said. Senate Bill 1530 is currently in committee, and there's a work session hearing for it scheduled on Thursday. A senior Coalition backbencher has called for the controversial religious discrimination bill to be scrapped because it is too "flawed", saying it should be replaced with a new, single framework for all anti-discrimination laws. The appeal from NSW Liberal Concetta Fierravanti-Wells comes as Attorney-General Christian Porter says "sensible" issues have been raised about the second draft of the bill and he will undertake yet another round of consultations with community and religious groups before introducing it to Parliament. Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells wants a new consolidated anti-discrimination framework, instead of the government's proposed religious discrimination bill. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Senator Fierravanti-Wells, who has been a vocal critic of the Morrison government's religious discrimination plans, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age a different approach was needed due to continued concerns from religious Australians about the proposed bill. "I have come to the conclusion that no bill is better than this flawed bill," she said. By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations' human rights office on Wednesday named 112 companies it said have business ties to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, angering Israel and prompting a Palestinian threat of legal action against the firms. A long-delayed report issued in Geneva said 94 of the companies were domiciled in Israel and 18 were listed in six other countries -- the United States, Britain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Thailand and France. A spokesman for Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the report was not a "blacklist" and was not intended to qualify any of the companies' business activities as illegal. But it is a sensitive issue as companies named could be targeted for boycotts or divestment intended to put pressure on Israel over its settlements. Despite the spokesman's remarks, they could now also face legal battles. "We demand the companies immediately close their headquarters and branches inside illegal Israeli settlements because their presence contradicts international and U.N. resolutions," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh wrote on his Facebook page. He said companies would be pursued through "international legal institutions and in courts in their countries for taking part in human rights violations in Palestine". Palestinians could also demand compensation for "use of our occupied land illegally," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the report as the work of a "biased and uninfluential body." "Instead of dealing with human rights, this body is trying to blacken Israel's name. We reject any such attempt in the strongest terms and with disgust," he said in a statement. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the report a "shameful capitulation" to anti-Israel groups. Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war. Palestinians and much of the world view the settlements as illegal under international law, but the United States and Israel dispute this. Story continues The United States in effect backed Israel's right to build settlements on Nov. 18 last year by abandoning its long-held position that they were "inconsistent with international law". A Middle East peace plan announced last month by U.S. President Donald Trump proposed allowing Israel to keep control of the West Bank settlements though the plan would also create a Palestinian state. Several hours after the report was issued, there was no reaction from the U.S. government. "HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS" The report was issued on the eve of the U.N. Human Rights Council's main annual session opening in Geneva from Feb 24. Neither Israel nor the United States are members of the forum which both accuse of a bias against Israel. "I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious," Bachelet said in a statement. Her office said the report "does not provide a legal characterization of the activities in question, or of business enterprises involvement in them." One of the businesses named in the report, home-rental company Airbnb, had already acknowledged having listings in settlements and said last April that it would donate proceeds from any bookings in the territory to international humanitarian aid organizations. Another, Cheerios maker General Mills Inc , said it was listed because of a manufacturing facility that "uses natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes". About 50% of the workers are Palestinians who enjoy full social benefits and "the facility has a history of continuing employment and employee satisfaction", a General Mills spokesman said. Other businesses listed for inclusion in a database included travel firms and a steel producer. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell, Jeffrey Heller and Stephen Farrell in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, and by Uday Sampath Kumar; Editing by Timothy Heritage) Wireless Supply has launched a new website with increased functionality and a bold new look at wirelesssupply.com. We wanted to make every one of our 1,100-plus products easy to find. Five years ago, on February 23, 2015, Wireless Supply opened its doors and began producing and manufacturing high quality wireless products at unbeatable prices, delivered in record time. We started with a couple industry standard products and have grown to nearly 1,100 in a very short time frame, says Jeff Hall, general manager. To mark the auspicious occasion, Wireless Supply has launched their brand new website with increased functionality and a bold new look. We think its the best-looking website on the internet, boasts Patrick Strickland, Director of Marketing, who later concedes he might be a little biased. We wanted to make every one of our 1,100-plus products easy to find via an intuitive products menu and impressive spec sheet interface. The site introduces several innovations, including a Bill of Materials Worksheet for order compilation, instructional videos, an Elite Search function, and an RF Cable Connector Matrix to name a few. Our customers who have visited the site have been blown away by the comprehensive design and functionality we spent many months working to perfect, says Hall. We are really proud of the finished product. Check out the new wirelesssupply.com today! About Wireless Supply Wireless Supply, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a major manufacturer of components for iDAS, oDAS and small cell systems. The company specializes in passive components as well as RF and fiber cable to support the growing demands of wireless operators, system integrators, VARs and distribution partners. Wireless Supply operates warehouses in Nebraska and North Carolina. A nationwide network of sales representatives and distributors provide product distribution throughout the United States. Children's Mercy Hospital set to lose funding in proposed KCMO budget KANSAS CITY, Mo.-- - When Kansas City, Missouri's proposed 2020-21 budget is unveiled Thursday, at least one organization will receive $500,000 less than previous years. The proposed budget calls for a reduction of that amount in city funding to Children's Mercy Hospital. This news item was published last night and we credit our readers with calling it out so that it wasn't lost in the evening news mix. Checkit: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 06:15:35|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close People attend a panel discussion at the fifth European Financial Forum in Dublin, Ireland, on Feb. 12, 2020. The fifth European Financial Forum, organized by Financial Times in partnership with Industrial Development Authority of Ireland (IDA), opened here on Wednesday, attracting hundreds of participants from the international financial services industry. (Xinhua) DUBLIN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The fifth European Financial Forum, organized by Financial Times in partnership with Industrial Development Authority of Ireland (IDA), opened here on Wednesday, attracting hundreds of participants from the international financial services industry. During the one-day event which was held in Dublin Castle, a landmark building complex in the Irish capital, senior officials and industry leaders from the sectors of banking, finance, insurance, regulation, fintech and asset management discussed the crucial issues impacting the financial industry today and the opportunities that lie ahead in the next decade. Important speakers at the forum included Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and former British prime minister John Major who talked in a fireside chat about the topic of "Brexit, the UK, the EU and the Future". Speaking at the forum, Varadkar said that "Ireland is the seventh most competitive economy in the world and the second in the euro area." He said that "international financial services have played a significant role in helping us achieve our place as a forward-looking country, integrated in the global economy. They contribute jobs and tax revenues to fund our public services, and trade and investment reaffirm our position in the world economy." First held in 2016, the forum is aimed at boosting Ireland's status as a major financial services centre in the European Union after Brexit. "Today Ireland is home to over 430 international financial service companies, employing almost 44,000 people," said Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA, a semi-official organization responsible for attracting foreign direct investment in the country. Gemma Willis suffered life changing injuries following a road traffic accident in 2015 when she was was just 21-years-old. "I was in college studying to be a chef. I was working full time as a pastry chef...I had a boyfriend and then that August, myself and my mum were involved in a bad car accident," explained Gemma at Leitrim's Health Is Wealth 2020. Speaking at the seminar in Carrick-on-Shannon, Gemma detailed how she was asleep in the back seat of her family's car, heading home to Carlow when the accident occurred. Despite the doctors saying that she had little chance of survival, her family refused to give up on her and she awoke after a 6 week induced coma in hospital, to the news that her right leg had been amputated and she was now paralysed from the waist down. She spent nine months in the Mater hospital having 14 surgeries to "put me back together" and then spent seven months in Dun Laoghaire at the rehabilitation centre. She said when her parents told her what had happened she initially thought "it's a dream. I am going to wake up". "It wasn't till I was actually being hoisted on the plinth in the gym in the Mater (Hospital). It was my first time sitting up properly and I looked down and saw I was missing a leg and that's when I bawled," she told the audience. She said the hardest thing to accept was losing her leg and when she went back to her room that day she passed a man in a room opposite her and she told her parents "I wish I was like him". When they said "Why? He's paralysed from the neck down" she told them "but he has two legs". Gemma candidly admits: "I don't give a damn that I broke my back. I'm in a wheelchair, big deal, it's my leg (losing it) that it is the hard thing to accept." She said she doesn't know where it comes from but despite the accident and her long road to recovery "I am more confident now than I ever would have been". "I really don't know where this positivity has came from. Maybe it's because I am so laid back I am not bothered by things. I don't know. I don't focus on the bad things I just focus on all the good things," she said. Even before the accident she had always had great self belief and Gemma detailed how, as a young child, her father would ask her to do something on his phone and when she would do it, he'd ask her how she managed it. "Ah sure I'm amazing, what do you expect" she would reply, adding that she used to get "given out to" and was told she "sounded so cocky". Yet when she was coming out of her coma , one of her cousins turned to her father and said: "she really is amazing". Since her accident, Gemma has become a motivational speaker, speaking to young people and encouraging them. "I talk to a lot of fourth years. They are 16 and they don't know what to do with their lives and I say I am 26 and I don't know what to do with myself so don't put pressure on yourself," she said. Gemma also talks about her accident and the impact one moment has had on her life, so that those she speaks to understand how lives can be utterly changed by an accident. Her one piece of advice for people is: "everything is meant to happen for a reason. My accident, as I say for whatever messed up reason it was meant to happen, it happened. In ways my life is better now in ways that it wouldn't have been if it hadn't happened. "Look at what I'm doing. I'm here tonight. If this was five years ago I would be in the kitchen doing orders. I never got these opportunities before." This summer Gemma is going on the tall ships for a week with Spinal Injuries Ireland and the is plan is to get back working and get back driving within the next year. For Gemma, life is about looking towards the future, continuing to challenge herself and living life to the full. 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The action has been brought by John Keady, who last month pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault committed against a female at the Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Portarlington, Co Laois, on December 9, 2018. The offence was prosecuted summarily before Portlaoise District Court. Keady, who is aged 45 years with an address at Durabhan, Roscam, Galway and who brought 5,000 to court as a token of his remorse for the offence, received a sentence of 10 months imprisonment, which was suspended in its entirety. The court also directed that Keady be the subject of notification requirements provided for under the 2001 Sex Offenders Act, which is commonly known as the sex offenders register, for a period of five years. At the High Court his counsel, James Dwyer SC, told the court the notification requirements provided for in the 2001 Act did not apply to his client. This was because Keady had received a wholly suspended sentence, that his victim was not mentally impaired nor under 17 years of age at the time of the offence, counsel said. The District Court judge had erred in law by holding that the offence committed by Keady was an offence that was the subject of of notification requirements under the 2001 Act, counsel said. The Judge, counsel added, did not have the jurisdiction to make the order directing that Keady be placed on the register. In his action against the DPP, Keady seeks an order quashing the decision made by the District Court Judge directing that he be placed on the sex offenders register and is the subject of certain notification requirements, He also seeks declarations including that the District Court did not have the jurisdiction to direct that he be placed on the sex offenders register. Permission to bring the challenge was granted on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Charles Meenan. The case will come back before the court in April. Babcock warned on profits on Wednesday as its oil and gas business continued to struggle in a frustrating quarter. The defence contractor said competition in the oil business had forced it to take a 85 million charge. The companys helicopters transport around 260,000 people to oil and gas platforms in the North Sea, notching up around 26,000 flight hours every year. Outgoing chief executive Archie Bethel said: Competition has got tougher. Three of Babcocks helicopter competitors have emerged from bankruptcy with reduced debt, making it tougher for the business to compete. Mr Bethel said Babcock will exit its oil and gas businesses in Ghana and Congo. Its been a frustrating third quarter, he added, as the companys marine, nuclear and land business traded in line, or better than expectations. The business now expects underlying operating profit to reach 540 million, the lowest point of its previous guidance of 540 million to 560 million. Revenue is still expected at 4.9 billion, while the company thinks it will be able to reduce net debt. Babcock said in a statement to investors: The group continued to win work across all sectors in the period, with win rates in line with our targets. Our combined order book and pipeline remains at the record level of 34 billion, with an order book of 18 billion and pipeline of 16 billion. The news sent Babcocks shares down by 27.6p, 4.96% to 528.8p, as it became the biggest loser on the FTSE 250. The company was hit last year when an anonymous research note from an outfit called Boatman Capital took aim at the companys management. Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets.com, said Babcock is still battling with the fallout from the episode. He said: Its been a tough period for Babcock. There is still something of a Boatman overhang but the real issues remaining are whats driving the stock now. Id stick to the view that the share price has been undervalued by the market as its been tarred by the outsourcer brush, whilst there are longer term fears about exposure to UK defence contracts, a revenue stream that can be decidedly lumpy. Henderson Oil Co. awards $6,500 in school grants Henderson Oil Company awarded a total of $6,500 in 2019 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance School Grants to 13 Henderson County Public Schools on Wednesday, supplying elementary, middle and high school principals with extra funds for necessary materials and programming. Bruce Drysdale, Clear Creek, Dana, Edneyville, Glenn C. Marlow, Hillandale, Mills River and Upward elementaries; Rugby Middle; East Henderson, Hendersonville, North Henderson and West Henderson high schools each received $500 to fund school-specific local programs supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Bruce Drysdale intends to spend its funds on math resources in English and Spanish to support its Dual Language program, and Hillandale will be building a math manipulatives library for students to check out hands-on materials to skill build at home. The grants will provide technology to support a brand new drone class and expand Adobe motion graphics and visual programming courses at North, as well as materials for Rugby Middles engineering club and Project Lead the Way classes. Clear Creek, Dana, Glenn C. Marlow, and Upward elementaries will use the grant to pay for STEM resources, including supporting Danas first ever STEM Night for parents and families. Both Edneyville and Mills River elementaries plan to use their grants for robotics teams and programs, while the funds will support science lab materials and upgrades at East Henderson. The $500 grants are annually awarded on a first-come, first-served basis through the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Program, as local ExxonMobil Distributors apply for them on behalf of schools. These grants continue to be as popular as ever, with 4,400 grants totaling $2.2 million being spoken for in about an hour, said Henderson Oil Company President Bill McKibbin. Since 2000, Henderson Oil Company and ExxonMobil have provided $239,750 in education grants to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Of that number, $133,250 has been awarded to schools in Henderson County. Superintendent Bo Caldwell thanked Henderson Oil Company for annually supporting local educators by giving them access to tools to enhance STEM education, and called them members of the HCPS Family. We look at not just our school system as a family, but our community as well, Caldwell said. We join arms and get things done and it takes community partners like you. Juul Labs, the vaping company that has long insisted it never marketed its products to teenagers, purchased ad space in its early days on numerous youth-focused websites, including those of Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, Seventeen magazine and educational sites for middle school and high school students, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Massachusetts attorney general. The suit, brought by the states attorney general, Maura Healey, presents some of the starkest evidence to date that the company was targeting young, nonsmokers during its launch period, from June 2015 through early 2016. Juul executives declined to address the specific charges in the complaint. Instead, a company spokesman, Austin Finan, issued a statement that pointed to recent actions Juul has taken to combat underage vaping and said: We remain focused on resetting the vapor category in the U.S. and earning the trust of society by working cooperatively with attorneys general, regulators, public health officials and other stakeholders to combat underage use and transition adult smokers from combustible cigarettes. The day started with a report that MWC 2020 is on the brink of being cancelled due to too much withdrawals of major companies, and today two more joined the wave. Nokia and HMD Global sent out separate press releases from their neighboring offices in Espoo, Finland, confirming the outbreak of the coronavirus Covid-19 and the concern for the health of their employees is the major reason to pull out of the event in Barcelona. HMD Global said that the conference has always been a key stage for launching new products, however, the safety of employees, customers and stakeholders is the companys highest priority. There will be a new timeline for any upcoming Nokia smartphones, but that will be revealed once finalized. The words in Nokias press release say pretty much the same - it evaluated the situation with GSMA, stakeholders and external experts and authorities, but eventually decided to cancel participation. Instead of being part of MWC 2020, Nokia said it prefers to go directly to customers with a series of Nokia Live events, which sounds like an online demo of 5G technology. HMD Global and Nokia join a plethora of other telecommunications giants, including Sony, vivo, TCL, Ulefone, a bunch of carriers and many more. Source 1 Source 2 Last week, the Idaho House of Representatives passed House Bill 317, which would allow optometrists in our state to perform certain surgeries now performed only by trained medical doctors. These lasers cut tissue and are therefore scalpels. When I learned how to do surgeries and laser procedures on eyes during my surgical residency, I had several years of supervised training by experienced ophthalmologists. We learned how to deal with complex patients and innumerable variations in human anatomy. Most importantly, as an eye surgeon, I learned when NOT to operate. I use lasers to treat the inside of the eye almost every day. These lasers make cuts inside the eye to treat glaucoma, scar tissue that can form after cataract surgery, and retinal tears, but only after performing hundreds of procedures during my residency. I believe anyone who is adequately trained to do a procedure can do so. Today, there are no national surgery training programs for optometrists. Currently only two optometry schools are in states where optometrists are permitted to perform laser or scalpel surgery. Optometrists do not currently have the training and supervision required to perform safe surgery on your eyes. Idahos statute currently prohibits optometrists from performing laser surgery. Lasers can cut as deeply and as permanently as any scalpel. Laser surgery done incorrectly can result in permanent blindness. The 32-hour optometric training course referred to in House Bill 317 uses artificial eyes and tissue, and does not involve supervised procedures on humans. For an optometrist to be certified in Idaho, under House Bill 317, only five laser procedures on patients would need to be observed by a certified optometrist or ophthalmologist, and scalpel surgeries are not required to have any supervision whatsoever. This is unacceptable. An error of less than one millimeter with a scalpel could result in permanent blindness. There are no shortcuts when it comes to acquiring the medical knowledge and surgical skills to perform delicate eye surgery. This bill is not a turf war. Ophthalmologists work with optometrists every day, both in my own office, and around the state, to ensure Idahoans have the best treatment for their eyes. This bill isnt required to improve access to eye care in rural areas. Ninety-five percent of Idahoans are just as close to a Walmart as an ophthalmologist. This bill isnt necessary to provide better emergency eye care for our population. If you have a tear in your retina, or uncontrolled pressure in your eye, I or my colleagues can treat you that day. Only three states in our country are currently allowing optometrists to use lasers. Just last year, eleven states looked at this exact same issue and determined it is not safe for their population. I am asking you to contact your Senator and ask him or her to vote against this dangerous bill. Legislation should not replace education. Please tell your senator that House Bill 317 poses an unnecessary threat to patient safety and the quality of surgical care Idahoans enjoy. Johanna Jensen, MD, is the immediate Past President of the Idaho Society of Ophthalmology and an ophthalmologist at Jensen Eye Associates in Nampa. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Ahead of US President Donald Trump's maiden visit to India, the two countries are eyeing to finalise a raft of mega defence deals including procurement of a batch of military helicopters by Indian Navy from American defence major Lockheed Martin at a cost of USD 2.6 billion. Official sources said talks were underway to wrap up negotiations on procurement of a missile defence system by India from the US for USD 1.86 billion. As India prepares to receive Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, US defence major Boeing indicated that it was considering to offer its F-15EX Eagle fighter jets to Indian Air Force. The company has already sought a licence from the US authorities for its possible export to India, eyeing a USD 18 billion contract by the IAF to procure 114 fighter jets. Government and industry sources said the two sides are likely to finalise the USD 2.6 billion deal under which the US will supply 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to India. The Cabinet Committee on Security is likely to clear it in the next few days. "We are attempting to close the deal soon," said a source. The US approved the sale of the Seahawk helicopters to India in April last year. The helicopters are expected to boost the Indian Navy's anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations. The chopper is designed to hunt down submarines. The fleet would replace aging British-made Sea King helicopters. Ahead of Trump's visit, the US approved the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to India (IADWS) at an estimated cost of USD 1.9 billion. The Trump Administration notified to the US Congress of its decision to supply IADWS to India. Officials said the two sides may finalise the deal during the US president's visit to India. Defence and security ties between India and the US have been on an upswing in the last six years. The bilateral defence trade touched USD 18 billion mark in 2019, reflecting growing defence cooperation between the two sides. There has been indication that two sides may announce further deepening of defence ties during Trump's visit on February 24 and 25. Both sides have also been pushing for joint venture and collaboration between private sectors of the two countries in defence manufacturing. In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner," intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's pioneering feminist scholar and activist Gita Sen, has won the prestigious Dan David Prize for her expansive work in the fields of population policies, reproductive and sexual health, women's rights, poverty, labour markets and global governance. Sen, who is the Director of the Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity and social Determinants of Health at the Public Health Foundation of India, has combined her 35 years of academic career with policy advocacy and activism, helping to shape the global paradigm shift on population and development. "Her innovative research on disadvantaged populations in low income rural settings, together with her mentorship of young scholars and advocates, has made a significant impact on the field," a press release from the Dan David Foundation headquartered at Tel Aviv University said. The internationally renowned Dan David Prize annually awards three prizes of $1 million each to globally inspiring individuals and organisations, honouring outstanding contributions that expand knowledge of the past, enrich society in the present, and promise to improve the future of our world. The total purse of $3 million makes it one of the highest-value prizes internationally. The fields chosen for honouring contributions in the three categories this year are cultural preservation and revival (past category), gender equality (present category), and artificial intelligence (future category). Sen will be splitting the $1 million prize in the present category for this year with Debora Diniz who is the deputy director of the rights and justice unit for the International Planned Parenthood Federation-Western Hemisphere Region. Diniz oversees strategies to promote and protect gender equality, sex, and reproductive rights and health, and to eliminate violence against women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean region. A citizen of India, Sen holds a doctoral degree in economics from the Stanford University. She is an adjunct professor of global health and population at Harvard University and has been a professor of public policy at the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore. She also serves as the General Coordinator of DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era) of which she is a founding member. She has also worked with the United Nations in several capacities and serves on the Scientific and Technical Advisory group for the WHO's Department of Reproductive Health and Research. Sen is a member of the Mission Steering Group for the Rural Health Mission and Governing Board of the Health Systems Resource Centre. Her combination of advocacy, practical experience, activism and analysis has won Sen a number of awards and honours, including the Volvo Environment Prize for her work on Women, population and development, and honorary doctorates from the University of East Anglia, the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm), the Open University (UK), the University of Sussex, and the University of Edinburgh. The prize in the past category is being shared between Lonnie G Bunch III, who was the founding director of the Smithsonian's inspiring Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, and Barabara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a distinguished scholar of performance studies and Jewish studies at New York University. Demis Hassabis, a pioneer of artificial intelligence and a widely-cited neuroscientist, and Amnon Shashua, a machine learning and computer vision researcher at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have been chosen for the prize in the future category. "We are very proud of the unique model the Dan David Prize takes in turning the spotlight on endeavours that often do not fall under traditional prize categories, yet result in outstanding contributions to humanity that define who we are and shape our future," Ariel David, Director of the Dan David Foundation, said. The prize was established by late Dan David, an international businessman and philanthropist whose aim was to reward those who have made a lasting impact on society and to help young students and entrepreneurs become the scholars and leaders of the future. Sen, with this honour, joins the elite group of other prominent Indian laureates of the Dan David Prize including author Amitav Ghosh, music conductor Zubin Mehta, renowned chemist C N R Rao, Professor of Astronomy Shrinivas Kulkarni and historian Sanjay Subramanyam. Other well known Dan David Prize laureates include, cellist Yo-Yo Ma (2006), former US Vice President Al Gore (2008), novelist Margaret Atwood (2010), filmmakers Ethan and Joel Coen (2011), distinguished economist and recent Nobel Laureate, Esther Duflo (2013), and discoverer of the breast cancer gene, Professor Mary-Claire King (2018). The laureates donate 10 per cent of their award money to scholarships for graduate or post-graduate researchers in their respective fields. The six laureates will be honoured at the 2020 Dan David Prize Award Ceremony to be held in Tel Aviv in May 2020. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Priya Pillai (The Jakarta Post) Colombo Wed, February 12, 2020 09:26 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20644a4dc 3 Opinion opinions,Rohingya,Myanmar,ICJ,genocide,discrimination,minority-groups Free It was a few weeks ago on Jan. 23 that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued what amounted to a cease and desist order against Myanmar, ordering authorities there to end genocidal practices against the Rohingya. The ruling of the so-called World Court has brought hope that international justice will prevail after the horrors inflicted on women, men and children in Rakhine state by Myanmars security forces. But while the courts ruling was a landmark moment, there are still many lingering questions. What happens next? What effects will the ruling have on Myanmars domestic scene, where an election looms later this year? Will Myanmar comply with the order and what happens if it does not? The ICJs ruling meant that a global legal body for the first time officially recognized the real threat of abuse against the Rohingya, and ordered Myanmar to do what it can to protect them. The ICJ called on Myanmar to prevent further breaches of the Genocide Convention, rein in abuses by its security forces and to preserve evidence of past abuses. It is important to note, however, that the ICJs provisional order is in no way a final ruling on whether genocide has taken place. Genocide is defined as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The Convention against Genocide imposes a duty on states that are signatories to prevent and to punish genocide, thus the ability of The Gambia to bring the case to the ICJ. The legal threshold for proving genocidal intent is notoriously high and a final decision will likely take years to reach, even if atrocity crimes against the Rohingya are already well documented. One of the ICJs 15 judges Xue Hanqin, from China has already issued an opinion questioning whether genocide took place and The Gambias right to even bring the case before the ICJ an indication that this will be a drawn-our process with no easy answers. While the decision is an important symbolic victory for the Rohingya, it remains to be seen how much effect the provisional measures will have in practice. The court has little power by itself to actually enforce the order. Like most international justice efforts, the ICJs effectiveness largely depends on the goodwill of states. In one tragic example of its impotence, the ICJ in 1993 issued similar measures against Serbia after Bosnia had accused it of genocide. Just two years later, Serb forces killed thousands of Bosnian Muslim men and boys in what has become known as the Srebrenica massacre. The government in Naypyitaw is now required to provide regular reports to the ICJ, starting in May this year, on what steps it has taken to prevent further abuse against the Rohingya. While Myanmars authorities are obliged under international law to comply with the order, they have already openly questioned the legitimacy of the court. It is highly unlikely that we will see major, structural change of the kind Rohingya themselves are calling for, including dismantling a system of apartheid-like discrimination, or providing support for international justice efforts. There are, however, private indications that Myanmar feels under enough pressure to want to show some signs of progress. If Myanmar fails to act in good faith, the matter could be escalated to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, the UNSC has been paralyzed over the Rohingya crisis so far, with China shielding Myanmar from censure. Any UNSC action will essentially boil down to what China allows, making enforcement even more difficult. Inside Myanmar, the ICJ case has come to dominate the national conversation. Aung San Suu Kyis supporters see her as a leader who is defending the nations honor, while Yangon has been littered with billboards proclaiming that she has the peoples support. With national elections approaching later this year, there is no question that the case has brought an outpouring of public support for the ruling National League for Democracy party. But that is far from true for the country as a whole. Remarkably, the ICJ has brought minority ethnic groups together in a way that was unthinkable just a few years ago. Civil society groups representing Karen, Kachin and others have all expressed their solidarity with the Rohingya. Many of these groups have suffered abuses by the Tatmadaw the Myanmar military for decades, and have a deep interest in seeing those responsible brought to justice. On the eve of the courts ruling, more than 100 local Myanmar groups issued a delicately worded joint statement offering their support for truth and justice. Beyond the ICJ, other avenues for international justice have also opened up recently over Myanmar. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has announced an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by Myanmar against the Rohingya. Separately, a Rohingya group has launched a so-called universal jurisdiction case against Myanmars leaders in Argentina. This rests on the principle that some crimes are so horrific that they concern humanity as a whole, and can therefore be tried anywhere in the world. While it is easy to be cynical about what the precedent-setting ICJ ruling recently will actually accomplish in practice, the court order does reinforce the universality of human rights and the rule of law. It has also brought much needed hope to victims, and further pressure on Myanmar to show signs of progress. We also have to remember that international justice is a long game, and one that is just getting started in Myanmar. *** Head of the Asia Justice Coalition Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Islamabad: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara during his visit to Pakistan next week. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. It is also being said that after reaching Islamabad on Sunday, February 9, 2020, he will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. In November last year, the UN Secretary-General expressed happiness over the start of the Kartarpur corridor between India and Pakistan. He called it a step to increase harmony and mutual understanding between different religions. No one is happy about Trump's India tour, says "PM Modi a good person" Will meet Imran Khan: According to the information received, the UN Secretary-General will reach Islamabad on a four-day visit on Sunday and will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the same day. During this time, he will speak in a program on sustainable development, climate change, and peace establishment. Painful: Military Academy become victim of suicide attack, 5 died Will address the international conference: This 4.7-kilometer corridor connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to Dera Baba Nanak located in the Gurdaspur district of India. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said on Monday, February 11, 2020, that the UN Secretary-General will also address an international conference held in Pakistan to mark 40 years of the asylum of Afghan refugees. Testing of deadly coronaviruses on these organisms By this point, though, Borstein had given up on Hollywood. Recently divorced (from her former writing partner Jackson Douglas), she moved with their children to Barcelona. Alex Borstein has described the role of Susie as being her triple crown. Credit:Todd Williamson/January Images And so it was from Barcelona that Sherman-Palladino had to pluck Borstein to play Susie. Fortunately, Borstein who had been frustrated with the limited range of roles for older women who had never been, in her words, classically beautiful was keen, instantly conjuring together a look for Susie that has etched its way into the show. I wanted her to wear a hat like Susie now wears, and I was very specific about wanting to wear keys around my neck. I liked the idea of suspenders. It was good, too, that upon flying to New York Borstein instantly had chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Midge: That was very easy. From the get-go weve had a good mix. Im old enough to be her mother and her and I are just very, very different in many ways but were also very similar. Its kind of like lady and the tramp, you know. Theres a little mutt in the room with a poodle and you cant help it, its just funny. Borstein has previously described the role of Susie as being her triple crown: a tough, driven woman who at once craves and fears success. She wants to be something. She wants to affect someone. She wants. She wants. She wants. And a woman who wants something can be the most interesting creature on the planet. She would know she was raised by them. Earlier this year Borsteins Emmy acceptance speech (her second for playing Susie, although she has earned nominations for Lois Griffin) went viral after she told the story of her grandmother, whose decision to step out of line of fire in Budapest during the Holocaust led to her very existence, at the podium. She expected Olivia Colman, nominated in the same category, to win. Its all about Fleabag this year, this is all just a waaaste of timee, she whines, mimicking her phone call to Amazon. But then we land and Im like, Well, anythings possible, it would be stupid to not have anything and thought about anything. I knew I wanted to talk about strong women and in particular Amy Sherman-Palladino and my mother and my grandmother and the innate strength and push for survival, she continues. I often think about what I would have been capable of if I was faced with what my grandmother was faced with. Alex Borstein (right, pictured with Rachel Brosnahan) says she is surprised that her character Susie Myerson has become a major character in the hit show The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Credit:Amazon Prime Video What perhaps got overlooked by the sheer power of the story was her grandmothers sense of humour. My grandmother was very, very funny, Borstein says. Ive been wondering a lot is it a cultural thing, or is it genetic? Its probably a blend. I think a lot of people who are culturally Jewish have a certain leaning towards the comedic, because theyve had to find comedy in the darkest of places. My parents are pretty funny and can deliver a zinger with the best of them. Some of my favourite quotes and material are things my parents have said. While Borstein has always written comedy, she doesnt, she says, mess with Sherman-Palladinos Maisel script. When we do a table read sometimes, if theres something I think might work a little bit, maybe changing one word or putting a f--k here or removing it there, Ill say it, she explains. If [Sherman-Palladino] likes it then next time I see the script shell have adapted it, and if she hasnt then Ill know not to. We do it to the letter. What she and Brosnahan do work on, though, is their physical comedy, especially in the current, third season, which sees Midge and Susie encounter new environments such as the bright lights of Las Vegas and the stifling humidity of Miami the latter much to Susies umbrage: A lot of them we kind of ran with it, and those are really fun. [Director] Dan Palladino enjoys that process in particular. Alex Borstein, front left, and Rachel Brosnahan accept the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Credit:Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP By now, Susie is a major role on the show more than Midges manager, shes also her confidante, mentor and unlikely friend. So far, season three is showing Midge to be giving Susie much of the same, encouraging her to take her career as a comedy manager to the next step. Its a marked change from the sidekick Susie started out as in season one and something Borstein says is a definitely a surprise. I signed on to do it, thinking it was going to be a small thing, Oh Ill fly in and work maybe three months out of a year. I didnt know what it would turn into. She continues: A lot of times it feels it feels like the Midge-and-Susie show. But its great. Thats something you cant help but be delighted that people are liking what youre doing and as long as its presenting a new, funny circumstances and new information is constantly given that Im happy to have her continue to grow, grow, grow I dont want her to have to do the same thing over and over again. Borstein also thinks that roles like Susie have changed the landscape for actresses who, like she was a few years ago, were feeling frustrated by the parts on offer. Playing the mum in a sitcom was not what I wanted to do, she says. I feel very lucky, but there are also a lot of cool parts out there now. Youve got Fleabag and youve got Killing Eve and youve got Russian Doll and all these great, flawed, broken, interesting, powerful characters; its nice, not just a sea of sitcom mums. Our time comes to an end. Borstein has another flight to catch, another show to prepare for, several more obscenities to spit out. The phoneline misses its cue and fails to cut out. Instead, she says goodbye and Im almost disappointed with the good manners of it all. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is on Amazon Prime. Barely a day after sweeping the Delhi assembly elections, an upbeat Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is preparing the groundwork to take control of the citys three municipal corporations, polls for which will be held in 2022, according to senior leaders who said cleanliness and sanitation would be among the partys top priorities during its third term in the state secretariat. To achieve this, the AAP government, in its third term, plans to shift its stance from being at loggerheads with the civic agencies which Kejriwal has in the past described as a den of corruption to proactively cooperating with them by devising issue-based schemes. The east, south, and north Delhi municipal corporations (EDMC, SMDC and North MCD) are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won in 181 of the 272 wards of the city in the April 2017 MCD elections. The AAP was a distant second, winning 49 wards, and the Congress was pushed to third position with 31 wards. The AAP, for which the 2022 MCD elections will be a second attempt to take control of the agencies that largely deal with cleanliness apart from running some schools, parking lots and streetlights, plans to launch model projects across the city with the focus on infrastructure maintenance and sanitation. In an interview to Hindustan Times last week, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had hinted about such projects. Till the MCD elections, we will take certain steps; after the civic polls, well do more For vacuum-cleaning of roads, were exploring a scheme in which the Delhi government will give funds to the MCDs specifically for scaling up cleanliness across the city Kejriwal had said. AAP member Jasmine Shah, who is the vice-chairman of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD), said the party has already formed a core team to identify specific issues that can be addressed by the Delhi government through the MCDs, even without being in control of the bodies. The AAP government will bring back its Mukhyamantri Sadak Nirman Yojna (CM road building scheme) in a big way. Under this, the Delhi governments Public Works Department will be asked to carry out repair works of even roads that fall under the jurisdiction of the three MCDs, Shah said. The DDCD is a policy making body of the Delhi government that works as a think-tank, identifying problems in consultation with citizens and then suggesting solutions. The Kejriwal-led government will also scale up the CM streetlight scheme, which was launched just weeks before the assembly elections on February 8. Under this scheme, all streetlights, even if they are to be managed by the MCDs, will be maintained by the Delhi government. The multiplicity of agencies in Delhi is such that there is often confusion among people about which agency is responsible for different civic functions. While sanitation comes under the MCDs, in the April 2017 elections the BJP ran a campaign that appeared to blame the government over unclean roads and unlifted garbage in parts of the city. To be sure, one of the key points of dispute between the government and the civic bodies is payment to sanitation workers, a large chunk of whose salary comes from government funds, and who often go on long strikes, particularly in East Delhi over the non-payment of dues. In the coming days, the Delhi government will cooperate with the municipalities on every front, Shah said, indicating that there may be less of a confrontation over the issue of salaries. The AAP is also planning to make womens safety also a key poll plank in the MCD elections, and will highlight how dark spots were removed from across the Capital, a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity. We are specifically working on issue-based projects for which funds will be given to the MCDs and closely monitored. In many cases, we are also exploring the possibility of getting the works done by Delhi government agencies like the PWD and DSIIDC, he said. The AAP fielded three sitting councillors in the assembly elections -- Abdul Rehman from Seelampur, Kuldeep Kumar from Kondli and Rohit Mehrolia from Trilokpuri. All of them were won by comfortable margins. Another leader, who asked not to be named, said that the AAP will appeal to the people of the city that they have delivered on schools, hospitals, power and water, and should now be given a chance to clean the city to make it a world-class Capital. A BJP leader in the MCDs said the party is ready to welcome the AAP governments positive attitude, if at all it happens. Since the public of Delhi has chosen them to form the government, it is their responsibility to give funds to MCDs and support us. We are a non-profit institution and have to be aided by the city government to survive. They are not supposed to conspire against us, but help us. We (BJP leaders of municipal corporations) will go to meet him whenever he calls us, said Kamaljeet Sehrawat, current leader of house in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi, Feb 12 : After a final call for refund, Sebi has got applications for only Rs 81.30 crore out of a total of Rs 22,000 crore (with interest) of Sahara's money deposited with the market regulator. This was stated by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur while answering a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Sahara has been saying that it has already repaid most of the investors and this money is a double payment which they are depositing to honour the order of the Supreme Court. In the latest advertisement issued by Sahara on completion of its 42 years, the group has said that as per the orders of the Supreme Court, the remaining amount will eventually come back to the company. The case relates to OFCDs issued by two companies of Sahara group in 2008 after taking approval from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, while in 2010, Sebi claimed that this fell under their jurisdiction which was challenged by Sahara. Thakur said in his reply that after giving four advertisements in newspapers across the country, in it's last advertisement dated March 26, 2018 and June 19, 2018, Sebi informed investors that no application would be accepted and entertained after the cut-off date of July 2, 2018. Pursuant to this last call and final opportunity for investors to claim refund, Sebi had received 19,560 applications in total involving 53,361 original bond certificates/passbooks for an aggregate principal amount of Rs 81.30 crore. Sebi made refunds with respect to 14,146 applications involving 39,499 original bond certificates/passbooks for an aggregate amount of Rs 109.86 crore (i.e. Rs 58.52 crore as principal and Rs 51.34 crore as interest) and received applications for Rs 81.30 crore only. Thakur also stated in his reply that as per the Supreme Court order dated August 31, 2012, Sahara group had deposited an amount of Rs 15,448.67 crore to Sahara Sebi Refund Account as on February 1, 2020. Further, a cheque of Rs 41.59 crore with respect to a property in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, was produced before the Supreme court on January 24, 2020. SAINT-HUBERT, QC, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Agropur today held its 81st Annual General Meeting for members and presented the highlights of its last fiscal year. The Cooperative, one of the 20 largest dairy industry players in the world, continued to grow in 2019, increasing its sales 10.2% year-over-year to $7.3 billion.1 Consolidated EBITDA2 was $365.4 million, an increase of 3.3%.3 Net earnings decreased by $27.5 million to $40.2 million. Patronage dividends to members in the amount of $30 million were declared. Agropur registered overall growth. In the United States, it improved its bottom line in 2019 as a result of, among other things, higher sales volumes and more favourable market conditions. The Cooperative also completed the expansion of its plant in Lake Norden, South Dakota, the largest project in its history. This investment will contribute to Agropur's growth in the coming years. In Canada, the Cooperative was directly impacted by the highly competitive market environment and additional cheese imports under the Canada-EU Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. "The government must announce compensation and work with the processors such as Agropur that are being impacted by these international trade agreements," said Agropur President Roger Massicotte. "Ratification of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will have an even greater impact. In addition to the new import quotas, the agreement limits exports. The new market realities are forcing us to rethink how we do things." Realizing full potential Over the past 10 years, Agropur has added a total of 14 businesses with nearly $3 billion in sales through mergers and acquisitions. In Canada, these moves expanded the Cooperative's footprint across the land, enabling it to offer the widest range of products in the country and to become a major player in North America. While the rapid growth has brought its share of challenges, it has also opened up many opportunities. New CEO Emile Cordeau has therefore put in place a development plan for fiscal 2020: "Our goal will be to optimize our manufacturing and distribution network and maximize our product line in order to realize efficiencies. This will enable us to reinvest in Agropur's future development and realize its full potential," said Mr. Cordeau. Successful brands in Canada Agropur can rely on strong brands to drive its growth. In 2019, Natrel held its status as Canada's leading brand in the fine-filtered, lactose-free and organic categories.4 It scored a coup with the launch of mochi, Japanese-inspired ice cream treats. OKA, the dean of Agropur cheeses, remained a favourite of Canadians with the highest brand recognition in the fine cheese segment.5 In 2019, OKA L'Artisan and OKA Raclette were named grand champions at the SIAL Canada International Cheese Competition.6 iOGO nano remained the top yogurt brand among children.7 nano mozzarella portion packs were named 2019 Product of the Year in the dairy category.8 On the strength of its consumer recognition and popularity, Agropur was ranked Canada's most trusted brand in the dairy products and alternatives category in 2019 and placed in the top three among all Canadian brands on the values-based trust dimension.9 A socially responsible cooperative True to its convictions, Agropur is unconditionally committed to sustainable development. During 2019 the Cooperative: reduced the amount of plastic in its new drinkable yogurt bottles (nano and iOGO Smoothie) by 30%; improved the nutritional value of its products by reducing the sugar content by 35% or more (Fruit on the Bottom yogurt and nano); continued to offer its members support and training on animal welfare; set a water-usage reduction target of 5% per year for its plants. "Our cooperative model and corporate values are differentiators that are recognized and appreciated by consumers," said Mr. Massicotte. "Our employees and members are committed to the Cooperative's success. These assets give us a firm foundation on which to build for the future." About Agropur Agropur Cooperative is a North American dairy industry leader founded in 1938. With sales of $7.3 billion in 2019, the Cooperative is a source of pride to the 3,024 members and 8,800 employees who work together in pursuit of a shared goal: Better Dairy. Better World. Agropur has 38 plants across North America and boasts an impressive roster of brands and products, including Natrel, OKA, iOGO, biPro, Agropur Grand Cheddar, Olympic, Farmers, Island Farms and Quebon. agropur.com _____________________________ 1 Fiscal 2018 contained 53 weeks compared with 52 in 2019. The comparative growth excludes the impact of the additional week in 2018. 2 Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, restructuring costs, integration and other non-recurring costs. 3 Fiscal 2018 contained 53 weeks compared with 52 in 2019. The comparative growth excludes the impact of the additional week in 2018. 4 Nielsen, GB+DR+MM, 52 weeks ended November 9, 2019. 5 Brand Equity Tracking Report, Ipsos, Canadian national data, June 2019 6 SIAL Canada International Cheese Competition, https://sialcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SIAL-2019-Cheese-Competition-Media-release-1.pdf 7 Nielsen, GB+DR+MM, 52 weeks ending November 9, 2019 (number one among children, excluding teens). 8 Product of the Year award, http://productoftheyear.ca/winners-2019/#1553543620315-ae92e2bd-374f 9 2019 Gustavson Brand Trust Index. SOURCE Agropur Related Links http://www.agropur.com/fr/ Buratai said we are into a very serious issue which should not be taken lightly, adding: This is why when you say a particular crop of leaders in the military should be removed for whatever reason, it sounds very odd because we are not addressing the issues. I am not saying this because I am the chief of army staff and I do not want to leave. No, that is not the issue. It is beyond that because this is a national issue, an issue of national pride and national interest. Those who would cry loudly against the service chiefs are within, and they are the ones who should be more vocal in the things that are not going right. The following is the full text of the statement by the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, at the UNSC Briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question on February 11. The UN Security Council's meeting in New York on January 9 The following is the full text of the statement by the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, at the UNSC Briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question on February 11. "Mr. President, 1. We warmly welcome His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian State and thank him for his statement. My delegation would like to thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his remarks and Special Coordinator for the Middle East process Mladenov for his briefing. 2. The search for a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian question continues to command interests and concerns by relevant parties, countries in the Middle East and the international community. Vietnam joins the international community in reaffirming our strong support for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for their inalienable rights. We strongly support the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine with the borders enshrined in relevant resolutions of the United Nations, living side-by-side with the State of Israel, in peaceful coexistence, security and mutual recognition. 3. Yet after decades, peace and a final settlement remain elusive. We share other Council members deep concerns over Israels continued resettlement activities and the recent calls for annexation of parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We therefore call on and support the relevant parties to strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement through dialogues and negotiations on the basis of respect for international law, the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions of the United Nations, including Security Council resolution 2334 and with the consent of the parties concerned. We are convinced that such a peace settlement could only be reached through exercising restraint, avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation and maintaining direct dialogues. It is our sincere hope that the parties will engage in discussions with goodwill and in a constructive manner. 4. Towards that end, Vietnam welcomes all initiatives and efforts to restart the Middle East peace process based on international laws and bilateral agreements. We are ready to make positive contribution to promotion of dialogues and negotiations within and beyond the United Nations with a view to achieving a solution to the Israel - Palestine conflict that ensures the legitimate rights and interests of Palestine and all other parties concerned. I thank you, Mr. President./. (Newser) An Apple engineer who died when his Tesla Model X slammed into a concrete barrier had previously complained about the SUV malfunctioning on that same stretch of Silicon Valley freeway. His complaints were detailed in a trove of documents released Tuesday by federal investigators in two Tesla crashes involving Autopilot, the AP reports. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the March, 2018 crash that killed Walter Huang near Mountain View, California. It's also probing a crash in Delray Beach, Florida, that happened about a year later and killed driver Jeremy Banner. The documents say Huang told his wife that Autopilot had previously veered his SUV toward the same barrier on US 101 near Mountain View, California where he later crashed. Huang died at a hospital from his injuries. story continues below Walter said the car would veer toward the barrier in the mornings when he went to work, the Huang family's attorney wrote in a response to NTSB questions. Huang had also described Autopilot's previous malfunctioning to his brother, the Huang family attorney wrote, in addition to talking with a friend who owns a Model X. Huang, a software engineer, discussed with the friend how a patch to the Autopilot software affected its performance and made the Model X veer, according to the attorney. Records from an iPhone recovered from the crash site showed that Huang may have been using it before the accident. Records obtained from AT&T showed that data had been used while the vehicle was in motion, but the source of the transmissions couldnt be determined, the NTSB wrote. One transmission was less than a minute before the crash. The full NTSB board is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Mountain View crash on Feb. 25. At that time, it will determine a cause and make safety recommendations. (Click for more on that crash and the Florida one.) Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has conceded defeat following last week's general election and called on Sinn Fein to step up and try to form a government. While coalition talks are still underway, the Taoiseach admitted Wednesday that 'at the end of the process, I will [likely] be leader of the opposition.' Speaking outside Dublin Castle, he said Sinn Fein had earned the right to lead the next parliament after winning the most first-preference votes at last week's ballot. Leo Varadkar has conceded defeat in Ireland's general election - admitting that he will likely be leader of the opposition once coalition talks have finished But he warned that they made 'a lot of promises to a lot of people' during the campaign, and now had to deliver. The Republican party, shunned in the past over its links to the IRA, missed out on becoming Ireland's largest party by just one seat once back-up preferences were taken into account. Meanwhile Varadkar's Fine Gael suffered its second-worst defeat in history under his leadership. Summing up the result, he said: 'As I see the situation Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party, at least in terms of votes in this election. 'They won it marginally and they did so by making a lot of promises to a lot of people in this country. 'The responsibility falls on them to build a coalition, to negotiate a socialist programme for government that keeps their promises and seek a Dail majority for it. 'We are willing to step back and allow them do that.' He said that Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has not yet reached out to him following an historic victory for her party. Mr Varadkar added: 'We were defeated in this election, there is no point in trying to dress that up in anyway. 'It was a tight finish, but we were defeated so that means people are saying to us that Fine Gael should go into opposition and we are absolutely willing to do that.' He added that he would like to be allowed to lead his party in opposition, saying he wants to reform and modernise Fine Gael - a task he was too busy for in government. Varadkar said it should be up to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (centre) to try and form a government, but warned she had made 'a lot of promises' that now have to be delivered on 'I relish the opportunity to do that,' he said. While all coalition talks are taking place behind closed doors, Ms McDonald said previously that her aim would be to form a left-wing coalition without Fine Gael or Fianna Fail - the party which pipped them to win the most seats. Sinn Fein would need to secure the support of the Greens, Labour, the Social Democrats and Solidarity/People Before Profit, and a range of independent TDs, to form such an administration. If that proves impossible, then government alongside Fianna Fail may prove the only workable alternative. Asked of the prospect of a 'super coalition' of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and potentially the Greens, Mr Varadkar said he hadn't taken part in any such talks. But he said he would be willing to talk with rival political leaders if there was a need to 'give the country political stability'. After meeting with Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Ms McDonald described the exchanges as 'useful and constructive'. 'I have made it clear since before the election - and after - that I will speak to all parties in the interests of forming a government; starting with those with a mandate for change,' she said. 'The Green Party, having increased its mandate significantly, is undoubtedly one of those parties.' McDonald is trying to form a left-wing coalition of smaller parties, including the Greens (leader Eamon Ryan pictured) If Ms McDonald does not reach 80 seats, she could theoretically form a minority government. However, that would require an understanding with either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, through some form of confidence and supply arrangement, that would see them abstain on key votes from the opposition benches. Solidarity/People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said a minority Sinn Fein-led Irish government may not last long but it could still achieve progress on key domestic issues. 'It wouldn't be sustainable for very long but I still think it's worth exploring if we could do something to urgently address the housing crisis, some of the problems in the health service with the desperate waiting lists, some of the issues around climate change and the cost of living,' he told RTE Radio One. 'I think anything that could give expression and delivery to the sentiment that people expressed at the ballot box during the election would be worth exploring and I am absolutely keen to do it and People Before Profit are absolutely keen to try to do that.' Many believe it will be impossible to form a government without the involvement of one of either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, the two long-time big beasts of Irish politics. A coalition of Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party - which ended with 12 seats - is seen as a potentially more realistic option. Though that would involved Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin u-turning on his pledge never to do business with Sinn Fein. Another permutation could see the exclusion of Sinn Fein, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail entering power together with another smaller party or grouping - a so-called 'super coalition'. Fianna Fail could also potentially seek to form a minority government with several of the smaller parties - an administration that would require a confidence and supply deal with Fine Gael on the opposition benches. That would reverse the landmark pact struck in 2016 that saw Fianna Fail, as the main opposition party, sustain the last Fine Gael-led minority government in power. With so much uncertainty about the make-up of the next government, another general election cannot be ruled out. Varadkar said that he has not been approached about forming a 'super coalition' between his Fine Gael party and rivals Fianna Fail, but refused to rule it out if Sinn Fein cannot form a majority (election posters pictured in Dublin) Fianna Fail emerged from Saturday's election as the largest party by the narrowest margin over the surging Sinn Fein. Mr Martin's party finished with 38 seats to Sinn Fein's 37 at the end of two days of counting. But given the Fianna Fail speaker was re-elected without contest, both parties essentially 'won' the same number of seats. Fine Gael was the big loser, winning only 35 seats having entered the campaign as the largest party on 47. Despite being edged in seat numbers, Sinn Fein was undoubtedly the party with most to celebrate, having smashed Ireland's long-standing two-party system. Ms McDonald's party triumphed in the popular vote and may have won many more seats - potentially an additional 11 - if it had fielded more candidates in the landmark contest. As such, momentum is behind her in taking the first steps in what could be a long and tortuous process to form a new government. She has predicted she could be Ireland's next taoiseach. Tweaks to the Brisbane Metro underground bus station design beneath the Queensland Cultural Centre will push more buses underground past the station and add costs to the project already costed at $944 million. The Queensland government on Wednesday afternoon agreed to consider making a contribution towards those additional costs once the design was finished. Last year, the state government requested Brisbane City Council investigate other nearby options for the underground busway station for the metro. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says tweaks to the design of the Brisbane Metro underground busway station means West End buses may go underground from Melbourne Street to get to the underground station. That will add extra costs. Credit:Tony Moore Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed a final site had since been chosen with the state government for the underground busway station. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:33:13|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A voter walks to fill in her ballot at a polling station during the New Hampshire primary in Manchester, New Hampshire, the United States, on Feb. 11, 2020. The New Hampshire Democratic primary is in the national limelight as a tight race and two dropouts have defined the "starting gun" voting. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) MANCHESTER, the United States, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The New Hampshire Democratic primary is in the national limelight as a tight race and two dropouts have defined the "starting gun" voting. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is less than 2 percentage points ahead of Indiana ex-mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is followed by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, according to a real-time tally by CNN. Several U.S. media outlets have projected Sanders the winner in New Hampshire. Garrett Gagnon, a resident of Manchester, New Hampshire, told Xinhua that he voted for Sanders because he thinks the progressive who supports "Medicare-for-All," a single-payer national health insurance program for all U.S. residents, has "the correct platform." Sanders declared victory in a New Hampshire rally after the projections were announced, while Buttigieg at his rally congratulated the Vermont senator on the result. According to the primary rules of the Democratic Party, New Hampshire's 24 pledged delegates will be allocated to the three contenders proportionally based on the results of the primary. A number of other Democrats, including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, are not expected to earn any delegates from New Hampshire, as none of them are projected to meet a 15-percent threshold to be considered viable. Tuesday's Democratic primary in New Hampshire came over a week after the party's caucuses in Iowa, in which Buttigieg and Sanders were also neck-and-neck. Sitting President Donald Trump is projected to win the Granite State's Republican primary, also held on Tuesday, as he was facing no major challenges in the party. In a late night tweet, he touted the victory and claimed that "there is nothing too fabulous" on the Democratic side. In 2016, Trump won New Hampshire's GOP primary, although he lost the state to his then Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, in the November election by a 0.4-percent margin. The New Hampshire primaries, the first voting events of this election cycle, began after midnight Tuesday, with the first group of voters casting ballots in several rural places, including Dixville Notch, a northern town close to the Canadian border. "Midnight voting in New Hampshire, along with New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status, basically becomes the starting gun for the race," Tom Tillotson, Dixville Notch's election moderator, told Xinhua. Two Democratic candidates, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, ended their campaigns shortly after polls closed in New Hampshire on Tuesday evening. "I am the math guy, and it is clear tonight from the numbers that we are not going to win this race," Yang told supporters. "I am not someone who wants to accept donations and support in a race that we will not win. And so tonight I am announcing I am suspending my campaign for president." David Axelrod, director of the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, called Yang "a breath of fresh air in the race." "A unique, humane and often humorous voice, who shone a light on the impact of technological change and offered bold, thoughtful answers," Axelrod tweeted. "This is not the last we will hear from him." Bennett, in a tweet, said New Hampshire could see him once again. Nine contenders remain for the Democratic Party's nomination to challenge Trump. Deval Patrick, former governor of Massachusetts, said Tuesday that he will soon "make some decisions" on the future of his Democratic presidential campaign. Biden, who is leading in national polls amid lackluster performances in both Iowa and New Hampshire, is turning to Nevada and South Carolina, the next two states in the Democratic nominating process. "We just heard from the first two of 50 states. Two of them. Not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 percent -- two. Two," Biden told supporters in South Carolina. "Where I come from that's the opening bell, not the closing bell." Nancy Cooney, from Boston, Massachusetts, told Xinhua that she supports Biden and feels he's the "best person positioned to unite the Democratic Party," although she has concerns about his performance so far in the race. "I think that he probably will do better in some of the other, later primaries for sure," said Cooney. "But it's kind of unclear now who's gonna be able to, you know, pull it all together." UP to poll in 7 phases, counting on Mar 10 UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath UP: Elections not won on exit polls basis, results will be surprising: Kamal Nath UP rape survivor's father killed by accused; 3 cops suspended for negligence India oi-Mousumi Dash Lucknow, Feb 12: Yet again, in a heinous criminal act a father of a 15-year-old rape survivor has been shot dead allegedly by the man accused of raping his daughter in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. According to the police, on Monday the victim was gunned down by the rape-accused Aachman Upadhyay when he was returning home and died on the spot. Reportedly, the victim's family has informed that earlier Upadhyay had threatened the family to kill if they did not drop the rape case. According to reports, in August 2019, Upadhyay had raped the 15-year-old girl and he is roaming free. His property had been seized on court orders. He was continuously threatening the woman's family to drop the case against him. The family claimed that they had informed the police but no action was taken. This incident raised questions on policing in the country's most populous state. As per police, three officers have been suspended meanwhile, as they were found guilty of negligence in this incident. Youth Congress takes out candle march, woman protests outside Parliament over crime against women A senior police officer said that five police teams have been formed to catch the man and a reward of Rs 50,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest. Earlier, in 2018, in a similar case like this the father of a woman raped in Unnao, UP was thrashed savagely by associates of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar inside a police station and died from his injuries. The incident yet again raises the question on women safety in the state. New Delhi: In a shocking development, Meghna Devgadkar, a Thane-based dancer breathed her last due to overdose of weight loss pills. Reportedly, the 22-year-old dancer was keen on losing weight and ended up taking body transformation tablets. Dr Avinash Bhagwat, CMO, Thane said, "people should refrain from taking medicines on their own and the chemist should also not hand out tablets without a proper medical prescription as it can be fatal for the person." As per the doctors treating her, reportedly when Meghna was rushed to the hospital, her body temperature was higher than normal. She was finding it hard to breathe. In fact, her heartbeat and blood pressure were also on the higher side. Meghna Devgadkar was transferred to the ICU and put on a ventilator immediately. Unfortunately, she succumbed to a cardiac arrest and died. Reportedly, the 22-year-old Meghna died hours after consuming the banned slimming pills. The investigation is underway to find out who prescribed her the banned body transformation pills. Anil Mangle, the senior police officer said, "After taking a weight loss pill, Meghna felt uneasy and was first admitted to Lifeline hospital in Khopat and later she was taken to Sion hospital where her treatment began. However, during the treatment she died, therefore, we have sent her viscera report and blood samples for analysis. We are awaiting the doctor's final report and will make the revelation only after it comes out." WARSAW, Poland - Prosecutors in Poland say they have indicted 10 people with embezzling over 3 million zlotys ($780,000) in money and goods from a regional chapter of the Polish Red Cross. Polish media identify four of them as former officials of the ruling right-wing Law and Justice party. Prosecutors in the southwestern city of Wroclaw said in an online statement those indicted sold clothes from public charity collections in 2014-17 and pocketed the proceeds. Among those charged is the former director of the Wroclaw Red Cross, identified as Jerzy G., and his deputy, Piotr B. Polish media identify Jerzy G. as former aide to the education minister and Piotr B. as a former lawmaker. They have since been ousted from the ruling party, just like two other former party members named in the indictment that was sent to court Jan. 31. Six others in the indictment are local business people and Red Cross employees. The defendants could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. It was not immediately clear when trial would take place. Siba, the standard poodle, poses for photographs after winning Best in Show in the 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York. (Image: AP) The National Democratic Party (NDP) has admonished members of the party not to boycott the Electoral Commission's planned compilation of a new voters register. The party is part of thirteen others that support the Electoral Commission's decision to compile a new voters' register. The inter-party resistance against the new voters register, which includes the biggest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress, continues to oppose the EC's decision. The General Secretary of the NDP, Alhaji Mohammed Frimpong, in a Citi News' interview said the EC's reasoning for the new register is justified. The voters' register is not like an exercise book where we have our register or voter's data to be shown. It is a machine that processes it and they are saying that it will be disingenuous on the part of anybody to centre the debate around voter register. We must first premise it on an obsolete machine if we want the conversation to have better clarity so that is the position of National Democratic Party. We are convinced by the other parameters which are cost and efficiency that the EC is doing the proper thing and we have no problem. So we are saying to all our members that the debate is clear and that they shouldn't bother their heads on any insincere twist which is regarding the register which is going to be changed, he added. Provisional voters' register to be ready by June 2020 EC The provisional voters' register would be ready by the end of June 2020, according to the Electoral Commission. The EC had scheduled to begin the compilation of a new voters' register on April 18, 2020. The exercise is expected to be completed by May 30 and will be followed by an exhibition exercise. The exhibition exercise will be conducted from August 15-28, 2020. 13 political parties back EC's move for new voters' register Thirteen political parties say the Electoral Commission's (EC) decision to compile a new voters' register ahead of the 2020 general elections is necessary. The parties believe the EC has made a solid case for a new register in terms of cost, time and credibility. The parties are made up of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), National Democratic Party (NDP), People's National Convention (PNC), Convention People's Party (CPP) the United Progressive Party (UPP), Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), United Love Party (ULP), New Vision Party (NVP), Yes People's Party (YPP), Democratic People's Party (DPP), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and the Reformed Patriotic Democrats Party (RDP). NDC's opposition The NDC is part of a group of opposition political parties known as the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register that has staged three different demonstration exercises to show their displeasure against the EC decision. The group is made up of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the United Progressive Party (UPP), the All People's Congress (APC) and the United Front Party (UFP). citinewsroom Woe and behold, imagine you are an Indigenous person observing the annual Closing the Gap speech. Before you is a rich, powerful man who does not fall under the constitution's race power as you do. Rather, he wields his power with the Parliament he stands in. He stands to speak, telling you how much he desires to do different next year how he will listen. But youve heard it before. He has failed, and you fear he will fail again. Believe me, it doesnt feel good. Thomas Mayor, author and signatory of the Uluru Statement from The Heart. Credit:Getty Images After all, the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is immense, and for 12 years of the same rhetoric, very little has changed. Again, there is as much regression as there is progress. The adult Indigenous population is barely 2 per cent of the total population, yet we are 27 per cent of the prison population. We are not an innately criminal people. Our children still die at twice the rate of non-Indigenous children. This cannot be because we have no love for them. A quarter of our childrens deaths are by suicide. They should be our hope for the future. I didnt sense that Prime Minister Scott Morrison, as he delivered his speech on Wednesday, felt the torment of our powerlessness. Perhaps it's because this speech to the Parliament has become ritual. Perhaps it is as simple as the fact he is not Indigenous, and therefore it is not his family he is speaking of, not his kin or his community. Around 51 incidents of sabotage to water supply system by miscreants have been reported during the ongoing strike of Public Health Engineering department workers in Jammu region, an official said on Wednesday. Hundreds of PHE daily wagers are on strike since February 7 demanding release of their pending salaries and regularization of their services. "Nearly 90 per cent systems are functioning and water supply is being ensured to all the affected areas and 86 government and private water tankers have been pressed into service," said PHE Commissioner Secretary Ajeet Kumar Sahu. He was briefing a meeting convened by advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar. "The department has reported 51 sabotage cases to the police authorities for taking action against the miscreants. Wherever needed police have been deployed for ensuring safety and security of vital installations," Sahu said. During the meeting, Bhatnagar issued instructions to the Chief Engineer, PHE, Jammu, and other field officers to ensure uninterrupted water supply to every area so that no inconvenience is caused to the general public. A Public Health Engineering (PHE) worker Mohammad Shabir (40) had died on Tuesday after collapsing during a sit-in outside PHE office in Rajouri district. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Congress expressed concern over the ongoing strike and demanded a job on compassionate basis to the family of the deceased worker. A spokesperson of the agitating workers said they will decide the future course of action on Thursday evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) will host a town hall in East Lansing Feb. 21. The first-term congresswoman will be holding the town hall from 6 to 7 p.m. at East Lansing High School, 509 Burcham Dr. This will be Slotkins second in-district town hall since December. State Rep. Julie Brixie will join Slotkin for the State of the District town hall, which is free and open to the public. You can register for the event by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-the-district-town-hall-tickets-94033485687. On Tuesday, Slotkin participated in a Problem Solvers Caucus press conference to discuss the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, which was recently passed by the House. It would help veterans with PTSD and other invisible wounds access therapy through service dogs. Last month, the Holly Democrat released her campaign fundraising totals from 2019. She reported over $3 million in campaign contributions and $2.87 million cash on hand as of Dec. 31. On Feb. 20, all five of Slotkins Republican challengers will appear together at a candidate forum in Howell. Collectively, the five candidates have raised $284,937 in campaign contributions. PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Talbott Roche, CEO and president of global branded payments provider Blackhawk Network, has been named the recipient of the Women in Payments' Advocate for Women Award. Conferred to payments and fintech leaders who champion the career advancement of women in the industry, the award was presented to Roche during a February 10 ceremony at the Ritz Carlton in McLean, Virginia. "Our awards program has served to showcase the exceptional work of payment leaders, innovators, and rising stars since 2013," said Kristy Duncan, founder and CEO of Women in Payments. "We are incredibly pleased to present this year's Advocate for Women Award to Talbott. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership in advocating for the advancement of women in payments and beyond and we congratulate her on this achievement." With Roche's encouragement and support, Blackhawk has sponsored a number of industry organizations devoted to nurturing female leadership, including Women in Payments and the Women's Network of Electronic Transactions. Blackhawk was also a founding sponsor of Women in Payments' Global Mentorship Program, which pairs mentors and mentees in the payments industry to foster professional development around the globe. Additionally, Roche has volunteered her time to presenting at industry events about the importance of advocating for women in business and has also served as an executive sponsor and source of support to many of Blackhawk's female senior management and staff members. "Championing female leadership is something I'm passionate about and ensure is a priority at Blackhawk," said Roche. "Real change needs to be supported from the top of an organization in terms of recruiting, developing, retaining and promoting talented female leaders. Despite fintech traditionally being a male-dominated industryespecially for leadership rolesI am proud that nearly 50% of Blackhawk's leadership positions are held by women. I thank Women in Payments for this honor as well as the work the organization does to support women in the industry." Roche was one of seven payments and fintech industry leaders honored at the Women in Payments award ceremony across several award categories. Attended by hundreds of industry veterans, the ceremony spotlighted the achievements of women who have distinguished themselves as leaders, innovators, rising stars and consummate professionals. Winners were selected by an awards committee comprised of senior women with diverse payments system expertise who are committed to championing female talent across the payments ecosystem. About Blackhawk Network Blackhawk Network delivers branded payment solutions through the prepaid products, technologies and network that connect brands and people. We collaborate with our partners to innovate, translating market trends in branded payments to increase reach, loyalty and revenue. Serving 26 countries, we reliably execute security-minded solutions worldwide. Join us as we shape the future of global branded payments. For more information, please visit blackhawknetwork.com. About Women in Payments Women in Payments is an initiative offering women opportunities for career development through learning, networking, mentorship, and recognition at all stages of their careers in the payments sphere. They run conferences, events, and award and mentorship programs in Canada, the US, Australia, the UK, New Zealand, and Singapore. Engagement and support comes from global leaders in payments and fintech, including Mastercard, Visa, JPMorganChase, Finastra, ACI Worldwide, Ripple, PayPal, Scotiabank, RBC, TD Bank, CIBC, BMO, ANZ, and Ingenico Group. Further information can be found at www.womeninpayments.org. MEDIA CONTACT: Ellie Malone 262-337-3312 [email protected] SOURCE Blackhawk Network Related Links https://blackhawknetwork.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 07:55:32|Editor: ZD Video Player Close A supporter of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) holds his child during a celebration in New Delhi, India, Feb. 11, 2020. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who also heads the present ruling "Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)", or 'Common Man Party', is all set to become the state's chief minister for another consecutive term, indicated the election results being announced on Tuesday. (Photo by Javed Dar/Xinhua) NASHUA, N.H. Pete Buttigiegs success in the New Hampshire primary came as no surprise to Connecticut state Sen. Bob Duff, who has known Buttigieg close to a decade, and was one of the first elected officials in the country to endorse the little-known mayor from Indiana. He has momentum on his side, Duff, of Norwalk, the Senate majority leader, said following Buttigiegs speech to a crowd of supporters at Nashua Community College. Duff sat among a contingent of prominent Connecticut supporters who made the trek to the Granite State for primary night among them Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Sen. Will Haskell of Westport and Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey of Fairfield. Pete can be the next President of the United States, Duff said, a Pete 2020 sign in one hand and a small American flag in the other. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary for the second time, but it was the campaigns of Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar that garnered the most attention. Buttigieg came within 1.5 percentage points, or about 3,500 votes, of besting Sanders in New Hampshire fresh off a close win in the Iowa caucuses. That gives Buttigieg enough momentum to cement his place among the top contenders and all but guarantees hell be in the race well into the spring, including the Connecticut primary in late April. A campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay, Buttigieg told supporters. His remarks had the energy of a victory speech, as Sanders and Buttigieg will earn the same number of delegates from New Hampshire. A lot has changed since Iowa, Duff said. People knew who he was before that, but Iowa really changed the tone and theres a lot of momentum for him in Connecticut right now. The normally buttoned-down Duff shot a selfie with Buttigiegs mother waving a few feet behind him as the crowd waited for the candidate to emerge Tuesday night. Such a lovely person. So exciting tonight, Duff Tweeted with the photo. Duff said his colleagues in the state legislature have started asking more about about the candidate he endorsed in September. As he was leaving the Capitol Tuesday, he invited Haskell, who has not endorsed anyone for president, to tag along. Haskell ended up in the front row of the crowd and, at 23, is on the tail end of the same generation as Buttigieg, the first millennial candidate for president. Theres something exciting happening on the Pete campaign, Haskell said. Theres a lot of young people who grew up under Obama who recognized he was the smartest person in the room, but also the kindest. And thats important to us. Pete has that quality. McCarthy Vahey, who endorsed Buttigieg alongside Duff in September, said the anxious and excited energy in the room was contagious. Like Duff, she met Buttigieg through a group called The New Deal Leaders and saw his potential early on. As soon as I met him, he stood out, she said. I told him wed all be working for him one day and here we are. The true tests will come in primaries in Nevada and South Carolina next week where voting bases are notably more diverse than those in Iowa and New Hampshire. Buttigieg generally fared better in the more rural, wealthy townships in New Hampshire, but with no clear frontrunner, and at least five candidates still contending for true pull-ahead moment, no one can predict the outcome. As he says, this campaign is a campaign of addition and he will work to welcome allies along the way, McCarthy Vahey said. I think the more people get to know him, the more he will be able to build on the strong coalition he already has. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/12/2020 -- According to a new market research report "Process Analytics Market by Process Mining Type (Process Discovery, Process Conformance & Process Enhancement), Deployment Type, Organization Size, Application (Business Process, It Process, & Customer Interaction), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023" published by MarketsandMarkets, the Process Analytics Market expected to grow from $185.3 Million in 2018 to $1,421.7 Million by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 50.3% during the forecast period. The major growth factors for the market include the implementation of digital transformation that is driving users' awareness for analyzing and understanding business processes, and the advent of the algorithmic business. Moreover, collaborations between process analytics and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) vendors, and the rise in the implementation of task level automation are expected to drive the market growth. Browse in-depth TOC on "Process Analytics Market" 41- Tables 39- Figures 126- Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=254139591 The process conformance segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. In the process conformance segment, the data mining software is used for process conformance checks, wherein the event logs are checked against ideal processes. To detail, the process mining software converts the event logs into a process model and checks them against the ideal and pre-defined processes. Hence, deviations between the derived business process model and ideal processes can be diagnosed, and non-conformance can be highlighted and visualized. The large enterprises segment is expected to account for the larger market size in the Process Analytics Market during the forecast period. Enterprises with more than 1,000 employees are considered as large enterprises. Large enterprises are among the early adopters of the process analytics software, due to their complex business processes across business functions. Moreover, large enterprises have huge facility infrastructures, and they rely on manual management processes to carry out daily business activities and coordinate with other geographically dispersed assets. Europe is expected to account for the largest market share in the Process Analytics Market during the forecast period. Europe is the largest contributor to the Process Analytics Market, due to the widespread acceptance of innovations and the upcoming analytics technology among the large numbers of vendors operating in the region. Germany and the Netherlands are the top countries contributing to the Process Analytics Market in Europe. Along with these countries, several other European countries are also incorporating process analytics into their existing analytics portfolio to receive quick and actionable executive insights to keep pace with their analytics-driven competitors in the other regions. Companies in this region are increasingly adopting process analytics solutions to identify undiscovered patterns and trends in the enterprise processes for becoming more technologically advanced and driving efficient and effective operational processes. Speak to Research Expert @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=254139591 The major vendors in the Process Analytics Market include Celonis (Germany), Fluxicon (Netherlands), Icaro Tech (Brazil), Kofax (US), Lana Labs (Germany), Minit (Slovakia), Logpickr (France), TimelinePI (US), Scheer (Germany), Monkey Mining (Netherlands), Worksoft (US), Puzzle Data (South Korea), QPR Software (Finland), Cognitive Technology (Malta), Signavio (Germany), SNP (US), Your Data (France), Process Mining Group (Open-Source), Software AG (Germany), Fujitsu (Japan), CA Technologies (US), Process Analytics Factory (Germany), StereoLOGIC (Ontario), Intellera (Canada), and ProcessGold (Netherlands). About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, and strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com MnM Blog: https://mnmblog.org Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/process-analytics.asp By John Whitesides and Amanda Becker MANCHESTER, N.H., Feb 12 (Reuters) - Bernie Sanders strengthened his front-runner status in the race for the Democratic nomination with a narrow win in New Hampshire, dealing a setback to moderate Joe Biden as attention shifts to the next contests in the state-by-state process. Pete Buttigieg, the moderate former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, built on his momentum with a close second-place finish after splitting much of the centrist vote with Senator Amy Klobuchar, who placed third after surging over the past few days. The focus of the campaign to pick a Democrat to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in November begins to shift on Wednesday to states more demographically diverse than the largely white and rural kick-off states of Iowa and New Hampshire. "This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," Sanders told supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire late Tuesday. In a sign of the growing rivalry between Sanders, the 78-year-old self-professed democratic socialist senator, and Buttigieg, a 38-year-old moderate, Sanders' supporters booed and chanted "Wall Street Pete!" when Buttigieg's post-primary speech was shown on screens. Turnout approached the record of 287,000 set in 2008, the year of Barack Obama's historic candidacy, easing Democrats' concerns about voter engagement after lower-than-expected turnout in Iowa. The next contest is on Feb. 22 in Nevada, where more than one in four residents are Latino, followed a week later by South Carolina, where about one in four are African-American. After that, 14 states including California and Texas vote in the March 3 contests known as Super Tuesday, which will also be the first time American voters see the name of the billionaire former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg on the ballot. The Democratic field shrank to nine main candidates after businessman Andrew Yang and Senator Michael Bennet, who had trailed in the polls and performed poorly on Tuesday, dropped out. Story continues But even their exits provided no clear answers for Democrats trying to decide whether their best choice to challenge Trump would be a moderate like Buttigieg, Klobuchar or Biden, or a progressive like Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who placed a distant fourth. Sanders had 26% of the vote and Buttigieg had 24% with more than 91 percent of precincts reporting. Klobuchar had 20%, Warren 9% and Biden 8%. BIDEN LEAVES NEW HAMPSHIRE EARLY Biden, the former vice president who was once the front-runner in the Democratic race, limped to his second consecutive poor finish after placing fourth in Iowa. He is certain to face growing questions about his ability to consolidate moderate support against a surging Buttigieg and Klobuchar. He left New Hampshire before the polls closed, heading to South Carolina where his campaign contends that support from black voters will help his chances. "It ain't over, man. It's just getting started," an energetic Biden told supporters in South Carolina. "We just heard from the first two of the 50 states," he said. "Where I come from, that's the opening bell, not the closing bell." NEXT STOP NEVADA Klobuchar's campaign said it was spending more than $1 million on ads in Nevada. "We have beaten the odds every step of the way," Klobuchar told supporters in Concord. "Because of you, we are taking this campaign to Nevada. We are going to South Carolina. And we are taking this message of unity to the country." Buttigieg, who would be the first openly gay U.S. president if elected, still faces questions about what polls show is his weakness with African-American voters, one of the most loyal and vital Democratic voting blocs. He also decried the growing polarization of politics and the recent Democratic infighting. "In this election season, we've been told by some that you must either be for revolution or you are for the status quo. But where does that leave the rest of us?" Buttigieg asked supporters in Nashua. "A politics of my way or the highway is a road to re-electing Donald Trump." On the Republican side, Trump easily won the state's presidential primary, defeating rival William Weld, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts. (Reporting by John Whitesides, James Oliphant, Simon Lewis, Michael Martina and Amanda Becker in New Hampshire, writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Soyoung Kim, Peter Cooney and Chizu Nomiyama) Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political parties campaigning against the decision of the Electoral Commission (EC) to compile a new voters register to allow the Commission to carry out its Constitutional mandate. According to him, the various political parties and stakeholders who feel aggrieved by the decision of the Commission should take out militancy in expressing their disapproval for a new register. He encouraged them to seek constitutional processes through a court of law to test the powers of the Commission to compile a new register but not to resort to violence. Not until we have amended the Constitution we should accept the independence and Authority of the Electoral Commission to do its work, he said. Mr. Kufuor was speaking at his Airport Residential residence on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, when members of the Mass Action Committee called on him. The Committee called on him to inform him that it has interrogated the issues and have come to the conclusion that there is the urgent need for a new register. According to the former President, the Commission should be allowed to do its work The Constitution grants the Commission an independent power, he said. Executive Secretary of the Mass Action Committee, Atik Mohammed, told the former President that the Committee was in support of a new register being compiled. He said So your Excellency we are here to tell you that the Electoral Commission has a case. He appealed to the former leader to encourage Ghanaians to register in April 2020. Background The NDC and some smaller political parties have organized three separate demonstrations to drum home their disapproval of a new register being compiled. Daily Guide Ireland is becoming the back office for Allstate Sales Group (ASG) with the introduction of software development and CAD support centres in Waterford and Sligo where the American company is expanding. Up to 200 people over the next three years will be employed in the Irish centres, with over ten recruited so far and multiple interviews taking place, says president of ASG, Anthony Tepedino. During the initial start-up phase, ASG is operating from WorkLab Waterford and IT Sligo Campus Innovation Centre with permanent office options being looked into. ASG founded in 2008 with its headquarters in New Jersey, USA is a provider of turnkey engineering and construction services to the telecommunications industry. It has operations in eight US locations, employing some 700 people. The Irish operation is the first outside of America. Services provided by ASG include planning, designing, mapping and building the pathways that telecom service providers require to connect new voice and data customers. If theres a growing population in a certain area, the telecommunications providers require more cabling or more holes or more equipment. "We provide all kinds of services to provide the end user with a form of data connection. There are, says Tepedino, millions of people working for these providers. Its quite a large undertaking, especially stateside. We provide all of the steps needed. Theres a lot of moving pieces to it and of course, everything is on a timeline. You have so many weeks or months to get the work done. Then theres the return on investment (ROI) from the providers point of view. The provider pays for all the infrastructural build on an ongoing basis so the ROI becomes very important. Where does Ireland fit into the ASG picture? Ireland has become a very interesting part of the company. Were very busy stateside but sometimes you need an out-of-body experience, if you will, and Ireland has become that. The 200 new roles which ASG is providing in Ireland include a range of technical staff and office professionals, including software developers, CAD ARC-GIS technicians, management, administrative, support staff and HR staff. Ireland is a great country in which to do business, says Tepedino. Ive been travelling back and forth due to some client relations. The country became part of my daily business routine. "Theres a great climate there in terms of whats going on with the Irish education system producing a wealth of great people. Its a great opportunity for us. In terms of developments in telecommunications here, the country has some really big initiatives on a government level and on a private level. Anthony Tepedino, Allstate Sales Group, President Tepedino cites the broadband initiative, bringing 4g and 5g to the whole country. Ireland is very progressive. "There are a lot of opportunities there. Also, you have a lot of the major US players there on the data side. ASGs investment in Ireland is supported by the Irish Government through the IDA. The IDA became very instrumental in our vision (for Ireland.) We spent a good six months travelling around the country. Ive seen more of Ireland than anywhere else in the world. "Sligo and Waterford present us with some really unique opportunities, based on their institutes of technology. Were drawing some really great people out of them. Great work-life balance Tepedino also cites the work/life balance in Ireland as being attractive. People dont want to travel to Dublin or other big cities as much as they used to. Theyd rather stay and work from where they live. "So were finding a small geographic area with opportunities for quite a few people. The opportunity to hire people has presented itself to us, quite nicely. Half of the staff at ASG work from home. That applies to our Irish staff as well. Its really up to the individual to discipline themselves if they want to work from home. Some individuals need an office. Im one of them. I had trouble working in a home environment. I need to interact with people. Everybody has their own way of doing things. The work/life balance is encouraged in business in the US through having gyms in the work premises. Were not there yet but there are a number of different things you can do in the work environment. In the States, we have a lot of meetings where we try and put people together to talk about things other than their work. They have meetings to talk about movies or books. "Were bringing that attitude to Ireland. As the staff gets bigger, these opportunities will become more available. Tepedino and his colleagues are really excited about our Irish operation. Were moving as fast as we can to get to 200 staff. But its hard. "You have State and legislative requirements that have to be met. So far, were doing a really good job in achieving our goals. "There is a plan but the best plans change now and then. "We see Ireland as our entry into the EU where well develop the same services that we have stateside. The Nigerian military and the police must deescalate the rising tension in Afara Ukwu, Umuahia in Abia State, South-east Nigeria and ensure the protection of human rights of people in the community, ahead of 14 February funeral ceremony of the parents of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Amnesty International says today. There is reported heavy military presence in Afara Ukwu, a community in Abia State as soldiers patrol the area. The funeral programme of IPOB leader Eze Okwu Kanu and his wife who died recently will take place there on 14 February. Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that they saw several military vehicles including Hilux and military SUVs patrolling the community since Sunday 2 February 2020. The Nigerian security forces must exercise restraint and prevent a repetition of the September 2017 events that left at least 20 people killed and some still missing, when the military attempted to arrest Nnamdi Kanu in his home in Afara Ukwu, said Osai Ojigho, country Director, Amnesty International. While law enforcement officers are within their rights to carry out their lawful duties, the use of force should be proportional and strictly limited to those situations where it is absolutely necessary. Both IPOB supporters and security forces must at all times respect and protect human rights of all. Five people told Amnesty international that they saw soldiers harassing people at Bank road while another man said he was prevented from going to his house by soldiers who blocked the road entrance to Eze Kanus palace on 3 February. Concerns about possible violence during the funeral must be addressed within the framework of human rights and rule of law, said Osai Ojigho. Background. Amnesty International has documented several incidents involving the unlawful killing of pro Biafra supporters. Our research in May 2016 showed that at least 60 extra-judicial executions of pro-Biafra supporters were committed in the space of two days, with a further 70 people injured. Also, in September 2017 at least 20 people were either killed or forcibly disappeared when soldiers invaded the house of Nnamdi Kanu in Afara Ukwu. Nnamdi Kanu fled the country and later turned up in the UK where he now lives. The Nigerian authorities promised to investigate this incident, but no one has been prosecuted to date. Cybersecurity is a very serious issue for 2020 and the risks stretch far beyond the alarming spike in ransomware. In addition to the daily concerns of malware, stolen data and the cost of recoveringfrom a business network intrusion, there is the very real danger of nefarious actors using cyberattacks to influence or directly impact the outcome of the 2020 U.S. general election. Today, every company that has a computer or any connected devices or software should see itself as a tech company. Everyindividual with a smart TV, virtual assistant or other Internet ofThings (IoT) device could be at risk as well and the risks include beingvictimized by cyberstalkers or having personal data compromised. We are seeing growing attack surfaces for example, automotive, drones,satellites and hardware components, said Michael Sechrist, chieftechnologist at Booz Allen Hamilton. There is also increased obfuscation fromsophisticated actors that is, malware code reuse and similarities, he told TechNewsWorld. Several major domestic and international events will likelyprovide attackers opportunities for digital disruption across largeand small companies and governments alike, Sechrist said. Although everyone whos connected in this increasingly connected world is a potential target, understanding the risks can help alleviate the overall threat. The main threat companies face is in not adequately keeping pace withthe ever-evolving security threat landscape, said Ellen Benaim,information security officer at Templafy. It is a constant battle to keep abreast of the latest issues. Tomake matters worse, we predict that in 2020 cyberthreats will becomemore frequent and sophisticated, spanning a wider attack surface andcausing a more deadly impact, she told TechNewsWorld. Old Threats Still Have Teeth Many of the same threats that have been around for years willcontinue to pose real problems in 2020. Among them are phishing attacks. Phishing is essentially tricking others into taking an action thatcan be profited from, said Tom Thomas, adjunct faculty member inTulane Universitys Online Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Management program. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Since all those millions are still sitting in a bank in Nigeriafor over 20 years now, I am sure phishing is here to stay as long aspeople are greedy and easily tricked, he told TechNewsWorld. Education is quite common, but these scams are evolving as well and some of these email scams are very believable unless you lookclosely, which most people do not, warned Thomas. Another cybersecurity threat is one that isnt really an attack, butrather a problem due to overworked and at times underpaid softwaredesigners. This is the issue of software errors, and those errors canresult in exploits that hackers and other criminals can target. These are valid concerns, and with the rise of software as king in theIT space, this means that developers are going to have to addresssecurity within their code, new and old, said Thomas. Threats From Within One overlooked area of cybersecurity is who has legitimate access tothe data, and whether those individuals can be trusted. Edward Snowdenis just one example, but the issue has plagued tech companies foryears. In the spring of 2018, Apple had to fire an employee forleaking details of the companys software roadmap. This problem is likely to get worse, as there is now a cybersecurityworker shortage, and companies are being less diligent when it comes tonew hires. A big threat facing companies in 2020 is the insider threat, saidTemplays Benaim. Whether it is deliberate or not, the impact of these threats can bedevastating, she added. Insider threats can manifest in a number of ways for example, anovertired employee might simply forward confidential data to thewrong recipient, Benaim said, or a disgruntled former employee might downloadcustomer records from a CRM tool with malicious intent. Both scenarios could lead to a severe data breach, triggering inordinate fines for your company under GDPR. Pointed Attacks Even trusted employees can make critical mistakes. Hackers usesocial engineering techniques to breach a network and gathersensitive data as well as tools to encrypt data or break security systems. In 2020 we could see more multi-layer spearphishing, where multipletargets inside a business are used to gather information and gainaccess, warned Laurence Pitt, global security strategy director atJuniper Networks. The delivery mechanisms will also be more complicated, he told TechNewsWorld. Any threat that costs money, and especially where it affects publicmoney government and healthcare will remain newsworthy, Pitt added. Well see more attacks using common vectors, such as phishing,download via malvertising, etc., he predicted, but also attacks that use old methodswith new vectors. The Masad Stealer attack, reported by Juniper ThreatLabs in late 2019, is a good example of this, where data and money wasstolen via malware injected into a used and respected piece of software. Malware Hangups It isnt just computer networks that could be at risk in 2020. Alreadyweve seen that little has been done in recent years to ensure thatmobile devices are protected adequately from cyberattacks. In the case of smartphones, devices could become infected simply bydownloading apps even from what should be trusted platforms. The StrandHogg malware is using malicious but popular apps on thePlay store as a delivery mechanism, and until Google closes thevulnerability that allows this to work, any device and user issusceptible, said Pitt. Mobile phones have become a gateway to our most sensitive andpersonal information, and yet the offer of a free application stillgets millions of downloads without a thought as to whether itssafe,' he added. Users need to stop blindly accepting device requests for access toresources; stop downloading free apps that they do not need andprobably will only use once; and, finally, deny if an applicationrequests access to something that seems strange or unnecessary forexample, a PDF reader wanting access to SMS messages, advised Pitt.This will help keep devices and data more safe. Fake Out Another major concern for 2020 might not affect data directly, but it should be on everyones radar nonetheless: the rise of deepfakes, manipulated videos that have been used to discredit individuals, to spread misinformation, and to cause harm in seemingly endless ways. Deepfakes have increased in sophistication. Ever more powerfulcomputers and even mobile devices are making it all too easy to create convincing fakes. One concern is how they might be used in conjunction with fake news across mobile platforms. Deepfake technologies will be used to attempt to influence the 2020elections in the United States and beyond, predicted Erich Kron, securityawareness advocate at KnowBe4. Fake videos and audio will be released close to the election time inorder to discredit candidates or to swing votes, he warned. While these will be proven as fakes fairly rapidly, undecided voterswill be influenced by the most realistic or believable fakes, Kron added. Securing the Cloud One misconception about cybersecurity is that off-site or hostedstorage comes with greater risks. The cloud may have certainadvantages, in fact. There is a common misconception that the cloud is inherently lesssecure than traditional on-premises solutions, said AndrewSchwarz, professor in the Information Systems & Decision Sciences program in the E. J. Ourso College of Business Administration atLouisiana State University. The problem is that when there is a cloud breach such as the breachover the summer at AWS it makes huge headlines, and skeptics point tothese examples as reasons why companies should be reluctant to movetheir own systems into the cloud, he told TechNewsWorld. The problem with these examples is that network security issubject to the principle of the greatest weakness your data will bevulnerable in the interface that is the weakest, he added. Cloud security is going to continue to improve as the cloud itselfmatures, said Tulanes Thomas. In fact cloud, if implemented correctly, can increase security risks so ensuring that these risks are mitigated is critically important,he pointed out. Last summers AWS breach showed that the cloud isnt the fundamental problem. Itwasnt the cloud provider that was at fault but a misconfigured firewall, which was due to a decision the client made. Furthermore, cloud providers will only survive if their clouds aresecure and are investing R&D in providing new approaches to securitythat will push the boundaries of security as we know it, saidLSUs Schwarz. Any breach means a certain death to providers. Thus it is intheir best interests to keep systems secure. The answer is thereforethat the cloud is not only secure, but is more secure than most, ifnot all, on-premises data centers. Security in Real Time Cybersecurity isnt just about computer networks or consumer devices. There are several significant upcoming happenings that hackers could target, and what is at stake goes well beyond money or data. There are three major events in 2020 that will certainly be a magnetto cybercriminals and nation state actors: the U.S. presidentialelection; the first-ever online U.S. census; and the Olympic games inTokyo, noted Mounir Hahad, head of Juniper Threat Labs at Juniper Networks. We will identify meddling attempts on social media; attempts atinfiltrating campaign staff; security holes in the census process, andattempts to exploit them; and that some attack on the Olympicsinfrastructure will probably succeed to some extent, he told TechNewsWorld. I am very concerned about the election. Government IT Security iswoefully lacking, especially when you get down to the county andprecinct level, which is where these machines are accessible, notedThomas. Electronic voting is still evolving slowly and that is what concernsme, as we have seen in the news that electronic ballots are far easierto subvert than paper ballots, he said. None of these problems will be easily addressed this year, or even inthe years to come. Cybersecurity remains a field that has too manyopenings and too few candidates. It requires constant diligenceand neverending training. The cost of not doing enough, however, could be even greater. The fact of the matter is that as long as criminals can gain accessto data, they can impact the confidentiality, integrity oravailability of it and theres little a company can do at that point,said KnowBe4s Malik. Companies should appropriately protect datawith cryptography, so that even if criminals gain access to the data,they cannot impact the integrity or confidentiality, he recommended. Finally, thetrend we will likely continue to see is the breaching of companiesthrough the supply chain or other trusted third parties. One of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flips defining characteristics is its ability to split the tall 22:9 aspect ratio main display in two halves to show different types of content. The feature which Samsung calls Flex mode will make its way to more OEMs in the near future according to an official statement from Google. Samsung and Google worked together on the development of Flex mode for the Galaxy Z Flip, which is triggered when the screen is opened at a 90-degree angle. For most use cases, youll see content on the top half and controls on the lower part of the screen. Some examples include watching a YouTube video on the top half of while browsing through comments on the bottom part of the screen or having a Google Duo video chat on the top half with call controls on the bottom. There is still no word on which manufacturers are bringing split-screen mode and to what phones, but the foldable form factor is clearly the one where it makes the most sense. Foldable screen phones are still a rare breed but as the technology matures, well certainly see a broader range of offerings. Via Peskov stressed Crimea could not be a subject of "any exchange." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has busted the idea of exchanging water supplies from mainland Ukraine to Russia-occupied Crimea for full control by the Ukrainian authorities of the border in Donbas. "As for Crimea, this is a Russian region and, of course, the water supply of this region is provided within the existing development programs. If there are any proposals for additional water supply on a commercial or other basis, they can be considered," Peskov told journalists, commenting on a question from an UNIAN correspondent in Russia regarding Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction David Arakhamia's statement that he would personally agree if water were supplied from mainland Ukraine to Russia-occupied Crimea in exchange for full control of the Ukrainian border in Donbas. Read alsoMejlis leader on water supply to Crimea: Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians not to be sold for water Peskov stressed Crimea could not be a subject of "any exchange." "As for Donbas, this is an internal Ukrainian problem, and you know we are doing everything possible to contribute to its settlement," he said. Answering a clarifying question from UNIAN whether it is possible to ensure border control by Ukraine in exchange for water to Crimea, Peskov replied: "The issue of border control must first be discussed with representatives of Donbas, representatives of the two 'self-proclaimed republics.' It is very difficult to say something without such contacts. So far, with a high degree of certainty, we may assume they will oppose changing the essence of the Minsk agreements, which were also signed by representatives of those two regions." As UNIAN reported earlier, Chairman of the Servant of the People faction in Ukraine's parliament David Arakhamia said he would personally agree if water were supplied from mainland Ukraine to Russia-occupied Crimea in exchange for full control of the Ukrainian border in Donbas. Yet, Arakhamia said, it was his personal opinion rather than the position of the parliamentary faction's head. BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) recently announced that its hospitals located in Chicago, Philadelphia and Tulsa have been named "Top Patient-Recommended Hospitals" in the nation, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review. Only 22 facilities were included on this list which distinguishes those hospitals ranked as "highly recommended" among patients surveyed. "We are honored to be included among the nation's top hospitals based on patient recommendations," said Pat Basu, MD, MBA, President and CEO of CTCA. "This recognition reflects our unrelenting commitment to patient care both in terms of clinical excellence, as well as patient and caregiver support. Further, this distinction reinforces our model of putting patients at the center of everything we do, as our physicians, staff and volunteers deliver safe, effective, compassionate care tailored to the people and communities we serve." The "Top 22 Patient-Recommended Hospitals" list is based on figures from CMS' Hospital Compare website and represent Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores collected from April 2018 through March 2019. At least 93 percent of patients at these 22 hospitals responded, "Yes, I would definitely recommend the hospital." This recognition comes shortly after the publication of CTCA's seventh annual summary of Patient Treatment Results, a comprehensive presentation of treatment outcomes including length of life, quality of life, patient experience and patient safety for 11 tumor types. The report, one of the most comprehensive presentations of treatment results published by any cancer care provider, "is a testament to CTCA's belief in the importance of transparency and patient empowerment," says Maurie Markman, MD, President of Medicine & Science at CTCA. About Cancer Treatment Centers of America Cancer Treatment Centers of America Global, Inc. (CTCA) is a comprehensive cancer care network of hospitals and outpatient care centers in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Specializing in the treatment of adult cancer patients, CTCA offers an integrative approach to care that combines surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy with advancements in precision cancer treatment and supportive therapies designed to manage side effects and enhance quality of life both during and after treatment. CTCA also offers qualified patients a range of clinical trials that may reveal new treatment options supported by scientific and investigational research. CTCA patient satisfaction scores consistently rank among the highest for all cancer care providers in the country. Visit cancercenter.com, Facebook.com/cancercenter and Twitter.com/cancercenter for more information. Media Contact: Abigail Obre 561-923-3198 [email protected] SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America Almost 7% of the total plant and property assets of Intel Corporation was located in Ireland at the end of last year, according to its annual financial return for the year to December 28, 2019. The company has a total of $55.38 billion (bn) in property and plant assets. Of this $3.85 bn is located in Ireland, much of it in Kildare. SEE ALSO: Gardai arrest man in investigation in drug seizure in Kildangan The main proportion is in the USA, $35.3 billion, followed by Israel, $8.46bn, and China $5.31bn, according to its 10K return to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. It has $2.49bn in other countries. SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories The figures show that while it listed assets of $128.7bn initially, $73.3bn was deducted for depreciation, leaving $55.38bn. Of the $128.7bn, 29% was in land and buildings, 58% was in machinery and equipment and 12% was invested in current construction. In November, Bord Pleanala granted permission for a new $4bn (3.63bn)plant at Leixlip. Three year before it got permission for another development valued at $4bn, representing a $8bn investment. The company says it has invested $12.5 billion on its site at Leixlip since its arrival in the late 1980s. The most recent Intel Ireland proposal is facing a legal challenge from local farmer, Thomas Reid. While its property assets are $55.38bn, the Corporations total assets were $136.5bn. Intels net revenue or sales were $71.96bn for 2019, up from $70.85bn for 2018. Its income before tax was $24bn and it made a provision for tax of $3bn, which represents 4.2% of net revenue. The equivalent figure for 2018 was 3.2% and for 2017, 17.1%. The company said that its effective tax rate in 2019 was 12.5%, up from 9.7% in 2018, but down from 52.8% in 2017. It made total provision for taxes of $3bn in 2019, compared to $10.7bn in 2017. In a note, it said that in Q4 2017 it recognized a $5.4bn higher income tax as a result of one time impacts from tax reform. In 2018, it said, its effective tax rate benefitted from the reduction of the US statutory federal tax. Its effective tax rate from non US income is taxed at different rates primarily from operations in China, Hong Kong, Ireland and Israel. The statutory rates in these jurisdictions ranged from 12.5% to 25%. It also said it was subject to reduced tax rates in China and Israel as long as it conducts certain eligible activities and make certain capital investments. It said these conditional reduced tax rates expire at various dates through to 2026 and it expected to apply for renewals upon when they expire. The companys earnings per share rose from $1.99 or almost two dollars in 2017 to $4.48 in 2018 and $4.71 in 2019. The return said that worldwide, the company had 110,800 employees at the end of 2019, up from 107,400 in 2018 and 102,700 in 2017, a fall from 106,000 at the end of 2016. It spent $280 million on employee severance programmes in 2019. Intel also reported that its three largest customers, Dell Inc, Lenovo Group and HP Inc accounted for 41% of its net revenue in 2019. Geographically, of its $71.96bn revenue, $20bn came from China (including Hong Kong), $15.65bn from Singapore, $15.17 from the United States, $10bn from Taiwan and $10.64 from other countries. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Stockholm, Sweden Wed, February 12, 2020 09:02 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063e8fc6 2 Entertainment Anna-Netrebko,Diane-Warren,Polar-Music-Prize,Sweden,music,Russia,united-states,music-awards Free Sweden's Polar Music Prize was Tuesday awarded jointly to Russian-born star soprano Anna Netrebko and American hit-song writer Diane Warren. The laureates will receive the award, including one million kronor (95,000 euros, $103,000) each, at a ceremony in Stockholm on June 9 attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf. Known as the "New Callas", 48-year-old Netrebko is a master of both the Russian and bel canto styles as well as big dramatic roles like Tosca in Puccini's classic opera. "When I get on stage, something happens and the quality of the performance is 10 times better, like I have a voice telling me what to do. It's always been with me," she said in a statement for the prize. Sixty-three-year-old Warren, nominated 11 times for an Oscar, has penned hits for artists such as Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Justin Bieber and Mary J. Blige. "I don't have confidence in myself as a human being, but I have unshakeable confidence in my music," Warren said. "When I know something is right, when I know a song is right for somebody... I believe, and it's unshakeable." The Polar was established in 1989 by the late Stig Anderson, manager of Swedish pop superstars ABBA, and selects two or three laureates each year. The award aims to "break down musical boundaries by bringing together people from all the different worlds of music". Past winners have included Grandmaster Flash, Metallica, the Afghan National Institute of Music, Sting, Bob Dylan, Pierre Boulez, Ravi Shankar and Dizzy Gillespie. DENVER, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shelton Capital Management and ICON Advisers, Inc. today announced a planned restructuring of the ICON Funds into a Shelton Capital mutual fund trust. Under the proposed transaction, Shelton Capital Management will serve as the investment advisor to the ICON Funds and ICON Advisers will continue to handle daily investment management as a Sub-Adviser to a streamlined ICON domestic fund lineup. In addition, Shelton Capital Management's international portfolio management team will take over the daily responsibilities for the ICON Emerging Markets Fund and the ICON International Equity Fund will be merged into Shelton's International Select Equity Fund, which Morningstar currently ranks as a Five-star fund. "ICON Advisers is an industry innovator with an outstanding lineup of investment offerings," said Shelton Capital Management CEO Steve Rogers. "Dr. Craig Callahan founded ICON in 1986, and his research has led to product innovation for model portfolios used by wealth managers throughout the country. These innovative products are highly rated, have long track records and continue to be ranked among the best products available to wealth managers who utilize these effective tools for their clients." With this innovative transaction, Dr. Callahan and Mr. Rogers expect to reduce fund operating expenses by an estimated $1,800,000 per year for fund shareholders and streamline operations, allowing ICON to focus on providing the investment research it's best known for. "Our investment research is time tested and well known in the industry for adding value. This transaction enables us to focus on what we do best," said Dr. Callahan. Berkshire Global Advisors acted as financial advisor to ICON Advisers on the transaction. Terms are not disclosed. The Fund restructuring/mergers remain subject to Fund shareholder approval. About ICON Advisers ICON Advisers, Inc. is a boutique firm based in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Since its inception, ICON has employed a unique and disciplined investment approach to the way it manages assets. In 1986, Dr. Craig Callahan founded ICON using a modernized Benjamin Graham valuation model to systematically determine the intrinsic value of individual companies in order to make clear, objective investment decisions. Today, ICON offers a diverse lineup of mutual funds, Tactical Allocation Portfolios, and Strategy Based Investing Portfolios providing a wide spectrum of investment options. With its broad scope and commitment to uncovering value, ICON's Funds and Portfolios can accommodate a wide range of investment needs. About Shelton Capital Management Shelton Capital Management is a multi-strategy asset manager with fund administration and digital marketing expertise. With a determined focus on growth, Shelton is active in acquisitions and fund consolidations. Shelton has expertise in mutual fund and separately managed account advisor mergers and has completed six previous transactions with the goal of improving the financial and economic performance of partner firms. For more information about these activities, please call Andee Reidle at (303) 228-8978. Shelton has offices in San Francisco, Denver and Greenwich, and manages over $2.2 billion of assets. For additional information, please visit us at http://sheltoncap.com . Contact: Morrison Shafroth, 720-470-3653, [email protected] SOURCE Shelton Capital Management Related Links http://sheltoncap.com With Michigan's Democratic and Republican primaries occurring on Tuesday, March 10, about a month from now, I felt I should communicate with my fellow Michiganders about my experiences working in the Iowa Caucuses. They were interesting, to say the least. Last Friday, I drove over nine hours to reach Fort Madison, Iowa. It is a small town with a population of 11,000 that once possessed light manufacturing with direct access to the state's railroad system and the mighty Mississippi River. It is a town, however, that woke up one morning and discovered that time had passed it by. Globalization had removed its manufacturing jobs (and taxes). As a result, the loss of these jobs had left the community badly wounded. The town's infrastructure had deteriorated quickly, and, just as quickly, its public schools became just another underfunded state institution. This town of good hardworking Iowans, is currently fighting for their economic survival. I stayed at a home that was part of the vast and growing 'Airbnb' network throughout America. Put simply, people are renting out their homes to visitors to acquire critically needed income. After a few minutes of looking at Fort Madison up-close, the decision to rent out one's home made pragmatic economic sense. Essentially, I wanted to contribute to the statewide effort to help Vermont's U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders win the Iowa Caucuses. It was a simple objective that soon turned into a political quagmire of disbelief and anger about, yet, again, another electoral malfunction in the U.S. Iowa's Democratic Party was once again holding its quadrennial caucuses. This political event had been established in the early 1970's. It was decided the Iowa Caucuses would be the first electoral contest on the political calendar for both the Democrats and Republicans. No one thought much about it. Until 1976, when an unknown former Georgia governor and peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter, had used the Iowa Caucuses to catapult his presidential aspirations. Ironically, Carter's meteoric rise to the White House began with him finishing second in the Iowa Caucuses to those who had voted "undecided." Welcome to American politics. I had not worked in the Iowa Caucuses since 1988. So, I was bit excited by the prospect of participating in America's first presidential contest. Thirty-two years is a long time between visits, but I was happy to be a part of it. That sense of satisfaction soon evaporated. On Saturday night, The Des Moines Register, founded in 1849, Iowa's most prominent newspaper, was to announce at 8 p.m. its last poll numbers before the Monday night caucuses. This was a big event. The paper's polling was considered to be the 'gold standard' by which other polling companies compared themselves. The moment had finally arrived. Stunningly, a representative of the newspaper announced on national T.V. that a small glitch in the paper's polling process had forced them to keep their polling numbers under wraps. Needless to say, every campaign operation in the state was in a state of shock. It was duly noted that The Des Moines Register had not missed a polling announcement in 76 years! Ladies and gentlemen, this was just the beginning of the fun. All the political campaigns continued to work feverishly for the next couple of days. Though many polls did exist about the Iowa Caucuses, the 'gold standard' was now missing. This reality had an unnerving effect upon all the campaigns. Finally, Monday, caucus night, arrived. Tired and weary campaign workers made one final herculean effort to get their voters to their proper voting precincts. I arrived at my assigned voting precinct as an 'ambassador' and 'observer' representing the Sanders campaign. My assigned voting precinct was held at the local high school in Fort Madison. In fact, two precincts were held at the high school. My assigned precinct drew 80 participants - which I was told was about the average turnout. At the end of the process, Sanders finished behind Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, but ahead Elizabeth Warren. The other candidates' caucuses were considered non-viable because they did not meet the 15% vote requirement. The entire process took almost three hours. When I got back to my 'Airbnb' house, I was exhausted. And, then the real fun began. The Iowa Democratic Party informed the nation that their counting mechanism was malfunctioning. They had purchased an app for $63,000 that was designed to help them count the votes faster and more efficiently. This was not the case. As I write this article, there has been no declared official winner. Though, it appears Pete Buttigieg did beat Bernie Sanders by two state delegates, 564-562. Closest race ever. But, Bernie beat Pete easily amongst First Preference Voters, 43,671-37,557. The Iowa disaster hurt the candidates, the state's reputation and the Democratic Party's national image. Everyone lost that night. Thus, in a month, it is quite conceivable that Michigan's primary could be absolutely critical for a candidate who hopes to earn the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. Michigan has an excellent reputation for efficient and fair elections. Let's keep it that way. Randall Doyle, of Mount Pleasant, is a published author and former Democratic candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 99th District. KYIV -- The new head of Ukraine's presidential administration has signaled there is room for compromise in talks on ending the war with Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country, a day after Moscow replaced a hard-line point man on the issue with a Ukrainian-born official in the Kremlin. Andriy Yermak told reporters in Kyiv on February 12, a day after his appointment, that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's team will continue to work on stopping the war in eastern Ukraine, where some areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, known as the Donbas, have been under the separatists' control since April 2014. "There can certainly be compromises during the negotiations," Yermak said. "But we have talked about this many times, and I also want to add that I am ready and will continue to do this: speak with all patriotic, competent, reasonable forces in this country." However, a second face-to-face meeting between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the seven-year-old war might be pushed back given the respective government personnel changes in Moscow and Kyiv, a French presidential official, who asked not to be named, told reporters on February 12. Putin recently appointed close ally Dmitry Kozak as his point man on Ukraine, sidelining hard-liner Vladislav Surkov. "These changes are going to stretch out the calendar a bit," the French presidential official said. Putin and Zelenskiy last met on December 9 in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in attendance as mediators. The much-anticipated meeting failed to bring an end to the conflict. After the meeting, though, Zelenskiy and Putin announced they had agreed to meet again in four months. Yermak's appointment raised some eyebrows in Ukraine from those who fear he may soften Kyiv's position toward Russia, especially amid the current thaw in relations that included major prisoner swaps late last year that Yermak was involved with in his role as an aide to Zelenskiy. Looking to allay those concerns, the 48-year-old former film producer and lawyer stressed at the news conference that Crimea, which was forcefully seized and annexed by Russia in March 2014, and the Donbas were "Ukrainian territories" and that elections in the areas controlled by the separatists scheduled for October "must be held under Ukrainian legislation." He also didn't rule out the possibility that Zelenskiy might meet with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, but added that a decision on that would be made by the president himself. "If [Zelenskiy] considers such a meeting [with Putin] necessary, that it may be a step to achieve real results in the Normandy peace-format summit, then we do not rule out a [Zelenskiy-Putin] meeting," Yermak said. Even before his appointment on February 11, Yermak's name was sprinkled throughout the media after he was linked to U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani. Evidence and testimony gathered during Trump's recent impeachment hearing shows Giuliani met with Yermak to "strongly" urge an investigation Trump wanted of Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son's ties to Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. The Democratic-led House of Representatives impeached Trump in December for allegedly withholding security assistance for Ukraine to force an investigation, only the third such hearing against a president in the country's history. Yermak took only five questions at the news conference, and none of them were related to the impeachment case or Giuliani. He did comment, however, on the appointment of Dmitry Kozak, the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, to handle relations with Kyiv, sidelining hard-liner Vladislav Surkov. "I have not spoken to Mr. Kozak since his appointment and my appointment," Yermak said. "But regardless of who represents the Russian Federation in the negotiations in Minsk or in the Normandy format, the principles declared by President Zelenskiy are unchanged," he added. While most of the other Democratic candidates for president were toiling through Iowa or New Hampshire, Mike Bloomberg was back in Texas recently doing the same thing he did weeks earlier: Trying to win over black voters. Bloomberg, speaking in Greater Greenspoint, addressed hundreds of members of African Methodist Episcopal Churches from around the nation, bluntly telling them something he never talked much about as mayor of New York City. The truth is, if I had been black I wouldnt have had the same opportunities and my life would have turned out very differently, the billionaire told the crowd. At the same time, I think its mostly true, that many black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth if they had been white. Hes far from the only candidate making outreach to black voters a key part of campaign visits to Houston, and Texas overall. During his last trip through Texas, in between private fundraisers, former Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the National Baptist Convention in Arlington, a predominately black audience. And in the fall Biden campaigned on the campus of Texas Southern University one of nine historically black universities in Texas. Biden spent 45 minutes shaking hands, posing for selfies and hugging students. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Other Democratic contenders such as Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren have participated in forums at TSU to make their case to black voters there. And before he dropped out of the race, Democrat Beto ORourke kicked off his campaign by holding a rally at TSU. If any of them think they can win without us, they wont, said Aimee Allison, the founder of a group called She The People that is pushing candidates to address issues of importance to women of color. The 2016 elections show just how critical black voters are to any Democrat hoping to win the White House. In 2016, a record 137.5 million Americans voted in the presidential election. But a report by the Pew Research Center shows that while almost every demographic group saw a corresponding boost, for the first time in 20 years black voter turnout declined, falling from 66.6 percent in 2012 to 59.6 percent in 2016. Allison said already in this cycle she feels that candidates are doing much more to earn the votes of communities of color. She said Warrens addressed the maternal mortality rates among minorities aggressively, Sanders has decried the rise of white nationalism in the U.S., and Bloomberg is talking about income inequality and the wealth gap between white and black communities. These are all topics that Allison said candidates have rarely given much attention in presidential primaries in the past. Recognizing and seeing us is an important first step, Allison said. For subscribers: Democrats address drop in black voter turnout in Houston forum President Donald Trumps campaign has also made a point to stress its work for minority communities. In speeches, including the State of the Union last week, Trump has honed in on unemployment data that shows black Americans are doing well under his administration. Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century, Trump said in the State of the Union. African American, Hispanic American and Asian American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded. Early polling suggests Biden has a huge lead among black voters in the Democratic primary. In a survey released last month by The Washington Post and nonpartisan research firm Ipsos, Biden was the choice of 48 percent of black respondents. In second place was Sanders, who had 20 percent. Warren was next, at 9 percent, and Bloomberg was at 4 percent. Bloombergs challenge is complicated by his tenure as mayor of New York City, where he pushed so-called stop and frisk policies that gave New York police broad authority to stop and search anyone suspected of a crime a policy that disproportionately affected minority communities. Since announcing his White House bid, Bloomberg has publicly apologized for stop and frisk, acknowledging his error in allowing it to remain in place as long as he did. I made a mistake, Bloomberg said. If you cant apologize, I dont know how you live with yourself. In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Bloomberg said his internal poll numbers show hes making up ground and hes convinced future poll numbers are going to show him doing much better with black voters. Im addressing the issues they care about, said Bloomberg, who is expected to be back in Houston yet again Thursday. In his speech in Houston, Bloomberg emphasized his history in helping the black community as mayor of New York City and his plan to address income inequalities in America. He has outlined a program he said will triple black family wealth in three years, double the number of black-owned businesses in the nation and help a million black families buy homes. He said while mayor of the city, his administration created 500,000 jobs and 175,000 affordable housing units. I know something about creating jobs and building a business and generating wealth, Bloomberg said. Ive done it in the private sector and Ive done it in government for 12 years as the mayor of New York City. He calls the plan the Greenwood Initiative. That name is taken from the Greenwood Massacre of 1921 in Tulsa, Okla., in which white mobs attacked black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District. Those attacks killed 36 and left 10,000 black people homeless. Just acknowledging that history is a big deal for Susan Leath, a Philadelphia doctor who was at Bloombergs speech in Houston. A lot of white people dont even know about that part of history, Leath said. I was very moved by it. I think he does have not only black people, but all people in mind. But its not just their words that the candidates are being judged on. Who they hire and bring onto their campaigns has become a key topic as well. In Texas, Biden has won praise for tapping veteran Dallas political consultant Jane Hamilton to lead his campaigns effort to win the Texas presidential primary. And Sanders has brought on former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner as his national campaign co-chair. While Sanders was in Washington, D.C., for the impeachment trial, Turner filled in for him before the African Methodist Episcopal Churches, making the case to voters that Sanders has a long history of working with the black community. The fact that women of color are part of campaign teams now, and that the candidates are trying to reach out more in places like Houston, shows important change is happening in the Democratic Party, Allison said. This is new territory in presidential politics, she said. jeremy.wallace@chron.com With the presidential primary season getting into full swing, a group of former high-ranking government leaders gathered Wednesday at the University of Texas at San Antonio with a single concern: That foreign policy isnt being discussed enough on the campaign trail. One former diplomat said he worries that the focus on domestic issues in both the Democratic and Republican primaries is leaving voters with little idea of how the next president will tackle pressing foreign policy problems. Does it concern me? asked Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations. Sure, and the reason is were not electing the next mayor of the United States, were electing the next president of the United States; and whoever it is, he or she is going to inherit a foreign policy inbox thats going to be crowded, its going to be crowded with difficult issues and its going to be crowded with consequential decisions. Haass and three other panelists will highlight a Council on Foreign Relations and UTSA forum on the 2020 election and foreign relations. He will be joined at the foreign policy forum by former Department of Homeland Security director Jeh Johnson, deputy national security director Stephen Hadley and Mary Beth Long, a onetime assistant defense secretary. The event will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Retama Auditorium on the universitys main campus. The 90-minute talk, one of only four scheduled at universities around the country, is expected to cover major foreign policy challenges such as Iraq, an ongoing trade war with China and how the new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada could benefit American workers. The idea will be to help those attending better understand the international stakes in the November election and how foreign policy issues are likely to ripple into their lives. But perhaps the biggest problem facing voters everywhere, Haass said, is the amount of time foreign policy gets on the stump and in debates. Its obvious to anybody, Haas said in an interview. If you simply took out your stopwatch and you timed the amount devoted to foreign policy in the debates, it would be, I think, a fairly modest percentage. And my sense is that reflects the voters, and I dont think its just Democratic, I think its most voters, be they Republican, Democratic or independent. Theres no shortage of issues. As the clock wound down to the New Hampshire primary earlier this week, Haass took to Twitter to sound the alarm on the tattered relationship between Democrats and Republicans, and deep foreign aid cuts proposed in President Donald Trumps new budget. The #SOTU2020 began with @realDonaldTrump refusing to shake @SpeakerPelosis hand, and ends with the Speaker tearing up her copy of the speech, he wrote on Twitter. Contrary to what was declared, the state of the union is not good. Calling foreign aid a critical national security tool, he also tweeted, The proposed cuts would leave US security worse off, place greater pressure on other tools, ie, the military, or both. Hopefully the past will be prologue & Congress will reject the Administration's budget. CORRRECTION: This article has been updated to correct the day of the panel session. sigc@express-news.net The Government said it will urgently appeal against a court ruling which prevented 25 people being deported to Jamaica after a last-minute legal battle with human rights campaigners. Officials say those due to be deported are all foreign criminals who committed serious offences. But campaigners, supported by 150 MPs, say they came to the country as children, are British in every meaningful way and some were sentenced for one-time drug offences when they were young. A chartered deportation flight, which was due to take off from the UK at around 6.30am on Tuesday, went ahead with 17 on board after the Court of Appeal intervened. Downing Street said 25 were prevented from being deported as a result of the court ruling. Originally around 50 were expected to be on board. The flight follows news of a leaked report commissioned by ministers in the wake of the Windrush scandal which warned the Government that the deportation policy should be reconsidered in all but the most severe cases, particularly for those who came to the UK as children. UPDATE: We understand that some, possibly all, of these individuals may have been ultimately removed from the flight but we are currently trying to clarify this. https://t.co/HeDHfo7Wx8 Bella Sankey (@BellaSankey) February 11, 2020 On Tuesday the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: There are 25 foreign national offenders who the court ruled could not be removed and are therefore still in the country. The offences which these people were responsible for include one manslaughter, one firearms offence, seven violent offences, two which are in the category of rape or sexual offences and 14 drugs offences. We bitterly regret this decision which prevents the removal from our country of foreign criminals convicted of rape, manslaughter, sexual attacks, violence and drugs crimes which spread misery across our communities. Story continues The legal process for removing these offenders, which has included repeated appeals and judicial reviews, has already cost the British public tens of thousands of pounds. The taxpayer will now be left with an even bigger bill and the prospect of convicts who are considered to pose a threat to the UK being granted bail while this matter is resolved. We make no apology whatsoever for seeking to remove serious foreign national offenders and will be urgently appealing. Police and protesters in Parliament Square, London, at a rally against government plans to deport 50 people to Jamaica (Aaron Chown/PA) The 17 deported had amassed sentences of 75 years between them for offences including rape, possession of firearms, violent offences including actual bodily and grievous bodily harm and the supply of Class A drugs, Downing Street said. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, the Home Office must make a deportation order where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would breach someones human rights or the UKs obligations under the Refugee Convention. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) said the flight had forced families apart, adding that the deportees were British in every meaningful way and if the law allows those people to be exiled, it needs to change. The flight sparked heated scenes in the House of Commons on Monday as Labour MPs pressed the Government on the matter. A protest outside Downing Street later in the evening ended up with demonstrators blocking the roads around Parliament Square. Earlier today @DavidLammy asked an urgent question on planned deportation flights to Jamaica to @kevin_j_foster the Parliamentary Under-Secretary @ukhomeoffice If you missed it, watch in full here: https://t.co/TID0nUfxbc pic.twitter.com/aV6gDHRXHz UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) February 10, 2020 Later that night Lady Justice Simler ordered the Home Office not to carry out the scheduled deportation of some people amid concerns that problems with mobile phone signal at the Colnbrook and Harmondsworth centres in Heathrow had prevented them from having adequate access to legal advice while in detention awaiting deportation. The order was granted without a court hearing after an urgent application on paper by Detention Action. The Government has already promised to review the judicial review process. In a sign of why ministers are determined to act, 12 judicial reviews have been lodged in relation to the deportation flight in the past few days. A senior Tory source said the situation makes the case perfectly to the public about why such a review is needed and why certain parts of Westminster still havent learned the lesson from the 2019 election. AMHERST The University of Massachusetts will pay the town $185,000 annually related to university students children attending kindergarten through grade 12 here. The funding addresses the financial impact of K-12 students who live in tax-exempt housing on campus and attend Amherst schools, UMass said in statement. Amherst officials have advocated for a way to address the issue. The voluntary payment in lieu of taxes arrangement will be in effect for three years, town and university officials said in the statement. The University and the Town of Amherst, with direct involvement of the Amherst schools, reached the agreement following an independent study conducted by the Donahue Institute, which explored different funding formulas, the statement says. We look forward to continuing our discussions with the University as we work toward a Strategic Partnership Agreement that addresses the many important relationships between the Town and the University, Town Manager Paul Bockelman said in the statement. Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations Nancy Buffone said: The interests of the University and the Town are woven together in many ways but perhaps nowhere as tightly as they are in support for excellent schools. A Donahue Institute report from 2018 found that 52 children attending Amherst public schools lived in tax-exempt university housing, representing about 2% of the student body. Even as two senior ministers in the Maharashtra government have expressed divergent views on providing free electricity to people who consume up to 100 units of power, city-based economist H M Desarda on Wednesday supported feasibility of such measure on the lines of Delhi. Maharashtra Power Minister Nitin Raut had last week said the state government was considering a proposal to provide free electricity to domestic users whose monthly consumption is upto 100 units. The proposal is on the lines of the 100 per cent subsidy being given to domestic consumers in power tariff up to 200 units by the AAP government in Delhi. However, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar later said such plan might not be feasible in Maharashtra at present. "Power usage up to 100 units can be made free for domestic consumers if we follow the Delhi government pattern. The basic requirement for this is accountability. The poorer sections of the society will benefit from it," Desarda said. When asked about the likely loss to the state exchequer, he said only 5 per cent consumers fall in this (poor) category in Maharashtra while people from other strata can bear these expenses without any major burden. "The government agencies spend a lot of time and energy recovering money from these consumers. The move will help save their efforts and an automatic controller can curb malpractices," Desarda added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Nityananda Rai on Wednesday said the BIMSTEC countries should cooperate with each other during natural calamities, particularly in protecting the cultural heritage sites from floods and earthquake. The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs said this after inaugurating the Field Training Exercise of 2nd BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise on flood rescue at the Ramachandi Beach in Odishas Puri district. The delegates and rescue teams from 5 BIMSTEC member nations - India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka & Myanmar - participated in the exercise. The minister said that this exercise will provide a platform for member states to evaluate existing capabilities, share best emergency response practices, improve existing emergency preparedness and strengthen regional response mechanism and also to conduct risk assessment in the context of cultural heritage sites at the time of disaster. In order to bring in a feel of a real disaster scenario, "simulated exercise sites including villages & Heritage Site (Konark Sun Temple)" were set up at Ramachandi Beach in Puri to depict flooded localities and houses due to the flood disaster. Large number of simulated dummy structures including multi-storeyed buildings and houses were erected in inundated condition with marooned people and livestock at the exercise site to reflect the real disaster scenario. Flood disaster was painted due to cyclone followed by heavy rainfall. A large number of people were presumed to be stranded within the simulated villages and also the cyclone adversely affected a cultural heritage site. Rai said this first of its kind exercise at the coastal city of Puri in Odisha, will help in sharing best practices and expertise, consolidating the disaster response, coordination and cooperation among BIMSTEC countries during disasters. Rescue teams carried out a highly synchronized flood search and rescue operations including medical assistance with the help of river ambulance and relief distribution work. This joint field training exercise was conducted under the leadership of Satya Narayan Pradhan, Director General of, NDRF. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In India, the ultimate accolade for any policy is to be seen as being instrumental to an electoral success. The re-election of Delhis Aam Aadmi Party would have highlighted to politicians around the country, particularly at the state level, the usefulness of the partys signature policy of subsidised power. In Delhi, power up to 200 units every month is free for households and up to 400 units is subsidised by 50 per cent. Already some other states have jumped on to the power subsidy bandwagon. After taking control of the Maharashtra power ministry in December, state Energy ... The Congress-ruled Puducherry on Wednesday became the first union territory in the country to adopt an assembly resolution against the controversial CAA, saying the law was "totally opposed to the principles of secularism" and demanding its withdrawal. Similar assembly resolutions had been adopted by Congress-ruled Rajasthan, Punjab and Chhattisgarh, as also Kerala and West Bengal, whose Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee respectively are in the forefront of the movements against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Amidst an opposition boycott, the one-day special session of the union territory assembly adopted the resolution tabled by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who chose to ignore Lt Governor Kiran Bedi's missive against the move. Bedi in a letter on Monday had said the act passed by Parliament is applicable to the union territory and "cannot be questioned or deliberated in any manner." Later making an intervention when two ministers accused Bedi of 'hampering' implementation of government decisions, Narayansamy said he opened her letter only now and it only contained what she had already shared with media, asking him not to table the anti-CAA resolution. Wondering how a letter marked 'confidential' was circulated to media, he asserted the legislature was an independent authority and none can intrude into its rights and privileges. "I have already made it clear that come what may we would bring in the anti-CAA resolution. We are ready to face any consequences even if it meant dismissal of theterritorial government," Narayanasamy said. Earlier, the assembly also registered strong protest against the National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. Members of the opposition AINRC and AIADMK boycotted the session while the three nominated BJP legislators staged a walk out after registering their objection to the tabling of the resolution. Of the eight union territories in the country, Puducherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi each has a legislative assembly and council of ministers. As soon as Narayansamy started reading out the contents of the resolution, BJP members V Saminathan, K G Shankar and S Selvaganapthy were up on their feet and objected to the moving of the resolution. They described the resolution as a "murder of democracy" and "violation of constitutional provisions" and trooped out of the House. They did not return for the rest of the session. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA, saying the law was "totally opposed to the principles of secularism." After the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues and legislators belonging to the Congress and its ally the DMK spoke, the resolution was passed with Speaker V P Sivakolundhu saying it was "adopted unanimously."The resolution stated that the enactment of CAA in Parliament had caused "pain and chaos" among the people at large in the country and led to "peaceful agitations across the country". The CAA was shattering to pieces the principles of secularism which is the basis of the Constitution, it charged. Claiming that there was a hidden agenda in the CAA as the Muslims were ignored, it said the law was "totally injurious" to the great sacrifices made by Mahatma Gandhi for protection of secularism. The resolution alleged that certain forces were trying to introduce religious sentiments by forgetting the path shown by the first Indian Prime Minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru. "If there was any space available for the divisive forces it would only mean that a historic blunder would be committed, hitting the cardinal principles of secularism (and) the great sacrifices made by martyrs and freedom fighters of the country." The resolution also expressed disappointment over the CAA not including the Sri Lankan Tamils, staying at various places and in refugee camps in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, for Indian citizenship. Similarly, the Rohingya Muslims living as refugees in northern states of the country and have also not been included in the Act, it added. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA, NPR and the proposed NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Concerned Cabinet ministers are bracing for Boris Johnson to wield the axe at a long-anticipated reshuffle tomorrow as Geoffrey Cox urged the Prime Minister not to sack him as Attorney General. Downing Street confirmed yesterday that the planned shake-up of the PM's top team will go ahead with a new look Cabinet scheduled to meet on Friday morning. Mr Johnson is widely expected to get rid of a handful of senior ministers as he looks to promote Tory rising stars and define the direction of his new administration. Boris Johnson, pictured in Birmingham yesterday, will tomorrow conduct a reshuffle of his Cabinet Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, pictured in Downing Street yesterday, has been widely tipped for the sack Mr Cox is one of a number of ministers who have been widely tipped to be sent back to the Conservative backbenches. But today he signalled he would like to continue in the role as the government's chief legal adviser. Ups and downs: Who is safe, who is for the chop and who is on the up in Cabinet reshuffle tomorrow? At risk: Geoffrey Cox (Attorney General) Andrea Leadsom (Business Secretary) Ben Wallace (Defence Secretary) Theresa Villiers (Environment Secretary) Baroness Morgan (Culture Secretary) Safe: Sajid Javid (Chancellor) Priti Patel (Home Secretary) Dominic Raab (Foreign Secretary) Tipped for promotion: Rishi Sunak (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) Lucy Frazer (Armed Forces Minister) Oliver Dowden (Cabinet Office Minister) Chloe Smith (Cabinet Office Minister) Nusrat Ghani (Transport Minister) Advertisement There have been reports that Number 10 does not believe Mr Cox is a 'team player' and that he could be replaced by Lucy Frazer QC who is currently a Justice Minister. Asked this morning if he was concerned that he could lose his job because of an alleged reluctance to engage in party politics, Mr Cox said: 'It has been an enormous privilege to do this job and the Prime Minister, it is his complete prerogative to decide which team he puts around him. 'If I were not to be Attorney General shortly then I do not believe it would be for any such reason. 'You ask me an entirely hypothetical question, the premise of which I don't accept.' But asked whether he had had enough of the job, Mr Cox said: 'Absolutely not.' If Mr Cox is kicked out of the Cabinet it is thought he could be appointed the chairman of the government's planned so-called democracy commission which will be tasked with examining the relationship between parliament and the courts. Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have all be tipped to be sacked tomorrow. Nicky Morgan, the Culture Secretary, will almost certainly be removed from the Cabinet with her appointment only ever expected to be a temporary arrangement after she was elevated to the House of Lords. It is thought Ms Morgan could be replaced by Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden. Nicky Morgan, pictured yesterday in Downing Street, will almost certainly be replaced as Culture Secretary while Andrea Leadsom has been widely tipped to be ousted as Business Secretary The Telegraph predicted fellow Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith could be handed a new 'minister for the Union' role while Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani is tipped to be given the new minister for HS2 role. Michael Gove, the Minister for the Cabinet Office who has been Mr Johnson's Brexit problem solver since he became PM, could be given a beefed up role to handle trade talks with the EU. Former Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay is also tipped to make a swift Cabinet return while Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith could be appointed president of the COP26 UN climate change summit due to take place in Glasgow in November this year. Mr Johnson is also expected to ask Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry to attend Cabinet in a sign that he is serious about delivering for voters in the north of England. I had high hopes about this, even if it would not solve all the problems of the Amazon and of the Church, said Atilio Battistuz, a Franciscan friar in the Brazilian rainforest state of Para, where there are more than 600 Catholic communities. I do not believe Pope Francis was against this decision. It is not the moment yet. The church is not mature enough for this. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra has written to the Reserve Bank of India, expressing concern over "discriminatory" hiring by the apex bank, officials of an employees' union said on Wednesday. The All India Reserve Bank Employees' Association claimed that the Kolkata zone has just 11 vacancies out of 926 openings for the post of "assistants" in the country. "The Kolkata office is second largest of RBI with its jurisdiction spread over West Bengal, Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, yet vacancies have reduced sharply to 11... Gives a sense of discrimination from a pan-India institution," Mitra said in the letter, shared by the association. The central bank has notified 419 vacancies in Mumbai, 67 in Chennai and 34 in New Delhi among the metros, the union officials said. The number of vacancies for the Kolkata zone has been constantly reducing since 2012, when it was 145, they said. A two-member delegation of the association had on February 4 met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the "discriminatory" recruitment sanction for the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) F ormer Empire actor Jussie Smollett has been charged for the second time of lying to police, the special prosecutor announced on Tuesday. Dan Webb said Smollett faces six counts of disorderly conduct, which stem from the actor's assertion that he was the victim of a hate crime in January last year. The indictment comes nearly a year after similar charges against him against him relating to the alleged hoax attack were suddenly dropped by local prosecutors with little explanation. Here's what we know so far: Jussie Smollett leaves the Leighton Courthouse after his court appearance on March 26. / Getty Images What claims has Jussie Smollett made? Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in downtown Chicago in January last year. The actor told police he was walking home early on January 29, 2019, when two masked men approached him, made racist and homophobic insults, beat him and looped a noose around his neck before fleeing. He said his assailants, at least one of whom he described as white, told him he was in "MAGA country" - a reference to President Donald Trump's campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again. Police also said they were investigating claims the men punched Smollett in the face and had a chemical substance poured over him. Several weeks later, authorities alleged that Smollett had paid two friends $3,500 to help him stage the attack because he was unhappy with his salary as an actor on "Empire," a Fox series about that follows a black family as they navigate the ups and downs of the recording industry. Smollett was accused of using the scheme to drum up publicity for his career. He was originally charged the following month with disorderly conduct for allegedly staging the attack and lying about it to investigators, but the case was dropped in March with little explanation following an emergency court appearance. His lawyers denied that he had any role to play in the alleged attack, and said the actor was "angered and devastated by reports that the perpetrators were individuals that he is familiar with. Chicago mayor Mayor Rahm Emanuel stood by the prosecution and called the dropping of charges "a whitewash of justice", lashing out at Smollett for dragging the city's reputation "through the mud". Smollett, who left Empire last April, claims the malicious prosecution damaged his career, with the shows producers saying they have no plans to bring him back for the sixth and final series. What are the fresh charges? On Tuesday, Mr Webb said fresh charges would be made against Smollett, relating to the alleged hoax attack last year. The indictment caps a five-month special prosecutor's probe and accuses Smollett of making four separate false reports to Chicago police related to his account of being the victim of a violent hate crime. In his statement, Mr Webb said the charges stem from false reports Smollett gave to police in which he contended he was a victim of a hate crime "knowing that he was not the victim of a crime." [February 12, 2020] Oracle DataFox Expands Pool of European Company Data by 135 Percent LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle OpenWorld -- To help organizations realize the potential of AI-powered applications in sales, marketing, and other business applications, Oracle DataFox has expanded its pool of AI-sourced and managed data. Since being acquired by Oracle in 2018, Oracle DataFox has extended its global coverage by more than 70 percent with rapid growth in Europe, where Oracle DataFox coverage has increased by 135 percent to cover more than one million businesses in the region. Oracle DataFox is an AI-powered data engine that includes data on millions of organizations worldwide, including most public companies. This includes data on company headcount, funding, revenue, growth signals and awards. To ensure data is up-to-date, Oracle DataFox constantly cleans and enriches the data so that customers can benefit from accurate "smart" data within their applications, which improves the effectiveness of AI and machine learning algorithms. In addition, Oracle DataFox's pool of company data is constantly being expanded by its AI-driven data engine that continuously extracts detailed data on public and private businesses. "Good data leads to better recommendations and good business decisions," said Clive Swan, senior vice president of applications development, Oracle. "The ability to feed AI-powered applications from a larger pool of high-quality and accurate data helps our customers better prioritize sales, marketing and other business activities and drive more revenue growth." With native integrations across Oracle's SaaS offerings, Oracle DataFox sources more than 1 billion data points each year to improve data quality in Oracle Eloqua and Oracle Sales Cloud, as well as other third party customer experience applications. For example, Oracle DataFox helps customers increase fill rates for key sales and marketing data points for company revenue and headcount to 99 percent. Similarly, Oracle DataFox's real-time signal data (time-based data points) helps organizations understand when their customers and prospects have a higher propensity to buy and enables sales teams to prioritize and assign accounts dynamically. InnovationQuarter is the regional economic development agency for the Province of Zuid-Holland, also known as the greater Rotterdam The Hague area. To target and build a strong business network, it needed to look beyond its first party CRM data and gain visibility into other organizations in the region. "Our mission is to stimulate innovation and economic growth in the greater Rotterdam-The Hague area. To achieve this we needed to have a more complete view of the Dutch business community," said Chris Van Voorden, Director Foreign Investment & Internationalization at InnovationQuarter, a regional economic development agency in The Netherlands. "Oracle DataFox has significantly improved our efficiency and enabled us to better target and connect with businesses internationally, to drive valuable partnerships." Additional Resources Oracle DataFox Oracle Cloud Applications About Oracle The Oracle Cloud offers a complete suite of integrated applications for Sales, Service, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain and Manufacturing, plus Highly Automated and Secure Generation 2 Infrastructure featuring the Oracle Autonomous Database. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com. Trademarks Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Safe Harbor The preceding is intended to outline our general product direction. It is intended for information purposes only, and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality, and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for Oracle's products remains at the sole discretion of Oracle Corporation. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-datafox-expands-pool-of-european-company-data-by-135-percent-301002950.html SOURCE Oracle [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Did you know that liberals are seeking to siphon money from successful Americans and they want to feed their grandchildren before yours? Depending on the strength of your reaction to that statement, I might have something to sell you for your retirement account. The above claims are from a Facebook advertisement by affiliates of precious metals company Metals.com, which does business under Chase Metals LLC, Chase Metals Inc. and Access Unlimited. The parent company is TMTE. Unfortunately for folks who responded to that pitch, the company has a history of fleecing its customers, according to regulators in seven states. The Texas State Securities Board kicked off a torrent of state regulatory action last May with a cease-and-desist order. The complaint noted the example of an 80-year-old woman convinced to transfer her entire $850,000 retirement account into another account affiliated with Metals.com that could hold precious metals, disregarding its appropriateness for her situation. The securities board also noted that the firms lawyer sent a threatening Pre-Lawsuit Notice in April 2019 to a 75-year-old retired schoolteacher who publicly complained about investing nearly $66,000 with Metals.com. As part of the sales process, the board found, salespeople convince prospects, many of them elderly, that their existing investments in securities are highly risky and in imminent danger. Only precious metals, the pitch goes, can provide safety in retirement. But this company doesnt target just any elderly prospects. An investigation by Quartz.com described their particular strategy of Facebook targeting. The Quartz investigation details how Metals.com sought to exploit political biases. Specifically, Facebook advertisements targeted a demographic that identified as very conservative, older than 59 and interested in Fox News Sean Hannity. Further, the Facebook ads that led to Metals.com strongly implied linkages linkages that do not exist with Fox News. Facebook ads used Fox News logos and unaffiliated websites that appeared connected to the media company. Metals.com ran ads that sounded like they originated from political and governmental bodies, although they did not, with sponsors named Republican House Committee, US Retirement Bureau and Conservative Republican Association. These online ads encouraged Facebook users to sign up for more information about how silver and gold investment strategies could protect them from the Deep State and from a grasping federal government. With an ad supposedly sponsored by an account called Proud To Be A Deplorable, the message asked, Is your retirement protected from the Deep State? A newly-liberal majority Congress cares more about chaos than your security! Commissioned salespeople would contact potential victims, initiating a conversation about politics or religion. A former salesperson for the company, interviewed by Quartz, said his instructions were if someone says theyre liberal or they dont like Hannity, you just hang up. My phone calls to Metals.com went unreturned, as did an inquiry through its website. Another opening sales line to use on prospects: I dont know what your religious beliefs are, but Im Christian. Did you know there are 700 references to gold and silver in the Bible? The solution to everything, apparently, was gold and silver investments. In July 2019, Metals.com agreed to a State Securities Board order to offer refunds, up to $10 million, to 84 Texans for the full amounts they invested in precious metals with the company. The companys troubles are not over, however. Following Texas lead, at least six other states have initiated enforcement actions against Metals.com and its affiliates. The latest was a complaint in December from the Securities Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts filing details one couple who transferred $2.3 million from their retirement account to a precious metals account at the direction of a Metals.com salesperson. Due to the heavy markups employed by the company, the account suffered an immediate $1.5 million drop in value. Transactions by this couple and others described in the Massachusetts enforcement action had markups between 53 percent and 63 percent. As further described in the complaint, Metals.com provided statements showing values in the precious metals had increased, despite observable prices that made those claims fraudulent. One financial lesson we could take from the Metals.com complaint would be to beware of salespeople using scare tactics and political biases to push expensive, inappropriate investments on vulnerable people. Thats fine advice. But it seems to limit the story to the unsavory tactics of a rogue boiler-room operation. I think theres a more general lesson, one that goes far beyond the frightening Metals.com story: Never, ever, buy precious metals as an investment. Gold and other precious metals, including silver, are always primarily a psychological trick used to prey on the financially naive. Massive segments of the financial infotainment industrial complex dedicate themselves to selling us on the idea that gold and silver have a legitimate role in an individual investors portfolio. This simply isnt true. So, yes, beware of boiler-room operations such as Metals.com, which apparently is still in business today, despite multistate crackdowns. But also consider, if you didnt know this already, that the entire retail-investment arm of the precious metals industry is itself a long con. Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and author of The Financial Rules for New College Graduates. NEW YORK The father of a former student at Sarah Lawrence College accused of manipulating her school friends, extorting nearly $1 million from them, and profiting from their work as prostitutes was charged with sex trafficking, forced labor and extortion, in a federal indictment released today. Lawrence Ray, 60, was arrested Tuesday morning at his home in Piscataway, New Jersey, and was expected to be arraigned Tuesday night in Manhattan federal court. One of the victims was with Ray when he was arrested, authorities said. The exploitation began in 2010 when Ray moved into an on-campus dorm with a group of sophomores including his daughter at Sarah Lawrence, William Sweeney, assistant director-in-charge of the FBI in New York, said at a news conference Tuesday in New York City. "Ray began 'therapy' sessions with some roommates purportedly to help them with their psychological problems, and presented himself as a father figure to the roommates," reads an indictment unsealed Tuesday. "The arrangement was anything but traditional," Sweeney said. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman announces an indictment against Lawrence Ray on Feb. 11 in New York City. 'If you're not angry, you don't have a soul' Ray spent about a decade sexually and psychologically manipulating his victims and physically abusing them, according to the indictment. Until at least 2018, he forced his victims to perform unpaid labor and prostitute themselves for his financial benefit, authorities said. He's accused of laundering about $1 million from the young people, some of whom drained their parents' bank accounts. Ray, who has a previous conviction for securities fraud, is facing nine counts and could face more than 100 years behind bars if found guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Lawrence Ray: Charged with sex trafficking, he has rap sheet of crime Ray had previously denied the allegations, saying they were the result of a conspiracy against him. It was not clear whether he had a defense attorney who could comment on the charges. Story continues "The conduct alleged here is outrageous," Sweeney said. "It makes you angry. If you're not angry, you don't have a soul." New Jersey resident Lawrence Ray is accused of extortion, sex trafficking, forced labor and money laundering involving college students. He was arrested Feb. 11. Ray had at least five alleged victims, and authorities said there could be more. The crimes allegedly occurred in Westchester County, Manhattan, and Pinehurst, North Carolina. "Sarah Lawrence College has just learned of the indictment of a former parent in the Southern District of New York," the college said in a statement. "The charges contained in the indictment are serious, wide-ranging, disturbing and upsetting. As always, the safety and well-being of our students and alumni is a priority for the College. "In April 2019, New York Magazine published a range of accusations about this former parent. At that time, the College undertook an internal investigation regarding the specific activities alleged in the article to have occurred on our campus in 2011; the investigation did not substantiate those specific claims. "We have not been contacted by the Southern District of New York, but will, of course, cooperate in their investigation to the full extent of the law if invited to do so." Therapy sessions led to 'unwitting victims' Ray "made himself at home among the group of teens and young adults," Sweeney said. The students later lived with Ray in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and in Pinehurst, he said. Sweeney said the "therapy sessions" led to the students becoming "unwitting victims." Ray alienated several of the victims from their parents, and convinced several of the victims that they were broken and in need of fixing, the indictment reads. Once Ray gained the victims' trust, he leveled false accusations against each of them, including that he and his family had been poisoned by someone, according to the indictment. He also used their coerced confessions some in writing, others via video against them, threatening to expose them to their parents and law enforcement. Ray, who was also known as "Lawrence Grecco," had friends in high places. He was the best man at the wedding of former NYC Police top cop Bernard Kerik. Ray threatened to dismember a male victim, placed a knife to another male victims neck and grabbed and threw a female victim to the ground, according to the indictment. He also threatened to report two female victims to law enforcement for alleged crimes "For the better part of the last 10 years, Ray has continued to mentally and physically torture his victims," Sweeney said. "There was no limit to the abuse that Ray's victims received, and there's no knowing the amount of damage he may have caused them in the years to come." Ray is accused of using tactics such as sleep deprivation, psychological and sexual humiliation, verbal abuse, violence, threats of legal action, alienating youths from their families and exploiting mental health issues. Ray used those methods to convince the victims to falsely confess to damaging Ray and his family, then he extorted the victims for those purported damages, authorities said. He is accused of videotaping and documenting those false confessions. Unpaid labor, prostitution, sleep deprivation Victims drained their parents' savings, opened credit lines, solicited money from friends, sold real estate ownership and, at Ray's direction, performed unpaid labor and made money through prostitution to pay him, authorities said. Ray is accused of taking sexually explicit photographs of victims and using that as leverage. One time he tied a victim to a chair, placed a plastic bag over her head and nearly suffocated her, then took more than $500,000 that she made in forced prostitution, authorities said. Three victims traveled with Ray to Pinehurst to make physical improvements to a property owned by Rays family member, sometimes in the middle of the night, according to the indictment. They were forced to sleep outside in the summer heat and didnt always have access to food because Ray put a lock on the refrigerator, authorities said in the indictment. Ray and at least two associates, who were not named by authorities, laundered the money through an internet domain business, officials said. Ties to organized crime, former NYC corrections commissioner Kerik Ray's criminal record includes pleading guilty in 2003 to a federal securities fraud charge in the Eastern District of New York. That case stemmed from a pump-and-dump scheme that was tied to organized crime. Ray, then a resident of Warren, New Jersey, was sentenced to five years of probation and nine months of home confinement. Ray previously played a role in a scandal involving Bernard Kerik, a former police driver for Mayor Rudy Giuliani who became New York Citys corrections commissioner in 1998 and then its police commissioner from 2000 to 2001, serving during the 9/11 attacks. Hours after the indictment, Kerik took to Twitter to retweet writer Ezra Marcus' link to his New York Magazine piece. Kerik added: "Outstanding investigative work!" Contributing: The Associated Press Follow reporters David Propper (@dg_props) and Matt Spillane (@MattSpillane) on Twitter. Rising toll: China reports the most coronavirus deaths in one day; US confirms 13th case Changes coming? Utah bill could end jail time for some polygamists This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Sarah Lawrence College: Lawrence Ray accused of sex trafficking This content is expired! Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again. Cities and nonprofits that stepped up to provide humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of migrants last year will soon get another chance to apply for federal reimbursement. The federal government provided $7.8 million in aid in October, but at least one food bank and some nonprofits didnt qualify for reimbursement. An application period opens on Monday for a second round of reimbursements. Officials said more groups should qualify. There are new changes as a direct result of folks on the ground, said U.S. Rep Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, who secured the $30 million in federal funding to reimburse communities affected by the surge of migrants. Federal Emergency Management Agency board members visited border states, including a stop in San Antonio, to meet with local aid groups and the city and evaluate what the barriers were to the reimbursement application process. We made it a priority after Round One to make sure we went to border states to see what worked and what didnt work. That really led to the changes youre going to see in Round Two, said Andrew Bostjancic, who represents Catholic Charities on FEMAs board. Some of (the groups services) were done out of love and support, and they were not thinking theyd get reimbursed. He described the first round has having overly cumbersome reporting requirements. The city of San Antonio received $280,200 last year, about half of what it had requested. Officials had said they hoped the second round would close that gap. Weve been working to make this process as simple as possible and make the money as acceptable as possible said Bryan Harrison, a FEMA board member from the Salvation Army. Of the $7.8 million provided last year, $2.9 million went to Texas. Cuellars district, which sweeps south from east San Antonio to Laredo, received $1.7 million. Border states are privy to $25 million of the $30 million allocated for reimbursement; other states can get the rest. Aid to U.S. asylum-seekers who are not living in the United States those subject to the Remain in Mexico policy, for example would not be eligible for reimbursement, Bostjancic said. Nearly 1 million migrants came across the border or presented at ports of entry last year. In the spring, the government was releasing thousands soon after apprehension. More than 32,400 migrants arrived in downtown San Antonio last year, prompting the city to open a temporary Migrant Resource Center and an overnight shelter at Travis Park Church. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-New Mexico, said it had been so inspirational last year to see communities across the border stand up and do this work without any guarantee of reimbursement. 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 Alexander Vindman Andrew Harnik/AP President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested the US military might explore disciplinary action against Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Vindman is the National Security Council staffer who lost his role there after testifying in Trump's impeachment trial. "That's going to be up to the military we'll have to see," Trump told reporters of potential disciplinary action. "We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him in any way they want," Trump said. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested the US military might take disciplinary action against the impeachment-trial witness ejected from the White House National Security Council last week. "That's going to be up to the military we'll have to see," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. He said he "certainly" imagined the military would "take a look at that." Trump dismissed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an Army soldier for 20 years who received a Purple Heart, from the National Security Council on Friday, reassigning him to the Defense Department. Vindman was escorted from the White House after his dismissal, two days after the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump of allegations of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in his impeachment trial. Vindman in November told the House Intelligence Committee that Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was concerning to him and prompted him to raise objections within his chain of command out of a "sense of duty." The call was the center of a whistleblower complaint that led to Trump's impeachment. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he "obviously wasn't happy with the job he did" and that Vindman's account of the conversation was "very different" from his "perfect call." Story continues "We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him in any way they want," Trump said. "General Milley, he can have him," Trump said, referring to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Army Gen. Mark Milley. White House officials claimed that Vindman's dismissal was part of a wider effort to downsize a bloated NSC, an initiative that has been in the works for over a year, according to The Washington Post. Skeptics, however, pointed out that Vindman's twin brother, Yevgeny, also a US Army lieutenant colonel, was dismissed from his post as an ethics attorney on the NSC at the same time, despite not testifying in the House's impeachment investigation. Retired Marine Corps Col. David Lapan, a former Pentagon spokesman who is now the vice president of communications at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said he "absolutely" believed the ousters of Vindman and his brother were retaliation by the White House. "It was Lt. Col. Alex Vindman who actually testified under oath in front of Congress," Lapan previously told Insider. "His brother didn't. Yet somehow his brother was also dismissed from his position in the National Security Council." "I would recommend the Pentagon that given all the circumstances to state very clearly that Vindman will be allowed to come back to the Army, that he will get his follow-on assignments and there won't be any retaliation against him," Lapan added. "I think that is needed right now to send a strong message to the force that we're not going to allow retaliation for somebody who was subpoenaed." According to The New York Times, both Vindmans are expected to be transferred to prestigious follow-on assignments within the Army Alexander Vindman to the Army War College in Pennsylvania, an institution designed to prepare officers for leadership roles, and Yevgeny Vindman to the Army's general counsel. Read the original article on Business Insider 1. Yes. The downtown area needs a good draw. Some quality taverns would be a plus. 2. Yes. Too many storefronts are vacant. Bars could help to bring in needed revenue. 3. No. Putting a number of bars downtown is just asking for trouble. Dont change things. 4.No. Several churches have located downtown. Putting bars close by would be a bad fit. 5. Unsure. It would depend on how the law is written and what standards are enacted. Vote View Results PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani's new girlfriend has been revealed as Arabic model and blogger Nada Adelle. The fashion mogul, 31, went Instagram official with his stunning new girlfriend, 26, on Tuesday, after splitting from long-term girlfriend Amy Reddish in 2019. The hot new couple looked smitten as they posed up at The Great Mosque, Abu Dhabi, with Nada putting on a glamorous display as she embraced her love. Wow: PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani's new girlfriend has been revealed as Arabic model and blogger Nada Adelle Hot couple: The fashion mogul, 31, went Instagram official with his stunning new girlfriend, 26, on Tuesday, after splitting from long-term girlfriend Amy Reddish in 2019 Manchester-based Nada is no stranger to putting on a sizzling display on social media for her 249,000 Instagram followers. One snap shows her exhibit her ample cleavage and honed midriff in a yellow crochet bikini while standing seductively at a patio door. A pair of matching high-rise bottoms draw the eye to her toned legs, while teasing a glimpse of her pert derriere. Her caramel tresses were styled in soft beachy waves while her pretty features were enhanced with a radiant palette of make-up. Racy: Manchester-based Nada is no stranger to putting on a sizzling display on social media for her 249,000 Instagram followers Model moment: The beauty looks incredible in her social media snaps, and puts on a very busty display Beach babe; The star put on a sizzling display in a tiny string bikini A second sizzling snap saw the star don racy lace lingerie which showcased her enviably toned frame as she posed up. The law graduate oozed confidence as she showed off her peachy posterior in thong bikini bottoms for a further high-fashion photo, modelling sexy swimwear in further snaps. Showing she can nail glamorous looks too, the star showcased her braless cleavage in a perilously plunging dress, while also revealing her washboard abs in a variety of crop-tops. Fashionista: Model Nada has been featured in magazines such as Look Magazine and Harpers Bazaar Cheeky: The star oozed confidence as she showed off her peachy posterior in thong bikini bottoms for a further high-fashion photo Honed: The star showed off her honed midriff in a tiny crop-top Model Nada has been featured in magazines such as Look Magazine and Harpers Bazaar. She has also fronted a campaign for Beyonce's Ivy Park brand campaign, and has worked with make-up brand L'Oreal. Umar, CEO and founder of PrettyLittleThing parted ways with Amy Reddish - who is head of brand at PrettyLittleThing - last year. Umar, from Manchester, is the son of billionaire Boohoo founder Mahmud Kamani. In 2012, Umar and his brother Adam co-founded PrettyLittleThing after witnessing the phenomenal success of Boohoo. Work it: Nada looks sensational in her sizzling social media snaps Amy has since been involved in the creative and styling side of the site and has always shared the couple's enviable lifestyle with her 35k Instagram followers. The Kamani family has a rags to riches back story, with Indian immigrant Mahmud managing to grow his market stall into a multi-billion pound business. Mahmuds father Abdullah moved the family to Kenya, where many Indian families had prospered under the British Empire. Mahmud was born there in 1964, but four years later the Kamanis were forced to flee to Britain by increasing unrest and draconian employment laws that favoured native Kenyans. Former flame: Prettylittlething's CEO Umar parted ways with glamorous girlfriend, Amy Reddish in 2019 (pictured April 8, 2018) Fashion family: Umar is the son of billionaire Boohoo.com founder Mahmud Kamani They settled in Manchester, where the entrepreneurial Abdullah sold handbags on a market stall to feed his family, before investing in property and founding the wholesale textile business Pinstripe, where Mahmud worked, using family connections in India to source garments. By the early 2000s, the firm was selling nearly 50 million of clothing a year to High Street names such as New Look, Primark and Philip Greens Topshop. Spotting the potential in the growth of the internet, Mahmud set up his online retailer in 2006 that would deliver their own-branded fashion at rock bottom prices, starting out with just three staff and operating out of a Manchester warehouse. Today it has a workforce of more than 2,900, and celebrity advocates including everyone from Little Mix to Tallia Storm. Close knit: Umar and Mahmud are pictured with (L-R) Adam Kamani, Charlotte Kamani, Aisha Kamani and Samir Kamani The 2020 U.S. presidential campaign is underway and legislation to deter Russias attempts to sabotage our elections with tough economic sanctions has been under debate in the Senate. Co-sponsor Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, calls it the sanctions bill from Hell but Vladimir Putin knows it will barely singe Russia and instead burn U.S. economic interests. American lawmakers should not play into his hand. The Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act of 2019 (DASKA), sponsored by Graham and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, would mandate the severing of American ties to Russian energy, aerospace, and agricultural sector operations and the use of other tools to frustrate Russias economic objectives and finances. Business groups warn it would inflict damage to U.S. firms across all economic sectors. Major U.S. companies and the tens of thousands of American subcontractors and small businesses in the global supply chain would endure losses as U.S. rivals move in to reap far-reaching commercial and security benefits. Having served as ambassador to Latvia, a former involuntary member of the Soviet Empire, I am certain Putin relishes the idea of a sweeping sanctions bill laden with such traps rather than targeted retaliation that isolates and stymies despicable Russian operatives. Even as modified since last year, the Trump Administrations State Department has detailed how DASKAs ban on U.S. companies from participating in oil and gas production projects in which Russia is involved anywhere in the world would negatively affect the U.S more than Russia. A National Foreign Trade Council analysis of DASKA and a measure offered by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), called the DETER Act, spells out how these bills would create an incentive for Russia to take small stakes in exploration and development projects in order to preclude U.S. participation. In essence, the bill would sideline U.S. companies to benefit of Russia, China, OPEC in the short term and raise doubts about the reliability of partnerships with the United States going forward. DASKA would also try to stifle Russias ability to access capital in global financial markets in part by taking aim at its sovereign wealth fund. Overall, it has been better for Russia to be a stakeholder in the international economic system instead of an outside antagonist as it was during the Cold War. At the same time, its participation creates the risk that sanctions aimed at Russias banks, bonds, and securities holdings would inevitably hit investors from other countries, including the United States. U.S. investors, including public pension funds, hold around 10 percent of Russias bonds. Putins Russia has perfected the art of working around sanctions. As the Financial Times reported recently, he has even boasted about it. After the U.S. and its allies sought to punish Russia for its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia adopted austerity measures, ramped up internal capabilities to produce goods, and channeled money into its new sovereign wealth fund. Indeed, no one has ever made money betting against Russias resilience or Putins cunning manipulation. The most salient takeaway from the Mueller report, buttressed by U.S. intelligence agencies since, is that Russia is still up to its election meddling. They have seen that sewing chaos works so they will keep at it. This cannot go unchecked. Congress provided hundreds of millions of dollars for state and local election security for the 2018 and 2020 elections. The Trump Administration has hit individuals and companies by freezing assets, imposing travel bans, and prohibited doing business with blacklisted Russian entities. Government and the private sector must continue to beef up surveillance and deploy technology to prevent hacking and the spread of misinformation. Economic pressure can also work but sanctions must be crafted with precision and targeted approaches to be effective. They cannot be an unwieldy net we throw on clumsily, ensnaring U.S. companies and workers, investors and allies but allowing Russian and other U.S. rivals to break free and take a bigger share in valuable projects in critical industries. Unintended consequences, by definition, are unforeseen or unknowable. With DASKA, none of the possible counterproductive reverberations for U.S. interests is a mystery so policymakers should seek an approach that makes Putin squirm instead smirk. A manhunt is underway for possible serial killers suspected of carrying out four deadly shootings in Northern California over the past year. Authorities in San Bernardino on Tuesday asked the public for help in solving the string of shootings that left five dead in total on the city's west side between August 2019 and January 2020. Investigators believe the shootings were all carried out by the same gunman or gunmen. They said its possible that the victims were known to the suspect(s), though some of the attacks appeared to be random. Nancy Magana was shot dead while sitting in her car outside the Delmann Heights Recreation Center with her boyfriend and five-year-old son (pictured together) on August 17. Authorities believe the same gunman who killed Magana may also be responsible for four other shootings that occurred in the same area in the months that followed Five people on the city's west side have died between August 2019 and January 2020 The first incident took place on August 17, when 24-year-old middle school teacher Nancy Magana was gunned down while sitting in her car outside the Delmann Heights Recreation Center with her boyfriend and five-year-old son. Detrell Page, 21, (pictured) was shot in the back of the head while driving with his two-year-old son on September 14 A month later, 21-year-old Detrell Page was shot in the back of the head by a fellow motorist while driving down Cajon Boulevard near the rec center on September 14. Page's two-year-old daughter Dekorro was killed in the car crash that unfolded immediately after her father was shot. Page was hospitalized in critical condition but survived. The second set of shootings occurred within days of each other in January. Lemon Hamilton, 24, was found fatally shot near the corner of Meridian Avenue and Spruce Street on the morning of January 19. A second victim, 20-year-old Jesus Valencia of Rialto, turned up at a hospital with a bullet wound from the same incident later that day. Two days later, San Bernardino residents Israel Delatorre, 34, and Daniel Melendrez, 33, were found shot dead near Hanford Street and Grand Avenue. Surveillance video showed two vehicles dropping off several men near the scene before they ambushed the two victims. Page's car is seen moments before it crashed after he was shot in the head on Cajon Boulevard The gunman or gunman who shot Page was believed to be driving the silver car seen in this surveillance photo released by police Lemon Hamilton, 24, (left) was found fatally shot on the street on January 19. Hours later Jesus Valencia, 20, (right) turned up at a hospital with a bullet wound from the same incident Israel Delatorre, 34,(left) and Daniel Melendrez, 33, (right) were found shot dead near Hanford Street and Grand Avenue on January 21 Authorities say its possible that the shootings were gang-related, as the first one took place in a 'high gang area'. However, Interim Police Chief Eric McBride said he isn't ready to definitively associate the crimes with a specific gang. 'It's often said that 90 percent of your crime is committed by 10 percent of your population, and I think that kind of fits whats going on here,' McBride said at a news conference Tuesday. The revelation that the shootings could be connected has breathed new life into the first two cases that had gone cold after months without any answers. At the time of Magana's murder, family members expressed disbelief over what had happened and said they did not believe she was intentionally targeted. 'She didn't owe anything to anybody, so why? Why her? Why not somebody who did bad stuff?' the victim's sister, Maria Magana, told KABC in August. 'Nobody wishes anything on anybody else, but why not somebody else. Why her? 'This came out of nowhere. It's just that somebody walked up to her car and shot her for no reason. That's what makes it hard there's no reason.' Magana had been sitting in their car near a park with her boyfriend next to her and her child in the front seat when a gunman walked up and opened fire. The boyfriend, who was not named, told police he did not recognize the shooter. In the wake of Magana's murder, her sister Maria (pictured together) said the family did not believe she was intentionally targeted Magana's car is seen in the parking lot where she was shot at around 2am on August 17 Loved ones set up a GoFundMe campaign set up for Delatorre after the father-of-two was killed on January 21. The description reads: 'Words can't begin to explain what Israel meant to all of his friends and family. There will be a huge part missing from our lives. He had so much to live for, and so much more.' Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to contact Sgt Albert Tello at 909-384-5613 or tello_al@sbcity.org. Update: Man who shot himself in the head in Camillus Walmart parking lot dies 2 days after police chase Original article: CAMILLUS, N.Y. -- A man who police were trying to stop crashed his vehicle and appeared to have shot himself near the Camillus Walmart Tuesday night, according to Syracuse police. The man is in serious condition and was taken to Upstate University Hospital, according to police. Police have yet to identify the man. The man was a suspect of a crime in Syracuse, police said in a news release. Camillus police received a call of a shooting at the store at 5399 W. Genesee St. at 8:11 p.m., according to 911 center online dispatches. An ambulance was dispatched at 8:34 p.m. Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said Tuesday night that Syracuse and Camillus police arrived at the Walmart parking lot at about 8:33 p.m. looking for the suspect. They found the man in the parking lot, police said. When they tried to stop his vehicle, the man crashed the car, according to police. Officers approached the vehicle and found the man had appeared to have shot himself, according to police. Syracuse police are on the scene as well as Camillus police. Syracuse police do not normally respond to calls in Camillus, indicating the incident may have started in Syracuse or was related to an Syracuse police matter.. Camillus police on the scene referred all questions to the Syracuse Police Department. Syracuse police did not respond to inquires from Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. Police focused on a white SUV and were on scene for several hours. A witness who asked not to be identified saw a person on the ground near the SUV. Police are still investigating the incident. New Delhi, Feb 12 : BJP's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari offered to resign from his post on Wednesday, just a day after the BJP faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi Assembly polls. The party, however, has refused to accept his resignation. While it may be a reprieve for Tiwari, whose removal was being talked about ever since Tuesday's election debacle, the BJP leadership is believed to be not in favour of a change of guard at the moment. Informed sources told IANS that while refusing to accept Tiwari's resignation, which was addressed to BJP President J.P. Nadda, the party leadership is said to have told Tiwari that a change of guard in Delhi will take place as and when "structural changes" are made in BJP's Delhi unit. The Delhi BJP unit has often been a problematic one because of the internal strife. While Vijay Goel has one set of followers, Tiwari has another set and so does Harsh Vardhan. There have been demands within the party to remove Tiwari from the top post in Delhi for more than a year now. But then BJP President Amit Shah refused to entertain such demands with Delhi elections in mind, where Purvanchalis constitute a sizeable number. Tiwari often flaunts his Purvanchali origin as his political USP. But after BJP managed to win just eight seats as against AAP's 62 on Tuesday, the saffron party may seriously think of a complete rejig of the Delhi unit. In fact, BJP President Nadda has convened a meeting on Wednesday evening to review Delhi poll results and to fix accountability. The projects include Rs 26,264 crore modernisation of Visakhapatnam refinery by the second quarter of 2022-23, and Rs 68,000 crore in the development of offshore oil and gas fields, Pradhan said. New Delhi: Over Rs 1 lakh crore investment in oil and gas fields as well as refinery modernisation project has been lined in Andhra Pradesh, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan apprised Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday. The projects include Rs 26,264 crore modernisation of Visakhapatnam refinery by the second quarter of 2022-23, and Rs 68,000 crore in the development of offshore oil and gas fields, Pradhan said in tweets after the meeting. Another Rs 10,000 crore is being invested in on-land fields in KG Basin in the state, he said. "These oil and gas projects under different stages of implementation will usher new dawn of socio-economic prosperity for the people of Andhra Pradesh and further facilitate ease-of-living for citizens in the state," he tweeted. He assured Naidu, who hails from the state, of "fast-tracking completion of all oil and gas projects in the state". Separately, state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), which is developing oil and gas fields in the KG basin, in a statement said its Chairman and Managing Director Shashi Shanker alongside Pradhan apprised Naidu of the company's offshore and onshore projects. "An estimated investment of Rs 68,000 crore in offshore projects and Rs 10,000 crores in Onshore projects have been lined up by the ONGC in Andhra Pradesh," it said. At the meeting, Naidu sought the status of setting up of a greenfield petrochemical complex at Kakinada, with an investment of around Rs 32,000 crore for producing 1.7 million tonnes a year of chemicals. The project is being undertaken by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and GAIL India Ltd, with the support of the Andhra Pradesh government. Naidu was informed that "the Centre is keen on implementing this petrochemicals project as early as possible and is awaiting the state government's response on the specific financial modalities for funding the project, as it is being executed jointly in partnership with the state government," the statement said. On Naidu's query on a refinery modernisation project, Pradhan informed that the project implementation is in full swing. "While apprising the Vice President of the progress of various projects, the Minister informed that city gas distribution (CGD) network is being implemented in various districts of Andhra Pradesh. This will help facilitate access to piped natural gas and CNG for household, transport and industrial segments," the statement said. State-owned firms and the private sector are making huge investments in the hydrocarbon sector on east coast in Andhra Pradesh and Kakinada would soon emerge as a hydrocarbon hub in the country. A separate statement issued by Vice President's Secretariat stated that Naidu asked Pradhan to expedite all petroleum projects at various stages of implementation in Andhra Pradesh. "Naidu also enquired about the progress of construction of the permanent campus for the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) at Sabbavaram in Visakhapatnam. The Officials informed the Vice President that the construction of the new campus of IIPE is in advanced stages of completion," it said. "The Vice President advised the officials to take necessary steps to conduct the campus recruitment for students passing out of IIPE." A group of Taiwan Air Force technicians run behind a US-made F-16V fighter jet during an exercise at a military base in Chiayi, southern Taiwan on Jan. 15, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) Taiwan Says US Flies Bombers Near Island After China Drills TAIPEI Three U.S. Air Force planes, including two B-52 bombers, flew near Taiwan on Feb. 12, the islands defense ministry said, after Taiwans air force scrambled earlier in the week to intercept Chinese jets. The United States is Taiwans most important international backer, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, and is also the islands main source of arms. Tensions spiked between Taiwan and China, which claims the island as its own, on Sunday and Monday, as Taiwan sent F-16s to shadow approaching Chinese bombers and fighters. China has been flying what it calls island encirclement drills on-off since 2016 when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen first took office. Beijing believes Tsai, who won re-election last month, wishes to push the islands formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name. Taiwans Defence Ministry said one U.S. MC-130, a special mission aircraft based on the C-130 Hercules transport, flew down the Taiwan Strait in a southerly direction. The two B-52 bombers skirted Taiwans east coast, also in a southerly direction, the ministry added. Taiwans armed forces monitored both sets of flights, and nothing out of the ordinary was observed, it said, without giving more details. The U.S. Air Force has a major base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, which lies close to Taiwan. The Chinese regime has described its exercises on Sunday and Monday as actions to guard national sovereignty. It has never renounced the use of military force to unite Taiwan with the mainland. Taiwan has urged China to focus its efforts on fighting the new coronavirus rather than menacing the island. Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said in a statement earlier on Wednesday that Chinas military activities had only caused anger on the island and harmed the peaceful development of relations across the strait. Our government will continue to adopt a pragmatic and restrained stance, prudently handle cross-strait relations, and deepen cooperation with countries with similar ideals, including the United States, in response to the rising Chinese military threat, she added. By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Front) addresses a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 11, 2020. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated the rejection of a newly released U.S. Middle East peace plan, calling it an "Israeli-American proposal." (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated the rejection of a newly released U.S. Middle East peace plan, calling it an "Israeli-American proposal." "I have come to you on behalf of 13 million Palestinians to call for a just peace. That is all. I have come to you today to reaffirm the Palestinian position that rejects the Israeli-American proposal," Abbas told the UN Security Council, which met to discuss the U.S. plan. The rejection of this plan reaffirms, or is the result of its unilateral steps and the fact that it violates international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, said Abbas. "It annuls the legitimacy of Palestinian rights, our rights to self-determination, freedom, and independence in our own state. It legitimized what is illegal: settlements and confiscation of land, and annexation of Palestinian land." "I would like to reaffirm that this plan or any part in this plan should not be considered as an international reference for negotiations," he said. "This is an Israeli-American preemptive plan in order to put an end to the question of Palestine. It was rejected by us because it considers that East Jerusalem is no longer under the sovereignty of the state of Palestine. That alone is enough for us to reject this plan." He warned that the plan would put an end to the question of Palestinian refugees. It will end all basis for a peace plan. It means the rejection of all agreements and obligations to establish two states along the pre-1967 lines, said Abbas. "This plan will not bring peace or stability to the region. And therefore, we will not accept this plan. We will confront its application on the ground." Showing a copy of a map of the U.S.-proposed two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, Abbas said it looks like a piece of "Swiss cheese," which features large holes. "This is the summary of the project that was presented to us. This is the state that they will give us. It's like a Swiss cheese, really," said Abbas. "Who among you will accept a similar state and similar conditions?" he asked. The U.S. plan includes the entrenchment of occupation and annexation by military force and the strengthening of "the apartheid regime," said Abbas. "This plan rewards the occupation, instead of holding it accountable for all the crimes it perpetrated against our people and our land." "In this difficult time and before it is too late, I would like to say to (U.S. President) Mr. Donald Trump that the proposed American deal cannot achieve peace and security, because it canceled international legitimacy," said Abbas. "Who can cancel international legitimacy, international legitimacy, who can annul and cancel it? President Trump did so. It cancels all resolutions of international legitimacy. It cancels all the rights of the Palestinian people. It even decided that East Jerusalem is no longer part of the Palestinian sovereignty. This does not meet the aspirations of a two-state solution (for) Israel and Palestine." "I wish President Donald Trump will be just, will be fair, and will support the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy so that we can have a real opportunity for peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said. "If you impose peace, it will not last. It cannot last." Abbas said the Palestinians believe in democracy and reject violence and terrorism. "We will not resort to violence or terrorism, no matter how strong the attack against us is. We believe in peace. We believe in combating violence, and therefore we will not resort to violence." He stressed that Palestinians are not against the Jewish people. "Our struggle is not with the Jews. Our struggle and our fight is against anyone who attacks our land. We call on ending the occupation and on establishing our Palestinian state. Our people will not surrender." He said he is ready to start negotiations with Israel so long as he can find a real partner for peace in Israel. "At this historic moment, I would like to extend my hand for peace again before we waste this final opportunity. And I hope to find a real partner in Israel. Anyone who believes in peace in Israel is welcome to join us to create a real peace," said Abbas. "I would like to say once again that I am ready to start negotiations if we have a partner in Israel ready for peace, ready for negotiations under the sponsorship of the international Quartet (of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations) and on the basis of internationally agreed parameters." He asked the international community to lay pressure on Israel. "I say to the world, be careful not to take away the hope of the Palestinian people. I have come here to save this hope." Tuesday's Security Council meeting was requested by Tunisia and Indonesia after Trump on Jan. 28 revealed a controversial Middle East peace plan, which calls for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." The U.S. plan was immediately rejected by Palestine and the Arab world as well as other countries around the world. Prior to Tuesday's meeting, the four EU members of the UN Security Council -- Belgium, Estonia, France and Germany -- plus Poland, which has just left the council, said in a joint statement that the U.S. plan "departs from internationally agreed parameters." WASHINGTON (AP) Four lawyers who prosecuted Roger Stone quit the case Tuesday after the Justice Department said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for President Donald Trumps longtime ally and confidant. The decision by the Justice Department came just hours after Trump complained that the recommended sentence for Stone was very horrible and unfair." The Justice Department said the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night before Trump's tweet and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia team, had made up the Justice Department's trial team and had signed onto a Monday court filing that recommended up to nine years in prison for Stone. The departments decision to back off the sentencing recommendation raised questions about political interference and whether Trumps views hold unusual sway over the Justice Department, which is meant to operate independently of the White House in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Attorney General William Barr has been a steady ally of Trump's, clearing the president of obstruction of justice even when special counsel Robert Mueller had pointedly declined to do so and declaring that the FBI's Russia investigation which resulted in charges against Stone had been based on a bogus narrative." On Monday night, prosecutors had recommended Stone serve seven to nine years behind bars after being convicted of charges including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. The recommendation raised the prospect that Stone could receive the harshest sentence of any of the half-dozen Trump aides charged in Muellers probe. In a tweet early Tuesday, Trump said the case against Stone was a miscarriage of justice. A Justice Department official said authorities decided to step in and seek a shorter sentence because they had been taken by surprise by the initial recommendation. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said prosecutors had told the department to expect a shorter recommendation. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. The departures came abruptly after the decision by Justice. Jonathan Kravis resigned his position as an assistant U.S. attorney. He had been a veteran prosecutor in Washington, and though not part of Robert Muellers original team, was nonetheless involved in multiple cases brought by the special counsels office. Besides the Stone prosecution, Kravis had also signed onto the case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which resolved with a guilty plea, and against a Russian troll farm accused of sponsoring a cover social media campaign aimed at dividing public opinion during the 2016 presidential election. Aaron Zelinsky quit the case and his job in Washington, and would go back to his job as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore. He was working there when he was selected in 2017 for the Mueller team. He was involved in cases aimed at determining what knowledge the Trump campaign had about Democratic emails that were hacked by Russia and what efforts Trump aides made to get information about them. He was also involved in the prosecution of George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign aide who played a critical role in the FBI launching its investigation in the summer of 2016. A third prosecutor, Adam Jed, who was an early member of Mueller's team, also withdrew from the case. His status at the Justice Department was not clear. Before joining Muellers team, he worked on civil cases there. By Tuesday evening, a fourth prosecutor, Michael Marando, had left the case. After the attorneys quit the case, Justice Department officials filed a revised sentencing memorandum with the judge, arguing its initial recommendation could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances," but that it would defer to the court. None of the original prosecutors in Stone's case signed onto the revised memo. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original recommendation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Meanwhile, Democrats decried the decision, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for an investigation by the DOJ's Inspector General. The rule of law and this grand, grand tradition of this wonderful Justice Department is being totally perverted to Donald Trumps own personal desires and needs," the New York Democrat said. "And its a disgrace. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said it would be a blatant abuse of power if the Justice Department intervened on behalf of Trump. Doing so would send an unmistakable message that President Trump will protect those who lie to Congress to cover up his own misconduct, and that the Attorney General will join him in that effort," the California Democrat said. Trump later told reporters that he didn't speak to Justice officials. I would be able to do it if I wanted,: he said. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe, but I didn't speak to them." Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position on former national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. In the the initial memorandum Monday evening, prosecutors asked for Stone to serve between 87 and 108 months in federal prison the sentence they said was in line with federal guidelines. Such a sentence would send a message to deter others who might consider lying or obstructing a congressional probe or tampering with witnesses, they said. The prosecutors wrote in the court papers that Stones actions were not a one-off mistake in judgement and that he decided to double and triple down on his criminal conduct by tampering with a witness for months in order to make sure his obstruction would be successful. Stone has denied wrongdoing and consistently criticized the case against him as politically motivated. He did not take the stand during his trial and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defense. Witnesses in the case testified that Trumps campaign viewed Stone as an access point to the anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks, which was in possession of more than 19,000 emails hacked from the servers of the Democratic National Committee and tried to use him to get advance word about hacked emails damaging to Hillary Clinton. Prosecutors charged that Stone lied to Congress about his conversations about WikiLeaks with New York radio host Randy Credico who had scored an interview with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2016 and conservative writer and conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi. Carnival Corporation & plc Update On Financial Impact Of Coronavirus MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc is closely monitoring the evolving situation with respect to Coronavirus. The safety of guests and employees, compliance and protecting the environment are top priorities for the company. The company's medical experts are coordinating closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization to implement enhanced screening, prevention and control measures for its guests, crew and ships. The company's global team is working tirelessly to support guests impacted by voyage disruptions during this unprecedented time. Travel restrictions as a result of Coronavirus necessitated the suspension of cruise operations from ports in China, as was previously announced, and are now resulting in the cancellation of voyages in other parts of Asia. Significant events affecting travel typically have an impact on booking patterns, with the full extent of the impact generally determined by the length of time the event influences travel decisions. As a result of Coronavirus, the company believes the impact on its global bookings and cancelled voyages will have a material impact on its financial results which was not anticipated in the company's previous 2020 earnings guidance. Since the situation continues to evolve, the company is currently unable to determine the full financial impact on its fiscal year 2020. However, while not currently planned, if the company had to suspend all of its operations in Asia through the end of April, this would impact its fiscal 2020 financial performance by $0.55 to $0.65 per share, which includes guest compensation. In addition, the impact on global bookings will further affect the company's financial performance. The company is currently evaluating contingency plans to mitigate the impact and will provide an update with its first quarter 2020 earnings release in late March. 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. MEDIA CONTACT: Roger Frizzell, +1 (305) 406 7862, or INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: Beth Roberts, +1 (305) 406 4832 There is a revealing television interview of Arvind Kejriwal ahead of the Delhi elections. The anchor, towards the end of the conversation, asks him to comment on national politics and he says that he is committed to Delhis development. The anchors tries again and Kejriwal repeats himself, with a smile. The crowd laughs and applauds. In a way, the conversation sums up the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Kejriwals strategy for the elections keep the focus sharply local, dont get distracted, and maintain your own narrative instead of getting trapped in a narrative set by anyone else. It worked. The AAP won 62 seats, with 53.6% vote share, not far from the share it won in 2015 (and just four seats less). For context, just rewind to the Lok Sabha elections. The AAP won only 18% of the votes polled, coming third in five of the seven parliamentary constituencies. It has, therefore, seen a 35 percentage point jump within nine months. This is a remarkable political achievement by any standard. When it first emerged on the political stage, winning 28 seats in the 2013 election, most political veterans of other parties were dismissive of AAPs prospects they saw it as a one-election wonder. Kejriwal proved them wrong, by winning 67 seats in the 2015 assembly elections. Political circles began taking him more seriously, but thought that the setback in Punjab in 2017 and the subsequent loss in municipal elections in Delhi marked the beginning of the end of the Kejriwal story. And then, the 2019 rout happened, reinforcing this hypothesis. The big picture that emerges for AAP from Tuesdays outcome is that it is now a stable, integral part of Indian political life. Just think about what would have happened if the party had lost. It would have struggled to survive; its organisation would have slowly melted away; and its leaders may have begun defecting. It would have had no power and no way to return to power for five more years, a period which would have been used by political rivals, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to further weaken it. The danger has passed for AAP. Less than a decade-old, it is here to stay. Commenting on the significance of the verdict, Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said: There are relatively few major regional parties who have taken the fight directly to the BJP and triumphed. The AAP has done so twice and with spectacular, historic results. Although its constrained by Delhis size, the AAP now has an enhanced ability to shape the oppositions voice a role that the Congress is quickly ceding. But how did it achieve this? The first was a simple lesson absorbed from the BJPs own campaigns built around Narendra Modi. Keeping the focus on local leadership, it asked a simple question to voters we have Kejriwal, who does the BJP have? The BJPs response revolved around how it had Modi. But AAP had a counter: Modi will not be Delhis CM, will he? And to this, BJP, struggling with a weak Delhi unit, had no answer. If focusing on Kejriwal was one part of the story, the other was showcasing him as a leader who had delivered on local concerns. And this is where the AAPs relentless narrative through government advertisements, public interactions, radio messages, hoardings, corner meetings, endorsements by civil society activists and international agencies about its work in education and health helped. This focus on government services was coupled with concessions to different demographic segments through subsidies on electricity and water or free public transport for women. There was thus a leader, and there was a message now came the hard part of sticking to the narrative. The BJP attempted to change the script with its focus on the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act Shaheen Bagh protests. In line with his decision not to confront Narendra Modi directly, and even support the BJP governments decisions which were widely seen as nationalist, Kejriwal first tried to stay away from commenting on the issue. But when it became a central plank, he made a simple point wasnt the responsibility of clearing protesters that of Delhi Police? And didnt Delhi Police report to the Union home minister? How was it that such a powerful home minister was unable to clear protestors, he asked in an interview. In addition, to reinforce his own commitment to majority interests, Kejriwal asserted his own Hindu identity, by highlighting his devotion to Hanuman a point he invoked in his victory speech on Tuesday. Reacting to the assembly election results, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said: The BJP will keep providing a voice for the problems of the people as a creative opposition and keep doing its work. The formula of welfarism coupled with a degree of conservative nationalism worked well. Kejriwal and other AAP leaders ended the victory speech with slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram. But where does AAP go from here? It will confront the same challenge that it did last time. In the unique power sharing arrangement that makes up Delhis complex governance maze, there are a range of issues beyond AAPs control law and order and land being the most significant. Expect a continuous tussle with the Centre on these issues, even though Kejriwal, in an interview, suggested that the second term may be more harmonious. The second is delivery. In the same interview, Kejriwal spoke of how tackling pollution, ensuring cleanliness and clean water would be his top priorities. These are all difficult challenges and none more than pollution, which has now become a serious public health crisis in the city. Given that Kejriwal has in the past put the blame on stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab, and other factors beyond his control, it will be interesting to see how he grapples with the challenge. The third issue is political. Is Kejriwal going to remain focused on Delhi, or will he turn more sub-regional or national? AAPs past two efforts in going national, when it contested Lok Sabha seats in 2014 or fought elections seriously in Punjab, failed. But with a renewed mandate, and a governance model that he takes pride in, Kejriwal may once again be tempted to play a larger role especially at a time when there is a vacuum in the larger opposition space. But a more realistic possibility is of his deepened collaboration with a range of regional forces, from Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, which supported him during the polls, to the Nationalist Congress Party and southern forces. Vaishnav said: The AAP has the potential to be a major part of an Opposition coalition but its politics dont align neatly with other fronts. Its focus has been on public goods rather than straight patronage. Kejriwal has not directly confronted majoritarian nationalism, circumventing major battles of the day. And Kejriwal has also shown himself uneasy with alternative power centres. For now, Arvind Kejriwal has reinforced his reputation as a unique actor in Indian politics who came out of civil society activism, who had a professional background, who introduced a new vocabulary of agitational politics but then successfully transformed into a man associated with governance, who turned around his party in quick time from setbacks, and who has beaten Indias most formidable election machine in the national capital. AAP has reason to smile. Speaking about the AAPs performance on Tuesday evening, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said: Today, the people of Delhi have given birth to a new type of politics: the politics of work. The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said Wednesday that he expected Defense Secretary Mark Esper to live up to his promise of no retaliation against Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, whose testimony was pivotal in the House vote to impeach President Donald Trump. Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas said he was "counting on Secretary Esper to make sure that happens" and that Vindman's career in the military will not be derailed by Trump's move Feb. 7 to oust him from the White House National Security Council staff. Vindman's twin brother, Army Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who served with his brother on the NSC staff as a lawyer and ethics adviser, was also escorted off the White House grounds by the Secretary Service last Friday. "Of course, I have concerns about the President voicing opinions and what that means to good order and discipline" in the military, Thornberry said at a round table with defense reporters on budget matters. Related: Trump Wants Pentagon to Review Lt. Col. Vindman's Conduct "Some things the president has said and tweeted -- I wish he hadn't," Thornberry said. He said he was counting Esper "to do what he said" and "ensure there's no retribution." "His career needs to proceed based on his talents and abilities," Thornberry said of Vindman. "My point is, treat him just like anybody else." Shortly before Vindman was ousted last week, Esper said at a Pentagon briefing that "we protect all of our persons, service members, from retribution or anything like that. We've already addressed that in policy and other means." Thornberry said it was his understanding that Vindman, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq, would now be assigned to the Senior Staff College at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, usually seen as a stepping stone to promotion. Shortly after Vindman was fired, Trump also recalled Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, from his post in Brussels. Sondland had testified that he believed Trump was withholding military aid for Ukraine until an investigation was launched into former Vice President Joe Biden, and it amounted to a "quid pro quo." In tweets and in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office last week, Trump made clear that he was unhappy with Vindman for testifying before the House impeachment proceedings that a July 25 phone call Trump made to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was "improper" and "inappropriate." "It was improper for the president to request, to demand an investigation into a political opponent," Vindman testified at the House impeachment hearings in November. "Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about 'Lt. Col.' Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was," Trump tweeted Feb. 7. "Actually, I don't know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don't believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly. In other words, 'OUT.'" When asked by reporters Monday whether Vindman should face disciplinary action for his testimony, Trump said it would be up to the military to decide. "We'll have to see. But if you look at what happened, they're going to certainly -- I would imagine -- take a look at that." Vindman's lawyer, David Pressman, said last Friday that his client's firing was payback for his testimony. Vindman "was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful," Pressman said. "There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read More: Here's Why the Army Is Buying Fewer JTLVs Next Year The Berlin summits softness and toothlessness indicated to Turkey and the UAE that the international community wasnt about to institute a mechanism capable of making arms-embargo violations the slightest bit costly to the perpetrators, said Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya expert at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague. This helps us understand why the volume of weapons injected in Libya by Abu Dhabi and Ankara exploded to the upside right after Berlin, which was perceived as a go-ahead. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, February 12, 2020 Free ad-supported video-on-demand streaming service Tubi logged 25 million monthly active users globally in December, according to the company. Tubi, which positions itself as a free alternative to Netflix, said it had 20 million MAUs and total view time of 94 million hours as of last May. The AVOD also saw total view time reach 163 million hours, representing 160% growth versus last December, Tubi reports. Tubi did not break out its latest user numbers by major markets, or offer engagement stats for the U.S. or most other markets. Nor did it provide an update on its advertising sales performance. However, it said it saw rapid growth internationally, including combined total viewing time growth of 357% in Canada and Australia in 2019. Tubi plans to launch in the U.K. and Mexico, among other regions, in 2020. It recently signed a deal with Mexicos TV Azteca, which will provide ad sales support as well as its most popular series and other Spanish-language content. advertisement advertisement Tubi also announced a global deal with TV manufacturer Hisense to include Tubi in its Vidaa platform. In addition, Tubi says it will expand its global content library by increasing its content spending to exceed nine figures. The company reports that it upped its full-time headcount by 78%, to 229, in 2019, and plans further employee growth in the U.S. and internationally. LANSING, MI -- There werent enough seats for all those who wanted to speak at or attend a public hearing on Michigan marijuana industry rules in Lansing Tuesday, Feb. 12. A heating issue forced a last-minute relocation from the auditorium in the G. Mennen Williams Building in Lansing to the year-old Marijuana Regulatory Agency building at 2407 N. Grand River Ave. in Lansing. The crowd spilled out into the entrance hall. More than 30 people, including attorneys, bud-tenders, growers, edible manufacturers, medical marijuana caregivers, politicians and marijuana patients, gave comment during a hearing on Michigan marijuana draft rules that could be in place by May. There are nearly 100 pages of proposed rules that, in their final form, will guide merged medical and recreational marijuana licensing laws. Many meeting comments centered on the labor peace agreement clause that was added to proposed final rules, and the majority of those commenting were in favor of it. A labor peace agreement is an agreement between an operator and a recognized labor organization just to ensure that both sides come to the table, Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo said, that the business owner wont stand in the way of organization by the staff of the facility and that the labor organization wouldnt push the labor force into a strike situation. Geoffrey Lawrence, a policy fellow with the Libertarian Reason Foundation; Robin Schneider, director of the 200-business-member Michigan Cannabis Industry Association; Steve Linder, director of the Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association; and marijuana legalization pioneer Tim Beck, who called the inclusion of a force union agreement a cockamamie idea," spoke in opposition to the rule. Our association has already reached out to the Legislature and said unless the labor peace agreement is removed we will oppose the rule set entirely, Linder said. Schneider, who helped legalize recreational marijuana, said: We certainly did not include it in the ballot initiative language. Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo presented the clause as a stabilizer for the new industry. Were looking at a new market in the state that its necessary to support in order to combat the illicit market, ultimately to make sure the consumers are accessing the safest possible products," Brisbo said. ... With lots of new businesses in the space, who are operating on pretty thin profit margins ... we want to make sure theres as much stability as possible. Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo said specific details of a labor peace agreement would be negotiated by the employer and labor organization. He revealed no other likely guidelines. Other states have adopted a pretty similar philosophy, he said. We took a pretty broad approach. We didnt want to dictate specifically what the agreements were supposed to look like, just create that connection between the industry and labor organizations. Among the labor peace agreement supporters in attendance was Nate Noel, a lead cultivator at Minneapolis-based Vireo Health, one of two licensed medical marijuana producers Minnesota. The companys 60 employees are part of the Unite Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) international union. Noel said the union affords him and other workers benefits they wouldnt likely receive otherwise, including a livable wage, four weeks paternity leave, 26 paid days off per year and great health insurance for his family of four, including two daughters, at a rate of $5 per week. I just want to raise the bottom bar for cannabis workers, said Noel, whose union flew him to Michigan to speak at the meeting. Wherever cannabis is legalized, the UFCW is committed to building a successful industry with a thriving, diverse and skilled workforce, the union website says. Wherever cannabis is legalized, the UFCW is committed to building a successful industry with a thriving, diverse and skilled workforce. In Michigan, Josey Scoggin of Benton Harbor, a college-educated mother and nine-year employee in the marijuana industry, said she is having trouble finding a nonunion, cannabis-industry job that will afford her a decent wage and health benefits, which she requires due to a physical disability. Scoggin said she was recently offered a $14-per-hour assistant manager job without benefits. Due to a lack of benefits in the industry, Scoggin said shes not seen a doctor in years and often forgoes expensive medications her doctors prescribe. The GOP-led Michigan Legislature has passed resolutions in opposition to the labor peace agreement clause. Before being written into law, Brisbo and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules must sign off on a final version of the rules. -- Gus Burns is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact him with questions, tips or comments at fburns@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, @GusBurns. Read more from MLive about medical and recreational marijuana. More on MLive: Marijuana meeting relocated Vaping cartridge recall includes 3,400 that were sold Michigan issues updated vaping rules Michigan cant tell who brought contaminated cartridges to licensed market A heartbroken father is locked in desperate battle to have his children returned to Australia after a family holiday to Colombia turned into a nightmare. Robert Clarke travelled to the country with his South American wife Maria Nelly Yepez Oviedo and their children, four-year-old Benny and Lucia, 16 months, to attend a wedding in February 2019. But not long after they arrived, Ms Oviedo told her husband she was leaving him, staying in Colombia, and keeping the children. 'My children are the most important things in my life, so it's taken everything away,' a devastated Mr Clarke told A Current Affair. Robert Clarke travelled to the country with his South American wife Maria Nelly Yepez Oviedo and their children, four-year-old Benny and Lucia, 16 months, to attend a wedding in February 2019 The Melbourne father said he was completely blindsided by Maria, but grew suspicious when they visited a Colombian childcare centre together. 'Maria said to me ''lets take Benny to kinder so that he can play with some kids'',' Mr Clarke said. 'The head of the kinder came down to give Benny a uniform and I said to her ''why do we need to buy a uniform for two weeks?'' And she looked at me with this really strange look.' Mr Clarke alleges Maria confiscated their passports and filed a restraining order against him, leaving him forced to travel home alone. A Colombian court found Ms Oviedo breached The Hague Convention by unlawfully retaining the children, but it did not order the children be returned to Australia. Mr Clarke said his son Benny (both pictured) was his best friend and he won't give up in the fight to get them back The judge argued too much time had passed since they arrived in Colombia, that they had settled in their new environment and it would be harmful to remove them. Mr Clarke has launched a petition to Colombian president Ivan Duque Marquez to honour the country's commitment to the Hague Convention so he can be with his kids again. The petition has more than 9,000 signatures. Mr Clarke said he won't give up in the fight, and had a message for his 'best friend', Benny. 'I love you little man, and I'm not going to stop fighting for you and Lucia,' he said. Ms Oviedo strongly denied wrongdoing when contacted by A Current Affair, but insisted she wouldn't return to Australia. 'No, we are not going back, we are not going back because we have no one there... And I'm very afraid of going back.' Mr Clarke will return to Colombia later this month to appeal the court's decision not to return to children to Australia. There are a ton of self-help books out there all you have to do is go into a bookstore, a brick and mortar one, to see the shelves lined with them. In fact, I wrote one years ago, The Longevity Code: Your Personal Prescription for a Longer, Sweeter Life. As for self-help apps, there are tons of them, too, with more coming every day. But the questions I get time and time again are: How much do they work? How good are they? Dont you need that one-on-one interaction to make a difference? Now, I grant you its true that a personal interaction with a good therapist is an incredible thing to be treasured. It works well. But there are obstacles to this cost, availability, taking off from work, the list goes on and on. For many people, this challenge is just too much. So back to the question: Does self-help work? I think the answer came in a recent issue of the Lancet Global Health journal. They found that guided self-help reduced psychological distress and improved well-being in areas where there was a humanitarian crisis. It helped people cope with adversity and psychological distress, and meaningfully improved their function. This randomized study compared usual care, which wasnt very much, to guided self-help in 700 Sudanese refugee women living in Uganda. We know one-on-one psychological treatment helps, but in a low-resource environment, this reaches so few people. The guided meditation was developed by the World Health Organization. Its called Self-Help Plus; do a Google search to see what it entails. Researchers were looking at mental health-based support and treatment for large numbers of people in disaster areas that would help them cope with their problems. Self-Help Plus is a five-session, pre-recorded audio course given by non-specialist facilitators and coupled with a self-help book designed for low-literacy people. The program is given in groups of up to 30 people at a time. Dr. Zorba Paster: Readers ask about everything from shingles to garlic At three months, the treatment group had significantly less post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and explosive anger, and greater social well-being. At the start, nearly 85% said they were severely psychologically distressed; at the end, that dropped to 33%. And the study showed it had staying power. People continued on that positive course for the next three months of follow-up. So heres what I pull from this study: First off, clearly this is something that might be used for groups suffering in this country after a disaster such as hurricanes and other natural disasters, or shootings and other awful things that affect us in a group way. We have first responders who work on the physical side of a disaster but we need to train more first responders for evidence-based intervention for the psychological part of the disaster. My spin: As I circle back to the original thought I had at the beginning of this column on self-help books and apps, my answer is yes, they do work. There are some coming out every day in every way. If youre suffering, you have many self help options from which to choose. If one book, app or YouTube lecture doesnt work for you, then try another. Its clear to me there is help out there self-help that doesnt need an insurance card. Stay well. This column provides general health information. Always consult your personal health care provider about concerns. No ongoing relationship of any sort is implied or offered by Dr. Paster to people submitting questions. Any opinions expressed by Dr. Paster in his columns are personal and are not meant to represent or reflect the views of SSM Health. Dr. Zorba Paster is the co-host of Zorba Paster On Your Health, which airs at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio. He practices family medicine in Oregon, Wis. Send questions to features@madison.com or write Wisconsin State Journal, Attn: Health Column, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Former 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett indicted again by grand jury in Chicago originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury in Chicago after a special prosecutor re-investigated allegations hefalsely reported being the victim of a January 2019 hate-crime attack, officials said. Smollett, 37, was indicted on six counts of disorderly conduct related to making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers, claiming he was the victim of a hate crime while "knowing he was not the victim of a crime," special prosecutor Dan Webb said in a statement on Tuesday. Webb was appointed by a Cook County judge to continue looking into the case after the Cook County State's Attorney Office dropped all charges against the actor. Webb said the Office of the Special Prosecutor has "now completed all of its investigative steps regarding Jussie Smollett, and has made the decision to further prosecute Mr. Smollett." PHOTO: Jussie Smollett speaks with members of the media after his court appearance at Leighton Courthouse, March 26, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. (Nuccio Dinuzzo/Getty Images, FILE) He said his office has made arrangements with Smollett's attorneys for the actor to voluntarily appear at an arraignment Feb. 24 in the Criminal Division of Cook County Circuit Court. Smollett's attorney Tina Glandian questioned the "integrity of the investigation," noting that the same Chicago police detectives involved in the previous probe conducted the investigation that prompted the new charges. "After more than five months of investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not found any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever related to the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Smollett," Glandian said in a statement. "Rather, the charges were appropriately dismissed the first time because they were not supported by the evidence." Webb's investigation began Aug. 23, after Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael Toomin appointed him special prosecutor. Toomin directed Webb to launch an independent investigation to determine whether Smollett should be further prosecuted for the allegedly false reports he made to police and whether "any person or office involved in the Smollett case engaged in wrongdoing, including the Cook County State's Attorney's Office or individuals in that office," Webb's statement reads. Story continues Webb said the grand jury's investigation revealed Smollett "planned and participated in a staged hate-crime attack." Smollett made "numerous false statements to Chicago Police Department officers on multiple occasions, reporting a heinous hate crime he, in fact, knew had not occurred," according to Webb. The special prosecutor determined that "reasonable grounds exist" to further prosecute Smollett "in the interest of justice." In deciding whether to pursue further charges against Smollett, Webb weighed the "extensive nature of Mr. Smollett's false police reports" and the resources expended by the Chicago Police Department" to investigate his bogus claims, Webb's statement reads. Webb reached "no conclusions" on whether the Office of the Cook County State's Attorney or individuals in the office "engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with the Smollett investigation." Another "major factor" in determining whether to prosecute Smollett was that the office of the Cook County State's Attorney was unable to provide to the special prosecutor evidence of similar cases that showed Smollett received no special treatment. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who has been campaigning for reelection ahead of the March 17 Democratic primary, spoke out Wednesday morning on the new indictment, saying her office filed 16 counts of disorderly conduct against Smollett. "It's the disposition that was cause for difference," Foxx told reporters outside her office. "But I think he [Webb] had the facts and the evidence and filed charges." PHOTO: Jussie Smollett speaks with members of the media after his court appearance at Leighton Courthouse, March 26, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. (Nuccio Dinuzzo/Getty Images, FILE) In a stunning move, Foxx office dropped all charges against Smollett in March despite acknowledging Smollett fabricated a street attack on himself in an attempt to get a pay raise. Prior to the decision to drop the charges, Foxx recused herself from the Smollett probe after it surfaced that she had been in touch with Smollett's family. She left the decision on the disposition of the case to Joe Magats, the first assistant state attorney in Cook County. Magats told ABC Chicago station WLS-TV at the time he was satisfied with Smollett forfeiting 10% of a $100,000 bond and preemptively completing community service prior to the charges being dropped. "This was not an exoneration. To say that he was exonerated by us or anyone is not true," Magats said at the time. MORE: Illinois judge orders records in 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett criminal case be unsealed On Wednesday, Foxx said her office has fully cooperated with Webb's investigation. "Listen, we're continuing to avail ourselves to a review of how this case was handled," Foxx said. "As I said from the very beginning, we welcomed the non-political review and that's ongoing. So that's what I'll speak to." In his statement, Webb noted that Foxx's office said in a March 2019 press release that the Smollett case was resolved "under the same criteria that would be available for any defendant with similar circumstances. Webb said that when he asked for documentary evidence to support the claim, the office of the State's Attorney "was unable to provided this documentary evidence." "We certainly are cooperating as best we can and our folks will be huddling up to make sure that he [Webb] has everything that he needs," Foxx said. During a candidates forum Tuesday night, Foxx's opponents called on her to resign. She did not participate in the forum, brushing off the criticism. "It's politics," she said. Smollett told police that on Jan. 29, 2019, he was walking on a street near his Chicago apartment around 2 a.m. when he was set upon by two men. The attackers allegedly shouted racist and homophobic slurs before hitting him, pouring "an unknown chemical substance" on him -- possibly bleach -- and wrapping a rope around his neck, he told detectives. Police said Smollett's story of being the victim of an attack began to unravel when police tracked down two men, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who they said were seen in a security video near where Smollett claimed he was assaulted and around the same time it supposedly occurred. MORE: 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett charges dropped; Chicago mayor and top cop furious, as prosecutor admits he believes TV star fabricated attack The Osundairo brothers claimed, according to police, that Smollett paid them $3,500 to help him orchestrate and stage the crime after he became upset that a letter threatening him, sent Jan. 22 to the Fox studio where the television series "Empire" is filmed, did not get enough attention. Police later accused Smollett of writing the letter. The brothers' attorney said the check from Smollett was payment for both the personal training and their help in staging the attack. MORE: Chicago sues Jussie Smollett over $130,000 spent on alleged hate crime investigation In mid-February 2019, in an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America," Smollett said he was heartbroken when he found out that people questioned the details of his story. He defended himself against skeptics who pointed out that it wasn't until a follow-up interview with the police that he mentioned that the assailants yelled "MAGA Country!" at him. He also complained about erroneous reports that he had told police that the attackers were actually wearing red MAGA hats. MORE: Jussie Smollett countersues city of Chicago for 'maliciously prosecuting him in bad faith' "For me, the main thing was the idea that I somehow switched up my story, you know? And that somehow maybe I added a little extra trinket, you know, of the MAGA thing," Smollett said. "I didn't need to add anything like that. They called me a f-----, they called me a n------. There's no which way you cut it. I don't need some MAGA hat as the cherry on top of some racist sundae." After charges were dropped against him, Smollett held a news conference and proclaimed his innocence. "I've been truthful and consistent on every single level since day one," he said. "I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I was accused of." "This has been an incredibly difficult time," he added. "Honestly, one of the worst of my entire life. But I am a man of faith and I'm a man that has knowledge of my history and I would not bring my family, our lives, or the movement into a fire like this. I just wouldn't. Now I'd like nothing more than to just get back to work and move on with my life. But make no mistake I will always continue to fight for justice, equality and betterment of marginalized people everywhere." The city of Chicago responded by filing a civil suit against the actor, demanding he reimburse the city $130,106 in police overtime to investigate his attack claims. Smollett countersued, claiming authorities "maliciously" prosecuted him. MANCHESTER, N.H. Jensen Wilson had been standing outside Webster School behind a Pete 2020 sign for more than four hours on Tuesday when a parade of people carrying Elizabeth Warren signs came marching down the street. Wilson, a sophomore at Quinnipiac University who lives in Milford, marveled at the crowd of Warren supporters that arrived just in time for a scheduled appearance by the Massachusetts senator herself. More than 100 Warren supporters had gathered on the snow- and ice-covered grass, chanting and cheering, while just across the sidewalk, an equal number of media members shot photos and videos. This, of course, was a voting site. Election monitors implored the crowds to create a pathway for voters. The gantlet caved in on itself when Warren finally arrived, the sidewalk disappearing despite their efforts, and the gaggle of media followed the senator up the line of supporters as she shook their hands, her blonde head barely visible between cameras and media equipment. Wilson found herself in position to meet the candidate in the chaos. It was the epitome of Primary Day in New Hampshire, historically known for out-sized media coverage that accompanies the first primary of a presidential election. Described as Christmas for political junkies, the New Hampshire primary drew hundreds of volunteers from Connecticut to campaign for their favorite candidate all the more in 2020 because the field still includes at least five candidates who can truly see themselves waking up as president-elect on November 4. Those Connecticut activists included Gov. Ned Lamont backing former Vice President Joe Biden and many elected and Democratic Party officials, not to mention busloads of students from Quinnipiac and several other universities. As Warren worked the crowd at the Webster School, the lone Manchester police officer tasked with manning the polling site looked on in disbelief, shrugged and noted with a smirk, They dont pay me enough for this. Eventually, Warren made her way far enough down the sidewalk to where her signs blended into those of her competitors. She reached out and shook Wilsons hand, and a minute later disappeared, whisked away to her next appearance. She pretty much came over and just said thanks for what we were doing, Wilson said. It was honestly an amazing experience just to be able to meet one of the candidates. Fresh off an Iowa caucus that didnt produce a clear frontrunner, or even narrow the field, New Hampshires early primary was a huge draw for Connecticut activists, who wont weigh in as voters until April 28. By then the field may have narrowed. For now, supporters from Connecticut back all five of the top New Hampshire candidates Warren, Biden, former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and Mike Bloomberg, whos not here but is rising in the polls. All of them held legitimate hopes for their candidates. Sarah Annabi, a freshman at Quinnipiac, and Tyler Delehoy, a junior, spent Tuesday canvassing for Sanders, walking door-to-door to make sure people were getting out to vote. Both were too young to vote in 2016, and have spent most of the 2020 race debating candidates. Annabi also likes Klobuchar, and Delehoy is Andrew Yang-curious, though that campaign was barely present here. They both managed selfies with Biden, who had scheduled a primary night event in New Hampshire but instead exited for friendlier territory, South Carolina. I got to shake his hand and had a quick conversation with him. I do work on the Special Olympics, Delehoy said, and he is starting to get involved in that, and he said he was proud of me for that. Wilson, who met Buttigieg over the weekend, said the 30-something war veteran represents change for young people. Im also a fan of his healthcare plan for all those who want it. Wilson said she felt it was more important for her to campaign in New Hampshire after Buttigieg narrowly won the Iowa caucuses, which were rife with errors that resulted in delayed results for several days. Its a really close race and we can make a difference, she said. Connecticut politicians in the Granite State in recent days, in addition to Lamont, who was on hand for the debate Friday night, included Mayor Luke Bronin of Hartford and legislators state Sen. Alex Bergstein, D-Greenwich, who campaigned for Klobuchar over the weekend, and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, who arrived Tuesday night to support Buttigieg as the results rolled in. Support in New Hampshire appeared to be divided among Buttigieg, Warren and Sanders, with few Biden supporters making an appearance. A new national Quinnipiac poll released Monday showed Sanders had taken the lead at 25 percent among Democrats and independent voters who lean Democratic. Biden fell to 17 percent, with Bloomberg, who skipped Iowa and New Hampshire, polling at 15 percent. Warren had 14 percent and Buttigieg was at 10 percent. Klobuchar was at 4 percent and all other candidates received less than 2 percent. Linda Bouldin, who relocated to Manchester from Texas a year ago, stood just behind Sanders, a Bernie 2020 sign propped on her walker, at another elementary school as dozens of media members gaggled around the Vermont senator and his wife. She was most impressed, she said, by the consistency of his message. She voted for him in 2016, and though she voted for him in Tuesdays primary, she said shell vote for whichever Democratic candidate is on the ballot come November. At this point, if a ham sandwich wins, Im voting for a ham sandwich, said Bouldin, who, like Wilson, cited healthcare as the top issue on her mind. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, President Trump held a campaign rally Monday in Manchester, where he encouraged his supporters to cast votes for the weakest candidate in the Democratic field so as to sow further uncertainty in the contest to pick his opponent in 2020. I hear a lot of Republicans tomorrow will vote for the weakest candidate possible for the Democrats, Trump said. You can vote for the weakest candidate. Voters registered as undeclared can vote in either partys primary in New Hampshire. According to the New Hampshire secretary of state, there are 415,871 undeclared voters in the state, more than those registered as either Democratic (276,385) or Republican (288,464). President Trump at a rally in Manchester, N.H., on Monday. (Evan Vucci/AP) Trump is on the ballot in the Republican primary but faces only token opposition. The Democratic race has at least five candidates in serious contention plus a number of likely also-rans. Trump didnt declare his own preference for an opponent but implied he would like to run against Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist from Vermont, who is leading in New Hampshire polls. "America will never be a socialist country, Trump declared Monday. Just as he did in Iowa, where he held a rally days before the state caucuses on Feb. 3, Trump sought the spotlight in Manchester and didnt hide his intention to shake up the Dems a little bit. Will be in Manchester, New Hampshire, tonight for a big Rally. Want to shake up the Dems a little bit - they have a really boring deal going on. Still waiting for the Iowa results, votes were fried. Big crowds in Manchester! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2020 In his 57-minute speech, Trump continued to needle Democrats over the embarrassing failure of a smartphone app that resulted in a weeklong delay by the Iowa Democratic Party in declaring a winner of the caucuses. Story continues They dont know what theyre doing, they cant even count their votes, he said. Later in his speech, Trump returned to the caucuses. Does anybody know who won Iowa? he asked his crowd, adding, Flip a coin, theyre going to run your health care. Actually, I think theyre trying to take it away from Bernie again, he said, doing his best to stoke hostilities between Sanders supporters and the national Democratic Party leaders. Trump boasted of having more attendees at his rally at SNHU Arena which has a capacity of just over 11,000 than all of the rallies held by candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination combined. We have the biggest arenas in the country, he said, vowing to win New Hampshire in a landslide. It was Trumps first rally since his acquittal by the Senate on two articles of impeachment brought by the House. The extreme left has been wasting Americas time with this vile hoax, he said of his impeachment. Trump claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was mumbling terribly behind him during the State of the Union address. The crowd responded with a chant of Lock her up! During the State of the Union, Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who in 2008 encouraged his listeners to launch Operation Chaos, in which Republican voters would cross over and vote for Barack Obama in open primaries. I now believe he would be the weakest of the Democrat nominees, Limbaugh said of Obama at the time. He was wrong. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 10:11:15|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- India has strongly condemned a terror attack in Kabul which claimed at least six lives and injured 12 others on Tuesday. "India in the strongest terms condemns the heinous terrorist attack, which led to the casualties of a number of Afghan patriots today morning in front of Marshal Fahim National Defence University in Kabul," said a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs late Tuesday. "We express our heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and the injured and to the government and people of Afghanistan. We pray for the speedy recovery of those injured." It further stated that the international community must unite in the fight against terrorism and hold the perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism to account. According to media reports, a suicide bomber killed as many as six people near a military academy in the Afghan capital of Kabul. It was described as the first major attack in Kabul this year. Representative image A person was killed after unidentified persons opened fire at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Naresh Yadav's convoy in southwest Delhi's Kishangarh village on late February 11 night, police said. Yadav, the newly-elected MLA, along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said. Seven rounds were fired at the Mehrauli MLA's convoy, news agency PTI has reported. A person injured in the incident was admitted to a nearby hospital, police said. In a tweet, AAP leader Sanjay Singh claimed party volunteer Ashok Mann was killed in the attack. "Convoy of MLA Naresh Yadav attacked in Mehrauli, Ashok Mann killed. Naresh Yadav was returning home after visiting a temple," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. "Shots fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYada and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," AAP said in a tweet. Ankit Lal, AAP's social media in-charge tweeted: "Multiple shots were fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav & @AamAadmiParty volunteers accompanying him to his home in Mehrauli after visiting a temple as part of victory procession. Miscreants in another car opened fire near Fortis. 1 dead and 1 injured. Police is at the spot. (With inputs from PTI) Opposition spokesman Sean L'Estrange asks Corrections Minister Fran Logan about a January 12 incident in which a prisoner escaped from Broome Prison and set fire to Broome Primary School. Corrective Service Minister Fran Logan. Credit:Fairfax Media "I will not go into the details of how that person escaped, for obvious reasons," Mr Logan said. "But she would be a good candidate for Cirque du Soleil. Not one person in this chamber could do what she did. "It was a remarkable escape and one that should not have happened. "She went on to destory a heritage piece of public infrastructure." The Post Office spent 320,000 suing a postmaster during a two-year legal battle after glitches in its IT system wrongly blamed him for stealing 25,000 from the till. Lee Castleton was made bankrupt when he lost the case and was ordered to pay the Post Office's legal costs. About 550 postmasters affected by the defective Horizon system over the 20 years it was in operation are now sharing a 58million settlement from the Post Office after some were jailed for fraud, made bankrupt or hounded out of their jobs. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's File On 4 programme yesterday, Mr Castleton revealed how he was left humiliated after being suspended by the Post Office which spent more than 30million chasing its former staff because locals 'presumed I was a thief'. Lee Castleton (pictured) was made bankrupt when he lost the case and was ordered to pay the Post Office's legal costs The former stockbroker bought a Post Office branch in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, in 2003, and within months Horizon was showing that money was going missing. He claimed he called the Post Office's helpline nearly every day for three months, but was unable to get to the bottom of the losses. His branch was then audited and a 25,000 shortfall was found, leading to his immediate suspension. He said: 'The first loss I actually repaid well over 1,000. 'But by the following week we had a substantial loss it was about 4,000 and there was just no reason for it. I made phone calls to the helplines. I had nothing to hide, but no one seemed to care.' Post Office staff have since come forward to say senior managers had 'zero interest' when questions were raised about the increasing numbers of postmasters being blamed for losses. Post Office staff have since come forward to say senior managers had 'zero interest' when questions were raised about the increasing numbers of postmasters being blamed for losses (stock image) Mr Castleton, who now works as an electrical engineer, added: 'Local people presumed I was a thief. 'When the post office closed, the children and my wife were abused in the street, my daughter was spat at on the school bus. It was really tough for the family.' The Criminal Cases Review Commission is examining the convictions of dozens of postmasters accused of theft and false accounting. But the 550 postmasters who are splitting the multi-million pound payout have now joined MPs and peers in demanding an inquiry into the scandal, and how it was allowed to continue for almost two decades. Ron Warmington, a forensic accountant hired by the Post Office in 2012 to look at the postmasters' complaints, said: 'These were ordinary people. They sought help but didn't get it and were put in a situation that was life-changing.' The Post Office said: 'We accepted our past shortcomings and we have sincerely apologised to those affected.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 04:32:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday reiterated China's firm support for the Palestinian people's just cause to restore their legitimate national rights, in the wake of the unveiling of a controversial U.S. Middle East peace plan. China takes note of the U.S. announcement of its new Middle East peace plan and the responses of Palestine, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the UN secretary-general and others, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. China always believes that the relevant UN resolutions and such international consensus as a two-state solution and the land-for-peace principle constitute an important foundation for solving the question of Palestine, and must be effectively observed, he told the Security Council, which met to discuss the U.S. plan. The question of Palestine can only be solved through political means. Any proposal must be based on heeding the views and opinions of the major parties, in particular those of Palestine, as well as the voices of regional countries and organizations. Any such proposal must come up with dialogue and negotiation on an equal footing, and must contribute to a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution, said Zhang. In the past few days, Security Council members held intensive consultations on the question of Palestine, he said. China supports the efforts by Tunisia and Indonesia toward a draft resolution, and believes that the council should base its work on the resolutions adopted in the past, heed the voices of the Palestinian people, reaffirm its support for the two-state solution and the importance of relevant resolutions and existing international consensus. The draft, which had been intended for a vote on Tuesday, was withheld, apparently to allow more time for consultations. China calls on all the parties to comply with international law in order to prevent further complication and deterioration of the situation. China encourages all the parties to continue consultations in a responsible manner, narrow differences, and widen consensus with a view to creating favorable conditions for solving this issue, he said. Zhang said that China is concerned about the economic and humanitarian situation in Palestine. China calls on the parties concerned to seriously fulfill the international treaty obligations, comprehensively implement the relevant resolutions, speedily and fully lift the blockade on Gaza and improve the economic and humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, he said. The international community must increase its political and financial support to the UN agency for Palestine refugees so as to effectively improve the humanitarian situation of the Palestinian refugees and their host countries and increase input into the economic reconstruction in Palestine. The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Under the current circumstances, the council should work with the international community and play a constructive role in seeking a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, said Zhang. The Palestinian issue, which remains unresolved for over 70 years, is the root cause of the turbulence in the Middle East. The issue has been questioning human conscience and international justice, he said. Independent statehood is an inalienable national right of the Palestinian people and not something for trading at all. Currently, the Palestinian people are still undergoing huge suffering. China is deeply worried about the incessant clashes and confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis, the continuing and expanding settlement activities and demolition of Palestinian houses, and deviation of the Middle East peace process from the right track, said the Chinese ambassador. The number of public grievances registered with the grievances cell has increased from just less than two lakh in 2014 to nearly 19 lakh now as the departments concerned have earned people's trust, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. "When we came in 2014, the number of grievances registered in the grievances cell was not more than two lakh. Today, it is nearly 19 lakh. It is virtually a 10-time increase," he said, adding that it reflects the trust citizens have posed in the government. The government of India in 2019 received 18.7 lakh public grievances and disposed 18.1 lakh of them. Singh said the increase in the number of grievances being registered is because the departments handling them are prompt and responsive, which has instilled confidence and trust among citizens. He said the rate of disposal of grievances is now more than 95 per cent which is an achievement in itself. Launching the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) reforms at an event here, the minister said a citizen-centric model of governance demands that there is a need to create awareness among the citizens for grievance redressal. He said the main Mantra of the Modi government is to reach out to the last man in the queue with all the benefits of the welfare schemes. The CPGRAMS 7.0 version has mapped last mile grievance officers, saving time and improving quality of disposal. CPGRAMS reforms were launched in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the Department of School Education and the Ministry of Road Transport, according to a statement issued by the personnel ministry. Singh said the adoption of CPGRAMS reforms in hospitals and oil PSUs would benefit thousands of Indian citizens and urged other ministries and departments to adopt this significant reform step. The minister also asked the state governments and Union territories to switch over to e-office (or digitised processes) "as fast as they can". Singh said this will not only check pilferage, but will also provide benefits to citizens in a cost-effective manner. He said so far a total of 79 ministries and departments have been covered under the e-office mission mode project in the current phase-III being implemented. Out of these 79 ministries, 57 ministries have achieved the target of 80 per cent. The minister said nearly 15 lakh files have been digitalised and nearly 15,000 digital files are being created every week. He said e-governance will be the key to India at 75 (when the nation celebrates 75 years of Independence in 2022). "The office in any way is going to be converted into e-office. But we will have to convert ourselves to work in that office. Things are moving faster than we could anticipate," the minister said, asking employees to adopt to the digitisation process. Speaking on the occasion, Kshtrapati Shivaji, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) & Pensions said there should be an honest endeavour to serve on-line rather than in-line, so that citizens do not have to run for redressal of their grievances. He said IT-related costs are actually investments for better governance. Sanjay Bhattacharya, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, MEA, in his address said his ministry is pro-actively following the e-office concept which is open, interactive and caring. He said in 2019, 1.22 crore passports were issued both in India and abroad. V Srinivas, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said DARPG has endeavoured to take this message forward by pioneering a number of administrative reforms in e-governance, including the historical Shillong declaration in the national conference on e-governance in August 2019 and the Mumbai resolution adopted in the 23rd national conference on e-governance in January 2020, laying down the road map for e-governance in India. The minister also gave away awards to top performers in e-office to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NIC, Ministry of Tourism, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Fertilizers, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Department of Posts, Ministry of Food Processing Industry, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, DPIIT and Department of Biotechnology. The national workshop held here brought together central ministries/states/ attached/ subordinate/ autonomous bodies of government of India with the objective of creating digital secretariats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A motorcyclist killed in a crash involving an allegedly intoxicated driver near Pittsburg early Sunday morning has been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office as 29-year-old Antioch resident Vincent Fisher II. California Highway Patrol officers responded at 2:09 a.m. to a report of a crash involving three vehicles on eastbound state Highway 4 just east of Bailey Road. A 2002 Volkswagen sedan, a 2015 Toyota sedan and a 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by Fisher were the three vehicles involved, CHP officials said. The Volkswagen driver, 59-year-old Tony Moss, of Antioch, was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek to be treated for his injuries and was later booked into county jail on suspicion of DUI, according to the CHP. The Toyota driver, a 20-year-old man from Oakley, suffered only minor injuries in the crash. Investigators determined Moss had been driving the wrong way in the eastbound lanes before colliding with the Toyota. Fisher was then ejected from his motorcycle after it was involved in the collision, according to the CHP. He died at the scene. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the CHP's Contra Costa-area office at (925) 646-4980. 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. Bestbuy Wins Biggest Share of Google?s Page One Searches for Consumer Electronics Amazon comes second Posted by Publisher Telecommunication San Mateo, February 11, 2020 ? Bestbuy.com is the most visible[1] website in Google?s (Google.com) page one results when people search for consumer electronics topics such as computers, laptops, video and mobile phones according to a new Searchmetrics study. Second and third are Amazon.com and Walmart.com. For searches related to mobile phones, t-mobile.com is the most visible on page one, followed by bestbuy.com. However, nearly half (48.9%) of searches on these topics are from consumers wanting information and background rather than an intention to make an immediate purchase. And many retailers? websites may not be providing information that satisfies informational queries such as this. The Searchmetrics study analyzed Google?s US search results for 1,000 keywords related to consumer electronics topics. Which websites are winning market share on Google page one for consumer electronics related searches? 1. Bestbuy.com (27.8%) 2. Amazon.com (13.0%) 3. Walmart.com (8.3%) 4. Newegg.com (6.0%) 5. CNN.com (5.2%) 6. Costco.com (4.4%) 7. Staples.com (3.8%) 8. Bhphotovideo.com (3.6%) Which websites are winning market share on Google page one for mobile phone related searches? 1. T-mobile.com (28%) 2. bestbuy.com (13%) 3. amazon.com (11%) 4. gearbest.com (10.5%) 5. att.com (10%) ?The top retail sites are estimated to average around 66% transactional traffic compared with only 34% traffic from informational searches. It can be important for ecommerce focused sites to attract ?top of the funnel? informational traffic from people who may be searching for background information ahead of making a purchase decision,? said Tyson Stockton, Director of Services, Searchmetrics. ?Creating informative content to address these types of queries should be an important part of retailers? content marketing strategies. This content can be targeted towards expanding existing category pages or through related topics in editorial sections of the site.? The report also suggests that retailers who sell consumer electronics should target Videos, Images, Google Shopping ads and other features or widgets (known collectively as SERP features) that Google regularly integrates directly into its page one search results. For example, 60% of mobile search results for consumer electronics include Images boxes on page one and 76% include Videos. According to the analysis, Amazon.com is the website most likely to appear in Images boxes and also the website that places the most Google Shopping Ads for consumer electronics searches (appearing in 45% of all Images boxes and 46% of all Google Shopping boxes). How often do different SERP features appear for consumer electronics searches? Please view table at: https://www.realwire.com/releases/Bestbuy-Wins-Biggest-Share-of-Googles-Page-One-Searches Among other prominent SERP features is the Related Questions box, which appears on page one for more than 80% of consumer electronics searches on mobile and desktop. These are the ?People Also Ask? suggestions, which are related to the main search topic (each suggestion includes a drop-down button which reveals more information displayed in a Featured Snippet-like box when clicked). If retailers do not make it into the traditional organic results, Related Questions provide another way to get onto page one. AMP (accelerated mobile pages) show up for 97% of mobile search results on consumer electronics related topics. AMP is a Google-backed system that lets websites create faster loading pages, initially introduced to help news and media sites create a user-friendly mobile experience. AMP can be displayed in a variety of ways including in News Carousels and other designated spaces in search results. ?Interestingly, while AMP was originally created for media sites, we noticed that some consumer electronics retailers in our study, most notably newegg.com, also using AMP pages. These pages can be used for editorial and news related pages that came be featured in the AMP carousel[2] as well as a way to improve page speed,? said Tyson Stockton. The SERP features are an important opportunity for retailers to increase their visibility on page one. They usually stand out prominently on the results page which means they can attract more traffic explains Stockton: ?Websites can use a variety of tactics to help get their pages listed within SERP features, ranging from hosting and tagging relevant images and videos in order to increase the chances of appearing in Images and Videos boxes, to creating relevant content and marking it up in the correct way to get picked in the Related Questions suggestions. And with the large number of Google Shopping ads being shown for these searches, appearing in additional SERP elements will help gaining presence on Google?s first page.? Download the Searchmetrics Online Market Report Electronics at: https://www.searchmetrics.com/knowledge-base/market-report-electronics-us/?utm_source=public-relations&utm_medium=external-media&utm_campaign=2020-02-us-Whitepaper-Electronics [1] The measure of visibility is Searchmetrics Market Share calculation. This is based on the first page rankings achieved by a website for all keywords in a topical keyword set. Ranking more highly for keywords that are searched more often increases a website?s market share. [2] When an AMP page is available, it can be featured on mobile search results as part of rich results and carousels (see https://developers.google.com/search/docs/guides/about-amp) Chairman of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov has said that it was unacceptable to sign any agreements that foresee water supply by Ukraine to the autonomous Republic of Crimea annexed by Russia. "Will some Arakhamia [head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia] trade in our territory? If someone in the state admits that it is possible to surrender the territory, the whole people of the Crimean Tatars, it will be possible to surrender all Ukrainians, and there are as many as 500,000...Here now, Archbishop Clement is sitting opposite me. And he shows me with his eyes that we do not admit that the state can sell us for water. Any combination in Donetsk or something else in exchange for water this is unacceptable," Chubarov told UA: Crimea TV, commenting the statement of head of the parliamentary faction of Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia. Previously, David Arakhamia on Pryamiy TV channel said a compromise possible to resume water supply to the occupied Crimea in exchange of withdrawal of the Russian troops from Donbas. The Coalition of Aggrieved Menzgold customers has threatened to go to court over the Police refusal to allow them to embark on a peaceful demonstration. According to them, they are been marginalized by the Police by preventing them from carrying out their civic rights and responsibility. Speaking on Okay FM's Ade Akye Abia programme, spokesperson for the coalition, Timothy Binop, explained that the Police have deliberately prevented them from carrying out the demonstration. We feel the government has a hand in what is happening but we will go to court to compel the Police to grant us our permit to demonstrate, he said. He added that the government should also intervene in asking Nana Appiah Mensah to pay his customers as he has refused to settle them since his return from Dubai. He lied to Ghanaians that he was paying but our checks revealed that not a single customer has been paid a dime, he added. We are also very much aware that Nana Appiah Mensah is also trying to set up a new company and we will come out at the right time to speak about the new company Nana Appiah Mensah is clandestinely trying to set up. But in the meantime, we are appealing to the government to intervene for Nana Appiah Mensah to pay us. The Coalition of Aggrieved Customers of Menzgold Ghana had written to the police requesting permission to march to the Jubilee House to present a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. But in a response, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Fredrick Adu Anim said the Police cannot accept any form of demonstration during this period. "Grateful be informed that the command is concentrating on the fight against robbery and other violent crimes as we enter the threshold of the year, as a result, cannot accept any form of Demonstration, Picketing and Walk during this period. "The command also wishes to remind you that you have already demonstrated on the same subject matter in less than six (6) months as such will not tolerate any further demonstration as other citizens must also have their interest served by the Police". Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The coronavirus outbreak will hurt the Australian economy but will not hit the federal government's credit rating, according to one of the world's key ratings agencies. S&P Global on Thursday morning said while it believes the virus will strip half a percentage point from Australian economic growth this year, that did not mean there would be a direct flow-on impact to the nation's credit standing. Australia is one of 11 nations to have the top credit rating from the world's three major rating agencies which includes S&P. Tourist visits to the Sydney Opera House have dropped since the coronavirus outbreak. S&P Global says despite the economic hit, the nation's top credit rating is safe. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The agency said said while both the virus and the summer's bushfires would deliver a short term hit to the economy and budgets of the federal and state governments, that did not mean credit ratings were at risk. Freshwater anglers reminded to buy licences for new season West Baldwin Reservoir - Credit: iomguide.com Freshwater anglers are being reminded to buy a licence ahead of the 2020/21 season and enjoy fishing in the Isle of Mans scenic reservoirs and rivers. Daily, weekly or seasonal angling licences are issued by the Isle of Man Government and allow fishing in Ballure, Clypse, Cringle, Kerrowdhoo, Sulby and West Baldwin reservoirs, all of which are stocked with high-quality rainbow trout. The reservoir fishing season runs from 10th March 2020 to 31st January 2021 and the Other Waters season begins 1st April. IOM Gov said there's been a small increase in prices this year, with an adult reservoir season licence costing 213.50 - young people aged between 14 and 18 will pay 81 and it remains free to children under 14. The money raised from recreational fishing licenses contributes towards activities such as anti-poaching operations and habitat conservation, enabling sustainable management of the Isle of Mans freshwater fisheries. Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: The licenses are excellent value for money and allow residents and visitors alike to fish in some of the most scenic reservoirs and rivers anywhere in Britain. The Programme for Government pledges to ensure more people get out and enjoy our fantastic surroundings.' During the 2019 season, a survey of reservoir anglers was carried out by the Isle of Man Government, with over three-quarters of respondents rating the quality of the reservoir fishery as either excellent or very good. Gift certificates are also available by contacting fisheries@gov.im or by calling 685857. For further information on recreational fishing, including the full list of licence prices, visit www.gov.im/fisheries. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- USI Affinity announced today a new partnership with the Delaware State Bar Association to offer an enhanced Lawyers Professional Liability (LPL) Insurance solution for Delaware attorneys, endorsed by the Delaware State Bar Association. USI Affinity obtains professional liability insurance for more than 35,000 attorneys, and it is the endorsed insurance administrator and partner for more than 30 state and local bar associations nationwide. USI Affinity is one of the most respected specialty brokers and program managers in the Lawyers Professional Liability space, stated William Brady, president, Delaware State Bar Association. We are excited to bring this industry-leading insurance offering to our valued members. This partnership further demonstrates our commitment to continually enhance our member benefit offerings, providing first-class products and services, endorsed by the Delaware State Bar Association. Mike Mooney, professional liability practice leader, USI Affinity, added: Backed by USI Affinitys industry-leading knowledge, solutions and service, we look forward to delivering customized insurance solutions to help attorneys keep pace with the changing demands of the LPL marketplace. Our newest policy enhancements focus on the challenges attorneys and law firms face on a continual basis, providing the peace of mind they have not had in recent years. USI Affinity has created a premier, market-leading team, with world-class expertise and resources, to help protect and insure both small and large law firms. To learn more about the Attorneys Preferred Insurance Program, visit https://www.usiaffinity.com/attorneyspreferred. About USI USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to large risk management clients, middle market companies, smaller firms and individuals. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 7,000 industry-leading professionals from approximately 200 offices to serve clients local, national and international needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. ### Kathy Lovin, RN, MSN, was born on February 18, 1948. Kathy Lovin, formerly of Chattanooga, died in her home in Sarasota/Bradenton, Florida on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Kathy spent the last 17 years of her working career in various managerial roles with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Chattanooga office. Previously, she had worked at Beacon Health Services, Healthcorp of TN and as office manager for Orthopaedic Associates all of Chattanooga. Prior to moving to Chattanooga, she also worked at hospitals in St. Louis, Mo. and Mt. Vernon, IL. She also worked as a civilian nurse at Fort Polk Army Hospital during the Vietnam War. Kathy held a diploma in Nursing from Barnes Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, Mo. She had a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. and masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga. She also held certifications in Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (CCSSBB) She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Dwight Cummings and mother, Patricia Ann (Bellamy) Cummings. She is survived by her husband, Dan, of Sarasota/Bradenton, her son, Brian Lovin and wife Amanda, and grandsons , Preston and Landon all of Summerville, SC. Also surviving are her mother-in-law, Esther Lovin, Mt Vernon, Il. and uncle and aunt, Paul and Karen Bellamy, Johnson City, Tn. as well as brother and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews. She and Dan just celebrated the 50 wedding anniversary on Sept. 13. She was active with the UTC Mocs Club and Associates of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 203. After retirement, she became an avid oil and watercolor painter. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the Sarasota/Bradenton area in the near future. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chattanooga Mocs Club, 615 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37403 or to the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 203, P.O. Box 23405. Chattanooga, Tn. 37422. Locally, arrangements are announced by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com. MINNEAPOLIS - The Minneapolis Star Tribune is challenging a judges decision to keep sealed the names of jurors who convicted a former police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed woman. Mohamed Noor was convicted of murder last April in the July 2017 shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond just minutes after she called 911 to report that she thought she heard a possible sexual assault happening in the alley behind her Minneapolis home. Noor argued at trial that he fired a single shot when Damond approached his squad car because he feared for his partners life. Hennepin County Judge Kathryn Quaintance has cited media interest in the case to repeatedly keep the jurors information sealed, most recently in January. In a motion filed Tuesday, The Star Tribune argues that theres no threat to juror safety nor to Noors ability to get a fair trial. The newspaper also says the secrecy violates First Amendment rights, and that Quaintances citation of media interest as a reason to seal the names makes no sense. (T)he Court seems to be saying, juror names should be released only in cases that people do not care about or only after people stop caring about them, the motion states. By this logic, the names of jurors in high-profile cases such (as) this one might never be released. Noor was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison in Damonds death. A worker checks the temperature of a passenger arriving into Hong Kong International Airport with an infrared thermometer, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China, on Feb. 7, 2020. (Hannah McKay/Reuters) Top Oil Gathering in London Subdued as Virus Fears Cut Travel Plans MOSCOW/SEOUL/LONDONThe gathering of the worlds top oil traders, London International Petroleum Week, will be less crowded this year as the bulk of traders in Asia plan either to cut or cancel their Feb. 24-27 travel plans due to the coronavirus outbreak. The new coronavirus, COVID-19, which originated in China late last year, has spread to other countries. Japan, which shares the rank of the worlds top energy importers with China, has the second largest number of cases. World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the outbreak poses a global threat akin to terrorism. IP Week, the oil industrys main annual gathering, is also known for its lavish evening parties where companies and traders cement business deals struck during the day. South Korean refiners GS Caltex and SK Innovation, owner of SK Energy refiner, told Reuters they were not going to attend IP Week this year amid the virus outbreak. GS Caltex is not attending the IP week in the aftermath of Chinas virus outbreak, its spokesman said. SK Innovation official said his company will rely on its London-based staff as the Singapore office had decided to skip the event this time. Chinas staff of Petrochina, Tokyo offices of Japans Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Inpex along with Singapore offices of European majors, Eni and Total, were recommended to miss IP Week this year, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. We had several meetings in London with Asian counterparties cancelled, a trader working in the Asian market and based in Europe said. He added his bosses were also considering skipping the event this year. Several Chinese independent or teapot refiners also cancelled its trips to London IP Week this year, two traders working with the companies said. JPMorgans China team was also asked not to attend IP Week events, a source told Reuters. According to two other sources in Asian companies, the main concern is that travelers from Asia may be quarantined on arrival, ruining their business plans. As a result of travel bans imposed by a number of governments in Asia, some speakers and delegates will understandably not be attending, including all from mainland China, a spokesman of Energy Institute, the host of the main IP Week conference, said in a reply to Reuters enquiry. IP Week is going ahead as planned and delegates are being advised in line with the latest advice of the British government, he added. A Mitsubishi official said that its oil staff will attend the IP Week as planned. A Mitsui spokesman said most of its London-based staff would take part in the event, declining further comment. An Inpex spokesman said staff planned to attend, but it was treating the COVID-19 outbreak with concern closely monitoring the situation. Several people from Total will attend the IP Week, including some coming from our Singapore offices, a press representative of Total told Reuters. Eni declined to comment. Petrochina and JPMorgan did not reply to requests for comment. By Olga Yagova, Jane Chung and Ron Bousso Dutch bank ABN Amro is investing around 6m in Fenergo as part of the Irish banking tech firms latest funding round. ABN Amro in Amsterdam confirmed its investment today but did not publicly disclose the level of that investment. But the Irish Independent understands that ABN Amros contribution is included in a months-long funding round concluding today that totals nearly $80m (72m). The other, much larger component of that investment - by New York-based DXC Technology - totals 66m and was previously disclosed. Fenergo, a regulatory software and data specialist founded by chief executive Marc Murphy a decade ago, today employs about 800 people - half in Dublin, the rest at 13 locations overseas including its newest bases in Melbourne and Dubai. We are very happy to add Fenergo to our investment portfolio, said ABN Amro Ventures director Hugo Bongers. This investment will contribute to ABN Amros strategic priority to build a future-proof bank and fight financial crime. We are impressed with the management team and solution Fenergo offers. In addition, this gives us additional exposure to a group of tier one investors. Fenergo confirmed that DXCs investment in Fenergo - disclosed by the company in June 2019 - gives DXC approximately a 10pc equity stake in the company, not 20pc as Mr Murphy had said in an Irish Independent interview in December. Fenergos major external investor since 2015 has been New York venture capital firm Insight Partners, which retains more than 50pc of equity. PNB Paribas is another equity holder. Fenergo products support anti-money laundering and other compliance checks by a majority of the world's 50 biggest banks, as well as the efficient onboarding of new customers. Last year Fenergo gained more than a dozen global banking clients including Banc of California, National Australia Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, UBS Asset Management, Anglo Gulf Trading Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Tricor, Exos Financial and Mizuho. In December, Fenergo reported a 21pc gain in revenue to 70m for the year ending March 31. Sales of services rose by 15pc to 43.6m, licensed software by 35pc to 20.7m, and support and maintenance by 29pc to 5.8m. But an 117pc increase in R&D spending produced an operating loss of 5.4m. LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Director of Global Business LH&A (Liquid Handling and Automation) was named "Most Innovative Female Entrepreneur-Germany" in Business Worldwide Magazine's (BWM) illustrious annual awards. Manuela Beil-Peter impressed the judging panel with her trailblazing work in the complex area of Liquid Handling and Automation, which plays an important role in the areas of Life Science, Lab Automation and Analytical Chemistry. The title was recognised as part of the BWM 2019 Global Corporate Excellence Awards, which identify and honour the most respected companies and their C-Suite executives, rewarding outstanding performance, innovation and ethics across international business and finance communities. Based in Germany, Analytik Jena is globally recognised as an industry leader in the field of analytical instrumentation. The organisation specialises in precision and reliability, responding to the demanding needs of a varied scientific and industrial base through its portfolio of devices, efficient solutions and in-depth industry knowledge. Manuela leads the company's fast paced Liquid Handling and Automation Business Unit; a role that among other things requires a combination of technological expertise, vision and the ability to respond to industry trends and challenges. The company views clients as partners, which has enabled it not only to build lasting relationships but also to solve complex problems. This philosophy has led to the development of several market leading solutions, including unique sample preparation solutions for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometers - an innovative new technique for providing molecular weight information of compounds like proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and carbohydrates. This development has huge potential for the future of personalised medicine and biotherapeutics, further establishing Analytik Jena's reputation as a company that can change lives for the better. The company is already well established throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK and the US, with plans to move into Asia in the very near future. Manuela puts her success down to a combination of vision, hard work and strong leadership; "My advice to others is to follow through with your decisions, allow for mistakes, stand by them and learn by them. Leadership is a continual learning curve based on trust, and I believe it is important to show this through delegating responsibility, offering constructive feedback and encouragement," she told BWM. For further information about Analytik Jena's pioneering work, visit https://www.analytik-jena.com/ Details about the Global Corporate Excellence Awards, and BWM's other award programs, can be found at https://www.bwmonline.com/awards About Business Worldwide Magazine Business Worldwide Magazine is the leading source of business and dealmaker intelligence throughout the world. Our quarterly magazine and online news portal enables an established audience of corporate dealmakers to track the latest news, stories and developments affecting the international markets, corporate finance, business strategy and changes in legislation. This readership includes of CEO/CFO - Banks, Corporate Lawyers and Venture Capital/Private Equity Companies to name a few. Contact David Jones Awards Department E: david.jones@bwmonline.com W: http://www.bwmonline.com ANNAPOLIS, Md., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Various religious leaders who support Maryland's medical aid-in-dying bill spoke passionately at a Compassion & Choices news conference today about how their faith informs their thinking on this peaceful dying option to end unbearable suffering, shared personal experiences showing the need for it, and respond to opponents' arguments against it. Rev. Madison T. Shockley, pastor of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ "There is no Biblical doctrine anyone can stand on to oppose this bill. What you will hear from those opposed to this bill won't be Biblical, it will be traditional. Don't let them confuse the two," said Rev. Joseph Kitchen, an active member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. "My God is loving. My God is kind. My God is compassionate Too many faith leaders, including those from my church, have developed this myth that the God we serve is limited. He isn't. They will preach a version of an all knowing God who foresaw terminal illness, but won't acknowledge one who would deliver solutions." The news conference was hosted by the lead sponsors of the End of Life Option Act ( SB 701/HB 643 ), Shane Pendergrass, chair of the House of Delegates Health and Government Operations Committee, and Jeff Waldstreicher, vice chair of the Senate Judiciary Proceedings and Regulations Committee. It included faith leaders from Judaism, the Presbyterian Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, and United Church of Christ. "As a pastor for 50 years, helping people face death has been a central part of my life in the church, including my youngest brother, William Rollie Smith. So agonizing was his pain that he begged his doctors to amputate his aching limbs," said Rev. Dr. Paul Smith, pastor emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church, who lives in Montgomery Village, in written remarks. "Even our mother, a staunch Baptist, wished medical aid in dying could have been an option for him ... I urge our lawmakers to pass Maryland's End of Life Option Act, so their terminally ill constituents don't have to suffer needlessly at the end of life, and they can die peacefully at home, with their loved ones at their bedside." Last March, the Maryland Senate fell just one vote short of passing a heavily amended version of the bill approved by the House of Delegates. The prospects for enacting the bill into law are better in 2020 because of new Senate leadership and Governor Larry Hogan's statement at the Annapolis Summit on Jan. 8 that he's "willing to look at both sides of that issue." "I accompany people through illnesses and death as part of my work. Based on those experiences, I support this bill," said Rev. Alexa Fraser, an ordained minister from the Unitarian Universalist church of Silver Spring who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of gynecological cancer in December 2016. "I love life, I love being a parent to my 20-year-old son and serving as a minister. And now I know what I'll likely die of. I want the ability to choose a peaceful death with my family around me rather than one filled with pain, or drowning in my bodily fluids." Since House of Delegates Health and Government Operations Committee Chair Shane Pendergrass first introduced the End of Life Option Act in 2015, five states have passed medical aid-in-dying laws: California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Maine, and New Jersey, as well as neighboring Washington, D.C. "While we treasure life, there comes a time when the compassionate thing to do is to allow terminally ill people to peacefully end their suffering," said Floyd L. Herman, rabbi emeritus of Har Sinai Congregation in Baltimore. "Terminally ill people already have the right to refuse treatment and this option just allows them to end their suffering more quickly." Since 1994, a total of nine states have authorized medical aid in dying: California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Maine, Montana (via state Supreme Court ruling), New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C. Collectively, these 10 jurisdictions represent more than one out of five U.S. residents (22%) and have decades of experience successfully implementing this medical practice. "The word minister comes from the Greek word meaning 'to serve,'" said Rev. Madison T. Shockley, pastor of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, CA, where the medical aid-in-dying law has been in effect since 2016. "Our church members in our pews will call us to their bedside in their final hours and ask us for the relief that only faith can give. We dare not fail them." Public Policy Polling last February showed Maryland residents support medical aid in dying by a 3-1 margin (66% to 20%), including majority support from Catholics (65%), Protestants (62%), Jews (67%), and Muslims (52%). The Maryland State Medical Society adopted a neutral stance on the bill after a 2016 survey showed a majority of its members supported it. Supporters of the End of Life Option Act include the ACLU , Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ , Compassion & Choices Maryland , League of Women Voters of Maryland , Libertarian Party of Maryland , Maryland Congressmen Elijah Cummings and Anthony Brown , Marylanders for End-of-Life Options , Suburban Maryland Psychiatric Society , Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland , United Seniors of Maryland , and WISE (Women Indivisible Strong Effective) . Compassion & Choices is the nation's oldest, largest and most active nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and expanding healthcare options for the end of life. More information is available at: CompassionAndChoices.org/Maryland Contact : Sean Crowley, 202-495-8520-c, [email protected] SOURCE Compassion & Choices Related Links http://CompassionAndChoices.org Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has said that his government is open to talks with jihadists as part of an inclusive national dialogue. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (IBK) told RFI he instructed his high representative in central Mali, former President Diacounda Traore, to listen to everybody, including those who are effectively in control. It is my duty to explore all possible avenues to reach some kind of peace as the death rate in the Sahel is increasing continuously, said Keita. Having repeatedly rejected contact with islamist insurgents, President Keita has now agreed that Traore should meet jihadist leaders, Amadou Koufa and Iyad Ag Ghali. The two jihadists were prominent leaders of the Malian extremist group Ansar Dine before a French-led military intervention in 2013. They now operate under the banner of an al-Qaida-linked group known as JNIM. Traore is also to identify who within the jihadist entourage might be inclined to reason. IBK said his government is doing what his people expressed in a sort of Afghan-like Loya Jirga assembly. I am not that naive. We don't think that suddenly all doors will open, IBK added. But neither are we closed off to dialogue. Rancour against France In the past six years, there has been no official government representative in the northern town of Kidal. Troops including regular army soldiers and re-integrated combatants from armed groups are now moving to the region. Renowned musician Salif Keita and politicians have regularly supported anti-France demonstrations in Mali. To the extent that it was said the French government wondered whether the protests were not used to deflect attention from the shortcomings of the Malian government. I think that Emmanuel Macron knows me sufficiently well and will not entertain the idea that I am capable of such duplicity, said IBK. Where would we be without Serval today? referring to the French military units which were operational in the Sahel until replaced in 2014 by the multi-national Barkhane force. IBK added that the withdrawal of foreign forces from Mali would be damaging for Mali. The Malian President thinks that the United States might reconsider pulling out from the country. The Americans are not deployed on the ground but provide invaluable intelligence and support to the French army stationed there with its drones, logistics and aerial refuelling for allied troops. I was told that a special envoy for the Sahel will soon be nominated, said President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. That is a positive sign. Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Dallas. Dallas among worst cities for women in tech, study finds Read the full story on WFAA. Deliberations underway in trial of former police officer who shot 12 times into car, killing woman Read the full story on WFAA. Atmos Energy proposes rate hike Read the full story on WFAA. City Council wants tougher penalties for street racing Read the full story on Dallas Observer. Argument leads to fatal shooting, police say Read the full story on WFAA. 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 big reason Dallas ranks as one of the worst cities for women in tech is the gender pay gap. Christopher Hess, 42, is charged with aggravated assault by a public servant in the death of Genevive Dawes. The average homeowner in Dallas would pay $5.48 more per month if Atmos Energys request is approved. The Dallas City Council wants much tougher penalties for those caught participating in street races in the city. Dallas city staff, and its police department, appear ready to oblige. Hearst TV is collaborating with FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to identify misinformation and to ensure news consumers get the facts. Quick Take Numerous social media posts falsely suggest that because Clorox and Lysol products list Human Coronavirus on their bottles, the new coronavirus driving the outbreak in China was already known. It wasnt. There are many human coronaviruses, and these products were tested against a strain that causes the common cold. Full Story In the wake of the expanding outbreak of a new coronavirus from China, people on social media are pointing to disinfecting product labels to falsely suggest that the new virus is not new. So Lysol knew about this new strand of Coronavirus?? asks one Facebook post, which is accompanied by a photo with an arrow pointing to Human Coronavirus listed on a bottle of disinfectant spray. Another Facebook post highlights the words Human Coronavirus on a container of Lysol disinfecting wipes, and says, the label of the popular Lysol already show that the product Kill the Coronavirus, so that means that this Virus is nothing new. Other posts make similar claims about Clorox products, with one using the hashtag, #SoStrongItCanKillVirusesOfTheFuture. These posts are among several instances in which the generic use of the term coronavirus has led to confusion, with people on social media erroneously conflating mentions of already known coronavirus strains with the new one. The word coronavirus is not specific, and can apply to any virus in the coronavirus family. The name derives from the crown-like look of the viruses under a microscope. It turns out that its likely these products would be effective against the new virus, which is known as 2019 novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV. But thats not because either company had any previous knowledge of the virus. As we have written before, the outbreak began in Wuhan, a city in central China, with the first known cases identified in early December, many of them linked to a seafood market selling a wide selection of game meats and wild animals. The Chinese government informed the World Health Organization about the outbreak on Dec. 31, and within a week had ruled out other viruses, including other coronaviruses, and isolated the new virus. Researchers have preliminarily found that 2019-nCoV is about 80% similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, virus, and is 96% similar to a bat virus. Scientists who have analyzed the viral sequences from infected patients in other countries, too, have found that the sequences are very similar to the first Chinese sequences, corroborating the idea that the virus only recently emerged, and is new to science. What We Know about the Disinfectants In terms of the disinfectants, testing is required for manufacturers to make claims about their products. Documents submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency show that Clorox and Lysol sprays and wipes are able to list Human Coronavirus on their labels because those products were tested against human coronavirus 229E. The 229E strain is a common human coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, that usually causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. It is not the same as the coronavirus responsible for the current outbreak that began in Wuhan. In fact, its in an entirely different genus of coronaviruses. Although the posts misinterpret the inclusion of Human Coronavirus on these labels, the idea that these products might be helpful against the new virus isnt so off-base. While its impossible to know for sure, since none of the products have been tested against 2019-nCoV, the chances are high. For one, these products are considered to be effective against SARS even if its not featured on the label and the new virus is quite similar. Even more important, the EPA has a guidance policy that allows companies to claim their products are effective against certain emerging viral pathogens, as long as they can show the products work on other, harder-to-kill viruses. An EPA spokesperson told us in an email that this would not allow a company to put the claim on its label, but would allow companies to add it to technical literature sent to hospitals, as well as to websites, consumer information services and social media sites. The goal of the policy is to allow for rapid response in the event of an emerging viral pathogen outbreak, the spokesperson added, noting that the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak is the first time the criteria have been met to trigger the policy. The policy is based on a classification model of viruses, since different types of viruses are generally harder to kill than others. The easiest viruses to disinfect are the ones with a viral envelope, or membrane, that wraps around the virus. While it sounds protective, these membranes are made up of fatty lipid molecules that are easy to disrupt. As the EPA policy explains, once the lipid envelope is damaged, the integrity of the virus is compromised, thereby neutralizing its infectivity. Viruses without envelopes are harder to kill, and those that are small and nonenveloped are harder still. Fortunately, coronaviruses fall into the enveloped category. Because they do, as long as a product is effective against one nonenveloped virus, then its assumed that the product would work against 2019-nCoV, too. Clorox wipes, for example, work against rotavirus, a large, nonenveloped virus in the Reoviridae family, so the product qualifies as a 2019-nCoV-effective disinfectant. Users, however, should note that there are different contact times for different pathogens, and in the case of Clorox wipes, 4 minutes are needed for rotavirus and therefore also for 2019-nCoV. Common cold coronaviruses, by contrast, require only 15 seconds of contact. Both Clorox and Lysol have set up FAQ pages about coronavirus, noting that they have tested products against viruses similar to 2019-nCoV, and some meet the requirements set out under the EPA policy, and therefore can be used by those concerned about 2019-nCoV. We reached out to Lysols parent company, Reckitt Benckiser, and Clorox but did not receive a reply. While the risk of 2019-nCoV is low for most Americans, keeping surfaces clean is one of the ways that the CDC recommends people can prevent infection. Other important methods are washing your hands with soap and water or with a sanitizer if soap is unavailable as well as avoiding contact with others who are sick. Sources McDonald, Jessica. Q&A on the Wuhan Coronavirus. FactCheck.org. 30 Jan 2020. 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan, China. CDC. Accessed 31 Jan 2020. Coronavirus. CDC. Accessed 31 Jan 2020. Zhou, Peng et. al. Discovery of a novel coronavirus associated with the recent pneumonia outbreak in humans and its potential bat origin. bioRxiv. 23 Jan 2020. Andersen, Kristian. Clock and TMRCA based on 27 genomes. Virological.org. 26 Jan 2020. Yeager, Curtis L. et. al. Human aminopeptidase N is a receptor for human coronavirus 229E. Nature. 357, 420422(1992). Coronavirus Cases Trigger EPA Rapid Response. Press release. EPA. 29 Jan 2020. Emerging Viral Pathogen Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides. EPA. Accessed 31 Jan 2020. Pesticide Product and Label System. EPA. Registration numbers 5813-79, 777-99 and 777-114. Accessed 31 Jan 2020. Coronavirus. Lysol.com. Accessed 31 Jan 2020. Help Prevent the Spread of the Human Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Clorox.com. Accessed 31 Jan 2020. EPA spokesperson. Email sent to FactCheck.org. 31 Jan 2020. Logitech has released a new mid-range webcam for streamers who aren't quite ready to shell out big bucks for top-of-the-line cameras. The new device called the StreamCam is capable of capturing 60 fps videos with a 1080p resolution. Logitech's free Capture software also gives it the capability to take HD vertical videos for platforms like Snapchat and Facebook Stories, as well as access to features like image stabilization, facial smart focus and AI-enabled smart framing that ensures you always stay in view. Capture used to only support Windows devices, but Logitech has announced that it's rolling out an update that will make it compatible with Mac computers. The updated software, which can be downloaded from Logitech's website, also comes with Dark Mode, updated scene effects and features like live text overlays. Users may want to take note, though, that the Mac version is still in beta, so they may have to contend with bugs and performance issues. StreamCam is now available in white and graphite for $170 from Logitech's website and retailers in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. The company also plans to release it worldwide in the coming months. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation to discuss the Syria issue, including rising tensions in the Idlib de-escalation zone, the Kremlin press service said in a statement, reports TASS. According to the statement, the two leaders discussed various aspects of activities aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis, focusing on the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone and the need to fully implement Russian-Turkish agreements, including the memorandum of September 17, 2018. The Kremlin press service added that the telephone call had been initiated by Ankara. Commonwealth Secretary-general Baroness Scotland was criticised by auditors for 'circumventing' usual rules in awarding a 250,000 consultancy to a firm run by a friend. She has denied any wrongdoing. Britain has suspended a chunk of its funding to the Commonwealth Secretariat amid a row over financial controls, it was revealed today. The government said handing over the money - around 4.7million a year - had been made 'conditional' on the body's processes meeting high standards. The move emerged after secretary-general Baroness Scotland was criticised by auditors for 'circumventing' usual rules in awarding a 250,000 consultancy to a firm run by a friend. She has denied any wrongdoing. The audit report is also said to have found that tendering rules had been waved 50 times over three years. The Secretariat insists it is implementing the recommended changes. Both New Zealand and Australia have suspended discretionary funding to the Secretariat amid the controversy. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'We are committed to an effective Commonwealth that delivers for its member states, so we have set a number of conditions on UK funding to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation for this financial year. 'These include conditions relating to ensuring that the Secretariat's procurement policy and its implementation are in line with international best practice.' Commonwealth heads of government have previously rejected calls automatically to renew Lady Scotland's job when her term of office ends later this year. A Commonwealth spokesman said: 'We fully accept the recommendations of the recent KPMG internal audit report on procurement across the 2015 2018 financial years. 'All six of the recommendations were accepted and all but one have been implemented. 'The remaining recommendation will be implemented by the end of February, 2020. 'The follow-up audit, in April, will test and verify this position. We hope that the withheld discretionary funding, which is for the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation, will then be reinstated, allowing the Commonwealth to continue delivering vital work on behalf of member countries.' Japanese investment giant also faces pressure by US activist hedge fund which is now a prominent shareholder. Japans SoftBank Group Corp reported a near-total wipeout in quarterly profit on Wednesday, after the Japanese technology investor was whiplashed for a second consecutive quarter by losses at its $100bn Vision Fund. The dire result is likely to deepen concern about founder Masayoshi Sons ability to secure funding for a second Vision Fund and give more ammunition to activist investor Elliott Management which has recently emerged as a prominent shareholder. The numbers are also the latest reminder of the inherent risk in Sons strategy of betting big on untested startups. The Vision Fund posted an operating loss of 225 billion yen ($2.05bn) for October-December compared with 176 billion yen ($1.6bn) profit in the same period a year earlier. But Son, who is known for his ebullience and charisma still rare in corporate Japan said his company was already turning the corner. The tide is turning, Son told a briefing following the release of SoftBank earnings. Profit for the overall group reached 2.6 billion yen ($24m) for the quarter versus 438 billion yen ($4bn) a year prior, the technology investor said in a stock exchange filing, well short of analyst estimates. The result compared with the 345 billion yen ($3.14bn) average of three analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv. The Vision Fund, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and has single-handedly changed the face of tech investing, said it had invested $74.6bn in 88 companies as at December-end, at which time those investments were worth $79.8bn. Investing credentials hit Sons investing credentials took a hit in the August-September quarter when the fund was whiplashed by weakness at major bets such as office space-sharing firm WeWork and recorded an $8.9bn operating loss. Since then a slew of portfolio companies from hotel-booking platform Oyo to cloud robotics firm CloudMinds have cut jobs and come under pressure to demonstrate the long-term viability of their business models. The fund itself has also been losing key employees. On Wednesday, SoftBanks shares surged to their highest price in seven months, buoyed by news that a US federal judge had rejected an antitrust challenge to the proposed takeover of subsidiary Sprint Corp by T-Mobile US Inc. Nevertheless, SoftBank faces pressure to enhance shareholder value after sources told Reuters News Agency last week that US activist hedge fund Elliott Management had amassed a stake of almost $3bn in the tech conglomerate and is pushing for change including $20bn in stock buybacks. SoftBank also said it recorded a 332 billion yen ($3.02bn) dilution gain related to its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd following the Chinese e-commerce giants secondary listing in Hong Kong in November. Our children deserve a governor who believes in ALL children and families, who supports all schools, public or private, said Benson. Benson noted that the governor does not appear to accept that or address the fact that Nebraska ranks 48th in the nation in state aid to education -- and has ranked that low for decades. The governor is trying to blame everyone but himself for the states continuing heavy reliance on property taxes to fund essential local services, including our public schools, said Dr. Michael Dulaney, executive director of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. Locally elected school boards are good, vigilant watchdogs for taxpayers. They do their very best to provide our communities with good schools and our children with a quality education. And they are accomplishing this with exceedingly tight spending lids and property tax caps. Imposing more restrictions on our school boards is just the governor passing the buck. In a significant development, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the capitalisation of three Public Sector Insurance Companies-- National General Insurance, United India Insurance and Oriental Insurance Company with Rs 2,500 crore. The meeting of the cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar also apprised about the decision of the cabinet to introduce the Pesticide Management Bill, 2020, in this session of Parliament. The Bill aims at protecting farmers' interests by ensuring that they get safe and effective pesticides. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: Union Cabinet has approved the capitalization of public sector insurance companies -- National General Insurance, Oriental Insurance Company & United India Insurance -- with Rs 2,500 crore. pic.twitter.com/OCycgAjz4U ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 READ: After Delhi defeat, BJP recalibrates to highlighting Centre's public welfare work MoU between India and Iceland Furthermore, the Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum between India and Iceland in the field of Sustainable Fisheries Development. The changes in 'Vivad se Vishwas' Bill to expand the scope of the Bill have also been approved in the cabinet meeting. READ: Javadekar wishes AAP on landslide victory, says 'BJP will continue to be voice of people' Cabinet approves signing of India-Sri Lanka double taxation avoidance agreement Javadekar further apprised about the approval of a protocol amending the Agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. The cabinet has approved the Signing and Ratification of the Protocol amending the Agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the same. A general anti-abuse provision in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) will result in the curbing of tax planning strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules. The existing DTAA between India and Sri Lanka was signed on January 22, 2013, and entered into force on October 22, 2013. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: Union Cabinet has approved protocol amending the Agreement between India and Sri Lanka for avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. pic.twitter.com/CrydSEUHa6 ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 READ: No links between coronavirus, migratory birds; let's not create fear psychosis: Javadekar READ: Centre rejects AP govt's proposal to release lumpsum payment under PM-KISAN (With ANI Inputs) The Competition Commission has dismissed a complaint against Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Airtel and Sify Technologies which alleged that they were charging higher rates for overseas inbound calls as compared to the ceiling fixed by telecom regulator Trai. The order came on a complaint filed by Canada-based Teleclub (Alberta Ltd), which is an international telecom carrier. The complainant alleged that the Indian telecom operators together decided to charge standard rate of 0.0053 USD for inbound calls terminating on their network in India, instead of the rates fixed by Trai. As per IUC Regulations, 2018, the telecom regulator prescribes international termination charges (ITC) of Rs 0.30 per minute for international incoming calls to wireline and wireless networks, it said. It added that the telecom operators further increased the rate of inbound calls to 0.0115 USD per minute after another meeting in February 2018. Besides, they allegedly harassed the firm by choking its ports used for sending traffic. Subsequently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) sought the opinion of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the matter. CCI, from the submission of Trai, noted that as per Interconnection Usage Charges (IUC) Regulations, the regulator has prescribed the ITC for international incoming calls but international settlement charge (ISC) is not regulated under the norms and has to be decided based on mutual negotiations between the Indian long distance operators and foreign service providers. The complainant has "mistaken International Termination Charges i.e. ITC as International Settlement Charge i.e. ISC", CCI noted. CCI, while disposing of the complaint, said "the Commission has prima facie not found any evidence to indicate that OPs have fixed the rates through any concerted action amongst themselves, so as to warrant an investigation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thanks to its high level of creativity and design as well as its various models of Chinese-foreign cooperation, Chinese childrens books have drawn worldwide attention and enjoyed increasing influence in overseas markets. Visitors at the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (Photo/Xinhua) In recent years, more and more Chinese childrens literature works have won extensive praise around the world, winning global awards one after another. Not long ago, White Fox, a childrens book by Chinese author Chen Jiatong, was included by Financial Times on the list of its Best books of 2019: Childrens books. Since it was introduced to the UK in 2018 by British publishing company Chicken House, White Fox has attracted a great deal of attention from British readers. White Fox is the first Chinese childrens book introduced by world-renowned publisher Barry Cunningham to the UK. Cunningham spoke highly of the book and its author Chen, saying that they make him feel the unique cultural appeal of a brand new Chinese narrative. So far, the copyright of the White Fox series has been exported to the UK, US, France, Germany, and Mexico. White Fox is not the only success story in Chinese childrens literature. In 2016, Chinese novelist Cao Wenxuan won the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Ever since then, the international publishing industry has paid growing attention to Chinese childrens books. In October 2019, Zhu Chengliang, a Chinese author and illustrator of childrens books, won the Golden Apple Award at the 27th Biennale of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) 2019 for his picture book Dont Let the Sun Fall. In June 2019, Chinese author Liu Xianping won the Honorary Award at the Bianki International Literature Awards in Moscow with his novel Lonely Elk King, among many other examples. Besides international awards, Chinese childrens books have also won favor with foreign publishers. At such international book fairs as the Bologna Childrens Book Fair in Italy, Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, exhibition stands of Chinese companies that publish childrens books are attracting the attention of more and more foreign exhibitors. At one book fair, Peter Usborne, founder and managing director of British publisher Usborne Publishing, told Bai Bing, editor in chief of Chinas Jieli Publishing House, that he has told all of his employees to focus on Chinese exhibition stands, hoping that they will gain better knowledge of the childrens books market in China. Imported childrens books used to be a hot spot in the Chinese childrens book publishing industry. But today, Chinese childrens books have become one of the areas witnessing the fastest development, the best economic returns, and the fiercest competition. More than 520 of Chinas over 580 publishing houses are engaged in publication of childrens books, printing 900 million copies and 23,000 varieties of childrens books per year. By importing copyrights, Chinese writers and the publishing industry have learned a lot and progressed quickly. Now, Chinese childrens books have seen a huge improvement in quality, said Bai. We fully follow internationally recognized copyright rules in introducing our childrens books to overseas markets. We are ready to have our books tested in markets, disclosed Ma Lina, director of the center on international cooperation of Encyclopedia of China Publishing House. Encyclopedia of China Publishing House has exported copyrights of its encyclopedia books for children to more than 10 countries and regions, and realized export of copyrights of more than 100 categories of books since 2016. In addition, various models and multiple channels for promoting the overseas popularity of Chinese childrens books have frequently emerged, such as Chinese-foreign cooperation in the creation of childrens books, and establishment of overseas branches of Chinese publishing companies. The Beijing-based Daily Publishing House is now working with a publishing house from Norway for a China-Norway picture book co-creation project. Each side will send three authors and three illustrators to work on the project. These six people work in pairs to create six picture books, which will be published in both China and Norway. The reason why we chose to create these books through cooperation with a foreign counterpart is that we want to get a deep understanding of the local market and the needs of its readers, and we also want to see how foreign publishers create books and run businesses, said Zhang Yuntao, president of Daily Publishing House. By jointly creating picture books, the two publishing houses can realize a deeper level of exchanges and cultural cooperation, said a publisher from Norway. Through merger and acquisition, Guangxi Normal University Press Group has established several branches in countries including Australia, Malaysia, Croatia, and Japan. China has the worlds largest childrens books market, which is a unique advantage that Chinas childrens books industry possesses, according to Bai, noting that he believes that China will be an important exporter of childrens books and make greater contributions to the global publishing industry in the future. A fresh wave of strikes is poised to hit the tram network on its busiest weekend next month, with Melbourne's grand prix caught up in the public transport union's bitter pay dispute with Yarra Trams. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union will halt trams six times over the first two weeks in March, following two stoppages on Monday and Thursday next week. The big crowds who line up to catch the tram to the grand prix will have to find another way to get to Albert Park. Credit:Jason South More than 1500 Yarra Trams drivers, authorised officers and customer service staff will walk off the job between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday, March 3, and Thursday, March 5. Then, over the four days of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, trams will grind to a halt between 10am and 2pm on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, and between noon and 4pm on Saturday, March 14, and the day of the big race, Sunday, March 15. OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP, TPX.TO) reported fourth-quarter underlying income per share of $1.02 compared to $0.84, prior year. On average, 13 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $0.78, for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Underlying EBITDA increased 15.8% on a constant currency basis. Fourth-quarter net sales improved to $2.49 billion from $2.42 billion, last year. Analysts expected revenue of $2.48 billion for the quarter. Worldwide brand volume was 21.8 million hectoliters, down 1.0%, primarily driven by lower economy volumes in the U.S. and weakened performance in Canada, partially offset by growth in International. For full year 2020, the company expects: underlying EBITDA to decline high-single digit, on a constant currency basis; and net sales revenue to be flat to low-single digit decrease on a constant currency basis. 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. Over the weekend, the fatalities attributed to the novel coronavirus outbreaknow named Covid-19 by the World Health Organizationsurpassed the 774 that succumbed during the SARS epidemic in 20022003. Though the number of new reported cases appears to have reached its apogee on February 4 and has been gradually declining, with 2,478 new confirmed cases on Tuesday morning, the number of people who have died continues to climb. A least 108 fatalities were reported yesterday. People wearing masks, walk in a subway station, in Hong Kong [Credit: AP Photo/Kin Cheung] The total number of confirmed cases globally currently stands at 44,789, with 1,112 attributable deathsof which the vast majority have taken place in Chinas Hubei province where the virus first emerged in the city of Wuhan. Hubei has suffered the lions share of the misery and suffering. Some 11 million people in Wuhan and 60 million across the province have been living under conditions of a virtual lockdown since January 22, in a belated attempt by the Chinese authorities to contain the spread of the virus. Some 80 cities in 20 provinces, including Beijing and Shanghai, have travel restrictions and bans on public assemblies in place. Though the unprecedented measures appear to have slowed the number of new cases in China, the WHO has cautioned against unguarded optimism. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, having been unconcerned three weeks ago, made starkly ominous comments on Tuesday. The virus is more powerful in bringing serious consequences than any terrorist attack, he stated. Its not just the health issues; its a matter of economic, political and social upheavalstime is of the essence. He indicated that the opportunity to limit the global spread of the virus was fading. A WHO team of international experts arrived in Beijing on Monday to assist efforts to contain the epidemic. Dr. Bruce Aylward, a Canadian epidemiologist and emergency expert, is leading the group and its attempts to gain a better understanding of both the virus and Chinas public health response. Specific questions include identifying the origin of the virus and appreciating its true severity. Dr. Aylward was involved in WHOs response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Chinese authorities have sprung into action to shore up their credibility in the wake of public outrage over the death of Wuhans Doctor Li Wenliang, who was threatened for raising concerns about the virus in late December. Anger has also been fueled by delays in healthcare delivery and shortages of medical supplies. It is believed that as many as 1,000 medical workers have been infected due to both the delay in official warnings that a new virus had emerged and a lack of protective equipment. Beijing has sent Chen Yixin, President Xi Jinpings protege and secretary-general of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Communist Partys top law enforcement body, to the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. Accompanying him was Wang Hejun, National Health Commission deputy director. Wuhan University law professor Gin Qianhong commented: The fight against the outbreak now requires more coordination with the military and police force, and Chens background might be useful. He used to be Wuhans party chief. Social stability consideration is also obvious. Resentment among patients, their family, and peoples lives affected by the virus and the citys lockdown status is building. A special task force that is reviewing prevention efforts has summoned Wuhan deputy mayor Chen Xiexing and two district chiefs, Lin Wenshu and Yu Song, for questioning over their negligence in containing the outbreak as well as efforts to care for the afflicted. Local officials will most likely be scapegoated in order to divert from any role the national government played in blocking early public health warnings. Nevertheless, Chinese President Xi is making rare admissions of political failings. After made a visit to a neighborhood near the Forbidden City, wearing a blue surgical mask, he somewhat candidly stated: The outbreak of the coronavirus is a major test of the national disease control and prevention centers of all levels in the country. It has shown both the strength and many shortcomings of the system. The long-term economic impact will be enormous. Many corporations have chosen not to resume operations, due to the ongoing restrictions in many provinces and cities. Morgan Stanley wrote to its investors: Its uncertain whether factories could resume production this week amid local quarantine efforts and traffic control. Indeed, many authorities and enterprises at local levels are targeting February 17 or later to restart businesses, and the resumption is likely to be a phased approach. The delay in the resumption of work is expected to lead to part shortages and a domino effect in manufacturing industries around the globe that are interdependent with Chinese-based production. US Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome H. Powell, testified at the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday: We are closely monitoring the emergence of the coronavirus, which could lead to disruptions in China that spill over to the rest of the global economy. As to the question of how long the epidemic might persist, Dr. Ian Lipkin, Columbia University Professor of epidemiology, noted: If we have an early spring, this should make a dramatic difference in the rate of acquisition of new infections. So, the dates to think about are the end of February and whenever the temperature begins to climb. Viruses do not tolerate high heat and humidity, preferring cooler and drier conditions of winter and spring. Beyond mainland China, the number of new cases remains low. However, concerns have been voiced in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand that the epidemic may spread widely, as cases among people who have never had contact with infected patients from China have now been diagnosed. Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, commented on the potential impact of the global spread of the virus. She noted: The first wave will be particularly bad because we have an immunologically naive population. The epidemic has a case fatality of around 2 percent at present, while demonstrating it is very contagious. To comprehend the implication of this figure, the 2009 H1N1 swine flu that originated in Mexico went on to infect over one billion people on the planet. Of these, at least 200,000 died, according to a WHO-sponsored study, with a case fatality of approximately 0.02 percent100 times less than Covid-19. In other words, should Covid-19 spread extensively beyond mainland China, the human cost, especially in countries whose populations have limited access to advanced healthcare, could be horrific. A SUPPORT group for Conservative teachers who feel politically isolated has been launched to spread the message that it is OK to be a Tory and a teacher. Stephen James, who says he is the only out-and-proud Tory teacher in his school, set up Conservative Friends of Education after he was branded a fascist for speaking about his beliefs during the general election campaign. According to a poll by the Times Educational Supplement, only seven per cent of the teaching profession voted Conservative but the group has already attracted interest from nursery workers, school teachers and university professors. Conservative MP Damian Collins, who represents Jamess Folkestone and Hythe constituency, told The Londoner: I know that hes not alone in feeling like this. Other teachers who are also members of the Conservative Party that Ive spoken to have shared with me that their political beliefs have to be hidden in the profession. I can see why he is passionate about changing this perception, the Conservative Party stands for a positive message of aspiration and the Conservative Friends of Education will provide a rally point for like-minded people who work in education I fully support his endeavours. James says his group has already received backing from Penny Mordaunt and Michael Gove and adds that he hopes it will encourage close links between the party and people employed in education. James plans to attend Teaching Union Conferences with his group and stand proudly among his Left-wing colleagues. Speaking to The Londoner, Stephen James said: The members are relieved that they have found like-minded people. The organisation seeks to unite rather than divide. It is not policy focused, instead we promote aspiration in line with Conservative policies, he added. Everyone needs a safe space. Phone-in king finds his calling James OBriens path to radio stardom got off to a rocky start. On his first-ever show with a phone-in element, nobody rang in for the first 47 minutes. His wife was the first to call, followed by an old actor friend, the LBC host told an event in Hackney earlier this week. He decided hed do it in a Northern Irish accent, just in case, OBrien said, and halfway through the conversation with him about Princess Diana... he forgets the Northern Irish accent and concluded the conversation in RP. Miriam Gonzalez Durantez (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) / Getty Images Miriam Gonzalez Durantez has a physical allergy to anything Ritz that prevented her from discussing a recipe for Blueberry cakes, until now associated with the hotel. Writing on her cooking blog, the lawyer and wife of Nick Clegg explains her distaste stems from the fact that the billionaire owners of that hotel became leading supporters of Brexit. Principles to eat by. -- Robert Jappie has become partner in Cannabis Law and Regulation at Aldgate-based law firm Ince, Legal Cheek reports. Inces CEO said in a statement it was committed to growing the best regulatory solutions team in the industry. Sounds like its cultivating a good crop. Actors deploy for Jack's war drama Jack Brett Anderson / Getty Images Stars of stage, screen and catwalk made it down to last nights launch party of Syndrome, a play about a tough subject the first Gulf War. Director Jack Brett Anderson told The Londoner that the heady cocktail of his personal experience in the cadets, the plays script and the unspoken aspects of the war inspired me like an emotional nuclear bomb. Similarly moved at the Gentlemans Journal party in hotel W London was the tailor Joshua Kane, who cut a typically distinctive figure. When The Londoner asked about Kanes celebrity crush, a smile broke out. Im with my girlfriend I cant answer that, Kane teased. I dont have one oh wait Johnny Depp! Because hes an icon. Across town actors Jonah Hauer-King, Naomi Ackie and Daniel Mays made it to the Ham Yard Hotel for the Casting Awards, where Mays struck a playful pose.Earlier in the day, man-of-the-moment Andrew Scott picked up the Best Actor award at the Critics Circle Theatre Awards for his role in Present Laughter. SW1A One new resident of Islington North wont be smiling at the vote cast by its CLP... Jon Lansman. The Momentum supremo, the campaign strategist for Rebecca Long-Bailey, saw his constituency nominate Keir Starmer for leader. Although Lansman was bemused to see a Starmer advocate approvingly cite Starmers youthful membership of a Pabloite Trotskyist grouplet, thats an unwelcome result on the home front. -- Its a lot easier than youd think, cartoonist Zoom Rockman says of drawing Chancellor Sajid Javid. The drawing begins with a circle, includes an upside-down question mark for the nose and is complete within 46 seconds. The Saj a cartoonists dream. -- Lucy Symons-Jones on being wed to Labour MP Darren Jones: My marriage is Labour Whips in the morning. It is who changes the nappies. It is BBC Parliament at night. Happy Anniversary! Jimmy and lover on the same page Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and his poet partner Scarlett Sabet crammed into Spitalfields cosy Libreria Bookshop last night for a talk. Its like being back in the womb, said Sabet, with some books. The two discussed their collaboration, Catalyst, a sonic reinterpretation of Sabets poems. Page was the recipient of some unsolicited fan art. Its a drawing, bellowed the fan. You can keep the folder! Generous. Another fan told Page he had travelled all the way from Moscow. I travelled from London, quipped Page. Quote of the day Jessie Ware / Getty Images 'He didn't even hide it' She said she agreed to have sex with Brown at the Lake County Government Complex and at his residence "only because she believed it was a condition of a promotion to full-time employment." She alleged Brown used his position as an elected official and her employer to exact sexual favors. He denied he had any sexual contact with her. Brown becomes a near-constant no-show at work as a result of the looming lawsuit, according to multiple recorders office staffers and county officials whove spoken with The Times. December 2017 Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter announces he would not be pressing charges against Brown, saying having an affair was not a crime. At the time, Carter said a state police investigation he requested did not provide any evidence that Brown compelled the employee to have sex with him to get a job. October 2018 Brown settles Montalvo's sexual harassment lawsuit by paying his accuser $185,000. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has said the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region is in the focus of the Russian government. Russia has always taken an active mediating position. The Karabakh issue remains in the focus of attention of the Russian president and the foreign minister, told RIA Novosti agency on February 12. As Rudenko stressed, assistance to the parties in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement is one of Russias unconditional foreign policy priorities. Among the documents signed with the direct assistance of Russia is the 1994 ceasefire agreement that has been so far the basis for truce, Rudenko added. Recalling Russia's mediation efforts, he described as an important step the adoption of the Moscow Declaration in 2008, which is about political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is the first and so far the only document on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts settlement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia," he emphasized. Rudenko further told that Russia carries out its mediation mission in close contact with the U.S. and French partners. He reminded that in April 2019, in Moscow, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov organized a meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian FMs, and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs also participated there. At this meeting, in continuation of the agreements reached between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Vienna last year, specific proposals were worked out aimed at creating an atmosphere conducive to the resumption of the substantive negotiation process on the conflicts settlement, he stated. As for the situation on the border and the contact line of the troops, Rudenko informed that it remains relatively calm. There is communication line between Yerevan and Baku. The parties declare their readiness to continue the search for compromise solutions. We support this attitude. There is a basis for continuing work. The main thing is to show political will, Rudenko concluded. Russia has significant potential to provide substantial impact on the course of events in the Caucasus, in particular, on the settlement of Karabakh conflict. Today, Russia is one of Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, which spearheads the OSCEs efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Russia, along with other co-chairing countries the US and France has been mediating the peaceful resolution of the conflict since the signing of a temporary cease-fire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1994. Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijans breakaway region which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. To this day, Armenia has not implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz KENT COUNTY, MI -- Three people who recently traveled back from China to Kent County are under a voluntary quarantine to screen for the coronavirus. None of the people have shown any symptoms, Kent County health officials said, and the measure is simply a precaution. The travelers are under a 14-day monitoring period, which is part of recent protocol created by the Centers for Disease Control. The three people are at home during the voluntary quarantine. They are receiving daily health checks. More from MLive Woman who used racial slurs, slapped car salesman avoids jail Services in Grand Rapids, Lansing for 4 killed in house fire KALEVA, MI Snowmobilers will be able to travel a straight shot between two Northern Michigan communities when new trail segments open in 2021. Two new segments of snowmobile Trail 3 in Manistee County will open between Kaleva and Thompsonville thanks to the donation of two parcels of land from Lambda Energy Resources to the Benzie Manistee Snowbirds, said Mark Coe, vice president of the snowmobile club that maintains about 160 miles of trails. The 1.5 miles of abandoned railroad segments were donated to the club earlier this year. The Snowbirds sought to obtain the land for about 15 years and had offered to purchase it from the previous owner, according to a news release. Houston-based oil and gas company Lambda acquired the land in 2018 and donated it as a goodwill gesture, the release said. We now have the ability to connect more of a straight shot from Kaleva to Thompsonville, Coe said. Lambda Energy Resources donated two parcels of land, each marked here by two black lines, to the Benzie Manistee Snowbirds that will add 1.5 miles to club's snowmobile trail system in Manistee County. The two new segments will help connect Kaleva to Thompsonville.Benzie Manistee Snowbirds Bringing the new segments up to par will involve gravel resurfacing, brush clearing and other minor work that the club expects to finance itself, Coe said. Most significantly, a bridge will be needed over Bear Creek; it is expected to span about 45 feet and will require additional funding that will hopefully come in the form of a state grant, he said. The Kaleva to Thompsonville connection is expected to be a non-motorized hiking and biking trail outside the snowmobiling season. Hikers and bikers will be able to continue north from Thompsonville into Benzie County where the Betsie Valley Trail traverses through Beulah and Frankfort, the release said. The non-motorized plans are in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Scenic Manistee Area Recreational Trails Committee that is working to build trails that connect Manistee County communities, the release said. READ MORE: Michigan gears up for extended Snowmobile Festival Free Fishing Weekend is coming up with new three-day schedule U.P. town to welcome 180-plus sled dogs for CopperDog races PITTSBURGH, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "As a physical therapist, patients always complain to me about being wet and healthcare workers not helping them, said an inventor from Oak Lawn, Illinois. "This inspired me to develop an enhanced bed that may provide improved patient hygiene and an overall outlook." He developed the MEDICAL HAMMOCK, patent pending, which he believes may improve a patient's physical and mental health. It could reduce the formation of bed sores and aid in the healing of existing bed sores. Additionally, it could save medical personnel and caregivers time and energy. The original design was submitted to the Chicago sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-CCP-1489, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com SCHENECTADY Assistant Fire Chief Don Mareno recalls being part of a group of hundreds of applicants who took the civil service test to become a firefighter three decades ago. Back then, prospective candidates weren't required to also be a certified paramedic or have 60 college credits as they are now. They must also pass a physical agility test before being hired and live in Schenectady, Montgomery, Schoharie or Saratoga counties, said the assistant chief. Two years ago, when the exam was last offered, about three dozen people took the test, and before that in 2016, 51, Mareno said. As a result, fire officials are working on several fronts to get anyone interested in the job to take the test, which is required. The first of several information sessions to learn more whether you have what it takes to be a Schenectady firefighter is Saturday. Representatives from some of the area colleges that offer courses geared toward firefighting will also be on hand. Additionally, there are three billboards around the Electric City with information about the necessary qualifications to be hired. The department has contacted the various neighborhood association groups in hopes of spreading the word, Mareno said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Over the years, the now 113-member, predominantly white and male department has struggled to attract women and people of color. Anyone that has the desire, that has the passion, we want to reach them, and we want them to look at Schenectady because this is a great place to work, he said, adding firefighter-paramedics also can receive training for dealing with hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction and confined spaces among other specialties. A rookie firefighter earns about $40,000 a year, Mareno said. The deadline is March 9 to sign up for the civil service test, which is scheduled to be administered on April 25. 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. Sen. Bernie Sanders heads into the two final February contests - the Nevada caucuses and the South Carolina primary - with the shine of frontrunner status. The Vermont senator faces a new challenge of competing in states that have far more diverse populations than Iowa and New Hampshire, where he won the popular vote, though is slightly behind South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg in the delegate count. Nevada holds caucuses a week from Saturday, while South Carolina hosts a primary the Saturday after that. In 2016, after coming off a 22 point win in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton, Sanders lost both states to the eventual Democratic nominee. Sen. Bernie Sanders beat former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary Sen. Bernie Sanders, shown alongside wife Jane Sanders, must now dedicate resources to the next two states: Nevada and South Carolina, while looking ahead to 'Super Tuesday' Sen. Bernie Sanders got crushed by Hillary Clinton in South Carolina in 2016, because he only managed to pick up 14 per cent of the black Democratic vote. He also lost Nevada to Clinton, again because she did better than him with African-Americans Sen. Bernie Sanders will be in and out of Nevada for the next week, while sending surrogates ahead to South Carolina and also holding rallies in Super Tuesday states In South Carolina, Sanders was crushed by Clinton thanks to black voters. She won the state with 73 per cent of the vote. Sanders got 26 per cent. Exit polls showed that while Clinton and Sanders performed fairly evenly among white South Carolina Democrats - she edged him out with 54 per cent, while he got 46 per cent - black South Carolina Demorats favored Clinton by a whopping 72 points. Clinton received 86 per cent of the black Palmetto State vote, while Sanders got just 14 per cent. And in South Carolina four years ago, the black vote in the Democratic primary represented 61 per cent of voters, exit polls said, versus the 35 per cent of white South Carolina Democrats who showed up to the polls. In Nevada, Sanders only lost the caucuses to Clinton by 6 points. She took 53 per cent of the vote, to the Vermont senator's 47 per cent. Four years ago, the majority of voters who caucused for the Democrats in Nevada were white. They accounted for 59 per cent of the people who showed up. Another 19 per cent were Hispanic and 13 per cent were black. Sanders won over white votes, but by two points - 49 per cent to 47 per cent. He also won a bigger share of the Latino vote than Clinton - 53 per cent to 45 per cent. But again, it was black voters who gave the former secretary of state the edge. Seventy-six per cent of black caucus-goers in Nevada chose Clinton, while Sanders earned 22 per cent. This time around, Sanders is competing against more candidates - with one, former Vice President Joe Biden, focusing almost completely on turning black and brown voters out after disappointing finishes in the first two states. To combat this, Sanders is heading to Nevada, sending surrogates down to South Carolina, while also scheduling events in Super Tuesday states just in case Biden holds the lead. The former vice president currently bests Sanders in Nevada by a spread of 3.5 points, but voters there have only been surveyed twice since the start of 2020. A lot has changed since then, including Biden's fourth and fifth place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively. Two national polls now have Sanders in the lead. The Quinnipiac poll also suggests that Biden's national support among African-Americans has been cut in half. The two most recent polls out of South Carolina, both conducted in late January before the nominating contests began, show Biden 18 and then 5 points ahead. The surveys show that Sanders and billionaire Tom Steyer are vying for second and third place. Steyer, who remained in single-digits coming out of Iowa and New Hampshire, has dedicated a lot of resources to the Palmetto State. Sanders hasn't scheduled appearances in South Carolina yet - instead sending a trio of surrogates instead. Starting Thursday, former state Sen. Nina Turner will appear in South Carolina, alongside actress Susan Sarandon and actor Danny Glover, two Hollywood fixtures who have supported Sanders since 2016. Turner and Glover are black. Sanders is holding two Valentine's Day rallies in North Carolina - in Raleigh-Durham and then Charlotte - and then another rally near Dallas, Texas. He then heads to Nevada for the weekend, hosting events in Las Vegas and Carson City. Late Sunday, Sanders pops up to Denver Colorado to hold a rally there. Colorado, like North Carolina and Texas, votes on 'Super Tuesday,' which is March 3 this year. Sanders then returns to Nevada to hold rallies in Reno and back in Las Vegas. Democrats will debate on Wednesday night leading up to Saturday's caucuses. And Sanders will again throw a big caucus-eve rally, scheduled to take place at an outdoor, Las Vegas amphitheater Friday night. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 07:50:03|Editor: ZD Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Wang Zichen BRUSSELS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Swedish telecommunication operators have continued to use equipment from Huawei, the Chinese technology firm, the national radio broadcaster Sveriges Radio reported on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a government minister told Sveriges Radio on January 29 the Nordic country's legislation is not aimed towards one specific company or country. HUAWEI STILL "A PROVIDER" TO SWEDEN Ekot, the news service of Swedish national radio broadcaster Sveriges Radio, reported Tuesday that its survey showed that Swedish operators have used Huawei technology in their testing of 5G technology over the last year. Staffan Akesson, the chief technology officer of operator Telia, was reportedly saying "Huawei is a provider that we are currently using, we don't comment on what providers we will use in the future." The report said Tele2 and Three, two operators, have both recently used Huawei equipment in 5G testing, and Telenor, another operator, also has stated that it doesn't exclude using Huawei as a provider for the outer radio parts in their networks. For months, the United States government has been prodding its European allies to ban Huawei, the employee-owned Chinese technology vendor leading in 5G globally, from participating in building their telecommunication networks. But the U.S. campaign suffered significant blows in the end of January, when the United Kingdom and the European Union both issued rules that did not ban Huawei. "NOT AIMED TOWARDS SPECIFIC COMPANY" Tuesday's report came after Studio Ett, also under Sveriges Radio, reported on January 29 that Anders Ygeman, Minister for Energy and Digital Development, said Swedish legislation was not aimed towards one specific country or company. A change in Swedish legislation in January this year means that the Swedish government can review telecom providers on the basis of "national security". For 5G there is not one specific country or company that poses a risk, but there are a number of complex risks when it comes to a system such as the 5G network, Ygeman reportedly said. Ygeman reportedly said that there is not any evidence against one company or country that a component has posed a threat to the network yet, adding that Sweden believes in free competition on the market which will give Sweden a better 5G network. On 5G, Huawei's global competitors are Sweden's Ericsson and Finland's Nokia, both of which have been big sellers to telecommunication operators in China, where the size of potential revenue is huge. "TECHNOLOGY ALWAYS BEATS POLITICS" Despite fear-mongering rhetoric, the U.S. government has consistently failed to present any evidence on its accusation that Huawei poses a threat to national security in Europe - a key factor leading to Europeans' rebuff of Washington's demand. In addition, Huawei is invariably judged by international telecommunication operators as having advanced technology but lower cost - banning Huawei would thus be very costly and time-consuming. "Technology always beats politics," Kenneth Fredriksen, Executive Vice President, Huawei Central East Europe and Nordic Region, was quoted by Dagens Nyheter, a major Swedish newspaper, as saying on Tuesday. "We're in pretty good shape. After all, we have signed 60 contracts for 5G in the world, including 30 in Europe. We have delivered the technology to Finland, received orders in Norway, and we are in no way being turned down by the Swedish operators," Fredriksen reportedly said. "We choose to believe in the authorities when they say that the law is not aimed at individual suppliers or countries," Fredriksen reportedly said. Huawei just celebrated its 20th year in Europe, where its first footprint was a research and development center in Sweden. Abraham Liu, Huawei's chief representative to the EU Institutions, said last week that the Chinese company had decided to set up manufacturing bases of 5G equipment in Europe, to have "5G for Europe made in Europe." President Donald Trump on Tuesday attacked the federal judge who will sentence Roger Stone - after an extraordinary 24 hours saw the entire prosecution quit after their call to jail the dirty trickster for nine years was overruled. Trump went after U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson accusing her of 'putting Paul Manafort in solitary confinement something that not even mobster Al Capone had to endure.' In fact Manafort's prison conditions were set by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is ultimately overseen by Bill Barr, the attorney general; Berman Jackson remanded him in custody for breaching bail conditions and was one of two judges to sentence him to prison time. Berman Jackson has scheduled a sentencing hearing for Stone on February 20, when she will decide his punishment for lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. But that process had already been thrown into chaos by Trump and his Justice Department on Tuesday, after prosecutors on Monday calling for Stone to get nine years in prison. First Trump tweeted just after midnight on Tuesday that the nine years demand was a 'miscarriage of justice,' then just before midday the Department of Justice overruled the prosecutors and said senior leaders found nine years 'excessive.' Trump rant: The president tweeted a series of claims about the investigation into Roger Stone, including a false suggestion that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had put Paul Manafort in solitary confinement, and that John Podesta's brother Tony had escaped prosecution; the Department of Justice had edned an investigation into Podesta in September New target: Amy Berman Jackson, the Obama-appointed federal judge who will sentence Roger Stone, found herself in Trump's twitter crosshairs after a day of unprecedented drama involving the Department of Justice Within hours the four career prosecutors quit the case one by one, and Trump was questioned in the Oval Office on whether he ordered them to be overruled. He denied it but said he had the power to do so if he had wanted to, called the recommendation 'ridiculous,' said the prosecutors should be 'ashamed' for a case he called a 'disgrace.' Attacking Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, now puts Trump on a collision course with John Roberts, the Chief Justice, who presided over his impeachment acquittal last week. Roberts had hit Trump hard in November 2018 when the president had lashed out at a judge for ruling against an immigrant measure calling him an 'Obama judge.' In response Roberts said: 'We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. 'What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. 'That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.' Trump also tweeted that 'a swamp creature with "pull" was just sentenced to two months in jail for a similar thing that they want Stone to serve 9 years for.' That was an apparent reference to James Wolfe, a Senate Intelligence Committee staffer who was jailed for two months in December - by a different federal judge - for lying to the FBI. Wolfe had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contact with the media while they investigated a leak of classified material. Trump had gleefully tweeted that the FBI 'caught a leaker,' something with which Wolfe was not charged. Trump's widening attacks came after he denied asking his attorney general to roll back prosecutors' recommendation that longtime advisor Stone face serious jail time. The Department of Justice dramatically reversed its demand to jail Stone for up to nine years in a move announced Tuesday hours after Donald Trump slammed it on Twitter as a 'miscarriage of justice.' The reversal prompted the extraordinary decision by three experienced federal prosecutors to remove themselves from the case with one resigning his position with the government entirely. Trump stood by his decision Tuesday afternoon, calling the original recommendation a 'disgrace,' and terming the proposed sentence 'ridiculous.' Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Donald Trump's confidant Roger Stone to serve between seven and nine years in prison after his conviction in November 2019 'I thought it was ridiculous,' Trump said. 'No I didn't speak to the Jus I'd be able to do it if I wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe. But I didn't speak to them. I thought the (original) recommendation was ridiculous, I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous,' Trump vented. 'I look at others that haven't been prosecutors.' He said he considered it an 'insult to our country.' He called them 'the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell.' But he also maintained: 'I have not been involved.' 'I think it's a disgrace. See what happens.' Trump declined to say whether he was considering commuting Stone's sentence, whatever it turns out to be. But he did suggest another man he considers a political enemy, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, might face a military investigation. 'We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want. General Milley has him now. I congratulate General Milley,' Trump said, referencing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley. 'He can have him. And his brother also,' Trump said. 'We'll find out,' he added, without explanation. According to its updated filing, which came after Trump's overnight tweets: 'The defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is 'sufficient, but not greater than necessary' to satisfy the factors set forth in' sentencing guidelines. 'Based on the facts known to the government, a sentence of between 87 to 108 months' imprisonment, however, could be considered excessive and unwarranted ... Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case,' the updated memo said. A senior Justice Department official told ABC News "it does appear" the the prosecutors asked to be taken off the case as a form of protest. But the official denied Trump's nearly 2 am tweet played a role in the turnaround, calling it an 'inconvenient coincidence.' Stone has been a Trump confidant for decades, and served as an informal advisor during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's denial came after prosecutors filed a new memo in the Stone case leaving it to the judge to recommend the appropriate sentence. Leaders at the department, which is headed by Attorney General Bill Barr, found it extreme and excessive, and disproportionate to Stone's offenses, one official said. Shortly after the announcement, the lead prosecutor in the case, Aaron Zelinsky, used a court filing to announce that he had resigned 'effective immediately' as a special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He retains a federal post in Maryland. A second, Jonathan Kravis, followed him shortly afterwards, resigning from government service as an assistant U.S. attorney. A third federal prosecutor, Adam Jed, also withdrew as counsel to the government in the case. Later Tuesday, it was revealed that prosecutor Michael Marando withdrew from the case. Kravis served in the public integrity of the Justice Department, served in the White House counsel's office under Barack Obama, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Jed clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. All four used court filings to announce their departures, apparently to the surprise of their own colleagues in an unmistakable sign of protest. Zelinsky was a member of Mueller's team, but remained after Mueller departed to work on the Stone case. Trump had tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday morning: 'This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' Just before midday, the DOJ announced its walk back but one official told Fox News the decision had been made before Trump's Twitter rant. All three were seasoned prosecutors who worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's team. The official did not explain why the reversal had not been announced until after the tweet. The DOJ has not said what sentence it will now seek. The move prompted immediate anger and derision from Democrats with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying: 'They'll probably recommend the presidential medal of freedom!' He said he was asking the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate whether Bill Barr had directed the reversal. Veteran 'dirty trickster' Stone is due to face sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on February 20, after a jury in November found him guilty on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Attack: Democratic congressman Bill Pascrell likened Trump and the DOJ's move to a banana republic Trump tweeted Monday night: ''This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' (pictured: at a campaign rally in Manchester last night) Prosecutors will now have to ask the judge for permission to abandon their initial recommendation and submit a new one. 'We look forward to reviewing the government's supplemental filing,' Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, said in an email to Reuters. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation. Long-time consigliere: Roger Stone has been advising Donald Trump on politics for more than 20 years, including in 1999 during his first putative White House run Jackson, the judge, has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Besides, judges invariably frown upon crimes that they see as perverting the functions of the criminal justice system, such as making false statements or obstructing an investigation. The Justice Department plans to refile the recommendation later Tuesday. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position onFlynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. The White House referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department. Stone is one of several people close to Trump who faced charges stemming from then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has the power to pardon people for federal crimes, although he has yet to use it in the cases of other former aides convicted in the wake of the Mueller investigations. His tweet hunted he could use that power, or his power to commute sentences if Stone were to get the level of custody demanded by prosecutors. Stone's own defense had asked for probation. Senior Democratic lawmakers expressed amazement at the move but Trump loyalists said they now hoped Mike Flynn - the disgraced former national security advisor who is currently trying to get out of his guilty plea to lying to the FBI - would also get 'clemency.' Outrage: Senior Democratic lawmakers including senators Chuck Schumer - the Senate minority leader - Chris Van Hollen and Sheldon Whitehouse all expressed anger at the move to abandon the call for a nine-year sentence Trump-world reacts: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor whose daughter Sarah was the White House press secretary, was among the president's supporters calling for Mike Flynn to also be affected by the apparent presidential intervention into a prosecution During the trial, prosecutors pressed their case that Stone lied to lawmakers about his outreach to WikiLeaks - the website that disclosed many hacked Democratic emails ahead of the 2016 U.S. election that proved embarrassing to Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton - to protect Trump from looking bad. Stone, who has labeled himself an 'agent provocateur' and has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian election interference. Stone's colorful trial featured references to the film 'The Godfather Part II,' an impression of Senator Bernie Sanders by prosecution witness Randy Credico, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign chief executive Steve Bannon and former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates. Those witnesses said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about Clinton. In truth, he had no such information. Stone was also accused of tampering with Credico's testimony, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI. In emails and texts, Stone told Credico among other things: 'Prepare to die,' 'You're a rat. A stoolie,' and 'Stonewall it.' Prosecutors also charged that Stone had threatened Credicos therapy dog, Bianca, saying he was 'going to take that dog away from you.' Unlocking the power of Data Protection in 2020 with Dell Technologies. Dell Technologies offers a holistic and robust data protection portfolio helping businesses to better protect their data as well as monetize it, enabling them to deliver better business outcomes. Technological advancements and rapid adoption of new-age technologies have created a need for customers as well as businesses to secure and protect their data in a cost-effective manner. In an interview with The Asian Age, Mr Ripu Bajwa, Director & General Manager - Data Protection Solutions, Dell Technologies, shares his perspective on how the data protection landscape has evolved over the years along with a set of data protection trends that will gain momentum this year. Q. How has the Indian Data Protection landscape evolved in the past few years? Over the years, India has undergone a momentous transition to become a digital economy. This coupled with the rapid proliferation of emerging technologies such as AI, ML, IoT, analytics etc., has resulted in a data surge. As per a study*, it was found out that on an average, organizations in India are managing 6.42 PB of data. As organizations move ahead in their digital transformation journeys, they are increasingly recognizing the value of their data and the need to protect it. This has led to a constant evolution of the data protection landscape in the country. At Dell Technologies, we offer a holistic and robust data protection portfolio helping businesses to better protect their data as well as monetize it, enabling them to deliver better business outcomes. Q. What are the new trends that will emerge in the data protection landscape in the year 2020? The year 2020 marks the beginning of the next data decade. As data grows and becomes more critical to organizations, ensuring its protection has become their new business imperative. Looking at this evolution, there are three trends which will dominate the data protection landscape in India this year: Focus on Disaster Recovery rather than Disaster Management: Loss of critical data has the power to cripple any business in no time. Therefore, going ahead, in order to protect their valuable data sets against external outrages or information loss, organisations will look towards imbibing disaster recovery strategies as a form of insurance. Need for 24*7 Data Protection: Since most of the businesses are now operating on a 24*7 basis, there has been a significant increase in data generation. As organisations move towards putting more weightage on this data to derive valuable insights, it has become a priority for them to deploy robust data protection solutions which offer round the clock protection. Hence, we will see products that have the ability to create real-time backup and automatically send updates to the live data set. Shift Towards Cost-Effective Solutions: With the growth of SMBs in the country, demand for data protection solutions is on the rise. There is an increased awareness amongst all businesses, both large and small, regarding the importance of these solutions. Hence, companies will start looking at providing cost-effective and holistic data protection solutions to cater to the needs of SMBs. Q. Could you elaborate on the outlook of enterprises and customers towards adopting data protection solutions? Today, Indian organizations are looking at data protection in a positive light. They have become more sensitive to how data flows between internal and external entities. As per a survey conducted by Dell Technologies, data protection adopters sprang forward from 12% in 2016 to 60% in 2018. This gives a clear indication of how organizations are increasing their focus on data protection. However, while these organisations have started acknowledging data as the new oil, they are still lagging behind in terms of adoption of data protection as a core business strategy. Having said that, given the growth of data in the country, we can expect organizations to invest heavily in data protection solutions in the next decade. Q. What are the latest data protection advancements made by Dell Technologies that will help organizations better manage and protect their data? Dell Technologies understands the various hurdles that organisations face while protecting and managing their data. Therefore, to enable businesses in simplifying their data landscape, better optimise their workload and secure their data assets efficiently, we offer a holistic and an innovative data protection portfolio across environments - from edge to core to cloud. Our latest addition is Dell EMC PowerProtect DD Series appliances that offer our customers the ability to simplify and provide operational efficiencies for data protection of multi-cloud workloads. Some of its key features are Faster Performance; Greater Efficiency; Scalability to meet future demands as well as Data Protection for multi-cloud workloads. Q. What is the go-to-market strategy of Dell Technologies for the year 2020? As one of the largest technology brands in India, we have always worked towards spreading the importance of data protection for organisations by adopting a unique go-to-market strategy. Currently, our focus is to drive better customer engagement and reach. Through a host of approaches such as direct sales engagement, partner-led engagement and distribution led engagement, we are helping our customers manage their data capital from edge to core to cloud environments. FAIRFIELD Two members of an alleged retail theft ring accused of shoplifting from a local store were arrested after a foot pursuit in town over the weekend, police said Tuesday. At 6:23 p.m. Sunday, Fairfield police were called by a loss prevention officer at Super Stop & Shop, 760 Villa Ave., who reported that two suspects were shoplifting at the store. The loss prevention officer said they were watching two men later identified as Akanilli Dekattu and Tequan Robinson on video surveillance, taking a large amount of health and beauty care products into a large black bag, police said. Police said the loss prevention officer noted that he recognized the two men from a recent shoplifting alert sent to area Shop & Shop stores. Several officers were dispatched to the Fairfield store and were outside the store when Dekattu and Robinson walked out. When they saw the officers, they both allegedly took off on foot despite officers telling them multiple times to stop, police said. Police said Robinson tried to run to a vehicle left running in the parking lot, but officers were able to take him into custody before he got to the vehicle. As Robinson was being placed into the rear of a patrol vehicle, he spit at one of the arresting officers, police said. Dekattu was taken into custody near the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at 200 Tunxis Hill Road. The large black bag, which had the stolen merchandise, was dropped in the parking lot and retrieved by loss prevention officers. Inside the vehicle, officers found a second black bag with a large amount of health and beauty care merchandise which was determined to have been stolen from another Stop & Shop location, police said. Police said Robinson and Dekattu took $1,80.49 worth of items from the store. The items found in the bag in the vehicle was valued at $616.61. Robinson and Dekattu are believed to be members of a larger organized retail theft ring responsible for numerous incidents since (Jan. 16) at Stop & Shop locations in New York and Connecticut, police said. This retail theft ring is believed to have caused Stop & Shop a total loss of over $30,000. Robinson and Dekattu were found in possession of large amounts of cash which police said is believed to be proceeds from the sale of stolen merchandise and it was seized as a result. Dekattu, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with organized retail theft, fourth-degree larceny by shoplifting, conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and fifth-degree larceny by possession. Robinson, 20, of New York, N.Y., was charged with organized retail theft, fourth-degree larceny by shoplifting, conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, assault on an officer and fifth-degree larceny by possession. Each man was held on a $10,000 bond. Dekattu and Robinson each posted 10 percent of their cash bond and were released according to new state bond regulations, police said. Dekattu and Robinson were each given court dates of Feb. 20. It's not possible to invest over long periods without making some bad investments. But really big losses can really drag down an overall portfolio. So consider, for a moment, the misfortune of China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group Limited (HKG:557) investors who have held the stock for three years as it declined a whopping 82%. That would be a disturbing experience. And over the last year the share price fell 41%, so we doubt many shareholders are delighted. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness. Check out our latest analysis for China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group Given that China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size. Over three years, China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group grew revenue at 21% per year. That is faster than most pre-profit companies. So why has the share priced crashed 44% per year, in the same time? The share price makes us wonder if there is an issue with profitability. Sometimes fast revenue growth doesn't lead to profits. If the company is low on cash, it may have to raise capital soon. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). SEHK:557 Income Statement, February 12th 2020 If you are thinking of buying or selling China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. A Different Perspective We regret to report that China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group shareholders are down 41% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 1.7%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 13% 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. 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. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for China Tian Yuan Healthcare Group (1 is a bit concerning) that you should be aware of. Story continues 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. Los Angeles, Feb 12 : "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted in Chicago by a special prosecutor for an alleged hate crime hoax a year ago. Smollett faces six counts of disorderly conduct. The exact details are unclear, reports hollywoodreporter.com. He was indicted on Tuesday by special prosecutor Dan Webb, a former US Attorney, appointed in August last year by a Chicago judge to investigate the Smollett case. The actor is due back in court on February 24. Last year, Smollett told Chicago police that he was jumped by two men, claiming that they yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him during the assault. Police said that the attack was staged, accusing the actor of trying to boost his career with the news of the assault. Smollett and his legal team have maintained he was attacked. Smollett was then charged in the alleged hoax with 16 felony counts, but those charges were subsequently dropped by the Cook County State's Attorney's office in a deal with the actor's legal team. The police and city brought a lawsuit against the actor to cover the man-hours they say were wasted on his false report. On Tuesday evening, Smollett's attorney Tina Glandian issued a statement: "This indictment raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges against Mr. Smollett, not the least of which is the use of the same CPD detectives who were part of the original investigation into the attack on Mr. Smollett to conduct the current investigation, despite Mr. Smollett's pending civil claims against the City of Chicago and CPD officers for malicious prosecution. And one of the two witnesses who testified before the grand jury is the very same detective Mr. Smollett is currently suing for his role in the initial prosecution of him. "After more than five months of investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not found any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever related to the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Smollett. Rather, the charges were appropriately dismissed the first time because they were not supported by the evidence. The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State's Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice." Ulrika Jonsson gave her Oxfordshire home a huge clear out on Wednesday and showed off the results on her Instagram Story. And during her house tidy, the TV presenter, 52, joked about her 2005 The Body Plan DVD as she discovered some of her nostalgic belongings. Sharing a video of herself holding onto a copy, Ulrika hilariously captioned the clip with: 'Look what c**p I found think we sold three copies.' (sic) Clear out:Ulrika Jonsson gave her Oxfordshire home a huge clear out on Wednesday and showed off the results on her Instagram Story (pictured earlier this month) While she went on to share a 2010 DVD of comedy gameshow Shooting Stars, which she was a part of from 1995 until 2011, she quipped 'all the big names' as she zoomed in on her face. Ulrika went on to share some of her favourite CD albums and DVDs as she rummaged through nostalgic items during her clear out. The presenter had taken to her Instagram earlier in the day and said: 'I am in sorting & clearing HELL #sendhelp.' Although she went on to share her home transformation hours later as she penned: '.....and breathe.....' Work it: And during her house tidy, the TV presenter, 52, joked about her 2005 The Body Plan DVD as she discovered some of her nostalgic belongings A trip down memory lane: While she went on to share a 2010 DVD of comedy gameshow Shooting Stars, which she was a part of from 1995 until 2011, she quipped 'all the big names' as she zoomed in on her face Ulrika also posted an impressive picture of her 25-year-old son Cameron Turnbull's artwork. And hilariously shared a video of her three bulldogs chilling on the floor during the clear out, she penned: '#grafters'. It comes after Ulrika revealed she recently had sex for the first time in five years following the end of her marriage to ex Brian Monet. The TV presenter, 52, writing in a column for The Sun, told how she met a man on social media who she became intimate with and likened the experience to losing her virginity all over again. Before and after: The presenter had taken to her Instagram earlier in the day and said: 'I am in sorting & clearing HELL #sendhelp.' Wow: Ulrika also posted an impressive picture of her 25-year-old son Cameron Turnbull's artwork Hard at work: And hilariously shared a video of her three bulldogs chilling on the floor during the clear out, she penned: '#grafters' The former Celebrity Big Brother star candidly admitted she thought she would never have sex again only two years ago and was worried she would not remember how to have sex before she got down to the deed. Ulrika told how her confidence had taken a major hit over the last few years, saying her self-worth was 'lower than a tart's knickers'. She wrote: 'I had been left feeling so repulsive and rejected over the past years that the chances of having a physical experience again were slim to none. I had become unintentionally celibate.' Ulrika said her confidence was knocked by her lack of will or desire to have sex, as well as putting on a small amount of weight and physical signs of ageing. However, the TV star's hopes were restored after going on a date with a man who she felt a connection with. Candid: It comes after Ulrika revealed she recently had sex for the first time in five years following the end of her marriage to ex Brian Monet (pictured in May 2013) Ulrika said she was honest with him about her recent lack of sexual experience, admitting that it felt 'disloyal' to be attracted to someone other than her ex husband. The former Gladiators host revealed she was shocked when she experienced sexual arousal again, likening it to her body shutting down and someone bringing her back to life with a defibrillator. She said: 'I joke that it was like losing my virginity all over again except this time I felt much more in control and considerably less scared. This was not our first date, but I knew the first time I met him that I was attracted to him.' Ulrika and her new man got intimate on their second date, with the Swedish star describing the experience as a 'revelation'. The presenter said she knew she had missed being intimate but had not realised how much, saying intimacy will now be intrinsic to her life. Ulrika said she hopes her story will help other people struggling with a lack of intimacy or affection in their life find a way to reclaim it. She said: 'Now that I have been rejuvenated and reminded about the importance of intimacy, I feel like I never want to let it go again.' It comes after Ulrika previously went hunting for love on Celebrity First Dates late last year with a man named Paul who was 'a few years' younger than her. Self-esteem: Ulrika's confidence was knocked by her lack of desire to have sex, as well as putting on a small amount of weight and physical signs of ageing (pictured in January 2020) Writing in the Daily Mail after the show, the TV star said she had an enjoyable experience on the date. She wrote: 'Im proud of myself for getting into the swing of the evening. Maybe it was down to the rum, but I soon managed to let go of all the angst and enjoy Pauls company. 'Theres no way I would have found myself on a blind date so soon if it wasnt for the show, and Im grateful for the way it gave me an unexpected kick up the bum. 'I hope any woman in a similar position will take heart from what I did. Its challenging, putting yourself out there again, but, as long as you dont have ridiculously high expectations, then dating again can be a really positive experience.' Dating scene: It comes after Ulrika previously went hunting for love on Celebrity First Dates late last year with a man named Paul who was 'a few years' younger than her As well as her experience on First Dates, Ulrika also signed up for dating app aimed at the over 50s. Ulrika previously revealed she and advertising executive Brian had sex just once in eight years. She said: 'Nearly two years ago, just before my 50th birthday, I remember thinking I might have to just accept that I would never have sex ever again. 'The reason I thought this is because I had not had sex for four and half years. And the time before that was four years prior. 'I was living in a sexless marriage for nearly a decade. That just didnt feel right. It felt unnatural and as if part of my life was over.' Despite questioning her husband on how their relationship got to where it was, she felt she never got a response. Ulrika wrote that going through menopause at the same time she was struggling in her marriage 'could't have made [her] feel worse' and hampered her confidence. However, she was keen to stress that it wasn't the menopause that ended her marriage. The TV star said there was great sexual chemistry between her and Brian when they first met and she's still not sure why it disappeared as the years went by. She said Brian was an excellent step-father to her three children and was also a doting dad to their son Malcolm, ten. Ulrika noted the couple never had the best communication skills and while she described herself as an 'open book', she felt Brian was the opposite. The couple went to marriage psycho-therapy sessions where Ulrika felt Brian lacked empathy. She added that they would continue to co-parent from separate houses and hopes they will reach a 'greater point of neutrality' in the future. During an appearance on Loose Women, Ulrika opened up further about her confession to only having sex with Brian once in eight years. Meet and greet: She met her suitor on social media, where she frequently shares candid snaps of her cooking, her kids and a host of selfies 'I was obviously profoundly affected by it and, to be quite honest, wondered if there was other people going through similar things. Mine, I guess, also coupled with going through the menopause and feeling different about my own body.' When asked if they were both disinterested in sex, she admitted that was certainly interested.' 'Obviously my ex-husband is not here to defend himself. I tried very, very hard at increasingly regular intervals to bring the subject up, it was of great concern to me. 'We worked really well as a couple and as parents and as a family, I think it was amazing. It was 100% the reason I wanted to stay in the marriage and keep going.' Of her Loose Women interview, Ulrika she 'didn't know' how he would feel about discussing their previous romance. 'I dont know. I see him every day, we see each other every day. Hes a really great guy, Im absolutely devastated that the marriage came to an end. 'But for me the whole thing about intimacy feels like a massive taboo. I would never dream of talking about it. But then when I thought, no this is really important.' It has been a tough time for the star who announced her heartbreaking split in April following 11 years of marriage. Ulrika also recently took to Instagram to admit that her 'eyes stung with tears' after she received the official letter confirming her separation from her third husband. Truthful: Ulrika said she was honest with her hew man about her recent lack of sexual experience Ulrika noted that her marriage was finally over after 'having a gorgeous ceremony and spending 13 years together' - but added a slight touch of humour in her message as she joked she was 'free to marry again.' Ulrika and Brian, who is believed to be 50, tied the knot in 2008 and share one son, Malcolm, 11. They began their relationship in 2006. In 2014, Brian also adopted her daughter Bo, now 20, from the presenter's relationship with German hotel boss Markus Kempen. Ulrika has two other children, Cameron, 25, from her marriage to John Turnbull (1990-1995) and Martha, 15, from her union with Lance Gerrard-Wright, (2003-2005). Exclusive: Coronavirus outbreak may be over in China by April - expert Zhong Nanshan, head of the National Health Commission's team investigating the novel coronavirus outbreak, attends an interview with Reuters in Guangzhou By David Kirton GUANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - The coronavirus outbreak is hitting a peak in China this month and may be over by April, the government's senior medical adviser said on Tuesday, in the latest assessment of an epidemic that has rattled the world. In an interview with Reuters, Zhong Nanshan, an 83-year-old epidemiologist who won fame for combating the SARS epidemic in 2003, shed tears about the doctor Li Wenliang who died last week after being reprimanded for raising the alarm. But Zhong was optimistic the new outbreak would soon slow, with the number of new cases already declining in some places. The peak should come in middle or late February, followed by a plateau and decrease, Zhong said, basing the forecast on mathematical modelling, recent events and government action. "I hope this outbreak or this event may be over in something like April," he said in a hospital run by Guangzhou Medical University, where 11 coronavirus patients were being treated. Though his comments may soothe some global anxiety over the coronavirus - which has killed more than 1,000 people and seen more than 40,000 cases, almost all in China - Zhong's previous forecast of an earlier peak turned out to be premature. "We don't know why it's so contagious, so that's a big problem," added Zhong, who helped identify flaws in China's emergency response systems during the 2002-03 SARS crisis. He said there was a gradual reduction in new cases in the southern province of Guangdong where he is based, and also in Zhejiang and elsewhere. "So that's good news for us." With China taking unprecedented measures to seal infected regions and limit transmission routes, Zhong applauded the government for locking down Wuhan, the city at the epicentre which he said lost control of the virus at an early stage. "The local government, local healthcare authority should have some responsibility on this," he said. Story continues "Their work had not been done well." The virus is believed to have originated in early December in a Wuhan seafood market where wildlife was illegally sold. 'HERO OF CHINA' Local authorities have also come under fire for their heavy-handed treatment of the late doctor Li, who was reprimanded by police in early January for "spreading rumours" about the disease before becoming its best-known fatality last Friday. "The majority of the people think he's the hero of China," Zhong said, wiping tears. "I'm so proud of him, he told people the truth, at the end of December, and then he passed away." Behind him stood hundreds of other doctors all wanting to tell the truth and now being encouraged by the government to do so, he said. "We really need to listen," he said. The virus has now infected more than 40,000 people on the Chinese mainland and spread to at least 24 countries. Zhong, who said the government's unwillingness to share information prolonged the SARS crisis, said Beijing had done much better this time on issues like transparency and cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO). But more should be done, he said, including an end to wildlife trade, better international cooperation on hygiene technology, improved operation of disease control centres, and a global "sentry" system to warn of potential epidemics. "If we have better cooperation and coordination, we can find it earlier and figure out the human-to-human transmission earlier," he said during the roughly 90-minute interview, adding that the outbreak would not be quite so serious if such a system was in place. Zhong said uncertainties remained about how the coronavirus was infecting patients, if it can spread via faeces and whether so-called "superspreaders" were helping transmit the disease. So far, China's data shows the recovery rate to be quite low, with less than 10% of confirmed patients discharged, but Zhong said authorities were leaving nothing to chance, with many patients still quarantined in wards now reasonably healthy. "They didn't know if they were going to re-infect or not... so that's why the cure rate up to now is not that high." Wearing masks outside contagion zones was not always necessary, he said, and the United States' and others' entry ban on Chinese was an over-reaction. Furthermore, it appeared children were less vulnerable, he added. Global, apolitical cooperation was crucial, Zhong said. "I think maybe we should be going closer, I mean in particular our colleagues and scientists, and have more cooperation," he said. "We're just dealing with the disease - nothing to do with the political, nothing." (Reporting by David Kirton; Additional reporting by Keith Zhai in Singapore; Writing by David Stanway; Editing by Robert Birsel and Andrew Cawthorne) Less than four weeks after the troubled regional airline, Flybe, controversially revealed it was ending its flagship link from Newquay to Heathrow airport, British Airways has announced it will serve the route this summer. BA will assign an Airbus A320 jet to the 210-mile route for five round-trips per week between 2 July and 7 September. This compares with 28 services a week currently being operated by Flybe which launched the Newquay-Heathrow link to great acclaim in March 2019. But Flybe confirmed last month that it will switch flights back to Gatwick. The Heathrow slots are rumoured to be used by Flybe for a new route to Dusseldorf in competition with British Airways. Richard Thomasson, Newquay airports interim director, said: With such a major global carrier we will be able to offer our passengers one-stop access to the world, while worldwide investors and tourists will benefit from an easier connection to our stunning county. World's safest airlines 2020 Show all 20 1 /20 World's safest airlines 2020 World's safest airlines 2020 Qantas Check up: the Qantas fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft are being examined Qantas World's safest airlines 2020 Air New Zealand Air New Zealand Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Eva Air Eva Air Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Etihad Etihad Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Qatar Airways Qatar Airways Heathrow Airport World's safest airlines 2020 Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Emirates Emirates AFP/Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Virgin Australia Virgin Australia Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines World's safest airlines 2020 Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic World's safest airlines 2020 TAP Portugal TAP Portugal Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 SAS SAS AFP/Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Royal Jordanian Royal Jordanian Bjorn Strey/Wikimedia World's safest airlines 2020 SWISS SWISS Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Finnair Finnair Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa Reuters World's safest airlines 2020 Aer Lingus Aer Lingus AFP/Getty World's safest airlines 2020 KLM KLM Getty BAs move will provide extra seats between London and Cornwall during the peak summer season, but the timings are awkward for connections. The Saturday morning service leave Heathrow at 6.40am, then spends over two hours on the ground at Newquay before returning at 9.55am. Sundays departure from Heathrow is at 7.10pm, but returns at 10.35pm too late to connect with any flights from the UKs busiest airport. During the week, there will be flights on Monday and Friday evenings, and on Thursday mornings. The British Airways move can be seen as an opportunistic use of spare capacity at a time when alternatives to road and rail are in demand. But it may also be interpreted as a snub to Flybe, which is currently negotiating for a UK government loan to keep flying. A spokesperson for Flybe said: BAs recently announced summer seasonal Heathrow service is not comparable to the vital year-round multi-frequency daily services to key London airport hubs with which Flybe is privileged to have served Cornwall with for the past 11 years. We are proud of our established position as the largest scheduled airline by the number of air traffic movements at Cornwall Airport Newquay. We continue to offer our customers four conveniently timed flights a day on the route to Heathrow until the end of March following which flights will revert to London Gatwick with the same frequency giving the choice of 28 flights a week. British Airways last operated a short-lived link between Gatwick and Newquay in 2007-8. By Lee Kyung-min The number of jobs for people in their 40s decreased in January for 51 consecutive months, remaining the only age group for which the number of positions decreased, data showed Wednesday. This points to the growing need for the government to come up with tailored measures to help those affected find employment. It needs more than the current job creation initiative defined by older people who have part-time jobs, long criticized as a stopgap measure to create a statistical illusion of employment growth. Statistics Korea data showed the country added 568,000 jobs in January from the year before, hitting its highest since August 2014 when 670,000 jobs were added. Yet 84,000 jobs were lost by the 40-somethings, and the loss was more than made up for by 507,000 jobs added by those aged over 60. Experts said that the key culprit behind the misfortune for those in their 40s was a steady increase of layoffs for that age group amid prolonged economic downturn. "Amid economic downturn, a growing number of firms, particularly in the manufacturing industry, are undergoing restructuring through downsizing," said Yonsei University economics professor Sung Tae-yoon. "Since the 40-somethings are the highest-paid group, they have become the main target of the layoffs," he added. No end in sight An industry-wide downturn in manufacturing has led to the job losses, according to an economist. "It seems there is no end in sight," University of Seoul economist Yun Chang-hyun said. "The slowdown in manufacturing started a couple of years ago, but the impact is apparently much more far-reaching, an inevitable result of the government's anti-business policies in the beginning of the Moon Jae-in administration." The government plans to introduce ways to help the 40-somethings in March, but the role of the government in job creating is by nature limited, according to another economist. "Businesses create quality jobs and many of them have hit bottom over the past years due to the failed government policy," Sung said. Other than removing regulations and creating an environment conducive to long-term planning for corporate profit, little can be achieved by the government's job creation efforts." Gov't measure in March The government plans to roll out job creation measures for the age group. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Feb. 11 a survey is underway of some 4 million people who had been disqualified from state-run employment insurance following layoffs. The ministry is analyzing when and how they lost jobs and whether they made job seeking efforts and landed a new job as a result. Similarly, a survey is ongoing of some 2,000 jobless people registered at state-run job match websites. Consultations are ongoing in 47 different regions to better help identify the need of the jobseekers based on the industrial characteristics of each area. The plan is expected to reflect the gradual yet apparent decline in the once-booming manufacturing sector and ways for the laid-offs to fully utilize their years of experience and skills to re-enter the job market. Training programs will be organized to help those affected become more agile with technological changes in the workplace. CBI Director Rakesh Asthana A Delhi court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s probe into the CBI versus CBI alleged graft case During the hearing, the court asked: "Why certain accused, who seem to have bigger role in the case, are roaming free, while the CBI arrested its own Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)." "There is a lot of evidence against Someshwar, but you haven't arrested him. You have arrested the weakest person, Manoj Prasad," the court said. The CBI charge sheet mentions former CBI director Rajiv Asthana and another officer Devendra Kumar in column 12, that is, persons against whom sufficient evidence is not available. After more than a month of waiting for the new episode of "NCIS: Los Angeles," fans are asking when the hiatus will end for the famous procedural series. The last episode that CBS aired of the series was the 13th episode of Season 11 last January 12. It has only aired 2 episodes since January 5 after it came back from the holiday break. Fans expected the series to return on its usual time slot last Sunday. However, it was replaced by repeat episodes of "NCIS" and "FBI." Express UK speculates that this is because the 2020 Academy Awards aired on ABC at the same time that night. However, "NCIS: LA" fans would be very happy to know that the series' creators have officially announced the return of its next episode this coming Sunday, February 16. The show's Episode 14 of Season 11 will be called Commitment Issues. Also read: Oscars 2020: 'Parasite' Wins Historic Best Picture, Brad Pitt's Speech; Natalie Portman's Controversial Outfit The episode will also be available on CBS All Access, CBS' online streaming platform after it has aired on television. The new episode will reunite the characters of the show in a new case, as the team deals with murder and Chris O'Donell's character Callen continues his search for his former girlfriend. According to the synopsis of the episode, the team will investigate a murder that happened at a spoken poetry event that killed a Naval warfare engineer while Callen employs the assistance of Renee Felice Smith's character Nell to assist him in searching for Anna his ex-girlfriend who is played by Bar Paly. Thus, leaving fans to wonder if the episode will include romance in time for Valentine's day. The famed show also announced the appearance of Scottie Thompson as next week's guest star. "NCIS" fans will recall her playing Jean Benoit in the series but she will be making a trip to LA to play the new character Sarah Raines who will be brought on the new case from the Defence Intelligence Agency. There are also talks that fans will be seeing more of Medalin Rahimi on the TV series. The actress who plays the role of Special Agent Fatima Namazi has been regularized in the series. She first appeared on the show last season. According to Deadline, Special Agent Namazi hails from 90210 and is a Middle East specialist who is also an expert cryptological technician and is an additional asset to the crime-solving "NCIS:LA" team. So far Rahimi has been seen on nine episodes of the drama since the previous season. "NCIS: LA" executive producer R.Scott Gemmill said that the whole "NCIS: Los Angeles" family was thrilled to have Rahimi as part of the regular cast of the famed television series. The famous procedural show is currently on Season 11 which has 6.293 million viewers every Sunday night as it airs in CBS. The show's cast includes LL Cool J, Chris O'Donnell, Linda Hunt, Daniela Ruah, Barrett Foa, Eric Christian Olsen, and Renee Felice Smith. Related article: 'The Bachelor' Dishes Out More Drama With Only Six Women Left, Who Gets Peter Weber's Rose? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A donor to Donald Trump who was accused of "stalking" the former ambassador to Ukraine at the behest of Rudy Giuliani's associates has provided documents to Congress as it opens its investigation into the ousting of Marie Yovanovitch, a crucial witness in the president's impeachment. The Daily Beast reports that Robert Hyde, a Republican congressional candidate from Connecticut, gave "everything" he had between himself and Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudy Giuliani who has been indicted for campaign finance violations involving foreign money. Mr Hyde told the outlet he gave the House Foreign Affairs Committee "everything that I had between Parnas and I". He said the committee wanted to "talk about Parnas and how I know him" and said that "you should look into Parnas. Bad man". Messages given to House Democrats last month showed Mr Hyde's communication with Mr Parnas suggested that Ms Yovanovitch was under physical surveillance before she was recalled from her post last year, allegedly at Mr Giuliani's urging. Mr Hyde says he was only "joking around" in those messages, and that Ms Yovanovitch was not being stalked. The ambassador was allegedly an interference in the president's efforts to pressure Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky to find politically damaging information on former vice president and political rival Joe Biden, whose son was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. 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 That scheme was at the heart of the abuse of power charge in Mr Trump's impeachment, which also included an obstruction of Congress charge for the ensuing alleged cover-up. In a recently released audio recording captured by Mr Parnas, Mr Trump can be heard telling him and Igor Fruman to "get rid of her" and "take her out". Donald Trump poses for a photograph with Robert Hyde, who has reportedly submitted documents to Congress (Twitter) In his 25 July phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, which was at the heart of his impeachment, Mr Trump said of Ms Yovanovitch: "Well, she's going to go through some things." In the weeks leading up to her departure from Ukraine, Ms Yovanovitch was the target of a smear campaign, partly in coordination with a reporter from Washington website The Hill, intended to discredit the ambassador and legitimise her removal. Congress continues to investigate Mr Giuliani's efforts despite the president's acquittal in his impeachment trial in the Senate, where Republicans blocked efforts to bring witnesses to the stand or introduce any newly emerged evidence. After she left Ukraine, Ms Yovanovitch became a senior state department fellow at Georgetown University, then announced her retirement in January. She served as an ambassador in several countries under three presidents before her appointment to Ukraine, where she served from August 2016 until her removal in May 2019. She gave testimony to the impeachment hearings late last year, receiving a round of applause from observers as she left the chamber. To cooperate and undertake joint projects and operations for defence systems Bharat Heavy Electricals has signed an MoU with Joint Stock Company Rosoboronexporr, Russia during the 5th India Russia Military Industrial conference held in Lucknow. The aim of the MOU is to cooperate and undertake joint projects and operations for Defence Systems. This will help in leveraging BHEL's strength/capabilities in the Defence Sector in association with Russian OEMs under the 'Make in India' initiative and offer indigenous support and solutions to the Indian Defence Forces. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Danielle Outlaw, the new Philadelphia Police Commissioner, is interviewed at Police Headquarters. She is the first black woman to lead the 6,500-member department. Read more Danielle Outlaw, who took over Monday as Philadelphias new police commissioner, said the nail polish she wore this week had been among the last things on her mind on her first day on the job. But while making the rounds and introducing herself to the troops, Outlaw said, people kept pointing out that her black nail polish technically violated the departments directives on appearance. So in one of her first official actions as top cop, Outlaw changed the rule to allow for more stylish nails. And during an interview Wednesday, one of her first since taking over, Outlaw the first black woman to lead the 6,500-member department said that although the action might have seemed narrow, it reflects the type of broader change she believes is needed in policing. Its the small things that allow us to feel not only welcome but supported, she said. Its one thing to recruit me and say, Oh yes, we want you. But if theres no support system in place to say, Not only do [we] want you, but we celebrate you and we recognize that you bring [something] different, ... were not going to get the people that we say that we want. It has been a whirlwind few days for Outlaw, 43, an Oakland native who served on that citys force for two decades before spending the last two years as the chief of police in Portland, Ore. Friends and colleagues in her hometown have described her as unapologetic and unconventional, and during Wednesdays 25-minute interview, Outlaw made clear she had distinct views on her profession. She said minority communities have deeply rooted mistrust of police because the profession was conceived as slave patrols groups who sought to control the behavior and movements of slaves and added that in some places, [police departments] might further that institutionalized and systemic racism that many people have experienced. But she also said most cops today have nothing to do with the actions of the past, and said they sign up for the job out of a genuine desire to serve. The only way, I think, to get beyond [the mistrust] is to allow community to see us, she said, adding that it required building trust in neighborhoods and not solely based around enforcement. Still, Outlaw was hesitant to specify her plans or timeline for building an inner circle, and declined to offer details on potential new methods for combating the citys ongoing gun violence. She said she has been digesting a host of materials she requested before she arrived, including biographies of current department leaders, crime statistics for the last three years, and reports on the departments technology infrastructure. Outlaw is aware that she has much on her plate. It takes a lot to turn a ship, and turn the tide, she said, but it certainly can be done. Command changes? Outlaw has three deputy commissioners: Dennis Wilson, Robin Wimberly, and Christine M. Coulter, who served as acting commissioner for six months after former top cop Richard Ross resigned in August. Coulter oversaw a host of promotions and transfers in December. Outlaw said that in deciding who she feels might deserve a new assignment or who would be in her inner circle she would lean on her experiences observing people, hearing them talk, and watching them in action. Its actually easier than a lot of people think: You can tell who the innovators are, she said. You can tell those who are OK with status quo and need a little nudging. You can tell. People self-identify rather quickly. One person who will not be part of her command staff is Joseph P. Sullivan, a 37-year veteran and former deputy commissioner who resigned last month. Sources said he had been told he would be moved to a lower rank. READ MORE: Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner Joe Sullivan resigns Outlaw declined to say Wednesday if she was the one who made that call, saying only: I was aware that he was going to retire." Violence plans Philadelphia has recorded 44 homicides through Tuesday, the highest year-to-date total since 2012, according to police statistics. Outlaw said she wanted to bring fresh eyes and a level of urgency to the task, but added that she was still getting up to speed on the departments current strategies for gun violence: Its Day Three, she said when pressed for specifics. Still, she alluded to the citys plans to roll out a strategy known as group violence intervention this spring, in which law enforcement seeks to use resources on a small population of potential offenders. Oakland used a similar strategy in recent years and saw a 50% reduction in gun violence. And Outlaw said she has been reviewing the rest of the departments current tactics to determine how they might be tweaked. I am very confident that in some period of time, in a very short period of time, I will have conducted an assessment of some kind, so we can roll something out, she said. Success As for what she would view as success during her tenure, Outlaw declined to identify a specific metric, saying it would involve intangible factors. She said she wants police officers to be confident that the community trusts the department. She wants employees to feel valued internally. And she wants people to believe that, whatever change she might implement, I did things for the right reasons. [I want] people [to] walk away saying, You know what, she might have come in here and done a few things, Outlaw said, but at least she was fair. Former chairman of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon on 8 January. (Mahmut Geldi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Nissan has filed a civil lawsuit in Yokohama District Court against former company chairman Carlos Ghosn, seeking damages of 10 million yen ($91m, 69.5m) for alleged financial misconduct. Ghosn, the former chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (RNO.PA) alliance was arrested in Japan in 2018 over allegations of fraud, including misuse of company funds and understating is salary. He was arrested and imprisoned in Japan, but jumped bail in December whilst under house arrest in Tokyo, and fled to Lebanon in a dramatic escape involving private planes routed through Istanbul. Nissan Motor Company said on Wednesday that it wants to "to recover a significant part of the monetary damages inflicted on the company by its former chairman" and the amount of damages it is seeking may increase in future as it will also pursue compensation if it gets hit with regulatory fines over Ghosns alleged financial wrongdoing. Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, held a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon in January, where he accused Nissan of plotting against him in an attempt to upend the alliance with its more powerful alliance partner Renault. He denied the accusation that he illicitly used Nissan funds to buy houses for himself, or benefitted from a so-called CEO reserve find. He described the Japanese justice system, as indifferent to the truth, indifferent to fairness and process, indifferent to fundamental civil liberties and justice. Japanese courts have an almost 100% conviction rate, and Ghosn defended his decision to escape, saying it was flee or die. Read more: Carlos Ghosn blasts Japans legal system, likening his arrest to Pearl Harbour Nissan said today that it may also launch a separate lawsuit over Ghosns "groundless and defamatory" accusations against the company during his press conference. Last month Renault chairman Jean-Philippe Senard told a Belgian newspaper that the French carmakers alliance with Nissan (NSANY) was not on the rocks, in the wake of rumours that the car companies were on the verge of severing their 20-year cost-sharing partnership. Senard described it as solid, robust, anything but dead. In September 2019, Nissan agreed to pay the US Securities and Exchange Commission $15m to settle fraud charges over the false reporting of $140m in compensation and retirement benefits for former chairman Carlos Ghosn. Ghosn, however, was fined just $1 million as part of the settlement. As part of the settlement Nissan and Ghosn did not have to admit nor deny the SEC charges, as part of the settlement. Advertisement NEW HAMPSHIRE RESULT 1. Bernie Sanders (nine delegates) 2. Pete Buttigieg (nine delegates) 3. Amy Klobuchar (six delegates) 4. Elizabeth Warren (no delegates) 5. Joe Biden (no delegates) 6. Tom Steyer (no delegates) 7. Tulsi Gabbard (no delegates) 8. Andrew Yang - dropped out 9. Write-ins 10. Deval Patrick - expected to drop out Advertisement Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, giving Democrats their first declared winner in the presidential nomination process - but he took the victory by less than 2%. Sanders had 25.6% of votes when he declared victory and the race was called by the Associated Press and TV networks - putting him just 1.3% ahead of Pete Buttigieg in second place on 24.4%. And the result was almost entirely symbolic since both he and Buttigieg gained nine delegates at the Democratic National Convention, the crucial measure of success in the Democratic race. Sanders, the Vermont senator, was the frontrunner in his neighboring state but his narrow victory does nothing to settle the Democratic field - except by winnowing it. Sanders appeared in front of cheering supporters to claim victory in Manchester after Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet announced they were leaving the race and Deval Patrick said he was 'considering' his position - code for dropping out on Wednesday. The 78-year-old socialist hailed the result as a major victory, but the margin was hardly convincing. Buttigieg and Klobuchar had both also hailed their performances, which give them more momentum out of the race than Sanders can claim. Sanders and Buttigieg, although a few percentage points apart in the results, tied in the amount of delegates they earned, both amassing nine. The undisputed big winner may for the night may have been a Democratic party desperate to bury the chaos of the Iowa caucuses, while the definitive loser was Biden, who finished in fifth with just 8.3% of the votes. Donald Trump, who live-tweeted the vote count, used the time as a chance to take swipes at his rivals, suggesting Buttigieg was 'giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money.' 'A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q.' Donald Trump tweeted. Sanders emerged on stage at his primary night celebration when more than 75 per cent of precincts had reported their results and nearly everyone was calling the victory for the Vermont senator. After almost two minutes of cheering, Sanders, with his wife Jane behind his right shoulder, was finally able to speak. 'This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump,' he lauded as the few hundred attendees went wild, chanting 'Bernie beats Trump.' But for Biden, the questions over his future are now mounting. He fled the state for South Carolina, which holds its primary at the end of the month, hours before polls closed on Tuesday, and used a rally there to say that 99.9% of African-American voters have still to vote - but managed a gaffe too, saying 'Iowa and Nevada have spoken.' Your browser does not support iframes. Winner: Bernie Sanders takes to the stage in Manchester, New Hampshire, after squeaking out a narrow victory over Pete Buttigieg and seeing Amy Klobuchar surge into third place On to the nomination? Bernie Sanders takes to the stage to celebrate his New Hampshire victory - but the close margin leaves nobody as front runner Feeling the Bern: Sanders' supporters packed into the rally in Manchester to hear him declare victory Richard Johnson, the moderator for Hinsdale, N.H., dumps primary ballots onto a table at the Millstream Community Center in Hinsdale, N.H., as Megan Kondrat and Mike Darcy watch Bernie Sanders supporters at his election night party in Manchester Buttigieg emerged to speak s he closed the gap between him and Sanders but the former South Bend mayor was mid-speech when NBC News projected that Sanders would be the winner He was joined on stage with his husband of five years Chasten In Manchester, New Hampshire, Sanders was flanked by his wife as he took a victory lap. 'With victories behind us, popular vote in Iowa and the victory here tonight, we're going to Nevada, we're going to South Carolina we're going to win those votes as well,' he predicted. Nevada is next on the list in the early primary states and will hold its caucuses February 22 and South Carolina will follow with its primary on the 29. He also ran some counter-programming from his earlier attacks this past week aimed at his fellow Democratic candidates, claiming he has 'appreciation and respect for all the Democratic candidates we ran against.' Sanders gave a shout out to the four candidates who fell behind him in New Hampshire: Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Warren and Biden. 'And what I can tell you, with absolute certainty and I know speak for every one of the Democratic candidates is that no matter who wins, and we certainly hope it's going to be us, we are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country,' Sanders rallied the Democratic candidates. The candidate then went into a condensed five-minute version of his stump speech, touting the Green New Deal, universal health care and railing against the president. He kept the victory remarks short and sweet, speaking for less than 10 minutes. Sanders' primary night party erupted around 7:45 p.m., when the massive screen in the typical college gymnasium at Southern New Hampshire University illuminated and showed Sanders in the lead just 15-minutes before polls closed with more than nearly 30 per cent. Their enthusiasm wasn't deterred when CNN showed that was with just 5 per cent of precincts reporting in. Throughout the night the numbers continued to fluctuate as the gap between Buttigieg and Sanders got smaller and smaller. Supporters filtered into Sanders' primary night celebration as the polling places closed, and a few hundred either took their seats in the stadium-like stands while others stood near the stage where Bernie delivered his victory speech. The crowd counted down the clock as it approached 8:00 p.m. poll closing time like it was the New Year's Eve midnight ball drop ringing in a new year. Sanders is coming off a self-declared win in Iowa as well, where he won the popular vote but South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg took the most delegates. Sanders' campaign said they are demanding a recanvass. In 2016, the Vermont senator won the New Hampshire primary with an astounding 60.4 per cent to Hillary Clinton's 38 per cent. He's looking for a repeat win Tuesday night. Buttigieg was mid-speech when NBC News projected that Sanders would be the winner. When Buttigieg's New Hampshire chairs took the stage he had been just 2 points behind the Vermont senator. He complimented all the candidates for their performances in the Granite state, name-dropping Sanders, Klobuchar, Warren and Biden. The 38-year-old ex-mayor talked about how he admired the 78-year-old Sanders 'when I was a high school student.' 'And I congratulate him for his strong showing tonight,' Buttigieg said. But buried within his speech, Buttigieg pushed back on something Klobuchar had labeled him on the debate stage: a 'newcomer.' 'And I know that when you talk this way you might get dismissed as a naive newcomer,' Buttigieg said, with the audience yelling in understanding. 'But a fresh outlook is what makes new beginnings possible.' South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg congratulated Sen. Bernie Sanders for his 'strong showing,' but didn't say Sanders won Pete Buttigieg (left) invited his mother Anne Montgomery (center) and his husband Chasten Buttigieg (right) onstage after his speech on primary night The campaign said about 1,200 of Buttigieg's supporters were at his primary night event at the Nashua Community College Amy Klobuchar greets supporters with her daughter Abigail Bessler and husband John Vice Joe Biden left New Hampshire before voting ended and materialized in South Carolina instead A flight tracker shows the trajectory of former Vice President Joe Biden's jet - leaving Manchester, New Hampshire and touching down in Columbia, South Carolina before voting was over Tuesday night in the Granite State Amy Klobuchar came out of the New Hampshire primary with a surprise third place finish and a burst of momentum for her campaign heading into Nevada and South Carolina. She defied early expectations, most of which did not see her making it past the first round of primary contests, let alone besting Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in one of them. The Minnesota senator choked up bit when she thanked her supporters at her primary night party. 'My heart is full tonight. While there are still ballots left to count we have beaten the odds every step of way,' she said. 'Thank you New Hampshire. We are on to Nevada because the best is yet to come.' Klobuchar ranked near the bottom of the polls when she entered the presidential contest in February of 2019, famously giving her kick off speech in a Minnesota blizzard. She ran her campaign based on her Minnesota moderate pragmaticism and her folksy, quick with a quip image. She skyrocketed ahead of Biden and Warren after a strong debate performance on Friday, collecting enough donations - $3 million as of Monday and support to push her to the next round of contests. But while moderates and independents who can vote in New Hampshire's primary have flocked to her, she has not captured the progressive wing of the party, which tends to dominate in primary contests. She acknowledged that Tuesday night. 'I cannot wait to build a movement and win with a movement of fired up Democrats and independent and moderate Republicans,' Klobuchar told the crowd. She asked supporters to stick with her and to donate to her campaign. 'I don't have that big bank account. I don't have that big name of some of those people in the race and I'm not a political newcomer with no political record. What I have is your back,' she said as she asked for their support. The New Hampshire crowd was fired up. While Klobuchar's crowd of supporters waited for her to speak, they tried out a variety of chants and cheers: 'Let's go Amy'; 'Every race, every place, every time, win big'; 'All of us, all of us, all of us'; 'She knows us'; 'Who do we want? Amy? When do want her? 2020'; 'Go Amy, Beat Trump'; and 'Beat Trump, Vote Amy.' In the end, they just shouted 'Amy, Amy, Amy.' Elizabeth Warren had a disappointing placement Tuesday night. The Massachusetts senator came in fourth place - despite being from the neighboring state, which is seen as an advantage. Elizabeth Warren gave an early concession speech in New Hampshire but vowed to campaign on Andrew Yang dropped out of the race Tuesday night Colorado Senator Michael Bennet also dropped out of the race Warren gave an early concession speech Tuesday night before the race was officially called where she congratulated Sanders and Buttigieg on their strong showing. 'I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out,' she said in pointed reference to those who have questioned how her presidential campaign can continue. She warned the road to the Democratic nomination could be a long one. 'We might be headed for another one of those long primary fights that lasts for months,' she said. The Massachusetts senator also made a call for unity calling out Sanders and Buttigieg for the knocks they taken against one another and arguing only a united Democratic Party can beat Donald Trump. 'If we're going to beat Donald Trump in November, we are going to need huge turnout within our party, and to get that turnout, we will need a nominee that the broadest coalition of our party feels they can get behind,' she said. She then made the pitch for herself as that candidate. But Warren was not estimated to receive a delegate out of the New Hampshire contest thanks to her poor finish. She kept her speech positive, however, and pivoted to thanking her supporters, her husband and her dog Bailey, who campaigned with her. 'Tonight I want to say thank you -- thank you to every volunteer, every organizer, every door knocker, every phone banker, every five-dollar donor,' she said. She paused and put her hand on her heart, head bowed, when the crowd yelled 'Warren, Warren, Warren' to her. She vowed to campaign on. 'Our campaign is built for the long haul. And we are just getting started,' she said. Meanwhile, New Hampshire state officials reported no election problems, which will likely give Democrats a clear winner following the debacle of the Iowa caucuses. The primary contest here is run by state officials unlike Iowa's caucuses, which are run by party leaders and local volunteers. 'We've got this. We know what we're doing here. The only way it will last that long if the numbers are so close we have a virtual tie,' New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley told reporters on a phone call Monday. 'Everything here is paper ballot. Nothing is connected to the internet. The ballots are immediately impounded by the state police. There is just no question for anyone to have any fear,' he added. The state uses paper ballots that are filed in with a pencil. Those ballots are then counted by machines that are not connected to the internet. Afterward, state police officers collect the printouts of final tallies and deliver them to the statehouse. Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane leave a New Hampshire polling site after visiting supporters Joe Biden left New Hampshire Tuesday afternoon but his campaign is still holding an event for supporters Billionaire Mike Bloomberg took the remaining polling location of Dixville Notch with three write-in votes Dixville Notch has a population of 12 people, and five voted in the primary at midnight. One vote went to Pete Butitgieg, one to Bernie Sanders, and three to Bloomberg but one of them was from a Republican But it was Amy Klobuchar who came out ahead in one of the state's quirkier traditions: the midnight vote. Residents of three small towns in the northern part of the state gather at their polling places at midnight to vote, making them the first official results in the state. The Minnesota senator won two of the three midnight tallies. Klobuchar, who has recently surged in the polls after winning fifth place in the Iowa caucuses, won Hart's Location with six votes and Millsfield two. The closely-followed Dixville Notch, which has a population of only 12 people, went to billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn't even on the ticket. Ten minutes past midnight, the polling place was closed after five people voted in the Democratic primary in Dixville Notch. One person voted for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, one for former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg and three wrote-in Bloomberg's name. There was one voter who wrote-in for Bloomberg that is a Republican. New Hampshire has a partially open primary election, meaning those not registered with a political party can vote in both the Democratic and Republican primary elections. However, the state does not have a fully open primary because those registered with a party can only vote in that party's elections. As of a 2017 count, Millsfield has a population of 21 and Hart's Location is double the size with 41 people. Millsfield also had five Democratic primary voters two went for Klobuchar, one for Sanders, one for Buttigieg and one for former Vice President Joe Biden. Hart's Location had a slightly bigger turnout with 15 voters in the Democratic primary. But one Democratic winner doesn't mean the party will have their nomination all wrapped and ready to take on President Donald Trump, who held a rally in Manchester Monday night to taunt his political rivals. President Donald Trump made sure he wasn't forgotten as the focus shifted to the Democratic primary. In New Hampshire, the president, of course, came out in a landslide victory against his nearly-non-existent primary competition although opposition candidate William Weld registered a much stronger showing than he did in Iowa. Trump was leading with 86 per cent of the vote with almost a third of the vote in and former Massachusetts Governor William Weld, who was campaigning across the state for months, was below 10 per cent of the vote. It was the second easy victory for the president in as many weeks after Iowa where Democrats were thrown into confusion as the first-in-the-nation primary competiton still hadn't announced a winner nearly a week after the caucuses. To further mock the Democrats, Trump used his favorite social media medium, Twitter, to attack candidates as the results filtered in. 'Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night,' he tweeted as the candidate slipped to fourth place. 'I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a 'nice cold beer' with her husband!' He was referencing a video Warren released when announcing her candidacy where she was standing in her kitchen sharing a brew with her husband a moment that went viral for allegedly being staged. Trump also took a hit a billionaire Tom Steyer, who doesn't even fall within the top five candidates in New Hampshire and placed seventh in Iowa with a measly .3 per cent. 'Impeachment King Steyer (how did that work out?) spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1% of the vote in Iowa, and only 3% of the Vote in New Hampshire,' he taunted. 'Could it be that something is just plain missing? Not easy to do what I did, is it?' No single candidate has yet united the Democrats nationally and the current field of contenders represent all corners of the party: young, old, moderate, liberal, pragmatic, hopeful. And where the candidates enter the field on Tuesday may not be where they exit. Bernie Sanders: The leader in the New Hampshire polls, Sanders wants the victory. He won the 2016 Democratic primary in New Hampshire but lost the nomination that year to Hillary Clinton. He and Pete Buttigieg are fighting over who came out on top in the Iowa caucuses (Buttigieg picked up the most delegates and Sanders is asking for a recanvass). He needs a clear cut New Hampshire victory to boost him to finish what he couldn't in the last presidential cycle. 'If we win here tomorrow, I think we've got a path to victory for the Democratic nomination,' the Vermont senator told supporters at one of his rallies on Monday. He closed out his campaigning Monday evening with over 7,500 attendees with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a performance by The Strokes. Buttigieg touted himself the front runner after Iowa's caucus debacle but now he needs to show he comes out on top when all the votes are counted. The youngest candidate in the field, he's come under attack for his lack of experience but has argued his ability to bring out support makes up for never having held national office. 'It feels good out here,' he told reporters on Monday. He fell behind Sanders in the latest round of New Hampshire polls and started to down play a victory in the state in its final hours. 'Look we are competing against home region competition, two New England senators I recognize that, but I still think we're going to have a great night,' he told NBC News in an interview that aired on the 'Today' show Tuesday morning, referring to Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. But the former mayor was up and out early Tuesday morning, bringing donuts to a polling place in Hopkinton and appearing on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.' Amy Klobuchar changes into more comfortable shoes after a rally Amy Klobuchar: A few polls put her in third place going into Tuesday, giving her momentum in the closing hours of the primary. A bronze medal keeps her campaign viable and the cash flowing in. She's already guaranteed a spot on the Las Vegas debate stage thanks to her coming out of Iowa with one delegate but a third place finish or higher gives her bid a big boost going into the next round of contests in Nevada and South Carolina. 'I need your help,' Klobuchar told a rally in Exeter, New Hampshire, her voice breaking as she spoke the words. 'Right now we are on the cusp of something really great,' she said, 'but I can't call everyone you know. So I'm asking you to do that today.' The Minnesota senator won two out of the three small northern New Hampshire towns that gather at their polling places at midnight: Hart's Location and Millsfield. Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren: Polls show them tied for fourth, which is particularly troubling for the former vice president. Both candidates spent Monday explaining why their campaigns are viable and both have announced their next round of campaign stops after Tuesday's vote is counted. The big question mark is money. Do they have the funds to keep their campaigns afloat until they can rack up a primary win? And when will that win come? Nevada and South Carolina are the next two contests. The pressure will be on. Warren visited her press bus on Monday to give a rare talk about the state of her campaign. The Massachusetts senator doesn't typically discuss strategy. 'I just have to keep fighting. That's, that's what it's all about. I cannot say to all those little girls: 'This got hard and I quit.' My job is to persist,' she said. Biden also lowered expectations for New Hampshire. 'It's an uphill race here,' he told CNN Monday night. 'We're running against two senators from neighboring states, has never been a good thing to happen to any other candidates going in the race.' And he emphasized there are more contests to come. 'The path is South Carolina, and going into Nevada and Super Tuesday,' he told NBC News. The former vice president left New Hampshire Tuesday afternoon to travel to South Carolina to campaign for its February 29 primary. New Hampshire presented a fresh opportunity for Biden, reeling from a surprising fourth place Iowa finish. On Wednesday, two days after the Hawkeye State caucuses, a fighting Biden appeared on the campaign trail, starting at an event in Somersworth. 'We took a gut punch in Iowa,' he admitted, then went after Buttigieg and Sanders by name for the first time. 'I have great respect for Mayor Pete and his service to this nation, but I do believe it's a risk - to be just straight up with you - for this party to nominate someone who's never held office higher than mayor of a town of 100,000 people in Indiana,' Biden said. As for Sanders, he said he feared that the 'democratic socialist' would tank down-ballot races for the party. Biden seemed to be campaigning with a new vigor and he went on that night to create a viral moment when he talked at-length at a CNN town hall about learning to overcome a stutter. But then the former vice president disappeared from the campaign trail for a day and a half, taking his jet to Delaware for debate prep. Joe Biden leaves a polling station Tuesday morning Joe Biden hugs a supporter He returned to New Hampshire for the Friday night debate - and continued up his attacks on Sanders and Buttigieg for another day. His campaign also came out with scathing web ad that compared his record to Buttigieg's - saying that while Biden was saving the auto industry and helping millions of Americans get healthcare, Buttigieg was busying himself with decorative sidewalks and bridges. On Sunday, Biden stopped the attacks - instead arguing at a campaign stop in Hampton that any Democratic candidate could 'restore America's character.' At his next event, he even floated Buttigieg would be a good vice president. In Hampton, Biden called a voter a 'lying dog-faced pony soldier,' which eclipsed anything else the vice president did that day. More drama followed when Jill Biden, the ex-veep's wife, pushed a protester out of her husband's final New Hampshire event. 'I'm a good Philly girl,' she said. The Bidens later went on a bar crawl in downtown Manchester, even though the 2020 hopeful doesn't drink alcohol. By Monday, the Biden campaign announced a South Carolina kick-off event in Columbia, featuring Rep. Cedric Richmond, a congressman from the state and a Biden surrogate. Then, by Tuesday, the Biden campaign made official that the candidate was packing it in and leaving early. He'd address supporters 'by livestream' from his South Carolina event instead. Biden stopped by New Hampshire polling places on his way out of state and touched down in Columbia before voting in the Granite State ended. But, on the other end of this round of contests, Michael Bloomberg and his billions are waiting for which ever Democratic contender emerges from Nevada and South Carolina. The former New York City mayor skipped the four early contests to focus his time and money on the Super Tuesday states, where a third of delegates needed for the nomination will be awarded. Bloomberg has run a rather unconventional campaign, which in national polls and in Dixville Notch has proven to be effective. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang is out in Keene, New Hampshire talking to voters as they head to the polls. Yang came in third in Hart's Location with three votes of the 15 people who voted in the Democratic primary Joe Biden also jumped on the idea of bringing Dukin' Donuts to a polling location but the former vice president is leaving New Hampshire before the votes even come in as polls show him slipping in the Granite state In an average of the national polls, Bloomberg is shown in fourth place with a mean of 12.7 per cent support from Democratic primary voters. He falls behind Biden, Sanders and Warren, in that order. Bloomberg entered the race in November almost a year later than some of his competitors and has invested much of his attention on winning Super Tuesday, almost entirely ignoring the first four primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. He is also running a very ad-focused campaign and has spent more than $200 million on advertisements to increase name recognition and portray his message. The former Republican New York City mayor has outspent every other candidate running in the primary and his campaign said he is open to spending $1 billion of his own money on running for president, even if he doesn't win the Democratic Party's nomination. He has come under fire from his primary competitors and the Republican Party for trying to buy his way to the nomination and the White House. Buttigieg emerged with 26.2 per cent in Iowa while Sanders came out with 26.1 per cent. They results were delayed for days after a reporting app malfunctioned and caused caucuses to resort to manual reporting and tabulation CEO and co-founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg poses next to Facebook head of global policy communications and former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg (L) prior to a meeting with French President at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on May 10, 2019. Britain's media regulator Ofcom has been chosen by the government to crack down on social media companies over how they deal with harmful content. The watchdog will be handed new powers by London, allowing it to impose a "duty of care" on technology giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter to ensure they take a proactive role to prevent the distribution of harmful material online. In a white paper published last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration identified content depicting child abuse, terrorism and self-harm as key areas it would look to tackle with the regulatory overhaul. "As the internet continues to grow and transform our lives it is essential that we get the balance right between a thriving, open and vibrant virtual world, and one in which users are protected from harm," Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan and Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a joint ministerial statement Wednesday. The U.K. held a consultation from April to July last year, the government said. It received over 2,400 responses from a range of organizations including the tech giants, small businesses and academics. The government had previously suggested setting up an independent, industry-funded regulator to enforce the new rules. But it now says it's "minded to" select Ofcom, an existing regulator, instead. A bipartisan group of senators have proposed legislation to turn components of the global womens initiative led in part by Ivanka Trump into law, while establishing an Office of Women's Empowerment at the State Department. Female development in business and economics became a key focus for Donald Trumps daughter after she was appointed a White House senior adviser. The programme, dubbed the Womens Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, has reached an estimated 12 million women worldwide since its launch in February of last year, according to Ms Trump. Now, Lindsey Graham (RSC) and Jeanne Shaheen (DNH) have unveiled a plan to codify those efforts, effectively establishing womens economic empowerment as a foreign policy priority for the United States. The legislation would also create a permanent Womens Empowerment office at the State Department, allowing the initiative to continue long after Mr Trump leaves offices following his tenure in the White House. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters The measure was announced during a State Department event commemorating the anniversary of the initiatives launch, which was attended by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser Robert OBrien and one of the presidents top economic advisers, Larry Kudlow, according to the Associated Press. Ms Trump celebrated the newly-announced legislation as a long overdue goal. Still, it remains unclear whether the bipartisan legislation will pass in both the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives and the Republican-led Senate. But the legislation was expected to receive bipartisan support in the House as well, with Michael McCaul (RTX) and Lois Frankel (DFL) announcing they would co-sponsor a companion bill. The goal of the initiative is to reach 50 million women by 2025 around the world using private-public partnerships and a new fund to support women in the global economy, prospering in the workforce and succeeding as entrepreneurs, according to the White House. Trump claims that Ivanka has created '15 million' jobs When women are economically empowered, they re-invest in their families and communities, producing a multiplier effect that spurs economic growth and contributes to global peace and stability, a statement about the initiative on a White House website reads. It goes on to say the goal of the initiative is to increase womens global labour force participation and advancement in the workplace by providing women with quality education, training, and support, so they can secure and thrive in well-paying jobs in their local economies. An Indian-origin mother and daughter reported missing from the city of Leicester were found safe and well, a UK police force announced on Wednesday. The police force had earlier launched an appeal to trace them. Leicestershire Police thanked the public for their help during the enquiry, launched on Tuesday. "They were found safe and well earlier today. Officers thank everyone who helped with their enquiries and shared the appeal, a Leicestershire Police statement said. Earlier, the force had said they are concerned for the welfare of 34-year-old Komal Karaji, who got into a taxi from her home in Leicester on Tuesday afternoon and travelled to Leicester Railway station. It is believed she then boarded a train to Birmingham with her seven year-old daughter, Amaya Goraniya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fans really rallied around Joe Amabile despite his short time on The Bachelorette. He eventually found love with Kendall Long on Bachelor in Paradise. They recently revealed they broke up. Find out what Long had to say about what led to the surprising breakup. Kendall Long and Joe Amabile broke up after Bachelor in Paradise Kendall Long (L) and Joe Amabile | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Gentle Barn Long and Amabile met on Bachelor in Paradise Season 5 and started dating. They continued their relationship afterward and Amabile went on to compete on Dancing with the Stars. They recently moved in together and got a dog. The former couple also talked about getting engaged before they announced they broke up. We have decided mutually to go our separate ways. Joe has made the decision to move back to Chicago while Kendall will be remaining in her hometown of Los Angeles, the statement read according to Us Weekly. Our family and friends have always been an extremely important element to who we are as people. We cant imagine continuing our lives without them closer, especially when thinking of starting a family of our own one day. The statement also updated how they feel about each other after their split. We both respect each others decision and still have a great deal of love for each other. We appreciate all the love and support everyone has given us throughout our relationship, they claimed. She didnt see it coming Long opened up about their split. The former reality star thought their relationship was headed in a different direction. I did not see it coming, she said on Instagram, according to Us Weekly. Every relationship has issues but I feel like with Joe and I we were best friends. Everything was fun, we were getting a dog together. We had just moved in Ultimately what happened was that Joe felt like he would have a better [life] in Chicago. Sadly, Long didnt want to follow him to Chicago. She also said they didnt talk about moving to the city before they signed a lease for a place in Los Angeles. I was thinking, We have a year with the lease. That was the timeline for me, she said. In no way can I ever be upset with him and have [resentment] toward him changing his mind and choosing to move because I understand the stresses of living somewhere like L.A. away from your family. That was also a huge reason why I didnt see myself moving from L.A. at least at that point in my life. She thought they were going to get married The creative director talked about her commitment to their relationship. She believed they were going to get married. I thought Joe and I were going to literally be married, she said. If anyone knows me, Im not the person that plans my wedding and I was literally doing that with Joe. She continued, But something weird about ending something with some that you thought you were going to marry [is] you almost feel like you have such a better idea of what youre looking for. It sounds like shes hopeful for the future. Amabile has yet to talk about their breakup publicly. From the Archive On Union Day, Views on Aung San General Aung San To mark the 73rd Union Day on Feb. 12, The Irrawaddy revisits this story in which some of the countrys leading politicians, activists and religious figures speak about the late independence leader General Aung San, who brought ethnic leaders together to sign the Panglong Agreement on Feb 12, 1947 to restore independence from Britain. The story was published in The Irrawaddy Magazine in February 2015. He Had Moral Courage U Tin Oo, Deputy Leader of the National League for Democracy General Aung San was a good citizen and a good leader. He was one in a million. When I joined the army in 1944, he was already the war minister and commander-in-chief of the Burma Defense Army (later renamed the Burma National Army). To paraphrase, he said that: There are no bad soldiers in my army, only bad captains. He meant that if leaders are bad, their followers will also be bad. If leaders are good and competent, their followers will also be good and competent. In the past, [military men] were very unwilling to take from people. In the early days, they were told to make a request to home owners if they wished to enter a house. So people loved them and gave them food. The military then thought only about the country. Now, they seek self-interest. The generals death brought dark days to the country. If he had survived, our country would not have ended up as it has. He could have negotiated an agreement with his comrades. His speeches are still relevant in the current age. When I think of General Aung San, I see clearly in my mind an honest, blunt, selfless person with moral courage. For example, the general was not hesitant in making friends with bitter enemies. He also said that armed organizations should not be involved in politics. He himself resigned from the military to chair the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League. In the army, he offered senior positions to ethnic soldiers such as Kachin, Karen and Chin. He set up Kachin, Karen, and Chin battalions. Later on, battalions were formed of different ethnicities, yet most of them were comprised of Burmans. Ethnic soldiers felt their proportion of representation was very small. This undermined trust. These kinds of things should be considered again today. But if I said this in front of army leaders now I would be accused of breaking up the military. Ko Kyaw Sit Naing 28, communications director, MyLann online restaurant directory General Aung San had qualities of a good leader; he was humble, considerate and sympathetic. On this 100th centenary, our youth should be aware that we are writing our own history and we should try to write it like the General would, or better. A Man of Principle Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win, General Secretary of the Karen National Union General Aung San said that [Burmans] would claim back independence together with ethnic people. And he promised that we would not be enslaved by the Burmans. But later leaders did not fulfill his promises. It is more than 60 years now since independence and we still do not have equality and self-determination. Thats why we ethnic people are fighting for a federal Union, democratic rights, equality and self-determination. Successive governments did not give us a chance to solve the countrys fundamental political problems. We had no option but to resort to taking up arms as the [government] used guns to suppress our demands, rights and voices. General Aung Sans words suggested that he had goodwill. He laid down basic political principles, but they were not applied. Successive governments after him did not talk about solving political problems. But President U Thein Seins government seems willing to solve fundamental political problems, through political dialogue. This government says it intends to hold a Union-level conference like Panglong, but this has still not happened. Internal peace is essential. Though there is a willingness to solve political problems, if fighting emerges from one side, doubts will continue to grow. It is difficult to reach a nationwide ceasefire accord as both sides past experiences make them doubt one another. Mi Pone Swan 20, ethnic Mon, student, English major at Dagon University He was altruistic. I admire him very much; he is someone who can give moral strength to the youth. We Will Never See His Like Again Daw Khin Ohmar, Rights Activist One of General Aung Sans attributes that I most respect is his long-term vision. I wish he had not been assassinated and could have provided leadership for the country. He knew that none of the ethnic groups could be left out in rebuilding the country. He honestly thought that equality was a must. That is why he gained the support of the ethnicities and why he could reclaim independence. His long-term vision was associated with honesty and moral courage. In our country, which is a very diverse one, honesty is a must to ensure peaceful co-existence. We will never again see a leader like him. He said: You need to change your bad habits. His words are still perfectly correct now. He knew the real situation of the countrys citizens. He foresaw what the challenges would be. He wanted to build a society in which people march in unity toward the same goal. The unity that those in power are now creating is a forced unity, which comes from the barrel of a gun and [would be] totally against the Generals desire. Therefore, we have a long way to go. Ko Win Tun Oo 35, self-employed His history was eradicated for about 40 years and most young people dont know his exact story. There is no one who has his exemplary morals, the morals that are very important to rebuilding our country. If he had not died early, the number of amoral people would not be as abundant as now. Urged Loving-Kindness U Pandavunsa, Buddhist monk and leading figure in the 2007 Saffron Revolution I always thank General Aung San for his efforts to make our nation independent. His name has become virtually synonymous with Myanmar independence. Its very important for all Myanmar people to remember it. Given the speeches he made in the 1940s, I have to admit that he was a visionary leader. What he said back then, about not disguising politics as religion, is still relevant today. In 1946, the General told monks that using religion purely in your own interests was a dirty tactic, and he urged the Buddhist clergy to promote loving-kindness by preaching freedom of religion. If we Myanmar people took what he said seriously, we would not have had the kind of religious problems we experienced in the past few years. Ko Ye Win Aung 24, accountant He is my hero and now we live in an independent country because of his sacrifices. We are very thankful, we are proud of him and admire him. Found Common Ground Maj-Gen Sumlut Gun Maw, Vice Chief of Staff of the Kachin Independence Organization General Aung San talked about the importance of values such as equality and mutual respect. We should think about how to realize these values today. There was quite strong trust between General Aung San and other ethnic leaders. They trusted him personally, and both sides had a great deal of common ground as regards the political landscape. However, as time went by, views have grown further and further apart. Therefore, it is important that the principles that General Aung San articulated be applied now. We need to negotiate to rebuild understanding and find common ground. I believe General Aung San would have kept his promises. Thats why we repeatedly mention the Panglong Agreement. Otherwise, we wouldnt talk about it. Ko Min Thwe Thit 30, student activist Even as the period of history involving General Aung San is fading, elders tell the younger people about him as a bedtime story. Our country possesses many heroes like him. If we can identify these heroes, I believe it will give strength to youth. He Understood Reconciliation U Mya Aye, 88 Generation Activist It was only after I had engaged in politics for some time that I came to understand more deeply why General Aung San engaged in politics at a young age, why he made sacrifices and why he became the national leader. The more I understand him, the more I respect him. He had only one aimto claim back independence for his country. What I like about him most was when he joined hands with Japan to establish the Burmese army and then later he re-established relations with the British. It is not easy to rebuild relations with a country youve fought against. When the British asked whether he had joined them because they were gaining the upper hand, he bluntly replied yes. It seems almost impossible that Myanmar will see a political leader like him again; one who is pragmatic, astute and has his eyes firmly fixed on his goal. Politicians are meant to unify people and provide leadership. A politician has to show the right way when the public is wrong. If he joins the majority, though he knows that the majority is wrong, then, as the General said, he is an opportunist. Our country is a multi-faith country. If we are to build national reconciliation, we have to unify all its elements out of love for the country. No element can be left out. The General knew and understood this well. So not only Buddhists, but also Christians, Hindus and Muslims had a good impression of him. Whenever he spoke about different races and religions, he never spoke of good or bad. He only spoke about patriotism. Thats why all people pine for him. He never discriminated religiously. Thats what we want. Thats democracy. As a politician, I respect him, and as a Muslim, I hold him in esteem. He set an example. Dhamma Kay Thi 27, nun Whenever I see his photos and read his speeches, a feeling of adoration emerges. He gave us independence. Had he not died so early, the country would be more prosperous. His Pledges Are Unfulfilled Dr. Aye Maung, Chairman of the Arakan National Party As an ethnic man, I respect General Aung San. Former Arakan leaders also respected him. If he had not died, our country would have been built as he had promised. Ethnic peoples signed the Panglong Agreement because they trusted him. The 1947 Constitution emerged as a result of pledges in that agreement. However, after he passed away, provisions in the Constitution were not realized. In the view of ethnic people, Burman [Myanmar] leaders oppressed them without honoring the promises made by General Aung San. If he had survived, he would have fulfilled his promises and our country would not have ended up like this. The army as established by General Aung San would be one that respects people, doesnt discriminate and gives positions to ethnicities. There are now no ethnic persons in high positions in the army. The most important thing is the military should not intervene in politics. The military is ideally meant for national security and national defense. Rather than organizing ceremonies to mark the 100th birthday of General Aung San, current leaders should try to build a genuine federal Union. Only by ensuring equality for all ethnicities in politics, the economy, social status and so on, can the promises made by General Aung San to ethnic people be fulfilled. On the anniversary of General Aung Sans birth, the army should pay due respect to what he said and focus its attention on serving the interests of the people. It should be a federal army inclusive of all ethnicities. It should transform itself into one that protects diverse ethnicities from one that oppresses and kills its own national brethren. Reporting by Kyaw Phyo Tha, Nobel Zaw, Nyein Nyein, Saw Yan Naing and Zarni Mann. You may also like these story: Aung San: A Legacy Unfulfilled The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has castigated President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of bringing Nigeria to the... The Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has castigated President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing him of bringing Nigeria to the brink, with his nepotism and clannishness, supremacist and divisive policies. The outspoken bishop, famous for saying truth to power from the pulpit, spoke in Kaduna today, at the funeral mass of slain Seminarian Michael Nnadi at Good Shepherd Seminary, Kaduna. Bishop Kukah told the congregation: We have gathered around the remains of Michael in supplication but also as solemn witnesses to the penetrating darkness that hovers over our country. The immediate family of Michael and the Church lived through the torments of the brutal, harsh and senseless haranguing of the kidnappers who are totally empty of any show of human emotions. This is a solemn moment for the body of Christ. This is for us the moment of decision. This is the moment that separates darkness from light, good from evil. Kukahs message reverberated in Aso Rock Abuja, where President Buhari runs the affairs of the nation. The Sokoto bishop is not impressed by the retired generals stewardship, after almost five years. Nigeria is on the crossroads and its future hangs precariously in a balance. It is time to confront and dispel the clouds of evil that hover over us, Kukah said as he moaned over the insecurity that confronts Nigeria. Kukah recalled that Buhari was voted into office in 2015 on the grounds of his promises to rout Boko Haram. In an address at the prestigious Policy Think Tank, Chatham House in London, just before the elections, Buhari told his audience: I as a retired General and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers. They are capable and they are well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty. If I am elected President, the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria. Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa. We will pay sufficient attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will develop adequate and modern arms and ammunition. We will improve intelligence gathering and border patrols to choke Boko Harams financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural developmentwe will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front. Kukah said: There is no need to make any further comments on this claim. No one in that hall or anywhere in Nigeria doubted the President who ran his campaign on a tank supposedly full of the fuel of integrity and moral probity. This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that, to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian. But the Sokoto Bishop lamented what Buhari has been doing as Nigerias leader. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that, to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. Today, in Nigeria, the noble religion of Islam has convulsed. It has become associated with some of worst fears among our people. Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and intellectuals have continued to cry out helplessly, asking for their religion and region to be freed from this chokehold. This is because, in all of this, neither Islam nor the north can identify any real benefits from these years that have been consumed by the locusts that this government has unleashed on our country. The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His north has become one large grave yard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country. Why have the gods rejected this offering? Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution. Bishop Kukah noted that the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Emir of Kano are the two most powerful traditional and moral leaders in Islam today. The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His north has become one large grave yard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country. None of them is happy and they have said so loud and clear. The Sultan recently lamented the tragic consequences of power being in the wrong hands. Every day, Muslim clerics are posting tales of lamentation about their fate. Now, the Northern Elders, who in 2015 believed that General Buhari had come to redeem the north have now turned against the President, he added. He lamented that citizens of some countries were willing to risk their lives for their nations but such is not the case in Nigeria. Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for. Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her. Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average officeholder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office. He decried that consistent efforts to build Nigeria had failed. The Yorubas say that if it takes you 25 years to practice madness, how much time would you have to put it into real life? We have practised madness for too long. Our attempt to build a nation has become like the agony of Sisyphus who angered the gods and had to endure the frustration of rolling a stone up the mountain. Each time he got near the top, the gods would tip the stone back and he would go back to start all over again. What has befallen our nation? On the persecution of Christians in the north, Bishop Kukah explained, The persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria is as old as the modern Nigerian state. Their experiences and fears of northern, Islamic domination are documented in the Willinks Commission Report way back in 1956. It was also the reason they formed a political platform called, the Non-Muslim League. All of us must confess in all honesty that in the years that have passed, the northern Muslim elite has not developed a moral basis for adequate power sharing with their Christian co-regionalists. We deny at our own expense. By denying Christians lands for places of worship across most of the northern states, ignoring the systematic destruction of churches all these years, denying Christians adequate recruitment, representation and promotions in the State civil services, denying their indigenous children scholarships, marrying Christian women or converting Christians while threatening Muslim women and prospective converts with death, they make building a harmonious community impossible. Nation building cannot happen without adequate representation and a deliberate effort at creating for all members a sense, a feeling, of belonging, and freedom to make their contributions. This is the window that the killers of Boko Haram have exploited and turned into a door to death. It is why killing Christians and destroying Christianity is seen as one of their key missions. New Delhi, Feb 12 : The seventh legislative Assembly of Delhi was constituted on Wednesday, a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) returned to power in the national capital with a resounding victory in the Assembly polls. The Delhi Assembly informed that "the seventh legislative Assembly of Delhi is deemed to have been constituted on February 12 after the Election Commission notified the results of the elections." The seventh Assembly includes eight MLAs from the BJP, five more than the sixth Assembly. The AAP has 62 MLAs in Delhi Assembly, five less than the last time. WILLIAMSPORT A former Sullivan County deputy sheriff has been accused of embezzling nearly $200,000 in sheriff sales money over a seven-year period. Mary Handzus, 63, of the Laporte area, was charged Monday by a criminal information that was filed in U.S. Middle District Court. Accompanying the information was a signed guilty plea that included the requirement to make full restitution of the $198,566 she is alleged to have taken between March 6, 2012, and Jan. 4, 2019. The charge of embezzlement from programs receiving federal funds carries a 10-year maximum prison term. Handzus arraignment and guilty plea have been scheduled for Feb. 20. In the wake of the charge being filed, the county on Tuesday released the following statement that said in part: An investigation was initiated when C&N Bank on Jan. 4, 2019, notified the county of a discrepancy in one of the sheriffs accounts. The account was frozen, state police were notified and Handzus was placed on administrative leave. She was terminated Feb. 5, 2019, after an independent forensic audit concluded embezzlement had occurred. The investigation by state police and FBI discovered that Handzus allegedly used the sheriff sales checking account to write checks for her personal use from 2012 to 2019. These funds were separate from and not connected to the countys general fund and were not taxpayer monies. Within weeks of the initial discovery, the county began a countywide accounting and audit study to make sure such activity cannot be replicated. Measures were put in place so that no single employee will have access to funds without checks and balances. Individuals that engage in embezzlement victimize their fellow citizens and erode public trust, the statement concludes. The charge against Handzus is in federal court because the county received in excess of $10,000 in government grant funds in each of the years the alleged embezzlement occurred, a spokesperson in the U.S. attorneys office explained. 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. South Carolina authorities have released video that shows missing six-year-old, Faye Mary Swetlik getting off a school bus an hour before she was last seen outside her home South Carolina authorities have released video that shows a missing six-year-old girl getting off a school bus just an hour before she was last seen outside her home on Monday. The Cayce Department of Public Safety said that Faye Mary Swetlik was last seen playing by herself in front of the Londonderry Lane home in Cayce at approximately 3.45pm. Her family reported her missing around 5pm. Authorities released the video Wednesday morning as they announced that the search for Faye has been expanded. In the footage, the little girl is seen getting out of her seat, speaking to the bus driver and then exiting the bus. According to a witness, Faye was seen getting off the bus around 2.50pm Monday afternoon. She disappeared less then an hour later at 3.45pm. Initially police said the focus of their search was centered around the Churchill Heights neighborhood where Faye lived. Scroll down for video Authorities released the video Wednesday morning as they announced that the search for Faye has been expanded In the footage, the little girl (pictured) is seen getting out of her seat and walking to the front of the bus Faye (center) is then seen speaking to the bus driver (left) before exiting the bus But during a press conference Wednesday morning, officers said the search area has been expanded. The area will now include part of the highway and the surrounding area of the neighborhood. Authorities have blocked off access to the Churchill Heights neighborhood to anyone who doesn't live in the area while they continue their search. Police also said they have started following up on about 50 of the 80 tips they've received in the past 48 hours. Faye - a student at Springdale Elementary School - was last seen wearing a black shirt with neon colors, a flower print skirt and polka dot rain boots. The shirt had the word 'peace' written on it. Cayce Department of Public Safety, Byron Snellgrove, said Tuesday night that investigators have not found any evidence that Faye was abducted. For the past few days, Faye's grandmother, Ruth Collins (left with Faye and right), has been pleading to the public on social media for help with finding her granddaughter. 'I'm going crazy not knowing where she is,' Collins said On Tuesday night, community members (pictured) gathered at Trinity Baptist Church to pray for Faye's safe return 'Weve not ruled anything out. Were not sure that she hasnt just walked off and is somewhere in the woods or at a neighbors house. Possibly in distress or fallen or something like that,' Snellgrove told reporters. Snellgrove said Faye's mother, her mother's boyfriend and Faye's father are all cooperating with the investigation. For the past few days, Faye's grandmother, Ruth Collins, has been pleading to the public on social media for help with finding her granddaughter. 'I'm going crazy not knowing where she is,' Collins wrote in a Facebook post. In a statement, the family told ABC News that 'Faye is a bubbly and happy little girl'. 'She's not the type of kid that will up and walk away... Faye pays attention to her surroundings. We just want to find Faye and bring her home.' On Tuesday night, community members gathered at Trinity Baptist Church to pray for Faye's safe return. Faye - a student at Springdale Elementary School - was last seen wearing a black shirt with neon colors, a flower print skirt and polka dot rain boots Officials described her as being lactose intolerant with a speech impediment from having a tethered tongue The child had been playing in front of her home (pictured) at the time she went missing Through tears, Collins told ABC Columbia: 'I want my baby back. You got to find her.' More than 250 officers have been part of the search. Officers have been going door to door and speaking with neighbors. FBI agents are also assisting with the search. Officials said the child is lactose intolerant with a speech impediment from having a tethered tongue. Tethered tongue, or ankyloglossia, is when a thick band of tissue tethers the bottom of the tongue to the tip of the floor of the mouth. She is described as being 3'10" and 65lbs with strawberry blonde hair. A special hotline has been created for anyone with information about the girl's whereabouts. Cayce Dept of Public Safety asks anyone with information to call 803-205-4444. This is a dedicated hotline just for calls about #FayeSwetlik William Hill, Andreas Met and Hunter Neubauer Hill is founder of Williams Wonder Farms in Grants Pass. Met is founder of Halo Labs in Medford. Neubauer is co-founder of Oregrown Industries in Bend. All three are members of the Oregon Business Collective, a coalition of cannabis entities. Nearly six years ago, Oregon voters took an ambitious step to legalize recreational marijuana. It took a few years to get the ball rolling, but by 2017, a robust and healthy new industry had been established. Today, that industry is thriving with hundreds of small businesses that employ close to 7,000 people meeting the needs of Oregonians all over the state. In 2019, cannabis sales generated more than $102 million for the state money that goes to schools, police, health care, cities and counties. For the 2021-2023 biennium, that number is expected to rise to more than $300 million. But there is a challenge. Nearly six years in, Oregons cannabis industry has moved beyond the startup phase. The rules and regulations that govern the industry and help protect Oregonians need to evolve along with it to ensure that it can thrive in a safe and responsible way. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission, the state agency charged with regulating cannabis in Oregon, has been a collaborative partner and a leader in policymaking around cannabis. Our coalition of cannabis entities, the Oregon Business Collective, is advocating for minor adjustments that would better fit the needs of the industry while maintaining strong protections for consumers, workers and the environment. 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. As it stands, a cannabis business that is cited for multiple minor violations, such as failure to maintain accurate video camera records, could potentially lose its license. Would that violation lead to a fine? A suspension? Some other form of enforcement action? And when would all that happen? Its often hard to know. That uncertainty can be extremely detrimental to businesses, especially those looking to expand, hire more workers or make significant capital investments. With input and support from OLCC and other state officials, our coalition is advocating for a safe harbor provision that would offer a defined period of time for businesses to address minor violations. Such a provision would eliminate uncertainty for Oregon cannabis businesses, allow OLCC to focus on what matters most and support owners, operators and workers in Oregons cannabis industry. An amendment that would set up a safe harbor has been attached to two pieces of cannabis regulatory legislation under consideration during the 2020 Oregon legislative session: HB 4035 and SB 1561. We strongly support this legislation. We also strongly support the regulation of Oregons cannabis industry. But like the industry itself, its time for the rules that govern it to evolve so that the cannabis industry in Oregon can continue to flourish. This will continue to benefit all Oregonians with more businesses, more jobs and more tax revenue for the future. [February 12, 2020] DVIGear Appoints Siya Fakher as Business Development Manager for the United Kingdom Will Build DVIGear's Market for DisplayNet AV-over-IP Products MARIETTA, Georgia, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DVIGear, a leading supplier of Digital Connectivity Solutions for professional display applications, is pleased to announce that Siya Fakher has been appointed Business Development Manager for the United Kingdom. In his new role, Fakher will be responsible for supporting local distribution and building market share for DVIGear's full range of Digital Signal Distribution products, including its award-winning DisplayNet AV-over-IP and HyperLight Active Optical Cable product lines. Siya Fakher has two decades of experience in the professional AV market within the UK. Most recently he was employed by SY Electronics in Manchester, UK, leading their Southern UK Sales and Marketing group, transforming the company's branding and sales strategy to double their revenue over two years. Prior engagements include Tokyo Denpa Co. (TDK) Ltd, Auditel, Arturia and the RCF Group. Earlier in his career, Siya worked as a professional audio engineer and DJ. He can be contacted by phone at +44 (0)7776 291 662 or by email at [email protected]. "I'm passionate about being part of a team that delivers formidable technologies underpinned by world class support and service. For me it's all about prviding customers with the right AV solution for every application, rather than simply shifting boxes. DVIGear has an agile team that delivers boutique digital AV solutions, and I'm excited to be part of this organization," said Fakher. "We are thrilled to have Siya join our company," said Steven Barlow, President of DVIGear. "His passion and enthusiasm are unmatched, and his relationship-building skills and strong sales background will enable him to develop the market for our products in the UK." About DVIGear Founded in 1999, for two decades DVIGear has been a leading supplier of Digital Connectivity Solutions for a wide range of professional display applications. Located in Marietta, Georgia, USA, DVIGear offers an extensive portfolio of high-performance digital video distribution products, including: DisplayNet AV-over-IP distribution systems, Switchers, Splitters, Extenders, Converters, Scalers, as well as copper and active optical cables. For more information, visit DVIGear.com and DisplayNet.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. DVIGear, DVIGear & Design, DisplayNet and DisplayNet & Design are trademarks of DVIGear, Inc. and may not be used without the prior written permission of DVIGear, Inc. SDVoE is a trademark of the SDVoE Alliance. 2020 DVIGear, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact: Steven Barlow / +1.770.421.6699 / [email protected] DVIGear Logo HyperLight Logo Siya Fakher [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasing air passenger traffic and demand for commercial aircraft drives the global mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05861915/?utm_source=PRN The global mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace is anticipated to grow from USD 8.8 billion in 2019 to USD 11.9 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. The ever-growing passenger traffic and rising expenditure by defense authorities are expected to drive the mechanical control cables industry for military and aerospace. Based on material, the jacket material segment is projected to grow with higher CAGR during the forecast period Based on material, the jacket material segment is expected to grow with a higher CAGR across the forecast period.Jackets are the outermost layer of wire. Without a jacket, cables are susceptible to abrasion, heat and oxidation damages, as well as weather-related damages. Jacket materials are categorized into thermoplastic and thermoset. Based on type, the push-pull segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in the mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace over the forecast period Push-pull control cables and rods are mechanical devices that are used in applications which actuate the predefined motion, i.e., forward and backword motion in a particular direction. Such cables are used primarily in the flight control and landing gear systems of an aircraft. The increasing demand for commercial air travel, especially from emerging economies of Asia Pacific, is fueling the demand for new commercial aircraft. According to Boeing and Airbus forecast outlook, the world will require 39,620 and 33,070 new aircraft by 2035. North America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR across the forecast period According to the World Bank, the North American region contributes up to 28% (approximately) of the world's GDP.North America is also considered as a key region for maritime activities, and the growth of coastal shipping in this region is also propelling the demand for military ships. The US also procured 49,099 vehicles for its army and over 6,000 vehicles for its naval force in 2018.In June 2018, the US Army awarded a contract worth USD 258 million to General Dynamics Land Systems to modify 116 Stryker vehicles. Such modernizations will drive the market for mechanical components, such as mechanical control cables. Major companies providing mechanical control cables are Triumph Group (US), Crane Aerospace & Electronics (US), and Elliott Manufacturing (US). The break-up of profiles of primary participants in the mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace: By Company Type: Tier 1 35%, Tier 2 45%, and Tier 3 20% By Designation: C-Level Executives 35%, Directors 25%, and Others 40% By Region: North America 45%, Europe 20%, Asia Pacific 30%, Rest of the World 5% Key players in the mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace are Crane Aerospace & Electronics (US), Triumph Group (US), Elliott Manufacturing (US), Orscheln Products (US), Glassmaster Controls Company, Inc. (US), Loos & Co. Inc. (US), Bergen Cable Technology, Inc. (US), Cable Manufacturing & Assembly, Inc. (US), Wescon Controls (US), Tyler Madison, Inc. (US), Escadean Ltd. (UK), Sila Group (Italy), Cablecraft Motion Controls (US), Ringspann GmbH (Germany), Lexco Cable Mfg. (US), Drallim Industries Limited (UK), Grand Rapids Controls, LLC. (US), VPS Control Systems, Inc. (US), AeroControlex (US), and Kuster Holding GmbH (Germany). Research Coverage: The market study covers the mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace across segments.It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market across different segments, such as type, platform, material, application, end-use, and region. The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.Reasons to buy this report: This report will help market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall mechanical control cables market for military aerospace and its subsegments. The report covers the entire ecosystem of mechanical control cables in the aviation industry and will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report will also help stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on the key drivers, challenges, restraints, and opportunities in the global mechanical control cables market for military and aerospace. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05861915/?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 www.reportlinker.com Benes Ayo, the Latvian citizen is taken to custody and may be handed over to Ukraine that requested his arrest Black Lenin Open source The police of Arkhangelsk region (Russia) detained Benes Ayo, the mercenary of the so-called DNR, Donetsk People's Republic. He is known by the alias Black Lenin. Regnum reported that with the reference to Dmitriy Sarayev, the member of the Russian Communist Party. The detained militant is well known among the supporters of leftist political views. Born in Latvia, he joined this movement and became its active participant. Lately, Benes has served with Russian militants in Donbas. According to Sarayev, Ayo was detained in Yarensk village, Arkhangelsk region. The man came there to support the protesters of spoil disposal construction in Shyes settlement. The interlocutor told the news agency that the militant was detained under the request of Ukraine. He may face deportation now. "He's Russian, although his skin is black. He's wanted in the Baltic States and currently fights in the DNR as a militia fighter. He's a member of the DNR Communist Party", Sarayev said. So far, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies did not confirm the information. Sacramento, CA Pacific Gas and Electric is requesting state regulators approve rate increases to help fund fire prevention efforts and the companys increasing insurance costs. Two separate proposals were submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission for consideration and combined they would increase monthly electricity rates by around $9.10 and natural gas rates by $1.80. In total, $1.4-billion would be collected over a two year period. The first proposal would help collect money to harden the companys electrical grid and repair infrastructure damaged during windstorms last year. The second proposal would help cover increasing insurance costs. The California Public Utilities Commission will review the proposals at an upcoming meeting. They come as PG&E works to emerge from bankruptcy. A bushfire that raged for seven months has finally been put as heavy rain has helped to extinguish more than half of bushfires in NSW and the ACT in a week. The Lindfield Park Road Fire in Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast began burning on July 18, 2019 and was extinguished on Wednesday. 'The good news just keeps rolling in! The Lindfield Park Road Fire, which has been burning in the Port Macquarie region for 210 days, has today been declared out,' the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) announced on Twitter. 'The fire burnt through 858 hectares and 400 of that being peat soils under the surface.' Firefighters along the east coast have been assisted record-breaking rain of up to 300mm per day in some regions since last Wednesday. As of Wednesday night last week there were 62 fires burning in NSW and the ACT but one week later, that number has dropped by more than half to 27. The Lindfield Park Road Fire in Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast began burning on July 18, 2019 and was extinguished on Wednesday The NSW RFS said there are 26 fires currently burning in the state, of which four are uncontained. In the ACT, the Orroral Valley fire continues to burn, bring the grand total to 27 'Rain has significantly assisted reducing the fire activity across areas of NSW. It is a welcome relief for communities and firefighters alike,' the RFS tweeted on Wednesday night. The state fire service also shared an eerie video of burnt-out bush land with grey storms clouds above and rain creating puddles in the ashy soil. There are still four bushfires that are not yet contained in NSW burning in the Snowy Valley and Monaro areas and the uncontained Orroral Valley fire in the ACT. In addition, there are 22 current bushfires that are contained in NSW, bringing the total number to 27 for both states. Australia's current bushfire season normally begins in October but it arrived early last year, with many parts of the state issuing warnings in August. But the Lindfield Road Park Fire that was put out on Wednesday has been burning since July 18, 2019, making it both a winter and summer bushfire. Horses panic as a spot fire runs through a farm property near Canberra. The uncontained Orroral Valley fire continues to burn in the ACT - but is being controlled The NSW RFS shared an eerie video of burnt-out bush land with grey storms clouds above and rain creating puddles in the ashy soil. 'Rain has significantly assisted reducing the fire activity across areas of NSW,' they captioned the post The lengthy bushfire burnt through 858 hectares above land and another 400 hectares underground through peat soil. Peat soil, especially dry peat soil, can be hard to put out as it is made of decomposing organic material that produces flammable gas. By using fuel deep underground, peat fires can continue even when vegetation above ground has been burnt out, which helped the Lindfield Park bushfire burn for 210 days. The 80,000 hectare Orroral Valley bushfire burning south of Canberra is still uncontained despite receiving 100mm of rain over the weekend. ACT Parks fire manager Neil Cooper said helicopters would drop water on hot spots but the fight was far from over. 'The mood among firefighters is mixed. There's a big sense of relief about the rain and preventing further progression, but it's tinged with the knowledge we're now in for the hard work. This is the hard slog,' Mr Cooper told the Canberra Times. 'The fire is not going anywhere, and while the fire is not progressing, logs are still smouldering and burning.' Clair Cowie defends her home from an out of control spot fire in Canberra. The 80,000 hectare Orroral Valley bushfire burning south of Canberra is still uncontained despite receiving 100mm of rain over the weekend Between Friday and Monday, seven fires were put out in NSW An 'advice' level warning is currently in place for the Orroral Valley bushfire as it is 'being controlled'. The fire will be declared extinguished once no spot fires have been identified in the fireground for 24 hours. Last week, much-needed rainfall meant reprieve for exhausted firefighters as the downpours put out 22 bushfires in the space of just three days. By the end of Wednesday last week, there were 62 active fires in NSW and the ACT, which dropped to 42 by the end of Thursday and to 40 on Friday. Over the weekend, seven more fires that burnt more than 1.5 million hectares of land were also put out, bringing the number down to 33 on Monday. As of Wednesday night, there are 27 uncontained bushfires burning in NSW and the ACT. Laurence Cowie chooses to stay and defend his home near Canberra. As of Wednesday night, there are 27 uncontained bushfires burning in NSW and the ACT (Newser) When a pediatrician in the suburbs of Chicago committed suicide last year, he left behind an odd suicide noteand now authorities are asking the public for help. Dr. Van Koinis, whose practice was in Evergreen Park, Illinois, indicated in his note that he had been "averse" to vaccinations, and that he "regretted his conduct with immunizations" over the past decade or so, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart tells the Chicago Sun-Times. Authorities tried to figure out which of Koinis' patients had been vaccinated and which had not, but determining that "was unclear due to record keeping issues," according to a sheriff's office statement cited by NBC Chicago. Koinis' note also indicated regret having to do with the records, which WHNT reports were "in disarray." So now authorities are asking any former patients to get in touch, and to alert their current physicians to the issue. story continues below In some cases, authorities think Koinis may have helped parents falsify vaccination records, the Chicago Tribune reports: "He was well known for being someone who was into homeopathic medicine, and from what we have determined, it was well known that people opposed to vaccination could go to him," Dart says. But authorities also fear Koinis may not have administered vaccines to some patients, even when parents asked for them, though so far there is no evidence of this. In many cases, though not all, a blood test can determine whether a vaccine has been received. Koinis had never been disciplined under either of his licenses, but a state agency may have been investigating a complaint against him; there is no indication he knew that when he killed himself. Authorities are also investigating whether anyone else was involved with Koinis' actions. (Read more vaccine stories.) The United Nations human rights office has issued a report on companies it said have business ties to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a long-delayed move likely to draw the ire of Israel and its main ally, the United States. In a statement on Wednesday, the UN body said it identified 112 business entities which it has reasonable grounds to conclude have ties with Israeli settlements 94 domiciled in Israel and 18 in six other countries. It identified companies listed in the US, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Among these was the US-based home-sharing company, Airbnb. In its report, the UN office said the companies activities raised particular human rights concerns. I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said. But she added that the findings had been subject to an extensive and meticulous review process and the report reflects the serious consideration that has been given to this unprecedented and highly complex mandate. Her office said the report does not provide a legal characterisation of the activities in question, or of business enterprises involvement in them. Airbnb said in November 2018 that it would remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. But it said the following April that it would not implement the planned delisting and would donate proceeds from any bookings in the territory to international humanitarian aid organisations. Other companies include travel sites Expedia and TripAdvisor, tech giant Motorola, consumer food maker General Mills and construction and infrastructure companies including Frances Egis Rail and British company, JC Bamford Excavators. Commenting on the report, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki hailed the decision, calling a victory for international law. Publishing this list of companies and entities operating in the settlements is a victory for international law and diplomatic efforts, Malki said in a statement. He urged UN member states and the UN Human Rights Council to issue recommendations and instructions to these companies to end their work immediately with the settlements. Companies put on notice The UN report comes in response to a 2016 UNHRC resolution calling for a database for all businesses engaged in specific activities related to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. The rights council, which is made up of 47 governments, had never before requested such a list scrutinising corporate activities. The UN agency said compiling the database had been a complex process involving widespread discussions with states, think-tanks, academics and the companies themselves. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh threatened to take international legal action against the companies named in the report, demanding they immediately close their headquarters and branches inside illegal Israeli settlements because their presence contradicts international and UN resolutions. We will pursue companies listed in the report legally through international legal institutions and in courts in their countries for taking part in human rights violations in Palestine, Shtayyeh said in a Facebook post. He added Palestinians would also demand compensation for what he called their use of our occupied land illegally. Human Rights Watchs deputy advocacy chief Bruno Stagno welcomed the publication of the database. This should put all companies on notice: to do business with illegal settlements is to aid in the commission of war crimes, he said. Al Jazeeras Stephanie Dekker, reporting from West Jerusalem, said the report highlights the international communitys stance, that these settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. It doesnt have any legality in terms of implementing consequences for these companies, but it does open them to the potential for any Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, she said. Wednesdays report, however, stressed that companies do not have to remain on the database forever. Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the business enterprise is ceasing or no longer involved in the relevant activity, the business enterprise would be removed from the database, it said. The report recommended that the database be updated annually, and urged the Human Rights Council to appoint a group of independent experts to handle this task. Trumps plan Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 in a move never recognised by the international community. Its settlements are deemed illegal under international law and widely seen as a sticking point in peace negotiations. Some 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem among about 2.9 million Palestinians. In an initial reaction, Israels foreign minister, Israel Katz, called the publication of the list a shameful surrender to countries and organisations that want to hurt Israel. Later on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the UN rights council was a biased and uninfluential body. Instead of dealing with human rights this body is trying to blacken Israels name. We reject any such attempt in the strongest terms and with disgust, he said. In recent weeks, Netanyahu has pledged to annex Israels more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, a move that he US signalled would greenlight. The UN report comes a day after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN Security Council, rejecting US President Donald Trumps so-called Middle East plan. The plan envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel and favours Israel on key contentious issues including borders, the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements. The proposal was made without the input of Palestinians, who broke off ties with the Trump administration after it controversially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in late 2017. The U.S. Congress is drafting a new package of sanctions against participants in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipe project, that's if Russia eventually succeeds in completing it. They will affect European companies, including investors and also future recipients of Russian gas. UNIAN tried to figure out whether the U.S. would be able to sink Putin's project. The United States has been drafting new sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which is being built to bypass Ukraine and has been designed to deprive the country of its gas transit status along with billions worth of revenues. This time, a blow to the Gazprom project could actually become "fatal". According to German media, citing sources in American diplomatic circles, sanctions will affect European companies that are now investing in the pipeline, as well as those that will further receive Russian gas. More details about those new sanctions are allegedly set to come as early as February or March. The sole shareholder of Nord Stream 2 is Russia's Gazprom, which partnered up with Germany's Wintershall and Uniper, Austrian OMV, French Engie, and British-Dutch Shell. It is these partner companies who can get a "slap in the face" from across the pond. Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark have all given their consent to laying the pipe in their territorial waters. The U.S. sanction attacks will not affect these states in general, which is quite logical. All of them, except Germany, have long resisted Russian pressure. Denmark has almost achieved success in its denials, stalling project implementation for almost 12 months. It is worth noting that the previous U.S. attempt to slay Nord Stream 2, taken in December 2019, didn't work out. It only hindered deadlines for putting the pipe into operation. And while sanctions awaited the decision of Congress and signature of U.S. President, construction teams have completed the most part of the laying. Only 150 kilometers are yet to be laid out of 1,200 along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Pressure was exerted on Gazprom contractors pipe layers. Although the Swiss-Dutch company Allseas, the key technical partner of the Russians, the world leader in the area, immediately after sanctions were imposed, ceased participation in the project, Russia announced that the construction of the gas pipeline would be completed with their own means. Gazprom has at its disposal an "obsolete" Akademik Chersky pipe-laying ship, which requires significant modernization to complete the construction. The vessel was urgently sent to Singapore for an upgrade. She is set to arrive there on February 22. It is not yet known how much time it will take to upgrade the ship but, most likely, the NS2 completion date will be delayed by several months. Russian President Vladimir Putin, the main mastermind behind Russian gas expansion, acknowledged a certain defeat. He didn't rule out that the pipeline would start operating, most likely, in the first quarter of 2021 (initially, Nord Stream 2 was supposed to have been completed by the end of 2019, and this year it should have started operating as planned). Germany's Handelsblatt wrote that the German government raised alarm over the likelihood of new U.S. sanctions against Nord Stream 2, considering them "illegal and extraterritorial." Berlin continues supporting the project, assuring the international community that they will continue to try to convince the United States that the pipeline is exclusively commercial project, rather than a political one that would increase Europe's dependence on Russia. Another argument voiced by Berlin is that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the transit, which was one of the main reservations to Nord Stream 2, is allegedly settled. A new long-term contract for gas transit through Ukraine has been signed, which means that everyone is supposed to be happy with the outcome. It should be emphasized though that it's Germany that will benefit most from the project, becoming the key European gas hub, meaning billions of euros in revenues annually. Apparently, hence the stable gas friendship between Moscow and Berlin. But international experts cast doubt on the stability of the transit contract between Ukraine and Russia in case Gazprom implements their bypass pipe project, given the Kremlin's traditions of creating force majeure situations from scratch. Germany believes that Nord Stream 2, worth $10 billion, will be able to be completed within a "reasonable term", with the help of diplomacy. That is, indignation is out there, albeit very restrained. Berlin does not dare to get into an open conflict with the United States. But Washington is not responding to all the persuasion. At the same time, an ultimatum confrontation can't be ruled out. So will there be sanctions? President of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI", Mykhailo Honchar, believes that the new U.S. sanctions are real. The Americans have successfully hindered the Nord Stream 2, slowing down its implementation. But reports that the Russian pipe-laying vessel Akademik Chersky was sent to Singapore for an upgrade show that Russia is not going to abandon its intentions. Germany and Austria, although they announced their assistance in the process of completing the pipeline (such reports have been voiced at the official level by federal governments of both countries in recent weeks), in fact, can hardly help the Russians, except at the level of moral and political support. This is all about bravado. "While the Russians are re-equipping their pipe layer and before they bring it to the Baltic Sea and start completing the Nord Stream 2, they are likely to face new U.S. sanctions not abstract ones, as it was before, but specific ones. They will create inconveniences for Gazprom," the expert notes. Honchar recalls that Gazprom does not sell its gas in the United States, although initially there were such plans: at the beginning of the previous decade, Gazprom wanted to supply about 54 billion cubic meters of gas to America in liquefied form. "But everything happened not as planned. And if Gazprom takes risks in the desire to complete the construction of Nord Stream 2 no matter what, it may see a response in blocking both the transactions it carries out through banks with American capital and assets. I think that now the USA is in no hurry with new sanctions, they just keep it to themselves," he says. At the same time, the wait and see attitude of Gazprom's European partners is quite predictable: "In 2017, the United States began to actively talk about possible sanctions against Nord Stream 2, but the Europeans immediately said they would stay away. The fact is that all the European partner companies of Gazprom, to one degree or another, are partners with American companies. For example, Shell." Honchar notes that now the United States is drawing some kind of horror story for Europe, giving it the opportunity to reconsider the options. Everything is done by analogy with how in 2015 the issue was discussed (mainly in the USA, to a lesser extent in the EU) about the possibility of disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT system of international bank settlements. None of this, due to global trade relations, has happened. But now, U.S. sanctions against Nord Stream 2 are realistic. "And this is not specifically about the pipeline, but about how Russia uses its oil and gas exports. This is nothing but the export of corruption to Europe. And this has been said more than once. The United States understands what is happening, unlike European politicians. Therefore, under certain circumstances, America may resort to new harsh sanctions, radical measures, since they realize what Russian politics is evolving to," Honchar emphasized. "Gas" realities for Ukraine If Russia manages to complete the Nord Stream 2 and bring it to full design capacity, it will immediately ignore contractual transit obligations to Ukraine. This has been repeatedly stated by experts. Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev also spoke about this. "I believe that if Nord Stream 2 is completed, there will be no transit through Ukraine," he said, adding that the EU gas directive on demonopolization of the market will yield no result. Recall that Ukraine and Russia signed a new gas transit contract for a period of five years on December 30, 2019, with the possibility of extension until 2034. The minimum transit volume in the first year is 65 billion cubic meters of gas and in the next four years it's 40 bcm annually. The tariff will be set by the Ukrainian energy regulator in accordance with the European methodology. Direct deliveries of Russian gas to Ukraine were not provided for in package agreements. The parties may consider the possibility of their implementation in the future, but subject to the establishment of prices on the basis of a European hub. Another condition for inking the deal was that the parties renounced mutual claims in arbitrrations. Honchar agrees with the likelihood of a bad transit scenario. Moreover, according to him, no one knows how well everything has been laid down in the new contract. "We only know what we were told. But the devil is in the details. Gazprom would have betrayed itself if it hadn't made any pitfalls in the document. Ukraine needs to continue efforts to destroy Nord Stream 2 because it seems we have somewhat relaxed, which is very alarming. But the Germans and Russians keep stubbornly explaining to Europe and the rest of the world that the issue with Ukraine has been resolved and that gas transit through its territory will continue. Therefore, they say, there is no reason to oppose Nord Stream 2. We are dealing with the new composition of the European Commission and the European Parliament. That is why Russia and Germany are trying to reformat their attitude towards the pipeline. In this context, we need to intensify efforts so that the project is not implemented. And this will become a real guarantee that gas transit through Ukraine will be preserved. If the pipeline is completed, Russia, under one pretext or another, will dump the contract. We have seen this more than once. Everything possible must be done so that the Russian bypass route is neutralized. We need to work closely with our American and Polish partners," said Honchar. In other words, Ukraine should do everything so that Nord Stream 2 doesn't work out. Indeed, even if a single meter of the pipeline will be left unfinished, it will not be able to operate. At the same time, it is important to shift our partners' focus on the fact that this is also in the interests of the EU, since Nord Stream 2 is not at all about diversification of supplies, it's not a commercial project as Russian and German politicians assure. However, a quick result shouldn't be expected in any case. Nana Chornaya (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Nine years ago today, the Egyptian people toppled Hosni Mubarak, their ruler of nearly 30 years. What had begun as protests against police brutality drew inspiration from the success of anti-regime demonstrations in Tunisia, and escalated into demands for the fall of the dictatorship. Among the most popular chants in Cairos Tahrir Square and other protest venues was the demand for bread, freedom and social justice. Nearly a decade on, despite positive movement in several macro-economic indicators, those demands are just as elusive as ever. For a time, Egyptians enjoyed a great deal more freedom. In the immediate aftermath of Mubaraks fall, free speech flourished. New political parties were formed, with diverse ideological outlooks. Private and state-owned media began publishing stories critical of the government. On their TV sets, Egyptians were treated to the unfamiliar sight of journalists and activists openly challenging officials and politicians. But bread and social justice continued to be elusive, first under the military administration that took over from Mubarak, and then under the elected Islamist government. Egypts new rulers inherited structural problems that had plagued the economy for decades. These included poor infrastructure, inefficient public enterprises, a costly array of subsidies and a convoluted series of regulations that had accumulated over decades. In the years leading to the uprising, Egypt had posted some promising macroeconomic numbers, but the gains had not reached most Egyptians. In the decade before Mubaraks overthrow, GDP growth was relatively healthy, breaking 7% for two of the years. Foreign direct investment in those years reached the highest levels in modern Egyptian history. Hard-currency reserves were also at their peak, at $37 billion. Despite this, the poverty rate rose steeply throughout the decade, rising from 16.7% in 2000 to 21.6% in 2010. Millions fell into poverty while the elite cashed in. In an economy riddled with corruption, much of the business elite was more adept at leveraging connections and privileges for unproductive rent-seeking activities than at building efficient productive enterprises. Story continues Egypts infrastructure had long been neglected, and cities were left to decay while the elites escaped to gated compounds on Cairos outskirts and along the Mediterranean coast. Investment in luxury property developments ballooned as the wealthy sought safe refuge for their excess capital. Expectations following Mubaraks overthrow were high. The new freedom of expression led to increasing industrial action and demands for long overdue raises. The interim military administration promised the wage hikes, but as economic activity stagnated and spending to protect the pound grew, much of Egypts reserves quickly evaporated. There were fears that the currency would require a devaluation, as it eventually did. When the Muslim Brotherhood government took power, its inexperience, incompetence and decidedly brief tenure contributed to a general failure to successfully address the countrys economic demands. The coup in 2013 marked the abrupt end of free speech. Those opposed to General Abdel Fattah El Sisis power-grab were gunned down in the streets or imprisoned en masse. The media was quickly bullied into the old servility. But Sisi did promise bread and social justice. Egyptians were told they would have to endure some hardship while the new president set about fixing the economy, and for the most part they accepted the bargain of economic security in exchange for freedom. Now, once again, Egypts macro-economic indicators are looking up, winning praise for Sisis economic management from investors and the IMF. But as before, the improvements mask problems below the surface. While GDP growth has accelerated, the countrys private sector, aside from oil and gas, has kept contracting. Januarys non-oil and gas purchasing-managers index plunged to 46, the lowest level in nearly three years. As before, the fruits of growth appear to have been cornered by the well-connected few. Roughly 5 million more Egyptians fell into poverty between 2015 and 2018; the national poverty rate rose from 27.8% to 32.5%. While Egyptians increasingly struggle to cover basic commodities, Sisi publicly defends building lavish palaces and insists he will continue to do so. As debt grows at a troubling pace, the government continues to pursue unnecessary megaprojects like the $58 billion New Administrative Capital which is slated to be home to Africas tallest tower. Will Egyptians once again hold their rulers accountable as they did nine years ago? Although reliable opinion-polling is scarce, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of deepening dissatisfaction, including the spasm of protests last September, sparked by a series of online videos about corruption in government contracts. After the failure of the Arab Spring, many commentators assumed the Arab world had lost faith in the power of street demonstrations. But 2019 showed, in Algeria and Sudan, that people-power can still topple brutal regimes. In Iraq and Lebanon, demonstrators continue to demand freedom, bread and social justice. In Egypt, despite the jailing tens of thousands of opposition politicians and activists since 2013, the threat and fear of an uprising persistsespecially since, having been made to sacrifice freedom for economic security, most Egyptians now have neither. To contact the author of this story: Timothy Kaldas at KaldasTimothy@gmail.com To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bobby Ghosh at aghosh73@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Timothy Kaldas is an independent risk adviser and nonresident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. 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. Dehui Solar's Max Series module features monofacial half-cut 166mm x 166mm (M6) cells with 9BB to provide better current collection ability with maximum power output as high as 445Wp. Meanwhile, in addition to the above features, the BiMax Series module offers bifacial technology for additional energy gain from the rear side and enhanced fire resistance performance. The power outputs of the front side of BiMax modules are rated up to 440Wp. Mr. Hui Huang, CEO of Dehui Solar, said: "We are pleased to be a part of this year's Intersolar North America at San Diego. Through this significant event, we look forward to introducing our latest modules to one of the biggest solar markets in the world." Mr. Mofe Stallings, General Manager of Dehui Solar USA, added, "After producing over 350MW of modules made with 156.75mm cells in 2019 for the US and EU markets as an OEM manufacturer for Tier 1 module suppliers, we are taking this opportunity to showcase Dehui Solar's advancement of solar energy by introducing our larger cell format Max and BiMax Series modules to serve as a landmark of Dehui Solar's independent foray into the US market." The annual cell and module capacity of Dehui Solar is 1.5GW and 2GW, respectively. Dehui Solar expects to ship over 1GW of modules to the USA in 2020. About Dehui Solar As an emerging force in the renewable energy industry, Dehui Solar is passionate about building a vertical supply chain, including solar cells, PV modules, energy storage systems, and project development, to share value for a green future. Anchored by state-of-the-art production facilities in Vietnam, Dehui Solar proudly serves global customers with quality products and excellent service. SOURCE Dehui Solar Related Links www.dehui-solar.com She became an overnight celebrity after starring on Married At First Sight. But before her debut on Nine's social experiment, this bride-to-be was just an ordinary schoolgirl growing up in Adelaide. In a high school yearbook photo obtained by Daily Mail Australia, she looks almost unrecognisable as a young teenager. Mystery girl: A Married At First Sight bride looks almost unrecognisable in her high school yearbook photo The girl in the photo is none other than Stacey Hampton, the feisty 26-year-old law graduate viewers love to hate. Stacey had shoulder-length dark brown hair in her yearbook picture, but now has long blonde locks. Her lips were also noticeably thinner during her pre-filler high school days. Blonde ambition: The girl in the photo is none other than Stacey Hampton, the feisty 26-year-old law graduate viewers love to hate Meeting her match: Stacey has been partnered with company director Michael Goonan on Married At First Sight (right). Pictured left: Stacey with her ex-fiance, Shane Michael Smith Stacey has been partnered with millionaire company director Michael Goonan, 28, on Married At First Sight. 'I'm quite intimidating to men, so I haven't had the time nor the opportunity to be taken seriously by someone,' she said on the show. 'Initially, obviously I'm attracted to looks first. But then personality is what keeps me around. That personality is for the long term.' The dark side: Stacey used to have shoulder-length dark brown hair (left), but nowadays has long blonde locks (right) Stacey earned the wrath of viewers after arguing with Michael on their honeymoon in Fiji and then refusing to accept his apology. Fans blasted the mother-of-two on Twitter, labelling her 'awful' and a 'hypocrite'. 'Okay so Michael's a d**k, but Stacey is a straight up cow. Get her off my screen!' one person tweeted. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of investors of Sasol Limited (Sasol or the Company) (NYSE: SSL) who purchased Sasol American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) between March 10, 2015 and January 13, 2020 inclusive (the Class Period). All investors who purchased American Depositary Receipts of Sasol Limited and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information and join the action on our website, www.whafh.com. If you have incurred losses in the ADRs of Sasol Limited, you may, no later than April 6, 2020, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in the shares of Sasol Limited. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE ## Follow the firm and learn about newly filed cases on Twitter and Facebook. ## On October 27, 2014, Sasol announced the construction of a of an $8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, dubbed the Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP). According to the Company, the LCCP includes seven manufacturing units, some of which are in continued development, including the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) facility and Ziegler alcohol, ethoxylates and Guerbet alcohol facilities, among others. On June 6, 2016, Sasol reported that the expected total capital expenditure for the [LCCP] could increase up to US$11 billion, including site infrastructure and utility improvements; a slower rate of capital resulted in an extended project schedule and contributed to further project cost increases; [t]he expected returns for the project have reduced due to changes in long-term price assumptions and the higher capital estimates; and [t]he increase in the estimated LCCP capital cost and extended schedule will reduce the expected project returns by approximately the same amount as the Companys lower long-term price assumptions. Following these disclosures, Sasols share price fell $3.53 per share, or 10.99%, to close at $28.60 per share on June 6, 2016. On May 22, 2019, Sasol disclosed that the cost estimate for the LCCP has been revised to a range of $12,6 to $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million. Sasol cited a $530 million change in the projects cost forecast because of a [c]orrection for duplication of investment allowances of approximately $230 million; a [c]orrection for certain contracts and variation orders managed by Sasol, outside the primary engineering, procurement and construction contract, of approximately $180 million; and forecast improvements that were not expected to be realised and adjustments for potential insurance claims and procurement back-charges of approximately $120 million. Following these disclosures, Sasols share price fell $4.50 per share, or 14.93%, to close at $25.64 per share on May 22, 2019. Later, on August 16, 2019, Sasol issued a press release disclosing that it was delaying the announcement of its 2019 financial results because of possible LCCP control weaknesses. On this news, Sasols share price fell $0.74 per share, or 4.02%, to close at $17.67 per share on August 16, 2019. Then, on October 28, 2019, Sasol disclosed that its review of the LCCP control weaknesses had brought to light errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the [LCCP] cost estimate, and a number of unethical and improper reporting activities that took place at the highest level of management. Sasol also announced the resignation of its Joint Presidents and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), effective November 1, 2019, and Senior Vice Presidents and others previously in charge of the LCCP. Finally, 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. 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. Following these disclosures, Sasols share price fell $1.70 per share, or 7.84%, over the following two trading days, to close at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020. Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com , or visit our website at www.whafh.com to join this action. Contact: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP Kevin Cooper, Esq. Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis Email: gstone@whafh.com , kcooper@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774 Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday (local time) rejected the US President Donald Trump's Middle East Peace Plan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). "I have come to you today to reaffirm the Palestinian position that rejects the Israeli-American proposal," Abbas was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera. "It annuls the legitimacy of the Palestinian rights, our rights to self-determination, freedom, and independence, in our own state. It legitimised what is illegal - settlements and confiscation and annexation of Palestinian land," he said, referring to Israel's illegal settlement expansion project in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Abbas, however, also stated that he was ready to launch negotiations with Israel under the patronage of the Quartet, reported Times of Israel. The Palestinian President told the UNSC that the proposal would bring neither peace nor stability and would leave Palestinians with a state resembling 'swiss cheese', reported Al Jazeera. Abbas called on Trump to return to negotiations based on existing UN resolutions that call for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders and urged the UN security council to hold an international conference to seek a settlement for the long-running conflict. The Middle East plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump last month 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) District Court Judge Ron Rangel tried to light a fire under county court-at-law judges on Monday with a letter urging them to adopt the bail-reform policies recently put in place by Harris County. The letter reinforced the sense that while a growing consensus of county officials including District Attorney Joe Gonzales and County Judge Nelson Wolff favor moving away from a cash-bail system that punishes poverty rather than criminality, the push to reform the system has met with resistance from County Court-at-Law judges. A year ago, Wolff convened the county court judges who handle misdemeanor cases and tried to enlist their support for the Harris County model, which allows individuals arrested on misdemeanor charges to be released with a few exceptions on personal recognizance bonds. County court judges, however, balked at the suggestion. Judge John Longoria, the administrator for the county court system, said he wasnt opposed to bail reform but defined it as an issue that needed to be addressed by the Texas Legislature. He also suggested that the Harris County reform plan had gone too far. Bexar County has made significant criminal-justice strides over the past year, ensuring defendants the right to legal representation at bail hearings, and, through the implementation of Gonzaless cite-and-release program, enabling individuals stopped for low-level offenses to avoid arrest. Getting county court judges to support the concept of magistrates reducing the use of cash bail for misdemeanors would be a crucial step forward. Rangel, the administrator of Bexar Countys district courts, got Wolff, Gonzales and Michael Young, the countys chief public defender, to sign on to his letter. We believe that Bexar County Courts-at-Law handling criminal cases could benefit greatly from following Harris Countys recently implemented bail reform practices, Rangel wrote. We ask that you consider making the same changes to your courts misdemeanor bail policies. Rangel added: Such bail reform measures would play a critical role in guaranteeing that the constitutional due process rights of all Bexar County arrestees will be protected. We sincerely hope that you all are ready to continue advancing meaningful bail reform in Bexar County. In an interview for this column, Rangel said, Weve done a series of orders, really since 2015, in Bexar County on the District Court side, that have all been very positive and theyve all been an aspect of bail reform. I think this is the next step. Weve sort of set it up to this point to where now its time to close that gap. On ExpressNews.com: Commissioner: Judge has conflict of interest in bail reform Rangel has a complicated relationship with the cash-bail system. He has expressed support for the use of personal recognizance bonds for most misdemeanor arrestees, but has also faced conflict-of-interest questions over the fact that members of his family own a bail-bond business. In a recent Express-News piece by Brian Chasnoff, Rangel insisted that the family business has not impacted his stance on bail reform. Rangels reference to Harris County in his Monday letter was telling, because Harris County provides a case study in the moral bankruptcy of the old cash-bail system as well as the potential for a reform approach rooted in justice and equity. In 2015, only 5.8 percent of Harris County defendants were released on personal recognizance bonds, including a shockingly low 8.5 percent of misdemeanor defendants. (By comparison, Washington, D.C. released nearly 88 percent of its pretrial defendants that year.) Maranda ODonnell was one of those Harris County defendants. She had been arrested in Houston for driving with a suspended license and detained in the Harris County Jail because she couldnt pay her ridiculously exorbitant $2,500 bail. In 2016, ODonnell became the lead plaintiff in a class-action suit alleging that Harris Countys bail system violated the equal-protection and due-process clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The court process exposed the inherent flaws in a bail system that rarely allowed for individualized case assessments. Under Harris Countys rigid and misguided risk-assessment system, indicators of indigence received the same point values as a history of criminal violations or prior failures to appear in court. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal ultimately approved a settlement of the ODonnell case which required Harris County to reform its system. In his Monday letter, Rangel pointed out that Harris County Criminal Courts at-Law Local Rule 9 expressly provides that its new bail policies for all persons arrested for a misdemeanor offense are to vindicate the federal constitutional rights at issue in the ODonnell case. The judge is now calling on local county court judges to follow that example. @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 (Bloomberg) -- Masayoshi Son is finally getting some good news. After a punishing year, the founder of SoftBank Group Corp. won approval for the sale of his Sprint Corp. to T-Mobile US Inc., a long-delayed acquisition that had been fiercely opposed by states including New York and California. The deal would extract the Japanese billionaire from the cash-draining U.S. wireless business and remove about $40 billion in net debt from his balance sheet. Sprint shares rose 78% in U.S. trading Tuesday after a federal court approved the deal, while SoftBanks stock surged 14% in Tokyo. Son has been struggling to regain his footing after the meltdown at WeWork last year. Following the co-working startups failed initial public offering, he suffered setbacks at portfolio companies, including Wag Labs, Zume Pizza and Brandless Inc. The U.S. activist investor Elliott Management Corp. just took a stake in SoftBank, arguing its shares are undervalued. The Sprint sale helps Son in several ways. SoftBank will no longer face the risk of having to fund the wireless operator, a huge debt load will move off its balance sheet and Son will have more flexibility in raising capital for a share buyback or for his planned second $100 billion investment fund. Son will also have something to talk up to investors when he reports financial results on Wednesday. This is obviously great news for Sprint, said Kirk Boodry, an analyst at Redex Holdings who writes for Smartkarma. It is better news for SoftBank. SoftBank shares jump is the most in a year on an intraday basis, pushing the companys market value to more than $110 billion. Sons net worth rose more than $2 billion to $18.9 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaries Index calculations. The stock has gained about 20% this year including todays increase. The terms of the T-Mobile deal are likely to be revised because the original deal has expired, Boodry said, which means SoftBank may end up with a smaller stake in the combined company. But SoftBank wont be on the hook for what Boodry estimates would be a potential $5 billion to $10 billion in capital investments. The two companies said they plan to close as soon as April 1. Story continues SoftBank Group is expected to return to profitability in the December quarter after reporting a loss of more than 700 billion yen ($6.4 billion) in the previous quarter, including the writedown at WeWork. Still, operating profit is projected to fall about 20% to 345 million yen, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. In recent years, Son has overhauled his company to focus on startup investments and shift away from the more traditional telecom business. He set up the $100 billion Vision Fund in 2017 with the goal of becoming the biggest investor in technology. He even sold a stake in his Japanese wireless operation to public shareholders so he could focus on deals. For several quarters, his performance seemed strong as startup valuations rose and SoftBank regularly booked gains. But Uber Technologies Inc., one of SoftBanks biggest bets, stumbled as it went public last year. Then WeWorks valuation crashed from $47 billion to less than $8 billion. Public investors suddenly turned their backs on the fast-growing, money-losing startups that SoftBank had favored. In taking its stake, Elliott has urged SoftBank to buy back its shares because of their discount, arguing it could spend as much as $20 billion by trimming investments in companies like Sprint and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. The New York hedge fund also wants SoftBank to boost the independence and diversity on its board and bring more transparency to its investment approach. Son is still determined to raise a second Vision Fund, originally targeting at least $100 billion. His early backers are reconsidering their commitments. But SoftBank has weighed contributing $40 billion to $50 billion, people familiar with the matter have said. With the Sprint sale heading for completion, Son would have more flexibility with his finances. The deal wont bring in capital because SoftBanks Sprint shares will be converted into stock in the combined entity. But he will be able to borrow against the equity, which is likely to be worth more given the early share reaction. It certainly changes the conversation, said Chris Lane, an analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein. This is the first piece of good news in quite a while. (Updates with share price from second paragraph.) --With assistance from Pei Yi Mak and Andrew Heathcote. To contact the reporters on this story: Pavel Alpeyev in Tokyo at palpeyev@bloomberg.net;Takahiko Hyuga in Tokyo at thyuga@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Peter Elstrom 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. Concern: A doctor puts on a protective suit and goggles at a hospital in Wuhan in central China. Photo: AP The worlds biggest telecoms trade fair, Mobile World Congress, is to reconsider whether or not to hold the 2020 event later this month in Barcelona as dozens of major firms pull out over coronavirus fears. Earlier this week, the conference was put in jeopardy when the giant telecoms networking company Ericsson pulled out. Today, this was followed by Nokia, BT and Deutsche Telekom, three of the biggest exhibitors at the event. After careful discussions and planning, BT has decided that we will not attend GSMA Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2020, said a company statement. We value our participation in important industry groups like GSMA and deeply respect the steps they have already taken to protect attendees. Unfortunately, the most responsible decision is to withdraw our participation from the event to safeguard our employees and customers. Read More Other companies have echoed this response. GSMA, which runs the Mobile World Congress conference, is to hold an emergency meeting at 2pm Spanish time (1pm Irish time) to clarify whether the event will proceed. A number of Irish firms, including Taoglas and Declan Ganleys Rivada were due to attend the conference, which attracts over 100,000 telecoms and tech professionals every year. Enterprise Ireland traditionally hosts around 20 Irish companies at its MWC stand. The Coronavirus has damaged brick-and-mortar retail operations in China while simultaneously increasing sales for online merchants. With over 40,000 infected cases reported, in order to curb the virus spread, the Chinese government has locked down cities, issued travel restrictions, and advised its people to avoid busy areas. Brick-and-mortar businesses are heeding the warnings and adjusting to the conditions. Major retailers such as Nike and Adidas have both announced mass closures and reduced hours of many of their Chinese stores. Nike has further stated, In the short term, we expect the situation to have a material impact on our operations in Greater China. Individuals are exercising precaution by restricting their travel and daily outings. As a direct consequence, online shopping has spiked. Daniel Dai founder of RebatesMe, a US cashback site popular with many Chinese online shoppers, goes on to explain, Weve seen online sales from China more than double recently for US brands. This is highly unusual. The Lunar New Year is a time where online shopping decreases due to people traveling and spending time with their extended family. But because of the virus, a lot of people are spending the holiday at home and online. The disruption of normal celebrations coupled with precautionary health practices have seen people turning to online resources to fill their needs. Along with increases in overall online shopping, RebatesMe also observed increases in specific areas such as streaming services and online educational services. However, the long-term ramifications on ecommerce are unknown. As governments, businesses, and health organizations fight to determine the spread and scope of the virus, its overall economic impact on both brick-and-mortar and online retailers worldwide remains unknown. About: RebatesMe.com Since 2013, RebatesMe has been offering people around the world cashback, deals, and discounts when they shop online. With offices in the US and China, RebatesMe is a leading cashback site for US and Chinese consumers. RebatesMe partners with over 3,000 stores across the globe in order to connect people with great deals. For more information visit http://www.rebatesme.com History may in due course record 2019 as the year in which the penny finally dropped about the climate emergency humanity faces. A sense of urgency was triggered last year by both Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg's courage in challenging world leaders to take the crisis seriously, and the apocalyptic fires that engulfed large parts of Australia recently. Increasingly, there is an understanding that the climate emergency is not an environmental problem. It has grave ecological implications, but it's a human development issue above all. And, it has profound implications for technology and infrastructure, for the world of investment and finance, and for global security. To make sense of these challenges and work towards solutions, it is necessary to understand these links, tensions and trade-offs. This is why the international research organisation Future Earth has produced Our Future on Earth 2020. It's a landmark new report of a dozen sustainability-focused essays. They are written by experts across academia and across the globe. The consensus among scientists is that we are now in the eleventh hour. That humanity has just ten years to take the transformational steps necessary to avoid catastrophe. Will it get its act together? Unfortunately, there is a harsh political economy. My own contribution to the Our Future on Earth report focuses on the impact of the global rise in right-wing populism on climate action. This breed of politics exploits peoples' fears during times of economic decline and growing inequality, and focuses on nationalist tendencies. Right-wing populism and denialism In a complex world facing complex problems, it is seductive for politicians to identify a single culprit (like immigrants) or an evil force (like universal healthcare) to blame for the erosion of society, the economy, and the welfare of the masses. This is hardly ever true, but it is compelling. Take the bewilderingly complicated set of relationships between food, energy, urban infrastructure, and exponential demographic growth and change (at least in the developing world). Climate change and its effects are perhaps the epitome of a complex issue of interlinked social, political, and physical forces. That makes it an easy target for this sort of denialism. So, populism ends up denying not just the science of climate change but also the complexity of the entire issue which is critical for both diagnosing the problem and determining the prognosis and the prescription. Populism strips issues of nuance, and thereby obstructs progress. A 2019 study mapping the climate agendas of right-wing populist parties in Europe contains some revealing evidence: two thirds of right-wing populist members of the European Parliament regularly vote against climate and energy policy measures. Half of all votes against resolutions on climate and energy in the European Parliament come from right-wing populist party members. Of the 21 right-wing populist parties analysed, seven were found to deny climate change, its anthropogenic causes, and negative consequences. According to estimates based on the World Resources Institute's global greenhouse-gas emissions data, about 30% of global emissions come from countries with populist leaders. At the very moment when global cooperation is essential if climate action is to be effective, many of the leaders of these right-wing populist forces are trying to dismantle or weaken multilateral organisations such as the United Nations or the European Union. These political groups threaten to derail progress on the global response to climate change, and on new thinking about how to rewire the economy in pursuit of a more sustainable world. More hopefully, as grassroots organisations emerge as a potentially strong, countervailing force, the trick will be to effectively connect these movements to matters of global social justice. They should also be given enough coherence to be effective. Thus, again, shifting the lens for the climate crisis away from an environmental preoccupation towards human development and social justice. For example, how can Thunberg and the student strike movement in the global north connect with the 1.6 million children that are displaced in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique from cyclones? Such connections need to be made to turn these nascent movements into powerful advocates for climate justice. Tipping the scale Regardless of whether the political will needed take transformational action to drastically reduce carbon emission and adapt economies and societies, especially in the global South, will be summoned by 2030, it is clear that by the end of this century life on earth will be very different to how it is now. It will certainly be more difficult and dangerous. This applies to everyone, but especially the poorest and most vulnerable members of a human society that is set to peak at around 9,8 billion by 2050 (up from the current 7,8bn). This is the human development challenge for sub-Saharan Africa. It's not all doom and gloom. There are huge opportunities amid the grave threats. A first step to responding appropriately individually and collectively is understanding that the challenge is multi-dimensional. Only then can a multi-dimensional strategy be executed, across sectors and across national boundaries. But it is likely that the greatest impediment to taking action will not be technological know-how or even raising the money required. Instead it will be the lack of enough political will, given the obstructionism of right-wing populists in power around the globe. Hence, a political struggle will need to be won. And the fight for climate justice in the face of right-wing populist climate denialism is a titanic one. Trump-like trajectories into the post-truth world of climate change denial, charged by the amplifying impact of social media, distract from and obstruct the necessary action. Yet despite its flaws, the digital age presents a huge opportunity to impose a counter-narrative, and for recruiting new activists. People can connect more easily across seas and time zones. Climate denialism can be rebutted and populist rhetoric rebuffed. Protests can be arranged quickly. And the young will do it best, not least because they have the deepest vested interest of all: their future is at stake. Richard Calland is a Founding Partner in political risk consultancy, The Paternoster Group, and a member of the Advisory Council of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution. By Richard Calland, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town Advertisement Gold Coast woman Yang Chen, 26, had been walking with a man near Gorge Falls in the Tallebudgera Valley when he lost sight of her at 11am on Wednesday Australia's east coast is bracing for more carnage as powerful storms bring heavy rain, strong winds and massive swells over the next few days. Parts of southeast Queensland were soaked overnight with more than 200mm of rainfall hitting the region in just a few hours, submerging cars in floodwaters. The wild weather is being caused by category-two Tropical Cyclone Uesi, which is expected to produce huge swells, high tides and wild winds as it moves south along the nation's east coast. The storm warning comes as authorities desperately search for Gold Coast woman Yang Chen, 26, who is feared to have been swept away in the floodwaters. She had been walking with a man near Gorge Falls in the Tallebudgera Valley when he lost sight of her at 11am on Wednesday. Authorities hold concern as many creeks are still overflowing after the torrential downpours over the past week. Her disappearance comes as a nine-year-old boy had to be rescued after he was sucked down a drain in the Gold Coast on Wednesday. He suffered minor scrapes to his head and was taken to hospital. Emergency services have been scrambling as heavy rain and large swells up to five metres threaten to hammer Queensland and New South Wales from Thursday, which forecasters say could produce more flooding and beach erosion. Scroll down for video Sydneysiders might want to pack away their summer items as another storm threatens to pummel the city (Pictured: A man struggles with the wind and rain on Sunday) Sydney looks set to be drenched by another powerful downpour with more than 100 millimetres of rain expected in some areas just days after flood waters caused chaos for the city Cars travel through flooded roads in Sydney on Sunday after a heavy downpour hammered New South Wales There were still about 25,000 homes that could be without power until the weekend. A number of roads remain closed, including Pacific Hwy over Wallarah Creek between Lowana Avenue and Costa Avenue Sydney looks set to be drenched by another powerful downpour with more than 100 millimetres of rain expected in some areas. Forecasters are predicting Sydney's CBD will be slammed with 40mm of rainfall on Thursday, while the east is hit with up to 60mm before the rainfall begins to ease later in the week. The showers come as emergency services continue to work around the clock to clear debris left over from the severe storm last weekend, which left more than 100,000 people without power. There were still about 25,000 homes that could be without power until the weekend. A number of roads remain closed, including Pacific Hwy over Wallarah Creek between Lowana Avenue and Costa Avenue. Tracking systems show Uesi, which was still a category 2 cyclone on Wednesday night, turning toward the south and then southeast, which would mean the New South Wales coast could be spared from direct impact. However, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Diana Eadie said the area would still be hit with wild weather. The wild weather comes as Tropical Cyclone Uesi makes its way south, towards the east coast A submerged car is seen on a bridge over the Nepean River at Cobbitty on Monday 'Even once no longer a tropical cyclone, this system will bring strong winds and gales are forecast to develop around Lord Howe Island.' 'The cyclone also has the potential to bring large waves and heavy rain with its passage.' The heavy downpour is expected to escalate on Thursday night and should peak early Friday morning before easing into the weekend. BOM is saying Nowra could get 40-80mm on Thursday. Also on the south coast, Huskisson could get 40-80mm, while Ulladulla could receive 45-90mm on Thursday. The NSW coast was drenched over the weekend, with up to 550 millimetres of rain falling across parts of the northern rivers, mid-north coast, Central Coast, Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. Sydney recorded its heaviest rain in three decades and was battered by gale-force winds, with emergency services on Tuesday left to clear fallen trees, remove debris and extract cars from floodwaters. The SES on Tuesday night said it had received some 12,951 requests for help since last Wednesday night, with 10,660 call-outs completed. Dam levels restored Sydney's dams are 70 per cent full after the heaviest rain in three decades - but water restrictions will stay in place. The Warragamba Dam in Sydney's west, which accounts for 80 per cent of the city's water storage, is 69 per cent full, up from just 42 per cent on Friday. The dam has increased by 553 billion litres in five days - enough to supply the whole city for a year. The falls have been welcomed across Queensland, with storage capacity at almost 60 per cent, rising from 56.4 per cent on February 7. Advertisement About 50,000 NSW households were still without power on Tuesday night, with Ausgrid asking customers to prepare for outages into the weekend. Residents in New South Wales have been warned to prepare for flooding and property damage. Those with properties at risk of inundation should raise moveable items such as furniture as high as possible onto benches or tables, placing electrical items on top, the State Emergency Service said. Farmers on low-lying land close to rivers and creeks were urged to monitor livestock, pumps and other equipment. In Queensland, flood warnings remain current for coastal catchments stretching from Bundaberg to the NSW border, with the southern inland also bracing for heavy falls. The region's catchment areas are saturated after days of rain, leading to heavy runoff and possible flash flooding, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Kimba Wong says. 'There has been significant rainfall and as the catchment is very wet, its capacity to soak up more rainfall is reduced,' Ms Wong said. 'So when we have the significant rainfalls that we have seen in recent days, there can be rapid responses from the rivers with the catchments so wet.' More rain is also forecast for the drenched towns of Dalby, Oakey, Applethorpe, Warwick and Roma, which have already surpassed their average February rainfall total. Destruction: A resident at Collaroy on the Northern Beaches as a high tide and large waves impact the coast on February 10 in Sydney, Australia Devastation: A submerged car is seen on a bridge over the Nepean River at Cobbitty on February 10, 2020 in Sydney Floods take toll: Desperate search for Land Cruiser A desperate search is under way for a motorist who was pictured driving through a fast-flowing weir in torrential rain. A Toyota Land cruiser was captured on a security camera heading across the flooded road at Audley Weir in Sydney's Royal National Park at 5.38pm on Sunday. The raging water was so high that it reached the car's side windows. A Toyota Land cruiser was captured on a security camera heading across the flooded road at Audley Weir in Sydney's Royal National Park at 5.38pm on Sunday It is not known if the car or driver made it safely to the other side. The NSW State Emergency Service uploaded the photo to Facebook on Tuesday in a desperate bid to track down the driver. Officials said they wanted to know if the driver was safe. The post read: 'Okay, so we need your help please! On Sunday afternoon a 4WD was spotted entering a flooded Audley Weir. 'We have exhausted every avenue to make sure the person in this photo is ok! 'We have no intention of trying to get whoever this is in trouble, we just want to know that they are ok and got out alive! 'If this is you, or you know who this is please get in touch to let us know. 'The water was 2m deep per the flood gauge when this, and other images where taken. 'For everyone else, PLEASE DON'T DRIVE THROUGH FLOODWATER'. Advertisement Australia's east coast is set for another drenching today with up to 100mm of rain bringing flash floods and power outages. Pictured: Map showing rain forecast on Thursday Oakey and Warwick exceeded their monthly average in a day. 'We are expecting further showers and thunderstorms to pop up in the next couple of days, with the potential for heavy rainfall continuing through southeast Queensland,' Ms Wong said. 'Widespread rainfall totals (of) 50 to 100mm are not out of the question and certainly some higher rainfall total will be dotted in the mix as well as severe storm pop-up.' Shark nets and baited hooks have been pulled from all Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches, Rainbow Beach, Bribie Island and North Stradbroke Island ahead of the wild weather. The falls have been welcomed across the Queensland water grid, with storage capacity at almost 60 per cent, rising from 56.4 per cent on February 7. Democratic presidential candidates have been visiting New Hampshire for more than a year to convince residents they are deserving of a vote. On Tuesday, it was finally time to step into the booth and make a choice. Schools, town halls and fire stations across the state were transformed into polling places. Some candidates made a final pitch in-person and some supporters gathered outside of the sites to persuade anyone on the fence. Chloe Haines pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of an aircraft and assault by beating. (PA Images) A drunken Jet2 passenger who forced a flight to divert after trying to open a plane door and yelling Im going to kill you all has been jailed for two years. Abusive Chloe Haines, 26, forced a plane from London Stansted to Turkey to turn around and land back in the UK in one of the most serious cases of passenger disruption the airline had ever experienced. Haines, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, admitted endangering an aircraft and also pleaded guilty to assaulting a cabin crew member but denied being drunk on an aircraft at a hearing in December 2019. She was jailed for two years at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday. Chloe Haines has been sentenced to two years in prison. (Essex Police/PA Images) Haines had said that she blacked out and didnt really remember what happened after mixing alcohol with medication, said prosecutor Michael Crimp. Judge Charles Gratwicke, sentencing Haines on Wednesday, said: Those that are trapped in the confined space of the aircraft will inevitably be distressed, frightened and petrified by the actions of those who in a drunken state endanger their lives. For some it will be their worst nightmare come true. Barrister Oliver Saxby, for Haines, said in December there was no question that she was drunk but that the charge of endangering the safety of an aircraft was the more serious alternative. He added: On any analysis, shes a troubled young person with a number of serious issues. Seventeen days before this incident, she had been sentenced to a community order for not dissimilar offences, not committed in the air but with alcohol and a loss of control. Chloe Haines, pictured left on Wednesday outside court, and right, in November. (PA Images) Two RAF Typhoons were dispatched to the Jet2 plane, which was forced to turn around. (PA Images) That order had not had a chance to bite. He said that she had to her credit engaged more fully with Alcoholics Anonymous. A pair of RAF Typhoon fighter jets scrambled to the plane - which was travelling to Dalaman - and escort it back, causing a sonic boom on the way. Haines was arrested by Essex Police when it landed. On board the flight, a cabin crew member intervened to stop Haines from opening the plane door. Story continues Jet2 said in July it had banned Haines from the airline for life and billed her for 85,000 for what it described as a catalogue of aggressive, abusive and dangerous behaviour on the flight. Chloe Haines leaves Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in 2019. (PA Images) Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said in July 2019: Miss Haines behaviour was one of the most serious cases of disruptive passenger behaviour that we have experienced. She must now face up to the consequences of her actions, and we will vigorously pursue to recover the costs that we incurred as a result of this divert, as we do with all disruptive passengers. As a family friendly airline, we take an absolutely zero tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour, and we hope that this sobering incident, with its very serious consequences, provides a stark warning to others who think that they can behave in this fashion. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Allied Democratic Forces blamed for carrying out an ambush in northeast region which has seen increased attacks. An attack on Mangina in the Democratic Republic of the Congos northeast has killed at least 12 people. Rebel group Allied Democratic Fighters is suspected of carrying out the raids using machetes and guns. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes in the Beni region during the last two months, according to UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. Al Jazeeras Raheela Mahomed reports. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A battle is brewing over a proposal to overhaul the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, as three PRC members have cautioned legislators that a Democratic-backed bill would be an unconstitutional intrusion. In a letter sent this week, the three commissioners said the measure would infringe on the PRCs authority to regulate public utilities, including transportation, water and electric companies. We do not believe (the bill), no matter how well-intentioned, serves the public interest if the result would undermine the commissions independent performance of its duties as required by the New Mexico Constitution and contribute to further delay in providing essential services to its customers, the letter said. It was signed by Republican Commissioner Jefferson Byrd of Tucumcari and Democratic Commissioners Valerie Espinoza of Santa Fe and Theresa Becenti-Aguilar of Albuquerque, who is the PRCs chairwoman. The PRC has clashed with top-ranking Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in recent months over the five-member regulatory bodys handling of a landmark energy law passed by lawmakers last year. The discord led to a state Supreme Court ruling last month that the PRC must apply the Energy Transition Act, which Lujan Grisham signed into law last year, in considering a plan to close a coal-fired power plant in San Juan County. It also prompted the filing of House Bill 11, co-sponsored by Democratic Reps. Nathan Small of Las Cruces and Linda Trujillo of Santa Fe, which calls for the governor to appoint two top executives who would oversee the PRCs staff. The measure has already cleared one House committee and is scheduled to be debated Wednesday in the House Judiciary Committee. Trujillo has described the measure as a good government bill that could decrease staff turnover by sheltering employees from political dynamics, such as the outcomes of commission races. However, the three PRC members argued in their letter that underfunding of the PRC and recent changes to the states pension fund are more to blame for high staff turnover rates. The letter was not signed by the PRCs two other commissioners Cynthia Hall of Albuquerque and Stephen Fischmann of Las Cruces. Currently, the five members of the PRC are elected by voters and represent districts around New Mexico. However, that too could change under a proposed constitutional amendment that will go before statewide voters in November. If ratified, the measure, approved by the Legislature last year, would turn the PRC into an appointed body, with nominees screened for professional qualifications. MANILA, Philippines House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has assured that the House of Representatives will conduct impartial hearing on bills seeking to renew the franchise of media network ABS-CBN. In a statement on Tuesday, Cayetano said the renewal of ABS-CBN franchise are among the issues that the Lower House has been carefully studying from day one of the 18th Congress amid calls from his colleagues to set a hearing to tackle the pending bills. Congress is committed to conduct a hearing where those who are against or in favor of the renewal may make their case, he said, adding that the move will be consistent with the Duterte administrations stand on the protection of the freedom of expression. There are at least 11 bills seeking for the renewal of ABS-CBNs franchise pending before a House committee level, just about a month before Congress sessions adjourn on March 11. The networks franchise is set to expire on March 30. However, Cayetano stressed that the legislation process cannot be rushed. While we understand that there are certain interests who want to rush this process, we stand by the leadership of the 18th Congress and the Committee on Legislative Fanchises on how to prioritize urgent and important legislation, he said. We also commit that the 18th Congress shall study this issue from all aspects in order to protect the interest of the public, he added. Cayetano issued the statement after Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto case before the Supreme Court asking for the forfeiture of the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN. Calida cited in his plea the alleged highly abusive practices and violations of the broadcast network, including foreign ownership and lack of operation permits. The network has denied the accusations, maintaining that it has no outstanding tax liability and did not violate the law. The post House Speaker Cayetano vows impartial hearing on bills seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal appeared first on UNTV News. In their race to the cloud, companies struggle under old perimeter security models. Modern data protection approaches like Zero Trust recognize that a new data-centric approach using contextual policy controls is required. The number of breaches in 2019 has skyrocketed 130% since 2006 and the average total cost of a breach is $3.92 million USD . Since the average size of a breach now exceeds 25K records, costs will continue increasing under new legislation like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which imposes record fines of up to $750 per consumer per incident. Confronted with these risks, organizations are adopting DevSecOps approaches that pull security tools and practices earlier in the development lifecycle . "Policy is the new perimeter and Machina delivers needed innovation to fight this new battle," said Adam Ghetti, founder of Ionic. "We built a rich policy engine paired with encryption key management that's capable of scaling to the largest global environments and is available as-a-service to reduce the friction of going from zero to protected." The SDKs and APIs of Machina Tools provide advanced policy-based data security and access management while leveraging and extending the capabilities of deployed resource-, identity-, access-, and workload-centric solutions. Basic role-based access controls in identity and access management tools are not adequate to address the rich contexts required to make informed decisions about whether this person or service should be trusted to have access to that healthcare data, for example, on this device running on that network. Simplifying the use of modern data protection methods for application developers strengthens privacy by design, especially for data-centric and cloud-native applications. The major cloud service providers recognize that enabling customer-managed trust in the shared responsibility model encourages developer innovation. Amazon , Google and Microsoft all intensified their strategic partnerships with Ionic in 2019. In particular, the launch of Google Cloud External Key Manager acknowledges the importance of data security and privacy with their willingness to give up access to data stored with them. By adding a third party into the risk model, organizations can now move more types of sensitive data to the cloud with confidence. In February, Ionic closed a strategic $40 million growth round led by JPMC, with participation from Google LLC as a new investor as well as our current investors, demonstrating their commitment to our vision and long-term success. Sales momentum in highly regulated industries like financial services and healthcare along with the public sector has been accelerated by increased urgency and risks related to cloud migration, application modernization, and regulations. Data-centric solutions to these problems are the cornerstone of modern data protection initiatives like Zero Trust and standards bodies like NIST, who recently released their Privacy Framework 1.0 . "Following clear industry signals, a strong pipeline, and deepening engagements with existing customers, Ionic has begun scaling our go-to-market team by appointing Doug Bleszinski as new vice president of worldwide sales ," said Eric Hinkle, CEO of Ionic, "Doug and his team will be meeting the growing market needs for security and privacy with solutions for cloud storage and application development. If policy is the new perimeter, you need Ionic to enforce it." Read more about the unique architecture and components that make Machina the policy-driven data protection engine of choice, or contact us for a live demo or consultation. About Ionic Security Ionic enables global businesses and government agencies to accelerate innovation by driving data protection across their organization, regardless of where they are in their journey to the cloud. Ionic Machina is the only enterprise-class data protection engine that delivers real-time data policy enforcement against a rich set of identity and data attributes backed by machine-scale key management, creating a system of record for unified and consistent execution. With over two million licensed users in Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and a growing grassroots developer community, the unique ecosystem relationships of Ionic dramatically accelerate cloud migration and multi-cloud deployments, creating value for enterprises in driving their overall security strategy. Learn more at ionic.com , or connect on LinkedIn or Twitter . SOURCE Ionic Security Related Links https://ionic.com PITTSBURGH, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I have been bow and gun hunting for over 55 years," said an inventor from Deridder, Louisiana. "While teaching my grandchildren to hunt, I was inspired with this enhanced blind that could be used with various types of tree stands or on the ground." He developed the BLEND A STAND to effectively conceal a hunter, his upper body and his tree stand from the sharp eyes of animals. This could reduce the risk of game being startled or spooked away to increase a hunter's chance of making successful kills. It also ensures that a hunter is point ready. Additionally, this lightweight and portable invention may be used with various types of tree stands or on the ground. The original design was submitted to the national sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-AVZ-1843, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com **Not for distribution to United States News Services or release publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in the United States** CALGARY, Alberta and TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnetic North Acquisition Corp. (TSXV: MNC) (Magnetic North or the Company) is pleased to announce that Calgary based Colwell Capital (Colwell) has agreed to provide the Company with investor relations services. Colwell is a Calgary-based investor relations firm that has represented public and private clients in the biotechnology, technology, resource and industrial sectors for over 19 years. Graeme Dick, Colwell President, will work directly with the Magnetic team on an as needed go-forward basis, with the primary focus is to introduce Magnetic North to Colwells Canadian retail, institutional, analyst and social media networks. Magnetic will issue 400,000 options priced at the time of close on February 10, 2020 ($0.1575) as compensation to Colwell for ongoing investor relations services. In addition, Colwell will receive a monthly retainer of $5,000.00 for a period of at least 12 months. Mr. Dick nor Colwell will have an option to, nor intend to acquire a controlling interest in Magnetic North. About Magnetic North Acquisition Corp. Magnetic North invests and manages capital on behalf of its shareholders and believes that capital alone does not always lead to success when making investments in portfolio companies. With offices in Calgary and Toronto, our experienced management team applies its considerable capital markets and management expertise to ensure portfolio companies are as successful as possible for shareholders. Magnetic North shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the stock symbol MNC. For more information about Magnetic North, visit its website at www.magneticnac.com. Magnetic Norths securities filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com. For Further Information, Please Contact: Graeme Dick Investor Relations 403-561-8989 graeme@colwellcapital.com Kevin Spall Co-CEO kevin@magneticnac.com Andrew Osis Co-CEO andrew@magneticnac.com The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuers business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuers prospective financial performance or financial position. The forward-looking information in this news release includes the business and operations of the Company after the completion of the Transaction. The Company has made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives after the closing of the Transaction, to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: adverse market conditions; reliance on key and qualified personnel; and regulatory and other risks associated with the industries in which the Company's portfolio companies operate, in general. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation. Dolf Jansen verdiepte zich voor het coronagedeelte van zijn volgende voorstelling in het gedrag van de hamsteraar. "Ik hoorde een psycholoog uitleggen dat mensen het gedrag van anderen kopieren, ook al weten ze dat het nutteloos gedrag is. Dat lijkt mij de verklaring voor het jarenlange succes van De Toppers", aldus de cabaretier dinsdag in Trouw Pastors worry most about reaching next generation in local churches, study shows Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Just over a week after leaders of a Minnesota church were accused of trying to get rid of older adult members from one of their campuses in an effort to attract a younger crowd, a new study from Barna suggests reaching the next generation is one of the biggest problems pastors in local churches worry about today. When presented with a list of possible challenges facing their church as part of Barnas State of the Church 2020 project announced earlier this month, just over half of Protestant pastors, 51%, said reaching a younger audience is a major issue for their ministry. Some 34% of pastors ranked the issue as a top three concern for their church while 12% said it was their No. 1 concern. The church leaders also noted declining or inconsistent outreach and evangelism as a major issue which some 50% of respondents agreed is a problem they are grappling with. More than one-third of pastors say declining or inconsistent volunteering is an issue facing their ministry today, with about one-quarter saying its one of their top three problems. Similar proportions also expressed worry in regard to stagnating spiritual growth. Some 23% of pastors also cited lack of leadership training and development as a major concern facing their church today. Previous studies by Barna showed that some 85% of pastors today are older than 40 and nearly 70% of pastors agree that it is becoming harder to find mature young Christians who want to become pastors. Overall, Barna also found that three-quarters of Catholic priests agree that reaching a younger audience is a major issue facing their parish today with nearly half ranking it as their top concern. Catholic priests also ranked declining or unpredictable giving patterns, declining attendance, declining or inconsistent volunteering and declining or inconsistent evangelism among the things they worry about. Last month, the Grove United Methodist Church leaders in Minnesota, in a plan to attract younger members, created controversy because its older adult members felt they were being pushed out. Pastor Daniel Wetterstrom explained that regular attendance at the Cottage Grove campus had been struggling with long-term viability with just 30 members. In response to the problem church leaders decided to employ a strategy known as the "relaunch," which had been used by other struggling Methodist churches in Minnesota with positive results. "We, for over the past decade, have struggled," Wetterstrom said. "Struggled to grow. Struggled to reach people." Under the relaunch, the Cottage Grove location is expected to close in June temporarily before reopening in December with a young new pastor named Jeremy Peters to help attract a younger crowd and create an intergenerational church. Thats not the message longtime member and older adult Bill Gackstetter said he and other older members received, however. Gackstetter said he and other members were asked to go worship at The Grove's second Woodbury location, if they would like, for 15 to 18 months after the relaunch as the church transitioned to new leadership. "It made me feel sick that they would treat other Methodists like that," Gackstetter said in an earlier report. "Like, who's gonna wait that long?" Gackstetter added. "I feel that's totally age discrimination, just wanting youth, the younger families." (CNN) A British man linked to a number of coronavirus cases after traveling from Singapore to a French ski chalet to the UK has fully recovered. The patient, Steve Walsh, is believed to have infected at least nine other people during his stay in the French Alps after contracting the virus in Singapore. He released a statement Tuesday revealing his name and thanking the UK's National Health Service for its help and care. Walsh had attended a conference at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Singapore in late January, hosted by the gas analysis company Servomex, which has since confirmed that "a limited number of its employees in different countries have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and are now being treated." Walsh works at Servomex. But the conference appears to have led to a chain of transmission for Walsh, who left Singapore on January 24 to fly to the French Alps, where he spent four days vacationing in a ski chalet in Contamines-Montjoie, southeast France. France on Saturday confirmed five new cases of the virus, all of them British nationals, including one 9-year-old child who had spent time in a school in the resort. The patients were infected after coming into contact with a UK citizen who had traveled from Singapore, according to local health official Jean-Yves Grall. Walsh left the French ski resort on January 28, taking an EasyJet flight from nearby Geneva, Switzerland to London's Gatwick airport. Walsh said in his statement Tuesday that he contacted his doctor and health authorities as soon as he knew he had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus. "I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed. When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves." Four further patients in England tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, bringing the country's total tally to eight, the UK Department of Health said in a statement. The new cases are all known contacts of a previously confirmed UK case, and the virus was passed on to them in France, it said. The agency also declared the virus a "serious and imminent threat to public health," which gives officials authority to impose quarantine restrictions on people who "could present a risk of infecting or contaminating others." Some media have suggested that Walsh may be a "super-spreader" of the virus, meaning a single patient who transmits the infection to many other people, but experts urge caution. University of Edinburgh infectious disease expert Mark Woolhouse told CNN: "I don't think it's helpful to highlight an individual." That's because it's not clear how many people he actually infected, whether he "sheds" the virus more readily than any other person, or whether he was simply in contact with more people and thus, more likely to pass the virus on. Woolhouse prefers the term "super spreading event." World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Director Dr. Michael J Ryan called on the media not to personalize the disease, while answering a question about Walsh on Tuesday. Ryan dismissed reports that Walsh was a "super spreader," saying the circumstances around his case were "unfortunate" but "by no means a massive super spreading event." As fears over the transmission of coronavirus grow, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday: "In recent days, we have seen some concerning instances of onward transmission from people with no travel history to China, like the cases reported in France yesterday and the United Kingdom today. The detection of this small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire. But for now, it's only a spark. Our objective remains containment." EasyJet said it was notified by British health authorities about an infected passenger on board, but that as of Monday there had been no other confirmed cases from that flight, nor had any passengers shown symptoms. French authorities have "managed to contact and trace all people who were in contact with the British tourists who were in the village," health minister Agnes Buzyn told French CNN affiliate BFM. The ski center plans to remain open, according to Etienne Jacquet, the mayor of Contamines-Montjoie. The Grand Hyatt in Singapore, meanwhile, said no one who contracted the virus showed symptoms while at the luxury hotel, and none of its staff has tested positive. When it learned of cases originating on its property the hotel said it immediately started taking the temperature of its guests, and its staff twice a day. It has also brought in an outside government agency to sanitize and "deep clean" affected public areas and guestrooms. This story was first published on CNN.com, "One man linked to at least 9 coronavirus cases after traveling from Singapore to France to UK" Foreign Minister Wang Yi would be the first Chinese dignitary to travel abroad this week since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China to attend the Munich Security Conference, where he would highlight China's efforts to contain the deadly disease. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is scheduled to be held in the German city of Munich from February 14-16. It is an important international forum on diplomatic and strategic security. Wang will deliver a keynote speech on global tensions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told an online media briefing here on Wednesday. Geng said that Wang will also talk about the Chinese government and people's concerted efforts and progress in fighting against the virus, and about advancing international cooperation. We believe we will get a deeper understanding and broader support from the international community, he said. This will be the first time a Chinese dignitary will travel out of the country ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus in early December that has brought the country to a standstill. The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak has gone up to 1,113 with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of infection jumped to 44,653, health officials said on Wednesday. The virus was officially named "COVID-19" by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday. After naming the virus as "COVID-19", WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease". The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease, Ghebreyesus said in Geneva. Several countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the face of last nights news, we make this timely and surely compelling case for your assistance in helping National Review combat socialism, the virulent virus that seems about to emerge as a political pandemic in this election year. But first . . . We share Ludwig Von Misess encouraging words for this institution, applauding its first foray into journalism and history-athwart-standing, and gracing the back cover of National Reviews 1955 premiere issue: I am delighted to learn that national review plans to stand for political, intellectual and economic freedom and to fight unswervingly the sinister forces of totalitarian statism. I wish you full success. This from a man who knew a thing or two about the horror of socialism and related ideologies. Some 1,700 or so issues and 65 years later, the magazine, abetted daily by its website offspring, continues this unswerving fight against the creed that speaks to mans worst impulses and that, like an indestructible force, has manifested itself in the current American political climate, championed in the person of Bernie Sanders. In our February 10th issue, the crypto-Soviet image of the Vermont socialist is front, center, and very red on the cover the dictator-loving redistributionist who seeks government housing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the subject of Kyle Smiths powerful profile. To borrow from Winston Churchills joke about Clement Attlee, Sanders is a wolf in wolfs clothing. As Kyle makes clear, Bernie is no Karl Come Lately. Sanders has spent decades telling the people of Burlington, and of Vermont, and of the United States, why Marxist fantasies can be theirs. With an enabling media, he has slowly crafted an allure through his cantankerous, gruff, goofy true-believer lecturing; his humorless, disheveled determination; and his aura of genuine leftist apostleship. Especially in juxtaposition to the cavalcade of political mediocrities who seek to be president, Sanders is appealing to a large bloc of radical voters. In fact, he is swiftly outpacing the field of knock-off Democrats in their own partys presidential contests, as confirmed in the outcome of last nights New Hampshire primary. Story continues How attractive is he? So attractive that Bernie Sanders brilliantly portrayed by Kevin D. Williamson in his 2015 cover essay as a bona fide fan of national socialism is in position to grab the Democratic Partys presidential nomination. Nice going for a guy who isnt a registered Democrat. As to our appeal: National Reviews embrace of the obligation to wage war on socialism (and its Bernie-esque agents) has been anything but passive. Or of recent origin. In that same aforementioned 1955 premiere issue, in The Magazines Credenda, written by our founder, Bill Buckley let it be known from the get-go (Among our convictions: A. . . . ) that the growth of government (the dominant social feature of this century) must be fought relentlessly. WFB had no illusion that socialism was something, like smallpox, that could be defeated. Bill and the magazines founders knew that waging war against socialism, Communism, and all their ideological kin would be a permanent endeavor. They knew that one could hold the upper hand in that fight only fleetingly, and that when the battle seemed to be flagging, it would be the broader duty of NR and its friends to fight all the harder. We are at that point. Last year, in yet another example of its commitment, NR published a special double issue, two back-to-back editions, each one collecting over a dozen major pieces by leading conservatives. The first issue stood strongly In Defense of Markets; the following one stated the case Against Socialism. It was powerful stuff, and evocative. All along the way, from NRs Volume 1, Number 1, to the double issue last year, to our most recent Bernie cover piece, weve published hundreds of articles, essays, and editorials that, decade in and decade out, battered at the lies and false promises of socialism. One such example we share today: from the archives, a 1957 must-read essay by Whittaker Chambers, The Left Understands the Left. It has this gem of a line: Keynes is a dialect of Marx not too greatly different than Slovene, say, is from Russian. Amen to that. As Chambers and countless other NR authors over the years have argued, socialism is not some fair-haired step-sibling of Communist Stalinism, or some Eden-like egalitarian construct free of gulags and show trials and destitution. Maybe the nicest thing that could be said about socialism is that it is like a gateway drug. Or about socialists, that they can be patsies for their nastier relations. But whatever role it plays, whatever level of ideological intensity it displays, however it has manifested or can manifest itself, socialism is in its bones and marrow and DNA an inherently rotten thing. And its something that knows no borders. Bernies victory and political ascendency is an alarming phenomenon that should force America to ask, Has the Democratic Party, the party of Jefferson, really come to this? It sparks NR to double down (yet again) on exposing this vile ideology that he, and so many other Democrats, lustfully and brazenly advocate. This fight is our legacy, our permanent, indelible institutional mandate, a very real thing bequeathed by our founder. We embrace it. But: Fighting socialism is your fight, too. And we ask that you fight it through NR, and now. This brief webathon we launch today it will expire Sunday seeks to raise $25,000 to empower our editors to hire more, to publish more, to promote more of these necessary efforts against Marx and Engels and all their acolytes and empty promises. This fight will never be over, but right now, it must be enjoined as never before, with you alongside us, fixing bayonets and charging. We can prevail. We can set socialism back. This may be modern conservatisms Little Round Top. How can we not enjoin? Do stand with NR. Donate here, and do so knowing you have our deep appreciation. More from National Review From Coast to Coast, Regions are Decriminalizing Natural Psychedelics VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Codebase Ventures Inc. ("Codebase" or the "Company") (CSE:CODE)(FSE:C5B)(OTCQB:BKLLF), an investment company, on behalf of its subsidiary, Titan Shrooms and Psychedelics, is pleased to provide an overview of the rapidly changing environment for natural psychedelics in the USA. There is a growing body of scientific research, as reported by 60 Minutes,1 indicating that psilocybin can be used to effectively treat mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and PTSD - and more so where these conditions are entrenched and current drugs are not proving effective. A study reported in the journal Nature,2 showed that 47% of patients with treatment resistant depression who received psilocybin were showing positive outcomes 5 weeks post treatment. In addition, the FDA has granted "breakthrough therapy" status to both the Usona Institute and Compass Pathways, allowing clinical trials to advance - a measure the organization deploys where evidence indicates there could be substantial improvement over currently available treatments.3 As a result of this movement, stigmas are being reduced and cities and regions are moving quickly to decriminalize natural psychedelics such as psilocybin including: Santa Cruz, California Denver, Colorado Oakland, California Pending measures underway in: Chicago, Illinois Oregon Iowa Vermont Michigan Washington, D.C. "Although in early stages, this rapidly developing field is being validated by the medical establishment, legislative bodies and most importantly patients who are seeing benefits," said Mr. George Tsafalas. "Titan Shrooms and Psychedelics is working to add to its portfolio so that Code shareholders can benefit from the continued acceptance and growth in this sector." 1 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/psychedelic-drugs-lsd-active-agent-in-magic-mushrooms-to-treat-addiction-depression-anxiety-60-minutes-2019-12-29/ 2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-13282-7 3 https://pharmaphorum.com/news/fda-tags-psilocybin-drug-as-clinical-depression-breakthrough-therapy/ About Codebase Ventures Inc. Codebase Ventures Inc. is an investment company, led by technology and business experts who invest early in great ideas in sectors that have significant upside, including the cannabis sector. We operate from the understanding that technology is always evolving, bringing early opportunities for strategic investments that can deliver the exponential returns to our shareholders. We seek out and empower the innovators who are building tomorrow's standards with platforms, protocols and innovations - not just products. We invest early, support those founders, take their ideas to market and work tirelessly to help them realize their vision. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Ivy Lu, Investor Relations or George Tsafalas, CEO Telephone: 1 (778) 806-5150 E-mail: IR@codebase.ventures Forward Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE: Codebase Ventures Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576097/Code-Subsidiary-Titan-Shrooms-and-Psychedelics-Recognizes-Widening-Acceptance-of-Psilocybin-Throughout-the-USA Customers can take advantage of $200 savings on any Avocado Green Mattress, Avocado Vegan Mattress, and Luxury Organic Crib Mattress using the code FLAG200 at AvocadoMattress.com . Verified military, educators, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, doctors, and nurses are all eligible to receive an additional discount of $50 on any mattress. As an alternative to this offer, shoppers have the option to instead receive two free pillowsincluding Green Pillows, Molded Latex Pillows, or new Yoga Meditation Pillowswith their mattress (a $198 value) using the code 2FREEPILLOWS. Savings are also available on their two 100% reclaimed wood bed frames, with $150 off the Natural Wood and Eco Wood models with any mattress purchase, using the code BED150. 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Their mattresses are also GREENGUARD Gold certified for low emissions, MADE SAFE certified, and have achieved STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX for both human and ecological safety. As a Climate Neutral Certified business, Avocado is the world's first mattress brand to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its entire business scope. As long-standing members of 1% for the Planet, one percent of all revenue is donated to environmental nonprofits on an annual basis. As a privately held company, they currently employ a team of 500. Learn more at AvocadoGreenMattress.com. If you would like more information, please contact Jessica Hann at [email protected]. SOURCE Avocado Green Mattress Related Links https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com B ritains top medical officer has warned politicians against letting history repeat itself by allowing e-cigarettes to be pushed at young people. Professor Chris Whitty said the marketing of vaping products should be dealt with very, very seriously by those in charge of regulation. As he issued his stark warning, Professor Whitty said the long term effects of vaping could not be known for many years to come. Professor Whitty said: "We need to make sure history does not repeat itself. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: The test of whether a product is being targeted at children is if it starts to be increasingly used by children and that will lead to action. "If e-cigarettes are increasing in children then we should assume that they are being marketed towards them or at least pushed on them in some way, and deal with that very, very strongly." Last month, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it had received two reports of e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) in which the patients had died. The regulator added that it had also received 20 reports describing 27 "serious respiratory events" linked to e-cigarettes, including pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infection. COLUMBIA, S.C. - Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg is picking up his first endorsement among South Carolinas black lawmakers as attention in the early voting contest turns toward more diverse states. Buttigiegs campaign announced Wednesday that the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor would be receiving backing from state Rep. JA Moore, a Democrat from Charleston. Moore is a first-term lawmaker who initially backed California Sen. Kamala Harris last year, frequently appearing on cable networks to advocate for her candidacy. On Wednesday, Moore called Buttigieg the best remaining candidate suited to defeat President Donald Trump in Novembers general election, citing strong performances in last weeks Iowa caucuses and Tuesdays New Hampshire primary. Electability is top of mind for every South Carolina voter, Moore said. If anyone had doubts, Pete Buttigieg has proven hes the only viable candidate to build a cross racial, rural, urban and suburban coalition to win in November. Moore introduced Buttigieg last month during a campaign event in Moncks Corner, where Buttigieg sat down with radio host Charlamagne tha God and discussed economic issues of importance in the black community. Buttigieg has been struggling to gain traction among black voters in South Carolina, where they comprise the majority of the Democratic primary electorate. Former Vice-President Joe Biden has traditionally topped surveys in the state, continuing to express confidence in a strong performance in this months primary despite opening struggles in Iowa and New Hampshire. Other candidates, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California businessman Tom Steyer, have also redoubled efforts to compete for the attention of South Carolina voters, particularly in the black community. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. ___ Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game. Photo credit: Brantley Photography From House Beautiful When designer Caroline Rafferty opened The Grand Tour in Palm Beach last year, her goal was to bring the feel of a global shopping trip to Floridaand, judging by the popularity of the store, she succeeded. For its one year anniversary, Rafferty wanted to expand on that theme, incorporating local vendors in an effort to "highlight all the wonderful things in our community" through a pop-up called The Souk. And she decided to house itwhere else?in a tented wonderland inspired by the markets of Morocco. Last week, designers (many in town for the Kips Bay show house) celebrated The Grand Tour's anniversary in style at a party cohosted by House Beautiful Style Director Robert Rufinoand we got the scoop on just how Rafferty turned a simple white rental tent into an Insta-worthy party palace. Photo credit: Brantley Photography Create separate spaces For the pop-up, Rafferty wanted to define separate spaces for each participant while still keeping the space feeling connected. It's an important consideration for a party, too, where distinct areas allow for conversation and discovery. "What I learned was a super easy and cheap way to do that was with these trellis panels," says Rafferty. The panels, which cost about $10 to rent, "divide the space and give a sense of rooms," but are see-through to allow visual continuity. Incorporate color "If you stick with really basic things from a rental company, like white and gold tones, you can mix in your own things in any colors," advises Rafferty. In this case, the designer hung lengths of fabric picked up in her travels from the ceiling (bonus, if you hang the whole roll you can still use the fabric for another project when you're done!). "They were super inexpensive and it made a huge impact," she says. Photo credit: Brantley Photography Lighting is everything Lighting is key to any good partymeaning industrial-style spotlights just won't cut it. In her souk, Rafferty mixed string lights (she replaced the bulbs with smaller ones for a more dazzling effect) and lanterns, which she clustered together to create statement lighting big enough to hold its own in the tall ceilings of the tent. Story continues Photo credit: Julia Duresky Carpets add warmth Perhaps the most impactful way to dress up a temporary space is adding flooring that doesn't feel temporary. "Even covering just a portion of the floor makes such a difference," says the designer. She turned to local vendor Heir Looms to provide vintage rugs to scatter across the floor. Art and furniture isn't just for indoors Besides adding indoor furniturewhich provides a more layered look than a sea of rental folding chairsRafferty went one step further, bringing art outside, too. She had a replica made of a portrait of her grandmother and hung it inside the tent, immediately creating an imaginary wall. "Get a pretty artwork, something you love, and blow it up and you have a really impactful touch," she says. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram. You Might Also Like Bats, rats and snakes are still flying off the shelves at an Indonesian market known for its wildlife offerings despite a government request to take them off the menu over coronavirus fears. Vendors at the Tomohon Extreme Meat market on Sulawesi island say business is booming and curious tourists keep arriving to check out the exotic meats. Bat seller Stenly Timbuleng boasted at his stall in Tomohon that 'sales continue... it is always sold out.' Scientists believe the deadly new virus emerged in a market selling wild animals in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and there is suspicion it could have originated in bats. In Indonesia, the local government and health agency have issued calls to take bats and other wildlife out of circulation - but the request has been all but ignored. Bat meat is still being sold at a market in Indonesia (pictured) despite a government request to take the product off the menu over coronavirus fears Bats are traditionally eaten by the Minahasan people from North Sulawesi in the form of a curry-like dish called Paniki. Whole bats are used in the dish, including the head and wings of the bat. Glands from the armpits and the neck of the bat are first removed to get rid of the bad smell. It is then grilled or torched to get rid of the bat's hairs before being chopped and cooked in a stew of herbs, spices and coconut milk. 'Bats are the favourite indigenous protein, particularly in North Sulawesi,' said William W. Wongso, an Indonesian culinary expert and cookbook author. 'My favourite part is the wings,' Wongso added. Stenly Timbuleng, the bat seller, said his products are still selling for as much as 60,000 rupiah (3.40). 'The virus hasn't affected sales. My customers still keep coming,' he said. On an average day, Timbuleng sells 50-60 bats and during festive periods, he can sell up to 600. Stalls at the Tomohon Extreme Meat market on Sulawesi island feature a dizzying array of animals The Indonesian market features a bizarre array of meats including giant snakes, rats impaled on sticks and charred dogs with their hair seared off by blowtorches. Some critics have described the gory scene as 'like walking through hell'. Ruddy Lengkong, head of the area's government trade and industry agency, has issued a forlorn appeal for people not to consume meat from animals suspected to be carrying the disease. Restaurateur Lince Rengkuan - who serves bats including their heads and wings stewed in coconut milk and spices - says the secret is preparation. 'If you don't cook the bat well then of course it can be dangerous,' she said. 'We cook it thoroughly and so far the number of customers hasn't gone down at all.' Indonesia has not yet reported a confirmed case of the virus. Vendors at the Tomohon Extreme Meat market on Sulawesi island say business is booming In the capital Jakarta, vendors selling skinned snakes and cobra blood on a recent Saturday night didn't have any trouble finding takers. 'It's good for you, sir,' said one vendor of his slithering fare. 'Cures and prevents all diseases.' The death toll from the virus in China jumped to 1,114 today after another 97 deaths were reported by the country's national health commission. It came after 108 new fatalities were reported on Tuesday, the highest number since the outbreak began. Two people have died outside mainland China, one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong, bringing the global toll to 1,116. More than 44,600 people have been confirmed as infected by the pathogen across China. The virus is believed to have emerged in a market selling wild animals in Wuhan last year before spreading across China. Image: Zondervan cover At the very heart of my book The King Jesus Gospel is one central question: Is 1 Corinthians 15 the gospel or not? That leads to a chaser question: Is 1 Corinthians a sketch of the full gospel or only part of it? Or, is this an adequate or incomplete presentation of the gospel? I believe most of us, in effect, deny this and have instead another gospel. Our central question has enormous consequences for how we frame the gospel. What I mean by framing is how we present it and how we tell it and what narrative it tells if we want to be faithful to what Paul tells us about the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15. I want to ask a few questions of you today: Do you think what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 is the gospel? Do you think Paul omitted anything important? What drives this gospel of Paul? The story of God in this world, from Adam and esp Abraham to Jesus, or a systemic plan of how a person gets saved? What does this say about how we present the gospel today? This is not a question of whether the Story framing is about salvation, for surely that framing tells us about salvation: for our sins. But the issue is how the apostle Paul, who thinks he is here presenting the apostolic tradition about the gospel that is, what all the apostles said was the gospel, framed the gospel. Is it framed as the Story of Israel come to fulfillment in Jesus as Messiah/King and Lord (and Son) who saves or the plan of personal salvation? The former leads us from christology to salvation, and so is a saving message, but the latter too often never even gets to the Story of Israel and often only tells us that Jesus is the Savior. So this is not a choice between gospel Story vs. salvation but between a gospel Story about Jesus who saves and salvation theology without that Story framing. Another way of putting this: If you examine 1 Corinthians 15, what is the gospel? (I am convinced many read this text and see something else or dont think this really is the gospel.) Heres 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. 1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. I believe it is probably even more accurate to think the gospel extends all the way to v. 28 (see after the jump). 1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of themyet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. The Resurrection of the Dead 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he has put everything under his feet. Now when it says that everything has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. What is the proof of Huaweis global security threat? Huawei retains illegal telecom backdoor access in its equipment, US officials say. Huawei Telecom Backdoor access is illegal, US says Current telecom rules state that manufacturers must design the equipment to leave access for law enforcement. And yet, manufacturers must design telecom equipment to keep themselves out unless they receive carrier permission to access their own equipment. Unfortunately, Huawei still retains access to its telecom equipment without carrier permission. Loopholes that are normally closed still remain open in Huawei gear. These loopholes have existed for 11 years now, since 2009 4G telecom equipment. Huawei telecom gear, like software, retains unnecessary loopholes Huawei has a problem with closing loopholes, whether in equipment hardware or software. This new claim from the US matches the evidence against Huawei within the last year alone. Just last year, Huawei-backed UK unit Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) said the same thing about the company in its March 2019 report. Finite State issued a report saying that there are vulnerabilities in at least 55% of Huawei devices. And another report said that Huawei web apps have critical issues, allowing hackers to write and execute arbitrary code. Advertisement It is a pattern with Huawei to leave a large trail of loopholes in telecom gear, mobile devices, and software for both. Patching up the illegal telecom backdoor loopholes: Huaweis responsibility The US says that it has noticed illegal backdoor access in Huawei telecom equipment since 2009 in the companys 4G devices. Huawei, then, continues to keep these loopholes alive. But for what reason? Why does Huawei continue to leave unnecessary loopholes open when it could simply patch them up and avoid suspicion? To be honest, it is Huaweis responsibility to patch up hardware and software loopholes. But taking responsibility for these loopholes involves money. Most companies would rather make money than spend money; Huawei is no different. Advertisement When it comes to Huawei, it is double-tongued to say, Our company has never taken advantage of these loopholes, yet leave them open. You dont keep illegal substances around the house, say I dont use them, and expect critics to believe you. If you dont use illegal substances, you throw them in the garbage and eliminate them from the home. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence A useful adage is this: the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. In other words, the lack of evidence against Huawei espionage doesnt mean that there isnt any. In fact, it is also true that software and hardware loopholes and Huawei espionage activities are evidence against the state-sponsored company. If a company has digital surveillance cities in Uganda and Zambia, and cracks open WhatsApp accounts and cell phones of political opponents in two days or less, then it has the ability to patch up its own device vulnerabilities. Its simply choosing not to, for whatever reason(s). Take the current coronavirus outbreak in China, for example. Huawei has postponed its own HDC Cloud 2020 developer conference due to coronavirus. The reason behind the postponement is to avoid spreading the virus or seeing its employees contract it. There is no guarantee that anyone will get sick, but Huawei is doing this to avoid the risk. Already, there are over 600 people in China sick from coronavirus. The virus itself has spread to US citizens and one US citizen has already died from the sickness. Advertisement Huaweis preventive measures regarding the coronavirus outbreak indicate the company understands risk and how risk is important evidence. In the case of coronavirus, risk is evidence enough to take measures to prevent a global outbreak. And if Huawei understands risk with coronavirus, it understands risk with regard to its telecom equipment. For those looking for evidence, it bears repeating: risk is all the evidence one needs to prevent something at all costs. In Huaweis case, the cost factor involves money to patch up its devices and software. Huawei says it wont put its clientele or reputation at risk. And yet, thats exactly what its doing while continuing to leave loopholes open. WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an era of increased accountability, public sector agencies must help maximize the value of federal grants while streamlining administrative processes, according to a study released today by the Government Business Council (GBC), the research division of Government Executive Media Group, and sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP. These grants are used by the federal government to invest approximately $766 billion each year in mission-critical needs for taxpayers. For further discussion of the study, visit "How government organizations are overcoming the challenges of grants management."1 Based on a survey of US federal, state and local employees who work with grantees and oversee grant administration, this study outlines how organizations can overcome the challenges of grants management. Among others, key findings include: Government-wide coordination and information sharing on grants management have improved over the past decade. Successfully measuring grantee performance remains a challenge. Government agencies have not widely adopted risk management systems. A major opportunity exists to leverage data for improved decision-making. The study recommends that agencies start prioritizing data analytics to provide insights and improve operations. Accessing quality data, along with the technology needed to analyze it, is a top challenge for agencies. Better data analytics will help agencies monitor risk and performance of grantees. While the Office of Management and Budget drives an enterprise-wide approach to data standardization, agencies can simultaneously implement smaller, incremental approaches to data improvements. For each analytics challenge, it is advisable that an agency apply a strong data and analytics transformation framework. "Increasing sophistication of data analytics has created an unprecedented opportunity for the government to manage grants in a different way and improve outcomes for the people impacted by these grants," said Bill Colbert, Ernst & Young LLP Partner and the Financial Management Practice Leader for the firm's Government & Public Sector group. "Government doesn't need to wait to make progress for comprehensive solutions. Agencies can start to put into place the building blocks for better data and analytics now." About Ernst & Young LLP's Government & Public Sector From strategy to execution, the Government & Public Sector practice of Ernst & Young LLP provides a full range of advisory and audit services to help our federal, state and local clients implement new ideas to help achieve their mission outcomes. We deliver real change and measurable results through our diverse, high-performing teams, quality work at the highest professional standards, operational know-how from across our global organization, and creative and bold ideas that drive innovation. We enable our government clients to achieve their mission of protecting the nation and serving the people; increasing public safety; improving health care for our military, veterans and citizens; delivering essential public services; and helping those in need. We are ready to help our government build a better working world. Learn more at ey.com/govpublicsector. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member firm of EY serving clients in the US. 1 The full study is "Improving Grants Management for Government: Insights from Public Sector Leaders," Government Business Council. SOURCE Ernst & Young LLP Related Links https://www.ey.com WASHINGTON The four lawyers who prosecuted Roger Stone quit the case after the Justice Department overruled them and said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for President Donald Trumps longtime ally and confidant. The departures on Tuesday raised immediate questions over whether Trump, who earlier in the day had blasted the original sentencing recommendation as very horrible and unfair," had at least indirectly exerted his will on a Justice Department that he often views as an arm of the White House. The department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night before Trump's tweet and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. Even so, the departures of the entire trial team broke open a simmering dispute over the punishment of a Trump ally whose case has long captured the Republican president's attention. The episode was the latest to entangle the Justice Department, meant to operate free from White House sway in criminal investigations and prosecutions, in presidential politics. The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia team, comprised the entire Justice Department trial team that won convictions against Stone last fall. Each had signed onto a Monday sentencing memo that recommended between seven and nine years in prison for Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. None lent their names to a Tuesday memo that called the original recommendation excessive. The departures leave in limbo the resolution of a case that was one of the signature prosecutions of Mueller's team and that cut to the heart of his mission to determine whether the Trump team had access to nonpublic information about Democratic emails hacked by Russian operatives and provided to WikiLeaks. Trump was back on the attack late Tuesday, slamming the original sentencing recommendation and questioning the judge overseeing the Stone case. And by early Wednesday, he had tweeted a congratulations to Attorney General William Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have been brought," suggesting the prosecutors had gone rogue. Barr, the Justice Department's leader, has been a steady ally of the president's since taking the position. Barr last year cleared the president of obstruction of justice even when Mueller had pointedly declined to do so, and has declared that the FBI's Russia investigation, which resulted in charges against Stone, had been based on a bogus narrative." It's unclear what sentence the department will ultimately seek a new sentencing memo filed Tuesday evening indicated that the original recommendation was too harsh but proposed no specific punishment of its own. A Justice Department official said authorities decided to step in and seek a shorter sentence because they had been taken by surprise by the initial recommendation. The person, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said prosecutors had told the department to expect a recommendation for a shorter sentence. In their revised sentencing memo, Justice Department officials argued the initial recommendation could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances" but also said they would defer to the court. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. A mass exodus from a case is also rare, though the tumult did conjure an episode from last summer when Justice Department lawyers abruptly left a lawsuit over whether a citizenship question could be added to the census. The day of upheaval began with a morning tweet from Trump that the Stone case was a miscarriage of justice." He later told reporters he didn't speak to Justice Department officials, though he said he could if he wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe, but I didn't speak to them," Trump said. Hours after Trump's tweet, a Justice Department official called the original recommendation extreme" and grossly disproportionate" to Stone's crimes and said it would file a new sentencing memo. The departures began soon after. Aaron Zelinsky, a Mueller team member, quit the case and his job in Washington, with plans to return to his position as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore. Another early Mueller team member, Adam Jed, also withdrew from the case. His status at the Justice Department was unclear. Another federal prosecutor in Washington, Michael Marando, withdrew from the case, and a fourth trial team member, Jonathan Kravis, resigned his position as an assistant U.S. attorney. As a D.C.-based lawyer with the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section, Kravis was often dispatched across the country to assist local U.S. Attorneys Offices in high-profile cases, including some of Philadelphias most notable political corruption trials over the past several years. He was part of the team that secured the 2016 conviction against former Democratic U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah on bribery and corruption charges. He also led the trial prosecution of State Sen. Larry Farnese, who was acquitted in 2017 of bribery charges, and helped build the case that sent two of former U.S. Rep. Bob Bradys top advisors to prison for campaign violations last year. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original recommendation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. Meanwhile, Democrats decried the decision, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for an investigation by the Justice Department's inspector general. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said it would be a blatant abuse of power if Justice Department leadership intervened on Trump's behalf. Doing so would send an unmistakable message that President Trump will protect those who lie to Congress to cover up his own misconduct, and that the Attorney General will join him in that effort," the California Democrat said. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position on Flynn, saying they would not oppose probation after earlier saying he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. That prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. attorneys office in Washington. In the initial memorandum Monday evening, prosecutors asked for Stone to serve between 87 and 108 months in federal prison, which they said was consistent with federal guidelines. Such a sentence would send a message to deter others who might consider lying or obstructing a congressional probe or tampering with witnesses, they said. The prosecutors wrote that Stones actions were not a one-off mistake in judgement and that he decided to double and triple down on his criminal conduct by tampering with a witness for months in order to make sure his obstruction would be successful. Stone has denied wrongdoing and criticized the case against him as politically motivated. He did not testify, and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defense. Witnesses testified that Trumps campaign viewed Stone as an access point to the anti-secrecy site WikiLeaks, which was in possession of more than 19,000 emails hacked from the servers of the Democratic National Committee, and tried to use Stone to get advance word about hacked emails damaging to Hillary Clinton. Staff writer Jeremy Roebuck and Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Kevin Freking contributed to this article. In a time when unity on an international level is necessary to combat a new viral disease, people are instead turning against those they believe to be infected. The recent Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has become an excuse for xenophobia against people of Asian descent around the world. KSU Sentinel reports in its article Coronavirus panic disguises racism, xenophobia that a tragedy that should have been met with sympathy and kindness was instead met with intolerance and ignorance. Be Well Cal, an Instagram account run by the University of California Berkeleys Tang Center, posted that common reactions to the spread of information on coronavirus can include a fear of individuals of Asian descent. The post has since been removed, according to NBC News. Students in universities around the country have also reported xenophobic responses to coronavirus, such as saying the virus resulted from Chinese food culture in a tweet or making xenophobic memes and posting them to Reddit. The pervasiveness of posts like these on the internet shows how widespread ignorance has become. I havent felt fear related to coronavirus, sophomore English major Aaron OConnor said. Just because [my classmates are] Asian doesnt mean theyre from where the sickness broke out, nor does it mean theyre a host for the virus. Incidents of anti-Chinese racism and attacks on Chinese culture have also been reported in countries including South Korea, Malaysia, the U.K. and Canada with businesses putting signs in windows that say, No Chinese, according to MarketWatch. This blatant xenophobia has sparked responses from both Maylasian prime minister Mahathir Mohamed and President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, according to MarketWatch. The [Malaysian government] will take action on those spreading fake news to instill fear among Malaysians and incite hatred among the races, Mohamed said. Five people have been arrested in Malaysia for spreading fake news about coronavirus online, according to MarketWatch. Mohameds response is one other global leaders should follow national governments should lead by example in the effort to prevent bigotry and xenophobia worldwide. Similarly, Duterte has assured his country that there is no reason for panic. This came in response to Adamson University in Manila asking Chinese students to observe a precautionary self-quarantine for 14 days, according to Reuters. In the face of adversity, the best option is always for everyone to put their heads together to try and find the best option as quickly as possible, OConnor said. All this finger-pointing isnt going to help anyone. The xenophobic, fearful responses have even caused a man to die in the Chinatown district of Sydney, Australia. Bystanders refused to give CPR out of fear of contracting coronavirus, according to Metro. In the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 4.2 percent of the population is of Asian descent, which means there are over 20,000 people of Asian descent in the area, according to the United States Census Bureau. Similarly, Kennesaw States student population is 4.7 percent Asian, which means that of the 38,000 students, 1,786 of them could face racism in response to misinformation on the outbreak, according to KSU News. It is important to remember that members of even the KSU community could fall victim to the ignorance of others. In the wake of an epidemic, it is time for people to put aside their own uninformed notions of how diseases spread. Instead of people insulting Asian teenagers and expressing fears over contacting Asian doctors and businesses banning the Chinese in Korea, people need to follow the examples set forth by Mohamed and Duterte. E. Scott Santi, Chairman and CEO of ITW, will become Chair of the Civic Committee and Vice Chair of the Commercial Club, succeeding long-term Chair Frederick H. "Rick" Waddell, retired Chairman and CEO of Northern Trust. Santi has served as Chair of the Commercial Club and Vice Chair of the Civic Committee since 2016. Waddell was Chair of the Commercial Club from July 2013 to June 2015 and Chair of the Civic Committee from July 2015 until now. He will remain an active member in the Commercial Club and Civic Committee moving forward. In announcing his Commercial Club successor, Santi said, "Jenny's success as a CEO and leader in using technology to solve business problems, her record for driving international growth, and her dedication to inclusive diversity make her the right leader for guiding the Commercial Club in this new decade." "As a lifelong Chicagoan, I am honored to take the leadership baton to work closely with the Commercial Club's accomplished and dedicated leaders to strengthen Chicago's position as a world-class city," Scanlon said. "The Commercial Club of Chicago has an historic track record of driving transformative change to promote the city's leadership and vitality and make all of our communities better places to live and work. I am grateful to Scott and Rick for their strong leadership and look forward to partnering with Scott to build on that legacy." "Scott is perfectly positioned to assume leadership of the Civic Committee across all of our policy areas," Waddell said. "He has been a great leader for the Commercial Club and a strong partner as Vice Chair of the Civic Committee over the last several years. Both organizations provide important leadership for our region and are well-positioned to help move our City and State in the right direction." Incoming Civic Committee Chair Santi added, "We are extremely grateful to Rick for his leadership across all aspects of our organization. Because of Rick's ability to build consensus around what is important, our agenda has never been more focused and energized. His leadership has impacted all parts of the organization and I look forward to working with our members and our talented and dedicated team to sustain the momentum and continue to build on our successes." Waddell said it was a privilege to lead the Civic Committee for the last five years, and the Commercial Club previously. "I'm extremely proud of all of our policy efforts in transportation, education, state fiscal reform, and our P33 tech initiative," he said. "The great work of our affiliates the Civic Consulting Alliance and Kids First Chicago also have had a tremendous impact on key services and systems across the region, from advancing the quality of healthcare on the West Side to reducing gun violence across the City to improving access to high-quality public education for all Chicago families." Scanlon is President and CEO of UL, a company that specializes in applying science and digital solutions to solve safety, security, and sustainability challenges around the world. Formerly the President and CEO of USG Corporation, Scanlon is a member of the board of Norfolk Southern Corporation, serves as vice chair of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and is a fierce advocate for STEM education. An active member of the Commercial Club and Civic Committee, Scanlon has been deeply involved with many important initiatives, including our Transportation Task Force and P33. "It is an exciting time to build on the important initiatives that Rick, Scott, Kelly and everyone at the Commercial Club and Civic Committee have undertaken," Scanlon said. "I look forward to upholding and advancing the esteemed legacy of civic contribution." Santi has spent his entire career with ITW, a Fortune 200 global multi-industrial manufacturing company with almost 50,000 employees in operations throughout the world. Santi serves on numerous boards of directors including, W.W. Grainger, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and Northwestern University, Rush University Medical Center, Museum of Science and Industry, Lyric Opera, and several other non-profit organizations and cultural institutions throughout the Chicago area. Kelly R. Welsh will remain President of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Civic Committee, a position that he has held since 2017. Welsh applauded the transition, praised Waddell and Santi for their tireless efforts on behalf of Chicago and Illinois, and enthusiastically welcomed Scanlon to her new role. "We are proud of the role we play to make Chicago and Illinois better places for everyone to live, work, and do business. That is only possible because of the tremendous level of civic engagement from our leaders and members," Welsh said. About the Commercial Club of Chicago Founded in 1877, the Commercial Club of Chicago is a membership organization of senior leaders in the region, who represent the business, education, cultural, and philanthropic sectors and are committed to the idea that cooperation and an open exchange of ideas are fundamental to success. As a leader behind initiatives in the areas of economic development, fiscal policy, business climate, transportation infrastructure, educational reform, technology, and cultural institutions, the Commercial Club of Chicago and our affiliated organizations have played a key role in making Chicago the world-class city it is today. Our work spans the economic and social issues facing Chicago. At our nine annual lunches, we bring together business, government, and civic leaders to catalyze robust conversation about the key issues of the day. Our work continues through our affiliated organizations: the Civic Committee, Civic Consulting Alliance, Kids First Chicago, and P33. About the Civic Committee Founded in 1983 by the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Civic Committee is comprised of the senior executives of the Chicago region's leading employers. Its mission is to make our region a better place for everyone to live, work, and do business. The Civic Committee establishes task forces and committees to undertake studies, develop recommendations, and work to address key policy issues confronting the Chicago region. About UL UL helps create a better world by applying science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. We empower trust by enabling the safe adoption of innovative new products and technologies. Everyone at UL shares a passion to make the world a safer place. All of our work, from independent research and standards development, to testing and certification, to providing analytical and digital solutions, helps improve global well-being. Businesses, industries, governments, regulatory authorities and the public put their trust in us so they can make smarter decisions. To learn more about our business solutions, visit UL.com . To learn more about our nonprofit activities, visit UL.org . About ITW Since its founding more than 100 years ago, ITW has become one of the world's leading diversified manufacturers of specialized industrial equipment, consumables, and related service businesses. ITW businesses serve local customers and markets around the globe, with a significant presence in developed as well as emerging markets. The company has operations in 55 countries that employ more than 48,000 women and men who adhere to the highest ethical standards. These talented individuals, many of whom have specialized engineering or scientific expertise, contribute to our global leadership in innovation. We are proud of our broad portfolio of more than 17,000 granted and pending patents. About Northern Trust Founded more than a century ago, Northern Trust is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking solutions to corporations, institutions, families and individuals. Northern Trust has 20,000 employees and a network of offices in 20 states and Washington, D.C., and across 23 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the AsiaPacific region. Northern Trust focuses on managing and servicing client assets through its two client-focused reporting segments: Corporate & Institutional Services (C&IS) and Wealth Management. Asset Management and related services are provided to C&IS and Wealth Management clients primarily by the Asset Management business. SOURCE The Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago Valentine's Day is nearly here, but if you're a last-minute shopper, don't fret as we have selected the best online flower delivery services for February 14. In the run-up to the most romantic day of the year, there are still plenty of Valentine's Day flower options that not only offer gorgeous bouquets, but also great value for money, including everything from free gifts to next day delivery. Whether you're looking for thoughtful little tokens or wow-factor rose displays, we've got you covered. Ahead, we bring you the best Valentine's Day flowers and delivery offers that will arrive on time for February 14. Our pick: Oriental Charm Bouquet & Chocolates, now 22.99 (save 9.01) Free next day delivery On Valentine's Day, you can't go wrong with a bunch of flowers. This Oriental Charm Bouquet and chocolates is Amazon's best seller and features a mix of exotic oriental lilies, beautiful roses and carnations upon lush green foliage. Better yet, the bright bouquet comes with a delicious finishing touch in the form of a box of chocolates at no extra cost, and free next day delivery is included with every order when ordered before 5pm Monday to Friday. Buy now on Amazon Our pick: 50 Red Roses, now 69.99 (save 5) Next day flower delivery up to 8pm, London same day delivery up to 4pm Surprise and wow your loved one with this romantic bouquet of fifty (yes, five-zero) red roses. 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Surprise your loved one with this combination of 12 red roses, delicious chocolates and a mini bottle of prosecco - dreamy and delicious. Buy now on Flying Flowers Get three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free with this new deal Amazon Music Unlimited 3 months FREE (new members only) Amazon is giving UK music lovers the chance to stream three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free in celebration of the Brit Awards (that's a saving of 19.98). You don't need to be a Prime member to take advantage of this amazing deal, but this trial promotion is only for customers who are new to Amazon Music Unlimited. Offer valid till February 23 2020. View offer Advertisement MailOnline may earn commission on sales from the links on this page. Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has opened the door to talks with jihadists to defuse mounting violence in the West African country, in a break with long-held tradition. Despite the presence of foreign troops, Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist revolt that broke out in 2012. Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict, which has also spread to central Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Talking to jihadist leaders was long anathema to the government in Bamako, even as deadly attacks increased. Mali previously ignored several calls to negotiate. Why has Keita reversed course now, and what effect will his decision have? Why now? Keita told French media on Monday that the number of victims had risen "exponentially," so it is time to explore new options. His representative in central Mali has already sent envoys to Mali's two leading jihadists, Amadou Koufa and Iyad Ag Ghaly. While the move is a sea change, Mali's government has likely talked to jihadists in secret before to broker ceasefires or retrieve hostages. Jean-Herve Jezequel, the West Africa project director at the International Crisis Group (ICG), said that previous dialogue lacked any political dimension. France -- Mali's main military backer -- has previously ruled out dialogue. By Souleymane AG ANARA (AFP/File) Growing calls for talks with jihadists both from Malians and from abroad had been pushing the government to consider the option, he said. The ICG itself made one such call. In May last year, it urged the government to hold talks in an effort to stop the bloodshed. France -- Mali's main military backer -- has previously ruled out dialogue. It will soon boost its military force in the Sahel from 4,500 troops to about 5,100. Late last year, French Army Chief of Staff Francois Lecointre said that France's vision for a democratic and law-bound Mali "does not accommodate these types of negotiations". But Niagale Bagayoko, the African Security Sector Network chair, said the evolution of facts on the grounds and of public opinion "has been able to shift positions" in France. What is there to negotiate ? Jezequel from the ICG cautioned that the announcement is a "first step". He pointed to years-long negotiations between the Taliban and the United States in Afghanistan as an example. Keita said the number of victims had risen 'exponentially'. By ludovic MARIN (POOL/AFP/File) But negotiations "open new fields of possibility," Jezequel added. Issues on the table could include the state returning to abandoned parts of the country, he said, or militants joining the army. Bagayoko was more pessimistic. "What does an army almost completely out of control have to offer jihadists?" she asked. An African diplomat who declined to be named said the question was what compromise Bamako would accept, warning that public opinion could turn on the negotiations. Will jihadists be redeemed? Keita said in the interview on Monday that he had known jihadist leader Iyad Ag Ghaly personally when both were government advisors. Iyad Ag Ghaly is the leader of the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which is linked to Al-Qaeda. Keita described the jihadist as having been "courteous" when he knew him. Map of Mali. By AFP (AFP/File) Bagayoko, from the African Security Sector Network, said Keita meant to show that Iyad Ag Ghaly wasn't always "a terrorist". Similarly, Jezequel said the belief that jihadists were bent simply on destruction is mistaken. "These are political actors like any other," he said, adding that they capable of negotiation. Who would negotiate? Experts are floating the name of Mahmoud Dicko, an influential imam, as a possible negotiator. A bete noire in government corridors in Bamako, he has nonetheless previously acted as mediator between the government and armed groups. On the jihadist side, Bagayoko warned that the militants are not a cohesive bloc and that it was unclear how their rank and file would respond to negotiations. France will soon boost its forces in the region to over 5,000. By MICHELE CATTANI (AFP/File) The African diplomat warned that talks could also widen the gap between Al-Qaeda-linked groups and those allied to the Islamic State. Keita has endorsed talking to Al-Qaeda affiliates. But his stance on the Islamic State group is unclear. The president has neither excluded the possibility of talks with the leader of Islamic State group's Sahel branch, Adnane Abou Walid al-Sahraoui, nor has he endorsed them. France, for its part, has labelled the Islamic State as its "priority enemy" in Mali. Nguyen The Hung, head of the Full-Time Training Department, Directorate of Vocational Education and Training, talks about ways to attract students to vocational training facilities. A welding class at Ly Tu Trong Vocational School in Ha Tinh Province. VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan How many students will be admitted to vocational training facilities at all levels nationwide this year? In 2020, we think the number of students will be the same as last year at about 2.26 million students for beginner, intermediate and college levels. The admission quota will increase for beginner and short-term courses because private businesses are in need of unskilled labourers rather than trained professionals. However, in the future, when socio-economic growth reaches a higher level, businesses will need more skilled workers. Attracting students to take vocational training courses is still proving difficult for the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training. Why is this? At a national forum to improve Vietnams labour skills (Skilling up Vietnam) chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last November, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs proposed various solutions. Our principle is that if we need quality training, we must have the quantity first. Our first solution is to raise the number of students through media campaigns to increase public awareness of vocational training. By doing so, people will get to know more about the labour market and training, including vocational training, so they can choices and we can lower the number of unemployed graduates. We will also help students who graduate from secondary school to continue their studies at colleges following Decision No 522 approved by the Prime Minister. The project has been piloted by the labour ministry and has shown positive outcomes. Besides traditional methods of admission, we will apply online admissions and admissions through an app. The lists of schools and the majors they offer have been updated on the app, which will also be regularly updated. The Directorate of Vocational Education and Training will launch an admission registration and management website to help schools and localities follow the nationwide admissions process. Other solutions include ensuring quality teachers and curricula, and investing in infrastructure and teaching equipment to attract students. How will vocational training facilities be reorganised to ensure training quality? Schools that have not been successful and fail to attract students for many years will be merged. For example, in one locality, vocational training facilities which offer similar majors will be merged into one or two institutes. Each locality will have only one State-owned vocational training facility. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will instruct local authorities on how to implement the plan. How has the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training supported vocational training schools? One of the core tasks of the ministry is to work closely with the business sector. We recently signed a co-operation agreement with Daikin Vietnam on training a core contingent of heat technology and air conditioning lecturers for vocational schools. Schools will train about 3,500 air conditioning technicians for the whole country. The technicians will be granted certificates by the directorate and Daikin. Following this co-operation model with Daikin, we look forward to working with tourism, automobile technology, electronics and electricity industries, among others. Models like this enable us to manage the quality of labourers, and gives businesses confidence in their new employees. Vocational training facilities also need to update their curricula to match practical demand, especially with science-technology development, so that students are able to satisfy the requirements of businesses. VNS Vocational training sector seeks to develop Vietnam's vocational training sector is seeking to fix its long-term problems and develop into a strength. At the heart of the success of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government are three key departments: Health, Power and the Public Works, all led by Shakur Basti MLA Satyendar Jain who helped the party fulfil its promise of bijli and paani and more The slogan 'bijli half paani maaf' was Aam Aadmi Partys poll promise in 2015 and as the party's report card highlights, it delivered on the promise. At the heart of the success of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government are three key departments: Health, Power and the Public Works. Satyendar Jain, the minister in-charge for Departments of Health, Power, Irrigation and Flood Control along with Urban Development, Home and Industries, was critical to delivering these promises on ground. Jain defeated SC Vats of the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Shakur Basti constituency by a margin of over 7,500 votes. Mostly away from the limelight, the architect-turned-politician has quietly remained committed to his work in the last five years. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has been busy addressing the gradual disappearance of water bodies owing to indiscriminate extraction of groundwater and lack of resolve from the previous governments. AAPs solution was re-charging groundwater and reviving and conserving its inland water bodies. The Irrigation & Flood Control Department has been busy addressing the gradual disappearance of water bodies owing to indiscriminate extraction of groundwater, lack of resolve from the previous governments. AAPs solution was re-charging the groundwater and reviving and conserving its inland water bodies. Of the 1,100 water bodies in Delhi, 600 can be revived. The Department has, at a cost of Rs 222.10 lakhs, successfully revived the water body at Rajokri village. The other big project was adding a new lifeline to the Bawana waterbody, which is less than a mile away, next to the regions garbage dump the Bawana landfill. Under the project, the waterbody will be filled with treated water from Ghoga drain, explained Ankit Srivastava who served as technical advisor to the Chief Minister of Delhi on Water. At Ghogha, the BOD levels are in the range of 332 mg/L indicating the presence of industrial waste. This untreated waste would ultimately find its way into the Yamuna. Until a year back, the lake used to be filled with water brought by tankers during Chatth Puja and now with this innovative concept, water available from the drain is used for its revival. These development works, far off from the Lutyens zone, are less documented by the press and barely find space in the broader political narratives. The laying down of pipelines and increasing the metered water supply network to check pilferage and leaks, though, has to be credited to the Delhi Jal Board. While the Department of Power enabled continuous and affordable electricity supply, the PWD department administered the construction of 21,000 classrooms to expand the student intake in government schools. The completion of the Signature Bridge was a major infrastructure project the AAP government completed. Built at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore, it comes with a 15-storey high viewing deck which offers a panoramic view of the city. In 2019, the PWD completed the long-pending Rao Tula Ram flyover at Outer Ring at a cost of Rs 281.61 crore, as well as, another at Mayur Vihar (Phase I) at Rs 45 crore. Opposition leaders like BJPs Vijendra Gupta, who won from the Rohini Constituency, accused the government of only completing projects initiated by previous regimes but in 2015, the PWD department of the AAP government constructed an elevated corridor or a flyover, stretching from Azadpur to Prembari Pul, at a cost of Rs 136 crore. The following year, two ramps and six more flyovers were built, thus making for an extended elevated corridor linking Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh, Mangolpuri to Madhuban Chowk and Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk, and further extending to Bhalswa, Burari and Libaspur. The corridor was developed at a cost of Rs 1,164.8 crore. While the Congress campaign reminded the capital of Sheila Dikshits contribution to the citys infrastructure, Jains PWD department built a total of 19 FOBs in the interest of safety and security of pedestrians in a city where there are more vehicles on roads than there are traffic signals. One of the things Jain realised early in his term is that innovation is key to executing projects in Delhi, which has nearly a dozen road owning agencies, some of them under the control of the Central Government. The Public Works Department has initiated the installation of 2.1 lakh street lights in the city to eliminate dark spots and enhance women's safety. Hence, instead of installing these lights on poles, Jains PWD and Department of Power worked together to devise a system wherein the street lights are obtaining power from the household connection of the building owners and the amount levied on the units consumed by street lights is being deducted and paid for by the Delhi government. The CCTV scheme was linked to this project and cameras were installed where the lights were. AAP governments flagship scheme to install 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras was announced in June 2019. Yet another situation that required innovation in governance was the much-talked-about Wi-Fi project, also overseen by Jain. His team identified locations for 11,000 Wi-Fi hotspots using geo-mapping technology. "Initially, the government asked MLAs for locations but then it realised that it needed to cover each stretch and that demanded a more technical and less political form of mapping. The department built technical capacity within the state machinery and reduced outsourcing to private players," said Gopal Mohan, who served as advisor to the Chief Minister of Delhi in AAPs first full term. Private operators put their optical fibres where internet users are higher in number but when the state envisions such a scheme then it cant afford to miss out on weaker areas. This was a multi-stakeholder project that involved the PWD department, the IT department and 11 road-owning agencies. During the campaigning for the Delhi Assembly election, the BJP repeatedly targeted the AAP-led government for dishing out the so-called freebies such as electricity, however, under Jain, the Department of Power reduced cost and weeded out corruption at every step to be able to supply cheaper and cleaner electricity to the residents of the National Capital Territory. "Delhi was earlier forced to buy expensive power from high-cost power stations such as Rajghat (Rs 4.9 per unit), Dadri gas (Rs 5.09 per unit), Badarpur (Rs 4.74 per unit), Aravali Power Corporation-Jajjar (Rs 5.9 per unit), Gas Turbine (Rs 5.15 per unit). Out-dated thermal power stations consume high energy, which pushes up the overall cost. These coal-based thermal plants in the capital were shut down," says Roshan Shankar, who has served as an advisor to the Government of NCT of Delhi and worked closely with Jain. He added that the AAP-led government proposed that 80 percent of the arrears collected by the discoms should be remitted to the Delhi Transco Limited the State Transmission Utility (STU) of Delhi rather than the Holding Company. By doing that, the govt ensured that the money would remain with the Government of Delhi and within the power sector. Arrear transfers to DTL from the discom bolstered investments in transmission infrastructure across the city. The discoms were made accountable to the public through cases in the judiciary, audits by the CAG, public participation by MLAs at DERC, and government submissions. As a result, Delhi became the only Indian city to provide cheap and clean 24x7 electricity with zero tariff hikes in the last five years. A phased shift to renewable energy, in AAPs belief, will take Delhi towards what the party calls bijli swaraj. At every step, public money was saved and this reflects in the receding electricity bills which are completely fiscally prudent. The Department of Power also pushed the use of alternate energy but the awareness and infrastructure regarding solar power were abysmal in the National Capital Territory. So, the installation of solar panels was incentivised. One model was RESCO in which no upfront investment is required for the installation of solar plants. In this, the said rooftop system is owned by a third party or a project developer who can sell the solar energy directly to the owner or any other captive consumer or the power distribution company, following a Power Purchase Agreement. Another model is CAPEX wherein the rooftop owner hires a system integrator/EPC company to install the rooftop SPV system by making the necessary investment. The revolution in the healthcare sector is something that has been noticed nationally and has earned praise from people like former UN secretary-generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-Moon. In a joint survey by PWD and district medical officers, 390 sites were found feasible to set up portacabins where the mohalla clinics could be operationalised. However, decentralising healthcare through mohalla clinics wasnt the only feature of the departments work. To cater to a population of almost two crores, it set up a three-tiered 360-degree delivery system in the form of mohalla clinics at the primary level, multi-speciality polyclinics at the secondary level, and super-speciality hospitals at the tertiary level. There are 31 Super Speciality hospitals across the city which went through an overhauling, be it through the installation of MRI machines or an increase in the salary of nursing staff. One of the other misconceptions about the Department of Healths approach is that it's solely based on free healthcare to the poor. But income barriers were removed from most health schemes and quality public healthcare was prioritised with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 7,485 crore for the health sector for 2019-20. To cater to all citizens, regardless of income or domicile status, Delhi government hospitals are undergoing extensive expansion projects which will increase their current bed strength of 10,000 to more than 25,000. To democratise the healthcare experience of the city, the government did away with the concept of private VIP rooms and instead provided state-of-the-art, air-conditioned facilities to every single patient. The Government of NCT of Delhi launched Delhi Arogya Kosh, an inclusive corpus that funds various health schemes for all residents of Delhi irrespective of income status. Under one of its key initiatives, 56 private hospitals and 23 diagnostic centres have been empanelled to conduct 1,155 surgeries and 133 diagnostic tests free of cost, including but not limited to cardiology, oncology, and neonatal procedures. In 2013, Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee had authored a piece on AAPs prospects in Hindustan Times in which he had written: Cheap electricity and abundant free water are exactly the things that government after government have promised and failed to deliver; why would a party that promises a new style of governance start with those? They may know something that I dont know, but I strongly suspect that they will not find it easy. Delivering on promises hasnt been easy for the Aam Aadmi Party, given the bureaucratic bungles and the complexity of power structures to operate within. However, chasing governance goals with commitment has worked in favour of the party and its ministers, all of whom won from their respective constituencies. The author is a Policy Fellow attached to the Department of Home, Government of Delhi Britain has recorded eight cases and been forced to shut down two branches of a medical centre in the southeast city of Brighton where two staff members tested positive. (Photo: AFP/Glyn KIRK) Researchers at Imperial College London said their ultimate goal was to have an effective and safe way of halting the SARS-like strain's spread by the end of the year. "At the moment we have just put the vaccine that we've generated from these bacteria into mice," Imperial College London researcher Paul McKay told AFP in an interview on Monday. "We're hoping that over the next few weeks we'll be able to determine the response that we can see in those mice, in their blood, their antibody response to the coronavirus." Scientists across the world are racing to develop a way to stamp out a new strain of a well-known virus that has been successfully combatted in the past. Britain has recorded eight cases and been forced to shut down two branches of a medical centre in the southeast city of Brighton where at least two staff members tested positive. But coming up with a vaccine is a laborious process that usually involves years of animal testing and clinal trials on humans. Regulators must then make sure that the vaccine is both sufficiently safe and effective to be mass produced. Imperial College London hopes that research on the SARS coronavirus nearly two decades ago can speed things up. "We're hoping to be the first to get this particular vaccine into human clinical trials, and that perhaps is our personal goal," McKay said. "Once the phase one trial is complete - which can take a few months to complete - it can be immediately started into an efficacy trial in people, which will also take a few months to complete," McKay added. "So, perhaps by the end of this year there will be a viable tested vaccine that would be suitable for use in people." "COLLABORATIVE RACE" Much of the world's current research into the new strain is being funded through the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). The group was formed at the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos to help drug companies and universities join forces and stamp out dangerous and preventable diseases. Imperial College London is not working with any of the current teams partnering with CEPI and requires its own sources of funding. Its scientists hope that successful animal testing can help secure investments that allow clinical trials to start some time between June and August. McKay said it would be unfair to say that the various universities and companies are competing to become the first to develop a vaccine. "There's been so much cross-sharing with all of this information - I mean the Chinese, as soon as the genome was sequenced, they shared it freely with everyone in the world," he noted. "So to put it in a competitive sense is probably not accurate. I would say that it's a collaborative race." Relationship OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ) aka ROCD, is when sufferers are consumed with doubts about their relationship. They question their love for their partner, attraction to their partner, compatibility with their partner, and their partners love for them. Twitter In this case of ROCD, things went completely out of hand - suspecting her husbands infidelity, a Bengaluru woman poured simmering hot oil on him while he was asleep. According to reports, Manjunath, 40, who works with a private company, suffered 50 per cent burns as his wife Padma - a homemaker - poured hot oil on him. "We have arrested Padma. However, we are suspecting that she is mentally unstable," Yeshwantpur Assistant Commissioner of Police, Srinivas Reddy, said. The couple used to have fights regularly over a suspected affair and fought on Saturday as well. At around 7:00 am on Sunday, Padma spilled a litre of hot oil on her husband and fled the home with her children. Manjunath ran out of his home and was rushed to a hospital by his neighbours. He suffered burns on his shoulder, face and hands, but he is out of danger. According to the police, Manjunath and Padma have been married for nine years and have two children. The live in Yeshwantpur's Mohankumar Nagar. Facebook In a similar incident two years ago, a woman from Madurai went ahead and poured hot oil on her husbands penis over an extramarital affair. The womans horrifying actions followed the mans refusal to put an end to the relationship with another woman, and left the man badly injured. According to The New Indian Express, infidelity cases are rising in Bengaluru - the police-run helpline Vanita Sahaya Vani gets about 40 complaints a week, with people complaining about affairs and the damage it does to their marriage. The report states that the city crime records bureau (CCRB) shows that many murders are committed by either the husband or the wife to eliminate his or her cheating partner. 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. Sterling Edward Greene Sr., 80, of Waldorf, MD passed away on February 9, 2020. He is survived by his loving wife, Pearl Greene; devoted children, Ronald Greene (Paula), Christine King (Alan), Wilbur Greene (Nadine), Paula Mills, Paulette Young (Harold), Melissa Mills, Vernon (Al) Greene, Gary Greene, Toney Greene and Kenneth Greene (Brandy). He was predeceased by son, Sterling Greene, Jr. Visitation at 10 am; Mass at 11 am on Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 at St. George's Catholic Church, 19199 St. George's Church Rd, Valley Lee, MD. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. Arrangements by Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Graduating honor students in public elementary and high schools in Pasig City will receive a cash incentive at the end of the current school year. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto signed a resolution approving the granting of cash gifts to deserving students in the city. It has been a customary to the City Government of Pasig to provide various types of assistance particularly to public school students to actualize its desire to help young Pasiguenos to achieve their educational goals, read the resolution. Under the resolution, graduating honor students will receive specific amount depending on their class standing: Elementary . With Highest Honors = P1,500 . With High Honors= P1,000 . With Honors = P500 High school . With Highest Honors = P3,000 . With High Honors= P2,000 . With Honors = P1,000 China reiterated on Tuesday its position on cybersecurity, saying the Chinese government and the military never engage or participate in theft of trade secrets through the internet. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the comment in response to reports that the United States charged four members of the Peoples Liberation Army on Monday with hacking Equifax, a credit reporting agency, in 2017. A massive data breach at Equifax compromised the personal information of about 145 million people, The Washington Post reported on Monday. The Chinese government firmly opposes and combats cyberattacks of any kind, and its position on cybersecurity is consistent and clear, Geng told reporters at an online daily news briefing. Geng said that it has long been an open secret that US government agencies, in violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, have engaged in large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cybertheft, spying and surveillance activities against foreign governments, enterprises and individuals. Information made public by former US government contractor Edward Snowden and by WikiLeaks exposed US mass surveillance programs, US hypocrisy and its double standard on cybersecurity, he said. China also has been a victim of US cybertheft, surveillance and monitoring, he said, adding that Beijing has repeatedly lodged stern representations to Washington and demanded the US explain and immediately stop such acts. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 14:58:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The cured patient (R) expresses his gratitude to medical staff at the Third People's Hospital of Tibet, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 12, 2020. The only patient infected with the novel coronavirus in Tibet Autonomous Region was discharged from hospital after an 18-day treatment Wednesday afternoon. (Xinhua/Chogo) LHASA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The only patient infected with the novel coronavirus in northwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region was discharged from hospital after an 18-day treatment Wednesday afternoon. The patient, 34, is from the city of Suizhou, Hubei, the hardest-hit province. He traveled from the city of Wuhan, Hubei, to Lhasa, capital of Tibet by train from Jan. 22 to 24. On the evening of Jan. 25, the traveler developed symptoms of cough and fever, and later went to the designated medical institution in the region and was hospitalized. He was confirmed to be infected with the new virus on Jan. 29 and was also the first and only confirmed case in the region. "When I learned that I was a confirmed case, I felt great stress and was very upset. The medical staff gave me meticulous care. I sincerely thank the doctors, nurses and the Tibetan people," the patient said. "After receiving treatment, the patient's temperature has returned to normal for 14 days, and two nucleic acid tests had negative results," said Puncog Zhaxi, president of the Third People's Hospital of Tibet. "In accordance with the country's latest novel coronavirus pneumonia diagnosis and treatment scheme and consultation of an expert team, the patient has met the standard of cured and can be discharged from hospital," Puncog Zhaxi said. As of Tuesday, Tibet hasn't reported any new or suspected cases or deaths caused by the virus for the 13th consecutive day. On Feb. 8, 32 close contacts of the region's only confirmed patient had been released from isolation for medical observation. The logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the headquarters. OPEC has dramatically lowered its forecast for oil demand growth this year, citing China's coronavirus outbreak as the "major factor" behind its decision. In a closely-watched monthly report published Wednesday, the Middle East-dominated producer group downwardly revised its outlook for global oil demand growth to 0.99 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2020. That's down by 0.23 million bpd from the previous month's estimate. The amended forecast is likely to reinforce the case for OPEC and allied non-OPEC producers, including Russia, to impose additional output cuts sooner rather than later. "The impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on China's economy has added to the uncertainties surrounding global economic growth in 2020, and by extension global oil demand growth in 2020," OPEC said in the report. "Clearly, the ongoing developments in China require continuous monitoring and assessment to gauge the implications on the oil market in 2020." International benchmark Brent crude traded at $55.06 at midday London time on Wednesday, up nearly 2%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $50.69, around 1.5% higher. Both crude benchmarks have each fallen around 20% since climbing to a peak in early January, dragged lower by concern over demand in China during the coronavirus outbreak. THE HAGUE, Netherlands - A letter bomb that detonated Wednesday in an Amsterdam mail sorting centre was sent by an extortionist who is demanding payment in bitcoins, police said. Nobody was injured when the package went off in the mail sorting office. A half hour later, another letter bomb went off in the southern city of Kerkrade, also without injuring anybody. In both cases, police said that staff reported a hiss when the letter was opened followed by a bang. Amsterdam police said in a statement that they are taking into account the possibility that the letters are linked to a string of letter bombs and warning letters sent to businesses last month. None of those devices detonated. There have been no arrests announced in the investigation. DUBLIN, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2019 To 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment market was valued at US$ 3.1 billion in 2019, expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period from 2019 to 2027. Increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases along with new FDA approval for portable devices will enhance the market growth globally The global multi-parameter patient monitoring equipment market is growing efficiently from 2019 to 2027 attributed to the rise in incidences of lifestyle diseases, increased hospital admissions, new launch of portable and fixed equipment. Additionally, increased awareness of enhanced applications along with home care in the end-user segment will drive market growth. Multiparameter monitoring permits healthcare professionals to utilize significant patient clinical data in providing better-quality patient care. The upsurge in the geriatric population in the developed nations directly funds the overall market growth of these monitoring devices. High acuity monitors further sub-segmented into critical care monitors, MRI compatible monitors, and perioperative monitors. High acuity monitors generated more than 50% of the total market revenue in the product segment. Increased need in critical care or ICUs in the hospitals will drive overall market growth. Increasing awareness for portable devices along with the launch of advanced equipment with integrated solutions are major key factors propelling the growth of the market. The global market mainly is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and respiratory-related diseases. More than 35 million people are suffering from COPD in Europe, Japan, and the USA. Nevertheless, the high cost of advanced equipment, unstructured reimbursement policies for medical care at home and less awareness of these products are some of the key factors limiting market growth. The U.S. generated maximum revenue in 2018 due to the existence of top manufacturers, enhanced home care patient monitoring, improved R&D and a significant pool of aging population with chronic conditions. Top producers have improved their monitoring applications worldwide mainly in the hospital and home care industry; private and small-scale product manufacturers are also maximizing their business capacity with low-cost equipment sales in Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe region. External factors driving the growth include acquisitions of medical technology companies, new device launch, partnerships, FDA approval, awareness for higher safety & controlled monitoring and activities related to sales, technology expansion, and branding. Key Market Movements Globally, the global market is growing at a CAGR of 5.8% for the period from 2019 to 2027. The fast expansion of hospital infrastructure in the developing nations and growing need for advanced equipment with top applications will drive the growth in the Asia Pacific and Latin American nations. For instance, the number of hospitals in Brazil expanded from 6800 in 2015 to 6807 in 2017. and Latin American nations. For instance, the number of hospitals in expanded from 6800 in 2015 to 6807 in 2017. The noticeable growth factors involve increasing prevalence of chronic disorders, FDA approval of new products in the U.S. market, increasing geriatric population, and enhanced awareness related to patient monitoring analysis. Market limitations include high cost, less technology development in the emerging nations, unstructured reimbursement set-up and fewer product penetration in the overall global patient monitoring segment. Key Topics Covered 1. Preface 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Snapshot: Global MPME Market 2.2. Global MPME Market, by Product Type, 2018 (US$ Mn) 2.3. Global MPME Market, by Application, 2018 (US$ Mn) 2.4. Global MPME Market, End-user, 2018 (US$ Mn) 2.5. Global MPME Market, by Geography, 2018 (US$ Mn) 3. Market Dynamics 3.1. Introduction 3.1.1. Global MPME Market Value, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 3.2. Market Dynamics 3.2.1. Market Drivers 3.2.2. Market Restraints 3.3. Attractive Investment Proposition, by Geography, 2018 3.4. Market Positioning of Key Players, 2018 3.4.1. Major Strategies Adopted by Key Players 4. Global Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market, by Product Type, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 4.1. Overview 4.2. High-acuity Monitors 4.3. Mid-acuity Monitors 4.4. Low-acuity Monitors 5. Global Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market, by Application, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 5.1. Cardiology 5.2. Neurology 5.3. Respiratory 5.4. Fetal & Neonatal 5.5. Others (Weight Monitoring, Temperature Monitoring) 6. Global Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market, By End-user, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 6.1. Hospitals 6.2. Clinics 6.3. Ambulatory Surgical Centers 6.4. Home Healthcare 7. North America Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market Analysis, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 8. Europe Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market Analysis, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 9. Asia-Pacific Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market Analysis, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 10. Rest of the World Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Equipment (MPME) Market Analysis, 2017-2027 (US$ Mn) 11. Company Profiles 11.1. AMD Global Telemedicine 11.2. Medtronic PLC 11.3. General Electric Company 11.4. Nihon Kohden Corporation 11.5. OSI Systems Inc. 11.6. Masimo Corporation 11.7. Draeger Inc. 11.8. Mindray Medical International Limited 11.9. Schiller AG 11.10. Contec Medical Systems Co. Ltd. 11.11. General Meditech Inc. 11.12. Baxter International Inc. 11.13. Philips Healthcare 11.14. Becton, Dickinson and Company 11.15. Bosch Medical 11.16. Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v7d872 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 Two members of Dartmouth College's faculty have been named to the National Academy of Inventors' (NAI) 2020 class of Senior Members: Laura Ray, senior associate dean of faculty development and professor of engineering, and Stuart Trembly, associate professor of engineering. NAI Senior Members are active faculty, scientists and administrators from NAI Member Institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation producing technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society. They also have proven success in patents, licensing and commercialization. Ray, whose NASA- and National Science Foundation-funded research includes developing robots to support science in polar regions, served as interim dean of Thayer School from October 2018 to June 2019. She is a faculty fellow in Dartmouth's Society of Fellows and was also the co-founder of Sound Innovations, Inc., and Clarisond, Inc. She co-leads Dartmouth's I-Corps Sites Program, which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and is meant to support promising technologies arising from Dartmouth research and experiential learning programs. She is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education, as well as a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. "I am honored to be recognized by the National Academy of Inventors for my work as an entrepreneur and for my work in support of young entrepreneurs at Dartmouth. My success would not have been possible without the help of the many co-inventors, collaborators, and partners who have contributed to all aspects of my engagement in entrepreneurship at Dartmouth," said Ray. "I especially want to recognize Chris Pearson and Caroline Cannon for their contributions over the years, especially in the areas of business and mentorship. I am also especially grateful for the leadership of Associate Provost Eric Fossum and the service of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer and the Magnuson Center for their dedication to entrepreneurship at Dartmouth." Trembly is the inventor and co-inventor of 16 patents, with four more currently under review. He is the founder or co-founder of four companies, including Avedro, which develops and commercializes technology for correcting vision disorders and went public with an IPO priced at $70 million last year. Trembly has taught at Dartmouth since 1983, the same year he received his PhD in biomedical engineering from the institution. "Thayer School promotes invention through the outstanding examples of its well-known practitioners with national and world stature, as well as the support from its culture. It is a privilege to be here and have the inspiration of my hyper-accomplished fellow faculty members, as well as the tangible support from the organization itself, including that of former Thayer Overseer Ralph Crump," said Trembly. "Dean Lewis Duncan and Dean Joe Helble supported faculty entrepreneurship for many years, and Dean Alexis Abramson has already established her orientation toward supporting strongly what Thayer School does so well. My current clinical collaborators at Dartmouth-Hitchcock will be the foundation for continued joint efforts toward medical device inventions supported by the uniquely fertile conditions at Thayer School, I believe." This latest class of NAI Senior Members, comprised of 32 academic inventors, represents 16 research universities and government and non-profit research institutes. They are named inventors on 368 issued U.S. patents. "NAI Member Institutions support some of the most elite inventors on the horizon. With the NAI Senior Member award distinction, we are recognizing innovators who are rising stars in their fields," said Paul R. Sanberg, NAI President. "This new class is joining a prolific group of academic visionaries already defining tomorrow." ### Following a nomination for NAI Senior Member, individuals undergo a rigorous selection process by the NAI Advisory Committee, which is composed of elected NAI members and other professionals considered pioneers in their respective fields. Senior Members are elected biannually. A full list of NAI Senior Members is available on the NAI website. Houston Methodist and UnitedHealthcare have agreed not to terminate hundreds of Houston Methodist doctors from the insurers network two months early, nearly two weeks after the hospital filed a petition accusing the insurer of dropping roughly 600 doctors from in-network status. It took a temporary restraining order and caused much confusion for patients and physicians, but Houston Methodist doctors will remain in-network with UnitedHealthcare through April 1, the insurer said Wednesday. Were pleased with this outcome as it allows us to focus on our top priority, which is establishing a long-term relationship with Methodist that ensures our members have access to quality, more affordable care, said Cole Manbeck, a spokesperson for UnitedHealthcare. As many as 100,000 UnitedHealthcare members lost in-network access to eight Houston Methodist hospitals and dozens of outpatient facilities at the beginning of the year as the insurer and hospital network duked it out over costs. UnitedHealthcares contract with Methodist doctors, however, does not expire until April 1, allowing patients to continue seeing them at lower in-network rates. Wednesdays agreement comes nearly two weeks after a Harris County District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the insurer from dropping some 600 doctors on Feb. 1. At the end of January, UnitedHealthcare sent letters to hundreds of physicians notifying them that their in-network status was terminated because they did not have admitting privileges to in-network hospitals. Under the original contract and state law, insurance companies must notify doctors 90 days before termination. The letters came with less than 72 hours notice, doctors said. UnitedHealthcare also sent letters to patients at the end of January informing them that their doctors would soon be out of network. The temporary restraining order also prevented them from telling plan holders, insurance brokers or employers that Methodist doctors would be removed before that date. On HoustonChronicle.com: Can UnitedHealthcare patients use ER at Houston Methodist? Yes, but theres a catch. The decision to terminate a physician provider must be done deliberately and carefully and with sufficient notice to allow for the transition of patients, Dr. Robert Phillips, the president and CEO of Houston Methodists Physician Organization, wrote in a court statement filed Friday. Houston Methodist has withdrawn its petition from court, hospital spokesperson Stefanie Asin said. We are relieved for our UHC patients as this will reduce any interruptions to their medical care and allow them to continue seeing our doctors as we continue negotiating with United on a resolution, she said. Letters will be sent to patients reinforcing that Houston Methodist doctors will remain in-network until April 1, according to UnitedHealthcare. Over the past two months, both sides have launched major public relations campaigns, including advertisements in the Chronicle, pointing fingers at one another for failing Houstonians. The latest case over dropping hundreds of doctors were another move in years of contentious negotiations over skyrocketing health care costs and pressures from employers to keep prices low. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, members will continue to have access to Houston Methodist doctors and hospitals. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu Dear Prince William and Kate, Im from Queensland in Australia; that massive state that covers more than 1.8 million square hectares and is named after someone up the top of your family tree Queen Victoria. A visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would lift Queenslanders' spirits, as it did at South Bank in 2014. Credit:Harrison Saragossi Now were told no dates or locations for your visit Down Under are settled, but Im pleading that you visit us just in case these rumours are true and its not on the Prime Ministers draft plan. You see, here in Queensland, we are used to being left out. Ministerial spots. Cabinet posts. Roads funding. All sorts of things. After more than a century in U.K., Blackfoot relics could soon come home Alberta's Siksika Nation is pushing to have priceless artifacts returned to them from a museum in the United Kingdom. The relics, including a beaded shirt and leggings as well as a bow and arrow and other personal possessions, once belonged to a Siksika chief named Crowfoot but have been housed at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, 350 km southwest of London, for nearly 150 years. Now, the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is leading the charge to have the artifacts returned so that they can be displayed on traditional Blackfoot territory (the Siksika are one of several clans that are part of the Blackfoot confederacy). The park's Shannon Bear Chief says the items in question are significant because of their connection to the signing of Treaty 7, which laid the foundations of the Crown's relationship with several First Nations in southern Alberta. Crowfoot signed Treaty 7 on behalf of the Siksika people, and Bear Chief says he is still an important cultural and historic figure to this day, adding that Crowfoot "represents the Siksika nation, and who we are, he is part of our identity." Authorities in the U.K. could vote to send at least some of the regalia to Blackfoot Crossing as soon as this July. Clothes worn during treaty signing Pascal Leblond/CBC Located a little over 100 kilometres east of Calgary, Blackfoot Crossing has long been a gathering place for the Siksika and their Blackfoot allies, so it was a logical place to meet to discuss the document that would eventually become Treaty 7 in 1877 and a natural home for the historical park, according to Bear Chief. The ceremonial artifacts that the Siksika are now trying to bring home are connected to this spot, the treaty and to Crowfoot, who is buried in the area, according to Bear Chief. "We believe he was wearing them when they signed the treaty, which is the significance of it, and having that come home is almost like having like a full circle of his return," she said. Story continues Dave Rae/CBC The artifacts were lent to the museum in Exeter shortly after Treaty 7 was signed, by Sir Cecil Denny, a former member of the North West Mounted Police and another signatory of the treaty. How Denny acquired the regalia isn't entirely clear. He may have been given them by Crowfoot or he may have purchased them from the Siksika chief. Sold for 10 pounds However they wound up in Denny's hands, he brought them to the U.K. and lent them to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, where they stayed until 1904, when Denny's family sold them to the museum for 10 pounds sterling, equivalent to a little more than $2,000 Cdn today. The path to getting Crowfoot's regalia back home hasn't been entirely clear either, according to Bear Chief, who says Blackfoot Crossing began discussing the repatriation of the artifacts with the museum in Exeter almost a decade ago. Dave Rae/CBC The two groups have stayed in close contact, even visiting each other's facilities over that time. Then in 2015, the Siksika group made the formal request to have the artifacts returned, but the answer from the Royal Albert Memorial Museum was no, at least not yet. The museum is owned by the City of Exeter, and the local government will have the final say on what to do with the artifacts. Rachel Sutton is an Exeter city councillor and a member of the committee that controls the museum. She says the council and the museum are theoretically in favour of repatriating Crowfoot's regalia, but they first need to be sure they will be looked after properly. Dave Rae/CBC Sutton says the council is "looking for reassurances that the ownership of the artifacts will remain with the Siksika tribal council," and that the regalia will not be owned by a commercial enterprise. Sutton says it is critical that Blackfoot Crossing is "properly run and managed and has the right equipment for conserving the items." Alberta premier requests transfer to Canada Pascal Leblond/CBC Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has weighed in, writing a letter to officials in the U.K., assuring them that those standards have been met. Kenney wrote that the historical park had recently completed "museum-standard" upgrades to the facility. The premier asked for the transfer of the artifacts to be finalized soon, saying that doing so would be a "great act of reconciliation with Canada's Indigenous people." On the premier's mailing list is the United Kingdom's former secretary of culture and the MP for Exeter, Ben Bradshaw, who says he believes the artifacts will soon be repatriated. Bradshaw says he believes the few remaining issues "can be ironed out," giving the story "a happy ending." Pascal Leblond/CBC He said the museum has a legal obligation to ensure that the artifacts are transferred to a safe place but that there is "a very strong moral case" for doing so, given the "U.K.'s colonial history." Bradshaw says the U.K. is reviewing how it deals with the repatriation of colonial-era artifacts, and he believes the country can do a better job. Pascal Leblond/CBC Back in Alberta, Shannon Bear Chief says Blackfoot Crossing has done everything it has been asked to do to upgrade its facility, including applying to become an accredited museum. Bear Chief says she will likely find out next month if that application has been accepted. Either way, she says, the park is ready to receive the regalia and is "more than equipped to take care of it." HENDERSON, NV / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / "Education is one of the most important aspects of growth, and I want to help ensure that students can achieve their academic goals and success by limiting the financial burden the system has placed on higher education," said Steven Odzer when he announced the creation of the Stephen Odzer Scholarship program. The purpose of this scholarship is to get students closer to their goal of attending college. Although he is now a successful entrepreneur with over 30 years in the distribution industry, Stephen Odzer started his first company out of his parent's basement at the age of 18. Steven Odzer had to get creative with his first business. Steven Odzer sold paper cups, napkins, and plates, which he sold door to door in his neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He managed all of his inventory out of his parent's basement. Steven Odzer attended Yeshiva of Flatbush High School and moved to the Brooklyn College Scholars program. After his door to door business took off, Steven Odzer started selling supplies to food chain restaurants, and overtime his clients transitioned to hospitals and nursing homes. The Stephen Odzer Scholarship Program will provide 20 scholarships valued at $1000 each. It's quite easy for students to apply for this scholarship. To apply for the award, potential recipients must be enrolled in a college or a university. High school students are also eligible if they have a college acceptance letter. Potential applicants can now get their application in for the fall of 2020. They must submit proof of enrollment or acceptance, and they must write a 500-word essay answering the question, "What is the biggest issue facing our modern society." The foundation expects all applications to be in on or before January 31, 2020. The deciding committee will read all of the applications and select the winners on February 5, 2020. All of the lucky students will be notified after that. "The Stephen Odzer Scholarship Program is a way for me to give back to the community," Steven Odzer says. Students interested in applying for the scholarship can learn more by visiting this site: https://www.stephenodzerscholarship.com/. Aside from helping young students achieve their dreams, Steven Odzer supports the Arab-Jewish business cooperation, non-Jewish causes, and the AHRC, a non-profit that benefits individuals and children suffering from intellectual disabilities. Steven Odzer is also a supporter of non-Jewish and Jewish causes including, Bris Avrohom, a large non-profit that helps Jewish immigrants from Russia integrate into life in the U.S. and continue to foster their religious traditions. CONTACT: Caroline Hunter Web Presence, LLC +1 7865519491 SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576234/Steven-Odzer-Is-Happy-to-Announce-the-Stephen-Odzer-Scholarship-Program By PTI WASHINGTON: A prominent Indian-American has suggested renaming the CAA as the Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, saying it would establish a right perception difficult to challenge. The remarks of Khanderao Kand, director of non-profit organisation Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), came in the wake of widespread protests held across India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The CAA should have been named as Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, Kand said during a panel discussion on the amended citizenship law and abrogation of article 370 in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Universities organised special programmes to build support for CAA: HRD Ministry Branding the CAA as a refugee act would have established a right perception difficult to challenge for its opponent, he said, adding that this name would have been appropriate as it gives citizenship to the refugees and does not take away anyone's citizenship. India-born Nissim Reuben, who is an assistant director of the American Jewish Committee's (AJC) Asia Pacific Institute, mentioned that India is right on actions but short on building right perception, emphasising on the need of India and Indian diaspora to engage in public awareness campaigns. Political analyst Sant Gupta, at the event organized by FIIDS -- a policy, advocacy and awareness forum for India and Indian diaspora-related issues -- said the Indian diaspora needs to be actively engaged in political activism. ALSO READ | CAA can't be questioned or deliberated, LG Kiran Bedi tells Puducherry CM India-born policy analyst and a founding member and former president of Indo-American Kashmir Forum Dr Vijay Sazawal said that the constitutional provision, under which Kashmir trifurcation was done, has been used by the Government of India in the past and hence there is a precedent that will stand in any judicial scrutiny. A Gilgit-Baltistan activist Senge Sering mentioned that India not only has a legitimate right on the region but also should protect the region from being exploited by China under the multi-billion dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is part of its world empire building vision of One Belt One Border initiative. 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. The Alutiiq people of Kodiak Island understand the importance of harvesting natures bounty when it is offered. Because winter is always coming, and no amount of preparation ever seems enough. But the impacts of colonization lost connection to the land and to their culture has created new challenges for the Alutiiq people, including crime, poverty and sickness. The Alutiiq people arent alone in their problems. Last June, after a visit to rural Native villages in Alaska, U.S. Attorney General William Barr called for emergency funding to address the public safety crisis he saw unfolding among the states indigenous people, including those of Kodiak Island. With this emergency declaration, I am directing resources where they are needed most and needed immediately, to support the local law enforcement response in Alaska Native communities, whose people are dealing with extremely high rates of violence, he said. Lives depend on it, and we are committed to seeing a change in this unacceptable, daily reality for Alaska Native people. Elders from Old Harbor, Alaska, gather for a Thanksgiving meal co-hosted by the Old Harbor Native Corporation the local Native corporation. But the Alutiiq people have a powerful tool to help them fight back against the economic and social ills that plague them. A little known federal program that provides lucrative economic opportunities for companies owned by tribes and Alaska Native corporations has helped the Alutiiq begin to rebuild their economy and provide hope to their people. The U.S. Small Business Administrations Section 8(a) Business Development Program gives companies owned by individuals or communities that have been historically disadvantaged, including minorities and tribes, preference when it comes to awarding federal work contracts. For the Alutiiq people, the federal 8(a) program has been an economic shot in the arm to its corporation, Old Harbor Native Corporation . The revenue generated from federal contracts have allowed Old Harbor to provide millions of dollars worth of benefits including dividend distributions, jobs, internships and burial assistance to its 439 shareholders, as well as to descendants of former shareholders. We are not asking for a hand-out, but we are asking for a fair chance, consistent with the federal government's unique relationship and obligation to Native peoples and Congress's intent and goal to provide the means for economic self-sufficiency of Native American communities, to become productive and equal members of the economy of the United States, Old Harbors chief executive officer, Carl H. Marrs, said in testimony submitted to Congress last October. But the future of the federal 8(a) program is now in jeopardy following revelations about companies that have benefited from the program that may not be tied to legitimate tribes. Last year, The Los Angeles Times began publishing reports about companies that werent owned by federally recognized tribes, or by citizens of federally recognized tribes, that had reaped hundreds of millions in contracts through the federal 8(a) program. According to the Times, the companies with questionable legitimacy had earned more than $800 million from the federal 8(a) program. At least a dozen of those companies claimed to be owned by one of three Cherokee tribes that arent federally recognized and are considered illegitimate by tribes, the Times wrote. Several other companies in Alabama claimed to be affiliated with two other tribes that arent federally recognized the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe and the Echota Cherokee Tribe. Companies owned by those two tribes alone earned more than $500 million in federal contracts, the Times found. The Times investigation led to an oversight hearing last October before the House small business subcommittee . Those reports also led to Rep. Judy Chu (D-California), who oversees that House subcommittee, to ask the Government Accountability Office , Congress investigative arm, to audit how the Small Business Administration vets contractors whose owners claim to be Native. The Native American Contractors Association and Ho-Chunk Inc., the parent corporation of Indianz.Com, were among the witnesses at a hearing on the 8(a) program in Washington, D.C., on October 22, 2019. Indianz.Com is not involved in the parent corporation's activities and operates independently. Joe Valandra, executive director of the Native American Contractors Association , said the allegations of mismanagement within the federal 8(a) program not only divert much-needed revenue from legitimate tribal corporations but also paint the program with a broad and unkind brush. He said he hopes the allegations lead to stronger vetting practices within the Small Business Administration to ensure only corporations with legitimate tribal ties win federal contracts through the 8(a) program. He said the Small Business Administration in recent years implemented vetting procedures to ensure only tribally owned companies participate in the program. However, the agency has failed to look back at companies that it previously certified to ensure they meet its new criteria, Valandra said. In addition, those who administer the program continue to permit corporations that are owned by state-recognized tribes that arent federally recognized to participate in the program, according to the Times. Tribes have long considered this wrong as they say states have often failed to properly vet tribes that seek state recognition. Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) recently introduced legislation to ensure only tribal corporations win contracts through the federal 8(a) program. His bill would make it a federal crime for companies seeking participation in the program to fraudulently claim Native ownership. Valandra said he hopes the questions raised by the Times reporting doesnt lead lawmakers to end the 8(a) program, which he said has been invaluable in ensuring tribes are able to generate revenue for vital social and cultural programs. This is such an important program to Indian Country, certainly to NACA members, he said. We want to make sure that the rules are being followed and that the ability to address abuse before it gets started, or before it gets bad, is already in the regulations. Join the Conversation Moscow expects that a series of constructive dialogues will be possible within the framework of the Munich Conference, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing in response to question from the Vestnik Kavkaz correspondent. We have expectations from the Munich conference. We expect a constructive dialogue in various formats, she said. As for bilateral meetings, we expect effectiveness and efficiency, (we expect) interesting discussion at the panel meeting of the Munich Conference, (we expect) opportunities for dialogue with partners on pressing issues, the diplomat said. Munich Security Conference will be held February 14-16. Russian delegation, like last year, will be led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev told RIA Novosti that during public speeches, Russian representatives will give priority to the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory and the creation of the UN. Scientists reported on Wednesday that they had discovered evidence of an extinct branch of humans whose ancestors split from our own a million years ago. The evidence of these humans was not a fossil. Instead, the researchers found pieces of their DNA in the genomes of living people from West Africa. Arun Durvasula and Sriram Sankararaman, two geneticists at the University of California, Los Angeles, described this so-called ghost archaic population in the journal Science Advances. Their discovery may shed light on human genetic diversity in Africa, which has been hard to chart until now because the fossil record is sparse. The new study builds on a decade of research into ancient DNA extracted from human fossils. In 2010, a team of researchers published the first genome of a Neanderthal. Later, they found DNA from fossils in a Siberian cave called Denisova. That genetic material belonged to a second lineage of humans, called Denisovans, who proved to be closely related to Neanderthals. The ancestors of Neanderthals and Denisovans split from our shared ancestor about 600,000 years ago, quite likely in Africa. They expanded into Eurasia, where the Neanderthals moved west while the Denisovans moved east. By roughly 40,000 years ago, both populations became extinct. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Over 80 exhibitions, numerous medals and certificates: these are the achievements of the Davtyan Jewelry. The company doesnt miss any opportunity to present its products and enter into new markets. The years-long consistent work and dedication to the job give their results. And all these thanks to director of the company Arshavir Davtyan. He is a jewelry designer and is working in the field since the early 90s. He gained an experience from his father and is promoting his familys business very actively together with brothers Armen and Karen Davtyan. Brothers say the difficulties in the early 90s touched everyone, including their family. However, their dedication to work helped them to overcome the difficulties and not only find a stable place in the Armenian market, but also to think of major goals by entering the international markets. When you do your job with love, are dedicated to your work, one day the results will be definitely visible. During those years there were many difficulties, not everything was perfect, but the problems were possible to overcome. During our whole activities we attached importance to the high quality of the work we do, its uniqueness and personal approach. This in turn helps to raise the demand towards our production, Arshavir Davtyan told Armenpress. The company not only presents its own products, but also is ready to meet all the requirements of clients. Arshavirs brothers say there is no I cant for him. After briefly talking to a client, he immediately imagines the jewelry he/she wants. The interest towards the Davtyan Jewelry is great, be it in the CIS states, Russia, China, Europe, US or the UAE. The Davtyan brothers proudly state that they have returned from all international exhibitions with awards and high appreciation. The clients high assessment, trust, the special attention received at international exhibitions is a result of the work done by Arshavir Davtyan. Each country has its own peculiarities, and usually we are presenting jewelry in accordance with the demand of that particular market. In any case one thing is obvious: while making jewelry we take into account the modern approaches, but the Armenian is on its base. During international exhibitions we definitely present jewelry with Armenian ornaments, Arshavir Davtyan said, adding that participation to each exhibition helps the company to have new partners and clients. They are receiving both individual and group orders. Arshavir Davtyan is confident that their product is competitive in the international market. No matter what market it is, the company is presenting a high-quality product. Armenia has had good jewelry traditions, and the Davtyan brothers believe that the country has a great potential to restore them. A state systematic approach is just needed for the development of the field. They also attach importance to the active awareness raising campaign in the international market, the use of the potential of diplomatic representations which will help to draw attention to the Armenian production. The company has new plans to expand the production, present unique samples, participate in international fairs and enter new markets. Interview by Anna Gziryan Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers within the main London indices on Wednesday. FTSE 100 - WINNERS Anglo American, up 1.8%. The miner was raised to Neutral from Sell. Rio Tinto, up 1.7%. The Anglo-Australian miner said it will conduct a strategic review of its ISAL aluminium smelter in Iceland to assess its "ongoing viability". Rio warned ISAL is likely to struggle in the near future as it's faced with tough conditions in the aluminium market. Production at ISAL has already been reduced by 85%, Rio Tinto said. The review of the operation is expected to be complete in the first half of 2020. FTSE 250 - WINNERS Dunelm Group, up 9.9%. The home furnishings retailer said interim profit rose substantially on solid revenue growth, lifting its outlook as a result. For the six months ended December 28, the Syston-based retailer reported a pretax profit of GBP83.6 million, up 19% from GBP70.0 million the same period a year before. Revenue, meanwhile, grew by 6.0% year-on-year to GBP585.0 million from GBP555.8 million, and rose by 5.6% on a like-for-like basis. Like-for-like sales from stores rose by 2.0%, while online like-for-like sales rose by 33%. Dunelm declared an interim dividend of 8.0 pence per share, up 6.7% from 7.5p the prior year. Dunelm said its third quarter started well and expects annual pretax profit to be ahead of analyst expectations, which range from GBP135.0 million to GBP137.3 million. "From an investment perspective, Dunelm is very attractive: it's some distance ahead of its rivals, is showing strong signs of growth, is rapidly expanding its digital capability, has good short-to-medium term prospects and has just announced a healthy special dividend," eToro analyst Adam Vettese said. Plus500, up 3.5%. The contact-for-difference provider reported a sharp drop in earnings in 2019, but noted that performance improved in the second half due to "increased trading opportunities identified by customers" and more volatile market conditions. Pretax profit was USD189.3 million in 2019, down from USD503.0 million in 2018. Revenue was USD354.5 million, down from USD720.4 million. Plus500 said the first half of 2019 was hurt by "extremely low volatility" in the first quarter. However, strong second half of the year was "mainly driven by increased trading opportunities identified by customers, reflecting more volatile market conditions during the rest of the year." In another statement, Plus500 said it plans a new share buyback programme for up to an additional USD30.0 million of the company's shares, following the completion of the USD50.0 million buyback programme announced back in August. Greencore Group, up 3.0%. The sandwich maker was raised to Buy from Hold by Berenberg. FTSE 250 - LOSERS Babcock International, down 5.0%. The defence contractor edged its profit guidance slightly lower, and added it expects a GBP85 million one-off hit from its oil and gas business. The oil and gas unit is part of Babcock's Aviation division, which it announced it would restructure "in response to current trading". For the year ending March, the company now expects underlying operating profit at around GBP540 million, which would represent an 8.2% decline from GBP588.4 million the year prior. Babcock's previous guidance for financial 2020 was for operating profit in the range of GBP540 million and GBP560 million. The company held its forecast for underlying revenue of roughly GBP4.9 billion, which would reflect a 5.1% year-on-year decline from GBP5.16 billion. Trading in the Aviation unit during the first nine months of Babcock's financial year was mixed, with challenges in southern Europe and in the oil and gas business offsetting "good performances" in the UK and internationally. TalkTalk Telecom Group, down 1.5%. UBS cut the home phone and broadband provider to Sell from Neutral. OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - WINNERS Itaconix, up 17%. The specialty polymers firm signed new license and supply agreements with New Wave Global Services, a North American detergent supplier. The company said the licensing agreement is for a new dishwashing detergent formulation, based on the new Itaconix TSI322 detergent polymer. In December 2018, Itaconix had announced a license agreement with New Wave for a new triple-chamber dishwashing detergent pod based on Itaconix CHT122. "The new formulation offers New Wave additional competitive advantages available with Itaconix TSI322," the company said. The roll out is expected "later in 2020," the company noted. Meanwhile the supply agreement is to support the growth in the company's polymer volumes used in New Wave products, Itaconix said. OTHER MAIN MARKET AND AIM - LOSERS Scapa Group, down 31%. The adhesive products manufacturer warned its annual trading profit will be below market expectations, tumbling more than 20% from the prior year's levels. Revenue for the year ending March 31 is expected to be broadly in line with market expectations at GBP306 million, though this would represent a 1.9% decline from GBP311.8 million. Trading profit will come in at GBP28 million, "significantly below consensus", Scapa cautioned, and 27% lower than the GBP38.2 million from the year prior. Promisingly for Scapa however, Healthcare unit revenue will be "slightly ahead of market expectations", at GBP139 million, and will grow year-on-year despite the loss of a contract with wound dressings maker ConvaTec Group. Scapa expects to report its full-year results on May 19. United Carpets, down 17%. The carpet retailer said there was no boost to trading conditions following the UK general election in December, and added that its like-for-like sales have fallen over the past eight weeks. United Carpets said it experienced "comparatively poor" trading in the quarter leading up to Christmas, and added the market environment "has continued to be challenging". Like-for-like sales in the eight weeks since December 20, when it announced its interim results, have slipped 5.7%. For the year ending March 31, United Carpets expects pretax profit in the range of GBP150,000 and GBP200,000. Not only is this below market forecasts of GBP500,000, it would also be less than half the GBP590,000 achieved in financial 2019. By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Coal India (CIL) reported 14.1% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 3923.87 crore on a 7.8% decline in net sales to Rs 21566.41 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Coal India realised Rs 18,015 crore in October-December 2019 from fuel supply agreement (FSA) at Rs 1,411 per tonne. The company produced 147.50 million tonne of raw coal in the three months ended December. Its output in the corresponding period a year ago was 155.97 million tonne. Total coal sales fell 8.15% to 141.55 million tons in Q3 FY20 from 154.12 million tons reported in the same period last year. The average realization of the coal major improved marginally to Rs 1524 per ton in Q3 FY20 from Rs 1517 per ton in Q3 FY19. The coal major's total expenses remained flat at Rs 18222.05 in the December quarter of FY20. Financing costs surged 144.1% to Rs 151.27 crore in Q3 FY20 from Rs 61.96 crore in Q3 FY19. Profit before tax (PBT) stood at Rs 5335.77 crore in Q3 FY20, down by 24.1% from Rs 7029.14 crore reported in Q3 FY19. Tax expenses declined 42.6% to Rs 1413.96 crore year-on-year (YoY). Meanwhile, the government has offloaded 2.91% stake in Coal India through the sixth further fund offer of CPSE ETF Mutual Fund scheme. The government's stake in the mining major has now come down to 66.14% compared with 69.05%, the company said in a release. Shares of Coal India rose 1.09% to Rs 181.30. It traded in the range of Rs 180.70 and Rs 183.30 so far. Coal India (CIL) is a coal mining company, which is engaged in the production and sale of coal. The firm offers products, including coking coal, semi coking coal, non-coking coal, washed and beneficiated coal, middlings, rejects, coal fines/coke fines, and tar/heavy oil/light oil/soft pitch. As of 31 December 2019, the Government of India held 69.05% stake in the company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An alleged 'catfish' was sent sexual photos and videos from her ex-lover before her suicide, a court has heard - as her agonised family breaks down. Camila Zeidan, 27, is accused of concocting a fake internet boyfriend for Renae Marsden, 20, for two years before she died by suicide at Sydney's The Gap in 2013. Police claim Camila pretended to be 'Brayden Spiteri' for almost two years before Renae tried to break off her friendship with her for good. Camila claims she and Renae invented Brayden so they could still be together, despite others' disapproval, and today admitted receiving 'numerous photos and videos of a sexual nature' while posing as Brayden. She repeatedly told the court she 'didn't remember' key details of the lead-up to her suicide. But at end of a long day of giving evidence at the NSW Coroner's Court, counsel assisting the inquest Sasha Harding told Camila: 'You are not telling the truth. Monique Marsden, the 14-year-old sister of Renae Marsden, cries during a press conference outside the NSW Coroner's Court on Wednesday Several members of the family, including Renae's brother Luke and mother Teresa, were visibly emotional after hearing Camila Zeidan's testimony. They have been waiting seven years Camila Zeidan ducks into a waiting car after being grilled at the NSW Coroner's Court on Wednesday 'We can hear from the courtroom no one believes you, Camila,' she said, referring to gasps and crying in the complex. 'This is an opportunity to come clean and to tell the family what happened on the fifth (of August)'. The court heard at 8pm on the day Renae died, Camila took Renae's mother to 'Brayden's sister's house' - even though Brayden never existed, the court heard. 'I don't remember nominating a house, I just remember we drove around,' Camila said. But Coroner Elaine Truscott said: 'You're deliberately saying that to avoid taking responsibility for taking Renae's mother on a wild goose chase?' She had a choice to say something ... she's still denying it Renae Marsden's sister, Monique, at a press conference 'No I'm not,' Camila said. Brayden' had texted Renae's mother, Teresa, on the day of her death saying: 'Sort your daughter out, threatening to kill herself'. Camila said today: 'I just (sent the Brayden message) to her because I was worried. I didn't know how serious it was.' Renae had exchanged a series of messages with Camila and her alter-ego Brayden on the day she died. The coroner is investigating whether Renae learned she had been catfished before she died. Counsel assisting the inquest Sasha Harding asked Camila why she did not intervene when the woman she loved was threatening to kill herself. 'You claim you guys loved each other so much you're in this fantasy with each other. Why didn't you even, as Camila, go to Teresa's house intervene, as a friend?' 'You were in contact with her all day,' Ms Harding said. 'You were Brayden, you sent 42 messages to her.' When Ms Harding pointed out Camila's family 'did not get to say goodbye to Renae', Camila said: 'Neither did I'. Camila also admitted her relationship with Renae, as Brayden, was 'sexual'. Family members embrace outside court Outside court, Renae's mother, Teresa said: 'We've been robbed. Seven years we've waited for this and we've got nothing.' Renae's little sister Monique, 14, said: 'She had a choice to say something ... she's still denying it.' Her brother Luke teared up as he said: 'I look around and see my family in tears. I wouldn't wish this to my worst nightmare. No family deserves to be broken like this.' Her father Mark said Wednesday the day the family expected to get answers was 'very harrowing' and that to some extent, the inquest was worse than losing Renae 'It's been a very harrowing day for us.' The inquest continues. 'You have no way to escape': Court hears of 54 missed calls from Camila to Renae Earlier, the court heard Camila once left Renae 54 missed calls in the one evening and warned 'you have no way to escape I'll own you'. Counsel assisting Ms Harding today read out an email Camila wrote to Renae which allegedly shows her 'obsessive' attitude to Renae, before she created the identity of Brayden in 2011. 'Baby I love you I love you I love you I love youuuuu,' Camila's email allegedly began. Renae Marsden (left) and Camila (right) went to Mt St Benedict's College together and were in a relationship at school. Renae moved on after school, but the inquest has heard claims Camila actively tried to break up their relationship - and then catfished her as a man named 'Brayden' This is a picture of the man Renae believed was Brayden. But it was not. The inquest heard this picture was originally from Camila's phone 'I'm going to eat you up in a second baby,' Camila's email, sent while they were in a relationship in 2008, continued. 'I miss you more than anything and I swear babe anyone who ever takes you away from me is going to be sorry. 'I had 54 calls last night Camila. That's f***ed. I'm sorry, but that's possessive. If you can't see that then there is something terribly wrong with you'. Renae Marsden in a Facebook message to Camila Zeidan 'I'll be a Kung Fu Panda and smash them. 'I swear to God kid, you're going no where. 'You kill me, I'll be your ghost. You hate me, I'll still love you. Run away, chase you . 'LMAO you got no way to escape babe because only I'm in love with you, only I'll own you and only I'll have you forever. 'You cheat and I'll make the f***er regret it. 'I don't think you have any way of this love. 'Sorry gorgeous but you've got to know I'm too in love with you and too obsessed with you'. When Ms Harding asked Camila about describing her relationship with Renae as obsessive, she said: 'I'm talking about back then Well yeah, I loved her'. Family members comfort each other during a break in the inquest on Wednesday Teresa Marsden (black jacket), daughter Monique, son Luke and husband Mark at court In the years that followed, Ms Zeidan would go on to create Brayden who communicated incessantly with Renae. Ms Zeidan admitted today Brayden never existed. She has claimed she made up Brayden jointly with Renae so they could 'be together' when no one accepted they could be a couple. 'You are saying that today but it does not make sense,' Ms Harding told the court. 'You wanted Renae to yourself and created Brayden was the perfect opportunity because it meant you could have her all to yourself.' 'I'm going to kill them both, snap their necks': Camila's email about Renae Marsden Renae Marsden had a blunt reaction to allegedly receiving 54 missed calls from Camila in the one night: 'That's f***ed' The court heard in another 2008 email to Renae, Camila spoke about two friends who she claimed had made a remark about their relationship. She described them as 'little f***en' drop kick skanks, I f***en' hate them to death, I want them dead now Renae 'I'm going to kill them both, I'll snap their necks out of place'. She called them 'oily dirty mother***Ing c***s' and said 'no one ever says s*** about me and my babies'. Ms Harding said: 'That is a very extreme reaction to someone making a comment about your reaction to Renae.' Camila said: 'Obviously I cared about her and I loved her .' Ms Harding: 'You think that's a reasonable response?' 'It isn't now, but I don't know what I was going through at the time,' Camila said. 'I had 54 calls last night Camila ... I'm sorry, but that's possessive': Claims accused catfisher 'hunted' Renae During Wednesday's hearing, Camila repeatedly said 'I don't remember' to incidents involving Renae. The inquest also heard claims Camila actively tried to break up Renae's relationship with her boyfriend, Angus, who she dated after school. Facebook messages tendered at the inquest between Camila and Renae in 2011 show the suicide victim describing Camila's behaviour as 'f***ed' and 'possessive'. When Camila complained of being 'second' place in Renae's life, Renae replied: 'I don't lie, OK. I'm sick to death of saying when I can't talk. 'I had 54 calls last night Camila. That's f***ed. I'm sorry, but that's possessive. If you can't see that then there is something terribly wrong with you'. Camila told Ms Harding: 'I probably did try and talk to her' Ms Harding said: 'Even Renae at this point is saying that it's f***ed and she herself is describing it as possessive.' Camila said: 'It works both ways I don't know what was going on at the time.' In her witness statement, Teresa claimed Camila would lurk at the top of Renae's driveway in her car when the suicide victim was in a relationship with Angus. Teresa claimed she followed them during mother-daughter trips to the local Castle Towers shopping centre and that the behaviour was 'like stalking'. (Camila denied the encounters, claiming she never followed Renae around). Renae and Camila met up with both their mothers at a shopping centre when Renae got frustrated over the alleged behaviour, Teresa's statement to the court. 'Renae had told me we need to put a stop to this. (Camila) has to be told to leave me alone and stop harassing me,' Teresa said. Camila was 'swearing and making a scene' at the meeting and Teresa claimed that Camila later grabbed Renae by the arm, chased her to the carpark and held her car door open. Camila told the court: 'That didn't happen, so I'm saying, yeah, I never grabbed her arm or held her car open'. Ms Harding said, during this time, Camila 'wouldn't leave her alone. 'You're almost hunting her down. You turn up in places unexpectedly. When Camila claimed 'I never followed her or grabbed her', Ms Harding said: 'You didn't physically but you're certainly following her on the phone. '54 missed calls. It's not giving up, letting go'. Camila is expected to continue to give evidence on Thursday. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. 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You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global, U.S. & Europe Regenerative Medicines Market Demand Analysis & Opportunity Evaluation, 2019-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global regenerative medicine market is estimated to grow on the back of rising healthcare expenditure with increasing demand for efficient disease treating practices coupled with growing technological developments and discoveries. The world bank reported a rise in global current health expenditure (% GDP) from 9.453% in 2011 to 10.023% in 2016. Additionally, global regenerative medicines market is estimated to grow at a robust rate on the back of increasing adoption of stem cell technology to address the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Moreover, emerging applications of gene therapy in regenerative medicines for tackling infectious diseases such as, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and influenza or to target angiogenesis during cardiac surgery is leading to subsequent expansion in usage base of regenerative medicines around the globe. Increasing incidences of chronic oncogenic diseases such as cancer with an estimated new cases of 18.1 million in 2018 as per International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), is anticipated to display rapid growth in application of regenerative medicines in the upcoming years. Additionally, increasing application of regenerative medicines to treat auto-immune hepatitis, is expected to back the rampant growth in the upcoming years. Moreover, government initiatives to eliminate chronic diseases is anticipated to aid the growth in upcoming years. For instance, World Health Organization (WHO) launched an initiative to eliminate hepatitis completely by 2030. Furthermore, Regenerative medicines comprising blood stem cell implants can be used to restore healthy bone marrow in patients with leukemia. Besides, experiments in the gene therapy segment to explore benefits for various other medical applications, is expected to propel considerable growth in the regenerative medicines market in the upcoming years. Application of regenerative medicines in tissue-engineering cartilages, modifying chondrocytes, and other tissue engineering technologies for treating traumatic and degenerative joint diseases is estimated to drive the market growth in the upcoming years. Additionally, increasing use of regenerative medicines in hepatocyte transplants for chronic liver disease treatments and liver failure conditions is propelling an exponential growth in the global market. Moreover, increasing use of poly-hemoglobin blood substitute produced through regenerative medicines to treat conditions of blood contamination or blood shortages is further propelling growth in the utilization of regenerative medicines in the hospitals, blood banks and research institutes. Tissue engineering is a field majorly focused on development of tissue and organ substitutes by controlling biological, biophysical and/or biomechanical parameters in the laboratory. Of late, tissue engineering has gained popularity on the back of it's utilization to bioengineer implantable devices, reconstitute decellularized organs, and manufacture organs using 3D bio-printing. Additionally, rising geriatric population across the globe holds immense opportunities for regenerative medicines in the upcoming years. According to World Bank, population aged 65 and above increased from 7.64% in 2010 to 8.926% of the overall population in 2018. Moreover, change in climatic conditions and increase in sedentary lifestyles has led to drastic demographic changes in developed and developing countries, resulting in growing number of disease cases associated with aging. This aspect is attributed to contribute considerably to the regenerative medicines market growth across the globe Changing environmental conditions with increasing penetration of ultraviolet rays to the earth's surface due to global warming consequently impacting the human health by causing oncologic and dermatology based diseases is attributed to create an upsurge in demand for regenerative medicines during the forthcoming years. Additionally, increasing exposure of the present population to X-rays and gamma rays due to high nuclear energy involving practices is increasing incidences of cancer, subsequently propelling the regenerative medicines market across North America. A sharp reduction in the size of secondary care institutions across Europe in the past decade has resulted in the streamlining of healthcare delivery and stimulated more efficient and integrated model of care that is anticipated to lead to complete conquer of the hospital-centric pattern of care over the forthcoming years. These change in patterns of healthcare are attributed to influence the regenerative medicines market positively across Europe Increasing prevalence of diabetes retinopathy with rising cases of diabetes mellitus across Asia has resulted in rise in adoption of regenerative medicines for cornea regeneration and other ophthalmic applications driving the market subsequently in the continent over the past. Besides, new application discoveries in the field of regenerative medicines through extensive research and development activities across the countries of India, Japan and China are anticipated to boost the market positively during the forecast period Key Topics Covered Introduction Story continues Market Definition Product Definition Research Objective Research Methodology Executive Summary Market Dynamics of Global Regenerative Medicines Market Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Opportunities Global Regenerative Medicines Market Market overview - market size and forecast (2018-2027) Market segmentation by: Technology Source Applications End-Users U.S Regenerative Medicines Market Market overview - market size and forecast (2018-2027) Market segmentation by: Technology Source Applications End-Users Europe Regenerative Medicines Market Market overview - market size and forecast (2018-2027) Market segmentation by: Country Technology Source Applications End-Users Industry Analysis Policy & regulatory landscape Risk analysis Competitive Landscape Company Profiles of Top Players Smith & Nephew Novartis Medtronic PLC Stryker Corporation Sangamo Integra LifeSciences Corporation Allergan PLC Bayer AG Zimmer Holdings Baxter International Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mao83l Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com 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 The suspect in a Rapid City armed robbery fatally shot himself Tuesday night after fleeing law enforcement and engaging in an hours-long standoff in Custer. "For more than three hours, law enforcement attempted to negotiate with the suspect driver in an attempt to bring the incident to a peaceful resolution," according to a joint news release from the Rapid City Police Department and Custer County Sheriff's Office. But the man shot himself around 7:30 p.m. and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital after first responders tried to save him, the release says. What follows was reported in the news release: The incident began around 3 p.m. when Boyd's Drug Mart on East St. Patrick Street in Rapid City reported an armed robbery. Witnesses told officers that a man approached the pharmacy, displayed a firearm and demanded prescription medication. The pharmacists complied. Witnesses provided officers with a description of the suspect's vehicle and its license plate, and officers alerted law enforcement agencies across the Black Hills about the suspect vehicle. A Custer County sheriff's deputy spotted the vehicle around 3:45 p.m. as it was driving southbound on U.S. Highway 16/385 north of Custer. The deputy tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled. Deputies pursued the vehicle south into Custer where it turned west onto Mount Rushmore Road. They used a tactical vehicle intervention when officers carefully hit a fleeing vehicle to cause it to spin and stop and the driver stopped near Mount Rushmore Road and North Second Street. Law enforcement surrounded the vehicle and saw the driver holding a firearm against himself. That's when they began to negotiate with the man before he shot himself. The Custer County Chronicle wrote in a Facebook post that the standoff involved more than 20 officers and posted a photo that shows law enforcement surrounding and pointing weapons at a blue truck. The man's identification is being withheld until his relatives are notified, and investigations into the robbery, pursuit and standoff are ongoing, the news release says. Agencies involved in the incident include the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington and Custer County Sheriff Offices, Custer County Ambulance, Highway Patrol, Game Fish & Parks, and Black Hills Life Flight. Boyd's Drug Mart was robbed in a similar manner last month. It's unclear if the same suspect was involved in both of the armed robberies, police spokesman Brendyn Medina told the Journal. Contact Arielle Zionts at arielle.zionts@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 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 Zimbabwean government has introduced what it calls a Targeted Coupon Scheme for the vulnerable in an attempt to ensure that most locals access mealie-meal, which is being sold at exorbitant prices in the black market. In a post-cabinet meeting in Harare on Wednesday, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the government would use its database of the most vulnerable citizens to compile a list of the coupon recipients. The coupons, which are set to be rolled out next week, will be used for purchasing mealie-meal in shops in the country. She said, Cabinet noted that the previous mealie-meal price provided arbitrage opportunities to some unscrupulous people. What we are doing is what others have been doing in many countries and this has been successful. We have the data on people who are vulnerable and we are going to revisit that database and make sure that people who are vulnerable get help, she said. The government on Tuesday increased prices of a 10 kilogram bag of mealie-meal from 50 Zimbabwe dollars to 75 dollars. Although mealie-meal is subsidized in Zimbabwe, millers are complaining that they are incurring huge import costs as the product in in short supply in neighboring nations. Zimbabwe is facing a crippling drought that has forced almost eight million people to seek food aid in rural and urban areas. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Dude! Our very long, very loud national nightmare is over. A month after Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer announced he would be suing his band for excluding him from several high-profile performance events during Grammys week, hes back in action once again with his Boston brothers. Per Rolling Stone, Kramer performed with Aerosmith in an official capacity on Monday evening as the band continues their Las Vegas residency, and hes expected to be on drums for the remainder of the dates. This is the first time Kramer performed alongside Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, et al. since last April, when he sustained an injury that spurred an unusually harsh reaction from his bandmates in its aftermath. Kramer claims that he had to reaudition and prove his drumming talents (or play at an appropriate level) to get back into Aerosmith, although such scrutiny was never required in the past when other band members got injured. This is not about money, he said at the time. I am being deprived of the opportunity to be recognized along with my peers for our collective lifetime contributions to the music industry. In a twist, a judge ended up siding with Aerosmith, although Kramer still walked the red carpet with his bandmates during their various Grammys events. (Aerosmith was honored with the coveted MusiCares Person of the Year Award, as well as the Grammys Lifetime Achievement honor.) Kramer has not shown a realistic alternative course of action, the judge ruled, sufficient to protect the bands business interests. A substitute drummer filled in for Kramer during their MusiCares concert, their Grammys performance with Run-DMC, as well as their sporadic residency dates in Las Vegas between last April and now. There was a new energy in the India-Africa equation in the recent years and they would scale greater heights hand-in-hand, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday. India's relationship with Africa progressed through consultative and responsive mechanisms under the rubric of the India-Africa Forum Summit and the conference of 2015 infused a new dynamism in the ties, he said at the valedictory session of a conference on "Understanding Africa: Continuity and Change" at the India International Centre here. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's specific guidance, the political engagement between India and Africa intensified in the last five years like never before with 34 outgoing visits to African countries at the level of the president, the vice president and the prime minister, Shringla said. There was not a single country in the African continent that was not visited by at least one Union Minister, he pointed out. "The picture on trade and investment is encouraging. The India-Africa trade in the previous year was valued at USD 69 billion, a 12 per cent annual increase," Shringla said. In terms of development cooperation, over two-thirds of India's Lines of Credit (LoCs) in the past decade were offered to African countries, he added. "Currently, 189 projects in 42 African countries, valued at USD 11.4 billion, are being implemented under Indian LoCs. These projects range from drinking water schemes to irrigation, solar electrification, power plants, transmission lines, cement plants, technology parks and railway infrastructure. "But there are still challenges that need to be addressed, there are still frontiers that need to crossed. As Madiba, the great Nelson Mandela, famously said, 'After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb'," the foreign secretary said. India and Africa had scaled heights hand-in-hand and would scale greater heights together in the years to come, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On February 6, officials from the Cleveland area released a proposal to provide a $14 million grant to Sherwin-Williams, a Fortune 500 company with operations across the US and internationally that produce and retail paint and building material. The grant was negotiated in exchange for the company keeping roughly 3,500 jobs in Cleveland and other cities in Cuyahoga County for at least five years. The previous day, Sherwin-Williams had announced that it would remain based in northeastern Ohio and would be constructing a new 1-million-square-foot headquarters in downtown Cleveland and a new research and development (R&D) facility in the suburb of Brecksville. The company has estimated that the new facilities will be completed by 2023. The announcement also officially ended a Sherwin-Williams search for a new location for its headquarters, which the company had declared in September. During the search, the company expressed that it was considering moving out of Cleveland, where the company had been based for more than 150 years, to relocate to other parts of Ohio or possibly to other states. Cans of Sherwin Williams paint [Credit: AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach] The $14 million proposal was introduced to the County Council on Tuesday by County Executive Armond Budish, and the council is planning on holding a hearing on the proposal in coming weeks. Budish had previously stated, We have to keep Sherwin-Williams here. It would otherwise be very horrible for the county if they picked up and left. So it was incumbent on us to come up with an agreement. Frank Jackson, Clevelands Democratic mayor, said on February 6, In terms of dollar amount and duration, it [the incentive package] will be higher than others we have done while Ive been mayor. Jackson has been mayor of Cleveland since 2006, and has also speculated that the package might be the largest in the citys history. According to details of the incentives package, the county would pay $5 million from its economic development fund, $2 million from its community development fund, and $7 million from general fund reserves. The proposed grant would be used to pay for construction of the new buildings, but the county would be able to take a portion of the money back if Sherwin-Williams does not fulfill a job-retention requirement. At the Cuyahoga County Council meeting yesterday, further details of about other potential incentives to be handed to Sherwin-Williams emerged. The county could provide a potential $2 million loan to the company to redevelop the Landmark Office Towers, which the company owns, and a separate loan of up to $250,000 to help cover costs related to environment remediation. The second loan would be dependent on on the Environmental Protection Agency deeming the company eligible, as well as Sherwin-Williams requesting the loan. The county is also in discussion with Sherwin-Williams over improvement plans for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and a proposed microgrid project that would provide a back-up source of power for part of downtown Cleveland. JobsOhiothe statewide economic-development corporationhas stated that it will also be providing additional aid to the company, which posted $1.5 billion in net profits last year, but has not disclosed details about its offer. Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was quoted in Sherwin-Williamss news release as stating, The state of Ohio, JobsOhio and our regional and local economic-development partners have been focused on keeping one of Ohios leading companies right here where they belong. Sherwin-Williams has an estimated $53 billion market cap and employs roughly 6,000 people throughout Ohio, with the majority working in the northeast part of the state. According to the statements by the company, the new headquarters and R&D buildings combined will employ 3,500 workers, and an additional 400 jobs could be added to the region. Less than a week before the announcement of the grant, Sherwin-Williams laid off 30 janitorssome of whom had worked at Sherwin-Williams for over 15 yearsby switching to a different contractor. The janitors, who were paid a meager wage of $12 to $15 an hour based on a contract negotiated by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, have been replaced by janitors who are paid even less. Tiffany Gallego, a janitor at Sherwin-Williams, told the Plain Dealer, I dont feel they deserve our money, the taxes we pay. Despite the opposition by janitors, the SEIU had limited its actions to lobbying the company and appealing to Mayor Jackson, the Cleveland City Council and Cuyahoga County Council. The response by officials on the city, county and state level to the hint of Sherwin-Williams relocating is a reflection of the subservience of both Democrats and Republicans to the major corporations and banks. As a result, both parties in every level of government respond to any pressure from these corporations by either appealing to them to relocate in their area or, in this case, remain. John Boyd, principal member of the Boyd Company, which specializes in corporate relocation, told the Charlotte Business Journal that Its possible that the company threatened to leave in order to extract money from the city and state governments, and that companies moving headquarters had become the new normal after cities put out historic bids to win Amazons second headquarters in 2018. During Amazons bidding process, cities and states offered the $1 trillion company hundreds of millions of dollars in incentives for the company to establish its second headquarters in their locations. While Amazons rapid growth has put pressure on areas like Seattle and exacerbated the housing crisis, the possible pullout of Sherwin-Williams from Cuyahoga County essentially holds thousands of jobs and taxable income hostage to demand massive payouts in an area that has been hit hard by decades of deindustrialization. Following the announcement that the company would build a new R&D facility in Brecksville, Sherwin-Williams disclosed that it would consolidate by relocating 400 workers from its Warrensville Heights location, which is also located in Cuyahoga County. Employees from Sherwin-Williams provide an estimated $1.2 million in annual income tax to the citys roughly $20 million annual budget. The citys mayor, Brad Sellers, has admitted that this would have a major impact on the citys budget since it would be losing one of its top five taxpayers. It is currently unclear what impact the relocation will have on the citys school district. Mayor indicted for stealing over a quarter-million dollars from dying grandmother originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A mayor in Tennessee has been charged and indicted with stealing more than a quarter of a million dollars from his own grandmother. Christopher Scott Jones, currently serving as mayor of Mount Carmel in northeast Tennessee, allegedly stole more than $300,000 from his grandmother in the last years of her life between November 2014 and January 2016 by writing checks from her account to himself for false reimbursements. The Kingsport Times-News reports that his grandmother passed away in 2016. MORE: Church volunteer allegedly steals more than half a million dollars, makes thousands of online purchases PHOTO: An investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and has resulted in the indictment of the Mayor of Mount Carmel, Tennessee, accused of stealing more than a quarter of a million dollars from his grandmother. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) MORE: New gas station employee allegedly steals $17,000 on very first day of work In August 2019, at the request of 3rd District Attorney General Dan Armstrong, TBI Special Agents began investigating allegations of theft against Christopher Scott Jones, said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation after allegedly finding evidence of the fake checks. The Hawkins County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jones with one count of theft over $250,000 and was arrested and booked into the Hawkins County Jail on a $300,000 bond, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Mount Carmel was incorporated in 1961 and has an estimated population of around 5,300 people. Chinese President Xi Jinping presides over a meeting and listens to report on the epidemic prevention and control work of Beijing at the center for disease control and prevention of Chaoyang District in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 10, 2020. Xi on Monday inspected the novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control work in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) The Chinese economy is bigger, more resilient in capacity, and more reasonable in structure. BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping's comments on the Chinese economy have boosted confidence that the world's second-largest economy will come through the novel coronavirus epidemic with great resilience, potential and leeway. Xi said the fundamentals of China's long-term economic development remain unchanged and the epidemic's impact on the economy is short-lived, during an inspection tour of the epidemic prevention and control work in Beijing on Monday. He made the comments as China's economy comes under pressure from factories suspending production and reduced consumer spending amid the country's quarantine measures in the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak. The epidemic and relevant quarantine measures are believed to have a negative impact on the Chinese economy to some extent. But now the Chinese economy is bigger, more resilient in capacity, and more reasonable in structure. China's GDP was less than 14 trillion yuan (around 2.03 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2003 when SARS broke out. Now, it is nearly 100 trillion yuan. The large increase creates more capacity for China to buffer external and internal shocks. The economy used to be driven by manufacturing and exports. Now, although they produce a substantial portion of the country's GDP, the service economy and digital economy are playing more prominent roles, especially in hedging economic risks and uncertainty amid the epidemic. After the epidemic is brought under control, retail and consumption activities are expected to heat up and make up for the losses incurred during the quarantine period. Staff members work at a workshop of Skyworth in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 10, 2020. Chinese authorities are carefully balancing efforts to control the novel coronavirus epidemic and minimize its impact on the economy as millions of people head back to work Monday after an extended holiday. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) The sound fundamentals of the Chinese economy are unshakable amid the epidemic. But that should not be the excuse for optimism without caution. During his Monday tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for greater efforts to minimize the impact of the epidemic on the economy and strive to achieve this year's economic and social development goals and tasks. Supportive measures have been taken. The central bank has added a total of 1.7 trillion yuan into the banking system to boost liquidity and stabilize financial markets. The central authority rolled out a favorable policy for small and micro-sized businesses, with supplies of power and raw materials, logistic services, and financial assistance put into place to help them resume production soon. Small-and-micro-sized companies are significant contributors to the Chinese economy, providing around 80 percent of employment, over 60 percent of GDP, and more than half of the tax revenue. Swift and targeted supportive policies should help avert widespread bankruptcies and large-scale layoffs, which are detrimental to Chinese society. A batch of companies has carefully resumed work, and more will do so in the coming days. Social and economic operations are awakening from their time off due to the epidemic. Confidence should be restored that the coronavirus outbreak will leave the Chinese economy unscathed in the long-run. You can continue to do that with this concept, Lilly said. As mentioned, the bill that is out there, it was just a vehicle to be utilized to talk about what the intent is. The thought we discussed was how can you have both these options at a gas station. This is not a bill I would move forward to make pumping your own gas illegal. That was never the intent. Flair Airlines Ltd. is pulling out of the airport in Abbotsford, B.C., due to a lack of passengers and intense competition from rival budget carrier Swoop. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The tail section of a Flair Airlines plane is seen in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Flair Airlines *MANDATORY CREDIT* Flair Airlines Ltd. is pulling out of the airport in Abbotsford, B.C., due to a lack of passengers and intense competition from rival budget carrier Swoop. Flair CEO Jim Scott cites an intense focus on the Abbotsford-Edmonton route by its competitor, a subsidiary of WestJet Airlines Ltd., that has resulted in a glut of cheap tickets. "We just can't compete with $3 airfares in the market and not just a few of them, but tens of thousands of tickets," Scott said. "Either we're going to be confined to very few routes or the government's got to step in and show that anti-dumping and predatory pricing has meaning in Canada," he said in a phone interview. Flair operates 12 flights between the two cities each week, but plans to stop in June. Swoop, Flair's only competitor along the route, operates 16 flights per week in winter and 24 flights per week in summer. Flair said no passengers will face cancellations as a result of the Abbotsford pullout, which will also end flights between the Lower Mainland city and Kelowna, B.C., Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto. Swoop unveiled a so-called loonie sale last month, offering up to 100,000 seats for a base fare of $1 before taxes and fees. The sale disproportionately targets Edmonton-to-Abbotsford, which Swoop points out is its highest-frequency route. "Swoop welcomes all airlines in the Canadian market that are providing more choice and accessibility for travellers. We have seen increased traveller demand for Edmonton-Abbotsford routes, making it one of our most popular," the Calgary-based company said in an email. "Swoop's goal is to continue to fill an important gap in the Canadian airline industry, making air travel simple, affordable and accessible to all travellers." More than one-quarter of the seats under Swoop's loonie deal are on the Edmonton-Abbotsford route. Last year Flair opted to leave Hamilton for Toronto's Pearson International Airport, just months after Swoop landed at the smaller airport. In 2018, the Competition Bureau launched an ongoing predatory pricing investigation into Swoop and WestJet over allegations the two carriers used anti-competitive practices to crowd out Flair from at least three routes. Predatory pricing occurs when a company offers services below "avoidable costs" to hobble a competitor, along with an expectation to recoup losses through future price hikes, according to Competition Bureau guidelines. 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. "It's a matter of persuading the bureau that there's enough of a problem that they should take action," said competition lawyer Richard Elliott, who used to work on airline cases at the Competition Bureau. "Predatory pricing cases are fairly difficult to prove," he said, highlighting slippery definitions around avoidable costs, time frames and "abuse of dominance" under the Competition Act. A lawsuit combating anti-competitive practices by a dominant firm abuse of dominance often has to show that prices have gone up not down to prove that competition is "substantially" reduced. "You're going after somebody for having low prices in the market, which kind of flips things on its head," Elliott said. "In the near term, that looks like something that consumers would like...but the longer-term effects may be detrimental if there's less competition." Edmonton-based Flair said Wednesday it will use its two freshly freed-up planes to add new flights to Ottawa, Saint John, N.B., Charlottetown and Halifax. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020. Phil Jasper's Drinkin Again has quickly taken a liking to Freehold Raceway and has notched three wins over the track in his last eight races. Last time out, Drinkin Again won the Preferred Handicap Pace by half a length while racing at odds of 12-1. He'll seek to defend his title on Saturday (Feb. 15) and will be lining up against seven contenders. Jack Baggitt will be back in the sulky behind the six-year-old, who will be looking to become the first pacer to win the Freehold Preferred Handicap twice in 2020. He is set to start from the outside Post 8. Two others drew for the outside post positions, and they'll line up directly to Drinkin Again's inside. Lyons Steel turned in a strong closing effort in his 2020 debut last week when he rallied to finish fifth with a final quarter of 28 seconds. During the fall/winter portion of the Freehold season, he won the Preferred three times. Pat Lachance will be in the bike and the duo will start from Post 6 for trainer Dennis Watson. Winning Linc drew Post 7 for driver Eric Abbatiello and trainer Richard Johnson. He caught fire at the Meadowlands Racetrack last fall and notched three wins from his last four starts of the year. Saturday will mark Winning Lincs 2020 debut. Smileandsaycheese, Ozone Blue Chip, Gotta Go BB, Solo Story, and Ginger Tree Marty complete the ensemble. The Preferred has been carded as Race 7 and is expected to head to post at roughly 2:50 p.m. (EST). Freeholds Saturday card also features another renewal of the American Harness Drivers Club amateur trot, which has been programmed as Race 5. Wygant Prince, for owner/driver Paul Minore, will be looking to make it two in a row at the class. In addition, the hottest pacer based at the track, Jackamino, will seek his fifth consecutive win in Race 6, which is a conditioned pace. Vinny Ginsburg will drive from Post 4 for trainer Taylor Gower, who also trains Wygant Prince. The first of ten races at Freehold on Saturday will be at 12:30 p.m. (With files from Freehold Raceway) When youre using a dual-screen Windows device like the upcoming Microsoft Surface Neo, youll be able to view apps on a single screen, span them across displays, or take advantage of the new form factor to hold your dual-screen device like a book, with different content on each display. But you can also use the Surface Neo like a laptop by attaching a magnetic keyboard to the bottom screen. It doesnt cover the whole display though theres a strip of touchscreen thats still visible above the keyboard. And on computers running the new Windows 10 X operating system, that strip is where youll find a new feature called the Wonder Bar. Microsoft sort of teased this feature when the company first unveiled the Surface Neo. But now that the company has released developer tools and an emulator for Windows 10X, we have more details about the Wonder Bar including its name. The company says the Wonder Bar enables the familiarity of a laptop while increasing productivity by hosting system-provided input accelerators and a virtual trackpad for precision mouse input. In other words, at the most basic level, when you use a dual-screen computer like the Surface Neo as a laptop, the area above the physical keyboard can act like a touchpad. While the Wonder Bar works with physical keyboards, users can also activate it by switching to a virtual keyboard with Wonder bar support. And since the Wonder Bar is a touchscreen display rather than a typical laptop trackpad, it enables support for rich input including emojis, GIFs, and text suggestions. Beyond input, the Wonder Bar can be used to display things like videos or other content. App developers can take videos that would normally be seen in picture-in-picture mode, for example, and move them to the Wonder Bar, giving you an unobstructed view on the upper display. Some apps will also move media playback controls to the Wonder Bar. And other apps may take advantage of the Wonder Bar in other ways for example Microsoft says the Windows Calculator app has an always-on-top mode that will make it stay visible in the Wonder Bar while youre using other apps. Itll be up to developers to integrated Wonder Bar support into their applications, so not every Windows program will use the extra space. But if the idea catches on, it could make dual-screen Windows 10X devices a lot more useful in laptop mode maybe even more useful than traditional Windows laptops. As for non-Windows laptops? Theres always the MacBook Pro with its Touch Bar. While that thin touchscreen strip above the keyboard may not be large enough to display video, it does provide additional functionality for some Mac apps. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Pakistan on Thursday on a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan and co-chair the 6th session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council. President Erdogan would be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers and senior government officials, as well as heads and CEOs of leading Turkish corporations, the Foreign Office said in a statement. "Prime Minister Khan and President Erdogan will have a meeting tete-a-tete and also will co-chair the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in the joint cabinet format," the statement said. "The HLSCC is the highest level decision-making forum, providing strategic direction to further strengthening of relations between the two countries," it added. The FO said that a number of important agreements are expected to be inked during the visit and a joint declaration will be signed at the conclusion of the session. "There are 7 Joint Working Groups (JWGs) working under the HLSCC, focused on Political Coordination; Trade and Investment; Energy; Banking and Finance; Transport and Communications; Culture and Tourism; and Education," the statement said. President Erdogan will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi and also address a joint session of Parliament. He along with Khan will address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum which brings together leading investors and business-people from both sides. The FO said that the visit of President Erdogan will serve to underscore the traditional solidarity and affinity between the two countries, and prove to be another significant milestone in the further deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boris Johnsons emergency legislation preventing automatic early release for terrorists halfway through their prison sentences has cleared all its stages in the Commons without a vote. The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill passed unopposed as ministers rushed to get the legislation on the statue book by 27 February just days before the next terrorist offender comes up for release. But Theresa May, who dealt with multiple terrorist attacks in the UK as prime minister, said that while the government is right to be addressing the issue of early release, terrorist offenders will still be released at some point. "That is why the issue of rehabilitation, the work that is done both in prison and when they are out of prison is so important," she told MPs in the Commons. There have been many efforts of this over the years but as recent incidents have seen, that has not always been with success. Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Show all 22 1 /22 Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Armed police officers on Streatham High Road. The Metropolitan Police warned people to stay away from the Streatham area boguta37/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings The man was shot dead by police after two stabbed in 'Islamist-related' terror attack in London boguta37/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Sudesh Amman, the attacker, has been named as a convicted terror offender who was released from prison days ago Metropolitan Police/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Items left on the pavement at the scene in Streatham High Road Isis supporter Amman was just 18 when he was jailed in December 2018 after police found a stash of bomb-making manuals and other propaganda. Now 20, he had declared his own wish to carry out a terror attack and stockpiled a combat knife, air gun and black flag at his family home in London PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings He was being monitored by undercover police and being followed as part of a proactive counterterrorism operation when he started the rampage in Streatham AP Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Amman was able to stab two people before being shot dead by armed officers outside a busy row of shops Gabriel Video/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A woman reacts as police officers interview people near to the scene Getty Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings An armed police officer on Streatham High Road Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy DOrsi said Amman was wearing a fake suicide ves Gully/PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police forensic officers work outside of a Boots store AFP via Getty Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police officers at the scene Getty Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A police forensic officer works at the scene in Streatham High Road PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Items left on the pavement at the scene in Streatham High Road PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A police officer on the scene Dave Chawner/SWNS Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police forensic officers are seen near the site Reuters Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police officers on the scene outside an Iceland supermarket Andy Bullemor/SWNS Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police are seen near a site where a man was shot Reuters Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A policeman secures the site of the incident EPA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A view of the scene Megan Tobeck Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Armed police at the scene in Streatham High Road PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A view of the scene Michael Owens Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings Police forensic officers at the scene PA Streatham attack: Man shot dead by police after stabbings A Police officer is seen near a site where a man was shot Reuters It follows the terror attack in Streatham earlier this month when Sudesh Amman stabbed two bystanders just days after he was released midway through his sentence for possessing and distributing terrorist documents. The attack by Amman, 20, was the second to be carried out in three months by a released terrorist in Britain, after Usman Khan killed two people near London Bridge in late 2019. He had been released halfway through a 16-year jail sentence. The Bill will now go through to the House of Lords where peers will debate and vote on the legislation before it can be given Royal Assent and passed into law. The Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Home Affairs Select Committee at Westminster, also raised concerns over the speed at which the legislation is being progressed. She said: Its right that we do so in these circumstances but the government must also recognise that it is not the ideal circumstances and to rush through legislation in a breathless way and to be honest, actually there have been many warnings that this was coming down the track. The government has known about the problem for some time. MPs also raised concern about radicalisation in prisons, after a convicted terrorist and another inmate wearing suicide vests allegedly launched an attack on officers inside HMP Whitemoor last month. Justin Bieber has shared never-before-seen footage of his star-studded nuptials with wife Hailey as part of the latest episode of his documentary series, Seasons. The intimate episode, entitled 'The Wedding: Officially Mr. & Mrs. Bieber', sees Justin stumbling over his vows and asking the officiant 'what does that mean?', before being declared husband and wife. The wedding was attended by a slew of stars, including Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, her daughter Stormi, Jaden Smith, and Usher, who sang to the newlyweds as they cut their exquisite wedding cake. Going to the chapel: Justin Bieber has shared never-before-seen footage of his star-studded nuptials with wife Hailey as part of the latest episode of his documentary series, Seasons Oops! The intimate episode, entitled 'The Wedding: Officially Mr. & Mrs. Bieber', sees Justin stumbling over his vows and asking the officiator 'what does that mean?', before being declared husband and wife Justin and Hailey tied the knot September 30, 2019 at the Montage Palmetto Bluff hotel in South Carolina, and the video included an array of special moments leading up to their big day. The video began with the couple sailing arriving to their rehearsal dinner on boat, where they both screamed with joy inside the craft. 'We're married!' Justin shouted, his arms raised into the air. 'I'm married!' he continued, before clarifying, 'Almost. Tomorrow!' Once the boat docked, Justin helped his bride-to-be out of the ship, where they were greeted by Justin's younger brother, Jaxon Bieber, and a banjo player. During dinner, Justin was definitely feeling the love, embracing his guests and lavishing everyone with compliments. Famous faces: Among the guests was Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and her daughter Stormi Making their entrance: Jenner held hands with her little girl as she arrived to the ceremony Man and wife: The newlyweds shared a kiss 'I just wanna say we love you!' his manager, Scooter Braun, said. The party moved onto a bus, where everyone on board shouted at the couple to share a smooch. 'Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her!' bus goers shouted, as the newlyweds acquised. On the day of the wedding, last-minute preparations were underway as the couple prepared to say 'I do.' Emotional: Bieber shared an embrace with his father, Jeremy Bieber 'Dad, your son is getting married,' he told his father, Jeremy Bieber. 'How does that make you feel?' 'Old,' Jeremy said. 'I am proud of you,' he eventually said. The pair shared a father-son moment, pulling each other in for an emotional embrace. Justin then revealed how he proposed to Hailey during a trip to the Bahamas, surprising her with the ring as she walked down the stairs. 'I was really lonely for a really long time': Once, Hailey cried profusely after her sister's wedding because she was so lonely The pop star said he was shaking as he professed his love to her. 'She just walked down the stairs,' Justin said. 'And I was there with the ring. And I was shaking. "I loved you for so long, and I can't see myself being with anybody else. I love you so much, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" And she was just like,' Justin placed his hands over his mouth. Meanwhile, at the bridal suite, Hailey was getting her veil placed over her head as a makeup artist dashed on the finishing touches to her look. The bride may have been overjoyed in that moment, but she remembered a time when things weren't always so rosy. Fumble! The tone of the wedding took a much more serious turn as the couple exchanged vows, that is until Justin had some trouble with some of the phrasing Once, Hailey cried profusely after her sister's wedding because she was so lonely. 'I was at my sister's wedding in 2017 and I remember the wedding was over and I was in my hotel room and I was with my parents, and I just remember I was crying and I couldn't stop crying because I was really lonely for a really long time. Even though I was around people all of the time, I would remember it so many times just going home and crying myself to sleep because I just felt I was going through this journey of, I get to see all these cool places, I travel and I get to experience all these cool things, but I come home at the end of the night and it's just me,' she reflected after the wedding. Now that is all a thing of the past for Hailey, who was squealing with joy as she showed off her wedding dress to loved ones. The wedding was held at a beautiful white chapel, which was adorned inside with garland hanging along the window and flowers draping over the altar. Finishing touches: Stephen Baldwin dried his face with a towel as he prepared to walk his daughter down the aisle Here comes the bride: Hailey walked down the aisle on the arm of her father Stephen Baldwin, who appeared to be carrying a bible Guests cheered and clapped as Justin walked down the aisle. Hailey walked down the aisle on the arm of her father Stephen Baldwin, who appeared to be carrying a bible. The couple gazed lovingly into each other's eyes as they stood at the altar. The tone of the wedding took a much more serious turn as the couple exchanged vows, that is until Justin had some trouble with some of the phrasing. Priceless memories: Hailey carried a bouquet of white roses as she was walked down the aisle Intimate: The couple gazed lovingly at each other as they exchanged vows 'In token and pledge of our constant faith, ' the officiator instructed him to repeat. 'In token and pledge in our...' Justin began, before asking, 'In token?' 'In token and pledge of our constant faith,' the officiator repeated. 'In token and pledge?' Justin was obviously perplexed. In sickness and in health: The couple held hands throughout the ceremony Man and wife: They sealed their vows with a long, tender kiss 'Yes,' the officiator replied. 'In token... and pledge...' Justin said slowly, as guests began to giggle. 'What does that mean?' he asked, and suddenly the room broke out into laughter. Even Hailey couldn't help but laugh either. 'Everything happened the exact way it was supposed to, I really believe that!' Hailey reflected afterwards. 'Even all the mishaps that might have happened, stumbling over our words, and whatever it was, I think that it was so meant to be.' Once the couple finished their vows, they were declared husband and wife, and shared a tender kiss in front of their cheering guests. We did it! Bieber stuck her tongue out as she celebrated their new lives together Look who's here! Kendall Jenner beamed with joy watching the ceremony unfold Let's party! Guests danced the night away inside the lavish reception Family first: Stephen enjoyed the festive night celebrating his daughter and new son-in-law The couple danced the night away to a live band during their romantic reception. Moss hung from the ceiling, and the room was a glow with gold and violet lights. 'I just know where we were, and I know where we are, and I feel I can see where we're going,' Hailey reflected. 'Him and I trust God so much with every aspect of our life, we've trusted him through the really hard stuff and we trust him in the really good stuff.' Justin then grabbed the microphone as he took the stage, telling the crowd, 'Everybody I just want to say thank you so much for coming tonight, you guys mean so much to me, every single person in here.' Golden girl: Jenner whipped out her phone as she chronicled the night Aww: Stormi enjoyed the night in a fun, sparkly dress Among the guests was Kendall, who gushed, 'This makes me so happy, you have no idea.' Now in a different wedding dress, Hailey tossed her bouquet to the screaming crowd of female guests. 'That's What Love Is,' Justin remarked of the song. 'That one's about not everything needs to be physical. I love her without even needing to touch her.' Who gets married next? The newlywed tossed her bouquet into the screaming crowd Family first: Bieber embraced his mother, Pattie Mallette The night got progressively more and more wild, as guests danced rambunctiously and Justin sprayed champagne into the air. 'Everybody just danced their faces off,' Hailey reminisced. 'The wedding was fire!' Justin said. 'For me, just being with all the people that I love, and celebrating and just being silly... my favorite part.' Cut the cake! The couple carefully sliced a piece from their elaborate cake Let's do this: Usher beat boxed and sang to the newlyweds as they cut the cake Oh yeah! Bieber popped open and sprayed a bottle of champagne Usher beat boxed as the couple cut their gorgeous, multi-tier wedding cake, before feeding each other. Then, Hailey was brought up onto stage, where Justin sang to her One Less Lonely Girl. 'I was like, giddy,' Hailey reflected. 'As if it were really happening on stage, and it was just so silly and cute!' One Less Lonely Girl! Bieber was 'giddy' as her husband sang her the hit song Flood victims are being targeted by copycat websites paying to appear at the top of results for Google searches for insurers. One firm - aviva.insurance-claims-department.co.uk - is appearing first in smartphone searches for 'Aviva flood claim' above Aviva itself. The website says it offers accident management services ranging from personal injury to credit hire. Flood victims are being tricked by copycat websites which appear at the top of Google searches It doesn't state that it's not affiliated with Aviva. Industry experts have warned repair work carried out by such companies may not be up to scratch. Google says it is removing the ad following Money Mail's intervention because it breaches its advertising rules. It comes after Money Mail revealed last week that car crash victims were facing bills of up to 50,000 after being misled by claims management firms posing as reputable insurers. Liquor tycoon appeared before the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday for day two of his High Court appeal against being extradited to India, during which the prosecution highlighted "overwhelming evidence of dishonesty on the part of the former Kingfisher Airlines boss. Mallya, 64, is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to an alleged Rs 9,000 crores in unpaid bank loans. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), appearing in court on behalf of the Indian government, began countering the defence claims that there is no prima facie case against Mallya. There is enough in the 32,000 pages of overall evidence to fulfil the [extradition] treaty obligations that there is a case to answer, CPS barrister Mark Summers told the court as he began his submissions, which will conclude on Thursday. Mallya sat in the public gallery as his legal team highlighted the widespread woes of the airline industry in India, including another collapsed firm Jet Airways. "Let's hear the arguments in court, he said, as he entered the courtroom. Lord Justice Stephen Irwin and Justice Elisabeth Laing, the two-member bench hearing the appeal, confirmed at the start that they would not be handing down their verdict immediately after the hearing, scheduled until Thursday. At the start of day two of the appeal, Mallya's barrister, Clare Montgomery, reiterated the central defence that there had been no misrepresentation or fraud on the part of her client and that Kingfisher Airlines was the victim of economic misfortune alongside other airlines. "The airline industry is littered with examples of struggling airlines being supported for strategic reasons," said Montgomery. She has focussed her arguments on trying to establish multiple errors in Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot's verdict in favour of her client's extradition in December 2018 and revisited a series of bank statements and balance sheets provided to Indian banks to seek loans as proof of full disclosure. There is not just a prima facie case but overwhelming evidence of dishonesty and given the volume and depth of evidence the District Judge [Arbuthnot] had before her, the judgment is comprehensive and detailed with the odd error but nothing that impacts the prima facie case, said Summers, who challenged the defence arguments over misrepresentation to the banks. Justice Irwin repeated Montgomery's previous assertion of this being a very dense case and has sought a detailed chronology and list of documents from the defence team by Monday, before they consider their verdict. On Tuesday, Montgomery had opened her arguments to try and establish that Mallya had no fraudulent intentions when he sought bank loans for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines because he is no fly by night figure but an immensely wealthy man who was not running any sort of ponzi scheme but a reputable airline, which fell into economic misfortune along with other Indian airlines. She [Arbuthnot] did not look at all of the evidence because if she had, she would not have fallen into the multiple errors that permeate her judgment, she said. Representatives from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the Indian High Commission in London were present in court for the hearing. Mallya had received permission to appeal against his extradition order signed off by former UK home secretary Sajid Javid last February only on one ground, which challenges the Indian government's prima facie case against him of fraudulent intentions in acquiring bank loans. At the end of a year-long extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in December 2018, Judge Arbuthnot had found clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the CPS on behalf of the Indian government. Mallya remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017 involving a bond worth 650,000 pounds and other restrictions on his travel while he contests that ruling. London: An Indian-origin mother and her daughter are missing from the city of Leicester and the UK Police has issued an appeal to trace them. Officers are concerned for the welfare of a Leicester woman who has been reported missing with her young daughter, a Leicestershire Police appeal said. "Komal is Asian, 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build, with shoulder-length black hair which was tied into a bun," the appeal further said. It is believed that Komal boarded a train to Birmingham with her seven year-old daughter, Amaya Goraniya. According to the police, she was last seen wearing a black waist length raincoat, light blue jeans which had rips in the knees and white trainers. She was carrying a light yellow beach bag which had pink and blue flowers and a paisley design on it, and a light grey or blue handbag, the appeal mentioned. Talking about the womans seven-year-old daughter, the police in the appeal said, Amaya is 3ft 3ins tall, slim, with shoulder-length dark hair. She was wearing a pink jacket and white trainers. Accra, Ghana, February 12, 2020//-The name Ms Amma Frimpomaa Dwumah is one of the household names in Ghana's Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) sector. As a star achiever, Ms Dwumah has achieved her dream to become a business leader and a top corporate legal practitioner in the country. She is a woman of many parts-a business executive, a human resource practitioner, a lawyer, a teacher and a politician, with over a decade of experience in banking and finance and education sectors, among others. Breaking the cycles of obstacles But the beautiful looking Ms Dwumah went through some obstacles before becoming the hot cake of most employers in the West African country. Her dream of playing a key role in the corporate world, particularly as a legal practitioner nearly hit on the rock. Ms Dwumah's plan after completing her 'O' and A level was to enter the University of Ghana to pursue a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). But her mother's financial position wasn't good at that time. To this end, she enrolled at the St. Louis Training College in Kumasi in the Ashanti regional capital so she could save some money from her allowances and pursue her dreams. From Ms Dwumah's own mouth: I came out of training college with two certificates my Teacher's Certificate 'A' (which is Diploma now) and a baby boy. I delivered just two weeks after writing my last paper. I didn't plan of having a baby then but it happened and I had to deal with the consequences. She was posted to the Fiapre St. Thomas Primary School, three months after having her first child at the time when her caring mother was out of the country. Ms Dwumah therefore had to depend on some elderly women who used to sell basic commodities under trees on the campus of the school to look after her baby during class hours. She would rush out to breastfeed and cuddle her baby during break periods. Ms Dwumah had her second baby in the second year of teaching in that same school and this time her mother was around to support her and the children. In her words: My mother advised that rather than staying at home and having babies, I should rather focus on furthering my education so when my second child was a little over a year, I went back to school. By then, I had taught for three years and could apply for study leave. Her breakthrough Initially, Ms Dwumah had wanted to go to the University of Ghana to pursue Law but realised the school no longer offered Law as first degree. So, she opted for a Bachelor in Education in English Language from the University of Education, Winneba, thinking that could help in her journey to become a lawyer. After completing her first degree, Ms Dwumah taught English and English Literature at the OLA Girls Senior High School, Kenyasi in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region for a year. She then decided to write the entrance exams to the Law faculty at the University of Ghana in 2007 and passed and went through the interview and got an admission. Ms Dwumah has weathered through all these obstacles to become the Managing Director SIC Life Savings & Loans Company Limited (SICLife S &L), a leading NBFI in the country. What is SICLife S & L? SICLife S & L, formerly SICLife Trust Finance Limited, was licensed by Bank of Ghana under the Banking Act, 2004 (Act 673) on 27th July 2010 to operate the business of a FINANCE HOUSE. The company received the licence to operate as a Savings and Loans on 15th July 2015. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SIC Life Company Limited, Ghana's leading Life Insurance Company. In the short to medium term, the strategic priority of the company is to become a highly profitable non-bank financial institution that is able to deliver sustainable returns to our shareholders by offering high quality and innovative products and services with competitive interest. Since assuming the helm of the state-owned NBFI in July 2017, she has steered affairs at SICLife S &L so successfully that she was voted the Most Respected CEO in the Non- Bank Financial Institutions (Savings and Loans) at the second Ghana Industry CEO Awards held in the Accra International Conference Centre on 29th November, 2019. Under the dynamic leadership of Ms Dwumah, the company's asset base has since grown from GH8.1 million in 2013 to over GH200 million in June 2017. Furthermore, she is poised to sustain that growth and get it to contribute more to financial intermediation, especially among small and medium enterprises in the country. Managing Director of SIC Life Savings & Loans, Amma Frimpomaa Dwumah Also, a star achiever, Ms Dwumah has achieved her dream to become a business leader and a top corporate legal practitioner in the country. Before her current appointment Before her appointment as the Managing Director of SICLife S &L in 2017, she was the Legal Officer of the Bank of Africa Ghana Limited from September 2015 to May 2016. Ms Dwumah was responsible for drafting legal agreements for and on behalf of the Bank of Africa; reviewing all legal correspondence between the bank, its customers and all third parties; registering deeds, titles and all security instruments for the bank, among other. She was a lawyer at the Dery & Co. in Adabraka, Accra from January 2014 to August 2015, having earlier served as a lawyer from October 2011 to December 2012 with the firm. She was a solicitor/secretary at Golden Pride Savings & Loans Limited, from January 2013 to January 2014 As a politician Ms Dwumah has publicly shown her affiliation with the Loyal Ladies, a volunteer group under the youth wing of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). Her interest in politics she narrated dates back to her early years when she helped her mother who once served as a Brong Ahafo Regional Organiser of the NPP. Although Ms Dwumah has been a card bearing member of the NPP since 2008, she actively entered politics during the 2012 and 2016 elections. She's also a member of Professional for Change (a group of professionals in the NPP), a member of the NPP's national research committee and also a member of the party's national finance committee. As a philanthropist Ms. Dwumah is a philanthropist whose philanthropic work focuses on children in need. She donated items to support orphanages and street children in the country. Ms Dwumah In recent times, the Neonatal Unit of Sunyani Regional hospital has received two Phototherapy Units in separate donations; the Kwatire Polyclinic has also received an incubator through her philanthropic activities. For instance, for the past four years, she has been making donations to celebrate her birthday. In May 2019, as part of her annual donations to the orphanage, she donated food items, detergents, bedding and other household items worth thousands of Ghana Cedi to the Hanakkah Children's Home, where abandoned children are housed, and the Don Bosco Boys Home, which provides shelter for streets boys of school going age, both in Sunyani. Education She holds an MA in Human Resources from the University of Cape Coast, LLB from the University of Ghana, Legon, and a Bachelor in Education in the English Language from the University of Education, Winneba. She graduated with a Qualifying Law Certificate from the Ghana School of Law. She was trained as a teacher at the St. Louis Training College. She, however, hasn't rested on her oars but still pushes to achieve a greater feat in the corporate and political world. Ms Dwumah, therefore, continues to upgrade her professional competencies by undertaking various professional and educational programs. In the past years she has done Diploma in Banking Innovations and Financial Strategies), Boulder Microfinance Training Program, Concentration in Digital Financial Services. Both were obtained from Galilee International Management Institute, Israel. Her relentless efforts in acquiring knowledge pushed her to further pursue a course in Creating Innovative Practices and Strategies (ILM endorsed) from Crown Agents, London. Member of GBA She is a member of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), and was inducted into the Feminine Ghana Hall of Fame, a group of accomplished professional Ghanaian women who have acted as mentors to young women, in July 2019. Ms. Dwumah is who a native of Awuah Odumasi in the Sunyani West District of Bono Region stands for faith, integrity, excellence and equity. She has a strong appetite for success, a problem solver, and also possesses strong organizational and leadership skills. Ms Dwumah is one of the young business executives to be watched out for. WASHINGTON As Bernie Sanders emerges as the leader in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, his rise is generating fears among centrist Democrats that the apparent leftward shift of their party could cost them not only a chance to retake the White House, but also their hold on the majority in the House of Representatives and their shot at winning the Senate. The anxiety is particularly acute on Capitol Hill among a small but politically important group of freshman Democrats who helped their party win control of the House in 2018 by flipping Republican seats in districts that President Trump won in 2016. Now, they fear that having a self-declared democratic socialist at the top of the ticket could doom their re-election chances in November. Members of the group of about three dozen often called front-liners or majority-makers have toiled to carve out political identities distinct from their partys progressive base, and most are already facing competitive re-election challenges from Republicans who bill them as radicals who have empowered a far-left agenda in Congress. Im the first Democrat to win in my district since 1958, said Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, one of the front-liners who is backing his home state senator, Amy Klobuchar, in the presidential contest. I attracted a lot of independent and moderate Republican support, many of whom probably voted for a Democrat for the first time in a long time. And while I respect Bernie Sanders as a senator, as a candidate, his candidacy is very challenging for people who come from districts like mine. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 22:46:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- French Ambassador to Lebanon Bruno Foucher said on Wednesday that his country has allocated 50 million U.S. dollars to support projects related to the fight against terrorism in cooperation with Lebanon, the National News Agency reported. Foucher's remarks came during his meeting with Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammad Fahmi in Beirut. "France is ready to give support to Lebanon but the government should exert much efforts to take advantage of the facilities provided by CEDRE Conference," Foucher said. The CEDRE is an international conference which pledged to release 11 billion U.S. dollars in loans and donations for Lebanon on condition that the country makes serious reforms. Lebanon lately formed a new cabinet with pledges to work on necessary reforms to save the country from its economic and financial deterioration. The White House and the [Trump] campaign need to look at this election through the lens of the vulnerable Republican senators, said one top GOP strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution from Trump or his aides. Its not that hard. You say to yourself before you make a move, Whats this going to do to Cory or Joni or Martha or Thom or Susan? Thats whats lacking here. Egyptian authorities once again postponed the trial of a Coptic Christian activist convicted of "outrageous charges" in November, according to a persecution watchdog group. Two months have passed since Cairo's plainclothes police raided the home of Christian activist Rami Kamil in the early morning hours. He was arrested and reportedly charged with joining a terrorist group and spreading false information. However, supporters argue that Kamil was targeted because of his advocacy of human rights and religious freedom. Kamil is a member of the Maspero Youth Union, an activist group that fights for equality and civil rights for the Coptic community. He also wrote about the abuses Christians suffered in Egypt. The Christian Solidarity Worldwide(CSW) reported that Kamil was scheduled to appear at the Supreme State Security Prosecution(SSSP) on Jan. 19, but on the day of the hearing, he learned that the Interior Ministry did not bring Kamil to the SSSP Office from Tora Prison. According to CSW, it is not the first time that a government ministry has failed to move Kamil from prison to hearing, estimating it is aimed at prolonging legal proceedings against Kamil and increasing psychological pressure. In response, CSW believes there are several "procedural unlawfulness" that the detention has been extended again amid a situation where it is not even certain when the next hearing is scheduled, even though Kamil has not been formally charged with criminal charges. Mervin Thomas Chief Executive said in a statement that "Kamil's detention appears to be an effort to punish him for his work as a human rights advocate," stressing that he "requires his immediate and unconditional release and due process." SSSP officials are also accused of blocking Kamil's lawyers from accessing documents related to the client's case. "We need to allow Kamil's lawyers access to all documents and testimonies related to the case for a proper defense," Thomas said. Meanwhile, Egypt ranks number 16 on the World Watch List, according to the Open Doors USA. I first met Mike when I was searching for ways to fight against the dangerous gun laws that ripped my son from my life, McBath said in a statement. Mike gave grieving mothers like me a way to stand up and fight back. Nobody running for president has done more for the gun violence prevention movement than Mike. By THE REDIFF NEWS BUREAU Curtains came down on the five-day DefExpo on Sunday. The theme of the 11th Edition was "India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub". The event witnessed presence of more than 3,000 foreign delegates, 10,000 Indian delegates and 12 lakh visitors and laid a strong foundation for development of UP Defence corridor. Here are glimpses from India's biennial military exhibition. Indian Air Force's aerobatics team Surya Kiran at the Defence Expo 2020. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/Twitter Surya Kiran jets fly in formation leaving smoke trails of the Indian tricolour. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/Twitter Sukhoi fighter jets fly past during the Defence Expo 2020. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/Twitter Photograph: / Rediff.com Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster Transport aircraft and two Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets fly past. The Indian Air Force's new Chinook helicopter. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/Twitter Tejas performs aerobatic maneuver during the event. Photograph: @IAF_MCC/Twitter Photograph: / Rediff.com MI 17 V5 helicopters fly past during the Defence Expo 2020. K-9 Vajra tanks on display at the event. Photograph: @UPGovt/Twitter Commandos of Indian Navy display a slithering mission at Gomtinagar River Front. Photograph: @UPGovt/Twitter Defence ministers of 40 countries and over 3,000 delegates from 70 nations attended the event. Photograph: @UPGovt/Twitter Indian Army personnel descend from a helicopter as they perform during the Defence Expo 2020. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo Indian Army Daredevil's team in action. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo Spectators watch as Indian Army personnel display their war skills . Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo Visitors watch the Daksh Spotter IED Handing ROV. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo The National Communications Authority (NCA) has ordered Tongu Community Multimedia Network (Radio Tongu) in the Volta Region to cease operations with immediate effect. The shut down according to the regulatory body is on grounds of National Security and in the public interest. It was also in accordance with the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775) which provides that the Authority may suspend or revoke a license or a frequency authorization where: the suspension or revocation is necessary because of national security or is in the public interest. Earlier this year, the National security in the Volta Region picked up the Director of Radio Tongu, Bestway Zottor, at his residence over some comments he allegedly made about his involvement in the activities of the secessionist group, Homeland Study Group Foundation. A statement from the NCA, signed by its Director-General, Joe Anokye and sighted by citinewsroom.com noted that the directive follows the conclusion of investigations into petitions it received on the activities of the stations management. The letter also warned that failure to comply with this directive will result in the arrest and prosecution of the directors of Radio Tongu. Stations Director comments Bestway Zottor was said to have allegedly criticized the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa accusing him of funding the activities of the separatist movement while in opposition but turning around to threaten them when his party came to power. Mr Zottor, while speaking on the radio, also rebuked journalists who reported the call of the Regional Minister accusing them of compromising the standards of journalism and being accomplices in what he says is government's efforts to curtail press freedom. He went on further to talk about what he claimed is the true history of the area the Homeland Study Group Foundation called Western Togoland which he said has minerals which could not be exploited because the UN had effected a regulation that bars Ghana from exploiting any natural resources in the Volta Region especially. Mr. Zottor acknowledged that the police in the South Tongu District had held a meeting with him in May 2019 and advised him not to make commentaries that are inciteful; a piece of advice he heeded until the Regional Minister's recent caution to the media and to his station by extension. Arrest He dared the security agencies to record his program and juxtapose same with the true history of the area to see if he peddled any falsehood. He also asked the security agencies to arrest him. He thus cautioned against the torturing of persons proclaiming the independence of the said Western Togoland state. He said, no such person is a threat to Ghana and should not be subjected to any form of torture. Bestway Zottor's arrest becomes the latest addition to the several people standing trial for acting in a manner that threatens the peaceful existence of Ghana. ---citinewsroom Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Washington, D.C., February 12, 2020 Pakistani authorities should withdraw their threats to bring terrorism charges against journalist Gul Bukhari, and should stop harassing journalists at home and abroad, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency issued a statement demanding that Bukhari, a Pakistani columnist based in the United Kingdom, appear in Pakistan for questioning about her alleged online propaganda against the government within 30 days or else the agency would file terrorism charges against her, according to the statement, which CPJ reviewed, and news reports. The statement threatened that the agency would seek Bukharis extradition from the United Kingdom through Interpol, and could seize any property that Bukhari has in Pakistan. Bukhari, speaking to CPJ via messaging app, said she had not been formally served with any papers, and said she did not know what sparked the agencys threats. She said she has no plans to return to Pakistan in response to the summons. Bukhari, who is a dual British-Pakistani citizen, said she did not believe she would be extradited from the United Kingdom, but said she felt she would need to be cautious if she traveled to other countries. She has recently written columns critical of Pakistans government for the Indian news websites The Quint and The Print, and frequently posts political commentary on her Twitter account, where she has 345,000 followers. Pakistani authorities should stop threatening Gul Bukhari and other journalists and critics for speaking out, whether at home or abroad, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator. Threatening to charge a journalist with terrorism and to confiscate her property over social media posts or published articles is absurd, and only reveals the governments extreme insecurity. Bukhari said she was told by journalists in London that the Pakistani government was seeking to discover her address in the U.K., which she has kept secret, and feared that she could be subject to attack. On February 2, Pakistani dissident and human right activist Ahmad Waqass Goraya was punched by men waiting outside his home in the Netherlands, which he blamed on Pakistani state agents, he told CPJ via messaging app. He said he suffered light injuries, and described the incidentattacked by one man, filmed by anotheras similar to previous attacks on Pakistani critics in exile. Exiled journalist Taha Siddiqui wrote in a Washington Post op-ed last year that he and other dissidents had been warned by U.S. officials of potential attacks against them. Waqass Goraya said he received a similar warning in 2018 from U.S. officials. CPJ emailed Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency for comment, but did not immediately receive a reply. The agency has posted links to news stories about the summons on its official website. In June 2018, Bukhari, who at the time was a commentator on the Urdu-language TV news channel Waqt News, was briefly abducted while en route to the station, CPJ reported at the time. ALBANY - The citys Zoning Board of Appeals will consider a request to label a West Hill grocery store as a nuisance property at its Feb. 26 meeting, possibly shuttering a store that's served the neighborhood for decades. If the board agrees with the city's petition, the store could be shut down for up to two years or have its hours of operation restricted. Councilman Jahmel Robinson and city Planning Commissioner Christopher Spencer submitted the petition two months ago after 33-year-old Ahmad Fleming was shot near the store at 36 Judson St. Fleming later died at Albany Medical Center Hospital. At the time of his death, Fleming was the citys fourth homicide victim of the year and the fourth fatal shooting to occur near that intersection in the last 14 months. Afterward, city officials, including Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Police Chief Eric Hawkins went door-to-door, to speak with residents. Faisal Nagi, the nephew of the stores owner, declined to comment, beyond saying that he and the stores attorney will fight the petition to close the store. The store has become a hub of intractable violence over the years and despite the efforts of code and police officials, it has a significant and unduly negative impact on the West Hill neighborhood, Robinson and Spencer said in the petition to the board. Robinson could not be reached for comment. Going to the board was a last resort and the culmination of a years-long process to bring the store up to city code and tamp down on the violence, Spencer said. The building has been a market going back to 1900, he said. We want the stores to do well but we also want them to add value to the neighborhoods, he said. We dont take these steps lightly. The city revamped its zoning in 2017, including its rules for convenience stores. Those rules included additional security requirements for cameras and sight lines in to store windows. The city gave all its convenience stores two years to conform and last year city officials began going around to the stores to ensure they were following the city code, Spencer said. The store at 36 Judson St. doesnt conform with its current zoning, which means if the board shuts it down for even a short period of time, it would lose its non-conforming variance. This is the first time the city has gone to the Zoning Board of Appeals to have a property labeled a nuisance since the citys new zoning went into effect in 2017. Spencer said the city is considering a similar move against other stores that havent complied with new rules. Councilwoman Joyce Love, D-3, said neighbors around the store had told her they were sick of the violence nearby. Its getting worse, its not getting any better, she said. The citys petition to the board includes the dates of more than two dozen police calls to the store and nearby corner since 2017, which include large fights, unruly crowds and fatal shootings. Chief Hawkins said the department was not exactly sure why the store was the scene of repeated violence but believed that closing it was the right action to help prevent violence in the future. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The one thing were 100 percent sure of is theres some nexus between the violence that were seeing in that community and that store, he said. Were not saying this will solve all the problems in this community. Weve never said from the police department that closing that store will solve violence in that community. What were saying is this is part of it. Hawkins said the department has tried to work with the stores owners over the years to solve the issue. But not all neighborhood residents agree that closing the store will help. Yolanda Marshall, a Second Street resident, said shes known the Nagi family since they moved to the city and that their store fills a neighborhood need as quick place to stop for food and medicine. Theyre good people, they do cooperate with the police, she said. Theyre just trying to take care of their families like anyone else would." Marshall asked why the city was blaming the violence on the stores owners, pointing out they had not been accused of any crimes. She suggested that the police spend more time out of their patrol cars and on foot to prevent issues near the store from popping up. What does that corner have to do with the violence? she said. If youre going to shut down one, shut them all, thats what I say. Controversial 2019 Married At First Sight star Jessika Power, 28, was known for her part in the show's first wife-swapping scandal. And on Tuesday, 2020 bride Stacey Hampton suggested the blonde may have made a play for her ex-fiance, Rebels' president Shane Michael Smith. Appearing on Hit FM Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge, Stacey thought Jessika was acting 'borderline obsessed' by adding her children's father on social media. Scroll down for video 'If he slides into my DMs, it's not my problem!' Married At First Sight star Jessika Power (left) is dragged into Stacey Hampton (right) and bikie ex scandal Stacey, 26, shares sons Kruz, 2, and Kosta, 4, with the heavily tattooed Rebels bikie boss, 37. The law graduate ended her engagement to Shane in 2017, before he was convicted of bashing two nightclub bouncers. Stacey told the radio hosts: 'Jessika added my children's father, so I think she's borderline obsessed with me!' 'She's adding baby daddy on social media, and he's thinking "what's going on?"' Married At First Sight's controversial bride Stacey (right) was engaged to Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith, 37, (left) with whom she shares two sons (one pictured) 'I think she's borderline obsessed with me!' Stacey claimed Jessika was acting odd by adding her ex-fiance and 'baby daddy' on social media On Wednesday, the radio station offered a right of reply to Jessika, where she insisted she didn't know Stacey and had no idea who her 'baby daddy' was. 'It's a little bit crazy, considering she's on a radio talking about me and some baby daddy I don't even know.' 'Look I'm single and I add a bit of muscly, tattoo guys on Instagram here and there, but I don't remember adding anyone that says it's Stacey's baby daddy,' she said. 'I'm single and I add muscly, tattoo guys': Jessika said she had no idea who Stacey's ' baby daddy' was, but wasn't opposed to receiving a direct message from him 'He has blocked me, or she has blocked me': Jessika went on to say that the bikie boss appeared to have removed her from social media However, Jessika went on to cheekily add: 'If he slides into my DMs, it's not my problem.' The MAFS star then looked through her 'following' and 'followers' lists on Instagram and failed to locate Stacey's ex on either. 'I don't have him on there... he has blocked me, or she has blocked me off his Instagram,' she said. Jessika has since told Daily Mail Australia she has had zero contact with Stacey's ex. 'I doubt her baby daddy will be contacting me after seeing the media storm around the topic. To me, he seems he may want to remain a private man.' 'In regards to this "fued" we supposedly have I don't think we have one at all because you need to know or care about someone in order to have such emotions,' she added. Married At First Sight continues on Wednesday from 7:30pm on Nine President Erdogan, Putin hold phone call over attacks The phone call comes in wake of regime attacks on Turkish troops in Syria; presidents agree to hold more consultations. The Russian and Turkish presidents discussed the latest developments in Idlib, a de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria, over the phone, both countries said on Wednesday. "WE DISCUSSED ABOUT THE HARM" The conversation between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan came after five Turkish troops were martyred and five injured in an attack by Assad regime forces in Idlib, on Monday, following a similar attack last week martyring seven soldiers and a civilian contractor working with the Turkish military. Turkey has since retaliated for both attacks, hitting scores of targets and killing some 200 Assad regime troops. We assessed the situation in Idlib with Putin, Erdogan told reporters after his partys parliamentary group meeting. We talked about the harm done to our soldiers by the regime forces and even by Russia, he added. The two presidents agreed to hold additional consultations via proper channels, the Kremlin said in a statement published on its official website. "The two leaders continued discussions of various aspects of resolving the Syrian crisis, primarily in the context of the worsening situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone. The importance of full implementation of the existing Russian-Turkish agreements, including the Sochi memorandum of Sept. 17, 2018, was noted. For this purpose, it was agreed to conduct additional contacts through the relevant departments," said the statement. Jack Huck, 23, of Ste. Genevieve, was sentenced to 89 months in prison for his role as a leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed marijuana and laundered drug proceeds. Huck appeared Tuesday before United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey. According to court documents, between January 2016 and February 2018, Huck and his co-defendants were part of a drug conspiracy to distribute marijuana. They then laundered the drug proceeds via MoneyGram. In order to avoid detection, Huck and his co-defendants had the marijuana sent via U.S. Mail and other means to various addresses in the Eastern District of Missouri. Upon receipt, Huck or his co-defendants would pick up the packages. Once distributed, they collected the drug proceeds and utilized MoneyGrams purchased at various outlets to send the drug proceeds to co-defendant Cedric Davis in California. The MoneyGrams were payment for previously shipped marijuana as well as for impending marijuana shipments. On August 8, 2017, Huck orchestrated a robbery in which he recruited co-defendants Dakota McCain and Seth Ault, along with a minor, to commit a home invasion of an individual identified only as A.R., who had refused to pay Huck for marijuana. Wearing masks and armed with various blunt objects, the three individuals forcibly entered the residence of A.R. in Warrenton, Missouri, and attempted to recover the marijuana or cash. The robbery quickly ended when A.R.s roommate arrived on scene with a firearm. The following co-defendants in this drug conspiracy have been sentenced: Seth Ault 36 months in prison; Cedric Davis, Jr. 46 months in prison; Cody Henderson 3 years probation; Joseph Hope 96 months in prison; Deven Huck 48 months in prison; Zach Hunter 3 years probation; Dakota McCain 32 months in prison; Dustin Puckett 3 years probation; Collin Weber 3 years probation; and Jacob Wolff 3 years probation. The Missouri Highway Patrol, the Ste. Genevieve Police Department, the Homeland Security Investigation, the Warrenton Sheriffs Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Major Case Squad investigated this case. Love 6 Funny 7 Wow 5 Sad 3 Angry 1 Qlik Academic Program and C40 cities invite students around the world to tackle climate change together. Participants will be enabled with complimentary licenses of Qlik Sense Business and publicly available data sets to design and execute their projects. Qlik today announced the launch of its first global Datathon challenge, along with our partner C40 Cities, inviting the students of the world to use Qlik analytics and public data to build solutions to help solve some of the issues at the heart of our current climate crisis in multiple geographies. Qliks Academic Program team will run multiple challenges throughout the spring, with students having the chance to create real world solutions to the issues threatening the planets climate health and sustainability. All entries will be reviewed and judged by Qlik and C40 Cities. Winners will be announced in April and presented at QlikWorld in Phoenix, AZ in May. Interested participants can register today and gain details on the specific challenges and data here. Participants will be enabled with complimentary licenses of Qlik Sense Business and publicly available data sets to design and execute their projects. The challenges will focus on adaptation, air quality and climate resiliency for cities across all areas of the globe, with a submission deadline of April 3rd. Finalist projects will be announced on April 10th and will be invited to participate in QlikWorld, Qliks annual customer and partner event, in Phoenix in May. In addition to the opportunity to work towards real-world impactful solutions, participating students get the chance to enhance their standing within their university community and increase their data literacy and data skills, which will set them apart for future opportunities. The Qlik Academic Program provides qualified university professors, students and researchers with free Qlik software and resources to help educate and train the next generation of experts leading with data. Sign up today by visiting qlik.com/academicprogram. The new Delhi Legislative Assembly was constituted on Wednesday, a day after the Aam Aadmi Party swept the elections winning 62 of the 70 seats. The official Twitter handle of the Delhi Assembly said the Election Commission has notified the results of the February 8 polls. "With this the Seventh Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi is deemed to have been constituted w.e.f (with effect from) 12.02.2020 (Section 73 of the Representation of the People Act,1951)," it said. Earlier in the day, Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh along with EC's senior principal secretary K F Wilfred met Lt Governor Anil Baijal to hand over the list of the newly-elected MLAs. The BJP has won eight seats and is the second party to have representations in the Delhi Assembly. Meanwhile, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday held a meeting with the newly-elected MLAs at his official residence. The MLAs elected him as the Leader of Legislature Party, a formality necessary to stake claim to form government. Lt Governor Baijal will formally be apprised about Kejriwal being elected the Leader of Legislature Party. Thereafter, the LG will write to the President through the Union Home Ministry, saying the AAP has won the majority. The President will issue a notification appointing the leader of legislature party as the chief minister. In states, governors appoint chief ministers. In the coming days, one of the MLAs will be appointed as pro-tem speaker who will oversee the oath of the new lawmakers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Help India! By TCN News In the 4th Edition of Connections 2020 by the IIMC Alumni Association, independent journalist Meena Kotwal was awarded the Indian Institute of Mass Communication Alumni Association (IIMCAA) 2020 Award on Sunday. Support TwoCircles The awarding ceremony was celebrated during the Annual Alumni Meet where Meena Kotwal was felicitated with the honour and prize money of Rs 21,000. A woman reporter coming from a Dalit background, Meena, has created history by being the first journalist to win awards simultaneously in two different categories Investigative Reporting and Developmental Reporting. One of her stories, on two Dalit children killed in Madhya Pradesh for open defecation received Special Mention from the Jury and was covered for Twocircles.net. In this story where Meena fearlessly reports from ground zero on how the two children were killed and one of them was raped before being murdered mercilessly due to her caste has won in the category Investigative Reporting. Her second story done for BBC Hindi was on the death of a worker during sewer cleanup in Delhi. She explains how lack of safety equipments kills many workers every year. This story has won in the category of Developmental Reporting. Meena Kotwal has been a student of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC,Delhi) (2013-14 batch) in Radio and Television Journalism, other than having studied in reputed institutions Jamia Millia Islamia Central University and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow. Other than the BBC, she has worked for a number of other organizations before she started working as an independent journalist seven months back. She is currently associated with Twocircles.net. Meena is best known for voicing out the grievances and issues of the marginalized and has gained much recognition due to her work covering reports from the lower and neglected strata of society. Twocircles.net extends heartiest congratulations to Meenas courageous and fearless journalism and congratulates her on her unique achievement. Additionally, Twocircles.net feels deeply motivated to continue being the voice of the marginalized and the oppressed bringing unheard stories from the neglected strata. IIMCAA President Prasad Sanyal had chaired the Connections 2020, which was attended by notable dignitaries like Principal DG of PIB, DD News DG Mayank Agrawal, IIMC ADG K Satish Nambudiripad, IFFCO IIMCAA Awards Convenor Rajeev Deshpande, IIMCAA Medical Assistance Fund Chairman Kalyan Ranjan and IIMCAA Scholarships Chairman Anuranjan Jha along with the alumni across India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The national meet of Connections 2020 in Delhi will be followed by chapter-level meets over the next two months across major cities in India and abroad, including Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Dhenkanal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ranchi, Pune, Kochi, Bengaluru, Dubai, Singapore, Dhaka and Kathmandu. Theyre just a bunch of lefties trying to put their hands in your pockets. Theyre socialists attempting to impose collectivism on Idahos struggling taxpayers; shady outsiders telling Idahoans what to do. Yup, the buzz-word pundits are out in force trying to throw shade on Reclaim Idahos efforts to keep good teachers, supplies and programs in our classrooms. The Invest in Idaho Initiative were asked to support will generate up to $200 million each year, earmarked for class size reduction, current textbooks, closing the salary gap between Idaho and surrounding states, career technical education, full-day kindergarten, art, music and drama programs and special education services. And the vast majority of us will see no increase in taxes with a possibility of reductions in local school levies. Theres an organized disinformation campaign against the initiative spurred by some people who make over $250,000 per year after deductions, some corporations and legislators responsible for the ongoing shift of taxes from corporations and the wealthy to the rest of us. Please, talk to one of the mostly local volunteer petition carriers. Theyll give you the details and unbiased reasons the Invest in Idaho Initiative is good for this state. Rick Davis Pocatello Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 (Newser) Jessie Liu, the former US attorney for the District of Columbia, had her nomination for a senior Treasury Department role abruptly withdrawn amid controversy over cases linked to Robert Mueller's investigation, insiders say. Liu, who was nominated by President Trump in December for a position overseeing economic sanctions, was informed Tuesday that the nomination was being pulled, sources tell Axios. Liu was confirmed to lead the DC office in Sept. 2017 after she was vetted by White House lawyers. Her office oversaw prosecutions including those against Trump associates Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, and Roger Stone, whose case caused four career prosecutors to step down Tuesday after the Justice Department said their sentencing recommendation would be reduced. story continues below Sources tell the Washington Post that GOP Senate staffer Barbara Ledeen lobbied Trump against Liu's nomination because she was unhappy about Flynn's prosecution, but made little headway until the initial Stone sentencing recommendation angered the president. Liu, who left the DC attorney's office at the end of January, was due to appear before the Senate Banking Committee for a confirmation hearing Thursday. Axios notes that she had been expected to stay in her position leading the DC US attorney's office until she was confirmed in the Treasury role, but she was informed last month that Attorney General William Barr was replacing her with his associate Timothy Shea. The Post's sources say Trump decided to withdraw Liu's nomination because he was worried she would be asked about the Stone case during her confirmation hearing. (Read more Treasury Department stories.) Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was on Wednesday sentenced to 11 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan in two terror financing cases. Lahore: Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was on Wednesday sentenced to 11 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan in two terror financing cases. Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist whom the US has placed a $10 million bounty on, was arrested on 17 July in the terror financing cases. He is lodged at the Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in high security. A court official confirmed to PTI that Saeed was sentenced in two terror financing cases registered against him in Lahore and Gujranwala on the application of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police. The court sentenced Saeed to five-and-a-half years and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. The sentences of both cases will run concurrently. The anti-terrorism court or ATC had indicted Saeed and his close aides on 11 December in the terror financing cases. Last Saturday, Lahore ATC judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta deferred the verdict against Saeed in two terror financing cases till 11 February. In the two cases, the prosecution produced some 20 or so witnesses in the ATC who testified against Saeed and his close aides for their involvement in terror financing. Saeed pleaded "not guilty" in both the cases. The Counter Terrorism Department had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province. The cases were registered against Saeed and others in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan for collection of funds for terrorism financing through assets/properties made and held in the names of Trusts/Non Profit Organisations including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc. According to the CTD, investigation launched into financing matters of proscribed organisations JuD and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in connection with implementation of UN Sanctions against these Designated Entities and Persons as directed by NSC (National Security Committee) in its meeting of 1 January, 2019 chaired by Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan for implementing the National Action Plan. "These suspects made assets from funds of terrorism financing. They held and used these assets to raise more funds for further terrorism financing. Hence, they committed multiple offences of terrorism financing and money laundering under Anti Terrorism Act 1997. They will be prosecuted in ATCs (Anti Terrorism Courts) for commission of these offences," the CTD said. The crackdown on Saeed's outfit last year followed a warning by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to Pakistan to deliver on its commitments to curb terror financing and money laundering. Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice. He was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. Advertisement The Duchess of Cambridge cut a casual figure as she arrived at Ark Open Farm near Belfast today, as part of her tour of the UK to promote her landmark survey on the early years, 5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives. Kate Middleton, 38, looked stylish in black skinny jeans, brown recycled Penelope Chivers boots and a khaki Barbour jacket as she was seen stroking alpacas and bottle-feedling lambs as she visited the farm in the capital of Northern Ireland. During her visit to the farm, Kate spoke to local parents and grandparents about the themes covered in her survey, which closes on 21st February, and their experiences raising young children. The Duchess heard their thoughts on the most important factors that ensure children become happy adults and the role of parents and society in ensuring children have the best possible start in life. This afternoon Kate, who is known as the Countess of Strathearn while in Scotland, was pictured switching her brown boots for a black heeled version, and ditched her Barbour jacket to show off a baby blue poloneck as she spoke to users of the Social Bite cafe, during a visit to Aberdeen. The Duchess of Cambridge cut a casual figure as she arrived at Ark Open Farm near Belfast this morning, as part of her tour of the UK to promote her landmark survey on the early years, 5 Big Questions on the Under-Fives This afternoon Kate, who is known as the Countess of Strathearn while in Scotland, was pictured switching her brown boots for a black heeled version, and ditched her Barbour jacket to show off a baby blue poloneck as she spoke to users of the Social Bite cafe, during a visit to Aberdeen The Duchess is meeting with employees, supported volunteers and customers who have experienced homelessness, to hear how experiences in the early years of life can have a significant effect on lifelong outcomes Kate was not afraid to get her hands dirty as she was seen petting a hay-loving alpaca during her visit to the farm Duchess of Cambridge has an encounter with a snake during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Kate then joined a group of young children as she helped them bottle feed a lamb milk during the visit The Duchess is meeting with employees, supported volunteers and customers who have experienced homelessness, to hear how experiences in the early years of life can have a significant effect on lifelong outcomes. Yesterday Kensington palace announced that the Prince William, 37, and Kate would undertake their first official visit to the Republic of Ireland next month. William and Kate have visited Northern Ireland twice in recent years, but this will be their first visit to the Republic of Ireland. The Ark Open Farm opened in 1990 as one of the first open farms in Northern Ireland. Having initially specialised in rare breeds of farm animals, the farm has now developed a number of play areas and activities for children. Open farms such as this are important in providing places in the community for family members of all generations to spend quality time together, while allowing children to benefit from spending time outdoors. Kate Middleton, 38, looked stylish in brown boots and a khaki anorak as she visited the farm in the capital of Northern Ireland Kate looked quite thrilled to be meeting the alpaca while he appeared to be less excited by the meeting During her visit to the farm, Kate will speak to local parents and grandparents about the themes covered in her survey, which closes on 21st February The Duchess was seen keeping her hair in check as she chatted to parents and workers on the farm today The Duchess of Cambridge (left) at The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she met with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children Last month,the Duchess visited Birmingham, Cardiff, Woking and London to promote her survey and heard from people across communities about their thoughts on how experiences in the early years can impact upon later life. Conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of The Royal Foundation, the survey contains five short questions and aims to spark a national conversation on the early years that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come. It follows eight years of work by The Duchess of Cambridge, during which she has explored how experiences in early childhood often lie at the root of the hardest social challenges the country faces today. The Duchess of Cambridge meets with children from two local nurseries during a visit to The Ark Open Farm The Duchess will hear their thoughts on the most important factors that ensure children become happy adults and the role of parents and society in ensuring children have the best possible start in life Kate opted for black skinny jeans, brown recycled Penelope Chivers boots and a khaki Barbour jacket The Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtonards, near Belfast, The Duchess of Cambridge greets members of staff during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtonards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children Kate has spent time meeting with families across the country and hearing about the issues they deal with day-to-day, as well as speaking to academics, experts, organisations and practitioners. In May 2018, The Duchess convened a steering group of experts to focus on how to bring about positive, lasting change in this area. The survey is designed to bring together the thoughts of as many people as possible recognising that everyone has a role in ensuring strong, healthy foundations for the youngest in our society that will positively affect their lifelong outcomes. The findings should provide a vital source of information for the early years sector, helping it to better understand public perceptions of the importance of the early years, and the first-hand experiences of parents, families and carers. This public feedback will also help to focus Her Royal Highness work through The Royal Foundation as she endeavours to provide children across the UK with the best foundations to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Yestesrday William and Kate confirmed they will travel to the Emerald Isle from 3-5 March at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, according to a statement released on Instagram. Details of the trip have not yet been confirmed but earlier reports suggest the couple could visit Dublin and Cork. The Duchess of Cambridge (left) reacts as she is handed a snake during a visit to the Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards The Duchess of Cambridge (second right) waves to young children at the Ark Open Farm, in Newtownards, near Belfast The Duchess of Cambridge handles a snake during a visit to The Ark Open Farm as she chats to other children The Duchess of Cambridge looks at a hedgehog with a young child during a visit to the Ark Open Farm The Maharashtra government announced five-day working week for its officers and employees on February 12. It will be applicable from February 29. At present, the government employees in Maharashtra get second and fourth Saturdays off every month. The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. There are over 20 lakh officers and employees in government, semi-government and local bodies in the state. The Cabinet also decided that the state department for OBCs, SEBCs (socially and educationally backward classes), VJNTs (vimukt jati and nomadic tribes) and special backward classes will now be known as the 'Bahujan Kalyan Department'. By Trend One person who remained in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Bakus Clinical Medical Center on suspicion of being infected coronavirus was discharged, said the joint statement of Azerbaijans Ministry of Health and the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance, Trend reports on Feb. 12. According to the statement, 12 people who arrived from those Chinese cities where the outbreak of coronavirus was observed are in a special medical facility in Baku. Quarantine of six of those 12 people in the medical facility, who left Wuhan city on January 29, ends today on February 12. No problems in their clinical condition have been identified, and they will be discharged within a day. The quarantine of the remaining six patients of 12 people ends on February 14. There are no problems in their well-being either. At the end of quarantine, they will also be discharged, the joint statement said. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Since then over 1,000 people have died and over 45,000 people have been confirmed as infected. 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. Aside from Mainland China, the cases of coronavirus spreading have also been confirmed in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, the US, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Macau, France, Canada, the UAE, India, Italy, Russia, Philippines, the UK, Nepal, Cambodia, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Sri Lanka. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Ladies, Attention! All of the ladies in St. Helena and vicinity are earnestly requested to assemble at the town hall next Wednesday afternoon at 3 oclock for the purpose of organizing a Ladies Improvement Club. All ladies interested in the growth and future of our town are cordially invited to be present. Forty women attended the first meeting on Feb. 8, 1905 and a week later 88 had joined. They met once a week, charged 25 cents to join, and elected Hannah Weinberger as the first president. Meetings were held in city hall with permission of the town trustees. The janitor was told to keep a fire going in the stove in winter for the ladies comfort. Thus began the long history of women in St. Helena organizing for change at a time when they could not vote. The issues they lobbied the city council about were people spitting on the streets and preventing cattle from running at large upon the streets. They were sure there were ordinances against such practices and they wanted them enforced. The club urged upgrading the streets and roads, a new library, a water fountain for horses and dogs (now in Lyman Park), and a sidewalk with shade leading to the cemetery. The new club planned to place resting benches throughout town for pedestrians. They paid to furnish and landscape the new Carnegie Library in 1908. The ladies raised the money to build the gazebo in Lyman Park and planted Deodar Cedar trees there in 1937. The Womans Improvement Club joined the General Federation of Women Clubs in 1910. In 1995 the name changed to Federated Women of Upper Napa Valley (FWUNV) to include new members from Calistoga. The club is as active as ever in causes which help St. Helena and the wider world. To raise money, FWUNV runs the famous pie booth at the St. Helena Harvest Festival. In assembly line fashion, the ladies can create 72 pies in one day! Some pies are sold quickly by special order. The booth is one of the most popular at the festival and always sells out early. The club also sponsors a bingo fundraiser every year. Their bingo night will be Friday, April 3, at Grace Episcopal Church. Doors open at 6 p.m. Calling out the numbers will be Mayor Geoff Ellsworth. Members donate to the Community Matters fund at every meeting, supporting a variety of causes. A cookbook was published in 2013 and sales from this continue to help fund various projects. Packages of lovely notecards featuring art by members are sold at all functions to support their budget. Grants help fund the clubs Scholarship Program and Reading is Fun Program. Reading is Fun (RIF)Led by club member Donna Kelley, this program applies for grants to the Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Valley Community Foundation, Give Guide and others to purchase books for our youth. The books are given away at Hunts Grove, Stonebridge Apartments, La Pradera, and the Boys & Girls Clubs in St. Helena, Calistoga and Howell Mountain. With a budget of $5,000 per year, RIF serves 900 children in grades from kindergarten through the eighth grade. Childrens librarian Leslie Stanton reads to the children and the members give out delicious homemade cookies. Each child receives a new book of his/her own. FWUNV ScholarshipsThe club selects St. Helena High School students who are the first in their family to attend community college or trade school. Two $1,000 scholarships will be given this year. VOICESA group that supports foster children who age out of the foster care system with job training and housing is also supported by the St. Helena club. Voices exists to empower underserved youth ages 16-24. The group utilizes holistic services to empower foster youth throughout their transition to independent adulthood. Alpha K-9Trainer Kevin Cameron rescues dogs from shelters and trains them as emotional support companions for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. According to their website, PTSD service dogs are carefully selected by their skilled staff and paired with clients, helping them to return to a more independent life. With the generous support of sponsors and donors Alpha K9 is able to provide service dogs at little to no cost. Other causes that the club supports are Upvalley Family Centers, Rianda House, We Care Animal Rescue, St. Helena Pre-School For All, Edge Youth Leadership Conference, Pennies for Pines, Yountville Veterans Home, and St. Helena Library Friends and Foundation. Federated Women of Upper Napa Valley meets at 1 p.m., the first Wednesday of the month from September to June at St. Helena Presbyterian Church. New members are always welcome to join. For more information email fedwomenofunv@gmail.com or call President Annette Smith at 707-963-3241. Mariam Hansen is the research director for the St. Helena Historical Society. Oh my god, how this wasnt done eons ago BLOWS my mind. That article was harrowing. Reply Thread Link oh this article was WILD and i was horrified at all the comments defending him! Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link another wild thing for me is this guy previously worked for rudy giulani Reply Thread Link why doesn't that not surprise me Reply Parent Thread Link this dude had majorly suspect connections didn't he? Reply Parent Thread Link he is the worst :X Reply Thread Link Jesus fucking Christ. I thought this was about those two kids from Idaho that went missing in September and their cult parents fucked off to chill in Hawaii. Reply Thread Link The fact that they are casually just like letting her chill and asking her to show proof her kids are alive and her not doing it and not being arrested is baffling to me. I fear those kids are dead and have been for a while now. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think they are alive anymore :( Reply Parent Thread Link Those kids are definitely dead and I don't understand how she hasn't been arrested yet. She should've been arrested as soon as she couldn't physically bring the kids to court like she was ordered to do. Reply Parent Thread Link ive been minor obsessed with this case. its INSANE. i was just saying on twitter they let her walk away with a TON of cash in that video of their car being taken away in hawaii. and theyre aware she just HAS 35k. you aint worried shes gonna fly the coop? white nonsense. Reply Parent Thread Link I want to know why the fuck she hasn't been arrested yet, it's absolutely ridiculous. Reply Parent Thread Link that case is WILD. and they caught them on camera at a storage unit filled w their kids' stuff like wtf. and they're still claiming their innocence but also refusing to cooperate w police lol ok i know detectives want to build a solid case but WHAT IS THE DELAY HERE Reply Parent Thread Link jfc this is horrifying Reply Thread Link this story is crazy as hell Reply Thread Link I remember reading this article and it was WILD. Thrilled to hear about these indictments. Kudos to these journalists tbh Reply Thread Link The cynical part of me was like I hope this isnt made into a film before we can even have a fucking trial, and then the one time I read a post in full, I see mark 'hate crime luvr' wahlberg already bought the piece. Those poor victims. idk how his daughter is doing, but I hope she has gotten out and her fam isnt blaming her Reply Thread Link Side eyeing Mark Wahlberg so hard right now. What kind of person reads that article and their immediate thought is I want to play them on screen? Gross. Reply Thread Link Side eyeing Mark Wahlberg so hard right now. Mark Wahlberg literally blinded a man in a hate crime and used the fact that Kevin Spacey was a serial sexual predator to squeeze a production out of more money. Wanting to play this guy is like... the least of the things he's ever done. Reply Parent Thread Link Still though, fuck Wahlberg and everything he's ever done. Not defending Wahlberg's shit because he's awful and I hate him but he didn't blind that man. That man was blinded in the Vietnam war and it got misreported - https://time.com/3631408/mark-wahlberg-victim-pardon/ Still though, fuck Wahlberg and everything he's ever done. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link this is so fucked up Reply Thread Link Im glad the article brought this about finally, so insane and fucked up. Reply Thread Link throw him off a cliff In May it was reported that Mark Wahlberg had bought the rights to the New York Magazine article, with plans to star as Ray onscreen the priorities of this racist asshole Reply Thread Link From secretly collecting DNA samples of minors to maintaining a gang database that is suspiciously over 98% black or Latino, there are many examples of why the NYPD cannot be trusted to deploy surveillance tools without legal safeguards to prevent them from violating New Yorkers privacy and civil rights. Most recently, The New York Times exposed how the company Clearview amassed more than three billion photos from popular websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Venmo to power its facial recognition app. It didnt take long for another Buzzfeed to uncover that Clearview was touting a relationship with the NYPD in its promotional materials. The department denied that it had an institutional relationship with Clearview, but a New York Post investigation quickly found that several NYPD officers were running the app on their personal phones. The NYPD eventually conceded that a limited number of officers were allowed to run trial versions of the app. Of course, we still dont know what controls (if any) the department put in place to prevent abuse, and what it will do with data it collected during these trial periods. The departments cavalier approach to monitoring New Yorkers cannot escape regulation any longer. A bill with overwhelming support in the City Council, the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act (POST Act), would bring much needed transparency. It would require the NYPD to make basic disclosures about its surveillance tools and what policies it has in place to protect the privacy of New Yorkers. The bill already has 33 co-sponsors in the 51-member City Council, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Public Safety Chairman Donovan Richards. Supporters are waiting on Speaker Corey Johnson to allow the bill to come up for a vote. The NYPD has mounted fierce opposition to the POST Act, claiming the legislation would help criminals and endanger lives by forcing the department to give away too much information. But these arguments do not hold up under scrutiny. The POST Acts reporting obligations are too general to be a useful roadmap for the bad guys. The bill would not require disclosure of how it uses surveillance tools in specific investigations, or disclosure of where or when it might be used. It would not require disclosure of how someone might avoid it. It also wouldnt make the tools any less effective. For example, wiretaps continue to be an important investigative tool despite widespread knowledge of their existence and a strict legal framework governing their use. Why should New Yorkers have fewer protections for their faces than for their landline telephones? NYPDs modern surveillance tools, and their related privacy and racial bias concerns, are already well known to the public. From facial recognition technology that cannot reliably identify people of color to Stingray devices that collect cell phone information regardless of a connection to a suspected crime, journalists and lawyers have slowly informed the public about surveillance abuses despite the NYPDs steadfast resistance to basic transparency. Last year, the Brennan Center published a chart showing the scope of the NYPDs surveillance arsenal based on publicly available information. This chart tracks the potential impact of each tool and provides links to NYPD policies to the extent they exist. Even this incomplete inventory reveals an expansive network that covers large swaths of New York City, including roads, homes, parks, and even online spaces. It would be difficult for the NYPDs hypothetical criminal to participate in modern society without coming under the scope of the departments surveillance apparatus. Rather than wait for another alarming headline about dystopian surveillance, the POST Act would front-load oversight. It would allow policymakers and community members to have an informed conversation about the rules of the road before the NYPD deploys a new technology. It also would encourage the NYPD to be more thoughtful in how it approaches new surveillance technologies. This approach can help prevent foreseeable harms to individual rights, strengthen community trust, and avoid wasting scarce resources. When the City Council first debated the POST Act in 2017, it had the opportunity to be a leader now, it has fallen behind. Cities across the country, including San Francisco, Seattle and Nashville, have all passed laws to hold their police departments accountable. Each of these laws goes further than would be required under the POST Act. In some jurisdictions, police must obtain City Council approval before they can acquire new surveillance tools; a growing number of cities have even passed outright bans of facial recognition technology. But in New York, when Council member Robert Holden asked the city Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications whether the NYPD uses facial recognition, a widely reported fact, a representative said the department did not know. It doesnt have to be this way. We need 21st Century oversight of 21st Century policing. Every day the City Council waits to pass the POST Act is a gamble for the civil rights and civil liberties of New Yorkers. The POST Acts basic transparency reporting is needed to ensure that New York remains a strong local democracy that respects the constitution and the rule of law. Samsung announced the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra today, as you may know already. So where does this leave the company's flagships from yesteryear - the S10, S10+, and S10e? Well, they're still going to be on sale, and Samsung is looking to emulate Apple's usual strategy in these kinds of situations. Rejoice! The S10 family is now officially $150 cheaper, and this is not just a one-off limited-time deal or something like that, it's permanent. Thus, the Galaxy S10e can, from now on, be yours for just $599, the S10 starts at $749, while the S10+ goes for $849. Those still aren't incredibly low prices or anything like that, but we assume there will be deals aplenty in the following weeks on these older devices, which will take their prices even lower. These price cuts are valid for the US, but we expect to see something similar in all markets. After all, the new S family has arrived, and so the old one needs to clear the way. The $26 billion T-Mobile TMUS and Sprint S deal was finally approved last night, on the brink of the 5G revolution. This would create a massive combatant to Verizon VZ and AT&T T, who together make up roughly 70% of the wireless subscription market, according to statista.com. The merger is going to change the competitive landscape of the US telecom market. T-Mobiles shares are up over 11% following the approved acquisition of Sprint, who itself saw a share price appreciation of 70%. Sprints stock has been tumbling since the beginning of 2017 as this company struggles to compete. The approved merger appears to have revived Sprint from the dead. T-Mobiles acquisition of Sprint has been held up for the last 2 years by regulatory concerns that this merger would be anticompetitive, hurting the consumer, and inhibiting innovation. Sprints ostensible inability to compete in the evolving telecom landscape was the catalyst for the judges approval of this deal. Dishs Place in the Deal The judge had some stipulations on the deal that included setting up Dish Network DISH as a new mobile carrier. This stipulation involves selling Dish Sprints prepaid business comprised of Boost Mobile and Virgin mobile (9 million customers) as well as allowing Dish to use Sprints network for 7-years following the deals close. Dish Network has been struggling to survive the cord cutting revolution and has been seeing a falling topline and declining profitability. This new revenue driver may bring Dish out of the cable ashes and into the forefront of 5G. Dish will have miles to go before they are really considered a legitimate competitor in the space, but this gives investors a little more faith in this declining company with its share price jumping over 5% today following the news. Synergies The judge also required that the new combined company to have 97% 5G coverage in the US within the next 3 years, which would market a big win for rural America. The combined efforts of T-Mobile and Sprint will put them at the forefront of 5G efforts making them a competitor to be reckoned with. The combined 5G spectrums of these mobile players will give them a sizable increase in access. Story continues T-Mobile and its eccentric CEO John Legere have illustrated excellent management capabilities as it navigates the incredibly competitive telecom space. The company has been able to expand revenues and create shareholder value. I am confident that the synergies between Sprint and T-Mobile will be massive with TMUSs capable management team at the helm. The 11% boost we see from TMUS, the acquiring firm, is atypical as the price from the acquiring firm usually declines. The markets are excited about this merger and what it will mean for the race to universal 5G. Final Thoughts This is undoubtedly going to disrupt the telecommunication space. Verizon shares fell over 2% on this news, and AT&Ts shares fell marginally. These companies now have more to worry about as the new T-Mobile may be able to offer the same excellent service at a discounted rate. I think that TMUS shares have more room to run once this deal is closed, and integration begins to uncover synergies. TMUS could make an excellent long-term telecom growth play for your portfolio. The deal still has one last hurdle with the approval by the California Public Utility Commission pending, but they are well on their way to closing this deal. 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Zacks Investment Research Dozens of passengers were left stranded Wednesday as VIA Rail cancelled service on Montreal-Toronto and Ottawa-Toronto routes until at least the end of Friday due to a blockade of the tracks in solidarity with Wetsuweten chiefs. The crown corporation said that since the start of the blockade Friday, 256 passenger trains have been cancelled because of a disruption near Belleville, Ont., affecting thousands of travellers. Impacted passengers will receive a full refund, VIA pledged. Some of these passengers had to find another way to travel. At the downtown Toronto bus depot Wednesday afternoon there was a mix of frustration, some indifference and also understanding among dozens of weary travellers waiting for buses to Ottawa and Montreal. Barbara Yurkoski, an Ottawa resident, had been in Thunder Bay when she decided to see some friends in Toronto, so she made a detour with a plan to take the train back home. But that didnt work out, she said with a smile. Yurkoski arrived at the Greyhound station 10 a.m. Wednesday and had to wait until 2:30 p.m. to get a spot on a bus. Like some of the other rerouted passengers, she sympathizes with the protesters but said blocking trains doesnt really seem like a relevant way to protest. A train is a good thing, not a bad thing, she added. Her travel delays prompted discussion among her friends and I probably learned a little bit more, she added. Yurkoski has already received a full refund, and doesnt feel like its VIAs fault. The 69-year-old retiree is just happy she got a spot on the bus, as theres only so many ways to get there. Protesters across the country have blocked traffic and rail lines in solidarity with the hereditary chiefs of the Wetsuweten nation. They also occupied the office of Carolyn Bennett, Canadas Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and tried to block legislators from entering B.Cs Parliament Tuesday. The struggle is over a 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline from B.C.s northeast to Kitimat on the coast. Wetsuweten Nation territory is along the route, and the hereditary chiefs are staunchly opposed to it. Theyve pledged to do whatever it takes to block the pipeline, despite a B.C. court injunction granted Dec. 31, 2019. According to the B.C. RCMP, Mounties have arrested 28 protesters in Wetsuweten territory in recent days. Climate activists have also joined in protests across the country. Akin Morakinyo was waiting at the Greyhound station to board a bus to Ottawa to visit a friend. The 24-year-old has not gotten a refund from VIA Rail yet and is frustrated. Like Yurkoski, he does sympathize with the protesters. I guess the pipeline is a danger to their lands, he said, adding the experience did cause him to look up more about their cause, before joining the line of passengers waiting to board. Twenty-six-year-old Danielle Matheson lives in Ottawa and travelled to Toronto to write a paralegal licensing exam. She booked a seat on the Greyhound after her train from Ottawa was cancelled earlier in the week. It was pretty stressful on top of coming here for an exam, she said at the station. She said she doesnt know much about why people are protesting. Its obviously causing a huge inconvenience for people, and Im not sure if its the best way to get sympathy about their cause. Shes been reading some articles about it, but mostly has been focused on the $1,200 exam, which isnt offered in Ottawa. Maybe when I get back Ill have the chance to learn more, she said. Julia Bugiel, based in Montreal, is trying to get to Toronto to visit a relative about to undergo chemotherapy. She was supposed to go last weekend but that train was cancelled, and the one this weekend may be as well. But she stands behind the protesters and blockades 100 per cent. Whatever inconvenience were feeling, for me the bottom line is we can find other ways to travel, to do business, even a pipeline can find another route, but really the Wetsuweten cannot replace these lands and waters, they cant find new ancestral territory, she said over the phone Wednesday. Bugiel has been following the blockades and protests on social media. She finds the issue is often framed around the pipeline, but for her, its mainly about nation to nation relations. Whatever the inconvenience, without disrupting their day-to-day lives, its really hard to get the media, politicians and just the public at large to pay attention to an issue like this. Andrew Smith said hes frustrated and in the dark after his train from Toronto to Montreal, where he is supposed to do some charity work, was cancelled. He ended up shelling out the money for a flight but doesnt know what to do about his return ticket because hes not sure whether the blockades will still be in place. The 36-year-old uses a wheelchair for mobility issues and is most comfortable on VIA where he travels in business class. He feels anger at both VIA and the protesters, and wants more information about when service will be restored. Get these trains out. With files from Canadian Press, Alex McKeen and Joanna Chiu Two Indian crew members of a cruise ship quarantined in Japan are believed to have been infected by coronavirus, embassy officials said in Tokyo on Wednesday, taking the total number of Indian nationals known to be hit by the highly contagious disease across the world to six. The announcement came on a day of rare hope that the outbreak may be relenting China recorded its lowest number of daily cases since January although experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the easing may only be restricted to China and infections may now begin to spread in other parts of the world. Till Wednesday, the virus titled COVID-19 -- is confirmed to have infected at least 45,000 people and claimed the lives of 1,117 globally since it began spreading in central Chinas Wuhan in late December. Three of these infections are in Kerala and one Indian living in United Arab Emirates, too, is believed to have contracted the disease. The infections of Indians on the Diamond Princess take the total number of people who now have the virus on the cruise ship to 174. There were in all 3,711 people on the vessel, including 138 crew and passengers who are Indian nationals. In a video uploaded earlier this week, some members of the crew asked for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in order to for them to be evacuated home since the infection was spreading rapidly among passengers. The ship has been isolated at a port in Japans Yokohama. Due to the suspicion of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection, the ship has been quarantined by the Japanese authorities till February 19, 2020, the Indian embassy said in a statement, according to PTI. Altogether 174 people have been tested positive for nCoV, including two Indian crew members, the statement added. The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine on February 3 after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. In India, 1,725 samples have been tested till February 12, including 654 samples from the quarantine centres set up for the evacuees from Wuhan, China, according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Three students in Kerala were confirmed laboratory positive for the virus and two of them are now free of infection, but all three are still quarantined. On Wednesday, nineteen Chinese crew members of a vessel from Chinas Shanghai was allowed to enter the Kolkata port after their ship was quarantined at Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas for several hours, port officials said. They were cleared by the doctors but will undergo thermal scanning on Thursday, officials added. In the 24 hours preceding Wednesday, 97 people died all of them in China -- raising the national toll to 1,113, with more than 44,600 people now infected. But the 2,015 new infections confirms a downward trend following the figure of 2,478 on Tuesday and 3,062 on Monday. I think its at its peak in mid- to late-February, said Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist at Chinas National Health Commission. But, WHO warned that the epidemic poses a global threat akin to terrorism and one expert coordinating its response said that while the outbreak may be peaking at its epicentre in China, it was likely to spread elsewhere in the world, where it had just begun. It has spread to other places where its the beginning of the outbreak, the official, Dale Fisher, head of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinated by the WHO, said in an interview in Singapore. In Singapore, we are at the beginning of the outbreak. Singapore has reported 47 cases and is worried about the spread growing. Its biggest bank, DBS, evacuated 300 staff from its head office on Wednesday after a confirmed coronavirus case in the building. Lucknow Spacecraft will be able to accommodate more satellites in near future, thanks to origami the traditional Japanese art of folding paper. A team of IIT-Kanpur researchers is using this technique to design lightweight resilient materials with usage ranging from making foldable satellites to better medical implants. A plain paper can be used to make a boat, a flower or a plane just by varying the way you fold it, in origami. We are using these properties of origami to make structures, based on their requirement, said Prof Tanmoy Mukhopadhyay, who is leading the research. His team is also collaborating with experts of Oxford University and a group of academicians from China and Australia. Under the project, the researchers have used different kind of folds used in origami to make artificially engineered materials. By doing so, they have managed to design materials of varying properties. Versatility of origami design and ease of altering it pushed the team to focus on designing these materials, said Tanmoy. The researchers have also published a paper recently highlighting their findings of tests conducted on materials developed using these techniques. We have managed to show that the shape and stiffness of the material can be altered using the origami based micro-structural geometry and the extent of applied far-field actuation. Materials could be made with a near-zero value to an extreme rise in the stiffness. This was achieved in a single material using origami, explained Tanmoy. The research paper was published last year. The aim is to develop ultimate lightweight materials with use in aerospace, robotics and even medicine, Tanmoy said. While Tanmoy is heading the research of finding use of these materials in aerospace, other groups are finding ways to use it in other sectors. We are currently working on developing artificially engineered materials that can be used in airplanes to make them lighter. This can find use in both civil, military and space missions, said Tanmoy. The research on designing materials based on origami structure is becoming popular across the globe in recent years. The research has become advanced abroad over the years but our country is also catching up with it fast, he informed. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- National Asset Services, (NAS) one of the Nation's leading commercial real estate management companies, has successfully delivered $547.4 Million in cash distributions to over 2,500 property investors, during the company's 12-year history. Since 2008, NAS has established an impressive track record for investment property management. The track record includes managing a commercial real estate portfolio of 167 diverse commercial properties in 30 states, comprised of 24.4 million square feet. The overall value of NAS' managed portfolio totals $3.315 billion. Since 2008, NAS has established an impressive track record for investment property management. The track record includes managing a commercial real estate portfolio of 167 diverse commercial properties in 30 states, comprised of 24.4 million square feet. The overall value of NAS' managed portfolio totals $3.315 billion. NAS recently added an ideally located, 26,340 square-foot, 2-story retail property in Burlington, Vermont leased to Walgreens; a property that is currently available for investments sponsored by NAS Investment Solutions. NAS' successful track record also includes guiding over 85 ownership groups through property refinancing and selling processes. NAS has sourced and delivered buyers and maximized returns for investors of 64 properties nationwide and has delivered the best possible capital resources for the re-financing of 21 other commercial real estate assets. In many cases, the re-financing process included the re-structuring of tenants-in-common properties into a limited liability corporation in order to secure the best financing option, a strategy in which the NAS management team has developed a high level of expertise. "We are extremely proud of the milestones we have reached after 12 years of serving investment property clients. Our track record speaks volumes about our ability to maximize returns for property investors while consistently delivering high quality, proactive and transparent management services," commented Karen E. Kennedy, President and Founder of National Asset Services. "We started as a TIC property asset management company in 2008. Because of our reputation, we have steadily grown to providing asset management and property management services for real estate investment clients with varying ownership structures, including TIC, DST and single owner properties. Our ability to successfully manage a property regardless of its size, location, commercial class or ownership structure sets us apart from other commercial property management companies." About Karen E. Kennedy, CRX, CSM A 36-year veteran of the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Karen E. Kennedy is the President and Founder of National Asset Services and NAS Investment Solutions. Karen and her team are known nationwide for their objective, straightforward and transparent management style that delivers the best possible results to investors. Karen is available for speaking at commercial real estate management and wealth management industry events. Accredited investors interested in seeking properties for a 1031 Exchange, self-directed IRA real estate or cash investment opportunities should contact Karen at 310.988.4240. About National Asset Services (NAS) NAS manages a wide range of diverse commercial real estate: Office, medical office, multifamily, retail, student housing, assisted living and industrial flex properties. The company manages sole-owner and multi-owner properties. NAS offers a wide range of asset management capabilities. They include: Property management; project management; lease administration; acquisition and disposition services; real estate strategy analysis; long-range business objectives; monitoring changing market conditions; investor relations; real estate and investor accounting; loan modification and workout solutions; exit and hold strategies; leasing & marketing; tenant retention plans; research studies; site selections; feasibility studies; insurance risk management; capital improvement planning and tracking; property tax appeal services and cost segregation services. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, NAS operates regional offices in Orlando, FL and Austin, Texas. About NAS Investment Solutions (NASIS) NAS Investment Solutions was established to leverage the company's vast experience in investment property management by identifying, acquiring and enhancing commercial real estate investments across all sectors of the real estate industry. NASIS' most recent investment opportunity, open to accredited investors, is a freestanding retail property occupied by a single, investment grade tenant. The offering is structured as a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) and eligible for a 1031 exchange and qualifies for self-directed IRAs. For more information about National Asset Services and available investments through NAS Investment Solutions, visit nasassets.com or nasinvestmentsolutions.com Media Contact: JW Robison 310-795-8985 [email protected] SOURCE National Asset Services Related Links http://nasassets.com Berthierville, February 12, 2020 Marc-Antoine Camirand will be heading to his 25th racing season as he renews his winning partnership with GM Paille, #1 in Canada. Camirand will compete full-time in 2020 in the NASCAR Pintys series, at the wheel of the n22 GM Paille Chevrolet Camaro. From the beginning in 1996 and throughout my career, racing has been a family thing. I started alongside my father in Formula Ford at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres, and today, Im privileged that GM Paille has included me in their great family. We are still sharing the same passion that unites us, almost 25 years later, said the driver from Saint-Leonard-dAston, Qc. Camirand will run his fourth full-time NASCAR Pintys season, a third with the support of GM Paille. The association between Camirand and the #1 GM dealer in Canada started at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres in 2016 and has continued for four road-course races in 2017 and full-time seasons since. I cannot say how thankful I am to have the support of a partner as engaged and passionate as GM Paille. Motorsport has always been an unpredictable business, and I have rarely had the assurance, this early in the off-season, that I would run a full-time season, Camirand added. Once again this year, Camirand will be at the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro prepared by 22 Racing team, owned by four-time NASCAR Pintys Champion Scott Steckly. I feel that everybody is highly motivated, and its still only February! Im also happy to have Randy Steckly back as my crew chief, as he was part of my success in 2017 and 2018. After a difficult 2019 season, I am sure that the winning conditions will be in place for us to get wins and podium finishes, Camirand concluded. GM Paille, who celebrated its 55th anniversary last year, continues to share this common passion for racing alongside Camirand. GM Paille advocates family values and passion, and this is reflected through our commitment in motorsport. We are keen to renew a winning partnership and to continue to cheer on Marc-Antoine, who shares the same determination towards winning and achieving better results as we do, declared Jean-Claude Paille, CEO of GM Paille. Marc-Antoine Camirand will compete in all 13 races in the NASCAR Pintys series in 2020 at the wheel of the n22 GM Paille Chevrolet Camaro, starting on May 17th at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, near Bowmanville, ON. The action-packed season will continue until September in four Canadian provinces with races on road courses, ovals and, for a series premiere, on dirt. Information: Fannie Brouillette Cell.: 819-698-8785 brouillette.fannie@gmail.com (Adds details) LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Britain, the United States and Turkey were on Wednesday formally asked to arrest senior officials from the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of carrying out war crimes and torture in Yemen, three sources told Reuters. British law firm Stoke White filed the complaints to Britain's Metropolitan police and the U.S. and Turkish justice ministries on behalf of Abdullah Suliman Abdullah Daubalah, a journalist, and Salah Muslem Salem, whose brother was killed in Yemen. The complaint, filed on Wednesday, says the UAE and its mercenaries were responsible for torture and war crimes against civilians in Yemen in 2015 and 2019. A spokeswoman for the UAE could not be reached for immediate comment. "It is requested that the UK, U.S. and Turkish police open investigations into these alleged crimes as soon as possible," according to one of the sources. The suspects identified include political and military leaders from the UAE who reside in the UAE and the United States but who travel to Britain regularly. The UAE is a leading partner in a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to restore ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government after it was toppled by the Houthis in late 2014. In July the UAE said it was withdrawing its troops from Yemen, but remained a part of the coalition. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Kate Holton) Fruit containers awaiting clearance at Tan Thanh Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. With very slow clearance of containers of agricultural produce, more than 500 are stuck at the Chinese border, a new report says. Chinas request to delay the reopening of several minor Vietnam-China border checkpoints until the end of the month has greatly affected cross-border trade of agricultural goods, the Ministry of Industry and Trades Import and Export Department (IED) said in a report Tuesday. At major border gates that have been reopened, like the Huu Nghi and the Kim Thanh II gates in the northern provinces of Lang Son and Lao Cai, customs clearance has been slow on the Chinese side because they lack personnel. Just 95 containers were cleared to enter China in the two days prior to the date of the report, IED said. Currently, around 300 containers carrying all types of goods are stuck at Kim Thanh II border gate, while another 106 carrying perishable goods like fruit - dragon fruit, jackfruit, chili, longan are waiting outside the Huu Nghi border gate. Just 37 containers have been cleared in the previous two days, the report said. At three other border gates in Lang Son, over one hundred dragon fruit containers, and 37 carrying steel are also stuck awaiting clearance. Meanwhile, at the Mong Cai border gate in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, 30 trucks carrying 450 tons of fruit of all kinds are awaiting clearance, and authorities are expecting another 500 tons on fruit contracted for export to China to arrive soon. Around 36,800 tons of cassava starch is currently being stored at Quang Ninhs ports, and another 20,000 tons are making their way there. Hundreds of containers had been stuck at northern border gates since late January when customs authorities of Vietnam and China decided to keep the gates closed over the rising severity of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in China. The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have released statements advising traders to temporarily suspend taking goods to the border gates, unless they are exporting through official channels. China is the largest market for Vietnamese agriculture, forestry and seafood products, accounting for 27.8 percent of the sectors exports of almost $8.5 billion last year. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The biggest coyote hunting contest in the state headquartered last weekend in Sullivan County saw a record 118 coyotes brought in for weighing. The winner was Ken Vanderpyle, of Glen Wild, N.Y., who turned in a 50.3-pound female that he shot over bait in Sullivan County, using a 22-250 rifle. He took home $2,440 -- $2,000 for the heaviest coyote, $200 for taking the heaviest coyote on Sunday and $240 for three more coyotes. A total of 636 hunters signed up for the three-day competition that ended Sunday afternoon, which was open to competitors from across the state, in addition to hunters in six Pennsylvania counties (Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Lackawanna, Monroe and Tioga). Competitors were awarded more than $10,000 in cash and prizes including $80 for each coyote turned in. The entry fee was $35. The event, hosted by the Federation of Sportsmens Clubs of Sullivan County, was headquartered at the White Sulphur Springs Fire House. More than 300 hunters and guests enjoyed a roast beef dinner at the fire house at the end of the contest. 118 coyotes that was a tremendous record for us, said Jack Danchak, president of the Federation. The previous high was 85 taken in 2017. The weather (this past weekend) was cooperative and helped the hunters. Vanderpyles 50-pounder was not a record for the 13th annual contest. "We had a 70 pounder in 2009, Danchak said. This yeears female division was won by Billie West, of Elizaville, N.Y. hunting in Columbia County. She bagged a 45.35- pound coyote. She took home $1,180: $100 plus a $100 check from Fur, Fin and Feather Sport Shop in Livingston Manor; $500 cash prize from the Roscoe Brewing Company and $480 for bringing in a total of six coyotes.H The Youth Division was won by Lane Hartwell of Phoenicia, N.Y. hunting in Ulster County. He shot a 29.25-pound coyote and earned $280. Coyotes are not native to this state. The first one was sighted in this state in 1926, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The coyote hunting season is the longest hunting season in the state (Oct. 1 to March 29) with no daily bag limits. Although they are legal, the DEC, does not endorse or sponsor competitive hunting events. Some state lawmakers have proposed laws banning such competitions.. Proceeds from the Sullivan County coyote hunt will go toward a wide variety of Federations activities, Danchak said, including paying for fishing derbies and sending youngsters to the state Department of Environmental Conservations summer camp. MORE: Holy crap, its huge! 3 amazing ice fishing tales from this winter NY angler lands monster northern pike on Super Bowl Sunday (video) Upstate NY man loses arm in snowmobile crash The World Health Organization on Tuesday said it was "encouraged" by an improvement in the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo but urged caution. The WHO's Emergency Committee of experts will be meeting in Geneva on Wednesday to discuss whether the Ebola outbreak still constitutes a global health emergency. The current Ebola epidemic, which was declared in August 2018, has killed more than 2,300 people in the east of the DR Congo. "Although the world is now focused on coronavirus, we cannot and must not forget Ebola," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference. "We're very encouraged by the current trend. There have only been three cases in the past week and no cases in the past three days," Tedros said. But he added: "It's not over. Any single case could reignite the epidemic." Tedros said he would be travelling to DR Congo on Thursday and meeting with President Felix Tshisekedi. "We're still in full response mode," he said, pointing to the "very fragile" security situation in eastern parts of DR Congo, where several militia groups operate, and the need to strengthen the country's health system. The Ebola virus is passed on by contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or organs of an infected or recently deceased person. The death rate is typically high, ranging up to 90 percent in some outbreaks, according to the WHO. After months of pressure, WHO on July 17 last year declared it "public health emergency of international concern" -- a rarely used designation that is applied only to the gravest outbreaks. This is the second worst outbreak of the disease since 2014 when it killed about 11,000 people -- mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Efforts to contain the current outbreak have been hindered by attacks on health workers and conflicts in the east, where several armed groups operate and the army is carrying out a military crackdown. To the Editor: I am writing on behalf of the New Milford Library Board of Trustees to publicly thank the Friends of the New Milford Library for their years of support and dedication to our towns library. As a result of their hours of work in setting up the annual book sale and other fundraisers, the Friends organization donated more than $17,200 that made it possible for the library to provide programs for hundreds of children, teens and adults during the last year. Some of the 13 programs for juniors and young adults included Harmonicas, Riverside Reptiles, Dungeons and Dragons, and Movin & Groovin Nutrition. For the adults in our community, the Friends donated funds for cultural passes, which provided free admission for people to visit museums and parks. In addition, the library offered 16 adult programs such as yoga, gargoyles, mindful eating, and stamping up Christmas Cards. Finally, the Friends of the New Milford Library paid for our Foundation Center, website, and rent for our program spaces at the First Congregational Church which were needed as our preparations for the library renovation got under way. Once again, on behalf of the New Milford Library Board of Trustees, I would like to thank the Friends of the New Milford Library for making it possible for the library to provide a wide variety of educational and entertaining programs for our townspeople. Paul Partelow Member Friends of New Milford Library Board of Trustees The novel coronavirus has sent ripples around the world. While scientists and researchers are still figuring out the cause of the virus that originated in China and has claimed more than 1,100 lives so far, Indians are busy with their pujas to contain the epidemic. In Karnatakas Durga Parameshwari and Shaneshwara temple, priests performed a special puja. Yashwanth Shastri, a priest, said, "We performed this special puja on Friday to save the world from virus and diseases like corona and H1N1." "Our ancestors used to perform a special puja for the betterment of society and save the world from viruses when they attacked," Yashwanth Shastri told news agency ANI. The coronavirus originated in China's Wuhan city in December last year and has since spread to various cities around the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global health crisis affecting more than 45,000 people worldwide. The latest figures reported by each government's health authority as of Wednesday in Beijing: - Mainland China: 1,113 deaths among 44,653 confirmed cases, mostly in the central province of Hubei. - Hong Kong: 49 cases, 1 death - Macao: 10. - Japan: 203, including 174 from a cruise ship docked in Japan - Singapore: 47 - Thailand: 33 - South Korea: 28 - Malaysia: 18 - Taiwan: 18 - Australia: 14 - Germany: 14 - Vietnam: 15 - United States: 13. Separately, one U.S. citizen died in China - France: 11 - United Kingdom: 8 - United Arab Emirates: 8 - Canada: 7 - Philippines: 3 cases, including 1 death - India: 3 - Italy: 3 - Russia: 2 - Spain: 2 - Belgium: 1 - Nepal: 1 - Sri Lanka: 1 - Sweden: 1 - Cambodia: 1 - Finland: 1 Kerala is continuing its vigil against the outbreak and 3447 people are being monitored over suspicion, in various districts of the state, said Health Minister KK Shailaja. "Of these, 3420 are in home quarantine and 27 are in hospitals. A total of 380 samples of suspected coronavirus cases have been sent to the NIV for examination. Of the 344 samples tested, all results are negative," she said. The Minister said that the health condition of all persons currently admitted to the hospital is stable. Two police detectives have been injured and a suspect killed in a Baltimore shooting which happened while the officers were carrying out an arrest warrant. The incident unfolded at around 12.15pm on a residential street on the outskirts of the city. The suspect was a former corrections officer who recently left his job, according to Governor Larry Hogan, and was wanted for attempted murder in Pennsylvania. When police - including the two detectives - showed up at the address, he opened fire. The suspect's body is placed under a sheet at the scene of the shootout in Baltimore on Wednesday US Marshals had gone to the residence with the two detectives who were injured when the suspect - an unidentified former corrections officer - started shooting He was then killed in the gunfight. The two cops injured are detectives; one is from the Baltimore Police Department and the other is from the Baltimore County Police Department. It is unclear how serious their injuries are. One of them was shot in the stomach and the other was shot in the leg. The suspect's body lying outside the front of the building. He was killed after opening fire A heavily armed cop at the scene of the shooting on Wednesday after the suspect had died The two detectives (not pictured) had gone to help US Marshals carry out an arrest warrant Governor Hogan called the incident 'very frustrating' and said the cops were just trying to do their jobs. Mayor Bernard C. Jack Young said: 'I am so very thankful for our officers that step in the line of danger every day to keep our city and residents safe. 'My prayers are with the officers and their families. Our officers are engaged daily with dangerous work and they willingly put their lives at risk so that we all might have a safer Baltimore. 'We'd like to thank all of the members of our law enforcement community.' The second batch of foreign envoys arrived here on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir for a first-hand assessment of the situation in the Union territory six months after the nullification of Article 370. The envoys of over 20 countries arrived at the Srinagar airport at around 11 am but could not visit Baramulla town in north Kashmir as per the schedule due to inclement weather, officials said. They said the envoys, who are staying at a hotel along the Boulevard Road here, instead went for a Shikara ride in the famous Dal Lake. Those who will be part of the delegation include envoys from the European Union, South America and the Gulf countries, the officials said. "Upon our arrival, we enjoyed a #Shikara ride on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir. Beautiful lake and hospitable people. I bought a beautiful Kashmiri ring from a boat serving as a shop. @MEAIndia," Afghanistan's envoy to India Tahir Qadri tweeted. Reacting to the visit of envoys, Iltija Mufti, the daughter of incarcerated PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, said she hoped that the ambassadors will question the authorities about the internet ban and and detention of political leaders under the Public Safety Act. "Hope you & @EU_in_India question GOI about internet ban since 5th August & economic losses suffered. GOI muzzling local media in Kashmir, release of detainees inc 3 ex CMs slapped with draconian PSA, troop deployment to create fear amongst people. Normalcy's an illusion," she tweeted. A visiting envoy told reporters that he was in Kashmir "as a tourist". This is second group of envoys to visit the newly created union territory following abrogation of article 370 provisions on August 5 last year. The aim of the envoys' visit to the union territory is to get first-hand information about the situation in the region after the abrogation of Article 370, the officials said. The visiting envoys will be interacting with several delegations during their stay here, they said, adding the UT officials are also likely to brief the delegation. A team of 15 envoys, including US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster, had paid a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir in January. The central government had on August 5, 2019, abrogated Article 370 provisions and bifurcated the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Those with a passing familiarity to the British royal family will, of course, know all about the line of succession and their recent headline-grabbing scandals and controversies. While it seems like members of the royal family are unable to hide from the spotlight, there are in fact several additional family members who mostly fly under the radar. One of those members is Sophie, Countess of Wessex. While her name is not going to sound familiar to those who arent deeply invested in the royal familys details, shes about to become a lot more famous and visible. Sophie, Countess of Wessex is the Queens daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Sussex | Victoria Jones WPA Pool/Getty Images While Prince Charles, the queens oldest son and next in line for the throne, is the most famous of the queens royal sons, she has three other children: Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. Prince Edward, the queens youngest son, is significantly younger than big brother Prince Charles. He is currently only 55. Prince Edward is married to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and they have two children: Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Sophie, Countess of Wessex is known for her charity work The moment The Countess of Wessex passed through the gates of Buckingham Palace to finish her #DofEChallenge! pic.twitter.com/UJ3jW6y1lx The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 25, 2016 The Countess of Wessex has been a working royal for nearly two decades. While she previously held a position in public relations, she joined the royal family full-time in 2002. The official royal family website describes Sophie charity work as substantial and wide-ranging, pointing to her ability to split her time between official royal duties and her own personal passion projects. The Countess is personally invested in supporting people with disabilities, working to prevent blindness in developing nations, agricultural projects, and fashion. Her work has included high visibility to promote charities involved in these causes and other efforts to raise awareness. For example, she wrote an article for The Telegraph about her travels to India and Qatar that coincided with World Sight Day. In addition to these charitable endeavors, the countess is also an avid cyclist who completed a challenge to cycle 445 miles from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is located in Edinburgh, to Buckingham Palace. She blogged about her journey as she worked toward her goal. Sophie, Countess of Wessex will be taking on more duties While the countess has already had an important role in the royal family, her visibility and duties are set to increase. This is because the controversies that have rocked the family in the past year have left them scrambling to find people to fill the roles left vacant. First, Prince Andrew was forced to step down from his royal duties in the wake of a scandal over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Even more recently, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have moved to Canada and stepped down from royal duties. The pair want to focus on being more independent and getting out of the harsh and challenging spotlight that theyve faced as a family. All of this has left the queen with some serious gaps to fill in the royal workload. Sophie is expected to step up and take on more of these tasks. The arrangement seems like a great fit since the countess is so close to the queen. It also means that she can expect to go from a relatively unknown member of the royal family to a much more popular figure. Its likely that the countess has the poise and confidence to take on this role with grace. After all, shes already weathered the challenge of a media scandal. Shortly before her marriage, a tabloid published topless photographs of her. Shes had a taste of how demanding the public eye can be, and shes shown herself to be capable of standing in its gaze and coming out stronger on the other side. A man from Andhra Pradeshs Chittoor district allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday; his family members say he took the extreme step due to the fear of contracting the deadly coronavirus. The 50-year-olds body was found hanging from a tree. He was a farmer from Seshamnaidu Kandriga in Thottambedu block, and was psychologically disturbed after reading reports about the dreaded viral disease in the newspapers and also browsing through videos on his mobile, the family members said. He also started behaving strangely with us in the last couple of days, after returning from Ruia Hospital in Tirupati where he underwent treatment for urinary tract infection and common cold last week. He pelted stones at us asking us not to come anywhere near him as he was infected with Coronavirus, said his son, who is working as a village volunteer. On Tuesday morning, the man bolted the door from outside as he left the house. His body was later found hanging on a tree near his mothers grave on the outskirts of the village, said family members. His son said that the man was suffering from cold and fever since February 1. He went to Ruia Hospital on February 5, where the doctors found that he was also suffering from urinary tract infection. They gave him medicines and also asked him to wear mask so that the cold does not spread to others. He returned to the village, after staying at his sisters house in Tirupati for two days, said the son. But he started panicking when his cold, cough and fever did not subside even after taking medicines, said the farmers son. He thought he got affected from coronavirus, though we told him that the disease was prevalent only in China and affected those who went there. Even the other villagers also told him that if he really had coronavirus, the doctors would have kept quarantined him, he added. My father was worried that the virus would spread to us. He hanged himself to save us, said the young man. Thottambedu police sub-inspector Venkata Subbaiah said no case was registered as the family refused to lodge a complaint. No coronavirus case has been reported in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Seven ambulances were called across Dundalk this morning in a space of 12 minutes to assist people falling on treacherous icy conditions across Dundalk town centre. Office workers at a building across from Market Square Dundalk told the Democrat they rushed out to help an elderly woman who had fallen on the ice and hurt, and possibly broke her shoulder/arm around 10am this morning. The woman has since been taken to hospital in an ambulance. Another ambulance has been called to assist a person who had fallen outside Mr Price in Williamson's Mall carpark where there are also sheets of ungritted ice causing people to slip. This area has not been gritted by the private landlord who owns the Williamson's Mall complex. A business owner in a coffee shop near Market Square told the Democrat: "It's a disgrace. The council should have been out first thing, but they only put the grit down after a few people fell. There are a lot of people slipping and falling." In a letter sent to the Democrat, Louth County Council and local Cllrs and TD's, a local company whose offices overlook the square conveyed their dismay at Louth County Council's failure to prepare for weather events yet again. The letter said: "For the second time in as many months, myself and members of our team have had to pick up an elderly person following a fall on the square due to the treacherous conditions on the same. The square remained unsalted at 9.50am this morning, after an ambulance had arrived to assist the elderly woman. "The lady in question was called (name with editor) who is from the Grange area. The paramedics seemed to think she had broken her arm / shoulder. She had just left mass and was en route to Dublin to visit her daughter. "They also disclosed that the ambulance service had received 7 calls in 12 minutes this morning regarding falls in the Dundalk area. The paramedic car was en route to Mr Price in Williamsons mall to assist another person who had fallen. "This is nothing short of a disgrace. "Our offices have a view over the square and on mornings like this we see many members of the community falling. It is ridiculous that the town council had not been prepared for weather events like this despite many weather warnings being in place. "We have called the council on many occasions to report terrible conditions as a result. It is not beyond the councils means to have busy thoroughfares like the square salted in advance of the working day. Incidents like this, I can only assume, lead to a rise in compensation claims being levied against the council. The cost of salting the footpaths would greatly offset against this." The Democrat has contacted Louth County Council and is awaiting a response. New Hampshire Democratic Primary: Who did religious voters support? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The backing of voters who never attend religious services helped propel Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary election Tuesday while Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar surprised many with a third-place showing aided by religious voters. Nearly 3,000 Democrat voters in New Hampshire took part in exit polls after they cast their ballots. They were asked several questions about who they voted for, their identity, age, job, race, education level and even how often they attend religious services. Among 11 percent of voters who say they attend religious services weekly, Klobuchar was the favorite even though she sits in sixth place in the Real Clear Politics average of national primary polling with just 4.6 percent support. Klobuchar, a 59-year-old attorney, received just under 20 percent of the vote in New Hampshire, as of Wednesday afternoon. She was backed by 28 percent of voters who attend religious services each week. Pete Buttigieg, a gay Christian and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who finished second in New Hampshire and won the Iowa Caucus, received 16 percent of voters who said they attend religious services weekly. Meanwhile, 15 percent of weekly service goers backed Sanders and 14 percent said they voted for former Vice President Joe Biden, who finished fifth in New Hampshire. Just 8 percent of weekly service goers said they voted for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Warren finished fourth in the New Hampshire primary. But among the 37 percent of respondents who said they attend religious services occasionally, Buttigieg (26 percent) was the favorite. Twenty-three percent of occasional religious attendees said they voted for Klobuchar, 20 percent said they voted for Sanders and 14 percent said they voted for Biden. Warren again struggled with this demographic as she picked up just 7 percent of support among occasional service goers. Among the 51 percent of voters who said they never attend religious services, Sanders was the clear favorite as he won 34 percent of the demographic. Biden was least favored among those who never attend religious services with only 4 percent. Twenty-two percent of those who said they never attend religious services backed Buttigieg, 19 percent said they backed Klobuchar, and 11 percent said they backed Warren. While Sanders narrow victory in New Hampshire propels him to frontrunner status, Klobuchars third-place finish in New Hampshire brings new-found momentum for her campaign while the campaigns of Biden and Warren suffered setbacks in Iowa and New Hampshire. Exit polls from New Hampshire also show that about half of voters decided on which candidate they were going to vote for within the last few days. Among those voters, Buttigieg (29 percent) and Klobuchar (24 percent) were the favorites. But for those who decided who they would vote for before the last few days, Sanders was the favorite with 37 percent of the vote. Exit polls also show that the majority of Democrat voters in New Hampshire (63 percent) would rather nominate candidates they believe have a better chance at beating President Donald Trump in the general election in November. Meanwhile, 34 percent said they would prefer to nominate a candidate with whom they most agree on the issues. Among those who said they would like to see the party nominate someone who can beat Trump, 28 percent voted for Buttigieg, 21 percent for Sanders, 20 percent for Klobuchar, 13 percent for Warren, and 10 percent for Biden. Among those who prefer a candidate that most agrees with them on the issues, 39 percent said they voted for Sanders, 21 percent for Buttigieg, 12 percent for Klobuchar, 6 percent for Warren, and 4 percent for Biden. When broken down by ideology, about half of Democrats who said they are very liberal said they voted for Sanders (48 percent). Nineteen percent of very liberal voters said they backed Warren, and 15 percent backed Buttigieg. Among the 36 percent of respondents who said they are moderate, Buttigieg led with 28 percent of the vote, while Klobuchar was second with 26 percent. When broken down by age, Sanders received 51 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 and 36 percent of voters ages 30 to 44. Buttigieg (27 percent) and Klobuchar (24 percent) were most favored for those ages 45-64. Klobuchar (32 percent) was the clear favorite among the 25 percent of voters ages 65 and over. After polls closed Tuesday, Sanders declared that his New Hampshire victory was the beginning of the end for the Trump presidency. What I can tell you with absolute certainty, and I know I speak for every one of the Democratic candidates, is that no matter who wins, and we certainly hope it is going to be us, were going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country, Sanders said. After winning Iowa and finishing second in New Hampshire, Buttigieg declared that his campaign is here to stay. Since her third-place finish in New Hampshire, Klobuchars campaign has raised $2.5 million in less than a day. Everyone had counted us out even a week ago," Klobuchar told supporters in New Hampshire. "I came back, and we delivered. Because of you, we are taking this campaign to Nevada. The Nevada caucus will be held on Feb. 22. Mississauga, Ontario and Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: BEE) (OTCQB: BEVVF) (the "Company" or "BVT") today announced it has completed three official registration trials of the Company's proprietary Clonostachys rosea CR-7 (CR-7) biological fungicide on commercial strawberry and tomato crops in Mexico. BVT worked with a Mexican government approved researcher to conduct the biological efficacy trials which are a requirement for the registration process in Mexico. Results confirmed the efficacy of CR-7 in controlling key diseases on the crops as expected, and the trial results will be submitted to Mexican regulatory authorities for review in the coming weeks. The remaining registration dossier is being prepared and is planned to be submitted by spring or early summer of this year. BVT received US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval back in August 2019. "As soon as regulatory approval is granted in Mexico, BVT is ready to move into commercial operation and execute on its Mexico market sales strategy," says Ashish Malik, CEO of Bee Vectoring Technologies. "If the regulatory submission process goes as planned without any follow up review required, we could see Mexico registration in place later this year. Having already successfully gone through what many consider a more rigorous process with the US EPA, we are confident that we are poised to complete and achieve this approval in a timely fashion." In anticipation of the commercial launch, the Company has already started market development activities of its proprietary bee vectoring system with delivery of VECTORITE with CR-7 by both bumble bees and honeybees. It has completed demonstration trials with two major Mexican berry growers on blueberries and blackberries. The growers, who farm in multiple states across Mexico, saw positive results and have agreed to continue trials on larger plot sizes in the next growing season. In addition, the company has built partnerships with two major bumble bee companies serving the Mexican market and some large commercial honeybee companies who provide pollination services to growers. The trials also tested the Company's biological fungicide CR-7 as a weekly spray with very positive results: the growers saw a 66% or greater efficacy in incidence and severity reduction over untreated control or standard organic commercially treated crops. This paves the way for a future introduction of a foliar spray end use product containing CR-7. BVT received an exemption from tolerance on CR-7 from the EPA which means all crops that are gown using any end use formulation of CR-7, including a foliar spray product, would not have to be tested for residues of CR-7 by Mexican growers before they export their crops into the US. This is seen as a major benefit in an export-oriented market such as Mexico. "Currently, Mexico uses US$250 million worth of chemical fungicides per year," continued Mr. Malik. "In addition to the registration trials, BVT has been conducting demonstration trials with local growers to prove out the efficacy of the technology. The use of biologicals in place of chemical fungicides is a fast-growing trend and an increasing number of growers are modifying production practices to meet higher food safety and quality standards with less chemical input." At a time of rising food prices, population growth and concerns about global food security, there is a growing need for more sustainable agricultural practices - ones that will help address future food needs and tackle the emerging challenges of climate change and resource conservation. Mexico is a significant producer of fresh fruits and vegetables, with US$9.1 billion of produce exported to the US annually.1 BVT's natural precision agriculture system has tremendous market potential in Mexico's fresh vegetable and fruit production markets, which include 33,800 acres of strawberries, 9,300 acres of blueberries and over 391,000 acres of tomatoes and peppers.2 (1) Source: 2017, Inside Mexico, "What does Mexico export to the US?" (2) Source: 2018, Mexico Agricultural and Fisheries Information Service (Servicio de Informacion Agroalimentaria y Pesquera) About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. BVT, an agriculture technology company, is a market disruptor with a significant global market opportunity in the $240 billion crop protection and fertilizer market. BVT has pioneered a natural precision agriculture system that replaces chemical pesticides and wasteful plant protection product spray applications by delivering biological pesticide alternatives to crops using commercially grown bees. BVT's award-winning technology, precision vectoring, is completely harmless to bees and allows minute amounts of naturally-derived pesticides (called biologicals) to be delivered directly to blooms, providing improved crop protection and yield results than traditional chemical pesticides - and improving the health of the soil, the microbiome and the environment. Currently, BVT has over 65 granted patents, over 35 patents pending in all major agricultural countries worldwide, and has US EPA registration of its VECTORITE with CR-7 (EPA Registration No. 90641-2) for sale as a registered biological fungicide for use on the labeled crops. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.beevt.com. To receive regular news updates from the Company, subscribe at www.beevt.com/newsletter. Contact: Ashish Malik, President & CEO info@beevt.com Babak Pedram, Investor Relations Virtus Advisory Group Tel: 416-995-8651 bpedram@virtusadvisory.com 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. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, "annual revenue potential", are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including: planted acres of strawberries in Florida, selling price of competitive chemical pesticides and the US to Canadian dollar exchange rate. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include changes in law, competition, litigation, the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities, state of the capital markets, the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations, new technologies, the ability to protect intellectual property rights, the ability to obtain patent protection for products, third-party intellectual property infringement claims, regulatory changes affecting products, failing research and development activities, the ability to reach and sustain profitability, dependence on business and technical experts, the ability to effectively manage business operations and growth, issuance of debt, dilution of existing securities, volatility of publicly traded securities, potential conflicts of interest, unlikelihood of dividend payments, the potential costs stemming from defending third-party intellectual property infringement claims, the ability to secure relationships with manufacturers and purchasers, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Filing Statement dated May 29, 2015, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. All figures are in Canadian dollars. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52338 El presidente @MartinVizcarraC, acompanado del Gabinete Ministerial, se reune en Palacio de Gobierno con deudos y familias damnificadas por la deflagracion en Villa El Salvador. pic.twitter.com/wBpBut4Mao The owners of two bars that served visibly intoxicated customers prior to three separate fatal crashes have agreed to liquor license suspensions and will sell the licenses to settle violations brought by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Alloway Village Inn in Salem County and Brickwall Tavern & Dining Room in Burlington City will each forfeit their liquor licenses for 30 days and the owners must divest themselves from those businesses within two years, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said Tuesday. Brickwall Tavern overserved off-duty Burlington Township police officer Justin Rodriguez, who crashed into a pole in Florence Township at 86 mph after leaving the bar early on Sept. 23, 2016. The crash killed his passenger, a 27-year-old friend. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to four years in prison. Brickwall Taverns owners, High Street at Burlington LLC, will pay $300,000. The 30-day liquor license suspension began Feb. 3. Alloway Village Inn, in Alloway Township, will pay $175,000 after it was accused of overserving drunk customers in two fatal crashes. Kenneth Furr visited the bar May 9, 2013 and stayed for about 70 minutes, leaving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.20, or more than twice the legal limit, Grewals statement said. Furr rear-ended a vehicle on Old Kings Highway and the driver and passenger in the other vehicle were killed. Furrs blood-alcohol content was 0.31, nearly quadruple the legal limit, at the time of the crash. Furr was sentenced to 11 years in state prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto. Matthew Moore, drank at the Alloway Village Inn for more than six hours the night of Nov. 28, 2015 and into Nov. 29. He veered into a tree off Waterworks Road in Lower Alloways Creek, and the crash killed his nephew, a passenger. Alloway Village Inns license suspension will take effect Sept. 4. State law prohibits serving anyone who is actually or apparently" intoxicated, which typically shows when someones BAC is at 0.15. Both businesses can continue operating for two years from the dates of their consent orders with the state ABC. If the license is not sold within this time, the license will be immediately indefinitely suspended at the end of this two year period, the orders say. 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. Jesse Lewis, one of the 20 children and six adults killed during the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, is reportedly on a shortlist to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His brother, J.T. Lewis, said that a close family friend had a conversation about the potential award with President Donald Trump at a White House dinner Sunday. But its not the first time the subject has been raised. Lewis brought it up to the vice president last May, he said. Its been in peoples minds for a long time. Lewis said his brothers name is on a list of about 30 names of potential Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients. Its a nice round list. Jesses on it, he said. Were hoping for the best. Jesse Lewis was six years old when Adam Lanza began shooting inside the elementary school. The child, who warned his classmates to run before he was killed, was hailed a hero. Hes credited with saving nine of his classmates. J.T. Lewis said his brothers actions make him more deserving than a lot of Americans. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered one of the highest awards that can be granted to a citizen. Should Jesse Lewis be posthumously presented with the award, he would join the ranks of Margaret Thatcher, Aretha Franklin and Mother Theresa, among others. Most recently, Trump awarded the medal of freedom to radio personality Rush Limbaugh, during the 2020 State of the Union. Lewis said Limbaugh was clearly emotional about receiving the honor, which shows how meaningful it is. It doesnt really matter what you think of the person, he said. You can see the weight that this medal holds. It means so much to so many people. Lewis, 19, is running for the state senate seat currently held by Tony Hwang, but he said his brothers potential award is not connected. This is just a brother trying to make sure his brother is honored. Its not about the campaign or anything else, he said. This is something separate. Boeing issued a stark warning Wednesday about the impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, saying there was "no question" it would hammer the aviation industry and the broader economy. The virus has killed more than 1,100 people and infected tens of thousands in China, and spread to over two dozen other countries in what is now considered a global health emergency. Major airlines have halted flights in and out of China, where a lockdown has been imposed in the worst-affected areas, while several countries have banned arrivals from China. "You have several global airlines that have limited their traffic in and out of China, that's revenue," said Ihssane Mounir, the US plane maker's senior vice president of commercial global sales and marketing. "You have business trips not happening, you have cargo not going in and out. "It will have an impact on the economy, it will have an impact on revenues, it will have an impact on these carriers... there's no question about it." Mounir was speaking in Singapore to reporters at Asia's biggest air show, which has seen over 70 exhibitors withdraw and a fall in visitor numbers due to virus fears. Singapore has reported 47 cases of the virus so far and has raised its health alert level to the same as during the 2002-2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. The vast exhibition centre hosting the four-day show has been unusually empty, pockmarked by empty booths of companies who have pulled out. Organisers have been using thermal scanners to check the temperature of those attending and have advised participants to avoid handshakes and instead greet one another by waving or bowing There are other signs of the virus's economic impact, with extended holidays and movement restrictions imposed by China causing major disruption to global supply chains. The South Korean unit of US car company General Motors on Wednesday announced a partial suspension of operations next week due to shortages of parts from China. Japanese auto giant Nissan and South Korea's Hyundai Motor have also been affected. Boeing gets some aircraft components from China, but Mounir said he was not yet seeing any impact on these operations from the coronavirus. mba-sr/fox BOEING GENERAL MOTORS NISSAN MOTOR (Bloomberg) -- HP Inc. said it will respond to Xerox Holdings Corp.s planned tender offer on Feb. 24, when the company reports earnings, again promising shareholders a path to boost the personal-computer makers value. HP will share additional information about its plan to drive sustainable long-term value for its shareholders, including through the execution of the companys multi-year strategic and financial plan and the deployment of its strong balance sheet, the Palo Alto, California-based company said Tuesday in a statement. Xerox said Monday it will launch a tender offer on or around March 2 with a bid of $24 per share in cash and stock, a $2 per share increase from an unsolicited takeover offer to HPs board in November. For each HP share, a holder would get $18.40 in cash and 0.149 Xerox shares. The offer wont be subject to any conditions related to financing or due diligence, Xerox said Monday. The printer maker has already begun a proxy battle for control of HP, nominating 11 directors to replace its rivals board. Analysts project that HP will report profit, excluding some expenses, of 55 cents per share on revenue of $14.6 billion in the fiscal first quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That would mean a 1% reduction in sales compared with a year earlier, reflecting softer demand for the companys ink supplies as consumers and businesses print less. Xerox also has struggled to cope with those changing market tastes, and last year announced plans to cut $640 million in expenses. Annual revenue declined 8% to $9.1 billion in 2019, with analysts projecting another 5% decrease this year. HP has said it has many routes to create value for shareholders that arent dependent on a combination with Xerox. Chief Executive Officer Enrique Lores, who has worked at the company for more than three decades, is still new to HPs top job. Lores said he wants to make printing services, 3-D printing and high-end computers a larger part of HPs business, and would oversee as much as a 16% reduction in the companys workforce in a bid to cut costs. Xerox CEO John Visentin has criticized this plan as a piecemeal approach that wont be as beneficial to HP as a combination. Story continues (Corrects date for the planned tender offer in the third paragraph.) To contact the reporter on this story: Nico Grant in San Francisco at ngrant20@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@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. Copt The Vote: Mobilizing More Than 500,000 Coptic Americans Coptic Solidarity Launches Voter Registration Campaign for American Copts NEWS PROVIDED BY Coptic Solidarity Feb. 12, 2020 WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today Coptic Solidarity launched a new campaign called "Copt the Vote," which promotes Coptic voter registration and participation in the US Census. Copts in the US are not typically politically active, causing their community to be seriously under-represented in the US. As such, Coptic issues in Egypt continue to be overlooked and often misrepresented by American policy makers. According to the 2010 U.S. Religion Census, just over 92,000 Copts reside in the USa remarkably low number considering that the US Coptic population now exceeds half a million. Copts represent a large minority in the United States but are not well represented in key policy decisions. Having an accurate Census would greatly empower diaspora Copts to make their voices heard in US policy, including on behalf of Copts in Egypt who currently live as second class, if not persecuted citizens. Approximately 4 out of 5 Christians in the greater Middle East are Coptic, beyond Egypt. Coptic Christians often face persecution and, in some cases, human rights abuses. This minority population is often overlooked, even though there are more than 10 million in Egypt. "Larger minority groups have their issues noticed by policy makers," Rep. French Hill shared at the Coptic Solidarity Conference. "This is why it is so important for Copts in the US to make their voices heard." By mobilizing the more than half a million Copts living in the United States, Coptic Solidarity is hopeful that more policy makers will become involved in issues impacting Copts, and that as a result, there will be greater accountability towards governments like Egypt who treat Copts as second class citizens. "Make your voice count and go vote," stated Caroline Doss Esq., President of Coptic Solidarity. "Become politically active. Our people in Egypt need you." Coptic Solidarity is partnering with local communities to host voter registration events. To learn more and become involved, contact coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org Coptic Solidarity is utilizing resources and a registration form provided by Rock the Vote. Coptic Solidarity is a non-partisan, non-profit advocating equal citizenship rights for the Copts in Egypt. The organization does not align with a particular political party, and instead works with politicians from both sides of the aisle to get things done. Coptic Solidarity will not receive any personal contact information when individuals register to vote. Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts, of Egypt. We support those in Egypt working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens, and advocate in cooperation with the affiliated organizations in Canada and in Europe (Solidarite Copte). For more information, contact Lindsay Griffin at 801-512-1713 or coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org. SOURCE Coptic Solidarity CONTACT: Lindsay Griffin, 801-512-1713, coptadvocacy@copticsolidarity.org Related Links https://www.copticsolidarity.org/ https://www.copticsolidarity.org/rock-the-vote/ Vopak announces share buyback program to return EUR 100 million to shareholders Today, Vopak announces the start of a share buyback program to return EUR 100 million to shareholders following the completion of the divestment of the terminals in Algeciras, Amsterdam and Hamburg in line with Vopaks strategy. This divestment program was completed on 31 January 2020. Vopak will execute the share buyback program with the purpose to reduce its issued capital. The share buyback program will start 13 February 2020 and is expected to be completed within 2020. The share buyback program will be executed under the existing authority granted at the 2019 Annual General Meeting on 17 April 2019, and the authority (if granted) by the 2020 Annual General Meeting on 21 April 2020. Under these limits the share buyback program cannot exceed 10% of Vopaks issued capital. The share buyback program will be executed by an independent intermediary, allowing the execution of open market transactions during open and closed periods. In connection with the share buyback program, HAL Holding N.V. will proportionally sell part of its current shareholding in Vopak in order to maintain its interest at the current level. Vopak will instruct an independent intermediary to match the open market trades under the share buyback program by purchasing on Vopaks behalf shares from HAL Holding N.V., at the same average price per share as the open market trades, in proportion to its current shareholding. The size of the buyback program of EUR 100 million includes the shares to be bought from HAL Holding N.V. The share buyback program is separate from any share transactions Vopak may execute to cover obligations under the long term incentive programs for employees. Vopak will provide weekly updates on the progress of the share buyback program through press releases and transaction details on Vopaks website for the duration of the program. This press release contains inside information as meant in clause 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation. Profile Vopak Royal Vopak is the worlds leading independent tank storage company. We store vital products with care. With over 400 years of history and a focus on sustainability, we ensure safe, clean and efficient storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases for our customers. By doing so, we enable the delivery of products that are vital to our economy and daily lives, ranging from chemicals, oils, gases and LNG to biofuels and vegoils. We are determined to develop key infrastructure solutions for the worlds changing energy systems, while simultaneously investing in digitalization and innovation. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit vopak.com For further information please contact: Vopak Press: Liesbeth Lans, Manager External Communication, Telephone : +31 (0)10 4002777, e-mail: global.communication@vopak.com Vopak Analysts and investors: Laurens de Graaf, Head of Investor Relations Telephone : +31 (0)10 4002776, e-mail: investor.relations@vopak.com Attachment YEREVAN. Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: The Constitutional Court [(CC)] is conducting its work in a normal way, paying no attention to what is happening around it. Today we have invited the Minister of Justice to the CC, we are going to discuss an international treaty; he is the rapporteur, our CC source said yesterday. But what about the [forthcoming constitutional] referendum? "I think the proud citizen of Armenia will not go on the unlawful road." And is there a [CC] judge that can retire early? Feliks Tokhyan's name is mentioned. At the moment, no; everybody is actively working, except for one. It is a fact that whatever step the authorities have taken they have come out wrong; this one is no exception. They may seem to be successful in the short run, but they cannot succeed in the long run for 3 reasons: They are dishonest in their goals, they do not do all this with the honest urge to reform the justice system. The actions [of their] are illegal; they choose from the laws especially what cannot be done, and each passing day makes them more vulnerable. Look, the Justice Ministry issued a statement that the Minister had spoken to [President Gianni] Buquicchio [of the Venice Commission], and not a word whatsoever as to what [they spoke about]. The law on referendum is the first precedent not sent to Venice. It is not ruled out that Buquicchio will write a conclusion, submit it to the Council of Europe [(CoE)]; in other words, we are unnecessarily weakening the country." A psychologist testified Tuesday that he diagnosed Jeremy Christian with autism spectrum disorder and that sometimes people with that condition lose emotional control of themselves, like on the afternoon Christian fatally stabbed two men on a MAX train in May 2017. Emotional control is often one of the issues that people with autism have, forensic psychologist Timothy Derning of Sonoma, California, told jurors. ... If theres a disruption in their world, they can fly off into temper tantrums or rages. Derning was one of two psychologists to take the stand Tuesday. It was the ninth day of trial and the second day that defense attorneys presented their case that Christian acted in self-defense and has cognitive deficits that led him to react violently and out of fear when others on the train confronted him about his loud, hate-filled rant on May 26, 2017. On cross-examination, prosecutor Don Rees asked Derning: "Most people with autism spectrum disorder dont commit crimes? "Correct, Derning said. Rees expressed skepticism about the timing of Dernings diagnosis of Christian, which came only after Christian was arrested for fatally stabbing the two passengers and seriously injuring a third when Christian was 35. In your report, you wrote autism spectrum disorder doesnt happen all of a sudden, Rees said. You dont get it when you turn 30? Correct, Derning said. He agreed most people are diagnosed between ages 2 and 5 and that when he interviewed Christians mother, she told him she noticed nothing abnormal about Christians childhood. Derning tried to explain the lack of observations by Christians mother. Derning testified that she might have said that because she " didnt want to be blamed for anything that happened in this case. Christian, now 37, is on trial contesting two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree intimidation, a hate crime. Prosecutors contend he targeted two teenage girls on the train -- one who is African-American and the other who immigrated from Somalia and was wearing a hijab -- before unleashing his stabbing spree. Christian killed Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Ricky Best, 53, with knife wounds to the necks. Micah Fletcher, then 21, also stabbed in the neck, narrowly survived. During questioning by defense attorney Greg Scholl, Derning said there have been many indicators that Christian has autism: He has trouble picking up on body language and other social cues and struggles to properly assess social situations. Derning said Christians parents divorced when Christian was about 6 and he had a dysfunctional home life with his siblings split between his mothers home and his fathers home two blocks away. Christians father didnt seem to know his son well and couldnt remember his sons birthdate, the psychologist said. One of Christians brothers told Derning that Christian as a teenager liked to ride buses in the most dangerous parts of town -- a vigilante who would seek out bullies with the goal to kick those bullies ass(es), Derning wrote in his report. At age 20, Christian robbed a convenience store and was shot in the face by a police officer as he reached for a gun. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison for first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping, according to court records. He came out of prison a damaged person, Derning said. In his adult life, Christian struggled to have meaningful interactions with others, the psychologist said. His peers were people he drank heavily with, Derning said. There were no friends he kept from childhood. He really didnt have friends. He had Facebook friends. Derning described Christian as having an atypical case of autism: Whats interesting about Jeremy is if you have the idea that autistics are in their own little world and they dont want to come out, hes 180 degrees the opposite of that. Christian seeks out social interactions with loud, one-sided conversations, Derning said. Instead he uses a bulldozer and kind of bulldozes you with stuff, Derning said. ... He tries to dominate the conversation with his point of view. Derning said he didnt diagnose Christian with other conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or antisocial personality disorder. During cross-examination, he said doesnt believe autism fully accounts for or explains Christians behavior on the train. The prosecution indicated in opening statements two weeks earlier that it is ready to call an expert who will testify that Christian has antisocial personality disorder -- the term for someone who disregards the rights of others, acts impulsively, acts aggressively and lacks remorse, Rees said. Also testifying Tuesday was Glena Andrews, a neuropsychologist and professor of clinical psychology at George Fox University in Newberg. Andrews said she determined Christian has slightly slower than normal processing speeds and trouble assessing unfamiliar circumstances. He will not see the full picture, Andrews said. Prosecutor Jeff Howes was critical of Andrews assessments that Christian was cognitively below average in some areas and that could have led him to stab other passengers. Upon more detailed questioning, Andrews said in many tests Christian scored average or even better than the mean, such as in the 68th percentile of people on a verbal comprehension test. But he did score below average in some tests. Both psychologists who took the stand agreed that Christian had an IQ ranging from 95 to 98, which is considered average. Howes noted that Christian earned his GED at age 16 after having previously stopped his schooling in ninth grade. Christian later enrolled in Portland Community College. Howes asked Andrews if Christian got all As and a B in a full course load one term. Andrews answered that he had. Andrews also confirmed that Christian held down a job at Pietros Pizza for four years and was able to take public transportation to get around. In asking follow-up questions, Scholl, the defense attorney, asked if its possible for someone to be intelligent but still have cognitive deficits. Scholl brought up the example of Albert Einstein, who is said to have had an IQ of 160 but didnt drive a car. Andrews agreed that a highly intelligent person could still have impairments. -- 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. Daniel Baker, a software engineer and passionate pilot, noticed a problem while flying his Cessna 172: There wasnt a good way for general aviation pilots to share their location with friends and family or other pilots. So in 2005, at 22 years old, he started a side project to solve that problem. Word spread, and the software caught the attention of charter companies, corporate flight departments and small airports wanting to use his technology. Inundated by those requests, he formed Houston-based FlightAware, and what started as a flight tracking service has since become a global aviation data services company. On HoustonChronicle.com: IAH to break ground on expanded international terminal FlightAwares real-time data helps airlines schedule crews, assign planes to gates and organize de-icing work. It helps corporate aviation departments monitor their jets and coordinate ground services such as fuel or catering. And it arms consumers with up-to-date information on their planes location and expected arrival time. Travelers are most familiar with the latter, offered for free on FlightAwares app and website, but the companys main source of revenue comes from charging aviation-related businesses for accessing real-time, historical and predictive data feeds from its proprietary algorithms. Baker, now 37, spoke with Texas Inc. about his companys growth and its more recent innovations, which include satellites and machine learning. Q: How can consumers use FlightAware? A: Our services can be used by anyone. Whether theyre on a U.S. airline, foreign airline, anywhere in the world, in any language and in any time zone, they can get alerts for delays, for cancellations, anything thats going on with the flight. And then we can enable all sorts of what we call insider features, such as tracking the specific aircraft thats going to be operating your flight as it makes its way to you. Q: Why use FlightAware if airlines already tell me when Im delayed or allow me to track flights of friends and family? A: The airlines are trying to have a real fixed, regimented schedule and provide you the information theyd like for you to have. They can modify schedules, re-estimating when theyre going to actually deliver that flight to you, but they dont change a lot. Its not very dynamic. We are going off real-time information that we have collected ourselves and are turning into predictions and decision-making information. Q: How do you collect real-time data? A: In 2009, we heard about this new technology, ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) receivers. We began experimenting with the hardware. We had it on top of our building, we deployed one in New York where we had an office and then we started deploying them at partner facilities in London and Paris. Suddenly we had data in Europe. A customer could fly from New York to London and we could track the airplane on both sides of the ocean. And so that motivated us to be in control of our own destiny rather than trying to rely on the Federal Aviation Administration and others to provide us data. It went from that first ground station to 25,000 ground stations in 198 countries. Q: How do these receivers work? A: This ADS-B technology basically is hooking up a lot of different systems in the airplane to a transponder and then is emitting the planes latitude and longitude super-precisely based on GPS. On HoustonChronicle.com: FlightAware to help bring satellite technology to commercial air travel Q: Where are these 25,000 receivers located? A: We started by reaching out to customers who were in areas that didnt have great coverage. Then we started working with our airline customers to set them up at airports. And now we provide them to anyone who is willing to host them. Its super easy. Basically, you plug in USB power and well provide the power adapter with the correct plugs for your country you screw in the antennae that we provide you, you type in your WiFi password or plug in Ethernet, and youre done. So we have a combination of aviation enthusiasts and folks who want to help the infrastructure in their country. Were shipping about 100 a week right now. Q: You also use satellites to track planes, right? A: Yes, because we were having a little bit of diminishing returns on expanding our terrestrial coverage. We werent getting great coverage in remote places like Siberia, in remote places in Africa, over the poles. And we were never going to get it over the oceans. So theres a company called Aireon. They wanted to provide data from satellites to air traffic control. We approached them in 2015 and said, Hey, you guys are focused on air traffic control. We do this in the commercial sector for business aviation and for commercial aviation. Why dont you give us data off these satellites (there are 66 of them) and then we can bring it into the private sector. Its been a great partnership. Q: How has this strengthened your flight tracking? A: We now have 100 percent global coverage for businesses that purchase space-based service. Its just been revolutionary, particularly for carriers doing a lot of trans-oceanic operations. Our first customer was Qatar Airways, which does incredibly long-haul flights. Malaysia Airlines was also an early launch customer. Q: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing in 2014. Can your technology help in these situations? A: One of the huge benefits with global coverage is that you know when youre not receiving. With Aireon space-based ADS-B, if we dont get the position from an airline for a few minutes thats an alert. And so what were enabling airlines to do is respond far more quickly and, in the event of a tragic accident, have a better sense of where the airplane is. The ability to know where the last position was narrows the search considerably. On HoustonChronicle.com: Ethiopian Airlines CEO: A year of tragedy and accomplishment Q: Do you have any upcoming innovations? A: With 15 years of data and about 10 years of ADS-B, we have created models so that we can leverage whats happened in the past to predict whats going to happen in the future. We can provide airlines a hyper-accurate estimate of when that airplane will arrive at the gate. And so, essentially, instead of looking at a bunch of data and being reactionary to problems, airlines can be proactive. This is just the very beginning of the next phase of FlightAware. From telling you whats been happening to telling you whats going to happen. Weve announced FlightAwares machine learning predictions with one airport, Frankfurt Airport, and were going to announce with two major airlines in the next couple of months. Q: How might that work? A: Lets say an airplane is X miles away from an airport. A not-smart algorithm would say, OK divide distance by speed and this is the arrival time. But FlightAware could say, Well, actually theyre landing to the north and the airport is too congested right now. So theyre going to do two turns in the hold, then theyre going to come down here and then theyre going to be fifth in line. And FlightAware can do this an hour, two hours out. In the past it was done by people and it was done by algorithms. And the algorithms were pretty good. They could get it right within 15 or 20 minutes. But plus or minus 15 minutes is half an hour. Were talking plus or minus two minutes. Q: How many employees do you have? A: We have about 110 employees, and I would say that about 90 are in this Houston office. We do have sales offices in New York, London and Singapore, but all the engineering is done here.Weve been hiring about 3 people a month, which for us is a lot, for over a year now. Were going to retain that run rate for the next year. On HoustonChronicle.com: United Airlines lounge restriction irks lifetime members Q: Ive heard you offer aviation perks to employees. A: FlightAware has a flying program. It not only helps with recruiting, but it also helps with the culture and people understanding whats going on. Early on, 100 percent of people here were pilots. We understood air traffic control, we understood flight plans, we understood airplanes, we understood the relationship between airports and airplanes. Thats diminished over time and even among the pilots that work here they tend to not fly very much. Its a pain. Its expensive to be current. So if you say, Hey, I want to get my FAA medical certificate, FlightAware will pay for that. If you say, Im a pilot and I want to get current, get legal again to fly, FlightAware will pay for that. If you say, Ive never flown in a small plane before. I want to try it out, FlightAware will pay for that. If you say, I like it. Lets do the flight training, FlightAware will subsidize it and then give you bonuses for the first time you solo, for getting your private pilots license. And FlightAwares flying club owns an airplane thats used for flight training. Theres no requirement, but anyone who wants to can do it. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com Twitter.com/a_leinfelder Mallya's barrister, Clare Montgomery, reiterated the central defence that there had been no misrepresentation or fraud on the part of her client and that Kingfisher Airlines was the victim of economic misfortune alongside other airlines. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya was back at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday for the second day of his high court appeal against extradition to India, during which his lawyers argued against any prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against him. The 64-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, wanted in India on charges amounting to an alleged Rs 9,000 crore in unpaid bank loans, sat in the public gallery as his legal team highlighted the widespread woes of the airline industry in India, including another collapsed firm Jet Airways. Let's hear the arguments in court, he said, as he entered the courtroom. Lord Justice Stephen Irwin and Justice Elisabeth Laing, the two-member bench hearing the appeal, confirmed at the start that they would not be handing down their verdict immediately after the hearing, scheduled until Thursday. Mallya's barrister, Clare Montgomery, reiterated the central defence that there had been no misrepresentation or fraud on the part of her client and that Kingfisher Airlines was the victim of economic misfortune alongside other airlines. "The airline industry is littered with examples of struggling airlines being supported for strategic reasons," said Montgomery. She has focussed her arguments on trying to establish multiple errors in Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot's verdict in favour of her client's extradition in December 2018 and revisited a series of bank statements and balance sheets provided to Indian banks to seek loans as proof of full disclosure. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), appearing in court on behalf of the Indian government, is set to counter the defence arguments later on Wednesday, mostly as a supplement to already submitted written arguments. Justice Irwin repeated Montgomery's previous assertion of this being a very dense case and has sought a detailed chronology and list of documents from the defence team by Monday, before they consider their verdict. On Tuesday, Montgomery had opened her arguments to try and establish that Mallya had no fraudulent intentions when he sought bank loans for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines because he is no fly by night figure but an immensely wealthy man who was not running any sort of ponzi scheme but a reputable airline, which fell into economic misfortune along with other Indian airlines. She [Arbuthnot] did not look at all of the evidence because if she had, she would not have fallen into the multiple errors that permeate her judgment, she said. Representatives from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the Indian High Commission in London were present in the court for the hearing. Mallya had received permission to appeal against his extradition order signed off by former UK home secretary Sajid Javid last February only on one ground, which challenges the Indian government's prima facie case against him of fraudulent intentions in acquiring bank loans. At the end of a year-long extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in December 2018, Judge Arbuthnot had found clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the CPS on behalf of the Indian government. Mallya remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017 involving a bond worth 650,000 pounds and other restrictions on his travel while he contests that ruling. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters President Trump reportedly took badgering to a new and very literal level when working with Reince Priebus. Before his brief tenure as Trump's chief of staff, Priebus grew up in Wisconsin, went to college there, and eventually became the chair of its Republican party. Trump apparently found Priebus' badger background especially interesting, and he often spent meetings questioning Priebus about Wisconsin's official animal, The Daily Beast's Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaeng report in their forthcoming book Sinking in the Swamp. Trump was apparently reminded early in Priebus' tenure that "the short-legged omnivore was practically synonymous with the Badger State," and then would "make a point of bringing it up at seemingly random occasions," Markay and Suebsaeng write in an excerpt of the book published by Business Insider. Trump also reportedly asked Priebus "Are they mean to people? Or are they friendly creatures?" on at least two occasions, inquired if Priebus had any pictures of badgers, and then asked if Priebus could explain just how badgers "work." This apparently happened during several policy meetings, and all the while Priebus could be seen "trying to gently veer the conversation back to whether we were going to do a troop surge in Afghanistan or strip millions of Americans of health-care coverage," Sinking in the Swamp continues. Read the whole excerpt at Business Insider. More stories from theweek.com The sidelining of Elizabeth Warren Authoritarians aren't like Mao anymore. They're like Trump. Passengers shower new parents and just-adopted daughter with love on their 1st flight as a family Janet Street-Porter has revealed her turmoil to gain access to hormone replacement therapy, arguing that 'women should not have to beg for the drug'. The Brentford-born journalist, 73, opened up about her struggle when speaking on the Loose Women panel earlier today. She revealed she had been on holiday in Australia when she realised she didn't have the medication, and had seen a doctor who 'lectured' her about taking the drug at her age and 'almost reduced her to tears'. Fellow panelist Saira Khan, 49, also explained she had been taking the drug to relieve joint pain, and said she feels doctors don't take the problem seriously. Janet Street-Porter, 73, opened up about her turmoil to get hormone replacement therapy while appearing on Loose Women today, saying that women should not need to beg for a drug that is their right The panelist said she had been outraged after trying to access HRT while in Australia and said she was almost reduced to tears by a private doctor over her request for the drug It comes as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said it was 'very concerned' that women were buying products from websites and warned that unregulated sites were potentially unsafe. Last week, the Royal College of GPs said 'unscrupulous' online chemists were profiting from patients desperate for HRT because tens of thousands of women are being harmed by 'catastrophic' shortages of HRT and contraception. Introducing the topic on today's show, host Christine Lampard explained that women are going to extreme lengths to get their prescriptions, from buying them online to trading them in social media groups. Janet said that she first became aware of the issue of accessing the drug when she travelled to Australia only to arrive and realise she didn't have her prescription. Janet argued women should not feel the need to beg for a drug that was 'their right' while appearing on the show today. Meanwhile Saira Khan also opened up about her struggle to access the drug and said she found it helped ease her 'really stiff joints' (pictured, with the Loose Women panel earlier today) Speaking of her struggles, she said: 'At end of last year, I noticed on my Twitter feed that people were saying they couldn't get their HRT. HOW LONG HAVE THE PROBLEMS WITH HRT SUPPLY BEEN GOING ON FOR? Last October, top GP Dr Louise Newson said it was easier for drug addicts to get heroin than it is for women to get HRT. Previous figures suggested that four in ten women have been able to access HRT medication. Whilst there has been no official explanation for the shortage, it is said to be down to a 'perfect storm' of manufacturing and supply problems. Advertisement 'In fact it's been going on for months, the shortage started in 2018.' 'I never thought it would affect me, in my stupid way, I've been on HRT for over 15 years.' She went on: 'Anyway, when I got to Australia, I discovered my pharmacist hadn't included it in my medication for my holiday. 'I had to go and get some from a private doctor who gave me a lecture about why women my age shouldn't be on HRT and it almost reduced me to tears.' Janet explained: 'I got a one month supply and when I got back, I rang up my NHS surgery and I said, "What's happened to my HRT prescription?" and they said they needed me to go and see my doctor and you can only get one or two months at a time.' She went on: 'The NHS is at crisis point, doctors are so busy. How come every woman that needs HRT have to go in, find the time to make an appointment, and beg for it? Why should we have to beg for a medication that is our right? 'If it was a medication that applied to men, these shortages would have been solved ages ago. I don't notice a Viagra crisis, do I?' Hosting the show, Christine Lampard explained that the NHS was suffering a shortage as women across the UK struggle to get HRT Meanwhile fellow panelist Saira Khan also said she had been taking HRT, and said she has often been told it's not available. What are the risks of taking HRT over the age of 60? Using hormone therapy in women ages 65 and older remains controversial. Most women hit menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 with the average age being 51. Most women are able to stop taking HRT after their menopausal symptoms finish, which is usually two to five years after they start. The risks of the treatment may go up at higher doses, the longer you use a medication, or as you age. If HRT is used in women over 60 years of age, low doses should be used. Potential risks of taking HRT can include: Increased risk of breast cancer than women who never use HRT. Increased risk of heart disease and strokes Increased risk of womb and ovarian cancer Increased risk of blood clots Advertisement She said she didn't feel doctors take the shortage seriously because it's not deadly. She explained: 'No I'm not going to die. But I'm going to be hot and sweaty, and I'm going to come out in a rash and I'm going to be very angry. 'I had really stiff joints and it really helped me, it helped with my bone density and my moods.' She continued: 'I don't want to hold myself up as desperate case, but women across the country will be asking why they can't get it, they'll be saying it makes their life better.' Last week, campaigners warned that tens of thousands of women are being harmed by 'catastrophic' shortages of HRT and contraception. Professional bodies, doctors and MPs are demanding immediate action from the Health Secretary to alleviate the crisis, insisting 'women deserve better'. In a joint letter to the Matt Hancock, health leaders warned that women have been left in distress for over a year due to shortages of HRT medication. Meanwhile worsening shortages of contraceptive drugs are causing 'utter chaos', leading to unplanned pregnancies and risking a spike in abortions. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the British Menopause Society and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare urged the Government to launch a working group to investigate into the crisis. In a letter expressing frustration at the 'lack of transparency' over the reasons for the shortages, they said it is still unclear why they 'seem to be unique to the UK'. Swiss authorities are investigating into allegations the company Crypto AG, a Switzerland-based maker of encryption devices, was a front company for the CIA and German intelligence. According to a joint report published by Germanys ZDF public broadcaster and The Washington Post the Swiss-based firm Crypto AG was operating for CIA and the German Intelligence agency providing them with access to encrypted communications of more than 120 countries for decades. The investigation conducted by the media is based on documents from the CIA and Germanys BND foreign intelligence agency. The list of Cryptos customers included Iran, India and Pakistan, military juntas in Latin America and the Vatican. The company was completely under the control of the spy agencies since 1970. The documents explicitly refer some historical events when the agencies used the access grant by Crypto AG to monitor Irans mullahs during the 1979 hostage crisis, fed Britain intelligence about Argentinas military during the Falklands War, and caught Libyan officials congratulating themselves on the 1986 bombing of Berlins La Belle nightclub, which was frequented by American servicemen. According to intelligence experts, in the 1980s, a large p ortion of foreign communications p rocessed by US intelligence officials (40%) had been accessed through Cryptos systems. Crypto was liquidated in 2018, but its products are still in use in more than a dozen countries. Swiss Defense Ministry spokeswoman, Carolina Bohren, told The Associated Press that following research carried out by the media her office had notified the Cabinet about the Crypto case on November 5, 2019. On Jan. 15, the decision was made to appoint a former supreme court judge to look into the reports and report back by the end of June. reported the Associated Press. The events under discussion date back to 1945 and are difficult to reconstruct and interpret in the present-day context,. The involvement in the surveillance activity of the company was a p rofitable business that allowed Crypto AG to amass millions of dollars paid by the CIA and BND. Foreign governments were paying good money to the US and West Germany for the privilege of having their most secret communications read by at least two (and possibly as many as five or six) foreign countries, wrote a report by the CIA into the operation. Intelligence experts suspected the involvement of western spy agencies in Crypto since 1990s, for this reason, Russia and China never trusted the company machines and did not use them. The AP News cited a case that took place in 1992, at the time a Crypto representative was arrested in Iran and spent months in prison before being released after the BND allegedly paid a $1 million dollar ransom. Konstantin von N otz, a German lawyer and p olitician, member of the Alliance 90/The Greens party, who sits on the p arliamentary committee that oversees the BND, told ZDF that will ask more transparency on the case. The BND used the proceeds generated from the sale of cryptography devices to fund field operations, while the CIA used the money to buy competitors and create the conditions for a monopoly for Crypto. Erich Schmidt-Eenboom, a German intelligence expert who helped analyze the documents, told the APNews that it is not credible that the Swiss government wasnt aware of Cryptos activity of western intelligence. Thats not credible, he said. They shut both eyes. The Swiss government declared that it was informed of the case only in N ovember 2019, then he decided to investigate into the case. Swedish firm Crypto International that was formed after part of the original company was acquired by an investor in 2018, declared that it had no connections to the CIA or the BND and was very distressed by the reports. Pierluigi Paganini [February 12, 2020] ORIX USA Appoints Art Mbanefo Chief Investment Officer and Head of Principal Business ORIX Corporation USA (ORIX USA), the U.S. and Latin America business hub for international financial services company, ORIX Corporation (ORIX), announced today that Art Mbanefo was named as the company's Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Head of Principal Business. Mbanefo, a 33-year veteran in the financial services industry, joined the firm's executive management team in New York as a Senior Managing Director. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005736/en/ Mbanefo (Photo: Business Wire) "We are very pleased to welcome Art as an important addition to the ORIX USA executive management team," said Terry Suzuki, ORIX USA President and CEO. "Art's extensive leadership experience and expertise n global markets, capital and credit business will be of tremendous value as we continue to execute on our growth strategy." In his new role, Mbanefo is responsible for managing the active investment, underwriting and allocation of assets of ORIX USA and has oversight for all principal business. In addition, he is responsible for adding new strategies, businesses and assets to ORIX USA's balance sheet. Mbanefo brings a wealth of investment experience across multiple debt and equity classes to ORIX USA. He most recently was CIO of Barclays International, where he had wide-ranging responsibilities over the entire balance sheet, including direct responsibility for the Investing and Lending business, Asset and Structured Finance, Financial Resource Management, Strategic and Private Equity Investments and Asset Management. Prior to Barclays, Art served as CIO and Chief Executive Officer of two alternative investment management firms. "I'm honored to join a financial services company with a stellar reputation and highly respected leadership team that possesses a clear vision and commitment to long-term success," said Mbanefo. "ORIX USA is at the forefront of providing innovative capital solutions to entities across multiple industries. I look forward to the opportunity to provide clients with even greater access to the global resources of ORIX Corporation." ORIX Corporation USA (ORIX USA) Since 1981, ORIX USA has provided innovative capital solutions that clients need to propel their business to the next level. ORIX USA and its subsidiaries-Boston Financial Investment Management, Hunt Real Estate Capital, ORIX Real Estate Capital (the combined company of RED Capital Group and Lancaster Pollard), NXT Capital, Mariner Investment Group, RB Capital and ORIX Capital Partners-include a team of approximately 1,400 employees spanning more than 35 offices across the U.S. and Brazil. ORIX USA and its family of companies have $70 billion of assets under management, administration and servicing (including $10 billion held by the Company and its subsidiaries).* Its parent company, ORIX Corporation, is a publicly owned international financial services company with operations in 37 countries and regions worldwide. ORIX Corporation is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (8591) and New York Stock Exchange (IX). For more information, visit orix.com. *All figures are as of December 2019. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005736/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] YCA 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 A group of Jamia Millia Islamia students on Wednesday alleged police kicked them on their private parts, tore their hijabs, questioned their patriotism and abused them when they tried to march to Parliament on February 10 against the CAA and the NRC. The Delhi Police, however, denied these allegations, saying "no force was used against the protesters". Hundreds of Jamia students and residents of nearby areas were stopped by police on Monday from taking out a march to Parliament against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and a possible National Register of Citizens, leading to a standoff during which scuffles broke out between protesters and security personnel. The students claimed the police action was a "preplanned" conspiracy to stop their march by attacking them. Addressing a press conference here, around 20 injured students under the Jamia Coordination Committee narrated what they claimed were police brutalities. "The students had barely reached the Holy Family Hospital when they found police standing prepared there in three layers. They were wearing steel gears, carrying flash rods, sticks and more. They started squeezing students with the steel gear. We were beaten up with shoes, flash rods and also kicked in the stomach," alleged Safura Zargar, one of the injured students. The students claimed over 50 of them received injuries on their chest, stomach and their private parts during the scuffles. They said they were taken to the MA Ansari Hospital at Jamia Nagar and Al Shifa Hospital. Twelve students are in the ICU, they claimed. The students who were speaking to the media were discharged from the hospitals. "A senior officer threatened me in front of a group of students, 'I will tear you apart'. I told him he can do whatever he wanted, but I won't be scared. Policemen also commented on my beard and questioned my patriotism," claimed Mujibullah Sawan, another injured student. Denying the charges, South East DCP RP Meena said, "All allegations levelled against us are untrue. The entire protest has been videographed by us. In fact, some of our men were manhandled and they received injuries in the scuffle. No force was used against the protesters." But an injured female student alleged, "When I saw a few students being thrashed, I rushed to help them. When I was about to cross the barricade, some policewomen pushed me down. One of the male policemen kicked in my private part and I fainted." She claimed she can identify the policeman who thrashed her and was ready to do so if asked to. Another female student claimed, "Policemen stood on my thigh. I have suffered a ligament tear. They tore my hijab. Policewomen passed lewd comments like 'take her in a corner and teach her what Constitution is'." The women students brought their purported medical reports as evidence of the injuries, while the male students presented photos of the injuries. "The police deliberately didn't use lathis. They got into an argument and then began thrashing us. One of them had a grenade gun with which he hit me five times on my hand," claimed Abu Darda, another injured student. "They kicked me in the stomach. They used hooks of the sticks and their steel gear suffocated us when it was pressed on our chest. The police told us, 'we will give you aazadi'," he alleged. Anti-CAA protesters have often been using the 'aazadi' slogan, with the main refrain being "CAA se aazadi, NRC se aazadi (freedom from CAA, NRC)." Some of the protesters were detained by the police on Monday and taken to Badarpur police station before being released. "When I wanted to sit in the bus, they told me to squat on the floor so that people could not see what was happening inside. At the police station, policemen mocked us saying, 'who wants freedom'?" Darda claimed. Another student also claimed he can identify the policemen who thrashed the students and passed objectionable statements. The protesters had begun their march at noon from the university's gate number 7, which has seen demonstrations for the last two months, barring last Friday and Saturday when the protesters had shifted the venue due to elections. The police had stopped the protesters after they had marched for two kilometres and appealed them not to go further as there was no permission and prohibitory orders had been imposed. The protesters led by Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) had refused to end their protest and insisted on marching to Parliament, clambering over barricades placed by the police before finally sitting on 'dharna' outside the university. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Falls from less than two metres are the most common cause of an injury that can result in prolonged disability or death, it has emerged. Such injuries account for 58% of all major trauma in Ireland and more than three-quarters (78%) occur in the home. The Major Trauma Audit National Report from the National Office of Clinical Audit shows that low falls continue to be the most frequent cause of severe injury. Dr Conor Deasy, clinical lead for major trauma audit, on the report, said fall injuries were the most common and preventable cause of major trauma in Ireland. Our audit shows that when it comes to major trauma, walking in the front door of your home can be more dangerous than walking out of your front door the majority of injuries are being caused by falls at home. Dr Deasy said the best system of care is described in a report published by the Department of Health in 2018. The Trauma System for Ireland Report addresses all elements of trauma care, including prevention, pre-hospital care, acute hospital care, rehabilitation, and supported discharge. Inclusive trauma systems in similar jurisdictions to Ireland have been found to significantly reduce the number of deaths and disabilities caused by major trauma. Dr Deasy said they looked forward to the imminent implementation of the report. The audit shows that 20% of patients needed to be transferred to another hospital because their care needs could not be met by the initial receiving hospital. There were 273 patients who needed a CT brain scan and 48% received it within an hour, a 7% improvement on 2017. Head injuries accounted for almost one in five (18%) of all major trauma injuries. The report, launched at the National Office of Clinical Audits annual conference, shows 46% of major trauma is sustained in patients over the age of 65. The older patients who have more complex medical needs do not receive the same level of response as younger patients with the same severity of injury and have considerably worse outcomes. Only 59% of major trauma patients were discharged directly home following their hospital admission. The highest proportion of deaths (59%) continues to be due to falls of less than two metres and the highest proportion of deaths occurred in patients aged 75 years and over. The overall percentage of major trauma patients received by a trauma team at the first receiving hospital remains low, at 8%. Just 9% of major trauma patients were recorded as having been reviewed by a consultant within 30 minutes of arrival at the emergency department. Men are more likely than women to sustain a major trauma injury and the highest proportion of deaths (63%) continues to occur in males. There were 87,768 hospital bed days occupied by major trauma patients in 2018, compared to 82,930 in 2017. The audit presents data from 5,429 patients across 26 trauma receiving hospitals. The National Office of Clinical Audit, established in 2012, is funded by the HSEs quality-improvement team, governed by an independent voluntary board and supported by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. NEW YORK (AP) Incidents of white supremacist propaganda distributed across the nation jumped by more than 120% between 2018 and last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League, making 2019 the second straight year that the circulation of propaganda material has more than doubled. The Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism reported 2,713 cases of circulated propaganda by white supremacist groups, including fliers, posters and banners, compared with 1,214 cases in 2018. The printed propaganda distributed by white supremacist organizations includes material that directly spreads messages of discrimination against Jews, LGBTQ people and other minority communities but also items with their prejudice obscured by a focus on gauzier pro-America imagery. The sharp rise in cases of white supremacist propaganda distribution last year follows a jump of more than 180% between 2017, the first year that the Anti-Defamation League tracked material distribution, and 2018. While 2019 saw cases of propaganda circulated on college campuses nearly double, encompassing 433 separate campuses in all but seven states, researchers who compiled the data found that 90% of campuses only saw one or two rounds of distribution. Read also from the Macomb Daily: Recent events stoking concerns of anti-Semitism Oren Segal, director of the Leagues Center on Extremism, pointed to the prominence of more subtly biased rhetoric in some of the white supremacist material, emphasizing patriotism, as a sign that the groups are attempting to make their hate more palatable for a 2020 audience. Human Trafficking: Public awareness has grown, but so has the number of Michigans year-to-year incidents By emphasizing language about empowerment, without some of the blatant racism and hatred, Segal said, white supremacists are employing a tactic to try to get eyes onto their ideas in a way thats cheap, and that brings it to a new generation of people who are learning how to even make sense out of these messages. The propaganda incidents tracked for the Anti-Defamation Leagues report, set for release on Wednesday, encompass 49 states and occurred most often in 10 states: California, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington and Florida. Recent events stoke concerns of rising anti-Semitism Last years soaring cases of distributed propaganda also came as the Anti-Defamation League found white supremacist groups holding 20% fewer events than in 2018, preferring not to risk the exposure of pre-publicized events, according to its report. That marks a shift from the notably visible public presence that white supremacist organizations mounted in 2017, culminating in that summers Charlottesville, Va., rally where a self-described white supremacist drove into a crowd of counterprotesters. About two-thirds of the total propaganda incidents in the new report were traced back to a single white supremacist group, Patriot Front, which the Anti-Defamation League describes as formed by disaffected members of the white supremacist organization Vanguard America after the Charlottesville rally. The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913 to combat anti-Semitism as well as other biases, has tracked Patriot Front propaganda using messages such as One nation against invasion and America First. The report to be released Wednesday found that Patriot Front played a major role last year in boosting circulation of white supremacist propaganda on campuses through a push that targeted colleges in the fall. Segal said that his groups research can equip community leaders with education that helps them push back against white supremacist groups messaging efforts, including distribution aimed at students. University administrators, Segal said, should speak out against white supremacist messaging drives, taking the opportunity to demonstrate their values and to reject messages of hate that may be appearing on their campus. Red Lights: Caution urged as more people drive during the holidays to shop or visit friends and relatives Distracted Driving: Push for hands-free driving law could gain momentum in Michigan Several educational institutions where reports of white supremacist propaganda were reported in recent months did just that. After white supremacist material was reported on campus at Brigham Young University in November, the school tweeted that it stands firmly against racism in any form and is committed to promoting a culture of safety, kindness, respect and love. The school went on to tweet a specific rejection of white supremacist sentiment as sinful by its owner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, without naming the identity of the group behind the propaganda. While some of the propaganda cataloged in the Anti-Defamation Leagues report uses indirect messaging in service of a bigoted agenda, other groups activity is more openly threatening toward Jews and minority groups. The New Jersey European Heritage Association, a smaller white supremacist group founded in 2018, contains numerous anti-Semitic tropes and refers to Jews as destroyers' in its most recent distributed flier, according to the report. The Anti-Defamation Leagues online monitoring of propaganda distribution is distinct from its tracking of white supremacist events and attacks, and that tracking does not include undistributed material such as graffiti, Segal explained. Kerala hit by another Islamic radicalisation wave: Time to act, its now or never How this ISIS operative from Mangaluru lured her victims and converted them to Islam No radicalisation camp in India says MHA India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 12: The government has said that there are no de-radicalisation camps in the country. It may be recalled that Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat had said that children in Jammu and Kashmir were being radicalised and hence should be put in de-radicalisation camps operating in the country. There is no report of existence of any de-radicalisation camps in the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister of State for home affairs, Kishan Reddy informed the Lok Sabha. General Rawat had said that these people can still be isolated from radicalisation in a gradual way. However, there are people who have been completely radicalised. These people need to be taken out separately possibly taken into some de-radicalisation camps. Need to confront ideology of radicalisation: Gen. Bipin Rawat We have de-radicalisation camps in the country and let me tell you that Pakistan is doing the same, he also said. Meanwhile, the Home Ministry also said that it has no information on any group called the 'Tukde Tukde Gang'. Replying to a written question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the ministry has no information on whether the terminology 'Tukde Tukde Gang' is based on specific inputs provided by law enforcement agencies. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 "No such information has been brought to the notice of the government by any law enforcement agency," he said. The reply came in response to questions by Congress members Vincent H Pala and Jasbir Singh Gill. Radicalisation in India, An Exploration: Where the author asks bold questions The questions included whether an organisation called the 'Tukde Tukde Gang' has been identified and catalogued by the Home Ministry or any central/state law enforcement agency, whether the terminology 'Tukde Tukde Gang' is based on specific inputs and whether the ministry or intelligence agency has drawn up a list of alleged leaders and members of the 'Tukde Tukde Gang'. New Delhi, Feb 12 : More than 8.5 billion breached records were reported in 2019 with seven billion of them, or over 85 per cent, being due to misconfigured cloud servers and other improperly configured systems, according to a new report from IBM Security. The report titled "IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2020" highlights how cybercriminals' techniques have evolved after decades of access to tens of billions of corporate and personal records and hundreds of thousands of software flaws. According to the report, 60 per cent of initial entries into victims' networks that were observed leveraged either previously stolen credentials or known software vulnerabilities, allowing attackers to rely less on deception to gain access. "The cyber threat environment in India has evolved over the years. Cybercriminals continue to fall back on using their usual tricks like stolen credentials, weaponizing vulnerabilities, phishing attacks, ransomware etc in addition to discovering newer ways of hacking," Vaidyanathan R Iyer, Security Software Leader, IBM India/South Asia, said in a statement. "Threats to sectors like financial services, retail and government continue to be the key concerns. Organizations need to take stronger measures to improve their security posture while maintaining the user experience," Iyer said. Phishing was a successful initial infection vector in less than one-third of the incidents observed, compared to half in 2018, said the report. Scanning and exploitation of vulnerabilities resulted in 30 per cent of observed incidents, compared to just 8 per in 2018. In fact, older, known vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office and Windows Server Message Block were still finding high rates of exploitation in 2019, the report revealed. The use of previously stolen credentials is also gaining ground as a preferred point-of-entry 29 per cent of the time in observed incidents, it added. Nearly 60 per cent of the top 10 spoofed brands identified were Google and YouTube domains, while Apple (15 per cent) and Amazon (12 per cent) domains were also spoofed by attackers looking to steal users' monetizable data, the IBM report said. NATO defence ministers agreed Wednesday to expand the alliance's training mission in Iraq, responding to US President Donald Trump's demand for more action from allies in the Middle East. The idea is for NATO, which runs a 500-strong mission to train Iraqi forces, to take on personnel from the US-led multinational coalition against the Islamic State group. "Allied Defence Ministers have agreed in principle to enhance NATOs training mission in Iraq in close cooperation & coordination with the Iraqi government," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted. Spain said it was ready to transfer troops currently working under the aegis of the coalition to the NATO mission, as Western powers seek to enable Iraq to prevent any resurgence of the feared jihadist group. "We support moving a major part of the Spanish contingent to the NATO mission, while still continuing to work with the coalition," Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said, insisting that any changes must have the backing of the Iraqi government. Stoltenberg said the alliance wanted to "provide more support to Iraq, because it is extremely important that ISIS never returns. "We have seen the brutality, have seen the horrendous violence they have been responsible for," he added. - Munich meeting - Trump called on NATO to do more in the Middle East in January, days after a US drone strike against a top Iranian commander in Baghdad sparked a regional crisis. The January 3 strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani sparked outrage in Baghdad and a vote by the Iraqi parliament to oust all foreign troops -- including 5,200 US soldiers. The anti-IS coalition halted its campaign for three weeks in response, and NATO stopped training activities while insisting it remained committed to helping Iraq. British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said London was also open to moving some of its troops to the NATO mission, which is seen as more palatable to the Iraqi authorities because of its non-combat role and because it is not US-led. Germany's Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said it was too early to discuss transfers but "core nations" with forces in Iraq will meet on Friday at the Munich Security Conference to discuss the future of the missions. While the NATO mission would do similar training activities to the anti-IS coalition, officials feel the alliance could make it more effective by bringing greater structure and coordination -- drawing on experience of training forces in Afghanistan. Beyond increasing the size of the mission by rebadging coalition personnel, ministers also looked at how NATO could expand its training activities. This could involve extending geographically outside NATO's current three training zones or adding more training activities. As a longer-term objective, NATO is looking to see what it could do elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa to improve stability and fight terrorism by training local forces. "This is both about military activities, but also political support and cooperation with countries in the region," Stoltenberg said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An American woman who, among others, was evacuated from China and placed under quarantine in a military base in California amid rising cases of coronavirus globally, was incorrectly matched to her tested sample and prematurely discharged from a hospital before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was able to examine the specimen which later tested positive for the virus. During a telebriefing on Wednesday, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, called the oversight unfortunate, but assured that the woman was isolated at the military base following being released from the hospital. The woman, who currently only suffers from a minor cough, is the 13th confirmed case of the virus in the United States, the CDC confirmed on Wednesday. Messonnier said that the mistake was identified and resolved within 24 hours, and that no individuals under a mandatory quarantine at the base had to restart their 14-day incubation period; however, it was not immediately clear how many people the woman came in contact with. The World Health Organization said that there are over 43,000 confirmed global cases; nearly 400 of those cases are outside of China. Three-hundred forty-seven people have tested negative for the virus in the United States, and 60 more cases are pending as of Feb. 12, 2020, according to CDC data. Since airport screening into the United States began in January, according to Messonnier, the CDC and its partners have screened over 30,000 people from China. While most patients have not been symptomatic, Messonnier said that the United States should be prepared for this new virus to gain a foothold in the United States, despite the limited number of confirmed cases so far. At some point we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. or other countries, Messonnier said. If a spread does begin to occur, Messonnier said the CDCs approach to the virus will change accordingly. No cases have been confirmed in New York though multiple people have been tested for the virus and Department of Health data shows that there are currently no individuals under investigation for the virus. However, Staten Island physicians previously told the Advance that they are on heightened alert for the virus. 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. The symptoms of the virus cough, fever and shortness of breath mimic those of other respiratory conditions, including colds and the flu, according to the CDC, and they can range from being barely visible to causing severe respiratory distress and even death. Testing to determine whether an illness is a confirmed case of coronavirus will take a minimum of 36 to 48 hours and depends on CDC testing capacity. Authorities have cautioned that cases under investigation should not be presumed as likely to be confirmed. President Donald Trump previously declared a public health emergency in the U.S. in regard to the virus, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency. CDC RECCOMENDATIONS For those who feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and who have recently traveled to Hubei province in China or been in contact with a confirmed case within 14 days of symptom onset, the CDC recommends: Seek medical care right away. Before going to a doctors office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about recent travel and symptoms. Avoid contact with others. Do not travel while sick. Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not hands) when coughing or sneezing. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. For more information about the coronavirus, visit the Heath Department website at nyc.gov/health. BAY CITY, MI - A small claims lawsuit against a Bay City business was resolved in an unconventional way by a ruling from iconic television jurist Judge Judy. The Judge Judy episode featuring the lawsuit filed by Lynn Smith against Kyle Pennell, co-owner of 1BID.US Online Auctions located at 605 Salzburg Ave. in Bay City is to air locally at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, on WJRT ABC 12. You can also live stream the episode on fuboTV (7-day free trial). Smith, of Hope, filed her lawsuit against Pennell in Bay County District Court on Nov. 12. Speaking to MLive, Smith said she had contacted 1BID.US to auction some jewelry. I decided to not sell my items at defendants auction and wanted them back, Smith wrote in her suit. They changed the website and no one can figure it out. I was losing $. When I picked up items, they charged me $4.00 per item. Nowhere in Defendants websight [sic] does it say there is a fee for not selling items. Smith sought $150 in recompense, the suit states. Not longer after filing the suit, Smith received a call from Judge Judy representatives in Los Angeles. They just called me at my house, Smith said Wednesday. I dont know why. They said they monitor small claims cases throughout the U.S. Pennell said he was contacted after Smith. I really didnt want to do it, just for the sake of not wanting to embarrass myself or make a private matter a public thing, Pennell said. The shows staff explained that the show would function as an arbitration hearing, Judge Judy herself as arbiter, and that the case would be removed from Bay County District Court. They kind of explained to me it wouldnt have to go to court, Pennell said. It was already nerve-racking for me at the beginning of the new year to have to be sitting in front of a judge or an officiant. I was nervous about the whole case. When they explained (Judge Judy) would function as an arbitrator, it put me at ease. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I decided to do it. Kyle Pennell of 1BID.US Online Auctions in Los Angeles, where he was flown to film an episode of "Judge Judy." Smith also agreed to be on the show. The show flew Smith, Pennell, and Pennells mother, Teresa Pennell, to Los Angeles to record the show. The Pennells were there from Dec. 17 to 19, Kyle Pennell said. A letter written on Judge Judy letterhead and contained in Bay County court files reads: We have settled this case in private arbitration. Please dismiss this case and any countersuit, if applicable, with prejudice (neither party may sue again on the same cause of action). Pennell and Smith could not state how Judge Judy ruled. Smith, though, expressed dissatisfaction with the experience. It was a joke, she said. It was all fake. I had no idea. It was terrible. Smith also asserted the man who appeared on the courtroom set to argue Pennells side was not Pennell, a claim Pennell himself denies. Pennell enjoyed his visit to Los Angeles, his first time there, but said he was glad to return home. I feel like it was very eye-opening for what L.A. and Hollywood are like, he said. It was very overwhelming compared to Bay City. It made me appreciate Bay City more. California governor wants to grill PG&E about financing plan Governor Gavin Newsom continues to be a roadblock to PG&E. The governor's lawyers told a U.S. bankruptcy judge that they want to grill PG&E about the company's plans to borrow billions of dollars and sell more stock. To help pay the $13.5 billion owed to wildfire victims. PG&E also needs to raise $12 billion owed to insurers and government agencies. Butte Choice Energy launches new website A new local alternative to PG&E is surging forward on plans to become viable. Calling themselves "Butte Choice Energy Authority." A new website has just been launched, with information on the 'Community Aggregate Program' and what it means for people who live in the City of Chico and in the unincorporated parts of Butte County. Customers will be automatically enrolled, but can opt-out if they choose to continue buying power from PG&E. Future development plans in Paradise The Town of Paradise is facing financial difficulty as it works to rebuild from losses after the Camp Fire. So far, Paradise has received 800 applications for building permits. The town has issued 560 permits and 44 families have completed construction and moved into new homes. Despite the financial challenges, town leaders say there is still funding available for those looking to rebuild. Household debt jumps the most in 12 years, Fed report says Household debt surged by more than $600 billion in 2019. The New York Federal Reserve says that it is the biggest annual increase since just before the financial crisis. The growth is attributed mainly to mortgage debt balances, which increased $433 billion. Balances for auto loans and credit cards also increased. Job openings tumble to new low Job openings tumbled again in December to their lowest levels in two years. With unemployment remaining at a 50-year low, the labor market tightened again as 2019 came to a close. Total vacancies are now at 6.4 million, down from nearly 6.8 million in November. A decline in demand from several industries over the past several months has closed the gap and could be sending a signal that the job market is about to peak. This map tracks the coronavirus in real-time China is confirming over 1,100 deaths. The National Health Commission says 2,015 new cases have been reported over the last 24 hours. That number is down, though, from the day before. The total number of cases globally is now just shy of 4,500. Although many health experts say a large number of others infected have gone uncounted. Postal services worldwide say delivery is being affected by the cancellation of many flights to China. All 4 federal prosecutors quit Stone case after DOJ overrules prosecutors on sentencing request All four prosecutors in the government's case against Roger Stone have resigned. Their resignations follow a justice department plan to reduce the recommended sentence for Stone. A longtime associate of president trump. A jury convicted stone last November of lying to Congress and obstructing the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Democrats are asking the inspector general to investigate. Bernie Sanders' victory scrambles the race The results are in for the New Hampshire primary, the first in the nation. Unlike results from Iowa, this time there is a clear winner. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took first place, followed closely by former Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg. Senator Amy Klobuchar also celebrated a strong showing which landed her in third place. Often treated as less than human in life, there has been little dignity in death for the sex workers of one of the world's biggest brothels: their bodies frequently tossed into unmarked graves or dumped in the river. Until now. On Thursday, Hamida Begum became the first sex worker from Bangladesh bordello Daulatdia to receive a formal Islamic funeral, breaking a longstanding taboo in Muslim majority Bangladesh where prostitution is legal but regarded by many as immoral. Scores of women gathered at the graveside, weeping for the 65-year-old's passing but also because of the symbolic breakthrough her burial represented. "I never dreamed that she would get such an honourable farewell," said Begum's daughter Laxmi, who followed her mother into the trade. "My mother was treated like a human being," she added. Islamic spiritual leaders have for decades rejected funeral prayers for sex workers because they view prostitution as immoral. When Begum died, her family planned to put her in an unmarked grave -- standard practice for women like her -- but a coalition of sex workers persuaded the local police to talk religious leaders into giving her a proper burial. "The Imam was initially reluctant to lead the prayers. But we asked him whether Islam forbids anyone from taking part in the Janaza (funeral prayers) of a sex worker. He had no answer," said local police chief Ashiqur Rahman, who oversaw negotiations. - Stigma and shame - Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim countries in the world where prostitution is legal for women aged 18 or older and workers are required to hold a certificate stating they are adults, and consent to the work. The reality is more murky, charities have reported finding girls as young as seven being groomed to sell sex, and warn that trafficking of children for the trade is on the rise. The police are often accused of being complicit -- taking bribes from pimps and brothel owners to provide certification for girls much younger than 18. Begum was just 12 years old when she began sex work in Daulatdia, where more than 1,200 women and girls cater for up to 5,000 clients a day. The site, one of around 12 legal brothels operating in the country, is a series of shacks spread across a warren of alleyways some 100 kilometres (70 miles) west of Dhaka. Close to a busy road and rail junction, its frequented by both local and long haul drivers and travellers passing through. The brothel was established a century ago under British colonial rule, but moved to its current location, near a ferry station, after locals torched the old complex in 1988. The sex workers and hundreds of their children live in concrete and tin shanties on a sandbank of the river Padma -- often paying exorbitant rents to unscrupulous landlords. For those forced into the trade, they can only leave when they've paid off inflated and exorbitant 'debts' to the pimps and madams that bought them Even if this is possible, the stigma surrounding sex work means that many feel there is nowhere else to go. - Buried like dogs - For decades, when one of them died their bodies would be thrown in the river, or buried in the mud. In the early 2000s, local authorities gave some wasteground for unmarked graves, and families would pay drug addicts to carry out burials -- usually at night without formal prayers. "If we wanted to bury the dead in the morning, villagers would chase us with bamboo sticks," recalled Jhumur Begum, who heads a sex workers group. "It was as if a dog has died," said former sex worker Nili Begum, now a grandmother who lives in the brothel where her daughter now works. But there are hopes that Begum's funeral will change things for all women in the brothels. More than 200 mourners attended the religious ceremony, while a further 400 went to the post-funeral feast and prayers, police chief Rahman recalled. "It was an unprecedented scene. People waited until late in the night to join the prayers. The eyes of sex workers welled up with tears," he added. Local authorities, councillors and regional police leaders backed his effort "to break this discriminatory taboo," he said. Hamida Begum's 35-year-old daughter, who operates from the two-room shanty that her mother bought with her savings, said: "I hope from now on every woman who works here, including me, gets a Janaza just the way my mother did," she said. Jalil Fakir, a village councillor who attended the service, said the funerals for sex workers would go on in a bid to give fairer treatment in death. "After all, who am I to judge her. If she has committed any sins, it will be Allah who will judge her in the afterlife, not any of us," he said. MPs passed emergency anti-terrorism laws in a single day today as ministers race to get strict new measures in place before more extremists are released from prison. The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill passed its Commons stages without a vote tonight and will now move to the Lords for further scrutiny, with the government aiming to have it on the UK statute book by the end of the month. The measures, brought forward by Boris Johnson in the wake of the London Bridge and Streatham terror attacks, will end the automatic early release of convicted terrorists halfway through their sentences and make any early release subject to a Parole Board assessment It came as a former security minister revealed more than 160 convicted terrorists have been released early from prison in the last seven years. Tory MP John Hayes said he was 'surprised and disappointed' by the 'significant' numbers revealed in research compiled by the House of Commons Library. John Hayes, pictured in the Commons today, said official statistics showed more than 160 convicted terrorists has been released from prison early over the last seven years Boris Johnson today crashed emergency anti-terror legislation through the House of Commons in a bid to get it onto the UK statute book by the end of the year Mr Hayes, who served as security minister from May 2015 to July 2016, said the figures he had obtained did not include offenders who had served fewer than 12 months behind bars. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hayes said: 'I consulted the House of Commons Library, as good members of this House do, and was surprised and disappointed to find that since 2013 something like 163 convicted terrorists have been released early. 'I excluded from my considerations anyone who'd been serving a sentence of less than a year. 'Those are just people serving a sentence somewhere between 12 months and more than four years. 'So leaving aside the short sentences, the more serious terrorist prisoners have been released in significant numbers. 'Just imagine the effect on our security services and police of having to deal with the possible consequences of those releases.' Mr Hayes said he expected some of the offenders who were released would have been rehabilitated and de-radicalised but he added 'that's not always the case'. The government's anti-terror crackdown follows the Streatham terror attack earlier this month, when Sudesh Amman stabbed two bystanders with a knife he had grabbed from a shop. He was shot dead by police. The 20-year-old was jailed in December 2018 for possessing and distributing terrorist documents, but had been freed midway through his sentence less than a fortnight earlier. It was the second attack in three months to be carried out by a convicted terrorist, after Usman Khan stabbed and killed two people at Fishmongers' Hall near London Bridge in November. Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured in Downing Street last week, today urged peers to pass the anti-terrorism laws as soon as possible He had been released nearly a year earlier, halfway through a 16-year jail sentence. The Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, today indicated that ministers expect the Lords to facilitate the swift passage of the new laws. 'The urgency and the message coming from this House is very clear to them and therefore I expect them to handle this in a reasonable manner,' he told MPs. The government's plans, which will affect around 50 prisoners, aim to make sure terrorist offenders serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before they are considered eligible for release, rather than the current halfway mark. Before being freed they would need to be reviewed by a panel of specialist judges and psychiatrists at the Parole Board. The new laws are likely to be challenged by human rights lawyers. They are expected to argue that it is unlawful to change the terms of someone's jail term after they have been sentenced. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar, Bali Wed, February 12, 2020 19:26 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206425f81 4 National coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Chinese-tourists,Anhui-province,nCoV-19,COVID-19,Bali-Airport,Bali-tourism Free The Bali Health Agency says it will investigate and verify the information that a Chinese tourist who traveled from Wuhan to Bali last month tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease on Feb. 5 after he arrived in Huainan city in Anhui province in China. Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya, said the agency was currently trying to figure out the travel history and the activities of the patient, identified only as Jin, according to information obtained by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. "We have to check on the dates when he was in Bali. The incubation period of the coronavirus is 14 days. We don't know yet where exactly he was infected. We don't know yet whether he was infected with the coronavirus before he went to Bali. There is a possibility that he got the virus when he returned to China," Suarjaya said. Read also: Coronavirus patient visited Bali last month: Chinese authorities "If we look at his [flight history], he departed from Wuhan on Jan. 22, and returned back to his country on Jan. 28, I think he did not become infected in Bali. If so, he must have shown some symptoms when he was in Bali," he added. Suarjaya said there was a small possibility that the man was infected before he went to Bali. "However, we will recheck again the facts. We will follow up the information. We will trace all places he visited. [] And of course, we will raise our alertness," he said. Currently two Chinese patients are being treated in the isolation room of Sanglah Hospital in Bali. The two patients were admitted last night. Since the COVID-19 outbreak the hospital has treated 32 patients who have shown symptoms of the disease, all previous 30 tests have come back negative. Authorities in Anhui province, China, reported that the Chinese national who visited Bali late last month had tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. The administration announced via Weibo on Feb. 6 that the Huainan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Feb. 5 that Jin flew on Lion Air flight JT2618 from Wuhan the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak to Bali on Jan. 22. The patient stayed on the island for about a week before flying on Garuda Indonesia flight GA858 from Bali to Shanghai on Jan. 28. The patient was found to have been infected with the disease by Huainan CDC according to the Weibo post. For passengers on the aforementioned flights, please enact preventative measures immediately, wrote the Anhui administration on its Weibo account, which is a local version of Twitter. "Please don't go out for a while and if you get a fever, go to the nearest hospital," the statement said. "Please use masks when you travel to the medical center and don't use public transportation," it went on. (hol) An elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania called police after a kindergarten-aged girl pointed a "finger gun" pretended to shoot her. The child was not arrested. From CNN: Administrators concluded that Margot made a "transient threat" and didn't intend to harm anyone, but they still called Tredyffrin police. The district said calling law enforcement is part of its safety protocol. But [the Margot's mother Maggie] Gaines said that in her daughter's case, the district misinterpreted its own policy. "It was very clear from the beginning that she didn't understand what she was saying," Gaines told CNN affiliate KYW. "Her having Down syndrome is one aspect of it, but I'm sure most six year olds don't understand what that means." She said police filed a report on the incident that mentioned Margot by name. Tredyffrin police didn't immediately respond to CNN's requests for comment, but the school district told CNN that police didn't create criminal or juvenile records for Margot. 11.02.2020 LISTEN Gold is one of the rarest metals on Planet Earth. That's because the process by which it is created is very uncommon in the Universe itself. You have probably heard of a SUPERNOVA a cosmic body that is created by the collision of two or more gargantuan stars ( some more humongous than our own SUN) in the Universe. (There are said to be more stars of a nature similar to our SUN in the universe, than there are sands on all the beaches in the world!) Now, the amount of energy released by the creation of a supernova is so enormous that its gravitational force swallows other bodies, all of which then fuse together to become even greater bodies (in mass). The supernovas thus become KILONOVAS. From these unimaginably gargantuan bodies are formed other incredible fusions of forces that are called BLACKHOLES. Now, nothing that falls into a Black hole can ever escape. Physicists suspect that the very laws of physics, as known today, actually break down, at some point, inside a black hole! Another Einstein is awaited, to come and unravel it all. What is speculated upon, today, is a phenomenon called a singularity that comes into play when black holes are considered; and I am sorry but that is Nobel Prize for Physics territory that I dare not enter!) All I can grasp is that during the process in which stars like our SUN run out of fuel and die, to collide and explode into supernovas and kilonovas, they eject from their exploding cores, elements that form debris scattered across the universe. Some contain a power and density that is almost beyond calculation and suck up everything that is near their orbit. Can you imagine a body a teaspoonful of which can weigh 10m. tons? I told you this is creepy stuff! For where would anyone get a teaspoon strong enough to weight such stuff in the first place? But clever physicists can use mathematical principles to arrive at such theories. As stated above, the debris from an exploded dying star catches clouds of dust in its orbit; usually, the dust-clouds, are themselves in the process of coalescing into new planets. During its formation, Planet Earth suffered some with a wicked sense of humour might say enjoyed! a shower of such supernova- ejected material during its formation (in orbit around our star, the SUN) billions of years ago. Among the elements contained in that shower was -- GOLD! Now, the attraction that gold possesses over humankind is so elemental and almost mystical that I daresay it's probably cosmic in nature! Well, one would say that if one were superstitious. Anyway, the best illustration of the power of Gold's ineluctable pull on men can be found in the story of King Midas. This was a monarch who fell so much in love with gold that he asked for and was given magical powers that enabled him to turn everything he touched into gold. King Midas, eventually, could get no food to eat or water/wine to drink because everything he touched DID literally turn into gold! Thus, the RICHEST man in the world died of STARVATION an end usually reserved for the POOREST of humans! It's as if the Midas story was written for us in Ghana. We, in particular, have to be mindful of this allegorical tale, for we once placed ourselves in a position not too far removed from that of King Midas. We produced so much gold that FOREIGNERS heard of it and travelled thousands of miles by ship to come here and buy it from us. They got so much gold from us that they used hyperbole to describe our country they called it THE GOLD COAST! (In fact, the gold was not on the coast at all, but in the deep interior of the country!) When the foreigners could no longer get gold in the quantities that would sate their Midas-type appetite, they turned on OUR PEOPLE and began to catch them to use as merchandise in lands that they had conquered elsewhere! Worse, they enticed some of our rulers, who should have organised armies in defence of their people, to collaborate with them! At first, they shipped abroad, the war captives whom the rulers had obtained through war. The foreigners paid the rulers with such idiotic things as alcoholic drinks, beads, cloth, mirrors and other so-called novelties that the more [sebe o tafracher] rulers regarded as useful acquisitions. Finally, humanity lost its meaning on our shores, as kidnappings, even of ethnic group members of one another, became the order of the day. Eventually, the idea of calamitous war as, primarily, an unavoidable mechanism of self-defence, was corrupted and became war for gain. What can be worse for any society than that? Now, largely unknown to our rulers (because there was little communication between peoples separated by the sea, in those days) the unfortunate people who left our shores were forced at gunpoint to work as slaves on sugar-cane, tobacco and tea plantations in North America and the Caribbean. Their unpaid labour made the foreigners who engaged in the slave trade extremely wealthy indeed. So rich and powerful did the foreigners become that when they were forced to stop trading in slaves, they turned on us again, and this time, used their guns to transform our sovereign country and those of our neighbours into their colonies; that is, we became slaves in our own countries! This time, some of us fought back! The Asantes alone fought the British in scores of battles. Similar battles took place in Nigeria, so-called French Sudan and elsewhere on the African continent. But Europeans succeeded in ruling us for over 100 years. But by the time they finally gave us political independence (because they could no longer afford to repress our struggle for freedom) they had already inserted our economies into a world economic system in which we would use our lands to produce for them, raw materials that we did not have the ability to turn into manufactured goods ourselves, but must needs sell to them! We grew cocoa. But we couldn't process it into chocolates or beverages. We produced gold, diamonds, manganese, bauxite and timber. But none of these valuable raw materials was processed here to enable us to benefit from its real world price. Sadly, even our timber, which could so easily have been turned into furniture before being shipped abroad, was carted away as logs. Europeans who owned ships charged high prices to carry the logs away, even though we had carpenters of excellent quality here who could have been trained to use machines to make furniture to world standards, for export. The Europeans charged us cargo fees for taking our logs away, And they charged us again when we shipped goods from their countries to us! We were now slaves through trade! We think we are now free, but alas, we are back to square one: gold is, once again, making sebe o, tafracher! unthinking animals of our people! It's as if a curse had been thrown down to hang around our necks from the COSMOS itself! For who would have thought that educated Ghanaians would be so sebe o! stupid as to work with foreigners to turn our riverbeds upside down in search of gold? With all their education, they cannot see that chemicals like arsenic and mercury, used to turn sand into gold dust or nuggets, on chanfang machines stationed on our river systems, will bring cancer and other diseases to our people when they drank water from the polluted rivers and streams? When they used the water to cook? Or bathe? Chiefs who should be protecting the rivers, streams and water-bodies their ancestors found for their people, and safeguarded it for them to sustain life forever, pretend that they cannot see galamsey destroying the water on their lands. Why? Because they too get some tributemoney out of the galamseyers. Even those who don't take money from the galamseyers are afraid to organise their inherited ASAFO groups into strong self-defence units who, in the past, would have kicked out the galamseyers from their land in a matter of days. Why? Because the chiefs are afraid that the ASAFO groups, once reinvigorated, may turn on bad chiefs and destool them! But if a chief is a good chief, why should he fear his own ASAFO? He inherited them from his predecessors as his army for self-defence purposes, didn't he? Politicians who should be mobilising their followers to stop the destruction of the nation they aspire to rule, are throwing insults at one another, instead. They accuse one another of involvement in galamsey. But no-one tells the country how it should be stopped. No Questions are being asked of the relevant Ministers in Parliament, about galamsey. No Private Members' Motions are being tabled. No parliamentary committee enquiries (though MPs can spend hours questioning, in minute detail, the audit reports of local assemblies whose budgets are negligible.) Soldiers ad policemen sent to enforce the law against galamseyers, are taking money from them and allowing them to go free. Magistrates and judges before whom galamseyers are brought are taking money from them and allowing them to escape justice. No wonder few galamseyers are being prosecuted, for why should prosecutors present the judiciary with juicy met? Excavators seized from galamseyers have become an albatross around the necks of the very people who ordered their seizure! Accusations are flying about endlessly about where the excavators are; whether they have been sold; and if so, to whom, by whom! Surely, the gods must be laughing, as they watch us from the cosmos, strangling our nation with the rare gift of GOLD? The department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night before Trumps tweet and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. Even so, the departures of the entire trial team broke open a simmering dispute over the punishment of a Trump ally whose case has long captured the Republican presidents attention. The episode was the latest to entangle the Justice Department, meant to operate free from White House sway in criminal investigations and prosecutions, in presidential politics. Cooke Media Group Develops VR Projects to Share the Gospel Producer and media consultant, Phil Cooke's creative influence can be seen in many of the most successful Christian and inspirational media projects in history. Now, his company Cooke Media Group encourages ministries to consider Virtual Reality as the medium for their next project. NEWS PROVIDED BY Cooke Media Group Feb. 12, 2020 LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2020 / "In the age of 'virtual reality' I'm exploring ways to share the gospel to a new generation," says Cooke. "The 360-degree immersive experience of VR offers a new way to engage our societies in a day when disengagement is high." Production consultant on a new VR film by the UK Bible Society, Cooke was intrigued by the concept of using the interactive medium to promote the Bible. His interest was confirmed at the recent addition of Oral Roberts University's Augmented and Virtual Reality Lab, where Cooke is a visiting professor. Although VR films require a unique skill set to produce them well, the Cooke Media Group team of multi-platform writers, filmmakers and producers embrace the challenge of the new medium. "Helping others focus their messages to make the greatest impact has always been our passion," says Cooke. "Discovering the best way to tell a story is critical and VR may be the way to reach this generation." If you're interested in exploring new technologies like Virtual Reality or to discuss other ways to get your message to a greater audience, contact Cooke Media Group at About Cooke Media Group Founded by producer and media consultant Phil Cooke in 1991, Cooke Media Group has developed a team of experienced and talented producers to help deliver your groundbreaking ideas to the world. Through communication strategies, video, web development and design, social media, book publishing, church media, broadcast television, movies and VR experiences, our goal is to inspire your followers and audience to act. For more information or to request a speaker for your next media event contact: SOURCE Cooke Media Group CONTACT: Laura Woodworth, 310-993-8828, Related Links https://cookemediagroup.com/ Share Tweet NEWS PROVIDED BYFeb. 12, 2020LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2020 / Christian Newswire / -- Winner of the NRB 2020 Media Award for Best Long Form Video, Cooke Media Group is developing Virtual Reality projects to extend the gospel. CEO Phil Cooke, executive producer of "Hillsong: Let Hope Rise" and producer of "Asia: The Great Wall and Beyond" of the new TBN TV series "Inexplicable: How Christianity Spread to the Ends of the Earth" encourages clients to consider the new medium of VR for future projects."In the age of 'virtual reality' I'm exploring ways to share the gospel to a new generation," says Cooke. "The 360-degree immersive experience of VR offers a new way to engage our societies in a day when disengagement is high."Production consultant on a new VR film by the UK Bible Society, Cooke was intrigued by the concept of using the interactive medium to promote the Bible. His interest was confirmed at the recent addition of Oral Roberts University's Augmented and Virtual Reality Lab, where Cooke is a visiting professor.Although VR films require a unique skill set to produce them well, the Cooke Media Group team of multi-platform writers, filmmakers and producers embrace the challenge of the new medium. "Helping others focus their messages to make the greatest impact has always been our passion," says Cooke. "Discovering the best way to tell a story is critical and VR may be the way to reach this generation."If you're interested in exploring new technologies like Virtual Reality or to discuss other ways to get your message to a greater audience, contact Cooke Media Group at https://cookemediagroup.com About Cooke Media GroupFounded by producer and media consultant Phil Cooke in 1991, Cooke Media Group has developed a team of experienced and talented producers to help deliver your groundbreaking ideas to the world. Through communication strategies, video, web development and design, social media, book publishing, church media, broadcast television, movies and VR experiences, our goal is to inspire your followers and audience to act. For more information or to request a speaker for your next media event contact: https://cookemediagroup.com/ SOURCE Cooke Media GroupCONTACT: Laura Woodworth, 310-993-8828, laura@cookemediagroup.com Related Links The White House on Wednesday threatened to veto a resolution making its way through Congress that would curb President Trump's ability to direct military action against Iran without congressional authorization. Driving the news: The Senate is now holding debates on the resolution after a majority voted 51-45 to advance the measure. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting in favor of it, signaling the measure could pass with bipartisan support. What they're saying: The White House argues the bill "fails to account for present reality," since it was introduced on Jan. 9 "in response to an escalating series of attacks" by Iran. A Catholic priest in Rhode Island who barred state lawmakers who supported an abortion rights bill from receiving communion at his church has doubled down on his stance, saying abortion is worse than pedophilia. In an interview over the weekend with NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence, the Rev. Richard Bucci of Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick described abortion as "the slaughter of innocent children." "We are not talking about any other moral issue, where some may make it a comparison between pedophilia and abortion," Bucci told the station. "Pedophilia doesn't kill anyone, and this does." Bucci said more children have been killed by abortion than have been abused, adding, "which is not to say that abuse is not a horrible thing." Sacred Heart Church declined to comment Wednesday, deferring to Bucci. NBC News reached out to Bucci for comment but did not immediately hear back. He later told WJAR his comments were taken out of context and that if anyone supports clergy sex abuse victims, it's him. "It was imperfectly said," Bucci said. "I should have said, 'In general, the child that's molested does not die physically,' and I should have said, 'but some have.'" Rev. Richard Bucci Bucci's earlier comments to the TV station came after he put out a notice to Sacred Heart parishioners at the end of January listing the names of lawmakers who would not be allowed to receive communion at the church or participate in certain religious functions, such as acting as godparents or lectors at weddings. The announcement came days after the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 establishing the right to abortion. The priest's action also came months after Rhode Island in 2019 enacted the Reproductive Privacy Act to enshrine the right to abortion in state law. The secretary of Sacred Heart Church provided a copy of the flyer to NBC News. Lawmakers' names appeared below the message: Story continues "In accord with the teaching of the Catholic Church for 2000 years, the following members of the legislature may not receive Holy Communion, as are all the officers of the state of Rhode Island, as well as Rhode Islands members of Congress. In addition, they will not be allowed to act as witnesses to marriage, godparents, or lectors at weddings, funerals or any other church function. Bucci discussed this announcement in an interview with the Providence Journal. If they are proud of what they have done, why do they want to keep it a secret?" he said of lawmakers. "We all hear about responsibility. Let them take responsibility. If they think this is a good and wholesome and holy thing ... they should be proud of it, and why should I hide that from my parishioners?" Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin issued a statement Thursday, saying, "It is never acceptable to underestimate the harm caused by sexual abuse of minors," but "abortion is also a sinful, immoral act, an abominable crime. "In the current public discussion, I urge all parties to refrain from unhelpful, inflammatory rhetoric, and to reflect personally and prayerfully on the consequences of these grave matters," Tobin said. On Monday, a diocese spokeswoman, Carolyn Cronin, told WJAR that the church provides "detailed norms for preparation and reception" for each sacrament, but that it is "the pastors duty to apply them within his parish, in accord with church law." "Because the church entrusts to each pastor the duty of teaching, sanctifying, and governing his parish, the daily pastoral and administrative decisions are made at the local parish level," Cronin said. With 46 per cent of Brits saying they waste time and money on bad dates, a new type of speed dating event could help singles avoid this altogether. Popular dating app Happn has teamed up with Samsung to test people's chemistry by monitoring their heart rates as they go on dates. 'Real chemistry' from their heart rhythms is tracked via a Samsung Galaxy Watch, which both date-goers are wearing. The results then reveal which suitors really get their hearts racing. Singles wear a Samsung Galaxy Watch to monitor their heart rate on dates to see if there is a real spark with potential suitors The pop up event will take place at the Connection Corner at Samsung's KX experience space in London's Kings Cross from Thursday February 20 to Thursday March 19. Guests will go on up to three 15-minute dates during the evening. There will also be a host a range of romantic activities to take part in, which all encourage couples to take a 'micro moment' for each other. Forget finding your 'perfect type on paper' - it takes less than 30 minutes to see who really gets your heart going It comes after a survey revealed 40 per cent of Brits restrict themselves to only dating their 'type on paper.' Chemistry was rated the most important factor when it comes to romantic encounters, with over half the nation (54 per cent) claiming it takes less than 30 minutes to feel it. Despite this, over half (58 per cent) of people surveyed said they waited up a month to physically meet matches on dating apps. Disappointingly, of the dates they did choose to go on, 42 per cent failed to hit the mark. Tanya Weller, Director of Samsung Showcase KX, said: 'We're really excited to be hosting the #SamsungKX Micro-Dating series to help prevent more Brits wasting time and money on bad dates. 'This idea to literally track real chemistry and connections using our technology reaffirms what Samsung KX is all about, a true home of innovation. 'It's experiences like these that really help us connect people and were looking forward to bringing more exciting events and workshops to our guests in the very near future.' The pop up event will take place at the Connection Corner at Samsung's KX experience space in London's Kings Cross from Thursday February 20 to Thursday March 19 Marine Ravinet, Head of Trends at Happn said: 'Here at happn, we want to help people forge long-lasting, deep connections. 'This starts with understanding that your type on paper isnt necessarily going to be the one you fall in love with. 'This forward-thinking way of micro-dating blows romantic types out of the water...after all, meaningful relationships begin with real life meetings.' TOP DATING TIPS FROM HAPPN 1. Dont wait too long before going on the first date Dating apps are great for getting things started, but chemistry is the ultimate test, and the sooner you can determine whether those online sparks translate into real-life chemistry, the better. No one wants to come across too keen by suggesting a date as the opener, but once you have established common interests and you think they may take your fancy, take the plunge and suggest a date. Happn recommend waiting no longer than one to two weeks before the first date so initial digital sparks dont fade. 2. Pick a safe yet inspiring space First dates are exciting, but its important to be safe when meeting someone new for the first time. Pick a safe, public space and be sure to let your friends know where youre going and when you expect to be home. If you are picking the location for your date, plan ahead and choose a location thats fun and inspires conversation to make an impact in minutes. 3. Dont be afraid to date out of your comfort zone If past relationships haven't worked out maybe this is because you always go for who you feel is your 'perfect type'. Leave your prejudices behind and dare to meet someone different. Pay attention to the chemistry and remember, they say opposites attract for a reason! 4. Be respectful if your date is not for you Dont be rude or ghost someone if you are not interested after a date, just because you are talking via technology. It doesnt cost you anything to offer a polite message letting someone know you are not interested without leaving them hanging. To find out more about the #SamsungKX Micro-Dating series or book a space at one of the events, please visit: http://www.samsung.com/uk/kx Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy with snow showers developing for the afternoon. High 2F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snowfall around one inch.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 2F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Police denied permission for a rally to be attended by Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh in Durgapur on Wednesday as a procession by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was scheduled in the same route there. The permission was not granted because of security-related issues, police sources said. Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, took out a rally in the industrial town of Durgapur in West Burdwan district to denounce the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. SFI national committee leader Mayukh Biswas said it showed that the TMC government is scared of the popularity of Ghosh and wanted to know if the TMC was really serious in its opposition to the CAA. "We are surprised. The rally by Mamata Banerjee and our proposed march would not have come in each other's way. We had planned to hit the streets at 5 pm, much after the chief minister's rally. We had informed the police about the route and timing. The decision of the TMC-controlled administration is arbitrary," Biswas told reporters. The JNU student leader was scheduled to lead a rally covering 4 kilometres to protest against the "saffronisation of education" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She had suffered head injuries during the violence at the JNU on the night of January 5 as a group of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers, besides damaging property on the campus. Claiming that Ghosh has become synonymous with anti- fascism protests, the SFI has invited her to take part in anti-CAA programmes in Kolkata on two successive days from Thursday. SFI's Presidency University unit will organise a 'Fight Against Fascism' rally from College Square to Shyambazar five-point crossing in north Kolkata on Thursday where Ghosh will be at the forefront, SFI leader Debnil Paul told PTI. On Friday, she will also attend a programme inside the Presidency University campus against CAA, attacks on campuses and abnormal hike in fees, he said. She will also take part in a campaign rally for SFI candidates in Jadavpur University students union polls on the same day. Asked to comment on the SFI's plans, ABVP's state secretary Saptarshi Sarkar said, "Earlier they used to rope in Kanhaiya Kumar for their events. It appears his validity has expired and they are now bringing Aishe Ghosh who is behind all the disturbances in JNU. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FILE PHOTO: Thyssenkrupp's logo is seen outside elevator test tower in Rottweil FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF (Reuters) - Finland's Kone and private equity firms are battling to buy ThyssenKrupp's prized elevator division worth more than 15 billion euros ($16.6 billion), a deal which would be Europe's biggest private equity deal in 13 years. Thyssenkrupp says it will either list the business, sell either a stake or the business in its entirety as the company aims to cut 12.4 billion euros ($13.7 billion) in debt and pension liabilities. The deadline for binding bids for the whole business is mid-February. SUITORS LINE UP Suitors are: * Kone has submitted a 17 billion euro non-binding bid, including a roughly 3-billion break fee, beating three private equity consortia whose offers were between 15-16 billion. Union sources say that may not be enough to compensate for antitrust risks. Analysts at Jefferies said that a price tag of 15.6 billion euros after tax would be enough "to negate net debt and pension liabilities, saving about 1.1 billion in outflows per year". The rival private equity consortia are: * Blackstone , Carlyle and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board * A group comprising Advent, Cinven [CINV.UL], the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Germany's RAG foundation * Canada's Brookfield and Singapore's Temasek [TEM.UL] A buyout group victory would be Europe's biggest private equity deal since KKR's $21.4 billion acquisition of Britain's Alliance Boots Plc in 2007, according to Refinitiv data. KONE VS PRIVATE EQUITY While being the safest option in terms of execution, a flotation is seen as unlikely at this stage as it wouldn't bring in enough cash. That's why a sale to private equity looks like the easiest option as it would face little or no antitrust scrutiny and could be completed in months. A sale to Kone runs the risk of a lengthy regulatory review, even when taking into account a plan to sell Thyssenkrupp's elevator assets in Europe, where overlap is biggest, to CVC [CVC.UL] to try to resolve antitrust risks. Story continues Danske Bank reckons that the combined market share of Thyssen and Kone stands at 43% in North America, which is also expected to lead to a deepened probe. It took Linde and Praxair nearly 17 months to get U.S. antitrust approval for a merger, and only following far-reaching remedy sales to CVC and Messer. Still reeling from Brussels' veto of a planned steel tie-up with India's Tata Steel , Thyssenkrupp's appetite for that is considered to be limited. JOB SECURITY Bidders are courting representatives of IG Metall, Germany's most powerful union which can make or break any deal and will fight to protect jobs and secure sites. The elevator business employs more than 53,000, a third of Thyssenkrupp's total staff. Labour representatives also control half of Thyssenkrupp's 20-member supervisory board, which will have to approve an agreement. Workers fear that a sale to Kone carries a higher risk of job cuts than a sale to private equity. While cost savings are a key for all bidders, Kone needs synergies to justify its higher price tag. Labour leaders also remain sceptical about Kone's plan to sell Thyssenkrupp's European assets to CVC, as it is uncertain what would happen to workers at the 2.1 billion euro business. (Reporting by Christoph Steitz, Tom Kaeckenhoff, Arno Schuetze and Edward Taylor; Editing by Josephine Mason) A Harrisburg district judge found political activist Gene Stilp not guilty of a Harrisburg ordinance prohibiting illegal burning Tuesday, saying the ordinance as written is so broad that it could improperly squelch common forms of political speech like flag-burning. Stilp was cited under the citys public health code in December, after he set fire to a set of three flags from the re-election campaign of President Donald J. Trump. Stilp had initially been granted a permit for his protest - including the planned burning - but that approval was revoked the night before because of a forecast of high winds for the following morning, and concern that a stray ember could spark a brush fire on the Capitol grounds, and specifically in the Soldiers Grove park across the street from Stilps protest site. Stilp was informed of the state Department of General Services change of heart by email the night before, and Capitol Police reiterated the change in the minutes before the protest, warning Stilp that he would be cited if he proceeded with the flag-burning. He did, and he was. After a brief hearing Tuesday, Magisterial District Judge David OLeary said he interpreted the ordinance in question to be intended to pertain to trash, yard waste and other rubbish. "I dont think the flags that are being burned in political protests... are waste material, OLeary said. "So my first conclusion about this is, I think the statute can be reasonably interpreted not to prohibit what the defendant did." If it does in fact cover flags, the judge added, then it is probably over-broad and violates free speech rights. With that, he pronounced Stilp not guilty. Stilp, a Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County resident who is without question the modern-day leader in Pennsylvania State Capitol protests, said he was contesting the summary citation not so to beat the fine or clear his good name as to strike a necessary blow for free speech in what is likely to be a contentious election year. I hope its a learning experience for a lot of people to look at this case, and they can take this, and I hope we see a lot more First Amendment speech on the Capitol grounds. People shouldnt be afraid to do that, Stilp said. This is a very good step. Aaron Martin, the attorney representing Stilp at Tuesdays hearing, noted he plans to file an action in federal court next week to have the citys ordinance voided on First Amendment grounds. The point is, were in the midst of a presidential election, and Mr. Stilp doesnt have time to wait for city council to take action. "He wants to conduct these protests now, Martin said. On Dec. 5., 2019 Stilp and a small knot of supporters arrived at the Capitol with a metal trash can and doctored-up Trump campaign flags with the intent on setting them ablaze. They included one flag sewn to a Nazi flag to represent what Stilp said he sees as the presidents racist and intolerant attitude and misguided values toward non-whites. Another was a Trump 2020 flag attached to the former Soviet Union flag to symbolize what he called the presidents dictatorial style that resembles Russian President Vladimir Putin. The third was a Trump campaign flag that had displayed the words No more bull----, which Stilp said is insulting to citizens and not good for the children of Pennsylvania to see. Capitol Police Sgt. Michael Schmidt was standing by, and extinguished the flames literally as soon as Stilp ignited them, but the, following Schmidts warning, earned him the citation. Besides the Dec. 5 protest, Stilp has done similar protests in California, in Washington D.C., and in Hershey outside the presidents Giant Center rally on Dec. 10. But he was really intent on fighting the citation because he plans to burn more of the Trump flags in the parts of Pennsylvania that voted for Trump (in 2016). Were going to be doing that because we want to hold up a mirror to ask the people: Are these really the values that you believe in? Stilp said. Schmidt took the defeat in stride. He said Capitol Police traditionally do not appeal decisions on summary citations, but he did express hope Stilp and all other demonstrators who want to make points at the Capitol just apply common sense to what their doing. During the hearing, however, Stilp took pains in his direct testimony to stress that he never felt he was putting anyone at risk, noting not only did he bring a metal trash can to contain his fire, but that he is a member of the Middle Paxton Fire Company who has, in the past, served on task forces called to battle forest fires in Pennsylvania. GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - The same day Lionel Desmond told a psychotherapist that his wife had recently asked for a divorce, the former soldier fatally shot his spouse, their 10-year-old daughter and his mother before turning the gun on himself, a provincial fatality inquiry heard Wednesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Desmond Fatality Inquiry is being held at the Guysborough Municipal building in Guysborough, N.S. on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan GUYSBOROUGH, N.S. - The same day Lionel Desmond told a psychotherapist that his wife had recently asked for a divorce, the former soldier fatally shot his spouse, their 10-year-old daughter and his mother before turning the gun on himself, a provincial fatality inquiry heard Wednesday. The inquiry in Guysborough, N.S., which started last month, has heard the Afghanistan war veteran and his wife Shanna frequently argued after he was discharged from the military in 2015, but this was the first mention of a possible divorce. "We've heard from a few witnesses that there were heated arguments, but always a reconciliation," lawyer Adam Rodgers, who represents Desmond's estate and his sister Cassandra, said in a telephone interview. "But this was the first time there was a mention of divorce .... That does seem quite significant." Catherine Chambers, a private psychotherapist based in Antigonish, N.S. who specializes in treating veterans and first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder, told the inquiry she was contracted by Veterans Affairs Canada in the fall of 2016 to provide counselling to Desmond. She understood he had been diagnosed with PTSD in 2011. Several of Desmond's relatives and friends have long complained the former infantryman did not receive the help he needed as he tried to make to transition to civilian life. Among other things, the inquiry is investigating whether Desmond and his family had access to mental health and domestic violence services, and whether he should have been able to buy a gun on the same day as the killings. Chambers said she conducted two assessment sessions with the 33-year-old former soldier on Dec. 2, 2016 and Dec. 15, 2016. She described him as polite, well-groomed and soft-spoken but she also noted he had trouble speaking in a linear manner. Desmond also displayed a "flat affect," which meant his facial expressions hardly changed when he talked about troubling or emotional issues, she said. "He seemed to be struggling," she told the inquiry. She also said Desmond clearly stated he had not physically abused his wife. Marital conflict is common among those diagnosed with PTSD, Chambers said, but it doesn't necessarily mean anyone is at imminent risk. In part, Chambers' psychotherapy assessment reads: "Mr. Desmond shared that he wants to have a happy and healthy home life and a healthy relationship with his wife. He would also like to sleep better and find ways of dealing with intrusive memories and flashback." Chambers testified that Desmond spoke about being the best father and husband that he could be. "The impression that I got was that Mr. Desmond loved his wife tremendously and regretted the fact they often argued .... He wanted to rebuild his family." Chambers confirmed Desmond did talk about suicide, but she said he did not appear to have any plan or intent to hurt himself or anyone else. She said he engaged in "passive suicide ideation" by saying he wished he had been "blown up" in Afghanistan. Desmond told her the only reason he wanted to stay alive was to be there for his wife and child. Until Chambers spoke with Desmond by phone on Jan. 3, 2017, she said he did not mention anything about a possible separation or divorce. The inquiry has heard that on Jan. 1, 2017, Desmond spent the night at St. Martha's Regional Hospital after he and Shanna argued on New Year's Eve. He told staff at the hospital he needed a place to stay to cool off. The psychiatrist who assessed him, Dr. Faisal Rahman, told the inquiry that Desmond was pleasant and polite, and he was deemed a low risk for suicide or homicide by the time he left the hospital on the morning of Jan. 2, 2017. Cellphone records obtained by the RCMP show Desmond spoke to his wife later that day. "We don't know what they discussed," Rodgers said. And it was the next day that Desmond told Chambers about the possible divorce. Just after 6 p.m. that evening, Desmond used a semi-automatic, military-style carbine to kill his family and himself in their rural Nova Scotia home in Upper Big Tracadie. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020. By Michael MacDonald in Halifax Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version referred to Desmond as a former sniper. They had specifically recommended the ordination of suitable and esteemed men of the community, who had already had fruitful experiences as deacons and who receive an adequate formation for the priesthood, having a legitimately constituted and stable family. Manchester, N.H. Bernie Sanders held a narrow lead over Pete Buttigieg in the New Hampshire Democratic primary Tuesday night as the two ideological opposites battled it out for front-runner status in the chaotic nomination fight to take on President Donald Trump. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Midwestern moderate like former Mayor Buttigieg, was trailing in third place. It It was an unexpectedly strong showing for Klobuchar, who surged following a standout debate performance on Friday. "Tonight in New Hampshire, as everyone had counted us out even a week ago," Klobuchar said, "I came back and we delivered." With votes still coming in, the race was too early to call. But the night was disappointing for two prominent White House hopefuls. Former Vice President Joe Biden was competing with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for fourth place. Neither was on track to receive any delegates. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would provide clarity in their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: just-the-facts moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of color left in the race. While struggling candidates sought to minimize the latest results, history suggests that the first-in-the-nation primary will have enormous influence shaping the 2020 race. In the modern era, no Democrat has ever become the party's general election nominee without finishing first or second in New Hampshire. While the action was on the Democratic side, Trump easily won New Hampshire's Republican primary. He was facing token opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Warren, among the front-runners for months, was doing poorly in early results but told cheering supporters, "Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started." She said Sanders and Buttigieg are "both great candidates," and congratulated Klobuchar, who she called "my friend and colleague." Despite an embarrassing defeat that raised questions about her path forward, Warren vowed to move forward. "Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started," she said. Having already predicted he would "take a hit" in New Hampshire after a distant fourth-place finish in Iowa, Biden essentially ceded the state. He was traveling to South Carolina Tuesday as he bet his candidacy on a strong showing there later this month boosted by support from black voters. "We're just getting started," Biden said. More than a year after Democrats began announcing their presidential candidacies, the party is struggling to coalesce behind a message or a messenger in its desperate quest to defeat Trump. That raised the stakes of the New Hampshire primary as voters weighed whether candidates were too liberal, too moderate or too inexperienced vulnerabilities that could play to Trump's advantage in the fall. He was not on the ballot, but New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg loomed over the New Hampshire contest as moderates failed to embrace a single alternative to Sanders. Bloomberg was skipping all four states that vote this month in favor of dozens of delegate-rich contests in March. He's already devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to the effort. New Hampshire Democrats headed into Tuesday's primary with a focus on matters of fairness. Just over 1 in 10 said they were "very confident" that their party's process for choosing a presidential nominee was fair, according to a wide-ranging AP VoteCast survey. At the same time, nearly 8 in 10 also viewed the economy as unfair, although there was little consensus on which candidate would do the best job of stewarding the world's largest economy. Democrats were closely monitoring how many people showed up for Tuesday's contest. New Hampshire's secretary of state predicated record-high turnout, but if that failed to materialize, Democrats would confront the prospect of waning enthusiasm following a relatively weak showing in Iowa last week and Trump's rising poll numbers. Trump, campaigning in New Hampshire Monday night, sought to inject chaos in the process. The Republican president suggested that conservative-leaning voters could affect the state's Democratic primary results, though only registered Democrats and voters not registered with either party can participate in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary. In the days leading up to Tuesday's primary, Buttigieg had come under increasing attack from Biden and Klobuchar, who seized on his lack of experience. And from the left, Sanders attacked Buttigieg's reliance on big-dollar donors, which sparked jeers of "Wall Street Pete" from Sanders' supporters. After New Hampshire, the political spotlight shifts to Nevada, where Democrats will hold caucuses on Feb. 22. But several candidates, including Warren and Sanders, plan to visit states in the coming days that vote on Super Tuesday, signaling they are in the race for the long haul. Manchester, N.H. Bernie Sanders won New Hampshire's presidential primary election Tuesday night, narrowly edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Party's chaotic 2020 nomination fight. In his win, the 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenger from the 38-year-old former Midwestern mayor two men representing different generations and wings of their party. "This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," Sanders declared. As Sanders and Buttigieg celebrated, an unexpectedly strong performance from Amy Klobuchar gave her a path out of New Hampshire as the contest moves on to the string of state-by-state primary contests that lie ahead. Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren posted disappointing results and were on track to finish with zero delegates from the state. The New Hampshire vote made clear that the early days of the Democratic contest will be a battle largely between two men four decades apart in age and ideological opposites. Sanders is a leading progressive voice, calling for substantial government intervention in health care and other sectors of the economy. Buttigieg has pressed for more incremental changes, giving Americans the option of retaining their private health insurance and making a point of appealing to Republicans and independents who may be dissatisfied with Trump. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay," Buttigieg told cheering supporters. Yet Sanders and Buttigieg enter the next phase of the campaign in different political positions. While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, well-financed and with an ardent army of supporters, is quickly becoming the leader of the progressive wing of the party. Meanwhile, Buttigieg still has moderate rivals to contend with, including Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire. Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina, while former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on Tuesday's ballot but looms next month. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would provide clarity in their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: just-the-facts moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of color left in the race. While struggling candidates sought to minimize the latest results, history suggests that the first-in-the-nation primary will have enormous influence shaping the 2020 race. In the modern era, no Democrat has ever become the party's general election nominee without finishing first or second in New Hampshire. The action was on the Democratic side, but Trump easily won New Hampshire's Republican primary. He was facing token opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Warren, among the front-runners for months, offered an optimistic outlook as she faced cheering supporters, "Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started." Despite an embarrassing defeat that raised questions about her path forward, Warren vowed to move trudge on. "Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started," she declared. Having already predicted he would "take a hit" in New Hampshire after a distant fourth-place finish in Iowa, Biden essentially ceded the state. He traveled to South Carolina Tuesday as he bet his candidacy on a strong showing there later this month boosted by support from black voters. He was not on the ballot, but Bloomberg, a New York billionaire, loomed over the New Hampshire contest as moderates failed to embrace a single alternative to Sanders. The former New York City mayor was skipping all four states that vote this month in favor of dozens of delegate-rich contests in March. He's already devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to the effort. Bloomberg returns to the campaign trail Wednesday with stops in Tennessee but will face fresh scrutiny after audio emerged on Tuesday raising new questions about his support for New York's controversial stop-and-frisk policy found to disproportionately target people of color. Sanders and Buttigieg were on track to win the same number of New Hampshire delegates with most of the vote tallied, and Klobuchar a few behind. Warren, Biden and the rest of the field were shut out, failing to reach the 15 percent threshold needed for delegates. AP has allocated six delegates each to Sanders and Buttigieg and four to Klobuchar with eight still to be called. After Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg held a one delegate lead over Sanders with one Iowa delegate yet to be allocated and Buttigieg leading ever so slightly in that contested count. Klobuchar now joins a close knot in a second tier with Warren and Biden, about 10 delegates behind the two leaders. The political spotlight quickly shifts to Nevada, where Democrats will hold caucuses on Feb. 22. But several candidates, including Warren and Sanders, plan to visit states in the coming days that vote on Super Tuesday. Teens with a history of ADHD need stronger monitoring of health risks Philadelphia, February 11, 2020 - Adolescents with a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at an increased risk for a multitude of adverse outcomes, including sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), mental health conditions, and car accidents. Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) wanted to better understand how primary care doctors addressed these risks with patients as they transitioned from childhood to young adulthood. They found that although doctors generally discuss depression, substance abuse, and suicide risk with patients who have a history of ADHD, they rarely discuss safe driving with them and most of the time they do not monitor patients for risky sexual behavior. The findings, published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, represent the first study to examine the clinical practices of primary care clinicians as children with ADHD advance through adolescence. Although between 30% and 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD no longer meet full criteria for the disorder by late adolescence, those diagnosed before age 10 are at an increased risk for a variety of behavioral and medical concerns throughout adolescence. Yet of the 262 patients with a history of ADHD studied, the CHOP team found driving readiness was discussed in only two instances, and sexual health risks were discussed with only 47% of youth. "These findings identify opportunities to improve the care of adolescents with a history of ADHD," said Thomas Power, PhD, ABPP, senior author and Director of the Center for Management of ADHD at CHOP. "Although doctors do a good job screening for many behavioral health risks, like suicide risk and depression, we need to be more aware of the dangers associated with driving and sexual health. For example, our previous research shows teens with ADHD are more likely to be involved in a car accident particularly in the first month after receiving their driver's license, so this is definitely an issue that should be discussed with our patients." Medication abuse, specifically the unlawful sharing of medication among youth, is another major area of concern for adolescent patients on medication for ADHD, yet the study found doctors rarely discussed this risk with these patients. "We have found that clinicians are more skilled in addressing ADHD in childhood than in adolescence," said Power. "Additional resources and training are needed so we can ensure primary care clinicians are providing the best care for patients with ADHD as they develop through their teenage years." ### About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 564-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www. chop. edu This story has been published on: 2020-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Its hard to believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans whether they were ever partisan havent formed an opinion by now about the state of our national politics. After all, weve all been forced to endure years of various accusations and investigations that recently culminated in the impeachment and failed prosecution of President Donald Trump. And, even after a moderate Senate acquitted on the articles of impeachment brought against the president by the angry liberals running the U.S. House of Representatives, it seems that there may be no end in sight for this nonsense. Those who continue this effort do so at their political peril. It appears the American people have had enough. Talk of impeachment began soon after the November 2016 election, even before Trumps inauguration. A Washington Post headline printed the day the president took the oath of office declared: The Campaign to Impeach President Trump has Begun. Early on, his adversaries placed the goal of removing the president from the Oval Office on the front burner. While he sought to deal with policy issues such as job creation, trade, sensible regulation and criminal justice reform, he was always treated as the enemy by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues. There was no honeymoon for Trump. Members of Congress including Maxine Waters, Al Green, Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff carried the torch in the crusade to find something anything by which to hang articles of impeachment. While the concept of impeachment was proposed by the Founding Fathers to be a remedy for Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors, Pelosis lieutenants set a low bar for their impeachment efforts. First it was alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election. Then an affair with a porn star. Then not being critical enough of racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. What they ended up with an alleged quid pro quo in Ukraine resulted in two weak, politicized charges sent to the Senate after a partisan investigation and vote. In the Senate, it was easily rebutted and dismissed in once again a partisan vote. Now, as an American people, we are faced with a new challenge. How will this impeachment affect the national conversation? After creating a constitutional crisis, how do liberals expect us to pick up the pieces and get back to our normal lives again? Has this partisan exercise ignited a cold civil war in America? Liberals have drawn the battle lines to energize their base. Speaker Pelosi insisted that President Trump is impeached forever, and that cannot be erased. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated his colleagues will not accept an acquittal as legitimate. So how does he intend to get back to work now that the acquittal has occurred? Protests and rallies were organized on both sides before and during the trial, and those seeking Trumps removal will inevitably continue their crusade. And we are now in an election year, when tempers are likely to flare even more. While the blame game is going to spark some lively debate among the presidents detractors, its interesting to see that the presidents approval rating is actually at a personal best in Gallup polling. There is no doubt liberals still want to try to turn this issue around, make more claims against the president and his supporters in Congress and maybe even roll the impeachment dice again. Whats next? Possibly accusations of emolument, charging that he is using the presidency to make money for his hotels and resorts. Representative Green still has three articles of impeachment alleging bigotry and racism. Those instigating a perpetual campaign of personal destruction against Trump are risking a firestorm that may burn them the most. They seem to fail to recognize that the American people will soon have their own say regarding the presidents political fate, and liberal witch-hunting may be helping the president more than hurting him. Emery McClendon, a member of the Project 21 national advisory council, is a tea party organizer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the winner of Americans for Prosperitys 2010 Activist of the Year award. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. A former Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, and a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, on Wednesday, said they were at the Federal High Court in Abuja to show solidarity with the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore. Mr Sowore and Olawale Bakare are facing a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, fraud, cyberstalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari. Before the commencement of their trial on Wednesday, Messrs Sani and Odinkalu, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, said they were in court to show solidarity with Mr Sowore and Mr Bakare. Mr Sani said, Sowore is a friend, brother and a comrade in the struggle. One that has proven over the years as a man who has dedicated and sacrificed a lot for democracy and freedom in Nigeria. The former senator, who represented Kaduna Central District, said Mr Sowore is a victim of the system they all fought against. It is unfortunate that for all that he fought and struggled for, today he is a victim of the very system that we fought against and also we are now in a new phase. I believe, this is the time, as much as he has always shown solidarity for me over two, three decades, I would always be with him. I am with him in heart, soul and in spirit, he said. Mr Sani added that they are all in court to identify with Mr Sowores course and struggle, which he shares. Mr Sani, who is also facing trial for alleged fraud and was only recently released from the custody of the anti-graft agency, EFCC, said Mr Sowores bail is just like his own. He is on bail, I am also on bail, the difference is that mine is from the EFCC and he is from the DSS. I could have joined him but I am surprised that I wasnt part of this because I was supposed to be part of this struggle, he said. Mr Sani was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on January 27, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged bribery. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, granted Mr Sani bail the same day he was arraigned. He was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum. Also on his part on Wednesday, Mr Odinkalu, who addressed journalists, said Messrs Sowore and Bakare are his comrades. Mr Odinkalu said he was in court to observe the proceedings. The former National Human Rights Commissions chairman said the rule of law in Nigeria is a total mess up. Asked to advise the government, Mr Odinkalu said he did not need to do so, as the government ought to know what to do. The Vice President is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), our AGF is a SAN, the junior minister for labour is a SAN, the SGF is a lawyer too. He said the number of lawyers in government was high. I am not even talking of those married to lawyers, he added. So I do not need to advise them, they know what to do, If they so wish not to do it, it is their choice, Mr Odinkalu said. Advertisements Court awards fine Meanwhile, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, on Wednesday, awarded N200,000 cost against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, for causing a frivolous adjournment in Mr Sowores trial. She ordered the prosecution to pay the fine before Thursday and report to the court of its compliance to the order or pay in open court on Thursday. It was the second of such occasion that the judge was awarding cost against the federal government. The first happened last year when the judge imposed a fine of N100, 000 on the lawyer representing the SSS for refusing to furnish Mr Sowores lawyers with statements of SSS witnesses. Mr Sowores lawyer, Femi Falana, confirmed the payment of the fine to PREMIUM TIMES. Messrs Sowore and Bakare were arrested on August 3 by the SSS for planning a protest popularised with the hashtag #RevolutionNow. The SSS had on December 6 rearrested Mr Sowore at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja a day after he was released from their custody. The publisher and Mr Bakare were released the night before on the order of Justice Ojukwu after spending 124 days in SSS custody. Mr Sowore was later released on December 24, 2019. Remember the days when some of Mexicos most perfect beaches werent lined with yoga retreats and vegan juice bars, and Noma hadnt yet popped up? When one didnt have to wear a $300 caftan to the beach just to fit in? Neither do we. Its no newsflash that much of Mexicos coastline has been snapped up by boho tourists and mega resorts, leaving little opportunity for a truly easygoing vacation, but its not the case everywhere. On the countrys central and southwest Pacific Coast, theres a string of sleepy retreats, incredible under-the-radar hotels, and design-savvy spots that all make for an ideal getaway. Heres where to find them. Lo Sereno Casa de Playa Photo: Christie Graham In the sleepy town of Troncones, everything moves at the pace of a coconut frond blowing in a gentle breeze. On the main beach there are a few beachside retreats to choose from, but the most covetable is Lo Sereno Casa de Playa. With only 10 rooms, the Design Hotels property feels part hotel, part private beach home. The design is shockingly simple: a modular building with minimalistic rooms that have sliding slatted wooden doors that tumble onto private patios. The main bar and restaurant area, which flows around the oblong charcoal pool and onto the flaxen beach, serves seafood, tacos, and cocktails until long after the sun has sunk. losereno.com Cuixmala Photo: Davis Gerber Cuixmalas location is so remote, celebrities have been known to land their jets on the private runway. But the location, which is on a wildlife reserve that runs along an isolated two-mile beach, isnt the only reason the hotel draws an It crowd. From the main room of Casa Cuixmala and the bungalows, guests take in unbroken views of the gleaming Pacific Ocean. Inside, the suites have towering ceilings and stark-white walls contrasted by bright fabrics. At the beach-facing pool, lined with sun beds all in primary colors, fresh seafood and icy margaritas are the perfect post-swim treat. Consider staying a few extra nights at the nearby uber-plush sister property, Hacienda de San Antonio, huddled at the base of a volcano. cuixmala.com Story continues Hotel Escondido Photo: Undine Prohl From Mexicos acclaimed hospitality group Grupo Habita, Hotel Escondido is a sliver of paradise located near Oaxacas Puerto Escondido. The 16 unfussy palapas have pitched palm roofs, wooden floors, and private decks with inky pools. The hammocks, which are strewn around the property (from the rooms to the communal areas), are a sure sign that the hotels main aim is to get guests to chill the hell out. The beach, on which the hotel is located, is a surfers delight and is known as one of the countrys best (but still low-key) surf spots. hotelescondido.com Thompson Zihuatanejo Photo: Courtesy of Thompson Zihuatanejo Zihuatanejo couldnt exactly be described as a sleepy retreat. Home to a major airport, the city is often considered a gateway to the area. But that doesnt mean it lacks in prime beach spotstheyre just not as remote. At the Thompson Zihuatanejo, set along Playa La Ropa, guests can experience a bit of luxury in a swanky setting without having to travel too far. The hotels sharp interior is all wood, stone, and neutral tones. Its not what youd expect from a beachside resort and feels somewhat urban, but its this contrast that makes it so distinctive. thompsonhotels.com Verana Photo: Laura Austin Set on a cliffside overlooking the ocean, this jungle hotel is cool mix of modern and traditional Mexican elements. The property, which is made up of a collection of rooms and cottages that all have individual personalities, has uninterrupted views of the ocean. If remote is what you want, then at this eco-lodge, remote is what youll get. Getting there requires a flight, car ride, and boat ride. But paradise wouldnt be paradise if it was so easy to access. verana.boutique-homes.com Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Forced enthusiasm and endless glad-handing on the campaign trail make it fertile ground for awkward and uncomfortable moments among the candidates, buoyed by the energy and teeth-baring sincerity of their team and supporters. Set to music or other pop-cultural markers, those moments become preserved in time. While then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney was seeking the White House in 2008, he put his arms around a group of African-American voters and children in Florida to pose for a photo, asking: "Who's got the camera?" Then, inexplicably: "Who let the dogs out? Who, who?" The song "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by the Baha Men was released eight years before that deeply uncomfortable moment, setting the standard for dated, cringey musical moments on the campaign trails to follow. As 2020 Democratic presidential candidates campaigned in New Hampshire, a group of young Joe Biden supporters greeted the former vice president with their take on "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys ("Joe Biden / yeah yeah / Joe Biden / Biden's back / all right"). Pete Buttigieg, meanwhile, brought back the "raising the roof" move with his supporters on Tuesday morning as polls opened in New Hampshire's primary election. Last autumn, his yellow T-shirt-wearing campaigners in Iowa unveiled their now-infamous choreography to Panic at the Disco's "High Hopes", inspiring comedians Nick Ciarelli and Brad Evans to create a viral campaign dance of their own for Mike Bloomberg, set to Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" (the "Jagger" was replaced with a soulless monotone reading of "Bloomberg"). In December, the comedians shared a 23-second video of the dance, filmed at one of their shows in Los Angeles, on Twitter, where they went so far as to make their profiles resemble the kind of sincere lanyard-wearing campaign staffers who create moments that Mr Ciarelli and Mr Evans sought to parody. Within 24 hours, Donald Trump Jr, New York Times reporters and dozens of others shared the video believing it was "real", while "#MovesLikeBloomberg" became a trending topic. Meanwhile, the billionaire former New York mayor, while on the trail in Burlington, Vermont last month, shook a voter's hand, then a dog's nose, as if it were another hand. It wasn't the first time either -- after a clip of the mayor's mouth-shake went viral, an image of Mr Bloomberg grabbing a dog by the top of its mouth on an earlier occasion recirculated soon after. STOCKHOLM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Artificial Solutions (SSME:ASAI), the leading specialist in enterprise-strength conversational AI, announced today that it is partnering with Blue Prism as part of the company's Technology Alliance Program (TAP) to enable enterprises to easily add advanced conversational interfaces to their business automations. Blue Prism's Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology is revolutionizing the corporate digital transformation journey by allowing enterprises to be more agile and cost effective using autonomous Digital Workers (software robots) to carry out mission critical processes, while empowering the human workforce to focus on driving the business forward. Now using Teneo, Artificial Solutions' award-winning conversational AI development platform, those automations can be easily connected directly to end-users through a natural language interface. "Driving innovation through intelligent automation capabilities is key for enterprises looking to grow in a competitive marketplace. Artificial Solutions will allow our customers to easily extend their connected-RPA sequences into conversational AI applications to maximize the benefits of both technologies, while delivering the 24/7 experience end-users are demanding," says Bruce Mazza, VP of Blue Prism's Technology Alliance Program. Besides extending the zero-intervention proposition of RPA, Teneo delivers several key benefits to Blue Prism customers. Available in over 35 languages running over any device, service, or channel, Teneo's unique hybrid natural language model combines the advantages of machine and linguistic learning to facilitate rapid development and deliver precise and predictable understanding. In addition, Teneo enables enterprises to own the data generated by conversational AI applications and to reuse it to increase personalization, deliver actionable data back to the business and maintain the conversational system. Enterprise strength capabilities including support for privacy regulation, collaboration and system roll-back makes Teneo ideally suited for large multi-national businesses. "We're delighted to join TAP and provide Blue Prism's customers with access to connectors that will easily allow them to extend their RPAs to end users via a conversational AI interface," says Robert Wilson-Fry, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships of Artificial Solutions. "Teneo's highly conversational capabilities deliver the essential accuracy needed when understanding a user's intent. You don't want the wrong RPA to be started because your chatbot misunderstood ambiguous words such as `leave' and proceeds to lock-out an employee from the front door, when all they wanted was to take their holiday, not quit the company." About Artificial Solutions Artificial Solutions is the leading specialist in enterprise-strength conversational AI, a form of Artificial Intelligence that allows people to communicate with applications, websites and devices in everyday, humanlike natural language via voice, text, touch or gesture input. Designed for the global enterprise, the Company's advanced conversational AI platform, Teneo, allows business users and developers to collaborate on creating sophisticated, highly intelligent applications that run across 35 languages, multiple platforms and channels in record time. The ability to analyze and make use of the enormous quantities of conversational data is fully integrated within Teneo, delivering unprecedented levels of insight that reveal what customers are truly thinking. Artificial Solutions' conversational AI technology makes it easy to implement a wide range of natural language applications such as virtual assistants, chatbots, speech-based conversational UIs for smart devices and more. It is already used daily by millions of people across hundreds of private and public sector deployments worldwide. For more information, visit www.artificial-solutions.com About Blue Prism Blue Prism's vision is to provide a Digital Workforce for Every Enterprise. The company's purpose is to unleash the collaborative potential of humans, operating in harmony with a Digital Workforce, so every enterprise can exceed their business goals and drive meaningful growth, with unmatched speed and agility. Fortune 500 and public-sector organizations, among customers across 70 commercial sectors, trust Blue Prism's enterprise-grade connected-RPA platform, which has users in more than 170 countries. By strategically applying intelligent automation, these organizations are creating new opportunities and services, while unlocking massive efficiencies that return millions of hours of work back into their business. Available on-premises, in the cloud, hybrid, or as an integrated SaaS solution, Blue Prism's Digital Workforce automates ever more complex, end-to-end processes that drive a true digital transformation, collaboratively, at scale and across the entire enterprise. Visit www.blueprism.com to learn more or follow Blue Prism on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn. Blue Prism's customers will also have access to Teneo Developers, Artificial Solutions online development portal that gives free access to Teneo and other resources such as Teneo Connectors, a pre-built library of intelligent connectors that span a range of business and AI assets including RPA (robotic process automation) and CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service). Media Contacts: Artificial Solutions Sara Claridge [email protected] Mobile: +44-7968-626838 Blue Prism Andre Fuochi [email protected] Mobile: +1-469-394-7274 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/artificial-solutions-international-ab/r/artificial-solutions-and-blue-prism-partner-to-add-conversational-ai-to-business-automations,c3019028 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Artificial Solutions International AB A San Antonio man was stabbed during a confrontation with his girlfriend's family early Wednesday, according to the San Antonio Police Department. The man, in his 30s, was at his home in the 600 block of South Navidad St. on the West Side when his girlfriend's aunt and the aunt's boyfriend arrived. In April of 2015, IT staffers within the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the agency that manages the government's civilian workforce, discovered that some of its personnel files had been hacked. Among the sensitive data that was exfiltrated were millions of SF-86 forms, which contain extremely personal information gathered in background checks for people seeking government security clearances, along with records of millions of people's fingerprints. The OPM breach led to a Congressional investigation and the resignation of top OPM executives, and its full implicationsfor national security, and for the privacy of those whose records were stolenare still not entirely clear. [ How much does a data breach cost? Here's where the money goes. | Get the latest from CSO by signing up for our newsletters. ] OPM hack timeline As the official Congressional report on the incident says, "The exact details of how and when the attackers gained entry ... are not exactly clear." Nevertheless, researchers have been able to construct a rough timeline of when the breaches began and what the attackers did. The hack began in November of 2013, when the attackers first breached OPM networks. This attacker or group is dubbed X1 by the Congressional OPM data breach report. While X1 wasn't able to access any personnel records at that time, they did manage to exfiltrate manuals and IT system architecture information. The next month, in December of 2013, is when we definitively know that attackers were attempting to breach the systems of two contractors, USIS and KeyPoint, who conducted background checks on government employees and had access to OPM servers (though USIS may have actually been breached months earlier). The official OPM hack report After an exhaustive and sometimes confrontational investigation, the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee released a report on the OPM data breach to the public. It's an exhaustive 241 pages, and much of the material in this article derives from its conclusions. In March of 2014, OPM officials realized they'd been hacked. However, they didn't publicize the breach at that time, and, having determined that the attackers were confined to a part of the network that didn't have any personnel data, OPM officials chose to allow the attackers to remain so they could monitor them and gain counterintelligence. OPM did plan for what they called the "big bang"a system reset that would purge the attackers from the systemwhich they implemented on May 27, 2014, when the attackers began to load keyoggers onto database administrators' workstations. Unfortunately, on May 7, 2014, an attacker or group dubbed X2by the report had used credentials stolen from KeyPoint to establish another foothold in the OPM network and install malware there to create a backdoor. This breach went undetected and the "big bang" didn't remove X2's access or the backdoor. In July and August of 2014, these attackers exfiltrated the background investigation data from OPM's systems. They weren't done, though: by October 2014, the attackers had moved through the OPM environment to breach a Department of Interior server where personnel records were stored, and in December 2014 another 4.2 million personnel records were exfiltrated. Fingerprint data was exfiltrated in late March of 2015; finally, on April 15, 2015, security personnel noticed unusual activity within the OPM's networks, which quickly led them to realize that attackers still had a foothold in their systems. How did the OPM hack happen? The technical details It's not entirely clear how X1 gained access to OPM's networks, but OPM had already been roundly criticized for poor security practices in the period leading up to the intrusion. It's also not entirely clear that X1 and X2 were the same person or group, but seeing as X1 stole information about OPM's network that would've been helpful to X2's agenda, the assumption is that they were at least working in tandem. What is clear is that OPM's technical leadership, overly confident that they had defeated X1 with the "big bang," did not use the intrusion as a "wake up call" and failed to take measures that would have helped them detect X2. They had also largely failed to institute a number of important and recommended security measures, the most the important of which in the event was two-factor authentication. Under a two-factor authentication scheme, users need a chip-enhanced ID card that correlates with their username and password in order to log into the system. Without it, an attacker who manages to steal a valid username and passwordas X2 did, using a login pilfered from KeyPointhas free access to the system. OPM finally implemented two-factor authentication in January 2015, after X2 had already wormed their way into the network. At any rate, once X2 had access to OPM systems, they used an Active Directory privilege escalation technique to obtain root access. This was used to install a variant of the PlugX malware, a remote access tool that allowed the attackers to navigate around OPM's systems and compress and exfiltrate data, on several of OPM serversincluding, crucially, the "jumpbox," the administrative server that was used to log into other servers. Sakula, another linked piece of remote control malware, was installed around the same time. OPM breach response As noted, X2's infiltration was finally detected on April 15, 2015, when a security engineer was investigating encrypted SSL traffic on OPM's networks. The researcher determined a beacon-like ping was connecting a component on OPM's infrastructure called mcutil.dll to a website called opmsecurity.org. At very casual first glance this may seem on the up-and-up; but mcutil.dll looks like part of a McAfee security software suite, something OPM didn't use, and opmsecurity.org, despite its name, wasn't registered by the agency. In fact, mcutil.dll was cloaking the PlugX malware, and opm-security.org was one of several sites acting as command-and-control servers for the attackers. (The attackers had a sense of humor: the domain name, and others like it, were registered to "Steve Rogers" and "Tony Stark," aka Marvel's Captain America and Iron Man.) The scramble to diagnose the problem and defeat the attackers, which quickly involved the government's US-CERT emergency team, demonstrated some of the weaknesses in the OPM's processes that had helped make the incident possible in the first place. Confusingly, it involved two security software vendors with similar names: Cylance and CyTech. The tool security staffers had used to detect the communication with opmsecurity.org was called Cylance V. Back in 2014, the security team had pushed for the agency to license Protect, a higher-end product from Cylance. This was rejected by OPM IT, although the reasons given to Congressional investigators by OPM staff weren't consistent; some said it was because the product wasn't FedRAMP certified, while others cited the difficulty IT had installing it on individual workstations. At any rate, the justification was chalked up to office politics in testimony before the Oversight Committee. Once it became clear that a breach was in progress, OPM staff requested help from Cylance to use Cylance V to diagnose forensic images of OPM servers. Since this was a task more suited to Cylance Protect, they rolled out that tool in a free trial mode, and it "lit up like a Christmas tree." At this point, OPM began using Protect extensively in its diagnostic process, despite not committing to license it from Cylance; they eventually agreed to do so on June 30th, a day before the trial period was set to elapse. Cylance did not actually receive payment for months. Meanwhile, on April 21st, representatives from CyTech arrived at OPM for a long-scheduled appointment to demonstrate their CyFIR forensics program. The breach was not public knowledge at this point, and OPM staff did not share any information about it with company founder Ben Cotton, who was there to lead the demo. CyFIR also detected the malware, and Cotton immediately agreed to help with the response. Realizing that the crisis was grave enough to demand immediate action, Cotton began providing software and services based on a handshake agreement. OPM racked up more than $800,000 in bills from CyTechbut no contract was executed and CyTech was not paid. Who hacked OPM? While no "smoking gun" was found linking the attack to a specific perpetrator, the overwhelming consensus is that OPM was hacked by state-sponsored attackers working for the Chinese government. Among the evidence is the fact that PlugX, the backdoor tool installed on OPM's network, is associated with Chinese-language hacking groups that have attacked political activists in Hong Kong and Tibet; the use of superhero names is also associated with groups tied to China. OPM data would be considered extremely valuable to foreign intelligence services because it includes very sensitive information gathered as part of the process of granting security clearances. The CIA cancelled assignments for some officers in China in the wake of the breach, since many were to work undercover as State Department officials and would've been identifiable from the data gathered. In August of 2017, the FBI arrested Yu Pingan, a Chinese national, as he arrived in the US to attend a conference, charging him with "conspiring with others wielding malicious software known as Sakula," although the OPM hack was not explicitly mentioned. In September 2018, National Security Advisor John Bolton, at an event where the White House unveiled a new cybersecurity strategy, explicitly tied the attack to Beijing. In February of 2020, the United States Department of Justice formally charged four members of the Chinese military with the 2017 attack on Equifax that netted personally identifying information on millions of people; in the announcement of the indictment, the Equifax attack was explicitly linked to the OPM breach as part of the same larger operation. This was an extremely rare movethe U.S. rarely files criminal charges against foreign intelligence officers in order to avoid retaliation against American operativesthat underscored how seriously the U.S. government took the attack. OPM hack lawsuit Soon after the hack hit the news, two public employee unions sued OPM and KeyPoint over the breach, alleging that "OPM violated our constitutional right to informational privacy by recklessly disregarding its Inspector Generals warnings over many years about its IT security deficiencies." The suit was thrown out in 2017; a judge ruled that the Privacy Act, the law that the suit was based on, used the word "disclosed" in relationship to data and that didn't apply in cases where data was stolen but not publicly revealed. The case is currently being heard by an appeals court. OPM hack credit monitoring One way the federal government has tried to mitigate potential damage to individuals whose identities were hacked is via free credit monitoring and ID protection. These services will be available until 2025, although a recent change in vendors meant that some victims had to take steps to reapply for coverage. Two D.C. area members of the House have attempted to extend this protection for life, so far without success. What will the OPM data breach cost the United States? Well, in credit monitoring services alone, the government will pay at least $133 million; the total figure might eventually reach $1 billion. OPM hack: 2018 and beyond One of the eerie things about the hack is the absence of recent news. The Justice Department has been mum about Yu Pingan since his arrest. There was a case of small-time identity theft in the summer of 2018 that the Department of Justice seemed to imply involved personal data that had been stolen in the breach, but they later admitted they had been in error. As Arun Vishwanath, a cybersecurity researcher at the State University of New York at Buffalo, toldWiredmagazine, We havent seen a single indication of this data being used anywhere. Yeah, we know the data is gone, but where did it go? Whats the purpose of all of this? No one has the answer to any of that. Microsoft today backed away from its heavily criticized plan to force Google's Chrome to use the Bing search engine. "The Microsoft Search in Bing extension will not ship with Version 2002 of Office 365 ProPlus," Microsoft said in an unsigned post to a company blog. Late last month, Microsoft had quietly announced that it would change the default search engine of Google's Chrome to Bing Microsoft's own search service on personal computers running Office 365 ProPlus, the productivity applications that serve as the heart of enterprise-grade Office 365 subscriptions. The swap of search defaults within Chrome was to begin this month and wrap up by July, the timing dependent on when corporate IT administrators had scheduled Office 365 ProPlus' upgrades. "Starting with Version 2002 of Office 365 ProPlus, an extension for Microsoft Search in Bing will be installed that makes Bing the default search engine for the Google Chrome web browser," Microsoft said when it delivered the news. "This extension will be installed with new installations of Office 365 ProPlus or when existing installations of Office 365 ProPlus are updated." Microsoft also said that it would do the same to Office 365 ProPlus customers' copies of Firefox, although it left the timing to an unspecified later date. The reason for the forced change to search, Microsoft said, was that Bing was required to implement Microsoft Search, which when tied to an Office 365 account let users look up internal information documents stored on OneDrive or SharePoint, for example from the browser's address bar. Microsoft's new Edge browser, which like Chrome is built from code produced by the Google-dominated Chromium open-source project, used Bing by default and so could search for and find such information. By adding the extension to Chrome, and later Firefox, Microsoft would put those browsers' users on an equal Office 365 footing with ones running Edge. In plainer terms, Microsoft was more interested in pushing a notable Office 365 feature, and thus Office 365, than it was in getting permission from users before switching browser search defaults. Reaction to the announcement came fast and furious, with many tossing off comments such as "Are you out of your mind?" and "insanely stupid." Virtually every remark seen by Computerworld was negative, with large numbers equating the move to browser hijacking. Many called on Microsoft to at least get prior approval from customers make it opt-in if it wasn't going to outright cancel the project. By all appearances, Microsoft has shot down the idea of serving the add-on to all Office 365 ProPlus users running non-Edge browsers, thus shutting down the initiative. "The Microsoft Search in Bing browser extension will not be automatically deployed with Office 365 ProPlus," the company said in the blog post, adding that enterprise IT staff would be able to opt-in from the Microsoft 365 admin center. "In the near term, Office 365 ProPlus will only deploy the browser extension to AD-joined devices, even within organizations that have opted in," Microsoft continued, referring to Active Directory. It also pledged to "provide end users ... with control over their search engine preference." Yet users sought clarification of the company's language, suspicious that the extension would still be pushed to some, if not all, users. "Can you clarify 'will only deploy the browser extension to AD-joined devices, even within organizations that have opted in'? Maybe you mean you will only deploy ONLY within organizations that have opted in?" asked Jonas Beck in a comment appended to the blog. Meanwhile, another commentator simply wasn't buying Microsoft's claim that "We've heard from many customers who are excited about the value Microsoft Search provides through Bing and the simplicity of deploying that value through Office 365 ProPlus." "Where? Who? I have not seen one single positive comment about this change anywhere not on Twitter, not as comments on your own blog posts, not in magazines or blogs, not on reddit, not on other forums. Show us one," demanded Michael Smith. "This was just stupid. And enough to erase a LOT of goodwill you had been earning." YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sees some circles in the state apparatus which should be got rid of and the state gets rid of them step by step. ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said during Parliament-Cabinet Q&A session, answering the question of an MP from Luminous Armenia Party about those who resist the revolution. Pashinyan noted that 90% of state workers are those who worked in the state system at least in the last 10 years. What has changed in their lives? The only thing that has changed is that many of them complain that before they had opportunities to earn money but now they have no such opportunities. When customs service employees agree to allow a van enter without any taxes, isnt it a resistance against the revolution? If a state official takes bribe for providing social assistance, isnt it a resistance against the revolution? Some of those people are already in jails, some of them will go to jail soon and some will be fired from their positions, Pashinyan said. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Horrific details of Anthony Sampieri's heinous sex attack on a seven-year-old girl moved a courtroom to tears on Wednesday as they were heard for the first time. Sampieri was on parole when he bound and raped the child at knife point in the toilets of a dance school at Kogarah, in south-west Sydney, in November 2018. During the horrific attack, Sampieri told the little girl: 'When you are bigger, you are going to like it.' Gasps could be heard through the gallery and experienced reporters were reduced to tears as Judge Conlon described the attack during sentencing on Wednesday. Much of what he told the court was too graphic to publish. Scroll down for video The estranged son of jailed rapist Anthony Paul Sampieri (pictured) says he is relieved to hear his father would rot in jail for a horrific sex attack on a young girl Daniel Sampieri (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia his sexual predator father 'couldn't be fixed' The 55-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting the girl and stabbing a man who rushed to her aid. Just hours after sentencing, Sampieri's son Daniel told Daily Mail Australia he was glad to hear his father - who he last spoke to months before the horror attack - would rot in jail. 'You can't fix someone like that, he was too far gone,' Daniel Sampieri said. 'They say if a dog gets blooded it's really hard to bring them back, and that's the way I see him.' The 26-year-old had been estranged from his father for a number of years before the rapist attempted to reconnect with his son in mid-2018. Daniel said he was 'devastated' to be related to such a vile criminal and on behalf of his family issued an apology to the young girl and her parents. 'I have something to say to all of them: I feel completely devastated that I am related to this person and I am so sorry for what he did to that young kid,' Daniel said. 'There is nothing I can do to make it better but I just want them to know that Im thinking of them.' Daniel also praised the efforts of Nick Gilio, an innocent bystander who was stabbed in the neck by Sampieri after rushing to the aid of the young girl. The trauma of the incident forced Mr Gilio to quit his job as a diesel mechanic, but he received praise from his attacker's son. 'He put his life on the line for a girl he didn't know,' Daniel said. 'I dont know what people are going to think coming for me, but I say good on him. I believe that he still has nightmares every night and he doesn't deserve that, so I am thinking of him too.' Sampieri raped the girl in the bathroom (pictured) of a Kogarah dance studio in November 2018 Daniel Sampieri also praised the efforts of Nick Gilio (pictured outside of court on Wednesday) who was stabbed in the neck by his estranged father as he rushed to help the little girl Mr Gilio was in court on Wednesday to see Sampieri sentenced, and outside broke down in tears as he shared a powerful message to the young victim he saved. 'To our little dancer and to her family; it was an absolute, my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil. I don't regret a single second,' he said. 'Today is your day for justice. You day towards light and healing. 'My wish for you is that you grow to be a healthy, confident, strong grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others. 'Do not let this scare you. Do not let this evil break who you are. 'As for me there is not a day that goes by that I don't think you you are there for eternity. Although I will not be there in presence, I will always send my love to you in spirit. 'You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be and if we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you.' Mr Gilio said Sampieri's life sentence had provided a 'bit of closure for everyone'. 'Life is life, let's get him away from innocent victims and good people in general,' he said. 'This is a society we want to be living in, void of these cowards.' NICK GILIO'S FULL STATEMENT AFTER SENTENCING: I'd like to start off by extending a huge thank you to the citizens and community of Kogarah, St George area of Sydney and Sydney as our city. You have all shown this case compassion, respect integrity and honour with particular attention to the privacy of all parties involved. A huge thank you to Jeffrey Stack for his assistance and strength in arresting this coward and also for his courage. Members and employees of the press, thank you for treating this case in the same manner protecting the privacy of all involved especially the family of our little girl, the innocent victim of this heinous and despicable crime. Crown Prosecutor Sally Stuart and her team at the Department of Public Prosecutions for their continued hard work and dedication also giving this matter the respect and integrity it deserves. Same is to be said to the Sex Crimes Squad of Parramatta Area Command their dedication and compassion to us all has been consistent and endless. Continuing their support over the last 15 months working together with the DPP to ensure that we received our justice today. This morning we were granted our justice not only for this case but for the many sexual assault cases that have gone before us. Justice to those with a voice and justice to those who have fallen at the hands of these evil beings and who are without voice. I hope that today's justice has spoken for you all that we all have spoken for you and given you back your voice that was so cowardly stolen from you. Today also belongs to you. This is your justice also. For those who have fallen may you all rest in peace. Finally to our little dancer and to her family, it was absolutely my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil. I don't regret a single second. Today is your day for justice, your day toward light and healing My wish for you is for you to grow to be a healthy, confident, strong, grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others, respectful and honourable with others and do not let this scar do not let this scar you and do not let this evil break who you are. As for me there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. You are there for eternity. And although I will not be there in presence I will always send my love to you in spirit. You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be. If we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you. Thank you all, and God bless. Thank you. Advertisement In sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Conlon thanked Mr Gilio for his heroism. 'To you sir I would say this everyone is indebted to you for the courage you displayed in the face of a person welding a knife.' Another man who stormed the locked toilet stall to rescue the girl was also stabbed in the ensuing struggle. Sampieri was sentenced for detaining the girl, choking her to commit a serious offence, committing two indecent acts while filming her, indecently assaulting her, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He also pleaded guilty to seven charges over 94 offensive, menacing or harassing phone calls he made to women August to November 2018. Court documents state the girl had just finished her jazz ballet class when she was attacked by Sampieri. The girl had been waiting with her mother in the carpark for her sister's class to finish when she returned to the hall to use the bathroom. As she entered the female bathroom she was confronted by Sampieri, who had been in the bathroom watching porn for the past hour. Witnesses Jeffrey Stack (left) and Nick Gilio speak to the media outside the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday Jeffrey Stack, a former boxer, knocked Sampieri unconscious after he was found in the bathroom with the small girl He grabbed her and pushed her into a cubicle but she resisted. He then punched the seven-year-old in the face before locking the door. Sampieri threatened her with a knife, tied a cord around her neck and dragged her to the male toilets. 'She felt like she could not breathe,' agreed facts state. Maintaining a grip of the cord, he then subjected her to sexual acts before stuffing toilet paper into her mouth, binding her hands and leaving the bathroom. Diesel mechanic Nick Gilio was with the girl's mother when they noticed someone standing in a cubicle in men's toilet during their frantic search. Sampieri walked out of the bathroom and was asked if he'd seen the girl. After telling them he hadn't, the girl's mother went into the bathroom to investigate. She was then followed by both men. Police are seen coming to the aid of Mr Gilio after he was stabbed by Sampieri when he came to the girl's aid Sampieri admitted the rape and seven other offences during the attack Her horrified screams echoed through the building as she was reunited with her daughter. Mr Gilio grabbed Sampieri, slamming his head into the wall. After grappling with Sampieri, Mr Gilio suffered large cuts but put the rapist in a headlock before dentist Jeffrey Stack ran in and knocked out Sampieri. Dance teacher and local dentist Jeffrey Stack rushed to the bathroom after hearing the screams. He found Sampieri attempting to free himself from the headlock by biting Mr Gilio. Mr Stack then punched Sampieri hard in the face, knocking him out. The rapist later told police he'd been 'so high' before the attack as a result of using methamphetamine earlier that day. COLUMBUS, Ohio - A new study uses China's one-child policy to show that having fewer children leads women to achieve higher levels of education. The research found that the one-child policy alone accounted for about half of the additional education that women in China achieved after the policy was put in place. "The findings suggest that some Chinese women anticipated having fewer children due to the one-child policy and they postponed marriage and postponed having children while they increased their education," said Xuan Jiang, a postdoctoral researcher in economics at The Ohio State University. Jiang's study was published recently in the journal Contemporary Economic Policy. Population data collected by the Chinese government since 2010 made it possible for Jiang to analyze how fertility decisions affect education in women. There has been no other way to study the issue in this way before, she said. As such, she emphasized that the study is not defending the one-child policy, which critics say led to human rights abuses. Moreover, the results may have broader implications beyond China for explaining the link between motherhood and education. "Economists have wanted to know why the education gap between men and women has closed in many countries. This study shows that reductions in fertility may play an important role," she said. Jiang used data from the ongoing Chinese Family Panel Studies, a nationally representative annual longitudinal survey conducted by Peking University and funded by the Chinese government. China's one-child policy was instituted in 1979 to control the country's rapidly growing population. But it didn't apply equally to all groups. This study focused on the Han, the ethnic majority in China who were most strictly controlled by the law. Jiang compared two groups: an older generation (born 1950-1959) whose education decisions would not have been affected by the one-child policy and a younger generation (born 1960-1980) whose decisions would be impacted. Overall, while men born in 1950 had significantly more education than women born that year, men and women born in 1980 had about equal levels - nearly nine years of schooling. Jiang first compared Han women versus Han men from older and younger generations. The results showed that, after taking into account other factors that could have affected educational attainment, the one-child policy was responsible for increasing Han women's years of schooling by 1.28 years compared to Han men. That explains 53 percent of the 2.38-year increase in education attainment of women born between 1950 and 1980. "Being able to explain more than half of educational attainment with one factor - the one-child policy - is enormous," Jiang said. "That is very surprising for economists." She noted that in a broader context, women in countries worldwide experienced increases in education in the same time frame. Could there be other worldwide social forces at work that affected women in China? To control for that possibility, Jiang conducted a second analysis that compared Han women to non-Han women in China who were not subject to the strict one-child policy. The results were nearly identical to the first analysis: The Han women's educational attainment increased by 1.29 years compared to non-Han women. Jiang did another test, looking specifically at young women who had one or more parents who were members of the ruling Communist party. "The Communist Party implemented the one-child policy and there were punishments for party members whose families did not follow the birth quota," Jiang said. "So you would expect that the one-child policy would have an even stronger effect for young women whose parents were members." And that is indeed what she found: The one-child policy had a more robust impact on increasing education among children of Communist Party members. Jiang also analyzed what happened to women after their schooling was over. Results showed that the one-child policy delayed women's first marriages, delayed how soon they had a child and increased how many entered the job market. "Women anticipated having fewer children, which may have delayed their entry into parenthood and even delayed the decision to get married, which allowed them to get more education," Jiang said. "And with the further education, they were more likely to get jobs." The results show the powerful influence that the one-child policy had on Chinese society, she said. "The one-child policy fundamentally changed the lives and family structure of the generations born in the 1960s and later." ### Contact: Xuan (Gabi) Jiang, Jiang.445@osu.edu Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu [February 12, 2020] Global Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market 2020-2024 | Increasing Demand From Commercial Aircraft to Boost Market Growth | Technavio The heads-up display (HUD) market is expected to grow by USD 2.18 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005504/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the heads-up display (HUD) market from 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) The demand for air travel is likely to double over the next two decades, mainly driven by countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and the US. The year-over-year increase in air traffic has essentialized the induction of new aircraft, encouraging automotive OEMs to invest in capacity augmentation. HUDs help pilots during takeoff and landing in uncertain environmental conditions such as foggy weather. Moreover, most aviation administrations around the world have mandates on the use of enhanced flight vision systems to reduce accidents and increase passenger safety. As the aviation industry has in the past accounted for a major share of the HUD market, an increase in the orders for new-generation aircraft will also drive the growth of the HUD market. 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=IRTNTR41189 As pe Technavio, the advances in AR HUD will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market : Advances in AR HUD AR HUDs generate a comprehensive view for the driver, which is a combination of the real scene viewed by end-users and an augmented, computer-generated virtual scene with additional information. AR HUDs allow a wide field of view, which enhances driver assistance systems such as blind spot detection, upcoming lane change, and exit directions. Camera, LiDAR-based sensors, GPS modules, and Wi-Fi are the essential building blocks required to manufacture AR HUD. WayRay SA, Continental AG, Denso Corp., and DigiLens Inc., are some of the vendors that manufacture AR HUDs. Moreover, vendors are collaborating with peer companies to improve product features. For instance, in October 2018, Continental AG launched a full-color demonstrator of an automotive-specific AR HUD that is based on waveguide technology. Thus, advances in AR HUD are expected to drive the growth of the market. "Factors such as the growing focus on development of autonomous vehicles, and the development of electric aircrafts will have a positive impact on the growth of the heads-up display (HUD) market 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 Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the heads-up display (HUD) market by end-user (aviation, automotive and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America and South America). The European region led the heads-up display (HUD) market in 2019, followed by APAC, North America, MEA and South America. During the forecast period, the European region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as the rising penetration of HUDs in the commercial vehicle segment and increasing investments in aircraft manufacturing facilities. 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: End-user Aviation Automotive Others Geographic segmentation APAC Europe MEA North America South America Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005504/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries not covered under various packages of the insurance programme and requiring high-cost treatment will be able to get financial assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme, an office memorandum said. The Union Health ministry has issued revised guidelines of the umbrella scheme of RAN in the wake of complaints that poor patients suffering from life-threatening diseases have not been able to avail treatment under it if they are beneficiaries of the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY). The memorandum has been sent to all government hospitals, all regional cancer centres, health secretaries of all states, department of expenditure and the National Health Authority (NHA), the apex body implementing the insurance scheme. "If as per the medical advice, the suggested treatment is not covered under any of the approved listed packages of AB-PMJAY, financial assistance up to Rs 15 lakh can be provided to AB-PMJAY beneficiaries out of umbrella scheme of RAN," the office memorandum with the revised guidelines stated. In such a situation the beneficiary will get certified from the respective government hospital that his or her condition is not covered under the AB-PMJAY and thus the patient should be allowed to avail financial assistance under RAN, the memorandum stated. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the NHA had written to the Health Ministry suggesting patients deprived treatment under AB-PMJAY could be covered in the RAN umbrella scheme. They drew the ministry's attention to cases of patients, who were refused under PMJAY as they were suffering from ailments such as blood cancer, chronic liver disease and required organ and bone marrow transplants which do not figure among the 1,393 medical packages mentioned under the scheme. Earlier, in November the Health Ministry had rejected their proposal and rather had suggested the NHA to consider inclusion of transplantation of organs under procedures covered under PM-JAY and also enhancing the ceiling of Rs 5 lakh per annum so that patients eligible under PM-JAY may avail facilities under the programme only. The National Human Rights Commission recently had sought a report from the Health Ministry over a complaint about patients holding BPL cards not getting RAN benefits if they availed benefits of AB-PMJAY even if they are suffering from life-threatening diseases whose expenditure is much more than Rs 5 lakh, the maximum permissible limit under Ayushman Bharat scheme. Hailing the recent amendments in the guidelines, Dr Vijay Gurjar, a faculty at AIIMS, said several poor patients requiring kidney transplant, bone marrow or liver transplant are suffering and facing problems in getting treatment as they are PMJAY card holders. Their treatment cost is more than Rs 5 lakh but they are not able to avail benefits under the RAN scheme. "All welfare policies are meant for benefiting poor people so they should be reviewed from time to time if they are not serving the sole purpose. "Policy makers and bureaucracy should be empathetic towards its beneficiaries. Being responsible doctors we also should be vigilant about these things," Gurjar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Westminster city council has objected to a proposal to build a national Holocaust memorial centre in a park next to the Houses of Parliament. The councils planning committee raised concerns about the impact of the plans on one of the few remaining green spaces next to the River Thames in central London. On Tuesday, the council said it was concerned about the potential impact on existing monuments and the adjacent world heritage site of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. The proposal could also mean the loss of valuable open, public green space in a very busy and popular location, and loss or damage to trees. However, the final decision has been taken out of the councils hands after the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government called in the planning application in November. The ministry will hold a public inquiry into the proposal before taking a decision on its future later this year, The Guardian reported. Ed Balls, the former shadow chancellor and co-chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, said it was regrettable that Westminster council did not support the project. He said: In the decades to come, when survivors of the Holocaust are no longer with us to recount their experiences, the memorial will ensure that their suffering and the terrible tragedy that they experienced, will never be forgotten. A team led by British architect David Adjaye was chosen to design the project, initiated by David Cameron in 2013. MGO(Macias Gini & OConnell LLP), one of the fastest-growing professional services firms in the US, announced today three major personnel changes to the firm that will positively impact MGOs performance and generate greater traction toward its commitment to specialize in turning deep industry expertise into visionary solutions. Maria Sanjurjo will now serve as MGOs Office Managing Partner of the Companys Long Island office. Maria joined MGO when the Company acquired the New York-based firm Schwartz & Company in September, 2019, where she served as an assurance partner. With over 20 years of public accounting experience, she has worked with investment advisors, investment funds, high-net-worth individuals and middle market companies for over 17 years. Steven Kreit will now serve as the Office Managing Partner for MGOs New York City office. Steven was previously an assurance partner in MGOs New York City office where he leads the firms SEC practice. Steve has more than 25 years of experience auditing public companies and working with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Steven regularly leads training sessions on assurance topics, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, audit methodology, and risk-related issues. He is regularly quoted by the financial media on a broad range of assurance-related subjects. Richard Paris will now move into the role of MGOs Tri State Leader. Richard served as the Managing Partner for MGOs New York City office and has over 28 years of leadership experience in the accounting field. Richards focus is on managing MGOs East Coast presence, specifically growing MGOs services including assurance, tax, and advisory services as well as MGOs China practice. Our firms remarkable growth throughout the East Coast is largely due to the strength and vision of our leadership team, said MGO CEO and Managing Partner Kevin OConnell. As we continue on our upward trajectory, these leaders expertise is increasingly important. MGO continues to expand its services to other regions. The Companys success originated on the West Coast, but has since experienced tremendous growth in the Midwest, New York, and the East Coast in general. With its recent acquisition of Schwartz & Co., which added 35 more professionals into the firm, for a nationwide total of over 475, the additional New York staff will enable the firm to continue to expand its international finance and tax work. With the cohesion of these spectacular teams, we continue to see growth in other areas, not just in the US, but abroad as well, stated OConnell. We know that throughout this journey, as we continue to place key high performers in strategic positions throughout the firm, we will maintain our ability to provide great services for our growing client base. About MGO LLP Founded in 1987, MGO (Macias Gini & OConnell LLP) is one of the fastest growing professional services firms in the country. The firm offers a diverse array of assurance, tax, consulting, staffing, outsourcing and advisory services to clients that range from aerospace and engineering firms, to hospitals and nonprofit foundations from the largest government entities in the country, to the biggest celebrities in Hollywood. MGO is ranked as one of the top CPA firms in the nation by Accounting Today and Inside Public Accounting. And the firm was awarded the Best of Accounting designation in Client Satisfaction by the independent research firm, Inavero. For more information, visit MGO. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday marked the 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from jail with an address from the spot where the anti-apartheid icon made his first speech as an awestruck Ramaphosa held the microphone for him. On February 11, 1990, Mandela spoke from the Cape Town city hall to euphoric crowds, hours after his release from prison where he had spent more than 27 years. It was Mandela's first major speech as a free man and a key moment in South Africa's rebirth as white-minority rule crumbled. "The day Mandela was released was a day we all knew that apartheid was dead and finished. It was a moment where the world literally stood still," Ramaphosa told a thousand people gathered in front of the city hall. "He stood here to speak and I held the microphone," said Ramaphosa, speaking in front of a giant statue of Mandela. "Nothing could describe that brief second when that microphone crackled," he said. "That was the moment everyone was waiting for -- Nelson Mandela's first words. And he uttered his first words 'I stand before you not as a prophet but as a servant of the people'". "It will forever be remembered as one of the most memorable days in the history of the world," Ramaphosa said. 'Freed under pressure' Mandela was sentenced to jail for life in 1964 for alleged sabotage. He served 27 years, with stays on the notorious Robben Island off Cape Town, then in the Pollsmoor and Victor Verster prisons. His release came days after the country's last apartheid leader F.W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress and other liberation movements. Mandela (C) and his then-wife Winnie raised their fists and saluted the cheering crowd. By Alexander JOE (FILES/AFP/File) After 27 years, six months and six days in captivity, Mandela, then 71, walked free from his prison in Paarl where hundreds of ANC supporters had gathered to greet him, waving the party's black, green and gold flag. Mandela and this then wife Winnie gave clenched-fist salutes to the cheering crowds as they made their way to a car and drove off in a police-escorted motorcade. Ramaphosa, who was 37 at the time of Mandela's release, said the apartheid government came under immense pressure to free Mandela. "It was not out of the kindness of F.W. de Klerk... It was not because he felt sorry for Mandela or that he was a kind-hearted man." Ramaphosa, who delivers his state of the nation address on Thursday, admitted the country was facing "many challenges", including "high levels of unemployment,... the shameful killing of woman and girls, the stench of corruption." This threatens to reverse our democratic gains," he said. Lebona Motlatla, who listened to Ramaphosa's speech, said Mandela would not have been happy with the state of South Africa now. "What Mandela meant with freedom for all, was food on the table and work for all," he told AFP. "I think (Mandela would be) disappointed because there is a lot of corruption". Mbuyi Nase was just a teenager in the Eastern Cape when Mandela gave his historic speech. He remembers hearing the news from his school principal about Mandela's release. "There was a vibe in our township. We experienced a lot of celebrations, " he said. Mandela's release was followed by years tension-packed negotiations aimed at transferring power from whites to the nation's majority black population. He would go on to become the country's first democratically elected president in 1994. He retired after one five-year term and died on December 6, 2013 aged 95. Fellow Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee from Liberia also spoke as part of the celebrations. She castigated African leaders for their "insensitive attitude. Mandela's "walk out of prison was to ensure Africa's release from the prison of our minds. We no longer have to be held hostage to greed, poverty, and corruption," she said. A decent sandwich can skate by on good fillings, but true greatness demands great bread. One San Antonio food trailer understands this better than most. Wild Barley Kitchen Co. rolled out in August, led by undisputed fermentation master Holland Lawrence, who was formerly head brewer at Ranger Creek, and pizza whisperer Marc Fogelsong. The two built Wild Barleys imposingly large food trailer from scratch, including its massive wood-fired brick oven. Pizzas and Montreal-style bagels are Wild Barleys bread and butter, but the trailer also serves a killer meatball sub built on a sourdough roll with perfect crust, tang and chew. Add a line of big flavorful meatballs, robust tomato sauce, a generous cap of cheese and pinch of fresh basil, and you have one of the best versions of this classic sandwich available in San Antonio. Take note this is a messy affair, with the roll slashed open from the top and the goods piled in for a near open-face experience. Dont wear white. On ExpressNews.com: 52 Weeks of Pizzs catch up on all the pizza reports so far Unfortunately, right now, that glorious grinder ($12) is only sporadically available usually just once or twice a month, but they do announce on Facebook when they will be serving it. The good news is Wild Barley is upping their sandwich game in the coming months as Lawrence and Fogelsong continue to expand their brands offerings. That meatball sub and other sandwiches made on their outstanding bread will become a more significant part of the trailers regular menu. Wild Barley works a number of events and venues around the city, but can most consistently be found downtown posted outside Roadmap Brewing Co. at 723 N. Alamo St. Thursday nights. For exact locations and menu offerings including availability of their meatball sub follow them on Facebook: @wildbarleykitchenco. 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 Former Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein has said Russia should back Bernie Sanders for president in order to "best screw up the U.S." Following his win in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, Sanders has emerged as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination to face President Donald Trump in November's election. In a rare outburst on Twitter, Blankfein suggested that Sanders becoming the nominee would mean "the Russians will have to reconsider who to work for to best screw up the U.S." "Sanders is just as polarizing as Trump AND he'll ruin our economy and doesn't care about our military. If I'm Russian, I go with Sanders this time around," the former Wall Street titan tweeted. Tweet 1 Blankfein was CEO of Goldman from 2006 until 2018. He has contributed mostly to Democratic Party candidates and endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. In response to Blankfein, Sanders' campaign manager Faiz Shakir tweeted: "This is what panic from the Wall Street elite looks and sounds like." Tweet 2 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a long-standing critic of President Vladimir Putin, tweeted his support of Sanders after results emerged from New Hampshire. "So nice to wake up and find out that Bernie won! I cheered for him," he tweeted, according to a translation. Tweet 3 Sanders last year unveiled a plan to reverse President Donald Trump's tax cuts and hike the corporate tax rate from 21% to 35%. The veteran Vermont senator secured a narrow victory over former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg in New Hampshire on Tuesday night. The candidates are now turning their attention to Nevada, South Carolina and more diverse states such as California and Texas, which will vote on "Super Tuesday" on March 3. Newlyweds Siavash Ghafouri-Azar and Sara Mamani had just recently earned master's degrees in engineering at Concordia University when they died in the Ukraine International Airlines plane crash near Tehran last month. Now, the university has set up a scholarship fund in their honour. The scholarship will support students from Iran who pursue graduate studies at the university. Retired Iranian-Canadian engineer Gina Parvaneh Cody, for whom Concordia's engineering faculty is named, has donated $50,000 to the fund. "This whole event affected a lot of Canadians, not just the Iranian community. To me, it was a way of relieving my sorrows and sadness," Cody said in an interview Wednesday. The school has so far raised an additional $25,000, for a total of $75,000 to date. "This young couple never had the chance to leave their mark on the world the way they wanted to," Cody said. Gina Cody/Concordia University Cody was born in Iran and moved to Montreal to pursue her studies in 1979. She became the first woman to obtain a PhD in building engineering at Concordia in 1989. When she first came to Montreal, she only had $2,000 to her name. She said she owes her success to a scholarship she received when she was a student at Concordia. "Remembering what helped me and who I became was an important aspect of trying to create similar conditions for those who are coming after me," said Cody. She hopes that the students who benefit from this new scholarship will be able to pay it forward someday. "I'm hoping through their education, they will try to give back to the society," said Cody. Cody, who lives in Toronto, is also the first Canadian woman to have a university faculty named in her honour, after donating $15 million to Concordia in 2018. Volkswagen Australia has launched a brand new campervan - named the 'California Beach' model - in an ode to the original 1970s van with upgraded safety features and more space. The announcement, which was made on Wednesday, will come as a joyous surprise to those looking to embark on a 'van life' adventure next summer with the vehicle set to roll into stores in late 2020. 'With the introduction of the T6.1 California Beach, we are finally answering fan and customer demand for a factory-backed, turn-key weekender, Head of Commercial Vehicles at Volkswagen Australia, Ryan Davies, told Car Advice. 'We're ecstatic to be bringing the Kombi Van back to Oz.' Volkswagen Australia has launched a brand new campervan - named the 'California Beach' model - in an ode to the original 1970s van The announcement, which was made on Wednesday, will come as a joyous surprise to those looking to embark on a 'van life' adventure next summer with the vehicle set to roll into stores in late 2020 The original Kombi - beloved by thousands of Australians who continue to tour the country with them - was axed in 2013 as safety regulations increased and all new vehicles had to have airbags and anti-lock brakes. From there the successful automotive company founded in Germany launched its Transporter range, which was sturdier and came with a better engine and fuel capacity. Volkswagen Australia is waiting until the second half of 2020 to share more details about the Transporter California Beach range, although there are a few key features it will certainly include. Volkswagen Australia is waiting until the second half of 2020 to share more details about the Transporter California Beach range (pictured) Thousands of Australians have embarked on 'van life' experiences since the Kombi came back into fashion (pictured) A pop-out mini kitchen will come as standard, along with a manually-operated pop-top that harks back to the original Kombi van the brand is known for Autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and crosswind assist will all be available according to Cars Guide Australia. It will have a turbo-diesel engine and seven-speed automatic system, making it easier to travel lengthy distances, with the option of four or five seats depending on how many people you want to fit into it. A pop-out mini kitchen will come as standard, along with a manually-operated pop-top that harks back to the original Kombi van the brand is known for. While pricing is yet to be revealed there is a version of the California available in New Zealand that is being sold for NZD$139,000 (AUD$128,500). But Cars Guide understand that the target price for the Australian option will be less than that, with the current Transporter range available from $37,490 to $60,190 plus on-road costs. David Gorman knew early on he wanted to help resolve conflicts and make peace, but he was wary of becoming a diplomat tethered to the interests of a single country. Instead, he entered an expanding sector of non-governmental organisations and independent actors serving as peace mediators around the world. "If you are not attached to a government, you can be impartial, you don't have to subscribe to a certain policy view," said Gorman, regional director for Eurasia at the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). "You are more independent, and you can be more creative," the 50-year-old, one of nearly 60 peace mediators at HD, told AFP. With the United Nations often restrained by competing interests and many governments treading cautiously, independent actors are increasingly taking over. There are cases where you realise that "the UN can't do this, states can't do this, they need something else", Gorman said. - 'Like a laboratory' - As a teenager growing up in an Irish-Catholic family in the US city of Boston in the 1970s, Gorman was keenly aware of conflicts in Northern Ireland, as well as in the Middle East, and the 1979 Iran hostage situation. He said he realised early on that "grave misunderstandings" could lead to "unnecessary conflict" and had a "sense it did not have to be this way". After training as a mediator in Washington, he went on his first mission to Israel at just 24. He has been globe-trotting from conflict to conflict ever since and joined the HD Centre in its infancy two decades ago. The centre has been involved in mediating around 40 conflicts and while most of its work is behind the scenes it has several significant public wins. Two years ago, HD's small headquarters in an idyllic park on the shores of Lake Geneva was the scene of the official disbanding of Basque separatist group ETA after nearly six decades of armed struggle. HD mediators had been quietly working on resolving the conflict for 15 years before finally acknowledging their role and declaring success. Gorman said the public triumph was important to demonstrate "that these types of processes can work". And yet, before a process reaches the final stage, the greatest value HD mediators add is discretion, he said. Mediators unattached to a specific policy agenda or the UN can host informal discussions between people who might not be ready to acknowledge publicly they are in contact. "It can almost be like a kind of laboratory," Gorman said. But HD and its peers are considered "weak mediators" as they have less leverage than someone with the weight of a state or the UN behind them. They can also face greater suspicions of being spies. "People wonder what your motive is here, your agenda for getting involved in a conflict," Gorman said. - 'The long haul' - HD receives funds from the likes of the European Union, Norway, Germany and Switzerland, but none from the United States or other countries that might have an interest in the conflicts it mediates. "So much of this is about credibility, and if we lose credibility, we lose that trust with the parties then our whole edifice comes crashing down," Gorman said. Since joining HD, he has been involved in mediating around 20 different conflicts -- including in the Philippines, Myanmar, Libya, Sierra Leone and Myanmar. When he begins a project, he is often signing up for years of following an ever-shifting situation, often in dangerous settings. Currently, he has a hand in mediation efforts in 10 situations, including the conflict in Ukraine. "We are not in a diplomatic posting where we do it for four years and then we are out. We are in it for the long haul," he said. Carving out some private space can be difficult in this line of work. Gorman travels every week but tries to spend weekends with his wife and three children at their home on Cyprus. For the children, "conflict is about their problems with their siblings or their parents, which I don't get involved in mediating because I am a party to those," he said. - 'Handing the baton' - Gorman and other independent mediators can spend years quietly doing the groundwork for peace talks only to have more official teams steer the process across the finish line and take the credit. The first project Gorman worked on with HD was the drawn-out conflict between the Indonesian government and Aceh separatists. After years of work, HD stepped back and the Finland-based Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) secured a final peace agreement in 2004. CMI's founder, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, won the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize in part for his efforts in Indonesia. Gorman acknowledged it was sometimes frustrating "if you do all the work and someone else ... gets the medal". But, he said, mediation work is about "handing the baton". "It is like a puzzle," he said, adding that he sometimes tells himself he may not have crossed the finish line, "but I did get that key middle piece there that was critical to the success of the process". "That feels good." Gorman works in a growing sector of non-governmental organisations and independent actors serving as peace mediators around the world Gorman has a hand in mediation efforts in 10 situations, including the conflict in Ukraine, which has been raging since 2014 Since joining HD, he has been involved in mediating around 20 different conflicts -- including in the Philippines, Myanmar, Libya, Sierra Leone and Myanmar United Nations Mission, on Wednesday, said that forces loyal to military commander Khalifa Haftar have blocked flights carrying UN staff in and out of Libya. In a tweet, it added that the blockage has hampered the humanitarian and mediation efforts in the territory. According to media reports, the relations between Hafter's forces and the UN mission, UNSMIL have been strained as the UN agency has many times condemned the airstrikes in Libya blaming it on the military. The United Nations in Libya regrets that its regular flights, which transport its staff to and from Libya, are not granted permission by the LNA to land in #Libya. This practice has been repeated on several occasions in the past weeks. https://t.co/KC8xwgyrwu pic.twitter.com/VSEz28qEpy UNSMIL (@UNSMILibya) February 12, 2020 Read: After Delhi Defeat, BJP Recalibrates To Highlighting Centre's Public Welfare Work Read: Libya's Oil Corporation: Blockade Losses Exceed $1.3 Billion In a bid to resolve the Libyan crisis, UN envoy Ghassan Salame had been mediating between the Libyan military lead by Khalifa Haftar and the Tripoli government led by Fayez al-Sarraj. While countries like UAE and Egypt have extended their support for Haftar and his army, Turkey supports al-Sarrajs Government of National Accord (GNA). Read: White House Says Donald Trump Has Discussed Syrian And Libya With Erdogan Refused permission to UN flights The Libyan National Army has refused multiple times to give permission to UN flights in the recent weeks, UNSMIL reported. Since April last year, LNA has been trying to annex the capital city of Tripoli and annexe countrys resources from the internationally recognised government of Libya. However, it had been unable to breach the citys security. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya is a United Nations advanced mission in Libya which was created in the aftermath of the Libyan Civil War. The mission which is lead by Ghassan Salame was founded in September 2011. A statement on its official website describes it as, "an integrated special political mission established on 16 September 2011 by UN Security Council Resolution 2009 (2011) at the request of the Libyan authorities to support the country's new transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts." Read: UN To Vote On Endorsing Road Map To End The War In Libya (With inputs from agencies) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the existing double tax avoidance agreement with Sri Lanka, a move aimed at curbing tax evasion. The existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Sri Lanka was signed in January 2013 and entered into force in October the same year. The Cabinet approved the signing and ratification of the protocol amending the agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar at a press briefing. "Updation of preamble text and inclusion of Principal Purpose Test, a general anti- abuse provision in the DTAA will result in curbing of tax planning strategies which exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules," said an official release in this regard. India and Sri Lanka are members of the inclusive framework and as such are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD BEPS Action Reports in respect of their DTAAs. Minimum standards under BEPS Action 6 can be met through the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI) or through agreement bilaterally. India is a signatory to the MLI. However, Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the MLI as of now. Therefore, amendment of the India-Sri Lanka DTAA is required to update the Preamble and also to insert Principal Purpose Test (PPT) provisions to meet the minimum standards on treaty abuse under Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If there are awards and possible junior ministerial posts going abegging in the next government then Fianna Fails Robert Troy must surely be in line to claim such a mantle. Thats of course very much hinged on whether Mount Street party chiefs shake the hands with Sinn Fein on the formation of Irelands next government over the next number of days. Either way, the Ballynacargy postmaster is undoubtedly well placed to secure a key front bench position after securing his return to Leinster House for the third successive time. More noticeably however, was Mr Troys conscious decision to adhere to the partys pre-election strategy of waging a campaign purely on the back of the Westmeath end of the county. It was a bold move considering only four years previously Mr Troy had managed to attract over 1,700 Longford votes, a statistic he and his closest confidantes acknowledged would not be repeated this time around. Read also: Fianna Fail are not 'power hungry', says newly elected Longford/Westmeath TD Robert Troy as focus switches to government formation talks In fact, just over 300 first preferences came his way this time around ensuring his overall slice of the electoral pie fell from 11,507 in 2016 to 9,331 in 2020. But this, for Mr Troy and those in Fianna Fail, wasnt an election about numbers or personal ego trips, it was an election aimed with one overriding goal in mind - to return two seats to a constituency bereft of two TDs since 2007. We went into this election with a clear strategy, a strategy which was to return two TDs from this constituency to help bring about an alternative government, he said. I am delighted over the role I have played in what was a very strict vote management in terms of dividing the constituency between myself and Joe (Flaherty). That said, Mr Troy expressed his disappointment at Fianna Fails inability to capitalise on the collapse in the Fine Gael vote nationally. He conceded Fianna Fails decision to enter into a four year confidence and supply arrangement with Fine Gael had played a part in limiting its own vote while also playing into the hands of Sinn Fein. Read also: Speculation turns to who will take Joe Flaherty's seat on Longford County Council It says the electorate resonated to some of the things Sinn Fein were saying and what it said was people wanted an element of change, he said. There was a difficulty on our part to demonstrate that we would be an alternative and that they would be getting a change with Fianna Fail despite acting in the national interest for the last four years in providing certainty and stability for the country in the Brexit negotiations. Under intense questioning over a possible government deal with Sinn Fein, Mr Troy batted off suggestions Fianna Fail were power hungry and desperate to lead the 33rd Dail. Oh yeah, it was very rewarding the last four years for us. I wouldnt call that as being desperate to stay in power. There was talk too of what he termed insurmountable differences with Sinn Fein and its threats to scrap the property tax, slash the Universal Social Charge and embark on a set of policies very much anathema to his own partys fundamental principles. It was that same guarded rhetoric which reared its head to questions over the likelihood of another general election later in the year. But why? Mr Troy replied. Both us and Fine Gael don't have a majority. Those on the left claim to have a majority, let them go and implement it. Whether it happens is anyones guess. All that matters for Mr Troy in the interim, is the prospect of a third successive Dail term and the satisfying reality Fianna Fail are once again the predominant power in Longford-Westmeath. Read also: Flaherty vows to put Longford at centre of universe as he is elected to Dail Eireann Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. FILE PHOTO: Malaysian Airlines flag flies in front of the traffic control tower at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's aviation regulator said on Tuesday its airlines could be discriminated against by foreign authorities after the country's air safety rating was downgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) late last year. The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) said the immediate impact of the FAA downgrade was expected to be minimal, but things could change if the U.S. move triggered similar audits by other civil aviation authorities. China, South Korea and Japan all stopped Thai-based airlines from flying charters and new routes because of safety concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2015, which was followed by an FAA downgrade. "Should they similarly prohibit Malaysian carriers from undertaking new operations to their respective countries, the impact will be greater than the downgrade by the U.S. FAA," MAVCOM said in a statement, referring to China, South Korea and Japan. "It should be noted that even if there are no official announcements of such restrictions, other civil aviation authorities may implicitly discriminate against Malaysian carriers in their internal decision making." It said other countries could offer "fewer air traffic rights and unattractive airport slots" to Malaysian airlines. Malaysia's airline industry is dominated by state-owned Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia Group Bhd and its long-haul arm AirAsia X Bhd . MAVCOM said it had yet to hear from the three countries about any action they might take. "If the civil aviation authorities of these countries follow the U.S. FAA's actions, the estimated revenue-at-risk for the Malaysian carriers" is 4 billion ringgit ($966 million), or 24% of their revenue a year, MAVCOM said. MAVCOM also cast doubt over the Malaysian government's view that it would be able to regain the top FAA category in 12 months, noting that Thailand had yet to restore its rating and the Philippines took six years to return to Category 1 following its own downgrade. The FAA's safety ratings do not affect existing flights. (Reporting by Liz Lee; editing by Jane Wardell and David Evans) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 00:54:11|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry denied in a statement on Wednesday the accusations of attacks on civilians in Idlib. "The activities of the Russian military and, above all, the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the warring parties in the Idlib de-escalation zone, are carried out solely on the basis of the Sochi agreements," the Ministry's Zvezda broadcasting service said. The Ministry said that the real cause of the crisis in the Idlib de-escalation zone is the failure of Turkey to fulfill their obligations to separate militants of the moderate opposition from the terrorists operating in the area. The civilian population is suffering precisely from provocations in the Idlib de-escalation zone carried out by terrorist groups, which are covering themselves from the return fire of Syrian government troops by a human shield, the statement said. The situation is significantly aggravated by the transfer of arms and ammunition into the de-escalation zone across the Turkish-Syrian border, as well by columns of Turkish armored vehicles and troops entering the territory of Idlib, it added. At the same time, allegations of massive flows of refugees from the Idlib de-escalation zone have no factual basis, as a significant part of the inhabitants of Idlib province safely leaves dangerous areas and goes into areas controlled by the Syrian government, the Russian ministry said. The main task of Russia and Turkey in Syria has been and remains the eradication of international terrorist groups that have settled on its territory in order to return peaceful life to the Syrians, it said. "We are convinced that, not succumbing to provocations of terrorists and avoiding inconsistent hasty decisions, this mission of Russia and Turkey will be successfully implemented," it said. The deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill joined pupils at Holy Trinity Primary School in Belfast for Safer Internet Day. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill has said that the next Irish Government must begin to actively plan for Irish unity. Writing in Wednesday's Belfast Telegraph, she said that could involve appointing a minister responsible for preparing for unity, a citizens' forum on constitutional change, and a green paper on unity. Read More But DUP leader Arlene Foster has ruled out a border poll and claimed that support for Irish unity is actually declining. Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, she said: "At the general election eight weeks ago, just over 38% of votes cast were for pro-united Ireland parties. "That compares with 42% in the 2001 general election, 19 years ago." Read More Following its stunning election result, Sinn Fein is working to establish the viability of a left-wing coalition government in the Republic. Party president Mary Lou McDonald will meet the smaller parties and a range of independent TDS on Wednesday to see if she has the numbers to assemble a workable administration. It remains highly doubtful that Ms McDonald can garner enough partners to reach the magic number of 80 TDs to command a majority in the Dail. But if she did pull it off, it would represent a landmark moment for the state, as it would be the first time in more than 90 years when either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael was not in power. Ms McDonald is talking to smaller parties including the Greens, Labour, the Social Democrats, Solidarity/People Before Profit, and a sizeable number of independent TDs. They would be junior coalition partners in a Sinn Fein-led government. A coalition of Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party - which ended up with 12 seats - is seen as a potentially more realistic option. Fianna Fail emerged from the election as the largest party by the narrowest margin over the surging Sinn Fein. Micheal Martin's party finished with 38 seats to Sinn Fein's 37 at the end of two days of counting. But given the Fianna Fail speaker was re-elected without contest, both parties essentially "won" the same number of seats. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael was the big loser, recording the second-worst result in its history, winning only 35 seats having entered the campaign as the largest party on 47. Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty has been appointed head of the party's negotiating team. He said Sinn Fein was reaching out to the Social Democrats, the Green Party, People Before Profit and Labour. "We have said consistently we will meet with all parties to look at delivering real change for people," the Donegal TD added. Ms McDonald has predicted she could be the next Taoiseach. Newly elected Sinn Fein TD for Cavan and Monaghan Matt Carthy acknowledged it would be difficult to reach 80 seats. "The numbers of that are going to be tight," he told RTE. "But we have an obligation, and Mary Lou McDonald has already set this in train, to talk to the progressive parties that were clearly part of the mandate for change." There are differing views within Fianna Fail, with some members remaining opposed to any alliance with Sinn Fein and others more open to the prospect. Fianna Fail's finance spokesman Michael McGrath said the onus is now "first and foremost" on Ms McDonald to demonstrate how much support there is in the Dail for a Sinn Fein-led government without Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Read More Fianna Fail recognised that the election demonstrated a demand for major change in Irish politics and that Sinn Fein had performed exceptionally well, he said. Mr McGrath told RTE that Fianna Fail's new parliamentary party would meet tomorrow to assess where it wants to go from here. He described his party's economic policies and those of Sinn Fein as "poles apart". Mr Varadkar has maintained his pre-election stance and ruled out any Fine Gael/Sinn Fein coalition. Another permutation could see Fine Gael and Fianna Fail entering power together in a grand coalition with another smaller party, although that prospect looks increasingly unlikely. Irish President Michael D Higgins said it was "important to be positive" as the political parties enter discussions. "I have great confidence in the process that we have. We are very fortunate to have a constitution that lays things down very clearly," he said. "I want to wish all of the people who will be having discussions with each other every success. Whatever they decide, we are obviously facing into a period in which the EU is redefining itself on several levels and we are moving into some of the most complex parts of the trade agreement with our neighbours through Brexit. "There are huge international issues as well. The themes standing in every background of every politician alive are issues of climate change and loss of biodiversity. "I wish them every success with the different options that they have. Obviously at different times, at the appropriate time, people will visit me at the Aras (an Uachtarain). I will give my blessing for however long it lasts." Sinn Fein received 24.5% of the vote share on first preference in Saturday's election, Fianna Fail got 22.2% and Fine Gael 20.9%. The final breakdown of the 160 seats was Fianna Fail 38, Sinn Fein 37, Fine Gael 35, Greens 12, Labour six, Social Democrats six, Solidarity/People Before Profit five, Aontu one, Independents4Change one and independents 19. Figuring out what stores are open on federal holidays can be challenging. There isnt a single major retailer that follows the federal holiday schedule exactly, so you cant use that as a gauge. Plus, major retailers and small businesses all handle things a little bit differently as well just because one is open does not mean another is also welcoming shoppers. Since Costco is more of a destination than a typical store, with many people traveling outside of their home area to shop, knowing if Costco is open before you head out the door is critical. With that in mind, heres what you need to know about Costcos Presidents Day schedule. Is Costco Open on Presidents Day? Yes, Costco is open on Presidents Day. While Costco closes on more federal holidays than most retailers, but Presidents Day isnt one the retailer chooses to observe by closing. In fact, the popular wholesale warehouses dont even close early or open late on Presidents Day. Instead, Costco stores will operate in accordance with their regular schedule on Monday, February 15, 2020. Get a $10 Costco Shop Card When Does Costco Close for Holidays in 2020? When it comes to holiday schedules, Costcos is pretty unique. The retailer doesnt follow along with the federal holiday guidelines exactly but also doesnt follow cues from other stores. Instead, Costco makes its own decisions, trying to do what is best for their employees while also being convenient for customers. Here is a look at Costcos 2020 holiday schedule: Wednesday, January 1, 2020: Costco is closed on New Years Day Sunday, April 12, 2020: Costco is closed on Easter Sunday Monday, May 25, 2020: Costco is closed on Memorial Day Saturday, July 4, 2020: Costco is closed on Independence Day Monday, September 7, 2020: Costco is closed on Labor Day Thursday, November 26, 2020: Costco is closed on Thanksgiving Day Friday, December 25, 2020: Costco is closed on Christmas Day Friday, January 1, 2020: Costco is closed on New Years Day 2020 There are also a couple of days where Costco closes early, usually on the day before a major holiday. Here is a list of the Costco early closure days for 2020: Thursday, December 24, 2020: Costco is open, but closes early on Christmas Eve Thursday, December 31, 2020: Costco is open, but closes early on New Years Eve On those two days, most Costco locations will close at 6:00 pm instead of their usual closing time. If you need last minute items on those days before the holiday, then it is important to place accordingly. Is Costco Open on Some Holidays? Yes, Costco is open on some holidays, including Presidents Day on Monday, February 18, 2020. On the holidays listed below, Costco is open during their typical operating hours: Monday, January 20, 2020: Costco is open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Friday, February 14, 2020: Costco is open on Valentines Day Monday, February 15, 2020: Costco is open on Presidents Day Tuesday, March 17, 2020: Costco is open on St. Patricks Day Friday, April 10, 2020: Costco is open on Good Friday Sunday, May 10, 2020: Costco is open on Mothers Day Sunday, June 21, 2020: Costco is open on Fathers Day Monday, October 12, 2020: Costco is open on Columbus Day Saturday, October 31, 2020: Costco is open on Halloween Wednesday, November 11, 2020: Costco is open on Veterans Day If you are frequent shopper at Costco, we recommend applying for the credit card that is designed exclusively for Costco members. It has great cash back offer, earning as much as 4% cash back on gas! Plus there is no annual fee and you get a reward certificate every year that you can redeem for cash or purchases at Costco! Learn more about how the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi can work for you. What are the Costco Warehouse Store Hours? While each Costco warehouse store may have slightly different opening hours, most follow a similar schedule. Here is when Costco warehouses are typically open in 2020: Monday through Friday: 10:00 am to 8:30 pm Saturday: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm If you want to shop close to the opening or closing time, then it is wise to check with your local store to confirm their hours. That way, you do not make a trip only to discover that your Costco is closed. Additionally, its important to note that certain Costco stores may be open later near the winter holidays, making it easier for shoppers to get what they need during the gift-giving season. Finally, certain events can lead to expected closures. For instance, severe weather, renovations, remodels, or loss of power or water services may prompt a store to close even if it would usually be open. What are the Costco Business Center Hours? Costco Business Centers follow the same holiday schedules as regular warehouse stores. However, their business hours are different. Here is the typical Costco Business Center schedule: Monday through Friday: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturday: 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday: Closed There is one exception to the hours above. The Salt Lake City location follows this schedule instead: Monday through Friday: 7:00 am to 8:30 pm Saturday: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Does Costco Have a Presidents Day Sale? No, Costco does not have a Presidents Day sale in the warehouse stores. But the retailer does have monthly deals that can help shoppers save on items throughout the store. They just dont align those discounts with the holiday. Do you plan on heading to Costco this Presidents Day? Share your plans in the comments below. Give the gift of savings! Learn more Read More: If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month! Democratic presidential candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks to supporters at her New Hampshire primary night rally in Concord, New Hampshire, U.S. February 11, 2020. WASHINGTON Sen. Amy Klobuchar cemented her place in the top tier of Democratic presidential candidates on Tuesday, finishing in the top three in the New Hampshire primary, according to NBC News. Klobuchar, who represents Minnesota, trailed only Sen. Bernie Sanders, the projected winner on Tuesday, and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the projected second place finisher. She was also poised to win multiple delegates, while one-time front-runners former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren were set to be shut out, NBC News projected. In a state where residents pride themselves on their self-reliance and pragmatism, the Minnesota Democrat's moderate, no-nonsense message resonated with a wide swath of voters in Tuesday's contest, the first popular ballot of the 2020 presidential calendar. Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Klobuchar took aim at President Donald Trump in plain language, one of her political hallmarks. "He blames everyone. For anything that goes wrong. He blames Barack Obama. He blames the city of Baltimore. He blames the head of the Federal Reserve that he appointed. He blames the Energy Secretary that he nominated. He blames the entire kingdom of Denmark!" she said, to laughs and cheers. "I will take responsibility instead of passing it on," Klobuchar said. "I will reach across the aisle and work with all Americans in good faith, instead of picking fights. I will bring this country together instead of tearing it apart." Klobuchar is vying for the middle lane with Buttigieg, another moderate who also campaigns on a message of pragmatism and reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans. "If you want a Democratic nominee who can make our tent bigger, who can make our coalition wider, and make our coattails longer, I know you, and I will fight for you," Klobuchar said Tuesday night. Yet by effectively splitting the vote of moderate Democrats, Klobuchar and Buttigieg cleared the path for Sanders, an ardent progressive, to come away with the biggest single slice of delegates out of New Hampshire. After finishing in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses earlier this month, Klobuchar's finish Tuesday also places her directly in the path of the two candidates who did better than she did in Iowa, only to finish behind her in New Hampshire: Warren and Biden. Neither Biden nor Warren were on pace to finish Tuesday with enough votes to secure any delegates. It was a surprisingly poor finish for Warren. But for Biden, it was a five alarm fire. Klobuchar's Tuesday finish followed her strongest debate performance so far in the campaign, last Friday in New Hampshire. There, Klobuchar landed rhetorical blows on Buttigieg over comments he made about how Americans wanted to "switch off" the Trump impeachment hearings and "watch cartoons." "Pete, as you were campaigning through Iowa, as three of us were jurors in that impeachment hearing, you said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons. It is easy to go after Washington because that's a popular thing to do," Klobuchar said. "It is much harder to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions." As the Democratic primary moves to Nevada next for a caucus Feb. 22, Sanders is again expected to finish in the top spot, with Real Clear Politics' polling average for the state showing Klobuchar in seventh place, behind even entrepreneur Andrew Yang and billionaire Tom Steyer. Yang dropped out of the race Tuesday night. For Klobuchar, the next real test of her campaign's viability will be Super Tuesday, March 3, when voters in 14 states cast ballots in the Democratic presidential primary. Currently, the Minnesota senator lacks the extensive ground operations in these states that many of her competitors have built. Nor does she have the money to blanket the airwaves in dozens of media markets. All is not lost for Klobuchar, however. In the weeks leading up to Super Tuesday, Democrats plan to hold two televised debates, and as a candidate, Klobuchar has proven particularly competitive on the debate stage. A standout performance in one or both of these debates could fuel Klobuchar's campaign well beyond the traditional Super Tuesday firewall. The Senate on Tuesday eulogised a late senator, Ben Uwajumogwu. The lawmakers dedicated the whole of the day to a valedictory session for the late senator. Mr Uwajumogwu died on December 18, 2019. He was 51. He represented Imo North senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress. Until his death, he was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity. His coffin was laid outside the chamber with well-wishers and trumpeters playing sounds around it. During the valedictory session, many lawmakers took turns to talk about Mr Uwajumogwu as they recalled the fun moments they had with him. The Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, recalled how he often joked with the late senator about the size his stomach. He affected life. He was a big man with a big heart. He was very accommodating, Mr Abaribe noted. He carried everyone even the younger generation and they saw him as an icon to look up to. He was very soft-spoken even in the midst of problem, he will answer you with very few words and you will calm down. He never shook the table like I do, maybe it is because I am small. Benji was such a great man. We will miss him, he added. The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-agege, said he and the late lawmaker had almost identical political trajectory. We both came in the 8th Senate after so much litigations and the moment we got in here, we bonded like brothers. We did everything together. We shared so much in common, he explained. Call us rebels if you like. In the 8th Senate, big Ben and I, we played very critical role in our committee on INEC over the electoral act. It is no longer news that just as we were about to triumphantly claim victory, we threw a curve ball with the introduction of a section in the amended electoral act that would have altered the sequence of elections. Some of us were very opposed to that and we didnt hesitate in stating our vehemence against that proposed section of the amendment, he said. Ike Ekweremadu said it was amazing that even as the body of late Uwajumogu was lying outside, some compatriots were already struggling to take over his seat. My advice is, let us mourn, honour and bury him then we can express our ambitions. But that tells you the vanity of life. This is my 17th year and I have had unfortunate experience of paying tributes to our colleagues in active service. Those of us who are survivors today, will definitely be victims tomorrow. People will hate or like you; in spite of all these try to do our best because it is what you have done that you will be remembered, he said. Elisha Abbo (PDP, Adamawa) recalled how the late lawmaker always encouraged and prayed for him when he had personal issues. He was always getting personal with people. He is not dead, he is sleeping. He will wake up tomorrow as we will all meet at the other side of the river, he said. On his part, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the late senator lived and died for his people. He gave a very good account of himself as a human being. Calm, cool and calculated, he said. Advertisements Ben was something else, when there was crisis he would preach that we should unite and that we are one as a Senate. He remained the same person up to the last day he contributed to his last debate which has been referred by our colleagues. In that debate, he urged the government to stand up for her citizens wherever they may live. As a politician, he had a very good trajectory having served as a speaker in Imo State. Ben was not someone that was controversial. He was always straight to the point, no controversy but deep. He has left but he has left something for us humanity. There is nothing more important for us than working for Nigeria. The lawmakers held a minute silence for Mr Uwajumogwu after which they all stepped out to pay their last respect to him. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 23:18:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close LAGOS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's central bank has pumped 210 million U.S. dollars into the inter-bank foreign exchange market to boost liquidity in the financial sector. Authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, according to the apex bank, received the sum of 100 million dollars, while the small and medium-sized enterprises segment received the sum of 55 million dollars late on Tuesday. Customers who were seeking foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and basic travel allowance, among others, were allocated a total of 55 million dollars, the central bank said in a statement. The bank's commitment to sustaining liquidity and ensuring stability in the market remains paramount on the minds of the management of the bank, the statement said. It added that the continued intervention by the bank underscored its resolve to guarantee access to all those who genuinely required foreign exchange from the forex market. A bill to make it a crime to make or sell synthetic urine or additives to skew the results of a drug test cleared its first hurdle in the Alabama Legislature today. The bill by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would make it a misdemeanor to sell or make the products, which are sold online and in stores. It would also be a crime to use real urine produced before a drug test in order to defeat the purpose of the test. The vote moves the bill into position for consideration by the Senate. Alabama and national politics. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal is set to take oath as Delhi chief minister on February 16 at the Ramlila Maidan. This will be Kejriwals third stint as chief minister. The AAP secured a stunning victory securing 62 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly. The BJP increased its seats tally to eight, from three in 2015. The Congress, however, once again drew a blank. Acknowledging the mandate from Delhi, Kejriwal gave a big I love you shout-out to the city and thanked it for reposing its faith in its son. He further added that AAPs victory will give birth to kaam ki rajneeti (politics of work). NDA ally Lok Janshakti Party said the results of Delhi assembly elections prove that people reward those who work. Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, whose sixth sense told him that the party will form government, rejected the charge of opposition parties that his party fought the polls on a divisive agenda. Also Watch: Arvind Kejriwals victory speech as AAP sweeps Delhi polls We never do politics of hate but we are still against the blockage of roads for 60 days as it leads to inconvenience of people. We will review the results and the reasons behind our defeat. Im the Delhi BJP president, so I take the responsibility, he said. The BJP sought to present the Shaheen Bagh protesters, objecting to a law that excludes Muslims from a bill that fast-tracks Indian citizenship for refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who have been in India before 31 December 2014, as anti-nationals. In a smart move, Kejriwal kept the focus sharply local and maintained his own narrative instead of getting trapped in the one set by the rival parties, especially the BJP over Shaheen Bagh the site of anti-CAA protests in the capital and the debate around the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. It worked handsomely for the party capturing 53.6% vote share, not far from the share it won in 2015 (and just four seats less). The win assumes even greater significance as the AAP was routed in the Lok Sabha polls. The party won only 18% of the votes polled, coming third in five of the seven parliamentary constituencies. When it first emerged on the political stage, winning 28 seats in the 2013 election, most political veterans of other parties were dismissive of AAPs prospects they saw it as a one-election wonder. The palm-fringed hotel in the Japanese city of Katsuura is usually a destination for sun-worshipping holidaymakers, but for the last two weeks it has also been a coronavirus quarantine site. Dozens of Japanese have taken refuge in the beachside resort to wait out a 14-day "self-quarantine" after being evacuated from the Chinese province where a deadly new coronavirus originated. On Wednesday night, after final test results confirmed all 197 evacuees at the hotel were free of the virus, the first handful began heading home. "I've received many warm messages. I'm very grateful," a woman, who spoke on condition she would not be identified, told reporters outside the hotel. Inside the hotel, dozens of evacuees were asked to stay in their rooms and avoid even venturing into the corridors. "They had to stay in their own room and they couldn't even go out into the corridor. They had to keep to these rules," said a Japanese official. "I was relieved" when they all tested negative, he added. Japan has so far sent four flights to evacuate its citizens from Hubei province, the centre of the outbreak, the first of which landed on January 29. The 206 people on board were all asked to undergo tests for the virus, with two initially refusing but later changing their minds and agreeing to be checked. While countries including the United States, France and Britain have required their evacuated citizens to go into quarantine on their arrival, Japanese officials said there was no legal framework permitting them to do the same. Instead arrivals were asked to "self-quarantine," with many taking the government up on designated accommodation at a hotel in Katsuura, in the Chiba region east of Tokyo. "It was a comfortable environment," the woman told reporters. And another evacuee, a man who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the local community had offered enormous support despite initial fears. "I think people in (Katsuura) were extremely worried when we came here. But they overcame that and really showed their understanding," he said. "Infecting my family -- that was something I didn't want most of all," he added. He described receiving messages of support and even origami cranes often made for those recovering from illness. "I feel so thankful that I can't find the words to express my gratitude." A handful of residents appeared when they departed, holding up supportive banners. And a group of locals had previously lit lanterns to show their encouragement for the quarantined people. Japan has so far diagnosed 28 people with the virus, including at least nine from evacuation flights. That figure does not include at least 174 passengers and crew aboard a quarantined cruise ship, along with a quarantine officer working on the vessel. The male evacuee said his thoughts were with those on the ship, which will be in quarantine until February 19. "People on the cruise ship are in a worse situation than we were," he said. "Our feelings of worry were overcome because of the words of encouragement from people in Katsuura. But people on the cruise ship are not in such circumstances." "I think there should be more support and understanding for them," he added. Authorities have taken measures to limit the spread of the virus, restricting entry of people who have recently travelled to Hubei, or those with passports issued in the region. On Wednesday it expanded those restrictions to cover people who have recently been to Zhejiang province or have passports issued from the area. Around 36 people were leaving the Katsuura hotel on Wednesday night, with more expected to make their way home in the morning. Those who arrived on later flights are still waiting out the rest of their quarantine period and are expected to undergo final testing before they are given the all-clear to go home. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 475.55, down 1.13% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 44.35% in last one year as compared to a 13.03% rally in NIFTY and a 4.34% spurt in the Nifty Energy index. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is down for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 475.55, down 1.13% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.77% on the day, quoting at 12200.6. The Sensex is at 41577.83, up 0.88%.Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has added around 1.02% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 5.2% in last one month and is currently quoting at 15233.45, down 0.16% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 22.31 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 59.52 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 478.05, down 0.98% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd jumped 44.35% in last one year as compared to a 13.03% rally in NIFTY and a 4.34% spurt in the Nifty Energy index. The PE of the stock is 16.29 based on TTM earnings ending September 19. 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 Greens are committing to doubling infrastructure charges for residential development in inner-city wards, to raise $305 million annually for public services and facilities. The commitment announced on Thursday comes ahead of the Brisbane City Council election. The Greens have committed to doubling infrastructure fees for inner-city developers. The current infrastructure charges levied by the council was capped by the state government at $20,000 for one- or two-bedroom dwellings and $28,000 for dwellings with three or more bedrooms. Greens councillor Jonathan Sri said developer contributions had not increased to match the rising cost of delivering footbridges, pedestrian crossings, public transport and parks. Ontario's chief medical officer of health says the province has resolved a case of the novel coronavirus for the first time. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ontario's chief medical officer of health says the province has resolved a case of the novel coronavirus for the first time. Dr. David Williams said the patient tested negative for the virus two times in 24 hours and is no longer considered infectious. The patient was in London, Ont., and had been the province's third and latest confirmed case of coronavirus. Two other people with the virus are doing well enough to be out of hospital. Williams said the risk for Ontarians contracting the coronavirus remains low. Several hundred Canadians are still under quarantine in Trenton, Ont., after returning from the central Chinese city where the virus originated, and more than 200 are quarantined on a cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020. West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankar (right) and chief minister Mamata Banerjee share a rare moment of warmth on the first day of budget session of the State Assembly in Kolkata on February 7, 2020. (PTI Photo) Kolkata: West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, recently famous for being driven out of university campuses, complained on Wednesday that he not being invited to the convocation of a university in North Bengal. Dhankhar said four ministers of the Mamata Banerjee government have been invited to the third convocation of the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University, but not he, despite having the right to preside over the ceremony. Dhankar is the chancellor of the university. Dhankar posted a woeful tweet on the matter Wednesday morning. Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Convocation will be held on Feb 14. Ministers Partha Chatterjee, Goutam Deb, Rabindra Nath Ghosh and Binay Krishna Barman are invited for the Convocation. Chancellor, who has right to preside, has just no information !Where are we heading ! Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) February 12, 2020 "Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Convocation will be held on Feb 14. Ministers Partha Chatterjee, Goutam Deb, Rabindra Nath Ghosh and Binay Krishna Barman are invited for the Convocation. Chancellor, who has right to preside, has just no information ! Where are we heading!" The invitation card for the convo did not indeed have the chancellor's name. Last year, the then governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was invited to the ceremony. This snub to the governor comes close on the heels of similar slights he experienced at the Jadavpur and Calcutta varsities. Unprecedented student protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens at both universities virtually forced him to skip the two convocations. The development comes in wake of changes made by the Mamata Banerjee government to the West Bengal Universities and College (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017 ordering vice-chancellors to consult with the state higher education departmentand not the chancellor--for any important purpose. Dhankhar has had frequent run-ins with the Trinamul Congress government over a host of issues, but flights under duress from university campuses have been his speciality. After being shut out of the Jadavpur University convocation back in December, Dhankar cribbed, Universities are in captivity and caged by the state government. Following the flight from Jadavpur, he called called a meeting of vice-chancellors on January 13. No one turned up. Botswana reportedly has auctioned six licences to hunt a total of 60 elephants, the first to be allowed in the southern African country since President Mokgweetsi Masisi lifted a five-year ban on hunting last year. According to international media reports, the country legalized hunting of elephants as 'there are too many of them' and the recent allowance on hunting is in a bid to 'end human-wildlife conflict'. The elephant population in Africa is also on a decline, however, countries like Zimbabwe and Botswana face 'overpopulation' due to which the country legalised the killing of elephants. Adrian Rass, the managing director of Auctions Botswana reportedly said that seven hunting packages of ten elephants each were available for auction. Hhowever, only one package was not sold as no bidders met the reserve price of 2 million pula. he further also added that the six packages were sold for a total price of $25.7 million pula. READ: Video: Biker Almost Gets Hits By Elephant While Crossing Blocked Road READ: Newborn Elephant Makes 'cute' Attempts At Walking, Twitter Explodes With Joy 'Human-wildlife conflict' According to reports, Botswana is home to almost a third of the continent's elephants and it has also seen numbers grow to 130,000 from 80,000 in the late 1990s. The Botswana authorities reportedly also said that hunting is necessary to ease the conflict between animals and humans and especially farmers who have seen their crops and infrastructure destroyed by elephants roaming outside their feeding zones. Neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa have also reconsidered conservation laws to try and balance the need to protect sought-after species such as elephants, rhinos and buffalo from poaching while managing danger they pose as they encroach on areas of human habitation. While speaking to an international media outlet, a resident said that the elephants have also killed a lot of people and destroyed livelihoods. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife also said that license would be for controlled hunting area and that the auction was open only to companies registered in Botswana. READ: Biding Adieu To Big Tim: One Of Kenya's Last Giant 'tusker' Elephants Dies At 50 READ: Assam: Braving Angry Mother Elephant, Locals Rescue Calf Stuck Between Rocks Count one of the charge reads: That you Omoyele Stephen Sowore, male, adult of No. 1, Mosafejo Street, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, Olawale Adebayo Bakare (A.K.A. Mandate) male, Adult of Olaiya Area, Oshogbo L.G.A, Osun State and others at large, under the aegis of Coalition for Revolution (CORE), sometimes in August 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourselves to stage a revolution campaign on 5th day of August 2019 tagged #RevolutionNow aimed at removing the President and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria during his term of office otherwise than by constitutional means. WASHINGTON Huawei has the ability to secretly retrieve sensitive information in next-generation wireless networks and other systems it maintains around the world, a top White House official said Tuesday. The comment from Robert C. OBrien, the national security adviser, is one of the sharpest public denunciations of the Chinese company by the Trump administration, and comes as the United States is reeling from the decision by Britain to allow Huawei to build part of their fifth-generation, or 5G, network. American intelligence officials have long said privately that Huawei has so-called back doors that could allow the company to obtain data that flows on the networks they build and maintain. But publicly, officials have spoken mostly about the potential that Huawei could provide Chinese officials with access to all kinds of data, without offering concrete proof. Mr. OBrien said Tuesday that the United States had evidence that Huawei could access sensitive and personal information in the systems it maintains around the world. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 15:00:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 905 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SURREY, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Gungnir Resources Inc. (TSXV:GUG)(OTCPK:ASWRF) ("Gungnir" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on preliminary exploration plans for Sweden in 2020. Drill-testing multiple targets on three properties for gold, base metals and PGE's (platinum-palladium) are planned to rank targets moving forward.On the Knaften property, the Company plans to drill-test several targets focused on high-grade gold as first priority. In the past three years Gungnir has made three new discoveries at Knaften; one in each year the Company has drilled:2019: Stacked gold system identified, including a new lower zone with high-grade gold including 59.6 g/t Au over 1.0 metre within a broader interval grading 14.07 g/t Au over 4.25 metres;2018: Large volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) system with favourable VMS geology including widespread, elevated zinc and copper over core lengths greater than 100 metres; and2017: Copper-nickel mineralization over core lengths greater than 10 metres in favourable intrusive rocks.East of Knaften, Gungnir plans to up-date historic nickel-copper-cobalt resources on its Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget claims. At both deposits significant drill intersections are reported, including:3.21% Ni + 4.28 g/t PGE's (platinum-palladium-gold) over 4.97 metres, and 2.63% Ni over 12.5 metres at Lappvattnet; and3.95% Ni over 2.0 metres, and 1.16% Ni over 19.55 metres at Rormyrberget.In addition to plans to complete its own drill holes at Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, Gungnir is evaluating the availability of archived drill core for potential re-sampling and assaying for PGE's. PGE's have been reported in select drill holes; however, most of the historic core was not assayed for platinum group metals.Permitting and claim maintenance is underway at Knaften, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget. Drilling is expected to commence once all permitting is finalized and conditions allow. Up to 2,000 metres of drilling is anticipated.Since 2017, the Company has drilled approximately 4,500 metres and completed numerous geophysical surveys at Knaften, and has completed 3-D modelling and property-wide geophysics at both Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget which collectively contain over 70 million pounds of nickel in historic resources.(*For Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, Gungnir has not verified historic drill intersections and a qualified person for Gungnir Resources has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current resources and Gungnir is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources.)The technical information in this news release has been prepared and approved by Jari Paakki, P.Geo., CEO and a director of the Company. Mr. Paakki is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.About Gungnir ResourcesGungnir Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based TSX-V listed mineral exploration company (GUG: TSX-V) with gold and base metal permits in northern Sweden. The Company's key project, Knaften, hosts high-grade gold, VMS (zinc-copper) and copper-nickel targets, and all are open for expansion and further discovery. The Company also holds two nickel-copper-cobalt deposits, Lappvattnet and Rormyrberget, located east of Knaften. Further information about the Company and its properties may be found at www.gungnirresources.com or at www.sedar.com On behalf of the Board,Jari Paakki, CEO and DirectorFor further information contact:Head Office/Investor RelationsPhone: +1-604-683-0484Jari Paakki, CEOEmail: jpaakki@ eastlink.ca Chris Robbins, CFOEmail: robbinscr@ shaw.ca 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.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved", or the negative of these words or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements or information include, but are not limited to, statements or information with respect to Gungnir's plan for future exploration and development of its properties, Gungnir's plan for future disclosure relating to exploration and development of its properties within the timelines set out above or at all. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of estimates and assumptions and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying estimates and assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. For example, there is no certainty, that any economically viable mineral deposit will be located on the properties, that the Company will receive or be able to raise sufficient capital to complete all of its exploration programs as anticipated. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements or information. Gungnir does not expect to update forward-looking statements or information continually as conditions change, except as may be required by securities law.SOURCE: Gungnir Resources Inc. By Jung Min-ho A Korean woman in her early 20s has died after a tram hit her in Milan. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wednesday, the victim, who was visiting the city with two Korean friends, was struck near Porta Venezia in the northeast of the city center about midnight Monday (local time). She was about to start her first year at college in Britain. The Korean Consulate General in Milan said it has told her family in Korea of the accident. A local media outlet Tuesday that the incident occurred when the tram was rounding a curve. Police are investigating. The friends and the tram driver were taken to a nearby hospital suffering shock. Iarnrod Eireann are engaging with industry experts with the purpose of developing an over-height vehicle detection system for a Dublin city centre rail bridge. The structure at Amiens St in Dublin has been the scene of a number of "incredibly dangerous" collisions involving over-height vehicles which Iarnrod Eireann said thankfully did not have a tragic outcome. A truck became wedged under the bridge Read More: in an incident last March. While there has been a drop in the number of bridge collision incidents nationally, the bridge at Amiens St was struck three times in 2019 alone. Iarnrod Eireann said: The successful supplier will be tasked with providing, installing and commissioning a system, which will assist in diverting over-height vehicles away from the bridge in an effort to avoid collisions. "The system is intended to operate by triggering a warning to any over-height vehicle approaching the bridge, which will be displayed on a variable message sign (VMS) on the pavement in advance of the bridge and also on new digital advertising screens being installed on the bridge this year, warning the truck to stop. The most struck railway bridge on the network was South Lotts road between Pearse and Grand Canal Dock, which was hit six times. Iarnrod Eireann has said however that the Amiens Street bridge is the best option for piloting such a warning system. The company has also confirmed that there were 69 bridge strike incidents on the rail network last year, 57 of which were under-bridge incidents while 12 were over-bridge collisions. This is a reduction of 26 on 2018. A company spokesperson said: This reduction is to be welcomed, but the company appeals to all drivers of high vehicles to remain vigilant and plan their route to avoid restricted height bridges. The spokesperson added: The trend has not been so positive when it comes to level crossing incidents however. The number of incidents increased to 95, up from 81 in 2018. The most frequent type of incident was barriers closing on road vehicles that did not cause damage. There were 38 such incidents. "The most frequent incident that caused damage was a road vehicle hitting a barrier, there were 18 of these. The level crossing which has had the most incidents was at Sutton in Dublin with 16 incidents followed by Sydney parade, also in Dublin, with 11, the company added. Iarnrod Eireann has also confirmed that in 2019, a person was convicted of dangerous driving at Castlebar District Court, following an incident at a level crossing in Mayo. There were also four other convictions during the year for road users who failed to close the gates after crossing at a user operated level crossing. The Iarnrod Eireann spokesperson added: As a railway operator, safety is our number one priority, we are going out to tender for an over-height vehicle detection system to prevent needless collisions at this bridge. We are happy that the incidents of bridge strikes are down, but we appeal to all Drivers to be vigilant, one incident is one to many. The trend at level crossings is worrying, during last year, we had road users taking all sorts of risks that could have ended in catastrophe. Road users must obey the rules of the road and obey warning signs at level crossings. The death of a seminarian in Nigeria has laid bare some of the fault lines beneath the surface of Nigerian society. Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, of the Diocese of Sokoto, in Northern Nigeria, has led thousands of mourners at the burial of a seminarian, Michael Nnadi. Paul Samasumo Vatican City We have gathered around the remains of Michael in supplication but also as solemn witnesses to the penetrating darkness that hovers over our country, Bishop Kukah told mourners. Bishop Kukah was speaking, in Kaduna, Tuesday at the funeral of 18-year-old Nigerian seminarian, Michael Nnadi who was kidnapped along with three other seminarians on the night of 8 January. Gunmen attacked the Good Shepherd Seminary in Kakau, Kaduna state. While three others were later released, Michael was separated from the others and murdered. A Kaduna-based doctors wife was also killed by the kidnapping gang. Our hypocrisy and duplicity have caught up with us The homily was a blistering and scorching indictment of President Muhammadu Buharis Government and Nigerias governing elite. Our nation is like a ship stranded on the high seas, rudderless and with broken navigational aids. Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is on the crossroads, and its future hangs precariously in a balance, Bishop Kukah said in a homily. President Buhari has mismanaged countrys diversity This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that, to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian, Bishop Kukah said. The Bishop then continued, Nigeria needs to pause for a moment and think. No one more than the President of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari who was voted for in 2015 on the grounds of his own promises to rout Boko Haram and place the country on an even keel. In an address at the prestigious Policy Think Tank, Chatham House, in London, just before the elections, Major General Buhari told his audience: I, as a retired General and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers If am elected President; the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural developmentwe will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front, Bishop Kukah reminisced. Northern Nigeria is not any better-off Bishop Kukah also asserted that neither Islam nor the north can identify any real benefits Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, and the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution. His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Emir of Kano are the two most powerful traditional and moral leaders in Islam today. None of them is happy, and they have said so loud and clear, affirmed Bishop Kukah. Persecutions of Christians in Nigeria is not new Bishop Kukah reminded the faithful: The persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria is as old as the modern Nigerian stateBy denying Christians lands for places of worship across most of the northern states, ignoring the systematic destruction of Churches all these years, denying Christians adequate recruitment, representation and promotions in the State civil services, denying their indigenous children scholarships, marrying Christian women or converting Christians while threatening Muslim women and prospective converts with death, they make building a harmonious community impossible. Nation-building cannot happen without adequate representation and a deliberate effort at creating for all members a sense, a feeling, of belonging, and freedom to make their contributions, he said. Politicians using religion to extend their ambition Today, we are living with a Senate whose entire leadership is in the hands of Muslims. Christians have continued to support them. For how long shall we continue on this road with different ambitions? Christians must rise and defend their faith with all the moral weapons they have. We must become more robust in presenting the values of Christianity, especially our message of love and non-violence to a violent society, the prelate of Sokoto asserted. Bishop Kukah especially called on Christians in Nigeria not to sustain nor give their support to selfish northern politicians. We are being told that this situation has nothing to do with Religion. Really? It is what happens when politicians use religion to extend the frontiers of their ambition and power. Are we to believe that simply because Boko Haram kills Muslims too, they wear no religious garb? Are we to deny the evidence before us, of kidnappers separating Muslims from infidels or compelling Christians to convert or die? If your son steals from me, do you solve the problem by saying he also steals from you? wondered Bishop Kukah. A message of hope Yet the Bishops homily was also full of hope for Nigeria and for the mourning Christians. There is hope, my dear friends. Are we angry? Yes, we are. Are we sad? Of course, we are. Are we tempted to vengeance? Indeed, we are. Do we feel betrayed? You bet. Do we know what to do? Definitely. Do we know when to do it? Why not? Do we know how? Absolutely. Are we in a war? Yes. But what would Christ have us do? The only way He has pointed out to us is the non-violent way. It is the road less travelled, but it is the only way, the Bishop consoled the mourners. Bishop Kukah further wondered what message God had for the country when he chooses Nigerian teenagers such Leah Sharibu and Michael Nnadi to confront evil and became martyrs. He concluded, We are honoured that our son has been summoned to receive the crown of martyrdom at the infancy of his journey to the priesthood. We are grateful that even before he could ascend the earthly altar, Jesus, the high priest, called Him to stand by His angels. He was a priest by desire, but he is concelebrating the fullness of the priesthood beside His Master. Michael was buried at the cemetry of Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arie and Jennie Harel are expanding their Lice Troopers head lice removal business by opening four additional locations in Long Island, adding to the eleven locations already thriving across the United States. Lice Troopers provides head lice screenings, diagnostic, and natural preventative and treatment options for people affected by head lice for schools and familes. According the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention a median of 9 million people worldwide are infested every year. It makes sense that in a crowded metropolitan area like New York City, where over two-fifths of the entire state population live, one would see an abundance of head lice cases. "We see it all the time.parents who are frustrated after multiple attempts to get rid of lice on their own, give up and call us to help," said Director of Marketing and Communications, Ginette Grey who also oversees consumer relations. "The problem is that by then parents have already spent time, energy and money on an infestation that never went away because it wasn't properly addressed." That's where Lice Troopers comes in as professionals in the head lice removal industry to take the hassle out of screening and treatment and provide a safe solution to completely stop lice in their tracks. Using a scientifically proven combing method coupled with proven nit-picking techniques that rid the hair of lice and nits safely and effectively they don't have to kill lice with dangerous chemicals in order to get rid of lice. Lice Troopers is currently accepting proposals for retail space in the New York Metro area as well as select cities in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In the past year alone the company has set-up seven new treatments centers and shows no sign of slowing down. They are calling all retail space owners, building developers, and property managers to help source commercial space between 500 and 1,000 square feet. Please contact their research and scouting team at 1.800.403.5423 or email them at [email protected] for additional required criteria. Recently opened Lice Troopers locations: - 2 Haven Avenue, Suite 201 - 1825 Merrick Road, Port Washington, NY 11050 Merrick, NY 11566 516-213-5640 516-537-9549 - 52 Cedar Swamp Road, - 66 West 94th Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542 New York, NY 10025 516-213-5624 347-308-5235 The treatment centers will be open daily and by appointment only. Treatments take approximately one hour and are covered with a guarantee. During consultation at the center, a complimentary guide on lice prevention and removal is given to families along with a home cleaning checklist. Come by and see how Lice Troopers is keeping the Northeast lice free one head at a time! About Lice Troopers Lice Troopers is an All-Natural, guaranteed Head Lice Removal Service 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. SOURCE Lice Troopers Related Links www.licetroopers.com ANN ARBOR, MI - Little has been said publicly about why Ann Arbors police chief has been placed on administrative leave. Little also has been said about it to the City Council and police oversight commission, leaving members of those groups frustrated. On Saturday, Feb. 8, City Administrator Howard Lazarus placed Chief Michael Cox on a two-week paid administrative leave for a personnel matter. Ann Arbor police chief placed on administrative leave The details since then have been scant, said City Council Member Jane Lumm, I-2nd Ward, a liaison to the citys Independent Community Police Oversight Commission. She said the council received an email on Monday afternoon, Feb. 10, from Lazarus with prior approval from City Attorney Stephen Postema. It provided some information on why Lazarus placed Cox on leave, Lumm said. She declined to reveal the specifics. For my part, questions and a desire for more substantive information remain, she said in a text to MLive/The Ann Arbor News. Lumm and Lazarus both have said definitively, however, that Cox is not under investigation for sexual misconduct. Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, the other liaison to the oversight commission established last year, has said multiple times that he is unable to share updates on the investigation. Lisa Jackson, police oversight commission chairwoman, said she sat down with Lazarus on Monday, Feb. 10, to gather more information. She still feels in the dark on the details of the investigation, the same wording she used when the announcement was made last weekend. Given that the commission was formed to assist in the building of trust and transparency between the community and the police department, it would seem that keeping us totally in the dark would not assist to build that trust and transparency, Frances Todoro, vice chair of the oversight commission, said in a statement. Ann Arbor police oversight commission appointments OKd in 8-3 vote Before the Feb. 10 council budget work session, Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward, consulted with Postema about the council entering into a closed session with Lazarus to learn more about Coxs leave. Weve been advised that there would be significant restrictions to what we could discuss in it, Eaton said during the meeting. I wont be calling for that closed session (tonight). Lazarus declined to respond to a request to confirm approximately how long the investigation will take, saying it wasnt the appropriate time and place to comment. The Ann Arbor News/MLive has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for city records related to Cox being placed on administrative leave. Deputy Chief Jason Forsberg is serving in Coxs place. The interim chief presented on budget proposals for the police department on Monday night. After his presentation, Council Member Elizabeth Nelson, D-4th Ward, asked if Forsberg was giving a presentation that Cox prepared. Forsberg said no, but that he did receive input from Cox. This week, Council lost the opportunity to hear directly from Chief Cox about the recommended budget allocations for the upcoming year, Nelson wrote in an email to The Ann Arbor News/Mlive. I am disappointed by that, which is why I asked my question about the presentation. After three decades with the Boston Police Department, Cox was appointed Ann Arbor Police chief after a unanimous City Council vote July 1, 2019. His starting salary was $160,000. I would love to (comment), Cox said in a message this weekend, but this is not the appropriate time. Lazarus recommended Cox for the position in June after interviews with three finalists. Coxs starting salary was $160,000. READ MORE ON CHIEF MICHAEL COX: Ann Arbor council hires Boston cop to serve as new police chief New Ann Arbor Police chief just getting his feet wet, ready to serve Minority residents discuss fair policing, more with Washtenaw County justice leaders NAPERVILLE, Ill., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer Inspire (DI), a CARS Inc. (NYSE: CARS) company that provides disruptive technology and digital marketing solutions to the automotive industry, today announced the launch of PRIZM, its new proprietary business intelligence platform for dealerships that connects product performance, marketing channel effectiveness and on-demand support in one dashboard. It will be showcased at the 2020 National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas from Feb. 14-17. PRIZM is the latest solution in Dealer Inspire's ecosystem of connected technologies that seamlessly integrates a dealer's website, inventory management tools, marketing efforts, technology solutions and reporting to deliver deeper operational efficiency. "As the automotive industry faces an increasingly complex advertising landscape and fragmented dealership technology sector, dealers are forced to juggle multiple disconnected reporting platforms that fail to tell the full story of their investments," said Joe Chura, chief executive officer of Dealer Inspire. "We knew there was a need in our industry for one connected platform that does it all for dealers, and that's what we have created. PRIZM extends our portfolio of solutions to help dealers track the right metrics across all of their channels to maximize their sales and increase the efficiency of their marketing spend." PRIZM operates on demand, so information is always up to date and tracks data at a group level, providing roll-up reporting for multiple rooftops on one dashboard. It delivers product metrics across all marketing channels and conversion analysis, letting dealers know exactly how each channel is performing and when a change is necessary. Also, PRIZM integrates with Google AdWords, Google Analytics and Microsoft Ad Center, so ad campaigns and analysis can be monitored conveniently. A key differentiator of PRIZM is its proactive alert system that flags gaps in a dealer's business metrics, provides recommended actions and gives dealers the levers needed to course correct. The custom alerts function enables users to get notifications however they like (e.g., SMS, email, etc.). "PRIZM is the first engine of its kind to allow dealers to take action on reporting. Traditional reporting tools just provide metrics," Chura added. "We've created a tool that lets dealers take stock of their business quickly, catch gaps in their strategy, review recommendations on a path forward and take charge." Additionally, the new dashboard gives insights into support tickets across multiple locations and how customer requests are being addressed and resolved, as well as captures customer satisfaction scores. Dealer Inspire's proprietary and patented Roxanne event-tracking technology will also be built into PRIZM. The technology tracks every click a shopper makes across the entire CARS platform, monitoring more than 40 million events each day1, providing dealers with critical data-driven insights to better understand their customers as they move through the purchase journey. It also gives weighted ROI attribution to each marketing channel based on its impact in that shopper's buying process, so dealers understand where their investments are paying off. And PRIZM synchronizes with all other Dealer Inspire products to make each phase of the vehicle-buying journey easier, faster and smarter for shoppers and dealers: The Dealer Inspire Website Platform is a six-time AWA Pinnacle Platform winner for its advanced features, mobile-first data-driven design and lightning-fast user experiences that drive shoppers from search to signature. is a six-time AWA Pinnacle Platform winner for its advanced features, mobile-first data-driven design and lightning-fast user experiences that drive shoppers from search to signature. Connected Marketing is DI's cross-channel marketing services powered by dynamic technology to maximize dealer ROI across search, social, video, email and beyond. is DI's cross-channel marketing services powered by dynamic technology to maximize dealer ROI across search, social, video, email and beyond. Online Shopper is the only digital retailing solution built for shoppers to customize and compare multiple vehicle payments to make real buying decisions online, driving more valuable leads to dealers who can seamlessly continue the digital journey in-store. is the only digital retailing solution built for shoppers to customize and compare multiple vehicle payments to make real buying decisions online, driving more valuable leads to dealers who can seamlessly continue the digital journey in-store. Conversations is the only first-party messaging platform in the industry, powered by artificial intelligence and deeply integrated into the DI Website Platform and Connected Marketing services to instantly convert shoppers 24/7 wherever they are. To learn more about PRIZM, Dealer Inspire and its other products at NADA 2020, visit booth #3577C in the Las Vegas Convention Center from Feb. 14-17 or visit the website at dealerinspire.com. ABOUT DEALER INSPIRE Founded in 2011, Dealer Inspire (DI), a Cars.com (NYSE: CARS) company, is an award-winning website, technology and digital marketing provider for innovative dealer partners across the U.S. and Canada. The company builds technology that helps future-proof dealerships by making the automotive retail experience faster and easier for consumers. With a team that has more than doubled in growth each year to serve 25 global brands, DI maintains its reputation for legendary customer support. 1 Dealer Inspire Internal Data, February 2020 SOURCE Cars.com Inc. Related Links https://www.dealerinspire.com An 18-year-old has revealed that she almost had to get her fingertip amputated after biting her nails led to a cuticle infection. Lauren Nichols, a college student from Texas, opened up about her close call in a TikTok video while warning viewers to stop biting their nails because there could be dire consequences. 'To my fellow nail biters, stop what you're doing. I almost had to get the tip of my finger amputated because I bite my nails,' she says at the start of the clip. Say what? Lauren Nichols, 18, from Texas, has revealed that she almost had to have her fingertip amputated because biting her nails led to a skin infection Lauren explains that on January 8 she woke up with a 'green spot' on her cuticle that she initially thought was a bruise. She learned it was actually paronychia, a skin infection that occurs around the fingernails or toenails and is caused by an injury or irritation. The next day, she went to the doctor and was prescribed antibiotics before she returned to college following her holiday vacation. Lauren says she realized on January 10 that her 'antibiotics weren't working' because the area was 'more swollen' and 'the green part had expanded.' Keeping it real: Lauren opens up about her close call in a TikTok video, explaining that she woke up on January 8 with a 'green spot' on her cuticle that was paronychia, a skin infection Yikes: Lauren's doctor gave her antibiotics before she returned to college, but the area around her nail only got redder and more swollen 'On January 11, it got significantly worse,' she explains while sharing photos of the infection. 'As you can see, it's a lot more swollen and a lot more red.' At this point, it was clear that her antibiotics weren't working, and on January 13, she 'decided to pop it after watching YouTube videos.' 'But then I go back to the doctor, and it turns out I have to have a surgery,' she continues while sharing a photo of her finger wrapped post-op. 'I dead a** almost had to have my fingertip amputated because I bite my nails,' she stresses at the end of the clip. 'I really do be vibing though.' Lauren's warning video has received more than 2.3 million likes and nearly 22,000 comments since it was posted. Trouble: The green area continued to spread, and a pus-filled blister formed around her cuticle Before: It was clear that her antibiotics weren't working, and on January 13, she 'decided to pop it after watching YouTube videos' Close call: Lauren eeded a surgery called a therapeutic washout to remove the infection from her cuticle, and she has since stopped biting her nails She told BuzzFeed News that she needed a surgery called a therapeutic washout to remove the infection from her cuticle. '[My doctor] told me that he has to amputate the tips of people's fingers because the infection gets too bad and that I'm lucky I came when I did,' she said. Lauren heeded his warning and has stopped biting her nails. She even bought herself a fidget cube to help her resist temptation. The college student made the TikTok video because she wanted others to know that biting their nails could have 'serious consequences.' Last month, it was revealed that Steven MacDonald, 48, from Coatbridge, Scotland, was left fighting for his life after one of his fingers became infected after chomping down too hard on it on January 3. Similar story: Steven MacDonald, 48, from Coatbridge, Scotland, was left fighting for his life after one of his fingers became infected after chomping down too hard on it on January 3 Scary: Steven was given a strong shot of antibiotics and sent to have emergency surgery to remove the infected flesh WHAT IS PARONYCHIA? Paronychia is a skin infection that occurs around the fingernails or toenails . The infection usually occurs when the skin around the nail is irritated or injured. Common paronychia causes include: biting or pulling off a hangnail frequent sucking on a finger clipping a nail too short or trimming the cuticle (the skin around the sides and bottom of the nail) getting manicures having hands in water a lot (as from a job washing dishes in a restaurant) It will be easy to recognize because an area of skin around a nail that is painful and tender when you touch it. Paronychia is marked by red and swollen skin that is painful to the touch. It can also develop into a pus-filled blister. If paronychia is mild and hasn't started to spread beyond the fingernail, it can be treated at home by soaking it in warm salt water for 20 minutes a few times a day. When severe paronychia is left untreated, infection can spread through the finger or toe and move into the rest of the body. Luckily, this is very rare. Advertisement In the following days, the area began to swell up and fill with pus. He also developed a rash on his arm, prompting him to make a trip to the hospital. Like Lauren, he was diagnosed with paronychia, but his case was severe and his infection had spread to his bloodstream. Steven was given a strong shot of antibiotics and sent to have emergency surgery to remove the infected flesh. He was told that he if waited even a few hours longer, he could have died. The former postman's fingernail may never grow back, and he has warned other nail biters against the habit. 'This ordeal has taught me a huge lesson,' he said. 'To any nail biters out there, please just pull your finger away from your teeth.' Among them: The pathologist at the McLean County morgue, who gave a grim description of what Holly Cassano went through in the last minutes of her life during the second full day of testimony. The bill now seeks to raise the license fee for a casino operator from $1 million to $15 million. The Bristol Resort and Casino group issued a statement in response to the vote. We are still reviewing the specific changes to the bill and this is a long process before session ends. That being said, we are pleased to have the legislation that specifically includes the five original cities pass yet another committee and we look forward to the upcoming floor vote, according to the statement. A state gaming report suggested imposing a 27% rate on gaming revenue but said casinos could still be viable although much less profitable at the 40% rate. Patron Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, appeared surprised by some of the changes. Some of the localities have been here in Richmond all week long, and Im getting text messages. My mobile device is blowing up, Lucas said. The [tax] rate is causing the most concern. Is there any way we can work out these differences in conference? Committee Chairwoman Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston, said that would likely occur later. DETROIT An Apple engineer who died when his Tesla Model X hit a concrete barrier on a Silicon Valley freeway had complained before his death that the SUVs Autopilot system would malfunction in the area where the crash happened. The complaints were detailed in a trove of documents released Tuesday by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the March, 2018 crash that killed engineer Walter Huang. The documents say Huang told his wife that Autopilot had previously veered his SUV toward the same barrier on U.S. 101 near Mountain View, California where he later crashed. Huang died at a hospital from his injuries. Walter said the car would veer toward the barrier in the mornings when he went to work, the Huang family's attorney wrote in a response to NTSB questions. Huang also described Autopilot's malfunctioning to his brother, the attorney wrote, in addition to talking with a friend who owns a Model X. Huang, a software engineer, discussed with the friend how a patch to the Autopilot software affected its performance and made the Model X veer, the lawyers response said. Sometime prior to the crash, Huang took his Tesla to a service center to fix a navigation error, the attorneys response said. But Tesla could not duplicate the problem and it was not repaired. The Huang family is suing Tesla and Californias Department of Transportation for allegedly failing to maintain the highway. Autopilot is a partially automated system designed to keep a vehicle in its lane and keep a safe distance from vehicles in front of it. It also can change lanes with driver approval. Tesla says Autopilot is intended for driver assistance and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times. The full NTSB board is scheduled to hold a hearing on the crash on Feb. 25. At that time, it will determine a cause and make safety recommendations. NTSB staff members have already recommended that California transportation officials move faster to repair highway safety barriers damaged by vehicles. Story continues A report from the agency says California officials failed to fix the barrier that was damaged in a crash 11 days before Huang was killed. In that incident, a 2010 Toyota Prius traveling in excess of 75 mph (120 kmh) crashed against the attenuator, a cushion that protects vehicles from hitting the end of concrete lane dividers. The 31-year-old driver survived the crash and was treated for relatively minor injuries, the NTSB said. The California Highway Patrol responded to the March 12 crash but did not notify the California Department of Transportation of the damage as it is required to, the NTSB said. Huang's 2017 Tesla Model X was traveling at 71 mph (114 kph) when it crashed against the same attenuator, which the NTSB determined had been damaged and repaired more frequently than any other left-exit in Caltrans' District 4, which includes all of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7 million people. In the three years before the Tesla crash, the device was struck at least five times, including one crash that resulted in fatalities. A car struck it again on May 20, 2018, about two months after the Tesla crash, the NTSB said. California Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Rocco said the department is reviewing the NTSB report to determine its next steps but declined to answer questions. "Safety remains Caltrans top priority," he said. Also on Tuesday, the NTSB released documents from another fatal Tesla crash, this one on March 1, 2019 in Delray Beach, Florida. In that incident, driver Jeremy Banner turned on the Autopilot function of his Model 3 sedan 10 seconds before the crash, then took his hands off the steering wheel, NTSB documents said. The car then drove underneath a tractor-trailer that was crossing in front of it, sheering off the car's roof and killing Banner. It was eerily similar to another Florida crash in 2016 in which a Tesla on Autopilot went beneath a semi trailer. The NTSB said in a preliminary report that it still hasnt determined the cause of the crash. According to the report, traffic was light on the four-lane highway and dawn was breaking when Banner, 50, set his speed at 69 mph (111 kph) and activated the autopilot as he headed to work. The speed limit was 55 mph (88 kph). Seconds later, a tractor-trailer driven by Richard Wood, 45, pulled from a driveway and began to cross to the other side of the highway. Wood said he saw two sets of car headlights coming toward him, but he thought he had time to make it across. It was dark and it looked like the cars was back further than they was, Wood told NTSB investigators four days after the crash. A photo taken by the NTSB from Teslas front-end video camera showed Woods trailer fully blocking the road 1.5 seconds before the crash. Data from the Teslas computer shows that Banner hit his brakes less than a second before the crash, but the car went under the trailer. Wood says he saw a second car but that one didn't hit the trailer. Palm Beach County firefighters who arrived minutes later found the Tesla about a quarter-mile (400 meters) down the highway with its engine running. The car had automatically shifted to neutral and turned on its emergency flashers when its computer detected the crash. They said that they had never dealt with a Teslas ignition before and didnt know how to turn it off that requires using a keycard. The department has since given its firefighters additional training. Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Terry Spencer contributed from Orlando, Florida. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> You Might Also Like AKRON, Ohio An Akron man has been convicted of killing a Massillon woman, then setting her body on fire in a wooded area in an attempt to conceal the crime. Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan said in a news release Tuesday that a jury found Daniel Lee Jones, 47, guilty of two counts of murder, felonious assault, two counts of tampering with evidence, and gross abuse of a corpse, all felonies. Prosecutors say Jones got into an argument with Kerri Blondheim, 44, of Massillon, on Sept. 23, 2018, at Jones apartment in Akron. Jones strangled Blondheim with such force that he broke every bone in her throat, prosecutors say. Jones took Blondheims body to a wooded area on Van Buren Road near the New Franklin-Barberton border, prosecutors say. He covered her body with a mattress and set both on fire. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Tammy OBrien on Feb. 25. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comment section. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Man charged in shooting that killed one man, wounded another on Akrons West Side Man found dead inside Akron apartment after SWAT standoff, police say Cleveland police officer made unlawful traffic stop, threatened man who wanted to file complaint against him, court documents say Man robbed at gunpoint in downtown Cleveland Cleveland Fourth of July terrorism suspect sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Man used fake ID in attempt to sell Cleveland home obtained through forged documents, records say Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip last night at its Unpacked event in San Francisco and everything about the phone screams one thing: it will trump the Motorola Razr in almost every aspect. The Galaxy Z Flip is not only a foldable smartphone that betters the Razr with features, but it also undercuts it with a more affordable price as well. In fact, Samsung also took a page from Motorolas notebook by partnering with a fashion designer for a special edition of the phone. MensXP_Akshay Bhalla Back in the day, Motorola used to make a Dolce & Gabbana edition of the Razr, however we never got to see a similar version for the foldable version of the smartphone. However, Samsung went all out by partnering with Thom Browne, one of New Yorks most renowned fashion designers with innovative design ideas. Samsung Motorola Razr had a hard time last week due to a durability test that showed how the hinge is not really as durable as we thought. In addition to these problems, Samsung launched a foldable smartphone that is cheaper, has a better display and probably looks more durable than the Razr. Even when it comes to the specifications, the Razr is powered by a significantly underpowered Snapdragon 710 SoC with 6GB of RAM of 128GB of storage. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip uses the Snapdragon 855 processor clocked at 2.96Ghz paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The Galaxy Z Flip also comes with a bigger battery i.e. 3,300mAh while the Razr comes with a 2,510mAh battery. The Galaxy Z Flip also comes with a slightly larger screen that has a resolution of 2,142 x 876 pixels. When you size up the two phones, the Galaxy Z Flip is better and outmatches the Razr in almost every aspect with a lower price tag. Samsung Coming to the folding display quality, the Galaxy Z Flip is superior again, thanks to its build materials. It uses a type of glass that folds with the display while the Razr uses a plastic-type glass, making it feel not as premium as Samsungs offering. You can even pop the display at 90-degree angle and rest the phone on the table to record videos and take pictures with the 12MP camera. It removes the need of carrying around a tripod making the smartphone more versatile than the Razr. Youtube_MKBD Samsung announced the Z Flip for $1,380 which is more than $100 cheaper than the Motorola Razr. When considering everything that is on the table, buying the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is a no-brainer as it offers more value, versatility and features than the Motorola Razr. Advertisement A large fireball erupted at an oil refinery after an explosion in Louisiana on Tuesday night. Plant owners Exxon said no one was hurt in the explosion at the refinery in Baton Rouge but enormous flames could be seen shooting up from the Louisiana chemical center for miles around. The fire was so intense that the glow of the blaze could be seen some distance away. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. Social media footage showed Exxon Mobil Corp's 502,500 barrel-per-day plant ablaze until it was finally extinguished by the refinery's fire team on Wednesday morning. The blaze broke out Exxon Mobil Corp plant in Baton Rouse, Louisiana, on Tuesday night Officials plan to launch a thorough investigation into the incident to find out exactly what caused the fire One eyewitness recorded video from near the plant's fence line and captured the huge flames and plumes of smoke On person who was travelling on a nearby road was able to shoot video and post it to Twitter Videos posted on social media showed a huge fire shooting out of the chemical center The sky turned a brilliant shade of red and orange in footage gathered by a local news crew in the area Crews were called to the massive blaze after an explosion at an oil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana The Baton Rouge Fire Department was on the scene shortly after midnight. Exxon posted on Twitter that its own fire crew had the blaze contained to the area where it occurred. A spokesman for the department said: 'There has not been any off-site impact. We sent Baton Rouge Fire Department hazmat teams out and they're continuing at this time to monitor outside air quality. They have not picked up any readings outside the facility.' The air outside the plant 'bore no particular odor', The Advocate, a daily newspaper in Baton Rouge reported. There was no off-site impact, fire department spokesman Curt Monte said. An Exxon spokesman said in a statement: 'There are no injuries, with all personnel accounted for. The fire was contained to the area where it occurred.' The perimeter and surrounding areas of North Baton Rouge will be actively monitored, the spokesman added, though 'at this point, all readings are non-detect'. The plant reportedly produces some 6.7 billion pounds of petrochemical products in a year. Officials plan to launch a thorough investigation into the incident to find out exactly what caused the fire The sky above the Exxon refinery was turned orange by the huge explosion at the Baton Rouge plant on Tuesday night The company's integrated facilities in the southern American state produce a range of oil-based products - such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel - as well as everyday items like paint and plastic milk jugs. The company earlier said the fire was contained in the area it occurred and there were no reported injuries with all personnel accounted for. Exxon is monitoring air quality in the refinery and surrounding areas, company spokesman Jeremy Eikenberry said. He added: 'We apologize for any inconvenience and concern this incident may have caused. 'We will continue to keep you updated with information as it becomes available. The safety of our workforce and community is ExxonMobil's highest priority.' Officials plan to launch a thorough investigation into the incident to find out exactly what caused the fire. East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome praised first responders for their swift response to the incident. 'Good job to our first responders for their response to the fire at ExxonMobil overnight. Im thankful there were no injuries and Baton Rouge Fire Department determined there was no offsite impact to air quality,' she wrote on Twitter. The Baton Rouge refinery is the fifth-largest in the US and has more than 1,250 full-time and over 1,800 contract employees, it's website states. In a major explosion on Christmas Eve, 1989, at the same facility, one worker died and several others were injured, The Advocate reports. Even from several miles away the glow of the blaze could be seen above the rooftops of nearby homes The flames from the refinery fire were shooting up into the night sky and could be seen from some distance Exxon spokesman Jeremy Eikenberry declined on Wednesday to discuss the status of units at the refinery. He did say operations were continuing at the refinery and adjoining chemical plant. Eikenberry also said Exxon would continue to meet its contractual commitments. The 210,000-bpd PSLA-10 CDU is the largest of three at the refinery doing the primary conversion of crude oil into hydrocarbon feedstock for all other production units. The natural gas is used to operate the units as they breakdown crude oil. One of the two 110,000-bpd gasoline producing fluidic catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) continues to operate at a minimal production level while one of the light ends units is also operating at minimum rates, the sources said. The Baton Rouge refinery is the second-largest in Louisiana and the fifth-largest in the United States by capacity. It is Exxon's second-largest refinery in the nation. Belarus Lukashenko Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists as he visits the Dobrush Paper Factory in Dobrush, Belarus, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. Lukashenko boasted about Belarus' warmer ties with the United States as he prepared to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for another round of difficult economic talks. (Nikolai Petrov/BelTA Pool Photo via AP) MINSK, Belarus (AP) The leader of Belarus boasted Tuesday about warming ties with the United States as his officials discussed alternative energy imports as part of efforts to win concessions from Russia. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has prodded his main ally and sponsor, Russia, to continue providing low-priced oil and gas to shore up his nation's Soviet-style economy. But the Kremlin has cut energy subsidies, arguing that Belarus should accept closer economic and political integration to keep getting cheap oil and gas. Lukashenko said he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for another round of talks. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the meeting was planned. The two leaders met twice in December but failed to resolve their differences, resulting in Russia cutting oil supplies to Belarus at the start of the year. The transit shipments of Russian crude to Europe via Belarus have continued unimpeded, but the Belarusian oil refineries have been reduced to a minimum capacity. In the past, Belarus has cashed in on exports of petroleum products made from cheap Russian oil. Lukashenko is looking for alternative supply sources, and last month Belarus purchased a shipment of crude from Norway. On Tuesday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius visited Minsk to talk about possible future oil supplies. The Belarusian president, meanwhile, hailed his weekend meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , as a sign of warmer ties with Washington. Russia has grown worried, Lukashenko said while visiting a factory. Belarus determines its own foreign policy as a sovereign and independent nation. Pompeo, the first Secretary of State to visit Belarus in 26 years, said that the U.S. could provide Belarus with 100% of its oil and gas and noted that it wants to help Belarus uphold its sovereignty. Lukashenko has run the ex-Soviet nation with an iron hand for more than a quarter century, showing little tolerance to dissent and extending his rule through votes the West has criticized as flawed. He has increasingly reached out to the West in recent years amid tensions with Russia, and the U.S. and the European Union have lifted some of their sanctions as Belarus freed political prisoners. Lukashenko has bristled at the Kremlin pressure, charging that some Russian officials want to push Belarus into surrendering its sovereignty. Story continues Russia and Belarus signed a union agreement in 1997 that envisaged close political, economic and military ties, but stopped short of forming a single nation. Many in Belarus fear that Putin, who has been in power for two decades, could be seeking a merger with Belarus as a way to stay at the helm of the new union state after his current Russian presidential term expires in 2024. Observers see Lukashenko's statements as a continuation of his longtime tactics of winning concessions from Moscow, but warn that the Kremlin this time intends to press it home. There is no real alternative to Russian oil and gas; other options are significantly more expensive, said Valery Karbalevich, an independent Minsk-based political analyst. The Kremlin is telling Minsk in plain terms that it has to pay for independence, but Lukashenko doesn't want to become a provincial governor of Russia and responds that he's ready for a fight. ___ Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report. Climate change is spurring a new, deep dive into a complex, little-studied weather system blamed for creating billions of dollars in flood damage across the western U.S. Atmospheric rivers are narrow ribbons of concentrated moisture that originate in the Pacific and can flow thousands of miles before dropping rain and snow on land. Scientists are ramping up their research into the systems this winter fearful that warmer temperatures tied to climate change will boost the moisture they carry, supercharging them moving forward. Hurricane hunter planes are set to fly at least 12 missions directly into the systems, double last years number, to gather a wide range of meteorological data. At the same time, 100 new ocean buoys will monitor how the systems form. The goal: Better warning processes to stave off flooding. It is 100% completely saturated air, said Rich Henning, a flight director for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who conducts onboard weather observations. If youre ever wondering how six feet of snow can fall in the Cascades in one day, this is exactly how all that moisture is transported. The systems flow between 1,000 and 2,000 feet above the surface, with 80 mile-per-hour winds pushing the water vapor through the air, Henning said. Last week, crews from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force Reserve flew into an atmospheric river that traveled from Hawaii to the Pacific Northwest. The NOAA flight took off as the system bore down on their airport near Portland, Oregon, said Lieutenant Commander Ron Moyers, the pilot. The plane was wrestling with turbulence and icing almost as soon as the wheels left the runway, he said. Once in the air and over water, the NOAA crew dropped about 30 sensors from a height as high as 45,000 feet, the upper end of the Gulfstream IVs ceiling, Henning said. Slowed in their decent by small parachutes, the sensorscalled dropsondesmeasure temperature, moisture, wind and air pressure, data that will later be assessed by scientists at NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. A study released in December by Scripps and the Army Corps of Engineers found that atmospheric rivers caused 84% of the flood damage suffered in 11 western states over 40 years through 2017. The average annual cost: $1.1 billion, according to the report. In a warmer climate, the study concluded, atmospheric rivers will be more intense as they become wetter, longer, and wider; there is some indication that this is already happening. Aon Edge It wont take much of a temperature change to boost their moisture content, according to John Dickson, a flood researcher who is the chief executive officer of Aon Edge, a Montana-based flood insurance provider. A rise of just 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit can boost water vapor in the air by 7%, he said. Our world continues to change and our land use practices are constantly evolving, Dickson said., Yet we rely on risk management tools that are decades old to navigate the current times. Besides helping forecasts in the western U.S., the new data will have international significance, since the rivers can originate in oceans worldwide. There has been an amazing amount of research on the hurricane problem and tornadoes and noreasters, said Marty Ralph, a Scripps scientist. But it turns out atmospheric rivers are a real issue on the West Coast, and they have not really had that much attention. Ralph sees the new research as critical. One of the fundamental findings on the science of climate change in the West is the increasing likelihood of extremes, both plus and minus, he said. The results cant come soon enough for Curt Aikens, general manager of the Yuba County Water Agency in Marysville, California. California can get half its water from the storms, according to NOAA. Getting advanced warning on the size of an atmospheric river and where it will hit could let managers make room in reservoirs to absorb an expected deluge, or keep water intact they might have released needlessly, Aikens said. They also can affect snowpack in the mountains, increasing the water flowing into streams and rivers longer term. Twenty years ago I would wait to see the rain hit the ground and see the runoff before the decisions were made, Aikens said. With the new data, we can make decisions days ahead of the arrival of the storm. Study: Atmospheric rivers drive flood damages in the western United States Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics USA Flood Former AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Wednesday said the party deserved praise for the victory in the Delhi assembly polls but claimed that it was difficult to revive its fortunes in Punjab. He alleged that the party was never "sincere" towards Punjab, resulting in the loss of the golden opportunity in the 2017 state assembly polls, when it bagged 20 seats. Replying to a question, Khaira, who was elected on the AAP symbol from Bholath in 2017, ruled out the possibility of rejoining the party with "conditions". The Aam Aadmi Party has won 62 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. "It is a huge victory and they deserve praise for it," said Khaira. "If one thinks that whatever has happened in Delhi could suddenly happen in Punjab, it does not appear so because their conduct towards the state had not been sincere," Khaira said. The former AAP leader said the circumstances in Punjab were different from the national capital, which was "flush with funds and has got huge revenue". "If one says they could win the Punjab polls by improving conditions of hospitals and schoolsPunjab has complicated and multifarious political issues," he said. "They must have dealt with Delhi differently but they lost a golden opportunity in the 2017 Punjab assembly elections. It was a rare opportunity which they lost it and won just 20 seats," said Khaira, claiming that the party didn't go for course correction. "The party never bothered to review the poll results and fixed the responsibility," alleged Khaira. Khaira, who had joined AAP in 2015, was removed from the post of the leader of the opposition in the state assembly in July 2018. Six months later, he quit AAP and floated his Punjab Ekta Party. He had resigned as the MLA in April last year and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda, which he failed to win. AAP had won four Lok Sabha seats in Punjab in the 2014 polls and one in the 2019 elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 12:45pm. President Buhari, aboard the BBJ from Addis Ababa just landed in Maiduguri. He is paying a sympathy visit to the government and people of Borno following the recent horrific incident in which BH terrorists killed several travelers, it read. WASHINGTON An emboldened President Donald Trump has set his sights on restructuring the more than $1 trillion U.S. trade relationship with the European Union, raising the spectre of another major trade war as the global economy slows and he seeks re-election. Trump, who recently signed a Phase 1 trade deal that cooled a bitter trade war with China, has called the EU's position on trade "worse than China" and threatened to impose tariffs on its cars and other products. European officials say they're willing to work with Trump to address some irritants in the relationship, but they warn that they'll retaliate against any U.S. efforts to punish the trading bloc. "In the economic realm, we're evenly matched. And we will defend ourselves," Norbert Roettgen, a senior German conservative lawmaker, said on Friday after meetings with White House and State Department officials. "We will respond to U.S. tariffs, and we know how to structure them to be effective." On Friday, two days after Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate, the United States ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, said he was being recalled from his post, making the path of any future negotiations even more uncertain. Sondland had testified during the impeachment inquiry in the U.S. House of Representatives. The near-term outcome may be a "mini-deal" like the Phase 1 agreement signed with Beijing last month that doesn't solve bedrock issues but will allow both sides to declare a truce, trade experts say. DISPUTES AND DEFICITS The United States, the world's largest importer, and the 27-member block EU face entrenched conflicts over airline subsidies, agricultural trade barriers, and EU plans to tax big U.S. digital companies, among other issues. The EU was the top U.S. export market in 2018, before the United Kingdom left the bloc, led by aerospace products and computers. After scotching a free-trade agreement with Europe, the Trump administration is focused on shrinking its growing deficit in goods, which hit a record $178 billion in 2019. Story continues "That cant continue," United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer said in December. In December, the World Trade Organization's appellate body, which acts as a supreme court for international trade disputes, became paralysed after the Trump administration repeatedly blocked the appointment of new judges. The White House and Brussels are essentially without an arbitrator, at a time when EU officials say Trump appears strengthened by his acquittal in the impeachment process, and has amped up his polarizing rhetoric. "We have allies. We have enemies. Sometimes the allies are enemies, but we just dont know it," Trump said at a prayer breakfast in Washington last week, remarks that have put European officials on edge. After a positive first meeting between Trump and the new leader of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January, Trump, in a surprise move, expanded steel tariffs first put in place in 2018. EU officials say they are trying to move the relationship forward in a "transactional" manner. Tomas Baert, head of trade and agriculture for the EU's delegation in Washington, said on Friday that EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan will travel to Washington monthly to try to work out a limited deal "that is tweetable." Such a deal would allow Trump "to say that we went from the worst trade relationship to the best relationship," Baert said. That doesn't mean, however, that Europe will be consuming "chlorinated chicken," he said, or buying genetically modified agricultural products, referring to U.S. practices shunned in Europe. TARIFF THREAT LOOMS The Trump administration, which has pursued an "America First" agenda aimed at rebalancing global trade flows in favour of the United States, has threatened to levy 25% tariffs on foreign cars and parts from Europe. On Friday, top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said the Trump administration had temporarily suspended its plans to tax European auto imports, "while we work through a good-faith effort with respect to the possibility of an EU trade deal." But Baert believes the tariff threat will continue, because Trump "is a tariff man and that's the language that he speaks." Any U.S. tariffs will be met with retaliation, Baert emphasized. "We're not offering our other cheek if we are going to be hit on one of them," he said. PEARS FOR SEAFOOD A scaled-down deal could include enhanced market access for European apples and pears, on one hand, and U.S. seafood, on the other. Food safety standards that have kept many farm goods out of the European market are also on the table, according to several sources briefed on talks. "It would be tricky to do something comprehensive, but a mini-deal is certainly on the table," said Miriam Sapiro, a former acting U.S. Trade Representative in the Obama administration and now the co-head of Sard Verbinnen's Washington office. "I think it's doable and it's realistic if both sides will stay focused on areas of convergence." Trump's concern about the Nov. 3 U.S. election offers some promise for a modest agreement, Germany's Roettgen said. "For Trump, it's important that he can sell a trade deal to voters, and that's an opportunity for us to be able to achieve something," he said. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> Manilas top diplomat says termination notice was delivered to the US Embassy and will take effect after 180 days. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte formally terminated on Tuesday the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, delivering on threats to downgrade an alliance important to US interests. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said in a social media post that Manilas notice of termination was received by the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Manila. The termination will take effect after 180 days unless both sides agree to keep it. Locsin signed the notice on the order of Duterte, who has often criticised US security policies, while praising those of China and Russia despite the Philippine militarys close historic ties with its American counterpart. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the decision unfortunate and said it would be a move in the wrong direction at a time when Washington and its allies were trying to press China to abide by international rules of order in Asia. Duterte, who has clashed with the US over several issues, decided to pull the plug to enable the Philippines to be more independent in its relations with other countries, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said. The president will not entertain any initiative coming from the US government to salvage the VFA, neither will he accept any official invitation to visit the United States, Panelo said. The decision, sparked by the revocation of a US visa held by a former police chief who led Dutertes bloody war on drugs, could complicate US military interests in the Asia-Pacific region as Chinas ambitions rise. It would also limit Philippine access to US training and expertise in tackling armed groups in the southern island of Mindanao, natural disasters and maritime security threats. Assault on sovereignty, judicial system Panelo said Dutertes decision was a consequence of US legislative and executive actions that bordered on assaulting our sovereignty and disrespecting our judicial system. Given the importance of the alliance with the Philippines in broader US strategy, Washington hopes the decision can be reversed or delayed. Esper told reporters travelling with him to Brussels for a NATO meeting he only received notification of the move late on Monday. We have to digest it. We have to work through the policy angles, the military angles. Im going to hear from my commanders. But in my view, its unfortunate that they would make this move, he said. While he said he did not think the step was necessarily tied to China, it was a move in the wrong direction as we both bilaterally with the Philippines and collectively with a number of other partners and allies in the region are trying to say to the Chinese: You must obey the international rules of order . The VFA is important to the overall US-Philippines alliance and sets out rules for US soldiers to operate in the Philippines. Ironclad ties It underpins what Washington has called an ironclad relationship despite Dutertes complaints about US hypocrisy, ill treatment and ageing weapons. Duterte says the US uses the pacts to conduct clandestine activities such as spying and nuclear weapons stockpiling, which he says risk making the Philippines a target for Chinese aggression. Some Filipino senators sought to block Dutertes move soon after news of it broke, arguing that without Senate approval he had no right to unilaterally scrap international pacts it had ratified. We must have a say on this important matter, said Senator Richard Gordon. Some legislators are concerned that without the VFA, two other pacts would be irrelevant, namely the 2014 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement made under the Obama administration, and a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty. Supporters of the agreements argue they have deterred Chinese militarisation in the South China Sea while $1.3bn of US defence assistance since 1998 has been vital in boosting the capabilities of under-resourced Philippine forces. Philippine nationalists, however, say the US did nothing to stop China building islands in the South China Sea equipped with missiles and say the VFA is tilted in favour of the Americans, including the granting of immunity from prosecution for US servicemen. Also made in Milan, the Menta is based on the same recipe of more than 27 herbs and botanicals, but tastes sweeter, and is way heavier on the peppermint. The company created it in response to drinkers adding mint syrup to their fernet-and-colas back in the 60s. Still classified as an amaro like its elder, it can be taken neat or in highballs, but is very friendly over crushed ice, as a minty, mentholated, 60-proof adult snow cone. Following the rising cases of suicide in Nigeria, researchers at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, are currently working on a mobile application to predict individuals who may be prone to committing suicide. This is one of the many innovations coming out of the universitys International Centre of Excellence in Information Communication Technology (ICT) otherwise regarded as OAU ICT Park. In his presentation at an ongoing research conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, the centres director, Adesola Aderounmu, said the application is being developed by an undergraduate student who is currently undergoing mentorship at the research hub on the campus. Software He explained the importance of the software to halting the dangerous drift in the countrys mental health statistics. The app, when completed, he added, would only require the information of its users uploaded and would determine if the person may likely plan to commit suicide in the nearest future or their minds are stable to handle any shock. Mr Aderounmu, a professor, noted that the guidance and counselling units set up, especially on campuses, cannot achieve better results simply because only those who make themselves available for counselling could be helped. He said; One of these young researchers is working on a product that will predict whether a student is going mad or not. You know that on campuses, in particular, you wouldnt know if something is wrong with anyone or not. In the recent time, there have been several cases of students committing suicide and we have these guidance and counselling units but students dont go there. So how will these centres know if they have challenges or not? Shocking statistics According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 800,000 people die every year globally through suicide. Nigeria, according to the world body, is ranked 67th globally based on the death statistics. She also ranks first in West Africa sub-region. READ ALSO: Suicide and the rising agony of Nigerians Ndueso Uno, a medical sociologist and chief operating officer of Ikang Relief Services Network, once wrote in his article published by PREMIUM TIMES and titled; Suicide and the rising agony of Nigerians, that the number of deaths directly or indirectly linked to mental disorder could double those being recorded from either the most dreaded HIV-AIDS or Tuberculosis, and even malaria that has remained an untamed tormentor-in-chief of many households across Nigeria. According to reports, in 2019, an average of five suicide cases got reported in the dailies with many not reported due largely to familys fear for stigma associated with such deaths. Meanwhile, a 2001 WHO report on the global challenge is said to have lamented lack of adequate access to treatment for the mentally infirm by many developing nations, including Nigeria. The report reads in part; Constant exposure to severely stressful events, dangerous living conditions, exploitation, and poor health in general all contribute to the greater vulnerability of the poor. The lack of access to affordable treatment makes the course of the illness more severe and debilitating, leading to a vicious circle of poverty and mental health disorders that is rarely broken. The report, however, says nations should de-emphasise focusing on traditional mental health institutions but focus on community care alternatives. Such institutions (formal mental health facilities) lead to a loss of social skills, excessive restriction, human rights violations, dependency, and reduced opportunities for rehabilitation. Countries should move towards setting up community care alternatives in a planned manner, ensuring that such alternatives are in place even as institutions are being phased out, the global body stated. Africas Silicon Valley With its expansive ICT park that is packed with facilities, and already registered five spinoff companies, Mr Aderounmu said in the next four years or thereabouts, OAUs centre will rank the biggest innovative hub on the continent of Africa, and similar to the Stanford Universitys Silicon Valley. Computers used to illustrate the story. The Silicon Valley, which is home to Yahoo!, Google, Hewlett-Packard, also houses many other cutting-edge companies founded by the alumni of Stanford University and its faculty. This, according to the professor, is the dream of the university, and with the achievements already recorded, and grants accessed, the institution is on its way to stardom. He said: Something like Silicon Valley is actually the final destination we target. At the ICT Park located within the campus were trying to build the capacity of our younger generation. We are also looking at spinoffs. As I speak, we have about five registered companies with spinoffs. Im sure that in another three to four years now, were going to be competing with Stanford. Come to the environment and see for yourself. Through the World Bank, we have already established very solid foundation and a lot of facilities where we have the right environment for the researchers and our students, in particular, to work. Remember OAU was the first to bring internet to university in Nigeria in 1995 with the support of ICTP in Italy. Up till 2003, the ICTP support was still on. We later got a grant under Carnegie Foundation to do five major projects, one of them being the ICT project. What we tried to do at the time was to build the capacity of the park and provide ICT infrastructure, so that lecturers and students have 24 hours access to the internet. After the Carnegie, we got other little grants from HP which enabled us to set up a research lab to develop applications that can be used by HP. He said the university later got additional grants from British Council, and that all the efforts led to a huge sum of 500,000 dollars granted it by the World Bank. We moved on to getting the centre of excellence grant to set up a national center of excellence in engineering, which today has trained a total of 37 regional students from neighbouring countries as part of the conditions for sustainability, he added. Konga hijacked our student researchers Don The don, who noted that the popular Jobberman platform is a product of the centres alumnus, also revealed how his team peopled by undergraduates working on a particular application were poached by a commercial site, Konga. Advertisements The boys, who were just in 200 level under tutelage at the centre, were working on a project which got the attention of Konga. The head of the team just came to me one day that his mother had been sick and that he would have to abandon his programme and relocate back to Lagos to take care of the mum. All efforts to convince him to stay back proved abortive, and we said goodbye. Surprisingly, the boy had been offered a job of monthly pay of N800,000 by Konga and he didnt know how to tell me. Months after, five other members of the team said they were deferring their programmes. They all left to join the team lead on a salary of N400,000 monthly. But we now have a rule of engagement in place to guide against such occurrences in future. Other innovations Meanwhile the director listed other projects being executed by the five registered spinoff companies. These include a software that detects activities of its free internet users, which he noted is now sold to a financial institutions. We have got many other projects which we will not like to mention for security reasons but I can assure you that our next target is to build the worlds fastest processor in our efforts to make globally competitive mobile phones, he said. Mr Aderounmu further added that in the areas of health, insecurity and governance, various teams are working on different projects as solutions. He added that hardware production is no longer a big deal to his team, saying in partnership with an unnamed company, OAU now produces tabs and in the process of moving to commercial quantity. About seven other spinoffs are in the pipeline for registration with the corporate affairs commission with the companies currently being managed by the students. There are some with projected annual income of N120 million, some at N50 million, among others. But the ultimate target is to get to a level where university funding will largely come from these innovations, he said. A Florida man who was arrested for allegedly driving through a Republican voter registration tent told police he dislikes President Trump and felt like someone had to take a stand, according to an arrest report filed in court papers. Timm's booking photo. | Jacksonville Sheriffs Office Gregory Timm, 27, has been charged with driving with a suspended license, two counts of aggravated assault against a person 65 years or older, and criminal mischief. The report said no drugs and alcohol were involved. The incident happened in the early afternoon of Feb. 8 in a parking lot in Jacksonville, Florida. The victims Nina Williams, 72, and Liura Collins, 65 told police that a car accelerated towards them and knocked over several chairs, tables and a tent, according to the report. No one was hurt. Collins and Williams also told police that the suspect got out of the car afterwards, took a photo, flipped them off, and left. Police located Timm after receiving a tip about the location of his vehicle. According to the report, Timm told police that someone had to take a stand when asked about the incident. He said that he had gone to Walmart to get food, noticed the tent and, per the arrest report, then showed police cell phone video of him driving at it. He also told police that he disliked Trump a statement which a partially redacted version of the arrest report filed with the Duval County Clerk of Courts appears to list as a potential motivation for the incident. (Reached for comment, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office did not offer any further clarification.) Police had not previously identified political animus as a potential factor, but the Duval County GOP issued a statement on Twitter on Feb. 8. We are outraged by this senseless act of violence toward our great volunteers, Duval GOP Chairman Dean Black said in the statement. The Republican Party of Duval County will not be intimidated by these cowards and we will not be silenced. Story continues We are outraged by this senseless act of violence toward our great volunteers, said Duval GOP Chairman Dean Black. The Republican Party of Duval County will not be intimidated by these cowards and we will not be silenced. Duval County GOP (@DuvalGOP) February 8, 2020 Duval County is a swing district that narrowly went for President Trump in 2016. Republican Party Chairman Ronna McDaniel also tweeted about the incident on Feb. 8, writing, These unprovoked, senseless attacks on @realDonaldTrumps supporters need to end. Actor Jussie Smollett leaves court after charges against him were dropped by state prosecutors in Chicago, Illinois, March 26, 2019. Actor Jussie Smollett is once again facing charges in Chicago in connection with a January 2019 police report in which he claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime. Smollett was indicted by a grand jury on six disorderly conduct charges Tuesday, according to the office of Special Prosecutor Dan Webb. The 37-year-old actor is already facing a $130,000 lawsuit by the city of Chicago, the cost of the resources police and prosecutors claim it took to investigate Smollett's false charge. "A Cook County grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Jussie Smollett with making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime," the office said in a statement Tuesday. The former "Empire" star told police in January 2019 that he was attacked by two men who hurled racial and homophobic slurs at him and wrapped a rope around his neck at about 2 a.m. in the upscale neighborhood of Streeterville. Chicago police initially said they were looking into the attack as an alleged hate crime, but were unable to find any video evidence of the incident. After police interviewed two persons of interest in the case, Nigerian brothers Ola and Abel Osundairo, authorities shifted the investigation into whether the actor paid the brothers to stage an assault. In February of last year, Smollett was charged with felony disorderly conduct for the allegedly false report he made with the police. Former Chicago police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson accused the actor of staging the attack on himself in order to "promote his career." Police said Smollett paid the Osundairo brothers $3,500 to orchestrate the attack. A grand jury indicted Smollett in March on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report but all charges were unexpectedly dropped just weeks later, angering police and some city officials. A Cook County judge appointed Webb as the special prosecutor in the case in August. The statement from Webb's office said that several factors went into the decision to charge Smollett again, including the extensive nature of the allegedly false police reports and the resources spent by the police department. The special prosecutor's office also said its team "obtained sufficient factual evidence to determine that it disagrees" with the resolution to drop the charges by the Cook County State Attorney's Office in exchange for Smollett forfeiting his bond and 15 hours of community service. "The CCSAO decision-makers overseeing the Smollett resolution decision have not identified any new evidence they learned of between the time of indictment and dismissal of the indictment that changed their view that the evidence against Mr. Smollett was strong," the statement read. Smollett has denied making up the attack and is countersuing the city of Chicago. A representative for Smollett did not immediately provide a comment to NBC News BOSTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thought Industries , the world's leading B2B customer training platform provider, has been ranked as the number one B2B customer training platform for 2020 by The Craig Weiss Group, LLC. Ranked by Craig Weiss Group as a Top 10 learning system since 2018, the Thought Industries platform has differentiated itself in the extended enterprise training market with blended learning experiences that accelerate time-to-value and reduce churn for software clients, and increase engagement and monetization for businesses that primarily focus on selling training content. "Thought Industries is one of my 'systems to watch for 2020' as there is a lot to love, but also a lot of options to take the system to an even higher level," said Craig Weiss, CEO, The Craig Weiss Group. "I love this system, that's all I can say." The Craig Weiss Group's ranking is based on extensive, unbiased independent evaluation criteria, including vendor viability, key functionality, metrics and data visualization, user experience and interface, as well as interviews and demos. Thought Industries was lauded for its e-commerce capabilities, learner and "elite" administration user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX), "outstanding" data and data visualization, and strong learner and administration functionality. Of particular note is the ability to create and easily manage multiple cohorts of learners with unique training needs under a single client through the Panorama feature. "It was an honor that Craig opened his rankings to other types of learning systems in 2018 in part due to our focus on customer training and selling training," said Barry Kelly, CEO, Thought Industries. "Now to be named the number one business-to-business customer training platform two years later is a fantastic validation of our continued commitment and focus on this segment of the market." About Craig Weiss Craig Weiss is the CEO and lead analyst for The Craig Weiss Group, which provides analyst, advisory and consulting services to buyers and vendors in the e-learning industry. He is an advisory board member for The Moment, a firm based in the United Kingdom and is on an advisory board for an e-learning startup in Scotland. He has been identified as one of the most influential people in the world for e-learning and the most influential in the world for learning systems. Craig writes the E-Learning 24/7 blog, which is read weekly in 174 countries, territories and colonial territories. Additionally, he has written for numerous publications and speaks regularly at conferences and events around the world. About Thought Industries Thought Industries powers the business of learning by providing the world's leading B2B customer training platform. The company was founded in 2014 around the core belief that online learning experiences should be modern, intuitive, engaging, and scalable. Today, our growing team builds and maintains the only learning solution with completely native tools and integrations that drive higher engagement, learner proficiency, and retention rates for our customers. Headquartered in Boston, Thought Industries has offices across North America and Europe. Thought Industries is owned by San Francisco-based Luminate Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.thoughtindustries.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . SOURCE Thought Industries Related Links www.thoughtindustries.com Jordan Fisher is quickly cementing himself as one of Netflix's biggest heartthrobs, and we couldn't be more excited. After starring as the geeky and adorable Peter Ambrose in P.S. I Still Love You last year, the 26-year-old is showing a whole new side of himself with his role in Work It. Let's just say, he has smooth moves on and off the dance floor! While his character has incredible chemistry with Sabrina Carpenter's character, in real life, Jordan is happily engaged . In fact, his love story is just as sweet as a romantic comedy. Jordan first met his fiancee, Ellie Woods, when he was only 13 years old. "We were best friends growing up," Jordan told People of his childhood sweetheart. In 2017, their friendship turned into something more, and they've been together ever since. In May 2019, Jordan proposed at her parents' beach house in their hometown of Birmingham, AL. If their sweet love story doesn't make your heart melt, their cute pictures together definitely will. Related: Single or Taken? A Breakdown of the Work It Cast's Current Relationship Statuses The dismissed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nechita-Adrian Oros, on the occasion of a meeting he had with the Ambassador of the Qatar state to Bucharest, Abdulla Nasser A. Alhemaidi, said the Romanian sheep breeders have a major interest in establishing sustainable partnerships for sheep export and also relayed their request that the state of Qatar should accept the replacement of live animal exports with frozen meat, during the summer, especially when there is heat outside, according to European recommendations. According to a press statement of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR), the dismissed minister Nechita-Adrian Oros on Wednesday received the Ambassador of Qatar to Bucharest, Abdulla Nasser A. Alhemaidi, the two officials discussing bilateral cooperation and strengthening trade relations.The Qatari Ambassador said agriculture represents one of the important areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as his state is interested in both the cereals coming from Romania and the import of sheep from our country. Thus, Abdulla Nasser A. Alhemaidi expressed his desire to see more Romanian agri-food products on the Qatar market, for he appreciates their quality, referring especially to oil, flour and corn.During the talks, Adrian Oros highlighted the long tradition of the trade and cooperation relations between Romania and the State of Qatar, especially in the field of export of cereals and live animals, and he mentioned the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the cooperation in the agricultural field between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment of the State of Qatar, signed in November 2018, according to the same press statement."The Romanian official said there is a major interest on the part of the sheep breeders in Romania to establish sustainable partnerships for the export of sheep. In this respect, the Minister proposed the Ambassador to encourage and support businessmen from Qatar to establish direct contacts with the sheep breeders' associations in Romania in order to develop viable partnerships with mutual benefits. Moreover, Adrian Oros also relayed the sheep breeders' request that the state of Qatar should accept the replacement of live animal exports with frozen meat, during the summer, especially when there is heat outside, according to European recommendations. He also said that the gradual shift from live animal trade to the frozen meat trade will ultimately be reflected in the quality of the meat and will protect animals from all the negative effects of transport in very bad weather conditions. This proposal was approved by the Qatari side, the Ambassador also presenting an alternative to it, namely the one for air transport, for the live animals," reads the same release.At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Alhemaidi renewed the invitation, accepted by the Romanian side, to participate in the International Agriculture Fair AGRITEQ 2020, which will be held in Doha, from March 17-20, 2020."Minister Adrian Oros stressed that this will be an opportunity to connect the representatives of large breeders' associations with the businessmen in Qatar, to take concrete steps in the collaboration between the two states," the same statement said. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Share price of multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis India fell over 2 percent intraday on February 12 after the company reported a 39.93 percent decline in its net profit to Rs 7.73 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 12.87 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Revenue from operations of the company stood at Rs 117.46 crore for the quarter under consideration. It was Rs 135.62 crore for the same period year-ago. The stock witnessed a spurt in volume by more than 1.24 times and was trading with volumes of 10,070 shares, compared to its five day average of 9,685 shares, an increase of 3.98 percent. The stock has seen a steady decline in the last one month and was quoting at Rs 643, down Rs 17.50, or 2.6 percent at 10:58 hrs. It has touched an intraday high of Rs 650 and an intraday low of Rs 636. Novartis on February 11 said it has won fast-track US regulatory review for capmatinib in a hard-to-treat form of lung cancer. Capmatinib is a MET inhibitor being evaluated as a treatment for first-line and previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic MET exon 14 skipping (METex14) mutated non-small cell lung cancer, Reuters reported. If approved, capmatinib will be the first therapy to specifically target METex14 mutated advanced lung cancer, a type of lung cancer with a particularly poor prognosis, Novartis said in a statement. Sooner or later, the Democrats decades-long march to the left was bound to end in the explicit embrace of socialism. That moment may now have arrived. A self-described socialist, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, has won the New Hampshire primary after getting the most votes in Iowas shambolic caucuses. Sanders has strong supporters nationwide cadres, you might call them and enough money to go the distance. Socialism remains unpopular, for very good reason, in the United States, and it is least popular among those Americans who saw what it meant in the era when the senator took up the cause. They learned something from the worlds experience even if he did not. Many Democrats remain dubious about socialism. In New Hampshire, Sanders got only a quarter of the vote while the relatively moderate candidates (Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar) combined to get a majority among them. Except, of course, that they did not combine, and show no sign of doing so. And another claimant for the not-Sanders position in the primary, Michael Bloomberg, decided to skip New Hampshire. A dedicated core of Sanders supporters could keep forming a plurality and win the most delegates for Sanders. Because Sanders had a strong showing in the primary four years ago, this possibility startles us less, perhaps, than it should. Americas rejection of socialism has made it exceptional among advanced nations. For the countrys oldest political party to nominate a proud supporter of it would be a major change for the worse. Sanders has for decades praised left-wing authoritarian dictators, especially in Latin America, so much so that it is fair to question the importance of the adjective in his label of democratic socialism. His agenda involves federal spending increases of a fantastic $100 trillion, according to a critic who, unlike the senator, has thought it worthwhile to add it all up. And he has the ideologues habit of wishing away aspects of reality that are inconvenient for him. Thus our economy, with falling poverty rates and rising wages, is in his mind failing; and the country will save money by giving more lavish health benefits to a larger number of people. Story continues The Sanders phenomenon thus raises two urgent questions: Will the Democratic Party decide to walk off a cliff? And will it manage to get Americans to come along for the trip? More from National Review Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on its victory in the 2020 Delhi assembly elections on Tuesday, prompting Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to thank him at the end of a high-stakes election process marked by bitter campaigning. Congratulations to AAP and Shri Arvind Kejriwal Ji for the victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections. Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi, the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. And within minutes, Kejriwal, who is also the AAP convener, responded to PM Modi, tweeting: Thank u so much sir. I look forward to working closely with [the] Centre to make our capital city into a truly world class city. In line with exit poll projections, the AAP won the assembly elections with a clear majority of 62 seats out of a total 70 assembly constituencies in the city-state. The BJP managed to win eight, a slight improvement from the three seats it won in the 2015 Delhi assembly elections. Earlier in the day, BJP president JP Nadda said that the BJP accepted the mandate given by the people of Delhi, adding that the party will play the role of a constructive opposition. All the workers worked tirelessly in this election and have been engaged in elections day and night. Heartfelt greetings and thanks to all the workers, he tweeted. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also congratulated the AAP. My best wishes & congratulations to Mr Kejriwal and the AAP on winning the Delhi Assembly elections, he said on Tuesday. The Congress drew a blank in the election held on February 8, with no improvement in its performance from the 2015 polls. Leaders across party lines applauded the AAPs victory, saying the result ensured a defeat of divisive politics and sent a message that people vote for development and prosperity. Leaders playing on faith through hate speech & divisive politics should take a cue, as only those who deliver on their promises are rewarded, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted. Addressing a rally in Bankura district, Banerjee said that the BJP was getting a befitting reply from the people of the Capital, and that the party will meet a similar fate in the 2021 Bengal election. Only development initiatives will click [with people], [and] CAA, NRC and NPR will be rejected, she said, referring to protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, too, applauded AAPs resounding victory. Let this victory be a harbinger for pro-people and inclusive politics in our country, he tweeted. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams Stalin said the results in Delhi were a clear vindication that development trumps communal politics. Former BJP ally and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena criticised the BJP, and said that the country will be run by Jan Ki Baat, not Mann Ki Baat, referring to the popular radio address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Biju Janata Dal and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik,Telugu Desam Partys Chandrababu Naidu, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar were among others who congratulated Kejriwal. A former monk at England's 'Catholic Eton' boarding school who continued to abuse young boys after admitting having sexual contact with a pupil has been jailed for more than 20 years. Peter Turner, 80, sexually abused two boys after he was forced to leave Ampleforth College, in North Yorkshire, and sent away to work in a parish in Workington, Cumbria. He was sentenced to 20 years 10 months at York Crown Court today after admitting to a string of sexual offences committed more than 30 years ago against three boys aged between nine and 12. Turner, who was previously known as Father Gregory Carroll, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault, two counts of buggery and one count of gross indecency with a child on Tuesday. Peter Turner, 80, sexually abused two boys after he was forced to leave Ampleforth College, in North Yorkshire, and sent away to work in a parish in Workington, Cumbria The 80-year-old paedophile was remanded in custody yesterday ahead of today's sentencing He served another jail sentence in 2005 after he admitted offences against 10 pupils at Ampleforth between 1979 and 1987. Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, said: 'You have brought evil into this world when, by your calling, you should have brought hope, help and succour.' The judge told Turner: 'You were a priest at Ampleforth boarding school.' He continued: 'It's a religious school and, no doubt, because of that, that's a comfort to parents because they will be thinking that they are entrusting the care of their child to men of God, instead, in your case it was to a man of evil.' The court heard emotional victim impact statements from the three men in which they spoke about the effect Turner's abuse has had on their lives. After sending Turner to the cells, Judge Morris said: 'All of them have talked about their shame. Turner was moved from Ampleforth College, pictured, after he admitted to church authorities that he had been abusing boys between 1979 and 1987. He later abused two boys at the parish in Workington, Cumbria, where he had been moved by the church 'They have nothing to be ashamed of, they carry no guilt. 'I hope this helps, in some way, to put them at peace.' The court heard Turner was ordained as a priest in 1969 and went on to teach at Ampleforth in the late 70s and early 80s, where he was known as Father Gregory Carroll. Turner was sent to work in a parish in Workington in 1987 after confessing to church authorities about having sexual contact with a pupil at Ampleforth. He was recalled from Workington and confined to the monastery at Ampleforth after the 2001 publication of the Nolan Report on the problem of clerical child abuse. Turner was jailed for four years in September 2005 after he admitted offences against 10 pupils at the school between 1979 and 1987. The sentence was later reduced by 12 months. Mitigating, Nicola Gatto told the court Turner had 'limited family' support after his previous conviction. Ms Gatto said: 'It takes a degree of courage to admit what are truly horrific offences. 'What better display of remorse is there than a guilty plea.' She added that Turner had described himself as 'no better than a worm' in a letter of apology. Turner, pictured arriving at York Crown Court yesterday, was due to go on trial but entered guilty pleas to 14 charges North Yorkshire Police's Non-Recent Abuse Investigation Team began a new investigation into Peter Turner in 2018 when the victim from Ampleforth College came forward to make a complaint. He was already well-known to the police, then known as Father Gregory Carroll, after being convicted of non-recent child abuse in 2005 relating to his time as a monk at Ampleforth College and Abbey. Following an extensive investigation led by Detective Sargeant Graeme Bevington, Turner was charged with more than 20 offences in March 2019. DS Bevington said: 'Peter Turner, or Father Gregory Carroll as he was previously known when he was a monk at Ampleforth College and Abbey, is clearly a very depraved individual who targeted these vulnerable young boys for his own sexual gratification more than 30 years ago. 'The passage of time did not ease the pain and anguish suffered by his victims. 'I truly hope their bravery in coming forward to the police and the positive outcome secured at court, provides them with some comfort knowing that justice has been served against this vile man.' DS Bevington added: 'This case proves yet again that it is never too late to report non-recent sexual abuse and to achieve justice.' An NSPCC spokesperson said: 'Turner abused positions of trust and influence to commit horrendous assaults against a string of boys who should have been safe in their school and church environments. 'Every child deserves a happy and safe childhood, and Turner robbed these boys of that and left them with emotional and mental scars which could affect them forever. They have showed remarkable courage, and proved the importance of speaking out no matter when abuse happened or who the perpetrator is.' Today a spokesperson for Ampleforth College said: 'The abuse of children goes against everything we stand for as a school and we know that the victims are likely to suffer terribly as a consequence of these crimes. 'We are devastated that a member of the monastic community can have abused our pupils in this way. 'Under its present leadership the school has transformed its safeguarding procedures and protocols, and we offer the high standards of care to our students that is expected in a boarding school today.' The modern digital workspace is here for you: Citrix Workspace As everyday consumers, our world is digitally connected, and we have every device, app, and bit of information at our fingertips at all times. The same principle should ring true at work. Jump into this white paper to learn how Citrix Workspace can help bridge the gap between your employees out-of-office digital experiences and their in-office ones through features like single sign-on, a cloud-based central dashboard, and more. A $2.5 million agreement between the University of North Carolina and a pro-Confederacy group that angered students and faculty has been nullified, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. On Wednesday, the Orange County, North Carolina, Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour ruled that the Sons of Confederate Veterans had no standing to sue the states university system over Silent Sam, the statue of a Confederate soldier at the center of the dispute. Under the now-invalidated agreement, the university system had agreed to pay $2.5 million to a trust under the control of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to preserve and display Silent Sam somewhere outside its original location on the Chapel Hill campus. The Sons of Confederate Veterans could use the money to build a facility dedicated just to housing Silent Sam under the agreements terms. According to the News & Observer, the UNC system had struck that deal before the group had moved to file a lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many students and faculty expressed outrage at the settlement because it allowed for the preservation of a symbol of white supremacy and enriched a group known for pushing a Lost Cause rewriting of Civil War history. Some large donors pulled their donations to the university. Students and faculty marched in protest and complained that the universitys decision had placed students and others on campus in danger. Many also complained about the secretive conditions under which the deal was struck. According to the News & Observer, the Sons of Confederate Veterans had first reached out to the UNC system to threaten legal action to force the monument to be kept on campus. The group then offered to erect the monument elsewhere if the university would agree to pay for the transportation, repair, maintenance, security, and public display of the monument. The group asked for $5 million, and 19 out of the 20 board members at that meeting agreed (the one dissenting vote came from a man who had called for the statue to be returned to its place on campus). Eventually, that sum was reduced to $2.5 million. According to ABC 11, some of that money has already been used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A small group of students and faculty then tried to challenge the deal in court, and nearly 100 alumni and donors filed a brief arguing that the settlement should be abandoned. The brief argued that the deal seriously damages the reputation of the University, which should be committed to historical truth and opposed to modern-day white supremacy. UNC had argued that striking the deal was the safest way to ensure that the statue was removed from its campus and therefore guarantee student safety. Protesters tore down Silent Sam in 2018, a year after neo-Nazi, neo-Confederate, and other far-right protesters clashed with counterprotesters at a violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the proposed removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The rally led to the death of counterprotester Heather Heyer and inflamed the conflict over Confederate symbols that began in 2015 with the killing of nine black worshipers at a church in South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After its toppling, UNC placed the statue in storage. A few months later, it announced a plan to erect a $5.3 million history and education center to house the statue but backed down from the plan after further protests. The universitys chancellor then resigned, ordering the removal of the statues pedestal on her way out. Advertisement Advertisement The school remained silent on its plan for the statuestudents complained that the university never held a public meeting to discuss optionsuntil November, when it struck its deal with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The deal also included a $74,999 payment ($1 short of the threshold to require approval from the states attorney general office) so that the group will not display any Confederate flags, banners, or signs before, after, or in conjunction with any group event, meeting, or ceremony on the campus of or property controlled by the UNC System for five years. Advertisement Advertisement Its not clear what will happen to the statue now. A 2015 state law banned the removal of Confederate monuments from public property, and lawyers representing UNC have said that scrapping the settlement might mean that the system would be legally obliged to return the statue to its original location. (Its also possible the university system may try to work out another deal in which the statue is moved to a location off campusor even a less prominent spot on campusas a compromise between full removal and full reinstallation.) But since that law was passed, Winston-Salem and Chatham County have removed statues. The United Daughters of the Confederacy, a Lost Cause Confederate organization that was responsible for the erection of many of the states statues in the first place, sued. (Historians have noted that Confederate monuments were typically constructed during times of racial unrest or violence. The United Daughters of the Confederacy gave Silent Sam to UNC in 1913, during the implementation of Jim Crow laws and a spate of white violence.) But in those cases, judges noted both the murkiness of ownership issues and the matter of public safety in rejecting the challenges from the United Daughters of the Confederacy, indicating that the courts are not guaranteed to always find the 2015 law applicable. Rights groups pushed Wednesday for the swift handover of Sudan's ousted strongman Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court after the country's new authorities pledged to bring him to justice for alleged war crimes in Darfur. Top Sudanese officials said Tuesday that the new rulers had agreed with rebel groups to send Bashir and three former aides to The Hague-based court for their role in the conflict in the western Darfur region. "The Sudanese authorities should translate these words into action" and immediately transfer all four, said Amnesty International acting secretary general Julie Verhaar. "Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC over the murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape of hundreds of thousands of people during the conflict in Darfur. "A decision to hand him over to the court would be a welcome step towards justice for victims and their families." The conflict in Darfur, a region the size of France, erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Bashir's then Arab-dominated government, accusing it of economic and political marginalisation. The ICC has charged Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict. Bashir, who is detained in Sudan after being convicted of corruption, denies the allegations. He evaded arrest for more than a decade, travelling overseas in open defiance of the ICC. The court has also indicted three of his former aides, Ahmed Haroon, Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussain and Ali Kushied. 'Beyond time' Bashir and the three others wanted by the ICC "have to go there," Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishay, a member of Sudan's new ruling sovereign council, said on Tuesday. "We agreed that we fully supported the ICC and we agreed... that the four criminals have to be handed over," Taishay said in the South Sudanese capital Juba where a government delegation was meeting rebel groups from Darfur. He did not specify when they would be transferred to The Hague. The United Nations says about 300,000 people have been killed since the Darfur conflict began. By Ashraf Shazly (AFP/File) Rights groups say widespread abuses have taken place in Darfur, where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict began. "Sudanese security forces' widespread attacks on civilians under Bashir's campaign of terror, including pervasive sexual violence as a weapon of war, have had devastating impacts on the lives and livelihoods of their victims," US-based NGO Physicians for Human Rights said in a statement. "It is beyond time that his victims and their families receive justice." Taishay said that the Juba talks had focussed on several mechanisms for achieving peace in Darfur, including the establishment of a special court to investigate crimes in the region. Sudanese government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Salih told reporters on Wednesday that "details of how Bashir and others will be presented in front of the ICC will be discussed with the ICC and armed groups". Economic woes persist The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said the ICC faced a major responsibility ahead. "The Court needs to get this right: it must re-engage with victims and affected communities and publicise its work effectively so that justice is visible to the people affected by the crimes," its president Alice Mogwe said in a statement. Bashir was ousted by the army in a palace coup last April after months of protests against his three decades of iron-fisted rule. He was arrested and later sentenced to two years in a detention centre on corruption charges. Anti-Bashir protesters, residents of Darfur and rebel groups from the region have consistently demanded that he be handed over to the ICC. Years of conflict in Darfur and other regions and the secession of South Sudan in 2011 left the country's economy in a shambles -- the key factor for nationwide protests against Bashir last year. Ten months after his ouster, acute shortages of bread, fuel and foreign currency continue to hamper Sudan's economic revival. Long queues still form at bakeries, and rows of vehicles can be seen outside fuel stations across Khartoum. "Every family is divided these days in a way," said Hassan Ahmed, a private sector employee waiting to fill his car at a fuel station. "Some members are standing in a queue for bread, some for fuel and others for cooking gas. We are suffering a lot." A shocking video reveals how a huge chunk of ice more than three times the size of Paris has broken off one of Earth's most critical ice shelves, Pine Island Glacier (PIG). This enormous frozen river, along with its famed neighbour Thwaites, connects the ocean to mainland Antarctica and is rapidly retreating. Warmer temperatures are taking their toll on the vulnerable glacier which, if it was to collapse, would trigger a global sea level rise of around four feet. The huge chunk of calved ice swiftly broke up into smaller icebergs, dubbed 'piglets'. The Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites have revealed new cracks, or rifts, in the Pine Island Glacier - one of the primary ice arteries in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The two large rifts were first spotted in early 2019 and have each rapidly grown Scientists at Copernicus have, in partnership with ESA, been monitoring the remote glacier for several years via satellites A total of 57 independent images taken over 12 months were blended into a short video by ESA. It reveals how a 120square mile (312 sq km) chunk of ice broke off from the glacier's main body. This is approximately the size of the island Malta, and three times the size of France's capital city, Paris. A series of rifts have been monitored since early 2019 and as the satellites passed over the region it caught the moment they finally fell away. This large piece of ice them fractured into several smaller ones, with one large one iceberg being labelled as B-49. A shocking video reveals how a huge chunk of ice more than three times the size of Paris has broken off one of Earth's most critical ice shelves, Pine Island Glacier (PIG). A total of 57 independent images taken over 12 months was blended into a short video by ESA Adrian Luckman, a satellite imaging glaciologist, shared this image from the satellites on Twitter Mark Drinkwater, senior scientist and cryosphere specialist at ESA said: 'The Copernicus twin Sentinel-1 all-weather satellites have established a porthole through which the public can watch events like this unfold in remote regions around the world. 'What is unsettling is that the daily data stream reveals the dramatic pace at which climate is redefining the face of Antarctica.' Pine Island is Antarctica's most vulnerable glacier and is the single largest contributor to sea level rise of any ice stream in the world. Since 2012, the glacier has been shedding 58 billion tons of ice a year. Pine Island has been tracked for around 30 years and over this time it has seen its shape and position dramatically alter. Calving events such as this one have been seen in 1992, 1995, 2001, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, and now 2020. With each passing calving, the buttressing force of the glacier weakens and threatens to break, increasing the flow of ice from the land to the ocean. The United States Postal Service has apologised and launched an investigation after an employee was accused of shouting speak English to Spanish speaking customers. In Pilsen, Illinois - in a neighbourhood that is home to many immigrants and a building named after Cesar Chavez - a postal service employee has reportedly been turning away customers if they dont speak English. Evelyn Gonzalez, a customer at the post office, told ABCNews7 she saw four instances of the employee refusing service to individuals. Ms Gonzalez wrote about her experience in a Facebook post which gained traction online. With a very loud, bad attitude she would say Speak English, and Im not going to help you, Ms Gonzalez said. Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Show all 8 1 /8 Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Mishawaka, Indiana AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Washington DC AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy New York Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks in Tornillo, Texas alongside the many other US mayors who have called for detained immigrant children to be reunited with their families AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kelle leaves a teddy bear as a gift for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti leave sandals as gifts for detained immigrant children in Tornillo, Texas AP Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy US embassy, Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Families belong together protests over Trump immigration policy San Diego, California EPA The employee would even get angry when other customers would try to help the non-English speaking individuals that had been turned away, according to Ms Gonzalez. I asked the lady a donde quiere, mandar esta paquete? Where do you want to send this package to? The customer said Mexico. [The employee] right away, without hesitation, said No, I cant help you. Im not going to help you, Ms Gonzalez said. The four instances observed by Ms Gonzalez werent the only reported incidents from the post office. Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez investigated the claims further and found several residents who reported similar treatment. The post office in a city like Chicago, a welcoming city, we need to make sure we have the proper services, bilingual staff and that materials are translated in all languages to guarantee good service for all residents, Mr Sigcho-Lopez said. Tim Norman, a United States Postal Service spokesman, confirmed that there were no bilingual clerks at the office in Pilsen and that employees who face language barriers are instructed to use translation tools like Google Translate to help serve customers. This reported incident is being fully investigated and the postal service will take appropriate action, Mr Norman said. I would like to also add that we are actively seeking bilingual employees to work at stations such as Cesar Chavez. The USPS issued a full statement in response to the reports: We were recently made aware of an incident at our Cesar Chavez Post Office last week which involved one of our employees denying service to some of our Spanish speaking customers. We want to sincerely apologise to any and all our valued customers who were affected by these actions and denied service. This reported incident is being fully investigated and the Postal Service will take all appropriate action necessary to improve service to our valued customers. The Postal Service expects all of our employees to treat each other and our customers with dignity and respect and we will work to identify any concerns and make corrections to better serve our customers. Congressman Chuy Garcia filed a complaint against the USPS demanding an investigation into the operations of the office at the Cesar Chavez office. Britain's EG Group is in talks to team up with Macquarie Group in its attempt to acquire Caltex Australia, people familiar with the matter said. EG Group is in discussions with an arm of Macquarie to partner on the potential deal, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. If their bid is successful, EG Group would keep Caltex's main retail business, while Macquarie would take on its refinery unit and some infrastructure assets, the people said. Caltex appears to have two new suitors. Credit:Sasha Woolley Caltex shares rose as much as 1.1 per cent on Wednesday in Sydney, giving it a market value of about $8.3 billion. EG Group, which is one of the world's largest independent gas station and convenience store chains, has been working with financial advisers as it evaluates making an offer for the company, the people said. Bringing in a partner could help boost EG Group's chances as it competes with Canadian convenience giant Alimentation Couche-Tard, which offered to take over Caltex for $8.6 billion last year. While Caltex rejected the bid, Couche-Tard was given access to select non-public information to entice it to sweeten its offer. More than 16,000 people had their DNA tested over two decades as part of the huge net cast by police in an attempt to catch the alleged Claremont serial killer. The scale of the Macro Taskforce investigation was revealed for the first time in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Wednesday as prosecutors asked for the trial of accused man Bradley Edwards to be delayed another day so they could amend three witness statements. The Continental Hotel (now the Claremont Hotel), where Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon were last seen by friends the nights they vanished. The statements relate to three Pathwest forensic scientists who were involved in the testing of some of Ciaras fingernails in 2003 - five years before the state alleges testing of her left thumbnail and middle fingernail uncovered the presence of Mr Edwards DNA profile. During a pre-trial conference on Saturday with scientist Scott Egan it was discovered 400 Pathwest documents had been left out of the trial brief, sparking a three-day adjournment. Indonesia has suffered a number of attacks by groups claiming loyalty to ISIL and is sharply divided on repatriation. Indonesia has said it will not bring home nearly 700 hundred nationals who joined the ISIL (ISIS) group in the Middle East for security reasons but might consider repatriating young children. Security affairs minister Mahfud MD said that some 689 Indonesians including women and children in Syria would not be allowed to return home. Weve decided that the government has to provide security assurance to 267 million Indonesian citizens, the minister said Tuesday, after a meeting with President Joko Widodo who is commonly known as Jokowi, near Jakarta. If these foreign terrorist fighters return home they could become a dangerous new virus, he added. The government would consider repatriating children 10 years old or younger on a case by case basis, he added, without elaborating. Indonesia has suffered a number of attacks by groups claiming loyalty to ISIL and the issue of repatriation has sharply divided the worlds biggest Muslim majority. Jokowi said this week that he was not in favour of bringing back the fighters and their families. Experts say if they were repatriated they would need to be rehabilitated and carefully monitored. If theyre not managed well by the government, there is a possibility theyll be used as proxies by powerful groups that could threaten Indonesia and other countries, said terrorism expert Taufik Andrie. In 2018, a family of suicide bombers from an ISIL-linked group detonated explosives in several churches in the countrys second-largest city Surabaya, killing more than a dozen people. Last year, two people who also claimed ISIL links tried unsuccessfully to kill Indonesias chief security minister, while in November a suicide bomber blew himself up at a busy police station, killing himself and injuring at least a dozen people. WASHINGTON Two Texas Democrats say they will oppose a ban on hydraulic fracturing proposed by some of their Democratic colleagues. U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a freshman Houston Democrat considered one of the most vulnerable members of Congress, called efforts to ban fracking misguided in a lengthy statement issued just hours after Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Darren Soto of Florida introduced a bill to outlaw it. I do not support this bill or any similar proposal to ban fracking, said Fletcher, whose west Houston district includes the energy corridor. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a South Texas Democrat facing a primary challenge from a progressive immigration attorney backed by Ocasio-Cortez, said in a statement to Hearst Newspapers that the oil and gas industry provide more than 108,000 jobs in my region of Texas, and fracking plays a large role at this time. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox These jobs do not only feed our local families, they also feed our local economy and fund our local schools, said Cuellar, one of the most conservative Democrats in the House. He said he supports both conventional and alternative forms of energy, in order to maintain Americas energy independence from foreign sources. I am working in Congress to responsibly transition our economy to alternative forms of energy, without sacrificing American livelihoods or safety, he said. Texas Democrats especially Fletcher face a particularly tricky balancing act on energy and environmental issues as much of their party, including its top presidential contenders, calls for bans to limit oil and gas production upon which much of the state relies. Fletcher in 2018 flipped a seat Republicans had held since the 1960s and is now a top target for the GOP as it seeks to reclaim the district. President Donald Trump on Wednesday endorsed one of her potential challengers, Wesley Hunt, tweeting that he is strong on Crime, the Border, our 2nd Amendment, Trade, Military and Vets. As a representative for the energy capital of the world, I am committed to working with my constituents and my colleagues in Congress to develop smart policy for our energy future that addresses the concerns for our environment and our communities, the reality and urgency of climate change, and the need for clean, reliable energy at home and around the world, Fletcher said. For subscribers: Endangered Texas Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher had an eventful first year Fracking is destroying our land and our water, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. It is wreaking havoc on our communities health. We must do our job to protect our future from the harms caused by the fracking industry. Her bill, a companion to one introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the current front-runner in the 2020 Democratic primary, would ban fracking nationwide by 2025. Fletcher said the ban would negatively impact our national economy, our energy costs, our environment and our efforts to meet energy demand with cleaner, more responsible development in the United States. It would also increase our dependence on foreign energy sources, she said. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the energy challenges and opportunities before us with thoughtful policies that address our challenges and reflect our shared values for a cleaner energy future. ben.wermund@chron.com A second group of foreign envoys reached Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday on a two-day visit, February 12-13, to take stock of the ground situation after the abrogation of Article 370. The delegation has 25 diplomats, including 10 from the European Union (EU), from different countries. The group will visit Baramulla, Srinagar and Jammu where they would meet representatives of the civil society, including youth from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic communities, local business and political leaders, civil administration and representatives of mainstream media. They will also receive a briefing about the development programmes being implemented, get an assessment of the security situation, and witness for themselves the progressive normalisation of the situation. The group comprises of envoys from Afghanistan, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, European Union, France, Germany, Guinea, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Rwanda, Slovak Republic, Tajikistan, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The team reached Srinagar at 11 am and after reaching their hotel took a Shikara ride in Dal Lake. After this, the members went to the hotel back there they are meeting various delegations. They will get information about the situation arising after August 5. They will stay the night in Srinagar and on Thursday go to Jammu where they will meet LG and maybe with some political leaders. India had taken the first batch of 15 envoys on January 9-10. These envoys included from countries of Latin America, Africa, ASEAN and envoy of the US. The demand for statehood, restoration of internet, development dominated the discourse during the envoy's meet with civil society in Srinagar. US had called the visit an important step but raised concern over the detention of political leaders. US state dept's Alice Wells in a tweet had said, "Closely following @USAmbIndia & other foreign diplomats recent trip to Jammu & Kashmir. Important step. We remain concerned by the detention of political leaders and residents, and internet restrictions. We look forward to a return to normalcy." In October 2019, a group of European parliamentarians were taken on a visit but that was in their private capacity. OTTAWA A new cross-border flashpoint between the United States and Canada threatens to flare as American opponents of a proposed mine call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help halt the project that could pollute Canadian waters and a pristine Ontario wilderness park. Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, has written directly to Trudeau to flag her fears and to ask him to weigh in. In an interview, McCollum said the U.S. owes Canada some answers by next Tuesday about how approval of a copper-nickel sulphide mine planned for just across the border in northeastern Minnesota will adversely affect one of the largest fresh watersheds in this country. Thats because McCollum, who chairs the Interior-Environment subcommittee at the U.S. House of Representatives, tucked language into a U.S. government spending bill late last year to protect the watershed. The White House removed most of that language, but a requirement remained that directs the U.S. State Department to report to Congress on the effects of copper-sulfide mining on the international waters shared with Canada, and to do it quickly. The report is due Feb. 18. McCollum and environmentalists south of the border say there is no way to protect the forests and freshwater basin from tailings and waste produced by the proposed mines. She is furious that the Trump administration reversed an Obama-era ban on mining leases for federal lands in the sensitive area and cancelled a study into the environmental impact. Right now, said McCollum, You can dip a cup into the lake and drink the water because its so fresh and pure. However, she said if there is a spill like the 2014 failure of a copper mine tailings dam in a British Columbia, the largest environmental mining disaster in Canadian history, theres no redo, theres no second chances. This is not an area where, Well, if it doesnt work out, itll be OK. The waters destroyed and so is the land. Twin Metals is owned by the Chilean mining giant Antofagasta. For about a decade, it has been testing at the site in Minnesota and putting its plans together. It submitted the plans to state and federal regulators in December. The next step is environmental review and permits. The plan is for a copper-nickel underground ore mining operation that would be located within a national forest, a few kilometres from a popular American wilderness area known as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, which spills into Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario near Thunder Bay. The proposed site sits in the Rainy River drainage basin, which feeds into the two parks and a web of rivers and lakes in Ontario and Manitoba leading all the way to Hudson Bay and Nunavut. Its just the latest foreign policy challenge in the Canada-U.S. relationship. Trudeau, who campaigned on an explicit promise to protect Canadian fresh waters and wilderness areas, has clashed repeatedly with the Trump administration over NAFTA renegotiations, softwood lumber, and U.S. demands to increase defence spending. On top of that, Canada is paying a steep trade and diplomatic price for angering China after it agreed to a U.S. request to arrest Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou, with two Canadians detained and two others suddenly facing the death penalty. But Canada has gotten little help from the U.S. in its efforts to ease Chinese retaliation. Nevertheless, McCollum believes Trudeau could have an impact on how the debate over the copper mine is unfolding in the U.S. by highlighting Canadas concerns over the mine. In a Dec. 21 letter, she reminded him that a 1909 bilateral treaty puts obligations on both countries to prevent pollution of the irreplaceable natural resources we maintain in partnership. In northern Ontario, across the border from the proposed site, news of the planned mine has begun to ripple outward, but for the most part, there has been little publicity in the rest of the province or beyond. Lac La Croix is one of many small Indigenous communities in the path of potential pollution from the mine. The community hunts and fishes for food and wilderness guiding is their main livelihood. The band sent a letter to the US government in 2016 asking that the leases for the mine be withdrawn and the watershed protected. No one really knew about it and then we acted as soon as we found out. Im surprised Canadian officials arent bringing it to the people of Canada. People need to get in the boat, said Curtis Atatise, a council member of the Lac La Croix First Nation. Some state officials are supportive of the mine. They point to the expectation of 700 high-paying jobs and the economic spinoffs. And the mine sits on one of the largest copper-nickel deposits in the world. Demand is expected to grow because these metals are critical for future technology such as windmills, mobile phones and solar panels. Copper is used in the motors, wiring and batteries of electric vehicles and is in charging stations. But opponents say copper-sulphide can create acidic runoff that leaches heavy metals like lead and mercury into the water. The Canadian federal government quietly expressed concerns to the U.S. last year during a period when the U.S was accepting public comments as it reviewed the plan. Eric Walsh, director general for Global Affairs North America branch, wrote in Jan 19, 2019: Canada is concerned about the potential of increased mining activity within the basin which could contaminate boundary waters if not properly assessed and managed, putting Canadian water quality and ecosystems at risk. However, environmentalists south of the border say American officials did not reply to Canada. The Star could not confirm that, or whether Trudeau has privately expressed his own concerns to the Trump administration. Neither Global Affairs Canada or the prime ministers office responded to the Stars request for comments about this story on Tuesday. The Star contacted the company but also did not receive a response. Read more about: On a two-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir as part of a delegation of foreign envoys, Uganda's High Commissioner to India, Dinah Grace Akello, on Wednesday said it was good to see the situation getting normalised in Kashmir. Akello is a part of a group which includes diplomats from 25 countries, who are currently on a two-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir to get a first-hand experience of the situation in the region and the efforts made by the government. "I see this region as very important for India; very strategic but a very beautiful part of the country. The people, with whom I spoke, they all wanted development in this area. Everyone wants to seek investors in the region. I am much buoyed by this. My spirits have risen because whenever I heard about this region earlier, the news was only related to the conflict. So I see a lot of hope in the future," the High Commissioner told ANI. The second batch of foreign envoys took a tour of the famous Dal Lake upon reaching Srinagar on Wednesday morning. The group comprises of representatives from Afghanistan, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, the European Union, France, Germany, Republic of Guinea, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Namibia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Rwanda, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Uganda and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan's envoy to India Tahir Qadiry stated that he was amazed by the hospitality of the people of Kashmir during his visit to the Valley. "It is very nice to see the hospitability of the Kashmiri people. We are here to have a first-hand account of the situation over here. We have been here for a couple of hours but we have seen people running their businesses and kids going to school as well. So it is very good to see the situation getting normalised. We really hope that this is the case in other parts of the state," Qadiry said. "We also talked to a group of activists, young people, and traders. It is good to know that they want peace in Kashmir. They want the economy to be revived and I really hope to see Kashmir at a different level very soon," he added. Reiterating similar sentiments, Dean of Diplomatic Corps in India, Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, said, "We came to see the normalisation of the situation here after the Article 370 elimination. We are very pleased to see the commerce and the traffic and the people in the streets. I think it is important that the number of ambassadors not only from the European Union but other parts of the world as well are here to personally talk and discuss how things are going on here." "Certain normal is back; not as normal as we want it to be because in order to keep ourselves safe there are a lot of security forces here. But we think that slowly and steadily things will get better," Castellanos said. Meanwhile, German Ambassador Walter Lindner said, "We came here and wanted to talk to people. Any hasty reaction right now would not be good. So let us talk to people, let us exchange notes, then we will speak." Ambassador of Denmark to India Freddy Svane stressed that it is difficult to have a dialogue over Kashmir if various sources are not heard. "I think it is important to come here. You cannot have a dialogue about Kashmir if you haven't listened to various sources, about what kind of expectations they have. What they have moved from; what they are into and what kind of wishes they have for the future. It is important to have a holistic picture," Svane said. Earlier in the day, the envoys had also met members of various civil societies in Srinagar. Security has been beefed up in the city and around the hotel where the delegation of foreign envoys is staying. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh, and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 to see first-hand efforts being made by the government in the region. ANI spoke to some of the envoys who visited Kashmir last month. The diplomats had expressed satisfaction, hoping for the return of the normalcy in the region soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bigg Boss 13: Television actor Sidharth Shukla will be seen taking a digging at his relationship with Rashami Desai outside the house. Watch Bigg Boss 13 promo here Bigg Boss 13: Since the starting of the show, Sidharth Shukla and Rashami Desais relationship has been the talk of the town. Whether it is pulling each others leg or arguing with each other like cat and mouse, it is noticed that both of them cant resist each other inside the house. In the last episode we saw, Rajat Sharma taking an entry inside the house and taking a screening class of every contestant by bombarding questions on their game till now. In the question-answer round, Sidharth Sharma is seen revealing that he liked Rashami Desai a lot but during his showtime, an article was published where he was held responsible for all the problems happening on the sets, which made them apart away from each other. Not just this, Sidharth Shukla also said that Rashami Desais relationships keep changing so nothing can be said about their current equation. It seems that though both of them dont talk much and do not share a good bond, both of them cant even ignore each other inside the house. Also Read: Bigg Boss 13: Vishal Aditya Singh wants Asim Riaz to win, calls Sidharth Shukla the most irritating person of the show Watch the latest promo here Talking about the latest promo, Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal will be seen promoting his upcoming film Bhoot Part 1: The Haunted Ship.in an interesting way, by making contestants experience a supernatural element inside the house. Take a look at the promo Also Read: Love Aaj Kal: No kissing and skin show for Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan on Valentines Day, says CBFC The finale of Bigg Boss 13 is all set to be held on February 15, 2020, and all the Bigg Boss contestants with the fans are much excited for the show and its winner. For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App Greggs fans will soon be able to pick up their favourite baked goods at their local branch of Asda. The supermarket is set to launch Greggs counters in five of its branches across the UK, including Boldon, Corby, Huyton, Wigan and Eastlands. The concession stores will offer the bakery chain's full menu, which includes its popular vegan steak bake and sausage roll, as well as its meaty delights. The counters are being introduced on a trial basis, and an official launch date is not yet known, reports The Sun. Greggs fans will soon be able to pick up their favourite baked goods at their local branch of Asda. Pictured: a Greggs bakery store at a service station in Cornwall It is also too early to say whether the Greggs concessions will be rolled out nationwide and introduced into other supermarkets. Asda is the first of the four big supermarkets to introduce Greggs counters - although Iceland is stocking several frozen products by the high street bakery chain. These include Scotch pies, sausage rolls, bacon and cheese wraps, sausage and bean melts and a variety of bakes. To staff its Asda in-store concessions, Greggs is recruiting around 40-50 new team members. Asda is the first of the four big supermarkets to introduce Greggs counters - although Iceland is stocking several frozen products by the high street bakery chain. Pictured: a branch of Asda in Leeds Preyash Thakrar, chief strategy officer at Asda, said: 'We are constantly looking for new ways to increase customer choice. 'By partnering with brands that fit with our core values of great quality and great value like Greggs - we're excited to be able to give our customers access to something new in store that we know they will love.' Raymond Reynolds at Greggs added: 'We know that high quality food-on-the-go and convenience go hand in hand, and this trial gives us the opportunity to bring our range of products to more customers in new locations.' The launch of concession stores follows the bakery chain's successful trial of a delivery service for its pastries with Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat. The launch of concession stores follows the bakery chain's successful trial of a delivery service for its pastries with Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat. Pictured: the Greggs vegan steak bake, which launched in January Fans of the pasties and cakes will be able to order Greggs goods straight to their door, after the service proved successful in various UK cities including Newcastle, London, Birmingham and Glasgow. Earlier this week, Greggs' vegan sausage roll was branded a 'health halo' food by consumer experts as it is no more nutritious than the meat version. The snack was launched by the bakery chain to great fanfare last year, but watchdog Which? found it to be an ultra-processed product that was high in saturated fat and salt. Earlier this week, Greggs' vegan sausage roll was branded a 'health halo' food by consumer experts as it is no more nutritious than the meat version Experts also branded four other snacks 'health halos' meaning their nutritional benefit appears good but is in reality quite poor. Which? said: 'The fact something is vegan doesn't automatically make it healthy. Nutritionally, Greggs vegan sausage roll doesn't differ much from the meat version.' 'It's high in fat, saturated fat, and salt. 'One portion contains almost half the saturated fat an adult should eat in a day and a third of adults' maximum recommended salt intake.' SYDNEY, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- George Clinical, a global scientifically-backed clinical research organization, has named James Cheong to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Cheong was hired as Chief Operating Officer at the beginning of 2019 and has overseen substantial growth of the business, leadership team and international footprint. Cheong succeeds Glenn Kerkhof who will remain with the organization as Executive Chairman. "James has been a critical catalyst in the growth and organizational development of George Clinical since joining our team last January," stated Glenn Kerkhof, Executive Chairman, George Clinical. "He has demonstrated great knowledge, rapport and commercial understanding benefiting our clients and staff in equal measure. I know the organization will continue to benefit from his presence and vision as we build on our global operational base and deliver scientific and operational excellence to our clients," he added. With his deep industry and management experience spanning more than two decades, Cheong has brought valuable leadership to the expanding George Clinical executive team during a period of expansion last year. As COO, Cheong has led global operations and directed the company's administrative functions while based in the organization's Singapore office. Prior to George Clinical, Cheong served as Head, Clinical Operations of the Chinese market for Boehringer Ingelheim. During his tenure there, Cheong was responsible for clinical operations in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong covering trial monitoring and management, vendor, knowledge and quality management and medical writing. Prior to Boehringer Ingelheim, Cheong was VP of Clinical Development at EPS International in Asia Pacific and has also held various Asian leadership roles for major global CROs. "The past year has seen George Clinical open new offices in Asia and Europe, win recognition in Hong Kong as an exception employer, expand our trial capacity in Taiwan, and execute a ground-breaking agreement to establish top-tier clinical research capacity in China," said Cheong. "It is a privilege to lead a CRO blessed with world-class scientific leadership. We will continue to leverage our exceptional team to improve the health of millions of people worldwide," he said. About George Clinical George Clinical is a leading global clinical research organization founded in Asia-Pacific driven by scientific expertise and operational excellence. With 20 years of experience and more than 300 people managing 38 geographical locations throughout the USA, Asia-Pacific region and Europe, George Clinical provides the full range of clinical trial services to biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic customers, for all trial phases, registration and post-marketing trials. Contact: [email protected] Website: https://www.georgeclinical.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/george-clinical-pty-ltd Twitter: https://twitter.com/george_clinical Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgeclinical SOURCE George Clinical Related Links https://www.georgeclinical.com The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of trying to sabotage the implementation of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam and Irrigation Project (PMDIP). According to the NPP, the NDC does not want the project to see the day of light. The ruling party said it is for that reason that members of the Minority on the Finance Committee of Parliament including Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central, refused to attend the Committee meeting to deliberate on the PMDIP which has far-reaching positive effects on the lives of our people. The Project is valued at $993 million and considered the single largest investment in the five northern Regions of Ghana since independence in 1957. It comprises of a 60mw hydropower dam, a 50mw solar power plant and a 24,000 hectares of irrigation scheme. President Nana Akufo-Addo on November 29, 2019 cut sod for work to commence on the Project. But the NPP strongly believes that even though the Project seeks to impact positively on the lives of residents within the region, the NDC is pushing hard to frustrate the government in implementing it. At a press conference on Wednesday February 12, 2020, Anthony Namoo, Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP, said when the Finance Committee presented its report to the plenary for debate and approval, the NDC minority in parliament then raised the issue of cost. This prompted the Speaker of Parliament to adjourn the debate on it to yesterday to enable the minority to prepare. Our checks show that the debate could not come on as scheduled, he said. When again will the financing on PMDIP be debated in parliament? The undeclared intention of the NDC is to ensure that the project does not see the light of day, he noted According to him, they (NDC) want to sabotage this Game Changing PMDIP for their selfish and myopic political interest. They shall fail in this unproductive venture. He added that the NDC minority will certainly have their say but the majority will have their way as it usually stated in parliament. ---Daily Guide U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used the backdrop of a border bridge in Laredo on Friday to open her push to block President Trump's national emergency declaration, which Democrats say could re-direct nearly $520 million in military construction funds from Texas. "The president's act is lawless and does violence to our Constitution, and therefore, to our democracy," Pelosi told reporters. "Not only is he disrespecting the legislative branch and the Constitution of the United States, he is dishonoring the office in which he serves." Pelosi was joined by Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat who helped negotiate a bipartisan $1.37 billion border funding deal that averted another partial government shutdown. Trump, however, has sought some $6 billion for new border barriers and has vowed to use emergency powers to circumvent Congress and siphon money from the Pentagon. FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Democrats, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, move to block Trumps emergency declaration The Democratic-led House plans to vote Tuesday to pass legislation opposing Trump's move, which critics say is unconstitutional. The resolution, brought by San Antonio Democrat Joaquin Castro, would then force a vote within 18 days in the Senate, where some Republicans have signaled their support. "This is a historic power grab, and it will require historic unity by members of Congress, Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, to counteract the president's parasitic movement," Castro, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, told reporters in a conference call Friday. Democrats have also argued that there is no "crisis" at the border, noting that border apprehensions have decreased from previous decades. A group of 16 states also filed suit to block the emergency declaration. Trump said later Friday that he would veto any measure from Congress to block his emergency declaration. Cuellar, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released a list earlier this week of what he said are potential cuts in Texas, including $251 million to replace an Air Force hospital at Fort Bliss. The other threatened projects include construction of an Air Force dormitories, classrooms and dining facilities at Joint Base San Antonio. Cuellar also identified potential cuts to programs at Fort Hood and Red River. "After failing to convince the Government of Mexico or the U.S. Congress to pay for his ineffective wall, the president is trying to bypass constitutional authority with his 'emergency' declaration," Cuellar said. "He is taking duly appropriated funding intended for the military, law enforcement, and many other priority areas in order to follow through on his campaign promise." Pelosi accused Trump of trying to "usurp the power of Congress" to spend money. "Those in the military don't want the money taken out of their defense budget for a purpose that is clearly not a defense purpose," she said. The White House has disputed the House Democrats' list, which includes billions of dollars in unspent funds for military construction projects and programs across the nation. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House is working with the Defense Department to identify sources of wall funding, but that there is no list of planned projects that might be affected "at this time." The official said the criteria will focus on lower priority, "un-awarded projects" without harming "lethality or readiness." Administration officials also have signaled that they will first tap a Treasury Department forfeiture and Pentagon counterdrug funds before they turn to military construction projects. The office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declined to comment publicly on the potential cuts in Texas, though privately state officials say they have no reason to believe any military bases in the Lone Star State will lose money. Amid legal challenges to Trump's move, it remains unclear what, if any, congressionally-earmarked funds could be vulnerable to the president's edict at some point. Trump and many legal analysts have predicted that the lawsuits could be sent up to the U.S. Supreme Court, a process that could go on beyond the 2020 election. Though some Texas Republicans in Congress have expressed misgivings about the president's use of emergency powers to obtain wall funding, they have sought to place the blame for the impasse on Democrats. "Democrats gave the President no leeway to enact his expert-led border security plan, so I share his frustration with the position we are in now," said Houston Republican Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL. "While I'm hopeful that this option will start to address the problems at our border, I remain wary of the precedent it sets. This is simply the result of Congress not doing its job." Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, speaking recently in San Antonio, suggested that Trump is making use of powers granted to him by Congress, a formulation that some Republicans believe would not violate the separation of powers doctrine in the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power of the purse. "I think the president was frustrated that he didn't get everything he wanted from Congress, and he's using existing authorities that Congress has given him to get access to reprogram other funds," Cornyn said. "I regret that he thought that was necessary because we should be working together in a bipartisan basis to try to provide border security." Cornyn and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell had previously sought to discourage the president from pursuing wall funds using emergency powers, which some say could set a precedent for future Democratic presidents to employ for gun control, climate change or health care. Under pressure, many Republicans in Texas and elsewhere have maintained a silence about Trump's funding maneuver. Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said after Trump's emergency declaration that he would want to see what the president's specific course of action would be, and what legal authorities he would cite. Cruz's Senate office did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against of Spirit AeroSystem Holdings, Inc. (Spirit or the Company) (NYSE: SPR) and certain of its officers, on behalf of shareholders who purchased Spirit securities between October 31, 2019 and January 29, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firms site: www.bgandg.com/spr . This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; (2) the Company did not comply with its established accounting principles related to potential contingent liabilities; and (3) as a result, defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. In December 2019, Spirit AeroSystems commenced a review of its accounting process compliance and determined that it did not comply with established accounting processes related to certain potential contingent liabilities. Then, on January 30, 2019, Spirit AeroSystems announced the resignations of both its Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer for failure to comply with accounting rules on contingencies. On this news, Spirits stock price fell $2.62 per share, or 3.87%, to close at $65.02 per share on January 30, 2020. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint you can visit the firms site: www.bgandg.com/spr or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 212-697-6484. If you suffered a loss in Spirit you have until April 10, 2020 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firms expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Peretz Bronstein or Yael Hurwitz 212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com The discovery identifies an adaptation by cancer cells that facilitates their spreading to distant sites, and the potential for targeting these features to prevent or slow the progression of metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. BOSTON - Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream as circulating tumor cells, or CTCs, which eventually reach distal (remote) body sites to form metastatic tumors. An increase in ribosomes, the protein-making machinery found in every living cell, increases their potential to form metastasis, report investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS). Their observation shows that a subpopulation of CTCs enriched from the blood of breast cancer patients have higher levels of ribosomal proteins (RP) and that their presence is associated with increased disease aggressiveness and poor clinical outcomes. Importantly, the discovery also suggests that a combination of targeted therapies that disrupt the ribosome function and inhibit cancer cell growth slows the spread of breast cancer in a mouse model. Their work is described in a first release paper published online in Science. "The Haber/Maheswaran lab has been one of the pioneers in being able to isolate, analyze and now use CTCs that are derived from patient blood samples. They offer many advantages and opportunities for understanding the metastatic pathways that are involved in advanced breast cancer," says investigator Douglas S. Micalizzi, MD, PhD, from the MGH Cancer Center. Micalizzi and graduate student Richard Ebright, who led the study, and their colleagues collected and analyzed CTCs from the blood of patients with metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and used cell lines generated from CTCs. They used CRISPR activation, a technique for studying the effect of gene activation, to screen the entire genome of the CTCs for genes that promote cancer spread. They found that ribosomal proteins in general, and in particular one ribosomal protein, RPL15, promoted the spread of breast cancer and that patients with more aggressive breast cancer and worse survival tended to have CTCs with high levels of ribosomal proteins. In collaboration with the Vasudevan lab at MGH, they demonstrated that RPL15 alters the landscape of protein production within the CTCs. Using a mouse model of metastatic breast cancer, the investigators tested the combination of targeted therapies consisting of an inhibitor of the ribosome and an inhibitor of cancer cell growth. They found that the combination had "dramatically increased efficacy" against RPL15 CTCs compared with other CTCs.These findings suggest that metastases might be slowed or prevented and warrants further investigation. "These early results suggest that simultaneous therapeutic targeting of the cell translational machinery and cell proliferation pathways may merit investigation as a method to suppress an aggressive subset of CTCs that are characterized by high expression of RP genes," they write. ### Co-authors of the Science study are Richard Y. Ebright, MD, PhD, Sooncheol Lee, PhD; Ben S. Wittner, PhD; Kira L. Niederhoffer BS; Benjamin T. Nicholson BS; Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH; Samuel Truesdell, MA, BS; Devon F. Wiley BS; Benjamin Wesley, BS; Selena Li, BS; Andy Mai BS; Nicola Aceto, PhD; Nicole Vincent-Jordan, PhD; Annamaria Szabolcs, MD, PhD; Brian Chirn; Johannes Kreuzer, PhD; Valentine Comaills, PhD; Mark Kalinich, PhD; Wilhelm Haas, PhD; David T. Ting, MD; Shobha Vasudevan, PhD; Daniel A. Haber, MD, PhD; and Shyamala Maheswaran, PhD, all with the MGH Cancer Center, and Mehmet Toner, PhD from the MGH and HMS Center for Bioengineering in Medicine, and Shriners Hospital for Children, Boston. The study was supported by grants/awards from the National Institutes of Health, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute,the National Foundation for Cancer Research, NIH, ESSCO Breast Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society, and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Ting, Toner, Haber and Maheswaran are founders of and own equity in TellBio, Inc., which is involved with CTC therapeutics and diagnostics. About the Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research budget of more than $1 billion and comprises more than 8,500 researchers working across more than 30 institutes, centers and departments. In August 2019 the MGH was once again named #2 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its list of "America's Best Hospitals." Carlsbad, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Fernhill Beverage, Inc. (OTC Pink: FHBC) is pleased to announce that the Company has completed negotiations paving the way for its brands to be distributed in Europe. Fernhill Beverage has agreed to allow The Company's brands to be imported into certain regions of Europe including parts of Great Brittan, parts of Italy and parts of Germany. These brands include RK Super Vitamin Packed Kid's Drink and SuperBuzz Energy Drink. Currently, RK Super Kid's Drink is offered at select Military Commissaries and PX's at various Military and Government Facilities across the United States. Fernhill Beverage, Inc. will be utilizing the Company's relationships with the distributors responsible for supplying domestic Commissaries by working with these distribution networks to enter the European market via Military establishments. The Company will not only be distributing RK Super with this network but will also be offering SuperBuzz Energy. Fernhill Beverage, Inc. expects to be shipping product to a logistics center on the East Coast in mid-June. The Company believes this is a sound strategy allowing Fernhill Beverage to enter the European Market with an established retail base. Fernhill Beverage will be relying on a series of brokers and outsourced merchandisers to manage the brands in Europe. "Fernhill Beverage, Inc. is committed to expanding the Company's product's distribution reach in all reasonable ways possible. The long-term strategy is to grow existing brands, develop and grow new brands and acquire and grow brands with potential." States Larry Twombly: Fernhill Beverage's CEO. Fernhill Beverage, Inc. is proud to announce that the Company is in the process of re-designing the Company web site, www.fernhillbev.com., to better reflect the growth of the Company's brands. The newly designed web site will better serve customers and shareholders. Please follow the Company on Twitter @fernhillbev The Company will be releasing updates. Safe Harbor: Statements in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the failure to complete successfully the development of new or enhanced products, the Company's future capital needs, the lack of market demand for any new or enhanced products the Company may develop, any actions by the Company's affiliates that may be adverse to the Company, the success of competitive products, other economic factors affecting the Company and its markets, seasonal changes, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any statements in this press release. Fernhill Beverage, Inc. Contact: info@fernhillbev.com Website: www.fernhillbev.com Twitter: @fernhillbev Phone: (760) 613-8828 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52350 Ontarios three major political parties look to be locked in a virtual tie for public support, a new poll commissioned by the Star found. The Campaign Research survey concluded that the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals would each have the backing of 30 per cent of voters if an election were held tomorrow, with the New Democrats at 26 per cent and the Greens at 11 per cent. Support for Ontarios political parties if election was held today 30% Liberals 30% Progressive Conservatives 26% New Democrats 11% Greens Campaign Research tested both the parties brands and the leaders names, with about half of those polled surveyed on the former and the other half on the latter. Without leaders names attached, the Liberals had the support of 36 per cent of respondents, while the Tories 30 per cent, the NDP 21 per cent, and the Greens 10 per cent. But when the leaders names were included including Steven Del Duca as the presumed next leader of the Liberals the findings changed. In that case, the Tories had the support of 32 per cent, the Liberals 25 per cent, the NDP 31 per cent, and the Greens 10 per cent Its way too soon to say whos going to win the election in 2022 but rumours of Doug Fords demise have been greatly exaggerated, Campaign Research principal Nick Kouvalis said Tuesday. Hes polling slightly higher than the PC brand. Indeed, Fords slide in popularity appears to have halted after months in a downward spiral. Support for Ontarios political parties without leaders 36% Liberals 30% Progressive Conservatives 21% New Democrats 10% Greens Support for Ontarios political parties with leaders names attached 25% Liberals (presumed to be led by Steven Del Duca) 32% Progressive Conservatives 31% New Democrats 10% Greens Last July, a poll found that just 20 per cent of respondents approved of the premiers performance while 69 per cent disapproved a net approval score of -49 per cent. Weeks earlier, Ford was loudly booed by thousands of people last June at the Toronto Raptors victory celebration in Nathan Phillips Square. In the new poll, however, Fords net rating is up to -32 per cent, with 29 per cent approving of his performance and 61 per cent disapproving. In comparison, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had an overall rating of +15 per cent, with 41 per cent approving and 26 per cent disapproving of her performance. Asked if they approved or disapproved of the job Del Duca was doing as a candidate for leadership of the Liberals, 21 per cent approved, 19 per cent disapproved, and 61 per cent said they didnt know or werent sure. Campaign Research polled 1,536 people between Thursday and Sunday using Maru Blues online panel. It is an opt-in poll. For comparison purposes, a randomly selected sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 points, 19 times out of 20. Doug Fords approval rating over the past two months has gone up by 18 points. Thats very significant, said Kouvalis, whose firm polls monthly for private-sector clients and found Ford at -50 per cent in December. It may be related to this education dispute. That could be why his approval rating has gone up, the veteran pollster said, referring to the ongoing teachers strikes that have affected all Ontario public schools. On the re-election question, the Conservatives are polling at 30 per cent, but 36 per cent support them on (increasing average high school) class sizes and 44 per cent support back to work legislation to end the dispute, he said. He noted that the poll found 45 per cent of respondents support the 1 per cent salary increase for teachers that the government is offering. Kouvalis said such findings suggest the teachers have inadvertently put some wind in Doug Fords sails and improved his job approval rating. The poll found 52 per cent of respondents sided with the teachers in their opposition to high school class sizes being raised to an average of 25 students from the current 22.5, while 36 per cent backed the Tories proposed change. On the issue of salaries, public opinion appeared to be more in line with the government. Asked if they supported the teachers demand for a 2 per cent cost of living wage increase or the governments 1 per cent offer, 45 per cent sided with the Tories and 35 per cent with educators. Thirteen per cent backed neither side and 8 per cent werent sure. There was support for the government eventually legislating the teachers back to work, with 44 per cent approving of that measure and 38 per cent opposing, while 18 per cent were unsure. However, 46 per cent opposed forcing the teachers back to work if it would mean awarding them more than 1 per cent annual pay raises. Just 32 per cent supported that and 22 per cent werent sure. 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: The Senate is set to pass a bipartisan resolution this week to limit President Donald Trumps authority to launch military operations against Iran weeks after the U.S. killed a top Iranian general. The War Powers resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), will come to the floor Wednesday with a final expected vote Thursday. While the measure is not likely to garner enough support to overturn a likely Trump veto, its expected passage in the Senate nevertheless illustrates a rare congressional effort to rein in the presidents executive authority. In addition to all 47 Democrats, the measure so far has support from Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jerry Moran of Kansas. The Democratic senators running for president are expected to be in Washington for the vote on Thursday, ensuring that the 51-vote threshold for the War Powers resolution will be met. The last thing this country should do is rush into or blunder into another war in the Middle East. And no matter who our president is, no president is smart enough to, on their own, make that kind of a decision without deliberation, Kaine said in an interview. The logic of the idea just gets more and more persuasive the more time that elapses after 9/11. Indeed, Congress has abdicated war-making powers to the executive branch in the years after both chambers adopted authorizations for the use of military force against al Qaeda in 2001 and against Iraq in 2002. The war powers issue rose to prominence yet again last month in the days following Trumps Jan. 2 order of an airstrike that killed Qassim Soleimani, the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps elite Quds force and a longtime target of American military operations. If the War Powers measure is approved by both chambers as expected, it will be the second time such an effort has reached Trumps desk. Last year, the House and Senate passed a War Powers resolution intended to cut off U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemens civil war the first time both chambers of Congress used the 1973 War Powers Act to constrain presidential authority. Trump vetoed that resolution. Story continues On Wednesday, Trump urged GOP senators to vote against Kaines resolution, arguing that it sends a very bad signal and Iran would have a field day. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Dont let it happen! Trump wrote on Twitter. FILE -- In this Feb. 11, 2016 file photo, Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani attends an annual rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, in Tehran, Iran. As Saudi Arabia holds a naval drill in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Soleimani, a powerful Iranian general was quoted, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, by the semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies as suggesting the kingdom's deputy crown prince is so Kaines bill would require Trump to cease all hostilities targeting Iran within 30 days unless explicitly approved by Congress. He has modified the original language of the resolution to attract Republican support, including nixing references to Trump. The measure privileged under the War Powers Act was on hold during the Senates three week impeachment trial, which concluded last week. Like the Yemen vote, Kaines effort will expose long-standing foreign policy divisions within the Republican Party. While the vast majority of Senate Republicans share the partys historically hawkish positions and supported Trumps decision to take out Soleimani, several GOP senators have teamed up with Democrats in recent years to force votes to rein in presidential war-making powers. I think weve abdicated our duty to decide whether we should still be at war or not, said Paul, who has long opposed U.S. interventions in foreign conflicts and has worked with Democrats over the years on war powers issues. So the War Powers Act vote for me is just an opportunity to discuss whether or not we should still be at war in Afghanistan or Iraq or any of these places. Im just ensuring that Congress fulfills our article one responsibilities, thats all this is about, added Young. The views of Paul and Young run counter to those expressed by Senate GOP leaders, who have long supported giving the commander-in-chief wide latitude to order military operations abroad. Just as we have successfully sent Iran this strong signal of our strength and resolve, a blunt and clumsy War Powers resolution would tie our own hands, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday. With China and Russia watching, is it really a good idea to suggest that were willing to let a middling power like Iran push us around? While Republicans acknowledge the disagreements within their own party, they have sought to portray the GOP senators supporting Kaines bill as outliers. I know there are some divisions in our conference, but I think the overwhelming majority [of Republicans] will vote against it for unnecessarily tying the hands of the president, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). I mean, we all agree that Congress plays an important role, and were not as nimble in actually responding to exigent circumstances. Congressional Republicans generally praised Trump for the strike against Soleimani, but Democrats and even some Trump allies questioned the justification for the strike as well as Trumps authority to carry it out without congressional approval. Emerging from an all-senators classified briefing on the Soleimani killing last month, Lee said Trump administration officials advised lawmakers to not debate presidential war powers. Lee called the suggestion insulting and demeaning. The worst briefing Ive seen at least on a military issue in the nine years I've served in the Senate, Lee said. White House and Pentagon officials have repeatedly asserted that Trump had the authority to take out Soleimani, pointing to the 2001 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force. Trump himself has expressed disparate views on U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. While he has campaigned on ending endless wars, he has steadfastly resisted congressional efforts to curb U.S. military incursions abroad. Paul, who informally advises Trump on foreign policy and national security matters, has tried to veer the president toward a more non-interventionist posture. But, he added, Weve just got to get him some better advisers. In the face of a likely veto from the president, Democrats are casting the vote as a symbolic rebuke but also a re-affirmation of Congress authority. The president will veto it, but it sends a shot across his bow that the majority of the Senate and the majority of the House do not want the president waging war without congressional approval, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. And once again, the American people are overwhelmingly on our side. Kaine said that even if Trump vetoes the resolution, the measure could nevertheless influence his behavior and decision-making when it comes to U.S. policy in the Middle East. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on Tuesday that he expects the House to vote on the Senate bill later this month. Sarah Ferris and James Arkin contributed to this report. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the year Congress passed an authorization for the use of military force targeting al Qaeda. Karachi, Feb 12 : A groom was beaten up by the family of his first wife when he was discovered tying the knot for the third time without her prior permission in Karachi's North Nazimabad area. The groom registered a case against the assailants for gatecrashing the wedding and roughing him up, GeoTV reported. The incident took place within the remit of Taimuria police station in Block L of North Nazimabad. According to police, both the parties have been advised to approach the court dealing with civil cases, adding that they have no reason to keep the groom in custody. The police, however, said that as the groom was injured and wanted to initiate legal action against his assailants, hence, he has been sent to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities. While speaking to the media, the groom said: "She is my first wife. My relation with her has ended. It happened recently ... a few days ago. I will send (a legal) notice, too, and my lawyer will speak to them as well." Meanwhile, the wife claimed that her husband had secretly contracted a second marriage in 2018 and was now caught attempting a third marriage in a similar manner. Under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961, a written permission is required from the first wife before tying the knot for a second time. Every few months (or weeks, depending on where you look or listen), youll hear about some new college dropout who became a billionaire or multi-millionaire after starting a revolutionary business. And for accuracys sake, there are lots of real examples here. Some of the most iconic entrepreneurs of our time have been college dropouts, including Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Ellison, all of whom quit school and went on to make it onto worlds-wealthiest lists. But the concept of the college-dropout billionaire is at best misleading and at worst a fundamental myth of our culture. So why is this myth so enticing and so pervasive? The Myth of the College-Dropout Billionaire Lets start by dissecting why the college-dropout billionaire archetype is problematic. Anecdotal examples like those above lead to a few inaccurate potential assumptions. For example, you might conclude that if youre going to college and have a great idea for a business, you should drop out to pursue it; after all, you might become wildly successful. You might also conclude that dropping out somehow correlates with a higher success rate; it might signal the capacity to take unconventional risks, and we know intelligent risk taking is a vital skill for entrepreneurs. Related: Should You Drop Out of College for Your Startup? In reality, college-dropout billionaires are both rarer and less illustrative than people would like to admit. For example, lets look at the Forbes 400, or the 400 richest people in the U.S., all of whom are billionaires. Upon examining the 362 billionaires whose education records were available, 44 were college dropouts; in other words, only 12.2 percent of billionaires dropped out of school. Similarly, a 2017 analysis found that only 16 percent of billionaires didnt have a Bachelors degree. In other words, 84 percent of the countrys richest people had a full college education. Further statistics illustrate additional monetary and career benefits of completing a college education. Compiled research suggests that men with a Bachelors degree earn $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime than their high school-graduate counterparts. Women with a Bachelors degree earn $630,000 more. Its still a few orders of magnitude away from taking you to billionaire status, but its a hard statistic to ignore. The Role of Survivorship Bias When you look at all billionaires, the number of college dropouts is not impressive. We can also examine the career-long performance of the average American college dropout, to look at things from the opposite angle. According to College Atlas, 70 percent of Americans will study at a four-year college at some point, but more than a third of students will eventually drop out, and 30 percent of first-year students drop out in the first year of school. With roughly 20 million enrolled college students at any given time, that amounts to millions of new college dropouts each year. How many of these went on to run a massively successful business? Were disproportionately focused on college-dropout successes due to a phenomenon known as survivorship bias, a logical error and cognitive bias that leads people to false conclusions due to invisible or overlooked examples. In this case, we have a few dozen high-profile college dropouts who we hear about all the time juxtaposed against few million low-profile college dropouts who we dont see or think about. The Enduring Appeal While survivorship bias explains our uneven attention distribution, it doesnt explain why the myth of the college dropout success is so appealing. Why are we endlessly fascinated with the rogues who took an uncommon, unrecommended path and still found success? In part, its because we love to root for underdogs, but were also drawn to statistical anomalies, as the status quo is often labeled "boring. Plus, knowing people who failed early but became successful later gives us confidence that we can work past our own mistakes, no matter how bleak things look. Whatever combination of factors is at play, dropout entrepreneurs are clearly regarded as more compelling than they necessarily ought to be. Related: Why Staying in School Can Be a Huge Advantage for Entrepreneurs The Bottom Line Well likely hear more stories of renegade dropouts who eventually became massively successful, and well undoubtedly be entertained by them. But these success stories should only be taken as curious anomalies and not an indication of a correlative positive effect. Most college dropouts dont become unusually successful, and most unusually successful people arent college dropouts. Whenever you hear about commonalities between successful entrepreneurs, keep this example (and survivorship bias) in mind to see things more objectively. Related: GitHub Launches an Indian Subsidiary to Strengthen its Local Presence Nestaway Technologies Acquires ApnaComplex to Offer High-Value Home Services To Its Users India Lost INR 10.7 lakh crore to Air Pollution: Report Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Organizers of the world's biggest mobile technology fair are pulling the plug over worries about the viral outbreak from China. GSMA said Wednesday that this year's edition of Mobile World Congress will no longer be held as planned in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb 24-27. John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, said global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event." The decision comes after dozens of tech companies and wireless carriers dropped out, with the latest cancelations by Nokia, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Britain's BT on Wednesday. Other big names that have already dropped out include Ericsson, Nokia, Sony, Amazon, Intel and LG. The companies cited concerns for the safety of staff and visitors. Organizers had sought to hold out against growing pressure to cancel Mobile World Congress, an annual tech extravaganza that had been expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors from about 200 countries, including 5,000 to 6,000 from China. The GSMA, the wireless trade body that organizes the fair, had said it was monitoring the virus situation closely, including meeting regularly with global and Spanish health experts and its partners to ensure the well-being of attendees. Nokia said Wednesday it had decided to withdraw from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain after a full assessment of the risks related to a fast-moving situation. The company said the health and well-being of employees was a primary focus and that canceling its involvement was a prudent decision." Phone company Vodafone said it was dropping out after careful consideration" while Britain's BT said canceling was the most responsible decision." The departures of Nokia and Ericsson had left China's Huawei, a major sponsor of the fair, as the only remaining major network gear maker still planning to attend. Organizers were caught between risking potential backlash over public health concerns if they go ahead or facing big financial losses if they cancel, said Stephen Mears, a research analyst at Futuresource Consulting. Even before word of the cancellation, Mears said he and his team was considering dropping out or shortening the trip as many participants they wanted to meet won't be there, including those from China, which accounts for an increasing share of the global smartphone and mobile network industry. It's becoming less and less valuable for people like us to attend if we're not able to get meetings with the high level executives," he said. Spanish authorities tried to promote a message of calm as they scrambled to keep alive the trade show, which they say generates 473 million euros ($516 million) and more than 14,000 part-time jobs for the local economy. The Catalan regional health chief, Alba Vergs, said there's a very low risk of the coronavirus in the region of Catalonia, where Barcelona is located, and that authorities are completely prepared to detect any cases." Four suspected cases have all have proven negative, she said at a press briefing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shimla, Feb 12 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said that the world famous paragliding site Bir-Billing would be developed as a major adventure destination with funds from the Asian Development Bank. Addressing a public meeting in Baijnath town in Kangra district, he said a Jal Shakti division would be opened in Baijnath to overcome the problem of water scarcity. During his day-long tour of the Baijnath Vidhan Sabha area, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of developmental projects worth Rs 50 crore. Thakur also laid the foundation stone of three water supply schemes. He said adequate funds would be made available for time-bound completion of the developmental work. The Chief Minister said the state has given consent to the central government for upgrading the Ayurvedic College in Paprola town to the level of AIIMS. He announced Rs 1.50 crore for constructing an auditorium in the college and also announced the opening of a police post at Bir. He said they would discuss with the government of India the construction of a railway over bridge in the area. An attorney for indicted Limestone County Judge Doug Patterson has alleged that his client was pressured to plead guilty by the top local judge, Bob Baker. In court today, defense attorney Chuck Warren said that Baker who isnt presiding over Pattersons case texted Patterson about pleading guilty approximately a month before an indictment was issued in December of 2019. Baker threatened that he would contact the Alabama Attorney Generals Office and a special grand jury would be empaneled if Patterson didnt take a pre-indictment plea deal, Warren said. AL.coms efforts to reach Baker for comment at the courthouse and by phone werent successful. A court worker said Baker wasnt available. Limestone County District Judge Doug Patterson is charged with felony crimes of theft, financial exploitation of the elderly and use of office for personal gain. He is shown in a Limestone County jail booking photograph. Patterson is accused of using his position as a judge to steal about $47,000 from a juvenile court fund. During his previous work as a lawyer, Patterson is accused of stealing thousands from two clients: one who was incapacitated and living in a nursing home for veterans and a second who died. In court today, Patterson pleaded not guilty to all three felony charges: using his position for personal gain, financial exploitation of the elderly and third-degree theft. He confessed to the crimes in a letter sent to Baker and the other local judges shortly after the indictments were issued. THREAD: Im at the Limestone County Courthouse in Athens, Ala. where indicted judge Doug Patterson just pleaded not guilty to thee felony charges of theft and abuse of power. pic.twitter.com/xhzKl8H1If Ashley Remkus (@aremkus1) February 11, 2020 Patterson and his attorney declined an interview with news reporters after todays court hearing. Jasper Roberts Jr., one of the Alabama assistant attorneys general prosecuting Patterson, called the allegations against Baker unsubstantiated and said the prosecution was ambushed by the allegations in court. Pattersons lawyer made the allegations while arguing that the defense team should have access to documents and testimony from the grand jury that indicted Patterson late last year. The attorney said the defense needs to determine whether the grand jurors heard testimony about or may have been influenced by Bakers apparent knowledge of the case. Patterson had been under investigation for months before the grand jury indictments were issued. He had been suspended from hearing cases since at least September, AL.com has reported. [Read more: Lawmaker says indicted judge should resign and get off state payroll] Citing a lack of evidence and the need to protect the secrecy of the grand jury process, Judge Steven Haddock, who is presiding over Pattersons case, declined to grant the defense access to the grand jury materials. Grand jury proceedings are generally held in secret, in accordance with Alabama law and legal precedent. Haddock, a retired longtime Morgan County judge, has been appointed to preside over Pattersons case. Its common for a judge from another county to be appointed to a case involving a high-profile defendant who works in the legal system. Limestone Countys judges recused themselves from hearing Pattersons case. Haddock said he plans to begin Pattersons trial on June 15. If convicted, Patterson faces up to 40 years in prison. Patterson also faces a separate trial at the Alabama Court of the Judiciary, which hears complaints against judges. The Court will decide whether Patterson violated the Alabama Canons of Ethics, which would be punishable by removal from office, suspension without pay, censure, or such other sanction as may be prescribed by law. Patterson first became a district judge in 2016. He was appointed by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to complete the term of retiring Judge Jeanne Anderson. Patterson was elected to a full term in 2017. He was born in Athens and attended the local high school. He attended Athens State University before going on to the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, according to his bio on the county website. Read more: Prosecutor wants fast trial for judge who remains on payroll while indicted for theft The man struck and killed by a New Jersey Transit train on Tuesday in Garfield has been identified as a Saddle Brook resident. Edward Faherty, 71, was hit by a Bergen County line train around 3:30 p.m. near the Plauderville station, according to NJ Transit. The train was en route from Port Jervis, New York to Hoboken and had 40 people aboard, officials said. Service was suspended before resuming about an hour later with 60 minute delays. 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. JERSEY CITY Mayor Steve Fulop expressed optimism after a Tuesday meeting over the fate of Christ Hospital, saying stakeholders set a framework with actionable steps. I think the meeting went great, as well as it could have gone, Fulop said. Were certainly not at the end yet of the conversation, but I think we have a good pathway moving forward. The meeting, which took place at City Hall, lasted about 45 minutes but saw the three major stakeholders in the potential sale of Christ Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center convene in an attempt to jumpstart negotiations that stalled last week. Representatives of CarePoint Health, RWJBarnabas Health, and Alaris Health were all in attendance, officials said. RWJBarnabas announced in October it intended to purchase Christ Hospital and HUMC from CarePoint Health. But the two networks announced that negotiations had broken down, stoking fears that the hospitals could close, depriving Hudson County residents of healthcare and eliminating more than 1,000 jobs at Christ Hospital alone. Eric Bloom, a spokesman for CarePoint Health, said in a statement that the network made a fair and reasonable proposal today to RWJBH on the Christ Hospital property. RWJBH informed all parties that it needs some time to consider the proposal. We look forward to hearing back, Bloom added. And we will continue to negotiate with good faith. Our priorities remain our patients, employees, physicians and community. A spokeswoman for RWJBarnabas did not return an email seeking comment on todays meeting. I think the stakeholders that need to be talking are talking directly, and theres still hope for a deal to be revived," said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who was also in attendance Tuesday. "I dont want to hurt that possibility by airing any further details unless the parties have something to report. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and Bayonne Mayor James Davis were also present, as well as state Sen. and Union City Mayor Brian Stack, state Sen. Sandra Cunningham and Assemblywoman Angela McKnight. Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services also participated. The meeting came one day after lawmakers from Hudson County sent a letter to Gov. Murphy asking him to nullify the recent sale of the HUMC and Bayonne Medical Center properties to Alaris, a network of nursing homes owned by Avery Eisenreich. Eisenreich, who already owned 25% of both the Christ Hospital property and business, acquired the BMC property and a 70% stake in the HUMC land last year. BMC, the third hospital in the CarePoint network, was not part of the proposed deal with RWJBarnabas. Eisenreich did not return a message seeking comment. Tuesdays meeting was held amid heightened concerns over the financial stability of Christ Hospital and the other CarePoint facilities. New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli appointed a fiscal monitor to Christ Hospital last week, stating the facility is in financial distress and at risk of further financial deterioration. Fulop, meanwhile, declined to elaborate on what the meeting achieved or what the next steps will be. That stuffs going to be negotiated over the next couple days. Jersey Journal reporter Teri West contributed to this report. More than 30 ministers, out of the 36, who had visited Jammu and Kashmir have submitted their reports to the Home Ministry, MHA sources said here on Wednesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent in the reports to the Prime Minister's Office. In this report, ministers gave feedback and suggestions for speedy development of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. As part of the Centre's special public outreach programme, the Union Ministers visited Jammu and Kashmir with the objective of disseminating information about the importance of the Centre's policies for the overall development of the Union Territory and its people along with the steps taken by the government after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile state into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Newser) Police and family members in South Carolina are desperately searching for a 6-year-old girl who returned home from school Monday only to vanish from her front yard. Faye Marie Swetlik of Cayce was reported missing at 5pm, roughly an hour after she was last seen playing outside her home in the Churchill Heights neighborhood. The Lexington County Sheriff's Department spent the evening searching and interviewing neighbors, but had no news about the girl's whereabouts at a press conference early Tuesday, per People. With no signs of an abduction, "we have more questions than answers," Capt. Adam Myrick said, per WSOC, though Byron Snellgrove of the Cayce Police Department noted authorities had "found some surveillance video that has helped us." story continues below Some 250 officers are searching for Faye along with many volunteers. Last seen wearing a black T-shirt with the word "peace" on the front, a flower print skirt, and polka-dot rain boots, the first-grader is described as 3 foot 10 inches, 65 pounds, with shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and a speech impediment owing to a tethered tongue, per WSOC and CNN. Authorities say Faye's mother, father, and the mother's boyfriend are all cooperating with the investigation. "Faye pays attention to her surroundings" and is "not the type of kid that will up and walk away," her family said in a Tuesday statement. "I want my baby back," grandmother Ruth Collins added at an evening vigil, per WSOC. (Read more missing child stories.) SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco police on Tuesday announced they're seeking a suspect connected to an unprovoked New Year's Eve attack on a boy near Fort Mason. At about 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 31, a family of five was walking in the 1200 block of Bay Street, just across from Fort Mason, police said. At the same time, two men got out of a car, possibly associated with a ride-hailing service, on nearby Gough Street. As the family headed east on Bay Street, one of the men put down a pizza box he was holding and ran up behind the family, shoving a boy up against a brick wall, according to police. The father of the boy chased the suspect on Bay Street and then down Gough Street, but the father eventually lost sight of the suspect. In the meantime, the other person accompanying the suspect picked up the pizza box and walked off, police said. The victim was treated at the scene for his injuries. The attack left the young victim emotionally traumatized, police said. Police described the suspect as a man about 25 to 35 years old who is about 6 feet tall with a medium build and brown hair. He had a bushy beard and wore a flannel shirt and jeans. Police are also seeking the suspect's companion, who they're considering a witness. He's described as a bald man who was wearing a trench coat. Police have released surveillance footage of the suspect from that night in hopes that someone from the public can recognize him. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or his companion is asked to contact the San Francisco police 24-hour tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text a tip to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the beginning of the message. Tipsters can remain anonymous. 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 Income Tax Department is planning to take strict action against individuals who did not declare ownership of properties in Dubai in their tax returns and failed to explain the source of funds when asked. The Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Wing of the I-T Dept prepared a list of 2,000 Indian citizens who owned properties in Dubai but did not declare this fact in their returns. This list was arrived at by scanning for all properties owned by Indians in the Gulf city-state. Of the individuals who had not declared their ownership, about one-third failed to explain the source of funds. The tax department is planning to prosecute them under the stringent Black Money Act, which could result in imprisonment as well as a penalty of up to three times the monetary value of the property not declared. Individuals from Mumbai followed by Kerala and Gujarat top the list of the 2,000 people who failed to make the declaration. Mumbai alone had 900 such individuals. While those that failed to declare ownership of properties but were able to explain the source of funds may escape with a penalty of Rs 10 lakh. Since 2011-12, all Indians are required to disclose details of ownership all foreign properties under the foreign assets head of their tax returns. According to the Shine.com jobs data, emerging skills such as Machine Learning and Data Analytics are set to dominate the skills landscape in 2020. The market is transforming at a breakneck pace. Amidst rapid technological adoption across organizations, several conventional job roles are becoming redundant and are being displaced by newer profiles with evolved skills requirements. The solution for job seekers and professionals in this environment is the continuous acquisition of industry-relevant skills. With a firm finger on the pulse of the fast-changing business ecosystem, Shine.com, Indias 2nd largest job search platform, has mapped the top skills that recruiters will look for in 2020. According to the Shine.com jobs data, emerging skills such as Machine Learning and Data Analytics are set to dominate the skills landscape in 2020. Traditional technical skills such as Java, SQL, C/C++, CSS, Linux/Unix, .Net, Sap, Cloud/Azure, HTML, AJAX, and Autocad will also continue to be in demand during the year. However, while organizations continue to gear up for a digital-first future by acquiring tech talent, recruiters will also look for soft skills such as communication, behavioural training and project management in prospective hires. Further, conventional skills such as marketing and advertising which are crucial for brand success will also remain relevant in 2020. In a region-wise analysis, the platform found that Bangalore, the IT hub of the country, will witness the continued demand for skills in SQL, Java, C/C++, etc. along with allied skills such as design and communication. Mumbai, the Financial Capital of the country, is expected to see an increased demand for marketing and communications skills along with Java and MIS. Interestingly, tier-2 cities such as Pune and Ahmedabad are also projected to register an increased demand for technical skills such as SQL, Python and Data structures. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Anthony Sampieri, 56, punched and raped a seven-year-old girl for 40 minutes A paedophile who bound and raped a seven-year-old girl in a toilet cubicle will die in jail after he was sentenced to life without parole today. Anthony Sampieri, 56, punched the girl in the face before dragging her at knifepoint into the bathroom of a dance studio in Kogarah, southern Sydney in November 2018. He wrapped a cord around her neck then raped her for 40 minutes while filming his attack. Sampieri then bound the girl's hands with a cord from his shorts and stuffed toilet paper in her mouth so she could not call out for help. As he left the bathroom, which was shared by the dance studio and other businesses, he was confronted by mechanic Nicola Gilio who was helping the girl's mother frantically search for her. Mr Gilio tackled him to the ground and, with the help of a dentist who rushed upstairs from his surgery underneath the studio, restrained him until police arrived. The rapist, who had his trousers down and was covered in blood, claimed to officers he was doing drugs, saying: 'I was shooting up and he's come in, beat me up and stolen my meth'. Judge Paul Conlon said Sampieri showed a 'complete lack of empathy for the child' and that the assault was 'any parent's worst nightmare'. 'One can only imagine the confusion and heightened state of fear she would have been in as he subjected her to sexual abuse of the most horrifying and degrading kind,' he said. The notorious child rapist tormented her for 40 minutes in a Sydney dance studio bathroom (pictured) Mechanic Nicola Gilio (pictured on Wednesday) was helping the girl's mother frantically search for her After grappling with Sampieri, Mr Gilio suffered large cuts but put the rapist in a headlock before dentist Jeffrey Stack (pictured on Wednesday) ran in and knocked out Sampieri The judge said the girl may be terrified of bathrooms, including in her own home, for the rest of her life. Sampieri, who will never be a free man again, only has a 60 per cent chance of surviving the next five years due to liver cancer which delayed his sentencing. At the time of the attack, Sampieri was on parole having been released from jail for raping a 60-year-old woman at her home Wollongong in 2012. In court today families were heard sobbing before they hugged and clapped when the sentence was read out. In the months before the shocking assault, Sampieri made 94 sexually explicit calls to various women including a 71-year-old community choir treasurer, a chaplain and 20 real estate agents. Police believe the calls were not properly investigated. Senior Constable Andrew Bruce, 32, has pleaded not guilty to neglecting his duties and will face court in April. His is suspended on full pay and denies any wrongdoing. Sampieri in June last year pleaded guilty to 10 charges related to the dance hall attack including three counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10. Hero diesel mechanic Nicola Gilio (pictured on a stretcher) found the girl and fought Sampieri in the bathroom, suffering several cuts in the melee He also admitted to charges related to sexually explicit and harassing phone calls he made to women in the months before. In a previous court appearance, Sampieri admitted he had repeatedly injected ice in nearby public toilets before the attack. He said he was in such a state of sexual excitement by the time he was in the dance studio facilities, he would have attacked anyone who had walked in. Last week Sampieri - dubbed the 'monster of Kogarah' - was heckled by members of the public as he entered a packed court room. 'There he is, the little piece of s**t,' one person said. Sampieri then took the stand, where told the court he was 'so sorry' for what he did. Senior Constable Andrew Bruce (pictured in November) is accused of failing to investigate Sampieri. He denies any wrongdoing 'I've had a while to think about this...I feel really, really bad for what I've done,' he said. 'Using crystal meth, I believe that led me to what I did. I'm sorry I let you down by using crystal meth.' The court was told Sampieri would use ice in public toilets and masturbate as he did not want to do it at his mother's home. He had notes around his house saying 'don't watch hardcore pornography' and 'don't do drugs', the court was told. He said ice use and deviant behaviour went 'hand-in-hand'. Court documents state the girl had just finished her jazz ballet class when she was attacked by Sampieri. The girl had been waiting with her mother in the carpark for her sister's class to finish when she returned to the hall to use the bathroom. As she entered the female bathroom she was confronted by Sampieri, who had been in the bathroom watching porn for the past hour. He grabbed her and pushed her into a cubicle but she resisted. He then punched the seven-year-old in the face before locking the door. Sampieri threatened her with a knife, tied a cord around her neck and dragged her to the male toilets. 'She felt like she could not breathe,' agreed facts state. Sampieri admitted the rape and seven other offences during the attack. Pictured: The scene Maintaining a grip of the cord, he then subjected her to sexual acts before stuffing toilet paper into her mouth, binding her hands and leaving the bathroom. Diesel mechanic Nick Gilio was with the girl's mother when they noticed someone standing in a cubicle in men's toilet during their frantic search. Sampieri walked out of the bathroom and was asked if he'd seen the girl. After telling them he hadn't, the girl's mother went into the bathroom to investigate. She was then followed by both men. Her horrified screams echoed through the building as she was reunited with her daughter. Mr Gilio grabbed Sampieri, slamming his head into the wall. After grappling with Sampieri, Mr Gilio suffered large cuts but put the rapist in a headlock before dentist Jeffrey Stack ran in and knocked out Sampieri. Dance teacher and local dentist Jeffrey Stack rushed to the bathroom after hearing the screams. THE MONSTER OF KOGARAH: HOW A LITTLE GIRL'S NIGHTMARE UNFOLDED November 15, 2018: Anthony Sampieri, 55, goes to a dance studio bathroom in Kogarah to take meth and watch porn on his phone. 6.48pm: A seven-year-old, wearing a black, silver and grey dance outfit, waits with her mother in the carpark for her sister's dance class to finish. She walks back to the hall to use the bathroom when she is confronted by Sampieri. Sampieri grabs her but she tries to resist. He punches her in the face before dragging her into a cubicle and locking the door. The girl then has a black cord tied around her neck and is threatened with a knife. He drags her to the male bathroom where he sexually assaults her. 7.30pm: A desperate search begins after the girl fails to return to her mother. The victim's mother and another parent, Nick Gilio, find Sampieri lurking in the bathroom before discovering the girl is also trapped inside. A fight breaks out between Sampieri and Mr Gilio. Mr Gilio suffers a serious cut to his stomach but manages to get Sampieri in a headlock. He suffers more cuts to his wrist, neck and ear. Despite suffering serious injuries, Mr Gilio holds Sampieri in the headlock on the ground. Sampieri is attempting to bite Mr Gilio when dance teacher Jeffrey Stack bursts into the room and punches Sampieri in the face. 7.56pm: Police arrive to find Sampieri naked from the waist down and covered in blood. The victim is taken to Randwick Children's Hospital. Advertisement He found Sampieri attempting to free himself from the headlock by biting Mr Gilio. Mr Stack then punched Sampieri hard in the face, knocking him out. Mr Gilio told the District Court in November he still had flashbacks of the attack and had become pessimistic about the world due to Sampieri's actions. The rapist later told police he'd been 'so high' before the attack as a result of using methamphetamine earlier that day. Last year Daily Mail Australia revealed that Sampieri was a 'loner' who cried in class when Elvis Presley died and later went on to become a strip club bouncer. Sampieri was at St Paul's College, in Manly, in the late-1970s. Shocked by his alleged crime, Sampieri's former schoolmates told how as a teenager he 'looked like a man' and how after 'falling in with the wrong crowd' left school early to become a bouncer at infamous Kings Cross strip club Porky's. Anthony Peter Sampieri (Pictured, circled) has been described as a 'loner' by ex-schoolmates at St Paul's Christian Brothers College in Manly, where he attended school in the late-1970s 'In 3rd or 4th form he started hanging around with the "wrong crowd" in Frenchs Forest or Forestville,' one former classmate said. 'He got himself a tattoo of a compass on his right arm high enough up so it wouldn't show when he wore his short sleeve school shirt.' Another recalled: 'He sat in front of me in class in Year 8 I think, crying... I asked what was wrong and he told me that Elvis had died.' 'If my memory serves me correctly... I bumped into Anthony Sampieri working on the door at Porky's in the mid 80's,' one ex-student said. 'I remember hearing he was a bouncer too. He was a nice guy, looked like a man in year 8 when we were still all kids,' commented one old boy. Another woman, who met Sampieri while he was dating her friend, said she was shocked to see his change in appearance in recent years. 'He was a partner of a really good friend of mine, but I didn't particularly like him,' the woman told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was a bit shocked actually when I saw they photos of him yesterday, because he was always a bigger king of guy, with long hair and what not - he'd changed a lot.' Ms. Song, 19, who speaks Mandarin and practiced during summer holidays in China visiting relatives, chose to study in China because she believes that, as an American born Chinese, she can help to dispel misconceptions on both sides. China is the worlds biggest developing country, she said, and I believe its relationship with the U.S. is going to be one of the most important for this century. With much of the city closed, Ms. Song is spending a lot of her time indoors. Inspired by her uncle, she has taken up calligraphy. She is also learning the differences in parenting styles between her uncle and her parents back in New York. My uncle cares a lot about the studies, she said, adding, Hes way more intense than my parents. Others who chose to stay are discovering how much they miss human interaction. Esma Dallakyan, a masters student from Armenia studying at Beijings Tsinghua University, spends most of her time studying in her dorm room. Campus life is increasingly isolating. All the streets are empty and you cant find anyone to talk to, she said, Its a little bit lonely. As a student of public health and a former Armenian health official, she has been getting a different kind education. Now, as I see the efforts of the government in real time, I feel like its an internship, said Ms. Dallakyan, 26. The former lead investigator into William Tyrrell's disappearance claims the head of the NSW Police homicide squad told him 'no one cares about that kid' and 'get him off the books'. The explosive claims were made at former homicide detective Gary Jubelin's misconduct trial in Sydney, where he faces charges of illegally recording conversations. Jubelin told Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday that then-Detective Superintendent Scott Cook made the comments some years ago. He claims Det Supt Cook stopped by his desk and pointed at a picture of William and said 'get him off the books, get him to unsolved homicide'. William Tyrrell (pictured), 3, disappeared from a home in Kendall, NSW, in September 2014 Gary Jubelin, 57, has pleaded not guilty to illegally recording four conversations with Mr Savage years into the investigation of the three-year-old's disappearance Police lawyers told the court that Cook, now a NSW Police assistant commissioner, 'categorically denies having said those words'. NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller within hours said he had 'full confidence in the professionalism' of Assistant Commissioner Cook. Jubelin also claimed Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson also told him: 'Don't worry, you won't be charged, there's no public interest in you being charged'. Jubelin is facing charges that he illegally recorded conversations he had with elderly Kendall resident Paul Savage which the Crown alleges were not covered by surveillance warrants. Jubelin told the court that then-Detective Superintendent Scott Cook (pictured) made the comments some years ago. He 'categorically denies having said those words' Other claims made in court include that he was warned by then-homicide commander Detective Superintendent Mick Willing that the investigation into the three-year-old's disappearance was 'all over the place' when he took it on. 'I was told words to the effect of 'Jubes, I need you to sort this out when you take it over, it's all over the place, the investigation',' he said. The 57-year-old also told the court the Tyrrell investigation was one of the most difficult he worked on in almost three decades on the homicide squad. The challenges included a lack of forensic evidence and direct eye-witnesses combined with limited staff resources and unreliable recording devices. Jubelin - who quit the force in 2019 - told the court faltering surveillance devices were a cause of great frustration for himself and the squad. 'I've seen people literally get away with murder because of failures of equipment,' he said. Paul Savage (pictured outside the inquest in 2019) lived across the street from William and was among hundreds of persons of interest Commissioner Fuller issued a swift statement of support for Assistant Comissioner Cook in response to Jubelin's claims. 'I have full confidence in the professionalism of Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook, who has more than 31 years of exemplary service with the NSW Police Force,' he said. Much of Assistant Commissioner Cooks career has been in criminal investigation with a specialised focus on serious and organised crime. He was promoted to superintendent in 2010 and became Asian crime squad commander, before being appointed as the first organised crime squad Commander in 2015. Jubelin oversaw the search into William's 2014 disappearance from Kendall on NSW's mid-north coast The senior officer was promoted to head of homicide in 2018, and earned the Australian Police Medal in 2019 'He exemplified the definition of a leader and reimagined the review process for unsolved cases to improve communication with the families of victims and deliver answers and justice in more cases,' Commissioner Fuller said. Jubelin oversaw the search into William's 2014 disappearance from Kendall on NSW's mid-north coast. He's contesting allegations he knowingly used a recording device to record private conversations in 2017 and 2018. Mr Savage, 75, denies any involvement in the three-year-old's disappearance. Early in my career, when I was working as a developer for a New York media company, I had a colleague who was constantly worried about getting canned. To be fair, these were turbulent times turnover was high and company-wide restructuring was frequent so his worries werent entirely misplaced. Still, the way he coped was by spending all his energy completing every task flawlessly, consequential or not. He was so consumed with preventing anything bad from happening that he had no energy left for the reason he pursed that line of work in the first place: Following creative hunches and exploring ideas outside of the box. My old colleague is hardly the first person to react to uncertainty this way. Many of us have a tendency to worry about the future, and as a result, we avoid allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. It makes sense: self-preservation is a natural instinct. Thats why we buy home security systems and squirrel away money for rainy days. But planning away negative outcomes is a fruitless endeavor. And it might even hurt our businesses. Control is an illusion Theres a reason why many couples choose to have destination weddings in the Caribbean: a beach sunset is a beautiful backdrop. But really, theyre hedging their bets for great weather. Most of the time it works out, but sometimes the sky darkens and it rains on your wedding day. Like bad weather or in-laws getting along, there will always be things in life that we cant control. Pain is part of the human experience, and it would be naive to think we can escape it. But that doesnt stop us from trying to put it off as long as possible. Somehow, that feels more comfortable than acknowledging the reality that life is messy and often unpredictable. The same goes for running a business especially in todays world, where digital platforms are the dominant business model and their trajectories are largely unpredictable. The idea that we could somehow ensure only positive outcomes is naive at best and damaging at worst. Writing for Forbes, Kumar Mehta, author of The Innovation Biome, explains: Even the most innovative companies fail more often than they succeed. Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft companies widely regarded as the most innovative companies in the world have had more failures than successes, more misses than hits. But the most innovative companies have a culture where they learn from failure, not just celebrate it. If we focus entirely on trying to predict the future working in a reactive mode we might fail to keep up with the present. And the ability to relinquish some control means getting comfortable with vulnerability. With vulnerability comes loyalty Merriam Webster defines vulnerable as open to attack or damage. On a personal level, that means letting down our guard and showing who we are, weaknesses and all. On an organizational level, vulnerability means accepting the possibility of failure or, in other words, taking risks. Taking off your workplace armor can open you up to deeper connections with colleagues. Harvard Business Review shared a telling example of this kind of vulnerability. Years ago, Hubbl founder Archana Patchirajan called a staff meeting to announce that she had to let everyone go because her startup had run out of funds. Though they could have easily found work elsewhere, her employees refused to leave, offering instead to work for significantly less. The story has a happy ending Hubbl was acquired a few years later for $14 million. But the story's real lesson was why the staff chose to stay. HBR explained: Archanas relationship with her employees is deeper than that of the usual employer-employee relationship. Simply put, she is vulnerable and authentic with them. When we let our guard down, we can really let people in, and thats the most powerful way to inspire loyalty and engagement among colleagues. Work can be a cold place, so a little vulnerability can go a long way. Vulnerability fosters risk-taking Higher levels of vulnerability embracing risk and accepting the possibility of failure sets the stage for creativity, something that the most innovative and prolific companies understand. Consider Coca Cola Co. In 1985, the beverage company release a reformulated version of its beloved soft drink, and was met with some serious backlash. Coca-Cola quickly switched back to its original formula, but the failure rippled through the company culture, ushering in a long period of cautiousness. But recently, Coca-Cola's new CEO James Quincey has acknowledged that the company has fallen into a rut of complacency. He's urged managers to move beyond their fear of failure, saying, If were not making mistakes, he insisted, were not trying hard enough. Likewise, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, whose business was built by leaning into risk, has commented: If youre going to take bold bets, theyre going to be experiments. And if theyre experiments, you dont know ahead of time if theyre going to work. Experiments are by their very nature prone to failure. But a few big successes compensate for dozens and dozens of things that didnt work. Sometimes its impossible to predict how a product will be received. It was impossible to foresee that Google Glass would tank but Amazons Alexa would become a household name, or to know whether longtime customers will enjoy your new beverage. One things for sure: You cant control a users subjective experience. But you can commit to learning from flubs and focusing on factors within your command. Focusing on what we can control Of the myriad things that we cannot control, one thing that we can is our response in the face of negative outcomes. Not only does this approach allow us to let go and focus on the present, but it makes failures into teachable moments. At my company JotForm, I encourage employees to take risks and investigate new ideas, no matter how seemingly far fetched. We even carve out dedicated time for that kind of exploration. The only caveat is that if and when we do make a mistake, we take a moment to step back and figure out the why. Maybe customers dont like a product update, or maybe they simply prefer a choice. As long as were reflecting, listening and pushing ourselves to new creative heights, it's all worth it. There are many ways to encourage letting go, from establishing failure awards that celebrate projects that went awry, to openly disclosing your own missteps and what you learned from them. Once you create a culture that embraces failure, you might be surprised by how much your business grows. Related: The Best Entrepreneurs Know When to Lose Control To Take More Risks, Reframe Your Flaws as the 'Juicy Stuff' Difficult Conversations Can Jump Start Company Innovation Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has an encounter with an Alpaca during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meets with children from two local nurseries during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meets with children from two local nurseries during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge helps feed a Lamb with children from two local nurseries during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. The Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtonards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge helps children feed a lamb during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. RETRANSMISSION AMENDING SPELLING OF NEWTOWNARDS The Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge helps children feed a lamb some milk during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 12th February 2020 - HRH The Duchess of Cambridge pictured at The Ark Open Farm in Newtownards. During her visit to the farm, HRH will met with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefitted from the work of the charity. Young children from two local nurseries were also present. The Duchess received a guided tour of the facility, meeting with the owners and staff of the family-run farm and viewed various animals during her walkabout. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. The Duchess of Cambridge strokes an alpaca during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire RETRANSMISSION AMENDING SPELLING OF NEWTOWNARDS The Duchess of Cambridge greets members of staff during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge (left) at The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she met with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge strokes an alpaca during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge (right) at the Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, meets parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge talks to a young boy at the Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, where she also met with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge arrivies at the Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, to meet with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to members of the public as she arrives at The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, to meet with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to members of the public as she arrives at The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast, to meet with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the public at the Ark Open Farm, in Newtownards, near Belfast, during a visit to meet with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the public at the Ark Open Farm, in Newtownards, near Belfast, during a visit to meet with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire The Duchess of Cambridge shields her eyes from the sun as she meets members of the public at the Ark Open Farm, in Newtownards, near Belfast, during a visit to meet with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire NEWTOWNARDS, NORTHERN IRELAND - FEBRUARY 12: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meets with children from two local nurseries during a visit to The Ark Open Farm on February 12, 2020 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. This visit is part of her Early Years Foundation Survey. Five Big Questions, aiming to spark a UK-wide conversation on early childhood. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The Duchess of Cambridge strokes an alpaca during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast. February 12, 2020 The Duchess of Cambridge was in Northern Ireland for a visit of Ark Open Farm, which celebrates its 30th anniversary, in Newtownards on Wednesday. She met with families and children for a tour around the farm, which is set in 40 acres and is home to a variety of animals - including some exotic species. The farm visit is part of a whistle-stop tour to Northern Ireland to highlight the Duchess's support for the Early Years programme, which aims to support soon-to-be parents. Owner Stewart Donaldson who runs the popular family attraction with his wife, Lorraine joked that he had been warned beforehand that there is one particular Ark Farm resident the Royal wasn't keen on meeting - a snake. Mr Donaldson told Belfast Telegraph that he was delighted to welcome the Duchess of Cambridge to Ark Open Farm in what is a very special year for the family-run farm. "It's our 30th anniversary. We're all very excited. It was quite a job keeping her visit secret. We had only 10 days notice," he explained. "We have a plaque which Kate will unveil to mark our 30th anniversary." Read More Father Gareth Alexander who came with his four-year-old son James to meet the royal said it was great Kate had made the trip to Co Down. "It's fantastic she's here to mark the farm's 30th anniversary," he said. Fellow parent, Claire Savage who was with her daughter, Alexa, agreed. "I think the parents are more excited than the kids," she said. "I've always wanted to meet Kate and say hello. I don't think the kids know what's going on." Following a tour of the farm, which was the Duchess's only engagement in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, she travelled to Aberdeen. New Delhi, Feb 12 : A heart-breaking video of two elderly patients of coronavirus went viral on the social media which shows a man diagnosed with COVID19 feeds water and food to his wife who is also a COVID19 patient. The video was shared by a leading media outlet with the caption: "I'll love you forever, every single day of forever: An 87-yr-old man diagnosed with #COVID19 held an infusion bottle to visit his wife, also a #COVID19 patient, from the ward next door and patiently gave her water and food. Hope you recover soon!" In the video, one can see that the man diagnosed with novel coronavirus held an infusion bottle to visit his wife who is also a coronavirus patient and feed her water and food. As the post went viral, Twitterati is in the love of the patient and pray for their speedy recovery. A user wrote, "This is true love so beautiful to see! Wishing them a speedy recovery." Another wrote, "Time to figure out the source of this virus once and for all so it can be neutralized and not continue to pose a risk to your people." "I hope that the love will overcome the virus", read one post. A post remarked, "May she pull through. God bless them both." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Miscreants did not target AAP MLA Naresh Yadav: Police India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Feb 12: Hours after a shocking firing took place on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy, Southwest Additional DCP Ingit Pratap Singh has said that Yadav was not the target of the miscreants who opened fire on Tuesday night. In the attack, a party volunteer (Ashok Mann) lost his life. Speaking to reporters, Southwest Additional DCP said, "So far, the investigation has revealed that there was one assailant. Naresh Yadav wasn't the target. The assailant had specifically come to target the man who was shot dead (AAP volunteer)." Reacting to the shocking incident, Yadav said that the incident was "unfortunate". "The incident is really unfortunate. I don't know the reason behind the attack but it happened all of a sudden. As many as four rounds were fired. The vehicle, in which I was travelling was attacked. I am sure if police inquire properly they will be able to identify the assailant," Naresh Yadav told reporters. Volunteer accompanying AAP MLA Naresh Yadav shot dead in Delhi According to reports, Yadav's convoy was attacked while it was passing through the Kishangarh area. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 The AAP MLA, who was accompanied by his party volunteers, was returning from a temple visit from Mehrauli when the incident happened. Naresh Yadav had won from Mehrauli assembly constituency. According to the police report, at least seven bullet shells were found at the crime scene and further investigation is underway. In the recently concluded Delhi assembly election, AAP won in 62 constituencies with a voting percentage of 53.57. The BJP, on the other side, managed to bag eight seats with a vote share of 38.51 per cent. Meanwhile, the Congress drew a blank for the second time in Delhi election. Ferrari's newly-revealed 2020 car is "extreme" and "radical" in areas, team figures said on Tuesday. "I know it looks the same, but I assure you that it is not," Italian media quote team boss Mattia Binotto as saying. "It is an evolution of last year's car, but we were also extreme in some areas." Last year, Ferrari got a shock when it travelled to the early races, having seemed dominant in winter testing. "We have made some slightly more radical choices in certain areas of the car," added Charles Leclerc, according to Ouest France newspaper. "We worked a lot - a lot. I don't think we have necessarily followed the example of the other teams." Indeed, many are regarding 2020 as an extension of 2019, as the rules are similar. 2021 ushers in one of the biggest packages of rule changes in F1 history. "Last year's car was the starting point. We have taken all the concepts to the extreme," Binotto said. (GMM) Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has approved additional flights to and from Sharurah Airport, in the Najran Province, near the Yemeni border. The kingdom's national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will operate twice weekly return flights to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah from March 1. The move is part of GACAs effort to develop the regional airport network in Saudi Arabia. The aim is connecting the kingdom with an integrated air network and raising the level of competitiveness and striking a balance between supply and demand in the air transport market. Lately, GACA started its efforts with Prince Nayif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al-Qassim Region, Prince Abdulmohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Yanbu, Hail International Airport and Taif International Airport, and today it continues to implement its development efforts at Sharurah Airport. - TradeArabia News Service Trade focus: US president Donald Trump will likely seek re-election later this year. Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst An emboldened president Donald Trump has set his sights on restructuring the more than $1trn US trade relationship with the EU, raising the spectre of another major trade war as the global economy slows. Mr Trump, who recently signed a phase-one trade deal that cooled a bitter trade war with China, has called the EU's position on trade "worse than China" and threatened to impose tariffs on its cars and other products. EU officials say they are willing to work with him to address some irritants in the relationship, but they warn that they will retaliate against any US efforts to punish the trading bloc. "In the economic realm, we're evenly matched. And we will defend ourselves," Norbert Roettgen, a senior German conservative lawmaker, said on Friday after meetings with White House and State Department officials. "We will respond to US tariffs, and we know how to structure them to be effective." On Friday, two days after Mr Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial in the Senate, the US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, said he was being recalled from his post, making the path of any future negotiations even more uncertain. Mr Sondland had testified during the impeachment inquiry in the US House of Representatives. The near-term outcome may be a 'mini-deal' like the phase-one agreement signed with Beijing last month that does not solve bedrock issues but will allow both sides to declare a truce, trade experts say. The United States, the world's largest importer, and the 27-member EU face entrenched conflicts over airline subsidies, agricultural trade barriers and EU plans to tax big US digital companies, among other issues. The EU was the top US export market in 2018, before the United Kingdom left the bloc, led by aerospace products and computers. After scotching a free trade agreement with Europe, the Trump administration is focused on shrinking its growing deficit in goods, which hit here a record $178bn in 2019. "That can't continue," United States trade representative Robert Lighthizer said in December. In December, the World Trade Organisation's appellate body, which acts as a supreme court for international trade disputes, became paralysed after the Trump administration repeatedly blocked the appointment of new judges. The White House and Brussels are essentially without an arbitrator. Reuters UPDATE, Feb. 12 at 9:15 a.m.: While the Nandan's website lists Target as one of their retailers, Target tells InStyle that it has no affiliation with the factory and representatives are looking into the matter. Seven workers have reportedly died in a fire that broke out in the Nandan Denim factory in Ahmedabad, India on Feb.8. According to Indian Express, the bodies of the workers were recovered between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The cause of the fire is unknown; however, the report says that the factory was not ventilated, and that there was only one exit on the first floor, accessible only by ladder. The Express also reports that six people, including the owner and managing director of Chiripal Group, which owns the factory, are in custody for "culpable homicide and negligence." The factory is one of the leading producers of denim, and its retailers reportedly include Zara, Target, and Ralph Lauren. According to Laura Gutierrez, the South Asia Field Director of the Workers Rights Consortium in Washington D.C., inspection issues are likely a part of this problem. "If they did inspect it [the factory], they failed to identify and fix the deadly hazard that killed these workers," she told InStyle via email. "We believe that an enforceable agreement between workers and brands is the only way to eliminate the safety risks in the industry," she explained. "We have seen this model lead to sweeping improvements to factories in Bangladesh under the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, which we hope to see expanded to India and Pakistan." Bangladesh was where the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed in 2013, killing over 1100 workers. RELATED: Fashion Nova Is Under Fire for Reportedly Using Underpaid Factory Workers Labor protections are one of the most pervasive issues in the garment industry, and the lack of reliable oversight is a major part of the problem. A 2018 study from Common Objective concluded that every year, over a million work-related injuries take place in the garment industry, and they are often due to facility neglect and even abuse. One of the most recent examples of this happened just two months ago when a fire broke out at a handbag factory in India, where 43 workers died. InStyle has reached out to Nandan for comment. Vladimir Putin's surprise firing of Russia's government and unveiling of constitutional changes that would weaken the presidency may only be Plan B for retaining power after his final term ends in 2024. In the month before Putin's Jan. 15 announcement, he pushed hard to convince his longer-serving counterpart in Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to revive a moribund agreement to create a superstate between the neighboring former Soviet republics, two Kremlin officials said. So far, Plan A has failed, even after another face-to-face between the leaders in Sochi last Friday. And Lukashenko, a former collective farm boss who's run his country of 10 million like a personal fiefdom for a quarter century, is paying the price for rejecting Putin. On Jan. 1, Putin started squeezing the lifeblood of Belarus's economy -- cheap crude oil, which Belarus refines and exports for badly needed hard currency. Russian oil supplies to Belarus plunged by three-fourths in January and officials in Moscow say flows may stop altogether if Lukashenko doesn't agree with its producers on market prices. Absorbing Belarus would allow Putin to sidestep term limits by becoming the leader of a new "Union State." Lukashenko, though once a supporter of the merger, is adamantly opposed, people close to the Kremlin said. The idea was first agreed in principle in 1999 between Lukashenko and Russia's then-ailing president, Boris Yeltsin. "Putin sees himself as a world leader and it's very hard for him to disassociate himself from the role of president," said Gleb Pavlovsky, a Kremlin adviser from 2000 to 2011. While the constitutional amendments Putin is advocating would give him some oversight over his successor as head of a strengthened State Council, the "ideal option is Belarus," he said. The standoff is becoming an issue of international concern, especially in light of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in the wake of the overthrow of a Putin ally in Kyiv in 2014. The Defense Ministry in Lithuania, which borders both Russia and Belarus, warned in its 2020 threat assessment that Lukashenko has few cards left to play to resist Putin's pursuit of "deeper political integration." The Lithuanian report followed the first visit to Minsk by a U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, since 1994. Pompeo told Lukashenko on Feb. 1 that American companies stood ready to meet Belarus's oil needs at competitive prices. That marked a stark turnaround from previous U.S. administrations. In 2005, Condoleezza Rice, then-President George W. Bush's secretary of state, called Lukashenko's Belarus "Europe's last dictatorship." The following year, Bush imposed sanctions on Lukashenko's "regime" for undermining "democratic processes," penalties that were prolonged and widened by the Obama administration. Lukashenko, 65, has proven deft at playing East and West off one another to maintain his country's independence. Addressing voters ahead of presidential elections in August, he said Pompeo's visit created a "scandal" in Russia, so imagine the reaction if he decided to become friends with U.S. President Donald Trump. "If Trump comes tomorrow, what will they do then?" Lukashenko said in remarks posted on his website. "We are establishing relations with the greatest empire, the leading country in the world." Lukashenko said in an interview with Russia's leading talk radio station on Dec. 24 that Putin once offered him a parliamentary job in Moscow if he allowed their two countries to unite. Asked by Ekho Moskvy about getting dragged into Putin's plans for staying in power after 2024, the Belarusian leader said, "I'm not involved in this and I will never be. And I told this to your president. I don't need anyone to give me some parliament post in Russia -- even if they convict me and bring me there in handcuffs! Never!" So far, Lukashenko still has a firm grip on power at home, where the state controls most major media outlets. Public support in Belarus for the Union State has fallen to about 40 percent from 60 percent in the last year, inversely tracking the rise in tensions over energy supplies, according to Andrei Vardomatski, an independent pollster in Minsk. The timing of Putin's renewed pressure is instructive, given Lukashenko's re-election bid and the importance of discounted oil to the domestic economy, said Dzmitry Kruk, senior fellow at the BEROC research group in Belarus's capital. "Paying full world prices for oil -- an increase of about 20% over the level Russia charged last year - would be a severe shock," Kruk said. "The economy would feel a serious impact within months, which is hardly acceptable from a political perspective." One reason Belarus has gotten such sweetheart deals from Russia in the past is its role as the biggest conduit of combined oil and gas flows to Europe. Russia's Druzhba, or Friendship, pipeline to consumers in Western Europe handles about 20% of all crude exports outside the former Soviet Union. And state-run Gazprom moves about 20% of all Russian gas shipments to Europe through Belarusian pipes. Lukashenko has responded to his country's dependence on cut-rate oil from its former communist master by ordering the government to find enough new suppliers in the Middle East and elsewhere to slash Russia's market share to at least 40%. Last month, Belarus ordered its first-ever shipment of crude from Norway, delivered via Lithuania. For Putin, Belarus is a key link in a nascent Customs Union the Russian leader hopes one day will stretch from the Asian Pacific to the European Atlantic. Belarus has also been increasingly cooperative when it comes to Russian military movements and bilateral intelligence sharing, according to the Lithuanian threat assessment. Lukashenko, in comments to various media outlets in recent months, has hinted at having three main ways to counter Russian political and economic aggression if needed -- slowing energy flows westward, hamstringing post-Soviet integration efforts and complicating lease renewals for Russian military facilities, some of which are due to expire this year. "The big question, though, is how consistently Lukashenko will be able to stick to these positions in the event Russia exerts sustained economic and political pressure," said Andrei Yeliseyeu, a research director at the Warsaw-based EAST Center. - - - Bloomberg's Ilya Arkhipov contributed to this report. Ten arrested in connection with molestation of women in Gargi College India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 12: Ten people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College here last week, police said. The accused are between 18 and 25 years of age, they added. Over 11 police teams were looking into the technical details available and also visiting various sites in NCR to identify the suspects and investigate the case, the police said. Many people are being questioned and multiple suspects have been identified, they added. According to the police, the accused persons were outside the college when the fest was underway. A senior police official said the accused are students of various colleges in Delhi and NCR areas. They gathered outside the gate of the college, vandalised a car and then broke in, he added. Police said the accused jumped over the barricades placed by the college security staff, outnumbered them and then misbehaved with the women students. Officials said the investigation was on and more people could be arrested. Students of Gargi College have been boycotting classes, demanding that the fact finding committee constituted following the incident show its findings. A case was registered on February 10 at the Hauz Khas police station under IPC sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 13th, 2020 A group of men had broken into the institute during the 'Riverie' fest on February 6 and allegedly groped, harassed and molested the attendees. JNU violence: ABVP releases eight videos, accuses Left-leaning groups of attacking students The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their ordeal. Students and teachers also posted on other social media websites about the incident. Over 100 students held a protest on February 10 outside Gargi College. The students had alleged that Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police personnel were deployed close to the gate from where the men entered. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, February 13, 2020, 0:29 [IST] The coronavirus has hurt all travel-related companies, but cruise ship operators have been especially hard-hit, thanks to news and images of passengers quarantined in the Port of Yokohama, Japan, or stranded at sea, looking for a port to accept them. Although stocks in the big three cruise ship operators have gotten slammed this year, the companies have yet to offer significant price cuts, but that could change if the virus, now called COVID-19, is not quickly contained. Our Asia cruise business stopped overnight, said Jay Johnson, owner of Coastline Travel Advisors in Orange County. His sales overall are off 5% this year compared to the same period last year. Cruise bookings are down more than that, everything else is up. People who have cruises booked to Asia for the next few months are asking for cancellations. Right now most cruise lines are not allowing refunds but will let them rebook a different cruise, he said. Many cruise lines have canceled or rerouted ships calling on ports in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and some other Asian countries through mid-March. Passengers on canceled trips have been offered full refunds and credits for future travel. For everyone else, there is no single policy, said Chris Gray Faust, managing editor with CruiseCritic.com, which has been tracking ships in the region. The only ship with confirmed coronavirus cases is the Diamond Princess, owned by Carnival. It has been docked at the Port of Yokohama since Feb. 4 with 2,666 passengers. Japans health ministry said 174 of them are infected. Johnsons clients Carol and Otis Menasco of Granite Bay are on board the ship. We are very isolated, confined to our cabin, Carol said via email. Passengers are allowed on the deck in rotating shifts for about 1 hours every other day, but we do not go out as we have a balcony and that feels safer. The crew is treating us well. They deliver a limited food selection to our door. They are not allowed to come in. We did run out of our medications and my husband had to get pretty aggressive to get refills. The couple has been on about 20 cruises, but will stay away from Asia now, Carol said. We understand the quarantine but this is very hard to miss two weeks from your home that you didnt plan on. We have two cats that will have been boarded five weeks by the time we get home and we have missed many appointments, she added. Carl Court / Getty Images Holland Americas Westerdam departed Hong Kong on Feb. 1 with scheduled stops in Taiwan and Japan. It was supposed to end in Yokohama on Feb. 15, but on Feb. 6, the company said Japan banned it from all Japanese ports. It was also denied entry in Taiwan and South Korea and rejected by ports in Manila and Guam, according to CruiseCritic.com. It was supposed to dock in Bangkok Thursday, but now that is uncertain. Christina Kerby, a public relations executive with Blue Shield of California in Oakland, has been tweeting about her experience onboard the Westerdam and posting pictures of spin classes and other activities to show that the passengers are upbeat and going about our lives as normally as possible, she said via LinkedIn. Johnson has other clients aboard the Crystal Symphony, which left San Diego Jan. 13 and was traveling the Pacific islands and Vietnam. It picked up passengers in Guam on Feb. 1, said Lea Bregner, their travel adviser. It was supposed to end in Hong Kong Feb. 15, but that port has been closed. Its now scheduled to dock in Singapore Wednesday. The passengers are not quarantined, there are no cases of coronavirus and there are plenty of food choices, Bregner said. The boat stopped to dump sewage and take on extra fuel to cover floating aimlessly. Shares in Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruises, the two biggest operators, which each own numerous brands, are down more than 15% this year, compared to a 4% return for the S&P 500. Cruises that leave and return from China make up only 5% and 6% of their total trips, respectively, said Patrick Scholes, an analyst with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Shares in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are down about 10% even though China accounts for less than 0.2% of its trips. As of Feb. 4, Royal said it had canceled eight cruises out of China through March 4. Carnival hasnt quantified its cancellations, but a trade magazine reported that it had canceled nine in the Costa line as of the end of January, Scholes said. Cancellations can have a disproportionate impact on earnings. If the cruise gets canceled on short notice, they are not going to get rebooked, Scholes said. Their crews are usually on six- to 12-month contracts and get paid even if there are no passengers. There is also some food spoilage, extra fuel if the ship is rerouted and loans for the ship still have to get paid. Tuna Amobi, an analyst with CFRA Research, downgraded Royal Caribbean and Norwegian this week. We are wary that this could have an impact not just on Chinese travel but on other key markets like the U.S. and Europe, he said. All cruise lines that belong to the Cruise Lines International Association have adopted passenger-screening measures developed by the association. These include denying boarding to all persons who have traveled from, visited or transited via airports in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, within 14 days before embarkation. They also say to deny boarding to anyone who, within 14 days of embarkation, had close contact with anyone suspected or diagnosed as having the coronavirus. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes January through March is known as wave season, when cruise lines try to fill their ships during the crucial summer months by offering extras such as booze packages, free Wi-Fi or shore excursions. Thats going on now. But apart from some softness in Asian pricing, there has not been any widespread discounting yet, said Morningstar analyst Jaime Katz. Gabe Saglie, senior editor with the website Travelzoo, said that Carnival is seeing some cancellations. People staying on are getting upgraded, but overall prices havent fallen. Avid cruisers are going to wait to reschedule that Asian cruise, or put their cruise dollars into another destination. The industry may see a bit of a pullback among people who would have taken their first cruise in 2020. Cruise lines arent jumping to cut prices because coming into the year, demand was strong. It was looking like 2020 could be a record year before this outbreak, Amobi said. If the epidemic ends soon, theres no need to cut prices for summer travel. The SARS outbreak in 2003 impacted the industry, but nothing on this level, with quarantines, Amobi said. The incident that had the biggest impact was the sinking of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy in 2012, which killed 32. The hulk of the ship could be seen for more than a year, serving as a grim reminder of the disaster. The next year, a fire knocked out power on the Carnival Triumph, and more than 4,000 passengers and crew were stranded at sea for days, mostly without air conditioning and working toilets, before it was towed into Mobile, Ala. The journey came to be known as the poop cruise. Those two events hurt cruising in general, Scholes said. People were saying, you cant pay me to take a cruise, and prices fell. It took two to three years to see the cruise lines start to recover. Carnival suffered the most. The coronavirus outbreak is so fluid that no one is hazarding a guess when it will end or where it will lead for the industry. Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender Raphael Coleman at the premiere of Nanny McPhee in 2005. The actor and climate activist has died aged 25. (Getty Images) Raphael Colemans mother has said the sudden death of the Nanny McPhee star aged just 25 is every parent's worst nightmare". The Extinction Rebellion activist and former child actor who played Eric Brown in the film alongside Emma Thompson and Colin Firth died of heart failure while jogging in South Africa. His mother, writer Liz Jensen, said in a statement to The Sun: "It's almost too much to bear. We are in despair but determined to honour his memory and ambitions. We are heartbroken but so proud of him and his work to protect our Heaven on Earth. He inspired so many people and was so loved. Read more: Nanny McPhee actor Raphael Coleman dies at 25 "He was beautiful and wise and it's hard to imagine how life will continue. But it must and will and he'd want that. We were so lucky to have him, he brought such joy. Rest in peace my beloved son Raphael Coleman, aka Iggy Fox. He died doing what he loved, working for the noblest cause of all. His family could not be prouder. Lets celebrate all he achieved in his short life and cherish his legacy https://t.co/qFRKPT7rRG Liz Jensen (@LizJensenWriter) February 7, 2020 "It's every parent's worst nightmare. It seems he died of heart failure he was running and laughing when he collapsed. It was blessedly quick." Coleman went by the name Iggy Fox and worked with the climate change awareness protest group Extinction Rebellion, handling its social media. He was training for a protest to stop animal poaching at the time of his death. Nanny McPhee stars Jennifer Rae Daykin, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Holly Gibbs, Eliza Bennett, Sam Honywood and Raphael Coleman at the 2005 premiere. (Getty Images) His stepfather Carsten Jesten wrote on Facebook: He collapsed without prior health problems in the middle of a trip and could not be restored. He said: There's nothing that makes you see death as unfair and meaningless as when a young person dies. It's life itself that's sabotaged. Our hearts are broken. We send our love & condolences to Iggy's mother, Liz, one of the founding members of Writers Rebel "I'm rebelling in love for this world & the wild" RIP Iggy, an inspiration for us all. https://t.co/q3vMHB7Hwz XR Writers Rebel (@XrRebel) February 7, 2020 Extinction Rebellion said: Our hearts are broken. We send our love & condolences to Iggy's mother, Liz. RIP Iggy, an inspiration for us all. Story continues Coleman was just 11 when he appeared in family film in 2005, and he and several other actors in the cast were singled out for recognition at the Young Artist Awards, whose past winners include Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina King and Mila Kunis. He earned his only other acting credits in 2009, when he appeared in horror film Its Alive, the Milla Jovovitch thriller The Fourth Kind and a comedy short, Edwards Turmoil, for which he won an award for recognition as the Best Young Actor at the Brussels Short Film Festival. Read more: Late Disney star Cameron Boyce's parents open up on the circumstances of his death Coleman wrote in an undated essay that he had left a career in science to work with Extinction Rebellion. After seven years studying, researching and protecting nature as a wildlife conservationist, I stopped fieldwork and deferred an MSc in order to rebel full-time, he wrote. Because no matter how many surveys I ran, how many turtle nests I protected, or how many young people I educated about sustainability, the seas kept rising, forests kept burning, plastic kept clogging the beaches, and our data kept showing that wildlife was being decimated. He added: Im rebelling in love for this world and the wild. American Factory is a documentary feature directed by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar (The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant, 2010). The film focuses on how Fuyao, a Chinese glass company, reopens and revitalizes the former General Motors Moraine assembly plant in Dayton, Ohio. The work won in the best documentary feature category at the Academy Awards on Sunday night. It was the first film produced by Barack and Michelle Obamas production company, Higher Ground Productions. In her acceptance speech Sunday, co-director Reichert, a Democratic Socialists of America member who is battling cancer, declared, Working people have it harder and harder these daysand we believe that things will get better when workers of the world unite. Fine words, but American Factory, in reality, promotes the American trade unions and the Democratic Party, principal instigators of nationalism and chauvinism. American Factory Following the films victory, Barack Obama tweeted, Congrats to Julia and Steven, the filmmakers behind American Factory for telling such a complex, moving story about the very human consequences of wrenching economic change. Glad to see two talented and downright good people take home the Oscar for Higher Grounds first release. The documentary opens with the closing of the GM Moraine assembly plant in December 2008. Five years later, as part of a wave of Chinese companies investing in manufacturing in the US and re-opening shuttered American plants, Fuyao decides to open a glass factory at the former GM facility and starts hiring. From the films first scene, at a Fuyao information session meant to recruit local residents and former GM workers, Reichert and Bognar indicate where their principal interests lie: in the issue of Chinese versus American labor practices and culture and the fate of a United Auto Workers unionization campaign at the Ohio plant. An American Fuyao executive asserts during the companys presentation, What we are doing is melding two cultures together: the Chinese culture and the US culture. When asked by a worker later in the session whether the factory will be a union shop, the same executive replies that it will not be, and it is our desire not to be. The first half of American Factory is devoted to the period that immediately follows the opening of the glass factory, showing the various dilemmas faced by Fuyao management in trying to turn a profit. Reichert and Bognar take a superficial approach to the matter, presenting all the companys problems in production and management as stemming from the differing American and Chinese cultures. A major challenge facing Fuyao America management is the factorys deficit after its initial period of operation, which places immense pressure on the local executives. Fuyaos chief reveals in an interview that the company attributes the relatively poor production level to the supposed inefficiency of the American workers. When a group of US executives visits the production line at Fuyaos headquarters in the province of Fujian, they witness an apparently drastic difference between the working cultures of the two countries, and conclude the low output of the American factory can be explained by what the company officials see as laziness and a lack of discipline in their US workforce. Steven Bognar, Michelle Obama, Julia Reichert and Barack Obama Compared to Chinese workers, who are only able to take one or two days off every month, the American workers need eight days off. The US managers are amazed by the discipline of Chinese workers, who, at the beginning of each shift, stand in rows, participate in chants and begin their work by taking orders from the foreman. In a conversation between a Chinese and an American executive, the two observe the US workers tend to chat while working, and that the best means of remedying this would be duct tape. Put it over their mouths. They will perform better, one says. With the lessons and training drawn from this visit, the management team goes back to the US and starts implementing new policies, such as having pre-shift meetings where workers line up. Meanwhile, the Ohio workers are increasingly disgruntled with Chinese-style management. Workers complain about the dismantling of their lunch room to make space for production lines, high temperatures in the factory and the narrow space between production lines. One former GM worker explains that at the auto plant she made over $29 an hour, while she now earns less than $13. Chinese transplanted workers also suffer. They have been brought to the US, forced to leave their families for several years at a time. A US worker expresses her disagreement with the drive to speed up production: We have Chinese [bosses] who want numbers on this side, and customers who want quality on the other side. While the filmmakers seem to take the Chinese-American conflict explanation at face value, what unfolded at Fuyao America was not really about a conflict between two distinct cultures. Such a reduction shows the failure of Reichert and Bognar to understand the more fundamental driving forces bound up with the global integration of the capitalist economy. That employees at Fuyaos Chinese factory work longer hours in more dangerous conditions is the direct result of capitalist restoration and the market reform measures that have taken place in China since 1978. During this period the ruling bureaucracy in Beijing has opened up a cheap, highly exploitable labor market to foreign investors. Workers opposition to the harsh conditions is repressed by a brutal police state. Rob Haerr and Wong He in American Factory Moreover, the relatively safer (but not at all genuinely safe) working conditions and better benefits US workers have experienced are not the result of some inherently American attitude toward work, but the outcome of protracted struggles waged over the course of a century. What the documentary makers also fail to recognize is that the turn towards stricter work rules, longer working hours, lower pay and highly intrusive management practices have not arrived at the Dayton plant because a handful of executives observed conditions at a Chinese factory. No, the shift toward the hyper-exploitation of labor is part of a broader social counterrevolution ongoing in every industry in the US aimed at taking away whatever limited social gains workers achieved in a previous period. While American Factory truthfully presents some of the hardships facing Fuyao workers (low salaries, the unaffordability of housing, an overheated working environment, uncompensated workplace injuries, unaddressed safety concerns in the factory), its failure to examine the larger global shifts taking place leads the filmmakers to advance a wrongheaded perspective. The fatally false notion that the UAW will fight for the interests of workers is presented uncritically. Fuyao management firmly opposes the union at the factory, and even hires a legal team to interfere with the workers unionization vote. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democrat from Ohio, attends the opening ceremony and promotes the benefits of the UAW. Fuyao founder Cao Dewang, a billionaire, thunders that if the union comes in, Im shutting down. On this basis, Reichert and Bognar, connected to the Democratic Party and the Obamas, choose to assume that the the enemy of ones enemies must be ones friend. However, the UAWs track record of betrayalsincluding in the last two major US auto contracts, as well as the organizations multi-million dollar corruption scandalis not addressed. An even more glaring omission is the role the UAW played in the closure of the GM assembly plant in Dayton, the very plant where Fuyao established its US production. The conditions facing workers, both in the US and China, certainly constitute a worthy subject for examination in a documentary. However, Reichert and Bognar limit their analysis to cultural conflicts at a single factory and fail to uncover the global socioeconomic processes behind the circumstances in which the workers find themselves at Fuyao. The filmmakers disregard of these complex processes opens the door for a portion of the political establishment, like the Obamas, to use the film to advance a nationalist and pro-UAW outlook. Richa Chadha has essayed some pretty impressive roles in the past, in films like Section 375, Gangs Of Wasseypur, Masaan and so on. The actress is all set to play the part of a Chief Minister in her next film. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film is titled Madam Chief Minister, and it is the toughest role Richa says she has worked on so far. According to the makers of the film, Richa was the natural choice for director Subhash as she is someone who is socially and politically aware. Madam Chief Minister was shot and wrapped in a schedule of just 40 days. The filming took place in Lucknow, between November and December. Talking about the film, Richa said in a statement, "Happy to announce that our labour of love Madam Chief Minister has been announced. My toughest part yet, I'm grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with particularly witty Subhash Sir and with the splendid cast Manav, Akshay Oberoi and Saurabh Shukla." Richa was last seen in the courtroom drama Section 375, co-starring Akshaye Khanna. Her performance as a prosecutor on a rape case won her much critical acclaim. According to reports, Madam Chief Minister is said to be an intense love and drama film. As Richa revealed, the cast includes Manav Kaul, Akshay Oberoi, Shubrajyoti and Saurabh Shukla It is scheduled for release on July 17, 2020. ALSO READ: Richa Chadha Reacts To Having Political Differences With Kangana Ranaut, Her Panga Co-star ALSO READ: Richa Chadha Reveals Marriage Plans With Ali Fazal: 'We Don't Have Time, We Are In A Happy Space' Rise, the advocate group for gender diversity within the broadcast manufacturing and services sector, has launched the third edition of its annual mentoring scheme. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The UK-based mentoring is free and is open to those women already working within the broadcast technology sector but is also open to those who aspire to be in the sector that are currently working within another industry. It will work with 20 mentees from broadcast operations, engineering, sales, marketing and business.Each mentee will be assigned a mentor and will have at least 12 hours of mentoring contact with their industry professional. The mentees will also have the opportunity to meet with their mentee group on a monthly basis, as well as attend industry networking events and workshops throughout the six-month period.Rise is supported by companies including Avid and Sky (Gold sponsors) as well as Clear-Com, Audio-Technica Europe, Ross Video and the DPP (Silver). Rise Up, a new school outreach initiative to inspire and educate children about broadcast technology, is supported by BT Sport and Sky.The programme continues to deliver above and beyond the expected impact for all involved, mentees, mentors, as well as industry partners supporting it, remarked Rise director Carrie Wootten. We really cannot thank you all enough. We are very much looking forward to welcoming 20 more women into the 2020 programme and supporting them throughout the next several months watching their progress and celebrating their successes.The deadline for entries is 17 March 2020 and mentees can apply to the scheme at https://risewib.com/mentoring/ The programme is still seeking sponsors for 2020. Contact Sadie Groom, founder of Rise , for more details at RESTON, Va., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, today announced a partnership agreement with Rusada to become a systems integrator for ENVISION, Rusada's Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Flight Operations software. ENVISION is used by aircraft operators, MRO providers and manufacturers to efficiently manage their maintenance and airworthiness activities. The web-based software utilizes the most up-to-date technologies to empower aviation decision-makers, providing them with helpful and informative data that adds value to their organization. Under the agreement, Rusada will continue to be the software product developer. Leidos' Airborne Solutions Operation (ASO) will serve as the systems integrator providing services to install, configure, operate and apply the software for customer's aviation business. "As a premier provider of airborne solutions, Leidos is committed to keeping its customers abreast of best-of-breed technology enhancements," said Kevin Lansdowne, senior vice president of Leidos Airborne Solutions. "This agreement will leverage both companies' expertise to deliver next generation software for airlines and aircraft operators across the globe." "This partnership is the natural conclusion of the great work we have already done together," said Julian Stourton CEO of Rusada. "Both companies strive to deliver the highest quality services in our respective fields and together we present an unparalleled offering to aviation companies across the globe." About Rusada Rusada is a global aviation software provider established in 1987 and headquartered in Switzerland. With operations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas, Rusada supports 100+ major customers worldwide with software that manages 2,000 aircraft in over 40 countries. Contact: Chris Prior +44 1295 231619 [email protected] About Leidos Leidos is a Fortune 500 information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 36,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $10.19 billion for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2018. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com. Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 28, 2018, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SOURCE Leidos Related Links http://www.leidos.com The defense attorney said juries make America great. Later, he bent down on his knees in front of the jury, and another time jolted his arms up and down and exclaimed of his client: "Did she murder her husband? Did she murder her husband? Did she murder her husband? And one of the defendants covered his face with a sign that said: Prosecutor you must tell the truth! Those were some of the histrionics in the first hours of the trial of Adrienne Smith, and her brother Orville Cousins, Wednesday morning in Superior Court of Bergen County in Hackensack. Adrienne Smith, of Bergenfield, is charged with killing her husband Randolph Smith in December 2016. She and Cousins, of the Bronx, New York, are also charged with unlawfully desecrating human remains, unlawfully moving human remains and hindering by concealing. Adrienne Smith is also charged with lying to law enforcement. Randolph Smiths remains were found about 80 miles away, in Burlington City, in six bins and a laundry basket. The theatrics mostly came from one of Adrienne Smiths attorneys, Frank Lucianna. After days of motions and a judges admonishment of Lucianna, he was nearly removed from the case after chastising Cousins attorney Michael Deblis last month. Several jurors were dismissed after hearing Luciannas outburst, but he was ultimately allowed to stay on the case with strict limitations imposed by Judge Christopher Kazlau. During her openings, Assistant Prosecutor Yomara Castro laid out Randolph Smiths final days starting on Christmas 2016, the day Adrienne Smith allegedly killed her husband of 10 years after shed grown convinced he had been unfaithful. Everything that she did after she murdered Randolph Smith was in an effort to get away with it, said Castro. To cover up her heinous act. The day after the alleged crime, Adrienne Smith and Cousins went to Home Depot to purchase disposal tools, including a reciprocating saw, blades, cement and various cleaning items, Castro said. Adrienne Smith, a surgical technologist who had assisted in countless surgeries for more than a decade, used her expertise to dismember her husbands body into 13 pieces, she said. She puts those skills to use, Castro said. After cutting up her husbands body, Adrienne Smith and Cousins encased the body parts into cement, Castro said. Days later, Cousins would buy six plastic totes for the body parts before visiting his friend Kareem Edwards in Burlington City on January 12, 2017, Castro said. During testimony Wednesday afternoon, Edwards, who said he had been friends with Cousins since he was 13, remembers remarking on how heavy the totes were. While helping carry the totes, Cousins gave Edwards black gloves to handle the totes and a laundry hamper, although Edwards said they didnt look dirty, he said. Cousins and Edwards left the bins and the hamper on Edwards porch, he said. It wasnt until after Cousins cooked Edwards family dinner with groceries he bought at a local Shop Rite that a feeling of unease began to settle in for Edwards. I just thought everything was kind of odd," Edwards said. "The whole day didnt sit well. Later on, armed with a flashlight, Edwards went to inspect one of the totes and smelled a foul odor, he said. First thing I got was an odor I had never smelled in my life, he said. As he inspected another bin and the laundry hamper, Edwards smelled the same stench. Panicked, he and his wife went to a local police department and reported what happened that same day, he said. On Jan. 15, 2017, authorities arrested Cousins at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York with a one-way ticket to Jamaica. Also during the afternoon session, Dr. Robert A. Middleberg, a forensic toxicologist, testified about the presence of zolpidam - more commonly known as Ambien - in Randolph Smiths body. Although toxicology reports did not show a specific dosage, Randolph Smith had been exposed to zolpidem within 24 hours of his death, the doctor said. During cross examination, Frank Carbonetti, one of Adrienne Smiths attorneys, pointed out that Middleberg did not conduct any of the tests himself, merely having reviewed data from another toxicologist. He also pointed out that it was unclear if Randolph Smith had a prescription for the drug. So theres a lot of unknowns. Correct? Carbonetti said to Middleberg. Middleburg confirmed there were unknowns. Earlier in the day, during his opening statement, Lucianna, one of Adrienne Smiths attorneys, told the jury that listening to the details of the case would be difficult, but that their duty to the court was to remain unwavering and that the central questions were what could have motivated Adrienne Smith to kill her husband. Youre going to go through hell listening to some of this case, said Lucianna, his voice raising. "But after youve heard it all youre going to say Mr. Lucianna is right. Adrienne Smith is not guilty of murder. Not guilty of murder. Not guilty of murder. Adrienne Smith, of Bergenfield, left and Orville Cousins, of Bronx, N.Y. EJA 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. The Syrian Arab Army has struck back with artillery against the Turkish military positions near Nayrab, allegedly wounding seven reports Al-Masdar. The Syrian Army has reportedly struck the Turkish military again this week while responding to heavy artillery from the militants entrenched with the latter. According to the latest report from Idleb, the Syrian Arab Army fired several artillery shells towards the source of the attack, which targeted their positions near the town of Nayrab on Tuesday. Some opposition activists have alleged that the artillery shells wounded several Turkish soldiers near the town of Taftanaz; however, nothing has been confirmed as of yet. At the same time, the Syrian Arab Army scored a new advance in southwestern Aleppo this afternoon, as their troops reportedly captured the town of Kafr Nouran from the jihadist rebels of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. As a result of this advance, the Syrian Arab Army finds themselves on the cusp of reaching the key town of al-Atareb in the southwestern countryside of Aleppo. 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. Portland, OR, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global medical laser industry was pegged at $6.94 billion in 2018 and is estimated to reach $16.22 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 10.8% from 2019 to 2026. The report provides an extensive analysis of the market dynamics including drivers & restraints, major winning strategies, market size & projections, competitive landscape, and major segments. Request Sample Report at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2549 Increase in the adoption of medical lasers for cosmetic surgeries, a rise in the incidence of various chronic diseases globally, and surge in technological advancements have supplemented the growth of the global medical laser market. Whereas, high cost of medical lasers and lack of acceptance of the new technology impede market growth. On the other hand, expanded applications of lasers across clinical areas are projected to provide lucrative opportunities in the near future. The global medical laser market is segmented into type, end-use, application and region. Based on type, the market is categorized into solid-state laser systems, gas laser systems, dye laser systems, and diode laser systems. The solid-state laser systems segment held the largest share in 2018, contributing to nearly two-fifths of the global medical laser market. However, the diode laser systems segment is projected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 13.6% during the forecast period. Based on end-use, the market is divided into surgical, cosmetic and dental. The surgical segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 11.6% through 2026. On the other hand, the cosmetic segment accounted for the highest share in 2018, contributing to more than half of the global medical laser market. The global medical laser market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The market across the North America region held the largest share in 2018, contributing to more than two-fifths of the revenue. However, the market across Asia Pacific is estimated to register the fastest CAGR of 12.3% during the forecast period. For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2549 Key market players analyzed in the research include Boston Scientific Corporation, IRIDEX Corporation, Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd., Syneron Medical Ltd., Novartis AG, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Bausch & Lomb Holdings, Inc, Biolase Inc, Lumenis Ltd, and CryoLife, Inc. Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Electronic Health Records Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Disposable Medical Gloves Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 3D Printing Medical Devices Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Cold Plasma Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions. AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Thousands of people who qualify for a fast-track healthcare scheme that allows them to skip Northern Ireland's lengthy hospital waiting lists will miss out once the UK formally leaves the EU. The Cross Border Healthcare Directive (CBHD) gave people fast access to medical procedures and treatment for conditions such as hip and knee replacements. Under the directive, a qualifying patient covered the cost of having the operation in another EU country but received a full refund within 30 days. In Northern Ireland, this usually meant crossing the Irish border for surgery, and vice versa. Over 1,000 people have been approved for the scheme this year, but Health Minister Robin Swann admitted it will not be available next year. He was responding to a question by Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan, who said an alternative should now be sought. Currently the 7,000 people here who need a replacement hip or knee can expect to wait from between 56 weeks in the Belfast and Southern Trusts, and 93 weeks in the Western Trust for a hip replacement. The delay facing people needing a knee replacement is even longer, ranging from 65 weeks in the South Eastern Trust to 114 weeks in the Western Trust - but through the scheme these operations could be done almost immediately. Mr Durkan said: "It is clear that an alternative to the EU directive must be sought, and I welcome that the Department is currently considering policy options in relation to the principles within the CBHD, for the post withdrawal period. "The increased public awareness coupled with the North's lengthy waiting lists have led to the soaring number of approvals - the highest number coming from the Western Trust, unsurprisingly, given that the WHSCT also holds the highest waiting times in the region." Mr Swann said his department is looking at alternatives. Minister for Planning, Professor Gyan Baffour has said in line with the service charter by Private Enterprise Federation (PEF), it will not only fulfill the promise of President Akufo-Addo but also emphasise Governments commitment to private sector developments and citizens' participation. According to him, it must be the duty of industry players to ensure they do not only abide by the charters but rather it becomes their daily references to the services they deliver to the public. Speaking at the launch of Service Delivery Charters, Reports on Administrative Corruption And PEF Public Institutions Services Delivery Awards in Accra, the Minister said As we launch this service charters developed by the various agencies in the fight against corruption in Ghana, I urge you to strongly ensure the adherence of PEFs Service Delivery Charters to ensure it become a living document." He said he is confident in the private sector growth for national development, efficient and quality service delivery for citizens satisfaction in wealth creation. The Minister also revealed that in its attempt at eradicating corrupt practices in the country, it has also been informed that some of the existing licensing regimes in this country have so many lapses. He however noted that some delays are the causes of the problems. He emphasized that it is for this reason PEF is at the center ensuring the requisite business development support services are available and capacity is built for sustainable private sector led development that seeks to wipe out corruption. Quoting President Akufo-Addo on the agenda for jobs, creating prosperity, equal opportunity for all, Prof Gyan Baffour stated, Building Government machinery that works remains a major role of Government over the medium term. This entails undertaking institutional reforms as well as strengthening the capacity of public sector institutions to deliver public goods and services efficiently. He added that specific strategies to be implemented include the realigning of institutions to address conflicting mandates and improve coordination. Prof Gyan Baffour further mentioned that modernising the public service institutions for efficiency, productivity, improving leadership capabilities on delivery in the public service will improve accountability in the public service by introducing a Citizens Charter. He was confident that restructuring State Owned Enterprises will help make them more productive and efficient. The Minister charged National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to continue educating and sensitizing citizens on their rights and responsibilities as enshrined in the constitution. In her Presentation, Legal Practitioner with Kasser Law Firm, Clara Kasser-Tee revealed that anytime a citizen makes or triggers the system on the basis of complain on allegations of corruption, there will be an immediate attention. She said If each Agency is leaving small complains of corruption to CHRAJ or Special Prosecutor, I am sure this will help in the fight against the canker. The Legal Practitioner noted that although some Institutions had the Service Delivery Charters, it was advisable to review to identify gaps and improve on them. She added that transparency was one of the Service Delivery Charters aims since one of the problems associated with corruption identified was delays adding that some Institutions did not know what to do. Programmes Director, STAR-Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu noted that corruption tends to affect the poor and vulnerable in the society as they have no option than to pay higher prices for goods and services. He said Corruption poses an essential threat to Ghana and if we dont tackle it, it will begin to generate into something that will be more unpleasant for us Mr. Amidu hinted that STAR-Ghana has taken a stand to be more active in the fight against corruption adding that it two years ago provided approximately GHc14 Million to 25 Organizations to undertake various actions across the country. The Private Enterprises Federation (PEF) believes that it will promote responsible businesses and safeguard the environment for enhanced productivity. Background The Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) is a non-profit, non-political, autonomous institution under the Ghana Companies Code, Act 179. PEF seeks to promote the creation of an enabling environment for a competitive and profitable Private Sector Growth in the country. It also improves the business environment for enhanced competitiveness through advocacy and capacity building. It also provides business development information and market linkages. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday introduced a high yielding hybrid clone of rubber sapling 'RRII 429' to augment the commercial cultivation of natural rubber in the northeast state. The hybrid clone of rubber sapling is cold and disease resistant and will help the rubber growers of the state to increase their income, Deb said. The chief minister said, "Tripura is the second largest rubber growing state in the country after Kerala. Our government is giving much importance in augmentation of rubber production. We want to produce more rubber which is of good quality." Deb said many items are now exported to foreign countries, including neighbouring Bangladesh, but we get maximum profit from rubber. "About Rs 1,400 crore is earned from rubber export and this new clone will help increase rubber production and boost the states economy," he said. Rubber Board Chairman Sawar Dhanania and Executive Director KN Raghavan were present during introduction of the hybrid clone of rubber sapling. Dhanania said this clone can produce more than 1,500 kg per hectare per year compared to the output from RRIM 600 clone which yields 1,200 kg per hectare per year. After 23-years of multi-locational field trials in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, the Rubber Board has evolved the new cold and disease tolerant hybrid rubber clone RRII 429 to expand the ongoing natural rubber cultivation in the North- eastern states and increase production and productivity, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman has died in Tehran of a suspected coronavirus infection, an Iranian state newspaper reports. Without citing any sources, the daily IRAN newspaper said on February 12 that the 63-year-old Iranian woman died in hospital three days earlier. An investigation has been ordered into the cause of her death, according to the report. Kianush Jahanpour, a spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry, denied the report, insisting that there have been "no cases of coronavirus in Iran." Russian Patients Discharged Meanwhile, Russia has discharged its second patient hospitalized with the new coronavirus after the patient fully recovered from the disease, officials say. A tourist from China hospitalized in the Siberian region of Zabaikalye was discharged on February 12 after tests showed he was "completely healthy and poses no danger to people around him," according to local health officials. The previous day, a hospital in the Tyumen region bordering Kazakhstan discharged a Chinese female student who had also been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. Both patients suffered from a mild form of the disease, doctors said. People who were in contact with them are still under quarantine. The COVID-19 has killed more than 1,100 people in China, where the overall number of infections now stands at more than 44,000. As the epidemic spread to more than 20 countries around the world, Russia reported only two confirmed cases of infection with COVID-19, according to the countrys consumer-protection agency Rospotrebnadzor. Russia has evacuated dozens of its citizens from China and placed them under quarantine in the Tyumen region. The government has halted most of Russian air traffic to China, suspended all trains connecting Russia to China, and closed the land border between the two countries. Moscow has also temporarily stopped issuing work visas to Chinese citizens. Uzbeks Send Medical Supplies Elsewhere, Uzbekistan is sending protective cloths, disposable gloves, masks, and other supplies to China to support Beijing's efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus. President Shavkat Mirziyoev signed the relevant decree on February 11, the government said, as a fully loaded military cargo plane departed the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The February 12 cabinet statement said the government was preparing a second shipment. Chinese authorities have been reporting shortages of protective medical equipment since the COVID-19 virus emerged late last year. So far, there have been no confirmed cases in Uzbekistan or the other four Central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan has stopped all regular flights to China, its major trade partner, as a protective measure. The countrys Health Ministry said 771 Uzbek citizens who had recently returned from China remained in quarantine. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP Outraged commentators warned Wednesday that revelations the CIA and Germany's intelligence service had for decades used a Swiss encryption company for spying had seriously damaged Switzerland's cherished reputation for neutrality. Critics voiced particular concern that Bern may have been at least tacitly complicit in the secret operation. Switzerland, which takes pride in its neutral and non-aligned status, "was hosting a quasi ally intelligence agency," the Tribune de Geneve daily said in an editorial. Swiss officials "very likely" knew what was going on but "closed their eyes" in the name of neutrality, it added. Home to the United Nations European headquarters and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Switzerland is recognised worldwide for its standing as an honest broker. But media revelations Tuesday told how for decades the US and West German intelligence services raked in the top-secret communications of governments around the world. The Trojan horse they used was their hidden control of Swiss encryption company Crypto AG. The company supplied devices for encoded communications to some 120 countries from after World War II to the beginning of this century, including Iran, South American governments, and India and Pakistan. Unknown to those governments, Crypto was secretly acquired in 1970 by the US Central Intelligence Agency together with the then West Germany's BND Federal Intelligence Service. The Swiss government said Tuesday it had named a retired federal judge to look into the matter, with his findings due out in June. But Carolina Bohren, a Swiss defence ministry spokeswoman, stressed the difficulties ahead. "The events in question began in 1945 and are difficult to reconstruct and interpret today," she said. Bern also announced it had suspended export licenses for Crypto's successor companies, until the situation has been "clarified". But a number of political parties, insisting that far more needed to be done, on Wednesday called for a full-blown investigation. The Swiss Socialist Party wondered in a tweet whether the country's own intelligence service was a "victim or an accomplice", demanding "clarifications and a full investigation". The Greens and Christian Democrats also suggested a parliamentary commission might be called for. (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, February 12, 2020 13:56 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20640ab4c 1 Tips travel,scams,tourists,tourism Free Traveling is often an enriching experience but more often than not scammers around the globe are waiting to prey on unsuspecting tourists. To ensure your holiday is an enjoyable one, stay on high alert for these common scams: Corrupt cab drivers The broken cab meter is a frequently reported travel scam all over the world; the driver will claim the meter is broken and charge you an exorbitant price. But the cab driver scams dont stop there; USA Today reported some drivers will go as far as dropping a large note and picking up a smaller hidden one in an attempt to have you pay more. The solution? Book a cab from a hotel or restaurant, always insist on using the meter and ensure youre watching the driver when exchanging money. Tour scams A tour can be a great way to see the highlights of any destination, but travelers need to be aware of fake tours that can trick anyone out of hundreds of dollars. News.com reported a Balinese tour guide charging deposits of up to US$200 and then failing to return the money, offering instead a myriad of excuses. One way to avoid this is always ensure youre going through a trusted company or guide, check the reviews and ask for recommendations. Fake police Fake police are extremely common around the globe and often travelers fall victim to fake authorities who are only out to make some easy money. These smooth criminals will approach you, asking to search your wallet for counterfeit money. While they search your wallet, theyll help themselves to your money. Other versions of the scam include requesting your passport and requesting cash up front. One solution offered by ABC.net.au is to never hand over your possessions before seeing police identification or to suggest visiting the police station to assess your items instead. Read also: Five tourist scams you should watch out for in Europe Be aware of the Wi-Fi Wi-Fi is readily available in in almost all public spaces but Forbes warns unsuspecting travelers of phony airport Wi-Fi that can be used as a device for identity theft. Scammers will create Wi-Fi hotspots with names almost identical to the airport's Wi-Fi, then access personal information from those who log in. The recommended solution for this one requires close attention. As most airports have signs indicating their Wi-Fi name, be sure to stay on the lookout for copycat names that are nearly identical. A not so happy snap Theres no blaming the tourist who wants a photo of their holiday but Traveller.com warns of thieves who approach people by offering to take a photo, only to run off with their camera or phone. Avoid this by never handing over your camera or phone to a stranger, no matter how pure their intentions are. If you absolutely need that special shot, invest in a selfie-stick. Or maybe just try living in the moment. (mad/kes) Topics : travel scams tourists tourism US and German intelligence services raked in the top secret communications of governments around the world for decades through their hidden control of a top encryption company, Crypto AG, US, German and Swiss media reported Tuesday. The Swiss company was a top supplier of devices for encoding communications to some 120 countries from after World War II to the beginning of this century, including Iran, South American governments, and India and Pakistan. Unknown to those governments, Crypto was secretly owned by the US Central Intelligence Agency together with Germany's BND Federal Intelligence Service. Together they rigged Crypto's equipment to be able to easily break the codes and read the government's messages, according to reports by the Washington Post, German television ZTE and Swiss state media SRF. - 'Coup of the century' - Citing a classified internal CIA history of what was originally called operation "Thesaurus" and later "Rubicon," the reports said that in the 1980s the harvest from the Crypto machines supplied roughly 40 percent of all the foreign communications US codebreakers processed for intelligence. Meanwhile, the company took in millions of dollars in profits that went to the CIA and BND. "It was the intelligence coup of the century," the history says, according to the Washington Post. "Foreign governments were paying good money to the US and West Germany for the privilege of having their most secret communications read by at least two (and possibly as many as five or six) foreign countries." The BND had no immediate reaction to the story. CIA spokesperson Timothy Barrett declined to comment on it. - Portable coding machine - Crypto AG was founded by Russian-born entrepreneur Boris Hagelin who fled Scandinavia to the United States in 1940 when the Nazis occupied Norway. He had created a portable mechanical encryption machine that could be used in the field, Some 140,000 were produced for US troops during the war by the Smith Corona typewriter company in New York. After the war Hagelin moved to Switzerland and began producing more advanced encryption machines American spies worried would allow governments everywhere to shield their communications. But the premier US cryptologist, the National Security Agency's William Friedman, persuaded Hagelin to restrict sales of his most advanced machines to countries approved by Washington, while older machines -- with penetrable encryption -- were sold to others. - Cutting out the French - When integrated circuits replaced mechanical encryption in the 1960s, the NSA helped Hagelin design new machines, which included coding that US cryptologists knew how to crack. When Hagelin sought to retire, the United States headed off a French government effort to buy his company and arranged its own takeover. In 1970, the US and Germany reached a deal to take it over for $5.75 million -- with the stipulation that the French be excluded. They then controlled virtually all Crypto AG's operation, hiring the staff, designing the technology, and directing sales. The intelligence operation underlying Zug-based Crypto Ag had long been suspected and was alluded to, but never proven, in documents that surfaced decades ago. The company's true ownership was masked by front companies in Liechtenstein registries. While scores of countries bought Crypto's coding machines, the top Western adversaries, Russia and China, never trusted them. Apparently nervous about being exposed and uncomfortable with the CIA's aggressive targetting of both friends and rivals with Crypto machine sales, BND pulled out of the relationship and the CIA bought its shares in the 1990s. Bernd Schmidbauer,former secret service coordinator for the German government, confirmed the story to ZTE. "The Rubicon operation clearly contributed to making the world a little safer," he said. - Overtaken by apps - With online technology, including advanced encryption apps, now more powerful than the kind of machines that Crypto AG made, the CIA finally sold the company in 2018, the Post reported. It was broken into two companies. Its Swiss-client business remained in Zug under the new name CyOne, and the international business and company name were taken over by Swedish investor Andreas Linde. The Swedish company, Crypto International, called the news reports "very distressing." "We have no connections to the CIA or the BND and we never had," the company said in a statement on its website. "We are currently assessing the situation and will be commenting once we have a full picture." Carolina Bohren, a Swiss Defense Ministry spokeswoman, said the government was informed of the Crypto AG case last November and has named a retired federal judge to investigate. Meanwhile the country has suspended export licenses for Crypto's successor companies. "The events in question began in 1945 and are difficult to reconstruct and interpret today," Bohren said. PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton has hit out at "cruel and disgusting" posters which feature an image of a police officer injured in a dissident republican bomb attack. It is believed the posters erected in Londonderry, which feature an image of Peadar Heffron, are an attempt to intimidate people considering a career with the PSNI. Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: These posters can only be described as cruel and disgusting and have clearly been created by those who fear a fully representative police service. The cowards who hide behind this fake rhetoric and who ridicule the resolve, commitment and bravery of every person who works every day to keep each of you safe, have nothing to offer our society and should be condemned by all right thinking people. I would urge anyone who comes across these posters, either online or physically, not to share or circulate this material further. Mr Heffron suffered life-changing injuries in an under-car bomb attack in 2010. Due to the severity of his injuries, his right leg had to be amputated. Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson condemned those behind the posters, saying they were crass and offensive. Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer, they have no politics and no strategy to achieve anything," the Foyle MLA said. Its well past time they got off the backs of the community. "This tactic is disgusting and disgraceful and comes from an unrepresentative groups with little support in the community. "Everyone should have the right to choose their career path free from any fear or intimidation. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood also condemned those behind the posters. "Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer the people of the North and they must get off the backs of the local community," he said. The SDLP is resolutely committed to a diverse and inclusive PSNI, which serves the whole of our community. Anyone should have the right to follow their chosen career path without fear of intimidation or attack. DUP MLA Gary Middleton added: "The PSNI is a police service for everyone in Northern Ireland. Constable Peadar Heffron served the entire community and these disgusting images cannot undo his service or that of current police officers and staff, from whatever background they come. "Dissident elements will not succeed in their attempts to take us backwards. These posters however demonstrate once again the importance of a united community stance, not just in opposition of those who would threaten or use violence, but pro-actively in support of choosing policing as a career." It comes after Sinn Fein revealed that deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and MLA Gerry Kelly have been informed by police that dissident republicans are threatening to attack them. The threat is thought to be in relation to Ms O'Neill and Mr Kelly's attendance at a PSNI recruitment earlier this month. Sinn Fein's attendance at the policing recruitment event was seen as groundbreaking, given the party's historically uneasy relationship with the police. While Sinn Fein has supported the PSNI since 2007, the party has declined to attend passing out parades for new recruits. In 2015 an attempted bomb attack was launched at a Londonderry hotel that had been due to host a PSNI recruitment device. The device was recovered within the grounds of the Waterfoot Hotel. Two men were subsequently jailed for the attempted bombing. The four lawyers who prosecuted Roger Stone have quit the case after the Justice Department overruled them and said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for President Donald Trumps long-time ally and confidant. The departures raised immediate questions over whether Mr Trump, who earlier in the day had blasted the original sentencing recommendation as very horrible and unfair, had at least indirectly exerted his will on a Justice Department that he often views as an arm of the White House. The department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made on Monday night, before Mr Trumps tweet, and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. Even so, the departures of the entire trial team broke open a simmering dispute over the punishment of a Trump ally whose case has long captured the Republican presidents attention. The episode was the latest to entangle the Justice Department, meant to operate free from White House sway in criminal investigations and prosecutions, in presidential politics. The four lawyers, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia team, comprised the entire Justice Department trial team that won convictions against Stone last autumn. Roger Stone arrives at Federal Court (Cliff Owen/PA) Each had signed onto a Monday sentencing memo that recommended between seven and nine years in prison for Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. None lent their names to a Tuesday memo that called the original recommendation excessive. The departures leave in limbo the resolution of a case that was one of the signature prosecutions of Mr Muellers team and that cut to the heart of his mission, to determine whether the Trump team had access to non-public information about Democratic emails hacked by Russian operatives and provided to WikiLeaks. Mr Trump was back on the attack late Tuesday, slamming the original sentencing recommendation and questioning the judge overseeing the Stone case. And by early Wednesday, he had tweeted a congratulations to Attorney General William Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have been brought, suggesting the prosecutors had gone rogue. Mr Barr, the Justice Departments leader, has been a steady ally of the presidents since taking the position. Mr Barr last year cleared the president of obstruction of justice even when Mueller had pointedly declined to do so, and has declared that the FBIs Russia investigation, which resulted in charges against Stone, had been based on a bogus narrative. It was unclear what sentence the department will ultimately seek, a new sentencing memo filed Tuesday evening indicated that the original recommendation was too harsh but proposed no specific punishment of its own. A Justice Department official said authorities decided to step in and seek a shorter sentence because they had been taken by surprise by the initial recommendation. In their revised sentencing memo, Justice Department officials argued the initial recommendation could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances but also said they would defer to the court. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. A mass exodus from a case is also rare, though the tumult did conjure an episode from last summer when Justice Department lawyers abruptly left a lawsuit over whether a citizenship question could be added to the census. I have the absolute right to do itPresident Donald Trump The day of upheaval began with a morning tweet from Mr Trump that the Stone case was a miscarriage of justice. He later told reporters he didnt speak to Justice Department officials, though he said he could if he wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldnt believe, but I didnt speak to them, Mr Trump said. Hours after Mr Trumps tweet, a Justice Department official called the original recommendation extreme and grossly disproportionate to Stones crimes and said it would file a new sentencing memo. The departures began soon after. Aaron Zelinsky, a Mueller team member, quit the case and his job in Washington, with plans to return to his position as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore. Another early Mueller team member, Adam Jed, also withdrew from the case. Roger Stone arriving for a court hearing (Andrew Harnik/AP) His status at the Justice Department was unclear. Another federal prosecutor in Washington, Michael Marando, withdrew from the case, and a fourth trial team member, Jonathan Kravis, resigned his position as an assistant US attorney. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original recommendation. People wear protective masks as they cross a footbridge at a mall in Beijing on Feb. 11, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) US Total Rises to 14 as Wuhan Evacuee Tests Positive: Coronavirus Updates For Feb. 12 Roughly two dozen countries around the world have taken precautionary measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as the death toll continues to rise. This page has updates from Feb. 12. For updates from Feb. 13, click here. US Total Rises to 14 as Wuhan Evacuee Tests Positive The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that another person has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The individual was one of the Americans evacuated from Wuhan and quarantined in Southern Californias Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego County on Feb. 7. One other evacuee at Air Station Miramar tested positive for the virus on Feb. 10. Read More American Evacuated From Wuhan Is 13th Confirmed US Case of Coronavirus The CDC has said that the two patients arrived on different flights and were housed in different facilities on the base. At this time, there is no indication of person-to-person spread of this virus at the quarantine facility, but CDC will carry out a thorough contact investigation as part of its current response strategy to detect and contain any cases of infection with this virus, CDC on-site team lead Dr. Chris Braden said in a statement. The new case is the 14th to be detected in the United States and is the eight known case in California. There are currently more than 600 Wuhan evacuees are under federal quarantine. More Cases Reported in Singapore Singapores Ministry of Health announced on Feb. 12 that three more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the national total to 50. None of the three new patients have reported a recent travel history to China. However, one patient, a 34-year-old Singaporean man, was in Malaysia on Jan. 26. He began having symptoms of the virus on Feb. 1 and tested positive on Feb. 11. Malaysia currently has 18 known cases of coronavirus. Among the countrys 50 cases, 15 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital, while eight are in critical condition in the intensive care unit, according to the announcement. Also on Feb. 12, Lawrence Wong, Singapores Minister for National Development, said during a press conference that it was too early to tell how far the virus has spread in the population. Many people have asked how this situation would unfold in the coming days and weeks. And the honest answer isit is still too early to tell, he said. We really cannot say whether it will get better; whether it will get worse; what sort of situation is going to unfold. We have several scenarios. We can very well expect to see more cases coming up in future. UK Confirms 9th Case of Virus The UKs Department of Health has confirmed another case of COVID-19 after a woman who recently arrived from China tested positive at St Thomas Hospital on Feb. 12. Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England said that the new patient takes the national total in the UK to nine. This virus was passed on in China and the patient has now been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at Guys and St Thomas in London, he said. Mobile World Congress Canceled Organizers of the worlds biggest mobile technology fair are pulling the plug over worries about the viral outbreak from China. The annual Mobile World Congress show will no longer be held as planned in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 24-27. Global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event, John Hoffman, head of the organizing body, said in a statement Wednesday. The decision comes after dozens of tech companies and wireless carriers dropped out, with the latest cancelations by Nokia, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Britains BT on Wednesday. Other big names that have already dropped out include Ericsson, Nokia, Sony, Amazon, Intel, and LG. The companies cited concerns for the safety of staff and visitors. Organizers had sought to hold out against growing pressure to cancel the annual tech extravaganza, which had been expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors from about 200 countries, including 5,000 to 6,000 from China. Cruise Ship Finally Set to Dock Holland America said its Westerdam cruise ship, which has been rejected by about a half-dozen countries over fears of the mysterious new virus that has ravaged parts of China, will be able to dock at a port in Cambodia. The operator said it will disembark Thursday while passengers are able to go on shore, the Carnival Corp.-owned company said in a statement. The cruise ship has been rejected by Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. territory of Guam. There are no confirmed coronavirus cases on board, Holland America has said. Read more here. F1 Chinese Grand Prix Postponed Formula Ones Chinese Grand Prix in April has been postponed due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the country, organizers said on Wednesday. The race, in an important market for Formula One, was originally set to be held in Shanghai on the 19th, but the governing FIA and Formula One said they had jointly agreed to postpone it. As a result of continued health concerns and with the World Health Organisation declaring the coronavirus as a global health emergency, the FIA and Formula One have taken these measures, the two bodies said in a statement. All parties will take the appropriate amount of time to study the viability of potential alternative dates for the Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve. A host of international sporting events have been canceled due to coronavirus, including the all-electric Formula E motor racing series that abandoned plans for a race in the Chinese city of Sanya next month. Racers drive in the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in a 2019 file photograph. (Aly Song/Reuters) WHO: Greatest Fear Remains Outbreak in Ill-Equipped Countries The greatest fear of World Health Organization officials is a fresh coronavirus outbreak springing up in an ill-equipped country, director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference on Wednesday. Our greatest fear remains the damage this coronavirus could do in a country like DRC, or the Democratic Republica of Congo, he said at the organizations headquarters in Geneva after speaking of the Ebola outbreak. Dr. Michael Ryan, head of the organizations emergency committee, told reporters earlier this week that the health system in China, where most of the patients are, is delivering a high level of care. Imagine this disease establishing itself in a weaker health system, he said. This disease may appear relatively mild in the context of a sophisticated health system. That may not be the case if this disease reaches a health system that is not as capable as that of China. A worker fixes a poster announcing the Mobile World Congress 2020 in a conference venue in Barcelona, Spain on Feb. 11, 2020. (Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo) Labs Find Problem With US-Issued Coronavirus Test Kits Multiple state labs found problems with coronavirus test kits issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) centered on inconclusive lab results, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of one of the CDCs centers, said on Feb. 12. Kits were sent to all 50 states, some of which already tested them as part of a normal procedure, as well as multiple countries. Some state labs reported some inconclusive lab results, Messonnier told reporters on a phone call. We hoped everything would go smoothly as we rushed this, Messonnier said. All clinical specimens are still being sent to the agency for validation and the CDC will keep providing verification of the results even after state labs get the test kits up and running, Messonnier said. Read more here. Virus Spreading Much More Rapidly Than SARS: US Official Though there are still many unknowns about the new coronavirus, officials know that it is spreading much faster than SARS, according to Dr. Tony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease. It is certainly more deadly than a typical influenza but it is not nearly as deadly as SARS, which had a mortality of about 9 to 10 percent. But SARS did not spread as easily as this virus, Fauci said during an appearance on Bloomberg TV on Feb. 12. For example, in an entire year there were only 8,000 cases of SARS, which then just dissipated and went away. Right now, in the first 2 months or seven weeks, as it were, we have 45,000 cases. So we have more than five times as many cases in a month and a half with this infection then we had with SARS in an entire year. The 45,000 case number is from Chinese authorities but the true number of cases is much greater, Fauci said, because people who show few or no symptoms generally arent counted. A worker wears a face mask, as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as he sits in a storeroom of a public restroom in Tsim Sha Tsui of Hong Kong on Feb. 12, 2020. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images) Japanese Airline Suspends Flights to China and Hong Kong Japanese budget carrier Peach Aviation announced on Wednesday the suspension of several flights between Japan and Hong Kong and Japan and China due to the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. From Feb. 10 to March 27, Peach 079 from between Osaka and Shanghai is suspended. From Feb. 11 to March 28, Peach 080 between Shanghai and Osaka, Peach 899 between Tokyo and Shanghai, and Peach 898 between Shanghai and Tokyo are suspended. From Feb. 17 to March 28, Peach 963 from Okinawa and Hong Kong, Peach 964 between Hong Kong and Okinawa, Peach 063 and 065 between Osaka and Hong Kong, and Peach 064 and 060 between Hong Kong and Osaka are suspended. One Additional Case Reported in Hong Kong One new case of coronavirus has emerged in Hong Kong, according to Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Center for Health Protection, bringing the citys total to 50. The new patient, a 51-year-old man, is a coworker of a patient who has already tested positive for the virus. The Hong Kong government also confirmed that 10 Hongkongers who have the virus and are currently in Chinas Hubei province had not been infected in Hong Kong. Sara Ho, senior manager at Hong Kongs Hospital Authority, stated that one infected patient, a 25-year-old man who tested positive on Feb. 4, has recovered and been discharged from hospital. It is the first recovery from the virus in the city. Ho added that four infected patients are in critical condition, while two others are in serious condition. Chuang Shuk-kwan (L), head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Center for Health Protection, and Sara Ho, senior manager at Hong Kongs Hospital Authority, speak during a press conference in Hong Kong on Feb. 12, 2020. (Bill Cox/The Epoch Times) No American Experts on WHO Team: Top Official There are no American experts on the World Health Organization (WHO) team sent to China to study the coronavirus, national security advisor Robert OBrien said. That team does not include American doctors, he said during a talk in Washington. We have offered the Chinese the opportunity to have American doctors from CDC and NIH and other experts. That offer has not been accepted at this point. The WHO advance team landed on Monday with the arrival of the rest of the team not yet set. OBriens comments came as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Chinese officials had signaled receptivity to American experts traveling to the country. My understanding is, the latest discussions theres been receptivity, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told reporters in Washington. She said names of American experts were sent to China through WHO. Both officials were speaking on Tuesday. Airbnb Extends Service Suspension in Beijing Major lodging provider Airbnb announced Wednesday that all bookings in Beijing have been further suspended until April 30, according to Reuters. On Monday, Airbnb had announced the suspension in Beijing until Feb. 29. An Airbnb spokesman said Chinese authorities have requested that bookings in Wuxi, a city in coastal Chinas Jiangsu province, and Yongchuan District in Chinas megacity of Chongqing, be suspended as well. Germany Reports 2 New Cases Two new cases have been reported in Germanys southern state of Bavaria, local newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Feb. 11, citing the Bavarian health ministry. The latest cases bring Bavarias total known cases to 14all of them related to local automotive supplier Webasto. Among the 14, at least eight are employees of Webasto. With the two new cases, Germany has a total of 16 confirmed cases of the virus. The spread of infection at Webasto has been traced back to a Chinese female employee. She became ill while staying in Germany from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23, during which she gave training at Webastos headquarters in Stockdorf, which is near Munich. She tested positive for the virus after returning to China. German Health Minister Jens Spahn talks to media during a press statement on the coronavirus epidemic at the Paul-Loebe-Haus parliamentary annex in Berlin on Feb. 12, 2020. (John Macdougall/AFP via Getty Images) 10 Hongkongers Infected in Hubei Ten people from Hong Kongseven in Wuhan and three in another city Enshihave been infected with the Novel Coronavirus, local broadcaster RTHK reported, citing the citys Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. All 10 are in stable condition according to the bureau. Officials in Georgia Monitoring 200 People Health officials in the U.S. state of Georgia are monitoring nearly 200 locals who recently returned from China, local broadcaster WSB-TV reported, citing the states Department of Public Health. None of those who are being monitored had visited Chinas Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. They are now under self-quarantine for 14 days. There are 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, none of them in Georgia. Health officials in Monroe County in the state of New York, meanwhile, stated on Feb. 11 that six locals have been placed under voluntary quarantine as they are suspected to have contracted the Novel Coronavirus, according to local outlet WROC-TV. The six people will be under quarantine for two weeks. They currently dont exhibit any symptoms of the virus. General Motors Suspends Production in South Korea General Motors Koreathe South Korean units of U.S. automaker GMannounced that it will suspend operation at one of its three assembly plants in South Korea on Feb. 17 and 18, according to Yonhap News Agency. The suspension is caused by a shortage of Chinese parts due to the coronavirus outbreak. The production suspension will disrupt production of Chevrolets Trailblazer SUVs. Community workers distribute free vegetables to members of households inside the residential compound, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Feb. 11, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) Mongolia Halts Coal Exports to China Mongolia is suspending its coal exports to China until March 2, state-owned news agency Montsame reported on Feb. 11, citing the countrys State Emergency Commission. The suspensions will apply to four border checkpoints with China. The halt was made in response to two confirmed cases of coronavirus at a border crossing in Khaliut, a city in Chinas Inner Mongolia, according to the announcement. The commission added that the export halt to China only applies to coal, and other minerals such as copper and iron ore can still be shipped to its neighbor. Singapore, Malaysia Establish Joint Working Group Singapores Ministry of Health announced on Feb. 11 that Singapore and Malaysia will establish a joint working group to further enhance cooperation to prevent and control the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. The announcement added it is important that the two neighbors work closely because of high travel volume between the two. Currently, Malaysia has 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus while Singapore has 47, after the latter reported two additional cases on Feb. 11. Two new patientsa 35-year-old Singaporean permanent resident and a 39-year-old Bangladesh national who holds a Singapore work passhave no recent travel history to China. Outbreak Could Affect Sino-US Trade Deal U.S. National security adviser Robert OBrien said on Tuesday that the coronavirus outbreak is not going to change the phase one deal with China. However, he cautioned the outbreak could affect Beijings ability to fulfill terms of the phase one deal, particularly on its commitment to the purchase of U.S. agricultural goods. OBrien made the remarks while speaking at the Atlantic Council. Under the deal signed in January, Beijing is committed to buying $200 billion worth of additional U.S. goods and services over the next two years, including $40 billion to $50 billion of agricultural products each year. The coronavirus is not slowing down the Chinese Communist Party from doing exactly what it wants to do, said OBrien, pointing to Chinas activities such as pressuring its regional neighbors, and attempting to steal intellectual property and force technology transfer. On Feb. 9, Beijing deployed a military aircraft to circle over half of Taiwan, according to Taiwanese media, a move that has escalated cross-strait tension. Another Chinese jet flew close to Taiwan the following day. On Feb. 10, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted four members of the Chinese military for stealing about 145 million Americans data and trade secrets by hacking credit-reporting agency Equifax. National Security adviser Robert OBrien listens to President Donald Trump in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House in Washington on Oct. 23, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Japan Bans Travelers from Zhejiang Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a ban against travelers holding Chinese passports issued in eastern Chinas Zhejiang province on Feb. 12, according to newspaper Mainichi Shimbun. According to local outlet NHK, Japan already has a similar ban against holders of Chinese passports issued in Hubei, the epicenter of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, travelers who have been to Hubei in the past 14 weeks are also banned from entry into Japan. Chinese Falun Gong Practitioner Forcibly Held in Coronavirus Quarantine After Torture A Chinese prisoner of conscience who was severely tortured to the point of losing consciousness was taken to a quarantine facility for coronavirus patients, according to a website that documents the persecution of the meditation group Falun Gong in China. Gong Fengqiang was arrested on Dec. 27 last year because of his faith in Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website. The meditation practice has been persecuted by the Chinese regime since 1999. While in custody, he was abused in a detention center by Chinese Communist Party officials and lost consciousness. He was then taken to a coronavirus quarantine center because officials had sought to cover up the incident, according to the Chinese edition of the website. Read more here. Chinese Officials Allowed to Seize Personal Property Amid Viral Outbreak Officials from two virus-stricken cities in southern China may now confiscate private property in an effort to combat the coronavirus outbreak that has pushed the countrys health system to the limit. According to a notice posted on Feb. 11, the city and district level authorities in Guangzhou city can, when necessary, temporarily expropriate houses, venues, transportation vehicles, and other facilities from companies or individuals. The government could also ask for relevant organizations to produce or provide disease control equipment or daily supplies, according to the notice. It noted that the officials carrying out such measures should compensate parties accordingly and return the materials if possible. Read more here. The cruise ship Diamond Princess is docked at Yokohama Port, near Tokyo on Feb. 7, 2020. (Sadayuki Goto/Kyodo News via AP) Japan Cruise Ship Virus Cases Jump to 175 Including Quarantine Officer Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan as well as one quarantine officer, bringing the total to 175, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Feb. 3, after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. About 3,700 people are aboard the ship, which usually has a crew of 1,100 and a passenger capacity of 2,670. The ministry said tests are being conducted for others who are deemed to need them and it will announce the results later. Read more here. For updates from Feb. 11, click here. Frank Fang, Jack Phillips, Eva Fu, Zachary Stieber, the Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report. BOSTON - In a paper published online today, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers provide new details about a recently discovered condition in which childhood cancer survivors develop numerous colorectal growths called polyps despite not having a hereditary susceptibility to the condition. The condition, known as therapy-associated polyposis, or TAP, was first described by Dana-Farber scientists in 2014 based on a group of five patients. The new study presents a deeper look at the condition, based on data from 34 patients at eight cancer centers around the US. The development of colorectal polyps - abnormal bump-like growths of tissue - in any individual is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Polyposis, a condition in which many polyps grow in the intestinal tract, often signals a predisposition to colorectal cancer and other malignancies. People diagnosed with polyposis, as well as their relatives, are typically advised to undergo increased screening and other invasive procedures to detect the abnormal growths at the earliest stage possible. By knowing the specific signs of TAP - and knowing that it isn't part of a familial syndrome - physicians can spare family members unnecessary screenings and ensure patients receive proper treatment. "Survivors of cancer in childhood or young adulthood have an increased risk for a variety of cancers and noncancerous conditions, including colorectal cancers and polyps, in the years after treatment," says Leah Biller, MD, physician-researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), first author of the study, published online today by the journal Cancer Prevention Research. "When they develop polyposis, we often are concerned about a hereditary cause and recommend testing to see if they have an inherited link to the condition. TAP patients, however, develop polyposis without a known hereditary susceptibility. This suggested that while their condition mimicked the symptoms of hereditary polyposis syndromes, it was a separate phenomenon." To pin down the characteristics of TAP - and potentially distinguish it from hereditary polyposis - researchers needed data from numerous patients with the condition. Aided by colleagues at Dana-Farber, Brigham and Women's and seven other treatment centers across the U.S., they gathered data from 34 patients with TAP who didn't have a hereditary or known genetic link to the condition but had been treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for childhood cancers. The patients with TAP developed polyposis a median of 27 years after their cancer treatment. Investigators also found that 35% of the patients had more than 50 colorectal polyps, and 94% had multiple types of polyps, including adenomas, serrated polyps, hyperplastic polyps, and hamartomas. This contrasts with other hereditary polyposis syndromes in which all the polyps are generally of the same type. Investigators also found that 74% of the patients had experienced other complications associated with cancer treatment: 50% had been diagnosed with cancerous conditions outside the colon; and 47% had been diagnosed with non-cancerous conditions indicative of prior cancer treatment. These findings suggest that people who develop TAP may be especially susceptible to treatment-related conditions in general, the study authors say. "TAP appears to be an acquired condition that imitates various familial colorectal cancer syndromes but is biologically distinct from them," says Matthew Yurgelun, MD, an oncologist at Dana-Farber specializing in gastrointestinal cancer and Director of the Lynch Syndrome Center at Dana-Farber. "The fact that it takes different forms and involves different types of polyps suggests that there may be multiple biological pathways involved in its development. We're working to better understand these pathways in order to improve treatment of it and other treatment-related conditions." ### Co-authors of the study are Chinedu Ukaegbu, MBBS, MPH, Tara G. Dhingra, and Anuradha Chittenden, MS, of Dana-Farber; Ramona M. Lim, MD, and Sapna Syngal, MD, of Dana-Farber and BWH; Carol A. Burke, MD, Brandie H. Leach, MS, James M. Church, MD, and Matthew F. Kalady, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic; Yana Chertock, MA, and Michael J. Hall, MD, MS, of Fox Chase Cancer Center; Erika S. Koeppe, MS, and Elena Stoffel, MD, of the University of Michigan; Elana Levinson, MS, MPH, and Fay Kastrinos, MD, of New York Presbyterian Hospital; Megan Lutz, MD, and Jennifer M. Weiss, MD, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine; Erin Salo-Mullen, MS, Rania Sheikh, MS, and Zsofia K. Stadler, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Gregory Idos, MD, of the University of Southern California. The study was upported by the National Institutes of Health (grants K24CA113433, R01CA132829, and K07CA151769); The Pussycat Foundation Helen Gurley Brown Presidential Initiative; and an American Cancer Society Mentored Research Scholar Grant (MRSG-13-144-01-CPHPS). About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world's leading centers of cancer research and treatment. It is one of the only hospitals ranked in the top five by U.S. News and World Report in both adult and pediatric cancer care. Dana-Farber's mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. We provide the latest in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Care and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world. Queensland beach users say they are scared to get in the water due to sharks that are being caught and released by local fishermen near popular swimming spots. Residents say that young fisherman are tagging and releasing hammerheads and bull sharks at Queens Beach, north of Brisbane and there is no legal restriction on them doing so. Young men can be found catching sharks on most days according to beachfront resident Patrick Dadis, with fish of three-to-four metres in length being released. Residents of Queens Beach (pictured), Queensland, are concerned that young fisherman are capturing massive sharks and releasing them just metres from local swimmers Mr Dadis told the Courier Mail that he had seen the group catch a three-metre-long hammerhead and release it next to a family beach. 'Everyone knows sharks are in the water but you're not expecting the kids to be fishing with pigs blood and the next minute they're bringing in three or four metre bullsharks and hammerheads,' Mr Dadis said. He also described that witnessing the practice had made him and his fiance feel 'edgy' about swimming with their three-month-old son. The beach is popular with elderly swimmers and families with young children, making the possibility of a shark attack an even greater risk. A Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) spokesman said 'a number' of complaints had been received in relation to shark fishing in the area. The spokesperson noted that these activities were not illegal even if they occurred in close proximity to other swimmers. 'Currently there are no rules to limit the locations where recreational fishers can target shark. However, Fisheries Queensland encourages recreational fishers to consider the safety of all waterway users,' he said. The spokesperson also emphasised that shark attacks are an uncommon occurrence. 'While there is always the possibility of sharks in the water at our beaches, the probability of a shark bite is extremely low,' he said. The National Farmers and Fishermen Association has warned of the devastating effect on Ghana's cocoa industry if measures are not put in place to end illegal mining popularly known as galamsey. The Association insisted that the practice of turning cocoa farms into mining concessions is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately. President of the Association, Davis Narh Korboe speaking at a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, President of the Association, Davis Narh Korboe said the practice is unfavourable to the growth of the cocoa industry. For instance, cocoa farms are being cut down every now and then and what we are saying is that, inasmuch as people want to make money from mining, then concession, we should look at prime cocoa and exclude them from these mining activities so that our farmers can really produce. Some Ghanaians have already given up on the fight against galamsey saying that, the fight has been lost. Anti-galamsey fight hasn't been lost Inter-Ministerial Committee The leader of the Special Team set up by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining to monitor, investigate, evacuate and arrest persons involved in illegal mining, Nana Yaw Boadu, had earlier stated that the team will expeditiously investigate and make sure that everyone involved in illegal mining is brought to book as it probes the issue of the missing excavators. According to him, the issue will be treated as very important and no cover-up will be entertained. The reason is that now what we plan on doing is that, we are not going to entertain any cover-up again. We are going with a camera to the site. So, when we enter the site, the camera will monitor everything. We want Ghanaians to know whatever is happening at the mining site. So, when you are doing the right thing, Ghanaians will know. When you are not, too, they will know, he said. CID arrests suspended NPP Central Regional Vice-Chair over 'missing' excavators The suspended New Patriotic Party Central Regional Vice Chairman, Horace Ekow Ewusi was earlier arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for his alleged involvement in the disappearance of some excavators seized from illegal miners in the country. It will be recalled that, at the peak of the fight against illegal mining between 2017 and 2018, about five hundred earth-moving machines were seized by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry. The then sector Minister, John Peter Amewu who sanctioned the seizure directed them to be parked at the premises of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation and also Chairperson for the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), disclosed recently that most of the excavators that were seized from illegal miners had vanished. The Concerned Small Scale Miners Association subsequently told the Minister that they knew where the missing excavators were. Ekow Ewusi was contracted by the government to cart excavators and other vehicles and pieces of equipment seized by Operation Vanguard to designated areas for safekeeping. citinewsroom Married At First Sight's controversial bride Hayley Vernon has confirmed she does have sex with 'husband' David Cannon on the show. Speaking to The Kyle & Jackie O Show on Thursday, the 32-year-old insisted 'it did happen' despite David rejecting her sexual advances during the first dinner party. She made the admission after Kyle Sandilands bluntly asked: 'Have you banged yet?' It's a miracle! Married At First Sight's controversial bride Hayley Vernon (picture) has confirmed she does have sex with 'husband' David Cannon on the show The busty reality star responded: 'It does happen. Our relationship gets to a good point in the next week or so [of episodes].' However, she admitted that it isn't all smooth sailing for the warring couple. Hayley continued: 'I have a ripper of a week and then s**t just goes down like the Titanic. It goes south like no tomorrow.' What changes? Speaking to The Kyle & Jackie O Show on Thursday, the 32-year-old insisted 'it did happen' despite David (pictured) rejecting her advances during the first dinner party Hayley and David are proving to be this season's most controversial couple. On Wednesday, Hayley strenuously denied claims by her 'husband' David that she is still actively using drugs. The star, who was previously addicted to crystal meth and smoked cannabis, confirmed she was drug tested twice during filming last year and once beforehand. 'The executive producer [Tara McWilliams] gave me drug tests and a full blood test, all of which came back negative,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday. 'Our relationship gets to a good point in the next week': Hayley says the couple will grow close in upcoming episodes, but then 's**t goes down like the Titanic' Hayley - who previously worked as a topless waitress for three years - decided to speak publicly after David falsely claimed she was still 'using drugs' in a foul-mouthed video published by New Idea, earlier this week. The footage was supposedly recorded in early September, when he and Hayley were on their honeymoon in Singapore. At the time, they were arguing and staying in separate hotel rooms because Hayley had joked about David's $25 hourly wage as a truck driver. 'Her idea of being a reformed drug addict is her saying, "I don't do any hard drugs anymore,"' David said in the 11-minute video. 'They've matched me with a smoking, drug addict, tall woman that is inconsiderate and rude. I am looking forward to taking the experts to task when I see them because they don't know f**king s**t.' Married At First Sight returns Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine LeT founder Hafiz Saeed sentenced to five and a half years in prison for terror financing by a court in Lahore. Islamabad, Pakistan A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has sentenced Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba armed group, to five and a half years prison in a case related to terrorism financing, his lawyer says. Saeed was convicted and sentenced on two counts by a court in the eastern city of Lahore on Wednesday, Imran Gill, the lawyer, told Al Jazeera. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for being a member of a proscribed organisation under Pakistani law, and another five years for a charge related to illegal property, Gill said. Abdur Rauf Wattoo, the governments prosecutor in the case, confirmed the verdict, adding that Saeeds associate Zafar Iqbal had also been convicted and sentenced to the same term. The arrest and charging of Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed more than 160 people, has been a long-standing demand of the United States and Pakistans neighbour India. 191211080238184 The 70-year-old says he is not linked to any armed group, although he heads Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), the charitable arm of the LeT group. Both the JuD and LeT are banned organisations under Pakistani anti-terrorism law. Saeeds conviction comes days ahead of a key meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental watchdog that monitors terrorism and criminal financing laws, in Paris. FATF will be issuing a decision on whether Pakistan has taken sufficient steps to avoid being blacklisted, a designation that would come as a blow to the South Asian nations struggling economy. A FATF blacklisting would put in place barriers that would serve to isolate Pakistans economy from the international banking system, introducing stricter checks and safeguards on transactions involving the country. Saeed was indicted in December on six charges under anti-terrorism laws, with verdicts still due in four cases. Section 11-N of the Anti-Terrorism Act deals with possessing property, facilitating and fundraising if a proscribed person or organisation holds a property, then that is considered to be for the purpose of terrorism, said Wattoo, the prosecutor. So on that basis the court has found sufficient evidence and convicted Zafar Iqbal and Hafiz Saeed on two counts each. First conviction since 2008 attacks LeT is accused of operating with impunity from Pakistani soil to attack Indian security and government targets in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan and India both claim the mountainous territory of Kashmir in full, but administer separate portions of it. They have fought two of their three wars over the territory, with India accusing Pakistan of also supporting armed groups like LeT and Jaish-e-Muhammad that attack Indian targets in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan denies the charges, saying it has been acting against all armed groups operating on its soil. Wednesdays development is the first time Saeed has been convicted on any charges since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In December 2014, a Pakistani court granted bail to Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, another senior LeT commander, in a case related to the Mumbai attacks, saying there was not enough evidence to continue to hold him. Saeed says he is no longer associated with LeT, and claims JuD only conducts humanitarian aid work. JuD and its Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) have operated a network of dozens of schools and hundreds of ambulances, providing humanitarian relief in all four Pakistani provinces. The UN has long designated the JuD and FIF as fronts for the LeT. Last year, under pressure after the FATF review, Pakistan formally banned Saeeds JuD and other associated organisations, after years of allowing them to operate freely across the country. Saeed remains in custody, and will now be shifted to prison, as verdicts in the four remaining terrorism financing cases are expected later this week. Asad Hashim is Al Jazeeras digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 11:17:26|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SYDNEY, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- With homes and business battered by the extreme weather on Australia's east coast, energy provider Ausgrid has asked for help from the military to clear debris and repair electricity. Speaking with Sky News Wednesday morning, New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean confirmed that a request had been made to the Australian military. "Their CEO (Richard Gross) raised it with me yesterday and of course I fully support it," he said, adding that the state government would look to expedite the call out of the army. Following a weekend of wild weather on the country's east coast, around 31,000 homes and businesses across Sydney and the Central Coast region still remain without power on Wednesday. With a backlog of work to get through, Ausgrid said it's now seeking help from various government agencies to clear debris caused by the floods. "Due to the extreme damage across the network we have asked all levels of government for assistance, specifically in the form of extra tree clearing resources," Ausgrid said. Battered by damaging winds and flash flooding, Ausgrid said they were struggling to repair the electricity network and had brought in additional crews from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. "Ausgrid has deployed every available resource to the recovery response," the government-backed company said on social media. "This is one of the worst storms to hit our network in the past 20 years, causing over 2,000 fallen and snapped power lines, trees and wires down," it said, adding that the network will need to be rebuilt from the ground in the hardest hit areas. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for large parts of Australia's east coast on Wednesday and Thursday. Residents in low-lying areas are also being warned to prepare sandbags and other precautionary measures in case of further flooding. To make matters worse, a tropical cyclone is currently building at sea and is expected to bring huge waves and high tides that could exacerbate the risk of flash flooding this weekend. While Cyclone Uesi is currently expected to miss the mainland, the category two storm is predicted to wreak havoc on Lord Howe Island. "The cyclone is expected to transition to an ex-tropical system, meaning it will maintain its intensity in its southern quadrants as it moves close to or to the west of the island on Friday morning," the Bureau of Meteorology said. "Gales with gusts to 120 km per hour are expected to develop about Lord Howe Island late on Thursday afternoon or early evening. Higher wind gusts to 140 km per hour may occur during the night as the center of the transitioning tropical cyclone moves closer to the island." MIDDLETOWN Police announced Thursday morning they have a suspect in custody, on unrelated charges, who is a person of interest in the burglary Middletown Military Museum. An item taken from the museum was recovered last night. Great job by our Patrol Division investigating a separate incident discovered the link between the cases. Major Investigations Division worked late into the night on this case and are back at it early this morning. EARLIER STORY Local authorities are hoping the public can provide details following a break-in and theft at the citys military museum during which the suspect wielded an ax to gain entrance. Middletown police responded to a burglar alarm at the Greater Middletown Military Museum on Walnut Grove Road early Tuesday, according to a release. The individual took off with a single item. Officer Aura Smith and canine Diezel conducted a track for the suspect and evidence, which was located by the K-9 team, however, police did not say what was discovered. One item was taken, according to founder and past President Ron Organek, who believes the individual visited the facility the day before. The individual broke two windows in the process of the break-in, one in the vestibule and the other adjacent to the glass door, Organek added. It was like a car windshield, glass was shattered all over the inside of the room. One cabinet was smashed. They knew what they were looking for, he said he believes. It was really devastating to take even that one piece. This is a history of what we, and the military, have gone through, the history of Middletown, in a sense, Organek said. Everything is back in order, he said, with the help of city personnel, including police and the Public Works Department. Review of the building video surveillance shows a suspect wearing a mask using an ax to force entry into the building. Police are asking nearby residents to check their security cameras to see if the suspect is recorded on video between Monday at 10 p.m. until Tuesday at 7 a.m. They are referring people to the Neighbors by Ring website neighbors.ring.com . The museum houses a vast array of military memorabilia from throughout Connecticut and beyond, including models of the Pratt and Whitney Spitfire Mark I and Lockheed Hercules aircraft, a library of war books and other publications, U.S. Navy and other uniforms, and a Huey helicopter from former members of the Laotian Special Guerilla Unit. Those with information should contact Detective Chris Iovene at 860-638-4148. Zamfara State Government Projects Verification Committee says Governor Abdulaziz Yari distributed over 100 exotic cars worth N8.4billion... Zamfara State Government Projects Verification Committee says Governor Abdulaziz Yari distributed over 100 exotic cars worth N8.4billion purchased by his administration to his family and friends. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Governor Bello Matawalles Special Adviser on Media, Zailani Bappa. It said the revelation was made by the chairman of the committee, Ahmed Gusau, when he submitted the panels report to the governor. Gusau disclosed that over 1,000 vehicles belonging to the State Government, representing 66 percent of its total vehicles, could not be accounted since Yaris exit. He said the committee further uncovered that N35million Hajj fares were not refunded to some 2012 intending pilgrims who could not be airlifted. On school feeding, Gusau lamented that the children were fed with food which the chairman described as animalistic and ungodly. One will not feed ones dog with the kind of near poison we saw in the name of food to these children. Despite the poor provision of food, the number of children was highly inflated. In a school where a Principal claims to be feeding 700 students three meals a day, we repeatedly found less than 50 students feeding, he said. Matawalle, in his remarks, thanked the committee and promised to look into the report with a view to implementing its recommendations. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Azerbaijani police detained at least 20 people at a demonstration in Baku on February 11, injuring several of them. The protesters, including independent candidates, were voicing their anger over widespread violations in the parliamentary elections two days earlier. Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend recently pilloried by supporters of former Vice President Joe Biden in an attack ad on his experience, finished the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday in second place, besting Biden by at least a 15-point margin. The runner-up finish to Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont comes after Buttigieg surged in polls in New Hampshire and Iowa, where he currently leads Sanders by less than a percentage point in a contest that will see officials conduct a recanvass. In a state that goes by the motto, Live free or die, you made up your own minds, Buttigieg told a crowd in Nashua. You asserted that famous independent streak. And thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldnt be here at all has shown that we are here to stay. With about 90% of precincts reporting, Buttigieg finished Tuesday with about 24.4% of support from New Hampshire voters, compared to 26% support for Sanders. Buttigieg, who claimed victory in Iowa the night of the caucuses, has made the pitch that hes the best candidate to defeat President Donald Trump. A progressive mayor and Afghan war veteran whos talked about reaching out to religious voters, moderates and a generation bored and frustrated by Washington, D.C. politics, Buttigieg has often painted Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts as too leftist to lead the Democrats to victory. But Biden, who all but conceded the Granite State contest and departed the state early to head to South Carolina, has consistently commanded strong support among African Americans, seen as Buttigiegs biggest potential weakness. Biden finished in fifth place in New Hampshire with about 8.4% support. Warren came in fourth place at 9.4% and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota finished strongly, reaching nearly 20% after what her campaign and many pundits considered a strong debate performance last week. 22 2020 New Hampshire Democratic Primary results Warren challenged Buttigieg at the recent Manchester, New Hampshire debate, saying he didnt adequately explain an increase in drug arrests among African Americans in South Bend under the mayors watch. She called for a host of race-conscious laws spanning criminal justice, housing, health care and education. Buttigieg will look to build on Iowa and New Hampshire success as the crowded field likely dwindles heading into Super Tuesday on March 3, 2020, when voters in 14 states will cast ballots for the nominee of their choice. One of the three coronavirus-infected patients in Kerala will be discharged on Thursday after he consistently tested negative for the virus over six days, said the state health ministry. But he will be quarantined in his home till February 26 till he completes the 28-day incubation period, it said. The state health ministry took the decision after it got a green signal from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. He was the second patient who tested positive on February 2 and admitted to an isolation ward in Alappuzha medical college hospital. The first patient admitted in the Thrissur Medical College Hospital on January 30 will also be released in a couple of days, said doctors at the medical college hospital. But the third patient in Kasargode, north Kerala, tested positive again. All three 2019-nCoV cases in India have been reported in Kerala among students who returned from Chinas Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the outbreak. Having learnt a lesson from the Nipah outbreak two years ago the state was on battle mode since the first case cropped up enhancing surveillance and isolation mechanisms as well. After the third case was reported the state had declared a medical calamity and put some restrictions on large gatherings and excursions. But last week, the government withdrew the calamity warning after it successfully restricted virus-affected patients to three. It had pressed the emergency button on February 3 after the third patient was detected in Kasargode in north Kerala. The state health ministry said despite positive signals it was too early to lower guard. At least 3400 people are still under observation in their homes and 35 are in different hospitals. Experts working in the area said it was a major success to restrict the positive cases to three. They have also lauded the states preparedness and rapid response. The states heightened isolation and surveillance have finally paid off. Its robust health system and public participation worked as a well-oiled machine. It is worth emulating for others also, said Dr Sreejith N Kumar, Indian Medical Association central working committee member and senior physician. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Advertisement In northeastern Syria, prisons and detention camps hold thousands of men, women and children whose lives are in limbo nearly a year after the final defeat of Islamic State to which they once belonged. The area around Qamishli city is mainly controlled by Kurdish fighters who helped defeat the Islamist militant group. They have since been pushed into a small pocket of northeastern Syria by Turkish-led forces who consider them a security threat. Kurdish forces bear the brunt of looking after those captured as Islamic State collapsed, including hundreds of foreigners who fought alongside local militants to create a self-declared caliphate in the Middle East. What to do with the remnants of Islamic State, whose fighters tortured and executed thousands of people during its zenith from 2014, is a thorny issue for countries whose citizens went to fight with the group. ISIS lost its last sliver of territory in Syria, the enclave of Baghouz, in March 2019 - prompting cries of 'victory' over the group. But more than a year later, 10,000 of its former members are now languishing in Kurdish jails. Pictured are foreign fighters being held in the prison at Haska, in northeastern Syria Alija Keserovic, a prisoner from Bosnia and Herzegovina, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, is seen sitting alongside fellow inmates at the prison hospital in Haska. The Kurds say they do not have the resources to prosecute and jail the ISIS fighters - leaving them in legal limbo Around a fifth of those being held in Syria are thought to be foreign (some of them pictured), with the Kurds and US calling on world leaders - particularly those in Europe - to bring their citizens home. So far, most leaders have refused Prisoners from Iraq and Syria, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, sit inside a prison cell in Hasaka, Syria, where they have been held since the 'caliphate' fell almost a year ago Many European countries, for example, have hesitated to repatriate nationals, fearing a public backlash if they do. Europeans comprise a fifth of the roughly 10,000 Islamic State fighters held captive in Syria by Kurdish militias. Kurdish officials say they lack the resources to properly detain, investigate and prosecute the large number of prisoners as well as their families in camps. They have called repeatedly on foreign nations to take back their citizens. 'We want to know what our fate is,' said Mahmoud Mohammad, an IS fighter from Syria held by Kurdish forces in a prison near the town of Hasaka, south of Qamishli. 'We don't know anything about our families,' he told Reuters in an interview arranged and supervised by Kurdish security forces during a sanctioned visit to the jail. 'We don't know if they're alive or dead, in Syria or outside. I want to know my sentence and my fate.' Mohammad, whose nom de guerre is Abu Hamza, was one of nine men interviewed by Reuters in two prisons - one located near Hasaka and the other the town's central jail. A foreign prisoner with a bandage wrapped around his head, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, sits inside a prison hospital in Hasaka Light shines onto the face of a prisoner, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, as he lies down inside a cell in Hasaka Many of the prisoners are being kept in dire conditions inside Haska jail, with up to 50 men per cell with almost no natural light or ventilation, the air heavy with the smell of sweat and dirt A guard opens a door inside a prison that holds foreign prisoners, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, in Hasaka Most were from Syria or Iraq, one was from the United States and another from Belgium. Some were fighters, others said they were corralled into working for Islamic State as the movement won territory across Syria and Iraq. 'I worked with (Islamic State) as a civilian,' said Abdurrahman Mustafa al-Jomaa, a 32-year-old Syrian from Raqqa, who was being held at the central Hasaka jail. 'My sentence is 2 years. I'm married and have two children. My family is in Raqqa and they come and visit me.' Conditions in the prison near Hasaka, which used to be a school before being transformed to cope with the influx of captives, were markedly worse than those at the central jail. Reuters reporters saw more than 50 men lying head-to-toe across the floor of one cell, leaving virtually no room to move. Natural light was minimal and the air was heavy with the smell of sweat and dirt. In a hospital on the ground floor, about 100 men crowded on to around half the number of beds suffering from ailments and injuries. Several were in orange jumpsuits, similar to those often worn by IS captives before they were executed. Beyond the prisons, thousands of mostly woman and children are detained in camps in the area. Abed El-Hamed Atiya, an Iraqi prisoner suspected of being part of the Islamic State, sits next to a picture he drew inside a prison in Hasaka Abed El-Hamed Atiya and the picture he drew, showing hands emerging from a jail cell reaching for a key, inside the prison at Hasaka in northeastern Syria A foreign prisoner, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, lies on top of an examining table next to a doctor inside the prison hospital in Hasaka. Many of the men are suffering from combat injuries Foreign prisoners, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, pray inside a prison hospital in Hasaka, where patients outnumber beds by roughly two to one A prisoner, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, exercises in a prison's outside grounds in Hasaka The majority of male prisoners are housed at Hasaka, separated from the women, while they wait to learn their fate. Some are suspected of serving in fighting units, others say they were corralled into service of the terror group as it seized territory Prisoners from Iraq and Syria, suspected of being part of the Islamic State, sit inside a prison cell in Hasaka, Syria The al-Hol facility in Hasaka province is the biggest and holds tens of thousands of people in a sprawling camp of white canvas tents that provide minimal shelter from the winter cold and rain. Children play on muddy paths and large puddles full of refuse collect in open spaces. Women wearing black robes and niqabs move around in small groups, chatting or carrying out daily chores. Most women approached by Reuters for an interview declined and some were verbally hostile. One who agreed to talk did not give her name, but spoke in broken English and said she was originally from Hong Kong before coming to the Middle East to join Islamic State. 'I have one child and my husband died in Baghouz,' she said, flanked by her toddler son. The town of Baghouz, Islamic State's last enclave in eastern Syria, fell to U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in spring last year. The woman said she was in touch with her family in Hong Kong but did not want to return. 'I know here the situation is very difficult. This is not home, it's just a tent ... but we all live to (the wishes of) Allah, so God-willing, all is good.' Bailey Ross (pictured) had saved for years to buy her first home A hopeful first-time buyer who was just weeks away from moving into her dream home had the sale suddenly cancelled at the last minute thanks to a little-known law. Bailey Ross, 25, has been diligently saving since she turned 16 in the hopes of owning her own home. Not only did she lose her dream Wellington new build, but it was then put back on the market for $90,000 more than she paid - thanks to a bizarre loophole. She carefully saved for the two-bedroom, one-bathroom house on a new development in Tawa, 15th north of Wellington's CBD. The house cost $515,000, she told Stuff, and she was told she could move in by early 2020. But it was soon pulled out from under her feet as developers cancelled the sale, and instead offered it for the inflated price of $585,500. It is now being sold for $605,000. 'It was an ideal starter home,' she said. 'I really thought I'd hit the jackpot. 'I thought I got a bargain, and then I got penalised for getting a bargain in the first place.' She even went on a tour of the completed house, and was all ready to move in. Ms Ross was just weeks away from moving into this home (pictured) in the Wellington suburb of Tawa when developers suddenly cancelled the sale But she soon received a devastating phone call telling her the purchases was cancelled and her deposit would be returned. Her deposit was also returned. Ms Ross had what is known as a 'sunset clause' in her contract, meaning that either party were allowed to pull out if the property was not ready on a certain date. They are usually put in to help the buyer, but can be used by either the customer or developer. With sunset clauses, the party doesn't even need to give a reason to cancel the sale. Joseph Hannah, a partner at builders Tawa LLP, told Stuff the company hadn't 'taken this step lightly' but 'didn't have a choice'. Bailey Ross (pictured) was excited to move into her first home in Tawa, near Wellington Listed online for enquiries over $605,000, the home is described 'convenient, affordable living with easy access to Wellington and beyond'. 'This should be top of your viewing list and is your chance to take that first step onto the property ladder, downsize without compromising on comfort, or make a savvy addition to your property portfolio,' the listing said. It is one of 22 properties divided into 11 semi-detached pairs and comes with off-street parking. Practicing good hand hygiene is the best way people can protect themselves from coronavirus during a flight, a medical expert specializing in air transport told CNBC. David Powell, medical advisor at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), told CNBC the risk of catching any serious viral infection during a flight is "very low" as the air on planes is purified with surgical-grade filters. However, he said the risk remained if passengers were close to somebody on board who was unwell during the journey. "We know that this virus has spread in the vast majority of cases through close contact with someone who is unwell at the time," he explained to CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Wednesday. "So that risk is what remains, and there are simple things you can do to reduce that risk, but through the air supply the risk is low." Powell said that amid the coronavirus crisis in China, the most crucial way to minimize exposure to the infection was to practice good hand hygiene. "Respiratory viruses transmit mostly through droplet spread which is coughing or sneezing on somebody or in some cases by fomite spread, which means you contaminate a surface which another person then immediately touches," he explained. "So hand hygiene is the primary thing." That means anyone worried about exposure should avoid touching their own face and frequently wash and dry their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if they aren't able to access hand washing facilities. WELLESLEY, Mass., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty-three physician groups in the Harvard Pilgrim Network have been named to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's 18th annual Physician Group Honor Roll. The Harvard Pilgrim Honor Roll highlights physician groups that have achieved exceptional results in their approach to disease prevention and the treatment of acute and chronic illness for both adult and pediatric patients. Harvard Pilgrim selected the Honor Roll physician groups based on clinical performance measured against national standards set by HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set), a tool developed for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to assess the clinical performance of doctors and other medical professionals. Harvard Pilgrim reviewed performance in three domains of clinical care affecting both adult and pediatric patients: acute, chronic and preventive care. Physician groups were identified as Honor Roll practices based on points earned for performance on 16 measures such as appropriate treatment for children with upper respiratory infection, comprehensive diabetes care and breast cancer screenings. Fifteen of the sixty-three practices on the Physician Group Honor Roll achieved "With Distinction" status, meaning they exceeded NCQA's national 90th percentile in all domains of clinical care. "Harvard Pilgrim is proud to recognize these honor roll physician groups that are providing our members with exceptional high-quality care," said Michael Carson, president and CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. "We value these partnerships and congratulate each physician group for their excellent performance on national quality benchmarks." Honor roll practice providers are noted in Harvard Pilgrim's printed and online provider directories, as well as on the organization's web site, enabling members to evaluate and select physicians based on quality measures. The following practices were named in the 2020 Harvard Pilgrim Physician Group Honor Roll ("With Distinction" status noted with an asterisk *): Maine InterMed, Portland, ME Massachusetts Acton Medical Associates, Acton, MA Affiliated Pediatric Practices, Eastern Massachusetts, MA Baycare Health Partners, Springfield, MA Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization, Eastern Massachusetts, MA Brigham And Women's PO (BWHPO), Boston, MA Charles River Medical Associates, P.C., Natick, MA Congenial Health, Peabody, MA Dedham Medical Associates, Dedham, MA Dedham Medical Associates, Norwood, Norwood, MA* Emerson PHO, Inc , Concord, MA Granite Medical, Quincy, MA Harbor Medical Associates, South Weymouth, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Beverly, Beverly, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Braintree, Braintree, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Burlington, Burlington, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Cambridge, Cambridge, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, MA* Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Concord Hillside, Concord, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Copley , Boston, MA* Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Kenmore, Boston, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Medford, Medford, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Needham, Needham, MA* Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Peabody/Lynnfield, Peabody, MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Post Office Square, Boston, MA* Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Quincy, Quincy MA Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Somerville, Somerville, MA* Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Watertown, Watertown, MA* Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Wellesley, Wellesley, MA Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA Lincoln Medical, P.C., Concord, MA Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization, Lowell, MA Massachusetts General Hospital Physician's Organization, Boston, MA Mount Auburn Cambridge IPA, Cambridge, MA* New England Quality Care Alliance, Eastern Massachusetts, MA Newton Wellesley Health System, Newton, MA Northeast PHO, Beverly, MA North Shore Health System, Lynn/Salem, MA PMG Physician Associates, Plymouth, MA* Reliant Medical Group, Central Massachusetts, MA* Signature Healthcare Corporation, Brockton, MA* South Shore Medical Center, Norwell, MA* Southboro Medical Group, Southboro, MA Southcoast Health Network, Dartmouth, MA Steward Cape Cod Local Chapter, Cape Cod, MA Steward Compass Medical Local Chapter, South Shore Massachusetts, MA* Steward Greater Boston West Local Chapter, Brighton, MA Steward Greater Brockton Local Chapter, Brockton, MA Steward Greater Central Mass Local Chapter, Worcester, MA* Steward Greater Dorchester Local Chapter, Dorchester, MA Steward Greater Fall River Local Chapter, Fall River, MA Steward Greater Nashoba Local Chapter, Ayer, MA Steward Greater North Shore Local Chapter, Peabody, MA Steward Greater Taunton Local Chapter, Taunton, MA Sturdy Memorial Hospital Affiliated Physicians, Attleboro, MA The Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Eastern Massachusetts, MA The Physicians of Tufts Medical Center, Inc., Boston, MA The Physician's Organization at Children's Hospital (PO), Boston, MA Tri-County Medical Associates, Milford, MA UMass MCN-Northern Worcester County, Worcester, MA* UMass Memorial Health Care, Worcester, MA Winchester PHO, Winchester, MA About Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Harvard Pilgrim and its family of companies provide health benefit plans, programs and services to more than 3 million customers in New England and beyond. A leading not-for-profit health services company, we guide our members and the communities we serve to better health. Founded by doctors 50 years ago, we're building on our legacy. In partnership with our expansive network of doctors and hospitals, we're improving health outcomes and lowering costs through clinical quality and innovative care management. Our commitment to the communities we serve is driven by the passion of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. Through its work, low- and moderate-income families are gaining greater access to fresh, affordable food a cornerstone to better health and well-being. Contact: Phil Tracey [email protected] /617-509-3493 SOURCE Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Joaquin Phoenix attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, 2020. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) The first details of Joaquin Phoenixs next movie have been revealed and it sounds like the Joker star could find himself back in the Oscar race next year. According to Deadline, Phoenix plays an artist left to take care of his precocious young nephew as they forge an unexpected bond over a cross country trip in the new film from 20th Century Women writer-director Mike Mills. The untitled picture, tentatively referred to as Cmon Cmon on IMDb, recently wrapped production in New Orleans. According to Deadline, the project will touch on mental illness, as the boys father struggles with bipolar disorder. Mills was nominated for the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2017 for 20th Century Women. Read more: Wes Andersons new film gets its first trailer British child actor Woody Norman, who recently appeared as Aidan Turner on-screen son in Poldark and in The War of the Worlds, appears to be playing Phoenixs nephew. NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 05: Director Mike Mills attends "20th Century Women" New York Screening at Florence Gould Hall on December 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) The low budget drama, produced and financed by A24, is heading to the European Film Market at the Berlin Film Festival (20-27 February) seeking international distributors, where its being touted as being an in demand title. Fresh from winning his first ever Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards for Joker, Joaquin Phoenix is hot property, which will likely be reflected in the price the picture sells at in Berlin. Oscar-nominated Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan, whose previous credits include The Favourite and Marriage Story, is the films Director of Photography. Customers exit the Wawa store at 6th and Chestnut Streets. The company is testing a new expanded dinner menu. Read more The Delaware Valleys favorite convenience store, Wawa, could soon become the areas favorite burger joint, thanks to an emerging larger dinner platform the company is testing. Wawa is actively piloting some options throughout our chain, spokesperson Lori Bruce told The Inquirer. Those options, according to Philadelphia Business Journal, include burgers, waffle fries, and breaded chicken sandwiches all of which are available at six area locations. While Wawa was mum on what spots exactly are carrying the new test items, participating locations reportedly include stores in Horsham, in Montgomery County, and Jamison, Bucks County The test items are available at participating stores after 4 p.m. Wawa is always testing new products and offers to ensure were meeting our customers evolving tastes and demands, Bruce said. Since these are in pilot phase and can evolve, we dont have any details. Additional information about the pilot items is scheduled to be announced in the coming weeks, Bruce said. The company is known for food items like its hoagies and breakfast sandwiches and its coffees. Wawa, however, regularly tests new menu options. Back in 2014, the company briefly added a line of pizzas to its menu, but has since discontinued them. In the 1990s, a number of stores also featured food from Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. The addition of burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries could signal a challenge to rival convenience-store chain Sheetz, which offers its own line of Burgerz including a plant-based Beyond Meat option as of this December. READ MORE: Inside Wawas tiny new concept store, the first with a walk-up window The pilot comes amid the companys recovery from a data breach that was disclosed in December. That incident resulted in more than 30 million cards potentially being compromised, The Inquirer reported last month. The company is offering a year of identity-theft protection and credit monitoring for consumers who may have been affected by the breach. A woman lured a group of deer into her living room to feed them snacks. Wildlife officials said she risked the animals lives CNN Mysterious radio signal from space is repeating every 16 days CNN Australia bushfires ignite calls for indigenous fire practices Agence France Presse Traditional Ways of Paying for Fires and Floods Arent Cutting It Bloomberg Surge in plastics production defies environmental backlash FT The Sprint-T-Mobile Merger: A Jump the Shark Moment for Antitrust? Matt Stoller, BIG FTC demands data on small buys by Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft Channel News Asia Syraqistan COVID-19 The Best Defense Against Disturbing New Diseases The Atlantic China? India Locusts and food shortages add to pressure on Imran Khan FT. Locusts not only in Africa. New Cold War The Valdai Rest Home and Gagarin Gilbert Doctorow Puerto Ricos Energy Insurrection The Intercept Guaidos return (1): Traitor! Youre a traitor to the homeland! Juan Guaido arrives in Caracas after his latest regime change lobbying tour and is immediately jeered and confronted by an employee of a Venezuelan airline sanctioned by his US paymasters pic.twitter.com/SxaimDzgKl Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) February 11, 2020 Guaidos return (2): Failed coup frontman Juan Guaido gets a taste of how Venezuelan citizens feel about his circuit through foreign countries trying to drum up support for regime change immediately after landing at Caracas airport pic.twitter.com/yjayHW3O1X Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) February 11, 2020 Needless to say, if Maduro were really a brutal dictator, Guaido would have been whacked, instead of jeered. Trump Transition 2020 Boeing 737 MAX Boeing to Resume Max Production Before Flight Ban Is Lifted Bloomberg. No pressure. Imperial Collapse Watch The Sanders Doctrine The Atlantic. This is the first U.S. presidential election to feature voters who were born after the Afghan War began. The forever wars in the Middle East have disillusioned younger generations in particular, who constitute a significant part of Sanderss base. In different ways, both Trump and Sanders have seized on this despair. Central to the case theyre making to voters is that as president, they would end these conflicts and refuse to have America serve as the worlds policeman. Philippines scrapping military cooperation pact with US The Hill How Could You Not Connect the Dots?: Inside the Red-Pilling of State Department Official Matthew Gebert Vanity Fair. Dropping the ball in Loudoun County. 2 Big Teachers Unions Call For Rethinking Student Involvement In Lockdown Drills NPR Class Warfare Someone blew the whistle on Hookers for Jesus Boing Boing (Re Silc). OnlyFans: a day in the life of a top(less) creator The Economist Mutinous librarians help drive change at Elsevier FT. We need more mutinous librarians. Neuroscience study finds evidence that meditation increases the entropy of brainwaves PsyPost (DL) (original). Antidote du jour (Furzy Mouse): Furzy Mouse writes: My sisters furballs Jake and Elwood. Bonus antidote: Siba the standard poodle has won the US's Westminster Dog Show! Look at that corner-of-the-eye poodle attitude she's using to check in with her owner. She's the fifth standard poodle to win best in show and the first since 1991. Audience scandalised. Siba beat a golden retriever. pic.twitter.com/YMePG5WjeB Prue Moodie (@PrueMoodie) February 12, 2020 Simultaneously upping my cat and dog game! See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. A hero tree surgeon has described the dramatic moment he pulled a woman from the wreckage of a burning car even as he worried it might explode. Luke Ridley, from Amesbury in Wiltshire, was awarded the Queens Gallantry Medal for rescuing the woman after her vehicle flipped onto its side following an accident on the A303 close to his hometown in November 2018. The 30-year-old managed to cut the driver free from her seatbelt by climbing in through the boot of the Nissan Micra as police tried to give him instructions over the phone. Mr Ridley used his pick axe and handsaw, which are part of his working tool kit, to free the woman. The Prince of Wales awards Luke Ridley with the Queen's Gallantry Medal / PA Speaking after receiving his award from the Prince of Wales on Wednesday morning, he said: I managed to get in through the boot, sliced the seatbelt and really luckily she was able to stand up on her own and I just grabbed her and dragged her out. Mr Ridley said he had taken the woman to his van and immediately driven off for fear the burning car might explode. It was on fire as I was pulling her out and when the police turned up they were obviously really shocked at the state of the car it was a huge blaze, he said. Describing his day at the palace, he said its still completely surreal, and he joked that the fire service had tried to recruit him as a volunteer firefighter, but said he is going to stick with his day job. Sir Clive Jones after an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace / Getty Images Meanwhile, Sir Clive Jones, former chair of the Disaster Emergencies Committee, officially collected his knighthood. Sir Clive, who is now chair of the board of trustees of international eyecare charity Sightsavers, said his greatest concerns for the future of humanitarian work is global political unrest and the threat of climate change. But he said he saw hope in the growing movement of young people trying to bring about change. I think there are two great challenges facing us one is climate change because of the frequency of disasters which is ever going up, and the other is the degree of uncertainty and unrest all across the world. We live in very exciting times, very uncertain times. But he added: I think younger people are determined to make the necessary changes Greta Thunberg and her like might well provide the salvation we need." Mental health campaigner Matilda MacAttram OBE / Getty Images Mental health campaigner Matilda MacAttram, who founded the charity Black Mental Health UK, was awarded an OBE in recognition of her work tackling mental healthcare inequality in the black community. She praised the younger generations of the royal family for their work raising awareness of mental health. She said: It is extremely encouraging to see people in positions of power who need not acknowledge something like this because it changes the whole debate it changes the landscape completely. Having someone like a member of the royal family articulating this is speaking for the voiceless someone having their dinner and seeing a member of the royals talking about this on prime time TV is incredible. Charlie Pericleous MBE / Getty Images Charlie Pericleous picked up an MBE for his work with Portsmouth Council and the Home Office tackling extremism among vulnerable young people and adults. He said social isolation and online grooming are among the biggest risk factors for young people and that one of the most effective strategies for rehabilitation is to channel their energy into different activities. Mr Pericleous said he was encouraged by the wider understanding of grooming whether it be sexual abuse, knife crime or extremism and the new focus on prevention rather than criminalisation of individuals. Also among those to receive awards were Theresa Mays controversial former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, who was one of the architects of her disastrous 2017 election campaign. He was the brains behind the former prime ministers social care policy which was swiftly dubbed the dementia tax. Mr Timothy, who declined to speak to the press, was awarded a CBE alongside Fiona Hill with whom he shared the chief of staff role. After collecting her award in January, Ms Hill described her time in Downing Street as bloody hard. Summer Monteys-Fullam has admitted she was 'besotted' with Paul Hollywood when their relationship first began but was warned by her mother that relationship could 'explode'. The former barmaid, 24, dated The Great British Bake Off star, 53, for several months before the relationship imploded in arguments and legal battles. Speaking to The Sun's Fabulous magazine, Summer told how she fell head over heels for Paul when they first began dating in November 2017. Wow! Summer Monteys-Fullam has admitted she was 'besotted' with Paul Hollywood when their relationship first began but was warned by her mother that relationship could 'explode' She said: 'It did move quickly and, yes, I was besotted at the beginning.' Summer's mother Sabina had reservations about the 29-year age gap between the couple and had fears from the beginning the relationship would not work. Sabina said: 'Youve got a beautiful young redhead with an older man... the age gap. It was all there. I always knew it would explode.' While the age gap between Summer and Paul raised eyebrows, the model insisted it never bothered her. Relationship: The former barmaid dated The Great British Bake Off star for several months before the relationship imploded in arguments and legal battles Honest: Speaking to The Sun's Fabulous magazine , Summer told how she fell head over heels for Paul when they first began dating in November 2017 She said: 'The age gap for me wasnt a problem. I didnt really care about it because if you love someone, then age is nothing but a number.' The couple kept their romance private for a number of months but Summer did receive her families blessing, including from her 12-year-old sister. Summer admitted she was the victim of cruel online trolls after her relationship with Paul became public, with Sabina telling how she saw a change in her daughter. However, time heals all wounds and Summer now feels she is back to being the 'strong chick' she was a few years ago. Summer, who dumped the TV star after he asked her to sign a non-disclosure agreement about their relationship, also insisted that she never intended to pursue a life in the spotlight before dating Paul. Summer said: 'It did move quickly and, yes, I was besotted at the beginning' However, now that doors have opened for her, the social media star said she wants to see what her new options are. Paul's marriage to his ex Alex came close to ending in 2013, when it was revealed that he'd had an affair with his The American Baking Competition co-star Marcela, 42. He told The Mirror in July of that year: 'Its my fault. I am very sad about what has happened. I do feel very sad about it and what it brought on the family.' However, Alex took him back three months later for the sake of their son, only for the pair to announce in November 2017 that things were officially coming to an end. News of Paul's relationship with Summer sparked outrage from Alex, who filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery soon afterwards, with sources saying she believed he'd been having an affair with Summer before their split. Their romance attracted an avalanche of headlines as Paul treated Summer to countless lavish gifts and even purchased a 1million house in Kent for them to share back in February of last year. Ex: Paul's relationship with Summer sparked outrage from ex Alex, who filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery soon afterwards as she believed he'd been with Summer before their split However, things came crashing down in the summer, when Paul asked Summer to sign a non-disclosure agreement drafted up by his lawyers, which she refused to do. She also recently revealed that she is taking her former flame to court for 4,000 over her two horse shelters, built at his 800,000 Kent farmhouse last year. Summer claimed she'd been left with 'no alternative' but to take legal action against the Bake Off judge four months after they ended their two-year relationship. She told MailOnline: 'All I have ever wanted was to get back what is rightfully mine - stuff I bought with my own savings... he's punishing my horses with his spite.' The social media influencer purchased the first stable when she moved her horses to his Grade II listed home in January, and built the second in March for her mare who was pregnant. 'I'm incredibly disappointed that I've had to choose this course of action against Paul', she said. 'Dealing with Paul is a nightmare - everything is done through his lawyers.' Affair: Alex's marriage to Bake Off star Paul crumbled in 2017, four years after his affair with The American Baking Competition co-star Marcela Valladolid The redheads' interview comes after her recent appearance on Good Morning Britain where she revealed she had twice been the victim of stalking. Summer told hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid she had spent a year being stalked by an unknown man on a motorbike when she was aged just 18. Summer said: 'It was very scary because he was on a motorbike and and I couldn't see his face. I didn't know what he looked like, how old he was. It was very scary. 'He would follow me on my horses, he would hide in bushes- I had to go to the extent of changing my routine.' Summer went on to advocate for the introduction of a stalking register after sharing she had also been stalked by a security guard following her split from celebrity chef Paul in August last year. Family: Summer's mother Sabina had reservations about the 29-year age gap between the couple and had fears from the beginning the relationship would not work The beauty recently called out her master-baker ex as a 'stalker' following his apparent tracking of his ex on her social media. Summer accused Paul of making fake accounts to follow her on platforms including Instagram. She then shared a quote on her Instagram Stories last month which read: 'Hello stalker, I'm doing fine. Thanks for checking up on me.' Completing her post, Summer added a row of laughing emojis under the words and opted not to add any further comment. Paul, who is estimated to be worth 10million, appears to have found love over a pint once again, as he recently confirmed he is dating the landlady of his local pub. The TV judge has denied that he was enjoying a romance with Melissa Spalding, 36, since their friendship was revealed in August after his split from Summer. John Daly meets Conor McQuaid to discuss the success of Irish Distillers in USA. Irish Distillers experienced another strong financial year in 2018/2019, accelerated by the continued growth of Jameson Irish whiskey, which is now in double or triple-digit growth in more than 70 markets across the world. Jameson, one of Irelands most recognised brands worldwide, continues to spearhead the renaissance of the Irish whiskey category with the brand achieving its 30th year of consecutive growth, selling 7.7 million cases in 2018/19, up from 7.3 million cases the previous year. As these results show, we continue to develop our historically strong markets while penetrating new markets for Irish whiskey, said Conor McQuaid, chairman and CEO. Jameson is quickly becoming a truly global brand. Additionally, our dedication to innovation continues to be important as we drive sales across our portfolio, solidifying our position as makers of some of the worlds most enjoyed Irish whiskeys. In the US market, the Irish whiskey category sold 4.5 million nine-litre cases in 2018, with sales of Jameson representing 78% of total Irish whiskey sales. Additionally, sales of Jameson Black Barrel grew by 22% in the US, making it the first Super Premium Irish whiskey brand to reach 100,000 cases. Much of the brands success across the US is due to the support of the bar owning and bar tending community, he says: In those local bars that are Irish-owned or themed, bar staff took Jameson to their hearts and were instrumental in introducing customers to the brand and spreading the word. When bartenders stand behind and encourage customers to try Jameson, it becomes a very powerful aspect of the brands popularity and you really cant get a greater endorsement than that. Conor adds that it is a fundamental factor in the drinks industry that drinks which emanate from the US in what is cool and trendy have a cascade effect impacting on global trends: There is no doubt that the popularity of Jameson in the US and the success that it has there was the tailwind to the global renaissance of Irish whiskey, and Jameson in particular, over the last thirty years. Another prestigious feather in the Jameson cap saw it enter the top 10 of IMPACT magazines annual Top 100 Premium Spirits Brands Worldwide list for the first time ever. In addition, Jameson scored its 18th consecutive year on the titles Hot Brands in the USA list, delivering 9% growth in the market as an established brand over the same period. Entering the top 10 marks a milestone for the brand, which has added more than 2.5m cases and risen five places in the list over as many years, according to IMPACT Databank, which publishes the report each year in collaboration with the international drinks trade media magazine. Up from 11th place in 2018s list, Jameson sits alongside Jagermeister in ninth and tenth place in the list, each reporting volume sales of 7.5m nine-litre cases. Jameson is one of only two premium spirits brands in the top 10 to achieve Hot Brand status, a curated list of brands that each sell a minimum of 200,000 cases in the USA and fulfil at least one of four sophisticated measurement methods designed by IMPACT. The release of IMPACT magazines Top 100 and Hot Brands lists highlights the fact that Jameson now sells more than any Scotch whisky, bar Johnnie Walker, further affirming the growing role and importance of Jameson and Irish whiskey on the global spirits stage, explains Conor. Jameson is going from strength to strength as whiskey drinkers seek out the smooth taste, approachability and Irish personality of Jameson. The popularity of Jameson has helped the companys other brands, with customers opting to trade up within the Jameson family as exemplified by the growth of Black Barrel to 200,000 cases. Jameson is now seeing double or triple-digit sales growth in more than 70 countries. Growth was driven by sales of its prestige range including Redbreast, the Spot range, and Jameson Black Barrel. The US, South Africa, Russia, Ireland and the UK continue to be Jamesons chief markets, but it is now growing in Canada and emerging markets like Nigeria, India, Mexico and Brazil as well. We continue to develop our historically strong markets while penetrating new markets. Jameson continues to perform well in emerging markets, up 23%, with Nigeria (+141%), India (+55%), Mexico (+20%) and Brazil (+13%) all recording high growth. The Jameson family also saw sales increase by 12% in Eastern Europe, driven by the Ukrainian (+24%) and Russian (+7%) markets. Global growth of our prestige range, led by Redbreast and the Spot range, reflects the increase in consumer appetite for premium and super-premium Irish whiskeys. "The growth of Jameson Black Barrel, Redbreast and the Spot range in the US is a clear testament to this. "Our largest markets continue to be the USA, South Africa and Russia, followed by Ireland and UK. New York acquisition Irish Distillers looks set to grow its portfolio of brands after the purchase of New York-based Castle Brands for $223m. The extensive list of brands in the acquisition include Jeffersons Bourbon, Goslings rum and The Arran single malt Scotch. Pernod Ricard is continually on the lookout for exciting brands with a real provenance and heritage, says Conor. Jefferson Bourbon is the jewel in the Castle Brands crown, and the acquisition was made as we seek to have a greater presence in the American whiskey market and to enhance our broader portfolio. The stronger Pernod Ricard is in the American marketplace, the better the portfolio is for our customers and trade partners. In a broader sense, it can only help to increase our footprint in the US. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 23:21:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Disinfect the soles of your shoes and iron your outerwear before entering the workplace. Dine in the cafeteria in rotation and sit at least two meters away from your fellow workers. These are just some of the measures Japanese company Musashino Chemical (China) Co., Ltd. has put in place to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, as the firm located in east China's Jiangxi Province resumed operations this week after an extended Spring Festival holiday. "We have taken full precautions as the safety of our employees is our top priority," said Fan Guizeng, the executive vice general manager of the firm, where nearly all of its 150 employees have returned to work. Like Musashino, many Japanese companies in China have gradually resumed operations this week after implementing detailed safety measures. Some of them have offered flexible working hours and working-from-home options for their employees due to the virus outbreak. At Suzhou Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., a Japanese firm specializing in crystal-related products, about half of its 1,128 employees had returned to work since Monday. Fujiwara Nobumitsu, the president of the company, said the local government had set up a service team to provide timely information for foreign firms, which greatly helped their resumption of operations. "Our staff in human resources and manufacturing are fully cooperating with the government to provide information about our employees and take precautionary measures against the virus," said Fujiwara. But the president also expressed concerns over his company's current production output, citing the absence of the company's out-of-province employees as well as those in its downstream partners. "We are looking forward to seeing our suppliers resume operation in a timely manner while giving full consideration to combating the outbreak," said Fujiwara. "Through our concerted efforts, I am confident we will overcome the obstacles, and the Chinese economy will be back to normal." In Pinghu Economic Zone in east China's Zhejiang Province, over 80 percent of the 30-plus Japanese companies had resumed operation by Tuesday. At Nidec Shibaura (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd., more than 1,100 workers have returned to work. The company has disinfected all public spaces and ordered workers to dine in rotation. "Though the precautionary measures have added a lot of work, they are crucial to containing the virus and the development of our firm," said Zhang Yuping, a manager at the company's general affairs department. "We will fully implement these measures." On Monday, the Ministry of Commerce issued a circular urging local authorities to provide better services for foreign-funded enterprises amid the outbreak of the virus. Efforts should be made to help foreign-funded companies resume production and operation in an orderly manner. More than 20 factories across China under the U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill have resumed production, following the instructions of local governments in a bid to guarantee supply amid the epidemic outbreak. One of its feed plants based in Hubei Province, which is the hardest hit by the virus, has not yet resumed work. Despite the toll the epidemic has taken on business activities in China, many executives expressed confidence that the negative impacts are short-lived and the country will resume its growth momentum. In Ricoh China's Shanghai office, mask-wearing office workers had to undergo body temperature checks before work and sat at least a meter apart from each other. The company also extended lunch hours to avoid the gathering of people. "The epidemic is short-lived but we are pursuing long-term development," said Koji Miyao, CEO of Ricoh China, in a letter to the company's employees and business partners. This year, the company will further tap its technological advantages and push forward a digital-based working mode, said the CEO. Hideki Ozawa, president and CEO of Canon (China), said the company has donated 3 million yuan (about 429,000 U.S. dollars) worth of high-end Aquilion Lightning CT equipment to the virus-affected regions to combat the epidemic. Eying greater development in the Chinese market, Canon will introduce more advanced products and technologies, and strengthen cooperation with its Chinese partners, said Ozawa. While gradually resuming some of its business operations, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation encouraged all staff members to work from home for the time being. "The company's business might be negatively affected to a certain degree from the epidemic as some employees still need in-house isolation for a few more days and some clients are based in Wuhan," the epicenter of the virus, said Tomizawa Katsuyuki, corporate executive of Mitsubishi and its chief representative in China. "But I see opportunities for the company's long-term development in China." "Industries such as 5G and investments on food and healthcare are growing fast, which are positive," said the executive. "I believe China will fulfill its goal of high-quality development." In Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities in the Chengdu High-tech Zone, where world-renowned enterprises, including Foxconn, Intel and Texas Instruments are based, are working around the clock to assist companies' epidemic prevention work while helping them launch orderly resumption of work. "With timely and sufficient guidance by local authorities, we have laid out a detailed emergency prevention and control plan before Feb. 1 and more than 30 employees have returned to work since Monday," said Mitsushige Nakashima, general manager of the Idemitsu Electronic Materials (China) Co. Ltd, located in the Chengdu High-tech Zone. To ensure the safety of employees and their families, the company allocated thousands of masks from its headquarters in Japan, some of which are used by its employees while others are donated to the high-tech zone. "Though it's not a very large number of masks, we will try our best to overcome the difficulties together with Chengdu," Nakashima said. With many people staying at home amid the efforts to combat the virus, online activities are buzzing, so is Japanese retailer Ito-Yakado. To deal with the surging online demand, Ito-Yakado has doubled the kinds of products it sold online, with daily orders reaching up to 1,600, four times higher than usual. "During this year's Spring Festival holiday, the passenger flow to our store curtailed by 30 percent compared with the same period last year, the turnover, however, tripled," said Li Lijuan, head of a brick-and-mortar store of Ito-Yakado in Chengdu. "Almost all of our staff are now on duty, providing our customers with high-quality services," Li said. VANCOUVERA former senior investigator at Canadas RCMP watchdog has launched a $1.65-million lawsuit against the agency for sexual harassment and workplace bullying. Ex-Mountie Jason Galloway claims in court documents he was lured to a job at the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP, a public service agency tasked with investigating complaints against Canadas national police force. The lawsuit alleges that when Galloway filed a harassment complaint against his hiring manager, Richard Evans, several workplace investigations found Galloway had been the victim of sexual harassment and that Evans had violated several policies in hiring him. Then, the suit alleges, the watchdog revoked Galloways job. The (commission) chewed up my client and spat him out, said Andre Marin, a lawyer at Lister Beaupre, the firm representing Galloway. In my 20 years of investigating matters at all levels of government as ombudsman, Ive never seen anything like it. Marin was Ontarios ombudsperson from 2005 to 2015. CRCC spokesperson Kate McDerby said the agency would not comment as the matter is before the courts. She added that Evans no longer works for the agency. The allegations contained in the notice of claim have not been tested in court. Despite multiple attempts by the Star to contact Evans, he did not respond to detailed questions about allegations in the lawsuit. No statement of defence has been filed, to the Stars knowledge. Lawsuit documents filed in the B.C. Supreme Court allege that Galloway, now 37, first met Evans, who was senior director of operations at CRCC, in the fall of 2015, when Evans travelled from his home in Ottawa to the Vancouver area for an RCMP-related matter. The lawsuit alleges that in the following months, Evans convinced Galloway, who was an RCMP officer at the time, to apply for a job at the civilian agency, where he would head the British Columbia office and work under Evans, who was stationed in Ottawa. In June 2016, Galloway resigned from the RCMP and began working for the watchdog as a senior investigator. What followed was months of what Galloway alleges in court documents was sexual harassment and bullying. In the lawsuit, Galloway claims Evanss unwelcome behaviour during this time included unrelenting texts and phone calls that were at times sexual in nature, as well as Evans pressuring Galloway to accompany him to social outings. Galloway alleges that when he did not reciprocate Evans advances, Evans reacted with sudden outbursts of anger and threats to fire him. The lawsuit details one 2016 incident in which Galloway alleges Evans struck him across the face after Galloway said he didnt want to continue drinking with him. In October 2017, Galloway filed a complaint to the agency against Evans, alleging sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, assault and creation of a toxic work environment, according to the suit. That same month, Galloway went on sick leave. In lawsuit documents, he says he was experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as anxiety and depression. The lawsuit alleges that the CRCC appointed a workplace investigator to look into the complaint. The resulting report published in July 2018 allegedly affirmed Galloways claims of sexual harassment, bullying and intimidation. In December 2017, an anonymous whistleblower flagged administrative irregularities at the CRCC, according to the lawsuit. Former deputy justice minister John Sims was appointed to investigate the matter. His investigation recommended that the Public Service Commission, an independent agency that functions as the federal staffing watchdog and is tasked with ensuring a neutral and non-partisan public service, take a further look into Galloways hiring. The lawsuit alleges that the resulting April 2019 report concluded that Evans had tampered with Galloways job application and lowered the education requirements of the job to better suit Galloways credentials. The report also stated that Galloway was not at fault for his supervisors breach of hiring protocol. In August 2019, the CRCC revoked Galloways job appointment. According to Marin, Galloway has been unable to work due to mental health issues ever since. Its unfathomable the way he was treated. He was treated like a commodity, said Marin. On Jan. 31, 2020, Galloway filed the lawsuit against the agency and his former supervisor, demanding $350,000 in lost wages, $500,000 for moral damages, $300,000 for damages relating to bullying and harassment and $500,000 in punitive damages. Galloway is currently receiving long-term disability from WorkSafe BC, which, according to lawsuit, found he is suffering from mental illness that was predominantly caused by work-related stressors, including bullying or harassment. Correction - Feb. 12, 2020: Andre Marin was Ontarios ombudsperson from 2005 to 2015. A previous version of this story contained incorrect dates. Read more about: A wounded man has survived an ordeal in the wilderness after he was apparently shot by mistake in a remote expanse near Churchill. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A wounded man has survived an ordeal in the wilderness after he was apparently shot by mistake in a remote expanse near Churchill. He walked for nearly two days before arriving and getting medical attention. "This whole story is pretty incredible," said RCMP Capt. Julie Courchaine. The man, 29, was trapping near Button Bay, eight kilometres west of Churchill, when the driver of a passing snowmobile shot him in the upper body on either Feb. 5 or 6. Though details from the shooting are still being determined, the RCMP has been working to track the man's path back to safety. It appears he eventually made his way to a remote cabin, where he left behind some equipment before continuing on seeking help, Courchaine said. Investigators found several spots where it appeared someone had lain, but because the man was dehydrated and injured, it's not clear how long he stopped for. Eventually, on Feb. 7, through blowing snow and gusting wind, the man arrived to Cape Merry Road, where he was seen by people working on a construction site, Courchaine said. The RCMP were called, and when assessed, the manoriginally from Quebecwas found to be suffering from a gunshot wound and serious exposure to the cold. He's now in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Courchaine 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. The next step is to figure out who was responsible for the gunshot. When the man spoke to police, he said the suspect was wearing a black and blue snowsuit, a neck warmer and a black toque, and he was driving a black and blue snowmobile pulling a sled. The snowmobile was last seen going north from Button Bay. The victim believes the person who shot him may have mistaken him for an animal, but the RCMP is seeking public assistance in locating the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Churchill detachment at 204-675-2551. Courchaine hopes that now the person responsible for the shooting knows the man survived, they might be more likely to come forward. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Tuesday's game marked the first time Al Horford didnt start in a game since his rookie season for the Atlanta Hawks in an 82-79 victory over the Miami Heat on Nov. 21, 2007. Read more The 76ers made a drastic change to their starting lineup for Tuesdays game against the Los Angeles Clippers. And it had nothing to do with Josh Richardson returning to the lineup in his third game back from injury. Sharpshooting Furkan Korkmaz started at small forward while struggling power forward Al Horford was moved to the bench. This marked the first time Horford didnt start in a game since his rookie season for the Atlanta Hawks in an 82-79 victory over the Miami Heat on Nov. 21, 2007. READ MORE: Former Sixers guard Landry Shamet, initially angry at being traded, has settled in with Los Angeles Clippers The Sixers signed the 13th-year veteran to a four-year, $97 million deal this summer. However, he has struggled to find a rhythm while playing alongside center Joel Embiid. The 33-year-old Horford is averaging 12.1 points, the fewest since averaging 11.5 in his second season. Horford is also shooting a career-low 43.8 percent from the field. Korkmaz, however, is coming off consecutive 30-plus-point performances. READ MORE: Marcus Morris loves returning to Philly, has no opinion on Sixers The third-year veteran had 31 points in Sundays victory over the Chicago Bulls. Two days before that, Korkmaz had a career high of 34 points and seven made three-pointers. Korkmaz is averaging a career-best 9.7 points this season. He and Richardson joined Tobias Harris, Embiid, and Ben Simmons in the starting lineup against the Clippers. SBI, Indiabulls Housing and ICICI Bank were top traded stock on the NSE. The Nifty February 2020 were at 12,226.85, a premium of 25.65 points compared with the Nifty's closing of 12,201.20 in the cash market. In the cash market, the Nifty 50 index was up 93.3 points or 0.77% to 12,201.20. Turnover on the National Stock Exchange's & options (F&O) segment was Rs 13.02 lakh crore compared with Rs 11.40 lakh crore reported in the previous session. The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, was declined 2.26% to 13.565. On the options front, the Nifty option chain for 27 February 2020 expiry showed maximum call open interest (OI) of 27.76 lakh contracts at the 12,500 strike price. Maximum put OI of 40.46 lakh contracts was seen at 12,000 strike price. The option chain indicates that Nifty will hover between 12,000 and 12,500 in the February 2020 series. Yes Bank (down 4.48%) was banned from trading in NSE's F&O segment after the security crossed 95% of market wide position limit. State Bank of India (SBI), Indiabulls Housing Finance and ICICI Bank were top traded individual stock futures contracts in F&O segment of NSE for February expiry. SBI February 2020 futures were at 321.75, compared with spot closing price of 320.4. Indiabulls Housing Finance February 2020 futures were at 334, compared with spot closing price of 340.40. ICICI Bank February 2020 futures were at 551.50, compared with spot closing price of 549.40. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On February 11, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a thumping majority in the Delhi Assembly election to retain power in the national capital. AAP, in what was almost a repeat of the 2015 verdict, won 62 of the 70 constituencies. Its main challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the remaining eight. The Congress failed to win any seat again. While the result may have shown consolidation of AAP and Kejriwals grip over Delhi, the developments may also have ramifications over politics in other parts of the country. The next state-level election is slated to happen in Bihar in October-November this year. The state is currently being governed by the Janata Dal (United)-BJP alliance. After the 2019 Lok Sabha election, speculation was rife about unease between the alliance partners over who would be the dominate party in the arrangement. However, Union Home Minister and then BJP national president Amit Shah had clarified in October that the election would be contested by the two parties together and under the leadership of JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been in power since 2005 except for a 10-month period (in 2014-15) when his then party colleague Jitan Ram Manjhi had taken over. Often described as the Vikas Purush (development man) of Bihar, Nitish Kumar is now facing anti-incumbency of the type that is commonly seen around leaders who stay in power for multiple tenures. Additionally, his serial political flip-flopping has irked some voters. This feeling was evident among some people when Moneycontrol interacted with them in state capital Patna in the run-up to the general election. Also read 5 key takeaways: Kaam ki rajneeti, consolation gains for BJP and more However, the BJP has also been facing its own share of challenges. Since the 2019 general election, Assembly polls have been held in four states Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Delhi. In Maharashtra, it was contesting in an alliance with the Shiv Sena. While the two partners did manage to win majority of the seats, BJPs performance was seen by many as under-par. It also ended up losing power in the state after the Sena formed government with rivals Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In Haryana, it failed to win a majority on its own and had to forge a post-poll alliance with Dushyant Chautalas Jannayak Janata Party (JJP). The party lost Jharkhand to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance. With these and the latest outcome from Delhi, BJP may have lost its hard-bargaining power when it comes to seat-sharing negotiations in Bihar. Listen in: Rajneeti podcast | Decoding Delhi poll results insight into AAP's resounding win, BJP's gains and Congress' decimation Incidentally, two key political parties from Bihar JD(U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also contested the election. While JD(U) contested in an alliance with BJP, RJD was a Congress partner. Both parties drew a blank. Reacting to the Delhi election result, Nitish Kumar said, "Janata malik hai (people are the masters)", with hands folded above his head and the ghost of a smile playing on his lips. There are others who have expressed optimism over the result. JD(U) Secretary General KC Tyagi was quoted by The Telegraph as saying , The Delhi results will impact the Bihar polls in a manner that the tested face that has credibility, acceptability and respectability Nitish Kumar with huge pro-incumbency will win. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday met the families of jailed anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters in Akhilesh Yadav's stronghold, days after her party targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief for not finding time to visit his Parliamentary constituency. Azamgarh: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday met the families of jailed anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protesters in Akhilesh Yadav's stronghold, days after her party targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief for not finding time to visit his Parliamentary constituency. The Congress general secretary dubbed the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre "anti-poor and anti-people" and said raising one's voice in a democracy is not a crime. Last week, police dispersed Muslim women protesting against the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Maulana Jauhar Park. An FIR was registered against 135 people, mostly unnamed, and 20 arrested, police had said. The protesters alleged they were lathi-charged and the venue deliberately flooded to thwart the agitation. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Azamgarh: Wrong has been done with all of you, and we have to stand against this injustice. This govt is entirely against the poor people. #CAA https://t.co/YTDtW1n2OP pic.twitter.com/nkcxq1k4Px ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 12, 2020 Addressing people in Bilhariaganj locality from the top of her SUV, Priyanka said, "Whatever happened with you was wrong, was injustice. All of us will stand against injustice. She claimed that the BJP government is destroying the Constitution and urged people to save it. "You all have to stand up because all the laws which they are planning to bring in are not against one community, but against the entire Constitution," she said as the crowd chanted slogans. Her visit came against the backdrop of the recent appearance of posters claiming that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is missing from his Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency. They questioned the MP's "absence after the police action on women protesting against the CAA last week. "The SP leader claims to be a well-wisher of Muslims but has confined himself to merely tweeting on police brutality on women protesters," Uttar Pradesh Congress minority cell leader Nadeem Javed had said. Asserting that the Congress will stand with peaceful protesters, Priyanka said, "I heard the womenfolk. I had gone to Bijnor, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Varanasi and other places where police and the administration committed atrocities. She said a report drafted by the Congress was submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and she would also send names of policemen who committed atrocities in Azamgarh. "The Congress party stands by you today. It will stand by you tomorrow and will continue to stand by you till you get justice," she added. Before addressing the crowd, Priyanka met family members of some protesters and offered sweets to children. She met us like a family member and asked us what exactly happened on 4 February, a woman later said. We want our leader Tahir Madni and those against whom false cases have been registered released, the local resident said, referring to the Ulema Council general secretary who was also arrested. She said Priyanka told them that her party will raise the issue in the Lok Sabha and the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Ahead of the visit, the Congress leaders tweeted in Hindi, Raising one's voice in a democracy is not a crime. And it is my duty to stand with those against whom crime has been committed." This is her second visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh in less than a week after her Varanasi trip on Sunday for Ravidas Jayanti. If African swine fever (ASF) crosses the border from Poland to reach German wild boar, the German export market of approximately 500,000 tonnes of pork would be at risk. EU prices could drop by 20-40%, although, according to a new AHDB report, the consequences of an outbreak for the EU market would not be as severe as it would have been 18 months ago, due to the ongoing demand for pork from China. The ASF virus has been found in wild boar in western Poland just 12km from the German border, prompting renewed concerns about the impact on the EU pork sector if the virus found in Germany. In a new report, AHDB points out that Germany is a large exporter of pork to non-EU destinations, many of which tend to completely ban pork from ASF-affected countries, even if the disease is just in wild boar. With Germany exporting around 500,000 tonnes per year, this pork would probably need to stay within the EU instead, AHDB analyst Bethan Wilkins said. Back in September 2018, AHDB produced a report highlighting the potential market impact if ASF were to spread to German wild boar.Many aspects of this report still stand. However, the EU trading situation has changed significantly over the past 18 months, with much more pork sent to China last year and Chinese import demand is expected to increase further this year. If German pork can no longer be sent, as other exporters are now shipping so much out of the EU, supplies on the EU market could increase to levels similar to those seen in 2018. EU pork prices could therefore fall to 2018 levels, representing a 20-40% drop, although Germany will, of course, be more affected than nations maintaining access to China, with export prices still elevated, Ms Wilkins added. Despite the fact Germany has become more reliant on ASF-sensitive countries over the past 18-months, it seems that the spread of ASF into Germany may have less severe consequences than it would have 18 months ago, she said. The sharp rise in Chinese import demand has drawn enough product from the EU market that if German pork is retained, the market is unlikely to be swamped. Prices are still likely to fall, but probably not to the historic lows we might have seen otherwise. Much of this analysis is dependent on the assumption that Chinese import demand holds, and even increases this year, she adds. The pork supply gap is expected to be even larger than in 2019, so this seems likely, but international relations and the current coronavirus situation do bring some uncertainty, Ms Wilkins said. Get Our E-Newsletter - Pig World's best stories in your in-box twice a week See e-newsletter example Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy Washington: As the fallout from the controversy surrounding Roger Stone's prison term continued, President Donald Trump defended his long-time confidant by firing off a barrage of heated tweets attacking the federal judge and prosecutors involved in the case. Over about two hours, Trump cranked out six blasts about the handling of Stone's sentencing, including one that targeted US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is presiding over the case, by name. He implied that Jackson harboured some broad bias, linking the Stone case to her role in the sentencing of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and her dismissal of a Benghazi-related lawsuit against Hillary Clinton. "Is this the Judge that put Paul Manafort in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, something that not even mobster Al Capone had to endure?" Trump wrote, sharing another tweet that named Jackson. "How did she treat Crooked Hillary Clinton? Just asking!" NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that its Technical Solutions business has entered into an agreement to contribute its San Diego Shipyard to Titan Acquisition Holdings, a company comprised of Vigor Industrial and MHI Holdings. Titan is controlled by majority owner The Carlyle Group and Stellex Capital Management. Post-transaction, HII will hold a minority interest in Titan. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter. Financial terms were not disclosed. The addition of the San Diego Shipyard will expand Titans ship repair and complex fabrication business with critical mass, expanded capabilities, and strategically located facilities in Norfolk; San Diego; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; Vancouver, Washington; and Ketchikan, Alaska. Outside the partnership, HII will continue to provide a broad set of naval sustainment services, including maintenance and modernization, advanced naval logistics, and operational training and support for the U.S. Navy fleet through its Newport News Shipbuilding, Ingalls Shipbuilding and Technical Solutions divisions. Titan is a first-class organization with a strong reputation in the ship repair and sustainment market, said Andy Green, executive vice president and president, Technical Solutions. We believe this transaction will enable us to leverage complementary capabilities, capacity and facilities to improve efficiencies and better serve the needs of our U.S. Navy customer. We are excited to add the San Diego Shipyard to our already strongly positioned and growing enterprise. The opportunity to add the San Diego Shipyard to our family of companies is a natural step in our evolution, given its strategic location and wealth of talented employees, said Jim Marcotuli, CEO and president of Titan. We look forward to sharing best practices and leveraging our collective assets to improve service to our valued customers. The Carlyle Group is a global investment firm whose investment in MHI and Vigor last year was made by the Carlyle U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund II. Stellex Capital is a private equity manager that invests in and oversees U.S. and European corporate assets. Huntington Ingalls Industries is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HIIs Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HIIs Technical Solutions division supports national security missions around the globe with unmanned systems, defense and federal solutions, nuclear and environmental services, and fleet sustainment. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 42,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit: HII on the web: www.huntingtoningalls.com HII on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HuntingtonIngallsIndustries HII on Twitter: twitter.com/hiindustries Statements in this release, as well as other statements we may make from time to time, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. Factors that may cause such differences include: changes in government and customer priorities and requirements (including government budgetary constraints, shifts in defense spending, and changes in customer short-range and long-range plans); our ability to estimate our future contract costs and perform our contracts effectively; changes in procurement processes and government regulations and our ability to comply with such requirements; our ability to deliver our products and services at an affordable life cycle cost and compete within our markets; natural and environmental disasters and political instability; our ability to execute our strategic plan, including with respect to share repurchases, dividends, capital expenditures, and strategic acquisitions; adverse economic conditions in the United States and globally; changes in key estimates and assumptions regarding our pension and retiree health care costs; security threats, including cyber security threats, and related disruptions; and other risk factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements that we may make. A homeless man has sued the city of Los Angeles, claiming local police have posted his image and that of others on Facebook group pages that track illegal encampments of people living on the streets. Rex Schellenberg, 81, who filed the suit Monday, said he was appalled when he learned that a cop had been sharing information about him and other homeless people on Facebook. 'Telling them who we were and what we were doing. Our personal problems,' said Schellenberg, 81, who has lived on the streets of the San Fernando Valley for years. Rex Schellenberg, 81, filed a law suit Monday against the city of Los Angeles, claiming local police have posted his image and that of others on Facebook group pages that track illegal encampments of people living on the streets 'It's like putting a target on our back,' he told the Los Angeles Times. The suit alleges that Schellenberg has been harassed by police because of the online posts, and that his van was towed. A Los Angeles Police spokesman declined comment when DailyMail.com reached, because of a policy that restricts department members making statements about pending litigation. Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feurer, said Schellenberg's complaint was under review, and declined to comment further. Schellenberg's complaint comes as Los Angeles has been cracking down on illegal homeless encampments in Los Angeles, which has about 4 million residents and is the second largest city in the US by population, after New York, which has more than twice as many residents. The suit alleges that Schellenberg has been harassed by police because of the online posts, and that his van was towed. He is pictured standing next to the vehicle in post made by a Facebook user complaining the vehicle had been parked in the spot for two weeks A Facebook group user's comments about Schellenberg's van asks, 'who can I call about this?' Schellenberg's lawsuit includes an online post from an officer updating group members about efforts moving an occupant of an encampment into housing, and mentions Schellenberg by name. Authorities last week removed a large, three-story tree house which was built illegally in northwestern Los Angeles, as the city officials worked to clear a homeless encampment said to be inhabited by 100 people. City sanitation workers dismantled the structure located on a 34-acre stretch of designated parkland in the Sepulveda Basin, which is that is said to be at high risk of flooding and brush fires. The LA Homeless Services Authority was on hand during the removal to assist persons displaced by the effort. Schellenberg's lawsuit, obtained by the DailyMail, notes that a 'point-in-time count' of sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in January 2019 found there were 36,000 individuals without a permanent place to go 'any given night.' The suit also mentions that at least 16,000 'unhoused individuals live in their vehicles across Los Angeles County.' The suit mentions an officer's attempts to have Schellenberg move his encampment from Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills in August 2018, but disputes that he was 'camping' at the site. A picture from the suite shows Schellenberg's belongings in the park that day 'Countless studies have shown that the affordable housing crises in Los Angeles is driving the increase in homelessness,' the lawsuit filed by attorney Carol A. Sobel, who is representing Schellenberg. As the 'visibility' of homeless people has increased, groups have been formed on Facebook and the social media platform NextDoor, where people have aired their grievances over noticing more and more people living on the street. Los Angeles cops also have joined the groups, some which gained notoriety for their 'anti-homeless rhetoric,' the suit claims. The groups include 'Crimebusters of West Hills and Woodland Hills', and 'Homeless Transient Encampments of our West Valley'. 'Acting in their official roles, LAPD Senior Lead Officers participate in these private Facebook groups, even as group administrators,' the lawsuit says. The involvement of police drew another legal case, filed with the California Attorney General's Office in 2018. An LAPD review later found the groups were having 'private parties posting demeaning comments about individuals experiencing homelessness,' according to the suit. 'The complaint to the AG included such comments by LAPD Senior Lead Officers, who disclosed private information, learned through their position as police officers, about unhoused individuals in their posts,' the suit explains. 'In many of these, LAPD Senior Lead Officers directed local residents to lodge formal complaints with the City so that the LAPD then could take action against unhoused individuals.' Schellenberg is charging in his lawsuit that the department didn't back off the practice, but instead 'did nothing more than remind officers of the department's social media policy. Nothing changed.' Vehicles sit parked next to tents beneath the overpass of U.S. Highway 101 in Los Angeles earlier this month. The city has been stepping up efforts to remove illegal encampments of people living on the streets The lack of action left Schellenberg and other homeless people vulnerable to 'sanctioned harassment' by private parties and the police. The lawsuit includes an online post from an officer updating group members about efforts moving an occupant of an encampment into housing, and mentions Schellenberg by name. The post also says a letter was submitted to the Department of Mental Health on the homeless man's behalf to get him additional funding 'to move him to a location.' The officer's comments add that 'lawsuits by transients and civil rights groups' had prevented cops form 'immediately addressing this issue', and includes links to news reports about the homeless. Schellenberg, who is retired, disabled and living on a fixed income, 'does not suffer from mental illness other than ordinary stress and trauma from living on the streets, nor is he a drug addict, the lawsuit states. The suit mentions an officer's attempts to have Schellenberg move his encampment from Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills in August 2018, but disputes that he was 'camping' at the site. He was forced to move, but was not given a summons. The suit also notes how Schellenberg's van was parked legally on Aug. 25, 2019, but towed by police after a post was made in a Facebook group complaining the vehicle had been in the spot for two weeks. 'Who can I call about this? He's been parked here for 2 weeks on street parking... I think his rent is the meter?' the group member wrote about a month before the vehicle was removed by police who know Schellenberg, the suit alleges. A picture is included with the post showing the homeless man standing next to the van, hobbled over a baby stroller he was using to carry his belongings. 'Mr. Schellenberg was only able to retrieve a few items and blanketsfrom his vehicle before it was towed,' the lawsuit says. 'That night, he slept on the street.' Secret Task Assigned To Paras & Sidharth Interestingly, the makers are introducing a new twist in the Bigg Boss house. Apparently, a secret task will be assigned to Sidharth and Paras wherein the duo must make the contestants believe that there is actually paranormal entity inside the house. Sidharth and Paras play it well and create things in such a way that the other housemates believe and get scared. To make it look realistic, Bigg Boss scares contestants by adding flickering lights. Vicky Kaushals Bhoot Prank Vicky keeps an eye on the contestants and laugh at how they get scared with his prank. The Bhoot actor then enters the house through captain's room by wearing a prop of head cut body to scare the contestants. As the contestants gather courage and move closer, they will see Vicky and will be relieved that it was a prank! Vicky Reveals About Mid-night Elimination In the promo, Vicky will be seen saying that he will be sharing horror story and then he will leave the house. He also adds that he will not be leaving alone, but will be taking a contestant with him, which means he will be announcing the mid-night elimination. Mahira, Shehnaz & Arti In Danger Zone As the viewers are aware, Sid, Asim and Rashami are safe as they are elite club members, while Sidharth saved Paras in a task. The other three contestants Mahira, Shehnaz and Arti are nominated for eviction. Arti Or Mahira Who Will Be Eliminated? Well, we are sure that Shehnaz will not be eliminated as she has good fan base. So, it will be either Arti or Mahira, who will be getting eliminated tonight. Stay locked to this space for the latest update on tonight's elimination. UCLA-led research uncovers new details about the Foxp1 gene, which also is involved in timing of neuron production A UCLA-led study reveals a new role for a gene that's associated with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and language impairment. The gene, Foxp1, has previously been studied for its function in the neurons of the developing brain. But the new study reveals that it's also important in a group of brain stem cells -- the precursors to mature neurons. "This discovery really broadens the scope of where we think Foxp1 is important," said Bennett Novitch, a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and the senior author of the paper. "And this gives us an expanded way of thinking about how its mutation affects patients." Mutations in Foxp1 were first identified in patients with autism and language impairments more than a decade ago. During embryonic development, the protein plays a broad role in controlling the activity of many other genes related to blood, lung, heart, brain and spinal cord development. To study how Foxp1 mutations might cause autism, researchers have typically analyzed its role in the brain's neurons. "Almost all of the attention has been placed on the expression of Foxp1 in neurons that are already formed," said Novitch, a UCLA professor of neurobiology who holds the Ethel Scheibel Chair in Neuroscience. In the new study published in Cell Reports, he and his colleagues monitored levels of Foxp1 in the brains of developing mouse embryos. They found that, in normally developing animals, the gene was active far earlier than previous studies have indicated -- during the period when neural stem cells known as apical radial glia were just beginning to expand in numbers and generate a subset of brain cells found deep within the developing brain. When mice lacked Foxp1, however, there were fewer apical radial glia at early stages of brain development, as well as fewer of the deep brain cells they normally produce. When levels of Foxp1 were above normal, the researchers observed more apical radial glia and an excess of those deep brain cells that appear early in development. In addition, continued high levels of Foxp1 at later stages of embryonic development led to unusual patterns of apical radial glia production of deep-layer neurons even after the mice were born. "What we saw was that both too much and too little Foxp1 affects the ability of neural stem cells to replicate and form certain neurons in a specific sequence in mice," Novitch said. "And this fits with the structural and behavioral abnormalities that have been seen in human patients." Some people, he explained, have mutations in the Foxp1 gene that blunt the activity of the Foxp1 protein, while others have mutations that change the protein's structure or make it hyperactive. The team also found intriguing hints that Foxp1 might be important for a property specific to the developing human brain. The researchers also examined human brain tissue and discovered that Foxp1 is present not only in apical radial glia, as was seen in mice, but also in a second group of neural stem cells called basal radial glia. Basal radial glia are abundant in the developing human brain, but absent or sparse in the brains of many other animals, including mice. However, when Novitch's team elevated Foxp1 function in the brains of mice, cells resembling basal radial glia were formed. Scientists have hypothesized that basal radial glia also are connected to the size of the human brain cortex: Their presence in large quantities in the human brain may help explain why it is disproportionately larger than those of other animals. Novitch said that although the new research does not have any immediate implications for the treatment of autism or other diseases associated with Foxp1 mutations, it does help researchers understand the underlying causes of those disorders. In future research, Novitch and his colleagues are planning to study what genes Foxp1 regulates in apical radial glia and basal radial glia, and what roles those genes play in the developing brain. ### The study's first author is Caroline Alayne Pearson, a UCLA assistant project scientist. Other authors are from the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Puerto Rico. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the University of Texas at Austin's Marie Betzner Morrow Centennial Endowment and the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center's Research Award Program, including support from the Binder Foundation. Schools across Ontario will be shut down for one day next week affecting all of the provinces two million students as the four big teachers unions hold a massive, province-wide strike. The walkout on Feb. 21 will mark the first time all public, French and Catholic teachers hit the picket lines on the same day in more than two decades, and the first legal one. The move is meant to up the pressure on the province as contract negotiations have reached an impasse, with the teachers fighting a number of controversial changes the government is proposing and Education Minister Stephen Lecce insisting salary increases are the main sticking point. What you are seeing here is a show of unity between all of us, said Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation. The different things on the table hardly matter in the face of a government that wants to slash fundamental supports for all of our students and thats what we are prepared to stand up together on Friday, February 21. We stand together in the face of these cuts, added Liz Stuart, who heads the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association. Teachers, who have been without a contract since last August, have been taking part in work to rule job action, and their unions have individually been holding one-day rotating or province-wide strikes. The unions announced next weeks big strike just before Lecce addressed the Canadian Club at a downtown Toronto hotel, a speech that all four union leaders attended as hundreds of educators protested outside. Lecce called the province-wide strike irresponsible. Its time to get a deal, he said. The students of this province deserve to be in class. Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, said this is the first time in history all four teacher affiliates are saying the same thing and fighting the same fight on behalf of students and our members in this province. The teacher unions want the government to fully commit to full-day kindergarten, restore funding for more staff for special needs students, and abandon plans to boost class sizes in high schools, which will lead to thousands of lost teaching positions as well as fewer course offerings for teens. They also oppose plans to introduce two mandatory online courses in order to graduate, which would be a first in North America. Educators are also seeking raises equal to the cost of living, about two per cent, while the government has offered one per cent annual increases. The government had one bargaining date with the union representing French-board teachers on Wednesday, at the behest of the mediator. No upcoming talks are scheduled with any of the teacher unions. Next weeks province-wide strike will see about 200,000 teachers, early childhood educators and support staff hit the picket lines in all 72 school boards, shuttering 5,000 schools. Read more about: Heinz, the condiment company most famous for their ketchup, has released a new Valentine's Day product that is sure to cause some relationship issues once gifted. Collaborating with Fortnum a London-based company that sells specialty foods and beverages the two companies have created Fortnum's X Heinz Tomato Ketchup Truffles. The truffles, made by Fortnum's chocolatiers, are described as balanced with a creaminess from the chocolate and tanginess thanks to tomatoes. Each box contains a selection of truffles with milk, dark, and white chocolate shells, each containing a blonde ganache that's infused with Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Only one thousand of the boxes were made, and quickly sold out to rabid ketchup fans across the United Kingdom for a hefty 19.95 ($25.84) each. But don't despair, if you still want to gift the love of your life something infused with ketchup, this Heinz Ketchup Cake may be just the Valentine's Day treat you need. This story originally appeared on Allrecipes. A father who said his 3-year-old daughter had been abducted from outside his home in Florida was not forthcoming with authorities when he first reported her missing. Florida Highway Patrol troopers safely recovered the 3-year-old Apopka girl Monday inside a vehicle they stopped on Interstate 10 near Tallahassee. Police said the girl was taken without force by her biological mother and her mothers boyfriend. The mother, Tania Duarte, acknowledged to police that she did not have custody of the girl. Duarte and her boyfriend, Kevin Smith Olmedo-Velis, were arrested on warrants obtained by the Apopka Police Department alleging interference with child custody and booked into the Leon County jail. Two other people that were in the vehicle were released and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Police said a story Lester Mejia told about his daughter being kidnapped while he went inside to get his keys was a lie. Instead, police said he was at work when Duarte came and took her daughter. When police interviewed Mejia for a second time he told them he was contacted by a relative while at work and told Duarte had taken the child. Mejia said he called 911 on his way home from work, but said a dispatcher told him that no crime had been committed. Mejia had told police Monday morning that hed gone inside to get his keys and when he went back outside after hearing a scream, he saw a man driving away with the girl. He told investigators that he followed the car on the Florida Turnpike all the way to I-75 before he lost track of it. Mejia said he was scared he would not see his daughter again so he made up the abduction story in hopes it would assist in recovering his daughter, police said. Police said that although Mejia was not forthcoming with the information he gave investigators, he did have lawful custody of his daughter and Duarte unlawfully took her. Police said the investigation into the case is ongoing. University of Lucknow to hold the joint entrance examination for admission to the two year B Ed program in the academic session 2020-2022 for Uttar Pradeshs state universities and their associated and deemed colleges. The tentative date of Entrance Examination is April 8, 2020. The online application will start from February 12 and the closing date for online application is March 6, 2020. The last date of submitting application with late fees is March 11, said Vice Chancellor of the University Prof Alok Kumar Rai on Tuesday. The tentative date of entrance examination is April 8, 2020. The tentative date of announcement of results is May 11. The online entrance counselling will start from June 1, 2020. The academic session will start from July 1. Last date for admission and verification of student documents is July 10, said UP B Ed entrance examination regional director Prof Amita Bajpai. If under any circumstances the above dates need to be altered, the authority to do so will only be with the organizers of the entrance examination. Any change in any of the dates associated with the BEd (2 year program) entrance examination will be displayed on the University of Lucknow website,, an official said. A certain amount has been fixed as fees to be submitted during the application process. For candidates of the General and Other Backward Classes of Uttar Pradesh, the fees shall be Rs 1500 without late fees and Rs 2000 with late fees. For candidates of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the fees shall be Rs 750 without late fees and Rs 1000 with late fees. For candidates from other states, the fees shall be Rs 1500 without late fees and Rs 2000 with late fees. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Union Printers Home nursing home and assisted living facility will be shuttered after its 100-plus residents are relocated, a state official said Wednesday. Once all of the residents are out, it will be closed, Peter Myers, public information officer for the state health departments Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services division, told The Gazette. Its really a matter of making sure we have a safe transfer. The facility will not have a chance to recover its license. On Tuesday, the state issued a summary suspension of the facilitys license, an action taken when moving to revoke a license, Myers said. The suspension came after the state health department received a complaint about a female residents death at the nursing home last week. The state couldnt identify the resident, but the El Paso County Coroners Office confirmed that a woman, Margarita Sam, was found dead at the facility Feb. 3. The death is being investigated by the Colorado Springs Police Departments Crimes Against At Risk Adults unit under the Special Victims Section, Sgt. Jason Newton said Wednesday. Its definitely heartbreaking, especially the circumstances, he said. Were going to have to backtrack and figure out what happened days before, leading up to that point. An autopsy has not yet been completed. Newton would not comment on how the woman was found, but Colorado Springs news station KRDO, citing her familys statement to the Pikes Peak Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said she was found frozen outside on a bench, lacking proper clothing. The order of suspension issued to the facility Tuesday from the state mentions a resident found dead on a bench outside the facility. The department has determined that a lack of protective oversight may have contributed to the [nursing home] resident leaving the facility unobserved, the order states. The decision to suspend operations was made after a pattern of noncompliance in which the death played a part, Myers said. Staying within the regulations and their performance in doing that has gotten worse rather than better, Myers said. The Union Printers Home has a target closure date of March 27 but must stay open until all residents are placed elsewhere, a spokeswoman for an outside agency brought in by the state to run the facility through closure said Wednesday. We are here to help every last resident, said Heather Terhark, vice president of ancillary services at Vivage Senior Living. They will receive good care throughout all of this. Myers was unaware of who would foot the bill for outside management through closure. Relocating the facilitys 100-plus residents will be challenging, especially when considering the complexities of payor sources like Medicare and particular insurance plans, said Erin McNab, a housing navigator with the senior-focused nonprofit Silver Key. Residents at the facility are used to having their own rooms, a relative luxury not afforded by many Colorado Springs nursing homes that accept Medicaid, further complicating the transition, she added. The moves will be huge change for these residents, said McNab, who worked at the facility nearly 20 years ago, when it was owned by the printers union. Having a safe place that is familiar to you is huge. Change is scary for anyone, but when you can no longer take care of yourself, its even scarier. Jim Clamp was among those searching for a new home for a family member on Wednesday. His son, Carl Clamp, has lived at the facility for the past year and a half. The 49-year-olds multiple sclerosis affects his mobility, vision and cognition, Jim said. The younger Clamp sounds pretty upset about the closure, his father said. He owns land down by Florence, and hell say, I want to go down there and build a house. Its just so far out of the question, totally impossible. His mind doesnt work totally right. Jim said the treatment of his son by the facilitys nurses has been top notch, though hes struggled to get straight answers about the administration of his sons medications. Its an odd kind of place if you call and get the recording, the main thing they do is talk about how everybodys going to feel so great if a person moves there and what a wonderful place it is, he said. But its sort of ironic because then they wont answer their phone. Its all just kind of haphazard. I think the telephone service is a symbol of the whole place. Medicare.gov shows the facility has been awarded two out of a possible five stars, earning it a below average rating. Facilities are rated based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures, according to the website. The facility received one star out of five for its health inspection rating, putting it in the much below average category. The rating is based on each active providers three most recent health inspection surveys, as well as findings from the past three years of complaint information and inspection revisits, according to the website. The website lists the facilitys number of health citations at 29, above the Colorado average of 7.9 and the U.S. average of 8.2. The Printers Home has been assessed two federal fines in the past three years: one of $61,770 in March and one of $31,107 in November 2017, according to Medicare.gov. Kansas-based Heart Living Centers took over operations at the facility in 2014. The Colorado Springs Police Department has not responded to repeated requests for further information about the womans death. The Gazettes Liz Henderson contributed to this report. HERNDON, Va., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- COREONYX, Inc., a service-disabled veteran-owned small business providing advanced technology solutions and consulting to government customers, announced today the acquisition of another SDVOSB, Collective FLS, Inc. FLS is a leader in CMS, cloud, managed services, enterprise search, hosting and emerging technologies for defense, Intel, civilian, as well as state and local customers. Both organizations are Certified Veteran Enterprises (CVE). "Everything we do is about focusing on our customers' mission and our acquisition of FLS is an important step in bringing us the power to expand our delivery of innovative technical solutions and create even greater value that our customers demand," said COREONYX CEO, Guy Mincey. "FLS' solutions will help us deepen and strengthen our portfolio with a full IT lifecycle solutions offering." The acquisition of FLS will be the foundation for COREONYX's new division, COREONYX Government Solutions, and will support the company's growth by expanding and focusing its capabilities. COREONYX will be gaining all of FLS' customers and contract vehicles with significant forward-looking capabilities in the continually evolving digital transformation world that delivers on the essential customer experience and mission landscape. FLS' assets provide powerful and highly strategic business development drivers within the federal civilian, defense and intelligence arenas, and strong positive past performance. For example, in 2018, FLS won a seat on the Department of Justice's $4.5 billion competitive multiple award Information Technology Support Services (ITSS-5) Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity contract. Combined, these assets will allow COREONYX to expand offerings to more customers in more locations across the U.S. and around the world. FLS has more than 20 years of experience supporting a broad array of international and domestic customers, such as the departments of Energy, the Interior and Justice, Export-Import Bank of the United States, National Institutes of Health, National Park Service, U.S. Navy, and the transit authorities in New York City, Washington D.C., and Vancouver, B.C. COREONYX is led by an executive team that brings a combined 100 years of industry experience to advise government customers based on deep understanding and knowledge of government technology. About COREONYX Founded in 2018, COREONYX Inc. is a certified veteran enterprise and service-disabled veteran-owned and CVE small business. COREONYX provides a wide range of services to support the mission of government customers, delivering transformative information technology, professional and technical consulting and support at the federal, state and local level. COREONYX is honored to bring its clients an extensive track record of mission success in creating, implementing, and successfully delivering critical solutions and services. COREONYX's cultural foundation is one of commitment, focus, integrity and undivided attention for each of its clients; demonstrating the belief that every client is unique and each deserves their unwavering commitment every step of the way. The cornerstone of COREONYX's mission is to exceed the highest standards of delivery through innovative solutions that maximize the delivered value that our customers deserve. COREONYX is ISO-90001 certified. Learn more at www.COREONYX.com . SOURCE COREONYX Related Links http://www.COREONYX.com Haiti - FLASH : Killed by kidnappers while bringing the ransom Tuesday morning, the lifeless body of Jean Rubens Eugene (28), a student at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Commerciales et Economiques was discovered at 4th Avenue Bolosse. The young man who had been charged to bring the ransom in exchange for the release of 5 young hostages from the same Protestant religious congregation of Martissant 7, kidnapped on February 9 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30001-haiti-news-zapping.html was allegedly shot dead by the kidnappers. It is unknown whether he brought part of the ransom or all of it (3 million gourdes), or the reasons which would have led the kidnappers to kill him. According to our sources, the 5 hostages are still in the hands of the kidnappers. The day before this tragedy, Inspector Gary Desrosiers, Deputy spokesperson for the Haitian National Police (PNH) at a press conference acknowledged a "spectacular rise" in the kidnapping phenomenon, without however communicating figures indicating that an investigation was opened into the increase in crime cases including the kidnapping... "We are very concerned at the level of the PNH about the worrying rise in kidnappings and there is a set of measures adopted within the police institution [...]" without giving details, ensuring that the police will not sit idly by and will do everything to get the situation back to normal. Tuesday it was the turn of Jean Roody Aly Minister of Justice to speak on this subject at a press conference, confirming the authorities' concern over the security situation in the country, ensuring that police operations were underway, particularly in the metropolitan region to restore order and peace, without further details... Regarding the kidnapping cases, Minister Aly confirmed that several kidnapping cases have been recorded in the capital in recent days through the PNH's kidnapping cell and the national intelligence services calling on the population not to panic, so that almost every day a citizen is kidnapped... "Do not panic [...] The police give the appropriate response to this situation. We ask the kidnappers to change jobs. There is no future for them. The police will track them down until their last entrenchment. We also ask the justice system to crack down with the utmost rigor against anyone involved in the kidnapping, regardless of their situation..." Statements which are far from erasing the fear of the ordinary citizen who is more and more hesitant to leave his home, reducing his trips, fearing to be the next victim of kidnappers... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30001-haiti-news-zapping.html TB/ PI/ HaitiLibre WEST SPRINGFIELD Detectives, investigating a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian on Route 5 late last month, continue to search for both the driver and the suspect vehicle, a white two-door Honda Accord Coupe. The crash occurred about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 29 on the southbound side of Riverdale Street near Elm Street. The vehicle was last seen heading south on Route 5 near Bondis Island at about 3:35 a.m. Sgt. Joseph LaFrance, spokesman for the police department, said detectives determined the make and model of the vehicle by analyzing parts found in the roadway following the crash. The model year of the suspect vehicle ranges from 2003-2007. It sustained significant damage to the front drivers side bumper, headlight, and quarter-panel. It is missing the drivers side mirror and the front left corner of the front bumper. Detectives are going through motor vehicle registry records in Massachusetts and Connecticut in hopes of tracking down the vehicle and its driver. One thing in their favor, LaFrance said, is that the two-door version of the Accord is less common than the four-door version. Police posted a photograph of a similar Accord on their Facebook page. The victim, who suffered serious leg injuries, was taken to Baystate Medical Center. We heard he is recovering and doing well, LaFrance said. Those with information are asked to call West Springfield police at 413-263-3210. Callers can remain anonymous. Tips may also be left anonymously via Text-A-Tip by texting SOLVE plus the message to 274637. The Conners, in a new twist, integrated real-time election results from Tuesday's New Hampshire primary into Live from Lanford, Tuesday's episode that aired live with special broadcasts for both the East and West Coasts, with some differences. In the East Coast version, Mark (Ames McNamara) was preparing to do a school assignment on the primary, as chaos abounded in the home thanks to a leaky roof. As the family huddled in the kitchen of the home - which was freezing on the winter evening - a discussion of the evening's events abound, with the characters explaining their perspectives on the political process. Avant-garde: The Conners, in a new twist, integrated real-time election results from Tuesday's New Hampshire primary into Live from Lanford, Tuesday's episode that aired live with special broadcasts for both the East and West Coasts, with some differences Becky (Lecy Goranson) said of the candidates: 'Some of them are really, really terrible; if you vote, you can be proud you'll help elect someone who is just terrible.' As the relatives scoured the home's pantry for food, Mary (Jayden Rey) sent a tweet to President Donald Trump asking for his help - with dinner. She wrote: 'Hi, @realdonaldtrump. Since you work for us, could you send us some cheese packets for our macaroni? This is @realmaryconner from Lanford, Illinois, where Chicago is.' When Mark mentioned Alexander Hamilton, Darlene (Sara Gilbert) responded, 'He was good, but he wasnt president, just a really cool character in a musical we can never afford to see - and shot.' Topical lines about the candidates sprouted in the episodes, as Becky said, 'Elizabeth Warren offered free child care at the caucuses. I was this close to flying to Iowa so I could go to a movie.' Election season: The episode was written with election results from Tuesday's New Hampshire primary coming in real-time Becky (Lecy Goranson) said of the candidates: 'Some of them are really, really terrible; if you vote, you can be proud you'll help elect someone who is just terrible' Premise: Mark (Ames McNamara) was preparing to do a school assignment on the primary Hey Mr. President: Mary (Jayden Rey) sent a tweet to President Donald Trump asking for his help - with dinner Also in the episode, Mark and his older sister Harris (Emma Kenney) got into a verbal fight, as he admit he resented her for moving out of the home, as now he has to fend for himself. In an ensuing exchange, Mark told Harris that he was dealing with problems with Austin, a closeted boy he's involved in. Harris told that she should tell him, 'Boy, bye' and move forward. Another storyline explored in the episode was Dan's (John Goodman) ongoing romance with Louise (Katey Sagal) following Roseanne's passing from a storyline overdose. As she was leaving, his kids Becky, Darlene and D.J. (Michael Fishman) sought to keep them together with a festive get-together at Casa Bonita, but things imploded. Best intentions: Darlene (Sara Gilbert) led a festive get-together at Casa Bonita in hopes of preserving her dad's relationship, to no avail Upset: Dan lashed out at his daughters for interfering in his love life Moving on: Dan's daughters continue to support him in his life as a widower Dan admit to his daughters that he was missing Roseanne (who was killed off the series in a storyline overdose last year) and had stopped by a church in his anguish, where a priest gave him a tip about moving forward. 'He told me to write a letter to your mom about how guilty I was feeling about Louise and then set it on fire and let go,' he said. In the last scene, Harris picked up the phone, which Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) answered with a dead-on impression of Hillary Clinton from the other room, giving her nonpartisan reasons why to cast a vote in this election year. 'Some of these people are trying to help you: Warren and Sanders want to pay for your college tuition; [Andrew] Yang wants to give you $1,000 bucks a month; and Biden wants to decriminalize marijuana,' she said. Harris said in response, 'Wow, if I ever get to college, I am going to need some weed and spending money; OK, Ill vote for them!' Sibling rivalry: Mark and his older sister Harris (Emma Kenney) got into a verbal fight, as he admit he resented her for moving out of the home, as now he has to fend for himself Good impression: Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) showed off her dead-on impersonation of Hilary Clinton in the show Double trouble: The episode aired with two live broadcasts, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast The West Coast broadcast was similar in storyline and dialogue, with adjusted news reports and lines based on the result of the primary, which Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders prevailed in, in between the broadcasts. The subsequent broadcast had a tardy start amid an announcement from ABC News that Sanders had emerged victorious on the evening. Mark joked in the second episode, 'They're saying Bernie won it, but there could be some Russian hacking. Putin's in second.' Guest star: Katy Segal is currently guest-starring in The Conners Behind the scenes: The audience watched on from their seats Going live: The Conners is following on from the likes of sitcom Will & Grace, which also aired live episodes in its time Curtain call: The cast were seen congregating on the set as they wrapped filming Gilbert, speaking with USA Today Tuesday, said that performing in a live episode has its ups and downs. 'The risk obviously is making mistakes or feeling like you're going to make a fool of yourself,' she said. 'But the truth is audiences always love when live things don't go perfectly, so there's no real dire risk.' She added that the most important benefit to Tuesday's unique broadcast was bringing about 'awareness of voting.' Aster DM Healthcare announced that the company received approval of the UAE Government to hold 100% legal ownership in the subsidiaries in Emirate of Dubai, which contributes majority of the GCC business. Earlier, as per UAE law requirements, nationals of the UAE were required to, directly or indirectly, be the legal/registered owners of at least 51% of the share capital of UAE companies and the foreign investors could not acquire more than 49% legal ownership. The Government of UAE has now granted approval of 100% ownership to foreign companies in approved sectors. Subsequently, the Government of UAE released the list of sectors which could hold 100% foreign ownership, in which Healthcare sector was also included. The expected date for completion of the transfer of 100% legal ownership of the subsidiaries in the Emirates of Dubai is by the end of the current financial year. It is further clarified that this activity shall not result in any major cash outflow towards investment since the Company is already holding majority beneficial ownership in t hose subsidiaries. The Company is in the process of obtaining similar approvals in other Emirates of UAE. 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 Catalyst is honoring North Alabamas entrepreneurs, and you can vote for the Peoples Choice Award winner. The award will be given to the local entrepreneur who receives the most votes on AL.com through Feb. 21. That person will be honored during the 5th Annual Entrepreneur Awards Luncheon Feb. 28 at Campus 805 - Stone Event Center in Huntsville. The Entrepreneur Awards honor entrepreneurs who create a business out of an idea, and highlight the stories of North Alabama entrepreneurs active in the community. Meet the Nominees for the 2020 Peoples Choice Entrepreneur of the Year Among the honors are Entrepreneur of the Year, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, Creative Entrepreneur of the Year, Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year, Youth Entrepreneur of the Year, Peoples Choice Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur Champion of the Year and a new category, Non-Profit Entrepreneur of the Year. For more information on the event or to order tickets, click here. Here are the nominees for the award. Vote for your favorite Peoples Choice Award nominee. A Pakistani man was rescued by the police after his first wife gatecrashed his third wedding and brutally thrashed him and tore up his clothes in front of guests here, a media report said on Wednesday. Madiha and her relatives barged into the wedding reception venue of Asif Rafiq in Karachi's Sakhi Hassan Chowrangi area on Monday night and claimed that was married to him in 2014, The Express Tribune reported. She claimed that Rafiq had married another woman, a Jinnah University employee, without her consent and apologised to her after she objected to his second marriage, promising to stay only with her, the report said. Madiha and her family brutally thrashed Rafiq during the reception and tore his clothes, the report said, adding that the police also beat him up after detaining him. Rafiq tried to escape from the police station but was chased by Madiha's family, forcing him to hide under a parked bus. He was caught and beaten up again before being rescued by some people, it said. According to Rafiq, he had divorced Madiha and therefore does not require anyone's permission to remarry, saying: "It is my right to marry four women at the same time". Meanwhile, the police asked Madiha and Rafiq to approach the court as it was a civil dispute. The police will register a case over the thrashing of Rafiq after a medical examination, the report added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hillary Clinton lashed out at Donald Trump accusing him of behaving like a 'failed-state fascist,' after he attacked the judge who will sentence his former sidekick Roger Stone. The 2016 election loser accused Trump of 'intimidating judges' over his tweet which suggested Clinton herself should be prosecuted. Trump had capped a day of court drama Tuesday with the tweet about U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, which said: 'Is this the judge that put Paul Manafort in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, something that not even mobster Al Capone had to endure! How did she treat Crooked Hillary Clinton? Just asking!' The tweet prompted Clinton to respond in kind, saying: 'Do you realize intimidating judges is the behavior of failed-state fascists? Just asking!' Berman Jackson has scheduled a sentencing hearing for Stone on February 20, when she will decide his punishment for lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. New attack: Hillary Clinton went after Trump for his involvement in the Roger Stone case, accusing him of trying to intimidate a judge in the style of a 'failed-state fascist' New target: Amy Berman Jackson, the Obama-appointed federal judge who will sentence Roger Stone, found herself in Trump's twitter crosshairs after a day of unprecedented drama involving the Department of Justice But that process had already been thrown into chaos by Trump and his Justice Department on Tuesday, after prosecutors on Monday calling for Stone to get nine years in prison. First Trump tweeted just after midnight on Tuesday that the nine years demand was a 'miscarriage of justice,' then just before midday the Department of Justice overruled the prosecutors and said senior leaders found nine years 'excessive.' Within hours the four career prosecutors quit the case one by one, and Trump was questioned in the Oval Office on whether he ordered them to be overruled. He denied it but said he had the power to do so if he had wanted to, called the recommendation 'ridiculous,' said the prosecutors should be 'ashamed' for a case he called a 'disgrace.' His tweet about Berman Jackson had a false basis; Manafort's prison conditions were set by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which is ultimately overseen by Bill Barr, the attorney general. Berman Jackson remanded Manafort in custody for breaching bail conditions and was one of two judges to sentence him to prison time. He is now in a federal prison in central Pennsylvania. Attacking Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee, now puts Trump on a collision course with John Roberts, the Chief Justice, who presided over his impeachment acquittal last week. Roberts had hit Trump hard in November 2018 when the president had lashed out at a judge for ruling against an immigrant measure calling him an 'Obama judge.' In response Roberts said: 'We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. 'What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. 'That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.' Trump also tweeted that 'a swamp creature with "pull" was just sentenced to two months in jail for a similar thing that they want Stone to serve 9 years for.' Trump rant: The president tweeted a series of claims about the investigation into Roger Stone, including a false suggestion that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had put Paul Manafort in solitary confinement, and that John Podesta's brother Tony had escaped prosecution; the Department of Justice had edned an investigation into Podesta in September That was an apparent reference to James Wolfe, a Senate Intelligence Committee staffer who was jailed for two months in December - by a different federal judge - for lying to the FBI. Wolfe had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contact with the media while they investigated a leak of classified material. Trump had gleefully tweeted that the FBI 'caught a leaker,' something with which Wolfe was not charged. Trump's widening attacks came after he denied asking his attorney general to roll back prosecutors' recommendation that longtime advisor Stone face serious jail time. The Department of Justice dramatically reversed its demand to jail Stone for up to nine years in a move announced Tuesday hours after Donald Trump slammed it on Twitter as a 'miscarriage of justice.' The reversal prompted the extraordinary decision by three experienced federal prosecutors to remove themselves from the case with one resigning his position with the government entirely. Trump stood by his decision Tuesday afternoon, calling the original recommendation a 'disgrace,' and terming the proposed sentence 'ridiculous.' Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Donald Trump's confidant Roger Stone to serve between seven and nine years in prison after his conviction in November 2019 'I thought it was ridiculous,' Trump said. 'No I didn't speak to the Jus I'd be able to do it if I wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe. But I didn't speak to them. I thought the (original) recommendation was ridiculous, I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous,' Trump vented. 'I look at others that haven't been prosecutors.' He said he considered it an 'insult to our country.' He called them 'the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell.' But he also maintained: 'I have not been involved.' 'I think it's a disgrace. See what happens.' Trump declined to say whether he was considering commuting Stone's sentence, whatever it turns out to be. But he did suggest another man he considers a political enemy, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, might face a military investigation. 'We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want. General Milley has him now. I congratulate General Milley,' Trump said, referencing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley. 'He can have him. And his brother also,' Trump said. 'We'll find out,' he added, without explanation. According to its updated filing, which came after Trump's overnight tweets: 'The defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is 'sufficient, but not greater than necessary' to satisfy the factors set forth in' sentencing guidelines. 'Based on the facts known to the government, a sentence of between 87 to 108 months' imprisonment, however, could be considered excessive and unwarranted ... Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case,' the updated memo said. A senior Justice Department official told ABC News "it does appear" the the prosecutors asked to be taken off the case as a form of protest. But the official denied Trump's nearly 2 am tweet played a role in the turnaround, calling it an 'inconvenient coincidence.' Stone has been a Trump confidant for decades, and served as an informal advisor during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's denial came after prosecutors filed a new memo in the Stone case leaving it to the judge to recommend the appropriate sentence. Leaders at the department, which is headed by Attorney General Bill Barr, found it extreme and excessive, and disproportionate to Stone's offenses, one official said. Shortly after the announcement, the lead prosecutor in the case, Aaron Zelinsky, used a court filing to announce that he had resigned 'effective immediately' as a special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He retains a federal post in Maryland. A second, Jonathan Kravis, followed him shortly afterwards, resigning from government service as an assistant U.S. attorney. A third federal prosecutor, Adam Jed, also withdrew as counsel to the government in the case. Later Tuesday, it was revealed that prosecutor Michael Marando withdrew from the case. Kravis served in the public integrity of the Justice Department, served in the White House counsel's office under Barack Obama, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Jed clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. All four used court filings to announce their departures, apparently to the surprise of their own colleagues in an unmistakable sign of protest. Zelinsky was a member of Mueller's team, but remained after Mueller departed to work on the Stone case. Trump had tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday morning: 'This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' Just before midday, the DOJ announced its walk back but one official told Fox News the decision had been made before Trump's Twitter rant. All three were seasoned prosecutors who worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's team. The official did not explain why the reversal had not been announced until after the tweet. The DOJ has not said what sentence it will now seek. The move prompted immediate anger and derision from Democrats with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying: 'They'll probably recommend the presidential medal of freedom!' He said he was asking the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate whether Bill Barr had directed the reversal. Veteran 'dirty trickster' Stone is due to face sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on February 20, after a jury in November found him guilty on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Attack: Democratic congressman Bill Pascrell likened Trump and the DOJ's move to a banana republic Trump tweeted Monday night: ''This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' (pictured: at a campaign rally in Manchester last night) Prosecutors will now have to ask the judge for permission to abandon their initial recommendation and submit a new one. 'We look forward to reviewing the government's supplemental filing,' Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, said in an email to Reuters. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation. Long-time consigliere: Roger Stone has been advising Donald Trump on politics for more than 20 years, including in 1999 during his first putative White House run Jackson, the judge, has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Besides, judges invariably frown upon crimes that they see as perverting the functions of the criminal justice system, such as making false statements or obstructing an investigation. The Justice Department plans to refile the recommendation later Tuesday. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position onFlynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. The White House referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department. Stone is one of several people close to Trump who faced charges stemming from then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has the power to pardon people for federal crimes, although he has yet to use it in the cases of other former aides convicted in the wake of the Mueller investigations. His tweet hunted he could use that power, or his power to commute sentences if Stone were to get the level of custody demanded by prosecutors. Stone's own defense had asked for probation. Senior Democratic lawmakers expressed amazement at the move but Trump loyalists said they now hoped Mike Flynn - the disgraced former national security advisor who is currently trying to get out of his guilty plea to lying to the FBI - would also get 'clemency.' Outrage: Senior Democratic lawmakers including senators Chuck Schumer - the Senate minority leader - Chris Van Hollen and Sheldon Whitehouse all expressed anger at the move to abandon the call for a nine-year sentence Trump-world reacts: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor whose daughter Sarah was the White House press secretary, was among the president's supporters calling for Mike Flynn to also be affected by the apparent presidential intervention into a prosecution During the trial, prosecutors pressed their case that Stone lied to lawmakers about his outreach to WikiLeaks - the website that disclosed many hacked Democratic emails ahead of the 2016 U.S. election that proved embarrassing to Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton - to protect Trump from looking bad. Stone, who has labeled himself an 'agent provocateur' and has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian election interference. Stone's colorful trial featured references to the film 'The Godfather Part II,' an impression of Senator Bernie Sanders by prosecution witness Randy Credico, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign chief executive Steve Bannon and former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates. Those witnesses said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about Clinton. In truth, he had no such information. Stone was also accused of tampering with Credico's testimony, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI. In emails and texts, Stone told Credico among other things: 'Prepare to die,' 'You're a rat. A stoolie,' and 'Stonewall it.' Prosecutors also charged that Stone had threatened Credicos therapy dog, Bianca, saying he was 'going to take that dog away from you.' Putin meets 'energy tsar' Sechin as Russia considers OPEC+ proposal Russian President Putin meets with Chief Executive of Rosneft company Sechin in Moscow By Vladimir Soldatkin and Tom Balmforth MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin met Igor Sechin, his "energy tsar", on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, but it gave no indication on whether Moscow is willing to accept an OPEC+ proposal to further curb oil production. Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia was still studying proposed deeper oil output cuts by OPEC and non-OPEC nations, known as OPEC+, floated as oil prices were hit by concerns about demand following the coronavirus outbreak in China. Russia's delay in responding to the proposal has frustrated some OPEC members. OPEC+ producers are scheduled to meet in Vienna on March 5-6 to consider policy. Their current cuts expire in March. There has been some discussion about bringing that meeting forward depending on how the coronavirus outbreak affects oil prices. Sechin, chief executive of Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft , has openly criticised the existing deal, saying it helps the United States increase its dominance of the global oil market while countries taking part lose out. According to transcripts published on the Kremlin website, Sechin told Putin that the existing OPEC+ production cuts restrained the company's hydrocarbon production, which remained flat in 2019. No other details from the meeting were disclosed. "Rosneft is the biggest oil company so we can't rule out that the two people would discuss this," a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said before the meeting when asked whether Putin and Sechin would discuss the OPEC+ proposal. Rosneft declined to comment on what was discussed and Peskov did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the meeting. UNCERTAIN SITUATION A technical panel that advises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies led by Russia have proposed a further output cut of 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), three sources told Reuters last week. Story continues That is about 0.6% of global supply and would increase OPEC+ cuts to 2.3 million bpd. Novak said Russia was watching the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on global energy markets closely but did not indicate what Moscow's position was. "The situation remains extremely uncertain," he said in a statement. "Currently, Russia is closely studying the recommendation of the technical committee in order to evaluate the situation and find a weighted approach based on the market's interest on the whole." His comments echoed ones he made last week. TASS news agency, citing unnamed sources, said that Novak will meet leading domestic oil producers on Wednesday to discuss the deal. Oil prices rose around 1% on Tuesday in tandem with a rally in equity markets but investors remained jittery over the coronavirus as deaths from the outbreak rose above 1,000 in China. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Tom Balmforth; editing by Alex Richardson/Jason Neely/Susan Fenton) Unknown Error An error has occured in loading this page. We have been automatically notified of this error. Please check back later. If you are the administrator of this website please view the error log for more information. SEATTLEThe Customs and Border Protection agencys top official, in a rare admission of misconduct, said Tuesday that agents should not have detained Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canada border last month. Mark Morgan, the agencys acting commissioner, acknowledged that agents behaved in a way that was not in line with our direction when they held dozens of U.S. citizens of Iranian heritage, and others with ties to Iran, for questioning at a border crossing in Washington state. His comments were the agencys first public admission of the incidents. Customs and Border Protection officials had repeatedly denied that Iranian Americans had been singled out as they tried to return to the United States, despite numerous accounts by people who said they were held over the Jan. 4-5 weekend at an entry point in Blaine, Wash. The detentions occurred just after Qassem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian military general, was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad on Jan. 2. As recently as Friday, an agency spokesman denied an interview request on the matter from the Los Angeles Times, saying there was an ongoing investigation. But Morgan, who briefed reporters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday on southern border crossing statistics, said that officials in Blaine got carried away. I would say in that one instance leadership got a little overzealous, and we corrected that right away, he said. But Rep. Pramila Jayapal said Tuesday that Morgans statement was not a sufficient response, in light of a leaked memo that appeared to have been issued by CBPs Seattle office, instructing border agents to subject travellers with links to certain Middle Eastern countries to increased security. Its deeply disturbing that it took my inquiries, a leaked memo and press reports for CBP to finally acknowledge that it inappropriately targeted Iranian Americans at the Washington state-Canada border, Jayapal said in a statement released by her office. We have heard reports of at least one other field office that acted on similar procedures, in addition to the Blaine, Wash., point of entry. Jayapal met Feb. 3 with Adele Fasano, CBP Seattle field operations director, and said afterward that Fasan said there had been a breach of protocol, and that a large number of Iranian Americans were inappropriately targeted. On Friday, Jason Givens, an agency spokesman in Seattle, declined a request from The Seattle Times to interview Fasano. Jayapal held a news conference Jan. 6, introducing Negah Hekmati, a 38-year-old U.S. citizen born in Iran, who said that she and her husband and their two small children, also all Americans of Iranian descent, had been subjected to intensive questioning during a five-hour overnight ordeal during the previous weekend. Givens said at the time that reports of such detentions were false, and blamed delays on short staffing and other factors. Read more about: By PTI LONDON: Liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya appeared before the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday for day two of his High Court appeal against being extradited to India, during which the prosecution highlighted "overwhelming evidence of dishonesty" on the part of the former Kingfisher Airlines boss. Mallya, 64, is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to an alleged Rs 9,000 crores in unpaid bank loans. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), appearing in court on behalf of the Indian government, began countering the defence claims that there is no prima facie case against Mallya. "There is enough in the 32,000 pages of overall evidence to fulfil the [extradition] treaty obligations that there is a case to answer", CPS barrister Mark Summers told the court as he began his submissions, which will conclude on Thursday. Mallya sat in the public gallery as his legal team highlighted the widespread woes of the airline industry in India, including another collapsed firm Jet Airways. "Let's hear the arguments in court," he said, as he entered the courtroom. Lord Justice Stephen Irwin and Justice Elisabeth Laing, the two-member bench hearing the appeal, confirmed at the start that they would not be handing down their verdict immediately after the hearing, scheduled until Thursday. At the start of day two of the appeal, Mallya's barrister, Clare Montgomery, reiterated the central defence that there had been no misrepresentation or fraud on the part of her client and that Kingfisher Airlines was the victim of economic misfortune alongside other airlines. "The airline industry is littered with examples of struggling airlines being supported for strategic reasons," said Montgomery. She has focussed her arguments on trying to establish 'multiple errors' in Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot's verdict in favour of her client's extradition in December 2018 and revisited a series of bank statements and balance sheets provided to Indian banks to seek loans as proof of full disclosure. "There is not just a prima facie case but the overwhelming evidence of dishonesty and given the volume and depth of evidence the District Judge [Arbuthnot] had before her, the judgment is comprehensive and detailed with the odd error but nothing that impacts the prima facie case," said Summers, who challenged the defence arguments over misrepresentation to the banks. Justice Irwin repeated Montgomery's previous assertion of this being a 'very dense case' and has sought a detailed chronology and list of documents from the defence team by Monday, before they consider their verdict. On Tuesday, Montgomery had opened her arguments to try and establish that Mallya had no fraudulent intentions when he sought bank loans for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines because he is no 'fly by night figure but an immensely wealthy man' who was not running any sort of 'ponzi scheme' but a reputable airline, which fell into economic misfortune along with other Indian airlines. "She [Arbuthnot] did not look at all of the evidence because if she had, she would not have fallen into the multiple errors that permeate her judgment," she said. Representatives from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the Indian High Commission in London were present in court for the hearing. Mallya had received permission to appeal against his extradition order signed off by former UK home secretary Sajid Javid last February only on one ground, which challenges the Indian government's prima facie case against him of fraudulent intentions in acquiring bank loans. At the end of a year-long extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in December 2018, Judge Arbuthnot had found 'clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds' and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the CPS on behalf of the Indian government. Mallya remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017 involving a bond worth 650,000 pounds and other restrictions on his travel while he contests that ruling. Maharashtra BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari has expressed concern over the rise in crimes against women in the state and called for stringent punishment for those convicted in such cases. He was speaking at an event organised here by an NGO on Tuesday night to condole the death of 25-year-old lecturer Ankita Pisudde, who was set on fire by a stalker in Wardha district last week. Pisudde died in a Nagpur hospital on Monday. Besides, a 50-year-old Dalit woman was set ablaze last week by a man after she resisted his move to enter her house in Aurangabad district. She succumbed to her injuries three days later. "There have been three to four such incidents in the recent past, specially last seven to eight says, which is a matter of concern," Bhandari said, and demanded stringent punishment for culprits in such crimes. The government and the society have failed to curb such crimes in the state, he said. Despite strict laws and fast track courts being set up to handle such cases, attempts are made to save the culprits, which is "hazardous", the BJP leader said. There is a dire need to stop the misuse of law to save such criminals, he added. Asked about Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's remarks on the BJP's defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls, Bhandari refused to comment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Steve Walsh, who has been linked to cases of coronavirus. A so-called super-spreader at the centre of a UK outbreak of coronavirus has been discharged and is no longer contagious, the NHS has said. Steve Walsh, a businessman and scout leader from Hove in East Sussex, said he was glad to be back with his family in a statement after being discharged, having been kept under quarantine at Guys Hospital in London. Im happy to be home and feeling well, he said. I want to give a big thank you to the NHS who have been great throughout and my thoughts are with everyone around the world who continues to be affected by the virus. Its good to be back with my family, he added, requesting privacy from the media. Confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK and where quarantines and treatment centres have been set up. (PA Graphics) Mr Walsh contracted the disease now known as Covid-19 at a conference in Singapore. He became known as a super-spreader in media reports because after his trip to Asia he stopped off for several days at a French ski chalet, where five Britons were later infected with the virus. Mr Walsh was also linked with five more cases of coronavirus in the UK, including two doctors. Professor Keith Willett, the NHS strategic incident director, said in a statement: Im pleased to say that following two negative tests for coronavirus, 24 hours apart Mr Walsh has been discharged from Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, having made a full recovery following his treatment. Guy's Hospital in central London, where Mr Walsh was under quarantine. (PA Images) Mr Walshs symptoms were mild and he is no longer contagious, and poses no risk to the public, he is keen to return to his normal life and spend time with his family out of the media spotlight. I would like to thank the clinical team who treated Mr Walsh in hospital, as well as all the NHS staff who are working hard with other health organisations to limit the spread of coronavirus and treat the small numbers who have contracted the illness. Anyone with any health concerns should contact NHS 111. [February 12, 2020] HanesBrands Global Corporate Social Responsibility Achievements Earn Two Highly Recognized Awards for Work in Latin America HanesBrands, a leading global marketer of everyday basic apparel under world-class brands, has earned two of the most prestigious awards in Central America and the Caribbean for best practices in corporate social responsibility. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005566/en/ The Mexican Center for Philanthropy honored Hanes with its seventh CEMEFI award for the company's focus on promoting "a more equitable, supportive and prosperous society" across Latin America. Hanes earned the award for its back-to-school program, an initiative that has operated in the Dominican Republic since 2008. The program distributes school kits to children of employees and to those who attend public schools in communities where the company operates. To date, the company has donated 106,000 kits, which include a backpack, notebooks and other needed supplies, that help children be successful in school. (Photo: Business Wire) The company received a 2019 FUNDAHRSE Seal from the Honduran Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility for the ninth consecutive year. This award recognizes Hanes' efforts in seven key areas: corporate governance, employee relations, environmental sustainability, responsible marketing, supplier standards, community relations and public policy. The company's health brigades that offer free care and its Honduran education initiatives that provide adult continuing education and extracurricular tutoring for children in public schools are among the company's longstanding flagship programs in the country cited by the organization. The Mexican Center for Philanthropy honored Hanes with its seventh CEMEFI award for the company's focus on promoting "a more equitable, supportive and prosperous society" across Latin America. Hanes earned the award for its back-to-school program, an initiative that has operated in the Dominican Republic since 2008. The proram distributes school kits to children of employees and to those who attend public schools in communities where the company operates. To date, the company has donated 106,000 kits, which include a backpack, notebooks and other needed supplies, that help children be successful in school. "All of the programs that our CSR (News - Alert) and human resources teams jointly create and manage are designed to provide our employees, their families and the citizens of the communities in which we operate the necessary tools to help elevate their quality of life," said Teddy Mendoza, HanesBrands senior manager of corporate social responsibility for the Western Hemisphere. "It is a great honor to be recognized for our efforts by these prestigious international organizations." The FUNDAHRSE and CEMEFI awards highlighted initiatives that are part of Hanes' comprehensive global CSR program. Last year in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and El Salvador alone: 9,100 people, including employees, contractors and members of the community received free medical care, including life-changing ear, nose and throat surgeries. 225 Hanes employees graduated high school, 41 completed a college degree and 72 earned a master's degree as part of the company's continuing education program. Nearly 2,000 children in public schools received extracurricular tutoring from 250 Hanes employee volunteers as part of the Community Youth Development Program in partnership with nonprofit Glasswing International. More than 1,000 employee volunteers planted 8,000 trees and supported Hanes' ongoing environmental stewardship program focused on reducing use of energy and water, lowering carbon emissions, increasing use of renewable energy and eliminating waste to landfills. Hanes - unique in the apparel industry because it owns the significant majority of its manufacturing operations - is an international business leader in ethics, disclosure and social compliance. The company is an accredited member of the Fair Labor Association independent workers' rights group, has earned a superior A grade for supply chain and labor practices from Free2Work and received an A grade from As You Sow, an environmental and social corporate responsibility advocacy group. For more information about the company's award-winning corporate social responsibility program, visit Hanes for Good. HanesBrands HanesBrands (NYSE: HBI) is a socially responsible leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific. The company markets T-shirts, bras, panties, shapewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and activewear under some of the world's strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Bonds, Maidenform, DIM, Bali, Playtex, Bras N Things, Nur Die/Nur Der, Alternative, L'eggs, JMS/Just My Size, Lovable, Wonderbra, Berlei, and Gear for Sports. More information about the company and its award-winning corporate social responsibility initiatives may be found at www.Hanes.com/corporate. Visit our newsroom at https://newsroom.hanesbrands.com/. Connect with the company via social media: Twitter (News - Alert) (@hanesbrands), Facebook (News - Alert) (www.facebook.com/hanesbrandsinc), Instagram (@hanesbrands), and LinkedIn (News - Alert) (@Hanesbrandsinc). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005566/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This article is for investors who would like to improve their understanding of price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Moelis Australia Limited's (ASX:MOE) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Based on the last twelve months, Moelis Australia's P/E ratio is 35.06. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 2.9%. View our latest analysis for Moelis Australia How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Moelis Australia: P/E of 35.06 = AUD5.84 AUD0.17 (Based on the year to June 2019.) Is A High Price-to-Earnings Ratio Good? The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price'. How Does Moelis Australia's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. The image below shows that Moelis Australia has a higher P/E than the average (22.5) P/E for companies in the capital markets industry. ASX:MOE Price Estimation Relative to Market, February 12th 2020 That means that the market expects Moelis Australia will outperform other companies in its industry. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So further research is always essential. I often monitor director buying and selling. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. Therefore, even if you pay a high multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become lower in the future. And as that P/E ratio drops, the company will look cheap, unless its share price increases. Moelis Australia's earnings per share fell by 26% in the last twelve months. Story continues Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings. Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context. Moelis Australia's Balance Sheet Net debt totals just 3.1% of Moelis Australia's market cap. So it doesn't have as many options as it would with net cash, but its debt would not have much of an impact on its P/E ratio. The Bottom Line On Moelis Australia's P/E Ratio Moelis Australia has a P/E of 35.1. That's higher than the average in its market, which is 18.7. With some debt but no EPS growth last year, the market has high expectations of future profits. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If the reality for a company is better than it expects, you can make money by buying and holding for the long term. So this free visualization of the analyst consensus on future earnings could help you make the right decision about whether to buy, sell, or hold. You might be able to find a better buy than Moelis Australia. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings). If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. A day after the AAP won a landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly election, media reports have said that Arvind Kejriwal will retain his cabinet from 2015 and won't induct new ministers. A day after the Aam Aadmi Party won Delhi Assembly election in a landslide victory, reports have said that Arvind Kejriwal will retain his Cabinet from 2015 and has decided against inducting new ministers. NDTV has quoted a source as saying that he "feels that retaining ministers whose work won the party a second term is the right thing to do". The Cabinet is likely to include Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain and Rajendra Pal Gautam. Here are the profiles of the members of Kejriwal's 2020 team: Manish Sisodia Sisodia is generally perceived to be Kejriwal's deputy in AAP. On Tuesday, after it became clear that the AAP was winning the Delhi Assembly election, the party tweeted As an article in The Print noted, Sisodia has built a distinct profile for himself as a governance man, even as Kejriwal was projected as the face of the AAP. This is unlike deputy chief ministers in many other states, who are not as recognisable. Sisodia handles the portfolios of finance, education, planning, urban development, revenue, services, local bodies, land and buildings, higher education, training and technical education, vigilance, cooperative societies, information technology, and information and publicity. Sisodia is a former journalist, and has earlier worked with Zee News and All India Radio between 1996 and 2005 before entering activism. He has been associated with the movement to introduce a Right to Information Act, and later with the movement for a Jan Lokpal Bill led by Anna Hazare. Sisodia is primarily recognised for his work on education. A major plank for the AAP in the recently-concluded elections was the improved condition of government schools. Satyendar Jain If Manish Sisodia is known largely for his work on government schools, Satyendar Jain is associated with another of the AAP's most recognisable initiatives mohalla clinics. Jain is the minister in-charge for Departments of Health, Power, Irrigation and Flood Control along with Urban Development, Home and Industries. Mohalla clinics have garnered international appreciation from the likes of former UN Secretary Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon for its accessibility and effectiveness. The Mohalla Clinics, which function as primary healthcare centres, charge no fees and have been set up at 158 locations across the city. However, Jain has also been accused of favouritism while appointing his daughter Soumya Jain as an advisor for the Mohalla Clinic programme. Jain was earlier an architect and had worked with Central public works department (PWD). He has been involved with many social work platforms, and is associated with social organisation Sparsh, which works for mentally challenged children. Gopal Rai In the AAP's previous term, Gopal Rai held the portfolios of employment, development, labour, general administration department, irrigation and flood control. One of the founding members of the party, Rai contested the 2013 Assembly election from Babarpur but lost to BJP veteran Naresh Gaur. He, however, made a comeback in the 2015 election by winning the seat comfortably. Earlier, Rai had also held the transport portfolio. However, in June 2016, he had resigned from the post due to allegations of corruption against him in the premium bus SVC scheme. He had cited ill health as the reason of his resignation. As the labour minister, Rai is credited with increasing the minimum wages in Delhi. The minimum wages for unskilled persons are now Rs 14,052, with those for semi-skilled and skilled persons at Rs 15,471 and Rs 17,033 respectively. Kailash Gahlot Kailash Gahlot held the portfolios of Revenue, Administrative Reforms, Information & Technology, Law, Justice and Legislative Affairs and Transport in the previous government. He is an accomplished advocate in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, and has over 16 years of experience. As the transport minister, Gahlot was at the helm of the contentious odd-even scheme in Delhi. Gahlot has been accused by the Income Tax department of evading taxes to the tune of Rs 120 crore, a claim that he has denied. In October 2018, the I-T department had conducted searches on multiple premises linked to him in connection with an alleged tax evasion case. Imran Hussain Imran Hussain had held the portfolios of of Food and Civil Supplies and Election. In 2012, he was elected from Ballimaran as a councillor from the Rashtriya Lok Dal. In July 2019, former Union minister Vijay Goel Wednesday accused Hussain of being involved in the vandalism of a temple in the Hauz Qazi area, a charge refuted by the AAP leader. Hussain is an alumnus of the Jamia Milia Islamia. Rajendra Pal Gautam Rajendra Pal Gautam had held the portfolios of Social Welfare, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Gurudwara Elections, Water and Registrar of Cooperative Societies. He is a lawyer and had joined the AAP in 2014. Among the cabinet minsters, Gautam won the recently-concluded elections with the highest margin. According to the Election Commission, Gautam won the Seemapuri seat by 56,108 votes. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 12 February 2020: The Report Cyber Insurance Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Organization (SMB, Large Enterprise), By Application (BFS, Healthcare, IT & Telecom), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 2025 The global cyber insurance market size is expected to reach USD 19.2 billion by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 25.6% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Cyber insurance is anticipated to aid businesses in minimizing losses incurred due to potential threats of cybercrimes such as ransomware, malware, distributed denial-of-service attacks, or other threats, which can severely compromise a network. Cyber insurance covers the liability of a business for breach of data, comprising sensitive customer information such as credit card details, social security numbers, drivers license numbers, account details, and health records. Technological advancements have proliferated the use of Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), thereby positively influencing the use of these technologies at workplaces and homes. However, these developments have created new threat vectors. The insurance industry enables an organization or consumers to minimize cyber risks associated with these emerging threats. Demand for cyber insurance primarily originated from IT, banking, media, and telecom firms, which are exposed to severe cyberattacks. These firms demand robust cybersecurity structure against malware attacks and loss of confidential information of clients. However, cyberattacks and threats are inevitable as hackers have developed sophisticated ways of targeting different businesses. The types of cyberattacks against businesses are continually evolving and cyber insurance acts as a convenient solution for organizations to receive compensation for financial losses incurred. Growing awareness of cyberattacks has enabled organizations to understand, address, and diversify their risk strategies. Rising demand for cyber insurance protection coverage in areas beyond retail, healthcare, and financial institutions, such as professional services, is further driving the market. Cyber risk insurance is anticipated to be an alternative way to mitigate damage caused by breach of data. Insurers evaluate the strength of a companys cybersecurity stance before issuing any policy. However, if an organization has not invested in appropriate cybersecurity solutions, then it may not qualify for insurance. Stringent legislation concerning cybersecurity in several states in the U.S. has led to greater penetration of cyber liability policies. The U.S. cyber insurance market has witnessed exponential growth in the recent past. Presence of key players in the country is further strengthening the domestic market. Rapid industrialization in developing economies such as China, India, and other South Asian countries is anticipated to drive the Asia Pacific market. This regional market is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR over the forecast period. Rising number of small and medium businesses in the region is anticipated to create a substantial demand for cyber insurance businesses. Access Research Report of Cyber Insurance Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cyber-insurance-market Further key findings from the report suggest: The global cyber insurance market was valued at USD 4.3 billion in 2018 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 25.6% from 2019 to 2025 The large enterprise segment accounted for dominant share of over 85.0% in 2018. The SMB segment, on the other hand, is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 15.3% over the forecast period The BFSI application segment accounted for a revenue share of over 24.0% in 2018. The healthcare segment is anticipated to expand at the fastest pace over the forecast period Key players operating in the market include AON Plc; American International Group, Inc.; Allianz Group; Berkshire Hathaway; and Lockton Companies, Inc. The North America market accounted for the largest revenue share of over 76.0% in 2018 Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/network-security-software-and-services Grand View Research has segmented the global cyber insurance market on the basis of organization, application, and region: Cyber Insurance Organization Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) SMB Large Enterprise Cyber Insurance Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) BFS Healthcare IT & Telecom Retail Others Cyber Insurance Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Access Press Release of Cyber Insurance Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-cyber-insurance-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin John Whitesides and Amanda Becker (Agence France-Presse) Manchester, United States Wed, February 12, 2020 10:31 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063ed602 2 World #USA,#Elections,Democratic-party,Bernie-Sanders,Joe-Biden Free Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders led New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, and former front-runner Joe Biden trailed badly in a bruising setback that raises doubts about the viability of his campaign. In the second nominating contest to find a challenger to Republican President Donald Trump in November, Sanders had 27%, while Pete Buttigieg, the moderate former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was at 24% with 65% of precincts reporting. Senator Amy Klobuchar, looking for a breakthrough after a strong debate performance on Friday, was in third with 20%. Biden, the former vice president, was a distant fifth in the early results with 8.5%, behind Senator Elizabeth Warren with 9.4%. Biden, sensing the disappointing result, left New Hampshire for South Carolina before the results started rolling in. The results began to thin the field of Democrats seeking the right to take on Trump in the Nov. 3 election, with businessman Andrew Yang and Senator Michael Bennet dropping out after the polls closed and it became clear they would finish well out of the running. The moderate Biden was limping to his second consecutive disappointing finish after a fourth-place result in Iowa. He is certain to face growing questions about his ability to consolidate moderate support against a surging Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Biden, 77, fared poorly in two previous runs for president before winning election in 2008 as President Barack Obama's No. 2. He hopes to stay afloat this time until the Feb. 29 contest in South Carolina and a series of contests in other Southern states on Super Tuesday on March 3, where his support among African-Americans will be a strength. "It ain't over, man. It's just getting started," Biden told supporters in South Carolina. Results rolled in relatively quickly, and Democrats in New Hampshire were confident they would have smoother sailing than in Iowa, where embarrassing technical problems delayed vote-counting and the results for days. Buttigieg narrowly beat Sanders in Iowa, but both campaigns have asked for a partial recanvass of results. On the Republican side, Trump was projected to win the state's presidential primary, easily defeating rival William Weld, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, according to early exit polling compiled by Edison Research. Democratic voters in New Hampshire chose a candidate from a ballot with 33 names, including candidates who dropped out weeks ago. But it did not include former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire who is not competing in any states before the 14 Super Tuesday primaries on March 3. Sanders had taken a lead in recent opinion polls in New Hampshire despite a barrage of criticism from rivals who warned his far-left views would lead the party to defeat against Trump. His win will enhance those worries among the party establishment. Sanders, 78, who represents neighboring Vermont in the Senate, won New Hampshire easily over rival Hillary Clinton with 60% of the vote in his unsuccessful bid for the party's nomination four years ago. MORE DIVERSE BATTLEGROUNDS AHEAD After Iowa and New Hampshire, small and rural states with predominantly white populations, the race will move on to more diverse battlegrounds that pose new tests. Up next will be the Feb. 22 caucuses in Nevada, which has a large Latino population, and the Feb. 29 primary in South Carolina, which has a large African-American population. "Because of you, we are taking this campaign to Nevada," Klobuchar told supporters in New Hampshire. Warren said it would be a long, drawn-out battle for the nomination and the race was far from over. She decried the party's infighting and called for unity as the contest moves on. "These tactics might work if you're willing to burn down the party to be the last man standing," Warren said in New Hampshire. "We win when we come together." Democrats in New Hampshire and in the other states that will vote in the state-by-state battle for the Democratic nomination are trying to decide whether they want to pick a moderate like Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Bloomberg and Biden, or progressive leaders like Sanders and Warren, who represents neighboring Massachusetts. The departures of Yang and Bennet left nine Democratic candidates still running. Yang, 45, who was bidding to be the country's first Asian-American president, had surprised many observers by qualifying for debates and remaining in the contest longer than some veteran politicians. Bennet, 55, a moderate from Colorado who had stressed improving education for Americans, told supporters it was "fitting" to end his campaign in New Hampshire, where he had campaigned heavily. A replica of the historical Spanish galleon, Andalucia, arrived at Club de Mar in Palma today. The Andalucia was part of Spains Fleet of the Indies which crossed the Atlantic Ocean and sailed round the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean and Philippine Islands, establishing trade routes. They set sail from Seville, bound for Mexico and Panama or Manila, where they loaded up with precious merchandise and were under constant attack from pirates bent on plundering their bounty. The replica Andalucia was built by the Nao Victoria Foundation, designed by Ignacio Fernandez Vial at the Punta Umbria shipyard in Huelva, Spain and launched on November 30th, 2009, the masts were added at the beginning of 2010. It took researchers three years to gather all the information they needed to reconstruct the Andalucia, which is 160 feet long, weighs nearly 500 tons, has six decks and travels at an average speed of 7 knots. Between 2010 and 2016 a crew of 15-35 sailed her round the world, travelling more than 48,000 nautical miles and visiting ports all over the globe. Shell be docked in Palma from February 13-23 and open to the public from 10.00 until 18.30 and guided tours are available on February 13,14,17 and 21. Waterview Dr., 40500 block Feb. 4. A witness observed a woman on his front porch, then saw her flee and attempt to enter a vehicle at a nearby residence. The vehicle owner was contacted and it was determined that she did not have permission to be in the vehicle. She was taken to the detention center where three packets of suspected suboxone and suspected methamphetamine were located on her person. A 39-year-old woman of no fixed address was arrested and charged with rogue and vagabond, controlled dangerous substance: possession-not marijuana and possession of contraband at a place of confinement. Two other outstanding warrants for theft were also served. Mystery surrounds the skeleton of a mysterious creature that washed up on a Scottish beach during Storm Ciara. The intriguing beast was found on the Aberdeenshire coastline on Sunday as the country endured 90mph winds and torrential rain. A photograph of the creature was shared on a Facebook page prompting hundreds of suggestions as to what it might be. Some thought it a whale or a dolphin, while others rubbished this suggestion saying the 'horns' of the creature make it a thresher sharks - which have been known to enter British waters during the summer. The intriguing beast was found on the Aberdeenshire coastline on Sunday as the country endured 90mph winds and torrential rain Some thought it a whale or a dolphin, while others joked it could be the famous Loch Ness monster (pictured, an image purported to be of the Loch Ness monster taken in 1934 by a vacationing London surgeon) But even marine biologists are baffled, with Professor David Lusseau from the University of Aberdeen, saying he would need more information. He told MailOnline: 'Unfortunately from just this photo we can't tell much other than it is a whale of some form. We would need shots of the front end (and probably a bit of poking around) to get an ID.' Confusion surrounding the creature hasn't stopped people from sharing their suggestions however. James Trippington said: 'Very similar to Orca or Dolphin. But the caudal vertebrate looks rather slim. Not a shark for sure though.' But Andrew Mowat rubbished the idea, saying: 'Spine looks like its designed for side to side movement? Whales move up and down.' Others joked it could be the Loch Ness monster, suggesting the beast could have escaped from its alleged watery home around 100 miles away. Brian Ingram said: 'Nessie! Escaped to the sea but then came to a sticky end.' And Emma-Louise Bolland said: 'Nessie. Could not adapt to salt water.' Another joked: 'It's a very very rarely seen deep sea Haggis.' A woman makes her way through flood water as the waters of the River Ouse passing through York breach the river banks after Storm Ciara The Loch Ness monster has long been Scottish legend, with dozens of supposed sightings being claimed each year. There were a large number of alleged sightings of the Loch Ness Monster last year - 18 in total - than at any time since 1983, when 'Nessie-mania' was at its peak. The sighting of the mysterious creature in Aberdeen came amid the gales and downpours of Storm Ciara this weekend. Ciara brought 97mph winds, up to seven inches of rain, flooding and left more than 20,000 people without power. And now Britain is set to be hit by 'blizzard conditions' and heavy rain today as flood-hit Britain braces itself for a 72-hour deluge, with Storm Dennis on the way this weekend. They debuted the Fall 2020 collection from their The Row brand during New York Fashion Week on Monday. And on Tuesday, Mary-Kate Olsen was seen grabbing a cigarette break without her co-designer twin Ashley. Mary-Kate was bundled up as she stood outside her building holding a pack of smokes and a couple of thermos flasks. Taking five: Mary-Kate Olsen was seen grabbing a cigarette break outside a New York building on Tuesday bundled up against the cold in a black wool coat and a knit beanie She wore a warm black wool coat over pale jeans that she paired with sneakers. She had a black knit beanie pulled down over her long hair and added a red scarf around her neck. Mary-Kate chatted away to some friends as she took five. Ciggie break: She wore the warm coat over pale jeans that she paired with sneakers. She added a red scarf around her neck and carried a pack of smokes and a couple of thermos flasks Relaxing: Mary-Kate, 33, chatted away to some friends the day after she and twin Ashley debuted the Fall 2020 collection from their The Row brand during New York Fashion Week Mary-Kate and Ashley, 33, made their names, of course, as child stars on the long-running sitcom Full House. They translated that success into a career in fashion establishing their own high fashion brand The Row in 2006. The label's origin dates back to 2006 when Ashley decided to personally challenge herself to the task of designing the 'perfect t-shirt' during her brief stint as a student at New York University, according to an interview with Vogue in 2011. Mary-Kate joined in and the pair would end up with a seven-piece collection. At first, the famous duo didn't want their names attached to the label, preferring it to succeed on its own merits. The Row was a success, though, and the twins have since launched another luxury brand Elizabeth and James as well as more affordable fashion lines, Olsenboye and StyleMint. They are also now members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and former NSW premier Morris Iemma are among the 53 Crown witnesses due to give evidence in the trial of former Labor ministers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid. Mr Macdonald and Eddie Obeid, along with Obeid's son Moses, are alleged to have conspired over the granting of a coal exploration licence at Mt Penny, in the Bylong Valley near Mudgee. Former Labor minister Eddie Obeid (centre) arrives at the NSW Supreme Court, accompanied by his wife Judy and his solicitor Michael Bowe. Credit:Dean Sewell Moses Obeid, 50, his 76-year-old father, and Mr Macdonald, 70, all pleaded not guilty to the charge that they conspired between September 1, 2007 and January 31, 2009 over the granting of the licence which conferred substantial wealth to the Obeid family. The court heard on Wednesday that in 2007 the Obeids paid $3.5 million for their property, Cherrydale Park, which later was included in an area for a potential coal mine. Crown prosecutor Sophie Callan said the case against the three men was circumstantial and the witnesses ranging from Labor party figures, business associates, journalists and departmental officers would give evidence in the trial which is expected to run for five months. Power Wars SEE ALSO: The End Of The Internal Combustion Engine? Really? SEE ALSO: The Moral Case for Internal Combustion Engines Powered By Ethanol +VIDEO Special To The Auto Channel By Kevin Riddell Senior Manager Americas Powertrain LMC-Auto.Com Bragging rights about power are not a new battleground in the auto industry. While 10 years ago 500 horsepower from the factory was exotic car territory, today many options are available for around $70,000. A lot of diesel, 1-tonne Pickups now produce over 1,000 pounds feet (1,355 newton metres) of torque and several hyper cars are well beyond the 1,000 horsepower mark. However, looking at the bigger picture, it took 100 years to get to where we are. Electrification is taking performance to a completely new level. Tesla introduced the world to sub-$100,000 cars that out accelerate many current supercars. The new Porsche Taycan stretches this capability by being able to maintain sustained high-performance. Also, an increasing focus on global carbon reduction has legislation in many countries pushing the industry toward electrification. By 2030, we forecast nearly 50% of the global market to be electrified in some form. In 2019, BEV sales made up around 2% of global car (and North American Light Truck) sales. By 2025 we expect close to 8% global market share, and 15.5% in 2030. To many this number seems very aggressive, to others, it is very conservative. By 2030, we forecast nearly 50% of the global market to be electrified in some form. In North America, we predict the transformation to be a little slower, reaching 7% BEV sales and 20% hybrid sales in 2030. Big strides are being made in electrification technology, but in general it is still very young and there are significant differences in strategy between OEMs over its development and rollout. Only a few years ago you would hear a lot about combustion-based technologies, such as variable compression, HCCI, higher pressure injectors and improved aftertreatment. While these are still being developed and improved, the headlines have shifted to how electricity is added into the powertrain and how batteries are improving. It is interesting that when buying an IC car today, a larger engine is a big cost option, and for a BEV, a bigger gas tank is a major, high-cost feature. BEVs suit the needs of a lot of people, but they still fall short for many due to lack of range, extreme weather capability, lack of charging infrastructure, unknown durability and/or recyclability. These are important challenges that need continued improvement to help adoption. It is interesting that when buying an IC car today, a larger engine is a big cost option, and for a BEV, a bigger gas tank is a major, high-cost feature. The batteries cost less than one fifth of the price per kWh than 10 years ago but remain a huge part of a plug-in electric vehicle (PEVs) cost. As a result, PEVs are still largely reliant on subsidies to sell the cars and improve the infrastructure. In Europe, China and other markets the government is driving electrified vehicle growth, while the US is moving toward a more consumer-driven and automaker friendly approach, with comparatively limited government interference. Government restrictions are in the process of being eased regarding CO 2 regulation, for example, the recent, contested removal of California ZEV legislation. As US subsidies end, BEV sales may increase more slowly than we currently show unless a) ZEV legislation is reinstated or b) California finds another way to legislate a transition to increased carbon neutral vehicle sales. Meanwhile, I will be eagerly watching for the next big tech jump, whether it is electric or combustion-focused. A former Conde Nast editor is lifting the lid on his seemingly glamorous time at the helm, revealing he was battling a severe opioid addiction where he popped 60 Vicodin pills a day, once smuggled $6,000-worth of drugs across the Mexico border, and groveled to actor Ben Affleck after a quote mishap. Dan Peres, now 48, was the 15-year editor of the defunct magazine Details and is divulging how he was barely in the office and used his position to jet set across the globe on work trips to purchase drugs and get high. Peres divulges that while his life seemed alluring and ritzy, drugs crippled him for years. He did drugs with a rock star in first class on a flight, skipped fashion shows in Milan to get high in a hotel and on one occasion even tried to salvage pills that he had dropped behind a urinal. On one occasion fashion designer Tom Ford caught him downing Vicodin pills at the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards in 2001. Peres said he told Ford - who was being honored as the womenswear designer of the year - that it was just Tylenol but the designer responded: 'Yeah, right.' Dan Peres, now 48, was battling his addition during his 15-year reign as editor-in-chief of Conde Nast's monthly men's magazine Details in New York. He is pictured above with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman at a Details event prior to him getting clean Peres pictured left with actress Natalie Portman and Jarrod Weber in 2009 in New York City Donatella Versace is pictured above shaking hands with Peres and his wife Sarah Wynter in 2006 in New York On another occasion Peres was caught desperately trying to pick up pills that he had dropped behind a urinal at the Waldorf Astoria during a black tie event in 2003. 'Does the five-second rule count for p***-soaked drugs?... I'd like to say I hesitated,' he wrote. In a wild bid to fuel his drug addition, he made his assistant plan a work trip to San Diego just so he could drive across the border to Tijuana, Mexico to buy $6,000 worth of drugs. After going to Mexico, he appeared on Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect in Los Angeles before flying back to New York with his smuggled drug stash. Despite his erratic and reckless lifestyle, Peres said he never thought he'd be fired, he reveals in his new book As Needed for Pain: A Memoir of Addiction. However, his time came to an end when the publication was shut down in 2015, ending his 15-year reign as editor of the Conde Nast monthly men's magazine in New York. Details was an acclaimed men's fashion and lifestyle magazine that boasted celebrities on the cover like Bradley Cooper, Mark Ruffalo, and A-Rod. Peres admits that despite being a boss in charge of dozens of employees, he was unprofessional in his post. In those days as a high-flying magazine editor, Peres lived in a subsidized room at the Morgans Hotel on Madison Avenue and would enjoy expense accounts and Town Car paid for by the company. Peres admits that he frequently didn't make it into the office despite being in charge of dozens of employees. He would also take naps in his office and he once fell asleep while interviewing a job applicant. Peres, who ran the publication until it shut down in 2015, spent seven years living a dual life as a celebrated national magazine editor and opioid addict. He is pictured with Bradley Cooper in 2009 - a year after he got clean Peres pictured with actress Rose McGowan at a Details magazine event in 2010 in Los Angeles He recalls once being at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards in 2001 when designer Tom Ford caught him hunched over the sink in the men's bathroom as he tried to shovel down pills. They are pictured together in 2013 He recalls meeting with boxer Mike Tyson to discuss an upcoming story after taking 15 pills. He was soaked in sweat and swaying back and forth before he ran outside and spewed on the street. Peres recalls also vomiting into a trash can in his office during one high and trying to mask the smell with scented candles. Peres said he'd use work trips, especially to Los Angeles, as excuses to get more drugs and get high, and to visit his girlfriend actress Sarah Wynters, who went on to become his wife. He went to LA so frequently his Town Car driver became his dealer. Peres recalls that during on LA trip he considered trying heroin and asked his driver to take him to Skid Row to buy some, but he was chased by a person he had asked for the drug. 'It's not easy to run for your life in a pair of Tod's driving moccasins,' he wrote. He has divulged the details of his addiction and his struggles to hide it in his new book As Needed for Pain: A Memoir of Addiction. Peres is pictured on Monday promoting his new memoir One former employee who was fired from Details wrote to the company's publishing executive to report 'Dan Peress conspicuously frequent absences' and his 'admissions about pill-taking', but nothing was ever done about the complaint. During much of his tenure as an editor, Peres was battling his opioid addiction before finally getting clean in 2007. Peres was first exposed to opioids in 1995 when he ruptured a spinal disk. By 2003, Peres claims he was shoveling down as many as 60 pills each day. He recalls once trashing the hotel room where he was living because he couldn't find his pills and accused the housekeeper of stealing his stash. Peres said he would often get high on the flights because 'plane highs were usually the best, especially in first class'. He moved on to the stronger opioid Roxicodone in about 2004. Peres married his wife Wynter a year later, and said his addiction was so severe he even went hunting for drugs during their honeymoon in Cabo, Mexico. Peres married his actress wife Sarah Wynter in 2005. He write in his memoir that he went hunting for drugs on their honeymoon in Cabo, Mexico. They ended up splitting in 2015 Peres and Wynter pictured together in 2006 in New York He got a driver to drive him to four different pharmacies before he was able to get something to satisfy his addiction. Peres finally decided to get clean in 2007 after a friend flushed his drugs down the toilet and took him to his mother's house in Maryland. During his detox, he said he had to call Ben Affleck to apologize after the actor complained about being misquoted in a cover story. The article had been cleared by Peres to publish. Peres said than in 2007 while he was going through a drug detox he had to placate actor Ben Affleck after he became upset over being misquotes in a cover story for Details The author of that story admitted that he had liberally paraphrased Afflecks sentences and took quotes from different parts of the interview to make it cohesive. Peres grovelled to Affleck as the magazine was hosting a party in the actor's honor and he needed to be placated. 'There I was sitting in the den of my mother's house, a shivering, quivering mess with a blanket wrapped around me, talking to Ben Affleck,' Peres writes in his book. Despite a brief relapse, Peres was able to curb his addiction for good in 2008 - just months before his first son was born. He and Wynter went on to have three children together before they split in 2015. Speaking on his book to the New York Times he said: 'I didnt overthink it. I always set out to write a story about myself and my addiction and how intense of a grip it had on me, and in order to illustrate that, I had to touch on a number of elements of my life, including of course my professional life. I really see Details as a character in the book.' As Needed for Pain: A Memoir of Addiction was published by Harper Collins and was made available on Tuesday. Who is the richest child in Georgia - GeorgianJournal Facebook takes down coordinated inauthenticity from Myanmar, Vietnam, Iran, and Russia. The US says its got the goods on Huaweis backdoors. Notes on Patch Tuesday. The EU backs away from a five-year moratorium on facial recognition software. Switzerland takes a look at Crypto AG. And the Nevada Democratic caucus a week from Saturday will use iPads, Google Forms, and some tools to process the results. Thats tools, Jack, not apps. Ben Yelin from UMD CHHS on the Senate GOP blocking election security bills. Guest is Christopher Hadnagy from Social-Engineer, LLC on social engineering trends they are tracking. The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has said the Infrastructure policy of the present administration is cl... The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has said the Infrastructure policy of the present administration is clearly hitting the right buttons across the country. Fashola also revealed that the Second Niger Bridge will be completed in the year 2022. He made this statement during an inspection tour of Amansea Section of the Rehabilitation of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, Anambra; and the tour of the Federal Secretariat, Awka; as well as the National Housing Programme at Isiagwu, the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra and Delta States and the National Housing Programme in Asaba, Delta State. Mr. President, he said has continued to emphasize a commitment to infrastructure as the quickest way to employing people. Fashola further said, Policies have very diverse and extensive impact on the people, so when Mr. President says he wants to lift 100 million people out of poverty, he knows what he is saying and he knows some of the right buttons like infrastructure, to press. Whilst going around the sites, the Minister interacted with workers who were full of appreciation to the administration of President Buhari for the opportunity to work and earn a living rather than going into crime. Mr. Sunday Etikwu, a mason at one of the National Housing Programme sites who was visibly excited said he received a daily pay of N4,500 naira and works all through the week. Details of the Ministers inspection tour were made available on Wednesday by Stephen Kilebi, Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry of works He added that a food vendor Mrs. Ebele Chukwu also expressed happiness for the opportunity to cook and sell alongside her husband who works as a labourer at the site and goes home with at least N5,000 naira daily. Fashola said the end product maybe constructing a road or building a housing estate but the human capacity is enhanced through drains being laid, electric fittings being installed, foundations being dug, blocks being molded and food being supplied, thereby providing employment and boosting the economy as well as the living standard of the community and its environs. It is the initial value chain of the economy which is the first impact you feel when it comes to infrastructure, he said. At the National Housing Programme site at Isiagwu, the Minister observed significant improvements especially when accessing the site as compared to what obtained when he first came to the site. He further said it was a far sighted vision by the state government to open up the community, but was still expectant on their commitment to open up more roads as it would take some time for the Isiagwu community to come alive. During the inspection of the Federal Secretariat project in Awka the supervisor Engr. Nnamdi Umeji who conducted the minister round the site said the project had reached a 90% completion level. The contractor handling the project observed that the project had no provision for a lift as it was not budgeted for. The Minister asked him to submit the design and cost implication for the provision of a lift booth and the contractor promised to submit within three weeks. Fashola also inspected the National Housing Programme in Asaba located along Benin-Asaba expressway which had twelve contractors on site. The Project Supervisor, Arc. Godwin Otobo said the first phase of the semi-detached houses had reached almost 100% completion level. Other projects inspected were the construction of Umunya road in Awka, Anambra State where the Minister expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work and charged the contractor to expedite action on the project and the construction of the second Niger Bridge which had reached over 30% completion level. Rural Independent TD Michael Collins has described Shane Ross as one of the "biggest scumbags" in politics. At a post-election rally, Mr Collins said he was glad the former transport minister was now "on the scrap heap of Irish politics". "I said I would do everything I could to take that man down because he ruined rural Ireland and tonight the great people of Dublin took him out of it," he said. Mr Collins and Mr Ross regularly clashed in the Dail over drink-driving legislation. Contacted by the Irish Independent, Mr Collins said he would "take back" calling Mr Ross a scumbag but insisted he was "delighted" he lost his seat. "I always try kick the ball and not the man but what that man has done has far-reaching consequences that will go on for decades in our country," he said. "The man wrecked rural Ireland." Mr Ross said he was "very sorry" that in the "flush of victory" Mr Collins took the opportunity to "rage against" road safety measures intended to save his constituents' lives. A 52-year-old man has been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. Paul McIntyre, 52, from Derry, was arrested on Tuesday before being taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite. He is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation. He will appear at Londonderry Magistrates Court on Thursday, 13 February. Paul McIntyre, 52, from Derry, was arrested on Tuesday before being taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite Four men aged between 20 and 52 were arrested yesterday in the investigation into the murder of journalist Lyra McKee (pictured) in Northern Ireland Ms McKee was shot dead while observing disorder in the Creggan area of Derry on April 19, 2019 (crime scene pictured) Ms McKee was shot dead while observing disorder in the Creggan area of Derry on April 19, 2019. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the murder, which sparked headlines and revulsion across the UK, Ireland and beyond. Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards, the first couple to be legally married in a same-sex couple in Northern Ireland, are pictured kissing in front of a tribute wall to Lyra McKee in Belfast Pallbearers carry the coffin of Lyra McKee at her funeral at St. Anne's Cathedral in Belfast in April last year Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: 'I have always said a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing.' Yesterday four men, 20, 27, 29 and 52, were detained under the Terrorism Act in Londonderry and were later questioned in Belfast. An EPA official met a skeptical and angry crowd Tuesday night at a LaPlace meeting to discuss air monitoring around the Denka Performance Elastomer plant, with residents worried about changes to how the regulator will keep tabs on the plant's release of chloroprene. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to stop regular monitoring for chloroprene by the middle of this year, said David Gray, the agency's deputy regional administrator. It will instead have a new system to capture airborne levels of the chemical that regulators say is a "likely carcinogen" only when there is a spike in volatile organic compounds in the air. Addressing the Concerned Citizens of St. John group, which has been critical of the Denka plant, Gray argued that the new system will help to better understand why chloroprene spikes happen in the first place, and will help with future efforts to work with Denka on reducing chloroprene emissions. It sounds kind of smart to me. It sounds like it will provide more information, Gray said, adding that he expects chloroprene readings will be taken more frequently with the new system. But he was speaking to a mistrusting audience. We are dying and youre implementing new systems, Tish Taylor, who lives near the plant, told Gray. Im watching my neighborhood die. We are dying waiting for more numbers, waiting for more BS. Chloroprene is used to manufacture neoprene, a synthetic rubber. In recent years, St. John the Baptist Parish residents who live near the plant have complained of high cancer rates in the area and have demanded that it reduce emissions of chloroprene. The EPA has spent much of the past four years operating six monitors around the Denka facility the only plant in the U.S. that produces chloroprene following the release of an EPA report in 2015 that said the census tract near the plant had the highest airborne cancer risk in the nation. The new monitors will not directly measure chloroprene, Gray said, but will instead measure other volatile organic compounds in the air. When the level of those compounds reaches a certain spike threshold, that will trigger a 24-hour period when chloroprene levels will be measured. What compounds will be monitored and what the threshold will be for saying when they have spiked havent been determined, Gray said, and probably wont be known for at least two months after the new monitors called SPods are installed. The earliest those might arrive is March, when they will be installed and undergo an initial two-month collection sampling phase. During that time, current chloroprene monitoring canisters will remain in place. Then most likely in June, Gray said the new monitors will completely replace the current six air monitors near the Denka facility, with the EPA committing to six months of air monitoring after the SPods are fully online. But many at the gathering in Reserve including attorneys who represent thousands of St. John residents suing Denka took a different view, saying the end of regular monitoring makes it seem that the EPA is beginning to abandon the community. "I feel like we're being lost in semantics," said Sylvia Taylor, a lawyer who lives near the Denka fence line. "I'm tired of the persons in charge who could do something about this sitting on their laurels, debating the science." Hugh "Skip" Lambert the New Orleans-based lead attorney in the suits against Denka said that when it comes to science, though, the EPA is getting things wrong with its monitoring change. Lambert and attorney John Cummings have asked the St. John Parish Council to take up a resolution denouncing the EPA for changing its monitoring system. It just does it where theres a spike not of chloroprene, but of another volatile organic. And thats just not acceptable, Lambert said, while holding up a large chart showing 2017 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality statistics for volatile organics recorded near the Denka facility. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The EPA defines volatile organics as any compound of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonates, which participates in atmospheric petrochemical reactions. And of the volatile organics in the 2017 LDEQ statistics, chloroprene was recorded at a higher level than all the others combined. Gray maintained that the current system of monitoring had served its purpose, though, proving that chloroprene was present in the air in St. John and that its level had dropped after Denka installed $35 million worth of emission control equipment. Denka has claimed the facility has lowered its chloroprene emissions by over 85% a target it agreed to hit after signing a voluntary agreement with the state. But regulators are requiring the company to resubmit data because it didnt follow the mandated methodology. While Gray argued progress has been made, many others said that simply changing the collection method to get more data isnt enough, since chloroprene levels are still regularly recorded well above the 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air the EPA says is the highest safe level for long-term exposure. Kimberly Terrell of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic joined the attorneys in criticizing Grays description of the SPods as an improvement, especially since the volatile organics they directly monitor dont include the most prevalent chloroprene. Its like youre using binoculars to try to detect a fire in your house. Its just not the right tool, Terrell said. Gray noted that current collection methods dont actually detect chloroprene, either. Instead, a reading is taken from a canister that samples air over a 24-hour period once every six days. That reading is then sent to a laboratory for analysis, with the results later made public on the EPAs website. Monitoring initially took place once every three days, but that was changed to once every six days amid agency budget cutbacks in 2019. The new system will also use canisters, but there will be multiple canisters along with every SPod, Gray said, in case several days worth of air needs to be captured after a spike. The canisters will continue to record chloroprene levels in the air over a 24-hour period. Before the new system was announced, it was unclear whether the EPA would continue monitoring at all in 2020. Wilma Subra, an environmentalist who for years has given status reports to the Concerned Citizens group based on EPA data, said Gray should be thanked for giving the community at least that much. She has previously spoken out in support of the changes to the monitoring system. If you dont tell David (Gray) anything else, tell him, Thank you for the air monitoring,' Subra said Tuesday. A British Christian Institute has warned the Warwickshire County Council to take legal action against the RSE's policy of "Relationship and Sex Education," a report by Britain's Christian Today said Monday. According to the RSE policy, gender identity "can best be understood as a spectrum." Transgender children have the right to use toilets or changing rooms that they can use most comfortably." In addition, the policy suggests that parents do not need to be informed by the school whether a child is transgender or whether they use school facilities according to the gender of their choice. The policy also includes the "All About Me" program that teaches elementary school children about sexual development, including masturbation. The guidelines for Year Two (children aged as young as six) read, "Children consider rules about when it is appropriate for others to touch themselves, including masturbation." The council is currently reviewing the policy with Mark Pawsey, a member of the Parliament for Rugby, raising concerns that it is not appropriate. In addition, John Denning, the head of the Christian Institute, who has raised concerns about the rights and protection of single-sex spaces, said the education committee should "reject seriously flawed policies while addressing the list of errors." "There are important protection issues at stake here," Denning said, noting that failure to acknowledge that there are flaws in this policy threatens the well-being of children they are obligated to protect. A n American Airlines passenger has divided the internet after posting a video of a man appearing to repeatedly hit the back of her seat in an apparent row over her chair being reclined. Wendi Williams posted a video on Twitter of a man appearing to jab at the back of her chair during a flight from New Orleans to North Carolina on January 31. She claims the alleged incident took place after she reclined her seat. She added that, when she complained to a flight attendant, the man was offered a complimentary cocktail. She wrote: "Heres a great jackhole! He was angry that I reclined my seat and punched it about 9 times - HARD, at which point I began videoing him, and he resigned to this behavior. "The other jackhole is the @AmericanAir flight attendant who reprimanded me and offered him rum!" In another tweet, the woman said she had spoken to an American Airlines representative by phone who had apologised and said what happened was wrong. But, she said the airline did not "accept any responsibility for the flight attendant's actions". Ms Williams said the incident had required her to miss work for doctor's appointments and gave her headaches for a week. The video has divided Twitter with some saying that Ms Williams was guilty of "bad manners" for reclining her seat "more than an inch". But others expressed disbelief that the airline crew apparently did nothing to help her. One person wrote: It is considered bad manners to recline more than an inch. The seats recline because Airlines used to give us enough room that you could recline without cutting into your neighbors breathing space. "I am guilty of getting angry when someone does that when I'm stuck in economy. Another said: I'm 6ft 5 and cant stand inconsiderate people putting their seats back, being the size I am I still wont recline due to having courtesy for others. "If it was me you wouldn't have got your seat back so count yourself lucky this guy let you. Another added: Agreed - do the right thing and dont recline your seat next time, especially when you can see the person behind you cant recline theirs. But one said the airline should refund Ms Williams. They wrote: You have the patience of a saint. I would have asked him to stop once. Then I would have insisted the flight attendant moved either him or me. If that didnt work, I have been just as disruptive as him until those flight attendants did something. @AmericanAir needs to refund you. Another added that people should not have to ask for permission to recline their seats. They wrote: "I rarely recline unless were short of shoulder room - it can help by offsetting the seats. If somebody reclines their seat in front of me then you know what I do? Absof******lutely nothing. They dont have to ask your permission for using the seat capability they paid for." In a statement, an American Airlines spokesperson said: We are aware of a customer dispute that transpired on American Eagle flight 4392, operated by Republic Airways on January 31. New mobile app helping Latin American farmers increase crop yields by 12% Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK, 11 February 2020 ? Rezatec, a leading provider of geospatial data analytics, has launched a free smartphone app which acts as a portal for farmers to record their agricultural activities and provides recommendations for optimal sowing and irrigation scheduling. Based on preliminary results from the experimental stations, the app has demonstrated the potential to increase wheat yields by up to 12%. COMPASS v2.0 provides decisions based on Earth observation satellite data, in-situ field data captured by farmers, and a sophisticated crop model, to identify factors which might cause lower crop performance. In the Yaqui Valley in Mexico, a region which relies on irrigation due to varying climatic conditions, water security is a serious challenge. With general circulation models predicting less water availability in the future, farmers must be very precise in their irrigation management. The technology will track crop growth performance allowing farmers to make more informed decisions about crop management. ?Yaqui Valley farmers are very experienced farmers; however, they can also benefit by using an app that is designed locally to inform and record their decisions,? explains Francelino Rodrigues, Precision Agriculture Scientist at CIMMYT. ?Sowing and irrigation timing are well known drivers of yield potential in that region ? these are two features of the app we?re about to validate during this next season.? The COMPASS project, led by Rezatec and part-funded by the UK Space Agency?s International Partnership Programme, is a collaboration between international scientists, businesses, farmers and agriculturalists, aimed at finding ways to use satellite data to better manage factors that cause the yield gap between crop potential and actual field performance in South America. Rezatec provides geospatial data analysis and the underlying technical platform upon which the project is based. In October 2019, the UK Space Agency awarded additional funding to increase the scope of the project to include the crop maize, and to expand into Argentina. ?Extending the project to Argentina enables us to provide our innovative satellite-derived tools to even more farmers to enable them to make really critical decisions based on new insights about their crops and land that they previously didn?t have access to?, explained Dr Andrew Carrel, Chief Technology Officer at Rezatec. Mexican COMPASS is a four-year project funded by the UK Space Agency?s International Partnership Programme (IPP). It is a collaboration between Rezatec, the University of Nottingham and Booker Tate in the UK; the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Colegio de Postgraduados (COLPOS) in Mexico and Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA) in Argentina GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Valley State University says it wants to help adults finish their bachelors degrees. Alongside Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, university President Philomena V. Mantella announced a new accelerated degree program Wednesday. The new program allows students to get a bachelors degree in Integrative Studies (formerly Liberal Studies) plus a certificate in leadership, applied data analytics, project management or global communication. The dual degree/certificate program is aimed primarily at students who left school before finishing their bachelors degree or are looking to get a different degree, Mantella said. These programs are uniquely built for degree completion, not just participation," Mantella said at a press conference. "They have the convenience of online learning, but the value added of a community experience and the program doesnt require you to pick a path, but allows you to shape your path. The dual degree and certificate is a 19-month program made up of six-week-long classes. The degree is mostly online, with two on-campus visits on Saturdays at any GVSU location (Grand Rapids, Holland, Traverse City and Detroit). Classes are generally three credit hours with a cost of $500 per credit hour. This program is in line with a statewide goal Whitmer announced during her first State of the State address in 2019, she said. Whitmer said she wants 60 percent of Michigan adults get a post-secondary credential by 2030. Weve focused over the course of the last 14 months since I took office and on ensuring that we are creating a robust offering of opportunities, she said. We need to change our culture of thinking of prosperity as a ladder, as though theres one way up, into thinking more like rock climbing. That there is a different path for everyone to independence and prosperity and dignity in their work. Whitmer said a part of her goal is about having each individual find the right program for them. And shes seeing changes at other institutions along with Grand Valley. I toured a lot of our community colleges last year and I think to see some of the incredible programs and certificates that are available at the community college level tells me that there are different needs of different citizens that are being met in different ways, she said. And thats why I think we have to have a global strategy. Mantella said the program is set up to fit into the lives of busy adults. One of those busy adults hoping to take advantage of the program is Alyx Dean. She was enrolled at GVSU from 2010-2013, but she didnt know what she wanted to do with her degree. She now works full time and is looking to get the leadership certificate. I loved Grand Valley when I attended before, she said. I just stumbled upon this program and thought that it was a wonderful opportunity to come back to Grand Valley and kind of finish where I actually started. The program will also refund the tuition for the first class students take if they continue on in the program. Whitmer said that helps take down that scary barrier in making that first step back to college. This is a program that was built with the student in mind, she said. More on MLive Grand Rapids street to be removed, transformed by Grand Valley State Saline students sue school district for punishment from racist Snapchat group This isnt a whodunit. Its why was this done?'' attorney says as murder trial begins VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velocity Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: VLC) (Velocity or the Company) announces the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the Financing) (see news releases dated January 23, 2020 and February 4, 2020). The Financing raised aggregate gross proceeds of $5,787,075 through the issuance of 14,467,687 units (each, a Unit) at a price of $0.40 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Common Share) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (each, a Warrant) entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.55 per Common Share for a period of 18 months from the issue date. All securities issued in connection with the Financing are subject to a hold period of four months and one day in Canada. In connection with the Financing, the Company paid aggregate finder's fees consisting of $92,260 in cash and issued 215,250 non-transferrable finder's warrants (each, a Finder's Warrant). Each Finders Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.40 per Common Share for a period of 12 months from the issue date. Leede Jones Gable Inc. received finders fees consisting of $32,480 cash and 65,800 Finders Warrants, Haywood Securities Inc. received finders fees consisting of $56,700 cash and 141,750 Finders Warrants, Sprott Capital Partners GP Inc. received finders fees consisting of $1,680 cash and 4,200 Finders Warrants, and Canaccord Genuity Corp. received finders fees consisting of $1,400 cash and 3,500 Finders Warrants. As a result of the strong investor demand for the Financing we have effectively doubled the size of the originally-announced financing. We are very pleased with the vote of confidence from our existing and new stakeholders, which we see as support for the Companys strategy in Bulgaria, stated Keith Henderson, Velocitys President & CEO. In particular, we are happy to see the exercise of pro rata participation rights by Artemis Gold Inc., which has increased its shareholdings of Velocity to approximately 21.6% of Velocity's issued and outstanding Common Shares, and its partially diluted position to 39.1%. We are also pleased by the participation by KF Business Ventures in the Financing, which, together with its joint actor, Robert Kopple, have increased their shareholdings of the Company to approximately 15% and their partially diluted position to 17.7%. The proceeds of the Financing are intended to fund ongoing work at the Companys gold projects in Bulgaria and for general working capital. Early Warning Disclosure Artemis Gold Inc. Pursuant to the Financing, Velocity issued to Artemis Gold Inc. (Artemis), and Artemis purchased from Velocity, 5,166,887 Units at a price of $0.40 per Unit (the Artemis Units). The acquisition by Artemis of the Artemis Units occurred pursuant to the exercise of a participation right by Artemis provided to Artemis under an investment agreement between Velocity, Artemis and Atlantic Gold Corporation dated January 16, 2019, as amended (the Investment Agreement). The total consideration paid by Artemis for the Artemis Units was $2,066,755. Immediately prior to the closing of the Financing, Artemis beneficially owned and had control and direction over an aggregate of 19,095,516 Common Shares, representing approximately 19.5% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of Velocity, Convertible Debentures in the principal amount of $5,094,000 convertible into 20,376,000 Common Shares with a conversion price of $0.25 until March 14, 2024 (the Debentures), and 9,300,000 Common Share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.25 per share from the date of issuance until March 14, 2022. Assuming conversion in full of the Debentures and the exercise of all of the Common Share purchase warrants held by Artemis, Artemis would have owned and had control and direction over 48,771,516 Common Shares, representing approximately 38.26% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. Immediately after the closing of the Financing, Artemis beneficially owns and has control and direction over an aggregate of 24,262,403 Common Shares, representing approximately 21.61% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of Velocity, Debentures in the principal amount of $5,094,000 convertible into 20,376,000 Common Shares with a conversion price of $0.25 until March 14, 2024, 9,300,000 Common Share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.25 per share from the date of issuance until March 14, 2022, and 2,583,443 Common Share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.55 per share from the date of issuance until August 12, 2021. Assuming conversion in full of the Debentures and the exercise of all of the Common Share purchase warrants held by Artemis, Artemis would own and have control and direction over 56,521,846 Common Shares, representing approximately 39.11% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. The change in Artemis securityholding percentage is approximately 2.11% (0.85% on a partially diluted basis) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Artemis completed the Financing for investment purposes. Artemis will review its holdings in Velocity on a continuing basis and may from time to time and at any time, in their sole discretion, acquire or cause to be acquired additional equity or debt securities or other instruments of Velocity, or dispose or cause to be disposed such equity or debt securities or instruments, through open market transactions, private placements by Velocity and other privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, in each case in accordance with Artemis obligations to Velocity pursuant to the Investment Agreement and with applicable securities laws. Artemis has the right to designate one individual to be nominated and, if elected, to serve as a director of Velocity provided Artemis holds at least 15% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, with the number of nominees increasing to two directors if Artemis holds 30% or more of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. If the size of the board of directors of Velocity is increased or decreased from the current four directors, Artemis nomination rights will be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Agreement. To obtain a copy of the early warning report filed by Artemis in accordance with National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take Over Bids ("NI 62-103") and National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids ("NI 62-104") in connection with the closing of the Financing, please see Velocitys profile on the SEDAR website www.sedar.com or contact: Artemis Gold Inc. Suite 3083, 595 Burrard Street Vancouver, British Columbia, V7X 1L3 Attn: Chris Batalha, Corporate Secretary Phone: (604) 558-1107 Early Warning Disclosure KF Business Ventures, LP Pursuant to the Financing, Velocity issued to KF Business Ventures, LP (KFBV), and KFBV purchased from Velocity, 4,440,800 Units at a price of $0.40 per Unit (the KFBV Units). The total consideration paid by KFBV for the KFBV Units was $1,776,320. Robert C. Kopple may be considered a joint actor with KFBV in that he is the president of the general partner of KFBV. Immediately prior to the closing of the Financing, KFBV and Mr. Kopple beneficially owned and had control and direction over an aggregate of 12,414,912 Common Shares, representing approximately 12.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of Velocity, 435,000 Common Share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.20 per share from the date of issuance until October 12, 2021, and 1,000,000 incentive stock options, each option entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.18 per share from the date of issuance until May 3, 2020. Assuming the exercise of all of the Common Share purchase warrants and options held by KFBV and Mr. Kopple, they would have owned and had control and direction over 13,849,912 Common Shares, representing 14.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. Immediately after the closing of the Financing, KFBV and Mr. Kopple beneficially own and have control and direction over an aggregate of 16,855,712 Common Shares, representing approximately 15.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, 2,220,400 Common Share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.55 per share from the date of issuance until August 12, 2021, 435,000 Common Share purchase warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.20 per share from the date of issuance until October 12, 2021 and 1,000,000 incentive stock options, each option entitling the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.18 per share from the date of issuance until May 3, 2020. Assuming the exercise of all of the Common Share purchase warrants and options held by KFBV and Mr. Kopple, they would own and have control and direction over 20,511,112 Common Shares, representing 17.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis. The change in KFBV and Mr. Kopples securityholding percentage is approximately 2.3% (3.7% on a partially diluted basis) of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Either KFBV or Mr. Kopple may acquire additional securities of Velocity, or may sell some or all of the securities now held by them from time to time in the future, but neither has present intentions in either regard. To obtain a copy of the early warning report filed by KFBV in accordance with NI 62-103 and NI 62-104 in connection with the closing of the Financing, please see Velocitys profile on the SEDAR website www.sedar.com or contact: KF Business Ventures, LP Suite 1500, 10866 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, California 900224 Attn: Robert C. Kopple, President of Kopple Financial, Inc., General Partner Phone: 1 (310) 475-1444 About Velocity Minerals Ltd. Velocity is a gold exploration and development company focused on southeastern Bulgaria. Velocitys strategy is to develop a low cost centralized Hub and Spoke operation whereby multiple projects within this emerging gold district produce gold concentrates for trucking to a central processing plant for production of dore. The Company envisions staged open pit mining of satellite deposits and processing in a currently operating carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant. Velocity has a 70% joint venture interest in the Rozino gold project and has entered into option agreements to earn a 70% interest in the Obichnik, Makedontsi and Sedefche gold projects, with Gorubso Kardzhali A.D., an established and respected mining company in Bulgaria. Velocitys management and board includes mining industry professionals with combined experience spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas as employees of major mining companies as well as founders and senior executives of junior to mid-tier public companies. The team's experience includes all aspects of mineral exploration, resource definition, feasibility, finance, mine construction and mine operation as well as a track record in managing publicly listed companies. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Keith Henderson" President & CEO For further information, please contact: Keith Henderson Phone: +1-604-638-3456 E-mail: info@velocityminerals.com Web: www.velocityminerals.com Neither the 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. All amounts contained in this News Release are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release includes certain forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the intended use of the proceeds from the Financing and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by words such as will, plans, expects, may, should, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, potential or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained gold demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Companys Bulgarian gold projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Companys Bulgarian gold projects, and the Companys ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. 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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities for the Companys Bulgarian gold projects, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital to fund the Companys business plan, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, the inability to or delay in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading. Risk Factors in the Companys annual managements discussion and analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Companys profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. Prabhas is considered as one of the most popular stars in the world. After the release of Baahubali, the actor has become a famous name in every household. Due to his huge fan following, Prabhas usually gets mobbed and captured by paparazzi as well as fans. However, this situation is now giving trouble to Prabhas' filmmakers. As per reports, the Saaho actor's pictures from the sets of his upcoming films get leaked due to his popularity. The producers Vamsi and Pramod are unhappy over people who leak sets' pictures on the internet. Reportedly, the filmmakers have built over six sets on the outskirts at Tellapur and have transported to Annapurna Studios. However, the media come to know about it and gather there to click pictures. Because of this, the filmmakers feel that the leaks could play a spoilsport and kill the buzz. A source told the leading website, "A train set, boat and another lavish set to recreate Europe were some of the sets erected. However, Vamsi and Pramod were apprehensive that if such details are revealed, then the audience may not experience the thrill when watching the film." Prabhas will next be seen opposite Pooja Hegde in Radhakrishna's directorial venture. The film is tentatively titled Jaan. The film has a vintage European backdrop with an amazing love story. The actor's last release Saaho which also starred Shraddha Kapoor did good business at the box-office. Directed by Sujeeth, the film was released in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Also Read : Here's What Prabhas Had To Say About Shooting For Saaho In Hindi! Also Read : SHOCKING! Not Prabhas But Anushka Shetty To Marry An Indian Cricketer? JACKSON, MI Defense attorneys and Jackson County prosecutors agree Marvin Bearden died because of complications from stab wounds inflicted by Savanna Frinkle during a drunken fight. But whether or not Frinkle meant to kill Bearden, 63, is being decided by a jury in Jackson County Circuit Court. A second jury will decide if Sjiwana Taylor was actively involved in the stabbing. Frinkle, 21, and Taylor, 47, are each charged with one felony count of open murder in the death of Bearden in late August 2018. Open murder means if the juries decide to convict, they will decide between first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter. Opening arguments in the trial began Tuesday, Feb. 11, and the first witness testified. A drunken conversation around 3 a.m. Aug. 30, 2018, near the intersection of First Street and Washington Avenue, turned violent, leading to the death of Bearden, according to testimony from a preliminary exam. Woman accused of stabbing man to death in street found competent for trial He was stabbed 10 times in the back, buttocks, head, face and neck, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Hull said. Bearden was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital, where he had surgery but died the next day of a stroke caused by complications from the stab wounds, Hull and defense attorney Andrew Kirkpatrick, whos representing Frinkle, said. Ladies and gentlemen, this isnt a whodunit. Its why was this done? Why did it happen? Kirkpatrick said. Frinkle and Taylor are being tried at the same time, with two separate juries deciding the individual charges for the women. Kirkpatrick and defense attorney George Lyons, whos representing Taylor, disagree on the level of fault for each woman. The fight ended after Frinkle plunged the knife into Beardens face and ran away as a man driving by stopped, Kirkpatrick and Hull agree. But, Kirkpatrick and Hull allege Taylor brought the knife to the fight, while Lyons alleges that Frinkle brought the knife. He didnt look like he stood a chance, witness says of man stabbed to death in street At the end of the day, maybe my client had been home, this wouldnt have happened, Lyons said. But she cannot be convicted, not of murder one certainly, not of murder two of course, and not even manslaughter. She was there and thats all. Taylor did not have any cuts or blood on her after the fight, Lyons said. Frinkles DNA was found on the knife, he said. Beardens girlfriend, Lorelai Bronkowski, was the first witness to testify. She said Bearden was at the apartment when she went to bed and that she did not know he had left. The case is scheduled to continue at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, before Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain. READ MORE JACKSON NEWS: Employee tied up in bathroom during robbery at Albion business, police say When snow gets flaky: Inconsistent weather makes it tough for snow removal businesses Woman missing from Blackman Township could be in danger, police say 2 men shoot each other through closed door in Jackson, police say K-9, shoe prints in snow lead police to antique mall arson suspect But something about it seemed off from the jump. The crime happening in the diverse and upscale Streeterville neighborhood didnt make sense. The details of the alleged attack a noose around Smolletts neck, a chemical splashed on him, attackers shouting Trump slogans almost seemed scripted. The Empire actor didnt want to turn over his cellphone data to help with the investigation. There were cameras everywhere, but none picked up the crime. Theres a new sign on the roof, and food is back on the menu at Tuckers Kozy Korner, an iconic East Side bar that dates back to 1948 at the intersection of Houston and Cherry streets. After a lengthy closure and change in management, Tuckers reopened in November with only drinks. Now Tuckers has launched a new menu that puts a heavy focus on snacks and shareable plates. The Assam Public Works (APW), an NGO, has accused former NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela of tampering with the final version of the National Register of Citizens by excluding two persons from the list. In a complaint with the state CID, the APW which is the original petitioner in the Supreme Court leading to the updation of the NRC has also alleged that Hajela altered public records after making those exclusions. Hajela disobeyed the Supreme Court's orders, made a false document, forged a public register and committed cyber offences by misusing his powers and position, APW president Abhijeet Sarma alleged in a press conference. The NRC which validates bonafide Indian citizens of Assam was updated under the monitoring of the Supreme Court. The final list excluding 19 lakh people was published on August 31 last year. Several political parties and organisations have alleged that many illegal immigrants were able to get their names included in the document while a large number of genuine Indians were excluded. "We being a local responsible organisation of Assam enquired into certain data and came to know about fraudulent inclusion of two persons, who were earlier declared foreigners, in the final list of the NRC," Sarma said. "After the media reported this issue, Hajela tampered with the final list of the NRC, gaining access to the website by misusing his powers. He disrespected the Supreme Court by changing the status of those two persons from accepted to rejected," he alleged. The Supreme Court on August 13 last year had directed Hajela to formulate a strong security regime before publishing the final list to prevent it from illegal activities after its publication. Hajela's conduct indicates that he used "certain software which was very much within his domain even after publication of the final NRC to alter the status fo the two", the APW alleged. The APW said it fears that "Hajela may still have access to the NRC data and can use them for fulfilling his vested interests at any point of time". The apex court had ordered Hajela's transfer from Assam to his home state Madhya Pradesh. He was released from the charge of NRC state coordinator on November 11 last year. "We, therefore, requested the CID to register a case against Hajela for tampering with valuable public records and conduct an inquiry into his involvement in cybercrime during the updation process," Sarma said. APW had lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Branch of the CBI against Hajela on November 28 last year, allegeing embezzlement of Rs 1,600 crores of government fund by Hazela and his close aides during the NRC updating process. Names of more than 19 lakh people were not included in the final NRC list. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former Rector of Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State, Olaolu Olugbenga, has been arraigned at the Osun State High Court for allegedly forging a Ph.D. certificate. He is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Mr Olugbenga is accused of forging a Ph.D. certificate which he claimed he obtained from the University of Ibadan. He had used the alleged forged certificate to gain employment into the polytechnic. He is also accused of making a false statement to the ICPC. ICPCs findings revealed that sometime in February 2003, the accused person presented to Igbajo Polytechnic a forged notification of result that showed the conferment of a Doctorate degree on him by the University of Ibadan, the ICPC said in a statement Wednesday. His action was contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the same Act. It was also contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 467 of the same Act. Part of the charge sheet read in court stated that during investigation by ICPC, the accused person knowingly made false statement that his Doctor of Philosophy Degree programme was completed in 2002 and he was given notification in 2003, thereby committing an offence that is contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b) of the same Act, the statement said. Mr Olugbenga pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted bail by Justice Wasiu Akanbi and asked to present sureties who must be civil servants of Grade Level 14 or above, working within the jurisdiction of the court. The judge also said the sureties should produce N5 million each in like sum and must be present during the next court sitting. The case was adjourned to March 26. The Delhi Police on Wednesday asserted that the initial probe in the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at Gargi College last week suggest that the college was at fault. The college authorities had not informed the cops about the fest. The police have examined 23 CCTV footages and three of them are focused on the ground where the fest was going on. With the help of these footages, miscreants are being examined. The matter reach the doorsteps of the Supreme Court when a petition was filed by a lawyer of the apex court, demanding a CBI investigation. The Delhi Police has already registered an FIR after the matter came to light. The students of Gargi College have alleged that some drunk outsiders entered the college campus on February 6 molesting the girls. The Delhi University (DU) has issued an advisory to all principals to ensure the safety of women employees and students in the light of the incident. The university has also sought an action taken report within two weeks on the steps taken by the colleges to ensure the safety of students on campus, it said in the advisory issued on February 10. DU also condemned the Gargi College incident and urged police to take strong action against those involved. It said it has also sought an action taken report from the college principal in the matter. The UK Met Office has officially named a potentially damaging new storm system barreling towards Ireland and the UK this afternoon. Storm Dennis looks set to bring widespread strong winds and heavy rain and gusts of more than 70mph are possible over hills and coastal areas, the Met Office said. Weather Alerts Ireland warned: "Storm Dennis will bring strong winds and more heavy rain and a chance of coastal flooding on Saturday to Ireland and the UK." The storm is set to begin impacting Ireland and the UK on Friday and through the weekend. Offaly forecaster Cathal Nolan from the Midland Weather Channel said: "Storm Dennis has been named by the UK Met Office and will make its impacts felt across the country during Saturday as heavy rainfall and strong winds become widespread for a time. "Rainfall is likely to be the greatest risk from Dennis due to the elevated level of many rivers across the country at present following Storm Ciara. Wind speeds may reach 120km/h along parts of the west coast in particular," he concluded. Keep an eye on its progress here: Jeremy Corbyn has attacked Boris Johnson in the House of Commons over deportations to Jamaica, suggesting that the government is applying different rules to black and white people. The Labour leader accused the cruel and callous prime minister of trying to mislead the public by suggesting that foreign nationals who have lived in the UK since childhood were being removed for committing serious crimes like rape and manslaughter, when some had been convicted of much less serious offences. Seventeen Jamaican-born men were flown on a charter flight to Kingston on Tuesday morning, while a further 25 had their removal halted by judges hours earlier because they had been denied access to legal help. One of those the government intended to deport was Reshawn Davis, 30, who has been in the UK since the age of 11 and has a six-month-old daughter, and was issued removal directions on the basis that he was convicted for robbery 10 years ago under the now-unlawful joint enterprise rule for which he spent two months in prison. In comments coming very close to accusing the PM of racism, Mr Corbyn asked whether there was one rule for young black boys from the Caribbean and another for white boys from the US. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 November 2021 Migrants are helped ashore from a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat at a beach in Dungeness, on the south-east coast of England, on November 24, 2021, after being rescued while crossing the English Channel. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 23 November 2021 The coffin of Sir David Amess is carried past politicians, including former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the requiem mass for the MP at Westminster Cathedral, central London PA UK news in pictures 22 November 2021 The scene in Dragon Rise, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset where police have launched a murder probe after two people were found dead Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 21 November 2021 London-based midwife Sarah Muggleton, 27, takes part in a 'March with Midwives' in central London to highlight the crisis in maternity services PA UK news in pictures 20 November 2021 Police officers monitor as climate change activists sit down and block traffic during a protest action in solidarity with activists from the Insulate Britain group who received prison terms for blocking roads, on Lambeth Bridge in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 19 November 2021 A giant installation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson made from recycled clothing goes on display at Manchester Central, as part of Manchester Art Fair, in a 'wake-up call for the Prime Minister to tackle textile waste' PA Speaking at prime ministers questions in the Commons, Mr Corbyn demanded to know whether it was right for a man who came to the UK as a five-year-old, was compelled to carry drugs for a county lines gang and had not reoffended since leaving prison should be deported. And he drew a contrast between the treatment meted out to young black men who were brought to the UK as children to US-born Mr Johnsons own previous admission of drug use and the 1990 recording of the PM then a journalist discussing with his friend Darius Guppy a plan to have a reporter beaten up. The government has learnt absolutely nothing from the Windrush scandal, said Mr Corbyn. This cruel and callous government is trying to mislead the British people into thinking it is solely deporting foreign nationals who are guilty of murder, rape and other very serious offences. This is clearly not the case. Take the example of a black boy who came to the UK aged five and is now being deported after serving time for a drugs offence. If there was a white boy with blond hair who later dabbled in class A drugs and conspired with a friend to beat up a journalist, would he deport that boy or is it one rule for young black boys from the Caribbean and another for white boys from the US? Mr Johnson insisted that the deportation of 17 men to Jamaica on Tuesday was justified. All of those deported were Jamaican nationals who had been convicted of criminal offences and given prison sentences of 12 months or more. The PM told the Commons: I think the whole country would agree... that it is entirely right that foreign national offenders should be deported from this country in accordance with the law. And he accused Corbyn of besmirching the reputation of the Windrush generation by linking the current cases with the governments widely-condemned removal of long-standing black British residents with no criminal record who found themselves unable to provide evidence of their right to remain. (Reuters TV) Mr Johnson said that the Labour leader demeans himself and besmirches the reputation of the Windrush generation, who came to this country to work in our public services, to teach our children, to make communities better for the people of this country. The PM added: He has no right to conflate them with these foreign national offenders who we are deporting today. Mr Corbyn retorted: The Windrush generation has been disgracefully treated by a government that deliberately created a hostile environment. A senior spokesperson for the Labour leader later confirmed that Mr Corbyn was quite clearly drawing attention to the prime ministers record, when referring to a white boy with blond hair. The spokesperson said: He was raising a point about the treatment of Caribbean-born people who have been living in Britain since childhood, and as Jeremy made clear a number of those who have been earmarked for deportation have not committed the kind of offences the government has highlighted the most serious offences. He highlighted the case of a Caribbean-born person who has committed a drugs offence and fell under the deportation rule because theyve been convicted of an offence for more than a years sentence. Jeremy was drawing a parallel, a contrast, with people who were born in other countries that might have, say, dabbled in class A drugs, might have for example discussed the beating up of journalists, but are subject to no such sanction. Responding to the Labour leaders comments, Mr Johnsons press secretary said: What the public will see is the leader of the Labour Party defending serious and violent criminals. Until his leadership, this issue had cross-party agreement. It was the last Labour government who passed the law in 2007 meaning persistent foreign national offenders must be deported. Corbyn has constantly supported making life easier for criminals. He has opposed tougher sentences for the most dangerous offenders, he has opposed custodial sentences for those found carrying knives, he has opposed the use of stop and search to help the police do their jobs, whereas our attitude is that we will always do what is necessary to keep the public safe That is why we are investing in 20,000 police officers and thats why we continue to believe that removing serious foreign national offenders is the right thing to do. Time is running out to save a 150-year-old intergrated school in Derry. Education chiefs are expected to announce a decision on the future of Groarty Integrated Primary School in the coming weeks. This followed a consultation process in relation to a proposal to close the small school which is located close to Ballymagroarty. Parents at the school have been campaigning for it to remain open. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan today called for the Department for Education to look favourably on the future of the school. The Foyle MLA said: Groarty Primary School is one of only two integrated primary schools in Derry; the only one situated on the West Bank of the Foyle. As such, the school is uniquely placed to offer a positive, inclusive ethos of tolerance towards all sections of the community. It has served the needs of the local community for over 150 years. Their proposed closure not only threatens integrated education provision in the area, but the city also. I have previously met with the amazing pupils and staff at the school and witnessed first-hand the excellent additional educational support provided here. Mr Durkan added: My concerns are that EA have made no apparent plans to relocate these children, the onus instead has fallen upon the parents. The continued uncertainty about the schools future has understandably left parents, pupils and staff feeling very anxious. I would appeal to the Department to give due consideration to keeping this unique school operational to ensure the survival and growth of the school going forward. Mayor London Breed has appointed a longtime ally and former planning commissioner to head the planning department, an agency charged with shaping San Francisco development as the citys housing crisis persists. The appointee, Rich Hillis, is executive director at Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture and has held several senior positions at the citys Office of Economic and Workforce Development. He left the Planning Commission in September after seven years to become a candidate to lead the department. Hillis replaces John Rahaim, who announced his retirement in September after 12 years as the citys chief planner. Breed said the Hillis shares my vision for streamlining the housing approval process and eliminating red tape. Our housing shortage has made living in San Francisco far too expensive, and people are being pushed out, Breed said in a statement. Rich recognizes that to address this equity issue, we need more housing in San Francisco for families and people of all income levels. Breeds appointment of Hillis comes as she continues to fight with the Board of Supervisors over how to get more housing built. Breed has sought to streamline the process, but supervisors have pushed back on some of her plans. Last week, she said shell try to do an end-run around the board and take the issue directly to the voters through a housing ballot measure. Hillis will run a department of 240 staff members that over the past dozen years has opened up the citys eastern neighborhoods to taller buildings and more density, including in the Transbay district, Mission Bay, Rincon Hill, Central SoMa, the Mission, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch. But those efforts often involved long delays and fierce political battles. Yet very little of the new housing has been built on the west side of the city, where neighborhood groups regularly oppose multifamily buildings. Overall, the new supply has not kept up with the demand as the city has created new jobs much faster than homes. The lack of new housing has led to skyrocketing prices, forcing San Francisco workers to commute farther and farther from where they live. Hillis said it will take both practical and visionary solutions to tackle the housing shortage. He wants new housing spread out across the city and will work to open up west side single-family neighborhoods to multifamily apartments. Hillis said he will also work on a strategy to meet Breeds goal of creating 50,000 new housing units in the next decade, 30% of which would be affordable. The growth of the last five years has been unprecedented and really challenged our ability to be a diverse and equitable city, he said.Its not just building 50,000 units, its figuring out how to do that in an equitable way. He added that hell take a proactive approach to finding sites, including meeting with executives from Safeway, which owns multiple stores with large surface parking lots. He compared the Safeway to Whole Foods, which has opened stores below housing developments on Ocean Avenue and Upper Market Street, and has another under construction in Mid-Market. There is no reason to have large parking lots with Safeways throughout the city, he said. Those are prime sites for new housing. On the commission, Hillis was known for a calm, even-handed approach that balanced neighborhood concerns against the citys need to house the new workers who have flooded San Francisco over the past decade. As a commissioner, he generally voted with the more development-friendly block of mayoral appointees, but not always. In 2016, concerned about displacement in the Mission District, he sided with activists in backing temporary limits on market-rate projects. As president of the Planning Commission, he also sided with anti-gentrification activists in agreeing to move a contentious community meeting about a development at the 16th Street BART Station from City Hall to Mission High School. 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. Alicia John-Baptiste, executive director of the urban think tank SPUR, called the appointment a great choice. Rich has the experience to know how to get things done in the very complex environment, which is San Francisco, she said. He is also really deeply committed to San Francisco. He understands just how deep our affordable housing crisis is and is committed to tackling it. In a letter to the Planning Commission last year, a group of community organizations urged Breed to appoint a director who would represent low-income and communities of color, which have traditionally and systematically been hit first and worst by plans, strategies and decisions of City Planners and Departmental policies. In a tweet, Supervisor Hillary Ronen called the appointment a shockingly conservative pick, adding that it is disappointing that the mayor choose a new Planning Director that has been a reliable vote for developers on the planning commission and turned a deaf ear to communities fighting to stay in San Francisco. Hillis, who lives in the Western Addition, has three children in San Francisco public schools. His mother lives with the family in a granny flat on their property. Hillis has been a big proponent of granny flats or in-law units. Though running the Planning Department is not a job for the thin-skinned its director is regularly slammed by critics from across the political spectrum Hillis said his reason for taking on the job was pretty simple. I love San Francisco, and I see the challenges we are facing, he said. Hillis will start March 9. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen Dhaka, Feb 10 (UNI) Eight roommates of Coronavirus infected Bangladeshi worker have been put in quarantine in Singapore. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Singapore Md Mostafijur Rahman confirmed the information to UNI on Monday. The government of Singapore is treating the Bangladeshi. Bangladesh High Commission is also monitoring his physical condition, said Md Mostafijur Rahman, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Singapore. He said, the high commission knows his identity but didnt disclose considering the security of his and his family. Earlier on Sunday, Singapore English-language daily The Straits Times reported that a Bangladeshi worker has been infected by new coronavirus. The 39-year-old Bangladeshi was warded in an isolation room at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). His symptoms surfaced on Feb 1, and he went to a GP clinic on Feb 3, and Changi General Hospital on Feb 5. He was admitted to the intensive care unit at Changi General Hospital after a follow-up appointment at Bedok Polyclinic on Feb 7. He was confirmed to have the coronavirus on Saturday afternoon, and was then transferred to NCID. Before being admitted to hospital, he had visited Mustafa Centre in Little India, and stayed at The Leo dormitory in Kaki Bukit. UNI MAZ ASN 2140 The UK government has announced a plan to put media regulator Ofcom in charge of regulating the internet, with a focus on removing illegal content and minimizing "harmful" content. Executives at internet firms may face big fines or prison if they are determined by the government to have failed to protect users from "harmful and illegal content" online. The Office of Communications, aka Ofcom, is the UK government's regulatory and competition authority for broadcasting, telcoms, and postal industries. Now they'll be in charge of the internet, too. Splendid. Read the government's proposal at gov.uk: Government minded to appoint Ofcom as online harms regulator From reporting by Alex Hern and Jim Waterson at the Guardian: Under the proposals, Ofcom will not have the power to remove specific posts from social media platforms. Instead, it will require internet companies such as Facebook and Google to publish explicit statements setting out which content and behaviour they deem to be acceptable on their sites. The media regulator will then ensure internet businesses enforce these standards "consistently and transparently". The culture secretary, Nicky Morgan, and the home secretary, Priti Patel, promised that changes to the proposals would guarantee free speech for adults online and only target larger internet businesses. However, some tech start-up groups warned that it would still place an enormous burden on smaller businesses to police content that is potentially harmful but not illegal. Among the proposals announced on Wednesday, it was revealed: Any business that enables the sharing of user-generated content such as online comments or video uploads is likely to be affected by the new rules on reducing online harms, with hundreds of thousands of British companies affected. Internet businesses will be required to publish annual transparency reports explaining what harmful content they have removed and how they are meeting their standards. The government wants companies to bring back age verification for certain websites, following an abandoned attempt to introduce it last year to restrict access to online pornography. What could possibly go wrong. Read the full report at the Guardian: Ofcom to be put in charge of regulating internet in UK Owner Arif Ashfaq tells Free Times the Lexington outpost of his Bubba's Biscuit concept is expected to open Feb. 17. The new location is next door to the Icehouse Amphitheater and will join a nice collection of other restaurants and businesses on the citys increasingly busy Main Street. Those include the upscale Bodhi Thai, OHaras Public House, Alodias Cucina Italiana and more. The emphasis is that its really for our friends, our community of Lexington. Ashfaq says. While the restaurant touts its picturesque biscuits on polka dot plates, theres more to be found on Bubbas menu. It includes biscuit bowls, shrimp and grits and drinks like the Manmosa, the restaurants designation for its half beer/half champagne concoction. The food is designed to wow customers with massive biscuits and their presentation, says Ross McClure, the restaurant's director of operations. When it comes to this its not just a biscuit place we deliver an experience, he posits. We eat with our eyes. Ashfaq details that the 40-seat Lexington location has an expansive backyard area that he plans to have open in the spring. Additionally, he hopes to have expanded, evening hours in the new location. The whole idea is to have people come out, bring their dogs, people can chill, he shares. Bubba's baker Marcie Overstreet makes almost all the biscuits the restaurant sells and says she never made biscuits before working at the restaurant. She doesnt measure out ingredients when making the biscuits, instead relying on the feel of the dough to tweak the mixture. Overstreet also designs the weekend specials, which can range from sweet blueberry to savory bacon and pecan biscuits, and draws her inspiration from cooking shows. Her specials help separate the business from other brands, Ashfaq claims. I just want to see how it goes, I just want to see the response from the customers, Overstreet explains. Im always open for ideas and suggestions. Ashfaq hopes to eventually grow Bubbas to four locations, with a third local spot in northeast Columbia. His hope for his fourth? New York Citys Times Square. The Puducherry Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution tabled by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy registering strong protest against the controversial Citizenzhip Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. All the members belonging to the opposition AINRC and AIADMK boycotted the session while the three nominated legislators belonging to the BJP staged a walk out after registering their objection to the tabling of the resolution when the House commenced its special session. The House had a one day special session. As soon as the Chief Minister started reading out the contents of the resolution the three BJP members V Saminathan, K G Shankar and S Selvaganapthy rose in revolt and objected to moving of the resolution. They were heard saying the resolution was a "murder of democracy" and "violation of constitutional provisions." The members trooped out of the House and did not turn up for the remaining part of the meeting. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA as it was "totally opposed to the principles of secularism." The resolution was passed after the airing of views by the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues and legislators belonging to the Congress and its ally the DMK. Speaker V P Sivakolundhu said the resolution was "adopted unanimously." The resolutionstated that the CAA had caused "pain and chaos" among the people at large in the country. The enactment of the legislation in the Parliament had created "peaceful agitations across the country." The CAA was shattering to pieces the principles of secularism which is the basis of the constitution, it said. Claiming that there was a hidden agenda in the CAA as the Muslims were ignored, it said the law was "totally injurious" to the great sacrifices made by Mahatma Gandhi for protection of secularism. The resolution alleged that certain forces were trying to introduce religious sentiments by forgetting the path shown by the first Indian Prime Minister late Jawaharlal Nehru. "If there was any space available for the divisive forces it would only mean that a historic blunder would be committed hitting the cardinal principles of secularism the great sacrifices made by martyrs and the freedom of the country." The resolution also expressed disappointment overthe CAA not including the Sri Lankan Tamils who were staying in various places and in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. Similarly, the Rohingya Muslims living as refugees in northern states of the country and also the Indians from Bangladesh and Pakistan have also not been included in the Act, it added. The resolution urged the Centre to roll back the CAA, the NRC and the NPR. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taisha Smith-DeJoseph, 43, was charged on Tuesday with embezzling the funds from St Paul's Baptist Church in Willingboro where she worked as their volunteer financial secretary A volunteer secretary has been charged with stealing more than $500,000 from a New Jersey church to pay her car loans, cell phone bills and even her own wedding. Taisha Smith-DeJoseph, 43, was charged on Tuesday with embezzling the funds from St Paul's Baptist Church in Willingboro where she worked as their volunteer financial secretary. Authorities started investigating after the church reported that someone was stealing from them. Investigators discovered that Smith-DeJoseph had allegedly stolen $561,000 from the church over a span of five years. Smith-DeJoseph, who was in charge of overseeing the church's finances, is accused of opening electronic bank accounts for St Paul's and then using the funds for her own personal expenses. Prosecutors say she used the money to pay her car loans, rent, credit card expenses, satellite TV and cellphone bills. She allegedly made thousands of online transactions, including 2,719 PayPal purchases that added up to $250,000 and 805 Amazon buys that totaled about $22,000. Smith-DeJoseph also used the stolen funds to pay for her own wedding at a local New Jersey venue. Smith-DeJoseph was in charge of overseeing St Paul's Baptist Church's finances. She is accused of opening electronic bank accounts for St Paul's and then using the funds for her own personal expenses Authorities started investigating after the church (pictured above) reported that someone was stealing from them In addition to the spending, prosecutors say Smith-DeJoseph also issued payroll and supplied reimbursement checks to herself from St. Paul's bank accounts. She fabricated monthly statements to hide the church's true financial state, according to authorities. In a bid to hide the embezzlement from the government, Smith-DeJoseph failed to file income tax returns and didn't pay the appropriate amount of taxes in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Authorities say she filed a fraudulent tax return in 2017. She was charged with theft by deception, computer criminal activity, miapplication of entrusted property, failure to file personal income tax, failure to pay income tax and filing a fraudulent income tax return. The church's pastor, Fred Jackson, told WPVI that new policies have already been put in place to avoid something like this happening again. 'We put our trust in other people as well as in God and sometimes that trust is misplaced it is very hurtful for the entire congregation,' Jackson said. 'Most of the church knows about what was going on. Thankfully the contributions have not decreased.' Often treated as less than human in life, there has been little dignity in death for the sex workers of one of the world's biggest brothels: their bodies frequently tossed into unmarked graves or dumped in the river. Until now. On Thursday, Hamida Begum became the first sex worker from Bangladesh bordello Daulatdia to receive a formal Islamic funeral, breaking a longstanding taboo in Muslim majority Bangladesh where prostitution is legal but regarded by many as immoral. Scores of women gathered at the graveside, weeping for the 65-year-old's passing but also because of the symbolic breakthrough her burial represented. "I never dreamed that she would get such an honourable farewell," said Begum's daughter Laxmi, who followed her mother into the trade. "My mother was treated like a human being," she added. Islamic spiritual leaders have for decades rejected funeral prayers for sex workers because they view prostitution as immoral. When Begum died, her family planned to put her in an unmarked grave -- standard practice for women like her -- but a coalition of sex workers persuaded the local police to talk religious leaders into giving her a proper burial. "The Imam was initially reluctant to lead the prayers. But we asked him whether Islam forbids anyone from taking part in the Janaza (funeral prayers) of a sex worker. He had no answer," said local police chief Ashiqur Rahman, who oversaw negotiations. - Stigma and shame - Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim countries in the world where prostitution is legal for women aged 18 or older and workers are required to hold a certificate stating they are adults, and consent to the work. The reality is more murky, charities have reported finding girls as young as seven being groomed to sell sex, and warn that trafficking of children for the trade is on the rise. The police are often accused of being complicit -- taking bribes from pimps and brothel owners to provide certification for girls much younger than 18. Begum was just 12 years old when she began sex work in Daulatdia, where more than 1,200 women and girls cater for up to 5,000 clients a day. The site, one of around 12 legal brothels operating in the country, is a series of shacks spread across a warren of alleyways some 100 kilometres (70 miles) west of Dhaka. Close to a busy road and rail junction, its frequented by both local and long haul drivers and travellers passing through. The brothel was established a century ago under British colonial rule, but moved to its current location, near a ferry station, after locals torched the old complex in 1988. The sex workers and hundreds of their children live in concrete and tin shanties on a sandbank of the river Padma -- often paying exorbitant rents to unscrupulous landlords. For those forced into the trade, they can only leave when they've paid off inflated and exorbitant 'debts' to the pimps and madams that bought them Even if this is possible, the stigma surrounding sex work means that many feel there is nowhere else to go. - Buried like dogs - For decades, when one of them died their bodies would be thrown in the river, or buried in the mud. In the early 2000s, local authorities gave some wasteground for unmarked graves, and families would pay drug addicts to carry out burials -- usually at night without formal prayers. "If we wanted to bury the dead in the morning, villagers would chase us with bamboo sticks," recalled Jhumur Begum, who heads a sex workers group. "It was as if a dog has died," said former sex worker Nili Begum, now a grandmother who lives in the brothel where her daughter now works. But there are hopes that Begum's funeral will change things for all women in the brothels. More than 200 mourners attended the religious ceremony, while a further 400 went to the post-funeral feast and prayers, police chief Rahman recalled. "It was an unprecedented scene. People waited until late in the night to join the prayers. The eyes of sex workers welled up with tears," he added. Local authorities, councillors and regional police leaders backed his effort "to break this discriminatory taboo," he said. Hamida Begum's 35-year-old daughter, who operates from the two-room shanty that her mother bought with her savings, said: "I hope from now on every woman who works here, including me, gets a Janaza just the way my mother did," she said. Jalil Fakir, a village councillor who attended the service, said the funerals for sex workers would go on in a bid to give fairer treatment in death. "After all, who am I to judge her. If she has committed any sins, it will be Allah who will judge her in the afterlife, not any of us," he said. Daulatdia is one of about 12 legal but frowned upon brothel areas operating in Bangladesh Prostitution is legal in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, but viewed by many as immoral, so many sex workers are given a traditional Islamaic funeral when they die Daulatdia in Bangladesh is one of the world's biggest brothels Mukul Seikh praying in front of the grave of his mother, former sex worker Hamida Begum EDMONTONAs Alberta Premier Jason Kenney urges Ottawa to approve the Teck Frontier mine, there were signs Wednesday that he may face another battle over projects like it this one with First Nations. Minutes before a meeting with Kenney and several ministers in Edmonton, a group of chiefs staged a walkout. That action followed a recent letter from the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation the nation nearest the Teck project deriding the Alberta government over its consultation process. The incidents come at a tense time for the Alberta government, which wants the province to be seen as welcoming to new energy development projects. While chiefs have differing opinions on it, Teck Frontier is only a small part of a broader conversation that First Nations leaders want to see stem from the walkout, said Chief Trevor Mercredi of the Beaver First Nation. He said the leaders of Treaty 8, a territory spanning all of northern Alberta, have demanded a meeting with Kenney and several ministers on Feb. 27 to discuss their issues. If that doesnt happen, the road ahead for new energy developments could be a rough one for the Alberta government, Mercredi warned. Any new projects are not going to be considered at this point in time throughout Treaty 8, if the government doesnt come to the negotiating table, he said. We could help projects come along or we could stall them. He stressed the Teck project is just one reason among many for why the chiefs walked out instead of meeting with Kenney. The issues theyre highlighting are long-standing and span several different governments in Alberta, said Mercredi. They havent been heard over the years when theyve asked about receiving revenue from energy projects on their land, treaty rights or proper consultation, he said. A statement was read on the steps of Government House after the chiefs walked out. The chiefs of the sovereign nations of Treaty 8 will determine their own destiny when it comes to the authority and jurisdiction of our lands, resources, and our children, it said. We are establishing our own governance institutions, processes and capacities to develop healthy, vibrant communities, viable economies and a strong healthy people. Ministers at the meeting which had nothing to do with energy development said the walkout didnt put a damper on the mood and that they were open to meeting with First Nations leaders who have concerns. The upswell of friction comes at a time of widespread protests in Canada in solidarity with Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs from British Columbia, who are opposing of a 670-kilometre pipeline that would carry natural gas through their territory. Alberta Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson said he spoke to the grand chief of Treaty 8, adding that theres some specific issues the First Nations that are part of that treaty feel they need a separate meeting to address. He said he hopes to meet with them but wouldnt commit to meeting on Feb 27. Ive always told them that my phone is on speed dial, he said during a news conference. The scathing letter from Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam, dated Feb. 7, had been made public by the Opposition NDP the night before the meeting. In it, Adam said hes concerned about the buffalo and migratory bird populations near the proposed site, the social impacts of the project and Athabasca River water levels. While he says hes supportive of the project overall, Adam has taken issue with the Alberta governments handling of proper discussions, or what he considers the lack thereof, with his First Nation. Albertas refusal to work with us respectfully jeopardizes this projects federal approval, putting jobs and benefits for our nation (and all Albertans) at risk, Adam wrote. Adam also listed a litany of issues he has with the Indigenous Opportunities Corp., which has been set up by Albertas United Conservatives as a fund to assist Indigenous groups to invest in energy projects. He said the Alberta government expects the corporation to be the proper tool for the job of consultation and maintaining good relationships with Indigenous groups in Alberta, and urged his counterparts to send a message to Kenney at the meeting that Indigenous communities deserve more consultation. It certainly does not replace Albertas duty to consult and mitigate the environmental and social impacts resulting from major industrial projects, he wrote. In his letter, Adam also said Indigenous groups should get a cut of the revenue generated from energy development projects that are in their territories. Albertas Environment Minister Jason Nixon outlined in a letter to his federal counterpart, Jonathan Wilkinson, that he believed Adam was out to drive a hard bargain. I note that Chief Adam has now also injected direct financial compensation into his apparent demands, above and beyond funds for environmental mitigation, wrote Nixon in the letter, which dated Wednesday. At an earlier news conference this week, Nixon had said theyd taken very significant action on species at-risk issues up there and added that the government had met with Adam about a dozen times in the past several months. Chief Adam primarily seems to want to discuss money, Nixon said. The mine project would affect 29,000 acres between Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan in northern Alberta, and would include surface mining, a processing plant and tailings ponds. The company also says the project, when built, would create 2,500 jobs during its 40 years of operation. A joint federal-provincial review panel signed off on the project last summer. Its final report noted the project would have significant adverse project and cumulative effects on the environment and Indigenous communities, but ultimately concluded that the mine, and the $70 billion its estimated to contribute to government revenue, was in the public interest. When asked about friction between the government and the First Nations having an effect on the federal approval of the Teck project, Wilson said, Theres no friction. Tecks been consulting for 10 years, he said. With Albertas energy companies, when the First Nations thrive, everybody thrives. With files from Alex Boyd Read more about: SALEM The outlook for a proposal to ensure the independence of Oregons top transparency official improved Tuesday afternoon, when a key lawmaker on the committee reviewing the proposal confirmed top Democrats will not use a procedural tactic that could have bogged down the bill in the short session. Were gonna pass it out (Wednesday) morning, Sen. Chuck Riley, D-Hillsboro, said on Tuesday afternoon. Riley is chair of the Senate Committee on General Government and Emergency Preparedness. The states Public Records Advisory Council proposed the bill after former Public Records Advocate Ginger McCall last year resigned and accused Gov. Kate Browns lawyers of inappropriately pressuring her to secretly work to advance Browns anti-public records policy goals. Senate Bill 1506 would not create any new programs or services. Rather, it would move the responsibility for hiring and firing Oregons public records advocate from the governor to the 13-member public records council. Nonetheless, legislative budget analysts tagged the bill as having a potential lite impact on the state budget at the direction of Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem. No dollar amount or reason for any cost had been publicly identified in advance of a public hearing on the bill Monday. Lawmakers on the Senate committee noted that attaching a so-called fiscal impact to a bill can slow it down and potentially be the kiss of death, since any bills that could impact the budget are diverted to the Ways and Means Committee. My experience since the very first day I came here in 2005 is the first thing you do is send something to Ways and Means or (the Rules Committee) to bury it, said Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas. Sen. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, said that slowing the bill down by sending it to Ways and Means could kill it, because it could get held up if Republicans flee the Capitol to stop a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade bill. I think everyone out there knows the 800-pound gorilla is When is (the cap-and-trade bill) going to come out of Ways and Means? Because that will trigger a walkout from the Republicans, Girod said. I think were giving it a death sentence if we sent it to Ways and Means. The senators and people who came to testify on the bill puzzled over what aspect of making the public records advocate independent might impact the state budget. For the life of me, Im struggling a bit finding where that fiscal lite may be triggered, said Mark Landauer, a member of the Public Records Advisory Council and lobbyist whose clients include the Special Districts Association of Oregon. Ken Rocco, the states legislative fiscal officer, said that although his staff had not yet estimated an exact figure, there would likely be a cost associated with making the two-person public records advocate team into an independent agency. It currently residents within the Department of Administrative Services budget. It would not be the first time a mysterious potential budget impact doomed an Oregon public records reform bill. In 2019, a bill that would have required state agencies to track and report basic information about public records requests such as how quickly they are fulfilled hit a roadblock when officials at the Department of Human Services predicted it would cost $180,000 for the agency to comply. Amid outcry over the agencys poor handling of public records requests, Gov. Kate Brown ordered the agency to improve using its existing budget resources. Even though the cost of House Bill 2431 fell to zero, lawmakers nonetheless left it for dead at the end of the session. Oregons previous public records advocate later said Browns top lawyer, Misha Isaak, expressed disapproval of that bill and a desire to stop it without having the governors fingerprints on it. The proposal came from the Public Records Advisory Council that Brown pushed to create along with the advocate position in 2017. Misha conveyed to me that by doing that, the council ... had put the governor in an awkward position of having to potentially oppose bills herself instead of relying on stakeholders and lobbyists for cities, counties and special districts to oppose the bills, McCall wrote in a contemporaneous memo documenting one of her conversations with Isaak. McCall, who now lives in Washington, D.C., testified over the phone on Monday that Browns staff continued to pressure her even after the death of her seven-week-old daughter. So I dont need to ask you to speculate about how the current structure of this office can lead to the advocate being the subject of intense political pressure, McCall said. I lived that, and during what would, under any definition, already have been the worst year of my life. It is essential that the legislature adopt the Public Records Advisory Councils legislative proposal for independence of the Office of the Public Records Advocate. On Monday, Brown avoided answering a question about whether anyone in her administration had sought to slow down or kill the public records advocate bill, including by seeking to have a projected budget impact attached to it. Ive been very clear that I look forward to signing legislation that incorporates the recommendations of the public records advocate, Brown said. In terms of a fiscal, thats a process that the legislature runs and requests and we obviously comply with that process at any time. But I look forward to signing the legislation that comes out of the (Public Records Advisory Council) recommendations. The Senate Committee on General Government and Emergency Preparedness is scheduled to hold a hearing and work session on the bill at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Visit oregonlive.com/newsletters to get our 2020 Oregon Legislature newsletter delivered to your email inbox. AKRON, Ohio An Akron man has been charged in connection with a shooting last month that killed a man and injured another on the citys West Side. Melvin Terry, 20, has been charged with murder and felonious assault, Akron Municipal Court records show. Terry is accused of fatally shooting 20-year-old Noah Kinney and injuring a 24-year-old man on Jan. 8, according to police. The victims were outside a home on the 700 block of Noah Avenue around 11:30 p.m. when a group of men approached and opened fire. The victims got into an SUV and tried to drive away, but crashed into the front porch of a neighboring home, and the suspects ran from the scene, police said. Kinney was pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics brought the 24-year-old victim to Cleveland Clinic Akron General for treatment for a graze wound to his arm. Investigators identified Terry as the shooter, and he was joined by his attorney Monday when he surrendered to police. A judge on Tuesday morning set Terrys bond at $500,000, court records show. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 28 for a status hearing. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comment section. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Companies using the Houston Ship Channel unveiled a plan Wednesday that would use port-issued bonds and industry-paid fees to fund half of the roughly $1 billion project to widen and deepen the waterway. The proposal received a lukewarm reception from the Port Commission, however, and will likely be reworked. They just need to work a little more creatively on how the industry is going to participate in the funding of its share of the project, said Ric Campo, chairman of the commission overseeing Port Houston. Related: Port Houston chairman urges Congress to widen, deepen ship channel The project would widen the Galveston Bay portion of the Houston Ship Channel to 700 feet from the current 530-foot width and deepen parts of the channels shallower upstream segments to accept ships with 45-foot drafts. And to accelerate the timeline of this project, which would take at least a decade under the federal governments traditional process, industry has committed to paying $500 million to fund the work. Wednesday was the first time a proposal was publicly presented to the Port Commission. The bond proposal was floated because it wasnt deemed plausible for public companies to simply write checks to underwrite the public-sector project, said Vincent DiCosimo, executive director of the Coalition for a Fair and Open Port, which advocates on behalf of industry, particularly energy companies. Instead, the coalition asked the Port Authority to issue $500 million in bonds on behalf of industry. This would cover the industrys up-front costs, and those bonds would be repaid over 30 years through fees charged to ships (excluding container ships, which already pay fees to use Port Houston facilities) entering and exiting the ship channel. These fees couldnt be charged until the project is completed, shifting risk to the port, which has already committed to paying $500 million for its half of the project. Industry is incredibly supportive. We want to participate, DiCosimo said. If this doesnt work, where do we go? DiCosimo, also an executive at midstream energy company Targa Resources, emphasized that there isnt time to waste as the port hopes to have Congress review and consider authorizing the widening and deepening project later this year. Campo raised concerns that additional fees would encourage ships to call on other ports, though DiCosimo said hed spoken with companies that said the fees were negligible and wouldnt be an issue. At Targa Resources, for instance, he said ships already pay roughly $25,000 in a variety of fees charged for entering and exiting the port. Another $4,000 fee, which would be the approximate cost for its ships measuring 850 feet long and 120 feet wide, wouldnt be a significant increase. At HoustonChronicle.com: Lawmakers add potential hurdles to large container ships Commissioners also raised concerns that the Port Authority would be stuck with the bonds regardless if industry repays those fees. For instance, theres a legal nuance that might limit how many vessels could be charged the fee. Chuck Zabriskie, an investment banker in the energy sector with 30 years of experience, who did not provide his companys name, received a round of applause after arguing that the industry should and could find a way to fund this project up front and without using port bonds. In the scheme of the investments that already exist, he said, and the context of the benefits of the channel widening and deepening to the channel participants, this has compelling economics. Banjul, Gambia (PANA) Observing that The Gambia has built a positive track record of performance and advanced its structural reform agenda, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced a staff-level agreement to support the West African countrys three-year programme through a financial arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) Sometimes you just know, and Manhattan-based Kearnon OMolony toured only one home before pulling the trigger on his first Hamptons getaway, a 1968 Andrew Gellerdesigned beach house in Amagansett Dunes with a cantilevered roof and a series of angled windows. Its geometrically amazing, says the South Africanborn OMolony, an investor in consumer brands including Serena & Lily and CUUP. I fell in love with its simplicity, its small size, and how functional it seemed to be. But 50 years near the ocean had taken its toll on the wooden structure, he explains, and the chimney was basically holding up the house. So OMolony tapped architect Clay Coffeyof the North Fork and Brooklynbased design firm Isaac-Raeand Wainscott builder Charles Gallanti to restore the 2,000-square-foot residence to meet current building and environmental codes pertinent to the wetlands on the property. This was very much an old-school, open-air beach house, and Kearnon wanted it to be a four-season home, says Coffey, noting that the single-pane glass windows needed to be replaced with double-panea task that was easier said than done. We had to reengineer and strengthen the entire structure in order for it to support insulated glass, says the architect. It was a smart move by Geller to employ these 45-degree inverted windows, though, as they allow light in while controlling heat gain. The goal was to maintain his vision but modernize it. Further to that end, OMolony and Coffey decided on a few minor changes to the floor plan that would maximize the space within the existing footprint, says Coffey. On the main level, they removed one of the three guest rooms to create more space in the living and dining areas for frequent entertaining. Upstairs, the roofline was tweaked to add 200 square feet to the petite, windowless master bathroom, quadrupling its size. The master suite is a respite, notes OMolony, separated from the madness of the rest of the house. And outside, the mahogany decking around the pool was reconfigured and connected to a new wraparound deck off the living area, which makes for seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining. The house is always full of life, says OMolony. Its really a beach crash padan easy place to lounge around and crank out drinks for hours. Story continues The minimal furnishingsmany of them specifically made for the residenceare in keeping with OMolonys laid-back lifestyle. I like houses that feel lived in, explains the homeowner, who had a little decorating help from friends Caitlin Levin and designer Pamela Shamshiri (of AD100 Studio Shamshiri) along the way. We wanted it to be layered, unique, beautiful, and functional. Its a hodgepodge of mid-20th-century, antique, custom, and African elements that comes together nicely. The piece de resistance, however, might be the 25-foot built-in sofa that runs the length of the living area and provides plenty of space for bathing-suit-clad guests to put their feet up between dips. (A similar banquette on the adjacent deck picks up where the interior sofa ends, giving the illusion of one long bench that runs from indoors to outdoors.) One of these frequent guests is fellow Amagansett resident Athena Calderone. In fact, the lifestyle expert and creator of the blog EyeSwoon fell so much in love with her friends home that she photographed it for her second book, Live Beautiful (Abrams), which comes out in March. I wanted to go into the residences of people I admire and learn about their creative processes, and I knew immediately that Kearnons experience of bringing this gem of a house back to life would be a compelling story to tell, says Calderone. Theres an undone quality that feels just right for a weekend home. Its Kearnons sanctuary, where he really gets to slow down. Theres always vinyl spinning while Kearnon is outside grilling, and there are sandy feet and surfboards everywhere. Its summer at its core. Tour This Quintessential Beach Retreat in Amagansett Dunes Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Do you have a master's degree in engineering or biological science? Are you a medical doctor or (and?) have flown at least 1,000 hours as a pilot? Then NASA might want you. NASA, which has only selected 350 people to train as astronaut candidates since the 1960s, is seeking more space explorers as it prepares to resume launches from American soil, working with SpaceX and Boeing to take astronauts to the International Space Station and developing its own Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to explore the moon and Mars. The stepmother of 11-year-old Colorado boy Gannon Stauch who has been missing for two weeks has broken her silence to defend herself from public accusations that she had something to do with her stepsons disappearance Letecia Stauch released a lengthy statement to Fox 31 on Tuesday night, detailing the events of January 27 when her stepson was last seen with her, and claiming that the boy was, in fact, in her truck when they returned home that afternoon, contrary to what was purportedly seen in a neighbors leaked surveillance video. Letecia, who is married to Gannons father, Albert Stauch, claimed that she last saw her stepson between 3.15pm and 4pm on January 27 as he headed to a friends house in Colorado Springs. Scroll down for video Letecia Stauch (left) has released a statement blaming a mystery 'friend' for the January 27 disappearance of her stepson, Gannon Stauch, 11 (right) According to a neighbor, Letecia Stauch (pictured) is seen getting into a truck then reversing into the driveway when her stepson, Gannon Stauch, gets into the backseat at 10.13am on January 27 The vehicle return at around 2.19pm and the video shows Letecia get out of the truck, purportedly without Gannon; she claims he was, in fact, in the truck The stepmother has come under sharp criticism and has been subjected to death threats on social media after surveillance video from the home of her neighbor has emerged, showing her leaving with Gannon in her pickup truck at around 10.13am on January 27, and then returning at around 2.19pm seemingly without the boy. Roderrick Drayton, the neighbor who's camera picked up the footage, claimed Gannon's father broke down in tears after he saw the video. He said the beginning of the clip shows Letecia backing a pickup truck into the driveway before Gannon leaves the house a short time later to get in the backseat. TIMELINE OF GANNON STAUCH CASE: Jan. 27: Gannon Stauch is reported as a runaway; last seen by stepmother Letecia Stauch between 3.15 pm-4 pm Jan. 30: Case is upgraded to a missing and endangered childs case due to his age, need for medication, winter weather and the length of time hes been missing Jan. 31: Letecia Stauch gives interview to KKTV saying deputies had threatened to shoot her and put her 17-year-old daughter in handcuffs Feb. 4: Neighbor Roderrick Drayton shares surveillance video showing what appears to be Letecia returning home at 2.19pm without Gannon in her pickup truck; claims boy's father broke down in tears when he saw the video Feb. 5: District Attorney Dan May visits Stauchs home; Stauch family make YouTube statement to bring Gannon home Feb. 7: Searchers use submersible remotely operated vehicle with sonar to scour a pond near Stauch family's home Feb. 8: Candlelight prayer vigil is held at Lorson Ranch Feb. 11: Letecia Stauch releases statement to Fox 31 claiming Gannon was in her truck on Jan. 27 and that later left with a 'friend' Advertisement Drayton added that his surveillance camera then showed Letecia returning home around 2.19pm, getting out of the truck and going inside the house, but Gannon is not seen. Footage from 2.19pm to the time Gannon was reportedly last seen is not available, but the sheriff's office said earlier officers had no surveillance video showing the boy leaving the property. Drayton said when he showed the clip to Albert Stauch, he burst into tears and accused his ex-wife of 'lying' about Gannon walking to a friend's house. The neighbor told ABC News: 'I caught Gannon [on camera] getting into her vehicle at 10.13 Monday morning. 'He [Albert Stauch] just broke down crying and said, ''she lied, she lied about the time. He didn't go to a friend's house''.' After news of the video broke, Letecia gave an interview to KKTV, insisting that she played no part in her stepson's disappearance. 'I took care of Gannon for the last two years in our home because his mother didn't want to do it,' she said. 'I would never ever, ever hurt this child...these people have these conspiracy theories...I'm like, 'Why are you saying Gannon is dead?' He is not dead. We are going to find Gannon.' She also accused law enforcement officials of drawing guns on her and threatening to shoot her without identifying themselves, and handcuffing her 17-year-old daughter. In her statement on Tuesday, Stauch insisted that her stepson was, in fact, in her vehicle when they returned home from a shopping trip that afternoon, but he got out from the side of the truck that was not facing their neighbors camera. Gannon's biological mother, Landen Hiott (left), and his father, Albert Gannon Stauch, pleaded for their son's safety during a press conference last week Please dont think for a second that there isnt enough of technology to determine shadows and movement around the truck, the stepmom wrote. There was also proof from my phone that we had taken a selfie in the truck in our driveway that was time stamped.That can be scanned for actual time verification. Stauch claimed that her stepson was the only person who had a key to a gate on the side of the house, and that he left with a mystery person/friend. The stepmother argued that investigators have been in possession of this information, including the description of Gannons friend, from the outset but asked her to keep it out of the media so as not to jeopardize the search for her stepson. I chose to listen, I didnt leak videos or information. But at this time its getting later in the process and we just want Gannon home, she stated. I feel the need to fill in some gaps. Now let me stress this, POLICE have known this since the first interview. Stauch lamented that she has been tormented on social media by conspiracy theorists, and has been confronted by strangers threatening to kill her. Gannon is classified as missing and endangered child because of his age, the length of his absence and his medical needs In her statement, the stepmother also addressed Gannon directly, urging her to come home because your daddy is waiting to watch the new Sonic movie that comes out this week and the cool shirt I got you to wear to the theatre is in your closet. Authorities initially called Gannon a runaway, but the El Paso County Sheriffs Office later announced that the boy was considered a missing and endangered child because of the time he has been gone, his age and because he needs medication. As of Monday, 385 tips have been received and more than 2,650 hours of work have been done by the sheriffs office on this case. We are less than two months into the new decade and weve already seen multiple major oil market events. The first was the killing of Qasim Soleimani, the commander of IRGCs elite group the Quds. The assassination caused oil prices to spike as talk of a regional and global retaliation from Iran ignited fears of a major supply disruption. Then oil prices received another boost as Phase One of the trade deal between China and the U.S. was signed in what observers hoped would mark the beginning of the end of the trade war. But these bullish drivers couldnt keep oil prices from falling when the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) caused the worst oil demand shock since 2008. Now, the trajectory of not only oil prices but also the trade war may have been irreversibly altered by this new epidemic. The latest figures show that fatalities from Coronavirus (1,118 at the time of writing) have surpassed SARS (774). Oil prices are down more than 20 percent from their peak in January 2020. Chinas oil demand has fallen by 20 percent (or 3 mbpd) and independent refiners have reduced their consumption by 30 to 50 percent. It is important to note here that under the Phase One agreement China, to fulfill its promise of buying $200 billion of goods and services from the U.S., needs to purchase about $52 billion of energy products over two years - buying at least $27 bn in 2020. Related: Chevron Ramps Up Oil Production In Venezuela Chinas current quarter GDP forecasts arent promising and once the review, which the U.S. administration will carry out later this year is done, things could well start to fall apart in the trade deal due to the snapback provision that is included. OPEC appears eager to play its part in pushing oil prices higher but Russia still isnt convinced about higher production cuts. What seems clear is that OPEC will not be making any decisions until its March meeting. While the reaction to Coronavirus might be subject to sensationalism and this precipitous fall in prices may be temporary; the overall sentiment vis a vis oil prices has shifted towards very bearish territory. Even if everything returns back to normal it will take few months for the markets to recuperate. With oil demand being hit hard; the likelihood of China fulfilling its commitment to the Phase One trade deal with the U.S. is very low. With that in mind, it seems likely that bears will rule oil markets for the rest of 2020. By Osama Rizvi for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A state Superior Court panel has refused to overturn the new 70-year-to-life prison sentence for a juvenile killer who led a violent robbery ring. Delbert Williams, who was 16 when he committed his crime spree in the summer of 2004, contended in vain that his new punishment, which replaced his original life-without-parole sentence, is illegal since he has little chance of living long enough to taste freedom. The state court disagreed in an opinion by President Judge Jack A. Panella. Instead, Panella seconded Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey A. Mannings finding that the 70-year-to-life term provides as much justice as possible to Williams victims. The victims of Williams five-day crime spree included former Pittsburgh Police Commander Gwen Elliot, who was robbed of her car and her service weapon at gunpoint on July 31, 2004. After committing two other robberies, Williams shot University of Pittsburgh student Frank Ogri-Little eight times. Police said Williams killed the student because he wouldnt hand over his backpack. Williams, now 32, received his initial life sentence from Manning in 2006 after being convicted of first-degree murder and multiple robbery charges. His resentencing was required under a 2012 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that bars the imposition of automatic life prison terms on juvenile killers. Mannings new sentence consists of a 50-year-to-life term for the first-degree murder conviction, plus consecutive sentences totaling 20 to 40 years behind bars for Williams other crimes. On appeal to Panellas court, Williams argued that his new penalty equates to an illegal life sentence and that Manning didnt accurately consider all factors, including his efforts at rehabilitation. Panella countered that Williams, who wont be eligible for parole until age 87, has not established that his punishment constitutes a de facto life sentence. He pointed as well to Mannings conclusion that Williams did not have the ability of meaningful rehabilitation. Panella also cited Mannings conclusions that each victim deserved to have their crime recognized with a sentence, and that Williams needs to understand his choices have consequences and the consequences are that he will serve time for each of those incidents. A hot potato: Encryption is supposed to be one of the most effective ways to secure data and communications. Sometimes, that fails spectacularly in the face of clever tactics such as those employed by the CIA for decades. It turns out US intelligence and German intelligence secretly owned the leading global supplier of encryption equipment used by 120 countries, which allowed them unfettered access to pretty much any communication from both allies and adversaries. The Trump administration may be quick to show their mistrust of Huawei and Chinese tech companies in general, but it turns out it might actually be afraid the Chinese government could have been setting up the most powerful spying tools through mobile devices and telecom infrastructure. According to a report from the Washington Post and German broadcaster ZDF, no less than 120 governments around the world have been buying encryption equipment and software from the same company called Crypto AG. What they didn't know is that it's jointly owned by the US and German intelligence agencies, who signed a highly classified partnership to use it as a platform to sell products designed to be easy to crack and thus perform surveillance whenever they needed. This has been supposedly going on for over half a century, and is described as "one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Cold War." The goal of the project -- dubbed "Thesaurus" and later "Rubicon" -- was to give the US and Germany access to sensitive communications from all allies and adversaries except China and the Soviets, taking their money and exploiting their gullibility to hoard their secrets. Interestingly, there are some that speculate it was actually the NSA that rigged the Crypto AG equipment for the greatest sting operation in modern history, and documents cited by the Washington Post seem to confirm that it was indeed involved in weakening the encryption in devices sold by the company. But more importantly, among the clients of the Swiss company were Iran, India, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and even the Vatican. The US and West German spies were able to monitor Iranian mullahs during the 1979 hostage crisis and see how Libyan officials were celebrating a bombing in a Berlin disco seven years later. However, the documents obtained by the Washington Post raise a lot of new questions, including whether the US had chosen to simply watch some of the world's biggest atrocities unfold without intervening as a way to preserve its intelligence advantage. German BND withdrew its ownership of Crypto AG -- referred to as Minerva in documents -- in the 1990s, while the CIA hung to it until 2016. Today, only a small number of countries still use the company's encryption systems, but that could come to an abrupt end as the Swiss government revoked Crypto AG's export license soon after the report from Washington Post was published, pending an investigation. Nissan filed a civil lawsuit against former Chairman Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday, seeking an initial amount of 10 billion Japanese yen ($90 million). The company said the suit, filed at Yokohama District Court in Kanagawa, was "in order to recover a significant part of the monetary damages inflicted on the company by its former chairman as a result of years of his misconduct and fraudulent activity." The claimed damages are linked to Ghosn's "breach of fiduciary duty as a company director and his misappropriation of Nissan's resources and assets," the Japanese automaker said in a statement. The size of the claim is expected to rise as Nissan seeks to recover fines paid to the Japanese Financial Services Agency, and likely penalties imposed in criminal proceedings related to Ghosn's activities. The figure has been calculated based on funds linked to "fraudulent payments made to or by Ghosn" including the unpaid use of overseas property, private use of corporate jets, payments to his sister and personal lawyer, along with the costs of Nissan's investigation into Ghosn and subsequent regulatory and legal costs. After Seattle, resolution by Cambridge city council in Massachusetts asks India to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act. Cambridge in Massachusetts state has become the second city in the United States after Seattle to pass a resolution against a controversial citizenship law pushed by Indias Hindu nationalist government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cambridge City Council on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), calling upon the Indian Parliament to uphold the countrys secular constitution by repealing the law and stopping a proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The US city houses the world-renowned Harvard University and Massachusetts Institutes of Technology. It has come to the attention of the city council that on December 11, 2019, the Indian Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Act, which for the first time uses religion as a criterion for Indian citizenship, the resolution said. The CAA fast-tracks Indian nationality for non-Muslim minorities from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who came to India before 2015. Critics have said it violates Indias secular constitution and have challenged it in the Supreme Court. The CAA and NRC have triggered fears of marginalisation and disenfranchisement among Indias Muslim minority, who form nearly 15 percent of the countrys 1.3 billion population. The Cambridge resolution declared that Modi governments racist and repressive policies were inconsistent with the values of the city, which welcomes South Asian communities of all castes and religions. The Cambridge city council urged its congressional delegation to support legislation in the US Congress censuring India for enacting such policies. The move came a week after Seattle, one of the most powerful city councils in the US, passed a similar resolution, urging India to repeal the CAA and stop the NRC. The two resolutions came ahead of an upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to India. Designed to disenfranchise Muslims Rachel Wyon, an activist in Cambridge who was born in India to British parents, told Al Jazeera that laws such as CAA echoed the Nazi Germany of the 1930s. Through the CAA, most of us can recognise the echo of the 1930s in Germany when a Nazi government took similar steps closely parallel to the NRC and CAA which we know now were initial steps towards the Holocaust, said Wyon, who deposed before the city council in support of the resolution. She said CAA and NRC are unconstitutional and designed to disenfranchise several million Muslims, Dalits (people at the bottom of Hindu caste hierarchy) and other marginalised groups in order to move toward an ultra-right-wing fascist state. People in India and the South Asian community in the US should know that they have the support of the world in opposing such a discriminatory law, Wyon told Al Jazeera. Modis government last November said it would implement a nationwide NRC, an exercise first conducted in the northeastern state of Assam, which effectively left nearly two million people almost half of them Muslims stateless, who now face being sent to various detention camps in the state. However, following weeks of sometimes deadly protests against the CAA and a proposed NRC, the government earlier this month said it has not yet decided on creating a national register of its citizens. Fundamentally discriminatory 200210070105369 International bodies such as the United Nations, and rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed concern at the enactment of the CAA. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has termed the law fundamentally discriminatory in nature. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has called upon the Trump administration to sanction Indias hardline home minister, Amit Shah, who is Modis closest aide. Last month, the US witnessed protests in over a dozen cities by the Indian-American diaspora against the CAA and NRC on January 26, which is celebrated as Indias Republic Day. The government of India, however, has repeated on several instances that CAA was its internal matter. When Al Jazeera reached out to BJP spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao for his reaction to the resolutions passed by the two US cities, he said the matter was insignificant to warrant our comment. Bexar County commissioners approved four initiatives Tuesday aimed at combating opioid addiction, and discussed concerns about a potential undercount in this years U.S. Census. The commissioners approved applying for a grant of up to $2 million in federal funding for Casa Mia, a facility for homeless single mothers with an opioid disorder who are parenting an infant or toddler. Casa Mia is a partnership between Crosspoint, a nonprofit that serves vulnerable populations, and the University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Nursing. It opened in December 2018 and is currently funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services, Baptist Health Foundation and Sisters of the Holy Spirit. The second initiative is a pilot program at the county jail that would treat 65 inmates addicted to opioids with Vivitrol, a nonaddictive, extended-release prescription drug. The inmates, who would have to meet certain qualifications, would be treated over an 18-month period after theyre released from jail. Commissioners ratified an application for a grant from the governors office to provide $385,000 for the program. On ExpressNews.com: County to offer jail inmates new opioid treatment Also approved Tuesday was a contract with the School of Nursing for the Bexar County Harm Reduction Initiative, including a syringe-exchange program, to prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases spread among people with addictions to heroin and other opioids. And the fourth initiative that won the commissioners support Tuesday was a recommendation by the Opioid Task Force to create a second task force focused on the larger substance use disorder epidemic. The new Coalition for Action, Research & Education to Understand Substance Use, or CARES, will be led and staffed by UT Health. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff emphasized the jail treatment and syringe-exchange programs as initiatives that aim to save medical and jail costs, while improving the lives of people with severe addictions. Those are really two important new steps being taken, he said. The initiatives follow other efforts that the Opioid Task Force has pursed as it targets critical touch points of the epidemic, said TJ Mayes, chairman of the panel, which has been working for nearly three years. One of the first was community-wide distribution of naloxone, a nasal spray that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. About 1,800 overdoses are being reversed each year in Bexar County, Mayes said. Thats 1,800 lives saved, said Mayes, who credited Wolff and the late state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon with paving the way for the syringe exchange, funded with $80,000 in the county budget. It will be the first time in the history of the state of Texas that theres a government-funded syringe services program, Mayes said. If the grant is secured for the new, voluntary Vivitrol treatment program at the jail, it will provide support when people are most vulnerable for an overdose, he added, citing a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed 10 percent of opioid overdose deaths in 2018 involved someone released from incarceration within the previous month. The request for the Casa Mia grant is going to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and would help fund the faciilty through March 2025. According to local health officials, Bexar County has the worst problem in Texas with infants experiencing opioid withdrawal. Crosspoint President and CEO Kevin Downey said Casa Mia helps addicted mothers reunite with their children in a structured environment where the mother and baby undergo treatment as needed. This not only affects the women that we are taking in off the street, but it affects their children, because their babies are taken away at birth if theyre exposed to opioids, Downey said. We have the most mothers who need this service. Bexar County, meanwhile, has a lawsuit pending against more than two dozen opioid manufacturers. The lawsuit, set for trial in January 2021, accuses the manufacturers, including industry giants Purdue Pharma and Johnson & Johnson, of deceptive marketing practices, fraud, false representations and efforts to target vulnerable patients. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County will pursue its own lawsuit against drug companies In other business Tuesday, commissioners heard a presentation on behalf of the City/County Census 2020 Complete Count Committee, which stressed the importance of an accurate count. For every 1 percent of the population that is undercounted, Texas stands to lose about $300 million in federal funding every year for a decade roughly $15 million per year that Bexar County would leave on the table, officials said. In the 2010 Census, pockets on San Antonios Southwest Side and along Interstate 10 on the Northwest Side had the lowest self-response rates, with fewer than 60 percent of people responding to mailed letters or surveys. Commissioner Tommy Calvert asked that the committee have an ample marketing budget for billboards and other promotions, and be sensitive to apprehensions some people may have about privacy. Residents will start receiving Census letters in March, and Census enumerators will begin going door-to-door in May. We need to have an effort to let people know were not looking for (U.S. citizenship) documentation. Were not looking for these kinds of issues. But we want you to report, because it means help to services that benefit our communities, Calvert said. For more information, visit sabexarcountmein.org or 2020census.gov. 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 Faye Valenti, a debut author, has completed her new book Beating Heart: the story of Phoenix and Airth, the creators of all life on Earth, and their volatile relationship. This is a story steeped in turmoil and grief and carried through the ages by hope and love alone, Faye Valenti said of her work. From the nothing sprang the Phoenix, and with her came life. Though her greatness came with a price, and her life was never her own. She was trapped in an endless pursuit and forced into a never-ending cycle of reincarnation, and her only desire was a life of her own. Published by Page Publishing, Faye Valentis novel, a contemporary addition to the gothic novel genre, emerged from a period of great change in the authors life. After the loss of a lifelong love, and with the birth of my daughter, I felt my creativity lead me to share my stories with all who would dare to open their hearts and minds, Valenti said of her inspiration. Incorporating aspects of traditional paganism, the story pits Phoenixs admiration of the humans she and Airth created, against Airths disdain for the seemingly weak creatures. When Phoenix rescinds her immortal form to hide among the humans, Airth must come up with clever means of pursuit. While Phoenixs soul enters the shell of a newborn human, Airth can search for her on the Earth in the body of a recently deceased human. The story includes other magical creatures on both sides of the struggle between the mortals and the immortals. Readers who wish to enter this magical reimagining of the world can purchase Beating Heart at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Marysville, CA (95901) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 57F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. Prosecutors have called for sentences of 10 and 14 years for two alleged fraudsters accused of impersonating French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a bizarre scam that saw one even wear a mask in video conferences. The two main suspects -- Franco-Israelis Gilbert Chikli (54), and Anthony Lasarevitsch (35) -- are charged with organised fraud and usurping a person's identity in an outrageous scheme that allegedly allowed them to extort more than 50 million euros (USD 55 million) from wealthy political, business, and even religious figures. Prosecutor Alice Cherif called for a 14-year sentence for Chikli and 10 years for his co-accused. She also asked the court in Paris that each man be fined two million euros. The pair are accused of masterminding the scam. Five others face lesser complicity charges. "It's like a robbery, a heist, except that it is done on the phone. In the end it is the same result as a heist except that the weapon is the voice," Cherif told the court. The scheme -- which took place from 2015-2016 when Le Drian was defence minister -- involved fraudsters who pretended to be him asking politicians and executives for urgent financial aid for secret operations by the French state. One would even appear in video conferences behind a fake official desk, donning a silicone mask of Le Drian and wearing a suit, no doubt hoping the grainy transmission quality would dispel any suspicion. The fake "minister" made calls by telephone and video link to more than 150 targets -- of whom three were successfully duped. The money was often said to be for ransom payments for hostages or anti-terror operations. Both men have strenuously protested their innocence. But the prosecution told the court that evidence "abounds" in the case, including messages left on Ukrainian phones and conversations held in prison as well as statements taken from other defendants. In 2015, a French court convicted Chikli in absentia to seven years in prison for similar scams in 2005 and 2006, in which he posed as business chief executives. On the run, he was arrested two years later with Lasarevitsch in Ukraine. On their phones, police found pictures of a silicone mask of Prince Albert II of Monaco, suggesting another hoax was in the planning stages. Le Drian, a senior ally of President Emmanuel Macron, became foreign minister in 2017 after serving five years as defence minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Smelt dippers will get a Valentines Day gift this year, according to wildlife officials. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a one-day recreational smelt fishery Friday along the lower Cowlitz River. Recreational dipping will be allowed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the shore from the Highway 432 Bridge (Harry Morgan Bridge) upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp in Castle Rock, according to a WDFW press release. Each dip netter may keep 10 pounds of smelt, or about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket, the press release said. No fishing license is needed for Fridays fishery, but dip netters should be cautious of strong, high water caused by recent storms. Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers will monitor safety and enforce the 10-pound limit, according to the press release. This is the first year since 2017 that a recreational smelt fishery has opened on the Cowlitz. Columbia River smelt are listed threatened on the federal Endangered Species Act, and returns had been declining in the last half decade. Two years ago, fewer than 400,000 pounds of smelt were estimated to return to the river. But about 4.2 million pounds returned to the Columbia River last year. Based on evidence to date managers expect the run this year is large enough to support a recreational fishery, the release says. Managers will continue to closely track all available indicators of abundance, including catches in the upcoming recreational fishery and the commercial test fishery. We work closely with (the federal government) to take a precautionary approach to any fisheries involving an ESA-listed species, said Laura Heironimus, a WDFW fish manager. Initial indicators suggest this run is strong enough to offer this limited opportunity while still allowing us to meet our conservation goals and help the population rebuild. Last month wildlife management officials approved an eight-day commercial research level commercial fishery on the Columbia River. That fishery helps scientists determine if their run forecasts are in the ballpark for actual returns. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 10 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. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Some worried that building a homeless shelter on University of New Mexico property would jeopardize campus safety. One woman feared that moving forward with the proposal would hurt enrollment at a time when the university has been struggling to attract students. Several other students said they would welcome the shelter on UNM property, although they asked for more information on the services that would be made available to those who would be using the facility. Student reaction to the Gateway Center, a proposed 24/7, 300-bed city of Albuquerque shelter, south of the Office of the Medical Investigator near Interstate 25, was mixed at the second of four campus forums that will be held on the matter. More than 40 students and university employees attended. UNM is one of several sites around Albuquerque being considered for the shelter. With the proposed site a mile from Dane Smith Hall, one of the universitys main lecture halls, John Cooke voiced concern with how the shelter would affect the safety of the campus, especially a shelter that will provide refuge for anyone who asks for help regardless of their sobriety, addictions or mental health. I dont think anybody here on campus is against a homeless shelter, said Cooke, a senior majoring in political science. Its a really big issue that we need to solve, but students dont feel safe. Adam Biederwolf, president of the Associated Students of UNM, expressed his concern for the safety of those living on Greek Row. The houses on Greek Row closest to the proposed site are the Pi Beta Phi and the Kappa Kappa Gamma sororities. Theyre a little more than half a mile away. Lisa Huval, Albuquerques deputy director of Housing and Homelessness, said a comprehensive security analysis would be done to assure surrounding communities of their safety if the Gateway Center is built on UNM land. The shelter would provide resources for permanent housing, finding jobs, and other programs that help people with substance abuse or behavioral health issues. Mayor Tim Keller also reassured students that theyd be safe. I do not anticipate foot traffic through campus nor do I anticipate a safety impact on campus, Keller told those at the meeting. He said security for the homeless shelter will be provided by the city. In previous correspondence with university officials, the city has sought to address security concerns, citing data from the Albuquerque Police Department Real Time Crime Center showing that emergency shelters experience a low number of calls for service. In 2019, the Barrett House, with 30 beds, which houses single women and women with children, had 14 calls for service. The Westside Emergency Housing Center, with 450 beds, serving single adult males and females, and families with children, experienced the most calls for service, at 143, in 2019 almost three calls per week. The UNM site being considered is an empty lot near Lomas and University NE. However, a survey conducted by the city found that more people who responded favored a location off Second Street and Interstate 40 over any of the other options presented. Despite the survey, Keller and other city officials said they like the UNM site because it is centrally located for homeless programs and close to the University of New Mexico Hospital. The city needs help, and I believe it is a part of the universitys responsibility to help I believe its part of all of our responsibilities to say What can I do? even if its something small, Keller said at Tuesdays forum. Huval floated the idea of integrating campus learning with the Gateway Center through student learning, research and learning the impacts and solutions of homelessness. I think there is so much opportunity here for us to do something better and bigger than we have done before in a really meaningful and integrated way, she said. The proximity to UNM will certainly help foster that collaborative spirit. Cinnamon Blair, UNMs chief marketing and communications officer, said the Board of Regents would have to approve the project for it to move forward. Albuquerque voters last fall approved $14 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction of a shelter. Students werent the only ones giving public comment. Tony Michael, a homeless person, raised the issue of finding opportunities for employment. Michael said he is in favor of the UNM location because its safer and he is able to read in the libraries. I feel real comfortable being here instead of going out there, somewhere, Michael said, gesturing toward Central. I been fighting a lot out there. It hurts. Albuquerques 2019 Point-In-Time count, an annual, one-night count of the citys homeless population, counted 1,524 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people, an increase of 206 from the year before. However, some believe that the number is undercounted by almost 3,000. The university will hold another forum at noon Wednesday in the Student Union and at 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center. The university is asking members of the campus community to weigh in on the proposal to build the shelter on UNM land. That online survey will begin Friday. EU support contributes to the development of Ukraine and the implementation of new areas of international cooperation, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov has said. He said this at a meeting with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 11. "The implementation of the provisions enshrined in the Association Agreement, as well as macroeconomic assistance from the EU, is fundamentally important to us. EU support contributes to the country's development and the implementation of new areas of international cooperation," Razumkov said. He noted that Ukraine's movement to the European Union is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine and that there is ongoing sustainable cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in many areas. At the same time, Razumkov congratulated Varhelyi on taking office as EU commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement and emphasized consolidated and effective work between the Ukrainian parliament and European partners. Razumkov also informed European Commission representatives about the changes that are taking place in Ukraine to create the necessary conditions for attracting investors and called for assistance in this process. "We are ready to create a proper business climate in the country and help those who are ready to work in Ukraine," he said. Razumkov stressed the need to support and further develop the Eastern Partnership Plus project with the participation of three EU-associated countries - Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. According to him, the issues of security, territorial integrity, regaining control over the borders of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions and the return of Crimea are important for cooperation. Razumkov thanked Varhelyi for the principled position of the European Union in these matters. "We are grateful that your position does not change over time. The situation with sanctions pressure for several years shows the influence on the Russian Federation," he said. Varhelyi, in turn, noted Ukraine's rapid reform efforts and assured the Ukrainian side of the EU's further support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. He said the EU is ready to continue working together to create a new strong economy for the sake of Ukraine's well-being. Varhelyi is visiting Ukraine on February 11-12. op Dunamaise Arts Centre is getting all loved up in time for Valentines weekend with two wonderful shows to celebrate and enjoy. Baking enthusiasts and those who remember Irelands first celebrity chef can look forward to Maura Laverty This Was Your Life, which includes a live cookery demonstration, on Thursday, February 13, and well known music personality Ciaran Rosney who pays tribute to the Story of Glen Campbell with his five-piece band and state-of-the-art video projections on Friday, February 14. Maura Laverty This Was Your Life, starring Bairbre Ni Chaoimh and Pat Ryan will be a great night out. This sparkling new play will spirit Maura Laverty, Irelands famous broadcaster, agony aunt, playwright, writer of banned novels and iconic cookery books, back from the dead to face a contemporary audience as a guest on the This Was Your Life show. Gentle on My Mind - The Glen Campbell Story will take the audience on a truly amazing journey with some of Glen Campbells best known hits, from Rhinestone Cowboy to Wichita Lineman. Tickets for Maura Laverty This Was Your Life are priced 18/16 and tickets for The Glen Campbell Story are priced 25. With cruise ships quarantining thousands of passengers while dealing with coronavirus cases onboard and ports turning ships away over coronavirus concerns, what does that mean for the future of cruising? The new coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, has spread across the globe with more than 45,000 confirmed cases and the death toll rising above 1,100 as of Wednesday. The majority of the cases are in mainland China, and the death toll has now surpassed the SARS outbreak of 2002 to 2003. While viruses like SARS have impacted travelers before, the cruise industry is uniquely impacted by the spread of the coronavirus, especially because the outbreak began in China, an emerging market in the cruise industry. Cruise historian Peter Knego told USA TODAY that there is no precedent that matches what is going on now, though he compared it loosely to SARS and the bird flu. But now that the cruise industry has such a large presence in the area of the initial outbreak, the game has changed. "The China market has exploded in the past five years or so," he said. "It's a different animal than before." According to a Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) report on the Asia cruise market, passenger numbers from Asia hit a record high in 2018 with 4.24 million taking an ocean cruise. China accounted for more than half (55.8%) of that traffic, the trade association reported. It's important to keep in mind that the Asia-Pacific market, while it is growing, is still small relative to other markets around the world, Bari Golin-Blaugrund, senior director of strategic communications for CLIA told USA TODAY in an email. "In 2018 the latest year that we have final numbers 28.5M passengers sailed on CLIA cruise ships; of those passengers, about 8-9% (or 2.5M) were from China, including Hong Kong and Macau," she said. And right now, while there are several ships that have been impacted by coronavirus, hundreds of others continue normal operations around the globe. "While the relative impact to global cruise operations is not extensive at this time, we recognize that the impact even on just one person is significant," Golin-Blaugrund added. Story continues It may take a while, Knego said, to figure out how to deal with the virus, though some cruise lines are in the thick of it now. "I just think we have to see how it develops," he said. What's happening on cruise ships right now? There are several cruise ships that are in the thralls of dealing with coronavirus or the fear that surrounds its spread. Common signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Holland America's MS Westerdam has been turned away from several ports, leaving the ship in limbo. Despite reports to the contrary, there are no known cases of coronavirus onboard, though the ship was in Hong Kong and has been barred by the Philippines, Guam Japan and Thailand. Passengers are finally set to disembark Thursday in Cambodia. The ship departed Hong Kong Feb. 1 and was originally scheduled to disembark in Shanghai on Saturday before coronavirus gripped mainland China and forced itinerary changes. Diamond Princess, a Princess Cruises ship that is quarantined off the coast of Japan through Feb. 19, has had at least 174 cases of coronavirus diagnosed as of Tuesday evening, and at least 20 of them are Americans. Those with confirmed cases of coronavirus are being taken off the ship and moved to hospitals. The cruise had 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew on board when it set sail on Jan. 20. Passengers aboard Dream Cruises' World Dream disembarked Sunday at Hong Kong's Kai Tek Cruise Terminal after tests revealed no one on board had coronavirus. Three people who were on the ship from Jan. 19 to Jan. 24 tested positive for coronavirus, and the ship was under quarantine near Hong Kong while it waited for test results for passengers and crew to come back. World Dream operations will be suspended until further notice, according to the cruise line. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas departed Bayonne, New Jersey, Monday afternoon after passengers tested negative for coronavirus. Passengers were tested after the ship docked and screened 27 passengers who had recently traveled from mainland China. The itinerary was changed from a Bahamas cruise to Bermuda, in light of the delayed departure. The Costa Smeralda, one of Costa Cruises' ships, had a coronavirus scare at the end of January that locked down the ship for almost a day in Civitavecchia, Italy. The scare turned out to be a case of the flu. Other lines have canceled or altered their itineraries for cruises, primarily to avoid China. Does the industry know what to do? So what does that mean for cruising right now? Can the industry handle this kind of outbreak? CLIA has issued and updated industry precautionary measures for its members to follow to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. CLIA member ships are to deny boarding to anyone who has been in close contact with or helped to care for someone suspected or diagnosed with coronavirus. Those who are being monitored for potential exposure to the virus are also to be turned away. Ships are also to deny boarding to all who have traveled from, visited or been through airports in China within a two-week period prior to embarkation. That includes Hong Kong and Macao in addition to mainland China. Some lines have taken even more drastic precautions: Norwegian and Royal Caribbean International cruise lines announced Friday they would bar passengers holding passports from China, Hong Kong or Macao, a decision that has been controversial. But are cruise lines doing the right things? Andrew Coggins, professor at the Pace University Lubin School of Business and cruise industry analyst, called the blanket ban on China, Hong Kong and Macao passport holders "worrying." "That smacks of racial/ethnic paranoia," he said in a statement. "Royal Caribbean has invested much time and treasure developing their China Market over the past 12 plus years. China is a proud and ancient country. Such a blanket ban will not go unnoticed." Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health for Northwell Health told USA TODAY in an email that what Princess Cruises is doing on Diamond Princess is safe because they are taking precautions to separate people that are healthy from people that are sick. Its really important that were not putting people at risk when we quarantine them," Cioe-Pena said. "One of the good things that was done with the Japanese cruise ship is that the people who were identified as 'sick' were taken off of the boat and brought to medical care facilities." And while under quarantine, the passengers on the Diamond Princess have been instructed to stay in their suites or cabins. Those in interior cabins with no window or outdoor access have been able to go on deck for up to an hour and a half but must stay at least 3 feet from fellow passengers, Matt Smith, an attorney on the ship from Sacramento, California, told USA TODAY on Friday. It's so isolating it almost feels they are alone on the ship, Smith said on Monday. But there are risks if you quarantine thousands of people for longer than they intended to be on a ship food, medical supplies and getting rid of waste are all concerns. "Were pretty much in the unfolding stages," Knego said. "I think until they determine how serious this epidemic is, it's day-by-day play." But coronavirus isn't the only virus to plague cruise ships. The spread of norovirus, a highly contagious virus which causes vomiting and diarrhea, has been an issue on cruise ships for years. Just this week, two ships faced norovirus outbreaks that forced both to return to port. And the flu is something to worry about, as well, potentially even more so than coronavirus, from Knego's perspective. "Even though this is a scary disease, the flu is much more prevalent," he said. "Its everywhere and many more people are dying." The flu is deadlier and more widespread than coronavirus. So far there have been at least 22 million flu cases, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths related to the flu in the U.S. this influenza season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since there is no vaccine for coronavirus currently, the CDC recommends common heath practices for prevention, including washing hands, sanitizing frequently touched objects and avoiding people who are sick. When will the threat of coronavirus end? It might return every winter And cruisers aren't at huge risk unless their ship is traveling to an affected area or has passengers from those areas. At a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services briefing Friday, Robert Redfield, director of the CDC alluded to the coronavirus cruise issues. "If you're going on a cruise ship, stay in the Caribbean. ... It's really no risk," he said. As the virus continues to spread, the industry's response is likely to change, as well. In its announcement Friday on enhanced screening, CLIA made sure to add that preventative measures could be subject to change in coordination with and under advisement from medical authorities. A passenger looks out from a balcony of the Diamond Princess cruise ship while it is docked at Daikoku Pier. Will people keep cruising? Hearing about the virus and the quarantines that have resulted can be scary. There have been mixed reactions from passengers stuck on ships such as the Diamond Princess. Some are trying to keep a positive attitude while others think that the ship has turned into a "floating prison." One family from Hawaii canceled their upcoming cruise through Asia with Norwegian Cruise Lines and lost $32,000 the line wouldn't issue a refund. Angela Pettit, a 51-year-old information technology consultant from Texas and frequent cruiser, has gone on more than 20 cruises in the last decade. Pettit disembarked from a sailing on the Celebrity Eclipse just last week. The cruise visited a few locations, including Argentina and Antarctica, she told USA TODAY. Passengers didn't know the full extent of what was going on with coronavirus until the ship docked, she said. But onboard, there were worries. "It was a concern throughout the whole trip because you just dont know," she said. "You're coming in contact with so many different people; you don't know their backgrounds." While Pettit doesn't have another cruise scheduled for the immediate future, she does have another booked in February 2021. And though that is nearly a year away, she is feeling hesitant. "I'm kind of having second thoughts," she said. "I never worried prior." Pettit wants to see how coronavirus plays out and how travel agents and cruise lines handle the situation. Another cruiser, Carole Jones, 47, from Minnesota, finished a cruise with Carnival Cruise Line just over a week ago. Jones has six children, and on past cruises, her children have contracted norovirus, which changed the way they cruised in later cruises but hasn't stopped them. With the confined space of a cruise ship, Jones said she understands how viruses like coronavirus or norovirus can get out of hand quickly. Now, they take wipes to sanitize their cabin, don't eat at any buffets and try not to use any public restrooms onboard to avoid any spreading germs. "We were on the ship when first quarantine happened overseas," she told USA TODAY. "It definitely made us nervous." Her family has another cruise scheduled in a few months. At this point, they aren't planning to cancel. But they also aren't committed to going. "The cruise industry does a great job, but something like this is new," Jones said. "Well see where we are in three more months." Others are determined not to let the virus keep them from their plans. Sylvain Plasse, an actor from Toronto and frequent cruiser who has completed more than 100 sailings, told USA TODAY in a message that "we have to continue living." He has no plans to stop cruising but is taking precautions. "(Coronavirus) definitely will not deter me from cruising; however... I am avoiding Asia at all costs," he said. Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners, told USA TODAY that coronavirus has begun to come up in conversations with people planning their next trip. "We are closely monitoring the situation," she said. "Ive been in this business for a really long time over 35 years and nothing like this has ever happened." Right now though, she said that most people are not canceling their cruises and people are still booking. New Jersey: Four cruise passengers test negative for coronavirus on ship Contributing: Julia Thompson This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus on cruise ships: What does it mean for cruisers? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not rule out that he could hold talks with his U.S. President Donald Trump in connection with the aggravation of the situation in Syria's Idlib. "Maybe," Erdogan said, answering a question about the possibility of negotiations with Trump on the situation in Idlib after holding phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Turkish leader added that the topic of Idlib will be discussed at a high-level meeting in Moscow in the near future, Sputnik reported. A day after the BJP's resounding defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls, its president JP Nadda held a meeting with the party general secretaries on Wednesday to discuss the election results. According to sources, the meeting lasted for over two hours and was attended by almost all the BJP general secretaries, besides its organisational secretary, BL Santhosh. A number of issues came up for discussion during the meeting, where the BJP leaders pointed out that the party's vote share had increased in the national capital and it put up a brave poll show, the sources said. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, won 62 of the 70 Assembly seats in Delhi, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged the remaining eight seats. Accepting the verdict, Nadda had said after the results that the saffron party would play the role of a constructive opposition. While the AAP's poll campaign was centred around its government's welfare schemes in the last five years and Kejriwal, the BJP was relying on its trademark nationalism issue in the context of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the ongoing protest at Shaheen Bagh against the new law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: The Uzbek delegation headed by Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov met with IAEA General Director Rafael Mariano Grossi, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan. The meeting was held as part of the International Conference on Nuclear Security from February 10 through February 14, at the organization's headquarters in Vienna. "Issues of further expansion of cooperation were discussed during the meeting. Grossi praised the ongoing reforms and the intensification of Uzbekistan's work with the IAEA. He noted that the IAEA sees Uzbekistan as an important partner in the region," the press service of the Uzbek Energy Ministry said. Also, IAEA expressed its readiness to provide all possible assistance and support in the field of nuclear safety and in the implementation of a large-scale project - the construction of a nuclear power plant, as well as the IAEA mission for 2020 on integrated review of nuclear infrastructure. One of the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Services (IRRS) missions, which will make it possible to implement Uzbekistan's national program in full compliance with international rules, has a significant role to play in this regard. For the period 2020-2021, as part of its technical cooperation program, IAEA approved four projects worth more than one million euros for implementation in Uzbekistan, the press service of the Ministry of Energy reports. The program provides for strengthening nuclear and radiation safety in the operation of nuclear energy facilities in Uzbekistan, development and introduction of modern nuclear technologies in medicine and other sectors of the economy, as well as dissemination of knowledge about nuclear energy. SAN MATEO, California, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Speck announced its line of Presidio cases for the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra, including its brand new Presidio Perfect-Clear line. The most protective clear cases that Speck has ever designed, Perfect-Clear, Perfect-Clear with Impact Geometry, and Perfect-Clear with Grips feature an innovative crystal clear coating that's guaranteed to resist yellowing and discoloration. Available now on speckproducts.co.uk, the full assortment for the Galaxy S20 series also includes favorites Presidio Pro and Presidio Grip. Designed to show off the phone's beauty without compromising on clarity, the Presidio Perfect-Clear line now gives clear case users a variety of different styles and functions. The new perfect clear coating is guaranteed to prevent discoloration or yellowing for the lifetime of your device. Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips combines the best of both worlds: a clear case to show off the device, with the Speck signature grip design to make the case easier to hold to prevent drops before they happen. The no-slip grips on the back of the case now provide extra durable grip for texting and photography. Perfect-Clear with Impact Geometry includes a proprietary clear phone-cushioning rubber around the perimeter of the case to provide extreme impact protection you can see. All Speck Presidio cases for the new Samsung Galaxy S20 series are engineered to withstand drops of up to 4 metres without adding bulk to the device. Each case features a raised bezel to protect the device screen from scratching and shattering and also includes Microban antimicrobial protection to prevent bacterial growth, keeping your case cleaner, fresher, longer. The Speck assortment for Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra includes: Presidio Perfect-Clear (24.95 - 29.95) -- New, innovative clear coating guarantees protection against yellowing and discoloration. Presidio Perfect-Clear with Impact Geometry (24.95 - 29.95) - New design showcases the clear impact geometry that provides unparalleled impact protection. Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips (24.95 - 29.95) - New combination of clear protection with no-slip grips make the case easier to hold. Presidio Pro (24.95 - 29.95) -- Protective, slim case with a soft-touch finish that provides an enhanced look and feel. Presidio Grip (24.95 - 29.95) -- Raised rubber ridges provide a confidence-boosting grip, designed for better gaming, texting, and photography. Speck cases for the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra start at 24.95 and are available at select UK retailers including Amazon.co.uk, John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse, Three, Argos and Tesco. About Speck Speck creates award-winning cases designed to make an impact-and take one. Since 2001, we've been making distinctive products for the world's top smartphones, tablets and laptops. We deliver a balance of artful design and drop-tested protection, for a difference you can see and feel. Our roots are in the heart of Silicon Valley, at the intersection of design and technology, inspiring us to craft masterfully-engineered products. We believe that excellence is in the details, so our cases go beyond superior protection with beautiful design, sleek lines, and purposeful features. We create cases that enable you to go more places and enjoy more from your mobile devices. Get to know us at speckproducts.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089688/Speck_Products___Cases_for_Samsung_Galaxy_S20.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/178443/speck_logo.jpg The Iranian ballistic missile attack at Ain Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, Iraq and the second base in Irbil in northern Iraq were in retaliation for the U.S. killing Iranian General Qassem Suleimani. The Pentagon had revealed that the Jan. 8 attack caused 34 U.S. service members to have been diagnosed with concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The number has since increased to over 100. Immediately following the missile attack, President Trump announced that no Americans were harmed. After it was leaked that U.S. service members had received head injuries, Trump made a statement that they only had minor headaches how insulting this must have been for our troops. I think Trump must have been afraid, yes, afraid, to admit that the Iranian response was disproportional and he knew the Iranian government meant business, so he downplayed the situation. Perhaps the right thing to do would be for Trump to send our wounded service members a bottle of aspirin on his behalf. Bill Paul, Chicopee The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it will be examining 10 years worth of acquisitions from tech giants Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, as it looks into whether any anticompetitive steps were taken. As part of its review, the FTC will require companies to share information on deals that were not previously reported to antitrust agencies. Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, originally passed in the mid-70s, companies are required to share information on acquisitions that surpass a certain valuation; in 2020, the bar is set between $90-$94 million. That means the FTC will be looking at smaller deals that were less heralded than some of the headline-grabbing acquisitions of the past decade, like Facebooks $1 billion acquisition of Instagram or Microsofts $26.2 billion deal to purchase LinkedIn in 2016. The orders will help the FTC deepen its understanding of large technology firms acquisition activity, including how these firms report their transactions to the federal antitrust agencies, and whether large tech companies are making potentially anticompetitive acquisitions of nascent or potential competitors that fall below HSR filing thresholds and therefore do not need to be reported to the antitrust agencies, the FTC said in a press release. Also Read: FBI and FTC Must Investigate FaceApp's Ties to Russia, Chuck Schumer Says The FTC voted 5-0 in favor of reviewing the deals, which span from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2019. Both how the tech giants integrated and acquired data from the companies they purchased will be reviewed, according to the FTC. Companies will also be asked to share information and documents on their corporate acquisition strategies, voting and board appointment agreements, agreements to hire key personnel from other companies, and post-employment covenants not to compete. Last summer, the FTC fined Facebook a record-setting $5 billion for multiple data security breaches. Read original story Apple, Facebook Among Tech Giants Under Examination by FTC for Past Acquisitions At TheWrap The World Health Organisation on Tuesday gave an official name " Covid-19 " to the disease caused by the coronavirus that has ravaged China and spread across the globe, as statistics suggested that infections could level off in the coming weeks and Beijing vowed to hold local cadres to account for failing to contain the outbreak. China's National Health Commission said on Tuesday that the country had reported 108 new deaths from the virus " the first time that 100 or more fatalities were recorded in a single day. The outbreak, which was generally believed to have originated from Wuhan in central China, has killed 1,018 people worldwide " including one death in Hong Kong and another in the Philippines. But Zhong Nanshan, one of China's top respiratory disease experts, predicted that the outbreak could peak this month, according to state broadcaster CCTV. "We can now see a trend that the number of new cases is gradually reducing," said Zhong. "Through mathematical modelling, [we can say that] new infections will peak in mid or end of February in southern China." Zhong added, however, that "it is not possible to predict when exactly the plateau will happen, and that would largely depend on how effective our prevention and control measures are as more people make the journey to return to work" after the Lunar New Year holiday. Meanwhile, Xu Yahua, a transport ministry official, told a daily briefing in Beijing that 160 million people were expected to return to the cities where they work over the coming week. This mass movement of the workforce has sparked fears that infected people " some of whom may show few symptoms " would spread the disease further. Suggestions that the outbreak may peak later this month were supported by statistics published by the National Health Commission on Monday that showed a consistent drop in the number of new confirmed cases. According to the commission, there were 381 new cases in mainland China outside Hubei on Monday, compared with 890 on February 3 " a decrease of 57 per cent. Story continues In Hubei, excluding Wuhan city, the daily number of new infections fell for six consecutive days from 1,121 cases on Wednesday last week to 545 on Monday " a drop of 55 per cent. One open-access data model published on Monday by scientists at Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University in eastern Jiangsu province also predicted a sharp decline in new confirmed infections next week before falling close to zero by February 23. However, the researchers warned there were many factors that could influence the model. "While this appears to be a relatively rapid near-end to new, confirmed cases, we must keep in mind that other factors could change the trend or that the data on current cases could be under-reported, which would also change the prediction," said Yi Zhou, a lecturer at the university. "If nothing else occurs that would change the trend, this model does suggest the worst is over for new infections." A team from the WHO, led by Canadian epidemiologist Bruce Aylward, arrived in China on Monday to help study the outbreak. Its priorities were expected to include an investigation into the effectiveness of China's preventive measures, which includes controls on public transport, temperature checks on passengers at transport hubs and self-quarantine arrangements for people returning to cities. Speaking at a press briefing, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained the new name of the illness caused by the virus, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. "Under agreed guidelines ... we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease," he said. "Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatising. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks," he added. On Tuesday morning the central government announced that two senior officials from Hubei province were to be replaced by a central government fixer " the first high-level figures to be removed from their posts since the outbreak. Beijing announced that Wang Hesheng, a deputy chief from the National Health Commission, has taken over from Hubei's health commission party secretary Zhang Jin and the commission director Liu Yingzi. In a sign suggesting more heads may roll, a special task force set up by Beijing leadership to supervise the prevention efforts also summoned three officials in Wuhan to attend "emergency meetings". According to the state news agency Xinhua, the meetings focused on the failings of Wuhan deputy mayor Chen Xiexin and two district heads, Yu Song and Lin Wenshu. The city moved to hospitalise all those infected by the virus on Sunday after weeks of turning away people who showed signs of infection " a U-turn that led to chaos. Officials from the task force told Xinhua that any officials who were found to have been negligent would be held accountable. "All party members and cadres must be conscientious and do their jobs well, be vigilant as they are in wartime emergency, and put the health and safety of the public as their first priority," the report said. The task force, headed by vice-premier Sun Chunlan, was recently joined by Chen Yixin, the head of the party's top law enforcement body. The decision to add Chen, widely regarded as a protege of President Xi Jinping, was taken on Sunday as the authorities sought to contain growing public outrage after the death of Li Wenliang, the doctor who was reprimanded by police for warning colleagues about the outbreak. His death has sparked a flurry of calls to protect freedom of expression in China and investigate whether there has been a cover-up. "Beijing's patience is wearing thin," said a person familiar with the changes at the top in Hubei, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. Meanwhile cities outside Hubei have stepped up contingency measures, including the southern megacities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou, which both passed legislation to requisition private property to help contain the outbreak. City and district governments will be given the power to take over houses, public venues and vehicles, and mobilise businesses to produce essential items. By Tuesday evening, the number of confirmed infections had reached 43,138 worldwide, including 42,667 cases in mainland China. Reporting by Keegan Elmer, William Zheng, Laurie Chen, Kristin Huang, Cissy Zhou and Teddy Ng 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. ST. PAUL Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Tuesday, Feb. 11, placed third in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary election, behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Klobuchar surged past Sen. Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and former Vice President Joe Biden in the Granite State to lock in the third-place post. The two had come in ahead of Minnesota's senior senator in the Iowa Democratic caucuses a week prior. With nearly 85% of precincts reporting, Sanders came out in the top spot in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary contest with 25.8% of the vote. Buttigieg came in just behind Sanders with 24.4% of the vote, and Klobuchar won 19.7% of the primary vote. Major media outlets called the race for Sanders around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts trailed Klobuchar with 9.4% of the vote and former Vice President Joe Biden came in fifth in the race with 8.4% of the vote. The state is a small-scale win in terms of the delegates it offers up for the Democratic National Committee's nominating convention this summer, but politicos say it can jump-start or stall out a candidate's hopes at advancing depending on how well they do there. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who'd been vying for the Democratic nomination, on Tuesday evening announced they would suspend their campaigns after partial vote totals came out. ADVERTISEMENT In televised remarks from Concord, New Hampshire Tuesday night, Klobuchar celebrated the early returns and said she was setting her sights on Nevada and beyond. "Hello, America, I'm Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump," Klobuchar told supporters at a watch party. "Because of you, we are taking this campaign to Nevada. We are going to South Carolina. And we are taking this message of unity to the country." Klobuchar gained traction in New Hampshire prior to Tuesday's contest as she picked up newspaper endorsements from New Hampshire's statewide newspaper The Union Leader , as well as The Keene Sentinel and Seacoast Media Group . And she boasted 25 endorsements in the state heading into the primary, with current and former state representatives supporting her campaign. Her campaign also said it brought in $3 million in campaign contributions over the weekend following Klobuchar's performance in the Democratic candidate debate on Friday. Just days before voters were set to go to the polls, a Feb. 9 Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll showed Klobuchar had risen to third place in New Hampshire, polling at 14% behind Sanders of Vermont in first (27%) and Buttigieg (19%). Sanders won the state's second-in-the-nation presidential primary in 2016. Emerson College has also polled Klobuchar third behind Sanders and Buttigieg. In New Hampshire's Republican primary, President Donald Trump beat out Bill Weld with roughly 85.6% of the vote, compared to Weld's 9.2%. BANGALORE, India, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The report focuses on the market of various Renewable technologies that convert energy from different natural sources such as sun, tides, wind and others, into its usable forms such as electricity. Increasing awareness and knowledge about carbon footprint management is expected to generate lucrative growth prospects for the renewable energy market globally. The global renewable energy market was estimated at USD 928.0 Billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 1,512.3 Billion by 2025, posting a 6.1 percent CAGR from 2018 to 2025. INQUIRE FOR FREE SAMPLE REPORT : https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Auto-3N388/Renewable_Energy_Market Tends Influencing The Renewable Energy Market Size Increased greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), especially CO2 from the use of fossil fuels for energy generation and the dwindling existence of fossil fuel on Earth coupled with its high costs, are fuelling the renewable energy market. Due to the limited presence of fossil fuel on the earth as well its volatile prices, fuels the renewable energy market. However, the generation of energy from renewable sources requires huge capital. Continuous technological advancements and increasing government support in the renewable energy sector is expected to provide lucrative opportunities for renewable energy market growth during the forecast period. The size of the market for renewable energy is expected to grow in the developed and developing economies due to the implementation of strict government regulations regarding climate change. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Auto-3N388/renewable-energy-market Region Wise Renewable Energy Market Share Analysis Asia-Pacific emerged as a renewable energy market leader in 2017, and its dominance is expected to continue over the forecast period. In terms of end-user, due to rapid industrialization, the industrial and residential segments are expected to dominate the Asia-Pacific market. emerged as a renewable energy market leader in 2017, and its dominance is expected to continue over the forecast period. In terms of end-user, due to rapid industrialization, the industrial and residential segments are expected to dominate the market. China is predicted to account for the highest market share on the renewable energy market in Asia-Pacific and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period. China aims to reduce its fossil-fuel reliance by embracing renewable energy for electricity generation. Inquire For Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/ALLI-Auto-3N388/Renewable_Energy_Market Segment Wise Renewable Energy Market Share Analysis The market is divided by type into the hydroelectric, wind, Bioenergy, solar, and geothermal energy sectors. During the forecast period, the hydroelectric power segment is expected to dominate the market. Furthermore, during the forecast period, the Solar Energy segment is expected to grow at the highest growth rate. Competitive Landscape Some of the major players analyzed in this report are listed below, ABB Ltd., General Electric (GE), The Tata Power Company Limited ( Tata Power ), ), Innergex, Enel Spa (Enel), Xcel Energy Inc. (Xcel Energy), EDF, Geronimo Energy, Invenergy ACCIONA Others. Vestas Wind Systems A / S, UpWind Solutions, Inc., Senvion S.A., and Sinovel Wind Group Co., Ltd., and ENERCON Ltd. are the other participants in the market value chain. Renewable Energy Market Segmentation: By Type Hydroelectric Power Wind Power Energy Bioenergy Solar Energy Geothermal Energy By End-Use Residential Commercial Industrial Others Key Benefits For Stakeholders The report provides an in-depth analysis of the forecast along with the current and future renewable energy market trends. This report highlights the key drivers, opportunities, and restraints of the market along with the impact analyses in the forecast period. The renewable energy market forecast is studied from 2018 to 2025. Porter's five forces analysis helps analyze the potential of the buyers & suppliers and the competitive scenario of the renewable energy industry for strategy building. A comprehensive analysis of the factors that drive and restrain the renewable energy market growth is provided. The qualitative data in this report aims to market dynamics, trends, and developments. The renewable energy market size is provided in terms of volume as well as revenue. An extensive analysis of various regions provides insights that are expected to allow companies to strategically plan their business moves. The profiles of key players along with their key strategic developments are enlisted in the report. Buy Now: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=ALLI-Auto-3N388 Reports Related to the Subset of Renewable Energy Market: Hydropower Market Hydropower is the most advanced, efficient, and cost-effective renewable power generation technology in which power is generated from water flowing from elevations higher to lower. This study analyses Hydropower's global market size, focusing on main regions such as the United States, the European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia). Asia-Pacific region continues to account for the largest share of the global installed hydropower of all regions in the world. China alone accounts for more than 25% of the global hydropower capacity, and added approximately 11.74 GW of new capacity in 2017, including 3.74 GW of pumped storage, taking its total installed capacity to 331 GW, including 26.7 GW of pumped storage. China is expected to witness capacity expansion by 2023, in line with the nation's strategy to minimize reliance on coal. The country has the most unutilized hydropower potential. Therefore, there is a considerable prospect for further hydro development. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-19Y457/hydropower-market Solar PV Market Solar PV is one of a kind of device made of crystalline silicon or thin-film that transforms solar energy into electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. Conversion efficiency is a key indicator for solar PV. In 2018, the Solar PV market was estimated at USD 44,800 Million and is projected to reach USD 52,200 Million by 2025, at a CAGR of 1.9 percent over the forecast period. China remains the largest market on the global solar photovoltaic market, with around 50 percent market share in 2015, and is expected to hold its position during the forecast period. View Full Report : https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-8126/global-solar-pv-market-insights Geothermal Power Market Geothermal power is considered a reliable, renewable energy source because the amount of extracted heat for energy generation is very small compared to the actual heat present inside the Earth. The low emissions feature of geothermal energy is one of the major drivers for the market. This report presents the worldwide size of the Geothermal Power market (value, output, and consumption), splits the breakdown by manufacturers, area, form, and application (data status 2014-2019 and forecast to 2025). View Full Report : https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1353/global-geothermal-power-market Bioenergy Market Bioenergy is the renewable energy made available from biological-derived materials. The rising demand for energy to keep up with the industrial expansion and the rapid urbanization has created a huge deficit, which has coaxed many countries to turn to alternative options. The increasing pressure on world leaders to reduce the carbon footprint and the deadly amount of greenhouse gasses is also pushing nations around the globe to take the bioenergy option seriously. This study analyses Bioenergy's global market size, focusing on main regions such as the United States, the European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia). View Full Report : https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-27Z111/bioenergy-market Composite Materials in Renewable Energy Market A composite material is a material made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties that, when combined, produce a material with characteristics different from the individual components. This study focuses on the volume and value of composite materials in renewable energy at the global, national, and enterprise levels. From a global perspective, this study reflects the overall market size of composite materials in renewable energy by evaluating historical data and prospects for the future. This study focuses regionally on several main regions: North America, Europe, China, and Japan. View Full Report : https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-7F1391/global-composite-materials-in-renewable-market Renewable Energy Inverter Market Inverters technologies are evolving for accommodating renewable energy. These systems convert a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel's variable direct current (DC) output into a utility frequency alternating current (AC), which can be fed into a commercial electrical grid or used by a local, off-grid electrical grid. The research report provides analyses of various factors that increase the growth of the market. This represents patterns, constraints, and factors that either positively or negatively turn the market. This report also provides an overview of various segments and applications that might potentially influence the future market. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-18O1014/global-renewable-energy-inverter About Us: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. Valuates is curating premium Market Research Reports from the leading publishers around the globe. We will help you map your information needs to our report repository of Market research reports and guide you through your purchasing decision. We are based out of Silicon Valley of India (Bengaluru) and provide 24/6 online and offline support to all our customers and just a phone call away. Contact Us: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp : +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports High school students sue Michigan administrators over suspensions for alleged racist Snapchats originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The parents of four Saline, Michigan, high school students filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday over the students' suspension following alleged racist messages they posted on Snapchat. Two of the unnamed students, all white, have returned to their classes while the others face expulsion for their Jan. 26 Snapchat texts where they reportedly used the N word and white supremacy statements, according to the students' attorney, David A. Kallman. Kallman contends their punishments violated their first amendment rights. Although the suit acknowledged that the students Snapchat thread was inappropriate and immature, it argued that the school had no jurisdiction to discipline them since the texting took place outside of school grounds and the students were denied their due process rights. MORE: Parent responds with racist retort at school meeting: 'Why didn't you stay in Mexico?' "This case boils down to a simple question: When a child misbehaves at home, who disciplines the local public school or the parent?" Kallman said in a statement. PHOTO: Parents discuss their experiences and opinions on racism in the Saline community and schools during a school diversity and inclusion meeting community meeting at Liberty School in Saline, Mich., Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. (Ann Arbor News via AP, FILE) Representatives for the Saline Area Schools didnt immediately return messages asking for comment. Saline Area Schools Superintendent Scot Graden released a letter on Jan. 27 that the school investigated the texts after they were reported to administrators and determined "that the incident represents an act of racism that created harm to all of our students." The suit said the four defendants were not the ones who started the Snapchat chain and black students were also part of the thread. It also said that the preserved exchanges did not include the full conversation, including a statement from one of the black students who allegedly "jokingly suggested that everyone on the chat say the N word at the same time to stop racism and many of the children did so." Story continues Kallman is seeking "compensatory and punitive damages" for his clients. MORE: High school students lock out administrators in protest over 'racist' video The incident sparked a debate among school administrators, students and parents that led to a heated meeting on race issues on Feb. 3 in a Saline school. As parent Adrian Iraola talked about the struggles he and his children faced because they were Mexican, a man interrupted and said, "So why didn't you stay in Mexico?" Audience members gasped and told the heckler to leave. Graden wrote a letter condemning the racist remark. "This type of bigotry goes against all of the values and beliefs of our school system," he wrote. The Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Energy, Nana Damoah, has dared Members of the Minority in Parliament to sue the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) over claims that it is allegedly condoning illegality by procuring loans without parliamentary approval. Mr. Damoah threw the challenge in response to former deputy Minister of Power, Abu Jinapors claim that the GNPC between 2019 and 2019 procured loans amounting to US$1 billion without Parliaments approval. It is sad to note that the GNPC which was well-positioned and better resourced to serve the national interest before we left office has been saddled with huge debts due to mismanagement and high levels of opacity that has characterized the corporation. Available records prove that total guarantees and loans procured by GNPC between 2017 and 2019 have risen sharply to about US$1 billion. Even more worrying is the fact that these gargantuan loans have been contracted without the requisite parliamentary approval in contravention of the PFMA 921, Mr. Jinapor had said. Speaking on Eyewitness News, however, Mr. Damoah asked the Minority to sue the GNPC if it was indeed convinced that the Corporation by-passed Parliament in procuring these loans. This is entirely absurd and again let me put out these facts speak to GNPC on the details on this. In this country, as we stand, if indeed GNPC has been allowed to borrow 1 billion without parliamentary approval then as parliamentarians they sit down and let this go on then it tells you the kind of parliamentarians that we have. The fact that they are members of Parliament, they make a claim that these loans did not even come to Parliament as they should have. Nothing stops them from going to court and asking the Supreme Court to declare that GNPC has condoned an illegality. If you havent done this and you mount political platforms to make allegations then it is needless. Mr. Jinapor also alleged that Ghana's energy sector is struggling due to a GH15 billion debt. He blamed the prevailing situation on the mismanagement of the sector by the current administration. There are two kinds of leaders today; a visionary one, a quiet one who thinks of Ghana's tomorrow, and a very loud, robust one who makes a lot of noise but does very little for us. That is what we face as a country. And like I said, the investments we [the NDC] made, if the current administration had sustained that path and continued on those programs and projects, Ghana would have been moving forward than we are today, he said. The Ghana Gas Company built at a cost of over US$1 billion despite all these savings, today is indebted to the tune of about US$1billion. If you add what ECG is adding to it and you do the analysis within three years in the energy sector alone, you're talking of a debt of about GH15 billion and that is not part of the national debt. There's been a deliberate, consistent approach to take all these figures off the national accounting system and so they present to you a certain figure as our national debt but when you look at the contingent liabilities, they are very serious. Mr. Damoh in a rebuttal, however, indicated that the Energy Sector is doing well despite the gloomy picture painted by the National Democratic Congress about the Sector. They have been saying these things since 2017. I remember that in 2018, they gave an exact date that the entire Energy Sector of this country was going to collapse by that specific date. Someway, somehow, despite all the debt singing that the people of Ghana have to endure, we are here and the Energy Sector has not collapsed. Despite the gloom that has been painted about the Energy Sector, someway, somehow, the countrys energy sector is functioning and we are doing well. ---citinewsroom CHICO, Calif. - Paradise students brought their art sketches to life, all thanks to the Orient & Flume Art Glass Company. "It was honestly magical," student Kylin Crawford said. "Its really fun to see your creation coming to life," Cara Dove, another student, said. Students sketched and combined their favorite animals during their art class in hopes of seeing their creation sculpted into a piece of fine art. "Mine was an 'owlcorn." It was a weird combo. I wanted a bird and a unicorn 'cause thats how I describe myself, and so I put it together and made a rainbow owl with a unicorn horn," Crawford said. "The firefly because it had the two things coming out, and the giraffe because it has a really long neck," Dove said. The professional artists showed students the intricacy and delicacy it takes to make a blown glass figurine. "It keeps building up, and they cool it off with the water, and then they cut it and shape it into your design," Dove explained. "I love art ! Its a hobby of mine. Sometimes I use it to put my feelings on paper, or sometimes I just doodle in class," Genie Fogel said. This experience was brought about by the Rainforest Art Project. Organizers say it is a way to inspire the kids and open their imaginations while using art to continue to heal. The founder of the Rainforest Art Project has been working with Paradise students since the Camp Fire. "Every person at some point in their life really needs to have that spark, that influence, that gets their curiosity and influence going about life and the arts," Ever said. "He has done everything he could to make this year amazing," said Crawford. And to give thanks for an amazing year, student Genie Fogel made a special sketch for former Paradise School District Superintendent Michelle John. "She was determined and everyone rallied behind her and it not only made this district survive but it's thriving," Evers said. "I was thinking about how amazing and a once and a lifetime experience this is, and for their healing process," Michelle John said. "It was a surprise and like a blessing. It just feels good to be back here and holding this in my hands and see the kids." Some of the kids' pieces will be exhibited and on display at Paradise Ridge Elementary School. The Rainforest Art Project is committed to helping the Paradise students heal through art and imagination University of Arizona researchers studied recent extinctions from climate change to estimate the loss of plant and animal species by 2070 Accurately predicting biodiversity loss from climate change requires a detailed understanding of what aspects of climate change cause extinctions, and what mechanisms may allow species to survive. A new study by University of Arizona researchers presents detailed estimates of global extinction from climate change by 2070. By combining information on recent extinctions from climate change, rates of species movement and different projections of future climate, they estimate that one in three species of plants and animals may face extinction. Their results are based on data from hundreds of plant and animal species surveyed around the globe. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study likely is the first to estimate broad-scale extinction patterns from climate change by incorporating data from recent climate-related extinctions and from rates of species movements. To estimate the rates of future extinctions from climate change, Cristian Roman-Palacios and John J. Wiens, both in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, looked to the recent past. Specifically, they examined local extinctions that have already happened, based on studies of repeated surveys of plants and animals over time. Roman-Palacios and Wiens analyzed data from 538 species and 581 sites around the world. They focused on plant and animal species that were surveyed at the same sites over time, at least 10 years apart. They generated climate data from the time of the earliest survey of each site and the more recent survey. They found that 44% of the 538 species had already gone extinct at one or more sites. "By analyzing the change in 19 climatic variables at each site, we could determine which variables drive local extinctions and how much change a population can tolerate without going extinct," Roman-Palacios said. "We also estimated how quickly populations can move to try and escape rising temperatures. When we put all of these pieces of information together for each species, we can come up with detailed estimates of global extinction rates for hundreds of plant and animal species." The study identified maximum annual temperatures -- the hottest daily highs in summer -- as the key variable that best explains whether a population will go extinct. Surprisingly, the researchers found that average yearly temperatures showed smaller changes at sites with local extinction, even though average temperatures are widely used as a proxy for overall climate change. "This means that using changes in mean annual temperatures to predict extinction from climate change might be positively misleading," Wiens said. Previous studies have focused on dispersal -- or migration to cooler habitats -- as a means for species to "escape" from warming climates. However, the authors of the current study found that most species will not be able to disperse quickly enough to avoid extinction, based on their past rates of movement. Instead, they found that many species were able to tolerate some increases in maximum temperatures, but only up to a point. They found that about 50% of the species had local extinctions if maximum temperatures increased by more than 0.5 degrees Celsius, and 95% if temperatures increase by more than 2.9 degrees Celsius. Projections of species loss depend on how much climate will warm in the future. "In a way, it's a 'choose your own adventure,'" Wiens said. "If we stick to the Paris Agreement to combat climate change, we may lose fewer than two out of every 10 plant and animal species on Earth by 2070. But if humans cause larger temperature increases, we could lose more than a third or even half of all animal and plant species, based on our results." The paper's projections of species loss are similar for plants and animals, but extinctions are projected to be two to four times more common in the tropics than in temperate regions. "This is a big problem, because the majority of plant and animal species occur in the tropics," Roman-Palacios said. ### The research paper, "Recent responses to climate change reveal the drivers of species extinction and survival," is published in PNAS: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/02/04/1913007117 Regulatory News: Philip Morris International Inc. ("PMI") (NYSE: PM) will host a live audio webcast of a presentation by Andre Calantzopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, joined by Jacek Olczak, Chief Operating Officer and Martin King, Chief Financial Officer, at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference at www.pmi.com/2020cagny on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at approximately 9:00 a.m. ET. The webcast will provide live audio of the entire PMI session and will be in a listen-only mode. The audio webcast may also be accessed on iOS or Android devices by downloading PMI's free Investor Relations Mobile Application at www.pmi.com/irapp. An archived copy of the webcast will be available at www.pmi.com/2020cagny until 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Presentation slides and script will also be available at www.pmi.com/2020cagny. Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products and associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the United States. In addition, PMI ships a version of its IQOS Platform 1 device and its consumables authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to Altria Group, Inc. for sale in the United States under license. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free IQOS product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of December 31, 2019, PMI estimates that approximately 9.7 million adult smokers around the world have already stopped smoking and switched to PMI's heat-not-burn product available for sale in 52 markets in key cities or nationwide under the IQOS brand. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005574/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations: New York: +1 (917) 663 2233 Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4666 Media: Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4500 Email: Iro.Antoniadou@pmi.com He wrote it as for any other orchestra but thinking about the pleasure I will have to hear it, thats all. But no special features. The excellence of an orchestra doesnt lie on extended technique. Its on the opposite: It lies on the most familiar techniques. When you can see the true personality in an orchestra is when you make them play a scale. (Photo : Christian Wiediger of Unsplash) [WARNING] Buying Items Online May Transfer Coronavirus From China? Amazon Takes Immediate Action (Photo : Bryan Angelo on Unsplash) [WARNING] Buying Items Online May Transfer Coronavirus From China? Amazon Takes Immediate Action Novel Coronavirus has now killed more than 1,000 people and infected over 45,000 all over the world, as of Tuesday, Feb. 11. Massive and stringent health inspections are currently being implemented in order to stop the spread of the said viral disease. However, the government seemed to be missing out on a significant possible carrier of the disease: China-made items that are being sold online. Is it still safe to buy China-made online items amid Coronavirus? Here's explanation 2019- nCoV, now called COVID-19, is still frightening most citizens in China and people around the world with its fast way of spreading from one person to another. According to the World Health Organization, human hands can be one of the best hosts for viral diseases and also has the easiest access to spread the disease. "Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus.," WHO said on its website. "If you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself." With this warning, people are now speculating that even items that are touched or made by Chinese people or came from China may have a possibility of carrying the virus-- now leading people to stopped buying online items that are specifically China-made. But should people really worry about this issue? Hoax: Imported goods are associated with Coronavirus U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already released a statement regarding this claim. CDC clarified that this is only a myth and that "In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures." "Currently, there is no evidence to support the transmission of 2019-nCoV associated with imported goods, and there have not been any cases of 2019-nCoV in the United States associated with imported goods," the agency added. WHO also shared a statement saying that coronaviruses "do not survive long on objects." Once items are exposed to UV rays or any heat from outside, the viruses tend to die. 40% Amazon products came from China, Here's why you shouldn't worry Famous online retail shops like Amazon are now giving heads up to their China-based factories and workers on the health and security protocols that they should follow amid the Coronavirus spread. Since 40% of Amazon products are China-made or imported from the country, Amazon has now released a message for their sellers and distributors in the country to heads up them once they can no longer fulfill orders. "If your business operations may be impacted, we recommend taking precautions to protect your Amazon seller account health. These precautions may include canceling previously placed orders that you are no longer able to fulfill, placing your account in vacation status, or taking additional steps to manage your inventory," said Amazon. The world's largest online store was also reported stocking up on Chinese products as a 'cautionary move' from the company. According to Business Insider, Amazon was "preparing for possible supply chain disruptions due to recent global events originating in China." Although Amazon is doing its best to stay sharp amid Coronavirus spread, experts think that the battle between online shopping and this virus will go for a while. "Indirectly, coronavirus could negatively impact all businesses - Amazon included - to the extent [the virus] spooks consumers, prompting them to hang on to their money," said Kerry Murdock, editor, and publisher of online e-commerce magazine Practical Ecommerce on FOX Business. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (CNN) A security flaw in a mobile app used primarily by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party exposed the personal data of every eligible voter in Israel just three weeks before a national election. The flaw in the Elector app revealed the names, addresses and identity card numbers for each one of Israel's 6,453,255 voters in such a simple way that it didn't require any advanced knowledge of hacking to access the critical information. "It wasn't very technical," said software developer Ran Bar-Zik, who exposed the flaw in the Haaretz newspaper on Sunday after it was fixed."It's amazing. It's a very simple, very stupid hack. To call it a hack is an insult to professional hackers." Before the flaw was fixed, Bar-Zik said users could go to the Elector app's website and view the source code, which revealed the logins of system administrators, allowing anyone to access and download the voter registry. Bar-Zik was tipped off to the flaw by an anonymous source to his podcast. "The anonymous source sent me my son's details, who is a soldier in the army. And I was amazed. And when I see the magnitude of the details more than six million people I was shocked it was so easy," Bar-Zik told CNN. It's unclear how many people downloaded the sensitive data, but the information was available for at least 24 hours and possibly much longer. Bar-Zik notified the developer of the flaw on Friday evening. It was fixed by Saturday evening, Bar-Zik confirmed, but it may have been available long before Bar-Zik knew about it. "It could be a lot of days, a lot of months even," he said. CNN reached out to the app's developer, Zuriel Yamin, for comment. The development firm, Feed-b, tried to downplay the security flaw, telling Haaretz the flaw was a "one-off incident that was immediately dealt with" and that security measures had been improved. The app's history shows that Elector has been available for at least nine months. The app was last updated four days ago with improvements to the speed of the homepage and additional security features. Beyond Israel, the app has also been downloaded in countries like Moldova, China, Russia, and the United States. The numbers of downloads are far smaller abroad, but if the data is downloaded even once, it can be shared easily, potentially exposing the private data of millions of Israeli citizens. Even after the security flaw was fixed, those who had already downloaded the data could still share it. In a county that prides itself on its reputation as the "Start-Up Nation," and a cyber security powerhouse, the security flaw is a significant embarrassment. The Privacy Protection Authority in the Ministry of Justice has opened up an "oversight procedure" because of the security breach and is working to prevent the leak from continuing. Voter registry data is provided to all of the political parties before an election. The responsibility to comply with privacy and election laws is "first and foremost on the parties," the ministry said in a statement. Last week, Netanyahu urged his party's Likud supporters to download the Elector app as a powerful tool to boost voter turnout on election day, repeating "Elector!" as the app was shown on a big screen behind him. A statement from the Likud party pinned the blame on the developer. "Elector is an external private provider that gives services to a number of parties, and the professional and legal responsibility is on [the developers]. From the moment it became clear that the company was not meeting the encrypted standard of security, the Likud turned to a leading information security company to do a thorough check of the system." Neither the Likud nor the developer are likely to face any serious penalties for the security flaw, cautioned Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, who heads the Media Reform Program at the Israel Democracy Institute. "The privacy authority doesn't really have enough enforcement tools," said Altshuler. "They can't really give fines and so on and so forth." This story was first published on CNN.com "Personal data of all 6.5 million Israeli voters exposed by security flaw in app" In a first result of the "Disha App'' an initiative of the Andhra Pradesh police to help women in distress, an assistant professor was caught within six minutes after a woman sent the SoS message from her mobile, early Wednesday morning. The victim, a government official working in Andhra Pradesh's excise department, was travelling from Vishakhapatnam to Vijayawada. And all through the night yesterday, the accused, according to the victim, was harassing her. Unable to bear it anymore, the lady sent an SoS message from the Disha App which went was received by the centralised police control room in Mangalagiri near Vijayawada. "At 4.21 am our control room received this distress call. Getting the location of the victim with pinpoint accuracy, the control room directed Eluru police which intercepted the bus immediately and took the accused in custody by 4.27 am,'' informed M Deepika Pati, IPS, Special Officer, Disha. The accused was taken to local Three Town Police Station of West Godavari district and a Zero FIR was lodged. "Ever since the Disha App was launched on February 8, there have been more than 5000 downloads by women across the state in just three days and it is increasing,'' said Gowtam Sawang, Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh. The accused has been booked under section 354 of IPC. Victorias health department was forced to overhaul its medical policies after it gave a doctor the green light to prescribe staggering amounts of opioid painkillers to a man who later died of an overdose. As the Morrison government moves to tackle opioid deaths in Australia, coronial records have raised questions about the role of state health departments in authorising prescriptions for some of the most addictive legal drugs available. OxyContin is the powerful painkiller at the centre of the US opioid crisis. Credit:Justin McManus JZM The Age can reveal that in one case, the Victorian health department ignored medical guidelines and gave a doctor three separate permits to provide increasingly higher doses of oxycodone to treat a patients intermittent migraines. Oxycodone, which trades under brand names such as OxyContin or Endone, is the drug at the centre of the US opioid epidemic, and multiple medical studies have warned it should not be used to treat migraines. A medical staff member walks outside the Jinyintan hospital, where patients infected by the new coronavirus are being treated, in Wuhan, Hubei province, January 18, 2020. STR/AFP via Getty Images If the Chinese government had the supplies and capacity to test everyone in Wuhan for novel coronavirus, experts say, the number of cases would be far higher than currently reported. But medical shortages and the possibility that patients can carry the virus while asymptomatic mean many are likely going undiagnosed. A new report estimates that there are 19 times the official number of confirmed cases in Wuhan. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. New estimates of novel coronavirus diagnoses in the Chinese city of Wuhan place the number of infected people far higher than 19,558, the current case count from the Chinese government. Researchers from Imperial College London calculated in a new report that for every one person who has been tested and diagnosed with the coronavirus in Wuhan, 18 others likely have the infection but are going untested and undiagnosed. The analysis, released Monday, is based on estimates of the rate of infection in cases outside of mainland China. The researchers looked at roughly 750 passengers who traveled from Wuhan back to their home countries on government-arranged flights. Upon their return, the travelers were all kept in isolation and tested for the coronavirus immediately; many were diagnosed, some of whom didn't present any symptoms. The researchers applied the incidence of infection calculated in those situations to the population of Wuhan. The math revealed a severe under-counting of patients in Wuhan. That speaks to two major challenges in responding to the coronavirus outbreak: the scarcity of resources to test people as the outbreak has grown, and the fact that many infected people only have mild symptoms. 43,000 cases in 6 weeks More than 43,000 cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed around the world since the new virus was discovered in Wuhan at the end of December. The death toll passed 1,000 on Monday. GRAPH The healthcare system in Wuhan was quickly overwhelmed by the outbreak, with hospitals running out of space and medical supplies including test kits and medicine. People in China said at the end of January that getting a spit-test kit was like winning the lottery. Story continues Medical staff with protective clothing work inside a ward specialized in receiving people who may have coronavirus, at the Rajiv Ghandhi Government General hospital in Chennai, India, January 29, 2020. P. Ravikumar/Reuters The tests identify the coronavirus by its genome. Doctors take samples from saliva, mucus, or phlegm swabs to analyze in labs. The process takes at least 24 hours. According to Reuters, all virus samples were initially sent to just one lab in Beijing for testing, but they're now also being analyzed in the Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. That suggests a bottleneck in the testing and diagnosing of patients. A far higher case total in Wuhan As foreign nationals in China have evacuated and returned to their home countries, many governments have imposed quarantines. The Imperial College researchers based their analysis on passengers who had left China and returned to Japan and Germany on four flights from January 29 to February 1. All were tested for the coronavirus, and 10 infections were found among the 750 passengers. According to the paper, that suggests a "detectable infection prevalence of 1.3%." A plane carrying evacuees from China lands at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on February 5, 2020, in San Diego, California. Associated Press The researchers estimated that given the exponential rate of the coronavirus' spread, 220 out of every 100,000 Wuhan residents would get the virus on January 31 alone. Since Wuhan has 11 million residents, that means 24,000 new cases on that day. The researchers compared that number to the 1,242 reported and confirmed new cases in Wuhan on February 3 and found a 19-fold under-reporting rate. That calculation assumes there is a 14-day window in which a patient's coronavirus infection will yield a positive test. The team also ran the numbers based on the assumption that a patient has only a seven-day period of detectable infection. In that scenario, Wuhan would have 300 new cases per every 100,000 residents on January 31. In total, that's 33,000 new cases in the city that day 26 times the official number on February 3. The researchers stressed, however, that testing all 11 million residents of Wuhan would be virtually impossible. "Surveillance is typically biased towards detecting clinically severe cases, particularly at the start of an epidemic when diagnostic capacity is limited," they wrote. Some people who are infected also may not know they have the virus if they are asymptomatic or very mildly symptomatic. Additionally, scientists are still unsure whether the infection can be transmitted while an infected person is not showing symptoms. Still, the Imperial College researchers said comparing the death toll with this higher estimated number of cases suggests the coronavirus' fatality rate could be very low. Read the original article on Business Insider Tammie Lyle, a single mother in Richmond, Virginia, was evicted from her home in July 2019 after the rental office of her apartment complex discovered her older daughter was staying with her. I ended up with the whole family myself, four children, three grandkids, we had to go. We lived in a hotel for a little while, and then all split up, Lyle said. We all live in different houses now. We had to switch the kids schools and we missed a lot of time from work because were not together and we dont have childcare. Related: 'I don't have anywhere else to go': why tenants fear renovation of neglected public housing She works two jobs, one at Amazon and another at a 7-Eleven store, and sometimes she has a third if she can find the extra work. Lyles story is just one of many when it comes to a modern American phenomenon: a plague of evictions that devastates the lives of already vulnerable families. In the US, an estimated 2.3 million Americans were evicted from their home in 2016, the latest year of available data, as rent prices around the US continue to rise while affordable housing units disappear and the legal system is weighted towards wealthy landlords, not tenants. The impact of an eviction is frequently disastrous. Once youre displaced from your house, everything is turned upside down, added Lyle. Her eviction decreased her credit score, which has made it difficult to find another apartment to rent, especially in Richmond, where rents have risen by 30% in parts of the city since 2012 and eviction rates are the second highest among large cities in the US. In 2016, there were 6,435 evictions in Richmond, a rate of 11.44% of all renters in the city, roughly three to four times the national eviction rate. In Virginia, housing organizers and advocates argue the court systems are widely tilted in favor of landlords over tenants, driving high numbers of eviction lawsuits. People can get run over in these courts and they dont really have much of a remedy to go back and show what was wrong, said Omari al-Qadaffi, a housing organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center in Richmond. He also noted tenants are required to pay a bond worth three months of rent to appeal any court decision, no matter their income and that the city has seen the destruction of public housing and landlords refusing to accept subsidized housing vouchers. Story continues The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) manages 4,000 public housing apartments throughout Richmond, and has been criticized by housing organizers for high eviction rates. In 2017, 1,460 tenants living in RRHA apartments faced an eviction lawsuit, the highest of any landlord in the state of Virginia that year. Criticism for high eviction lawsuit rates caused the RRHA to freeze evictions temporarily in November 2019 until May 2020 and begin working with the citys eviction diversion program. I received an eviction notice in September 2019 for $58 because they added on some charges I wasnt aware of. A few weeks later, I received another eviction threat saying if you dont remove your dog within 30 days, you will be evicted, but I dont have a dog, said a current tenant in Creighton Court, a public housing complex managed by RRHA, who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. They provided a copy of both eviction notices. The RRHA is pushing forward with plans to demolish the Creighton Court complex, which will displace more than 300 families. Theyre trying to put us out. Were here because we need a little help. Its public housing, which means the people own it. I work, I pay tax dollars, so Ive helped pay for public housing. Why are they making it so much harder on us? the tenant added. An RRHA spokesperson told the Guardian in an email: RRHA has no record of the circumstances described. However, in the event that a resident were to receive erroneous notice of a violation of RRHAs Pet Policy, RRHA believes adequate safeguards are in place to protect the tenants interests. They added that every resident who is affected by redevelopment will be provided with another public housing unit or a tenant-based voucher. We lead the nation in eviction rates In North Charleston, South Carolina, renters are plagued with the highest eviction rate of any major city in the US, at a rate of 16.5% of all renters in 2016. Weve been pushing for elected officials to really address the fact we lead the nation in eviction rates, and so far the city says they dont have money to put toward an affordable housing trust fund, but the city is getting ready to unveil an aquatics center that costs about $22.5m. The question isnt whether the city has the money, its where do our priorities lie? said a housing organizer in North Charleston who requested to remain anonymous. In September 2019, a new housing court pilot program began in North Charleston to provide tenants with legal representation in eviction court cases, support that has been severely lacking in the city. Nationwide, the majority of tenants who face eviction lawsuits have no legal representation. The question isnt whether the city has the money, its where do our priorities lie? A housing organizer in North Charleston We need to have a system where tenants are provided a lawyer even if they cannot afford one, said the South Carolina state representative Marvin Pendarvis, who proposed a bill last year to improve the rights of tenants in response to high eviction rates in North Charleston. As Pendarvis pushes for legislation to improve the rights of tenants in South Carolina, residents in North Charleston still continue to face evictions, driven by gentrification and new development. A 34-year-old black single mother, who requested to remain anonymous, was evicted from her home on 10 October 2019 after renting it for four years. The owner of my house decided he didnt want to rent the house any more, so he gave me a 30-day notice when I was scheduled to renew my lease, she said. She tried to move out by the end of the month on 31 October, but was told by her landlord she would be in breach of contract if she didnt pay rent until 10 November 2019 and maintain utilities in the apartment. I did that, I cleaned out everything after living in this home for four years, and they are refusing to give me any of my $875 deposit for all the repairs they said they had to do, she added. I ended up having to pay a move-in fee, first and last months rent, and the rental fee for a new place. It was almost $3,000 to come up with. Im a single mother, I dont make a lot of money. Gentrification and development is displacing black Atlanta residents Though many of the largest US cities have lower eviction rates than North Charleston and Richmond, cities such as Atlanta have predominantly black neighborhoods facing an eviction crisis with eviction rates as high as 40%. The city has the third highest eviction rate in the US among the countrys top 50 largest metro areas. Im spent. Im tired. Were technically homeless, said a single black mother who also requested to remain anonymous. She was forced out of her Atlanta home in November 2019 after her landlord sold the house she was renting and is still struggling to find a new place to live. Even with the monthly income I do make, its not enough because Im losing money in rental application fees, transportation and lodging in motels. Large-scale development projects such as the Atlanta BeltLine, a multibillion-dollar rails to trails project, are driving mass evictions in Atlantas south side as rental prices soar along its route. So many people on this side of town are seeing mass evictions due to these infrastructure development projects Alison Johnson So many people on this side of town are seeing mass evictions due to these infrastructure development projects and because the landlords jack up the rents and have begun serial eviction filings, said Alison Johnson, executive director of the Atlanta Housing Justice League. Her organization has developed an eviction manual to walk tenants through their rights in the eviction process. Landlords want to raise rents as high as possible to attract higher-income people into those units. In December 2019, housing organizers protested outside the Atlanta mayors office as the city is using eminent domain, where private property is seized for public use, to evict residents in Atlantas Peoplestown neighborhood to build a park and pond to mitigate flooding issues in the area caused by poor sewage infrastructure and overdevelopment. Tanya Washington, a law professor at Georgia State University, is one of the homeowners currently facing a lawsuit filed by the city of Atlanta to evict her from her home in the Peoplestown neighborhood. She provided emails from a city-employed engineer obtained through the lawsuits discovery process where an engineer states the use of eminent domain is unnecessary to build the park and pond, and Washington says the city has been provided with alternative, cheaper development plans that would achieve the same flooding control goals. They decided to take a whole block of homes. They started demolishing homes in 2014; out of 27, there are four left, said Washington. The remaining property deeds are currently under the ownership of the city of Atlanta. As of October 31, 2016, we have been occupying our homes on borrowed time. At any moment they can come and evict us. The mayors office declined to comment. English French TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunwing was recently named Norwegian Cruise Line s Wholesaler/Tour Operator Partner of the Year. Each year, the popular cruise line recognizes its top Canadian travel partners with awards across a variety of categories. Norwegian Cruise Lines National Director of Sales for Canada, Derek Lloyd congratulated the tour operator for this award, Sunwing has been a great partner for Norwegian Cruise Line for many years now, and 2019 was our best ever. Their dedication of putting together a great value package including a Norwegian Cruise, Sunwing flight and transfers makes it simple for Canadians who want a one-stop-shopping package to get away from our winters! Sunwings Vice President of USA and Cruises, Reg Mendes, commented on the news, Were honoured to have been recognized as Norwegian Cruise Lines Canadian Wholesaler/Tour Operator Partner of the Year. Since Sunwing started offering cruise packages with NCL in 2015, their signature Freestyle Cruising concept has become a favourite amongst Canadian sun-seekers. Travellers looking to set sail this winter can choose from cruise packages on board the Norwegian Escape , with departures from Toronto, Montreal, Moncton and Quebec City; and the Norwegian Encore , with packages from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. From now until February 19, 2020, guests can save up to $780 per couple on Norwegian Encore cruise packages departing from Toronto and March 1, 2020, and March 8, 2020. All Sunwing cruise packages include round-trip flights on board Sunwing Airlines with award-winning inflight service, transfers from the pier to the airport, accommodations and all meals on board. For more information or to book, visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent. About Sunwing The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 33 airports across Canada to more than 45 popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Along with providing their customers with a host of exclusive perks at preferred resorts, the tour operator also works closely with leading cruise lines to offer fly, cruise and stay packages. Sunwing is consistently voted the top leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off with award-winning inflight service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine**, non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks, including kids choices, the new World Famous Original Smoked Meat from the iconic Montreal-based Schwartzs Deli along with delicious menu options inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. **Service may be unavailable on select flights. For all media enquiries, please contact: Rachel Goldrick Senior Corporate Communications Manager Sunwing Vacations 1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca https://www.facebook.com/SunwingVacations https://twitter.com/SunwingVacay https://www.instagram.com/sunwingvacations https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzjZ-lcuaqBQH7Sq0u3ru7A A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea98ac7c-eb3b-496b-b57d-bf2f0d5c75db Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media STAMFORD There is still time to order an engraved paver to be placed in downtowns Veterans Memorial Park, which is set to reopen to the public in May. The Atlantic Street park is nearing the end of a huge renovation, and the nonprofit group overseeing the work, Veterans Park Partnership Inc., is raising money by selling pavers that people may engrave with the names of friends and family members who are veterans or who now serve in the armed forces. Pavers may also be used to share a message of gratitude or recognition. A Chinese tourist has reportedly tested positive to coronavirus after travelling to Bali. The man tested positive on February 5 after returning to China on January 28, according to the Jakarta Post. Officials believe the man from Wuhan, where the disease originated, only caught the virus after he returned home and was not infected while in Bali. The man tested positive on February 5 after returning to China in late January. Pictured: Health workers in a simulation exercise in Bali on Wednesday Bali Provincial Health Agency chief, Ketut Suarjaya, said: 'I think there is a small possibility that he was infected by the virus before he visited Bali. 'However, we will recheck all the facts. We will follow up the information. 'We will trace all the places he had visited. Of course, we will raise our alert.' The news that the patient, named as Jin, had been to Bali was announced by the Huainan Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Chinese social media site Weibo on February 6. Meanwhile, two other Chinese tourists with flu-like symptoms are being kept in isolation in Denpasar's Sanglah Hospital while awaiting test results. A Chinese tourist has reportedly tested positive to coronavirus after travelling to Bali. Pictured: Health workers in a simulation exercise in Bali on Wednesday The virus is hammering tourism in Indonesia, where thousands of Australians travel for holidays every year. The island of Bali alone has seen 20,000 cancellations, said Hariyadi Sukamdani, head of Indonesia's hotels and restaurants association. The official said there is concern of a sustained slump because from now until April is usually when bookings for summer holidays usually are made. Two law enforcement officers working with the U.S. Marshals Service were shot Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore, and the gunman is dead, authorities say. The two officers, one a detective with the city's police department and the other a detective from Baltimore County, were serving an attempted murder warrant as part of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force when the incident occurred, U.S. Marshals Service spokesman David Lutz said. The shooting unfolded around noon in Northeast Baltimore, when the officers confronted the man, "at which time gun shots were fired," the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. "Our worst fears became a reality when shots were fired and the two officers were hit," Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said. One officer was shot in the leg and the other officer was shot in the stomach. This image provided by WMAR-2 News shows emergency and law enforcement officials responding to the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Baltimore. The Baltimore Police Department and the Baltimore County Police Department each confirmed that one of their officers was taken to a shock trauma center in the city. Jennifer Peach, a spokesperson for the Baltimore County Police Department, said in an email late Wednesday that one officer was released from a hospital while the other remained in serious condition. The officers were serving the warrant to a man wanted in Pennsylvania, Peach said. Gov. Larry Hogan said the gunman was a former state corrections official who had been under investigation. He said the task force officers were going after a really bad guy. The man was shooting at the officers from inside an apartment building, neighbors told the Sun. Hogan said state police officers were part of the joint task force between federal, state and local authorities that served the warrant. He said he directed state police to provide support and resources in the investigation. "We ask Marylanders to join us in praying for the full and speedy recovery of the brave officers who were injured," Hogan said in a statement. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police officers working with US Marshals Service shot in Baltimore Nokia cancels participation at MWC 2020 in Barcelona Press release Nokia has taken the decision to withdraw from MWC 2020 after a full assessment of the risks related to a fast-moving situation. Primary focus has been to safeguard the health and well-being of employees and others while also recognizing responsibility to the industry and customers. Nokia wants to thank the GSMA as well as the governments of China and Spain and Catalonia's Generalitat. 12 February 2020 Espoo, Finland - Nokia has been carefully monitoring the situation following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, with the goal of making a fact-based decision related to our attendance at Mobile World Congress in 2020. While the health and safety of our employees is our absolute priority, we also recognize that we have a responsibility to the industry and our customers. In view of this, we have taken the necessary time to evaluate a fast-moving situation, engage with the GSMA and other stakeholders, regularly consult external experts and authorities, and plan to manage risks based on a wide range of scenarios. The conclusion of that process is that we believe the prudent decision is to cancel our participation at Mobile World Congress. We want to express our thanks to the GSMA, the governments of China and Spain as well as Catalonia's Generalitat, and many others who have worked tirelessly to address the challenges resulting from the novel coronavirus, and they have our full support as they move forward. Rather than meeting customers and stakeholders in Barcelona, Nokia plans to go directly to customers with a series of "Nokia Live" events aimed at showcasing the industry-leading demos and launches scheduled for MWC. About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Only Nokia offers a comprehensive portfolio of network equipment, software, services and licensing opportunities across the globe. With our commitment to innovation, driven by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, we are a leader in the development and deployment of 5G networks. Our communication service provider customers support more than 6.1 billion subscriptions with our radio networks, and our enterprise customers have deployed over 1,000 industrial networks worldwide. Adhering to the highest ethical standards, we transform how people live, work and communicate. For our latest updates, please visit us online www.nokia.comand follow us on Twitter @nokia. Media inquiries Nokia Communications Phone: +358 Over the years, major companies ranging from AT&T to IBM have poured billions of dollars into training programs to encourage workers to level up their technology skills and fill a widening pool of unfilled tech jobs. And in January, the state of Ohio joined the ranks of organizations working to solve for the talent shortage. Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law that commits $17.5 million a year to businesses who will pay for employees to upgrade their technology skills. Part of this initiative is through the state's TechCred program, which will reimburse up to $2,000 per employee, and up to $30,000 per employer, when a business pays for a current or prospective worker to earn an industry-recognized technology-focused credential, including those from Google Cloud, AWS, Oracle, Microsoft Azure and more. "There are lots of job training programs for people who are unemployed," Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted tells CNBC Make It, "but when you have sustained low unemployment like this in the country and Ohio, your future workforce is your present workforce we need to find a way to upskill them." TechCred recognizes 379 certificates (earned after completing a series of courses) or certifications (earned after passing a competency assessment) in tech skills related to business, health care, cybersecurity, military and smart transportation, construction, information technology, manufacturing and robotics. Participants must apply to the program, and applications are scored competitively based on several factors. One factor is how much the employer expects to raise the worker's wages after completing the program, whether that's through a raise, change of job function or promotion. "If we're going to invest these dollars, we want to upskill people who will earn more and in turn create more productivity for their employer, and we want the employee to share in that," says Husted, who serves as director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation. TechCred completed its first round of applications in October 2019, and state funds were awarded to 1,576 workers from 234 employers. Its second round of applications closed in January, and Husted expects more funding will be distributed throughout the year. The most dramatic testimony came from Toni Cassano, mother of 22-year-old victim Holly Cassano and the fourth of 19 witnesses prosecutors may call to build their case that Michael Henslick, 31, fatally stabbed his former neighbor and classmate in an 'exceptionally brutal and heinous manner indicative of wanton cruelty.' Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. MBABANE EPTC is demanding over E2.2 million from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. The Eswatini Post and Telecommunication Corporation (EPTC) claims that the aforementioned amount was in respect of leased fixed telephone services it provided to the learning institution. The exact amount that the corporation is demanding from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (Swaziland) PTY Limited is E2 243 784.43. Through its attorneys from SV Mdladla & Associates, EPTC had since instituted legal proceedings against the university where it is demanding payment. In its summons, EPTC averred that despite several demands and reminders, the university had allegedly refused and/or neglected to pay the aforementioned amount. These are allegations contained in an affidavit whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the university is yet to respond in the event it is disputing the claim against it. In the summons the university was informed that in the event it disputes the claim against it, it should within 10 days of service file with the registrar of the High Court, its notice of intention to defend. notice Inform the defendant (University of Creative Technology (Swaziland) PTY Limited) that if it fails to file and serve notice as aforesaid, judgment as claimed may be given against it without further notice to it, read part of the summons. Meanwhile, last year the learning institution filed a lawsuit against a security firm that was rendering security services within its premises. The university is demanding E645 000 that was stolen at the university during a robbery. According to the university, the security personnel employed by the defendant (ANPED Security Services) failed to exercise due care and allowed an intruder into the premises. Giving background of the matter, the plaintiff (Limkokwing University of Creative Technology) stated that in July 2014 it entered into an oral agreement with the defendant. During the signing of the agreement, the defendant was allegedly represented reby its Managing Director Andreas Dlamini and the plaintiff by Doctor Simelane who was the Operations and Human Resources Manager and Steven Lum who is the vice president. The agreement, according to the plaintiff was to the effect that, the defendant would offer security services at its (plaintiff) premises and safeguarding its buildings. In its particulars of claim, the plaintiff stated that in the month of September 2014, the parties decided to reduce the agreement into writing. The material terms of the agreement according to the university was that the security firm would provide 16 security personnel, ensure sufficient and proper security controls at the main entrance and other strategic locations, prevent unauthorised people from entering the premises, prevent theft or break-ins, report incidents and accidents on a monthly basis and provide additional security personnel when needed. agreement The parties also allegedly discussed the issue of indemnity, which was also part of the written agreement. On or about September 21, 2018, the defendants security failed to exercise due care and allowed an intruder into the premises. The intruder overpowered the security personnel after being let into the premises and went on to enter the finance office and stole an amount of E645 000, submitted the university. According to the management of the institution, the security personnel had been advised that after 8pm, no outsider should be allowed into the premises. The plaintiff argued that the defendants security personnel negligently, unlawfully and in total breach of duty of care imposed by the agreement, allowed the intruder into the premises. The intruder did not force his way into the premises but was, however, let in by the defendants employees, averred the plaintiff. The university contended that as a result of this, it suffered a loss of E645 000. Through its attorney, the university alleged that in September 2018, its representatives met with management of the defendant and demanded compensation for the amount lost during the robbery on the basis of failure to exercise due care. The management of the security firm is alleged to have, however, failed and neglected to pay the amount which was now due, payable and owing. The matter is also still pending at the High Court. Homemadezoo.org 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 Apr 2019, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the homemadezoo homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the homemadezoo 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 homemadezoo homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if homemadezoo has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the homemadezoo homepage on Twitter + the total number of homemadezoo followers (if homemadezoo has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the homemadezoo homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The 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. Domain and Server DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Type of server and offered services. The language of homemadezoo.org 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. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for homemadezoo.org by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. 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 type of Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The URL of the found Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND London: A crisis over the future of the Commonwealth and its top official has deepened after the organisation's biggest contributor followed Australia and pulled its funding. The United Kingdom has refused to hand over about 4.7 million ($9 million) after a damning investigation into a decision by secretary-general Patricia Scotland exposed deep governance problems inside the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat. Prince Charles with Commonwealth secretary-general Patricia Scotland, whose future is in doubt. Credit:AP Baroness Scotland - a former Labour minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and a lifelong member of the House of Lords - "circumvented" normal tender rules to give $500,000 worth of work to a friend and former colleague, according to a leaked audit. The Secretariat is the main agency that supports the Commonwealth's 54 member states, co-ordinates diplomacy and policy, and organises the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. SALEM Activists seeking to clean Oregons environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions turned out by the hundreds at the Oregon State Capitol on Tuesday, pushing legislators to move ahead with a cap and trade policy. Demonstrators ranged from Salem-area teenagers who took time out from school to middle-aged Wasco County residents. All told, organizers say that more than 1,000 people traveled to the Capitol to support Senate Bill 1530, which aims to cap and shrink the states carbon emissions and generate revenue for environmental projects. One of those local teens was Angelique Prater, 17, of Salem, who spoke to the crowd Tuesday about her activism. In an interview, she said that her parents, immigrants from Mexico who work in agriculture, were already feeling the effects of climate change extreme temperatures in winter and summer. She said she first heard about proposal from friends in school and then got involved in activism. I'm here today to fight for the climate crisis and to, you know, push our legislators to fight for strong climate legislation, Prater said, adding that legislation was the most important part of solving the climate crisis. The pending legislation would establish a new limit on certain emissions and reduce them over time. The limits would apply to certain industries and major fuel importers. The cap and trade policy would carve up the emissions limit into allowances that emitters can buy and sell on a market. The idea is that as emissions targets get lower, fewer allowances are available, and industry would improve pollution controls. Opponents have criticized the plan for its potential impact on consumers and small businesses, particularly through higher fuel costs. Recent revisions to the legislation spare counties east of the Cascades from regulations on fuel importers and provide a way for natural gas companies to guard their low-income customers against higher costs. The event began at noon with speeches on the Capitol steps from activists and political officials, including remarks from Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, Milwaukie Mayor and congressional candidate Mark Gamba and Eric Richardson, Eugene-Springfield NAACP president. Following speeches, the demonstrators marched around the Capitol chanting and waving signs baring messages supporting the climate legislation. The event, organized by the environmental group Renew Oregon, was a counterpart to a protest in Salem last week organized by Timber Unity. Activists made the trek to Salem from all parts of the state Tuesday, including Dean Myerson who was part of a carload of demonstrators who drove three hours from The Dalles. Myerson said he believes Oregon needs to lead the way on climate action. We cant just wait for everybody else to do something first, which seems to be one of the arguments; we cant do this alone, which is true, but somebody has to start, Myerson said. In Wasco County we had a series of really bad fires a couple years ago. A lot of historic homes were destroyed, a farmer died Theres always been fires, but climate change is making them worse. Maia Stout, a 15-year-old from coastal Yachats, explained to the crowd what climate action means to her. For the past several months, Stout like 17-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has participated in the global youth climate strike, standing outside her high school in Newport every day Friday to bring attention to the issue. I advocate for climate action because I understand that the mistakes weve made dont fix themselves, Stout said. I raised my voice because I cant vote for three more years and time is running out. Coral Avery, 22, a student at Oregon State University, is an enrolled member of the Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma. Climate and natural resource use really goes back to indigenous people, Avery said. That's the main reason why I'm here today, is to represent, the best I can, represent my community and other indigenous communities who have overall been left out of the conversation or at least haven't been centered in it before. Avery, who is involved in student government at OSU, said that she has lobbied for climate legislation for four years, since moving to Oregon. She said she was most hopeful for the bill that was proposed last year but that it didnt protect rural communities. And I've heard that, through reading it, that it's been revised in some ways to better support them and look out for when things change when polluters are held accountable for their emissions, Avery said. The rally drew people like Andy Saultz, who is running for the Portland House seat being vacated by Mitch Greenlick, a retiring Democrat. Saultz said he was running for office because we have not seen climate action. We have not seen a Legislature really prioritize the next generation, Saultz said, As a father of two toddlers, I just really worry about the long term health of our community. Saultz, a Democrat, addressed why he would enter politics at a moment where tensions in the Capitol have started running high, and as Republicans seem prepared to leave the building to avoid taking a vote on the reworked cap and trade policy. I want to help, I want to get active, Saultz said. These are problems that are real and, again, my kids can't be here to advocate for themselves. And so I think we have a moral obligation to advocate for them. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 9 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 00:07:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close SKOPJE, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A cargo train collided with a car on Wednesday at a level crossing in the central part of North Macedonia, killing one and injuring four others, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said. According to the ministry, the accident happened between the train stations of Zgropolci and Gradsko, some 60 kilometers south of the capital Skopje at 12:10 p.m. local time on Wednesday. A young man lost his life, and three men and one woman were immediately transferred to a nearby hospital for further treatment. Two of them suffered serious injuries. Police will open an inquiry into the causes of the accident. SPRINGFIELD A man whose nose was broken by former Hadley Police Officer Christopher Roeder has sued Roeder, the police chief and the town, seeking $750,000 in damages. Roeder, of Agawam, began serving a 14-month prison term in November following his conviction in U.S. District Court in Springfield on charges of deprivation of rights under color of law and falsification of a document. Lawyers representing Roeder have filed an appeal. He arrested plaintiff Nickolas Peters on April 3, 2017, claiming that Peters had struck him with the side-view mirror of his pickup truck while speeding through a construction zone days earlier. The district attorneys office eventually dropped the charges against Peters, saying there was no evidence. The DAs office also declined to prosecute Roeder, but the U.S. attorneys office for Massachusetts subsequently took up the case. While booking Peters at the police station, Roeder struck him in the face with his elbow. The incident was recorded on police video. Federal argued Roeder struck Peters as payback and then falsified his report about the incident. The defense argued Roeder feared Peters was going to overpower him. Peters filed his lawsuit Wednesday in federal court, citing Roeders unlawful behavior and alleging Hadley Police Chief Michael Mason and the town are also responsible for his pain and suffering. The Town of Hadley does not comment on pending legal matters, Hadley Town Administrator David Nixon said in response to a request to him and the chief. After his arrest and injury, the lawsuit says, Peters was taken by Hadley police to the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction in Northampton. Jail officials refused to admit him without him first being seen at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, the lawsuit says. Prosecutors said previously that Peters nose was broken in several places and required surgery. The complaint variously accuses Roeder, the police chief and the town of malicious prosecution, hiding information, failing to provide adequate medical care, lacking adequate police department policies and procedures, and stopping his vehicle without a reason. A group of Mahwah residents who successfully led a recall effort against former Mayor Bill Laforet is now demanding that current Mayor John Roth resign. Roth was found without pants on sleeping in an empty bed at the home of a township employee during a party last month. The incident came to light after a letter, addressed to Roth, was circulated around town hall to department heads and council members. Several anonymous calls were also made to the township alleging additional serious wrongdoings including inappropriate touching of a female employee at the party, Roth said at a council meeting last Thursday. A personnel investigation was immediately launched, conducted by Labor Attorney Raymond Wiss, for which employees were interviewed. A report detailing the investigations findings was delivered to the Township Business Administrator Quentin Wiest last week. Roth said he was cleared in that investigation and apologized at a township council meeting last week. The council, at the same meeting, passed a resolution unanimously formally reprimanding him. It recommended that the mayor get immediate counseling on township policies and anti-discrimination laws and seek an evaluation regarding alcohol consumption and the impact it might have on his behavior. The council does not have the authority to force Roth to listen to those recommendations, Township Attorney Brian Campion said. A handful of residents spoke out against the mayor at the meeting. The Recall Campaign Committee of 2018 in a press release Tuesday night asked residents to email the mayor pleas to step down. Roth was elected Nov. 6, 2018 on the same ballot where Laforet was recalled from office. Roth got 5,015 votes to Laforets 3,995. Laforet, who served as mayor for seven years, was serving a term that was supposed to expire in 2020. Unfortunately, Mayor Roths recent drunken behavior...and the coverage in local and national news has subjected this town to unnecessary embarrassment, the committees press release says. Mayor Roths behavior has diminished his ability to instill confidence in the public as we confront the many serious issues in the township. Additionally, he has jeopardized the ability of township employees to feel comfortable in their work environment when dealing with him. The press release concludes, with the final paragraph in all capital letters saying, Please step aside. Please resign, deal with your problem, and allow Mahwah to move forward. No township employee can be expected to function comfortably in their place of employment if you remain as mayor. Please do what is best for Mahwah." Roth did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. 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. Indian diamond houses have sought help from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the government as the coronavirus outbreak hits trade, according to a report by The Economic Times. Jewellers have approached the central bank, the commerce and finance ministries seeking an extension on the deadline to clear credit facilities taken by exporters of polished diamonds and importers of rough stones, the report said. The letter of credit, packing credit and bills outstanding for shipments to China or Hong Kong and for goods already exported for which payments are receivable from buyers in these regions should be given at least six months of additional time to resolve financial delinquencies, said Pramod Kumar Agrawal, the chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, said in a note to the central bank and government. About 35-40 percent of the Indian diamond industrys business is with mainland China and Hong Kong, which also serve as ports for distribution to other countries. Over 1,100 people have died in China due to coronavirus, with over 44,000 confirmed cases. The epidemic has affected usual business operations in financial centres such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Exports will be down 30-35 percent in the next two months. Our offices in Hong Kong and China are closed temporarily. Most staff have returned to India, Mavji Patel, managing director of diamond exports firm Kiran Gems, told the publication. IIM-Calcutta witnessed another round of successful recruitments with average salary touching a new high. The average salary offered to students of the MBA class of 2020 stood at Rs 28 lakh per annum with a median salary of Rs 25.5 lakh per annum. When it comes to the top 10 per cent of the class, the average salary package was recorded at an all-time high of Rs 54.5 lakh. The institute said that the average salary for the top quartile of the class stood at Rs 41.8 lakh per annum. Companies such as McKinsey & Co, Accenture, Boston Consulting Group, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Aditya Birla Group, Hindustan Unilever, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Flipkart, American Express were some of the many recruiters that took their pick. The institute said that 439 students received 492 offers from 136 firms that participated in the placement process. The consulting sector saw the highest number of offers. Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Co, Bain & Co, Kearney, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Accenture were the top recruiters in the sector that extended 31 per cent of all the recruitment offers. General management and sales and marketing roles amounted to 30 per cent of the total offers. TAS, Aditya Birla Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance, Vedanta, TrueNorth, Hindustan Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive, ITC, Mondelez, and FIITJEE were some of the top recruiters in this sector. Product management, IT/analytics and operations domain saw 22 per cent of the total offers. Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, Amazon, Flipkart, Udaan, EXL Service, American Express, HCL, UnitedHealth Group (Optum) and Mastercard were some of the top recruiters in these segments. Marquee finance and private equity-venture capital (PE-VC) firms offered 17 per cent of the total roles. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, Arga Investment Management, Gaja Capital, JP Morgan Chase are some of the firms that extended several offers. The institute also offered 'Dream' and 'Wait and Hold' options to its students so that they can realise their full potential. Professor Anju Seth, Director IIM-Calcutta said, "I congratulate our graduating students on receiving such coveted employment offers. These demonstrate the high value of the education imparted at IIM Calcutta and our students' remarkable skills and capabilities." Also read: FT Global MBA ranking 2020: IIM Calcutta ranks 42nd globally Also read: IIM Lucknow witnesses 100% placements; Rs 58.47 lakh for top international offer Pedro Martinez, nearing his five-year anniversary as superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District, told a crowd of nearly 100 parents and students at St. Philips College that he wants the historically low-performing school system to earn an A from the state by 2025 and that the East Side already is leading the way. To get an A from the Texas Education Agency, a school district cant have any failing campuses. Out of 100 campuses in SAISD, last year 16 were given Fs. But none of them was on the East Side, Martinez said at a town hall event in the community colleges Heritage Room, where he was previewing the State of the District speech hell give next week to business leaders. Guess which communitys been leading this progress? Martinez said, to applause. Folks, were not stopping here. Soon after Martinez came from Nevada to lead SAISD, he set five-year goals for the district, calling for ambitious increases in standardized test scores and alumni college success. Some of those goals like the district earning a B and matching the state average in the percentage of students who pass college readiness exams have been met, but the district has made little headway toward others. By 2025, Martinez wants at least 70 percent of schools to get As and Bs from the state. Last year, fewer than 30 percent earned those grades. Of the class of 2019, about 52 percent are attending a two-year or four-year college, Martinez said, but at least 78 percent of this years seniors have submitted college applications. At Sam Houston High School on the East Side, that number is 81 percent, and Sam Houston has the highest percentage of alumni attending four-year colleges among the districts seven neighborhood high schools. They continue to be a model for the entire district, Martinez said. The superintendent highlighted some successes that werent part of the five-year goals. Almost 80 percent of students are participating in fine arts, he said. We know that these are the things that motivate our children, he said. Martinez promised all SAISD schools will be on a path to renovation in 2030. The district has identified $2.5 billion in facilities needs that can be financed through bonds without increasing property tax rates because frenetic development downtown is expanding the tax base. A community commission is looking at a possible bond election this year for half that amount, Martinez said. SAISD hopes to hold similar town halls across all regions of the district, said Vanessa Hurd, chief of external relations. Another is taking place Wednesday at Jefferson High School, and next week at Lanier High School. More will be scheduled after the State of the District address next Wednesday. The East Side has lost more students to charters than any other part of SAISD. Its representative on the school board, Alicia Perry, won her seat last year after expressing skepticism of Martinez, who she said was privatizing schools and not keeping his promises. Perry, who has six children in the district and a seventh whos graduated, was more conciliatory Tuesday night. I was probably one of his worst critics because I was a parent and I wanted this to be real, she said. I didnt want this just to be another story that they were selling us about our children. Perry credited other trustees with helping her hold Martinez accountable. I want to thank you, Mr. Martinez, for giving your time and your service to our students, she said. Denise Ojeda, parent of a special-needs fifth-grader at Japhet Academy, asked Martinez to do more for special-needs children and said she was concerned about high suspension rates. She said she was happy to hear his response, that the district is developing new five-year goals for special education, including models where general and special education teachers give classes together. Martinez also suggested using bond money to build sensory rooms for autistic children. Im really inspired by the transformation thats occurred, Ojeda said. I want us to do more and be bolder about the way we welcome and embrace kids who learn differently. Alia Malik covers several school districts and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | amalik@express-news.net | Twitter: @AliaAtSAEN Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 22:54:57|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday led the nation in giving former president Daniel arap Moi the final send-off at a burial ceremony in Kabarak, Nakuru County, northwest of the capital Nairobi. Thousands of ordinary Kenyans, several local leaders and foreign dignitaries attended the State ceremony that was followed by millions of citizens across the country on televisions. Moi, who was Kenya's second president and ruled for 24 years, died on Feb. 4 and was buried after a week of national mourning. President Kenyatta said the country had lost a patriot and a statesman who steered Kenya during difficult times and ensured there is great stability. "We shall miss Moi but the greatest gift we can give him is to continue to emulate his life. I am here to say Kwa Heri (goodbye) to a man I called my father, teacher and mentor," he said. Kenyatta said that the former president held his hand when his father, Jomo Kenyatta -- the founding president - passed away in 1978. President Kenyatta announced that the government would help build a hospital and a solar generation plant in honor of Moi. Kenya's deputy president William Ruto said Moi built a strong, formidable political system that put the country together. "He was a nationalist, a patriot from the first day. He made the decision that ethnicity would not have a place in the Rift Valley and across Kenya," he said. Opposition leader Raila Odinga said Moi struggled through his life to reach the apex of the country's leadership, thus, should be emulated by all. "We need to move from mourning Moi to celebrating an iconic leader; a great father of this nation who has lifted us from all corners of the republic to be leaders," said Kalonzo Musyoka, an opposition leader and who served the country as Moi's foreign affairs minister. Gideon Moi, Moi's son, said the family will open their father's Kabarak home for 40 days to allow Kenyans to mourn him. "When I look around, I see a sea of humanity representing Kenyans, my father would have appreciated this, I see the Kenyan spirit. Thank you all," he said. After a church service, Moi's casket draped in Kenyan flags, was ferried on a military hearse to his burial site at the Kabarak home. The military had been in charge of his burial arrangements form the day he died to Wednesday when he was buried. And before he was interred at about 3.30 p.m. local time (12:30 GMT), Moi, as a former president of Kenya, was honored with a 19-gun salute by the Kenyan military. The ceremony concluded a one-week of mourning the fallen leader who was described as a peace-loving leader, a nationalist and a pan Africanist, whose efforts saw the establishment of the East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. It has been almost three months to the day since Peter Hassell fled his cottage at Rainbow Flat on the NSW mid north coast, as the Hillville fire roared through the surrounding bushland, picking off unlucky homes while leaving neighbouring properties untouched. When he returned home in the aftermath of the November 9 blaze, he confronted a scene that would become familiar to hundreds of NSW residents as the states worst bushfire season in living memory exacted a summer of hell. The clean-up from the NSW bushfire season began at Peter Hassell's Rainbow Flat property on Wednesday. Credit:Kate Geraghty There was nothing left. No jewellery, no photographs, no clothes, no tools, Mr Hassell said on Wednesday, as he returned to his property on Fords Road, about three and a half hours north of Sydney. "There's only one thing that didn't get burned - thats my 1988 Bicentennial $5 coin. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Philippines' termination of its two-decade military agreement with Washington is "a move in the wrong direction" in terms of dealing with China. Esper told reporters Tuesday that the US is still trying to digest the notice sent by the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs which marked the start of the 180-day period from when the Visiting Forces Agreement will be effectively scrapped. The VFA is a 1998 agreement between Manila and Washington on the protocol for American military personnel in the country. Among its controversial provisions are the lax visa and passport policies for American troops and the authority granted to the US government to retain jurisdiction over its military personnel if ever they commit crimes locally. EXPLAINER: The Visiting Forces Agreement Esper said he thinks it is "unfortunate" for the Philippines to end the VFA, noting that he just had "very good meetings" with the country's defense officials in Manila in November 2019. "I do think it would be a move in the wrong direction as as we both bilaterally with the Philippines and collectively with a number of other partners and allies in the region are trying to say to the Chinese, 'You must obey the international rules of order. You must obey, you know, abide by international norms'," Esper said. "And as we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think it's a move in the wrong direction for -- for, again, for the longstanding relationship we've had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries," he added. Philippine Senator: Ending VFA favors China Among the sore points in US-China relations is Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, a vast global waterway which it claims in its entirety. This includes areas that the Philippines claims and occupies as part of the West Philippine Sea where China has built artificial islands, prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing, and interfered in petroleum exploration. A 2016 arbitral ruling ruled in favor of Manila to invalidate Beijing's sweeping claim, but China continues to reject the landmark decision. The US does not claim any part of the South China Sea but it conducts freedom of navigation operations in the contested waters and calls out China's alleged militarization. Despite the long-standing dispute over the South China Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte has nurtured friendship with China to the point of agreeing to set aside Manila's arbitration win for the sake of a planned joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. Opposition Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan in a statement on Tuesday said dissolving the VFA "favors China and no longer comes as a surprise given how meek and subservient the Administration has been toward China." Malacanang: VFA can't be salvaged Duterte pushed through with terminating the military pact despite concerns raised by several officials, including his Foreign Affairs Secretary, Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. In a Senate hearing last week, the senior diplomat pushed for a "vigorous review" of the VFA instead, saying the continuance of the agreement "is deemed to be more beneficial" for the Philippines. He highlighted the benefits that the Philippines has been getting from the VFA: military assistance, financial grants, and deterrence against possible attacks from other countries, among others. READ: PH could lose up to 10 billion in aid if VFA ends, Locsin says The Philippine Senate also passed a resolution calling for a thorough review of the VFA before coming to a decision regarding its fate. In a speech Monday night, Duterte disclosed that US President Donald Trump is "trying to save" the VFA. Duterte said he insisted on abrogating it. Malacanang on Tuesday said there's nothing the US can do to salvage the VFA, adding that Duterte will never accept any invitation to visit America. The Duterte administration has repeatedly criticized US senators for demanding the release of Senator Leila de Lima an opposition lawmaker detained on drug charges and for seeking sanctions against those involved in her imprisonment and in alleged extrajudicial killings in the country. Duterte called the US rude for meddling in the Philippines' local affairs. The final straw was when the US canceled Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa's tourist visa. The Philippine senator known to have close ties with Duterte acknowledged that the revocation of his visa may have something to do with alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch as chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018. In January, Duterte gave the US a month to "correct" the revocation of Dela Rosa's visa, but later said he would no longer wait and ordered the termination of the VFA instead. Click here to read the full article. Fads come and go, but iconic style never fades. That may be the most fundamental lesson of Levi Strauss: A History of American Style, a new exhibit set to begin Thursday at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. WWDs exclusive walk-through and interviews ahead of the opening revealed a denim treasure trove of American culture, with some 250 garments, photos and documents spanning the companys 167 years, and then some. More from WWD The journey starts with Strausss emigration from Bavaria and takes visitors through the founding of his original dry goods business during the Gold Rush era in San Francisco, the patent written alongside Jacob Davis for the famous copper rivet that secures the jean pant in 1873 and the destruction and revival of the company headquarters in the fires after the 1906 earthquake. I think that in many ways, you might compare the exhibition itself to a pair of well-worn jeans, said Tracey Panek, an archivist at Levis. Theres a pair that has lasted for well over 100 years there. There are a lot of holes and little bits and pieces of it its been torn up and what remains is this well-preserved piece that has endured the test of time to tell a remarkable story of endurance. The company has gone through a great deal of change and still remains relevant today, and thats a story I hope visitors will take away when they visit. Indeed, the museum walls are thick with a sense of history and American culture. Here, jeans are as equally at home with laborers in the 1800s as riding astride motorcycles decades later as symbols of rebellious youth. When those blue jeans were first invented in 1873, it was almost exclusively for miners and workers, so it was really about their durability and ability to withstand significant manual labor, said Heidi Rabben, curator at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Story continues [In] the 20th century, they become very much bound up in this idea of the American West and cowboys and that culture. Hollywood itself starts to extrapolate that ideal and bring it out into popular culture from there, and that leads us into the last chunk of history, roughly 1950 to the present day, she explained. Pop culture to counter culture, thats when the blue jean starts from this hero figure of the cowboy into the anti-hero the kind of American youthful rebel spearheaded by films like The Wild One with Marlon Brando and Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean. The decades turned, but blue jeans carried on, billowing as the bottom hems of the hippie movement in the late Sixties and Seventies, or sparkling as high fashion in the hands of design houses such as Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier. Artists like Keith Haring emblazoned the garments with their art, and Madonna writhed to fame in painted-on, cut-off short shorts and black fishnets, as seen from her Girlie Show tour. Thats just for starters. Remarkable dots fill the gaps in between, connecting Levis lineage across famous names, from Lauren Bacall to Lauryn Hill, and brands like Nike and Harley Davidson. The gallery itself is cast in thematic colors of red, white and blue. At the center sits Albert Einsteins leather Levis jacket, a rare non-denim article of clothing in the collection. One display shows off the first Lady Levis from 1934, while another item tells the story of how the company promoted the durability of its product touting lifelong longevity by setting two horses to pull apart a pair of jeans, in an epic equine tug-of-war to showcase its strength. Another towed a car using a pair of Levis. Further down, Bing Crosbys custom denim tuxedo jacket beckons. According to Rabben, theres a great story that goes with that: In Canada, he had been rejected from a hotel wearing blue jeans, because they were too casual. You know, at the time, they were considered very, very casual wear. Levis got wind of this story and created a denim tuxedo for him to wear.Thats apparently how the term Canadian tuxedo originated. Or so the story goes. In the far corner, scenes from The Breakfast Club and other movies featuring Levis-clad stars play near a set of mannequins wearing looks from the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton. Equally impressive are the ephemera, curiosities and other unusual or remarkable items. Visitors wont have to look hard to find the car upholstered in denim, the accessibility pants featuring closures along the sides or the jeans covered in elaborate and stunning drawings, the handiwork of an inmate lingering on death row. Notably, items like Levis Google Jacquard Trucker Jacket arent on view. Not that technology didnt have a place in the show. There was Steve Jobs famous mom jeans, which he typically wore with a black turtleneck at keynotes and press conferences, as well as the advertising lounge dedicated to playing Levis commercials going back to the Sixties. And, of course, the film clips in the media viewing corner of the gallery. But much of the exhibits impact comes from the analog items. Einsteins jacket. The oldest pair of 501 jeans in existence. The paper ads spotlighting Levis cowboy branding. The modern spin on the theme via Jake Gyllenhaals Brokeback Mountain attire. As the company reflects on the past, its quite natural to look to the future. And Levis very much sees its future in innovation from a digital device plugged into a jacket sleeve to social and sustainability initiatives. The fashion industry at large seems to have woken up to its greater responsibility. For Levis, it sees the call to arms as a natural extension of its legacy. I think the company understands itself very much in the context of the values of the founder, Levi Strauss, and the values of the family, descended from over the last 160-odd years, Paul Dillinger, Levis head of global product innovation, told WWD. He described the corporate culture as one that believes in a responsibility to lead in areas like social justice, fair labor, environmental responsibility and resource conservation by breaking new ground in product innovation. Its very similar to the focus on product innovation at the founding of the company, when we were trying to build a more durable product by adding a copper rivet, he said. Its material innovation in service of objective product value. Now, Levis is investing in creating value thats informed by issues like climate change and global fair label standards. According to Dillinger, those influences are whats driving some of the companys initiatives today much like that need for a better path for miners for more durable, more useful [garments] driving innovation back in the 1870s, he said. For instance, Levis has been working with hemp, which is more sustainable compared to conventional cotton cultivation, and developed a new cottonized version that looks, feels and wears like cotton fibers. We launched it this past spring a year ago, and we evolved it as a white denim. We evolved it into a rinsed indigo denim for fall. But this spring, were about to come to market in mens and womens with a cottonized hemp that looks like a washed, faded pair of Levis, Dillinger continued. But it does not feel like a burlap sack which is the true elevation in the hemp space. To get it to feel good. Dillinger describes the work as an important sea change in our approach to industrial conservation, because it starts with a sustainable crop, then modifies it without negative environmental impact to offer consumers an uncompromising product. If they didnt read the hangtag or know some of the interior markings, they would be wholly unaware that theyre wearing an industrial revolution, he said. Even better, its ultimately recyclable or, rather, easily redeployable as material for use in other items or in other ways. The company credits the consumer for being the driving force for the effort. That it shows up for women consumers for the first time this spring is a really important evolution, he said, adding, that the womens consumer demand signal for this type of product is pulling these ideas through, rather than trying to push them onto the consumer. That would mean clothes made from this cottonseed hemp may not wind up in a museum exhibit someday. And that may suit the company just fine. Levis has always been a canvas for personal expression, Panek explained. They were born as a blue-collar, working-class pant. In many ways, theyre a grassroots garment, and they worked their way up over time and across the globe. I cant think of a brand that could do that, and be able to capture all of those things, and tell that story in the way that Levis does. That, perhaps, speaks to the idea of just what kind of democratic brand it is. Its really the peoples garment, in many ways, she said. All photo credits, unless otherwise listed: Levi Strauss: A History of American Style (installation view), at The Contemporary Jewish Museum, on view Feb 13Aug 9, 2020 Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Vivian Farrell discusses Modular Automations role in servicing the worlds leading MedTech companies. With its recently announced plans both to create 100 new jobs in the next three years, and expand into a new site adjoining its existing facility in Shannon shortly the future is looking very bright for Modular Automation, a leading supplier of automation solutions for MedTech multinationals. Just before Christmas the company announced plans to create 100 new jobs by 2023 CEO Vivian Farrell points out that in the past five years alone, this thriving firm has doubled its workforce to more than 170 personnel. The company is also set to expand into its new site in Shannon, Co. Clare over February. We are in the very lucky position that in Ireland, the med-tech industry is thriving with many leading multinationals having a manufacturing presence here. Many of these are super-sites, in that they are the largest and most advanced manufacturing sites for their corporations - for example Johnson and Johnson is one of our most highly automated sites in the world. It is based in Limerick with a sister-site in Florida, she observes. This sector has grown and is thriving. Companies are doing well and their products are in demand. They need strong automation partners to supply equipment into their sites to manufacture their products which are in very high demand around the world, she says. A good example, explains Farrell is the contact lens manufacturing sector in Ireland, which, as she observes, accounts for a staggering one-third of the worlds supply. Meanwhile the manufacture of orthopaedic replacement knees and hips is another massive sector for the Irish hi-tech sector, and MA is more than happy to meet the demands for the high-tech equipment required to create these products. We design and make the machines required to make their products, so our services are very much in demand, she says. Our machines are the latest in automation technology and robotics. They are using very innovative tech to help them make the product faster, safer and better. One factor in the success of MA is the high quality of the service it offers these giant corporations and the enviable word-of-mouth reputation which it enjoys as a result. If you think about big brands like Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson and Johnson and Stryker, their HQs are in the USA, but they have bases here. For us, doing an exceptional job for their sites in Ireland is helping them to succeed. Therefore, they are willing to refer us to their sister-sites in the US. These companies need strong automation partners like MA to help ensure that they remain at the cutting-edge of their fields. The recent expansion of MAs facilities in Shannon will allow it to meet what Farrell describes as the ever-increasing, huge demand for the services we are supplying, both for customers in Ireland and also sites in the USA. We needed additional production space to be able to build the machines, so we secured additional production space in Shannon adjacent to our existing 50,000 square foot building, and we are expanding into this new site in February, she says, adding that the site, which was acquired last summer, provides MA with immediate access to much-needed production space. With an eye to the long-term development of this thriving firm, the firm also acquired land to the rear of the existing building. With a strong and growing workforce MA currently has a team of 170 people across its Irish and US sites, a workforce which has doubled over the last five years, and as she notes, is set to grow exponentially. A major factor in its ability to attract the right kind of talent, is its strong apprenticeship programmes which offer excellent career opportunities to Leaving Cert students. Access to graduates is also important. Were always looking for the very best talent. We also seek to bring in people with experience as well, as we believe that people with experience can contribute to the success and be involved in coaching and mentoring of younger employees who are starting out on their careers. One of Farrells priorities as CEO is to nurture diversity within the workplace - and she has more big plans here. Just 8% of our workforce here is female, and I would like to increase that to 30% by 2025. Its about reducing the barriers to women entering the sector. "Businesses like ourselves are heavily focused on engineering, she says, adding that the company engages closely with UL and LIT in a bid to encourage more female students to opt for engineering both in terms of diversity within the workplace and as a way to reduce the current skills shortage. Theres nothing magic about bighead and silver carp, he said. "They are just like any other fish. We manage all kinds of fish. ... And we can go in and control them if thats what we want to do. And I think most of us want to do that because we really prefer to have bass and catfish and crappie. Hyderabad: A city court on Tuesday convicted two persons for the sensational heist at the Nizams Museum in the city on September 2, 2018. They were sentenced to undergo two years of imprisonment and pay Rs 400 each towards penalty. Mohammad Ghouse Pasha, 23, a centring worker, and Mohammad Mubeen, 24, a welder, both residents of Rajendranagar were arrested by the Mirchowk police for stealing a gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, a cup studded with rubies, diamonds and emeralds, a saucer and a spoon, belonging to the seventh Nizam from the Nizam Museum at Purani Haveli. The police had cracked the case after they received a report that Mubeen had gone missing. Mubeen and Ghouse had gone to Mumbai to sell the artifacts but was not successful. They had even confessed to having food in the golden tiffin box and fulfilled their fantasy. After the investigation, the Mirchowk police filed a chargesheet before the Nampally court, which conducted the trial and gave judgment on Tuesday. Following the judgment, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said in a post on Twitter, 2 years of imprisonment awarded to both the offenders in the sensational Nizam museum theft case. The case was detected by Hyd police in a record time and we prove the charge in the court of law and secured conviction. Public support was a major contribution in this detection (sic). French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, jailed in Iran since June, ended a six-week hunger strike on Wednesday, according to her lawyer. "Adelkhah responded to a written request from civil and political activists and ended her hunger strike at midday (0830 GMT) today," lawyer Said Dehghan told AFP. Dehghan expressed relief that Adelkhah had ended the hunger strike that she began on December 24, but said she remained fragile. "Her mental and physical condition is not good, she has been weakened," he said. "Her voice was difficult to hear and she has difficulty walking." Adelkhah, a specialist in Shiite Islam and a research director at Sciences Po University in Paris, is in Evin prison in Tehran as she awaits her trial. Adelkhah's French colleague Roland Marchal was arrested while visiting her, according to Dehghan, who represents both academics. Their case has raised tensions between Iran and France, which has called for them to be released as a "gesture" of goodwill. Iran has repeatedly criticised France for what it calls its "interference" in the case. The Islamic republic does not recognise dual nationality. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will propose on Monday a 21% cut in foreign aid and slashes to social safety-net programs in his $4.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal 2021, according to senior administration officials. The budget would spend money to fund infrastructure projects and defense, but would also raise funds by targeting $2 trillion in savings from mandatory spending programs in the United States. It assumes revenues around $3.7 trillion. Trump, a Republican, sought in his budget proposal last year to slash foreign aid but faced steep resistance from Congress and did not prevail. The presidents latest blueprint for administration spending proposals is unlikely to be passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, particularly in an election year. Trump, who campaigned for the presidency in 2016 on a promise to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, will seek $2 billion in funding for further construction on that project, substantially less than the $8.6 billion he requested a year ago. During the 2016 campaign, Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, which it has refused to do. The administration shifted resources from the military last year after Congress refused Trumps initial wall funding request. The White House will not seek further funds from the military for the wall, a senior administration said. The budget seeks money to fund a U.S. infrastructure overhaul that both Democrats and Republicans have said is a priority. The two sides are unlikely to agree on any major legislation this year, though, as they fight for control of the White House and Congress in the November elections. The budget would raise military spending by 0.3% to $740.5 billion for fiscal-year 2021, starting on Oct. 1 and propose higher outlays for defense and veterans, administration officials confirmed. But former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen raised concerns about how the foreign aid cuts would affect the U.S. civilian footprint around the world that helps reduce the need for military intervention. In an era of great power competition, cutting these critical investments would be out of touch with the reality around the world, he wrote in a letter to top congressional leaders. This is a moment when more investment in diplomacy and development is needed not less. Trumps foreign aid proposal seeks $44.1 billion in the upcoming fiscal year, compared with $55.7 billion enacted in fiscal 2020, an administration official said. SPENDING CUTS The White House proposes to slash spending by $4.4 trillion over 10 years. In the fiscal-year 2021 budget, that would include $130 billion from changes to prescription-drug pricing for the Medicare program for older Americans, $292 billion from cuts in safety-net programs - such as work requirements for the Medicaid program for the poor, and food stamps - and $70 billion from clamping down on eligibility rules for federal disability benefits. Those changes are likely to spur Democrats ire. Deficits would remain high but eventually come down. The U.S. government ended fiscal 2019 with the largest budget deficit in seven years as gains in tax receipts were offset by higher spending and growing debt-service payments, the Treasury department said on Friday. The budget forecasts $4.6 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years and assumes economic growth will continue at an annual rate of roughly 3 percent for years to come, officials said. Trump has taken credit for the strength of the U.S. economy, thanks in part to tax cuts he championed and Congress passed earlier in his term. The budget funds an extension of those cuts over a 10-year period with $1.4 trillion. Aid to Ukraine would remain at its 2020 levels under the new foreign aid proposal. Trump was acquitted last week of impeachment charges that he withheld aid to Ukraine to spur Kiev to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. vice president. Administration officials told Reuters that Trump would request an increase in funding for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to $700 million from $150 million the previous year, an effort to counter developing economic threats from China and Russia. The budget also proposes $1.1 billion for cybersecurity efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Press Trust of India Children in India need a non-competitive environment for learning skills suited for future space exploration, according to a former NASA engineer. "To learn skills needed for current trends in modern space exploration, it is important that kids learn to make mock-ups early in school," noted David Cheuvront, a retired engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center in the US. These mock-ups using simple, easily available building materials like cardboard are a means of expressing engineering design, he said. "This way, kids learn to make honest evaluations of materials, designs, check their usability, they learn to draw, there is 3D modelling, sometimes there is written requirement where they need to describe things," Cheuvront told PTI. Cheuvront was in India last month to interact with the students of Shiv Nadar School in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The former NASA engineer explained that while participating in such model-building exercises, children describe things they need, and look for the right words for each of them. "The critical issue with what's going on with Indian education is what I call 'chalk and talk'," said Australian astronomer Sam Gibbs, an amateur astronomer and science educator, who was also one of the experts interacting with the students. Gibbs pointed out that in India there is a deficit of skills-development education among kids pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields. According to Gibbs, the teaching approaches of schools in India depend a lot on textbooks, which needs to be immediately addressed. For kids to become successful in STEAM, Cheuvront added, their education needs to focus on three things skills, skill development, and skill development happening in a non-competitive environment. "This emulates to some extent, what everybody does in creative fields," Gibbs added. "Our hope is to give students the chance to do what they expressively manage to do in their own special way and learn skills at the same time. And we hope to connect with engineering and science and art that through a non-competitive event," he said. For improving kids' education to be in line with modern trends in space exploration, Gibbs and Cheuvront said increasing children's participation in amateur astronomy is the key. "Amateur astronomers are making several important contributions. With open databases, amateur astronomy has become a very innovative field, with schools, for instance, participating in things like developing robots for astronomy," Gibbs said. "There's a series of robotic telescopes around the world that anybody can access. It brings in a very diverse participation from schools across the world," he added. Both Gibbs and Cheuvront believe that schools in India need to start building skills-based education using these freely available astronomy resources. "Provide exposure to students with project-based work and get them out of the classrooms to a creative space where they learn skills that complement what they learn in their academic studies," Gibbs said. Chevrount pointed out that the industrial and corporate sectors now increasingly look for people with special skills and talent. "If you're someone who pushes straight A grades across the counter, it's generally not enough these days to get the job you want, especially in the space industry," Chevrount said. He added that it is also very important for kids to learn to collaborate in a group like in a working organisation. "That's something they don't normally get in a school," Chevrount said. According to the scientist, children should not just be engaged in rote-learning, or trying to do things in only the way they have been taught. "That will not help the kids keep up with what's happening in the world right now," he said. For example, we are seeing within the rocket industry how they are doing new things and solving new problems like how SpaceX is developing its reusable rockets," Chevrount added. If humans are to colonise and get water from the moon to refuel the rockets and landers, over and over, instead of throwing them away after one use, more skill-based creative learning is needed, the former NASA engineer said. Mumbai, Feb 12 : Glaring discrepancies have emerged on the amount spent for the swearing-in ceremony of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government last November, alleged RTI activists here on Wednesday. While one activist Anil Galgali of Saki Naka was given the figure to be Rs 2.79 crore, another activist Ajay Bose of Sion was provided the expenditure details of Rs 4.63 crore. In response to Galgali's RTI plea, information officer R.G. Gaikwad on January 20 provided Rs 2.79 crore as the expenditure incurred on the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his six ministers on November 28, 2019, at Shivaji Park. Surprisingly, the same officer Gaikwad on January 31 informed Bose about the details of expenditure incurred for the same state event as Rs 4.63 crore. Now, both are wondering which could be the genuine expenditure figure, and why there is such a huge difference in two replies to the same query answered by the same officer from the same department. "When the government department has not tabulated the figures properly, then why are they issuing confusing figures under RTI? The concerned heads must take strong action against the irresponsible officer providing misleading figures with such huge discrepancies," Galgali said. Incidentally, the swearing-in ceremony of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his team at Wankhede Stadium in 2014 had cost a little over Rs 98 lakh. Two men dressed as Harry Potter and Woody from Toy Story are on the run after allegedly trying to break into a hardware store twice in one night. CCTV images from outside a Mitre 10 store in Emerald, an hour east of Melbourne's CBD, showed the two men in costumes approaching the store on February 3. The duo allegedly attempted to break into the store but left quickly when they realised the door was locked. Police allege the men left in a suspected stolen grey Mercedes sedan. Footage from outside a Mitre 10 in Emerald, 44 km south-east of Melbourne, showed the two costumed men leering into the store on Tuesday The men came back, still dressed up, in the same car, at 2am. The pair allegedly tried to jimmy the lock so they could open the front door. They damaged the door but were still unable to get inside. The man dressed as Harry Potter then removed his costume in defeat before fleeing the scene with his mate. Police are looking for the costumed men, who have both been described as Caucasian men, in connection with the alleged attempted robbery. Investigators ask anyone with information to come forward. They have also asked anyone who knows of costume parties in the area to contact Crime Stoppers. The newly appointed head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak notes that he will continue to deal with foreign policy issues further being in his new position so that Ukraine remains in the center of world focus, and this would bring concrete results. "Foreign and external areas will certainly remain in the sphere of my attention, and I will deal with them. I believe that today Ukraine is in the main focus of world attention, and we cannot lose this chance. Everything needs to be done to ensure that attention and interest, which we have today, and we feel during the international visits of the President of Ukraine, bring specific results," he said at a briefing at the President's Office on Wednesday. Yermak emphasized that the authorities want to make Ukraine an "investment Mecca." "We have concrete steps, specific programs on how to do this. Today our governors received this task, and the Ukrainian government is engaged in this and everyone who is involved in work to improve the investment climate in Ukraine," he said. The biggest US car company General Motors was caught up on Wednesday in the supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus in China when its South Korean unit announced a partial suspension of operations next week. The coronavirus has killed more than 1,100 people and infected over 44,000 across mainland China, spreading to more than two dozen countries in what is now considered a global health emergency. China is the world's largest exporter of goods and the extended holidays and movement restrictions imposed by Beijing as it seeks to contain the outbreak have disrupted supplies of items including parts for auto manufacturing. One of the two assembly lines at GM Korea's Bupyeong complex, west of Seoul, which can make over 400,000 vehicles annually, will be closed next Monday and Tuesday due to shortages of parts from China, a company representative told AFP. GM Korea heavily relies on China for the wiring harnesses that connect vehicles' complex electronics. But operations could quickly "return to normal" after the two-day break, he said, as Chinese were now "returning to work". Japanese auto giant Nissan said earlier this week it was suspending operations at its Kyushu plant from February 14-17 because of supply shortages from China. South Korea's Hyundai Motor -- which with its affiliate Kia ranks as the world's fifth-largest auto manufacturer -- suspended operations at its five-plant complex in the coastal city of Ulsan last week. Production would resume "gradually" this week but the situation remained dependent on the supply of parts, Hyundai said in a statement, without giving precise resumption dates. Dymphna Farrell says a priest blew cigar smoke in her face, fed her with a babys bottle and kissed her in a frenzied fashion A pensioner claims that she regressed back to being a baby and became totally dependent on the priest she had trusted to heal her. Dymphna Farrell (74) says he used to blow cigar smoke into her face, kiss her in a 'frenzied fashion' and feed her with a baby's bottle. The Catholic Church has been footing the bill for the Meath woman to get complex psychiatric treatment in Dublin for more than 20 years. It has been paying "without prejudice" for taxis and treatment for Ms Farrell. She told LMFM Radio's 'Late Lunch' programme she wanted her story told before she died. "A friend recommended this priest for confessional therapy sessions and so I went along. I initially had bad vibes about him but I continued to go regardless," she said. "He probed into my feelings of rejection by my parents and asked if I'd like him to be my daddy. He said he had to get me to grow up again and he called me by a different name. "Slowly but surely I was regressing more and more into a childlike frame of mind and I was becoming more and more dependent on him. "He would cook bits of food for me and feed me with a spoon or fork. I was on the floor between his legs like I was his pet dog. He was now treating me like a child and, for some reason I can't understand, I put up no resistance. "As time moved on, I felt I needed to see him more and more. I was reaching a stage where I couldn't live without him. I would regress back to the time I was in the womb and on occasions would stop breathing. I was clearly under some kind of spell." Her husband Matt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1990 and died six years later. Ms Farrell first wrote to the Archbishop of Dublin Desmond Connell on February 14, 1995. Separately in January 1996, she received a letter through her solicitor from the priest which said he emphatically denied "there was anything in his relationship with your client which was solely pastoral for which he could have any liability to her for loss or damage". In 1997, when weighing just over six stone due to anorexia, she wrote to Archbishop Connell again. In a reply on July 9, he stated: "You may be aware that the Archdiocese has put in place a support system for those who have experienced difficulty in relations with priests. "As I would very much like to assist you in your recovery, I would, without prejudice, be willing to make this service available to you," it stated. While the Church has paid for taxis and treatment, Ms Farrell had to pay up to 400 a month on medication costs, which forced her to put her home on the market. In 2008, a letter to Ms Farrell said: "The diocese is considering discussing with you alternative means of funding your travel costs, because of the heavy drain on our finances over time under the present agreement. "The diocese would continue to fund your visits to the hospital on the basis of a taxi each way, twice a month. "Regrettably, we will not be able to provide the type of arrangement that operated in the past where the taxi waited for you or was available for other trips." However after contact with the family, the Church continued to pay for both taxi and consultant visits each week. Asked to comment yesterday, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese said: "As you will appreciate, we cannot comment on individual cases. "However, the Archdiocese of Dublin as part of its ongoing commitment to victims and survivors of abuse provides a range of supports, depending on the needs of the individual person." CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, MI A Metro Detroit man has been arrested after police discovered he moved into another persons seasonal home in Northern Michigan. According to the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office, Jeffrey Donius, 55, of Shelby Township, moved the property owners belongings out of their house and moved his stuff in, changed the locks and even put a new mailbox up. Donius may have been casing other properties both in and outside of Charlevoix County, according to the sheriffs office. Some stolen property was recovered, according to the department. Donius is charged with home invasion. He is lodged in the Charlevoix County jail on a $50,000 bond. Anyone with information is asked to call the Charlevoix County Sheriffs Office at 231-547-4461. Casey Batchelor was in high spirits on Wednesday morning as she returned to her north London home following another outing with her newborn daughter. The former glamour model looked relaxed in a casual cream sweater and black leggings while pushing her second child's buggy across their driveway. Casey, 35, added to her look with a pair of brown leather boots, while her hair was conventionally styled with a simple side parting. Here she comes: Casey Batchelor was in high spirits on Wednesday morning as she returned to her north London home following another outing with her newborn daughter Casey announced the happy news that she had given birth to her second child with fiance Dane on January 26 - sharing a sweet post holding her newborn daughter's hands to Instagram. She captioned the post: 'So Ive been a bit busy.... On 22/01/2020, we became a family of 4. 1- Daddy + Princess 1. 2- Mummy + Princess 2. 'I wont be very active on here for a little while as Im enjoying my baby bubble and recovering.' The former CBB star captioned the Polaroid photos: 'When 3 become 4'. Low key look: The former glamour model looked relaxed in a casual cream sweater and black leggings She originally announced she was pregnant with her second child in July, 14 months after welcoming first daughter Florence, 19 months, into the world. The yoga instructor said although she and salesman fiance Dane wanted to expand their family, they weren't prepared for how quickly it would happen. 'I'm going to have two babies 20 months apart I can't quite believe it!' Casey told Closer magazine. When 3 become 4: Casey announced she has given birth to her second child with fiance Dane Goodson on Instagram in January Over the moon: The former CBB star said she and Dane welcomed their little girl on Wednesday and are enjoying the 'baby bubble' 'It'll be tough, but I'm going to ride the storm we're just so thrilled we're having another baby!' 'Dane and I wanted more children we're both turning 35 and we got engaged in January, so we didnt want to wait much longer, as time is ticking on. 'We decided to start trying, and I got pregnant straight away. I do feel very lucky.' But Casey and Dane won't be stopping there when they welcome their baby girl in 2020, and plan to carry on trying until they have a son. More to come: Casey said although she and salesman fiance Dane wanted to expand their family, they weren't prepared for how quickly it would happen The couple have been together for almost three years and announced their engagement in February. Casey told The Sun: 'I'm having another girl which is so lovely because I never had a sister, I had two older brothers and they always had each other. 'So it will be nice for Florence to have a little sister. I was adamant I was having a boy, everyone convinced me. [They said] "You're carrying differently, and you're all at the front, with a girl it's at the back". 'Dane's so happy that he's having a little girl, but he would like a little boy obviously. 'If we had a boy this time, we would have the choice if we wanted to go again, but because we're having a girl well definitely try again.' - Mourners spent the night at Kabarak grounds ahead of the burial ceremony of the late president Moi - The gates were opened at around 4am with thorough security checks on all the mourners - Each one of them was served with water, soda and a loaf of bread as they entered Kabarak University - The casket carrying the body left Nairobi for Kabarak in a military chopper at around 7.45am As early as 3am, mourners had started streaming in at Kabarak University grounds for burial of the late president Daniel arap Moi. A thorough security check was conducted among all the mourners before they were served with a bottle of water, soda and a loaf of bread. READ ALSO: Pacha wa Daniel Moi kusoma eulogia yake Thousands of mourners were each served with a loaf of bread, soda and a bottle of water. Photo: Daily Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: 76-year-old man who cycled from Kakamega to Kabarak for Moi's burial allowed into ex-president's home At least 30,000 people were expected to be seated by 8am to allow ample time for other state guests to get in. In Nairobi, the cortege of the late president left Lee Funeral Home at around 7am for Wilson Airport where it was loaded into a military chopper for transport to Kabarak. The family members were also carried in the chopper convoy as they escorted the statesman alongside other guests. A military chopper being prepared at Wilson Airport to ferry the body to Kabarak. Photo: K24 TV Source: UGC READ ALSO: Daniel Moi: Heckler who was arrested by police at Nyayo Stadium released The chopper is expected to arrive at around 8am. There will be an interdenominational service to be held in Kabarak that will be lead by African Inland Church (AIC). Thousands of mourners turned up for the burial as early as 3am and were eagerly waiting for the gates to open. Photo: Daily Nation Source: UGC Mourners line up for security check at the gates in Kabarak University. Photo: Daily Nation Source: UGC 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 Source: TUKO.co.ke EDMONTON, Alberta, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MADD Canada is establishing a Memorial Monument to pay lasting tribute to Albertans who were suddenly and senselessly taken from their family and friends as a result of impaired driving. The Alberta Memorial Monument, to be built on the grounds of the Parkland RCMP Detachment in Spruce Grove, will be unveiled in September. It will be etched with the names of victims of impaired driving. The location of the monument was made possible through a partnership with the City of Spruce Grove and the Town of Stony Plain. Anyone who has lost a loved one in an impaired driving crash and would like to have his or her name memorialized on the monument can contact Gillian Phillips, MADD Canadas Western Region Victim Services Manager, at 1-866-461-4077 or gphillips@madd.ca. This monument illustrates the tragic toll that impaired driving takes, said Ms. Phillips. Every name that we put on that monument represents a family, a circle of friends and a community that has suffered a devastating loss. It is all the more heartbreaking when you think about the fact that impaired driving is entirely, 100%, preventable. For Lynda McCullough, the monument is an important and meaningful way to honour her daughter, Jennifer Leigh, who was just 21 years old when she was killed by an impaired driver in 2003. "We never want our child's name or memory to be forgotten Ms. McCullough said. This monument will be such a beautiful tribute to her, and to all of the people who have lost their lives in such a senseless manner. It stands as a tribute to all of them and to all us who have lost them." MADD Canadas mission is to stop impaired driving and to support victims of this violent crime. If you or someone you know has been a victim of an impaired driving crash and would like to learn more about MADD Canada and the programs and services a, please contact Ms. Phillips at 1-866-461-4077 or visit madd.ca. A workshop for a public discussion on the bill On the Anti-Corruption Committee and for summing up the results of the public monitoring of the activities carried out through the Anti-Corruption Strategy and 2019-22 Action Plan for its Implementation in 2019 was held with the participation of Deputy Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan today. The workshop was organized by the Armenian Lawyers Association NGO and the CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia, as reported the Department of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Justice of Armenia. In her opening speech, Deputy Minister Galyan expressed gratitude to all the participants for attending the discussion and for showing interest in the development of the anti-corruption policy. Touching upon the creation of a body conducting investigation into corruption crimes, Srbuhi Galyan attached importance to the fact that the legislative acts regulating the sector should be adopted through a process that will be as participatory and inclusive as possible. During the workshop, Deputy Minister Galyan introduced the participants of the discussion to the legal regulations prescribed by the bill On the Anti-Corruption Committee and particularly touched upon the formation of the Committee, the mechanism for election of the chairperson, the Committees activities, the social guarantees for the Committees members, the Committees accountability to the National Assembly, the mechanisms for verifying the integrity for selecting the Committees members and other regulations prescribed by the transitional provisions of the bill. This was followed by a question-and-answer session. ROME - The parents of Giulio Regeni, the Italian Cambridge doctoral student tortured to death in Cairo four years ago, on Wednesday urged "democratic governments" to protect Egyptian Bologna university student and rights activist Patrick George Zaky who has been allegedly tortured after being arrested in Egypt. "We are following with attention and concern the arrest in Cairo of the Egyptian student Patrick George Zaky," said Paola and Claudio Regeni, and their lawyer Alessandra Ballerini, in a statement. "Patrick, like Giulio, is a brilliant international student and holds dear people's inviolable rights. "Democratic governments should preserve and cultivate the growth of these committed and studious young people of ours and should protect their safety in all areas". The statement went on: "we hope that there is for Patrick a real, effective and constant mobilisation so that this young man can be freed without delay. "We ask Italian and European institutions to immediately put in train all the concrete action which were never exercised to save Giulio's life or to demand the truth on his murder". Zaky was arrested at Cairo airport on Thursday night and initially charged with spreading false news and instigating protests. He was placed under a two-week detention order and Amnesty International and his family say he was tortured with electrical shocks and beatings. One of his lawyers, Wael Ghaly, told ANSA Wednesday that he risks life imprisonment for attempting to overthrow the ruling regime. Ghaly said that preventive custody, which is renewed every two weeks, can last for more than two years. One of Zaky's friends, Amr, told ANSA he had been arrested by Egyptian security forces and interrogated for 35 hours, when he was allegedly blindfolded and tied up and suffered sleep deprivation but not electrical shocks. Amr, who lives and studies in Berlin, said that he and his friends feared being spied on by Egyptian security forces even when they were abroad. Bologna University Dean Francesco Ubertini told reporters that "our goal is to make sure that the attention on the case, at an Italian level and at a European level, is kept high so as to get Patrick back as soon as possible". Minister for Relations with Parliament Federico D'Inca told Wednesday's question time that "Zaky's disappearance and detention have aroused great emotion in all of us, evoking, with a series of initial analogies, the painful and tragic affair of Giulio Regeni. "The government will continue to give priority to the Zaky case, aslo with reference to his conditions of detention and the need to ensure a rapid judicial process, in view of a hopefully prompt release". Another lawyer representing Zaky has said the postgrad student is "psychologically destroyed". Zaky was working on gender studies and human rights at the University of Bologna and is now being held in a cell at the Mansoura-2 police station "alongside criminals", Hoda Nasrallah told ANSA. He said Zaky had told of torture at the hands of his investigators. Nasrallah works with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Researcher, said in statement that: "We call on the Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Patrick, who is detained solely for his human rights work and opinions he has expressed on social media." "They must open an independent investigation into the torture he has suffered and urgently ensure his protection," he added. A piece of street art that appeared near the Egyptian embassy in Rome overnight shows Giulio Regeni, the Italian student tortured and murdered in Cairo in early 2016, comforting Egyptian Bologna university researcher and activist Patrick Zaky who has been arrested and some fear may suffer the same fate, after reports he has already been tortured. The mural, by street artist Laika, depicts both young men in prison uniform next to the words freedom in Arabic, with a speech bubble over Regeni telling Zaky not to worry, "this time everything will turn out right". Laika said "this phrase has a double meaning, its serves to reassure Patrick, but above all to confront the Egyptian government and the international community with their responsibilities. "We can't let what happened to Giulio Regeni and too many others happen again. "This time it MUST all go OK. "I hope that this affair ends well and that Zaky is freed as soon as possible. "I also hope that although he is not an Italian citizen, our country can stand guard over what is happening. "I'd like this small gesture of mine to be a stimulus for the media to increase the spotlight on Zaky's case." Commenting on what he called the arbitrary arrest of gender studies master degree student Zaky at Cairo Airport Friday on charges of spreading false news and inciting protests, Philip Luther, Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa research director, said: "the arbitrary arrest and torture of Patrick Zaky represent another example of the systematic repression by the Egyptian state of those who are considered opponents and defenders of human rights, a repression that is reaching ever more flagrant levels day after day. "We urge upon the Egyptian authorities the immediate and unconditional release of Patrick, who is being held exclusively for his work on human rights and his ideas expressed on social media. "It is necessary that the authorities carry out an independent probe into the torture he has suffered and that his protection is guaranteed in a timely way". Italy has got the EU to monitor the case of 27-year-old Zaky, whose lawyer and family say he was tortured with electrical cables. The human rights lawyer, Wael Ghally, told Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper Sunday that "he was not beaten with sticks so as not to leave marks of torture". Zaky has asked for a medical examination to prove that he was tortured with electrical shocks and beatings, another lawyer in the case, Hoda Nasrallah, said Tuesday, confirming that the beating deliberately did not leave traces on his body. Zaky's family said Tuesday: "we still can't understand the charges leveled at Patrick, our son has never been a source of threat or danger for anyone, on the contrary, he has been a constant source of support and help for many people". The Italian foreign ministry said Sunday that Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has been following the case "from the start". It said Di Maio had asked the EU to set up monitoring of Zaky's case via its embassies in Cairo. The spokesman for the European Union External Action service (EEAS), Peter Stano, said they were aware of Zaky's case and "we are assessing it with our EU delegation in Cairo, and we will take adequate action if necessary. "As soon as we have collected more information we will be able to say something more concrete". Amnesty Italia said in response they expected "incisive and constant action starting with the presence, as requested by Italy, of EU observers at upcoming hearings, the first of which is on February 22," according to spokesman Riccardo Noury. Noury said the EEAS statement was marked by "an excessive principle of prudence and delay". The European Parliament caucus of the ruling anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) called for Zaky's immediate release and vowed "we will not permit another Regeni case". Amnesty said the case reminded them of that of Regeni, a student from Friuli who was researching the politically sensitive subject of street sellers' unions, whose leader had fingered him as a spy to secret services. Regeni's father said last week that failings in the effort to get to the bottom of his son's death were not limited to the Egyptian side. In particular, he took issue with Italy's failure to recall its ambassador to Cairo in protest at the lack of cooperation from the Egyptian authorities. "There are grey zones both on the side of the Egyptian government, which is recalcitrant and does not cooperate as it should, and on the Italian side, which has not yet withdrawn our ambassador to Cairo," Claudio Regeni told the parliamentary commission of inquiry into his son's murder. "We have been calling for the ambassador's withdrawal for some time". The mutilated body of the Cambridge researcher into Cairo street unions was found on the highway to Alexandria on February 3, 2016, a week after he disappeared in the Egyptian capital on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak. His mother said she had only been able to recognise him "by the tip of his nose". Magistrate Giuseppe Pignatone, who was Rome chief prosecutor at the time of Regeni's killing, said Monday that the Cairo prosecutor's office hasn't made any progress on the investigation since December 2017, when Rome named five members of the Egyptian security apparatus as suspects. At various stages, Egypt has put out several purported explanations for his death including a car accident, a gay lovers' tiff turned ugly and a kidnapping for ransom in which the alleged gang, criminals but later found innocent of the Regeni murder, were wiped out after his documents had been planted at their lair. Judicial cooperation between Rome and Cairo prosecutors dried up after the Roman prosecutors placed the five members of the security apparatus under investigation. Last month Rome prosecutors Sergio Colaiocco and Michele Prestipino said that Regeni was caught by a "spider's web" spun by the Egyptian security services. "A spider's web was spun around Giulio Regeni by the Egyptian National Security Service in October (2015) before the kidnapping and murder," Colaiocco and Prestipino told a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the Friuli-born student's death. "A spider's web in which the (security) apparatus used the people who were closest to Giulio in Cairo, including his lawyer flat mate, the street traders union representative and Noura Whaby, his friend who helped him with translations". "It was a spider's web that closed in more and more and which Giulio ended up in the middle of". Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has denied any official involvement in Regeni's death. Sisi reiterated to Premier Giuseppe Conte in Cairo last month that Egypt wants to get to the truth in the case. X12 neX12 represents a defining new chapter in enabling our users to unlock incredible value from their current investment in order to develop creative, interoperable solutions to complex business challenges, said Stephanie Fetzer, X12s Board Chair. X12, a long-standing, ANSI-accredited and cross-industry standards development organization, announced today a new suite of solutions and processes to simplify the way organizations access and leverage their current investment in X12's work and platforms. Three new solutions collectively called neX12 give users a new level of visibility, interaction, and predictability in accessing the wealth of four decades of X12's standards development work that incorporates an expansive vocabulary of data elements and constructs. neX12s Glass, Bridge and ARC were presented to more than 200 member representatives at X12s Winter 2020 Standing Meeting held the week of January 27th in Portland, Oregon. X12 members represent nearly 300 businesses, non-profit associations and government organizations spanning supply chain, transportation, health care, finance and other industries. For 40 years, X12 standards have served as the quiet workhorse of business-to-business data exchange and are ubiquitously incorporated in many major technology systems worldwide, said Stephanie Fetzer, X12s Board Chair. neX12 represents a defining new chapter in enabling our users to unlock incredible value from their current investment in order to develop creative, interoperable solutions to complex business challenges. The neX12 solutions include: 1. GlassThe online viewer provides an easy and convenient single point of web-based access to X12's work. Glass contains all available versions of the EDI Standard, Code Source Directory, Control Standards, EDI Standard Figures, Guidelines and most Technical Reports including HIPAA-mandated implementation guides. 2. BridgeA new solution to view and use X12's syntax neutral vocabulary and constructs that allows users to leverage their data in various ways for different purposes. For instance, Bridge allows users to build complementary solutions using APIs in other syntaxes such as XML and eventually JSON. 3. ARCWith X12's move to an annual release cycle (ARC) for maintenance and publication of Technical Reports, interested stakeholders benefit from the increased predictability and consistency of incremental annual updates. The cycle begins with the simplification and centralization of the maintenance request submission process and results in an annual publication of X12 Technical Reports. This is a great step forward for X12. The Glass and Bridge solutions bring X12 back to the fingertips of the developers and implementers," added Charles Gardella of InterTrade Systems. "This more modern approach to reach the user community, along with the recently announced B2X subcommittee, positions X12 to remain an important constant in a rapidly changing electronic commerce landscape. About X12 X12, chartered by the American National Standards Institute for more than 40 years, develops and maintains EDI standards and XML schemas which drive business processes globally. X12's diverse membership includes technologists and business process experts in health care, insurance, transportation, finance, government, supply chain and other industries. X12 members meet regularly to develop and maintain EDI standards that streamline and facilitate consistent electronic interchange of business transactions, such as order placement and processing, shipping and receiving information, invoicing, payment and cash application data. For more information, visit X12.org and neX12.org. Visit us on LinkedIn (L) Sean Spicer at the White House in Washington on July 17, 2017. (R) Reince Priebus during a discussion at the Conservative Political Action Conference at National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 23, 2017. (Olivier Douliery/Mike Theiler/AFP via Getty Images) Sean Spicer, Reince Priebus Rejoin Trump Administration 2 Years After Leaving White House Two notable figures from President Donald Trumps first year in office will be rejoining the Trump administration, over two years after leaving the White House. The presidents former press secretary, Sean Spicer, and his first White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, will be rejoining the administration as members on Trumps commission on White House fellowships, the White House announced in a news release. According to the Obama White Houses website, the commission interviews National Finalists and then recommends those individuals it finds most qualified to the president for appointment as White House Fellows. The White House says the Commission must select applicants for fellowships based on a combination of criteria, including a record of remarkable professional achievement early in ones career; evidence of leadership skills and the potential for further growth; and a demonstrated commitment to public service. The news comes after the pair both left their former jobs at the White House in the summer of 2017, when Trump hired Anthony Scaramucci as his communications directorresigning after just 10 days on the job. Spicer resigned in protest over the hiring of Scaramucci, and found offers for his post-White House life too appealing to forsake, a senior White House official said at the time. In a major shake-up of his top team, Priebus, meanwhile, was replaced by John Kelly after just six months on the job, and was fired by Trump late July 2017. Trump announced the move in a tweet a day after Scaramucci accused Priebus of leaking information to reporters in a profanity-laced tirade. Priebus at the time told CNN he had been talking to Trump for some time about exiting the White House. The president has a right to hit a reset button. I think its time to hit the reset button, Priebus said in a televised interview from the White House late July 2017. He intuitively determined that it was time to do something different, and I think hes right. Priebuss 189-day tenure was the shortest in modern history for a White House chief of staff. In a statement, Priebus said it had been one of the great honors of his life to serve Trump and the country. I will continue to serve as a strong supporter of the presidents agenda and policies. I cant think of a better person than General John Kelly to succeed me and I wish him Gods blessings and great success, he said. Priebus currently holds the position of president and chief strategist of national law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, based in Wisconsin. Spicer, meanwhile, remains a Republican Party loyalist. In yet another attempt to demystify the ground reality in Jammu and Kashmir, a fresh batch of 25 foreign envoys landed in Srinagar on Wednesday. The diplomats belonging to the European Union, including Germany, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Bulgaria, and Hungary will be in Srinagar for a day on Wednesday and in Jammu on Thursday. The delegation was briefed about the security situation in Kashmir by Chinar Corps Commander and other senior officers from the security apparatus. Secretary (W) Vikas Swarup is overseeing the visit on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs. On Wednesday, the foreign envoys had an extensive discussion which lasted for over an hour at the Lalit Hotel with people from various walks of life. The discussion started around 3:30 in the evening with several prominent academicians, scholars, doctors, and students. The envoys also met few young political leaders from far-flung areas. READ | Kashmir: Foreign envoys interact with civil society members, hope for peace and prosperity Foreign envoys to look at Business opportunities Political activist Mir Junaid, who was also a part of the group which met the foreign envoys, spoke to Republic TV about the engagement. It was very productive. The envoys were concerned about peace in the region. So we explained this to the delegation that peace wont happen unless other countries diplomatically handle Pakistan. Pakistan has been fear-mongering. They are keeping the issue alive. This is an internal matter. Our government can handle, said Junaid. The delegation also took the opportunity to request the foreign envoys to look at business opportunities in the valley. We did speak about FDI in Kashmir. A 3% investment should be dedicated to Kashmir. We requested them to initiate a process whereby we can have a long term engagement with their respective countries, said Junaid, adding, Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party would engage with the ambassadors. A positive sign was shown by the delegation. We also discussed the abrogation of Article 370. We told them abrogation is for a change. We dont know whether it is good or bad. Meanwhile, we cant let all sectors in the valley suffer because of this decision. The visit also comes days after the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) was slapped on former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers - Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. Security has been tightened in Srinagar and the areas around the hotel where the delegation of foreign envoys are staying. Meanwhile, opposition parties have hit out at the government saying that this is nothing but a guided tour. READ | 'If foreign envoys allowed in Kashmir, why not MPs?' asks CPI(M)'s Tarigami The situation appears different from opposition's claim The opposition party's claims about the foreign delegation witnessing empty roads in the valley also appeared to be different than the ground reality. Videos accessed show traffic to be routine. READ | the Second batch of foreign envoys arrives in J&K; will visit Baramulla, Srinagar & Jammu READ | 3 detained for protesting against the visit of foreign envoys in Srinagar Srinagar, Feb 12 : As humankind continues to breach nature's borders to encroach into the habitat of wildlife species, more and more incidents of man-animal conflict are occurring across the Kashmir Valley. Just two days back, a leopard and a mother bear with cubs were rescued in time by the officials of the wildlife protection department from a heavily populated area of south Kashmir. "After rescue, these animals were set free in the forest area so that they return to their natural territory", said an official of the wildlife protection department. Ironically, instead of helping the rescue effort, dozens of locals were seen clicking mobile phone pictures of these wild animals as they remained dazed after being surrounded by so many people. Environmentalists say the problem is much bigger and of greater consequence than it appears to the common man. "Fast growing human population has pushed the boundaries of the wild animals far deeper into the forests and other habitats of these species. "Look at any forest area of the Valley and you will find that humans have done serious encroachments there. Felling forests for timber and fuel, or claiming forest land for cultivation is a common phenomenon in J&K. "This forces the wildlife species to move down into populated areas for food and sometimes in sheer bewilderment and fear", said a local environmentalist. Another important reason for man-animal conflict is the increasing numbers of wildlife species because poaching and unauthorised killing of animals for fur etc has almost stopped due to the presence of the security forces in forest areas. "Poachers hardly dare to venture into the forests. Security forces deployed on counter insurgency duties dominate forest areas to check infiltration of militants. This has discouraged poaching and hunting in these forests", said a police officer. Srinagar city has an entire range of Zabarwan hills those have been declared as protected areas for wildlife species. Areas overlooking the Raj Bhawan, hotel Lalit, Hari Niwas guest house and even the entire high security Gupkar Road and the Boulevard are protected areas. There are leopards, bears, jackals, partridges and dozens of other wildlife species in these areas. In addition to this, Dachigam national park is situated barely 14 Kilometres from city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Dachigam is home to 'Hangul', a sub-species of red deer found only in Kashmir and nowhere else in the World. As construction of houses etc continues in areas surrounding the Dachigam national park, this has caused stress on various species living inside the park. A government sheep farm which existed inside the park for decades was re-located two years back to avoid competition between sheep and other grazers among the wildlife species. "There are pastures those overlap into the Dachigam park and flocks of sheep, goats and cattle are taken up into these pastures by nomadic goatherds during the summer months. "This is another grey area that needs immediate attention to ensure that the population of Hangul and other species remains unaffected", said Bashir Ahmad, a veterinarian who headed the sheep farm inside the national park for three years in the past. Thousands of migratory birds come each year to spend the winter months in bird reserves and other lakes and water bodies of the Valley. Vast areas of these bird reserves like the Hokarsar, Mirgund, Hygam and Shallabugh have been encroached as houses and other structures including shops and godowns have come up in these areas. This has shrunk the areas of these bird reserves forcing the migratory birds to inhabit unprotected water bodies where poachers kill these birds. In a nutshell, the man-animal conflict in Kashmir is the handiwork of human beings whose greed for land and space has obliterated the fine ecological borderline because of which the two had peacefully coexisted for centuries. Ircon International reported 52.51% jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 142.43 crore on 0.74% fall in total income to Rs 1,255.14 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. The company declared an interim dividend of Rs 13.45 per share (134.50%) and has recommended splitting of the company's one (1) equity share of face value of Rs 10/- each into five (5) equity shares of face value of Rs 2 each, subject to shareholders approval. Coal India reported 14.08% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 3923.87 crore on 6.13% fall in total income to Rs 24603.24 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Cochin Shipyard reported 32.34% jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 169.81 crore on 23.89% rise in total income to Rs 950.35 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Bharat Heavy Electricals reported 17.21% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 162.67 crore on 22.91% fall in total income to Rs 5837.65 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. CESC reported 12.18% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 267.00 crore on 7.00% fall in total income to Rs 2563.00 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. The board of directors has declared an Interim Dividend of Rs 20 per share (200%) for the year 2019-20. IndusInd Bank said Moody's Investors Service has revised outlook on the bank's rating to negative versus stable. CARE Ratings informed that due to personal reasons S B Mainak, Chairman & Independent Director of the company has tendered his resignation with effect from 11 February 2020. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said that the board of directors of the company, at its meeting scheduled on 14 February 2020 will, consider and evaluate proposals for raising of funds. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Feb. 12 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Chary Atayev has been appointed the head of the Representative Office of Turkmenistan to the European Union (EU), Trend reports with reference to the relevant decree of the country's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Atayev heads the country's diplomatic mission in Belgium and the Netherlands. Dozens of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkmenistan receive consultations within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) program funded by the EU. The program aims at introducing best practices in such key sectors of the economy as agribusiness, construction, transport, textile, tourism, manufacturing industry and services. EBRD invested 280 million euros in various sectors of the Turkmen economy as part of 72 investment projects throughout the country. The EBRD shareholders include 67 countries, the EU and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Turkmenistan is implementing EU technical assistance projects, in particular Erasmus Mundus, a student exchange program. Moreover, Ashgabat and Brussels regularly discuss major projects regarding development of transport systems and regional energy infrastructure. The EU is committed to the implementation of a project designed to bring Turkmen hydrocarbon energy resources to European markets. Negotiations have been ongoing since 2011. Former Executive at Cisco, VMware, Akamai, VeloCloud and Apstra Michael Wood Named New Chief Marketing Officer SAN JOSE, California, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Versa Networks, the leader in Secure SD-WAN, today announced it has named long-time Silicon Valley marketing executive Michael Wood as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Mr. Wood joins Versa to drive brand awareness, product marketing, demand generation, and corporate communications. "It is an exciting time to be joining the Secure SD-WAN leader," said Mr. Wood. "Versa's exceptional growth last year included more than 200,000 software licenses sold, more than 1,000 new customers globally, 100 Service Provider partners, and the introduction of the cloud-delivered Versa Titan service. My vision is to significantly increase this rapid growth and accelerate our global momentum through the expansion of our on-premises, service provider hosted, and cloud offerings." Mr. Wood brings three decades of executive marketing experience and success with industry leaders such as Cisco, VMware, Akamai, VeloCloud, and Apstra. His expertise embraces product management and marketing, business scaling and outbound marketing. He has extensive hands-on experience in networking as a service, virtualization, SD-WAN, and the cloud and security sectors. "We are delighted to welcome Michael to our team," said Kelly Ahuja, CEO, Versa Networks. "His success with innovative companies and winning products is a perfect match for Versa and the direction we are heading. Enterprises realize that Secure SD-WAN is necessary as part of any network transformation for a highly secure, scalable, and reliable WAN edge." About Michael Wood As CMO, Michael leads the Versa marketing organization to drive brand awareness, messaging, positioning, product marketing, demand generation, analyst engagements, press relations and corporate communications. He is an industry veteran with 30 years of experience in marketing, product and engineering at companies such as StrataCom, Cisco, Akamai, VeloCloud, VMware and Apstra. Mike holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology (Computer Electronics) from San Jose State University. About Versa Networks Versa Networks, the leader in Secure SD-WAN, combines full-featured SD-WAN, complete integrated security, advanced scalable routing, genuine multi-tenancy, and sophisticated analytics to meet WAN Edge requirements for small to extremely large Enterprises and Service Providers. Versa Secure SD-WAN is available on-premises, hosted through Service Providers, and from the cloud via the Versa Titan service. The company has transacted hundreds of thousands of software licenses globally through its Service Providers, partners and Enterprises. Versa Networks is privately held and funded by Sequoia Capital, Mayfield, Artis Ventures, Verizon Ventures, Comcast Ventures and Liberty Global Ventures. For more information, visit https://www.versa-networks.com or follow Versa Networks on Twitter @versanetworks. Versa Networks and Versa Titan are registered trademarks of Versa Networks, Inc. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Contact: Dan Spalding dspalding@versa-networks.com (408) 960-9297 The coronavirus is expected to deliver Australia its worst economic performance since the start of the global financial crisis as companies struggle to get key components for cars, TVs and smartphones out of China. The flu-like disease has now infected 44,742 people and killed 1115. Up to 4846 have recovered. In Australia the number of cases has remained stable at 15. Overseas, 12 Australians are now in quarantine in Japan after being infected aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The Morrison government has offered counselling to the 220 Australians still stranded on the ship. They face at least another week of a floating quarantine with 3700 others and infections continue to mount. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the World Health Organisation, said on Wednesday the disease posed a "very grave threat" that could have "more powerful consequences than any terrorist action". President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with members of the Mejlis (parliament) of Turkmenistan. The meeting was also attended by the government officials, heads of ministries, departments, political parties, public associations and the mass media. In his keynote speech, the head of state outlined the important tasks related to state building and improving the national legislation that members of parliament should address in 2020. Particular emphasis was placed on introducing changes and amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan with the view of establishing a new bicameral parliament in the country. In this regard, according to the Turkmen leader, submitting the draft changes and amendments to the Constitution of Turkmenistan for nationwide discussion is one of the priorities. The head of state noted the importance of humanizing Turkmenistans penalty system and changing the status from criminal to administrative of a number of offenses that do not pose a great danger to the state and society. In this regard, Berdimuhamedov issued instructions to draft a new version of the Criminal Code and the Arbitration Procedure Code of Turkmenistan as well as to draft and adopt the law On Prevention of Crimes. In his speech, the head of state emphasized the importance of developing legal and regulatory instruments for democratization of society, protection of human rights and freedoms, promotion of digitalization of the economy, transport and communications sector, agriculture, and enhancing the effectiveness of attracting foreign investment. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Ben Roback is Head of Trade and International Policy at Cicero Group. One gets the feeling that Donald JTrump is having fun. Hes having a good few weeks the apex of which was his acquittal by the Senate on two charges of impeachment. As if the outcome itself wasnt sufficient political manna from heaven, the lone Republican defector Mitt Romney gave the President a new object of focus within his own party. It gives him grounds to continue to purge the GOP of disbelievers, and further cast the Republicans in his own mould. Then it was the turn of the Democrats to start gifting the president open goals. Trump ignored Nancy Pelosis offer of an outstretched hand as he took to the Senate floor to deliver his State of the Union, celebrating the great American comeback. Whether planned in advance or merely in response to the presidents cold shoulder, Pelosis riposte was to ceremoniously tear up the presidents speech behind his back. The President has made scoring cheap political points whilst simultaneously abandoning bipartisan goodwill and convention his forte but, if the Democrats strategy in the 2020 election is to go toe to toe with him, they will lose. Fact. The response was a far cry from Michelle Obamas famous motto: When they go low, we go high. Throughout the speech, the president kept his potential 2020 Democratic opposite number in sight. Preparing for the possibility of a Bernie Sanders candidacy, the president invited Juan Guaido, the opposition leader in Venezuela, as a special guest at the address. Socialism destroys nations. But always remember, freedom unifies the soul, said the president. It sounded as though the president was talking to Venezuela, but the real target was the junior Senator from Vermont. Sanders and Buttigieg rise as Biden falls Attention quickly turned to the Iowa caucus, where a technical glitch with the app used to tally votes delayed the announcement of final results. It meant that both Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg were able to declare victory. First as tragedy, then as farce. The final outcome in Iowa split Sanders and Buttigieg by just a tenth of a percent, with Buttigieg the surprise victor. Languishing in fourth place on 15.8 per cent, Joe Biden left Iowa the most disappointed of the candidates. The latest RealClearPolitics polling average makes for sobering reading in the extreme for the Biden campaign, which diverted to New Hampshire entirely in anticipation of another poor return. Their hunch was correct: Bidens campaign was dealt a crushing blow, with a fifth place finish on under 10 per cent. The former Vice President then diverted his attention to South Carolina, the fourth state to host its primary at the end of the month. The voter demographics in the Palmetto State favour Biden, where a larger share of African American voters are expected to continue their support for him. The Biden campaign cannot afford another lowly finish, which could spell the end of his candidacy. New Hampshire voters threw a surprise name into the mix that of Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Senator, who finished third on 20 per cent. Michael Bloomberg, backed by an unprecedented level of personal expenditure, is set to enter the primary race on Super Tuesday. Moderate Democrats look increasingly split between Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Bloomberg. With a second-place finish in Iowa and first place in New Hampshire, the progressive wing of the party looks to be coalescing around Bernie Sanders and walking away from Elizabeth Warren. Can a self-described socialist really win in modern-day America? It is by no means lazy to associate Bernie Sanders with Jeremy Corbyn both in style and substance. Republicans will hope that the two suffer the same fate, should Sanders win his partys nomination. Just as Jeremy Corbyn abjectly failed to convince the nation of his vision of a socialist Britain, Sanders attempts to sell socialism to modern America looks a lot like trying to flog radiators to Eskimos. A new poll by Gallup gives the Sanders campaign serious cause for concern. A majority of Americans surveyed said they would not vote for a socialist candidate for president, with the most opposition coming from Republican voters. Asked whether they would vote for their party nominee who was a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be socialist, 45 percent said yes and 53 percent said no. Despite some of the most prominent rising stars in the Democratic Party emerging from the left, the acceptance for a socialist nominee is two points lower now than it was in June 2015. Trumps campaign team are likely to be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of facing off against Sanders at least in terms of semantics. But do not discount the head-to-head polls which, according to the RealClearPolitics average, give Mr Sanders an average lead of 4.3 points. Despite that, the personal polling picture looks increasingly healthy for a President who is now fighting on the front foot and not the back. Trumps job approval rating has risen to 49 per cent, his highest on record with Gallup. His 92 per cent approval rating among Republicans is up six percentage points from early January and three ahead of George W Bush at the same point in their presidencies. The road to Julys Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin has many hitherto undiscovered twists and turns. Bloombergs entrance into the race on Super Tuesday presents a new and expensive challenge to the Sanders and Buttigieg camps fighting for frontrunner status. The Republican primary will be no such blockbuster. On Tuesday, Trump coasted to victory in the Republican New Hampshire primary. With Democrats descending into in-fighting and their supporters split, he arguably emerged the clear winner from the Democratic primary in New Hampshire too. So far, so good. Only now Mr. Bukele, at 38 the youngest president in the countrys history, has appeared to let his success go to his head. On Sunday, he delivered another jolt to the political establishment, leading scores of heavily armed troops and police into a meeting of the Legislative Assembly. He acted after legislators balked at his demand for immediate approval of a $109 million loan to buy more supplies for the counter-gang campaign. Saying, I think its very clear who has control of the situation, the president said he was giving the assembly a week to pass the enabling legislation. Two hugely successful Laois music venues have again been recognised for their major contribution to the Irish music scene. Last Tuesday February 11, The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) hosted their always highly anticipated IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards, now in its twelfth year, at the new location of Twenty Two, South Anne Street, Dublin. The short list of nominees was selected by over 13,500 IMRO members with a public vote then awarding the National Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 accolade to Coughlan's Live Bar and Music Venue, Cork. Returning to Laois are two winners, with Kavanagh's Bar & Venue Portlaoise scooping the IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 and Electric Picnic receiving the IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2019 honour. Deirdre Crookes of LH Publicity accepts the award for Electric Picnic at the IMRO Live Music Venue Awards 2019 - Photo by Ruth Medjber. Niamh Kavanagh from Kavanagh's has thanked everyone who voted for them. Eleanor McEvoy, IMRO Chairperson said of the annual awards, We are gifted in Ireland to have such a vibrant and eclectic music scene, the backbone of which is our magnificent live music sector. The important role that venues and festivals make is all too often overlooked, but we feel it is vital to acknowledge venues big and small across the country and to celebrate the individuals whose hard work and commitment help our music industry to thrive. From a musicians first performance, right through to an internationally renowned headline artist, these venues and individuals allow music creators to continue making music and bring it to new audiences. Other winners in the regional categories include: Dublin Vicar Street Connacht Roisin Dubh, Galway Munster Mike The Pies, Listowel, Co. Kerry Ulster Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney Co. Monaghan Also presented with an award on the night for IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year was Sounds from a Safe Harbour. The crew of Sea Sessions picked up the award for IMRO Tech Crew of the Year. The IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music accolade was awarded this year to Angela Dorgan, Director, First Music Contact. Performances on the night came from Soda Blonde, Alex Gough and ELM. Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes also gave special commendations, presenting awards to Roisin Dubh and Mike The Pies and the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year for 2019 to 3Arena. He said: Irish music is going through a real purple patch at the moment, with brilliant new artists emerging across every genre and a lot of them are making a serious impact internationally. They deserve to. We are producing some truly great music here at the moment. This extraordinary surge of creativity in Irish music would not be possible without great live venues. They give artists and bands a vital platform, especially at the start of their careers. A healthy live music scene is at the very heart of things and music is flourishing all over Ireland. Thats why the IMRO Live Music Venues Awards are so important. It matters a lot to us, here at Hot Press, to lend our support to the awards and to do everything we can to promote live music in Ireland. We want Irish artists to experience recognition and success like never before during the year ahead. I firmly believe that 2020 is going to be a great one. Music venues and festivals play a vital role in the music industry in Ireland, giving international and homegrown artists of all levels a platform to engage with existing fans and build new audiences. They also play a central role in urban and rural communities across the country, providing a social gathering space for a multitude of audience types, and contributing hugely to the domestic economy. IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 Winners IMRO National Live Venue of the Year 2019 Coughlan's Live Bar and Music Venue, Cork. IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 Vicar Street IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 Kavanagh's Bar & Venue Portlaoise, Co. Laois IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 Roisin Dubh, Galway IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 Mike The Pies, Listowel, Co. Kerry IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2019 Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney Co. Monaghan IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2019 Electric Picnic IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year 2019 Sounds from a Safe Harbour IMRO Tech Crew of the Year Award 2019 Sea Sessions IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music Angela Dorgan, Director, First Music Contact Hot Press Live Venue of the Year for 2019 3Arena University of Bayreuth researchers, together with scientists from Italy and China, have for the first time systematically investigated under which conditions, and to what extent, sulphur-containing arsenic compounds are formed in rice-growing soils. To date, these thioarsenates have not been taken into account in assessments of the health effects of rice consumption. In the journal Nature Geoscience, the scientists present their results and identify the urgent need for research with a view to protecting consumers from health risks. A new measuring method for thioarsenates The research team, headed by the Bayreuth environmental geochemist Prof. Dr. Britta Planer-Friedrich, has developed a measuring method by means of which thioarsenates in rice soils can be reliably detected. Up to now, the methods routinely used to monitor arsenic in rice fields have not been sufficient for this purpose. This is because they are not able to identify sulphur-containing arsenic compounds as such, or to distinguish them from oxygen-containing arsenic compounds. This shortcoming is highly problematic in terms of possible health risks. At least one organic sulphur-containing arsenic compound discovered in rice fields is already known to be carcinogenic. This makes it all the more important to specifically detect organic sulphur-containing arsenic compounds, and to examine them for their toxicity. Presumably, these compounds have been confused with non-toxic organic oxygenated arsenic compounds up to now due to inadequate measurement procedures. Limit monitoring for all toxic arsenic compounds "The uptake of the various thioarsenates in rice plants and the potential risks to human health arising from them urgently require further research. Rice is the world's most important foodstuff and secures the basis of life for more than one half of the world's population," explains Planer-Friedrich, and calls for legally defined limits to be set for all toxic arsenic compounds in future. "Analytical procedures for limit monitoring, which correctly detect all of these compounds, must become routine," says the Bayreuth scientist. At the moment, there is only a legal limit for inorganic oxygenated arsenic compounds, while organic oxygenated arsenic compounds are still categorized as non-toxic. New approaches for forecasting methods With their new measuring method, the researchers have observed the formation of sulphur-containing arsenic compounds over long periods of time in rice fields in Italy and China. It turns out the amounts of thioarsenates occurring are linked significantly to the pH-values of the soils and other easily measurable parameters. "These findings contain valuable starting points for the development of forecasting methods. If in future we could predict, without great technical effort, on which rice fields particularly large or only small amounts of sulphur-containing arsenic compounds are to be expected, it would be an important contribution to the assessment of health risks," says the Bayreuth PhD student and first author of the study, Jiajia Wang MSc. Urgent need for research on opportunities and risks The authors of the new study consider further research to be indispensable in order to be able to scientifically assess the health risks posed by thioarsenates. For example, the exact transport routes with which these arsenic compounds are transferred from the rice fields to the rice grains, and to what extent, must be clarified. Studies in Bayreuth laboratories have already confirmed that sulphur-containing arsenic compounds can enter the rice plant and even reach the rice grain. However, based on our current state of knowledge, it cannot be ruled out that the total arsenic contamination of rice harvests could even decrease if sulphur-containing instead of oxygen-containing arsenic compounds are formed in the soil. This would be the case if sulphur-containing arsenic compounds were largely retained in the soil, or if rice plants were less able to take up these compounds. At the University of Bayreuth, these relationships are being investigated in the research groups of Prof. Dr. Britta Planer-Friedrich and of plant physiologist Prof. Dr. Stephan Clemens. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) are supporting these interdisciplinary research projects. "Our further studies will show whether thioarsenates as a whole represent a risk or an opportunity for the production of rice containing the lowest possible amounts of arsenic, which is hazardous to health. Only then can further directives for water or soil management in rice fields and the targeted breeding of new rice varieties be developed," says Planer-Friedrich. A new study is to look into the feasibility and steps required to re-establish sugar beet and its processing in Scotland. The announcement comes almost 50 years on from the closure of the Scottish Sugar Beet factory in Cupar, Fife. The 2020 driver is not to meet consumer demand for sugar, however. It is to contribute to climate change mitigation and the decarbonisation of industry to meet Scotlands greenhouse gas reduction targets. Growing sugar beet again would produce bioethanol as a fuel additive and create new plant-based biotech products. Scottish Enterprise commissioned the UK bioeconomy consultancy, NNFCC, to produce a report looking at the crop's feasibility, which was published in summer 2019. It identified that a refinery would need up to 20,000ha of sugar beet from arable land of class 3.1 or better, within a 30 to 60 mile radius of the refinery plants location. Iain Riddell, from SAC Consulting, said a resurrected crop and a new refinery could offer a 'huge opportunity' for agriculture to contribute to CO2 reduction. But he said farmers will also have to factor in the feasibility, risk and reward of growing a crop that is new to most of them. We have experience of producing the closely related energy beet crops for AD and the growing of fodder beet for livestock, Mr Riddell said. It should be possible to grow sugar beet, but comprehensive trials will be required to assess yield, sugar content and hardiness of modern varieties in Scottish conditions. Farmers will see this as an opportunity, but also a challenge, because growing conditions are unlike those of the dominant beet growing area of East Anglia where the crop is grown in free-draining sandy loams. He said the opportunity is best suited to the arable land in Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross, potentially extending into the Lothians and Aberdeenshire, all depending on the refinerys location. Wider challenges will also need to be considered, such as the potential for soil compaction associated with late, wet harvesting conditions. Project collaborators include Scottish Enterprise, the James Hutton Institute, SAOS and IBioIC the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, and farmers will have a chance to join in shortly through the RISS project. Muttenz, February 12, 2020- Clariant, a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, today announced that Stephan Lynen will be appointed CFO as of April 1, 2020. The proven financial expert, currently Head of the Business Unit Additives, has been with the company for more than 20 years in various international general management and business roles. He will succeed Patrick Jany who decided to pursue a career opportunity outside of Clariant as CFO of A.P. Moller - Maersk, a global leader in shipping services. At its meeting yesterday, the Board of Directors accepted Patrick Jany's resignation and expressed its appreciation for his accomplishments at Clariant. At the same time, the Board approved the appointment of Stephan Lynen as new CFO. With the appointment of Stephan Lynen, Clariant continues the transformation of its Executive Committee in line with the business transformation of Clariant. "We are very pleased that Stephan Lynen will join the Executive Committee as CFO of Clariant," said Hariolf Kottmann, Executive Chairman of Clariant. "With his vast business experience, his General Management skills and his vast expertise in Finance, he has the perfect profile for this important role. Drawing on his outstanding ability in strategy implementation and his broad knowledge of our customers, he will play a leading role in shaping the Clariant of the future." "At the same time, we very much regret Patrick Jany's decision to leave Clariant", said Hariolf Kottmann. "Patrick Jany has been with our company for 25 years and has played a major role in our success story. He joined Clariant after a successful career at Sandoz, and has helped shape the development of our company from the very beginning. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors as CFO of A.P. Moller - Maersk." During Patrick Jany's tenure as CFO since 2006, Clariant has gone through several structural changes, including a fundamental restructuring of the company, the acquisition of Sud-Chemie and recently the repositioning of the company. In his responsibility for Investor Relations, Patrick Jany has established excellent relationships to the financial community which have been vital to making the implementation of Clariant's strategy a success. Stephan Lynen (49) is currently Head of the Business Unit Additives. Before that, he held several international senior positions, e.g. as Vice President RBL for the Business Unit ICS in the APAC region or as General Manager for Clariant's Joint Venture Global Amines Company in Singapore. Stephan Lynen has held leading positions in Finance throughout his career: He joined Clariant in 1998 as a Corporate Internal Auditor, was regional Head of Finance and IT and then became Head of Group Controlling. Stephan Lynen studied Business Administration at the University of Cologne and Economics and Finance at UCLA, USA. Corporate Media Relations Investor Relations Jochen Dubiel Phone +41 61 469 63 63 jochen.dubiel@clariant.com Maria Ivek Phone +41 61 469 63 73 maria.ivek@clariant.com Claudia Kamensky Phone +41 61 469 63 63 claudia.kamensky@clariant.com Alexander Kamb Phone +41 61 469 63 73 alexander.kamb@clariant.com Thijs Bouwens Phone +41 61 469 63 63 thijs.bouwens@clariant.com Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/clariant) , Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Clariant-146077545551792/timeline/) , LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/clariant?trk=top_nav_home) , Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/clariant_international/). www.clariant.com (http://www.clariant.com) Clariant is a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel/Switzerland. On 31 December 2018 the company employed a total workforce of 17 901. In the financial year 2018, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 4.404 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in three business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. Clariant's corporate strategy is based on five pillars: focus on innovation and R&D, add value with sustainability, reposition portfolio, intensify growth, and increase profitability. Attachment N26 GmbH, the German mobile bank backed by billionaires Peter Thiel and Li Ka-Shing, said it will end UK operations citing the countrys departure from the European Union. The Berlin-based digital bank will close UK accounts on April 15, N26 said in a statement Tuesday. A spokesman told Bloomberg that the company has several hundred thousand customers in the country and all of them will be affected. Those with money in their accounts will need to withdraw or transfer it by the deadline and payments received after that date will be returned to the sender. N26 blamed Brexit for the abrupt withdrawal. The firm started services in the UK in October 2018, more than two years after the country voted to leave the EU, calling the market its first outside of the euro zone. Still, the company said that the timings and framework outlined in the withdrawal agreement mean that it wont be able to operate in the UK with its EU banking license. While we fully respect the decision that has been taken, it means that N26 will in due course be unable to serve our customers in the U.K. and will have to leave the market, Chief Banking Officer Thomas Grosse said in the statement. The bank said the majority of N26s staff in the UK will move into new roles at the company. N26 was valued at $3.5 billion in its July funding round and is backed by investors including German insurer Allianz SE, Thiels Valar Ventures, Lis Horizons Ventures, Chinas Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC. Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics InsurTech Europe Allianz Startups Uk Following concerns about a New York State Fair extended schedule, state officials met recently with representatives from the affected county fairs about the change. In January, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the State Fair in Syracuse will increase its 13-day run to 18 days, running Aug. 21 to Sept. 7. But those additional days overlap with nine county fairs, including the Washington County Fair, scheduled for Aug. 24 to Aug. 30. The state fair has always overlapped us, said Rebecca Breese, marketing and sponsorship manager of the Washington County Fair. This change makes us overlap completely. Officials from the county fairs throughout the state expressed concerns about the overlap, especially related to agriculture competitive exhibits, youth development programs and the routing of carnival, midway and concessions operators. During the Jan. 31 meeting, state fair officials agreed to work with the counties to resolve concession routing issues on a case-by-case basis, including letting the vendors arrive after the state fair begins. Additionally, they said that the scheduling of competitive events would not be in the earlier opening dates of the state fair. I think anytime there is communication between groups, it is a good thing, said Breese. What makes the fairs so special is that we do all work together to create an experience to help all succeed. State and county fair officials need to continue discussions, said Jason Lawrence, president of the county fair delegation. Although there are still details to be addressed, the entire county fair delegation feels the meeting was extremely productive, he said in a news release. County tourism effort The first Washington County tourism Meeting of the Minds is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at RS Taylor & Sons Brewery in Salem. The We are Washington County initiative is a yearlong crusade to bring local businesses together for networking, brainstorming and sharing ideas about how to bring more people to the county. During a Washington County Board of Supervisors Agriculture, Planning, Tourism and Community Development Committee meeting in January, marketing consultant Andrew Meader announced the initiative. According to Meader, the county is working with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County to offer networking and educational opportunities for anyone interested. This is going to be a great partnership and the first thing we will be working on are tourism workshops, said Meader, during the January meeting. Thats to engage the attractions and the agritourism attractions of the county and sharing information. What do you have that we can shout to the world and how can we help you market yourselves better? During the January meeting, the supervisors approved the countys $10,000 match for the Cooperative Extensions tourism-related work. Together we are stronger, said Jessica Ziehm, agricultural marketing educator with the local Cooperative Extension in a news release. This campaign will help unify the independent strengths found in the county, build on the success of existing businesses and mentor less-established ones for the greater good of all businesses here in Washington County. It will be fun to see what we can accomplish when we all work together. To become part of this initiative, Washington County-based businesses should go to https://washingtoncounty.fun/tourismmeeting/ to register for the meeting or to sign up for news on the initiative. Kathleen Phalen-Tomaselli is a reporter and photographer covering Washington County, arts and life, features and breaking news. 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. The European Parliament has approved the EVFTA and EVIPA The European Parliament today (February 12) voted in favour of the landmark free-trade agreement with Vietnam which will eliminate almost all tariffs over the next 10 years. The EVFTA was voted in favour by 401 European Union lawmakers, with 192 votes against and 40 abstentions. The agreement will remove virtually all customs duties between the two parties over the next 10 years, including on Europes main export products to Vietnam. Vietnams National Assembly is expected to vote on the trade pact in May. The EU already has free trade deals with fellow ASEAN member Singapore, along with Japan and South Korea. According to a study by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the EVFTA and EVIPA are expected to increase Vietnam's GDP by 4.6 per cent and exports to the EU by 42.7 per cent by 2025. The European Commission estimates that the GDP of the EU will increase by $29.5 billion and exports to Vietnam by 29 per cent by 2035. Besides, the EVFTA also has extensive commitments on services, government procurement, as well as labour and intellectual property. Once approved by the National Assembly of Vietnam, the EVFTA will take effect immediately. Following EU internal procedures, the EVFTA needs to be ratified by the EP and then approved by the European Council to take effect. As for the EVIPA, this agreement must be ratified by both the EP and the parliaments of all 27 EU member states. Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh hold a press release on EVFTA Telling VIR about the EVFTA process, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said that the last step has been approved before the agreement can be put into effect in July or August. The EU is interested in not only the economic gains in Vietnam, but also the issues related to environment and sustainable development. "We should be confident of being a reputable partner of the EU. In the time coming, we need the approval of Vietnam's National Assembly, while the EU-side will complete the remaining procedures on their part. The agreement is expected to be put into effect in July or August," the minister said. The minister also pointed out some tasks to improve the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy, including restructuring the economic sectors, developing the domestic market, as well as protecting the interests of local people and businesses. Nicolas Audier, chairman of the EuroCham in Vietnam, said This is an historic moment for EU-Vietnam relations, and one which will open the door to a new chapter of increased trade and investment between our two sides. It will enable European business to be at the forefront of the next phase of Vietnams socio-economic development, and ensure that Vietnamese companies and consumers have privileged access to European markets, products, and services. Likewise, EU companies will have greater access to Vietnams fast-growing market." This vote is the culmination of almost a decade of work. Negotiations began as long ago as 2012, and the EuroCham supported the EVFTA through 12 rounds of dialogue. Since the agreement was concluded in 2015, we have lobbied hard to persuade members of the European Parliament of the benefits of the EVFTA not just to trade essential though this is but also to the livelihoods, life chances, and living standards of people in Vietnam," said Audier. "However, todays vote is not the end of the process. In fact, it is just the beginning. Now, we must ensure the smooth implementation of the EVFTA so that companies and consumers on both sides can unlock the full potential of this agreement. The EuroCham will be an active participant in this process, and we will work with the Vietnamese government, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and our partners to make sure that the benefits agreed to in principle are realised in practice." Vietnam is the EU's second-largest trade partner in the ASEAN after Singapore, with trade in goods worth 47.6 billion ($51.9 billion) a year and 3.6 billion ($3.9 billion) when it comes to services. EU exports to the country grow by 5-7 per cent annually, yet the EUs trade deficit with Vietnam was 27 billion ($29.44 billion) in 2018. The main EU imports from Vietnam include telecommunications equipment, clothing and food products. The EU mainly exports goods such as machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and agricultural products to Vietnam. CAYCE The bright-blue eyes of 6-year-old Faye Swetlik look down from a video billboard in South Carolina's capital city, a broad, toothy smile stretching across her face. About 15 miles to the west, 250 local, state and federal law enforcement officers are combing the normally quiet neighborhood of Churchill Heights, near the highway and just a couple miles from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, where the girl was last seen playing in her yard. The first-grader with a bubbly personality has now been missing for more than 48 hours. "We've all been gathered here for one thing today and that's to find Faye," said Byron Snellgrove, Cayce's director of public safety. He said there is no evidence of an abduction at this time. Faye's mother, her mother's boyfriend and her father have all been cooperative with the investigation. "We've not ruled anything out," Snellgrove said. "We're not sure she hasn't just walked off and is somewhere in the woods or at a neighbors house possibly in distress or fallen." Police had contained their search to a one-mile radius, sticking to the neighborhood and surrounding woods through Tuesday. On Wednesday afternoon, officers expanded their search slightly to include the surrounding area stretching east to Charleston Highway, Sgt. Evan Antley of the Cayce Department of Public Safety said. Police say they have now knocked on every door in the neighborhood and searched houses. Dogs have been used but Antley said he had not heard of them hitting on any evidence or picking up a scent. Neighbors sat on porches Tuesday evening watching as police approached, moving in teams of two or three down the streets asking people about anything unusual they may have noticed in the last couple days. Residents said it's the kind of neighborhood where people can be seen out walking dogs on a nice day. Many have lived in the area for a long time, some as many as 50 years, but there is also a handful of young families with kids bouncing on trampolines in backyards. To the south, Churchill Heights is surrounded by heavy woods that neighbors describe as swampy, some sharing stories from their own childhoods of friends getting stuck in the mud and having to pull one another free from its sludgy grasp. "A lot of people are nervous" and worried by the news, said Sura Shealey as she sat on a swing in a small park. Shealey lives in the neighborhood and attends Airport High School. She said many in her school talk in the halls about Faye's disappearance and hope she's found soon. That evening, members gathered at Trinity Baptist Church looking for comfort and support in prayer. "As I look out I see one of our most precious gifts, and that is our children," Antley said to the 200 to 300 people gathered for the vigil. After the service ended, Valerie Shumpert huddled with several other mothers in the church pews, whispering to each other about what had happened. She grew up in Churchill Heights. She can't recall another time, as a mother, being impacted by something this way. "It easily could have been one of ours," Shumpert said. A missing child was only something they had seen on the news but never believed would happen to their community. "It's too close to home now," said Lisa Trotter of Lexington, whose granddaughter, Miley Jennings, 8, attends the same school as Faye. "This is nothing like I've ever seen before." Trotter said the school has been offering support to its students. A number of teachers and school administrators were at the vigil. Her granddaughter's former second-grade teacher hugged Miley, offering comfort as she walked by in the church. What we know Faye is white with strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes. Shes 3 feet, 10-inches tall, weighs about 65 pounds and has a speech impediment. She was last seen Monday afternoon wearing a black shirt with the word "peace" written across it along with a floral print skirt and polka-dot rain boots. Faye stepped off the bus from Springdale Elementary School around 2:50 p.m. and walked the short distance with her mother to the apartment where they lived. She went out to play in the yard, something neighbors said she did often. Her mother last saw her at 3:45 p.m. but sometime after, noticed she was gone. "If you're a parent you're going to go out and look for your child in the neighborhood," Snellgrove said, and when Faye wasn't found, her mother called the police. Neighbors were asked to review any home security they may have from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday. "We have found some surveillance footage that has helped us," Snellgrove said. "We're also following up with every lead that we get." The case has attracted national attention, with stories about Faye airing on network evening news and major cable news channels. John Bischoff of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said he has helped with thousands of these cases and no two are exactly the same. "As these types of cases unfold, it doesn't mean it's going to turn into a bad situation," he said. "What we lean on is hope." Bischoff added, "They're very much in response mode right now gathering as much evidence as they can to prove or disprove leads as they come in." Law enforcement is asking those with information to call (803) 205-4444. "My heart is out there somewhere and I don't know how to handle it," said Faye's maternal grandmother Ruth Collins, following the vigil Tuesday. SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Skybox Security, a global leader in cybersecurity management, today announced the release of its latest Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report which analyzes the vulnerabilities, exploits and threats in play over last year. The report, compiled by the team of security analysts at the Skybox Research Lab, aims to help organizations align their security strategy with the reality of the current threat landscape. Key findings from the report include: New backdoor samples quadrupled OT advisories grew by over 50 percent The number of new cryptomining samples halved between 2018 and 2019 Compared to 2018's figures, vulnerabilities within Microsoft OSs increased by 66 percent in 2019 Ron Davidson, VP of R&D and CTO for Skybox Security commented on the increase in new OT advisories. "The need for greater protections within OT networks is clearer than ever: not only has a record number of new OT advisories been disclosed by ICS-CERT, the technology is also increasingly exposed to IT vulnerabilities as it becomes unavoidably linked with more internet-connected devices and applications. In order to combat this increasing threat, security teams need to find ways to passively discover vulnerabilities within OT networks and find alternatives to patching when patching isn't an option." The decline in creation of new cryptomining samples is also notable. Last year, cryptominers became criminals' malware of choice. This year, owing in large part to a global decline in the value of cryptocurrency, the creation of new miners has declined. More traditional forms of malware fill the gap left by cryptominers, with new backdoor samples becoming 2019's top malware family, followed by ransomware (with new samples increasing by 116 percent) and botnets (with an increase of 83 percent). Another takeaway from the report is that the volume of vulnerabilities with medium-severity Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores is increasing: while the total number of new vulnerability reports appears to be stabilizing this year there was a modest rise of 3.8 percent to 17,220 new flaws the share of medium-severity instances increased from 34 percent in 2018 to 40 percent in 2019. This increase comes at the expense of high-severity vulnerabilities, which declined by around 5 percent. "Just because a vulnerability is classified as having medium severity, it doesn't mean that it carries a medium risk," said Sivan Nir, Threat Intelligence Team Leader at Skybox Security. "What matters is how each vulnerability relates to the security environment that it sits in. Security teams need to stop being blinded by CVSS scores. While they're distracted by remediating all of their critical- and high-severity vulnerabilities, they could be ignoring an exposed medium-severity vulnerability. In order to better protect their infrastructure, the CISO needs to find smarter ways of working. This starts with gaining full network visibility and enforcing exposure-based remediation strategies." Whether protecting against backdoors and ransomware, threats to the OT network or simply trying to keep up with what vulnerability to fix next, incorporating accurate, up-to-date threat intelligence in vulnerability management programs will give organizations they edge they need to counter a dynamic threat landscape. Skybox's approach formalizes this into a systematic process where vulnerabilities are discovered regularly and on demand; prioritized in the context of the network, assets and threats; and remediated or mitigated in accordance with the risk they pose. Such an approach is vital to being proactive against today's threats and adaptive to those yet to come. To read the full 2020 Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report, click here. About Skybox Research Lab The Skybox Research Lab is a team of security analysts who daily scour data from dozens of security feeds and sources as well as investigate sites in the dark web. The Research Lab validates and enhances data through automated as well as manual analysis, with analysts adding their knowledge of attack trends, cyber events and the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of today's attackers. Their ongoing investigations determine which vulnerabilities are being exploited in the wild and used in distributed crimeware such as ransomware, malware, exploit kits and other attacks exploiting client and serverside vulnerabilities. For more information on the methodology behind the Skybox Research Lab and to keep up with the latest vulnerability and threat intelligence, visit www.vulnerabilitycenter.com . About Skybox Security www.skyboxsecurity.com At Skybox, we remove complexities from cybersecurity management. By integrating data, delivering new insights and unifying processes, we help you control security without restricting business agility. Our comprehensive solution unites security perspectives into the big picture, minimizes risk and empowers security programs to move to the next level. Tweet This: Medium-severity vulnerabilities now make up 40% of all new CVSS reports. But medium-severity doesn't = medium risk. Learn about the new dangers facing organizations in the 2020 Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report: http://bit.ly/39shAot 2020 Skybox Security, Inc. All rights reserved. Skybox Security and the Skybox Security logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Skybox Security, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Product specifications subject to change at any time without prior notice. CONTACT INFORMATION Colleen Nichols Head of Corporate Marketing for Skybox Security 571.340.0181 | [email protected] Allison + Partners for Skybox Security United Kingdom: Daniel Couzens +44 (0)20 7437 0227 | [email protected] SOURCE Skybox Security Related Links www.skyboxsecurity.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York officials are working for a fix after the federal government barred state residents from applying to, or renewing their status in certain border programs last week. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in Wednesday radio interviews that he will travel to Washington D.C. on Thursday to meet with President Trump after agreeing to grant federal authorities access to New Yorks records of those enrolling in trusted traveler programs. Trumps Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf announced New Yorkers ban from the four programs, because of the state governments passage of the Green Light Law. New Yorks Green Light Law is ill-conceived and the Department is forced to take this action to ensure the integrity of our Trusted Traveler Programs, Wolf said. Its very clear: this irresponsible action has consequences. The law granted undocumented immigrants access to drivers licenses, and banned U.S. Customs and Border Protection from DMV database info. DHS has pointed out that other states grant licenses to undocumented immigrants and are still able to participate in the program. For a solution, DHS has asked the state to allow CBP access to DMV records, which they say they rely on to properly vet applicants to the four programs -- Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI and NEXUS. Cuomo told WAMC he will grant the feds access to DMV records, but only for vetting related to the programs on a case-by-case basis." He and other state officials have presented the DHS pushback as the Trump administration playing politics. I will never give them access to the DMV database, he said. I think thats what they want: they want access to the undocumenteds so they can give it to ICE, and ICE can have a feeding frenzy assaulting undocumented people. ICE refers to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which, like the CBP, is under the Department of Homeland Security. New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the federal government Monday accusing DHS of violating the rights of the state and its residents. On Wednesday, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) also announced that she has been working with DHS on legislation that would remedy the ban on the travel programs. We dont need the (governor) wasting taxpayer money on a costly lawsuit, she said. We just need him to work with us to restore CBPs access to the DMV database so they can check to see if anyone applying for Global Entry has pending criminal charges. Its that simple, she continued. On the federal end, Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) Rose, although saying he disagreed with the states legislation, pressed Customs and Border Protection official John Wagner about how DHS announced it would be instituting the ban of New Yorkers echoing state Democrats that the decision appeared to be made for political reasons. We heard about this from Fox News. This is politics at its worst, Rose said at a Friday hearing. If you really were making an effort to address a problem, to address a problem, there wouldve been a system, a proposal, a negotiation, a conversation, letters writtenthat is the way business is conducted. In airports, specifically, studies suggest that only about 20% of people have clean hands, Christos Nicolaides, study author and postdoctoral fellow at the MIT Sloan School of Management said in a release . Although hand-washing may seem like a basic task, studies suggest that 30% of people don't wash their hands after using the toilet. Experts and the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization say that proper hand-washing is the best defense against contracting the virus , which has infected more than 45,000 people and led to at least 1,115 deaths. Coronavirus, which was renamed COVID-19 on Tuesday, is believed to be spread through respiratory droplets that are expelled by coughing and sneezing. Researchers from MIT say that washing your hands at the airport could help curb a pandemic by up to 69% and that includes flu-like illnesses such as coronavirus. That's a big problem, because airports and airplanes are notoriously germy given the high traffic and turnover. (Coronavirus "super spreader" businessman Steve Walsh likely contracted the virus at a conference in Singapore, then flew to France and traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, and finally flew England's Gatwick Airport, for example.) Other research has shown that selfservice checkin screens, gate bench armrests, water fountain buttons, door handles at airports, seats, tray tables and handles of lavatories in aircraft, tend to be bacteria hotspots. So, it's extra important to wash your hands after touching these areas. For this study, researchers used epidemiological modeling to simulate how hand-washing could impact the "diffusion of infections worldwide." They calculated that if 60% of travelers had clean hands, it has the potential to slow a global disease by 69%. But even if just 30% of travelers kept their hands clean, it could reduce the impact of a disease by 24%. Researchers also determined the airports that theoretically could have the most impact in spreading a virus, because they provide direct connections to "mega-hub airports," offer in- and out-bound international flights and are located at "geographically conjunctive points." With those metrics, the airports that they deemed would have the "greatest impact" are London's Heathrow, Los Angeles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Sydney Airport and Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport. Of course, these findings are limited because they're based on theoretical models. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told Americans on Jan. 31 not to travel to China, where the coronanvirus outbreak began, and several major airlines have suspended flights to mainland China. But washing your hands is the "primary thing" that people can do to minimize exposure to COVID-19, David Powell, medical advisor at the International Air Transport Association told CNBC Wednesday. Although many people are wearing surgical facemasks for protection, the CDC doesn't recommend it for people who are well. And there is a "right way" to wash your hands. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (or the time it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice), and then rinse your hands and dry them using a clean towel. In instances when you can't wash your hands, using a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer will get rid of some germs, but not all. It's important to wash your hands before, during and after food prep or eating, and after using the toilet, changing a diaper, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If you're caring for someone who is sick with diarrhea or vomiting, treating a cut or wound, touching an animal or handling garbage, the CDC also advises washing your hands. Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Don't miss: WhatsApp has two billion users, it has said in a new announcement. It means that more than a quarter of the world's population are on the chat app. WhatsApp used the announcement to stress its commitment to security a position that has led to criticism from lawmakers and politicians in some countries. "Strong encryption is a necessity in modern life," it wrote in a blog post. "We will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. "For even more protection, we work with top security experts, employ industry leading technology to stop misuse as well as provide controls and ways to report issues without sacrificing privacy." 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 Unlike other Facebook chat apps, the company uses end-to-end encryption, which means that messages can only be read by the person sending and receiving them. The feature has been in place since 2016, and the company has stressed that it is part of its private approach to messaging. Recommended WhatsApp dark mode arrives in latest iOS beta update Almost as long as the feature has been in place, it has attracted criticism from lawmakers. In 2017, then home secretary Amber Rudd said the feature was giving terrorists a place to "hide", and Facebook's plan to roll out the security feature to its other chat app continues to receive sustained opposition. But it argued in the live blog that the job of keeping those conversations secure became more important as more people joined the app. "We know that the more we connect, the more we have to protect," it wrote. "As we conduct more of our lives online, protecting our conversations is more important than ever." A single letter speaks volumes about American politics today. Its the letter I, and it accompanies two of the most prominent names on the presidential scene: Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. The letter serves as a shoutout to the moderate middle that neither deserves to represent his respective party in the 2020 presidential election. Neither Trump (I for impeached) nor Sanders, Independent from Vermont, is capable of uniting this fractured country and instead promise to deepen our national divide. Trumps scarlet letter will deservedly follow him for the rest of history. His impeachment by the House, and the abuses that prompted it, should have rattled enough moderates of both parties to join forces in blocking his return to the White House in 2021. Because the Republican leadership wont uphold the basic tenets of the Constitution and hold Trump to account, that job now falls to the voters. American Airlines is suspending flights to China and Hong Kong through the end of April because of coronavirus. Read more American Airlines announced Tuesday that it will suspend flights to China and Hong Kong through the end of April, a month longer than the carrier had previously planned. In making the announcement, the airline cited waning demand due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. American offers direct service to Shanghai and Beijing from Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth International airports. It also flies directly between Hong Kong, Dallas and Los Angeles. Flights between Los Angeles and Dallas to Shanghai and Beijing will be suspended through April 24; service between Dallas and Hong Kong will be suspended through April 23 and flights between Los Angeles and Hong Kong will be suspended until April 24. The airline had previously canceled flights through the end of March. American, along with two other U.S. carriers, began canceling service between the United States and mainland China at the end January after the State Department raised its China travel advisory to Level 4, its highest level of caution. Delta already announced that it will cancel flights to China through the end of April. United Airlines said flights would be canceled through the end of March, but officials said they continue to evaluate the situation. Travel between the United States and China has been all but shut down as officials work to contain the spread of the coronavirus, now known at covid-19. So far, 13 cases have been confirmed in the U.S. Since Feb. 2, U.S. citizens who have spent time in the Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak in the last 14 days, are subject to a mandatory two-week quarantine, while foreign nationals are prohibited from entering the U.S. All incoming flights from China are being directed to 11 U.S. airports so that passengers can undergo enhanced screening. Travelers arriving from other cities in China are being screened and asked to self-quarantine for 14-days. European stocks, which hit new record highs on Tuesday, look set for further gains on Wednesday. Photo: Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images European stocks climbed further on Wednesday after closing at fresh record highs in the previous trading session, as waning fears about the impact of the coronavirus continued to boost global markets. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (^STOXX), which tracks the continents top 600 listed companies, was up by more than 0.4% on Wednesday morning, notching a new record peak. The FTSE 100 (^FTSE) index, meanwhile, was up by more than 0.2% in London. Germanys DAX (^GDAXI) surged by 0.7%, while Frances CAC 40 (^FCHI) was up by 0.4%. The gains in Europe followed a strong trading session in Asia. The Hang Seng (^HSI) closed almost 0.9% in the green. Japans Nikkei (^N225) rose by almost 0.7% on Wednesday. US and European equities made a series of fresh record highs yesterday and the positive mood seems to be carrying forward into Wednesday, said Neil Wilson, the chief markets analyst at Markets.com. Markets were buoyed by comments from the International Monetary Fund that noted that China had ample room to introduce stimulus measures if the countrys economy slows further due to the coronavirus outbreak. The jump in stocks came even as global ratings agency S&P Global warned on Wednesday that the slowdown in the Chinese economy would shave as much as 0.2 percentage points off eurozone and UK economic growth in 2020. The shock to the European economy, of which China is a significant export market, is likely to be felt in the first quarter, S&P Global said. A large share of economic activity hindered by the outbreak of the virus, especially goods production, would just be postponed rather than cancelled altogether, it noted. The prospect of stimulus and receding fears over the coronavirus combined to drive the Stoxx 600, DAX, Dow and S&P 500 to new all-time highs, said Wilson. European markets are enjoying the tailwinds from a slowdown in new coronavirus cases, whilst a weaker euro is also helping out, he noted. While the death toll from the coronavirus epidemic continues to climb, Chinese authorities said on Wednesday that the rate of infection was slowing. Story continues Some 97 people died in the past 24 hours, while just over 2,000 cases emerged, the lowest in a single day since the end of January. The number of new coronavirus cases in mainland China fell to its lowest since January. Theres been a change in how cases are recorded so we should be cautious about taking Chinese claims at face value, warned Wilson. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Finance UK John Bolton, Joe Manchin, Adam Schiff, Hunter Biden, Doug Jones, Gordon Sondland, Alexander Vindman, Yevgeny Vindman, Mitt Romney, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Jerry Nadler, Debbie Dingell, New York air travelers, federal prosecutors, the F.B.I. Its been a mere week since Senate Republicans acquitted President Trump in his impeachment trial assuring him once and for all that he neednt fret about congressional accountability but he has already made significant progress on his enemies list. Members of Congress, administration officials, law enforcement officials, residents of blue states anyone who has ever displeased Mr. Trump is a potential target. Heads may not wind up on literal pikes, but the president is already neck-deep into his reprisal tour. The presidents targets can be sorted into multiple different categories, some better equipped than others to endure his wrath. Democratic senators such as Mr. Jones of Alabama and Mr. Manchin of West Virginia, both of whom have drawn Trumpian ire for their votes to convict the president, understand that politics is a blood sport. Ditto House members like Ms. Dingell, whom Mr. Trump randomly attacked again over the weekend, and Mr. Schiff, who was the point person on impeachment. These professionals know how to brush off or brush back the taunts. After a particularly childish screed, in which Mr. Trump called Mr. Manchin Joe Munchkin, the West Virginia lawmaker returned fire Monday on CNN: I guess hes confused on that, because I am a little bigger than him. Hes got me about 30 pounds on weight. But I am a little taller than him. Claire Bretecher, one of the most celebrated French cartoonists of recent decades and the first woman to achieve real prominence in the genre in France, died on Tuesday at the age of 79. Bretecher rose to fame in the 1970s with the comic book series Les Frustres (The Frustrated Ones) which tackled issues of gender and sexuality with a mordant and deadpan humour. From the 1980s onwards her most famous character was Agrippine, a spoilt adolescent dealing with the troubles of growing up whose travails were carved into the mind of a generation. In France, comic books are known as bandes dessinees or BD and are regarded as a serious literary art form for adults as well as children. The top practitioners have a large and loyal following. In 1976, the famous French intellectual Roland Barthes hailed Bretecher as the "best sociologist of the year", a comment which she laughed off at the time. "She was one of the pioneers of this literary genre and imposed a style, a tone and an offbeat gaze that was of total originality," her publishers Dargaud said in a statement announcing her death. A rent freeze and carbon tax hikes will be key to unlocking a deal as left-wing parties scramble to form the next government. This is a premium article Premium articles will soon be available only to Independent.ie subscribers. Sinn Fein is insisting on freezing rents as a condition of forming a government but is preparing to U-turn on its opposition to carbon tax increases to win the support of the Green Party. Banks and vulture funds will also be hit with a raft of new taxes under Sinn Feins plans as fears grow among the business community. Meanwhile, it has emerged some senior Fianna Fail TDs are willing to abstain on a Dail vote to elect Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach. The move would see Ms McDonald lead a minority government but not have the power to pass budgets or legislation. We should abstain on a Taoiseach vote, let them take power and be a constructive opposition party that holds government to account, a frontbench TD said. However, a source close to Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said they could not see a scenario where they would vote for, or abstain on a vote for, Ms McDonald. Last night, Sinn Fein appointed its negotiating team but excluded David Cullinane who caused controversy by saying up the Ra at a post-election campaign celebration. Sinn Fein finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty was appointed to lead the talks along with Eoin O Broin, Louise OReilly and Matt Carthy. Read More Mr Doherty said there was a huge mandate to deliver a break for renters after the Dail passed legislation to freeze rents for three years and give renters a tax rebate of up to 1,500 two months ago. Mr Doherty also set out plans to force property funds and banks to pay more tax with increases in the bank levy and changes to rules that allow banks to write off corporation tax against historic losses also on the cards. "We're very clear that we have to end the tax loopholes for some of the property funds and some of the companies that are making the headlines today," he said. "Vulture funds need to start paying their taxes." Mr Doherty's comments followed shares of banks and real-estate firms racking up significant losses for a second successive day due to concerns Sinn Fein could enter government. "Sinn Fein's key proposals are geared towards low-income families and the residential real-estate market. "Proposals such as rent freezes and further moves in commercial stamp duty have created some near-term uncertainty in the Irish real-estate market," stockbrokers Davy said. Meanwhile, the Green Party's 12 new TDs met yesterday for the first time to discuss entering government. Speaking after the parliamentary party meeting, newly re-elected Dublin Fingal TD Joe O'Brien said they would not immediately be setting out any red lines. Mr O'Brien said the TDs "reflected" on the outcome and cleared the path for Green Party leader Eamon Ryan to open talks with his counterparts. "We will let the leadership test the waters with the other leaders and meet again later this week," he said. Mr O'Brien said he hoped carbon taxes would feature in a programme for government but did not insist on it being a deal breaker. Sinn Fein TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn signalled the party would be open to change its position on carbon tax increases. "I would say that climate change is a very important issue and the Greens have a significant mandate there," he said. "I don't see that being a barrier for us." Meanwhile, a number of Independent TDs will hold exploratory talks about forming alliances and Dail technical groups in the coming days. Most of those contacted yesterday indicated a willingness to talk to Sinn Fein. Among the other Independent TDs thought to be interested in holding talks to form a government are Denis Naughten, a former cabinet minister, as well as rural TDs Thomas Pringle, Noel Grealish and Michael Fitzmaurice. Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin, a former MEP, said: "Plan A is an alliance of rural TDs with a common cause and agreement to try and hammer out something and also an absolute commitment that when that's done that we hold together." Outgoing Minister of State Sean Canney said: "If people want to talk to me, I am open to talking to them, including Sinn Fein." Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara said he would give thought to being involved in an alliance with other Independents. Former Sinn Fein-turned-Aontu TD Peadar Toibin hopes to hold talks with a handful of Independent TDs later this week. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin contacted the leaders of Labour and the Social Democrats yesterday. As the leader of the largest party in the 33rd Dail, Mr Martin may seek to form a minority administration - but he faces considerable difficulties with Labour thought to be unlikely to want to go into government. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patricks presidential campaign may be near the end. Diane and I are going to go home and rest and reflect on this outcome and make some decisions tomorrow morning about what the future of this campaign can and should be," he told supporters in New Hampshire on primary night. With just over 74% of vote totals reported, Bernie Sanders is leading with 26% of the vote. Hes followed by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 24%, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar with 20%, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 9.4% and former Vice President Joe Biden with 8.6%, according to Decision Desk HQ. Patrick received under 1% with 222 of 297 precincts reporting. We needed this win to carry us forward," he said. He announced his 2020 bid for president in November. I got in as soon as I could and not a minute before I should have, Patrick said Tuesday. Patrick addressed the reason behind his late entry into the campaign in January. Diane Patrick, the former first lady of Massachusetts, was diagnosed with cancer. She said in January that she fought through it with the support of her family and is well now. He consistently polled below 5% nationwide, though he received a surge in fundraising in the final quarter of 2019. He raised more than $1.1 million from Massachusetts voters, outraising his competitors. Speculation of a 2020 presidential bid floated in 2018. Former President Barack Obama reportedly encouraged him to consider running, as did David Axelrod, the chief strategist for Obamas presidential campaigns, Politico reported at the time. He announced in January 2019 that he would not seek a 2020 presidential bid following months of speculation. He cited the cruelty of the election cycle. After a lot of conversation, reflection and prayer, Ive decided that a 2020 campaign for president is not for me, Patrick wrote. Ive been overwhelmed by advice and encouragement from people from all over the country, known and unknown. Humbled, in fact. But knowing that the cruelty of our elections process would ultimately splash back on people whom Diane and I love, but who hadnt signed up for the journey, was more than I could ask. Patrick made history as the first black governor of Massachusetts, overseeing the states implementation of health care reform, significant raises in the minimum wage and an 1.25% increase in state sales tax. Following his second term as governor, Patrick joined Bain Capital - a firm founded by his gubernatorial predecessor Mitt Romney. He largely stayed out of the public spotlight since leaving office. On January 31, law enforcers from the UK, France and the US, came out with coordinated releases that announced deferred prosecution agreements with Airbus as part of the largest global resolution regarding its failure to prevent bribery at the aircraft maker. As part of the announcements, Airbus agreed to pay penalties in the three countries totaling nearly $3.9 billion. The resignation of AirAsia chief, Tony Fernandes and the arrest of former Sri Lankan Airlines CEO was collateral damage that emerging from this investigation. Colombian carrier, Avianca is also looking at an independent internal investigation into its relationship with Airbus. The investigation was the outcome of an unprecedented cooperation between the three countries in a cross-border investigation that looked into Airbus' sales in countries as far away as Malaysia and Ghana. The allegations pertained to the use of external consultants to bribe customers to buy Airbus' civilian and military aircraft. Here are some of the reasons that make the probe unique: 1) Close cooperation: The agencies involved included the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Parquet National Financier (PNF) in France and the United States' Department of Justice (DoJ). The three agencies shared evidence with each other and the SFO and the PNF set up a joint investigation team where they split the geographies under investigation. The PNF focused on Airbus' conduct in the United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, Nepal, India, Taiwan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, Kuwait and Colombia. The SFO investigated Airbus and its subsidiaries in South Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan , Ghana and Mexico. The DoJ release indicated some of this deference to the other agencies' interests. It said, "the U.S. resolution recognizes the strength of Frances and the United Kingdoms interests over the Companys corruption-related conduct, as well as the compelling equities of France and the United Kingdom to vindicate their respective interests." 2) The scale: The agreements (DPAs) come just a little under four years after the SFO began its investigations. Airbus itself collected more than more than 30.5 million documents as part of its internal investigation from more than 200 custodians. The agencies covered all of commercial intermediaries that were engaged by one of Airbus' divisions or subsidiaries up until 2016, that is, more than 1,750 entities across the world. The joint investigation then drilled deeper on Airbus' relations with 110 red-flagged entities. 3) Common worries: Airbus, according to these investigations, flouted the UK Bribery Act, 2010, the French anti-corruption SAPIN II law and also violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) of the United States. Though all the law enforcement agencies were worried about the impact of corruption, the US agency also had national security especially with regard to China. Through bribes, Airbus allowed rampant corruption to invade the U.S. system. Additionally, Airbus falsely reported information about their conduct to the U.S. government for more than five years in order to gain valuable licenses to export U.S. military technology", read the DoJ release, which quoted U.S. Attorney Jessie K Liu of the District of Columbia. 4) Serious threat: UK's SFO was clear that the DPA remains in force until 31 January 2023, and, "the SFO investigation remains active and the position in relation to individuals is being considered." As part of the agreement, the Airbus Group will be subject to annual checks on the deployment of a refurbished compliance programme for a period of three years by the French anti-corruption agency (AFA). 5) Punitive fines and costs: The specific entity that was fined was the parent company of the group, Airbus SE, a Dutch and French domiciled company, registered in the Netherlands. The split of the monies from this coordinated global resolution is as follows: - More than 2 billion Euros (more than approximately $2.29 billion) goes to the PNF over bribes paid to government officials and non-governmental airline executives in China and multiple other countries. - Airbus agreed to pay approximately 990 million Euros equivalent (approximately $1.09 billion) pursuant to the SFO agreement over bribes paid in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Indonesia and Ghana. - The United States will get $527 million for the FCPA and ITAR violations, and an additional 50 million Euros (approximately $55 million) as part of a civil forfeiture agreement for the ITAR-related conduct. - The U.S. Department of States Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) will get $10 million in penalties. The fines include the disgorgement of tainted profits, additional penalties due to the repeated nature of the offence, and the investigative and legal costs incurred by the agencies. The French order included a detailed logic on how the fines are proportionate to the benefits derived from wrongdoing. For companies that work across borders, the Airbus settlement points to the risks inherent in influence peddling, bribery etc. No longer is it that just the national laws (especially in low law enforcement states) that can come back to bite the corporation in cases of slack ethics, it can be extraterritorial laws too. Smart Home Devices and Services Enhance the Resident Experience and Aid in Property Management BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, ADT Inc. (ADT), a leading provider of security, automation, and smart home solutions serving consumer and business customers in the United States, announced a new flagship partnership with HHHunt , a diversified leader in real estate development, to install smart home and property automation technology into new and existing HHHunt multifamily and student housing communities. ADT adds HHHunt to its growing list of prominent real estate partners enhancing their communities with smart home solutions. ADT will work with HHHunt to install more than 7,700 apartment homes in 19 communities across four states with smart hubs, smart locks, smart thermostats and integrate into industry-leading property management software. Of these residences, more than 1,300 will be student housing apartment homes, reflecting a growing demand for smart home amenities for student living. One of our core brand promises is to be a provider of quality products and services, said Lance Goss, Vice President of Apartment Living at HHHunt. This new partnership with ADT will provide our residents with the latest in smart home technology and automation. We strive to consistently innovate and deliver the best apartment living experience for our residents and team members. All apartment homes will feature an assortment of integrated smart home devices including smart hubs, smart thermostats and smart locks giving residents access to the latest in smart home security technology. With these devices, HHHunt residents will benefit from the conveniences of smart home automation and can personalize their apartments functions to accommodate their lifestyles through the use of scenes. Scenes can be set to adjust the temperature when the resident comes within proximity of their property through app-based geo-fencing, or lights can be set to on during showing hours and off afterwards to save energy, for example. Property team members can also use ADTs solution to drive operational savings by handling lock out requests remotely, controlling thermostats in vacant units and eliminating costly key tracking systems. ADTs integration with HHHunts property management software, Yardi, will also streamline residents move-in and move-out process and reduce time required for property maintenance requests and unit access. Story continues The partnership with HHHunt demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the multifamily sector and our drive to offer the best smart home solutions to enhance value for residents and provide cost saving benefits for property managers, said Ken Porpora, Chief Growth Officer, ADT. As the sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, we are able to offer partners like HHHunt exclusive and customized smart home automation solutions for residents in diverse living situations - from multifamily units to student housing. For more information about ADT and HHHunt Apartment Living, please visit www.adt.com and www.hhhuntapartmentliving.com/ . About HHHunt Since 1966, HHHunt has been a diversified regional leader in real estate development, building and management with residential communities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland. With primary offices in Blacksburg, VA, Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC, HHHunt employs over 2,000 people in the areas of community development, home building, apartment development/management, senior living development/management and community management. HHHunt improves the lives of thousands of people by being a trusted partner in every phase and stage of their lives. Because at HHHunt, its how you live that matters. For more information, visit: www.hhhunt.com . 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 . FOLSOM, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National lender Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. has announced the much-anticipated release of their proprietary loan origination portal, ExpressLoan. ExpressLoan features an array of customized tools that provide Sierra Pacifics Third Party Originator (TPO) partners a more intuitive and modern technology experience that supports the incredible client experience that has become the hallmark of Sierra Pacific Wholesale. Sierra Pacific TPO partners win big with ExpressLoan ExpressLoans extensive suite of tools include a more automated and organized document management solution along with integrated solutions for validating income and assets at the point of sale. In addition, the design of the user dashboard along with clarity around the pipeline and processing milestones, bring enhanced and transparent functionality to the TPO partner. As a result, the partner gains more control and sees their efficiencies improve. Were proud of our legacy but we understand that we have to continue to innovate and modernize to meet the expectations of our partners. Were incredibly excited about our momentum as we continue to optimize processes and make additional investments in technology solutions that put our partners in a position to win, said Sierra Pacifics Executive Vice President of Third Party Originations Amy Mahar. While we are very focused on providing solutions that are driven by technology, we know that care, empathy and expert guidance cant be automated. By providing our partners with those attributes of our culture that are further supported by the technology rich functions of the ExpressLoan portal, we intend to drive a WOW experience to the TPO community that helps fuel their market share growth, said Mahar. About Sierra Pacific Mortgage Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. is a leading national independent mortgage lending company, based in Folsom, California. Sierra Pacific serves the retail, wholesale and correspondent mortgage banking markets in 49 states through three regional fulfillment centers. Sierra Pacifics mission is to deliver consistent, competitive pricing, and to provide its customers the finest experience through streamlined systems, the best industry tools, effective communication, and superior customer service with every customer, every day. To learn more, email tposales@spmc.com or call (916) 932-1700. Mumbai, Feb 12 : India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) on Wednesday downgraded Yes Bank as Long-Term Issuer Rating to 'IND A-' from 'IND A', while maintaining it on Rating Watch Negative (RWN). The agency said that the downgrade reflects the continued delay and inconclusive quantum of the anticipated equity infusion in Yes Bank. The uncertainty over its capital infusion plan "could adversely impact the bank's franchise and potentially create challenges on the asset and liability side". The agency notes that the bank has sizable foreign currency liabilities and institutional deposits. This rating action is a follow up of the rating rationale published by the agency on January 28 where the agency had stated that the rating would be reviewed in February 2020. Ind-Ra is of the view that the required capital infusion 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, as well as for the bank's ability to continue to serve its customers adequately. Although the liquidity position of the bank seemed adequate in 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 discussion with various potential investors. However, Ind-Ra believes raising sizable capital in the very near term could be challenging and could require various regulatory and other approvals. The rating could be reviewed towards February-end. By Rajendra Jadhav and Subrata Nagchoudhury MUMBAI/KOLKATA (Reuters) - India, which restricted imports of refined palm oil and palmolein in January, has exempted Nepal and has started issuing licences to import some refined palmolein from the Himalayan nation, two government officials told Reuters. The move could put pressure on Indian refiners as imports from Nepal were allowed at zero duty under a regional treaty. It will also help Nepal, as refined palm oil and palmolein are its largest export earners. The initiative may also help India counter the growing influence of China in Nepal, where Chinese investments have been climbing. Nepal, a big consumer of goods made by its bigger neighbour India, had been urging New Delhi to allow imports of refined palm oil and palmolein. India had restricted imports of the products in January, a move that targeted top supplier Malaysia, which had criticised New Delhi's new citizenship law and its policies in Kashmir, but the measure also hurt Nepal. Licences to import around 88,000 tonnes of refined bleached deodorised palmolein from Nepal were issued to about half a dozen importers, a Kolkata-based official at India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said on Wednesday. "We have made an exception with Nepal. Refined palm oil imports are not allowed from any other country," said another DGFT official. India's commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for information. India's vegetable oil imports from Nepal surged to $251 million in 2019 from just $20.69 million a year ago as refiners in Nepal took advantage of a regional trade agreement to export edible oil at zero duty, according to data compiled by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry. New Delhi's refined palm oil and palmolein imports from Nepal in 2019 jumped 1,260% from a year ago to 210,033 tonnes. India accounts for nearly two-thirds of Nepal's trade and is its sole supplier of fuel. Story continues Palm oil accounts for nearly two-thirds of India's total edible oil imports. The country buys more than 9 million tonnes of palm oil annually, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's top two producers. Nepal imports crude palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia and exports to India after refining. Indian edible oil refiners have long opposed duty free imports from Nepal, saying these shipments violate "rules of origin" and "value addition" norms. "Imports should not be allowed at zero duty as it has been putting pressure on local refiners," said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA). Nawaraj Dhakal, joint secretary in Nepal's commerce ministry, said the lack of tariffs was warranted because Nepal's refined product added value. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and Subrata Nagchoudhury; Additional reporting by Gopal Sharma in KATHMANDU ; Editing by Edmund Blair, Alexandra Ulmer and David Evans) The State Bank of Vietnam has reconsidered setting a foreign ownership limit in fintech firms According to the SBV, the draft decree on non-cash payments replacing Decree No.101/2012/ND-CP drew great interest from domestic and foreign individuals and organisations. In particular, stakeholders were keen to react when the SBV raised the proposal of adding a foreign ownership limit of 49 per cent for intermediary payment companies to the draft. So far, the SBV received about 80 comments from relevant ministries and payment service suppliers, payment agents, as well as associations, many of whom agreed with the necessity of the draft's goals. Along with many concurring opinions, the SBV also received several motions against, since payment intermediaries are a new type of service based on technology and so foreign investment is essential in developing the new form. The limitation would hamper foreign investment in intermediary payments and fintech. In addition, the new FOL would have a definite impact on many large intermediary payment service providers whose foreign ownership exceeds 49 per cent. The SBV has decided not to add this FOL to the draft decree. In addition, to implement the solutions set out in the prime minister's Decision No.149/QD-TTg dated January 22 this year on the approval of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy by 2025 with vision towards 2030 as well as improving access to financial services in the economy (the PM's Decision No.1726/QD-TTg dated September 5, 2016), one of the new clauses in the draft would regulate payment agents' activities. Accordingly, banks can assign agents to provide part of payment services such as cash deposit or withdrawal, or invoicing payments of goods and services. This new policy aims to support broader financial inclusion to people who previously had no bank accounts or had difficulties in accessing financial services, and especially people in remote areas. Besides, this regulation also helps financial institutions to reach customers without having to expand their branch or transaction office network, while saving costs as well as improving business efficiency. Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg stepped forward Wednesday as undisputed frontrunners in the race to take on President Donald Trump in November after finishing first and second in the New Hampshire primary. The 78-year-old leftist senator from neighboring Vermont and the young former mayor of South Bend, Indiana took 26 and 24 percent of the votes in Tuesday's voting. Last week in Iowa's caucuses they also finished as the top two -- with Buttigieg narrowly beating Sanders. Meanwhile, Joe Biden tried to sound optimistic after his sagging campaign took another awful hit with a fifth-place showing, behind Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator whose star also has dimmed. And the race lost its last African-American presidential hopeful with the departure of former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick. The eight candidates left will now turn their attention to primaries in Nevada on February 22 and South Carolina on the 29th. Looming is the big prize of so-called Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 states hold their primaries. "Our victory in New Hampshire isn?t about me. It?s about us. It's about the movement our supporters, volunteers and grassroots donors built, which will transform this country," Sanders tweeted. On Tuesday night he told jubilant supporters his win marked "the beginning of the end for Donald Trump." Still, Sanders' margin of victory was leaner than polls had predicted. In the 2016 campaign he took a whopping 60 percent of the votes in New Hampshire, finishing far ahead of Hillary Clinton. The race for the nomination is long and unpredictable, but for now Sanders is a source of worry for those in the party who fear that, with his sweeping and expensive health care reform proposals, he is too far to the left to beat Trump. "I?m afraid. I?m afraid because if Bernie wins it, half the country is going to side with socialism," Robert Burrows, a 35-year-old mechanic in Manchester, told AFP. "I think it could ruin, destroy the country. It will bankrupt the country," said Burrows. The race to represent the centrist wing of the party is up for grabs among Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar, who finished a solid third in New Hampshire, and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who entered the race late and skipped Iowa and New Hampshire. He is paying for his campaign with his vast personal fortune. Then there's Biden, the one-time frontrunner in the race banking on his instant name recognition as Barack Obama's vice president and his 50 years of public service. He got only eight percent of the votes. A new Quinnipiac University poll said this week that Biden has skidded nationally from 26 to 17 percent support since the end of January. Biden insisted Tuesday night -- from South Carolina, after all but giving up on New Hampshire -- the primaries are just getting started and he is stronger than his rivals among Latinos and blacks. "Nobody told me the road would be easy, but together we can and will win," he tweeted Wednesday. Buttigieg is languishing at 10 percent in the latest national polls and has negligible support among African-Americans in upcoming states with more diverse populations. Iowa and New Hampshire are predominantly white and contribute just a handful of delegates to the nominating convention this summer. But it is not just a numbers game: early primaries are all about momentum, and a win draws media coverage and stimulates fund-raising. A string of defeats and you are probably out. Three Democrats dropped out of the race after the New Hampshire primary: tech businessman Andrew Yang, Senator Michael Bennet, and Patrick. The only person of non-white ethnicity left in the Democratic field is part-Samoan Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii. The original field of 28 Democratic hopefuls included seven from ethnic minorities. But well-known black politicians Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Cory Booker, and Latino Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, dropped out ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Significantly, the Quinnipiac University poll showed billionaire Bloomberg vaulting into third place on 15 percent nationwide -- suggesting a possible upset when New York's former mayor, who is skipping the first four nominating contests, throws himself fully into the race. Competing for the support of voters defecting from Biden, Bloomberg is focusing on Super Tuesday on March 3, spending a record $260 million of his personal fortune on his campaign. US Senator Bernie Sanders cemented his newly-minted frontrunner status in the Democratic presidential nomination race with a win in New Hampshire Pete Buttigieg is hoping to ride his success in Iowa and New Hampshire to the next battleground states US Democratic primaries and caucuses The lawyer for the Nigerian brothers at the center of the Jussie Smollett 'hoax' attack scandal say they are prepared to testify at his trial but that they will not feel vindicated unless the Empire actor is found guilty of lying to police. Smollett was charged on Tuesday with lying to police in a six-count, grand jury indictment which revived the case against him. Last year, he was arrested after claiming to have been the victim of a racist, homophobic attack in Chicago. Brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, who knew Smollett, say he paid them to stage the attack against him and that they went along with it for $3,500, not knowing the media storm it would create. Smollett's attorneys, over the last year, have accused the brothers of lying. The 37-year-old star was charged but the case was dropped by State's Attorney Kim Foxx in a decision that shocked and outraged the local police department. Brothers Abel (right) and Ola (left) Osundairo told police Smollett paid them to stage the attack. They were later accused by the star's attorneys of lying. Now, they will testify for either side at Smollett's trial On Wednesday, a day after Smollett was charged by a special prosecutor who was assigned to take over the messy case last August, the Osundairo brothers' attorney Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez told DailyMail.com neither she nor they were surprised by the indictment. Jussie Smollett in his February 2019 mugshot. He is due in court again on February 24 She said they had been cooperating with special prosecutor Dan Webb's office and that the brothers would testify for either side if the case goes to trial. Remarkably, they do not hold 'any ill-will' against Smollett himself but, she said, they 'hope he can be honest'. 'They have no ill will towards Mr Smollett. They really feel like their role in this now is to be honest about what they know. 'They hope he can be honest about what he knows,' she said. Schmidt Rodriguez said they do not yet feel vindicated of accusations by Smollett's attorneys that they had made up the 'plot' that he paid them, and said they want to see it play out in court. 'They don't feel vindicated. A real vindication would be when a court of law says, 'OK Mr Smollett - you were guilty of lying.' At that point they would,' she said. The brothers last year filed a lawsuit against Smollett's attorney, Tina Glandian, after she went on Good Morning America and a podcast to accuse them of lying. Glandina also suggested that they trafficked Nigerian steroids and that Abel, the younger brother, spent the night at Smollett's apartment. Jussie Smollett's lawyer Tina Glandian (left) suggested the reason Smollett told police his Nigerian attackers were white was because they 'might have been wearing white face' and had disguised themselves. Her evidence of the theory is 2016 video of Abel Osundairo (right) dressed up as the Joker. The Osundairo brothers called her statements 'hurtful and offensive' She offered the theory that Ola, the older brother, wanted to 'test' Abel before they went to Nigeria by attacking Smollett who is openly gay. In their April 2019 lawsuit, they said Glandian's allegations were not only inaccurate but also unnecessary because the charges against Smollett had been dropped. On Wednesday, Schmidt Rodriguez told DailyMail.com the pair were still hurt over what she said. 'Who is really attacking their character is just the lawyers. It's not Jussie. It's his lawyers who painted my clients to be self-serving sycophants to create a ruse to escape liability. Lawyer Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez told DailyMail.com on Wednesday the brothers were willing to cooperate and had been cooperating with the special prosecutor's office 'It's so offensive and so hurtful,' she said. The pair have not been able to earn a living for a year through personal training because, she said, clients make appointments with them for the sole purpose of getting close to them or asking them questions about the case. They now find it difficult to engage with the community in Chicago, she added, and cannot go to church or to the grocery store without being singled out. The brothers have always admitted that they went along with Smollett's alleged hoax plot but because they never made any statements to police about it, they were never charged. Schmidt Rodriguez says now that had they known it would turn into such a firestorm, they would have turned him down. 'If they would have known the fall out they would have never done this. They would have said, 'ugh Jussie - thanks for nothing.'' Smollett maintains he is innocent. In a statement on his behalf on Tuesday night, Glandian said the case against him was politically charged. 'This is clearly all about politics not justice': Full statement from Jussie Smollett's Attorney Tina Glandian This indictment raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation that led to the renewed charges against Mr. Smollett, not the least of which is the use of the same CPD detectives who were part of the original investigation into the attack on Mr. Smollett to conduct the current investigation, despite Mr. Smollett's pending civil claims against the City of Chicago and CPD officers for malicious prosecution. And one of the two witnesses who testified before the grand jury is the very same detective Mr. Smollett is currently suing for his role in the initial prosecution of him. After more than five months of investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has not found any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever related to the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Smollett. Rather, the charges were appropriately dismissed the first time because they were not supported by the evidence. The attempt to re-prosecute Mr. Smollett one year later on the eve of the Cook County State's Attorney election is clearly all about politics not justice. Advertisement Legal experts have knocked down the possibility that he would be able to use a double jeopardy defense because he was technically never tried or convicted the first time around. Instead, the case was dropped without it ever going to court in what State's Attorney Kim Foxx called an 'alternative prosecution'. She has been accused of prosecutorial misconduct for how she handled it from the beginning. Special prosecutor Webb said she ought to have properly stepped away from the case after her contact with Smollett's family friend - Tina Tchen - emerged. Instead, she informally recused herself and handed the case off to her deputy then advised him to drop the charges against Smollett. On Tuesday night, Foxx chalked Webb's decision to bring charges against Smollett down to politics. She said he was only trying to bolster his re-election chances and compared the decision to that of James Comey, former FBI director, announcing just before the 2016 presidential election that he was reopning his probe into Hillary Clinton. 'What's questionable here is the James Comey-like timing of that charging decision, just 35 days before an election, which can only be interpreted as the further politicization of the justice system, something voters in the era of Donald Trump should consider offensive,' she said. It is now more than a year since Smollett claimed he was attacked at 2am on January 29, 2019 while walking to a Subway near his Chicago home to buy a sandwich. He told police his attackers called him racist and homophobic slurs and that they appeared light-skinned. At the time, it seemed he had been walking home from Subway in the middle of the night after returning home late on a delayed flight when he was approached. He told police afterwards his attackers identified him from the show he was on, Empire, and called him both the N-word and 'f****t'. Smollet pictured suffering injuries to his face in the hospital after the alleged attack He said they beat him, poured bleach on him then put a noose around his neck. Smollett went back to his apartment where his friend, Frank Gaston, was. It was Gaston who insisted they call police. When officers arrived, the actor refused to hand over his phone. He went to the hospital to be checked over but had no major injuries. The Chicago Police Department vowed to investigate the incident with all its might, and celebrities around the world rushed to share their support of Smollett. He became a household name almost overnight. But as the police investigation progressed, leaks began from within the police department that all may not have been as it seemed. As the controversy grew, Smollett - determined to make his case - went on Good Morning America where he cried and insisted he was telling the truth. Special Prosecutor Dan Webb was appointed in August to examine what occurred in the case By then, Chicago PD had released grainy surveillance camera footage of two men walking near the scene of the incident itself which was among the only part of his journey not captured on Chicago's vast network of security cameras that night. Smollett unequivocally identified the two men in the grainy footage as his attackers. Neither their faces nor skin color could be made out in it. Unbeknownst to him while he was conducting his GMA interview, the Chicago PD was building a case against him. They had identified the people in the video as the Osundairo brothers and had backed-up their belief by tracking the pair's movements in the days and hours both before and after the incident. Smollett was eventually arrested and charged with suspicion of lying to police. The brothers flew to Nigeria within hours of the January 29 incident and missed the media storm which followed. When they landed back in the US, police investigators were waiting to question them. After hours of secret interviews, they told cops that Smollett had paid them to carry out the attack as part of an elaborate hoax. Smollett was then arrested. In an extraordinary press conference afterwards, then police chief Eddie Gallagher accused him of inflaming race relations in Chicago and of wasting police time. He bellowed that Smollett had tried to leverage the 'attack' to get his bosses at Empire to pay him more. Despite police outrage, prosecutor Kim Foxx was quiet. JUSSIE SMOLLETT TIMELINE January 29: The 'hoax' attack outside Smollett's apartment in Chicago occurs. January 30: A wave of public sympathy rushes over Smollett, until then a relatively unknown actor February 14: After a series of unfavorable leaks from the Chicago PD, Smollett goes on Good Morning America to plead his case. Unbeknownst to him, brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo are being interviewed by police after returning from Nigeria. February 20: Smollett is arrested and accused of lying to police. He is bailed out on a $10,000 cash bond. March 7: Grand jury indicted Smollett March 26: Charges dropped April 11: Chicago sues Smollett for $130,000 - the cost of the investigation August: Dan Webb is appointed special prosecutor November: Smollett counter-sues, alleging malicious prosecution February 11, 2020: Reports emerge that Dan Webb has charged Smollett Advertisement The case then went to a grand jury which returned a stunning, 16-felony indictment that would have put Smollett behind bars for more than 50 years if he had been convicted. By then, Foxx had informally recused herself from the case. Her conflict of interest was that in the early days of the police investigation, she intervened at the request of Smollett's family and their friend - Tina Tchen - who wanted the FBI to take over the police investigation. They said they were worried by the number of leaks that had come from the Chicago PD and asked Foxx to help. She said she would try. After the grand jury indictment, the case stalled for a few weeks. Then, in March, Foxx's deputy Joseph Magats - who had taken over - announced the decision that the charges against Smollett had been dropped. Foxx had intervened again, it emerged, and pointed to what they called 'alternative prosecution' whereby Smollett, a first-time offender, was let off with a $10,000 bail forfeiture and community service. There was outrage and calls for Foxx to be investigated herself for prosecutorial misconduct. As judges and special prosecutors for that task were tossed around, the city came out swinging in civil court. They sued Smollett, asking him to reimburse them for all the money they said they'd wasted investigating what they believed were bogus claims. Smollett counter-sued, accusing the city and Eddie Gallagher of malicious prosecution. He lost his job on Empire and became a pariah in the showbiz world he was allegedly trying to ascend through. Webb was appointed in August to investigate why Foxx's office had dropped the charges. He himself faced criticism and claims of another conflict of interest when it emerged he had donated $1,000 to Foxx's re-election campaign once. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 Nestled under a busy road in Central Jakarta, giant and vibrant murals greet passersby at the Kendal tunnel near the Dukuh Atas MRT station. Anyone walking through the tunnel can enjoy a mural painting of a black and white squid monster figure with bulging eyes and teeth-like tentacles alongside an orange-blue majestic roaring lion on the walls. Created in July 2019 and initiated by the Jakarta administration, the mural was created by a Indonesian street artist who goes by the nickname Darbotz and Snyder, a German street to represent the 25 years of friendship between sister cities Berlin and 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 A senior White House official has said that Chinese company Huawei builds secret back doors into its hardware that allow it to covertly access mobile-phone networks around the world. 'We have evidence that Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world,' national security adviser Robert O'Brien told the Wall Street Journal. While all network hardware operators build in 'lawful intercept' interfaces that allow law enforcement to access mobile network information with a court order, it is typically impossible to do so without the knowledge and approval of the mobile carrier. U.S. officials say that Huawei's back door allows the company to access network data without the carrier's knowledge, potentially giving the Chinese government a potent spy tool. Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei is seen with Chinese President Xi Jinping. US officials accuse the company of building a secret back door into its mobile network hardware National security adviser Robert O'Brien (above) said Huawei has the capability to secretly access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world Huawei denies the allegations, telling the Journal that it 'has never and will never do anything that would compromise or endanger the security of networks and data of its clients.' A Huawei spokesman did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com on Tuesday evening. The U.S. has long tried to convince its allies, such as the U.K. and Germany, to ban the use of Huawei telecom equipment in the building of 5G networks. U.S. knowledge of the alleged back door has remained highly classified until late last year, when officials began sharing the information with allies to persuade them to boycott Huawei. Germany's legislature is set to vote in the coming weeks on a bill that would allow Huawei full access to its 5G market if the company provides security guarantees. Last month, the UK government bucked heavy pressure from the Trump administration and agreed to continue to allow Huawei gear in the country's 5G network. Trump administration officials, increasingly intent on preventing China from global technological domination, have urged allies not to use Huawei hardwar On Tuesday, China denied involvement in any hacking activities after the U.S. accused four members of the Chinese military of an unprecedented hack stealing the data of tens of millions of Americans. The Justice Department accused Beijing on Monday of engineering one of the biggest hacks in history, targeting consumer data at the Equifax credit reporting agency. Today, China's Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China was committed to 'firmly oppose and combat cyber-attacks of any kind'. He added that it is a staunch defender of cyber-security and its institutions 'never engage in cyber-theft of trade secrets', claiming China was also the victim of cyber-attacks from the US. Geng also turned the accusation back on the US, saying past events had shown Washington is 'engaging in large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber-stealing, spying and surveillance activities on foreign governments, enterprises and individuals.' Advertisement If like us, you spend your days searching high and low on social media for home inspiration, then look no further. A leading platform for home renovation and design, Houzz.co.uk, has announced the communitys top picks for Best of Houzz 2020. The annual peoples choice award highlights the UK-based home renovation and design professionals with the most popular designs and top ratings among Houzz users in the past year. The winning pictures on the design platform include a spa-like sunken bath and luxurious walk-in shower, and a kitchen which proves using sustainable materials can still look gorgeous. Elsewhere, there's a dining room that features banquette seating, which even packs in a smart storage solution under the bench. This stunning extension by Scenario Architecture, is situated in London and offers inspiration for a contemporary conservatory which combines both the old and the new The popular trend for dark interiors continues to make an impact in the living room, with this moody space from BTL Property loved by the Houzz community last year. The London-based property features a classic enclosed living room with black walls, light hardwood flooring, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and no TV London Green has been a hugely popular colour on Houzz of late, with searches increasing by 39% during 2019. It shines as a key hue in this winning design from Zulufish, thanks in part to the quality of light flooding into the space. The modern London-based dining room features grey walls and grey floors This impressive interior scheme, in Devon and designed by Woodford Architecture and Interiors, gives a nod to the Georgian architecture while incorporating the technology for today's living This kitchen in Cambridgeshire, designed by Harvey Jones Kitchens, is an example of a classic galley kitchen with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, integrated appliances, an island, beige floors and brown worktops Banquette seating, which saw a rise in searches in 2019, is a key feature in this popular dining room by Cathy Dean Interior Design, which packs in a smart storage solution under the bench. The small bohemian room, in Tyne and Wear, also features multi-coloured floors, blue walls, ceramic flooring and no fireplace This modern bathroom, located in Oxfordshire and designed by Nicola Scannell, offers a spacious feel due to the semi-wall and hidden toilet Painted cabinetry continues to be a popular choice among kitchen renovators, with this green Sustainable Kitchens design coveted by the Houzz community. The Vine House Contemporary Kitchen in Wiltshire features a beautiful island painted in Little Green Grey Teal with a polished concrete worktop Press Release February 12, 2020 SENATE ADOPTS RECOMMENDATION TO FILE CHARGES VS BUCOR, NBP OFFICIALS The Senate on Tuesday adopted the recommendation of Senator Richard J. Gordon to file charges against officials of the Bureau of Corrections and the New Bilibid Prison after conducting an investigation and uncovering other anomalies activities inside the NBP, aside from the abusive and capricious implementation of Republic Act 10592 or the Good Conduct Time Allowance law. "The BuCor, alas, is manned by rotten apples, and corrupt officials. It is rotten to the core--and, from top to bottom. If we are to improve its functions, if we are to have the Bureau regain the trust of our people, no less than a massive change in personnel and in character is required. Mere lancing of the boil will not be sufficient; putrefaction in that agency is so far advanced, only a total replacement of the whole bureaucracy will allow us to see a new, honest, sincere, serious, and effective agency," he stressed when he sponsored Tuesday Committee Report No. 42, which was also adopted on the same day. Recommended charged were 1. Former Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) for committing nonfeasance in not complying with the requirements of Department Order No. 953; 2. Ramoncito "Chito" Roque (Chief of the Documents and Record Section of BuCor); Ma. Benilda "Mabel" Bansil (Corrections Senior Inspector); and Veronica "Boday" Buno (Corrections Officer) for accepting money for the promise of early release of prisoners; and 3. Dr. Ernesto Tamayo (Director, Directorate for Health Services, New Bilibid Prison Hospital); Dr. Ursicio D. Cenas (Medical Officer); and Ms. Meryl Benitez (Nursing Attendant) for accepting money in order for PDLs to be confined in the New Bilibid Prison Hospital. To reform the penal system, Gordon recommended the following, among others,: a. There should be a Model System of Penology; b. There should be full digitalization of the carpetas, which should be accessible to the public or the families of the concerned parties; c. There should be transparency, especially with regard to the computation of time allowances and release of prisoners; d. Full digitization of all prisoner records is a must; e. digitalizing records of BuCor and BJMP employees and personnel for easy monitoring and filing; f. The New Bilibid Hospital should be maintained and be well-equipped with adequate medical services; g. There should be an operations center which can monitor every prisoner; h. The use of artificial intelligence, digital and video analytics with command center independent from each other, inside our prison facilities to ensure that the PDLs, guards, employees are constantly monitored; and i. There should also be a Code of Conduct followed. "The New Bilibid Prison became a place of vulnerability. Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), while they deserve to be in prison because of their crimes, does not mean that they should be exploited and be taken advantage of. Their vulnerable situation makes them prone to the many extortions done inside the Bilibid," he pointed out. During the investigation that the Committee on Justice and Human Rights conducted jointly with the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), Gordon uncovered, aside from the GCTA being for sale, several other anomalous activities inside the NBP that exploit and take advantage of the vulnerable situation of inmates. These activities include prostitution, sale of hospital confinement passes, allowing entry of contrabands, allowing the construction of kubols and favouring caterers to the detriment of the inmates. In context: The US has long insisted that Huawei has backdoor access to the mobile-phone networks it helps build around the world. Now, national security officials say they have evidence of this and provided details to the UK and Germany. "We have evidence that Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world," US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien told the Wall Street Journal. Back in May last year, President Trump, citing a threat to national security, added Huawei to an entity list that effectively banned US companies from doing business with the firm. But the spying claims have gone back years, with officials claiming theyve been aware of Huaweis backdoor access "since observing it in 2009 in early 4G equipment." The US has said it doesnt need to show proof that Huawei can access the networks, and it still isnt revealing the evidence, though it has been shared with other countries. The US kept the intelligence highly classified until late last year, when American officials provided details to allies including the UK and Germany, according to officials from the three countries, writes the Journal. Its noted that manufacturers who sell telecoms equipment to carriers must include backdoors for authorities to access the network for lawful purposes, but they "are also required to build equipment in such a way that the manufacturer can't get access without the consent of the network operator," the Journal added. Officials say Huaweis equipment allows the company to access these networks without the carriers knowledge. "Huawei does not disclose this covert access to its local customers, or the host nation national-security agencies, an official said. Germany and the UK were both warned by the US that it would withhold intel from the countries if they used Huaweis equipment in their 5G networks. But last month, the UK government announced it would allow the firm to build parts of Britains 5G infrastructure, albeit with some restrictions. Huawei has, of course, denied the new allegations. "No Huawei employee is allowed to access the network without an explicit approval from the network operator," a company official said. Center image credit: TPROduction via Shutterstock Jakarta: Bali's tourism sector has taken a sizeable hit from the novel coronavirus and is facing the loss of 100,000 Chinese tourists per month because of a travel ban introduced last week, while anxiety is increasing among Australian travellers about potential undetected cases. About 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Bali last year, second only to Australia which sent about 1.23 million visitors. The large number of tourists who visit Bali from China - and the fact that about 2 million Chinese visitors in total visited all parts of Indonesia in 2019 - has prompted growing questions about how Indonesia remains free of the virus, officially named COVID-19, particularly when most south-east Asian nations have recorded cases. Tourist arrivals in Bali have taken a hit following a ban on Chinese visitors to Indonesia. Credit:Amilia Rosa The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed two weeks ago that Indonesia did not yet have the specific test kits needed to rapidly test for the virus. Officials denied the report at the time, but have subsequently confirmed it and the kits have now been obtained. The Union Territory of Chandigarh has never had a Sector 13 since it was built in 1966. But now after 54 years, Sector 13 has been created by adding eight areas under this new sector. The reason sector 13 did not exist earlier is because the city architect Le Corbusier considered the number 13 as unlucky. The UT administration notified the eight different areas whose names will be changed and 'Sector 13' will be added. Now, Manimajra will be called Sector-13 (Manimajra). Earlier Zee Media had reported that the Chandigarh administration had proposed to rename Manimajra as Sector 13. Citizens had been asked for their opinions and objections in the matter. Although people had raised objections and took the matter to the district court. The administration has now decided to add Sector-13 to Manimajra, so it will now be known as Sector-13 (Manimajra). After the official notification is issued, the new name will be changed on papers. It is to be noted nearly 60 people had lodged their objections and gave suggestions in regard to the change of name with the UT administration. Most of these people were stated to be in favour of the name change. However, the administration had received several objections too regarding the creation of Sector-13 in Chandigarh. People said that Manimajra had historic relevance and so its name should not be changed. People also argued that city architect Le Corbusier did not keep a Sector-13 and adding one now would be an insult to him. Keeping in mind the sentiments of the Kher people, the Chandigarh administration issued a notification adding Sector 13 with Manimajra. Apart from Sector-13 (Manimajra), Sector-12 West, 14 West, 39 West, 56 West and Business and Industrial Parks - one, two and three have been added. The proposal has been given the final approval in the meeting of officials chaired by Administrator VP Singh Badnaur at UT Secretariat. These notifications were issued by the Chief Administrator of Chandigarh under the Punjab Reorganization Order 1966 under the Sub-section (2) of Sector-1 of the Capital of Punjab (Development and Regulations) Act 1952. Press Release February 12, 2020 Sponsorship Speech of Senator Risa Hontiveros Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy 12 February 2020 Magandang hapon po sa ating lahat. Around the globe, 16 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years old give birth every year. Over the same period, approximately one million young girls aged 15 years old and below have given birth. In the Philippines, 24 babies are born to young Filipino mothers every hour, Mr. President. At the end of every day, 504 children have born a child. Girls as young as 9 were reported to be pregnant. They still have a body of a child that threatens to break under the pressure from the one inside of them. Have these girls ever doubted if they would survive the birth? I fervently hope that they did, Mr. President. The alternative is just too harrowing to think of but is a reality we cannot afford to ignore. In 2012, 2,815 girls aged 15-19 years gave birth to their third child; 12 girls younger than 15 years have also borne three children. In the same year, 302 girls aged 15-19 years old have given birth to their 4th child and 60 girls in the same age range are already mothers to 5 children. In an age where they should be busy going to school and worrying about school projects, they are burdened with the heavy responsibilities of parenthood However, some girls are not as lucky. One of the youngest reported maternal death in the Philippines was a girl who died of child birth at the age of 11, a child in every sense of the word. In the Philippines, 128 per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 have died while giving birth while 255 per 1,000 girls aged 20-24 died in birthing rooms across the country. The gift of life shouldn't have to come at the cost of another, Mr. President. In light of this, the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender equality presents to this chamber Committee Report 45 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2020. This committee report consolidates Senate Bill 414 and 649 by Senator Marcos and Senator Revilla, respectively and Senate Bill 161 by yours truly. This committee report was carefully written in order to ensure that it is a legislation that pushes for the rights of adolescents and their evolving capacities, one that is rooted in the principles of human rights and supported by interventions backed by evidence. This bill pushes for the social protection of young parents by ensuring that our young mothers are getting the health care necessary at all stages of her pregnancy. Workshops and counseling services are also to be made available for them to ensure that they can get the all help and counsel they need when it comes to raising their child. By providing them with much needed guidance and information, we can prevent repeat pregnancies among our young mothers while we ensure their physical and mental well-being as they take on the heavy responsibilities of parenthood. Special care is also accorded to first time parents, especially those who are economically disadvantaged and those who are in marginalized and hard to reach groups who may have limited access to healthcare and life-saving information. The bill also provides strong protection for young girls and pushes for their right to continue their education despite the barriers presented to them. Flexible learning options are proposed in order to minimize the chances of disrupted education and to encourage young parents to continue and finish their education. Disrupting a girl's education because of her pregnancy exacerbates poverty. Low educational attainment adversely effects the lifelong earnings of a girl for the rest of her life. Education is so important, Mr. President. So much so that if we do not take our girls back to school, we stand to lose 33 billion pesos in lost income. Moreover, the bill recognizes the fact that young Filipinos are heaving earlier sexual initiations, sometimes unwanted and usually unprotected. The 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study reported that 23% of Filipino youth are having sex before the age of 18. This bill recognizes this reality and has made measures to equip our children with the knowledge and guidance to make choices that they believe are the best for themselves. Schools, parents, and guardians are recognized as important sources of unbiased and scientifically accurate information on sexual and adolescent reproductive health and as such, are respectively capacitated and trusted to deliver the correct and necessary information to our teenagers. We cannot afford to have more and more children having children, Mr. President. The problem of adolescent pregnancy is completely preventable and doing little to prevent will end up in a lose-lose situation. It perpetuates the intergenerational cycle of poverty and robs our children of their childhood. It is our duty as legislators and as parents to provide them with the knowledge they need and to empower them to making good choices and informed decisions as they grow into adulthood. Maraming Salamat po. The Health Committee in Parliament is demanding improved security for health workers at their duty posts especially those in deprived communities. The call comes on the back of the gruesome murder of Ms. Ruth Ama Eshun, a Community Health Nurse stationed at Sewua Health Centre in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region on Monday 3rd February 2020. Reading a statement on the floor of the house on the unfortunate incident, chairman of the Committee and MP for Berekum East, Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah condemned the incident and charged the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators for prosecution. He said one of the main challenges the country faces in her quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage has been the difficulty in getting qualified health workers to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are badly needed. As such, for a person who decided to work in a deprived area to suffer this ordeal will obviously worsen this challenge. Hon Dr. Nuamah said the only way the state can assuage the fears of the health workers and even prospective ones that their security is a concern to it, is for the perpetrators of this heinous crime to be apprehended quickly and made to face the full force of the law. Furthermore, adequate security arrangements especially for those who work in deprived areas must be spelt out he added. The Committee Chair further appealed to the Speaker to invite the Minister for Interior to brief the house on security arrangements being made to protect health workers at their duty posts especially for those in deprived communities. The Committee also expressed its commiserations to the victims family especially her husband and three kids as well as the nursing fraternity. Read Below Statement STATEMENT BY HON. DR. KWABENA TWUM-NUAMAH, MP FOR BEREKUM EAST AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE ON THE GRUESOME MURDER OF MADAM RUTH ESHUN Mr. Speaker, Monday 3rd February 2020 has become a Black Day for the health sector of this country because that day witnessed the gruesome murder of Ms. Ruth Ama Eshun, a Community Health Nurse stationed at Sewua Health Centre in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region. Mr. Speaker, what makes it much more painful is the fact that this hardworking nurse met her untimely death while returning from work at her duty post. Mr. Speaker, clearly, the hearts of her colleagues at Sewua Health Centre, her compatriots at Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, staff of Ghana Health Service, staff of the Ministry of Health and the entire nation are heartbroken following her murder. Mr. Speaker, one of the main challenges the country faces in her quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage has been the difficulty in getting qualified health workers to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are badly needed. As such, for a person who decided to work in a deprived area to suffer this ordeal will obviously worsen this challenge. Mr. Speaker, the only way the state can assuage the fears of the health workers and even prospective ones that their security is a concern to it, is for the perpetrators of this heinous crime to be apprehended quickly and made to face the full force of the law. Furthermore, adequate security arrangements especially for those who work in deprived areas must be spelt out. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of your committee on Health, I wish to crave your indulgence to invite the Minister for Interior to brief this house on security arrangements being made to protect health workers at their duty posts especially for those in deprived communities like our late colleague. The Committee also calls on the Inspector General of Police to use all available means to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book within the shortest possible time. These arrangements will go a long way to boost the morale of health workers in Ghana, which as of now has been affected immensely. The committee also calls on the chiefs and people of the community where our late colleague worked to volunteer vital information to assist the Police in their investigations. Mr. Speaker, just as the blood of Abel cried for justice from the Almighty God after he was murdered by his brother Cain, so is the blood of our departed colleague crying for justice from her country Ghana. The State should not fail her. Mr. Speaker, your committee expresses our deepest condolences to the family of the late Ruth Ama Eshun, especially her husband and three kids. May her soul rest in perfect peace. Thank you Mr. Speaker for the opportunity. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A jury has retired to consider the fate of a Queensland doctor accused of defrauding Medicare out of more than $360,000 by submitting thousands of false claims. Tony Mufutau Oluwatoyin Bakare is waiting for the verdict after a three-day Brisbane District Court trial where he pleaded not guilty to a single count of obtaining financial advantage by deception. Dr Tony Mufutau Oluwatoyin Bakare (centre) has pleaded not guilty. Credit:Darren England/AAP Dr Bakare allegedly lodged about 4000 false claims for providing services to patients who had died, or on dates when he was overseas. He owned four bulk-billing medical practices on the Gold Coast and at Underwood, south of Brisbane, at the time the alleged fraud occurred. 6.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Add Bob Mueller and Bill Barr to the Republican bodies thrown under the Trump bus. President Trump spent Wednesday morning making sure everyone knows that he knows that Attorney General Bill Barr is not only actively interfering on Trumps behalf in cases the Justice Department is handling, but that Bill Barr took control of the Mueller case against the Republican President. Oh, and he accused Republican Bob Mueller, who hid behind a memo as an excuse not to charge this president with conspiracy against the United States with a hostile foreign country even though he admitted they found the evidence, of lying to Congress. Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress! Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 Just in case the rule of law ever matters again, Trump wants everyone to know that Bill Barr did it. And if the rule of law doesnt matter ever again, Bob Muellers lack of spine is going to bring him up on phony charges of lying to Congress for not killing evidence against this President. The lesson here is that its not enough to kill your integrity by looking the other way and making bland excuses for this president as he breaks the law. No. Trump requires active obedience and brutal loyalty in the form of going violently after anyone who ever tried to hold him to the law. Trumps friend Roger Stone lied to Congress, but thats okay according to Trump and his personal lawyer that you are paying. Its not okay if they accuse someone else of lying to Congress. They will decide what is legal and what is not, according to how loyal that person has been to Trump and the Trump family bank accounts. Without an independent Department of Justice, we are a banana republic. Without fair elections, we are not a free country. Republicans have brought the United States to her knees, attacking the very foundations of freedom for which this country stands. A traitor is a person who betrays a friend, country, principle, etc. Donald Trump, Bill Barr, and all of their Republican accomplices in the executive branch, House, and Senate are traitors in the truest sense of the word. Trump is bragging about their betrayal of this country on his behalf. If only one Republican who had been in charge had had the courage of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), we would not be in this position. If Bob Mueller had acted on the evidence he admitted he had against Trump, we would not be here. If Republicans in the Senate had objected when Trump fired Republican Attorney General Jeff Sessions, himself involved in Trumps Russia betrayal of this country, for not doing enough to kill the investigation against Trump, we would not be here. Had just a few other Republicans joined Senator Mitt Romney in voting yes to convict Trump of abusing his power by trying to cheat in yet another election with another foreign power, we would not be in this position. The only weapon the people have left to fight for their country is to show up in massive numbers to vote Republicans out of every office they can in 2020, from county treasurer on up to the White House. Scientist and inventor Roopam Sharma, best known for his work on Manovue, the worlds first intelligent personal assistant for the visually-impaired, will be honored with the Asia Game Changer West Award April 7. (asiasociety.org photo) A debt-ridden 36-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging inside his house in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said. Tilak Raj earned his living as a roadside vendor and was found hanging from the ceiling at his house in Bheja village, they said. He is survived by his grandmother, wife and five minor daughters. "The body of Raj was recovered and later send to Sub District Hospital Bhadarwah for post mortem and other legal formalities," Bhadarwah Superintendent of Police Raj Singh Gouria said. He said it appears to be a case of suicide while adding that inquest proceedings into the incident are underway. "Raj belonged to a below poverty line family. He was under depression as he was unsuccessfully fighting poverty and paying the debt to make both ends meet," Bheja Panchayat Naib Sarpanch Satish Kumar said. The sarpanch appealed to the administration to extend a helping hand to the poor family on humanitarian grounds as the deceased was the sole breadwinner of the family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Communist Party ousts provincial leader at the center of the outbreak. Chinas ruling Communist Party fired the leader of the province at the center of the new coronavirus outbreak on Thursday amid widespread public anger over the handling of the epidemic. Jiang Chaoliang, the party secretary of Hubei Province, is the highest-ranking official to lose his job over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 1,100 people in recent weeks. Mr. Jiang will be replaced by Ying Yong, the mayor of Shanghai. The selection of Mr. Ying may underline the continued political control of Xi Jinping, Chinas top leader. Before being transferred to Shanghai in a fairly senior role in 2008, Mr. Ying had come up through the political ranks in Zhejiang Province, which is Mr. Xis political base as well. Scientists and engineers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the University of Leeds in the UK have created the first electrically-driven 'topological' laser, which has the ability to route light particles around corners - and to cope with defects in the manufacture of the device. Electrically-driven semiconductor lasers are the most common type of laser device today. They are used in products such as barcode readers and laser printers, for fibre optic communications, and in emerging applications such as laser ranging sensors for self-driving cars. However, their manufacture is an exacting process and current laser designs do not work well if any defects are introduced into the structure of the laser during these processes. The Singapore-UK advance reported in Nature today (12 February) overcomes this long-standing problem and promises to lead to more efficient and less wasteful manufacturing using existing semiconductor technologies. This is accomplished by harnessing a concept from theoretical physics known as the topological states, in order to make a 'topological laser'. In the 1980s scientists found that electrons flowing in certain materials have 'topological features' - meaning that they can flow around corners or imperfections without scattering or leaking. The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three theoretical physicists who pioneered the study of such topological states of electrons. Now, an interdisciplinary team of engineers and physicists from NTU Singapore in collaboration with material scientists from the University of Leeds, have applied this topological approach to light particles, known as photons. "Every batch of manufactured laser devices has some fraction that fails to emit laser light due to imperfections introduced during fabrication and packaging," said Professor Qi Jie Wang, the lead scientist from NTU Singapore's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. "This was one of our motivations for exploring topological states of light, which are much more robust than ordinary light waves." In the present study, the researchers worked with a type of electrically-driven laser called a quantum cascade laser, based on advanced semiconductor wafers developed at the University of Leeds. A senior author of the study, Professor Giles Davies FREng, Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Leeds, said: "The topological laser is a great example of a fascinating fundamental scientific phenomenon being applied to a practical electronic device, and as our study shows, it has the potential to improve the performance of laser systems." To achieve topological states on a laser platform, the NTU and Leeds team developed a new design containing a valley photonic crystal, which was inspired by electronic topological materials known as two-dimensional valleytronic insulators. The design consists of hexagonal holes arranged in a triangular lattice, etched into a semiconductor wafer, making it extremely compact. Within the microstructure, the topological states of light circulate within a triangular loop of 1.2 millimetre circumference, acting as an optical resonator to accumulate the light energy required to form a laser beam. "The fact that light circulates in this loop, including going around the sharp corners of the triangle, is due to the special features of topological states," says Associate Professor Yi Dong Chong, a theoretical physicist in NTU Singapore's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and co-lead investigator of the project. "Ordinary light waves would be disrupted by the sharp corners, preventing them from circulating smoothly." The researchers note that an interesting feature of the new topological quantum cascade laser is that the light it emits is at terahertz frequencies between the microwave and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Terahertz light has been identified as one of the principal realms from which future technological applications in sensing, illumination, and wireless communications may emerge. This research project spanned two years, and involved an interdisciplinary team of twelve researchers. Team members also include NTU physicists: Associate Professor Baile Zhang, postdoctoral research fellow and first author of the paper, Dr Yongquan Zeng; as well as Professor Edmund Linfield, Professor of Terahertz Electronics, and Dr Lianhe Li, Senior Research Fellow, both at Leeds. Looking ahead, the joint team is working on lasers that make use of other types of topological states. "The design we used in this project, called a valley photonic crystal, is not the only way to create topological states," Professor Wang said. "There are many different types of topological states, imparting protection against different kinds of imperfections. We think it will be possible to tailor the design to the needs of different devices and applications." In 2018, a team at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and the University of Central Florida in the USA developed a topological laser made from an array of connected optical resonators. The researchers showed that the topological states of light could travel efficiently around corners and defects in the laser array. However, this prototype laser had the drawback of being much larger than most semiconductor lasers, as well as being 'optically driven', meaning that it was powered by another laser. ### The research at the University of Leeds was funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Notes to Editor: Paper titled "Electrically Pumped Topological Laser with Valley Edge Modes", published in Nature, 12 Feb 2020. Media contacts: Lester Kok Assistant Director Corporate Communications Office Nanyang Technological University Tel: +65 6790 6804 Email: lesterkok@ntu.edu.sg David Lewis Media Officer, University of Leeds Tel: +44 (0) 113 343 2049 Email: d.lewis@leeds.ac.uk About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and Graduate colleges. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London. NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes - the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering - and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N). Ranked 11th in the world, NTU has been placed the world's top young university for the past six years. The NTU Smart Campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful university campuses in the world and it has 57 Green Mark-certified (equivalent to LEED-certified) building projects, of which 95% are certified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore's healthcare district. For more information, visit http://www.ntu.edu.sg. University of Leeds The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Henry Royce Institutes and hosts the Bragg Centre which aims to discover, create and design new materials. We are a top ten university for research and impact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2020. Additionally, the University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its 'consistently outstanding' teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships - more than any other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales - reflecting the excellence of our teaching. Over a third of our academics are involved in applied research or as consultants to industry, and over the last ten years, the University of Leeds has produced more than 100 'spin-out' companies. http://www.leeds.ac.uk There was a concerted push south today as the 2020 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy looked to finish day three in Wainui, New Zealand within striking distance of the Cook Strait, ready for a leap onto the South Island tomorrow. Only first there was nearly 350km of mixed trail and highway, through the never-ending hills of the Wairarapa, diving into native woodlands, crossing pastoral flatlands then a return to the spectacular east coast before finally crossing the Rimutaka Range to make camp in the bush on the edge of Wellington, New Zealand's capital city. The GS riders again responded to a pre-dawn 5:30 AM call to breakfast, yet again finding wonder in the incredible sunrise over the Pacific Ocean, this time seen over the reef at Castlepoint. Less than a kilometer from the start they stopped for the first challenge of the day, Beach Drift. Here one rider from each team rode against the clock over a deep sand section, then crossed back and forth across flatter sands before making a precision stop in a defined box. The deep sand claimed many victims, either tipping over or sinking deep, including the hitherto infallible Team South Korea. From here the riders enjoyed riding a hard pack farmer's trail over spectacular cliffs to Waimimi - just another small name on the map marking the location of a handful of farming homesteads. Here the riders turned inland toward Masterton, the Wairarapa's market town. A mix of flowing roads and twisting gravel tracks, much of it through native forest sections, took the riders east and as they crossed the highpoint of 536m at Pariwhariki they could see in the distance the impressive, brooding Tararau Range that divides the southern half of the North Island, with peaks reaching 1300 metres. After a refuel and coffee break in the quaint historic town of Martinborough, the riders then headed east again - not south! - On the gravel tracks that lead to the iconic White Rock at Pahaoa. The beach here is black sand which contrasts starkly with the solitary white rock that somehow holds steady in the immense raging surf - this is no swimming spot! Here the GS riders were entertained by the Leatt Neck Brace Challenge, hurling their gloves up the beach into the neck braces in something resembling target practice! The final leg of today's journey saw the GS riders swoop over the Rimutakas on the biker-famous Rimutaka Hill Road - a favourite weekend haunt of Wellington's bike riders. The curves are entertaining, but either side of the road (which peaks at 725m) is a vast dense native bush with manuka, beech, cabbage trees, hebe, and ferns. New Zealand almost as it was when Captain Cook first arrived. Only the action didn't end here as the teams again had to elect a rider to ride the final challenge of the day: the Trial, a weaving track that led through the trees and through a stream on the edge of the bush that borders the campground for tonight. Of course, this was set against the clock, with time deductions for footing and stalls. While it was a typically late end to the riding day it was an early turn-in for sleep as tomorrow the GS Trophy makes a very early pre-dawn start for the inter-island ferry to the South Island. "It's been a very hard and beautiful spirit riding the GS Trophy; we are every day riding hard to make our goals. Sometimes it is difficult, sometimes easy, but we go on and see what each day brings. The days are hard because we ride for many hours, but we are enjoying it because the landscape is beautiful - New Zealand is something amazing, different from all we know. We have enjoyed the Sena communications; riding with the Australians today they talk so much! But yesterday we rode with the first female team and they said we speak a lot. The Sena is a challenge to us, though, for being Italians we speak not just with our voice, but with our hands and our faces!" said Andrea Padovani, Team Italy. "The event has been thrilling, lots of excitement, so we've experienced lots of nerves. We've had a lot of supportive feedback from our fans and friends back at home, and placed fourth we're in a good position in the competition, so we will put these past days behind us and push on. Today we had a shaky start - BJ (Vosloo) was maybe too aggressive in the first test, but Cobus (Theron) likes his technical riding and so scored us a clean ride in the trial. A good day. But New Zealand - it leaves me speechless, it's an incredible country!" said Brandon Grimsted, Team South Africa. "This is some event! The views are amazing, the route is amazing - but we need to rest, there's been so much riding in the last three days. All the same, we simply don't have the words to explain how we feel, this is an incredible experience. We hope to go better in the next days, we will find our strength", said CleuciRonzella, Team Brazil. Synopsis of Day 3 - Location: Wainui, North Island, New Zealand Weather: Sun, 22-28oC Course: 345km, Castlepoint to Wainui Terrain: Gravel 180km, trail 10km, highway 155km Tests: SP6: Beach Drift, SP7: White Rock Leatt Neck Brace Challenge; SP8: Trial Top three teams: 1. South Korea, 2. South Africa, 3. Netherlands BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2020 Oceania Day Three overall standings: 1. South Korea 157 points 2. South Africa 146 3. Netherlands 145 4. France 142 5. Italy 133 6. USA 124 7. Australia 122 8. Russia 114 9. Latin America 111 10. Brazil 109 11. Mexico 105 12. Argentina 101 13. Middle East 93 14. UK 79 15. India 78 16. Nordic 77 17. Malaysia 67 18. Japan 62 19. North Africa 62 20. Thailand 62 21. Int. Female Team I 43 22. Int. Female Team II 30 The event's excitement will also be relayed with much more information of a more informal kind via BMW Motorrad's social media sources: BMW Motorrad Facebook: www.facebook.com/bmwmotorrad Twitter: www.twitter.com/bmwmotorrad (#gstrophy) YouTube: www.youtube.com/bmwmotorrad Instagram: www.instagram.com/bmwmotorrad "RIDE AND TALK - The BMW Motorrad Podcast" Watch out for more information on the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy 2020 - brought to you directly from New Zealand! 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.) A federal judge has refused to exempt rideshare company Uber and on-demand meal delivery service Postmates from a broad new California labor law while she considers their lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee in Los Angeles denied the companies request for a preliminary injunction protecting them from the law aimed at giving wage and benefit protections to people who work as independent contractors. The companies contend that the law that took effect Jan. 1 violates federal and state constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process. It created the nations strictest test by which workers must be considered employees, which could set a precedent for other states. Uber said it is considering whether to appeal. The two companies are among those also collecting signatures for a measure on the November ballot that would exempt them while giving drivers new benefits like health care and an earnings guarantee of 120% of minimum wage. State lawmakers passed the law using a biased and overtly political process that ignored the voices of the workers most affected by the law and granted preferential treatment to an arbitrary group of industries, Uber said in a statement. The lawsuit argues that the law exempts some industries but includes ride-share and delivery companies without a rational basis for distinguishing between them. It says that the law also infringes on workers rights to choose how they make a living and could void their existing contracts. Gee rejected all those arguments. The judge agreed that there is evidence that the law targeted the companies and that state lawmakers specifically complained about Uber. But such targeting, even if it rises to the level of animus toward gig economy companies, does not establish an Equal Protection violation, Gee wrote, given that the law also addresses legitimate concerns about the harmful misclassification of workers in many industries, not just the gig economy. Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, who wrote the law, said in a tweet that it is clear Gee found no merit in the companys argument that they suffer irreparable harm. As such, it is now the responsibility of California to enforce the law on behalf of these workers, she said. The law is intended to extend employee rights to more than a million California workers who lack benefits like a minimum wage, mileage reimbursements, paid sick leave, medical coverage and disability pay for on-the-job injuries. Another judge blocked the law from applying to independent truckers on the grounds that the state law is preempted by federal law when it comes to their profession. A third judge is scheduled to consider next month whether to temporarily block the law from applying to freelance writers and photographers. But Gonzalez last week said she intends to seek changes to the law as it applies to freelancers and is considering changes for musicians. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Legislation Talent Sharing Economy Ridesharing Wrexham Early Years Centre celebrates Welsh Language Music Day This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Feb 12th, 2020 Staff and children at Wrexham Early Years Centre have marked Dydd Miwsig Cymru (Welsh Language Music Day) with a day of Welsh activities. Held on Friday 7th February, Welsh Language Music Day is an annual celebration of all forms of Welsh Language music. During the day children at Wrexham Early Years Centre, on Prince Charles Road, listened and danced to Welsh musicians and bands and took part in a Welsh Flag parade. Staff also handed out Welsh Cakes, tea and Welsh vocabulary sheets to parents. At snack time, the children had a special treat eating Bara Brith, Welsh biscuits and drinking Welsh dragon milk. They ended the day with a flash mob performance in front of the parents. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 15:04:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Feb.12 (Xinhua) -- The Mongolian authorities said Wednesday that they are working to retrieve the bodies of about 140 cattle that fell into a frozen lake in western Mongolia late last year. Forty-four bodies of cattle that had fallen into the Oigon lake in the Zavkhan province were recovered on Tuesday, said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in a statement. More than 60 people including NEMA rescue workers and local officials participated in the retrieval at the lake, which had a maximum depth of 8 meters, it said, adding the efforts will continue in the coming days. Livestock husbandry is Mongolia's economic pillar, supporting the livelihood of nearly 40 percent of its nomad population. Official data show the landlocked East Asian country has more than 230,000 herder households with livestock nationwide. The livestock animals totaled over 70 million by the end of 2019. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is seen in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. on Dec. 18, 2019 (Wilfredo Lee/AP) Jury Finds Mar-a-Lago Intruder Not Guilty of Trespassing WEST PALM BEACHA Florida jury on Feb. 12 found a Chinese woman not guilty of trespassing at President Donald Trumps part-time residence in Palm Beach. However, jurors did find Jing Lu, 56, guilty of resisting a police officer without violence during her Dec. 18 arrest. The incident marked the second time in 2019 that a Chinese national was charged with illicitly entering Trumps Florida resort. Prosecutors told jurors that Lu purposely intruded in a calculated and planned manner. She has been in custody since the Dec. 18 incident because her visa to remain in the United States legally has expired. They said she ignored a warning to leave the grounds and returned through a side entrance and continued taking pictures. Lu, testifying through a Mandarin interpreter, said she paid $200 for a Chinese guide to drop her off at various locations in South Florida. She said her language barrier prevented her from understanding a security officers orders to leave the property. This Dec. 18, 2019 booking photo provided by the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, in Fla., shows Jing Lu. Lu, a Chinese national who trespassed at President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club last year and was arrested when she refused to leave, police said. (Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office via AP) Security guard Murray Fulton told jurors he used hand gestures to make his warnings clear to her. Lus tour guide then took her to Palm Beachs Worth Avenue shopping district, where she was stopped by two Palm Beach police officers. They testified that she wouldnt consent to being questioned and resisted when they tried to handcuff her. Lu testified that she was scared when the officers approached her, adding that she didnt know why she was being handcuffed. Palm Beach County Judge Mark Eissey set Lus sentencing for Friday. She faces up to one year in jail on the misdemeanor charge. Mar-a-Lago has had a rash of security breaches, with at least three trespassing events over the past 14 months, two of them involving Chinese nationals. Last March, Yujing Zhang, a 33-year-old Shanghai businesswoman, gained access to Mar-a-Lago by telling Secret Service agents she was there to swim. Club staff then confused her for a members daughter and admitted her before she was stopped in the lobby by a suspicious clerk who alerted other agents. Zhang was carrying a laptop, phones and other electronic gear, which led to initial speculation that she might be a spy, but she was never charged with espionage and text messages she exchanged with a trip organizer indicated she was a fan of the president and wanted to meet him or his family to discuss possible deals. Zhang was found guilty in September of trespassing and lying to Secret Service agents. She was sentenced in November to time served and ordered to be deported. By Abdul Kerimkhanov The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Saribekyan and Balayan vs Azerbaijan case of 30 January 2020 is not a final decision and the Azerbaijani side has the right to bring the case to the Grand Chamber within three months, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has said. The ECHRs ruling is about the case of Armenian Manvel Saribekyan who was detained in Azerbaijan on espionage and terror charges in October 2010 and committed suicide while in custody. Abdullayeva reminded that the Armenian citizen Manvel Saribekyan was detained on 11 September 2010, with several espionage equipment, while a group of Armenian saboteurs were prevented on the north-west direction of the line of contact of the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "On October 5, he committed suicide, and a criminal case was launched at the Baku Military Prosecutor's Office," Abdullayeva noted. Furthermore, Abdullayeva said that the statement of the Armenian Foreign Ministry with regards to the case runs counter to the joint statements calling for the preparation of populations of both countries for peace, adopted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia as well, and it reveals the true intentions of the leadership of Armenia. Abdullayeva reminded that the ECHR ruling of Chiragov and others vs Armenia of 16 June 2015 affirmed the responsibility of Armenia for aggression against Azerbaijan and it was confirmed that the illegal regime in Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia survives by virtue of the military, political, financial and other support given to it by Armenia. Note that the Chiragov and Others v. Armenia case has been under consideration in the ECHR since April 2005 on the basis of the suit of Azerbaijani IDPs who cannot return to their homes in Azerbaijans Lachin region that they were forced to flee in 1992 as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In accordance with the courts judgment on the case, Armenia is responsible for aggression against Azerbaijan, the occupation of its lands, the military presence in these territories, the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani citizens and for depriving them of the opportunity to use their property. Abdullayeva further pointed out the fact that Armenia has occupied Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding seven regions, perpetrated ethnic cleansing against the Azerbaijanis residing in these territories and forced hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their homes. She reminded that the Armenian policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis living in the territory of present-day Armenia was aggravated in the late 1980s and reached its culmination by violent deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenias Gafan region in 1988-89. "The cruelty of the armed forces of Armenia targeting the civilian population during the aggression and the brutally killing of 613 Azerbaijani civilians only in one night on February 26, 1992 in Khojaly town is firmly condemned by the international community and recognized as genocide," Abdullayeva emphasized. As a result of the Armenian aggression, she added, 3,889 Azerbaijanis went missing and hundreds of people held in Armenian captivity died as a result of severe tortures. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A painting by British artist David Hockney, The Splash, sold at auction Tuesday evening for 27 million euros, eight times the price of when it last sold in 2006. The artist, who now lives in France, made the painting in 1966, when he had first moved to Los Angeles. The painting sold for 23.1 million pounds (27.5 mill euros) to an unknown buyer at auction in London at Sotheby's, which had given it a pre-sale estimate of 20-30 million pounds. Painted in 1966, "The Splash" is a square acrylic, depicting a swimming pool at the moment after a diver has leapt in, with water splashing up. The composition, including the angled diving board, was inspired by a photo Hockney saw in a magazine on how to build swimming pools. "I loved the idea of painting this thing that lasts for two seconds; it takes me two weeks to paint this event that lasts for two seconds," he said of the painting in a 1976 book, Hockney by Hockney. The artist moved to southern California in the 1960s. There he became interested in swimming pools and the light reflected in the water. "The Splash" is the second in a series of three paintings, including "A Little Splash", which is in a private collection, and "A Bigger Splash", which is in London's Tate Britain gallery. "The Splash" was last sold at a Sotheby's auction in London in 2006 for 2.6 million pounds (4.9 million euros), which was a record, at the time, for Hockney's work. Though in 2018, another pool painting, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) sold for a record 70 million pounds (83 million euros), the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by a living artist. The collection of information and data related to exposures will be vital to help prevent firefighter cancer in the future. ESO, the leading data and software company serving emergency medical services (EMS), fire departments and hospitals, today announced the availability of Exposure and Decontamination fields in ESO Fire Incidents, the companys fire records management system (RMS). While products exist to track and document exposures, this is the first to integrate directly into a RMS. ESO will then submit data on behalf of agencies to the National Firefighter Registry once registration is open in 2021. According to a recent study, firefighters have a 9 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14 percent higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population, said Bill Gardner, Senior Director of Fire Products for ESO. By collecting data, we not only help individual firefighters, we also get a better understanding of the magnitude of the problem, and, more importantly, what can be done to help decrease the epidemic of firefighters being diagnosed with cancer. Key features of the Exposure and Decontamination fields include: Track Individual Exposure Levels The level of exposure and decontamination activities can vary based on the roles of the firefighters on the fireground. To capture the appropriate information, the responding units can track and report each individuals level of exposure and decontamination activities. Historical Reporting and Documentation The data collected from exposure and decontamination documentation can be critical for research and the health and safety of firefighters. Historical data can also be used to support preventative measures and encourage a culture of safety within departments. Easy Workflow Keep workflow simple by documenting exposure and decontamination directly into ESO Fire Incidents and ensure records stay in a single location. Access to a clear view of exposures and decontamination at the unit report level helps to identify trends and personnel exposed. Ties to Personnel File When paired with ESO Personnel Management, all exposure and decontamination for one individual is documented and tracked in their personnel file, allowing for a historical view of exposures. Review the details of each incident where the exposures occurred for a complete picture. It is critical for firefighters to track daily exposures, said Lori Moore-Merrell, President and CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. The collection of information and data related to exposures will be vital to help prevent firefighter cancer in the future. Its great to see ESO include these fields as a standard part of their Fire Incidents product. To learn more about ESO Fire Incidents, visit: https://www.eso.com/fire/incidents-software/ 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 thousands of 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: https://www.eso.com/. Click here to read the full article. How can we make waste beautiful? That was the challenge Gabriela Hearst gave herself this season. From reimagining her own past season cashmere coats under a new Retrofit label, to using bales of recycled paper for runway set pieces, she continues to position herself as a new standard bearer of responsible luxury. Her strong fall lineup also asserted her expertise in the categories of tailoring, outerwear and rich hippie artisanal extras, while never sacrificing style for substance. More from WWD Big on fabric development, Hearst created a new cashmere corduroy to give pantsuits an everyday softness and ease, adding feminine touches such as corset-stitch detailing at the waist. Continuing in an earthy palette, she upcycled Turkish kilim rugs into a double-breasted peacoat worn with a boucle knit skirt, and elevated the hippies favorite paneled denim maxiskirt by rendering it in denim-blue cashmere. Fringe detail added interest to a covetable wheat-hued suede trenchcoat, and swing to a saffron silk dress. And hand-crocheted dresses, with open knit cutouts at the sides, added sex appeal. She sourced recycled cashmere for chunky sweaters, and worked with the artisans at Manos del Uruguay to make the rainbow poncho and blanket coat that were major show pieces. Hand-painted leather coats and boots with mandala designs added to the counterculture vibe, hammered home by Buffalo Springfields protest song, For What Its Worth on the soundtrack. We tried to make things with waste that look elegant, refined and desirable, Hearst said during a preview, noting that she took two past season coats, one navy and one beige, and spliced them together with her signature herringbone stitch for a color-block effect, under a new label shes calling RetroFit, preparing for the eventuality that brands may be prevented by law from getting rid of or burning excess stock. Story continues So far, her approach to luxury is paying off, she said, noting that her new store in London, the second for the brand after the Madison Avenue flagship, outperformed sales expectations by 30 percent in its first four months. Shes eyeing Asia for her next one. We need to figure out how to do business within the reality in which we exist, she continued. Everything takes energy fossil fuels, carbon or renewable. With energy, we have to move forward and with clothing we have to look backward to crafting things that are special and long lasting. We have to figure out a way to do what we do with less impact, because in the next 10 years, we are going to have water shortages, and with the implications of climate change, certain things just arent going to matter anymore. It will eradicate the superficial. But you can still create beautiful things, which we have been doing for thousands of years. One of those things, not seen on the runway but at the preview, was a charming box bag made after an antique racing game, with mechanical ceramic horses taking a lap around the interior. They are all hand-enameled by a British toymaker, the designer explained. If its something new thats going to occupy a place on this planet, it has to make you feel something. Thats Hearst, leading the sustainable fashion conversation at full gallop. Launch Gallery: Gabriela Hearst RTW Fall 2020 Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The Patiala House Court will hear the application seeking a new death warrant against Nirbhaya's convicts at 2 pm on Wednesday (February 12). The petition was filed by Nirbhaya's parents and the court on Tuesday issued a notice to the convicts seeking their reply by Wednesday. On the completion of the stipulation of a week's time given to the convicts to avail all legal remedies, the Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted Tihar Jail authorities to apply for a fresh death warrant at the trial court. Also, the court issued a notice to the four convicts on the plea of the central government. On the other hand, during the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was asked that when the chart reveals that three mercy petitions have been dismissed and that convict Pawan Gupta has not filed the mercy petition yet, why was a fresh death warrant being sought. The Supreme Court will hear the petition filed by the Central government and Delhi government in the case of executing the convicts on February 13. The four convicts on death row are Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 20:54:39|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close A fighter of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) observes during clashes with the eastern-based army in Sawani frontline in Tripoli, Libya, on Feb. 12, 2020. The eastern-based army in Libya has been leading a military campaign in and around the capital Tripoli since April 2019, attempting to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Wednesday said that the eastern-based army had denied to grant permission for the mission's planes to land in Libya. "The UN in Libya regrets that its regular flights, which transport its staff to and from Libya, are not granted permission by the LNA to land in Libya. This practice has been repeated on several occasions in the past weeks," UNSMIL said in a statement. The eastern-based army's move "will severely hinder UN's humanitarian effort at a time when all UN staff are working relentlessly to push forward the ongoing intra-Libyan dialogue and to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians," the statement said. In late November of 2019, the eastern-based army announced the imposition of a no-fly zone in and around the capital Tripoli where the armed conflict between the eastern-based army and the UN-backed government continues. On Jan. 8, the eastern-based army expanded the no-fly zone to Tripoli's Mitiga International Airport. The army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since early April 2019, attempting to take over the city and topple the rival UN-backed government. The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people, and displaced more than 150,000 civilians away from their homes. COLONIE --A bus passenger attacked and injured a town police officer responding to a disturbance Tuesday at a Central Avenue stop, Colonie police said. Police received a call from CDTA at 2:46 p.m. about an unruly passenger on a bus at a stop in front of Colonie Center. The passenger had allegedly urinated on the bus and spit on the driver. Colonie Police Traffic Safety Investigator Brian Curran, 43, tried to get the passenger -- the only one on the bus -- to leave. Police said "without warning or provocation," the passenger punched Curran in the face and wrestled him to the ground. The passenger slammed the investigator's head into the wall and floor of the bus several times before a back-up officer and civilian intervened, police said. The passenger was ultimately taken into custody by the use of a department-issued Taser and an another back-up officer. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The passenger, identified as Jerson D. Vargas, 42, address unknown, suffered some minor facial injuries, but due to his behavior was sedated by Colonie EMS and was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital where he is being treated, police said. Charges are to be determined and he will be formally charged when he is released from the hospital, police said. Curran, a 14-year veteran of the department, had several serious bruises to the head and was taken to Albany Med by Colonie EMS where he was still being treated Tuesday evening, police said. Mozon al-Mleihan has been awarded the Dresden Peace Prize for her work with children and education reports Arab-Europe. Syrian activist Mozon al-Mleihan has been honored with the Dresden Peace Prize for her bravery and exceptional activism. The young Syrian woman was granted the prize for her work in easing obstacles for children and young people and her attempts to find opportunities to educate children and to ease the obstacles facing them. Mleihan fled from the city of Daraa in Syrias southwest because of the bombing and shelling and with her family arrived in 2013 to the Zaatari camp in Jordan when she was 14 years old. She brought with her a bag full of books and started to go from one camp to another to convince parents and children of the importance of education, which is the key to the future for success. The young Syrian woman, who is 21 years old, now lives in Britain. In 2017, she was appointed as the youngest UNICEF goodwill ambassador. She spoke in the German city of Hamburg, during the G20 summit, with political representatives about the millions of children who were forced by conflict and war and natural disasters to flee their homes. She was chosen by Time magazine in 2017 as one of the most influential teens in the world. The Dresden Peace Prize was awarded for the 11th time and the celebrations will be held in the Dresden Opera House. The previous recipients of the award include the former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev and the war photographer James Nachtwey. 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. New Data Scheduled for Presentation on Daxors BVA-100 NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daxor Corporation (NYSE MKT: DXR) an investment company with innovative medical instrumentation and biotechnology operations focused on blood volume measurement today announces it will be attending the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) 49th Congress at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, FL, from February 16-18th, 2019. Research from the University of Hawaii - John A. Burns School of Medicine relating to the use of Daxors BVA-100 (Blood Volume Analyzer) diagnostic test in critical care use is scheduled to be presented. The SCCM gathers more than 6,000 critical care professionals from around the world to share ideas and seek solutions to improve outcomes in the critically ill. In a peer-reviewed randomized control trial, the BVA test showed that optimization of intravascular blood volume led to a 44% change in treatment decisions, improves outcomes, length of stay, and can reduce mortality by up to 66% versus conventional therapy in complex critically-ill patients. We look forward to sharing with leaders new data on how precise, individualized fluid management can lead to better patient outcomes, said Michael Feldschuh, CEO of Daxor Corporation. The company will be exhibiting at Booth #902. About Daxor Corporation Daxor Corporation (NYSE: DXR) is an innovative medical instrumentation and biotechnology company focused on blood volume measurement. We developed and market the BVA-100 (Blood Volume Analyzer), the first diagnostic blood test cleared by the FDA to provide safe, accurate, objective quantification of blood volume status and composition compared to patient-specific norms. The BVA technology has the potential to improve hospital performance metrics in a broad range of surgical and medical conditions including heart failure and critical care by better informing treatment strategies, resulting in significantly better patient outcomes. Our mission is to partner with clinicians to incorporate BVA technology into standard clinical practice and improve the quality of life for patients. For more information please visit our website at https://www.daxor.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements regarding the impact of hiring sales staff and expansion of our distribution channels. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including, without limitation, those risk associated with our post-market clinical data collection activities, benefits of our products to patients, our expectations with respect to product development and commercialization efforts, our ability to increase market and physician acceptance of our products, potentially competitive product offerings, intellectual property protection, FDA regulatory actions, our ability to integrate acquired businesses, our expectations regarding anticipated synergies with and benefits from acquired businesses, and additional other risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. Daxor does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. President Donald Trump is jumping into one of the hottest Republican primary races in Houston, throwing his support behind Wesley Hunt just days before early voting starts. Hunt is one of six Republican candidates battling the 7th Congressional District hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher in November. Wesley is strong on Crime, the Border, our 2nd Amendment, Trade, Military and Vets. Wesley has my Complete and Total Endorsement! Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. Hunt, a West Point graduate who retired after more than 20 years in the Army, responded by praising Trumps tenure as president. Under President Trump, weve seen our economy skyrocket to new heights and unemployment plummet to historic lows, Hunt said. Weve made real progress in securing our southern border, unleashing American energy production and reasserting American authority overseas by eliminating terrorists and reestablishing American strength. I am honored to have President Trumps endorsement and will work with him to continue to make the United States better and stronger. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Hunt, 38, previously won an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Among Hunts biggest challengers is former Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel, the current president of the Greater Houston Council of Federated Republican Womens Clubs. Siegel has also been a vocal supporter of Trumps, saying in new ads that she backs Trumps efforts to secure the border. Siegel said shes relying on grassroots supporters and that voters are not going to allow Washington, D.C. to determine who their next representative to Congress is. Siegel said shes the only candidate in the primary who can defeat Fletcher in November. Ill let the people decide at the polls, she said. Also running in the March 3 Republican primary are Laique Rehman, Jim Noteware, Maria Espinoza and Kyle Preston. Fletcher is running for re-election but has no Democratic primary opponents. The race has already been identified by both major political parties as a must-win in 2020. While Trumps endorsement could help West in the primary, in the general election it is less clear if it can help against Fletcher. Within the 7th Congressional District, Democrat Hillary Clinton won 48 percent of the vote to 47 percent for Trump in 2016. Early voting in Texas for the primaries begins on Tuesday and runs through Feb. 28. Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S20 series at the Galaxy Unpacked event in the US. Like the Galaxy S10 series, the South Korean electronics giant also unveiled three S20 models with the standard Galaxy S20, the S20+ and an insanely configured Galaxy S20 Ultra. However, the new Samsung Galaxy S20 series doesnt come cheap with the vanilla Galaxy S20 5G starting at $999 (around Rs 71,300) and the top-end Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage coming in at $1,599 (around Rs 1,14,100) in the US. But theres good news: With the arrival of the Galaxy S20 series, prices of the S10 series have dropped considerably. The standard Samsung Galaxy S10 now starts at Rs 54,900, while the entry-level Galaxy S10 Plus will set you back Rs 61,900. Additionally, Samsung is also offering a Rs 5,000 cashback on its website if you purchase any of the three Galaxy S10 models with an ICICI Bank credit card. The Samsung GalaxyS10e is the cheapest of the lot, coming in at Rs 47,900. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ make a pretty compelling argument at their new prices. Both phones offer top-notch displays, excellent cameras, powerful hardware, great battery life, and still look and feel premium. Both phones pack primary wide, ultrawide and telephoto shooters, Quad HD+ displays, reverse wireless charging, and a powerful chipset. Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad on Wednesday called for a 'Bharat Bandh' on February 23 against a Supreme Court ruling that states were not bound to provide reservation in promotion and appointments in public employment and also quota is not a fundamental right. He urged MPs and MLAs belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes to build pressure on the government to bring an ordinance to nullify the ruling. Aazad said his outfit will hold a march from Mandi House to Parliament on February 16 to press for its demands. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (CNN) US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday it was "unfortunate" that the Philippine government decided to terminate a military agreement between Washington and Manila but cautioned that the Pentagon had only received notification about the move in the last few hours and wanted to hear from his military commanders before charting a path forward following the announcement. Related: Philippines formally ends Visiting Forces Agreement with US Under the Visiting Forces Agreement, which was signed in 1998, US military aircraft and vessels are allowed free entry into the the Philippines. US military personnel are also subjected to relaxed visa and passport policies in under the pact, according to CNN Philippines. "We just got the notification late last night, we have to digest it, we have to work through the policy angles, the military angles, I want to hear from my commanders, but you know in my view it's unfortunate that they would make this move," Esper told reporters on his plane traveling from Washington to Brussels where he is scheduled to meet with NATO defense ministers. Esper, who recently visited the Philippines, has repeatedly voiced concern over China's increasingly expansive role in the Indo-Pacific region but said he did not necessarily view the announcement as a win for Beijing. "I don't think it's necessarily tied to China. As you know it's tied to some other issues. So again, I'm going to take this one step at a time. I don't get too excited about these things. We've got a process we have to work through. We just received it 9 hours ago," he said. Related: US calls Philippines' VFA termination a 'serious step' affecting alliance CNN reported earlier Tuesday that the Philippines has sent a letter to US officials terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement, according to the Filipino Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. While this is not the only military agreement between the two countries, its seen as a formal downgrading of its long standing military alliance between the two countries in the South China Sea. The Philippines and China each claim overlapping areas of the vast sea, along with multiple other countries including Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. In a press conference held on Tuesday, Panelo confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte directed the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin to send the notice of termination to the United States government. Panelo said that President Donald Trump and Duterte have not talked and that no response it needed from the US government in order for the termination process to proceed. The termination will be effective "180 days from the receipt of the notice of termination from the US government," he added. "The President said it is about time we rely on our own resources, we have to strengthen our own capability as a country relative to the defense of our land," Panelo said when asked why the Visiting Forces Agreement was terminated. Relations between China and the Philippines have warmed considerably since the 2016 inauguration of Duterte, who has pushed for a closer economic relationship with Beijing. "I need China. More than anybody else at this point, I need China," Duterte said before flying to China in April 2018. Compared with his predecessors, Duterte has viewed the dispute in the South China Sea as more negotiable than a matter of principle. But China has been strengthening its hold over the region. In May 2018, Beijing announced it had successfully landed bombers on islands under its control for the first time, a big step in the militarization of the region. Trump met with Duterte during a visit to Manila in 2017 and has previously praised the controversial Philippine leader's violent drug crackdown which has drawn international scorn and was expected to test Trump's penchant for diplomatic flattery. "I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem," Trump told the Philippine President in their first call in 2017, according to a leaked transcript obtained by The Washington Post. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Esper says it's 'unfortunate' that Philippines ended military agreement with US" An oversupply of saltwater crocodile skins is putting the squeeze on Australian farmers. Veteran Queensland crocodile farmer John Lever said competition from countries like Africa was having an adverse impact on the market. He told ABC News crocodile farmers 'weren't getting the returns' they normally would and is downsizing his farm. An oversupply of saltwater crocodile skins is putting the squeeze on Australian farmers (crocodile farm pictured) Crocodile skins are used by high-end fashion houses such as Hermes for handbags 'It's hard yards for crocodile farmers right now, we're just not getting the returns,' he told ABC Rural. 'I've been working in the industry since 1972 and I never, ever thought it would come to this day where we would have over-production in the world market. 'Countries in Africa, there's been some huge investments and there are farms now with 100,000 crocodiles.' The market value of pristine saltwater crocodile skin varies but is usually around AUS$13 per centimeter, making a pristine 40cm skin worth around $360. High end labels like Gucci and Versace seek out Australian saltwater crocodile skin but the oversupply of general skins is causing a drop in market value. Crocodylus Park's professor Grahame Webb said the oversupply had already started to impact negatively on the Australian market. 'People sometimes start investing in industries as if there's limitless growth, so there's got to be a correction when you get over-production,' he said. Crocodylus Park's professor Grahame Webb said the oversupply had already started to impact on the market with supply outstripping demand (crocodile farm pictured) 'Some people will survive through this and have good markets, some will adapt and work their way through, others won't be able to do that.' A report from Ernst & Young found in the 2014/15 financial year the saltwater crocodile skin industry in Australia was worth $54.3 million, 0.23 per cent of the Northern Territory GSP. Saltwater crocodile skin leather is big business with one handbag from Hermes Birkin was sold for US$300,000 at auction in 2018. Another blow to the Australian saltwater crocodile farmer was the fact many fashion labels were now looking to buy or start their own Australian crocodile farms. Almost 80 per cent of the ownership of the 14 crocodile farms in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia already belongs to foreign fashion houses. 'Everybody aims for that top grade because the premium is enormous but it's becoming tougher and tougher to meet the blemish-free standards,' Mr Lever told Farm Online. British Airways is to salvage Cornwall's air link with Heathrow after Flybe announced it is scrapping the route. Five return flights per week will be operated by British Airways between the UK's busiest airport and Newquay this summer. Shortly after being saved from collapse by striking a deal with the Government last month, Flybe revealed its taxpayer-subsidised flights between London and Newquay will switch from Heathrow to Gatwick on March 29. British Airways begins serving Newquay, pictured, on July 2 Willie Walsh, the outgoing boss of British Airways' parent-company IAG, described the rescue as a 'blatant misuse of public funds'. Richard Thomasson, interim airport director of Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: 'We are delighted British Airways will be flying to Cornwall this summer and to be able to continue to offer this vital link between Cornwall and Heathrow. 'With such a major global carrier we will be able to offer our passengers one-stop access to the world, while worldwide investors and tourists will benefit from an easier connection to our stunning county.' Richard Thomasson, interim airport director of Cornwall Airport Newquay, said: 'We are delighted British Airways will be flying to Cornwall this summer' British Airways' director of network and alliances, Neil Chernoff, said: 'We know that customers enjoy exploring the UK as much as they do going further afield, and Newquay has so much to offer, especially in the summer months.' Flights will operate on Mondays, Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from July 2 until September 7. Return fares start from 90. British Airways began offsetting the carbon emissions of its domestic routes on January 1. At this years World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that transporting Russian natural gas via the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) is technically possible but that Azerbaijan has never received an official proposal for such cooperation. The Jamestown Foundation reports in its article Could Russia Join the Southern Gas Corridor? The View From Baku that he added that the infrastructure could be jointly used, but the commercial aspects of cooperation should be studied. The president also noted that the construction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to deliver gas from the Turkish border (from TANAP) to Greece, Albania and Italy will likely be completed in the second half of 2020. Interest in using the Southern Gas Corridor (consisting of the linked South Caucasus Pipeline, TANAP and TAP) by Russias Gazprom was first expressed in January 2017 when the company noted that, due to the shortage of midstream capacities of Nord Stream Two (presently under construction) and TurkStream (recently concluded), Gazprom views TAP as an alternative export route. Gazprom has repeatedly floated this idea over the last few years. On November 30, 2019, the Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents inaugurated a link between the Turkish and Greek gas grids, marking the final completion of the 16-billion-cubic-meter-per-year (bcm/a) TANAP pipeline; and on January 7, 2020, the Turkish and Russian presidents launched the 31.5 bcm/a capacity TurkStream pipeline (designed to carry 15.75 bcm to Turkey, and 15.75 bcm to European customers). As President Aliyev confirmed, injecting Russian gas into the SGC, particularly from TurkStream into TAP, is technically straightforward. And it should be possible under European Union regulations. The end point of both TANAP and TurkStream in Turkey is the small border town of Ipsala; the TAP pipeline starts on the opposite side of the border, in Greece. Therefore, it would not be costly to connect TurkStream to TAP. All of the initial 10 bcm/a capacity of TAP has already been contracted by the Shah Deniz Consortium, which operates production at the Shah Deniz field off the coast of Azerbaijan (TAP received third-party entry exemptions from the EU for its initial phase). However, it will take time until the Shah Deniz II extraction project reaches full capacity to produce enough gas to fill TAP. Thus, when TAP becomes operational by the end of 2020, Russian gas could help utilize the pipeline to full capacity. Russian gas could also be instrumental in the projected expansion of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. TAP announced the results of the initial non-binding Market Test for expansion on October 28, 2019. The producers who expressed interest in using TAP were collectively willing to pledge over 11 bcm/a for transit through the pipeline. Consequently, TAP launched a Coordinated Design Phase to study options for expanding the pipeline to 20 bcm/a. The study is expected to be completed in early 2020. The names of the companies who expressed interest have not been released; so it is only possible to speculate whether Gazprom, or one of its subsidiaries, might be among them. The binding Market Test might start already in 2020 (earliest in Q2); thus, the names of the bidders to use the expanded capacity of TAP will possibly be revealed before the end of this year. Regarding the use of TANAP to export Russian gas, such cooperation would have to be done on a much larger scale, most likely utilizing the entire infrastructure created for the SGC and beyond. Russian gas can be delivered to Azerbaijan via the 13 bcm/a MozdokMakhachkalaKazi Magomed pipeline (Azerbaijan purchased 1 bcm of gas from Gazprom in 2018 via this pipelineGazpromexport.ru, accessed February 10), from where it can be injected into TANAP via the South Caucasus Pipeline. However, this will also require the expansion of all three SGC pipelines during the later stages, when the Shah Deniz II project reaches its full capacity. Interestingly, when Mikhail Bocharnikov, Russias ambassador to Baku, congratulated Azerbaijan on the inauguration of TANAP, he speculated, Who knows, maybe our gas will flow through TANAP one day; I would not exclude it." President Aliyevs remarks at Davos were in line with Azerbaijans long-term strategy of ensuring its infrastructure projects are commercially viable projects rather than the subject of geopolitical competition between bigger powers. Indeed, one of the strategic rationales behind Azerbaijans choice of TANAP-TAP over the Nabucco pipeline in 2013 was that the larger-capacity Nabucco was viewed more as a geopolitical project: it had been backed by the EU, although Europe failed to offer this proposed pipeline enough support or guaranties to counter Russian backlash against it. In contrast, the relatively smaller TANAP-TAP was viewed as commercially viable. When it is economically justified and in line with regulations, Azerbaijan has always been open to sharing its infrastructure with other players. For example, upon the completion of the BakuTbilisiKars (BTK) railwaya project that was supposed carry part of the China-to-EU cargo heretofore transported by the Tran-Siberian RailroadRussia began to use the BTK to ship its exports to Turkey and, via Turkish Mediterranean ports, to other countries. The other issue is the competition between Azerbaijani and Russian gas for the same share of the European market. For now, the total contracted capacity of the SGC (10 bcm/a) is quite small compared with what Gazprom supplies to Europe. However, the individual markets in Southeastern Europe, to whom TAP aims to deliver gas, are themselves quite limited. For example, both Bulgaria and Greece have contracted 1 bcm/a from the SGC, while Gazprom exported just over 3 bcm to each of these countries in 2018. The SGC can only become a potential danger to Russias domination of European gas supplies following its full expansionwith the planned addition of more compressor stations, TANAP and TAPs overall annual capacities could eventually be increased to 31 and 24 bcm, respectively. Such a dramatic capacity increase is unlikely until the Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) is built to connect Turkmenistan to the project. But the realization of the TCP is itself highly improbably due to the loopholes in the text of the 2018 Caspian Legal Convention (Russia does not hide its willingness to use them) and Gazproms recent resumption of gas imports from Turkmenistan, which is viewed by some as an attempt to discourage Ashgabat from pushing forward with the TCP. As such, Russian gas in the SGC seems to be an alternative that could make expansion commercially viable without provoking backlash from Moscow. Yermak says ending the war in Donbas in the interests of Ukraine is one of them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's newly appointed chief of staff Andriy Yermak has spoken about his goals and priorities in the new position. Read alsoYermak vows President's Office to guarantee freedom of speech, media independence "As for the areas of work that I see. First, I will not abandon those areas that I have recently been working on. Of course, ending the war in Donbas in the interests of Ukraine is one of the priorities for the president, for the President's Office today. Therefore, this area remains a priority. Foreign and external areas will certainly remain on the radar screen, and I will deal with them too. I think today Ukraine is in the center of global attention, and we cannot miss this chance, and everything must be done so that the attention and interest that we have today translate into concrete results," he said at a briefing on Wednesday, an UNIAN correspondent reported. Yermak called regional policy another important area of his activity. "We will work more effectively with the governors," he said. According to the official, another goal is to make Ukraine "an investment Mecca." "We have concrete steps, programs on how to do this. Our governors have received this task, the government everyone involved in the investment climate is engaged in this," Yermak said. He added the President's Office should become "an expert office for the president of Ukraine with the best personnel, the most professional people who will help the president fulfill his function and achieve results in all areas of his activity." (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Russia has been unusually circumspect as a crisis in northern Syria simultaneously threatens to undermine its relations with Turkey and calls into question its support for Bashar al-Assads dictatorship in Damascus. The Russian air force has been actively supporting the regime offensive that has displaced hundreds of thousands in Idlib, in northwestern Syria. Turkey, which supports the Syrian opposition to Assad, has been striking at regime targets in Idlib. Moscow is the Syrian regimes main backer, and is committed to helping Assad reassert control over the country. On the other hand, Turkey is a major trading partner for Russia, over and above the $2.5 billion sale of S-400 air-defense systems. Russias trade with Turkey reached $25.6 billion in 2018; the two countries want that number to grow to $100 billion in the next few years. Moscows economic exchanges with the other stakeholders in the Syrian conflict are puny in comparison. Trade with Iran, hampered by U.S. sanctions, is in the region of $2 billion; the two countries are looking for ways to increase flows through barter deals. War-ravaged Syria a small trading partner, even if Moscow profits in other ways from the conflict. Russia-Israel trade exceeded $5 billion in 2019 for the second year in a row and looks likely to grow more. Can Russia support the Syrian regime and preserve relations with Turkey? Thus far, Moscow has threaded these needles by hosting the Astana peace process on Syria and trying to be all things to all sides. Russian President Vladimir Putin has gambled that he can accomplish this because Syria and Turkey both need Russia more than Russia needs them. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come to increasingly rely on Russia as he feuds with the U.S. and Europe. For his part, Assad is beholden to Putin for Russias 2015 intervention in the Syrian civil war in support of Assad. Russian air power and special forces helped turn the tide in the dictators favor. Story continues Syria was already a key Russian ally dating back to Soviet times; Russia maintains a naval base and air base in the country. Helping Assad defeat the rebels is not only a point of prestige for Moscow, the conflict is also a showcase for Russian weapons. Putin has maneuvered to become the key power broker in Syria, presiding over ceasefire deals with Jordan and the U.S. in 2017, a deal with Turkey over Idlib in 2018, and another after the U.S. withdrew from parts of northeastern Syria in 2019. Russia has also sought to assuage Israeli concerns about Iranian entrenchment in southern Syria by deploying military police near the Golan Heights. But the Syrian chessboard has grown progressively more complex. The U.S. presence may be much reduced, but is not gone. American forces protect oil fields in eastern Syria and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish led group, remains a major force in the east. Turkey has invaded the northeast, to keep the Kurds at bay, and create a buffer zone for refugees. This leaves Russia to maneuver between Iran, Turkey, the U.S. and the Syrian regime. It creates a situation in which the Russian air force fights for Assad, even while Russian troops conduct joint patrols with Turkey in Kurdish areas, and Russian diplomats negotiate with Kurdish groups partnered with the U.S. Idlib is the most severe challenge to Russias effort to be all things to everyone, all the time. As the Syrian regime ratcheted up its attacks on Idlib this month, it killed Turkish troops; Ankara responded by deploying armored vehicles to Idlib in early February. Turkey fears an influx of more refugees from Syria, adding to the 3 million it already hosts. Russia wants to tamp down the tensions in Idlib, but it has another crisis brewing in the south, where Israel has launched more than 1,000 airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria. Last week, Russia claimed an Israeli airstrike endangered a civilian airliner over Damascus. Such attacks enrage both Assad and Iran, requiring careful hand-holding by Russia. The outcome of Russias effort to manage all sides of the conflict has been a partitioning of Syria into zones of influence and control. Iran influences southern Syria, but has to contend with Israeli airstrikes. Turkey controls parts of northern Syria under tenuous ceasefire agreements with Moscow. The U.S. controls a shrinking portion of eastern Syria. Putins house of cards is built on making sure none of the countries gets what it wants and all must rely on Moscow to hold what they have: Iran cant take over southern Syria; Assad cant win the civil war outright; and Turkey cant remain in northern Syria forever. The last thing Putin wants to do is to pick a sideand that is exactly what the battle for Idlib might force him to do. No wonder Moscow has gone mum. To contact the author of this story: Seth J. Frantzman at sfrantzman@gmail.com To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bobby Ghosh at aghosh73@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Seth J. Frantzman covers Middle East affairs for the Jerusalem Post. He is the author of "After ISIS: America, Iran and the Struggle for the Middle East" and executive director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis. 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. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK COLUMBUS, OhioFeeling stymied by state and federal policymakers, environmental and renewable-energy groups are increasingly turning to local governments in Ohio to pass a wish-list of initiatives that promote green energy and cut carbon emissions. Environmental advocates have been working on the local level for years, finding success in getting cities to commit to getting 100 percent of their energy from renewable sources, replacing gas-powered city vehicles with electric cars, and even building their own solar arrays, among other things. But now, such efforts are becoming more organized with the creation of Power A Clean Future Ohio, which will work to help municipal leaders implement carbon-reduction plans. The new group is backed by organizations such as the Ohio Environmental Council, the Ohio Mayors Alliance, and the Sierra Clubs Ohio chapter. Regardless of what the state is doing, theres just a lot of opportunity for local governments to step in here, and to take a kind of leadership role, said Joe Flarida, executive director of Power A Clean Future Ohio. Theres just kind of a natural fit there and a lot of authority that they have to do things right away, so were taking advantage. Flarida said Power A Clean Future Ohio is working with local governments in four areas: increasing use of renewable energy, making city vehicle fleets 100-percent electric, implementing energy-efficiency programs, and creating more green space. Regarding renewable energy, one tactic many Ohio cities are using is electricity aggregation, in which municipal governments negotiate on behalf of their residents with utilities to get better electric rates and, in many cases, guarantees of energy-efficiency programs and that 100 percent of their power will come from renewables. Cleveland and at least 10 suburbs have created a district to help businesses invest in solar panels and other alternative-energy systems. Other municipalities are considering installing solar panels on public buildings and (at least in the case of Cincinnati) working to construct the nations largest municipal solar array. These efforts come as the Republican-dominated Ohio legislature and Gov. Mike DeWine have killed the states renewable-energy and energy-efficiency mandates for utilities. On the federal level, President Donald Trump is rolling back dozens of environmental regulations and has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Accord to cut greenhouse gas emissions. In response to the latter move, more than 400 mayors including nine in Ohio pledged to have their cities voluntarily work to abide by the carbon-emission goals of the Paris agreement. Neil Waggoner, campaign representative for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign in Ohio, said taking such action also often makes good business sense, as renewable-energy guarantees can sometimes reduce customers power bills and that some companies looking to expand or relocate are attracted to areas with stronger green-energy initiatives. We want to be doing more and filling in this void where the state is failing, Waggoner said. Both Republican and Democratic mayors across Ohio have so far been universally receptive to taking at least some steps to improve the environment, said Keary McCarthy, executive director of the bipartisan Ohio Mayors Alliance. Mayors across the state are always interested in being innovative and thoughtful about how they can be more efficient, how they can help to save money and reduce their carbon footprint, McCarthy said. I think the [Power A Clean Future Ohio] campaign is attempting to be more thoughtful about how they engage local leaders to do just that. But not everyone is a fan. Bob Paduchik, a former Republican National Committee co-chair who ran Trumps 2016 campaign in Ohio, tweeted earlier this week that Power A Clean Future Ohio is a left-wing front group." The groups About Us webpage, Paduchik continued, is the typical propaganda: long on Bolshevik promises and short on facts, names, and who funds their activities. Sad. Newest left-wing front group arrives in Ohio. About Us is the typical propaganda: long on Bolshevik promises and short on facts, names, and who funds their activities. Sad. https://t.co/y1yOgYtOvs Bob Paduchik (@Paduch) February 10, 2020 Read more Ohio politics stories: Record funding for affordable housing for low-income seniors on the way, HUD announces Pete Buttigieg lands more Ohio endorsements Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, AG Dave Yost on board with plan on how to split up opioid settlement money with locals Jim Jordans name comes up during Statehouse testimony on OSU abuse victims bill Trump budget proposes spending more than $100 million on federal buildings in Cleveland The Bombay high court (HC) has asked the central and state governments to inform the procedure that they would adopt to ban an extremist outfit. The directions were passed when the court was hearing a criminal public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha under section 3 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), as the organisations name had emerged in the murder probe of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, as well as for planting bombs in auditoriums in Thane and Vashi. The matter has been posted for hearing on March 4. The division bench of justice Ranjit More and justice SP Tavade, while hearing the PIL filed by Arshad Ali Ansari, through advocate Rajesh Khobragade, was informed that the petitioner had made a representation to the central and state governments to ban the right- wing organisation. However as the governments had not decided on the ban yet, he had approached the HC seeking directions to ban the outfit. On its part, additional public prosecutor for the state informed the court that deciding on the representation was the prerogative of the Union home ministry and thus, the state cannot implement the ban. However, the advocate for the Centre submitted that the home ministry would initiate proceedings only after receiving a report from the state regarding the outfit. After hearing the submissions, the bench sought to know what was the usual procedure adopted while deciding on such representations to ban outfits that have alleged roles in criminal activities. Bernie or Bustthe stance that the senators supporters will vote for Sanders or no one at allhas been widely regarded as aggressive, counterproductive, and tonally at odds with the senators actual message. Its hard to know exactly how big the movement is; the contingent is certainly loud and obnoxious online, but its hard to gauge the extent to which that strategy has penetrated. A January Emerson poll showed that Sanders supporters are among the most likely to defect: Whereas no Buttigieg or Warren supporters said they wouldnt vote for the Democratic nominee if their candidate didnt win, 16 percent of Sanders supporters said they wouldnt vote for anyone but Sanders and 31 percent said it would depend on the nominee (those numbers were 10 and 14 percent for Buttigieg and Warren). Of course, polls are imperfect instruments (cf. Joe Bidens collapse after months leading in the polls). Speaking to New Hampshire Bernie supporters, my colleague Ruth Graham found that most were more than willing to line up behind whichever candidate, though one said he was sufficiently concerned about Iowa that he might not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the Bernie-or-Busters, small as they may be, have spun their position into an argument for why others should vote for Bernie Sanders too, regardless of the platform they prefer. As efforts in political persuasion go, this contingent puts forward an openly hostile argument. Sanders is the only electable candidate, they suggest, not just because of his policies, but because of the single-mindedness of his followers. The reason you should vote for Sanders is that we wont vote for anyone else. You dont want Trump to win again, do you? For the first time, it might be voters in the middle, not leftists, who have to hold their noses and vote for candidates they dont like who barely acknowledge them. Yes, it sounds like ugly hostage takingnot a brilliant persuasive strategy but a crude ego-boosting exercise for a group of leftists who cant resist the impulse to lord some power over an electorate that doesnt normally consider them relevant. But thats exactly what makes it so normal, even understandable, in a depressing were all human sort of way. Because the truth is this: Every threat these Sanders stans are explicitly making is one the venerated Centrist Swing Voter makes implicitlyand isnt judged for. The centrist never even has to articulate his threat. The media narrates it for him. What does the swing voter want? is the kind of question that rescues this brand of voter from owning or even admitting any moral consequences at all. The question is framed as sensible, and so is its subject. The swing voterwhich, lets be clear, is diminishing in this political landscapeis typically treated as the antithesis of a Bernie stan: as a rational and passionless subject (as if contemplating just not voting in an election were a morally neutral choice). That the swing voter is arguably worse than the Bernie or Bust crewin that in lieu of just staying home and not voting at all, he might actually vote for the other guydoesnt even register. Thats how accustomed we all are to being held hostage to the centrist concerns. As for leftists, who are undeniably real? Well, the Democratic machine has never wondered what they thought; its simply taken them for granted. After all, who else are they going to vote for? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of many disorienting factors in this election cycle is the fact that the left is more popular and more viable than it has been in a long, long time. They have not one but two exciting candidates, and both are offering policies closer to what leftists actually want than most presidential contenders in U.S. history have. This means, amusingly enough, that the centrist swing voter has been decentered in political conversation. Those who remainand there are still quite a fewarent used to that. Neither are the political narratives media organizations are used to telling, which largely depend on lovingly parsing the swing voters desires without in any way blaming them for the compromises pleasing them means for the rest of the electorate. The very early strength of Buttigieg, and now Klobuchar as well, suggests that these are voters in search of a candidate, and media coverage cant help but reflexively fixate on their importance. Its simply the case that a demographic accustomed to being minutely tended to and having its feelings scrupulously monitored isnt getting quite as aggressively courted this time, even if cable news networks cant adjust. Whether 2020 heralds a political revolution or not, this at least is a genuine upset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres another consideration here too: Because folks at the center tend to be wooed by multiple candidates, theyre used to having options, and theyre used to the experience of their vote determining who ends up with the nomination. This means that they usually like the candidate they vote for, in the primary and in the general. Not so for leftists, who get to merely tolerate the candidates they end up having to vote for in order to mitigate the damage from a worse result. Now, with Sanders New Hampshire victory confirming that hes the one with the best shot at winning this thing, the reverse might obtain. For the first time, it might be voters in the middle, not leftists, who have to hold their noses and vote for candidates they dont like who barely acknowledge them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I suppose theres a model of human nature somewhere that says a person who finally gets a taste of consideration from a society thats shown him contempt will always behave decently and proportionally, remembering what it was like to be at the bottom. In practice, we know better: A little bit of power in the hands of people who have never had any is going to tempt at least some of them to use it badly, often in precisely the way it was used against them. Plenty of Bernie stans are failing that test right now. Advertisement But its clear, too, why some Sanders supporters still feel hard done by, even if their candidate is winning, and are exerting what leverage they have in angry response. Many of their concerns are legitimate! The more information we get about Iowa, the easier it is for suspicious supporters to raise their eyes at the data-handling disaster that deprived Sanders of anything like a clear victory narrative. Much of the medias subsequent coverage of Sandersparticularly his victory in New Hampshirehas been no less baffling. Sanders is now undeniably the front-runner. That should have been the story. Instead, his win has repeatedly been narrated as a failure or setback or defeat. No wonder Sanders supporters find it suspect. It is. Advertisement Sanders stans arent the only ones losing all sense of proportion. If last week is anything to go by, TV anchors seem to be melting down over Sanders surge, what with Chris Mathews implicitly comparing the senator to Fidel Castro and saying a victory for the reds might have meant his own execution, and Chuck Todd approvingly sharing a quote from a conservative site calling a Jewish candidates supporters digital brownshirts. This last was so far beyond the pale that one fails to understand how Chuck Todd remains on the air without at the very least offering an apology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders most aggressive supporters have felt like they had to speak up against anti-Bernie because no one else would. Yes, that has made them strident, unpleasant, and off-putting. It may be a comfort to them that they arent the only ones noticing how Sanders is being narrated anymore. Even Margaret Sullivan at the Washington Post is writing about the anti-Bernie phenomenon. And voters are noticing too. Yesterday, MSNBC aired footage of an interview with a very polite undecided voter whod decided to vote for Sanders. When pressed as to why, she finally told them: She was sick and tired of how negatively MSNBC had been covering him. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sleuths have seized 2.5 kg gold worth over Rs one crore in three separate operations held at Hyderabad and Mumbai airports and arrested eight people, officials said on Wednesday. The eight were allegedly involved in the smuggling of the gold from Dubai and they were arrested on Tuesday. An official press release said three people were arrested while exchanging 931 gms gold which was brought from Dubai by one of the accused at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here. In another case at the airport, the sleuths apprehended two persons with 650 gms gold. At Mumbai's ChhatrapatiShivaji Maharaj International Airport, three people were arrested for allegedly being involved in smuggling 931 gms gold into India, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MUSKEGON, MI -- The deer cull authorized to take place over several nights in the Beachwood-Bluffton neighborhoods of west Muskegon wrapped up in just one, according to the citys public works director. Leo Evans told MLive that sharpshooters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), working in three separate areas on Tuesday night, Feb. 11, killed the 30 total deer permitted under the citys agreement with the federal agency, which was approved last month following complaints from neighborhood residents. The animals were sent for processing on Wednesday morning, and will be donated as meat to local charities. We had kind of thought it was going to take three to four separate times out to get to our permit number, but it went better than expected, said Evans. I think itll get to the problem. As a result of the quick cull, the total cost of the project is expected to be lower than originally budgeted, Evans said. The budgeted cost through the USDA allowed for four to five nights of work and totaled $12,907, including set-up costs and multiple visits from the sharpshooters. City documents estimated that total costs, including staff time and processing costs, which have been donated by the nonprofit Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger, would reach about $20,000. Evans said his office has not yet estimated what the final cost will be, but anything left over from the budgeted amount will return to the citys general fund. It will be less than what was originally approved, he said. The project was approved last month, with some community opposition, after months of complaints from Beachwood-Bluffton neighborhood residents about a nuisance herd of deer that had made its home in their community. Many expressed concerns about damage to vegetation and the spread of deer ticks and tick-borne illnesses. Over the course of Tuesday night, sharpshooters set up bait stations and targeted deer in Kruse Park, along the trail leading to the filtration plant, and around the former Bluffton elementary school, Evans said. On Wednesday morning, the carcasses were sent for processing: first, to be checked for diseases by USDA, and then to be turned into meat, which will be distributed to the Muskegon Rescue Mission. Evans estimated that the meat will be ready for donation in one to two weeks. Evans said there are definitely still deer out there, and said his office has set up cameras in the areas where the cull took place, which his team will continue checking over the coming weeks. Read more on MLive: Deer cull by sharpshooters approved in Muskegon despite some citizen opposition Sharpshooters would cull deer herds under plan before Muskegon commission Pere Marquette beach parking fees move forward As machine learning continues to surpass human performance in a growing number of tasks, scientists at Skoltech have applied deep learning to reconstruct quantum properties of optical systems. Through a collaboration between the quantum optics research laboratories at Moscow State University, led by Sergey Kulik, and members of Skoltech's Deep Quantum Laboratory of CPQM, led by Jacob Biamonte, the scientists have successfully applied machine learning to the state reconstruction problem. Their findings have been reported in the Nature Partner Journal, npj Quantum Information, and are the first to show that machine learning can reconstruct quantum states from experimental data in the presence of noise and detector errors. Skoltech PhD student Adriano Macarone Palmieri, lead author of the study, described the findings as " a new open door towards deeper insights ." Adriano has a Master's Degree in Physics from Bologna and joined Skoltech from Italy, where he worked as a data scientist. Working closely with MSU's PhD student, Egor Kovlakov, Adriano reached out to his former colleague and a current postdoctoral fellow at Bocconi University, Federico Bianchi. Federico, a machine learning expert with a recent PhD from the University of Milano-Bicocca, describes the findings as "a sound example of data driven discovery which combines machine learning and quantum physics." While Federico didn't have experience with quantum mechanics prior to joining this study, he viewed the problem in terms of information and helped create a novel model of the system based on deep feed forward neural networks. Both Adriano and Federico worked tirelessly and in close collaboration with many members of Deep Quantum Laboratory, including Dmitry Yudin who describes the findings as an important first step towards the practical use of neural network architecture in a lab for improving quantum tomography with available quantum setups of noisy experimental data. Such quantum information processing is used ubiquitously in paradigmatic quantum devices for quantum computation and optimization. In the forthcoming future, the researchers plan to address further challenges of upscaling quantum information devices, and expect this work to be foundational in their further research. These results wouldn't have been possible without the experimental research of Egor Kovlakov, supported by Stanislav Straupe and Sergei Kuliik, from MSU. Over the last several years, they have applied a wide range of techniques to the state reconstruction problem. To the surprise of the coauthors, deep learning outperformed these state-of-the-art methods in a real experiment. The MSU team generated data with an experimental platform based on spatial states of photons to prepare and measure high-dimensional quantum states. Experimental errors in state preparation and measurements inevitably plague the results and the situation becomes worse with increasing dimensionality. At the same time, extending the dimensionality of accessible quantum states is extremely important for quantum communication protocols and, especially, quantum computing. This is where machine learning techniques come in useful. The Skoltech team implemented a deep neural network implemented to analyze the noisy experimental data and efficiently learn to perform denoising, significantly improving the quality of quantum state reconstruction. Skoltech's Deep Quantum Laboratory team believes that machine learning techniques will play an essential role in the future development of quantum technologies. As the available quantum devices become more and more complex, it gets harder and harder to control all the parameters at the desired level of precision.This came out as a very natural field of application for deep learning and machine learning techniques in general. ### All bishops are appointed by the Pope, and ordained by at least two bishops. The ordination also is a statement that the priests and deacons of the diocese will be oriented to the new bishops ministry and leadership. Dobrzynski said the ordination rite, with the "laying on of hands" is drawn from the earliest days of the Church as recorded in the New Testaments Acts of the Apostles and early first century documents. He said the history even goes back to Old Testament days when a Jewish High Priest was similarly honored with such ceremonies. The Ordination Mass took place on a sun-kissed winter afternoon. More than 100 diocesan and visiting deacons, priests, members of the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver and Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre led the procession into the cathedral, most wearing white vestments. The Diocesan Choir sang in Latin verse and others, including Bishop McClory, read scripture in both English and Spanish. Archbishop Pierre read to the church the official letter known as a papal mandate by Pope Francis calling McClory to the office of Bishop. Pierre read, It is our wish to entrust this ministry to you. We appoint you Bishop of Gary. The BitsMax website claiming to show an association with David Harding. Photo: Screenshot/Yahoo Finance UK Scammers are using false endorsements from a hedge fund billionaire to try and lure victims. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) this week issued a warning about BitsMax, a cryptocurrency scam claiming to be run by David Harding. Harding is the billionaire founder of Winton Capital, a British hedge fund. BitsMaxs website lists the details of Winton Capital on its site and claims it is a subsidiary of the business. The site also features Hardings headshot and an apparent quote, claiming he is the CEO of BitsMax. Read more: Hedge fund boss who gave 100m to Cambridge suffers 36% profit slump BitsMaxs website also links to several crypto industry websites that claim to have interviewed Harding about the company. One purported interview claims Harding said BitsMax could deliver investment returns of up to 1,825%. A fake interview linked to by BitsMax, claiming to show David Harding endorsing the product. Photo: Screenshot/Yahoo Finance UK Harding and the FCA have both called out BitsMax as a scam. Fraudsters are using the details of firms we authorise to try to convince people that they work for a genuine, authorised firm, the FCA said in a warning notice published this week. The FCA declined to comment on whether they were taking action. A spokesperson for Winton Capital directed Yahoo Finance UK to a statement made on its website last week. Read more: Hedge fund billionaire Harding gives Cambridge 100m It has come to our attention certain websites and social media channels are making false claims of association with Winton Group Limited and David Harding, the company said in the statement. Certain of these websites, including BitsMax, are attempting to replicate our official website and branding. These websites and channels are unrelated to Winton Group Limited, its subsidiaries and its Founder and CEO, David Harding. David Harding, far left, with then Culture Secretary Sajid Javid, Science Museum Director Ian Blatchford, and Claudia Harding after the Hardings donated 5m to the museum. (PA) Calls to a number listed on BitsMaxs website went unanswered and the company did not respond to questions sent over email and over a chatbot on its website. BitsMaxs website claims it is based on [a] neural network, that allows you to make passive and stable profit, even if you absolutely do not understand cryptocurrencies. It claims to offer returns of up to 5% per day and its website claims it has attracted $640,000 from 1,855 investors. Story continues A spokesperson for AMBCrypto, which ran the fake interview with Harding, pointed Yahoo Finance UK to a disclaimer at the bottom of the article saying it was a paid post, and should not be treated as news/advice. This article was given to us directly by Bitsmax's marketing team, the spokesperson said. AMBCrypto did not conduct an interview with anybody. As mentioned in our article's first line, this was an interview by Teletype. The spokesperson said AMBCrypto would investigate and take appropriate action and subsequently deleted the article and published a clarification saying an unfortunate error appeared in the article. AMBCrypto declined to say how much they were paid to run the piece. Scams and fake celebrity endorsements have long been a problem in cryptocurrency space. Fraudsters have used fake endorsements claiming to be by everyone from Elon Musk to The Rock. David Harding is a pioneer of quant hedge funds, which use mathematical models to spot market inefficiencies that can be taken advantage of. He helped to cofound what is now Man Group (EMG.L) in 1987 before founding Winton Capital in 1997. Forbes estimates Hardings net worth at $1.5bn. He and his wife made headlines last year after donating 100m to the University of Cambridge, where Harding studied. [February 12, 2020] UP Govt. Inks MoU With eGov Foundation for State-wide Implementation of Municipal Financial Accounting Platform BANGALORE, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In another step towards reforming the urban sector, the Govt of UP entered into a collaboration with eGov Foundation on 31st January, 2020. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to implement municipal financial accounting system. This initiative is a part of the municipal accounting reforms across the entire State and covers all 652 ULBs (Urban Local Bodies) of Uttar Pradesh. The MoU was signed by Shri. Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav, Special Secretary, Urban Development, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation, in the presence of other dignitaries from UP Govt and eGov foundation. Under the MoU, eGov Foundation will provide the Accrual Based Double Entry Financial Accounting Application of DIGIT (Digital Infrastructure for Governance, Impact & Transformation) - India's Largest Open Source Platform for Urban Governance. The Govt. envisages to digitize the accounting records and operations, thereby strengthening the financial autonomy and financial sustainability of the UBs. With this development, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has bolstered its commitment towards the national goal of capacity building and enhanced municipal service delivery. "This partnership with eGov Foundation will further strengthen the revenue and expenditure management, capital budgeting, efficient management of assets and financial transactions thereby improve the Credit Worthiness to raise additional resources from the market," said Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, IAS Principal Secretary, Urban Development Dept, Govt.of Uttar Pradesh. DIGIT Financial Accounting System will empower the ULBs with a comprehensive set of capabilities that includes Expenditure Management, Receivables Management, Bank Reconciliation, Revenue Management, Extensive list of reports per the need of the accounting system, State-level dashboards for assets, liabilities, income-expenditure tracking and financial ratios. "Collaborating with eGov Foundation has strengthened our vision of promoting good governance in financial management. The key drivers that led to this partnership revolve around enhancing the elements of efficiency and accountability in municipal accounting, increasing the transparency of the process and improving the dissemination of financial information to the ecosystem," said Dr Kajal, IAS , Director, Local Bodies. Viraj Tyagi, CEO, eGov Foundation, expresses, "Partnering with the Government of UP, we aim at catalyzing the urban governance for a greater good. Harnessing technology, eGov Foundation will digitize the accounting operations, drive efficient interactions between citizens and city administration and strengthen the transparency in the system. With this exemplary partnership, we will help UP Govt to strengthen the foundation for financial self-sufficiency, accountability, and sustainability of ULBs in the state." About eGov Foundation eGov Foundation was established in 2003 by Nandan Nilekani and Srikanth Nadhamuni to partner with city administrators in their drive to leverage the transformative power of technology for better quality of life in our cities and to make them sustainable. In order to address the need for scale and speed eGov has built DIGIT platform- a Public Digital Good that can be used by Governments, Enterprises and civil society to co-create and deploy locally relevant solutions. Over the last 16 years, we have partnered with more than 900 towns and cities across India and more than 12 Cr Citizens have benefited from our platform. And we know there is much more to do to build a thriving, digitally-enabled ecosystem in all 4400+ towns and cities in India. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089500/Uttar_Pradesh_eGov_Foundation_MoU.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed? You voted: The wages scandal that has dominated headlines for almost a year has culminated in about 400 restaurant staff having no wages at all. Chefs, waiters and managers are suddenly unemployed, suppliers counting on selling goods to the group are without a buyer and one of Melbournes major hospitality training grounds has screeched to a halt. George Calombaris then and now. Credit:Jamie Brown George Calombaris detractors are crowing at the ultimate comeuppance but its hard to see where the victory lies. Notwithstanding the renewed focus on underpayments that accompanied Mondays news, all current and former Made Establishment staff were repaid in 2017. Id bet, since then, there would have been few more compliant workplaces in hospitality. Rowdy Wear, the first ever celebrity fashion brand to originate from the Telugu states and owned by actor Vijay Deverakonda, announces its launch on Myntra today. Rowdy Wear was born in 2018 and personifies the rebel attitude and style of the actor and is an expression of a persons rebellious self. The brands merchandise, comprising apparel for men, women and children, including accessories and footwear, will be available on Myntra from February 12, 2020. True to its theme, Rowdy Wear is a streetwear brand that blends fashion, comfort, and confidence to uphold the spirit of achievement in an individual. The brand offers contemporary street fashion at affordable prices, mainly targeting students and the younger generation. The Rowdy Wear collection has been designed with extreme care to ensure the durability and sustainability of each product. The brands streetwear range includes shirts, tees, sweatshirts, kurtas, jackets, hoodies, joggers, sneakers, caps, belts and more, at a pocket-friendly price range of Rupees 790 1990. The brand has witnessed a strong uptake with Vijays massive fan-following, especially in south-India and has so far been accessible largely through the Rowdy Wear App. The partnership with Myntra is set to enhance its reach nationally, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities and towns across the country, where the company has a strong presence. The association was announced today at a Sundowner Party in Hyderabad, hosted by Vijay for his Rowdy fans and has been his chosen method to often engage and surprise fans. Present at the event were, Amar Nagaram, Head, Myntra Jabong and Vijay himself. Speaking on the association, actor Vijay Deverakonda, said, Rowdy Wear is clearly an extension of my personality, it brings with it the attitude to express who you really are and questions conventional thoughts and processes with comfort, in street style. I believe this attitude is now entrenched in a majority of the youth in this nation and would like to aid them with the right fashion sense that further enhances their spirit. In order to achieve this, we have partnered with Myntra that will enable us reach far and wide. Amar Nagaram, Head, Myntra Jabong, said, Films have come a long way in guiding our sense of fashion and continues to influence our style and attitude. Celebrities play an important role as fashion idols, both on and off screens and their massive fan-following often helps shape the market. Streetwear as a concept is becoming extremely popular and we are thrilled to on-board Rowdy Wear and deliver its attitude and merchandise to Vijay Deverakondas fans across the country. The opposition is looking to corner the BJP government in the state assembly during the budget session that would commence with governor Anandiben Patels address on Thursday. Governor Anandiben Patel will address the joint sitting of two houses of state legislature in the Vidhan Sabha Hall at 11 am though the opposition would look to disrupt the address by raising key issues concerning the people. There is no dearth of issues. The police have perpetrated atrocities against those protesting against the CAA and NRC including women and many protesters are still in jail. The farmers are not getting remunerative price for their produce and there is no check on rising prices and corruption while the youths are not getting jobs, said Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary. Opposition leaders also said they would corner the government by flagging issues like crime against women, farmer issues, rising prices and unemployment. They would also pitch for a debate on police atrocities against those protesting against CAA and NRC in different districts. Speaker Hriday Narayan Dikshit, who convened an all-party meeting to seek cooperation of leaders of all the major political parties, said all the leaders have assured him of helping smooth conduct of business of the house. Leaders of all the major political parties or their representatives turned up at the all-party meeting. All of them have assured their cooperation in conducting the business of the house in an orderly manner. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath also requested all the leaders for their cooperation and said his government was ready to reply all questions and debate all the issues, said Dikshit. The opposition, however, doesnt appear in a mood to relent. We will assemble before the statue of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh to highlight the issues concerning the common man and reach the assembly thereafter, said Chaudhary. BSP legislature party leader Lalji Verma said about 40 deaths have allegedly taken place in different districts due to police excesses on CAA/NRC protestors. The state government has failed to clear the dues of cane growers and farmers are facing problems in procurement of paddy. We have lot many issues that include crime against women, said Verma. Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhna Mishra Mona also said her party would raise all the issues including the law and order situation that has been in focus. The police are targeting the CAA and NRC protesters. We will raise issues concerning farmers and rising unemployment etc, said Mishra. Government wants constructive budget session. We will be happy if the opposition also takes a constructive view. We will like the opposition to debate the issues on the floor of the house, said UP government spokesman and minister Sidharth Nath Singh. After the governors address and getting a vote of thanks passed on the governors address the state government proposes to present annual budget for 2020-2021 on February 18, 2020. The state government will table reports of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and proposes to carry out legislative business. The ordinances promulgated after the last session of the state legislature will also be tabled on floor of house during the session. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON JERUSALEM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- C2A Security , a global leader in automotive cybersecurity, announced today the addition of Prof. Alan Taub, a world renowned veteran of the automotive industry, to its advisory board. Prof. Alan Taub, former GM VP R&D joins C2A Security Prof. Taub served as General Motors Vice President for Global Research & Development. He led advanced technical activity, seven science laboratories around the world, and seven global science offices. In his capacity as VP, Prof. Taub undertook the challenge of facing threats of cyber-attacks on GM's vehicles, a threat that proved to be imminent in the 2009 attack on GM's Chevy Impala. This attack granted hackers control over the car's onboard computer, letting them control some of the vehicle's key functions. Prior to his 11-year tenure in GM's R&D division, Taub spent 15 years working in R&D at General Electric, where he registered 26 patents, and 8 years at Ford Motor Company where he worked on safety systems development. "The automotive industry became aware of its vulnerability to cyber-attacks about a dozen years ago when university researchers demonstrated wireless penetration of key vehicle systems. I was at GM at that time and we immediately established a cybersecurity initiative, where key expertise was clearly needed from outside the traditional supply base to address this challenge. That is when I first met Michael Dick, who was then supporting our efforts, and later founded C2A Security. I found that C2A is developing a leading-edge suite of tools that the OEM's and Tier 1's can tailor to their particular systems. It is personally rewarding to be working with C2A to solve this key industry problem," said Prof. Taub. Michael Dick, C2A's CEO said, "In choosing to join C2A's advisory board, Prof. Taub, with his extensive experience and proven track record in two of the world's leading automotive manufacturers, is making a significant vote of confidence in the ability of C2A to successfully tackle the current and future cybersecurity challenges of the automotive industry. Taub's firsthand knowledge of OEM's requirements towards cybersecurity threats will allow C2A to bolster its aptitude and posture in the automotive cybersecurity industry." Taub, currently a faculty member of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan, serves as technical advisor for the strategic venture capital fund Auto Tech Ventures, and is also on the Innovation Advisory Board for Samsung Electronics. ABOUT C2A SECURITY C2A Security was founded in 2016 by Michael Dick, who previously co-founded NDS. C2A provides the automotive industry with end-to-end in-vehicle cyber security protection. Combining multi-disciplinary world-renowned leaders from the automotive, embedded security, and academic domains, C2A has created an innovative solution for in-vehicle cybersecurity, providing car manufacturers with comprehensive, yet practical, vehicle cybersecurity solutions. Contact information: [email protected] SOURCE c2a-sec Ltd. Related Links https://www.c2a-sec.com/ Donald Trump feels vindicated because he was acquitted by the Senate after his impeachment by the House of Representatives. Does Trump know that both Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, the other two presidents who were impeached, were also acquitted? President Richard Nixon resigned before the impeachment process was completed. It seems as though U.S. senators do not like to put presidents out in the cold from the White House. But Trump will go down in history books, along with only two others, as having been impeached. Clinton apologized to the nation after his impeachment. Trump doesnt think he did anything wrong. Im sure he has been made aware that Ukrainian soldiers died defending their country from a Russian invasion, while he held up money for weapons which had been granted to Ukraine by Congress. But, Trump doesnt care. Perhaps he wants the Russians to win. Anyone who gets in Trumps way gets blasted verbally. If the has the authority to do so, he fires them. If not, he just calls them nasty names on Twitter. Perhaps the Republican Senate majority that acquitted Trump thinks he will change for the better after the impeachment process. Thats not likely. And, hes unlikely to take steps to keep the Russians from meddling in the 2020 election, since that meddling would presumably aid his re-election bid. If we want change, we need to vote Republican senators out as soon as their terms are at stake, and vote out Trump out if he is the Republican nominee this year. Evelyn Ginter, Woodbury GOP still has no health care answer President Donald Trump, our liar-in-chief, is at it again, so the presidential election must be near. Beside taking credit for things he had little to do with, Trump is back to bashing Obamacare. Its been about seven years since most Affordable Care Act provisions went into effect, and, from the first day, the law has been trashed by Republicans, most of whom who voted against it. GOP leaders, now including Trump, have been saying since 2013 that they have a better plan. Well, they havent been able to pass one, even when they held the presidency and majorities in both houses of Congress. Trump recently has been talking again about how bad the ACA is, and now he says has a new plan that is going to be fantastic for everyone. Wheres that plan? Oh, wait, there it is, right next to Mexicos payment for the United States to build the border wall! Also, remember that tremendous GOP federal income tax cut approved under Trump, the one that conveniently expires over the next few years for individual taxpayers but was made permanent continues on for big business? Meanwhile, the Republicans budget deficit reduction plan is the same as their as their health care plan: non-existent. Tim Krajewski, Williamstown Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. IVORYTON Plays for and about women, written by women and starring women, will be celebrated at the Ivoryton Playhouse at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 22. For the fourth year, the Women Playwrights Initiative will serve as an incubator to foster new works that view women in a quartet of unique situations, ones that will engender laughter and tears, and stimulate conversations and networking possibilities. From 170 submitted works, four will be highlighted. The four playwrights hail from the state of Washington, California, Indiana and Maryland. Each will receive the Ellie Award and a $500 stipend. Ivoryton Playhouse will serve as a safe and encouraging environment for the playwright, director and actors to generate ideas and develop this festival of new possibilities. (Natural News) In recent days, the very same Left-wing establishment media beholden to the deep state and for years reported the Trump-Russia collusion hoax even in the face of conflicting evidence were triggered by suggestions that the coronavirus could be part of a Chinese biological weapon that simply got away from the Peoples Liberation Army. But this week the questions over whether the virus is linked to a dangerous weapons program belonging to Beijing are getting a second look, and from none other than a Republican senator not noted for crazy conspiracies or hyperbole. As Zero Hedge reports, Sen. Tom Cotton, a former U.S. Army infantry officer with two combat tours and a law degree from Harvard, raised the issue anew as China continues to try to contain the spread of the virus, which has now reached the United States. Indeed, adding further credence to the theory, a pair of mainstream financial publications have also raised the question, the news site noted: Is coronavirus a Chinese bioweapon? Zero Hedge noted: Is it merely a coincidence that the Canadian scientist at the center of a bio-espionage probe was recently found dead in Africa, as we reported last week? Or that a doctor who helped draft a critical international bioweapons convention has said that the virus might be tied to biological warfare? Or an Israeli bioweapons expert? Cotton believes that Chinese leaders must step up and answer these and other questions, especially after he was accused of engaging in xenophobia against Chinese people a ridiculous assertion and one meant only to deflect by Chinas Ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai. In fact, as The National Sentinel reported this week, Cui was asked about Cottons concerns regarding a potential bioweapon on a Sunday network news magazine and pointedly did not directly deny it. Outbreak of virus occurred near location of a super lab CBS News Margaret Brennan said to the ambassador, Thats an extraordinary charge. How do you respond to that? I think its true that a lot is still unknown and our scientists, Chinese scientists, American scientists, scientists of other countries are doing their best to learn more about the virus, but its very harmful, Cui said. Its very dangerous to stir up suspicion, rumors and spread them among the people. For one thing, this will create panic. Another thing that it will fend up racial discrimination, xenophobia, all these things, that will really harm our joint efforts to combat the virus, he continued. Of course, there are all kinds of speculation and rumors, Cui said. There are people who are saying that these virus are coming from some- some military lab, not of China, maybe in the United States. How how can we believe all these crazy things? When pressed by Brennan as to where the virus did come form, Cui answered, We still dont know yet. So not a real denial. China's ambassador to the United States just went on CBS' "Face the Nation" and DID NOT deny that coronavirus stemmed from the Chinese military's biological warfare program. Amb. Cui Tiankai then suggested that the virus could come from a US military lab. pic.twitter.com/z2g254iccz Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 9, 2020 On a separate-but-related subject, Cui was also asked by Brennan about what happened to Chen Qiushi, a citizen journalist who disappeared after he began covering the outbreak of the virus at ground zero in Wuhan City. His response: I have never heard of this guy, so I dont have any information to share with you. But a U.S. journalist knew about this guy. As for Cotton, he took to Twitter to make some statements of his own. For instance, he pointed out the fact the Chinese government lied about the coronavirus starting in a Wuhan food market. [email protected], heres whats not a conspiracy, not a theory: Fact: China lied about virus starting in Wuhan food market https://t.co/Jgpy1Oh75Y Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) February 9, 2020 He also noted another fact that a super-lab just happens to be located a few miles from the market. Where did it start? We dont know. But the burden of proof is on you & fellow communists, he wrote. Fact: super-lab is just a few miles from that market Where did it start? We dont know. But burden of proof is on you & fellow communists. Open up now to competent international scientists. Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) February 9, 2020 Sources include: ZeroHedge.com TheNationalSentinel.com Most new parents are desperate to avoid getting into bad habits, but sometimes they can't help but creep in without you noticing. Whether it's pushing your baby to stick to a strict routine or arguing with your partner over who's getting the most sleep, looking after a little one can certainly prove testing. To help you identify how you could make life easier for yourself, leading experts at The Baby Show, held in London at the end of this month, have shared their advice on the best ways to change course with FEMAIL. Parenting expert Rachel Fitz-Desorgher, certified sleep consultant Lucy Shrimpton, also known as The Sleep Nanny, and nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed, who specialises in baby and child and is working with Joe Wicks on his next book Wean in 15, reveal the common mistakes new parents are making. But don't panic - it's important to remember that any bad habits you find yourself in during those early weeks can be easily reversed, provided they're identified and changed. Most new parents are desperate to avoid getting into bad habits, but sometimes they can't help but creep in without you noticing. Pictured: stock image Trying to get into a rigid routine Parenting is hard enough as it is without the added pressure of having to be consistent. In an effort to get themselves and their babies into good habits, many parents exhaust themselves trying to get into a rigid routine - and it's probably a wasted effort. Rachel Fitz-Desorgher says: 'Babies are actually developmentally unable to learn a routine in the first few months; and, even when they are old enough to start to settle into some sort of pattern, they are more than able to deal with flexibility they are human after all! 'Give yourselves a break and allow a little bit of human muddle back into your lives now and again. 'It won't make you a bad parent and it may just make you a more relaxed one.' Feeding your baby to sleep When it comes to sleep and new babies, parents will do what they have to do to survive. It can be a tough time of sleep deprivation, and a new baby is bound to fall asleep while feeding at some point. Lucy Shrimpton, aka the Sleep Nanny, recommends trying to get out of the habit of letting your child go to sleep immediately after a feed. Pictured: stock image While you won't be able to avoid this completely, Lucy Shrimpton recommends practicing rousing your baby slightly after a feed. 'This will allow them to feel the sensation of falling asleep,' she explains. Arguing over who has the most (or least) sleep One of the most common battlegrounds for new parents is over who has the most - or least - sleep! 'It becomes a daily contest filled with resentment, with each parent looking at the clock in the morning and adding up the number of times they've been woken and calculating how few minutes of sleep they've had,' Rachel explains. 'In truth, we're extremely well adapted to coping with the different sleep patterns which parenthood brings - and, fascinatingly, breastfeeding mums are actually evolved to get into deep sleep much more quickly than before so that, even though their sleep is more broken, it is of a much better quality.' She recommends stopping arguing about who is having the worst time at night and accept that this is a stage which will pass and that you are evolved to cope with it. 'No matter how early it is or how tired you are, try to start each day with a kind word and a cup of tea in bed,' she advises. Rocking your baby to sleep Rocking your little one to sleep is a very natural and instinctive habit because it soothes babies and lulls them to sleep. Rocking your little one to sleep is a very natural and instinctive habit because it soothes babies and lulls them to sleep. Pictured: stock image You'll probably use this technique in the early weeks, but as baby grows, Lucy recommends phasing it out. 'Try less rocking and more soothing once they're laying down in their sleep space,' she says. 'You're still there giving comfort but they're also getting more practice at settling.' Bringing them into your bed Co-sleeping can be dangerous so many experts advise against it for safety reasons. 'Many parents find themselves doing this as a last resort when they are groggy and exhausted in the small hours,' Lucy explains. 'If your baby needs your reassurance and comfort, find a safe way to give that to your baby rather than bringing your little one in with you. 'Side-sleeper cribs are great for this with young babies.' Co-sleeping can be dangerous so many experts advise against it for safety reasons. Pictured: stock image Not eating with your baby So often mum or dad is sitting and feeding baby rather than feeding themselves. But babies and young children learn a lot about eating from watching others around them. 'They learn how to bite, chew and swallow food from observing your eating technique,' Charlotte points out. 'They learn portion sizes and what foods to choose from seeing your own habits, and they often use role models such as friends and family to copy positive eating behaviours and habits.' Babies and young children learn a lot about eating from watching others around them. Pictured: stock image If you're struggling to get your little one to eat, Charlotte suggests sitting beside them and eating similar foods to them at mealtimes. 'This takes the pressure off mealtimes and allows you to focus your attention on the action of eating and enjoying foods, which can have a knock-on effect to how much your little one wants to eat,' she adds. Labelling your baby as a 'fussy eater' too soon Many babies go through phases where they go off certain foods, or even food all together. 'This is actually pretty normal!' Charlotte reassures. 'Appetite in children is always up and down as it's affected by so many things, including illness, teething, sleep, growth spurts, changes in routine you name it. 'Instead of giving up and labelling your little one as a fussy eater, try to listen to their internal appetite cues and understand that it's not going to be the same every day or even every meal. 'Remember to stay calm and consistent with the kinds of foods you offer to your baby.' Many babies go through phases where they go off certain foods, or even food all together, so don't label them a 'fussy eater' too soon. Pictured: stock image Trying to teach your baby the difference between night and day 'As new parents we all buy into the notion that we have to teach our baby the difference between day and night from the beginning to get them into good habits,' Rachel says. 'Don't let this be a miserable waste of time! In their first few months, babies are highly evolved to sleep more in the morning than at night, to cry if they are out of arm for more than a few minutes, and are unable to even begin learning the difference between night and day! 'Instead, adapt to your baby until they're old enough to learn how to adapt a little more themselves. 'You might find you can relax and actually start enjoying your little bundle!' Rachel Fitz-Desorgher (left) is a parenting expert; nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed (centre) specialises in baby and child; Lucy Shrimpton (right) is a certified sleep consultant also known as The Sleep Nanny Rachel, Lucy and Charlotte are all speaking at The Baby Show at ExCeL, London, from February 28 until March 2. For more information, visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk. There was an acceptance among those I spoke with yesterday that prices for both bullocks and heifers remain "well stuck in gear". A reasonable explanation would be that with weekly kills continuing to float around the 36,500 mark, supplies are plentiful enough. The general run of quotes for bullocks remains 3.60-3.65/kg, with a bit of 3.70/kg floating around the edges, while heifers are on 3.65-3.70/kg. That 3.70/kg for bullocks seems to apply more as a flat price where numbers of "better, well-finished" Friesians are involved. Once again it's a case of factories attempting to buy meat, as opposed to conformation, as cheaply as possible because once the price is flat there's no additional quality payment, 20c/kg under 30 months and no bonus if your animal grades above R=. Equally, you don't suffer a penalty if you fall below the grid base. Numbers in certain areas appear to be tightening, although the trend is not widespread. Reports over the weekend indicate that some agents in the midlands were quoting as high as 3.70-3.75/kg for U- and R-grade under-24-month bulls. Does this mean bullocks and heifers are becoming scarce or is it a case that factories are now just keener on bulls? Figures from the Department of Agriculture show that for the last week of January the steer kill was up 41 on the same week in 2019 at 11,259, while the heifer kill was back 106 at 11,568. Not much change there. However, the young bull kill at 5,066 is significantly reduced from 2019's 6,427. As with those Friesians I mentioned above, it's all about getting more meat cheaply with those under-24-month bulls unlike their under-16-month counterparts not qualifying for any grid quality bonuses. Prices for under-24-month bulls in general, however, continue to see Us in the 3.60-3.65/kg range, with Rs around 3.50-3.55/kg and good O-grades on 3.40-3.45/kg. Cow prices remain steady, with R-grades operating from 3.10-3.20/kg, Os at 3/kg or a shake more depending on finish and numbers, with your better P+ on 2.90/kg. Turning to official factory prices for R3 steers as reported to the Department for the week ending February 2, Foyle meats in Donegal remain top of the table at 399.35c/kg, up only slightly on two weeks ago. ABP Bandon continues second at 397.26c/kg up 1.64c/kg, while Jennings in Ballinrobe jumps 3.25c/kg in third to 393.22c/kg. On the heifer side, those same Department figures also show Foyle continuing in top spot at 404.04c/kg for your R3 heifer, having added just a fifth of a cent to their overall price from the previous week. ABP Bandon is new into the top three for heifers with their figures showing an average price of 395.92c/kg, while Kepak Clonee climb from fourth to third on 395.76c/kg. It has been three months since Queen Elizabeth II's son Prince Andrew decided to step back from his role as a senior member of the royal family. It is after the Duke of York received a massive backlash due to his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In his official statement, the 59-year-old Prince said that he asked the Queen's permission to "step back from public duties for the foreseeable future." He added that his connection with the infamous sexual offender became a "major disruption" to both the royal family and the charity and organization he supports. Since then, the father-of-two has kept a low profile and has been rarely seen in public, except during Sunday service with his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. However, Prince Andrew appears to have resumed his royal duties last week and had a meeting with China's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Liu Xiaoming. The somehow private royal meeting took place during the Chinese New Year at Liu's residence. Aside from Prince Andrew, other members of his family -- including his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, daughters, and future son-in-law Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi -- were also in the said unofficial royal meeting. What seems to be an innocent meeting between representatives from two different countries caused stir after the ambassador posted a message on Twitter that was supposed to be Queen Elizabeth's message to the Chinese people. According to Liu, the Duke of York delivered the message from Her Majesty, expressing sympathy to the Chinese community who are now in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak crisis. "Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi and Chinese people," Liu said in a Twitter post alongside a photo of himself beside Prince Andrew. "' At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. It was conveyed by Duke of York," he added. My wife and I invited Duke of York and his family to our residence and celebrated Chinese New Year. Their enthusiasm for China and contribution to China-UK relation is highly appreciated. pic.twitter.com/RXw6Zumsnp Liu Xiaoming (@AmbLiuXiaoMing) February 8, 2020 In a separate Twitter post, the Chinese ambassador confirmed that he invited Prince Andrew and his family to celebrate Chinese New Year in his humble abode. "My wife and I invited Duke of York and his family to our residence and celebrated Chinese New Year," Liu wrote alongside a group photo of the said crew. "Their enthusiasm for China and contribution to China-UK relation is highly appreciated," he added. As of writing, the Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm or deny if the statement relayed by Prince Andrew indeed came from the 93-year-old monarch. In a Twitter post, ITV's reporter Chris Ship said that the Palace declined to comment on the alleged message of the Queen to the Chinese people, tjough they confirmed that the meeting between Prince Andrew and ambassador Liu Xiaoming is a "private meeting." My question to Buckingham Palace: Did the Queen convey these words about #coronaviruschina to President Xi or not? Answer: it was a private meeting, we wont comment on what was, or was not conveyed. https://t.co/u5v98gFaaO Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) February 8, 2020 "My question to Buckingham Palace: "Did the Queen convey these words about #coronaviruschina to President Xi or not?" Ship wrote on Twitter. "Answer: it was a private meeting, we won't comment on what was, or was not conveyed." Prince Andrew faced a massive scandal three months ago due to his connection with Epstein. He also allegedly lept with one of Epstein's alleged sex slave, then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, but has strongly denied the allegations. With the recent unofficial "royal engagement," The Firm is expected to receive heavy criticisms. After all, it looks like Prince Andrew is not repentant with his actions and insincere with his previous statements. It is also worth noting that the Duke of York failed to cooperate with the FBI in their investigation of Epstein, but he had the time to make a royal visit -- even if he has stepped down from royal life. READ MORE: Royal Makeover: Prince Harry's Baldness Worsening, Now Seeking Treatment For Hair Loss! Four Australians are among 40 new coronavirus cases confirmed on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The total number of passengers who have fallen ill with the deadly virus now officially dubbed COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation is now 175, Japans health ministry says. There are 15 infected Australians onboard. Kyodo news agency, citing the health ministry, said that of the 39 cases, 10 were crew and 29 were passengers. Passengers of the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship under quarantine, are seen on the deck in Yokohama on Wednesday. Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images A quarantine officer, who was collecting processing questionnaires from passengers on board, was one of the staff members diagnosed, according to the ABC. Ten of the newly infected were Japanese nationals and the others were from 11 countries, including the United States and China. Four were in serious condition. The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on February 3 after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. The epidemic originated in mainland China, where more than 1100 people have now died from the virus. About 3700 people are aboard the ship, which usually has a crew of 1100 and a passenger capacity of 2670. The ministry said tests were being conducted for others who were deemed to need them and it would announce the results later. Another 40 people including a quarantine officer on the ship have tested positive, the Japanese health ministry said the same day. Source: Kyodo via AP Images The UK-flagged Diamond Princess is managed by Princess Cruise Lines, one of the world's largest cruise lines and a unit of Carnival Corp. The government was considering allowing elderly and those with chronic illnesses to disembark before the February 19 target date for ending the quarantine, some media reported, but added it would take time to figure out where they could be sent. As of last week, about 80 per cent of the passengers were aged 60 or over, with 215 in their 80s and 11 in the 90s, the English-language Japan Times newspaper reported. Story continues Australians on Christmas island will head home The first Australians quarantined on Christmas Island are on course to leave the former detention centre next week with three suspected cases testing negative for the coronavirus. So far, 540 Australians have been airlifted from the Chinese province of Hubei the epicentre of the virus and quarantined on Christmas Island and a worker camp near Darwin. Pending final tests, the first evacuees on Christmas Island will return home on Monday with a second group leaving on Wednesday. "We have in place a system in Australia which, at this point, I stress at this point, is containing the spread," Health Minister Greg Hunt told parliament. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said a further flight out of China was not being considered, particularly as Qantas had now ceased flights to and from the country. Medical workers in protective suits walk on the Diamond Princess anchored off Yokohama, south of Tokyo. The travel ban on overseas Chinese students and tourists coming into Australia is having an enormous impact on the Australian economy, but Mr Hunt says people's health comes first. "We are very aware, like, deeply aware, of the economic consequences," he said. "But the consequences of contagion within Australia at an economic, let alone more significantly a human level, would be extraordinary." Of the 15 cases reported within Australia, five have recovered and the remaining 10 are all stable. Earlier Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said authorities are prepared for all eventualities. He said the worst-case scenario would be if the virus was very severe and there was a significant pandemic in Australia. "That would obviously be a very significant strain on our health system and on our economy," he said. "We are not anticipating that at the moment but we are certainly prepared for all eventualities." An aerial photo shows passengers strolling on the deck of the cruise ship docked at the port of Yokohama. Source: AP Incubation period still unknown Prof Murphy's deputy Paul Kelly told reporters there had been debate over the length of the 14-day quarantine period. "There are still many things we don't know about this virus, one of those is that incubation period," he said. "We are using 14 days as a precautionary approach, it's most likely less than that." The head of World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday said the virus possessed "a very grave threat for the rest of the world". Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone said the message was timely. Dr Bartone said while Australia had been "very robustly" at the forefront of efforts, not everyone was doing their utmost to ensure "what is currently a very serious situation does not become a major calamitous outbreak". A photo shows the Princess Diamond in the Yokohama port. Source: AAP He declined to point the finger at any particular country. However, Prof Murphy said he felt it was "very surprising" that no cases had been reported in neighbouring and highly populated Indonesia. "There should be a cause for some concern. There may be undetected cases," he said. Senator Payne said Australian authorities were working with their Indonesian counterparts and would provide support if required. Chinese authorities believe the spread of the virus has peaked and it will be over by April. But Prof Murphy said it was too early to make such predictions as to whether the Chinese were getting on top of this at the moment. Mr Hunt said there were 44,754 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide and 1112 deaths. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 10:44:21|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BERLIN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, head of the German ruling party Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has announced that she will not run for chancellor in the 2021 general election and will step down as the conservative party chair. The surprise announcement of Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is widely seen as German Chancellor Angela Merkel's hand-picked successor, was perceived as a political earthquake and the vacuum left at the top of German political parties could open a new round of power struggle, political analysts say. DUALISM TO MONISM? Kramp-Karrenbauer was elected as chief of the CDU at the national party congress in December 2018 when Merkel signaled her intention to bow out of German politics. Since then, the 57-year-old was constantly called "little Merkel" as many thought she would largely follow Merkel's political path. However, Kramp-Karrenbauer's abillity to lead was questioned, following last week's state premiere election in Germany's eastern state of Thuringia when members of her CDU indirectly collaborated with the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), crossing a political redline. She was also criticized for the CDU's landslide setbacks in state elections in Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia as well as in European parliamentary elections. Analysts close to the party circle said that Kramp-Karrenbauer's prestige in the party has never been overwhelming and her ability was somehow handicapped by potential challengers. "CDU has at least three, maybe even four secret party leaders besides Kramp-Karrenbauer," political analyst Andrea Roemmele told local television ARD. Kramp-Karrenbauer herself claimed that the dualistic power pattern eroded the cohesion of her party. Though appointed as party chief, Kramp-Karrenbauer was never officially recognized by the party as its chancellor candidate in the 2021 elections. In a party press conference on Monday, Kramp-Karrenbauer said splitting the posts of chancellor candidate and CDU leader, a move backed by Merkel, had been a mistake. "The open question of the chancellor candidacy is weakening the CDU at a time when politics in Germany...depends on a strong CDU," Kramp-Karrenbauer said. TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT? A party conference expected at the end of this year will decide who will fill the post left by Kramp-Karrenbauer. German media on Tuesday listed Merkel's potential successors who would probably become the next candidate for chancellor, including pro-business economic liberal Friedrich Merz; Health Minister Jens Spahn; Armin Laschet, premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia; and Markus Soeder, head of CDU's Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU). Gu Xuewu, a professor of political science at the University of Bonn, said competition for the post would also be a contest for different political paths. A focal point was how the CDU's center-left and center-right forces cope with the AfD, said Gu. "The center-left, represented by Laschet, might draw a clear line with AfD while the center-right might possibly tolerate an indirect interaction with AfD," Gu said. Organisers of the World Mobile Congress were holding urgent talks Wednesday over the fate of the world's top mobile fair after a string of industry heavyweights withdrew over coronavirus fears, a source close to the meeting said. "We're leaning towards a cancellation. It should be announced later in the day," the source told AFP. The GSMA, the mobile trade association which organises the annual show, had originally been due to convene a meeting of its members on Friday to discuss whether or not to cancel the event, which this year runs from February 24-27. But the date was brought forward as an increasing number of industry heavyweights pulled out. Just hours before the meeting, the latest big names to drop out were Vodafone, Nokia, Deutsche Telekom, Britain's BT and Rakuten of Japan, following in the footsteps of Intel, Facebook, Cisco and China's Vivo. Organisers refused to comment on the emergency talks, issuing a statement saying the spread of the virus was "a fast-changing situation which GSMA is monitoring closely". "This includes regularly meeting with global and Spanish health experts -- as well as our partners -- to ensure the wellbeing of attendees," it said. "We have already implemented additional health measures ahead of MWC 2020 and will continue to seek expert medical advice on a frequent basis." The annual Barcelona-based congress normally draws more than 100,000 people, but this year, participation has been hit by the outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus. So far, the COVID-19 virus has claimed more than 1,100 lives with another 44,600 infected, the vast majority in China, with the World Health Organisation warning it poses a "very grave threat". The GSMA's board includes representatives of some 25 operators in the mobile industry, among them companies like Orange, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Verizon and NTT Docomo. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) on Wednesday overruled a complaint filed by the chairs of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies over a legal conflict between the government and Parliament on the passage of the national budgets, according to officials with CCR. CCR discussed on Wednesday the complaints regarding a legal conflict between the Government and Parliament on the Law on the national budget for 2020 and the Law on the state social security budget for 2020, both of which passed by the Government assuming responsibility before Parliament.The Constitutional Court announced on December 23, 2019 that it had been notified with the requests for the resolution of a legal conflict of constitutional nature between the government and Parliament regarding the laws of the national budget and the state social security budget for 2020 filed by the Senate chair and the Chamber of Deputies' speaker. AGERPRES Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) A Taiwanese woman rescued from illegal offshore gaming operations revealed abuses in the industry, adding that these companies evade arrest due to a "very powerful" backer in government. Lai Yu-Cian or "Ivy", 23, shared her tell-all tale about working for a Chinese-owned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) company which was engaged in illegal activity. The Taiwanese national shared her story in tears, accompanied by Senator Risa Hontiveros before Senate reporters on Wednesday. Lai said she went through abuse from her Chinese employer when she learned that she would not be doing the original work promised to her. She feared for her life and that of her family back home, adding that she was "treated like a slave" at work. "There is a very powerful government [person] called Michael Yang. I heard that once or twice from my boss, saying they have a government person supporting their business," Lai said. Hontiveros said her office has not yet verified the identity of the supposed protector of illegal POGO firms. READ: Makati City indefinitely halts issuing business licenses and permits to POGO service providers A man named Michael Yang once served as President Rodrigo Duterte's economic adviser until the end of 2018. That Yang, who owns the Davao City Los Amigos or DCLA shopping center, was tagged in the illegal drug trade by a former anti-narcotics cop. His name has been cleared by former Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde in March 2019. Lai said she was freed through a rescue operation done by the National Bureau of Investigation, but could not head home to Taiwan as her employer kept her passport. Teresita Ang See, head of Citizens' Action Against Crime, said a 24-year-old Chinese woman also came forward with her own story as a trafficked worker. She said the foreign national was promised work in the POGO industry but ended up engaging in cyber fraud, where she was instructed to read a script to entice customers even Filipinos to invest their money in an illegal scheme. When the Chinese woman filed charges, See said someone came with a bag full of cash to make her drop the case, or else she and her family will be killed. "The policemen are in their pockets, the fiscals are in their pockets," See said. "I reiterate the call to crackdown on illegal POGO businesses," Hontiveros added, saying that these whistleblower accounts will be factored in her committee's recommendations for the industry. Calls to suspend POGO operations in the country have been mounting amid reports of tax evasion, worker abuse, and increased prostitution to cater to industry employees, most of them Chinese nationals. READ: Makati City indefinitely halts issuing business licenses and permits to POGO service providers Sen. Joel Villanueva also suggested to stop POGO operations amid money laundering and other criminal activities. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation said there are over 118,000 POGO workers in the country, while data from the Department of Labor and Employment show there are 156,000 of them here. Authorities are also left chasing over 27 billion worth of tax liabilities uncollected from the sector. For his part, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that POGO workers in the country should adhere to the Philippine laws. "What we do is before we issue an alien employment permit to these POGO workers, we should make sure that they are paying taxes," he told CNN Philippines' Newsroom. He added, "We see to it that the work they will do here in the Philippines is something that cannot be done by Filipinos, " Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is lashing out at the Government over what he calls a weak response rise of gang related violence. Todds comments come after two shootings, a suspected arson and a double homicide in the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty regions in recent weeks. Police are investigating the death of two men who were killed in a shooting incident in Omanawa on Tuesday night. Police were called to an Ormsby Lane address about 7.40pm following a report of shots having been fired. Two men were found dead upon arrival, says district manager criminal investigations Mark Loper. Police are working to understand the full circumstances of what has occurred. A homicide inquiry has been launched. Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the area around the time of the incident, or anyone with knowledge of those involved, to get in touch. People can call Bay of Plenty Police on 105, or give information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Meanwhile, the National Party says more needs to be done to stop the appalling rise of gang related violence and murder in our city. Police Minister Stuart Nash is quoted as saying the public can have complete confidence that the police have got their backs, says Todd. We know our local police are superb, but who has their backs. They cant give voice to what they really want to say, which is give us the tools, more resources and the backing to go hard after them. The Government mocked our proposal for NSW type capacity to target the gangs hard, and have opposed our legislation to strengthen police powers to search and take weapons off gangs. This Government is weak on crime and our community has had enough. I am pleased to see our police are armed. Its a necessary short term response and needs to stay that way until the gang issue is under control. This is a massive issue in our community. I was doorknocking last week in Papamoa and it was by far the stand out issue. Todd has called a public meeting on March 25 to discuss Papamoa crime and policing for at Golden Sands School. He says local police will be in attendance. The discovery of two dead dolphins with grisly gunshot or stab wounds in Florida in recent weeks has prompted a plea for help by the federal authorities, who have offered a reward for information about whoever killed the animals. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found one male dolphin off Naples on Jan. 30, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said on Wednesday. The dolphin died from what appeared to be a bullet or a sharp object, the agency said. A photo of the animal showed a large, deep gash in its snout. That same week, workers for the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge near Pensacola found another male dolphin with a bullet wound on its left side lying on the beach. The deaths were some of the worst cases we have seen, Tracy Dunn, who oversees law enforcement for the southeast division of NOAA, said on Wednesday. Its very difficult to solve without the community coming forward. OPEC slashed on Wednesday its global oil demand growth forecast for 2020, expecting the coronavirus outbreak to weigh heavily on fuel demand in the worlds oil demand growth driver, China. In its closely watched Monthly Oil Market Report published on Wednesday, OPEC slashed its oil demand growth estimate by 230,000 bpd from last months assessment and now sees global oil demand growth at just below 1 million bpd this yearat 990,000 bpd. The coronavirus outbreak which is crippling oil demand amid travel restrictions and industrial activity slowdown is the major factor behind the slashed demand growth forecast, OPEC said. The recent outbreak of the coronavirus in China necessitated a further downward revision to the countrys oil demand growth forecast compared to last month, as transportation fuels, notably aviation fuels, are expected to be impacted in 1H20, the report reads. OPEC revised down its oil demand estimate for China by 400,000 bpd for H1 and by 200,000 bpd for the full year 2020. The impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on Chinas economy has added to the uncertainties surrounding global economic growth in 2020, and by extension global oil demand growth in 2020, OPEC said. The cartel also revised down its estimate of demand for OPEC crude by 200,000 bpd to 29.3 million bpd, or about 1.3 million bpd lower than the 2019 level, also due to the coronavirus outbreak and its expected impact on Chinas oil demand and, by extension, global oil demand. Related: Oil Traders Could Lose Big On Coronavirus Panic OPECs production, including Ecuador, plunged by 509,000 bpd compared to December, to 28.859 million bpd in January, the first month in which the deeper cuts are in force, according to OPECs secondary sources. Yet, the current deeper cuts are unlikely to be enough to prevent another glut from building as the depressed oil demand in China is inflicting the worst shock to oil demand in over a decade. The technical panel of the OPEC+ coalition is recommending extending the current cuts through the end of 2020 and an additional cut until the end of the second quarter, due to the coronavirus outbreak. OPECs key ally in the deal, Russia, however, has taken time to assess the recommendation and has yet to convey its position on even deeper cuts in Q2. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Aaron S.J. Zelinsky Special assistant U.S. attorney Mr. Zelinsky, 36, was the first of the four prosecutors to file a withdrawal notice in federal court, which said that he had resigned effective immediately from his role as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. He will remain an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, said Marcia Murphy, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorneys office in Maryland, where Mr. Zelinsky worked under Rod J. Rosenstein when Mr. Rosenstein was the top federal prosecutor in the state. Mr. Rosenstein went on to become the deputy attorney general. Mr. Zelinsky played a central role in the prosecution of George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about his contacts with Russian intermediaries during the 2016 presidential election. Mr. Papadopoulos served 14 days in jail. Mr. Zelinsky clerked for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy before his retirement from the Supreme Court and for Justice John Paul Stevens after his retirement. He worked for the State Department during the Obama administration and received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale. Adam C. Jed Special assistant U.S. attorney Mr. Jed, 38, was part of the cadre of lawyers who worked for Mr. Mueller on the 22-month Russia investigation. He entered the spotlight when he argued in pretrial litigation that certain records should be sealed from the public in order to protect the open investigation. Mr. Jed had previously worked as an appellate lawyer for the Justice Departments civil division, where he gained recognition in 2013 for arguing that a ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. He also clerked for Justice Stevens, according to Harvard Law Today, an alumni publication of the university where Mr. Jed got his law degree in 2008. The three main political parties in Delhi fielded between eight and 12 candidates each from the Purvanchali community a sign of a demographic shift in the Capital towards people from eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar that also played a part in picking Bhojpuri film and music icon Manoj Tiwari as its state unit chief. While it was the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which took the lead by fielding 10 and 12 candidates in the last two assembly polls in 2013 and 2015, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress decided to field 11 and eight candidates respectively from the Purvanchali community in the 2020 elections as they attempted to make a dent in what has emerged as one of the AAPs key support bases. The BJP also tied-up with regional parties from Bihar Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the Congress with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). But the strategy did not pay dividends, as just one Purvanchal candidate from the BJP won in these elections party vice-president Abhay Verma from Laxmi Nagar. Verma, who unsuccessfully contested in the 2013 assembly elections, defeated Aam Aadmi Partys MLA Nitin Tyagi by just 880 votes. Apart from the four seats where its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) fielded candidates, the Congress fielded Purvanchali faces in the four remaining seats Rithala, Dwarka, Sangam Vihar and Karawal Nagar. All eight candidates lost their deposits. The ruling AAP fielded 12 candidates from the community, of which the partys Karawal Nagar candidate, Durgesh Pathak, was the only one who lost the election by a margin of 8,223 votes. Pathak, a first-timer, was defeated by veteran BJP leader Mohan Singh Bisht, who has represented the constituency four times. Political analysts say that Tuesdays result has proved that is development and not regionalism on which the Purvanchali community now votes. The BJPs development plank to give ownership rights to residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies in Delhi where a lot of Purvanchalis live also did not appear to work as people voted for bread-and-butter issues. Senior BJP leaders admitted that subsidy in electricity and water, and free bus rides for women, were the main factors for the AAPs sweep in these areas for the second consecutive time. Biswajit Mohanty, an associate professor at Delhi Universitys Deshabndhu College, said that the 2020 Delhi assembly election is a classic case of rejecting the politics of identity. The Purvanchalis in Delhi, who are majorly comprised of domestic workers or unskilled labours, were benefited by the AAPs policies in sectors including education or health sectors or initiatives such as free bus ride for women. They received monetary benefits from all these policies and initiatives. Also, there was a division among the middle class within the Purvanchalis who had earlier voted for the BJP. Thats why the AAP could get in so much support in Purvanchali dominated areas, he said. While Bihar CM Nitish Kumars JD(U) and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswans LJP contested on three seats Burari, Sangam Vihar and Seemapuri JD(U) contested from Burari and Sangam Vihar while LJP contested from Seemapuri Lalu Prasads RJD contested from Burari, Kirari, Palam and Uttam Nagar. The most interesting contest was Burari, where two Bihar heavyweights were contesting the same seat. But both the lost to the AAPs Sanjeev Jha, a MLA from the constituency. Jha, also a Purvanchali, polled 138,000 votes (62.8%) while the JD (U)s Shailendra Kumar and RJDs Pramod Tyagi got 51,440 and 2,278 votes and respectively. Neither did BJPs communal intentions nor its caste politics worked. This election was on development and people voted for a government which can deliver on real issues ranging from education, health, transport and pollution. So, the factor of Purvanchali or Pahari, nothing applied to this election. All communities have voted for development and an honest government, said Pankaj Gupta, the AAPs national secretary. The AAPs picks in Seema Puri (Rajendra Pal Gautam) and Sangam Vihar (Dinesh Mohaniya) delivered the most comprehensive victories, with each getting around 65% of the votes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON [The stream has ended.] Charlie Munger, vice chairman at Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett's longtime business partner, addressed Wednesday shareholders of the Los Angeles-based Daily Journal. Munger, who turned 96 last month, also answered questions from Daily Journal shareholders. Investors of all stripes look forward to Munger's annual address at the publisher's headquarters for the investment wisdom he shares. Munger is considered, alongside Buffett, to be one of the best investors and business thinkers in history. Before joining Buffett at Berkshire, Munger's investment partnership had average annual returns of 20% between 1962 and 1975. The S&P 500 averaged an annual return of just 5% in that time. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Bigg Boss is famous for its spawning controversies, Weekend Ka Vaar episodes and hosting fun-filled games. Just like every season, Bigg Boss 13 has been a constant at the top position of the TRP charts, as the contestants have successfully managed to entertain the audience since the shows inception. Be it the fun-filled captaincy tasks or the exciting nomination processes, fans of the much-loved show seemingly enjoy the gossip fodder provided by the contestants of the show. Also read | Bigg Boss 13: Priyanka Chopra's Cousin Believes The Makers Should Be Thankful To Asim Riaz However, Arti Singh's fandom does not restrict only to fans, as celebrities too often voice their opinion in support of Arti Singh. Recently, ex- Bigg Boss contestant Samir Soni slammed Sidharth Shukla and remarked that Arti Singh should win the show, to which television judge, Archana Puran Singh had a shocking comment to pass. Here are the details. Also read | Bigg Boss 13: Dolly Bindra Takes A Dig At Asim, Says He Is Nowhere Near The Race To Win Archana Puran Singh calls Siddharth Shukla a 'jerk' Recently, Soni took to his official Twitter handle to express his love for his sister, Arti Singh. As seen in the picture shared, Samir Soni can be seen embracing Arti Singh, flaunting his smile. With the picture shared, Samir Soni revealed that Bigg Boss house is all about maintaining calm in difficult situations and Sidharth has failed to do so. Adding to the same, he remarked that Sidharth Shukla has no decency and class. Furthermore, Samir added that he is against anyone who demeans and belittle women on the show. Also read | Bigg Boss 13: Sidharth Shuklas Fans Trend #SupremeSid To Laud His Game On The Show While Bigg Boss fans across seemingly agreed to Samir's statement, Bollywood actor and television host, Archana Puran Singh too chimed in the comment section and agreed to Samir's view on Sidharth Shukla. Archana Puran Singh wrote, "Way to go Samir! Totally in tandem with what you say. That Sid is a jerk. It would be shocking (and then not so shocking considering how channels choose their next cash cow) if he wins How he conducts himself is appalling. Can't stand the guy." Take a look: Also read | Bigg Boss 13: Sidharth Shukla Accused Of dominating Other Contestants? (Image: Archana Puran Singh, Samir Soni and Sidharth Shukla Instagram) Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A man suspected of ramming a stolen pickup into an Anchorage police car has been arrested on suspicion of felony assault. Peter Tonga, 25, was arrested shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday, Anchorage police announced. Online court documents do not list his attorney. Police at 6:53 took a call from a woman in northeast Anchorage. She said her pickup had been outside running with the key in it when she heard it being driven off. A dispatcher broadcast a description of the stolen pickup. Eight minutes after the truck owner called, a detective spotted the stolen truck in the parking lot of the Mush Inn motel. The detective pulled into the parking lot and activated overhead emergency lights. Tonga, police said, drove straight into the front of the detectives car and tried to drive off. Other arriving officers blocked him in and he was arrested. The detective struck his head when his car was head, police said. He was evaluated at a hospital and released. Police said they would forward additional charges of vehicle theft, failure to stop and criminal mischief to prosecutors for consideration. A court in Minsk has sentenced two Belarusian men to 7 years at a high-security prison for damaging government property and using incendiary devices. Mikita Yemelyanav and Ivan Komar were found guilty of damaging the Minsk City Court and the Minsk pretrial detention facility as well as producing Molotov cocktails. They had been in jail since October. According to the investigators, Yemelyanav in September threw a light bulb with red paint at the Minsk court, causing $65 in damages. He subsequently pleaded guilty, saying the act was carried out to protest another trial prosecuting a fellow anarchist, Dzmitry Polienko. The following month Yemelyanav threw a fire bomb at the entrance door of a pretrial detention facility that failed to ignite. He succeeded in his second attempt the following week causing $0.7 worth of damages. In court, he said the fire bomb was thrown to protest political prisoners in Belarus. Human rights activist Valyanstin Stefanovich told RFE/RL that Emelyanav voluntarily paid for the damages, a matter the court didnt take into consideration when sentencing him. Komar, who filmed the acts, admitted doing so but pleaded not guilty in causing damage to the government properties. Yemelyanav said his sentencing was politically motivated and that he will appeal the ruling. Based on reporting by RFE/RLs Belarus Service and Current Time By ANI SINDHUPALCHOWK: Over 100 people in Sindhupalchowk district are affected by the flu-like condition which has symptoms similar to coronavirus, local authorities told the Centre. In a letter to the central government on Monday, Jugal Village Council has requested assistance to diagnose the cause of disease. ALSO READ: Fearing he has coronavirus, 50-year-old kills self in Andhra Pradesh "People in Jugal Village Council's Ward no. 3, Gumba have been experiencing symptoms like that of Coronavirus. They are suffering from cough, high fever that is also a symptom of the coronavirus. We hereby request you to send over a team to identify and diagnose it," the letter signed on by Chief Administrative Officer, Lok Bahadur BK and sent to the Ministry of Health and Population states. Coronavirus which first appeared in December in the Wuhan city of China has so far claimed the lives of 1100 people. ALSO READ: WHO warns of 'very grave' global threat over Coronavirus spread On January 19, Nepal became the first South Asian nation to confirm infection from the new strain of coronavirus, named as 'Covid-19' by WHO, which has been declared as a global health emergency with reports of it having spread to over two dozen nations around the globe. The letter mentioned that over 100 people have reported having similar kind of symptoms. "We are sure it is viral which has symptoms similar to Coronavirus, we don't have any resource to confirm it. However, over 100 have reported similar symptoms in a single day on Tuesday," Hom Narayan Shreshta, Chairman of the Jugal village council said. AN IRISH hospital ordered a full review of patient admission protocols in the wake of an incident where a 17 year old female patient was sexually assaulted by an elderly man with mental health problems after he was placed in a ward bed right beside her. Judge Sean O'Donnabhain, who imposed an 18 month suspended prison sentence on Andrew O'Donovan (63) for sexual assault, was scathing of Cork University Hospital (CUH) management and supervision over how the incident could ever have occurred. The teenage victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said she believed she should have been safe in hospital and not in any danger. She has now demanded that the paediatric admission age be raised from 16 to 18 years. CUH confirmed a full review was launched in the wake of the shocking incident two years ago. "Management at Cork University Hospital have noted the comments of Mr Justice Sean O'Donnabhain and wish to advise that following this incident a review of protocols for the admission of patients to hospital wards was undertaken," a spokesperson said. "Factors such as accommodation, staffing and patient safety were examined as part of this review process. The Irish Independent understands that two key elements of the review was the placement of male and female patients in close proximity on specific wards and the handling of patients with a history of mental health problems. It emerged O'Donovan of Butler's Gift, Drimoleague, Cork had been treated for mental health problems for over 35 years. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that he had known schizophrenic tendencies as well as other mental health issues. Both the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Cork GPs have expressed concern over the revelations in the case. Both stressed that it underlined the need for even greater staffing and ward bed resources in acute Irish hospitals. CUH medical staff only became alerted to Mr O'Donovan sexually assaulting the teenage girl when his heart monitor suddenly shown elevated cardiac activity. The 63 year old had been placed in a bed directly beside the 17 year old girl in a four bed ward. Three of the four people on the ward were elderly men. The teenage girl had suffered life-threatening injuries in an accident. At 5am on May 14 2018, she awoke to find O'Donovan at the foot of her bed - and was unable to reach the alarm button overhead when he approached her bed and began to sexually assault her. Judge O'Donnabhain warned it was "a very, very troubling case." "You have to question the management of the ward system at CUH that allowed a young girl to be placed in close proximity to a man who was known to have a history of schizophrenic tendencies and a long psychiatric history," he said. The judge said the hospital management and supervision involved had to be queried - and warned that hospital management needed to "buck up." Judge O'Donnabhain noted the incident was discovered when a nurse went to investigate why a heart monitor, being worn by 'Donovan as he awaited cardiac surgery, suddenly began displaying elevated cardiac activity. The nurse thought O'Donovan might be having a heart attack. When initially confronted about the sexual assault complaint from the teen, O'Donovan claimed he was just attempting to shake hands with the girl to wish her well. Detective Garda Caroline Keogh said the man initially denied the charge put to him, replying: I did nothing to that girl, I just shook her hand. However, he pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge when the case came before the Circuit Criminal Court last November. Det Garda Keogh said the young girl awoke at 5am to discover O'Donovan standing by her hospital bed. O'Donovan queried her name before asking if she would like to go for a drink or the cinema? After examining her hospital name bracelet, he then began stroking her arm and then attempted to touch her outside her clothing. When he stopped touching the teen, he said to her: "Promise me you will write to me?" The teen - who had been in a serious accident - was unable to reach the call bell. However, O'Donovan's heart monitor displayed elevated cardiac activity and a nurse came to investigate minutes after the assault commenced. She was then able to raise the alarm. "My mental health has been shattered by this," the girl told the court in a harrowing victim impact statement. "I was petrified and helpless. I thought I would be safe in hospital. I never thought I would be in any danger." She said the incident had left her very afraid of older men - as well as being unable to sleep, traumatised and suffering panic attacks. Judge O'Donnabhain was told the defendant had a long history of mental health issues and his wife had only died last year. He had no previous convictions and currently lives a very simple life in west Cork, largely keeping to himself and tending his animals. The judge imposed an 18 month suspended sentence. How is this possible with all the things women have done, all the strides women have made in their professional careers and everything else, Luria said in an interview, how is it not written into the Constitution that women have equal rights under the law? Gus OConnor admitted lying to gardai about his missing wife Patricia despite knowing she was already dead Patricia O'Connor's husband pleaded guilty to falsely reporting to gardai that she was missing when he knew she was already dead, a jury has heard. Augustine O'Connor (75) entered his guilty plea before the trials of four people charged over his wife's death got under way. While Mr O'Connor, known as Gus, has been referred to in evidence throughout the trial, the jury did not know before yesterday that he has admitted a charge of impeding the apprehension of an offender. The jury was told of his plea as the prosecution closed its case in the joint trial of murder accused Kieran Greene and three other people. Remains Mr Greene's then-partner and Patricia's daughter Louise O'Connor (41), her daughter Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Louise's ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston (43) are charged with impeding a murder prosecution. Expand Close Patricia O'Connor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Patricia O'Connor The four have pleaded not guilty and their trial continues at the Central Criminal Court. 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 husband, Louise, Stephanie and Mr Greene. Her dismembered remains were found scattered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14 that year. She died from blunt force trauma to the head caused by at least three blows from a solid implement. Inspector Brian O'Keeffe agreed with defence barrister Conor Devally SC that in voluntary interviews in June 2017, Mr Greene said he had a fight with Patricia O'Connor; that she first attacked him and it resulted in her lying, bleeding heavily on the bathroom floor. He brought gardai to Wexford where a hair was found at the gravesite where he said he had temporarily buried her, and he was arrested and further interviewed. Mr Greene said he acted alone in the physical fight, in removing her from the house, covering up or hiding her presence and subsequently returning to dismember her body and distribute the remains. "Other factors emerged whereby it was reasonable to arrest Gus O'Connor and other persons in September," Mr Devally said. Mr O'Connor was arrested on September 2, 2017, under suspicion of involvement in murder and was released after questioning. On December 9, Mr Greene was on remand in Cloverhill Prison when he made a new statement. After that, two hacksaws and an axe were found in a search at the River Dodder. One of the hacksaws had human hair snagged in the blade. A warrant was sought for the re-arrest of Mr Johnston. The co-accused were charged with the offences they are now on trial for. "I think there was also a charge brought against Mr Gus O'Connor," Mr Devally said. Insp O'Keeffe said there was, and he was charged on October 18, 2018. Mr O'Connor had been part of this trial but on the first day it was listed for hearing, "he took a step which dispensed with the need to continue with his trial". "That was to plead guilty to an offence, that he made a report that his wife was missing on June 1, 2017, when he knew she was already dead and in doing so impeding the apprehension of an offender or perpetrator," Mr Devally said. "That is correct," Insp O'Keeffe said. Mr Devally said in the wake of what was found at the river bank, Mr Johnston was re-arrested and he asked if there was any re-arrest of anyone else. "No," Insp O'Keeffe said. He confirmed that Gus O'Connor was invited to react to what Mr Greene had said about him. Insp O'Keeffe agreed with prosecutor Roisin Lacey that when Mr Greene initially admitted "something awful", gardai believed that the torso that had been found was that of a male. The trial continues before the jury and Mr Justice Paul McDermott. EUGENE, Ore. -- Arauco North America says it will permanently close its Eugene operations, cutting 84 jobs as a result. The plant will shut down on May 1. The company, located at 50 N. Danebo, makes medium density fiberboard (MDF). In its WARN notice to the state, the company blamed an "economic imbalance" in the U.S. MDF market. The company says it will shift production to other facilities in the U.S. "Decisions regarding plant closures are difficult, Pablo Franzini, president of Arauco North America, told industry website woodworkingnetwork.com. We are working diligently to provide options for Eugene employees to help them through a difficult transition. We are committed to meeting our customers needs from our other facilities. This is a developing story. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill has said she will not be deterred after learning of a dissident plot against her. Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister said she had been told by the PSNI that it has received intelligence of a plan by dissident republicans to attack both her and Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly. It comes a week after Ms O'Neill and Mr Kelly attended a PSNI recruitment event, a move which Chief Constable Simon Byrne hailed as "seismic and historic". Violence It was the first time such a senior Sinn Fein figure had attended a recruitment campaign launch for the PSNI and comes amid concern that progress to address under-representation of Catholic officers in the organisation has stalled and is starting to go backwards. First Minister Arlene Foster condemned the threats against Ms O'Neill and Mr Kelly, saying there is "no place for threats or violence". Speaking at Parliament Buildings in Belfast, Ms O'Neill said she and Mr Kelly were taking precautions as a consequence, and vowed to protect their families. "I have been told by the PSNI that they have intelligence that dissident republicans are planning an attack against myself and Gerry Kelly," Ms O'Neill said. "We have families, I have two children, I have a mother who will be very worried. Gerry has family, who will also be very worried, so we have to protect our families. "But we have a job to do, we are elected, we have a mandate, we want to bring about change. "We are trying to build a better society and we will not be deterred by people who do not have a strategy to move forward in terms of the Irish republican project." Police told them about the threat yesterday. It also comes after a weekend of significant gains for Sinn Fein in the general election. "We are also aware this comes on the back of both myself and Gerry attending the PSNI recruitment fair last week," Ms O'Neill said. "So let me be very clear, dissident republicans have no strategy, they have no plan, they have no progress toward Irish unity and I think this intelligence comes at a time when we have never been closer to Irish unity. "I will not be deterred. Gerry Kelly will not be deterred. Sinn Fein will not be deterred from trying to build a better society." Ms Foster said: "We live in a democracy. The ballot box is how we effect change, not through the bomb or bullet." Australians trapped on a cruise ship on which dozens of passengers were infected with the deadly coronavirus will have access to a telephone counselling service provided by the Morrison government to support those feeling anxious about the unfolding crisis. Health Minister Greg Hunt said being in quarantine on the Diamond Princess, which remains docked off the coast of Japan after 175 people - including 11 Australians - contracted the coronavirus on board, could "create anxiety" or trigger other pre-existing mental health conditions. "We realise that the situation on the ship is very stressful for those who are there," Mr Hunt told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government was seeking "urgent advice from Japanese authorities" through the Australian embassy in Tokyo as to whether any Australians were among the latest 40 coronavirus cases confirmed on the ship on Wednesday. Maggie Gyllenhaal is stepping behind the camera with The Lost Daughter, the forthcoming film adaptation of Elena Ferrantes 2008 novel that Gyllenhaal has scripted and is set to direct under indie production company Pie Films, per Deadline. In a move seemingly specifically designed to break Film Twitter, Gyllenhaal has tapped Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson to star, two women who give off a potent and magnetic admire me from afar aura ... whose eyes tell you they know more than you do ... whose mothers must have told them if they kept wryly smirking so much their faces would freeze like that ... with the shared energy of the beautiful cat that slinks around your apartment building eyeing you but wont let you get too close. The varsity team of a cast also includes Peter Sarsgaard and Jessie Buckley. The story follows Leda (Colman), a professor and divorced mother of two, on a solo vacation to coastal Italy, where relaxation (which we are optimistically picturing as Colman in cat-eye sunglasses laid up on a chaise lounge drinking a mimosa, in the exact vein of Fabulous from feminist masterwork High School Musical 2) gives way to unsettling encounters with a menacing nearby family. According to the books official synopsis, Leda becomes overwhelmed by memories of the difficult and unconventional choices she made as a mother and their consequences for herself and her family. Regret! Contemplation! Yearning! Between this movie and Call Me By Your Name, as well as the Renaissance, we guess, it appears Italy is where a girl has to go to really think. At the New Yorker Festival, Gyllenhaal said was drawn to the storys honest expression of womanhood: I have never heard these things articulated before. There was one point where I was like, This woman is so fucked up, and then I was like, I totally relate to her. Female directors may have been ignored at the Oscars this year, but recent years groundswell of support and advocacy for female directors, Gyllenhaal said, pushed her to make her directorial debut. I feel, like, something about the climate right now. I feel like whats happening in the world right now has shifted my thinking about whether or not I can direct or can begin to think about directing. Subsequently, Gyllenhaal took a break from what one hopes is a busy schedule of chastising her brother for the events of Taylor Swifts All Too Well, to write to Ferrante about The Lost Daughters potential for screen adaptation. Ferrante granted her the rights, on the condition that Gyllenhaal direct. There has been a 4 per cent spike in the number of drink-drive crashes on Britain's roads, new figures released today show. Provisional estimates reveal 5,900 accidents involved at least one driver over the alcohol limit in 2018, the Department for Transport reported on Wednesday. This is 200 more than during the previous 12 months, and means around one in 20 of all reported crashes involved a drunk driver. Transport safety groups have attributed the rise to the falling number of road officers policing streets, with Home Office figures showing that the overall number of roadside breath tests in England and Wales is at the lowest annual level on record. Over the limit: Provisional Department for Transport estimates show a worrying rise in the number of drink drivers causing accidents on UK roads The central estimate for the number of people killed in these accidents is 240. This is similar to levels seen since 2010 and the fall from 250 in 2017 is 'not statistically significant', it states in the DfT's report. The final drink-drive casualty figures for two years ago will be published in August. The Scottish Government reduced the alcohol limit for drivers from 80 milligrammes (mg) per 100 millilitres of blood to 50mg in December 2014, but the legal level in the rest of the UK remains 80mg. Josh Harris, director of campaigns for road safety charity Brake, said: 'With thousands of people still being killed and injured at the hands of drink-drivers every year and little sign of this situation improving, decisive action needs to be taken. We need more cops in cars to help tackle the problem Edmund King, AA 'We're calling on the Government to lower the limit and implement an effective zero-tolerance on drink-driving, making clear to drivers that when you're behind the wheel, not a drop of alcohol is safe.' Critics of such an approach, who disagree with lowering the drink drive limit, argue that the existing one is sufficient but should be enforced with better policing. While Britain's limit is higher than in many European countries, many of those have been cut to bring down accident rates, whereas the UK has the safest roads in Europe, according to EC statistics. Provisional GB estimates for 2018 show there were 240 fatalities in #DrinkDrive accidents where at least one driver or rider was over the alcohol limit, continuing a period of stability recorded since 2010. #RoadSafety https://t.co/MkBBETbMjI pic.twitter.com/p2blwJ7AQ1 DfT stats (@DfTstats) February 12, 2020 Mr Harris said: 'We need to change the culture around drink-driving and that starts with changing a limit which gives a false impression that it is acceptable to mix alcohol and driving this couldn't be further from the truth. 'Even very small amounts of alcohol dramatically affect your ability to drive safely and the law should reflect this reality.' Edmund King, president at the AA, said the number of motorists found to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit is 'worryingly high', as is the volume of drivers who are involved in accidents in the morning with illegal amounts of alcohol still in their systems from the night before. 'While the most common time drivers are tested is the evening, the number of drivers failing a test at 8am is staggering,' he said. 'Clearly more needs to be done to educate drivers that a good night's sleep won't sober you up.' He went on to call policy changes to increase the number of police officers patrolling the roads as a deterrent for those who think they can get away with drink driving. 'Police forces are doing all they can to tackle the issue, but as the number of officers has reduced people feel they can get away with it. We need more cops in cars to help tackle the problem,' he urged. These latest figures suggest the number of people killed in road accidents where a driver was over the drink drive limit has failed to drop since 2010. Hunter Abbott, managing director of breathalyser firm AlcoSense and a member of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), said the figures correlate with the volume of breath tests being conducted at the roadside. 'Only 42 per cent of drivers involved in an accident in 2018 were breath-tested by police,' he pointed out. 'This has declined steadily since 2008, when 55 per cent of motorists were breathalysed after a collision. 'Of those who actually were tested following an accident, more than 3,800 were over the limit at 4.4 per cent, that's the highest failure rate for 10 years'. Some 4.4% of all drivers breath tested at the roadside in 2018 were found to be over the limit, but the volume of breathalyser samples being taken has now fallen to records lows The overall number of breath tests is also the lowest on record. Just 320,988 drivers were tested by police at the roadside in 2018, according to Home Office figures - less than half the 670,023 breathalysed in 2009. 'Casualties will not reduce until better enforcement is in place, combined with stricter limits and drink driving awareness campaigns', Mr Abbott added. 'England and Wales have the highest drink drive limit in the developed world, far above the 'point of intoxication' when the cognitive effects of alcohol on a person are measurable. 'At the English/Welsh limit, despite not contravening the law, research shows you are 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than when sober. 'We call on the Government to increase the number of road traffic officers, in order to restore roadside breath testing to the levels of a decade ago. 'The Home Office should also stop ignoring robust scientific evidence and the advice of road safety experts - the drink drive limit should be reduced from its current dangerously high level'. This Boko Haram or whatever they are, cannot come up to Maiduguri or environs without the local leadership knowing because traditionally the local leadership is in charge of security in their own respective areas. So with my understanding of our culture, I wonder how Boko Haram survives up till now, he had said. MLAs have been told of a lack of clarity around what - if any - border checks will be required in Northern Ireland after the Brexit transition period. The comments were made by Department for Infrastructure (DfI) director of gateways and EU relations Jackie Robinson at a meeting of a Stormont committee on Wednesday. Members were given a departmental briefing on the current situation surrounding Brexit. Mrs Robinson told committee members that if checks were required they would be carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the Home Office and HMRC depending on their nature. It will be up to them to make assessment on what space they would require at ports and facilitate that, the EU relations director said. Mrs Robinson said there would be ongoing engagement to inform the ports and businesses on any checks that are required. The DfIs Jim Sutherland said in terms of new infrastructure for checks at Northern Irelands ports Warrenpoint harbour would be the only port that could have difficulties in expanding. Belfast and Larne are capable of having specific space to allow the facilities to be developed he said. He said the Scottish port of Cairnryan would experience similar challenges to Warrenpoint with discussions around contingency plans already underway. UUP MLA Roy Beggs said the most important thing was to ensure perishable goods did not suffer undue delay due to any checks. Mrs Robinson replied that while it was a matter for DAERA decisions could only be made after they got clarity on what checks would need to be carried out. SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly asked what impact a failed Brexit day bomb had on security matter. Last week police exposed a plot where a bomb was to be placed in a lorry intending to travel from Belfast to Scotland on a ferry on the day the UK left the EU. The bomb was eventually discovered on February 5 inside a lorry on the Silverwood Industrial Estate in Lurgan. Mrs Robinson said that officials at all levels were involved in a series of cross-departmental talks including the Department of Justice, PSNI and Border Force, but that she could not go into details. In relation to car insurance, DfIs Donald Starritt said officials were working on the basis that green cards would be needed for UK drivers on the roads within the EU, including the Republic of Ireland. However he said that the UK has applied for membership of the green card free-circulation zone which would be business as usual. Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan said that while he appreciated its early days the Assembly only had nine months to get its Brexit preparations right. He said that constituents were pushing their representatives for answers. Mrs Robinson said that civil servants had been working for the last three years in very difficult circumstances, while Mr Sutherland said he felt the establishment of the Assemblys Brexit Committee would be an effective way to centralise conversations around the different aspects of leaving the EU. Alliance MLA Andrew Muir expressed concern around the lack of clarity and warned the clock is ticking down. Mrs Robinson said the DfI were very conscious of that, saying negotiations are due to start very soon and we hope the fog will start to lift, however she admitted that the outworkings may take some time. SEATTLE, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Philanthropists Dave and Dana Dornsife are announcing a $40 million investment in World Vision's water, sanitation and hygiene program in 24 African countries. This brings their total investment in World Vision to $115 million, following an investment of $35 million in 2011 and $40 million in 2016. Their contributions have all been focused on World Vision's water programs, making them the leading family in the world investing in providing clean water access. "We invest with World Vision because we see their impact on people's lives. They are accountable for their work and they focus on helping the poor," said Dave Dornsife. "We travel every year to Africa to inspect the work and meet their capable field staff. We trust World Vision." "To encourage others to join us, our requirement is that every dollar we donate is matched by other donors," said Dana Dornsife. "World Vision's water, sanitation and hygiene program empowers women and girls and is the basis for good development so communities can lift themselves out of poverty." "With their total investment of more than $115 million, the Dornsifes have been foundational for World Vision becoming the largest nongovernmental provider of clean drinking water on the planet, reaching one new person with clean drinking water every 10 seconds," said Edgar Sandoval Sr., President of World Vision U.S. "We thank God for their generosity." "Motivated by Christ's example of loving the poor, we are committed to reaching everyone everywhere we work with clean, life-giving drinking water by 2030. That represents approximately 50 million people between 2016 and 2030. This investment by the Dornsifes takes us closer to making that commitment a reality." To be on track to reach everyone, everywhere they work with clean water by 2030, World Vision has committed to reach 20 million people with clean water in a five-year period between 2016 and 2020. The organization is on track, having reached 16 million people in just the first four years of the commitment. This new investment by the Dornsifes will enable the creation of a new water, sanitation and hygiene business plan for the future. Dave Dornsife is the Chairman of Herrick Corporation, a leading steel fabrication company, and Dana Dornsife is the Founder and CEO of Lazarex, a not-for-profit focused on equitable access of cancer patients to clinical trials in the U.S. The Dornsifes have also given major gifts to the University of Southern California, Drexel University, the Yosemite Conservancy, and other programs. About World Vision World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org or follow on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA. SOURCE World Vision U.S. Related Links http://www.worldvision.org Melody Bannister, 34, was arrested at a gas station in Plainfield, Indiana, at 2.40am on Wednesday. A Virginia mother who has been on the run for six months with four of her kids after 'abducting' them from their father in the midst of a custody battle has been arrested at an Indiana gas station. Melody Bannister, 34, was arrested at a gas station in Plainfield, Indiana, at 2.40am on Wednesday. The four children she was accused of abducting from their father - 13-year-old Genevieve, 12-year-old Janelle, 11-year-old Vivienne and seven-year-old Peter - were with her and were unharmed. In June last year, Bannister made unfounded allegations that the children were being abused by an unidentified family member. Virginian authorities gave custody of the children to their father. Bannister fought it, taking it to courts in Alabama to interfere on in the hope they would give her custody. She was ordered to return the children to their father in Virginia but instead, went on the run. Since then, there have been sightings of her and the children in eight states; Alabama, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, Colorado, North Carolina, and Texas. The woman's four children were with her. L-R: Janelle, 12, Vivienne, 11. Bottom: Genevieve, 13, and Peter, seven It is unclear what led police to them in the gas station. Authorities issued an alert asking for the public's help to find them in December last year, saying they were in danger. None of the children were harmed. She was booked on one felony charge of Violation of a Court Order, four misdemeanor charges of Abduction and one count of filing a false police report. ONeil established his business in Port Credit, Mississauga, which is about 45 minutes west of Toronto and the same neighbourhood where he grew up. He runs the team with two agents, as well as an administrative assistant. About 40% of their business comes from real estate agents, 40% comes from repeat business, and 20% comes from other sources. ONeils business is pretty balanced, but he says that the realtor business is stronger, and it tends to have bigger volumes as welland it helps that theyre linked with a Royal LePage office. In 2019, ONeils brokerage closed 200 units for just under $100 million, which was almost double the units and an increase of $40 million from 2018. With the start theyve had to this year, ONeil said, he expects that theyll surpass $100 million. ONeils team has been adopting and adapting to new technology, including a good CRM that helps them stay in touch with previous clients. Even though only about 20% of ONeils business comes from repeat clients, their marketing budget for 2019 was nearly nothing. This year, however, will be very different. Theyve been working with a videographer to film a series of videos in addition to increasing their presence on social media to reach more clients. This, ONeil says, is an area of business where theyre currently not realizing their true potential, and they want to change that. ONeil has found a lot of support in the broker community. Brokers across the country are willing to connect online and offline to share stories, ask questions, and exchange experiences. Brokers are fighting everyone for a slice of the pie, he said, but 99% of the time, brokers are willing to help each other. In turn, hes willing to pass along what hes learned to others, including the advice to focus on building relationships with the handful of most useful lenders. The more you send in, the more youll understand the policies, as opposed to trying to spread the love to multiple lenders. I find if you can focus on one, you do a really good job, your efficiencies will go up because you know exactly what youre looking for and everything becomes a better experience: the underwriting, the client interface, and then just the fulfillment on the back end with the documents and the conditions as well, he said. Ireland is braced for Storm Dennis this weekend after bitterly cold weather and snow hit many parts of the country. Met Eireann has urged the public to stay tuned for weather warning updates, after the UK Met Office advised Storm Dennis could pose a "danger to life". There is currently a Status Yellow snow and ice warning in place nationwide until 10am today. Met Eireann have said to expect some snowfall accumulations this morning, especially in the west and north of the country. ... 8 degrees, coldest in the north. Later in the afternoon rain will move into the southwest and spread northwards during the evening, with southerly winds increasing fresh to strong with gales on south and west coasts. pic.twitter.com/30Y2bn54cy Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 12, 2020 Gardai in Athy have reported slippery conditions with black ice on a number of routes, AA Roadwatch said. Icy conditions have also been reported in parts of Cavan, Longford, Offaly, Galway and Clare, while snow showers are causing wet and slippery conditions in counties Wicklow, Laois, Kildare and Donegal. While no official warning has been issued yet in Ireland, Jonathan McGovern, a meteorologist for Met Eireann, said it looked very likely the storm would wreak havoc across the State. "We advise that people keep up with the warnings closer to Storm Dennis's arrival," he told the Irish Independent. "The UK Met office named Storm Dennis which will arrive on Saturday so for the next few days it's going to be largely unsettled with low pressure staying to the west affecting our weather. Blustery "On Saturday, and the weekend on the approach to Storm Dennis, it will be very wet and windy with rain bands associated with that storm passing between the afternoon and evening, with temperatures of 8C to 10C. "Sunday will be another wet and blustery day with spells of rain." Since Storm Brendan hit Ireland in early January, the country has seen the tail of two UK storms, Arctic conditions with snow brought in from Canada and extremely wet and windy weather has prevailed. Across the country this week, sporting events have been postponed and thousands of houses have lost power. The country also saw a covering of snow in many areas. A Status Yellow Snow/Ice Warning is in place for the whole country until 10am on Wednesday (12th). For updates, visit: https://t.co/PSzIBsvOzE pic.twitter.com/1L8fgzkCEz AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) February 11, 2020 Yesterday, children escaped injury when ferocious gusts ripped the roof off a school in Achill, Co Mayo, just minutes after they had begun their school day. Up to 12 tonnes of the asphalt flat roof landed in the playground and a neighbouring field of Dooagh National School. The incident happened yesterday amid a status yellow wind warning which has since ended. The school lies along one of the most westerly coastal points of Achill and has just under 40 pupils. While winds of this, and an even greater magnitude are likely this weekend, Mr McGovern said that the bitterly cold weather experienced this week would at least begin to subside. "Showers today will be confined mostly to the north-west and it will clear later in the day towards the east," he said. "These will ease off so it won't be as windy but they'll freshen up again later on in the week. "Thursday looks like it will be mostly showery with rain across the country and blustery north north-west winds. "It will be warmer though as the cold snap will be finished, with higher temperatures of 4C to 5C in the north and 9C to 10C in the south. "However, it will still feel chilly with the wind. "On Friday, these winds will strengthen again and a new band of rain will move in. "Temperatures will be 9C to 12C." The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the state government to pay a compensation of Rs five lakh to a 68-year-old tribal jailed for four months after being mistaken for a murder convict, who died while out on parole. A bench of Justices S C Sharma and Shailendra Shukla issued the order on Monday while admitting the habeas corpus petition filed by the son of the tribal, Husan (68), of Dhar district. A person named 'Husna' was awarded life imprisonment in a murder case in Dhar district. He died on September 10, 2016 after being released from prison on parole. As the convict did not return to prison after the end of the parole period, an arrest warrant was issued against him. The police then arrested 'Husan' in place of 'Husna', due to confusion over similar names, and sent him to Indore's Central Jail on October 18, 2019. Husan, who belongs to the tribal community and is illiterate, pleaded repeatedly that he was innocent, but the police arrested him. Expressing strong displeasure over the negligence, the high court ordered that Husan, who is innocent, be released from the jail immediately. The bench also ordered that a case of contempt of court be registered against the sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP), who gave incorrect information in the affidavit submitted to the court in the case. The bench said a contempt of court case should also be filed against all the police personnel who made separate entries about Husan, describing him as "Husna" (the deceased convict), in records of police station concerned at the time of his wrongful arrest. The present case is an example of arresting innocent people without identifying them properly, the court said. "Therefore, it is directed that in all cases where an arrest is made, the authorities shall identify the persons so arrested on the basis of bio-metric as well as other documents in order to ensure their identity, in order to ensure that no innocent person like the petitioner's father, Husan, go to jail again," the court said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One more student returning to Mizoram from China has been put under "home isolation" as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus in the state, taking the total number of such cases to seven, a health department official said on Wednesday. The student was screened at Lengpui airport upon his arrival to Mizoram on Tuesday and put under "home isolation" like the six other students who had returned from China in January and earlier this month, he said. However, none of the seven students has complained of any illness, the official said. A statement issued by the state health department said that no case of coronavirus has been detected in Mizoram so far. A student, who has returned to Mizoram from another state, has been hospitalised at Zoram Medical College due to high fever and respiratory problem, it said. However, the patient is not infected by novel coronavirus, the statement said. The health department also launched helpline numbers 8259930355 and 7630943153 to furnish information related to suspected coronavirus cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Briefings, meetings and boat rides organized for their benefit Members of the delegation of EU parlimentarians enjoy boat rides on a shikara on the Dal Lake in Srinagar on February 12, 2020. (PTI) Srinagar: A second batch of New Delhi-based diplomats from over two dozen countries began a two-day tour of Jammu & Kashmir for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the troubled territory. Reports emanating from Delhi said the Russian ambassador to India declined an invitation to join the delegation. In Srinagar, the delegation was briefed by top Army officers on the security situation in the districts and along the Line of Control (LoC). They were told of Pakistans unremitting attempts to push in militants and terrorists and perpetrate ceasefire violations along the de facto border, a defence spokesman said here. Earlier in the day, the visiting envoys interacted with fruit growers and traders in Baramulla district and had a series of meetings with representatives of political parties, trade unions, civil society groups, women entrepreneurs and a select group of media persons--all handpicked by their hosts. They were also treated to shikara rides on the Dal lake. After a nights stay in a luxury Srinagar hotel, the delegation will visit the winter capital Jammu on Thursday where they are scheduled to meet Lt Gov Girish Chandra Murmu, his advisors and government functionaries, officials of the police and security forces and leaders and representatives of various political parties, civil society groups and business leaders. Opposition criticism This is the third visit by foreign diplomats and lawmakers to Jammu & Kashmir since August 5 last year, when the erstwhile state was stripped of its special status and bifurcated into two union territories. Supervised by the Union Home Ministry, the visits have been strongly criticized by the opposition which questioned the wisdom of wasting money and other resources of the state by sponsoring such pleasure trips. Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said, The visiting delegation should be allowed to meet the three former chief ministers who have been incarcerated. I too have some ideas to share with them but I wonder if they will be allowed to meet me. Ive been under house arrest for the past six months. He added, Taking them on shikara rides on the Dal lake and allowing them to meet only people handpicked by the government agencies are not going to help. Such tamashas have in the past left a negative impact on the psyche of the people, especially in the Kashmir Valley. Presence of EU diplomats This batch of diplomats being conducted around Kashmir includes those from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland and Rwanda. The presence of diplomats from European Union member countries in this delegation is significant. The EU Parliament recently saw moves to bring in a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Kashmir situation. A vote on the resolution was later deferred. In mid January, envoys of 15 countries including United States ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru had visited J&K at the invitation of the MEA which had said that they wanted to see firsthand the efforts being made by the government to normalise situation in the union territory. In October last year, 27 MPs, drawn mainly from far-right parties, of 11 European countries visited Srinagar but the EU embassy in Delhi was quick to clarify then that they were in India in their personal capacity and not as part of an official delegation. That visit too had drawn criticism by the Congress, National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPM and other mainstream parties, terming it a guided tour aimed at misleading the world about the ground realities in J&K. The opposition and a section of the media had in particular criticised the manner in which European MPs were brought to Srinagar. The Congress also questioned the wisdom and probity of the government in inviting foreign diplomats to visit J&K when the countrys own political leaders including MPs are being denied access to the erstwhile state. However, Union minister of state for home affairs G. Kishan Reddy told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that there are no restrictions on Indian citizens visitng J&K. Your browser does not support the audio element. More than 36 metric tons of face masks have recently been exported to three countries hit by the novel coronavirus via Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, according to customs figures. The customs unit at the airport said that it had cleared over 36 metric tons of face masks for export from January 30 to February 4. Most of the face masks were shipped to China, whose city Wuhan has been the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak since December 2019, while the remaining came to Singapore and Malaysia, where dozens of cases have been confirmed. Over 44,000 people have been infected by the virus in mainland China, with nearly 4,000 fully recovering and over 1,100 killed. Singapore has announced 47 positive cases while the number has reached 18 in Malaysia. Face masks are believed to help in restricting the spread of the virus although the World Health Organization has persisted that their use alone is of little effect. The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has suggested controlling face mask and hand sanitizer prices amid the viral outbreak in Vietnam, which has confirmed 15 infections so far, six of whom have been discharged clear of the virus from the hospital. Vietnam has waived import duty on face masks and materials to produce them, hand sanitizers, and other medical equipment to curb the outbreak, according to the ministry. The finance ministry has recommended that the central government direct the Ministry of Health to look for imports of face masks, as Vietnam will continue fighting this virus in the coming time. Exporting face masks is normal when the country is integrating with the global community, Dr. Dinh Trong Thinh, of the Academy of Finance in Hanoi, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. But the exportation of the 36 metric tons of face masks should have been considered more carefully given an outbreak in Vietnam, he added, pointing out that citizens in many provinces and cities have been unable to buy face masks or could purchase them only at exorbitant prices because of short supply. Face mask prices should thus be controlled, particularly in the localities where positive cases have been detected, Dr. Thinh said. Companies should declare the cost to produce face masks to price regulators so that authorities can make sure the products wont be sold at hefty rates to consumers, he suggested. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The suit, filed in federal court in Alexandria, claimed that CBS failed to follow up on leads that would demonstrate the allegations to be false. One of those concerns Fairfaxs claim that a witness was present at Fairfaxs sexual encounter with Watson and could corroborate that it was consensual. An engineering student takes part in a hacking challenge near Paris on March 16, 2013. (Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images) FBI Receives Highest Ever Number of Internet Crime Complaints The FBI received 467,361 complaints related to online crime in 2019, an average of nearly 1,300 every day, and the highest number reported since the center was established in May 2000, according to a new report. The Bureaus 2019 Internet Crime Report (pdf) published on Feb. 11 revealed they recorded more than $3.5 billion in losses to individual and business victims, with phishing attacks, non-payment or non-delivery, and extortion being the top three crime types reported. The most financially costly complaints involved business email compromise (BEC), romance or confidence fraud, and spoofing, or mimicking the account of a person or vendor known to the victim to gather personal or financial information. FBI Unit Chief Donna Gregory, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Director, said in a statement that many victims had fallen for existing scams as opposed to any new tactics. Criminals are getting so sophisticated, Gregory said. It is getting harder and harder for victims to spot the red flags and tell real from fake. The report found that phishing scams were the most common by far, with 114,702 complaintsmore than double the amount of any other crime type. The term phishing refers to scammers tricking victims into providing personal information via email, text, or phone which they can use to access bank accounts or credit cards. Scammers typically use fake or stolen credentials which appear to be from a legitimate source. You may get a text message that appears to be your bank asking you to verify information on your account, said Gregory. Or you may even search a service online and inadvertently end up on a fraudulent site that gathers your bank or credit card information. Gregory emphasized that individuals need to be extremely skeptical and verify requests in person or by phone, double check web and email addresses, and dont follow the links provided in any messages. In the same way your bank and online accounts have started to require two-factor authenticationapply that to your life, she said. With such a high number of complaints, Matt Gorham, Assistant Director of the FBIs Cyber Division, noted how important it is for individuals to report malicious activity to the IC3 and their local field office. Information reported to the IC3 plays a vital role in the FBIs ability to understand our cyber adversaries and their motives, which, in turn, helps us to impose risks and consequences on those who break our laws and threaten our national security, he said. It is through these efforts we hope to build a safer and more secure cyber landscape, he added. Since it was established in 2000, the Internet Crime Complaint Center has received a total of 4,883,231 complaints. The report comes after U.S. authorities indicted four members of the Chinese military on charges of hacking the credit-reporting agency Equifax, stealing the sensitive personal information of roughly 145 million Americans and Equifaxs trade secrets. Wu Zhiyong, Wang Qian, Xu Ke, and Liu Lei were members of the Peoples Liberation Army 54th Research Institute, a unit of the Chinese military, and their hacking of Equifax in mid-2017 was one of the largest hacks on record. Equifax has agreed to pay up to $700 million to settle claims by customers harmed by the hacking, which exposed Americans sensitive financial records, Social Security numbers, and drivers license data. A prominent Indian-American has suggested renaming the CAA as the Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, saying it would establish a right perception difficult to challenge. The remarks of Khanderao Kand, director of non-profit organisation Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), came in the wake of widespread protests held across India against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The CAA should have been named as Neighbour Persecuted Religious Minority Refugee Act, Kand said during a panel discussion on the amended citizenship law and abrogation of article 370 in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC on Tuesday. Branding the CAA as a refugee act would have established a right perception difficult to challenge for its opponent, he said, adding that this name would have been appropriate as it gives citizenship to the refugees and does not take away anyone's citizenship. India-born Nissim Reuben, who is an assistant director of the American Jewish Committee's (AJC) Asia Pacific Institute, mentioned that India is right on actions but short on building right perception, emphasising on the need of India and Indian diaspora to engage in public awareness campaigns. Political analyst Sant Gupta, at the event organized by FIIDS -- a policy, advocacy and awareness forum for India and Indian diaspora-related issues -- said the Indian diaspora needs to be actively engaged in political activism. India-born policy analyst and a founding member and former president of Indo-American Kashmir Forum Dr Vijay Sazawal said that the constitutional provision, under which Kashmir trifurcation was done, has been used by the Government of India in the past and hence there is a precedent that will stand in any judicial scrutiny. A Gilgit-Baltistan activist Senge Sering mentioned that India not only has a legitimate right on the region but also should protect the region from being exploited by China under the multi-billion dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is part of its world empire building vision of One Belt One Border initiative. 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. Justin Bieber made dreams come true this week. Julie Coker, a senior at Stockton University in Galloway, New Jersey was awarded a $100,000 life-changing gift live on MTV. Julie, who serves as president of her Active Minds chapter on campus, was honored with this gift for her tireless commitment to changing the culture around mental health for herself, her peers, and her community. Julie is an amazing representation of the powerful young adults who are the driving force behind Active Minds, and who are leading the way in changing the national conversation around mental health. Its truly one of the biggest issues faced by young adults today. Im thrilled Justin Bieber gave Julie this awesome surprise in honor of her important work, said Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director of Active Minds. Julie has been an outstanding advocate for mental health awareness on her campus, has helped nearly 4,000 young adults be screened for suicide, depression, or disordered eating behaviors, and has been a great Active Minds leader - serving as president of her campus chapter, as well as on the Active Minds Student Advisory Committee. Active Minds could not exist without our amazing student leaders and Im thrilled that Justin Bieber recognized one of them today. Throughout her time at Stockton University, Julie has been a relentless activist for mental health awareness on her campus and shows up every day to help move Active Minds programs forward in order to change the conversation on mental health, create communities of support, and save lives. The surprise gift from Justin Bieber will help launch an impactful career, as Julies advocacy is not expected to end after college. Julie plans to pursue her masters degree in social work, eventually taking on the role of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I was blown away by this surprise. You don't go into social work for the money, but for the deep desire to help people. So this life-changing gift will help me start my career on the strongest financial footing possible and will enable me to help even more people, said Julie Coker. Taking control of my mental health saved my life. When it came to choosing a major and career, it was just obvious that I would choose a career that focuses on helping others take control of theirs. Im so grateful to Justin Bieber for helping me forward on that path. Through her work, students across her campus and community have gained confidence in seeking critical treatment and support, said Malmon. She is truly an asset to the field and Im excited that this gift will allow her to continue helping others to take care of their mental health for years to come. About Active Minds: Active Minds is the nations premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. Active Minds has a presence on over 800 college, university, and high school campuses nationwide, and is powered by a robust Chapter Network, the nationally acclaimed Send Silence Packing exhibit, and inspiring Active Minds Speakers. The organization is dedicated to changing the conversation about mental health, and creating supportive communities that will save lives. To learn more, visit http://www.activeminds.org. 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. After senior Congress leader P Chidambaram lauded the Aam Aadmi Party for its win, the party's Delhi unit leader, Sharmistha Mukherjee, tweeted: "With due respect, Sir, just want to know, has the Congress outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why are we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned about our drubbing? And if 'yes', then we (Pradesh Congress Committees) might as well close shop!" Delhi Congress in-charge PC ... 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 The nations largest teachers unions want to end active shooter drills at schools, contending the practice can trigger trauma instead of confidence in a crisis. Schools should focus on training faculty and staff and pour resources into threat assessment programs, mental health officers, physical security and improving school climate, according to a white paper released Tuesday from the American Federation of Teachers, National Educators Association and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. If schools do choose to conduct lockdown or active shooter drills, the groups wrote, they should avoid simulations that mimic actual incidents, give parents advance notice and announce the drills before they begin. And, they said, the drills should be supplemented by counseling, and educators should study the mental health effects of drills. About 95 percent of schools across the country hold drills to prepare students and teachers for the possibility of a campus shooting, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The call to rethink the drills comes after several life-like simulations in schools have drawn national attention and criticism. Trainers shot teachers and staff with plastic pellets at one active shooter training at an elementary school in Indiana last spring, although no students were on campus at the time. Parents at a suburban Orlando, Florida, school raged against school officials in December 2018 who had warned of a code red over a loudspeaker and sent automated texts to teachers that there was an active shooter on campus. The administrators did not say it was a drill, and some students were so afraid that they texted their parents good bye messages, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some schools, including one in Dayton, Ohio, fired blank rounds during lockdowns to familiarize students and staff with the sound of gunshots. In Texas, school districts are required by state law to hold several types of emergency drills a year, including lockdowns, fire evacuations and shelter-in-place exercises for chemical accidents or severe weather. The Texas Education Agency recommends schools hold at least two simulated lockdowns each school year. The training was required after a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County left 10 dead and 13 wounded on May 18, 2018. Each district differs in how it conducts the exercises. Last fall, Northside Independent School District in San Antonio created a simulation video to accompany its active shooter drills. The video, which stresses the run-hide-fight protocol, includes theater students from a Northside high school acting out the three options during a shooting. While the video is only shown to middle and high school students, all grade levels participate in the drills, which happen once each in the fall and spring semesters. The spring exercise is typically unannounced. Students and staff practice getting to secure locations, locking doors, turning off the lights and staying quiet, said Barry Perez, a spokesman for Northside. Our intent when we do the drills is never to scare students, he said. So youre not going to see any drills where people are going around slamming on doors and banging or simulating gunshots. Those arent part of our drills. On ExpressNews.com: Texas school security practices discussed a day after Colorado shooting Perez emphasized that the drill and the video are one part of a comprehensive security plan that includes bullet-proof lobbies in elementary schools, police officers stationed at every secondary school, security cameras on all school properties and a 24/7 hotline that anyone can call to report suspicious activity. After students at Northsides Hector Garcia Middle School watched the video in their classes last fall, school counselors and principal Tracy Wernli met with any who had concerns. Some kids came and we had an open conversation about it. They were able to ask us those what-if questions, Wernli said. I think that helped a few kids feel a little bit better. With students emotional stability in mind, the schools counselors try to be more visible in the days before and after a drill, Wernli said. Special education teachers also call their students parents to let them know of drills in advance. During the training video shoot, school counselors talked with students ahead of filming and debriefed them afterward, Perez said. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox Clear Creek ISD decided to conduct multiple drills nearly a year before that approach was enshrined in state law. There, school administrators warn parents, teachers and students of the exact date and time of a drill and dont use any sound effects or role-playing. Weve tried to do it in systematic way, and weve created some good muscle memory for people to respond to various threats out there, Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Greg Smith said. Other Houston-area districts have chosen to be more realistic. School officials in Texas City ISD give parents about a weeks notice before a drill but never disclose the date and time beforehand. The district uses an app that flashes warnings across all computers inside a school and on the cell phone screens of every teacher and employee describing the threat or type of emergency situation. During the drill, police officials bang on classroom doors to see if students make noise in response, said Craig Straw, TCISDs director of security and school safety. The district does not use actors pretending to be shooters roaming halls, nor does it try to simulate the sound of gunfire. For teachers who say this causes stress, weve been doing fire drills for years. Students are used to hearing the sound of the drill and they dont panic, Straw said. Unfortunately, (lockdown drills) will be a new social norm, because if we dont train them, they wont know what to do if the real thing happens. WHO says new coronavirus presents a grave threat to world heres the latest on how you can protect yourself. A new coronavirus that emerged in China has killed more than 1,000 people, infected at least 45,000 and spread to two dozen countries, prompting the United Nations health agency to declare the pathogen the public enemy number one. All but two deaths and 99 percent of infections have been reported in mainland China, but Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said on Tuesday that the outbreak holds a very grave threat to the rest of the world, especially countries with weaker health systems. Heres what you need to know about how the virus spreads and how you can protect yourself. How is the new coronavirus spreading? The new coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, is thought to have jumped to a human from a yet-to-be-identified animal host. Similar to other coronaviruses such as those that cause the common cold and the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) the new virus causes respiratory disease. It can be transmitted from person to person and is spread primarily through contact with an infected person via respiratory droplets generated when a person coughs or sneezes. It can also be transmitted through droplets of saliva and discharge from the nose. People can also become infected via contaminated surfaces. But the virus weakens significantly when exposed to air, with preliminary information suggesting it may survive a few hours or more on surfaces. It takes about five to six days for an infected person to show symptoms, but the incubation period could be as long as two weeks. How contagious is the new virus? Based on current estimates, scientists say the new virus has a reproductive value of between 2.24 to 3.58, meaning an infected person could pass on the pathogen to between two and four people. In order to contain the outbreak, that value has to be reduced to below 1. In order to limit the spread of the virus, China has placed the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, under a virtual lockdown. It has done the same with surrounding cities, too. The countrys national health agency said it is tracking nearly half a million people who have had close contact with infected people and is medically observing 185,000 others. 200205205234883 The WHO says it is mostly infected people who have symptoms who are causing the spread of the virus, but some reports indicate that some of those infected may pass on the virus before showing significant symptoms. Some experts say this could complicate efforts to contain the spread of the disease. One of the key points [in containing COVID-19] is going to be whether we can use this approach of isolating and tracing contact cases effectively. That works very well for SARS because you didnt have a lot of transmission occurring without symptoms, said Adam Kuscharski, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Weve still to work out how much of transmission is [asymptomatic] and if its enough to make something like contact tracing very difficult to be successful. The vast majority of cases are mild with the most common symptoms being a dry cough, fever and fatigue. But in more severe cases, the disease can lead to pneumonia and more rarely, multiple organ failure and death. [The virus] looks like other infections and of course thats dangerous for a new emerging pathogen because basically you cant tell straight away what youre dealing with, David Carrington, virologist at St Georges University Hospitals in London, told Al Jazeera. The majority of individuals dont have that complicated pneumonic picture, they have more respiratory features that in themselves will not be able to be identified quickly if youre looking for this virus. Read more on what the coronavirus does to your body if you get infected here. How long will the outbreak last? On Wednesday, Chinas national health agency reported a decline in the number of new cases for a second straight day in Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital, raising hopes the outbreak could peak later in February. Outside Hubei, the number of new patients has been declining for the past week. Zhong Nanshan, Chinas top medical expert on the coronavirus, told Reuters news agency on Tuesday that he expected the epidemic to end by April. But some experts warn that estimate may be too optimistic. There is certainly some evidence that the Chinese part of the outbreak both within Hubei Province and within other areas within China might be on the decline, said Paul Hunter, professor at Norwich Medical School. He added: The SARS outbreak burned itself out in eight months, but this seems to be substantially more infectious than SARS, and despite the encouraging trends in the last four or five days, I personally would be surprised if it does [end] in the current year. The SARS outbreak of 2002 and 2003 infected some 8,000 people and killed nearly 800. How can you protect yourself? Scientists around the world are racing to develop a vaccine, but the WHO says an effective candidate is at least 18 months away. Researchers are also examining the use of antivirals as a treatment. The development of vaccines and therapeutics is one important part of the research agenda. But its not only one part, said Tedros, the WHO chief. They will take time to develop but in the meantime, were not defenceless. There are many basic public health interventions that are available to us now and which can prevent infections now. 200206120657215 The most effective way to limit infection, according to WHO, is practicing good hygiene, including washing your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub, and covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. WHO also suggests avoiding close contact with sick people, and seeking medical care early if you have fever, cough or difficulty breathing. Do face masks help? Fear over the virus outbreak has triggered a global rush for protective masks, with shops and pharmacies in many countries selling out of face masks. WHO has called for rational use of medical masks with Michael Ryan, the agencys executive director for emergencies, warning: Masks dont necessarily protect you but they do, if you have the disease, stop you from giving it to anybody else. WHO said the stockpiling of surgical face masks and protective suits is depleting stocks required for front-line healthcare workers and those who are already sick, and recommends that healthy people only use protective masks when taking care of a person who is suspected of carrying the virus. Those using masks should follow safety guidelines to ensure their efficacy, by disinfecting hands before and after use, and making sure there are no gaps between the face and mask. Single-use masks should be disposed of once they are damp. They should be placed in a sealed bin, and not reused. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has welcomed the draft Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) (DMR) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and called it an important development. As is known, the Union Health Ministry last week released the draft Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) (DMR) (Amendment) Bill, 2020 for effective compliance. The Government has sought to introduce a stricter punishment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh for such violations. Ads that claim cure for health and even cosmetic concerns, including cancer, short height, diabetes, change of foetal sex by drugs, improvement in size and shape of the sexual organ and in the duration of sexual performance, improvement of memory, height of children or adults and fairness of the skin are covered in the proposed Bill. Reacting to the proposed DMR Bill 2020, Shweta Purandare, Secretary General, ASCI, said, It would lend strong support to ASCIs efforts of Suo Motu monitoring of misleading advertisements in the Healthcare sector. Consequences of advertisements in violation of DMR regulations are serious and this would result in better compliance from advertisers as well as media concerned, be it an advertisement of Allopathic product or Ayush products. Apart from print and TV, it will be interesting to see the impact on advertisements on social media as well as on the advertisers websites. We would expect this effect to trickle to advertisements by Ayush doctors and clinics propagating guaranteed cure as the Central Council of Indian Medicine has taken cognizance of DMR violations in the past and had issued an advisory to State Councils for their action. It may be recalled that in 2017, ASCI had entered into an MoU with the Ministry of Ayush and has been suo moto monitoring print and TV media. A firm owned by Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve's son and wife was awarded a contract of digitisation of the city police's official records by the previous BJP government in Maharashtra, sources said on Wednesday. However, when Barve was asked about it, he said the firm offered its services free of cost and there was no question of any financial gains to it. The project of police records' digitisation was awarded to CrispQ Information Technologies Pvt Ltd for five years by the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led government before the state Assembly polls were held in October last year, the sources said. The company is owned by Barve's son Sumukh Barve and wife Sharmila Barve. The firm sent a proposal on September 30, 2019 to the state government, offering its service "pro bono" (work undertaken voluntarily and without payment) to provide paperless office system to the Mumbai Police through a software called 'Notesheet Plus', an official said. A copy of the proposal was marked to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), he said. Records, complaints and service documents of the Mumbai Police personnel were to be digitised with the help of the specified software, the official said. The proposal was approved by the government as the company was going to do the work for free, and the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office was also directed to finalise the number of units and files for the digitisation work, the official said. However, the project did not start due to some technical issues, he added. When contacted, Barve said, "The company had offered its service 'pro bono' and it was for the benefit of the Mumbai Police." The software, which was offered to be used by the company, is free and there is no question of any financial gains to the firm, he said. Barve is retiring from service on February 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Matias Salazar, 56, allegedly kept a woman as a sex slave for 31 years in a Venezuelan apartment block while he lived across the street with his partner and daughter A Venezuelan man has been charged with keeping a woman as a sex slave for 31 years inside a locked apartment. Matias Salazar, 56, allegedly kept the 49-year-old woman, named only as Morella, in a small apartment in the city of Maracay, near the capital of Caracas, while living across the street with another woman and their daughter, investigators say. Salazar fed Morella a diet of rice, lentils and eggs, psychologically tortured her by forcing her to ask permission for simple tasks such as sitting down, and routinely beat her during her captivity, officers claim. He is also accused of sexually abusing her, and depriving her of food and water if she refused his advances. Morella's ordeal began in the winter of 1988, according to Venezuelan news site Cronica Uno, when - aged just 17 and barely out of high school - she began dating Salazar. He quickly became abusive, the site reports, and Morella's parents objected to the relationship, prompting Salazar to come up with a plan to flee the town. Two days before Christmas the couple vanished, at first moving into a hotel where the abuse against Morella allegedly escalated. The pair then moved through another hotel and two houses before settling into the apartment complex in Maracay, where Morella would spend the next two decades of her life. Salazar is accused of keeping her inside a locked apartment covered with thick curtains for 24 hours a day with only a TV and radio for company. The apartment had no lights, and Salazar would bring Morella water and food from another apartment in the opposite block, where he lived. If neighbours asked about her, he told them that she was the cleaning lady. On more than one occasion police were sent to the apartment amid fears for her safety, Crocina reports, but she told them she was fine and they left again. She attempted to escape the apartment twice, the news site reports, using keys that Salazar absent-mindedly left behind after he visited. On both occasions the keys failed to open the door lock, and on both occasions she was badly beaten after he discovered what had happened. But then, on January 24, Salazar allegedly left behind a set of working keys - allowing Morella to flee. The 49-year-old woman, named only as Morella, was kept in a locked apartment in this block behind thick curtains, beaten and psychologically tortured so she wouldn't leave She then wandered through the streets of Maracay for two hours in search of a women's refuge whose name she had gotten from the radio. Once there she related her story to social workers, who in turn called police. Workers said that Morella's first request after being released was to watch Disney film Pocahontas, which was released in 1995 but which she had never seen. Officers have now charged Salazar with sexual violence, sexual slavery, induction to suicide and psychological violence. Detectives are also thought to be investigating whether Salazar was abusive to the other woman who he lived with, or their daughter. Neighbors told Reuters they had not noticed anything out of the ordinary and that Salazar had always been friendly to them. They asked not to be identified for fear they would be accused of being complicit. Salazar's lawyer Jose Briceno said in a press conference on Monday that his client was innocent and a victim of a media campaign, according to an internet broadcast of his statements. Morella subsequently returned to the apartment in the company of prosecutors, according to neighbors. 'She had three changes of clothes inside that apartment, some old shoes, a twin bed on the floor, an old fan, an old TV,' said one neighbor who entered the apartment with Morella and the prosecutors, and spoke on condition of anonymity. 'People attack the neighbors, asking why we did not report it, but we really did not know.' All Waihi schools, excluding Waihi Beach, will be closed tomorrow and reopening Friday because of low water levels in the reservoir. Waihi was out of water and reservoir levels are extremely low due to a main pipe break this morning, a Hauraki District Council spokesperson says. Residents are being advised that there are to be no showers, washing clothes, using a dishwasher or unnecessary use of water until further notice. Use water from your tap for drinking water only and boil water for 3 minutes before drinking. Residents are being urged to use water from tanks which are available at the following locations: Victoria Park Golden Legacy Centre, Moresby Avenue Morgan Park, Kenny Street carpark Salvation Army carpark We need people to use water from the tanks as much as possible. Residents are encouraged to take their own containers to fill. It will need to be boiled for 3 minutes if used for drinking, cooking or teeth cleaning. This water can be used without boiling to flush toilets, wash, etc. Bottled water is also available at Gold Education Centre, Morgan Park and the Salvation Army. The main pipe was fixed around 11am and the reservoir is slowly filling up, the spokesperson says. From 11am the level has risen by 1.8 per cent. Portaloos are being arranged and will be stationed next to Waihis public toilets - Victoria Park, Haszard Street and Gilmour Reserve. Waikino reservoir is coping for the moment but residents are asked to reduce water use as much as possible during this time. We do want to hear from anyone who still hasnt got water in their taps though. The council can be called on 0800 734 834. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari is in Maiduguri, Borno State, to condole with people of the state over the killings of passengers in an attack coordinated by Boko Haram. The insurgents carried out the attack at Auno village in Konduga Local Government Area of the state on Sunday night. The president earlier returned from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he attended the 33rd Ordinary Session of Presidents and Governments of the African Union. The FEC meeting was heralded by the National Anthem, the Christian and Muslim prayers. Afterwards, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, with the permission of the vice president, called for a minute of silence in honour of those killed in the latest Boko Haram attack in Borno. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over FEC where members honour victims of Boko Haram attack Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over FEC where members honour victims of Boko Haram attack Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over FEC where members honour victims of Boko Haram attack The minute silence was also observed in honour of late Patrick Koshoni, a former Chief of Naval Staff, who died on the January 25, aged 77, after a brief illness. Koshoni served in cabinet first as Minister of Health from January 19 to October 14, 1988; he later became the Minister of Transport and Aviation from 1984 to 1985 and later Minister of Labour and Productivity from September 1985 to October 1986. And thereafter, at the later part of his career, he became the Chief of Naval Staff from October 7, 1986 to December 29, 1989. So, he has served in three different capacities in the cabinet of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Mustapha said. (NAN) Indigo Books and Music, Canada's leading book retailer, reported third quarter sales of C$383.7 million for the period ended December 29, 2019, down 9.9% from the comparable period in 2018. Online sales fell 12.7% for the period compared with 2018, when the chain was also dealing with a postal slowdown; comparable store sales were down 10.1% in superstores and 11.2% in small format stores. Earnings, nevertheless, rose to C$25.8 million from C$21.5 million in 2018. On the earnings call with investors, CEO Heather Reisman credited the profit improvement to "higher margin rates and a lower cost infrastructure." The company has limited promotional discounts and been implementing aggressive cost-cutting measures. This included closing its New York offices and moving design offices for its non-book items to Toronto. Altogether, Reisman said, Indigo has cut cost by C$20 million through the first nine months of the fiscal year. Addressing the sales slowdown, Reisman blamed the dearth of bestsellers or a single breakout book that would bring customers into stores. "It's the first year I've ever been in the business, where there was not a single book, not a single book that gained any traction whatsoever," she said. "So just to give you some sense of what that means between last year in the third quarter. Our top two books accounted for several hundred thousand units. We didn't -- our top couple of books didn't altogether didn't break 100,000 units this year." Reisman also noted that the popularity of video streaming services was having an impact on night-time traffic in the stores. "There's no question that binge-watching and the amount of time people are spending on their technology, it's having an effect on nighttime activity. And so that's where we've lost traffic that we have to try and pick it up at other times," she added. "We have a number of things we're trying to do to augment traffic on the weekends to make up for the traffic that we've lost in the night time." One bright spot came from the launch of Plum Plus, the company's C$39 a year membership program, which contributed to a bump in revenue from "other sources," which increased 61.3% to C$5 million from C$1.9 million from the previous year. For the first nine months of fiscal 2020, revenue was down 8%, to C$779.6 million and the net loss inched up to C$13.7 million from C$13.0 million one year ago. WASHINGTON (AP) Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during the State of the Union address Tuesday night. Limbaugh, 69, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, announced Monday he is battling advanced lung cancer. Trump said the diagnosis was not good news, but added, "What is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet.'' A bearded Limbaugh, seated next to first lady Melania Trump, looked stunned as the president announced the award. He eventually stood and saluted Trump and offered a thumbs-up to Republicans in the House chamber. Melania Trump presented the award to Limbaugh, placing the blue-ribboned gold medal around his neck. NO HANDSHAKE? President Trump appears to snub Speaker Pelosi's handshake at State of the Union Trump thanked Limbaugh for decades of tireless devotion to our country and said the award recognized the millions of people a day Limbaugh speaks to and inspires, as well as his charity work. Limbaugh said Monday he intends to work as much as possible. He also said he had focused more intensely in the past two weeks on what he called his deeply personal relationship" with God. Limbaugh is widely credited as key to Republicans takeover of Congress in 1994 and has strongly supported Trump and other Republicans. Limbaugh has frequently been accused of hate-filled speech, including bigotry and blatant racism through his comments and sketches such as "Barack the Magic Negro," a song featured on his show that said former President Barack Obama "makes guilty whites feel good" and called Obama black, but not authentically. His popularity has survived brickbats and thrived despite personal woes. In 2003, Limbaugh admitted an addiction to painkillers and entered rehabilitation. Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo has said former President John Mahama should not be allowed to come near the presidency again because his thinking is not futuristic. The astute politician in an interview with Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7 warned Ghanaians not to vote for the NDC because the integrity and credibility of the flagbearer is questionable. What we need is a dynamic leader with the capacity to build. And I am not talking about the so-called infrastructure the NDC taunts as Mahamas legacy! I am talking about building a future with a mindset of 2020, not 1920! "It is not like we dont know what JM can do? We know exactly how he performed as a leader; he brought nothing new to the table, and it was business as usual! I believe this is a deadly recipe for disaster in a developing country like ours," he stated. Kofi Akpaloo continued, "Former President Mahama has officially informed Ghanaians that he lacks credibility and together with his NDC, hence they dont have the competence to manage the country. He reiterated that Ghanaians will suffer worse situations if they vote for Mahama to come to power in the 2020 polls. He advised Ghanaians to be on the guard and never to be convinced by the last day wonders of the NDC since that is the strategy they have taken just to win the upcoming elections. At least 15 Rohingya refugees are confirmed dead and many more are missing after a boat overturned early Tuesday in the Bay of Bengal. The boat was said to be overloaded with about 130 refugees. Commander Sohel Rana of the coast guard station on St. Martins Island, Bangladesh, spoke about the incident. He said the wooden boat was traveling to Malaysia when it struck coral. The boat was full of refugees from camps around Coxs Bazar. Fishermen told the coast guard about the accident. The coast guard found the boat sinking, with survivors swimming and crying for help. Navy divers joined the coast guard for the rescue operation. Rescuers saved 73 people and recovered 15 bodies. Among the dead were women and children. A coast guard spokesman, Hamidul Islam, said: the chance of finding any survivors is slim. But he added, We are continuing the search and rescue operations. Jamila Bibi from the Kutupalong Refugee Camp is one of the survivors. She said she was going to see her husband in Malaysia. I was going to him. But I cannot go to my destination now, she said. A Rohingya teenager who declined to give his name said, "I can't eat properly at camp. Can't move freely. I thought, if I go to Malaysia, maybe I can live a better life. So I wanted to go to Malaysia by boat." More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar after a military-led campaign against them in 2017. They were forced into crowded camps across the border in Bangladesh. Several attempts to send Rohingya Muslims back to Buddhist-majority Myanmar have not been successful. The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR says Malaysia had nearly 100,000 Rohingya refugees at the end of 2019. That is the second-largest number of any country after Bangladesh. Many of the refugees in Coxs Bazar have tried to make the dangerous trip to Malaysia by sea. Last November, Bangladeshs coast guard rescued 122 Rohingya refugees traveling to Malaysia. Their boat started sinking because of a mechanical problem. After news reports of the drownings Tuesday, the aid group Save the Children released a statement. It said, The Rohingya refugee crisis has claimed yet more innocent victims today. The humanitarian organization called the drownings a wakeup call and urged Myanmar to ensure the Rohingya community can return to their homes in a safe and dignified manner. Im Ashley Thompson. Hai Do reported and wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story coral n. a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures slim adj. small in amount, size, or degree destination n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent dignified n. serious and somewhat formal : having or showing dignity (Photo : Amanda Voisard on Reuters) [SHOCKING] 38-Year-Old Driver Dies After Using Tesla Model X's Autopilot Feature; Tesla Unaccountable? (Photo : Arnd Wiegmann on Reuters ) [SHOCKING] 38-Year-Old Driver Dies After Using Tesla Model X's Autopilot Feature; Tesla Unaccountable? In 2018, an Apple engineer that drove a Tesla Model X reportedly died after using Tesla's boasted Autopilot feature. In the reports, it was mentioned that the driver had already filed complaints to Tesla on his car's unusual veering when using Autopilot. However, the company did not seem to properly repair the said "navigation error" leading to his death. Tesla driver dies after the fatal accident using the autopilot feature Initially, reports said that Huang died after driving Tesla Model X in an autopilot mode. He was driving at about 70 mph when suddenly his car crashed at a safety barrier in Mountain View, California. Before the accident, Huang was already complaining to Tesla regarding his SUV's uncontrollably veering towards the same barrier where he died. However, Tesla unable to fix the said error. "Walter said the car would veer toward the barrier in the mornings when he went to work," the Huang family's attorney wrote in response to the U.S National Transportation Safety Board. The family of Huang already filed cases against Tesla and California's Department of Transportation due to their failure of keeping the car and the road safe for drivers. Tesla driver was using a smartphone during the accident However, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, NTSB finally released the result of the investigation concluding that the deceased driver seemed to be using a smartphone while driving Tesla's vehicle. Data showed that Huang's hands were not detected by the vehicle's steering wheel, seconds before the accident. The NTSB also mentioned that there were pieces of evidence that the driver was using his smartphone, which can be the leading cause of why the autopilot feature malfunctioned. As explained, Tesla had already told its drivers that autopilot feature is designed for a 'full-self-driving'; however, it is still highly recommended for drivers to put their hands on the steering wheel and pay attention while using the system. This was then, explained by the NTSB that Huang probably did not put his hands on the steering wheel for a long time causing the vehicle to experience two visual alerts for hands-off driving operation and one auditory signal. Worse, Huang's iPhone even showed that a word-building game application "Three Kingdoms", was active on his phone, seconds before the reported accident-- suggesting that the driver was playing a game while his car was malfunctioning. Tesla's autopilot feature killed driver; Reports said Tesla not accountable? Tesla first launched its Autopilot feature way back 2014 for its Tesla Model S. After a couple of years; Tesla continued to advance its technology into providing "full self-driving capability" to their latest Tesla model vehicles including Tesla Model X. As of now, the company has not yet commented on the said accident, but NTSB plans to schedule a hearing on Feb. 25 to invite both parties on questioning the said Autopilot accident that killed Huang. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. All six terror funding cases against Hafiz Saeed to be clubbed International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Islamabad, Feb 12: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Tuesday accepted a plea of Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief (JuD), Hafiz Saeed, to club all six terror financing cases against him and his aides, and announce the verdict on completion of the trial. The anti-terrorism court or ATC had indicted Saeed and others on December 11 in terror financing case in a day-to-day hearing. "The anti-terrorism court of Lahore accepted the plea of Saeed and his close aides seeking delay in the verdict in two concluded terror financing cases against them till the trial in other four such pending cases is complete," a court official told PTI after the hearing. Pakistan court defers verdict against Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed According to the petition, four other terror financing cases against Saeed, Zafar Iqbal, Yahya Aziz, Abdul Rehman Makki are pending before the same ATC. "As evidence has been in progress, the court may announce the verdict in six cases including the ones already concluded once the trial is completed," it said. The official said the court after accepting Saeed's request, ordered the prosecution to present witnesses in other four cases against the JuD leaders on Wednesday. "The court will announce the verdict once all witnesses are produced and cross-examination is done," he said. The deputy prosecutor general opposed Saeed's plea and argued that the trial in two cases against him and others has already been completed and under the law, the court may announce the verdict. He requested the court to reject Saeed's plea and announce the verdict. On last Saturday, Lahore ATC judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta had deferred the verdict against Saeed in two terror financing cases till February 11. Hafiz Saeed pleads not guilty in terror funding case Deputy Prosecutor General Abdul Rauf Wattoo told the Dawn TV that some six cases against Saeed and others are pending before the same court and presentation of evidence in the remaining four cases is in progress. "Hearing of all four remaining cases will be concluded simultaneously at the end of the week and after that the court will issue its verdict," Wattoo said. Saeed and other JuD leaders were produced before the ATC in high security. In the two concluded cases, the prosecution had produced some 20 or so witnesses in the ATC who testified against Saeed and his close aides for their involvement in terror financing. Saeed has already recorded his statement before the court in two terror financing cases against him in which he pleaded "not guilty". The cases of terror financing have been registered against him in Lahore and Gujranwala cities on the application of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police. Cross-examination of prosecution witnesses against Saeed and his three close aides by the defence counsel has already been concluded. The Counter-Terrorism Department had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on the charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province and arrested him on July 17. He is lodged at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. The cases were registered against Saeed and others in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan for collection of funds for terrorism financing through assets/properties made and held in the names of Trusts/Non-Profit Organisations including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc. Hafiz Saeed remains absent again in terror financing trial According to the CTD, investigation launched into financing matters of proscribed organisations - JuD and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) - in connection with implementation of UN Sanctions against these Designated Entities and Persons as directed by NSC (National Security Committee) in its meeting of January 1, 2019, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan for implementing the National Action Plan. They held and used these assets to raise more funds for further terrorism financing. Hence, they committed multiple offences of terrorism financing and money laundering under the Anti Terrorism Act 1997. They will be prosecuted in ATCs (Anti Terrorism Courts) for commission of these offences," the CTD said. Saeed-led JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. Chicago will continue its civil suit against Jussie Smollett after the former Empire actor was indicted Tuesday on felony charges relating to allegations that he paid two acquaintances to stage an anti-gay and racist attack on him last year. The city seeks to have Smollett reimburse Chicago for roughly $130,000 authorities spent investigating the alleged attack along with other costs adding up to almost half a million dollars. We look forward to reviewing the indictment and, as we have said previously, the City stands by our original complaint seeking to recover costs for Mr. Smolletts false statements, Chicagos Law Department said in a statement. We again thank the Chicago Police Department detectives for their hard work on this case the original investigation. Smollett, 37, who is a gay African-American, faces six felony counts of disorderly conduct after he made four separate reports to police last year claiming that two men attacked him as he was walking home around 2a.m. on January 29, 2019. Smollett said the pair punched him, put a noose around his neck, and shouted, this is MAGA country, along with racist and anti-gay slurs. The former Empire actor is scheduled to appear in court February 24. Smolletts indictment by special prosecutor Dan Webb on Tuesday came after county prosecutors dropped sixteen grand jury charges against the actor last year, even as evidence from an investigation suggested he had in fact staged the attack in an attempt to boost his career. Smolletts record was wiped clean, sparking a public outcry, including from the mayors office. The Chicago Police Department said Smollett had hired two acquaintances of his, brothers from Nigeria, to stage the attack in order to raise his public profile. The brothers later sued Smolletts attorneys for defamation, saying the actor, whom they worked with on Empire had directed every aspect of the attack. States Attorney Kim Foxx received heavy backlash for dropping the original charges against Smollett, critics arguing that anyone who filed a false police report could conceivably expect the same leniency as that granted to Smollett. More from National Review There can be no bargaining over Crimea, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, when asked if Moscow could return control over the Russian-Ukrainian border in Donbass to Kiev to make sure that Ukraine resumed water supplies to Crimea. Servant of the People faction leader David Arakhamia suggested yesterday that Ukraine should establish water supplies to Crimea in return for control over the border with Russia in Donbass. He pointed out that Crimea was a Russian region where water was supplied in accordance with development programs. "If there are any initiatives concerning additional water supplies, perhaps commercial ones, they could be considered," Peskov added. According to the Kremlin spokesman, the situation in Donbass was Ukraines domestic affair. "We are doing our best to facilitate efforts to resolve [the conflict]," he noted, adding that Kiev needed to discuss the border issue with the self-proclaimed Donbass republics. "As of now, one can assume with a high degree of certainty that they will not agree to change the essence of the Minsk Agreements signed by their leaders," TASS cited Peskov as saying. Pope Francis has declined to approve the ordination of married men to address the priest shortage in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI. In an eagerly-awaited document, Francis didnt even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons. Rather, he urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region, where the faithful living in remote communities can go months or even years without Mass. Francis dodging of the issue disappointed progressives, who had hoped he would at the very least put it to further study. And it relieved conservatives who have used the debate over priestly celibacy to heighten opposition to the pope, whom some have accused of heresy. The document, Beloved Amazon, is instead a love letter to the Amazonian rain forest and its indigenous peoples, penned by historys first Latin American pope. Francis has long been concerned about the violent exploitation of the Amazons land, its crucial importance to the global ecosystem and the injustices committed against its peoples. He addressed the document to all peoples of the world to help awaken their affection and concern for that land which is also ours and to invite them to value it and acknowledge it as a sacred mystery. Beloved Amazon is in many ways a synthesized and focused version of Francis 2015 landmark environmental encyclical, Praised Be, in which he blasted wealthy countries and multinational corporations for destroying the worlds natural resources and impoverishing the poor for their own profit. Francis said he has four dreams for the Amazon: that the rights of the poor are respected, that their cultural riches are celebrated, that the Amazons natural beauty and life are preserved, and that its Christian communities show Amazonian features. Francis had convened bishops from the Amazons nine countries for a three-week meeting in October to debate the ways the church can help preserve the delicate ecosystem from global warming and better minister to the regions people, many of whom live in isolated communities or in poverty in cities. The Argentine Jesuit has long been sensitive to the plight of the Amazon, where Protestant and Pentecostal churches are wooing away Catholic souls in the absence of vibrant Catholic communities where the Eucharist can be regularly celebrated. In their final document at the end of the October synod, the majority of bishops called for the establishment of criteria so that respected married men in their communities who have already served as permanent deacons be ordained as priests. In addition, the bishops called for the Vatican to reopen a study commission on ordaining women as deacons, a type of ministry in the church that allows for preaching, celebrating weddings and baptisms, but not consecrating the Eucharist. Francis had created such a commission in 2016 at the insistence of religious sisters who want more say and roles in church governance and ministry, but the group ended its work without reaching consensus. Francis didnt mention either proposal in Beloved Amazon and didnt cite the synods final document in his text or in a single footnote. But he did say in his introduction that he wanted to officially present the synods work and urged the faithful to read it in full, suggesting that he at least valued the input. Francis did echo many of the synods recommendations, calling for greater lay participation in the life of the church and saying the training of priests in the Amazon must be overhauled so they are more able to minister to indigenous peoples. He said every effort should be made to give the faithful access to the Eucharist. This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region, he wrote. Francis dismissed suggestions that ordaining women to any ministry would serve them or the church. While agreeing that women should have greater decision-making and governance roles, Francis argued that they must find other forms of service and charisms that are proper to women. The Catholic Church retains the priesthood for men, arguing that Christ and his apostles were male. While Eastern rite branches have married priests, and Anglican and Protestant priest converts can be married, the Roman rite church has had a tradition of priestly celibacy since the 11th century, imposed in part for financial reasons to ensure that priests assets pass to the church, not to heirs. In the weeks leading up to the documents release, the question of a celibate priesthood made headlines after the publication of a book penned by the retired pope, Benedict, and a conservative Vatican official, Cardinal Robert Sarah, reaffirmed the necessity of a celibate priesthood. Pope Francis is greeted by some of the faithful during the weekly general audience at the Vatican today. Pic: AP Benedicts participation in the book sparked controversy, since it appeared the retired pope was trying to influence the thinking of the current one, despite his promises to remain hidden from the world when he resigned seven years ago. Francis dodged the issue altogether, dedicating instead the entire first half of the document to the injustice and crime committed against the Amazonian peoples and its environment by local governments and foreign corporate interests, illegal mining and extraction industries. We cannot allow globalization to become a new version of colonialism, he wrote. He said the church in the Amazon must have social justice at the forefront of its spirituality, saying ministry that focuses excessively on discipline and rules will turn people away when in fact they need understanding, comfort and acceptance. The traditionalist blog Rorate Caeli, which has been highly critical of Francis, said that by closing the door to a married priesthood and female deacons, the document was the best possible document we could have hoped for in the current pontificate and in the current age. Clare Dixon, Latin America chief for the British Catholic aid agency CAFOD, focused on the environmental good it might do in the global debate about how to fight climate change. But Francis is also imploring us to listen to the wisdom of the people of the Amazon, insisting that we learn from the way they live with the environment rather than in competition with it, she said. Francis called for the church to incorporate indigenous traditions and cultures into its ministry, including song and dance, myth and festivals, and urged patience when confronted with apparently pagan practices and symbols. It was a reference to the controversy that punctuated the synod over the appearance in the Vatican of wooden statues of a pregnant woman that critics said were pagan idols. At one point, a conservative activist stole the statues from a Vatican-area church and threw them in the Tiber River in a videotaped stunt that galvanized traditionalist opposition to Francis and the synod itself. In his document, Francis said indigenous practices and symbols should not be written off immediately as superstition, paganism or idolatry. A missionary of souls will try to discover the legitimate needs and concerns that seek an outlet in at times imperfect, partial or mistaken religious expressions, and will attempt to respond to them with an inculturated spirituality, Francis wrote. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mackinac Center for Public Policy named Hamtramck Academy as the top school on their 2019 Michigan Context and Performance Report Card: Public Elementary and Middle School, released this week. Hamtramck Academy also placed first on Mackinac Center's 2017 report card and finished in the top 1% of the rankings in the first two editions in 2015 and 2013. "Major kudos to Hamtramck Academy," said Ben DeGrow, the Mackinac Center's director of education policy. "To finish No. 1 in the state on two straight report cards shows a consistent ability to dramatically beat expectations." Hamtramck Academy, managed by National Heritage Academies (NHA), opened in 2003 and serves 538 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The curriculum incorporates college-preparatory academics and a focus on moral character, preparing students for a lifetime of educational and personal success. "At Hamtramck Academy, we prioritize building a supportive learning environment, where each student feels welcome," said Alvin Ward, principal of Hamtramck Academy. "To be recognized by the Mackinac Center as the top elementary school in Michigan is an extraordinary honor and a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, and families." Additionally, 18 other NHA schools received "A" grades on the report card, which ranked more than 2,200 elementary and middle schools across the state. NHA's Michigan elementary and middle schools earning A's on Mackinac Center's new report card: No. 1: Hamtramck Academy, Hamtramck No. 49: Detroit Enterprise Academy, Detroit No. 62: Great Oaks Academy, Warren No. 80: Eagle Crest Charter Academy, Holland No. 88: Detroit Merit Charter Academy, Detroit No. 91: Ridge Park Charter Academy, Grand Rapids No. 98: South Arbor Charter Academy, Ypsilanti No. 102: Detroit Premier Academy, Detroit No. 106: Legacy Charter Academy, Detroit No. 129: Linden Charter Academy, Flint No. 130: Vista Charter Academy, Grand Rapids No. 134: Vanderbilt Charter Academy, Holland No. 140: Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy, Plymouth No. 145: Achieve Charter Academy, Canton No. 174: Fortis Academy, Ypsilanti No. 194: Warrendale Charter Academy, Detroit No. 203: Canton Charter Academy, Canton No. 214: Vanguard Charter Academy, Wyoming No. 216: Cross Creek Charter Academy, Byron Center The Mackinac Center bases a school's CAP (Context and Performance) score on how well its performance compares to the results expected based on the socioeconomic makeup of its students meaning it adjusts for student poverty levels when evaluating a school's academic performance. Scores are based on three years of assessments for grades 3 through 8, and also gives recognition to schools that have made the biggest improvements over time. "What sets apart our CAP report card is a recognition that students in poverty tend to bring more challenges to school with them," DeGrow said. "Schools that help low-income students overcome barriers to achieve deserve recognition." View the full report card here . About Hamtramck Academy Hamtramck Academy in Hamtramck, Michigan, is a free public charter school for kindergartners through eighth-graders that is dedicated to academic excellence while preparing students for their futures. It's a member of the National Heritage Academies network of schools. About National Heritage Academies National Heritage Academies is a network of 88 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 60,000 students in kindergarten through eighth-grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. About Mackinac Center for Public Policy The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Michigan residents by promoting sound solutions to state and local policy questions. It assists policymakers, scholars, businesspeople, the media and the public by providing objective analysis of Michigan issues. SOURCE National Heritage Academies Related Links http://nhaschools.com The thought of plunging headfirst down a waterfall might not appeal to the masses, but for one man it is his driving force. Professional kayaker Dane Jackson, 26, had been determined to conquer Chile's 134ft Salto Del Maule since he first saw a photograph of it in 2016. The fearless athlete, from Tennessee, survived the drop and now holds the world record for the second longest waterfall descent. Footage recorded by his kayak team shows him approach the brink of the waterfall in his kayak before dramatically plunging down and disappearing into the white froth of the water. He eventually reappears in the distance, after becoming separated from his kayak. The adventurer also recorded footage of the drop from his point of view, taking the viewer along with him on the terrifying ride. Choppy waters surround Mr Jackson as he speeds to the edge of the cliff. For one heart-stopping moment the screen goes black and the viewer is left to wonder what has happened to Mr Jackson. Eventually he resurfaces amid the white froth of the waves after becoming separated from his kayak when it filled with water and was sucked away from him. Dane Jackson, 26, had been determined to conquer the Chilean 134-foot Salto Del Maule since he first saw a photograph of it in 2016 Footage shows him approach the brink of the waterfall before dramatically plunging down and disappearing into the white froth of the water He is seen vertically dropping down the length of the waterfall before disappearing in the white froth of the water Mr Jackson has been kayaking since he was just two years old and his father, Eric Jackson, is also a national kayaking champion and the founder of his own kayak store - Jackson Kayaks. He is bested only by Montana kayaker Tyler Bradt, who managed a 189-foot descent at Palouse Falls in Washington. Posting the achievement on Instagram, Mr Jackson wrote: 'When an obsession becomes a reality... I give you, Salto Maule.' Mr Jackson has been kayaking since he was just two years old He has now conquered six waterfalls that are over 100 feet high. Salto del Maule may be gone in just one month because a hydroelectric project upstream is set to permanently redirect the Maule River through a different valley. Mr Jackson told the New York Times: 'Ive been wanting to do this waterfall for so long that I was nervous, really scared above it, but I have been wanting to experience it for the last five years.' He added: 'I got pretty splashed in the face and it was a white-out, but I had enough feeling that I was in control.' Once Mr Jackson landed in the white froth below, he came out of his kayak. He said: 'It happened pretty fast, but when I hit, the skirt of my kayak came off, and the boat filled up with water, and I went super deep. The fearless athlete, from Tennessee, survived the drop and now holds the world record for the second longest waterfall descent 'The boat just got pulled away from me.' Mr Jackson doesn't spend too much time worrying about risks involved in a drop of this size, and instead focuses on the experience he will have while it's happening. He said: 'I was willing to accept any risk because it was a drop that I wanted to experience, and it was worth every second.' The passionate kayaker's motto is: 'Do what you love and love what you do.' Once Mr Jackson landed in the white froth below, he came out of his kayak And his passion certainly translates into achievement as he has racked up over 80 first-place finishes in freestyle kayaking competitions. He still travels for about eight months out of every year, attending events and finding new places to kayak. Mr Jackson has severe hearing difficulties and wears hearing aids, but insists that it doesn't act as a disadvantage in the kayaking world. He said: 'There are no disadvantages to being deaf in kayaking. Theres an advantage because I can read lips from across the river, which is helpful if youre trying to get information on something thats coming up.' OCI Vice Chairman and CEO Lee Woo-hyun, left, and Hanwha Solution Chemical Division CEO Lee Koo-yung. By Nam Hyun-woo South Korea's solar power sector is under threat as the country's leading materials suppliers OCI and Hanwha Solution move to cease production of polysilicon, a key material for solar cells, due to continued supply and demand mismatches. Since the two companies are the only remaining polysilicon suppliers here, the country will have to rely on imports. That will impact the Moon Jae-in administration's initiative to increase solar power as one of the country's main energy sources and a growth driver. OCI said in a conference call that it will shut down its three plants in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on Feb. 20 for maintenance. Of them, plant 1, which produces polysilicon for semiconductors, will resume operation on May 1, but plants 2 and 3, which are producing polysilicon for solar cells, will cease operations for an undetermined period. "Since 2012, there has been a structural decline in polysilicon prices," the company said during the call. "Given the current polysilicon price, we are skeptical about resuming the operation of plants 2 and 3." After shutting down the domestic lines, OCI will only produce polysilicon for solar cells at its plant in Malaysia. The company said it expects at least a 25 percent cost saving with the move. Polysilicon is widely used as a key material for solar cells (solar-grade silicon) and semiconductor wafers (electronic-grade silicon). PVInsights, a market tracker, said the price for high-purity polysilicon for solar ingots or bricks was $7.1 a kilogram as of Feb. 5, which is far lower than OCI's break-even point of $13 a kilogram. OCI swung to a 180.7 billion won operating loss last year, compared with a 158.7 billion operating profit the previous year. Its sales contracted 16.3 percent to 2.6 trillion won. The low silicon price is also driving Hanwha Solution to consider abandoning domestic solar-grade polysilicon production. "As the market condition continues to aggravate, we are also thinking of ceasing the domestic production of polysilicon, though there is nothing confirmed so far," a Hanwha Solution official said. "The worsening market environment is also affecting fellow companies in other countries, as oversupply from Chinese firms is driving down overall prices." Hanwha Solution has been cutting production at its polysilicon plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. The Hanwha Group affiliate is scheduled to release its 2019 earnings on Feb. 20. According to industry officials, Chinese firms are virtually "controlling" global polysilicon prices as they can supply the material at nearly half the price of Korean firms as they receive electricity subsidies from regional government. Since power accounts for nearly 40 percent of total polysilicon costs, this gives Chinese players an advantage over Korean and other global firms. "Since the Chinese government indirectly supports polysilicon makers, they have strengths in cost structures and this virtually controls the global price," an industry official said on condition of anonymity. "South Korean firms discussed the matter with the government throughout last year, but failed to draw out a favorable response." If Hanwha Solution ceases its solar-grade polysilicon production, there will be no firms making the key material here, meaning the country has to rely on imports of solar ingot wafers, which are used to make solar cells and modules. Officials said the production halt would not increase Chinese polysilicon imports to Korea immediately, as solar ingot wafer and solar cell makers mostly import polysilicon from Germany. However, it will be a major headwind for the government's initiative to grow the domestic solar energy value chain as a growth driver. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, polysilicon imports from China accounted for less than 3 percent of the total from 2017 to 2019, and 78.7 percent of solar modules installed in Korea are made by Korean firms. Citing this, the ministry expected OCI's decision to stop solar-grade polysilicon production would not increase Chinese imports. "The government claims the domestic solar power industry stands robust, citing nearly 80 percent of modules used in Korea are manufactured in the country," another industry official said. "With most materials for the modules being imported, however, saying the Korean solar power industry is hitting its stride and downplaying the meaning of OCI's production halt seems to be a complacent reaction." The "FSU Countries Gasoline Supply and Demand Outlook to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The FSU Countries Gasoline supply-demand outlook to 2028 report is comprehensive research on the country-wise Gasoline markets in the region. Across the FSU Countries, 9 countries are analyzed in the research, presenting the outlook of supply and demand annually. The forecast period is from 2008 to 2028. In addition, the FSU Countries' Gasoline market trends, drivers and restraints are analyzed. The competitive scenario of Gasoline in the region is also included in the research. Further, the refining industry in the region is also assessed in detail including refining infrastructure, companies, capacity, and planned projects. The report also details information on the leading FSU Countries refiners and also presents in-detail business profiles of three leading FSU Countries Gasoline companies with details of business description, SWOT analysis, and financial analysis. The latest market developments in the FSU Countries and their impact on companies and markets are also detailed in the research work. The report scope includes Yearly forecasts of country wise Gasoline supply and Gasoline demand from 2008 to 2028 9 Gasoline markets across the FSU Countries are analyzed including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan Refining, coking, FCC, and Hydrocracking capacity outlook for each of the refining markets in the FSU Countries are provided from 2015 to 2023 Market trends, drivers and restraints of investing in the FSU Countries Gasoline markets CAPEX, commencement, location, company and capacity details of all planned and proposed refining projects in the FSU Countries Business profiles of three leading Gasoline companies in the FSU Countries Major recent FSU Countries Gasoline news and deals The report enables users to Formulate new growth strategies based on detailed annual Gasoline forecasts Gain a clear understanding of the short term and long term outlook of each of the Gasoline markets Assess the feasibility of the development of new projects driving the Gasoline demand/supply Stay ahead of the competition through detailed insights on Gasoline trends, drivers and challenges Get clues from leading companies through detailed business profiles of market leaders Key Topics Covered: 1 Table of Contents 1.1 List of Tables 1.2 List of Figures 2 Introduction to FSU Countries Gasoline Markets 2.1 Market Snapshot, 2020 2.2 FSU Countries Gasoline Market Size Outlook, 2018-2028 2.2.1 Share of FSU Countries in Global Gasoline Market Size Outlook, 2018-2028 2.3 FSU Countries Gasoline Supply-Demand Outlook 2.3.1 FSU Countries Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 2.3.2 FSU Countries Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 2.4 FSU Countries Refining Capacity Outlook, 2008-2023 2.5 Leading Gasoline Companies in FSU Countries 3 Azerbaijan Gasoline Market Overview 3.1 Azerbaijan Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 3.2 Azerbaijan Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 3.3 Azerbaijan Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 3.4 Azerbaijan Gasoline Companies 3.5 Azerbaijan Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 3.6 Azerbaijan Gasoline Market Developments 4 Belarus Gasoline Market Overview 4.1 Belarus Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 4.2 Belarus Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 4.3 Belarus Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 4.4 Belarus Gasoline Companies 4.5 Belarus Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 4.6 Belarus Gasoline Market Developments 5 Kazakhstan Gasoline Market Overview 5.1 Kazakhstan Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 5.2 Kazakhstan Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 5.3 Kazakhstan Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 5.4 Kazakhstan Gasoline Companies 5.5 Kazakhstan Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 5.6 Kazakhstan Gasoline Market Developments 6 Latvia Gasoline Market Overview 6.1 Latvia Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 6.2 Latvia Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 6.3 Latvia Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 6.4 Latvia Gasoline Companies 6.5 Latvia Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 6.6 Latvia Gasoline Market Developments 7 Lithuania Gasoline Market Overview 7.1 Lithuania Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 7.2 Lithuania Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 7.3 Lithuania Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 7.4 Lithuania Gasoline Companies 7.5 Lithuania Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 7.6 Lithuania Gasoline Market Developments 8 Russia Gasoline Market Overview 8.1 Russia Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 8.2 Russia Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 8.3 Russia Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 8.4 Russia Gasoline Companies 8.5 Russia Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 8.6 Russia Gasoline Market Developments 9 Turkmenistan Gasoline Market Overview 9.1 Turkmenistan Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 9.2 Turkmenistan Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 9.3 Turkmenistan Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 9.4 Turkmenistan Gasoline Companies 9.5 Turkmenistan Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 9.6 Turkmenistan Gasoline Market Developments 10 Ukraine Gasoline Market Overview 10.1 Ukraine Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 10.2 Ukraine Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 10.3 Ukraine Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 10.4 Ukraine Gasoline Companies 10.5 Ukraine Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 10.6 Ukraine Gasoline Market Developments 11 Uzbekistan Gasoline Market Overview 11.1 Uzbekistan Gasoline Market Snapshot, 2020 11.2 Uzbekistan Gasoline Production Outlook, 2008-2028 11.3 Uzbekistan Gasoline Demand Outlook, 2008-2028 11.4 Uzbekistan Gasoline Companies 11.5 Uzbekistan Refining Analysis-Current and Upcoming Projects 11.6 Uzbekistan Gasoline Market Developments 12 Leading Gasoline Company Profiles 13 FSU Countries Gasoline Market News and Deals For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7u95xo View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005801/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com 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 NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Trader Interactive , a leading marketplace and dealer services provider for the lifestyle vehicle and commercial equipment industries, today announced the acquisition of the NextTruck, Rock & Dirt, Tradequip and Trade-A-Plane marketplaces from The Cosby Harrison Company. The transaction illustrates Trader Interactive's commitment to vertical expansion in the commercial trucking and equipment industries, will facilitate international expansion beginning with the Rock & Dirt Espanol foreign language site, and provide new services to dealers and OEMs in all relevant industries. The new marketplaces complement Trader Interactive's Commercial Truck Trader, Equipment Trader and Aero Trader brands. The company also operates lifestyle vehicle marketplaces Cycle Trader, RV Trader, ATV Trader, PWC Trader and Snowmobile Trader. NextTruck is a buy/sell digital listing service for commercial trucks and trailers. Rock & Dirt is a source for construction equipment, trucks, trailers, cranes, auctions, parts and attachments. Tradequip connects oil field equipment buyers and sellers worldwide. Trade-A-Plane has been a leading marketplace for aircraft for sale and aviation products and services since 1937. As part of the acquisition: All four new Trader Interactive marketplaces will retain their independent branding, supporting consumers' preference for multiple touchpoints on the path to purchase and helping maximize visibility of available vehicles and equipment for participating dealers and OEMs. Jeff Dyer , Chief Revenue Officer for Cosby Harrison , is joining Trader Interactive as Associate Vice President in charge of the four new marketplaces. The majority of Cosby Harrison employees associated with those marketplaces will also join the Trader Interactive team, providing continuity for customers as well as deep familiarity with the new platforms. , Chief Revenue Officer for , is joining Trader Interactive as Associate Vice President in charge of the four new marketplaces. The majority of employees associated with those marketplaces will also join the Trader Interactive team, providing continuity for customers as well as deep familiarity with the new platforms. Cosby Harrison will retain its WeatherTAP and WeatherTAP Pro weather forecasting services, marketing services division, and commercial printing services. "We have made exceptional gains across our entire portfolio over the past few years, including strong increases in site traffic, market share and technology-driven services expansions that have generated more leads and sales for our customers," said Lori Stacy, CEO of Trader Interactive. "This transaction will continue to fuel our growth by increasing our penetration in the commercial space, enabling us to deepen our presence in the oil and gas equipment industry, adding a leading brand in the aviation sector, and giving us new ways to provide value to dealers and OEMs." "The path to purchase today is largely digital, and Trader Interactive has mastered the art as well as the science of supporting both the supply and demand sides of marketplaces more than anyone else in our vertical sectors," said Adam Strachn, CEO of Cosby Harrison. "This transition will strengthen the offerings we've built, taking advantage of Trader's deep technology expertise, and leave our customers as well as visitors to our marketplaces in good hands." The transaction closed on February 10, 2020. Financial details were not disclosed. About Trader Interactive Trader Interactive connects buyers and sellers in the powersports, recreational vehicle, commercial vehicle, and heavy equipment industries through a broad portfolio of marketplaces that reach 9 million unique monthly visitors. Linked by a widely recognized family of "Trader" trademarks dating back several decades, the company's brands include lifestyle vehicle marketplaces Cycle Trader, RV Trader, ATV Trader, PWC Trader, Snowmobile Trader and Aero Trader, as well as commercial vehicle marketplaces Commercial Truck Trader and Equipment Trader. For more information, visit www.TraderInteractive.com . About Cosby Harrison The Cosby Harrison Company offers buy/sell web-based products and services for the aviation, heavy construction, commercial trucking, and oil and gas industries as well as signage and commercial printing services. For more information, visit https://www.cosbyharrison.com/. SOURCE Trader Interactive Related Links http://www.TraderInteractive.com Aboard a US cruise ship that was rejected at Asian ports over coronavirus fears, stoic passengers kept their spirits up with poolside yoga, spin classes, comedy shows and a few drinks. But the 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members of the Westerdam really rejoiced on Wednesday after learning Cambodia had given permission for the cruise liner to dock at Sihanoukville, on its southern coast. The scheduled arrival Thursday will bring an end to what was meant to be a dream 14-day cruise across Asia -- beginning from Hong Kong on February 1, and disembarking on Saturday in Yokohama, Japan. Japan, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand all refused to allow the ship to dock, despite Holland America insisting there were no cases of the deadly disease -- which has killed over 1,100 -- on board. Several other cruise ships have been refused entry at ports across the Asia-Pacific region -- from Singapore to Tonga -- as fears over the virus spike. Cambodia's decision to receive the Westerdam comes as its strongman leader has voiced vocal support for China -- with premier Hun Sen going so far as to travel to Beijing last week in a show of solidarity. The Southeast Asian nation -- with just one confirmed case of the SARS-like virus -- has been the recipient of billions of dollars in soft loans, infrastructure and investment from its superpower ally. "Guests will be able to go ashore," operator Holland America said in a statement. "We are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support." Even with their holiday plans in tatters, passengers made the most of the extraordinary circumstances -- some taking to social media to share amusing asides on life unwanted and at sea. "Not a bad place to be captive. I'm in the salon having my hair done right now and getting ready to hit the buffet," Christina Kerby said on Twitter, where her photos of yoga or posts on morning spin classes have bounced around. Speaking to AFP after hearing of their final destination, her reaction was one of elation -- "Thrilled! Thank you, Cambodia!" she said, adding a heart emoji. The mood on board was "relieved and upbeat". "At this point we're just happy to have a destination," she told AFP. - Barred from docking - The atmosphere is in stark contrast to the gloom aboard the Diamond Princess, a quarantined Japanese cruise ship riddled with the virus which has forced passengers into a depressing lockdown in cabins. "We're all good. The mood is positive... there's no tension on aboard" said Lorraine Oliveira, from Ireland, on the ship with her husband and two children. Before it was barred from docking, boat operator Holland America Line initially said the cruise will disembark on Thursday at Thailand's Laem Chabang port, a few hours east of Bangkok. With no idea of where they would make land or when, passengers cancelled onward flights, travel plans scrambled by events -- and governments -- beyond their control. Holland America said Wednesday that all onward travel from Sihanoukville will be arranged and paid for, and full refunds will be given to guests. "All guests on board are healthy and, despite erroneous reports, there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board," it added. Passenger Stephen Hansen confirmed to AFP that there was "no sickness on board". He also believes Thailand's refusal to let Westerdam dock was "a political situation, not a health one". Health authorities in Tonga have refused entry to three cruise liners -- CMV Astor, CMV Columbus and Crystal Serenity -- due to dock in the Pacific island nation on Wednesday. A fourth passenger ship Wind Spirit, which had been set to arrive on Saturday, was also told to stay away. The diversion notice did not say where the ships were headed but online trackers suggested the Astor was steaming towards Auckland, Columbus and Serenity were Fiji-bound and Wind Spirit was still near Tahiti. Meanwhile Cunard's Queen Mary 2 luxury liner, currently off the coast of Malaysia, has been diverted to Freemantle in Western Australia, cancelling stops in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. burs-apj/dhc/fox On what would have been London Sophia Bribiescas 12th birthday, her family gathered to make a public appeal. They urged Texans to call their state lawmakers to push for a red flag law. Such a measure would let police or third parties petition courts to seek the temporary removal of guns from anyone found to be a danger to themselves or others. London would have approved of such a law, said her aunt Emma Bribiescas Mancha-Sumners. London was a very loving little girl with her own distinct voice, Mancha-Sumners said during a news conference Tuesday. She looked after others and was very outspoken about what she felt should be done. Anyone who knew London knows that if she were here right now, she would have absolutely no problem coming up here and speaking for herself. But she isnt. And she cant. So I hope you choose to help us speak for her. London was 10 years old when she was found shot to death with her mother, hairstylist Nichol Leila Olsen, 37, and her sister Alexa Denice Montez, 16, at a sprawling house in the gated Anaqua Springs Ranch subdivision near Leon Springs on Jan. 10, 2019. All of them had been living at the house with Olsens boyfriend, Charles Edward Wheeler, 32, who owned the property. He since has sold the house and moved to Austin. On ExpressNews.com: Sheriff still seeks answers in Anaqua Springs killings 13 months later The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office ruled Olsens death a suicide and her daughters deaths as homicides. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office launched an investigation independent of those findings and called in the FBI to help. That investigation continues 13 months later. Sheriff Javier Salazar said earlier this week that hes keeping the case open because hes searching for definitive evidence of who shot Olsens daughters and whether Olsen really killed herself. He continues to describe Wheeler as a person of interest. But no charges have been filed and no one has been arrested. Wheelers attorneys denied that he did anything wrong and recently said he has been maliciously and wrongfully accused based on primarily the words of the sheriff. Theyve called on Salazar to be transparent about the evidence. Londons family carefully avoided pointing fingers at Wheeler or Olsen during Tuesdays news conference. Under a red flag law, a person determined through a court hearing to be a danger to themselves or others would be temporarily barred from buying or possessing guns and could lose access to any firearms they already own for up to one year. Such laws had been passed in 17 states and the District of Columbia as of August. The Bribiescas family hopes a legislator will step forward to help champion the cause. We have been in contact with a few representatives nothing concrete yet, Mancha-Sumners said. We really do consider these laws to do the bare minimum to protect our kids. On ExpressNews.com: Father losing patience with sheriffs office about his daughters killing as Anaqua Springs case remains open Texans unaware of how to express support for red flag laws to their state legislators can contact groups such as Moms Demand Action and Texas Gun Sense for help, she said. Its exactly what (London) would have wanted for her 12th birthday, Mancha-Sumners said. Attorney Marco Cepeda said the Bribiescas family believes from the limited information they have that there were warning signs of irresponsible gun ownership and domestic violence at the house where the shootings occurred. Cepeda and Mancha-Sumners said they would not give specifics about those warning signs or elaborate further because of the ongoing investigation. The details regarding the circumstances of what exactly happened that night are still unknown to us, Cepeda said Tuesday. But one thing is extremely clear what happened to those girls that night could have been prevented. Despite the affluent neighborhood, the perfect Instagram pictures and the smiles, there was reason to believe that things were not as perfect inside that home as they appeared to be. Gun lobbyist groups said Texas already has a red flag law allowing for extreme risk protective orders. But gun safety advocates say Texas lacks a relinquishment law forcing people targeted by protective orders or convicted of domestic violence to give up guns they already own. On ExpressNews.com: A single mother, her millionaire boyfriend and how their storybook romance ended in horror Enforcement suspending access to firearms is haphazard across Texas, said Molly Bursey, state legislative lead for the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action. Mike Cox, legislative director of the Texas State Rifle Association, argued that red flag laws lack sufficient due process and dont connect people with mental health resources. While its impossible to say if a red flag law could have helped London and Alexa, Cepeda contended such a law would have made it easier for concerned parties to speak up about the childrens home environment. Prior to the murder of London and Alexa, there were numerous warning signs. Because those close to the family did not believe any laws were actually being broken, they felt powerless to intervene, Cepeda said. Had a red flag law been in place, they would have felt empowered to seek help from law enforcement, and this senseless tragedy might have been avoided. The Bribiescas family said they support investigators taking their time searching for answers. Our family has been very careful this past year to not speak too much just to kind of (protect) the integrity of the case, Mancha-Sumners said. 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 Theres no shortage of threats in the Southeast Asian seas. So why arent residents buying maritime patrol aircraft? MELBOURNE, Australia Maritime patrol and maritime surveillance aircraft are a vital tool in ensuring what is known as maritime domain awareness, and they serve as a complementary asset for navies and coast guards protecting their nations maritime interests. The aircrafts chief advantages are speed and operating altitude, which bestow faster response times in getting to where they are needed, as well as improved sensor performance compared to seagoing vessels. Maritime domain awareness, or MDA, is defined by the International Maritime Organization as the effective understanding of anything that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway. These include all maritime-related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels and other conveyances. In recent years, the issue of MDA in Southeast Asia has received significant attention. The Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea run through the region, and the importance of both waterways to global maritime trade cannot be understated, as theyre the fastest routes through which ships travel from Europe, the Middle East and Africa to the East Asian economic powerhouses of China, Japan and South Korea. The numbers bear this out. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimated that roughly one-third of all global shipping passed through the South China Sea in 2015, while the U.S. Energy Information Administration said that in the same period, 16 million barrels of petroleum and other liquids transited the Strait of Malacca each day. Chinese military contingent, including aircraft from virus-hit province, arrive in Singapore for air show However, maritime security challenges abound in the waters of this vital route. Disputes over the ownership of potentially resource-rich islands in the South China Sea involving China and six other regional states as well as illegal fishing are the most prominent challenges. But theyre not alone. Story continues Modern-day piracy along the Southeast Asian coastline and particularly in the Strait of Malacca is an issue. At its narrowest point in the Phillips Channel of the Singapore Strait, the waterway is about 1.7 miles wide, which, in addition to forcing ships to move slowly, rendering them vulnerable to pirate attacks, creates a natural bottleneck with the potential for collisions and grounding, and thus oil spills. Elsewhere in the region, tourists to the coastal resorts along the eastern half of Malaysia occasionally become kidnapping victims to gangs that travel by boat from the southern Philippines. Separatist insurgents have also find sanctuary in eastern Malaysia. Despite the myriad challenges, regional nations have not actively pursued maritime patrol aircraft, or MPA, preferring instead to prioritize other acquisitions in the face of budget requirements. Singapore, one of the more prosperous regional states, was at one point considered a potential operator of the Boeing P-8A multimission aircraft. It previously sought to acquire a new aircraft type as a replacement for its Fokker 50 twin-engine turboprop aircraft, although that has been put on hold. It currently operates a fleet of nine Fokker 50s configured in a mix of MPAs and transports acquired in the 1990s, which it decided against modernizing a few years ago. Alternatives Instead of costly, sophisticated aircraft like the P-8A, regional operators are most likely to turn to less complex platforms with an emphasis on the basic maritime surveillance mission. For example, the Philippines recently accepted refurbished Beechcraft TC-90 aircraft donated by Japan as well as Cessna 208 surveillance aircraft paid for by the U.S. Defense Department under a security assistance program. These aircraft have a lot of the advanced equipment found on other MPAs. The TC-90s are dependent on the eyes of the crew while the Cessnas are fitted with an electro-optical turret to aid surveillance missions. Malaysia also had a longstanding requirement for a new armed MPA, with that need gaining more attention after the 2016 crash of one of its Beechcraft King Air 200 planes used for maritime surveillance. But a budget crunch means any acquisition effort has been put on ice, and instead Malaysia will likely convert a small number of its Indonesian-built IPTN/CASA CN-235 turboprop transports into maritime surveillance aircraft. Such a conversion could make the five CN-235s similar to those operated by neighboring Indonesias Air Force and Navy, which were modified by Indonesian Aerospace in cooperation with U.S. company Integrated Surveillance and Defense. And theres an advantage to these modifications: Having platforms able to perform a number of different missions could be the key for regional nations seeking a versatile MPA option. Some of Singapores Fokker 50 transports, which can be fitted as troop carriers, VIP transports or intelligence-gathering aircraft, can also be converted into an MPA-lite configuration by equipping each with a belly radar. Furthermore, operators of the Airbus C295 Persuader aircraft, such as the Philippines and Vietnam, could realize the advantages of operating a single aircraft type in both transport and MPA roles, given the C295s MPA variant has sufficient cabin space to act as a transport. And Lockheed Martin could market its proposed SC-130J Sea Hercules MPA to potential customers looking to also replace their older C-130 Hercules transports. The companys proposal sees a roll-on/roll-off pallet containing MPA mission systems and operator consoles that could be switched out as needs dictate, allowing the C-130 to swing between the airlifter and MPA roles. Indeed, amid limited budgets and competing priorities, it may be up to industry to come up solutions to address a market segment that exists, but has yet to be satisfied. ISTANBUL Syrian government attacks on Turkish positions in northwest Syria are driving Turkey deeper into the countrys civil war, prompting it to send reinforcements to the region and press for a Turkish-controlled military zone there. Syrian troops killed eight Turkish soldiers and a civilian contractor last week and five more soldiers on Monday. Backed by Russian bombers, Syrian forces have encircled several Turkish observation posts in the northwestern province of Idlib posts established by agreements aimed at reducing violence. Turkey, which supports Syrias opposition forces, has pushed back, pummeling the advancing Syrian units with artillery and killing dozens of Syrian troops and allied fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based war monitor. A Syrian helicopter was shot down on Tuesday, reportedly by rebel forces. The surge in fighting, as the Syrian government tries to retake the countrys last rebel-held province, has created the largest displacement of people in the wars nine-year history. About 700,000 people have fled their homes in Idlib since December, the United Nations said Tuesday. Many are living in tents near the Turkish border, and there have been recent reports of children freezing to death. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 20:34:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi security forces launched Wednesday a major offensive to hunt down Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar and border areas with neighboring Syria and Jordan, the Iraqi military said. The Iraqi forces, backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led international aircraft, started at dawn the first phase of the major offensive, dubbed Operation Heroes of Iraq, Abdul Amir Rasheed Yarallah, deputy commander of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said in a statement. The troops pushed in five routes to clear 26,238 square km of areas of the remnants of IS militants and to promote the stability across the province, the statement added. "Iraqi warplanes of F-16 and Sukhoi began flying at very low altitudes in the operation's areas and nearby city centers in response to the requirements of ongoing operation," the statement said without giving further details. Late in 2017, Iraq declared full liberation of its territories from IS militants after Iraqi forces seized the whole border areas with Syria and nearby desert in western Iraq. However, small groups or individuals of IS militants still try to infiltrate into Iraq from neighboring Syria through the roughly 600 km long border with vast rugged areas and desert land. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Madrid Wed, February 12, 2020 14:06 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20640ba21 2 Science & Tech Intel,Facebook,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus Free US chip giant Intel, Facebook, Chinese phonemaker Vivo and Cisco all withdrew from the Mobile World Congress over coronavirus fears Tuesday, joining other industry heavyweights pulling out of the world's top mobile fair. The annual Barcelona-based congress normally draws more than 100,000 people, but this year, participation has been hit by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, which has claimed more than 1,000 lives since first emerging in China. Over the past week, a string of major tech names have dropped out, among them Sony, Sweden's Ericsson, South Korean giant LG and Japan's NTT DoCoMo, raising questions about whether the event would be cancelled. "The safety and wellbeing of all our employees and partners is our top priority, and we have withdrawn from this year's Mobile World Congress," said an Intel statement sent to AFP. Facebook, which operates Instagram and WhatsApp, said in a statement that it was pulling out of the Barcelona event because of public health risks related to the virus. Vivo, which is one of the world's top five smartphone manufacturers, also confirmed it would not participate in the show, a key date in the tech calendar where firms unveil their latest gadgets and innovations. "In light of the current situation, we have taken the decision not to attend MWC 2020 or any other associated event in Barcelona at the same time" it said, pledging to postpone the presentation of its latest mobile offering. "The health and security of our employees and the wider public are a priority for us," it said. Vivo is the second Chinese firm to withdraw from the show after Umidigi, a smaller handset maker, pulled out on Monday. Read also: Singapore postpones mass gatherings following increase of coronavirus alert level US tech company CISCO had taken the "difficult decision to withdraw" from the event due to concerns over the virus, the company said in a statement on Twitter. For now, China's top smartphone manufacture Huawei as well as its smaller rival ZTE are still set to attend and have said their executives and staff would undergo a self-imposed two-week quarantine period before appearing at the show. ZTE has also said its stand and equipment would be disinfected daily, with all of its booth exhibition staff brought in from countries outside of China, mainly Europe. US chipmaker Nvidia has also cancelled its appearance at the show, which is due to run from February 24-27 and normally includes between 5,000 to 6,000 participants from China, according to GSMA, the mobile trade association which organizes the show. On Sunday, the association said it would step up security measures to try and reassure exhibitors, saying it would have staff on hand to take visitors' temperatures and would impose restrictions on visitors coming from China. By Tuesday, the death toll from the virus had risen to 1,016, with more than 42,000 people infected. Almost all of the deaths and infections have been in mainland China, although the virus has since been detected in 25 countries, in what the World Health Organization on Tuesday said posed a "very grave threat" for the world. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bright Power , the premier provider of energy and water management services for real estate owners, investors and operators, grew over 30% in 2019, and is starting 2020 by rolling out a new organizational structure to support continued growth. In 2019, Bright Power was recognized by Inc. magazine in its annual Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing privately held companies for the fourth year. In December, the organization received the Best of Manhattan Award in the Renewable Energy category and CEO, President and Founder, Jeffrey Perlman, was recognized on the list of the City & State Energy & Environment Power 50 . To support Bright Powers growth while continuing to serve clients thoughtfully, optimize offerings to accommodate local energy, water and carbon regulations, and deepen the organizations positive impact on the environment, the company is pleased to announce the following organizational changes and promotions. The companys new organizational structure includes five business units. Three geographic business units -- New York, National and California -- will deliver energy efficiency, energy management and renewable energy services tailored to the needs of building owners in those markets. The On-Site Generation unit will focus on delivering solar, battery and resiliency systems to customers in the New York metro area. Strategic Initiatives will work with real estate stakeholders outside of owners and property managers to support and build the market for sustainability solutions. The company has appointed the following leaders to lead these business units. NEW YORK: Andrea Mancino will lead Bright Powers business in the Greater New York area as Executive Vice President, New York. Prior to this promotion, Andrea served as the Director of New Construction. She started at the company as an intern nearly eight years ago, co-founded Bright Powers New Construction division and is a 2019 Environmental + Energy Leader 100 honoree . NATIONAL: Colleen Woodson will lead Bright Powers business with national real estate portfolios as Executive Vice President, National. She has held several previous leadership roles at the company, most recently as Chief of Staff. Colleen started her career as an Energy Engineer at TRC Energy Services. CALIFORNIA: Andrew McNamara and Gregory Sherman will continue to lead Bright Powers California office, with Andy as Executive Vice President of Operations, California and Greg as Executive Vice President of Sales, California. Both Andy and Greg joined Bright Power in 2006, and were integral to building the company in New York before founding the California office in 2015. ON-SITE GENERATION: John Clasby, who joined the company in late 2019, will continue to lead Bright Powers solar, battery and resiliency installation efforts as Vice President, On-Site Generation. John has over 15 years of construction and management experience in the solar industry. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES: Jonathan Braman is now Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, a team he founded and has led for over four years. In this role, Jon will continue to lead Bright Powers work to broaden and strengthen the market for real estate sustainability solutions, including the companys projects with lenders such as Fannie Mae. Jon has been with the company for twelve years. Additionally, James Hannah has been promoted to Chief Customer Officer. In this new role, James will drive customer success by aligning sales, account management and the companys services with the needs of real estate customers. He has over eight years experience at Bright Power advising property owners and managers on how to best deploy energy efficiency, solar energy, cogeneration, and green building features across their portfolios and in their development projects. Each one of these leaders has contributed deeply to the organization. Their continued leadership, expertise and commitment to Bright Power will enable us to further expand our capability to deliver impactful services that are a win for building owners and managers, a win for building occupants and a win for the environment, said Jeffrey Perlman, CEO, President and Founder of Bright Power. New to Bright Power is Suzanne Kucera, who recently joined as the Chief Financial Officer. As an agile leader of growth companies and start-ups, Suzanne has successfully navigated diverse industries, including technology, media, marketing, clean energy, consumer products, asset management and real estate. Most recently, Suzanne acted as an interim CFO/COO at a C&I and community solar developer in New Jersey, while completing a Diploma in Clean Energy at NYU. Suzanne is currently on the Board of MMA Capital Holdings, a public company that lends to solar projects. Suzanne brings a wealth of diverse experience and insights to the company, and I look forward to working with her to take Bright Power into the next phase, said Perlman. About Bright Power, Inc. Bright Power provides strategic energy and water solutions to building owners and operators across the nation. Specializing in multifamily apartment buildings, Bright Power has worked with over 1,600,000 apartments that cover over 1,600,000,000 square feet. Bright Powers energy management solutions include EnergyScoreCards benchmarking software, energy audits, energy procurement, clean on-site generation, green building design services, turnkey installation of energy improvements and MoBIUS ongoing energy management. For more information, please visit www.brightpower.com . Media Contact Rob Kreis FischTank Marketing and PR BP@fischtankpr.com The neurotech & AI company has the most sensitive tracker for eye motion on the cellular scale available today to predict neurological diseases in seconds BERKELEY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / C. Light Technologies, a neurotech and AI company participating in UC Berkeley's premier accelerator SkyDeck, is introducing the world's first retinal eye-tracking technology paired with machine learning to assess and predict neurological health. The technology is fast (10 seconds), non-invasive and objective. This life-changing technology can measure the motion of the eye on a cellular scale - movements as small as roughly 1/100 the size of human hair. The technique uses a Tracking Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (TSLO) developed by Dr. Christy Sheehy, founder of C. Light, which images the retina to better understand the conditions of the brain. C. Light's solution is starting with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in the future will be used to assess or diagnose Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and concussions. "The back of your eye is actually the front of your brain. We use AI paired with eye tracking to create a digital fingerprint of your neurological health, with unprecedented speed and sensitivity," said Dr. Zachary Helft, C. Light Co-Founder. "Other technologies use the pupil to track eye motion, but our technique images the retina for 120 times more sensitivity than the other tracking systems available today. In other words, C. Light measures eye motion that has been otherwise invisible through existing pupil tracking technologies." Neurological health is the fastest-growing area of healthcare costs. With about one million people with MS and six million with Alzheimer's in the United States, neurodegenerative diseases cost the healthcare system $800 billion annually. Additionally, diagnosing and monitoring these diseases is costly and time-consuming; and delaying diagnosis - combined with very limited medications available for treatment - creates even more challenges, symptoms and side effects for patients. Because of the speed of C. Light's TSLO machine, doctors may very quickly see the state of the disease and determine how well a particular medication is working and make changes as needed. Eye motion has been used for decades to quickly triage brain health. This is why a doctor asks you to "follow my finger" with your eyes. They are looking for distinct patterns of eye motion that might help them determine if the brain is working optimally. Today, this new one-of-a-kind solution from C. Light provides accurate information that is clinically actionable. The technology can help better manage a patient's disease, and allow doctors to treat disease more effectively. Once a condition is confirmed, C. Light can be used to monitor and track progression. "C. Light is working to create a precision medicine approach for neurological disease. In this era of digital health, we are creating an entirely new data stream about the status of brain health via the eye. Our growing databases and accompanying AI can change the way we monitor and treat all neurological diseases for future generations," said Dr. Christy K. Sheehy, Ph.D., C. Light Co-founder, who created the company's core hardware technology through her dissertation work at UC Berkeley. "By measuring eye motion with the finest detail, C. Light is updating this age-old assessment with modern technology to transform a symptom into an objective way to measure disease or injury progression." C. Light's technology is not only fast, it is extremely easy for practitioners to use. Patients simply rest their chin on the chinrest and a technician aligns the person into the system. The patient fixates on a target for 10 seconds and a video is recorded. Patients don't need to be dilated or use eye drops and are free to blink if needed during the recording. Eye motion is then used to predict neurological disability. LINK to images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_CWugLSUJ75W1OMk2Kq1UhnIOEX6VPtT About C. Light C. Light is a neurotech and AI company that uses retinal eye-tracking to help determine neurological health and the efficacy of medications. The solution takes a fundamentally different approach to eye tracking than other technologies on the market which measure pupil movement. A participant in the elite Berkeley SkyDeck accelerator, C. Light's new biomarker platform can transform how we assess neurological diseases. The company's founding team comprises Vision Science Ph.D.s. The company has won two grants from NIH and has partnered with UCSF for Multiple Sclerosis research and UPMC for concussion research. For more information, visit www.clighttechnologies.com. ### Media Contact: Erica Zeidenberg Hot Tomato Marketing erica@hottomato.net 925-518-8159 mobile 925-631-0553 office SOURCE: C. Light Technologies View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576154/C-Light-Introduces-Worlds-First-Retinal-Eye-Tracking-Technology-to-Assess-Neurological-Health-in-the-Blink-of-An-Eye Describing police brutality meted out to them during the 10 February protests, Jamia students accused the Delhi Police of assaulting girls and hitting them on their chest and stomach with lathis. Some students also accused the police of kicking them on their private parts with their boots on, punching them and even forcibly removing their hijabs. On Monday, the roads around the central university of Jamia Millia Islamia were crowded with several policemen. Whoever passed by the area, looked at the police with surprise, even though there has been an overwhelming police presence the past two months in the area due to the protests against the amended citizenship law and National Register of Citizens by Jamia students. The heavier than usual barricading and enormous police presence in the area was owing to a march planned from the university to the Parliament House by the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC), a group of students who oversee the ongoing protests at the university against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. A similar march had been planned by the Jamia students on the 13 December last year, permission for which was denied by the Delhi Police. It ended in extreme brutality a day later (on 15 December) in which a university student Minhajuddin lost an eye. Shaheen Bagh protests on the Kalindi Kunj was a direct response to this reported police brutality on the students. On Monday (10 February), as the students gave a call for another march, following the same route as before they had not anticipated that the police would not permit them to pass. According to students, the police is trying to curb their constitutional right to protest by not giving them permission and suppressing their protests with lathis. According to the students, this time the police was not just armed with lathis and tear gas, but were ready in a more "strategic manner". The students accused the police of assaulting girls and hitting them on their chest and stomach with lathis. Some girls also accused the police of kicking them on their private parts with their boots on, punching them and even forcibly removing their hijabs. Mohommad Danish, an independent photographer, also an alumni of the university, who was an eyewitness to the whole incident said, "The police was trying to hide and attack the students. Saamne see nahin maar rahe the, kyunki unko darr tha camera me pakde jayengey. The police was more strategic compared to the December incident. This time, they were hitting students from beneath. They were definitely trying to suppress the protest, but not openly so. And because they hid and attacked, the police was more successful this time." Photos of the assault taken by Danish have been doing the rounds on social media and have also been used by many media houses. "There was heavy barricading around the campus but the students still tried to go ahead with their march. It is their democratic right to protest," he added. Safoora Zargar, a member of the JCC, accused the police of attacking the students in an "inhumane way". She said, "During the protest, three policemen stuffed me between them. I was suffocated, and panicked. The policemen didn't care about personal space, they were closing in on me. They were inhuman, they refused to back down and even smiled at me in a mean way, as if enjoying my misery. I kicked around crying, expecting them to leave me, but they did not. Instead, they said things like "aur march karo", "agar darr lagta hai pitne see to aayi kyun ho?", taunting and humiliating me." Safoora was one of the first women taken to the hospital. The doctor, according to her, said she had severe injuries on her chest due to suffocation. "The women police officers were even worse. They pinch and push even more severely. As if lathicharge wasn't enough. They normalised manhandling and molesting so much so that we don't dare to protest again," she added. Apart from Safoora, several other women accused the police of 'inhumane' behaviour. Sarah Rifai, an alumna of the Mass Communication department at Jamia had joined Monday's march in solidarity with her alma mater. But even before the protests began, she had to be rushed to the hospital. "I was right in front of the police barricade trying to go to the other side. I tripped and fell down because of the crowd. Suddenly, I saw a woman constable jump on me. While she sat on me, a male police hit me on my stomach with a lathi. I somhow narrowly escaped," she said, narrating the incident. Explaining further, she said, "The second time I tried to cross the barricade, a policewoman tried pulling my hair and suffocated me by holding my neck. Policemen and women groped me incessantly, as well." Sarah claimed that she isn't the only one who had to go through this. According to her, it happened to even elderly women who were part of the protest. Fouzia, a third year student pursuing Persian, was also among the women in the front. She said, "When we explained to the police that we just wanted to peacefully protest, they didn't listen to us and got violent, trying to push us back. The policeman called two other policewomen to stand in front, while they hit and kick us from behind without being seen. When I still refused to back down, one of the police officers said to me, "Tum log marr kyun nahin jaate?" From 2 pm to 6 pm I was constantly beaten up and harassed by the police." Speaking about Iman Usmani, a protester who was severely hurt and had suffered internal bleeding in her stomach, Fouzia said, "My friend Imam was assaulted by a male policeman. Another student I saw at the hospital was throwing up what looked like foam. The doctor said he must have been hit with something sharp." Fouzia and Iman were among the protesters taken to Al-Shifa hospital for treatment. While Fouzia has received a muscle injury near her thumb, Iman has suffered internal injury. Talking about the different ways in which the police had responded, Fouzia further added, "My hijab was snatched away from me by the police during the protest. It came off completely and I am somebody who rarely goes out without my hijab. I felt violated. I couldn't find my hijab it had disappeared in the crowd." Imam has also complained of the same. Several students also complained of "chemicals" released by the Delhi Police to thwart the protests. It was not tear gas, the students said. "The kind of gas that was released was making us pukish and some people were fainting as well," one of the protesters said. By 6 in the evening, 16 students were admitted to Al Shifa hospital due to serious injuries. Mudassir Azeem, a doctor at Al Shifa said, "Initially, there were only 8 students. But slowly, the number reached 16. Most of the students brought here had been hurt in their stomach. Some said they were assualted by police lathis, some said that the police had punched them. Even the girls complained of the same thing." Six out of the sixteen were women. Students accused the police of mistreatment not just during the protest, but even after some of them had been detained. Shaheen Abdullah, a student of Jamia's Convergent Journalism course, said, "As they dragged me to the bus, I saw an armed group of police following us. The moment they threw me inside, the officers inside started punching me. They even said, "Abb tujhey azaadi deta hoon." They attacked me with batons and other things in their hands. I pushed back, which triggered one of the officers who started shouting- "goli maar do usko." When the other detainee, Izhar Hussain from the Engineering department tried to stop them, he was also beaten up." Later in a Facebook post, Shaheen wrote, "It's not about the pain. It's the humiliation, oppression, discrimination and the dehumanisation which still burns. The other stories from Jamia also evidently show the attempt of the State to target us." But the Delhi Police has denied all allegations. Rajiv Kumar Meena, who has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Police of South East Delhi, said he and other senior officers were present at the protests. Meena has replaced Chinmoy Biswal after the Election Commission of India took notice of the two incidents of firing that occured on campus. Meena said, "All the allegations against the police are false. We made sure that the first layer of police was women police. The media was covering the event live from all sides. How could it be possible?" When asked about the accusations by students, Meena dubbed them false and added that the students are trying to simply demonise the police to emerge as victims and gain sympathy for their cause. When told about the doctor's statement who had treated one of the injured students, Meena said, "If at all anything inappropriate happened, it is a matter of inquiry and investigation." According to him, the Delhi police is open to inquiry. She's been nominated for two Oscars, including a Best Supporting Actress nod at this past Sunday's awards, and she's already one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. And Margot Robbie is adding yet another role to her list of upcoming projects, a dramatic feature from Silver Linings Playbook auteur David O. Russell. The film, which is yet to be titled, will also feature Oscar winner Christian Bale, who most recently appeared in the Academy Award-winning feature Ford v Ferrari. Busy Oscar nominee: Margot Robbie is adding yet another role to her list of upcoming projects, a dramatic feature from Silver Linings Playbook auteur David O. Russell According to The Hollywood Reporter, Russell is set to write and direct the new film from an original idea, but plot details are being kept under wraps. Russell, who has been nominated for five Oscars between Playbook in 2012, 2013's American Hustle and The Fighter from 2010, last helmed the Jennifer Lawrence feature Joy, in 2015. According to both Russell's and Bale's IMDb pages, they are already set to team on a project titled Amsterdam, but it is not yet confirmed whether Robbie, 29, is joining them on that project or a different one. David famously directed Christian in his Oscar-winning role in the Fighter, which also earned supporting actress Melissa Leo a golden statuette in 2011. Costar: The film, which is yet to be titled, will also feature Ford v Ferrari's Christian Bale; seen here at the SAG Awards last month Filmmaker extraordinaire: Russell is set to write and direct the new film from an original idea, but plot details are being kept under wraps; seen at the Chanel and Charles Finch Pre-Oscar Awards Dinner on Saturday night The film will be produced and distributed by New Regency. Margot was up for a best supporting actress Oscar this past Sunday for her role in Bombshell, in which she played a fictional composite character in a film otherwise based on the true account of the sexual harassment charges that led to Fox chief Roger Ailes's dismissal from the company. Previously, the Australian-born actress received a nomination in the lead acting category for her spirited portrayal of disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding in the 2017 film I, Tonya. Honored: Margot was up for a best supporting actress Oscar this past Sunday for her role in Bombshell, in which she played a fictional composite character; seen here with Kate McKinnon Margot can currently be seen in theaters with Warner Bros.' Birds of Prey, in which she reprises her role from 2016's Suicide Squad as Harley Quinn. Aside from three additional upcoming Harley Quinn vehicles on the docket, Robbie has numerous other acting projects in development, including a war film titled Ruin and a movie following Robin Hood's love interest, Maid Marian. Margot is also the final pick for the already-famous Barbie movie, which is set to be directed by Little Women's Greta Gerwig and is currently being scripted by Gerwig and her life partner Noah Baumbach. New sanitation measures introduced at bus terminals and airport to combat coronavirus PHUKET: Local authorities have been instructed to upgrade sanitation efforts on selected public transport in an attempt to contain any possible spread of the coronavirus in Phuket. healthSafetytransportCoronavirusCOVID-19 By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 12 February 2020, 06:12PM Officials, including Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana in front of one of the buses used in the sanitation process demonstration. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub An official demonstrating how the sanitation procedure will be conducted on the public buses. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana yesterday (Feb 11) ordered that public buses at Phuket Bus Terminal 2 and Phuket International Airport be regularly sanitised to mitigate any health risks. We have new measures for cleanliness from today forward, commented Governor Phakaphong. We will be introducing this to Phuket Bus Terminal 2 with measures such as cleaning handrails which are frequently touched. To assist with protection efforts, Assistant of the Secretary to the Minister of Public Health, Raywat Areerob, has provided a spraying machine for public buses at both Phuket Bus Terminal 2 and Phuket International Airport. At this stage, there is only one spraying machine. We will have a meeting with local administrative officers to secure more spraying machines for public vehicles in due course. Currently I can confirm that we do not have anyone infected with the virus, Governor Phakaphong added. Meanwhile, Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief Banyat Kantha, told The Phuket News, Today Governor Phakaphong led a demonstration on how to sanitise the buses. The buses need to be empty when they are sprayed then left vacant for a further 20 minutes before passengers are allowed to embark. Today (Feb 11) we completed the process on several buses, although not all as still there are many that have yet to return to the terminal. When asked how often the sanitation process would be employed on each bus, Chief Banyat confirmed that the exact plans had yet to be decided as the equipment was being shared between the two locations. We will focus more on public vehicles at the airport, however, because there are more tourists there, he confirmed. [February 11, 2020] SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS SHAREHOLDER ALERT by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. - SPR Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until April 10, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR), if they purchased the Company's securities between October 31, 2019 and January 29, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Spirit AeroSystems 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-spr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by April 10, 2020. About the Lawsuit Spirit and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On January 30, 2020, the Company disclosed that it had failed to "comply with its established accounting processes related to certain potential contingent liabilities that were received by Spirit after the end of third quarter 2019" and that its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer had resigned. On this news, the price of Spirit's shares plummeted. The case is Goldman v. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. et al, 4:20cv54. 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/20200211006101/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Union Cabinet gave its in-principle approval for infusing Rs 2,500 crore in three public sector insurance companies. This is being seen as a step towards merging these state-run insurers, something announced by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Union Budget for 2018-19. The companies that will benefit from the latest round of capital infusion are Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL), National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), and United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL). The decision has been taken in the light of the critical financial position and breach of regulatory solvency requirements of these three public sector general insurance companies, the government said in a statement on Wednesday. ALSO READ: Buying car insurance? Keep these points in mind "As you know the government has infused ?3 lakh crore into public-sector banks in the past three years. Similarly, we will start recapitalisation of general insurance companies in tranches. The government will infuse more capital as and when required," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told the media after the Cabinet meeting. "The government is infusing capital into these companies so that the solvency ratio becomes acceptable and it fulfils the criteria of IRDA," he further said. ALSO READ: Budget 2020: Insurance sector expects slew of sops from FM Sitharman to take it to next phase of progress In his Budget for 2018-19, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had proposed merging OICL, NICL and UIICL, and list the merged entity on domestic stock exchanges. However, poor financial health of these general insurers had delayed the merger process by two years now. Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Singh Thakur had mentioned that the government will extend financial assistance worth Rs 2,500 crore to insurers during the current financial year. A corpus of Rs 6,950 crore is already announced for them in the Union Budget 2020-21 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this month. ALSO READ: LIC IPO may come in 2nd half of FY21: Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar GREENWOOD, S.C. - A prison chaplain in South Carolina was arrested Tuesday after an inmate performed a sex act on him in his office at a womens prison, authorities said. Jefferson Kwamina-Crystal, 65, of Spartanburg, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual misconduct with an inmate, according to an arrest warrant from the Corrections Department. Kwamina-Crystal had voluntary oral sex with the inmate between August and December in his office at the Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood where he was a chaplain, authorities said. Kwamina-Crystal was fired after his arrest, the Corrections Department said in a statement. State law prohibits consensual sexual acts between prison employees and inmates because of the authority the employees have over the prisoners. Kwamina-Crystal is charged with a felony and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. It wasnt known if Kwamina-Crystal has a lawyer. The Perspective Atlanta, Georgia February 11, 2020 President Donald Trump Since the Second Intifada in 2000, the Israelis have been steadily moving to the right-of-center. Successive Israeli governments have made national security central to Israels very survival, and linking it to the presumed existential threat posed by the Palestinians has become the national mantra. Thus, controlling the Palestinians lives and their territory became synonymous with Israels national security. Israel has, for all intents and purposes, given itself the license to do whatever it pleases in the Palestinian territories, including building settlements, erecting barriers and fences, demolishing Palestinian homes, and restricting their movement, and was poised to annex the Jordan Valley, all in the name of national security. The unveiling of Trumps deal of the century (Deal) was framed to fully support the Israeli scheme, yet it tragically condemned the next generation of Israelis and Palestinians to years, if not decades, of violence and wars while dangerously destabilizing the region, which is already plagued with widespread turmoil. Do Trump and Netanyahu understand the implications of what they have done? Here we have an impeached president and a prime minister who is indicted and facing trialtwo crooks facing new elections. Trump will drag himself through any gutter to be reelected, and pleasing his evangelical constituency is vital to that goal. Thus, releasing his decisively pro-Israel Deal at this particular juncture was meant to serve his immediate goal and that of Netanyahu, who is also seen as the conduit for the messianic mission of the evangelicals. Netanyahu, whose zealotry and obscene lust for power matches only that of Trump, gladly embraced the Deal because it boosts his reelection prospects, realizes his life-long aspiration for a Greater Israel, and allows him to emerge as Israels savior who restored much of the Jews biblical land of Israel to its rightful owners. To understand why the Deal puts Israels future at risk, one need not go too far to find the answer. Even before the deal was disclosed, the Palestinian Authority rejected it on the grounds that it denies the Palestinian right to statehood, legitimizes the settlements, allows for the annexation of nearly 30 percent of Palestinian land, and permits Israel to annex the Jordan Valley. This shatters any prospect of establishing a viable Palestinian state, regardless of what the deal stipulates. By what logic then will the Palestinians accept such a deal that robs them of a more than 70-year-old dream to establish an independent state? Whether or not they missed several opportunities in the past to realize their dream, their initial rejection of Israels right to exist does not nullify their right to a state of their own that lives in peace with Israel. The Deal has only justified the claim of extremist Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and countries like Iran and others, that Israel has had all along with no intention of allowing the Palestinians to have an independent state, and that only continued violent resistance will force Israels hands. This will be the net outcome of the Deal. As the Palestinians lose hope and have little left to lose, violence and more violence will be the order of the day, which is precisely what Israel wants to avoid and the Deal was presumably supposed to prevent. This also begs the question as to who, in fact, can pose an existential threat to Israel. Certainly not the Palestinians, who know only too well that Israel is a formidable military power that can at will take any security measure deemed necessary to protect itself. Moreover, there is not a single country in the Middle East, including Iran, that can challenge Israel militarily without sustaining horrifyingly unacceptable damage. Tehran especially knows that well. What Trump and Netanyahu have cooked up is a recipe for perpetual violent conflict, and while Israel will always have the upper hand, it will not enjoy a day of rest. Israel will have to station thousands of additional troops and spend hundreds of millions of dollars more annually on security to protect the jigsaw puzzle of settlements scattered throughout the West Bank. The resentment and resistance of the Palestinians will only worsen, and any incident can trigger deadly violence. Preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state and enshrining the dream of Greater Israel that Netanyahu championed will be the nightmare of the right-wing Israelis, as the deal of the century will blow up in their faces. Trump and Netanyahu will be remembered as the two leaders who betrayed Israel and subjected its citizens to live and die by the gun. About the Author: Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com Web: www.alonben-meir.com Tata Steel, India's largest private steel manufacturer recently awarded its digital mandate for Tata Steel Aashiyana and Tata Tiscon to Team Pumpkin, a notable 360 degrees digital marketing and PR agency in India. As part of the mandate, Team Pumpkin will help Tata Steel with strategy and execution to strengthen brand recall and build a strong community of digital followers. Having a presence in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, Team Pumpkin has started providing its services to the industry giant from its Mumbai office with support from its satellite team in Kolkata. The agency is involved in managing Social Media, SEO, Performance Marketing and Marketing Automation for both, Tata Tiscon and Aashiyana by Tata Steel. In addition, Team Pumpkin has also playing a significant role in the online efforts of Tata Shaktee and more recently, TataBasera. The mandate also extends to helping some more Tata Steel brands with UI / UX revamp. Speaking about the win, Team Pumpkins CBO, Swati Nathani, said, We love challenging ourselves by venturing into unconventional segments. Selling home building products online also brings one such exciting experience for us and with our association with Tata Steel, we are all set to transform the digital landscape for homebuilding in India. Team Pumpkin embodies its motto of being artists, by using the right mix of science and art to grow businesses. Founded in 2012, the company has offices across India, with a portfolio of global clientele including MamyPoko Pants, Axis Bank, Mahindra Group, Bajaj Finserv and ITC Foods amongst others. (Newser) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is offering $20,000 for information on a dolphin killer or killers after two animals were found dead within a week. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found a dolphin that appeared to have been shot in the face off Naples late last week, shortly before experts with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge found a dolphin on the Pensacola shoreline with a bullet hole in its left side, reports the Miami Herald. This follows the discovery last summer of a dolphin impaled near its right eye along Upper Captiva Island, west of Fort Myers. It was in a begging posture, as was the dolphin found off Naples, per the Fort Myers News-Press. story continues below It's for that reason that authorities believe the animals were looking for a meal when killed. NOAA expert Stacey Horstman notes dolphins who learn to associate humans with food may follow boats, irritating human occupants. "If the dolphin is begging, do not try to engage with that animal in any way," she tells the News-Press, though she adds "it's really hard for a lot of people to see how a simple thing like feeding a dolphin can lead to shocking and egregious behavior like this." It's a federal offense to feed, harass, hunt, or kill wild dolphins, punishable by up to a year in jail and fines up to $100,000, though an NOAA rep notes cases are rarely solved without help from the public. (Read more dolphins stories.) Delhi Mahila Congress chief and party spokesperson Sharmishtha Mukherjee lashed out at fellow party leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram who posted a tweet celebrating the defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi Assembly elections. Mukherjee said the Congress should be concerned about its own drubbing in Delhi. AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP. I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022, Chidambaram posted on Twitter. Mukherjee responded to the tweet saying, With due respect sir, just want to know- has @INCIndia outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if yes, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop! With due respect sir, just want to know- has @INCIndia outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if yes, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop! https://t.co/Zw3KJIfsRx Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) February 11, 2020 Mukherjee had critiqued her own party on Tuesday after Congress maintained a steady score of zero in the Delhi Assembly election. She called for action rather than introspection. Also Watch l Delhi gives thumbs up to Kejriwal: What it means for AAP, BJP & Congress We are again decimated in Delhi. Enough of introspection now, its time for action now. Being part of the system, I too take my share of responsibility, Mukherjee tweeted on Tuesday. She also listed the reasons for Congress dismal performance in Delhi polls and blamed the top leadership for loss. There were inordinate delays in decision-making at the top, and lack of strategy and unity at state level. Our workers were demotivated, there was no grassroot connect, said Mukherjee. Other party leaders had also offered harsh criticism. Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill suggested that the party should avoid things like justifying defeat, finding happiness in the BJPs defeat and telling itself that wins and losses are cyclic in elections. Party MP Pratap Singh Bajwa said those against the BJPs divisive politics had the option of either the AAP or the Congress, and they chose the former. A teetering election campaign, a leadership crisis and over-dependence on legacy appeared to be the reasons behind the partys dismal show. It ran a nostalgia-steeped campaign for Delhi polls, centred around the development done by former chief minister Sheila Dikshit in her 15-year tenure as chief minister, which failed to enthuse voters. Congress was in power in Delhi from 1998 to 2013, but after the emergence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), it started losing ground. In 2013 Assembly election, Congress vote share in Delhi was 22 per cent which slipped to just above nine per cent in 2015. This year, it further shrunk to four per cent. And the party couldnt win a single seat in Delhi in second consecutive election. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse standout Emily Hawryschuk has been named this weeks ACC womens lacrosse co-offensive player of the week. In the Oranges season opener against Canisius on Friday, the senior attack recorded a career-high seven goals and eight points. Hawryschuk moved to No. 6 on Syracuses career goals list with her performance and is now five points away from the No. 10 spot on the schools career points list. She already has 13 goals and 15 points in just two games this season. Hawryschuk and the Orange have two games against New York foes this weekend. On Saturday Syracuse hosts UAlbany at 10 a.m. Then it will host Binghamton at 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking at the Dome for all womens lacrosse games are free. Lindsay Kramer is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at LKramer@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. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. The U.S. Department of Justice filed an indictment against four Chinese nationals with alleged ties to the Chinese miltary, charging them with compromising the personal information of 145 million Americans in the 2017 Equifax data breach. The nine-count indictment claims Wu Zhiyong, Wang Qian, Xu Ke, and Liu Lei were members of the People's Liberation Armys 54th Research Institute and they routed files through approximately 34 servers in almost 20 countries to avoid detection. "This was an organized and remarkably brazen criminal heist of sensitive information of nearly half of all Americans," said Attorney General William Barr at a press conference to announce the indictment. According to FBI deputy director David Bowdich, who also attended the DOJ press conference, there's currently no evidence that China sold or shared the Equifax data. "If you can get personally identifiable information, you can do a lot with it," he added. "It can be monetized. It can be used for targeting packages for U.S. government personnel. But we haven't seen that in this case to this point." Security expert Brian Vecci of Varonis said China's intended target is more likely high-level political operatives than U.S. citizens. "The fact that we haven't seen China sell this information on the Dark Web says to me that whatever they're using it for is more valuable to them," he explained. Still, the news underscores the need for consumers to be mindful about whom they share data with and how that data is secured. While there's no need for panic, said Bowdich, Equifax breach victims should continue to monitor their credit scores, contact credit card companies if they discover a problem, avoid opening unknown e-mail attachments, and use two-factor-authentication to beef up password access to banking, health care, and social media accounts. (For more tips from cybersecurity experts, see below.) Story continues "We should be demanding better privacy protections like Europe has with the GDPR [General Data Privacy Regulation] and California has with the CCPA [California Consumer Privacy Act,]" says Vecci. "If this makes people demand better privacy controls, well be better off." Is Equifax Blameless? While the DOJ praised Equifax for its cooperation, Vecci argued the company deserves some blame for its lax security practices. "Equifax stored a huge amount of private data and if they had even common sense controls in place to protect private information, this particular attack wouldn't have happened," he explained. A Congressional report released in December called the Equifax breach entirely preventable," concluding that the financial reporting company failed to properly fix a software vulnerability it had been warned about in early March 2017. A subsequent failure to implement routine security updates prevented Equifax from discovering the breach until the Chinese hackers had access to the system for 76 days between mid-May and late July. The public wasn't informed of the breach until September. In the DOJ press conference, Barr noted that the Chinese state-level hackers had been implicatedalthough not indictedin the 2015 breach of health care giant Anthem, which affected 78.8 million individuals, and the 2018 breach of Marriott, which exposed the data, including passport and credit card information, of up to 500 million individuals. "This makes it clear that China has been engaged in a decade-long effort against U.S companies and individuals," said Jamil Jaffer, senior vice-president for strategy at IronNet Cybersecurity and a former Chief Counsel for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. According to Vecci, if China was indeed behind the Marriott and Anthem hacks, the Equifax data set becomes more valuable, because it can be aggregated with this other data and analyzed using machine learning. "Once you have three of these data sets and you start combining themhotel behavior from Marriott combined with financial information from Equifax combined with health care information from Anthemsuddenly you know way more about an individual," Vecci explained. "I don't think China's going to use this to steal a random consumer's identity, but I'm sure they have people of interest." The Equifax breach, one of the largest credit monitoring firms, was first reported in September, 2017. As part of a $700 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the company has offered affected consumers at least four years of free monitoring from the three major credit rating agencies through Experian and up to six more years of free, one-bureau credit monitoring through Equifax in addition to cash reimbursement for losses and expenses, with individual claims capped at $20,000 although most will be far less. The deadline to apply for these funds passed on January 22, 2020. How to Protect Yourself Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from cybercrime and identity theft. Freeze your credit. That makes it harder for cybercriminals to apply for loans, credit cards, and wireless phones using your personal information. Guard your financial information. Be wary of texts or email asking for account numbers, credit card numbers, and wire transfers as well as alerts about failed transactions. Theres no reason to share such info via message or an unsecure site. Dont open attachments. They may contain malware. And you should never type confidential information into a form attached to an email. The sender can potentially track the info you enter. Double-check the link. Before you click on a link in an email or on the internet, try hovering your mouse over it. This will reveal the full address, which can expose signs of fraud. A .ru on the end, for example, means the site was created in Russia; .br means Brazil. Misspellings are another good tip-off to a fake website. If the URL says equifaxx.com, it's best to avoid it. Search for the company on Google and access the website that way instead. Dont assume that a website is legitimate just because its URL starts with https. Criminals like to use encryption, too. Enable two-factor authentication. If youve ever had to use a six-digit verification code texted to your cell phone to log in to a digital account, you have some idea of how 2FA works. Once you turn on the setting, you have to provide a password and another unique identifier to access your account from an unverified device or location. This protects you if a stranger steals your password. Turn on auto updates. This goes for your computer, smartphone, and tablets. Up-to-date security software goes a long way toward stopping malware. Use security tools. Install an antivirus program on your device and keep it up to date. You can also use a website reputation rating tool, which comes in the form of a browser plug-in, to warn you if you try to go to potentially dangerous websites. Cybersecurity companies such as McAfee, Kaspersky, and Norton offer them. But keep in mind that these tools arent foolproof. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2020, Consumer Reports, Inc. LDV brand is dead Its one of the most famous commercial vehicle names in Britain, but the LDV brand is about to die again. As of April 2020, LDV will rebrand as Maxus across right-hand-drive Europe. In 1987, the Leyland Trucks division of Rover became Leyland DAF when it merged with the Dutch truck maker. Six years later it became an independent firm following a management buy-out. As the official LDV website points out, the company has had many highs and lows. After going into administration, the company was purchased by Sun Capital Partners in 2005, before being acquired by the Russian company Gaz in 2006. Plans to increase production at its Birmingham plant and to create new export markets failed to materialise, and by 2008 the factory had closed. The intellectual property rights were sold to a Chinese firm in 2009, before they were acquired by SAIC Motor in 2009. LDV builds a range of commercial vehicles, including panel vans, tippers, minibuses and EVs. UK distribution is handled by the Dublin-based Harris Group, which is also responsible for Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. In left-hand-drive markets, such as Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands, the vans are distributed under the Maxus banner. Now, the LDV vans will be re-branded to follow suit. Much-loved by many LDV at the CV show Denise Harris, CEO of The Harris Group, said: When it comes to changing a brand name, you have to think very seriously about the benefits and also the possible consequences, and decide if it really is the right thing to do for the brand and the wider business. The LDV brand is much-loved by many loyal customers but, with the advent of new models on new platforms that will undoubtedly change brand perceptions, I am confident that the market will welcome the transition. As the Maxus brand grows, both in China and across Europe, and with more and more models and variants being introduced to the market, it makes sense for us to align with the global Maxus brand. As a company and main distributor, we are really excited to be part of this evolution and I think that our enhanced offering will inject new life into the LCV market. Story continues By 3 April, all elements of the rebrand will be complete, with new Maxus signage and collateral installed across dealerships. The company will also unveil two new commercial vehicles in 2020. On another level Maxus logo Mark Barrett, general manager of Maxus UK and Ireland said: 2020 is going to be the brands biggest year ever with the impending launch of our game-changing diesel panel van, the Deliver 9 and the arrival to market of Maxus second EV model, the E Deliver 3, which was unveiled last year at the Commercial Vehicle Show. With cutting edge design, a brand-new platform and 2.0-litre engine, the LDV Deliver 9 will be the brands most comprehensive and versatile offering to date. Available in a choice of three lengths, three heights and a choice of front or rear wheel drive, this van really is on another level. Full details will be revealed at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April, when it will line up alongside the E Deliver 3. The post LDV van brand will die in Britain again appeared first on Motoring Research. [February 12, 2020] Klarna Acquires the Italian `Buy Now, Pay Later' Startup Moneymour STOCKHOLM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, one of the world's leading smooth shopping and payment providers, today announced an agreement to acquire Moneymour, an Italian payment company, from the founders and minority investors. Through the acquisition Klarna gains access to intellectual property to further improve underwriting capabilities, and additional expertise and competence, as the full Moneymour team will join Klarna. This acquisition also marks the first step in launching Klarna's latest product development hub in Milan. Moneymour was founded in 2017 and is an Italian payment method that allows consumers to `buy now, pay later' by splitting their purchases into monthly instalments based on an instant credit assessment. The Moneymour credit scoring engine is powered by PSD2, as it uses balance and transaction data in the credit scoring algorithm. The technology ensures an ever faster and automated credit decision for consumers as only a few clicks are necessary, rather than lengthy and paperwork heavy manual processes. Klarna believes this technology is key especially when underwriting credit to millenials. Going forward, the Moneymour competence and technology could be used across Klarna's markets, creating an even better and smoother shopping experience for consumers. "We're impressed with what the Moneymour team has achieved so far, and we are also happy to now progress the establishment of our new product development hub in Milan. The talented team has developed an interesting offering for the Italian market, and with their knowledge and expertise we can further strengthen our underwriting capabilities in the market. Under the Klarna umbrella, we will together further develop the proposition and scale this across markets, which will support in accelerating growth," says Koen Koppen, CTO at Klarna. Klarna is now powering over 200,000 retailers globally including Luxottica, Calzedonia, Alitalia, H&M, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch and Samsung. During 2020, Klarna will continue its growth momentum on current markets as well as enter new markets, where Australia is the most recent example. Establishing a new product development hub in Milan will support the growth efforts on the fast growing Italian ecommerce market. The transaction is expected to be completed in Q1 2020 and Moneymour's operations will be integrated into Klarna. For additional information, please contact: [email protected] About Klarna We make shopping smoooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna's offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 200,000 merchants, including H&M, Adidas, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is the most highly valued fintech in Europe with a valuation of $5.5bn and one of the largest private fintechs globally. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 2,700 employees and is active in 17 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1740/3032872/1192864.pdf Release https://mb.cision.com/Public/1740/3032872/ae5c84f4c82c0edd_org.jpg Koen Koppen CTO Klarna https://mb.cision.com/Public/1740/3032872/99f1a08cc2f7c6f4_org.jpg Klarna HQ Stockholm [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] More than 125m has been paid to private healthcare operators to tackle shortfalls in Northern Ireland's health service. The expenditure, over a five-year period, was used to address pressures and waiting lists, for example outsourcing procedures to private health providers. The figure emerged as the Health Minister said the sector would require extra funding of 661m next year. Robin Swann said there were "deep-seated problems across the health and social care system that will take years to put right". Official figures revealed how the Department of Health has turned to the private sector. Such firms are used so patients can be seen sooner and to help health trusts meet targets. In the five years to April last year, the cost topped 125,540,000 - equivalent to 70,000 a day on average. The figures were disclosed by Mr Swann after an Assembly question from Jim Allister. Mr Swann said: "The HSC utilises the private healthcare sector where in-house capacity is unable to meet demand." However, TUV leader Mr Allister said the spending should be properly scrutinised. "Taken in totality, the level of expenditure is very considerable," he said. "That is money that should be spent in the public sector, not the private sector. "The fact it is going to the private sector shows that there has been too little focus and attention on building up a public health system." A breakdown of spending showed 41.16m was paid to private companies in 2014/15, with a further 35.15m in 2015/16. Expenditure fell to 23.53m in 2016/17 and 8.29m in 2017/18. However, in the last year (2018/19), spending started to rise again and reached 17.41m. Official figures show Northern Ireland's waiting lists are continuing to grow. The latest statistics showed the number of people waiting more than 12 hours in emergency departments had more than doubled in a year - up from 1,991 in December 2018 to 5,280 in December 2019. Last week this newspaper revealed a patient waited 60 hours in the casualty unit at Antrim Area Hospital in December. Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association's Northern Ireland Council, said expenditure on the private health sector was further evidence of the need to transform the health service. "These figures are no surprise and are a side effect of years of poor workforce planning and chronic under-investment in the health and social care service," he added. "Poor workforce planning leads to over-use of locums, decline in service delivery, stress on existing workforce and long waiting lists - waiting list times that are currently the worst in the UK and growing. "The use of private providers to tackle waiting lists is a costly fix to a problem that can only be properly addressed through full-scale transformation, as outlined by Professor Bengoa. That includes implementing the workforce planning strategy and ensuring it is resourced effectively and takes in primary, secondary, community and social care." The Department of Health said: "Where health service capacity is insufficient to meet demand for elective services, trusts have been funded non-recurrently to undertake additional activity to further increase the number of patients receiving assessment or treatment. "Trusts are expected to maximise in-house capacity in the first instance. However, a proportion of patients will be transferred to private healthcare providers when insufficient capacity is available within the HSC. "The HSC has arrangements in place to ensure that the sourcing and procurement of additional capacity is managed efficiently and effectively." On Tuesday Mr Swann said an extra 492m would be required compared with this year's budget just to maintain existing service levels. Meeting commitments on restoring pay parity and improving staffing levels will require another 170m. He said the 2020/21 budget his department receives next month would be crucial. Mr Swann accepted he was requesting a significant amount of additional money. "I very much welcome the priority attached to health by Executive colleagues both in public and in private. We are all facing up to the scale of the challenges in our departments," he said. "I certainly owe it to patients and their families to be frank with them." US health officials faced tough questioning on Tuesday over Washingtons stringent travel restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus after an Obama administration health tsar claimed there was little scientific basis for the policy. Officials from the Centres for Diseases Control (CDC) and their top political principal, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, have repeatedly stressed that the restrictions were put in place purely on public health grounds to slow the virus inevitable spread in the country. The policy that took effect on February 2 stipulates that Chinese nationals and other foreigners who have been on the Chinese mainland recently will denied entry into the US. More than 60 countries have imposed some form of travel restrictions, using a similar rationale as the CDC. But speaking at a panel discussion on Tuesday alongside CDC officials, Ron Klain, who was the Ebola coordinator in president Barack Obamas administration, repeated his scepticism about the policys effectiveness and suggested it may give Americans a false sense of security. Obviously, the administration cant do nothing and indeed they are far from doing nothing, Klain said at the forum organised by the Aspen Institute think tank in Washington. The point is, youve got to be really careful about what you do. Youve got to base it on science and medical expertise, Klain said. You can't tell people weve buttoned up the country airtight when you haven't, and you can't. Klain pointed out that ships and planes arriving in the US continue have personnel who are Chinese nationals. We shouldnt pretend like we have some kind of travel ban, which we dont. Responding to Klain, Anthony Fauci, the director of the CDCs National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the decision was not made lightly to have a travel ban. The veteran immunologist said he had been a strong advocate against travel bans to fight infectious diseases, and cited how a travel ban against foreign carriers of HIV would have been ineffective because we already had so many HIV-infected people in the country. Story continues But in this case, with 11 out of 13 cases of those infected in the US having a travel history to China, the restrictions would slow the importation of further infections, Fauci said. Also commenting was Faucis CDC colleague Nancy Messonnier, who said the travel restrictions bought the US vital time to prepare for the potential of us having a worse pandemic. The CDC officials also waded into another debate about containing the illness, which the World Health Organisation on Tuesday formally named Covid-19. Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of Singapore, sparked the discussion in epidemiological circles with comments on Saturday suggesting that the Southeast Asian city state the area worst hit by the coronavirus outside of China could consider easing up on containment measures such as isolating every infected person and their close contacts. Travel restrictions that aim to stop the import of the virus are also part of such containment efforts. Instead of containment, Lee suggested that an alternative strategy could be employed whereby the governments resources were focused on mitigating the viruss impact instead of trying to stop its spread. In such a scenario, those with mild symptoms would be asked to seek outpatient medical treatment and rest at home and only those with acute symptoms would be hospitalised. Such a change of tack similar to the approach taken by countries to fight the common flu would only be viable, the Singaporean leader said, if it is determined that the coronavirus had a low fatality rate like the flu. Asked about Lees comments, Fauci said it could be a viable strategy if infections were already widespread and resources were tight. When you get a degree of significant, what we call, sustained transmission from person to person [and] there's limited resources, then it doesn't make any sense to put a lot of your resources into preventing outside [infections from coming] in, he said. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and Nancy Messonnier of the Centres for Diseases Control discuss the public health response to the coronavirus in Washington on January 28. Photo: Reuters More importantly, Messonnier, director of the CDCs Center for the National Centre for Immunisation and Respiratory Diseases, said that in the short term there are no mitigation strategies for the virus. Fauci said 500 patients in China were taking part in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of the drug remdesivir as a possible treatment for the virus. Fielding questions on the fatality and transmission rate of the coronavirus, Fauci and Messonnier said they could not make meaningful estimates because of a lack of information of the number of infected people who have not sought medical attention. Messonnier addressed concerns about data presented in studies that have been quickly completed amid the outbreak. While people rushing to get their data out is a good thing, she said there were questions about whether the studies have had adequate peer review and whether all of the rigorous science has gone into every one of those investigations. Purchase the China AI Report 2020 brought to you by SCMP Research and enjoy a 20% discount (original price US$400). This 60-page all new intelligence report gives you first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments and intelligence about China AI. Get exclusive access to our webinars for continuous learning, and interact with China AI executives in live Q&A. Offer valid until 31 March 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Coronavirus: US health officials defend strict travel ban amid criticism first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Read what is in the news today: Politics -- Vietnam always treasures and wants to further promote the comprehensive cooperative partnership with the European Union, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told President of the European Parliament David Sassoli during a meeting on Tuesday, as part of his working visit to Belgium and France. Society -- Police in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday arrested and launched criminal proceedings against Chau Minh Tien, 24, for physically abusing his four-month-old child while babysitting the infant, leaving the baby with serious injuries including a broken leg and brain hemorrhage. -- More makeshift hospitals will be built in Ho Chi Minh City to brace for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, said the citys Standing Deputy Chairman Le Thanh Liem on Tuesday as he inspected the newly-opened 300-bed makeshift hospital built for COVID-19 patients in outlying Cu Chi District. -- All the people who were in close contact with passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that made a port call in Hue City in the north-central province of Thua Thien-Hue on January 27 are in good health with no symptoms of illness, the provincial Peoples Committee said on Tuesday as at least 174 people on the cruise ship have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. Business -- Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways have announced they would stop serving meals on short flights - under two hours and 30 minutes and under one hour and 45 minutes, respectively - to ensure passengers safety amid the COVID-19 outbreak. -- Some 20 Vietnamese enterprises will participate in the Gulfood Exhibition Dubai 2020, the worlds largest annual food and beverage trade show slated to be held at the World Trade Center in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates from February 16 to 20. -- Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on Tuesday received a group of investors from the U.S. and the South Korea who are interested in liquefied natural gas (LNG) power development in Vietnam. World News -- Nearly 44,800 people have been infected with COVID-19 and 1,112 killed globally as of Wednesday morning, according to the South China Morning Post. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! T wo British nationals are among the new cases of coronavirus diagnosed on a quarantined cruise off the coast of Japan, the Standard has confirmed. The pair were confirmed as being infected with Covid-19 on Tuesday afternoon and are among 39 new cases aboard the Diamond Princess vessel. It brings the number of Brits infected from the ship to three, following the diagnosis of honeymooner Alan Steele last week. The two new British citizens infected on the liner bring the total number of British cases to at least 14, including six in this country. Workers wearing protective suits walk away from the cruise ship Diamond Princess / REUTERS The British Embassy in Tokyo told the Standard that it was providing assistance to British nationals from the ship who had been struck down during the outbreak. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Tokyo told the Standard: As of yesterday there were three British nationals that have been tested positive. Within those three were two further people. Were in close contact with Japanese authorities. 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 Those infected have been transferred from the boat to hospitals on shore. The total of confirmed cases from the ship has now hit 175. Those diagnosed with the virus include 29 passengers and 10 staff, according to the Kyodo news agency. There are 3,700 people aboard the boat. Four of those newly infected were reported to be in serious conditions, while those confirmed to have the virus have been taken off the ship for treatment. Coronavirus outbreak: WHO names disease Covid-19 The British Embassy in Tokyo could not confirm the conditions of the newly infected Brits. Mr Steele from Wolverhampton, was the first of those three to have been diagnosed aboard the ship. His wife, who remains on the boat which they were on during a honeymoon trip, has said he is doing well in hospital. However, he appears to have now beaten the illness. Just received great news. My test showed negative to virus and have now been swabbed for 2nd test if that comes back negative I get released, he put on Facebook today. Boris Johnson Says Public Should Be 'Confident And Calm' About Coronavirus A British couple who remain on the ship have spoken of the worsening conditions on board. David and Sally Abel spoke to Sky News on Wednesday and said the increasing number of infections is affecting morale. Mr Abel said: "It is more challenging, as each day progresses we are having additional people testing positive. "Passengers are now getting tested, that's why we are seeing the results now on a daily basis, so it is getting people's moods down. "One of the passengers in the night was keeping other passengers awake, an old lady who was crying for a couple of hours in her cabin. "Life isn't as easy as it was last week - it's a bit more challenging." Alan Steele, who has been diagnosed as having the coronavirus, and wife Wendy, a nurse, on their wedding day As more people were hit with the infection outside China, a health expert warned that there could already be cases in Britain that have gone undetected and predicted the virus is likely to start transmitting within the country within weeks. We think probably we are picking up maybe one in three cases coming into the country at the current time, Professor Neil Ferguson, director of the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. At the moment, our best estimates are really the transmission will get going in the UK in the next few weeks unless we are very lucky, probably peak in two or three months after that. The ship has been put on lockdown / AFP via Getty Images Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned yesterday that dealing with the virus would be a marathon, not a sprint. He added: The situation will get worse before it gets better. It comes as the number of cases in China swelled to 44,653 despite the rate of infection appearing to slow down. There are more than 45,000 cases the world over. Zhong Nanshan, one of China's most prominent health advisers, indicated that the declining infection rate may mean the outbreak could be over by April. Matt Hancock on coronavirus: The situation will get worse before it gets better "I hope this outbreak or this event may be over in something like April," said the 83-year-old epidemiologist who played a role in combating an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003. On Wednesday, the nation reported its lowest number of new cases since late January, with 2,015 confirmed on Tuesday. However, Professor Ferguson cautioned that these figures were misleading and were being under-reported. Officers wearing protective suits stand near the cruise ship Diamond Princess / REUTERS The epidemic in Wuhan is peaking at the moment but its been going for three months ... we have no real idea of what is going on in the rest of China, hospitals in Beijing apparently are full of pneumonia cases which are not being tested, he added. The number of fatalities from the virus has risen to 1,113 in mainland China, where at least 60 million people remain on lockdown. There are more than 3,000 people on board the ship / Reuters The virus has spread to 24 other countries with 319 cases outside of mainland China - with the majority in the Hubei province around the city of Wuhan, where the infection is believed to have begun. As Covid-19 spreads, World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world must wake up and consider this enemy virus being public enemy number one. Ahead of Valentines Day on Friday, John Oxford, Emeritus Professor of virology at Queen Mary University of London, advised that people should kiss, hug and shake hands less to combat the virus. This virus loves us to be close together ... its a social virus, he said. We have to galvanise ourselves in our social actions, how we interact with people. What we need to do is less of the handshaking, hugging, kissing...because this virus looks like it is spread by ordinary tidal breathing. Public Health England did not reject the advice but said it was not the official guidance. It stressed the best way to reduce the risk is to always carry tissues to catch coughs or sneezes and to bin the tissue, and to kill the germs by washing hands with soap and water, or a sanitiser gel. Specific advice has been issued for people who feel unwell within 14 days of arriving back from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau. PHE says the risk to the country from the virus is moderate and to individuals low. Health officials were planning for some 90 Britons and family who were repatriated on the first government-chartered flight from Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak in China, to be allowed to leave Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside tomorrow, where they have been kept in quarantine for 14 days. The Swiss government has ordered an investigation into the reports of a Zug-based encryption company providing classified documents of several countries, including India, to US and German intelligence services. The Washington Post and the German public broadcaster ZDF reported that the company was owned by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND). Calling it the intelligence coup of the century, the Post, in its report, said that Crypto AG added encryption weaknesses to its products and sold it to foreign governments. The encryption company, controlled by CIA and BND, helped its owners to access classified documents of adversaries and allies alike. Read: CIA Worker: Massive 2017 Leak 'was Crippling' To The Agency According to the investigative report, the foreign governments apparently paid the US and West Germany, part of Western bloc before reunification, good money to read their most secret communications. It also claimed that other four to five countries might have also read the internal communications, probably hinting at the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who have signed Five Eyes intelligence-sharing agreement with the US. Intelligence edge over other countries China and the erstwhile Soviet Union never purchased the encryption devices from Crypto AG, suspecting the companys origin. However, more than 100 countries bought the device to encrypt their secret communications. For several decades, the CIA used such secret communications to have an edge over the foreign policies of other countries. Read: CIA Official & Orchestrator Of Soleimani's Death, Killed In US Military Plane Crash: Iran The operation had a codename Thesaurus which was later changed to Rubicon in the 1980s in which they added flaws to the widely sold encryption devices. The United States reportedly monitored Iran, its arch-nemesis, for years and especially when fifty-two Americans were held hostage during the famous Iranian revolution that toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi regime. The CIA and BND reportedly controlled the company together for two decades but the latter sold its share fearing exposure. The Post has claimed that the US continued to use the company for its benefit before selling its assets to two private companies in 2018. Read: Some CIA Officials Wept After Seeing Waterboarding Of Detainees Read: Former CIA Member Calls Trump's Address A Declaration Of "empty Victory" Center School District names new Superintendent KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - After a five-month search for the next Center School District Superintendent of Schools, the board of education has selected Dr. Yolanda Cargile. Dr. Cargile currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Hickman Mills School District and has been with the district since 2015. After just stepping down at provisionally accredited Hickman Mills it's clear this "nationwide search" didn't look very far and Southland politics is far more important than fading public schools in this part of town . . . Take a look: This is the moment a House of Commons microphone picked up an unknown MP muttering towards Jeremy Corbyn: What a stupid man you are. The remark came after the Labour leader called for foreign secretary Dominic Raab to be sacked amid the ongoing diplomatic row over Anne Sacoolas. Corbyn said: Now we know the foreign secretary misled the Dunn family who are being denied justice by the US government, will the prime minister commit to his removal from office tomorrow in his reshuffle? The Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend that Sacoolas, Harry Dunns alleged killer who was granted diplomatic immunity, was a former CIA agent. Mr Dunns family has demanded answers from Raab as to whether he was notified of Sacoolass history with the CIA, and if she was still serving at the time of the 19-year-olds death. Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons (House of Commons/PA Images via Getty Images) After the stupid man comment, and groans from the Tory benches, Boris Johnson, who is expected to shake up his Cabinet on Thursday, responded: He knows very well that the Foreign Office have been told that Anne Sacoolas was notified to the UK government as a spouse with no official role. We will continue without fear or favour to seek justice for Harry Dunn and his family. We will continue to seek the extradition of Anne Sacoolas from the United States. Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons (House of Commons/PA Images via Getty Images) Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year. Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy. She was charged with causing Dunns death by dangerous driving in December, but US secretary of state Mike Pompeo rejected an extradition request for her last month. The Foreign Office today said it has no plans to launch a public inquiry into the CIA claims. Read more from Yahoo News UK Tory MP hits out at 'woke' society for not helping 'white lads' Story continues We need advice: Church of England urged to change Holy Communion over coronavirus fears EU decision to scrap clock changes after Brexit could affect UK business, report warns The PA news agency reported it responded to questions from the teenagers family on Wednesday, insisting the case had been handled properly and lawfully throughout. Dunns parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, along with family spokesman Radd Seiger, believe the FCO were complicit in Anne Sacoolass departure claiming they are now engaged in a cover-up. Brexit briefing: 323 days until the end of the transition period A woman has been caught on camera using homophobic slurs against a Melbourne tram driver before being escorted off the carriage by three police officers. The footage begins with the woman yelling into the driver's security glass, 'You are the police' before she turns around and confronts the man filming of assault and asks him 'Want to try it again, honey?' The video was uploaded to YouTube on February 10 with the description 'Lady loses it with homophobic slurs against tram driver'. She accused the man filming, Joel, the tram driver and three police officers who were escorting her off the tram of conspiracy: 'He's gay, he's gay and you're gay - you all protect each other' She sits back at her seat before accusing Joel of assaulting her and that police will not come unless somebody is hurt. 'I'm not frightened' she said on the halted tram. 'I've done nothing wrong - I was trying to help the passengers get on.' 'But you don't have to get all homophobic on the driver,' replied Joel. 'Police will only turn up if someone's been assaulted' she retorts before claiming that 'The gay community run the police force'. 'Something tells me you've been in trouble with the police before' Joel said before the police arrived. 'Let's see what the police are going to do.' 'This guy assaulted me,' the woman said to the police officer. 'Want to talk to me outside about it?' one officer responded. 'You want to try it again, honey?': Woman accuses man filming of assault while he accuses her of using homophobic slurs against the tram driver in Melbourne 'Ask him his name because he assaulted me,' she said to the officers. 'He's gay and you're gay - you all protect each other' The woman demanded the police ask for the name of the man filming before she would voluntarily leave the tram carriage in Melbourne The woman was escorted by three police officers off the tram carriage The woman refuses to leave the tram until police ask for the name of the man filming. "I'm not letting him get away with assault,' she said loudly. "He's gay (Joel, filming), he's gay (the tram driver) and you're gay (the police officer)', As police take the woman by the arms and escort her off the tram carriage 'You all protect each other' 'Mate, I've got CCTV - I'll get you, do you understand me?', she says while being escorted off the tram. "In the 60s mate, you could do whatever you want.' The woman demanded the police ask for the name of the man filming before she would voluntarily leave the tram carriage in Melbourne The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, on Tuesday hit President Mohammed Buhari hard. The cleric assessed the Buhari regime and concluded the President had not only relegated the national interest to the background, but he had also introduced nepotism to the military. He said under Buhari, it was important for any Nigerian to be a northern Muslim before he could hold any strategic position. Kukah stated this in his sermon at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaukau in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State before the burial of Michael Nnadi, a seminarian, who was killed by kidnappers. He recalled Buharis promise during the 2015 electioneering. He stated that while campaigning in 2015, Buhari said if he was elected, the world would not have to worry about insecurity in Nigeria. Kukah said five years after, the President had brought nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies. Buharis regime marked by divisive policies He stated that the Buharis regime had been marked by supremacist and divisive policies that pushed the country to the brink. Quoting the President, Kukah said Buhari at Chatham House in London before 2015 elections, said, I (Buhari) as a retired general and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers. They are capable and they are well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty. If I am elected President, the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria. Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa. We will pay sufficient attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will develop adequate and modern arms and ammunition. We will improve intelligence gathering and border patrols to choke Boko Harams financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural developmentwe will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front. Kukah, however, noted that the reverse was the case as the President continued to wallow in insensitivity and despotism. Buhari has brought nepotism into military The cleric stated, No one in that hall or anywhere in Nigeria doubted the President who ran his campaign on a tank supposedly full of the fuel of integrity and moral probity. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. Buhari has subordinated Nigerias interests to his religions interest This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. To hold strategic position, under Buhari, its important youre northern Muslim The impression created now is that to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian. He said the nation was at a crossroads and its future hung precariously in the balance. Kukah stated, Our nation is like a ship stranded on the high seas, rudderless and with broken navigational aids. Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is at a crossroads and its future hangs precariously in the balance. This is a wakeup call for us. Says Nigeria, not worth dying for The cleric said with the current situation, Nigeria was not worth dying for. He stated, Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for. Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her. Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average office holder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office. The Yoruba say that if it takes you 25 years to practise madness, how much time would you have to put it into real life? We have practised madness for too long. Culled Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates An Egyptian delegation arrived in Gaza Feb. 10 for a meeting with Hamas' leadership. Heading the delegation was Gen. Ayman Badia, deputy head of Egyptian Intelligence, and among the participants was Ahmad Abu Halaq, who holds the Palestinian portfolio at the same branch. It was their first meeting with the Hamas leadership since a crisis erupted between the two parties after Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh attended the funeral of Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iran last month against Cairo's wishes. Haniyeh has not yet returned to Gaza, and it is unknown when the Egyptians will let him reenter. The meeting took place in the office of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, but Sinwar did not attend. According to reports from Gaza, the movements most senior political and military officials are worried about possible Israeli assassination attempts. In Israel that same day at an assessment by the Israel Defense Forces' Gaza Division, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett said, The haphazard behavior of the Hamas leadership brings us closer to taking lethal action against them. No one will be immune. Hamas leaders took his words to be a threat against their lives in response to ongoing rocket fire into Israel. On Feb. 9, the Egyptian delegation had held a round of talks with the heads of the Israeli defense establishment, including Shin Bet Director Nadav Argaman, Meir Ben Shabbat, head of the National Security Council, and Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon, commander of Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories. According to an Al-Akhbar report, the Egyptian delegation handed Hamas a message from Netanyahu, warning that if it failed to immediately stop the firing of rockets and release of incendiary balloons from the enclave, Israel would strike a harsh blow against Gaza, an action that would receive the backing of the United States and Europe. It was also reported that the Hamas representatives responded to the Egyptians, There will be no calm in exchange for nothing, as long as Israel continues to take its time implementing the understandings. According to them, the economic situation and the failure to implement the understandings already reached in exchange for calm along the border will lead to even greater pressure in Gaza. Any foolish act by Israel, to use Hamas' term, including the assassination of senior leaders of the various Palestinian factions in Gaza, would set off a major conflict. The threats by Netanyahu and Bennett did not fall on deaf ears. They were actually taken with the requisite seriousness by Hamas, as evidenced by Sinwar going into hiding rather than meeting with the Egyptian delegation. On the other hand, however, the movement's leaders remain willing to take some risks. Anyone in Israel who thinks that Hamas will heed the ominous Israeli message delivered via Egypt and take steps to restore order in Gaza is sadly mistaken. Hamas considers the very act of meeting with the Egyptian delegation to be an important achievement. The disconnect between Hamas and Israel and Egypt had created a sense among the movements leaders that the possibility of reaching an arrangement with Israel was no longer on the agenda and that Israel was walking back the understandings it had reached with Hamas over the last year. Furthermore, Egypt had imposed sanctions of its own on Gaza, for example raising the cost of cooking gas, and had been making it more difficult for Palestinians hoping to pass through the Rafah border crossing. As usual with Hamas, when pressure intensifies and fear of unrest among Gaza residents becomes all the more palpable, the only thing to do is heat up the front with Israel, something it would never dare do that along the Egyptian border. The movement's leaders are convinced that this tactic has proved its worth time and again. In fact, it worked this time as well: It took rockets and incendiary balloons for Israel to realize that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is intolerable, and that if it didn't take steps to ease the pressure on Hamas, another war was all but inevitable. On the other hand, there is still a vast gap between Israel recognizing the seriousness of the situation and acting. Even with the heads of Israel's defense establishment, including Bennett, realizing that the situation in Gaza is intolerable, and Hamas, playing with fire, signaling that it does not have the patience to wait until after Israeli elections in March, what will the Israelis actually do with these messages? Despite Israels determined, even ominous messages from Netanyahu and Bennett, Hamas made it clear to the Egyptians that although they dont want an escalation, they will risk it if they feel they have no other choice. The exact message that Hamas wanted to convey to the Egyptians was that the days of waiting are over. Furthermore, as I wrote Feb. 7 in Al-Monitor, leadership elections by the Shura Council have already begun, and none of the candidates wants to be portrayed as having given up on the campaign against Israel without having made a significant achievement, whether it be an arrangement or relief from the blockade. Anyone familiar with the way Hamas has acted over the past few years would know that there will be no cease-fire if they get nothing else of value in return. Israel has been dealing with a political crisis for a year now, and as a result, the countrys political leadership has avoided making critical decisions and is incapable of providing appropriate responses. For the moment, the current government has no clear policy about what to do on Gaza, so any threats by Netanyahu and Bennett are effectively meaningless. They may be able to procure a degree of quiet for a week or at most until the March 2 elections, but even that is based on the assumption that the Egyptian delegation was able to convince Hamas to have a little more patience. That would entail something along the lines of, If it remains quiet for a week, the supply of cement to Gaza will be renewed. Once the elections are over, however, Israel will need to immediately decide whether it wants a war in Gaza, which could result in the possible toppling of Hamas and the occupation of Gaza. The claim of having international support for such a broad operation would not pass the reality test once the number of civilian casualties rises, and TV networks begin broadcasting gruesome images of the dead and wounded from Gaza. After constantly postponing an effort to resolve the problem of Gaza, Israel finds itself caught in it. There is no middle road. There is no escape route either. All that is left are two possibilities, and each one entails a serious risk. The first option is war. The risk involved is clear, but the cost is unknown. Based on the experience of Operation Protective Edge (2014), it would also not ensure a solution. It would only postpone one at best and cause additional problems for Israel, which is enjoying an improvement in its international standing, with the establishment of ties with several Arab states. The other option is to reach a long-term arrangement. Israel has postponed making a real decision on this for more than 12 years now, believing instead that a sustained blockade would teach Hamas a lesson. That hasnt happened. Now it must decide, and in the end, pay the price for one of them. If Sinn Fein, the Green Party, the Social Democrats and others are to thrash out a programme for government in the coming weeks, there will have to be give and take from all sides. Sinn Fein has made it clear it will push for policy changes in the areas of health, housing and childcare. A freeze on rents is likely to be the central plank of a programme for government hammered out by these parties, as well as an ambitious plan to build tens of thousands of social and affordable housing units. The rent freeze may be a controversial policy but it is not credible for any of the parties who may be part of this left-wing, non-Fine Gael, non-Fianna Fail government to drop it, given they all voted for it in the Dail just eight weeks ago. Ending the recruitment embargo in health and pledges to fund the cross-party Slaintecare plan and deliver more money for the provision of childcare are also likely to form a key plank of this programme. Other commitments in the Sinn Fein manifesto will inevitably fall victim to compromises with the Greens. Sinn Fein pledged not to increase carbon tax, but this is a central plank of the Green manifesto. "I would say that climate change is a very important issue and the Greens have a significant mandate there. I don't see that being a barrier for us," said Sinn Fein TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn of possible increases in carbon tax. "Health, housing, childcare and putting money back in people's pockets. Those are crucial for us." Sinn Fein could conceivably agree to the Green Party's manifesto pledge to increase carbon tax to 100 over 10 years but redistribute the revenue into people's pockets via social welfare increases and tax credits. This is what compromise and deal-making is about and Sinn Fein knows this better than most, having been involved in some negotiating in Northern Ireland over the past 30 years. Even in its most-recent talks to restore power-sharing it compromised. Once upon a time it was demanding that DUP leader Arlene Foster step aside over the RHI debacle. Now she occupies the office of First Minister with Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill as her deputy. The Northern influence on the talks to form a government in the Republic is already evident with O'Neill and other senior Belfast-based figures including Conor Murphy and party chair Declan Kearney in Dublin for an ard chomhairle meeting on Monday night. Gerry Adams was also seen at the offices of the Communications Workers' Union where the meeting took place. But it will be Pearse Doherty who leads the negotiations, assisted by Eoin O Broin, Louise O'Reilly and Matt Carthy. They will report back to Mary Lou McDonald and the ard chomhairle. Sinn Fein's priorities, as outlined by Mr Doherty outside party HQ yesterday evening, include "preparing for Irish unity". Ms Foster hit back strongly yesterday, saying the circumstances for a Border poll do not exist in the North. Her comments were reflective of an anxiety within the DUP about the possibility of a Sinn Fein-led government in the south. Its main concerns are the sudden domination the party would have of cross-Border institutions. "There are protections in the system but it would be unionists having to invoke them. It would put confrontation into the system when limiting and reducing those would be more advantageous," a DUP source said. It would also inevitably intensify talk across the island about a Border poll which frays unionists' nerves. As Sinn Fein focuses on talks with the Greens, the SocDems - who remained suitably coy last night - and other left-wing groupings in the coming days, Independent TDs are tentatively dipping their toes in the water around possible Dail alliances. Former Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin reached out to Kildare South TD Cathal Berry, a former Army Ranger commander, via a Twitter private message. He has also held talks with others. Meanwhile, Fine Gael was making plans for a parliamentary party meeting on Monday with a strong view forming that opposition is the best option - although senior figures think they could step in if the Sinn Fein-led initiative flounders. Certain Fianna Fail deputies and party figures hardened their anti-Sinn Fein stances last night. A senior party source stated: "We will not be going into coalition with Sinn Fein. They want a left government." Asked what the future holds, one relieved and re-elected Fianna Fail TD responded: "Marxism." But the feeling is mutual. Mr Mac Lochlainn suggested there would be huge problems for Sinn Fein grassroots to govern with Fianna Fail under Micheal Martin, who demonised the party during the election. New TD Reada Cronin said: "I do not trust Fianna Fail." Deandre Arnold is, by all accounts, a young man with a bright future. Hell graduate from high school this year and aspires to become a veterinarian. The Mont Belvieu teenager has also been making a positive impression on Americans in his new role as an accidental activist. The attention follows the suspension of Arnold, a senior, from Barbers Hill High School, and his being told that he wouldnt be allowed to walk in the schools graduation ceremony unless he cut his dreadlocks. The news took Arnold aback: hed been growing his dreadlocks since junior high school, without running afoul of district administrators. But recently, Barbers Hill trustees amended the dress code to say boys cant have hair that would cover their collars or earlobes if let down, even if they wear it up at school as Arnold had done to comply with an existing policy on hair length. Sophomore Kaden Bradford Arnolds cousin has also faced in-school suspension as a result of the change; he also wears dreadlocks. Arnold and his mother have argued that the change makes no sense. And he has decided to transfer to another school district rather than change his hairstyle, which is, he has said, reflective of his culture as much as aesthetic preferences. His father is from Trinidad, and the style is a way of embracing that heritage. The teen has been widely applauded for taking this stance, and for raising awareness about the hair discrimination that many African-Americans face, especially in schools and the workplace. Never cut your locks Deandre Arnold, tweeted Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Deandre deserves better, tweeted Ellen DeGeneres, after having Arnold as a guest on her daily talk show, where she surprised him with a $20,000 check for his future educational expenses and implored school district officials to reconsider their position. On Sunday, the 18-year-old Arnold attended the Academy Awards as a guest of filmmaker Matthew Cherry, whose delightful film Hair Love won the Oscar for Best Animated Short. Hair Love was done because we wanted to see more representation in animation; we wanted to normalize black hair, Cherry said onstage, accepting the award. Cherry also called on the audience to look into the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, versions of which have been filed at the federal level and passed into law in several states. The legislation seeks to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture and styles, which are associated with race. Members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus announced at a Houston press conference last week that they are planning to introduce the measure during the next regular session, in 2021. In many ways, hair texture is a defining aspect of blackness, said state Rep. Shawn Thierry, a Houston Democrat, in an interview this week. It is a biological fact that people of African descent have curlier hair. That fact, she continued, has been used to marginalize black men, women, and children for centuries, due to both explicit and implicit biases rooted in Eurocentric standards concerning what hair should, quote-unquote, look like. To apply those standards to children, Thierry continued, can have long-term effects on their sense of self. You know when youre being punished for just being who you are, she said. The Barbers Hill ISD, located about 35 miles east of downtown Houston, is not the only local school district to face criticism for dress-code conflicts involving minority students. Last April, an assistant principal at Pearland ISD used a Sharpie to fill in a design shaved into the fade haircut of an African-American student; that same month, a Muslim girl wearing a hijab was asked by an administrator to get a note from her imam confirming she wore it for religious reasons. The district later disciplined the administrator, revised its dress code and created a committee to deal with issues of cultural sensitivity. Arnolds former school district is a good one, in terms of academic achievement. Barbers Hill High School has a four-year graduation rate of 98.9 percent and an A grade, according to the Texas Education Agency. But its small, and relatively homogeneous; 70 percent of students are white, and just 3 percent are black. And this is not the first time that Barbers Hill ISD has become tangled in a hair-related controversy. In 2017 Jessica Oates was told that her 4-year-old son, Jabez, who is of Cocopah Indian descent, couldnt return to pre-school unless he got a haircut. Parents have a right to seek an appropriate educational setting for their child, just as Ms. Oates has the right to place her child in a district that reflects her personal expectations for standards of appearance, Superintendent Greg Poole said at the time. We would and should justifiably be criticized if our district lessened its expectations or longstanding policies simply to appease, he continued. Poole addressed the current controversy in a guest column for the Baytown Sun, which he forwarded to me in response to an interview request. This is an attempt to force unfair or unequal treatment based on race or culture such that a child is given preferential treatment based on his ethnicity, Poole writes. He goes on to suggest that change will not be forthcoming in the district: Our board of trustees, which has included African-American representation, takes sacred the role of representing their constituents, and we will continue to take our cue from our community not Hollywood. Arnold is a member of the Barbers Hill community, too and the school district, in overlooking that, has done itself no favors. His locks have clearly not affected his educational achievement in high school. Indeed, Poole himself describes Arnold as a great kid whose poise in the media spotlight has been a credit to the district. Arnold has been a credit to the district, and hes earned the right to graduate from it. Lets hope district officials learn from this experience, and revisit their antiquated dress code policy before more students are unfairly penalized by it. erica.grieder@chron.com A 73-year-old man with an extensive Mobile County crime history was sentenced Tuesday to 46 months in prison for bank robbery. Robert Carlisle, 73, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment and 36 months supervised released for his role in the robbery of the BBVA Compass Bank on Airport Boulevard in September of last year. The defendant told the teller that he was robbing the bank and ordered her to give him all of the money, according to federal prosecutors. "He said he did not want to have to hurt her but that she needed to comply and give him the money. He repeatedly said, You know what time it is. Carlisle confessed to police that he robbed the BBVA Compass Bank with the intent to get money to pay back a debt to a drug dealer who was holding Carlisles phone and vehicle until he repaid the debt. Carlisle was first brought before a Alabama courtroom for a bank robbery he was convicted of in September 1973. Carlisle has been arrested on 20 separate occasions in Mobile County since 1988. Carlisle must pay $2,829.25 in restitution to the bank as a part of his sentence as well. CAMEROON, Cameroon - The U.N. Security Council endorsed a 55-point road map for ending the war in Libya on Wednesday and condemned the recent increase in violence in the oil-rich North African country. The vote on the British-drafted resolution was 14-0, with Russia abstaining even though Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the 12 leaders who agreed to the plan at a conference in Berlin on Jan. 19. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said he abstained because the government has serious doubts about whether the resolution can be implemented and end the war between rival governments in the way wed like to see it. Events will show us who was right, he said. And if the resolution will have a positive impact in resolving the conflict I will be the first to acknowledge I was wrong. British Ambassador Karen Pierce countered that the resolution is viable, saying all it does is give concrete expression to the commitments that leaders adopted at Berlin and that included adoption by President Putin. We all want to see it implemented, she said. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. A weak U.N.-recognized administration that holds the capital of Tripoli and parts of the countrys west is backed by Turkey, which recently sent thousands of soldiers to Libya, and to a lesser degree Qatar and Italy. On the other side is a rival government in the east that supports self-styled Gen. Khalifa Hifter, whose forces launched an offensive to capture the capital last April and are backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt as well as France and Russia. The Tripoli authorities and U.S. officials have accused Hifter of relying on hundreds of Russian mercenaries. Sudanese armed groups from the Darfur region recently joined the fighting on both sides, according to a report by U.N. experts. The resolution demands that all countries refrain from interfering in Libyas conflict and its internal affairs and observe a U.N. arms embargo, including by ceasing all support for and withdrawing all armed mercenary personnel. Russia sought unsuccessfully to change references to growing involvement of mercenaries to foreign terrorist fighters. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that the agreement has been repeatedly violated by continuing arms deliveries to the warring parties and escalating fighting. He called the current offensives by rival forces a scandal, saying the commitments apparently were made without a true intention of respecting them. The resolution welcomes last weeks cease-fire talks between Libyas warring sides in Geneva and calls for their continuation without further delay in order to agree a permanent cease-fire. It asks Guterres to submit his views on conditions for a cease-fire and proposals for effective monitoring of a truce, with a view to making detailed recommendations when a cease-fire is announced. Newly appointed Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak will not abandon the areas he was in charge of at the position of aide to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. The priority will be to end the war in Donbas in the interests of Ukraine, he said at a briefing on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. First, I want to tell you that I will not abandon the areas I have been in charge of lately. Of course, ending the war in Donbas in the interests of Ukraine is and will always be one of the priorities for the President of Ukraine and for the Office of the President. Therefore, this direction remains a priority, Yermak said. He added that foreign policy remained in the focus of his attention. I believe that today Ukraine is in the worlds spotlight and we cannot miss this chance. We need to do everything possible so that the attention and the interest that we have and feel today during the international visits of the President of Ukraine do not cease and give us concrete results, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine noted. Other important areas of the Offices activity will be conducting regional policy and attracting investment in Ukraine. On Tuesday, February 11, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Andriy Bohdan from the post of the Office of the President of Ukraine and appointed Andriy Yermak to this post. ol [February 12, 2020] The Global Sous Vide Machine Market to Generate Revenues of Over $1 Billion During the Period 2020 -2025 - Market Research by Arizton CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's recent research report, Sous Vide Machine Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025 is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 28% during the period 2019-2025. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: The global sous vide machine market is expected to post an absolute growth of 336% ? a leap of over $1,109 million revenue between 2019 and 2025. Growing consciousness among the consumers for their health, impacts their food consumption to a larger extent, thereby favorably impacting the type of appliances being used to prepare the food. Increase in the usage of high-end food processing appliances in the application segments such as commercial and industrials are expected to boost the overall sous vide machine market demand. Contributing over $759 million incremental revenue during 2019-2025, water ovens offers a profitable revenue potential opportunity for market vendors. The sous vide machine market in the commercial end-user segment is expected to offer $723 million incremental revenue for the market during 2019-2025. With nearly 66% of the market revenue coming from North America and Europe , vendors are emphasizing on innovative strategies and promotional measures to bolster the overall sous vide machine market growth. The vendor landscape of the sous vide machine market is expected to witness a higher level of competition and is hence highly consolidated. Some of the few leading vendors include DC Norris, Electrolux (Anova Culinary), and Breville (ChefSteps and Polyscience Culinary). Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 2019-2025 Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by product, application, distribution channels, and geography Competitive Landscape Profile of 3 key vendors and 26 other vendors Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/sous-vide-machine-market Sous Vide Machine Market Segmentation Immersion circulators are expected to witness growth as they enable smart cooking via interactive applications. These machines are witnessing a widespread usage in the residential sector since they eliminate overcooking and undercooking chances, thereby offering an edge-to-edge perfection in food preparation. The industrial sous vide method involves cooking food under vacuum in airtight plastic pouches submerged in a water bath/cook tank. The increased focus on nutritional value, quality, and convenience among consumers is drive the growth of this segment. Sous vide machines are majorly delivered via distribution channels such as manufacturers, dealers & distributors, retailers, and online modes. In the distribution channel process, manufacturers sell products to retailers, which are further expected to sel the same to consumers in the market. Market Segmentation by Products Paper Immersion Circulators Water Ovens Market Segmentation by Application VIP Commercial Residential Industrial Market Segmentation by Distribution Channels Retail Specialty Stores Mass Market Players Dealers and Distribution Online Stores Sous Vide Machine Market Dynamics Over the past few years, the consumers have increasingly become more selective in terms of their choice related to dishes, meat products or other cuisines. In today's scenario, the restaurants are looking for growth via innovative product development, increased market penetration, diversified businesses along with upcoming business models. Factors such as increasing preference of consumers regarding healthy food consumption, increased competition from grocery stores, advancements in the technology, various environmental sustainability issues, are expected to reinvent the consumer dining experience, thereby changing the way an industry operates. With the rising spending power of the consumer, the millennial generation of consumers is expected to fuel the growth of the restaurant industry during the forecast period. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Operational and Nutritional Benefits of Sous Vide Safety and Quality of Sous Vide Products Dynamic Choices Towards Latest Food Processing Techniques Marketing and Advertising of the Sous Vide Products Sous Vide Machine Market Geography In high-end restaurants in Europe, chefs are showing a significant inclination toward high accurate temperature control during cooking to maintain flavors, texture, and quality alike. With the inclusion of sous vide technology, restaurant chefs are gaining all these benefits, thereby providing enhanced and superior quality food products to customers. The expansion of high-end restaurants across the region and the need to cater to changing consumer preferences are expected to favorably affect the sales of sous vide equipment during the forecast period. The restaurant industry in different European regions has witnessed a significant rise in the growth, owing to changing foodservice trends, coupled with the fact that the consumers are becoming conscious regarding the quality of food products. Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/sous-vide-machine-market Market Segmentation Geography APAC China Japan Australia South Korea Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Nordic North America US Canada MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Major Vendors DC Norris & Company Electrolux Breville Other vendors include - Calvetti Culinary Creations, CASO design, C&T Design and Equipment, Clifton at Home, Cuisine Solutions, Dover, Duravant, Eades Appliance Technology, Gourmia, Grant Creative Cuisine, Hamilton Beach Brands, JBT, Julabo, Kitchen Gizmo, Metos Manufacturing, Nomiku, Oliso, Plascon Group, Russell Hobbs, Sammic, Stanley Black & Decker, Storebound, SugarCreek, Taurus Group, Tribest, and VacMaster. Explore our consumer goods & retail technology profile to know more about the industry. Read some of the top-selling reports: Range Hood Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025 Wine Cooler Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025 Commercial Deep Fryer Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2019-2024 AI-enabled Kitchen Appliances Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2019-2024 About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Arizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports. Contact: [email protected] +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-global-sous-vide-machine-market-to-generate-revenues-of-over-1-billion-during-the-period-2020-2025---market-research-by-arizton-301003652.html SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP over the LPG cylinder price hike, saying it has struck the pockets of the people with "current". Cooking gas LPG price has been hiked by a steep Rs 144.5 per cylinder due to spurt in benchmark global rates of the fuel. But to insulate domestic users, the government almost doubled the subsidy it provides on the fuel to keep per cylinder outgo almost unchanged. Hitting out at the government over the hike, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Modi ji increased the price of LPG cylinder by Rs 144. Cooking gas price price has been increased by Rs 200 in 1 year from 2019-2020." "While talking about current, they have struck the pockets of the public with current," he tweeted in an apparent reference to Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks during the Delhi polls campaign that "press the button so hard that protesters in Shaheen Bagh feel the current. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 22 Bangladeshi nationals, including 12 women, were arrested for illegal stay from Palghar district in Maharashtra, police said on Wednesday. The arrests were made after police raided huts in Rajodi village on late Tuesday night, a police official said. A case has been registered under Indian Passport Act, 1920, and the Foreign Nationals Act, 1946, she said. "These people didn't have any valid documents in their possession," the official said, adding that they were doing petty jobs in the district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At time of writing, the share prices of CSL Ltd [ASX:CSL] and Commonwealth Bank of Australia [ASX:CBA] are up .82% and 2.03% respectively. CSL shares are up nearly 70% and CBA shares are up more than 17% over the last 12 months. The CBA share price is now pulling away in the charts and is breaking through resistance at $82. Source: tradingview.com Today we look at the highlights from the two companies results and the outlook for blue chips for 2020. Highlights from results push share prices higher Here are the highlights from CSLs results: Revenue and NPAT both up 11% to $4.98 billion and $1.29 billion respectively Strong growth in immunoglobulin portfolio Sales of Privigen and Hizentra products up 28% and 37% respectively So a strong half-yearly report for CSL, something that most in the market likely expected given it only moved slightly on the announcement. In other words, investors appear to have already priced in the results. The CBA share price moved more however on their announcement. Here are the highlights from their results: Statutory profit up 34% to $6.2 billion Cash NPAT down 4.3% to $4.5 billion Dividend of $2 maintained The last of these points is perhaps the biggest one for investors. While other banks have cut their dividends, CBA has managed to maintain theirs. Its part of their appeal as an investment and it appears that CBA is clearly leading the pack amongst the Big Four. In the past we have been bearish on CBAs prospects but the market is telling us we were wrong, for now. But time frame is everything. More rate cuts on the horizon could eventually squeeze margins. So the CBA share price run may eventually unwind. For now though, its looking positive for the company. Outlook for ASX blue chips 2020 Our editor, Ryan Dinse, highlighted the various reasons why 2020 would be another bull year for the market at the end of 2019. Governments could look to pump more money into the system, something which they have done in the past. They are repeat offenders when it comes to this. So until there is some massive shift in policy from the Fed or the RBA, I dont see blue chips like CSL and CBA going off the boil. The small-cap space may be where the real opportunity is though. You can get our analysis on our three favourite small-caps here. Regards, Lachlann Tierney, For Money Morning [February 12, 2020] AceInfo Awarded Prime Contract on PBGC's $133.3 Million ID/IQ RESTON, Va., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ace Info Solutions, LLC (AceInfo), a Dovel company, is among three companies that have been awarded the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) IT Infrastructure Operations Support Services (ITIOSS) program contract. AceInfo works with government customers to help them improve operations, foster innovation, and implement best practices for mission critical programs. Together, AceInfo and Dovel further customer missions by blending deep domain expertise and advanced technologies to deliver solutions that improve, protect, and save lives. The $133.3 million ID/IQ contract is for one base year and four option years. PBGC's ITIOSS program enables the agency to acquire enterprise T services that include: IT security services Test center operations Cloud integration SharePoint Solutions development End user services Development, modernization and enhancement Business Program/process management support Location of documents/records Cost control Maintenance of outages Procedure work instruction Service level agreement matrixes "We are excited to be one of PBGC's sources of IT-related services," said AceInfo's Chief Operating Officer Mike Cosgrave. "Being selected as a prime contractor for the PBGC ITIOSS, reflects our commitment to supporting federal government missions across the IT enterprise, including Cloud integration. We look forward to leveraging our wide range of capabilities." Founded in 2000, AceInfo is a trusted IT partner with the federal government, providing various agencies the expertise to transform and strengthen their processes, operations, infrastructures, and security practices to help them further their critical missions. We have proven experience prioritizing client satisfaction, project quality, and providing innovative, cost-effective solutions to our federal clients. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aceinfo-awarded-prime-contract-on-pbgcs-133-3-million-idiq-301003850.html SOURCE Ace Info Solutions Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, February 13 2020 Indonesia, together with a majority of the United Nations Security Council members, rejected the United States recently announced Middle East peace plan during a council debate on Tuesday but backed down from proposing a vote for a resolution condemning the proposal. All 15 member countries except the US distanced themselves from US President Donald Trumps so-called deal of the century, which was overwhelmingly considered to have failed in securing the rights and meeting the aspirations of the Palestinian people. Indonesian Ambassador to the UN Dian Triansyah Djani said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict needed a two-state solution developed under credible multilateral negotiations and guided by internationally agreed-upon parameters in accordance with international law. 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 TOKYO, Feb 12, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited today announced the launch of Fujitsu Technical Computing Solution GREENAGES Citywide Surveillance V3, a privacy-conscious AI-based image analysis solution that measures the impact of and engagement with advertisements in public places, such as digital signage, based on the number of viewers and their attributes. Developed by Fujitsu to create new business models of public advertising and contribute to urban development with better understanding of user experience, the solution is relevant for ad agencies and advertisers, as well as facility managers for such large-scale facilities as train stations and airports in order to better understand the target audience user experience. Starting sales in Japan today, the solution is planned to launch in Asia and Europe during the next fiscal year starting in April 2020.GREENAGES Citywide Surveillance employs AI technology from Fujitsu Human Centric AI Zinrai to analyze images from cameras placed around a city or in a facility without identifying the people in the images. It automatically extracts a variety of information on people and vehicles, capturing real time movements throughout a city. This smart city monitoring solution aims to create urban areas where people can live comfortably and with peace of mind, as it can also detect suspicious behavior, such as surreptitious peeking. New features have been added to the solution to capture real-time actions and characteristics of groups of people, such as their viewing direction, gender, and age, without identifying individuals. These features aid advertisers in better understanding the frequency and level of engagement by viewers in public places, such as train stations, airports, and shopping malls.With this solution, Fujitsu aims to further vitalize urban areas by creating new business models for advertising in public places. Focusing on the viewers' interests and behavior, the solution will enable digital signage to be placed based on the number of viewers, and display dynamic advertising based on target audience viewing duration. The solution can also provide guidance information and optimized routing of population flows based on the characteristics of people entering a facility.BackgroundSince its first launch in October of 2016, GREENAGES Citywide Surveillance has been used by security-related institutions, transportation infrastructure providers, and corporations as image analysis software aiming to create comfortable and safe urban areas. In May 2018, its features were enhanced to support applications spanning a wide variety of city scenarios. For example, beyond just detecting and measuring the number of people or vehicles, its detection features were expanded using AI technology to distinguish the characteristics of the clothes people wore as well as the color, model, and manufacturer of vehicles. In addition, a feature was added to deliver the analysis results through an API. Applying the solution to other fields, Fujitsu has now launched GREENAGES Citywide Surveillance V3. Measuring the value of advertisements in public places has been a challenge in the advertising industry for many years.Features of GREENAGES Citywide Surveillance V31. Viewer Detection and AnalysisThe solution can calculate the number of people who pay attention to advertisements, the amount of time people look at them, and the viewership rate for advertisements by evaluating the viewing direction of large groups in videos taken from cameras installed near digital signage and billboards, without identifying specific individuals. Moreover, based on factors such as the angle and direction of a person's head, the solution can detect their viewing direction even when they are relatively small in the image or when their faces are not visible. The technology that outputs viewing information suited for measuring advertisement value is patent pending.Example Applicationsa. Selling digital signage that can measure advertisement viewership numbersb. Measuring the effect of guiding and optimizing traffic through analog and digital signage installed in public spaces, including on the street and in train stations, airports, and shopping malls.c. Detecting suspicious behavior, such as surreptitious peeking, thereby enhancing safety and security2. Attributes EstimationWithout identifying individuals, this solution estimates the age and gender of people in crowds. Even when a crowd is milling about randomly in the street, when the individual people are quite small in the field of view, and even when their faces are not visible, the solution can estimate attributes based on physical characteristics such as hairstyle and clothes. Example ApplicationsDeploying interactive signage that can display different guidance or advertisements based on the characteristics of visitors or passersby.Analyzing the attributes of visitors in spaces such as train stations, airports, and shopping malls while preserving their privacy.Sales TargetIn Japan, 10,000 signs are planned to be deployed by the end of fiscal 2020.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 132,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (Code: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.0 trillion yen (US $36 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. She reportedly spent time with Drake during their split. Still Travis Scott wasn't exactly happy to learn Kylie Jenner had been hanging out with the rapper, sources told People. 'Travis was obviously never thrilled that Kylie hung out with other guys. He is very protective of Kylie,' a source told the website. Didn't sit well: Travis Scott wasn't exactly happy to learn Kylie Jenner had been hanging out with Drake Back in November, it had been reported Kylie and Drake had been spending time 'romantically' following her split from Travis, according to People. An insider for the publication said at the time: 'He and Kylie have been spending time together recently.' Now, Kylie has been at the center of reports she may be on the verge of rekindling her romance with Drake. But it looks like she will be doing it at her own timeline. A source told People that when Kylie 'is ready to announce that they are back together, she will.' The news of comes after Scott was seen on Kylie's social media in a limo after Sunday's Academy Awards, as they spent time with Kylie's sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian. The Los Angeles-born makeup mogul 'doesn't want this public back-and-forth when it comes to her relationship with Travis,' the father of her two-year-old daughter Stormi, following their parting in October after a two-year relationship. Glam: Kylie held court at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party on Sunday The Life of Kylie personality said in an October 3 tweet: 'Travis and I are on great terms. Our main focus right now is Stormi. Our friendship and our daughter is priority.' The source told People Tuesday that 'for now, they are great and happy,' as 'they spend most days together with Stormi.' A separate source told the outlet that Jenner and Scott - who were initially romantically linked in April of 2017, and welcomed Stormi February 1, 2018 - 'are very happy,' but 'it seems too early to say that they are officially back together, though.' Kylie, having 'done very well' in the past five months while single, and 'doesn't want the pressure to announce that they are back together until there is more of a commitment from Travis.' The source added things are going well for the the pair and their toddler daughter, who has 'both parents around as much as possible.' Syracuse, NY -- An out-of-state actress suffered a terrifying sexual assault near Syracuses Armory Square in September after following internet directions to get her mom a birthday card at a Near West Side pharmacy, police testified in court Monday. The 32-year-old actress, who was performing at the Landmark Theater, was forcibly touched on her buttocks, then grabbed around the neck by an assailant who threatened to kill her if she didnt stop screaming. Do you want to die? the tall, large man threatened during the 4:30 p.m. assault on Monday, Sept. 30. Ill push your throat right in. Passers-by intervened, and the attacker fled before police arrived. But the victim was still frantic and scared" when Officer Gregory DePuccio responded to the 500 block of South Clinton Street, just south of Armory Square. It was clear she had been crying, DePuccio said in court Monday. Fortunately, the victim had a good description: a tall, large man, wearing a burnt orange zip-up sweatshirt and a hat. Within a half-hour, police had apprehended Clifford Woods, 39, a nearby resident, as a suspect. Woods was caught while walking at West Jefferson and South Clinton streets, a block north of the assault, while wearing an orange shirt and hat, Officer Chelsea Townsend testified. That orange shirt and hat became even more important for police after the victim admitted she couldnt tell if Woods was the attacker, based on a quick view of the suspect, called a police show up. And surveillance video of the attack didnt show the perpetrators face, either. But the video clearly showed a large, tall man wearing an orange shirt and hat committing the crime, DePuccio testified. The victim later added that her assailant had a beard, which Woods does, police said. Woods, who lives in the 550. S. Clinton St. apartment tower, is facing a multiple-count indictment that includes stalking, attempted kidnapping and forcible touching. He faces a lengthy prison sentence, if convicted after trial. Plea negotiations appeared stalled Monday. The victim was headed from the Landmark to the Gifford and West Pharmacy, located across the railroad tracks and South West Street Arterial from downtown. The problems began as she neared Dickerson Street while walking south on Clinton. Thats when the assailant began cat-calling her and asked for her phone number, DePuccio testified. The victim tried to continue walking to the pharmacy, but encountered a large group of people after turning on Dickerson Street (near the railroad tracks) which made her feel unsafe, the officer continued. She turned around, and thats when her attacker reached for her buttocks and then grabbed her around the neck as she began screaming. He threatened to crush her throat if she didnt stop screaming, DePuccio said. A silver car pulled up and its occupants yelled at the suspect. He left north on South Clinton Street, back toward downtown. A passer-by stopped to call 911 and remained with the shaken woman until DePuccio arrived. A judge heard evidence Monday afternoon to decide whether or not Woods arrest was constitutionally performed. Its a routine procedure as the case heads toward trial. Nepal has suspended the licence of a resort for three months, where eight Indian tourists died of possible asphyxiation, citing poor security management and managerial weakness. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had formed a committee to probe the January incident which submitted its report on the shortcomings of the hotel that possibly led to the death of Indian tourists, including four minors. On January 21, eight tourists from a group of 15 fell unconscious, probably due to a gas leak from a heater, and were airlifted to HAMS hospital here where they were declared dead. The deceased included Praveen Krishnan Nair, his wife Saranya Sasi and their three children and Ranjith Kumar Adatholath Punathil, his wife Indu Lakshmi Peethambaran Ragalatha and their son. Read: Day After 7 People Died Of Gas Leak In UP's Sitapur, Acid Factory Operator Among Two Detained Nepal's Department of Tourism imposed a three-month ban on the Daman-based Everest Panorama Resort of Makwanpur district following the committee report. The probe committee pointed out poor security management and managerial weakness at the hotel which led to the incident. According to a local daily, the resort was not following the standard safety measures and provided substandard services. Mira Acharya, Director of DoT, said that the resort should meet the criteria mentioned in a notice published in the Nepal Gazette under the title 'Hotel Classification and Criteria' if the owner wants to resume the services. The resort will have to also undergo the Environment Impact Assessment to get permission for resuming operations. Read: UP CM Yogi Orders Probe Into Sitapur Gas Leak That Killed 7, Announces Rs 4 Lakh Ex-gratia Embassy offers condolence After the tragic incident, the Indian Embassy in Nepal offered condolence over the death of eight Indian and said that they were extending all necessary assistance. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar he was deeply distressed over the death of Indian tourists. Deeply distressed by the tragic news of the passing away of 8 Indian tourists in Nepal.Our Embassy @IndiaInNepal hs been closely following the situation.Embassy officials are stationed at the hospital& are providing necessary assistance.Our thoughts are with the bereaved families Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 21, 2020 Read: Odisha: Suspected Gas Leak At Prawn Processing Unit, 80 Workers Fall Sick Read: 8 Indian Tourists Die Due To Possible Gas Leak In Nepal Resort (With PTI inputs) Pope Francis, in one of the most significant decisions of his papacy, on Wednesday dismissed a proposal to allow some married men to be ordained in the Amazon region to ease an acute scarcity of priests. The recommendation, put forward by Latin American bishops last year, had alarmed conservatives in the deeply polarised 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church, who feared it could lead to a change in the centuries-old commitment to celibacy among priests. Francis delivered his response in an Apostolic Exhortation, three months after the proposal passed by 128 votes to 41 at a contentious Vatican assembly, or synod, of Roman Catholic bishops. Apostolic Exhortations are used to instruct and encourage the Catholic faithful but do not define Church doctrine. Wednesday's 32-page document did not even mention the proposal, which was for older married deacons who are proven leaders of remote Catholic communities and have stable families to be ordained as priests. Conservatives balked, fearing that even a circumscribed change would be a slippery slope leading to a married priesthood throughout the Church. They branded a pre-synod working document as heretical. In what some viewed as a strategically timed appeal to Francis not to approve the Amazon proposal, a book published last month by Church conservatives defended the tradition of priestly celibacy. "From the Depths of Our Hearts" was co-authored by Cardinal Robert Sarah and Former Pope Benedict, though Francis' predecessor subsequently disassociated himself from the project. Vatican officials said the pope completed the document on Dec. 27, before the book controversy, and handed it in for translations. They said no changes were made after that. In the Exhortation, the 82-year-old Argentine pope wrote, new ways must be found to encourage more priests to work in the remote region, and allow expanded roles for lay people and permanent deacons, of whom the Amazon needed "many more". Deacons, like priests, are ordained ministers. They can preach, teach, baptise and run parishes, but they cannot say Mass. Married men can become deacons. Because only priests can say Mass, people in at least 85pc of Amazon villages cannot attend the liturgy every week and some cannot do so for years. "This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America... to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region," he wrote. He used the first three chapters of the document to defend the rights and legacies of indigenous people and the environment in the Amazon, which had to be protected because of its vital role in mitigating global warming. Conservatives feared that if Francis had taken up the proposal, other areas with a shortage of priests would follow, even in developed countries such as Germany, where the issue is being discussed. Democrats care deeply about equality, and the new blue Virginia Legislature wasted no time voting to become the 38th state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, despite its failure to reach the required 38 states in 1979 and again after the cut-off date was extended to 1982. Perhaps the Virginia legislators used Common Core math, because only two other states later approved it, while five states rescinded, thus Virginia does not add to 38 states. Nonetheless, the new Democrat majorities quickly passed the ERA last week. The excitement was overwhelming on the Democrat side. For example, Del. Danica Roem (D), once a heavy metal musician then journalist and now the first openly transgender person to be elected to the Virginia General Assembly, immediately got a blue ink tattoo of the first 24 words of the ERA on his left arm. Virginia attorney general Mark R. Herring quickly promised his full support to force it into the U.S. Constitution. Did Virginia Dems have some insider knowledge that prompted this seemingly pointless vote? Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council uncovered a clue as early as November 2019 in his FRC Washington Update article. He reported that Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and an enthusiastic supporter of the ERA, said, "You guys [Republicans] get so caught up in ... process. Congressman Mike Johnson stated: "Process doesn't matter[.] ... We're here to advance an agenda. We don't care what the rules say. We don't care what the Constitution says[.] ... That stuff's immaterial." More evidence suggesting that Virginia's ERA ratification was a coordinated plan just surfaced in the Washington Examiner. "The House is poised this week to pass a measure that would revive the long-dead Equal Rights Amendment by repealing the 1982 deadline imposed on states to ratify it." "The measure, H.J. Res. 79, would 'permanently reopen the ratification process for the amendment by eliminating the deadline[.]'" It is unlikely to get past Mitch McConnell's Senate. However, if by some miracle they succeed, Joy Pullman, executive editor of The Federalist, provides more details on why the ERA must be opposed. She listed the ERA's top five unintended consequences, surprisingly identified by a leftist UVA professor. Three stand out: Women have equal rights already[.] ... That means a constitutional amendment claiming to [establish them] is actually doing something else. The ERA would harm women because it would not only bar ... policies designed to benefit girls and women. It would also jeopardize single-sex settings, such as schools, dormitories, prisons and locker rooms. Do we really want to start embedding identity politics into the highest law in the land? Hopefully, the ERA is going nowhere; however, there is back-up legislation. Last week Virginia passed a version of the House Dems' pending "Equality Act." According to the Family Foundation, Virginia's SOGI anti-discrimination version similarly forces flawed, fluid, and totally subjective notions of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" into private employment decisions and "public accommodations," which even appear to include churches (!), and will grant new powers to initiate civil suits, including fines ($50,000 for the first offense, and then up to $100,000 for each subsequent offense). At least lawyers and leftist bullies will be pleased. Milton Friedman summarized the consequences more concisely. "A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both." Correction made: remarks by Cngressman Johnson were mistakenly atributed to Congressman Cohen Image: Famartin via Wikimedia Commons. The alleged mastermind of a deadly attack on India's financial capital over a decade ago has been jailed in Pakistan for nearly six years on separate terror charges, his lawyer said Wednesday. Hafiz Saeed was found guilty of "being part of a banned terrorist outfit" and for "having illegal property", his lawyer Imran Gill told AFP. He is wanted in India for allegedly planning the shocking 2008 attack in Mumbai, when 10 Islamist militants armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and other weapons killed 166 people and injured hundreds more. It took the authorities three days to regain full control of the city. Lawyer Gill gave no details about Saeed's conviction apart from saying he would be kept in prison in the eastern city of Lahore. The firebrand cleric -- declared a global terrorist by the United States and United Nations, and with a $10 million bounty on his head -- is the leader of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa Islamist charity. Its militant wing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is believed by Washington and Delhi to be responsible for the Mumbai attacks. India has long said there is evidence that "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved in plotting the attack -- a charge Islamabad denies. - Move at will - Saeed has denied involvement, but has spent years in and out of varying forms of detention in Pakistan, sometimes under house arrest, on various charges. For the most part he has been free to move at will around the country, enraging India which has repeatedly called for his prosecution. His most recent arrest came in July last year. At the time, US President Donald Trump tweeted that he had been detained "after a ten-year search", prompting derision from cynical Pakistanis. The US Foreign Affairs Committee also noted then that Saeed had been arrested and released eight times since 2001. Islamabad, which is widely believed to use jihadist groups such as LeT as proxies against India, has long been under international pressure to crack down on militancy. Saeed's jailing comes as Pakistan faces potential blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an anti-money-laundering monitor based in Paris -- for failing to combat terror financing. "There was nothing to the case really, this was just due to pressure from the FATF," his lawyer Gill told AFP. The court's judgement, seen by AFP, did not specify which banned terrorist group Saeed belonged to or clarify what it meant by "illegal property", which can refer to money or other property. There was also no immediate comment from the JuD group, and coverage of the sentence was muted on Pakistani news channels. Saeed's sentence came days after a leading member of the Pakistani Taliban, former spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, escaped custody more than two years after surrendering to authorities. He has released an audio statement claiming to be in Turkey. Hafiz Saaed has denied being the mastermind of the 2008 terror attacks on India's financial capital A convoy carrying Hafiz Saeed leaves court after the verdict in Lahore Stephen Groves/AP The controversial South Dakota HB 1057 appears to be all but dead, nearly one month after its introduction. The bill drew the ire of civil rights and medical groups for proposing criminal punishments for doctors who prescribe puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender youth in the state under the age of 16. HB 1057 was the first bill of its kind proposing such criminal penalties for doctors following standards of care proposed by international medical bodies. South Dakota Doctors Could Face Criminal Charges Over Prescribing Puberty Blockers for Trans Teens Representative Fred Deutsch authored the bill with the help of many conservative groups such as the Minnesota Family Council, the Kelsey Coalition, and the Family Policy Alliance. Similar bills appeared in several other states as part of a broader wave of anti-transgender legislature during the 2020 session. After passing the South Dakota House of Representatives by a 46-23 vote, the bill was defeated on Monday in a South Dakota Health and Human Services Committee hearing by a 5-2 vote. It was really fantastic to see the way the community responding to this bill, and the broad coalition of folks who opposed the hearing today and the hearing back in the House, Libby Skarin, ACLU South Dakota Policy Director, told the Daily Beast. It is the result we wanted for a long, long time so it feels really nice. Over the last month opposition to the bill has tried to focus on the adverse effects denying care to transgender youth would have on their mental and physical health. Statistics from the Trevor Project show that in 2019 54% of transgender youth surveyed by the organization reported seriously considering suicide in the last year. Meanwhile, according to the Trevor Project, pubertal suppression has also been shown to significantly improve overall psychological functioning after only six months of care and significantly lower suicidal ideation compared to those who did not receive such treatment. Story continues In the last year alone the Trevor Project says it has fielded 150 crisis calls from South Dakota youth, which is only a small percentage of what the group estimates are LGBT youth in the state in crisis. Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, said after the bill was voted down in committee that the vote was a resounding victory for trans youth in South Dakota and more importantly will be a lifesaver to kids in the state. We are hopeful that any state considering similar bills will join South Dakota in setting aside these attacks on trans youth to focus on real priorities to advance the health and wellbeing of all, Brinton said. Thank you to the ACLU of South Dakota and to all of the local advocates and members of the SD Senate Health and Human Services Committee who held the line and stopped this misguided legislation in its tracks. South Dakota has a few legislative mechanisms that could revive the bill, including a legislative smokeout that allows the Senate to revive a bill on the floor within three legislative days of a committee vote if one-third of Senators vote to do so. Skarin said that the resounding victory in the Republican-controlled HHS Committee should be enough to kill the bill, but she will feel more confident if the bill is not revived by Friday. The delay between the House of Representatives vote and the Senate hearing ultimately led to the committee voting to defeat the legislation, Skarin said. One Senator on the Committee, Senator TK Rush, said during the hearing that his office had fielded more calls on HB 1057 than any other piece of legislature during his six-year tenure as an elected official. LGBT rights groups now say they hope the defeat of HB 1057 is a beacon to the other states considering similar legislation. Its heartening to see how strongly South Dakotans stood against HB 1057 and that elected officials in the state are standing up against the misinformation and anti-transgender attacks that came from the bills proponents, Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign said after the bills defeat. Now, as similar bills pop up in other states across the country, were hopeful that other states lawmakers will follow South Dakotas lead in recognizing that these bills are unnecessary, harmful and have no place in our state legislatures. Should HB 1057 not be revived it will be another legislative session without an anti-transgender piece of legislation being enshrined in state law, and the fourth in a row since past-Governor Dennis Daugaard vetoed an anti-transgender bathroom bill in 2016. I hope that is a trend that continues, Skarin said. I hope that it [also] means in future legislative sessions legislators will think twice, and then think twice again, about introducing bills like this. So for today well celebrate. 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. Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) and Orange Business Services a network native digital services company - have collaborated to develop a cutting-edge smart cities virtualisation App that will enhance the city management services delivered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. The bespoke App, IoT Cockpit, provides visualisation via an immersive, interactive user interface for the city authorities monitoring elements of the urban landscape. Orange Business Services co-innovation approach supports ADMs vision for Abu Dhabi and its five-year smart cities plan to achieve sustainability and enhance the quality of life for citizens and residents. IoT Cockpit is now being rolled out by ADM and Orange Business Services in the UAE and was showcased at the 10th World Urban Forum hosted in Abu Dhabi (February 8-13) which was co-sponsored and organised by ADM along with UN-Habitat - the first time that an Arab country has hosted the worlds most important conference on cities and human settlements. The forum was jointly inaugurated by United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, and the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities, His Excellency Falah Al Ahbabi. With the bespoke IoT Cockpit city management solution, connected objects and tangible objects are virtualised, enabling ADM to see, interact with and manage the smart utilities network across the city, including water, electricity, and fibre, as well as visualising the situation on the ground, at key points. For example, IoT Cockpit allows the municipality to see whether street lighting is working correctly, and whether public transport is operating normally, enhancing control over vital elements of the city. Rayan Mohammad Almohaisen, IT Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Municipality, comments: Orange Business Services is supporting ADMs plans to deliver a range of projects and initiatives across Abu Dhabi, from public parks to public infrastructure that will build and shape the living experiences in one of the worlds developing smartest cities. ADM is keen to promote effective collaborations that deliver innovations through strategic partnerships with leading private sector companies, such as Orange Business Services. Sahem Azzam, Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Orange Business Services, adds: Sustained innovation is the lifeblood of the smart city and our collaboration with ADM on IoT Cockpit is a great example of co-innovation - a bespoke city management solution developed in the region and for the region, where we have a strong focus on the smart cities opportunity. The UAE is a test bed for smart cities innovation and leads the way in not just adopting but also developing new solutions that are transforming cities, such as Abu Dhabi. The scale of the regions smart cities ambition is matched by the vision, leadership and resources needed for success and the commitment to innovation to drive new business models and new thinking in the smart city. Over the last 10 years in the Middle East, Orange Business Services - regional team has focused on smart cities with tailored solutions for some of the regions most high-profile smart city developments, including in Saudi Arabia at The Digital City ITCC; The Royal Commission at Yanbu; King Abdullah Financial District; King Abdul Aziz Road; Jeddah Economic City; and Al Widyan; and in the UAE, at Dubai Silicon Oasis development, where Orange Business Services launched the regional innovation hub and smart cities showroom the regional centre of excellence for smart cities in 2017. -- Tradearabia News Service Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 12:33 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063fa5a9 1 Food Go-Food,Go-Jek,ayam-geprek Free Forget the popular sugary bubble tea or Indonesians' ultimate comfort food nasi goreng (fried rice). When it comes to app-based delivery services, spicy ayam geprek (smashed fried chicken with chili) clinched the top spot as the most-ordered item on GoFood throughout 2019. The online food delivery service by ride-hailing app Gojek announced on Tuesday that it had received total orders of 300 million portions of ayam geprek last year, which according to GoFood's estimates, is "nearly equal to a round trip from Java to Kalimantan if the plates were arranged lengthwise". Following in second place was es kopi susu (iced coffee with milk), which has seen rising popularity among young urbanites in recent years thanks to the availability of more coffee kiosks in the country's cities as GoFood recorded 13 million cups of the beverage ordered by customers through the app. In third place was pisang goreng (fried banana), with Gojek recording 5 million pieces of the sweet tasty snacks ordered through GoFood throughout 2019. Read also: Three places to enjoy fiery hot ayam geprek "[The popularity] of ayam geprek has been tested through the years, as has kopi susu. It's also the same with pisang goreng; Indonesians cannot live far from fried snacks," chief food officer of Gojek Group, Catherine Hindra Sutjahyo, said during the announcement of the data on Tuesday. Ayam geprek, which is popular among lovers of spicy food due to its fiery hot sambal (chili sauce), also secured first place as the most-ordered item during GoFood's Pesta MaMiMuMeMo, a month-long food promotion held between Nov. 5 and Dec. 6, 2018. During the period, GoFood recorded 10 million orders of ayam geprek. Catherine said that in 2019, page visits for GoFood had increased up to 60 percent, and the number of customers making transactions through the app doubled to more than 20 million customers compared to the same period in 2018. Read also: Jakpost Taste Test: 'Es Kopi Susu' Gojek data also shows that weekends recorded the most food orders. We are the largest in the region and perhaps in the top three to five in the world in food delivery services. We can say that because we are obsessed with our customer experience, Catherine said. Gojek co-CEO Kevin Aluwi said the homegrown decacorn strove to focus on improving customer experience, including by having more merchants and ensuring shorter delivery times. Over the past few years, weve really focused on [promotions but maybe service quality has not been on par with our business development," Kevin said, "We will now focus on improving our user experience and give the best services to our consumers, and not just talk about promotions." Maharashtra's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday filed seven new FIRs against 12 senior officers of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) for alleged irregularities in award of tenders for Gosekhurdh irrigation project, an official said. A special team of the ACB Nagpur had been investigating the alleged irregularities in award of seven tenders to contractors in the irrigation project at Gosekhurdh in Bhandara district of the Vidarbha region, he said. The ACB found that 12 senior officers, who were with VIDC at that time, committed irregularities in award of the tenders, he said. Following this, the anti-graft agency on Tuesday lodged a complaint at the Sadar police station in Nagpur and got the FIRs registered against the officers under the Prevention of Corruption Act on Wednesday, he said. Most of the officers named in the FIRs worked in engineering and accounts departments. In the past, too, the ACB, which has been probing alleged irregularities in execution of the project, has filed multiple FIRs. The project on the river Wainganga, coming under VIDC's jurisdiction, involves construction of a dam and a network of water canals. Irregularities were found in Mokhaburdi, Osalamendha, Nerla (Paghora), Gosekhurdh Left Canal, Gosekhurdh Right Canal and Ghodajari canal segments, the official said. The irrigation project was approved in March 1983 at an estimated cost of Rs 372.22 crore and was expected to be completed by March 1990. However, it still remains incomplete. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Perth girl who was left brain damaged while receiving burns treatment in hospital has won a long legal battle claiming negligence against Western Australia's child health service. Sunday as a baby. Sunday Mabior was 18 months old when she was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital with scald injuries in 2005. She wound up two days later in the intensive care unit, where she suffered organ failure, heart attacks, brain damage and cerebral palsy. WA's Child and Adolescent Health Service appealed to the High Court to overturn a unanimous decision by the WA Court of Appeal that upheld an earlier finding of negligence. The latest appeal was rejected in a High Court judgment handed down on Wednesday. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed their support for the termination of the Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States. Its not actually naman kawalan (a loss) because as of now, as you can see, we have already some equipment new planes, we have ships, said new AFP chief of staff General Felimon Santos Jr. We could move on without VFA, he added. However, the AFP Chief admitted that the termination might affect the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The EDCA is designed to promote the strengthening of AFP for external defense, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR), and Maritime Security. Santos also said the fight against terrorism might also be affected since the termination of the VFA includes intelligence sharing between the Philippines and the US. Despite this, the AFP Chief is confident that the Armed Forces will be able to defend the country. We will defend it hanggang kamatayan (to the death), Santos said.AAC (with reports from Harlene Delgado) The post AFP: We can move on without VFA with US appeared first on UNTV News. [February 11, 2020] Digital Realty Rolls Out PlatformDIGITAL and Colocation Solutions at Osaka Connected Campus in Japan SINGAPORE, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, announced today that it has officially launched its first of a kind global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL, with new productized colocation solutions at its Digital Osaka 2 (KIX11) data center in Japan. The company also today announced its first Japanese retail colocation customer, XTREME-D, which offers high performance compute (HPC) services on-demand. On PlatformDIGITAL, customers are uniquely enabled to deploy their IT infrastructure at the centers of data exchange around the world, bringing users, things, applications, clouds and networks to the data. Integrating the Digital Osaka 2 (KIX11) data center into the global platform provides customers with access to the full Digital Realty partner community in an industry leading carrier-neutral facility, with multiple carriers on site. The Osaka facility has also adopted Secured by Design principles, offering customers a location that is able to meet the growing demand for highly secure and reliable infrastructure. Digital Osaka 2 will now also be the first location in Asia Pacific where Digital Realty will provide customers both PlatformDIGITAL enterprise solutions and productized colocation offerings, including: Digital Colocation overview: One 1000kW colocation data hall Precision air-cooling system to support high density deployments Diverse and redundant 77kV 50MVA utility power supplies Carrier-neutral facility with multiple direct connectivity options on site Complete access to the Digital Realty community of carriers, cloud and content providers Services available to customers from day one: Cabinet sizes from 42U to 52U / Cages starting at 100 square feet Private Suites that are fully customizable Remote Hands 24/7 support services Cross Connect / Campus Connect / Service Exchange / IP Bandwidth Digital Realty's colocation services provide the highest levels of security for clients' data, while giving them the freedom to access and scale their critical IT infrastructure on-demand. Customers benefit from Digital Realty's global footprint to deploy at any scalefrom one cabinet to multiple MWwith optimal proximity to carriers, networks and cloud service providers. XTREME-D is an award-winning, Japanese start-up, that offers a cloud-based, virtual, supercomputing-on-demand service. Established in 2015, the company is headquartered in Shinagawa-City, Tokyo, Japan, with US presence in Palo Alto, California. XTREME-D will be leasing strategic colocation space at Digital Osaka 2 by MC Digital Realty, a 50/50 joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and Digital Realty. XTREME-D will launch its new on-demand services using Digital Realty's physical infrastructure to extend its own supercomputing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), starting in April 2020. MC Digital Realty operates two data centers in Osaka in a connected campus that brings together critical data center, network, cloud and connectivity providers under a single, secure environment. By utilizing Digital Realty infrastructure to provide access to its supercomputing capability, XTREME-D can now easily expand its resources as needed via flexible and stable provisioning of services. XTREME-D chose Digital Realty as its supercomputing data center partner for two main reasons: Digital Realty supplies an environment that enables high-density mounting and flexible power expansion for each rack, which is optimal for building a supercomputer infrastructure. /li> Use of Digital Realty's global data center platform, which provides uniform quality and safety in countries across the world, will standardize the quality and safety of XTREME-D's global services. "We are very excited to both roll-out our PlatformDIGITAL offering, including colocation solutions, in Osaka, Japan and welcome XTREME-D as our first strategic Asia Pacific retail colocation customer, at the Digital Osaka 2 facility," said Mark Smith, Managing Director, Asia Pacific for Digital Realty. "Japan is a thriving commercial and colocation hub and will be a great gateway for us to bring our productized colocation services to the rest of Japan and the wider region." "As enterprises increasingly recognize the value of deploying their IT infrastructure at the new centers of data exchange in professionally managed facilities, we have seen growing customer demand for new ways to deliver our services in Asia Pacific," added Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein. "Today's launch of colocation capabilities in Osaka opens up new opportunities for customers to scale their digital business on our global platform and marks a significant step forward as we continue to expand our offerings and footprint in the region." The four-story Digital Osaka 2 facility is reinforced with seismic isolation systems, spans over 23,000 square meters, and delivers up to 28 megawatts of total IT capacity. MC Digital Realty operates four data centers across Japan two each in the Tokyo and Osaka metros and owns strategic land holdings in Osaka that will support the development of up to 45 megawatts of additional IT capacity. Last year, MC Digital Realty also announced its Tokyo Connected Campus @ Inzai development roadmap which will include a new, 36-megawatt data center expected to be operational by late 2021. The proposed development will be followed by another 36-megawatt facility, a 30-megawatt facility and an 18-megawatt facility, each subject to customer demand, resulting in a connected campus capable of delivering more than 120 megawatts of total IT capacity for global and regional customers in Tokyo. About Digital Realty Digital Realty supports the data center, colocation and interconnection strategies of customers across the Americas, EMEA and APAC, ranging from cloud and information technology services, communications and social networking to financial services, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and consumer products. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About MC Digital Realty MC Digital Realty, Inc. is a joint venture (JV) between Mitsubishi Corporation and Digital Realty in Japan. The JV offers customers access to facilities with high levels of reliability and security, stable power supply, cooling and other functionality. In addition, MC Digital Realty combines Mitsubishi Corporation's realty and IT-related knowledge with Digital Realty's community of global customers and expertise in delivering and operating data centers at large scale.MC Digital Realty provides a full-suite of data center operation services to address the global-standard requirements of its customers in Japan. For more information, please visit: https://www.mc-digitalrealty.com/en/ About XTREME-D XTREME-D, Inc. was established in 2015 and is headquartered in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, with the goal of making HPC cloud computing access easy, fast, efficient, and economical. The well-funded, award-winning startup boasts leadership with almost 20 years of experience in high-performance computing and cloud technologies. Its cloud-based, virtual, supercomputing-on-demand service XTREME-StargateTM makes HPC resources available to everyone, delivering an easy-to-use customer experience through a robust UI/UX and cloud management features. XTREME-Stargate delivers high-end compute capabilities supporting private and public cloud, featuring the latest CPUs, GPUs, and interconnect options. Applications include AI, CAE, machine learning, deep learning, high performance data analysis, and IoT. For more information visit www.xtreme-d.net. For more information: Omer Wilson Digital Realty APAC +65 6505 3951 [email protected] Media & Industry Analyst Relations Marc Musgrove Digital Realty +1 (415) 508-2812 [email protected] Investor Relations John Stewart Digital Realty +1 (415) 738-6500 [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the expected timing and benefits of the launch of PlatformDIGITAL and Colocation Solutions at Digital Osaka 2 (KIX 11) Data Centre and the customer signing of XTREME-D, Digital Osaka 2, the expected data center demand in Japan and our plans and expectations in the Asia Pacific region. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-realty-rolls-out-platformdigital-and-colocation-solutions-at-osaka-connected-campus-in-japan-301003314.html SOURCE Digital Realty [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The subtext behind much of the disdain is a partly a deep-seated sentiment that Sanders, if nominated, has little chance of winning the general election. But its also partly and more insidiously that many journalists dont identify easily with Sanders in the same way they do with, say, Warren or ORourke or Buttigieg. Six men, all from Nepal, were arrested here in connection with a burglary at a mobile shop in Central Delhi's Karol Bagh last year, police said on Wednesday. Thirty-three stolen mobile phones, a bag, the car used in the commission of the offence and house-breaking tools used during the burglary have been recovered from their possession, police said. The accused have been identified as Khadak Raj Joshi (32), Ashok Chhetri (38), Ganga Ram (34), Parwat Luhar, (34), Pawan Saud (30) and Nitesh Sharma (38), they said, adding they all hailed from Nepal. Two other accused are absconding, police said. The matter came to light on December 19 last year after the shop-owner complained about burglary of mobile phones and cash at his shop at Karol Bagh. Police zeroed in on the suspects with the help of technical surveillance and CCTV footage. During investigation, it was revealed that one of the accused, who worked as a security guard in Karol Bagh area, gave information about a shop from where mobile phones and cash could be looted, said Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central). Bases on the input, the accused decided to target the shop on the intervening night of December 18-19. The accused gathered at Ajmal Khan Park on the pre-decided date and after conducting a recee, and on the direction of the security guard, one of them entered the shop through a window in which an A/C was installed, the officer said. After sometime, three others entered the shop by breaking the shutter, he said. Two others waited in a car for receiving the stolen goods and to carry them away. Two others remained outside the shop to alert their accomplices in case of any danger, the officer said, adding they all escaped from the spot after committing the crime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Among the featured films is The Knight and the Princess (2019), written and directed by Bashir El-Deek who will be honoured at the festival Paying tribute to Egyptian animated films, organisers of Morocco's 19th Meknes International Animation Film Festival (MIAFF), which will take place between 20 and 25 March, chose Egypt as the country of honour. The tribute will include screenings of Egyptian animated films and will honour figures from the country's cinema industry. Among the featured films is The Knight and the Princess (2019), written and directed by Bashir El-Deek with voices provided by the well-known Egyptian actors Mohamed El-Dafrawy, Maged El-Kedwany, Lekaa El-Khamisy, among others. El-Deek will also be honoured during the festival. According to IMDb synopsis, The Knight and the Princess sheds light on a young man, Mohamed El-Kassim, "who is frustrated by the number of injustices. He decides to make a difference. He fights through his enemies and eventually gets to the root of all evil in the land of Sind -- the tyrant King Daher." The Egyptian segment of the festival will also have its significant share in the large exhibition held at the festival showcasing clippings from old animated films. The festival is organised by the Aicha Foundation in cooperation with the French Institute in Meknes. The festival showcases animated films from around the world. Search Keywords: Short link: CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japan America Society of Chicago (JASC) toasts decades of Japanese and American friendship during the 90th Anniversary Gala, 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, March 13th, 2020, Gold Coast Room, Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton Place. Guests will be the first to view JASC's exquisite collection of Japanese artwork, including photography by the late Mary Koga, award-winning photographer whose work is displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago. Harvard Professor Emeritus, Ezra Vogel, an eminent East Asian scholar and author and Henry Ford II, Professor of the Social Sciences Emeritus at Harvard University, will deliver a key-note about the history of Chinese-Japanese relations. The event begins with a reception featuring Japanese cuisine, traditional Koto (stringed instrument) music and an unprecedented opportunity to view JASC's private collection of Japanese art. Besides unique prints, silver pieces and pottery -- some dating as early as the 19th century -- attendees will have a rare opportunity to view Koga's famous photographic series, Floral Forms, which often draws comparison to the floral paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe. After her relocation to an internment camp in California in the early 1940s, she came to Chicago and spearheaded the revival of JASC. The evening continues with a three-course dinner and video of the history of the JASC. Noriyuki Shikata, Associate for the U.S.-Japan Relations Program at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, will introduce Professor Vogel. An award-winning author, Professor Vogel has published dozens of articles and books on East-Asian relations. His book, Japan as Number One: Lessons for America (1979) , is Japan's all-time best seller of a non-fiction book by a western author. Dress for the Anniversary Gala is business or national attire. Individual tickets are $150. Corporate tables are $1,500. To order tickets or learn more, visit www.jaschicago.org or email: [email protected]. About The Japan America Society of Chicago Established in 1930, The Japan America Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan, nonpolitical association that "fosters understanding between our two cultures -- cultivating friendship between our two peoples." The Society serves as Chicago's forum for exchanging ideas and information on economic, political, business and cultural affairs that shape U.S.-Japan relations. For more information, visit www.jaschicago.org. SOURCE The Japan America Society of Chicago Related Links https://jaschicago.org Senior Congress leader PC Chacko on Wednesday blamed late Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for the downfall of the party in the region. Speaking to ANI, Chacko said that AAP took away the entire Congress vote bank. "The downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 when Sheila ji was the Chief Minister. The emergence of a new party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took away the entire Congress vote bank. We could never get it back. It still remains with the AAP," he said. Later, Chacko tendered his resignation from the post of Delhi Congress in-charge. Yesterday, the ruling AAP scored a landslide victory in Delhi assembly elections for the second time in a row as it swept aside both BJP, which was again restricted to single digits and Congress which drew a blank. AAP won 62 seats in the 70-member assembly, five seats short of its 2015 tally when it had won 67 seats. The BJP won eight seats, five more than its tally in the previous election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Under the PSA, the government detains a person; the same government hears the detenus representation against such detention; and the same government (via the Advisory Board) determines if there was a sufficient case for detention. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court recently dismissed a petition challenging the detention of the 76-year old President of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, under the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978 (PSA). He was arrested on the intervening night of 4-5 August, 2019, immediately prior to the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court, in Mian Abdul Qayoom v. State of J&K justified Qayooms detention on the basis that Qayoom propagated secessionist ideologies in the past, that criminal cases were registered against him and his associates for violating various laws in the past, and that the detaining authority was subjectively satisfied that Qayoom must be detained. It further went on to hold that all of these grounds of detention were definite, proximate and free from any ambiguity. This judgment brings into spotlight, two issues that call for immediate, intensive scrutiny: (1) the legitimacy of the draconian PSA in a post-colonial democratic framework; and (2) the efficacy of judicial review in relation to preventive detention matters. In the prevailing political milieu, the PSA, together with the judiciarys alleged powerlessness in reviewing detentions under the PSA, are collectively impinging on the constitutional rights to free speech and personal liberty. How PSA allows the government to detain any person with impunity The PSA is structured so as to provide every possible ammunition to the government to enable the detention of any person in any circumstance, while at the same time, stripping the potential detenu of every possible procedural and substantive right. Section 8 of the PSA, in the relevant part, provides that the government may direct the detention of any person if it is satisfied that the person might act in a manner prejudicial to the security of the State or the maintenance of the public order. An authorised officer may also pass such detention orders, in which case, such officer must forthwith report this fact to the government together with the grounds on which the detention was made, and this detention must then be approved by the government. As the trend reveals, the government is generally easily satisfied that any speech/expression that professes views that are contradictory to its own, prejudices the security of the State or public order. Further, Section 13 of the PSA, in relevant part, provides that the detaining authority must communicate to the detenu, the grounds for detention, within five days, and in exceptional circumstances, within ten days from the date of detention, and shall afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order of detention. However, the detaining authority need not disclose any facts that it considers to be against the public interest to disclose. The terms exceptional circumstances, and public interest, are not defined, so in essence, the government can, in every case, take up to ten days to communicate the grounds of detention to the detenu, and refrain from disclosing any fact to the detenu, by deeming it to be sensitive in relation to public interest. Subsequently, under Sections 14 through 17 of the PSA, an Advisory Board (consisting of Government-appointed Chairman and members) determines if there was sufficient cause for the detention. If the Advisory Board reports in the affirmative, the government will confirm the detention order. Therefore, under the PSA, the government detains a person; the same government hears the detenus representation against such detention; and the same government (via the Advisory Board) determines if there was a sufficient case for detention. Demonstrably, every procedural layer elucidated in the PSA is a blatant farce, and it strikes at the very root of the principle of natural justice that no person can judge a case in which he/she has an interest. The judgment effectively does away with judicial review, an aspect of the basic structure of the Constitution. In what can be termed as the most disconcerting portion of the judgment, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court refused to scrutinise the merits of the detention, without referring to or applying any safeguards in relation to the law of preventive detention. It is well-established, even in the Jammu and Kashmir High Courts very own precedents (such as the 2018 Fayaz Ahmad case), that the power of preventive detention must be confined within very narrow limits, and that the law of preventive detention must be strictly construed. However, throughout the judgment, there is not a single instance where the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has attempted to do so. To the contrary, the high court held that the government complied with every underhanded procedural requirement under the PSA. In the Pebam Ningol Mikoi Devi case (2010), the Supreme Court recapitulated that the inclusion of an irrelevant or a non-existent ground among other relevant grounds is an infringement of the detenus fundamental right (under Article 22(5) of the Constitution) to be informed of the grounds on which his/her detention is based. In the Qayoom case, some of the activities mentioned in the grounds of detention pertain to the year 2008, for which the detenu had already been detained a decade ago. The issue of whether a person can be detained, time and again, for the activities of the past, requires serious consideration. Further, in the same case, the Supreme Court also clearly held that the [c]ourt is entitled to scrutinise the material relied upon by the [detaining] [a]uthority in coming to its conclusion, and accordingly determine if there is an objective basis for the subjective satisfaction. However, in the Qayoom case, the high court held the exact opposite, that the subjective satisfaction of a detaining authority to detain a person or not, is not open to objective assessment by a Court, and that the [c]ourt is not a proper forum to scrutinise the merits of administrative decision to detain a person. In holding so, the high court did not merely digress from the established law, but also did away with its power to review the governments detention orders, and tacitly endorsed the unbridled power of the government to detain any person arbitrarily. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) US President Donald Trump intends to appoint Aldona Wos as Ambassador to Canada, the White House said in a statement. "Trump announced his intent to nominate... Aldona Wos of North Carolina, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Canada," the release said on Tuesday. The President's Commission on White House Fellowships Vice-chairwoman's resume includes a stint as the Ambassador to Estonia during in the Bush administration, and a two-year tenure as the North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services. The position in Ottawa has been vacant since August when Kelly Craft was confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations. Wos' appointment is pending confirmed by the Senate. Canada has also been without an envoy in Washington since David MacNaughton's resignation at the end of August. MetaMetrics, developer of the Lexile Framework for Reading, today announced a new partnership with Richmond Publishing, an international publisher committed to providing unique, quality learning tools to support young English language learners and their teachers. MetaMetrics created developmental reading assessments for Richmonds COMPASS Reading Log program, leveraging Lexile reading and text measures to align students with ability-appropriate reading materials and track growth as their abilities increase. COMPASS is a language arts program, created specially for use in countries where English is not the official language. Its modular and flexible organization of components offers teachers and students a distinct language learning experience that increases students cultural awareness and fosters the development of thinking skills. COMPASS presents a unique blend of ESL and EFL methodologies and complies with the highest requirements of international standards. Lexile measures provide a scientific approach for matching students with ability-appropriate texts. Lexile student measures help differentiate instruction and monitor growth in reading, putting students on the path to success in school and beyond. Texts are also measured on the Lexile scale. In this way, each student can find books that are at an ideal level of challenge. Thousands of young learners around the world are building English language skills with our COMPASS program, said Justyna Anna Piekarowicz, Richmonds publishing director for Latin America. Now by reporting Lexile reading measures, our flagship language arts program will become an even more powerful tool for helping ESL students develop a high level of English language proficiency. The Lexile Reading Tests, the first of their kind in an English language learning program, accompany the COMPASS Reading Log. COMPASS Reading Tests will support students to reach their short and long-term academic goals and to become efficient, lifelong readers. Teachers will be able to track their students progress as well as provide relevant and focused reading support to all students, regardless of their reading level. Schools will be able to provide objective proof of the effectiveness of their reading program. They will also be in a position to show proven commitment to developing reading throughout students formative years. COMPASS Reading Tests consist of three easily-administered Lexile Measure Tests. They are taken online, via the COMPASS platform, during the school yearone at the beginning, the second halfway through the school year and the third at the end. After each test, students will receive a personalized report detailing their latest Lexile score, their measured reading growth and a link to suggested reading material for their current Lexile level. By collaborating with Richmond Publishing to create the Reading Tests, we are helping them to provide teachers with the ability to match students to text and track English language skill growth, said Malbert Smith, CEO and co-founder, MetaMetrics. Its exciting to have students who learn with Richmond Publishings COMPASS program join the tens of millions of other students from around the world who use Lexile measures to build strong English language skills. About Richmond Publishing Richmond contributes to excellence in English language teaching worldwide through the publication of high-quality, innovative, student- and teacher-friendly materials and through a permanent focus on customer satisfaction. Richmond is part of Santillana, the leading educational publishing group in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world. About MetaMetrics MetaMetrics is an award-winning education technology organization that offers the only scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring reading and listening (Lexile) and math (Quantile) with plans to develop measures for oral reading fluency and writing. The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. Lexile and Quantile measures and related technologies link assessment to instruction and provide next steps for students of all ages and abilities. The measures also provide valuable insights about students potential for growth. MetaMetrics measures, products and services are licensed to dozens of education product companies to help achieve that growth. For 35 years, MetaMetrics work has been increasingly recognized for its research-based approach to improving learning. For more information, visit metametricsinc.com. This is the moment one of Malaysia's 'most well-trodden walkways' was written off when a 16-wheeler lorry smashed into the 16ft-high bridge. CCTV footage shows the huge lorry trundling through Penang last week on its approach to the 45-year-old Weld Quay bridge by the ferry terminal. The cab passes safety under the bridge, but the the tip of the crane on its trailer catches the huge steel structure and starts to tear it sideways, bending some of the supports. The driver rams on the brakes and brings traffic to a standstill, but the damage is done. One of the most-recognised walkways, 45-year-old Weld Quay bridge in Penang, Malaysia, almost collapses when the top of a lorry's crane makes contact Fire crews rushed to the scene to prevent one of the most-recognised walkways in the former British colony from collapsing. Although Penang state mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said authorities would attempt to salvage the bridge, the next day it was deemed beyond repair. The mayor called the bridge's destruction 'sad' and described the walkway as a 'part of the landscape' and a 'historical monument'. CCTV footage shows the huge lorry on its approach to the 16ft-high bridge, which is close to the city's ferry terminal Now the accident is under investigation by Malay police, who will determined whether or not to bring charges against the truck driver. A representative from the state council, Jagdeep Singh Deo, said the body are considering suing the truck company on the basis of 'people's feelings'. Weld Quay bridge connects Market Street Ghaut near the Nanyang Siang Pau office to the ferry terminus connecting to Butterworth. But the years of opposition by the self-styled green lobby is less logical. Given the positives for the environment from GE salmon, the greens obstruction has to be added to the list of bizarre cognitive dissonances to which this community has proved so vulnerable. We have seen the reflexive attacks on carbon-free nuclear power, and on fracking, even though the natural gas it produces has done more to reduce U.S carbon dioxide emissions than every other factor combined. Then there is the anti-scientific blockade of GE crops that could dramatically improve the lives of those in some of the worlds most impoverished countries. (Bloomberg) -- In coronavirus-hit China, demand for virtual office tools from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. is surging as the worlds largest work-from-home experiment gets into full swing. But theres one surprising source of new users -- the countrys teachers and students. With schools shut or delaying reopening to curb the spread of the virus, educators are increasingly turning to workplace technology, adapting it for instruction purposes. Tencent and Alibaba have in past years steadily built out their office apps as part of an overall effort to keep users locked into their respective online spheres -- but theyve always been deemed as a sort of sideline to their main retail and media empires. Now, theyve sprung to the vanguard thanks to the outbreak. Alibabas DingTalk is the most downloaded free app in Chinas iOS App Store, followed by Tencent Conference. WeChat Work, which is also from Tencent, ranks No. 5 after coming in at fourth as recently as Wednesday morning. Their new-found popularity offers Chinas twin internet giants a chance to stake out an unclaimed multibillion-dollar arena. DingTalk has been particularly swift in spotting the emerging need in the education sector. Last week, it rolled out a slew of new features for classroom settings, including live-streaming lessons that can have as many as 302 participants and an online testing and grading system. At least 50 million students from elementary to high school across China had signed up for DingTalks online teaching programs conducted in tandem with local education authorities as of Feb. 10, Alibaba said in a statement. In response to the epidemic, Tencent has introduced a variety of initiatives to facilitate online education programs for teachers and minimize disruption to students learning, a spokesperson for the company said. In one recent update, WeChat Work made it easier for teachers to live stream in group chats. A key appeal of DingTalk, Tencent Conference and WeChat is that they are powered by reliable cloud services as well as free, said Ye Le, a Shanghai-based analyst with China Securities. Thats why they have gained traction during this special period of time, he said, but added that using such software for education is different from typical corporate situations. Teaching online is more than just showing PowerPoint slides like in business meetings, he said. Story continues But its students themselves who seem to be the most unimpressed with the likes of DingTalk and Tencent Conference, mercilessly review-bombing them on the App Store -- and not always for technological reasons. It has doubled my happiness in the holiday, now that I can see my teachers resting face, wrote one student who uses DingTalk. That user gave the app a rating of one star out of five. The use of technology and the internet for teaching isnt new in China. Online education has been booming in recent years, with revenue estimated to have reached around $36 billion in 2018, and is expected to more than double in 2022, according to iResearch. Thats given rise to intense competition between established players such as tuition provider New Oriental as well as tech startups like NetEase Youdao and VIPKid, luring students with interactive teachings in courses from coding to English and maths. Whats different this time is the urgency and scale of the education crisis brought about by the epidemic, and the fact that more schools are depending on free software that was originally designed with the corporate world in mind. Chinas education ministry has pushed back the start of the spring semester in the wake of the virus epidemic, with major cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen banning any school activities until at least Feb. 17. With no idea of when exactly school will resume, teachers and parents are concerned about how best to instruct students in the prolonged winter break. The timing is especially critical for high school students who will face the all-important college entrance exam, or gaokao, in June. Since last week, Fannie Jiao, an English teacher at a secondary school in Shanghai, has been tutoring four ninth-graders on their homework every other day using Tencent Conference. Shes currently using assignments that she originally planned for her brick-and-mortar classroom before the virus outbreak. Her school has told her to get ready to teach all of her three dozen students via the video app once the semester begins. Face-to-face teaching is always better, but we have to get used to this, said 28-year-old Jiao. To check on her students, Jiao said she randomly turns on their mics on the Tencent app and asks them questions. Parents are concerned about the technical limitations and efficiency of such an approach to teaching. Liu Yan from Zhengzhou in central Chinas Henan province says her 12-year-old sixth-grader daughters school uses DingTalk as well as another platform, ClassIn, that she said allows teachers to constantly monitor student behavior via video. She prefers that app. When using DingTalk Children can do whatever they want. They can sleep, or not pay attention. Children need to be supervised. How else will they learn? she said. (Updates third paragraph with latest app ranking.) --With assistance from Matt Turner. To contact the reporters on this story: Zheping Huang in Hong Kong at zhuang245@bloomberg.net;Kari Lindberg in Hong Kong at klindberg13@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Colum Murphy, Vlad Savov 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. HARTFORD Judicial Branch officials told legislators Tuesday the agency is seeking a $5.5 million budget increase after a bloody quadruple shooting outside a Bridgeport courthouse two weeks ago left judges, employees, victims and the public concerned for their safety. Chief Justice Richard Robinson and Chief Court Administrator Patrick Carroll walked into the Bridgeport geographical courthouse about one hour after the shooting to find a bloody lobby and fear etched on the faces of those inside, according to Carroll. I promised all of them at that time that Id do whatever I had to do to ensure their safety, Carroll said. The Judicial Branch asked the Appropriations Committee Tuesday to find $5.5 million for security improvements and an additional $1.8 million to train more marshals. Carroll is also asking the legislature to put back the $2 million that was cut as part of Gov. Ned Lamonts budget adjustment. He also wants $2 million in bonding for security upgrades to older courthouses. Carroll said the Judicial Branch will be operating with $9 million less than what was requested for the 2021 fiscal year. Judicial officials are looking to use the bulk of the additional funding to hire state and municipal police to maintain a presence outside of all courthouses across the state, Carroll said. One officer and one cruiser would be outside each courthouse daily during business hours, he said. Had that been in place in Bridgeport Im confident that deterrent effect of having a police officer there would have prevented that shooting which took place right outside the main entrance, Carroll said. The target of the shooting had just left his court appearance and went outside to wait for his ride when a car pulled up and started shooting, Carroll said. Judicial marshals got the injured inside and locked the courthouse doors. The $2 million in bonding would be used to upgrade exterior security in older courthouses which tend to have easy access to the street or the highway, which was why the suspects were so easily able to find their target, Carroll said. Employees of the Golden Street courthouse whose windows face the street in the building which rests on a hill are quietly concerned, he said. They want bullet proof glass since anyone who is shooting in the area must shoot uphill to hit an intended target, Carroll said. Your concern for really solid exterior security is very pronounced, said Rep. Gail Lavielle, R-Wilton, who suggested that the money might be more available in increments. Anything is better than nothing, Carroll said. We can identify the courthouses with the greatest need and work from there, he said. Courthouse security has been an issue in recent years as the Judicial Branch struggles to maintain a staffing level of 850 marshals, which the agency says is needed to ensure safety. Currently there are 672 trained marshals despite recruitment efforts and several classes of trainees which have graduated in the past year, Carroll said. More will be eligible to retire by 2022, he said. Their job has been more complicated as federal Immigration agents are engaging in activities - often without notice - within the states courthouses, Carroll said. By state law, the marshals are not allowed to cooperate with ICE agents, Carroll said. This occasionally results in a dangerous public safety issue inside our courthouses when ICE agents are engaged in the apprehension of individuals. Hes hoping to use the $1.8 million to increase the number of trainees and training classes from five to six in the next year. Supervisors are now covering critical posts such as entry screening and courtroom assignments due to the lack of marshals, he said. Even with the five classes of marshals coming online in 2019, the Judicial Branch has only seen an increase of 13 marshals since this time last year, Carroll said. Carroll is also hoping to recoup the $2 million that was cut by Lamont even as the governor offered the Judicial Branch $3.5 million as part of a restructuring of the inmate phone system fees. The state has been charging families of those who are incarcerated 68 percent above the cost of the calls with the money going to pay for probation officers for years. After an outcry during the last legislative session, Lamont agreed last week to give the Judicial Branch $3.5 million to pay for 32 probation officers to help reduce the cost of the calls made by families to their loved ones in prison. But Lamont also cut $2 million from the Judicial Branch budget - leaving a net gain of only $1.5 million. Lamonts latest budget adjustment leaves the branch with $547.1 million for fiscal year 2021. Aboard a US cruise ship that was rejected at Asian ports over coronavirus fears, stoic passengers kept their spirits up with poolside yoga, spin classes, comedy shows and a few drinks. But the 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members of the Westerdam really rejoiced on Wednesday after learning Cambodia had given permission for the cruise liner to dock at Sihanoukville, on its southern coast. The scheduled arrival Thursday will bring an end to what was meant to be a dream 14-day cruise across Asia -- beginning from Hong Kong on February 1, and disembarking on Saturday in Yokohama, Japan. Japan, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand all refused to allow the ship to dock, despite Holland America insisting there were no cases of the deadly disease -- which has killed over 1,100 -- on board. Several other cruise ships have been refused entry at ports across the Asia-Pacific region -- from Singapore to Tonga -- as fears over the virus spike. Cambodia's decision to receive the Westerdam comes as its strongman leader has voiced vocal support for China -- with premier Hun Sen going so far as to travel to Beijing last week in a show of solidarity. The Southeast Asian nation -- with just one confirmed case of the SARS-like virus -- has been the recipient of billions of dollars in soft loans, infrastructure and investment from its superpower ally. "Guests will be able to go ashore," operator Holland America said in a statement. "We are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support." Even with their holiday plans in tatters, passengers made the most of the extraordinary circumstances -- some taking to social media to share amusing asides on life unwanted and at sea. "Not a bad place to be captive. I'm in the salon having my hair done right now and getting ready to hit the buffet," Christina Kerby said on Twitter, where her photos of yoga or posts on morning spin classes have bounced around. Speaking to AFP after hearing of their final destination, her reaction was one of elation -- "Thrilled! Thank you, Cambodia!" she said, adding a heart emoji. The atmosphere is in stark contrast to the gloom aboard the Diamond Princess, a quarantined Japanese cruise ship riddled with the virus which has forced passengers into a depressing lockdown in cabins. "We're all good. The mood is positive... there's no tension on aboard" said Lorraine Oliveira, from Ireland, on the ship with her husband and two children. Before it was barred from docking, boat operator Holland America Line initially said the cruise will disembark on Thursday at Thailand's Laem Chabang port, a few hours east of Bangkok. With no idea of where they would make land or when, passengers cancelled onward flights, travel plans scrambled by events -- and governments -- beyond their control. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Premier Doug Ford may not have been on vacation when he met with business leaders in Washington, D.C., recently. But he sounded like a guy at a resort bar all the same: the kind who shares success stories about his life back home that are almost certainly pure fiction. Last week, Ford sat down for an interview with the Canadian American Business Council in Washington (a non-profit business organization), where he regaled that organizations CEO, Maryscott Greenwood, with tales of a booming Ontario open for business. Economics is very simple, he told Greenwood. You cut red tape, you cut regulations, you lower business taxes and taxes for the people, and new revenue will come up to the coffers, as we say. And with that you can reinvest it into other areas, into health care, into education. Our economy right now is absolutely on fire. What the Premier didnt tell his foreign hosts is that those other areas are not reaping the reward of his simple economic proposal; they are hurting as a result of it. Teachers are protesting major cuts to education, and the provincial government and the unions are at an impasse. Kids are missing school and their parents are not putting the blame squarely on teachers, as Education Minister Stephen Lecce might have hoped. According to a new internal poll commissioned by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, a little more than half of residents polled in PC ridings strongly disagree with the governments championing of larger class sizes. As for that other other area (health care) its hard to believe Ontarians are comforted by the notion that trickle-down economics will fill the holes carved out by cuts made to their health care system, when the world is frantically trying to stall coronavirus. According to a Leger poll from late last year, Ford is Canadas least popular premier. But if you listened to him speak down south recently, youd think he was our crown jewel. When Greenwood asked him how he gets out of the bubble of politics, he told her a story about driving around at Christmastime in Ontario when he came upon a Walmart. I told my detail, pull over, he said. When Fords driver objected, telling him he would go into the Walmart instead and buy the Premier whatever he needed, Ford allegedly countered: Im not going in there to buy something, Im going in there to talk to the people. I made it about 10 feet into the door and people are coming up and sharing ideas. The number one comment is just keep going. Go where exactly? Because if Fords destination is a second term at Queens Park, he may want to revise his route. Folksy anecdotes will charm certain Americans but they arent going charm the thousands of Canadians who did not share ideas at last years Raptors victory parade, but who booed him instead. Obviously the Premier is going to describe his platform and his record in the best light possible no matter who he is speaking with. But his comments in the United States this month suggest that a) he is in denial about how hes perceived at home or b) he doesnt care how hes perceived, as long as American conservatives look kindly on him. Ford certainly told the truth about one thing during the interview in question: his fondness for President Donald Trump. Not only did the premier describe Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders as scary, he gushed about the sitting president. I loved listening to the president on the State of the Union address the other night, he told Greenwood. I was disappointed when I saw Nancy Pelosi get up there and start tearing the speech up. Thats uncalled for. But lets move forward. Lets see what happens in the (U.S.) election. The economy is booming (in the States), its booming in Ontario. We hope the (U.S.) election is going to turn out the right way, literally the right way. Whos we? Few politicians, if any, are able to govern for all, but it would be nice if the premier of Ontario at least pretended to govern Ontario as it is, not as he wished it to be: America-lite. But reality isnt Fords vibe and, like a guy on vacation, hed rather tell tall tales while things fall apart back home. Read more about: A Chinese navy formation, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning (C), during military drills in the South China Sea, on Jan. 2, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Texas Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Stealing US Technology to Benefit China A Texas man convicted of stealing U.S. marine technology to benefit China has been sentenced to 16 months imprisonment. Shi Shan, 55, a naturalized U.S. citizen living in Texas, was convicted in July last year of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets. In addition to the prison term, Shan was ordered to forfeit $342,426.96, according to a Feb. 11 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Court made clear that the defendant knew or intended that the offense would benefit the Peoples Republic of China, said U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Shea for the District of Columbia, according to the press release. Shea added: To those who would steal proprietary information from U.S. companies and provide it to a foreign government, our message is that you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Shi made an agreement with Chinese company CBM Future New Material Science and Technology Corp. (CBMF) to help it develop a syntactic foam, which is a strong, lightweight material that has both commercial and military applications, such as deep-sea oil and gas drilling. According to the press release, Shi promised to develop the foam by moving to digest/absorb relevant U.S. technology. Subsequently, Shi went on to establish a U.S.-based subsidiary of the Chinese company, CBM International (CBMI). He then led a scheme to hire former and current employees at the Houston-based Trelleborg Offshore, and entice them into stealing the latters trade secrets relating to syntactic foam. This was partly done through the U.S. subsidiary attempting business relationships with Trelleborg and other U.S. firms. Shi took the stolen technology and opened a factory in China that manufactured syntactic foam based on Trelleborgs technology, according to the press release. Shi tried to sell syntactic foam based on the stolen technology to state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). Shi and five others were arrested in the United States after they tried to market related-technology in Washington D.C. In May last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce blacklisted CBMF from doing business with U.S. companies because it participated in the prohibited export of controlled technology concerning the manufacture of syntactic foam and supplying syntactic foam to PRC [Peoples Republic of China] state-owned enterprises, PRC defense industrial corporations, and PRC military-related academic institutions. Both CBMI and CBMF were indicted on three charges: conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets, conspiracy to commit economic espionage, and money laundering. In another case of theft of trade secrets, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted four members of the Chinese military on Feb. 10 hacking the online systems of U.S. credit-reporting agency Equifax. The hackers also stole sensitive data belonging to 145 million Americans. WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- +Peace, a collective action campaign platform of peacebuilding organizations, welcomes the introduction of the Global Peacebuilding Act of 2020 by Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-5) in the United States Congress. The Global Peacebuilding Act of 2020 takes an important step in ensuring American foreign policy is focused on getting ahead of the greatest global security challenges of our time climate change; protracted violent conflicts; and rising levels of violence, hate, and polarization. This visionary legislation authorizes $5bn from the Department of Defense Overseas Contingency Operations to be used to kickstart U.S. contributions to a new public-private multilateral fund, the Global Peacebuilding Fund. "Cooperation is our only path to a secure global future," says Madeline Rose, Director of +Peace. "The Global Peacebuilding Act rejects the notion that the United States can deter or coerce its way to a secure global future. Nations will not be able to shut down their borders to climate change. They will not be able to lock out innocent civilians running away from conflict, corruption and war." The Global Peacebuilding Act would kickstart critical resourcing for a newly envisioned multilateral peacebuilding fund, a "Global Peacebuilding Fund." The Fund envisioned by Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-5) borrows best practices from the Global Fund for HIV/AIDs, which is an innovative multilateral fund heralded by Bill Gates as one of the best investments world leaders can make. By increasing resources in frontline peacebuilding efforts, the Global Peacebuilding Act affirms an important truth that we have the tools, resources, and knowledge we need to get ahead of the greatest global challenges we face. "Today, more than 70 million people are on the run worldwide fleeing their homes because of violent conflict, persecution, and natural disasters. The major global challenges facing humanity today cannot be solved by the military alone," says Rose. "The Global Peacebuilding Act of 2020 is exactly the type of visionary policy the world needs today to not just contain global crises but to actually get ahead of them." Every day, peacebuilders are on the frontlines of peace work worldwide. Right now, peacebuilding organizations are helping the world get ahead of climate change by leveraging data and conflict analytics to prevent resource-related conflicts. In the face of chronic conflicts, peacebuilding organizations continue to negotiate multi-stakeholder peace agreements . And through dialogue and mediation, peacebuilders continue to save lives and stave off costly conflicts. +Peace is a collective action campaign platform of peacebuilding organizations mobilizing people, governments, and the private sector to tackle global violence and division. We run campaigns that build peacebuilders' collective power; make the case for peace to the public and global policymakers; and transform culture, policy, and politics in support of peacebuilding. To learn more, visit: www.peacebuilding.live Media contact: Zander Willoughby 202-822-2047 [email protected] SOURCE +Peace Related Links http://www.peacebuilding.live R esidents of apartments overlooked by the Tate Modern's viewing platform have lost their High Court bid to stop visitors to the art gallery from looking into their homes. The owners of four flats in the luxury Neo Bankside development on the South Bank claim they are the victims of a "relentless" invasion of their privacy, as hundreds of thousands of people look out from the Tate's attraction and into their glass-walled apartments. However the art gallery's trustees say the residents could simply "draw the blinds" to counter the problem, as its visitors enjoy the tenth floor platform which gives a unique 360-degree view across London. At the Court of Appeal this morning, three top judges rejected a bid by the residents to overturn a previous High Court ruling that the viewing platform posed a "nuisance" and breached their privacy. A sign was put up at the Tate viewing platform asking visitors to 'respect our neighbours' privacy' / Hatty Collier/Evening Standard Handing down the decision, Sir Terence Etherton the Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Lewison and Lady Justice Rose said "overlooking" another person's home could not amount to a "nuisance". He had remarked that a ruling against the Tate could have opened the "floodgates" to complaints in "every single case where there's planning permission granted and there's a balcony overlooking." "Over the hundreds of years that the tort of nuisance has existed, there has never been a reported case in this country in which a court had found that overlooking by a neighbour constituted nuisance", said the judge. "On the contrary, courts have recognised that, subject to planning permission being given, an owner of land may create windows which overlook a neighbour's property." Residents near the Tate Modern have lost their High Court appeal / REUTERS The viewing platform was opened in 2016 in the Blavatnik Building extension to the world-famous gallery, but then drew complaints from neighbours in the exclusive Neo Bankside block next door. Architect and company chief executive Lindsay Urqhart was one of the four neighbours who brought legal proceedings in the High Court, demanding that the platform is partially closed or screened off. She said she bought her 2 million apartment knowing the Blavatnik Building was being built, but was unaware that it would include a free public viewing gallery with direct views into her glass-walled home. Neighbours complained that pictures of themselves at home had been posted on social media, and Tate visitors had been using binoculars to peer into their apartments. In February last year Mr Justice Mann sided with the Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery, saying the gallery did not pose a legal "nuisance" and suggesting the residents could consider putting up net curtains. Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC, for the Tate, said the neighbours had been seeking "to force (the Tate) to close a valued resource, and deny to the public the right to use the viewing platform for its intended purpose, merely to give the claimants an unencumbered right to enjoy their own view". Sir Terence refused leave to appeal to the Supreme Court and said restrictions on opening hours of the platform during the legal fight could now be removed. Natasha Rees, Partner and Head of Property Litigation at Forsters, who acted for the five residents, said: The leaseholders are obviously very disappointed with the outcome of the appeal, not least because they lost on a ground raised by the Court of Appeal. "This is not a case of 'mere overlooking' but a situation that can clearly be distinguished from the type of overlooking experienced between residential or commercial flats and houses, a fact that was accepted by the first instance Judge." The sudden drop in oil and natural gas prices caused by a virus in China will only cause short-term harm to Texas and the industry, but it presages tougher times to come. Oil and gas companies were barely keeping their heads above water before the novel coronavirus emerged from Wuhan, China. Optimistic executives struggled to convince investors they could make money with West Texas Intermediate oil priced at $58 a barrel. The price flirted with $49 on Tuesday, levels not seen in more than a year. The shale revolution has unleashed billions of barrels of new supply, and Texas companies are drowning in cheap crude. Young oil and gas workers should consider this pullback a harbinger. Traders have sent prices lower over the last few weeks after the Chinese government quarantined 50 million people, shuttered thousands of factories and told hundreds of millions to stay home rather than risk contracting the Wuhan virus. When people dont travel or work, they dont consume energy. More: War against plastic is on, oil and gas should beware Chinese demand for refined products will be 1.2 million barrels a day lower in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year, according to IHS Markit, the commodities data and intelligence company. Before the outbreak, IHS Markit analysts had expected a demand increase of 500,000 barrels a day. As a result, the world has almost 2 percent more oil than it needs, even after a Saudi-led OPEC-Russia alliance took 2 million barrels a day off the market last year to prop up prices. The outlook is little better for natural gas. Texas producers have begun liquefying natural gas for export to Asia, particularly China. They were expecting a boost from President Donald Trumps interim trade deal, which requires China to buy more LNG. The factory slowdown, though, will shave Chinese demand for natural gas by 2 percent in the best-case scenario, according to commodities analysts at the Wood Mackenzie consulting firm. The coronavirus outbreak and its impact on Chinese gas demand could not have come at a worse time for the already oversupplied global LNG market, research director Robert Sims said. Every day that China fails to consume oil and natural gas is a day they will never make up. Market analysts at Rystad Energy predict the Wuhan virus could take 25 percent off expected demand growth globally for 2020, assuming the outbreak peaks now. In the past, Texas oil men and women have looked to Saudi Arabia and OPEC to act as a swing producer, trimming their oil and gas production to dry up gluts and bring prices back to economically sustainable levels. But OPEC and Russia, which control most of the worlds supply, have not yet agreed on what to do next. A technical committee has recommended cutting daily production, but Russia rejected the proposal. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told the TASS news agency any cuts would be premature. Russia, and to some degree OPEC, now sees the U.S. oil and gas industry as competition. U.S. producers are exporting an enormous amount of oil and gas, competing with OPEC and Russia for a share of the limited global market. Since most members of the coalition are low-cost, government-directed producers, they can suffer low prices that bankrupt U.S. companies. More: Oil industry insider takes a dangerous stand on climate change The U.S. Energy Information Administration on Tuesday predicted that American oil drilling would flatten out and natural gas production will drop due to the virus. EIA expects that travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus, along with the related economic slowdown in China, will reduce petroleum demand and keep crude oil prices below $60 per barrel through the first half of this year, EIA Administrator Linda Capuano said. Slower drilling and less production are bad news for our states economy, which relies on oil and gas to keep the so-called Texas Miracle alive. The good news is that the Wuhan virus crisis is temporary. Public health authorities will get a handle on the outbreak, and China will reopen for business and consume U.S. oil and gas. The more important question is, for how long? Every nation in the world except the United States is taking aggressive steps to consume less oil and gas. New technologies are reducing the costs of renewable energy, and new batteries and nanotechnology promise to radically reduce oil and gas demand. If shaving 2 percent of global demand for just a few months can cause such havoc, imagine what long-term demand destruction will do? Thats the question every young person considering a career in oil and gas should be asking. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com With homebound customers opting to avoid contracting the new deadly coronavirus, many popular food streets across Hanoi are left empty. Running a restaurant on Tong Duy Tan Street, Hanois most famous culinary hotspot, Tuan described periods before and after the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet) as "bumper harvests". Last year, he earned up to VND20 million ($861) on certain days, with customers local and foreign filling up seats from morning till night. On occasion, Tuan even had to supply extra tables to serve the vast number of patrons. However, this year was different. Customer numbers fell by about 30 percent after a new regulation doubling fines for drink driving was rolled out before Tet, figures dropping even further after information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic began circulating around January 27, he said. "Customer numbers this Tet equalled only 10-15 percent that of previous years. In the past few days, with the epidemic at its peak, only a handful of people came to eat," Tuan said. "Those that do come just order a few simple dishes before quickly donning masks and leaving. Before sitting down, customers check to see how many patrons are already inside, because they want to avoid crowded places," he added. With so few customers, Tuans restaurant currently makes only VND2-3 million ($86-129) a day, which is not enough to cover rent, not to mention ingredients and wages. Along Tong Duy Tan, almost all other restaurants and bars are largely empty. Before the coronavirus outbreak, sidewalk eateries were often fully packed up until 1-2 a.m. along touristic Ta Hien Street in Hanois Old Quarter. But in the past few days, most customers leave before 11.30 p.m., with shops in the area closing earlier. Many others complain the "double whammy" of Vietnams new drink driving law and new coronavirus outbreak has forced them to close restaurants after only starting the business. Binh, who invested over VND3 billion ($129,193) in a big restaurant on Hanoi's Minh Khai Street, said he rushed to have it completed before Tet to cash in on the occasion. However, after only four months, he has decided to close up shop and liquidate all related assets after the drink driving regulation and COVID-19 outbreak resulted in poor business. "I have lost confidence. If I continue, I could end up losing hundreds of millions of dong (VND100 million = $4,300) on rent, ingredients and operational costs each month without knowing when conditions would improve," he explained. With customer numbers expected to remain low, some restaurants that closed for Lunar New Year have decided to extend their holidays. The manager at a beer bar on Hanoi's Phan Ke Binh Street said although his shop was originally scheduled to reopen on January 29, the end of Tet, he has extended the break to this Monday. Karaoke businesses have also been seriously affected by the coronavirus scare as customers try to avoid crowded areas. The manager of a karaoke parlor on Le Duc Tho Street said daily turnover dropped by 60-70 percent. "When the drink driving decree took effect, the number of visitors decreased sharply, but began to recover after a while. However, after Tet and until now, we only welcome 2-4 guests daily," he said. The coronavirus scare has also hit shopping malls around Hanoi. On normal days, Aeon Mall in Long Bien District is packed with families and children from Hanoi and nearby provinces like Hung Yen, Hai Duong and Bac Ninh. But on Saturday, the mall was empty as the country confirmed 15 cases of COVID-19 infection. Vietnam officially declared the coronavirus outbreak an epidemic on February 1. Six of 15 patients have recovered and been discharged. As of Wednesday morning, the global COVID-19 death toll had climbed to 1,114 and confirmed infections topped 44,900, of whom over 4,500 have recovered. One thing many people forget about the 2016 election is that as a candidate, Donald Trump promised to be a different kind of Republican. Unlike the mainstream of his party, he declared, he would raise taxes on the rich and wouldnt cut programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid that ordinary Americans rely on. At the same time, he would invest large sums in rebuilding Americas infrastructure. He was lying. Trumps only major legislative achievement, the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, was absolutely standard modern Republicanism: huge tax cuts for corporations, plus tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefited the wealthy. The only unconventional aspect of the legislation was the variety of new tax scams it made possible, like the benefits for investors in opportunity zones, which were supposed to help poor communities but have actually enriched billionaire real estate developers. Trump also came very close to passing a health care reform that would have imposed savage cuts on Medicaid, eliminated protections for those with preexisting conditions and taken away health insurance from more than 30 million Americans. And there has, of course, been no infrastructure bill; in fact, the Trump administrations repeated proclamations of Infrastructure Week have become a running joke. Policy wonks are still poring over the latest Trump budget, released on Monday, but there was no hiding the same reverse Robin-Hoodism as in previous budgets: taking from the poor and middle class while giving to the rich. In other words, Trump in practice, as opposed to Trump in pretense, has turned out to be every bit as committed to trickle-down economics as Republicans in Congress have been for decades. People often say that Trump has captured the GOP, which is true as far as things like rule of law and support for democracy are concerned. But its equally true that the GOP has captured Trump when it comes to domestic policy. The only difference between Trumpism and the proposals of Paul Ryan in his heyday is that the Trump administration having blown up the budget deficit from less than $600 billion to more than $1 trillion has pretty much given up even claiming to care about government debt. Back in the day, Ryan called debt an existential threat; a few days ago Vice President Mike Pence told CNBC that rising deficits arent a concern as long as they help boost the economy. The economic good news of recent years not as good as Trump claims, but the economy has indeed been strong largely reflects the reality that after hobbling the economy with fiscal austerity under Barack Obama, Republicans have embraced runaway deficit spending under Trump. But while Trump is willing to run trillion-dollar deficits to give giant tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy, hes as determined as the rest of his party to make life harder for the less fortunate. The grand plan to repeal Obamacare fell just short, but the administration is supporting a court challenge that could declare the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. It is also supporting things like work requirements for food stamps and block grants that would de facto lead to major cuts in Medicaid compared with current law. But why has Trump turned out to be such a conventional Republican? My sense is that he doesnt really care about policy, aside from protectionism, which Ill get to in a minute. And he certainly doesnt feel any empathy for less fortunate Americans, or actually anyone. So he was happy to make what amounts to an implicit deal with the Republican establishment: You get to implement your usual policy agenda, and I get a free pass on my corruption and abuse of power. The one place where Trump has deviated from conservative orthodoxy is his trade war. But why is he a self-proclaimed Tariff Man? The supposed reason was that he wanted to bring back U.S. manufacturing. If that were really his motivation, he failed: Amid a generally strong economy, were experiencing a manufacturing recession, and estimates from the Federal Reserve suggest that Trumps tariffs, which have raised business costs, have actually reduced manufacturing employment. My guess, however, is that Trumps trade policy has been motivated less by any substantive goals than by the desire to look like a tough guy. And while establishment Republicans headed off any important changes in NAFTA, which would have been really bad for business Trump basically took the existing agreement and stuck his name on it they have been willing to indulge his posturing on other, less critical fronts. The question now is whether Trump will pay any price for betraying all his promises. Democrats took the House in 2018 largely because of the popular backlash against his attempt to destroy Obamacare. But theres a real danger that Democrats will blow the election by making it a referendum on ambitious ideas like so-called Medicare for All that are unlikely to become reality, rather than on Trumps ongoing efforts to destroy programs Americans love. Paul Krugman writes a syndicated column for the New York Times. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Hundreds of thousands of Iranians marked 41 years since the Islamic Revolution in the country as tensions with the U.S. and the world remain high. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke in Tehrans Azadi Square Tuesday to denounce the United States. He also called on people to vote in upcoming elections. Last month, Irans Guardian Council barred thousands of candidates from running, including about 90 current lawmakers. Iran considers many people voting in elections a show of confidence in the countrys cleric rulers. Rouhani told a crowd, We should not withdraw from the ballot boxes. However, a number of recent incidents have added to continued international pressure on the nation of more than 84 million people. Iran remains under international sanctions after the U.S. withdrew in 2018 from an international agreement meant to limit Irans nuclear weapons program. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump objected to the deal. Officials said it did little to prevent Iran from developing nuclear materials or missiles. Early this year, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad. Large gatherings for his funeral, however, were marred by Irans shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger jet. One hundred seventy-six people were killed. The Iranian government then refused for days to admit that it had shot down the plane with missiles. Iran and Ukraine continue to dispute the investigation of the downed airplane. In November, Iranians blocked traffic in major cities to protest an increase of 50 percent in government-set gasoline prices. The government reacted with a campaign against protesters. The human rights group Amnesty International said that more than 300 people were killed in the unrest. The government did not release the number of deaths, but lawmakers said thousands of people were detained. Tensions increased again in January after the killing of Soleimani, who had been linked to the use of roadside bombs used to attack American soldiers in Iraq. The Quds Force that he led is also involved in Middle East conflicts in Syria, Yemen and other places. The Islamic Revolution in Iran began after Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled the country in January 1979. Islamic cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini then returned from exile in Paris to become the countrys leader. In November of that year, Iranians, angry that the Shah was receiving medical treatment in the U.S., seized the U.S. embassy and took more than 50 hostages. Iran held the hostages for more than one year before releasing them in early 1981. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted this AP story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story confidence n. belief in or trust of someone or something sanctions n. restrictions place on a country to force it to obey international law usually by limiting trade with that country marred n. to ruin something or make it less useful, special or important Actor-producer Natalie Portman may have made a statement at the Oscars through her dress embroidered with the names of all the snubbed women filmmakers, but some have called out her hypocrisy for never employing a woman director for her productions. Portman, a vocal supporter of gender equality, made a powerful statement when she walked the red carpet wearing a black Dior cape with the last names of women directors snubbed by the Academy Awards embroidered on it. "Little Women" director Greta Gerwig, "The Farewell's" Lulu Wang and Melina Matsoukas, who directed "Queen and Slim", were among the names etched in gold on her cape. Other women filmmakers whose names appeared on Portman's cape were Lorene Scafaria ("Hustlers"), Mati Diop ("Atlantics"), Marianne Heller ("A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"), Alma Har'el ("Honey Boy") and Celine Sciamma ("Portrait of a Lady on Fire"). Though the actor was universally praised for her act, she also received brickbats on social media from a certain section of people who highlighted that as a producer, the Oscar winner has only once employed a female director -- Portman herself. She wrote, directed and produced her 2015 feature "A Tale of Love and Darkness". Portman owns the production banner Handsomecharlie Films, which has produced films such as "Jane Got a Gun", "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and "Hesher", among others. Several people called the actor a "hypocrite" on Twitter, highlighting her own track record. "I wonder if this means her production company will finally produce a film with a female director," wrote one user. Another posted, "What I find funny is that Natalie Portman has hired 0 (zero) women to direct the movies made using her own production company. I think there's about 7 films under her company, she hired male directors for all of them. Hollywood hypocrites are fun." "In a nearly 30 year career she has worked with 2 female directors. Be the change you want to see, do the hard work, take the first steps. I applaud you for the dress, but let's do, not perform," a Twitterati said. Another user labelled Portman's gesture as a "performative white feminism" act. "Amazing gesture! If only the production company she owns and runs would hire female directors other than *Natalie Portman*, then it might not be seen as quite so performative," read a tweet. Portman is yet to respond to the criticism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new study of popular mens rights forums and subreddits has found that men on the internet have become more toxic and espouse nihilistic and extreme anti-women ideologies. The study, by a team of researchers from University College London, Birmingham University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and others, looked at 38.4 million posts from seven message boards and 57 subreddits collectively described as the manosphere. According to the team, the manosphere is a conglomerate of predominantly Web-based misogynist movements roughly focused on mens issues. According to a study of 38.4 million posts on message boards and subreddits, men's rights advocates have grown more extreme and toxic in recent years Some of these sites include The Attraction, Rooshv, SlutHate, and Incel.is, as well as Reddit subgroups for Pick Up Artists (PUA), Mens Rights Activists (MRA), and Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), and Involuntary Celibates (Incels). Many of these groups have existed for years, but the team found that the newer variations tended to produce much more radical and violent rhetoric, according to a Newsweek report on the study. They found forums for specific sites tended to have the most extreme rhetoric, featuring more explicit hate speech than Reddit. The team also found that many people participated in multiple forums and subreddits, giving the impression that the 'manosphere' as a whole might be larger than it actually is. They also suggest that many posters had been on a pathway toward more radical beliefs. According to the team, newcomers to the 'manosphere,' a large network of different men's rights-focused websites and subreddits, tend to be even more extreme than longtime posters Many of the individuals involved with the PUA community went onto more extreme anti-feminist communities such as [The Red Pill], which in turn strongly migrated to MGTOW, the team argue. The Southern Poverty Law Center has noted a substantial overlap between the general tenets of the manosphere and white supremacy. Both the alt-right and the manosphere agree that feminism is the cause of Western civilizational decline, the group argues. In fact, the misogyny intrinsic to the 'alt-right' might very well be one of its distinctive features. Mens rights jargon has played a role in a number of mass shootings in recent years. In 2019, a 24 year-old who killed nine students at a Dayton, Ohio high school after having previously kept a rape list of women that had rejected his romantic or sexual advances. In 2018, a 26 year-old Toronto man killed 10 people in downtown Toronto after writing a Facebook post in which he declared allegiance to the Incel Rebellion.' Most famously, in 2014 Elliot Rodger killed seven people near the campus of UC Santa Barbara after writing a manifesto blaming women for the fact that he was a 22-year-old virgin who had never even kissed a girl. Arakhamia's position is that these are citizens of Ukraine who will use water in Crimea. Chairman of the Servant of the People faction in Ukraine's parliament David Arakhamia has said he would personally agree if water were supplied from mainland Ukraine to Russia-occupied Crimea in exchange for full control of the Ukrainian border in Donbas. Read alsoZelensky's envoy comments on manipulation over resumption of water supplies to Crimea "I would see it as a reasonable compromise. I would go for that. Since anyway citizens of Ukraine will use water in Crimea," he told Ukrainian TV channel Pryamiy when asked to express his personal position on the situation if Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to broker a deal on Donbas in exchange for Ukraine's supply of water to Crimea. At the same time, he said Russia would have to withdraw its troops from Donbas and let Ukraine retake its border. "If this is an exchange for the fact that they are withdrawing with all their armed formations to Rostov, and we establish full control over our border. And it is necessary to supply water to Crimea for this. I would definitely go for that," Arakhamia added. Justin Hartley wasnt always a Pearson. Though the actor hit big-time status with the hit NBC series, This Is Us, hes always well-known in a few other worlds. That said, theres one CW series that struck a chord among fans. Though its long gone, some wonder if Hartley would ever re-visit his past. Justin Hartleys resume is impressive Justin Hartley attends the 25th Annual Critics Choice Awards | Taylor Hill/Getty Images Long before the role of Kevin Pearson came along, Justin Hartley was just another Hollywood actor trying to get by. The Knoxville, Illinois actor attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he majored in History and Theatre. From there, Hartley made the leap to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time. At the time, he had no money or job, according to IMDb. Though the This Is Us star has it good now, it wasnt until 2002 did Hartley land his first recurring role as Fox Crane on the daytime soap drama, Passions. There, he met his first wife, Lindsay Korman, who became the mother of his daughter, Isabella. Many may know Hartley from his work on the longtime daytime soap, The Young and the Restless, where he played Adam Newman from 2014-2016. During that same timeframe, the actor also had a recurring role in the series Mistresses proving its better to have too much work than not enough. Daytime TV aside, Hartley picked up jobs on CSI: New York, Cold Case, and more. Though This Is Us is, arguably, Hartleys breakout role, hes been known in other fandom circles for years. Theres one, in particular, that has fans wanting more. Hartley previously played a DC character on the CW Hartley played Oliver Queen aka the Green Arrow on the CWs Smallville from 2006-2011. Smallville was primarily focused on Superman, but Hartleys Green Arrow is still a fan favorite. When the spin-off, Arrow, came to fruition, many hoped itd be Hartley to take the reigns. However, writers didnt want to use something already established in Smallvilles world. Not only was he f*cking great as the Green Arrow, even by CW standards, he has also proven himself to be a great actor on This Is Us, a fan said on Reddit. Justin Hartley will always be my green arrow, this fan tweeted. Stephen Amell took Hartleys place in the spin-off, which just concluded after 169 episodes with Amell as the lead. Many doubted the character replacement at first but grew to love Amell in a grittier version of Green Arrow. Still, Hartley seems to have the final vote among the fandom. Would Hartley return to the world in another spin-off series? Many speculated Hartley signed on to join the five-part crossover special, Crisis on Infinite Earths to reprise his role(s). Arrow, Supergirl, The Flash, DCs Legends of Tomorrow, and newcomer Batwoman all took part, beginning in Dec. 2019 and ending in Jan. 2020. Hartley didnt end up with the part, which makes sense since Amell took the Green Arrow paton from Hartleys departure. However, Hartley previously sat down with Michael Rosenbaum (who played Lex Luthor on Smallville) for an episode of his podcast, Inside of You. Hartley had been asked if hed ever guest star on Arrow (before it ended). If it was the right part, yeahI love interesting characters, he said. Yeah, if it was something that I could get excited about, yeah, of course. While Smallville and Arrow are long gone, Hartlys answer leaves room for a multitude of ideas that could potentially bring him back to the DC world somehow, some way. Hartley may thrive on the wildly successful This Is Us, but fans clearly want more of his heroic alter ego to live on. Thirty-five years ago, as a late teen, I came to New York to attend yeshiva. As an avid follower of news and politics, I recall cringing every time I heard thenNew York governor Mario Cuomo on the radio, as he pontificated on the issues of the day, spewing forth liberal platitudes as if they were divine truths that no one dare question, while failing to say anything of substance, as the state was falling apart. It was a disgrace. Seventeen years later, Cuomo's son, Andrew, was sworn in as the 56th governor of New York. Although none of my friends or family members voted for him, people commented at the time that Andrew Cuomo was better than his father pro-business; anti-crime; not as politically correct; and willing to take on ultra-progressives, such as NYC mayor Bill de Blasio. The crime rate in New York State was not escalating, the rate of businesses leaving the state was not increasing, and things seemed sort of OK for a state led by a Democrat (although issues of morality, with Cuomo's infatuation with "gay pride" and his non-marital domestic relationship, left much to be desired). For whatever reason, starting two years ago, Andrew Cuomo started getting totally unhinged, with his May 2018 restoration of voting rights to over 24,000 parolees. (This just happened to occur a few months before Cuomo's reelection no coincidence, of course...) Then came the July 2019 Bail Reform Law, gleefully promoted and signed off on by Cuomo, which lets people accused of committing over 50 types of major crime go home after arrest until trial and reduces jail sentences for many crimes. Along with this came New York State's discovery law reform, which requires, among other things, that prosecutors disclose personal contact information to accused perpetrators within 15 days after arraignment, and that the accused can be granted access to the private premises where the crimes were committed. To quote from the New York City Daily News: Prosecutors will no longer be able to assure witnesses that their identity will be protected, even in the case of grand jury testimony, which the new law will now require be disclosed. (While there's a provision to ask a judge for a protective order to shield a name, that would come after cops and prosecutors talk to witnesses to make an arrest and build a case.) Manhattan DA Cy Vance put it this way: "Having to hand defendants a roster of who has spoken out against them just 15 days after their first appearance, absent a protective order, is a seismic change that undoubtedly will dissuade witnesses who live in all neighborhoods from reporting crime." It gets worse. The new law increases the likelihood of defendants being granted access to the locations stores, bank vaults, bedrooms where they are accused of committing crimes. In a section entitled, "Order to grant access to premises," the law stipulates that the defense may apply for "access to an area or place relevant to the case in order to inspect, photograph, or measure same." A judge can exercise discretion about access, but the provision appears to establish a presumption of material necessity for "preparation of the case" by the defense. Acting Queens DA John Ryan asks, "How do we tell a burglary complainant that the defendant may have the right to come into her house with an investigator to take pictures?" Beyond taking pictures, the law seems to permit the defendant to "inspect" the premises, presumably to undertake his own investigation of the crime scene. Thus a suspected home invader and rapist could be permitted to poke around the same room where he committed his crimes. As an apparent result of these insane reforms, MS-13 gang members clubbed a man to death last week; this man was slated to testify against these ruthless beasts for a 2018 violent assault on three people, but his identity had been recently disclosed to the MS-13 members' defense team, as required by the new law. Immediately after this disclosure, the gang members started to pursue and attack their accuser, whom they then killed. Accused criminals let free on the spot under the new Bail Reform Law have gone straight from the police stations where they were released to immediately commit more crimes, such as attempted rape, anti-Semitic attacks, and bank heists. Among the many people released immediately back into society under this brilliant new "progressive" law is a twice-convicted bank-robber and drug-dealer, who the Nassau County D.A. declared is a menace to society. Since the Bail Reform Law took effect on January 1, major crimes in New York City have experienced an unprecedented spike. One would expect that, seeing the death, crime, and chaos ushered in by the Bail Reform Law and discovery reform, Governor Andrew Cuomo would convene the state Legislature for an emergency session and invoke repeal or major overhaul of these lethal new laws. What has Cuomo done? Basically nothing. The best we could get from him is this: Reform is an ongoing process. It's not that you reform a system once and then you walk away. You make change in a system, it has consequences. And you have to understand those consequences[.] ... We need to respond to the facts but not the politics, we need to act on information and not hyperbole[.] ... Let's understand facts, understand the consequences, discuss it intelligently, rationally and in a sober way, and then let's make the decisions that we need to make. And we'll do that as we move forward over these coming weeks. People are being killed and attacked. Crime is skyrocketing. It is clear that Cuomo does not really care. Two weeks ago, violent anti-police rioters vandalized and ransacked subway stations across New York City. The cost of the damage (and fare evasion committed by the rioters) to New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) was $100,000. Since the MTA is a state agency, one would expect Governor Cuomo to weigh in, condemning the violence and calling for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators and charging them for the gross monetary damages. What did Cuomo say or do? Nothing. Cuomo has become the best friend of criminals, turning a blind eye to their deeds and abetting them in ways never before imagined. (Not to mention Cuomo's silence on New York State's record population decline and other massive problems. Or his irresponsible "Green Light Law," authorizing driver licenses to illegal aliens and banning federal law enforcement agencies from accessing these people's information from the state DMV database, resulting in the well understood suspension of Global Entry and Trusted Traveler Programs for New York, due to serious security concerns.) As I listen to Cuomo bark out rash and vague platitudes these days, lacking substance and dripping with cliches and offenses, sounding like a bully as he blames others and fails to address the issues, I realize that he has become an incarnation of his late father only much worse. Avrohom Gordimer is chairman of the Rabbinic Circle at Coalition for Jewish Values, and he serves on the editorial board of Jewish Action magazine, is a staff writer for the Cross-Currents website, and is a frequent contributor to Israel National News and a host of other publications. He is also a member of the Rabbinical Council of America and the New York Bar. By day, he works as an account executive at a large Jewish organization based in Manhattan. Image: Pat Arnow via Flickr. PARIS, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- During the opening speech of its forum on Living Soils, Moet Hennessy made official its commitment to sustainable viticulture. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8692351-moet-hennessy-commitment-to-living-soils/ "Through Living Soils, Moet Hennessy aims to unite its communities across the world and develop a global social responsibility program." Philippe Schaus The rising concern around climate change affects us all. This "Living Soils" forum is intended to move the conversation forward and facilitate a discussion and ultimately raise awareness without taboo. "A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world" - Louis Pasteur. This philosophy has been at the heart of Moet Hennessy's vision for continuous progress on the human side, as well as in terms of knowledge, methods and technology. Climate change, preservation of the soils, water and energy conservation, as well as sustainability in supply chains all factor in to the protection of the "Living Soils". On this occasion, Moet Hennessy made three announcements: In 2020, all of its vineyards in Champagne will be herbicide-free and the Division will provide support to winegrower partners to help them become certified sustainable. Moet Hennessy will invest 20M in a research center in the Champagne Region devoted to scientific research around sustainable viticulture A "University of Living Soils" will be created to encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practices. Its aim will be to enrich the debates on progress toward a more sustainable future for wine and spirits in an inclusive way. Moet Hennessy's vision across all Maisons is to lead the way for future generations, so that all employees, consumers and winemakers can continue to enjoy and discover its wines and spirits in a consistent and integrated way that is respectful of nature. ABOUT MOET HENNESSY Moet Hennessy is the wine and spirits division of LVMH, the world's leading luxury products group. Moet Hennessy, the largest luxury wines and spirits company in the world, encompasses 22 prestigious brands internationally renowned for the richness of their land, the quality of their products and the expertise with which they are crafted: Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Perignon, Ruinart, Krug, Mercier, Belvedere, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Chandon, Newton, Terrazas de los Andes, Cloudy Bay, Cape Mentelle, Numanthia, Ao Yun, Volcan De Mi Tierra, Woodinville Whiskey Company, Clos19, Chateau du Galoupet, Cheval des Andes & Chateau d'Esclans. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089567/Philippe_Schaus.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1034652/Moet_Hennessy_Logo.jpg Contact: Chrystel Brossette, Communication & Press Relations Manager Moet Hennessy Corporate, cbrossette@moethennessy.com MAiD is not driven by socioeconomic vulnerability or poor access to palliative care A new study of people who received medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Ontario found that about three-quarters were cared for by palliative care practitioners at the time of their request for MAiD, and MAiD recipients were younger, wealthier and more likely to be married than the general population at time of death. These findings dispel concerns that MAiD requests are driven by lack of access to palliative care services or by socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The article is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) along with a related editorial. http://www. cmaj. ca/ lookup/ doi/ 10. 1503/ cmaj. 200016 MAiD was legalized in Canada in June 2016, and as of October 2018, 6749 Canadians received MAiD. The federal government and the government of Quebec are currently in consultation around drafting new eligibility criteria for MAiD, after a decision of the Quebec Superior Court that one provision of the previous laws violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "There has been and will be much discussion about socioeconomic vulnerability and access to palliative care, and how these factors influence requests for MAiD," says Dr. James Downar, lead author of the study and a specialist in critical care and palliative care at The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario. "Since this study represents the comparison of MAiD recipients to all deaths overall, and uses Canadian data, it could help inform this discussion and the upcoming legislation." Researchers analyzed clinical and socioeconomic data from 2241 Ontarians who received MAiD, and compared this with data from all 186 814 people in the province who died between June 2016 to October 2018, from databases kept by the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and ICES. Among those who received MAiD, the median age was 75 years and half were women; almost two-thirds of patients (64%) had cancer, 12% of patients had neurodegenerative disease, 8.5% had cardiovascular disease and 7.5% had respiratory disease. Patients who received MAiD reported both physical (99.5%) and psychologic (96.4%) suffering. "[W]e found that people who chose MAiD reported physical or psychologic suffering as the primary reason, despite engagement of palliative care in [77%] of patients, which suggests that for many patients the MAiD requests were not because of poor access to palliative care," write the authors. Almost half of MAiD recipients were married and the majority (85%) lived in a private home before receiving MAiD. They were younger than people who did not receive MAiD and more likely to live in a higher income neighbourhood, which suggests that MAiD requests are unlikely to be driven by social or economic vulnerability, say the authors. Requests for MAiD can be emotionally difficult for patients and families, and any delays can exacerbate distress. The study found that only 6.6% of families reported challenges with access to MAiD and these delays were not associated with socioeconomic status. The authors noted, however, that the MAiD data set included only people who actually received MAiD, so these findings would not reflect the experience of patients who requested MAiD but never received it. "The data presented here do not address the moral question of whether any amount of suffering can justify the hastening of death. However, the growing trend toward legalization and use of MAiD in many parts of the world should prompt the health care and research community to improve our understanding and treatment of the type of distress that leads to a MAiD request," the authors conclude. In a related editorial, Dr. Andreas Laupacis, CMAJ's editor-in-chief, writes, "Downar and colleagues' findings should allay fears that people living in Ontario are choosing MAiD because they have little social support or have poor access to health care. This study found the opposite, which suggests that more attention needs to be paid to ensure that those who are socially or economically vulnerable and eligible for MAiD are aware that MAiD is an option." http://www. cmaj. ca/ lookup/ doi/ 10. 1503/ cmaj. 200213 He cautions that as we move into a new era in which the Canadian government is considering expanding eligibility to MAiD to minors, people with severe mental illness and to those who anticipate losing the capacity to request MAiD in future, Canada will need new safeguards. "If access to MAiD is expanded, new safeguards, specifically tailored to each new indication for MAiD, should be put in place. Then, we must once more proceed with caution, measure carefully and reassess," concludes Dr. Laupacis. ### Podcast permanent link: https:/ / soundcloud. com/ cmajpodcasts/ 200016-res The study was conducted by researchers from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario; Sunnybrook Research Institute, The Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Office of the Chief Coroner, Government of Ontario; Queen's University, Kingston. "Early experience with medical assistant in dying in Ontario, Canada: a cohort study" is early-released February 12, 2020. This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP is pleased to announce that the Honorable Colleen McMahon, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, recently approved a whistleblower award of 29 percent of the $54 million settlement the firm and its co-counsel reached with Teva Pharmaceuticals ("Teva") in a United States False Claims Act case the firm brought against the company. The award, which is on the upper range of awards available under the False Claims Act, recognizes the efforts made by the firm's clients Charles Arnstein and Hossam Senousy in "blowing the whistle" on Teva's alleged wrongdoing and prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States and various states. James E. Miller of SFMS stated: "We were pleased and gratified that the United States of America and the various states participating in the settlement recognized the hard work and contribution of our clients and ultimately agreed to recognize that contribution with an award few whistleblowers and their attorneys obtain. It was an honor and privilege to work closely with the Office of Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in resolving this important matter. The entire team at SFMS would like to specifically thank Pierre G. Armand, the Co-Chief of Civil Frauds Unit for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Li Yu and Jessica Hu, as well as Carrie L. Bashaw, Senior Counsel of the State of Washington Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Kathryn M. Heim Harris, Special Assistant Attorney General of the New York Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, for their persistence and hard work on behalf of the United States of America and the various states participating in the settlement." The Whistleblowers were represented by SFMS and its co-counsel, Eric L. Young of McEldrew Young ( https://www.mceldrewyoung.com ), David J. Caputo and Joseph Trautwein of Youman & Caputo, LLC ( https://youmancaputo.com ), and Heidi A. Wendel ( https://heidiwendellaw.com ). SFMS, on behalf of the Relators, filed the original qui tam complaint in May 2013. Relators alleged that Teva violated the Anti-Kickback Statute ("AKS") by providing bogus speaking fees and honoraria to physicians through sham speaker programs in order to induce the physicians to prescribe the drugs Azilect and Copaxone. The complaint alleges that pharmacies filling these prescriptions then submitted claims for reimbursement to government-funded programs, resulting in payments by the government for prescriptions that were induced by fraud. Relators asserted that this alleged conduct opened Teva up to liability under both the False Claims Act ("FCA") and the AKS, which criminalizes, among other things, "knowingly or willingly" offering or paying a person "remuneration," in the form of kickbacks, bribes, or rebates, to "induce" that person to "recommend" the purchase of a drug covered by a "Federal health care program." 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(b)(2). Judge McMahon issued her order awarding 29 percent of the $54 million settlement on January 14, 2020. Case citation: United States ex rel. Arnstein and Senousy v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al., No. 1:13-cv-03702-CM-OTW (S.D.N.Y.) For a copy of the order approving the award of 29 percent of the $54 million settlement, click here. SFMS represents whistleblowers throughout the United States and on a global basis. Many whistleblower cases are brought under the FCA, which allows a private individual, known as a relator, to file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States government against a company that has perpetrated a fraud against the government. If a relator successfully recovers funds on behalf of the government, he or she may receive a reward of up to 30 percent depending on the circumstances of the case. SFMS has taken the lead in prosecuting some of the most important and significant cases in the United States regarding "speaker programs" and efforts by pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers to influence the behavior of physicians, prescribers and other providers through allegedly unlawful payments. About SFMS Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP has obtained billions of dollars in recoveries for its clients since its founding in 2002. Our attorneys have attended some of the best law schools in the country and have extensive experience in litigating cases against large and powerful companies. We maintain eight offices in the United States and two offices in Europe to serve our worldwide clients. SFMS has handled some of the most significant whistleblower cases in the United States and is increasingly recognized as one of the "go to" law firms when a whistleblower case needs to be litigated to trial. Contact James E, Miller Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP 65 Main Street Chester, CT Tel: (866) 540-5505 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP A stream of cars and trucks clog the roads of Idlib every day, each one full of the recently homeless, stacked high with the few possessions they could snatch as the bombing drew closer. A great mass of desperate civilians is on the move in the northern Syrian province, as government forces tighten the noose around the last rebel-held enclave in the country. Since the latest push in Russian-backed offensive began in December, dozens of towns and villages have been recaptured by the Syrian government from an array of nationalist and jihadist rebel groups, some of which are backed by Turkey. Intensive bombing has targeted hospitals, killed civilians and emptied towns and cities some 700,000 people have fled in the last 10 weeks, in what the United Nations has described as the largest displacement in such a short space of time in the course of the entire war. Families are arriving in towns further north every day with no shelter available to them, just as winter temperatures begin to bite. With the Turkish border closed, and the province surrounded by government forces, there is nowhere left for them to turn. 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 Thousands of people are here in the streets. If you walk around you can see them. They have no plan and no idea what to do, said Fayyad Akoush, a Syrian activist who fled with his wife and two young children from the city of Atareb three days ago. No one is helping us. The whole world watches us while we die. We are just waiting for the shells to fall on us, he told The Independent by phone. Around 3 million people are now crowded into Idlib province more than 1 million of whom have been displaced from other parts of the country. While the region has been a refuge throughout much of the war, today there are not enough tents for the new arrivals. As displacement camps filled up, schools and mosques opened their doors to fill the gap. Now, even they are full. The number of people being displaced in this crisis is now spiralling out of control with thousands of more people on the move, said David Swanson, the United Nations regional spokesperson for the Syria crisis, speaking from southern Turkey. Many of those who have sought shelter in camps, informal settlements or unfinished buildings have nothing but the clothes on their backs, he added. Civilians flee from Idlib to find safety inside Syria near the border with Turkey (AP) Thaer Ibrahim, a 28-year-old accountant originally from Aleppo, has fled twice in the past month in his search for safety. After moving to Atareb from the town of Kafr Naha when it came under fire last month, he was forced to leave again in recent days when the bombing followed him. Two days ago he moved further north with his wife and three children, among them a six-week old baby girl. It took him four hours to drive less than 20 miles due to the masses of people on the roads. I feel a sense of powerlessness. I am unable to keep my children safe and warm, or find a place to live for them, he said. I will go anywhere, even if I have to live in a tent, in order to protect my family from harm. It takes hours by car to go anywhere because of how many people are on the roads. There is not enough running water. Basic necessities are available, but not in big enough quantities, and are very expensive. Bread is only available for a few hours if you dont make it in time you wont get any, he added. The worsening humanitarian situation has prompted dire warnings from the United Nations, which has called for more funding as the level of displacement has outstripped its capacity. Mark Cutts, the UN deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, described the new displacement in Idlib as an exodus as he called for international action on the crisis. Weve been calling repeatedly in the Security Council for the protection of the civilian population. Whats this world coming to if were not able to protect 3 million civilians mostly women and children who are trapped in a war zone? he asked. We feel like we are postponing death, but that it is inevitable Thaer Ibrahim The Syrian government and its allies have made drives into Idlib before, but the most recent offensive has been its most forceful yet. Backed by Russian and Iranian forces, regime troops claimed on Tuesday the capture of a strategic highway between Aleppo and Damascus, which had been a long-held objective. In recent days, the renewed push by Damascus to eliminate the last rebel bastion has brought it into direct confrontation with Turkey, which backs a number of rebel groups in the province and has its own troops stationed at observation posts along the frontlines. Thirteen Turkish military personnel have been killed by Syrian government shelling in the past 10 days. Turkey claims to have killed 52 Syrian soldiers in response, and the countrys president vowed more reprisals if any more Turkish troops were harmed. If there is the smallest injury to our soldiers on the observation posts or other places, I am declaring from here that we will hit the regime forces everywhere from today, regardless of Idlibs borders, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. We will do this by any means necessary, by air or ground, without hesitating, without allowing for any stalling, he told members of his AK Party in Ankara. Families take what they can of their possessions as they flee the area (AP) Despite Turkeys protestations, it is unclear whether it will be able to take a decisive stand against Syrias ally, Russia, which controls the airspace over Idlib. Syrias president Bashar al-Assad has promised to recapture every last inch of the country, and appears to have the full support of Moscow to do so. Meanwhile, western countries have largely been reduced to observer status in Idlib, with little influence over events. One western diplomat said that Turkeys strategy of freezing the frontlines in the province to prevent another refugee influx appears to be failing. The Turks overplayed their hand. They were expecting too much from the Russians and the deals from the Americans, meanwhile making threats to Europe on the refugees and then expecting us to pay for the refugees, the diplomat said, who did not wish to be named. For the civilians crowded into Idlib, the outlook is grim. Many oppose the jihadist forces which control much of the area, but a significant number fear they would face imprisonment or death if government forces regained control. While Turkeys border remains closed, civilians in Idlib are trapped in an ever-shrinking territory, with no shelter, falling temperatures, and no way of escape. Ibrahim, the father of three from Aleppo, said he feared the worst. We feel like we are postponing death, but that it is inevitable, said Ibrahim. Additional reporting by Borzou Daragahi Chloe Haines, 26, (pictured in a police mugshoy after her arrest) forced the pilot to turn back just 45 minutes into a flight to Turkey in June last year after trying to open the doors screaming: 'You are all going to f**king die' A drunk British tourist who tried to open a Jet2 plane's doors at more than 30,000ft and screamed 'you are all going to f***ing die' has been jailed for two years today. Chloe Haines, 26, of High Wycombe, forced the pilot to turn back just 45 minutes into a flight to Turkey in June last year and two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled to escort the plane into Stansted. Haines had 'lunged' at a door handle on the plane, which had 206 people on board, before 'kicking and punching' cabin crew and passengers who detained her. One 'terrified' holidaymaker told police afterwards: 'I honestly thought I was going to die'. Haines was sentenced to two years in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court today after pleading guilty to endangering the safety of the plane and to assaulting cabin crew member Charley Coombe. Miss Haines was accused of causing 'absolute chaos in the sky' after she tried to open one of the emergency exits and then the main door at more than 30,000ft after downing gin from a bottle stashed in the overhead locker. In her drunken rampage she also sent one flight attendant 'flying across the plane' before attacking people on board who made a citizen's arrest by pinning her down in the aisle as she screamed: 'I'm going to f**king kill everyone, you are all going to f**king die'.' Two RAF Typhoon fighters then arrived at either side of the aircraft and guided it back into Stansted, with the jets sent with such speed a sonic boom could be heard across the east of England. She was arrested on the Tarmac and Haines told police that she 'blacked out and didn't really remember what happened' after mixing alcohol with medication. Chloe Haines, 26, arrives at Chelmsford Crown Court where she was handed two years in jail for causing ''absolute chaos' on a plane that saw the RAF scrambled as her Turkey-bound plane was diverted back to Stansted Haines was restrained by both crew and passengers on the flight in June (pictured) as she told them they were 'all going to f***ing die' Haines was arrested by Essex Police upon landing at London Stansted Airport on June 22 (pictured) on suspicion of assault, criminal damage and endangering an aircraft. She pleaded guilty in November and was jailed today Jet2 later sent the Costa Express worker a bill for 85,000 to cover the costs to the airline of her 'extremely disruptive behaviour' - and said she 'must face up to the consequences of her actions' by pushing for a prosecution, while also handing her a lifetime ban from their planes. Chloe Haines, 25, pictured, has been hit with an 85,000 bill by airline Jet2 over an air rage incident on a flight from Stansted to Turkey Haines, dressed in a white shirt and black top, with her blonde hair in a ponytail, sobbed through much of today's hearing. Judge Charles Gratwicke, sentencing Haines, said: 'Those that are trapped in the confined space of the aircraft will inevitably be distressed, frightened and petrified by the actions of those who in a drunken state endanger their lives'. He added: 'For some it will be their worst nightmare come true.' The drama began whilst the plane was on the runaway at Stansted Airport after a 90 minute delay where she hurled abuse at her fellow passengers telling them to 'f**k off'. Prosecutor Michael Crimp told the court Haines appeared 'intoxicated' and had been swigging from a 200ml bottle of gin stashed in an overhead locker. The court heard Haines was 'unsteady on her feet, seemed to be intoxicated and was slurring her words' after the plane took off. Whilst in the air she then barged past cabin crew and one of them shouted 'she's going to open the door' with staff and passengers wrestling her to the floor. Haines, 26, sobbed outside court in November where she admitted assault by beating and endangering an aircraft Mr Crimp said: 'One of the passengers Steven Brown later told police that he really feared she would open the door and said "I honestly thought I was going to die". 'Cabin staff and with some passengers were able to restrain Miss Haines to the floor, she struggled punching out at people saying things like "I want to die, I'm going to kill you all". 'Three of the cabin crew pulled her away and she continued to shout in a similar way. 'She continued whilst being pinned down by cabin crew and passengers to be aggressive but her behaviour was also erratic ranging from shouting to singing and crying.' During the fracas she scratched cabin crew member Charley Coombe as she was brought under control and was charged with assault. The pilot was made aware of the fracas and when he saw the matter escalating he told air traffic control there was 'a disruptive passenger incident'. Mr Crimp added: 'He took the view for the safety of the passengers, crew and aircraft it was necessary to return to Stansted Airport.' The barrister told the court that it was 'impossible' to open the door mid-flight but passengers were 'not aware of that' and Haines' actions stopped cabin crew from dealing with other emergencies. The RAF sent two Typhoon aircraft (file picture) to intercept the flight, causing sonic booms Two RAF Typhoon fighters were scrambled in error to intercept the Airbus 321 bound for Turkey, to guide it back to the Essex airport, where Haines was arrested. Oliver Saxby QC, for Haines, said the troubled young woman, who has a personality disorder, was now engaged in an Alcoholics Anonymous program and has not had an alcoholic drink since. He also said his client was convicted of drink driving 17 days before the plane drama describing the incident as 'tragic cry for help' had left her 'deeply embarrassed'. Passing sentence Judge Gratwicke said: 'Even the most minor incident could have such catastrophic unforeseen consequences. 'Those who recklessly or negligently endanger an aircraft's safety whether in drink or not must in any judgement receive appropriate punishment'. Haines was sentenced for two years for endangering the plane and hit with a three-month concurrent sentence for assault. The court did not impose any compensation order. The Typhoon fighters caused sonic booms as they flew to meet the plane and escort it back to Stansted in June. The sonic booms triggered panic in Essex, with police receiving multiple calls. Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said today: 'We welcome today's decision and we are pleased to see the courts taking the issue of disruptive passenger behaviour as seriously as we do. 'Ms Haines' behaviour was one of the most serious cases of disruptive passenger behaviour that we have experienced, and we have banned her from flying with us for life. Her actions caused distress for customers as well as our crew, and as a family friendly airline carrying millions of holidaymakers every year, we simply will not tolerate this on our flights. 'It is evident that excessive alcohol consumption was a contributing factor in this incident. 'We have been leading the industry to tackle the issue of drinking to excess in the airport before flying, as well as the illicit consumption of duty free alcohol on board the aircraft, for some time. 'As another busy summer approaches, we look forward to continuing to work with the Government and our partners across the industry to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and comfortable journey without the minority spoiling it.' Feminist writer Germaine Greer has questioned if Meghan is "faking" her love for Prince Harry. The comments were made during a 60 Minutes Australia broadcast about the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as senior members of the Royal family, Greer has previously spoken out against the British Royal family, but in the interview she questioned the motives of Meghan in particular and the couple's "artificial world." Controversial Australian writer Germaine Greer / PA All I can think is she'd better be in love. If she's been faking it all this time, oh boy, what misery. How many orgasms will it take? How many fake groans will get her through this? Greer said. Greer went on to give her opinion of the Duke and Duchess 2018 wedding ceremony, which took place at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle, with a television broadcast that reportedly drew in 29 million viewers across the U.S. and 24 million in the U.K. The marriage was terrible too, because it was full of showbiz personalities, as if Megan lived in a completely artificial world, Greer stated, adding, "The whole point about showbiz - it's not real, and it won't sustain you. Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. / Getty Images She even took a dig at Oprah and Amal and George Clooney, who were guests at Harry and Meghans wedding, saying, You had the distinct feeling they didnt know who the bride and groom were. Greer did come to Meghans defense when asked if racism may have played a part in Harry and Meghans decision to step back from royal duties. High, high, high, she said of where the English ranked. And they will never let you forget that youre a foreigner." This isnt the first time Greer has publicly questioned Meghan. Just before the royal wedding, Greer also spoke to 60 Minutes Australia in 2018, saying, I think shell bolt. I hope in a way that shell bolt but maybe shell take Harry with her. Prince Harry and Meghan leave after visiting Canada House in London, after their recent stay in Canada, January 7, 2020 / AP When asked to make another prediction about whats next for the Duke and Duchess, Greer said of Meghan, She may be stronger than we think. Im worried that she isnt, and thats one reason why Harry has moved in this precipitant way - hes just got her out of there. Turkey to push back Syrian regime forces, Erdogan says Speaking at AK Party parliamentary group, President Erdogan said that Turkey was determined to hit back Assad regime forces from observation posts in Syria by end-February. If Turkish soldiers in Syria are again targeted, Turkey will strike at Assad regime forces regardless of the 2018 Sochi deal with Russia, Turkeys president said on Wednesday. "TURKEY WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY" "If any harm comes to our soldiers in observation posts [in Idlib] or anywhere [in Syria], I declare from there that we will hit regime forces everywhere regardless of the Sochi deal," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his party's parliamentary group. Turkey is determined to push back Syrian regime forces from Turkeys observation posts in Idlib by the end of February, said Erdogan. The observation posts were established in 2018 under the Astana peace process. To push back the Syrian forces, Turkey will do what is necessary via land and air without hesitation," added Erdogan. The Syrian peoples fight for freedom is also Turkeys fight, he said. Erdogans remarks came after five Turkish troops were martyred and five injured in an attack by Assad regime forces in Idlib, northwestern Syria on Monday, following a similar attack last week martyring seven soldiers and a civilian contractor working with the Turkish military. The U.S. Army is slowing down its timeline to acquire a fleet of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, an armored Humvee replacement that some have criticized as being better suited to past wars. The Army's $178 billion proposed budget for fiscal 2021 earmarks $894.4 million to buy "1,920 JLTVs of various configurations as well as 1,334 JLTV-T companion trailers," according to a Feb. 10 Army statement. "They are reductions; they are not cuts," Maj. Gen. Paul Chamberlain, director of Army budget, told reporters at the Pentagon. "We are extending the production life for JLTV." The Army began slowing its JLTV acquisition strategy last year, announcing it would buy 2,530 JLTVs in fiscal 2020, a significant reduction from its 2019 purchase of 3,393 vehicles. The JLTV was one of 93 programs the Army cut or reduced last year, putting roughly $30 billion in savings toward the Army's ambitious modernization effort. Last April, then-Secretary of the Army Mark Esper said that the JLTV was essentially designed to fight a war with the kind of improvised explosive device (IED) threats that existed in Iraq. Related: Army's Brand-New Combat Vehicle Was Designed for the Last War, Esper Says The JLTV became a modernization priority for the Army and Marine Corps in the early days of Iraq, after the Humvee proved unable to protect troops from deadly IEDs. Army leaders said last year that the service was considering lowering its procurement objective of buying 49,000 JLTVs by the mid-2030s. Now Army budget officials say that the service has extended JLTVs production life until 2041. "The total number remains the same; it's just over a longer period that it is going to be procured," Chamberlain said. Oshkosh Corp. was selected in August 2015 over Lockheed Martin Corp. and AM General LLC to build the JLTV, but Army budget officials said Tuesday that the service may award another competitive JLTV contract in 2022 to get a better deal. "Normally, we do that to drive price down on the end-state, so if you have competition in the production space, you will eventually get some savings out of it," John Daniels, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Plans, Programs and Resources, told reporters at the Pentagon. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Read More: Army to Cut JLTV Buy to Pay for Future Systems Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the government of not taking the coronavirus threat seriously. The Corona Virus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical, he tweeted. The toll in the coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 1114. Ninety of the victims died Tuesday. On January 31 and February 1, the central government evacuated over 600 Indians from Chinas Wuhan city, the epicentre of the outbreak. The evacuees who were flown to Delhi are now housed in two quarantine centres one in the national capital and the other in Manesar in Haryana. The government has also set up screening facilities in many airports, seaports and border check points with Nepal to detect any possible case of coronavirus positive patients. India has so far reported three positive cases of the virus, all of them Kerala. Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Keralas Wayanad. Two of the patients, one in Thrissur and the other in Alappuzha, have since recovered and the state health authorities are waiting for the final results from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. According to a Kerala health department official, the third patient in Kasargode (north Kerala) is also responding well to treatment. Kerala had also put hundreds of others including many who have returned from China in quarantine to stop possible infection. On February 3, the Kerala government had declared a state of calamity after the third positive case was reported before lifting the status four days later after one positive case of coronavirus turned negative and tests in 67 suspected patients gave clean chits. The state government carried out a massive drive to contain the secondary infection including an awareness campaign at the grassroots level. U nder-fire NMC Health was the top riser on the FTSE 100 today after one of its smaller shareholders claimed to have found a private-equity investor for the firm. Czech activist investor Krupa Global Investments, which has a million shares in the Middle East hospitals operator, said it had found an unnamed private-equity group from eastern Europe interested in taking a stake in NMC. Krupa said the potential investor has more than 10 billion in assets under management and already owns healthcare businesses in Europe. Juraj Krupa, portfolio manager at Krupa, said: We are holding talks with a large player. We will meet with the NMC chief executive in Abu Dhabi shortly. Krupa also said it has told NMC management that it wants to provide financing for chairman BR Shettys ambition to get NMC under his control. This comes despite NMC, which is under attack from short-seller Muddy Waters, being forced to admit on Monday that it didnt know exactly how many shares founder and chairman Shetty owned. As a result Shetty is not allowed to attend board meetings. The fresh takeover speculation sent tongues wagging in the City and comes a day after private-equity giant KKR said it would not be bidding. Over the weekend news broke that KKR and a small buyout firm GK Investment wanted to bid for the firm. GK Investment is still interested. The shares added 4%, or 24.4p, to 802p, after a 13% loss yesterday. NMCs gains helped the FTSE 100 to a 10.97-points gain to 7510.68. Oilers were also on the charge after HSBC put out a bullish note on the sector. The bank upgraded Royal Dutch Shell to Buy, saying its business was in decent shape. HSBC said it expects a sharp recovery in crude prices if the coronavirus outbreak is contained, while the bank also expects natural gas prices to come off their lows. Oil prices have tumbled 17% this year. Shell rose 20p to 2007p, while rival BP climbed 2.7p to 472p as chief executive Bernard Looney unveiled one of the biggest shake-ups in its 111-year history. Notable fallers included Ocado, which lost 42p to 1212p. It yesterday said its founder Tim Steiner has picked up 58 million despite the company posting a loss of 214 million. Whether you're traveling for work or pleasure, there's a fair chance you're packing quite a bit of technology. From headphones to portable chargers to spare USB cables, it's all too common for cords to become tangled or loose earbuds to be lost. However, a packing cube dedicated specifically to tech accessories will make it much easier to stay organized. The Small Cord Cube from eBags is a compact, yet comprehensive, tech case that has all the right pockets to keep your cords, cables, and small devices secure and organized during travel. Plus, it's on sale right now for just $15 on the eBags website. Related: More travel accessories Courtesy of eBags To buy: ebags.com, $15 with code LOVE (originally $25) The slim, soft-sided case zips open to reveal five mesh pockets with elastic bands for holding cords and cables, a spacious main compartment for keeping a phone and/or portable power bank, and a flexible elasticized panel for stashing small items. Meanwhile, an exterior stretch pocket can stow a smartphone. And while the small size of this cube is spacious enough, especially for a carry-on, it is also available in medium and large sizes. Courtesy of eBags The retailer knows a thing or two about luggage and travel accessories, so it's no surprise that its house brand has plenty of well-reviewed products, including this tech case. "I purchased this small cord cube for a six-week trip to Spain, but have used it on several other trips as well," one reviewer wrote. "It is just the right size to hold all of my cords, the mouse for my laptop, and a supply of extra batteries. I like knowing where all of my cords are at any given time." Another shopper commented that this case is the perfect addition to a carry-on suitcase when flying. "Perfect for airplane[s]! When I fly, I have lots of small stuff I usually stuff in my pockets...headphones, battery backup, phone, mints/gum, etc...This organizer is perfect...stashed in my backpack [until] I am ready to board and can keep the backpack stashed overhead." Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week. The San Francisco city attorneys office issued subpoenas for eight companies and nonprofit organizations Wednesday as part of the ongoing government corruption scandal launched in the wake of former Public Works Director Mohammed Nurus arrest on fraud charges late last month. The city attorneys office served subpoenas to PG&E or any affiliate Wednesday, along with major construction firms Webcor Builders, Pankow and Clark Construction. Waste management company Recology was also hit with a subpoena. Nonprofits the San Francisco Parks Alliance, the Lefty ODouls Foundation for Kids which has already been implicated in the scandal and the San Francisco Clean City Coalition were also served. The city attorneys office issued the subpoenas because officials suspected that the companies and nonprofits improperly funneled donations to city programs and events, including Public Works holiday parties. The documents City Attorney Dennis Herreras office demanded would suggest the investigation is looking into whether money was sloshing between the companies and the nonprofits for years, with some of it potentially ending up back at Public Works or other city agencies. In general, the subpoenas sent to the companies demand documents dating back to January 2015 detailing any payments made to the various nonprofit groups. That includes paperwork showing any payments made specifically for city holiday parties and any evidence of city employees soliciting money, goods or services from the corporations. A recent report in the San Francisco Examiner detailed how Webcor, Pankow and Recology allegedly pumped money into the Lefty ODouls foundation, a childrens baseball charity run by restaurant owner Nick Bovis, which may have paid for a $30,000 holiday party for Public Works staff. The subpoena to the Parks Alliance is comprehensive, demanding all bank records, correspondence, emails and any documents related to the fiscal relationship between the organization and the city. The Clean City Coalition, ostensibly a nonprofit focused on street-cleaning and beautification work, must disclose any payments it received from Recology, the Parks Alliance, the Lefty ODouls foundation and any donations or payments that came from, or went to, a city agency or program. Were following the facts, and were following the money, Herrera said in a statement. We are going to follow the evidence wherever it leads. We will get to the bottom of this. San Franciscans deserve no less. Firms like Webcor, Pankow and Recology rely on city officials to approve their contracts and to green-light development projects theyre involved in. Webcor spokesman Sam Singer said the company will fully cooperate with the investigation. Webcor made a donation to the Lefty ODouls Foundation for Kids fully expecting the contribution would be used to fulfill the organizations mission and used for a holiday party toy drive, Singer said. The company made donations to the charity from 2014 to 2019, all at the request of Public Works officials, Singer said. A PG&E spokesman, Matt Nauman, acknowledged that the company received the subpoena and is reviewing it and will respond. PG&E and its employees work hard every day to uphold both the letter and spirit of the law and the companys own ethical standards, Nauman said. Clark Construction said it would cooperate fully with the city attorneys office, but declined to comment further. Recology said in a statement it launched its own investigation into the companys contributions to the Lefty ODouls Foundation for Kids, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and the San Francisco Clean City Coalition. The company said it contacted the city attorneys office Monday and pledged to cooperate with any investigation. Nuru resigned his post as the director of Public Works on Monday, nearly two weeks after he was arrested on fraud charges linked to a widening government corruption scandal in San Francisco. He had been on paid administrative leave. Nuru and Bovis, the owner of the now-closed Lefty ODouls restaurants, are accused of concocting several schemes, some of which were allegedly intended to steer city contracts to Bovis. Nuru has also been accused of accepting gifts from a billionaire Chinese developer in exchange for help with a development deal, lying to the FBI, and receiving free and discounted building materials that he did not disclose. Multiple people with knowledge of the matter confirmed that Nuru has been interviewed by the city attorneys office in connection with an internal probe into the breadth and depth of wrongdoing and self-dealing in and around City Hall. The extent of Nurus disclosures isnt yet clear. The city Controllers Office is also investigating whether any additional city contracts have been tainted by corruption and need to be revoked. 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. Herreras office on Wednesday indicated that the investigation has already yielded some results. In their criminal complaint, federal officials alleged that Nuru gave Bovis inside information to help him obtain a city contract to build portable toilets that would serve the homeless. The city attorney and controllers investigation found that Public Works awarded the $171,000 contract to an entity tied to Bovis, SMTM Technology, in June. The company was supposed to deliver the toilets by December, but they never arrived. For that reason alone, the city was able to terminate the contract, which it did last week, Herreras office said. No city money was paid to SMTM in connection with that contract. Herrera and City Controller Ben Rosenfield have provided glimpses into the scope and progress of their respective inquiries to the public amid widespread outcry at the corruption allegations. Last week, Herrera and Rosenfield took the unusual step of outlining the contours of the investigation due in part to several supervisors suggesting that city officials could not be entrusted to produce an independent investigation. Supervisors Matt Haney, Dean Preston and Gordon Mar have said its essential to have a separate inquiry conducted by a firm outside the orbit of city government. In his brief resignation letter to City Administrator Naomi Kelly, Nuru requested the paperwork to apply for his full $91,000 annual pension. Under San Francisco law, individuals convicted of crimes of moral turpitude can get their city pensions revoked. But Nurus court case is still in its infancy. He and Bovis are due back in federal court Thursday to finalize the terms of their bonds. While city officials search for Nurus permanent replacement, Alaric Degrafinried was appointed Public Works interim director to steer the department in the meantime. Degrafinried was the city purchaser, overseeing city contracts for most departments, not including Public Works. None of the other companies or nonprofits involved in the investigation responded to requests for comment. San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Roland Li and Anna Bauman contributed to this report. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Tokyo, Feb 12 : The Japanese Health Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that 39 more people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The newly reported cases bring the total from the ship to 174, excluding the quarantine officer, who is considered a domestic case. Aside from the Diamond Princess's toll, the number of cases nationwide is 29, The Japan Times reported. The Health Ministry announced that 39 people - 29 passengers, 10 crew members - have tested positive. The 39 passengers and crew members that tested positive Wednesday will be taken to hospitals across nine prefectures. The Health Ministry said this is also the first time a teenager on the ship has tested positive for the coronavirus and reported that four from the ship - three of them Japanese citizens - are in serious condition. Those four people have pre-existing conditions, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a daily briefing on Wednesday afternoon. Rural Funds Group achieved a comprehensive legal victory over Texas-based short-seller Bonitas Research on Wednesday, as the NSW Supreme Court found that allegations against the real estate investment trust were "false in material particulars or were materially misleading". Bonitas sent RFG's share price plunging in August last year after it released a report alleging RFG's accounts included fabricated rental income and claiming the trust was ultimately worthless. "I am satisfied that they knew or ought reasonably to have known that the statements and information were false in material particulars or were materially misleading. They did not care that they were false," said the judgment from Justice David Hammerschlag. Rural Funds Group owns more than $900 million worth of agricultural assets, including vineyards leased to Treasury Wine Estates. Credit:Milton Wordley Bonitas is a short-selling operation founded by Matt Wiechert, the co-founder of Glaucus Research which launched a withering assault on Australia's Blue Sky Alternative Investments in 2018. Short-selling is a trading strategy in which the trader profits from a fall in the target company's share price. The decomposed bodies of a couple and their two sons and a daughter were found at their rented house in northeast Delhis Bhajanpura on Wednesday, the police said. Officials registered a case of murder but are also investigating if Shambhu Choudhary, a 43-year-old e-rickshaw driver, murdered his wife and three school-going children before killing himself. A relative alleged that the family had been murdered. We are checking the CCTV cameras installed in the neighbourhood. The bodies are so putrefied that it is not possible to see the nature of injuries, said Alok Kumar, the joint commissioner of police (eastern range). He said the bodies were sent to a government hospital, where autopsies will be conducted to find out the cause of the deaths. The police suspect the family might have died about a week ago. Around 11.30am, the police control room got a call complaining of a foul smell coming from a house, Ved Prakash Surya, the deputy commissioner of police (northeast), said. Policemen reached the place and broke open the main entrance an iron gate which was locked from the outside. The family stayed in two rented rooms on the ground floor of a two-storey building. The other entrance to the section used by the family was bolted from inside. The ground floor of the building has two more rooms, which are occupied by eight street vendors. Four of them have been taken into custody, the police said. The police are questioning them as to why they did not notice the stench and why they did not raise an alarm even after not seeing the family for the past five-six days. Choudharys body was on the floor and his wife Sunitas body in the bed in a room, DCP Surya said. Their three children Shivam (17), Sachin (14) and Komal (12) were found on the floor in the adjacent room. Prime facie there were no signs of ransacking, but Choudharys mobile phone was missing, according to the police. Sanjeev Gupta, a local resident, said, Its not that we did not get the smell... we never imagined that the stench was coming from dead bodies. Most of us thought that some rats died in Choudharys house. Since the gate was locked, we believed that the family had gone somewhere. Another resident, Manju Devi, said, ...a property dealer having an office opposite the building realised that the stench was becoming stronger and called the police. The police said that the family belonged to Supaul in Bihar and they came to Delhi about two decades ago. The police informed Choudharys brother, Raushan, who lives in north Delhis Burari, and other relatives about the deaths. My brother spoke to our parents around 15 days ago. Neighbours told us that they last saw the children returning from school on February 3. I dont know how they all died, Raushan said. Relatives said that the children studied in a government school in Yamuna Vihar. Choudharys uncle, Munna , alleged that the family was murdered. I saw all the bodies. The childrens bodies were stacked and their room was full of dry blood. My nephew did not have any financial issue or any issue with his wife or children. So there is no chance of him killing them. Its a murder. He said Shivam was blindfolded when his body was recovered, but the police did not confirm this. Updated 1:40pm: An incident involving armed police on Thebes Grove in Papamoa has been resolved. A resident on the street says armed police were on her lawn for around an hour. Police attended a Papamoa property following a report of concern around 10:10am, a police spokesperson says. Armed Offenders Squad also attended as a precaution. The matter has now been resolved. There have been no reported injuries or arrests. Updated 12:59pm: A reporter at the scene says the cordon at Corinth Grove has reopened and five police cars have entered the street. Thebes Grove remains cordoned off. "There is still a large police presence on the street." Earlier: Armed police are present in the Papamoa area. A reporter at the scene says police have cordoned off Corinth Road. A street resident says he has been waiting to get home for 45 minutes, but has been told police he cannot enter. "It's normally a quiet street and nothing happens. This is quite unusual." Another Papamoa resident says six armed police have been on her lawn for the past hour. "There are six police on the lawn all with assault rifles. They have told me they are on standby." SunLive have contacted police for more information. At the scene? Call 0800 SUNLIVE or email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz Some Jacksonville-area schools are dismissing early today because of a winter storm expected to arrive in west-central Illinois by the afternoon. Forecasters are calling for about 4 inches of snow through Thursday morning, followed by extreme cold temperatures. Attendees sang Happy Birthday to Neal. They gave him a toy, a blanket and socks. The toy requires Neal to drop small, colorful, plastic donuts onto a stick. He then removes them, a dexterity challenge that Neal enjoys. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} He likes anything, to be honest, the father said. The three wound up in quarantine in Camp Ashland because they had visited some of Yang Mengs relatives near the city of Wuhan, which has been hit hard by coronavirus. Shepherd said he is an English teacher in China. They spent a couple of weeks in lockdown with Yang Mengs father, then managed to get on an evacuation flight to the United States. Travelers from the Wuhan area have been quarantined at places in California and Texas, and at Camp Ashland. Its been a weird experience, Tyler Shepherd said. But the situation becomes less frightening as time passes and everyone remains well. Staffers have been very nice to us, trying to do everything they can to make our quarantine pleasant, he said. There havent really been any bad parts of the experience so far. Staffers acquired a kind of snack chip that Tyler wanted. MW RELEASE ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. After competing against some of the top collegiate and professional runners, University of New Mexico junior Weini Kelati has been named the Mountain West Womens Track Athlete of the Week. Tuesdays selection marks the second week in a row that Kelati has earned the weekly conference honor and the third this indoor season. As a team, the Lobos have had four females win athletes of the week and five overall with Tanner Battikha winning mens field athlete of the week on Feb. 4. The Lobo distance runner picked up the award after finishing seventh at the NYRR Millrose Games in the 3000-meter, running a time of 8:54.66. That time would be the second-fastest in UNM program history, only behind her 8:53.98 that she ran at last years Millrose Games to set the school record. Additionally, it clocks as the second-best time run this season in the NCAA, only behind Wisconsins Alicia Monson, who ran a time of 8:53.69 in the same race on Saturday. As a result, Kelati now has the second-best time in two events, the 5000-meter (15:14.71) and now the 3000-meter, and the third-best time in the mile (4:32.66) according to the TFRRS NCAA Indoor Qualifying Performance List. In her career, Kelati owns three indoor school records, including the mile (4:31.70), the 3000-meter (8:53.98) and the aforementioned 5000-meter, and an outdoor school record in the 10,000-meter (32:09.10). Not only has the junior been named the weekly award winner three times this season following her three races, Kelati was also included on the latest Bowerman Watch List released on Feb. 4. Of the latest list, six of the women were on the preseason watch list, including Kelati. The Lobos continue to host this week with the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, starting on Thursday, Feb. 13 and finishing up on Friday, Feb. 14. The meet will be streamed on FloTrack. American and Taliban negotiators are meeting Wednesday in Doha, Qatar, following a conditional decision from President Donald Trump to sign a peace deal with the militants, according to officials. One U.S. official and an Afghan official briefed on the matter Wednesday said Trump gave his conditional approval to sign a peace deal with the Taliban if the insurgents can demonstrate their commitment to reducing violence in Afghanistan. "Trump has endorsed the deal and said it must be signed," the Afghan official said, explaining that when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Afghan leaders Tuesday, he said the peace talks "deadlock" had been broken. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. For months U.S. negotiators have demanded a reduction in violence from the Taliban before formal talks can resume. Taliban negotiators presented a violence reduction proposal in January that would have ceased attacks in cities and highways. But it was unclear how long it would last and if it would apply to the Afghan military as well as U.S. military personnel. After weeks of back and forth, American and Taliban negotiators have reached an agreement on how exactly violence will be reduced and for how long, according to the Afghan official. However he did not provide further details. People knowledgeable about the negotiations said the reduction would probably be seven to 10 days. The State Department, in a statement, said "U.S. talks with the Taliban in Doha continue around the specifics of a reduction in violence." Pompeo told Afghan leaders in phone calls Tuesday that "notable progress" had been made in the peace talks. Afghan government officials have previously said a ceasefire is a precondition to talks with the Taliban, but both Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah expressed optimism about a potential "reduction in violence," after their separate calls with Pompeo. Both leaders however, indicated in statements on Twitter that no final agreement had been reached. Reducing violence would be seen as an expression of good faith on the part of the Taliban. Once it was over, a more formal U.S.-Taliban agreement could be signed within days. The agreement would include the start of direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government next month, and the beginning of a U.S. troop withdrawal. Abdullah tweeted that Pompeo had "expressed optimism that a reduction in violence and progress with current talks could lead to an agreement that would pave the way for intra-Afghan talks leading to durable peace." One person knowledgeable about the negotiations cautioned that it remains unclear what the status of any signed U.S.-Taliban agreement would be if violence resumed after the agreed reduction period, or if promised talks between the militants and the Afghan government did not succeed or even begin. This person spoke on the condition of anonymity about the closed-door negotiations. In September, U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad announced that a tentative deal had been reached with the Taliban. Trump said he planned to bring Taliban leaders to Camp David to sign it, but he called off the meeting - which the Taliban later said it had not agreed to - as well as further talks, after the militants took credit for an attack in Kabul that killed an American soldier. The draft agreed to at the time included Taliban cooperation in fighting against terrorist groups in Afghanistan, such as the Islamic State, as well as U.S. withdrawal and inter-Afghan talks, with a nationwide cease-fire at the top of the agenda. Trump announced in November that the talks had restarted, but progress was reported to be limited until recently. Khalilzad met with Ghani in Kabul on Saturday to brief him on recent discussions with the militants and meetings with Pakistani officials, Ghani's office said. "We are waiting for a clear answer from the Taliban for a cease-fire or lasting reduction in violence based on a working mechanism which is acceptable to the people of Afghanistan and the U.S. government," his office said. In last week's State of the Union address, Trump said that "the determination and valor of our warfighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress," although U.S. government reports have indicated that the number of Taliban attacks during the last quarter of 2019 were the highest in nearly a decade. But Trump, who has promised to stop the country's "endless wars," said that "peace talks are now underway" and "we are working to finally end America's longest war and bring our troops back home." Tentative terms for a new U.S.-Taliban agreement are said to be nearly identical to the one in September. It was unclear, however, whether any initial withdrawal would reduce the U.S. force from about 12,000 to the 8,600 already planned without any deal or even lower. The composition of an Afghan government negotiating team - one of the sticking points of the earlier agreement - also remains uncertain. Afghan officials announced in December that Ghani had won reelection with just over 50 percent in a nationwide September vote, avoiding a second round of voting. But Abdullah, his estranged governing partner and main opponent, challenged the results. _ _ _ George reported from Islamabad. The Washington Post's Sayed Salahuddin and Sharif Hassan in Kabul contributed to this report. Las Vegas Filmmaker Bringing Tupac Shakur Conspiracy Theory to the Big Screen Torry Threadcraft Torry Threadcraft is a writer who covers music, sports, and Rick Boss, the filmmaker, believes the story is completely accurate. Tupac Shakurs death in 1996 was so shocking, many people still cant believe the news. One of those people, Las Vegas-based filmmaker Rick Boss, is in the process of bringing his theory to the silver screen. Boss believes Shakurs entourage told him about the planned hit as he arrived in Vegas. He alleges Tupac planted a body double in Suge Knights BMW that fateful night. The plan was not only to escape potential harm, but also FBI investigation. According to Boss, Shakur then escaped to New Mexico, where he went off the grid with the help of the Navajo Nation. You can write a fiction story, Boss told Las Vegas ABC affiliate KTNV, but this is not fiction. This is facts through certain people that I know. The KTNV broadcast reports that Boss knows Snoop Dogg and other affiliates of Tupac. Additionally, the filmmakers father allegedly knew Tupacs mother from their involvement with the Black Panther Party. However, the star of the movie, Richard Garcia, isnt convinced. Hes gone, Garcia told KTNV. He lives on, like his mother said, through all of us. Through our memories, through our hearts, through our tributes. Boss expects to finish filming Tupac: The Great Escape From UMC sometime next year. Read: 10 Things You May Not Have Known About 2Pacs All Eyez on Me If it happens on Friday it may be without the presence of the first son of the family and IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu who is currently in the United Kingdom after he escaped Nigeria on September 14, 2017 when soldiers under the Operation Python Dance II stormed his Afaraukwu home and allegedly killed many. Seven months into the states two-year budget cycle, officials at the Oregon Department of Forestry say theyve blown through most of the budget that lawmakers approved for the entire biennium and are asking lawmakers for an emergency cash infusion. A large infusion from $52 million to $132 million otherwise, agency officials say, theyll have exhausted their budget by March. Its a Band-Aid fix for a structural problem, and it comes as lawmakers and the governor are looking to expand the agency even further. Theyre sponsoring bills that would bolster the agencys firefighting capabilities and forest restoration work above and beyond the immediate budget requests. And such plans are coming without any cohesive strategy to make sure the agency is on firm financial footing and has the resources and managerial wherewithal to do its job. In the near term, agency leaders are looking for a minimum of $52 million and as much as $132 million, money they say is needed to keep the doors open and keep regular programs running; to pay a consultant hired to help them get their financial house in order; and to cover firefighting costs in the upcoming 2020 fire season. The wide range of the request reflects the variability of the agencys firefighting costs. The bare minimum is a forecast of $20 million for 2020, with a high end $92 million. Fire costs have exceeded that in the past, however, and have averaged $70 million annually since 2013. This is new ground for us, said Joy Krawczyk, a spokeswoman for the agency. We havent put in a request like this in the past, especially in a short session, so we havent really heard how thats going to move. Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, and co-chair of Way and Means, said the committee had yet to discuss the agencys budget requests in any meaningful way. Were just reacting to the plethora of requests coming in, she said. There are certain things were going to have to do for forestry or else its going to go brokeWere going to have to do it quickly. The agencys problems come as no surprise. It has been bumping along at the edge of financial abyss for months due to delays in invoicing and collecting reimbursements for firefighting costs, primarily from the federal government. The agency currently has $103 million in outstanding receivables, $17 million of which date back to 2015. Of the $103 million, the agency still needs to invoice more than half. To plug its resulting cash flow problem, agency leaders have looked for help on a variety of fronts. They borrowed money from Treasury, had the Department of Administrative Services cover its payroll, and tapped internal reserves that mostly belong to the agencys state forest program. The agency paid off its payroll borrowing in January, and says it plans to pay off its $25 million line of credit with Treasury in April. Meanwhile, it has been clearcutting heavily on state forests to keep cash coming in the door. The overall problem is called fire borrowing, and was a big one for the U.S. Forest Service until Congress gave it access to disaster funding to cover its large fire costs. Oregons Forestry Department insists it needs a similar, permanent solution. In an era of consistently large fire seasons, agency leaders say it no longer has the financial capacity to float those costs and pay its vendors while waiting for reimbursement from federal authorities. Meanwhile, the diversion of money from other programs is undermining work in those areas. State Forester Peter Daugherty told legislators in a recent letter that the agency was making a number of process improvements and staffing changes to speed up its invoicing and had implemented agency wide cost containment to conserve cash. However, he wrote, the much larger problem is the way wildland firefighting is funded that cannot be solved through operational adjustments or process improvements. In the absence of a more permanent fix, Daugherty has come hat in hand to the Ways and Means Committee, which is already demanding monthly reports from him detailing the agencys current financial condition. Daugherty is also on a performance improvement plan from the Board of Forestry, which was caught off guard by the extent of the agencys financial crisis last year. The agencys emergency budget request comes as Gov. Kate Brown and other legislators are seeking additional sums of money to beef up the agencys firefighting capacity. Brown wants to add another 68 positions at a cost of some $20 million a year. Another forestry modernization bill sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Herman Baertschiger, R-Grants Pass, has proposed adding 50 new fire positions and modernizing the departments aviation fleet at an unspecified cost. Brown also wants to vastly expand the number of forest acres each treated each year through thinning and prescribed burns to increase forest resilience to wildfire. A wildfire council she empaneled last year is recommending the state treat 300,000 acres annually for the next 20 years. Thats a huge boost that comes with a $200 million annual price tag, though the state would seek matching dollars for forest treatment on federal lands. This year, the governor is hoping for some $25 million as a first bite in tackling the much larger problem. I expect at least a one-to-one match from our federal partners for any money that Oregon invests, Brown told members of the Senate Committee on Wildfire Reduction and Recovery at a hearing last week. She met with those federal partners Sunday in Washington D.C. Its unclear where Oregon plans to raise all this money, however, or how much of it will happen in the short legislative session. Critics have expressed concern about writing new checks and expanding an agency thats finances have been botched in recent years, though the agencys actual firefighting program is well regarded. The Department of Administrative Services has entered a $700,000 contract with a CPA firm, Macias, Gini and OConnell, to assess the forestry departments fire finance operation and recommend improvements. That process wont be done in time for the current Legislative session. Browns legislation also includes a funding study to determine how the state could fund her proposed treatment program and how other states fund their annual fire costs. Pope Francis has declined to approve the ordination of married men to address the priest shortage in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI. In an eagerly-awaited document, Francis did not even refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider the ordination of married men and women deacons. Rather, he urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and send missionaries to the region, where the faithful living in remote communities can go months or even years without mass. Francis dodging of the issue disappointed progressives, who had hoped he would at the very least put it to further study. Pope Francis reads his message during the weekly general audience at the Vatican (Gregorio Borgia/AP) And it relieved conservatives who have used the debate over priestly celibacy to heighten opposition to the pope, whom some have accused of heresy. The document, Beloved Amazon, is instead a love letter to the Amazonian rain forest and its indigenous peoples, penned by historys first Latin American pope. Francis has long been concerned about the violent exploitation of the Amazons land, its crucial importance to the global ecosystem and the injustices committed against its peoples. He addressed the document to all peoples of the world to help awaken their affection and concern for that land which is also ours and to invite them to value it and acknowledge it as a sacred mystery. Beloved Amazon is in many ways a synthesised and focused version of Francis 2015 landmark environmental encyclical, Praised Be, in which he blasted wealthy countries and multinational corporations for destroying the worlds natural resources and impoverishing the poor for their own profit. Francis said he has four dreams for the Amazon: that the rights of the poor are respected, that their cultural riches are celebrated, that the Amazons natural beauty and life are preserved, and that its Christian communities show Amazonian features. Francis had convened bishops from the Amazons nine countries for a three-week meeting in October to debate the ways the church can help preserve the delicate ecosystem from global warming and better minister to the regions people, many of whom live in isolated communities or in poverty in cities. The Amazon near Manaus, Brazil. Priests are in short supply in the region (Adam Davy/PA) The Argentinian Jesuit has long been sensitive to the plight of the Amazon, where Protestant and Pentecostal churches are wooing away Catholic souls in the absence of vibrant Catholic communities where the Eucharist can be regularly celebrated. In their final document at the end of the October synod, the majority of bishops called for the establishment of criteria so that respected married men in their communities who have already served as permanent deacons be ordained as priests. In addition, the bishops called for the Vatican to reopen a study commission on ordaining women as deacons, a type of ministry in the church that allows for preaching, celebrating weddings and baptisms, but not consecrating the Eucharist. Francis had created such a commission in 2016 at the insistence of religious sisters who want more say and roles in church governance and ministry, but the group ended its work without reaching consensus. Francis did not mention either proposal in Beloved Amazon and didnt cite the synods final document in his text or in a single footnote. But he did say in his introduction that he wanted to officially present the synods work and urged the faithful to read it in full, suggesting that he at least valued the input. Pope Francis is greeted by faithful (Gregorio Borgia/AP) Francis did echo many of the synods recommendations, calling for greater lay participation in the life of the church and saying the training of priests in the Amazon must be overhauled so they are more able to minister to indigenous peoples. He said every effort should be made to give the faithful access to the Eucharist. This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region, he wrote. Francis dismissed suggestions that ordaining women to any ministry would serve them or the church. While agreeing that women should have greater decision-making and governance roles, Francis argued that they must find other forms of service and charisms that are proper to women. The Catholic Church retains the priesthood for men, arguing that Christ and his apostles were male. While Eastern rite branches have married priests, and Anglican and Protestant priest converts can be married, the Roman rite church has had a tradition of priestly celibacy since the 11th century, imposed in part for financial reasons to ensure that priests assets pass to the church, not to heirs. In the weeks leading up to the documents release, the question of a celibate priesthood made headlines after the publication of a book penned by the retired pope, Benedict, and a conservative Vatican official, Cardinal Robert Sarah, reaffirmed the necessity of a celibate priesthood. We cannot allow globalisation to become a new version of colonialismPope Francis Benedicts participation in the book sparked controversy, since it appeared the retired pope was trying to influence the thinking of the current one, despite his promises to remain hidden from the world when he resigned seven years ago. Francis dodged the issue altogether, dedicating instead the entire first half of the document to the injustice and crime committed against the Amazonian peoples and its environment by local governments and foreign corporate interests, illegal mining and extraction industries. We cannot allow globalisation to become a new version of colonialism, he wrote. He said the church in the Amazon must have social justice at the forefront of its spirituality, saying ministry that focuses excessively on discipline and rules will turn people away when in fact they need understanding, comfort and acceptance. I am addressing the present Exhortation to the whole world. I am doing so to help awaken their affection and concern for that land which is also ours. #QueridaAmazonia https://t.co/LvZxR3otNq Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 12, 2020 The traditionalist blog Rorate Caeli, which has been highly critical of Francis, said that by closing the door to a married priesthood and female deacons, the document was the best possible document we could have hoped for in the current pontificate and in the current age. Clare Dixon, Latin America chief for the British Catholic aid agency Cafod, focused on the environmental good it might do in the global debate about how to fight climate change. But Francis is also imploring us to listen to the wisdom of the people of the Amazon, insisting that we learn from the way they live with the environment rather than in competition with it, she said. Francis called for the church to incorporate indigenous traditions and cultures into its ministry, including song and dance, myth and festivals, and urged patience when confronted with apparently pagan practices and symbols. It was a reference to the controversy that punctuated the synod over the appearance in the Vatican of wooden statues of a pregnant woman that critics said were pagan idols. At one point, a conservative activist stole the statues from a Vatican-area church and threw them in the Tiber River in a videotaped stunt that galvanised traditionalist opposition to Francis and the synod itself. Today is as good a day as any to invite you to read the beautiful encyclical by Paul VI on priestly celibacy, Sacerdotalis Caelibatus. It is an ode to the beauty of priestly celibacy and its meaning to our broken world: https://t.co/OHwHOSYdbW Rorate Caeli (@RorateCaeli) February 12, 2020 In his document, Francis said indigenous practices and symbols should not be written off immediately as superstition, paganism or idolatry. A missionary of souls will try to discover the legitimate needs and concerns that seek an outlet in at times imperfect, partial or mistaken religious expressions, and will attempt to respond to them with an inculturated spirituality, Francis wrote. 10 Most Famous Businessman in India Classroom oi-Vipul Das India is host to some wildly rich families and people recognised all over the world. India ranked in the third position in India for the richest people after the US and China. For 2020, we have compiled a comprehensive list of India's 10 richest businessmen. 1. Mukesh Ambani Mukesh is Dhirubhai Ambani's oldest son and has a younger brother. Mukesh Ambani was born in Aden, Yemen, on 19 April 1957 and lived in Mumbai. He completed his graduation from Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology and he is also an MBA dropout from the University of Stanford. He is a Bollywood film fan who watches three films a week Mukesh is the chairman and owner of Reliance Industries, which is one of India's most precious companies, which runs $88 billion in revenue. With the introduction of the Jio 4 G telephone service, Reliance launched a price war in 2016 in India's competitive telecommunications market. Through offering free domestic voice calls, high-speed data services and almost free smartphones, Jio signed up to more than 340 million subscribers. Status: 1st Richest Person in India 13th Richest Person in the world Age- 62 Wealth Source- petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom Current Net Worth- $56.6 B 2. Azim Premji Azim Premji is the second richest person in India and is known as the Czar Indian IT Industry. He is the chairman of the IT Firm Wipro Limited and also an Indian billionaire, business tycoon, businessman and philanthropist. He is also the richest person in the Karnataka state. In 2005, India's government honoured Azim Premji with Padma Bhushan and granted him the second-highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, in 2011 for his excellent work in the trade and commerce sector. He was born in Mumbai on 24 July 1945 and currently residing in Bangalore. Premji has studied electrical engineering (equivalent to a Bachelor of Engineering degree) from Stanford University, USA. Upon his father's death in 1966, he took over his family's cooking oil business. He's also the first Indian to register for The Giving Pledge, a campaign regulated by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Status: 55th among the world's richest Age- 74 Wealth Source- software services Current Net Worth- $22.6 B 3. Gautam Adani He is the 3rd richest person in India and also the founder and chairman of Adani Group. The Adani Group is a company headquartered in Ahmedabad which is engaged in port development and activities in India. Gautam Adani is also the president of the Adani Foundation, which functions in four areas to develop the communities: Education, Healthcare, Sustainable Livelihood & Rural Infrastructure development. He holds a share of 66% in Adani Ports & SEZ Limited, 75% in Adani Enterprises, 73% in Adani Power and 75% in Adani Transmission and also ranked in 4th position as the most powerful person of the country. Status: Current Net Worth: $15.7 B Age- 57 Date of Birth- 24 June 1962 Residence- Gujarat Wealth Source- commodities, infrastructure 4. Hinduja Brothers The Hinduja Group is one of India's largest companies, with a strong international footprint. The business is now run by his sons Shrichand, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok, and was established by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja. Despite being Indians, the Hindujas have coated in success in abroad also. The headquarter of the company is based in London. This is also the purpose behind the Hinduja Group which is among Britain's richest firms today. The Hinduja Group is managed by four brothers, Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok. Businesses within their group vary from trucks, lubricants, banking and cable TV. The brothers hold valuable property in London, including the Old War Office building in Whitehall. Status: Current Net Worth- $16 B Wealth Source- Diversified Residence- London, United Kingdom 5. Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry Pallonji Mistry is the chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group and also an Indian businessman, construction tycoon. He is also known within the Tata group as Phantom of Bombay house. Currently, he has a share in the Tata Group of 18.4% Pallonji Mistry is also the owner of Shapoorji Pallonji Construction Limited, Forbes Textiles and Eureka Forbes Limited. He is also the partial owner of the Taj Hotel. In January 2016 the Government of India granted him the Padma Bhushan for his contributions in the sector of trade and industry. Status: Current Net Worth: $15.4B Age: 90 Wealth Source- Construction Residence- Mumbai 6. Uday Kotak Uday Kotak is the founder, MD and Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. Kotak Bank is the third most successful bank in India and has Rs. 1,60,152 crore market capitalisation. Uday is also a Strategic Board member who advises Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, a national law firm. For 2014 he was also the year's Ernst & Young Global Entrepreneur. He graduated from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics for his bachelor's degree and also holds an MBA from the Jamnalal Bajaj University. Status: Date of Birth- 15 March 1959 Resident- Mumbai Current Net Worth- $15.2 B Age- 60 WealtH Source- Banking 7. Shiv Nadar Shiv Nadar is the Chairman and Founder of HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation. He is one of the most famous philanthropists and industrialist in India. He is ranked in 16th position as India's most powerful person. In 2008, Nadar was awarded by the Government of India with the third highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan. In 2011, he was featured at the Asia Pacific in Forbes ' 48 Heroes of Philanthropy. Today Shiv Nadar ranks among India's top 10 richest men. Magus (Nick Name) completed his graduation in Coimbatore Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He established HCL with an initial investment of 187,000 rs. in 1976. He officially heads HCL Technologies holds $8.9 billion (revenue) which is one of India's largest providers of software services. Status: Date of Birth: 14 July 1945 Age: 74 Wealth Source- Software Firm Residence- New Delhi Current Net Worth- $16.3B 8. Radhakishan Damani The DMart supermarket chain was established by Radhakishan Damani. His retail chain contains 91 stores in India and is the industry's third largest. RK owns 52% per takeover offer in DMart's parent company, Avenue Supermarts. His other investment company, Bright Star Investments, holds 16% takeover. Because of his straightforward way of life coupled with high thought he is recognized as Mr White. He was ranked 11th in Forbes ' annual list of richest Indians. Apart from this, he is also a successful stock investor, broker and trader. His range of property includes the 156-room Radisson Blu Resort in Alibag, a popular beach-front getaway near Mumbai. Status: Age- 65 Date of Birth- 1st January 1956 Wealth Source- investments, retail Current Net Worth- $18.4 B Residence- Mumbai 9. Godrej Family After 1897, the Godrej company has developed and currently active in almost every possible segment of the Indian economy. Pirojsha and Ardeshir Godrej are the founders of the company. Adi Burjorji is the chairman of the Godrej group and also the head of the family. Since April 2011, he is the chairman of the Indian School of Business. Presently the Godrej family manages the Godrej Group with $4.7 billion (revenue). The family owns a huge plot of land in suburban Mumbai and remains their greatest property all the time. Status: Current Net Worth- $12 B Wealth Source- Godrej Group Residence- Mumbai 10. Lakshmi Mittal Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is an Indian Steel magnate, Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal $76 billion (revenue). He is also the owner of Karrick Limited and the Co-owner of Queens Park Rangers F.C. He was recognised as Europe's richest Asian person in 2007. He is also the board of directors of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. Apart from this, he is also the member of the independent board of directors at Goldman Sachs since 2008. In November 2018, ArcelorMittal completed the takeover of Italy's loss-making steel company Ilva for $2.1 billion. He was born in a traditional Marwari family and completed B.Com degree from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. Status: Date of Birth: 15 June 1950 Age: 69 Current Net Worth: $12.4B Wealth Source- Steel Residence- London, United Kingdom About the Author Vipul Das is writing finance and business related articles from the last 1 year for goodreturns. He has done BCA and also has a strong knowledge in business and finance field. You can connect with him on Facebook and Twitter Amid rising concerns of coronavirus, South Korea and Israel have told their citizens to avoid travelling to Singapore, international media reported. The Asian country, at present, has the highest number of confirmed cases after China. The deadly virus has reportedly killed nearly 1,113 and infected over 44, 653 in mainland China. 'Avoid travel to seven East Asian countries' Adding to the aforementioned two, other countries that have recommended precautions while visiting Singapore are Indonesia and Taiwan. Kuwait and Qatar have issued travel advisories suggesting their citizens avoid non-essential travel to Singapore in the wake of the deadly epidemic. Meanwhile, according to a report published in an Israeli daily, Health Minster Yakkov Litzman had advised his countrymen against travelling to seven East Asian countries in addition to mainland China. Read: Nepal: Over 100 Affected By Flu-like Condition, Symptoms Similar To Coronavirus However, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) stated that it doesnt see any reason to avoid travel to the Asian country. STB chief executive, Keith Tan while talking to international media said that they see no reason for other countries to have travel advisories on Singapore. He added that they were very confident in the measures that the government had in place to contain the existing cases. Read: New Virus Has Infected More Than 45,100 People Globally The tourism board has projected a 25 to 30 per cent decline in tourist arrival this year which is more than the drop when Singapore faced the SARS outbreak in 2003. At present, the country has reported nearly 45 cases of coronavirus infection. The World Health Organisation on Tuesday gave an official name to the deadly epidemic. The new name, Covid-19 stands for Coronavirus disease starting in 2019. In the name, the CO stands for corona, while the VI for virus and the D for the disease. Read: Iran: Woman Dies Of Suspected Coronavirus Infection, Health Ministry Denies Claims Read: Israel Adesanya Feels Jon Jones Is Past His Prime Despite Record-setting Win At UFC 247 On Wednesday, the biggest bank of Singapore, DBS evacuated 300 staff members from its head office as a precautionary measure after one coronavirus case was confirmed at the bank. According to the official press release by DBS, the employee was tested on February 11 and therefore, they vacated Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 to work from home. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday. Then, a Wind Chill Warning will take its place from 4 a.m. Thursday to about noon, according to the National Weather Service. Starting Wednesday, there is a chance of snow in northern Iowa and a chance of rain in southern Iowa. Bundle up when you go out and bring those pets inside, because by Thursday morning, wind chill values across the state could be as low as 30 to 40 below zero. Tonight, as an arctic cold front passes through the area, is experiencing snow and patchy blowing snow. Wind gusts could be as high as 39 mph. The high is expected to near 33 degrees. By evening, the low could reach -12. The quick drop in temperatures tonight could lead to a flash freeze, which could add to hazardous road conditions where water or slush has been present. Thursday's temperature high will be -3 followed by an evening low around -15, though keep in mind that bitterly cold wind chill as low as -25 will be in effect. Plan on slippery roads and low-visibility driving conditions today and tomorrow. Wind chill as low as -25 will continue into Friday. It will also be breezy and mostly sunny, with a high near 20 and a low around 15. A chance of snow returns to the forecast Saturday (20 percent), with a high of 34 and a low around 17. 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 Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday compared the Church of England's treatment of black people to how churches treated Jews in Nazi Germany. The Most Reverend Justin Welby said he was ashamed of his Church's attitude to black people and declared it 'deeply institutionally racist'. During a debate on the Windrush generation at the Church's parliament, the General Synod, Mr Welby said he was 'personally sorry to those who have been affected' by racism. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the church remains 'deeply institutionally racist' He said: 'I have often wondered how the German church in the 1930s managed to ignore what happened to the Jews. 'I think they didn't really notice, they just took it as normal, and perhaps that's what we have done in the way we have behaved since Windrush.' The archbishop decribed the Church's behaviour as shocking and deeply shaming and said he was ashamed that he wasn't previously aware of his 'white privileges and advantages'. He said justice has not been done and is still not being done. He added: 'Unless we reform now we will still be having this conversation in 20 years.' Valentines Day isnt the Super Bowl for beer marketers, but Stella Artois this year is using it to launch a campaign, "The Life Artois," using imagery that recalls colorful travel art posters from the 40s and 50s. The Anheuser-Busch InBev brand launched new ad spots earlier this month called The Kiss and Valentines Dayfeaturing animation it says is meant to inspire joyful, meaningful moments. The ads are running mostly on digital channels. The spots seem pitched toward women, who are not, as a rule, big beer drinkers. Thats a fact thats been underlined as beer brands see many of its female would-be drinkers headed for seltzers, or sticking with wine and hard liquor. advertisement advertisement There have been plenty of ads featuring manly men (and some teary, dog-loving men), but romance, from a womans point of view, is a far rarer theme. The Stella ads are narrated by women and at the conclusion of The Kiss, the womans lipstick pucker becomes the central image and morphs into the Stella Artois logo. Valentines Day is the perfect occasion for Stella to celebrate coming together, being fully present and raising a toast to the ones you love, says Lara Krug, the brands vice president of marketing, in a press release. In Los Angeles on Feb 13, Stella Artois will team with the dating site Bumble to sponsor The Stella Artois Experience, dubbed an immersive dinner social where couples can meet or remeet, hosted by actress and influencer Olivia Culpo. Guests will get a chance to design their own Stella Artois chalice, which the brand has said is the right way to drink it. (Theres also a 9-step pouring ritual.) Postmates is also offering a special Valentines Day bundle: a six pack of Stella Artois beer and other goodies, including a couple of chalices, a candle with matches and a satin cloth napkin. On some walls and billboards in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, Stella Artois has also posted incomplete postcards with a Valentines Day theme, inviting those so inclined to take a selfe next to one, and send it to someone special. The one at 31st and Seventh Avenue expresses love by promising a touching, selfless act. It reads: I am Ill-pick-you-up-at-LaGuardia in love with you. The Life Artois campaigns arty style debuted at the recent Super Bowl when it offered boat rides from its seaside Port de Stella. (It sponsored the same kind of boat rides last summer in New York.) A police officer in West Valley, Utah, has been praised for his quick thinking after he helped deliver a baby in the middle of a busy road on Tuesday, February 11. According to the West Valley Police Department, Officer Jeremy Dean was driving on the 3100 South when the driver of the car in front of him abruptly stopped and waved him down. The man shouted at Dean that his wife was in labor and that they wouldnt make it to the hospital in time. Police said Dean quickly grabbed gloves from his patrol car and helped deliver a baby girl in the front passenger seat of the car. Shortly after, the West Valley City Fire Department showed up and took the new baby and her mother safely to the hospital. Police said Dean has been working with the department for four years. He has four children of his own but he usually leaves the catching of babies up to the doctors. Credit: West Valley City Police Department via Storyful The Department of Military Affairs, headed by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, will have three joint secretaries from the Army, Navy and the Air Force, sources said on Wednesday. From the civilian side, there are currently two IAS officers -- Rajeev Singh Thakur and Shantanu -- in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). With the appointment of three joint secretary-rank officers, the DMA will have a blend of civilian and military officers. The joint secretaries will be of the ranks of Major General, Rear Admiral and Air Vice Marshal, the sources said. A total 13 deputy secretaries, 25 under secretaries and 22 section officers have been transferred to the DMA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, had spoken about creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff for better synergy between the three armed forces. Accordingly, Rawat was appointed the CDS. The CDS also acts as the principal military advisor to the defence minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (TNS) The future of artificial intelligence (AI) is here: self-driving cars, grocery-delivering drones and voice assistants like Alexa that control more and more of our lives, from the locks on our front doors to the temperatures of our homes.But as AI permeates everyday life, what about the ethics and morality of the systems? For example, should an autonomous vehicle swerve into a pedestrian or stay its course when facing a collision?These questions plague technology companies as they develop AI at a clip outpacing government regulation, and have led Seattle University to develop a new ethics course for the public.Launched last week, the free, online course for businesses is the first step in a Microsoft-funded initiative to merge ethics and technology education at the Jesuit university.Seattle U senior business-school instructor Nathan Colaner hopes the new course will become a well-known resource for businesses as they realize that [AI] is changing things, he said. We should probably stop to figure out how.The course developed by Colaner, law professor Mark Chinen and adjunct business and law professor Tracy Ann Kosa explores the meaning of ethics in AI by looking at guiding principles proposed by some nonprofits and technology companies. A case study on facial recognition in the course encourages students to evaluate different uses of facial-recognition technology, such as surveillance or identification, and to determine how the technology should be regulated. The module draws on recent studies that revealed facial-analysis systems have higher error rates when identifying images of darker-skinned females in comparison to lighter-skinned males.The course also explores the impact of AI on different occupations.The publics desire for more guidance around AI may be reflected in a recent Northeastern University and Gallup survey that found only 22% of U.S. respondents believed colleges or universities were adequately preparing students for the future of work.Many people who work in tech arent required to complete a philosophy or ethics course in school, said Quinn, which he believes contributes to blind spots in the development of technology. Those blind spots may have lead to breaches of public trust, such as government agencies use of facial recognition to scan license photos without consent, Alexa workers listening to the voice commands of unaware consumers and racial bias in AI algorithms.As regulations on emerging technology wend through state legislatures, colleges, such as University of Washington and Stanford University, have created ethics courses to mitigate potential harmful effects. Seattle Universitys course goes a step further by opening a course to the public.The six-to-eight-hour online course is designed to encourage those on the front end of AI deployment, such as managers, to understand the ethical issues behind some of the technologies. Students test their understanding of the self-paced course through quizzes at the end of each module. Instructors will follow up with paid in-person workshops at the university that cater to the needs of individual businesses.The initiative was spawned by an August 2018 meeting between Microsoft president Brad Smith and Seattle University administrators, in which the tech company promised $2.5 million toward the construction of the schools new engineering building. The conversation quickly veered into a lengthy discussion about ethical issues around AI development, such as fairness and accountability of tech companies and their workers, said Michael Quinn, the dean of the universitys College of Science and Engineering.At the meeting, Microsoft promised Seattle University another $500,000 to support the development of a Seattle University ethics and technology initiative. Quinn called the AI ethics lab a natural opportunity to jump at for the college that requires an ethics course to graduate. It was already a topic circulating around campus: Staff and faculty had recently spearheaded a book club to discuss contemporary issues related to ethics and technology.The initiative will also provide funding for graduate research assistants to create a website with articles and resources on moral issues around AI, as well as for the university to hire a faculty director to manage the initiative. Seattle University philosophy professors will offer an ethics and technology course for students in 2021.Quinn believes institutions of higher education have a role in educating the public and legislators on finding a middle ground between advancing AI technology and protecting basic human rights. People are starting to worry about the implications [of AI] in terms of their privacy, safety and employment, Quinn said.AI is developing faster than legislation can keep up with, so its a prime subject for ethics, said Colaner. He is particularly concerned about the use of AI in decision making, such as algorithms used to predict recidivism rates in court, and in warfare through drone strikes.Washington state Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, agrees that higher education has a large role in preparing the public for a future more reliant on AI. In an industry setting, said Quinn, employers often push workers to advance technology as far as possible without considering its impact on different communities. AI ethics in education, however, serves as a safeguard [for] meaningful innovation, offers a critical eye and shows how it impacts people in a social-justice aspect.Ahead of the current session, Seattle University instructors consulted Nguyen on draft legislation about an algorithmic accountability bill that was re-introduced this legislative session after failing to pass last year.The bill would provide guidelines for the adoption of automated systems that assist in government decision making, and requires agencies to produce an accountability report on the capabilities of software as well as how data is collected and used.Law professor Ben Alarie, who is also the CEO of a company that uses AI to make decisions in tax cases, believes the public accessibility of the Seattle University course could help businesses avoid potential disruptions.One of the benefits of having a program like this available to everyone, is that businesses can build in safeguards and develop these technologies in a responsible way, he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi to discuss Ukraines progress in implementing reforms, the presidents press service has reported. During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed in detail the cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union, and agreed on the priorities of cooperation for the current year, including the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement, beginning of negotiations on the so-called industrial visa waiver, deepening of cooperation in the digital sector, cooperation in the framework of the European Green Deal, and beginning of system updates of the annexes to the Association Agreement, reads the report. I am grateful for your continued support of Ukraine's European integration course, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, the president said. The parties discussed progress in implementing systemic reforms in Ukraine, in particular in the context of the implementation of the Association Agreement. They also agreed on further EU support to ensure the country's economic growth. Zelensky stated that Ukraine looks forward to the investment support from the European Union and EU member states. He also informed Oliver Varhelyi of Ukraine's cooperation with the IMF. We have very good relations with the IMF. We thoroughly discuss all economic initiatives and draft laws that can help speed up Ukraine's economic growth, the head of state said. ish Ahmedabad: If everything works well, social media will be buzzing and streets in the city could be decked with 'Kem Chho, Trump' posters. Expect a firework bigger than the Howdy Modi event in Houston organized last year. A ' Kem Chho , Trump' event, a program similar on the lines of Howdy Modi has been planned as the official welcoming act for US President Donald Trump's official visit to India. The US President's India visit has been planned during 24 - 25 February 2020. The 'Kem Chho Trump' event will be organized at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium with approximately 1.25 lakh witnessing the two big leaders. The event will be 5 times larger than the number of people who had attended the Howdy Modi event. Kem Chho in Gujarati translates into 'How are you' In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi hinted at the ongoing preparations for President Trump's two-day visit on February 24, saying, "Extremely delighted that POTUS Donald Trump and First Lady will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-US friendship." Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2020 India and USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2020 Recalling that "India and USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism", the Prime Minister said, "Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world." Trump at a press conference in Washington DC on Tuesday revealed that Modi has organized a grand welcome for him in Ahmedabad. "He (PM Modi) said we will have millions and millions of people. My only problem is that last night we probably had 40 or 50,000 people... I'm not going to feel so good... There will be five to seven million people just from the airport to the new stadium (in Ahmedabad)," he quipped. Sources believe Trump and Modi will have a roadshow at the Ahmedabad airport and could also visit Sabarmati Ashram to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Later, President Trump will inaugurate Ahmedabad's newly-constructed Sardar Patel Stadium that has a seating capacity of over 100,000 people. The welcome 'Kem Chho, Trump' to the US President will be accorded at stadium. All eyes will be fixed on President Trump who is likely to sign a limited trade deal with Prime Minister Modi, ahead of the US Presidential elections later this year. He may also hope to draw votes from the Indian diaspora in the US along with his core constituency for whom he promised securing better terms for trade from America's key trading partners. The scale of the Kem Chho event is expected to be larger than the Howdy, Modi! event that attracted over 50,000 Indians at the NRG stadium. During Modi's big-event at Houston, a maha-dandiya of 1,000 dancers was organized. Although the official Kem Chho agenda is yet to be announced, a dandiya fest certainly looks probable. Revenue seized herbal cannabis worth around 400,000 at Dublin Airport yesterday as part of a "routine search". The drugs, which originated from Spain but were destined for Carlow, were detected with the help of Scooby, the drug detector dog. Sydney, Feb. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Myanmar (Burma) outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Click here to access the report : https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Myanmar-Burma-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses Five years ago, Myanmar remained one of the last underdeveloped telecommunication markets in Asia, however this gap is being bridged quickly with a focus on mobile and mobile broadband services and exploding growth in that sector. By 2019 Myanmar was four years into a telecoms boom that has dramatically changed the physical and technological landscape of the country, since the sector was opened to foreign competition in 2014. Fixed broadband penetration in Myanmar remains extremely low mainly due to a limited number of fixed lines as well as the dominance of the mobile platform and an unwillingness by operators to invest in fixed broadband infrastructure. However, by 2019 a number of new fixed broadband service providers were emerging, installing fibre below or above ground for fixed line broadband access. One factor behind home broadband pricing falls is the entry of the telcos into the home broadband market to compete directly with existing ISPs. Over the next five years to 2023 the market is expected to grow very strongly but overall market penetration will remain extremely low compared to other nations. Myanmars mobile market has experienced very rapid growth in recent years, driven by the entry of three new competitors in the market, increasing the number of operators from just one to four. This has dramatically increased market competition. By 2019 the mobile market was approaching saturation and was seeing increased competition over data prices. Average revenue per user dropped further with the entry of a fourth operator- Mytel. Mobile broadband has experienced rapid growth over the past five years, driven by rapid growth in the mobile sector. Because telco reform came very late Myanmar, it has essentially leap frogged past fixed broadband access to mobile devices access for internet services. Strong growth is predicted over the next five years however at a slower rate due to increasing maturity in the market. The mobile broadband market will be driven by increasingly faster speeds offered by the mobile operators as they roll out 4G and eventually 5G networks. Key developments: MTP has launched the countrys third m-banking platform. Telenor Myanmar and Ericsson trialled NB-IoT on Telenors LTE network in Mandalay. Ruckus Networks installed a Wi-Fi-based fixed-wireless network for Myanmar Net. The number of mobile operators has increased from one to four over the past few years. This has dramatically increased market competition. The fixed broadband market remains highly underdeveloped, but is now gaining momentum Mobile broadband has experienced very strong growth over the past few years. In 2019/2020 an important telecoms development is occurring for Burma with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite. Companies mentioned in this report Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT); Telenor Myanmar; Ooredoo Myanmar; KDDI; Sumitomo; SingTel, Digicel; Qatar Telecom; Viettel Group; Vodafone, Myanmar National Tele & Communications (MNTC). Table of Contents Key statistics Country overview Telecommunications market Market Overview and Analysis Regional Asian Market Comparison Regulatory environment Regulatory authority Market liberalisation process Telecommunications Law 2013 Telecom Master Plan Licensing Fixed Services Telecommunications infrastructure Fixed-line statistics Fibre networks Universal Service Strategy International infrastructure Satellite Submarine Terrestrial cables Smart Infrastructure Internet of Things (IoT) Fixed-line broadband market Broadband Statistics and Forecast Fixed Broadband Service Providers Fixed Wireless Broadband Service Providers Fixed-line broadband technologies Wi-Fi Mobile market Mobile Statistics and Forecast Mobile Broadband Statistics and Forecast Regulatory issues SIM cards Spectrum Mobile infrastructure 3G 4G 5G Major mobile operators Operators Myanmar P&T (MPT) Ooredoo Telenor Myanmar National Tele & Communications (Mytel) Digital economy Overview e-Payments Digital Media Online Video Related reports List of Tables Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities 2018 (e) Table 2 Percentage of Population Covered by Type of Mobile Network Table 3 Key Metrics - Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) - 2018 2023 Table 4 Fixed-line subscribers and penetration 2006 2018 Table 5 Historic - fixed-line subscribers, penetration, annual change 1990, 1995 2005 Table 6 Fixed Broadband Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2008 2023 Table 7 Internet User Penetration 2007 2018 Table 8 Historic - Internet users and penetration 1999 2016 Table 9 Internet household penetration 2003 2018 Table 10 Proportion of households with a computer 2007 2018 Table 11 International internet bandwidth 2000 2018 Table 12 Lit/Equipped International Bandwidth Capacity 2014 2018 Table 13 Mobile Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2006 2023 Table 14 Historic - mobile subscribers, penetration and annual change 1995 2005 Table 15 Mobile Broadband Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2009 2023 Table 16 Mobile operator by system launch Table 17 Mobile subscriber market share by operator 2018 Table 18 MPT launch and system Table 19 MPT subscribers 2008 2018 Table 20 Ooredoo mobile subscribers 2014 2018 Table 21 Telenor mobile subscribers 2014 - 2018 List of Charts Chart 1 Mobile, Mobile Broadband & Fixed Broadband Penetration 2018; 2023 Chart 4 Telecoms Maturity Index Central Asia Chart 5 Fixed-line subscribers and penetration 2007 2018 Chart 6 Current mobile subscriber and mobile broadband penetration rates in countries to benefit from the Kacific-1 satellite Chart 7 Fixed Broadband Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2008 2023 Chart 8 Mobile Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2008 2023 Chart 9 Mobile Broadband Subscribers and Penetration (with Forecast) 2009 2023 List of Exhibits Exhibit 2 Central Asia -Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country Click here to access the report : https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Myanmar-Burma-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses The residents of Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests, celebrated the stupendous success of the AAP in the Delhi Assembly polls on Tuesday as many offered free food and biryani to celebrate the party's victory. Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Okhla candidate Amanatullah Khan trounced his BJP rival Braham Singh by a margin of 71,827 votes. Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar fall under the Okhla constituency. After the first few rounds of counting, Singh was leading by 194 votes, but subsequently, Khan took the pole position. Shaheen Bagh has become the epicentre of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) as women with young children have been staging a sit-in protest there for nearly two months. "It is the victory of all of us. All of us elected Amanat bhai (Khan) as our leader. He has helped the women and youngsters of this area in every sphere -- from health to education, infrastructure to jobs. He got many youngsters employed," Shamima Bano of Shaheen Bagh said. Women protesters erupted in joy with loud rounds of applause as they hugged each other. "The AAP truly brought development to the aam aadmi (common man). My kids go to a nearby government school. We all go to the AAP government's mohalla clinic for treatment. My mother-in-law is being treated for her knee problem for four years," Mehjabeen Qureshi said at the protest site. "The AAP understands the needs of the citizens," she added. The excitement was palpable at Batla House, Noor Nagar, Abu Fazal Enclave, Zakir Nagar and the adjoining areas when the news of the AAP winning big emerged. Asim Khan, a garment dealer, said, "We have seen Jamia Nagar change in the last five years. We voted for AAP's honesty and transparent policies. Not only Jamia Nagar, entire Delhi voted for real 'vikas' (development), which is Arvind Kejriwal." Sharvari (75) of Shaheen Bagh said, "Amanatullah is like our son and his victory is not by chance. The AAP has understood the pulse of Delhi. Today we want to distribute biryani to all those politicians who called our protest politically motivated and accused us of eating sponsored biryani." The elections in the national capital took place in the midst of massive protests in the city and elsewhere over the new citizenship law, an issue that was strongly raised by the top BJP leadership during the campaigning, which often turned bitter and vitriolic. The political opponents of the BJP accused the saffron party of carrying out a "divisive" campaign to polarise the voters by consistently highlighting the over-50-day demonstration by women at Shaheen Bagh. Though the BJP campaign focussed on issues related to national security, the AAP focussed on its achievements in the fields of education, healthcare and infrastructure. Zubair Ahmed, a restaurant owner at Batla House, said, "We are going to distribute free food today and on Friday to poor people in the honour of the AAP's victory." Sanjeeda Ahmed, another resident of the area, said, "Okhla is seen as an industrial area. No one ever bothered to develop this area, but the AAP brought development in terms of health, schools and roads here." NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand (AP) Authorities in northeastern Thailand began releasing bodies to relatives Monday after security forces cornered and killed a soldier who carried out the country's worst mass shooting in an hourslong siege at a shopping mall. The soldier killed 29 people starting with his commanding officer in a stunning tragedy that began Saturday and ended Sunday morning when security forces shot dead the heavily armed attacker in Terminal 21 Korat, an airport-themed mall in Nakhon Ratchasima. The gunman, Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma, 31, was infuriated at a land deal brokered by his commander's mother-in-law, as far as authorities have been able to determine. She was another of his victims. The death toll surpassed Thailand's last major attack on civilians, a 2015 bombing at a shrine in Bangkok killing 20 people that was allegedly carried out by human traffickers in retaliation for a crackdown on their network. Messages of sympathy for the latest tragedy were sent by several countries. The U.S. Embassy said it stands with the people of Thailand, saddened by tragic events in Nakhon Ratchasima. Throughout Monday, people dropped by the Terminal 21 mall to offer flowers and leave notes expressing sympathy. In the evening, several hundred people gathered outside the mall for a memorial service led by a Buddhist monk and lit candles to remember the victims. More than 1,000 people mourned the victims the night before in another Buddhist ritual at the city's town square. They lit candles and chanted. Thailand's prime minister said King Maha Vajiralongkorn has offered all of the deceased royally sponsored funeral rites and cremations. Many of the 58 wounded are still in serious condition. The Public Health Ministry sent a mental health crisis team to help relatives of the deceased cope with their losses. Survivors and victims' families at the city's hospitals recounted their ordeals. High school student Nachote Chotiklang said he was in his mother's car as she passed the gunman's vehicle. Story continues The assailant "got out of the car and fired into the window. At that, I ducked down and didn't do anything until I felt that car hit something. It hit a tree." When the teenager was asked what happened to his mother, Nachote shook his head. Another man explained that she had died. Rachanon Kanchanamethi was riding a motorbike home when the gunman fired at him. The 13-year-old middle school student was his family's only child. His father spoke at the first day of his son's Buddhist funeral. "I don't want to lose him like this," Nuttawut Kanchanamethi said. "This is too sudden. We had plans for him, growing up. That's all. We didn't impose any expectations on him." Nuttawut paused for a long moment. "I want to continue taking care of him, but I no longer have that opportunity," he said, breaking into sobs. The bodies of security personnel began to be flown Monday morning to the capital, Bangkok, for funerals. Nakhon Ratchasima was not prepared for killing on such a scale. The public hospital's lone forensic doctor is performing autopsies before the bodies are released to families for cremation, but families were told he can only do six per day, so some wont be able to retrieve their loved ones until Tuesday. Associated Press journalists Tassanee Vejpongsa, Busaba Sivasomboon and Grant Peck in Bangkok contributed to this story. Travel Scale-Up collaborates with experts Fortitude Partners to focus all its staff on championing sustainable travel solutions Culture Trip founder & CEO Dr. Kris Naudts calls on all businesses around the world to set aside at least one working day a year to tap into in-house talent to help tackling climate change collectively and globally LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Culture Trip has announced the out-takes from its inaugural company-wide sustainability hackathon. The transatlantic hackathon saw Culture Trip's entire global team dedicate a whole working day to the topic of sustainability. The company partnered with Fortitude Partners who help businesses place sustainability at the core of their operations. The hackathon was the brainchild of Culture Trip founder & CEO Dr. Kris Naudts, who rallied his 300 team members across offices in London, New York & Tel Aviv to down tools and work in cross functional teams to come up with tangible ideas to make Culture Trip a more sustainable business. The hackathon also explored ways to promote sustainable tourism to the nearly 20 million unique users that the site and app attract every single month, and its 8+ million followers across it social media channels. The hackathon came as consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of the travel industry on the environment. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that aviation contributes 4.9% of all human-caused climate change. Last week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global demand for air travel rose 4.2% year-on-year yet this was viewed as something of a slowdown by the industry. Culture Trip's own Cultural Mindset Study has found that 37% of millennials claim that they try to limit the amount they travel due to environmental concerns, compared to just 15% of the baby boomer generation. Teams were tasked with focusing on some of the key areas that are directly impacted by the travel industry, such as carbon, climate, biodiversity and water. Stand out ideas that emerged from the trans-Atlantic hackathon included: 'Elec-Trips' - an Instagram-delivered virtual road-trip which uses technology to take on some of the most iconic stretches of the earth's roads - an Instagram-delivered virtual road-trip which uses technology to take on some of the most iconic stretches of the earth's roads Travel Pure - an international collaboration of local content creators with expertise in sustainability, tapping into Culture Trip's unique international creator community. These Sustainability Champions would promote sustainable tourism in their areas, generating economic benefit to their local communities. Commenting on the hackathon, Culture Trip founder & CEO Dr. Kris Naudts said, "I encourage every company to down tools for a day to collectively think about ways to solve for this worldwide crisis. Travel as an industry has historically lagged behind in terms of suggesting ways in which we can operate sustainably. It is now time for us all to join forces and to start taking action. As well as being an incredible day of innovation and team building, the calibre of ideas that came from the hackathon was simply incredible. The pitches clearly demonstrated the care and passion that our employees feel for the cause and we can't wait to put ideas into action in 2020. We hope this is the first of many such initiatives." A video highlights package of the hackathon can be viewed at: https://jwp.io/s/YFvvp2eh About Culture Trip Culture Trip inspires its users to discover, plan and book trips around the world. Headquartered in London with offices in New York and Tel Aviv, it features stories that reveal what is special, unique and meaningful about a place, its people and its culture. In-house creative teams together with a global network of more than 600 freelance creators produce destination-based stories from around the world, including articles, videos, photography, illustration and animation. Founded by former psychiatrist Dr. Kris Naudts, Culture Trip has been dubbed one of the UK's fastest-growing companies by Forbes UK and won more than 20 awards in 2019 alone. The website attracts approximately 18M monthly unique visitors with 2B+ video views in the last two years alone. The app has been downloaded 2.6M+ times. With a social media reach of 8M+, Culture Trip brings the world to everyone, and in doing so, brings us all closer together Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089667/Culture_Trip_Hackathon.mp4 DENVER, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gates Industrial Corporation plc (NYSE:GTES), a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions, today announced that the Company will participate in the Barclays Industrial Select Conference in Miami, FL, on Thursday, February 20, 2020. Ivo Jurek, Chief Executive Officer, will present at 11:30 a.m. eastern time. To listen to a live webcast of this presentation, please visit the Events & Presentations section of the Gates Investor Relations website at investors.gates.com, and click on the event webcast link. About Gates Industrial Corporation plc Gates is a global manufacturer of innovative, highly engineered power transmission and fluid power solutions. Gates offers a broad portfolio of products to diverse replacement channel customers, and to original equipment ("first-fit") manufacturers as specified components. Gates participates in many sectors of the industrial and consumer markets. Our products play essential roles in a diverse range of applications across a wide variety of end markets ranging from harsh and hazardous industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and energy, to everyday consumer applications such as printers, power washers, automatic doors and vacuum cleaners and virtually every form of transportation. Our products are sold in 128 countries across our four commercial regions: the Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa; Greater China; and East Asia & India. Contact Bill Waelke (303) 744-4887 [email protected] SOURCE Gates Industrial Corporation plc Software engineer Gautami Tagare planned her trip to Thailand in November. She approached the travel agency Thomas Cook for the best prices and sealed the deal. Out for the Rs 40,000 for the whole trip, she has already paid half the amount to confirm her travel. By the end of December and all of January, the scare of coronavirus took over the world and neighbouring countries of China were given a warning. International airports across the world started screening travellers to ensure the sick were given proper treatment. Air India announced the cancellation of flights to China and Hong Kong until further notice and private carrier IndiGo suspended its flight till February 20. Those who were planning to travel are considering either cancelling their trips or postponing till things get better. Gautami says, We can see that the virus is a global issue and Thailand is considered under high alert. I didnt want to travel in such a situation, but the airlines arent willing to consider a refund. She received a mail from the agency that the government has ensured a safe to travel notice. The information received from the travel agent as compared to the news said otherwise is causing scare and confusion among travellers. Balu Ramachandran, senior vice president of Cleartrip, tells Metrolife that they have observed a 30 to 60 per cent drop in bookings to China and some other countries in Southeast Asia since the news of coronavirus outbreak. Governments around the world, including India, are taking steps to restrict the further spread of the virus. The government has announced that the e-visa regime has been cancelled for travellers from China or those who have visited China in the recent past, and that they need to apply in person to come into India, he adds. However, travel companies are willing to offer alternative travel plans for their customers. Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head Holiday, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, says, We havent seen any significant spike in cancellation but we are offering them the option to defer their travel or choose from the range of alternative destinations or a future travel voucher enabling them to travel later as per their convenience. The destinations include places such as France, Germany, Hungary, Russia, Georgia, Iceland, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius and Myanmar. Daniel Dsouza, President and Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel, says, We are focused on the safety of our customers and are recommending alternate destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jordan, Egypt, Mauritius, Srilanka and Seychelles. At SOTC Travel, the interest and security of our customers is of prime importance. Following strict protocols Cruises are also closely monitoring the global development regarding the virus outbreaks. They are focused on protecting the health and safety of the guests and crew alike. TIRUN, the Indian representative of Royal Caribbean Cruises, is denying boarding to any individual who has travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days. Varun Chadha, CEO of the cruise company, says, There will be mandatory specialised health screenings performed of anyone who holds passports of these countries. We will also deny entry to anyone who is running a fever or has low blood oximetry. If a passenger or crew member falls ill while sailing, the protocol will include professional medical treatment, quarantine of unwell individuals from the generalship population and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitisation procedures. Airport screening is compulsory Theres been a strict screening at the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru for passengers coming from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and transit passengers from China. The spokesperson of the BIAL answers commonly asked questions to Metrolife: Whats the screening process like? All passengers from the above-mentioned countries are screened at the Aerobridge by the Airport Health Organisation and doctors from the State Health Department before they emerge into the terminal. Passengers, if found positive in the process of thermal scanning, are shifted to the designated hospital in the city by an EMRI-108 ambulance, and the process is followed by the State Health Department. If a passenger is tested positive at the Airport, the impacted area will be sanitised and fumigated. The international arrival zone is sanitised/fumigated every six hours. Airlines have been making in-flight announcements regarding the virus with dos and donts. Every passenger arriving from the above locations is expected to fill out a self-declaration form and submit this to the Airport Health Officer (APHO). The entire process is strictly monitored and reported to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare everyday. What are the precautionary methods taken by the authorities? BLR Airport has taken the following actions to generate awareness: Guidelines for interactions with flights and passengers from the impacted zones have been communicated with all agencies. Dedicated awareness sessions have been conducted for the entire airport community. Information has been posted across points at the airport where such passengers gather. Posters in the form of advisories have been published across the arrival zone of the airport. Advisories have been circulated via emails to employees. Hand sanitisers have been placed at all arrival zones. Face masks have been made available at the airport pharmacy. What are some of the things passengers need to keep in mind when travelling? Check on advisories issued by each of the countries and refer to the WHO guidelines. MEXICO CITY - The former head of Mexicos state oil company was arrested Wednesday in Spain on a international warrant issued by Mexico, authorities said, marking one of the most high-profile detentions for alleged corruption under a president who made fighting graft a core promise to Mexicans. Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero told Radio Formula that Emilio Lozoya was arrested in the southern port city of Malaga and that the goal was his extradition to Mexico. His office confirmed in a brief statement the detention in Spain of an Emilio L, without giving a full last name. Lozoya was director of Pemex between 2012 and 2016, during the administration of former President Enrique Pena Nieto. Mexico issued international arrest warrants for Lozoya last year as a result of corruption investigations, including into his alleged ties to Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction company that secured contracts across Latin America through a network of bribes. Officials are also investigating Pemexs purchase of a fertilizer plant in 2015 at an allegedly inflated price. Lozoya has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Spains Interior Ministry released video of Lozoya arriving at a police station in a vehicle and being escorted inside in handcuffs by two officers in neon yellow police vests. His face was blurred out in the images. Gerardo Rodriguez, a political scientist at the University of the Americas in Puebla, called the arrest the most important blow in the fight against corruption in Mexico. Lozoya is the archetype of the corrupt Mexican international technocrat, Rodriguez said, saying he was close to a former president and involved family members in his business. Lozoyas mother is currently under house arrest with an investigation open against her. Observers said it was a win for President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors government and his promises to root out corruption. It is a positive sign, said Eduardo Bohorquez, director of the non-governmental group Mexican Transparency. He added that this would have to be the first of many arrests. it remains to be seen whether there is truly a dismantled network and whether the stolen money will be recovered. Gertz said prosecutors had been pursuing multiple investigations against Lozoya for months. He called it an iconic case that was nearly a year in the making with authorities across Europe. After Gertz confirmed the arrest, Lozoyas lawyer in Mexico, Javier Coello Trejo, said the news hit me like a bucket of cold water. He told Radio Formula that Lozoya was convinced the investigation was baseless and was open to turning himself in. He said he hadnt yet spoken to his client since the arrest. Gertz did not specify on what charges Lozoya was detained. But the Spanish government said he was wanted in relation to events from 2012 to 2013 and, citing Mexican prosecutors, that the government may have been defrauded to the tune an estimated $280 million. The international manhunt for Lozoya began in May 2019 via Interpol. Spanish authorities had information about him being present in various parts of the country, but his wealth and international ties made locating him difficult, Spains Interior Ministry said in a statement. He was expected to appear before a judge Thursday in Madrid. In late 2016, Odebrecht, reached an agreement with American, Brazilian and Swiss justice officials to pay millions of dollars in penalties. As part of that accord, Odebrecht divulged details of bribes across several countries. It said it paid $10.5 million to officials at Pemex between 2010 and 2014. Lozoya has denied taking bribes. The scandal grew in late 2017 when a series of videos of statements of former Odebrecht executives were released, including its former Mexico director, Luis de Meneses. They directly implicated Lozoya, who in 2012 had been a key member of Pena Nietos presidential campaign. While the Odebrecht revelations led to a wave of corruption investigations and arrests across Latin America, there have been no arrests in Mexico. If it is confirmed that Lozoyas detention is related to Odebrecht, he would be the first Mexican former official to have been arrested in the case. Mexican authorities declared in May 2019 that Lozoya could not hold public positions for 10 years and later the government froze Lozoyas bank accounts. Meanwhile, Spanish police arrested Alonso Ancira Elizondo, then-president of Altos Hornos de Mexico also in May 2019. His extradition case is still before Spains National Court. At the time, Mexicos Attorney Generals Office said Anciras arrest was based on allegations that he had defrauded Pemex. Pemex purchased fertilizer business Fertinal from AHMSA for $635 million in 2015, when Lozoya headed Pemex. Lopez Obrador has called the fertilizer plant junk and said that Pemex overpaid. ___ Associated Press writer Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report. NEW YORK - When Pete Buttigieg launched his first statewide television ad in South Carolina two months ago, its opening lines may have sounded familiar to a churchgoer. The ad opens with footage from a speech by the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor in which Buttigieg says that if hes elected president, Americans wouldnt have to ask themselves, Whatever happened to, I was hungry and you fed me? I was a stranger and you welcomed me? Buttigieg is hardly the first Democrat to invoke the biblical verses of Matthew 25 in which Jesus Christ reminds his followers that their true measure comes from how they treat the least of these my brethren. Former President Barack Obama quoted from that biblical passage in 2008, while addressing popular megachurch pastor Rick Warrens congregation during his first White House bid, and a political action committee that helped Obamas campaign that year was dubbed the Matthew 25 Network. But in this years Democratic primary, where several candidates have routinely discussed faith as they try to connect with religious voters, Buttigieg isnt the only contender to invoke the Gospel of Matthews central value of helping those in need. As conservative evangelicals continue to make up a critical part of President Donald Trumps base, the message of Matthew 25 -- which calls for feeding the hungry and giving a stranger safe harbour -- allows Democrats to make a strong contrast between the spirit of their policymaking and that of Trumps. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for one, has invoked Matthew 25s verses about the least of these more than a half-dozen times in public forums since her campaign started, including last week at a New Hampshire town hall when she urged a more compassionate immigration policy. She has emphasized the passage since her political career began, also citing it during her 2012 Senate campaign. Matthew 25s universal theme resonates beyond the Christian faith, said Derrick Harkins, the veteran pastor who now serves as the Democratic National Committees national director of interfaith outreach. Harkins likened the New Testament passage to the Jewish value of tikkun olam, or positive acts to heal the world, which Bernie Sanders Jewish outreach director has cited in talking about the non-observant Jewish senators interpretation of his faith identity. It gives traction to ones religious identity. It gives a tactile, real contrast - not only what do I believe, but what do I do in light of that belief? Harkins said in an interview. Part of the strength of Matthew 25, Harkins said, is that even if youre not a Biblical scholar, you can speak with authenticity around those themes if theyre important to you. And even those with differences of opinion around other aspects of religious identity, he added, can agree that it makes sense to care for people who are hurting. Darren Dochuk, an associate professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, connected the Democratic engagement with Matthew 25s message to a broader effort to carry the mantle of a potentially, if not large but animated, progressive Christian left. Theres also a certain sense of urgency to answer back and to win over as broad a constituency as possible, even cut into what is a pretty solid bloc of Christians -- certainly evangelical Christians, thats going to stick with Trump, Dochuk said. Eric Sapp, a longtime faith adviser to Democratic candidates who now leads the data firm Public Democracy, said that talking about the values conveyed by Matthew 25 is a very simple way to convey a deep truth and faith positioning. It can be exceptionally effective when used that way, and used as a way to unify, to show Im connecting with you, not this is why youre wrong, said Sapp. Even so, at times Democrats have used the biblical passage to draw a sharp line between their perspective and Trumps. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, who has described himself as a Matthew 25 Catholic, used that moniker in 2018 to respond to a report of migrant children dying in U.S. custody. I was taught that if someone is a stranger, you welcome them into your home, Perez tweeted, calling the report infuriating. Another prominent Democrat and former presidential candidate, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, candidly discussed his own response to Matthew 25 in an interview last year with Jim Wallis, an influential religious progressive who has described that passage as a conversion text that connected him to Christianity. Booker told Wallis that when he dug into the verse for the first time, I realized I dont live like that and felt inspired to match more of his actions to the selfless message of the text. Despite the primacy of Matthew 25 for some Democrats running this year, its hardly the only biblical verse that the partys candidates have publicly elevated in discussing their faith. Booker quoted Galatians 6:7, which states whatever a man sows, this he will also reap, in an August speech about gun violence, and alluded to Micah 6:8 at a CNN town hall last year where he vowed to defend LGBTQ rights while maintaining his faith. The exhortation in Micah 6 to walk humbly with God also featured in the inaugural address of former President Jimmy Carter, a devout Baptist. Former President Bill Clinton, for his part, cited Galatians 6:9 in his first inaugural address the same verse that Hillary Clinton cited in her concession speech after losing the 2016 election. The passage in question warns believers against getting weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Spurring joint African action, finding African solutions to African problems and setting development goals were a priority for Egypt in 2019 when it chaired the African Union. Security, stability, development and prosperity of the black continent were also for Egypt a priority in the framework of the Africa 2063 agenda. African solidarity is a vital entity that can move situations and impose itself on events, and is not just a theoretical slogan, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said in his address to the 33rd African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa this week before he handed Egypts one-year presidency to South Africa. The chair is a rotating position among the five main regions in the continent. Ali Al-Hefni, former deputy to Egypts foreign minister, said that out of a deep understanding to the needs and challenges of the continent, Egypt worked last year to present those problems in every international forum that the president attended as the president of the AU. Egypts presidency saw an exchange of visits between African heads of states and top diplomats, Al-Hefni said. In addition, the continents needs and challenges were presented in international forums from Russia to Berlin and from Osaka to China, he added. Perhaps one of the most important and pressing challenges that Egypt faced during its presidency was enhancing peace and security as a strategic goal for our continent as well as achieving economic and continental integration, Al-Hefni said. Holding the first edition of the Aswan Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development in December 2019 was an important step towards reaching the target. The forum was a regional and continental platform gathering political, intellectual and opinion leaders and peacemakers to discuss what the forum said were joint horizons between peace and sustainable development in order to make a difference in peoples lives. Al-Sisi also attended the annual Munich Security Policy Conference in February 2019 in which he highlighted security challenges facing the African continent, migration issues and ways of fighting terrorism. He also referred to Libya as one of the most pressing African issues requiring a solution. The meeting was followed in October by the Core Group of the Munich Security Conference. It discussed regional security cooperation, the situation in the Horn of Africa and instability in Libya, Sudan and the Arab region in general, as well as common challenges facing Arab and African states. The other positive step was the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), one of the AUs biggest priorities. The free trade area contributes to reducing the cost of many goods and increasing African competitiveness internationally. However, states need to work together on completing African trade and investment to achieve tangible results for the continents people. President of South Africa and now President of the AU Cyril Ramaphosa said an extraordinary meeting will be held in the middle of this year to discuss the activation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Several meetings were held last year to help boost the continents economic performance, including the G20 Summit in Osaka in June and the G20-Compact with the Africa summit in Germany in November. Osaka provided a good opportunity to serve the interests of African states on the political and economic levels while the G20 gathering aimed at boosting economic growth and mutual prosperity among its members and African countries. Extremism and terrorism was another challenge facing the continent. African leaders discussed convening a special African summit to establish a counter-terrorism African force. Egypt expressed a desire to host the conference. I affirm Egypt is ready to host this special African summit stemming from its responsibility and believing in the importance of this proposed [force] to achieve peace and security in Africa, Al-Sisi said. Extensive discussions on all organisational aspects related to the proposed summit will take place through the African Union Peace and Security Council. The results will be presented to the AU Commission. Holding the summit and creating an African force, according to Al-Hefni, shows that the will to protect the continent should come from within the continent. With all respect to efforts from external parties to maintain peace in the continent, especially in the Sahel and east Africa, we should work to make all these efforts come from within the continent, Al-Hefni explained. Another challenge facing the continent is controlling or ending conflicts. Egypt called on African leaders to launch activities of the African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development AUC-PCRD. The centre, which Cairo hosts, is designed to act as a coordinating platform for preparing special programmes for post-conflict countries based on the characteristics and needs of each country. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri and AU Chairman Moussa Faki signed the AUC-PCRD Agreement during the Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Aswan in December. This weeks AU Summit was held under the theme Silencing the Guns, an ambitious plan to collect illegal weapons across the continent by 2020, in addition to promoting the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa. September 2020 will be an amnesty month in which those possessing illegally acquired guns can hand them in to the authorities without penalty. Silencing the Guns was set out by African leaders in 2013 to end war on the continent by 2020. Although there is still a lot of work needed to reach the target, 2019 saw some successes. The AU managed to prevent Sudans revolution from descending into violence and helped produce an agreement between the government and rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR). The AU Summit in 2019 was held under the theme Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa. The issue was given priority throughout 2019. President Al-Sisi said in his address at this weeks summit that problems facing the continent including the spread of conflict, terrorism, extremism, poverty, water scarcity and drought, all factors that force people to leave their homes. As a result, the number of African refugees is eight million, 90 per cent of whom are refugees in the continent. Displaced people account for 18 million. This compels us to adopt a development approach that includes mega continental and regional projects to provide job opportunities to citizens of the continent, Al-Sisi said. Building and improving the continents infrastructure and working on continental mega projects are long-term plans that need time and effort. However, some projects that are a priority to the AU may see the light of day in the next few years. The projects include connecting Cairo and Cape Town by land, North-South power linkage and linking the Mediterranean with Lake Victoria. The founding fathers, who included Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser and Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah, laid the foundation stone of the Organisation of African Union (OAU) in Addis Ababa in May 1963. It was replaced by the AU in 1999 in a declaration in Sirte, Libya and officially launched in 2002 in Durban, South Africa. Although Egypt has passed on its one-year presidency, its mission in the AU is ongoing as the president pointed out in this weeks address. I would like to stress that Egypt will work hard to continue the path we have embarked on together as regards the institutional, structural and financial reform of the union, Al-Sisi said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 13 February, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: A filmmaker who says he was involved in the "paint-bombing" of Melbourne's internationally famous Hosier Lane on the weekend has come forward to defend it as an artistic and political statement and call out what he called hypocrisy of Melbourne City Council over street art. He revealed to this masthead that it was staged and filmed as part of a bigger project connected to graffiti culture and the team believed their actions were entirely legal. Cleaning in Melbourne's Hosier Lane, where masked people paint-bombed popular street art. Credit:Jason South The council is now considering issuing new guidance for street artists to "clarify" Hosier Lane's legal quagmire that would combine private property rights, the heritage listing of buildings on the lane and the desire to promote artistic expression. The group of about 10 men used fire extinguishers on Saturday evening to spray paint over a large chunk of the laneway's existing art and graffiti. Officials in the Union and Assam governments assured people on Wednesday that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) data was safe and will be restored soon, days after it disappeared from the public internet with an IT contractor withdrawing its services over unpaid dues. The database includes the details of 31.12 million people who were identified as verified Indian citizens living in Assam, and 1.9 million who were rejected. It is crucial for people in the latter category who rely on the data to obtain rejection certificates spelling out why they were left out, and enables them to file appeals. The database is offline since IT major Wipro, which hosted the information on its servers, pulled its services after not being paid for more than three months. The contract lapsed in October 2019. The IT services contract was not renewed by the authorities upon its expiry in October 2019. However, as a gesture of goodwill, Wipro continued to pay the hosting service fee until January-end, 2020. Wipro is willing to continue providing these services if the IT services agreement is renewed by the authorities, the Bengaluru-headquartered company said in a statement on Wednesday. According to officials, the responsibility of ensuring the contract was renewed rested at multiple levels in the government. The lapse can be apportioned between state government, the NRC coordinator, and to some extent even the Centre, said a senior government official aware of developments, asking not to be named. The contract appeared to be for making the database available online by hosting it on Wipros cloud servers. Large databases are routinely deployed on the cloud a network of servers run by IT services companies that helps take care of heavy visitor load. We are in touch with Wipro to renew the contract and the same will be done within the next few days. Once that happens the data will appear online again and applicants can view their details, an official in the Assam government said. The database is primarily saved on the Wipro server but there is a copy on a government server, according to a second senior official in New Delhi. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal made a strong case about the state government being kept in the dark from the data and how it has been stored, the first senior official added. A high-powered government committee on the NRC issue headed by the Assam chief secretary discussed the renewal and cleared roughly 70 crore for the contract in the last week of January, the official added. The delay happened when previous NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela, who was transferred from the post to Madhya Pradesh following a Supreme Court directive, failed to renew the contract, this person added. Hajela did not respond to text messages seeking comments on the issue. It was unclear what stage the contract renewal process was in. According to the senior official based in Delhi, Wipro issued several communications over the pending dues. The Congress said it has suspicions the problem could be the result of some mala fide act. It is a mystery as to why the online data should vanish all of a sudden, especially as the appeals process has not even started, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Debabrata Saikia wrote to NRC state coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Sarma said the data was offline, but refuted the allegation of any malafide intent in it. The final NRC was published in August, 2019 and put up at http://www.nrcassam.nic.in. The project was commissioned by the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and was monitored by the Honourable Supreme Court of India. As an IT services provider, Wipro was tasked with providing the technical architecture and technology solutions for the project, Wipro said in its Wednesdays statement. The NRC exercise had been monitored by the SC and the coordinator who was in charge when the final list was released last year Prateek Hajela reported to the judges. Members of Assams ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have on several occasions targeted Hajela and sought a greater role for the state administration in the process. The NRC was updated in 2019 for the first time after 1951 in Assam to identify illegal citizens, following a decades-long agitation against outsiders. The final NRC has names of individuals who have been living in Assam before March 24, 1971, or can show evidence to ancestors who were residents before this date SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Plans for RNG Energy Solutions to build a $120 million biogas facility in South Philadelphia will be killed off under a plan to sell the bankrupt refinery to Hilco Redevelopment Partners. RNG built a biogas plant in Colorado, pictured, which produces transportation fuel from food waste. Read more A proposal to build a $120 million biogas plant at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refining complex could become collateral damage if a plan to sell the bankrupt refinery to a Chicago industrial redevelopment firm is approved. Under a reorganization plan that will be considered Wednesday by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, PES would renounce an agreement signed several years ago with Point Breeze Renewable Energy Project to build a plant that produces methane from food waste on a 23-acre parcel at the northern edge of the refinery site. In a filing late Monday, PES said that the renunciation of the lease agreement with the Point Breeze project was an essential element to the $240 million deal for Hilco Redevelopment Partners to take over the 1,300-acre refinery site. Hilco, which PES chose after a court-authorized auction process, has told PES and city officials that it plans to demolish the refinery and redevelop the property as an industrial park. The Chicago developer would not have entered into the purchase agreement to buy the refinery if the agreement with the green energy producer were in place, PES said in a proposed confirmation order filed late Monday with the bankruptcy court in Wilmington. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Gross has scheduled a confirmation hearing Wednesday in Wilmington on the refinerys plan. The hearing on the contentious plan could stretch into Thursday. Point Breeze Renewable Energy, which is owned by RNG Energy Solutions, signed agreements in 2017 to build a plant that can convert more than 1,100 tons of food waste a day into renewable natural gas, or RNG. The primary market for the methane is as a transportation fuel because it qualifies for renewable energy benefits. When the project was announced in 2018, it was presented as a green solution to recover energy from food waste diverted from landfills. The project would capture about 159 metric tons of greenhouse gases a day, or the annual output of carbon dioxide emitted from about 135 million miles driven by a typical passenger vehicle. The project will bring hundreds of much-needed jobs over its two-year construction, as well as dozens of permanent jobs, and I look forward to seeing this effort move forward, Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement in 2018. The Point Breeze project was currently obtaining permits for its project and argued that its lease agreements with PES should survive the bankruptcy and be inherited by the new buyer, according to objections Point Breeze filed Feb. 3 with the bankruptcy court. But the refinery argues that Point Breeze had not obtained financing for its project, and its agreement had not formally commenced at the time of PESs bankruptcy filing in July. Rejection of the leases would allow the refinery to maximize its value by unburdening the debtors property from these onerous agreements. Though the biogas project was announced in 2018, Point Breeze had actually signed the joint venture agreement with PES a year earlier, in 2017. The agreement survived through the first PES bankruptcy in 2018. But with the refinerys closure in June after a devastating fire and its second bankruptcy filing in July 2019, the foundation beneath the agreement began to weaken. In December, PES received city approval to subdivide a 23-acre parcel from the refinery complex to create a separate taxable property for the Point Breeze project. Philip Rinaldi, the former PES chief executive who wants to resume refining operations on the site, announced in August that his proposal would include the Point Breeze project in its plans. But Rinaldis plan for the refinery has not gained traction. Hilco, the redeveloper, apparently had no use for the biogas project at least on the 23-acre site off Maiden Lane to the west of the Schuylkill Expressway. Hilco has offered few public details about its redevelopment plans, but the company is believed to want to use the site that would be occupied by the Point Breeze project as the location for an interchange to connect its proposed industrial park to the Schuylkill Expressway. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 07:50:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Renowned Chinese fashion designer Wang Tao on Tuesday showcased her Fall/Winter 2020 collection at the ongoing New York Fashion Week, stressing women power with the theme "coffee at dawn in Paris." Some 36 looks in the latest collection embodied Wang's signature note of sophisticated minimalism and sent out a clear message: women can be feminine and powerful at the same time. By using colors such as dawn grey and various shades of cafe au lait, Wang sought to reinvent the scene where a woman sit at an outdoor cafe at dawn in Paris, taking time to drink a cup of coffee before diving right into work. "I enjoyed doing so every time I went on a business trip to Paris," said Wang, adding that professional women should also be able to stop and smell the flowers. Apart from her usual use of cashmere and wool for the outwear, the designer used silk for blouses in order to add a touch of briskness. The carefully chosen materials embodied the Taoray Wang's spirit, that is women could be soft outside and strong inside. It was the 12th time that Wang brought her namesake brand Taoray Wang to the fashion week, and also the most difficult one. The designer's team in Shanghai, China, could not come to the fashion week because the United States banned the entry of all foreigners who have traveled to China in the past 14 days. Wang went through great difficulties in assembling a temporary team to prepare for the runway show and transporting clothes and accessories from Shanghai to New York city. She said she's honored to be one of the few representatives of China's fashion industry that still manage to release new collection in a professional way at New York Fashion Week. "I want to show the world that we Chinese always keep our promises and will never give up," Wang told Xinhua on the sidelines of the runway show. At a time when China is fighting against the novel coronavirus break, the designer said people from different industries are all making contribution as much as they can in their own ways. "Together face challenges and overcome difficulties. The dawn is here," he said. Many of Wang's clients applauded her for making it happen. She empowers women through her designs, and tells people to stay positive and strong in this difficult time by presenting an amazing show, said Amy Zhang, a long-time client of Taoray Wang. "You can do anything that you set your mind to. And she proves that," said Zhang, executive vice president and portfolio manager of Fred Alger Management. Wang, a graduate of East China Normal University in Shanghai, has grown from an aspiring designer to one of Asia's most successful female entrepreneurs. Since her brand made its debut in the fall of 2014, she has become a regular at the New York Fashion Week. Held in February and September, the semi-annual event is one of the four major fashion weeks in the world, collectively known as the "Big Four," along with the Paris, London and Milan fashion weeks. Hart Crowser Herrenkohl Taylor Kuiper Dodo Mowar Whitman Black Hart Crowser hired Oscar Mowar as a geotechnical engineer and Mitchell Dodo as a geologist in Seattle, and Jennifer Kuiper as a senior associate geologist in Portland. In Honolulu, it hired JoDee Taylor as a senior associate engineer, Mark Herrenkohl as a senior associate engineering geologist and Shannon Black as an environmental scientist. In Guam, it hired Bill Whitman as an environmental scientist. Mowar has a master's in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He has worked on public and private tunnel, school and housing projects. Dodo has a bachelor's in geology from the University of Puget Sound. His background includes trends and patterns in lake sediment. He has also worked on residential and commercial construction projects. Kuiper is an environmental scientist with 28 years of experience providing consulting services in brownfield assessments and remedial investigations, energy facility siting, natural resources, and regulatory permitting. She supports property acquisition and divestiture. Taylor leads the Honolulu office's growing geotechnical engineering business in Hawaii and the Pacific. She has over 18 years of experience in geotechnical design, construction, and management of private and government construction projects. Her projects include public works (roads, culverts, bridges, parks, utilities), ports (sea and air), private development, Superfund sites, and emergency response (sinkholes and post-fire erosion control). Herrenkohl returned to Hart Crowser after 29 years away. He has 31 years of experience in environmental investigation and remediation. Most recently he was solid waste program administrator for San Juan County Public Works. He has managed environmental projects in the U.S., including Superfund sites and litigation support projects. Black has a bachelor's in environmental science from the University of Washington. She has designed methods and materials for collecting microplastic particle contamination from freshwater, specifically the Puyallup River Watershed, for the Center for Urban Waters. She also processed and analyzed sediment samples collected from Lake Mead, Nevada, for microplastics for the U.S. Geological Survey. Black received the Zirzow award for her research from the National Association of Environmental Professionals. Whitman has 11 years of environmental consulting experience; he specializes in environmental monitoring to evaluate compliance with laws and regulations. He has managed long-term monitoring projects in Hawaii and Micronesia. Since 2012, he has studied seasonal water cycles and the impacts of land-based pollution on rivers and coral reefs in Guam. Hart Crowser is an employee-owned engineering, science and consulting firm headquartered in Seattle. (Natural News) Without question, Donald Trump is the most undermined president since John F. Kennedy, as evidenced by the ongoing effort to depose him following his amazing victory over Crooked Hillary Clinton in 2016. Even as Democrat-aligned media were plotting to replace Trump with goofy five-step plans that would see Clinton installed in his place, the Deep State was already hard at work formulating a fake Russian collusion narrative the establishment hoped would result in Trumps removal. It didnt work, but Democrats followed up with attacks on Supreme Court nominee-now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Robert Mueller probe, Ukrainegate, and, most recently, outright impeachment. Nothing has worked. Throughout all of this, the president and his allies in the White House have been watching, waiting, taking names for the day when Trump could clean house and finally install an administration filled with people he can trust, just as Obama, Bush, Clinton, and Reagan before him. But to #NeverTrump CNN, Trump has launched a retaliation campaign against anyone and everyone he perceives as his enemy. The network hysterically claimed on Monday that so far, the retaliation campaign has claimed eight people, but in fact, thats a blatant lie. I do not want anyone to think there is a connection between my testimony today and my impending departure As Breitbart News reported, there have been eight people who have left the White House in recent days, but hardly all of them were fired as retaliation: U.S. Special Representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker: This official, who was named as being retaliated against by Trump, actually left on his own because of Congress. He was called as an impeachment witness by House Democrats but his testimony wound up being beneficial to the president. He said upon leaving that the inquiry itself, not Trump, led to his decision. I felt that I would no longer be effective as a special representative with this impeachment inquiry beginning and my name associated with that and all the media attention around that, he said. I didnt think I would be able to go to Ukraine or meet with Russians and be able to carry out those duties in that way anymore. National Security Council official Tim Morrison: His testimony was also helpful to President Trump, in that it aided his defense against impeachment. He also told Congress in no uncertain terms his leaving and the inquiry were completely unrelated. I do not want anyone to think there is a connection between my testimony today and my impending departure, he said, adding he had already decided to leave the NSC. There are two witnesses Trump has removed specifically because of the testimony they gave to House Democrats in their impeachment inquiry: Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and U.S. Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland. In the first case, as The National Sentinel reports, there were instances during Vindmans testimony where he made claims and statements that were not true or, at least, not in the way he implied them: Vindman was caught lying about his concerns about Trumps alleged quid pro quo military aid for a probe into the Bidens when Vice President Mike Pences national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, testified that he heard nothing improper in Trumps phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also made what appeared to be a false claim about the phone call, as exposed by Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio). As for Sondland, he pointedly claimed that yes, Trump did demand a quid pro quo lethal military aid in exchange for a Ukrainian probe into Joe and Hunter Biden, but then, in his opening statement, claimed specifically that the president wanted nothing from Ukraine. But the bottom line is this: President Trump, like all presidents before him, is entitled to build the supporting cast he wants in the White House. If there are certain individuals he doesnt believe, for any reason, fit his mold or are fully on board with his agenda, he can ask them to leave or he can force them to leave. And CNN knows that. Sources include: TheNationalSentinel.com NewsTarget.com Breitbart.com Whether suffering from minor or severe depression, the Ministry of Health's latest figures reveal that thousands of Luxembourgers have mental health issues. The prevention-depression.lu website was launched in October 2016 and has drawn in 56,000 users since the site first went online. Of those users, 12,015 people decided to take the online PHQ-9 test to determine whether or not they are suffering from depression. According to the figures released by the Ministry of Health on Saturday, almost every one out of two people having taken the test is suffering from severe depression (47.9%). In other words, 5,758 respondents struggle with serious depression. An additional 3,087 people who took the test have symptoms of moderately severe depression (25.7%), whereas 2,219 show minor symptoms (18.5%). All in all, more than 92% of those who opted to take the test learnt that they are struggling with depression, a point which speaks for itself. More users in Luxembourg Contrary to the suicide prevention website, the ministry's depression prevention website is consulted by more IP addresses registered in Luxembourg (46.33%) than in France (20.82%). Whilst French IP addresses may make up a significant proportion of those using the website, Belgian and German IP addresses (a respective 4.26% and 4.09%) lag behind, alongside - surprisingly - Canadian IP addresses (4.06%). Mebaa has initiated to set up a Planning and Operation Committee (POC) in the Middle East & North Africa. The first POC, UAE chapter took place on February 10 at the Address Hotel, Dubai. This is the first POC meeting in the General & Business Aviation industry to be set up by Mebaa and will be replicated in the neighbouring countries of the Middle East & North Africa region. The POC has been formed with the objective of creating a platform for members to discuss issues and challenges facing the current business aviation market and establish committees per each segment of the industry and provide detailed attention to various areas of operations. Mebaa members in UAE have shown interest, and key decision makers from Airbus Corporate jets (ACJ), Arab Wings, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Collins Aerospace, ExecuJet Middle East, Falcon Aviation Services, Gama Aviation Middle East, Gate Gourmet Catering Arabia, Honeywell Aerospace, Jet Support Services, Inc (JSSI), Jet Aviation (AG), Jeppesen, JETEX, Lufthansa Technik AG, Royal Jet, Tarsus F& E LLC Middle East & UAS International Trip Support attended, and highly valued this initiative. At appropriate stages, representatives from the authorities will be invited to take part of the POC. During the meeting, several issues have been tackled by the member companies mainly access to statistics, regulations, foreign aircraft registered operation in UAE and security access. Mebaa Founding & Executive Chairman, Ali Alnaqbi emphasised the importance of working together as one body in order to be heard and considered by local authorities. He said: We need to come together, unite our voice and act as one community to make positive change in which we can shape the future of our industry. The POC meeting has resulted in creating six main committees which are: Aircraft Operation Certificate (AOC) committee, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) committee, Fixed Based Operators (FBO) committee, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) committee, Services committee and Mebaa Show Advisory Board committee. Each member company related to specific functions will nominate a representative to participate in the stated committees. Mebaa is confident that this initiative will succeed in bringing about systemised solutions for the issues that the industry is facing currently and thereby improving the overall operational environment in the country. -- Tradearabia News Service LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Plc (RTNTF, RIO, RIO.L, RTPPF) announced Wednesday that it will conduct a strategic review of its unit ISAL smelter in Iceland. With the review, the company aims to determine the operation's ongoing viability and explore options to improve its competitive position. The strategic review will consider all options including curtailment and closure, and will be complete in the first half of 2020. Rio Tinto expects ISAL to remain unprofitable in the short to medium term due to the smelter's uncompetitive energy costs and historically low aluminium prices. Production at ISAL, which employes around 500 people, has already been reduced to 85 percent of the smelter's capacity due to its lack of profitability. The company said it will continue discussions with the Government of Iceland and power provider Landsvirkjun on how the smelter can return to profitability and become competitive in the global market. Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said 'We have worked intensively to improve ISAL's performance, however it is currently unprofitable and cannot compete in the challenging market conditions due to its high power costs. Rio Tinto will review options for the smelter, with the aim of finding a solution for ISAL to become an economically viable business.' 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. China's ruling Communist Party needs to make a politically fraught decision: Admit a viral outbreak isn't under control and cancel this year's highest-profile official event. Or bring 3,000 legislators to Beijing next month and risk fueling public anger at the government's handling of the disease. The party was already facing criticism of its heavy-handed censorship, on display during the outbreak, and other social controls under President Xi Jinping, who took power in 2012 and has accrued more political power than any Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Now, the new disease named COVID-19 has become the party's biggest crisis since China's last outbreak of a mystery disease in 2002-2003. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, killed nearly 800 people and led to accusations Beijing had endangered the public by hiding the disease to avoid disrupting a party leadership transition. There is no indication Xi faces any serious challenge to his position, but public anger could give opponents in the ruling party ammunition to push back against his autocratic rule. 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 In the long term, I think it will damage him, said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. But for now, even party figures who might be quite happy to see Xi weakened feel obligated to rally around him, Tsang said. They will not risk allowing a crisis like this to destroy the credibility of the Communist Party itself, he said. Prominent but powerless, the National People's Congress, due to open on March 5, endorses the ruling party's economic and social welfare plans. The premier and Cabinet ministers hold their only news conferences of the year, while delegates mingle at group meetings and talk to foreign reporters a potentially explosive mix. Party leaders worry delegates might vent their anger and frustration, said Willy Lam, a political scientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He said there would likely be heavy censorship to make sure angry delegates can't talk to reporters if the meeting isn't postponed for the first time since the ultra-radical Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976. The party could postpone holding the gathering to May or later in hopes the outbreak might have abated and the event could be held "without presenting an image that they don't care how it affects people," Tsang said. Going ahead with it would contradict Beijing's intensive anti-disease controls. They have isolated cities with a total of 60 million people and discouraged travel and public gatherings nationwide, disrupting business and imposing mounting economic losses. China has reported more than 1,100 deaths and over 44,600 confirmed cases, most of them in the central city of Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei. The party has used its monopoly control of media and pervasive censorship controls to stifle criticism online, over the popular WeChat messaging service and through other social media. But it faces grumbling, including in its own ranks, about Xi's autocratic rule and assertiveness over the South China Sea and other foreign issues that have strained relations with China's neighbors. In an essay titled angry people are no longer afraid, a law professor at elite Tsinghua University in Beijing criticized ruling through 'big data totalitarianism' and WeChat terrorism. Politics is corrupt and the regime is ethically exhausted," wrote Xu Zhangrun in the essay published on China Digital Times, a website in California. Last year, Xu was suspended from his post and investigated by Tsinghua for criticizing the party's decision in 2018 to remove presidential term limits from China's constitution, allowing Xi to stay in office indefinitely. The party has also faced an outburst of public anger following the death this month of Li Wenliang, a physician in Wuhan who was reprimanded in December for warning about the virus. Local authorities were accused of discouraging doctors from talking about the outbreak to avoid overshadowing Hubei province's major political event, a legislative meeting in preparation for the National People's Congress. Comments left on Li's microblog account accused Wuhan authorities of valuing politics over public safety. Party leaders have tried to divert anger by allowing state media and social media users to criticize local Wuhan officials. The party faced similar criticism over SARS. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin James Pearson and Juarawee Kittisilpa (Reuters) Hanoi and Bangkok Wed, February 12, 2020 15:36 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206413d87 2 SE Asia cruise-ship,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-stigma,passengers Free Angela Jones is on a cruise to nowhere. For nearly two weeks, the business consultant from the US state of Georgia has been at sea on board the MS Westerdam, a ship of healthy passengers, which has been turned away by Japan, Taiwan, Guam and the Philippines over fears that someone on the cruise may have the coronavirus. The latest country to shun the ship, which has 1,455 passengers and 802 crew on board, is Thailand, where the health minister has publicly refused to grant the Westerdam permission to dock. "We try to stay hopeful, because that's all we've got: to be hopeful. But each day, that becomes a little bit more difficult when country after country rejects us," Jones told Reuters in a video recording. Like many on board, Jones had embarked in Hong Kong for a much-anticipated cruise through the region in early February. It was scheduled to be a two-week cruise, but with that period running out this week, there are worries about fuel and food supplies. Many on board are elderly and could be running out of medicines. "We are hoping that just any country will see us as ... many human beings from many countries around the world that literally are at your mercy to let us go home," said Jones. To kill time on board and break up the monotony of endless ocean scrolling past cabin windows, the ship's crew have organized dozens of activities to keep people occupied, tourists on board the vessel told Reuters. People could be seen playing chess and doing puzzles on Wednesday, in some of the first pictures published by media of life aboard the ship as passengers pass the time awaiting news of how and when they might get home. Other activities on offer include coloring-in for adults; teeth whitening; poker tournaments; whisky tasting; even a lecture on modern China which delved into the economics of collective farming, according to passengers on board and a copy of the ship's activity program seen by Reuters. "The staff has tried to bolster spirits but you can only play so many games of trivia," said Jones. "I've asked others who say they are napping a lot". Bangkok Dock Block Passengers on board the ship have been subjected to regular health checks, according to ship operator Holland America, a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp. There have been no reported cases of the coronavirus on board. Stoking fears is the ongoing quarantine in Japan of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, also managed by a unit of Carnival Corp. A total of 175 out of the 3,700 people on board the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the coronavirus. "We are isolated, we have been isolated for two weeks and so we would probably be the best bet as far as no [infections]," Jones said. Still, that does not appear to have been enough to convince Thai officials to allow the ship to dock in Bangkok, although the World Health Organization and the Southeast Asian country's deputy transport minister has indicated that Thai health authorities could board the ship to conduct health checks and replenish the vessel with supplies. By noon on Wednesday, the Westerdam was 280 kilometers from the Thai coast and on a heading for Bangkok, according to data published by the Maritime Traffic ship tracking website. It was still not clear if the ship would be allowed to dock there. 20-year-old Maria Angus, a fashion student from New Zealand travelling on the cruise with her parents, said the ship's captain notified passengers on Wednesday morning that they were seeking help from other countries. "The highest level of several governments including the United States, Canada, Britain and the Netherlands are closely following the Westerdam's situation and these governments are interacting with Thai authorities and the World Health Organization to ensure all of our needs are met," said Angus, citing the ship's captain, Vincent Smit. The US Embassy in Bangkok said they were closely monitoring the situation. "The State Department is working with the ship's operator and governments in the region who might be able to assist," spokeswoman Jillian Bonnardeaux told Reuters. Despite Bangkok's reluctance to grant docking permission, crew members staged a farewell ceremony for passengers on Wednesday morning, singing to the tune of the 1979 hit "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge. Elsewhere on board, the patience of some passengers was beginning to be tested, Jones said, as some people pushed and shoved for access to one of the ship's only available computers and printers, to re-book flights home. "Hard to imagine these senior cruisers coming to blows but guess that happened," said Jones. "It's funny and sad at the same time". WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Digital Realty (DLR) has reached an agreement with Clise Properties to acquire a 49% ownership interest in the Westin Building Exchange in Seattle, Washington. Upon closing, the company will assume management and operational oversight for the facility. The Westin Building Exchange serves as the primary interconnection hub for the Pacific Northwest, linking Canada, Alaska and Asia along the Pacific Rim. The building is home to leading global cloud, content and interconnection providers, housing over 150 carriers and more than 10,000 cross-connects. 'This investment represents a significant step towards executing on the PlatformDIGITAL roadmap we introduced last November, adding coverage, capacity and connectivity capabilities to enable our customers' digital transformation strategies,' said Digital Realty CEO William Stein. 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. New Delhi: Major infighting has erupted in the Congress after the debacle in the Delhi elections, with Delhi Congress leader Sharmishtha Mukherjee taking on senior leader P. Chidambaram, the former finance minister, who had welcomed the AAPs victory as the defeat of bluff and bluster, and asked her party colleague if state Congress units should shut shop in case the party has decided that others will take on the BJP across the states. She tweeted: With due respect, sir, just want to know has Congress outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why are we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned at our drubbing? And if yes, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop! Chidambaram had tweeted: AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP. I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022. In a bid to deflect accountability for the loss, AICCs Delhi in-charge P.C. Chacko tried to put the blame on late chief minister Sheila Dikshit, saying the party started losing ground when she was at the helm in 2013. The partys downfall started since 2013 when Sheila Dikshit was chief minister and the new outfit AAP took away the Congress votebank, he said. Chacko has been under attack from state leaders since the loss in the 2015 polls where the party had failed to open its account. In the last two Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has failed to win any seat in Delhi. In the municipal elections too, the Congress could not come to power. Interestingly, in all five elections, Chacko was the AICC in-charge for Delhi. After coming under fire, Chacko sent his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Sheila Dikshits former aide Pawan Khera attacked Chacko, saying: Just a data point. In 2013, when we lost, Congress voteshare in Delhi was 24.55 per cent. Sheilaji was not involved in 2015, when the voteshare slipped to 9.7 per cent. In 2019, when she was back in charge, the voteshare came up to 22.46 per cent. The attack on Sheila Dikshit from Chacko comes at a time when most of the posters put by the Congress had her picture displayed prominently. However, her son and two-time former East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit was not roped in to campaign for the party. Taking on Chacko, former Union minister Milind Deora tweeted: Sheila Dikshitji was a remarkable politician and administrator. During her tenure as chief minister, Delhi was transformed and the Congress was stronger than ever. Unfortunate to see her being blamed after her death. She dedicated her life to the Congress and the people of Delhi. The infighting in the Delhi unit was such that when in mid-2019 Sheila Dikshit passed away, Chacko did not visit her residence fearing a backlash by her supporters. The two consecutive losses for the Congress in Delhi have demoralised the party cadre. If the party wants to remain relevant in Delhi and not go the Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or West Bengal way, it will soon have to revamp the state unit and quell the prevalent infighting. Samsung Electronics is starting a new decade with a new chief in charge of its mobile business, but its doing it in the same old fashion: by leaning into its semiconductor advantage to overwhelm consumers with unmatched specs on its latest Galaxy devices. Announced at simultaneous events in San Francisco and London on Tuesday, Samsungs Galaxy S20 family of Android phones has a 6.9-inch Ultra model with four cameras on the rear which include a 108-megapixel sensor as well as 100x zoom 16GB of memory, a huge battery and an eye-watering $1849.99 starting price. At a time when Apple is looking to make iPhones more affordable, the cheapest Galaxy S20 costs $1319.99 and still has 12GB of RAM and 5G wireless networking. At the same Galaxy Unpacked galas, Samsung also made official its Galaxy Z Flip foldable phone, which represents the companys more compact and attainable offering from its future-facing foldable device portfolio. The S20 series come in three sizes, with the Galaxy S20 measuring in at 6.2 inches, the S20+ at 6.7 inches and the S20 Ultra at a sliver under 7 inches diagonally. All have 5G and 120Hz displays, which like Apples iPad Pro means theyre capable of smoother and prettier animations. The two specs complement one another, as 5G promises to bring more and better streaming content and the display will take full advantage by making it look as good as possible, whether its for gaming or movies. The non-Ultra models step the cameras down to 64 megapixels of maximum resolution and 30x max zoom, which are still vastly higher numbers than anything Apple or most other smartphone rivals are able to offer. Samsungs continuing with the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor tech in its S20 generation that proved problematic in 2019 when it was shown it could create a security vulnerability, which the company had to quickly fix. I think Samsung is ahead of the smartphone competition when it comes to certain types of hardware innovation, said Cliff Maldonado, a senior analyst at BayStreet Research in San Francisco. Still, Samsung lacks ownership of its own software and struggles to match the user experience of Apples products, he said. Rather than building up a closed ecosystem like Apples iOS, Samsung is looking to collaborate with partners. Its Bixby voice assistant will integrate Spotify into its morning routines, the YouTube app will support 8K video uploads from S20 devices, Netflix is integrating its service more deeply into Samsungs interface, and Microsoft will debut its Forza Street game on mobile inside Samsungs Galaxy Store. Alongside the S20 update, Samsung is releasing its upgraded Galaxy Buds+ wireless earphones, whose biggest improvement is an 11-hour battery life in the earpieces with another 11 hours in the provided carry case. Theyll be part of what Samsung calls curated bundles with the new phones, and pre-order customers in the U.S. will get between $100 and $200 of credit toward building their own ecosystem of Galaxy devices. Pre-orders open on Feb. 21 and run through Mar. 6, the Galaxy S20 series release date in the country. Ahead of Samsungs unveiling, Counterpoint Research projected that shipments of the S20 series will rise to more than 40 million units for the year, improving on the predecessor S10 familys 36 million units thanks to the headline camera and 5G upgrades. For the foldable phone, shipments of the Galaxy Z Flip are expected to be around 2 million this year, the researchers said. Foldable phones have a lot of merit that consumers dont realize yet, said Sujeong Lim, analyst at Counterpoint in Seoul. We have done focus group interviews and more than 70 per cent of users who were indifferent changed their opinion once they used one for a day or two. Samsungs effort to develop new categories and spur demand in the plateaued smartphone industry will be driven by Taemoon Roh, a person whos engineered the Galaxy empire behind the scenes from its outset. Its our responsibility and opportunity to shape the next ten years of mobile innovation, starting right now at Unpacked, Roh wrote in a blog post ahead of the event. No company is better suited to take on this massive challenge than Samsung. Read more about: Haiti - Politic : Tour of Professional Training Centers in the Great South Maguy Durce, the Director General of the National Institute of Vocational Training (INFP) recently made a tour of the great south of vocational training centers and follow up on those under construction. Maguy Durce, accompanied by several local authorities, visited in particular the Aux Coteaux Professional Center (Dept. South arrondissement). According to the Director of the INFP, this Center, which is no longer up to standard and no longer meets needs, will soon be rehabilitated to accommodate students in a more modern space promoting learning. Stressing that once rehabilitated, the Center will be able to offer more learning paths, including sewing. While in Jeremie, Maguy Durce took part in the ceremony of handing over parchments to 300 children aged between 14 and 17 years old from 6 communes in Grandes Anse, at the Jeremie Professional Center as part of an project of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in partnership with, among others, Canada, the Unicef de Institut du Bien-etre Social et de Recherches (IBESR) and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. She took the opportunity to visit the Jeremie Professional Center and congratulated those responsible for the good performance of the establishment. Subsequently, the Director General of INFP went among other to the construction site of the Professional Center of Les Cayes in the Deksia area, to observe the progress of the works and to ensure that the Center will be operational as soon as possible for the benefit of young people in the department. HL/ HaitiLibre Being recognized as a Top Patient Rated Dentist means a great deal to our team at Village Dental NYC. We treat our patients like family and work to bring their smiles to the highest level of health and beauty, says Dr. Lydia Legg Dr. Lydia Legg and her team at Village Dental NYC are among an elite group of dental practices with a large number of exceptional ratings and online reviews. As a result, Village Dental NYC has earned the 2019 Top Patient Rated New York City Dentist award. Find Local Doctors offers a trusted online directory, helping patients easily locate highly-qualified and reputable physicians and dentists in their area. Located at 77 E 12th St, New York, NY, Village Dentals friendly, experienced team provides sensitive, compassionate care in a relaxing environment. Patients of all ages are offered a full menu of dental services, with a focus on advanced options for enhancing smiles through general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry treatments. These treatments include composite fillings, root canal therapy, treatment for gum disease, tooth extractions and much more. Village Dental NYC also offers cosmetic dentistry with the added prosthodontic difference. Dr. Lydia Legg is an experienced prosthodontist, offering the highest level of dentistry excellence. With her additional training, she can create a stunning smile from even the most challenging dental cases. Dr. Legg can make your new smile look beautifully natural with veneers, dental implants, dentures, bridges and crowns at Village Dental NYC. Being recognized as a Top Patient Rated Dentist means a great deal to our team at Village Dental NYC. We treat our patients like family and work to bring their smiles to the highest level of health and beauty, says Dr. Lydia Legg At Village Dental NYC, they go the extra mile with individualized care to ensure that each patient is comfortable and at ease. They use the latest in advanced, cutting-edge technology so that dental visits are the most positive dental experience possible. Dr. Lydia Legg and her team focus on providing every patient with a customized treatment plan to address their oral health and aesthetic needs. If you live in NYC and want the best dental care available, visit Village Dental NYC. More about Village Dental NYC: Go above and beyond general dental care and choose a prosthodontist for your oral health care. Village Dental NYC is your source for advanced cosmetic, implant and general dentistry. For more information on the services provided at this practice or to schedule an appointment, please visit http://www.villagedentalnyc.com or call (212) 674-2024. Secretary of State, Secretary of Labor and sugar company AZUNOSA signed an agreement to facilitate 100 jobs that will benefit returned migrants. El Progreso, Departamento de Yoro, Honduras, Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the purpose of providing more opportunities and promote labor insertion, the Honduran Secretary of State, Secretary of Labor and AZUNOSA joined efforts and signed a tripartite agreement that seeks the promotion of employment among returned migrants. The agreement was signed by Secretary of State of Honduras, Mr. Lisandro Rosales, Secretary of Labor Mr. Carlos Madero and Azunosas Corporate Affairs Manager Mr. Nelson Merino. The agreement will benefit 100 Hondurans during the cane harvest season that begins in October. This is the first agreement of this nature. AZUNOSA is the first private company that specifically seeks to engage returned migrants back into the economy by offering 10% of its workforce, giving an opportunity to Hondurans who have returned and are looking for new work opportunities. In this alliance, all 3 parties will be involved: the Secretary of State will provide the contact and information of candidates through the Center for Returned Migrant, the Secretary of Labor will oversee the hiring process and Azunosa will monitor and provide feedback on their performance. This is an effort to avoid irregular migration, but also to offer a second chance to those who have returned and integrate back into society. We have seen the conditions in which our fellow countrymen return after being deported, we want to contribute to improve their lives conditions, and as a private company what we can do is provide jobs. We must support each other, as Hondurans, we must push forward and join efforts to promote development said Nelson Merino, Corporate Affairs Manager for Azunosa. Requirements and opportunities According to the agreement, the opportunities are open to male returnees aged between 25 and 50 who live near or are from the communities closer to the mill, such as: Aldea Agua Blanca Sur, El Progreso, Yoro, Aldea La Sarrosa, El Progreso, Yoro, El Negrito, Yoro, El Progreso, Yoro, Santa Rita, Yoro. All located in Northern part of Honduras. Story continues Employment and experience Applicants must meet one of the following: - Experience in agricultural work and knowledge in the use of field tools. - Technicians in electricity, industrial mechanics, automotive mechanics, and/or bachelor's degrees in quality control. The Company has generated a significant number of jobs that indirectly impact and benefit more than 13 thousand people; in this way, Azunosa contributes to the creation of wealth. The Company purchases annually from more than 450 local suppliers, which is equivalent to about 600 million lempiras in annual purchases. In addition, it generates 36 million kilowatts of clean energy per year. For more: https://azunosa.com/noticias/employment-returned-migrants/ Attachment alejandro.ochoa@lufussa.com Azunosa alejandro.ochoa@lufussa.com To the Editor: Re Justice Dept. Acts to Ease Sentence for a Trump Ally (front page, Feb. 12): The interference of senior Justice Department officials in the Roger Stone case is a particularly ominous affront to the rule of law. It is but a short step from intervening on behalf of one of the presidents allies to intervening to ensure harsher punishment for his enemies. If Attorney General William Barr acted to advance the presidents political agenda, he violated his oath of office and should be impeached. As for the prosecutors who withdrew from the case and the prosecutor who resigned, I commend them for having the integrity to protest the appalling breach of public trust by senior officials. They are heroes, and I fervently hope that they will someday find themselves on the team assigned to prosecute our lawless president and his henchmen. Gary Mongiovi New York The Travails of Poverty To the Editor: Re Risk of Losing Benefits From Everyday Errors (news article, Jan. 30): The quiz that appeared online with the article accurately describes the enormous administrative burdens placed on my clients, homeless individuals and families in New York City, in order to establish their eligibility for shelter, food stamps, Medicaid and cash assistance. Andrew Lipovsky/NBCThe Backstreet Boys, who are in the midst of their DNA World Tour, stopped by The Tonight Show, where they joined host Jimmy Fallon for a unique version of Sisqo's "Thong Song," and dispelled some popular myths about the group. First, the group, consisting of AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell, performed with Fallon as "The Ragtime Gals" -- a faux barbershop quartet that normally consists of Fallon and several of his Tonight Show writers -- and tackled the "Thong Song" sung in traditional barbershop style. Later, the guys sat down to promote their DNA tour with Fallon, but began reminiscing about their early days, which ultimately led them to setting fans straight on a few longstanding Backstreet Boys rumors. For starters, La La Land and First Man star Ryan Gosling was never a member of the band. "We used to live in the same apartment complex when he was doing the Mickey Mouse Club," says AJ. "The group had started, I kept telling him how big this was gonna be and he's like, 'Dude, [New Kids on the Block] did it, this is never gonna work, just shoot the ball." "Cut to...he was wrong," adds McLean. Likewise, the so-called rivalry between Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC is also a myth. It is true, however, that Dorough, on the advice of his manager at the time, adopted the stage name Tony Dinetti. In fact, it almost cost him his coveted spot in the group when the guys tried to get in touch with him, but couldn't find a Tony Dinetti in the phone book. Backstreet Boys' DNA World Tour continues with shows in Mexico City, February 20, 21 and 22. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. It would have been another case of fire disaster on Wednesday morning at the RRS office in Alausa, Ikeja if not for the timely intervention of fire fighters from the Lagos State Fire Service, LSFS, There was fire outbreak at the Nigeria Police Station, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, office at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja with heavy smoke billowing out from the building situated next to the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center. It created pandemonium with officers running around in confusion as well as civil servants from the surrounding offices trying to find a solution to the outbreak. But the situation was brought under control with the timely arrival of the Lagos State Fire Service, whose office is also at Alausa. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (Adnic) has reported its full year financial results for the year ended December 31, 2019, announcing a net profit up 20.7 percent year-on-year to Dh284.3 million ($77.4 million). Gross written premium increased by 29 percent year-on-year to Dh3.76 billion and net technical profit increased by 1.6 percent to Dh143.7 million, reported Emirates news agency Wam, citing an Adnic press release. Adnics performance in 2019 has enabled the Board of Directors to recommend the distribution of a cash dividend of 30 fils per share. Sheikh Mohamed bin Saif Al Nahyan, chairman of Adnic, said: "We are pleased to report Abu Dhabi National Insurance Companys financial results for the year ended 31st December 2019. Adnic recorded a robust set of financial metrics which are a testament to the companys fundamental strengths and the commitment of its employees." Ahmad Idris, CEO of Adnic, said, "The year 2019 marked another successful year for Adnic, characterised by strong growth across key lines of business. This performance is testament to the companys unwavering commitment towards prudent underwriting of risks and sound investment portfolio management." Peapods Midwest operation faced challenges because it was online only, so it didnt have a network of stores to connect to the supply chain and it was more difficult to gain new customers who want to know the grocery brand where their fresh food is coming from, said Selma Postma, president of Peapod. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez famously took to the House floor last week to quibble over the origins of the old maxim about pulling oneself up by the bootstraps. You know this idea, this metaphor of a bootstrap started off as a joke, she said. Because its physically impossible to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces. Its physically impossible! She obviously believes this to be some sort of profound observation, but perhaps someone could have taken the time to explain to her that the difficulty of the physical act is kind of the point of the metaphor. According to Writing Explained, the expression originated in the 1800s, and refers to the ability of a person to lift himself or herself up by pulling on the laces of his or her boots. Of course, this is impossible, so in order to do it would take very hard work. [emphasis added] Its always a lot of fun when Sandy O makes a ditzy spectacle of herself, though, this time attempting to literally dissect and discredit a traditional metaphor that promotes hard work, persistence, and the obvious individual empowerment that comes with both of those virtues. Nonetheless, her message was heard loud and clear -- poor Americans shouldnt be expected to be able to care for themselves, no matter how hard they work or struggle to succeed, because the free market and the wealthy class have stacked the deck against them. Thats why we need the federal government to step in and forcibly equalize economic outcomes for everyone, as she and her radical socialist cohorts routinely demand. But is it really likely that individuals in poverty today will be trapped there forever if the government doesnt intercede? And in particular, are the young people shes hoping to attract to the Democratic tent (nearly 50% of those considered to be in poverty are age 18-24) with this Marxist messaging likelier to remain in poverty forever, or will they do what Sandy believes to be impossible -- that is, climb out of poverty using their bootstraps and the ladder of Americas free enterprise system? Marxists (many of whom prefer being called Democratic Socialists these days) like Ocasio-Cortez love to present this issue of income inequality and class struggle as if the individuals involved were firmly established pieces, as on a chessboard -- the poor against the rich. They present a snapshot of todays economic landscape, and suggest that those individuals on either side of this divide will forever be at war with the other until one side wins this zero-sum class war. This is simply not true. There is a tremendous flaw in this worldview which the esteemed economist Thomas Sowell in his latest book, Discrimination and Disparities calls an error of omission. He refers to this particular Marxist ruse as the purposeful omission of the time dimension in economic observations: Calling people in particular income brackets the poor or the rich implicitly assumes that they are enduring residents in those brackets, when in fact most Americans do not stay in the same income quintile from one decade to the next. [O]ur concern is for the fate of flesh-and-blood human beings, not the fate of abstract statistical categories, Sowell writes. He references a University of Michigan study that followed a given set of working Americans from 1975 to 1991, and it found that 95 percent of the people initially in the bottom 20 percent were no longer there at the end of that period. In 1991, there was still an abstract statistical category comprising the bottom 20 percent of income earners in America, obviously. But what is equally obvious is that only an extreme few of the individuals observed by the study that began in 1975 still existed in that category in 1991. Since 5 percent of 20 percent is one percent, Sowell continues, [s]tatements about how the income of the poor fared during those years would only apply to one percent of the people who happened to remain in the bottom quintile throughout those years. And beyond all of that, 29 percent of those initially in the bottom quintile rose all the way to the top quintile, writes Sowell. Therefore, contrary to the contention of Marxists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, it should be obvious that the poor certainly do not stay poor or get poorer in America, when one considers this time dimension. Quite the opposite, according to statistical findings, it is roughly six times more likely for the poor to find themselves among top quintile of income earners at some point in their lives than to remain poor or become poorer. Think about that for a moment. As a young American, whether you were a working college student or a less-skilled worker than you are today, you were likely not earning a strong income, and perhaps you were among the bottom 20% of income earners in America. But the data suggest that the odds are 99% in favor of you not having remained there over time. In fact, the odds are firmly in favor of your fortune having completely reversed, and that you may now, or may at some time in the future, achieve an income that could be included in the top 20% of incomes in America. Sowell references another study by the Treasury Department, Income Mobility in the U.S. from 1996 to 2005, which interestingly found that [a]t some point between the ages of 25 and 60, over three quarters of the population will find themselves in the top 20 percent of the income distribution. For most Americans in other quintiles to envy or resent those in the top quintile, Sowell writes, would mean envying or resenting themselves, as they will be in later years. As time passes, individuals in the bottom income quintile will age, and exit that statistical category, but new young people entering the workforce will enter it and supplant their position there. But there is little suggesting that they will remain there long, either. If they follow the model of many generations past, they will only be passing through that lowest level of income achievement until, through hard work and persistence, their economic circumstances would also improve, and they will also exit that abstract statistical category. But no matter how much time passes in America and this cycle plays out, no matter how great economic circumstances become, and no matter how much unemployment and general impoverishment are reduced and quality of life generally improves, this ongoing replacement of young and inexperienced workers is the one thing that Marxist social engineers can count on in their quest to wage their obligatory and perpetual economic class war. Indeed, they rely on it. In case you havent noticed, Bernie Sanders isnt courting the same young socialists he courted in the 1980s, as he honeymooned in the Soviet Union and touted the virtues of government breadlines over the American free enterprise system. Those once-young Americans have mostly grown up, started families, created thriving businesses, and worked hard to became more successful without relying on government handouts. Bernies less interested in those individuals nowadays, youll notice. No, hes courting the same massive bloc of young people that Ocasio-Cortez is courting, who are currently more interested in his promises of government redistribution to equalize economic outcomes. Unsurprisingly, he seems to have large swathes of support among them. But if we are able to protect the free enterprise system as the defining feature of the American economy, and preserve the economic liberty provided by it, two things will be certain -- the youth of today will become less young, and they will become more successful. And when they dont need the government anymore, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will become less interested in them, and begin making similar promises to their kids and grandkids. Lather, rinse, repeat. The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday informed the Madras High Court that the state has recommended release of all the seven life convicts of Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to the Governor as it lacks the power to order such remission. "The state cabinet has only made a recommendation to the governor. Only the governor has to take a decision. The Governor cannot be questioned by the state for not acting on its recommendation, public prosecutor A Natarajan said. The PP made the submission on a plea by a life convict Nalini Sriharan, seeking to declare her detention as illegal since the Governor had failed to order her release based on the September 9, 2018 recommendation of the state cabinet. When the Habeas Corpus Petition came up for hearing before a division bench, comprising Justices R Subbiah and R Pongiappan, the court directed the PP to file a reply by February 18 on whether Nalinis incaceration fter the states recommendation for release would amount to illegal detention. The petitioner submitted that as per the Supreme Court judgement in the Maru Rams case, the advice of the state government under Article 161 of the Constitution is binding on the Governor. She contended that as the power under Article 161 (power of the Governor to grant pardons and suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases), has already been exercised by Tamil Nadu, the Governor has no discretion, but to act on the advice of the council of ministers. Since she has not been released as per the advice of the council of ministers, the continuous detention was illegal and violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, she claimed. Nalini is the longest serving prisoner in the country, who is behind the bars for over 27 years. Besides Nalini, the other life convicts are her husband Murugan, A G Perarivalan, Santhan, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Pyas. All the seven were convicted by a special TADA court for their role in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on May 21, 1991 during an election rally at nearby Sriperumbudur and sentenced to death,but later it was commuted to life imprisonment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A schoolgirl was killed when she walked in front of a bus outside her school while looking down at her mobile phone and wearing headphones, an inquest heard. Sian Ellis suffered multiple injuries after she was struck by the double decker on January 28 last year. Witnesses said the 15-year-old was looking at her phone in the seconds before the 'unavoidable' collision outside King Edward VII College in Coalville, Leicestershire. The teenager, who may also have been wearing headphones, was pronounced dead at the scene, Loughborough Coroner's Court heard. Her devastated family, of nearby Whitwick, has now issued a warning to other youngsters about the use of their phones near traffic. Sian Ellis (pictured) suffered multiple injuries after she was struck by the double decker on January 28 last year In a statement issued after the inquest, they said: 'Today marks the end of a process that has turned our world upside down for over a year. 'We now must try and find a way of moving forward without Sian. 'Sian was a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin, a girlfriend, a best friend, and a friend to many, and the measure of her loss is unquantifiable. 'Whilst we have to come to terms with this tragic accident, we must try to help others learn from it and to stress the dangers of the use of mobile phones and the distractions that these can cause when walking by and crossing busy roadways. 'We see this every day and hope that, if anything good can come from this, it is that other children (and adults) will have learned not to put themselves in similar danger.' The inquest heard Sian died after being hit by the bus at the end of the school day, around 3.30pm. Witnesses said the 15-year-old was looking at her phone in the seconds before the 'unavoidable' collision outside King Edward VII College in Coalville, Leicestershire (pictured) The teenager, who may also have been wearing headphones, was pronounced dead at the scene, Loughborough Coroner's Court heard PC Stuart Bird, a forensic collision investigator, told the hearing of CCTV footage caught a girl matching Sian's description shortly before the accident. It showed the girl 'walking through the school grounds wearing a scarf around her head and looking down at her mobile phone', the inquest heard. Detective Constable John Borlase said the red double decker Volvo school bus was being driven by Michael John Parker. He said: 'I spoke to all 60 children on the bus and about 20 to 30 others in the area at the time and interviewed the key witnesses. Michael John Parker shown at Loughborough Magistrates' Court with his wife Paula Parker 'They all had a similar account, that Sian was walking towards the road, looking down at her mobile phone. One witness said she had headphones in her ear as well.' The inquest heard that Mr Parker only had a provisional driving licence, having never passed his test, and was not insured. The 62-year-old, of Coalville, was fined 120 and handed a four-year driving ban in September, after pleading guilty to several motoring offences. His wife Paula Parker was later convicted of using, causing and permitting no insurance and using, causing and permitting no driving licence. Coroner Louise Pinder, who concluded Sian died as 'the result of a road traffic collision', said that a GP had ruled him 'unfit to attend' the inquest. In his absence, Det Con Borlase told the hearing: 'In his account, he commented that there were a lot of children on the bus, with many standing up. 'He had to ask some of them to go further back as they were too far forward. He was driving at about 20mph and had to shout to the children again to get back. 'Then he said he saw a "flash" in front of him and that's when the collision occurred. He hadn't seen Sian walk into the road but said he realised when he got off the bus.' Det Con Borlase said that despite some children blocking his view of the bus doors and wing mirrors, Mr Parker's view in front of the bus was not obscured. The coffin of Sian is adorned with photographs of the teenager following her death in January last year The hearing was told driving conditions were 'fine and dry' and an examination of the bus found no defects that would have 'caused or contributed' to the collision. The bus would have been travelling at about 19mph, giving Mr Parker just 0.63 seconds to react, even if he had seen the teenager, the hearing was told. Sian's aunt, Alex Statham, asked Det Con Borlase why Mr Parker had not been charged with causing death by careless driving. He replied: 'The difficulty is that there was no carelessness in his driving that actually caused the collision, which I think was unavoidable.' Professor Guy Rutty, who carried out a post mortem examination, gave the cause of death as a 'combination of head, chest, abdomen and pelvic injuries'. Offering her condolences to the family, Miss Pinder reassured them that Sian would not have suffered. COLEMAN, MI A fugitive who had a brief standoff with police in Midland County has been arrested in Georgia. A Michigan State Police trooper at around 3 p.m. on Jan. 31 went to a home in the area of Saginaw and Eighth streets in Coleman to follow up on an investigation. Shortly after the troopers arrival, a man there drew a knife, threatened the trooper, and ran inside, police said. More police, including the MSP Emergency Support Team, responded to the scene and blocked off Saginaw Street between Seventh and Mary streets. Once police entered the house, they found the suspect was no longer there, MSP Lt. Jim Lang previously told MLive. The theory is that the suspect managed to flee outside during those initial moments, Lang has said. Troopers on Tuesday, Feb. 11, were notified that the suspect was arrested in Columbus, Georgia, earlier that day. He was driving a stolen car, troopers report. The man is wanted in Michigan on felony charges. Investigators worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend the suspect. He is facing criminal charges in Georgia before being extradited to Michigan. Suspect in Midland County standoff with police manages to escape The filing comes as President Trump has publicly rebuked the Justice Department for its very unfair treatment of both Flynn and longtime friend Roger Stone, who was prosecuted out of the same U.S. attorneys office. On Tuesday, the president abruptly pulled the nomination to a higher post of the former U.S. attorney who oversaw both cases. And all four prosecutors who took Stone to trial have withdrawn or resigned after Justice Department leadership publicly reversed their excessive recommendation of a seven-to-nine-year prison term. Advertisement A slow-moving storm system threatens millions of people with flooding in the Deep South, while up to six inches of snow is forecast for parts of the Great Lakes and New England. The National Weather Service on Tuesday issued flood alerts for a region stretching from east Texas to Tennessee and North Carolina, covering some 17 million people at risk of flooding. The slow-moving system could drop an additional two to three inches of rain into Wednesday on already-saturated ground, raising the risk of floods, the NWS said. In Tennessee, a hillside collapsed, roads were flooded and rivers were rising on Tuesday after a day of heavy rains, and in Mississippi a dam threatened to fail. Scroll down for video Excessive rains flood the Oktibbeha County Lake campground in Starkville, Mississippi on Tuesday. In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level A map shows the flood warnings and watches in effect for a large swathe of the South this week as heavy rains move through Winter storm warnings are in effect from for the Northeast as the storm moves through this week By 10am Wednesday morning, residents in parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota were seeing blizzard conditions By Wednesday night, the storm will begin moving toward the Northeast bringing a mix of precipitation Forecasts show that by Thursday morning, parts of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire will receive snow Thursday's forecast for rain and snow in the mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Northeast is seen above The National Weather Service said minor to moderate flooding was expected from central Mississippi to north Georgia following downpours. The Tennessee River was predicted to crest about 7 feet (2.1 meters) above flood level at Perryville, Tennessee, on Sunday. Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee, tons of rock and soil slid off a 70-foot (21-meter) hillside and blocked the northbound side of a U.S. 441 spur linking the tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the National Park Service said. At least 45 dump truck loads will be required to clear the road, officials estimated, but no injuires were reported. Multiple roads were covered with water or washed out because of rainfall that exceeded 5 inches in spots across central Alabama, and forecasters said totals could reach 6 inches by nightfall. Schools opened late or closed in parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana because of flash flooding. A flood watch stretched from eastern Texas to Mississippi, and parts of Alabama were under flood warnings. North of Birmingham in Cullman, the sheriff's office said Deputy Adam Clark and his police dog were badly injured in a wreck during heavy rains overnight. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Bradley Foster carries a wooden plank to help a neighbor move their camper from flooding conditions at Point Mallard campground in Decatur, Alabama on Saturday Heavy rains fell Monday leaving the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area with high water and washed out roads, Tuesday. Gideon Altman plays near a flooded section of the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk under the supervision of his mother as waters from the Black Warrior River rise. Children in Tuscaloosa City and County schools got a day off due to the flooding A road crew from Tuscaloosa County repairs a washed out section of New Orleans Drive in the Coker community which is in Tuscaloosa County west of the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Tuesday A map shows radar conditions late on Tuesday night as the storm moved slowly through the south Total rainfall forecasts through Thursday are seen above. Many areas already have saturated grounds from earlier rains In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level just weeks after heavy rains caused a mudslide that put the earthen dam in danger of failing. Pumps had been used to lower the lake level by about eight feet since mid-January, but officials said the water had risen to an even higher than before because of recent storms. 'It has risen over 8.5 feet from our low elevation during pumping and continues to rise,' said a statement by Kristen Campanella, emergency management director in Oktibbeha County. North of Birmingham in Cullman, the sheriff's office said Deputy Adam Clark and his police dog (both pictured) were badly injured in a wreck during heavy rains overnight. The cause of the crash was under investigation Officials also were monitoring the site of a potential dam failure in Yazoo County, where the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said a 40-acre lake in a subdivision was leaking around a culvert and washing away dirt, threatening four homes and a church. Five homes were evacuated after a levee breach in Leake. Elsewhere in Mississippi, 25 homes had been damaged and four people were hurt in wrecks caused by vehicles hydroplaning on wet roads, according to the state. The damage was worst in Yazoo, where a dozen people were displaced from homes. In addition, the National Weather Service confirmed Tuesday that an EF-1 tornado touched down Monday about 2.5 miles northwest of Piave, Mississippi, in Greene County. The twister caused minor roof damage and uprooted several trees, the weather agency said. The Tennessee Valley region has received 550 per cent of its normal rainfall during the past seven days, James Everett, senior manager of the Tennessee Valley Authority's River Forecast Center, said in a briefing. Rainfall averaged around 6 inches across the valley, but some places got as much as nine inches. 'We're getting a brief break in rainfall today, but we expect it to pick up tomorrow through Thursday,' Everett said. To manage all of the water, the TVA will continue storing water in large mountain reservoirs to help reduce flooding downstream, Everett said. Crews work to replace drainage pipes at the Oktibbeha County Lake dam in Starkville, Mississippi, as heavy rains cause water levels to rise on Tuesday. Fire Coordinator Kirk Rosenhan told WCBI-TV that this pipe wasn't pumping enough water Excessive rains flood the Oktibbeha County Lake campground in Starkville on Tuesday. In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level just weeks after heavy rains caused a mudslide that put the earthen dam in danger of failing Floodwaters are seen on Tuesday at the Oktibbeha County Lake campground where an earthen dam is in danger of failing The agency plans to adjust its strategy for water storage and flows depending on how much more water falls on the already saturated ground, he said. Isolated tornadoes and winds in excess of 60mph are possible in some areas of the South after nightfall Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. With the weather system moving eastward, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice instructed emergency officials to be ready for flooding in addition to high water that already had led to school closures in the state. Meanwhile, the same system threatens to disrupt air travel and make roads dangerous farther north. Winter weather alerts are in affect from Kansas City to Syracuse, New York. On Wednesday, an area of snow, or a rain-and-snow mixture, is possible from north-central Oklahoma northeast as far as western Pennsylvania. Less than six inches of total snow is predicted for most other areas from the Texas Panhandle to the Midwest. However some six-plus-inch totals are possible from central Illinois, central Indiana and northern Ohio into the higher elevations of upstate New York and central New England. A man has been convicted of murder after fatally stabbing a chef in north London while out looking for people to rob. Baris Kucuk, 33, who lived in Finsbury Park and worked as a chef, was stabbed in the leg on June 1 last year. He died in hospital two days later. Adam Tarik, 25, attacked Mr Kucuk after he spotted him on Seven Sisters Road at around 2.30am. He then stole the victim's phone and a bottle of beer and fled the scene, leaving Mr Kucuk for dead. Tarik, who had pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article, was found guilty of murder on Wednesday following an eight-day trial at the Old Bailey. The court heard that Mr Kucuk, who was Kurdish and from Turkey, had been walking home from a night out with his friends and bought some beer from an off-licence near Manor House Tube station. Bars Kucuk, 33, was stabbed in the leg in Haringey on the night of June last year. He died in hospital two days later. (Metrepolitan Police ) / Metrepolitan Police He bumped into a young Italian woman and the pair walked together along Seven Sisters Road, using a translation app to communicate with each other. The pair were unaware that they had been spotted by Tarik, who was riding his bicycle on the other side of the road. He had been out looking for people to rob, the Met Police said. Earlier in the night, he approached a woman in an attempt to rob her but she had fled. Mr Kucuk's companion stated in court that she became aware of a man on a bike getting ever closer and said his presence made her feel anxious and frightened. Seconds after Mr Kucuk had walked the woman home and she went inside, she heard screaming from the street. She said she looked out to see the victim on the floor with the cyclist standing over him. Mr Kucuk was taken to an east London hospital, where he died on June 3, two days after the attack. Tarik was identified through CCTV and forensic evidence and was charged with murder, the Met Police said. Detectives had established that the victim's phone, as well as one of the bottles of beer that he had purchased at the off licence, had been stolen from him as he lay dying. Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who led the investigation, said: The murder of Baris Kucuk is among the most needless and upsetting cases I have investigated during my many years as a police officer. Tarik has shown no remorse during the entirety of these proceedings. He is a calculated and callous man, who from the very start was prepared to attempt to obstruct and frustrate police by claiming he was homeless, despite police quickly identifying his address not far from the scene of this murder." In a moving statement, the victim's family said: On 1 June 2019 our dearly beloved son Baris Kucuk was taken from us, forever, near his home where he grew up in north London. "On that day we received a call which changed all of our lives forever. We were all plunged into an atmosphere of profound fear and anxiety. A blanket of darkness has taken over our everyday lives. We, Bariss family do not want another family to go through the pain we have gone through. Enough is enough. It is now time to take decisive action to halt knife crime and make our streets safer for our children and for everyone. Tarik had originally pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a bladed article at the Old Bailey on February 3. A black man who was the target of unlawful surveillance and a false arrest by police in Oregon in 2017 acting at the request of his employer has received a $600,000 payout for the emotional distress caused. Michael Fesser, 48, of Portland, Oregon, sued the city of West Linn and several members of its police force in 2018 alleging that the city's police officers carried out unlawful surveillance of him at work after he submitted a complaint about racial discrimination to his employer in February 2017. After receiving the complaint, his boss Eric Benson asked his fishing buddy, former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus, to initiate a racially-motivated surveillance of Fesser which led to his false arrest. Fesser sued for false arrest, malicious prosecution, defamation and invasion of privacy in the summer of 2018, on Tuesday receiving $600,000 in compensation from West Linn in what is thought to be the largest payout for a wrongful arrest in the state. Michael Fesser, 48, pictured, was falsely arrested in February 2017 after his boss asked the police chief to start an investigation into false theft claims because Fesser filed a racial discrimination complaint about his work place - He was today awarded $600,000 A & B Towing company owner Eric Benson, pictured, asked his fishing buddy, former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus, to initiate a racially-motivated surveillance of Fesser Fesser, a father of eight who now runs a prison ministry and transitional program to support men getting out of prison, was an employee of A&B Towing in Portland in February 2017 when he filed a complaint about racial discrimination in the workplace to his employer Eric Benson. In retaliation, Benson contacted the former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus, a fishing buddy of his, and asked him to investigate false allegations that Fesser was stealing from the company. Fesser had worked for the company since 2004, mostly managing its car auctions. Timeus engaged his officers to carry out the unlawful investigation, which had no ties to West Linn. They uncovered no wrongdoing or proof of theft but Fesser was still arrested with the aid of Portland police. Former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus engaged his officers to carry out unlawful surveillance on Fesser in February 2017 Text messages sent between Benson and Timeus on February 21, 2017, show the police chief telling the business owner that he 'will have your case ready to go before Saturday'. On February 25, 2017, police conducted the surveillance of Fesser at his job, providing real-time updates to Benson about his actions at an auction. In the suit filed by Fesser in 2018, the police officers were accused of making an unlawful recording of Fesser at work without a warrant or court order, arresting him without probably cause and seizing his cash, phone, and a letter outlining the racial discrimination complaint, also without a search warrant. The suit also reveled racist and homophobic texts sent between West Linn police and Benson regarding Fesser during the unlawful investigation. Fesser says he took legal action against the officers to ensure it doesn't happen to another black man and because the incident left him suffering emotional distress and economic damages having lost his job. 'Ever since that arrest, I was terrified to go to West Linn,' Fesser told The Oregonian. 'This has to be exposed, and it has to stop.' 'This case vividly illustrates a ready willingness on the part of the West Linn police to abuse the enormous power they have been given, and a casual, jocular, old-boy-style racism of the kind that we Oregonians tend to want to associate with the Deep South rather than our own institutions,' said Fesser's lawyer Paul Buchanan. 'He is doing fine,' Buchanan told NBC. 'This was not about money for him. This was about that they should not be allowed to do this.' West Linn police began investigating Fesser in February 2017 after he raised concerns to Benson about being racially discriminated against at work. According to a separate suit filed by Fesser against his employer in September 2017, he claimed he was the victim of racial slurs in the workplace. Soon after, Benson called on police chief Timeus and convinced him to carry out surveillance of Fesser based on false allegations that he was stealing from the company. In his suit filed against the city of West Linn in 2018, Fesser said the theft allegations were false and unsubstantiated. A text from police chief Timeus to Benson telling him that the surveillance would start soon Texts between business owner Benson and Detective Reeves as Fesser was watched at work Texts between Benson and Reeves claimed that Fesser was stealing from the company The unlawful investigation was approved by West Linn police lieutenant Mike Stradley and detectives Tony Reeves and Mike Boyd began the surveillance of Fesser without a warrant. The suit stated that the audio and video surveillance was 'conducted without a warrant or probable cause' and established no proof of theft from Fesser. Lt Stradley claims that he gave the go ahead for the surveillance because of a memory of Fesser being associated with gangs in the 1980s and '90s. Fesser did have a 2001 conviction for using his phone in the commission of a drug-trafficking offense. He was sentenced to four years in prison but had no other convictions. Stradley also admitted that he had not had any interactions with Fesser for over two decades. Fesser's suit claimed that it was the 'false representations' from Stradley and Detective Reeves that then led to his unlawful arrest. A text from Reeves to Benson at the time read 'my game my rules' just before he moved to arrest Fesser, adding 'it's better that we arrest him before he makes the complaint (of race discrimination). Then it can't be retaliation'. On his arrest, Fesser was ordered to step out of his SUV and police took his phone, cash and a letter Fesser had written to his boss documenting the alleged racial discrimination he faced at work, despite not having a warrant to do so. A text sent to Benson after Fesser's arrest to say police found his workplace complaint letter Detective Tony Reeves supplied Benson with updates on the surveillance and testified against Fesser despite no evidence being found that the employee was stealing from the company 'Sgt. Reeves and Sgt. Boyd unlawfully arrested, detained and interrogated Mr. Fesser in Portland, outside their jurisdiction, without probable cause,' the suit added. 'The West Linn Defendants' surveillance, arrest, incarceration and interrogation of Mr. Fesser without a warrant or probable cause and their pursuit of baseless criminal charges against Mr. Fesser were racially motivated, retaliatory, extra-jurisdictional and an egregious abuse of the power with which the police are entrusted.' Having spent eight hours at the station before his release, Fesser was later called back to West Linn police station to collect his belongings and told by officers there that he had lost his job. Although arrested in February, criminal charges weren't filed until Fesser filed a lawsuit against Benson in September 2017 questioning his termination in this manner after the discrimination complaints were made. After this lawsuit against Benson was filed, West Linn police asked Multnomah County District Attorney's Office to revive the theft charges and in November 2017, Fesser was indicted on five counts of first-degree theft, mainly based on testimony from Reeves and Benson. His former boss offered to drop the theft charges against Fesser if he dropped the initial lawsuit about his termination but Fesser refused. Benson was eventually forced to drop the charges, however, after Fesser and his lawyers received access to the text messages that showed proof that Benson had called in a favor from the police chief after Fesser made his discrimination complaint. Lt. Mike Stradley claimed Fesser was a 'gang associate' despite not having interacted with him in over two decades since he saw Fesser at court with gang members in the 1980s and 90s The messages also revealed racist and homophobic comments made about Fesser between Benson and the police officers. They included wishes that Fesser wouldn't be arrested in Clackamas County to 'make sure he was with some real racist boys'. 'Only after he received the text messages did he understand that racism, cronyism and impropriety of the officer's conduct and motivations,' Fesser's lawyer wrote in court documents. 'And only after he received the texts were all criminal charges precipitously dropped.' Fesser's first lawsuit against his employer was settled in March 2018 for $415,000. According to a statement from West Linn Police Department on February 11, the department did not accept liability for Fesser's arrest but said 'it was determined that a cessation of litigation expenses was in the best interest of the City and allows us to focus on our core mission of service to the community. 'In 2018, when the allegations were first reported, an internal investigation was conducted and swift and appropriate disciplinary personnel action was taken,' it added although other social media posts from the department shows that Detective Reeves received a promotion in March 2018. Terry Timeus is no longer the police chief in West Linn. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall speaks about the deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Six Alabama officers were shot to death on the job last year. Kimberly Police Officer Nick ORear was killed last week. Other speakers are Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham and Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge, president of police chiefs association. Posted by al.com on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall asked today for more support for law enforcement from the public, news media, and elected officials in the wake of what he said has been the deadliest period for Alabama police officers in memory. We cannot honor those who have died if we dont change the narrative in this state and in this country about how we perceive law enforcement and the work that they do, the attorney general said. Marshall, joined by about a dozen law enforcement officials, held a news conference at his office in Montgomery two days after a memorial service for Kimberly Police Officer Nick ORear, who was gunned down last week while pursuing a suspect. ORear was was the seventh Alabama officer to be shot to death on the job since January 2019. Each of these events, in isolation, is unacceptable, Marshall said. When viewed together, the deaths of these heroes are even worse. Why? This is the most members of Alabama law enforcement ever murdered in the line of duty in less than a 13-month period. And the wave of these senseless deaths over the past year cannot be the wave of the future in this state. Marshall said the daily sacrifices and good work of police is too often overshadowed by a focus in Alabama on prison overcrowding and what he said was a perception that the states criminal justice system is too harsh. We spend hours and hours in this town talking about overcrowded prisons and very little about victims, Marshall said. The vast majority of our criminal justice debates center upon reducing punishment and limiting the tools of law enforcement and prosecutors, all driven by a desire to reduce prison population at all costs. But I submit to you that Alabama does not have an incarceration problem. We have a crime problem. Marshall said the best way to reduce crime that is crippling some communities and robbing citizens of their feelings of security is to have police engaged in neighborhoods stopping the bad guys and fostering a safe environment for the good ones. He said that kind of police work wont work without more public support. Sadly, good policing has become more and more difficult because of our culture and societal attitudes toward law enforcement, Marshall said. That obstacle is something each of us must change. Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham and Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge also spoke at the news conference. They called on people to remember that the slain police officers left their own families to protect others. This is the state of Alabama," said Partridge, who is president of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police. " We should not be burying police officers the way were doing right now. We should not have to be standing here today talking to you in the press about police officers being killed in the line of duty with gunfire. And I believe one of the main reasons why were standing here having to tell you that is because were having to push back on false narratives that have been pressed over the last decade about law enforcement across our country. When you have individuals who scream kill the police, what do we want now, we want dead police, what kind of society are we trending to? Its not one that I know and its not one that you know." Alabama law enforcement officers shot to death in the line of duty last year were Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter, Mobile Police Officer Sean Tuder, Auburn Police Officer William Buechner, Tuscaloosa Police Detective Dornell Cousette, Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams, and Huntsville Police Officer Billy Fred Clardy III. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 22:49:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close BANGKOK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday said it expects Thailand to only export 7.5 million tons of rice this year, a drop below the target of 10 million tons for the second straight year. The ministry's Foreign Trade Department factored the drop in exports to the strong Thai baht currency, decreasing competitiveness and low supply because of a widespread drought. Among the exported rice, "3.17 million tons of the total export will be white rice, shipped primarily to the Philippines, Angola, Benin, Cameroon and China, with parboiled rice making up 2.23 million tons and Thai jasmine rice at 1.1 million tons," said Keerati Rushchano, director-general of the department, "the remaining tons will be glutinous rice and other types of grains." Keerati also said that the export value is estimated at 131 billion baht (4.2 billion U.S. dollars) this year. "Thailand lacks diversity in rice varieties to compete in the world market," said Keerati, "and so the Thai government has now set up a panel that includes representatives from the Rice Department, the Thai Rice Exporters Association, the Thai Rice Millers Association and farmers to develop soft-textured rice varieties to target global market." He said customers' tastes have changed and now mostly favor soft-textured grains with jasmine flavors. Fashion label Namilia deconstructed Asian stereotypes in the porn industry, empowering the demure, submissive woman with bold dominatrix looks worn exclusively by Asian models at Sundays show, including several Pornhub actors. The Herotica collection shown during New York Fashion Week deconstructed the traditional, buttoned-up Chinese dress. The gown kept the same silhouette but was done in dominatrix leather with a hand-embroidered electric blue dragon snaking across the front. Another look featured the same traditional dress on one side of the model, but the other side was stripped down to black leather dominatrix garb. A short, colourful look folded elaborately around the collar into a Chinese takeout box, complete with long, dripping. crystal ramen noodles and pieces of shrimp with words about male genitalia. Namilias message is clear. Women like sex as much as men but are often shamed for it. Porn is typically seen as a mans thing, but women are also interested in porn and sex, but we were just excluded in the past, said one of the designers, Emilia Pfohl. The brand reached out to porn stars to help them reframe that narrative. I dont think motherhood and sexuality are mutually exclusive at all, said Pornhub brand ambassador Asa Akira, a 35-year-old college graduate whose been in the business for a dozen years and gave birth to a son last year. She walked the show wearing a sexy, black kimono-style bodysuit. When she unfurled her arms, fabric hung dramatically to the floor with a reference to wrecking male genitalia. Nothing is off limits for the Berlin-based brand, composed of Pfohl and Nan Li, who met in design school. Their first collection, whose title cant be repeated, featured vagina- empowering references to pop idols including Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus. Paris Hilton opened their show in 2018, and last years show featured holograms of a crying Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Bieber prints photo-edited onto Jesus body. Celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Rihanna, Cardi B and Ellie Goulding have all worn the brand. On Sunday, several looks turned models into Transformers, with oversize, clawlike arms inscribed with sexually empowering words. A sculptural neon-green and black look included a riff on the Louis Vuitton pattern, but with dollar signs and male genitalia and large, insect-style wings coming out the back. The designers said it was their take on the Victorias Secret angel wings, in a way that less objectified women. The schoolgirl uniform was also turned on its head, with a pink and white monogram on a pleated leather skirt. When is something part of fashion, whats high culture, whats low culture, whats profane, whats not? And we wanted to take porn into a new context to kind of normalize sex work, prostitution, pornography and put it in a fashion show context, so theres not as much shame and taboo, Li said during a backstage interview. Their designs are heavily inspired by pop culture, looking from the outside at American culture to create a revolutionary new feminist youth culture, said Li, who freelanced for Kanye Wests brand Yeezy in the past. Several streetwear looks included edgy motorcycle race suits in feminine pinks, and sweatshirts with the Pornhub and Herotica label. The brands were also printed on a stylish black velour tracksuit. My scariest thing before I became a porn star was that people judge me and also fear of what my mom would think, said Marica Hase, a 38-year-old from Japan who also walked in the show. I love porn. Im a little bit of a naughty girl. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed with a few modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Foreign women's organizations and overseas Chinese communities continue to express their condolences and support to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) for China's battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). The women's organizations and overseas Chinese communities showed appreciation of the decisive measures taken by the Chinese government to curb the spread of the contagious virus and conveyed their sincere greetings to medical workers on the frontline. They have also raised funds and medical materials for Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and the capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, and other areas in the country. A screenshot of a letter written by Viorica Dancila, President of the Women's Organization of the Social Democratic Party of Romania, to Shen Yueyue, President of the All-China Women's Federation [For Women of China] A screenshot of a letter from Christine Bernabeu, President of the French association H.E.R.A. Transcontinentale, to the ACWF [For Women of China] A screenshot of a letter from the Brazil Chinese Women's Federation in Brazil to the ACWF, dated February 7 [For Women of China] A screenshot of a letter from Chi Honghu, chairman of the San Francisco Bay Area Committee to Promote the Reunification of China, to the ACWF, dated February 6 [For Women of China] (Women of China) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 18:19:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China highly appreciates a BRICS chairmanship statement in support of China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said Wednesday at an online press briefing. Russia, holding this year's chairmanship of the emerging-market bloc that groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, on Tuesday issued the statement representing the BRICS countries to support the "firm commitment and decisive efforts of the Chinese government" to combat the epidemic. The statement also called for international cooperation and coordination within the World Health Organization framework to protect regional and global public health security, and underlined the importance of avoiding discrimination, stigmatization and overreaction while responding to the outbreak. Calling other BRICS countries as important partners for China, Geng said this statement delivered positive and constructive messages, voiced support for China's efforts and called for greater international cooperation in safeguarding public health security. "This demonstrates the BRICS spirit of helping each other during difficult times. It also epitomizes the support China has received from the international community. We highly appreciate it," he said. "We will continue to work with the international community including the BRICS countries to combat the epidemic and safeguard regional and global public health security," said the spokesperson. The University of Houston has won accreditation for its planned medical college, clearing the way for a summer opening of the citys first new school devoted to the training of doctors in nearly half a century. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education on Wednesday informed UH that it has granted preliminary accreditation to its college of medicine, the last hurdle before UH could start its school focusing on primary care in underserved areas. UH can now begin recruiting and enrolling students toward that mission. Today is a historic day for UH, the city of Houston and the state of Texas because were building this dream together, UH President Renu Khator said in a written statement. Our dedicated faculty and students will work tirelessly, with boots on the ground in clinics across the city, to advance health care delivery and ultimately improve the well-being of our communities. By training a generation of doctors well-versed in how to provide health care at a reasonable cost, Khator added, UH will expand the capabilities of serving people and neighborhoods too often left behind. Texas has a shortage of more than 4,800 primary-care doctors, which works out to the nations 47th-worst ratio of such doctors per person. Despite recent pushes to increase the pipeline of physicians in Texas rural and urban areas, a significant number of counties and communities, many in Harris County, continue to be classified as medically underserved. The school will be the third in Houston and the sixth in the region, joining Baylor College of Medicine and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in the nearby Texas Medical Center; UT Medical Branch at Galveston located 55 miles to the south and Texas A&M Medical School 100 miles to the north; and Sam Houston State University, which is set to open a school of osteopathic medicine in Conroe in July. The last medical school to open in Houston was McGovern, then known as the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, in 1972. The UH medical school will open in July. UH will break ground this summer on an $80 million medical school building expected to be completed in 2022. It will be built on a 43-acre tract of undeveloped land at the campus southeast corner, next to MacGregor Park and the METRO rail station. Until then, an existing university health building will serve as the colleges temporary home. UH is partnering with HCA Houston Healthcare to train students and residents. The residency program, which began last summer, calls for the creation of 460 residency positions at HCA hospitals by 2025. It will have sponsored more than 100 by this July. The green light from the LCME, which accredits medical education programs in the United States and Canada, was hailed by Bill McKeon, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center. UH became a member institution of the TMC in 2009 because of its existing health programs at the time. I am thrilled for President Khator and the UH System board of regents as they now officially embark on educating future health care leaders, said McKeon. I have no doubt that many future graduates of the UH medical school will make tremendous contributions to the evolving Texas Medical Center. Dr. Paul Klotman, president of the Baylor College of Medicine, added: We look forward to working together (with UH) to address the shortage of primary care physicians. On HoustonChronicle.com: Safety-net health clinic to open at University of Houston The accreditation culminates a decades-old UH dream that only become serious with Khators public announcement in 2014 that the pursuit of a medical school would be one of her top priorities. UH regents signed off on the idea in November 2017 and the university got approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2018. Last year, the Texas legislature provided $20 million in start-up funding. The LCME accreditation is the first of three stages. After preliminary accreditation, the LCME considers provisional accreditation following a review during the inaugural class second year and full accreditation following a review during the school's fourth year of operation. The preliminary accreditation allows UH to recruit and enroll students, though the application process for the 2020 class is already closed. Students are only accepted through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service, which will now notify applicants already in the portal about how to add UH to their list of preferred choices. Such applicants materials will then be forwarded to UH for review. Dr. Stephen Spann, founding dean of the UH medical school, said he hopes to have selected its first class by early May. Noting that Dell Medical School at the University of Texas-Austin had 4,000 applicants for its inaugural class, Spann said he anticipates an abundance of strong candidates for UHs 30 slots. There are roughly 6,000 overall applicants in the Texas portal. Thanks to an anonymous $3 million gift, the UH students selected will each receive $100,000 four-year scholarships to cover tuition and fees. Prelimination accreditation is granted by the LCME based on criteria that include a positive report following a visit by an organization team of surveyors, as well as a board determination that the program meets its standards. The determination was made at an LCME meeting this week. LCMEs program directory has been updated to reflect new UHs accreditation status, said a spokesman. Spann has hired 27 full-time faculty so far and is recruiting another 12 to 14 whom he said will be hired before classes start. Eventually, the number is expected to grow to 65 full-time faculty as well as a large number of voluntary professors teaching in outpatient and inpatient clinical settings. At full enrollment, the medical school will have 480 students. UH will expose students to primary-care settings and practice as part of its mission. That includes pairing students with families living in underserved communities throughout the four years of studies and requiring that students participate in a four-week clinical learning experience in rural Texas. Medical students typically spend their first two years in science classes in the classroom and the last two primarily in clinical settings. Spann, who got the news about the accreditation by phone Wednesday morning, said he was delighted by the call. This is the dream becoming reality, said Spann, a longtime Houston medical professional hired as the schools planning dean in 2015 and founding dean in 2018. But now the real work begins because we want to be accountable for improving the overall health and health care of the region. todd.ackerman@chron.com The estranged son of jailed rapist Anthony Paul Sampieri says he was relieved to hear his father would rot in jail for a horrific sex attack on a young girl. Sampieri, 55, was sentenced to life in prison in the NSW District Court on Wednesday for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old and stabbing a man who rushed to her aid. The serial predator was on parole when he sexually assaulted the girl at knife point in the toilets of a dance school at Kogarah, in south-west Sydney, in November 2018. Just hours after the sentencing, his son Daniel told Daily Mail Australia he was glad to hear his father - who he last spoke to months before the horror attack - would not be able to re-offend. Scroll down for video The estranged son of jailed rapist Anthony Paul Sampieri (pictured) says he is relieved to hear his father would rot in jail for a horrific sex attack on a young girl. Daniel Sampieri told Daily Mail Australia his sexual predator father 'couldn't be fixed' 'You can't fix someone like that, he was too far gone,' Daniel Sampieri said. 'They say if a dog gets blooded it's really hard to bring them back, and that's the way I see him.' The 26-year-old had been estranged from his father for a number of years before the rapist attempted to reconnect with his son in mid-2018. Daniel said he was 'devastated' to be related to such a vile criminal and on behalf of his family issued an apology to the young girl and her parents. 'I have something to say to all of them: I feel completely devastated that I am related to this person and I am so sorry for what he did to that young kid,' Daniel said. 'There is nothing I can do to make it better but I just want them to know that Im thinking of them.' Daniel also praised the efforts of Nick Gilio, an innocent bystander who was stabbed in the neck by Sampieri after rushing to the aid of the young girl. The trauma of the incident forced Mr Gilio to quit his job as a diesel mechanic, but he received praise from his attacker's son. 'He put his life on the line for a girl he didn't know,' Daniel said. 'I dont know what people are going to think coming for me, but I say good on him. I believe that he still has nightmares every night and he doesn't deserve that, so I am thinking of him too.' Sampieri raped the girl in the bathroom (pictured) of a Kogarah dance studio in November 2018 Daniel Sampieri also praised the efforts of Nick Gilio (pictured outside of court on Wednesday) who was stabbed in the neck by his estranged father as he rushed to help the little girl Mr Gilio was in court on Wednesday to see Sampieri sentenced, and outside broke down in tears as he shared a powerful message to the young victim he saved. 'To our little dancer and to her family; it was an absolute, my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil. I don't regret a single second,' he said. 'Today is your day for justice. You day towards light and healing. 'My wish for you is that you grow to be a healthy, confident, strong grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others. 'Do not let this scare you. Do not let this evil break who you are. 'As for me there is not a day that goes by that I don't think you you are there for eternity. Although I will not be there in presence, I will always send my love to you in spirit. 'You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be and if we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you.' Mr Gilio said Sampieri's life sentence had provided a 'bit of closure for everyone'. 'Life is life, let's get him away from innocent victims and good people in general,' he said. 'This is a society we want to be living in, void of these cowards.' NICK GILIO'S FULL STATEMENT AFTER SENTENCING: I'd like to start off by extending a huge thank you to the citizens and community of Kogarah, St George area of Sydney and Sydney as our city. You have all shown this case compassion, respect integrity and honour with particular attention to the privacy of all parties involved. A huge thank you to Jeffrey Stack for his assistance and strength in arresting this coward and also for his courage. Members and employees of the press, thank you for treating this case in the same manner protecting the privacy of all involved especially the family of our little girl, the innocent victim of this heinous and despicable crime. Crown Prosecutor Sally Stuart and her team at the Department of Public Prosecutions for their continued hard work and dedication also giving this matter the respect and integrity it deserves. Same is to be said to the Sex Crimes Squad of Parramatta Area Command their dedication and compassion to us all has been consistent and endless. Continuing their support over the last 15 months working together with the DPP to ensure that we received our justice today. This morning we were granted our justice not only for this case but for the many sexual assault cases that have gone before us. Justice to those with a voice and justice to those who have fallen at the hands of these evil beings and who are without voice. I hope that today's justice has spoken for you all that we all have spoken for you and given you back your voice that was so cowardly stolen from you. Today also belongs to you. This is your justice also. For those who have fallen may you all rest in peace. Finally to our little dancer and to her family, it was absolutely my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil. I don't regret a single second. Today is your day for justice, your day toward light and healing My wish for you is for you to grow to be a healthy, confident, strong, grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others, respectful and honourable with others and do not let this scar do not let this scar you and do not let this evil break who you are. As for me there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. You are there for eternity. And although I will not be there in presence I will always send my love to you in spirit. You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be. If we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you. Thank you all, and God bless. Thank you. Advertisement In sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Paul Conlon thanked Mr Gilio for his heroism. 'To you sir I would say this everyone is indebted to you for the courage you displayed in the face of a person welding a knife.' Another man who stormed the locked toilet stall to rescue the girl was also stabbed in the ensuing struggle. Sampieri was sentenced for detaining the girl, choking her to commit a serious offence, committing two indecent acts while filming her, indecently assaulting her, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He also pleaded guilty to seven charges over 94 offensive, menacing or harassing phone calls he made to women August to November 2018. Court documents state the girl had just finished her jazz ballet class when she was attacked by Sampieri. The girl had been waiting with her mother in the carpark for her sister's class to finish when she returned to the hall to use the bathroom. As she entered the female bathroom she was confronted by Sampieri, who had been in the bathroom watching porn for the past hour. Witnesses Jeffrey Stack (left) and Nick Gilio speak to the media outside the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday Jeffrey Stack, a former boxer, knocked Sampieri unconscious after he was found in the bathroom with the small girl He grabbed her and pushed her into a cubicle but she resisted. He then punched the seven-year-old in the face before locking the door. Sampieri threatened her with a knife, tied a cord around her neck and dragged her to the male toilets. 'She felt like she could not breathe,' agreed facts state. Maintaining a grip of the cord, he then subjected her to sexual acts before stuffing toilet paper into her mouth, binding her hands and leaving the bathroom. Diesel mechanic Nick Gilio was with the girl's mother when they noticed someone standing in a cubicle in men's toilet during their frantic search. Sampieri walked out of the bathroom and was asked if he'd seen the girl. After telling them he hadn't, the girl's mother went into the bathroom to investigate. She was then followed by both men. Police are seen coming to the aid of Mr Gilio after he was stabbed by Sampieri when he came to the girl's aid Sampieri admitted the rape and seven other offences during the attack Her horrified screams echoed through the building as she was reunited with her daughter. Mr Gilio grabbed Sampieri, slamming his head into the wall. After grappling with Sampieri, Mr Gilio suffered large cuts but put the rapist in a headlock before dentist Jeffrey Stack ran in and knocked out Sampieri. Dance teacher and local dentist Jeffrey Stack rushed to the bathroom after hearing the screams. He found Sampieri attempting to free himself from the headlock by biting Mr Gilio. Mr Stack then punched Sampieri hard in the face, knocking him out. The rapist later told police he'd been 'so high' before the attack as a result of using methamphetamine earlier that day. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday questioned the urgency placed by President Rodrigo Duterte on the move to terminate the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. "Isang bagay na kailangang pag-aralan nang mabuti, isang bagay na kailangang pagdiskusyunan muna, bakit minamadali? Minamadali ba dahil sa galit na hindi napagbigyan iyong mga kaalyado? Galit dahil sa may kinanselang visa? Parang hindi ito tama na iyong security ng ating bansa iyong nakataya," Robredo told reporters in Camarines Sur, [Translation: Something that needs thorough study, something that needs to be discussed first, why was it rushed? Was it because of anger that the request of an ally was not granted? Is he angry because of the canceled visa? It seems wrong that the security of the country is at stake.] This is her first statement on the termination notice sent by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to the US on Tuesday, marking the start of the 180-day period from when the military pact will be effectively scrapped. Less than a month ago, Duterte threatened to junk the VFA in response to the US' cancellation of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa's tourist visa. The Philippine senator known to have close ties with Duterte acknowledged that the revocation of his visa may have something to do with alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch as chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018. Duterte pushed through with the termination despite concerns raised by senators and government officials, including his Foreign Affairs Secretary, Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin, Jr. Locsin pushed for a "vigorous review" of the VFA instead, saying the continuance of the agreement "is deemed to be more beneficial" for the Philippines. The 1998 pact between Manila and Washington legally allows the entry of a large number of American troops, exempting them from passport and visa regulations so they can participate in military activities in the Philippines. Locsin said the Philippines has been benefiting from the VFA in the form of military assistance, financial grants, and deterrence against possible attacks from other countries, among others. EXPLAINER: The Visiting Forces Agreement The Philippine Senate also passed a resolution calling for a thorough review of the VFA before deciding on its fate. "Parang sinantabi iyong iyong pakikiusap ng AFP, ng Senate, ng iba pang mga opisyal ng pamahalaan. Nagdesisyon kaagad," Robredo said. [Translation: It seems that the requests of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Senate, and other government officials were disregarded. A decision was hastily made.] Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in a statement on Wednesday said the President "had everything he needed to know" before deciding to terminate the VFA. Guevarra said his department and the Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces submitted to the President their findings on the pros and cons of ending the VFA. Robredo compared developments on the VFA's termination to the President's rather slow response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. "Iyon, iyong agarang pagdesisyon ng pamahalaan kinakailangan para maproteksyunan iyong kalusugan ng mga mamamayan, pero naghintay pa ng ilang araw bago nagdesisyon," Robredo said. [Translation: That needed immediate government action to protect the health of the citizens, but he waited for a few days before deciding.] The country confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus on January 30, amid calls for the government to order a travel ban from China, particularly the city of Wuhan in Hubei province where the virus originated. The next day, Duterte temporarily stopped the entry of all visitors from Hubei. That day, the Duterte administration was criticized after Senator Christopher "Bong" Go disclosed that the President was scheduled to meet with medical experts and key government officials the following week to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. READ: 59 contacts of confirmed new coronavirus cases in PH show flu-like symptoms Regulators failed to hold Southwest Airlines to account for not meeting safety standards, putting as many as 17 million passengers at risk on tens of thousands of flights, a federal watchdog said in a report on Tuesday. The report found that the Federal Aviation Administration had allowed Southwest to routinely provide inaccurate data to pilots and to operate more than 150,000 flights on planes whose airworthiness had not been confirmed. The agency also failed to investigate concerns raised by its own representatives ranging from senior executives to local inspectors over Southwests safety culture, according to the report, issued by the inspector generals office at the Transportation Department. It cited accusations from F.A.A. officials that Southwest used diversion, distraction and power to get what it wanted and would regularly bypass local officials by going straight to F.A.A. headquarters. The investigation was prompted by a hotline complaint and an engine explosion on a Southwest flight in April 2018 that was responsible for the first death on a U.S. airline in nine years. Bengaluru-headquartered AI- powered advanced analytics company Manthan on Wednesday announced it has successfully deployed restaurant analytics solution across 400-plus Pizza Hut Delivery outlets in the UK. The global pizza giant had zeroed-in on the solution to empower their business owners with easy-to-use insights to make informed business decisions, thereby enhancing business efficiency and revenues, Manthan said in a statement. The solution has been deployed across functions including sales, marketing, operations, guest experience, HR and planning to create an enterprise-wide move to "data- driven decisioning," it said. "Manthan has demonstrated its ability to understand our business and our customers, and has the capability to deliver the highest levels of scalable technology innovation," Beverley D'Cruz, Chief Marketing Officer, Pizza Hut Delivery-UK, was quoted as saying in the statement. Kate Vacovec, Head of Commercial Planning, Pizza Hut UK & Europe, added: "Their (Manthan's) technology is a complete game changer for us, and I suspect it will be for the entire hospitality industry." "Pizza Hut is an important partner for us, and they are now on course to transform into an algorithmic business that seamlessly uses data, analytics and algorithms to drive greater business outcomes," Madhu Rao Attada, VP, Professional Services, Manthan, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After false rumors spread that Houston's Chinatown district was experiencing a coronavirus outbreak, area business owners reported a steep decline in customers that impacted sales by as much as 40 to 70 percent, the Houston Chronicle reported. Houston Health Department authorities confirmed the rumors were entirely false and that no threat is posed to any Chinatown businesses. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: False Coronavirus rumors crush business as they spread through Chinatown We want to make this information very clear: There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus anywhere in the state of Texas, Dr. David Persse, health authority for the Houston Health Department, said. There are no concerns about a virus here at all. In an effort to help alleviate the aftermath of the false coronavirus rumors, Chron.com rounded up 33 top-rated restaurants and dessert shops to explore in Houston's booming Chinatown. From Chinatown mainstays such as Tiger Den and Mala Sichuan Bistro to recently-opened, trendy dessert shops such as Beard Papa's and Meet Fresh, explore the best of what Houston's Chinatown has to offer with a food tour of these 33 top-rated spots. >>>Click through the photos above for where to eat in Houston's booming Chinatown... ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Being Asian in the time of coronavirus. Xenophobia adds to already overwhelming worries. [Opinion] The majority of these restaurants can be found within walking distance of each other along Bellaire Boulevard in the bustling Dun Huang Plaza. Here you'll find satisfying bowls of Chongqing-style noodles at MIAN, massive, jam-packed dumplings at Golden Dumpling House and spicy Chinese hotpots at Niu Jiao Jian Hot Pot. Just down the street is the newly-developed Bellaire Food Street, a massive new food center that opened last February at 9393 Bellaire, the Houston Chronicle reported. Among the new restaurants here is Fat Ni BBQ, praised by one Yelp reviewer as offering food similar to what one would find "sitting in the food stand in central China." Bellaire Food Street is also home to the wildly popular Beard Papa's, a Japan-based franchise specializing in cream puffs, as well as Meet Fresh, a Taiwan-based dessert shop that offers various teas and sweets, including taro balls, shaved ice and tofu pudding. Did we miss your favorite Chinatown spot? Let us know your go-to places in the comments below. FLAVOR: Hungry for restaurant reviews and recipes? Get the free, weekly Flavor newsletter delivered to your email. Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com A British native who said he swam across the Detroit river from Canada to the US to try to deliver handmade books before Christmas has been released after two months in American custody. Christopher Sagajllo, 56, was arrested in December after crossing over in a wetsuit and landing at a steel firms property on Zug Island, south of Detroit. US district judge Linda Parker sentenced him to time served, clearing his return to St Catherines, Ontario, where he is a permanent Canadian resident. He is not a dangerous individual, defence lawyer Benton Martin said. Mr Sagajllo, 56, declined to speak in court. But he explained in a letter why he had chosen a risky way to get into the US. He said he was desperate after being turned away days earlier at the border in Niagara Falls, New York. US authorities said he was ineligible as he had been deported to the UK in 2010 after overstaying a visit by seven years. Mr Sagajllo said he had followed his religious faith and made books in silk bags. Delhi Congress in-charge PC Chacko resigned from his post, a day after the partys drubbing in Assembly elections. The chief of the Delhi unit of the party, Subhash Chopra, had resigned on Tuesday, hours after the Congress could not win a single seat in Delhi. The resignation was on expected lines for two reasons. One, Chacko had asked the party to relieve him of the responsibility last August but was told to oversee Delhis affairs in view of the assembly elections. Second, the Congress had declared at a press briefing soon after the results came in, that the effort to start rebuilding the party would start soon. We will rebuild the party from the scratch, from the drawing board, not impounded upon our ideology and our work, as I have already pointed out and whatever would need to be done and sacrifices that would need to be made, no Congressman or woman will shy away from it, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had said on Tuesday. Chacko was appointed Delhi in-charge in November 2014 ahead of the 2015 assembly elections. He had replaced general secretary Shakeel Ahmed who had then sought a leave of three months to visit his family in Canada. Chacko shared an uneasy relationship with three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit who took over as state Congress president in January 2019 after Ajay Maken resigned on health grounds. The two were at loggerheads over the issue of having an alliance with AAP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While Chacko favoured a tie-up with AAP, Dikshit vehemently opposed it. The party had appointed Chopra in October last year, just few months ahead of the elections following Dikshits death on July 20. He resigned on Tuesday taking moral responsibility for the poll debacle. The Congress ended up with a little less than five per cent vote share in this years Delhi elections. Sixty seven candidates of the Congress-led alliance lost their deposits in Delhi. In the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, the Congress did not win any seat but had managed to notch up a 9.7 per cent vote share. This time round it was completely decimated. Surjewala said the partys defeat in the national capital is disappointing but claimed that we have, however, not lost the battle. A regional prosecutor and a security chief in southern Kazakhstan have been removed from their posts days after deadly ethnic clashes in the region. The Prosecutor-Generals Office said on February 12 that the prosecutor of the Zhambyl region, Zharqyn Qusainov, was relieved from his duties and replaced by Nurghalym Abdirov. Also on February 12, Kazakhstan's Committee for National Security announced that chief of the committee's regional department, Shapai Samaqov, was replaced by Marat Imrenov. The announcements came two days after Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev sacked the governor of the Zhambyl region Asqar Myrzakhmetov and appointed Deputy Prime Minister Berdibek Saparbaev in his place. On February 7-8, 10 people were killed in the violence that erupted between local Kazakhs and ethnic Dungans, a Muslim group of Chinese origin, in the villages of Masanchi, Sortobe, Auqatty, and Bulan-Batyr. Dozens were also wounded, including 19 police officers, while more than 30 houses, 17 commercial buildings, and 47 vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the clashes. The police chief of the Zhambyl region, the deputy governor for social issues, and the governor of the region's Qordai district were also sacked earlier this week. Kazakh officials said the violence was sparked by a conflict on a highway during which the occupants of two vehicles started a brawl following a road-rage incident. The deadly clashes followed the posting on the Internet of video footage taken from the brawl. Thousands of people fled villages where the violence erupted, ending up in the neighboring Kyrgyz Chui region, where the majority of ethnic Dungans in Central Asia traditionally reside. Saparbaev said on February 11 that some 8,000 Kazakh citizens who fled the area to Kyrgyzstan had returned to Kazakhstan following a call from the Kazakh government. WATCH: Who Are The Dungans Of Central Asia? It is not clear how many Dungans from Kazakhstan remain in Kyrgyzstan. The Prosecutor-General's Office said on February 12 that it had identified three individuals suspected in inciting the ethnic clashes on social networks. It is not clear if the suspects, whose identities were not disclosed, have been detained. The office also said that more than 25 preliminary investigations into murders, assaulting police, organizing mass disorders, and hooliganism were launched. The Zhambyl region's authorities said on February 12 that the state of emergency has not been lifted in the area where the clashes took place. The Kazakh government has been positioning the country as an example of inter-ethnic civility for years, though local ethnic conflicts have been reported in the country since it gained independence following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. However, it is the first ethnic clash of such scale in Kazakhstan that involves ethnic Dungans. Dungans, also known as Hui, are Sunni Muslims who speak a dialect of Mandarin with many words and phrases borrowed from Arabic, Persian, and Turkic. Their ancestors came to Central Asia, which then was part of the Russian empire, in the late-19th century after the Chinese governments violent crackdown of the Dungan Revolt of 1862-1877. The number of Dungans living in the former Soviet Union is about 120,000, most of whom reside in Kyrgyzstan's northern region of Chui and the neighboring Kazakh region of Zhambyl. With reporting by Tengrinews, KazTAG, and RFE/RL's Kazakh Service The deputy said the inebriated man initially refused a breath test, saying: You didnt pull me over. I pulled you over. The worst part about this story is the 15-year-old the guy had in his car. A 63-year-old man in Kissimmee, Florida was arrested on Saturday night and charged with drunk driving and cocaine possession after *he* stopped a deputy to ask for directions to an auto parts store. The sheriff's deputy gave him directions to jail, instead. Excerpt from the local news report, ocala.com: Just after 8 p.m., Juan Zamora was driving on U.S. 441, south of Belleview, when he flashed his headlights at a Marion County Sheriff's squad car, according to an arrest report. Deputy Calvin Batts pulled over in the 15000 block and met with Zamora, who asked for directions to an auto parts store. In his report, Batts stated he could smell alcohol. He observed that Zamora's eyes were bloodshot and watery and he was "unsteady on his feet." Zamora stated he had "two shots of bourbon hours ago" and told the deputy he was "legally disabled" but agreed to take field sobriety tests, according to the report. The deputy said Zamora had difficulty with the tests, which Zamora blamed in part on a physical disability. Batts stated he found a "small dime bag" with a powdery substance in Zamora's T-shirt pocket. It field-tested positive for cocaine, the report said. Batts said Zamora initially refused a breath test, stating: "You didn't pull me over. I pulled you over." Again: "Batts noted Zamora has a 15-year-old passenger in the vehicle." Yikes. More at the Ocala Star-Banner: Marion deputy gives driver directions to jail [Feb 10, 2020 at 3:27 PM, via AP] In a controversial remark, Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh on Tuesday (February 11) said that Deoband is a 'gangotri of terrorism' and several terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, are born in this Uttar Pradesh town. Singh made the comments in the backdrop of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Deoband. "We were not able to make people aware about CAA. I have always maintained that people from Deoband, who are against CAA, were terrorist; all the big terrorists of the world were born here. I have said it before also that Deoband is Gangotri of Terrorism. The likes of Hafiz Saeed come from here," Singh told the media in Saharanpur. Notably, hundreds of women in Deoband have been protesting against the CAA since January 27. Though some local clerics urged them to end the protest the women refused to call off the stir. Deoband is home to renowned Islamic seminary of Darul Uloom, which has also submitted a memorandum to the central government and the Chief Justice of India against the CAA. Darul Uloom has also justified the pan-India movement against CAA and proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens saying the protests are aimed to protect the Indian Constitution. Live TV Responding to Singh's statements, Congress leader Meem Afzal said that the BJP leader has insulted river Ganga because it flows from Gangotri and river Ganga is a holy river for Indians. But Singh has equated Gangotri with terrorism which is not acceptable at all. Afzal asserted that Singh is unaware of Deoband's history and that's why he is making these statements. The Congress leader demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should throw Singh out of his Cabinet and the party for his remarks. It may be recalled that Giriraj Singh had also sparked a huge political furore few days ago when he said that the anti-CAA protest at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh has become a breeding ground for suicide bombers and the protesters are hatching a conspiracy to divide India. Singh also likened the protests with the Khilafat movement and said, "An infant died at Shaheen Bagh because of cold and the mother says that he was martyred. Is this not a suicide bomb? If we want to save our country, then we need to beware of this suicide bomb and the second Khilafat movement which is going on," the Union minister said. The proposal addressed only the regular rifle season. Prior to the meeting, Wildlife Division Chief Bill Dinkines said department officials and commissioners read more than 500 pages of comments, the majority of which addressed the deer season proposal and the vast majority of which were against the idea. Some deer hunters expressed concern about added pressure on bucks and increased kills. Bird hunters and others complained about an added week of potential conflict afield. Landowners and others generally were opposed to another week of putting up with the headache, Dinkines said. It was really all over the map. You almost have to read them all to really get the picture, he said. After internal discussions we decided we should focus more on the antlerless harvest and where we can give the commission flexibility down the road to manage those antlerless harvests by resolution for areas where its needed, he said. Language in the rules passed Tuesday would allow the commission to increase limits for certain areas or zones across the state where the deer population contains too many does, he said. Ever been on the receiving end of crippling mid-week blues at work? You're not alone. A lot of people go through it as they find themselves struggling to get to the blessed weekend. It's hard to find the right motivation to keep going, however, Anand Mahindra is one man, whose Twitter feed never fails to push us for the better. The business tycoon keeps sharing inspiring content that's highly applicable to the lives of the young working class. Recently, he shared a post on the Ikigai Philosophy that most of us arent familiar with but turns out, really need in our lives. Dont worry, we will explain the concept to you, keep reading. His post read, I am not very familiar with this philosophy but you dont need a Ph.D. in the subject to see the common sense in this prescription for life. A good chart to see every morning before plunging into the days routine... Check out the post here- I am not very familiar with this philosophy but you dont need a Ph.D in the subject to see the common sense in this prescription for life. A good chart to see every morning before plunging into the days routine... pic.twitter.com/mTibewNSu0 anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 12, 2020 In the post, the amazing concept is explained with the help of a diagram by Tanmay Vora and sheds light on 10 rules of Ikigai that are: 1. Stay active 2. Don't retire 3. Take it slow 4. Get in shape 5. Live in the moment 6. Reconnect with nature 7. Smile 8. Surround yourself with good friends 9. Give thanks 10. Follow your Ikigai. Now, all those who are unfamiliar with the concept, here you go- What is Ikigai? The concept of Ikigai is a Japanese term that means reason for being or a theory of everything that gives you a reason to wake-up in the morning. Ikigai is different for everyone and is a personal concept. So, your Ikigai is the thing that you strive for. The brainchild behind Ikigai is that if you follow it, you get answers to make your life simpler and restore your mental peace. Anand Mahindras post has garnered over 3.7K likes and nearly 1k re-tweets already, which clearly means people are getting it and tapping into the post's rich potential. We agree. What a share sir. Thank you! #Ikigai is translated as the reason for your being. When one does not live the life out of routine or survival, but the #purpose of ones being is to be #happy and #cause of #happiness for #others. https://t.co/tC0H5XpNTx Dr Renu Sharma (@renujaiho) February 12, 2020 Indeed. This is @tnvora 's sketchnote. Wonderfully done Anuj Magazine (@anujmagazine) February 12, 2020 Makes sense. I am gonna put this on my office desk. Will share a pic v soon. Varun Nagpal (@varun_nagpal_) February 12, 2020 Not really. Is it not a little too much to take in the lazy happy morning hours? pic.twitter.com/xY8FdiTfng Charuhas (@charuhasmujumd1) February 12, 2020 Positive vibes only. A way to love, laugh & live life all soaked in positive Vibes. Doing what you love and loving what you do all in and by the Grace of Divine! ikigai Jaya Khare (@jaya2004khare) February 12, 2020 Just do it, guys! It would be definitely sensible to follow this to maintain healthy mind and body SAMRITA (@4SMSamrita) February 12, 2020 Not only this, but Anand Mahindra also shared Googles Super Bowl ad recentlyand spoke openly about how it made him emotional, which was a lesson for us all on how to be in touch with your emotions in a healthy manner. Well, keep motivating us with such amazing posts Mr Mahindra, we desperately need it. Narendra Modi Modi remains popular but state-level setbacks will hurt The BJP made Narendra Modi its face in this election, in the absence of a strong local face who could be projected as chief minister. Modi also addressed two rallies. But this was not an election where voters had to choose or reject Modi. Delhi had made that choice last May, when the BJP bagged over 50% of the vote share. It was an element of this very base that shifted to the AAP in the assembly election, for they decided to choose Arvind Kejriwal as CM. The fact that Kejriwal was careful not to attack the PM, and he made it not a contest between him and Modi but between him and the BJPs Delhi unit meant that Modi was not the central issue in the election. This means that while the polls represent a setback, to read it as a rejection of Modi or his policy approach of the last nine months may be an error. The fact that the BJP did better than last time also shows that citizens continue to have a high degree of faith in the PM even when he is not directly in the battle. But Modi still has reason to worry. Also Watch | Delhi gives thumbs up to Kejriwal: What it means for AAP, BJP & Congress The worse-than-expected performance in Haryana, the loss of power in Maharashtra, the loss in Jharkhand polls, and now, the inability to challenge the AAP in Delhi, shows the BJP is losing its electoral touch at the state level. This will have implications for governance at the national level, for state governments are crucial in implementation of key schemes. So while Modi remains Indias most popular leader, his overall political challenge intensifies after Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal Win secures regional footing, opens door to national politics The Delhi chief minister has had a difficult five years with a running battle with the Centre on governance issues, the exit of key party leaders, setbacks to any national expansion plans (especially after the 2017 loss in Punjab), and then the rout in the Lok Sabha elections. Yet, Kejriwal has consistently learnt lessons and evolved. From being seen as a disruptor, he transformed his image to that of a leader focused on meeting basic needs and aspirations of citizens improving schools, public health facilities, and providing electricity and water at subsidised rates. He also toned down his opposition to Narendra Modi, and decided to support the BJP on contentious national issues, from the nullification of Article 370 to the judicial order on the construction of Ram Temple. He stayed away from JNU and Shaheen Bagh to prevent the BJP from getting any additional room to score political points. All of this helped. The AAP was fighting a battle for survival a loss would have raised questions about its very future. The win re-establishes Kejriwals dominance in Delhi politics; it consolidates the AAPs position as a key regional party; and it potentially opens the door for national expansion. Becoming chief minister for the third time will ensure Kejriwal has led AAPs transformation from a start-up to an established player in Indias political marketplace. He will now have to make hard choices priorities in the next term, whether he wants to move beyond Delhi, and if he wants to take an aggressive position against the BJP or stick to his non-confrontational approach. Rahul Gandhi Gandhi must look for ways to reclaim space lost to AAP It may be difficult to remember this now, but the Congress governed Delhi for three straight terms until 2013. The erosion in the partys strength it lost all seven seats in both 2014 and 2019 elections, failed to win a single seat in the 2015 assembly polls, and has failed to do so yet again is a classic case study of how once dominant political forces can witness a sharp decline in the absence of a local leader, depleted social base, and failure to articulate an agenda that appeals to citizens. Rahul Gandhi, who is admittedly no longer the party president but remains its key leader, campaigned in the last lap of the Delhi polls. It did not yield any success, which will once again raise questions about his connect with the electorate. Any recent success the Congress has had has not been due to the Gandhi family. In Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda put up a credible performance; in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party led the charge; in Jharkhand, it was Jharkhand Mukti Morchas Hemant Soren who was the face of the alliance. Put it together, and the Delhi election reinforces the pattern of Gandhis limited impact and appeal, and the continued crisis of the Congress. It may be happy at the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) defeat, but it should worry that it has ceded space to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Capital a party that may once again seek to displace Congress from states where it is in direct contest with the BJP. Amit Shah Vote gain aside, loss shows limits of Shahs campaign From the BJP, this was a campaign that was shepherded entirely by Union home minister Amit Shah. The partys improved performance it only got three seats in the last assembly election is being attributed to Shahs aggressive campaign, which made Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the AAPs alleged support for it as a central issue. This was meant to polarise the election on both ideological and communal lines. The BJP did gain, and it managed to retain not only in 2015 assembly vote share but exceeded that by around five percentage points , is primarily due to Shahs forceful campaign. But it was not enough to offset the absence of local leaders and factionalism, and the perception that Kejriwal had delivered. With the poll outcome, Shah has once again reinforced his reputation as a leader who does not give up, and who fights every election with all the intensity possible. But it also raises legitimate questions about the BJPs shrill campaign when many of its leaders made provocative statements and were penalised by the Election Commission. The party did not win make no mistake, in an election, victory is what matters and it came across as divisive. The larger pattern of the party facing state-level setbacks is also an issue that Shah and party chief JP Nadda will have to work on. Manish Sisodia AAPs key face will remain vital to governance matrix Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had emerged as a key governance face of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the last five years. As education minister, his role in improving public schools was a key poll plank for the party in the campaign. Sisodias open support for Shaheen Bagh did create a degree of nervousness in the party and he became the prime target of the BJP in its campaign. Kejriwal had been careful to stay away from the issue, and subsequently, took charge of the messaging on it. Sisodia had a difficult Tuesday morning, for he was trailing in his constituency, causing moments of anxiety for the AAP. However, he did manage to recover ground and won his seat by 3,207 votes. He will remain an important figure in AAPs internal functioning, as well as in the larger governance matrix. It is to be seen which portfolios he gets this time around, for that will also be a sign of the partys priorities in the next term. The AAP has a set of new leaders which it may seek to accommodate in the next cabinet, from Atishi Marlena to Raghav Chadha. This may mean a certain reallocation in duties. But irrespective of that, Sisodia will remain the clear number two in the party. If Kejriwal decides to expand nationally, Sisodia will become even more crucial for the party in managing Delhi. Manoj Tiwari After loss of Purvanchali vote, Tiwari may lose ground The Delhi BJP state unit chief, Manoj Tiwari, was not appointed the partys chief ministerial face in the election. This, itself, indicated that he did not have the requisite appeal or stature to take on Kejriwal. Tiwari also had to manage internal factionalism, with senior leaders such as Vijay Goel, Harsh Vardhan, and its different parliamentarians having their independent bases. Tiwaris calling card was his Purvanchali identity, and the party hoped that it would expand its base from its traditional Punjabi and Bania communities to migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. But this was clearly not enough, as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has managed to win a substantial segment of the Purvanchali vote. Tiwari, as a member of Parliament, will remain a figure in the citys politics. But his position does become vulnerable as the partys chief for there will be questions about the weaknesses of the local unit and demand for accountability. In his media interviews, Tiwari, through the campaign, came across as a likeable leader, but who was out of touch with policy issues. The problem for the party however remains that it still has not been able to develop a strong enough local leader who can be given an opportunity to take on Kejriwal next time around. Moments after a prosecutor finished outlining the Crowns case in the brazen shooting deaths of two men outside a downtown Toronto nightclub, a defence lawyer stood up to make a stunning admission to the jury. His client did it. On Wednesday, prosecutor Anna Tenhouse told the Superior Court jury about the evidence she planned to call to prove Abdirisaq Ali and Tanade Mohamed are guilty of the second-degree murder of Tyler McLean and Zemarai Khan Mohammed in the early hours of Oct. 1, 2017. McLean and Mohammed, who were friends, were gunned down in the parking lot across from the Rebel nightclub on Polson Street shortly after 3 a.m., as hundreds of patrons poured outside onto the street. In her opening address, Tenhouse told the jury that after Ali and Mohamed left the Port Lands venue, they got into a dispute with two valet parking attendants after refusing to pay the $30 fee to collect the black Dodge Durango SUV they had arrived in. We will show you video surveillance from the club that follows their departure. It will be up to you to decide whether the man in the white pants is Tanade Mohamed and the other man is Abdirisaq Ali, Tenhouse said. After the money was reluctantly paid, the two men waited for the valet to deliver their vehicle. At the same time, the victims were making their way to the parking lot when McLean got into a physical altercation with the man in the white pants, who threw a water bottle at him, Tenhouse said. A paid-duty police officer broke things up and ordered everyone away. As the victims approached their vehicle, Tenhouse said, surveillance footage captures a flash of light from the gun being fired coming from the passenger window of the SUV. Mohammed, 26, was shot in the head at close range and died immediately. He was also known as Amir Jamal. Tenhouse said the footage then shows the man in the white pants leaving the SUV before two more gunshots were fired, one bullet fatally striking McLean in the chest. He was 25. The SUV fled the parking lot at a high rate of speed and, for a while, was chased by a Toronto police cruiser. Tenhouse told jurors that police were able to determine the identity and addresses of the two men by their ATM withdrawals inside the club: Ali lived in Toronto, Mohamed was from Edmonton. After that, the police determined the Dodge Durango SUV had been rented at the airport and that Mohamed was recorded driving it out of the rental garage. Gunshot residue was found inside the SUV as well as on a pair of his white pants. His DNA was also found on the water bottle found in the Rebel parking lot and on another water bottle found in the SUV. Cellphone records associated to the accused men showed a large number of Google searches about the double shootings at the Rebel nightclub, and searches about car detailing and fingerprints. Tenhouse concluded her opening by saying the prosecution is confident that, after hearing and seeing all the evidence, the jurors will find both men guilty of second-degree murder. Then, in a surprise turn after morning recess before a single witness had been called defence lawyer Richard Posner told the jury that Mohamed, while wearing white pants, had fired the gun that killed McLean and Mohammed. Defence lawyer Craig Bottomley then stood up to tell the jury his client, Ali, can be seen in surveillance footage wearing a sweatshirt with a distinctive logo on the front. Ali and Mohamed are both in their mid-20s. The trial continues Thursday. Jeju Island, with white sand beaches and a volcanic landscape, is a slice of paradise off the coast of South Korea, but Iris Yao has not found it particularly relaxing. Ms. Yao, a 22-year-old student, arrived on the resort island last month for a short stay on her way back to her university in Sydney, Australia, from her hometown in Zhoushan, China. Since then, she has been virtually marooned. She is one of tens of thousands of Chinese travelers whose plans have been upset by rapidly changing regulations thrown up across the region as the coronavirus has spread. But instead of the warm welcome once extended to wealthy Chinese tourists, the islands locals have met her and other Chinese visitors with worry, discrimination and fear. BARCELONA, CATALONIA, SPAIN - 2019/02/24: Rajeev Suri President and CEO of Nokia is seen speaking during the presentation of new products. Nokia's MWC 2019 press & analyst event. Nokia has presented at the Mobile World Congress 2019 the basis of its commercial policy for the future and some new products. (Photo by Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) More big names are stepping Mobile World Congress, the world's biggest phone and telecom trade fair, prompting the organizers to urgently decide what they wish to do going forward. Nokia, one of the omnipresent firms at major tech trade conferences, won't be attending this year's Mobile World Congress. It cited health and safety concerns over coronavirus outbreak. Electronics giant HMD, which sells smartphones under Nokia brand, cited similar reasoning for its withdrawal, too. The iconic Finnish firm, one of the cornerstone companies at MWC, and HMD have become the latest to back out of the trade fair. In recent days, scores of firms including Ericsson, Amazon, Vivo, LG, Facebook and Sony have withdrawn their participation from the world's biggest smartphones-focused trade show. German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, BT, Britain's biggest telecommunications group, and London-headquartered telecoms giant Vodafone have also backed out citing coronavirus outbreak, they announced on Wednesday. French-Italian semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics is also not attending, it said. However on Wednesday afternoon (CET) Orange denied a Reuters report it won't attend, telling us it still hadn't taken a decision on whether to pull out or not. "We are awaiting further communication from the GSMA regarding the event," a spokeswoman for the operator said. Orange CEO Stephane Richard is the current GSMA chair. MWC attracts over 100,000 attendees, abd thousands of companies and high-profile executives use this global platform to broker deals and unveil their upcoming gadgets and innovations to the world. The trade fair also contributes to the bottom line of Barcelona city. This year, the four-day trade show was scheduled to take place from February 27. Like Samsung, Huawei and Ericsson, Nokia occupies swathes of exhibition space which will now be empty. But also, it's arguably one of the whole reasons for MWC existing in the first place. Ingrid (@ingridlunden) February 12, 2020 "While the health and safety of our employees is our absolute priority, we also recognize that we have a responsibility to the industry and our customers. In view of this, we have taken the necessary time to evaluate a fast-moving situation, engage with the GSMA and other stakeholders, regularly consult external experts and authorities, and plan to manage risks based on a wide range of scenarios. The conclusion of that process is that we believe the prudent decision is to cancel our participation at Mobile World Congress," Nokia said in a statement. The high-profile no-shows should put more pressure on GSMA, the body that organizes the event, to cancel this year's edition of the trade show. GSMA acknowledged the safety risks to attendees in an email on Sunday, but it ducked away from assuming any liabilities at the trade show. As my colleague Romain Dillet pointed out, the email appeared to have triggered companies to withdraw their participation. Story continues On Tuesday, Spanish publication El Pais reported that the GSMA executives would meet on Friday and consider their next steps, which could include suspending this year's event. A spokesperson declined comment to TechCrunch. The GSMA executives have moved to have that talk today, according to a report. Earlier local press had reported the operator association had decided to go ahead with the event -- but in a more recent update La Vanguardia reports the GSMA has called another meeting to discuss the future of MWC 2020. The organization has previously declined to comment on internal meetings. You can check out the full list of companies that have withdrawn from MWC so far this year below. This report was updated with additional information about Orange and the developing situation at the GSMA smart development June 2014 marked the unveiling of the Indian governments aggressive plan to build 100 smart cities in India. Driven by the Ministry of Urban Development, the project is set to attract investments of about $1.2 billion. June 2014 marked the unveiling of the Indian governments aggressive plan to build 100 smart cities in India. Driven by the Ministry of Urban Development, the project is set to attract investments of about $1.2 billion. This is set to help cities build holistic development plans with provisions for zero-emission and zero waste. All this and more will be shaped through numerous innovations that include the following: Innovative Transport: Mobility options to power a road network that spans 47 lakh km. This includes provisions to launch Metro rail projects in smart cities along with alternative sources of transportation. For instance, the development of 200 budget-friendly airports in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Mobility options to power a road network that spans 47 lakh km. This includes provisions to launch Metro rail projects in smart cities along with alternative sources of transportation. For instance, the development of 200 budget-friendly airports in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Waterway and Ropeway Mobility: About 20,000 km of rivers are set to be converted into waterways. Similarly, Mumbai will witness ropeway transport that will connect the East and West side of the city. About 20,000 km of rivers are set to be converted into waterways. Similarly, Mumbai will witness ropeway transport that will connect the East and West side of the city. Walkable Localities: Road networks to be transformed to include pedestrians and cyclists in a bid to reduce congestion and fight pollution. Road networks to be transformed to include pedestrians and cyclists in a bid to reduce congestion and fight pollution. Multimodal Logistics Park: Key initiative to reduce overall freight and warehousing costs, drive freight aggregation and distribution along with value-added services. 36 ring roads around the country will be used as its building blocks. Key initiative to reduce overall freight and warehousing costs, drive freight aggregation and distribution along with value-added services. 36 ring roads around the country will be used as its building blocks. Land Aggregation and Management: Strategically acquiring land and making it available for development in a cost-effective manner. New infrastructure investments would be made while also compensating existing residents. Strategically acquiring land and making it available for development in a cost-effective manner. New infrastructure investments would be made while also compensating existing residents. Development of Open Spaces: Such as parks, playgrounds, and recreational zones that boost the quality of life. Such as parks, playgrounds, and recreational zones that boost the quality of life. Digitisation: Bringing all government initiates online to boost accountability and transparency. Also including online programs and activities to gather feedback for citizen-friendly decision-making. Bringing all government initiates online to boost accountability and transparency. Also including online programs and activities to gather feedback for citizen-friendly decision-making. City-wide Video Surveillance Systems: Surveillance systems that are backed by technologies to monitor every corner of the city. Data would be saved onto centralized servers to track roads and accidents. Surveillance systems that are backed by technologies to monitor every corner of the city. Data would be saved onto centralized servers to track roads and accidents. Eco-friendly Norms: Equipping houses with solar panels and wind generators to increase the reliance on renewable energy sources. Reduced fuel consumption also decreasing air contamination. Equipping houses with solar panels and wind generators to increase the reliance on renewable energy sources. Reduced fuel consumption also decreasing air contamination. Smart Home: Technologies such as automation, security, and surveillance kits to monitor activities in and around houses. With wireless data exchange, residents are granted access to information and news. Technologies such as automation, security, and surveillance kits to monitor activities in and around houses. With wireless data exchange, residents are granted access to information and news. Citizen Response Management System (CRMS): Responsible for managing and receiving emergency alerts, interacting with distressed citizens, dispatching first-response vehicles such as ambulances and fire brigades. All these efforts are being taken to ensure that smart cities are sustainable, inclusive, and safe. Their seamless implementation is set to change the lives of millions of people. (Image: Reuters) Decades after a teacher at a prestigious Melbourne school molested boys in class or at camps, one victim still relives his abusers' hands "pawing" him. Trevor Alan Spurritt was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault dating back to the 1970s against four boys, after a trial in the Victorian County Court. Former Camberwell Grammar School teacher Trevor Spurritt arrives at the County Court on Wednesday. Credit:AAP The 76-year-old was a maths teacher at Camberwell Grammar when he assaulted the victims, who were aged 12 to 14 at the time. One victim was about 12 when he was first molested at at a school camp. A student who opened fire on a crowd at his Arizona college after he was punched in the face by a frat boy, killing one and wounding three others in 2015, has been sentenced to six years in prison. Steven Jones, 23, had faced up to 10 years behind bars in the October 2015 death of Delta Chi fraternity member, Colin Brough, 20. Jones killed Brough and injured his fraternity brothers, Nicholas Prato, Kyle Zientek and Nicholas Piring, on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Rather than risk a potential second-degree murder conviction, Jones pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault last month. Before his sentencing, Jones spent most of his time since the shooting in the custody of his parents in Phoenix, about 145 miles south of Flagstaff. On Tuesday, Jones received six years in prison on the manslaughter charge and five years on each of the three counts of aggravated assault - all of which will run concurrently. He must serve at least 85 per cent of the sentence and also gets credit for the seven months he was in jail. Northern Arizona University student, Steven Jones (pictured in court Tuesday), 23, who opened fire on the campus after he was punched in the face by a frat boy, killing one, has been sentenced to six years in prison Rather than risk a potential second-degree murder conviction, Jones (pictured in court Tuesday) pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault last month Jones, 23, had faced up to 10 years behind bars in the October 2015 death of Delta Chi fraternity member, Colin Brough (left and right), 20 School officials said the 2015 attack was the first deadly shooting at the university, which was founded in 1899. The sentence brought little relief to the shooting victims and their families who filled a courtroom in Flagstaff. Prison won't be easy for Jones, but 'it doesn't bring my son back,' said Brough's father, Doug. 'Through this four-and-a-half years of what's been going on, everything has been one-sided to the defendant, even after he admitted doing everything,' he said. 'He's guilty. He pleaded guilty. But he still gets the benefit of the doubt.' Jones displayed little emotion during the hearing, except when his attorney played a video showing him crying uncontrollably in a police interview the night of the shooting and shortly before learning his punishment. Standing before the judge in a blue jail-issued jumpsuit, Jones said it would be disrespectful to the victims and their family to talk about how he personally had been affected by the shooting. 'I should probably just say, if it were possible, I would in a heartbeat trade places with Colin Brough,' he said tearfully. 'If he could be home with his family and I could be dead, I would do that. But thats not possible.' Jones was weeks into his freshman year in college - sheltered and naive, his attorney said - when he and friends walked by an apartment complex that housed fraternity members. One of Jones' friends rang a doorbell at the complex and ran off. Someone came out and punched Jones in the face, though it's not clear who. His glasses flew to the ground. Jones ran to his car believing he was being chased and verbally attacked to retrieve a gun from his glove box. He walked back toward campus and shined a tactical light affixed to it into the darkness. Most people thought it was a police officer or security guard's flashlight. No one thought it was a gun, although Jones said he announced it as such and told people to stand down before pulling the trigger and killing Brough. Nick Piring was struck in the arm and hip as he jumped over a bush to reach Brough, his onetime roommate. Jones who was trained to use firearms growing up. He's seen in these photos with two different types of weapons Brough's frat brothers Kyle Zientek (left), Nicholas Prato (center) and Nicholas Piring (right) were also shot and injured 'These other guys were angry at us, and I don't know, someone pulled a gun and shot us,' Piring said in a video played in court Tuesday. Jones, who was trained to use firearms growing up, fired again as a group piled on top of him, trying to wrest away the gun but without aiming the weapon. Nick Prato was struck in the neck and suffered permanent nerve damage. Kyle Zientek was hit twice in the back, losing a kidney. None knew Jones before then. Police arrived to a chaotic scene and separated people while they tried to determine whether there was another shooter. Jones told them he was solely responsible. A jury deadlocked on charges in Jones' first trial in 2017. His attorneys later argued successfully to reduce the first-degree murder charge, which carried a maximum penalty of life in prison upon conviction, to second-degree murder. But before a retrial could start in January, Jones pleaded guilty. Doug Brough said he supported a plea agreement because of the multiple delays in the case, caused mainly by turnover in Jones' defense team. Lou Diesel, a longtime attorney in Flagstaff who represented some of the shooting victims, said he had to assure his clients that the case would move forward. 'I continue to tell them, this normally doesn't happen. How do you console the inconsolable? How do you do that? The late-night phone calls, the screams, the horror, the depression,' he said in court, his voice rising then falling. 'We almost lost Claudia.' Brough's mother, Claudia, described in court how she sank into a deep depression after her son died, withdrew from everyone and tried to end her own life. 'Time has healed nothing,' she said, gripping the papers that bared her words and seesawing on the heels of her shoes. 'I have learned to live with my pain, and I still have days when the pain is stronger than I am.' Jones had a busted lip when he was photographed in his mugshot in 2015 She spoke after prosecutor Ammon Barker played a 17-minute video that had pictures of Brough smiling and laughing as a child, and at family gatherings, parties and in college. Groups of people in the slideshow set to the theme song of the 1991 film Dying Young wore orange shirts with Colin's image on the back and #LiveforColin on the front - a campaign his parents started to advocate for gun-free campuses. 'Wow, what a great life Colin had, cut way too short, for no reason,' said Doug Brough, shaking his head and throwing up his hands as he pleaded for the lengthiest sentence possible. He and his family left the courtroom as the defense began its presentation. Doug Brough later said 'we knew it was all lies'. Jones' attorney, Christopher Dupont, tried to draw parallels between Brough and Jones, saying Jones also was well-loved by extended family, friends and co-workers, and grew up with Christian values. Jones long maintained he shot the four in self-defense. But the tone changed Tuesday. His actions the night of the shooting were reckless and unjustified, Dupont said, then described what he saw as a convergence of fear and anger. Fear on the side of Jones that he could be severely injured or killed after he was punched in the face, heckled and assaulted, he said. Anger on the side of fraternity brothers who lived at an apartment complex and who Dupont said reveled in drugs and alcohol and were unkind to outsiders. The shooting occurred on the campus of Northern Arizona University (file image) in October 2015 'With all the wildness going on, police incidents, it was only a matter of time before something went horribly wrong there,' he said. Barker, the prosecutor, said the victims weren't bullies or thugs and never attacked Jones. During Tuesday's sentencing, Coconino County Superior Court Judge Dan Slayton took into account Jones' lack of criminal history, his age, cooperation with police, use of a deadly weapon and other factors in handing down the sentence. No matter the length of punishment, it wouldn't bring peace and closure, Slayton said. 'This case has been troubling for our community, for citizens of the state, even for the nation,' he said. Three celebrities cough up $430 each for fake coronavirus posts Ngo Thanh Van, Cat Phuong, Dam Vinh Hung (L to R) express regret over coronavirus fake news. Photo by VnExpress. Photo by VnExpress. Actress Ngo Thanh Van, singer Dam Vinh Hung and actress Cat Phuong were fined VND10 million ($430) each for posting inaccurate information on Covid-19. The punishment was announced Wednesday by Ho Chi Minh Citys Department of Information and Communication, a week after the trio admitted their mistakes and made public apologies. Their actions "badly affect social order," the department said. Under the current regulation, those individuals who post fake news on social media would be slapped with fines of up to VND15 million ($650). However, the department said the three celebrities have been handed lighter punishments as their mistakes were due to impatience, failure to verify information and for their quick response in removing fake posts. On January 31, Ngo Thanh Van, producer and lead actress of action flick "Hai Phuong" (Furie), stated via her two-million subscriber fan page flights operated from Wuhan, China to Vietnam on January 30 while Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam had suspended all flights to and from coronavirus-hit areas since January 29. The post was subsequently removed and Van apologized to fans. On January 26, Dam Vinh Hung shocked the online community for stating two Chinese nationals infected and treated at Cho Ray Hospital had died while the Chinese father-and-son due were still receiving treatment at the hospital. He removed the post and made a public apology to Vietnamese users. Actress Cat Phuong also apologized to her Facebook fans for stating the epidemic had spread to HCMCs District 1 and would find its way to other districts. As of Tuesday, Vietnam had reported 15 confirmed cases of infection. Seven people have so far been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery. The global death toll has climbed to 1,115 and the number of infections to 45,051. Over 4,000 patients have recovered. The apartment building, in Brooklyns Flatbush neighbourhood, is a hive of nationalities. A Pakistani woman enters the lift with a big bag of groceries, flicking a dupatta over her shoulder as a Nepalese nurse and the janitor, a man from Jamaica there to mop up a spill, follow her in. It is hardly an unusual scene in New York, one of the worlds most diverse cities. But this nondescript, seven-storey brick building is also the improbable home to some of the last speakers of a rare, unwritten language from Nepal that linguists worry could disappear within a generation, if not sooner. The language, Seke, is spoken in just five villages cloistered by craggy cliffs and caves in a part of Nepal called Mustang, a region close to the border with Tibet. There are just 700 or so Seke speakers left in the world, according to a recent study by the Endangered Language Alliance, a New York-based organisation dedicated to preserving rare languages in the city. Of those, a little over 100 are in New York, and nearly half of them live in the building in Flatbush. I live on the fifth floor. My uncle lives on the second. My cousins live on the sixth, and a family friend lives on the first, says Rasmina Gurung, 21, who came to New York eight years ago from Chuksang, one of the five villages in Nepal where Seke is spoken and that is known for its apples. The remaining Seke speakers live in another building in Flatbush or are scattered across Queens. Seke is one of 637 languages and dialects that the Endangered Language Alliance has identified as being spoken across the five boroughs of New York and in New Jersey, which also has a diverse, global population. The Endangered Language Alliance considers a language in peril when there are fewer than 10,000 speakers worldwide. Aside from Seke, other languages in New York that fit that criteria include Vlashki, of Croatian origin, and several Jewish Neo-Aramaic languages, which come from Iran and Iraq. Another language, Wakhi, from eastern Iran as well as parts of Pakistan, China, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, is believed to be spoken by less than a handful of people in New York, according to the language alliance. One speaker, Husniya Khujamyorova, 31, who works as a linguist at the organisation, is writing childrens books in Wakhi in the hopes of passing down the language, which is spoken by about 40,000 people worldwide. People like me, they move at an early age from their country, she says. There is not enough material to pass their language to the new generation. Husniya Khujamyorova hopes to pass down the Wakhi language (The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR) (The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR) Even if a language is spoken by only a few people, language experts say it still plays a vital role. Its absolutely invaluable to document, analyse, understand and maintain the linguistic diversity of the planet, says Ross Perlin, a director of the language alliance and an adjunct professor of linguistics at Columbia University. But we also see it as a matter of justice languages are not dying a natural death. Theyre disappearing because people have been marginalised and pressured and made to feel bad to speak their language, or theyre swamped by a dominant language. Just like diversity with the environment, language loss represents an immense tragedy for the world Just like diversity with the environment, language loss represents an immense tragedy for the world, he adds. As for Seke, which means golden language, legend has it that it was passed down from people living in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas who settled in Mustang, a former kingdom whose terrain was formed, so the story goes, from the heart and innards of a demon defeated in battle by a Buddhist monk. The apartment building in Flatbush where a number of Seke speakers now live is a microcosm of life back home and a bastion of the language. Many of them were former apple growers who left after harsher winters and erratic precipitation related to climate change made it increasingly difficult to earn a living. In New York, they mostly work as manicurists, construction workers and cooks. Nearly 50 Seke speakers live in this building in Flatbush (CBSN) Inside their apartments, it looks as if their former homes had been transported virtually undisturbed from thousands of miles away. Nyaka Gurung, Gurungs uncle, has built low, wooden rectangular seats along the walls, covered with rugs, a common setup in Nepalese living rooms. Scrolls of Tibetan deities hang on one wall. On a recent visit, offerings are laid out under a framed photo of the Dalai Lama that hangs above a large plasma television. A thermos used to serve hot butter tea, the national drink of Nepal, stands on a table nearby, and the smoky fragrance of chumin, a Tibetan incense, blends with the smell of Indian spices from the kitchen. Gurung, who is a nurse, has taken it upon herself to be the de facto preserver of Seke, a language she says many young Nepalese are losing touch with. Children in Nepal are often sent to schools in cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara, where Nepali is predominant. A map shows where languages are spoken across New York City (CBSN) And Nepalese television is often flooded with Bollywood movies, so many Nepalese absorb Hindi as well. (In addition to English and Seke, Gurung speaks Nepali and Hindi fluently.) In New York, young Nepalese, like Gurungs cousins, speak very little Seke. She says she is the most fluent speaker among the diasporas younger members and has been helping the Endangered Language Alliance compile a Seke-English dictionary. Its hard, because there are so many words you dont think about in your everyday life like the word soul. Who thinks about the soul? I had to ask my uncle. Im the youngest person holding Seke together. Thats why I feel so much pressure. I need to get as much knowledge as possible. And fast Its hard, because there are so many words you dont think about in your everyday life like the word soul. Who thinks about the soul? I had to ask my uncle, she says. Im the youngest person holding Seke together. Thats why I feel so much pressure. I need to get as much knowledge as possible. And fast. Nyaka Gurung expresses both alarm and resignation about how quickly the tongue of his forebears is vanishing. Its scary, he says, as he fingers a Tibetan rosary. Seke is just going to be a story that you tell your kids: Oh, there was once something called Seke. Rasmina Gurung interjects. Nepali is the invader, she says, though adding after some reflection: But its not their fault. We give power to a language because we use it. If we were vigilant, wed say, No, Im going to speak Seke. But we gave in to the influence. A Nepali woman carries a basket in Lo Manthang (Getty) Nawang Gurung, a New York-based translator who is archiving languages in the Himalayas, says more than 100 Tibeto-Burman languages were spoken in the Himalayas, but they are not recognised by the Nepalese government and there have been few efforts to teach indigenous languages in schools. Its language suicide, says Nawang Gurung, who is not related to the other Gurungs and does not live in the Flatbush building. The Himalayas are being colonised by the national language, and this kind of dialect becomes invisible. Nepal is currently led by a coalition of moderate communists and former Maoists, and the government has cracked down on opponents, setting off a recent exodus to New York. Nepal became a republic in 2008, ending three decades of civil war and a 240-year-old monarchy. That same year, Mustang, which had its own separate royal family, gave up its king. Other factors are also causing Sekes demise, says Nawang Gurung, the translator. In New York, native speakers tend to work long hours with little time to teach their children and there are no cultural or language centres. There is also no real demand for Seke. Younger Seke speakers prefer learning far more common languages like Spanish or Mandarin. They say, Whats the purpose of learning the language when there is no use for it in the future? Nawang Gurung says. Instead, a new dialect called Ramaluk is developing among the Nepalese diaspora, he says, which borrows and mixes words from English, Nepali, Hindi and some Seke. Its a new language, he adds. Jamyang Gurung believes the language will vanish after his generation (Endangered Language Alliance) In a recent YouTube video posted by the Endangered Language Alliance, Jamyang Gurung, who has lived in the United States for 17 years, says he now stumbles when he speaks Seke. I have all the dialects mixed up, he says, adding that his son does not speak any Seke. After 10 years or after my generation, our language will vanish. Still, Nawang Gurung, the translator, is somewhat hopeful that Seke speakers in New York could help preserve the language, even if only for a little longer, because they are crowded together. Back home, it takes two days by horse-ride and long hours of walking to reach a village, he says. Over here, it just takes two stops on the subway. New York Times US President Donald Trump on Wednesday brushed aside the decision of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to end a decades-old military agreement with the United States, saying he did not really mind and it would save money. Duterte announced the termination of the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) on Tuesday, a move US Defense Secretary Mark Esper called unfortunate. The decision will take effect in 180 days. Asked whether he would try to persuade Duterte to reconsider, Trump told reporters at the White House: Well I never minded that very much, to be honest. We helped the Philippines very much. We helped them defeat ISIS I dont really mind if they would like to do that, it will save a lot of money. My views are different from others. Trump said he had a very good relationship with Duterte and added, well see what happens. Dutertes decision, sparked by the revocation of a US visa held by a former police chief who led his bloody war on drugs, could complicate US military interests in the Asia-Pacific region as Chinas ambitions rise. The VFA is important to the overall US-Philippines alliance and sets out rules for US soldiers operating in the Philippines. It underpins what Washington has called an ironclad relationship despite Dutertes complaints about US hypocrisy, ill-treatment and ageing weapons. Filipino and US soldiers march during the closing ceremony of a joint US-Philippine military exercise in 2018 [File: Mark Cristino/EPA] Ending the VFA could also hurt Washingtons future interests in maintaining an Asia-Pacific troop presence amid friction over the presence of US personnel in Japan and South Korea and security concerns about China and North Korea. Duterte has said the US uses the pacts to conduct clandestine activities such as spying and nuclear-weapons stockpiling, which he said risk making the Philippines a target for Chinese aggression. Some Filipino senators sought to block Dutertes move soon after news of it broke, arguing that without Senate approval he had no right to unilaterally scrap international pacts it had ratified. Some legislators were concerned that without the VFA, two other pacts would be irrelevant, namely the 2014 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement made under the former US administration of Barack Obama, and a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaking during his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Philippine Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines [Eloisa Lopez/Reuters] Supporters of the agreements argue they have deterred Chinese militarisation in the South China Sea while $1.3bn of US defence assistance since 1998 has been vital in boosting the capabilities of under-resourced Philippine forces. Philippine nationalists, however, said the US did nothing to stop China building islands in the South China Sea equipped with missiles and said the VFA is tilted in favour of the Americans, including the granting of immunity from prosecution for US servicemen. Speculation is rife that Dr Chris Brown could be the next Bachelor. And on Tuesday, the 41-year-old proved he would be a great fit for the role during a getaway to Vilankulos, Mozambique. The I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! host showcased his fit physique while going for a dip in the ocean. Dr Dreamy! Chris Brown, 41, showed off his fit physique in board shorts during his beach getaway in Vilankulos, Mozambique, on Tuesday The blonde vet flaunted his muscular back and bulging biceps in a pair of board shorts. Chris just wrapped filming the reality show and is enjoying a well-deserved break. He also shared another photo of his stunning location that revealed dreamy white sand and stunning crystalline blue ocean. Oh my! He also shared another photo of his stunning location that revealed dreamy white sand and stunning crystalline blue ocean 'So after a spontaneous trip across to the eastern coast of Africa, I can confirm that Mozambique is pretty spectacular,' he wrote. 'Didn't spot the dugongs and whale sharks but I scoped out the perfect swimming spot once they decide to appear.' It was reported on Monday that Chris is set to become the next Bachelor. Break: Chris just wrapped filming the reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and is enjoying a well-deserved break According to a unconfirmed report in New Idea, he is said to be 'seriously considering' the role. 'Ten is throwing serious, serious figures his way to be The Bachelor this time around,' a Channel Ten 'source' allegedly told the publication. According to the magazine, producers and executives at the network think the hunky veterinarian will set hearts fluttering, which will equal big ratings. Is he the next Bachelor? It was reported on Monday that Chris is set to become the next Bachelor 'Everyone at Ten/Warner believes he would be our highest rating season ever - they have all wanted him for ages,' the 'insider' went on the allegedly claim. The magazine also went on to report that Chris is said to be 'seriously considering' the offer this time around. The hunky I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! host was previously in a relationship with fellow Channel Ten star, Liv Phyland. Calaveras County Board of Supervisors 2019 View Photo San Andreas, CA Already known for its sometimes volatile public comment periods, this weeks Calaveras supervisors meeting included an attempted recall effort notification that will legally require a do-over. Among the speakers to take the audience podium Tuesday morning included a man who did not publicly identify himself as he served Board Clerk Diane Severud with paperwork. Queried by Clarke Broadcasting about the incident, Rebecca Turner, Calaveras County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Rebecca Turner, acknowledged the notice, dated Feb. 11, was not legally made as per the State Elections Code. In fact, she issued a response to the server, which the filing indicated as Kevin McAllister of Valley Springs, providing the correct procedure requirements. In a letter to McAllister, Turner cited that specifically missing in the attempted notification were the printed names, signatures, and residence or alternative mailing addresses, including street and number, city, and zip codes of each of the listed recall proponents (of which the filing included 23). She also pointed out that unless the notice was delivered by certified mail to the officer sought to be recalled, the notice needed to have been hand-delivered in person to that officer. Turner, who was not at the meeting and who did not know McAllister, could not say whether it was McAllister who spoke in front of the supervisors meeting. The man did utilize his entire allotment of public comment time to explain a planned recall against District 5 Supervisor and Vice Chair Benjamin Stopper, whose jurisdiction includes the communities of Milton, Jenny Lind, and Rancho Calaveras. He began by maintaining that Stopper violated his oath of office, failed to defend the Constitution of the United States, and voted to dissolve the District 5 Community Service Area, which he claimed removed local representation involving local road conditions. Commercial Cannabis At Recall Effort Core Getting into what appeared to be the core of his criticisms, the speaker also criticized Stopper for voting late last year to return the regulation of commercial cannabis to Calaveras, which he described as a vote to increase crime, decrease property values, and increase litigation against the county. However, he also aired additional accusations against Stopper that included: failing to attend assigned committee meetings; voting to illegally fund the countys cannabis program by approving the setup of its Division of Cannabis Control without money in the bank, and possibly being involved in a conflict of interest with his employment at Calaveras County Water District (CCWD) and a family members employment with the county. Stopper, as reported here, told Clarke Broadcasting after his election that he was prioritizing getting the General Plan Update done and working together to heal some of the community divisiveness that was impeding forward progress. District 5 is associated with a particularly colorful past of recall petitions. In the last election, Stopper handily defeated former District 5 Supervisor Clyde Clapp, who, after leading a commercial cannabis-ban supportive recall attempt against his predecessor Steve Kearney, won the seat and served the remaining one-year balance of that term. A primary motivator for Kearneys recall was based on his vote to allow a proposed asphalt plant at Hogan Quarry in Valley Springs without requiring a conditional use permit. Personal vendettas seemed to form the basis for two failed recall attempts in 2011 and 2012 against former District 5 Supervisor Darren Spellman. Along with what has already been described above, a recall process must include furnished proof that notices of intent have been advertised a local publication. After steps to this point are complete, elections officials have ten days to clear a recall petition for signature gathering. Once that happens, in order to force a recall election, the recall proponents have 90 days to gather signatures from 25 percent of the registered voters in the district. By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure from President Donald Trump, the U.S. By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure from President Donald Trump, the U.S. Justice Department on Monday abruptly moved to seek a shorter prison sentence for veteran Republican operative and long-time Trump adviser Roger Stone, a highly unusual step that prompted three prosecutors to quit the case. Senior department officials - hours after Trump publicly complained that Stone was being treated unfairly - overrode the sentencing recommendation of seven to nine years made on Monday by federal prosecutors who secured Stone's November conviction. Stone was found guilty on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Democrats blasted the department's reversal in the high-profile case involving Stone, whose friendship with Trump dates back decades. Stone's trial arose from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation that detailed extensive Russian interference in the 2016 election to benefit Trump's candidacy. Trump early on Tuesday took to Twitter to criticize the proposed sentence as a "miscarriage of justice." "This is a horrible and very unfair situation," the Republican president wrote on Twitter early on Tuesday about Stone. After the department's action was disclosed, three of the four prosecutors who won Stone's conviction - Aaron Zelinsky, John Crabb and Jonathan Kravis - withdrew from the case. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson is due to sentence Stone on Feb. 20. Kravis told the court in a filing he was not only leaving the case but quitting his post as a federal prosecutor. The department did not specify a new proposed sentence. Legal experts described the move as highly unusual, and Democrats accused the Justice Department, headed by Trump political loyalist William Barr, of working to protect Trump's political interests. 'HELP HIS FRIENDS' "The president seems to think the entire Justice Department is just his personal lawsuit to prosecute his enemies and help his friends," Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, told reporters. "They are turning us into a banana republic," Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen added on Twitter. Stone, who has labeled himself a "dirty trickster" and "agent provocateur" and famously has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was one of several Trump associates charged with crimes as part of Mueller's investigation. In a court filing on Monday, prosecutors said their proposed sentence fell within U.S. guidelines and would "accurately reflect the seriousness of his crimes and promote respect for the law." That came as a surprise to senior Justice Department officials who were expecting prosecutors to ask for a lower range, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Justice Department has not been in touch with the White House over the matter, the official said. Legal experts said it would be unusual for prosecutors to change their proposed sentence after filing a formal recommendation to the court, especially on a high-profile case like this in which senior Justice Department officials as well as courtroom prosecutors are involved in the decision-making. Several said that the proposed sentence struck them as unusually severe. Stone's defense team, in a filing late on Monday, disputed the prosecution's calculation and proposed a range of between 15 and 21 months. They asked the judge for a sentence that would fall below that range. "It is high, but the prosecutors obviously felt there were extenuating circumstances that justified the enhancements," said Lynn Niels, a former federal prosecutor. Mueller's investigation detailed a Russian campaign of hacking and propaganda in the 2016 election and extensive contacts between the president's campaign and Moscow. Stone was one of only two of these Trump associates who went to trial rather than pleading guilty. Trump has the power to pardon people for federal crimes, although he has yet to use it in the cases of other former aides convicted in the wake of the Mueller investigations. "We look forward to reviewing the government's supplemental filing," Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, said in an email to Reuters. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Nathan Layne, Karen Freifeld, Mark Hosenball, Brad Heath and Susan Heavey; Editing by Will Dunham and Andy Sullivan) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Richard Boyd Barrett has urged Green TDs who oppose government deal to quit the party if it passes. Photo: PA A minority Sinn Fein-led government may not last long but it could still achieve progress on key domestic issues, one potential coalition partner has said. Solidarity/People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said Mary Lou McDonald will struggle to find enough like-minded allies to reach the 80-seat threshold required for a majority in the Dail. But Mr Boyd Barrett said it was still worth exploring the possibility of a minority administration. Such a government would require an understanding with either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, through some form of confidence and supply arrangement, that would see them abstain on key votes from the opposition benches. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has indicated a desire to be Irelands next taoiseach (Niall Carson/PA). Senior Sinn Fein representatives are set to hold talks with smaller parties on Wednesday as they assess the viability of its desired government of the left. Sinn Fein would need to secure the support of the Greens, Labour, the Social Democrats and Solidarity/People Before Profit, and a range of independent TDs, to form such an administration. Asked about the prospects of a minority Sinn Fein-led government, Mr Boyd Barrett said: It wouldnt be sustainable for very long but I still think its worth exploring if we could do something to urgently address the housing crisis, some of the problems in the health service with the desperate waiting lists, some of the issues around climate change and the cost of living. I think anything that could give expression and delivery to the sentiment that people expressed at the ballot box during the election would be worth exploring and I am absolutely keen to do it and People Before Profit are absolutely keen to try to do that. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin faces some big decisions on how his party will approach government formation talks (Yui Mok/PA) Mr Boyd Barrett told RTEs Morning Ireland his party was keen to talk with Sinn Fein and other left wing parties about the potential of forming a government together. We very much want to see a left government and we were the first to articulate that as a possibility at the outset of this campaign and I think it resonated with huge numbers of people that it was possible to break the cycle of Fianna Fail/Fine Gael rule and open the way for a government of the left, so were delighted theres been a big shift in Irish politics towards the left and we want to explore with other parties of the left, or who put forward left wing policies, the possibility of forming such a government, but the raw numbers would suggest were a bit short of a majority. Many believe it will be impossible to form a government without the involvement of one of either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, the two long-time big beasts of Irish politics. A coalition of Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Green Party which ended with 12 seats is seen as a potentially more realistic option. Another permutation could see the exclusion of Sinn Fein, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail entering power together in a so-called grand coalition with another smaller party or grouping. Fianna Fail could also potentially seek to form a minority government with several of the smaller parties an administration that would require a confidence and supply deal with Fine Gael on the opposition benches. That would reverse the landmark pact struck in 2016 that saw Fianna Fail, as the main opposition party, sustain the last Fine Gael-led minority government in power. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ruled out a coalition with Sinn Fein (Liam McBurney/PA) Fianna Fail emerged from Saturdays election as the largest party by the narrowest margin over the surging Sinn Fein. Micheal Martins party finished with 38 seats to Sinn Feins 37 at the end of two days of counting. But given the Fianna Fail speaker was re-elected without contest, both parties essentially won the same number of seats. Taoiseach Leo Varadkars Fine Gael was the big loser, recording the second-worst result in its history, winning only 35 seats having entered the campaign as the largest party on 47. Despite being edged in seat numbers, Sinn Fein was undoubtedly the party with most to celebrate, having smashed Irelands long-standing two-party system. Mary Lou McDonalds party triumphed in the popular vote and may have won many more seats potentially an additional 11 if it had fielded more candidates in the landmark contest. As such, momentum is behind her in taking the first steps in what could be a long and tortuous process to form a new government. She has predicted she could be Irelands next taoiseach. Sinn Fein supporters enjoyed a landmark election (Niall Carson/PA) Despite receiving the most first preference votes, Sinn Feins place in the next government is not guaranteed. All three major parties are far short of the 80 seats required for a majority so, barring another election, some form of coalition is inevitable. Either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael may be forced to backtrack on long-standing pledges never to do business with Sinn Fein. There appear to be differing views within Fianna Fail, with some members remaining opposed to any alliance with Sinn Fein and others more open to the prospect. Mr Varadkar has maintained his pre-election stance and ruled out any Fine Gael/Sinn Fein coalition. Sinn Fein received 24.5pc of the vote share on first preference in the election, Fianna Fail got 22.2pc and Fine Gael 20.9pc. The final breakdown of the 160 seats was Fianna Fail 38, Sinn Fein 37, Fine Gael 35, Greens 12, Labour 6, Social Democrats 6, Solidarity/People Before Profit 5, Aontu 1, Independents4Change 1 and independents 19. QUITO, Ecuador (AP) Thousands of indigenous demonstrators, student volunteers and local residents launched a mass cleanup Monday of a Quito park where anti-austerity protesters fought police for days, leaving piles of burning tires, trees and construction material. President Lenin Moreno signed a new decree returning gas prices to traditionally low, subsidized levels a day after striking a deal to cancel a disputed austerity package and end nearly two weeks of protests that paralyzed the Ecuadorian economy and left seven dead. While Ecuadorians welcomed the calm and praised both sides for striking a deal, analysts said Moreno appeared to have been significantly weakened halfway through his four-year term by days of protests that forced him to reverse a policy he called necessary for the country's future. "I think the government has suffered a serious blow," said Santiago Basabe, an analyst at the Latin American Institute of Social Sciences in Quito. "Its only economic reform proposal in the last two years has been reversed, and that reduces the little credibility and room for maneuver that it had." Moreno severely miscalculated by reducing fuel subsidies without plans in place to cushion the blow for poor Ecuadorians, Basabe said. Ecuador's well-organized indigenous nationalities have regularly launched mass protests to win government concessions since 1990 but saw their rights sharply reduced under the decade-long rule of Moreno's predecessor, Rafael Correa. Correa prohibited protests, jailed indigenous leaders and launched swift crackdowns on any demonstration. After swarming streets and public areas for nearly two weeks without a large-scale reaction by Moreno, who has promised to respect the right to protest, indigenous groups have emerged with new strength, Basabe said. "I think they've taken back a political space that had practically disappeared under Correa," he said. "They've shown the country that they're here and they're a force to be reckoned with." Story continues Leonidas Iza, one of the country's main indigenous leaders, told The Associated Press that he saw an indigenous president as a real possibility in the near future, even though indigenous people are less than a tenth of Ecuador's population. "It's not a dream, it's a reality that we can take on," said Iza, a member of the Panzaleo Quichua group from the Andean sierra. "What we have proposed to the Ecuadorian people, even though we're not government officials, is that we need to construct a new economic model that's really decided on by the Ecuadorians." As protesters left the epicenter of the protests, a park and cultural center in Quito where Iza and his followers had camped out for days, they carried out a "minga," an indigenous term for a communal labor project. City workers shoveled burned debris into dump trucks and swept the streets clean. Young protesters took down improvised barricades of paving stones, which they piled back on the construction sites they had been taken from, or on city cargo trucks. Indigenous people who spent a week protesting in the park loaded bundles of clothes onto yellow buses to head back to their homes in the sierra. Crowds waved goodbye and chanted, "We did it!" Under the agreement, Moreno will withdraw the International Monetary Fund-backed package known as Decree 883 that included a sharp rise in fuel costs. Indigenous leaders, in turn, called on their followers to end protests and street blockades. The government and indigenous leaders were working together to develop a new package of measures to cut government spending, increase revenue and reduce Ecuador's unsustainable budget deficits and public debt. "We reached our objective," Fabricio Molina, a farmer and rancher, said as he sat on a bus waiting to leave Quito. "Now we hope they sign a deal, and if they don't we'll be back on the streets again." The decree signed Monday vows to reduce gas prices while working to find a different subsidy arrangement that doesn't benefit, "people with wealth nor gas smugglers." Ecuador, a former OPEC member, was left deeply in debt by a decade of high spending by Correa's government and the international decline in oil prices. Moreno is raising taxes, liberalizing labor laws and cutting public spending in order to get more than $4 billion in emergency financing from the IMF. As part of the cancelled plan, Moreno's elimination of subsidies drove the most popular variety of gasoline from $1.85 to $2.39 a gallon and diesel from $1.03 to $2.30. Panic and speculation sent prices soaring, with costs of some products doubling or more. Protests over the austerity package were led by indigenous groups but drew thousands of Ecuadorians from outside that minority. Protesters blocked roads, shuttered businesses from dairies to flower farms and halved Ecuador's oil production, forcing a temporary halt to the country's most important export. In the country's Amazon oil fields, protests at installations, described by some government officials as attacks, halted or slowed production. Ecuador had been producing 430,000 barrels a day, but that had dropped to 176,029 barrels by Sunday, said an official at state oil producer Petroamazonas, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. The drop in output has led to a loss of about $14 million a day, the official said. The public ombudsman's office said Sunday that seven people had died in the protests, 1,340 had been hurt and 1,152 arrested. Moreno has blamed the violence on drug traffickers, organized crime and followers of Correa, who has denied allegations that he is trying to topple Moreno's government. "These days should teach us to value peace, stability and security," Moreno said Monday. "Applying the weight of the law when necessary and dialogue when possible." Moreno served Correa as vice president before he become president and the two men went through a bitter split as Moreno pushed to curb public debt amassed on Correa's watch. The national prosecutor's office said Paola Pabon, a Correa ally and governor of the province surrounding Quito, Pichincha, had been arrested on suspicion of ties to acts of vandalism committed around the capital during the protests. It was the first arrest of a Correa ally in connection with the protests. Foreign Minister Jose Valencia told The Associated Press on Sunday that the Moreno administration believed Correa, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Colombia's far-left FARC and ELN guerrillas are working to destabilize Ecuador. He offered no proof beyond the fact that a handful of Correa loyalists and some Venezuelan nationals had been detained during the protests. "They have a political agenda and the violence and chaos that they sowed yesterday in the city, a coordinated chaos, lets us see this political agenda," Valencia said. Correa and Maduro have denied involvement in the protests. ___ Associated Press writer Raisa Avila contributed to this report. In Indian-administered Kashmir, students are being used as tools to keep the charade of normalcy alive. Every year in Indian-administered Kashmir, thousands of students start the academic year hoping that this time things will be a bit better, a bit more normal. We head to our classrooms determined to cherish every minute that we are there and take everything in as quickly as we can, as we never know whether we will be able to return the next day. After all, thanks to never-ending violence and oppression, we hardly attend school. Unlike many of our peers elsewhere in the world, going to school most days of the year is not a certainty for us. In March 2019, when I started the new school year as a Class 12 (the final year of secondary school) student, I was once again hoping for the best. I was happy to be back but aware that an escalation in violence can cut the academic year short at any moment. My friends were as nervous as I was. Trying to laugh away our concerns, we joked about the possibility of yet another break starting soon. In a few months, our jokes became a reality. On August 5, we had a biology exam. I did not feel I was adequately prepared for it, so the night before I prayed for something to happen to cause the exam to be postponed, or better yet, cancelled. Of course, I had no idea what was about to happen. If I had, I would have taken 100 more exams to stop it. The next morning, my father shook me awake and gave me the news that the Indian government had scrapped Article 370 the article in the constitution which granted our region special status and protected its demography. I cannot quite recall what I did that day. All I remember was thinking: What is going to happen to us now? In the following days, everyone put forward their theories about our future. Each imagined scenario was grimmer than the one before it. We were unable to discuss our future with anyone outside our immediate neighbourhood the internet was shut down, phone lines were cut, and a curfew was imposed. I told myself just wait until the Eid is over. The Muslim religious holiday was to take place in a weeks time, and I naively thought that once that had passed, life in Indian-administered Kashmir would return to normal, or at least to a state that could be considered normal under military occupation. I was wrong. Eid came and went, but our situation did not change. I imagine being a 17-year-old student in Class 12 is not that easy anywhere in the world. You must get good grades. You must secure your place at a good university. You are repeatedly reminded that the grades you get in Class 12 affect the type of college you will be admitted to and thereby, your future. I know that these are ordinary worries of young adulthood. But last year in Indian-administered Kashmir, I had the added pressure of being a prisoner in my own home. I wanted to study, but the shutdown made it almost impossible for me to do so. Schools were closed, tuition centres were locked, and, of course, the online study opportunities were gone. Thanks to the total communications blackout, I could not even seek guidance from my teachers or support from my friends. Moreover, I was worried about my friends. I did not know if they were OK and had no means of checking. Had any of them been arrested? Killed? My parents were also suffering. I had never seen them so devastated and under so much pressure. They were worried not only about the events transpiring around us, but also about my future. They were so desperate for me to continue with my education that they wandered around our neighbourhood looking for a teacher who could help me. They also could not communicate at all with my brother, who was studying in New Delhi at the time. When we eventually got in touch with him, he told us he, too, had been unable to concentrate on his studies because he had no idea what fate his family back home had suffered. In late September, I heard the front gate of our house open, then familiar voices. When I peeked through the window, I saw my friends who I have not heard from in almost two months, standing there. I ran outside barefoot. They told me to get ready as our school had decided to carry on with our internal practical tests which would contribute to our final exams. Then in October, the Board of School Education announced that schools in Indian-administered Kashmir would go ahead with the annual examinations without any relaxation in the syllabus. This meant that despite my school being able to complete only 30 percent of the Class 12 syllabus before the August shutdown, we would be examined on the entire syllabus in November. I was angry and upset. Clearly, the officials who took this decision did not care whether we would be able to pass these exams. They did not care whether we learned anything. The only thing they were concerned about was the number of students who would sit the exams. They wanted everyone to attend as if nothing had happened so that they could boast in the media that everything had returned to normal in Indian-administered Kashmir. I could do nothing other than try to learn the syllabus in the short amount of time that was left. I spent the month before my exams at my grandmothers house in order to study without any distractions. There was so little time, I read some chapters for the first time the day before the exams started. On the first day of exams, there were hardly any buses available. As everyone was forced to use private vehicles, the traffic was heavy, and many students could not reach their exam venues in time. The authorities once again turned a blind eye to the problem. No one was given extra time, and some students were forced to start writing their exams almost half an hour late. We were all set for failure, but nobody cared. Things did not get any better in the following days. It started snowing and there was no electricity for a week. The weather was so cold, I could barely hold my pen. When I expressed my annoyance at all of this, my father said something that I will never forget: Get used to it, things will be like this from now on. Despite all this, we did the best we could. Officials did not say much about our performance, or the obstacles we faced but boasted about the high exam attendance rate. In the eyes of the authorities, us Kashmiri students are nothing but tools to keep the charade of normalcy alive. They do not care about our education, our wellbeing or our future. They think simply by forcing us to sit exams they can convince us, and the world, that we are receiving an education. But we are well aware of our reality. We know that what they are trying to sell as normal is anything but. But despite all the obstacles put in front of us, we are aware of our power and our potential. We know that whatever they do, they cannot change the fact that we are the future of this land. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Fourteen Michigan businesses were issued cease-and-desist orders to stop offering illegal gambling games during 2019 through a joint enforcement effort by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office and the Michigan Gaming Control Board. The 14 businesses claimed to operate redemption games, which are legal in Michigan. Investigators determined the locations instead were offering casino-style video slot machines based on chance and rather than skill. Each location chose to close rather than face potential criminal charges, according to a press release from the Michigan Gaming Control Board. An unlicensed gambling business operator can face a 10-year felony charge. At least two of the businesses have since reopened. Illegal gambling can lead to money laundering and other crimes that impact the safety and security of Michigan communities, Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director, said in the press release. Legal gambling is taxed and regulated, and taxes go back into the community as funding for K-12 education. An illegal gambling operation doesnt support the community but instead siphons funds away from it. The locations ordered in 2019 to cease offering illegal gambling games by county are: Kent County The Nudgemaster Cafe, 3514 Plainfield Ave., Grand Rapids. The cafe reopened in January. Lapeer County Fortunes Skilled Gaming Lounge, 1777 South Cedar St., Imlay City. Atlantis Internet Cafe, 759 East St., Lapeer. Jackpot Island Cafe, 700 S. Main St., Lapeer. Genesee County Burton Redemption Center, 5515 Davison Road, Burton. Monte Carlo Cafe, 723 South State Road, Davison Macomb County Jewlz Haven, 66783 Gratiot, Richmond. Spinners 777, 43648 Schoenherr, Sterling Heights. Luckys Skill Game Cafe, 66830 Van Dyke, Washington Township. Oakland County X-Tech Internet Cafe, 290 South Telegraph, Pontiac. Luckys 7160 Highland Road, Waterford. Bingo City, 4443 Dixie Highway, Waterford. The operation appears to have reopened. Waterford Redemption Center, 3687 Highland Road, Waterford. Washtenaw County Stoney Creek Internet Cafe, 2040 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. The MGCB offers a guide on internet cafes and cyber cafes on its website, www.michigan.gov/mgcb. Michigan residents can report illegal or suspicious gambling activity anonymously by calling 888-314-2682. US President Donald Trump is excited about the millions of people he expects to see on the way from the Ahmedabad airport to the venue of a public rally he is expected to jointly address with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits India later this month with First Lady Melania Trump. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said Modi told him this was most likely during a phone call past weekend when they discussed the upcoming visit that we will have millions and millions of people. He thinks we will have 5-7 million people just from the airport to the new stadium. The stadium in question is the Motera cricket stadium. It is under construction, will be the venue of the rally and, once finished, will be the largest cricket stadium in the world. Trump called Modi a friend of mine and a great gentleman, and marvelled at the size of crowd he was expecting to see. He likes to talk about the size of his rallies and was impressed by the 50,000 that showed up for the Howdy Modi event the two leaders addressed in Houston last September.The US president has kept a close watch on the stadium and knew it was under construction. Prime Minister Modi followed up shortly on Twitter, assuring the president that a memorable welcome awaits him and the first lady. Extremely delighted that @POTUS, @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship, he added. In another post, he said that the two countries share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world. The two leaders have struck up a personal rapport, according to officials from both sides, over frequent meetings and phone calls. They may have met at least four times since Modis re-election last summer. They spoke last weekend, the White House said in a statement Monday announcing the visit. President Trump and the first lady will visit Ahmedabad and New Delhi and stop over briefly in Agra on the way home, according to people familiar with the discussions. The precise itinerary of the visit will be announced closer to the date, with more details about the rally and meetings. President Trump appears keenest about the rally, which he asked for, according to the people cited earlier, impressed by the turnout at Howdy Modi . He possibly has the upcoming November election in mind when he will need every voting group large and small to win a second term. Indian Americans are a tiny but extremely wealthy and increasingly influential minority. They have voted Democratic traditionally, but have been moving towards the Republican party in recent years, and Trump might be hastening the process with his efforts to reach out to them, starting in October 2016, when he became the first presidential nominee of a major party to address a rally exclusively of Indian Americans. And the rally in Gujarat would be another, much bigger, pitch to Indian Americans, a large number of whom come from Gujarat. Lu Jing, the Chinese woman accused of trespassing at Mar-a-Lago and resisting an officer without violence, unexpectedly testified in her own defense in a Palm Beach County court Tuesday, saying she was a harmless and confused tourist who walked through the open and unguarded main entrance of President Donald Trumps private club and home to take pictures last year. It was an open gate that was very pretty, said Lu, speaking at the trial through a Mandarin interpreter. But perhaps equally surprising at the day-long trial was how much it revealed about security at the presidents primary legal residence. Testimony from Mar-a-Lago employees included the size of its private security staff (13 guards) and the precise locations of various motion-sensor security cameras. A verdict is expected Wednesday. Lu, who police say is in the country on an expired visa, faces the two misdemeanor charges, as well as eventual deportation. Mar-a-Lago is operated by the Trump Organization as a members-only club and resort. It has become a prime tourist destination for Chinese visitors in the United States because of its association with the president, as well as the fact that Trump used it to host a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017. While [Mar-a-Lago] may be an attractive structure, it is a private club, said Joseph Kadis, a prosecutor for the Palm Beach County State Attorneys Office. Ms. Jing was not a member, and was certainly not an invited guest. On the stand, Lu seemed to acknowledge that she realized she shouldnt have entered the property on Dec. 18 after a security guard walked up to her and began gesturing. I feel that he didnt want me to be there, she said. Prosecutors jumped on that statement in cross-examination, pointing out that while she left, she then came back through a service entrance and continued taking photographs. Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trumps private club in Palm Beach. Lu also testified that she was scared when Palm Beach police later approached her on a downtown street because she does not speak English and said she panicked when officers attempted to take her into custody. Story continues Defendants are generally advised not to testify in their own defense. When Judge Mark Eissey asked public defender Schnelle Tonge whether she had recommended her client testify, Tonge responded: I would rather not answer that question. Lus testimony lasted more than an hour and was raucous and confusing, as she often responded to yes-or-no questions with extended answers. She and her interpreter frequently spoke over each other. She also stood up to physically re-enact her interactions with the security guard and police officers, and to recreate her movements that day by drawing them on a large piece of paper. Her testimony continued past 5 p.m and the courts back rows gradually filled up with observers as other cases in the building finished for the day. Her stamina even outpaced her interpreter, who had to be relieved by a second Mandarin translator on hand in the courtroom to assist. By the early evening, Lu sat weeping at the defense table. Mar-a-Lagos security protocols have come under scrutiny after several high-profile breaches. One involved another Chinese woman, Yujing Zhang, who made it inside the club March 13 without a valid invitation. Lu Jing, charged with loitering and prowling at Mar-a-Lago, the South Florida home of President Trump, appears in court in Palm Beach County on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2019. To her right is her interpreter. Then, earlier this month, a Connecticut woman driving an SUV was able to bypass Secret Service barricades near the club, leading law enforcement officers to open fire. Despite bullets tearing into her vehicle, she somehow managed to escape to the mainland before authorities could locate and arrest her. The intrusions have come amid an ongoing investigation by the U.S. attorneys office in Miami into possible Chinese spying in South Florida, including at Mar-a-Lago. Lus defense Tuesday relied on her inability to speak English. Her attorneys argued she couldnt understand that she wasnt welcome at the club or why officers wanted to talk to her. On Dec. 18, Lu was dropped off by a tour guide she had hired to show her South Floridas most famous sites, Tonge said. The 56-year-old Lu, wearing a black fanny pack, was fascinated by the beauty of this place, she said. Secret Service was not present because Trump was not at the club. Private contractors hired by the Trump Organization normally run security. Murray Fulton, a security guard, testified that he saw Lu enter the club from several hundred yards away, approached her and began making gestures that she had to leave, including crossing his arms in front of his chest and pointing her off the property. She left only to then enter club grounds through a service driveway around the corner. Lu testified that no one told her she couldnt go through the side entrance and noted there were no signs forbidding entrance. Fulton approached her once more. I was telling her again she was going to get into a world of trouble, he said in court. She departed. Club staff called police in case she tried to return. At the prosecutions request, Fulton also pointed out the location of security cameras on the property, using an aerial photograph of Mar-a-Lago. Footage of his encounter with Lu was shown in court. Richard Cartolano, who was installed as the clubs new director of security after the Zhang affair, testified that only members and their guests are allowed onto Mar-a-Lago. After Lu left a second time, her tour guide drove her to Palm Beachs high-end Worth Avenue shopping district, where she again started taking pictures, according to her public defenders. (Lu testified that she did not remember the tour guides name but paid him $200 and said he was Chinese.) Lu Jing was arrested Dec. 18 after trespassing at Mar-a-Lago, according to the Palm Beach Police Department. An officer with the Palm Beach Police Department approached Lu near a Salvatore Ferragamo store. He said he did not intend to arrest her but simply wanted to question her about the trespassing allegation. I had to use hand signals, he said. It didnt appear that she spoke English. But Lu did not cooperate, Sgt. Michael Dawson testified. Dawson said he briefly attempted to use a translation app on his phone but was unable to make it work, something not noted in a police report. He also called for backup. Dawson and a second officer, Taylor Molinaro, said Lu still would not cooperate, crossing her hands over chest and crying No! No! No! when Molinaro tried to handcuff and arrest her. He testified that he subdued her before taking her to a station. What are you doing? What are you doing? Lu recalled saying. I didnt do anything wrong. I just took a couple pictures. I was very scared when I saw the handcuffs, she said. I didnt know why they wanted to arrest me. Prosecutor Alexandra Dorman said the officers gave her numerous opportunities to comply. In response to a question from the judge, Dorman also said no federal charges were brought because Trump was not at the club. (Zhang, in contrast, entered Mar-a-Lago while the president was in town and was convicted of lying to a federal agent and entering a restricted property.) The specter of partisan politics hung over the proceedings. Palm Beach County voted solidly in favor of Hillary Clinton in 2016, and the presidents name was frequently invoked Tuesday. From the eastward-facing windows of the West Palm Beach courthouses ninth floor, it almost felt possible to see the club, which sits near the southern tip of the island of Palm Beach. During morning jury selection, two prospective jurors were dismissed after expressing doubts that they could approach the evidence impartially knowing the property belonged to Trump. Another juror had a different concern. Im wondering why we are here, the man said while being questioned by the judge and lawyers for both sides. It seems to me this should have been settled earlier. Trespassing? Slap on the wrist and go about your business. That juror was dismissed. On Tuesday, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials questioned Congress leader DK Shivakumar's mother Gaurma and her brother DK Suresh in the money laundering case. He questioned Shivkumar's mother at the farmhouse in Kodihalli. WHO gives official name to coronavirus, death toll crosses 1017 Based on the complaint filed by the Income Tax Department, a money laundering case was filed by the ED against Congress leader DK Shivakumar in September 2018, alleging tax evasion of crores and hawala transactions. Big disclosure: Nepal closes its resort after 08 deaths Last year, the Congress leader was arrested by the investigating agency on 3 September and sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail on 17 September. Earlier, he was in ED custody for 14 days. On 23 October, the Delhi High Court granted bail to Shivakumar after a massive interrogation by the investigating agency since his arrest on 3 September. Haryana CM Flying team raids HUDA offices A road safety charity has called for automatic bans for drivers who rack up 12 or more penalty points after it was revealed one Northern Ireland motorist amassed an astonishing 21 points without losing their licence. The BBC Nolan Show reported a total of 43 people in Northern Ireland still have their driving licence despite having 12 or more penalty points. If you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years you will be liable to be disqualified under the totting-up system. New drivers will automatically have their licence revoked if they build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing their first driving test. However, courts have the discretion not to ban a driver if it would cause exceptional hardship. Figures published in 2019 show that licences held by more than 11,000 drivers have 12 or more points on them on mainland UK. Road safety charity BRAKE told the Belfast Telegraph it is calling for all drivers to receive an automatic ban if they have 12 penalty points on their licence in a bid to deter speeding and dangerous driving. Samuel Nahk, senior public affairs officer said: It is appalling that drivers are still able to get behind the wheel despite having accumulated 12 points or more on their licence. Too often, drivers who have been caught repeatedly breaking the law are let off by using the exceptional hardship loophole. These dangerous repeat offenders have been granted ample opportunity to change their driving behaviour, yet continue to put lives at risk through their complete disregard for the law. If drivers who rack up 12 points arent banned, it makes a mockery of the system. This loophole needs closing urgently. Driving is a privilege, not a right and if that privilege is not exercised responsibly, it should be revocable, no matter how inconvenient. Sinn Feins transport spokesman Sean Lynch MLA said road safety had to be a priority. This will be distressing news to those injured or bereaved by dangerous driving, he said. I will be asking the minister for infrastructure for clarity on this issue and to outline the conditions which allows drivers with 12 penalty points or more to keep driving. Road safety needs to be the priority consideration with regards to the enforcement of the penalty point system. A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) recorded the penalty points against the driver record, as advised by the courts. The DVA does not have the power to disqualify a person from driving a disqualification can only be ordered by the court. A spokesman for the Office of the Lord Chief Justice said that in sentencing offenders the court works within the legal framework set down in Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. If a person is convicted of an offence which results in them exceeding 12 points on their licence, the court must order the driver to be disqualified from driving unless there are mitigating circumstances, the spokesman said. The court may decide to disqualify the person for a shorter period or not disqualify them at all. In making its decision, the court will consider a range of factors which will depend on the specific circumstance of the case, the spokesman added. Number of drivers in Northern Ireland with 12 or more penalty points who still have their licence Twenty-four drivers have 12 points Four drivers have 13 points Six drivers have 14 points Six drivers have 15 points One driver has 16 points One driver has 17 points One driver has 21 points TROY Rensselaer County officials confirmed Wednesday that a 28-year-old Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student who was found dead inside his apartment earlier this week died from influenza. Yeming Shen was discovered by his roommate on Monday inside their shared City Station apartment in Troy, said Mary Fran Wachunas, the county's public health director. An autopsy completed at Albany Medical Center the next day confirmed the graduate student had influenza A a type of flu that "comes on very sudden and severe," Wachunas said. "What happened this year was flu came in quite early and when it comes in early it does sometimes divide and mutate and so we have a couple strains circulating right now," she said. School and county health officials had to work immediately to quell concerns that Shen, a student from China, may have died of the novel coronavirus discovered in Wuhan, China in December, even though he had not traveled outside the U.S. for at least 13 months. The county worked with RPI and the state Department of Health to investigate the cause, said Richard Crist, the county's director of operations, in a statement. "Further testing is expected to be completed in several days," Crist said in a statement. "As we stated yesterday, we do not believe there is any risk to the public. Our condolences to the family and friends of the student." RPI President Shirley Ann Jackson informed the campus of Shen's death via email Wednesday afternoon, and said counseling and grief services are available to those who need them. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Yeming's family, fellow students, friends, and teachers," she said. "We are all saddened by the loss of one of our own. Please support each other during this difficult time." In a separate email sent to students the same day, Dr. Leslie Lawrence, executive director for health and wellness on campus, said RPI has noted "five times the number" of flu cases it usually sees this time of year. He also said the campus is out of flu vaccine, but will be receiving a limited shipment to the Student Health Center in the next couple days. Both school and county health officials declined to say whether Shen had sought medical intervention in the days and weeks prior to his death, citing privacy concerns. Shen was studying Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems. He previously earned a master of science degree in operational research and cybernetics and a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and applied math, both from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. He was working toward his doctorate in decision sciences and engineering systems, studying interdicting interdependent networks. In 2018, Yeming won the IEEE HST Best Track Paper Award for his paper "Land/Maritime Borders and Critical Infrastructure Protection Track." He was an editorial reviewer for Omega (The International Journal of Management Science). He also served as a teaching and research assistant in the School of Engineering. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Flu is currently active and widespread in New York. Cases have been confirmed in all 62 counties statewide, with 89,597 cases as of Feb. 7. The state Department of Health said it received reports of 17,231 lab-confirmed cases in the previous week alone. The most lab-confirmed influenza cases reported to the state during a single week was 18,252 in 2017-18. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nationwide so far this season there have been at least 22 million flu illnesses, 210,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths from flu. While people typically associate flu deaths with the very young and the very old, Wachunas emphasized Wednesday that flu can affect anyone. "Flu kills people," she said. "I think a lot of times we take it for granted because it comes around every year, but it's a very serious virus and it kills people across this country every year." The best way to protect yourself, experts say, is to get an annual flu shot, stay home when sick, wash your hands frequently, and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. (CDC has more prevention tips here) Correction: A previous version of this article contained the wrong age for Shen. He was 28. The perennial debate on abolishing the monarchy, this time triggered by the Sussexes transplanting themselves to Vancouver Island, has appeared once again. As I read through the various commentaries being offered, I feel there are teachings that have been gifted to me by Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers that should to be shared: Abolishing the Crown in Canada will not draw a line under colonialism. If anything, it will be yet another step toward completing its mission. When Indigenous Nations first encountered Europeans on Turtle Island (North America) they began incorporating them into their own long-established protocols of treaty-making. Treaties created the necessary diplomatic space in which very different societies could communicate and negotiate complex relationships despite radically different world-views. The Crown was a natural vehicle for settlers to enter long-term relationships with their Indigenous partners. Treaty, like the institution of the monarchy, is an organic creation that evolves or devolves depending on those who are engaged with it. They are meant to be the best reflections of their constituents. They also require personal relationships to be effective. Confederation disrupted these relationships, eclipsing (without the consent of Indigenous Peoples) treaties and placing them under the control of the federal government. Canada Day is often celebrated as the beginning of the countrys journey toward full independence. However, paralleling this journey has been the dismantling of treaties and assimilation of Indigenous peoples into the settler society. Elizabeth II is Queen of Canada and must take advice from the Canadian prime minister (itself a colonial office). The Prime Ministers Office is now the gatekeeper of the ancient Treaty relationships of this land, restricting both the access of Indigenous Peoples to the Queen (previous to Confederation such meetings happened regularly) as well as controlling when members of the Senior Royal Family can visit. Still, the Queen and her representatives remain the keepers of protocols for non-Indigenous Canada at the apex of our national and provincial ceremonies and are rediscovering their roles as natural conduits into our treaty relationships. The Crowns powerful and apolitical ability to convene gatherings of people across society highlights an enduring aspect of the treaty relationship. The power to convene is enhanced further when it is coupled with the traditional rights of the Queen and her representatives in our democracy: to consult, encourage, and warn the government. Last summer, a meeting was hosted by Ontarios Lieutenant Governor, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, at Torontos Massy College. The Council at the Chapel Royal saw all of Canadas viceregal representatives and territorial commissioners gathered around a Sacred Fire lit by the Mississaugas of the Credit. Following protocols that evoked ancient relationships predating Confederation, the Queens representatives heard an address by Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. During this historic address, Bellegarde enlightened the governor general, lieutenant governor and territorial commissioners saying: Properly understood, the treaty relationship is not founded in rights denial or a colonial mentality but, rather, in the equality and sovereignty of peoples and our agreement to share the land without dominating one another. He went on to say: Each of you must be aware of this history and the significance of treaty as part of your high office. While the government of the day has a role to operationalize the treaty obligations held by the Crown, the Queens representatives are the caretakers and witnesses to this immutable relationship. Canada is a colonial state and for over two centuries the Crown was co-opted into the drive to forcibly settle this continent its offices and symbols were employed in this effort to great effect. However, that was not the original vision for this land. Thanks to Indigenous and viceregal leaders, the true role of the Crown in this land is being rediscovered and relationships rekindled. As the Duke of Cambridge, the future king, told the elders of Haida Gwaii during his visit in 2016, The historic link between the Crown and the First Nations people is strong, and one that I hold dear to my heart. Ironically, abolishing the Crown in this land, or diluting it to the point of being a meaningless symbol, without the consent of its treaty partners runs the risk of fully realizing the goal of colonization: complete control over the lands foundational relationships by the settlers. A worker was severely hurt Tuesday morning when a large piece of granite fell on him in Southeast Portland. KPTV reports the incident happened at Casa bella Granite & Marble shortly before 10 a.m. The worker was taken to OHSU Hospital with critical injuries. Oregons Occupational Safety and Health division is investigating the incident, according to the news station. The name of the worker who was hurt has not been released. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is the sequel to the popular Netflix film. (Netflix/Bettina Strauss) To All The Boy: P.S I Still Love You, the sequel to Netflixs 2018 hit teen comedy To All the Boys I've Loved Before, is now available to stream. Kicking things off almost right where we left them at the end of the first film, Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) are now an official item. Behind the scenes Michael Fimognari is now in the directors chair instead of Susan Johnson. Lara Jeans boy troubles continue as one of her old crushes and recipients of her infamous love letters, John Ambrose, comes back onto the scene, now recast as Jordan Fisher. The character was initially depicted as white in the first film in a flashback of Lara Jeans, while Fisher is mixed-race. While he only initially appeared very briefly, a re-jig of the character now it's a more prominent role isn't surprising, it does feel notable considering the critical concerns of the first film. Read more: Oscars 2020 TV audience hits a new low One criticism levied at the widely-acclaimed debut was the lack of diversity among Lara Jean's crushes, primarily that a male Asian-American love interest would've been a welcome addition considering the demographics lack of representation in TV and film. Her main love interest Peter is white, as were three out of four of the other recipients of the love letters her sister Kitty (Anna Cathcart) secretly sent out on her behalf in the first film. While Vietnamese-American Lara Jean still doesn't have any Asian-American love interests, her best friend Christine (Madeleine Arthur) falls for Peter's good friend Trevor played by Ross Butler, who is of Chinese-Malaysian heritage, further expanding the racial diversity of the cast. It seems as though fans concerns have been listened to to some degree, without being shoe-horned in. Lara Jean's former crush John Ambrose comes back into her life in the sequel. (Netflix/Bettina Strauss) But in spite of the welcome diversity, the film cant help but feel like a letdown from the fresh simplicity of the first film. While volunteering in a home for the elderly, Lara Jean reconnects with John Ambrose which leaves the heroine questioning her feelings for Peter, whom she already has plenty of insecurities about. Lara Jean is frustrated by Peter's flaws and it's hard to look beyond them once the cracks start to show as he turns into a rather unappealing suitor for the heroine, especially when compared with John Ambrose. Story continues It doesnt serve to put the reader in the confused mind of Lara Jean to make us feel her dilemma, rather it undoes the characterisation of the complex jock Peter was portrayed as in the first film. Being a teenager is full of complexities but the follow-up makes itself unnecessarily complicated. There are quick changes of heart, scenes that feel forced and with Peter rapidly losing his shine - its hard to stay invested in a romance with him at the centre when he seems to have changed so much since the last instalment. Lara Jean is conflicted in the sequel to the hit Netflix film. (Netflix/Bettina Strauss) Another weak point in the series is the development of Gen (Emilija Baranac) - the mean girl, Peters ex and former best friend of Lara Jean. She continues on her campaign of petty cruelty after being consistently horrible to Lara Jean in the first film, however, at the end of the film we learn shes got a lot going on at home. We see a kinder side to Gen, but this redemption doesnt feel genuine nor does it feel as though it naturally sits within the plot. Its a positive to see Gen humanised (and it goes some way to explain why Peter wont distance himself from her) but the lack of depth her turnaround is afforded leaves it feeling disingenuous and as though it will not be a permanent change. Read more: Chris Rock and Steve Martin mock lack of diversity during Oscars opening The strength of the franchise lies in its overwhelming levels of charm, largely thanks to main player Lana Condor who has a bewitching screen-presence. It also returns with the colourful and comfy visuals complete with an excellent soundtrack. It doesnt live up to its predecessor but its warmth and familiarity will be a comfort to already-established fans, who will no doubt be back for the already confirmed third instalment. Thankfully, theres time for To All the Boys to end on a high after a second-film slump. Two more cases of COVD-2019 confirmed in Singapore, including a worker at RWS Two new cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVD-2019) infection were confirmed on February 11, including an employee of the casino at Resorts World Sentosa. Both new cases have no recent travel history to China. Separately, two more confirmed cases were discharged from hospital today, making it a total of nine who have fully recovered. Casino at Resorts World Sentosa. Photo courtesy: RWS In a statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH), authorities said most of remaining 38 are stable or improving. Seven are in critical condition. Case 46: A 35-year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident (PR). He went to work at RWS Casino prior to admission. Case 47: A 39-year-old Bangladesh National. He is a Singapore Work Pass holder, and went to work at Seletar Aerospace Heights (same location as case 42), prior to admission. Of the 25 locally transmitted case, 15 have links to three known clusters. Contact tracing is underway for the remaining 10. The New Hampshire primary takes place Tuesday night and as its the second big contest of the 2020 primary season, the major cable news networks will be doing special coverage, as will a variety of outlets and their corresponding digital arms. Most polls in the state close at 7 p.m. ET. All polls in New Hampshire will be closed by 8 p.m. ET, and after some time to calculate the votes, results will start appearing on the major networks. Live coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on C-SPAN, C-SPAN Radio and C-SPAN.org. The network will have live results along with a simulcast of WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire, followed by candidate speeches and results coverage. Fox News and CBS News are both offering live coverage, too. Fox News programming will feature special coverage of the primary from Bedford, New Hampshire. Barring Laura Ingrahams Ingraham Angle, all of the networks primetime coverage will air from New Hampshire. On CBS, Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah ODonnell will lead the networks broadcasts from Manchester, New Hampshire. You can also watch CBSNs livestream (CBS News web service) above right now. Alternately, watch NBC News livestream here, watch the PBS livestream here, and watch ABC News livestream here. Also Read: Fox News Wins Cable News Ratings War Amid Iowa Caucus and Ensuing Chaos Though New Hampshire is small state that is highly unrepresentative of the Democratic Party at large, because of its statyus as the first primary (rather than caucus) in a presidential election year, it can sometimes strongly influence primaries in later states. But tonights results are of particular interest as they come a week after the total debacle that was the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses. The 2020 Democratic primary started with a dramatic turn last Monday as the Iowa Democratic Party, citing inconsistencies, delayed announcement of its caucus final results until Tuesday morning, prompting mass speculation from cable news channels as the candidates vowed to press on to New Hampshire. Days of uncertainty followed as the Iowa Democratic Party released results piecemeal, satisfying no one, the final results were inconclusive, and DNC chair Tom Perez demanded a full recount. In other words, the well-scheduled coverage plans we reported for each of the networks earlier today were totally blown up, but heres hoping that doesnt happen this time. Read original story How to Watch and Stream the New Hampshire Primary Results as They Come Out At TheWrap ShakespeareFest is officially over, but fortunately another cultural giant rises from the sea to take the Bards place. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. ShakespeareFest is officially over, but fortunately another cultural giant rises from the sea to take the Bards place. GodzillaFest, starting on Friday at Cinematheque, is for lovers of the giant, condo-crushing lizard with the atomic breath who first appeared on screen in 1954 in the Japanese thriller Godzilla (a.k.a Gojira). Godzilla takes on Hedorah, a.k.a. the Smog Monster, in Godzilla vs. Hedorah. (Supplied) One such lover is Matt Maslanka, a 39-year-old Winnipeg lawyer who brings his devotion to bear when he introduces the 1971 entry Godzilla Vs. Hedorah (better known as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) at the 7 p.m. screening Friday evening. "Ive been into Godzilla since I was five years old," he says. "My granddad showed me (the 1933) version of King Kong when I was about three or four years old. Fantastic. And then when I was about five, my dad brought home a VHS copy he rented of Godzilla 1985. "And it just blew me away," Maslanka says. "I blame him." Over the years, Maslanka grew to appreciate the cultural importance of Godzilla. "They really are quite fascinating, especially when you think about the reason behind Godzillas creation in the first place," Maslanka says. "It was an allegory about the atomic bombings in Japan at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "When you go back and look at that first movie from 1954, its surprising how sombre and dark it is. I would consider it a masterpiece." Godzilla vs. Hedorah, the film Maslanka introduces, is not considered a masterpiece in most circles, he acknowledges. In fact, it turned up in a book of the 100 worst movies ever made. "Even in a series of upwards of 35 movies, this would be considered the weird one," he says. "Its out there. Theres a lot of 60s psychedelia incorporated into it and animation. Its even a lot gorier than the Godzilla movies have been, before or since." The film focuses on the environmental terror being posed by the smog monster, an alien life form that feeds on pollution, Maslanka explains, adding, "The environmental message was as relevant now as it was in the 70s. It also ties back to the original in terms of its allegorical approach. The smog monster is an embodiment of the pollution that was afflicting Japan at that time." The films might come as a surprise to younger viewers, who have only seen the recent Godzilla/King Kong reboots featuring all-digital creatures. Maslanka hopes such viewers will be as charmed as he was. "Im kind of old-school. I like my giant monster movies with the guys in the rubber suits destroying the model buildings," he says. "Thats what drew me to it in the first place, and theres something about that that you cant replicate with computer graphics." The GodzillaFest program features new digital restorations of four films from the Godzilla library, mostly in Japanese with English subtitles, including: Godzilla vs. Hedorah (Friday, 7 p,m.; Sunday, 5 p.m.) The King of the Monsters fights an alien life form that arrives on Earth and steadily grows by feeding on industrial waste. Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno. All Monsters Attack (Friday, 9 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m.) Director Ishiro Honda, the man who helmed the first Godzilla movie, targets this 1969 film directly to kids. Ichiro, a lonely latchkey kid, finds a kindred spirit in Minilla, the son of Godzilla, whose parent is also often absent. Destroy All Monsters 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. (Saturday, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m.) In 1968, the original Godzilla team of director Ishiro Honda and special-effects supervisor Eiji Tsuburaya reunited for this kaiju extravaganza, which features no fewer than 11 monsters. Godzilla vs. Megalon (Sunday, 3 p.m.) This free Cabin Fever screening for kids sees Godzilla going up against two formidable foes Megalon and Gigan intent on claiming Earth for the ancient underground civilization of Seatopia. This is the only entry dubbed into English. Admission to each screening (other than Godzilla vs. Megalon) is $5. randall.king@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @FreepKing English French Demonstrator phase launched: Future Combat Air System takes major step forward @AirbusDefence @dassault_onair @MTUaeroeng @Safran @ThalesGroup Paris/ Munich, 12 February 2020 The governments of France and Germany have awarded Dassault Aviation, Airbus, together with their partners MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA and Thales, the initial framework contract (Phase 1A), which launches the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This framework contract covers a first period of 18 months and initiates work on developing the demonstrators and maturing cutting-edge technologies, with the ambition to begin flight tests as soon as 2026. Since early 2019, the industrial partners have been working on the future architecture as part of the programmes so called Joint Concept Study. Now, the FCAS programme enters into another decisive phase with the launch of the demonstrator phase. This phase will, in a first step, focus on the main technological challenges per domains: Next Generation Fighter (NGF), with Dassault Aviation as prime contractor and Airbus as main partner, to be the core element of Future Combat Air System, Unmanned systems Remote Carrier (RC) with Airbus as prime contractor and MBDA as main partner, Combat Cloud (CC) with Airbus as prime contractor and Thales as main partner, Engine with Safran and MTU as main partner. A Simulation Environment will be jointly developed between the involved companies to ensure the consistency between demonstrators. The launch of the Demonstrator Phase underlines the political confidence and determination of the FCAS partner nations and the associated industry to move forward and cooperate in a fair and balanced manner. The increased momentum enables industry to deploy the necessary resources and best capabilities to develop this decisive European defence project. FCAS will be the cornerstone project guaranteeing Europes future operational, industrial and technological sovereignty. The next important step in the FCAS programme will be the onboarding of Spain and the involvement of additional suppliers from Phase 1B onwards, which will succeed Phase 1A after its successful conclusion. * * * About Airbus Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of 64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the worlds leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide. Media contacts Martin Aguera martin.aguera@airbus.co m +49 175 227 4369 Florian Taitsch florian.taitsch@airbus.com +49 151 168 31052 This and other press releases and high resolution photos are available on: AirbusMedia About Dassault Aviation With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2018, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 5.1 billion. The company has 12 750 employees. Media contact Nathalie Bakhos Nathalie-Beatrice.Bakhos@dassault-aviation.com +33 (0)1 47 11 92 75 About MBDA MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2018 MBDA achieved revenue of 3.2 billion euros with an order book of 17.4 billion euros. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development. MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%). Media contact Jean Dupont jean.dupont@mbda-systems.com +33 (0) 633 37 64 66 About MTU Aero Engines MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany's leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of todays active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country's military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2018, the company had a workforce of some 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of approximately 4.6 billion euros. Media contact Eckhard Zanger eckhard.zanger@mtu.de +49 176 1000 6158 About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 80,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of 19 billion in 2018 (on a pro forma basis including Gemalto). Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments. Media contact Maria Mellouli maria.mellouli@thalesgroup.com +33 (0)1 57 77 84 57 About Safran Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aircraft propulsion and equipment, space and defense markets. Safran has a global presence, with more than 95,000 employees and sales of 21 billion euros in 2018. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes Research & Development programs to meet fast-changing market requirements, with total R&D expenditures of around 1.5 billion euros in 2018. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices. For more information: www.safran-group.com / Follow @Safran on Twitter Media contacts Catherine MALEK catherine.malek@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 47 88 03 17 Charles SORET charles.soret@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 31 60 96 79 Attachment LAVAL, Quebec, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health" or the "Company") announced today it will reduce debt by $100 million through the redemption of outstanding senior notes, using cash generated from operations. Bausch Health will redeem $100 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 5.50% Senior Notes due 2023, CUSIP Nos. 91911K AE2, C94143 AE1 (the "Notes") on March 12, 2020. The Company will issue today an irrevocable notice of redemption for the Notes, and a copy will be issued to the record holders of such Notes. Nothing contained herein shall constitute a notice of redemption of the Notes. Payment of the redemption price and surrender of the Notes for redemption will be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository Trust Company. The name and address of the U.S. paying agent are as follows: The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., c/o The Bank of New York Mellon; 111 Sanders Creek Parkway, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057; Attn: Redemption Unit; Tel: 800-254-2826. About Bausch Health Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.bauschhealth.com. Forward-looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the redemption of the Notes. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the Company's business, including risks related to the Company's pending legal and governmental proceedings, legislative and policy efforts, actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulators, the Company's substantial debt, uncertainties associated with acquisitions and product launches, and risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's most recent annual and quarterly reports and detailed from time to time in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which risks and uncertainties are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, except as required by law. SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc. Related Links http://www.bauschhealth.com The White House rolled out President Trump's $4.8 trillion budget blueprint on Monday, mixing hikes in military and border spending with sharp cuts to almost every domestic program in a quixotic or cynical nod toward eventual fiscal rectitude. Nobody expected Congress to embrace all of Trump's ideas, but Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said Monday he plans to ignore all of it. In speech on the Senate floor, Enzi encouraged people "not to waste any time searching out the president's budget cuts. Nobody has listened to the president in the 23 years that I've been here. Congress doesn't pay attention to the president's budget exercise. I don't know why we put him through that." He said he wouldn't hold any hearings on Trump's budget, noting he similarly ignored former President Barack Obama's final budget blueprint. "Congress doesn't pay any attention to the president's budget exercise," Enzi said, according to The Hill. "It's all it is an exercise. Congress holds the purse strings, according to the Constitution, and Congress is very protective of that constitutional authority." The Senate Finance Committee is hearing budget testimony from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar this week, however, and White House and congressional budget officials will also testify before the House on Trump's budget proposals. "If you want the animosity of a budget hearing," go watch the House hearings, Enzi suggested. "You can take that in and get your dose of animosity if you want." More stories from theweek.com In Twitter rampage, Trump attacks federal judge set to sentence Roger Stone Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel find 1 small step between 'drunk with power' Trump and 'a banana republic' Hey Democrats, it's okay to vote for Bernie Sanders Winnipegs mayor wants annual audits of councillor expenses to continue, despite one council committees vote to eliminate them. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Winnipegs mayor wants annual audits of councillor expenses to continue, despite one council committees vote to eliminate them. On Tuesday, councils executive policy committee voted to have the governance committee reconsider its call to end those internal audits for councillors ward allowances. Mayor Brian Bowman said he wants to maintain those audits, as well as similar reviews of his own offices spending. "Its just part of the checks and balances weve put in place here to make sure theres additional transparency and accountability I think its a useful safeguard for taxpayers," said Bowman. A group of local government auditors recommended that Winnipeg end the mayor and councillor audits, over concerns the citys internal auditors werent independent from the elected officials they were scrutinizing, according to a public service report. "This means that there is a structural threat to independence when the audit department is within the reporting structure of an area under audit," city auditor Bryan Mansky writes in the report. The report argues Winnipeg would remain quite transparent about elected officials expenses even without the audits, since the claims are routinely reported online. Mansky notes the city could spend between $50,000 and $100,000 per year to hire an external auditor to conduct the audits instead. The governance committee didnt recommend that idea but Bowman said he would consider paying for external audits. "It is an additional cost but theres costs when you dont have the checks and balances in place," he said. In an email, Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan), chair of the governance committee, said she supported the call to end the audits because Winnipeg has several other measures to scrutinize council members spending. "We have many safeguards in place where expenditures are reviewed City clerks and corporate finance review all expenses prior to processing. There is (a) high level of oversight and transparency with expenses being posted monthly online for public viewing," she wrote. In interviews, both Sharma and Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) questioned whether the city should fund an external auditor to review council members expenses. "We had 44 murders in this city last year, weve got all sorts of important issues to debate. I dont think my parking receipts are top of mind for people, at least in my ward," said Mayes. 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 taxpayers watchdog, however, said the city would be wise to invest in the external audits. "Ultimately, accountability saves money. When the people spending taxpayers money know theres going to be watchdogs watching, they spend less money," said Todd MacKay, prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. MacKay also stressed that ensuring proper claims for even minor taxpayer-funded expenses does matter. "When youre looking at the mayors $40 Timmys bill that may seem insignificant. But when you take care of the little things, thats one of the best ways to make sure the big things take care of themselves," said MacKay. Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Foreign policy is probably the most important consideration in choosing a president because it is the realm in which he or she exercises the greatest control. Though Sanders may champion Medicare for All and punitive wealth taxes, he cant bring them about without persuading Congress which is unlikely. If he decides to withdraw from Afghanistan or reenter the Iran nuclear deal, by contrast, no one will stop him. Prayer is a spiritual discipline. In the Christian tradition, spiritual disciplines take the focus off us and put it on God and others. They are practices that relieve us of our narcissism. The National Prayer Breakfast is a bipartisan event. It brings politicians and religious leaders together to seek common ground through a shared faith. While the breakfast is not without its problems, as we saw in the recent Netflix documentary The Family, it is the closest Washington comes each year to laying aside political bickering and seeking something akin to what Jesus called for in the Gospel of John, Chapter 17 when he prayed that his followers would be brought to complete unity. But President Donald Trump showed at the Thursday morning breakfast that he lacks the spiritual compass and moral understanding to rise to such an occasion. It was the second squandered opportunity this week. In his State of the Union performance last Tuesday night, speaking from the floor of Congress, Trump could have tried to heal the country amid a divisive impeachment trial. Instead he turned this annual sermon of American civil religion into an extended campaign advertisement. Trumps politicization of the prayer breakfast began the moment he entered the room and defiantly waved a copy of USA TODAY with the front-page headline ACQUITTED. In doing so, he sent an unmistakable message to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was seated only a few feet away. She was present to offer a prayer for the suffering and downtrodden of the world, although I am sure she was also prepared for Trumps inappropriate gloating. For those dismayed by Trumps opening salvo, and for all those who were hoping and praying that the breakfast might transcend partisanship, there was still hope. This years keynote speaker, Arthur Brooks, a Harvard social scientist and former president of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, gave a moving address calling Americans to exercise moral courage by loving their enemies. Trump squirmed in his seat as Brooks urged the audience to overcome anger, sarcasm and derision with love. The speech decried the darkness and depravity of social media. And I have no doubt that all eyes turned toward Trump when Brooks challenged the politicians in the room to ask God to take political contempt from your heart, and urged public leaders to make that commitment publicly. The president obviously heard and understood Brooks message an exhortation rooted in the central teachings of Jesus Sermon on the Mount. But when it was his turn to speak, he made clear that he did not agree with it. Trump wasted no time in demonizing his political enemies: As everyone knows, my family, our great country, and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people . . . No one following American politics over the last week could have missed Trumps not-so-veiled attack on Utah's Mitt Romney, the only Republican senator who voted this week to remove him from office. In a moving and emotional floor speech last Wednesday, just before the impeachment trial ended, Romney said his Mormon faith played an important role in his decision to vote against Trumps acquittal. But Trump was having none of it: I dont like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong, he said. Trump also revisited his earlier Twitter attacks on Pelosi, who has said on more than one occasion that she prays for the president: Nor do I like people who say I pray for you, when they know that thats not so. He added, So many people have been hurt. And we cant let that go on. Trump loves Christianity as long it props up his corrupt presidency. He claims to be a defender of religious freedom, but gets angry when people exercise that freedom in a manner that exposes his depravity. Except for telling a story about an African American pastor from Louisiana whose faith provided a source of strength after an arson attack that destroyed his church, Trump did little to offer healing to our broken nation. There were no acts of contrition for his role in the impeachment mess. There was no humility. There was no moral leadership. Throughout his presidency, Trump has used Christianity as a political weapon. On Thursday morning he used the National Prayer Breakfast as his shooting range. And his evangelical supporters cheered. John Fea, an American history professor at Messiah College, is the author of Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump, newly released in paperback. This article original appeared in USA Today. Follow him on Twitter:@JohnFea1 A New Jersey bank has been ordered to pay an employee $2.4million in compensatory damages for failing to protect her from being sexually assaulted by a customer in 2013. Former PNC Bank wealth manager Damara Scott, 41, sued the bank after customer Patrick Pignatello, 77, followed her out of the Glen Ridge branch where she worked, made lewd comments, grabbed her from behind and thrust his groin into her body on October 20, 2013. On Monday a jury sided with her claim that she was assaulted and the bank failed to prevent the attack. Scott, who is black, said that Pignatello was known to sexually harass black women at the branch and the bank did nothing to stop him neither before or after she was attacked. A New Jersey PNC bank has been ordered to pay employee Damara Scott $2.4mllion in compensatory damages for failing to protect her from being sexually assaulted by customer Patrick Pignatello (above), who was known to harass black women, in 2013 Pignatello, a wealthy figure in the town who owned a construction company, died of a heart attack before he was arraigned. 'The jury recognized that PNC had failed to provide a safe workplace for Ms. Scott. We hope PNC will now take the steps to eliminate harassment throughout the company,' Scotts lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith said after the verdict as per the New York Daily News. At the civil case in Newark Superior Court, jurors heard about Pignatellos alleged history of harassing bank employees and customers. A mortgage representative said when she stretched her hand to shake his, he hugged her and rested his head on her breasts instead of taking her hand. He also made sexually-charged comments to female employees at the branch asking them, Are you going to service me today? According to Scotts lawsuit, Pignatello was loitering around the PNC Bank vestibule when she left the bank lobby and he followed her saying: 'I offer full services and I aim to please.' He then placed his hands on her and 'pumped his groin into her backside', the lawsuit states. Scott, 41, sued the bank after customer Patrick Pignatello, 77, followed her out of the Glen Ridge branch (above) where she worked, made lewd comments, grabbed her from behind and thrust his groin into her body on October 20, 2013 A PNC Bank spokesman said the company will appeal the verdict Scott was shaken by the incident and immediately reported it to the branch manager, PNCs internal investigation department and local law enforcement. Pignatello was arrested for criminal sexual contact in October 2013 after the incident. However, the bank did nothing about it and didnt ban Pignatello from using that branch neither before or after his arrest. Scott has already settled the lawsuit against Pigantellos estate. A PNC Bank spokesman, Jason Beyersdorfer, said the company will appeal the verdict. 'PNC does not condone harassment of any kind. We have a long-standing history of providing a safe workplace for our employees, and robust policies and procedures to help ensure that we continue to do so,' he said . 'We are disappointed by the verdict, even though the jury expressly found that this was not a case where punitive damages were appropriate. We intend to appeal based on errors made by the court,' he added. The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday sanctioned Rs one lakh compensation each to four persons, who were last week injured in an attack by a mob on the suspicion of being child lifters in Dhar district, officials said. State Health Minister Tulsi Silawat handed over the government's letters to the four injured, who are undergoing treatment at Choithram Hospital here, sanctioning Rs one lakh to each, the officials said. The minister visited the injured- Vinod Khati, Jagdish Radheshyam Sharma, Ravi Patel and Narendra Sharma- all aged between 35 and 45 years, and held talks with the doctors treating them to know their condition, they said. The state government is bearing the medical expenses of the injured and they are out of danger, they added. The compensation is being provided from the chief minister's discretionary funds, the officials said. A mob armed with sticks and stones had attacked a group of farmers, who had gone to recover money from farm labourers in Dhar district on February 5, amid rumours that a child-lifter gang was on the prowl, officials added. While a local resident, identified as Ganesh Patel (35), died in the mob attack, four others were injured in the attack. They were hospitalised in Indore for treatment, they said. The state government had earlier announced Rs two lakh compensation to the family of the deceased. However, the amount has been increased to Rs four lakh now, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Michael Strickland owns a successful West Shore Inn, a steakhouse in Travis known for its Thursday $21.99 Prime Rib Night. So why did he take on a second place with Fig & Vine, located in New Dorp in the former home of long-running NiNis? Ive had the West Shore Inn for nine years. You dont want to be stagnant, Strickland said, adding that he has a very strong kitchen crew in Travis. For employees like his long-time chef, a new venue seemed like a good gig into which to grow a career. Michael Strickland at the bar (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri I was looking for places for a while and nothing seemed to click. My wife and I saw the place. The feeling and the atmosphere here meant it was the place for us," said Strickland. Then, he and his wife Jessica met the former proprietor of the shop, Pat Koerber. And the couple knew it was kismet. The West Shore Inn has served as a testing ground for Fig & Vine. Everything we did here we ran as the specials at West Shore," said Strickland from behind a newly refurbished bar. He added, So what we did is we designed a small menu because its a small place, small kitchen and staff. The ribeyes our signature thing. The filet mignon with pancetta and port wine reduction is popular also with the sweet, the salty and the savory components. Eight ounce filet mignon with pancetta and port wine reduction Mike Strickland We tried to make a small menu with something on it for everyone sandwiches, flatbreads. Pat did flatbreads. So we incorporated what he was doing, said Strickland. The biggest raves so far, said the new proprietor, have been on the steaks, the centerpiece of the West Shore Inn, famed for its Prime Rib Thursdays and Black Angus T-bone steaks. Fig & Vines offerings start with a small plates portion of the menu with a Meatball Trio" and zuppa di mussels. It also includes a charcuterie board with prosciutto, soppresata, toffee cheese, mixed olives, fig jam and garlic toast. Fig jam, goat cheese, prosciutto and arugula flatbread (Courtesy of Michael Strickland)Mike Strickland There are salads with filet mignon tips, grilled octopus, zucchini tossed with toffee cheese and pistachios plus arugula with beets, goat cheese and lemon vinaigrette. Entrees focus on steak and a bone-in pork chop with apple chutney, roasted half duck and three chicken preparations. Half the mains are dedicated to seafood -- scampi-style sea scallops with pancetta, seafood fra diavolo, lobster and risotto shrimp, Chilean sea bass and garlic shrimp with gnocchi. At weekend lunches and all dinners there are three sandwiches on the menu, plus a burger. Fig & Vine opened on Jan. 29 after about three months of construction. As the owner of Bella Events and Designs, Jessica did the design. The two dining areas feature exposed rafters, brickwork and vines woven through the mirrors and beams. One room features banquette seating. The walls are lined with crackled, shiny ceramic subway tiles. Purple and green are part of the theme, a nod to the restaurants moniker. Strickland described the setting as casual," hence the reason for skipping table linens. The restaurateur hails from New Jersey, originally from Woodbridge. Yeah, I do the reverse commute, the Jersey boy said with a laugh. He said he believes that Staten Islanders and Brooklyn-ites know good food. He bought the West Shore Inn about a decade ago while working in the bar business on the Lower East Side. He met his wife, a fellow bartender, while working at the same Manhattan nightclub. They married in 2015 and have two children. Mama Hazel's pecan pie is a spin-off of a dessert recipe that has been a huge success at West Shore Inn. It is served at Fig & Vine. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si The restaurant life isnt the only business for the Stricklands. Strickland used his dads pecan pie recipe at the West Shore and, about two years ago, it became a thing. He now has a facility in New Jersey that bakes the family recipe. And hes even spun off a separate company called Mama Hazels, a banner of branding under which the pie now flies. Pecan pies are moving! said Strickland, adding that most sales come from Amazon, particularly during the holiday season. Alongside Mimis Bread Pudding with Jack Daniels sauce, a signature dessert created by Jesss Mom aka Jessica Stricklands mother, the pie is a staple on Fig & Vines dessert list. Fig & Vine can be found at 710 New Dorp Lane; 917-830-0230. Kitchen hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from noon until 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 9 p.m. The bar stays open after food service. West Shore Inn is located at 3955 Victory Blvd., Travis; 718-698-9722. Mama Hazels product can be ordered through the companys website at MamaHazels.com. Mimi's Bread Pudding with Jack Daniel's sauce, a signature dessert created by "Jess's Mom." Jessica and Mike Strickland own Fig & Vine. Mike Strickland Michael Strickland stands in the middle of the restaurant's two dining rooms. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Mike Strickland Scallops served with pancetta, served scampi-style (Courtesy of Michael Strickland)Mike Strickland Michael Strickland behind his new bar. (Staten Island Advance/ Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri Vines weave through the rafters and around mirrors. Fig & Vine opened in New Dorp where the former NiNi's Cafe lived for three decades. Mike Strickland Flatbread with tomato, pesto and fresh mozzarella (Courtesy of Michael Strickland)Mike Strickland Pork chop with apple chutney (Courtesy of Michael Strickland)Mike Strickland Fallout from the arrest of a middle school teacher in Zachary for allegedly sexually abusing a student continued Tuesday as a city councilman led an emotional protest seeking the termination of the schools principal while two other council members countered with a quiet prayer vigil. Most of the protesters were black; most of those at the prayer vigil were white. Does Zachary have a race issue? Councilman Lael Montgomery yelled during the protest. Yeah, the crowd replied. In the park, by contrast, the scene was quiet and mournful. A handful of ministers tried to find ways to bring calm and healing to a troubled city, while those gathered watched silently. God, we just gather in this place with our hearts broken, said the Rev. Ricky Willis, senior pastor of Zachary United Methodist Church. We confess and acknowledge the fact that we are in the midst of a broken world and our community is broken and shattered by this news. Its something that we would only imagine happening somewhere else. The racial divide on display Tuesday was unusual for this racially diverse but relatively affluent city thats home to the number one ranked school district in the state. +6 Arrested Zachary teacher accused of sexually abusing teen, sending nude photos A middle school teacher in Zachary accused of sexual abuse of a minor turned herself in to authorities Thursday afternoon after a warrant was Ellarea Silva, 34, remained in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday, with bail set at $225,000. The science teacher at Northwestern Middle School was arrested Thursday on multiple charges, including indecent behavior with a juvenile. Silva, who is white, was placed on leave on Jan. 24, the same day authorities say they first learned of the accusation against her. Silva, a 10-year veteran teacher who has tenure protection, remains on leave while the school district conducts its own investigation. Montgomery has called for the firing of Silvas principal, Debbie Brian, after she sent him a private email last week criticizing him for posting a Facebook comment critical of Zachary Police, a comment that also revealed details about the Silva case. Montgomery promptly posted Brians email online, saying it was out of line for her to send it to an elected official such as himself and was meant to put him in his place. Both Superintendent Scott Devillier and Zachary Mayor David Amrhein defended Brian at a Monday press conference, saying they support her 100 percent. The failure to arrest Silva right away prompted immediate suspicion, Montgomery said. When there wasnt no arrest, my people, we automatically knew what color she was, said the councilman. Because guess what? You all lock us up while you do investigations. She gets to go home. We never get to go home. 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 Zachary Police Chief David McDavid has repeatedly defended the 13 days it took to arrest Silva, noting that multiple search warrants and subpoenas were necessary and there was a lot of evidence to go through. McDavid said investigators are aware of only one victim so far but hes made a public appeal for people who know of other potential victims to come forward. Montgomery said hes lost faith in McDavid and wants State Police to take over the investigation. State Police, Im begging you to come investigate this, he said. Im begging you. There are more kids. There are more kids. I have inbox messages telling me that there are more kids. Zachary officials split over teacher accused of sexual abuse; councilman claims family was bullied Zacharys police chief, mayor and school superintendent on Monday defended the two weeks it took to investigate a middle school teacher accuse The NAACP, which helped Montgomery organize the protest, plans to send letters Wednesday to the State Police and other agencies, seeking their assistance. Montgomery portrayed himself as the first black leader in Zachary history to bring to light the citys historic mistreatment of its black residents. Zachary has done my people wrong for so long, he said. My people aint never had nobody stand up for them. Brenda Barber, who lives in the African American neighborhood north of the middle school known as The Avenues, said shes known Montgomery for years and trusts him. Barber, who has three grandchildren in Zachary schools, said she also has reason to distrust Brian. My cousin has had problems with the same principal before, Barber said. A handful of other elected officials came to the protest to support Montgomery, including Zachary School Board member Ann Watkins and state Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, of Baton Rouge. Both said they dont like the disrespect theyve seen directed at Montgomery. I have a problem with people silencing elected officials, Marcelle said. I have a problem when people cannot stand up for their people. Councilman Laura OBrien said the idea of the prayer vigil was to find common ground in the desire for justice and the rooting out of any abuse of children. Were all passionate for the same thing, OBrien said. Zachary Councilman Francis Nezianya was one of the few black individuals at the prayer vigil. He offered a simple plea to close out the vigil: I ask everyone here to pray for the families involved and pray for unity and ask God to take control and look over the city of Zachary. We view this behavior as unusual and disturbing, Gen. John 'Jay' Raymond, commander of the newly minted U.S. Space Force, told TIME about a pair of Russian spacecraft that are tailing a multibillion-dollar U.S. spy satellite hundreds of miles above the Earths surface. Just days after President Trump tweeted the new Space Force logo, and discussed it during the State of The Union address, America's Space Force Commander says the Russian spacecraft began maneuvering toward the American satellite shortly after being launched into orbit in November, at times creeping within 100 miles of it. It has the potential to create a dangerous situation in space. As TIME notes, the confrontation marks the first time the U.S. military has publicly identified a direct threat to a specific American satellite by an adversary, and the US military has expressed concern to Moscow through diplomatic channels. Of course, the timing is interesting as The Pentagon, White House and Congressional backers, say the incident demonstrates the need for the Space Force, which President Donald Trump established in December when he signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law, becoming the first new military service since the Air Force was created in 1947. At a time when The White House is requesting $15 billion in this weeks budget proposal - representing a strategic shift from passively operating and observing satellites to actively defending them - having a "Russia, Russia, Russia" enemy to point to in space is a useful ally in the budget process. Though none of that is good for any kind of 'global calming', as Putin warned last week, as he commemorated the 75th anniversary of World War II, "Unfortunately, nowadays humankind is coming ever closer to a dangerous line. Regional conflicts are multiplying, the threats of terrorism and extremism are growing and the arms control system is being uprooted. The global economy is also unstable... ... Global peace and security largely depend on the state of relations between Russia and the United States, as well as on their stability and predictability. We are convinced that these relations should hinge on the principles of equality, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each others domestic affairs. " As TIME concludes, the Russian embassy did not respond to requests for comment about the allegedly threatening maneuvers by its satellites. The Kremlin has previously stated they are not weapons, but rather inspector spacecraft engaged in an experiment. Commander Raymond is not so sure, saying that he's concerned because Russia is demonstrating capabilities the U.S. first saw three years ago, when Moscow tested the Russian nesting doll technology. In 2017, they launched a satellite, it launched another satellite, he says. The satellites exhibited characteristics of a weapon system when one of those satellites launched a high-speed projectile into space. The U.S., Russia and other nations have yet to establish a 'Mutually Assured Destruction'-based diplomatic structure for space, and experts warn of the dangers of weaponizing the cosmos without them. Unswerving in its quest to create a veritable platform for building an entrepreneurial spirit in the countrys teeming youths, Fidelity Bank Plc has expanded the scope of the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA) in a bid to accommodate new areas of vocational training. On February 10, 2020, the bank in strategic partnership with Gazelle Academy commenced the seventh edition of the highly successful YEA at the Sokoto State University (SSU), Sokoto. Apart from the typical training on tailoring and make-up, participants will also be provided with requisite skills and first-hand knowledge in Fashion Designing, Cloth Embellishment, Cocktail and Phone Engineering among others. Over 200 undergraduates of Sokoto State University (SSU) will benefit from this programme. So, why does the bank invest in young people? When the Fidelity Bank says, turn your passion into a pay cheque, thats a message of empowerment. As a bank, it recognises that the youth look at the world with fresh eyes and such lively determination, and create much-needed change by throwing convention out the window. Thats why the bank, through its laudable interventions, continues to develop innovative programmes that unleash the creative energies of Nigerian youths which in turn represents formidable new frontiers for sustainable national development, says Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo. YEA is a skills acquisition, training and productivity improvement scheme targeted at youths, especially undergraduates in Nigerias higher institutions. This empowerment programme, which is part of the Banks Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is primarily targeted at creating a new breed of entrepreneurs amongst Nigerias boisterous youth population. Over 3,000 students have benefited from YEA programs at University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi; Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt; Bayero University, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Fidelity Bank Staff present at the opening ceremony of the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Programme (YEA 7) which took place at the Sokoto State University. Sokoto where vocational training in Fashion Designing, Makeover, Cloth Embellishment, Wig making and Computer Coding were conducted for undergraduates and other selected participants in the state, on Monday. Some beneficiaries who have since started their own businesses were recognized at the event. Fidelity Bank has also provided students with high-quality sewing machines, pressing irons and make-up kits to make sure that undergraduates utilise the skills and experiences garnered at the youth empowerment workshop to improve their lives before and after graduation. In essence, the Bank has succeeded in making entrepreneurs out of students who will be financially responsible and independent. Through this programme, the Bank has earned a significant measure of goodwill with state and local governments that have in some cases translated to a business relationships and have contributed to the Banks bottom line. Most people were thrilled when news came less than two weeks ago that Naperville would be getting its second Costco location at 1199 Ogden Ave. But when they learned the portion of the strip mall that includes the beloved Ogden 6 Theatre would be demolished to make way for the members-only wholesale store, residents of Naperville and neighboring towns quickly defended the popular local movie theater. For more than a century, it has been acknowledged that whistleblowers who expose misdeeds for the greater good must be granted protection from retaliation, whether they work in the financial sector, foreign service, or anywhere in government. President Trump, who refers to whistleblowers as leakers and spies and human scum, thinks otherwise. So to the surprise of no one, he began his post-impeachment vengeance campaign by removing two men Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland who testified against him during the House hearings. He also fired Vindmans twin brother and fellow army officer, even though he played no part in the impeachment inquiry. This got the attention of most members of Congress, notably Sen. Bob Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He shared his thoughts in a conversation with Dave DAlessandro of the Star-Ledger Editorial Board, which was edited for brevity: Q. The president and his supporters suggest that Vindman and Sondland deserved to be sacked because their testimonies represented betrayals or insubordination. Does this speak to President Trumps concept of public service and duty? Menendez: Absolutely. The real betrayal is the president dismissing those who had a moral and ethical duty to report what they considered an illegal conversation, then followed the chain of command and dutifully responded to a congressional subpoena. The real betrayal is dismissing a war hero and Purple Heart recipient who followed the rules and served his country. Its one thing to shorten an army officers detail to the White House. Its another to have security escort out an active-duty officer who has been accused of no wrongdoing at all. https://t.co/KG1JUcoih4 Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 7, 2020 This is not what we should expect in the United States, where following the rule of law matters. And it has a chilling effect on others who would be whistleblowers in any form whether its against the president or a department secretary or a cabinet member who sees wrongdoing and wants to report it. Its also an act that says to career foreign service officers, Do not do anything but express the absolute views of those who ultimately are above you, those in leadership, even when its wrong. Of course you would normally pursue their policies, but not when its wrong or illegal. That would be the equivalent of the Nuremberg defense: I was just following orders. This is so fundamentally wrong, and is so consequential to the checks and balances that its amazing to me that he gets away with it. Q. Could anything have been done to protect Vindman and Sondland from reprisal? Menendez: Sondland is in a weaker place, because he was a political appointee. The reality is, it seems to me that there are actions that should be enforced under the Whistleblower Protection Act. There are consequences for retaliation against whistleblowers, and those should be pursued. And the identity of the original whistleblower who started this process should be protected as well under the statute. But heres the problem: When you have a Department of Justice that says the president cannot be charged for any criminal action and that the only remedy is impeachment the president is essentially an autocrat. He can fire the very individuals who at the end of the day did their duty, alerted the country, and alerted Congress and he cant be prosecuted. So one of the things Im looking at is whether there is a way to statutorily create a way to prosecute a president who would violate the law particularly as it relates to violating whistleblower protections by enacting retribution against those who come forth or obey a congressional subpoena and give testimony. Q. It would be easier if you had some help from the other side, perhaps from Sen. Charles Grassley, who considers himself a champion of whistleblowers and applauds those in foreign service who testify before Congress. Are you surprised he hasnt responded to the retribution against Vindman and Sondland? And shrugged off Sen. Rand Paul reading the name of the original whistleblower on the Senate floor? Menendez: Im totally surprised. Look, you undermine the strength of your argument when you cannot be consistent particularly when you are talking about the importance of whistleblowers and the necessity to protect them. You cannot choose when there is a good or bad whistleblower; when one deserves protection and one does not; when you speak out for one, but dont speak out for the other. Either you believe the whole concept of whistleblower protection is a critical element of the check and balances, and in making sure the American people are protected in every single way, or you dont. And if you do as Ive heard Senator Grassley speak to this time and time again as he chairs the Senate Finance Committee then I am shocked that he is absolutely silent on this question. So that whole head on a pike thing that some of my GOP colleagues got fake-outraged over? Maybe if they displayed some real outrage over the Presidents actions, it would have been @realDonaldTrump on the other end of Youre Fired! instead of patriots like Lt. Col. Vindman. https://t.co/G48KHAohBi Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) February 8, 2020 Q. You have a Brookings Institution event Thursday that speaks to the need for oversight of US foreign policy. Should congressional oversight be informed by federal workers speaking to Congress without the consent of their bosses? Menendez: Yes, when there is something illegal going on or where there is a waste of taxpayer money those are just two examples where they should be free to speak out. Thats what the whistleblower statute is supposed to be all about. But among the things that Im thinking of and I havent finalized the proposal are mandatory disclosure of withheld funds, requiring the State Department and other agencies to inform Congress about any appropriated assistance that is not conveyed within a certain number of days; strengthening protections for diplomatic officials, including justification for removal; mandatory disclosure to Congress of efforts to solicit foreign governments for assistance other than for official US policy; and enhancing whistleblower protection and support. Those are just a few ideas, along with limiting the number of politically-appointed ambassadors, expediting judicial review for subpoenas, and imposing penalties for officials who dont comply when they have no valid reason to do so. As Trump prepares to retaliate against Alexander Vindman for testifying before Congress, let's review Sen. Chuck Grassley's message about the need to protect federal employees who testify before Congress. Today would be a good day to repeat that message.https://t.co/wnewp4w9tI Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 7, 2020 Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. US defence major Boeing is considering to offer its F-15EX fighter jets to the Indian Air Force and has sought a licence from the US authorities for its possible export to India. The move is seen as an attempt by Boeing to bag a USD 18 billion contract by IAF to procure 114 fighter jets. Boeing's F/A 18 Block III Super Hornet is already in contention for the deal, billed as one of the world's biggest military procurement programme in recent years. "While awaiting further definition on the Indian Air Force's requirements, we have requested a licence for the F-15EX so that we're ready to share the full spectrum of potential solutions across our fighter portfolio when appropriate," the company said in a statement. Besides the contract by the IAF, Boeing is also eyeing Indian Navy's plan to procure 57 carrier-borne aircraft. "We continue to offer the F/A-18 Super Hornet to both the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force," the Boeing said. The company already announced that it was ready to set up manufacturing facilities for its F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft if it bags the IAF contract. In April last year, the Indian Air Force issued an RFI (Request for Information) or initial tender to acquire 114 jets. The top contenders for the deal include Lockheed's F-21, Boeing's F/A-18, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Russian aircraft MiG 35 and Saab's Gripen. In 2018, the Indian Navy kick-started the process to procure 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its carriers. At present, six planes are compatible for the aircraft carrier -- Rafale (Dassault, France) F/A 18 Super Hornet (Boeing, US), MIG-29K (Russia), F-35B and F-35C (Lockheed Martin, US) and Gripen (Saab, Sweden). Last week, Managing Director of Boeing's India operations Surendra Ahuja said the company was ready to expand its operation in the country. A fleet of Boeing's Chinook heavy-lift and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters were inducted into the Indian Air Force recently. "We are committed to working with our customers to provide holistic solutions for their defence aircraft and services with the right capability, advanced technologies and cost structure," Ahuja said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. the non-subsidised LPG prices have been revised to Rs 858.5 per cylinder in Delhi and Rs 829.5 per cylinder in Mumbai, the report said. State-run oil marketing company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has on Wednesday increased the prices of non-subsidised LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) by up to Rs 145 per cylinder. The oil marketing company had hiked the prices of commercial LPG cylinders (19 kg) by up to Rs 225 per cylinder on 1 February. #NEWSFLASH | @IndianOilcl hikes prices of the 14.2 kg LPG cylinder by Rs 144-149/cylinder across the Golden Quadrilateral, for the first time since January 1, 2020 pic.twitter.com/OXyArpgmDK CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 12, 2020 This was the sixth straight hike in the prices of cooking gas. The new rates will be effective from today (12 February). The price hike was in the range of Rs 144.5 to Rs 145 per cylinder in Mumbai and Delhi respectively, according to data available on the Indian Oil Corporation website. The public sector oil marketing company supplies LPG under brand Indane. Accordingly, the non-subsidised LPG prices have been revised to Rs 858.5 per cylinder in Delhi and Rs 829.5 per cylinder in Mumbai, Rs 896 in Kolkata and Rs 881 in Chennai, the data said. Last month, Indian Oil, the nation's biggest oil firm, had seen tripling of its net profit in December quarter as inventory gains offset lower refinery margins and forex losses, reported PTI. Standalone net profit in October-December at Rs 2,339.02 crore, or Rs 2.55 per share, was higher than Rs 716.82 crore, or Rs 0.76 per share, net profit in the same period in the previous year, IOC Chairman Sanjiv Singh said. The company had an inventory gain of Rs 1,608 crore in the three month period as compared to an inventory loss of Rs 8,523 crore in the third quarter of 2018-19 fiscal, he said, adding that the company's net refinery margin stood at $2.15 per barrel in Q3 as compared to $5.12 a year ago. Inventory gain arises when a company buys raw material (crude oil in case of IOC) at a particular price, but by the time it is shipped to India and processed into final product (fuel), international prices would have moved up. Since fuel prices are benchmarked at prevailing international rates, an inventory gain is booked. Inventory loss happens if the reverse occurs. With inputs from agencies Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan including one quarantine official, bringing the total number of people infected on board to 175. The health ministry announced Wednesday that the toll of coronavirus-infected passengers has risen yet again and at least 24 Americans are among the diagnosed. The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on February 3, after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong, was diagnosed with the virus, despite not showing any symptoms on board. About 3,700 people are aboard the ship, which usually has a crew of 1,100 and a passenger capacity of 2,670. Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan as well as one quarantine official, bringing the total to 175 as of Wednesday At least 24 Americans are among the infected. The boat is under a two week quarantine which will be lifted on February 19 Passengers look out from a deck of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Tuesday Kyodo news agency, citing the health ministry, said that of the 39 cases, 10 were crew, 10 were Japanese nationals and the others were from 11 countries including the United States and China. Four were in serious condition, media said, quoting Health Minister Katsunobu Kato. The ministry said tests are being conducted for others who are deemed to need them and it will announce the results later. The UK-flagged Diamond Princess is managed by Princess Cruise Lines, one of the worlds largest cruise lines and a unit of Carnival Corp. The government was considering allowing elderly and those with chronic illnesses to disembark before the February 19 target date for ending the quarantine, some media reported, but added it would take time to figure out where they could be sent. One patient, British honeymooner Alan Steele, was taken to hospital last Friday but said today he had tested negative for the virus and could leave quarantine shortly. Kyodo news agency, citing the health ministry, said that of the 39 cases, 10 were crew, 10 were Japanese nationals and the others were from 11 countries including the United States and China There are more than 43,000 cases worldwide so far and more than 1,000 deaths as of Tuesday As of last week, about 80% of the passengers were aged 60 or over, with 215 in their 80s and 11 in the 90s, the English-language Japan Times newspaper reported. As of Monday the death toll for the novel coronavirus, temporarily dubbed 2019-nCoV, surpassed 1,000 on Monday, with at least 42,500 confirmed cases in 24 countries. On Monday alone China reported 103 deaths in the Hubei province - the highest toll recorded in any one 24-hour period since the outbreak began in December. Wuhan, the focal point of the disease, is located within the Hubei province. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Hindalco Industries has posted 21.9 percent fall in its December quarter (Q3FY20) standalone net profit at Rs 193 crore against Rs 247 crore in the same quarter last fiscal. Revenue of the company fell 14.4 percent at Rs 10,230 crore versus Rs 11,944 crore. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 9.3 percent at Rs 1,013 crore versus Rs 927 crore and EBITDA margin was up 210 bps at 9.9 percent versus 7.8 percent, YoY. "In spite of subdued economic conditions, the company delivered steady quarterly results on the back of strong performance by Novelis, lower input costs and stable operations of the Indian businesses," company said in a release. At 14:14 hrs, Hindalco Industries was quoting at Rs 193.20, down Rs 0.35, or 0.18 percent on the BSE. Your browser does not support the audio element. Vietnam will shut down all 2G services from January 1, 2022 under a roadmap planned out by the Ministry of Information and Communications, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said on Wednesday morning. 2G, short for second-generation cellular networks, allows services such as phone calls, text messages, picture messages, and multimedia messages. However, the technology does not let users download data, send and receive emails, or access the Internet. According to Minister Hung, the shutdown of 2G services plays an important role in promoting smartphone ownership, which in turn promotes e-government, online transactions, and the digital economy. Vietnams telecommunications networks currently employ three different technologies, including GSM (2G) which was deployed in 1990, IMT 2000 (3G) launched in 2009, and LTE-A (4G) deployed in 2016. The Southeast Asian country plans to launch commercial 5G mobile services this year. The number of registered mobile subscribers has exceeded 143 million compared to the nations population of nearly 97 million. About 72 percent of the population owned smartphones, according to a 2018 report by Appota. Ninety-six percent of Vietnams 64 million Internet users get online on mobile devices, according to statistics from We Are Social and Hootsuite. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Facing accusations that it issued a doctored report alleging a chemical attack in Syria, the OPCW has released an inquiry attacking two whistleblowers as rogue actors. Leaked documents obtained by The Grayzone reveal serious distortions in the OPCW inquiry as well as a campaign of intimidation against internal dissenters. By Aaron Mate For the past year, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been roiled by allegations that it manipulated an investigation to falsely accuse the Syrian government of a chemical weapons attack. An OPCW report released in March 2019 lent credence to claims by Islamist militants and Western governments that the Syrian military killed around 40 civilians with toxic gas in the city of Douma in April 2018. The accusation against Damascus led to US-led military strikes on Syrian government sites that same month. But leaked internal documents published by Wikileaks show that OPCW inspectors who deployed to Douma rejected the official story, and complained that higher-level officials excluded them from the post-mission process, distorted key evidence, and ignored their findings. After months of virtual silence, the OPCW has responded with an internal inquiry that lambasts two veteran officials who raised internal objections, attacking their credibility and qualifications. The OPCWs self-described independent investigation describes the pair as rogue, low-level actors who played minor roles in the Douma mission and lacked access to crucial evidence. In a briefing to member states, OPCW Director General Fernando Arias dismissed them as disgruntled ex-employees. The two are not whistle-blowers, Arias said. They are individuals who could not accept that their views were not backed by evidence. But a leaked document calls Arias assertions into serious question. Ian Henderson, one of the two inspectors, recently addressed a special session of the United Nations Security Council with his concerns about the Douma mission. Henderson submitted a supplemental written account that was distributed among participating UN member states and obtained by The Grayzone. It offers the most extensive and detailed account of the internal dispute over the OPCWs Douma investigation to date. The full leaked testimony can be read here (PDF). Henderson provides a thorough timeline that bolsters suspicions that the OPCW leadership covered up a staged deception in Douma. Combined with the available record which includes other OPCW leaks, as well as Arias and the OPCWs own statements Hendersons account firmly demonstrates that he and a fellow dissenting colleague occupied veteran leadership roles inside the organization, including during the Douma fact-finding mission. Henderson also exposes key gaps in the OPCWs inquiry, which fails to specifically address the revelations that critical evidence was kept out of the OPCWs published reports; that key findings were manipulated and that all of this occurred under sustained US government pressure. In addition to Hendersons complete testimony, The Grayzone has obtained a chilling email from a third former OPCW official. The former official, who worked in a senior role, blamed external pressure and potential threats to their family for their failure to speak out about the corruption of the Douma investigation. This official was not among the pair of dissenting inspectors targeted by the inquiry. The email corroborates complaints by Henderson and his colleague about senior managements suppression of evidence collected by the team that deployed to Syria. I fear those behind the crimes that have been perpetrated in the name of humanity and democracy' In his briefing about the investigation of the inspectors, Arias, the OPCW Director-General, described the pair as stubborn actors who took matters into their own hands and committed a breach of their obligations to the Organization. He characterized their behavior as egregious. But leaked documents and testimony point to an OPCW leadership that has committed egregious acts of its own, including intimidating internal dissenters. In an email obtained by The Grayzone, a former senior OPCW official described their tenure at the OPCW as the most stressful and unpleasant ones of [their] life, and expressed deep shame about the state of the organization they departed in disgust. I fear those behind the crimes that have been perpetrated in the name of humanity and democracy, the official confided, they will not hesitate to do harm to me and my family, they have done worse, many times, even in the UK I dont want to expose my self and my family to their violence and revenge, I dont want to live in fear of crossing the street! The former OPCW senior official went on to denounce the removal of members of the original fact-finding team to Syria from the decision making process and management of the most critical operations This tracks with complaints expressed in leaked OPCW documents that superiors who had not been a part of the investigation in Douma marginalized those who had. The atmosphere of intimidation was confirmed by a second member of the OPCWs original fact-finding mission to Douma. The whistleblower, identified by the pseudonym Alex, spoke to the journalist Jonathan Steele and to a panel convened by the Courage Foundation in October 2019. Alex revealed that a delegation of three US officials visited the OPCW at The Hague on July 5th, 2018. They implored the dissenting inspectors to accept the view that the Syrian government carried out a gas attack in Douma and chided them for failing to reach that conclusion. According to Steele, Alex and the other inspectors saw the meeting as unacceptable pressure. In his statement to the UN Security Council, Henderson confirmed that he attended the meeting. The US intervention at the OPCW could possibly violate the chemical weapons convention, which forbids state parties from attempting to influence investigations. It would not be the first time Washington has attempted to bully the OPCW into submission. During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2002, the George W. Bush administration engineered the ouster of the OPCWs First Director-General, Jose Bustani. The Bush administration was concerned that Bustanis negotiations with Iraq about allowing international inspectors could undermine its plans for war. Bustani later revealed that John Bolton, then an under secretary of state, had personally threatened him and his family with violent retaliation. The US pressure on the OPCW over Douma also took place under Boltons watch. When the US bombed Syria in April 2018 and pressured OPCW officials just three months later, Bolton was in the midst of his first months as President Donald Trumps National Security Advisor. (Bustani, meanwhile, was among a group of panelists who heard direct testimony from Alex at a gathering convened by the Courage Foundation in October 2019.) OPCWs inconsistent story on Inspector A The OPCWs internal inquiry goes to great lengths to denigrate and discredit the two former staffers that challenged the official story on Douma. It refers to its two targets as Inspector A and Inspector B. The latters identity has not been publicly confirmed. A is Ian Henderson, a South African engineer and veteran OPCW official with extensive military experience. Hendersons written testimony to the United Nations, obtained by The Grayzone, undercuts the negative portrayal of his former managers, and offers a window into the pressure campaign and cover-up that he and his colleagues faced. A suppressed internal study by Henderson first brought the OPCW scandal to public attention. In May 2019, an engineering assessment bearing Hendersons name was leaked to a group of British academics, the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media. The document is a detailed engineering analysis of two gas cylinders found at the scene of the alleged attacks in Douma. Whereas the OPCWs final March 2019 report concluded that the cylinders were likely dropped from the air, Henderson found that there is a higher probability that both cylinders were manually placed rather than being delivered from aircraft. The OPCWs final report made no mention of this conclusion. The inference of Hendersons study is that the attack was staged by the armed opposition. At the time, Douma was under the control of the extremist Saudi-backed militia, Jaysh Al-Islam, and was on the brink of being re-taken by Syrian government forces. From a political and military standpoint, a chemical weapons attack was the most self-destructive and unnecessary action the Syrian military could possibly take. From the standpoint of a foreign-backed militia on the verge of defeat, however, staging a chemical attack was a desperate Hail Mary operation that offered the hope of US military invention in accordance with Washingtons red line policy. The suspected gambit by Jaysh Al-Islam appeared to have paid off when the Trump administration accepted its claims that a chemical attack had killed dozens of civilians in Douma, and initiated cruise missile strikes in response. Yet the US-led attacks failed to prevent the Syrian government from retaking Douma and the whole of eastern Damascus. Within days, Western reporters had entered the area and were able to access local eyewitnesses who claimed that the chemical attack was a staged deception. Henderson was among the first OPCW staffers to visit the site of the alleged attack in Douma. However, the OPCW inquiry dismissed Hendersons role in the Douma probe, characterizing his engineering study as a personal, rogue operation. Henderson, the inquiry said, was not a member of the FFM [Fact Finding Mission] that deployed to Douma, and only played a minor supporting role. There is ample evidence that contradicts this characterization. In his written UN testimony, Henderson revealed that he served in five Douma deployments as part of the FFM. This includes three instances as a sub-team leader for critical operations: visiting a suspected chemical weapons production site in Douma; conducting interviews and taking chemical samples at the Douma hospital; taking detailed measurements at one of the sites; and inspecting, itemizing, and securing the two cylinders that were removed from the sites of the alleged gas attack. The notion that he was not a member of the mission that he played such an active role in strains credulity. A leaked email shows that at least one of Hendersons colleagues protested a previous instance in which the OPCW leadership attempted to minimize his role. The falsehood that Ian did not form part of the Douma FFM team, the colleague complained, was patently untrue and pivotal in discrediting him and his work. The inquiry also falsely insinuated that Henderson was a low-level official. While acknowledging that Henderson served as an OPCW team leader during his first tenure with the OPCW from 1997 to 2005, the inquiry said that he was rehired at a lower level when he returned in 2016, and remained there until his departure in May 2019. Yet the OPCWs own documents from that latter period showed that Henderson was described as an OPCW Inspection Team Leader as late as February 2018, just two months before his deployment to Douma as part of the OPCWs Fact-Finding Mission (FFM). According to his UN testimony, Henderson served as an inspection team leader for multiple inspections of Syrian laboratory facilities at Barzaeh and Jamrayah in November 2017 and in November 2018, after the US bombed Barzeh on dubious grounds. After casting doubt on Hendersons status within the organization, the OPCW inquiry dismissed his engineering report as a personal document created with incomplete information and without authorisation. Henderson, the investigators said, defied higher-level officials orders and conducted a study on his own with outside contractors. In his briefing to member states on the inquirys findings, OPCW Director General Fernando Arias echoed this conclusion, describing Hendersons report as a purported document disseminated outside the Organisation. But Arias statements today contradict his own words from less than a year ago. Just days after Hendersons report was leaked in May 2019, Arias delivered an extensive briefing and announced that an inquiry into the disclosure was underway. Arias made no claims of Henderson going rogue, and described his report as an internal document produced by a staff member. It is unclear how Hendersons report went from an internal document by an OPCW staffer in May 2019 to a purported document disseminated outside the Organisation in February 2020. Arias has not explained this discrepancy. In his latest missive, Arias has offered a completely new rationale for keeping Hendersons report from the public. In May 2019, Arias stated that because Hendersons report pointed at possible attribution, it was therefore outside of the mandate of the FFM [Fact-Finding Mission] with regard to the formulation of its findings. The FFM is prevented from assigning blame to parties involved in chemical attacks. However, the OPCWs published conclusion suggested the Syrian government was to blame for the attack an act of attribution since the Syrian military (or its Russian ally) was the only warring party in Douma with aircraft. Even more curiously, by accusing Henderson of freebooting and subterfuge, Arias and his organizations independent inquiry has now offered a completely different explanation than it previously had for the omission of Hendersons report. Why was critical evidence excluded? In yet another highly dubious assertion, the OPCW inquiry claimed Henderson did not have access to all of the information gathered by the FFM team, including witness interviews, laboratory results, and assessments by independent experts regarding the two cylindersall of which became known to the team after [Henderson] had stopped providing support to the FFM investigation. But an important piece of context is missing from this salvo: by the time Henderson carried through on his study in summer 2018, he and other members of the FFM had already complained to the OPCW leadership that their findings were being manipulated and suppressed. According to Hendersons testimony, a draft interim report circulated in June 2018 was subjected to last-minute unexpected modifications that were contrary to the consensus that had been reached within the team. This included a change to reflect a conclusion that chlorine had been released from cylinders, which was not consistent with the findings at that stage. An intervention by one of the FFM team members, possibly Inspector B, forced FFM team leader Sami Barrek to revise the interim report before its eventual release on July 6 2018. Despite agreeing to hear his teams objections, Barrek personally blocked critical evidence that conflicted with the official story of Syrian government responsibility. One email chain revealed that Barrek resisted pleas from an inspector to include the relatively low levels of chemicals found in Douma. Alex, the anonymous second OPCW whistleblower, told journalist Jonathan Steele that chlorinated organic chemicals at the scene were no higher than you would expect in any household environment. Another leaked document showed the OPCW had consulted with toxicologists in June 2018 to determine whether symptoms observed in victims were consistent with exposure to chlorine. According to minutes of that meeting, the experts were conclusive in their statements that there was no correlation between symptoms and chlorine exposure. But these critical findings, which dramatically undercut the official narrative, were inexplicably omitted from both the interim and final report. The core cover-up team One day after US officials attempted to bully OPCW staff into submission on July 5 2018, an interim report on Douma was published that reflected some of the inspectors key objections, albeit with watered-down language and significant omissions. A critical change then took place. OPCW officials announced that the ensuing final report would be drafted by a core team that was separate from the one which deployed to Douma. That left the core team without any of the FFM members who had been on the ground at the site of the supposed attack, with the exception of one paramedic. Henderson told the UN that the move deprived the core team of anyone qualified to conduct the needed engineering assessments on the chlorine cylinders that were said to have been dropped in Douma. With superiors omitting critical information, Douma inspectors excluded from the so-called core team, and US officials applying direct pressure, Henderson attempted to carry on with his report. Despite the inquirys claims, Henderson presented evidence to the UN that his work was approved by his superiors. Henderson reported that he held several meetings with top OPCW officials beginning in late summer 2018, where he informed them of his study and relayed concerns about the methodologies of the then-FFM team leader. Henderson said he was told by the then-Chief of Cabinet, Sebastien Braha: I dont see why both studies cant be done. Henderson took that as a green light. Henderson completed his engineering study in January 2019 and submitted a detailed executive summary for peer review. OPCW colleagues, including members of the Douma FFM, an unidentified former core team former inspector, and other trusted [Technical Secretariat] staff members who had expertise in specific areas, studied Hendersons work and offered written feedback. This review was considered necessary and responsible, Henderson wrote, in that I knew (after the analysis had been completed) that these would be unpopular findings; therefore, I wanted to make sure there were no objections to any of the facts, observations, methodology used or findings reported in the summary. In its bid to portray Hendersons engineering study as the work of a disconnected freelancer, the OPCWs inquiry strangely made no mention of this peer review. When he met with FFM team leader Sami Barrek the following month, Henderson ran into more obstructions. Barrek flatly rejected Hendersons report, stating that he had been instructed not to accept it. Alarmed by the possibility that the OPCW would soon release a final report without a sound engineering assessment, Henderson submitted a physical copy to the OPCWs Documents Registry Archive, and alerted management by email. It was then that another hostile response arrived from above. Braha, the Chief of Cabinet, emailed back an order: Please get this document out of DRA (Documents Registry Archive) And please remove all traces, if any, of its delivery/storage/whatever in DRA. Days later, on March 1 2019, the OPCWs final report was released. Omitting Hendersons engineering findings, it reached a conclusion that contradicted that of its own inspectors. According to the report, the investigation found that there were reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical as a weapon took placeThis toxic chemical contained reactive chlorine. For its analysis of the cylinders, the report claims it relied on three independent analyses without specifying them and only directly citing one. This raises an ineluctable question: why did the OPCW rely on three unspecified independent analyses from outside experts who never set foot in Douma, rather than on the evidence-based reports of a veteran OPCW staffer and his colleagues who investigated the site of the supposed attack? The OPCW has yet to offer an explanation. I was shocked by the decision to release the report without having taken into account the engineering report, as all the FFM management knew it had been submitted, Henderson recounted in his UN testimony. I had expected the report to reflect the situation that had been the consensus of the Douma FFM team after the deployments, and for the assessment of the cylinders to be consistent with the findings of the engineering assessment, but found the complete opposite. I saw what I considered to be superficial and flawed analysis in the section on the cylinders. Henderson tried to resolve his concerns internally. He met with at least six high-level officials, and sought a meeting with Arias. A senior manager angrily rebuffed that request, telling Henderson that you will never get to the Director-General, and if you try and go around me to get to him, there will be consequences. Henderson also submitted a detailed dossier outlining his concerns to the Acting Director of the Office of Internal Oversight, which was later rejected. Perhaps most critically, Henderson sought a meeting where the drafters of the FFM report the so-called core team that had excluded all but one member of the team that visited Douma would explain what new information had been provided or new analysis conducted, that had turned around the situation from what had appeared to be clear at the end of deployments to Douma. Henderson also requested an opportunity to hear from the three experts who had conducted the engineering studies cited by the FFMs final report. This would be a technical discussion, comparing the information and inputs used and methodology applied, and interpretation of results, and would very quickly identify any flawed approaches and would help clarify the situation, Henderson recalled. Throughout this period, I acknowledged there was a possibility that I could be wrong, but stressed that I was not the only one with concerns, he added. Investigating the situation would bring things to light and potentially defuse the situation. But Hendersons requests were denied. Whilst many in management were shocked and concerned, and all expressed sympathy with my concerns, Henderson told the UN, the responses I received included this is too big; its too late now; this would not be good for the [Technical Sectrariats] reputation; dont make yourself a martyr; and but this would play into the Russian narrative. A leaked memo written by Henderson to Arias, the OPCW Director General, in March 2019, captures his contemporaneous objections. The final report, Henderson wrote, does not reflect the views of all the team members that deployed to Douma, a view he said was shared by about 20 inspectors. (Alex relayed a similar account to Jonathan Steele: Most of the Douma team felt the two reports on the incident, the Interim Report and the Final Report, were scientifically impoverished, procedurally irregular and possibly fraudulent.) On top of the fact the report was written by a core team that excluded all but one Douma inspector, Henderson complained that its authors had only operated in Country X believed to be Turkey. Arias instructed Henderson to submit his report to the newly formed Investigation and Identification Team, which had been mandated to further investigate the Douma attack. The IIT met with Henderson in March 2019 and accepted a copy of his report. But two months later, Henderson was suspended and removed from the OPCW building after a leaked copy of his engineering assessment was published on the internet. The OPCWs inquiry does not accuse Henderson of responsibility for the leak. Conspicuous claims about Inspector B Less is known about Inspector B, the second OPCW inspector targeted by the inquiry. It is possible, though unconfirmed, that B is the same person as Alex, the aforementioned Douma team member turned whistleblower. Like Henderson, B has been with the OPCW since its formation. The inquiry notes that B initially served from July 1998 to December 2011, including as Team Leader, and then again from September 2015 until August 2018. As with Henderson, the inquiry attempted to portray Inspector B as a marginal figure in the Douma inquiry who went rogue after he had left the OPCW. While acknowledging that he was a member of the FFM team that deployed to Syria in April 2018, the report said that B never left the command post in Damascus, and therefore did not visit Douma. By the OPCWs own standards, however, that was hardly disqualifying: Sami Barrek, the FFM team leader, was only in Damascus for three days and departed before his team members including Henderson first reached Douma. Yet Barrek was tasked with drafting the final report, and, as leaked emails show, faced internal complaints that he excluded critical evidence. According to the Working Group, the British academic collective that received and published Hendersons leaked report, Barrek subsequently visited Turkey where he met with members of the White Helmets. The White Helmets are a Western government-funded organization known for carrying out rescue operations in areas under the control of foreign-backed anti-government militias. As The Grayzone has reported, the US and UK-funded White Helmets have operated alongside extremist militants during Syrias proxy war, and been used for propaganda efforts to promote U.S. military intervention and sanctions on Syria. In the case of Douma, the White Helmets participated in a staged video to create the appearance that a local hospital was treating victims of a chemical attack. Conspicuously, the inquiry offered no specifics on what Inspector B did in Damascus or his role in the FFM. This omission could be seen as an indication that an accurate description of his role would reveal that he played a significant one. The inquiry noted that he was involved in the drafting of the interim report on the Douma incident but did not offer further details. It seems unlikely that someone with a limited role in the investigation would have been entrusted to participate in drafting the public report on its findings. As with its portrayal of Henderson, the inquiry claimed that the FFM undertook the bulk of its analytical work, examined a large number of witness interviews, and received the results of sampling and analysis, in the months after Inspector B was no longer involved. But it had nothing to say about Inspector B departing only after raising concerns that the Douma teams analytical work was manipulated and excluded, including on vital chemical samples. Accordingly, the fact that more work was done after Bs ouster did not resolve his concerns; if anything, it only raised further questions about the OPCWs faulty final product. Western media outlets complicit in cover-up The OPCWs unprecedented rebuke of two career officials has received a warm reception in mainstream media outlets that have carefully ignored the OPCW scandal to date, turning a blind eye as one explosive internal document after another appeared on Wikileaks. Though the scandal was itself a product of disclosures by the OPCWs own staff, The Guardian bizarrely described it instead as a Russia-led campaign that has now been dealt a blow by the OPCWs inquiry. The New York Times published reports by Reuters and the Associated Press that also aired the inquirys conclusions without a scintilla of critical scrutiny. At a time when whistleblowing is supposed to be held in high esteem, the Western political and media establishments flagrant disinterest and disregard for the two dissenting inspectors and the explosive leaked documents is glaring. This carries significant dangers. As the email by a former senior official at the OPCW someone who was not among the pair of dissenting inspectors made clear, fear within the organization is almost as profound as the pressure to self-censor and conform to the dominant narrative. The experience of the OPCWs first director-general, Jose Bustani who was ousted from his position after direct threats from John Bolton to him and his family attests to the threats these new whistleblowers face. When Bustani heard Alexs testimony, he came away from the meeting firmly convinced that something had gone extremely wrong at the OPCW. The convincing evidence of irregular behaviour in the OPCW investigation of the alleged Douma chemical attack confirms doubts and suspicions I already had, Bustani said after the session. The picture is certainly clearer now, although very disturbing. Bustani added that he hoped the Douma revelations will catalyse a process by which the [OPCW] can be resurrected to become the independent and non-discriminatory body it used to be. In his statement to the United Nations, Henderson echoed this sentiment. The ousted expert called on the United Nations to allow for a scientific, peer review process to weigh his report against the three independent experts whom the OPCW claimed to rely on for its final report. The method of scientific rigour, Henderson wrote, dictates that one side cannot profess to be the sole owner of the truth. Should an independent scientific panel be allowed, he concluded, I have no doubt that this would successfully clarify what happened in Douma. With his explosive UN testimony and the leaks that preceded it, Ian Henderson and his colleagues have made clear that the OPCW experts who deployed to Syria are determined to bring the cover-up of an elaborate deception to light. Bernie Sanders Brian Snyder/Reuters Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Sanders' has been decried as a radical and unelectable over his policy proposals as well as his association with socialism. "Socialist" remains a dirty, and often misunderstood, term in the realm of US politics. Nearly 21% of Americans consider socialism to be a threat to the US, an Insider poll found last summer. In general, socialists believe the government should provide a range of basic services to the public, such as health care and education, for free or at a significant discount. Democratic socialism is related, but what politicians like Sanders are pushing for is not akin to the authoritarian-style socialism in places like Venezuela. Sen. Bernie Sanders is rapidly creeping into frontrunner territory among 2020 Democrats, and this has raised alarm bells among the establishment wing of the Democratic party. Sanders, who represents Vermont as an independent in the US Senate, is a self-declared democratic socialist. Some Democrats think this label makes Sanders a liability. This includes former Vice President Joe Biden, who is also running for the 2020 Democratic nomination. "Well, you know, you know that with regard to Sen. Sanders, the president wants very much to stick a label on every candidate," Biden said during a presidential debate in New Hampshire this month. "We're going to not only have to win this time, we have to bring along the US Senate. And Bernie's labeled himself, not me, a democratic socialist. I think that's the label that the president's going to lay on everyone running with Bernie, if he's a nominee." As part of his 2020 campaign strategy, Trump has repeatedly depicted Democrats as dangerous socialists. This is largely due to politicians like Sanders and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who have inspired major shifts in the party in recent years. Story continues After Ocasio-Cortez's stunning upset against then-Rep. Joe Crowley in the New York Democratic congressional primary in June 2018, the word "socialist" was repeatedly used to describe her. Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman elected to Congress in US history in the 2018 midterms. The Bronx native was sworn into Congress in January 2019 and has become a bit of an obsession for conservatives, including Trump. She's a registered member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and, like Sanders, is a self-described socialist. Read more: Diversity wins: All the people who made history in the 2018 midterm elections "Socialist" remains a dirty, and often misunderstood, term in the realm of US politics. The Cold War, in which animosity and paranoia toward the Soviet Union was pervasive in the US, is largely to thank for that. Nearly 21% of Americans consider socialism to be a threat to the US, according to Insider polling from last summer. During his 2020 State of the Union address, President Donald Trump tapped into these sentiments. "Socialism destroys nations. But always remember: Freedom unifies the soul," Trump said, as he accused Democrats of pushing a "socialist takeover of our health care system." But what does it mean to be a socialist versus a democratic socialist, and is there even a difference? What is socialism? It depends on who you're talking to. A socialist, in the traditional sense, is an adherent of socialism. Socialism can be defined as "a system of social organization in which private property and the distribution of income are subject to social control." In other words, it's a state-controlled economy in which the state controls the means of production (factories, offices, resources, and firms). There are also forms of socialism in which the means of production are controlled and owned by workers. From an academic standpoint, there's an ongoing debate about what socialism really is. "The academic debates about socialism's 'meaning' are huge and arcane and rife with disagreements, but what all definitions have in common is either the elimination of the market or its strict containment," Frances Fox Piven, a political scientist at the City University of New York and a former DSA board member, told Vox. What do socialists believe in? In general, socialists believe the government should provide a range of basic services to the public, such as health care and education, for free or at a significant discount. In the present day, "Democratic socialist" and "socialist" are often treated as interchangeable terms, which can be confusing given democratic socialists don't necessarily think the government should immediately take control of all aspects of the economy. They do, however, generally believe the government should help provide for people's most basic needs and help all people have an equal chance at achieving success. Sanders' 2020 platform, for example, calls for Medicare for All (universal health care) and tuition-free college. Democratic socialists are committed to democracy Democratic socialists also believe strongly in democracy and democratic principles. They are by no means proponents of authoritarian government systems many Americans associate socialism with. As the DSA's website states: "At the root of our socialism is a profound commitment to democracy, as means and end. As we are unlikely to see an immediate end to capitalism tomorrow, DSA fights for reforms today that will weaken the power of corporations and increase the power of working people." To put it another way, they don't feel socialism should be forced on people, but they are fundamentally anti-capitalist and believe the government should urge privately owned businesses toward granting workers as much control as possible. Read more: This is the platform that launched Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, to become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress The DSA and democratic socialists like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez place a great deal of emphasis on social justice in conjunction with pushing for an economy that's largely controlled by workers. The DSA supports reforms that would decrease the influence of money in politics, empower ordinary people in workplaces and the economy, and restructure gender and cultural relationships to be more equitable, according to its website. To put this into context, Sander's platform calls for an end to the war on drugs, the abolishment of private or for-profit prisons, and for granting voting rights to people with felony records as well as people who are currently incarcerated. Sanders: 'I believe in a vigorous democracy' Sanders has conceded he needs to do a better job explaining what he means by "socialism" and "democratic socialism" as his "right-wing colleagues" seek to portray his political philosophy as "authoritarianism and communism and Venezuela." The Vermont senator has expanded on what democratic socialism means to him multiple times along the campaign trail. During a CNN town hall in February 2019, roughly a week after he launched his 2020 campaign, Sanders said: "What democratic socialism means to me is having in a civilized society, the understanding that we can make sure that all of our people live in security and in dignity," Sanders said. "To me, when I talk about democratic socialism, what I talk about are human rights and economic rights." In the past, Sanders' critics have often accused him of being too soft on socialist leaders in Latin America, and for going on a trip to Soviet Russia shortly after his wedding. Sanders in April 2019 rejected the notion he condones "authoritarian communism" when asked to explain his views on democratic socialism during a CNN town hall event. "Is it your assumption that I supported or believe in authoritarian communism that existed in the Soviet Union?" Sanders said to an attendee who asked about his views. "I don't. I never have, and I opposed it. I believe in a vigorous democracy." "I believe that in a democratic, civilized society, health care is a human right. Government should make that happen," Sanders said. "What democratic socialism means to me is we expand Medicare, we provide educational opportunity to all Americans, we rebuild our crumbling infrastructure," Sanders added. "In other words, government serves the needs of all people rather than just wealthy campaign contributors. That's what it means to me." Read the original article on Business Insider That expansion was in full, healthy progress when Republicans passed their 2017 tax cuts which, economically speaking, made no sense except to the corporations and wealthy individuals the cuts mostly served. The deficit is forecast to exceed $1 trillion for the first time in years. And what do the GOPs deficit hand-wringers say now? Nothing, of course. The administration argued that explosive growth rates would make up for the revenue losses. While the economy has continued to grow since the cuts, it hasnt come close to meeting the administrations forecasts. So the cuts have dramatically failed to pay for themselves. Yet Trumps budget plan would extend them for a decade beyond their current scheduled sunset of 2025. In hindsight, the only accurate predictions about the tax cuts were from critics who warned they would explode the deficit and give Republicans an excuse to cut safety-net programs to cover the losses. This reverse Robin Hood scheme is exactly what Trumps budget does. D utch police are investigating after suspected letter bombs exploded in two separate offices in the Netherlands. The first explosion occurred at around 8am local time (7am GMT) in the mail room of a company in northwestern Amsterdam. The second was reported at a postal company just minutes later in the city of Kerkrade, 120 miles to the south. No one was injured in either of the blasts, Amsterdam and Limburg police said on Twitter. A suspicious item was first reported to police in Kerjrade at 8.33am, with the blast following at 8.54am. Limburg police said: "It is as yet unknown whether there is a connection with the explosion of a letter package this morning in Amsterdam." It comes weeks after a series of mail bombs were sent to seven businesses in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Maastrichtm accompanied by threatening letters, the Netherlands Times reported. The bombs were made to look like they were sent by central collections agency CIB. Because some companies did not realise the letters were not from the CIB, they mistakenly sent the mail bombs back to the agency. One mail bomb reached the CIB, another was intercepted at a mail sorting center in Rotterdam. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court that will be heard if the court decides to take up any petition filed by Congress leaders challenging his election to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in July last year. A caveat is a notice given by a person, informing the court that another person may file a suit or application against him and that the court must give the caveator (person filing the caveat) a fair hearing before deciding any matter brought before it in the relevant case. Jaishankar filed the caveat through advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi in the apex court registry saying that he should be heard before the court entertains and passes some directions on the petitions that may be filed against the Gujarat High Court order. The minister filed the caveat apprehending that Congress leaders, whose pleas were dismissed by the High Court, may approach the top court. The Gujarat High Court on February 4 this year had dismissed a batch of petitions filed by Congress leaders challenging the election of Jaishankar to the Rajya Sabha. The High Court's order came on the pleas of Congress leaders Gaurav Pandya, Chandrika Chudasama and Paresh Dhanani challenging the election of Jaishankar and BJP leader Jugalji Thakor to the Upper House of Parliament. The Congress leaders had challenged the election in the High Court on the ground that the Election Commission's notifications, treating the two vacant seats, to be of different categories and requiring bypolls to be held separately, were "illegal and in violation" of provisions of the Constitution, Representation of People (RP) Act, 1951 and Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The elections to the two Rajya Sabha seats of Gujarat were held on July 5 last year. The seats fell vacant after BJP leaders Amit Shah and Smriti Irani were elected to the Lok Sabha. The Congress leaders had approached the Gujarat High Court to hold and declare the EC's actions to treat the seats having fallen vacant as of different categories which required bye-election to be held separately for both the seats. Asserting that the poll panel's notification, holding of polls separately, was illegal and seeking quashing of the same, the Congress leaders had sought the High Court's direction to the poll panel to hold elections to the two seats afresh simultaneously through a single ballot and not through two ballots. They had claimed that the poll panel's notification was unconstitutional and violated the Representation of People Act, 1951. As per the Constitution, election to the vacant seats of the Rajya Sabha should be held together so that the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote can be applied. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French masterpiece has come to New York for the first time ever, and has been greeted with a curious silence. Its Jacques-Louis Davids Bonaparte Crossing the Alps, from 1801, and you know it even if youve never seen it in person, so enduring is its propaganda. To commemorate Napoleons victory over Austria at the Battle of Marengo, David painted him charging up a mountain on a piebald steed, right arm pointing skyward, trademark bicorne on his head, cool and cocksure as his horse bucks its front heels. In copies the artist and his studio made afterward Napoleon wears a red cape, but here, in the original, hes wrapped in a mantle of gold, starchy and solid in the Alpine air. Its actually here! Usually, to see Bonaparte Crossing the Alps, you have to trek to the suburbs of Paris, where it hangs in the Chateau de Malmaison, the home of Empress Josephine. Until May, youll find it in a little-trafficked gallery on the fourth floor of the Brooklyn Museum and it is not alone. In a face-off between two visions of the political power of art, the museum has hung another equestrian portrait: Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps, by Kehinde Wiley, which pictures a young black man in the same pose, the bicorne replaced by a bandanna, the riding boots swapped for Timberlands. The two Napoleons appear alongside a few engravings, cartoons and imperial medals from the museums collection, in the exhibition Jacques-Louis David Meets Kehinde Wiley, which was first presented at the Malmaison last year. A combination of the logos of online streaming music service Spotify and movie streaming service Netflix. Photo by AFP. Subscriptions for Netflix and Spotify are available across online black markets at only VND18,000 ($0.77) a month thanks to mass account creators. All you need to do is enter Spotify or Netflix into your search engine for dozens of ads to immediately appear offering cheap, unofficial deals. For example, a basic, HD quality Netflix package in Vietnam costs VND180,000 ($7.7) per month. However, a black market equivalent valid up to 12 months is priced between VND18,000-60,000 ($0.77-$2.5). The phenomenon sprouted over the past two to three years, just as both services officially entered Vietnam, steadily emerging from closed online groups and forums. Social media and e-commerce sites offering these discount services mostly resemble official counterparts, including standard logos, avatars, etc. Quang Dung, who provides online content in Hanoi, said the pirated accounts employ anonymous registration information that takes advantage of policy loopholes. For instance, Netflix allows a one month free trial with any service to Vietnamese users, which are resold via fake accounts depending on price and user number. Cheap accounts rarely offer a smooth ride, however. Registered for a three-month, 4K package costing VND180,000, Xuan Quy had to recontact the seller after the access password was changed by another user. Moreover, the same account was locked after the first month, forcing the seller to provide another account. As a result, Quys archive of favorite movies and shows was lost. "At that moment, I realized all three, six or 12 month subscriptions are free trial accounts. Therefore, users had to change to a new account each month," Quy explained. Eventually, online account sellers disappear without a trace. According to Dung, every Netflix trial account requires a new e-mail address and card number at registration. International payment cards are usually virtual or stolen Visa and Master cards. Sellers usually require customers to pay in advance via bank transfer or electronic wallet, refusing compensation if services experience problems or get canceled. In addition, cheap accounts pose the risk of leaked personal data. Service providers in Vietnam have yet to issue warnings regarding virtual accounts sold at low prices, though both have already announced they would no longer provide free trial offers in Vietnam. Netflix has been available in Vietnam since 2016 at VND180,000 ($7.8) a month for a basic subscription. The service, with around 167 million subscribers in over 190 countries and territories by Q4, 2019, has sought to produce and acquire rights for more Asian content to increase its number of global subscribers. The company launched its Vietnamese language website last October. Spotify, currently available in 79 markets around the world, was launched in Vietnam during 2018. The service boasts around 271 million monthly active users, of which 124 million are premium subscribers, according to its Q4, 2019 financial report. Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Death After Killing Police Officer A man who was found guilty of killing a Pennsylvania police officer was sentenced to death. Rahmael Holt, 31, of Harrison, Allegheny County, is now the 133rd person on the states death row. He was condemned to death by lethal injection in the 2017 slaying of Officer Brian Shaw in Kensington, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WTAE. A Westmoreland County jury recommended the death penalty and Judge Rita Hathaway announced it Wednesday. Prosecutors said Shaw had chased after Holt when he attempted to flee a traffic stop. Holt then shot and killed Shaw during the pursuit. This doesnt bring Brian back, but it gives some closure and the ability to focus on nothing but healing, Shaws brother, Penn Hills police Officer Steffan Shaw, told WTAE last year. Brian may no longer be with us but he is forever with us in spirit. He will forever be a guardian angel for all. During the sentencing on Wednesday, Hathaway told Holt that all he had to do was sit in the vehicle during the traffic stop. Officer Shaw may have just given you a citation for running a stop sign, and even if he would have searched the car for a gun, you more than likely would have only spent five years in jail. Instead, you chose a different path, the judge told him, CBS Pittsburgh reported. Holts attorney Tim Dawson said his client is planning to appeal the sentence. He was surprisingly upbeat for a man who was just convicted and sentenced to death. He knows he has a long road ahead of him, Dawson said, according to the Tribune-Review. A jury found Holt guilty of first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer in November 2019. COLUMBUS, Ohio - As expected, the Ohio Senate voted Wednesday to reject Ohio House Speaker Larry Householders plan for the states voucher program, sending the legislation into conference committee for negotiations between the two chambers. The vote was 24 to 7 against concurrence, largely along party lines, with Republicans voting in the majority. The Senate voted on whether to accept amendments to Senate Bill 89 that would phase out the part of Education Choice program that bases vouchers on report card grades of local public schools and move to base all vouchers on family incomes. Meantime, the two chambers are already negotiating via a conference committee on a bill that represents the Senates vision for EdChoice. House Bill 9 was amended in the Senate to reduce the number of low-performing schools where people within the boundaries could qualify for vouchers from 1,217 to around 425. It also increases the income limits for which a family could qualify for vouchers from the current 200% of the federal poverty level, or $78,600. Negotiations on HB 9 began Tuesday. The chambers need to finish negotiating by April 1, which is the new date for open enrollment in EdChoice to begin after it had been delayed due to the legislative impasse. Other stories from Columbus: State health departments hold back details on possible coronavirus cases. Thats a mistake, crisis communication experts say More Ohio suspected coronavirus tests come back negative Ohio House bill would ban gay conversion therapy Ohio House bill would prohibit medical procedures for transgender youth Ohio medical marijuana created an estimated 4,275 jobs: report Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The United Nations Security Council has decided to extend the mandate of experts Panel on Sudan which assist the sanctions regime on the country, but Sudan says the move is only a routine procedure that would end with the achievement of peace in the country The Jharkhand Cabinet has approved a proposal to grant up to Rs 5 lakh towards medical treatment of critical diseases to people of the state with an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh, a government official said here on Wednesday. Now the criterion to avail the grant under the existing state healthcare --- "Mukhyamantri Gambhir Bimari Upachar Yojana"---is Rs 72,000 per annum, he said. To avail the grant under the new proposal, beneficiaries will have to furnish proof of annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh for three consecutive years attested by circle officers, he said. "A committee headed by a civil surgeon at the district level has given the power to approve the amount of any beneficiary after obtaining guidelines from the hospital concern. Upon approval, the amount would be given to the hospital through RTGS or bank draft," he said. An MLA or his or her representative will be one of the members of the committee, he said. "Only after notification can we give more details," the official said when asked about the effective date to ascertain the implementation, to meet the three-year income criteria to avail the benefit. He said this is in addition to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The official said that a total of 41 hospitals are listed under the "Mukhya Mantri Gambhir Bimar Yojana", which will cover treatment of all types of cancer, kidney transplantation, serious liver ailments and victims of acid attacks. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday also approved Rs 12.27 crore towards payment of honorarium to the personnel of Central and state armed police forces, who were deployed during the recently concluded Jharkhand Assembly election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Places in History Myanmars Panglong Monument Embodies a Promise of Democracy, Autonomy and Equality The original Panglong Monument (left), and the rebuilt Panglong Monument in 1951 (right). The Panglong Monument in Shan States township of the same name is referred to as the symbol of the Union Spirit, but it is not the original obelisk that commemorated the Panglong Agreement signed by independence hero General Aung San and ethnic leaders in 1947. British imperialists wanted to exclude highland states from independent Myanmar, or Burma as it was then called. The Panglong Agreement was signed between lowland Burmans and ethnically distinct minorities in the hills. It aimed to establish independence from the British in a unified state and was seen as a prelude to independence. U Tin E, a young Shan political leader who signed the agreement, proposed erecting a commemorative monument to mark the establishment of national unity after the deal was signed on Feb. 12, 1947the day that was officially recognized as Union Day. The proposal was approved by U Kya Bu, another Shan leader, and Gen. Aung San. The general contributed 1,000 rupees on behalf of the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League to erect the monument. The 3.5-meter-high (12 feet) monument was erected where the agreement was signed. But U San Mya, then-mayor of Panglong, replaced the original monument in 1951 with a stronger structure. Six people, including bricklayer U Htwe, made the 10-meter-high monument that stands today. The cost was registered as 4,100 kyats. The monument was more successful than the agreement as the self-determination and democratic rights promised at Panglong were never delivered. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Gen. Aung San, visited Panglong as a leader of her National League for Democracy in 1989 after the armys 1988 crackdown against the nationwide pro-democracy uprising. During her visit, she said she would restore the Panglong Agreement if she gained power. In 2002, Secretary-1 of the military regime General Khin Nyunt built a replica of Yangons Shwedagon Pagoda at Panglong. The land was designated by the deputy minister for religious affairs, Brigadier-General Thura Aung Ko, who is the current religious affairs and culture minister. There was criticism that the new pagoda overshadowed the Panglong Monument. The area was divided between the pagoda and the monument. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi took office in 2016 and called the 21st-Century Panglong conference in an attempt to establish peace and national reconciliation. She went to Panglong as State Counselor in 2017, held peace talks in front of the monument and met the relatives of those who signed the agreement in 1947. However, she is still struggling to realize the vision for Myanmar that was agreed at Panglong and is embodied in the monumenta country that is united with values of democracy, autonomy and equality. Translated from Burmese by Aung Kyaw Oo You may also like these stories: 112 Years On, Yangons General Post Office Still Links Myanmar With Wider World Yangon Zoo, the Oldest One in Southeast Asia According to Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa, the bank certificates that Prime Care, which sells funeral plans, had submitted to prove it had the required PHP100 million (around US$2 million) in capital were fraudulent. The manager of the bank in question also flagged the documents as spurious. Funa added that the bank account indicated in the documents had already been closed. Read more: Many Philippine general insurers unable to meet capital requirements As a result, the IC placed Prime Care under conservatorship. The regulator will take over the companys assets and management in order to ensure the protection of its policyholders. While we cannot disclose the details of the ongoing investigation until its completion, we assure the public that we are carefully looking into all possible violations of the responsible officers and hold them liable, Funa said in the statement. Formerly quarantined people toss their face masks to celebrate freedom after 14 days at the March Air Reserve Base in California. Riverside County Department of Public Health Patients flown out of Wuhan, China, by the US government were released from a 14-day federal quarantine at a Southern California air base on Tuesday. The 14-day quarantine is based off the estimated incubation period for the Wuhan coronavirus. The logic goes that, if you don't develop symptoms during that period, then you are likely to be fine. However, a study from China's National Health Commission suggests that the incubation period of the disease could be as much as 24 days. If it is that long, then getting through a 14-day quarantine is no guarantee that you won't get sick. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. People evacuated from the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, celebrated the end of their quarantine at a Southern California airbase by throwing their face masks up in the air. However, a new study released by the China's National Health Commission suggests that the virus might be capable of beating even a 14-day quarantine. The evacuees were held at the March Air Reserve base in Riverside, California, for two weeks, because that is the estimated incubation period of the coronavirus. An incubation period is the time a person has a disease but does not show any outwards signs of it. The federal quarantine was imposed after one passenger attempted to leave isolation at the airbase. The Chinese study, which has yet to be peer-reviewed, suggests that the incubation period for the virus, formally known as COVID-19, could be long as 24 days. The study suggests that patients can infect other during in incubation period. By comparison, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, which ravaged China in the early 2000s, had an incubation period of seven days. "We are comfortable with the 14-day period being long enough to capture the incubation period for this virus," Nancy Knight, director of the Division of Global Health Protection at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a briefing. Story continues "They have been watched more closely than anyone else in the United States at this point in time." Jose Arballo, a spokesperson for the Riverside County Department of Public Health, said during the briefing that the body temperatures of the evacuees were checked twice a day. Some passengers were also tested multiple times for the virus. There are currently 13 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US. A couple in Chicago was the first confirmed person-to-person transfer of the disease in the US. On a global scale, the virus has killed at least 1,115 people and infected more than 45,000. Read the original article on Business Insider This year marks the second time in my life that Ill be in a relationship on Valentines Day and I have absolutely no plans. Its not because I dont want to spend time with my boyfriend (I probably will), but if I do, the reason wont be that its 14 February and Tesco is covered in love heart bunting. The thing is, I dont think theres anything romantic about Valentines Day whatsoever because when you strip away the schmaltz, all youre really celebrating is...well... capitalism. Figures from the National Retail Federation estimate that a record $20.7bn (16.1bn) will be spent on Valentines Day this year, and thats with fewer people acknowledging it. Valentines spending is increasing in the UK too, with Worldpay data revealing that the amount of money people splash on presents for loved ones has risen by 13 per cent in the UK since 2017. 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Show all 21 1 /21 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh. James and Cecelia celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Christmas Day, 2018. This year, they celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day together. Photograph taken in Bexley, London, on 11th February 2019 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh. James and Cecelia celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Christmas Day, 2018. This year, they celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day together. Photograph taken in Bexley, London, on 11th February 2019 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Collect picture of Cecelia and James Marsh on 60th wedding anniversary SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Collect picture of Cecelia and James Marsh on 25th wedding anniversary SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Picture of Cecelia and James Marsh SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh on 70th wedding anniversary SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh on 70th wedding anniversary SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh with their family on Christmas day 2018 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Picture of James Marsh taken in 1989 before the shop closed SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Picture of James Marsh taken in 1989 before the shop closed SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Picture of James Marsh taken in 1989 before the shop closed SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day The shop they ran together until it closed in 1989. SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day The first car James Marsh bought in 1955 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Marion Jones (daughter) taken in 1950s SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day The bike James rode to and from the mine. early 1940s SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh. 1942 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day James and Cecelia get married, December 1943 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh, taken in the eighties SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh in 1989 before shop closed SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day Cecelia and James Marsh. Wedding dec 1943 SWNS 95-year-old couple celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day SWNS Cecelia and James Marsh. James and Cecelia celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Christmas Day, 2018. Thius year, they celebrate their 75th Valentine's Day together. SWNS But it wasnt always about money. While accounts of the origins of Valentines Day vary, one popular theory is that the day was created in commemoration of a 3rd-century priest named Valentine of Terni. The story goes that he secretly married couples in spite of laws laid out by the Emperor that banned young men from marrying, something that was intended to keep them away from the home and on the battlefield. He was beheaded for his defiance on 14 February, but the Catholic Church commended Valentine for uniting Christian couples, and so he was recognised as a Saint. His name and the day of his death subsequently became associated with courtly love. Fast-forward centuries and it feels like Valentines Day has become less about spending time with loved ones and just about spending, period. In 1913 Hallmark Cards declared the day a national holiday. And things have pretty much spiralled from there, with the day now calling for lavish flowers and lingerie that takes 15 minutes to strap into. But were being sold a lie, because, as Shakespeare writes in The Merchant of Venice, all that glitters is not gold, at least, not where love is concerned. And Ive noticed this more than ever now that Im in a relationship. Let me explain. Music is not the food of love, but a sausage is To many, restaurants become bastions of romance at this time of year. But their definition of a Valentines Day-appropriate meal is fundamentally flawed. I dont see the sexiness in seven-course set menus that will make you so bloated you want to fall asleep, nor do I understand why were encouraged to buy bottles of wine that cost as much as diamond earrings. Also, why would I want to celebrate romance by ordering truffle celeriac remoulades that look like mashed potato and souffles that I have to wait an additional 20 minutes for? None of this appeals to me or my boyfriend, whose active hatred for Valentines Day, like mine, spans meals and menus. And supermarkets are worse, lining their shelves with all things heart-shaped, from sweets and chocolates to steaks and even sausages, as evidenced by Marks and Spencers latest and undeniably phallic creation. How exactly a Love Sausage is supposed to get you in the mood remains unclear. But such are the quirks of a day that has been commandeered by brands that prescribe the theory that anything is romantic if it looks like a heart. The irony of all this is that to me, the most romantic meals are the unplanned ones that take place at home and cost very little. Its the extra piece toast your partner makes for you to grab on your way out of the house, the giant slab of chocolate you share while watching a film, or the pot of pasta you make together when you feel peckish at 3am. But you wont see these activities being promoted on the side of a bus because authenticity doesnt have a marketing team. Sweetheart steaks, however, do. Money can buy you love We see this same approach tacked to the gift-giving rituals that are encouraged at this time of year, which, like the food, is often an expensive endeavour. According to a recent survey by online marketplace HushHush.com, the public spent more than 1.5bn on Valentines Day gifts in 2017. Whether you have 5 or 50 to spare, these expectations put obvious pressures on couples to spend money they may not have on one another. Personally, I would wince if my boyfriend presented me with a gift on Valentines Day. Kind as the intention may be, there is nothing sweet or sentimental about buying someone something just because they feel obliged to conform to a tradition that was, in essence, created by a greeting card company. Not to mention the fact that it strips away all spontaneity and can serve only to set you up for disappointment. A friend of mine once bought their boyfriend an expensive wallet for Valentines Day, he was thrilled. Until he had to present the gift hed bought, which was a poster of a meerkat. She didnt even like meerkats. According to a study of Facebook data carried out in 2010, Valentines Day is one of the most common times for couples to breakup. And its not hard to see why. Dont forget to post about your special night on Instagram #thisone There are more than 16m posts on Instagram under #ValentinesDay. Now that Im not single, youd think Id feel differently about the thousands of couple selfies flooding my social media feeds at this time of year with captions like so lucky to have #thisone and love my bae #couplegoals. I dont. It still makes my skin crawl and elicits feelings of solidarity with single people for whom these posts feel like stock images of what romance should look like. In addition, studies have shown that those who brag about their relationships on social media are more likely to have an anxious attachment style, meaning they actually feel insecure about their relationship and post as a way of reassuring themselves. See? Smoke and mirrors. Psychologists have also written about how the influx of happy-snappy images on V-Day encourages people, single or otherwise, to draw destructive comparisons between their love lives and another persons. Its not much fun if youre single either When youre single, all this pomp and pageantry can feel suffocating. Despite attempts to combat this via the influx of singles nights and the advent of Galentines Day, whereby single women are encouraged to go out on 13 February to celebrate one another, intense feelings of shame and pressure persist. Not to mention, theyre also deeply patronising. Marks and Spencer launch 'Love Sausage' for Valentine's Day I should know, I endured years of spending 14 February doing the rounds at singles dinner parties and anti-Valentines Day soirees, all of which conjure up memories of excess alcohol and bad decisions. Most of this was due to the fact that I would go into a party thinking I might find the love of my life, and then feeling terribly disappointed when this didnt happen. In an optimistic and ambitious move, I once organised a date via a dating app with a guy for Valentines Day. He suggested we meet at 9pm, so naturally I ate something beforehand, thinking this would be a drinks-only situation. He arrived (half an hour late) and immediately ordered a sea bass. I obviously lied and said I was starving too, so also ordered a sea bass when Id eaten a lasagne only one hour previously. I then felt so bloated that I had to leave early because I could no longer sit down without unbuttoning my trousers. It was not the romantic evening Id envisioned. Now that Im in a relationship, I probably wont repeat any of my past dating escapades this time around. But that doesnt mean Im automatically going to succumb to the consumerist shackles that Valentines Day places on couples. I might be new(ish) to this, but shouldnt the things that youre supposed to do on Valentines Day be kind, generous and loving to your partner happen all year round and not just because the calendar tells you so? Just a hunch. Australia's new Resources Minister has declared war on environmental activists who are determined to stop fossil fuel exports. A week after being elevated to cabinet, Keith Pitt is pushing for Australia to sell more coal, natural gas and uranium to our major trading partners - and wants more mines approved. He also signalled his determination to triumph over green zealots. 'Some environmental groups would consign our manufacturing sector to outsourcing overseas, our rural and regional areas to poverty, and our economy to the dustbin of history,' Mr Pitt told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday. Minerals extracted from the ground are by far Australia's biggest single export by value and the new Nationals minister has also vowed to boost gas production to help local manufacturers. The former sugarcane farmer from Bundaberg north of Brisbane, has vowed to ramp up energy exports and pressure state governments to be more receptive to coal seam gas and coal mining. Scroll down for video Australia's new Resources Minister has declared war on environmental activists determined to stop the export of fossil fuels. Pictured is an Extinction Rebellion protester in Brisbane He argued more extraction would boost government royalties, which would in turn fund essential community services and lift living standards. 'The royalties and taxes that states and the Commonwealth receive from the sector are building the roads, hospitals and schools that we rely on,' he said. He also vowed to pressure Queensland's Labor government into approving more coal mines in the Galilee Basin and argued renewable energy in fact depended on the extraction of coal and iron ore, used to make steel, and precious metals. 'In addition we are growing our production and exports of minerals and metals that are critical to the growing renewables and clean energy sectors,' he said. 'Without metals like copper, nickel, lithium and the wide range of rare earths and other critical minerals, we can shut down the electric vehicle industry, we can pull down the wind farms and pull the plug our mobile phone and computer networks.' Environmental activists and the Greens are determined to stop mining, in a bid to tackle climate change, and have been staging militant demonstrations in Australia's major cities. Environmental activists and the Greens are determined to stop this in a bid to tackle climate change and have been staging militant demonstrations in Australia's major cities. Pictured are Extinction Rebellion protesters gluing themselves to a city street in Brisbane A week after being elevated to cabinet, Keith Pitt is driving a push for Australia to sell more coal, natural gas and uranium to our major trading partners Extinction Rebellion has this month staged protests in Brisbane against Indian resources giant Adani's proposed Carmichael mine in central Queensland's Galilee Basin. Militant demonstrations have been a regular sight in the Queensland capital in recent months. Last year, as bushfires ravaged southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, Mr Pitt had a suggestion for Extinction Rebellion protesters who had threatened, by email, to stop him catching a flight. 'Some anonymous numpty has taken it upon themselves to send us an email full of blackmail and threats saying they'll come and close down our path to the airport,' he told Parliament in November as a backbencher. 'Well, can I say I've got a couple of suggestions: first thing is, stay at school and learn some punctuation.' Mr Pitt, a Nationals MP who represents the regional southern Queensland electorate of Hinkler, also suggested environmental activists volunteer with their local Rural Fire Services as an alternative to protesting. 'They may well want to glue themselves or chain themselves to something,' he said. 'Here's some more suggestions: get yourself down to your local volunteer fire brigade and chain yourself to a fire hose. 'Stand up with those individuals who show courage and are out there protecting life and property.' Mr Pitt last week replaced Matt Canavan as Resources Minister. His predecessor resigned from the ministry and from cabinet as former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce launched an ultimately-doomed leadership challenge to Nationals leader Michael McCormack. The Health Committee in Parliament is calling for better security for health workers in the country especially those posted to serve in villages and deprived communities. The Committees call comes on the back of the gruesome murder of Ms. Ruth Ama Eshun, a Community Health Nurse stationed at Sewua Health Centre in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region on Monday 3rd February 2020. The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah in reading a statement on the Floor of the House on the matter described the incident as unfortunate, and charged the countrys security apparatus to do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous crime. One of the main challenges the country faces in her quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage has been the difficulty in getting qualified health workers to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are badly needed. As such, for a person who decided to work in a deprived area to suffer this ordeal will obviously worsen this challenge, he said. Dr. Twum-Nuamah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Berekum East constituency said the countrys security agencies must roll out adequate security measures to ensure that health workers in deprived communities are protected from such harm. He added that health workers across the country who are terrified about the news of the death of Mrs. Eshun, will only be reassured of their safety if the persons behind the crime are arrested quickly and made to face the full rigours of the law. The MP, while expressing his commiserations to the victim's family especially her husband and three kids as well as the nursing fraternity, urged the Speaker of Parliament to invite the Interior Minister, Ambrose Derry to update the House on security arrangements being made to protect health workers at their duty posts especially for those in deprived communities. Ruth Eshuns death The lifeless body of the deceased was found at Ayuom near Sewua in the Bosomtwe District, a few meters to her home last week. Ms. Eshun was last seen by her colleagues, on Monday, February 3rd, 2020, after leaving the Sewua Health Centre, where she worked as a registered community health nurse. Various interest groups have so far been demanding justice for the nurse with the Police picking up one person in connection with the suspected murder. The Ghana Health Service has given assurances that it is working to ensure the safety of health workers in the country following the suspected murder but the Community Health Nurses Association of Ghana has given the government a one-week ultimatum to find the killers of Ruth Eshun. Read the full statement below: Mr. Speaker, Monday 3rd February 2020 has become a Black Day for the health sector of this country because that day witnessed the gruesome murder of Ms. Ruth AmaEshun, a Community Health Nurse stationed at Sewua Health Centre in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region. Mr. Speaker, what makes it much more painful is the fact that this hardworking nurse met her untimely death while returning from work at her duty post. Mr. Speaker, clearly, the hearts of her colleagues at Sewua Health Centre, her compatriots at Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, staff of Ghana Health Service, staff of the Ministry of Health and the entire nation are heartbroken following her murder. Mr. Speaker, one of the main challenges the country faces in her quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage has been the difficulty in getting qualified health workers to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are badly needed. As such, for a person who decided to work in a deprived area to suffer this ordeal will obviously worsen this challenge. Mr. Speaker, the only way the state can assuage the fears of the health workers and even prospective ones that their security is a concern to it, is for the perpetrators of this heinous crime to be apprehended quickly and made to face the full force of the law. Furthermore, adequate security arrangements, especially for those who work in deprived areas, must be spelt out. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of your committee on Health, I wish to crave your indulgence to invite the Minister for Interior to brief this house on security arrangements being made to protect health workers at their duty posts especially for those in deprived communities like our late colleague. The Committee also calls on the Inspector General of Police to use all available means to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book within the shortest possible time. These arrangements will go a long way to boost the morale of health workers in Ghana, which as of now has been affected immensely. The committee also calls on the chiefs and people of the community where our late colleague worked to volunteer vital information to assist the Police in their investigations. Mr. Speaker, just as the blood of Abel cried for justice from the Almighty God after he was murdered by his brother Cain, so is the blood of our departed colleague crying for justice from her country Ghana. The State should not fail her. Mr. Speaker, your committee expresses our deepest condolences to the family of the late Ruth AmaEshun, especially her husband and three kids. May her soul rest in perfect peace. Thank you Mr. Speaker for the opportunity. citinewsroom CPI(M) senior leader from Kashmir Yousuf Tarigami on Wednesday took a dig at the Centre, asking it to notify Jammu and Kashmir as a "central jail" so that it no longer has to enforce draconian laws like the Public Safety Act on its citizens. Welcoming the AAP's victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, he said the people of the national capital have shown some light in the "regime of darkness". "The government should notify Jammu and Kashmir as a central jail. Then they do not have to invoke the PSA or force us to stay inside our homes," Tarigami said. "We have no trust in the government, but we trust the wisdom of the people of this country who have expressed it time and again. What happened yesterday in Delhi gives us hope. The victory is the light in this regime of darkness," he said congratulating the people of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal led the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to a stupendous victory yet again in the Delhi Assembly polls, dealing a body blow to the main rival BJP and completely decimating the Congress, in a keenly-watched battle in the midst of anti-CAA protests. The final tally was 62 seats for the AAP and eight for the BJP. The Congress drew a nought in the election. Addressing a press conference at the party office here, Tarigami attacked the Centre over the continued restrictions in the valley and said the delegations which are being taken to Jammu and Kashmir can see that even the guesthouses have been turned into "detention centres". Likening Jammu and Kashmir to Tihar jail, he and his party colleague, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in unison, "Jammu and Kashmir cannot have a Shaheen Bagh for similar reasons as there cannot be a Shaheen Bagh in Tihar jail". Shaheen Bagh in Delhi has become the epicentre of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as women with young children have been staging a sit-in protest there for nearly two months. "The government will repent what it did to J-K. I am also saying that all those people who clapped at the insult of Kashmir on August 5, where the entire community of Kashmir was humiliated, will repent it. The government has to take accountability of what happened. Hope it is not too late," Tarigami said. He also questioned why the central government did not hold elections in the state legislature and allow the people to decide their representatives. Yechury also hit out at the government over the invoking of the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) on former J-K chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and questioned how "getting support of people was a crime", referring to the dossier on them. The PSA was invoked against Abdullah due to his "considerable influence" and ability to draw voters to polling booths, said the government dossier that contained charges against the politician. Apart from him, Mehbooba Mufti and several other Kashmiri political leaders were charged under the Act last week. Referring to the dossier which cites green colour of Mufti's party flag as one of the reasons for slapping PSA on her, Yechury quipped that if the colour was the problem, then one-third of the Indian flag was also the same colour. "If green colour is a problem, then how does one qualify the tricolour which has one-third green. Will that be removed?" he said. Yechury also said that he was receiving delegations from Jammu and Ladhak regions from people who were concerned about their rights that they enjoyed in the past and under Article 35 A. "Till the time the Supreme Court does not decide on the petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, the Jammu and Kashmir administration should not take decisions like giving government land to individuals and trusts from different states. Such decisions cannot be legally sustainable," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While in Khammuane, Minister Lam laid flowers at the Laos-Vietnam fighting alliance monument, visited the Ho Chi Minh relic site and met with Vietnamese living in the province. The minister praised the Vietnamese community in Xieng Vang village (Khammuane province) for donating their land for the construction of the Ho Chi Minh relic site. He wished that the community will join hands with the Lao administration to preserve and upgrade the relic site, which is a beautiful symbol of the great friendship between Vietnam and Laos. Minister Lam affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam always pay attention to overseas Vietnamese, and have issued many policies to encourage them to participate in the construction of the homeland. He also urged the Vietnamese community in Laos to contribute to the development of Laos and the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. CONCORD, N.H. - Democrats braced themselves Tuesday night for a long and divisive contest for their party's presidential nomination after New Hampshire voters added new uncertainty to a race already scrambled by last week's caucuses in Iowa. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who won Tuesday night, has staked his claim as the favored candidate of the party's liberal wing and a threat to win the nomination. But his performance in New Hampshire was hardly overwhelming and far short of what he accomplished here four years ago. Yet if Sanders is the candidate of the liberal wing, those who are more moderate are still divided in their choice. The existence of that competition, and questions about each of the candidates seeking to become the alternative to Sanders, heightened the discontent about where this race might be heading. The likely prospect now is that Sanders and several other candidates will divide the vote and delegates the rest of this month and into March, when more than 60 percent of the pledged delegates will be chosen. With support among the center-left candidates divided, Sanders could emerge from Super Tuesday with a lead in delegates. He would then be in a position to do what few Democrats thought possible before the campaign started, which is win the nomination - but not without a major fight. A week ago, Iowa Democrats shook up the race by giving former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg the narrowest of victories in the contest for so-called state delegate equivalents. That propelled the 38-year-old into the top ranks of the field, and he continued his once-improbable march as he was giving Sanders a serious challenge in the Granite State. Buttigieg will use those results to claim the race is now a two-person contest. But New Hampshire voters produced a plot twist that was wholly unforeseen two weeks ago, lifting Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who ran fifth in Iowa, into the competition here with Sanders and Buttigieg. After being written off, Klobuchar has suddenly made herself a factor in the race, though she is still someone with major question marks about her candidacy and what comes next. Democrats got to this position in large part because of the collapse of former vice president Joe Biden. Weeks ago, he was intending to fill the role of Sanders' principal rival. But the voters in Iowa and New Hampshire rejected Biden in such numbers that, for now, he has been relegated to also-ran status, his candidacy in a perilous state from which it will be difficult to recover. All of this could be good news for Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, who has chosen to skip the first four contests and begin his campaign in the states that vote March 3. But it is good news for Bloomberg only if he can quickly make himself the principal alternative to Sanders. With Buttigieg and now possibly Klobuchar in the mix, that won't be easy. Bloomberg has resources that Buttigieg and Klobuchar can only dream of having. But as a onetime Republican, he is not a natural fit in the Democratic Party. As a multibillionaire in a party that includes many voters who decry the influence of big money in politics, he will be accused of trying to buy the nomination. Sanders has already taken aim at him, but the resentment against his candidacy is not limited to those who back Sanders, if private conversations with a number of Democrats on Tuesday are any indication. A year ago, Democrats were celebrating their victories in the 2018 midterms. Today they are deeply worried about 2020. President Donald Trump is seizing on every benefit incumbency offers and adding to his advantage with an enormous war chest and a skilled reelection operation. The Trump team is on offense like no other campaign in recent memory, savoring what it sees as disarray among Democrats. Fears among Democrats of a Trump victory in November have grown in the wake of his acquittal in the impeachment trial in the Senate, leaving many demoralized and many voters in New Hampshire uncertain where to turn. Half the electorate there made a decision in the last few days, according to the network exit poll conducted by Edison Research. The desire to find the one candidate who could assure victory in the fall and the fear of getting that decision wrong left many voters here in near-paralysis until primary day arrived. Beyond Biden, the New Hampshire results were also bad news for Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who had expected to be in a duel for supremacy with Sanders here. This state has often treated candidates from neighboring states well, but that wasn't the case Tuesday for Warren. Nonetheless, the unpredictability of the Democratic contest provides little incentive to others who have run poorly to quit the race before Super Tuesday. Nevada and South Carolina, the next two states on the calendar, offer a dramatically different demographic mix than Iowa and New Hampshire, with Latinos and African-Americans now coming to the fore. The demographics of those states will test Buttigieg and Klobuchar, neither of which has yet shown an ability to attract the support of minority voters. Biden, who has bet his candidacy on his support from African-Americans and to some extent Latinos, made clear Tuesday night that he hopes for a better finish next week in Nevada, which then could boost his chances in South Carolina. Whether after two dismal finishes he can do that is questionable. Warren, after a disappointing third in Iowa and a weak result in New Hampshire, has, like Biden, put herself in a deep hole with no obvious comeback opportunities. Many strategists in the party anticipated a muddled campaign that would drag into the spring, but no one expected that it would look quite like this. The nightmare scenario for Democrats is what comes after the early states, if the delegates are divided among several candidates. The Democrats face a version of what Republicans went through in 2016. Trump benefited because no single rival could consolidate the anti-Trump vote. Democratic rules are different. Delegates are allocated proportionally. That makes it difficult to gain a big lead, but even a small one can become an insurmountable obstacle to those trailing. As the votes were being counted Tuesday, some Democrats were already talking about the possibility that the nomination contest could go all the way to the party convention in Milwaukee, at which time the choice could be whether to ratify the plurality leader in delegates or hand it to someone else. Either choice could rupture the party. One strategist who fears the impact on the party of a Sanders nomination said the only hope of stopping him might be for Democrats to rally around Bloomberg. "I think we're getting to the point where either we all consolidate behind Mike Bloomberg or Bernie Sanders becomes our nominee," said the strategist, who asked not to be identified to share his assessment of the race. As things stand now, it's hardly clear how that scenario could be engineered. The various scenarios sketched out by Democrats on Tuesday night left another veteran of Democratic presidential campaigns deeply pessimistic. "We are facing such an awful president and the worst, scariest person we ever faced, and we had the best field we ever had and look at where we are," this strategist said. "Shame on us." Six months after canceling its release, Universal and Blumhouse are reintroducing The Hunt. The satiric political thriller, which depicts rich, liberal "elites" kidnapping and hunting conservatives, will now hit North American cinemas on 13 March. Yahoo has contacted Universal to confirm its plans for releasing the film in the UK. "It just feels right," co-writer Damon Lindelof told Variety about why now is the time to release the movie. "And as more and more people start to see it, weve gained confidence in the fact that this is not a dangerous movie. This is not a provocative movie. This is not a divisive movie. I think the big shift between now and then is that more people have seen it and theyve responded positively." Last year, Universal paused its marketing campaign for the violent film in the wake of the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, Dayton, Ohio, and Girloy, California. Backlash ensued once the premise of the movie was reported on in the media. The Hollywood Reporter noted the script referred to the hunted as "deplorables" the infamous word Hillary Clinton used to describe Trump supporters in 2016. Read more: The Hunt director breaks silence on cancellation It caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who condemned "racist" Hollywood and tweeted, "The movie coming out is made in order to inflame and cause chaos. They create their own violence, and then try to blame others. They are the true Racists, and are very bad for our Country!" Emma Roberts in The Hunt. (Photo: YouTube) Producer Jason Blum said the medias coverage at the time was inaccurate, as no one had seen the film. "It was the most talked about movie that no one has ever seen," he told Variety. "So both of us were very eager for people to see the movie and realise that the movie is 100 percent satire and pokes fun at both sides equally." Lindelof added, "It was all about balance, and we felt the movie was actually pretty balanced in terms of the shots that it took. Thats probably what got misreported. The movie that was being presented was slanted, and we didnt perceive it that way." Story continues Damon Lindelof attends the "Watchmen," premiere at the Cinerama Dome, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP) The movie was recently screened for a few journalists. In one scene, per Variety, a liberal hunter shoots a man who says, "Climate change is real." One conservative victim is depicted as "anti-gay, and another rails about illegal immigrants, talks about the Deep State, and fantasises about going on Hannity to expose a liberal conspiracy. Hilary Swank plays the ringleader of the liberal elites, while GLOW's Betty Gilpin turns the tables on the killers. Lindelof said they are not worried the film will incite violence against Trump supporters. Read more: Movies that are still banned in the UK "Were not concerned and our hope is that if the president talks about the movie again, its because hes seen it versus what he is being told by others," he explained. Jason Blum arrives at the 91st Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) "Our real hope is that the president sees the movie," Blum noted, adding they will "100 percent" make it available to the president. "The intention was to reflect whats happening," explained Lindelof. Now, the studio plans to "market the film with attitude," according to THR. A one-sheet that debuted Tuesday reads, "The most talked-about movie of the year is one that no ones actually seen," with the films original 27 September release date crossed out. The poster features quotes from news coverage at the time, like when Fox Business host Lou Dobbs called the movie "sick" and "twisted." The new poster for The Hunt makes light of its date change. (Universal Pictures) "We think that people who see it are going to enjoy it and this may be a way to shine a light on a very serious problem in the country, which is that were divided," Lindelof told THR. "And we think the movie may actually, ironically, bring people together." Trump is apparently never named in the film. A new trailer debuted on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took over as opposition in Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) after electing its corporator Rahul Damle as the opposition leader on Tuesday. With this, the alliance between Shiv Sena and the BJP in KDMC comes to an end. BJP, the second largest party in the House, chose to sit in the opposition after breaking its alliance with the ruling Sena. The move by the BJP comes after its corporator Upeksha Bhoir resigned from the deputy mayor post, claiming mayor Vinita Rane had ignored Bhoirs demand to act against a ward officer involved in illegal constructions. On Tuesday, BJP corporators along with Bhoir walked out of the general body meeting, after the mayor allegedly did not pay heed to Bhoirs demand to act against ward officer Sudheer Mokal. KDMC commissioner Govind Bodke said the civic body has been acting against several illegal constructions. He said, The person who has carried out illegal construction was allowed to do so as his house was affected in the road-widening project. He supported the civic body without creating any hurdles in the work. Looking at this, he was allowed to construct in the remaining space. Mayor asked Bodke to set up an inquiry into the matter. However, Bhoir was not happy. She alleged that the civic body had brushed aside the issue by assuring an inquiry and not taking any action against the officer and illegal construction. I dont want an inquiry but action against the officer. Earlier in June when I had highlighted this topic, the civic body had assured me that it would initiate an inquiry. Months later, no action has been taken. The mayor is supporting the corrupt officers, said Bhoir. In 2015 civic polls, Shiv Sena won 52 seats and the BJP won 42 seats in the 122-member House. Both parties formed an alliance and decided to rule the civic body with majority. KDMC will go to polls later this year. The civic body is yet to elect a deputy mayor, after Bhoir resigned. Since the BJP walked out of the alliance, it was necessary to give them the position of opposition party as they are the second largest party in KDMC. The election for deputy mayor will also be conducted as per the directions from the election commission, said mayor Rane. BJP taking over as the opposition is a setback for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) as its corporator Prakash Bhoir was the opposition leader. The MNS had supported BJP in the standing committee chairman election, giving BJP corporator Vikas Mhatre victory against Senas Ganesh Kot. Prakash Bhoir said, The Sena-BJP alliance had failed to take up any developmental work. Even if BJP is the opposition party now, we will continue the role of the opposition in KDMC. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON (Alliance News) - Kosmos Energy Ltd said Wednesday it has agreed to sell liquefied natural gas from phase one of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project, offshore Mauritania, to BP Gas Marketing Ltd, a subsidiary of oil major BP PLC. The agreement is for BP Gas to take 2.45 million tonnes per year of LNG over an initial term of 20 years. Following the agreement, Kosmos expects to book an additional net proved reserves of 100 million barrels of oil equivalent associated with phase one, as evaluated by its reserve auditor Ryder Scott Co LP. The oil & gas firm expects to book additional reserves once further phases of the Tortue project are sanctioned, and more agreements are signed. BP and Kosmos are partners on the Greater Tortue project, alongside National Oil Cos Petrosen and the Societe Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures. Also on Wednesday, Kosmos reported that its total proved reserves at the end of 2019, prior to the Tortue agreement, was 169 million boe, up from 167 million the same date a year before. Proved and probable reserves were increased over the year to 552 million boe from 513 million. Including the 100 million boe in proved reserves to be booked following the agreement with BP, Kosmos's total probable reserves to date stands at 268 million boe. Kosmos attributed the reserves increase to a strong performance in Ghana, mainly the Jubilee field, where additional drilling increased oil in place estimates. "The quality of our diverse portfolio was demonstrated again in 2019 as Kosmos organically replaced approximately 106% of production on a 1P basis, marking the seventh consecutive year of greater than 100% of production replacement," said Chair and CEO Andrew Inglis. "In addition, we reached another milestone in the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim development with the signing of the phase one SPA with BP Gas Marketing, enabling Kosmos to book our 1P reserves for the project. With a 1P reserve base of 268 mmboe, split approximately 60% oil, 40% gas, we have a 1P reserve to production ratio of approximately 11 years, supporting growth with an increasing contribution of gas," Inglis added. Shares in Kosmos Energy - which is based in Dallas, Texas - were untraded on Wednesday, last quoted at 403.14 pence in London. BP shares were up 0.3% at 471.29p. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Tissot, a world leader in the Swiss traditional watch industry, showcased its new product line-up for 2020, in Chandigarh, during a three-day summit starting February 10, 2020. Attended by the creme de la creme of the watch industry, horology experts and cognoscenti from across India, the showcasing was held at The Oberoi's Sukhvilas Spa Resort, a luxurious venue in New Chandigarh. To celebrate the week of love, Tissot did a special display of its Valentine special T-Wave watch which took centre stage amidst a rosy pink floral setting. The ambience perfectly captured Valentine's Day yet staying true to Tissot's brand essence. Few highlights on display were: Tissot Chrono XL, a watch for those looking for a sporty and trendy chronograph with Swiss technology. The Tissot Gentleman Automatic, a perfect daily accessory for the active and modern man who wants to foster a fashionable edge. The Tissot Heritage Collection, rewinds the hands of time to revisit and testify the rich history of Tissot. This watch pays tribute to a timepiece that was in the Tissot collection since the beginning of the 20th century. Tissot Le Locle Automatique, first introduced for Tissot's 150th anniversary, this collection is amongst the bestsellers by the brand. Tissot Luxury Gent Automatic, a luxurious and affordable timepiece, carrying at its heart an automatic movement with a power reserve of up to 80 hours, called Powermatic 80. Tissot PR 100 Sport Chic Quartz Lady, a core collection must-have. The Tissot PR 100 is another one of the best-selling Tissot families and offers the widest choice of timeless and classic design. Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional and Tissot Seastar 1000 Quartz Chronograph, are instinctive choices for divers available with the energy of a Powermatic 80 movement and Swiss-made quartz movement, respectively. Both are high performing, water-resistant up to an impressive pressure of 30 bar (300 m/1000 ft) timepieces. More attractions included the latest Tissot Supersport Chrono, which is a masculine, dynamic and futuristic collection that offers a wide range of references, giving everyone the possibility to pick the watch that fits best to their wrist. The special edition timepieces on display were the stylish ones like Tissot T-Race Motogp(tm) 2020 Quartz and Automatic Chronograph, Tissot T-Race Thomas Luthi 2020 limited edition, Tissot T-Race Marc Marquez, Tissot T-Race Jorge Lorenzo. Lastly, Tissot Tradition 5.5 lady's touch of retro and some vintage details served up in a curved 1950s-style case. While the magnificent pocket watch collection of Tissot Savonnette demonstrated the craftsmanship of days gone by, providing a hint of nostalgia. Overall, Tissot reinstated its unparalleled commitment to house some of the latest and most cutting-edge timepieces in 2020. 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.) CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lara G. Bakaeen, BDS, MSc, was honored with the Private Practice Prosthodontist Award for the International Region of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), encompassing all countries outside of the United States of America. This award recognizes extraordinary collegiality, outreach and community service, highlighting the role a prosthodontist plays in advancing the quality of life for patients. Dr. Bakaeen is the first international member of the ACP to receive this honor. "To be recognized by peers is the most fulfilling and coveted privilege a professional could hope for. I consider myself fortunate to have received such a recognition by members of this distinguished association," said Dr. Bakaeen. "As the first international recipient of this award, I consider this the crowning achievement of years of hard work, striving to provide my patients with the best possible standard of care in prosthodontics, and putting my practice and my country on the map of prosthodontic excellence." Dr. Bakaeen obtained her BSc in dentistry from the University of Jordan Dental school, and her certificate in prosthodontics and MSc degree at Temple University. She maintains a busy dental practice in Amman, Jordan. Dr. Bakaeen is heavily involved in the advancement of dental science and research and serves in leadership positions in multiple professional organizations, including as President of the Jordan Section of the American College of Prosthodontists. About Prosthodontists A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the restoration and replacement of missing teeth and other oral or facial issues. Prosthodontists specialize in helping patients with implants, dentures and veneers, all the way to full mouth and jaw reconstructions. About the ACP The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) is the association that represents the specialty of prosthodontics. Founded in 1970, the ACP is dedicated to advancing the art and science of prosthodontics and promoting the specialty to the public and dental professionals. For more information, consumers can visit GoToAPro.org and dental professionals can visit Prosthodontics.org. Evan Summers [email protected] SOURCE American College of Prosthodontists Related Links http://GoToAPro.org A town that fought back against anti-Adani coal mine protesters is now questioning the environmental impact of another mine proposed near their community. The Queensland town of Clermont, about 400km west of Rockhampton, is the location of a planned new mine near the Blair Athol State Forest. But residents say could affect the habitat of koalas and tourism in the region. In early 2019 the same town gave an extremely frosty reception to a convoy of about 400 anti-coal protesters that drove through the area led by former leader Greens Bob Brown. Residents turned out in large numbers holding signs which read 'QLD coal powering Australia's economy' and 'I support jobs for coal miners' and heckled the protesters as they drove through the main street. A town that fought back against anti-Adani coal mine protesters is now questioning the environmental impact of another mine proposed near their community The application includes a self-assessment done by consultants for the developers that says native koalas would be minimally affected Less than a year later sentiment for some in the town of about 3,000 people appears to have shifted. Residents are concerned the new Moorlands Coal Project, owned by a Chinese company Huaxin Energy, could significantly harm the environment. Local business owner Frieda Berry-Porter said she was particularly concerned about the project. 'If a koala can't find sanctuary in a Queensland state forest, then where can they live in peace? We all know with the recent bushfires and the prolonged drought that they're already suffering. So for us it's a last sanctuary for them.' Ms Berry-Porter told the ABC. The project could also affect access to certain parts of the nearby Blair Athol State Forest which Ms Berry-Porter said could affect tourism. The picturesque forest is a well-known area for hobby gold fossicking. The project requires an Environmental Authority issued by the Department of Environment and Science before any construction can begin. The application includes a self-assessment done by consultants for the developers that says native koalas would be minimally affected. In early 2019 the same town gave an extremely frosty reception to a convoy of about 400 anti-coal protesters University of Queensland researcher Bob Ellis, who has more than 20 years experience monitoring koalas and working with coal mines in the region, says the data does not match his experience. He said he is quite surprised the report has decided the impact is going to be so small. 'The koalas are quite sparsely distributed, so it's not surprising you don't find a lot of evidence of them. But that's how they inhabit our drier, sub-humid woodland areas,' Dr Ellis told the ABC. Dr Ellis said that the methods used to gather the data were not appropriate for the region and and did not draw on data already available from nearby mines. He is concerned the impacts of a project this size on koalas could include increased traffic, destroyed habitat, fragmented territory, and displaced populations. A recent formal mediation by the Land Court was attended by the developers and some residents including Ms Berry-Porter. A total of nine objections to the coal-mine had been referred to the Land Court for consideration. Last month Huaxin Energy published a community consultation notice saying they would work 'with relevant stakeholders, wildlife experts, native title parties, and the local community to ensure the project is developed in an environmentally sustainable manner and with regards to existing cultural heritage,' The proposed project is currently going through the regulatory approval process. Residents of Clermont are concerned a new coal mine would affect koalas In a time of burgeoning state revenues, Oregon lawmakers arent doing a lot to address the gaping deficit in the states public pension system. But among the baby steps theyve taken is to tap one specific demographic to narrow the funding gap by a sliver. Dead people. Specifically, ultra-rich dead people. In a new revenue forecast issued Wednesday, state economists said estate tax collections are running considerably above expectations. Its not that more deceased people are getting hit by Oregons death tax, as Republicans like to call it. That only kicks in on estates valued at more than $1 million, and the number of estates that exceed that threshold has been relatively steady. Rather, the growth in collections reflects the increasing size of a very few large estates, which have grown in concert with stock prices and home values, economists said. In other words, the really rich keep getting richer. No surprise, given consistent growth in income and wealth gaps in recent decades. But heres where that benefits public employees: One step lawmakers took in 2018 to head off the massive pension contribution increases that public employers were facing was to dedicate certain categories of windfall tax collections to the Public Employees Retirement System when they come in above the past five biennias average trend line. That included the estate tax. That requirement looks like it will be triggered this year by above average growth in estate tax collections, and the excess collections would go to PERS. If the forecast holds, state economists expect $17.6 million will be transferred next biennium into a fund designed to hold down pension contribution increases for schools. Its not a lot, a drop in the proverbial bucket given the systems $24 billion funding deficit. The impact on required contributions from public employers may be almost imperceptible. But there it is. Soak the rich, as they say. But not so fast. This brings up another, mostly Republican-backed bill, that landed in this years short session. Senate Bill 1560 would bump up the size of exemptions from Oregons estate tax. Thats long been a red-meat issue for Republicans around the country, and Oregons estate tax is among the most burdensome of all. As it stands, the first $1 million of any Oregon residents estate is shielded from the estate tax (its $10 million at the federal level). But if SB 1560 passes, the state exemption would jump to $1.5 million on estates less than $2.5 million; $1.2 million on estate less than $3.5 million; and progressively smaller exemptions on larger estates until the exemption is phased out on estates higher than $6.5 million. The bill would also lower the tax rates on the portion of estates that are taxable. Moreover, it just might ensure this pension transfer business doesnt happen in the future. The bill gets its first hearing Thursday in the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue. - Ted Sickinger; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is sending their magnificently restored Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Texas Raiders to take part in the CAF Dixie Wings 17th annual World War II Heritage Days event over the weekend of May 2-3, at Atlanta Regional AirportFalcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia. Ground tours will be available, and rides can be purchased for flights Saturday and Sunday. The public also will have an opportunity to meet B-17 crewmen and other World War II veterans during the weekend, which this year is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing hosts the event annually at the CAF Dixie Wing Warbird Museum adjacent to the airport. Over the last 16 years, WWII Heritage Days has emerged as the largest annual World War II and 1940s themed event in Georgia. The entire weekend will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II with new events such as a Pass and Review parade, Warbird fly-by and a commemorative wall where families can highlight heroes of the Greatest Generation. The Dixie Wing hosted 78 World War II veterans at WWII Heritage Days in 2019, and efforts are underway to bring as many as possible in 2020. Rides in the B-17 Flying Fortress can be purchased HERE. This is a rare opportunity to honor and thank our living WWII veterans, as well as remember those who have passed, said Dixie Wing Leader Jim Buckley. Their numbers are dwindling rapidly, and WWII Heritage Days is a great opportunity to show them our gratitude. The mission of WWII Heritage Days is to celebrate the 1940s, salute the Greatest Generation and inspire all ages to preserve the legacy of Americas veterans. This will be a must-see experience for anyone who enjoys nostalgia, big-band music, swing dance, historic aircraft and military vehicles, antique cars and vintage fashion. The program features re-enactors portraying Axis and Allied troops, sailors, airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). This years lineup will include several WWII aircraft, many of which are available to ride. Dozens of vintage military vehicles will be on display and will participate in the weekends first Pass and Review, to honor all WWII veterans present and showcase the vehicles and reenactor units. For more information, please visit www.wwiidays.org or call 678-364-1110. Admission for WWII Heritage Days is $10 for adults 17 and older and $5 for children 11-17. Children 10 and under and World War II veterans are admitted free. All public parking will be at the Cooper Eaton parking lot on Highway 74, with shuttle buses to the museum and grounds. WWII Heritage Days will take place rain or shine. Please no pets. Proceeds from the event help fund restoration and operation of the Dixie Wing fleet. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:38:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian government in partnership with the European Union will this week launch a mobile exhibition and a catalogue produced by the Museums Association of Namibia (MAN), in collaboration with the Namibian San Council (NSC), to celebrate one of the country's most marginalized communities, the San people. The exhibition also focuses on the largest collection in the world of historical artifacts from Namibia's San communities, collected by Fourie in the 1920s. The collection is currently held in Museum Africa, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The exhibition is part of a project titled "Museum Development as a Tool for Strengthening Cultural Rights in Namibia" funded by European Union. The Namibian San Council decided that the title of the exhibition should be in several of the different languages of Namibia's San communities. MAN said the multilingual title reflects the diversity within Namibia's San communities and the importance the council places on the preservation of the different San languages as being central to the protection of their cultural rights. Kileni Fernando, the NSC secretary, said, "The most important thing for us is that the exhibition and catalogue will encourage young people to discuss our culture and history with their elders." The San peoples, also known as the "Bushmen," are members of various indigenous hunter-gatherer groups that are the first nations of Southern Africa. Passengers wear masks at a train station to prevent the nCoV spread (Photo: AFP/VNA) The US Agency for International Development (USAID) said it handed over equipment including 440 protective goggles and 1,500 surgical gowns to Laos. Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promised up to 100 million USD in aid to China and other affected countries to counter the virus. According the US Department of State, the Laos delivery was the first and that funding would primarily aim at containing the coronavirus./. Redding, Calif. - It's a way to help adults reach higher education and it's offered through Shasta College's Accelerated College Education Program or ACE. The program started back in2016. Since then, over 500 students have been part of ACE. In 2020, 172 students enrolled in the program. We have an 82% success, said ACE counselor Rebecka Renfer. Its doable for them and they do very well. Courses offered include business, communication, and psychology. Research Report Finds Boot Camp Model Troubling An intensely researched study published on Class Central has dissected the economics of boot camps and found them to be poor venture capital investments and possibly poor investments for their students too. Class Central is an online publication that monitors news and trends in online education. The report by Christof Rindlisbacher particularly questioned the common use of ISAs income share agreements. These are arrangements by which students pay no tuition to the boot camp until they're in a job that hits a particular income threshold. According to Rindlisbacher, ISAs "raise significant consumer protection and affordability issues," suggesting that in reality they could be either "a new type of financial product that requires a new legal framework" or "a new type of loan, in which case they would be subject to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Truth in Lending act and state usury laws." In part, Rindlisbacher's argument goes like this: Frequently, ISAs are sold by the boot camp to third-party investors, but without students' knowledge. That means that boot camp claims of earning money only when their graduates earn money isn't true. If it were, he pointed out, they'd keep the ISAs "on the books." The same report offered a breakdown on the costs driving boot camps. The biggest expense: student recruitment, followed by staffing and curriculum development. Rindlisbacher described a "unit economic model" in which a 16-week boot camp operation could accommodate three cohorts of 20 students each per year. Of the average tuition ($11,900) each student pays, boot camps likely make a $1,042 first-year profit per each student ($62,520 for the year for the total 60 students, by his estimates) and a subsequent-year profit of $3,743 per student ($224,580 per year). Rindlisbacher also questioned the claims boot camps make about student success. As he noted, aside from a one-time fine brought against Flatiron School by the New York Attorney General, "overall, there doesn't appear to be consequences for publishing misleading outcomes data." Many of the industry players have chosen self-regulation by participating in the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR). Yet, he noted, they rarely follow its standards. As an example, CIRR standards require boot camps to submit student outcomes data twice a year. But as of Sept. 13, 2019, "of the 25 boot camps that have submitted outcomes reports to CIRR, 10 of these boot camps submitted reports for only one reporting period" a form of "cherry-picking" that "calls into question the effectiveness of CIRR's reporting." The author insisted that he didn't doubt the value of "short-term education" as a "worthwhile endeavor or a viable business idea." However, he added, the "available information" suggested that boot camps will struggle in their attempts "to be both profitable and to provide high quality education while growing at a rapid pace." The full report is openly available on the Class Central website. PM Narendra Modi's government is trying to pull out all the stops for Donald Trump's trip in a bid to reaffirm strategic ties between the two countries, which have been buffeted by sharp differences over trade, to counter China. Trump will visit India Feb. 24-25, the White House said, his first official trip to the country. Take a look at the creatives on Indo-US bilateral ties and other related topics. (Image: News18 Creative) The new passenger terminal building of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) will become first in the Middle East to operate with Enterprise LTE (eLTE) technology as its mission-critical system, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) announced. The move follows of a key technical agreement between BAC and Batelco, signed by BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah and Batelco Enterprise General Manager, Abderrahmane Mounir, in the presence of the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and BAC Chairman, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed and Batelco Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. Commenting, Al Binfalah said the deal puts BAC another step closer to realising the Kingdoms digital transformation goals and our objective of providing our partners at the airport with modern and reliable mission-critical communication solutions. The new eLTE system will improve BIAs emergency management services and operations at the new terminal, and the airport at large, while affording several benefits such as last-mile data connectivity, fast emergency CCTV deployment, HD voice and video dispatching capabilities over smart handheld devices. Wi-Fi services for all Batelco will also provide highspeed connectivity for Voice, Data, and Wi-Fi services for all airport tenants and passengers. Batelco Enterprise General Manager, Abderrahmane Mounir expressed his delight in associating with Bahrain Airport Company. Were committed to being a key stakeholder in elevating the services at Bahrain International Airport, he added. BAC emphasised that the strategic investments will help transform it into a world-class boutique airport and increase the aviation sectors contribution to the national economy in line with the Kingdoms Economic Vision 2030. In Philadelphia, 1,116 people died of a preventable drug overdose in 2018. When the city Department of Public Health released this data last May, many community members saw a success: an 8% reduction in deaths from the year prior. But we cannot neglect the loss of 1,116 sons, daughters, friends, and neighbors when overdose deaths are preventable. The reported decrease is not only from fewer individuals experiencing overdose it happened because more overdoses were nonfatal, thanks to the access and distribution of naloxone throughout the city. From July 1, 2017, to June 6, 2018, the Department of Public Health distributed more than 37,000 doses of naloxone throughout Philadelphia. Because naloxone is available without a prescription, can reverse an overdose, and lower the fatality risk of fentanyl exposures, it is a highly successful strategy for harm reduction. Harm reduction is based on the concept that people have autonomy and naturally engage in behaviors that can pose risk. Many people are willing to risk driving over the speed limit, having unprotected sex, using drugs, and drinking alcohol, for example. Harm reduction merely acknowledges that risky behaviors occur and offers guidance to mitigate risk. Wearing a seat belt and using condoms are harm reduction strategies. However, when considering drug use, some deem addiction a moral failing of choice that merits penalty rather than assistance. An overdose prevention site, another harm reduction strategy, has been federally deemed a medical facility, one that offers sterile syringes, naloxone and respiratory support in case of respiratory depression, and harm reduction education by medical staff. Those services happen alongside infectious disease screening, peer support, and treatment services. Critics like those at the U.S. Attorneys Office have described an overdose prevention site as a bring your own drugs policy. That negative framing leads people to be severely misinformed on the medical capacity of the facility. These sites do not provide substances and cannot ascertain the origins of substances used. Hepatitis, HIV, trauma, and preventable overdoses are all public health issues that have implications for both the client and the surrounding community. As a public health initiative, overdose prevention sites aim to tackle these issues and protect everyone. Misconstrued as enabling drug use, overdose prevention sites, in fact, support vulnerable individuals by offering on-site peers in Pennsylvania, called certified recovery specialists to navigate and encourage direct pathways to treatment. Treatment barriers are typically monumental: recurrent opioid withdrawal symptoms, authorizations and insurance challenges, lack of care navigation, and intense stigma. Critics of overdose prevention sites also raise community safety concerns. Yet the fact stands: Overdose prevention sites save lives, and do so for the health of the entire community. Please consider the idea of yourself having a fatal disease, and someone offers you a 10% chance of treatment and survival 10% more than what you face on your own. Would you take it? Would you motivate a loved one to take advantage of the opportunity? Absolutely. READ MORE: Supervised injection sites are enabling, but necessary | Perspective More understandably, some community members are wary of a potential spike in crime when a facility opens. Modeling current sites that successfully operate around the world, data does not suggest that crime rates increase in areas surrounding an overdose prevention site. A 2014 review of studies found that these sites have been associated with less outdoor use, a decline in overdose rates (no fatal overdose has ever occurred in a supervised site), an increase in health services, and no negative impact on drug use or crime. Another study reported no increase in drug trafficking, no increase in assault, and a decline in vehicle theft around the facility in Vancouver, Canada. Sites should be demographically chosen based on where people are already congregating, already using, and already overdosing. Sites can be distributed so that services reach all demographics, even in communities that have a hidden overdose crisis because users are forced to use behind closed doors. People dont die because they use too much. They die because there is no one there to help them. Brittany Salerno is an MPH candidate and research coordinator in emergency medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Jeanmarie Perrone is a professor of emergency medicine at Perelman and director of the Penn Medicine Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy. Utsha Khatri a fellow in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Perelman contributed research to this piece. The vast network of old buildings that make up the School District of Philadelphia has become the source of an environmental crisis, with asbestos hazards shuttering schools, and district management slow to create and communicate a plan that assures parents, teachers, and stakeholders that the problem is under control. At the beginning of the school year, the joint complex of Ben Franklin High and the Science Leadership Academy on North Broad Street closed. Asbestos hazards forced the Philadelphia School District to shut down T.M. Peirce Elementary in North Philly, Carnell Elementary in Oxford Circle, and Franklin Learning Center in Spring Garden. McClure Elementary in Hunting Park shut down for two weeks, then reopened, only to close again after two days. Most recently, Hopkinson Elementary closed indefinitely. Back in November, when the count of closed schools was still only four, School District Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. touted a new environmental safety plan. When announcing the plan, Hite said: We have made mistakes and fallen short of my expectations in key areas, and have not fully confronted many of the challenges we have faced. READ MORE: Toxic City: The Ongoing Struggle To Protect Philadelphias Children From Environmental Harm With three new school closures since, the facts on the ground suggest that the district is still falling short. In January, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit against the district, accusing it of showing a disregard for the health of teachers and students. While decades in the making, the crisis has unfolded during the first term of the school board that brought the schools back under the responsibility of the city and the mayor. And with that term expiring, Mayor Jim Kenney has an opportunity to make a statement about whether he believes the first board has been successful and make necessary changes. READ MORE: I work at a Philly school closed by asbestos. Were fed up. | Opinion On Wednesday, Kenney received a list of 27 names of potential board members from the citys education nominating panels a process that education advocates say was opaque and closed to the public. Eight of the nine current board members were renominated; the ninth slot is vacant due to a resignation. This is an opportunity for Mayor Kenney to signal that he is hearing the students, teachers, and staff, and parents who say theyve lost confidence in the current leadership. This crisis deserves more than a rubber stamp. The responsibility for the safety of children in schools lies with Mayor Kenney. So far, Kenney has been mostly silent, letting Hite and the Board of Education be the face of the crisis. But both the superintendent and the school board members serve at the pleasure of the mayor. READ MORE: School District has broken our trust, say students displaced by asbestos | Opinion The challenge with toxic schools is not only of leadership but also of resources. That fight goes through Harrisburg, where the General Assembly needs to approve Gov. Tom Wolfs request for $1 billion to be allocated to remediate lead and asbestos in public schools throughout the commonwealth. Getting the money wont matter if leadership is ill-equipped to use it to fix this problem quickly and regain the trust of the community. If the School District and Board of Education cant deliver, Kenney should either make leadership changes or prepare to take full responsibility for the crisis. On the seventh floor of Huntsvilles city hall Wednesday afternoon, behind a lectern and in front of a bank of television cameras, Ramon Santiago transitioned from speaking English to Spanish. For exactly 2 minutes, 28 seconds, Santiago addressed Hispanics and Latinos in Spanish one more effort to convey the message that, yes, the U.S. Census matters and that the city of Huntsville said it needs everyone to be counted. If it seems like youve been hearing for months, if not years, that a full and accurate census count is important, you have. As Huntsville officials indicated Wednesday, its important in any language. Related: Huntsville is spending $50,000 to spread the census message. And even if you don't speak Spanish, it wasn't difficult to translate the gist of the message carried by Santiago who heads the Hispanic-Latino Advisory Committee for Huntsville's Complete County effort. Time and again, Santiago spoke the phrase muy importante which even a basic understanding of Spanish is known to mean very important. "All of our federal aid is tied to a number," Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. "It has an average of $1,500 of federal aid that comes to the area (per person). So losing 10 counts means you're losing $15,000 in your community." Census education for the Hispanic community is important in getting a full count, Santiago said in an English statement in the city's press release. That includes explaining that census data remains anonymous and is used solely to compile statistical population data. By law, census answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. The important task we have at hand is making sure our Hispanic community in Huntsville is well informed on the importance of being counted, providing education on how to do it and being available to them for questions or to address concerns, Santiago said in the press release. The slogan of our campaign is 'Tu Cuentas' or 'You Count' and we look forward to continuing to share this important message. Battle said Huntsville is focusing on getting full counts from typically undercounted groups such as Hispanics and Latinos as well as minority groups and the elderly. "The undercounted groups are the ones who need the federal aid the most," Battle said. Its important to our Hispanic community, said Connie Graham, the citys census liaison. Weve asked our Hispanic-Latino count committee to be our ambassadors. Weve taken leaders from that community where folks feel comfortable with then individually and working one on one, help them understand why the census is important to them and how it impacts their community. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / While the packaging industry continues to evolve, packaging companies center their strategic efforts around product innovation, differentiation, and sustainability. The industry is more inclined towards delivering a personalized experience to customers, more specifically targeting the demands of the most influential consumer cluster - millennials. Future Market Insights (FMI) released a new white paper, titled, Four Keys to Unlock the True Potential of Packaging (February 2020). It discusses the untapped potential of product packaging that can enable brands to grow leaps and bounds amid extremely competitive atmosphere. The white paper sheds light on the four pivotal areas to focus on, for packaging companies. In-depth analysis of the next-generation packaging aspect reveals the critical need for incorporation of smart or next-gen technologies in packaging solutions. Smart and intelligent packaging technologies are already in picture, proven to be pushing the level of customer experience and ensuring product integrity and security throughout the supply chain. Food & beverages and pharmaceutical industries are currently the top consumer industries of next-gen packaging solutions, as suggested by this research. Sustainability is another important aspect of packaging that the white paper highlights next. The industry's radical shift away from plastics is majorly contributing towards the global anti-plastic, sustainability drive. Brands are opting for hefty capital investments in R&D of bio-based plastics, paper & paperboard, glass, and metals in a bid to package a sustainable experience. FMI indicates that Europe stands as the frontier of this particular packaging trend. A step ahead of customization, personalization has become a key to unlock an array of opportunities residing in top-performing end-use industries. Packagers are prioritizing investments in bespoke packaging solutions, leveraging the capabilities offered by an advanced software-based model. This white paper brings into fore how brands can perfectly capture consumer sentiments regarding product packages to gain profits. Brands based in the US and some of the European countries remain at the forefront of customized and personalized packaging innovations. With trend of premiumization spanning almost every industry across the globe, it has pushed some influential trends in the packaging world as well. FMI opines that a luxury experience begins with the packaging, which advocates the trend of luxury packaging. Besides crafting a premium brand experience for their customers, brands are using it as an excellent marketing tool. This trend will especially proliferate across East Asian markets, predominantly in the alcoholic beverages category. Gain access to more interesting insights on the recent developments in and future prospects of the most profitable segments in packaging domain here. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Contact: Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com FMI White Paper | February 2020 - Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/white-paper/four-keys-to-unlock-the-true-potential-of-packagin SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576173/Future-Market-Insights-Discusses-Untapped-Potential-of-Packaging-in-a-New-White-Paper KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Authorities are investigating after a person was shot in the head and dropped off at an area hospital. Police were called about 7 a.m. Tuesday after a victim arrived with what was considered life-threatening injuries, police said. Investigators are on scene in the 8300 block of Holmes Street where the shooting took place. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, hoping to spring back from a third place finish in Iowa caucuses, received less than 10% support in New Hampshires primary on Tuesday, a frustrating fourth place finish for a candidate that had once approached national frontrunner status but missed the 15% threshold to pick up delegates here. With 90% of precincts reporting, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont claimed victory with about 26% support, while former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg had another strong showing after the Iowa caucuses, trailing Sanders by less than 2%. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who recently jumped into the double digits and into the top tier of candidates in recent polling, finished in third place at nearly 20%. Warren, a Harvard professor with a background in economics and consumer protection, had surged to near frontrunner status against Joe Biden in national polling last summer and fall. Warrens rise came as she laid out plans to tax the ultra-wealthy to help fund a host of progressive measures including investments in public education, criminal justice reform and combatting climate change. 8 Warren New Hampshire primary rally But Warren, who has consistently said she wasnt focused on polling, had not seen similar rises in support in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, particularly with Sanders and Buttigieg dominating recent polls. And she dipped in national polling and fundraising amid criticism over how to pay for her Medicare for All proposal. New Hampshire voters Tuesday stuck with the 2016 winner, Sanders, whos long championed progressive policies while arguing the government works for the billionaire class instead of working families. Warren has described Sanders as a long-time friend and colleague, but the pair have squared off after campaign squabbles and a debate tussle over whether a woman could win the White House in 2020. Warrens fourth place finish also came amid significant surges from Buttigieg and Klobuchar, who had already risen to double digits in recent polls and headed into the primary emphasizing a strong debate performance and endorsements from Granite State press. Warren later this week will head to Virginia, where she plans to host a town hall in Arlington. In early March, she will fight for her home state on Super Tuesday, looking to fend off not only Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar but latecomers former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who recently announced the opening of new offices in the state. By Jun Ji-hye Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and other local carriers are scrambling to reduce expenses amid a series of unfavorable factors such as the coronavirus outbreak and continuing nationwide boycotts of trips to Japan, company officials said Wednesday. Asiana Airlines has received applications from its flight attendants for 15 days of unpaid leave starting Saturday as the number of flights on routes from Korea to China has significantly decreased since the coronavirus broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. The company has operated 26 routes to China, and of them, it suspended 12 routes and cut flights on 12 other routes. "The measure is in response to reduced demand for Chinese routes," an Asiana Airlines official said. The measure came after the nation's No. 2 carrier asked its employees in general services to take unpaid leave for 15 days to two years last year amid falling profits due mainly to lower demand for travel on Japanese routes. In July last year, Japan began to impose restrictions on exports of key industrial materials to Korea, triggering an anti-Japan boycott here, under which Koreans opted not to travel to the neighboring country. In December, Korean Air, the nation's top flag carrier, launched a voluntary retirement plan for its employees in a bid to cut its workforce and labor costs amid a growing deficit. It was the company's first voluntary retirement program since 2013. While flights to Southeast Asian countries are also expected to shrink amid growing fears over coronavirus infection, budget carriers are finding themselves in an even more difficult position. Four coronavirus cases here have been confirmed in people who traveled to Thailand, Singapore and Japan, but not China. Jeju Air, which has decided to suspend its 12 routes to China starting from March 1, encouraged its employees to go on unpaid leave for up to one month. Eastar Jet, T'way Air and Air Seoul are also receiving applications for unpaid leave from its employees. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of flights on routes from Korea to China has decreased by about 70 percent as of the second week of February since the Wuhan areas were designated as blockade areas on Jan. 23. Amid lingering difficulties facing air carriers, the ministry has vowed to draw up a series of measures to support them, including a reduction in fees for the use of airport facilities, among others. A federal judge ordered San Francisco food-delivery company DoorDash to arbitrate over 5,000 actions brought by its delivery drivers in a move that could cost the company millions of dollars. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered DoorDash to comply with the arbitration agreements it made workers accept with a tap on their smartphones. Like many gig-economy companies, DoorDash requires that its couriers, which it calls dashers, resolve disputes out of court. For decades, the employer-side bar and their employer clients have forced arbitration clauses upon workers, thus taking away their right to go to court, Alsup wrote in the order filed Monday night. The irony, in this case, is that the workers wish to enforce the very provisions forced on them by seeking, even if by the thousands, individual arbitrations, the remnant of procedural rights left to them, Alsup added. Arbitration allows companies to settle disputes with workers outside the court system and is in theory intended to be faster, cheaper and more private than litigation. What started as a dispute over whether the meal couriers are contractors turned into a dispute over filing fees after thousands of workers filed for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association. The private arbitration provider requires each worker to pay a filing fee of $300, with the responding company paying $1,900. In October, DoorDash refused to pay the nearly $12 million in administrative fees, alleging problems with the couriers claims. Companies impose these arbitration clauses because for many harms like this they were betting most individuals would not bring claims, said attorney Travis Lenkner, who represents the 5,010 petitioners. Lenkner said cases like this are normally handled through class actions but the arbitration agreement couriers agreed to prohibited them from going that route. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes DoorDash and its attorneys did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment on the order. Attorneys for DoorDash previously asked Alsup to stay proceedings in federal court while a separate class-action case against it in San Francisco Superior Court proceeded, potentially allowing the dashers in the federal case to join a settlement in that case. Alsup, who is known for his fiery decisions against companies like PG&E and Uber, declined to issue a stay. No doubt, DoorDash never expected that so many would actually seek arbitration. Instead, in irony upon irony, DoorDash now wishes to resort to a class-wide lawsuit, the very device it denied to the workers, to avoid its duty to arbitrate, he wrote. This hypocrisy will not be blessed, at least by this order. Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) (the "Company", "MustGrow"), an agricultural biotech company developing and commercializing a portfolio of natural, science-based biological crop protection products, today announced the launch of their shareholder communications initiative designed to improve visibility into the Companys current and planned operations. The Company has retained South Florida based Midam Ventures LLC to assist in the execution of this initiative. The Company has retained Midam for a period beginning January 8, 2020 and ending on July 8, 2020 (the Term). For services provided to the Company, Midam has been paid a total cash fee of $250,000 USD and ZERO shares, options and or warrants for the Term. This new shareholder communications initiative is comprehensive and will include text, image & video content disseminated by Midam with the Company retaining full editorial control. Online traffic will be strategically driven to approved content. The program will also include updates to the Companys website and social media initiatives and strategy. We are looking forward to working with Midam to get our story out there, says MustGrows President & CEO, Corey Giasson. MustGrow is an Ag-Biotech company with a unique technology and a great story to tell, and with Midams help well be able to do that. About MustGrow MustGrow is a publicly traded (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) agricultural biotech company focused on providing natural science-based biological solutions for high value crops, including fruit & vegetable and cannabis cultivation. MustGrow has designed and owns a United States EPA-approved organic solution that uses the mustard seeds natural defence mechanism to protect plants from pests and diseases. Over 100 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrows safe and effective signature products. This product, in granule format, is EPA-approved across all key U.S. states as a bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide (currently limited to a bio-fertilizer in California) and is designated by Health Canadas PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) as a fruit & vegetable bio-pesticide and bio-fertilizer. MustGrow has now concentrated a liquid format to be applied through standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features. In cannabis, MustGrow is currently developing effective, safe and biological solutions that adhere to Health Canadas strict regulations, including (1) its mustard-derived bio-pesticide to treat soil-borne pests and diseases; and (2) an in-licensed bio-fungicide for powdery mildew. The Company has approximately 36.4 million basic common shares issued and outstanding. For further details please visit www.mustgrow.ca. About Midam Ventures LLC MIDAM Ventures LLC provides public & private companies with results-oriented awareness, marketing & advertising campaigns. The effective, transparent, compliant & results driven campaigns are developed with professionalism, creativity & out of the box thinking, that works. For more information please contact: Corey Giasson Director & CEO Phone: +1-306-668-2652 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, MustGrow. These risks are described in more detail in MustGrows Prospectus and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Important Always read and follow label use directions. 2020 MustGrow Biologics Corp. All rights reserved. NEPA was a remarkable piece of legislation in its scope and in its brevity. A slim seven pages in all, it covered all decisions made by the federal government and embodied the old adage: Measure twice, and cut once. It required all federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impact of their decisions before making them; to think through what and how they proposed to do something; to analyze alternative approaches, including a take no action alternative; and to document that process clearly and completely for public review. It also established the environmental impact statement to report those decision details and gave the Council on Environmental Quality the responsibility to oversee the implementation of NEPA. Many of those federal decisions, of course, are sought by private corporations seeking federal contracts to build roads, bridges, pipelines, and other large infrastructure projects. As such, those corporations are required to think through and analyze the environmental impacts of their proposed projects and present their analysis to the relevant federal decision-making agency. Uzbekistan is sending protective cloths, disposable gloves, masks, and other supplies to China to support Beijing's efforts to control the spread of the new coronavirus. President Shavkat Mirziyoev signed the relevant decree on February 11, the government said, as a fully loaded military cargo plane departed the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The February 12 cabinet statement said the government was preparing a second shipment. Chinese authorities reported shortages of protective medical equipment after the COVID-19 virus emerged in the country late last year. The disease has killed more than 1,100 people in China, where the overall number of infections now stands at more than 44,000. The epidemic has spread to more than 20 countries around the world, but there have been no confirmed cases in Uzbekistan or the other four Central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan has stopped all regular flights to China, its major trade partner, as a protective measure. The countrys Health Ministry said 771 Uzbek citizens who had recently returned from China remained in quarantine. The incubation period for the virus is up to 14 days. The Chinese mail service said it was disinfecting postal offices, processing centers, and vehicles in a bid to protect staff and prevent the virus from spreading via the mail. The crisis was impacting mail that transits China to other destinations including the five Central Asian republics, according to China Post. With reporting by Reuters and AP PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 19:20:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 477 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Adam Ferrari, a leader in the oil & gas and financial industries, is launching a new personal website to provide his wealth of knowledge to a wider audienceDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Adam Ferrari is looking to widen access to his expertise in the fields of entrepreneurship, leadership, business, and energy through the launch of a new personal website. With an impressive career as a petroleum engineer and the founder of a mineral acquisitions company, Adam's goal is to share insights and updates about his fields of expertise.Mr. Ferrari's career got off to a flying start when he secured his first job as a production engineer for BP after graduating with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Illinois. He went on to take on various prominent roles in the oil and gas industry, which inspired his drive to learn more about the intricacies of petroleum exploration and extraction. His passion and curiosity drove him to discover the granular details of property rights and financing in the energy business. He had his first professional experience in the financial world at Macquarie Capital, an investment banking firm.After gaining diverse experience at energy and financial firms, Adam took a bold step to become independent. Drawing from his unique background in energy and finance, he set up his own company, Ferrari Energy. This established him as a seasoned engineer and a prominent businessman.This pivotal career move also caused a fundamental shift in his perspective. He became more engrossed in working with people on a personal level to understand their unique needs. With this customer-centric approach, he guided his company to provide divestment and lease opportunities to over 2,000 landowners and helped over 850 individual residents of Broomfield, CO, secure oil and gas leases.Adam is also a champion of corporate social responsibilities. Under his leadership, his company has donated generously to non-profit organizations in Chicago and Denver, including St. Jude Children's Hospital, Freedom Service Dogs, Denver Rescue Mission, Coats for Colorado, and NextSteps Chicago. His most fervent generosity has been towards people suffering from paralysis, having a father who is living with the condition.With the blog on his new website, he's looking to make industry advice readily available to his audience. He will be curating the experiences and expertise that helped him achieve remarkable feats on the new website.About Adam FerrariA native of Chicago, IL, Adam Ferrari is an accomplished petroleum engineer with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Illinois, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also developed expertise in the financial sector through his time at an investment banking firm. Adam is the founder of Ferrari Energy, a mineral acquisitions company. He is also a renowned philanthropist. Learn more at www.adamferrari.com Contact Information:720-230-661812665 Village Lane Playa Vista, CA 90094aferrari@ ferrarienergygroup.com SOURCE: Adam Ferrari 6.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump is actively trying to erase the Russia scandal before the 2020 election, and now he is tweeting about Paul Manafort. Trump tweeted: Is this the Judge that put Paul Manafort in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, something that not even mobster Al Capone had to endure? How did she treat Crooked Hillary Clinton? Just asking! https://t.co/Fe7XkepJNN Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 There is a common thread at work in all of the recent Trump and Barr actions. Barr intervened to reduce Mike Flynns sentencing recommendation. Barr intervened to reduce Roger Stones sentencing recommendations, and it is isnt a coincidence that Trump is tweeting about the treatment of Paul Manafort. Trump has claimed that he wants his impeachment expunged, even though there is no such thing, and he also wants to erase the Russia scandal, likely before the Russians interfere in the 2020 election. Republicans in the Senate did more than acquit Trump. They unleashed a wave of corruption that has not been seen in this country in half a century. Trump is talking about how unfair prison has been for Paul Manafort because he is lining up a pardon for his Russia connected former campaign boss. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 18:57:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VIENNA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- With terrorism featuring clear signs of decentralization and localization, the international community should establish a sense of community and jointly respond to the threat, a Chinese envoy said here Tuesday. Wang Qun, Chinese envoy to the United Nations (UN) and other International Organizations in Vienna, made his remarks at the Joint Regional High-level Conference on "Foreign Terrorist Fighters -- Addressing Current Challenges," organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and Switzerland, in cooperation with the Albanian 2020 OSCE Chairmanship. "We need to harmonize standards, maintain high pressure and take severe measures," said Wang. "In the process of cracking down on foreign terrorist fighters, we cannot engage in double standards or selective counter-terrorism." Countries should strengthen cooperation in border control and law enforcement, combat terrorist activities using the Internet, repatriate terrorists to their countries of origin and bring them to justice, said Wang. The international community should promote the resolution of hotspot issues through political means, seek the peaceful settlement of disputes and encourage harmonious coexistence among different civilizations and religions, he added. The Chinese envoy also pointed out that these efforts should be made in a multilateral way and bring the core role of the UN and the Security Council into play. "Countries should strongly support mechanisms within the United Nations system and should strictly abide by the Security Council resolutions and crack down on all terrorist organizations and individuals listed by the Security Council," he said. The conference, held at the Hofburg from Tuesday to Wednesday, aims to address concerns about the return of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs). Participants discussed what appropriate tools governments need to monitor and control the movement of FTFs and to respond in a human rights-compliant way to the threat. "Throughout my time in politics, I have seen both sides of the political spectrum. I interned for both Congresswoman Nita Lowey and the late Senator John McCain. My background working in both major political parties will enable me to bring the people in my district together once and for all, and to introduce solutions that work for everyone" said Weinberg. A product of both the public and private school systems in Rockland County, Weinberg appreciates that each system has its strengths. "Why shouldn't we be able to allocate our school tax dollars to the school of our choice? Freedom is what our nation was founded upon. Why shouldn't families be able to live the lifestyle they want?" Nevertheless, Weinberg is frustrated by "school taxes that rob people of their savings. They are simply outrageous!" Weinberg chose to run on the Republican ticket because, "under Governor Cuomo and the Democratic Party, our taxes continue to skyrocket forcing people to leave in droves. It is time for a tax plan that works for all New Yorkers." Weinberg is pledging to bring the taxes down dramatically across the entire state of New York. Weinberg promises to keep Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security strong while dramatically improving the quality of healthcare in his area. "I don't have the greatest confidence in our run-down hospitals. We must build a new state-of-the-art medical facility immediately." Weinberg is excited about the potential for his district and wants to do all he can to make it the best place to live in New York. Those who wish to learn more about Weinberg can visit his website at www.MatthewRWeinberg.com SOURCE Matthew Weinberg for New York Senate South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa has officially taken over as African Union chair for the year 2020. In his acceptance speech, the south African leader said Libya and South Sudan are the two conflicts he wants to focus on during his tenure. We will focus our efforts on conflict resolution across the African continent, especially those experiencing protracted conflict, said Ramaphosa, who has identified the conflicts in South Sudan and Libya as priorities. There was an urgent need to deal with the action of countries outside our continent that are fighting proxy wars and fuelling ongoing conflicts on our continent, Ramaphosa said during a two-day summit ended in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The AU leadership has complained about being overlooked in Libya-related peacemaking efforts, which have been led primarily by the UN and heavily involved European nations. Attempts to end the conflict between the two rival sides in Libya have not produced a lasting peace. On Saturday night, Ramaphosa met separately South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, in an effort to jump-start mediation efforts to form a power-sharing government in South Sudan, which descended in a ruinous civil war in 2003 that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. At a summit in Brazzaville in late January, African leaders pledged to hold a reconciliation forum for Libyas warring parties. All 29 people quarantined in HCMC have tested negative for the novel coronavirus and no new case detected as of Tuesday night. The municipal health department, however, said that the city still has 39 individuals that had come into contact with nCoV-infected patients but are yet to show any symptom of the infection. These individuals are being monitored at home until the end of the 14-day incubation period determined for the virus. Among the quarantined residents was a five-month-old baby who developed a fever last Sunday after coming into contact with an nCoV-infected Vietnamese American visitor who had transited in Wuhan for two hours en route to HCMC, according to the HCMC Center for Disease Control. Wuhan City in Chinas Hubei Province is the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak that has claimed more than a thousand lives. The five-month-old baby is among those who have tested negative for the virus and its health is stable. HCMC has reported three infection cases of the virus, including a Chinese man from Wuhan and his son, the latter declared healthy and discharged from hospital last week. Under guidelines established by the Health Ministry, a person is suspected of carrying the nCoV infection if he/she develops fever or symptoms of respiratory infection within 14 days of coming into contact with a confirmed patient or people returning from areas with nCoV outbreaks. Despite being free of suspected nCoV infection cases for now, HCMC will continue monitoring and managing people entering the city and the country. It will also inspect implementation of quarantine facilities in the community. In the central province of Ha Tinh, Chinese backpacker Zhou Jie, 25, who had tested negative for nCoV, was discharged Tuesday morning from the provincial general hospital. Zhou had previously entered Vietnam through Mong Cai Border Gate in the northern Quang Ninh Province on January 30, and was on a bike trip to HCMC when he was required to be quarantined after staying at a hotel in Ha Tinh. The province had reported 14 persons with suspected nCoV infection as of Tuesday, all of whom have tested negative for the virus. 12 have been discharged, while the remaining two are still being monitored at the Ky Anh Town General Hospital and no longer placed in quarantine. In the northern port city of Hai Phong, 28 people with suspected nCoV infections, including two foreigners, have tested negative for the virus. Hai Phong is one of the localities in Vietnam where a large number of Chinese nationals live and work. The city's authorities have quarantined 311 Chinese workers since last Friday, and another 120 Chinese workers were put under 14-day quarantine at the second facility of Viet Tiep Hospital upon returning to Vietnam Monday. Vietnam officially declared the nCoV outbreak an epidemic on February 1, and the country had confirmed 15 cases of infection as of Tuesday. Six of the patients have recovered and been discharged. As of Wednesday morning, the global nCoV death toll had climbed to 1,115 and confirmed infections topped 45,000, of whom over 4,500 have recovered. [February 11, 2020] Intertrust opens new office in New Zealand HONG KONG, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intertrust, a global leader in providing tech-enabled fund and corporate services to clients operating and investing in the international business environment has opened an office in Auckland, appointing David Ritchie as Country Director. The move reflects the company's focus on continued global expansion. Corporate secretarial and funds support teams for New Zealand clients will initially be based out of Sydney as Ritchie builds the team locally, working closely alongside Stephen Tamas, Managng Director of Intertrust Australia. Intertrust's office in New Zealand will follow the growing number of global clients that are heading to New Zealand via active fund investments and those multinationals looking to grow their international sales operations. "We are delighted to now support international and New Zealand businesses with their corporate expansion plans," said Ritchie. "We believe the local market is underserved in terms of expert administrative services and locally based directorships. Our clients can now enjoy Intertrust's global offerings in New Zealand and for any of their cross-border transactions." David Ritchie has over 15 years' experience working in investment banking, corporate strategy and M&A in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. About Intertrust Intertrust (Euronext: INTER; 'the Company") is a global leader in providing tech-enabled corporate and fund solutions to clients operating and investing in the international business environment. The Company has around 3,500 employees in more than 30 jurisdictions in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle-East. Intertrust delivers high-quality, tailored fund, corporate, capital market and private wealth services to its clients, with a view to building long-term relationships. The Company works with global law firms and accountancy firms, multinational corporations, financial institutions, fund managers, high net worth individuals and family offices. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200212/2718173-1 SOURCE Intertrust While there's ongoing protest against Indian government's CAA, NRC, and NPR proposals, the Assam government has suffered an easily avoidable blunder. The Assam government's online NRC data which mentioned the names of people on and off the list has disappeared from the official government website. Yes, the data's just gone, and for a truly embarrassing reason -- someone forgot to renew the online cloud storage subscription for the same, according to an NRC official. PTI / AFP The details of the NRC data were made available online on the website in October last year, following an order of the Supreme Court. For this data to go missing is a seriously embarrassing development over the handling of sensitive public NRC data, especially at a time when the issue continues to divide public opinion on the national stage. The missing online NRC data was brought to light by Assam leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia on Tuesday, after she sent a letter informing the Registrar General and Census Commissioner about NRC data "vanishing all of a sudden" from the government website, according to a TOI report. Where Saikia's accusing the Assam government of trying to deceive the public with the disappearing NRC data set, there seems to be a more practical explanation at hand. Online subscription expired, please renew An official source at the NRC office said, The data was stored in cloud storage. But the service period of the cloud storage provided by Wipro expired and the subscription renewal was not done as there was no coordinator after the transfer of the former coordinator Prateek Haleja," TOI quoted the official -- assuming Wipro is contractually obligated to operate and maintain the Assam government's website. The official claims the online subscription renewal process is currently underway and the NRC data should be back online in "few days." Needless to say this entire episode could have been easily avoidable if someone somewhere had just paid attention to their inbox -- because that's what happens whenever your cloud storage subscription is about to expire, the online service provider sends a series of reminders before and after the expiration date, as is normal with any paid online service. For a government website, one would have assumed the process to be even more foolproof, with sufficient checks in place to avoid such an embarrassing circumstance, but that clearly wasn't the case here. Aijo was detained in the village of Yarensk. Notorious Latvian-born terrorist who joined the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") in the Donbas war Beness Aijo, nom de guerre 'Black Lenin,' has been detained in Russia's Arkhangelsk region at the request of Ukraine. Read alsoUkraine reports five enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 11 Aijo was apprehended in the village of Yarensk, Russia's Regnum News Agency reported. He came to the region to support residents of the village of Shiyes protesting against the construction of a landfill. It is reported Aijo may be extradited to Ukraine. UNIAN memo. Beness Aijo, 40, a Latvian citizen of Russian/Ugandan ethnicity. He has been an activist of the National Bolshevik Party since 1998, member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), and the Korean Friendship Association-UK. Aijo has participated in many actions in solidarity with Palestine. He was active in the 2014 annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and joined Russia-led forces fighting against Ukraine in Donbas. Aijo has been arrested multiple times and tried for his political activities. MPs could be given a role in vetting new Supreme Court judges but the Government does not want to introduce US-style politically appointed justices, the Attorney General said today. Geoffrey Cox said there was 'no desire' to recreate the American system where politicians choose who sits in the nation's court of last resort, but change could come. His remarks came after last year's furious row when the Supreme Court over-turned Boris Johnson's attempt to prorogue Parliament ahead of a possible Brexit at the end of October. Mr Cox, who is being tipped to be replaced by Mr Johnson when he reshuffles his Cabinet tomorrow, today proposed a Canadian-style appointments system whereby Parliament interviews candidates. The Tories pledged at the general election to examine the relationship between the Government, Parliament and the courts, and vowed to set up a Constitution, Democracy & Rights Commission within a year to come up with proposals to restore trust in democracy. Asked about the proposals at an event at the Institute for Government in central London, Mr Cox said: 'Let me make plain: we've no desire to see politically appointed judges - that is completely off the table. Geoffrey Cox said there was 'no desire' to recreate the American system where politicians choose who sits in the nation's court of last resort, but change could come in a different form His remarks came after last year's furious row when the Supreme Court over-turned Boris Johnson's attempt to prorogue Parliament ahead of a possible Brexit at the end of October 'There is no question of politicians appointing judges. We have a good system now - the Judicial Appointments Commission - we're not going to be talking about a party politically appointed set of judges. 'However, I think there is a case for looking at how Supreme Court judges are appointed.' He restated his opposition to US-style hearings, but said: 'I have to say that one of the things that is worth looking at, in my view, is how it's done in Canada. 'In Canada now, for appointments to the Supreme Court, there is a committee of the Canadian Parliament that will carry out interviews. 'In our country it could be a joint committee of the House of Lords and the House of Commons under clear guidance - there would be rules as to the questions that could be asked. 'But what it would lend, potentially, is transparency to a position which people have seen has enormous power. 'Now I'm not saying that that is something that I would support, but it's something I think the Commission may need to look at.' His suggestion appears at odds with comments made by Justice Secretary Robert Buckland who said on Sunday that he did not want to see a system of judges 'being put in front of select committees and asked about their political past or views'. The seeds of the Government's battle with the courts were sown during the Brexit rows, when campaigner Gina Miller successfully challenged the Government over then prime minister Theresa May's right to trigger Article 50 without a vote in Parliament. The Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that Mr Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament was unlawful fuelled Tory suspicions about judicial activism. Mr Cox's comments appeared to have gone far beyond the plans set out in the Conservative manifesto and took Whitehall insiders by surprise. Asked about his remarks, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The manifesto sets out that the Government is intending to look at aspects of the constitution but I'm not going to pre-empt that work.' Mr Cox is one of a number of ministers who have been widely tipped to be sent back to the Conservative backbenches. But today he signalled he would like to continue in the role as the government's chief legal adviser. There have been reports that Number 10 does not believe Mr Cox is a 'team player' and that he could be replaced by Lucy Frazer QC who is currently a Justice Minister. Asked this morning if he was concerned that he could lose his job because of an alleged reluctance to engage in party politics, Mr Cox said: 'It has been an enormous privilege to do this job and the Prime Minister, it is his complete prerogative to decide which team he puts around him. 'If I were not to be Attorney General shortly then I do not believe it would be for any such reason. 'You ask me an entirely hypothetical question, the premise of which I don't accept.' She and her family were guests of honor at the opulent theme parklike birthday party. Kim Kardashian gave her 159 million Instagram followers a close-up look at her sister Kylie Jenner's StormiWorld extravaganza to celebrate her daughter Stormi's second birthday. The 39-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was joined by her husband Kanye West, 42, and their four children: North, six, Saint, four, Chicago, two, and Psalm, nine months. Kim Kardashian, 39, gave her 159 million Instagram followers a close-up look at her sister Kylie Jenner's StormiWorld extravaganza to celebrate her daughter Stormi's second birthday Kim was assembled with the whole family for a smile-free portrait outside the giant inflatable Stormi mouth. Kim had on a plunging gray top with black pants, while Kanye had on a navy blue jacket with white paisley designs. A puzzled-looking North had on a Chicago Bulls T-shirt and black cowboy boots, while Saint looked cool in a beige shirt and olive pants. Chicago was decked out in camouflage, while baby Psalm wore an olive shirt and black pants. Beaming: Kim highlighted the colorful nature of the elaborate celebration. Kanye looked absolutely tickled as he walked through a corridor decorated with Dr. Seusslike colored tufts of fabric Magical: Saint hung out with a friend in front of a giant blue troll with tall black hair, modeled after Justin Timberlake's character Branch from Trolls (2016) Kim highlighted the colorful nature of the elaborate celebration. Kanye looked absolutely tickled as he walked through a corridor decorated with Dr. Seusslike colored tufts of fabric. Saint rocked a soft smile and sported thick curly hair as he hung out with a friend. The two boys posed in front of a giant blue troll with tall black hair, modeled after Justin Timberlake's character Branch from Trolls (2016). Too cute: A sweet Chicago got a little messy while enjoying some of the tasty treats at StormiWorld Yum! She took off her jacket while eating something out of a Chinese takeout container, and also cooled down with an ice cream cone A sweet Chicago got a little messy while enjoying some of the tasty treats at StormiWorld. She took off her jacket while eating something out of a Chinese takeout container, and also cooled down with an ice cream cone. Kylie's party was a sequel to last year's StormiWorld, which also featured a massive blow-up entrance modeled after her daughter's face. Travis Scott, Stormi's father and Kylie's ex, inspired the design for the party with his Astroworld album, which featured a blown-up image of his face. Second time around: Kylie's party was a sequel to last year's StormiWorld, which also featured a massive blow-up entrance modeled after her daughter's face Taking flight: Kylie's party was designed like an indoor carnival, with a Dumbo-like flying elephant ride Kylie's party was designed like an indoor carnival, with a Dumbo-like flying elephant ride. The expansive interior featured claw games, with pillows featuring Stormi's face as the prize. Instead of cartoon mascots, people walked around wearing smiling Stormi heads, and her visage watched down over everyone atop a spidery metallic structure. Unmissable: The expansive interior featured claw games, with pillows featuring Stormi's face as the prize. Instead of cartoon mascots, people walked around wearing smiling Stormi heads Kim's StormiWorld family scene arrived shortly after she revealed that she feared she had suffered a miscarriage while pregnant with her first daughter North. She revealed that she suffered heavy bleeding and pain earlier on during her pregnancy in 2012 while talking on Laura Wasser's podcast All's Fair. Kim feared her baby had died, and the uncertainty of her relationship with Kanye exacerbated her stress. 'At the time, I didnt know Were we gonna get married? Were we gonna have this baby? It was all new territory to me and I was so scared and literally, I thought I had a miscarriage because I was really heavy bleeding and in so much pain in Miami,' she said. Frightening: Kim revealed on Laura Wasser's podcast All's Fair that she feared she'd had a miscarriage while pregnant with her first daughter North Kim expected to go into the doctor's office for a dilation and curettage, a procedure used for certain uterine conditions, as well as for abortions and in the aftermath of a miscarriage. She was scheduled to come back for the appointment on Thanksgiving so as to avoid prying eyes, but she got some welcome news instead. 'I went in and there was no heartbeat and he said, "Oh, you had a miscarriage." 'And then Thanksgiving morning I came in to do it and he said, "Theres a heartbeat." 'And I was like, "Oh, my God. This is a sign, its Thanksgiving morning." So we ended up, obviously, having North.' The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the Centre over a massive hike in the prices of LPG gas cylinder, calling it "uncalled for" and demanded its immediate rollback. Addressing the mediapersons here, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "The Narendra Modi government has today electrocuted the budget of a common man. It has attacked the budget of India's women. They have increased the price of non-subsidized gas cylinder by Rs 144." Surjewala said, "On May 16, 2014, the price of non-susbsidized cylinder was Rs 414. After five-and-a-half years under Modi government, it is Rs 858.50." "I want to remind the Prime Minister that when Congress demitted power in 2014 the price of each LPG cylinder was Rs 414 only. This is an increase of 110 per cent in the price of gas cylinder in five-and-a-half years. If a family uses 12 cylinders, then there will be an additional cost of Rs 5,334 per family in a year," he said. "The susbsidized cylinder was Rs 412, it is 567 today an increase of Rs 155. If we use 12 cylinders then this price will go up by almost Rs 2,000," the Congress spokesperson added. Surjewala said that the Modi government has slashed food subsidies by Rs 68,650 crore. He said if people think of going back to kerosene, then it wouldn't be cheap either as the kerosene subsidy has also been slashed by Rs 3,659 crores. "At a time when the international price of crude oil has fallen, why should there be an uncalled for increase in the price of gas cylinders? We demand this hike should be immediately rolled back," the Congress leader said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Africa: Tributes continue for Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Tributes continue to pour in for Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Joseph Shabalala, who passed away on Tuesday. The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has commended the 78-year-olds contribution to the struggle against apartheid, as well as his contribution on the musical stage. His passing is a great loss, not only to his family but to the music industry, the country and the international stage at large. His contribution to the struggle for liberation will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in peace, said the GCIS in a statement on Wednesday. The founder of the Grammy award-winning isicathamiya group passed away at Life Eugene Marais Hospital in Tshwane. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been singing songs of peace since the early 1960s. Shabalala retired in 2014, after 50-years of leading the group. The whole nation mourns this talented icon, whose music not only put South Africa on the global stage but also could be heard in the suburbs, townships, villages and all corners of our country. He was well known for his unique and stirring vocals, the GCIS said. A key highlight in their history was a collaboration with Paul Simon, who produced the groups first worldwide release, 'Shaka Zulu', which garnered the group their first Grammy Award in 1988 for Best Folk Recording. The group has won five Grammy Awards and travelled the world, putting South Africa's music industry on the map in an innovative way. The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature joined President Cyril Ramaphosa and the GCIS in conveying their condolences. As a province and the country, we have lost a doyen of immense musical talent. We are deeply saddened by the passing of uBaba uJoseph Shabalala. While he had been sick for some time, we kept hoping that he would eventually recuperate. However, it was not to be. On behalf of the entire KZN Legislature, we wish his family strength during this time, said Legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce. Boyce described Shabalala as one the countrys greatest musical exports, whose musical contributions had drawn the attention of the world to South Africa for close to six decades. In a statement on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa said Shabalalas passing is a sad moment for the country. The passing of Joseph Shabalala is a terribly sad moment for the nation and the world in whose ears the isicathamiya and mbube crafted by Ladysmith Black Mambazo will ring for generations to come, said President Ramaphosa. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that mastered the art of vote consolidation through polarisation and reaped good political harvest seems to be faced with a situation where the time-tested tricks are failing to garner votes. It worked well in the 2014 general elections and a slew of state elections including UP, but started failing after 2018. In 2017 UP polls when the Samajwadi Party was expected to return to power by forging a wide-ranging poll alliance, the BJP raked up the alleged Hindu persecution in Western UP's Kairana to its electoral benefit. But the poll tactics failed to work in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It nearly lost Haryana and went out of power in Maharashtra after the Shiv Sena, longest alliance partner, refused to concede it the chief minister's post. As the BJP failed to re-design its strategy, Jharkhand became the latest state which slipped out of its hands. The party used the nationalism card to the hilt to consolidate support base in the 2019 general elections. It made Pulwama attack, Balakot strike and safe return of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman its poll calling card. Modi swept back to power with 303 members in the 17th Lok Sabha. But the latest results of the Delhi Assembly polls show that the nationalism and polarisation themes to gather votes have completed its self-life -- at least in the present packaging. The muscular nationalism and majoritarian identity are the things in which no political party can beat the BJP. It's their strength, but also the weakness as none of its leaders can't speak at length on anything beyond these two. They tend to veer around these issues, even after started talking about something else. At the Ramlila Maidan rally, which was used by Modi to kick start the Delhi poll campaign, he started with the issue of regularising 1,700 colonies, but within minutes he ventured towards the Citizenship Amendment Act, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, et al. Needless to say, even today, the approval ratings of Modi is the highest across India. But people don't want to hand over reins of power to the BJP as they feel the party is inept at handling small but vital issues, like irrigation, electricity, drainage, urban poverty and education system. Unless the BJP proves them wrong by speaking about state-specific issues in Assembly polls, it may lose Bihar and Bengal as well - the states next to go to Assembly polls. (Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at anindya.b@ians.in) Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Driving past Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Interstate 480 in Ohio, you might notice a giant NASA logo on a white airplane hangar at the southwest edge of the airfield. That's the biggest building at NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC), where scientists and engineers have been developing technologies for flight for eight decades. The center currently employs over 3,000 people operating a world-class array of wind tunnels, vacuum chambers and other research and test equipment, according to the Center's website. GRC also operates a remote test facility, the Plum Brook Station, occupying 6,400 acres (2,590 hectares) about 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the west of GRC, near Sandusky, Ohio. For the public, the Glenn Visitors Center is housed at Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center. Exhibits there include artifacts from Ohio astronaut John Glenn's 1962 Project Mercury flight and the Apollo Command Module flown on the Skylab 3 mission in 1973. Public tours of the research facilities are offered once a month from April through October. Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents ages 10 and older, and reservations are required. GRC has had four official names, according to a history of the center written by Robert S. Arrighi and published by NASA in 2016. The center began as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (AERL), a department of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), the predecessor of NASA. When World War II ended, the AERL was renamed the Lewis Flight Propulsion Research Laboratory, honoring George W. Lewis, who had been NACA's director of aeronautical research. When NACA became NASA in 1958, the laboratory became the NASA Lewis Research Center. Then the name changed again in 1999, when Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine proposed honoring his former Senate colleague Glenn, who was the first American to orbit Earth in 1962 and who made history again in 1998 at age 77 as the oldest person to enter space, this time on space shuttle mission STS-95. Arrighi's book also states that the familiar blue NASA logo, nicknamed the "meatball," was designed at Lewis by the Center's technical reports division, headed by Jim Modarelli. Roots in aviation In 1939, famed aviator Charles Lindbergh and other aircraft industry leaders urged government representatives to fund a facility to improve American aircraft engines so they could keep up with England and Germany as World War II began. NACA heeded the warning and selected the Cleveland airport as the site for the new Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory because of its long history hosting world-famous air races, its proximity to engine manufacturers and other industrial plants and its inland location, which was considered less vulnerable to enemy attack than a coastal site. The first buildings, constructed in 1942, included the hangar you can see from I-480 and buildings for engine testing and research on fuels and lubricants. An aerial view of NASA's Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, Cleveland, Ohio. (Image credit: NASA) New kinds of propulsion After World War II, the Lewis center changed focus from quick improvements in piston engines on military airplanes to research in new areas, including jet engines, supersonic guided missiles and high-energy fuels. One of the most notable developments that came out of the Lewis center during the postwar period was the technique of using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as rocket propellants. Though difficult to store and handle, liquid oxygen (which must be kept cold, at minus 299 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 148 degrees Celsius) and the much colder liquid hydrogen (minus 423 F, or minus 253 C) could lift more payload per pound of liftoff weight than earlier propellants, and was later used to power the second and third stages of the Apollo Saturn V rocket and the Space Shuttle main engines. Beginning in 1962, researchers at Lewis used their liquid hydrogen expertise in developing and testing the Centaur upper stage rocket. Stacked atop Titan and Atlas rockets, Centaur stages have been in use since 1963. The liquid hydrogen-powered stages have launched over 250 communications satellites, national security payloads, space observatories and planetary probes, including the Viking missions to Mars, the Pioneer and Voyager outer planet missions, the Cassini-Huygens Saturn mission and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. Scientists at Lewis also looked beyond chemical rocket fuels. In 1964, the center managed the Space Electric Rocket Test (SERT-1) the first in-space operation of an ion electric engine. Teams at Lewis developed the NSTAR (NASA Solar Electric Power Technology Application Readiness) thruster, which propelled the Deep Space 1 probe to asteroid Braille and Comet Borrelly in the 1990s. Another NSTAR engine took the Dawn spacecraft to asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres in the early 2000s. Today, ion propulsion work at GRC continues with NEXT (NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster), which is projected to be about three times as powerful as NSTAR. Glenn is also promoting its Annular Engine design, which offers higher thrust in a more compact structure than previous ion engines, for future applications such as sending humans to Mars. The Saturn V rocket carrying NASA's Skylab space station stands atop Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of its launch in 1973. The technique of using liquid hydrogen to propel rockets was developed at the Glenn Research Center and powered the second and third stages of the Saturn V. (Image credit: NASA) Testing before flying Aircraft testing at Lewis goes back to 1944, when the AERL built its Icing Research Tunnel (IRT), which subjects models of airplane wings and engine inlets to cold winds laced with supercooled water droplets. Most anti-icing technology used on airplanes today exists because of research performed in this tunnel. One of the more spectacular test programs took place in the 1950s, with a series of full-scale airplane crash tests (with no one aboard) at a World War II arsenal near Ravenna, Ohio. The goal of the program was to study methods of preventing fires after otherwise survivable crashes. In NASA's early days, the Lewis center built the lower half of a test model of the Project Mercury space capsule for a mission called "Big Joe." On this 1959 flight the "boilerplate" test capsule, with no one aboard, was launched into space on an Atlas rocket and plunged back into the atmosphere at high speed to verify that its heat shield could protect an astronaut returning from an orbital mission. Related: Space history photo: Big Joe ready for launch at Cape Canaveral In another role in Project Mercury, the center was home to an iconic training device for astronauts: the Multi-Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (MASTIF), also called the gimbal rig. Originally built to test the Mercury spacecraft's automatic attitude control system, it was modified to allow astronauts to practice controlling a tumbling spacecraft. An astronaut's couch, control stick and instruments were mounted inside a set of nested cages that could rotate in pitch, yaw and roll simultaneously. Test engineers would set the device in motion, and the astronaut would use the control stick to fire small gas jets to stop the tumbling. Over the decades, the Glenn center has built up an array of world-class test facilities including: Wind tunnels that can blast air past test models at speeds up to 2,700 mph (4,345 km/h). A drop tower 28 feet (8.5 meters) in diameter and 500 feet (152.4 m) deep. The air can be pumped out to create a vacuum. A test package, dropped from the top of the shaft, experiences 5 seconds of weightlessness before landing in a bed of styrofoam pellets at the bottom. A vacuum chamber with an exhaust pump that can maintain a vacuum even while an ion engine is operating inside. The pump is so powerful that it could evacuate all the air from Cleveland's Terminal Tower building in 1 minute (if, for some reason, you wanted to do that). Current research efforts at Glenn include: Air traffic control at very low altitudes, where drones might be routinely used for package deliveries, infrastructure surveys and other tasks. Technologies for hybrid electric aircraft, to reduce fuel consumption and noise. Shape-memory metal alloys, which change shape in response to temperature changes. These alloys might be used for airplane wings, Mars rover wheels or rock-splitting devices that astronauts could use on Mars instead of explosives. Plum Brook Station: from nuclear airplanes to Mars landers In the early 1950s, in its search for more advanced means of propulsion, NACA decided to research the idea of a nuclear-powered airplane that might fly anywhere in the world without refueling. To test the technologies involved, the agency built its own nuclear reactor at Plum Brook Ordnance Works (where TNT had been manufactured during World War II) and put it under Lewis center management. The reactor operated from 1961 to 1973 and has since been decommissioned and demolished. The nuclear airplane never came to fruition, but during the 1960s, Plum Brook worked on the Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application, or NERVA. In this proposed engine, nuclear fuel would heat liquid hydrogen to be expelled at high speed through a rocket nozzle. Another Plum Brook project, the Space Nuclear Auxiliary Program (SNAP), developed nuclear-power sources that were used in instrument packages left on the moon by Apollo astronauts. In the meantime, other test facilities had been built at Plum Brook. A vacuum chamber known as B-2 had enough room to accept a full-size rocket stage, and had exhaust pumps powerful enough to maintain a vacuum even while a rocket engine was firing inside. Another Plum Brook facility, the Space Environments Complex, has the world's largest vacuum chamber, 100 feet (30.5 m) in diameter and 122 feet (37.2 m) high big enough to hold a full-size spacecraft. Using a combination of radiators and cold panels, the chamber can create the same thermal stresses as interplanetary space. The vacuum chamber was used to test airbag-landing systems for the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft as well as components for the Mars landers Spirit and Opportunity. Plum Brook's lily pad area over the pressure vessel shown with the shrapnel shields removed. (Image credit: NASA) Artemis, Orion and Gateway Today, Plum Brook's testing capabilities are contributing to NASA's Artemis project to return astronauts to the moon. In December 2019, the Space Environments Complex received the Artemis I Orion spacecraft crew module and European-built service module for testing in the thermal vacuum chamber. Another test is planned to take advantage of the vacuum chamber's ability to block external radio waves, creating a radio-quiet environment. Orion's electronic systems will be turned on to find out if components interfere with each other via electromagnetic fields. Earlier, the Orion spacecraft's ogive panels, which form a shell around the crew module to protect it from noise and vibration during ascent, were tested under simulated launch conditions in the Plum Brook Reverberant Acoustic Test Facility, located next to the vacuum chamber. This barn-size room, 47.5 feet by 37.5 feet by 57 feet (14.5 by 11.4 by 17.4 m) with concrete walls 6 feet (1.8 m) thick, is lined with precisely controlled horns that can produce sound levels up to 163 decibels. For comparison, the sound level from a jet airliner taking off is about 120 decibels. After its first flight, the Orion crew module is scheduled to return to Plum Brook for further environmental testing, GRC News Chief Jan Wittry told Space.com in an email. Glenn is also working on the universal stage adapter and other fairings for future variants of the Space Launch System for Artemis, as well as the Power and Propulsion Element for the Gateway lunar orbiting platform, Witty said. Looking ahead, NASA's Structural Heat Intercept Insulation Vibration Evaluation Rig, or SHIIVER, is currently being tested at Plum Brook Station, Wittry said. SHIIVER is evaluating cryogenic storage technologies aimed at extending the time propellants remain liquid and usable as fuels during long-duration missions. Additional resources: Image: Twitter/@raghav_chadha Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and partys first-time MLA, Raghav Chadha, has dismissed the speculations that he would be the next finance minister of Delhi. He said what mattered him was that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had got another mandate, according to an NDTV report. The result of the February 8 assembly elections was declared on February 11. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the AAP won 62 of the 70 seats with a total vote share of 53.57 percent. Chadha, AAP's spokesperson and one of the most affable faces of the party, was one of the winning candidates of AAP. He registered victory from Rajinder Nagar by defeating his BJP rival Sardar RP Singh by a margin of 20,058 votes. After the results were out, speculations were rife that Chadha, a chartered accountant, would join Kejriwals cabinet as the finance minister. When asked about the buzz, the 31-year-old youth face of the party was non-committal. He called those questions hypothetical and irrelevant. All AAP workers, as party footsoldiers, will be behind him, Chadha was quoted as saying. Also read | Biryani sales spike in Delhi after AAP victory Chadha is a member of the national executive of the party. He played a key role in the communication and outreach efforts of the party. He is also the party's in-charge of legal affairs. After the landslide victory of the party came in the 2015 Assembly election, Chadha, who specialises in international tax and transfer pricing, was appointed as an advisor in the Finance Ministry headed by Sisodia. However, in April 2018, he was sacked along with nine other advisors by the Centre, which termed their appointment as illegal. He contested Lok Sabha polls 2019 but lost. On February 11, pro-Kremlin armed gangs attacked Ukrainian positions in Donbas three times. The Joint Forces Operation HQ reported that on Tuesday evening. The enemy opened fire in Donetsk region once; they used automatic grenade launchers to shell Pisky. In Luhansk region, mercenaries shelled Orikhove from 120 mm mortars and mounted antir-tank grenade launchers. The Ukrainian forces did not take any casualties over the day. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held the phone talk with Germans Chancellor Angela Merkel. They discussed the issue of three extra areas for disengagement of forces in Donbas. The sides expect that the progress in this issue will be reached during the next Minsk Talks on February 12 as the Presidents Office reported. The head of the Ukrainian State informed the interlocutor about the security situation in Donbas. The Federal Chancellor expressed concern over the non-observance of the ceasefire regime by the illegal armed forces, the message said. Provider of Patented Flashmark Face Authentication Technology Opens U.S. Headquarters and Installs Executive Team to Serve Growing North American Customer Base iProov, the leading provider of biometric authentication technology and Genuine Presence Assurance, today announced that it has expanded its footprint in the U.S. market and opened a North American headquarters location in Catonsville, Maryland, at the bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park. Used for ID verification in applications such as onboarding and border control, and for strong customer authentication in banking, healthcare and enterprise access management, Flashmark is the company's unique process for guaranteeing liveness and authenticity of an individual. It uses controlled illumination to flash a sequence of colors onto a user's face in order to authenticate them and allow access to secure services. iProov has been granted some 18 international patents related to Flashmark, its core, one-time biometric technology that enables presentation attack detection (PAD) and face-matching capabilities. The service has been conformance tested by the U.K. national standards laboratory. iProov's new Catonsville headquarters will serve a growing roster of North American customers, from initial contact through service deployment and support. Key executives joining iProov's U.S. operations include Joe Palmer, President of iProov, Inc., and Simon Williamson, VP of Sales for iProov North America. "It is exciting news that iProov is establishing its U.S. headquarters in Maryland to become part of our thriving cybersecurity community," said Governor Larry Hogan. "Our highly-educated workforce, proximity to many key federal agencies, and critical mass of innovative companies makes Maryland an outstanding location for global cyber companies looking to expand in the U.S. market. We are very excited that our outreach efforts resulted in attracting them here." Governor Hogan met with executives at iProov in 2017 during an economic development mission to the United Kingdom. As part of the mission, the Governor witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which established an exchange program with both U.K. and Maryland cyber companies to help them explore the market in each region. iProov's decision to establish a presence in Maryland comes directly from this agreement. "Our new U.S. headquarters is perfectly situated," commented iProov Founder and CEO Andrew Bud. "Not only will we enjoy close proximity to our government customers, but we will also be able to more easily leverage Maryland's outstanding resources in the form of nearby intellectual capital, tech talent, and the vibrant cybersecurity community associated with the bwtech@UMBC Technology Park. Our new location and new executive hires are setting the stage for iProov's next phase of rapid growth, and we're excited about the way forward." Effortless to use, Flashmark detects presentation attacks, determines "liveness" of human users, and mitigates against even highly sophisticated digital and replay attacks. It is also uniquely effective against deepfakes. This core authentication technology is used in iProov's complete range of solutions, including: Face Verifier iProov's flagship product, which enrolls and subsequently authenticates a user with any device on any platform iProov's flagship product, which enrolls and subsequently authenticates a user with any device on any platform ID Matcher a solution that registers a photo from an ID document and then applies Face Verifier's process to authenticate the document bearer a solution that registers a photo from an ID document and then applies Face Verifier's process to authenticate the document bearer Palm Verifier a contactless mobile palm solution that offers an extremely simple yet highly secure means of authentication Company Momentum: Unabated Customer and Revenue Growth iProov's U.S. expansion is built on a track record of growth, brought about by the company's ability to deliver simple and secure authentication throughout the online ecosystem. With its genuine one-time biometric, iProov technology has been embraced by customers around the world. The company has increased revenue 10X and more than doubled headcount since 2018. Customers include ING, Rabobank, the U.K. Home Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "We have chosen to locate our U.S. headquarters in a great source of top cyber talent and close to the nation's most sophisticated customers. Our plan is to work closely with them to protect U.S. citizens and stay ahead of growing threats like deepfakes," said Joe Palmer, iProov president and head of the U.S. office. "More than 2.5 million people 'iProoved' themselves in 2019 to assert their identities safely and conveniently. We are very excited to build our presence here by further growing our team and safeguarding millions of Americans." UK Secretary of State for International Trade Liz Truss said: "Cybersecurity is a global issue. UK businesses are continuing to innovate, lead the sector and identify the solutions that will achieve global impact. "iProov's US expansion is evidence of the growing global demand for UK innovation. I'm delighted that my department has supported iProov's scale-up as we work towards striking a trade deal with our partner across the pond." In December 2019, iProov CEO Andrew Bud was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty the Queen for services to export in science and technology. About iProov iProov offers the first large-scale biometric genuine presence assurance technology for organizations that require indisputable proof of identity to deliver secure services remotely. The company's patented AI deep learning technology assures that a user's face is genuinely present when scanned on a mobile device and matched to an official identity document, compliant with international standards. Applications such as ID verification, border control, customer authentication, onboarding, and access control all benefit from iProov's innovative biometric authentication process. Organizations demanding a combination of high security with customer usability, such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.K. Home Office, European and Asia-Pacific governments, and financial services and healthcare providers, depend on iProov to validate genuine identity and strengthen consumer trust online. For more information, please see www.iproov.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005366/en/ Contacts: Hannah Ruark hannah@bospar.com +1 (540) 599-7887 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers forced into a toolbox at knifepoint and dumped in a creek says his mates planned the killings and he wanted to set the pair free. Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru's decomposing bodies were found in a large metal box in February 2016 at Scrubby Creek, south of Brisbane. A court sketch of murder accused Tuhirangi-Thomas Tahiata during his trial at the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Credit:Michael Felix/AAP Tuhirangi-Thomas Tahiata, 28, has pleaded not guilty to murdering them, saying he was only supposed to be a driver. "I wanted to pull over and f***in' let them go," he said in a police interview played at his Brisbane Supreme Court trial on Wednesday. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen pleaded Wednesday to save her signature "green deal" in the longterm EU budget that has been left short by Brexit. "If we do not set aside the funds... we will simply fail to achieve a climate neutral Europe" by 2050 as planned, she told the European Parliament. Her warning was laid down a week before an extraordinary EU summit in Brussels called to try to find consensus on the bloc's seven-year budget -- the multi-annual financial framework, or MFF, for 2021-2027. Wrangling over the MFF has become even more fraught because of the gap in contributions caused by Britain's departure from the EU. Von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, told the Strasbourg parliament that the shortfall from Brexit would be around 75 billion euros (USD 82 billion) over the seven-year period. The overall MFF amount is expected to come in at around one trillion euros. One group of EU countries known as the "frugal five" -- Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden -- has balked at coughing up more money to cover that gap on top of a list of new spending priorities von der Leyen's Commission wants to promote, including her Green Deal. A rival group of 16 EU countries, the "friends of cohesion", want more money in the pot so that the EU funding they get to improve their infrastructure, research and administration continues as before. The European Parliament, which has to sign off on any MFF agreement, is keen for the biggest budget possible, so the EU can meet stated goals to fight climate change, boost defence and security, support migration policy and become a leader in digital industry. The February 20 Brussels summit is not expected to come up with an agreement, but could narrow the differences. President of the European Council Charles Michel has taken the gamble that he can persuade the leaders of member countries to settle on an MFF before the end of this year. More summits look likely if he is to achieve that. But it is von der Leyen who has staked the most. When she took over the EU's executive in December she declared she wanted to helm a powerful European Commission that would be the world leader in achieving carbon neutrality. She told MEPs: "I for my part will not accept any result that means less than 25 per cent of the budget is dedicated to fighting climate change". "For citizens this is our top priority," she stressed, while recognising that many other demands were also being made on the MFF. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse is trying to ease the impacts of two of the nations biggest problems income inequality and climate change through a simple idea: Planting trees. Lots of trees. The city today is releasing an ambitious urban forestry master plan that calls for planting 70,000 trees over 20 years. That would increase the land area covered by tree leaves by more than 1,600 acres, resulting in a third of the city draped in shade. Urban forests are our first line of defense in a hotter, more unpredictable climate, says the citys draft plan. They function as an outdoor air conditioner and filter, water control system, wind barrier, anger and mood management program, beautification initiative, and even sunblock. Syracuse and New York state are getting warmer. A Syracuse.com review of climate data shows the citys normal temperature is 1 degree higher than it was from the 1950s through the 1970s. A 2015 study by several New York state agencies said New York state has warmed 2.4 degrees since 1970. Trees are can make the city cooler, absorb heat-trapping carbon, reduce energy use and make city residents healthier, especially those in low-income areas, where trees are sparse, said Stephen Harris, the city arborist. The less tree cover, Harris said, the worse your public health in so many ways. The trees called for in the city plan, most of which would be planted on private land, could help cool the city and bring shade to the low-income areas that need it most. A recent study of dozens of American cities showed that low-income neighborhoods are hotter than high-income areas, thanks to an abundance of concrete and asphalt, and a lack of trees. A map of tree cover is a map of income, Harris said. The relationship between them is so tight you can estimate one based on the other. Of the land in the Near Westside and Skunk City, for example, 19% is covered by tree leaves. The Westcott-University neighborhood has almost double the canopy, at 37%. The heat gap between neighborhoods is substantial: On a July day in 2015, a map based on satellite data showed that the South Valley was 12 degrees cooler than downtown. The Rand tract and Webster pond appear on the map as cool blue at the far south of the city. On the northwest corner, Destiny USAs roof and parking lots stick out as a deep red blob. This map shows surface temperature differences in Syracuse on July 16, 2015. Blue and green areas are cooler than the average of 79 degrees, while yellow to red are hotter. The temperatures vary as much as 12 degrees Farenheit. (Image courtesy of Davey Resource Group's TreeKeeper, with base layer sourced from Google Imagery) If you looked at Syracuse from space in mid-summer, youd see tree leaves covering about 4,400 acres of the city. Those leaves, known as canopy, cover about about 27% of the citys land area. That coverage had been slightly higher before the Labor Day storm of 1998, which destroyed about 300 acres of the citys canopy. About 200 of those acres are once again covered by leaves, but, Harris said thats because scraggly, short-lived invasive species like the buckthorn and tree of heaven have colonized open spaces. Those two non-native species have increased from 8% of trees in 1999 to 28% now, Harris said. Maple has fallen from 14% to 10%. The forest plan, formed through public comments and meetings, would raise the total canopy coverage to 34% of Syracuse, just slightly higher than the national average for cities east of the Mississippi, which is 32%. Syracuse lost about 300 acres of canopy in the Labor Day storm in 1998. About 200 of those acres are now covered again by leaves, but primarily by invasive species. Post-Standard file photo Of the approximately 1.5 million trees in the city, just 20% sit on city property. Most of the rest sit on private property; the largest group, 40%, are in residential yards. To achieve the goal of planting 70,000 new trees across Syracuse, Harris said, the city will need to recruit owners of public and private property, including cemeteries, apartments, schools, churches and single-family homes, to plant most of those trees. How do you take a big picture approach and make it happen with all the landownership types? Harris asked. That would be the next step. A key element of the plan, in the works since 2017, will be education, for everybody from developers to forest owners. Harris says the city will try to convince them of the value of the trees they already own and to encourage them to plant new ones. City officials hope to enlist volunteers, homeowners and youth to help plant trees around the city. One surprising starting point: churches. Churches have the most grass; about 1,300 acres, he said. Theres no cost estimate yet for the plan, Harris said. That will depend on what types of trees are planted, how big they are at planting, who plants them, and other factors yet to be determined. He said the city will pursue grants and contributions to help offset the cost. The city plants about 350 trees a year, but also cuts down about 800, mostly because theyre diseased or damaged. (About half of the citys 2,200 ash trees were removed as the emerald ash borer spread into Central New York.) For the past several years, Onondaga Countys Save the Rain program has provided funding for an additional 1,000 trees in the city. That program is winding down, however, Harris said, giving the new plan greater urgency. Public comment on the new plan starts today. The first of eight meetings will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Bob Cecile Center, 174 W. Seneca Turnpike. READ MORE In Finger Lakes vineyards, climate change has already arrived Study: Upstate NY among first to have most heat waves due to climate change Climate change report: New York, Northeast will see more big storms, flooding, heat waves Novel coronavirus: On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first public appearance since the outbreak that has since claimed more than 1,000 lives. President Jinping was seen wearing a blue surgical mask as he headed to meet the doctors and observe the treatment of patients at the Beijing Ditan hospital. However, these surgical masks are not very potent when it comes to protection against a virus such as the coronavirus. Lijian Zhao, Deputy Director General of Information Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China said that even President Xi Jinping uses an ordinary medical mask, signalling people to not panic and use masks correctly. "President Xi Jinping only wears an ordinary medical mask, which sends a signal that we should use masks correctly & not panic. This is in line with the rule that officials in Beijing are not allowed to use N95 masks as they are reserved for medical workers fighting at the front," said Zhao. President Xi Jinping only wears an ordinary medical mask, which sends a signal that we should use masks correctly & not panic. This is in line with the rule that officials in Beijing are not allowed to use N95 masks as they are reserved for medical workers fighting at the front. pic.twitter.com/HWEniZnYNW - Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) February 11, 2020 How are surgical masks different from N95 masks? In simplistic terms, surgical masks do not provide respiratory protection but are simple barrier protectors. A surgical mask can provide protection against droplets or large respiratory particles. They are usually lose-fit and cannot prevent leakage around the side of the masks. A N95 mask is a respiratory mask, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There is also an exhalation valve that eases breathing and keeps the face cool. While it is still being worked out how exactly the virus spreads, people have been suggested to undertake respiratory hygiene and hand-washing. As panicking people clamour to lay hands on the best of the masks available such as the N95 variety, there will soon be scarcity of masks. It can cause great harm to the health care workers and people who are actually in grave need of the masks. Also read: Coronavirus outbreak in China may be over by April, say medical experts According to CNN, basic surgical masks have been recommended for areas where the number of potential coronavirus carriers is low. On the other hand, health care providers in Wuhan have been spotted in full hazmat-style suits. For instance, Beijing, where President Jinping made his hospital visit is situated around 1,000 km away from Wuhan - the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. There have been a few hundred cases in the Chinese capital and three deaths. On the other hand, most of the deaths have been reported in Wuhan. China has been hard at work to contain the widespread panic regarding coronavirus. The country is also working hard to control it from spreading and has taken some extreme measures including lockdown of Wuhan. "Under Xi's leadership, China has carried out national mobilisation, across-the-board deployment and swift responses, adopted the most comprehensive and rigorous prevention and control measures and launched a people's war against the epidemic," stated a report in state media, Xinhua. Also read: Coronavirus scare in India: Shortage of China-made sprinklers may dampen Holi celebrations Also read: Coronavirus reaches India; will Dalal Street catch flu? FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Empire Diversified Energy, Inc. (OTCQB: MPIR) (the "Company"), today announced that its Chairman, Dr. Larry Chimerine and CEO, Mr. Frank Rosso will present at NobleCon16 - Noble Capital Markets' Sixteenth Annual Investor Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida - on the 18th of February, 2020, 10:30 am Eastern Standard Time. A high-definition, video webcast of the presentation will be available the following day on the Company's website, http://www.empirediversifiedenergy.com, and as part of a complete catalog of presentations available at the Noble Capital Markets' Conference website, www.nobleconference.com, and on Channelchek, www.channelchek.com, the investor portal created by Noble. The webcast will be archived on the Company's website, the NobleCon website and the Channelchek website for 90 days following the event. The Company has identified a number of assets that it intends to acquire that are geographically located in the heart of the energy and raw material nexus of the United States -- West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky, and has also identified barge and rail capabilities on the Ohio River. About Noble Capital Markets, Inc. Noble Capital Markets is a research driven boutique investment bank that has supported small & microcap companies since 1984. As a FINRA and SEC licensed broker dealer, Noble provides institutional-quality equity research, merchant and investment banking, wealth management and order execution services. In 2005, Noble established NobleCon, an investor conference that has grown substantially over the last decade. In 2018, Noble launched www.channelchek.com - a new investment community dedicated exclusively to small and micro-cap companies and their industries. Channelchek is tailored to meet the needs of self-directed investors and financial professionals. Channelchek is the first service to offer institutional-quality research to the public, for free at every level without a subscription. More than 6,000 emerging growth companies are listed on the site, with growing content including webcasts, podcasts, and balanced news. About Empire Diversified Energy Corporation Empire Diversified Energy, Inc. is a full-service company offering logistic and service solutions to the dynamic changing needs of the energy industry. The Company's goal, based on years of demonstrable experience, is to develop a network of logistics and storage facilities to promote international sales of petrochemicals. Statements contained in this communication that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature. Such forward-looking statements, including our plans to acquire certain assets, reflect current views of management with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected, or described pursuant to similar expressions. SOURCE Empire Diversified Energy Inc. Related Links www.empirediversifiedenergy.com One of the most significant and contentious issues under discussion during the Catholic Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazonian Region, held in October 2019, was the question of whether to allow married men in that region to become priests. The reason for this consideration is the significant shortage of priests among indigenous people groups in the Amazon region. Due to the shortage, many indigenous Catholics in that region are unable to regularly celebrate the Mass and receive other forms of pastoral care. After months of reflection, Pope Francis responded to the synod in Querida Amazonia without directly addressing the issue of allowing married men to become priests, thus leaving the current expectation of clerical celibacy unchanged. What Scripture Says The Bible affirms the value of celibacy for both lay Christians and church leaders, most notably in 1 Corinthians 7. In this passage, Paul speaks of his own unmarried state (vv. 78) and commends celibacy as a way to focus on pleasing the Lord (vv. 3235). Paul emphasizes the liberty unmarried Christians have in contrast to the obligations married Christians have to their families. Pauls reference to avoiding entanglement in civilian affairs in 2 Timothy 2:4 is also thought to refer, at least in part, to singleness and celibacy. It is important to note that, alongside its discussion of celibacy, 1 Corinthians 7 also clearly affirms Christian marriage. Further, multiple passages of Scripture speak directly about married church leaders, including specific instructions about married bishops or overseers (1 Tim. 3:2), elders (Titus 1:6), and deacons (1 Tim. 3:12). Celibacy in Church History Priestly celibacy was discussed and debated by Christian leaders during the earliest centuries of the church, including at the Council of Nicaea. While some at that time upheld celibacy as an ideal state for clergy, others opposed requiring it. Bishop Paphnutius (who was himself unmarried) opposed placing that expectation upon church leaders, saying too heavy a yoke ought not to be laid upon the clergy, and that marriage and married intercourse are of themselves honorable and undefiled. Within Eastern Orthodoxy, the Council in Trullo (A.D. 625) affirmed that men who were already married could be ordained to the priesthood, though unmarried priests could not marry after ordination. Within Catholicism, clerical celibacy continued to be viewed as ideal by many, and various ecclesial rulings in the early centuries of Christendom supported this view. The expectation that Catholic priests be celibate was clarified and more strictly enforced beginning in the 11th century under Pope Gregory VII. After the Reformation, many Protestant leaders (notably Martin Luther) affirmed marriage and family life for clergy. Why Catholic Priests are Celibate A primary reason Catholic priests are unmarried and celibate is the Catholic belief that a priest acts in persona Christithat he acts in the person of or as a representation of Christ. Because Jesus was unmarried, priests are to model themselves after Christs example. The Catechism of the Catholic Church further expounds that priests are called to consecrate themselves with undivided heart to the Lord and to the affairs of the Lord, [1 Cor. 7:32] in order that they can give themselves entirely to God and to men. The Catechism emphasizes that this priestly celibacy radiantly proclaims the Reign of God. Not All Priests are Celibate Today, it is important to note that within Eastern Catholic rites married men are commonly ordained as priests; the emphasis on priestly singleness and celibacy is found primarily within the Latin (or Western) rite of the Catholic church. In some rare cases, the Latin rite also allows married men to become priests if they previously served as ministers within specific Protestant denominations prior to their conversion to Catholicism. CT on Priestly Celibacy Christianity Today has examined the topic of clerical celibacy in a variety of ways throughout the years. Here are some of our most important articles on this topic: In this 1969 editorial, CT reflected upon Pauls teachings about celibacy and marriage in 1 Corinthians 7, posing important questions for both Protestants and Catholics. The topic of priestly celibacy was covered many times in CT during the late 60s and early 70s, in part due to a 1971 Catholic synod that discussed the possibility of ordaining married men in Latin America. You can read some of CTs coverage of priests speaking out against celibacy here, as well as our coverage of the 1971 synod here and here. While the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 primarily focused on discussing Christs divine nature and confronting the heresy of Arianism, church leaders also discussed a variety of other issues, including clerical celibacy. This article explains why the council decided not to require it. Here, historian Bruce L. Shelley explores various visions of pastoral leadership throughout church history, including a discussion of clerical celibacy and monastacism in the fourth century and beyond. This 1983 article describes Martin Luthers transition from celibate monk to married man and father, detailing some of his teachings regarding marriage. In 2002, CT published two editorials related to this topic. A Preventable Tragedy comments on child sexual abuse in both Catholic and Protestant settings, refuting the idea of directly linking celibacy to abuse. Two Cheers for Celibacy further addresses the sexual abuse of minors, as well as the problem of noncelibate homosexual clergy within the U.S. Catholic church. It makes the case for allowing marriage within the priesthood while continuing to affirm the value of clerical celibacy. CTs fall 2019 Quick to Listen podcast featured an episode discussing the Amazonian Synod, including the Popes consideration of allowing married priests among the Amazons indigeonous people groups. Here, Protestant pastor Kenneth Tanner shares his own reflections on the unique nature of Pope Francis approach to ministry, including his views on celibacy, his vision for active ministry, and his dedication to the poor. In this piece, Terri Williams discusses 1 Corinthians 7 as she reflects on the value of celibacy for single Christians and advocates that celibacy be honored in the church. While celibacy is required for Latin-rite Catholic priests, many Protestant churches have an unspoken opposite expectation: that their pastors be married. In this two-part series, Mark Almie provides a Protestant case for valuing and honoring the ministry of unmarried, celibate pastors. Almie notes that For the first 1,500 years of church history, singleness, not marriage, was lauded as next to godliness. Let me say that againfor the first fifteen hundred years. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Spectrum customer Ellen Mills was furious about losing her cable TV, internet and phone service for seven hours Saturday. That was a huge inconvenience, said Mills, of Lisbon in St. Lawrence County. We pay our bills on time every month. She called Spectrum Tuesday morning to demand compensation. But when a Spectrum customer service agent offered her a credit of $4 and change, she got even angrier. I said put me down for cancellation, Mills said. He said, Wait a minute,' and then he came back with an offer of $20. Mills negotiating skill got her a larger refund than most of the nearly 400 Spectrum customers who responded to a syracuse.com survey this week. Spectrum has refused to say how much of a refund its giving out for the outage that impacted 2 million customers. Spectrum refund: How to claim a credit for weekends big outage Spectrum said the outages started Friday evening in Maine and New Hampshire when snow and ice from a winter storm took down some of its fiber optic lines. The outages spread to much of the rest of its service territory in New England and Upstate New York on Saturday when additional primary and backup lines came down in multiple locations, the company said. Since the company wouldnt reveal the size of the refunds, Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard asked Spectrum customers to share with us how much they got. Nearly 400 people responded to our request. On average, the customers reported receiving a $7.12 credit on their bills. The amounts ranged from less than $1 to a high of $40. (We did not count a few outliers, like the $1 million refund one customer reported.) Those who subscribed to all three of Spectrums services -- TV, internet and phone service -- got the highest amounts. The refunds are not automatic. Customers must call Spectrums customer service line -- (855) 707-7328 -- to request one. Spectrum said it will determine the amounts on a case-by-case basis. Customers told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that they were told the amounts were determined by dividing their total monthly bills by 30 to come up with the amount they pay for service daily. They were then given a credit equal to that amount. Under that formula, a customer paying $200 a month would receive a credit of $6.66. In some cases, however, customers who turned down the companys first offer and pushed for a better one got it. They offered $4.50, one customer said. I said that wasnt enough. Then she offered $10. I accepted. One customer got a better offer by calling a second time: First call, told me $4. Second call, they credit me $15 after complaining." Others, though, said their attempts to get a bigger credit failed. They said if we didnt lose power for over 24 hours, the $5 courtesy credit was the best they could do, said one customer. Many said the amounts they got were not enough to compensate them for the inconvenience. A whopping $9, a customer said. I can retire now. $6.69. Nice huh! I can buy a 6 pack of bad beer, said another. Jim Newman, of Syracuse, said a customer service agent told him he would receive a $5 credit on his next bill for losing his TV, internet and phone service for one hour on Saturday. Problem is, he actually lost service for five to six hours, he said. I wish we had other alternatives, Newman said. I would switch in a minute. Many felt the company should automatically provide refunds rather than requiring people to call and request one. Absolute joke - they should automatically refund ALL affected, wrote one customer. Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Have a question or news tip? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 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. Bill Gerstenmaier, who at the time was NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations, testifies before Congress on Dec. 10, 2014, about the Space Launch System rocket. SpaceX is tapping into a deep vein of NASA experience as the company prepares to launch agency astronauts to orbit in the next few months. SpaceX has hired former NASA human-spaceflight chief Bill Gerstenmaier, CNBC reported yesterday (Feb. 11). Gerst, as he is known within the spaceflight community, will work as a consultant for SpaceX's reliability team, company representatives confirmed to Space.com. That team is presumably working to get SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule ready for its first crewed flight, a test mission to the International Space Station (ISS) called Demo-2 that will carry NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. Demo-2 is expected to launch soon, perhaps as early as May. In photos: A behind-the-scenes look at SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship Demo-2 will mark Crew Dragon's second trip to the ISS, after the uncrewed Demo-1 in March 2019 . (But Demo-2 will use a different vehicle; the capsule that flew Demo-1 was destroyed during a ground-test accident in April of last year.) Gerst worked for NASA for decades. He served as the agency's associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations from 2005 through July 2019, when he was reassigned as a "special adviser" to NASA Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard. NASA chief Jim Bridenstine linked the leadership shake-up to the agency's push to put people on the moon by 2024, an ambitious timeline laid out by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in March 2019. Gerst may lend his expertise to SpaceX programs beyond Crew Dragon. After all, the company is also developing a Mars-colonizing transportation system called Starship , which could begin carrying people as early as 2023. Crew Dragon isn't the only company developing private astronaut taxis for NASA. The space agency also signed a deal with Boeing to get its capsule, the CST-100 Starliner, up and running. But Starliner suffered multiple software issues on its version of Demo-1, which launched in December 2019 and failed to reach the ISS as planned. It's unclear if Starliner will have to refly that uncrewed test mission, and, if so, when that makeup mission would launch. 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 . KYODO NEWS - Feb 13, 2020 - 00:20 | All, World, Coronavirus [ullstein bild/Getty/Kyodo] PHNOM PENH - A cruise ship carrying 1,455 guests and 802 crew that has been turned away from at least five ports in Asia, including Yokohama, has been given permission to dock in a Cambodian seaport, its operator announced Wednesday. A senior Cambodian government official told Kyodo News that the decision to let the Westerdam cruise ship operated by Holland America Line to dock in the southwestern seaport of Sihanoukville was based on humanitarian grounds. "We will arrive at 7:00 a.m. local time on Thursday...and will remain in port for several days for disembarkation. Guests will be able to go ashore. All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support," the company said in a situation update on its website. Since it sailed off from Hong Kong on Feb. 1, the cruise ship had been turned away by Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam and Thailand over fears that some of its passengers may have been infected by the new coronavirus. "All guests on board are healthy and despite erroneous reports there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board, nor have their ever been," the company said. Asked why Cambodia allowed the ship to dock, Prime Minister Hun Sen told local media outlet Fresh News, "Where should they go if they (ports) are all closed." He said this "demonstrates Cambodia's outstanding humanitarian work and commitment for the world to take care of other nationalities. If others not accept, Cambodia accept." Or Vandin, the Cambodian Health Ministry's secretary of state, said her ministry is well prepared with a strong quarantine team to handle any contingencies. She added that if the disembarking passengers and crew have no health-related problems, "of course they must be allowed to enjoy their holidays in Cambodia." The cruise was previously scheduled to disembark Feb. 15 in Yokohama, Japan. Another cruise ship docked at Yokohama, the Diamond Princess, has been placed in quarantine there since a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was found to have been infected with the virus in early February. Of the 203 confirmed cases in Japan, 174 are passengers and crew on the ship, operated by Princess Cruises. According to Holland America, the Westerdam guests "will disembark in Sihanoukville over the next few days and transfer via charter flights to Phnom Penh for forward travel home." "Holland America Line will arrange and pay for all flights home, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100 percent future cruise credit already communicated," it said. Related coverage: Japan to deny entry to foreigners on virus-hit cruise ship from H.K. SHG 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 (TNS) The problems with an online app that led to an embarrassing delay in tabulating the results of the Iowa caucus votes for Democratic presidential candidates should serve as a not-so-subtle reminder that online voting is not quite ready for prime time.Still, there is a test program for online voting in the state of Washington that could prove useful in identifying what works and what areas need more work. By experimenting with a small election, the risks are greatly reduced.In the Seattle area, more than a million registered voters can use a smartphone or computer to cast a ballot in a relatively obscure election for an open spot on the King County Conservation District board. Registered voters can access a ballot by logging into a specially created portal using their name and birth date. They have the option of printing a ballot and returning it by mail, or submitting it online with an electronic signature.The elections board will verify the signature and print a secure copy before processing the ballot.This is only a test program and, because of security concerns, the nation is a long way from making online voting the norm, but its a worthwhile project that could lead to making voting more convenient for more citizens.Election security experts are taking a cautious approach to the pilot program, and for good reason. There are numerous security risks in transmitting ballots over the Internet, given the ongoing data breaches and hacking attempts that have affected companies with much more intense security protocols. There remains widespread concern over election integrity stemming from foreign interference efforts uncovered in the 2016 elections.Still, there are benefits to the test program. Having a ballot available online, even if it has to be mailed back rather than submitted electronically, makes it more convenient for voters and saves local governments the cost of mailing them.The voting period in this election lasted until Feb. 11, giving voters more than two weeks to return a ballot rather than limiting voting to one specific day. And election officials are optimistic that voter turnout will increase because of the convenience factor.Internet voting may be inevitable, but theres a lot more testing and analysis that needs to be done, as evidenced by the technology snafus that delayed the Iowa caucus results.In the meantime, experiments such as this in Washington should continue in hopes of finding ways to improve voter participation. A 24-year-old man wanted in 14 cases of robbery, snatching and theft was arrested in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar by the Crime Branch, police said on Wednesday. Based on a tip-off, police laid a trap and apprehended Vivek Kumar near a park in the area, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) A K Singla said. According to police, he was previously involved in 26 criminal cases. During interrogation, Kumar admitted to his involvement in several cases of robbery, snatching and theft, Singla said. Kumar told police that he, along with his associate Munna, robbed a person of his gold ring and cash worth Rs 5,500 at knife point in Ashok Nagar. In the same month, the duo also robbed a pedestrian of his bag containing cash worth Rs 20,000 near New Ashok Nagar metro station, Singla said. Police seized a country-made pistol, two live bullets and a scooter, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A survivor of the Marchioness boat disaster has slammed EastEnders for a 'copycat' boat party scene in its 35th anniversary episode. Next Monday the BBC are broadcasting a special anniversary episode that will see several of the characters attend a boat party on the River Thames. The episode is expected to end in disaster, with at least one person dying. But a survivor of the Marchioness Riverboat Disaster of 1989 has hit out at bosses for filming scenes almost exactly where the doomed pleasure boat sank 30 years ago. Mark Brewer-Sage, 46, who is the youngest passenger to have emerged from the crash alive, told The Sun the trailer that sees the cast sail under Southwark Bridge gave him 'major anxiety'. Crew are pictured filming scenes for EastEnders' 35th anniversary episode, which will see cast go to a Thames boat party Cast members are pictured filming scenes for next Monday's 35th anniversary episode on a boat on the River Thames Wreckage: The shell of the Marchioness is pictured on the Thames after the crash in 1989 He told the newspaper: 'I don't see this as a coincidence. They could have shot on any of the other bridges. This has been deliberately copied. 'The writers and execs need to be brought to task. Shame on you. It's so close to the bone.' BBC bosses insisted the scenes were not filmed near Southwark Bridge. Fifty-one young people died when the pleasure boat Marchioness collided with a dredger called the Bowbelle and sank in central London in the early hours of August 20 1989. A 30th anniversary memorial service was held on the banks of the Thames near the crash site last summer. The Marchioness boat disaster on the River Thames in 1989 resulted in the deaths of 51 people Odette Penwarden, 72, of east London, spoke about how she survived the sinking. 'The dancing was in full swing when all of a sudden the boat lurched. The boat started to tip over. Water came rushing in and knocked me off my feet. It was like going inside a washing machine. 'I could feel myself losing consciousness, but I had an image of my mother and I decided I needed to get myself out.' Ms Penwarden managed to escape through a broken window and was rescued by a police boat. Next Monday's dramatic episode will see Phil Mitchell in a dramatic showdown with his younger love rival Keanu Taylor over the affair with his wife Sharon. Eastenders would not confirm if it had contact representatives of the Marchioness survivors for research purposes. A spokesman said in a statement: 'EastEnders is a fictional drama and isn't based on any real life events. We always carefully consider the content of our episodes.' Kellie Bright and Danny Dyer are pictured with fellow EastEnders cast members on the banks of the Thames in a promotional shot for the 35th anniversary boat party episode South Africa is a land of outstanding natural beauty that boasts a rich cultural heritage, wild outdoor attractions and unique tourist experiences that will linger in the memory for years to come. You can expect to be blown away by its jaw-dropping scenery, seduced by its diverse charms, delighted by the local cuisine, surprised by its value and thrilled by the adventure activities on offer. Theres literally something for every taste. You could sample the growing cafe culture in Durban, enjoy a traditional lunch with Zulus, see penguins on Boulders Beach, dive with sharks, or just relax with a glass of red in the Cape Winelands. Local guides can help you to discover the hidden South Africa and to see the best that the country has to offer. The biggest challenge on a South African holiday is deciding what to do or see but the following recommendations from local experts will help you to get the very most from your trip. See The Big Five South Africa is safari territory so its a perfect place to see The Big Five in their natural environment. Bens Marimane, wildlife guide in Greater Kruger, has seen guests moved to tears of joy while on a safari in the MalaMala Private Game Reserve. We have the The Big Five, which are lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, he says. And lots more; we dont have any fence between Kruger and our reserve. Here in MalaMala, its almost every day we see the cats. For leopard viewings, theres nowhere better. Down in the river, during the dry season, all of the animals come to drink, so if its a sunny day in the late afternoon all you have to do is drive along the riverbed and youll find the lions and leopards waiting for the prey species. We feel very lucky to have this river here. The river is part of what makes MalaMala so great for game viewing. Meet the locals Thoko Jili is a guide in the province of KwaZulu-Natal who takes visitors on culture tours to the village of Maphepetheni. She gives tourists a chance to soak up the village culture with a traditional Zulu meal, which includes a chance to sample the local beer, umqombothi. We have everything here in KwaZulu-Natal, from the beach to safari to the Drakensberg and its still so authentic, says Thoko. [Youll go to] a village called Maphepetheni in an area called the Valley of a Thousand Hills. You will fall in love with it. Its not staged in any way; people are living 100pc authentic lives. When we make friends, support the locals and are respectful, the people are very happy. Theyll cook for you, sing for you, and recite poetry for you. Expand Close Traditional Zulu jewellery / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Traditional Zulu jewellery Go rafting on South Africas longest river Adrenaline junkies can get their heart racing with a raft ride down the Orange River, which runs through The Green Kalahari. This is one of the least-explored parts of the country and its located close to the Namibia border. We go down a section of the Orange River with some rapids just big enough to get the blood pumping, explains outdoor adventure guide, Danie Van Zyl. You paddle your own craft down there. The river has a very mild, mile-long section for families, and very wild, longer sections as well. For the extreme adventurer, we can organise multi-day rafting journeys up and over the border. Go on an outdoor adventure The Wild Coast on the Eastern Cape is famous for its unspoilt beauty and the welcome of the Xhosa people. Local tour guide Siseko Yelani takes people on tours of the area and he says that one of his tours is the ultimate Wild Coast adventure. Crossing the Kei River into the former Transkei, via the Xhosa village of Qolora, and then picking up Trevors Trail from Trennerys Hotel, he says. It combines a river cruise and a trek in indigenous forest. Its great for birders, and a guide can talk about the flora and traditional medicines. Finally, you take a boat through the Transkei Gates Gorge where you can do cliff jumping. Expand Close Siseko Yelani / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Siseko Yelani Try an ocean safari South Africas safaris arent limited to land. Wildlife guide Alison Towner takes tourists on ocean trips that include everything from shark cage diving to whale watching tours. South Africa is famous for its safaris, but its ocean life is just as rich, just as fascinating, says Alison. On a cruise around the Dyer Island system in Gansbaai, you have the chance to see our Marine Big Five: the great white shark, African penguin, southern right whale, cape fur seal and dolphin. I challenge anyone to find another place on Earth that can offer such diversity so close to shore. Do a wine tour in the Winelands Wine guru Andre Morgenthal says the Winelands are the best wine destination in the world and an obvious attraction for wine lovers. The region also boasts some outstanding restaurants, offering affordable but delicious food to enjoy with a glass of pinotage or chenin blanc. The proximity of the Winelands to Cape Town is unique: people can enjoy iconic city sights and then, in under an hours drive, be sampling local wines among the vines in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, says Andre. Within a three-hour radius, you can visit 10 wine regions easily. Expand Close Stellenbosch Winelands / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stellenbosch Winelands Check out Johannesburgs street art Johannesburg is a city thats full of life, with everything from historic tours to a thriving nightlife to delicious local food on offer. Long before anyone had heard of Banksy, it had a tradition of street art that has been carried on by a new generation of artists. Murals are how artists showcase their skills and how the city shows off its culture, explains local guide, Charles Ncube. But before, during the dark time under Apartheid, art was a way that people communicated when they had their freedoms restricted. Today, the centre of the art scene is Maboneng, which is one of the most successful regeneration projects in the world. Youve got galleries, boutiques, amazing bars and restaurants like Pata Pata. Take a helicopter ride over the Drakensberg With some of South Africas most dramatic scenery, visitors to the Drakensberg will encounter waterfalls, rugged peaks, dense grassland, thick forests and more. Local guide James Seymour says it is an outdoor enthusiasts dream, with the option to try hot air ballooning, abseiling, rock climbing, horse-riding, mountain biking, zip-lining, paragliding and whitewater rafting. Expand Close James Seymour, at home in the outdoors / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp James Seymour, at home in the outdoors However, James says that there is one unmissable experience that visitors should try. A helicopter trip over the Drakensberg. Its so hard to comprehend how rugged and vast the mountains are until youre high up and can see the depth of the valleys and height of the peaks. Its mind-blowing. The only other way to experience it is to hike to the top of the escarpment, but the great thing about a helicopter is that within a few minutes youre already up there. Find out more about what South Africa has to offer from the guides that know it best, check out what they have to say on the South Africa website. Sponsored by Democratic presidential hopefuls Former Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren arrive onstage for 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. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden will not meet the threshold to win pledged delegates in Tuesday's New Hampshire Democratic primary, according to NBC News. The Massachusetts senator and former vice president found themselves vying for fourth place in the Granite State as results trickled in Tuesday night. As of Wednesday morning, with 97% of precincts reporting, Warren had over 9% while Biden had over 8%. Neither of the White House hopefuls will reach the 15% threshold needed to win pledged delegates, statewide or in its two congressional districts. New Hampshire awards its delegates proportionally, but candidates need to hit the 15% mark. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont was the projected winner, according to NBC News. Former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota follow, and they will join Sanders in the top three Tuesday. The results deal another blow to the campaigns of Warren and Biden, who have both spent time as front-runners in the Democratic presidential primary. The senator and former vice president finished third and fourth, respectively, in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses last week. Biden's stumbles in Iowa and New Hampshire were jarring, as he led nearly every national primary poll until Sanders started to overtake him in recent weeks. Biden, who had predicted another rough night Tuesday, left New Hampshire for South Carolina before results came in. He has led polls of the state, which holds its primary on Feb. 29. New Delhi, Feb 12 : Security has been put on high alert in the Valley amid rumours about the critical health condition of separatist Kashmiri hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani. In a late night development, the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference released an 'urgent' statement from Muzaffarabad (Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir), saying that all Imams and people should gather at Eidgah, Srinagar, for the funeral in case Geelani breaths his last. On the other hand, sources in the government in New Delhi said that Geelani's health condition is serious but stable. Some reports were also doing the rounds that Geelani had passed away on Friday evening. However, his son Naseem Geelani refuted the reports as rumours and said that his father was stable. In a two-page statement, Hurriyet announced that Geelani (90) has recently expressed his wish to be buried at the Mazar-e-Shuhada, Eidgah, Srinagar. Hurriyet, which has its office in Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, also appealed to the people of the Valley to be respectful to the leader and join the funeral (in case he is no more). The written statement said that for the last few days, the chest infection of Geelani was not responding to the ongoing treatment. "There are rumours in the Valley about Geelani's health condition. Till late night, nothing adverse has been reported. We are taking stock of the situation," said a senior officer of the Srinagar police. Considered as the senior most Hurriyat leader, Geelani was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded his own party by the name of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He has served as the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference, a conglomerate of separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir. Geelani became an MLA from Sopore constituency in 1972 and won in the Assembly polls from the same constituency in 1977 and 1987. A day after the party's rout in the Delhi polls, the knives are out in the Congress with leaders blaming each other and raising questions on whether the grand old party has outsourced the task of defeating the BJP to others. The Congress has, however, disapproved of the blame game and asked its leaders to introspect, instead of going public against each other. AICC Delhi in-charge PC Chacko sought to put the blame for the party's decline in the national capital on late chief minister Sheila Dikshit, saying the Congress started losing ground here in 2013. Dikshit was the chief minister of Delhi at the time. "The party's downfall started since 2013. It lost all the elections thereafter and the new outfit, AAP, took away all the Congress's vote bank," Chacko said, without naming Dikshit. With party colleague Milind Deora slamming him for his comments, Chacko said he had not named Dikshit and his remarks were wrongly being interpreted to run a campaign against him. "I did not name Sheilaji, who ensured good governance and an all-round development of Delhi during the 15-year Congress rule," he told PTI. The poor poll show of the party in the national capital has triggered a blame game with Congress leader Sharmishtha Mukherjee taking on senior party colleague P Chidambaram, who had welcomed the AAP win as a "defeat of bluff and bluster". Mukherjee asked the former Union minister if the state Congress units should shut shop in case the party had decided that others would take on the BJP across states. "With due respect sir, just want to know- has Congress outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if 'yes', then we (PCCs) might as well close shop!" she said in a tweet. Responding to her, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) working chief Devender Yadav said, "It's really a matter of concern." Sharmishtha Mukherjee is the daughter of former president Pranab Mukherjee, who has been a Congressman all his life. Slamming the leaders indulging in a public blame-game, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "We want to categorically state that the Congress party strongly disapproves of the blame game, the allegations and counter-allegations being hurled upon each other by the Delhi leaders. "It would have been better if the leaders of the Congress party in Delhi and elsewhere would have looked at, introspected upon their own roles, responsibilities, commitment to the party and defined their own duties towards the campaign in Delhi. Then things would have sorted out themselves." Surjewala said the Congress will go back to the drawing board, to the last party worker in the national capital who toiled tirelessly bereft of any groupings, although it could not secure the support of people. "We will go back to the ordinary Congress worker and listen to his or her voice and consequently, redraw the leadership of the Congress in Delhi to act as a responsible opposition. I urge upon every Congress leader, every Congressman and woman of Delhi to look at his or her own responsibility and accountability as also at their duties and commitment to the party. "The day they realise this, the process of resurrection of the Congress will begin. It will not happen by accusing each other or blaming each other or levelling allegations in public. It will happen by the sheer dent of your own commitment, the assessment of your own contribution to the Congress campaign as also your own commitment to the people of Delhi and the Congress party," he added. Surjewala lauded Dikshit's role during the 15-year (1998-2003) Congress rule in Delhi and hoped that "the pioneering work done by her does not wither away or get wasted by the of blame game and one-upmanship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal". The Congress drew a blank for the second consecutive time in the Delhi Assembly polls and its vote share plummeted to 4.26 per cent from 9.7 per cent in 2015. Deora slammed Chacko on Twitter for his remarks, saying, "Sheila Dikshit ji was a remarkable politician and administrator. During her tenure as chief minister, Delhi was transformed and Congress was stronger than ever. Unfortunate to see her being blamed after her death. She dedicated her life to Congress and the people of Delhi." Dikshit's former aide Pawan Khera wrote on Twitter: "Just a data point. In 2013, when we lost, Congress vote share in Delhi was 24.55 pc. Sheila ji was not involved in 2015, when the vote share slipped to 9.7 pc. In 2019, when she was back in charge, the vote share came up to 22.46 pc." Congress leader Shashi Tharoor posted an Urdu couplet on Twitter, saying one was taking pride in someone else's victory, even in the party's defeat. "The Delhi results are disappointing for Congress but there are consolations: the BJP's divisive has been repudiated with their rout; AAP's development message is what has prevailed over identity politics; and 8 months after sweeping the LS polls the winners have been rebuked," the former Union minister said in another tweet. Chidambaram had welcomed the AAP victory in the Delhi polls, saying, "AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP. I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) says intelligence agents are summoning Iranian journalists, raiding their homes, and confiscating their equipment in a campaign to silence criticism of state policies ahead of this months parliamentary elections. At least 10 journalists have been targeted by the intelligence arm of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) over the past two weeks, CHRI said in a statement on February 11. It said the crackdown was targeting journalists -- and activists -- who maintain active social media accounts. Those targeted include human rights defender Bahareh Hedayat, a former political prisoner who was detained on February 10. "Muzzling journalists, detaining activists, and disqualifying parliamentary candidates will not silence dissent in Iran, as the recent protests have shown," CHRI Executive Director Hadi Ghaemi said in a statement on February 11. The hard-line Guardians Council disqualified thousands of candidates from running in the February 21 parliamentary elections, which come in the wake of deadly crackdowns on protests that have erupted across Iran amid rising public dissatisfaction over the country's faltering economy. More than 100 Iranian cities were rocked by protests in November after the government announced gasoline rationing and price hikes. Last month, the shooting down of a Ukrainian jetliner by Iran's air defenses also led to days of protests in Iranian cities after authorities first denied any state involvement in the incident. CHRI quoted an unidentified reporter in Tehran as saying the IRGC is raiding the homes of journalists and confiscating computers, phones, books, writings, and press ID cards. The belongings are not returned "until they appear for questioning to explain" their posts on social media. "Anything that displeases officials is being considered criminal activity and used to press charges," according to the reporter. "In some cases, agents have contacted newspaper editors to pressure their reporters to stop using social media to criticize the Islamic republic regarding everything from deaths and detentions during the November 2019 protests to the Ukrainian plane shot down by the IRGC and the upcoming parliamentary elections," the journalist added. CHRI said dozens of critics of Iranian state policies or officials have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in the past few years. At least seven members of the press were prosecuted for doing their jobs last year, according to the group. South Africa: SONA to deal with burning issues, outline progress President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to use his State of the Nation Address tomorrow evening to respond to burning issues such as load shedding and gender-based violence; unpack the progress that has been made by government over the past year and chart plans for the year ahead. Parliament officials have been hard at work preparing for the Presidents address which will get underway at 7pm on Thursday. While Parliament has been prudent with its budget, trimming some of the aspects of the ceremony, there will still be some of the fanfare of the red carpet as guests and officials arrive. Professor Busani Ngcaweni, the head of policy and research in the Presidency, said SONA is used to address the mandate of the sitting administration to ensure that there is an alignment between the manifesto of the governing party and the National Development Plan. He said the President will use his speech to outline his vision for achieving the mandate, his dream and the aspirations of society. President Ramaphosa is expected to dedicate some time to reporting back on what has been delivered the previous year. His speech will also outline what is to be done in the year ahead unpacking governments apex priorities. The speech must address what needs to be done differently, faster and effectively. SONA must respond to what are the concerns of the citizens and we talk about gender-based violence Also, the President must respond to issues of load shedding because it is a concern to citizens and for the economy, he said, addressing the media on Wednesday. Ngcaweni said the President has given a direction in terms of what he wants to say in his speech. This has been informed by engagements he has had with stakeholders such as investors, organised labour and faith-based organisations, among others. In the past month or so, he has been engaging very directly with stakeholders [such as faith-based organisations]. He has been engaging with big organised business. As you are aware, he has been having these meetings every first Monday of the month at Nedlac." The speech: behind the scenes While Ngcaweni could not go into detail about the exact content that will be in the speech with a fear of scooping or pre-empting the President, he said much of what the President reads includes his personal input and that it would have been revised several times from the speech writers first draft. What people will hear, Ngcaweni said, will mostly be the Presidents own voice. I was actually joking with the colleague yesterday about the advantages and the disadvantages of having a political principal who is computer literate. The advantage is that he spends too much time on the text, changing it because he wants his voice to come out He said this is usually a disadvantage to the speech writers, as the President will, in the end, have made a lot of changes. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Debacle Of Suspensions At The University Of Juba. "What happened to Prof Taban is exactly what Idi Amin said that " there is a freedom of speech but I cannot guarantee freedom after the speech". By Pal Chol Nyan Prof Taban Lo Lyong is a renowned academic and a prolific writer. He teaches Literatures and English Language in the University of Juba. He wrote an opinion piece where he spoke his mind on behalf of 99% of the suffering citizens of South Sudan according to what I read in his article. There is nowhere in his article where he mentioned anything to do with the University of Juba that can bring a disrepute. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the two tribes, the Dinka and the Nuer where he didn't mince his words on land grabbing and monopoly of Institutions by Jienge, a layman language for the Nilotics. He criticized those who continue to subject the people to an everlasting agony of hunger, displacement and all forms of what he considered to be injustices. He bluntly asked for a revert to the former ten States. This was what electrified the University Administration to suspend him without pay. The Administration said his charges are incitement of ethnic hatred and bringing the name of the University of Juba into disrepute. How did he bring a disrepute to the University when he spoke as a citizen? Who doesn't know ethnic hatred has been there even before he could write? It is worth mentioning that Prof Taban is not the first University don to be suspended. Prof Augustin Ting Mayai of the School of Public Service was suspended for having written an opinion in his Facebook page last year. This put together an ordinary man will know there is a bad blood between the University Administration and the teaching Staff. What happened to Prof Taban is exactly what Idi Amin said that " there is a freedom of speech but I cannot guarantee freedom after the speech". Hence, Prof Taban is an innocent victim of his intellectual opinion. A high profile politician once said that those who work with the government do not know their fates despite how loyal, committed or respectful they may be". I must be wrong to think that, the Professor could have been summoned to explain himself before the suspension. * Opinions published on Gurtong Media are solely of the author and do not reflect those of Gurtong. Press Release February 12, 2020 TRANSCRIPT OF SEN. GRACE POE'S CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH on the appointment of Commodore Luzviminda Camacho Magandang hapon po. For the first time in the history of the Navy, and we certainly hope that this instance won't be the last, it has opened its doors to its first female Commodore. But this title we are bestowing upon her today pales in comparison with the rest of Camacho's achievements including being the first woman to command a Navy ship and the first female commander of Philippine peacekeepers deployed to the United Nations. Clearly, Commodore Camacho has paved the way in her field before we were even privileged to meet her. Hers is a story of pure grit. Ang kaniyang kwento ay hindi nalalayo sa karamihan ng mga babaeng tahimik ngunit masigasig na nagtatrabaho upang umangat sa kanya-kanyang larangan. Ang kanyang tagumpay ay tagumpay nating lahat. More than the grant of this title, this appointment signifies bigger and better things to come for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Putting the right leaders at its helm is only the start of better capacitating our Navy in these uncertain times. I have no doubt that we are nearer to this goal with the appointment of Commodore Camacho. As Margaret Thatcher famously said, "If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman." The rise of female leaders in the AFP welcomes a new era of feminine values which will ultimately redound to the benefit of the nation. Ang tagumpay ng babae ay tagumpay ng buong bansa. Ikinagagalak ko pong i-endorso ang appointment ni Commodore Luzviminda Camacho. Maraming salamat po. TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Media are invited to attend the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) Durham Economic Summit on TRREBs Market Year in Review & Outlook Report, taking place on February 13, 2020 at the Ajax Convention Centre. In addition to insights on market data and fresh consumer research, the 2020 edition, entitled "The Time is Now," will focus on planning for growth in the GTA, because in order to solve tomorrow's problems, we need to plan and implement solutions now. What: DURHAM REGION ECONOMIC SUMMIT: Market Year in Review & Outlook Report Location: Ajax Convention Centre, 550 Beck Crescent, Ajax ( map ) RSVP: Limited seating available: Please send RSVP to maryg@trebnet.net TIME EVENT 9:00 a.m. Opening Remarks 2019/2020 TRREB President Michael Collins 9:10 a.m. Welcome Remarks John Henry, Regional Chair and CEO, Durham Region 9:15 a.m. Welcome Remarks Vicki Sweeney, President, Durham Region Association of REALTORS 9:20 a.m. Market Year in Review and Outlook for 2020 Jason Mercer, Chief Market Analyst and Director of Service Channels, TRREB Sean Simpson, Vice President, Ipsos Ray Wong, Vice President, Data Operations, Data Solutions, Altus Group 10:15 a.m. Transportation Trends and Pressures in the GTHA Paul Smetanin, President and CEO, Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis 10:30 a.m. Transit-Supportive Development Along Bus Corridors Carolyn Kim, Ontario Regional Director, Pembina Institute 10:45 a.m. An Economic Outlook for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and What It Means for Housing Affordability Diana Petramala, Senior Researcher, Ryerson Universitys Centre for Urban Research & Land Development 11:00 a.m. Closing Remarks 2019/2020 TRREB President Michael Collins Media Inquiries: Mary Gallagher, Senior Manager, Public Affairs maryg@trebnet.net 416-443-8158 The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board is Canadas largest real estate board with more than 56,000 residential and commercial professionals connecting people, property and communities. www.TREBhome.com https://www.facebook.com/TREBhome https://twitter.com/TREBhome https://www.youtube.com/user/TREBChannel https://www.pinterest.com/trebhome/ http://www.linkedin.com/company/treb http://www.trebwire.com/ https://www.instagram.com/trebhome https://soundcloud.com/trebhome/tracks Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Indigenous communities must be given more autonomy and influence in efforts to end widespread Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage in health, education and employment. Mr Morrison handed down a "stark and sobering" 12th Closing the Gap report to Federal Parliament on Wednesday, declaring efforts to improve the lives of First Nations people needed to be changed because just two of the seven targets set a decade ago were on track to be met. Mr Morrison told the House of Representatives the decade-long ambitions were a tale of "hope, frustration and disappointment" but the results were "not good enough". "For 12 years I have sat in this chamber and listened to Closing the Gap speeches," Mr Morrison said. What I just experienced? I never want to experience it here, said Zurek, 63, a concrete business owner who traveled last month to China with his wife, Annie, 60, to visit her family and meet their new baby granddaughter. After learning of the virus and cutting their visit short to return home after 10 days, the Zureks decided to quarantine themselves in their Highland, Indiana, home for about two weeks even though they havent shown any signs of the virus, like fever and cough. The Trudeau government needs to scramble to deepen trade and investment in Africa to make up for ground lost to competitors such as China, the United States and Europe, say Canada's top chief executives. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre right, takes part in an African Union high level breakfast dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The Trudeau government needs to scramble to deepen trade and investment in Africa to make up for ground lost to competitors such as China, the United States and Europe, say Canada's top chief executives. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau crosses Africa on his first major tour there, the Business Council of Canada is urging his government to do more to tap the continent's "underappreciated growth potential." Trudeau spent last weekend meeting African Union leaders at their summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and has started a two-day official visit to Senegal on the continent's western tip. The prime minister is mainly focused on winning African support for Canada's bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council in a vote later this year, but he did manage to kickstart talks in Ethiopia toward a foreign investment protection agreement. On many of Addis Ababa's streets, buildings are under construction under a skyline dotted with cranes. Many of the projects have been started by keen developers who hope to find investors to enable their completion. The investments come often enough that now there is hope for more. "Ethiopia can be connected," said Samrawit Moges, who founded the company Travel Ethiopia 26 years ago. "We are the origin of humankind. We are the origin of coffee." Selam Wondimu, the founder and managing director of Grohydro Manufacturing, which makes hydroponic farming technology and equipment, said she sees a country gaining confidence. But Ethiopia won't be able to go where it wants to without outside help, she said. "To create the Africa we want, we need this kind of collaborating," Wondimu said. "Yes, we need technology, transformation, partnerships." Canada needs to speed its efforts with a comprehensive economic and development strategy because even though it has tripled its exports to the continent in this century, Canadian products still account for less than one per cent of what Africa imports, a new report from the business group concludes. Meanwhile, the European Union has negotiated partnership agreements, China is investing billions in new infrastructure through its Belt and Road Initiative, and the U.S. is countering China's push with its own Prosper Africa project, the report says. "The bottom line is we're underperforming in Africa," said council vice-president Brian Kingston. "Everyone is moving into the region and Canada better have a strategy and a plan if we want to be well-positioned there." The council's report says Africa is home to six of the world's 10 fastest growing economies and its overall gross domestic product is growing at 3.6 per cent annually, faster than the global average. That could accelerate as the continent reaps the benefits of its own Africa-wide trade deal while 200 million new residents flood African cities by 2025. By 2045, Africa will have a larger urban population than China or India, says the council's report. It cites agri-food and manufacturing as two key areas where Canadian firms can make inroads. "For years, everyone was talking about the rise of Asia, and Canada was a bit late to that party. I don't want to see us missing another opportunity like that, where we're not putting enough attention and investment into the region at the right time," said Kingston. Trudeau's own briefing book for his new term as prime minister, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, describes sub-Saharan Africa as a region of "major economic potential and growing geopolitical significance." But it also makes clear that despite the progress, 41 per cent of sub-Saharan Africans live in extreme poverty. "Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges exacerbated by demographic pressures, with 60 per cent of the population under the age of 25," says the memo to Trudeau. That disparity was evident during Trudeau's visit to Addis Ababa, a thriving city but one very much still in transition. As the African Union's home, it has become Africa's version of Geneva or New York, with thousands of foreign diplomats injecting cash into the city's economy. Western-style shopping malls sporting the logos of Apple and Baskin Robbins sit adjacent to ramshackle shacks with corrugated metal roofs barely supported by dilapidated poles. Children roam the streets near large hotels, begging for help. Between 2000 and 2018, Ethiopia cut its poverty rate from more than 50 per cent to less than 30 per cent. Infant mortality was halved, and life expectancy rose from 52 to 66 years. But in rural Ethiopia, the World Bank says, poverty still exceeds 40 per cent. "Things are changing for the better," said Moges, the tour operator. "When mostly Ethiopia used to be known negatively with the famine, poverty, it has changed a lot." Kingston said Canada is well-regarded in Africa in part because it wasn't a colonial power. That will be underscored when Trudeau visits Senegal's Goree Island, which played a role in the African slave trade. "Canada is really well-respected and well-liked, particularly on the trade side where we've helped them with capacity-building. We're a big reason that the African Continental Free Trade Area is what it is today." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2020. It's a story we're all familiar with: the goodbye ode to San Francisco. Or for some, it's more like good riddance. When people leave the Bay Area in search of greener pastures, some like to make it known why they're ditching the place with a blog or Facebook post. More than a few have spoken to SFGATE about their reasons for leaving. After seeing these stories go viral online for years, Ryan Kulp was inspired to find the common thread in all the individual testimonies. Kulp, who runs a small private-equity firm with his wife, lived in San Francisco for a year and a half before moving to New York City. He is now traveling the world with his wife and working remotely. He wanted to see whether others were moving out for the same reasons that he did. So he used his knowledge of coding and a host of free Google Chrome extensions to round up all these "leaving San Francisco" posts and scrape them for keywords and commonalities. He published his findings in the same format of his subject matter: a blog post. Some of the most commonly used words in these farewell pieces? Money, rent, expensive, tax, and homeless all clues, Kulp said, as to why people may be over San Francisco. When lumped together by category, "personal finances" were overwhelmingly the No. 1 reason people gave for leaving, followed by work-related reasons, then politics and social issues. The most name-dropped cities were Portland, Ore.; Los Angeles; and Austin, Texas. And if you're wondering what kind of jobs these writers might hold or be interested in, the most referred to title was "developer," followed by mentions of "marketing" and "sales." For Kulp, money was just one reason to leave San Francisco. He believed that he could get more for his money in New York City and achieve a different quality of life there. "It was the value, but it was also the sanitation, seeing so many broken-into cars, so many stolen bicycles, so much erratic behavior on the street," Kulp said. "I had never even seen a syringe in my life until I moved to San Francisco, and I started walking on them on Market Street every day." It's a complaint familiar to native San Franciscans; people from around the world come to the city and are shocked by what they see. It's a portrait of San Francisco that conservatives have jumped on the opportunity to portray. Longtime residents often get frustrated that visitors and transplants don't understand the complex forces at play that have created and aggravated the city's affordability, housing, homelessness and drug abuse crises. (Kulp's analysis eliminated those that were in San Francisco for a very short time, such as study abroad programs, but it did not distinguish between Bay Area natives and non-natives.) And (obviously) leaving San Francisco isn't going to make any of those problems go away. Still, cliche as they may be, Kulp hopes taking these "leaving San Francisco" pieces seriously could encourage important conversations for residents. He hopes those who choose to stay in San Francisco continue to tackle the city's biggest challenges head-on instead of denying their existence. "Weve all read 100 'why Im leaving' posts, but where are the pieces about 'why I still love San Francisco?' And those pieces should admit to some of the not-so-great aspects [of the city] honestly and then change can start. I would love to see more conversation happening." Read more about his methodology and findings of this "Very Unofficial and Statistically Insignificant meta study" on Kulp's blog post. Alix Martichoux is an SFGATE digital editor. Read her latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com. PHOENIX Parting ways with fellow Republicans, a Prescott lawmaker wants to allow dreamers who attend Arizona colleges and universities to pay the same in-state tuition as any other resident. Rep. Noel Campbell said hes in favor of the United States having secure borders. And he acknowledged that the children involved were brought here illegally by their parents. But Campbell told Capitol Media Services the reality is that these children, many of whom have known no other home, are here to stay. He said they already have been educated through high school at public expense. So he figures it makes no sense to now tell them they cant finish their education and get trained to do jobs that Arizona needs. And he wants to take his case directly to voters who first approved the restriction in 2006. Campbell conceded opposition to his HCR 2048 is likely to come from those within his own party. HMNS Sensory Guide Part of the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences mission is to enhance in individuals the knowledge of and delight in natural science and related subjects, and what better way to accomplish that than to foster a welcoming and accessible environment for all audiences to enjoy our exhibitions. The Houston Museum of Natural Science was recently designated a Certified Autism Center, which is awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to organizations committed to serving individuals with autism and other sensory needs through a formal certification process. The certification requires at least 80% of guest-facing staff complete evidence-based training, including more in-depth training and certification for managers and education staff, as well as an onsite review which will allow the Museum to provide sensory guides for all exhibits as well as enhance other aspects of the museum experience for guests with sensory sensitivities. The Houston Museum of Natural Science is thrilled to receive the status of Certified Autism Center through IBCCES. Access to science and the arts is so important for everyone, and we are proud to have gone through staff training and evaluations in order to better serve people with autism and sensory sensitivities. We are excited to continue moving forward in an inclusive direction and hope to offer more resources, staff training, and programming that will provide a welcoming environment for all at HMNS, said Matti Hammett, Accessibility Programs Manager. For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in cognitive disorder and autism certification for healthcare, education and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES recognized that many families with children who have special needs have limited travel and recreation options. In response to this need, IBCCES created training and certification programs specifically for the hospitality and travel industry. While many destinations tout autism-friendly options, this phrase means something different to everyone and does not necessarily indicate a true understanding or commitment to serving these guests. Part of the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences mission is to enhance in individuals the knowledge of and delight in natural science and related subjects, and what better way to accomplish that than to foster a welcoming and accessible environment for all audiences to enjoy our exhibitions. I am proud to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to making access and inclusion a priority and know that were only moving forward from here, said Joel Bartsch, Houston Museum of Natural Science President. More families and individuals are seeking out destinations and organizations that have completed a certification program through an accredited source. IBCCES is the only credentialing organization providing this type of certification, which includes evidence-based information as well as the perspectives of individuals with autism, alongside other tools and resources such as onsite reviews and customized recommendations to ensure the program is a long-term commitment and has a lasting impact. The team at the Houston Museum of Natural Science is very dedicated to this process and were proud to work with an organization that is committed to long-term changes and provides such a valuable resource to the Houston community and its visitors, said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman. IBCCES also created AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for parents that lists certified destinations and connects families to other resources and each other. Each destination listed on the site has met Certified Autism Center (CAC) requirements. About Houston Museum of Natural Science One of the nations most heavily attended museums-is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum district. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham giant screen theatre, Cockrell butterfly center, Burke Baker planetarium, and George observatory, and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston museum of natural science, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in the heart of the museum district, is always an adventure. About IBCCES Delivering The Global Standard For Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are the only training and certification programs endorsed by the largest grassroots autism organization in the world, The Autism Society of America, and recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has credited the Coalition's funding boost to the workplace regulator with securing $7.8 million in unpaid wages for more than 500 workers employed at George Calombaris' restaurants, which have since been placed into administration. In a signal of his determination to pass reforms aimed at curtailing wage underpayment - despite protests from the business sector that Calombaris' reputation had been unfairly damaged - Mr Morrison described the celebrity chef's workers as having been "dudded" by his company. "What workers care about is being paid the wages in which they're entitled - and that is what has happened," Mr Morrison told the Parliament on Wednesday, responding to a question by Labor's industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke. Mr Burke had asked why the government had "one rule for workers, and another for employers", after the Federal Court on Tuesday fined the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union $445,000 for late filing of paperwork with the Registered Organisations Commission. Shoppers are buying everyday goods by top-name brands ranging from Amazon to Versace without realising they may be linked to destruction of tropical forests, a report claims. Products such as food and fashion that originate from palm oil, soya, beef, leather, timber, pulp and paper are accelerating worldwide deforestation and adding to the climate crisis, according to the Forest 500 study produced by campaign group Global Canopy. At the same time, a separate report said the environmental and nature crises will cost the world hundreds of billions of pounds a year and the UK will be among countries worst hit, with at least 16bn wiped off the economy by 2050. Worldwide, the tally from rising food prices, droughts, commodity shortages, extreme flooding and coastal erosion will add up to almost 8 trillion by 2050, it has been calculated. The Forest 500 document on deforestation identifies world-famous brands that it believes are complicit in the destruction. Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire rages in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billlows from burning tracts of the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Para on August 23 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire rages in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Land in the Amazon rainforest left scorched in the fires in the Brazilian state of Rondonina on August 23 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil on August 23 AFP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire tears through a farm in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures An area of the Amazon rainforest left scorched in the fires in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 24 AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Satellite images show a series of fires in the southwest Brazilian state of Rondonia on August 15 AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A satellite image released by NASA shows the active fires that have been detected in the Amazon region EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Rondonia, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Indigenous people from the Mura tribe wallk in a deforested area inside the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 20 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Fire tears through a farm in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso AP Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest in the state of Amazonas, Brazil Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Indigenous people from the Mura tribe wallk in a deforested area inside the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 20 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A view of logs felled illegally in the Amazon rainforest are seen in sawmills in the Brazilian state of Amazonas on August 22 Reuters Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures A scorched patch of land in the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil on 20 August EPA Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Several fires are seen burning in the Amazon rainforest in this satellite image taken by NASA on 11 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures Smoke billows from a stretch of fire in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 23 August AFP/Getty Amazon rainforest swept by fires: In pictures The sunsets behind clouds and smoke from fires in the Amazon rainforest in the Brazilian state of Rondonia on 18 August EPA They include internet giant Amazon; supermarket chain Spar, and UK-based Capri Holdings, whose brands include Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors. Vast areas of tropical forest are cleared each year to make way for commodities used in millions of everyday products. Native trees are razed to grow palm trees and soya, which are used to feed meat animals in vast factory-farm operations worldwide. But Global Canopy said that of the leading companies trading in commodities, nearly half (242 of 500) have made no public promise to end deforestation. The organisation also blames financial institutions that back the brands, which include European fashion stores, food giants in the US, France and Japan, and furniture companies. Sarah Rogerson, the reports author, said: Forest risk commodities are in almost everything we eat, from beef in ready meals and burgers, palm oil in biscuits, to soya as a hidden ingredient in poultry and dairy products. Many people would be shocked to know how many familiar brands in their shopping basket may be contributing to the destruction of the Amazon and other tropical forests. On average an area of tropical forest larger than the Netherlands was lost every year from 2014 to 2018 as forests are cleared for agriculture, emitting more greenhouse gases than all the EU, figures show. Recommended How one simple law could solve our environmental crisis In Brazil, forest clearances were blamed for the tens of thousands of fires in the Amazon that damaged land and biodiversity last summer. The Forest 500 report finds that 140 companies and 102 financial institutions have made no public commitments to prevent deforestation in their supply chains or the companies they finance. Most of the institutions that fund companies do not appear to recognise the risk that their investments may drive deforestation and contribute to climate change, the biggest of which is BlackRock, it says. Ms Rogerson said: Many of the worlds best-known brands are complicit in the destruction of tropical forests, which undermines our ability to combat global climate change. They are turning a blind eye to deforestation caused by demand for the commodities they use and failing to publicly recognise their responsibility to act. More than 80 companies have removed or weakened commitments or reduced reporting, the study says. While some companies have shown real leadership, overall progress has been painfully slow and this highlights that voluntary commitments by the private sector cannot be relied upon to drive change, Ms Rogerson said. Amazon rainforest loss in Brazil more than doubled in January against the previous year, data showed last week. Meanwhile, a report by WWF calculates that the price of the eco and biodiversity crises will hit 8 trillion nearly as much as the combined economies of the UK, France, India and Brazil. It says UK losses will be the third worst, behind only the US and Japan, reaching at least 16bn by 2050, a figure approaching the combined spending on police and fire services in England and Wales. The main costs will be caused by the loss of natural coastal protection, leading to flooding and erosion, as well as declining fish stocks. The study reveals conservative annual global costs within 30 years of 251bn for coastal protection; 98bn for carbon storage; 14bn for water supply for agriculture; and 12bn for pollination from wild pollinators. Prices of timber, cotton, oil seeds, fruit and vegetables, will all rise as agriculture will be hardest hit by loss of nature. To drive investment in natures recovery at the scale and pace needed, we urgently need to transform our economic and financial systems, WWF says. In response, BlackRock pointed to a prior statement saying it was intensifying engagement with firms on sustainability, adding: We ask companies to disclose any initiatives and externally developed codes of conduct, eg committing to deforestation-free supply chains, to which they adhere and to report on outcomes. An Amazon spokesperson said the company was strongly committed to conducting business in an ethical manner, using suppliers that promote a sustainable future. He said: In 2019, we co-founded the climate pledge, a commitment to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early and reach net zero carbon by 2040. As part of this, we are investing $100m to restore and protect forests, wetlands, grasslands and peatlands around the world. We understand that reducing our use of materials and making operational changes are also critical, and we know that the responsible sourcing and use of certain commodities including soy, palm oil, paper and pulp are important to addressing deforestation. We have set a goal of achieving 100 per cent sustainable palm oil in Amazon-branded products in North America and Europe by the end of 2020, and will continue to develop more sustainable options for other key commodities. The company was increasing the use of recycled content in packaging and bringing in new materials to reduce waste, he added. The Independent has also contacted Spar and Capri Holdings for comment. A Romanian pickpocket recorded stealing a wallet from a man whose body was found hours later in Londonderry has been jailed for 18 months (stock photo) A Romanian pickpocket recorded stealing a wallet from a man whose body was found hours later in Londonderry has been jailed for 18 months. The victim, Conall Kerrigan (25), from Claudy, was out celebrating with friends in the city centre after he'd returned home from England. Judge Elizabeth McCaffrey told Adrian Vasile Aitoneanu, from Rotherham in England, that he had deliberately targeted Mr Kerrigan in the early hours of August 23, 2015, and robbed his vulnerable victim of his wallet. Aitoneanu, who had a previous conviction in Romania for violence causing death, admitted stealing Mr Kerrigan's wallet and a 600 iPhone from a woman earlier on the same night in Sandino's Bar in Foyle Street. Aitoneanu and another man were recorded on CCTV approaching Mr Kerrigan as he sat on the City Walls behind the Millennium Forum. Aitoneanu hugged and embraced Mr Kerrigan as his colleague stole the wallet. "Very sadly Mr Kerrigan's body was found in the city centre later the next evening after a number of his friends and relations became concerned about him, as he had been missing since the previous evening," the judge said, but added that this was not linked to the robbery. But what was "clear is that you and your colleague deliberately and callously approached him, targeted him and robbed him that evening," added the judge. The competition, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, aims to showcase leading female change makers and entrepreneurs, often overlooked, who are working to develop business solutions to achieve ocean-related sustainability and offering innovative solutions to some of the ocean's greatest challenges. The goal is to ensure that women are visible across the ocean supply chain and their contribution is recognised and elevated. To help bring the three changemakers' ideas to life, they will receive guidance from renowned female ocean leaders as part of a 12-month mentorship programme and present their vision for a blue economy at the World Ocean Summit in Tokyo, Japan , on March 9th-10th 2020. Since 2012, the World Ocean Summit has become the main global event at which policymakers, business leaders, civil society and scientists gather for important discussions about the blue economy. The term 'blue economy' describes a sustainable ocean economy that harnesses marine ocean resources for long-term economic development and social prosperity while protecting the environment in perpetuity. Applicants were invited to submit a short video of no longer than one minute in which they addressed the following questions: 'How are you contributing to the sustainable development of the ocean economy? How would you benefit from an ocean leader as a mentor?' The winning video submissions can be watched at: oceanwomen.economist.com The three mentors are: Maria Damanaki , global ambassador for oceans, The Nature Conservancy. Maria will mentor Dr Katie St. John Glew and her idea to verify fish catch locations and improve traceability. , global ambassador for oceans, The Nature Conservancy. Maria will mentor Dr and her idea to verify fish catch locations and improve traceability. Maren Hjorth Bauer , chief executive and co-founder, Katapult Ocean. Maren will mentor Dr Ling Ka Yi and her innovation in cell-based clean meat. chief executive and co-founder, Katapult Ocean. Maren will mentor Dr and her innovation in cell-based clean meat. Susi Pudjiastuti, former minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, Indonesia ; founder, PT ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation; Susi will mentor Olga Lucia Caro Jacome and her project to protect and restore coral reefs through eco-tourism. Martin Koehring, head of the World Ocean Initiative, said: "Women play a significant role in the ocean economy. However, their innovations rarely receive the support, recognition and publicity they deserve. Our challenge shows that there are incredibly talented women changemakers out there with great ideas to solve some of the ocean's biggest challenges, such as overfishing, the decline of coral reefs and plastic pollution. Hopefully, our challenge and the mentorship programme will help to support and scale up the contributions of these inspiring women changemakers." Maria Damanaki, global ambassador for oceans, The Nature Conservancy, said: "Women are at the forefront ofand disproportionately affected by major ocean emergencies like climate change, ecological crisis in coastal areas, plummeting fish populations, and illegal fishing. Globally, there has been enormous momentum on gender parity. If we translate that into action for a healthy ocean, we have a chance of tackling the crisis facing the largest life-sustaining ecosystem on the planet. I'm proud to be supporting these inspiring changemakers in their work to develop innovative business solutions to one of the biggest challenges of our time." About the winners: Dr Katie St. John Glew, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Southampton, is a marine spatial ecologist with a passion for impact driven research and implementing innovative science solutions to address the current challenges facing our environment. She completed her PhD in marine biology in 2018 and has been working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southampton collaborating with the Marine Stewardship Council, looking at bringing her academic work in fisheries traceability to a commercial market. She has extensive experience engaging with scientists, government agencies and industry at both a national and international level. Dr Ling Ka Yi, Chief Scientific Officer/co-founder, Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd., Singapore, is a developmental biologist with over 10 years expertise in tracing and studying stem cells during development. Ka Yi received the prestigious A*STAR's National Science Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor's and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked closely with stem cell and developmental biology experts like James Thomson, Davor Solter and Barbara Knowles. Following graduation, Ka Yi did her postdoc at IMCB, A*STAR. She is an active science communicator since her days in Madison and frequently takes part in Singapore's science outreach events. She also did a podcast called "Science Now" and "Life after PhD" with fellow scholar. Ka Yi is passionate about marrying her experience in biotech research and her love for food to produce sustainable food products. In August 2018, she co-founded a cell-based crustaceans startup called Shiok Meats, along with Dr Sandhya Sriram. Olga Lucia Caro Jacome, Sustainable Entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder, Procoreef, Colombia, is an ecologist with 18 years of professional experience and extensive experience in design, execution, and coordination of conservation projects. She has experience in coordination and management of projects with multilateral organizations such as Global Environment Facility GEF, World Bank, the Program of the United Nations for the Development PUND and the German Agency of Cooperation GIZ. She has also been a coordinator in the adjustment and execution of Public Policies of the National and District. Olga has also worked as the coordinator of special projects of the Biodiversity Institution of Investigations Alexander von Humboldt. She is the co-founder and currently the executive director of Procoreef. About the mentors: Maria Damanaki is the global ambassador for oceans at The Nature Conservancy. She leads a global team focused on transforming how the world manages the ocean, including sustainable fisheries management, large-scale protection and restoration of coral reefs and other ecosystems, coastal resilience and a first-of-its-kind mapping and quantification of the full value of the ocean to people. Maren Hjorth Bauer is the CEO and co-founder of Katapult Ocean. Maren completed an MSc in Finance and Accounting at London School of Economics (LSE) and a BSc from NHH. She has a strong track record from 10+ years in leadership positions within strategy, business development, and marketing. She is also an investor and board member in several startups. Katapult Ocean is an investment fund and accelerator that supports impact-driven ocean startups. Since Maren co-founded the company in April 2018, it has made 23 investments in innovative ocean tech companies from all over the world (fourteen countries, four continents). She is in the Advisory network for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Susi Pudjiastuti is an Indonesian entrepreneur. She was Indonesia's minister of maritime affairs and fisheries under President Joko Widodo's 2014-19 Working Cabinet. She is also the owner of PT ASI Pudjiastuti Marine Product, a seafood export company, and PT ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation, which operates Susi Air charter airline. About the World Ocean Summit Since 2012 the World Ocean Summit has been the main global event at which policymakers, business leaders, civil society and scientists have gathered for important discussions about the blue economy. After Singapore, the US, Portugal, Indonesia, Mexico and Abu Dhabi, the World Ocean Summit arrives in Tokyo this year to advance new ideas on how to decouple economic growth from ocean degradation and build a new and sustainable ocean agenda. oceansummit.economist.com About the World Ocean Initiative The Economist Group's World Ocean Initiative (WOI) fosters a year-round global conversation on the greatest challenges facing the seas and progress towards building a truly "blue" economy. This means harnessing ocean resources for economic growth while protecting the environment and ensuring social equity. The WOI builds on The Economist Group's mission to be the leading source of analysis on international business and world affairs. We have the capability to convene global audiences and world-leading experts, conduct new and insightful research, and hold politicians and businesses to account over progress towards a sustainable ocean economy. woi.economist.com SOURCE The World Ocean Initiative Related Links https://www.economist.com/ A 12-year-old street pianist entranced a crowd of shoppers in Liverpool as he performed a belting string of 1990s dance anthems. Footage recently shared on social media shows Harrison Crane jump onto a red Liverpool ONE piano as busy locals pass by. He kicks off his musical medley with the 1996 dance track Children by Robert Miles, causing a few shoppers to stop to listen and watch. Young Harrison then slides into Eiffel 65's song Blue (Da Ba Dee) from 1998, before shifting into 1999's Sandstorm by Finnish DJ Darude. By this time, Harrison's audience has swelled in size, with some watching and tapping their feet while others film him on their phones. The boy then storms into The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army from 2003, before going back into Children for a grand finale. As he hammers out the final notes Elton John-style, the large crowd of Liverpool ONE shoppers cheers and bursts into applause. Harrison Crane (pictured) jumped onto the piano stool with no one around him as he launched into the 1996 dance track Children by Robert Miles, causing shoppers to stop and listen Harrison then went into Eiffel 65's song Blue (Da Ba Dee) from 1998, before shifting into 1999's Sandstorm by Finnish DJ Darude as passersby watched and even filmed him Harrison, of Aughton, Lancashire, shyly thanks the impromptu audience as he then shuffles towards his parents Jonathan, 40, and Eleanor, 39. The boy street pianist was just one of many local musicians given the opportunity to busk in Liverpool ONE's Tickle The Ivories festival last summer. As he hammered out the final notes, the large crowd of Liverpool ONE shoppers cheered and burst into applause. Harrison, of Aughton, Lancashire, shyly thanked the impromptu audience as he then shuffled towards his parents Jonathan, 40, and Eleanor, 39 Harrison's September public performance was not his first, though, having played at the shopping centre up to a dozen times times since 2018. Six months ago, his father Jonathan uploaded a video to his YouTube account showing Harrison bashing out a similar medley for passersby. Last month, a video was uploaded that showcased Harrison playing keyboards with a young band in a cover of The Killers' Mr Brightside. And in 2017, Harrison took to a public piano in Manchester Airport, where he entranced travellers with his rendition of I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi. The conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on five of six charges of recruiting and grooming teenage girls for sexual encounters with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is not and should not be the end of the story. While Maxwell has been held accountable for her actions, the men who engaged in th AAP simply stuck to schools and hospitals, and lower utility bills, and ran away from the battles of ideology and identity that enable BJP to polarise Hindu votes. Joining the Dots is a weekly column by author and journalist Samrat in which he connects events to ideas, often through analysis, but occasionally through satire *** The results for the Delhi polls show that the Aam Aadmi Party led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has managed to hold on to power quite comfortably. It staved off a determined and well-funded, well-organised challenge from the Bhartiya Janata Party, which saw rallies by top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP campaign had focused on typically divisive politics. Its hoardings highlighted its achievements so far the removal of Article 370, the removal of the triple talaq law, and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), all of which are polarising national issues. Among local issues, it highlighted the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh. The tone of that highlighting was clear from a campaign speech of Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, who raised the now famous goli maaro salo ko slogan. Other prominent campaigners included Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who in his speech accused Kejriwal of feeding the protestors at Shaheen Bagh biryani something that in his view of the world is undoubtedly a serious crime. The Aam Aadmi Party by contrast highlighted the achievements of its last five years in office. Its slogan was acche beete paanch saal, lage raho Kejriwal, meaning five years passed well, keep at it Kejriwal. It pointed to its work in improving the states government schools and clinics, and reductions in water and electricity bills. Perhaps more important than what it did was what it did not do. It did not engage the BJP in any ideological battle. Kejriwal kept a safe distance from Shaheen Bagh. He was missing and silent even when young boys and girls in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were being assaulted by goons before the eyes of the national media. Instead, he went and sang a rather tuneless rendition of the Hanuman chalisa in a TV interview, and followed it up with a visit to the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place. Prayed for the progress of country and Delhi, he tweeted afterwards, in Hindi. The Lord said, you are doing good work. Keep serving people like this. Leave the results to me. All will be well. It would appear that Kejriwal heard Hanuman Ji right. Part of the reason for AAPs win can be traced to Kejriwals display of devotion and his positioning on nationalistic issues, where he avoided conflict with the BJP. He had his reasons. A significant part of those who vote AAP in the assembly polls perhaps as high as one quarter of the total, inferring from changes in vote share from assembly to Lok Sabha polls are people who vote for BJP at the national level. They seem to prefer Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister and Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. Their switch, from BJP in Lok Sabha polls to AAP in assembly polls, is the swing vote that decides the winners in both cases. The BJP swept all seven Delhi LS seats in May 2019. The AAPs win in the assembly elections now is indicative of the electoral power of this swing vote. Indian voters are members of our society. They are the ordinary people we see all around us in our everyday lives. Ideology was and is a vague and often remote concept for nearly all of them. It is at best a label of identity, but one whose actual content is often understood in very simple terms. Thus, a Hindutva ideological position in actual practice devolves into the usual hatred for Muslims and Pakistan, the distaste for non-veg food and its eaters, and pride in the greatness of ancient India where everything had been invented 5,000 years ago. Similarly, a Leftist or Left Liberal ideological position is often reduced to a championing of religious and sexual minorities. It has lost its old association with workers rights, and therefore represents little else. I wake up at 5.30 am, cook lunch for myself and take a bus to work. I start stitching at 10 am and work till 8.30 pm at night, and on other nights, till past midnight. I take the bus back home at night and collapse with exhaustion, only to start again the next morning, Manu Majdoor, a garment worker in the National Capital Region, told Anumeha Yadav in an interview. He is bitter in his disappointment towards unions and union leaders, as well as intellectuals. Unions shuffle a foot from here to there, from there to here, causing little difference to the status quo. But if the intellectuals can perceive and understand that unions are no longer effective, then what are intellectuals writing? If this is the situation in India, if this is how things are for workers, what should we do? That is the question for intellectuals. But they have no response, he says. Voices like Manu Majdoors are rarely heard. The bitterness of disappointment in unions and intellectuals that comes across in his words is not really being addressed by any party. Ideologies that claim to represent them have in practice failed them. The mass of Delhi voters who vote BJP in Lok Sabha and AAP in assembly polls are clearly not very ideologically dogmatic. In West Bengal, the BJPs leap from nowhere in the picture to second place vying for first has come at the expense of the Left parties, because the bulk of their voters simply switched from voting communists to voting for the BJPs Hindu nationalists. It would appear that even after decades of communism there, they were not very ideologically committed. Ideology is a luxury that few in India or the world can afford. It was always a concern of only two kinds of elites the educated cultural elites, and the political elites, meaning those who are actually involved in politics. The moral universe and cultural lives of the masses were rarely shaped by ideologies. In India at least, religion and caste remained powerful forces, which is why even CPI(M) leaders in Kolkata had to patronise Durga Puja celebrations. The masses in India typically support leaders and parties rather than ideologies, and they do so for instrumental and practical reasons. The same person who supports CPI(M) can thus move quite seamlessly to supporting BJP, because his or her own local and personal needs are better answered by the latter. Often, this need is linked to issues of dignity. Identity politics of the BJP and of its opponents who champion other religious, regional, linguistic and cultural identities gives many people who have little else to be proud of a sense of power and dignity. Since the search for respect, called the thymotic urge, is one of the motors of history, the politics of identity will remain powerful. What AAP has proved with its win in Delhi is that it may be possible for opponents of the BJP to find a new political path that does not counter identity with identity and ideology with ideology. AAP simply stuck to schools and hospitals, and lower utility bills, and ran away from the battles of ideology and identity that enable BJP to polarise Hindu votes. Kejriwals stance, and its success, will leave political party leaders and strategists with a lot to think about. Is welfare politics with a soft-Hindutva tint the only counter to hard Hindutva, especially one that has failed to deliver vikas? Has the centre moved so far Right that it is actually impossible to counter the BJP on Hindu identity politics and nationalism and win elections? Samrat is an author, journalist and former newspaper editor. He tweets as @mrsamratx Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has swept the Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 by winning 62 seats out of 70 constituencies. The BJP increased the vote share but was reduced to single digit. Kejriwal will take oath as the Delhi CM for the third time on February 16. Kejriwal has called the newly elected AAP MLAs for a meeting at his residence today. According to senior party leader Gopal Rai, the MLAs will choose the AAP's leader of Legislature Party in today's meeting. Like 2015, this time, too, the venue for the oath-taking ceremony will be Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. India Today citing sources said Atishi could be given a cabinet berth. Looking at caste and community equations, the new Kejriwal cabinet could have significant representation from the SC/ST or marginalised communities. The party could also choose new speaker and deputy speaker for this term. The Delhi Assembly elections results didn't throw any surprises and, as the exit polls predicted, the Kejriwal-led party scripted a resounding victory in the polls. Arvind Kejriwal won from New Delhi by a margin of 21,697 votes against BJP candidate Sunil Yadav. Kejriwal and AAP's win can easily be credited to Kejriwal pitching himself as a leader focused on good governance and civic issues. His campaign slogan during the elections was "Acche Beete Paanch Saal" or five years passed well. Also read: Shots fired at AAP MLA's convoy in Delhi, party worker dead Also read: Delhi Election Results: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi congratulate Arvind Kejriwal, AAP on landslide victory Also read: Delhi Assembly Election 2020: Congress, BJP congratulate AAP for landslide victory Also read: Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari trolled on Twitter From topless sunbaking to the liberal consumption of wine, Italy has been fascism-free since 1943. Venices creepy new plan to spy on tourists, however, makes Kim Jong Un look like a teddy bear. As The Sun reported on Monday, Venice will begin tapping into tourists mobile phone signals to try and track the number of visitors to the city, in a bid to reduce tourist numbers. The new system will use a combination of cameras and WiFi to analyse visitor numbers as the city struggles with overtourism. This will comprise of a network of 34 sensors, which will detect the silhouettes passing underneath, as well as a system which will intercept the data of phone cells to know where people have come from and how long they stay in the city. The local council says this will be done in absolute respect for privacy. The experiment coincides with this months Carnival, which began on February the 8th and continues until the 25th. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@sabina.zakhar) on Feb 8, 2020 at 6:20am PST Tourism councillor Paoloa Mar said a data release every 25 hundreths of a second would help officials reduce saturation at certain times and locations, The Sun reported. The information is processed in the smart control room by dedicated software, which can then return information on the density of people present at a specific moment and their speed of movement. This then allows officials to predict what time tourists will arrive at hotspots, and divert them if need be, so as to avoid pedestrian pile-ups. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bridget (@venicebybridge) on Feb 11, 2020 at 9:59am PST Although Venice, a city which attracts about 60,000 tourists a day, could benefit greatly from this system, it still sounds creepy. You can catch us in Camogli instead. Read Next Farm Bills: Farmers' organisations call for Karnataka bandh, likely to be held on September 28 Karnataka bandh over Maratha board: What is open, what is closed Karnataka Bandh update: no major impact so far What is Sarojini Mahishi report? And why Kannadigas call for bandh? India oi-Deepika S Bengaluru, Feb 12: Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, a congregation of various pro-Kannada organisations, has called for a bandh tomorrow demanding a major share in the reservation of jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors. The organisation is demanding the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report which recommends a certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in the public sector undertakings, private companies, and multinational companies. The Mahishi Committee, headed by former Union Minister Sarojini Mahishi submitted in 1984 but is yet to be implemented. Karnataka bandh today: What is open, what is closed The committee headed by Mahishi included poet Gopalakrishna Adiga, G. K. Satya, K. Prabhakara Reddy, G. Narayana Kumar, a legislator, and retired IAS officers B. S. Hanuman and Siddayya Puranik. Who was Sarojini Bindurao Mahishi? Sarojini Bindurao Mahishi, who headed the committee appointed by the government of Karnataka in 1983 to recommend criteria for reservation in employment in the State was an Indian teacher, lawyer, activist and politician. She was the first woman Member of Parliament from the State of Karnataka, who represented the constituency Dharwad North for four terms between 1962 and 1980. In 1983 she was elected to the Rajya Sabha as member of the Janata Party. Salient features of the report The committee, which recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas has made 58 recommendations. 100 per cent reservation for Kannadigas in all public sector units. 100 percent reservation for Kannadigas in group 'c' and group 'd' jobs in Central government departments and PSUs operating in Karnataka. A Minimum of 80 percent and 65 reservation for Kannadigas for Group 'b' and Group 'a' jobs respectively, in Central Government units and PSUs operating in Karnataka. Karnataka bandh today: No Ola, Uber, autos, how to travel in Bengaluru today All Personnel officers in all industrial units in the state should invariably be a Kannadiga. Industries should appoint local people on priority. Several local organisations have quoted the Sarojini Mahishi report to insist all jobs in Karnataka to locals and implementation of local language in the state. Government of Karnataka has formed "Kannada Abhivridhi Pradhikara" to oversee that the accepted recommendations of the report are implemented in Karnataka effectively. At first, the cheers for Bernie Sanders were so deafening he could hardly begin his speech. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, the Vermont Senator and newly minted Democratic presidential front-runner declared. No matter who winsand we certainly hope its going to be uswe are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country. With 85% of the vote counted late Tuesday, Sanders had won the New Hampshire primary with some 26% of the vote, beating second-place Pete Buttigieg, who took 24%. The state was long seen as a Sanders stronghold, but at fewer than 5,000 votes, the margin was unexpectedly slender. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was the surprise of the night, surging into a strong third place with 20% of the vote. After a bungled Iowa result threw the primary contest into confusion, New Hampshire finally brought some clarity to a multi-way race that has partisans on the verge of panic. Buttigiegs strong finish solidified his standing in the top tier, while Klobuchars surge established her as a potential contender. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden finished a distant fourth and fifth, each with less than 10% and unlikely to earn any delegates. While Warren and Biden vowed to fight on, their second straight poor showings will make it difficult to regain momentum going forward. The night also brought the exit of two low-polling candidates, entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. But while the field has shrunk somewhat, it remains jumbled heading into the next contests, the Feb. 22 Nevada caucuses and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29. Buttigieg and Klobuchar remain little-known in those states, whose Democratic electorates are more diverse and working-class. And billionaire former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, while not competing there, is on the verge of qualifying for the next debate on Feb. 19. Story continues Campaign signs for Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg stand outside Exeter High School before a campaign rally in Exeter, N.H., on Feb. 10, 2020. | M. Scott Brauer for TIME Sanderss success in the first two contests makes him the undeniable front runner, but hes hardly on a glide path to the nomination. His slim plurality, just over a quarter of the vote, was a far cry from his overwhelming victory four years ago, when he and Hillary Clinton were the only two serious candidates. For Sanderss fans, however, the victory was a vindication for a candidate once seen as having only niche appeal. [ap-interactive src=http://interactives.ap.org/2016/delegate-tracker/ height=1000px] His passionate following has only grown more devoted. On Monday night, at the Whittemore Center Arena on the campus of the University of New Hampshire in Durham, more than 7,500 thronged to see an all-star cast of progressive celebrities on the eve of the primary. They booed when actress Cynthia Nixon mentioned Hillary Clintona signal of how deep the resentment toward the Democratic establishment runs. They put their hands in the air for former Ohio state senator Nina Turneran indication of their devotion to the cause. They screamed for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs exhortation to choose to move forward and cheered and stamped their feet for Sandersan unmistakable sign of how fervent the desire for political revolution remains. Sanders strategy has been to build a coalition of working class, minority and young voterspeople who are often not a part of the political process. It won him the popular vote in Iowa, but Sanders admitted the low turnout there troubled him. New Hampshire was a second test of whether he could draw out the new voters hes said he needs not only to win the nomination but for Democrats to beat Trump in November. Turnout surpassed 2016, but appeared on course to fall short of 2008 levels. Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign rally at Exeter High School in Exeter, New Hampshire, on Feb. 10, 2020. | M. Scott Brauer for TIME Sanderss primary result was consistent with his polling in the week since the Iowa caucuses, while Buttigieg and Klobuchar outpaced theirs dramatically, suggesting a possible ceiling for Sanders even if he remains on top. Despite Sanderss concerted effort to reach young people, turnout of first-time voters dropped slightly since 2016, according to NBC exit polls. I think hes a little like Pat Buchanan, said Debby Butler, a longtime activist and fundraiser in Concord who supported Klobuchar. The right-wing activist, she noted, won the New Hampshire Republican primary with 27% of the vote in 1996, but was unable to increase his support as the field narrowed. This is probably the top for Sanders, she predicted. Buttigieg came into New Hampshire with the wind at his back. Fresh off a razor-thin delegate victory in Iowa, he barnstormed New Hampshire with an aggressive blitz of events and media interviews. He doubled down on his message of unity and belonging, touting his ability to appeal to what he called future former Republicans who might be sick of Trumps GOPa talking point given fresh credibility by the Iowa results. He routinely drew large crowdsnearly 1,000 in Londonderry and roughly 1,250 in Salem, both areas that have voted Republican in the last three presidential elections. His crowds were heavy on the kind of middle-aged suburban voters who tend to show up on election day, many newly aware of his candidacy. Media surrounds Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren as she greets supporters outside a polling place at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, N.H., on Feb. 11, 2020. | M. Scott Brauer for TIME The Buttigieg campaign is relying on such communities, working to attract voters who may be wary of Sanderss calls for revolution and concerned about Bidens age and uneven performances. Buttigieg has taken to accusing both of them of using the arguments of the past, and positions himself as the candidate who can transcend the bickering of 2016. Coming within just a couple points of Sanders will allow him to argue hes the most viable of the moderate candidates going forward. Voters in New Hampshire said they were impressed with Buttigiegs tone, message and personality. I like Petes style a little better than Bernie, says Regina Lucas, a 50-year-old who works in a dental practice, as she dropped in on Buttigiegs event in Keene on Saturday. I liked his demeanor. In his final swing through the state, Buttigieg campaigned with New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster, who compared his excellent temperament to no drama Obama. Supporters applaud Sen. Elizabeth Warren at her New Hampshire Election Night Event in Manchester, N.H. on Feb. 12, 2020. | Tony Luong for TIME But Klobuchars last-minute surge gives Buttigieg new competition in the moderate lane. In Iowa, her campaign manager Justin Buoen told a media roundtable sponsored by Bloomberg News that her strategy had never been built on the need for a viral moment in order to carry us. Instead, it was based on the principle that you organize, organize and get hot at the end. In New Hampshire she did. Though she never came within double digits of first in a single pre-election poll, her forceful performance in the most recent debate, held near Manchester on Feb. 7, moved her up in the estimation of many rank-and-file partisans troubled by Bidens floundering and Warrens lack of traction. Previously many voters second choice, she suddenly made sense as a sort of Goldilocks candidate: neither too old nor too young, too left nor too right, too highbrow nor too populist. Shes nice, she seems to know what shes talking about and she seems to represent the common person, says Pat Murphy, a former president of the New Hampshire chapter of the National Organization for Women who attended Klobuchars election-night celebration in Concord. Plus shes not an old white manthats a definite plus. And she has experience. Like many here, Murphy believes Sanders is too far left to win in November, while Warren strikes her as overly professorial, Buttigieg as too green and Biden as over the hill. Amy Klobuchar's Salem Get Out The Vote Event at the Woodbury School in Salem, N.H. on Feb. 9, 2020. | Tony Luong for TIME Warrens fourth-place finish was a devastating blow for the Massachusetts Senator, who was counting on her deep organization and a neighboring media market to help her rebound from Iowa. She appeared to end up with less than 10% of the vote and not a single national delegate. Her campaign released a memo arguing that 98% of delegates remain up for grabs after New Hampshire and detailing a plan to continue accumulating delegates without necessarily racking up big wins. From the stage Tuesday night, Warren warned Democrats that they could be heading for trouble if they allow the party to fracture the way it did four years ago. The fight between factions in our party has taken a sharp turn in recent weeks, with ads mocking other candidates and with supporters of some candidates shouting curses about other Democratic candidates, she said. These harsh tactics might work if youre willing to burn down the rest of the party in order to be the last man standing. They might work if you dont worry about leaving our party and our politics worse off than how you found it. And they might work if you think only you have all the answers and only you are the solution to all our problems. Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks at her Salem GOTV event at the Woodbury School in Salem, N.H. on Feb. 9, 2020. | Tony Luong for TIME As for Biden, the onetime frontrunners fortunes were so foul in the state that he jetted out of New Hampshire before polls closed Tuesday. He touched down in South Carolina, increasingly a make-or-break state for him. Aides remain bullish on the first Southern primary, where roughly two-thirds of the electorate is expected to be African American. Biden has large reservoirs of support with that bloc. The first two states, Bidens allies argue, didnt reflect the diverse Democratic Party because they are overwhelmingly white. But its hard to avoid the feeling that Biden is flailing. He shook up his campaign after Iowa and campaigned aggressively in New Hampshire, turning up the volume as he attempted to convince voters of his passion and empathy. He swung hard at his rivals, calling out Sanders by name and releasing a slashing video against Buttigieg. Yet the campaign felt just as listless as before, something New Hampshire voters picked up on. The final Emerson College tracking poll before the vote found just 14% of New Hampshire Democrats expected Biden would be the nominee on Sunday, down from 39% a week earlier. As for Sanders, his allies were jubilant. Obviously at some point, we dont know when, the race will start to consolidate, said Sanders adviser Jeff Weaver. And he is well poised to put together the kind of coalition that one needs to not only win the nomination but to win the general election as well. With reporting by Abby Vesoulis/Des Moines A Bill to regulate business of and compensate farmers in case of losses from usage of spurious agro-chemicals will be introduced in the ongoing session of Parliament, the government said on Wednesday. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday had approved Management Bill, 2020. "As far as farmers are concerned because that is our primary concern, Management Bill will be introduced in this session of Parliament. Today pesticide business is regulated by 1968 rules which have become age old and needs immediate rewriting," Information and Broadcasting Minister told reporters. The minister informed that a Bill in this regard was presented in 2008. "In 2008 that effort was done. Bill was presented. It was discussed thoroughly in Standing Committee. After taking cue from standing committee recommendations, this new bill has been drafted," he added. The main objective of the Bill is to protect the interest of farmers and ensure they get safe and effective pesticides. "Secondly, he (farmer) will not get spurious pesticides. Because many times he is at the receiving end if he gets spurious pesticides," the minister said. Javadekar said farmers would also be empowered to get all information as the data would be in open source and in all languages. "More importantly he will know about the strength and weakness of pesticides, the risk and alternatives and this will be an open data in digital format also." The minister said farmers would essentially get these information from the dealers selling pesticides. The bill also intends to promote organic pesticides. The minister informed that all pesticide manufacturers have to be registered and bound by the new Act, once it is passed. Even their advertisements will be regulated that there should be no confusion or no cheating in any way of the farmers. "If there is any loss because of the spurious or low quality of pesticides then there is a provision for compensations. This is unique feature of this bill. The penalties collected from the companies and money put if required by the government will form a central fund which will take care of compensation," Javadekar said. The minister said this is an important bill for farming community and yet another step by the Modi government for the welfare of farmers. Nairobi, Feb 12 : Lawmakers drawn from the Sub-Saharan Africa region on Wednesday urged governments to enforce punitive legislation and invest in awareness campaigns against sexual violence that is rampant in urban slums. Marie R Nguini-Effa, a female lawmaker from Cameroon said at a forum in Nairobi that sexual violence perpetrated against vulnerable women and girls in Africa should be eradicated through law enforcement and affirmative policies aimed at empowering the female gender, Xinhua news agency reported. "We call upon our governments to give attention to gender-based and sexual violence that violates the rights and dignity of women and young girls living in our informal settlements," said Nguini-Effa. She spoke at the ninth Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights (ACSHR2020) underway in Nairobi where delegates including policymakers, elected leaders, campaigners and researchers are discussing new strategies to boost the reproductive health of African youth, women and girls. The week-long conference whose theme is "advancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in urban informal settlements," has identified female genital cut, early marriages and gender-based violence as impediments to the realization of gender equality in Africa. Ruth Labode, a Zimbabwean lawmaker and chair of the parliamentary health committee, said there is an urgency to tackle pervasive sexual violence targeting women and girls living in Africa's urban slums. "It is evident that women and girls residing in our shanty towns are suffering in silence despite rampant sexual violence visited upon them by male peers," said Labode. She said that poverty, illiteracy and patriarchy are to blame for gender-based violence that has undermined efforts to achieve gender parity in many African countries. "We need to empower champions who are advocating for stiffer laws to protect women and girls at risk of sexual violence," said Labode, adding that education for the girl child coupled with greater economic opportunities for women is key to reduce gender-based violence in Africa. Lanre Tejuoso, a male lawmaker from Nigeria said that African governments should earmark funds to aid treatment and emotional support for victims of sexual violence. Less than a week following the tragic death of three young men in a downtown Toronto condo unit rented on Airbnb, the company huddled with its crisis management team and flew its Senior Vice president of Global Policy and Communications to the city to announce some platform changes to increase security and confidence in the $35-billion company. Fairbnb coalition members were cautiously optimistic, hoping Airbnb would de-list the over 9,000 units that dont comply with Torontos short-term rental regulations a move that would provide particular relief for areas that suffer from high Airbnb traffic, like Torontos waterfront. Instead, the company kept to its worn playbook, attempting to buy goodwill and better headlines. Airbnb announced a one-time $300,000 donation to Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns (CDPG) approximately 0.18 per cent of the revenue generated by illegal listings in Toronto. The key platform change announced age restrictions for local guests under the age of 25 should be easy for intrepid party-goers to circumvent, just like the party house ban announced last October failed to end the parties. The company did not, however, agree to begin obeying the law. City council passed short-term rental rules back in December 2017. The rules legalized the use of short-term rentals in principal residences, but prohibited the use of investment properties as unsupervised, full-time hotel suites to protect the citys housing stock and community safety. Unfortunately, Torontos short-term rental rules were immediately appealed to the Local Planning and Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) by a number of Airbnb hosts, at least one of which was bankrolled by the company. Without the LPAT appeal, Torontos rules would have been in effect since June 2018. Since then, we have experienced shootings in Airbnb rentals in Etobicoke, on York Street, on Queens Wharf, on the Bridlepath, on Portland, on Hazelwood and most recently again on Queens Wharf. The rules have now finally come into effect as of Nov.18, 2019, after the LPAT upheld the Citys short-term rental bylaw. In the meantime, many downtown condo buildings have continued their slide into ghost hotels. This transformation has been facilitated by condo declarations, governing documents drafted by developers which often permit short-term rental use to make units attractive to investors. Once in place, declarations can only be amended by the agreement of 90% of the owners an unreachable bar. As of January 2020, Fairbnb estimates that about 9,700 Airbnb rentals do not comply with Torontos short-term rental rules. About 7,300 are entire home listings condos, apartments or houses operated by hosts who rent out anywhere from 2 to 77 entire homes at any given time. Residents who live in close proximity to ghost hotels managed by absentee landlords know firsthand how they disrupt daily life and pose safety concerns. Violent incidents are only the tip of the iceberg. Airbnb causes underlying tectonic shifts that fundamentally change the fabric of residential neighbourhoods. Why does Airbnb not de-list these illegal properties? Ghost hotels generate the lions share of Airbnbs revenue. Ordinary hosts the ones featured in Airbnbs its subway ads who rent out their own homes occasionally to make ends meet, are not lucrative; 73 per cent of Airbnbs estimated yearly revenue is generated by illegal multi-listing hosts, absentee landlords who are turning Torontos residential housing stock into Airbnbs hotel inventory. Airbnb has no material interest in following Torontos rules, particularly with an IPO looming. Next time you hear Airbnbs oft-repeated slogan, we want to be regulated, ask why they havent been following Oakvilles short term rental rules for over a year. Next time you hear Airbnbs Public Policy director say Airbnb want to go above and beyond what Toronto has asked for, as they did on CBCs The Current, tell them they should start by following Torontos rules. SOUTHINGTON Four year-old Bryana Goldmans collection of Disney princess dresses were among her familys belongings burned or ruined in a house fire Sunday night. By Tuesday, town residents had donated an armful of princess dresses to replace those shed lost. She loves playing dress up, said her sister, 17-year-old Ryley Kostenko. Southington is great. On Tuesday, Ryley and her sister Kaeley Kostenko were going through piles of donated clothes in their grandmothers living room. Bryana wandered around the piles, holding a Barbie doll shed gotten since the fire. Beth Kostenko and her four daughters lived at 960 Johnson Ave., the house heavily damaged in Sundays fire. While the family along with their dog got out without injury, nearly all their belongings were lost as well as the familys cat, Phoenix. Theyve been staying with Kostenkos stepmother, Rebecca Fede, who lives next door. The two properties, both owned by Fede, were part of the Fede family farm. Joan Traini, Fedes wife, was helping the girls organize donations that have come from residents, Southington Community Services and other groups. While going through clothes, a woman who declined to be named knocked on the door to deliver a gift card. She saw (the house fire) online, she had to do something, Traini said after the woman left. Thats how people are. People have been dropping by to deliver gift cards, food and clothes for the past two days. Most dont give their names, Traini said. This community, I couldnt say enough, she said. A local hotel is arranging a weekend stay for the family. Local restaurants have offered food. Residents and businesses have begun collecting money for the family. A Facebook fundraiser with a goal of $5,000 set up by a friend of the familys had collected more than $4,000 as of Tuesday. Kostenkos daughter Stephanie first saw the front of the house was on fire around 10 p.m. on Sunday. She was going down from her bedroom to the kitchen to get a pickle as a snack. Shes the hero, Triani said. Fire officials havent determined a cause. Triani said an electrical problem is suspected. Ryley said shes still bothered by seeing her house go up in flames. I never had terror like that, she said. Im a photo keeper. Theyre all gone. jbuchanan@record-journal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ Roger Stone appealed to the president to pardon him after being found guilty last year: Getty The former White House press secretary under George W Bush has slammed Donald Trump after he claimed without evidence that "rogue prosecutors" were responsible for recommending a lengthy prison sentence for his longtime associate Roger Stone. Ari Fleischer condemned the presidents comments after he lashed out on Twitter over prosecutors' proposal that Stone should be jailed for seven to nine years, following his conviction for lying to Congress during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Stone is due to be sentenced on 20 February. Trump governs like an outsider, saying what he thinks, letting it rip, Mr Fleischer said in a tweet of his own. But there is a downside. When the WH comments on a matter traditionally left to the Justice Dept., it makes the matter political instead of judicial. The former White House official added: Justice must be blind. Trump governs like an outsider, saying what he thinks, letting it rip. Hes made it work for him. But there is a downside. When the WH comments on a matter traditionally left to the Justice Dept., it makes the matter political instead of judicial. Justice must be blind. https://t.co/PedJv1NPJv Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 12, 2020 His comments came after Mr Trump sent out a tweet earlier on Tuesday morning congratulating Attorney General William Barr for taking charge of the case. The president alleged the case against Stone was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought after the sentencing recommendation. Mr Trumps Justice Department then moved to reduce the sentencing that was first suggested by the prosecutors, leading all four of the career officials to resign. The move also stirred a swift backlash on Capitol Hill, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling on the Inspector General to immediately investigate the move to reduce the sentencing. Story continues Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President Bush, also described the move as the politicisation of prosecutions and slammed Mr Barr as the most corrupt Attorney General in American history. Mr Trump claimed he had not spoken to the Justice Department when it made the rare decision to step in after the original prosecutors offered their sentencing opinion. I didnt speak to them, the president told reporters on Tuesday night. I thought the recommendation was ridiculous, he added. I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous I thought it was an insult to our country and it shouldnt happen. Read more Trump praises his attorney general over Roger Stone sentencing The coronavirus does not exist within the community, Moy said. Everybody goes to work, everybody opens their business, everybody walks down the street like normal. The local people, we go out to eat every day, we go to lunch, we go dim sum, we go to the grocery store as usual. But the only thing we need is the visitors, and the suburban people and others to come. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Russia of committing "massacres" in its support of the Syrian government and threatened to strike Syrian regime forces "everywhere" if its soldiers come under renewed attack. Erdogan's statement came on February 12 as more Turkish reinforcements arrived on the ground. Russia hit back and accused the Turks of failing to "neutralize terrorists" in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib -- the rebels' last stronghold in the war-wracked country. Turkey has reinforced its positions in recent days in Idlib with hundreds of vehicles carrying artillery and soldiers. The Turkish military has lost 14 soldiers in the past nine days and claims to have killed more than 100 Syrian troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as they try to push them back. Erdogan's direct criticism of Moscow is a rare move since 2015 when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet that had strayed into its airspace. "The regime, backed by Russian forces and Iran-backed militants, are continuously attacking civilians, committing massacres and shedding blood," Erdogan told a parliamentary meeting of his ruling party. He said Turkey would do "whatever necessary" to push Syrian forces back. "I hereby declare that we will strike regime forces everywhere from now on regardless of the Sochi deal if any tiny bit of harm comes to our soldiers at observation posts or elsewhere," Erdogan added. In return, Russia accused Turkey of failing to honor a 2018 deal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Ankara "had taken upon itself an obligation to neutralize terrorist groups" in Idlib. And Russia's Defense Ministry said the presence of Turkish troops and armor in Idlib was making the situation there much worse. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov has said that the Ukrainian parliament will do everything it can to create conditions for attracting additional investment in Ukraine. He emphasized this during his working trip to the Kyiv region, while visiting the enterprise Kostal Ukraine in Pereiaslav on Wednesday, February 12, the Verkhovna Rada's press service reported. "This enterprise is a great example of how Ukraine can be competitive in the world. As for the Verkhovna Rada, we will do all we can to create conditions for attracting additional investment in Ukraine," Razumkov said. The speaker also got acquainted with the work of the company, in particular, the production of automotive electronics and spare parts for many well-known car brands such as Ford, Skoda, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini. According to the report, the company's director general, Radoslaw Szkup, informed Razumkov about the project to build a new plant in the Boryspil district of the Kyiv region, with construction work expected to begin in May this year. In particular, he noted that the implementation of the project requires the attraction of 13 million euros as investment for the construction of the plant and another 26 million euros for equipping it with the necessary equipment. The new plant will help create 900 jobs in the region. Razumkov on a working visit to the Kyiv and Cherkasy regions on February 12. op The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Slyva, said that about one billion barrels of crude oil have been discovered in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. Mr Sylva made the disclosure at a news conference to end the 2020 Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), in Abuja on Wednesday. The figure we are getting, the jury is not totally out yet but from the evaluation results we are getting the reserve that has been discovered in the northeast is about a billion barrels. Those are the kind of figures we are seeing and we are beginning to understand the geological structure of the region, he said. According to him, a lot of oil is yet to be found in the country. He added that there was the need for more exploration in the country as more oil would be discovered. Commenting on passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill ( PIB) by June, he said that he was confident that it would be passed based on cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive. We are banking on the fact today to make that promise on the fact that there is a very cordial relationship now between the legislature and executive. Today Nigerians all agree that there is a need for us to pass the PIB. For so long we have been quivering about the PIB, for more than 20 years. And for so long, we have not been able to attract a lot of investment into the oil sector. Let me give you an example, by the year 2002, our oil reserves stood at around 22 billion barrels. We were able to grow that reserve from 22 billion barrels to 37 billion barrels by 2007. From 2007 to now, we have only been able to grow our reserves from 37 billion barrels to 37.5 billion barrels, in more than 10 years. Why? Not much investment is coming into Nigeria, he added. He noted that investors could not invest in Nigeria if the fiscal framework was shaking or uncertain. If nobody knows when laws will be passed, nobody will want to invest new capital in Nigeria. And that is why you see that we have almost been stagnant in the Nigerian oil industry. So, we believe today that there is a consensus among all of us industry, Nigerians and government that there is a need to stabilise the fiscal framework so that investors will be certain and move their money to Nigeria. There are very great opportunities in Nigeria, and I believe if we can only stabilise the fiscal framework and bring peace to Nigeria, investments will flow into Nigeria. That is really what gives me the confidence to say that there is a consensus now among all patriotic Nigerians that in six months the PIB will be passed, he added. On revamping of the refineries, he said that rehabilitation of Port Harcourt refinery would start in the first quarter of 2020. We are going to start the rehabilitation of the port Harcourt refinery which is the biggest refinery in Nigeria, if we are able to finish the port Harcourt refinery we would have achieved a lot as a government. Meanwhile we are also continuing with studies around Warri refinery, we are also continuing discussions around Kaduna refineries, he said. (NAN) Students and their families from Washington Elementary School were in the Monday crowd to support kindergarten teacher and dual-language coordinator Dan Moran as he provided an update to the Fremont Public Schools Board of Education on the schools dual-language program. The program, currently in its fifth year, currently serves 107 students, according to Moran. Of those students, 31 are native English speakers, 67 are native Spanish speakers and nine students speak Kiche, a Guatemalan-Mayan language. Typically, teaching language to non-English students begins with native Spanish speakers who emphasize learning English. There is often little contact between native English speaking students and their Spanish-speaking peers. Morans class brings these students together, allowing them to learn from each other in a collaborative environment. Both native Spanish and English students speak one language in the morning and another in the afternoon. Half the day they are in their non-native language so, even if the student were to be low achieving academically, that student becomes an expert and is teaching someone in another language that could be high achieving. He said, apart from overall achievement and language acquisition, students are able to focus on content and experience challenges and success. He said it gave students grit, something that may not be recorded on a test, but rather through observing day-to-day activities. I didnt know school was supposed to be hard until I got to college, and all children in the program experience that from day one, he said. He added that students are able to develop cognitive skills that may not be available in environments where only one language is emphasized. If (my students) were to take the BAR exam, which hopefully none of my students have to take that in the next couple of years, but if they did that testing of logic and reasoning that arent necessarily focus points on math and reading exams, they would be shown to excel in those. The program was introduced for Washington Elementary, but students who were first introduced to the program are preparing to enter fifth grade at Johnson Crossing Academic Center. Moran said he has discussed future implementation of the program at JCAC with principal Brent Harrill and Brad Dahl, executive director of Student Services and Business Affairs. One of the major hurdles that has prevented the program from being implemented across multiple schools is staffing issues. Moran said finding quality teachers, specifically quality teachers who are bilingual, is a tough task given the lack of focus higher education gives towards preparing teachers for dual-language programs. Id love to say, yeah lets put it at three different schools or lets open it up to everybody, but I would not feel confident with that until more universities decide to get on board and make that a focal point of undergraduate and graduate education, he said. While he said he couldnt justify adding a dual language program to JCAC, Moran said a Spanish explorer class could be added where a teacher would teach a single section as dual language. Our dual-language students would move on to fifth grade, and this is all in theory, he said. They would move on and focus on one subject, right now weve kind of settled on Social Studies because of the different ways to communicate and acquire language through that. Ultimately, he said the goal is to simply continue to serve the students and families by continuing to offer the program in some capacity as students move to a new school. The goal is to keep it moving, he said. We owe it to the families and we owe it to the students. We have some pretty good ideas, its just the OK and the staffing that would be the only barriers to that. Dahl said Harrill would likely recommend that the program move on to JCAC. We have a really good program at Fremont Public Schools and you can see that by the turnout tonight, he said. We are regionally known but, more importantly, we have families that seek this out and thats because of the work that has been established here. Dahl also took the time to inform the board of flood insurance issues that have prevented some schools from obtaining further coverage. We had a real concern and scare last year with flooding, he said. With Washington we had water come up to the threshold that luckily didnt enter the building. Dahl requested additional insurance coverage but found schools were not eligible for much. Due to where the schools sit, were very uninsurable, he said. Two of FPSs elementary schools, Washington and Milliken Park, have blanket coverage insurance that covers up to $150,000. That money covers both the building and personal property. Obviously if thats a total loss, thats not enough to replace that building, Dahl said. There is nothing we can do to increase that amount. Dahl said he was able to find additional coverage that would cost around $8,000, which he plans to pursue. The additional coverage would provide another $2 million in coverage on a majority of FPS buildings and an additional $1 million on Fremont Middle School and Fremont High School. That additional coverage will not have any effect on the $150,000 coverage on the Washington and Milliken Park schools. Dahl said it is unlikely that either school would experience a total loss from floods, but there would be necessary repair work such as drywall replacement and mold mitigation. Im not trying to create fear and panic, because I dont believe that we are going to have a total loss, but as we look to the future, building our sites up will be something that would be astute. In other news. the school board unanimously approved 1:15 p.m. early dismissal for April 27 for the Career Rockit! Field Trip for freshmen, PreACT Test for sophomores and ACT Test for juniors. Seniors will have no school on that day so they may have an opportunity to take college visits, work on scholarship applications or apply for jobs. The board also approved the 2020-21 FPS Calendars. The new calendar has the new school year beginning two days earlier than the 2019-20 year and ends one day sooner. Love 1 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. Days after Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao, urged the Centre to revoke the "divisive and discriminatory" Citizenship Amendment Act, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said he would meet him in a couple of two days. Asked if the meeting would be over the issue of the new citizenship law, Sawant said, "I am going to meet him, that's what it is." The Archbishop recently urged the central government to "immediately and unconditionally" revoke the "divisive and discriminatory" Citizenship Amendment Act and stop quashing the "right to dissent". He also appealed to the government not to implement the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). However, BJP state general secretary and former Lok Sabha member Narendra Sawaikar on Monday called Ferrao's statement against the CAA as "divisive". Sawaikar asked why the Archbishop was not objecting to Article 30 of the Constitution which gives minorities the right to establish educational institutions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court has warned Twitter that it can face costs of Rs 10 lakh if it does not file its response to a PIL which has sought action against media houses and social media platforms for revealing the identity of the Hyderabad rape victim. "File an affidavit stating that you (Twitter) will not repeat it. What are you waiting for? If you are not filing the affidavit, we will impose costs," a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said to the social media platform. The bench said the high court had earlier in a similar matter imposed costs of Rs 10 lakh on media houses for revealing identity of a minor rape victim and warned, "we do not want to repeat that order". It gave Twitter four weeks time to file its affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on May 4. The court was hearing a PIL by lawyer Yashdeep Chahal seeking action against certain media houses and social media platforms, like Twitter, where some individuals had revealed the identity of the Hyderabad rape victim. Section 228A of the Indian Penal Code makes disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, including rape, punishable with imprisonment of a term that may extend to two years and a fine. The petition has claimed blatant violation of Section 228A by individuals, media houses and social media platforms by publishing elaborate reports revealing the identity of the victim and the four accused in the Hyderabad rape case on various online and offline portals. A 26-year-old doctor was allegedly raped and killed in Shamshabad, Telangana, by four men on the night of November 27. According to the Cyberabad Police, the four accused punctured the rear wheel of her scooter, offered to help her, dragged her to a secluded spot close to a toll plaza and raped her. It said the victim died due to suffocation and the accused later burnt her body. The four accused were arrested and sent to judicial custody. They were later killed in an encounter with the police a few days after their arrest. The petition has said the reports elaborately disclosed the identity of the victim, including her name, picture, occupation, residence and call details. The plea has also sought direction to the authorities to prevent exposure of identity on online platforms, either directly or indirectly and blur the pictures which are being published. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of a meeting expected to be held in Brussels, officials said that the aid operation for war-torn Yemen is under a severe threat. According to media reports, humanitarian agencies have said that the situation in the Huthi-controlled area is deteriorating as aid workers face the threat of arrest and intimidation by the rebel group. The Yemeni government has said although it believes that the rebel group misuses the aid as a cover to finance its war efforts, cutting off supplies would only affect citizens. Read: Yemen: Pro-government Forces Killed 7 Houthis On Confrontation At Hoidedah Province The statement by the Yemeni government came after reports emerged that the United States is planning to suspend its humanitarian assistance in response to the rebels call to include two percent tax on assistance projects. Huthi rebel's aid body SCMCHA had received a lot of criticism for systematic interference. SCMCHA hit out at critics by saying that some UN agencies use humanitarian assistance as a card to threaten Yemenis. Read: 9 Indian Fishermen Flee From Yemen By Sea To Escape Sponsor, Arrive Safely In Kochi Yemen crisis Yemen has taken its worst hit due to the ongoing armed conflict between Houthi rebels and a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in the conflict on request of former Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and the continued fighting has caused disproportionate suffering for the civilians. As per media reports, Saudi's regional rival Iran is supporting the rebel fighters in the ongoing war by supplying them with weapons and other equipments. Read: Coronavirus Toll On Quarantined 'Diamond Princess' Now At 70; 3700 Onboard Off Japan Coast Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. According to the official report by the United Nations, if the civil war in Yemen goes on till 2022, it will become the poorest country in the world. The people below the poverty line were 47 percent in 2014 which was expected to hike up 75 percent by the end of last year due to the violent war. Read: Coronavirus Scare: DGCA Exempts Flight Crew From Breath Analyzer Tests At Select Airports (With inputs from agencies) Century Business Solutions welcomes Jay Pearson to the team as Director of Strategic Partnerships I am fortunate to have been a part of two organizations in my career that are iconic leaders in an industry I love, said Pearson. I look forward to touching base with my many friends in this industry soon. Century Business Solutions, a leading provider of integrated payment processing solutions, is proud to welcome Jay Pearson to the team as Director of Strategic Partnerships. Pearson was a leader at Limo Anywhere for almost nine years as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Accounts. In his tenure at Limo Anywhere, he took an active role in product development and defining the direction of Limo Anywheres diverse product line. Pearson was a principal to driving the growth of Limo Anywhere to a market-leading nearly 5,000 customers in 66 countries. He built revenue-producing partnerships and improved customer communications while working with support, product, and sales teams. Prior to Limo Anywhere, he managed a local operator in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and spent 18 years at American Airlines. Pearson brings his 40 years of experience to Century to help partners grow their business by effectively using technology. As Director of Strategic Partnerships, Pearson will serve as Centurys partner contact across the United States and Canada, bringing his knowledge of the transportation industry to the companys collection of integrated payment solutions, including Microsoft, QuickBooks, Sage, SAP, Acumatica, and many others. Pearson will focus his efforts on the passenger transportation vertical, building on the many relationships he formed during his nine years at Limo Anywhere. Pearson believes his leadership abilities and interpersonal communication skills will help bring continued success to both partners and Value Added Resellers. I am fortunate to have been a part of two organizations in my career that are iconic leaders in an industry I love, said Pearson. I look forward to touching base with my many friends in this industry soon. Pearson resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is excited to expand Centurys partnership network across the country. About Century Business Solutions: Century Business Solutions is a technology-based merchant services provider that develops and provides payment processing technology for over 20,000 merchants in the U.S. and Canada. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, Century was ranked on the annual Inc. 5000 list honoring the nations fastest-growing private companies. Century was also awarded the 2018 Silver Stevie Award for Payment Product and Service of the Year by the American Business Awards, the worlds largest premier business awards. Century develops fully integrated payment processing solutions for over 50 major ERP, CRM, and accounting systems. For more information, visit https://www.centurybizsolutions.net or https://www.ebizcharge.com. US Senator Bernie Sanders says victory in New Hampshire primary is the beginning of end of Donald Trump. Concord, New Hampshire United States Senator Bernie Sanders declared victory in New Hampshire on Tuesday night after he narrowly beat Pete Buttigieg in the states Democratic primary. Sanders, who led the polls going into the vote, had 26 percent with nearly all the precincts reporting. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Buttigieg followed with 24.4 percent and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar had 19.7 percent. Let me thank the people of New Hampshire for the great victory tonight, Sanders, a progressive, told supporters. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, the 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist said as the crowd roared in support. Despite a modest turnout, Sanders generated enough voter excitement to emerge as the new Democratic frontrunner with former Vice President Joe Biden leaving the state early to South Carolina. The enthusiasm for Bernie is real, said Marilyn Martin, a campaign volunteer in the state capital, Concord. Martin described the campaigns energy as absolutely electric and said a New Hampshire bounce would give the senator from Vermont momentum to push forward. Democratic US presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks to supporters at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua, New Hampshire [Brendan McDermid/Reuters] Despite Sanderss win, he is expected to get the same number of delegates as Buttigieg due to the way delegates are awarded in the state. Buttigieg, 38, congratulated Sanders on his strong showing. But the more moderate candidate told supporters: So many of you chose to meet a new era of challenge with a new generation of leadership. With a strongly independent and libertarian bent, New Hampshire lacks the diversity typical of many states where primaries will soon take place. Some argue that the sparsely populated and homogenous state is not representative of the country, saying it is not an important indicator or should not continue in its bellwether role. But Sanders supporters hope to receive a boost from vanquishing the deep Democratic field, earning a symbolic victory in a tense election process. Theres a coalition that [Sanders] has been building among Latino voters, African American voters, Muslim voters, Martin told Al Jazeera. Im pretty sure New Hampshire is his. He won it by a very significant margin in 2016. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar greets supporters outside a New Hampshire primary polling location [Holly Ramer/AP Photo] For her part, Klobuchar, who analysts say had an especially strong showing after a standout performance at Fridays Democratic debate, said her campaign came back, and we delivered. America deserves a president who is as resilient as her people, she told supporters in New Hampshire. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts initially polled ahead in the state before seeing her fortunes decline. She was expected to come in fourth place, just ahead of Biden. Warren and Biden are not expected to win any delegates in the state. Warren, not waiting for the final results to roll in, addressed supporters and congratulated Sanders and Buttigieg on their strong showings in the state. Theyre both strong candidates, she said, but added that she was still the best candidate to unite the Democratic Party. The fight were in, the fight to save our democracy, is an uphill battle, but our campaign is built for the long haul and were just getting started, Warren said. Democratic 2020 US presidential candidate and US Senator Elizabeth Warren greets supporters outside a polling site for New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary in Nashua, New Hampshire [Brian Snyder/Reuters] Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer and Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard followed Biden, with former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick trailing far behind. New Hampshires primary took place just eight days after the chaotic Iowa caucuses in which no candidate was declared the winner. Sanders and Buttigieg virtually tied in that state, with both candidates calling for a recanvass of the results. Yang, Bennet drop out Meanwhile, long-shot candidate Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur who has no political experience but gained some level of popularity touting what his supporters considered to be novel ideas, announced on Tuesday evening that he was ending his campaign. Yang told supporters, however, that his movement was the future of the Democratic Party. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet also suspended his bid for the presidency. A man wearing a stars and stripes hat votes in the primary election at a polling station in Epping, New Hampshire [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters] While much of the attention in New Hampshire was focused on the Democratic race, there was something of a surprise on the other side. President Donald Trump, with only one name-brand challenger in former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, handily won the Republican primary, but not by nearly the margin he enjoyed in Iowa. Trump, with two challengers in Iowa, won more than 97 percent of the votes there. In New Hampshire, by contrast, he was on track to win only 85 percent of the vote. Weld racked up about 10 percent of the tally, and the remainder of the votes went to Other. Underperforming, was the adjective used by several pundits on US cable news to describe Trumps showing. Weld acknowledged his campaign may not last. Any centrist Democrat would be fine with me to take on Trump, Weld told Al Jazeera before the polls closed on Tuesday. New Hampshire gave Trump his first primary win in the 2016 election. He narrowly lost the state to Democrat Hilary Clinton in the 2016 general election. Trump held a campaign rally in Manchester on Monday night, seeking to highlight divisions within the Democratic party. Next up: Nevada, South Carolina After New Hampshire, most candidates will turn their attention to Nevada, which is set to hold its caucuses on February 22. South Carolina will head to the polls a week later on February 29 before Super Tuesday on March 3 when the largest number of delegates are up for grabs in a single day. Biden, who conceded he would not top the leaderboard in New Hampshire, is hoping to capitalise on his support among African Americans in South Carolina. His poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire were a blow to his campaign, which was hoping to gain momentum after dipping in the polls. Biden speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire [Carlos Barria/Reuters] We just heard from the first two of the states, Biden told supporters in South Carolina, where I come from, thats just the opening bell, not the closing bell. The former vice president said many Democrats do not listen to African American voters. Ive never not listened to you, he said. You cant be the Democratic nominee, you cant win a general election as a Democrat, unless you have overwhelming support from black and brown voters. Back in New Hampshire, Sanderss supporters celebrated his strong showing. I just appreciate all of his platforms and how he looks at power structures, not just at the problems on the ground, Savitri Horrigan told Al Jazeera at the Sanders victory rally on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University. Austin Manny said he was happy to see his candidate advocating for the benefits such as Medicare-for-all and the Green New Deal, which addresses climate change. Sanders is the only one that can fix these science-based issues, Manny told Al Jazeera. Congressionally itll be really hard to get any of this stuff done, so you need a movement of people behind it, he told Al Jazeera. Bernie is fully small-donor supported, Manny added. You have to have skin in the game. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Bharti Airtel on February 12, said its wholly-owned subsidiary Network i2i plans to raise funds worth up to $250 million (approximately Rs 1,780 crore) through perpetual bonds. This amount will be in addition to existing securities of $750 million (around Rs 5,343 crore) that the company has raised recently. Network i2i Ltd, a Mauritius-based wholly-owned subsidiary of the company through joint book runners and joint lead managers has approached investors for the proposed additional issuance, the company said in a regulatory filing. The company said the "proposed issuance of dollar denominated fixed rate, unsecured, guaranteed perpetual securities by subsidiary company" pegged the issue size at $250 million, in addition to existing securities of $750 million. The company had earlier said that the proceeds from the issue will be utilised for pruning debt of Bharti Airtel. Shares of Bharti Airtel were trading at Rs 540.35 apiece, up 1.10 percent from the previous close on BSE. SAN BRUNO (BCN) The city of San Bruno on Tuesday announced a new fire chief who will take over after his predecessor's retirement in December. New Fire Chief Ari Delay comes with 28 years of firefighting experience, including the past 24 with the Coastside Fire Protection District/Cal Fire in Half Moon Bay as a firefighter/paramedic, fire captain and battalion chief, according to the city. Delay will replace retired Chief Dave Cresta. Battalion Chief Mike Kennedy had been serving as acting chief since Cresta's retirement. Delay, a La Honda resident who has also served as chief of the La Honda Fire Brigade, will lead a department of 35 full-time employees, city officials said. He will begin his service with the city next Tuesday. "Chief Delay has demonstrated a strong sense of knowledge and experience in fire services and stood out as an excellent addition to lead the San Bruno Fire Department," City Manager Jovan Grogan said in a news release. 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. Dr Michael McBride (right), Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, speaks at the briefing along with Dr Gerry Waldron, Assistant Director of Public Health at the PHA. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Health chiefs have confirmed that 21 people have been tested for the coronavirus in Northern Ireland. None tested positive. It comes as Northern Irelands health service continues to make comprehensive arrangements for dealing with the global public health issue. As of Wednesday morning, the total number of cases of Covid-19 was around 45,000 globally, with the number of deaths in mainland China reaching 1,113. Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency says it is working with partners across the UK including Public Health England, as well as the Department of Health, local health trusts and the health service in the Republic of Ireland on the ongoing global novel coronavirus response. Head of Health Protection at the PHA, Dr Gerry Waldron, says the health service is monitoring for any potential cases of COVID-19 in Northern Ireland. Belfast Trusts Regional Viral Laboratory is now one of 12 UK centres testing for novel coronavirus," he said. Until this week, all samples taken from people suspected of having the virus in Northern Ireland were sent to England for testing, but the new local facility will speed up results. A helpline has also been established for anyone in Northern Ireland who has travelled to China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau in the past 14 days. To help reduce any potential spread of coronavirus, people are being urged to follow the recommended steps for similar illnesses such as cold and flu catch, bin it, kill it. Always carry tissues to catch your cough or sneeze, dispose of the tissue as soon as possible after using it, and clean your hands as soon as you can as germs can spread to every surface you touch. Further information is available at www.pha.site/coronavirus. The helpline number is 0300 200 7885 and is available 24/7. The budget of the European Union from 2021 to 2027 will decrease by EUR 75 billion, said the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at a meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. During the budget debate over the next seven years, the head of the EU executive body called for taking into account the European Green Deal, adopted at the end of 2019, when planning to allocate EUR 100 billion, DW reported. The President noted she would not agree to a budget with less than 25 percent of all spendings for climate protection, since it would not be possible to achieve the EU environmental goals. The head of the European Commission announced the need for a compromise in the near future. If the budget is not adopted soon, next year we will not be able to finance new tasks, she said. The chair of the European People's Party (EPP) faction Manfred Weber called for an end to the discussions on donor countries of the EU. Border protection or support to Africa will not return to the EU, but is important for all of them, Weber explained. Ursula von der Leyen introduced in December the EU climate protection program, for which a total of EUR 100 billion will be allocated in the coming years, and EUR 1 trillion by 2030. According to her, the goal of the comprehensive program is to achieve complete climate neutrality in the EU member states by 2050, that is, economic activity with zero greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, Europe hopes to slow down global warming. UK left the EU on the night of February 1. This move followed a referendum in 2016 and protracted talks with Brussels. The UK authorities initially planned Brexit on March 29, 2019, but the prepared bill was repeatedly rejected by Parliament. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet (February 12), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (February 12) approved the proposal for capital infusion for three Public Sector General Insurance Companies- Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL), National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) and United India Insurance Company Limited (UIICL), said a government statement. The cabinet has allowed the immediate release of Rs 2500 crore in the light of the critical financial position and breach of regulatory solvency requirements of 3 PSGICs viz. OICL, NICL, and UIICL. The Cabinet also approved several other proposals under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. India-Sri Lanka pact on double taxation avoidance The Cabinet approves protocol amending the Agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. Updation of the preamble text and inclusion of Principal Purpose Test, a general anti-abuse provision in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) will result in curbing tax planning strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules, a Cabinet statement said. The existing DTAA between India and Sri Lanka was signed on January 22, 2013 and came into force on October 22, 2013. India and Sri Lanka are members of the inclusive framework and are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) action reports in respect of their DTAAs with inclusive framework countries. The existing DTAA between India and Sri Lanka was signed on 22nd January, 2013 and entered into force on 22nd October, 2013. India and Sri Lanka are members of the Inclusive Framework and as such are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD BEPS Action Reports in respect of their DTAAs with Inclusive Framework countries. Minimum standards under BEPS Action 6 can be met through the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI) or through agreement bilaterally. India is a signatory to the MLI. However, Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the MLI as of now. Therefore, amendment of the India-Sri Lanka DTAA bilaterally is required to update the Preamble and also to insert Principal Purpose Test (PPT) provisions to meet the minimum standards on treaty abuse under Action 6 of G-20 OECD Base Erosion & Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project. Notably, the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Sri Lanka was signed on 22nd January 2013 and entered into force on 22nd October 2013. India and Sri Lanka are members of the Inclusive Framework and as such are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD BEPS Action Reports in respect of their DTAAs with Inclusive Framework countries. India-Iceland MoU for Sustainable Fisheries Development The cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Iceland in the field of Fisheries. The MoU was signed on 10th September 2019. The salient features of the MoU are: -Creation of facilities for exchange of scientists and technical experts and their proper placement, especially in areas of estimating Total Allowable Catches in offshore and deep-sea areas; -Provision of training to fisheries professionals from key fisheries institutions in the various management aspects on areas of modern fisheries management and fish processing -Exchange of scientific literature research findings and other information. -Exchange of experts/expertise to study the prospects of fishing.Processing and marketing of products from high seas fisheries for entrepreneurship development. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Memorials would be erected at two nearly forgotten Tampa cemeteries where hundreds of African Americans are buried, under a plan approved Wednesday by the Florida Senate amid outrage over years of indifference that permitted development on top of the burial sites. By unanimous voice vote, the Senate set aside $100,000 in its budget proposal to erect memorials at Zion and Ridgewood cemeteries, both in Tampa. The proposal still needs House approval. Last summer, the Tampa Bay Times launched an investigation that unearthed evidence of a large cemetery beneath a public housing project. Prompted by the papers reporting, archaeologists have since confirmed that nearly 800 people were buried at Zion between 1901 and 1929. It was the first African American cemetery recognized by the city of Tampa. Months later, ground-penetrating radar revealed another cemetery containing at least 145 graves, but possibly as many as 268, on the grounds of King High, a public school in Tampa. Scores of black cemeteries across the Southeast, including Florida, are at risk of being forever lost because they are now unmarked. A move is underway nationally to rediscover these lost cemeteries to protect them from developers and to honour their role in American history. Many small cemeteries contain the remains of enslaved people. These memorials will provide a solemn reminder at both of these sites, a reminder of sad realities of Floridas history. But also memorials at these sites will allow our communities to heal, said Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Tampa area Democrat. Some Florida lawmakers want to establish a statewide task force to help identify and memorialize these lost cemeteries. But it remains unclear if that broader effort will gain traction. Just a mile from the state capitol, federal archaeologists recently confirmed the existence of at least 40 graves near the 7th fairway of the Capital City Country Club. The land surrounding the Capitol used to be home to scores of cotton plantations each likely having its own burial site for the slaves who once worked the land against their will. This is really an emotional issue, said the state Senates Democratic leader, Audrey Gibson, who, like Rouson, is black. Sen. Dennis Baxley, a Republican, called the effort a noble one. We wouldnt be here, he said, but for those who came before us and endured what they endured in their time for us to have the great state that we have today. Gordon Murray Designs try their hand at an urban commuter. Gordon Murray usually designs expensive supercars, but now is trying his hand at a teensy little urban autonomous electric car, actually a quadracycle. That's a special classification of vehicle that weighs less than 450 kg and goes no faster than 65 km/hr (60 MPH). Batteries are heavy, but Gordon Murray Designs' cars are really light, so they have created "an ultra-lightweight body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range (100 Km)." Unlike so many American electric vehicles that keep getting heavier, the quadracycle definition concentrates the mind. Professor Murray explains: MOTIV has the potential to transform future mobility. The best way to make any vehicle commercially viable and cost-effective, while delivering first-class efficiency, is to make it as light as it can be while retaining the highest levels of safety. With MOTIV we have used our iStream technologies to create an ultra-lightweight body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range. Gordon Murray Designs It's really small, just over 4 feet wide and eight feet long. But as the director of "mobility consultant" ItMoves notes, The MOTIV design philosophy is based on three points: small footprint, first class interior, and a city-friendly image. The small size takes advantage of the fact that most people commute and move around by themselves." Gordon Murray Designs This is sort of the approach that was originally taken by Google/Waymo when they designed their adorable little Firefly, a tiny vehicle specifically designed for autonomy. As Gordon Murray notes, converting existing car designs "has obvious compromises conventional vehicles are comparatively large, cumbersome and inefficient." Gordon Murray Designs It's got a liquid-cooled 17.3kWh battery that can charge to 80 percent in 40 minutes, and a 20kW motor (which is odd since the quadracycle limit is 15kW), and it does 0 to 60 km in 7.5 seconds, which is about a quarter of what the Hummer EV will do. Gordon Murray Designs It is all designed for safety, meeting M1 car standards in crash tests, and for minimum weight, but the windows seem weird, so tiny, I wonder if it wouldn't be claustrophobic inside. Why such teensy windows on such a teensy car? Short people like me might not even be able to see out. Gordon Murray Designs is planning to do slightly larger versions for deliveries and that can accommodate wheelchairs. It's an interesting idea that could use less power and move more people. Barrs DOJ Signals Willingness to Act on Politically Charged Cases AG reportedly assigns US attorney to review Ukraine information on Biden; DOJ disputes Stone sentencing recommendation News Analysis On Feb. 9, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said during an appearance on CBS News Face the Nation that he intends to call witnesses regarding the many problematic issues surrounding Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) abuses that were highlighted in the Department of Justice Inspector Generals report. Graham told the shows moderator, Margaret Brennan, that, I will get to the bottom of how the FISA warrant system failed and make sure we reform it, doesnt happen again. He then pivoted to the topic of Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, and Ukraine, telling Brennan, I think questions about the conflict of interest regarding Hunter Biden in the Ukraine need to be asked. The State Department had warnings and they ignored the conflict of interest. Graham noted that if Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trumps personal attorney, has any information coming out of the Ukraine, he needs to turn it over to the Department of Justice, because it could be Russian propaganda. Im going to get to the bottom of the FISA work process because it was an abuse of power, of the Department of Justice, the FBI. And were to make sure that Hunter Bidens conflict of interest is explored because its legitimate. How could Joe Biden really fight corruption when his son is sitting on the Burisma board? Graham told Brennan. Graham also said he had contacted Attorney General William Barr about the matter. In response to a question by Brennan, who asked whether the Department of Justice been ordered to investigate the Bidens? Graham said: No. The Department of Justice is receiving information coming out of the Ukraine from Rudy to see. He told me that theyve created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if its verified. So lets look at Hunter Bidens conflict. Lets look at Joe Biden. Vice President Biden, what did you do when they told you your son was on Burismas board? It undercuts your ability to fight corruption, Graham said. In the interview, Graham described Giuliani, as a crime fighter, loyal to the president, and a good lawyer, but noted that the Russians are still up to it and that when it comes to documents coming out of the Ukraine, both Republicans and Democrats should be very cautious turning anything over you got over to the intel community. This isnt the first instance of a senator calling for an investigation into Hunter Biden. On Feb. 5, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Minn.) sent a letter to James Murray, the director of the U.S. Secret Service. In the letter, the senators note that the committees on Finance, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs are reviewing potential conflicts of interest posed by the business activities of Hunter Biden and his associates during the Obama administration, particularly with respect to his business activities in Ukraine and China. On the day following Grahams Face the Nation interview, and during a press conference in which Barr announced charges against four members of the Chinese military, he was asked about Grahams commentsand acknowledged that he had spoken to Graham about the matter. Barr also said that an intake process had been established for any information received by the DOJ on Ukraine. The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant, Barr said. But as I did say to Senator Graham, and we have to be very careful in, with respect to any information coming from the Ukraine. There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine. There are a lot of cross-currents, and we cant take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value, he said. And for that reason, we had established an intake process in the field so that any information coming in about Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department and its intelligence community partners so that we could assess its provenance and its credibility. Deputy FBI Director David Bowdich, when asked at the same press conference how the FBI was handling the information provided by Giuliani, he responded, were taking information as we would in any case. We will evaluate it appropriately. Bowdich was also asked whether the FBI was investigating Joe or Hunter Biden, to which Bowditch said, Im not going to talk about any investigation as I never would. We do not talk about open investigations. According to a Feb. 10 article by The Washington Post, a Justice Department official confirmed that Giuliani had recently shared information with federal law enforcement officials through the process described by Barr. The Post reported that according to a DOJ official, the Ukraine information is being routed to the U.S. attorneys office in Pittsburgh. Additionally, CBS News reported on Feb. 11, 2020, that DOJ officials have been quietly reviewing records and documents from Ukraine for several weeks. Scott Brady, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is leading this effort according to media reports. The Epoch Times has been unable to independently confirm the report. Brady was appointed by President Trump on Sept. 18, 2017, and was confirmed by the Senate two months later. Bradys purported work on the Ukraine-related information is separate from the investigation being conducted by U.S. Attorney John Durham, who is examining the origins of the FBIs investigation into the Trump campaign. New DOJ Guideline on Probing Presidential Campaigns Last week, on the same day that Trump was acquitted by the Senate, Barr issued a memorandum requiring the FBI and all other divisions under the departments purview to obtain direct permission from Barr prior to investigating any of the 2020 presidential candidates. In certain cases, the existence of a federal criminal or counterintelligence investigation, if it becomes known to the public, may have unintended effects on our elections, Barr noted in the memo, which was reportedly obtained by The New York Times. Barr noted that the DOJ has a responsibility to ensure that elections are free from improper activity or influences. He also required that high-level department heads must be notified prior to the investigation of Senate or House candidates. These new requirements will remain in effect throughout the 2020 election cycle, at which point, they will be re-evaluated and a determination will be made if they should remain in place. The announcement of the new requirement comes after the DOJ allegedly has been looking into Ukraine matters related to Hunter and Joe Biden, which suggests that permission must have been directly granted by Barr for Bradys office and the FBI to proceed. When Joe Biden was asked during an appearance on CBS This Morning if hes concerned about the potential launch of a federal investigation, he appeared at first dismissive as he laughed at the question, and then became angry. He referred to Giuliani as a thug toward the end of his response. I dont think our sons are fair game at all. No one has said hes done anything wrong except a thug, Rudy Giuliani, Biden said in the interview. Roger Stone Case In an election-matter dating back to the 2016 presidential campaigns, federal prosecutors announced on Feb. 10 that they were seeking a harsher-than-expected sentence of seven to nine years in prison for Roger Stone, who was convicted in November 2019 of lying to Congress and tampering with a witness. The next day, however, it was reported that the DOJ was preparing to change its sentencing recommendation for Stone due to the excessive prison time being sought by prosecutors. Fox News was told by a DOJ official that The department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the filing in the Stone case last night. The official reportedly told Fox that the sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to the Department. On the same day, all four prosecutors who had handled the Stone case abruptly resigned from the case. Three of the four, Aaron Zelinsky, Adam Jed, and Michael Marando, remain employed by the DOJ in other capacities, but the fourth, Jonathan Kravis, left the DOJ entirely. The most notable of these resignations was that of Zelinsky, who was a former member of special counsel Robert Muellers team. Zelinsky resigned his special assignment to the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office but remains employed as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland. None of the four provided a public reason for their resignations. As these resignations were taking place, the DOJ announced that it planned to reduce its sentencing recommendation for Stone, lending credence to the reports that the sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to top DOJ officials. In a supplemental sentencing memorandum, the DOJ noted that the range of 87 to 108 months presented as the applicable advisory Guidelines range would not be appropriate or serve the interests of justice in this case but also noted that the government defers to the court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case. BharatBenz, the domestic brand of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of the German automobile manufacturer Daimler AG, has selected DDB Mudra Group to be its integrated marketing and communication agency following a multi-agency pitch. The integrated marketing account will be handled by DDB Mudra, 22feet Tribal WW and OMD Mudra Max. The Group will work on creative brand strategy, digital marketing and media buying and planning. DDB Mudra Groups 2020 communications plan for BharatBenz will focus on a people and culture first approach, which is the cornerstone for DDB Mudra Groups proprietary strategic tool emotional advantage. Emotional advantages core beliefis that although human beings choose to believe they make logical choices, they are in fact driven by emotions. This deep understanding of social and cultural contexts played a significant role in developingthe overall communications strategy. Commenting on the win, Sujay Ghosh, Executive Vice President & Business Partner, DDB Mudra South, said, BharatBenz is an iconic brand which is synonymous with technology and innovative products. We wanted BharatBenzs consumers to have an emotional connect and to do that we immersed ourselves in the lives of truck drivers and fleet owners. Going beyond panel conversations and interviews, the team travelled to trucking hubs interviewing fleet owners and even sharing meals with drivers. These conversations informed our strategy and helped us visualise realistic, medium agnostic narratives. We look forward to creating path-breaking work that connects meaningfully with the audience and create more growth opportunities for the brand. Speaking on the decision to award the mandate to DDB Mudra Group, Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President, Marketing & Sales Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), said, We wanted a strategic partner who could understand and resonate with the ethos of our brand. With DDB Mudra Group, we found a team thats passionate, enthusiastic and ready to push the boundaries. We look forward to this great partnership taking the BharatBenz brand to the next level. Elizabeth Warrens presidential hopes are looking dim. After a third-place finish at the Iowa caucuses, she is heading for a distant fourth in New Hampshire, with less than 10 percent of the vote. Her progressive rival Bernie Sanders is leading the Democratic primary and appears to be consolidating support from the partys left wing. Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar are winning over college-educated women, cutting away another key part of Warrens base. In a speech Tuesday night, the senator from Massachusetts seemed to assure supporters that she wouldnt drop out any time soon. We might be heading for one of those long primary fights that last for months. Were two states in, Warren said. But its unclear how, exactly, she could make a comeback at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a sad denouement for a once-promising candidate who seemed capable of bridging the partys left and its establishment and who could articulate a progressive vision for the country without the baggage of referring to herself as a socialist. She laid out a sweeping agenda and injected bold policy ideas like mass student debt forgiveness and a wealth tax into the center of the race. She terrorized billionaires, who wept on television at the thought of her presidency. This fall, as she surged to a slim lead in national polls, Warren briefly seemed like a legitimate front-runner. But then, within a couple of months, it all fell apart. What went wrong? Sexism was almost certainly part of the issueWarren, who in the past has been insulted as hectoring and schoolmarmish, faced constant questions about whether she was likable enough to beat President Donald Trump, in part because many male voters seemed to think she was not (to be fair, some women agreed). Polling also raised questions about her electability; shes tended to beat Trump in head-to-head matchups, but by a smaller margin than Sanders or Biden (though by more than Buttigieg). Advertisement Advertisement But above all, Warren seemed to get bogged down in the politics of health care. Instead of creating her own proposal from scratch, Warren attempted to win over the left wing of the party by wholeheartedly embracing Bernie Sanders Medicare for All plan. But while Sanders freely admitted during debates that he would raise middle-class taxes in order to pay for his legislation, Warren awkwardly danced around the question of how to finance it. As a result, the issue dogged her. There was that cringey Stephen Colbert interview and a wince-inducing debate performance in which she would only say that overall costs for families would go down. Eventually, Warren released a detailed plan for how to pay for single payer without any middle-class tax hikes, but few experts or pundits found it particularly realistic. By mid-November, she backpedaled entirely and released a new plan, dropping single payer in favor of an ambitious public-option bill that she claimed would help transition the country to Medicare for All. Amid all the waffling, her poll numbers sank and sank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why was Medicare for All such a quagmire for Warren? The simple, obvious answer is that it shredded her core pitch to voters. Warren was supposed to be the candidate with a plan to fix America. Her catchphrase was actually I have a plan for that. Except on health carethe single most important policy issue for most Democratsshe evidently did not. It was a glaring oversight that disillusioned some Democrats and sent her campaigns early momentum to a screeching halt. The slightly more complicated answer is that Warren was trying to piece together a delicate coalition and managed to alienate both parts of it over health care. On the one hand, she was attempting to court progressives who might otherwise vote for Sanders. Many of them were always skeptical of her commitment to single payer and had their doubts confirmed when she backed away from it. On the other hand, she was also pitching college-educated professionals who may have been cold on single payer to begin with but liked the idea of putting a hypercompetent wonk in the White House. As she floundered on Medicare for All, many of these voters seemed to switch to Pete Buttigieg, another outwardly brainy candidate with professional-class appeal, who subtly reversed himself on single payer early enough in the race for nobody to notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have suggested that a sexist double standard may have been at play on health care, since Sanders still hasnt explained exactly how hell finance single payer, and that hasnt stopped him from becoming the Democratic front-runner. But I think that misses the key dynamic. Sanders has a lock on voters who believe so deeply in Medicare for All that they dont care how he plans to pay for it. Warren was relying on a different, less forgiving band of supporters, who cared a lot more about details, or at least cared that their candidate appeared to have a command of them. Advertisement Its not a mystery why Warren embraced Medicare for All; it seemed necessary to appeal to the left. But its a bit frustrating to imagine what might have been if Warren had chosen differently. Progressive Democrats could have had a clear ideological choice between candidatesone whose agenda centered on single payer, and another who offered a credibly transformational agenda but who admitted that nationalizing health care wasnt realistic. Instead, we got one candidate who had a clear agenda on health care, and one whose plan was muddled. Where does Warren go now? Shell likely keep trying to reframe herself as a potential unity candidate, acceptable to the widest swath of Democrats. We will need a nominee that the broadest coalition of our party will get behind, Warren said Tuesday. The problem is that, as of right now, Warren doesnt seem to have much of a coalition at all. US forces come under fire while on patrol in Syria originally appeared on abcnews.go.com American Coalition forces on patrol in Syria exchanged small arms fire with pro-Syrian regime gunmen at a checkpoint while on patrol in north eastern Syria, with the situation now de-escalated, according to a U.S. military spokesperson and a U.S. military source. The incident, which killed at least one Syrian and left an American with minor injuries, marks one of the most direct confrontations in the war-torn country between U.S. troops and President Bashar al-Assad's forces. But it comes after Russian forces, backing Assad in his push to retake the country by force after nine years of war, have become increasingly aggressive with U.S. troops, according to a top U.S. diplomat. Syria's northwest has seen a dangerous uptick in violence in recent months as Assad and Russian warplanes launched another assault into the last rebel stronghold, Idlib province, where jihadist groups and Syrian rebels are both backed by Turkey, which has deployed its own forces and clashed with the Syrian regime. The U.S. troops were on patrol near Qamishli, by the Turkish-Syrian border, when they encountered the pro-regime checkpoint on Wednesday. MORE: Over half a million displaced as fighting in Syria's last rebel stronghold intensifies "After Coalition troops issued a series of warnings and de-escalation attempts, the patrol came under small arms fire from unknown individuals," Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Col. Myles B. Caggins III said in a statement. "In self-defense, Coalition troops returned fire. The situation was de-escalated and is under investigation." A military source told ABC News the patrol received fire from what they believed was a Syrian regime checkpoint, and that coalition forces returned fire as they attempted to leave. PHOTO: A convoy of U.S military vehicles moves in the village of Khirbet Amo, near Qamishli, Syria, Feb. 12, 2020. (Sana via Reuters) The group then surrounded the convoy and took pictures of their vehicles, before another exchange of fire, the source said. The U.S. also deployed low-flying F-15 fighter jets -- which did not engage in combat, but conducted a show of force -- as well as on-the-ground flares and flashbang grenades, the source added. Story continues The coalition patrol has since returned to their base. The group who opened fire on the U.S. were regime-supporting locals. Syrian state media reported that a Syrian civilian was killed by U.S. troops in the exchange, according to the Associated Press. The exchange of fire highlights the tense and complex situation for the remaining U.S. forces in northeastern Syria where Russian and Syrian government forces occupy various checkpoints. Ambassador James Jeffrey, the U.S. special envoy for Syria engagement, said Russian forces had become increasingly "aggressive" toward U.S. troops out on patrol, calling "upon the Russians to adhere fully to the de-confliction agreements weve made with them." President Donald Trump moved to pull U.S. troops out of the country in the fall, prompting a wave of bipartisan backlash in Washington that had led to him reversing course. Instead, some troops left the region, but about 500 service members were left behind to protect key oil fields, according to Trump. Coalition troops also continue to conduct missions against Islamic State in Syria, where the terror group has pockets of fighters looking to reconstitute. MORE: Pentagon report says al-Baghdadi death had little impact on ISIS leadership and operations Fighting in the war-torn country has intensified in recent weeks as regime forces, backed by Iranian proxies and Russian air power, have closed in on reclaiming Idlib. More than half a million Syrians are believed to have been displaced by the conflict in the last two months, and U.S. officials are concerned about a refugee crisis. To complicate the situation further, the assault on Idlib has seen Russian-backed Syrian forces clash with Turkish forces and Turkish-backed militias, who have crossed into various points in northern Syria as part of military incursion against the Kurds and set up 12 observation posts as part of a ceasefire deal with Moscow that has steadily fallen apart. At least 12 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Syrian regime elements, while Turkey's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its forces killed 55 pro-Syrian government forces in Idlib. MORE: Trump administration eases Obama-era restrictions on use of landmines Jeffrey, who last week said the U.S. offered assistance to Turkey, met with Turkish officials Wednesday in Ankara, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's top adviser Ibrahim Kalin. Erdogan vowed on Tuesday that the Assad regime would pay a "very heavy price" for the offensive into Idlib and the death of Turkish soldiers -- adding in a speech to his political party Wednesday that Turkey will push Syrian forces back out of Idlib and "do what is necessary via land and air without hesitation," according to Turkish state media. But while the U.S. has vocalized support for Turkey and stepped up its condemnation of the Syrian and Russian assault on Idlib, national security adviser Robert O'Brien said Tuesday that U.S. won't act as the "world's policeman." "What are we supposed to do to stop that?" he said at the Atlantic Council Tuesday. "We're supposed to parachute in as a global policeman and hold up a stop sign and say, 'Stop this Turkey, stop this Russia, stop this Iran, stop this Syria'?" That seemed to undermine Jeffrey's message last Wednesday when he told reporters in Washington the administration was "looking at the various things we can do" to halt the offensive, including more sanctions on the regime and its supporters. ABC News's James Longman contributed to this report from Syria. When sound engineers remix music, they break it down into its component parts and then recombine the pieces into something that may still be the original song, but with subtle differences. Maybe they'll add a heavier bass line for dancing or make that screaming guitar solo pop. Roberta Kwall is taking that idea and applying it to Judaism in her new book, Remix Judaism: Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World (Rowman & Littlefield, Feb. 14). Add an emphasis on lighting the candles on Friday nights, or decide to keep kosher, or follow any other Jewish ritualjust one of them, Kwall says, and youll have "remix Judaism." It's still Judaism, it's still the same old song, but with personalized features. And, more importantly, it is tied to Jewish ritual, which Kwall says can help the faith live on into the future. "There's a lot of interest in creativity in the Jewish community, but how much of it is being connected to ritual, Kwall asks while speaking to PW. There's so much activity, but very little, in liberal circles, is being focused on the ritual and how to make the ritual meaningful." In other words, any "remix" of Judaism has to be recognizable even when there are added emphases or flourishes. Kwall, a law professor at the DePaul University College of Law, studied the doctrine of moral rights, under which an author has the right to preserve the integrity of their work and not have it compromised against their will. So, the question she kept asking was how much you can change the pages of a book, a piece of music, and still consider it the work of the author. "I woke up one day and said, 'Oh my gosh, you can ask the same question about Jewish tradition,'" Kwall says. "How much can it change and still be Jewish tradition?" For example, Kwalls daughter once told her: "I just think Judaism is about being a good person. This is part of what many liberal secular Jews call Tikkun Olam, or "repairing the world." Some Jewish traditions say that every good deed done brings the world back into its pristine state. Well, I said, Sure. Tikkun Olam is a part of Jewish tradition, of course. But [you cant] just take that and divorce it from ritual, Kwall says. That's really what my book is trying to showyou need the ritual. Ritual is associated with ultra-Orthodox Jews because they dont attempt to give it any modern meaning , but Kwall believes secular or liberal Jews need to tie even just one tradition to some kind of ritual in order to pass authentic Jewish tradition on to the next generation. She emphasizes that the rituals do not need to be performed in the way that theologically observant Jews are practicing it or at the same level, but sticking to the ritual is important because without it, there is no basis from which Judaism can continue. My book is trying to show how you can tap into personal meaning in order to get yourself to perform the ritual, and the importance of consistency, she adds. For instance, Kwall suggests lighting Shabbat candles every Friday night because the candle holders might have belonged to a deceased relative; or deciding to refrain from eating pork out of concern for the conditions under which farm pigs live. Both of these actions conform to Jewish custom or law, even if they did not come by these rituals or actions for Jewish reasons. Kwall said she felt her book was necessary because as she speaks at synagogues and listens to concerns over whether their kids will continue Jewish traditions, she hears very little about how and why Jewish traditions among young people are losing their luster in the first place. Instead, the dialogue in Jewish communities has become polarized politically between right and left. Conservative or liberal politics, though, do not transmit to younger people in ways that sustain Jewishness. To Kwall, that is "unacceptable." "To me, there's just so much beauty in Jewish tradition, that it can't be the property of just any one sector of the Jewish community, she says. And it shouldn't be. But I think a lot of people don't really have enough guidance for how to make it their own." Kwall hopes her book can trigger conversations in Jewish communities over how to energize young people to carry out Jewish rituals. No matter how the rituals are remixed, it will still be recognizable as Judaism. "Think about how much stronger American Jews would be if every Jewish family were at least coming together on Friday night, she says. If every American Jewish family were just sitting down together even for one hour on Friday night with no technology, lighting a candle, saying a quick bracha [blessing] over the wine and talking to one another even for an hour. Think how much thicker our cultural religious tradition would be here. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in Berlin on February 13. At the meeting the sides will discuss the bilateral relations, economic policy, as well as issues relating to the foreign policy and security. The Armenian PM will also take part in the Munich Security Conference which will take place on February 14-16. ARMENPRESS is presenting a brief information and statistics on the Armenia-Germany political and economic relations. Armenia and Germany established diplomatic relations in January 1992. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties Armenia has conducted over two dozen official visits to the Federal Republic of Germany at the president, prime minister and foreign minister level. Starting from 1995 there have been official visits from Germany to Armenia at the level of the Bundestag president, the deputy PM and the federal foreign minister. Since Armenias independence the German Chancellor paid the first visit to Armenia in 2018 after a power change in Armenia. Pashinyan-Merkel meeting In July 2018, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan had informal meetings with the leaders of a number of countries, including Chancellor Angela Merkel. The next meeting came shortly, and this time within the frames of a historic visit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Armenia on an official visit on August 24. She was welcomed by PM Pashinyan at the Zvartnots international airport. After the welcoming ceremony Chancellor Merkel visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. Thereafter, Pashinyan and Merkel held high-level Armenian-German talks in Yerevan where they discussed broad range of issues relating to the bilateral relations. In particular, they discussed the ongoing programs in the economys different branches, as well as the prospects of new joint initiatives. This visit is taking place after great changes in Armenia: the more unexpected it was for us, the more positive it was for your country. We are interested in further developing our relations with Armenia. We know that this is a complex region and we are ready to help you being your partner in solving the problems. We are ready to boost and develop the bilateral economic ties. We are full of hope that we will be able to record new results on this path, Chancellor Merkel said in Yerevan. The Armenian PM and the German Chancellor also discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and highlighted the settlement of the conflict through peaceful negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Pashinyan said Armenia highly appreciates Germanys balanced position on the NK conflict and support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmanship format. Touching upon the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, Pashinyan highly valued the adoption of the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution by the Bundestag in 2016. The next meeting of the two leaders again was held shortly. It took place months later, on February 1, 2019 in Berlin. Pashinyan and Merkel expressed confidence that this meeting would give a new impetus to the Armenian-German friendly partnership. Merkel said Germany is interested in developing the ties with Armenia and is ready to discuss the prospects of expanding the bilateral relations. Their discussion focused on the process of joint projects in the fields of IT, environment, as well as the possibilities for new initiatives. An agreement was reached to continue the active dialogue in the implementation of various economic programs. Economic indicators According to the data of the Statistical Committee, Armenias trade turnover with Germany in 2019 was 451.3 million USD, which increased by 4.2% compared to 2018 (432.9 million USD). In 2019 the export from Armenia to Germany comprised 69.6 million USD, which decreased by 48.9% compared to 2018 (136.1 million USD). Meanwhile, the import from Germany to Armenia according to the country of origin comprised 381.68 million USD in 2019, which increased by 28.6% compared to 2018 (296.9 million USD). Recognition of the Armenian Genocide On June 15, 2005 the parliament of Germany adopted a decision on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. On April 23, 2016 President of Germany Joachim Gauck (2012-2017) made a statement on the Armenian Genocide, and on June 2, 2016 the Bundestag adopted a resolution on the Armenian Genocide. During her visit to Armenia Chancellor Merkel visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, laid flowers for the memory of the innocent victims. She also planted a fir tree at the Memorial Park. Prepared by Anna Gziryan Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan H eathrow today said it plans to send bulldozers in to start work on the third runway in 2022 and challenged the Prime Minister to throw his weight behind the critical expansion. Responding to remarks made by Boris Johnson in the Commons yesterday, the airport confirmed to the Evening Standard that a formal planning application will be submitted this year and appealed for full government backing. The timely delivery of the project is more critical than ever as competitor European hubs are outpacing Heathrow whilst we remain constrained, said a spokesman. If the Government is serious about making Global Britain a success, we need to deliver an expanded Heathrow which will connect all corners of the country to global growth. It followed Mr Johnsons statement to the House of Commons announcing the go-ahead for HS2, which appeared to some MPs to raise fresh questions marks over the expansion of Britains busiest airport. Boris Johnson gives the go-ahead for HS2 Challenged about his own promise to lie down in front of the bulldozers for the third runway, Mr Johnson said: I see no bulldozers at present, nor any immediate prospect of them arriving. The Prime Minister also implied it may be quicker in future for some Londoners to use Birmingham airport via high-speed rail. Passengers arriving at Birmingham Airport will be able to get to central London by train in 38 minutes, which compares favourably with the time it takes to get from Heathrow by taxi, a point I just draw to the attention of the House, said the PM in his formal statement. He added that HS2 connections would be considerably faster than the Piccadilly line which is the Tube link to Heathrow. Mr Johnson did not mention the Heathrow Express service which speeds passengers from Paddington in 15 minutes or Crossrail services which will take about 24 minutes. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps played down Mr Johnsons comment about bulldozers this morning. He told Sky News: It doesnt actually mean anything other than the planning process isnt at the stage where there are bulldozers turning up. He added: It is just factually the case that the bulldozers arent there, they are not going to be there this year, or next year. Mr Shapps said the expansion, which was backed by Parliament in 2017, was now a commercial and planning matter and not a decision for Government. Meanwhile, it emerged that Eustons new HS2 terminus could be reduced in capacity from 18 trains per hour to 14 as a way of simplifying construction to save money and avoid delays. The Oakervee Review into HS2 called for a thorough review of the Euston terminus. It said that reducing platform capacity would make the station less future-proof but may reduce the risk of disruption to regular train services and get the construction back on track. New Delhi: Talented Hindi cinema star, Irrfan Khan has recorded a heart-touching voice message for his fans across the globe, eagerly waiting for 'Angrezi Medium' to hit the screens. The ailing actor has beautifully described his emotions and even shed light on his health update. Irrfan urged his fans to shower 'Angrezi Medium' with the same amount of love it gave to 'Hindi Medium. He added that because his health doesn't permit him to get into extensive promotions, he still wants everyone to sure go and watch this labour of love and hard work. Watch the Angrezi Medium montage with Irrfan's unmissable voice in the background: The 'Angrezi Medium' trailer will be unveiled on February 13, 2020. The film stars Irrfan Khan in the lead role and for the first time, Kareena Kapoor Khan will be sharing screen space with him. Actress Radhika Madan plays his reel daughter in the movie. Angrezi Medium is a sequel to 2017 superhit 'Hindi Medium' which starred Irrfan and Pakistani actress Saba Qamar in the lead, marking her Bollywood debut. Angrezi Medium is slated to hit the screens on March 20, 2020. Meanwhile, Irrfan is battling neuroendocrine tumour and is undergoing treatment for the same in London. After recovering well, the actor did return to India last year and completed his film shoot but again rushed to the United Kingdom for his medical treatment. Here's hoping he recovers fully soon as fans are eagerly waiting to see their favourite talent back home hale and hearty! WASHINGTON Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, one of the top Republicans in the Senate, said Wednesday that he will vote against a House-passed resolution seeking to block President Donald Trump's national emergency order for wall funding. In his most definitive statement to date, Cornyn also predicted that with a handful of GOP defections there could be 51 votes for the resolution in the Senate, enough to pass the measure and force a presidential veto. "I think that's how this story ends," Cornyn said in a conference call with Texas reporters. But Cornyn added that ultimately, the legality of Trump's emergency declaration diverting military construction funds for a border wall will be decided in the federal courts, where 16 states have filed suit challenging the move. Cornyn expressed his own misgivings about the emergency declaration. "This is obviously no one's first choice," he said. For subscribers: Texas lawmakers in spotlight as House rebukes Trump on border emergency Democrats have argued that Trump is usurping the Constitutional powers of Congress to decide where money is spent. The Democratic-led House, joined by 13 Republicans, including San Antonio Republican Will Hurd, voted Tuesday to nullify Trump's move. But Cornyn, a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General, said he believes Trump is using powers granted to him by Congress in a law that he says allows the administration to reprogram military construction funds. "It's not a Constitutional question," he said. "It's going to be a question for the courts of statutory interpretation." The House-passed measure next goes to the Senate, where it requires only a simple majority to pass. At least three GOP senators have signaled they will vote for the resolution, including conservative North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis. Among those who have given no clear indication is Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who brands himself a Constitutional conservative. A Cruz spokeswoman said Wednesday that he is still "reviewing the justification." With Republicans holding a 53-seat majority in the Senate, Cruz's vote could be decisive. Both Cruz and Cornyn denounced then-President Barack Obama's use of executive power in 2014 to protect "Dreamers" and other classes of illegal immigrants from deportation, a fact that was brought up in a national television ad this week supporting the effort to "terminate" Trump's emergency declaration. Like other Republicans, Cruz and Cornyn have said they support the president's efforts to beef up security in a border region they consider to be in "crisis" amid drug and sex trafficking and large numbers of immigrants arriving seeking asylum. "It's time to fix the problem, secure the border, and stop the next narcotraffickers" Cruz tweeted Monday to promote legislation that would fund a border wall using drug forfeiture money and other assets taken from convicted drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. But some who support Trump's emergency declaration for have expressed some uneasiness about the process, which Democrats see as an end-run around Congress, which denied Trump some $6 billion he wanted for wall construction. "While we must be wary of executive action taken to bypass Congress, and be wary of reprogramming appropriated funds, it is clear to me that in this situation the President has the right to enforce our laws," said Houston GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw. "If Congress had done its job weeks ago, this wouldn't be necessary." Cornyn said that despite his opposition to the resolution, he regrets that the impasse over wall funding and what many Republicans call a border crisis has come to this point. "Is this the best way for Congress and the White House to deal with situations like this?" he said. "I would say no." Autodoc, the benchmark in online retail for car parts in Europe, is expanding the "Autodoc Club" digital car workshop with a new app. The digital workshop was first presented in autumn 2019. The Autodoc Club app enables customers to monitor their fuel, oil and car repair costs and keep an eye on maintenance dates while on the move. With the free "Autodoc Club" app and online platform, the company provides the user with the digital tools to optimally control the maintenance of their own car. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005293/en/ With the new Autodoc Club app, every vehicle owner can access their individual vehicle and service data anywhere using their mobile device. (Photo: Business Wire) Clear and easy to understand: all information in one place Maintaining a private car is an important but demanding task. Car owners want to have a well maintained car at their doorstep at all times. Until now, they have often had to rely on the services of garages. The Autodoc Club app, which is now available in the Google Play Store, offers customers and prospective customers a wide range of functions to help them organize the maintenance and repair of their own four wheels themselves. The main component is a digital service booklet containing a detailed repair, service and maintenance overview. This allows you to see directly when and at what mileage the last repairs were carried out. In addition, more detailed information about the replaced part and about the workshop appears in it. A schedule for car maintenance and the replacement of parts based on the mileage and/or date helps the car owner not to miss any important appointments. It also includes recommendations on replacement intervals as well as automatic notifications for upcoming repairs, maintenance intervals, dates and deadlines: a visit to the garage, a car wash or an insurance renewal. In this way you are kept well informed and always up to date. In addition, the fuel calculator provides users with a tool to monitor fuel consumption and fuel efficiency. In addition to more than 2,500 video and PDF tutorials for repairing the car yourself, the app includes life hacks and tips for car care and maintenance. Many problems can thus be solved independently. User-friendly interface The aim is to make life as easy as possible for the vehicle owner: forwarding to the Autodoc Shop is integrated into the Autodoc Club app and ensures a seamless user experience. This allows the user to switch from the Autodoc Club app directly to the Autodoc Shop and order spare parts or consumables. The app supports them with a list of required spare parts, which is created especially for the respective car. Due to the large selection of high quality spare parts available in the Autodoc world, users can compare prices and choose the right part. "We built up our own IT expertise right from the start. With this knowledge we have now created a modern tool in the Autodoc Club app. It enables every driver to store and manage important information about their vehicle easily and efficiently. For us, this is a further important component in providing customers with comprehensive digital advice. At the same time, the Autodoc platform remains well scalable to offer high-quality car parts that everyone can afford", explains Autodoc Managing Director, Alexej Erdle. About Autodoc Autodoc is Europe's leading online dealer for car parts. As the fastest-growing company in this sector, with a 63% increase in turnover in the 2018 financial year to around 415 million euros (254 million euros in 2017), Autodoc aims to further expand its position. Thanks to its successful expansion, Autodoc is now represented in 25 other European countries in addition to Germany. Autodoc pursues a strong customer focus through social media activities, technical support in the respective national language and a demand-oriented product range composition with currently around 2.5 million products from 545 brand manufacturers for 128 car makes. The online retailer offers a wide range of products from brake systems, body parts, shock absorbers and springs, exhaust systems, interior elements, steering systems and clutches to air conditioning systems, heaters, repair kits and engine oil. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2018. Autodoc GmbH is based in the Berlin district of Lichtenberg and is fully owner-managed. In May 2019, the company opened a representative office on Berlin's Kurfurstendamm, in addition to its headquarters. The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005293/en/ Contacts: Thomas Casper Head of Press and Public Relations Communication Kurfurstendamm 22 10719 Berlin Tel.: +49 30 2084 78 237 E-mail: t.casper@autodoc.eu www.autodoc.de cometis AG Matthias Kunz Tel.: +49 611 20 585 5-64 kunz@cometis.de www.cometis.de The fast-spreading Coronavirus not only hit the world's second-largest economy China but also rattled nearby countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines etc. The disease has now claimed over 1,100 lives and total confirmed infected cases have crossed the 44,000 mark in China. As a result, the Chinese government gradually shut down public services, schools and several manufacturing plants since the mid of January, which prompted rating agencies and research firms to cut the first quarter growth forecast of the country. But as a rule, one country's loss is another's gain. China is the largest consumer and supplier of many products in the world, be it spare parts, chemical, toys, lighting, base metals or oil. Many countries including the US and European Union which imported good from China have reached out to other countries to fulfil the rising demand. India is one such country which has seen heightened demand for its product in the wake of Coronavirus. We spoke to analysts to know what are sectors will benefit from China's temporary lockdown. According to them, the chemical sector will be the biggest beneficiary. Other sectors that will flourish include textiles, ceramics, sanitary ware, homeware and engineering goods. "Chemicals would be the obvious choice but the relationship is not so simple. China is a big consumer and also a supplier of raw materials and intermediates. Hence one will have to go company by company based on publicly available information to deduce the real beneficiaries of the scare (and that too if it lasts beyond mid-February)," Deepak Jasani, Head Retail Research at HDFC Securities told Moneycontrol. As China is the largest consumer, the wide-spreading Coronavirus has impacted several commodities prices including base metals, oil etc, which ultimately helped many companies in their earnings. International benchmark Brent crude futures itself fell $10/barrel since the China's shutdown, while base metals also corrected in double-digits. "While the exact impact of the Coronavirus on Indian sectors and stocks is difficult to assess, the decline in commodity prices could positively impact the profitability of sectors like auto, capital goods and other industries in which commodity (steel, aluminium, copper) constitute a substantial part of the raw material," Ajit Mishra, VP Research at Religare Broking said. "Also, sectors like textiles, sanitary ware and ceramics players may benefit as Indias exports in this space may increase due to supply constraints in China. Also, a decline in oil prices due to the outbreak of the virus will benefit Indias oil marketing, paints and aviation companies as it brings down their input cost," he added. : 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. Regardless of age or any other factor, at the end of the day, its important to hire the best person for the job. - Bill Stoller, Express CEO Despite five generations currently in the U.S. workforce, the competition for top talent is fierce. And while its a job seekers market with low unemployment, a majority of workers in a recent poll reported age has been an issue at some point in their career. In the survey, Express Employment Professionals polled job seekers and decision makers about whether they felt age has ever been a factor in a hiring decision for a job. Eighty-one percent said they believed their age was a component, while 16% said no. Respondents were then asked to select their age group with 48% falling in the 55 64 years old category. Survey respondents also provided real-life examples of perceived ageism, including: I was told by the hiring supervisor, I believe you are just too old to give us much time here. You'll probably want to stay home and sit by the pool with the grandkids within a year. I've been interviewed by several job offering companies, and when they realized how experienced I was and the number of years that I have been working, the inevitable statement was, You are too experienced for the position. In my 20s, I was the top candidate for a position, but it was never offered. I later asked the employer why, and they stated while I had all the education and experience, I did not have enough whiskers. Im still young and inexperienced, and employers do not like that. They dont want to have to waste time training the new guy how to do something. Terri Greeno, Express franchise owner in Crystal Lake, Illinois said shes had clients and human resources directors request employees who are either young or say they dont want someone really young. We work to educate these individuals and reply that we place associates based on skills and availability, Greeno said. In Fishers, Indiana, Express franchise owner Lee Wenninger added that some clients have asked for a younger worker because of the perception a younger worker will be more flexible, adaptable and technologically savvy. On the flip side, sometimes clients have asked for someone older because they believe an older person will be more reliable and work-focused, he said. Stereotypes and perceptions persist. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protects employees in every aspect of employment, including the hiring process. But in 2019 alone, there were 15,572 age-related claims in the United States. Age discrimination can have a negative impact on a companys brand and could mean costly mistakes due to inexperienced workers, according to Patty Smith, vice president of Human Resources and Compliance at Express International Headquarters. Businesses should avoid crafting job descriptions with phrases such as young and energetic and use motivated and driven instead. When interviewing candidates, businesses should have an age-diverse panel and evaluate a prospect on the knowledge, skills and behaviors required for the job. And if the time comes to lay off employees, decisions should be made objectively, Smith added. Most importantly, businesses should make sure their own staff includes employees of all ages, Greeno said. Secondly, make sure hiring managers are trained on what is or is not appropriate to say during the hiring process. Conversely, job seekers can also make a few adjustments to their resumes. Focus on what you can offer the company and what you would like to learn, Greeno said. Remove outdated experience, highlight hard skills and experience from over the years if you are a mature candidate. If you are more inexperienced, focus on an eagerness to learn. Wenninger suggests candidates should highlight how they either saved or made a previous company revenue as part of their resume. Regardless of age, if you help a business manage costs and make money, you are valuable, he said. A successful economy is made up of workers from every generation because people of all ages bring different skills and life experiences to the table, said Express CEO Bill Stoller. Regardless of age or any other factor, at the end of the day, its important to hire the best person for the job. The survey of 704 business leaders, decision makers and job seekers was conducted in January 2020 through the Express Refresh Leadership and Job Journey blogs. If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Karami, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 800 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Since its inception, Express has put more than 7.7 million people to work worldwide. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit http://www.ExpressPros.com. Samsung, the world's biggest smartphone maker, launched the "Samsung Galaxy S20" line-up, the latest flagship device to join Samsung's growing smartphone family, during the Samsung "Unpacked" event last Tuesday in San Francisco, California. The "Samsung Galaxy S20" line-up consist of the "Galaxy S20," "Galaxy S20 Plus," and "Galaxy S20 Ultra." The latest Samsung devices have a new camera architecture design, which the smartphone giant boasts of being capable of taking professional-grade photos and videos. Samsung's "Galaxy S20" series is also its first ever fully 5G line-up, which means all three devices are capable of supporting the emerging 5G connectivity technology. According to Samsung, the decision to jump from S10 to S20 is signaling their transition to a new generation of devices with 5G connectivity readily available. In a report by CNN, Tm Roh, Samsung's president and head of mobile communications, says that as a new decade opens, 5G connectivity will be a game-changer in terms of the way of communication and the way we experience the world around us; and the "Galaxy S20" line-up is the company's device which will transform lives. The three variants of the S20 line-up include, the "Galaxy S20" which has a 6.2-inch screen with the price starting at $999.99; the "Galaxy S20+" with a 6.7-inch screen and will cost at least $1199.99; and finally, the "Galaxy S20 Ultra" which is made for users who are aiming for a full Samsung experience. The device is 6.9 inches and will be sold at a starting price of $1399.99. Also read: Complete Your Smart Home With These Alexa Accessories The phones will also be available in four different colors which are pink, available only on the S20; blue which is available for both S20 and S20+; black which will only be available for the S20+ and S20 ultra; and grey which is available for all three models. The smartphone giant is also giving its latest flagship phones bigger battery support. It's ten percent bigger than that of its predecessor, "Galaxy S10" which already had the ability to charge other devices wirelessly and had 24 hours of battery life. Aside from these, Samsung also improved its Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (AMOLED) display for the "Galaxy S20." This will give the new generation of smartphones more responsive screen interactions, faster scrolling, and display cleared photos and videos. In terms of the camera enhancements, whilst the S20 will have four cameras - 3 camera lenses on the phone's rear side and one on the front, the S20+ and S20 Ultra will have an additional 3D depth camera lens for AR applications on its back. Compared to previous models, the cameras of the latest flagship line-up are powered by larger sensors. This allows sharper photo and video output, which in the case of the S20 and S20+ converts to photos with 64 megapixels, while the "S20 Ultra" can produce 108 megapixel photos with its much bigger sensor. Furthermore, the sensor also allow a powerful zoom. The "S20 Ultra," for example, is equipped with a space zoom feature which can magnify photos up to 100X. This also gives the device the ability to shoot 8K ultra high definition 10-seconder videos. Aside from the "Galaxy S20" series, Samsung also released a foldable smartphone that gives the nostalgic feels of the 1990's and 2000's flip phones in the form of the "Galaxy Z Flip." The "Samsung Galaxy S20" phones will be available for pre-order on February 21 and will be sold in stores starting March 6. Related article: iPhone 12 Release date, Specs, Price Rumors: 5G Connection, New Design Leak @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A special NIA court in Mohali on Wednesday issued non-bailable warrants against Pakistan-based chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) Ranjeet Singh Neeta and Germany-based Gurmeet Singh Bagga in its probe related to dropping of arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices and fake currency notes from across the border using drones in Punjabs Chola Sahib in September last year. During investigation, the role of Ranjeet Singh Neeta and Gurmeet Singh Bagga, a key operative of KZF based in Hamburg, Germany has been found in the conspiracy of trafficking of illegal arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices and FICNs into India to further terrorist activities with a view to cause loss of life and property of citizens as well as to threaten the security of India. Investigation has revealed that they have been able to recruit certain individuals from Punjab for carrying out terrorist activities, said a NIA spokesperson. Earlier, in October last year, an Interpol red notice was issued against Bagga and seven other Khalistani terrorists operating from different countries. Another key accused in the arms dropping case Harmeet Singh alias PhD of Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) was killed in Lahore, Pakistan, last month by a local gang over financial disputes stemming out of drugs smuggling, as reported by HT. Baggas brother Gurdev Singh was last year taken into custody by Punjab police for alleged involvement in dropping of arms. A NIA probe has revealed that Neeta, other Khalistani terrorists are conspiring with the Pakistani spy agency ISI to revive militancy in Punjab. KLF was banned by the home ministry in September 2018. Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) and International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) are also banned under terror laws. An exotic pest with the potential to decimate crops overnight has been detected in Australia for the first time. Authorities last week located six fall armyworm moths on the northern Torres Strait islands of Saibai and Erub. The pest which is different to other types of armyworm commonly found in southern Australia originates from the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It has spread rapidly to other parts of the world since 2016. The larvae are known to eat more than 350 plant species including maize, cotton, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat and vegetable and fruit crops. Without control measures, it can destroy crops overnight when population levels are high. Adult moths can travel 100km in one night, meaning it can spread quickly. The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is working with the Australian Government, and with industry groups and communities, to assess the distribution and threat of the pest, and develop a response strategy. There is no suggestion it has spread yet to the mainland, however, traps will be set in northern and central Queensland as a precaution. Biosecurity Queensland says it will also work closely with traditional landowners in the region to control the movement of plant and soil between the islands and the mainland, and between Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait Islands. What is the Fall Armyworm? * This exotic pest is a big brown moth, with a striped caterpillar larval stage * Its a different type of armyworm to those commonly found in southern Australia Where is it From? * It originated from tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas * Since 2016 it has rapidly spread to other parts of the world Is it Found in Australia? * It was detected last week on the northern Torres Strait islands of Saibai and Erub * This is the first time its been found anywhere in Australia Why is it a Problem? * Larvae can decimate crops overnight * They eat more than 350 plant species including wheat, sorghum, cotton, maize, fruit and vegetables * The R strain found in the Torres Strait prefers rice, millet and pasture grasses, but will still eat other crops * Adult moths can fly up to 100km each night What is Being Done? * Authorities are trying to assess how far it has spread * Traps will be set up in northern and central Queensland * These traps will be baited with pheromones to lure male moths * Authorities will also ramp up monitoring on the illegal importation or movement of infested plant material * Anyone should report signs of the pest to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested one person in connection with the firing on newly elected AAP MLAs convoy in which, one party worker got killed Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested one person in connection with the firing on newly elected AAP MLA's convoy in which one party worker got killed. The deceased was identified as AAP volunteer Ashok Mann, and his nephew Harender was injured in the incident, media reports said. The police have said that although the attack occurred within a few hours of Yadav and his party registering an emphatic win state Assembly polls, the motive behind the crime was not political. The police told ANI, "The accused and the deceased had an old personal dispute. The accused's nephew had received bullet injuries in 2019 after he was shot at. The accused suspected the deceased to be behind the 2019 incident. He had also threatened the deceased 15 days back." Yadav, the Mehrauli MLA, defeated BJP's Kusum Khatri with a margin of 18,161 votes. The incident was reported on Tuesday night when AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy was passing through southwest Delhi's Kishangarh village. The newly-elected MLA along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said. The MLA was standing in an open van while Mann and Harender could be seen behind him, NDTV reported. PTI reported that at least seven rounds were fired at the Mehrauli MLA's convoy and three people are said to be involved in the attack. Yadav said there were celebratory fireworks in the area when his car was passing and he initially thought the sound was that of the fireworks. When he realised that his car was shot at, the MLA was moved to another car. In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh claimed party volunteer Ashok Mann was killed in the attack. "Convoy of MLA Naresh Yadav attacked in Mehrauli, Ashok Mann killed. Naresh Yadav was returning home after visiting a temple," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. "Shots fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYada and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," the AAP said in a tweet. Ankit Lal, AAP's social media in-charge tweeted: "Multiple shots were fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav & @AamAadmiParty volunteers accompanying him to his home in Mehrauli after visiting a temple as part of victory procession. Miscreants in another car opened fire near Fortis. 1 dead and 1 injured. Police is at the spot." With inputs from PTI Retinitis pigmentosa is an inherited degenerative disorder which affects the retinas ability to respond to light. It results in progressive loss of vision , eventually leading to blindness . It involves both eyes. There is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa. Early intervention can help retain the vision and make the most of it. Retina is a light sensitive layer lying at the back of eye. Light first focuses on the eye lens and then passes through the pupil and falls on the retina. Light rays that fall on the retina are converted into neural signals which are then sent to the brain through the optic nerve. Thereafter, the brain interprets and sends the signal for visual recognition. Retina is made up of photo-receptor cells. These cells perform the function of detecting color and light intensity. These are of two types rods and cones. Rods lie on the periphery of the retina and support black and white vision. They focus on distant vision and dim light. Cones are centrally located in the retina and support colored vision and near sighted vision. In retinitis pigmentosa, these cells get degenerated and stop working leading to loss of vision. Disease starts with death or necrosis of rods; eventually cones are affected leading to total blindness. Side vision is impacted, the most owing to the rods, which makes it hard to see in dim light. Early intervention helps retain the cones so that near sighted vision to a large extent can be preserved. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is genetically inherited. It is passed from the parent to the child. Lets understand how. Each cell of the body contains 23 pair of chromosomes. Out of these 23, 22 pair of chromosomes carry non sex traits and 1 pair of chromosome carries sex traits. Males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY) whereas females have two X chromosomes (XX). During conception, when the sperm fertilizes the egg, one copy of each chromosome is passed onto the fetus. Retina pigmentosa gets inherited when the following combinations are formed during conception: Autosomal recessive In this case both, mother and father are carriers of the mutant gene but are not suffering from RP disorder. Retinitis pigmentosa occurs when one copy of the same mutated gene is passed on by the parents to the individual. In a pair of genes, if one is normal and other is mutated, the individual will be a carrier for disease and will not have the dominant disease. In this case both, mother and father are carriers of the mutant gene but are not suffering from RP disorder. Retinitis pigmentosa occurs when one copy of the same mutated gene is passed on by the parents to the individual. In a pair of genes, if one is normal and other is mutated, the individual will be a carrier for disease and will not have the dominant disease. Autosomal dominant In this case, either the mother or the father is suffering from this disorder and has one copy of the dominant gene that is passed on to the child. In this case, either the mother or the father is suffering from this disorder and has one copy of the dominant gene that is passed on to the child. X- Linked If the mothers sex linked gene (X) is mutated and passed on to the child, it results in disease inheritance. Males have only one X chromosome. If and when a mutant copy of X is passed on, the child will develop the disease. A male with an X-linked disorder passes the disease gene to daughters and not to sons, since the X chromosome of the male goes to the daughter and the Y chromosome goes to the son. So all his daughters will definitely be carriers of the disease. Males are more often and severely affected than females. Females have two X chromosomes. If the female child receives one of the normal copy of X and one mutant copy of X, then the child becomes a carrier and remains asymptomatic. If the female child receives both the mutant copies, then the child inherits the disease. Retina pigmentosa: Begins with difficulty seeing in dim light - like at night or at dusk. This is also known as night blindness. It takes a maximum of 20 minutes for an eye to get adapted to dim light. But in case of retinitis pigmentosa, the eye takes much longer or the eye will not get adapted to the dim light at all, resulting in night blindness. This is followed by loss of side vision, wherein the individual will not be able to see things on the side, above or below. He will only be able to look straight. The rate of progression varies from person to person. Symptoms might appear as early as 10 years. By the early 40s, most people with retinitis pigmentosa have only restricted vision, with very narrow visual field. They can only look straight through that field, as if looking through a tunnel. This is called tunnel vision. As the disease progresses, visual clarity and visual acuity decrease. By the time the person is in the 50s, near sighted vision also becomes difficult, since centrally located cones also start getting affected and a magnifier is required for reading and recognizing. People with retinitis pigmentosa find it difficult to go out in bright sunny light, as adaptation from bright sunny light and glare to the one inside an enclosed area becomes a problem. Comprehensive Eye Examination - Doctor examines the individuals eye with an ophthalmoscope . Healthy retina appear orange red in color, but when an individual has retinitis pigmentosa, black or brown pigmentation appears on the orange surface of the retina. This is quite an early sign. - Doctor examines the individuals eye with an . Healthy retina appear orange red in color, but when an individual has retinitis pigmentosa, appears on the orange surface of the retina. This is quite an early sign. Visual Field Testing - This helps in detecting the extent of the damage . It helps determine how much side vision is left. It is done by a non-computerized visual field test , such as the Goldmann Perimeter Exam or a computerized one, such as the Humphrey Field Analyzer . - This helps in detecting the . It helps determine how much side vision is left. It is done by a , such as the or a computerized one, such as the . The Goldmann Perimeter Exam - In this, one eye is covered and the individual is asked to focus straight with the other eye. Doctor passes light from beyond the side of the visual field into the center to find out the location at which the patient can see the light. Doctor analyzes individuals responses to build a map of the visual field. - In this, one eye is covered and the individual is asked to focus straight with the other eye. Doctor passes light from beyond the side of the visual field into the center to find out the location at which the patient can see the light. Doctor analyzes individuals responses to build a map of the visual field. The Humphrey Field Analyzer - In this, one eye is covered and the individual is asked to focus straight with the other eye. Doctor flashes white light of varying intensities and color through the individuals visual field. The doctor analyzes the individuals responses to various light colors and intensities to build a map of the visual field. In this, one eye is covered and the individual is asked to focus straight with the other eye. Doctor flashes white light of varying intensities and color through the individuals visual field. The doctor analyzes the individuals responses to various light colors and intensities to build a map of the visual field. Electrophysiological Testing - Electroretinogram (ERG) measures the response to flashes of light, via electrodes placed on the surface of eye. It determines the extent of damage to the visual field. Periodic ERG examinations are necessary to track the progression of disease. The ERG measures the electrical activity of rods and cones in response to the light. Dark Adaptation Test - It measures the visual adaptability of the eyes in response to dim light. It is very helpful in detecting early cases of rod degeneration. - It measures the of the eyes in response to dim light. It is very helpful in detecting early cases of rod degeneration. Electrooculogram (EOG) - It measures the resting electrical potential between the cornea and the retina. It is a very sensitive test for detection of photo-receptor function and not usually recommended. - It measures the between the cornea and the retina. It is a very sensitive test for detection of photo-receptor function and not usually recommended. Fluorescein angiography (FA) - A special dye, fluorescein , is injected within the eye that highlights the blood vessels at the back of the eye. - A special dye, , is injected within the eye that highlights the blood vessels at the back of the eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) detects the structural changes within the retina resulting from RP. It captures cross-sectional images of the retina. detects the within the retina resulting from RP. It captures cross-sectional images of the retina. Genetic testing - A sample of the patients DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is taken to check the progression of their particular form of the disease. They can also enroll themselves into a patient registry to take part in clinical trials. Currently, there is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa. However, The Foundation Fighting Blindness and the National Eye Institute in the USA have jointly recommended that adults with RP should take a daily dose of vitamin A palmitate supplement and avoid a high dose of vitamin E, as recommended by their doctor. This will help in prolonging their vision. Once the rods and cones are damaged, the only way of restoring vision is by transplant or by bypassing them, thereby altering the physiology of the eye. Photo-receptor cell transplantation is still under study. Argus II (Second Sight Medical Products, Inc, Sylmar, CA) is a medical implant certified by the Federal Drug Association (FDA), USA. It consists of a camera and processing device attached to an individuals glasses. A microchip is implanted in the individuals retina which is the processing device. The camera captures the information which is transferred to microchip which further stimulates the remaining retinal cell and assists in vision. Another implant, Alpha IMS retinal implant (Retina Implant AG, Reutlingen, Germany), CE approved has also been recommended. Cystoid macular edema is a complication of retinitis pigmentosa which results in build up of fluid in the macula, the central portion of the retina. This further results in decreasing the near sighted vision since the central visual field starts getting affected. Doctors prescribe medicines to clear out this fluid build up which provides symptomatic relief. In Brighton, the epicentre of Britain's cluster of COVID-19 cases, face masks are doing a roaring trade -- though most locals and tourists have decided to keep calm and carry on. Five people in the city on England's south coast have so far contracted the virus. They are all seemingly linked to so-called "super-spreader" Steve Walsh, who was infected on a business trip to Singapore and has now recovered. They include two healthcare professionals. Some doctors' surgeries were temporarily closed, and some schoolteachers and pupils have gone into recommended self-isolation as a precaution. The city's Royal Sussex County Hospital now has an isolation pod for dealing with potential COVID-19 cases. The death toll in China , where the virus first emerged, has topped 1,100. But face masks were a rare sight in the city's quirky shopping streets along the sweeping seafront -- even if some were taking the precaution. Tran Huong, 51, originally from Vietnam, regularly uses face masks when working in her nail bar in the city centre. But after putting a "face masks for sale" sign in the window, as she turns her premises into a clothes shop, she said she had sold more than 300 in less than a week. "I've only got a few left," she said, pulling out a near-empty packet of 100 made-in-China disposable masks. "It's Western people, young guys, teenagers come in and ask for it. They're worried. It's for protection. If you go to the chemist, they haven't got it. "It's quite ridiculous, the whole thing. It's made out to be much bigger than it is." Nevertheless, she added, her businessman son had sold thousands of masks online. - 'Chin up, keep on' - Some doctors' surgeries have been closed for fear of spreading the virus after coming into contact with those diagnosed. They include The Avenue Surgery, a small, redbrick building behind a neatly trimmed hedge. It had two large red signs reading "STOP" on its doors, accompanied by warnings about COVID-19. Another notice explained that one of its doctors "has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. "He has been advised to self-isolate for 14 days and therefore will be unable to attend the surgery. We appreciate your support during this extremely difficult time." Inside, the wooden benches in the waiting room lay empty. Darren Buckley, 53, lives a few doors away and is registered at the surgery. He said his daughter had been meant to come in for a pre-natal check but had to go elsewhere. "I'm not that worried," he told AFP. "It's got to be in somebody's surgery somewhere." He said the local response had been "typically British: chin up, keep on, go to work; just wash your hands. Basic health precautions, and fingers crossed, the government knows what they're doing." - Tourists unruffled - Brighton is a tourist magnet, drawing people to its pebble beach, amusements pier and alternative atmosphere. The virus outbreak had not put off day-trippers enjoying the wintry sunshine, despite the chilly breeze whipping off the waves of the Channel. Wrapped up against the cold, Julie Frogley, 59, from nearby Horsham, was strolling on the pier with her great-nephew as local DJ Fatboy Slim came jogging past. "I think we're quite good at containing things once we know what they are. To stop doing things because of one small outbreak would be foolish," she said. "It was on the news very quickly, they told people what to do. If people follow those guidelines, there shouldn't be an issue. "It's not so much stiff upper lip, it's carrying on and not panicking. Don't panic-buy masks because they're not going to do you much good." Aaron Charles, 32, a professional dancer from London, was walking along the seafront, making his first visit to Brighton since childhood. "It doesn't put me off at all. It's fine. From what I've heard, it's literally just a flu," he said. "If it became like an outbreak, if people were literally falling over every three seconds and started coughing up blood, I'm gone. I'm leaving the country, I'm going that direction and I'm never looking back!" he said, pointing out to sea. Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP`s twitter account has been blocked for 24 hours by the Social media giant for its tweets on people with `liberal views`, a party official confirmed on Wednesday. Vinod Krishna Murthy, Karnataka state BJP Yuva Morcha Vice President, told IANS, "Twitter has blocked BJP Karnataka account for 24 hours. Of late, the team has been looking into the role of liberal, leftists and Congress held state administrations for the last couple of years and how the ecosystem is functioning against the CAA." The BJP Yuva Morcha leader, however, is clueless about who complained against their twitter handle but hinted that the whole ecosystem opposing BJP and CAA would have ganged up together and gotten it done. Murthy told IANS, "If you look at our tweets, we are taking on Congress head-on and with facts. We have also been taking on the liberals straight-on, whoever has been misleading the public with lot of issues they are not even aware of and which is not even relevant to the topic." Murthy further said that BJP Karnataka IT cell fired a series of tweets in the past couple of days, which were deleted by the American social media giant, adding he did not keep an account of the number of tweets disseminated and later taken off by Twitter. Murthy said the BJP Karnataka is not against anybody but only talking the truth and about the divisive nature of Congress and how since independence it kept the minorities away. On Wednesday, BJP Karnataka official handle tweeted, "It is unfortunate that our handle was locked out by Twitter for speaking the truth about liberals." It has vowed that it will not step back in its efforts to bring out the truth in the public domain. "A big thanks for your support and encouragement. Satymeva Jayate. Jai Hind," the political party said to its supporters after Twitter unblocked the account on Wednesday. The account remained blocked entirely on Tuesday. Karnataka BJP spokesperson G. Madhusudhana told IANS that he had no idea about the account being blocked and then unblocked by Twitter, adding "What has happened? I don`t know." Reacting to the drubbing BJP suffered in the Delhi Assembly polls, the party tweeted that there is no need to lose heart., adding "Now is the time to go back to voters to win their hearts and minds. Let us plan for 2025 from today. We are with you." A garbage truck driver has been charged with manslaughter after a young man was killed in an alleged hit-and-run in the Sydney CBD. Shocking CCTV footage showed the oblivious 21-year-old looking down at his phone while walking along Central Street at around 1.30am on Wednesday. Moments later, he was hit from behind by the reversing garbage truck. 'The guy's been tangled under the car and [the driver] has driven another 20 or 30 metres and dragged him along,' witness Aaron Fleming told Nine News. Police allege the driver moved the body before continuing on his garbage run. Shocking CCTV footage showed the oblivious man looking down at his phone while walking along Central Street in the CBD at around 1.30 on Wednesday morning The 51-year-old garbage truck driver was arrested and charged after allegedly reversing and hitting the man, then moving him off the road and fleeing the scene Shocked witnesses tried to revive the man, but he was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. The alleged driver was tracked down three-and-a-half hours later in Kings Cross. The 51-year-old Lakemba man was arrested and charged with a range of offences, including manslaughter, negligent driving occasioning death and interfering with a corpse. 'Police will allege in court that the driver reversed the truck at speed, striking the pedestrian and knocking him down,' NSW Police said in a statement on Wednesday. 'The driver got out, allegedly moved the man off the roadway without rendering assistance or contacting emergency services, then drove from the scene.' A man who witnessed the driver being arrested said he began to cry while being taken away by police. Police are now trying to piece together why the young man was walking in the laneway at the time, and are looking for his mobile phone. 'The mobile phone is a significant part of our inquiry,' Supt Wood said. The garbage truck was owned by Sydney Waste Services Garbage truck driver's charges Manslaughter Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death Dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous Negligent driving (occasioning death) Improperly interfere with corpse or human remains Not reverse vehicle safely Advertisement 'I have absolutely no doubt it was in Central Lane. I would suggest quite clearly someone has picked it up.' Supt Wood called on whoever picked up the man's phone to bring it to police to help their investigation. The man has been refused bail ahead of a scheduled appearance at Central Local Court on Thursday. The truck was owned by Sydney Waste Services. 'We have been made aware by police of an incident early this morning involving one of our trucks and drivers and we are deeply distressed by what has happened,' a company spokesman said in a statement. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family and friends and we are now co-operating with authorities.' An IT specialist who tried to get a "financial bounty" by falsely claiming he had uncovered vulnerabilities in Eircom's systems has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay 35,000. Alexander Jones, formerly of Church Road, Skerries, Co Dublin, but now living in the UK, admitted dishonestly operating a computer with the intention of making a gain at Telephone House, Dublin, in 2014. Detective Garda Colm Gallagher told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that, while working for a firm providing tech support to Eircom, Jones accessed confidential information. Jones claimed he had done this through vulnerabilities in the company's system, which allowed him to access the information from his laptop using a particular type of software. The 33-year-old told his employer that a "bounty" would usually be paid to someone who uncovered a vulnerability. However, investigations carried out by Eircom costing 72,000 proved that Jones could not have accessed the information with the software. Det Gda Gallagher told the court that Jones had copied the data from the internal system on to his personal laptop. The investigation also exposed that Jones had accessed customers' phone conversations and insurance claims. Judge Martin Nolan said it was an "unusual crime". He said Jones was a man of "considerable talent" but that "he certainly ill-used it". He handed down a suspended sentence of three years on the condition that Jones pay 15,000 to his injured parties within the month and a further 20,000 in a year's time. Jones, whose partner and baby were in court, cried as the sentence was handed down. Det Gda Gallagher said Jones had no previous convictions before pleading guilty to similar offences this week before Dublin District Court. Cancelled He said that, before the more recent offences, Jones had generated unauthorised Xbox discount codes valued at 410,000 and sold some of these codes online. While 48,000 worth of the codes were used, Microsoft suffered no financial loss as it cancelled all of the unauthorised codes. Jones failed to attend a trial date in March 2018 and was returned to Ireland as the result of a European Arrest Warrant, which he contested. A young Belfast chef has reached the final of a cooking competition which pitted challengers from across the UK against each other. Hannah Richardson (22) won a stage, or internship, at Claridge's in London's Mayfair in the Riso Gallo Young Risotto Chef of the Year competition. She created an Autumn Fig Roast Risotto with gorgonzola, Burren raspberry balsamic and pickled red grapes for the competition. The chef, who is originally from Kent in England, was selected from among the other chefs at Coppi in Belfast to represent the restaurant at the competition. She said of her dish: "I thought about adding a Roman twist on a seasonal offering, the figs and red grapes also paired very well with the classic gorgonzola and the garum sauce is also a very ancient Roman ingredient which I feel gave the finished dish a unique umami flavour." Ms Richardson moved to Northern Ireland for education purposes before getting a start in the restaurant industry. "I'm from Kent and originally came over to Northern Ireland to go to university. I dropped out and started working in the restaurant industry and worked my way up," she said. She said she's pleased with the result of the competition, which involved participating in heats around the UK and being judged by chefs including former Lanesborough executive chef Paul Gayler MBE. "I'm going to Claridges in a couple of weeks and I'm really excited about it. I'll be able to meet a few of the really famous chefs and learn new techniques," she said. Speaking of the competitors, Mr Gayler said: "It is undoubtedly evident we have a wealth of young talented chefs around our shores. "I find it reassuring that our culinary heritage is in safe hands. I look forward to seeing what 2021 brings. It is very exciting." Advertisement A sperm donor who has fathered 17 children and says he often walks down the street and wonders if strangers are his 'family'. Brett Webb, 58, and his wife Padma had been trying to to have a baby for 12 years when he started donating sperm in 1998. Since then, the materials testing technician from Melbourne has fathered 10 boys and five girls by strangers and has had twins Zoe and Zane with his wife. 'We found out my wife had polycystic ovaries and blocked tubes, and then she developed diabetes from the IVF medication, and it was going to be really hard for her to carry a baby,' Mr Webb said. 'She had a lot of miscarriages. One day I was in the IVF clinic and saw a sign on the wall that read "do you want to be a dad?" 'I thought "Yes, I do", so we looked into it and I realised I may not be able to have my own kids, but I could help others.' Mr Webb, 58, and his wife Padma (pictured) had been trying to have a baby for 12 years when he started donating sperm Four years into the sperm donation program, Mr ans Mrs Webb (centre) conceived twins Zoe and Zane (left and right) through IVF Mr Webb stopped donating sperm when he had his own kids in 2001, and he has met three of his sons and three of his daughters. However he still walks past familiar-looking people on the street and wonders if they're family. 'I wonder every day,' he said. 'Someone walks past and they have similar features and I think "they look like family". The thought only lasts a few seconds, but it's always at the back of my mind.' One of Mr Webb's daughter's is Casey Burns, 20, who has known she was conceived using sperm donation since she was about seven. Ms Burns grew up in Geelong in Victoria with her mother and has had two step-fathers. Casey Burns, 20, has known she was conceived using a sperm donation from Brett Webb since she was about seven 'It's a bit sad because I know I'll probably never get to meet a lot of my half-siblings, and I don't make it my life's mission to find them, but the best way I can describe it is "strange'',' she said. 'Sometimes people will say, "you look a lot like this person I know - are you related?" and I have to tell them that maybe I am, but I just don't know.' Of her 16 siblings, Ms Burns has twin half-brothers and a sister who were also conceived using a sperm donation. She has also met Zoe and Zane. Having spent time with Zoe and Zane, 18, since she was young, Ms Burns said the three of them have a great relationship and knowing them and their dad has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. 'I last saw Brett a few weeks ago - we have a good relationship.' Ms Burns (left, as a child) said she has a great relationship with Zoe and Zane (right, as children) Zoe (left) and Zane, who have grown up with both biological parents and are now 18, have always known their dad was a sperm donor Zoe Webb, 18, has always known her father was a sperm donor and gets along with her half-sister Casey Zoe and Zane, who have grown up with both biological parents, have always known their dad was a sperm donor. 'Being aware of it from such a young age, I've never really had opinions on my dad being a sperm donor, its always just been apart of him and how I view him,' Zane said. 'Having a lot of siblings acts a good conversation starter but, overall, I'm pretty indifferent with my father being a sperm donor.' While Mrs Webb initially didn't want anyone else knowing her husband was donating sperm - she was worried others would think he was resorting to extreme measures to have children - more than 20 years later, the family are open about it. 'Everyone just knows that's Brett he's the guy with the kids. He's the w**ker,' Mr Webb joked. 'Being a sperm donor has been a beautiful experience.' 'I don't expect all my biological children to get in touch with me or to want a relationship with me - I can be whatever they want me to be - i's completely up to them.' (@FahadShabbir) Representatives of the Belarusian and Latvian armed forces will discuss this week the implementation of their agreement on additional confidence- and security-building measures, and address cooperation in arms control this year, the Belarusian Defense Ministry's press service said in a statement on Wednesday MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) Representatives of the Belarusian and Latvian armed forces will discuss this week the implementation of their agreement on additional confidence- and security-building measures, and address cooperation in arms control this year, the Belarusian Defense Ministry's press service said in a statement on Wednesday. "The parties will ... agree on issues of bilateral cooperation in the area of arms control in 2020," the statement read. The working meeting is expected to take place over Thursday-Friday in the Latvian capital of Riga. During the talks, the sides will also evaluate the implementation of the agreement on confidence- and security-building measures last year, and consider ways to enhance the effectiveness of such measures. It wasnt too many months ago that we were talking about needing to get out of drought. There wont be any talk like that for quite a long while. A soaking atmospheric pattern has developed that promises to continue bringing occasional wet storm systems into the foreseeable future. We are in the middle of a wet week now after a waterlogged latter half of last week. By the end of Monday, Roanoke had surpassed its normal rainfall for the entire month of February after just 10 days with 2.95 inches 2.89 is considered normal for the whole month. And then it rained some more Tuesday. More than 21/2 inches fell Wednesday to Friday last week, including 1.74 inches on Thursday. And those totals were considerably lighter than some that occurred farther to the south and southwest. Evacuations and swift-water rescues were necessary in some of the counties west of Interstate 77, where a state of emergency was declared, and several mudslides were reported along the southern edge of the state from Lee County at the southwest tip to the Danville area in Southside. And theres more of this on the way, with another surge of heavier rain on Wednesday and Thursday though likely not as heavy as last week and likely another wet system early next week, with periodic storms beyond that, as well. An El Nino-like pattern has shown up this February, with a steady flow of the southern branch of the jet stream sweeping storm systems across the country every few days. El Nino refers to the irregularly recurring warming of central Pacific waters, which were generally considered in a neutral state earlier in the winter but have warmed to a level now that will be considered a weak El Nino if it lasts three more months. That often promotes a flow of subtropical moisture out of the Pacific across the southern half of the U.S. The west-to-east flow across the nation is enhanced by the Arctic Oscillation, which reached a record positive level earlier this week. Strong low pressure aloft over the North Pole is trapping the Arctic air up there, not allowing much deep cold to punch southward, as well as intensifying the west-to-east flow with few north-south dips across North America. This, in a nutshell, is why were having a cool-to-mild but wet weather pattern with only short cold shots in between the wet periods. The storm track is not suppressed southward far enough to put substantial chances of widespread snow and ice into the equation. A fairly sharp but fleeting punch of cold air will arrive for Friday, when some spots may drop into the teens and highs wont get above 40 in many places. But it will be swept out over the weekend ahead of the next wet storm system. The good news about having this kind of rain in February is the refilling of water tables and reservoirs that will likely keep them at acceptable levels even if drought were to develop in spring and summer ahead. Droughts that threaten water supplies usually start or continue through a winter, when runoff is at its highest. The bad news is that we are saturating the soil and raising stream levels so that a particularly heavy bout of rainfall could even more easily induce flooding the next time around. Most people seem to either want snow or sunny, warm days portending spring in February. But this one isnt providing either one, just rainy periods with shot cold shots in between. Not a pleasing February for almost anyone, but at least drought isnt developing. A DUP MP who has faced a torrent of vile abuse on social media has welcomed new proposals for extending the powers of Ofcom to force the likes of Facebook and Twitter to act on harmful content. The UK Government is to appoint the broadcasting regulator as a new internet watchdog, with the ability to fine social media companies that do not protect users. The move was announced as part of the government's response to a report on harmful online content which recommended duty of care laws for some internet companies. Carla Lockhart said it was an "important day" but getting the detail right on how the new system operates was crucial with "a token slap on the wrist" not enough to protect users. She said: For too long the world of social media has been like an online Wild West, with no regard for what little rules exist, restricted enforcement of the inadequate rules, and an increasing culture that there is no accountability for what is said and done on these sites for either to perpetrator or the platform. "There is no control. Effectively, self regulation has failed." Ms Lockhart has called for action against internet bullies and trolls. She has talked in the past about how if she had a vote for every time someone told her to ignore abuse directed at her own social media feeds, she would top the poll at every election. Expand Close The Twitter photograph of Carla Lockhart with Arlene Foster / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Twitter photograph of Carla Lockhart with Arlene Foster After DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted a picture of the pair enjoying a night out at a party function there was a torrent of abuse directed at the politicians. Ms Lockhart - a councillor and MLA over the past decade - said she had become accustomed to the abuse and trained herself to ignore it. "But I am a wife, a daughter, an aunt and a sister," she wrote in an article for the Belfast Telegraph. Read More Her family and friends have been forced to delete accounts because they didn't want to see the abuse meted out to her. Most of the abuse was about her being a woman - and on her appearance, she said. She said criticism of DUP policy was fair but she was more often than not on the end of "sinister and nasty abuse". "Some dismiss me raising this as a symptom of the so-called 'snowflake generation'. "I accept that sticks and stones can break bones, but a steady abusive social media drip can break through the thickest skin." My own experience of keyboard warriors is well known Carla Lockhart The government has suggested Ofcom would have the responsibility of making sure online companies have the systems and processes in place to fulfill the duty of care to keep people using their platforms safe. Platforms will need to ensure that illegal content is removed quickly and minimise the risk of it appearing, with particularly strong action needed on terrorist content and online child sexual abuse. "My own experience of keyboard warriors is well known," Ms Lockhart said following Wednesday's announcement. "For many years I have been the target of personal attacks online, mainly by anonymous accounts but also by those who happily use their own identity safe in the knowledge that nothing will be done. "I am far from alone in being subjected to such abuse. These people seem empowered to say things online that they wouldnt say on the street. "That culture has to end. Having made repeated complaints to social media companies about this, I found their reaction slow and falling well short of what would be expected. This complacency has to end." Future legislation, the government has said will protect freedom of expression by not targeting or punishing individuals who access content which is legal, but may be offensive. Instead, the proposals suggest that companies will be required to explicitly state what content and behaviour is acceptable on their sites in clear and accessible terms and conditions, and enforce these effectively, consistently and transparently. A token slap on the wrist will not be enough to protect users Carla Lockhart The government said the proposed legislation will only apply to companies that allow the sharing of user-generated content such as images, videos and comments. Internet giants including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram are seen as the main targets of the proposed new rules, which are part of government plans to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. Ms Lockhart continued: "Key to the success of this move will be the sanctions that Ofcom will be able to apply. A token slap on the wrist will not be enough to protect users and it is vital that regulators are empowered with the ability to impose serious fines and penalties on social media companies. "I will be pursuing this with the government in the coming days and will continue to press the case for greater responsibility from social media companies. Ofcom has announced the appointment of a new chief executive, civil servant Dame Melanie Dawes, as part of its preparation for a new, wider role. Interim chief executive, Jonathan Oxley, said: We share the Governments ambition to keep people safe online and welcome that it is minded to appoint Ofcom as the online harms regulator. We will work with the government to help ensure that regulation provides effective protection for people online and, if appointed, will consider what voluntary steps can be taken in advance of legislation. Responding to the proposals, Facebooks head of UK public policy, Rebecca Stimson, said: Keeping people safe online is something we take extremely seriously. We have clear rules about what is and isnt allowed on our platforms and are investing billions in safety. Over the last few years weve tripled the size of our safety and security team to 35,000 and built artificial intelligence technology to proactively find and remove harmful content. While we recognise we have more to do, our regular transparency reports show we are removing more and more harmful content before anyone sees it and reports it to us. We look forward to carrying on the discussion with Government, Parliament and the rest of the industry as this process continues. A 22-year-old student, against whom a case of sedition has been registered for allegedly shouting slogans in support of jailed JNU student Sharjeel Imam at an event in Mumbai, on Wednesday appeared before the police, who recorded their (their preferred pronoun) statement, an official said. Mumbai: A 22-year-old student, against whom a case of sedition has been registered for allegedly shouting slogans in support of jailed JNU student Sharjeel Imam at an event in Mumbai, on Wednesday appeared before the police, who recorded their (their preferred pronoun) statement, an official said. The student, who goes by the name Kris Chudawala, a student of the city-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) appeared before the Azad Maidan police station in south Mumbai. Chudawala had participated in the Mumbai Pride event, which is a rally organised by the LGBTQ community at Azad Maidan on 1 February. Police allege that during the rally, they had shouted the slogan "Sharjeel tere sapno ko hum manzil tak pahuchaenge" (Sharjeel, we will realise your dreams). Imam, a PhD student of JNU was arrested in a sedition case lodged across several states for alleged "inflammatory" speeches made during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Azad Maidan police had registered a case of sedition against Chudawala under IPC section 124 A. The Bombay High Court had on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to them. It had directed them to appear before the Azad Maidan police on 12 and 13 February for three hours in the morning and thereafter as and when required by them for questioning. "As per the court orders, Chudawala came to the Azad Maidan police station. She was there for over three hours, during which the police recorded her statement," the official said. "The process of recording her statement will continue on Thursday when she appears before the police again," he added. According to the official, their phone will also be recovered on Thursday as part of the probe. Imagine getting a Flamin' Hot Cheetos craving, securing a bag for yourself only to open it and find just regular Cheetos. That cheated Cheeto feeling is what happened to Ashley Garcia last week. She said she bought the bag from a vending machine at her job last Tuesday for $1.25. After shaking the bag up some, hoping to find the red dust that makes the spicy version of the chips so great, Garcia realized the heartbreaking truth that her package was incorrectly filled. Newsfrom Japan Tokyo, Feb. 12 (Jiji Press)--Japan will expand its entry ban introduced in response to the new coronavirus outbreak to include foreigners who have recently been in China's Zhejiang Province, effective from the beginning of Thursday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday. The entry ban currently affects only those who have recently been in China's Hubei Province, whose capital of Wuhan is the epicenter of the virus outbreak. Zhejiang is located east of Hubei. "It's crucial to take more comprehensive and flexible border control measures" to prevent further transmission of the new virus into Japan, Abe told a meeting of the government's headquarters for responding to the outbreak. On Feb. 1, the government began to reject the entry into Japan of foreigners who have been in Hubei within the last two weeks and those holding Hubei-issued passports. The expansion of the entry ban comes as the number of cases of infection with the virus is continuing to rise. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Thieves broke into a medical transportation companys office in November and made off with a laptop that had the names, addresses and Social Security numbers of more than 650,000 Oregon Health Plan members, Health Share of Oregon says. We are ensuring that members, partners, regulators and the community are made fully aware of this issue, the companys interim CEO, Dr. Maggie Bennington-Davis, said in a statement. The information on the laptop also included phone numbers, dates of birth and Medicaid ID numbers, but peoples personal medical histories were not part of the data breach, Health Share said. The laptop was stolen from GridWorks IC, a company that contracts with Health Share, Health Share said in its statement. The laptop had data on about 654,362 people. Health Share of Oregon is a coordinated care organization that manages health care for people on Medicaid in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties. It is the largest such organization in the state. -- Fedor Zarkhin fzarkhin@oregonian.com desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:24:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LAGOS, Feb. 12(Xinhua) -- At least 16 members of a family were killed by unknown gunmen in Nigeria's north-central state of Kaduna, a police source told Xinhua Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon when unidentified gunmen in large numbers attacked Bakali Village in the Fika district of Giwa area of the state. Giwa area is in the northern axis of the state sharing border with popular Zaria town. The police told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the gunmen invaded the village, locked up a family and set their house on fire. All members of the family died, the source said. FOOD and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 7.6 per cent between October 2020 and October 2021, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) reported yesterday. In a memorandum on the Index of Retail Prices (RPI) published for general information yesterday, attributed to the acting director of statistics, Andre Blanchard, the CSO noted that the All Items Index of Retail Prices increased by 3.9 per cent between October 2020 and last October. It took one handcart and two loaders to stop traffic on DS Lane, the hub of Chickpets wholesale textile market. Bikers and pedestrians waited for heavy bales to be unloaded and the cart cleared from the narrow lane. Inside Sha Lalchand Jeevraj & Co.s office, workers unpack bales, verify and put them away for storage while owners Prakash Pirgal and his son Rajesh deal with paperwork. This has been a recurrent scene for over 70 years, ever since Prakashs father set up shop in the historic market after winding up a family business in Tarikere in south Karnataka. It is in the blood," says Prakash, nodding to his son Rajesh, 32. It is also a nod to his grandfather, who left his home in Pali, Rajasthan, over a century ago to start a textile business in Tarikere. Commerce rules in this part of Bengaluru, where narrow lanes teem with businesses selling anything from buttons and metal to yards of cloth, and some of the family-run outposts like that of the Pirgals have the next generation pitching in quite enthusiastically. Family first I wanted to be an entrepreneur ever since I finished Class X," says Rajesh, who finished his MBA in 2011. He didnt have a startup in mind but the continuation of the family business. Rajesh worked for his father part-time and later spent time at an American consulting firm to learn employee dynamics and corporate culture. In family businesses, everything has to be done by the owners. In a corporate setup, there is a hierarchy," says Rajesh, who heads a division that sources and supplies kurti material. Moreover, money is good, says Karan Lunia, director of KR Electricals, which was started by his father and uncle in the 1970s. Lunia finished his MBA from Ohio University in 2009. The harder part Family-run enterprises come with their own set of challenges. Rajesh, who got the new division when he joined in 2013, recalls his negative outlook about the companys main business, blouse material. He feared dwindling demand as more youngsters were choosing Indo-western kurtis. What he didnt expect was the blouse market to multiply four times in the past five years. I am happy that I was proven wrong and I realized the importance of doing groundwork," says Rajesh. Lunia says he was toughened up by his MBA abroad. I had never been away from my family. Then I broke my leg and walked with crutches for three months. I think I got the strength to make tough decisions," he says. When Lunia returned, he realized the business was catering to a host of customersfrom fickle retailers and traders to a handful of industries. Six years ago, he and his cousins convinced the elders to streamline business along four divisions with more focus on industries. Now, all the divisions have grown. Earlier, the group used to make 4-5 crore annually. Now it is 120 crore," says Lunia. Rebranding is another exercise that many youngsters undertake. B.K. Manish, who drops in at New Govinda Rao Military Hotel in Cottonpet daily after college, runs a nascent Instagram page for the hotel, which was started more than 100 years ago. We have got many new customers because of social media," says 18-year-old Manish. Akshita Chajjed also knows the advantage of painstakingly updating her textile businesss Instagram handle with colourful fabrics and elaborate trousseau designs. But the bigger battle of perception happens at the shop on Avenue Road, near Chickpet, when she meets wholesale and retail traders as head of sales and design. Some are supportive while a few are like What do you know? You are just a woman," says the 24-year-old with a diploma in fashion designing. She knows she has to be firm and work hard. When you are successful, people shut their mouths." Her mother, Rekha, realized this when she started the textile business 15 years ago. Nobody supported her. Not my father or her in-laws, till she became successful," says Akshita. Rekha belongs to a generation of women who had to brave different set of odds to make a mark. Kiran Lunia, 51, still remembers making quiet entrances in the evenings to her familys office, and later at her husbands sewing machine business in Chickpet. I was always ambitious and wanted to do business. But it was a big no-no to go to the shop back then," recalls Kiran, who is Karan Lunias aunt. As the industrial sewing machine and spare parts business took off, the couple opened a grand showroom in residential Rajaji Nagar. It was a big change, at least for people from the Marwari community to whom Chickpet was the hub of business," says Kiran. There are not too many young women following the paths of Kiran and Rekha. But I see a lot of youngsters starting their own businesses," she says. Growth strategy Akshita wants to start her own luxury retail label but she isnt sure whether it will remain in the family in the long run. If my future in-laws allow me to work with my own family, then it will work. Otherwise, it will have to be my own label," she says. College student Manish hopes to rope in food bloggers and influencers to improve the online presence of the hotel, which specializes in naati (rustic) Karnataka meat dishes and breakfast biryani. He also wants to pursue his other passion and become a police officer. I think I will be able to hold a job and help run the business," he says. His father Kishore Kumar agrees as he believes running an affordable food business isnt easy in times of price rise. Cost of production has gone up as we make our masalas in the pure naati style," says Kumar. However, he hasnt raised prices of dishes to avoid alienating customers. Rajesh Pirgal and Karan Lunia, meanwhile, are hoping to grow their family business further. The writer is a Bengaluru-based journalist. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper reviews an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Philippine Department of National Defense in Manila, Nov. 19, 2019. Updated at 5:55 p.m. ET on 2020-02-12 U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was not upset by the Philippine governments decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), adding the move will mean money savings for Washington. Trump was responding to the decision by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday to drop the decades-long agreement, announced by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. in a tweet. Well I never minded that very much to be honest, Trump told reporters at the White House. We helped the Philippines very much. We helped them defeat ISIS. I dont really mind if they would like to do that, it will save a lot of money. My views are different from others, he said, using another acronym for the Islamic State. Earlier, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper questioned the Philippine decision. I do think it would be a move in the wrong direction, he said, emphasizing this comes at a time when the U.S. and other regional allies are trying to say to the Chinese you must obey the international rules of order. And as we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think its a move in the wrong direction for for, again, for the longstanding relationship weve had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries, Esper said, according to a transcript released by the Pentagon. Esper, who spoke to reporters while on his plane from Washington to a NATO meeting in Brussels, said he wanted to hear from his commanders about the move, considered by security analysts as a formal downgrading of the longtime bilateral military alliance. We have to digest it. We have to work through the policy angles, the military angles, Esper said. He said the Philippine decision was unfortunate but U.S. officials had six months to study its implications. The Philippines, a former American colony, is among countries that have contending territorial claims in the South China Sea, a vital waterway for international shipping and trade. China claims almost all of the sea, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan have their own overlapping claims to portions of the disputed waters. For nearly two decades, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been negotiating a code of conduct to regulate behavior in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has carried out freedom of navigation flights and sailing in the sea. Since taking office in June 2016, Duterte has warned of cutting military ties with the U.S., but his rhetoric softened after Donald Trump was elected U.S. president later that year. Dutertes anger was touched off again in recent weeks after the former national police chief who had led his administrations controversial war on illegal drugs, Ronald dela Rosa now a senator said that the United States had revoked his American visa. Dela Rosa surmised that it had something to do with the drug war that he used to enforce. The campaign has left nearly 6,000 suspected drug addicts and dealers dead, according to government figures, and has been described as a humanitarian disaster. Duterte also railed against members of the U.S. Senate for backing Philippine Sen. Leila de Lima, his arch nemesis who has been jailed for what she calls trumped up charges of profiting from illegal drugs. Adopted in 1999, the VFA allows for joint military exercises after the U.S. vacated two of its largest overseas military installations the Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base. In 2017, some of that training was put into action as U.S. intelligence officers aided Philippine troops in their successful battle against Islamic State militants in the southern city of Marawi. Philippines: We must stand on our own On Wednesday, Philippine Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. admitted that the VFA termination would affect the militarys ability to combat threats, along with training efforts that have been positive for both nations. Since we have sent the notice, ongoing training activities will push through unless discontinued. Others will not be implemented, Santos said. It will affect our rescue operations definitely. But we already presented to the defense secretary our plan to move forward to fill the gap, he said without elaborating. Salvador Panelo, the presidential spokesman, said that the VFA should have been scrapped a long time ago. Such a commentary is expected given that the VFA favors the U.S. and its abrogation affects its global strategic defensive positioning, Panelo said in a statement responding to Espers comments. It is about time that we strengthen our defense capabilities. We must stand on our own and put a stop to being a parasite to another country in protecting our independence and sovereignty, Panelo said. He said relying on another nation to boost the military would weaken defenses. We are friends to all, enemies to one. Should any country, however, threaten our territorial integrity and assault our sovereignty, we will rise by our own resources and valiantly defend our motherland the way our forefathers did during their time, he said. Security analyst Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said he hoped the VFA termination would lead to new negotiations. It will give us an opportunity to negotiate another agreement that will be more advantageous to us, he told BenarNews. This doesnt mean were putting behind our good relationship with America. Were just asking for a good deal with America thats advantageous to our interest. He said the Philippines strategic location in the Asia Pacific guaranteed a good bargaining chip. Before they can enter Guam, Hawaii, mainland U.S., they have to go through the Philippines first, he said. We are their natural barrier, we have a very good location. Dennis Jay Santos and Jeoffrey Maitem in Davao and Cotabato, Philippines, contributed to this report. Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognized as the country's rightful interim ruler, speaks at a gathering in Caracas, Venezuela on Feb. 11, 2020. (Manaure Quintero/Reuters) Venezuelas Guaido Returns Home to Ramp up Pressure to Oust Maduro Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido returned home on Feb. 11 to clashes at Caracass international airport after completing a three-week trip abroad, which saw him meet world leaders as he seeks to rebuild momentum to oust his socialist rival, President Nicolas Maduro. Days after Guaido was received at the White House by President Donald Trump and visited the World Economic Forum in Davos, he was met by crowds of supporters as well as pro-Maduro agitators who shouted insults and hit his car with sticks and traffic cones. Guaido, who is recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuelas legitimate president, entered Venezuela via the main airport and was allowed back in without being arrested by officials despite a travel ban imposed by Maduros regime. Today more than ever we have to make our presence known, Guaido told a group of around 500 in a plaza in the Caracas opposition stronghold of Chacao. This is not the time to go back. Its time to move forward. I challenged them and we entered Venezuela, we have challenged them time after time, he added, branding Maduro a coward. They dont accept their destiny. They are alone, isolated, they represent no one, Guaido continued. You [Maduro] wont confront me or the people who want you gone for good. Guaido hopes to revive the momentum of 2019 when he led a groundswell of protests against Maduro over human rights violations and a collapsed economy. However, he faces an increasingly weary population that in recent months has shown waning enthusiasm for more demonstrations. Many opposition sympathizers have become frustrated by Maduros continued grip on power, thanks to backing from the armed forces and support from China and Russia. Venezuelas opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognized as the countrys rightful interim ruler, greets supporters as he arrives at a meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Manaure Quintero/Reuters) The ruling Socialist Party has repeatedly suggested Guaido could be imprisoned for seeking international assistance to end Maduros rule. But the regime has never executed an arrest warrant, and Maduro appears willing to allow him to remain free. Guaidos three-week tour to Colombia, Europe, Canada, and the Un ited States helped demonstrate to his supporters that he retains the backing of international players. Trump during his State-of-the-Union address last week, which Guaido attended, promised that Maduros grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken. Maduro in a state television broadcast on Tuesday appeared to describe Guaido as a traitor to the homeland. We dont waste time on bozos, he said, as he called on his supporters to defend Venezuela and not get distracted by stupidities, by dummies, by traitors to the homeland. Venezuelas economic collapse under Maduro has led nearly 5 million people to emigrate, creating a migration crisis in nearby Latin American nations. Reuters contributed to this report. "Americans want the freedom to make choices for themselves on health care or on any other issue, not to have Washington decide for them, and a politics of 'my way or the highway' is a road to re-electing Donald Trump," Buttigieg said. "Vulnerable Americans do not have the luxury of pursuing ideological purity over an inclusive victory." At his election night event, Buttigieg said he "admired" Sanders and added that he respected Sanders when he was a high school student and "I respect him greatly to this day, and I congratulate him on his strong showing tonight." "The reason that we are going to win is that we are putting together an unprecedented, multigenerational, multiracial political movement," he added. "And this is a movement from coast to coast, which is demanding that we finally have an economy and a government that works for all of us, not wealthy campaign contributors." "And what I can tell you, with absolute certainty, and I know I speak for every one of the Democratic candidates, is that no matter who wins and we certainly hope it's going to be us we're going to unite together," he said. "We are going to unite together and defeat the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country. Sanders, Klobuchar and Buttigieg had all reached the threshold to win delegates at the congressional district and statewide level, according to NBC News. With 24 delegates at stake, Sanders and Buttigieg each had nine, and Klobuchar won six. Candidates must meet a threshold of 15 percent in the state's two congressional districts or statewide to win delegates. Aware of a poor showing, Biden had already left New Hampshire for South Carolina, the site of the next primary. With 95 percent of precincts reported, Sanders had 26 percent, or 71,950 votes; Buttigieg was at 24.4 percent, or 67,577 votes; Klobuchar had 19.7 percent, or 54,609 votes; Warren had 9.3 percent, or 25,765 votes; and Biden was at 8.4 percent, or 23,205 votes, according to the NBC News tally. At the same time, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., were headed toward poor showings and failed to get any delegates, NBC News projected. Sanders, I-Vt., had been leading in the polls, so his victory wasn't a surprise. But he and Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, were closely bunched with the third-place candidate, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn ., allowing all three to claim either victory or solid momentum going into the next round of voting. MANCHESTER, N.H. Sen. Bernie Sanders narrowly won the New Hampshire Democratic primary by about 4,000 votes, or less than 2 percentage points, over Pete Buttigieg, according to an NBC News projection . When Buttigieg's speech began projecting at Sanders' election night event, Sanders' supporters began loudly booing and chanting "Wall Street Pete," "Bernie beats Trump" and "popular vote." NBC News exit polls showed that 48 percent of the state's Democratic primary voters made up their minds within the past few days a substantial increase from 25 percent who said they did in 2016 and 38 percent in 2008. The same proportion of Democratic voters, 48 percent, said Friday's debate, in which Klobuchar's performance was widely praised, was either the most important or an important factor in their choice. At her primary night event, Klobuchar said her campaign has "beaten the odds every step of the way." "We have done it on the merits," she said. "We have done it with ideas. And we have done it with hard work, because we are resilient and strong as the people of this great nation." "If you want a nominee who can stand up to Donald Trump on that debate stage, which you well know I can do, I need your votes, yes," she said, adding: "I don't have that big bank account. I don't have that big name as some of the other people that are in this race. And I am not a newcomer with no political record. But what I do is get things done. What I have is your back." Addressing supporters in Manchester, Warren said Democrats "might be headed for another one of those long primary fights that lasts for months." "We're two states in, with 55 states and territories to go," she said. "We still have 98 percent of the delegates for our nomination up for grabs, and Americans in every part of our country are going to make their voices heard." She added that Sanders and Buttigieg are "great people" and would be better than Trump but that "the fight between factions in our party has taken a sharp turn in recent weeks, with ads mocking other candidates and with supporters of some candidates shouting curses about other Democratic candidates." "These harsh tactics might work if you are willing to burn down the rest of the party in order to be the last man standing," she said. "They might work if you don't worry about leaving our party and our politics worse off than how you found it, and they might work if you think only you have all the answers and only you are the solution to all our problems." Biden pledged to return to New Hampshire in the fall "to defeat Donald Trump in November." "So don't go away. You're not getting rid of us. We're coming back, and we love you," he said from South Carolina. Speaking to supporters in South Carolina, Biden said: "We just heard from the first two of 50 states, not all the nation, not half the nation, not a quarter of the nation, not 10 percent, two, two." "Where I come from, that's the opening bell," he added. "Not the closing bell, and the fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning, just beginning." On the Republican side, Trump won the GOP primary, NBC News projected. The president spent much of Tuesday night jabbing Democrats on Twitter, saying, "A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q." He tweeted at Warren, writing that she was "having a really bad night" and adding that he thinks "she is sending signals that she wants out." Trump also took aim at former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is not participating in the early primary states, saying he was having "a very bad night." Of Buttigieg, Trump wrote: "Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight. "Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money," he continued. "Very interesting!" Meanwhile, upstart Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang dropped out of the race Tuesday evening, sources close to the campaign said. Yang rose from obscurity to become a second-tier player in the primary and outpaced a number of prominent current and former elected officials. "We have touched and improved millions of lives and moved this country we love so much in the right direction," Yang told supporters in Manchester. "And while there is great work left to be done, you know I am the math guy, and it is clear tonight from the numbers that we are not going to win this race. I am not someone who wants to accept donations and support in a race that we will not win. And so tonight I am announcing I am suspending my campaign for president." In addition, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., announced that he, too, was dropping out of the race following a poor showing in New Hampshire. "I wish all those candidates well that are going beyond New Hampshire," Bennet told supporters. "I think it's fitting for us to end the campaign tonight, but I want to remind you of why I got in this race, why I stayed in this race and why we have to stay in this fight." Entering primary day, Sanders was comfortably leading in the polls, trailed by Buttigieg. Behind them was a three-way battle for third place among a surging Klobuchar, Warren and Biden. The vote came as last week's Iowa caucus results were being contested. Both Sanders and Buttigieg have claimed victory there. Democratic candidates spent the day of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary talking up their candidacies and taking aim at a rival who wasn't even on the ballot here Bloomberg, who is focusing on the March 3 Super Tuesday contests. The billionaire surged in national polls as the New Hampshire vote neared, and he has poured more than $100 million into advertising so far, building up a large ground game in more than 30 states, too. "This is what I think, you know, Mike Bloomberg and anybody else has every right in the world to run for president of the United States," Sanders said in an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt. "But I got a real problem with multibillionaires literally buying elections." The early story of the day was Biden's decision to leave New Hampshire hours before the polls closed and head straight to South Carolina, where he enjoys an advantage with black voters, although that edge has been quickly narrowing. "Look, the rest of the nation is out there," Biden said Tuesday at a Dunkin' store in Manchester. "There's an awful lot of electoral votes to be had, and we're going to see, and I think we are going to do well in Nevada and in South Carolina, and we'll go from there. We'll see." The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Tuesday cut its global oil demand growth forecast for this year by 310,000 bpd as the virus outbreak crimps oil consumption in China. Seoul: Oil prices climbed on Wednesday as China reported its lowest daily number of new coronavirus cases since late January, stoking investor hopes that fuel demand in the worlds second-largest oil consumer may begin to recover from the epidemic. Brent crude was up 98 cents, or 1.8 percent, at $54.99 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 81 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $50.65 a barrel. According to data through Tuesday, the growth rate of new coronavirus cases in China has slowed to the lowest since 30 January. Still, international experts remained cautious over forecasting when the outbreak might reach a peak. Travel restrictions to and from China and quarantines have cut fuel usage. The two biggest Chinese refiners have said they will reduce their processing by about 940,000 barrels per day (bpd) as a result of the consumption drop, or about 7 percent of their 2019 processing runs. As the growth rate of new cases has decreased ... that has improved the (market) sentiment, said Kim Kwang-rae, commodities analyst at Samsung Futures in Seoul. The demand concerns from the outbreak pushed Brent and WTI to their lowest in 13 months on Monday. Both benchmarks are down more than 20 percent from highs reached in January. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Tuesday cut its global oil demand growth forecast for this year by 310,000 bpd as the virus outbreak crimps oil consumption in China. Demand worries flipped the oil market into a contango last week, a market structure where prices for near-term contracts are lower than those for later contracts, indicating ample supplies. Contango spread in Brent is unchanged at 15 cents per barrel from a week earlier, while the WTI contango is at 24 cents a barrel, from 17 cents last week. Front month prices are down around 20 percent since the start of the outbreak, with Brazilian, West African and Russian crudes - all popular with independent (Chinese) refiners in Shandong under pressure, said Roger Diwan, vice president of financial services at IHS Markit, in a note. On the supply side, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, recommended a further cut of 600,000 bpd last week to stem the oil price fall. However, Russia has been hesitant to commit to the additional cut, while Saudi Arabia wanted global major oil producers to agree a quick oil supply cut. US crude inventories rose by 6 million barrels in the week to 7 February to 438.9 million barrels, beating analysts expectations for an increase of 3 million barrels, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed. [February 12, 2020] Cricut Inc. Introduces Cricut Joy, A Smart Cutting Machine Made For The Growing Creative Community SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cricut Inc., the creative technology company that has brought precision smart cutting machines to millions of households worldwide, today announced the launch of Cricut Joy, the first-ever compact smart cutting machine that allows an easier, more convenient way to personalize everyday itemsdesign t-shirts with custom graphics; cut a pattern to decorate a photo frame; or add custom decals to your cell phone case. The machine is designed to motivate the creative pursuits of a growing consumer market. In the U.S. population alone, one out of two adults may be classified as a "creative dabbler." These "dabblers" represent a community of people who want personalized, handmade items, but either currently purchase these items or make them infrequently. They are not fully committed to crafting as a hobby due to barriers like lack of time. To cater to that consumer market and hobbyists, Cricut designed a simple and approachable smart cutting machine to encourage the mindset, "I can make it myself." "Cricut Joy was designed as a simple solution for people to discover their creative talents," says Tom Crisp, Head of Design at Cricut. "At only 5-by-8 inches, the machine can be used anywhere in your home, giving you the flexibility to make projects wherever you areplus it looks just as good on the kitchen counter as it does on a bookshelf." As the smallest smart cutting machine to hit the market, Cricut Joy takes the technology of the company's larger cutting machines and reengineers it to have comparable power in one-third of the space. This innovation is based on technology found in robotics, CNC machinery, and other automated devices. Cricut machines function like a printer but rather than depositing ink, the machine precisely cuts materials. Cricut Joy is not only 75 percent lighter than the company's most popular cutting machines, it also introduces two new features not currently available in the Cricut product portfolio. With an all-new line of accessories and materials, Cricut Joy makes it possible to cut single designs up to four feet long and repeated cuts up to 20 feet with Smart Materials. Imagine cutting 300 stars to decorate your child's room within minutes. Additionally, for the first time, consumers can use a unique (patent-pending) mat to create customized greeting cards. On top of its ability to cut, the machne can also draw and write on a variety of popular materials such as iron-on, vinyl, and the revolutionary Infusible Ink system to create custom projects. Personalize everyday items with the ability to make custom stickers, decals, labels, and more in less than 15 minutescustom decals for water bottles, stickers for luggage tags, labels for spice jars, monograms for throw pillows, and more. Other key technological and design elements include: Compact 5" x 8" and less than 4 lb. size that sets up instantly and packs away easily Accurate precision and speed of the company's full-size smart cutting machines at 75 percent less weight and one-third of the size Buttonless design with Bluetooth wireless connectivity for designing and cutting Free, downloadable design app, Design Space, for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android Cuts over 50 different types of materials Access to nearly 130,000 images and ready-to-make projects in Design Space Load-and-go sensor technology that facilitates automated loading of materials and detection of material length (a feature not available on any other machine in the market) Housing unit to hold blade or pen tools Off-axis motor design that reduces the carriage size by 73 percent Out of the box, Cricut Joy has everything to make your first project: Cricut Joy machine Power adapter and cord Cutting blade with housing Cutting mat, 4.5" x 6.5" 50 ready-to-make projects accessible online Fine Point Pen, Black (0.4 mm) Materials for a practice cut As Cricut Inc. grows, Cricut Joy continues to expand the brand's mission to help people lead creative lives. "Our brand is built on the philosophy that the need to create is a universal oneone that ties us all together with the same passion," says Ashish Arora, CEO of Cricut. "I am ecstatic that Cricut Joy will help us reach a whole new community of creative individuals who have yet to experience our tight-knit community, but this is only the beginning." Cricut Joy will be available to consumers at cricut.com as well as online and in-stores at major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Michaels, JOANN, Hobby Lobby, and Amazon starting March 2020. Cricut Joy retails at $179 MSRP. Prices will vary for tools and accessories. To learn more about Cricut Joy, please visit cricut.com/cricut-joy. About Cricut Inc. Cricut Inc. is a creative technology company dedicated to encouraging new ways for people to experience making at home. As an empowering lifestyle brand, the company mission is to unleash the creative potential of consumers with innovations that bring ideas to life in the form of personalized projects. The company's industry-leading products include its flagship line of smart cutting machinesCricut Maker and the Cricut Explore familyaccompanied by other unique tools like Cricut EasyPress, the Infusible Ink system, and a diverse collection of materials. In addition to the company's core offerings, the brand also fosters a thriving community of nearly three million dedicated followers across social channels who love to share their projects and passion for making with the world. Learn more at cricut.com and follow along @OfficialCricut on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. Media Inquiries: ID [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cricut-inc-introduces-cricut-joy-a-smart-cutting-machine-made-for-the-growing-creative-community-301003625.html SOURCE Cricut [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A tropical cyclone heading towards Australias east coast will generate powerful waves likely to cause further damage to already eroded coastlines. Cyclone Uesi, a category 2 system, is west of New Caledonia tracking southwest at about 110km/h. It will head towards the southeast Queensland coast before it weakens on Friday and continues towards the NSW north coast. It is not forecast to reach the coast and will tend southeast towards New Zealand, but not before delivering heavy rain and large swells to southeast Queensland and northern NSW. Gales with wind gusts up to 120 km/h are expected to develop about Lord Howe Island off the NSW coast on Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology says. Satellite images show tropical cyclone Uesi heading southwest toward Australia's east coast. Source: RAMMB Emergency flood warnings for Queensland Rain generated from the Uesi system will follow days of flash-flooding in southeast Queensland resulting from a lingering upper trough producing showers and thunderstorms. Parts of southeast Queensland remain on flood watch, with warnings for coastal catchments between Bundaberg and the NSW border. Queenslands southern inland is also bracing for significant rain, including Dalby which has flooded once in recent days and could flood again. An emergency flood warning has been issued for people in a town west of Brisbane as severe storms threaten to dump up to 250mm of rain in the states southeast. Jandowae Creek is expected to peak on Wednesday, potentially leading to major flooding in the town, the Western Downs Regional Council says. Multiple roads have been cut by rising floodwaters and properties are likely to experience flooding. "Residents are advised to secure their belongings, prepare to leave and warn neighbours," the alert states. A severe storm warning has also been issued for an area stretching from Brisbane's bayside to the Gold Coast. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued on Wednesday for northern NSW, with flash-flooding predicted for Lismore, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Ballina and Casino. Story continues Heavy rain will return to Sydney on Wednesday night and Thursday with up to 100mm to fall in the region. The soaking follows approximately the 400-500mm of rain that fell along NSW coast on the weekend. Newcastle City Council prepare to use a crane to move cabins from the council owned Stockton Caravan Park as erosion from large swells threatens to send them into the sea. Source: AAP Waves could damage coastal homes Large swells will move down the east coast as Cyclone Uesi tracks south, bringing four metre waves to some beaches, Joel Pippard, a meteorologist with Weatherzone, told Yahoo News Australia. Damaging surf and elevated tides similar to what we saw last weekend might happen again. Its a significant problem because the storms eroded a lot of sand last weekend. The waves could now possibly erode infrastructures, he said, adding that waves could even reach the Gippsland area in Victoria. Last weekend, massive storm waves combined with high tides eroded parts of Sydneys northern beaches by up to 25 metres, placing multi-million dollar waterfront homes at risk. Storms brought waves of up to six metres to the Collaroy-Narrabeen beachfront and similar conditions are expected this weekend. Stockton beach, north of Newcastle, also suffered significant erosion last weekend. The City of Newcastle was forced to move three council owned holiday cabins at Stockton after hundreds of tonnes of sand was stripped from the beach. Sydneys northern beaches were eroded up up to 25 metres. Source: Getty/Brook Mitchell Thousands still without power in NSW More than 30,000 homes and businesses across northern Sydney and the Central Coast may remain powerless into the weekend, with forecast rainfall set to compound damage caused by heavy storms. The NSW energy minister, meanwhile, has confirmed energy provider Ausgrid wants the Australian military to help clear storm debris. "Their CEO (Richard Gross) raised it with me yesterday and of course I fully support it," NSW Energy Minster Matt Kean told Sky News on Wednesday. Ausgrid confirmed it had asked all levels of government for assistance, particularly for tree-clearing services. The NSW coast was drenched over the weekend, with up to 550mm of rain falling across parts of the northern rivers, Mid North Coast, Central Coast, Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra. A group of boys direct traffic through floodwater at Tempe in Sydney, Sunday, February 9, 2020. Source: AAP Ausgrid said power had been restored to 109,000 customers after "one of the worst storms to hit our network in the past 20 years", but about 31,000 customers remained without power at 7am on Wednesday. Fewer than 1000 Endeavour Energy customers also remain powerless. "Customers are being advised to prepare for outages into the weekend ... additional crews from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia are arriving to assist with the response," Ausgrid said in a statement. Emergency services were on Tuesday left to clear fallen trees, remove debris and extract cars from floodwaters around the Harbour City. The SES on Tuesday night said it had received some 12,951 requests for help since last Wednesday night, with 10,660 call-outs completed. Beach erosion is seen at Collaroy on the Northern Beaches on Monday. Source: Getty/Brook Mitchell 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. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Good news has been in short supply for iron-ore markets since China began shuttering swathes of the economy to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Prices gained after Vale SA offered a thin salve Tuesday, saying first-quarter output will be lower than previously anticipated because of heavy rains in Brazil. The market may be cheering a little too soon. Iron-ore supply was supposed to return to normal this year, after 2019 was marked by disruptions including a fatal accident at one of Vales dams and a tropical cyclone in Australia. The Brazilian heavyweight and Rio Tinto Group, which vie to be the worlds biggest shipper of the steelmaking ingredient, both plan to increase production. The prospect of higher supply was reflected in Australias quarterly forecasts, published in December, which saw prices easing to $60 per metric ton by 2021 more than a fifth below 2019s elevated average. The coronavirus epidemic has accelerated that trend by slashing demand in the worlds largest consumer of iron ore, pushing prices in Singapore below $80 by early February. The picture isnt encouraging. Chinas return to work is proving gradual, even with official encouragement. Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, accounts for about 2% of Chinese steel production, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Some mills are working, but downstream demand has been hit across the country. Iron-ore stockpiles are building at Chinas ports. Inventories of rebar, a benchmark for steel used in building work, stand at their highest level for early February since 2012. Carmakers also expect a production and sales hit: About 70% of dealers polled by the local industry association said earlier this week they had seen almost no customers since the end of January. Worse, the countrys role in global supply chains means there will be ripples. All of this will still be fine in the long run if two things happen next: first, if supply eases alongside demand; second, if China regains its appetite fast, perhaps aided by stimulus. Story continues The trouble for the market is that the current iron-ore price appears to have built in both assumptions. Optimism around the incremental number of virus cases, combined with Vales outlook, means Singapore futures are now down about 9% from when the epidemic began to look serious in mid-January. Domestic futures on the Dalian exchange have risen for two consecutive days, alongside stocks in steelmakers, cement companies and developers, encouraged by comments from President Xi Jinping. The output picture does offer some hope. There is consolation in Vales rain-hit first quarter, and indeed minor disruption around Cyclone Damien in Australia. Vales full-year output target of 355 million tons involves assumptions around permits that could yet see delays. Yet Rio Tinto, BHP Group and others expect higher output in 2020. Chinese production may also be less sensitive to weaker prices than it once was, ticking higher despite the virus. Demand is harder to forecast. There will be fits and starts, and the long incubation period for the novel coronavirus makes its path far harder to predict outside Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei. Supply chains will take months to repair even if the virus is contained. The biggest unknown is the shape of Chinas post-virus stimulus. Undoubtedly, it will lean on infrastructure, but that will take time to feed through. And dont expect a repeat of the swift post-SARS recovery in 2003, China was on an expansion path. That was also the case during the global financial crisis, when China splurged the equivalent of $586 billion on bridges and the like. China in 2020 has to weigh the need to crank up growth, with the end of its current five year plan looming, against the risks of causing a further buildup of debt and creating property bubbles. Infrastructure and construction, which traditionally account for most of Chinas steel and iron ore consumption, may benefit far less than in past crises. Much will become clear after the legislatures annual meeting in March (assuming it goes ahead on schedule). A sugar rush may well be on the way; it just may not be sweet enough. To contact the author of this story: Clara Ferreira Marques at cferreirama@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Matthew Brooker at mbrooker1@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. 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. US government claims the defendants arranged to buy sanctioned Iranian oil and sell it to a refinery in China. The United States Justice Department said on Tuesday it had charged five people in Texas and New York with conspiring to violate a law on international commerce by arranging to buy sanctioned Iranian oil and sell it to a refinery in China. The defendants include Daniel Ray Lane, president of privately held STACK Royalties, LLC a Texas-based company that sells oil and gas mineral rights to investment funds and private equity groups. The Justice Department charged the defendants with one count of conspiracy and another for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, based on allegations that from July 2019 to February 2020, they conspired to arrange for the purchase of oil from Iran for sale to an unnamed Chinese refinery. The charges also allege violations of US economic sanctions on Iran. The five suspects, in addition to Lane, are Nicholas Haven of New York and Robert Thwaites, Nicholas Fuchs and Zhenyu Wang, also known as Bill Wang, of Texas. Lane offered to further the conspiracy by laundering money through STACK Royalties, the Justice Department said. STACK did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China is the worlds only significant importer of Iranian oil despite sanctions US President Donald Trump unilaterally reimposed on Tehrans petroleum exports in 2018 after withdrawing the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. With the goal of illegally enriching themselves, the defendants conspired for over eight months to devise a scheme to violate US sanctions imposed on Iran, particularly the ban on foreign oil sales, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers. The defendants agreed to use a Polish shell company as a straw seller of the illicit oil and planned two shipments of oil per month, according to the charges against them. The Justice Department said Fuchs and Thwaites agreed to apply for foreign passports to set up offshore accounts that would not be reported to US authorities. By devising a scheme to purchase oil from Iran, conceal its origins via a refinery in China and make tremendous profits, US Attorney McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania was quoted in a government statement as saying, the defendants were also directly financially benefitting the nation of Iran in its quest to become a nuclear power, thus jeopardizing the safety and security of the United States and our allies. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 25 years and a fine of up to $1.25m, the department said. It was not immediately clear if the five had hired lawyers to represent them. The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, says the federal governments plan to fly national carrier is still on course. Mr Sirika, who was represented by the Director of Planning Research Statistics (PRS) in the ministry, Muhammad Shehu, made this known in Abuja during his speech at the 7th edition of the aviation workers week. The Theme of the event is Contributions of a National Carrier to the Socio-economic Development of Nigeria. He said the actualisation of the national carrier will create job to boost Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) of the nation. Mr Sirka commended the ministry`s effort in resuscitating and redefining the operational modality of the national carrier. He said, Our focus to fly national carrier is still on course, despite what we read on media. It is my hope that all we have lessons that will further shape our opinion of necessity of national carrier. At this juncture, permit me to salute the creative instinct and reflective intelligence of the joint council in the choice of the theme and efforts put in place to organise this traditional but important event. I am humble by your invitation, supportive spirit and a high sense of responsibility. Management can only look forward to lend more support in your future activities, the minister said. Chairman of Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council, Hector Nnadi, said objective of the programme was to examine management-labour relationship and map way forward for industrial harmony at the workplace environment. Over the time, we had to move beyond the fast-fading concept of union and management interactions to more relevant and impactful themes, generally viewed as more contemporary in the aviation industry. Motivated by the need for systematic examination and cross fertilisation of ideas, opinions and views with respect to cherished national ideal by aviation professionals, the annual seventh edition theme actually emerged. The concept is anchored on the desirability or otherwise of a National Carriers contributions to the socio-economic growth of our fatherland, he said. (NAN) There is no political context on renunciation of right to veto by Eurasian Union states, said Armenian Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan on Wednesday. According to him, the question of whether the Eurasian Union member states can refuse the veto is discussed not from a political point of view, but in terms of increasing the efficiency of the commissions. Asked to comment on the possibility of waiving the right to veto in some matters and transferring this right to a transnational organization, the Deputy PM noted that this issue has been discussed, and will be discussed more. The problem is that in many cases any function of the commission becomes invalid, since one of the governments vetoes, and the decision simply does not work, he noted. As the Deputy PM said strategic issue on the agenda was whether the commission should have the power to either cancel the veto or exclude the right to the veto as a whole. But there is no specifics in this matter so far, as "it is still at the strategic discussion stage, he noted. The specter of putting federally compliant Real IDs in peoples hands by Oct. 1 has left motor vehicle departments across the country scrambling. To meet the needs of the final wave of stragglers seeking a drivers license to board domestic flights in the months ahead, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles turned to a no-cost pilot program.The Real ID program, which was adopted by Congress in 2005 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, mandates that states thoroughly verify a persons identity with a document-intensive process. After multiple extensions for state governments to comply, the final cutoff date in October has been cause for growing concern among DMV officials nationwide.For example, when California launched Real ID in 2018 , the states offices were debilitated by long lines that forced Gov. Gavin Newsom to deploy to a strike team to modernize the agency last year. Other government leaders, like Oklahomas Gov. Kevin Stitt , are hoping that eleventh-hour investments in online portals will help clear residents faster for Real IDs.Nevada DMV Director Julie Butler said that while her office focuses on educating the estimated 800,000 residents who still need the new IDs about the other forms of federal documentation accepted by the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) such as passports and U.S. military ID the agency needed a contingency plan.After bad press and wait times of four to five hours in its Las Vegas offices, Nevada DMV officials looked for a better way to manage its appointments exclusive to its six metro offices with its walk-in wait times. The state contracted with vendor Qmatic for a no-cost pilot from December 2018 to April 2019. Upon completion of the pilot, a five-year contract was established with the vendor, costing $471,603 for the first year of service, followed by about $76,000-$80,000 annually until April 2024.Theyre trying to experiment with the QMatic system to dedicate a certain number of windows in our metro offices to service only Real ID customers and see how that works, Butler said. If that proves successful, thats a method that will continue until we get through the October push.The new system allows the DMV to track transaction data in near real time and staff to adjust as needed to the data. At the agencys six largest offices Carson City, Las Vegas and Reno the average wait time for walk-in customers has decreased by more than 42 percent from 69 minutes in 2018 to 40 minutes in 2019 whereas the volume of people seeking DMV services without an appointment in that time has risen more than 22 percent from about 356,000 to nearly 437,000, according to a recent release of the agencys quarterly data Nevadas previous queueing system posed serious metric-reporting issues, which delayed the DMVs response to upticks in walk-in and appointment customers, said Field Services Administrator Tonya Laney.The agency found that customers with appointments did not complain about wait times, but walk-ins became increasingly frustrated the longer their transactions took. If the department focused solely on walk-ins, there was an adverse effect on those with an appointment. It became clear, she said, that the agency needed to find a way to balance both types of customers effectively before the Real ID push in 2020.The DMV needed a tool that would provide near-real-time analytics so the 18 offices throughout the state could focus resources where the data showed it was needed most.Being able to drill down to the transaction level to determine additional training or staffing needs is a huge benefit, Laney said. We can address red flags we are seeing before they become issues for the customer or staff.But the department also sought input from work groups within the six metro offices to complement the data with human observations, she said. An idea adopted from these sessions was to section off DMV buildings to keep customers closest to the windows they would be served at.Our lobbies in some of our metro offices in Las Vegas and Reno are quite large, so to even save one or two minutes walking from the other side of the building to the window that youre going to be served at, cutting that in half adds up when you see 1,100 to 1,400 customers per day in that office, Laney said.Laney advised that other DMV-type departments looking to optimize service delivery need to move as many transactions as possible to alternate technology, which will allow an agency to better serve customers who have no choice but to come into the office.Currently, DMV office managers are aware that a typical transaction takes about 11 minutes. With the metric dashboards provided by the vendor, managers can identify a transaction lasting longer than average and provide additional assistance to staff on a case-by-case basis. The dashboards further aid in reporting the departments progress to the governors office and the public, thereby increasing transparency.We just knew we wanted to improve the customer and staff experience, Laney said. We knew if we could drive some of the traffic into the DMV at times [when] we had better coverage, that we could better manage the unknown waves of customers coming in at will without an appointment. One thing was clear from President Trumps State of the Union address last week theres no stopping Americas energy dominance. The case for unbridled optimism, in the presidents words, was clear from last weeks hopeful and forward-looking remarks. Thanks to our bold regulatory reduction campaign, the United States has become the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world, by far, President Trump declared. Our nation has risen quickly from energy dependence to global dominance, and theres no end to this unprecedented growth in sight. And though the average American may not realize it, the state of Americas energy industry has a powerful and positive impact on our day-to-day lives. First, and perhaps most obviously, energy has enabled the United States to become the largest economy in the world. Energy is no longer just a sector of our economy; it influences every product ever made and service ever contracted. The vast majority of products we use are made from petrochemicals; they are made with electricity and shipped to their final destinations thanks to fossil fuels. We could not even get to work, do our jobs, educate our children, pay our bills, or even cook dinner without the affordable, reliable energy we take for granted (but that nearly a billion people around the world dont have the opportunity to enjoy). It should be no surprise that states consistently ranking as the best in business climates also have strong energy production, and laws that support a healthy energy industry. And our economic leadership isnt just a function of our large population; Americans produce 3.5 times the economic output per capita of China and more than eight times that of India. Though there are many factors that contribute to the systems of poverty and oppression that plague those more populous countries, their heavy dependence on other countries for oil and natural gas is a significant influence. The more a people are subject to the fluctuating prices and the whims of their trading partners, the less personal and national security they know. The world needs a strong America if for nothing else, then for its energy resources. Vibrant domestic energy production and growing exports mean both the United States and our freedom-loving allies are less dependent on the Middle East and Russia for our critical energy needs. As one senior administration official said recently, Were literally exporting freedom to the rest of the world. Shipping American natural gas to Europe produces 41% fewer lifecycle emissions than Russian natural gas. And oil prices have been remarkably stable since the United States announced it has become a net energy exporter. Though the coronavirus has caused prices to dip, even the Iran missile controversy barely registered. As America becomes more dominant in global energy production, our power and the power of free-market nations will grow too. Resource wars over oil may be a thing of the past. Ultimately, nothing influences the human condition more than the availability of affordable, reliable energy. Even the most basic necessities we take for granted like clean water, sanitation, plentiful fresh food, and pharmacies on every corner are impossible without our modern energy infrastructure. Theres a simple reason Medieval diseases like typhoid, cholera, and dysentery have all but died out except in impoverished countries without access to electricity (plus a few cities with particularly severe homelessness crises). Measurements of public health, life expectancy, education, hunger, child labor, and nearly every other indicator of human flourishing improve along with access to energy. Even our environment stands to benefit from prosperity and flourishing. Americas air quality has improved dramatically even as our economy and population have skyrocketed. Though it might be counterintuitive to some, the environmental Kuznets Curve theory posits that as a countrys per capita income rises, so does environmental quality. Similarly, rising income on an individual level correlates directly with rising interest in preserving the environment. Its Maslows hierarchy of needs in action as peoples basic needs are taken care of, they become free to spend their time, money, and energy on higher pursuits, whether thats civic involvement or environmental protection. President Trump was right to tout Americas energy progress in his State of the Union. As the president noted, Our spirit is still young; the sun is still rising; Gods grace is still shining; and my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come. The Honorable Jason Isaac is Senior Manager and Distinguished Fellow of Life:Powered, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise Americas energy IQ. He previously served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Jeremy Christian said Wednesday he will not exercise his right to testify in his trial on murder and hate crime charges in the fatal stabbing of two men and the serious wounding of a third man aboard a MAX train in Northeast Portland in 2017. The development clearly came as a surprise to some in the courtroom. Both before and after the stabbings, Christian said he cherishes free speech and that speaking his mind is one of his most important rights. Christian told Multnomah County Circuit Judge Cheryl Albrecht that he alone made the final decision not to take the witness stand. He said he spoke to his attorneys Tuesday night about whether hed testify. One of his lawyers said theyd also discussed the topic many times before that. Thats a very important right to give up, the judge said to Christian. Are you feeling clearheaded? Like you understand everything? Making decisions for yourself? Yes, Christian responded. But Christian offered a confusing explanation of his reasoning. My biggest issue," he said, is if I end up going to prison, Im open to, you know, Im in prison. I testified. It opens up a can of worms ... possibly. He said during jury selection that he believes hes going to prison. Christian claims he was acting in self-defense on May 26, 2017, when he stabbed fellow passengers Micah Fletcher, Taliesin Namkai-Meche and Ricky Best because he believed they were infringing on his right to say what he wanted. Fletcher, then 21, survived, while Namkai-Meche, 23, and Best, 53, died within minutes. Christian has said he was exercising his free speech on the Green Line train that day. Witnesses said he unleashed a racist and xenophobic rant and then stabbed all three men in their necks. Namkai-Meche had held up his cellphone, Christian threw the first shoves and Fletcher pushed back. Video appears to show Best had no contact with Christian. Some witnesses testified that Christian was targeting two teenage girls, one who was wearing a hijab, with a hateful torrent about Christians, Jews and Muslims dying. Among the charges Christian faces are first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and second-degree intimidation, which is a hate crime in Oregon. Although Christians blood wasnt tested for alcohol until more than nine hours after the knife attacks, prosecutors used a formula to estimate that his blood alcohol content was .15% when he was on the train -- almost double the legal driving limit of .08%. Video shows Christian swigging wine from a plastic bladder on the train. Christians attorneys called their last witness Wednesday and plan to officially rest their case Thursday. The prosecution will present rebuttal experts on Thursday and Friday who are expected to say Christian has antisocial personality disorder. Thats essentially a criminal trait marked by violent and aggressive behavior with few or no feelings of remorse. Closing arguments could be Tuesday. The defense has called three psychologists who said Christian has cognitive deficits, autism and poor coping skills, which caused him to react the way he did because of his altered view of the world. Psychologist Patricia Warford said that in the days before Christian stabbed the men, he was overcome by stress because he couldnt find a job and was couch-surfing. Two days before, his parents told him they were going to throw out the large collection of comic books he stored with them, Warford testified. Christian had made some money by buying and selling comic books and he treasured many of them, she said. His world began to implode," Warford said. At the moment Christian stabbed the men, he had been growing increasingly agitated, felt threatened, went into fight mode and was on auto pilot," she said. He wasnt aware of what he was doing, she said. "Its more primitive parts of the brain reacting, Warford said. Christian doesnt have antisocial personality disorder, she said. During cross-examination of psychologist Timothy Derning, prosecutor Don Rees tried to drive home the point that Christian is violent by choice. Rees asked Derning if Christians past is indicative of who Christian is. Rees said that past includes robbing a convenience store, kidnapping its owner, going to prison, getting into 20 documented fights there, owning a gun even though he was prohibited from doing so, making many racist statements and being charged with the murders of two people. Have you heard of the duck test? Rees asked. No, I havent, Derning responded. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck, its probably a duck, Rees said. Ive heard of that, Derning said. So its possible, isnt it, that Jeremy Christian is exactly what he looks like? Rees said. Meaning what, exactly?" Derning asked. I have no further questions, Rees said. Also Wednesday, Christians attorneys called three witnesses who have known Christian since his preteen or young adult years in North Portland. The three apparently were meant to bolster the defenses contention that Christian isnt racist, he can be a kind person and that he went to prison when he was 20 and emerged seven years and 10 months later as a damaged person. Marcia Hoy said as Christian was growing up, he played at her home with her sons and she considered herself a second mom to him. I still am, Hoy said. I wouldnt abandon him. Hoy said Christian lived at her home for about a year when he was a teenager and paid a small amount of rent while he worked at Pietros Pizza because she wanted to teach him responsibility. Hoy said he was polite and had last visited her a month or two before the MAX train stabbings. I saw the news but I dont recognize that person, Hoy said. Carrie Self testified that she worked with Christian at the pizza restaurant in the late 1990s and they became friends. After he was released from prison, she noticed he was different. Before he went to prison, he was just a goofy kid, Self said. And when he came out, he was a little harder. ... His personality was different. Harder. More chip on the shoulder. Crystal Mawson told jurors she also worked with Christian at the restaurant and they dated for several months. She described him as nice, funny, jokester, sweet kid. -- 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. After the Wildhaber verdict, the county said the first $2.5 million would come from the countys self-insurance fund, which protects current and former county officials, employees and volunteers who face tort claims arising out of the performance of their official duties. The county had a special excess policy with Starr Indemnity & Liability Co. of Dallas which appeared to cover $10 million for wrongful acts after a $2 million deductible. However, a deputy director of the countys administration department said it wasnt known at that time how the company would treat the claim. County Councilman Tim Fitch, R-3rd District, said in December that he heard the county had been told by Starr and two other special excess carriers that covered the county during the period of the wrongful acts against Wildhaber that the county did not notify them of the lawsuit and the claim could be denied coverage. In comments to reporters on Monday, Page did not comment on what insurance companies have told the county. But he said the county expected to get repaid. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Activates $3.6 Million Across Ohio in 2019 Last year, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) and its philanthropic arm, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, announced more than $3.6 million in new or continued efforts to address critical health issues facing Ohio, including food and housing insecurity, behavioral health access, the opioid crisis, and infant mortality. Anthem's collaborations with local nonprofits also supported other health initiatives such as cancer prevention, heart health, children's physical activity, and addressing social determinants of health. "We are deeply invested in Ohio and we remain committed to partnership with local nonprofits, municipalities and state organizations in every corner of Ohio as the most effective approach to tackling our most pressing health concerns," said Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio President Steve Martenet. "We've served Ohio for 81 years and with more than 4,000 Anthem associates calling ourselves Buckeyes, our community commitment will only grow." Anthem associates gave 8,200 volunteer hours and donated $500,000 through associate giving programs, including a unique volunteer hour matching program through which Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation offers a $10 donation for every hour volunteered by an Anthem associate. Highlights of Anthem's and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation's 2019 efforts to promote health and wellness in Ohio included support of the following causes: Housing Insecurity: Through a series of grants totaling $285,000, Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation supported projects at Star House, Community Shelter Board, Homeless Families Foundation, and City of Columbus' CelebrateOne initiative, each addressing different but related aspects of housing insecurity in Greater Columbus. With a separate $75,000 contribution from Anthem, the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) developed the Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund to help recruit more landlords to participate in rapid rehousing and supportive housing programs throughout rural Ohio. Other housing insecurity grants focused on west central, southeast and southern Ohio. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Anthem and its Foundation awarded fuds totaling $214,000 to The National Alliance on Mental Illness Ohio (NAMI) and Hopewell Health Centers, working in conjunction with the Adam-Amanda Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Athens, Ohio to address access to treatment and housing issues for patients transitioning from inpatient behavioral health settings. The funds represented one of largest such financial commitments southeast Ohio has ever received. Food Insecurity: Through a $100,000 grant, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation launched the Food is Medicine program in partnership with southwest Ohio's Freestore Foodbank and UC Health to conduct food insecurity screenings and interventions. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation provided funding for the Cleveland Food Trust's Heart Smarts program as part of a $350,000 national grant in which healthy food education was conducted at neighborhood stores throughout Greater Cleveland. Healthy Moms and Babies: Anthem and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation awarded significant grants to the Central Ohio YMCA, March of Dimes, and Compass Point Housing in Portsmouth to address issues related to pre-term births and infant mortality, and housing security for pregnant women and moms, About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that make up its Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets: maternal health, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention, heart health and healthy, active lifestyles, behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates' donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005638/en/ The Centre on Wednesday launched initiative under which two teachers in every government school will be identified as 'health and wellness ambassadors' to spread awareness about the preventive health aspects. The School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat, which will be jointly run by the Union ministries of Health and Human Resources Development was launched by Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan, HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' and Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey. "The School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres shall foster the growth, development and educational achievement of school going children by promoting their health and well-being," Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan said as he rolled out of the joint initiative. This initiative will further strengthen the concept of preventive, promotive and positive health, which forms the fundamental cornerstone of the health and wellness centres of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, he said. This initiative will be effectively linked with other government initiatives such as Fit India movement, Eat Right campaign, Poshan Abhiyaan for an all-round and holistic development model of health for the school children, Vardhan said. Vardhan stated the efforts put in by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for developing 24-hour curriculum, materials for training of nodal teachers and facilitators guide were developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health. Emotional wellbeing and mental health, interpersonal relationships, gender equality, nutrition, health and sanitation, prevention and management of substance misuse, reproductive health and HIV prevention, safety and security against violence and injuries, and promotion of safe use of internet, media and social media are among the 11 identified themes. "In this new initiative, health promotion and prevention activities program has been added in addition to ongoing health screening program through Rasthriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams and provision of services (IFA, Albendazole and sanitary napkins). "While health screening and provision of services are ongoing activities, the newly added health promotion and prevention component will be implemented by two teachers identified in every school as 'Health and Wellness Ambassador'. These ambassadors will be supported by class monitors as 'Health and Wellness Messengers'," Vardhan said. The minister said a National Resource Group (NRG) of 40 members has already been constituted by NCERT who have sound training skills and experience in adolescent health. HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said the teachers are the best mentors for the children and now they will also act as 'health and wellness ambassadors' and will disseminate various key information by organising culturally sensitive activity based sessions for one hour per week for 24 weeks in a year to promote joyful learning. The first phase of implementation will be in all the public upper primary, secondary and senior secondary schools of aspirational districts. Subsequently, remaining districts will be taken up in the second year, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio A man wanted in connection with a shooting at a bar that left three people dead has been taken into custody by federal agents. The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Robert Shelton, 44, without incident at a residence in Liberty Township, authorities say. A female who had active arrest warrants also was taken into custody and will be charged with obstruction of justice. Shelton is expected to appear in court Wednesday morning, WKBN Channel 27 reports. Three men, identified as Charles Pullen, 37, Dymond Ortello, 34, and Daniel Ortello, 31, were killed early Sunday morning in the shooting at Brothers of Power Classic Cars Club. According to WHIO Channel 7, police say Daniel Ortello and Pullen were killed inside the club during an apparent shootout with each other. WHIO reports Shelton shot Dymond Ortello even though two police officers were on the scene treating a female for a shoulder wound. Shelton escaped when a crowd of people got in the way of officers. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comment section. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Akron man convicted of 2018 murder of Massillon woman, setting body on fire Man charged in shooting that killed one man, wounded another on Akrons West Side Man found dead inside Akron apartment after SWAT standoff, police say Cleveland police officer made unlawful traffic stop, threatened man who wanted to file complaint against him, court documents say Man robbed at gunpoint in downtown Cleveland Cleveland Fourth of July terrorism suspect sentenced to 14 years in federal prison A motorist was been fined for drinking from a plastic water bottle while driving during one of the hottest days of the year. Brock Harris, from Beaudesert, west of the Gold Coast, was pulled over as he was approaching his house after working 12 hours in 39C heat in October last year. The police officer said Harris was not driving with due care and attention, fined him $173 and gave him one demerit point. A driver has been fined for drinking from a plastic water bottle at the wheel (stock image) The stunned motorist said he was just trying to keep his fluids up on a scorcher of a day in south east Queensland, 'If it is against the law then I'll pay the fine, but it's not compassionate to fine someone on a 39-degree day for trying to stay hydrated,' he told the ABC: Mr Harris protested after he was pulled over but the police officer told him he was just doing his job. Queensland Police Superintendent David Johnson of Road Policing Command said drinking water while behind the wheel can be illegal if the driver loses control of the car. 'There are many people who consume drinks while driving and do it safely in a safe manner,' Supt Johnson told the ABC. 'For us to issue a fine we have to look at the circumstances to see if the driver's actions are causing risks to themselves or others.' Mr Harris' fine comes after a messy motorist was heavily fined for driving a car brimming with garbage. Queensland Police caught the man, 57, driving on Mount Gravatt Capalaba Road in Brisbane at midday on August 17. The footage released by police showed the old Ford Falcon sedan was loaded with shopping bags, empty cans, water bottles and cardboard boxes. Papers and catalogues were strewn all over the dashboard and the rear of the car. The trash in the car was obstructing front, back and side visibility. 'The car is full of rubbish,' a woman officer was heard on video as she inspected the car with a male colleague. 'As you can see the gentleman inside the car can't see anything. 'We have got serious concerns about his visibility. He's got no visibility on sides, no visibility off the rear at all.' Officers then handed the man a traffic infringement notice for two offences. He was fined $311 for driving a vehicle without clear view in all directions. Southwest Airlines has flown more than 17 million passengers on jets with safety concerns while the FAA allowed the lapses after the agency agreed with the carrier's own assessment that problems were 'low risk', a federal watchdog said Tuesday. The airline has flown more than 150,000 flights on 88 jets it bought on the used-plane market and which had unconfirmed maintenance histories, the Transportation Department's inspector general said in a strongly-worded report. That put more than 17 million passengers at risk, according to the report, 'FAA Has Not Effectively Overseen Southwest Airlines' Systems for Managing Safety Risks'. Southwest Airlines has flown more than 17 million passengers on jets with safety concerns while the FAA allowed the lapses after the agency agreed with the carrier's own assessment that problems were 'low risk', a federal watchdog said Tuesday A watchdog said oversight of Southwest's safety management system by the Federal Aviation Administration (pictured) was ineffective, resulting in a number of ongoing concerns' The watchdog said the 'FAA's oversight of Southwest's safety management system was ineffective, resulting in a number of ongoing concerns,' and that the agency relies on the carrier's own 'risk assessment indicating this is a low risk rather than requiring the airline to comply with its regulatory requirements.' A Southwest spokeswoman said the airline reviewed the report, and told DailyMail.com that 'we adamantly disagree with unsubstantiated references to Southwest's Safety Culture'. An FAA spokesperson referred to the agency's comments within the watchdog report, when DailyMail.com reached out for comment. The report comes after a hotline complaint about FAA oversight in early 2018 was made to the inspector general, that warned of 'inaccurate information being provided to pilots prior to flight,' among other issues. Then a Southwest engine failure caused a passenger's death in April 2018. Jennifer Riordan, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, mother of two, was sucked out of a window on the aircraft when the engine failed. The FAA reportedly knew about the defect, which had occurred on a Mississippi flight in 2016. The report also comes as the FAA is being investigated by Congress for its approval of the Boeing 737 MAX, the plane that was grounded after two crashes killed 346 people. The first disaster happened in October 2018 in Indonesia, when a MAX flying as Lion Air flight JT 610 fell into the Java Sea 15 minutes after taking off from Jakarta. All 189 aboard the plane died, including 180 Indonesians, one Italian and one Indian. The second crash occurred on March 10 when Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302, which also was a MAX jet, took off from Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital and crashed. Critics have said the FAA is too cozy with airlines and aircraft manufacturers. The inspector general began investigating the FAA's oversight of how Southwest handles risk after an engine explosion caused a passenger's death in April 2018. Jennifer Riordan, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, mother of two was killed in the tragedy Damage from a Southwest engine failure that caused the death of Jennifer Riordan, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, mother of two in April 2018 NTSB investigators examine damage to a turbofan engine that failed on a Southwest Airlines and caused the death of Jennifer Riordan, an Albuquerque, New Mexico, mother of two in April 2018 The report (pictured) also comes as yet another setback for the FAA, which is being investigated by Congress for its approval of the Boeing 737 MAX, the plane that was grounded after two crashes killed 346 people The inspector general's findings reveal that in 2017, FAA inspectors began finding 'potentially serious gaps' in Southwest's process for verifying the condition of the planes, including major repairs that weren't documented and maintenance records that didn't meet FAA standards. Meeting US standards normally takes up to four weeks per plane, but people hired by Southwest approved 71 of the planes on the same day, the inspector general said. Southwest said 80 of the planes have been inspected and returned to flying, and the last eight are undergoing maintenance. The FAA gave the airline until this summer to bring the planes in compliance with federal rules because it accepted Southwest's argument that the issues were low safety risks, the inspector general said. The watchdog office added that the FAA has not given its inspectors enough guidance on reviewing risk assessments and evaluating an airline's safety culture. 'As a result, FAA cannot provide assurance that the carrier operates at the highest degree of safety in the publics interest, as required by law,' the inspector general said. That is so even though 'FAA representatives - ranging from senior executives to local inspectors - expressed concerns about the safety culture at Southwest Airlines.' Southwest, while 'adamantly' disagreeing with the critique of its safety culture, said it has taken steps to address the report's key findings. 'Southwest maintains a culture of compliance, recognizing the safety of our operation as the most important thing we do,' the airline spokeswoman Michelle Agnew said in a statement. The airline works 'to improve each and every day, any implication that we would tolerate a relaxing of standards is absolutely unfounded.' Southwest Airlines statement addressing the February 11, 2020 Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General report, 'FAA Has Not Effectively Overseen Southwest Airlines' Systems for Managing Safety Risks' In 2018 the DOT Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated an audit of FAA's safety oversight of Southwest Airlines referencing an unsubstantiated hotline complaint and our 1380 event. Southwest fully cooperated with the OIG throughout the process, sharing a common goal of strengthening industry and Southwest Safety practices. We've had an opportunity to review the report and, among other items noted, we adamantly disagree with unsubstantiated references to Southwest's Safety Culture. Within the Audit, the OIG also takes a closer look at a few operational challenges that we've focused on during the last yearspecifically our Weight & Balance program and conformity work on pre-owned aircraft. The OIG data collection for the audit concluded last fall and since that time, we are proud to say that we've made significant progress on these two primary operational items mentioned in the draft audit report. We added commodity tracking in all of our domestic Stations by the end of 2019equipping Employees to further baggage count accuracy and enhance the integrity of our Weight & Balance Program. Our Tech Ops Team also has worked diligently to ensure that each of the 88 pre-owned aircraft cited in the report have either completed a comprehensive physical inspection, from nose to tail, or are currently in the inspection phase. Well ahead of the FAA's original deadline. The proposed civil penalty referenced by the FAA pertains to data processing issues that occurred while transferring aircraft weight information from one Southwest computer system to other computer systems in the spring of 2018. The issues were identified and reported by Southwest to the FAA in late July 2018 and fully resolved in early August 2018. Since discovering the data discrepancy in 2018, in coordination with the FAA, Southwest has enhanced its weight and balance program by implementing additional controls to strengthen the process of managing aircraft weight data in our systems. We are monitoring the performance of our overall weight and balance program closely to support our unwavering commitment to Safety, compliance, and continuous improvement. We continue our work with the FAA to demonstrate the effectiveness of our controls and processes and seek to achieve an effective and appropriate resolution to the proposed penalty. Southwest maintains a culture of compliance, recognizing the Safety of our operation as the most important thing we do. We are considered one of the world's most admired companies and uphold an unprecedented safety record. Our friends, our families board our aircraft and not a single one of us would put anything above their safety this mission unites us all. The success of our business depends, in and of itself, on the Safety of our operation, and while we work to improve each and every day, any implication that we would tolerate a relaxing of standards is absolutely unfounded. Advertisement Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said the report highlighted 'very concerning lapses in FAAs safety oversight,' and that the committee is investigating many of the same issues. The agency has agreed with all 11 of the inspector general's recommendations to improve oversight of Southwest, including new training for inspectors who monitor the nation's fourth-biggest airline. The review found a number of problems. In addition to insufficient maintenance records on used planes, for nearly two years Southwest frequently failed to give pilots correct information about the weight and balance of loads on their planes, which the inspector general called an important safety lapse. Last month, the FAA proposed a $3.9 million fine for improper weight calculations on more than 21,500 flights. Southwest can fight the penalty. Southwest has said it has improved its system for calculating weight and balance of cargo. The report also said FAA did not evaluate Southwest's risk assessment after a hard landing last year during dangerous gusty winds - higher than Southwest pilots are trained for - at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. Both wings of the Boeing 737 were damaged when they hit the runway during the first of three attempted landings before pilots flew to another airport, where they landed safely. Current methods for diagnosing depression are simply too subjective and imprecise to guide clinicians in quickly identifying the right treatment, Etkin said. In addition to a variety of antidepressants, there are several other types of treatments for depression, including psychotherapy and brain stimulation, but figuring out which treatment will work for which patients is based on educated guessing. To diagnose depression, clinicians rely on a patient reporting at least 5 of 9 common symptoms of the disease. The list includes symptoms such as feelings of sadness or hopelessness, self-doubt, sleep disturbances ranging from insomnia to sleeping too much low energy, unexplained body aches, fatigue, and changes in appetite, ranging from overeating to undereating. Patients often vary in both the severity and types of symptoms they experience, Etkin said. As a psychiatrist, I know these patients differ a lot, Etkin said. But we put them all under the same umbrella, and we treat them all the same way. Treating people with depression often begins with prescribing them an antidepressant. If one doesnt work, a second antidepressant is prescribed. Each of these trials often takes at least eight weeks to assess whether the drug worked and symptoms are alleviated. If an antidepressant doesnt work, other treatments, such as psychotherapy or occasionally transcranial magnetic stimulation, may also be tried. Often, multiple treatments are combined, Etkin said, but figuring out which combination works can take a while. People often feel a lot of dejection each time a treatment doesnt work, creating more self-doubt for those whose primary symptom is most often self-doubt, Trivedi said. Looking for a biomarker The EMBARC trial enrolled 309 people with depression who were randomized to receive either sertraline or a placebo. For their study, Etkin and his colleagues set out to find a brain-wave pattern to help predict which depressed participants would respond to sertraline. First, the researchers collected EEG data on the participants before they received any drug treatment. The goal was to obtain a baseline measure of brain-wave patterns. Next, using insights from neuroscience and bioengineering, the investigators analyzed the EEG using a novel artificial intelligence technique they developed and identified signatures in the data that predicted which participants would respond to treatment based on their individual EEG scans. The researchers found that this technique reliably predicted which of the patients did, in fact, respond to sertraline and which responded to placebo. The results were replicated at four different clinical sites. Further research suggested that participants who were predicted to show little improvement with sertraline were more likely to respond to treatment involving transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, in combination with psychotherapy. Using this method, we can characterize something about an individual persons brain, Etkin said. Its a method that can work across different types of EEG equipment, and thus more apt to reach the clinic. Etkin is on leave from Stanford, working as the founder and CEO of the startup Alto Neuroscience, a company based in Los Altos, California, that aims to build on these findings and develop a new generation of biologically based diagnostic tests to personalize mental health treatments with a high degree of clinical utility. Part of getting these study results used in clinical care is, I think, that society has to demand it, Trivedi said. That is the way things get put into practice. I dont see a downside to putting this into clinical use soon. Broad effort When EMBARC was launched, it was part of a broader effort by the NIMH to push for improvements in mental health care by using advances in fields such as genetics, neuroscience and biotechnology, said Thomas Insel, MD, who served as director of that institute from 2002 to 2015. We went into EMBARC saying anything is possible, Insel said. Lets see if we can come up with clinically actionable techniques. He didnt think it would take this long, but he remains optimistic. I think this study is a particularly interesting application of EMBARC, he said. It leverages the power of modern data science to predict at the individual level who is likely to respond to an antidepressant. In addition to improving care, the researchers said they see a possible side benefit to the use of biologically based approaches: It could reduce the stigma associated with depression and other mental health disorders that prevents many people from seeking appropriate medical care. Id love to think scientific evidence will help to counteract this stigma, but it hasnt so far, said Insel. Its been over 160 years since Abraham Lincoln said that melancholy is a misfortune, not a fault. We still have a long way to go before most people will understand that depression is not someones fault. (President Lincoln suffered bouts of depression.) Other Stanford co-authors of the paper are postdoctoral scholars Yu Zhang, PhD, and Jing Jiang, PhD; former postdoctoral scholar Gregory Fonzo, PhD; neuroscience graduate students Molly Lucas and Camarin Rolle; research assistants Carena Cornelssen and Kamron Sarhadi; clinical research coordinator Trevor Caudle; former clinical research coordinators Rachael Wright, Karen Monuszko and Hersh Trivedi; and former neuroscience graduate student Russell Toll. All Stanford authors, including Etkin, are affiliated with Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System and the Sierra Pacific Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center in Palo Alto. Etkin is a member of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford. Researchers at South China University of Technology, the Netherlands Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University and the Netherlands neuroCare Group also contributed to the work. Insel is an investor in Alto Neuroscience. The EMBARC study data are publicly available through the NIMH Data Archive. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (U01MH092221, U01MH092250, R01MH103324, DP1 MH116506), the Stanford Neurosciences Institute, the Hersh Foundation, the National Key Research and Development Plan of China, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. I am delighted to welcome Jim to head up the operations for this important part of the Catalent business. The experience that he brings will ensure that the company continues to grow while providing our customers with the most efficient and operationally superior services. Catalent, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products, today announced the appointment of Jim Walter as Vice President of Operations for its Oral and Specialty Delivery business. Mr. Walter will have operational responsibility for five of the companys facilities and will report directly to Jonathan Arnold, President of the business unit. In the role, Mr. Walter will be based at the companys Morrisville site in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, which is one of the sites within his responsibility. Additionally, he will oversee operations at Woodstock, Illinois and Malvern, Pennsylvania in the U.S., as well as Swindon and Dartford in the U.K. Mr. Walter joins Catalent from his most recent post as Senior Vice President of Operations and Engineering at Tinuum Group, where he managed its U.S. operations. Prior to this, he spent 23 years with Mallinckrodt covering a multitude of operational roles and ultimately, he served as its Vice President of Manufacturing and Facilities. Jim also served as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Navy. He holds a bachelors degree in math from the U.S. Naval Academy and is APICS-Certified in Production and Inventory Management. I am delighted to welcome Jim to head up the operations for this important part of the Catalent business, commented Mr. Arnold. The experience that he brings will ensure that the company continues to grow while providing our customers with the most efficient and operationally superior services. About Catalent Catalent is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products. With over 85 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable global clinical and commercial product supply. Catalent employs over 13,000 people, including over 2,400 scientists and technicians, at more than 35 facilities, and in fiscal year 2019 generated over $2.5 billion in annual revenue. Catalent is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.com More products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied. Ballour, as manager, would supervise their treatments, jumping in to perform emergency surgeries herself and making house calls for patients too sick to come to her, all the while remaining composed and human. It was also on her to find ways to keep the hospital a safe haven, ordering fortifications above ground when needed and scrounging for resources. With Ghouta under siege by government forces, the hospital survived on financial aid from medical nonprofits, while supplies of medicine, food and milk for children were all cut off and had to be smuggled in, Ballour said. Every day, Ballour and her largely-female team of doctors and nurses grappled with the kinds of challenges that medical professionals in other parts of the world rarely face: What to prescribe a sick, malnourished baby when theres no food? How do you perform a surgery without anesthetics? How do you keep a hospital running smoothly to the deafening soundtrack of bombings above ground and wailing parents below? The most difficult thing, Ballour recalled, was choosing which ones to help with the few resources they had. All of them have the same symptoms; all of them are suffocating, she said. But I had to choose: I will work with this child and the other will die. I always think about that. I feel I am guilty. Ballour, the second youngest of two brothers and three sisters, was always stubborn. Her eldest sister was married off at the age of 13, but when Ballour entered her teenage years, she insisted on finishing her education and going to college. I wanted to do something different, she said. Before I started studying medicine, I wanted to be an engineer. Her family refused to support her because in their eyes engineering was a mans job. So she switched plans, focusing instead on becoming a pediatrician, which seemed more palatable for her family, she explained. Later in her career, despite having proved herself as both a skilled doctor and a strong leader, she nevertheless constantly bumped up against the deep-rooted limitations of being a woman in a religiously conservative society. Architecture is often a matter of taste. Consider for example that the Old Executive Office Building was called the ugliest building in America by novelist Mark Twain and a monstrosity by President Harry S. Truman. The since-renamed Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, an example of French Second Empire style, is now a National Historic Landmark and considered by many to be a gem of Washington. To be sure, there have been some federal buildings about which there may be some regrets the brutalist-influenced FBI headquarters comes to mind but top-down, government-directed requirements are not the answer, something you would think an administration that supposedly champions individualism and minimal regulation would know. Wednesday, February 12th, 2020 (11:52 am) - Score 3,884 The UK Government has today proposed for Ofcom to take on the role of internet content regulator via a new legal duty of care, which would hand them the power to force company websites and social media firms into removing harmful content (e.g. bullying, terrorism, child abuse, self-harm and suicide imagery). Until now most of the online world has tended to operate through a system of self-regulation, which is working but is still frequently criticised for allowing some harmful content through the net (its very difficult to get this right and adding a law wont change that). In response the Government proposes to introduce a new law for websites, which would be enforced through a Code of Practice (CoP) via Ofcom. At this stage the Governments response to last years Online Harms White Paper is somewhat lacking in detail. For example, we note that theres no mention of either fake news or conspiracy theories in the text, which did previously feature. Likewise theres no solid information on enforcement, but last years paper did hint at the possibility of automated filtering systems and working with broadband ISPs to ban sites that failed to comply. The key focus of all this is clearly intended for the eyes of major content providers, with Twitter, YouTube and Facebook being primary targets, and on the positive side the Government seems to be focusing their efforts more upon companies. But theres still some confusion over where they draw the line and whether masses of smaller sites would face similar rules, which in practice may be unworkable. Trying to police the common public expression of negative human thought and balancing that against free speech is sadly fraught with danger (more on that later). Likewise the Governments approach almost seems to be portraying the offline world as safe by comparison (for children), which of course it isnt and adult supervision is a must. Priti Patel MP, UK Home Secretary, said: While the internet can be used to connect people and drive innovation, we know it can also be a hiding place for criminals, including paedophiles, to cause immense harm. It is incumbent on tech firms to balance issues of privacy and technological advances with child protection. Thats why it is right that we have a strong regulator to ensure social media firms fulfil their vital responsibility to vulnerable users. We should remind readers that the future legislation is also expected to include a second attempt at Internet Age Verification (here). This was originally due to be implemented by commercial websites and apps that contain pornographic content, with broadband ISPs being forced to block those that failed to comply. However that approach faced masses of delays and became beset by concerns over weak privacy controls (e.g. handing passports and payment details to companies linked with porn peddlers), cost, the potential impact upon sex workers (i.e. pushing them off-line and back onto the streets), freedom of expression and technical limitations (easy to circumvent, not least via VPN, Proxy Servers and DNS over HTTPS (DoH) etc.). Summary of Key Points from Gov Statement * Platforms will need to ensure that illegal content is removed quickly and minimise the risk of it appearing, with particularly robust action on terrorist content and online child sexual abuse. * The government will ensure Ofcom has a clear responsibility to protect users rights online. This will include paying due regard to safeguarding free speech, defending the role of the press, promoting tech innovation and ensuring businesses do not face disproportionate burdens. * To protect freedom of expression, the regulations will not stop adults from accessing or posting legal content that some may find offensive. Instead companies will be required to explicitly state what content and behaviour is acceptable on their sites in clear and accessible terms and conditions and enforce these effectively, consistently and transparently. * The duty of care will only apply to companies that facilitate the sharing of user generated content, for example through comments, forums or video sharing. Just because a business has a social media presence, does not mean it will be in scope of the regulation. Business to business services, which provide virtual infrastructure to businesses for storing and sharing content, will not have requirements placed on them. Fewer than 5% of UK businesses will be in scope. * The proposals assume a higher level of protection for children than for the typical adult user, including, where appropriate, measures to prevent children from accessing age-inappropriate or harmful content. This approach will achieve a more consistent and comprehensive approach to harmful content across different sites and go further than the Digital Economy Acts focus on online pornography on commercial adult sites. Some may get the impression above that the Government has watered their original proposals down, although much will depend upon the final legislation and what amendments are made. For example, on the surface it may sound positive that they are only focusing upon companies, but this becomes complicated when you realise that it could extend to web hosts, email providers etc. (e.g. you might run a website that isnt a company, but if your web hosting operator is still affected then indirectly the rules may still apply to you). A new law might thus result in websites trying to reduce their liability for bad content by introducing automated filtering systems, which are notorious for being overzealous and unable to understand context (e.g. people joking about blowing up a city vs actual terrorist discussions). Only bigger sites could afford to do this but the end result is usually significant over-blocking of lawful content (mass censorship). In keeping with that theres the age old problem of how you define things like bullying or hate speech in the first place and then separate that from related content or context, which may include criticism of the same subject, as well as satire, the right to cause offence, political free speech and so forth. Automated filters rarely get this right. The Government may thus risk creating a draconian censorship regime and harming free speech, like already happens in a number of places (e.g. China, Russia and North Korea, which allow no political dissent and deny their people freedom of speech, are also keen to impose censorship online). Andrew Glover, Chair of the UK ISPA, said: The White Paper outlines important steps towards maintaining and improving trust in online services and the wider digital economy. ISPAs consumer facing members have been instrumental in making the UK one of the safest places in the world to be online by providing customers with safety and security tools, so ISPA is broadly supportive of the white papers agenda. However, in order to effectively address online harms, it is important for interventions to be targeted at the specific part of the internet ecosystem, so we welcome the proposed approach of focusing measures on platforms that facilitate user generated content. There are a number of important questions that remain unanswered especially in a post-Brexit environment such as how Ofcom will use its new powers, how a regulator would deal with companies not based in the UK and ISP blocking including how the UK reacts to technical developments such as DNS-over-HTTPS. ISPA will be working with its members on these and other points as we enter the next phase of consultation. Toni Vitale, Partner at JMW Solicitors, added: The government has announced plans to make Ofcom responsible for policing social media for harmful content rather than setting up a new regulator for the internet. The details of exactly what powers and sanctions Ofcom will have remain unclear but childrens charity the NSPCC has called for GDPR level fines together with criminal sanctions. Their data shows that over 90 cyber-crimes are committed against children everyday so the need for action is undoubtedly urgent. That could mean companies such as Facebook with an $18bn turnover facing fines of over $700m but also the prospect of the company and individual directors facing criminal prosecutions and imprisonment. This would be a cultural shift for Ofcom. Whereas the data regulator the ICO has its own prosecutions team, Ofcom does not. The ICO has long campaigned for stronger criminal sanctions for data breaches including the power to impose prison sentences but so far the government has resisted. The new online harms regime may be the start of a new era with directors of largely US west coast based multinationals (often thought to be beyond the reach of national governments) facing the prospect of imprisonment if their companies fail to adhere to their duty of care to protect children online. The government will publish a full consultation response in Spring 2020, which will set out further details of the potential enforcement powers Ofcom may have. Check out the Governments Full Response. The bargaining unit that represents 62 assistant prosecutors in Union County wants to know why three employees within the prosecutors office received promotions with raises that account for about $92,000. The unit, the Assistant Prosecutors Association (APA), had a contract with the county that expired on Dec. 31, 2017. The unit says the $92,000 could have paid for a majority of the $130,000 needed to cover a 2% pay raise for three years theyre seeking for members. Due to promotions and reorganization in the prosecutors office there may be insufficient funds to fulfill the preliminary contract that was being negotiated, the bargaining units attorney, Juan Fernandez, told the county freeholder board last week during public comments. Fernandez said the raises sought are needed to help each attorney pay off student loans and afford to live in New Jersey. We felt the need to alert the freeholder board as to the challenges these men and women on the frontlines of protecting citizens of Union County are now facing, Fernandez told the freeholder board. We also ask that any further promotions be examined carefully, knowing that the assistant prosecutors have no received an increase since their contract expired in 2017. But the Union County Prosecutors Office, which came under new leadership in July 2019 when Lyndsay Ruotolo was appointed as acting prosecutor, says its hamstrung by previous administrations decisions. Prior to Ruotolo taking office, the former first assistant finalized agreements with three other bargaining units, the prosecutors office said. The finalization of those contracts within the prosecutors office left no available funds to resolve the APAs contract because of the states 2% banked cap rule, the office said. Even with Ruotolo making over $500,000 in reductions to the overall budget through the elimination of necessary positions, the tightening of operational expenditures, and the reductions of salaries associated with available vacancies, there are insufficient funds to settle additional contracts, stay within cap, and avoid layoffs, the prosecutors office said in a statement. But the APA says there wouldve been funds available, if not for the promotions of three employees. The prosecutors office says those three employees work in those positions for less than what others have made under previous administrations. The three employees the union says received significant raises after being promoted from assistant prosecutor to supervisory roles are Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Derek Nececkas, Investigative Supervisor David Hummel and Trial Team Supervisor Robert Vanderstreet. Nececkas position has been vacant since 2017 and makes up the bulk of the $92,000 in question. His salary increased from $96,000 to $155,000, an increase of $59,000. The prosecutors office says the funds for the deputy first assistant position came from a retirement within the agency. Nececkas, a 10-year veteran of the office, is paid $9,000 less than the woman who last held the position under former acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park, the prosecutors office said. Deputy First Assistant Nececkas did not leave a lucrative career in private practice or accept a senior staff position in Ruotolos administration for the money, the prosecutors office said. Rather, like everyone promoted to Ruotolos leadership team, he did so out of a desire to serve the public and improve the lives of the people of Union County. The bargaining units presentation was given to the freeholder board because the county allocates the budget for the prosecutors office. All promotions, salary increases and title changes are made with the discretion of Ruotolo, but must also gain approval from county department heads before being fully implemented, the prosecutors office said. About two dozen assistant prosecutors attended the freeholder meeting but did not speak. The union says additional positions were also created. One such position is director of county-wide police, policy, planning and training, which is held by a former Union County undersheriff. Assistant prosecutors are still getting annual step increases but not contractual ones, Fernandez said. For example, every assistant prosecutor who makes up to $100,000 received a $3,000 increase to their base salary every year they were out of contract, the prosecutors office said. The prosecutors office said Ruotolo was an assistant prosecutor in Union County for nearly five years and served as an officer in the APAs local office and as a trustee in the statewide organization. She knows firsthand how hard her (assistant prosecutors) staff works, supports them, and continues to be willing to work with the APA and the County to see the APA members fairly compensated," the offices statement said. The job of Union County prosecutor has been a revolving door since 2013. For the last seven years, there have been six acting prosecutors - none that have been permanently named to the role. County prosecutors are nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico. Mr. Buttigieg and Ms. Klobuchar, for instance, have virtually no support among black voters in national polls. Mr. Sanders has substantially more support among black voters and could easily claim the lead among them in the next round of national polling. His vast financial resources and status as a well-known returning runner-up give him some of the advantages that establishment-backed candidates have usually relied on to outlast activist-backed candidates. The apparent decline in Elizabeth Warrens standing has also allowed Mr. Sanders to consolidate the partys progressive left. The calendar offers few opportunities for her to regain her footing; the same is true for the other candidates with predominantly white, well-educated support. She will have to create her own magic, probably on the debate stage, the way Newt Gingrich did ahead of the South Carolina primary in 2012 or the way Ms. Klobuchar did last week. But despite the advantage of a potentially unified left, Mr. Sanders does not seem like a juggernaut poised to roll to the nomination, at least not yet. He has somewhat underperformed his final poll numbers in both Iowa and New Hampshire. It would be wrong to assume that all of the moderate voters would coalesce behind a single moderate candidate, but theres no doubt that the more moderate candidates, combined, have fared better than the sum of Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren. Party math and the magic 15 Most important, the Democratic nomination rules, which award delegates fairly proportionally among candidates who exceed 15 percent of the vote in a state or district, make it hard for him to win a majority of delegates on Super Tuesday with a plurality of the vote. Take Donald J. Trump in 2016 as an example. At this point in the race, he had a wider lead in national polls than Mr. Sanders does, won New Hampshire by a wider margin and would soon win Nevada and South Carolina by wider margins than seem likely for Mr. Sanders at this point. He then won a decisive victory on Super Tuesday. Yet under the Democratic delegate rules, he would have been left well short of a majority of delegates, potentially setting the stage for a contested convention. There are some situations where Mr. Sanders might nonetheless rack up a big delegate majority: if he is the only candidate who breaches 15 percent of the vote in a state, or if only he and one other person do so. This is possible; the non-Sanders candidates who are over 15 percent are generally in decline, while some of those on the rise are well beneath 15 percent. Even if three candidates get over 15 percent nationwide, the real key is whether three candidates will be over 15 percent in every state, as at least three candidates were in every state in the Republican contest on Super Tuesday in 2016. The difference between whether one or five candidates breach viability in a Sanders-friendly state like California might wind up being pretty narrow, and the whole nomination could turn on it. Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg hailed the results of the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night, but did not call Sen. Bernie Sanders the winner of the race. 'Here in a state that goes by the motto "Live Free or Die" you made up your own minds,' Buttigieg told a crowd of around 1,200 supporters at Nashua Community College. Buttigieg lost to Sanders in the Granite State by a narrow margin and timed his speech before the race was officially called. Both candidates will receive nine delegates. And the two were essentially tied in Iowa, with Buttigieg edging out Sanders on delegates, with the Vermont senator taking the popular vote. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg congratulated Sen. Bernie Sanders for his 'strong showing,' but didn't say Sanders won The campaign said about 1,200 of Buttigieg's supporters were at his primary night event at the Nashua Community College Chasten Buttigieg (left) joined his husband, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (right), onstage Tuesday night in Nashua 2020 hopeful Pete Buttigieg (right) hugs his husband Chasten Buttigieg (left) after he wraps up remarks in Nashua, New Hampshire Pete Buttigieg (left) invited his mother Anne Montgomery (center) and his husband Chasten Buttigieg (right) onstage after his speech on primary night Mayor Pete Buttigieg walks in front of his supporters outside a polling place on primary day Tuesday in New Hampshire 'I want to congratulate my competitors and their supporters on their campaigns here in New Hampshire,' Buttigieg said. 'I admired Sen. Sanders when I was a high school student, I respect him greatly to this day and I congratulate him on his strong showing tonight.' Buttigieg also name-dropped the other top hopefuls: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden, for their showings as well. Klobuchar bounced up to third place in New Hampshire, bypassing both Warren and Biden, who had come in third and fourth place, respectively, in last week's Iowa caucuses. Buttigieg made a slight dig at Klobuchar later in his speech, reminding the audience that she had mocked him for being a 'cool newcomer.' 'And I know that when you talk this way you might get dismissed as a naive newcomer,' Buttigieg said of his rhetoric of possibility, with the audience cheering in understanding. 'But a fresh outlook is what makes new beginnings possible.' The 38-year-old mayor put a positive spin on some of the other attacks he fought off this week in New Hampshire, including those from Biden who hammered him on his youth and inexperience. 'Many of you chose to meet the new era of challenges with a new generation of leaders,' Buttigeg said. 'So many of you decided that a middle class mayor and veteran from the industrial midwest was the right choice to take on this president not in spite of that experience, but because of it.' Buttigieg also elbowed Sanders' my-way-or-the-highway demeanor noting, 'Americans want the freedom to make choices for themselves on healthcare or on any other issue.' Sanders backs Medicare-for-all, while Buttigieg touts a plan he calls 'Medicare-for-all who want it.' 'And we can't defeat the most divisive president in modern history by tearing down anybody who doesn't agree with us 100 per cent,' Buttigieg added. Buttigieg thanked his volunteers at polling places throughout New Hampshire for cheering 'Vote Blue No Matter Who' when they encountered an opposing candidate on primary day. And as he finished his speech he welcomed his husband Chasten - who he called 'the love of my life' - and his mother onstage. Actor Kevin Costner, who campaigned alongside Buttigieg Monday, was also spotted at the venue. Buttigieg and the other Democratic hopefuls will next compete in the Nevada caucuses, which take place a week from Saturday. A week after that, voters in South Carolina will head to the polls for that state's primary. And three days later, 'Super Tuesday' happens, where voters from 14 states will choose their candidates. A new study published in February 2020 in the journal Cell Reports shows how the build-up of specific brain cell proteins are linked to altered gene expression that causes the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). About Alzheimer's AD is a debilitating progressive brain disorder that robs the victim of personality, memory, and other critical cognitive skills. The root cause is the degeneration of brain cells which leads to dementia. Dementia is a term that refers to the decline of thinking, behavior, and social skills, significantly impairing the person's capacity for independent living. AD is the most common cause of dementia in the US, with about 5 million Americans being affected by it. The condition takes an immense toll on the patient and caregivers. In the UK alone, there are about 850,000 people with dementia. At present, there is no cure for this condition. Some medications may help some people with AD to live independently a while longer. The disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who, in 1906, examined the brain tissue from a woman who had died of mental illness, showing loss of memory, problems with language and confusing behavior. The brain showed clumps and tangles of proteins, which are now called amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, respectively. These are still thought to be among the primary features of AD. Moreover, nerve cells in AD appear to lose connection with each other, disrupting the neural networks that are the most essential fundamental structures endowing the brain with its immense range of functionality. Initial nerve cell damage appears to be in the hippocampus, which is the brain area related to memory formation. As the damage spreads, the brain is finally shrunken. AD and Tau Tau tangles are formed when phosphate chemical groups are added to it in excessive amounts or at abnormal sites. This causes misfolding, or abnormal folding, of this once-normal protein, causing tau to form paired helical fragment or neurofibrillary tangles. Alzheimer's disease: Tau proteins aggregate to neurofibrillary tangles in a neuron axon. The transport of synaptic vesicles is disrupted. 3d rendering. Image Credit: Juan Gaertner Older studies have shown that the presence of Tau tangles is a dependable predictor of which part of the brain is going to show atrophy in patients with AD a year or even more before the actual damage sets in. The discovery provides a quantum shift from the traditional thinking that amyloid plaques are THE primary characteristic of brain degeneration in AD. The findings could explain why traditional therapies for AD that target amyloid plaques have not been successful, by and large. While Tau proteins were long disregarded as merely a marker of neuronal death, recent research indicates its driver' s-seat role in AD. A telling finding has been that amyloid accumulates in many areas of the brain, and is sometimes present in the brain of people without any clinical features of AD. On the other hand, tau protein accumulation occurs in the very regions that show the most significant shrinkage, and these locations also correlate better with the functional loss experienced by the patient. Such research has been advanced by the development of nontoxic tracer molecules that bind to the abnormal forms of tau in the brain, emitting mild radioactivity, which can then be picked up by PET imaging. The study The new study was performed on mice with gene mutations in the areas encoding beta-amyloid and tau proteins. They looked at how each protein gradually increased in concentration within the brain and simultaneously observed the activity of the associated genes. The results The scientists found a profound change in the way many different genes were expressed as tau and amyloid accumulation continued. This was particularly noticeable with Tau and could imply that this protein's deposition was more evidently related to the effect on gene regulation than the amyloid. Many of the genes whose activity is conditioned by this build-up are already established risk factors for AD. The widespread changes that occur in the mouse brain in response to the aggregation of Tau and amyloid reflect those seen in human brains from AD patients. Implications The researchers suggest that this knowledge will enable the identification of new treatment targets that may one day result in the development of drugs to counter AD. Dr. Sara Imarisio of Alzheimer's Research UK comments, "Genetics plays an important role in the development of diseases like Alzheimer's and teasing apart the processes contributing to disease is crucial in the hunt for breakthroughs, which will change lives. Future research capitalizing on genetic findings like this is a top priority for dementia researchers around the world." SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nextdoor announced a new app for Public Agencies, a free tool that directly connects local and regional agencies with verified members who live within relevant service areas. The Nextdoor for Public Agencies app allows cities, counties, police departments, fire departments, and more to quickly and easily reach Nextdoor members with crucial, real-time information. This app was one of the most requested products by Public Agencies. It further differentiates Nextdoor as the essential go-to platform for building safer, stronger communities by connecting neighbors and helping them stay informed. "Neighbors turn to Nextdoor every day to find trusted, relevant information about what's happening where they live," said Tatyana Mamut, Head of Product. "We developed the Nextdoor for Public Agencies app to provide even more useful information. Now, our agency partners can securely send information to their constituents with the tap of a button anywhere and anytimeeven when they are away from their desk, after hours, or in the field." "The Nextdoor for Public Agencies app has been the most effective tool for reaching verified residents with real time, safety-related information," said Chief Charles Husted of the Sedona, AZ Police Department. "With the app, we are now able to post critical Emergency Alerts from the field, which is crucial in our line of work. Just recently, a member of the community spotted and called 911 about a suspect while we were actively searching. It's truly amazing to see this teamwork between our community and the police department come to life." The app is an addition to the other essential tools that Nextdoor offers its Public Agency partners. Instant access to real neighbors Nextdoor for Public Agencies gives partners instant access to verified neighbors. Government partners will never have to gain followers or worry about connecting with the right residents. Delivery of safety and preparedness information Members can assure that the information they're receiving is from an official government source. Nextdoor for Public Agencies only allows verified agencies to participate. "Emergency Alerts" feature Agency partners can use this feature to send urgent information, like extreme weather changes or a missing person alert, to specific neighborhoods, police beats, or other custom areas. "Forward to Police" feature Residents can use this feature to forward crime and safety related posts and Urgent Alerts to local police staff on Nextdoor. This feature is only available to Law Enforcement agencies. "We cannot overstate the importance of the utility of this app, both as an engagement tool, and as a way to better understand the pulse of our community," said Katie Nelson, a Bay Area law enforcement agency representative. With Nextdoor, we better understand what types of information our neighbors need in order to feel safe and informed." The Nextdoor for Public Agencies app is available for iOS and Android users in the U.S. It requires no additional technical integration and is free for agency partners and residents. Download the app here, and to learn more about Nextdoor for Public Agencies please visit us.nextdoor.com/agency. About Nextdoor, Inc. Nextdoor is the neighborhood hub for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services. We believe that by bringing neighbors together, we can cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Building connections in the real world is a universal human need. That truth, and the reality that neighborhoods are one of the most important and useful communities in our lives, have been a guiding principle for Nextdoor since the beginning. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, and Canada, with many more to come. Nextdoor is a privately-held company based in San Francisco with backing from prominent investors including Benchmark, Shasta Ventures, Greylock Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Riverwood Capital, Bond, Axel Springer, Comcast Ventures, and others. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom. SOURCE Nextdoor, Inc. Related Links http://nextdoor.com John Lee Cowell took the stand Tuesday morning in the Nia Wilson murder trial, invoking aliens in his explanation of why he killed the 18-year-old woman on the MacArthur BART platform in July 2018. Cowell testified that he heard voices the day of the murder, although he said he could not remember what the voices told him. He also made "bizarre" statements about aliens implanting technology in his body and putting "fake skin" on people. "There were three black females working together. They were threatening to assault my grandmother," Cowell testified. "They were standing over me and they would not walk away from me. They were staring me down. They were trying to prove that I would be a victim." Cowell, 29, is accused of fatally stabbing Wilson with a knife and attempting to kill her sister Letifah. Nia Wilson bled to death on the BART platform, although Letifah recovered from her injuries. Cowell pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and his legal team argued schizophrenic delusions fueled his deadly spree. Prosecutors said they will seek a life sentence against Cowell. Cowell, who was raised in Concord, has a history of violence and arrests dating back to his teenage years. "As bad as it is, Im not fully surprised that this (the killing) happened," a former classmate told The Chronicle. "Nobody I know is necessarily shocked. He was always in trouble, in fights. It was crazy. He was an angry, violent person." In December 2018, Cowell's defense attorney, Christina Moore, stated her client was unfit to stand trial because of his "extreme delusion" and "extreme paranoia"; Alameda County Superior Court Judge James Cramer ruled in her favor, suspending criminal proceedings due to "substantial evidence" Cowell was not mentally competent. In July 2019, Cramer reinstated proceedings after a report by UC Davis psychiatrist Jason Roof found Cowell competent to stand trial. In December 2019, the trial got the final go-ahead after Cramer ruled the defense hadn't met the burden of proof to once again to prove Cowell's mental unfitness. The judge said Cowell was not cooperating with doctors appointed to evaluate him, noting that Cowell has a history of mental illness, but doctors who previously examined him felt he was "malingering" to avoid trial. Very few defendants attempt an insanity plea in the United States. In order to be found not guilty by reason of insanity, the defense must prove their client was legally insane at the time they committed the crime. In California, an individual is considered legally insane if they did not understand the nature of their crime or if they did not understand their actions were wrong. Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who brutally tortured and killed nearly 20 men, used the insanity defense but was found guilty of first-degree murder. Famously, John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, was found not guilty by reason of insanity a ruling so controversial that it led to the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984. On the first day of the trial, Cowell was removed from the courthouse after he refused to stop talking during the prosecution's opening statement. Minutes into the prosecution's opening statement, Cowell began arguing with the prosecutor's retelling of events. He was cautioned by the judge to remain silent but continued speaking and was "physically removed from the courtroom by deputies," reported KRON's Amy Larson. Cowell was not present on days two and three. The prosecution rested its case on Monday afternoon. Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear a petition filed by Sara Abdullah Pilot challenging the detention of her brother and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah under the Public Safety Act or PSA. The case will be heard by a bench of Justices NV Ramana, Mohan M Shantanagoudar and Sanjiv Khanna. Below are the five grounds raised by Sara Abdullah in her petition challenging Omar Abdullahs detention: 1. Material on the basis of which the detention order was passed was not disclosed or supplied to Abdullah: ...this Honble Court has, in a catena of judicial pronouncements, held that the non-supply of material forming the basis of the grounds of detention vitiates the order of detention making it unconstitutional and liable to be quashed, Sara Abdullah stated in her petition. 2. The detention order is vague and irrelevant without any material facts and particulars and showed non-application of mind by the District Magistrate who passed the order: It was her argument that none of the grounds in the detention order disclose as to precisely which prohibited action listed in Section 8(3)(b) of the PSA was committed or likely to be committed by Abdullah. 3. The dossier handed over to Abdullah along with the order of detention under the PSA contains patently false and ridiculous material: ...the dossier handed over to the detenu along with the order of detention under the PSA contains patently false and ridiculous material, essentially accusing the detenu of becoming a popular figure among general masses and possessing considerable influence over people, the petition said. 4. There is enough evidence to prove that there was no likelihood of Abdullah indulging in activities which would be prejudicial to public order: The petition referred to tweets and public statements of Abdullah which Sara said was proof that there was no likelihood of Abdullah indulging in activities which would be prejudicial to public order including tweets put out by him cautioning people against resorting to violence and taking law into their hands. There is overwhelming evidence in the form of tweets and public statements made by the detenu prior to this detention that point towards the exemplary conduct of the detenu wherein the detenu as a votary of peace and public order has repeatedly requested the general people to maintain peace and tranquillity. These tweets have in fact had the required effect with several thousand people retweeting and endorsing the sentiment. 5. No fresh grounds or material exist to detain Abdullah after his earlier detention under Section 107 CrPC lapsed: She pointed out that Omar Abdullah was earlier detained from August 7, 2019, under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which empowers executive magistrate to order a person to execute bonds for keeping the peace. After the lapse of detention order of August 2019, existence of fresh grounds and material were essential for ordering further detention of Abdullah but there were no such new material which justified the PSA order, said Sara. ...on expiry of an order of detention, a new order of detention cannot be issued without the existence of new facts/ grounds and new material substantiating such grounds and any such order passed without such new facts and material would be illegal and liable to be set aside, the petitioner argued. Unidentified people opened fire at the convoy of the newly elected legislator in Southwest Delhi when he and his supporters were returning home after visiting a temple after his victory, killing a party volunteer, police and a senior AAP leader said. The firing incident happened in Kishangarh village late Tuesday night. Police said they have detained a person for questioning and the incident appears to be a case of personal enmity. Sources said seven rounds were fired at the MLA's convoy. Another person injured in the incident has been admitted to a hospital. AAP leader Sanjay Singh identified the dead party volunteer as Ashok Mann. "Convoy of MLA attacked in Mehrauli, Ashok Mann killed. was returning home after visiting a temple," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. "At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," AAP tweeted. Ankit Lal, AAP's social media in-charge, added that miscreants in another car opened fire on the MLA's convoy near Fortis Hospital. A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business' Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here. Stocks have generally shrugged off the coronavirus scare briefly falling when the outbreak looks to be accelerating before continuing on an upward trajectory. In other corners of the market, however, the coronavirus has been much more consequential. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark for oil prices, had their best day since early January on Wednesday, finishing up 3.3%. But they're off again on Thursday after the International Energy Agency said that quarterly global oil demand will shrink for the first time in more than a decade reinforcing broader concerns about the energy outlook. Brent prices remain near $55.10 per barrel, well below the six-month average of $61.79. The S&P 500's energy sector, meanwhile, has shed 9.1% this year. The broader index is up 4.6%. Concerns about demand from China are also weighing on commodities like copper. ING strategists, in recent note to clients, explained the problem this way: 'China is the kingpin of the global commodities market. The longer factories remain closed, travel restricted and construction stalled, the larger the ramification for commodities demand.' Trouble in Europe: The euro has also come under strain as investors pile into the US dollar, which is considered to be a safe-haven investment. The currency has hit its lowest level against the dollar since May 2017 as concerns about Europe's economic resilience grow, particularly in Germany. The euro has declined seven of the last eight days, Deutsche Bank points out. Stocks aren't totally immune to fears about the coronavirus, falling Thursday after the Chinese province at the center of the outbreak reported a record spike in deaths. But Ed Yardeni, president of investment advisory Yardeni Research, told clients Thursday that 'most S&P 500 sectors have also bounced back nicely from the coronavirus scare.' Looking beyond stocks, though, the market rebound could be more drawn out especially as countries other than the United States begin to tally up the economic impact. Barclays CEO under investigation over Epstein links The American chief executive of Barclays, Jes Staley, is being investigated by British regulators over his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, the bank said Thursday. The details: Barclays said the relationship between Staley and Epstein was the subject of an inquiry from the Financial Conduct Authority, to which Barclays responded. The regulator then launched a probe still ongoing into Staley's characterization of the relationship to Barclays, and what the bank then told regulators. Stock drop: Shares in the bank were trading as much as 3% lower in London on Thursday morning. Staley has run Barclays since late 2015. Prior to that he worked for more than 30 years at JPMorgan Chase, where he served as head of the investment banking division. JPMorgan declined to comment. In its statement, Barclays said Staley had developed a professional relationship earlier in his career with Epstein, who died in jail last year while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The bank said Staley had told the board that he had no contact with Epstein since becoming Barclays CEO in December 2015. The board said Staley still has its full support. But the investigation adds pressure on a CEO who has already faced blowback from shareholders over his commitment to investment banking, as well as growing calls for the bank to wind down its financing of fossil fuel producers. Why BP's new climate targets are a big deal BP, facing growing pressure over the climate crisis, has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner, putting the rest of the oil industry on notice. The promise: Bernard Looney, the company's new CEO, has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its global operations, as well as emissions that result from the oil and gas it produces, to net zero by 2050. By that same date, BP aims to halve the carbon intensity of all the products it sells. It's reorganizing the firm to make this happen. Details about exactly how BP will reach these goals remain scant ahead of a presentation in September. Still, the commitments are the most ambitious from any major oil company to date. Shell has set targets to rein in emissions from its products, but hasn't gone as far, while America's Chevron and ExxonMobil lag far behind. 'It's clear that net zero is where investors are pushing companies,' Andrew Logan, senior director of oil and gas at Ceres, a nonprofit that lobbies for companies to take action on climate change, told me. BP's shares rose 1% after the announcement, indicating investors could get on board. But low oil prices could make life difficult for BP as it attempts a major transition. Shares are off 3.5% on Thursday. Up next Airbus, Alibaba, Nestle, Nissan, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo report earnings before US markets open. Cloudflare, Datadog, Expedia, Mattel, Roku and Yelp follow after the close. Also today: US inflation data for January arrives at 8:30 a.m. ET. Coming tomorrow: US retail sales for January are expected to highlight the strength of the American consumer. Teacher's creative door decorations for Black History Month inspire originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Last year, this Florida elementary school teacher made national headlines for her Black History Month door decorations celebrating natural hair. This year, she decided to take it up a notch, and, instead of decorating just one door, she created two in honor of Black History Month. PHOTO: Teacher Chanique Davis, poses in front of her decorated doors that honor Black History Month in Fla. (Courtesy Chanique Davis) "Decorating doors and teaching [students] about culture allows me to mold and shape their minds, and their hearts to be respectful and kind," Chanique Davis, 32, an art teacher at Lake Alfred Elementary School in Lake Alfred, told "Good Morning America." The first door is another homage to natural hair, featuring different protective hairstyles, an important part of African American women's hair culture, Davis said. PHOTO: Chanique Davis celebrates the natural hair movement for Black History Month. (Courtesy Chanique Davis) MORE: Black History Month: Celebrate black authors with these book picks A licensed hair braider herself, Davis explained to "GMA'' that the protective hairstyle is an integration of natural hair with real hair extensions. PHOTO: Chanique Davis had her 5th grade Art Club students work on a project called, 'keep Calm, Don't Touch My Hair,' with real hair extensions. (Courtesy Chanique Davis) "Last year, I wanted to pay tribute to the natural hair movement. My goal was to really just show awareness and talk about the beauty in the culture of 'Locs' because there is so much controversy with 'Locs' being allowed in schools and in corporate America," she said. "I was honestly shocked [by the photo going viral]. Honestly, I didn't realize that just doing a door decoration would get so much attention." But cotton or paper hair would not do then or now. PHOTO: Chanique Davis said she wanted to highlight the beauty and versatility of black hair. (Courtesy Chanique Davis) "I used real hair extensions on my actual door," Davis added. "When my clients come to my house to get their protective styles, sometimes they have bought too much hair or there's hair leftover. So I had all of this extra hair and I thought, 'let's make art.'" The second door is dedicated to media entrepreneur Tyler Perry, who went from producing his own stage plays to just last year opening Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Story continues PHOTO: Chanique Davis honored legendary entertainer, Tyler Perry, by decorating her door with his famous character, Madea. (Courtesy Chanique Davis) "The reason why he is so important to the African American community is because he shows perseverance -- a true example of black excellence," Davis said. Perry is also personally relevant to Davis because they share a similar story of determination. "His story is of overcoming homelessness and that is part of my story. I was homeless for three years when I was younger," Davis shared with "GMA." "So sharing his story and sharing my story go hand-in-hand in teaching the children that just because you started from a place doesn't mean you have to stay there." MORE: 'On Their Shoulders': Michael Strahan pays tribute to 5 heroes for Black History Month While she is glad her doors are raising awareness, Davis said she just hopes to teach her students to learn to have a deep appreciation for diversity and beauty within other's cultures. PHOTO: Chanique Davis said she teaches her students to respect all people, no matter what they look like. (Courtesy Chanique Davis) This year, Davis will also decorate her door for Hispanic Heritage Month and National Native American Heritage Month. "Just being tolerant isn't enough," she said. "I want them to be appreciative of the beauty of people who are different than them." COLUMBUS Wedding event chain Noahs Event Venue has closed abruptly after filing for bankruptcy protection in May, sending couples scrambling to find alternative venues. The Utah-based company, legally known as Noah Corp., had 42 event venues in 25 states and more than 500 employees when it filed for bankruptcy, according to a court filing. Kenneth Cannon, an attorney with Durham, Jones & Pinegar in Salt Lake City who is representing the company, told an Arkansas TV station that there could be as many as 7,500 people affected by Noahs closures and refunds were unlikely. "Noah legally owes (refunds) to everyone, there's no dispute about that," Cannon told the USA TODAY Network's Des Moines Register in an interview. "The problem is that there's nothing that I know of, there's not very much, to be able to repay people with." Noah's Event Venue closed suddenly last week and now many Des Moines couples are without a wedding venue. The empty building is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in West Des Moines. The company had struggled to negotiate down unaffordable leases and faced a lawsuit, filed in April 2019, alleging fraud after investors put millions of dollars in a planned Noah's Event Venue in Indiana that was never built. Noah's was founded by William Bowser, who was still serving as president when the company filed for bankruptcy. He blamed the company's failure on poor business decisions. "In short, we simply grew too fast and lost our ability to react quickly to an ever-changing market by focusing too heavily on new locations versus making sure the fledgling locations had all the proper support," he said in a court filing May 31. He also blamed the "unmitigated failure" of a property acquisition venture called Duo to attract weddings, "which deepened the already brewing financial distress of the core business." Bowser also blamed smaller wedding guest lists, excess expenses, escalating lease costs and increased property taxes. Noah's Event Venue closed suddenly last week and now many Des Moines couples are without a wedding venue. The empty building is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in West Des Moines. But investors who sued accused Bowser of leading a Ponzi scheme, saying he used money intended for certain projects to pay off other projects and operations. Story continues A federal judge in June issued a writ of attachment requiring founder Bowser to surrender $845,000 from the sale of his $2.4 million home in Park City, Utah, to the investors. Cannon, the attorney for Noah, was not immediately available to comment Wednesday on those accusations on behalf of Bowser. Brides, grooms scrambling to find alternative venues Morgan Redman and her fiance, Mike Evans, are among the couples across the country who are scrambling after locations closed abruptly. Redman had planned an intimate destination ceremony this month in Hawaii and a 200-person reception back home in the Columbus, Ohio, area in March. They paid Noahs about $17,000 for their venue, bar tab, lighting upgrades and linens. But the night before the couple were set to leave for Hawaii, Redman found out that the site of their reception, Noahs Event Venue in New Albany, Ohio, was closing its doors for good. We were blindsided, said Redman, 25, of Dublin. Redman said that when she and Evans met with their coordinator late last week to go over last-minute details and make their final payment, everything seemed fine. But when a friend told her Saturday that she heard Noahs was closing, Redman quickly emailed her coordinator. She said it was true. I told her I needed to speak with corporate, but the corporate lines are turned off, Redman said. I dont think we can talk to anyone about getting money back. Since she landed in Hawaii on Monday morning, Redman has called more than 60 vendors looking for a new venue. The sudden closure has also sent Alan Gudino and Alicia Champagne scrambling. The Ankeny, Iowa, couple, both 25, had already sent save-the-date cards to family members and friends for their Aug. 15 wedding when they learned Friday that the West Des Moines venue they had paid thousands of dollars to reserve for the big day had shut down. Now, they plan to go to a local courthouse to say their vows. "We spent close to $7,000 (at Noah's) and we really don't have any more money to get a venue," Gudino said. Gudino said he and Champagne heard about the closure in news reports Friday. Noah's did not contact them until Monday afternoon, when it emailed a statement to clients informing them it was bankrupt and would not be hosting planned events. The statement says clients "will be eligible to file for an administrative claim" to recover the money they've spent but does not give information on how that process works. The phone number and other contact information for the venue have been removed from its website. Gudino said he and Champagne had reached out to the West Des Moines Noah's location after she heard other locations had closed their doors. "She called them a month ago, and they reassured her that they were still open, that they weren't going to close," Gudino said. Venues in Ohio, Iowa and elsewhere quickly offered deals to help stranded couples. A nationwide Facebook group created Sunday called "Those Affected by Noahs Event Venue Closing & Venue's Willing to Help Out" ballooned to nearly 1,500 members Tuesday. Joe Gatto, owner of Baratta's and the Forte event space in Des Moines, offered free rental of Forte for couples spending over $5,000 on catering through Baratta's. Gatto said he hopes to use his connections with other event spaces in Des Moines to help couples who lost their space at Noah's. "We don't want them to have a bad experience. I want to be able to help them through that, and I think we can," said Gatto, a Des Moines city councilman. "We have the means to be able to do that in the Des Moines area." When Josh Staley heard about Noahs closing, he told his wife, Michelle, that they needed to help. The Staleys, who host the Columbus Wedding Podcast, bought an event venue in November in Chillicothe called the Postmark. The Postmarks grand opening was set for March 29, but the Staleys decided to open early to help any former Noahs customers who need a venue. Theyre also waiving the rental fee for those clients. Our wedding wasnt exactly perfect, and we had some experiences that we dont want anyone else to deal with, Josh Staley said. Our hearts play a bigger role than our business sense or making money. Several other central Ohio wedding venues are offering discounts to couples affected by the Noahs closure, including the Annex at 801, the Estate at New Albany, Magnolia Hill Farm, Via Vecchia Winery and the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Courtney Heibel, an event planner with her Columbus-based company Rooted Together, said shes offering to help plan three former Noahs couples weddings at no charge, and half off for any additional couples. Heibel suggested that couples check with their bank or credit card company to see if they can get some of their money back. She also said to alert all vendors and ask for suggestions on how to proceed. It is insane and beautiful to see how the Columbus wedding vendors are getting together to help, she said. As for Redman, she said shes still trying to find a Columbus venue that is available for her March 14 reception. Follow Columbus Dispatch reporter Sheridan Hendrix on Twitter @sheridan120. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Weddings chain Noah's Event Venue closes, stranding couples Srinagar: The second batch of foreign envoys arrive in Srinagar to assess the ground situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, on Feb 12, 2020. The visit comes a month after a delegation of ambassadors visited the Union Territory last mo Image Source: IANS News Srinagar: The second batch of foreign envoys who are on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the ground situation in the Union Territory, in Srinagar on Feb 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Srinagar, Feb 12 : More than 20 foreign envoys began their two-day Jammu and Kashmir visit on Wednesday with a Shikara ride in the iconic Dal lake in Srinagar. Some of the members in the delegation belonged to Germany, France, Canada, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. The envoys will travel to Jammu on Thursday after interacting representatives of civil society in Kashmir. The envoys are likely to be briefed by senior officers in Srinagar about security situation in Kashmir. Speaking to reporters after a shikara ride in Dal lake, Afghan envoy Tahir Qadiri said, "We saw that schools and shops were open on our way from the Airport to city." "It was the part of the world that I always wanted to see," Qadiri said. Another envoy from Mexico said Kashmir is a beautiful place. "We are here as tourists," he said. A third envoy said they have come to Jammu and Kashmir to see how is the situation here. Amid tight security, the delegation checked into a five start hotel in Srinagar on the banks of the Dal lake. This the third group of foreign diplomats visiting Jammu and Kashmir after the revocation of Article 370. On January 9, a delegation of 17 foreign envoys including US ambassador Kenneth Juster visited the union territory. The delegation will also meet business representatives and others during its stay in Srinagar and Jammu. A group of journalists will also be reportedly meeting them. On Thursday, the envoys will be heading to Jammu where they will be meeting with Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu and other civil society groups. The visit also comes days after the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) was slapped on former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers - Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a supplementary charge sheet against four Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operatives including Sajjad Ahmad Khan, who was in direct touch with last years Pulwama attack mastermind, Mudassir Khan. The other three charged in a case of hatching criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks across the country include Bilal Ahmad Mir, Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat and Mehraj-ud-Din Chopan. Mudassir was one of the main conspirators in Pulwama terror attack as well and was killed in encounter with police and security forces in Tral area of district Pulwama on March 10 last year. Sajjad was directly in touch with Mudassir while Ishfaq was involved in transportation of arms and ammunitions for strengthening JeM in Kashmir and further harboured the operatives of JeM, the NIA spokesperson, Alok Mittal said. Mittal said the JeMs senior commanders including Mudassir Khan had hatched a criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks in different parts of India including Delhi-NCR. The February 14, 2019 Pulwama attack brought India and Pakistan at the brink of war with Indian Air Force destroying a terror camp deep inside Pakistans Balakot. Sajjad was sent by Mudassir to Delhi to set up a base here and carry out attacks in the NCR, Mittal added. The charge sheet was filed against four JeM operatives under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 121 A (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government of India) of IPC, and various sections of stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of Explosives Substances Act. In the first charge sheet filed in September last year, NIA had mentioned that Mudassir was interacting with other cadres and his handlers in Pakistan through virtual mobile numbers generated mostly in the US to give shape to the conspiracy for carrying out fidayeen (suicide) attacks across India. A virtual mobile number works through a server for which users sign up for a service by downloading an app on their smart phones. A number is generated by the app syncing it with a social media platform or an email account without linking it to a SIM. The internet calls made from within the app are connected to the user on the other side even if he/she doesnt have that app. These virtual numbers are used by terrorists now to hide their identity as registration with Aadhaar or any other photo ID is now mandatory in India to get a SIM. The previous charge sheet named Sajjad, Mir and two other JeM members -- Tanvir Ahmad Ganie and Muzzafar Ahmad Bhat. Sajjad was arrested by Delhi Police in March 2019 from Old Delhi while he was conducting a reconnaissance of several targets for more attacks and was handed over to the NIA. Others were arrested in consecutive months. Before his arrest , NIA says, Sajjad had already conducted a reconnaissance in several areas of Delhi. (with inputs from PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nisar Ahmed Sayyed Bilal, a petitioner and father of a man who died in the 2008 Malegaon blast, has submitted a letter to the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court urging him to recommend the extension of tenure of Investigation Agency Court Judge VS Padalakar till the trial in the case is over. Padalakar is set to retire at the end of this month. In the letter to the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Bilal said: "Despite the immense effort by accused persons to derail the trial, the present presiding officer, Judge V Padalkar, has managed to depose 140 prosecution witnesses in a fair and just manner. There is no complaint against him even by the accused persons." "Change in the presiding officer would affect the trial and will delay the case, which is already pending for over a decade and involves several high profiles accused including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur," he said. Copies of the letter have also been sent to Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde, Home Minister Amit Shah and to the NIA Headquarters. Six people were killed and over 100 sustained injuries when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shots were fired at AAP MLA from Mehrauli Naresh Yadav's convoy near Fortis hospital in Kishangarh late Tuesday night, killing one and injuring another. The group was returning from a visit to the temple after celebrating Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) victory in the Delhi Assembly election 2020. Police reached the spot and launched an investigation, they found several bullet shells at the site. Delhi Southwest Additional DCP Ingit Pratap Singh said, "The investigation so far reveals that there was one assailant. Naresh Yadav wasn't the target. The assailant had specifically come to target the man who was shot dead (AAP volunteer). According to sources, the act was a gang-related incident. Two people from the group were targetted and shot at, while one died at the spot the other person has been admitted to a hospital. The one who succumbed to the gunshot named Ashok Mann had allegedly shot at a group previously and then went into hiding. When Ashok came to take part in the celebrations yesterday, he was discovered and shot dead. AAP tweeted on the firing incident, on its official Twitter handle it wrote: "Shots fired at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured." While senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh took to Twitter to express his shock at the murder of AAP volunteer and slammed the police. He wrote," Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy attacked Ashok Mann's killed, this is justice prevailing in Delhi, Naresh Yadav was returning from a visit to the temple." In the Delhi Assembly election result announced yesterday, Arvind Kejriwal-led party rocked back to power after winning a massive 62 seats while BJP won the remaining 8 seats. The Congress did not win a single seat for the second time in a row. What do you gift a billionaire who has it all for Valentine's Day? That's what one Twitter user recently asked Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban. They got an answer when Cuban went undercover on the internet and responded to real comments from Twitter, Reddit, Quora and more for an episode of GQ's "Actually Me." "Definitely not chocolates," responded the self-made billionaire. He doesn't want anything material. Instead, "a nice hello goes a long way. A little kindness, I think that's what I want for Valentine's Day." He truly believes kindness will pay off. "One of the most underrated skills in business right now is being nice. Nice sells," Cuban told Vanity Fair in a 2018 interview with the "Shark Tank" cast. It's a lesson the 61-year-old has learned firsthand over his lengthy career. "I wouldn't have wanted to do business with me when I was in my 20s," admitted Cuban, who started his first company, MicroSolutions, after being fired from a computer software company in his 20s. "Early on in my career, I was like bam, bam, bam, bam, bam I might curse. I might get mad. "And so I had to change, and I did, and it really paid off." NEW DELHI: An unidentified man, wearing a mask, looted Rs 1.5 Lakh from the Oriental Bank of Commerce in Delhi's Tilak Nagar locality on Wednesday (February 12, 2020). According to Delhi Police, a masked man, who was wearing a black jacket and blue trouser, entered the bank after overpowering the security guard, collected the cash on gunpoint from the bank cashier and then immediately fled from the spot the cash. A case has been registered and efforts are underway to arrest him. Delhi Police have also formed multiple teams to investigate the case. The police are also trying to obtain the video footage of the CCTV installed at the bank to identify the robber. Local police stations near Tilak Nagar have also been informed about the robbery incident and a keep vigil is being kept on suspicious people. Senators honor veteran journo Senators on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, honored veteran journalist Gabino "Gaby" Tabunar for his "exemplary and outstanding contribution to journalism and press freedom." Sen. Richard Gordon, author of Senate Resolution No. 317 honoring "a father, a true friend to many, and mentor to countless journalists," said Tabunar exemplified the highest ideals of courageous, compassionate and committed journalism. "He was a proponent of honest and accurate journalism exemplifying the highest ideals of courageous, compassionate and committed journalism in his coverage of the news through the ever-changing landscape of the Philippine history from the post-World War II era to the various political transition in the succeeding decades," Gordon said. Tabunar died on February 4, 2020 at the Makati Medical Center after a bout of pneumonia. He was 94. Tabunar worked at Philippine Liberty News after World War II, at the War Information Office of the US government in Manila in 1945-46, and as a media director for Winthrop Sterling Company, an American pharmaceutical company. He co-founded Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in 1974 "to fight for freedom of the press and civil liberties" during the martial law era of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He was a former Manila correspondent of the US broadcast network CBS News from 1986 until he retired in 2008. Even in his retirement, he was still active in FOCAP activities as he guided young journalists to run the association's activities. Gordon said Tabunar showed his commitment to responsible and fearless reporting in his coverage of news, including the 1991 cataclysmic Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption and the closure of U.S. military bases in Subic Bay, among others. "His dedication to providing legitimate platform and source of real and accurate news was instrumental in the rapid transformation of Subic in the early 1990's, as well as in addressing the political challenges faced by the tourism industry through his coverage of SARS, terrorism and Abu Sayaff kidnappings from 2001 to 2004," the resolution stated. A copy of the resolution, which was adopted by 20 senators present in the plenary session, was presented to Tabunar's relatives during the session. California voters finally are in position to influence the nomination of a presidential candidate. But elsewhere, the Democrats nominating process needs to be chucked. The long-ballyhooed Iowa caucuses and the hallowed New Hampshire primary should be stripped of their first-in-the-nation privileges before the next presidential election. These pipsqueak states have been allowed to kick off the national nominating process for far too long. Even if Iowa hadnt booted the head count on its chaotic caucuses night, the Hawkeye and Granite states should not influence the candidates fates disproportionately to their small size and homogeneous population. Both states are roughly 90% white. The nation is around 60% white. The unmaking of a front-runner Trump's impeachment drama played a role in Biden's implosion as presumptive frontrunner, columnist Martin Schram says. OK, maybe size shouldnt matter. But a representative sample of racial and ethnic voters should. There are other states of similar size with much more diverse electorates. For example, in the West theres Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. Eastern politicians would squawk that campaigning out here would be too inconvenient. Yeah, so? Western politicians have been complaining about New Hampshires inconvenience for decades. In the East, South Carolina is 64% white with a large black population that dominates the Democratic electorate. Its primary is already the fourth contest in the lineup, after Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. So advance South Carolina a couple of steps. Or let it lead off the whole shebang with Nevada. In the nations center, Oklahoma is much more diverse than Iowa. Make it one of the early contests. After Trump acquittal, the Resistance clings to faith that what's right still matters in America The few Red State senators with the courage to convict offer a slim ray of hope in Trump's ugly new America, columnist Will Bunch says. And Iowas neighbor, Illinois, is a clone of America. Illinois is the sixth-largest state with about 13 million people 63% white, 17% Latino, 14% black and 5% Asian. Thats pretty close to the nation as a whole. It has Big Shoulders Chicago and rural life downstate something for everybody. Its also plenty convenient for practically any candidate. Id start the nominating process with the Illinois primary and be happy about it. Enough of pampered Iowa and New Hampshire. One can argue that despite Iowas lack of racial diversity, however, it started the first black president on his way to the White House. Barack Obama won there in 2008. Trump riding high at State of the Union, but it's a long way to Election Day The experiences of Jimmy Carter and George Bush are a reminder that the nine months from now to Election Day are a political lifetime, columnist Carl Leubsdorf says. But I agree with Obamas former Housing and Urban Development secretary, Julian Castro. Before dropping out of the 2020 race, he told reporters in November: We cant as a Democratic Party continually and justifiably complain about Republicans who suppress the vote of people of color and then turn around and start our nominating contest in two states that, even though they take their role seriously, hardly have any people of color. Defenders of Iowa and New Hampshire point out that these tiny, compact states keep alive retail politics. Candidates discuss issues one on one with individual voters or in small groups gathered in coffee shops. They dont need to spend millions on TV ads like candidates do in far-flung, heavily populated California. Voters take the primary seriously, says Steve Maviglio, a California Democratic strategist who grew up in New Hampshire and was elected to the Legislature there. You can hear directly from candidates as often as you want not through a 30-second TV ad or Facebook spot. Theres value in that for the democratic system. Iowa has too much influence in determining Democratic presidential nominee One of the least representative states in our union uses caucuses, one of the worst possible voting methods, to exert disproportionate influence, DNC Executive Committee member Terry Lierman says. Its not a bunch of cows in a pasture either. Theres a tech belt, old mill towns with blue-collar workers and commuters from Boston. And while its not ethnically diverse, voters share the same concerns as Democrats do nationally. Fine. But my argument is that there are other small states where the same comfy retail politics could be performed and theyre more diverse. Give some of them a crack at being first. And dont remind me that New Hampshire state law requires its primary to be the nations first. The Democratic National Committee doesnt have to follow that law. It could refuse to accept the primary results. The states delegates could be barred from the national convention. Certainly states that are more representative of the countrys population should be reflected in the early stages of the primary calendar, says California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who runs our election system. Another reform that needs to happen is scuttling the whole caucus contraption and not just because Iowans couldnt count straight. I like the people of Iowa. They work hard at being responsible, says Democratic strategist Bill Carrick, who has managed presidential races there. But the truth is, you have to be able to count the results. Maybe the caucus process is just out of date. They make things too complicated. I dont know how they survive in this era. What kind of country do Americans want? Voters definitely have a choice The 2020 election is shaping up to be a referendum on our collective identity, columnist Mary Curtis says. I used to like caucuses. Now I dont. In an Iowa caucus, there arent secret ballots. People must commit themselves to three hours in a school cafeteria or gymnasium. Its usually freezing outside with snow and ice. Turnout is abysmal. Many seniors and people with disabilities cant handle it. Neither can workers on night shifts. And the whole thing is convoluted. Just let people fill out a ballot at a polling place or mail it in. Like in California. Nevada has a simpler caucus system. But it also should turn to a primary because its more democratic. For too many elections, California has relegated itself to the nosebleed seats and squinted at the race. Or if we were up close, the contest had practically run its course. But on Super Tuesday March 3 well at last be in the heat of the action with 13 other primary states. No caucuses. Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for nearly 60 years, and for the Los Angeles Times since 1974. The Perspective Atlanta, Georgia February 11, 2020 Since 2010, the result of African economic migrants perilous trek to Europe in search of a better life is unprecedented in the annals of 21st-century migration. The human tragedy of this odyssey has prompted this article to discourage Liberians from partaking in this vicissitude. The millions who have left the continent, and the thousands who have perished in the desert and in the Mediterranean Sea in desperation to escape economic hardship, hopelessness, and despair pose a serious threat to Africas future human Capital Development Index. According to the Migration Policy Institute, 4.6 million African migrants are in Europe. Liberians form a small segment of this million and that should be a grave concern to all Liberian patriots, nationalists, and progressives. WE THE PEOPLE of the Republic of Liberia, in order to protect our young men and women from economic flight to seek green pastures in the unknown (Europe and America) and free ourselves from this 21st-century global economic scourge, need to take control of our domestic economy. It has been monopolized by foreign nationals for almost a century, causing large swaths of the population to be mired in the seas of poverty and degradation. This is an antithesis to a truly sovereign Republic. Poverty, poor education and the broken healthcare system are Liberias Hydra; among these, poverty is the deadliest because it breeds despair and discontent and can easily provoke chaos and violence due to the lack of hope. The United Nations defines poverty as the denial of choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It is the lack of the basic capacity to participate effectively in society. And finally, it is not having enough to feed and clothe a family. Liberia, unfortunately, fits this UN definition after 172 years of independence. Global Finance ranked Liberia 7th poorest among countries in the world in 2019 (gfmag.com). The poverty-stricken condition of the Liberian masses living in shantytowns with lack of healthcare, lack of clean and safe drinking water, high unemployment and underemployment is rooted in venality and the foreign monopolization of our domestic economy. This is a violation of our basic fundamental rights to happiness, liberty, and equality of social participation. Thus, it has the potential to pose a national security threat because when a large swath of the population lacks the financial resources and the essentials for basic standards of living, they become like a ticking time bomb. We establish a government for the purpose of providing the right to happiness, the equality of opportunity, and the security of our welfare against all enemies foreign or domestic. Poverty is one of those enemies. Poverty and other social ills suffered by the masses are the cause of our despair and degradation, discontent, and disillusionment with our government past and present. We the people are stuck in the morass of economic degradation while foreign nationals (in cahoots with our government) reap the fertile grounds of economic success. This foreign domination is an existential threat to our quest for a better nation. This is our worst nightmare in the making; to eliminate this medusa, WE THE PEOPLE of Liberia must declare a political war against the new oligarchs and the foreign economic monopolization. Our weapon of choice in this battle of economic liberation is election and the artillery are our votes. I do not know when or how foreign nationals have come to dominate our domestic market; anecdotally, it began in the late 1930s with the Germans, mushroomed in the 1950s with the influx of Lebanese, and accelerated in the 1960s with more Lebanese and Indians. The so-called Tubman Open Door Policy of the 1960s opened the floodgate for foreign businesses to Liberiawithout training and educating Liberians in business to participate in the 1960s Liberian economic miracle. The legacy of that venomous economic policy is what we have todaymassive poverty for Liberians and profitable business for foreign nationals. A nations domestic economy is the blood that circulates through societys arteries and the oxygen it breathes through its nostrils. To have it regulated by foreign nationals is utterly preposterous and constitutionally maleficent. The time has come to kill this economic Hydra so that the Liberian people can truly experience the blessings of liberty, equality, and happiness endowed by their Creator. The 2023 presidential and legislative general elections provide a propitious time for us to declare this political war of economic liberation. The question of foreign monopolization must be the Litmus Test for all political aspirants. We should demand that all political aspirants pledge to do the following: Pass legislation giving Liberians control of 80 percent of all retail businesses in Liberia within five years Create a Bureau of Small Business Administration to facilitate the necessary resources for Liberian businesses to succeed Upgrade the University of Liberia Business School and provide scholarships or grants for Liberians to study business Restrict foreign business ventures to WHOLESALE ONLY within 7 years We shall hold all those who pledge accountable; if anyone reneges, he or she should not have our votes in the next election. Political parties that fail to make the issue of foreign monopolization of our domestic market the central theme of their platform should not enjoy our supports or have our votes. The bedrock foundation of republican government is election. It is the constitutional process for instituting government to secure our prosperity and security. Above, I had called for a declaration of political war on our politicians to effectuate a paradigm shift in our domestic economy. The 2023 presidential and legislative general elections provide the perfect opportunity to elect the men and women who are truly committed to making lives better for the Liberian people. We the masses are mired in abject poverty, and we are directly responsible for our dire condition because we continue to elect people who exhibit the Seven Deadly Sins. We do not hold them accountable when they do not exercise the constitution for the benefits of the PEOPLE. The Holy Trinity of a Republican government is: Equality, Liberty, and Freedom. These three themes are resoundingly elucidated in our Declaration of Independence and in the Preamble of our Constitution. WE THE PEOPLE are, therefore, unequivocally empowered and endowed by our constitution to secure the blessings of liberty and prosperity for ourselves and generations to come. We must go to war in 2023 for this purpose so that history will say that was their finest hour. About the Author: J. Patrick Flomo can be reached zamawood@gmail.com or 614 707 3636 DeWitt, N.Y. -- Tracey Road Equipment Inc. plans to expand its headquarters in DeWitt, a move the heavy-duty truck and construction equipment dealer says will create 30 jobs over the next five years. Tracey representatives told the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency on Tuesday that it is planning to build a 31,000-square-foot addition to its facility at 6803 Manlius Center Road. The company said it is outgrowing its current, 55,000-square-foot facility and needs more space. Tracey employs 140 people in DeWitt. That number will rise to 170 when the 30 new jobs are added, the company said. The new jobs will pay from $35,000 to $45,000 a years, it said. The company also has facilities in Albany, Binghamton, Queensbury, Rochester, Utica and Watertown. Tracey Road Equipment is planning to expand its headquarters on Manlius Center Road in DeWitt and create 30 jobs.Google Maps It has applied to the industrial development agency for $235,662 in tax abatements for the expansion. They consist of $124,912 in property tax discounts over 10 years, an exemption worth $92,000 from sales taxes on construction materials and an exemption worth $18,750 from the state mortgage recording tax. The state has approved a $400,000 grant for the project. Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Have a question or news tip? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 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. If troops in the missile attack had been wearing blast gauges, we would have quantifiable data on the amount of blast pressure theyd been exposed to both for those who developed T.B.I. and those who did not. This would help the Defense Department better understand what level or type of exposure is problematic and inform designs for improved protective measures helmets, bunkers or walls against future attacks. As a result of two years of bureaucratic foot-dragging inside the Defense Department, none of the troops hit by the Iranian missile attack were wearing the gauges. The Iranian ballistic missile strikes could have caused brain trauma through a variety of mechanisms: The primary mechanism is a wall of blast pressure from an explosion. Even relatively low levels of blast exposure can result in temporary cognitive deficits. A secondary mechanism: Wind rushes to fill the vacuum left by the pressure wave. This can hurl shrapnel and fragments. A tertiary mechanism: People or things can be thrown by this wind, leading to impact concussions. A quaternary mechanism: Fires, toxic gases, burns or crashes can follow. The non-primary mechanisms of injury are relatively easy to understand and protect against through traditional means such as body armor, helmets and fire-resistant uniforms. The primary mechanism of injury the blast pressure wave itself is less understood. We dont know whether servicemembers at Al Asad were injured by the blast pressure directly rather than being knocked over and hitting their heads. If Defense Department officials had done their jobs, that information could have been available. Still, its clear that the Defense Departments mandatory post-incident T.B.I. screening has advanced remarkably since the inconsistent mechanisms in the years of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. What has been slower to adjust is a culture that has approached concussions as something to be shaken off or worries that diagnoses may harm their careers. Extensive public education has mitigated some of the cultural stigma of brain trauma diagnosis and treatment, but it still has a way to go. This is why the public communications from the White House and Pentagon have been such a bumbling disaster. Tories voiced alarm today over US claims that Huawei builds secret 'back doors' in its 5G hardware. White House officials have warned that the Chinese tech giant ensures it can covertly access mobile phone networks. The US has been telling allies that the loophole could be a powerful spying tool in the hands of Beijing. Conservative MPs said the claims, which emerged in the Wall Street Journal, were more evidence the UK should think again about allowing Huawei a role in the new 5G network. Boris Johnson announced last month that the firm can take a 'limited' role in the project, saying that banning it would delay the revolutionary upgrade by years and the risks can be managed. But the decision caused fury from US president Donald Trump, who had pushed hard for the UK to shun the company. Trump administration officials, increasingly intent on preventing China from global technological domination, have urged allies not to use Huawei hardwar Tory MP Bob Seely said the claims underlined concerns about Huawei's role in the new UK 5G mobile network National security adviser Robert O'Brien (right) said Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in 5G systems. Boris Johnson (left) announced the firm will be able to play a role in the UK's network last month While firms routinely build in 'lawful intercept' technology that allows authorities to access network information with a court order, that typically requires the knowledge and approval of the mobile carrier. US officials say that Huawei's back door allows the company to access network data without the carrier's knowledge, potentially giving the Chinese government a potent spy tool. National security adviser Robert O'Brien told the Wall Street Journal: 'We have evidence that Huawei has the capability secretly to access sensitive and personal information in systems it maintains and sells around the world,' Huawei has denied the allegations, telling the Journal that it 'has never and will never do anything that would compromise or endanger the security of networks and data of its clients'. Tory MP Bob Seely said: 'More evidence why Huawei is bad news.' US knowledge of the alleged back door has remained highly classified until late last year, when officials began sharing the information with allies to persuade them to boycott Huawei. Germany's legislature is set to vote in the coming weeks on a bill that would allow Huawei full access to its 5G market if the company provides security guarantees. Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei is seen with Chinese President Xi Jinping. US officials accuse the company of building a secret back door into its mobile network hardware This week China denied involvement in any hacking activities after the US accused four members of the Chinese military of an unprecedented hack stealing the data of tens of millions of Americans. The Justice Department accused Beijing of engineering one of the biggest hacks in history, targeting consumer data at the Equifax credit reporting agency. China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China was committed to 'firmly oppose and combat cyber-attacks of any kind'. He added that it is a staunch defender of cyber-security and its institutions 'never engage in cyber-theft of trade secrets', claiming China was also the victim of cyber-attacks from the US. CONCORD, N.H. It took a year of campaigning, countless stump speeches and an especially strong night on the debate stage for little-known Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar to break into the top tier of the 2020 campaign in New Hampshire. Now she has less than two weeks to make it count. The Minnesota senator began working Wednesday to turn her better-than-expected third-place finish and a surge of fundraising into enough momentum to be competitive in next-up Nevada, South Carolina and beyond. For Klobuchar, that means consolidating establishment and moderate voters, picking up traction with black and Latino Democrats and introducing herself to most everyone else. Her campaign launched two new television and digital ads in Nevada, and she was heading to Las Vegas to hold a Thursday campaign rally and speak at a town hall sponsored by a major Latino rights group. She also plans to stump over the next week in states that vote in the March 3 Super Tuesday contests, and is staffing up with help from the more than $6 million shes raised since Fridays debate. We really shocked a lot of the pundits, Klobuchar said at a New York fundraiser Wednesday night. I have had people count me out every single time, and Ive come roaring back. Tuesdays showing counted as a victory for a candidate who spent much of the campaign boasting about being in the top five of the crowded field. Klobuchar used the moment to put her no-nonsense appeal in the spotlight. She spoke of growing up the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, becoming the first female senator from Minnesota and defying expectations in the 2020 race and her plan to win the partys nomination. Because of you we are taking this campaign to Nevada. We are going to South Carolina, and we are taking this message of unity to the country, Klobuchar told cheering supporters Tuesday night. The senator appeared to benefit Tuesday from former Vice President Joe Bidens sliding support, picking up moderate and conservative voters looking for an alternative to liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders, the New Hampshire winner, and rejecting political newcomer and second-place finisher Pete Buttigieg. But Klobuchars quest is still an uphill climb. The senator has focused almost all her time and campaign resources in Iowa and New Hampshire, building only spare operations in the states that follow on the primary calendar. She has polled poorly among minority voters, a big obstacle in more diverse states like Nevada and South Carolina. Although she will likely see a bump in support, more donations and new media attention, Klobuchars challenge is to set up the infrastructure to capitalize on her moment. Shes starting from behind. Klobuchars Nevada team wasnt hired until last fall and numbered fewer than a dozen until the campaign redeployed staff from Iowa last week, giving her about 30 people on the ground. Sanders, who essentially tied Buttigieg in Iowa, has been organizing in Nevada since April 2019 and has more than 250 staffers in the state. Biden has more than 80, Buttigieg has about 100 and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has more than 50. Klobuchar is now hoping the appeal that worked for her in New Hampshire will have a similar impact in Nevada on Feb. 22. The three-term senator campaigned as someone who has won even in conservative areas and who could draw support from Democrats, independents and disaffected Republicans to beat Trump. She also points to her record of getting things done in Washington and argues that proposals like Medicare for All, backed by Sanders and Warren, are nonstarters in the Senate. But it was Klobuchars debate performance that appeared to have the biggest impact on her showing Tuesday. More than half of Klobuchars supporters made up their minds in the last few days, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 3,000 Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago. Klobuchar went on the attack against Buttigieg and delivered a passionate closing promise to fight for the voters who dont feel seen or heard by politicians in Washington. Those selling points helped convince voters like Linda Muchemore, a retiree from Greenland, New Hampshire, who settled on Klobuchar last week after leaning toward Warren. Klobuchars record in the Senate spoke to me of somebody who could maybe heal the animosity we have, Muchemore said. I found out that Im not as liberal as I thought I was. Those moderate plans that Amy has speak more to me than Elizabeths more radical, Bernie plans. Klobuchars late surge over Warren was a surprise twist in the race. Warren, from neighboring Massachusetts, has been leading in the polling, but both women have struggled to convince voters that a woman can win. On Tuesday night, Warren congratulated Klobuchar my friend and colleague and noted how wrong pundits are when they count us out. Klobuchar responded to my friend Elizabeth soon after. People told me just like they told her that they didnt think a woman could be elected, she said. In my case it was elected to the U.S. Senate. No woman had ever done it before. But I came back, I defied expectations, and I won. For much of the race, Klobuchar has lagged toward the back of the pack in fundraising and had just under $5 million in reserve at the end of 2019 - far less than all other leading contenders. Her goal coming out of Fridays debate was to raise $1 million, a lifeline that would allow her to forge on in contests ahead. She quickly reached that amount and, to her own surprise, she doubled it within 24 hours. By Tuesday, her campaign said that sum had climbed to $4 million. She raised an additional $2.5 million after polls closed Tuesday, with about 60% of donations coming from first-time donors, which the campaign called a sign that her message is resonating with voters and that her campaign has room to grow. Unlike the other leading contenders in the race, Klobuchar is the only candidate who is not getting extra help from a super PAC or outside group, which can raise and spend unlimited sums so long as they do not coordinate advertising spending decisions with the candidate they support. ___ Burnett reported from Chicago. Associated Press reporters Brian Slodysko and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington and Michelle Price in Las Vegas contributed to this report. ___ Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game. We recommend Terry Adams, 60, for his 30 years of a meaningful appellate law practice and solid reputation in the community for being an even-handed, accomplished practitioner. He has been a primary lawyer on more than 200 appellate cases. Also running are Levi J. Benton, Chad Bridges and James Lombardino. Singhal in Democratic primary for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 3 We recommend Dinesh Singhal, 52, who has tried more than 25 cases and handled 19 appeals. He is board certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has a reputation for being intelligent and experienced. Also running are Veronica Rivas-Molloy and Jim Sharp. Hootman in Democratic primary for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5 We recommend Tim Hootman, 57, an experienced appellate lawyer who is known for having an atypical legal approach. A former staffer on this court of appeals, he has handled more than 350 appeals including arguing before the US Supreme Court. Also running is Amparo Monique Guerra. Robinson in Democratic primary for chief of the 14th Court of Appeals We recommend Jane Robinson, 46, who is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has 20 years of experience in mostly complex litigation and appeals. She has a solid reputation and is a significant contributing editor to the OConnors Texas civil court guide. Also running is Jim Evans. Kronzer in Democratic primary for 14th Court of Appeals Place 7 We recommend Wally Kronzer, 65, who has extensive appellate court experience in state and federal courts. He is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is well regarded in the appellate community. Also running are Tamika Tami Craft, V.R. Faulkner, Dominic J. Merino, Cheri Thomas and Lennon C. Wright. Weiman in Democratic primary for 80th Harris County District Court We recommend incumbent Larry Weiman, 64, who has been on this bench since 2008. Though Weiman has been criticized for stressing docket speed over other issues, his reputation on the bench is that he has integrity and he has done reasonably well in bar polls. Also running is Jeralynn Christen Manor. Harvey in the Democratic primary for the 164th Harris County District Court We recommend Grant J. Harvey, 55, who is a highly regarded litigator who has participated in numerous trials and appeals. He has practiced law for 30 years including at one of the most respected boutique firms in Houston. Also running is incumbent Alexandra Smoots-Thomas, who was indicted in November on charges of wire fraud, and Cheryl Elliott Thornton. Daic in the Democratic primary for the 165th Harris County District Court We recommend Megan Daic, 34, for a court that needs a more efficient and decisive judge. Daic has varied civil experience, teaches as an adjunct at UH law school and has impressed colleagues as being capable of having the temperament to handle the bench. Also running are Jimmie L. Brown Jr.and incumbent Ursula A. Hall, whose inability to rule has led to numerous cases being stuck and a remarkable 65 .5 percent needs improvement rating on the bar poll. Acklin in the Democratic primary for the 176th Harris County District Court We recommend Bryan Acklin, 34, who is a former prosecutor and is now a criminal defense attorney. He has been called even-tempered and talented by colleagues on both sides of the criminal cases this currently under-performing court handles. Also running is incumbent Nikita Niki Harmon, who has been widely criticized for lack of experience and poor knowledge of the law that garnered her a 47 percent needs improvement rating on the bar poll. Martinez in the Democratic primary for the 179th Harris County District Court We recommend Ana Martinez, 39, who gained a sterling reputation as a human trafficking prosecutor before she became a defense attorney. She has two law degrees, one from her native Colombia. Practitioners think she will raise the standards in this court. Also running is incumbent Randy Roll, who is known for making inconsistent decisions, saying inappropriate things to lawyers and clients and who received a 43 percent needs improvement rating on the bar poll. Moore in the Democratic primary for the 333th Harris County District Court We recommend incumbent Daryl Moore, 58, who may be the most respected incumbent running in Harris County. He gets wildly high marks on bar polls and his reputation is that he is thoughtful, intelligent, with an even-handed approach to the law and a great temperament. Also running is Brittanye Morris. Kirkland in the Democratic primary for the 334th Harris County District Court We recommend incumbent Steven Kirkland, 59, who has been on this bench since 2016 and served on another civil bench and a municipal bench before that. His reputation is that he is a good judge with solid bar poll results, but that he occasionally gets impatient on the bench. Also running is Dawn Deshea Rogers. Gaido in the Democratic primary for the 337th Harris County District Court We recommend Colleen Gaido, 39, who is a respected former prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney. She has handled more than 50 criminal trials and has a reputation for understanding the realities of all angles of a case. Also running are John A. Clark, Brennen Dunn, and David C. Vuong. Bell in the Democratic primary for the 339th Harris County District Courts We recommend Teiva Bell, 39, who has served in the felony courts from three perspectives - as a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney and a public defender. Her reputation in trial is superb though not all her opponents have liked going up against her, which can be a good thing. Also running are Dennis Powell, and Candace White. Powell in the Democratic primary for the 351th Harris County District Court We recommend incumbent George Powell, 54, who was elected to this bench in 2016. Lawyers who have practiced in his court say he is thoughtful, respectful and fair on the bench. He was a trial attorney for 15 years before taking the bench and fought a battle to get back on the ballot. Also running is Natalia Nata Cornelio. Phillips in the Democratic primary for the 507th Harris County District Court We recommend C.C. Sonny Phillips, 59, who has been practicing family law, and occasionally appellate law, for 34 years. Colleagues expect Phillips will bring fairness, clear policies and organization to a court that has fared poorly in recent bar polls. Also running are Robert S. Morales and incumbent Julia Maldonado, who has been criticized for being condescending and issuing sometimes harmful policies earning her a 43 percent needs improvement rating in the bar poll. Editors note: The Chronicles recommendations in competitive races for the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals are being published separately. The Editorial Board did not make recommendations in races for constable, county courts of law or justice of the peace. Update Feb. 12: This piece was updated to correct the spelling of Colombia. Fears that an armed man was holed up in a Brisbane home that forced Queensland police to cordon off an area of Nudgee has been resolved. Police were called to Lionel Street about 11.35am on Wednesday following a report that a man inside a home might have had a firearm. The area surrounding Lionel Street was closed but then re-opened just before 4pm as police left the scene. Paramedics were also on hand as a precaution. Police said no complaints or arrests were made. New Hampshire provided another chance. She had been visiting the state for months and seemed to have hit it off with many of its voters, who are known for being brash and salty, just like her. In more than 70 events in the state over the past year, Klobuchar often noted the similarities between Minnesota and New Hampshire. She frequently reminded her audiences that she launched her campaign outside during a blizzard. And that she didnt need a hat. Then came her standout debate performance last Friday, during which she spoke movingly about political courage and her desire to defeat Trump. It's supposed to be the best day of every couple's life: the wedding day. But for thousands of couples across the U.S., the happy day has turned into a nightmare after venues in at least 25 states abruptly closed. Noah's Event Venue, an Ohio-based company, has closed all of its locations nationwide. The sudden closure sent couples across the country into a scramble to find a new location to celebrate their wedding day. The closure has canceled about 2,800 events at 28 venues across the country at a cost of more than $7 million, according to the company's bankruptcy attorney. Sister station WTAE-TV spoke with Noah's bankruptcy attorney, Ken Cannon. He said the company filed for bankruptcy last year. On Friday, a bankruptcy judge ruled that the company should not be marketing for future events or accepting payments. The judge did not believe Noah's had a viable reorganization plan. Jessie Parr and Mati Martin, of South Carolina, scheduled their ceremony at Noah's for March 28. "Ive dreamed about having a wedding since I was 10," Parr told WYFF. But the couple found out about the closure of the office from their wedding consultant. "You just want to make the most of (a wedding) and theyve just snatched it away from us," said Martin. "We were shocked for one, because we loved the place, but two, we had spent so much money that we're not gonna get back and now we have a month to find a venue and pay in full, which weve already done," said Parr. It seems even Noah's employees were left in the dark after the closures. Kendall Graham was the manager of the Greenville, South Carolina, location. She said the email she received last Thursday seemed to come out of nowhere. Ever since, she said, she's been flooded with questions from customers. "It was also hard on me because I was kind of left with, like, 'I know as much as you do. I know were closed, I dont know whats gonna happen to you. I was just as blindsided as you guys were. We didnt see this coming, had no feeling this was coming,' (We were) basically telling them that, 'upper management was gonna handle everything.'" Parr and Martin said they're optimistic they'll find a spot to get married within a month and are thankful for the messages of support they've received from family, friends and strangers. "We just try to stay positive about it," said Parr. "Im still in shock, but just trying to stay positive that it happened for a reason and it happens to all these other people for a reason," she said. I dont know what that reason was but, you know, (we're) just trying to stay positive." KAHNAWAKE, Que. - Mohawks manning a barricade that has disrupted rail traffic near Montreal said Wednesday they'll remain in place as long as the RCMP is present on territory of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in northern British Columbia. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Members of the Mohawk community man a blockade of the commuter rail line Wednesday, February 12, 2020 in Kahnawake, Que..THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz KAHNAWAKE, Que. - Mohawks manning a barricade that has disrupted rail traffic near Montreal said Wednesday they'll remain in place as long as the RCMP is present on territory of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in northern British Columbia. About a dozen people milled about the site, which featured Mohawk flags, a sign expressing solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en and a mound of snow pushed onto the railway tracks. Children played in the snow, and other supporters came by to sit by a fire or replenish the store of coffee and donuts. Some protesters said they could stay put for weeks or months if need be but they said they'll take their cue from Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in B.C. opposing construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Tekarontake, a Kahnawake Mohawk, said the conflict, which has triggered Indigenous actions across the country, is the result of a failure by governments and others to accept that the land belongs to the people who continue to adhere to the ways of their ancestors. "That's whose land this is, we have never disconnected ourselves from our mother. This land is our mother," he said. "We haven't abandoned her, we still love her, we care for her and we will defend her to the best of our ability." He said for the blockade to end, Canada will have to "come to its senses." The blockade in southern Quebec began Saturday as RCMP officers in B.C. enforced an injunction requiring pipeline opponents to clear the way for construction. Commuter train service on the line has been halted since Monday morning. On Wednesday, Quebec Premier Francois Legault called on the federal government to do more to help resolve the anti-pipeline protests that are disrupting rail service across the country. "I would hope that the federal government would work more with us on this problem, which is a Canadian problem," Legault told reporters. "What's more, it is a problem related to transportation, which is a federal jurisdiction, it's an issue related to aboriginals, which is a shared jurisdiction, so I do not understand why (Transport Minister Marc) Garneau and the federal government do not want to get involved with us in the matter." Tekarontake shrugged off the inconvenience faced by those who use the rail line. "Everything inconveniences them anyways," he said. "But they still get to work. There are still buses, cars." One Kahnawake community member, a father and grandfather who didn't want his name used, said he's been coming by periodically with wood to keep the fire going. "It's a symbol they know that we're standing with them in northern B.C.," he said. He added that no one at the barricade wishes to see tensions escalate. Dwayne Zacharie, chief of Kahnawake's Peacekeepers police force, said his members are ensuring community members are safe. The tracks in question running between Montreal and Albany, N.Y., belong to CP Rail, which has halted freight shipments on the line. "CP has been impacted by the blockades and continues to monitor the situation closely," the Calgary-based company said in an email. Exo, which runs the commuter trains on the affected line, said it is making decisions daily on whether service can resume. Since Monday, it has been hiring buses to provide shuttle service to the roughly 3,000 daily passengers who have seen train service halted between Montreal and several suburban towns southwest of the city. Louis-Andre Bertrand, a spokesman for the transit authority, said a shortage of drivers and buses in the Montreal area could force it to resort to school buses if the closure of the line continues. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020. Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has said that Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement on assistance worth EUR 25 million in the sphere of digitalization. "Today, Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Mr. [Dmytro] Kuleba and the European commissioner signed an agreement on the EU assistance worth EUR 25 million in the field of digitalization of our country," Honcharuk said at a joint briefing with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Kyiv late on Tuesday. He said that this will help Ukraine realize plans for digitizing all public services in three years. Honcharuk also said that in 2020, the parties will sign the Common Aviation Area agreement. In addition, according to him, Ukraine intends to begin preparations for updating the trade section of the Association Agreement. "Such an opportunity will open for us next year, and we must be prepared for this," the prime minister added. Amidst the coronavirus outbreak, Mexico's top cattle association forecasted the increase of China's demand for Mexican steaks and other cuts of beef to more than 40 percent this year, according to an article by Reuters. Among Mexico's beef importers, China represents only about four percent, but the Asian market in general has been a steady source of growth. In the past, most shipments just went to Hong Kong and the majority of Mexico's export, more than 80 percent, went to U.S. customers. Along with the spread of coronavirus comes the concerns about the safety of the domestic food in China. The city of Wuhan is where the virus originated last year, particularly in a food market that was selling illegal wildlife in the capital of the Hubei province. Hubei is one of China's main food-producing hubs. As authorities locked down the province in an effort to contain the epidemic, travel restrictions have controlled the movement of animals and feed, and reduced feed mills and slaughterhouses' output. Rogelio Perez, head of AMEG which is Mexico's top cattle growers association, said China's domestic beef producers have been badly affected by the disruption caused by the flu-like coronavirus. He added, China's demand would benefit SuKarne and Grupo Gusi, the two Mexican companies that have permits to export to China. In line with the growing demand, forty-two other Mexican cattle companies have applied and are awaiting approvals. "It's a benefit for Mexico in the sense that this allows us to grow our exports faster," said Perez. Aside from the deadly virus that affects human beings, the African swine fever has also prompted more consumers to eat more beef due to the reduced pork supplies causing prices to spike. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China by far is the world's top beef importer in 2020, with projected record of 2.9 million tonnes which is nearly double 2018's total. Last week, Brazilian meat companies also forecasted that the coronavirus outbreak would help boost Chinese demand for their products. China imported some 250,000 tonnes of Mexican beef last year, worth around $40 million, according to AMEG. Total Mexican beef exports in 2020 are projected at 390,000 tonnes, with a 25.8 percent increase from 2018's record, according to the USDA. In the latest stats, the death toll from the coronavirus topped 1,000 on Monday, with more than 42,000 cases confirmed across the globe. According to a report by CBS News, the death toll has surpassed the record of deaths caused by the SARS virus outbreak in 2003. In Monday, dozens of new cases were confirmed on a quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess carrying 3,711 passengers and crew in Yokohama, Japan. There were 135 passengers already removed or soon to be removed from the ship to be observed in Japanese hospitals. The figures include at least 23 American passengers, 11 of them were among the 65 new cases confirmed Monday. Most of the passengers and crew were still in isolation in the ship as ordered. A new study uses China's one-child policy to show that having fewer children leads women to achieve higher levels of education. The research found that the one-child policy alone accounted for about half of the additional education that women in China achieved after the policy was put in place. The findings suggest that some Chinese women anticipated having fewer children due to the one-child policy and they postponed marriage and postponed having children while they increased their education." Xuan Jiang, postdoctoral researcher in economics at The Ohio State University Jiang's study was published recently in the journal Contemporary Economic Policy. Population data collected by the Chinese government since 2010 made it possible for Jiang to analyze how fertility decisions affect education in women. There has been no other way to study the issue in this way before, she said. As such, she emphasized that the study is not defending the one-child policy, which critics say led to human rights abuses. Moreover, the results may have broader implications beyond China for explaining the link between motherhood and education. "Economists have wanted to know why the education gap between men and women has closed in many countries. This study shows that reductions in fertility may play an important role," she said. Jiang used data from the ongoing Chinese Family Panel Studies, a nationally representative annual longitudinal survey conducted by Peking University and funded by the Chinese government. China's one-child policy was instituted in 1979 to control the country's rapidly growing population. But it didn't apply equally to all groups. This study focused on the Han, the ethnic majority in China who were most strictly controlled by the law. Jiang compared two groups: an older generation (born 1950-1959) whose education decisions would not have been affected by the one-child policy and a younger generation (born 1960-1980) whose decisions would be impacted. Overall, while men born in 1950 had significantly more education than women born that year, men and women born in 1980 had about equal levels - nearly nine years of schooling. Jiang first compared Han women versus Han men from older and younger generations. The results showed that, after taking into account other factors that could have affected educational attainment, the one-child policy was responsible for increasing Han women's years of schooling by 1.28 years compared to Han men. That explains 53 percent of the 2.38-year increase in education attainment of women born between 1950 and 1980. "Being able to explain more than half of educational attainment with one factor - the one-child policy - is enormous," Jiang said. "That is very surprising for economists." She noted that in a broader context, women in countries worldwide experienced increases in education in the same time frame. Could there be other worldwide social forces at work that affected women in China? To control for that possibility, Jiang conducted a second analysis that compared Han women to non-Han women in China who were not subject to the strict one-child policy. The results were nearly identical to the first analysis: The Han women's educational attainment increased by 1.29 years compared to non-Han women. Jiang did another test, looking specifically at young women who had one or more parents who were members of the ruling Communist party. "The Communist Party implemented the one-child policy and there were punishments for party members whose families did not follow the birth quota," Jiang said. "So you would expect that the one-child policy would have an even stronger effect for young women whose parents were members." And that is indeed what she found: The one-child policy had a more robust impact on increasing education among children of Communist Party members. Jiang also analyzed what happened to women after their schooling was over. Results showed that the one-child policy delayed women's first marriages, delayed how soon they had a child and increased how many entered the job market. "Women anticipated having fewer children, which may have delayed their entry into parenthood and even delayed the decision to get married, which allowed them to get more education," Jiang said. "And with the further education, they were more likely to get jobs." The results show the powerful influence that the one-child policy had on Chinese society, she said. "The one-child policy fundamentally changed the lives and family structure of the generations born in the 1960s and later." The funeral of RTE broadcaster Keelin Shanley will take place in Dublin later. She died on Saturday following a battle with cancer, aged 51. In rare move, DOJ backed away from Roger Stone sentencing proposal in an announcement that came after Trump complained. The United States Justice Department said Tuesday it will take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it will seek for Roger Stone, an announcement that came just hours after President Donald Trump complained that the recommended sentence for his longtime ally and confidant was very horrible and unfair. The move prompted nearly immediate protest from all four prosecutors on the case. Prosecutors Michael Marando, Aaron Zelinsky, John Crabb and Jonathan Kravis, who won Stones conviction, withdrew from the case. Kravis told the court in a filing he was not only leaving the case but quitting his post as a federal prosecutor. The Justice Department said the decision to shorten the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night, before Trumps tweet, and that prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. Trump said on Tuesday, he did not intervene to ask the Justice Department to seek a shorter prison sentence for Stone, but the president said he would be allowed to do so. The move was sure to raise questions about political interference and whether Trumps views hold unusual sway over the Justice Department, which is meant to operate independently of the White House in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Attorney General William Barr has been a steady ally of Trumps, clearing the president of obstruction of justice even when former special counsel Robert Mueller had pointedly declined to do so and declaring that the FBIs Russia investigation, which resulted in charges against Stone, had been based on a bogus narrative. Democrats lambasted the decision. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the rule of law is being totally perverted to Donald Trumps own personal desires and needs. On Monday night, prosecutors had recommended Stone serve seven to nine years behind bars after being convicted of charges including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House of Representatives investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. The sentence, prosecutors said, was in line with federal guidelines. Such a sentence would send a message to deter others who might consider lying or obstructing a congressional probe or tampering with witnesses, they said. The recommendation raised the prospect that Stone could receive the harshest sentence of any of the half-dozen Trump aides charged in Muellers investigation. In a tweet early on Tuesday, Trump said the case against Stone was a miscarriage of justice. A Justice Department official said authorities decided to step in and seek a shorter sentence because they had been taken by surprise by the initial recommendation. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said prosecutors had told the department to expect a shorter recommendation. Extremely rare It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, US attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation. US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behaviour, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Roger Stone exits the Federal Courthouse on January 25, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida [File: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP] Besides, judges invariably frown upon crimes that they see as perverting the functions of the criminal justice system, such as making false statements or obstructing an investigation. The Justice Department said it plans to refile the recommendation for Stones sentencing later on Tuesday. Trump declined to tell reporters whether he was considering pardoning Stone. Stone has denied wrongdoing and consistently criticised the case against him as politically motivated. He did not take the stand during his trial and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defence. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position on former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the US Attorneys Office in Washington, DC. The White House referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department. Is Widespread Suspicion Of Huawei Justified? China's ambassador to London has described demands that Chinese telecoms giant Huawei must not have a part in the proposed 5G network as a "kind of witch-hunt". Liu Xiaoming told the BBC that Huawei is privately owned and "nothing to do with the Chinese government". A group of senior British Conservatives MPs have now written to their fellow Tory MPs expressing concern over the governments decision to allow Chinese technology company Huawei to have a role in building the UKs 5G network. Ex- Conservative Party leader, Ian Duncan Smith who is one the signatories, said there was cross-party concern about the issue. The letter, which was also signed by former ministers including Owen Paterson, David Davis and Damian Green, said some MPs were working to find a better solution to the 5G issue. The senior Tories want high-risk vendors to be ruled out immediately or phased out over time. The letter states: We are seeking to identify a means by which we ensure that only trusted vendors are allowed as primary contractors into our critical national infrastructure. Trusted vendors would be companies from countries that have fair market competition, rule of law, respect human rights, data privacy and non-coercive government agencies. They called on the government to rule out technology from untrusted, high-risk vendors in the UKs infrastructure, or at least to ensure that future legislation includes sunset clauses to limit the length of time such companies can be used. Recently President Trump reportedly had a heated conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the United Kingdom allowed the Chinese tech manufacturer Huawei to have a role in the UK's 5G cellphone networks. The Trump administration has long opposed Huawei having any stake in next-generation cellular networks because of national security concerns. The decision rejected longstanding US concerns about the Chinese tech giant. President Trump was reportedly furious, according to the person, who said Trump berated Johnson over the move, which he characterised as a national security threat. The White House and Downing Street both declined comment and all they said was, Today, President Donald J Trump spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom. The two leaders discussed critical regional and bilateral issues, including telecommunications security. Since the call, the two sides have agreed to limit the use of Huawei products in the UK. CNN: The Hill: Independent: BBC: Guardian: You Might Also Read: Can A 5G Network Really Be Secure?: Just A Normal Day At The Office For Huawei: The iconic 15th year of the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour recently culminated its Hyderabad chapter where it showcased a new face of fashion. This year Blenders Pride Fashion Tour has gone beyond being a conventional runway show, with a path-breaking format which has added new dimensions to the tour. The Hyderabad chapter presented iconic designer Manish Malhotra who launched his exclusive summer wedding collection centred around the theme of My Identity, My Pride a celebration of ones individuality and identity as an extension of the self. His collection brought to life contemporary designs using the sponge trend, the most pervasive and dominant trend of todays times. With magnificence and elegance in every cut, the audience was enthralled by the designs and the aesthetics of the show. The excitement further peaked as showstoppers Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kartik Aaryan walked the ramp together, leaving everyone in awe of the regal look of the collection and the show itself. Speaking of his collection, Manish Malhotra said, Evolution represents the merging of traditional values with a modern expression. The fashion industry is a fast-paced, ever-evolving space, whose limits are constantly tested by everyone. Its an absolute honour to be associated with Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2019-20, which will paint a picture of tradition on a canvas of technology, and that will be an expression of my identity in a unique fashion. In its 15th edition, the fashion tour also launched brand new dimensions, evolving into a true celebration of fashion. Earlier in 2019, Blenders Pride Fashion Tour launched The Showcase a breakthrough opportunity for aspiring fashion designers and models to be mentored by leading icons in the industry and display their talent. For the Hyderabad chapter, one of the winning designers, Sushant Abrol was chosen to present his label Countrymade, along with Poojan Solanki, one of the winning models, who dazzled the ramp with his unique attitude. The Collection Gallery was an artistic display of over 60 iconic pieces, stemming from the themes of Craft, Blend, and Identity. The segment also witnessed the coming together of 41 famed designers from all over India, inspiring hundreds of young fashion design students. Along with the glitz and glamour, the Hyderabad edition also had the Style Forum where industry stalwarts such as Ex-President, FICCI FLO, Aparna Pinky Reddy, designers Shantanu & Nikhil, Asmita Marwa, Archana Rao, Former Editor Hi Blitz, Shalini Sharma, and Ashish Soni as the moderator, came together for an intellectual exchange of ideas in the fashion arena, focusing on the topic How important is brand consistency and design language in order to remain relevant in today's fashion industry? The fashion festival is now headed to New Delhi where Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla will present their collection on the theme 'My Blend, My Pride', finally culminating in a larger-than-life grand finale in Mumbai where 15 iconic designers will showcase The Pride of India in collaboration with FDCI. Visit www.blenderspridefashiontour.com to know more and register for upcoming chapters. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected in the foothills of the Mont Blanc mountain region on Thursday, where he is due to announce reinforced efforts to protect the Alpine glory of western Europe's tallest peak, whose ice is melting at an alarming rate. Macron will visit a glacier at the foot of Mont-Blanc, that, like others across the Alps, is shrinking dramatically. From there, he will deliver a speech in Chamonix on his vision of what is needed to protect biodiversity and better police Europe's highest Alp. "After the pension system, the end of my mandate will be devoted to (...) ecology," Macron said Tuesday, in a bid to convince the French his commitment to the environment is more than mere greenwashing, with less than a month to go before local elections. The onslaught of climate change has melted the ice caps of Europe's Alpine glory. Protection from wackos The most dramatic demonstration of glacial retreat is shown by the Mer de Glace, the biggest glacier in France and one of Chamonix's biggest tourist hotspots. Macron has pledged to "protect" Mont Blanc not just from climate change but also from "wackos," months after a Briton sparked outrage by leaving a rowing machine near the top. French ecology minister, Elisabeth Borne, is also due to travel with Macron on that visit to the Alps. Wildfires have burnt thousands of California homes to the ground in recent years. Engineer Chris Arai has spent more than 15 years fireproofing his Sonoma County home, outfitting it with a gas-powered sprinkler system, flame-repellant window gel, and a concrete basement he poured by hand. When the Kincade Fire ripped through Arai's rural community last year, the engineer's home was the only one that survived the blaze. We took a look inside his house and heard what one expert had to say about Arai's safety measures. View more episodes of Business Insider Weekly on Facebook. This story is based on an episode of Business Insider Weekly. Watch the full episode here. Devastating wildfires in California have burnt countless homes to the ground and displaced thousands of residents in the past few years. Chris Arai is determined to not let that happen to him. Arai, an electrical engineer from Healdsburg in Sonoma County, lives in an especially fire-prone area. When the Kincade blaze swept through his rural community in 2019, Arai's was the only house on his ridge that was left standing after the smoke cleared. That's because 15 years earlier, back in 2004, Arai began dedicating himself to fireproofing his home. His painstaking fire-prevention techniques include a concrete basement he poured by hand, a fire-repellent gel he coats his windows with, and a sprinkler system that dampens surrounding vegetation to prevent fires from consuming them. The Kincade Fire burned nearly 200 residential buildings to the ground but not Arai's. "Definitely the DIY aspect saved the house," he told Business Insider Today. We visited Arai and saw firsthand the incredible lengths he went to fireproof his home. Kincade Fire firefighter Fires_main sequence_RL_SCREENSHOTS.00_04_51_10.Still015 Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 11.00.28 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.54.05 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.51.36 AM Fires_main sequence_RL_SCREENSHOTS.00_01_21_02.Still010 chris arai pool Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.53.06 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.52.30 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.58.03 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.54.56 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 4.25.53 PM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 10.51.58 AM Fires_main sequence_RL_SCREENSHOTS.00_09_27_00.Still023 Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 11.00.54 AM Screen Shot 2020 02 11 at 4.26.33 PM Business Insider NEW YORK (AP) An ex-convict accused of bilking several college students out of nearly $1 million and forcing some into prostitution or unpaid labor was arrested Tuesday on extortion and sex trafficking charges. Lawrence Larry Ray was previously known for his role in helping to send former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was a close confidant of Rudy Giuliani, to prison. Ray allegedly ensnared many of his victims while they were college sophomores at Sarah Lawrence College, a private liberal arts college outside New York City. His first victims were his daughter Talia's roommates, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said. Ray moved into the students' on-campus housing in late 2010, presented himself as a father figure to the roommates and began conducting therapy sessions with them, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court. "Within days of his release, Larry Ray moved onto Sarah Lawrences campus. He planted himself in the common area, cooking steak dinners and ordering expensive delivery for Talia and her seven housemates," reported a New Yorker magazine feature that broke the story. Prosecutors said that over time, he alienated them from their parents, persuading some of them to move into a Manhattan apartment and convincing them they were broken." After gaining his victims' trust, Ray turned on them, falsely accusing them of harming him by attempting to poison him or to deliberately damage his property, Berman said. Federal prosecutors said Ray, 60, used physical, sexual and psychological abuse to extort money from five different students at Sarah Lawrence College. He convinced them they were indebted to him, authorities said, subjecting them to grueling interrogations that spanned hours and deprived them of food and sleep. Ray was taken into custody Tuesday and expected to appear hours later in Manhattan federal court. He had previously denied the allegations, saying they were the result of a conspiracy against him. It was not clear whether he had a defense attorney who could comment on the charges. Berman told reporters the investigation was prompted by an article that appeared last year in New York magazine. Ray solicited false confessions from more than a half-dozen victims, Berman said, and coerced them to make payments "they did not actually owe and could not possibly afford. Prosecutors said Ray recorded some of the confessions. In interviews with New York magazine, Ray said he believed he was being poisoned as part of a conspiracy hatched by some of the students and Kerik, who denied any involvement. Sarah Lawrence said Tuesday that it has not been contacted by federal prosecutors but would cooperate if invited to do so. The college said it investigated the allegations raised in the New York magazine article but did not substantiate those specific claims. The charges contained in the indictment are serious, wide-ranging, disturbing and upsetting, the college said in a statement. As always the safety and well-being of our students and alumni is a priority for the college. Prosecutors allege that Ray directed the students to drain money from their parents' savings accounts and forced some of them into unpaid labor at a family member's property in North Carolina. Others opened lines of credit or solicited contributions from others to help pay the false debts. Ray subjected his victims to almost unspeakable abuse, Berman said, alleging Ray once tied a woman to a chair and placed a plastic bag over her head that nearly suffocated her. Ray collected more than $500,000 from that woman after forcing her into prostitution, prosecutors said. Ray previously played a role in a scandal involving Kerik, a former police driver for Giuliani while he was mayor. Kerik became New York Citys corrections commissioner in 1998 and then its police commissioner from 2000 to 2001, serving during the 9/11 attacks. Kerik nearly became President George Bushs homeland security secretary in 2004, but his name was abruptly withdrawn as the nominee. Two days later, The Daily News reported that Ray, who had been the best man at Keriks wedding, had come forward with evidence that Kerik failed to report thousands of dollars in gifts hed received while working for the city. A the time, Ray was under indictment in a $40 million stock scam. Kerik ultimately served nearly four years in prison for tax fraud, making false statements and other charges related to gifts he accepted from companies looking for favors, including a construction firm that wanted his help getting a city license. ___ Associated Press writer David B. Caruso contributed to this report An evacuee from China who was diagnosed with novel coronavirus in California did not travel with the passengers who were brought last week to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for their federal quarantine, health officials said Tuesday. According to a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the passengers who arrived at Lackland on Friday afternoon were brought into the U.S. on a different plane than those quarantined at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. One of the evacuees at Miramar became the 13th publicly confirmed case in the U.S. on Monday. The two groups of evacuees also left China on different days, said Amy Rowland, a CDC spokeswoman. The Lackland passengers stopped early Friday at Travis AFB in Northern California for plane refueling before continuing to San Antonio later in the day. After arriving in San Antonio, 91 evacuees settled in at Lackland, and 57 others flew to another federal quarantine site in Omaha, Neb. The mandated quarantines are part of the federal governments efforts to contain the virus, which was given the name of COVID-19 by international health officials Tuesday. On ExpressNews.com: Dozens of coronavirus evacuees from China arrive in San Antonio At Lackland, evacuees are being confined at a hotel on base under a 14-day federal quarantine that began when they departed Thursday evening from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the deadly outbreak. Nearly a third of the evacuees at Lackland are children 15 or younger, Rowland said, and all adults are under the age of 70. Separately, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District said in a statement Sunday that it was actively monitoring Bexar County residents who had returned from China. Those people are being self-quarantined at their homes. A Metro Health spokeswoman did not disclose how many people are subject to self-quarantine. The health department also has received coronavirus test kits from the CDC that involve taking oral and nose swabs from potentially infected patients. While they will be available for use in two weeks, confirmation testing still will be conducted by the CDC. Lauren Caruba covers health care and medicine in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | lcaruba@express-news.net | Twitter: @LaurenCaruba A 52-year-old man who suffered a heart attack on Wednesday was treated with clot-busting thrombolysis procedure on his doorstep by a team of paramedics under the 'Mission Delhi' initiative. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) claimed that this is the first time that clot buster medicine was administered on a heart attack patient at doorstep before reaching hospital. Thrombolytic therapy is the injection of a medication that breaks up a blood clot and can be injected with a needle into a vein. The treatment was provided Under 'Mission DELHI' (Delhi Emergency Life Heart-Attack Initiative), in which a pair of motorcycle-borne trained paramedic nurses are the first responders for treating heart attack patients to those living within a 5-km radius of the AIIMS. The joint initiative of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was launched in April last year. According to ICMR, the Mission Delhi's emergency response room at AIIMS received an emergency call from CRPF camp in RK Puram at around 10.40 am. Immediately, its first responders equipped with hi-tech gadgets and lifesaving drugs on their bike ambulance were dispatched to the spot. It took them around ten minutes to reach the spot as their bike manoeuvred through Delhi's busy traffic. They immediately attended the patient who was having severe chest discomfort. The ECG was transmitted to the doctor at a control room and senior cardiologist at AIIMS. Within minutes, heart attack was diagnosed and instructions for the administration of clot buster therapy after taking all precautions was conveyed to the first responders. Meanwhile, the patient was already given the first aid and preliminary drugs, an ICMR official said. "The patient was given clot buster drug (injections)for immediate relief and was transferred to AIIMS emergency by ambulance for further management. Later on, investigations revealed that his blood vessel to the heart has opened up successfully because of the timely treatment. "This isthe first time in Indiathat clot buster medicine was administered on a heart attack patient at doorstep before reaching hospital," the official said. The earlier clot-busting drug is given, the less likely an individual is to die or have disabilities. On receiving a call at Mission Delhi's toll-free emergency helpline numbers (1800111044 and 14430), the mobile medical nurse team is dispatched immediately for examining the patient, providing necessary medication/CPR, transmitting ECG to consultant at AIIMS. While the emergency treatment is being provided, a CATS ambulance arrives to take the patient for further treatment. Even as the patient is on way to the hospital, doctors at AIIMS control centre evaluate the data received from the nurses to establish further course of treatment. The ICMR has signed a memorandum with CATS (Centralized Ambulance Trauma Services) for this project. The administration of this therapy before reaching hospital could be an effective intervention that may save time and reduce death and disability in those with heart attacks. Doorstep treatment of heart attack with clot buster drug has been tested successfully in developed countries where logistics are less of an issue, doctors said. "However, in a country like ours, where logistics such as distance, traffic, availability of expert doctors and infrastructure is an issue, this strategy has potential to save lives of thousands of heart attack patients," a doctor at AIIMS said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for introspection on tax evasion on Wednesday, while also stressing that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre was making the taxation system more citizen-centric. India has become one of the very few countries to have a transparent taxpayers charter that will clearly define the rights of taxpayers. I want to assure you that tax harassment will be a thing of the past in our country,he said at the Times Now Summit. All citizens who could afford to pay taxes should pay them honesty for the welfare of those who had made them capable of it, Modi said, adding that it should be done with a sense of duty and pride. However, in a nation of 1.3 billion people, only 30 million pay income tax. Only 2,200 professionals in this huge country reveal that their annual income is more than Rs 1 crore, he said. Modi also said that past governments had been reluctant to touch the countrys taxation system. His comments came close on the heels of the Union Budget on February 1, in which the government announced that taxpayers can opt for new slabs by forgoing exemptions or stick to existing system. Even after the budget, the finance minister is meeting stakeholders in every city. Thats because we will listen to all and take their suggestions, he said. Talking about the importance of tier 2 and tier 3 cities, PM Modi said that for the first time a government was focussing on them. We are the first to work on fulfilling their aspirations. He also listed the initiatives and decisions, including Article 370 move and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, by his government after the win in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It has all been done. Its a bit like watching speed news...You must have realised: the actual actions begin here, he said, adding that the New India has left many of its problems behind. Hitting out at previous governments, he said: In 70 years, no one asked why it took so long. Now we have set an objective and are working hard to achieve that. PITTSBURGH, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "As an electrical contractor, I thought there must be a better way to transfer wires and cables through hidden studs and joists," said an inventor, from Nutley, N.J., who is working with a mechanical engineer in Birdsboro, Pa., "so we invented the WESBIT." The invention provides an easy and effective way to install wires and cables through existing ceilings or walls. In doing so, it offers an improved alternative to traditional wiring methods. As a result, it saves time and effort, and it helps to reduce drywall and paint repairs after wiring procedures. The patent-granted invention features an efficient design that is convenient and easy to use, so it is ideal for contractors, electricians, alarm installers, low-voltage telecom contractors, audio/video installers and do-it-yourselfers. Additionally, a prototype is available. The inventors described their invention design. "Our design reduces hassles and frustrations when running wires in existing structures." The original design was submitted to the New Jersey sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 18-NJD-1954, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp Related Links http://www.inventhelp.com Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was thrown into confusion on Wednesday evening as suspected Boko Haram members launched an attack on the city few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari visited. At about 7 p.m., residents of Jiddari Polo, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, began to flee into the city centre through Polo and Damboa road as the terrorists attacked. The shooting rented the air for nearly an hour forcing the residents to flee their homes. The shooting continued as the insurgents set some houses ablaze. BaBulama Jiddari, a leader of a vigilante group in the area, told PREMIUM TIMES on the phone that we were under attack. But we have been able to repel with the help of soldiers who later arrived. It was not a bomb blast but a serious attack. A house has been completely burnt down. We are still here trying to see if there is any casualty. Rebbeca Musa who lives close to the location under attack said, I have not seen this kind of shooting in a long time. Shells of bullets were dripping on top of my house roof and inside the compound. Mr Bulama said the attack took place not far from the Federal High Court complex in Polo. A member of the Civilian-JTF, who asked not to be named, said the insurgents came through an entrance that was once manned by soldiers. The attack wouldnt have been possible if the soldiers had not left that location, he said. Details later A man from Boston admitted Wednesday in federal court to fraudulently claiming his brother accidentally drowned in China three years after he actually died of a heart attack in order to submit more than $5 million in life insurance claims, according to court documents. Kellerman Jason Zheng, 33, pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud in a scheme that began in December 2016, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Beginning in December of 2016 and continuing through March 20, 2018, Zheng took out at least 24 life insurance policies in his brothers name with limits in excess of $11.5 million, the U.S. the Attorneys Office said. Zheng claimed his brother died in an accidental drowning while visiting China in August of 2018, authorities said. Investigators began looking into Zheng last January, which included a trip to China, where Zhengs brother died, a court document said. Investigators found witnesses in China that said Zhengs brother died two to three years earlier of a sudden heart attack suffered on Tomb Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese festival where families visit the tombs of their ancestors. Investigators also located a doctor that said he signed a death certificate for the brother in August 2018 after relatives described the means of death, court documents said. Further investigation found that a man, with the same name and age of Zhengs brother, was cremated in April 2015. Looking at flight records, authorities found Zhengs brother flew from Boston to Beijing in April of 2015, however, no records showed his return, court records said. After his death in 2015, authorities say Zheng used bank accounts in his brothers name and renewed his brothers Massachusetts license to make it appear he was still alive. Later, Zheng obtained a false Chinese death certificate for his brother indicating that his brother had died in August 2018, and used it to submit more than $5 million in life insurance claims, the U.S. Attorney said. Court documents show Zheng met with an undercover agent posing as an insurance agent and admitted his brother died prior to the policies. The charges of mail and wire fraud each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 18. Moscow and Damascus conduct no attacks on civilians in Syria, all the strikes target exclusively terrorists, Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for New Challenges and Threats Director Vladimir Tarabrin told Sputnik on Wednesday, soon after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Russia and Syria of "massacring" civilians in Idlib VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) Moscow and Damascus conduct no attacks on civilians in Syria, all the strikes target exclusively terrorists, Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for New Challenges and Threats Director Vladimir Tarabrin told Sputnik on Wednesday, soon after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Russia and Syria of "massacring" civilians in Idlib. "We have repeatedly decisively stated that neither Russia nor the Syrian armed forces conduct attacks on civilians. All the attacks are targeted exclusively against the terror bands, the people who carry weapons and engage in fight against the legal government," Tarabrin said. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a former military officer at the National Security Council who testified during the impeachment hearings on Capitol Hill, lower right, walks down the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) Trump: Military May Consider Disciplinary Action Against Vindman President Donald Trump suggested that the military will likely look at disciplinary action against impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was recently dismissed from the National Security Council (NSC) last week. Thats going to be up to the military, well have to see, but if you look at what happened, theyre going to certainly, I would imagine, take a look at that, Trump told reporters at the White House after he was asked about further steps that might be taken. Trump had previously said the military can handle him. In another comment, the president said Vindman was sent to a much different location, likely referring to his new job at the Pentagon. The military can handle him any way they want, he told reporters, adding that General Milley has him now. I congratulate General Milley, referring to Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Vindman, along with Ambassador Gordon Sondland, who also testified during the House impeachment inquiry, confirmed they were dismissed via their lawyers on Friday. Trump again defended Vindmans dismissal, saying there were concerns raised about him in the NSC. It turned out that what he reported was very different, Trump told reporters on Tuesday about a July 25 phone call that Vindman listened in on. In that call, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and asked him to look into the business dealings of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Trump also appeared to make reference to public testimony from Vindmans former boss, Tim Morrison, who said other staffers had told him that Vindmans judgment seemed questionable and also told him that he had leaked information. Vindman, Trump alleged, avoided the chain of command, leaked, [and] did a lot of bad things. David Pressman, a lawyer for Vindman, said that his ouster from the agency was retribution for the role that he played during the impeachment inquiry. The truth has cost LTC Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy, Pressman said last week. The personnel shakeups have drawn criticism from Congressional Democrats, who have called for investigations. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on every agency inspector general in the United States to investigate possible retaliation against whistleblowers. These attacks are part of a dangerous, growing pattern of retaliation against those who report wrongdoing only to find themselves targeted by the President and subject to his wrath and vindictiveness, Schumer wrote in his letter earlier in the week. But Looney said that BP would achieve a similar result by making its own oil-and-gas production net zero and by aiming to make the oil BP buys for its refineries meet net zero targets. (BP refines more oil than it produces.) In addition, as BP reduces the amount of oil and gas it extracts from the ground and as motorists move to electric vehicles, emissions from gasoline and diesel would fall steeply. The United Nations Security Council voted to extend sanctions on illicit oil exports from Libya ahead of a vote on a draft resolution seeking to help resolve the situation in the war-torn country. Russias Sputnik reports the oil sanctions were extended until the end of April next year and that the panel of experts set up to help the implementation of the sanctions got an extended mandate until mid-May 2021. The oil export sanctions for Libya have been in place since 2014, authorizing members of the UN to inspect vessels in open waters. Illicit oil exports, however, seem to be the least of Libyas problems right now. The North African country is currently producing less than 200,000 bpd of crude because of an oil port blockade by tribal groups loyal to the Libyan National Army, an organization affiliated with the eastern Libyan government. The eastern government and the LNA, led by General Khalifa Haftar, are fighting for control over the country with the UN-recognized Government of National Accord. This control is inseparable from the control over the national oil industry. Right now, only the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation has the right to sell Libyan oil abroad. Until last year, LNA and Haftar worked together with the NOC, but last year Haftar took everyone by surprise by launching an offensive against Tripoli, claiming that soon Libya would have one single government. As a result, Libyas oil production has gone from over 1.2 million bpd to less than 200,000 bpd, with NOC suffering losses so far estimated at around $1.3 billion as oil fields have to be shut down because of the blockade. Earlier this week, a refinery also shut down. Azzawiya Oil Refining Company said it was out of feedstock and had no stockpiled oil to process. The vote on the next resolution for Libya is set for tomorrow, according to a diplomatic source that spoke to Sputnik. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: At least two Worcester City Councilors arrived in the third floor chamber Tuesday night unsure of their vote on a Tax Increment Financing policy for Table Talk Pies new location in the Main South neighborhood. However, the TIF passed unanimously after a modification made to agreement on Monday was announced during the meeting that stipulated employees would earn $15 an hour within six months after beginning at the company. It was something we worked on to try to ease some of the concerns some of the city councilor members had, Table Talk Pies owner Harry Kokkinis said after the meeting. Two weeks ago, during the citys Economic Development Committee meeting, opposition to the TIF was built on questions surrounding a $15 an hour wage for new employees at Table Talk Pies. Last month Kokkinis said employees that worked at least 500 hours a year received $15 an hour in total compensation, which included bonuses and overtime. Kokkinis also said employees would be making 125% of the minimum wage within two years of service through a series of wage increases. During Tuesdays council meeting, City Solicitor Michael Traynor announced a change in those numbers. He said by six months, new employees would earn $15 an hour. Any bonuses or overtime pay would be in addition to the $15 an hour. Kokkinis confirmed that information to the council. He told MassLive the adjustment occurred on Monday. I wasnt prepared to vote in the affirmative on this, Councilor-at-large Khrystian King said. I was considering what exactly I was going to do based on what I heard here tonight. Im happy. I hope as we move forward that the city continues to work and strive and make sure these goals are effectuated. District 3 Councilor George Russell first voiced concern Tuesday night regarding wages in the TIF agreement. Like King, Russell said he entered tonights meeting uncertain of his vote. However, the new terms settled on Monday, met his satisfaction. It was my impression walking in the door that this would not meet the goals, Russell said. Its encouraging that its going to meet the goals within six months. During the Economic Development Committee meeting two weeks ago, Traynor said that wages of $15 an hour were never locked in stone as part of the agreement. Councilor-at-Large Morris Bergman reiterated that Tuesday night and suggested concrete wording be added to future agreements. Bergman said the policy uses the word mandatory in one paragraph and the word goal in another regarding wages. If we want to make it mandatory, we need to have language in there that its mandatory, Bergman said. Otherwise I dont think its fair to criticize someone who hasnt reached a goal, but hasnt done anything to violate the mandatory provision of the Tax Increment Financing policy. The only hesitation on the TIF Tuesday night pertained to the wages. With the latest adjustment, the full city council voted to approve the policy. Theyre actually going beyond the policy in other benefits accruing to the city whether its cleaning up brownfields or theyre many charitable relationships with the community, City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. said. Theyre not only meeting the other requirements. Theyre exceeding them. The TIF includes $4.4 million in new net revenue for the city, according to the city. It would also provide savings of $4.6 million for Table Talk Pies due to the fact that taxes at the new location would triple without the agreement. Table Talk Pies pays about $135,000 in taxes annually, according to the city. During the hiatus between the committee meeting last month and Tuesdays meeting, Kokkinis reiterated his desire to keep Table Talk Pies within Worcester. The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce said in an email last week that if the council voted against the TIF, the city could see Table Talk leave.Kokkinis said that was never part of his plan. With Tuesdays approval, it wont have to be. Thats the exciting part, Kokkinis said. We love to build. Nows our chance to be able to move forward." Related Content: An Irish teacher who was among a group evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan two weeks ago said his period in quarantine in UK has passed quickly, helped by pastimes such as playing poker. Ben Kavanagh, who is from Kildare, was among three Irish people who were confined to their apartments who availed of an RAF rescue flight. Although they did not have the virus they agreed to go into quarantine for fourteen days in an NHS accommodation block near Arrowe Park hospital in Merseyside. He said yesterday he expects to be free to leave this week and he has enjoyed his time there with over eighty others. They played poker, were well fed and had access to the internet which allowed him send English assignments back to his school in China. It was less isolating than being in my apartment in Wuhan, he told RTE radio. Every other night we were playing poker. Asked about reports that one of the people tried to leave he suggested this was fake news. People were anxious to stay in quarantine and stay healthy, he added. He was glad of the chance to go into quarantine because it meant he was no risk after he returned. If somebody who may have been exposed to the virus is clear within fourteen days it means they did not contract it. He hopes to return home and see family and friends. He is unclear when he will be able to go back to China but he fully intends to return there when he gets the go ahead. The group were particularly well looked after with donations of clothes and he said he has an abundance of t-shirts and tracksuits. Video PlayerClose Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a quarantine center at Nanhu Street in Wuchang District of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 11, 2020. Sun is leading a central government team guiding the epidemic control work in Hubei. She urged Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan to make greater efforts and take more decisive measures to resolutely win the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua] WUHAN, February 11 (Xinhua) Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has urged Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan to make greater efforts and take more decisive measures to resolutely win the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic. Sun, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is leading a central government team guiding the epidemic control work in Hubei. Visiting a quarantine center and two temporary hospitals established in a gymnasium and an exhibition center in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, on Tuesday, Sun stressed efforts to add more hospital beds and improve admission and treatment capacity to leave no patients unattended. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Sun expressed her gratitude to the medics sent from Shanxi, Shandong and Sichuan provinces to Wuhan to aid the epidemic control work. "Answering the call of the country's leadership, medical workers across the country came to the front line without hesitation and fully demonstrated the spirit and strength of unity," Sun noted. Sun asked Hubei and Wuhan to ensure supporting services and protective medical products for medical personnel, adding that shift work schedules should be set up to safeguard their health and safety. "When Wuhan wins, Hubei wins. When Hubei wins, China wins," said Sun, calling for greater confidence and tenacity to win the battle. Sun also thanked the Wuhan Asia General Hospital, a Hong Kong-funded hospital, for offering 400 beds to treat the patients. In the face of the epidemic, Hong Kong compatriots and the people of Wuhan fighting hand in hand have shown the strong cohesion and vitality of the Chinese nation, said Sun. Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a temporary hospital in Hanyang District of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 11, 2020. Sun is leading a central government team guiding the epidemic control work in Hubei. She urged Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan to make greater efforts and take more decisive measures to resolutely win the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua] Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a temporary hospital converted from Wuhan Gymnasium in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, February 11, 2020. Sun is leading a central government team guiding the epidemic control work in Hubei. She urged Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan to make greater efforts and take more decisive measures to resolutely win the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua] (Source: Xinhua) It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the Foundations board and to help advance such a life-changing mission," said Mercado. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national non-profit public charity, today welcomed Jhonny Mercado as a member of its board of trustees, serving a three-year term. Mercado is co-chairman of JAE Restaurant Group, which owns and operates 210 Wendys restaurants across the United States. I have been a proud supporter of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for many years, said Mercado. It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the Foundations board and to help advance such a life-changing mission on behalf of the tens of thousands of children in foster care waiting for a loving, permanent home. Mercado opened his first Wendys in 1998 and soon became a multi-brand franchisee in his native Venezuela. In 2007, he ventured into the U.S. market with the purchase of five Wendys restaurants in Florida as JAI International Investment. Mercado continued to grow his business throughout the United States, Venezuela and Panama until 2014, when he merged with another Wendys franchisee to become JAE Restaurant Group. The company has become the fifth-largest Wendys franchise organization in the United States, with additional locations in the pipeline. Jhonny embodies the legacy of Dave Thomas in his commitment to quality in his restaurants and dedication to giving back to those in need, said Mary Schell, Chief Public Affairs Officer for The Wendys Company and chair of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoptions board of trustees. His leadership, experience and philanthropic heart are a tremendous addition to the Foundations board. Through its signature program, Wendys Wonderful Kids, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption provides funding to adoption agencies to hire recruiters who implement an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model. A rigorous, five-year evaluation revealed that the model is up to three times more effective at serving children who have been in foster care the longest, including teenagers, children with special needs and siblings. To date, more than 475 Wendys Wonderful Kids recruiters have found adoptive homes for more than 9,500 children in foster care across North America. Jhonny is a visionary leader and passionate champion of the Foundations work, said Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. I look forward to working with him in expanding the Foundations work to serve the growing number of children waiting to be adopted from foster care. Mercado lives in Florida with his wife, Gabriela, and four children. About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes for the more than 155,000 children waiting in North Americas foster care systems. Created by Wendys founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven national service programs, foster care adoption awareness campaigns and innovative grantmaking. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org. NMC Health has plunged deeper into crisis after a potential suitor denied an interest in the hospitals provider. In an embarrassing rejection, private equity firm KKR, which had been touted by NMC as a possible buyer, said it had no intention of making an offer, just a day after NMC said it had received 'approaches' from KKR and investor GKSD. GKSD confirmed it had made an approach and was now 'considering an offer' for the FTSE 100 company. Snubbed: Hospitals provider NMC Health shares have fallen more than 70 per cent since short seller Muddy Waters cast doubt on its accounting practices in December NMC is reeling from allegations of financial mismanagement and revelations this week that its billionaire founder may have misreported how many shares he owns. The stock fell again yesterday, by 16 per cent, or 148p, to 778.2p, erasing some of the gains made on Monday when KKR and GKSD's interest was revealed. The shares are down more than 70 per cent since short seller Muddy Waters cast doubt on NMC's accounting practices in December. Under City takeover rules, GKSD, backed by sponsors of Italy's private hospital chain Gruppo San Donato, now has until 5pm on March 9 to make a firm offer. NMC faces a possible probe by the Financial Conduct Authority over confusion about shares held by founder Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, 78, who is worth an estimated 1.2billion. He started the firm in 1975 but has been forced to step back from its board while an investigation tries to establish exactly what his stake is. That followed revelations that he had struck an agreement with fellow top shareholders Saeed Bin Butti Al Qebaisi and Khalifa Bin Butti Al Muhairi to hold some shares on behalf of the two men. The Peoples Committee of the central province of Thua Thien Hue on February 11 said there is no infection with NCoV in the province during 14 days after the arrival of Diamond Princess cruise ship at Chan May port on January 27. Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored at Yokohama, Japan on February 6 The international cruise ship is being quarantined offshore Yokohama, Japan, after a passenger was found infected with nCoV. By now, the number of confirmed infections on the ship has surpassed 60. The Diamond Princess carrying 2,700 passengers and 1,050 crew members docked at Chan May Port in Thua Thien-Hue at 6:30 am on January 27. At the port, relevant agencies performed quarantine procedures for all passengers and crew members, took their temperature and distributed leaflets on nCoV prevention. No passenger or crew members showed such signs as fever, coughing or breathing difficulty at that time. 1,252 passengers left the ship and joined in registered tours in the locality. According to the Tan Hong travel agency, 454 passengers of the cruise participated in two tours of Hue city during the day. All passengers and crew members returned to the ship the same day, and it left at 17:00 for the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh. Director of Thua Thien-Hue Department of Health Nguyen Nam Hung said as of 9:00 am on February 11, no staff members performing entry procedures and serving the passengers during their tours showed any signs of the acute respiratory disease caused by nCoV. Vietnam confirmed the 15th nCoV case in the country on February 11. By now six patients have been cured and discharged from hospital./.VNA KABUL, AFGHANISTANMore than 18 years after the United States invaded Afghanistan, President Donald Trump has conditionally approved a peace deal with the Taliban that would withdraw the last American troops from the country, potentially beginning the end of Americas longest war, according to Afghan and U.S. officials. But the deal will only be signed if the Taliban prove their commitment to a durable reduction of violence over a test period of about seven days later this month. If the Taliban do end hostilities and a deal is signed, the United States would then begin a gradual withdrawal of American troops, and direct negotiations would start between the Taliban and Afghan leaders over the future of their country. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Afghanistans top leaders in separate phone calls Tuesday that Trump had given tentative approval to this approach, according to a senior Afghan official briefed on one of the calls. A senior U.S. official aware of the developments also confirmed that Trump had given his preliminary approval for a deal Monday, dependent on a cessation of violence, the same day he visited Dover Air Force Base to receive the remains of the latest U.S. fatalities in the war, which has killed tens of thousands of Afghans and more than 3,500 American and coalition troops since the United States drove the Taliban from power in 2001. A senior diplomat in Washington described the deal as 95 per cent agreed to in principle, but that the possibility of a final agreement will become clearer in a matter of a couple weeks. A senior Taliban official informed of the negotiations said there were now positive movements, but declined to discuss details because the groups internal deliberations were continuing. While the move could mark a significant moment in Trumps pledge to end what he has described as endless wars, the talks have long remained fragile and previously broke down just as a signing was near. After nearly a year of negotiations, the two sides were on the verge of a similar deal last September. Trump suddenly called off the talks, citing a Taliban attack that killed an American and NATO soldier and nearly a dozen Afghans. But officials said it was largely because Trumps grand gesture of inviting the Taliban to Camp David to finalize the deal fell apart. After that, it took months of trust-building work, including a prisoner swap, to get back to the negotiating table. The deals details including the timeline of the troop withdrawal and how much of the agreement had changed since the two sides were on the verge of a signing last September remained tightly guarded. This is a welcoming development and I am pleased that our principal position on peace thus far has begun to yield fruitful results, President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement announcing his call with Pompeo. Our primary objective is to end the senseless bloodshed. Ghani said Pompeo had informed him of notable progress made in the ongoing peace talks and of the Talibans proposal with regards to bringing a significant and enduring reduction in violence. Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan governments chief executive who had also received a call, said Pompeo had expressed optimism that a reduction in violence and progress with current talks could lead to an agreement. The most recent sticking point had been an American demand for the Taliban to significantly reduce their attacks across the country during the signing and after when the peace process moves to its next stage. The Taliban have signalled their willingness to sit down with the Afghan government and other leaders to discuss the political future of the country but only after the Americans agree to leave the country. For the past month, U.S. negotiators, led by veteran diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, have been camped out in the Gulf state of Qatar, trying to convince the Taliban of a major demand they had before any deal could be finalized: the insurgents needed to significantly and durably reduce violence across the country. Aboard Air Force One on the way to the ceremony Monday at Dover Air Force Base, Trump discussed his Afghanistan strategy with a small group of aides and supporters, including Ivanka Trump, his daughter, and Sen. Rand Paul, who is among the Senates most staunch voices against keeping American troops in Afghanistan. I absolutely believe his sentiment is an overall desire not to be involved in a war, Paul said in an interview in his office Tuesday, adding that the president had witnessed a very emotional event in Dover the evening before. Paul added that while he believed the president wanted to ultimately issue a green light for troop withdrawal, he was skeptical about the amount of support he would receive from his other close allies in Congress. Were dominated by people who want unlimited checks to the military and never-ending intervention, Paul said. Read more about: A former Minister for Environment, Science and Technology under the erstwhile Mahama administration, Akwasi Oppong Fosu, has called for serious investigation into the hundreds of missing excavators case. An undisclosed number of excavators that were seized by operatives of Operation Vanguard have allegedly gone missing and six persons, including the suspended first vice-chair of the NPP in the Central Region, are currently under police investigations. Mr. Fosu said an intensive investigation into the matter will bring some finality to the issue. For me, there are issues out there. I talked about what the Minister said about the MMDCEs. Now the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission also mentioned that Galamsey activities are ongoing in forest reserves and that there are powerful officials involved that is, making it difficult for them to deal with this. The recent encounter between some officials and the Ministry of Environment is something that should worry and trouble Ghanaians. What I am requesting for is that this issue should not be swept under the carpet. We need to know the truth and the whole truth. What has gone on in respect to this Galamsey? Has equipment been seized from those we all knew were doing it illegally and subsequently appropriated by officials to now do it in a more massive scale than what this small tide Galamseyers were doing. This is the crux of the matter and we expect his excellency to let us know what has happened because this is one of the major initiatives that gave him public confidence and he cannot afford to betray that trust. Missing excavators and arrest Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng disclosed recently that most of the excavators that were seized from illegal miners had vanished. He subsequently petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to investigate the suspended First Vice Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, Horace Ekow Ewusi over his alleged involvement in the missing earth-moving equipment. Ekow Ewusi was contracted by the government to cart excavators and other vehicles and pieces of equipment seized by Operation Vanguard to designated areas for safekeeping. So far, six persons arrested over the disappearance of the missing equipment have been granted bail. The six, including Ekow Ewusi, have been cautioned with the offence of stealing and abetment to stealing. It will be recalled that at the peak of the fight against illegal mining between 2017 and 2018, about 500 earth-moving machines were seized by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry. The then sector Minister, John Peter Amewu who sanctioned the seizure directed them to be parked at the premises of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). citinewsroom New Delhi: Both India and the United States formally announced on Tuesday that the US President Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, would make a two-day visit later this month to India on February 24 and 25. Both countries said in separate statements that the visit would strengthen the Indo-US strategic partnership. Speculation is rife that a trade deal may also be inked during the visit, something that will be music to the US Presidents ears as he heads into a re-election campaign. In a statement, the MEA said, At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, His Excellency Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, will pay a state visit to India on February 24-25, 2020. This will be the Presidents first visit to India. During the visit, President Trump and the First Lady will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and interact with a wide cross-section of Indian society. The MEA added, The global strategic partnership between India and the U.S. is based on trust, shared values, mutual respect and understanding, and marked by warmth and friendship between the peoples of the two countries. The relationship has further evolved under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, with significant progress in all areas including trade, defence, counter-terrorism, energy, coordination on regional and global issues as well as people-to-people ties. The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review progress in bilateral ties and further strengthen our strategic partnership. The statement from the White House said, The President and The First Lady will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, which is in Prime Minister Modis home state of Gujarat and played such an important role in Mahatma Gandhis life and leadership of the Indian independence movement. During a phone call over the weekend, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed that the trip will further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people. A message from a pro-Iranian group appears on a U.S. government website operated by the Federal Depository Library Program after the site was hacked on Jan. 4, 2020. (Screenshot/FDLP.gov) Irans 8000-Member Cyber Battalion Wages Online Propaganda War Against US: Report Irans cyber battalion, consisting of 8,000 members, has been relentlessly working since 2011 to wage an online propaganda war against the United States, according to a report released by the Atlantic Council. The report by council experts Emerson T. Brooking and Suzanne Kianpour was released on the 41st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution at a half-day conference in Washington and analyzes how the Iranian regime studies and exploits new communication technologies. Modern Iran, born from Islamic revolution and engaged in a 41-year cold war with the United States, has been quick to study and exploit new communications technologies, said the report. The Iranian regime started to use social media as a propaganda tool following the 2009 Green Movementa series of pro-democracy protests, enabled by Twitter and other platforms, that threatened the stability of Irans theocratic government. Brooking and Kianpour said Irans digital influence operations against the United States include a continuation of public diplomacy, albeit conducted through misleading websites and social media sockpuppets to broadcast messages to audiences in Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. The aim of these efforts is to tell Irans story, the same as any Western government broadcaster might strive to do. The difference is that, as an international pariah, Iran must pursue this work through more clandestine means. Global observers have long learned to doubt the truthfulness and sincerity of Iranian-branded media, said the report. How Iran Spreads Distorted Truth The two Atlantic council experts said in the report that much of the Iranian propaganda content cant be characterized as disinformation but as distorted truth. Much of this Iranian content cannot be characterized as disinformation. In sharp contrast to the information operations of Russia, which routinely disseminate false stories with the aim of polluting the information environment, Iran makes less use of obvious falsehood. Instead, Iran advances a distorted truth: one that exaggerates Irans moral authority while minimizing Irans repression of its citizens and the steep human cost of its own imperial adventures in the wider Middle East, said the report. It said Iran started using Facebook and Twitter sockpuppets as early as 2010 to gain information dominance nationally and globally. As the United States and Iran entered into a period of rapprochement and negotiation, the number of accounts grew exponentially. These accounts have been used to launder Iranian state propaganda to unsuspecting audiences, often under the guise of local media reports, it said. Facebook has identified 2,200 Iranian assets affecting 6 million of its users, while Twitter has identified 8,000 accounts generating about 8.5 million messages. Iran May Interfere in 2020 US Elections Brooking and Kianpour said in their report that the Iranian regime may use its subversive online warfare to interfere in the 2020 national elections in the United States. Iran may attempt direct electoral interference in 2020 and beyond. To date, there is little evidence that Iran has sought to affect the outcome of a U.S. election. This does not, however, preclude future such campaigns based on Iranian interest in achieving rapprochement with the United States, the experts said. They said using its digital influence efforts on various social media platforms including Reddit, Iran even worked to influence the perceptions of the Syrian Civil War. By 2018, Iran had developed sophisticated online personas that it used to launder propaganda through individual journalists and to even publish letters in regional U.S. newspapers. By 2020, and following the U.S. assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani, Iran was using this apparatus to mount continuous influence operations against the United States, it said. The report said the United States government should push back the Iranian online propaganda by addressing regular press briefings to the Iranian people, as these have been widely disseminated and received. The report recommended that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set up an appropriate intergovernmental entity to publicize foreign influence operations. Everyone has been wondering about exactly what Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex plan to do after leaving the royal family. And even though theyve been hiding out for the past few weeks since announcing their intentions to step back as senior royals, there are a few clues that can help royal followers figure out how theyre going to make money now. A lot of money. The past few weeks the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been enjoying a leisurely time in Canada doing yoga and taking long walks, plus spending quality time with their son, Archie Harrison. But soon this couple will need to figure out how to keep making money to continue living the life theyve become accustomed to. Heres what they could potentially do to make hundreds of millions. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Rosa Woods Pool/Getty Images Public speaking engagements make perfect sense for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Its widely believed that Harry and Meghan will have financial support from Prince Charles for at least a year following their departure as senior royals. However, even with their personal funds and the financial support of the Prince of Wales, they will need to start making money of their own soon. And based on their most recent moves, they might have a very smart strategy in mind. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently made an appearance in Miami at a JP Morgan summit where Prince Harry discussed why he had to make the difficult decision to abandon his status as a working royal. But his speaking at the event could be all the answer we needed. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Neil Mockford/GC Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could make millions with public speaking engagements Its unlikely that Meghan and Harry will launch a line with Target or start making night club appearances. But the idea that they might try to build their nest egg by attending profitable, meaningful speaking events just makes sense. The JP Morgan speech in Miami included plenty of wealthy audience members, including celebrities like Alex Rodriguez and Magic Johnson plus billionaire business tycoons. If the popular royal couple keeps up this strategy, PR professionals predict they could easily pull in more than $100 million this year alone. The former royals wont have to give up their extravagant lifestyle Anyone whos worried about how Harry and Meghan will support themselves now that they arent financially carried by the royal family is obviously underestimating their popularity. And if the couple sticks to worthwhile causes to make appearances, they wont even have to compromise their morals to do so. The Sussexes said during their announcement that theyd be splitting their time between the U.K. and North America going forward. But they didnt specify if theyd be in Canada, where they were when they made the announcement, or if theyre house hunting in Los Angeles. Either way, they have plenty of opportunities to make money just showing up and talking about whatever they want. Will 2020 become the year of Meghan and Harry touring the world, sharing their wisdom with the world? Well be watching to find out. (Natural News) The first American to be evacuated from Wuhan, China, and later diagnosed with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus was reportedly released from the hospital by accident, effectively putting the rest of the population at risk of infection. Reports indicate that the patient was mistakenly discharged from the University of California San Diego Medical Center after initially testing negative for the disease, only to be called back to the facility after it was realized he had actually tested positive. The hospital says the patient is doing well and has minimal symptoms, and was released back to the quarantine compound from which he was initially taken. But the fact that his early symptoms were dismissed as a false alarm, only to later be identified as the real deal, screams of the type of incompetence that could lead to a deadly outbreak here on American soil. This patients diagnosis makes him the 13th official coronavirus case in the United States that we know of, anyway. CDC officials advised San Diego Public Health that further testing revealed that one of the four patients tested positive, reads an official statement from the hospital, the other three patients being among the 232 American citizens who were flown back via charter plane from Wuhan last week. The confirmed positive patient was returned to UC San Diego Health for observation and isolation until cleared by the CDC for release, the statement goes on to explain. Be sure to check out this episode of The Health Ranger Report in which Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how novel coronavirus is now spreading at fitness gyms throughout China: Dont forget: Novel coronavirus may not show symptoms for a full two weeks, but is still contagious during that time As of this writing, there are now more than 42,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, along with more than 1,000 deaths, the vast majority of which are in China. At the same time, new cases continue to trickle in here in the States, with many more likely on the way now that we know the virus can lie dormant in an infected person for up to two weeks without showing any symptoms. And during this time, its still contagious, meaning many people could be infected right this moment and not even know it. According to the CDC, none of the other 228 evacuees on the two separate charter flights that arrived on US soil last week have tested positive for coronavirus. But again, that could change seeing as how authorities screwed up this San Diego case by erroneously reporting it as a negative. The other three suspected cases of coronavirus are also being officially reported as negatives. Mondays San Diego case is the first confirmed case in San Diego County since the deadly outbreak began, writes Marlene Lenthang for the DailyMail Online. Seven of the U.S. coronavirus cases are in California. While the official story reads that novel coronavirus has a maximum incubation period of 14 days, new evidence has emerged to suggest that the virus can actually incubate for as long as 24 days, or more than three weeks. Meanwhile, the CDC is continuing to release Wuhan evacuees not only in California but also in Texas and Nebraska. Although a 14-day quarantine will no doubt cover the vast majority of possible carriers, if even 1% of patients demonstrate incubation periods lasting significantly longer than 14 days, thats still enough to spark an outbreak in the general population, warns Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. To keep up with the latest coronavirus news, be sure to check out Pandemic.news. You can also hear the latest about novel coronavirus from the Health Ranger himself by checking out the official Health Ranger Report Brighteon channel. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com TO VIEW MORE NEWS STORY, PLEASE CLICK ON NEWS TAB ON MAIN MENU BAR LANSDOWNE, Va., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today that 68 current Cooke Young Scholars will continue to receive the organization's comprehensive educational advising and financial support as Cooke College Scholars. Through the Cooke College Scholarship Program, the Foundation provides scholars with up to $40,000 per year for up to four years to complete a bachelor's degree. Cooke Scholars also have access to opportunities for internships, study abroad, and a thriving community of motivated peers. These high-achieving students each entered the Cooke Young Scholars Program during their 8th grade year. Together, they have attended summer programs on college campuses and participated in enrichment programs in cities such as Athens, Greece; Santiago, Chile; and Washington, DC. Each Cooke Young Scholar and their family also worked one-on-one with an educational adviser to create an individualized learning plan (ILP) and maximize their high school experience. Members of this cohort have founded and led organizations, won regional and national academic competitions, published their works, been chosen as captains of teams, and conducted research at the collegiate level. "It's been incredible to watch these scholars take ownership of their learning and prepare to engage and lead purposefully," said Executive Director Seppy Basili. "We look forward to seeing the impact they will have as they complete college and beyond." The Foundation is currently seeking applications for the 20th cohort of its Cooke Young Scholars program. High-performing 7th graders have until March 23, 2020 to apply to this five-year pre-college scholarship. Visit the Foundation's website to view eligibility requirements and begin the application. The Cooke Young Scholars Program serves as a pathway to the Foundation's prestigious college scholarship, but that application is also open to high school seniors each fall. Last month, 477 high school seniors were selected as Cooke College Scholar Semifinalists from over 5,300 applicants nationwide. In April, the Foundation will announce additional Cooke College Scholars from the semifinalists. The names of the Cooke College Scholars from the Young Scholars Program can be found here, listed along with the states and high schools they represent. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded over $200 million in scholarships to over 2,700 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive educational advising and other support services. The Foundation has also provided $110 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. www.jkcf.org SOURCE Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Introduction At the headwaters of Kachemak Bay and past the terminus of Alaskas Kenai Peninsula road system sits the village of Kachemak Selo. Theres technically no road to Seloas locals call itjust a steep switchback dirt trail taking vehicles with four-wheel drive 800 feet down to the rocky beach where the community sits. The communitys remoteness is one of the reasons Selo has been struggling for nearly a decade to get a new school. Kachemak Selo Schoola set of three buildings built in the 1980s and 90s by local residentsis deteriorated beyond useful capacity, according to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The community has little hope that a replacement school will come anytime soon for the schools 39 K-12 students. While rural districts across the U.S. struggle to pay to maintain adequate school buildings, Selos challenges are particularly complicated, compounded by the communitys distinct desire to maintain cultural independence, a patchwork of school finance regulations, deteriorating state support, and the high cost of construction in a roadless and remote community. The sole community enterprise, the Village of Kachemak Selo Water Company Inc., owns the two buildings that house the central office and the elementary school. The building housing the middle and high school is owned by a private citizen and has more visible damage than the others, with cracks in the corners, crooked door frames, and floors so uneven that the furniture must be reinforced to stay in place. Books stacked under table legs keep the surfaces level. The schools are among 42 operated by the borough school district, which serves nearly 8,500 students in an area the size of West Virginia. The territory includes some urban schools, rural schools, three other Russian Old Believer schools, and a few Alaska Native Village schools. In 2011, Selo petitioned its borough government for a new school. The borough then petitioned the state, which responded five years later, appropriating $10 million to build it. To take advantage of those funds, however, the borough had to provide a $5.5 million match. (The price tag reflects the difficulty of carting construction materials to the village.) Borough voters rejected the bond petition for the matching funds in October 2018. And, although the state extended its offer to June 2021, Kachemak Selo Principal Michael Wojciak said voter approval for a second-round vote will be a tough sell. I get it, said Wojciak. Were in an economic hardship, whether its the borough or the state. For people to vote for higher taxesits not a great time to do that. According to the borough, that bond would equate to $4.95 per $100,000 of assessed real or personal property values. A new law in Pennsylvania may have people seeing purple. Landowners can now mark trees or posts with purple paint as a no trespassing notice. Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1772 into law on Nov. 27. It went into effect 60 days later on Jan. 26. In Pennsylvania, a person is considered a defiant trespasser if they enter or remain in a place where notice against trespassing is given by actual communication, lawful posting or fencing. Under the new law, purple paint is now considered a form of lawful posting, although landowners can still use traditional posted signs as well. It gives landowners another option for marking their property against trespassers. Paint is longer lasting and easier to apply, whereas signs fall down, are torn down or damage trees. Arkansas was the first state in 1989 with such a law. Purple was selected because it was a color not used by utility or timber companies. Other states followed suit, including Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and North Carolina. Florida, Idaho and Montana call for landowners to mark their property with orange or other fluorescent paint. A purple paint bill was introduced in Ohio in March 2017 by state Sen. Bill Coley, R-Hamilton. It was referred to the judiciary committee. Two public hearings were held, but no further action was taken by the committee. The Pennsylvania law applies across the state except Philadelphia and Allegheny counties. The purple paint is commonly called No Hunting paint. It can be purchased as an aerosol spray paint or bucket paint. *** How to mark your property with purple paint Each paint mark must be vertical line at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide. The mark must be between 3 and 5 feet from the ground. Marks must be readily visible to a person approaching the property no more than 100 feet apart. Russia China Outbreak A medical staffer works with test systems for the diagnosis of coronavirus, at the Krasnodar Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology microbiology lab in Krasnodar, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. Russia has closed its land border with China and suspended most train traffic between the countries. (AP Photo) MOSCOW (AP) One patient jumped out of a hospital window to escape her quarantine and another managed to break out by disabling an electronic lock. Two Russian women who were kept in isolation for possible inflection by a new virus say they fled from their Russian hospitals this month because of uncooperative doctors, poor conditions and fear they would become infected. Russian health authorities haven't commented on their complaints. The incidents occurred amid the outbreak of the virus in China that has already infected some 45,000 people worldwide. In Russia, only two cases of the disease COVID-19 have been reported. Nevertheless, the authorities took vast measures to prevent the new disease from spreading and hospitalized hundreds of people who returned from China as a precaution. Many of those quarantined in different Russian hospitals complained about dire conditions of isolation rooms and lack of cooperation from doctors, uncertain about quarantine protocols. Both women said their hospital ordeals began after returning from Hainan, a tropical region of China popular with Russian tourists. In a lengthy account on Instagram published Friday, a woman with the screen name of GuzelNeder said her son came down with a cough and a fever of 37.3 C (99.2 F) four days after the family's return to their home in the city of Samara. She called emergency services, who diagnosed the boy as having a viral respiratory infection and who said the mother and the son must go to a hospital for coronavirus tests. The hospital promised test results within three days, then extended it to five, she said, and meanwhile the boy responded to treatment with medication and an inhalator, she wrote. When she tried to press for results, hospital personnel obstructed her, she said. Meanwhile, she had become concerned about lax procedures in the hospital, saying that some medical personnel came to the isolation area without masks or threw their protective clothing on the floor. Story continues Her anxiety soared on the fifth day, when she began to feel badly. She asked her husband to bring her a home pregnancy test, and after two minutes of wringing my hands in anticipation, it came on the screen PREGNANT, she wrote. Her husband argued with the doctor that she and their son should be released because of her condition and concern of infection. The doctor said they had to be held for 14 days even if the virus test came back negative. My son was hysterical, she wrote. There was no exit for us other than to leave the hospital without authorization, through the window. Police later questioned her at home, but no charges have been reported. Everyone in my family is alive and healthy, thank god, she wrote. The other woman, Alla Ilyina, said in an Instagram post she came down with a sore throat several days after returning to St. Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, from Hainan. Ilyina called emergency services, and medics brought her to a hospital for coronavirus testing, promising to let her go after 24 hours. The next day she was told she tested negative for the virus, but had to remain quarantined for two weeks. Wild, Ilyina wrote. All three tests showed I was completely healthy, so why the hell the quarantine? Her isolation room was dire, she told the Fontanka newspaper no books, no shampoo, no Wi-Fi a wastebasket that was never emptied, the door secured by an electronic lock. Frustrated, she figured out how to short-circuit the electronic lock and escaped from the hospital on Friday. Neither the hospital nor police have followed up on her escape, which leads her to believe her health is OK. If I were sick, they would have swamped me with phone calls, Fontanka quoted her as saying. On Tuesday evening, Russian media reported that the hospital reported Ilyina's escape to the police, and that a criminal investigation could be launched into the incident. Both women did not comment on their situations to The Associated Press. Quarantine protocols in relation to the outbreak vary throughout Russia. In some regions, health officials isolate Chinese nationals who have recently returned from China, and in others everyone who reports symptoms resembling those of the new virus are subject to a 14-day quarantine. Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's public health watchdog, hasn't responded to a request for comment on whether the women were allowed to leave the hospitals. On Wednesday, the Fontanka newspaper published a video reportedly recorded by other patients quarantined in the same hospital Ilyina fled from. The footage shows two young women in what appears to be a patient room singing I want to be like Alla (Ilyina) and a handwritten note saying Let us out of here, please." Irina Sidorova, another woman who returned from Hainan on the same flight with Ilyina and was quarantined in the same hospital, told the AP that isolation rooms there were locked and patients weren't able to get out on their own. Sidorova said in a phone interview that she was hospitalized only a week after she returned to St. Petersburg. She reiterated Ilyina's complaints about uncooperative doctors and said she wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until Feb. 15, despite showing no symptoms and testing negative for the virus. ___ Read all the AP stories about the coronavirus outbreak that emerged from China at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak The Nigeria Police has again warned members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stay away from the burial of the parents of N... The Nigeria Police has again warned members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stay away from the burial of the parents of Nnamdi Kanu. The Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, had earlier issued a similar warning. Kanus mother, Sally, and father, Eze Israel Kanu, died in August and December 2019, respectively. The duo will be buried on Friday in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. On Tuesday, the Police stated that it was only against an IPOB gathering and would not disrupt the burial. The command Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, in a statement said he (Okon) has the good intention to provide security for lives and property of the people during the burial. The presence of security operatives in and around the community should not be seen as a threat but a proactive measure to prevent the infiltration of miscreants and hoodlums into the community to foment trouble and truncate the burial. Ogbonna noted that the command heard that miscreants disguising as IPOB members intend to hijack the burial, in solidarity with its leader. The spokesman warned IPOB to steer clear from the environment, saying that the command will not fold its arms and watch their unlawful activities. * Malaysia Q4 GDP growth slows to decade-low * Indonesia hits over 1-wk low * Singapore leads gainers, up over 1.4% By Arundhati Dutta Feb 12 (Reuters) - Singapore and Thailand stocks rose over 1% on Wednesday on hopes that the worst of the coronavirus outbreak in China might be over, while Malaysia shares fell as data showed its fourth-quarter economic growth had slumped to a decade-low. China reported the lowest number of new virus cases since late January on Wednesday, supporting the country's senior medical advisor's prediction that the epidemic would be over by April. Singaporean shares closed 1.5% higher, with heavyweight financial stocks United Overseas Bank and DBS Group Holdings gaining more than 1%. Malaysian equities slipped 0.6% after data showed southeast Asia's third-largest economy grew 3.6% in October-December from the same period a year earlier, prompting the central bank to signal 'ample room' for rate cuts. Financials were top losers, with Hong Leong Bank and Public Bank shedding 4.3% and 2.8%, respectively. Malaysia's lacklustre GDP data and Singapore's collapsing tourist numbers have increased the odds of monetary easing by the countries' central banks, said Jeffrey Halley, market analyst at OANDA, in a note. Singapore expects visitor numbers to decline by about 25-30% this year due to the virus outbreak, the city state's tourism board said on Tuesday. Indonesian stocks dropped 0.7%, hitting its lowest level in about one week, weighed down by consumer stocks. Instant noodles maker PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk tumbled 6%. The country's health minister asserted on Tuesday that Indonesia was not hiding anything over coronavirus, after U.S. researchers said that infections may have gone undetected in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Indonesia remains the only country in Southeast Asia with no confirmed virus cases, despite having had direct flights to Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus. The Thai index ended 1% higher, marking its best day in a week, lifted by financial companies. The Siam Commercial Bank and Kasikornbank were up 4.6% and 1.8%, respectively. Philippines closed 0.8% lower, while Vietnam ended up 0.3%. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 3223.37 3175.57 1.51 Bangkok 1539.84 1523.93 1.04 Manila 7383.1 7439.4 -0.76 Jakarta 5913.081 5954.397 -0.69 Kuala Lumpur 1542.94 1551.48 -0.55 Ho Chi Minh 937.68 934.67 0.32 Change so far in 2020 Market Current End 2019 Pct Move Singapore 3223.37 3222.83 0.02 Bangkok 1539.84 1579.84 -2.53 Manila 7383.1 7,815.26 -5.53 Jakarta 5913.081 6,299.54 -6.13 Kuala Lumpur 1542.94 1588.76 -2.88 Ho Chi Minh 937.68 960.99 -2.43 (Reporting by Arundhati Dutta; Editing by Amy Caren Daniel) (Newser) Authorities in Tennessee say they busted a well-organized burglar after he allegedly dropped a notebook during a break-in that contained a list of other places he planned to target. Robert Shull Goddard, 49, is accused of smashing a glass door and breaking into a Nashville area home on Jan. 29, stealing a TV and a gun from the residents, according to records filed in Davidson County court, per the AP. He also allegedly stole a black Gibson Les Paul custom guitar which he later sold for $40, per WKRN. story continues below But prosecutors said Goddard left something behind that allowed authorities to solve the casea notebook that listed multiple addresses, including one for another home a few miles away that had been burglarized that same day, the Tennessean reported. Investigators were able to identify the suspect, in part, through notes his daughter left in the journal, along with her address. Goddard was caught on video kicking in the back door of another house the next day, court records state. He was arrested last week and was being held on a $15,000 bond for felony burglary and theft charges. (Read more burglary stories.) Former Vice President Joe Biden will receive no national delegates from New Hampshire following a weak supporter turnout. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders received the strongest support from New Hampshire voters, with 26% of the vote, with 90% reporting. He was closely followed by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 24.4%, Minnesota Amy Klobuchar with 19.8% and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 8.4%. Biden, who came in fifth, received 8.4% of the vote. 88 New Hampshire Primary 2020 A candidate must win at least 15% of the vote to receive one of New Hampshires 24 delegates. Neither Biden nor Warren met that threshold Tuesday. Both presidential hopefuls said Tuesday theyre focused on the upcoming 48 primaries. Sen. Elizabeth Warren assured supporters in Manchester Tuesday night that she was in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination for the long haul." Biden left New Hampshire before the polls closed to head down to South Carolina where he has seen strong support among the largely black electorate since announcing his candidacy. 3.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The results of the New Hampshire primary are just starting to come in, but one thing is already clear: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar is surging into the top three on a wave of support from late deciders. As Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report said on Tuesday night, [T]he Amy Klobuchar surge real. Breaking: the Amy Klobuchar NH surge is real. Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) February 12, 2020 Based on these early returns, nothing to suggest Bernie Sanders isnt still the favorite to win NHbut the strength of the Klobusurge is a modest surprise. Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) February 12, 2020 On MSNBC, Steve Kornacki said the initial results show that Klobuchar got a boost from those who decided in the final days of the campaign. Amy Klobuchar is real right now, he said. Amy Klobuchar is real right now, says Steve Kornacki as New Hampshire results come in. It appears that late deciders are giving her campaign a big boost. #NewHampshirePrimary pic.twitter.com/w0F6RJCg6s PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) February 12, 2020 Since Iowa, polling in New Hampshire has shown a close race between Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg, with Sanders clinging to a small lead. But after Fridays Democratic debate in which Klobuchar turned in her strongest performance yet, her numbers have been rising in New Hampshire in a way that polling might not have fully captured in the final couple of days. As Wasserman also pointed out on Tuesday, its clear that Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar are likely to finish in the top three. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are jockeying for fourth and fifth place. Pretty clear from initial returns the top three finishers in the NH primary will be Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar (not necessarily in that order). Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) February 12, 2020 A second or third place finish would give Klobuchar a boost A second place finish would immediately boost Klobuchars campaign and give her campaign a jolt of momentum as the primary moves forward. Even a strong third place finish behind Buttigieg would give the Minnesota senator a boost. After all, Klobuchars hasnt even been part of the discussion throughout much of the primary season. Though Sanders is the favorite in New Hampshire and Pete Buttigieg is vying for second place, Amy Klobuchars performance on Tuesday night will give her much-needed momentum as the primary map expands. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter The positions of the sun, moon and planets determine our daily horoscope. Each sign has its own characteristics and traits which tell us a lot about a persons personality. Now wouldnt it be helpful if you started your day by already knowing about whats going to come your way? So, go ahead and find out whether the odds are in your favour today. * Aries (March 21-April 20): A family get together is in the offing and will prove most exciting. Those forced to live away may face administrative difficulties, but these will only be initial hiccups. Property will give good returns. Fiery passions are waiting to be unleashed, so make this evening a special one! It is celebration time, as you get a promotion or hit a jackpot! Those feeling emotionally drained are likely to get a chance to recuperate. Repayment of a loan can prove difficult, but you will find a way around it Love Focus: You may feel ignored by someone you love, but this may not be so. Lucky number: Orange Lucky Alphabet: K Friendly Numbers: 2, 7, 9 Friendly Zodiac Today: Libra & Aquarius Be careful of: Cancer * Taurus (April 21-May 20): Keeping parents or family elders informed about your whereabouts will be important today. You may set out on a pilgrimage with someone close. Dont go in for a property without verifying the details, as you can be hoodwinked by unscrupulous persons. You will get a chance to entertain someone you are out to impress on the social front. Those trying to boost income will have to figure out new ways. A medical condition will show signs of improvement. An added burden may come on your shoulders that may be difficult to sidestep. Love Focus: You can get romantically involved with someone you have only passing acquaintance with. Lucky number: Lavender Lucky Alphabet: S Friendly Numbers: 9, 12, 18 Friendly Zodiac Today: Pisces & Capricorn Be careful of: Gemini * Gemini (May 21-Jun 21): Your spirit of adventure promises to take you out on a happening trip. Your brilliant performance on the academic front will open many avenues for you. On the social front, you will be able to make all the right moves to win people over. A financial upswing is foreseen that will make you comfortable on the monetary front. You are likely to consolidate your financial position and be better placed monetarily. Health remains satisfactory, if not neglected. Family and friends may prevail upon you to spend time with them today. Love Focus: You can go steady with someone whom you had always admired. Lucky number: Forest Green Lucky Alphabet: P Friendly Numbers: 18, 20 Friendly Zodiac Today: Aries & Pisces Be careful of: Scorpio * Cancer (June 22-July 22): Stars for travel look bright and you may go ahead with your plans. You may get in two minds regarding a property. You are likely to excel professionally or academically. You will have to be meticulous in sending out invitations for a party being organized at home. Your confidence is likely to win the day for you on the professional front. You will need to do some financial planning before putting money in your dream project. Health wise you will feel on the top of the world. A tough situation on the family front may be faced and get you all worked up. Love Focus: Something you only fantasise about on the romantic front is likely to be realized soon! Lucky number: Bottle Green Lucky Alphabet: J Friendly Numbers: 22, 24 Friendly Zodiac Today: Scorpio & Taurus Be careful of: Libra * Leo (July 23-August 23): It will be important to bring the erring to book just to maintain the workplace decorum. You will be able to forge ahead on the academic front by being more methodical. Much travelling is foreseen today and will be to your advantage, both personally and professionally. Yoga and meditation are likely to prove of immense benefit. Peace prevails on the home front and will allow you to rest and recoup. Take financial matters seriously, as any laxity on your part can have unfavorable consequences. Love Focus: Chances of getting romantically linked with someone you have passing acquaintance with cannot be ruled out. Lucky number: Peach Lucky Alphabet: M Friendly Numbers: 16, 19 Friendly Zodiac Today: Taurus & Scorpio Be careful of: Libra * Virgo (August 24-September 23): A family elder may compel you to do something that you are not in favour of. Remaining busy in what you have started is indicated today. Chances of winning a deal become bright through your efforts on the business front. Waiting for the right opportunity to invest will be the right course of action, if you want to get good returns. Developments on the academic front will be most heartening. Your care is likely to nurse a family member back to health. Love Focus: Exchanging sweet nothings will be the highlight on the romantic front. Lucky number: Red Lucky Alphabet: G Friendly Numbers: 12, 14, 18 Friendly Zodiac Today: Capricorn & Leo Be careful of: Sagittarius * Libra (September 24-October 23): There is a chance of making plans for a trip with friends. Those trying for a suitable accommodation will find one that fits their pocket. You will manage to get rid of people who dont support your ideas. You may have to shell out more for some items you have purchased, than you had catered for. You may have to wait and watch on the professional front, as things may appear a bit hazy. Dreams of a lavish lifestyle will begin to be realised by those craving for it. You may derive immense satisfaction by making the home front aesthetically appealing. Love Focus: Your close association with someone at work may turn into budding romance. Lucky number: Navy Blue Lucky Alphabet: D Friendly Numbers: 6, 12, 18 Friendly Zodiac Today: Virgo & Aquarius Be careful of: Cancer * Scorpio (October 24-November 22): Those living on rent will soon be able to own their own house. You are likely to exceed your own expectations on the academic front. You are likely to consolidate your financial position by curbing unnecessary expenditure. Starting an exercise regimen to get back in shape will be in your interest. You may get motivated to plan finances for going in for something big. Love Focus: Falling in love is a strong possibility as you get serious about someone from the opposite camp. Lucky number: Bottle Green Lucky Alphabet: K Friendly Numbers: 11, 19 Friendly Zodiac Today: Aries & Libra Be careful of: Leo * Sagittarius (November 23-December 21): Accompanying someone on a shopping trip is indicated. Difficulties encountered on the academic front will be overcome. There is much happening in your personal life in both positive and negative ways. An outstanding payment is likely to be received through your efforts. There is much that is going against you at work of which you are not aware of, so keep your ear to the ground. A medical condition will only disappear under the right kind of care. Some family issues may need urgent resolution, so dont neglect them. Love Focus: Those longing for love will find it under most peculiar circumstances! Lucky number: Yellow Lucky Alphabet: L Friendly Numbers: 7, 14 Friendly Zodiac Today: Capricorn & Libra Be careful of: Aries * Capricorn (December 22-January 21): A vacation is on the cards, but reservation may become a problem. Luck may favour you on the academic front in getting something that you desperately want. You will need to spend more time on something to make it a success Previous investments promise to keep your bank balance in the pink of health. You may be compelled to try other alternatives on the professional front. An ailment may recur due to sheer negligence and trouble you. A family get together is in the offing and will prove most exciting. Love Focus: An argument can put paid to your evening out with lover. Lucky number: Indigo Lucky Alphabet: A Friendly Numbers: 8, 12, 16 Friendly Zodiac Today: Gemini & Libra Be careful of: Taurus * Aquarius (January 22-February 19): Those who love adventure may find an excellent opportunity awaiting them in the form of an adventurous trip. Those worried on the academic front will manage to take positive steps to realise their dreams. Someone is set to brighten your day. You are likely to consolidate your financial position and be better placed monetarily. You may get nominated to an important post in your official capacity. You may resolve to improve your fitness by increased physical activity. A suitable matrimonial match may be found for someone eligible in the family. Love Focus: Your close association with someone at work may turn into a budding romance. Lucky number: Coffee Friendly Numbers: 3, 9, 12 Friendly Zodiac Today: Cancer & Virgo Be careful of: Leo * Pisces (February 20-March 20): Family will be supportive and provide full encouragement in your efforts. Making plans for a vacation with someone close is possible and will be lots of fun. Keeping in touch with the achievers will be a step in the right direction on the academic front. You can, if you wish, change your present environment. Monetary conditions are set to improve. Someone is likely to repose full faith in you for getting an important task done. Some of you may get serious about joining a gym or starting fitness training. Love Focus: Falling in love with someone you have recently met cannot be ruled out. Lucky number: Baby Pink Lucky Alphabet: V Friendly Numbers: 12, 18 Friendly Zodiac Today: Taurus & Sagittarius Be careful of: Virgo The astrologer can be contacted at psharma@premastrologer.com or support@askmanisha.com Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Try pink sparkling wine for Valentine's Day Photo: Craig Lee/SFC Photo: Craig Lee/SFC Other than New Years Eve, no day seems more evocative of tiny bubbles than Valentines. Personally, Ill be drinking lot of pink come Friday and here are two that, after recent personal samplings, left me feeling amorous. Besserat de Bellefon Brut Rose The estate owns almost 70 acres of vineyards and buys grapes from 110 communes, making possible an annual production of 1.3 million bottles. Nonetheless, the quality remains excellent. BB likes to say its signature style is gentle, soft and light, and Ill second that after enjoying this seductive blend of pinot meunier, chardonnay and pinot noir. Critical acclaim: Both the Wine Spectator and Robert Parker scored it a 92. The former wrote that the boysenberry and yellow peach fruit is ripe and tangy in this floral rose, framed by juicy acidity and a lively bead, while chalk and smoke notes underscore the salted almond, lemon meringue pie and candied ginger accents that show on the finish. Price: $66.99 at Specs 2015 Argyle Brut Rose When I first met Rollin Soles about a decade ago, he had already been delivering award-winning wines from his Argyle Winery in Oregons Dundee Hills to the market for 13 years. Nothing has changed: Soles, who had Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen as roommates while he worked toward his microbiology degree at Texas A&M, was in Houston for the recent for Pinot in the City tasting with some 50 of his fellow Oregon vintners at Minute Maid Parks Union Station, still makes a killer bottle of pink bubbles. In his words, this tart and lively bottle of bubbles also a pinot noir (55 percent), chardonnay (40) and pinot meunier blend aligns rose petal, peach skin, and cracked fennel with energetic mineral length and creamy texture. Critical acclaim: Wine.coms Wilfred Wong awarded the Argyle a score of 92, explaining that the wine shows a lovely deep pink color and delicious, persistent flavors. He suggests pairing its aromas and flavors of ripe strawberries and dried earth with lightly-seasoned, grilled salmon. Price: $29.79 at Specs And a few more rose sparklers tasted and recommended by the Chronicle's tasting panel: Andre Clouet Brut Rose No. 3 Overall score: 19.2 (9.2 for quality, 10 for value) The panel: All 12 tasters awarded it at least a 9, with a high score of 9.7. Price: $47.99 at Specs Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Overall score: 19.1 (9.1 for quality, 10 for value) The panel: All 12 tasters awarded it at least a 9, with a high score of 9.5. Price: $44.97 at Specs Albert Bichot Cremant de Bourgogne Rose Overall score: 19.1 (9.1 for quality, 10 for value) The panel: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with six scores of 9 or higher. Price: $18.99 at Specs Scarpetta Timido Brut Rose Overall score: 19 (9 for quality, 10 for value) The panel: Gave it a unanimous recommendation with three scores of at least 9. Price: $13.89 at Specs Domaine Chandon Etoile Brut Rose Overall score: 18 (9 for quality, 9 for value) The panel: Four awarded scores of at least 9.1. Price: $45.99 at Total Wine sportywineguy@outlook.com Twitter: @sportywineguy Bengaluru: Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, a congregation of various pro-Kannada organisations, has called for a state-wide bandh in Karnataka on Thursday (13 February 2020) demanding reservation in jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors. The Karnataka bandh, which will begin from 6 am to 6 pm, is likely to impact life in Bengaluru as well as in other parts of the state. Interestingly, Ola and Uber drivers have also extended support to the bandh. In Bengaluru, some other drivers associations, including Jai Bharatha Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association and Adarsha Auto and Taxi Union have also supported the bandh. It is not yet clear as to whether the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) staff and workers associations will back Thursdays bandh. Several other organisations like the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and Lorry Owners Association have supported the February 13 bandh. In view of the bandh call, schools, colleges and hospitals across Karnataka are likely to remain closed on Thursday. The Sarojini Mahishi report, which in 1984 suggested that Kannadigas should be given some reservation in jobs in private companies, public sector undertakings and multinational companies, is yet to be implemented. It is to be noted that Sarojini Mahishi, a four-time MP and Janatha party leader, was appointed by the Ramakrishna Hegde government to head the panel in 1983. The committee submitted an interim report in June 1984. However, a final report was tabled in December 1986 with 58 recommendations, of which the Karnataka government had accepted 45. Delhi Police Wednesday disputed in a court the claim of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Malvinder Singh, arrested for alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd, that he paid back the money to the entities concerned and said the money was still with RFL's holding company, RHC, controlled by him. The submission was made before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur during arguments on the bail plea moved by Malvinder in the case lodged by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police. The court has put up the mater for further hearing on February 14. The counsel for the police claimed that loans were disbursed to shell companies known to the promoters and the ultimate beneficiary was Religare Holding Company (RHC), of which Malvinder Singh and his brother Shivinder are promoters. The siphoned off money was still with RHC, though it may not be in Malvinder's bank accounts, the counsel said. Advocate Mohit Mathur, appearing for complainant Manpreet Suri of RFL, said that Malvinder as one of the promoters of RHC had siphoned off money that came the company. Malvinder had earlier told the court that he has paid back the money to the entities concerned. Advocate Manu Sharma, appearing for Singh, had said that the EOW "cherry picked" him because of his affiliation with the family of spiritual head of the Radha Soami Satsang, Gurinder Singh Dhillon, who allegedly conspired with other co-accused in the case in carrying out financial fraud. He said Singh, who is in judicial custody, claimed that he has paid back the alleged laundered money to 14 entities through which he had received it. "Also the promoter does not have any direct shareholding with any of these entities. If these entities do not return the money to RFL, it is not his fault. The money has come back. The probe agency chose not to look into it," he said. RFL owes money to RHC, Sharma said. Malvinder (46); Shivinder, also a former Fortis Healthcare promoter; former CMD of Religare Enterprises Ltd (REL) Sunil Godhwani (58); former CEO of REL Kavi Arora (48) and former CFO of RFL Anil Saxena were arrested by the EOW for allegedly diverting RFL's money and investing in other companies. Senior advocate Nidhesh Gupta, appearing for Suri, had earlier told the court that loans were disbursed to shell companies known to the promoters and the ultimate beneficiary was RHC Holding company. He had further claimed that unsecured loans had been given to shell entities without any due diligence as they were known to the promoters. Gupta had alleged that documents showed the involvement of Shivinder in disbursal of unsecured loans to the shell companies which were further diverted to other companies and other co-accused Malvinder resulting in huge amount of public money being mis-appropriated. RFL is a group firm of REL - Religare Enterprises Ltd, which was earlier promoted by Malvinder and his brother Shivinder. The EOW registered an FIR in March last year after it received a complaint from RFL's Manpreet Suri against Shivinder, Godhwani and others, alleging that loans were taken by them while managing the firm but the money was invested in other companies. "They put RFL in a poor financial condition by disbursing loans to companies with no financial standing and controlled by them. The companies to which the loans were disbursed willfully defaulted in repayments and caused a loss to RFL to the tune of Rs 2,397 crore," the police had alleged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 14:05:42|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close MANCHESTER, the United States, Feb.11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic primary, several U.S. media outlets reported Tuesday night. Sanders will be followed by Indiana ex-mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, according to the projections. "Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight," Sanders told supporters after NBC and ABC called the result in his favor. According to the primary rules of the Democratic Party, New Hampshire's 24 pledged delegates will be allocated to the three contenders proportionally based on the results of the primary. Meanwhile, two Democrats, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, dropped out of the 2020 run on Tuesday night. After their exits, there are still nine contenders left in the Democratic field. Though once a front-runner in the Democratic race, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden finished in the fifth place, his second consecutive poor performance after landing fourth in Iowa. On the Republican side, sitting President Donald Trump, who is facing no major challengers in his party, is projected to win the Granite State's Republican primary. In the 2016 election, Trump also won the New Hampshire's GOP primary, but lost to then Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the state in the general election. The war between United States and Huawei keeps going, and now it seems we are entering a new phase. US Officials have gone on record saying that Huawei has backdoor access to networks from all over the globe for over a decade. National security adviser Robert OBrien was quoted that there is evidence that Huawei has the secret ability to access sensitive and personal information in the systems it manages and sells around the world, without revealing any more details aside from the issue being related to 4G equipment. Claims are that even though telecom makers are required to build ways for law enforcement, Huawei has been using the backdoors without telling carriers. Officials from three nations said the United States kept the information highly classified and has only now provided details to the UK and Germany. Huawei denied any allegations. A senior company executive said the use of legal interception interface is strictly regulated and operated only by network officials. He also added that Huawei employees are not allowed to access the networks. This is hardly a positive development for Huawei, which seems more unlikely than ever to regain its access to the US market or be allowed to do business with US companies. That would almost certainly force the company to develop its Google services alternative if it wants to make its phones competitive in markets outside China. Source The DUP MP for Upper Bann, Carla Lockhart, described the burglary as a "despicable act" and appealed for anyone with information to bring it to police More than 2,000 worth of computer equipment was stolen from a Co Armagh church by opportunistic burglars on Sunday. It is understood those responsible gained access into St Mark's Church in Portadown through a side door and stole the items between the morning and evening services. A number of items were reported missing by the church after the burglary occurred between 1pm and approximately 4pm, including an Apple iMac Pro, two portable hard drives and a portable CD drive. The DUP MP for Upper Bann, Carla Lockhart, described the burglary as a "despicable act" and appealed for anyone with information to bring it to police. "Any theft or burglary is reprehensible but to sneak into a church in broad daylight is reflective of the perpetrators of this act," she said. "No respect for anything and a flagrant disregard for all law." DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley commented that it was "extremely disappointing" that the perpetrators targeted a place of worship that contributes so much to the entire community. Police are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward. The PSNI's Sergeant Irwin said: If you should be offered such items for sale, please contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1365 of 09/02/20." Newfield Rd., 4:50 p.m. Feb. 5. Police found a 44-year-old man dead in a residence. An autopsy indicated that man died in a homicide from upper body trauma. During an interview, investigators determined that his vehicle was missing. At approximately 11 p.m., officials observed the vehicle in Baltimore. A perimeter was established and officers pursued the driver in the area until one officer blocked him with his vehicle. The driver fired on the officer, striking him in the upper body before fleeing on foot. A 22-year-old Pasadena man was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. With a warrant, police found suspected heroin/fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and LSD at another location. Two other men, ages 21 and 23, were also arrested on drug charges. A 42-year-old man was also arrested and charged with manufacturing controlled drug substances, possession of controlled drug paraphernalia and possession of controlled drug substances, not marijuana. The total value of suspected controlled dangerous substances collected was approximately $17,000. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a California law that forbids California state employees from taking taxpayer-funded business trips to expos or conferences in Texas. California adopted the sanctions in response to a 2017 Texas law allowing foster care and adoption agencies to deny services based on religious beliefs. Opponents decried the law for giving the child-placement agencies legal cover to discriminate against LGBT people and others. Supporters said the law does not have a discriminatory effect because it requires the child placement agencies, upon refusal to work with a family, to make referrals to other organizations. Paxton, in a statement Monday, called Californias ban economic warfare and an attempt to punish Texans for respecting the right of conscience for foster care and adoption providers. The law California opposes does not prevent anyone from contributing to child welfare, Paxton said. Boycotting states based on nothing more than political disagreement breaks down the ability of states to serve as laboratories of democracy while still working together as one nation the very thing our Constitution intended to prevent. A case generally has to escalate from lower courts before it reaches the Supreme Court, but the high court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil disputes between two or more states. For subscribers: California travel ban to Texas over LGBT adoption bill could spell trouble for tourism industry California lawmakers passed the ban on state-funded travel in a law, which became effective at the start of 2017. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But in mid-2017, when adding Texas to the list of restricted-travel states, he said it was because California will not tolerate discrimination. The ban affects 11 states, including Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and South Carolina; one of the states, Oklahoma, has imposed a retaliatory ban on California. Discriminatory laws in any part of our country send all of us several steps back, Becerra said. That's why when California said we would not tolerate discrimination against LGBTQ members of our community, we meant it. For subscribers: Texas House approves bill that would allow private adoption agencies to deny adoptions based on religion The action Monday marks the latest battle between the largely liberal California and the red state of Texas in a long-running feud, which has lately been playing out not just in the political arena but more and more in federal court. Texas is leading the multi-state suit seeking to strike down the Affordable Care Act, for example, while California leads a coalition of states defending the ACA. The two states are on opposite ends of lawsuits that will determine the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows children of undocumented immigrants reprieve from deportation while they study and work. The Texas v. California legal clashes also underline the increasing influence of politics on the types of cases that the attorney general decides to pursue. Religious liberty has become one of Paxtons passion issues throughout his tenure. Just within the past year, he has sued the city of San Antonio for rejecting Chick-fil-A from its airport because of company leaderships anti-gay marriage views. And Paxton has said he will not defend a state agency being sued for punishing a Waco judge who wont officiate same-sex marriages because of her religious beliefs. Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, said the California travel ban is just one example of the economic effects that discriminatory legislation can have. He added that Texas foster children have slept in state offices for years in part because of a lack of placements. Paxtons religious liberty excuses are a false argument to continue his clear and ongoing war on LGBTQ Texans, as evidenced by the dozens of actions he has taken against our community while in office, Martinez said. Vice President of Vietnam, Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit to India. On Thursday, last week, the Ministry of External Affairs had announced that the Vietnamese Vice President will be on a three-day visit to India. "Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh would be on an official visit to India from 11th -13th February. During the visit, the direct flight between India and Vietnam could be announced," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said. During her visit, India and Vietnam will hold delegation-level talks. The visiting vice-president will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. "India and Vietnam links are built on the foundation of close cultural as well as civilization links and marked by mutual trust and understanding as well are strong corporations--regional and international fora," Kumar had said. After Delhi, the Vice President will also visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey said on Feb. 11 that 51 Syrian soldiers were killed in northwest Syria as Turkish-backed rebels struck back against Russian-supported government forces who had made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion in the country. The Turkish Defense Ministry cited sources on the ground for the information, adding that two Syrian tanks and one ammunition store were destroyed as well. Hours before, a war monitor reported that Syrian government forces seized control of the main Aleppo-to-Damascus highway running through the embattled northwest province of Idlib for the first time since the early days of the civil war in 2012. But Syrian state media made no mention of this and rebel sources later said fighting was continuing in some northern areas near the M-5 highway, which links Aleppo with the capital Damascus and ultimately Deraa in the far south. In response, insurgents shot down a Syrian military helicopter and advanced toward the town of Nairab, which the Turkish Defense Ministry said had been abandoned by Syrian government forces. A Turkish official said the rebels, bolstered by Turkish artillery, had begun a full-fledged attack on an area recently lost to the government side near Saraqeb, a strategic crossroads town on the M-5 highway. A rebel commander told Reuters they were pushing back government forces there. For its part, the Syrian army said on Tuesday it would respond to attacks by Turkish forces who it said were trying to halt army advances into Idlib province. The flare-up of fighting has given rise to some of the most serious confrontations between Ankara and Damascus in the nine-year-old war in which Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. U.S.-Turkish Talks on Wednesday James Jeffrey, the U.S. envoy for Syria, is set to meet senior Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday and the U.S. Embassy there said they would discuss working together toward a political solution to the conflict. Today, our NATO ally Turkey is facing a threat from Assads government and Russia. We are here to assess the situation with the Turkish government and offer support if possible, said Jeffrey, who arrived in Ankara late on Tuesday. Idlibs fate may well be decided by Turkey and Russia as much as by Assad. Russia has officers on the ground advising the Syrians on the campaign as well as some ground forces, and Russian warplanes have carried out numerous air strikes. Ankara has sent thousands of soldiers across the border to help stem the Syrian offensive. Relief agencies meanwhile said an exodus of hundreds of thousands of civilians from the afflicted areas was the largest such movement in the war and marked a new humanitarian crisis. Turkey already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees and says it cannot absorb any more. It said it would halt any new refugee waves from Idlib and its military would remain deployed there. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the Syrian government would pay a very heavy price for attacking Turkish troops, including five killed on Monday and eight Turkish personnel killed a week earlier. We gave the necessary responses to the Syrian side at the highest level. Especially in Idlib, they got what they deserved. But this is not enough, it will continue, he said in Ankara, adding he would announce on Wednesday a detailed plan for Idlib. Talks in Ankara between Turkey and a Russian delegation ended on Monday without agreement on halting the fighting, a Turkish diplomatic source said. Turkish officials told the Russians that attacks on Turkish posts inside Idlib must cease immediately and that Turkish forces had destroyed several Syrian government targets in retaliation. Erdogan has warned Turkey will drive back Assads forces unless they withdraw by the end of this month. The Kremlin said on Tuesday all attacks on Russian and Syrian forces in Idlib must stop. Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the situation with Erdogan by phone later on Tuesday, TASS news agency said. Air Raids Since launching their new offensive in December, government forces have recaptured more than 230 square miles of territory, and in recent days wrested control of dozens of towns and villages. The rebels are a mix of nationalist factions and Islamist militants who have had deadly rivalries but are now closing ranks. Last week government troops recaptured rebel-held Saraqeb, where Turkey had several military personnel stationed. Rescue teams said on Tuesday Russian and Syrian warplanes had bombed several towns in Idlib and carried out air raids in nearby western Aleppo province where rebels are present. At least 13 civilians were killed overnight in the air strikes, they said. The rapid advances by Assads forces in Idlib have driven nearly 700,000 peoplemostly women and childrenfrom their homes toward the sealed Turkish border in the past 10 weeks. This is, from our initial analysis, the largest number of people in a single period since the Syrian crisis began almost nine years ago, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations OCHA humanitarian agency, told reporters in Geneva. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Andrej Mahecic said the harsh winter weather was making their suffering worse and that shelter was hard to find. Even finding a place in an unfinished building is becoming nearly impossible, he said, adding that mosques were full. Witnesses and rebels said a new column of Turkish reinforcements, including tanks, rocket launchers, and armored vehicles, crossed the border into Idlib overnight. The battle for Idlib is a crucial stage of a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of combatants and civilians, made millions refugees in their own country or overseas, and fractured the wider Middle East since it broke out amid the Arab Spring in 2011. Moscows military intervention in 2015 helped swing the war decisively in favor of Assad, Syrias ruler for nearly 20 years, but he now presides over a devastated country. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Orhan Coskun Yesterday, people voted, their votes were counted, and we got (most of) the results. Normally, that observation would be routine, but its already been quite a year. Shortly before midnight, the Associated Presswhich gave up on naming a winner in Iowa last weekprojected that Bernie Sanders would win the Democratic primary in New Hampshire; as of early this morning, with 87 percent of results in, Sanders was slightly ahead of Pete Buttigieg, who will finish second. Not that everyone had their eyes on the winner. While voting was still underway yesterday, Adrienne Elrod, who was a spokesperson for Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign, said on MSNBC that the real thing she was looking at was that key third-place finish; if Amy Klobuchar could snag that, Elrod argued, it would almost be stronger and more important than a first-place finish for Bernie. (The remark reminded more than one reporter of Marco Rubios third-place victory in New Hampshire in 2016.) Klobuchar did, in the end, finish third, and decisively so. Everyone counted us outeven a week ago, she told her supporters, victoriously, before waving sarcastically at the news cameras. Thank you, pundits! Feeling aggrieved at media coverage is practically obligatory for political candidates. In Klobuchars case, it doesnt really feel justifiednot uniformly, at least. On numerous occasions, weve seemed keen to count Klobuchar in, even before we saw much evidence that she appeals to voters. Despite Klobuchars consistent position just outside the top tier of candidates, pundits cannot get enough of her, Libby Watson wrote last month, in the New Republic. She satisfies every self-evident truth in the pundit bible about what Americans want. Most importantly, she is Midwestern. But she is also this fields queen of Tellin It Like It Isby which they mean being outspoken about what Beltway elites consider to be objective truths about the limits of political possibility in policymaking. The Klobuchar-surge narrative has tended to peak after debates: after the most recent one, hosted by ABC on Friday, the notion of a Klobuchargeor Klomentumattracted ample Kloverage (sorry) in major newspapers, and on cable news. Klobuchars coffers swelledher campaign took $2 million in donations between the debate and 1pm the next dayand so did her crowds. In the same window, her numbers in New Hampshire jumped from roughly 8 percent to almost 12 percent. As things stand, her vote share is nearly 20 percent. Related: Coverage of Bernie Sanders suffers from a lack of imagination Between them, Sanders, Buttigieg, and Klobuchar mopped up the delegates on offer in New Hampshire. Neither of the other top-tier candidatesElizabeth Warren and Joe Biden, who are fourth and fifth, respectivelyhas broken the 10-percent mark. In her speech to supporters, Warren singled out Klobuchar for praise, and echoed her dig at the press; Klobuchar, Warren said, had shown just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out. Warren, unlike Klobuchar, does seem to have been counted out in recent days. She came out of Fridays debate on a down note; she told MSNBC afterward, I just didnt say enough, didnt fight hard enough, didnt tell you how bad I want this, and coverage since then has mostly echoed that negativity, when its mentioned Warren at all. In recent days, Warrens supportersincluding US Rep. Joaquin Castro, who, along with his twin brother, Julian, has endorsed herhave complained that the media has erased Warrens candidacy. Journalists including Joan Walsh, of The Nation; Jennifer Rubin, of the Washington Post; and Charles P. Pierce, of Esquire, have made similar points. This, in a sense, is odd: Warren (eventually) finished third in Iowa, and while Klobuchars New Hampshire third looks stronger, there isnt that much difference between them. (In national polls, Warren is doing about the same as Michael Bloomberg, and yet, as FiveThirtyEights Nate Silver has noted, the media takes his chances a lot more seriously than it takes hers.) Last night, CNN didnt carry Warrens speech live, but did show Bidens, even though he finished behind her, and had preemptively fled New Hampshire for South Carolina. For some time, Warren and Klobuchars respective candidacies have felt tied. When Kamala Harris dropped out, they became the only women left in the race with substantial support. (Sorry, Tulsi Gabbard.) Since then, some media discussion has taken on an either/or hue, as if there couldnt be room for two top-tier female candidates at once. Last month, the editorial board of the New York Times made room for both Warren and Klobuchar when it jointly endorsed them for president, but that choice was as binary as it was inclusiveWarren and Klobuchar, the Times said, were respectively the best advocates for two very different approaches, the radical and the realist. Now, taken together, theyre a case study in a different dynamic: the horserace journalism models obsession with momentum. Last summer, Warren was up, but shes trended down since then, whereas Klobuchar has (sort of) gone the other way. Their respective results in Iowa and New Hampshire are similar, on paper, yet the dynamics behind each have dominated coverage. (Inconveniently for Warren, no syllable of her name rhymes with the Big Mo.) Sign up for CJR 's daily email These dynamics may be mostly organic, of coursewe cant always know why voters vote the way they do. We do know, though, that electability has loomed larger than ever in our coverage of the primaries to this point. This, in part, is a reflection of Democratic voters anxiety about Trump, but they dont decide in a vacuum, and media narratives can have a particularly important influence. Yesterday, Peter Hamby, of Snapchat and Vanity Fair, was listening to New Hampshire Public Radio, and tweeted that like five straight women callers have said they switched from Warren to Amy K because Klobuchar is feisty and tough and she can take on Trumpbut theyre worried Warren cant win. Recency bias is a helluva drug in a crowded field. Below, more on the primaries: 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. loading......... Malibu, CA, Feb 12, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with David Watkinson, the President and CEO of Emgold Mining Corporation ( CVE:EMR ) ( OTCMKTS:EGMCF )( FRA:EMLM ).Emgold is a gold, silver, and base metal exploration company focused on Nevada and Quebec. The Company's strategy is to look for asset acquisitions in a buyer's market, add value to the acquisitions through computerization and remodeling of historic exploration data, new exploration, and application of modern geophysics, and seek asset divestitures through sale, joint venture, option, royalty, and other business transactions to advance their projects and create value for their shareholders. In this interview will we discuss the company's recent news regarding EMGOLD and Rio Tinto's ( LON:RIO ) Kennecott Exploration signing an earn-in with option to Joint Venture Agreement for the New York Canyon Property in Nevada.To view the interview, please visit:About Emgold Mining Corporation Emgold is a gold and base metal exploration company focused on Nevada and Quebec. The Company's strategy is to look for quality acquisitions, add value to these assets through exploration, and monetize them through sale, joint ventures, option, royalty, and other transactions to create value for our shareholders. In Nevada, Emgold's Golden Arrow Property, the core asset of the Company, is an advanced stage gold and silver property with a well-defined measured and indicated resource. New York Canyon is a base metal property subject to an Earn-in with Option to Joint Venture Agreement with Kennecott Exploration, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Plc (NYSE:RIO). Buckskin Rawhide East is a gold and silver property leased to Rawhide Mining LLC, who operate the adjacent Rawhide Mine and therefore represents a royalty opportunity for the Company. In Quebec, the Casa South Property, is an early stage gold property adjacent to Hecla Mining Corporation's (NYSE:HL) operating Casa Berardi Mine. The East-West Property is a gold property adjacent to and on strike with Wesdome Gold Mine Ltd.'s (TSE:WDO) Kiena Complex and O3 Mining Corporation's (TSE:OIII) Marban Property. Emgold also has a 1% NSR in the Troilus North Property, part of the Troilus Mine Property being explored by Troilus Gold Corporation (TSE:TLG). Note that the location of Emgold's properties adjacent to producing or past producing mines does not guarantee exploration success at Emgold's properties or that mineral resources or reserves will be delineated. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's website at www.emgold.com or view the Company's filings available at www.sedar.com. About The Ellis Martin Report The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program. Sian Ellis, 15, died at the scene after being hit by the bus (Picture: BPM) A teenager died after walking in front of a bus while distracted by her mobile phone. Sian Ellis, 15, suffered fatal injuries when she was hit by a red double-decker Volvo bus outside her school in Leicestershire on 28 January, 2019. Driver Michael John Parker had no valid licence or insurance and only had a provisional driving licence. The 62-year-old, of Baker Street, was fined 120 and handed a four-year driving ban at Leicester Magistrates' Court in September, after pleading guilty to several driving offences. Detective Constable John Borlase, of the forces serious collision investigation unit, said Parker had not been charged with death by dangerous driving because there was no carelessness in his driving that actually caused the collision. An inquest at Loughborough Coroner's Court has concluded Sian died as a result of a "road traffic collision". An inquest at Loughborough Coroner's Court concluded on Wednesday (Picture: BPM) The accident happened shortly after at 3.30pm, just yards from the gates of King Edward VII College, in Meadow Lane, with Sian pronounced dead at the scene. Giving evidence, PC Stuart Bird, a forensic collision investigator with Leicestershire Police, said CCTV footage taken shortly before the tragedy showed a female matching Sians description walking through the school grounds wearing a scarf around her head and looking down at her mobile phone. His colleague, Det Con Borlase, added witnesses had told him Sian, from Leicestershire, was looking down at her mobile and was also using headphones. Read more: Evil monk who abused boys under 13 is jailed Sian Ellis was hit by a red double-decker Volvo bus outside her school (Picture: BPM) Det Con Borlase also summarised Parkers police interview as he was deemed medically unfit to attend the hearing. He said: In his account, he commented that there were a lot of children on the bus, with many standing up. He had to ask some of them to go further back as they were too far forward. He was driving at about 20mph and had to shout to the children again to get back. Then he said he saw a flash in front of him and thats when the collision occurred. Story continues He hadnt seen Sian walk into the road but said he realised when he got off the bus. Det Con Borlase said despite some children blocking his view of the bus doors and wing mirrors, Parkers view in front of the bus was not obscured and the conditions were fine and dry. Read more: Woman jailed for battering boyfriend so badly he lost an eye PC Bird calculated that the bus would have been travelling at about 19mph, giving Mr Parker just 0.63 seconds to react, even if he had seen the teenager. He said: With the amount of time between Sian stepping off the pavement and the point of impact there was nothing Mr Parker could have done to avoid the collision. Parker admitted several driving charges, including driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third party insurance and using a motor vehicle in a manner likely to cause danger to passengers. Read more: Passenger who tried to open plane door is jailed Professor Guy Rutty, the pathologist who carried out a post mortem examination, gave the medical cause of death as a combination of head, chest, abdomen and pelvic injuries. Miss Pinder reassured her family Sian would not have suffered. Her family said they hoped her tragic death will serve as a stark warning to others. Full house: Bernie Sanders supporters at a rally at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. Photo: Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images Democratic presidential hopefuls hit the streets as they faced a last chance to persuade the state's voters that they were the party's best bet to take on US President Donald Trump in November. Recent state polls showed US Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive from neighbouring Vermont, leading the crowded field. He is followed by moderates former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and US Senator Amy Klobuchar. US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former vice-president Joe Biden will also be angling for the support of voters who were expected to pack into schools, churches and city offices where ballots are cast. New Hampshire is the second contest of the US presidential nominating cycle. And while few votes are on offer, it gives candidates a chance to build momentum for their campaigns in a crowded field. Expand Close Campaigning: Bernie Sanders in Manchester, New Hampshire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Campaigning: Bernie Sanders in Manchester, New Hampshire Mr Buttigieg's supporters greeted him at a Manchester school before dawn yesterday, waving their blue and yellow "Pete 2020" campaign signs as they chanted in support of "President Pete". The 38-year-old military veteran shook hands and took selfies with the enthusiastic crowd. Less than five minutes later he headed back to an SUV, a walk slowed by the throng of media cameras surrounding him. "It feels good out here," he said, smiling as reporters asked how he thought he would fare in yesterday's primary. Voter Sara Lutat (60) emerged from the school soon after, having cast her vote for Mr Buttigieg. "I think he's the one who can beat Trump," she said, adding that he was grounded and had progressive ideas but nothing "too far out there". "Actually, I don't care who wins as long as he's not in the White House," Ms Lutat said, referring to Mr Trump. "I wish the Democratic Party would get it together. "Otherwise, we're going to be stuck in limbo another four years. Frankly, it's too scary," she added. Rebecca Balzano, a 38-year-old cook at a local restaurant, called Mr Buttigieg "too new, too young" and said she voted for Mr Sanders. "Everything he says, I'm all for," she said. "We need the Bern man in office." Democratic voters in the state are faced with a lengthy ballot listing 33 names - including top-tier candidates, former hopefuls who have already dropped out of the race and some contenders who never attained a national profile. One name not on the list is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a late entrant to the race and who is skipping the first four contests. That didn't stop voters in the mountain hamlet of Dixville Notch from picking the billionaire founder of the media company that bears his name as a write-in candidate when they voted just after midnight on Tuesday. He won three of the five ballots cast. Les Otten, a registered Republican who is redeveloping the ski lodge where the vote took place, said he voted for Mr Bloomberg because he is a moderate and his agenda addresses climate change and the ballooning federal budget deficit. "I did what I had to do," Mr Otten said. Earlier at his campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, Mr Trump whipped up chants of "Lock her up" against House speaker Nancy Pelosi, pushed election fraud conspiracy theories, and again dismissed the significance of the coronavirus epidemic. He also predictably denigrated the Democratic candidates who are running against him. His dismissals came as a new poll from Reuters/Ipsos forecast the president losing the 2020 battle to Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg and Joe Biden and drawing with Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren. In addition to Vice-President Mike Pence and Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and senior adviser, Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu were set to campaign on his behalf. Five men have been arrested and charged with trying to trade in Iranian oil in violation of US trade sanctions. In a statement issued Tuesday, the US Attorney's Office in Philadelphia, Zhenyu Wang, Robert Thwaites and Nicholas James Fuchs, all of Dallas; Daniel Ray Lane of McKinney, Texas; and Nicholas Hovan of New York City are charged with conspiracy and violating US economic sanctions on Iran. The criminal complaint alleges that since last July, the five had tried to buy oil illegally from Iran to sell to a refinery in China. The complaint alleges that they planned to make two shipments of oil per month with an expected profit of USD 28 million per month. US Attorney William McSwain said in a statement that the sanctions violations would jeopardize US security. If convicted, each of the men could be sentenced to up to 25 years in federal prison and fined up to $1.25 million. It was unclear from federal records where the five were being detained or if they had attorneys to speak for them. A message to a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney was not immediately returned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parts of south-east Queensland have received more than 200 millimetres of rain overnight, leading to flash flooding, swift water rescues and the evacuation of a nursing home as other areas keep a close watch on rising and already flooded waterways. Severe thunderstorm warnings were in place for the south-east coast region overnight, with a further alert for heavy rainfall around Beenleigh and the Logan River mouth issued at 9.30am. Flooding at Nambour on Wednesday. Credit:7News Sunshine Coast The weather bureau expects the rain to ease heading into the weekend, as Tropical Cyclone Uesi brings hazardous surf conditions instead. The Sunshine Coast bore the brunt of the heavy falls overnight, with 232 millimetres recorded at the airport since 9am Thursday and 209 millimetres at West Woombye. Private school teacher Anthony Stott has been killed (pictured) A private school teacher was allegedly tied to a chair before being hit and killed by a semi-trailer on a busy highway. Anthony Stott, 43, was a primary school teacher at St Peters Lutheran College, a prestigious $24,000-a-year school in Brisbane. He was last seen at Brisbane airport at about 3pm on Sunday after returning from a once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Peru. Police allege that he was tied to a chair at property in Round Mountain in New South Wales before being killed by a semi-trailer as he walked up the Pacific Highway at around 7am on Monday morning. Police believe that Mr Stott was walking along the side of the motorway and was no longer retrained when he was hit and killed by the truck. The 36-year-old driver of the semi was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for mandatory testing. Mark Francis Frost, 46, and Lauren Claire Grainger, 38, who live at the Round Mountain property were arrested on Monday afternoon, The Queensland Times reported. They were charged with taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain financial advantage. Detective Acting Superintendent Brendon Cullen said Mr Stott's silver BMW was found on the M1 Pacific Highway at 2am on Monday. Police have not ruled out illicit drugs being involved. The Brisbane teacher's silver BMW was found on the M1 Pacific Highway at 2am (pictured) Anthony Stott, 43, taught at St Peters Lutheran College, a prestigious $24,000-a-year school in Brisbane 'We want to speak with anyone on the NSW Far North Coast or across the border in Queensland who may have had dealings with or had spoken with him since Sunday 9 February,' Mr Cullen said. 'We're also wanting to speak with anyone who may have seen his vehicle on Sunday afternoon a silver BMW with NSW registration ANL 72Y. 'Piecing together his movements in the 24-hours prior to his death is crucial and I urge anyone who may have any information to contact Crime Stoppers.' Mr Frost and Ms Grainger were refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on February 17. St Peters Lutheran College Springfield says it has been 'devastated' by Mr Stott's 'tragic passing'. Mr Stott returned from a holiday in Peru on Sunday 'Mr Stott was a primary school teacher at the College from 2018 and was a popular and well-regarded member of our community,' the school said in a statement. 'This is a very difficult time for the St Peters community and the College is offering support to Mr Stott's family as well as staff, students and families. 'Out of respect for Mr Stott's family, and because this is now an active Police investigation, it is not appropriate for the College to make any further public comment.' A fire broke out early Wednesday at Exxon Mobil Corp.s Baton Rouge oil refinery in Louisiana, halting production at the fifth-biggest fuel-making plant in the U.S. The outage at the massive complex -- which supplies fuels across the southeast U.S. and all the way to New York Harbor -- means the refinery needs fewer barrels of crude oil, depressing a market already reeling from the coronavirus crisis in China. But it could help ease a gasoline glut in the Gulf Coast, where stockpiles hit a record in late January. The Baton Rouge fire is the third blaze in the Gulf Coast region for Exxon in less than a year, and comes after the company posted the worst quarterly profit in almost four years. Earnings at its refining and chemical business slumped by a combined $6.5 billion in 2019, and the oil giant is pursuing asset sales and even cracking down on employee travel to tide over the turmoil. Heavy Canadian oil fell from a four-month high after the Baton Rouge refinery shutdown, while Gulf Coast and New York gasoline strengthened. Consumers could feel the impact of higher prices as soon as Thursday morning. The latest blaze erupted in a natural gas line, affecting first one and then all of the facilitys crude distillation towers -- which heat and break down raw oil into products -- according to people familiar with operations. As a result, other units such as the catalytic cracker and the chemical plant had to cease operations. The fire has been extinguished and there were no injuries, according to Exxon. Operations continue at the refinery and chemical plant, spokesman Jeremy Eikenberry said. The facility is located along the Mississippi River about 80 miles (129 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans, can process more than 500,000 barrels of crude a day and accounts for about 15% of Louisianas refining capacity. The local WAFB TV stations website showed images of the fire, and said local people reported their houses being shaken by the incident. There was no initial off-site impact to air quality, or an immediate call for an evacuation of the nearby area, WAFB said. The complexs chemical plant has shut, including its olefins unit -- which takes feedstocks such as naphtha, butane, propane and ethane from the oil refinery and converts them into ethylene and propylene that are used to make plastics. Western Canadian Select crudes discount to U.S. West Texas Intermediate widened to $16.75 a barrel on Wednesday. The Baton Rouge refinery uses heavy crude produced in the Kearl oil sands mine operated by Imperial Oil Ltd., which is majority owned by Exxon. Gasoline in the Gulf Coast spot market rose 1.25 cent per gallon to an 8-cent discount to Nymex Rbob futures Wednesday afternoon. Futures of the motor fuel jumped the most in almost five months. Exxon is in the process of a massive expansion of the plastic-ingredient capacity on the chemical side of the Baton Rouge complex thats scheduled to begin output next year. The combined refining and chemical operations account for one in every 10 jobs in southwest Louisiana region, according to the company. U.S. refineries handled an average of about 16.5 million barrels a day of crude so far this year, Energy Information Administration data show. STOCKHOLM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Yield ASA ("Ocean Yield" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has agreed to acquire two ultramax and one kamsarmax dry bulk vessels for a total consideration of USD 62.8 million net of pre-paid charter hire with 9, 10 and 12 years bareboat charters to Scorpio Bulkers Inc. ("Scorpio Bulkers"). In addition, Ocean Yield has committed to part finance the scrubber installation on the vessels, with an additional of USD 1.5 million per vessel during 2020. The two ultramax vessels are built in 2015 and 2016 and the kamsarmax vessel is built in 2018. All vessels are expected to be delivered to the Company during Q1 2020. Scorpio Bulkers will have certain options to either trigger a sale or acquire the vessels during the charter period. Scorpio Bulkers is a leading international provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities that currently owns and operates a fleet of 52 modern dry bulk vessels. Scorpio Bulkers is a publicly listed company and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "SALT". Ocean Yield's Chief Executive Officer Lars Solbakken said: "We are pleased to further expand our relationship with Scorpio Bulkers with the investment in three modern dry bulk carriers with long-term charters. Including this transaction, Ocean Yield has now increased the fleet to 72 vessels." Company contact: Eirik Eide (CFO), Tel +47 24 13 01 91 Investor Relations contact: Marius Magelie (SVP Finance & IR), Tel +47 24 13 01 82 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/ocean-yield/r/acquisition-of-three-modern-dry-bulk-vessels-with-long-term-charters,c3034218 SOURCE Ocean Yield Related Links https://www.oceanyield.no/ The Punjab government on Wednesday cancelled leaves of the health department staff engaged in keeping a watch on coronavirus. "The state government issued the instructions to cancel the holidays/leaves of all the key staff engaged in the reporting and management for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease)," said a government release here. "In the wake of COVID-19, staff working for surveillance of coronavirus, reporting, tracing and management will only be granted the leave after getting sanction from the Directorate Health Services so that screening as well as test process of the suspected passengers would not affect," Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said here on Wednesday. The government said the State Surveillance Unit will be monitoring the situation and all the surveillance activities for coronavirus disease in the state. Sidhu said a total of 35 persons with coronavirus-like symptoms in Punjab have tested negative. The minister said till date a total of 22,236 passengers have been screened at the international airports of Amritsar and Mohali. He also said 16,549 passengers were screened at Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar and 5,687 passengers were screened at Dera Baba Nanak check post in Gurdaspur. Sidhu further said of the 1,517 passengers with travel history to China or transit stay at airports, 35 samples were collected for testing and all these were tested negative by the National Institute of Virology in Pune. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, reminds investors that class action lawsuits have been commenced on behalf of stockholders of Westpac Banking Corporation (NYSE: WBK), Sasol Limited (NYSE: SSL), and Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR). Stockholders have until the deadlines below to petition the court to serve as lead plaintiff. Additional information about each case can be found at the link provided. Westpac Banking Corporation (NYSE: WBK) Class Period: November 11, 2015 to November 19, 2019 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: March 30, 2020 On November 20, 2019, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) charged Westpac with over 23 million violations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act (the AML-CTF Act). Further, Westpacs senior management failed to distinguish money laundering or risky payments to and from Southeast Asia indicative of child sexual exploitation. On this news, Westpacs stock price fell $0.80 per share, or over 4%, to close at $17.15 per share on November 20, 2019. The Complaint, filed on January 30, 2020, alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) contrary to Australian law, the Company failed to report over 19.5 million international funds transfer instructions to AUSTRAC, Australia's anti money-laundering and terrorism financing regulator; (2) the Company did not appropriately monitor and assess the ongoing money laundering and terrorism financing risks associated with movement of money into and out of Australia; (3) the Company did not pass on requisite information about the source of funds to other banks in the transfer chain; (4) despite being aware of the heightened risks, the Company did not carry out appropriate due diligence on transactions in South East Asia and the Philippines that had known financial indicators relating to child exploitation risks; (5) the Company's AML/CTF Program was inadequate to identify, mitigate and manage money laundering and terrorism financing risks; and (6) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. For more information on the Westpac class action go to: https://bespc.com/wbk Sasol Limited (NYSE: SSL) Class Period: March 10, 2015 to January 13, 2020 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 6, 2020 On October 27, 2014, Sasol announced the construction of a of an $8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, dubbed the Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP). According to the Company, the LCCP includes seven manufacturing units, some of which are in continued development, including the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) facility and Ziegler alcohol, ethoxylates and Guerbet alcohol facilities, among others. On June 6, 2016, Sasol reported that the expected total capital expenditure for the [LCCP] could increase up to US$11 billion, including site infrastructure and utility improvements; a slower rate of capital resulted in an extended project schedule and contributed to further project cost increases; [t]he expected returns for the project have reduced due to changes in long-term price assumptions and the higher capital estimates; and [t]he increase in the estimated LCCP capital cost and extended schedule will reduce the expected project returns by approximately the same amount as the Companys lower long-term price assumptions. Following these disclosures, Sasols share price fell $3.53 per share, or 10.99%, to close at $28.60 per share on June 6, 2016. On May 22, 2019, Sasol disclosed that the cost estimate for the LCCP has been revised to a range of $12,6 to $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million. Sasol cited a $530 million change in the projects cost forecast because of a [c]orrection for duplication of investment allowances of approximately $230 million; a [c]orrection for certain contracts and variation orders managed by Sasol, outside the primary engineering, procurement and construction contract, of approximately $180 million; and forecast improvements that were not expected to be realised and adjustments for potential insurance claims and procurement back-charges of approximately $120 million. Following these disclosures, Sasols share price fell $4.50 per share, or 14.93%, to close at $25.64 per share on May 22, 2019. Later, on August 16, 2019, Sasol issued a press release disclosing that it was delaying the announcement of its 2019 financial results because of possible LCCP control weaknesses. On this news, Sasols share price fell $0.74 per share, or 4.02%, to close at $17.67 per share on August 16, 2019. Then, on October 28, 2019, Sasol disclosed that its review of the LCCP control weaknesses had brought to light errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the [LCCP] cost estimate, and a number of unethical and improper reporting activities that took place at the highest level of management. Sasol also announced the resignation of, inter alia, its Joint Presidents and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), effective November 1, 2019, and Senior Vice Presidents and others previously in charge of the LCCP. Finally, 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. 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. Following these disclosures, Sasols share price fell $1.70 per share, or 7.84%, over the following two trading days, to close at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020. The Complaint, filed on February 5, 2020, alleges that throughout the Class Period defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Sasol had conducted insufficient due diligence into, and failed to account for multiple issues with, the LCCP, as well as the true cost of the project; (ii) construction and operation of the LCCP was consequently plagued by control weaknesses, delays, rising costs, and technical issues; (iii) these issues were exacerbated by Sasols top-level management, who engaged in improper and unethical behavior with respect to financial reporting for the LCCP and the projects oversight; (iv) all the foregoing was reasonably likely to render the LCCP significantly more expensive than disclosed and negatively impact the Companys financial results; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. For more information on the Sasol class action go to: https://bespc.com/ssl Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) Class Period: October 31, 2019 to January 29, 2020 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: April 10, 2020 On January 30, 2020, Spirit issued a press release announcing executive officer changes. Therein, Spirit stated that it did not comply with its established accounting processes related to certain potential contingent liabilities that were received by Spirit after the end of third quarter 2019. Moreover, the Company stated that, [i]n light of these findings, Spirit's Chief Financial Officer, Jose Garcia, and Principal Accounting Officer, John Gilson, resigned from their positions. On this news, the Companys share price fell $2.56, or nearly 4%, to close at $65.08 per share on January 30, 2020. The complaint, filed on February 10, 2020, alleges that throughout the Class Period defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; (2) the Company did not comply with its established accounting principles related to potential contingent liabilities; and (3) as a result, defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. For more information on the Spirit AeroSystems class action go to: https://bespc.com/spr About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 14:59:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 701 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (TSXV:LKY)(OTCPINK:LKMNF) ("Lucky" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its private placement previously announced on January 20, 2020 and increased on February 5, 2020. The private placement has been over-subscribed for total proceeds of $683,624.Closing of Private PlacementThe private placement will be for a total of 34,181,200 units for proceeds of $683,624 at a price of $0.02 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months after the closing. All of the Common Shares and Warrants of the Company issuable in connection with the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period, expiring on June 13, 2020.The Transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. The Company did not pay finders' fees on the Private Placement.About LuckyAn exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in proven districts with the potential to host world class deposits. Lucky owns a 100% interest in the Fortuna and Emigrant Projects.The Company's Fortuna Project is a royalty-free 550km2 (55,000 Ha, or 136,000 Acres) exploration concession. Fortuna is located in a highly prospective, yet underexplored, copper-gold belt in southern Ecuador.The Emigrant Creek Project covers a 15 km2 area in an intensely altered and mineralized porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum system in southern Montana.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Adrian Rothwell"Chief Executive OfficerFurther information on Lucky can be found on the Company's website at www.luckyminerals.com and at www.sedar.com , or by contacting Adrian Rothwell, President and CEO, by email at investors@ luckyminerals.com or by telephone at (866) 924 6484.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.Cautionary Statement Regarding Adjacent Properties and Forward-Looking InformationThis news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of 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 the 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. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; increases in input costs; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labor relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations also include risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations.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. 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 of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law.SOURCE: Lucky Minerals Inc. Rodrygo travelled to Portugal to watch Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge on his day off Real Madrid Shared it on social media Rodrygo Goes took advantage of his mini-holidays to witness first hand the 2020 Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge. The Real Madrid forward travelled to the Portuguese coast which is famous for having the largest waves in the world. Rodrygo grabbed a video of the huge waves and shared it on social media with his followers. [February 12, 2020] BlackRock Expands and Enhances iShares Sustainable ETF Product Line iShares, the world's largest ETF provider, is creating even more choice for clients who wish to invest sustainably. Expanding its environmental, social and governance (ESG) ETF line-up and enhancing its existing ESG funds are the most recent steps iShares is taking to deliver against BlackRock's commitment to making sustainability its standard for investing. Client demand for sustainable investment solutions is growing exponentially, as investors increasingly recognize the impact of climate change and other sustainability risks on their portfolios. The $5 billion in U.S. iShares ESG ETF flows in 2019 and more than double year-over-year asset growth highlight the growing demand. "Sustainable investing has reached an inflection point as investors better understand the increasing impact that ESG-related risks have on asset pricing, and account for these risks in their portfolios," said Armando Senra, Head of Americas iShares at BlackRock. "That has translated into growing demand for iShares sustainable ETFs and the need to offer greater choice to make sustainability our standard for investing." Plans to Launch Fossil Fuel Screened ETFs iShares plans to debut three fossil fuel screened ETFs under a new 'Advanced' product range that seek to track indices with extensive screens, including palm oil, for-profit prisons, controversial weapons, and increased controversy score requirements.1 These proposed funds will apply the most screens of any iShares ESG ETFs in the U.S. and will offer exposure to U.S., developed and emerging markets companies. "Our clients' growing preference for investing in top ESG companies is quickly driving an evolution in fund design and index construction," said Carolyn Weinberg, Managing Director and Global Head of Product for iShares. "We are stepping forward with our proposed Advanced range, which will enable investors to aggressively pursue companies with strong ESG scores while also avoiding those with riskier ESG business involvement, including fossil fuel reserves or ties to thermal coal or oil sands." Enhancing and Renaming Core ESG ETFs as Aware (News - Alert) Range iShares is rebranding its Sustainable Core ETFs as 'Aware'. Aware ETFs seek to track indices that include companies that exhibit favorable ESG characteristics and are then optimized to offer a similar risk and return profile to broad market indices. Th Aware range was introduced in October 2018 with seven ESG ETFs across equities and fixed income, designed to offer low-cost building blocks for investors to construct broad, diversified sustainable portfolios. As a further enhancement to our iShares ESG Aware equity funds, MSCI is implementing, to the indices of these funds, additional screens to exclude companies with thermal coal and oil sands revenue exposure. The new screens will be effective on March 2. About BlackRock BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of December 31, 2019, the firm managed approximately $7.43 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter (News - Alert): @blackrock | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock. About iShares iShares unlocks opportunity across markets to meet the evolving needs of investors. With more than twenty years of experience, a global line-up of 900+ exchange traded funds (ETFs) and $2.24 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019, iShares continues to drive progress for the financial industry. iShares funds are powered by the expert portfolio and risk management of BlackRock, trusted to manage more money than any other investment firm2. 1 The specific exclusion criteria, such as revenue thresholds, vary by screen. 2 Based on $7.43 trillion in AUM as of 12/31/19. Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.iShares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. A fund's environmental, social and governance ("ESG") investment strategy limits the types and number of investment opportunities available to the fund and, as a result, the fund may underperform other funds that do not have an ESG focus. A fund's ESG investment strategy may result in the fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole or underperform other funds screened for ESG standards. This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. This material is strictly for illustrative, educational, or informational purposes and is subject to change. Diversification and asset allocation may not protect against market risk or loss of principal. Buying and selling shares of ETFs may result in brokerage commissions. The iShares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, "BlackRock"). 2020 BlackRock. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005388/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Nancy Pelosi slammed Donald Trump for interfering in the sentencing of Roger Stone after the Justice Department announced that it will seek less jail time for the president's longtime adviser. The Department of Justice dramatically reversed its demand to jail Stone for up to nine years in a move announced Tuesday hours after Trump slammed it on Twitter as a 'miscarriage of justice'. House Speaker Pelosi expressed outrage over the news in her own tweet, writing: 'By tweet @realDonaldTrump engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone. 'It is outrageous that DOJ has deeply damaged the rule of law by withdrawing its recommendation. Stepping down of prosecutors should be commended & actions of DOJ should be investigated.' Trump has denied asking Attorney General William Barr to roll back the DoJ's original recommendation - a move that prompted fresh allegations of abuse of power against the president. A senior Justice Department official insisted to ABC News that Trump's tweet did not play a role in the reversal, calling it an 'inconvenient coincidence'. Three experienced federal prosecutors asked to be removed from the case after the turnaround, with one resigning his position with the government entirely. Nancy Pelosi slammed Donald Trump for interfering in the sentencing of Roger Stone after the Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it will seek less jail time for the president's longtime adviser Pelosi expressed her outrage over the news on Twitter Tuesday night Trump stood by his tweet on Tuesday afternoon, calling the original sentencing recommendation a 'disgrace'. 'I thought it was ridiculous,' he told reporters at the White House. 'No I didn't speak to the Jus I'd be able to do it if I wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe. 'But I didn't speak to them. I thought the (original) recommendation was ridiculous, I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous. I look at others that haven't been prosecutors.' He said he considered it an 'insult to our country.' He called them 'the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell.' But he also maintained: 'I have not been involved.' 'I think it's a disgrace. See what happens.' Trump called the original sentencing recommendation for Stone a 'disgrace' during remarks to reporters at the White House on Tuesday afternoon Stone was convicted of witness tampering and obstruction charges last November Trump declined to say whether he was considering commuting Stone's sentence, whatever it turns out to be. But he did suggest another man he considers a political enemy, Lt Col Alexander Vindman, might face a military investigation. 'We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want. General Milley has him now. I congratulate General Milley,' Trump said, referencing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley. 'He can have him. And his brother also,' Trump said. 'We'll find out,' he added, without explanation. According to its updated filing, which came after Trump's overnight tweets: 'The defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is 'sufficient, but not greater than necessary' to satisfy the factors set forth in' sentencing guidelines. 'Based on the facts known to the government, a sentence of between 87 to 108 months' imprisonment, however, could be considered excessive and unwarranted ... Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case,' the updated memo said. Stone has been a Trump confidant for decades, and served as an informal adviser during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's denial came after prosecutors filed a new memo in the Stone case leaving it to the judge to recommend the appropriate sentence. Leaders at the department, which is headed by Attorney General Bill Barr, found it extreme and excessive, and disproportionate to Stone's offenses, one official said. Shortly after the announcement, the lead prosecutor in the case, Aaron Zelinsky, used a court filing to announce that he had resigned 'effective immediately' as a special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He retains a federal post in Maryland. A second, Jonathan Kravis, followed him shortly afterwards, resigning from government service as an assistant U.S. attorney. A third federal prosecutor, Adam Jed, also withdrew as counsel to the government in the case. Later Tuesday, it was revealed that prosecutor Michael Marando withdrew from the case. Kravis served in the public integrity of the Justice Department, served in the White House counsel's office under Barack Obama, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Jed clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. All four used court filings to announce their departures, apparently to the surprise of their own colleagues in an unmistakable sign of protest. Zelinsky was a member of Mueller's team, but remained after Mueller departed to work on the Stone case. Trump had tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday morning: 'This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' Just before midday, the DOJ announced its walk back but one official told Fox News the decision had been made before Trump's Twitter rant. All three were seasoned prosecutors who worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's team. The official did not explain why the reversal had not been announced until after the tweet. The DOJ has not said what sentence it will now seek. The move prompted immediate anger and derision from Democrats with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying: 'They'll probably recommend the presidential medal of freedom!' He said he was asking the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate whether Bill Barr had directed the reversal. Veteran 'dirty trickster' Stone is due to face sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on February 20, after a jury in November found him guilty on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Attack: Democratic congressman Bill Pascrell likened Trump and the DOJ's move to a banana republic Trump tweeted Monday night: ''This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' (pictured: at a campaign rally in Manchester last night) Prosecutors will now have to ask the judge for permission to abandon their initial recommendation and submit a new one. 'We look forward to reviewing the government's supplemental filing,' Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, said in an email to Reuters. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation. Long-time consigliere: Roger Stone has been advising Donald Trump on politics for more than 20 years, including in 1999 during his first putative White House run Jackson, the judge, has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Besides, judges invariably frown upon crimes that they see as perverting the functions of the criminal justice system, such as making false statements or obstructing an investigation. The Justice Department plans to refile the recommendation later Tuesday. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position onFlynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. The White House referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department. Stone is one of several people close to Trump who faced charges stemming from then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has the power to pardon people for federal crimes, although he has yet to use it in the cases of other former aides convicted in the wake of the Mueller investigations. His tweet hunted he could use that power, or his power to commute sentences if Stone were to get the level of custody demanded by prosecutors. Stone's own defense had asked for probation. Senior Democratic lawmakers expressed amazement at the move but Trump loyalists said they now hoped Mike Flynn - the disgraced former national security advisor who is currently trying to get out of his guilty plea to lying to the FBI - would also get 'clemency.' Outrage: Senior Democratic lawmakers including senators Chuck Schumer - the Senate minority leader - Chris Van Hollen and Sheldon Whitehouse all expressed anger at the move to abandon the call for a nine-year sentence Trump-world reacts: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor whose daughter Sarah was the White House press secretary, was among the president's supporters calling for Mike Flynn to also be affected by the apparent presidential intervention into a prosecution During the trial, prosecutors pressed their case that Stone lied to lawmakers about his outreach to WikiLeaks - the website that disclosed many hacked Democratic emails ahead of the 2016 U.S. election that proved embarrassing to Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton - to protect Trump from looking bad. Stone, who has labeled himself an 'agent provocateur' and has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian election interference. Stone's colorful trial featured references to the film 'The Godfather Part II,' an impression of Senator Bernie Sanders by prosecution witness Randy Credico, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign chief executive Steve Bannon and former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates. Those witnesses said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about Clinton. In truth, he had no such information. Stone was also accused of tampering with Credico's testimony, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI. In emails and texts, Stone told Credico among other things: 'Prepare to die,' 'You're a rat. A stoolie,' and 'Stonewall it.' Prosecutors also charged that Stone had threatened Credicos therapy dog, Bianca, saying he was 'going to take that dog away from you.' The Pimpri-Chinchwad police are on the lookout for three men accused of allegedly breaking into an automated teller machine (ATM) in Rahatani, Pimpri-Chinchwad. The three men managed to flee with Rs 12,84,000 from the ATM that belonged to the RBL bank, according to the police. The Pimpri-Chinchwad police have formed three teams to track down the accused, according to Vivek V Mugalikar, senior police inspector, Wakad police station. We have the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the theft. The suspects, who we are tracking, used a gas cutter to open the vault, said PI Muglikar. A case under Section 454 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of Indian Penal Code was registered against the three unidentified men at Wakad police station. Another incident was recorded on Tuesday midnight in Mhalunge, Pimpri-Chinchwad. The gang, which targeted the Mhalunge ATM, tried to uproot the machine and flee with it. However, they were unable to transport the machine, although they managed to uproot it, said police officials. This is not the first such case of ATM theft in Mhalunge. A similar case was reported in December 2019. Nyxoah raises 25 million in private funding round Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium 12 February 2020, Nyxoah S.A., a healthtech company developing neuromodulation-based therapeutic solutions for sleep disordered breathing conditions, today announced that it has raised 25 million in a private financing round. Completion of the financing round is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur later this month. ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) (ASX:RMD), a world-leading digital health company in the fields of sleep apnea, COPD, and other chronic diseases, joined as a new shareholder. Under the lead of Mr. Robert Taub, Nyxoah executive chairman, Cochlear Limited (ASX:COH) and several historical shareholders completed the 25 million financing round. The proceeds will enable Nyxoah to further advance in developing long-term clinical evidence on the Genio system, prepare for the IDE pivotal trial in the United States and accelerate the ongoing market access and commercialisation activities in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Olivier Taelman, CEO of Nyxoah, commented: We have an innovative approach to treating OSA. Having ResMed, the global leader in sleep apnea, support this significant funding round along with our existing shareholders will help Nyxoah to further accelerate its development. ENDS About Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the Genio system OSA is the worlds most common sleep disorder, affecting almost one billion people globally1. OSA makes a person stop breathing during sleep, while the airway repeatedly becomes partially (hypopnea) or totally (apnea) blocked, limiting the amount of air that reaches the lungs. OSA is a chronic condition that is associated with increased mortality risk and comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression and stroke. The current standard of care consists of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy, a treatment whereby air is pushed into the upper airway to keep it open. The Genio system is the worlds first and only, battery-free, leadless and minimally invasive implanted neurostimulator designed to keep the upper airway open during sleep for certain people with OSA by bilateral stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. About Nyxoah Nyxoah is a healthtech company focused on the development and commercialisation of innovative solutions and services for sleep disordered breathing conditions. Nyxoahs lead solution platform is based on the Genio system, a validated, user-centered, next generation hypoglossal neurostimulation therapy for OSA, the worlds most common sleep disordered breathing condition that is associated with increased mortality risk and comorbidities including cardiovascular diseases, depression and stroke. Following successful completion of the BLAST OSA study in patients with moderate to severe OSA, the Genio system received its European CE Mark in March 2019. The Company is currently conducting the BETTER SLEEP study in Australia and New Zealand for therapy indication expansion, and a post-marketing EliSA study in Europe to confirm the long-term safety and efficacy of the Genio system. The IDE pivotal study to prepare for US market entrance is currently in discussion with the FDA. For more information, please visit www.nyxoah.com . Caution CE marked since 2019. Investigational device in the United States. Limited by federal law to investigational use. 1 Benjafield, Adam V et al. Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. Lancet Respir Med 2019 Published Online July 9, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30198-5 Vezeeta, a healthcare platform operating in the Middle East and Africa, has raised a $40 Million Series D funding round led by UAE-based Gulf Capital, alongside further investment from existing Riyadh-based investor Saudi Technology Ventures (STV), which previously led Vezeetas Series C round in September 2018. Vezeetas other investors include BECO Capital, Silicon Badia, Vostok New Ventures, Crescent Enterprises CE-Ventures and Endeavour Catalyst. Prior to this raise, the company had raised $23M, so this latest news takes its total to $63M. Alvaro Abella, a director at Gulf Capital, joins the board. It now plans to roll out new products, such as an online pharmacy, as well as 'tele-health' services across its existing footprint and new markets. This is one of the largest funding rounds of any tech startup in the Middle East and Africa to date. The startup has become something of a MENA success story by allowing patients to effectively see Uber -style ratings for healthcare providers, thus encouraging the providers to improve their services. It puts the power in the hands of patients (vs providers) by giving them the ability to search, book, rate, and review healthcare providers. U.S.-based ZocDoc, which has raised $223M, has done something similar, moving away from a B2B towards a B2C transactional-based model. Other competitors globally include Practo, Doctolib (which raised $266.7M) and Docplanner. Launched initially in Cairo in 2012 as a sort of Uber for Ambulances, Vezeeta has gradually reversed into Middle Eastern healthcare systems to provide a free of charge medical search platform for end-users by integrating information about medical practices and doctors individual schedules. Currently operating in 50 cities across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon, the platform generates 4 Million annual appointments, and claims to have tripled in size year over year. In a statement, Amir Barsoum, founder and CEO of Vezeeta said: Gulf Capital provides us the perfect synergy for our future plans to diversify and expand our product portfolio on a global scale Leveraging our technology, we have helped patients tap into the power of choice, and the power of information, to access the kind of healthcare that our users deserve. He said the company plans to use the cash to expand its product portfolio to several regional markets. Story continues Dr Karim El Solh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Capital said: Empowering patients and their families through technology to give them better access to healthcare services and more meaningful and manageable relationships with their healthcare providers has never been more important. We were impressed with the work that Amir and his team were doing and are excited to be working with Vezeeta on its next phase of growth. Ahmad AlNaimi, senior principal at STV said: The progress the company has achieved since our investment, especially in Saudi, is incredible. We are thrilled to double down on our position and to welcome Gulf Capital to the table. Vezeeta reaches around 4 million patients across 4 countries, enabling them to search, book and review doctors and medical services. It also provides a SaaS solution to more than 30,000 healthcare providers. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Low lying fog and drizzle will greet metro residents early Wednesday but then move off for an increasingly sunny afternoon. The National Weather Service says weak high pressure will move into the metro area to clear out some of the persistent overnight cloud cover and give us a partly sunny finish to the day. Those areas of the Willamette Valley that do not make it out of the clouds could stay cool with highs in the mid 40s. The high at the airport is likely to reach 51. Low pressure currently over the Gulf of Alaska will push a cold front into northwest Oregon by Thursday. This front will drop rain across Portland and snow on the mountains. The morning could be dry, with rain expected to start about lunchtime. The high is forecasted at 48. Dew on early spring daffodils in Portland.Rosemarie Stein/Staff The weather service is not expecting this system to be a big mountain snowmaker. About 2-4 inches of snow is likely for the Cascade passes, mostly falling Thursday night. Snow levels will start off in the 3,500-4,000-foot range early Thursday and then dip to 2,000-2,500 feet behind the front through the evening and into Friday. Showers in town will probably linger into Friday, with fewer chances for showers in the Willamette Valley. Portland will see mostly cloudy skies with a high likely to reach 50. While Portland flirts with spring-like temperatures, the north-central U.S. is in the deep freeze Wednesday. A man from Mexico City has confessed to murdering, skinning and dismembering his 25-year-old wife, and then discarding her remains, in a crime that has unleashed outrage among authorities and human rights groups in Mexico's capital. Protesters took to the streets after leaked graphic photos of Ingrid Escamilla Vargas' carved-up body, stripped off her skin down to her knees, appeared on the front page of a local tabloid. Prosecutors will seek the maximum punishment for Escamilla Vargas' murder, the capital's mayor said on Tuesday, adding a suspect had been arrested for the crime that took place at an apartment north of the city center over the weekend. Erik Francisco Robledo, 46, is pictured covered in blood at the time of his arrest on suspicion of murder and mutilation of his wife, Ingrid Escamilla Vargas, 25, in Mexico City Robledo (left) claimed he and Ingrid were arguing when he challenged her to stab him, which he did. He then allegedly took the knife and plunged it in her throat The suspect has been identified by multiple media outlets as the victim's husband, 46-year-old Erik Francisco Robledo. Photos and video have emerged showing the accused killer bare-chested and drenched in blood reportedly confessing to the murder to the police. Robledo said he had ingested drugs before he and his wife got into an argument over his drinking. The suspect reportedly told cops Ingrid said she wanted to kill him, and he challenged her to stab him, which she proceeded to do three times. He said he than grabbed the white kitchen knife from Escamilla Vargas' hands and plunged it into her throat, killing her. According to his confession, the husband then peeled off the victim's skin from her face down to her knees with the knife, removed her intestines, eyes and other organs, and threw some of the remains down the drain because he said he felt ashamed of committing the crime and wanted to cover it up. Robledo then allegedly called his ex-wife and admitted to killing Escamilla Vargas. Officers who responded to the couple's apartment found Escamilla Vargas' horrifically mutilated body laying in a room awash with blood. A photograph of the victim featured on the cover of Pasala, a newspaper that splashes gory stories and photographs on its front pages, often with salacious headlines. A photograph of Ingrid's mutilated body was featured on the cover a local tabloid. It was said to have been leaked by officials The headline accompanying Escamilla's photograph read: 'It was cupid's fault.' Editors at Pasala did not respond to a request for comment. The Mexico City prosecutor's office said on Tuesday it was investigating six civil servants to determine who leaked the images. Some social media users reacted to the gory photograph by posting pictures of Escamilla showing her smiling and confident, with neatly combed hair and bright lipstick. 'Out of respect to you and your family, this is the only way I want to remember you,' one user wrote on Twitter, where #IngridEscamilla and #JusticeForIngrid were trending topics. Marches to protest violence against women have intensified in recent months (pictured in January 2020) The National Women's Institute of Mexico condemned the publication of the photograph and the crime. 'Mexico is facing a tremendous challenge with respect to violence against women,' the institute said in a statement. 'We urge the media to work with rigor and professionalism.' Marches to protest violence against women have intensified in recent months, with demonstrators setting government buildings on fire and daubing monuments with graffiti. An average of 10 women were killed a day in Mexico in 2018, the year with the highest number of murders of women in three decades, according to official data. For women who suffered violence, more than 40 per cent of them were victims of their partners. Escamilla Vargas' murder was a particularly horrific display of brutality in a country accustomed to regular violence. Milenio Television reported the victim had filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband several months ago but later withdrew it. Ukraine has a clear plan to ensure that local elections at the end of October 2020 are held in the entire territory of the country, Andriy Yermak, the new head of the Ukrainian presidential office, said on Wednesday. "There are some preconditions without implementing which this is impossible. The Ukrainian side stands ready to implement all agreements that have been reached, primarily in Paris. Secondly, we have a clear plan as to what should be done to ensure that the elections at the end of October could be held in the entire territory of Ukraine, in line with Ukrainian laws," Yermak said at a news briefing at the presidential office. Kyiv could agree to some compromises in the course of negotiations, as long as they do not damage Ukraine's interests, he said. Yermak said he was prepared to speak to all patriotic, sensible, and intelligent forces in the country, "with everyone who loves Ukraine and wishes it well," to explain to them "ten or twenty times" what the Steinmeier formula is about and what plan the Ukrainian administration has. "There are no people with whom we refuse to speak today to explain our position, but these should be truly patriotic forces, truly oriented toward the interests of Ukraine," he said. Mumbai, Feb 12 : The scam-hit Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank Ltd had allegedly tried to influence its auditors by sending them on junkets to Goa and other places in order to keep them tight-lipped about the murky goings-on in the bank, official sources said here. The PMC Bank also purchased properties on behalf of Housing Development & Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), which remained unpaid. It even bought certain properties at inflated rates. These are some of the startling revelations that figure in the supplementary charge-sheet filed in the case by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which is probing the matter for the past six months. It added that among the PMC Bank auditors, one Jayesh Sanghani had previously helped the bank in different ways, including preparing financial statements for various projects, and was rewarded with kickbacks and free trips to Goa and other places. Later, at the instance of PMC Bank's then Chairman S. Waryam Singh and Managing Director Joy Thomas -- both of whom have been arrested -- Sanghani had allegedly written to the bank's DGM Rebecca Solomon, advising that some of the HDIL's accounts may be knocked off the bank's list of non-performing assets (NPA). The auditors allegedly prepared tailor-made bank statements as sought by Singh and Thomas to suppress the actual financial position of the bank, for which they were paid higher fees than normal. The forensic audit of the bank conducted by the investigators said that PMC Bank utilised its stressed assets stabilisation fund to buy properties for HDIL to bypass the restrictions of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) which was hearing bankruptcy proceedings against the beleaguered company. Besides properties in Mumbai, lands were bought in suburban Mumbai and even Virar town in Palghar in which the EOW will launch an independent probe soon, said the sources. HDIL's top brass, including Rakesh Wadhawan and his son Sarang Wadhawan, and several other top functionaries have been accused in the Rs 6,300 crore scam which erupted in September 2019, stunning the country's banking circles. After investigation, the EOW had filed its first charge-sheet in the case in December last year which ran into nearly 33,000 pages, naming all the accused -- Singh, Thomas, the Wadhawans, ex-director Surjit S. Arora, and half a dozen others, besides 340 witnesses. The charge-sheet also detailed how the PMC Bank management cheated the Reserve Bank of India which finally clamped down on the bank in September last year with a series of restrictions. BALTIMORE, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Human Rights Campaign Foundation announced that Transamerica scored 100 percent on its Corporate Equality Index for the third consecutive year. The index is a national benchmarking tool that measures workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) employees. "The impact of the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index over its 18-year history is profound. In this time, the corporate community has worked with us to adopt LGBTQ-inclusive policies, practices and benefits, establishing the Corporate Equality Index as a primary driving force for LGBTQ workplace inclusion in America and across the globe," said Human Rights Campaign Foundation president Alphonso David. "These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to doit is also the best business decision. In addition, many of these leaders are also advocating for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law in the public square. From supporting LGBTQ civil rights protections in the U.S. through Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Business Coalition for the Equality Act, to featuring transgender and non-binary people in an ad in Argentina, to advocating for marriage equality in Taiwanbusinesses understand their LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work, but in every aspect of daily life." "Transamerica is proud to once again make the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's list, and we are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace," said Jay Orlandi, Chief Operating Officer at Transamerica. "Receiving a score of 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index three years in a row validates our continued dedication to diversity and the well-being of all our employees." Transamerica continues to support inclusion through employee resource groups, including Transamerica PROUD for LGBTQ employees and allies. Employee resource groups hold regular events to support group members' interests and issues, and to give members an opportunity to provide insight and feedback to the company's leaders. Since 2002, the Corporate Equality Index has applied rigorous criteria to rate major businesses on their corporate policies and practices regarding LGBTQ inclusion and workforce protections. Participating businesses represent nearly every industry and geographic area in the U.S. The index evaluates several factors that impact LGBTQ employees, including nondiscrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. Transamerica's effort to meet all of the Corporate Equality Index's criteria resulted in the 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. More information about Transamerica and employment opportunities can be found at careers.transamerica.com. More information on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, including the full report, can be found at www.hrc.org/cei. About Transamerica With a history that dates back more than 100 years, Transamerica is recognized as a leading provider of life insurance, retirement and investment solutions, serving millions of customers throughout the United States. Recognizing the necessity of health and wellness during peak working life, Transamerica's dedicated professionals work to help people take the steps necessary to live better today so they can worry less about tomorrow. Transamerica serves nearly every customer segment, providing a broad range of quality life insurance and investment products, individual and group pension plans, as well as asset management services. In 2018, Transamerica fulfilled its promises to customers, paying more than $42.6 billion in insurance, retirement, and annuity claims and benefits, including return of annuity premiums paid by the customer. Transamerica's corporate headquarters is located in Baltimore, Maryland, with other major operations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Transamerica is part of the Aegon group of companies. Based in the Netherlands, Aegon is one of the world's largest providers of life insurance, pension solutions and asset management products, operating in more than 20 markets worldwide. For the full year of 2018, Aegon managed $920 billion in revenue generating investments. For more information, please visit www.transamerica.com. Media inquiries: [email protected] Hank Williams (319) 355-7789 Email: [email protected] Julie Quinlan (303) 383-5923 [email protected] SOURCE Transamerica Related Links http://www.transamerica.com At Singapore Air Show 2020, AeroVironment, Inc., a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), announced it received a $8,584,734 firm-fixed-price U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales contract. The contract was awarded on December 17, 2019 to provide Puma 3 AE unmanned aircraft systems, training and support to an allied nation. Delivery is anticipated by June 2020. At Singapore Air Show 2020, AeroVironment, Inc., a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), announced it received a $8,584,734 firm-fixed-price U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales contract. The contract was awarded on December 17, 2019 to provide Puma 3 AE unmanned aircraft systems, training and support to an allied nation. Delivery is anticipated by June 2020. A sailor launches AeroVironments Puma All-Environment (AE) UAS at sea (Picture source: US Navy) Customers in the United States and around the world deploy AeroVironments rugged family of tactical unmanned aircraft systems, including Puma, to provide their forces the actionable intelligence they need to proceed with certainty in a broad range of operating environments, said Rick Pedigo, vice president of sales and business development for AeroVironment. We designed our combat-proven unmanned aircraft systems to be easy to use, reliable and to provide the operational flexibility frontline forces need to succeed in the most demanding conditions. The AeroVironment Puma 3 AE is a fully man-portable unmanned aircraft system designed for land and maritime operations. The hand-launched Puma 3 AE has a wingspan of 9.2 feet (2.8 meters), weighs 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) and operates for up to 2.5 hours at line-of-sight range of 20 kilometers with a standard antenna, and up to 60 kilometers with AeroVironments Long-Range Tracking Antenna. Capable of landing in water or on land, the all-environment Puma, with its Mantis i45 sensor suite, empowers the operator with extended flight time and a level of imaging capability never before available in the small UAS class. The nations largest teachers unions want to end active shooter drills while students are in class, contending the practice can trigger trauma instead of confidence in a crisis. Schools should focus on training faculty and staff and pour resources into threat assessment programs, mental health officers, physical security and improving school climate, according to a white paper released Tuesday from the American Federation of Teachers, National Educators Association and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. If schools choose to do lockdown or active shooter drills, the groups wrote, they should omit simulations that mimic actual incidents, give parents advance notice and announce the drills before they begin. Unfortunately, (lockdown drills) will be a new social norm, because if we dont train them, they wont know what to do if the real thing happens, said Craig Straw, Texas City ISDs director of security and school safety. About 95 percent of schools across the country hold drills to prepare students and teachers for the possibility of a campus shooting, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The call to rethink active shooter drills comes after several life-like simulations in schools have drawn national attention and criticism. Trainers shot teachers and staff with plastic pellets at one active shooter training at an elementary school in Indiana last spring, although no students were on campus at the time. Parents at a suburban Orlando, Florida, school raged against school officials in December 2018 after they warned of a code red over a loudspeaker and sent automated texts to teachers that there was an active shooter on campus. The administrators did not say it was a drill, and some students were so afraid that they texted their parents good bye messages, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Some schools, including one in Dayton, Ohio, fired blank rounds of ammunition during lockdowns to familiarize students and staff with the sound of gunshots. In Texas, school districts are required by state law to hold several types of emergency drills a year, including lockdown, fire evacuations, shelter-in-place for hazmat scenario and shelter-in-place for severe weather. The Texas Education Agency will release rules this summer about the number of each type of drills schools must conduct, but it currently recommends schools hold at least two simulated lockdowns each school year. The trainings were required after a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School in Galveston County left 10 dead and 13 wounded on May 18, 2018. However, each district differs in how it conducts the exercises. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ISD considers metal detectors at some campuses Perhaps no districts in the state have changed how they approach training and preparing for potential shootings more than those located near Santa Fe ISD. Clear Creek ISD, for example, created a local mandate to conduct multiple drills nearly one year before that approach was enshrined in state law. There, school administrators warn parents, teachers and students of the exact date and time of a drill. They use a specialized curriculum about several types of drills for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and do not use any sound effects or role-playing when conducting the drills. Clear Creek ISD Superintendent Greg Smith likened it to the bomb drills of the 1960s, in which students would hide under their desks in the event of a Soviet missile attack, and routine fire drills that have occurred for decades. Weve tried to do it in systematic way, and weve created some good muscle memory for people to respond to various threats out there, Smith said. That muscle memory came into play in late 2018, when one of the districts elementary schools had to enact what is known as a lockout as police pursued a felony suspect near the campus. Brian Palazzi, the districts director of safe schools, said campus administrators brought all the kids inside, locked all the exterior doors and did not allow anyone to enter or leave until the lockout was lifted. Despite the chaos outside, it was calm inside the school, he said. The teachers got the kids off the playground and things were going on as normal, Palazzi said. The kids werent scared because they had done it before. Other Houston-area districts have chosen to be more realistic. On HoustonChronicle.com: More than a year after Santa Fe High shooting, families still wait for answers School officials in Texas City ISD, also located near Santa Fe, give parents about a weeks notice before a drill but never disclose the date and time beforehand. The district uses an app that flashes warnings across all computers inside a school and on the cell phone screens of every teacher and employee describing the threat or type of emergency situation. Teachers can mark the status of each of their students, indicating whether they are all accounted for and if any are missing or injured. Those reports feed back to a central database, which allows law enforcement and district officials to pinpoint a threat and know where and how to treat students and staff. During lockdown drills, police officials bang on classroom doors to see if students make noise in response, Texas City ISDs Straw said. Only law enforcement officers are allowed to open classroom doors in those scenarios, even if a drill is finished The district does not use actors pretending to be shooters roaming halls, nor does it try to simulate the sound of gun fire. Straw said the district uses the same drill curriculum used by Clear Creek ISD and spends about an hour and a half debriefing with school staff following each drill. For teachers who say this causes stress, weve been doing fire drills for years. Students are used to hearing the sound of the drill and they dont panic, Straw said. Last fall, Northside Independent School District in San Antonio created a simulation video to accompany its active shooter drills. The video, which stresses the run-hide-fight protocol, includes theater students from a Northside high school acting out the three options during a shooting. While the video is shown only to middle and high school students, all grade levels participate in the drills, which happen once each in the fall and spring semesters. The spring exercise typically is unannounced. Students and staff practice getting to secure locations, locking doors, turning off the lights and staying quiet, said Barry Perez, a spokesman for Northside. Our intent when we do the drills is never to scare students,he said. So, youre not going to see any drills where people are going around slamming on doors and banging or simulating gunshots. Those arent part of our drills. Perez emphasized that the drill and the video are one part of a comprehensive security plan that includes bullet-proof lobbies in elementary schools, police officers stationed at every secondary school, security cameras on all school properties and a 24/7 hotline that anyone can call to report suspicious activity. After students at Northsides Hector Garcia Middle School watched the video in their classes last fall, school counselors and principal Tracy Wernli met with any who had concerns. Some kids came and we had an open conversation about it. They were able to ask us those what-if questions, Wernli said. I think that helped a few kids feel a little bit better. With students emotional stability in mind, the schools counselors are advised to be more visible in the days before and after a drill, Wernli said. Special education teachers also call their students parents to let them know of drills in advance. . The teachers unions and Everytown discouraged unannounced drills. They said schools should focus on training faculty and staff and pour resources into threat assessment programs, mental health officers, physical security and improving school climate. And, they said, drills should be coupled with trauma-informed methods to address students well-being, and track data about the effects of drills. shelby.webb@chron.com WASHINGTON Tuesday was shaping up to be the kind of news day that makes President Trump unhappy: one in which he saw himself losing control of the narrative in the face of wall-to-wall coverage of his Democratic rivals in the presidential primary in New Hampshire. Mr. Trump had other ideas. In a provocative early-morning tweet in which he charged, WOW, BLOOMBERG IS A TOTAL RACIST!, the president delivered to his millions of Twitter followers leaked audio from 2015 in which Michael R. Bloomberg, the Democratic presidential hopeful and former New York mayor, offered an unflinching defense of stop-and-frisk policing for which he has since apologized. Originally posted by a liberal blogger on Monday night, the clip underscored one of Mr. Bloombergs key vulnerabilities in the Democratic primary as he seeks to convince voters that he is sorry for the aggressive policing tactics his administration used against minorities in New York. In the clip, Mr. Bloomberg can be heard saying that the way you get the guns out of the kids hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them. For Mr. Trump, it was an opportunity to try to shape the coverage of the Democratic contest more to his liking. Finnish telecom firm Nokia, US newtorking giant Cisco on Wednesday announced to have cancelled their participation in the Mobile World Congress 2020 due to novel coronavirus outbreak. Many big and small firms have announced their withdrawal from the world's largest telecom sector event that is held every year in February at Barcelona in Spain. "Nokia has taken the decision to withdraw from MWC 2020 after a full assessment of the risks related to a fast-moving situation. Primary focus has been to safeguard the health and well-being of employees and others while also recognising responsibility to the industry and customers," the Finnish firm said in a statement. Following Nokia's withdrawal, HMD Global, which sells Nokia brand mobile phones, also cancelled its participation in the MWC 2020. Ericsson has already announced to have pulled out of the event. This withdrawal leaves only Huawei, ZTE and Samsung among top telecom network gear maker firms continuing with their plans to participate in the MWC 2020. Many leading companies incuding LG, Vivo, NTT Docomo, Sony, Amazon, Facebook, Mediatek, Intel, Nvidia etc have withdrawn their participation from the annual telecom sector event. "We have made the difficult decision to withdraw from participating in Mobile World Congress scheduled for February 24-27 in Barcelona due to concerns about the current outbreak of Coronavirus," Cisco said in a statement. GSM Association, organiser of Mobile World Congress, said that the coronavirus issue has created disruption for attendees specially 5,000-6,000 attendees from China. However, the global telecom industry body maintained that the event will continue as per schedule with extra precautions and stringent screening mechanism. "We are grateful for the preventative measures our Chinese exhibitors have put in place, notably ZTE and Huawei. Today, the GSMA is moving ahead as planned and will host MWC Barcelona 24-27 February 2020. While the GSMA confirms some large exhibitors have decided not to come to the show this year with others still contemplating next steps, we remain more than 2,800 exhibitors strong," GSMA said in reply to an email query on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new law eliminating cash bail in New York State has been met with significant backlash from both sides of the aisle in the state legislature, as well as the New York City mayor, the Governor and the New York City Police Department. Since the law came into effect on January 1, 2020, New York politicians have been vocal with calls for revision and even a total roll-back. Democratic State Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) said, We dont want to leave things in place that we know arent right and arent working, while progressive Democrat and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said, [T]here is real agreement that the bail reform law needs to be amended. Democratic State Governor Andrew Cuomo remarked, Something is necessary, and continued, We are now looking at the effect of those changes and considering other changes. In order to justify this U-turn, politicians and law enforcement officers have cited what New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea called significant spikes in crimes in the first three weeks of 2020. On February 7, Mayor de Blasio fell in line behind Shea, stating, I think its pretty clear theres only one new major piece in the equation. According to the NYPD, robberies are up 32.5 percent, car theft 61 percent and burglaries 18 percent from the same period in 2019. Shea directly blamed the cash bail reform for this increase, stating, If you let out individuals that commit a lot of crime, thats precision policing in reverse and were seeing the effects in a very quick time, and that is why were so concerned. Contrary to the claims of the NYPD, New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice states that, theres currently no evidence from which to conclude that the bail reforms will cause an increase in crime. Indeed, a recent study by MDRCs Center for Criminal Justice Research found that since the passage of a similar set of bail reforms in New Jersey in 2017, there has been a significant reduction in crime rates, overall arrests and pre-trial detention. The New York legislation has outlawed cash bail for misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. For all violent felonies, and certain non-violent felonies such as sex and courtroom offenses, judges may still impose cash bail at their discretion. There is still no limit to the bail amount that judges may set in these cases. The passage of the bill is an attempt by New York Democrats to appease popular outrage at the systematic targeting of poor and minority workers and youth for bail they cannot meet. While the Democrats wasted no time jettisoning their facade of progressive politics in the face of resistance from the NYPD and other law-and-order advocates, the Republicans have taken the opportunity to push their fascistic appeals. Nick Langworthy, the chairman of the New York Republican Party, said that the Democrats who passed the bill have blood on their hands. Following the shooting of two police officers on February 8 and 9 one of the citys police unions, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, tweeted, Mayor DeBlasio, the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you! The tweet added, NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you. The reform does not release individuals convicted of crime, only those accused, i.e., anyone who is legally innocent until proven guilty at trial. The reform bill simply means that defendants in certain cases have the right to pre-trial freedom regardless of their financial means. Crime is a social phenomenon with its current roots in the crisis of capitalism. However, Commissioner Sheas words imply that poor people are intrinsically violent and need to be preemptively detained before it is even proven they have committed a crime. However, people with the means to meet bail, despite having the same legal status, are not considered a threat. According to one source, on any day in the US, 400,000 factually innocent people sit in jail, many because they lack the financial means to post bail. Along with the litany of other attacks on the American working class, this practice has intensified over the last 50 years. The number of people incarcerated in the US has increased seven times since 1970, and 99 percent of this increase is accounted for by pre-trial detention. Imposing bail above and beyond the means of the defendant violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. Despite the presumption of innocence, if an individual is unable to meet bail they are detained until their trial is concluded, which can often take years. If they cannot post the money, these individuals are forced to rely on predatory bail-bondsmen, who extend loans to the accused so that they are able to post bail. These bonds usually have a return of 10 percent or higher for the bondsmen. Originating in San Francisco in the late 19th century, this predatory practice is only legal in two countries, the United States and the Philippines. Over 50 percent of Americans cannot afford an unexpected $500 bill. The nationwide median bail for felonies is $10,000 and for misdemeanors in New York City is $2,000. The imposition of excessive bail is not an effort to keep dangerous individuals out of communities but is part of a wider attack on the working class, essentially criminalizing poverty. Under the previous bail system, tens of thousands were pushed to financial, mental and physical ruinand in some cases death. One of the most tragic examples of this is the case of Bronx teenager Kalief Browder. Accused of stealing a backpack in 2010, Browder languished in jail on Rikers Island for three years, as his family could not raise $3,000 in bail. Video emerged of Browder being beaten while handcuffed by prison guards. After his release, he also accused guards of starving him. In total, he spent two years in solitary confinement. After three years, the case was dropped for lack of evidence. Following his traumatic time in Rikers, Browder committed suicide in 2015. There are questions surrounding the validity of the data underlying the hysterical claims of a rapid rise in crime following the passage of the bill. Three weeks is arguably too short a period to claim statistical significance, and is compared only year-on-year, rather than as an extended trend. This data is also the product of CompStat, which is controlled centrally by the NYPD, leaving open the possibility of data manipulation. Among the main beneficiaries of bail bonds, in addition to the smaller lenders themselves, are the corporations utilizing slave-wage labor within prisons, as well as the insurance industry. According to a 2017 Gothamist report, inmates on Rikers Island are paid as little as $0.16 an hour in a $50-million-dollar production industry at the complex. A 2018 report from the American Civil Liberties Union on the $2 billion bail bond industry exposed the role of nine insurance companies that, underwrite most money-bail companies in the US. That a bill which partially ends a draconian practice detested by the majority of the population can become the subject of such political controversy exposes the role of all the capitalist politicians. The Republican efforts to whip up reactionary backwardness and the Democrats preparations to abandon their promised reform show that both parties are responsible for the attacks on democratic rights. The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has disclosed a conversation he had with Horace Ekow Ewusi. Horace Ekow Ewusi, the NPP former Vice Chairman of the Agona West Constituency, who is now the subject of investigation after some 500 excavators got missing is heard discussing with Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng in a leaked video, how they can engage with some party folks on some mining concessions in order to raise money from the activity to support the party. ". .Did you tell me that you are done forming the team? We talked about the framework . . .we all know that the party needs money...I told you that Chairman Wontumi has some concession so go there and inspect the place...but after the meeting, you told me that you are done with everything and your guys have started working..." Prof.Frimpong-Boateng is heard in a recording saying. Speaking to this on Neat FM's Me Man Nti programme, Chairman Wontumi disclosed a similar conversation he had with Ekow Ewusi. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video LA PAZ (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) The quarantined 18-year-old Bolivian who arrived from China, where the virus originated, has tested negative for coronavirus, Health Minister Anibal Cruz told reporters on Tuesday. "I want to tell the country and the world that we have done the first test [for the coronavirus] here, in the laboratory in Bolivia, and it was negative for the 18-year-old young man from [the city of] Cochabamba," Cruz said. Bolivia along with a number of other countries has already introduced intensive epidemiological control against coronavirus not only at airports but also at the country's land borders. The deadly virus, which is now dubbed COVID-19, has already killed on over 1,000 people with more than 43,000 others being infected. It was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December and has since spread to over 20 countries. Perhaps Webb, the former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, will answer the Foxx questions. But I have little faith in him after he served as a special prosecutor in the case of David Koschman, the little guy who, on his 21st birthday, while drinking on Division Street, died after being punched by a weightlifter who outweighed him by 100 pounds of muscle. Indonesia on Tuesday, reportedly said that it will not bring back hundreds of Islamic State recruits who went to Syria to fight for the now collapsed caliphate of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. According to media reports, Indonesia's Security affairs minister Mohammad Mahfud MD said that the country would not allow the ISIS recruits to return back home due to security concerns. Mahfud told the media that there are some 689 Indonesians, including women and children that would not be allowed to enter the country to provide security assurance to its 267 million citizens. Read: Bat Meat Sales Unaffected In Parts Of Indonesia Despite Coronavirus Scare According to reports, Mahfud's announcement came after his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, where he also said that if those terrorist fighters are allowed to return to the country they could become a dangerous virus. Mahfud further added that the government would consider the repatriation of the younger children who are 10-years of age or below. Indonesia has already seen a number of attacks in the past that could be traced back to ISIS or its affiliates. Read: Coronavirus Out-break: Indonesia's Lion Air To Suspend All Flights From China From Feb According to reports, critics of the plan have said that it is better to bring recruits home and manage them in the country instead of leaving them to be further radicalised. The critics added that the government should bring them back and provide rehabilitation as there are chances that they could be used as proxies by powerful groups that could threaten Indonesia and other countries. Read: World's Fattest Kid From Indonesia Becomes 'a Symbol Of Hope' After Losing 110kg Terrorism in Indonesia Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim majority country and like any other nation on the planet, it too has its radicalisation issues. Ever since the rise of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Indonesia has seen some of the worst forms of violence in the name of religion. Since 2010, the country has witnessed 19 attacks, including grenade explosions and suicide bombings, that have been claimed by some of the other Islamic terrorist groups operating in the Southeast Asian country. (With agency inputs) Read: Two Injured In Suspected Grenade Blast Near Indonesia's Presidential Palace Two thousand people have booked to attend the inaugural Laois Jobs Fair in Portlaoise this week. Hundreds of positions are on offer from more than 35 companies at the Laois Chamber of Commerce organised event. There will also be a separate area housing several co-working hubs as well as interview rooms for jobseekers and employers alike. Staff from Solas, the governing body for apprenticeships in Ireland will also be in attendance as well as the Laois Offaly Education Training Board. CEO of Laois Chamber, Bernie Everard says the response from the public has been overwhelming, proving that there is a huge appetite to make Laois the centre of Ireland in which to do business. Laois is ideally positioned both in terms of infrastructure, demographics and employment opportunities. 13,000 people leave the county each day to work in other locations throughout the country, so we want to try and harness some of those commuters, offering them sustainable opportunities in their own county. The response from the public and exhibitors to our first Laois Jobs Fair has been hugely encouraging and augurs extremely well for the future. We have received huge support from sponsors like Glanbia Cheese, who are one of our main sponsors together with Nuvo and Nostra, she said. The companies attending include: Glanbia Cheese, Supermacs, Greenfield Global, Imagine, Dawn Meats, Enva, CJ Sheeran and Fingleton White. The organisers say jobs opportunities offered will be in: engineering, manufacturing, marketing, HR, logistics, customer care, healthcare, IT, and hospitality, as well as positions in new media and languages. The Laois Jobs Fair takes place at the Midlands Park Hotel on Wednesday, February 12 from 2 pm to 8 pm. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News There were 392 deals worth $370 billion in the oil and natural gas industry in 2019 mixed figures compared with the 549 deals worth $262 billion a year earlier, according to a report released Tuesday by global consulting firm Deloitte. The report comes as crude oil has been trading around $50 per barrel for more than a year, a price below the break-even point for many companies. That situation has resulted in fewer investments in the energy sector. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday he is looking to NATO allies for more help countering the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and in bolstering U.S. defence efforts in the Middle East more broadly. In an interview, while flying to Brussels to attend a NATO defence ministers meeting, Esper told reporters he wants NATO countries to do more to help Iraq's security forces. "As they put more forces in, that could allow us to decrease" the U.S. military's workload there, he said. Esper is looking for ways to reduce the U.S. troop presence in Iraq so that some can be brought home to focus on longer-term challenges, particularly from China. Similarly, he is considering pulling some troops out of Africa. The U.S. now has about 5,000 troops in Iraq, continuing a years-long effort to train and advise Iraqi security forces to prevent an ISIS resurgence. There also are about 12,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan more than 18 years after the U.S. invaded to topple the Taliban. NATO leads a training mission in Iraq, but that contingent is at leas than full strength. Esper will be discussing Iraq, Afghanistan and other major defence issues at NATO headquarters on Wednesday and Thursday before attending an international security conference in Munich, Germany where some of the same issues will be on the agenda. Esper said that beyond Iraq, he wants NATO countries to contribute more to the defense of the Gulf region, including by providing air defence systems in places like Saudi Arabia, which suffered a missile and drone attack last September that Washington has blamed on Iran. At the Brussels meetings, Esper is likely to face European questions about the Trump administration's intentions on nuclear arms control. Some European allies have expressed scepticism about the wisdom of the U.S. decision to deploy a submarine-launched ballistic missile armed with a so-called low-yield nuclear warhead. Last week the Pentagon acknowledged that it had deployed that weapon for the first time. The US defence secretary also discussed Philippines notification to the United States on Tuesday it would end a major security pact allowing American forces to train in the country, in the most serious threat under President Rodrigo Duterte to their 69-year treaty alliance. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a tweet that Manila's notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement was received by the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. The termination would take effect after 180 days unless both sides agree to keep it. Locsin signed the notice on the order of Duterte, who has often criticized U.S. security policies while praising those of China and Russia despite the Philippine military's close historic ties with its American counterpart. Esper said that he only received notice of Duterte's order on Monday evening and had not yet fully digested the details. Esper called it "unfortunate," and said, "I do think it would be a move in the wrong direction." Esper said that when he visited the Philippines last November he thought the relationship was on a strong footing. The U.S. Embassy in Manila acknowledged receipt of Manila's notice and said Washington "will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests." UNICEF warns that 900 former child soldiers about to be released in South Sudan could be left in limbo unless new funds are secured. By Robin Gomes Critical reintegration programmes for children released from armed forces and groups in South Sudan may be forced to shut down in March if urgently needed funds are not provided, the United Nations childrens fund, UNICEF, is warning. 900 children are already registered for release, but without urgent new funding, UNICEF will not be able to provide support as they transition to civilian life The three-year reintegration programme costs just US$2,000 per child, providing psychosocial support and a dedicated social worker, family tracing and reunification, education services, and other vital services to help children rebuild their lives. UNICEF South Sudan requires US$4.2 million for 2020 to cover new releases of former child soldiers and their immediate enrolment into reintegration programmes and for the continuation of the programme for children released previously. If adequate funding is provided, UNICEF will be able to support some 2,100 children released from armed forces and armed groups over the coming year. UNICEFs Representative in South Sudan, Mohamed Ag Ayoya expressed his frustration over the fate of the children who are ready to start reclaiming their childhood. Children are registered, verified, and ready to be released, UNICEF has a proven and effective reintegration programme, yet we dont have the funding to continue this vital work, he said. With the likely formation of a unified government in South Sudan in February and hopefully prolonged peace, UNICEF expects more children to be released and in need of support. Release of children without sufficient support can lead to long-term repercussions for the children affected and have a destabilizing effect on communities. The programme has been severely underfunded for over a year, with the UN childrens fund forced to divert resources from other areas of work to sustain the crucial support to incredibly vulnerable children. With these funds now exhausted, UNICEF is left with no choice but to suspend the reintegration programme if fresh resources are not made available. Since 2015, UNICEF has supported the release and reintegration of 3,677 children who were used by armed forces and armed groups in South Sudan. The comprehensive reintegration programme is comprehensive. It addresses multiple challenges these children face, ensures effective reintegration into civil life and prevents children from being re-recruited. Most children who completed the programme have not returned to armed forces or groups. Ayoya urged the international community to step forward and help UNICEF with the funds needed to continue the reintegration programme. (Source: UNICEF) (Newser) When Rick Moranis turned down the opportunity to appear in the Ghostbusters reboot, he opined on the lack of original ideas in showbiz these days, saying, "I'm surprised that Disney hasn't done Honey, I Shrunk the Grandkids." Well, not quite five years later, here we are: Moranis is returning for Disney's reboot of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise. Per the Hollywood Reporter, the new film will be called Shrunk and will star Josh Gad of Frozen and Book of Mormon fame as the son of Moranis' inventor character from the original films, Wayne Szalinski; Deadline reports that Gad's character will end up shrinking his own kids. Moranis will reprise his role as the elder Szalinski. story continues below Moranis starred in the original 1989 film, plus its 1992 sequel (Honey, I Blew Up the Kid) and the 1997 straight-to-video Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. In fact, that was Moranis' last live-action feature, Variety reports; that same year, he took a hiatus from acting to raise his kids after his wife died from cancer, and since then he's mostly done voice work and a few comedy albums. But Deadline thinks he's "making a comeback," citing not just Shrunk but his appearance alongside fellow alums of Canadian sketch series SCTV in the upcoming Martin Scorsese-directed Netflix documentary An Afternoon With SCTV. Shrunk will be released first in theaters, not on Disney+. (Sadly, the mom in the original flicks died in 2014.) WHO chief sees chance to stop virus, warns of grave threat WORLD: The death toll in China from the new coronavirus epidemic jumped today (Feb 12), as the chief of the World Health Organization urged countries to work together against the grave threat posed by the outbreak. healthChinesedeathSafetyCoronavirusCOVID-19 By AFP Wednesday 12 February 2020, 08:49AM The virus has infected thousands in China and spread to dozens of other countries. Photo: AFP The WHO is holding a conference in Geneva on combating the virus, which has killed 1,115 people, mainly in China, and spread to dozens of countries around the world. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said viruses could have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action. Although 99 percent of the infections are in China, where it remains very much an emergency, it also holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world, Tedros said at the conference, where the virus was officially named COVID-19. The case of a British man who passed on the virus to at least 11 other people, without having been in China, has raised fears of a new phase of contagion abroad. We have to use the current window of opportunity to hit hard and stand in unison to fight this virus in every corner, Tedros said, warning that a failure to act would lead to far more cases in the future. WHO sent an advance team to China this week for an international mission to examine the epidemic, where more than 45,000 people have now been infected. Chinese authorities have locked down millions of people in a number of cities, but another 97 deaths were reported today in the hardest-hit province of Hubei, the central province where around 56 million people are under lockdown. The mortality rate remains relatively low at around 2 percent. Bigger fire Several governments have banned arrivals from China and major airlines suspended flights in a bid to keep the disease away from their shores. Most cases overseas have involved people who had been in Wuhan, the quarantined central Chinese city where the virus emerged late last year, or people infected by others who had been at the epicentre. The Briton caught the virus while attending a conference in Singapore and then passed it on to several compatriots while on holiday in the French Alps, before finally being diagnosed back in Britain. The 53-year-old said yesterday (Feb 11) he had fully recovered, but remained in isolation in a central London hospital. The detection of this small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire, Tedros said on Monday (Feb 10). Im scared The biggest cluster of cases outside China is aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Japan, where 135 people have been diagnosed. The ship has been in quarantine since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week after the virus was detected in a former passenger who had disembarked in Hong Kong. More than 100 people were evacuated from a 35-storey Hong Kong housing block yesterday after two residents in different apartments tested positive for the virus. People were forced to leave as health officials in masks and white overalls scrambled to work out whether the virus had spread through the complex of about 3,000 people. Of course Im scared, a 59-year-old resident, who gave her surname as Chan, told AFP. The United States said yesterday it had authorised non-essential consulate staff to leave Hong Kong out of an abundance of caution linked to the virus. Torrent of criticism Chinese authorities dismissed two senior health officials from Hubei and tightened restrictions in the capital Wuhan, forbidding people with fever from visiting hospitals outside of their home districts and sealing off residential compounds. Local authorities both in Wuhan - where the virus is thought to have emerged in a market selling wild animals - and Hubei have faced a torrent of criticism for hiding the extent of the outbreak in early January. The death of a whistleblowing doctor from Wuhan has sparked calls for political reform in China. Most deaths and cases are in Hubei. The problem of human-to-human transmission has still not been solved in Wuhan, the official Xinhua news agency quoted Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist, as saying. I believe that with enough venues, enough doctors, better protective gear and our various support teams, the situation in Wuhan should improve quickly, but it is still at a rather difficult stage, he said, forecasting a mid- to late-February peak in the outbreak. Toward the end of January, Zhong had expected a peak in a week to 10 days. President Xi Jinping has largely kept out of the public eye since the outbreak spread across the country. But he emerged on Monday, pictured wearing a mask and having his temperature taken at a hospital in Beijing. Xi called the situation in Hubei still very grave and urged more decisive measures to contain the spread of the virus. 11.02.2020 LISTEN The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that it has within the last three years reduced 15 taxes in the economy. According to him, this was done to provide relief to people and businesses, and also to shift from over-reliance on taxation to industrial growth. Speaking at the government's 2020 town hall meeting in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, on Tuesday 11th February 2020, Dr. Bawumia explained that, the decision was taken despite the fact that revenue challenges in the short term could have worsened. In fulfilment to our promise to move the economy from a focus on taxation to a focus on production and growth, we have thus far reduced at least 15 separate taxes. Reducing these taxes was a brave decision. For any manager of the economy, you come in with an economy which is in dire straits and your first action is to reduce taxes. It is not conventional or orthodox, but we knew it was the right policy for Ghana, he said. We were aware that this could worsen our revenue challenges in the short term but we were of the firm conviction that reducing taxes can spur growth and increase revenues in the medium to long term, he added. NPPs 2016 promise Prior to the 2016 elections, the New Patriotic Party promised to scrap what it called nuisance taxes if elected into power. Dr. Bawumia noted that the New Patriotic Party government has fulfilled that promise by reducing 15 separate taxes in its first three years in office. Also, during the presentation of the 2020 budget statement last year, Minister of Finance stated that government will not introduce any new taxes in the 2020 fiscal year. Nuisance taxes Instead, it will boost revenue collection to enable it to meet revenue targets. The 15 nuisance taxes reduced include the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on real estates, 17.5% VAT/NHIL on selected imported medicines that are not produced locally, the 17.5% VAT/NHIL on financial services, import duty on the importation of spare parts, the 1% special import levy, the 17.5% VAT on domestic airline tickets, levies imposed on Kayayei by local authorities, import duty for all goods excluding vehicles 50% and vehicles by 30%, and excise duty on petroleum. The rest include full corporate tax deduction for private universities who plough back 100% of profits into the university, the reduced National Electrification Scheme Levy from 5% to 3%, reduced Public Lighting Levy from 5% to 2%, reduced special petroleum tax rate from 17.5% to 13% and introduced specific rates, the 17.5% VAT/NHIL rate replaced with a flat rate of 3 % for traders and the granted Capital Gains Tax Exemption on stocks traded on the Ghana Stock Exchange or publicly held securities approved by the SEC. However, despite the reduction of the above taxes, data presented by the Vice President indicated that government revenue has increased annually by 25% since 2017, and growth, as envisaged by the government before abolishing the taxes, has also increased since 2017. Despite these tax reductions, the data shows that revenue collection in nominal cedi terms has increased by 25% annually since 2017, said Dr. Bawumia. ---citinewsroom A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in for the trial of a 43-year-old man accused of the murder of his wife during a boating trip in Co Fermanagh. Stephen McKinney, originally from the Strabane area, but living in Convoy Donegal at the time, denies murdering Lu Na McKinney in April 2017. No details surrounding the tragedy were given during the hour-long jury selection, save that it "involved a drowning incident" near Devenish Island on Lough Erne between April 11 and 14 three years ago. Trial judge, Madam Justice McBride also told the jurors that the boat had been hired from the Manor House Hotel, and if they had also done so, or had any connection with the hotel or marina they should not take part in the case. The judge also advised the panel they should also inform the court if they had any knowledge of Mr McKinney, his wife, or the case, or even if they knew of Mr McKinney's family in Strabane. The court also heard that on a "pessimistic view", the trial could run until Easter, or even a few days into the holiday, during which it is expected to hear from over 100 witnesses, all of whose names had to be read out not once, but twice. The panel, along with several reserve jurors was released following the hearing after the selection process. McKinney, with an address in Castletown Square in Fintona, was released on continuing bail. The trial will begin on Thursday. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global coiled tubing market size is expected to reach USD 4.72 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to grow on account of increasing need to maximize oil and gas output from existing oil and gas wells. Rising demand for primary energy for transportation, power generation, and household activities has resulted in increased consumption of oil and gas in major economies. As a result, there are increasing investments in exploration and production activities in unconventional oil and gas reserves. Key suggestions from the report: North America is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 5.5% in terms of revenue, from 2020 to 2027, owing to accelerating production of tight oil in the country Well intervention service is estimated to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 5.0%, in terms of revenue from 2020 to 2027. The growth is attributed to rising demand from oil and gas producers to maximize production from the existing wells Onshore application acquired the highest market share of 61.5% in 2019 owing to abundant production of oil and gas from onshore fields Offshore application is estimated to experience the fastest CAGR of 5.6% in terms of revenue, from 2020 to 2027, owing to rising investments in offshore fields on global scale In 2018, Baker Hughes Company was awarded the contract by Saudi Aramco for coiled tubing services and drilling for Marjan oilfield expansion Read 153 page research report with ToC on "Coiled Tubing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Services (Well Completion, Drilling), By Operations (Circulation, Pumping), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027'' at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/coiled-tubing-ct-market Coiled Tubing (CT) plays a significant role in enabling upstream oil and gas players to produce oil in a cost effective way. It can be used on live wells as the product can be inserted into the well while the oil and gas production is ongoing. Moreover, there are number of well intervention operations such as well completion and well cleaning that can be performed in a cost effective way through utilization of coiled tubing. It can endure greater tensile and compressive forces when perforating highly deviated and horizontal wells. North America was the largest regional market for coiled tubing in 2019. The region is predicted to maintain its dominance in the forthcoming years. Significant boost in the production of tight oil particularly in U.S has resulted in significant rise in demand for coiled tubing. Canada is yet another prominent regional market, as there are number of deviated wells in the country, for which CT is largely used for well intervention and drilling services. The top three players in the global coiled tubing market include Halliburton, Baker Hughes Company, and Schlumberger Limited. These companies gain competitive edge in oilfield service market as the oil and gas exploration and production companies are aiming to minimize cost of production through innovative technologies like coiled tubing. Grand View Research has segmented the global coiled tubing market based on service, operation, application, and region: Coiled Tubing Services Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Well Intervention Well Completion Well Cleaning Others Drilling Others Coiled Tubing Operation Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Circulation/Deliquification Pumping Logging Perforation Others Coiled Tubing Application Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Onshore Offshore Coiled Tubing Regional Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe U.K. Russia Poland Asia Pacific China Australia Central & South America Brazil Argentina Middle East and Africa and Iran UAE Saudi Arabia Find more research reports on Drilling & Extraction Equipments Industry, by Grand View Research: Oil & Gas Drill Bits Market High rate of fossil fuel extraction to meet the surging global energy demand has been a major factor driving the oil & gas drill bits market growth. High rate of fossil fuel extraction to meet the surging global energy demand has been a major factor driving the oil & gas drill bits market growth. Oilfield Equipment Market Global oilfield equipment market size was estimated at USD 97.34 billion in 2013. High demand is resulting in increased crude yielding activities which in turn are expected to drive demand over the forecast period. Global oilfield equipment market size was estimated at in 2013. High demand is resulting in increased crude yielding activities which in turn are expected to drive demand over the forecast period. Mining Equipment Market The global mining equipment market size was valued at USD 120.82 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to record a CAGR of 11.7% during the forecast period. 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: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 13:03:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 971 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / AZARGA URANIUM CORP. (TSX:AZZ)(OTCQB:AZZUF)(FRA:P8AA) ("Azarga Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that President Trump's fiscal 2021 budget proposal has requested an annual allocation of US$150 million for a 10-year period, totaling US$1.5 billion, to establish a United States uranium reserve, noting that "establishing a uranium reserve provides assurance of availability of uranium in the event of a market disruption and supports strategic U.S. fuel cycle capabilities." Blake Steele, President and CEO stated, "We commend the President's recognition of the importance of the United States nuclear fuel cycle and specifically the uranium sector. President Trump's proposed fiscal 2021 budget requests US$1.36 billion for the office of nuclear energy, which includes US$150 million (US$1.5 billion for 2021 to 2030) to establish a strategic United States uranium reserve. The budget proposal from President Trump confirms the administration's commitment to reviving the United States nuclear fuel cycle, of which uranium mining is a critical component." Steele further noted, "Our flagship asset, the advanced stage Dewey Burdock In-Situ Recovery Uranium Project in South Dakota, USA (the "Dewey Burdock Project"), is one of the preeminent undeveloped uranium projects in the United States. A robust Preliminary Economic Assessment was recently filed for the Dewey Burdock Project, which estimated direct cash costs of US$10.46 per pound of production and low initial capital expenditures of US$31.7 million. This, coupled with the positive Atomic Safety and Licensing Board decision on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission license and the Environmental Protection Agency permit advancements in 2019, continues to de-risk the Dewey Burdock Project and pave the way towards construction. The Company anticipates being well positioned to realize the benefits of the administration's support of the United States nuclear industry." On 15 July 2019, the Company announced that President Trump had established the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group (the "NFWG") to develop recommendations for reviving and expanding domestic nuclear fuel production. The Company also noted that President Trump acknowledged that the "United States uranium industry faces significant challenges in producing uranium domestically and that this is an issue of national security." The proposed fiscal 2021 budget "addresses immediate challenges to the production of domestic uranium and reflects the Administration's NFWG priorities. The NFWG will continue to evaluate issues related to uranium supply chain and fuel cycle." About Azarga Uranium Corp.Azarga Uranium is an integrated uranium exploration and development company that controls ten uranium projects and prospects in the United States of America ("USA") (South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado), with a primary focus of developing in-situ recovery uranium projects. The Dewey Burdock in-situ recovery uranium project in South Dakota, USA (the "Dewey Burdock Project"), which is the Company's initial development priority, has received its Nuclear Regulatory Commission License and draft Class III and Class V Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") and the Company is in the process of completing other major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA.For more information please visit www.azargauranium.com Follow us on Twitter at @AzargaUranium.For further information, please contact:Blake Steele, President and CEO+1 303 790-7528E-mail: info@ azargauranium.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking InformationCertain information and statements in this news release may be considered forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for purposes of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which reflect the expectations of management regarding its disclosure and amendments thereto. Forward-looking statements consist of information or statements that are not purely historical, including any information or statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information or statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to President Trump's proposed fiscal 2021 budget requesting US$1.36 billion for the office of nuclear energy, which includes US$150 million (US$1.5 billion for 2021-2030) to establish a strategic United States uranium reserve, the Company's Dewey Burdock Project Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its mineral projects, including the Dewey Burdock Project, the timing and amount of estimated future production and capital, operating and exploration expenditures, the Company anticipating being well positioned to realize the benefits of the administration's support of the U.S. nuclear industry and Azarga Uranium's continued efforts to obtain all major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Azarga Uranium will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: the risk that President Trump's final approved budget for fiscal 2021 does not include the proposed or any allocations for the office of nuclear energy and the establishment of a strategic United States uranium reserve, the risk that the Dewey Burdock Project is not constructed and the estimated economics of the PEA are not realized, the risk that the estimated economics contained in the PEA do not reflect actual project economics, the risk that the Company does not realize the benefits of the administration's support of the U.S. nuclear industry, the risk that Azarga Uranium d Longtime Toronto newspaper columnist and author Christie Blatchford has died at 68 after a battle with lung cancer at Princess Margaret hospital in Toronto. Blatchfords coverage of crime, cops and courts amassed a large audience drawn to her sharp wit and oft-controversial takes. She won the National Newspaper Award for column writing in 1999. The Star is inviting readers to share their condolences, favourite stories and memories of Blatchford. Read more: From the files: DiManno: Christie Blatchford made me a better reporter 11.02.2020 LISTEN The Management of the Voiceless Media and Consult have honoured the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Food Buffer Stock Company Alhaji Abdul-Hanan Wahab Aludiba for turning an organisation which was virtually defunct into a promising enterprise. Speaking at a brief but colourful ceremony at the offices of the Ghana National Food Buffer Stock Company in Accra, Chief Akilu Sayibu of the Voiceless Media and Consult praised the Chief Executive Officer and his Management for bringing hope and renewed vibrancy to their organisation which was heavily unattractive in the recent past. He indicated that the Voiceless Media had taken notice of the many employment and ready market that the organisation was offering to farmers and its efforts in supervising and supplying quality Ghanaian food products to all public boarding Senior High Schools in the Country. "Your commitment and dedication to see to the success of your organisation is acknowledged and recognized by team Voiceless" Chief Akilu Sayibu stated. The Voiceless Media also praised Alhaji Abdul-Hanan Wahab Aludiba for his services to his community and disclosed that a recent visit to Bawku in the Upper East Region by team Voiceless revealed that the Buffer Stock CEO was providing various support in the areas of education, health and community development to his people and encouraged him to keep up his good works whilst urging others to emulate such positive attributes of the Buffer Stock CEO. Present at the award ceremony were representatives from the Voiceless Media led by Chief Akilu Sayibu and the Management of the GNFBS. Beijing, Feb 12 : Chinese students will be able to attend classes online or study via television as schools postpone the start of the new semester due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, education officials said on Wednesday. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has issued a guideline for universities to organise online classes, with 22 online platforms offering 24,000 courses to students, said Wu Yan with the ministry at a press conference, reported Xinhua news agency. These courses are of high-quality and were carefully selected over the past several years, Wu said, adding that more platforms will be launched in the future. A "cloud platform" will also be launched on February 17 to provide students in elementary and secondary schools with education resources covering all major school subjects, said Lyu Yugang with the MOE. Aside from school knowledge, students should also learn about epidemic prevention and control during the period and receive education on patriotism, life and psychological health, according to a separate guideline issued by the MOE and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Wednesday. For students in remote or rural areas with low Internet accessibility, a Chinese education television channel will start airing classes on February 17 for them to study at home, according to Lyu. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cisco reported fiscal second-quarter results that beat analysts' estimates on Wednesday, but investors were not impressed with the company's continuing revenue declines, and the stock is now trading down around 4% after hours. Here are the key numbers: Earnings: 77 cents per share, excluding certain items, vs. 76 cents per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. 77 cents per share, excluding certain items, vs. 76 cents per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. Revenue: $12.01 billion, vs. $11.98 billion as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv. That's down 4% from last year. Cisco remains the dominant player in the data center switch market, but the company has for years been mired in slow growth because the bulk of new spending in IT is going to the large cloud vendors rather than the legacy hardware manufacturers. The company said it expects 79 cents to 81 cents in earnings per share, excluding certain items, and an annualized revenue decline of 1.5% to 3.5% in the fiscal third quarter. The EPS estimates were ahead of expectations, but the company noted on its call that the forecast did not take into account any disruptions to the supply chain that might arise from the coronavirus crisis in China. Revenue for Cisco's two largest business segments, Infrastructure Platforms and Applications, were both down 8% year over year, coming in at $6.5 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. Cisco's stock has gained just 5% in the past year, trailing the nearly 22% gain for the S&P 500 and even further behind the performance of Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet. CEO Chuck Robbins told CNBC in November that large customers are pausing spending plans because of global economic uncertainties related to Brexit and the U.S.-China trade deal. In Davos last month, at the World Economic Forum, Robbins said in an interview that while the domestic economy is strong, "we've also seen other indicators that outside the U.S. it's a little more sluggish." WATCH: CNBC'S interview with Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins As United States Senator Bernie Sanders claims victory in New Hampshire primary, his brother Larry Sanders has been campaigning for the Democratic candidate in the UK. Larry, who is also a British politician and a member of Green Party was rooting for his brother as Democrats based on Britain are also eligible for voting in upcoming US elections. The Green Party spokesperson, Larry recently had a conversation with global news outlet where he shared his views on both British and American politics. Read - Bernie Sanders Wins New Hampshire Primary, Calls It 'beginning Of Political Revolution' UK and US politics for Larry While talking to an international media outlet, Larry mentioned that there are 'a lot of similarities' between politics in both countries. He mentioned that there is 'extreme income inequality' and that Washington is worse, while London according to him, comes second. The Green Party member thinks that even though Britain is facing certain issues, the people still 'haven't got a Trump' and UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has a chance if he tries. Larry also believes that if Democrats are led by his brother, they 'will win'. However, if the party is led by any other 'soft middle-of-the-roader', they might have a hard time defeating Republican US President Donald Trump. Read - Bernie Sanders Stuck In Washington, Ocasio-Cortez Takes His Place In Iowa Larry's comments came as the US Senator Bernie Sanders declared victory in New Hampshire on February 11 after securing a narrow lead over Pete Buttigieg in the state's Democratic primary. Sanders who led the polls with 26 per cent and 90 per cent of the precincts reporting. After his triumph, Sanders said that his victory is the start of US President Donald Trump's end. The US Senator also called it the 'beginning of a revolution' and credited the Americans for his win. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg was trailing with 24.4 per cent votes while Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar had 19.8 per cent. According to international reports, Sanders managed to draw excitement of the voters despite a modest turnout. Read - Bernie Sanders Leads Donald Trump By Largest Margin Of All 2020 Candidates Read - Hillary Clinton Claims "nobody Likes" Bernie Sanders; Alleges 'sexism' In His Campaign 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. The special task force of Uttar Pradesh Police has gunned down a wanted criminal here on Tuesday. "One criminal Rajesh Dubey was killed in an encounter with STF Varanasi Unit led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Vinod," Amitabh Yash, IG STF said. "During the shootout, one security personnel sustained bullet injuries in the chest", he added. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Smoke billows following reported bombardment by Syrian regime forces on the outskirts of Maaret al-Numan, in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Omar Has Kadour/AFP via Getty Images) US-Led Coalition Says Soldiers Returned Fire in Northeast Syria The U.S.-led coalition to fight ISIS terrorists said that its troops fired shots in northeastern Syria after they came under fire from unknown assailants, according to a statement on Tuesday. After coalition troops issued a series of warnings and de-escalation attempts, the patrol came under small arms fire from unknown individuals in Qamishli, said Colonel Myles Caggins, a spokesman for the coalition, in a statement. Out of self-defense, the patrol returned fire and the situation was de-escalated, Caggins added. He said the incident is now under investigation as the patrol returned to its base. Feb. 12, Coalition statement on patrol incident in Qamishli, Syria. @CJTFOIR pic.twitter.com/GcOPR6wfTJ OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) February 12, 2020 One U.S. soldier suffered a superficial scratch while operating equipment during the incident, he said. The soldier has since returned to duty, the spokesman said. Syrian and Turkish media claimed one person was killed in the shooting at the checkpoint and that U.S. warplanes had subsequently carried out at least one airstrike. Residents said a Russian patrol from a contingent in Qamishli airport was sent to the village, which lies in an area in northeast Syria where Russian, U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, and the Syrian army all have a presence, Reuters reported. Caggins statement made no reference to airstrikes. Syrian state-run media SANA said a civilian was killed in the incident and blamed U.S. forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said that in the incident, regime loyalists gunmen fired in the air, and then U.S. patrol fired smoke bombs. The incident has evolved dramatically where U.S. forces opened fire, killing a person. It added that its not clear if the person is a militia member or a civilian. It comes after the U.S. Department of Defense announced that 109 American troops were diagnosed with mild brain injuries following the Iranian missile strike on Iraqi bases last month. The Pentagon said in a statement this week that 45 new cases had been confirmed since the agency issued its previous report about a week ago. The Defense Department is steadfast in its efforts to deliver programs and services intended to lead to the best possible outcomes for our service members. We are grateful to the efforts of our medical professionals who have worked diligently to ensure the appropriate level of care for our service members, which has enabled nearly 70 percent of those diagnosed to return to duty. We must continue to address physical and mental health together, Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said. Reuters contributed to this report. An unfinished 'ghost' mansion in a lavish suburb is being sold with an asking $80million. David Yu purchased the 7200 square metre property on St Georges Rd in Toorak, Melbourne in 1991 for $5million following a recession. Real Estate Agent Andrew Baines of Andrew Baines & Co said the house is expected to sell off-market and has given a tour to several potential buyers. David Yu purchased the 7200sq/m property at 29-31 St Georges Rd in Toorak, Victoria back in 1991 for $5million following Australia's recession Real Estate Agent Andrew Baines of Andrew Baines & Co said the house is expected to sell off-market 'It's been a pretty prudent investment for Mr Yu,' Mr Baines told realestate.com.au. 'I can't remember the last time what one would call a 'generational opportunity' like this came up.' He expects if the house is sold, it would be sold for the land which is been valued at $11,000sq/m. The property was first owned by former Hoyts boss Leon Fink who was building a French Renaissance-style mansion. However, banks then took possession of Mr Fink's property and the mansion was never completed, realestatesource.com.au reported. The home has been empty and incomplete since then and was purchased by Mr Yu. He received several offers in 2007 and 2017 following real estate booms but subsequently refused them. Back in 1992, he tried to subdivide the land into nine but was rejected. New Delhi, Feb 12 : A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed Delhi Police to collect the voice sample of Sharjeel Imam, a JNU student facing sedition charges, to compare it to the video clips in which he allegedly made seditious and inflammatory speeches. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police had registered a sedition case against Imam on January 26 for delivering provocative speeches against the proposed National Register for Citizens (NRC) on January 13 after its video went viral. On the directions of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak, Imam will be produced at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) at 10 a.m. on Thursday. While allowing the police's application, the judge also noted their submission that Imam has given "speeches against the government which were uploaded on social media and it wanted to compare his voice with the voice in the video clips." The police told the court, "To make out an offence under Section 124-A (sedition) of IPC on the ground that the speeches made by the accused spread hatred, it has to be ascertained that the said speeches were made by the accused. For that purpose, it is appropriate that his voice should be compared." Imam, whose judicial custody was extended on Wednesday, was nabbed from Kako in Bihar's Jehanabad district on January 28 for allegedly making seditious and inflammatory speeches against the proposed NRC. Following this, he was sent to police custody for five days which was further extended by three days. On February 6, he was sent to judicial custody for six days and was produced before the court at the end of the remand period on Wednesday. The Crime Branch had registered a sedition case against him on January 26. Subsequently, he went into hiding as the police launched a manhunt to nab him. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Uttar Pradesh also followed suit and filed cases against him. In the purported video, Imam could be seen talking about splitting the northeast from India to block the implementation of NRC. Josephine Seah at the LRB: That evening, people flooded the supermarkets, packing their carts high with instant food, rice, toilet paper and condoms. A picture of a masked woman with a cartload of Maggi Mee instant noodles was soon turned into a meme. Another image showed a condom-clad finger pressing a lift button; there had been an earlier suggestion to use uncapped pens (with their ink cartridges removed) as button pushers in public lifts to limit the chances of infection. On a government-run WhatsApp channel, a message asked the public to stay calm; dont panic buy, reassuring us that the country was not about to run out of food or household items. Ministers posted on their Facebook pages urging against hoarding. more here. (Bloomberg) -- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was chided by a Democratic lawmaker during his semi-annual congressional testimony Tuesday for his attendance at a Washington party thrown by Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos last month. Katie Porter, a California representative, grilled Powell over whether the people in attendance -- including Bezos, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Kellyanne Conway and Jamie Dimon -- were in a position to benefit financially from the ability to weigh in on monetary policy in private conversations with the Fed chair. Can you imagine how attending a lavish party at Jeff Bezoss $23 million home -- along with Jared and Ivanka, and the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon -- might give off the sense to the public that you are not, in fact, immune from external pressures? Porter asked Powell. I would certainly hope not, he replied. Porter then asked Powell what he talked about with them at the party, to which he replied that he didnt speak with any of the people she had named. I would just suggest that attendance at this kind of event with these kinds of people is inconsistent with what I would otherwise commend you on, Porter said. The California congresswomans rebuke comes amid a novel push at the Fed to solicit more feedback from community leaders on its monetary policy making. The central bank conducted a series of Fed Listens events around the country in 2019 as part of a review of its policy framework, which it expects to conclude sometime around midyear. Warren Davidson, a Republican from Ohio, came to Powells defense at the hearing. I dont know we want to say just because youre at an event somehow this is nefarious, he said, noting that many lawmakers themselves attend such parties. The way that these things are linked for political motives is embarrassingly partisan and bad. --With assistance from Rich Miller. To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Boesler in New York at mboesler1@bloomberg.net Story continues To contact the editors responsible for this story: Margaret Collins at mcollins45@bloomberg.net, Ana Monteiro For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. The deal between T-Mobile and Sprint was stopped in its tracks after an appeal by a group of states, led by California and New York senators. Reuters reports that a federal judge approved the deal, rejecting the claim that the proposed action would violate antitrust laws and raise prices. During the trial in December, the carriers said that a joint venture would help the companies challenge Verizon and AT&T, becoming the third-largest carrier with competitive prices and internet speeds. Joining forces would mean T-Mobiles low-band spectrum and Sprints mid-band spectrum will allow for a faster roll-out of 5G network. The opposition claimed the deal will actually reduce competition and will lead to job losses. US Senator Richard Blumental said the merger will create another telecommunications behemoth in an already dangerously consolidated market. However, the final decision was made by US District Court Judge Victor Marrero, clearing the way for the $26 billion merger. He claimed there wasnt enough evidence of the deal leading to higher prices and lower-quality wireless services, but both Cali and NY senators promised to appeal and fight. A final decision on the deal is expected in July 2020. Source President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday rebutted a Japanese daily's criticism of his "victim-centered" approach to compensation for Korans forced to labor for Japanese firms in World War II. The conservative Yomiuri Shimbun the same day said the approach "largely depends on the personal character and beliefs" of Moon, who used to be a human rights lawyer. But Moon insisted the "victim-centered" approach is an internationally agreed principle that has nothing to do with his personal preferences. As the head of a law firm in Busan in 2000, Moon worked for Korean forced labor victims in a lawsuit against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. On being briefed about the article, Moon said, "I feel proud" of having defended forced labor victims in the lawsuit but did not let that sway his foreign policy, according to a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman. The Japanese daily "can find fault with me for my involvement in the representation of a lawsuit of the past, but an established principle of the international community, including the UN Human Rights Committee, is victim-centrism," he was quoted as adding. Police in Hanoi inspect face masks illegally stored by a company in Ha Dong district. (Source: VNA) The city's market surveillance and relevant forces on February 9 inspected a villa located in Ha Dong districts Van Phu urban area and found the man named Guo Calilin storing 100,000 face masks of unclear origin. Guo said he bought these masks in Vietnam for consumption in China. The forces seized all the masks as the suspect could not produce legal documents for the masks. The same day, border guards in Quang Ninh provinces Mong Cai city caught a man illegal transporting 40,000 face masks across the border. A Taiwanese national claims she was a victim of human trafficking after she was forced to work at a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) company. Twenty-three- year-old Taiwanese national Lai Yu Cian or Ivy is seeking help after she was allegedly trafficked into the Philippines. She also reported suffering abuse from her Chinese employer. They want me to work for 24 hours, treating me like a slave. I already told them [employers] I want to go home. I want to go back to Taiwan. But they forced me to work for them, she said. Ivy said the company took her passport. She also added that her employer sexually assaulted her and threatened her if she sought help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Ivy also revealed that her Chinese employer has a protector from the government and that she would sometimes hear the name Michael Yang. They always say that they have a protector behind them who is government people, she said. I heard about once or twice when my supervisor got mad at me, they mentioned Michael Yang. He didnt explain to me. He just shouts that at me, Ivy added. According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, they still havent verified if the Michael Yang identified by Ivy is the former economic adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte. Right now our main concern is the humanitarian aspect. We havent gone to the checking of identities, she said. Ivy is among the 30 other Asian nationals who were rescued in Mandaluyong last February 3. Senator Joel Villanueva previously said that he is seeking the temporary suspension of POGO operations in the country due to the increasing number of illegal POGO workers.AAC (with reports from Harlene Delgado) The post Taiwanese POGO employee seeks help after alleged abuse from Chinese employer appeared first on UNTV News. DeAndre Arnold probably did not intend to make headlines during his senior year in high school. But he did, and just recently he walked the red carpet at the Oscars as the guest of superstars Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade and filmmaker Matthew Cherry all because he was suspended from his high school near Houston and banned from graduation because he wore his hair in dreadlocks. Walking on the red carpet is an unforgettable experience, but it should have never gone this far. As an education professor, parent and someone who wears his hair in the same style, I understand that this focus on black peoples natural hair can have a devastating impact on students self-esteem and academics. Arnold handled it with grace. But this example shows more than ever that we need to focus on whats inside our students heads and celebrate whats adorning them. Fortunately, state legislators across the country are introducing bills, called CROWN Acts, that protect students and employees from discrimination based on their hairstyles. Perhaps for this years Black History Month, we need to be better educated about how hairstyles have been used to resist oppression and exult black identity. We all need to recognize the unfortunate historical legacy of policing black peoples bodies and, to the point, all peoples bodies. Unfortunately, this is not a new development: the U.S. Army, American businesses and schools in the past have attempted to prohibit the expression of black hair a bias as old as America itself. What messages are black students or, for that matter, all students receiving about culture, identity and beauty through such policies? What happened to DeAndre Arnold falls into the category of disciplinary actions disproportionately leveled against black children. Black students have been penalized because of their natural hairstyles for years across the country, and in the most extreme examples, some have been assaulted by school personnel. Even a cursory understanding of American history will reveal that cultural representation for black people via dress, hairstyles and jewelry has always been an act of resistance. Afros, naturals, cornrows and dreadlocks are all expressions of natural black hair and they have been adopted and imitated by others. This focus on hair and other cultural markers must stop in schools. Its important to understand that black cultural values and identity are often erased or subtracted in classrooms, where black students as well as other students of color and students from ethnic or religious minorities often do not have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in curriculum and in those who teach them. So whenever a black student has an opportunity to express his or her cultural identity, it is tragic when that opportunity is denied. Arnold, by all accounts, made accommodations to adhere to the policy by pulling up his hair, as I often do for convenience. The position of his school, however, has negated his efforts to meet them halfway. When students are told their natural hair is a discipline problem, it affects their self-esteem and can lead to a negative view of their racial and ethnic identity. It also sends a message to their peers that natural black hair is abhorrent and shameful. For many black people, particularly women, this is a source of stress and social pressure that many of their colleagues do not have to deal with. If we are to forge a society that judges us by the content of our character, it is imperative that we eliminate policies that penalize students and workers because of the texture of their hair and instead celebrate those differences. I hope this attention on Arnold and others like him will result in a change in policy so students can go and learn without the added pressure of having to conform to a cultural context that requires them to subjugate their proud history and identity. We will be a better nation for it. Richard J. Reddick is an associate professor and associate dean for equity, community engagement and outreach for the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin. As broad industry acceptance of the FIDO standards continued in 2019, Nok Nok's new customer deployments increased, existing customer renewals expanded, and Nok Nok released innovative technology with support for additional use cases. Also contributing to Nok Nok's success were new global strategic partnerships, recognition and a prized GLOMO award from the GSMA, as well as increased market demand driven by global regulations that mandate strong authentication for online services. "Nok Nok Labs and FIDO have both reached significant milestones today. When we first invented FIDO-enabled technology, it was clear that privacy and security would need to be hand-in-hand and at the heart of any authentication solution. To have Apple join the FIDO journey is a testament to our original vision of enabling strong authentication across all platforms," said Phillip Dunkelberger CEO Nok Nok Labs. "It's incredibly rewarding to have the world's largest and most successful browser manufacturers, banks, telcos, eCommerce and healthcare providers join the movement we started in 2013 to solve global user authentication challenges." Nok Nok Solutions for the Apple Ecosystem Since 2014, Nok Nok has supported Apple native applications on iOS devices iPad and iPhone , and in November 2019 Nok Nok introduced the Nok Nok App SDK for Smart Watch . Now with Apple a part of the FIDO Alliance, it signals the opportunity for users of any Apple device to employ strong authentication. The Nok Nok S3 Authentication Suite supports strong and convenient user authentication on Apple devices - through native Mobile Apps and through the recently added FIDO support in Safari. Apple's membership in the FIDO Alliance fuels the speculation of now being able to use FaceID/TouchID for FIDO authentication through the Safari Browser. "Apple joining this alliance is an important signal," said Richard Clarke, former Special Advisor to the President on Cybersecurity, and Advisory Board member to Nok Nok Labs. "Password-related breaches are far more prevalent than they should be given the alternatives we have available. Apple and other Alliance members are transforming digital identity by committing to secure, standards-based authentication. It's a step in the responsible direction for corporations and the customers whose data they are responsible for protecting." "The FIDO Alliance gained a valuable member today," said John N. Stewart, Security Expert and former Advisory Board Member to Nok Nok Labs. "By joining industry counterparts like Google and Microsoft, Apple has become the final puzzle piece with FIDO now adopted by all major browser manufacturers." Accelerating Market and Nok Nok Momentum Apple is the most recent industry player to join the wave of FIDO adoption over the past year. The convergence of industry support, global regulations and market demand for Nok Nok's passwordless authentication solutions has driven global deployments and adoption. Leading financial institutions, such as BBVA have deployed Nok Nok's solutions to provide passwordless authentication while enabling them to comply with GDPR and PSD2 requirements. Nok Nok customers Intuit and T-Mobile shared the results of their deployments at Identiverse including the unique benefit that Nok Nok's technology increased Intuit's login success rate by 6% and decreased T-Mobile's "Forgot Password" user requests from 65% to 7% . And, Nok Nok's strategic partners saw successful new deployments such as Fujitsu - whose client Aflac Japan deployed passwordless authentication and Hitachi with their client MUFG Bank . 2019 was a momentum filled year for Nok Nok and the FIDO Alliance. And now recognizing Apple joining the FIDO Alliance in early 2020 signals even more industry adoption to follow. About Nok Nok Nok Nok is the trusted leader in passwordless consumer authentication. Delivering the most innovative authentication solutions in the market today, Nok Nok empowers global organizations to improve the user experience to access digital services, while meeting the most advanced privacy and regulatory requirements. The Nok Nok S3 Authentication Suite integrates into existing security environments to deliver a cost-effective, future-proof and standards-based authentication solution. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, the company has delivered unique inventions and innovations that are protected by a robust global patent portfolio. As a founder of the FIDO Alliance and inventor of FIDO specifications, Nok Nok is the expert in deploying standards-based authentication, and its industry leading customers and partners include BBVA, DDS, Inc., Ericsson, Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi, Intuit, Lenovo, MTRIX GmbH, NTT DATA, NTT DOCOMO, OneSpan, SoftBank, Standard Bank, and T-Mobile. Media Contact Katie Pesek (703) 390-1505 [email protected] SOURCE Nok Nok Labs Related Links http://www.noknok.com Follow the latest as the Democratic presidential candidates battle for votes in New Hampshire. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday told the UN Security Council that the world should reject President Donald Trump's Middle East plan, calling it an outside imposition that cannot bring lasting peace. Brandishing a large map of Israel and Palestine as laid out by Trump's long-awaited January 28 announcement, Abbas called it a "Swiss cheese" deal that would limit Palestinian sovereignty. "I would like to say to Mr. Donald Trump that his plan cannot achieve peace and security as it cancels international legitimacy," Abbas told the Security Council. "It cancels all the rights of the Palestinians. This does not meet the aspirations of a two-state solution," he said. "If you impose peace it will not last, it cannot last," he said, asking: "What gives you the right to annex these lands?" Abbas said that peace with Israel remained "achievable" and said: "I have come to build a just partnership." "This deal is not an international partnership. This proposal was from one state, supported by another state to be imposed." The Palestinians have sought to rally international support against the plan, which Trump unveiled alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has since moved forward on plans to annex vast parts of the West Bank. While the Palestinians have refused to deal with Trump, seeing him as biased, Abbas said his first encounters with the billionaire turned president were positive. Trump, whose evangelical Christian base is strongly supportive of Israel, has taken a series of landmark steps such as recognizing contested Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state and ending assistance to the UN body that helps Palestinian refugees. "I do not know who gave him this advice. The President Trump I met was not like that," Abbas said. THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OUTRAGED AT TRUMPS BUDGET The new fiscal budget by President Donald J. Trump ignores the needs of working-class Americans and reduces funding for healthcare and social safety net programs. The Congressional Black Caucus is appalled by President Trumps proposed budget, which includes callous cuts to social safety net and healthcare programs in exchange for increased defense spending and a border wall. This is from a President representing a fiscally conservative party while adding almost $1 trillion in deficit spending. By targeting the social safety net and healthcare, the President has singled out programs designed to provide support for American families in the greatest need. The Presidents proposed budget would cut healthcare spending, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Childrens Health Insurance Program, by $844 billion. His budget would also cut SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) by $182 billion, and cut social security disability benefits by $70 billion. In addition to significantly slashing the budget for these programs, President Trump intends to make access to these programs harder, which will disproportionately affect the minority communities who access these programs. ADVERTISEMENT Other disastrous cuts include a 9% decrease to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the middle of a global Coronavirus outbreak, leaving low income communities in America the most vulnerable. While Americans will lose out on critical economic, social, and healthcare support, the Presidents budget depends on unrealistic economic predictions to make ends meet. So, what can we be sure of? President Trumps budget will lead to higher deficits, a weaker economy, and a widening wealth gap. President Trump has shown Black America once again that we are not his priority. The Congressional Black Caucus vehemently opposes this budget and will fight for policies and programs that improve the lives of hard working Americans by closing the wealth gap, instead of increasing it. She may be a successful TV star, but Carrie Bickmore's greatest role to date is being an incredible mother. On Tuesday, the The Project host's husband Chris Walker shared a sweet moment of Carrie doting over her youngest daughter, Adelaide, 1. The proud father shared a clip of Adelaide eagerly shuffling to the door when her mother returned home. That's sweet! On Tuesday, Carrie Bickmore's husband Chris Walker shared a sweet moment of The Project host doting over their youngest daughter, Adelaide, 1 Little Adelaide is seen watching her older brother play in a washing basket in the backyard, when she hears the front door slam. The toddler then jostles to meet her mother, eager for a cuddle. 'Hi sweetie,' Carrie is heard saying in the video as Adelaide coos. Mission accomplished: The toddler could be seen seen jostling to meet her mother, eager for a cuddle 'I missed you too,' Carrie says, before lovingly picked up the youngster. She then kisses Adelaide on the neck. Carrie has two younger daughters, four-year-old Evie and Adelaide, whom she shares with Chris. That's her! Little Adelaide could be seen making her way inside as soon as she heard the door Carrie also has a son Oliver, 12, from her marriage to Greg Lange, who died after a lengthy battle with brain cancer in December 2010. The likable blonde TV star regularly uses her Stellar magazine column to speak about family life, and making memories. Carrie spoke out against the trend to 'Marie Kondo' family homes in magazine in December. Family: Carrie has two younger daughters, four-year-old Evie and Adelaide, whom she shares with Chris She wrote: 'Our desire to Marie Kondo the bejesus out of our homes means we're losing memories.' 'The clutter may not bring us joy now, but it'll mean so much more in years to come.' Carrie also admitted in Body and Soul magazine in April last year that she doesn't strive for perfection as a mother. Family: Carrie also has a son Oliver, 12, (far right) from her marriage to Greg Lange, who died after a lengthy battle with brain cancer in December 2010. 'I don't think life is ever perfectly in balance, that's okay,' she said. 'I [don't] think we should aspire to have perfect lives - the joy is in the imperfection.' 'Some days my home life takes more of my time and energy, so my work life takes a back seat; other weeks I have a crazy work schedule, so my house becomes a mess and we eat more takeaway,' Carrie added. Panama and the UK have shared diplomatic ties since 1908. The US brought the highest amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Panama in 2018, with the UK coming in eighth position in the FDI stakes. The 2015 FDI figures saw the UK in fourth spot after the US, Colombia and Switzerland (with a total of 6% of FDI into Panama). The EU is Panamas second-largest commercial partner and is in first position in terms of the export of agricultural products. In 2018, 80% of all Panamanian agricultural exports landed in the EU. Exports from Panama to the UK are not huge in terms of total exports to the EU (5% of total) but are highly concentrated (84%) in three products: pineapple, bananas and watermelon. The trade framework with the EU is the association agreement between the EU and Central America (Association Agreement), ratified by Panama in 2013. Mainly to protect agricultural exports and to continue to attract FDI from the UK, the Panamanian congress passed Law 103 of 2019. Law 103 ratified the agreement entered into in July 2019 between Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the UK and Northern Ireland (CA-UK Agreement). The CA-UK Agreement is enormous, comprising 28 pages in total (as opposed to the 4396-page Association Agreement). The relative brevity achieved is the result of the simplistic yet perfectly functional formulation of 'incorporation by reference mutatis mutandis' upon which the CA-UK Agreement is constructed. Under this structure, in essence, all the provisions of the Association Agreement are incorporated by reference to the CA-UK Agreement, and adjusted only as applicable and as minimally set forth in the CA-UK Agreement. The pragmatic approach of all parties involved enabled the putting into place of a very complex trade package within a period of just a few months, ensuring the status quo after Brexit. Roberto Harrington Arango Partner Alfaro Ferrer & Ramirez 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article The former White House press secretary under George W Bush has slammed Donald Trump after he claimed without evidence that "rogue prosecutors" were responsible for recommending a lengthy prison sentence for his longtime associate Roger Stone. Ari Fleischer condemned the presidents comments after he lashed out on Twitter over prosecutors' proposal that Stone should be jailed for seven to nine years, following his conviction for lying to Congress during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Stone is due to be sentenced on 20 February. Trump governs like an outsider, saying what he thinks, letting it rip, Mr Fleischer said in a tweet of his own. But there is a downside. When the WH comments on a matter traditionally left to the Justice Dept., it makes the matter political instead of judicial. The former White House official added: Justice must be blind. His comments came after Mr Trump sent out a tweet earlier on Tuesday morning congratulating Attorney General William Barr for taking charge of the case. The president alleged the case against Stone was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought after the sentencing recommendation. 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 Mr Trumps Justice Department then moved to reduce the sentencing that was first suggested by the prosecutors, leading all four of the career officials to resign. Recommended Trump praises his attorney general over Roger Stone sentencing The move also stirred a swift backlash on Capitol Hill, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling on the Inspector General to immediately investigate the move to reduce the sentencing. Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President Bush, also described the move as the politicisation of prosecutions and slammed Mr Barr as the most corrupt Attorney General in American history. Mr Trump claimed he had not spoken to the Justice Department when it made the rare decision to step in after the original prosecutors offered their sentencing opinion. I didnt speak to them, the president told reporters on Tuesday night. I thought the recommendation was ridiculous, he added. I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous I thought it was an insult to our country and it shouldnt happen. T he Duchess of Cambridge has fed lambs and petted alpacas as she visited an open farm in Northern Ireland. Kate stopped at the Ark Open Farm in Newtownards as part of her tour of the UK after launching a landmark national survey on the early years development of children. The duchess was guided around the facility, meeting a range of animals from lambs, goats and alpacas. She was also pictured admiring a Guinea pig with a child from a local nursery during the visit on Wednesday. The Duchess of Cambridge at The Ark Open Farm in Belfast 1 /37 The Duchess of Cambridge at The Ark Open Farm in Belfast Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has an encounter with an Alpaca during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge helps children feed a lamb some milk during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtownards, near Belfast PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and children from two local nurseries have an encounter with a snake during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Getty Images Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge greets staff during a visit to The Ark Open Farm, at Newtonards, near Belfast, where she is meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss their experiences of raising young children for her Early Childhood survey PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Getty Images The Duchess of Cambridge meets members of the public at the Ark Open Farm, in Newtownards, near Belfast PA Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and children from two local nurseries have an encounter with a snake during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and children from two local nurseries have an encounter with a snake during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge meets with children from two local nurseries during a visit to The Ark Open Farm Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge admires a Guinea pig Getty Images Getty Images PA Getty Images PA PA PA PA Getty Images PA Getty Images Getty Images PA Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images PA Kate was greeted on arrival by the Lord Lieutenant of Co Down David Lindsay, the Sheriff of Co Down Austin Baird and the Mayor of Ards and North Down Bill Keery. The visit comes after the mother-of-three last month launched a landmark national survey on the early years development of children. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge helps feed a Lamb with children / Getty Images The poll, conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Royal Foundation, is thought to be the biggest survey of its kind and will ask five big questions on the under-fives. During Wednesday's visit, Kate is set to meet with local representatives of Early Years and families who have benefited from the work of the charity. Kate holds a snake during the Northern Ireland visit / Getty Images Kate has established a steering group of experts, which first met in May 2018, to look at the issue of early years and they have been considering how the duchess and her Royal Foundation can help improve the outcomes for youngsters. Health across the globe had improved significantly over that past century. The worlds population has better access to clean water, sanitation, and medicine compared to the past. Conditions that killed and crippled people decades ago now have vaccines or can be cured. The modern world, however, continues to confront a significant threat to human health, as demonstrated by the recent outbreaks. The world is also becoming more interconnected due to improved international travel via air, road, sea, and rail, which has raised the risk of international outbreaks. Even without global spread, disease outbreaks are very costly. In recent years, the world has faced Ebola, H5N1, H7N9, Avian flu, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), among others. Ebola There are four strains of Ebola viruses in West and Equatorial Africa. Fruit bats are the main vectors of the virus. The virus spreads from fruit bats to other animals through direct or indirect contact. Large scale epidemics in primates or mammals such as forest antelopes can occur. Primary transmission to humans can occur either through handling sick and dead infected animals in the forest or through direct contact with infected bats. Secondary pathogen transmission occurs through human-to-human contact with infected body fluids and corpses. The largest Ebola outbreak in the 21st century began in March 2014 and spread to most parts of West Africa. By November 14, 2014, there were 21,296 cases of the Ebola reported by the WHO, and case fatality rates were between 21.2% and 60.8%. The surge was mainly fuelled by poor sanitation, lack of appropriate health services, and poor and unsafe practices of burying the dead. Traditions in parts of West African countries involve washing and touching dead bodies before they are buried and puts families and community members at risk. H1N1 Swine flu The H1N1 influenza virus, which is also known as the swine flu, led to a global outbreak that lasted from 2009 to 2010. According to a study by the CDC, the outbreak resulted in deaths of between 151,700 to 575,400 people. The virus was identified for the first time in the US in April 2009. The virus had a remarkable combination of influenza genes and had never been identified in humans or animals. The genes of the virus were closely related to the European H1N1 virus and the North American H1N1 swine influenza virus. The Outbreak of Cholera in Haiti Cholera diseases refer to acute diarrhea infection. It can be acquired through the consumption of contaminated water and food. The bacteria causing cholera is known as Vibrio cholera. Haiti experienced a cholera outbreak in October 2010, and this was only ten months after a massive earthquake claimed the lives of more than 200,000 and displacing more than 1 million people. It was the first of its kind in the country in more than a century. The first case of the disease was experienced on October 12, 2010, in the rural parts of Central Plateau in Haiti. The majority of the victims died in their homes without medical attention. Initially, public health authorities had not identified the disease, but acute watery diarrhea was observed. The outbreak, which infected thousands of people across the country, was later identified as cholera. Some of the reasons cited for the rapid spread include favorable conditions for the proliferation of the disease, the absence of cholera immunity among the local population, and deficiencies in sanitation, water, and health facilities. The origin of the disease was controversial, with initial cases being reported near the Nepalese United Nations Peacekeeping campsite. The UN confirmed the link by admission in 2016. The UNs office acknowledged that they could have played a role in the initial outbreak of cholera. The acknowledgment, however, stopped short of admitting that the UN was the primary cause of the epidemic. Throughout the nine-year cholera outbreak, nearly 10,000 people died. January 2020 marked the first time the country had gone an entire year free from new cases since the outbreak of the deadly waterborne disease. Cholera Outbreak in Yemen Another outbreak of cholera was experienced in Yemen in October 2016, and a much larger wave followed it in 2017. The outbreak is listed as the largest in epidemiologically recorded history. As of January 2020, the country had reported 2,260,495 cases of suspected cholera and 3,767 loss of lives. The cause of the epidemic in the country is still unclear. The country has, in the past, faced several cholera outbreaks, but none was comparable to the case the country experienced in 2020. The incidence of cholera during the rainy periods can be high due to the contamination of water supplies. During the dry season, cholera incidence is also high since people are more dependent on unsafe drinking water. The epidemic has been made worse by the civil war in the country that has led to the mass movement of the population, shortage of water supplies, intensified sanitation problems, and the disruption of health services. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of the population in the country do not have access to proper sanitation and safe drinking water supplies. Zika Zika is spread by infected Aedes mosquitos or through sexual contact. Most people infected with the virus either do not show any symptoms. They could also exhibit some mild symptoms. Among the expectant women, the virus could be transmitted to the fetus causing severe defects at birth. Currently, there is no vaccine or medicine to treat Zika. The disease first emerged in Brazil in 2015. The virus subsequently spread throughout most of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the US. In February 2016, the WHO affirmed that Zika was a public health emergency of international concern. In the US, over 43,000 people had tested positive for Zika by early 2019. Some of the measures that have been taken to contain the virus include vector/mosquito control, provision of contraceptives, and launching campaigns to help empower pregnant women, their families, and communities to take action to stop spreading the virus. SARS This virus is airborne, and it is spread by the infected person when they sneeze or cough. The viruses are in the saliva droplets, and anyone within a close range can inhale air with the viruses. It can also be spread through human to human contact or touching infected surfaces. The first human infection occurred in 2002 in Guangdong province, China. It is believed that a strain of the coronavirus in small mammals mutated and infected humans. The virus later spread, affecting 26 countries in Asia, South America, North America, and Europe. The SARS pandemic was finally controlled in July 2003 after the effective implementation of measures such as isolating suspected carriers and thorough screening of travelers from affected nations. In the course of the epidemic, there were 8,098 reported cases of infection and 774 deaths. People aged 65 and above were particularly at high risk with the age group accounting for over half the deaths reported. In 2004, a smaller SARS outbreak was reported. The second outbreak was associated with a medical laboratory in China. It is believed that it began when someone came into contact with the lab sample of the virus. MERS-CoV The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified for the first time in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. The virus was isolated from a patient who had an acute kidney injury and acute respiratory distress. The patient subsequently died. The disease has a mortality rate of over 35%. Since 2012, there have been over 2500 confirmed cases of the disease resulting in 862 deaths. The reported cases have been identified across 27 countries. Over 80% of the cases have been reported mainly in Saudi Arabia. Transmission of the disease requires close contact between humans. MERS-CoV has so far not reached epidemic potential. Growing evidence has implicated the dromedary camel as the primary animal host in the spread of the virus. H5N1 Bird Flu Avian Influenza (H5N1) is widely referred to as bird flu. It is caused by one of the strains of Influenza virus H5N1. Different variants of avian influenza affect wild and domesticated bird populations across the world. They are a highly pathogenic group of viruses that spreads so fast among flocks leading to high mortality rates in birds. Cases of infecting humans were first reported in 1997 following its outbreak in Hong Kong that led to the death of six people. The disease resurfaced in February 2003 in Hong Kong, with two cases of infection that resulted in one death. The December 2003 to February 2004 outbreak began when South Korea identified the virus in the poultry population. The disease was later identified in nine Asian countries, including China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, South Korea, and Pakistan. Twenty-three other confirmed cases of human infection were reported resulting in 18 deaths in Thailand and Vietnam. Since 2003, bird flu has been responsible for 455 deaths worldwide. Indonesia has suffered the most deaths at 168, with most mortality occurring between 2003 and 2009. Egypt has had the second-highest number of deaths related to the virus at 120. Most deaths in Egypt occurred in the periods of 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019, with 50 and 43 deaths, respectively. H7N9 Human infections of H7N9 avian influenza was first reported in March 2013 in China. Sporadic human infections with the viruses in China have been reported ever since. As of December 2017, the total number of human infections reported was 1,565, with a mortality rate of 39%. Plague Madagascar accounts for 75% of all cases plague cases reported worldwide with an annual incidence of between 200 and 700 suspected cases. Most cases are of the bubonic plague. In 2017 the country experienced an unusually large outbreak of the plague with 2,414 suspected clinical cases (78% of which were pneumonic plague). Tackling Infectious Threats Global health security depends on high levels of awareness and collaboration between countries, organizations, agencies, and communities. Collaboration is particularly important because it can help improve early detection and control. Recent outbreaks have demonstrated that infectious threats can be challenging even with sound public health surveillance systems. To avoid international outbreaks, isolation of infected people for specialized treatment, screening of passengers, and travel restriction to affected areas should be considered. 'Look at Kejriwal. With his work, he's made a place in our hearts. But the BJP leaders have only abuses for us," protesters at Shaheen Bagh tell Jyoti Punwani. IMAGE: Protesters gather at Shaheen Bagh to oppose the amended Citizenship Act in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo Delhi's voting had just got over when I visited Shaheen Bagh. I had barely started talking to a group of women when Arvind Kejriwal's name came up. The question I asked had nothing to do with him. "How long are you prepared to sit on dharna here?" I asked them. "As long as it takes," they replied. "All we want is for the government to come and speak to us. They are proclaiming from every platform that this law they have passed is good for the country. They know we have been protesting against it here for two months now. Don't they come running when they want our vote?" "Can't Modiji come to explain to us why this CAA- NPR-NRC is good for us? Modiji is used to speaking from huge stages. Ours is just a small stage. It won't be difficult for him to tell us the benefits of these laws." The prime minister and home minister should indeed come here and talk, but you must have heard what they are saying about you, I replied. "Shouldn't a leader win over his people?" asked a young woman in the group. "Look at Kejriwal. With his work, he's made a place in our hearts (hamare dilon mein jagah banaa di). But the BJP leaders have only abuses for us." The others hastily intervened to clarify that their sit-in had nothing to do with any party. But when I pointed out that people were complaining that Kejriwal had neither visited Shaheen Bagh nor said a word about it even though the BJP had made it their only election plank, all of them jumped to his defence. "Why should he come here? What does he have to do with this issue? It's not of his making," they replied. "And it's better he doesn't speak about Shaheen Bagh. The BJP will only use whatever he says against them," they added. This exchange took me back six years. The 2014 Lok Sabha polls were on and AAP had just made its all-India debut. The country had seen Kejriwal as chief minister of Delhi for just three months (December 2013 to February 2014). The firebrand had chosen to leave Delhi to fight the country's most powerful candidate, Narendra Damodardas Modi from Varanasi, but AAP had also put up candidates across the country. Everywhere in Mumbai, a new phenomenon could be seen: Muslims of all ages were thronging the new party's poll offices. IMAGE: A scene from the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest at Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi. On May 12, 2014, Kejriwal was to visit Mumbai to campaign for his candidates, and a meeting at the historic Khilafat House was made part of his schedule. It was a brief stopover during a long drawn out road show. After extricating himself with great difficulty from the crowd that wanted to hear him at Nagpada junction in south central Mumbai, a prominent location in the city's old Muslim quarter, the AAP leader entered the hall. He spoke briefly about the his main plank: A vote for him would mean a vote for swaraj, where people made the decisions, instead of a politics controlled by corporates, the hallmark of both the BJP and the Congress. Then he left. Disappointment, even anger, erupted among a small group of Muslims in the room, known community leaders. "Why did we call him here? He didn't say a word about our problems!" they growled. The dissatisfaction of these leaders reflected nothing but their own old brand of patronage and vote bank politics. So used were they to Congress, NCP and Samajwadi Party netas coming to Khilafat House or Islam Gymkhana, and assuring them that their interests as Muslims lay in voting for them, that a leader who simply refused to address them by their religious identity seemed to them to be a betrayer. Today too, many intellectuals are angry with Kejriwal, over his refusal to make the CAA-NRC or Shaheen Bagh an election issue, and his absence at Jamia Milia Islamia after the police violence there. These are seen as signs of his "conservative, right wing, Hindutva" tendencies. Indeed, so strong is the 'either-you-are-with-Muslims-or-you-are-against-Muslims' syndrome today, that the unbelievable poison spewed by the original Hindutva outfit, the ruling party, against Kejriwal seems to count for nothing. Nor does the fact that unlike other 'secular' parties, AAP MPs actually voted against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Well, looks like Delhi's ordinary Muslim voters have no qualms about voting for a man who is supposedly against them. Reports show that some of the highest voting percentages were from the city's Muslim areas. IMAGE: Women at the Shaheen Bagh protest. Photograph: ANI Photo So, does their Muslim identity not matter to these voters, most of them devout believers? For many intellectuals, the CAA-NRC protests are all about Muslim identity. Yet, the epicentre and role model for these protests, Shaheen Bagh, seems to have exercised the power of the vote fully in favour of the man who refuses to talk about their religious identity. Of course, the absence of the Congress in Delhi's election must have contributed to this Muslim support for Kejriwal. But couldn't it also be that Delhi's Muslims, like Mumbai's Muslims in 2014, want to vote simply as citizens, no different from their non-Muslim neighbours? Couldn't it be that they genuinely support a leader who sees them as citizens, who ensures that his administration works for them the way it does for all Delhi's citizens? In a Delhi Muslim Whatsapp group, in response to a comment that 'Muslims mean nothing to Kejriwal', came a rejoinder: He has built hundreds of classrooms for Muslims, he's given electricity free to thousands of Muslims... 'But he's done so for Hindus too', was the response. That's precisely it, came the rejoinder. He has given you exactly what he has given the majority community. Again, the words of Muslims who joined AAP in 2014 come back: "Why do you think of us as Muslims? We want what is Constitutionally ours, we don't want lollipops." "We see hope in AAP, which has shown that politics can be done without money, muscle power or negative propaganda, that tough decisions can be taken by governments, and that the dream of swaraj can be fulfilled by people becoming part of governance." "Hukumraan ki bas yehi pechan honi chahiye: Kisise dar nahin; sewa bhaav se kaam (these should be the marks of a ruler: unafraid of anyone; and working for the people)." These were the voices of Mumbai's Muslims, and these weren't the elite, but those who lived in Mumbra, Bhiwandi and Cheetah Camp, Muslim-dominated areas. And there was nothing unique about them. These sentiments were echoed in far away Varanasi where a group of Muslim weavers, asked about their specific demands, told a Mumbai AAP office bearer who had gone there to campaign for Kejriwal: "Tell Kejriwal our demands: Treat Hindus and Muslims equally; whoever among us does wrong, must be punished. And tell him to protect the weak." Neither Varanasi nor Mumbai could see their hopes of AAP style of politics being fulfilled. Delhi did, and five years of it have made the majority choose this kind of non-corporate politics again. How apt that the women of Shaheen Bagh, who are today the face of the current protests of Muslims for recognition of their Constitutional right as equal citizens, chose to vote as citizens, sharing the same aspirations from their chief minister as the majority of their fellow citizens. Although Chinese health officials show the number of daily coronavirus cases stabilizing, international and U.S. health officials said Wednesday that it is too early to predict a foreseeable end to the crisis. Its way too early to try to predict the beginning of the end of the virus outbreak that erupted in China in December, Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of emergencies for the World Health Organization (WHO), told reporters in Geneva. His comments followed the latest report from China that the 2,015 new cases counted on Tuesday was the second straight daily decline, down from nearly 3,900 a week ago. Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the situation is still grim, but we have seen some positive changes. Like Ryan, however, Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautioned Wednesday not to read too much into the latest reports. Im going to be optimistic that is a sign that their aggressive actions have been effective, but I really do think its too soon to say that for sure, not having hands on the data ourselves, she said. Messonnier said she hopes an advance team from WHO now in China will be able to examine the findings: It would certainly be reassuring if we were now seeing at least a slowdown of this outbreak in China. The total number of cases in mainland China is now 44,653 and the death toll has increased to 1,113. Two people have died elsewhere, one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines. The virus outbreak started in December in Wuhan, China. Last week, four planes brought U.S. citizens from China to Travis Air Force Base, southwest of Sacramento, California; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, north of San Diego; Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio; and Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska. All 195 U.S. citizens who flew to March Air Reserve Base in California, where they were quarantined and tested for the coronavirus, have been released from quarantine and cleared to begin traveling to their homes in other parts of the country. Story continues Officials at the air base on Tuesday said none of the travelers, who have been isolated since Jan. 29, will need medical follow-ups and all will now be able to continue with their daily lives. "We want to make sure you understand there should be no concern of novel coronavirus from these 195 individuals. Theyve been watched more than anyone in the United States at this time, said Rear Adm. Dr. Nancy Knight, director of the CDC's Division of Global Health Protection. "This is a huge celebration for all of us at March Air Reserve Base." From a rumor to 1,000 deaths: How the coronavirus outbreak unfolded for Americans at the epicenter The group was mostly U.S. diplomats and their families, and they were the first to be transported to a military facility from China. Health officials circulated a photo that showed members of the group throwing their breathing masks into the air much like graduates tossing their mortarboards aloft at the end of a commencement ceremony. Jamie Fouss, who served as a U.S. consulate general in Wuhan one of the 195 Americans who'd been quarantined on the air base told reporters Tuesday that the 14-day quarantine as "much easier and better than imagined." Coronavirus, explained: Everything you need to know about the deadly virus alarming the world An unsettling and misunderstood term: Will the new coronavirus become a pandemic? There have been 13 U.S. cases of coronavirus in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington and Wisconsin. One U.S. citizen diagnosed with the coronavirus has died in Wuhan. One case was reported Monday in San Diego. There are 420 people who've been tested in 41 states. Test results came back negative for 347, and the remaining 60 are pending, according to the CDC. Cruise ship allowed to dock in Cambodia A Holland America cruise ship that was turned away by five governments has gotten permission to stop in Cambodia to allow its 2,200 passengers and crew to get off. The MS Westerdam had been denied permission to dock in the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Guam, although the cruise line says it has no confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The ship had departed Hong Kong on Feb. 1 and was originally scheduled to disembark in Shanghai on Saturday before coronavirus gripped mainland China and forced a change in its itinerary. "All approvals have been received, and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support," the line said in a release provided by public relations director Erik Elvejord to USA TODAY. The ship will dock in Sihanoukville on Thursday. Meanwhile, in Japan, 39 new cases were confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama, bringing the total to 174 on the Diamond Princess. Coronavirus gets new name WHO announced a formal name for the coronavirus COVID-19. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said officials needed a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people. It also had to be pronounceable and related to the disease, he said. "Having a name matters, to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing," he said. "It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks." Contributing: John Bacon, Morgan Hines and Jayme Deerwester, USA TODAY. Follow Colin Atagi on Twitter: @tdscolinatagi. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Coronavirus: Health officials say it's soon to predict end to crisis (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it's going next. Like their counterparts in Silicon Valley, Chinas largest tech companies struggled to prove online groceries can be a viable business. Then the novel coronavirus struck. Its spread has extended a lifeline to a slew of money-burning businesses -- many backed by big name venture capital funds and tech giants from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to Tencent Holdings Ltd. -- that in some cases were on the brink of collapse in 2019. Millions of consumers shunning supermarkets and meal-delivery services are testing promises by Tencent-backed Missfresh or Alibabas nationwide Hema chain to ship fresh food to their doorsteps. Those that deliver can expect many of first-time customers to stay even after the epidemic burns itself out. The boom is one more way in which the abrupt onset of the epidemic is transforming consumer behavior in the worlds No. 2 economy. Usage of other online services from mobile gaming to internet malls is surging as the epidemic confines millions to their homes. Before the Chinese New Year, many of these firms were looking precarious and their only lifeline was the deep pockets of their big backers, said Michael Norris, research and strategy manager at Shanghai-based consultancy AgencyChina. Right now, fresh grocery delivery platforms are seen as an essential for consumers to minimize risk of infection. Not all of them are equipped to handle the sudden increase in demand. The most immediate obstacles include a shortage of delivery staff, inventory management and the difficulties of navigating physical roadblocks put up by local governments trying to curb the diseases spread. And if the coronavirus outbreak hurts the economy, expect that also to squeeze funding overall for all tech startups. The epidemic has led consumers to seek eating options that are healthier than takeout, especially with online chatter about the risks of take-out delivery people transmitting the disease. Theres less of a concern around fresh food since delivery frequency is lower than takeout and many people take comfort in cooking their own meals. Story continues Norris sees the outbreak ushering in another boom era for e-commerce in China. Overall, he expects online to account for a third of Chinas retail sales in 2020, up from around a quarter last year. Alibabas Hema chain, including 18 stores at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, have operated non-stop during the extended Lunar New Year break. Online orders have spiked, prompting Hema to increase its vegetable supply across Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the company said in a statement. Missfresh saw a quadrupling in online orders for groceries during the first five days of the Lunar New Year compared with the same time last year. The company sold 40 million food items including eggs, lettuce and beef during the seven-day period. And JD.com Inc. said its sales of fresh food increased by 215%, reaching almost 15,000 tons during the 10-day period ending Feb. 2, compared with the same period last year. Twenty-one-year-old Ye Xie would ordinarily be back at Fudan University in Shanghai by now, starting her last semester. But because of the epidemic, shes stuck in her native Zhejiang province and her family has come to depend on the app Dingdong Buy Vegetables. Before the outbreak, they would average once a week, she said. Now we use it three to four times a week. Its an unexpected windfall for grocery delivery services that have perennially struggled with the logistics of transporting perishables like fruit and vegetables and shoppers innate preference for testing and selecting the freshest produce on sight. Thats good news for a sector that faces a broader funding squeeze. Last year, a raft of startups raced to replenish their war chests before what many foresaw as a capital winter brought on by a slowing economy. Missfresh was said to be seeking a new round of fundraising last July at a $3 billion valuation. The company hasnt announced completion of that financing. The spike in online grocery demand presents an education opportunity, said Snow Hua, managing partner of Cherubic Ventures, which has also invested in online grocery startups like China Fresh. Long-term though, investors will still be looking at fundamentals like whether this business model is sustainable and which companies have a better supply chain, storage and delivery system. For some, the boost may have come too late. Dingdong, backed by Sequoia and Qiming Ventures, halted expansion in certain regions last year amid setbacks in operation, Caijing reported. Dingdong discontinued all their services in Xies hometown of Ningbo as of Feb. 7. The suspension was to help combat the epidemic, a spokeswoman for the company said, adding that its fully operational in other cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou and Shenzhen. Signs of strain are also emerging. Missfresh manager Liu Guofeng said that, during the first week of the Lunar New Year holiday, its vegetable supply ran out every day around 4 p.m., whereas it would normally take three to four days to deplete. Users rush to place orders before midnight every day when the company replenishes its stock. Its also tried to court drivers working for meal delivery services Meituan and Ele.me, doubling the payout for riders per order from Feb. 1 to Feb. 8 and handing out 1,000 yuan ($143) in subsidies if they work eight days straight. Theres a huge shortage on deliverymen, said Liu. Also a lot of villages are blocking the roads so not many people have been able to return to work. To address labor shortages, Hema has agreed to hire staff from Chinese restaurants now that dining out has plummeted. Delivery times too have elongated. Requests that used to take 30 minutes to deliver can now need half a day to arrive, Xie said. Yet once the chaff is weeded out, the remaining players will end up with a far more established and loyal customer base. The current crisis has forced customers to turn online and at least some will remain active buyers, while surviving startups will have had the chance to hone their infrastructure and offerings. Even though the virus outbreak brings a lot of challenges, it will also create opportunities for these online grocery startups, said Richard Peng, founder of Genesis Capital, a Missfresh backer. Its fundamentally changing user habits, as they open up to the idea of buying groceries online. --With assistance from Colum Murphy. To contact the reporters on this story: Lulu Yilun Chen in Hong Kong at ychen447@bloomberg.net;Kari Lindberg in Hong Kong at klindberg13@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Colum Murphy 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 pledge to close the health and wellbeing gap between Aboriginal and other Australians is failing, the government admitted Wednesday, describing the situation as a source of "national shame". Prime Minister Scott Morrison said just two of seven key targets to improve the lives of Australia's indigenous people were on track -- unchanged from last year. More Aboriginal children were enrolled in early education and graduating from high school than ever before, he said, but attendance rates were still lagging behind other groups. Other targets to halve the gap in child mortality, literacy, life expectancy, and unemployment rates were not being met. Morrison called the failure to give indigenous children equal opportunities to other Australian kids "a national truth and a national shame". The admission comes 250 years since Captain James Cook's first voyage to the vast continent, a journey that led to British colonisation and upended indigenous communities. The life expectancy for Aboriginal Australians is about eight years lower than the national average. Indigenous children are twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday and 25 times more likely to be incarcerated than the rest of the population, according to official statistics. The report marks 12 years since former prime minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice and launched the "Closing the Gap" initiative. "Over decades, our top-down, government-knows-best approach has not delivered the improvements we all need," Morrison said. "The results are not good enough." The government called the failure to give indigenous children equal opportunities to other Australian kids 'a national shame' [February 12, 2020] Rick Heidner And Gold Rush Amusements, Inc., Sue Illinois Gaming Board For $4 Million Over Unauthorized Breach Of Sensitive Personal And Financial Data HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rick Heidner and Gold Rush Amusements, Inc., the victims of a data breach by the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), filed a lawsuit against the IGB, alleging that their personal and sensitive financial information was intentionally and illegally leaked by an IGB employee. The IGB compounded the harm by failing to promptly notify Mr. Heidner and Gold Rush of the unauthorized disclosures and by taking unfair and improper actions against them, resulting in significant financial and reputational harm. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the Illinois Court of Claims, accuses the IGB of causing substantial harm when an IGB employee intentionally and without authorization disclosed sensitive financial information, including personally identifiable information relating to Gold Rush, Mr. Heidner, his wife, two of his children, and other individuals. The IGB is legally required to keep this data confidential. The complaint, which alleges breach of fiduciary duties and negligence, seeks the maximum allowable damages of $2 million each for Mr. Heidner and Gold Rush. Approximately half of the more than 50 individual victims of the IGB data breach had previous contact with Mr. Heidner or Gold Rush, a licensed terminal operator serving more than 500 establishments across Illinois. In addition to immediate and extended family members, the victims include individuals with whom Gold Rush has a contractual relationship under the jurisdiction of the IGB. The IGB delayed notifying Mr. Heidner and the other victims of the unauthorized disclosures for nearly a month. According to the complaint, Mr. Heidner and his family received the IGB's data breach notices on Jan. 31, well after the IGB discovered the breach on Jan. 3, and a week after the media had reported the breach. The IGB's failure to promptly notify Mr. Heidner and the other victims and cooperate with them in matters relating to the data breach, as well as its failure to implement and maintain reasonable security measures to protect their private information from unauthorized accessand disclosures, violates the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act. "Despite requiring licensees and associated individuals to hand over a veritable treasure trove of their most sensitive data, the evidence will show that the IGB's approach to protecting Mr. Heidner's data has been careless and cavalier, at best," the complaint states. By leaking confidential, sensitive personal and financial information, "the IGB has breached the trust and confidence that forms the very foundation of the relationship" between the state gaming agency and its licensees, the suit adds. The unauthorized disclosures by an IGB employee to three federal government entities between Oct. 12-31, 2019, purportedly began the day after the first of a series of articles relating to Mr. Heidner was published in the Chicago Tribune. The Oct. 11 article criticized certain real estate partnerships and implied they were not properly disclosed to the IGB. "Such insinuations were false, in that Mr. Heidner had made complete and accurate disclosures in both Gold Rush's initial terminal operator license application and in all renewal and related submissions to the IGB," the suit states. "These disclosures . . . were made without authorization and were not in response to any valid legal request." Instead, the suit alleges that an "IGB employee made these unauthorized disclosures to fuel?or at least in response to?negative media coverage the IGB helped generate against Mr. Heidner and Gold Rush." Gaming licensees and associated individuals are required to provide the IGB with detailed disclosures of highly confidential personal and financial information. In Mr. Heidner's case, initially in 2010 and annually since Gold Rush was first licensed in 2012, he has given the IGB information relating to his personal background, social security number, assets, liabilities, personal bank accounts, personal and business investments, real estate holdings, life insurance policies, vehicle ownership, mortgages, and liens, among other details. The information was leaked?and the unauthorized disclosures were undetected for months?at a time when negative media publicity speculated about the completeness of Gold Rush's and Mr. Heidner's disclosures to the IGB, and at a time when the IGB chose to take unfair, unfounded actions against them, according to the complaint. The series of adverse actions without a proper factual basis included, in December, initiating a Disciplinary Complaint, incited by Gold Rush's competitors, against Gold Rush that seeks the severe penalty of license revocation despite the company's history of compliance. On Jan. 3, when the IGB finally discovered the unauthorized disclosures by an employee, it failed to promptly alert Mr. Heidner or Gold Rush that they were victims. A week later, the IGB notified state legislative leaders of the breach but, again, failed to notify the victims. Two weeks after that, the media reported information about the leak, but Mr. Heidner and Gold Rush still were not informed that they were victims. When the media reports caused Mr. Heidner to expressly ask the IGB if he was a victim, the IGB remained silent until Mr. Heidner and his family received formal notices in the mail on Jan. 31. On Feb. 1, Gold Rush and Mr. Heidner sent a letter to the IGB demanding basic answers regarding the data breach, as well as "an immediate and thorough investigation into the IGB's role in the orchestrated and public smear campaign" against Mr. Heidner that began in October 2019. On Feb. 7, the IGB responded it could not provide the requested information to Mr. Heidner. Upon filing the complaint, Mr. Heidner and Gold Rush also referred the matter to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul for further investigation. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rick-heidner-and-gold-rush-amusements-inc-sue-illinois-gaming-board-for-4-million-over-unauthorized-breach-of-sensitive-personal-and-financial-data-301003425.html SOURCE Gold Rush Amusements, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The DNA of the man accused of murdering Adrian Donohoe was not found at the scene where the detective garda was shot dead, a court has heard. The trial of Aaron Brady (28) this afternoon heard evidence from a DNA expert based at Forensic Science Ireland who tested a number of items found at Lordship Credit Union. Dr Edward Connolly said that swabs were taken from cars and items at the scene of the shooting including an unmarked Toyota Avensis patrol car, a Mazda, a hammer found in this vehicle, a Nissan Micra, a handbag, car keys, cigarette butts and chewing gum. Dr Connolly said that a number of full and partial DNA profiles were recovered from these items which matched elimination samples provided to him by members of An Garda Siochana, or other witnesses at the scene. Expand Close Murdered: Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Murdered: Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead He also said that three complete DNA profiles of unknown males were recovered from inside the driver door of the unmarked Toyota garda car, a chewing gum and a cigarette butt. These samples, the court heard, were added to the DNA database system but no matches were found. Dr Connolly said he also analysed items recovered from a burnt out car, which the court previously heard was a Volkswagen Passat,discovered at Cumsons Road in south Armagh two days after the murder. The jury was told this included a shotgun cartridge, a Mary Black CD, a Lady Gaga CD, crisp packets, a plastic bag and a cable tie. Dr Connolly said the items were smoke damaged and that no full DNA profile was recovered. In cross examination the witness agreed with defence counsel Fiona Murphy SC that Aaron Brady's DNA profile did not match samples taken from any of the items tested by Dr Connolly. A barn shed adjacent to Lordship credit union was also analysed as well as the outside front door of house in Clogherhead, Co Louth, where a burglary took place on January 23 resulting in a Volkswagen Passat being stolen, the court heard. No DNA profiles were obtained from either of these locations. The trial continues tomorrow morning before Justice Michael White and the jury of eight men and seven women. Aaron Brady is charged with the murder of detective garda Adrian 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 of the robbery of approximately 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Mr Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Earlier this morning Det Gda Seamus O'Donnell, of the Ballistic Section in the Garda Technical Bureau, continued giving evidence. Yesterday he told the 15-person jury that he carried out tests to determine the distance Det Gda Donohoe was shot from, and that these tests established the range being between 6 feet and 7 feet. In cross examination by Fiona Murphy SC, the witness agreed that a choke device can be applied to a shotgun that keeps the pellets grouped together longer after discharge and effect the range. He also told the court that most shotguns have a relatively high degree of recoil upon discharge. Det Gda O'Donnell said that if a shotgun is not secured onto the shoulder the firearm could lift. The commercial airlines market is poised to grow by USD 184.19 billionduring 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 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/20200212005391/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the commercial airlines market from 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 140-page report with TOC on "Commercial Airlines Market Analysis Report by Revenue stream (Passenger and Cargo), Geographic segmentation (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America and South America), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024". https://www.technavio.com/report/commercial-airlines-market-industry-analysis The market is driven by the creation of new air routes to tap market potential. In addition, the increasing penetration of blockchain technology in airlines industry is anticipated to boost the growth of the commercial airlines market. Airlines are focusing on enhancing their revenue streams by launching services on new routes to cater to the untapped markets. For instance, a total of 59 new routes of air travel were launched by several commercial airlines around the globe in March 2019. New probable routes are evaluated using intelligence tools for identifying certain trends such as passenger inflow and outflow as well as timing and connectivity options. This helps in determining the type of aircraft to be used and the frequency of operations with regards to a new route. The launch of new service routes will encourage the procurement of new aircraft by airline operators. This in turn, will boost the need for aircraft landing gear systems comprising of fairings, cowlings, structural members, warning devices, shock absorbing equipment, and retraction mechanisms. Thus, the creation of new air routes to tap market potential 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 Commercial Airlines Market Companies: Air France-KLM SA Air France-KLM SA is headquartered in France and operates the business under various segments such as Passenger network, Transavia, and Maintenance. The company offers Passenger business and Cargo business. American Airlines Group Inc. American Airlines Group Inc. is headquartered in the US and offers commercial airline services. The company operates approximately 6,700 flights daily to 350 destinations in 50 countries. ANA HOLDINGS Inc. ANA HOLDINGS Inc. is headquartered in Japan and operates under various business segments, namely Air Transportation, Airline Related, Travel Services, Trade and Retail, and Others. The company operates the full-service carrier ANA brand and low-cost carrier brands. China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. is headquartered in China and offers commercial airline services. The company provides passenger transport, cargo, mail delivery, and cargo handling services. China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. China Southern Airlines Co. Ltd. is headquartered in the US and offers products through the following business segments: Airline transportation and Other segments. The company offers passenger and cargo and mail operations. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Commercial Airlines Market Revenue Stream Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020-2024) Passenger Cargo Commercial Airlines Market Geographic 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. 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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005391/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 Northern Irish man has been granted leave to challenge his extradition to the the UK, where he is wanted to face multiple counts of manslaughter after 39 Vietnamese nationals were found dead in a lorry in Essex last October. The UK authorities want Eamon Ronald Harrison (23) from Mayobridge, Co Down, to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UKs Modern Slavery Act. It is alleged that Mr Harrison delivered the trailer, in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in an industrial park in Grays, Essex on October 23 last, to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain, the court previously heard. On January 24th last, Mr Justice Donald Binchy said he found there was nothing to preclude him from ordering the surrender of Mr Harrison to the UK authorities but he held off making the order to allow Mr Harrisons legal team to consider his judgement. Last week Siobhan Stack SC, for Mr Harrison, requested permission to appeal the judgement. She said the matter is one of exceptional public importance and that, as a matter of public interest, it should be heard in a higher court. The barrister said: This is a matter for a higher court to rule on". Ronan Kennedy SC, for the Minister for Justice, argued that no public interest matter arises and no point of law of exceptional importance arises in order to allow for an appeal. He argued that the extradition order ought to be made without further delay. This morning Mr Justice Binchy certified three out of four questions Mr Harrison wants the Court of Appeal to rule on. These relate to additional information provided to the High Court from the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK, a question about this information's admissibility, and a question about "manifest error". The judge made the order for Mr Harrison's extradition but put a stay on the execution of that order pending his appeal. In his judgement last month, Mr Justice Binchy dismissed all of Mr Harrisons objections to his extradition. Among Mr Harrisons objections were that additional information provided to the High Court came via the Crown Prosecution Service as opposed to the UK Central Authority and should therefore be deemed inadmissible"; that the allegations pertain to alleged actions said to have taken place outside the UK territory; and that the European Arrest Warrant doesnt state where the victims died. The points of objection also included the argument that Mr Harrison is a British and Irish citizen and he has not been at any time ordinarily resident in Ireland within the period of 12 months preceding the dates of the alleged offences; and in respect of the conspiracy to commit human trafficking offence there is no offence in the State corresponding to the offence contrary to the UKs Modern Slavery Act 2015. Mr Harrison also argued that the acts of Mr Harrison, as set out in the European Arrest Warrant, do not constitute the offence of manslaughter or any other offence contrary to Irish law. In his judgement, Mr Justice Binchy wrote that other information regarding the activities of Mr Harrison had been provided to the High Court. He said these included allegations that Mr Harrison was previously involved in the transportation of illegal migrants from Zeebrugge Port in Belgium to Purfleet Port in Essex, England, on October 10th/11th 2019 and again on October 17th/18th, 2019. The judge noted: On the latter occasion, the same trailer as that used to transport the deceased migrants on 22nd/23rd October, 2019 was used. The respondent [Mr Harrison] was identified as being the driver. Mr Justice Binchy also said its alleged that the available evidence for all three of the operations in October 2019 indicate that the illegal migrants were not free to walk away on their arrival into the UK; that they were collected by cars on their arrival, suggesting an intention to exploit those persons. The judge further noted that it's alleged that: on 9th May, 2018, the respondent [Mr Harrison] was stopped at Coquelles, France, driving a trailer unit in which 18 Vietnamese migrants were discovered. Brands get extra creative on Valentine's Day to woo consumers with their special products and offers aimed at couples. Each communication takes a different view of love that is deeply rooted into the brands own philosophy. Let's take a look at some of the Valentine's Day campaign that stood out this year. Cadbury Mondelez brings back the Pop Your Heart campaign this year on Valentines Day. This year the theme of the campaign is how far will you go for love nudging people to go far and beyond for their special someone. The brand has released two films as part of the campaign and introduced specially curated eCommerce gifting products for the occasion. Pepsi As part of its #HarGhoontMainSwag brand campaign, Pepsi has launched an anthem called Swag Se Solo on Valentines Day. Composed by Tanishq Bagchi and choreographed by Remo Dsouza, the anthem features their newly appointed brand ambassador Salman Khan. Big Bazaar The retail chain does something different through its Valentines Day campaign. The brand launched two digital films that tell stories of lasting love between elderly couples and differently abled partners. Called #LoveSabkeLiye the retailer has also organised a Love Walkathon that will be held on 15th February which invites over 10,000 young elders and persons with disability to participate. Tata Altroz #TheGoldStandard Conceptualised by WATConsult. Tata Tigor #TheSedanForTheStars Conceptualised by WATConsult. The Many Company #ForAllKindsOfLove With their latest Valentines Day campaign, The Man Company has decided to celebrate all gentlemen and initiate a wider dialogue around body positivity for men. As a brand, The Man Company has always believed in addressing topics that are often considered taboo but must be discussed and normalised. Through its latest video campaign, the brand showcases men who are hesitant of their body insecurities. Men feel vulnerable, insecure and weak too and it needs to be understood and regularized. Skinn by Titan Skinn by Titan, a fragrance brand, has associated with the YouTube channel 'The Timeliners' in a branded digital film called 'it's a Date'. Conceived by Ogilvy Bangalore and brought to life by The Viral Fever, the film tells a story of morden love targetting mobile urban youth between the ages 23-35. Edelweiss Tokio Life Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance campaign on Valentine Day focuses on donating your organ to the needy and cherish their life. Conceptualised by Contract Advertising. XYXX XYXX, a premium mens innerwear brand, reaches out to strong female voices to understand what kind of briefs they would prefer their hot date to wear. Since February 14 is the ultimate date night, the brand targets men between 20 and 40 with their campaign #CosyUpWithXYXX. Central This Valentines season, NDMPL crafts a special campaign around the theme of love for fashion chain Central. The campaign uses color play with red- the color synonymous to love, and emphasises on the idea of #WearRedWithCentral. NDMPL created 30-sec video showcasing the merchandise in an interesting manner, and urging the consumers to shop for everything thats Red in Central and wear Red this Valentine. ORRA Jewellery Platinum Days of Love (PDOL) brings alive a unique four week digital and social campaign with their brand film. The campaign is live across digital platform from the 25th of January until 15th February20. As Karan Johar's cinematic marvel 'My Khan is Khan' starring megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol completed 10 years on Friday, the director penned a heartfelt post reminiscing the film. The director shared a compilation video of glimpses from the film and wrote a long caption expressing why the film will always be very special to him. "#10yearsofmynameiskhan. This will always remain an extremely special film for me....a film that not only had relevant messaging but also ( in my opinion) a beating heart!" Further expressing his gratitude and appreciation for King Khan, Johar wrote, "Bhai @iamsrk put his all into creating Rizwan...and I will always be eternally grateful to him for just being him ....for being such a rock solid support to me through the journey of the film...love you so much Bhai!" "love you @kajol for breathing life into Mandira and just being the fabulous and incredible artist that you are!!! And finally thank you to #shibanibathija for writing and creating the film and every character! Writing is the spine that we can give body to....thank you," he wrote thanking the leading lad Kajol and the writer of the film Shibani Bathija. Kajol also expressed her happiness over completion of ten years of 'My Khan is Khan' and shared a video from the shoot of the film. "Soooooo many memories. So much fun from Nysa's first Disney trip to seeing the history of San Fran up close and personal with the most amazing sunrise. It will always be one of my most fav memories!#10YearsOfMyNameIsKhan," read her tweet. SRK and Kajol had reunited for 'My Name is Khan' after a span of 9 years and the film created magic. The film revolves around the life of SRK's character Rizwan Khan and showed his journey of meeting the president of America. The movie not only became one of the biggest hits of 2010 but was also appreciated by both the critics and the audience. In the film, Shah Rukh portrayed the role of a Muslim man named Rizwan who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. Kajol played the character of Mandira, a single mother who gets married to Rizwan. The couple's life turns upside down when Mandira's son gets killed after being bullied for having a Muslim father post the 9/11 attacks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oil giant BP has pledged to reinvent itself and become 'net zero' by 2050 as its new boss warned that 'the world's carbon budget is running out fast'. Bernard Looney, 50 who became the oil and gas firm's CEO last week said that BP would match the mid-century target adopted by the UK Government last year. The new chief executive is clearly hoping to leave his mark on the century-old business after taking over from American Bob Dudley last week. However, environmental groups have branded the emissions-slashing target as 'not credible', with 'little of substance to show how [BP] will achieve these grand claims.' Scroll down for video Oil giant BP has pledged to reinvent itself and become 'net zero' by 2050 as new boss Bernard Looney, pictured, warned that 'the world's carbon budget is running out fast' Mr Looney made the remarks during a speech to investors, analysts and the media all of whose travel had been carbon offset in London on February 12, 2020. 'The worlds carbon budget is finite and running out fast. We need a rapid transition to net-zero,' he said. 'We all want energy that is reliable and affordable, but that is no longer enough. It must also be cleaner.' In his first major announcement as the major oil and gas firm's chief executive, Mr Looney reported that BP would be working to eliminate the 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent that it emits into the atmosphere each year. The net-zero policy will also cover carbon in the oil and gas that BP produces, amounting to around 360 million tonnes of carbon equivalent. If successful, the move would slash emissions by more than 400 million tonnes per year, or approximately the same as the UKs total annual emissions. 'This is what we mean by making BP net-zero,' Mr Looney added. 'It directly addresses all the carbon we get out of the ground as well as all the greenhouse gases we emit from our operations.' Mr Looney promised that BP would halve the carbon intensity of the products it sells by 2050 or sooner, while increasing investment in low-carbon alternatives. 'We expect to invest more in low-carbon businesses and less in oil and gas over time,' he said, promising that more details would be revealed during the firm's so-called 'capital markets day' in September. He also told onlookers: 'If anyone sees BP acting in a way that is counter to what I say here today then I want to hear about it.' In his first major announcement as the major oil and gas firm's chief executive, Mr Looney reported that BP would be working to eliminate the 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent that it emits into the atmosphere each year Investors appeared to react well to Mr Looney's statements, with BP's shares subsequently rising by just under 1 per cent and investor groups that had been pushing for action on climate change also seemed optimistic. 'This is a very welcome announcement from BPs new CEO,' said the chief executive of the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, Stephanie Pfeifer. 'We need to see a wholesale shift to a net-zero economy by 2050.' 'This must include oil and gas companies if we are to have any chance of successfully tackling the climate crisis.' However, critics noted that the companys announcement left many unanswered questions and contained little detail on how BP will meet its new goals However, critics noted that the companys announcement left many unanswered questions and contained little detail on how BP will meet its new goals. 'There is nothing ambitious about a plan that is simply not credible,' said Murray Worthy, senior campaigner at the environmental charity Global Witness. 'BPs net-zero pledge looks like an attempt to grab some positive headlines by a new CEO, but with little of substance to show how it will achieve these grand claims.' In fact Mr Looney himself acknowledged the vagaries of his proposal. 'Today is about a vision, it is about a direction of travel,' he said. 'What I will not talk to today is a lot of the detail on the next month, the next year, or the next five years,' he added. 'Details have to come, you have to judge us by our actions, not by what I say here today.' Greenpeace, meanwhile, accused Mr Looney of burdening his successors with much of the responsibility to get to net-zero, as he had set the goalpost in the middle of the century, by which time he will have left the business. Charlie Kronick, the organisations oil adviser, said there were many urgent and unanswered questions: 'When will they stop wasting billions on drilling for new oil and gas we cant burn?' 'What is the scale and schedule for the renewables investment they barely mention?' 'And what are they going to do this decade, when the battle to protect our climate will be won or lost?' Katie White, WWF Executive Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, said: 'Even the oil and gas giants can see that the writing is on the wall for fossil fuels but the reality is that no credible plan for net zero involves new oil and gas exploration.' 'If we want to prevent a climate and nature breakdown the science is clear. 'We have to stop looking for new oil and gas reserves, and leave what weve already discovered in the ground.' A former chief executive of Mexico's state oil company PEMEX accused of corruption has been arrested in Spain, Mexico's attorney general said on Wednesday. Emilio Lozoya, PEMEX chief from 2012-18, is accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from scandal-tainted Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. "Thanks to the arrest warrant we obtained here from a judge and with great help from Interpol and the Spanish police, we've managed to arrest this individual," Attorney General Alejandro Gertz told a Mexican radio station. Lozoya was a top advisor to former president Enrique Pena Nieto (2012-18) and allegedly took bribes to help fund Nieto's presidential campaign bid. He's also accused of having authorized the acquisition by PEMEX of a fertilizer factory for $500 million despite it being in a poor state and over-priced, according to government sources and experts. Lozoya denies all the accusations. Odebrecht, the largest construction firm in Latin America, has admitted to paying hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to win contracts in 12 countries, including Mexico. The scandal has felled ex-presidents and top officials in countries including Brazil, Peru and Colombia, but there have been no arrests or prosecutions so far in Mexico. Lozoya allegedly took more than $10 million in bribes from Odebrecht starting in March 2012, when he was chief international strategist for then-candidate Nieto. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 19:02 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206425f80 1 Business AGO,Attorney-General-Office,InvestmentFraud,investment,mutual-fund,Jiwasraya Free The Attorney Generals Office (AGO) has uncovered millions of suspicious transactions involving state-owned insurance company Jiwasrayas investment instruments, lending credence to accusations of investment mismanagement that led the insurer into serious liquidity issues. Deputy attorney general for special crimes Adi Toegarisman said the AGO had initially uncovered 55,000 suspicious transactions among Jiwasrayas stock investments. However, as the investigation progressed, the office discovered millions of such transactions, according to AGO director of investigations Febrie Adriansyah. Febrie went on to say that the office had also discovered questionable transactions in the mutual funds Jiwasraya invested in. There are so many of these transactions made between 2008 and 2018. Investigators and the BPK [Supreme Audit Agency] need to work hard, he said on Tuesday as quoted by kontan.co.id. He said that given the sheer number of such transactions, the investigation would no longer focus on the value of the transactions, but rather on discovering any indication that the transactions were deliberate efforts to cause Jiwasrayas financial losses. Investigators will need ascertain who made the transactions, as well as to determine what type of stocks were being traded, Febrie said. Jiwasraya failed to pay out on customers policies, worth up to Rp 16 trillion (US$1.2 billion), that fell due in December, prompting the Attorney Generals Office (AGO) to launch a corruption investigation. Authorities estimate the alleged corruption caused Rp 13.7 trillion (US$1 billion) in state losses. The estimate, however, might yet increase during the ongoing investigation. (rfa) (CNN) A vessel carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Bay of Bengal Tuesday, killing at least 15 people, Bangladeshi authorities told CNN. The wooden fishing boat carrying 130 Rohingya capsized near Saint Martin's Island. Captain Waseem Maqsood, coastguard commander in the Chittagong division, told CNN that 71 people were rescued alive, while more than 40 people are still unaccounted for. A coastguard vessel, two navy ships, and dive teams are currently trying to find the remaining passengers. Maqsood said the authorities received an emergency call early Tuesday morning local time but that the limited information available on the boat's location had made it difficult to find. Bangladeshi authorities believe the boat departed from Teknaf, an administrative region of Cox's Bazar, the southerly region of Bangladesh on the Myanmar border to which hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled to in recent years. Most still live in a refugee camp, the largest in the world, in Cox's Bazar, though some have attempted to go overseas. "I don't know where it was heading," Maqsood said. "We couldn't look for that yet. We are focusing on the rescue operation at the moment. The police authorities are also there, they are investigating." The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has certified majority of the countrys air traffic controllers (ATCOs) by issuing licences, fulfilling an important safety requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations aviation watchdog. Mumbai, which has the countrys second largest retinue of ATCOs, received certificates for 253 of its 350 staff. New staff will get certificates from DGCA after the completion of training. ATCOs are hired and trained by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to manage control centres at airports to guide aircraft movement, but ICAO wanted controllers to be certified by a third party, such as DGCA, to ensure safety standards are maintained. An AAI official said, Earlier we used to keep records of our ATCOs, but DGCA will keep records of every controller from now on. It will also check if all mandatory checks and tests are done before an ATCO is allowed to handle flight movement to enhance safety of passengers. The certification is important because inadequately trained ATCOs can affect a countrys aviation safety ratings. In November 2017, ICAO had carried out a universal safety oversight audit programme in India, followed by another audit in February 2018. Indias score was below that of other countries in south Asia such as Nepal and Pakistan. Officials privy to the matter had said the decline in score was due to low ratings of ATCOs due to licence-related issues. Around 2,400 ATCOs across the country had applied for licence since the process began in 2017. According to AAI, 2,264 ATCOs have received licences issued by DGCA. The first licence was handed over by aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri, making it the first-ever such initiative under Aircraft Rules, 1937, bringing the country at par with international standards. Though Presidents Day is taking place on Feb. 17 this year, the offers included in the Presidents Day Sales Event at Continental Honda will last all the way until March 1. Continental Honda, a dealership servicing Chicago and the entire surrounding area from its home base in Countryside, is holding a special Presidents Day Sales Event for the remaining duration of February 2020. Though Presidents Day is taking place on Feb. 17 this year, the offers included in the Presidents Day Sales Event at Continental Honda will last all the way until March 1. The offers for the Presidents Day Sales Event include special lease rates on several popular Honda models. Customers will have the ability to lease a: 2020 Honda Accord LX 4 Door Automatic for $299 per month for 36 months, with $499 due at signing. 2019 Honda CR-V LX AWD for $325 per month for 36 months, with $3,259 due at signing. 2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L for $499 per month for 36 months with $499 due at signing. The above specials are available with approved credit through Honda Financial Services, otherwise known as HFS. The prices do not include title, license and doc fees. Intrigued individuals can check if they qualify for credit approval at Continental Honda by simply filling out a quick form on the dealerships website. Lessees should note that they are held responsible for other resulting costs such as maintenance, excessive wear and tear and 15 cents for every mile over 12,000 miles per year (for vehicles with an MSRP of less than $30,000) or 20 cents per mile over 12,000 per year (on vehicles with an MSRP of $30,000 or more). Those interested in the Presidents Day Sales Event at Continental Honda are encouraged to head to the dealership website at http://www.continentalhonda.com. The opportunity to speak by phone is also available by dialing 708-540-2810. Finally, individuals can head to the dealerships physical location itself at 5901 S. La Grange Road, Countryside. There's yet another new rocket launch startup throwing its hat in the ring -- Astra, an Alameda-based company that's actually been operating in stealth mode (though relatively openly, often referred to as "Stealth Space Company") for the past three years developing and testing its launch vehicle. Astra revealed its business model and progress to date in a new feature article with Bloomberg Businessweek, detailing how it plans to use mass production to deliver rockets quickly and cheaply for small satellite orbital delivery. Astra revealed it has raised more than $100 million from investors, including Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors, Airbus Ventures, Canann Partners and Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff, to name a few, and it has big ambitions in terms of cost and capabilities. Astra's rockets are smaller than most existing launch vehicles in operation, designed to delivery up to 450 lbs of cargo to space, but with the specific mandate of doing so quickly and responsively. The company is a finalist (and the only remaining one) on Darpa's Launch Challenge, the terms of which mandate that the winning company deploy two rockets from two different locations within a few weeks of each other. Astra is still in the running, while its erstwhile competitors have dropped out, with Virgin Orbit having voluntarily withdrawn and Vector Launch having gone out of business. The Darpa challenge, which includes an award of $12 million for the winner, represents a growing trend in terms of defense customer needs: Fast turnaround and responsive operations for small satellite delivery. In an industry where the process of securing a launch service provider to actually flying a payload has typically taken at least six months in the best-case scenario, there's a growing need for quicker timelines in the interest of building more redundancy and resilience into defense and reconnaissance space operations through use of networks of small satellites, versus single large geostationary satellites that are expensive to launch and more time-consuming to task. Story continues Astra, led by serial entrepreneur and former NASA CTO Chris Kemp, wants to address this growing demand (which extends to commercial customers like Spire, Planet and others that are putting up large communications and Earth observation small satellite constellations) by producing rockets fast and with high frequency. Per the Bloomberg article, Astra says it can launch "profitably" for $2.5 million per mission, which is around half the going rate for a Rocket Lab launch, and that it eventually hopes to attain costs as low as $1 million per mission with a daily launch operational cadence. To that end, it's looking to ramp production to a rate of producing hundreds of vehicles per year in a 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility it's setting up. Astra is also different in that it's using aluminum primarily in its launch vehicle, as opposed to the more costly but premium carbon fiber used by Rocket Lab in its Electron vehicle. And their launch platform is designed with mobility in mind, as the whole point is that it can be deployed responsively and globally on short notice. If Rocket Lab's launcher is a finely crafted and engineered supercar, Astra's is aiming to be a reliable, adequate daily compact commuter car. Next up for Astra in terms of key milestones is a launch planned for February 21 from Kodiak, Alaska -- an island spaceport owned and operated by Alaska Aerospace. The company has flown two suborbital test launches from this site, both in 2018, and both resulted in failures shortly following launch, so it's got a lot to prove with this latest forthcoming attempt. TechCrunch is hosting its first ever dedicated space event in 2020 TechCrunch Sessions: Space, happening June 25 in LA. Get your tickets now! 12.02.2020 LISTEN Rome, 11 February 2020 Heads of state, ministers, development leaders, and celebrities today called for greater investment in rural areas to accelerate progress to achieve a world free from poverty and hunger in the next 10 years. The call was made at the 43rd Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) attended by its 177 Member States. This comes at a time when hunger is rising. More than 820 million people go hungry every day, 736 million people still live in extreme poverty, and the wealth gap continues to widen. IFAD President Gilbert F. Houngbo called reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in 10 years an abstract vision, a distant mirage unless serious commitments are made to invest more in rural areas where 79 percent of the worlds poorest people and the vast majority of the hungry life. The road ahead is clear: the road to achieving the SDGs must run through rural areas, Houngbo said. We must travel to the end of that road and invest in the most marginalized people small-scale producers, women, youth and indigenous peoples to deliver on our SDG commitments. The President of the Republic of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, opened the two-day event. Like other countries in the Sahel region, Mali is struggling under the dual scourge of conflict and climate change, which is making bumper harvests practically insignificant against the food shortages the country faces, as farmers abandon their fields to escape the crisis. Mali will never give up. Neither us nor the other countries of the Sahel. We are bleeding but we shall prevail, Keita said, adding that IFAD has enabled a people faced with the worst kind of attacks to uphold their values and keep their dignity. Roberto Gualtieri, Italian Minister for Economy and Finance said the commitment to achieving a world without poverty and hunger was more urgent than ever because of climate change. He said the solution is in the unique mandate of IFAD working in the last mile of the value chain, improving economic prospects and food security in the most difficult contexts. Aksel Jakobsen, State Secretary of International Development for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also made an impassioned plea for immediate action calling IFAD a crucial partner to bend the curve of hunger. From Tonga to Timbuktu, smallholder farmers are struggling each day and this is totally unacceptable, Jakobsen said. Without food, there is no development. Together we need to take immediate action. This was echoed by Rodger Voorhies, who leads the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty, who said we need to move from an aspiration of change, to an action of change that we have promised to smallholders around the world. We have an obligation to focus our efforts and an opportunity to take action and change peoples lives, Voorhies continued. IFADs Youth Advocate, award-winning choreographer Sherrie Silver and Afrobeats music star Mr Eazi, who are using their fame to give voice to rural young people and to make farming cool, delivered the results of their Dance for Change campaign a virtual dance petition calling for more investment in rural young people which became a viral sensation with 102 million views. Investment in rural agriculture equals investments in eradicating gender inequality, equals investments in eradicating unemployment, said Mr Eazi who recently had two of his songs selected by Beyonce and featured on the latest Lion King soundtrack The Gift. This one point of action goes towards reaching our goals for the decade, he added. Sabrina Elba, the Canadian actress and model of Somalian descent, closed the day saying that along with her husband, actor Idris Elba, we are taking action and championing IFAD and zero hunger because we fully believe small-scale farmers can feed the world and should be at the forefront of the worlds attention. We cant change policy, but you can, she told the Member States. We cant invest more in IFAD but your governments can. We can all raise our voices and speak out for the poor rural people who are too often left behind. Investing in the future of rural people is an investment in our own future too. IFAD operates in remote rural areas and highly vulnerable regions, where few aid agencies or international financial institutions venture. Today IFAD launched its Twelfth Replenishment - a year-long consultative process during which IFADs Member States come together to agree on strategic directions and mobilize funds for IFAD to provide as concessional loans and grants to developing countries. The Income Tax Department's criminal investigation wing has identified 2000 Indian citizens who hold properties in Dubai but had failed to declare it in their IT returns. In its ongoing crackdown on black money ,the agency has identified Indian citizens who purchased properties in Dubai but failed to declare and explain the source of funds used to purchase these properties. It has been observed in the past few years that payments have been received as properties in overseas countries purchased and transferred through shell corporations to hide ill-gotten money or to evade income tax. The Income Tax Department has pulled up sleeves to track down those involved in major tax evasion and parking black money overseas. Dubai remains the closest and most sought after spot for parking black money. Of the 2,000 persons and companies identified, many are businessmen, top professionals and government officials. The I-T Department will initiate action against the accused under Black Money Act. Citizens found owning properties outside the country without explaining the source of funds or income for their purchase could be prosecuted under the Black Money Act. ALSO READ: FM Sitharaman talks 'Vivad Se Vishwas' scheme with industry representatives According to the Income-tax Act, under the Section FA (Foreign Assets), while filing the Income Tax returns one has to declare purchase and ownership of properties, assets, companies outside the country. I-T Department in the recent drive found that the 2,000 Indian nationals identified had failed to provide information on the same while filing I-T returns. Of the 2,000 citizens owning properties in Dubai, around 600 couldn't explain any source of funds or income or any documentation regarding payments made while buying the property. Those who haven't been able to explain the source of funds used for purchase of the properties could be prosecuted and their properties can be attached by the agency. Other than attachment of the property, they can face monetary penalty upto 300 per cent of the property value, and also face imprisonment under the Black Money Act. ALSO READ: Budget proposals on DDT, new income tax system not to impact mutual fund industry, says govt official The properties owned by Indians in Dubai has raised red flags as the modus operandi is used by money launderers, smugglers, underworld gangsters and drug traffickers to make payments to propel working for them. Of the 2,000 citizens identified, highest number of Indian nationals reside in Mumbai, followed by Kerala and Gujarat. The clause under Section FA (Foreign Assets) came into effect in the year 2011-12 and it has been mandatory since then for people owning properties outside India to declare it in their I-T returns. Those identified by the I-T Department could also face action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under under Section 4 of Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA). Recently the ED launched crackdown on black money parked overseas by tracking and identifying immovable assets overseas bought by Indian nationals illegally. ALSO READ: Finance Ministry declines to disclose Swiss bank accounts details of Indians The move is being carried out under rules laid down under the Section 4 of FEMA (Foregn Exchange Manipulation Act), 1999. The Section 4 of FEMA states that no person resident in India shall acquire, hold, own, possess or transfer any foreign exchange, foreign security or any immovable property situated outside India. On January 17, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the residence of a former chief engineer of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in connection with an inquiry related to FEMA. In the raids, the ED officials recovered documents related to purchase of a property in Dubai in an alleged illegal manner. The ex-BMC chief engineer was posted with some of the most crucial wings of the municipal corporation -- the building proposal department and development plan department. The agency did not disclose the name of the ex-BMC chief engineer but it has been learnt that he had superannuated around seven years ago from the municipal corporation. ED, in a statement, said incriminating documents with regard to illegal acquisition of a property held in Dubai was recovered during the search operation. ALSO READ: Atul Punj, Gautam Khaitan, Agarwal Family Trust sent notices by Switzerland for trusts in tax havens The former BMC chief engineer has stated that he had purchased the property in Dubai at 'Park Island, Bonaire Marsa, Dubai' measuring 89 square metre for Rs 70 lakh in 2012. The property is held jointly in his name, his spouse and son. The retired BMC officials couldn't furnish any documents which would help ascertain the value of the property and also couldn't provide details on how the payments were made to buy the property in Dubai. The citizens identified by the IT department are the same case as that of the BMC engineer booked under FEMA by ED. ALSO READ: I-T raids allegedly detect Rs 1,000 crore foreign assets of Bharat Hotels Group promoter Jyotsna Suri Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Wed, February 12, 2020 16:40 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206416cca 2 Health dementia,study,partner,romance Free New US research has found that having an optimistic partner could help you live a healthier life. Carried out by researchers from Michigan State University and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the new study looked at nearly 4,457 retired heterosexual couples over the age of 50 who had their optimism assessed at the start of the study. The participants also had their cognition measured every two years, undergoing up to five assessments over an 8-year period. The findings, published in the Journal of Personality, showed a small but positive association between the participants' own optimism and their cognitive functioning. Moreover, there was also a link between their partner's optimism and their own cognitive functioning, with the team finding that being in a couple with an optimistic person appeared to help prevent the onset of cognitive decline. The researchers found that optimistic people could help boost their partner's health by encouraging healthy habits that may reduce the risk factors leading to Alzheimer's disease, dementia and cognitive decline as they grow old together, such as encouraging them to start exercise or quit smoking. "We spend a lot of time with our partners," said William Chopik, co-author of the study. "They might encourage us to exercise, eat healthier or remind us to take our medicine. When your partner is optimistic and healthy, it can translate to similar outcomes in your own life. You actually do experience a rosier future by living longer and staving off cognitive illnesses." Read also: Eating too much spicy food may increase dementia risk: Study "We found that when you look at the risk factors for what predicts things like Alzheimer's disease or dementia, a lot of them are things like living a healthy lifestyle," Chopik said. "Maintaining a healthy weight and physical activity are large predictors. There are some physiological markers as well. It looks like people who are married to optimists tend to score better on all of those metrics." "There's a sense where optimists lead by example, and their partners follow their lead," continued Chopik, "While there's some research on people being jealous of their partner's good qualities or on having bad reactions to someone trying to control you, it is balanced with other research that shows being optimistic is associated with perceiving your relationship in a positive light." If you don't think you're a naturally optimistic person, Chopik has encouraging news, saying that although optimism may be in part hereditary, it can also be trained. "There are studies that show people have the power to change their personalities, as long as they engage in things that make them change," Chopik said. "Part of it is wanting to change. There are also intervention programs that suggest you can build up optimism." Topics : dementia study partner romance RICHMOND, Va. Local Virginia governments would have the power to remove Confederate monuments in their public spaces under legislation approved Tuesday by state lawmakers. In the two legislative sessions that followed a violent 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Republican lawmakers defeated bills that would have rewritten an existing war memorials law to allow the controversial statues to be removed. But the GOP in November lost control of the General Assembly, giving Democrats an opportunity to take another look at the statues that critics say distastefully glorify Virginias history as a slaveholding state. On Tuesday, largely along party lines, the Democrat-led House and Senate passed measures that would give cities and counties the autonomy to remove, relocate, contextualize, cover or alter the monuments. Del. Delores McQuinn, a Democrat from Richmond who sponsored the House bill, said it would let local communities decide for themselves how they want to memorialize history, whether its right in your face or they want to memorialize it in another way. Charlottesvilles proposed removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee helped spark the infamous 2017 gathering of white nationalists that descended into chaos. A white supremacist plowed his car into a group of counterprotesters, killing a woman. Many places around the country quickly responded by taking Confederate monuments down, but Virginia localities were hamstrung by the state law that prevents cities and counties from removing, damaging or defacing them. Charlottesville, which later also sought to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Thomas Stonewall Jackson, has been fighting the issue in court. Charlottesville officials are encouraged by the legislations progress, said city spokesman Brian Wheeler. If it is signed into law, the city will meet any procedural steps it requires to remove the Lee and Jackson statues, he said. The measures opponents, who compare removing Confederate monuments to erasing history, have raised concerns that the legislation could lead to a push to take down memorials to other controversial conflicts, such as the Vietnam War. Republican Del. Charles Poindexter said the measures send a tough message to every veteran or dead veterans family. Del. Jay Jones, who is black, said that many of the monuments were erected in the 20th century, decades after the Civil War had ended and during the throes of Jim Crow. He said people in Norfolk, his district, overwhelmingly want a Johnny Reb statue removed from a downtown square. Every time I drive past it which is every day to get to my law office my heart breaks a little bit, he said. Sarah Rankin is an Associated Press writer. President Donald Trump will travel to India later this month on a two-day visit, the White House announced on Tuesday, in what would be his first trip to the country as the president of the United States Washington: President Donald Trump will travel to India later this month on a two-day visit, the White House announced on Tuesday, in what would be his first trip to the country as the president of the United States. President @realDonaldTrump & @FLOTUS will travel to India from February 24-25 to visit Prime Minister @narendramodi! The trip will further strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership & highlight the strong & enduring bonds between the American & Indian people. The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 10, 2020 The president and First Lady Melania Trump will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad during the visit from 24 to 25 February, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said. His predecessor, Barack Obama, had travelled to India twice, in 2010 and 2015. During a phone call over the weekend, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed the trip would further strengthen the India-US strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people, she said. "President Trump's trip to India is timely in view of the bilateral trade issues that need to be resolved and in light of the collaborations between the US and India in various realms," MR Rangaswami, Indian-American philanthropist and head of Indiaspora, told PTI. Describing this as a significant visit, Mukesh Aghi, president of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum, noted that last three American presidents had made trips to India. "It's essential to send a message to the region that India is a significant partner and the president values that," Aghi told PTI. According to him, India has a role to play not only in its immediate neighbourhood but in making sure that the South China Sea and the Indo Pacific region is part of the international global order. To celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the Sikh community has inaugurated a 15-bed facility for cancer patients and their families at Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha at Chunabatti. Satnam Singh Dham, president of the Gurudwara at Chunabatti, said that the shelter for cancer patients is among the first in the city wherein added facilities such as an air-conditioned room have been provided. We had a basic facility, wherein we could accommodate five families in the premises of our Gurudwara, thats when we decided to upgrade and build a separate building for cancer patients. Here they could avail facilities such as food and stay at subsided rates of 400-500, said Dham. Around two years back, Guru Singh Sabha, Mumbai (Dadar Gurudwara), the apex body of gurudwaras in Mumbai, had announced that by November 2019, when the community celebrates the anniversary of Guru Nanak, they would set up 550 beds for cancer patients across the city. We have so far set up around 450 beds, the process is still on and we will complete the target of 550 very soon. We are following the teachings of Guru Nanak and helping those in need, said Manmohan Singh, general secretary of Sri Guru Singh Sabha. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Joaquin Phoenix took aim at the cruel practices of dairy farming in his Sunday night Oscars speech for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Joker. The statement was welcomed by the animal rights community and applauded by Chris DeRose, President & Founder of Last Chance for Animals (LCA). Earlier, Phoenix supported LCA by appearing in a poignant advocacy campaign to support the organizations efforts at ending animal research cruelty. Joaquin Phoenix speech granted a voice to the voiceless animals that suffer each day in cages, stalls and barns throughout the world, said Chris DeRose, President & Founder of Last Chance for Animals . Phoenix statement was an affirmation for every conscientious consumer who cares about the lives and well-being of animals. Animal Activists applauded Phoenix following the Oscars and noted that his statement resonated publicly as #JoaquinPhoenix continued to trend on Twitter two days after the curtain fell on the 2020 Oscars. Phoenix statement read, We go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable, Then, we take her milk thats intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal. ABOUT LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS: LCA is an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating animal exploitation through education, investigations, legislation, and public awareness campaigns. Since its formation in 1984, LCA has succeeded as one of the nation's pioneer animal advocacy groups. LCA's educational and public outreach programs have empowered the public to make positive changes for animals in their communities. For more information, visit https://www.lcanimal.org/. CONTACT: Kevin Mercuri kevin@propheta.com A video associated with this press release is available at the following address: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/099c2a0d-0f6b-4726-b748-4e65b391c7cb CLEVELAND, Ohio Playwright Lynn Nottage has a laundry basketful of accolades she is the first woman to win two Pulitzer Prizes for drama (Ruined [2009] and Sweat [2017]). She is a recipient of a MacArthur genius grant fellowship, has published 10 plays, and was one of Time magazines 2019 Top 100 people (along with Nancy Pelosi, Pope Francis, Michelle Obama, and LeBron James). Shes also been a very busy writer lately: In 2019, she premiered her newest play, Floyds, at the Guthrie, and wrote the book for the world premiere of the musical The Secret Life of Bees. She wrote the libretto for the upcoming world premiere of the musical MJ, featuring the music of Michael Jackson, which is scheduled to open this year at the Neil Simon Theater in New York. Theres even an upcoming 2020 opera version of her play Intimate Apparel, commissioned by The Met/Lincoln Center Theater, for which she wrote the libretto. Intimate Apparel is her most popular play. It is the story of Esther Mills, an African American seamstress in 1905 New York, and her relationships with two women for whom she crafts elaborate undergarments, her boarding house landlady, a Jewish fabric merchant from whom she buys her material and a pen pal/would-be-suitor from Barbados named George Armstrong. Never mind that Esther cant read and asks for help reading Armstrongs letters and writing her replies from her wealthy white client Mrs. Van Buren and her friend Mayme, who works as a prostitute in the Tenderloin. Mrs. Van Buren, trying to entice her husband to her boudoir in their childless marriage, hires Esther to create luxurious replicas of French corsets. Mayme, trying to entice men of a different sort, buys the very same corsets from Esther for her working-gal uniform. Nottage is known as a writer who deftly delves into issues of gender, class and race without making any of the three a plays central plot line. In Intimate Apparel, she is exploring these issues through the lives of socially isolated women dreaming of a better future and being caught short by day-to-day reality. The hope and pain of this dichotomy is evident in this Ensemble Theatre production. Director Sarah May uses a steady, easy pacing to tell this tale, and as the world of the play reveals itself, the events reach out to audience members and gathers them in like a comforting quilt. It is cast with a winning ensemble of actors, most notably Kimberly L. Brown as Esther. Her Esther has a quiet, determined and modest nobility. A spinster at 35, she has no illusions about her prospects or her lack of physical beauty. She dreams of opening a beauty parlor for colored ladies, and she has been stitching money into her crazy quilt for 18 years toward that end. Zyrece Montgomery as Mayme is a mercurial delight; at times brazen, nonchalant, funny and pointed. The two have a particularly touching scene when they share their dreams of the future: Esthers beauty parlor somewhere east of Amsterdam and Maymes dream of being a concert pianist on the world stage. But Mayme is a realist, and she tells Esther that her pen pal George is a fantasy, admonishing her, Youd rather a man all the way across the ocean than down Broadway. Are you expecting him to arrive in the mail like some tonic from a catalogue? She urges Esther to find a real man in the here and now. That here-and-now man could be Mr. Marks (Craig Joseph), the fabric merchant from whom Esther buys her cloth, and with whom she shares a common love of beautiful fabric. It is clear that sparks are flying between them, but he is white and Jewish, and these obstacles seem insurmountable. The scenes between Esther and Mr. Marks are tender and affecting, leaving us hoping that the two will somehow find love in a world where race and religion dont matter. The best scenes are between Esther and her two clients. There is a sisterhood born of girl talk while Esther is fitting corsets upon her clients in their intimate spaces, and the conversation feels easy and familial as the two help Esther in her epistolary courtship with Armstrong. Events shatter this camaraderie when Mrs. Van Burens white privilege causes her to overstep social mores and Maymes self-interest destroys their friendship. When these friendships unravel, the audience feels the burden of Esthers hard life of piece work and her deep loneliness. She is beleaguered by turn-of-the-20th-century race and class expectations and has no place in which she can truly belong. As Ensemble Theatre often does, the scenic choices are smart projections, this time of New York in the early 20th century. Ian Hinzs set, light and projection design indicates the rooms in which the scenes are played: Esthers boarding house sewing room, Mrs. Van Burens dressing room, Maymes flophouse and Mr. Marks fabric shop. The set is a series of platforms dressed with furniture, and the play moves quickly from each scene with the help of transitional ragtime music composed/played by Edward Ridley Jr. Cleveland is a theater town, and its theatergoers are not only generous but smart. We know that smaller theaters such as Ensemble do not have extensive budgets for sets and costumes, or entire casts of Equity actors. Were willing to forgive instances of actors that are only adequate to their tasks, furniture and props that arent all period-specific, and an ill-fitting costume or two. It was, however, impossible to overlook the costume design by Katie Atkinson and Jill Kenderas. Intimate Apparel is a play about a gifted seamstress who loves beautiful fabric. During the course of the play, she designs three corsets, a smoking jacket, a mans suit and a wedding dress. The corsets were lovely, and their accompanying lingerie were appropriate. But the smoking jacket, the wedding dress and the mans suit were unattractive, badly constructed and not adequately fitted to the actors bodies. Two of the productions costumes were so unattractive that they took my attention away, reminding me of the famous Carol Burnett sketch with Scarlett OHaras dress made of curtains, curtain rod and rings included. Something simpler and plainer would have sufficed. It would have been better to ask the audience to use their imaginations to create finery, rather than taking them out of the world of the play with unflattering costumes. That said, Intimate Apparel is a poignant and thought-provoking play filled with many plot surprises, given a solid production by Ensemble Theatre. McGee is a professor of theater at Case Western Reserve University. REVIEW Intimate Apparel What: An Ensemble Theatre production of the New York Drama Critics Circle Award-winning play. Directed by Sara May. When: Through Sunday, Feb. 16. Where: 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleveland Heights. Tickets: $12-$29. Go to ensemble-theatre.org or call 216-321-2930. Approximate running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, with a 10-minute intermission. (TNS) Facial recognition technology is already used by several agencies in California's Inland Empire, and the Chino, Calif., Police Department is considering using the technology in the future. The department is holding a public forum Wednesday evening to get feedback from the community on any concerns residents might have about the technology.Chino police said in a news release earlier this month that the department will host the forum to discuss privacy issues and policy; and to seek public feedback.The technology would be used when there is a picture of a suspect, but their identity is unknown, police said. It would not be used with cameras worn by officers.Wednesdays meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Chino Police Departments Community Room, at 5450 Guardian Way.The software attempts to match key features in a photo of a reported suspects face with booking photos for people previously arrested, police said in a statement. Only booking photos will be used for comparison. The software will then provide the investigator with potential matches providing investigative leads only.Police said the technology can be used to narrow down a list of suspects in a crime, but investigators will have to decide if a lead is appropriate to follow. The facial recognition technology cant be used for probable cause to make an arrest.Sgt. Dustin Tomicic, spokesman for the Chino Police Department, said the department would use facial recognition technology in a similar way that it uses eyewitness testimony or fingerprint scanning. A match would not directly lead to an arrest, but would be used as part of the investigation.The technology can also be used to identify a person who isnt able to identify themselves, police said. That can include people who are incapacitated, dead, critically missing or otherwise at-risk.Ryan Railsback, officer and spokesman for the Riverside Police Department, said his department uses technology from the Riverside County Sheriffs Department to match photos and fingerprints.Aly Mejia, spokeswoman for the Pomona Police Department, said her department uses identification programs provided by the Los Angeles and San Bernardino county sheriffs departments.Lt. Scott Landen, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, said all law enforcement agencies in the county are able to use its facial recognition technology services.Landen noted that the Sheriffs Department cannot search the DMV or social media sites. It only searches through booking photos.The technology doesnt search the face, per se, Landen said. A booking photo is uploaded into the software, and it measures the face. It measures 60 to 70 points in a face, then creates a template.The computer doesnt specifically see faces, it just sees measurements and it can give a list of hundreds of names and photos, he said.Tomicic said the Chino department is looking at a variety of vendors that supply facial recognition software specifically for law enforcement. He was crowned the winner of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia earlier this month. And on Thursday, celebrity chef Miguel Maestre finally returned Down Under after spending five weeks in the South African jungle. Upon arrival, the 40-year-old star shared a sweet video of fans greeting him at Sydney International Airport as he made his way through the terminal. Scroll down for video 'Home sweet home!': Miguel Maestre (pictured) received a warm welcome from fans as he arrived back Down Under on Thursday after being crowned the winner of I'm A Celebrity... 'OMG paparazzi's and all haha, the king of the jungle is home!' he began his caption. He continued: 'The king of the jungle is home! Raising awareness and the $100,000 that will go a long way.' Moments later, he shared a video of him making his way to the car park, accompanied by his child Morgan, five, as he spoke on his iPhone. 'There's nothing in the world [better] than arriving home after 40 days in the jungle. Here we are, we made it!' he was heard saying. Daddy! 'There's nothing in the world [better] than arriving home after 40 days...' said Miguel Cute: Moments later, he shared a video of him making his way to the car park, accompanied by his child Morgan, five, as he spoke on his iPhone Miguel's Instagram post quickly attracted the likes of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! hosts Julia Morris and Dr. Chris Brown. Julia wrote: 'Welcome home Lovely,' while Chris cheekily penned: 'Congrats mate. Can I just confirm the suitcase full of dreams made it through customs ok?' Meanwhile, fellow Living Room presenter Barry Du Bois wrote: 'We are all very proud of you, now lets get to work so I can pay off my phone bill.' Worthy cause: Miguel competed to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention charity, R U OK?, where he picked up a grand prize of $100,000 It comes after the chef broke down in tears as he claimed the title of King of the Jungle, with monies raised going towards suicide prevention charity, R U OK?. Retired AFL star Dale Thomas, 32, placed runner-up for his charity Camp Quality, and musical theatre veteran Rhonda Burchmore, 59, in third for Neuroscience Research Australia. Miguel shed tears during the show when he as he was reunited with his wife Sascha Newport, and their two children, daughter Claudia, nine, and Morgan, five. Tens of thousands of Kenyans on Tuesday thronged the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi where the state funeral service of Kenyas second President and iconic leader Mzee Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was held. The mourners led by President Uhuru Kenyatta were joined by African Heads of State and Government and delegations from across the world. President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Omar Hassan Guelleh (Djibouti), Brahim Ghali (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic), Sahle Work-Zewde (Ethiopia) and Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were among the leaders who attended the funeral service. Others were special representatives of many nations including Namibia, United Kingdom, Qatar as well as foreign envoys based in Nairobi. The visiting Heads of State and Government were given an opportunity to view the body of Mzee Moi and pay their final respects to the long serving Kenyan leader. Before arriving at Nyayo National Stadium, the funeral procession went to State House, Nairobi where Mzees body was received by President Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta in a rare military tradition. President Kenyatta and the other leaders who addressed the mourners said the former President was a peacemaker and a patriotic son of Africa. As an avid Peacemaker, Statesman, Pan-Africanist and Champion for a more United and Just world, Mzee Moi spearheaded a number of initiatives that brought lasting peace within our region and beyond, said President Kenyatta. The People of Uganda, the Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, can all testify to the peace and diplomacy initiatives brought under the stewardship of Mzee Moi, added the President. President Kenyatta said Mzee Moi brought peace and stability to many nations through the contributions Kenya made through peacekeeping. Mzee Moi saw our Defence Forces not merely as an Organ for defending Kenya, but also as a powerful force for good that could contribute to protecting the most vulnerable of humanity from the ravages of civil war and strife, he said. The Head of State said the second president of the nation will be remembered for guiding Kenya into political maturity, noting that it was under his rule that Kenya reintroduced multiparty democracy. President Kenyatta said Mzee Moi sealed his credentials as a true statesman when he oversaw a smooth transition of power in 2002 when his party KANU lost power. In doing so, not only did the Second President set a first that continues to be the benchmark to this very day, but he also elevated his stature to that of a great patriot and statesman, said President Kenyatta. He said even though Mzee Moi has passed on, his legacy will live in each and every Kenyan. Indeed, we come, not so much to mourn the passing of a man but to celebrate the life of a Giant of history, the President said. President Museveni said he dealt with Moi from the time his National Resistance Movement came into power in 1986 and has known him, over the years, to be a patriot who truly loved his country and the East African region. The Ugandan leader recounted how Mzee Moi helped resolve a diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Uganda during his early days in leadership saying Mzee Moi had a forgiving heart and was always ready to reconcile with those with whom he had differences. President Guelleh said Moi was an outstanding Panafricanist and was the founding father of intergovernmental agency for development (IGAD). President Kagame also described Moi as a peace-loving leader while former Tanzanian Presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete eulogised Mzee Moi as a larger than life icon. Moi has lived his life, we should live his legacy, said former President Kikwete. Former President Mkapa read a condolence message from Tanzanian President John Joseph Pombe Magufuli in which the Tanzanian leader recalled former President Mois leading role in the revival of the East African Community. Deputy President Dr William Ruto described Moi as a genuine leader who was a mentor to many leaders. Mzee Moi was a Panafricanist, a great statesman, selfless leader and father of the nation, Dr Ruto said. The Deputy President said Moi was always genuine in his actions and always meant to do what is best for the country. He was always genuine, always meant the best for Kenya. He was a true nationalist and patriot, the Deputy President said. Former Prime Raila Odinga, who was accompanied by his brother Oburu Oginga, said Moi was a forgiving person. He said Moi will be remembered for the good things he did. Mzee Mois family described him as a loving father with Rongai MP Raymond Moi reading an eulogy on behalf of his siblings. Baringo Senator Gideon Moi also gave his tribute and described the former President as a loving and dedicated father to him and his siblings. Mzee Moi will be buried on Wednesday at his Kabarak home in Nakuru County. -PSCU Andrew Gimsons PMQs sketch: We wait for a new Opposition leader to take the fight to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson is doing too well. The audience for PMQs in the press gallery is in decline because the expectation that he will get into any kind of difficulty is diminishing. Jeremy Corbyn suggested the Prime Minister is a racist, who has learned absolutely nothing from the Windrush scandal and is more inclined to deport a black criminal than a white criminal the latter made to sound like Johnson himself, as traduced at the dinner tables of Islington. Johnson retorted that Corbyn demeans himself and besmirches the reputation of the Windrush generation by conflating its members, who worked so hard to rebuild Britain after the war, with the criminals being deported to Jamaica. Corbyn as usual shifted his ground he has never mastered the art of sticking to one point and denounced this countrys one-sided extradition treaty with the USA. Johnson, with the agility which is one of his distinguishing features, shifted his ground too. He agreed with Corbyn that there are elements of that relationship that are unbalanced. Honesty is often the best policy: otherwise one finds oneself defending the indefensible. The Prime Minister was as ebullient today as on Tuesday, when he delivered his statement on HS2. Martin Vickers (Con, Cleethorpes) complained at PMQs that HS2 raises little enthusiasm among his constituents, for it does little to improve connectivity to Cleethorpes, and proceeded to itemise at excessive length the rail improvements required by Cleethorpes. Johnson sounded amused rather than wearied by this. He said the voice of Cleethorpes has been heard, and had made a vivid and compelling case words that will have delighted Vickers, while also entertaining the House. Next week the House will not be sitting, but the week after that we can expect to see Corbyn take on Johnson again, and once again fail to make any kind of impact. The new Labour leader will not be announced until 4th April, soon after the start of the Easter recess, so will not be in action against Johnson at PMQs until 22nd April. But he or she had better start thinking now how to hold this Prime Minister to account. Commentary By Mata Press Service The mining industry in British Columbia is facing a crisis of confidence due to increasing red tape and social licence issues that has dampened investor confidence. This sentiment was clear at the recent Association for Mineral Explorations (AME) 2020 Roundup convention, which brought together more than 5,000 delegates from industry, government and First Nations. Despite this prevailing perception, fuelled by the fact that no new mines have opened In British Columbia in the last two years, mining continues to be a mainstay of the provincial economy. According to the latest government data available, direct employment in B.C.s mineral sector accounted for 38,440 jobs; production estimates for major commodities mined in the province was $8.8 billion while industry mineral exploration spending totalled $246 million. In the wake of the AME convention, a BC Chamber of Commerce survey found British Columbians understand the important contribution mining and other natural resources to their economic well-being. Even among individuals who are not connected to the sector, theres a deep appreciation for the role natural resources play in driving BCs prosperity, the survey found. The survey designed to gauge public perceptions on natural resource development, polled 1,000 individuals with half of respondents having no ties to the resource sector, while the other half having either worked in natural resources or had a family member or acquaintance affiliated with the sector. Among the survey findings: 55% of respondents said natural resources were crucial to the BC economy, while another 43% considered them very important; 86% of people either strongly agreed or agreed that a strong resource sector helps create a vibrant economic base in BC on which we can grow other parts of the economy; A majority of respondents (81%) acknowledged that revenue from natural resources helps pay for provincial social programs such as health care and education; 75% of people agreed that the provincial government should encourage more investment in BCs natural resource sector 78% of respondents saying they would like BC to more aggressively promote its low-carbon advantage globally; and 65% percent of British Columbians said they would encourage young people to work in natural resources. One number in this survey stands out close to half the respondents said they would like to see mining become more important for B.C. This is a testament that British Columbians recognize the integral role mining plays in driving the provincial economy and supports increased investment in the sector to encourage sustainable resource development. Given our treasure trove of mineral deposits and our long history of mining, we have an unmatched expertise in this natural resource industry. We have some of the world's most rigorous regulations that impact all stages of our mining industry from exploration, planning and permitting to development, production and reclamation. Additionally, BC's mining companies are among the lowest Green House Gas (GHG) emission-intensive in the world, having committed to a lower carbon future. What we need now is increased certainty over tenures, clarity over regulatory excellence and speed in permitting. That will make B.C. the top jurisdiction in the world for mining and mineral exploration. JOHNS CREEK, Ga., Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saia, Inc. (SAIA) is pleased to announce that Saia LTL Freights Madison, Wisconsin terminal had the highest percentage of employees, 85%, volunteer during the companys National Day of Service. To recognize their enthusiasm and volunteer spirit, team members were recently awarded with a commemorative sweatshirt. Held last December 14, Saias National Day of Service coincided with National Wreaths Across America Day, where employees across the carriers network participated in wreath-laying ceremonies at cemeteries around the nation. In addition to laying wreaths, Saia also provided transportation services and select drivers were able to assist in hauling wreaths. By placing wreaths on the graves of U.S. military veterans at more than 1,600 national cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery, Wreaths Across America (WAA) strives each year to remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children about freedom. As a nonprofit organization that receives no government funding, WAA continually recruits and works closely with thousands of volunteers who organize local ceremonies, raise funds to sponsor wreaths, and participate in events. "We are proud to recognize our Madison team members for their efforts during a time that is typically very busy for most everyone," said Saia Vice President of Safety and Human Resources Karla Staver. "In doing so, they helped honor and remember the sacrifices made by our nations military veterans." Each year, close to two million wreaths are placed by the nonprofit by more than two million volunteers nationwide. Since forming a partnership with WAA, Saias National Day of Service has been an enormous success thanks to the support of its employees. Over 3,000 Saia personnel and family members have volunteered to lay wreaths in honor of the nations veterans. About Saia, Inc. Saia, Inc. (SAIA) offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services. With headquarters in Johns Creek, Georgia, Saia LTL Freight operates 168 terminals across the country and employs over 10,500 people nationwide. Saia LTL Freight has been recognized by the American Trucking Associations Safety Management Council for its outstanding safety record. For more information on Saia, Inc., visit www.saia.com. Story continues For more information, contact: Jeannie S. Jump Saia Corporate Communications Phone: 770-232-4069 E-mail jjump@saia.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03601491-64c0-4ef9-be7f-eaae628d0b4f The nanny of the autistic eight-year-old boy who died of hypothermia after he was beaten and left out in a garage overnight by his 'abusive' NYPD cop father last month, says the child was verbally and physically abused. Nanny Amanda Wildman used to babysit the children of 15-year veteran police officer Michael Valva, 40, who lived with his fiancee Angelina Pollina, 42, in Long Island. Valva had three sons from a previous marriage and Pollina had three daughters and they tried to present themselves as a happy family like The Brady Bunch, Wildman claims. On Friday Valva and Pollina were charged with second-degree murder for the death of Valva's son Thomas who died on January 17 after he was allegedly starved, beaten and locked outside the home in freezing temperatures. Wildman worked for the Valva family from 2017 to 2018 and reveals in a Dr. Oz show interview to air Wednesday that she saw the boys in the family were subject to intense verbal abuse and brainwashed to hate their biological mom. Amanda Wildman, who was a nanny for Thomas Valva and his siblings in 2017 to 2018, claimed she saw verbal and physical abuse in the Valva household in long Island 'They were, you know everybody says more the boys than the girls, but they were all verbally abusive. They all got verbally abused,' Wildman tells Dr. Oz in an interview to air Wednesday. She claims on one occasion she saw bite marks on Thomas 'What were you observing in your time with Thomas and the rest of the children that was alarming to you?' Oz asks in an exclusive clip shared with DailyMail.com. 'They were, you know everybody says more the boys than the girls, but they were all verbally abusive. They all got verbally abused,' she said. She claims Pollina was the big abuser in the home who punished the kids for little things like not finishing their food. The kids would be told to sit on the couch and remain there, even if they had to use the restroom. 'If they didn't finish their food or they got caught throwing out their food, they got in trouble and they were told to go sit on the couch and they weren't allowed to get up until she said,' Wildman said. 'She told them, "I don't care if you have to go to the bathroom, you're to remain on that couch until said otherwise."' When asked if she ever saw the kids injured, Wildman said: 'I did.' She revealed the boys were brainwashed to hate their biological mother Justyna Zubko-Valva and blame her for any abuse they suffered. 'I witnessed Thomas telling me a story saying that Justynas grandfather had bitten him. Id seen the bite mark and now that I look back to the videos and everything that everybody's posting, you see it - You could hear Mike in the car chanting, "We love daddy. We love Angela." Ya know, "We hate mommy."' 'So it's like whatever was beaten into their head was beaten so bad that they were telling me like graphic stories. And I met Justyna. She's a wonderful lady like. Its so- I wish we could have connected before all of this happened. I wish somehow I knew she was fighting,' she said. Last month eight-year-old autistic boy Thomas Valva died of hypothermia after his parents forced him to sleep in a garage in freeing temperatures overnight His father NYPD cop Michael Valva, 40, and his fiancee Angelina Pollina face second-degree murder charges for Thomas' death. They lived together with their kids in Long Island Wildman warned the public not to trust Pollina, who has portrayed her husband as the big abuser in the family, though she is also under investigation for abuse. 'When I was there it was almost the opposite.And you know it's funny because she's trying to portray herself as like this victim of Mike. Meanwhile, she was the runner of it all,' Wildman explained. 'Like anything she said to do, Mike followed in her footsteps,' Wildman added. Now Pollina and Valva face second-degree murder charges for the death of their son Thomas, 'because they engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death to this child,' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart told reporters during a press conference. They forced the child to sleep in the garage in frigid 19-degree weather, investigators said. Valva called police on the morning of January 17 claiming that his son fell in the driveway while waiting for the school bus, hit his head, and became unconscious. When cops arrived the boy's body temperature was just 76 degrees. He was was transported to a hospital and declared dead. Valva and Pollina lived together with their combined six kids. Thomas, a six year old boy, a 10 year old boy, 11-year-old girl twins and an eight-year-old daughter, authorities say. All five of those kids have been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services. Hart said investigators believe Thomas and his 10-year-old brother were subjected to severe punishment including 'food deprivation and exposure to extremely frigid temperatures.' Valva had three sons from a previous marriage and Pollina had three daughters and they tried to present themselves as a happy family like The Brady Bunch, Wildman claims Michael Valva's Center Moriches, Long Island home pictured above 'We are still investigating the extent of the abuse and if it extended to all of the children,' Hart said. At the time of Thomas' death he and his brothers were living with their father after he gained custody of the kids in 2017 following a heated battle in court. Wildman said she knew that Child Protective Services were involved with the family. Valva told her it was because their mother was abusive. Justyna Zubko-Valva, Thomas' biological mother, repeatedly fought for custody of the three boys and warned that Valva was abusive In the months leading up to Thomas death, 17 calls were made to a child abuse hotline about the boys, records obtained by the New York Post reveal. Thomas' worried teachers had called a state abuse hotline about 20 times reporting that that he and his 10-year-old brother Anthony arrived to school hungry, and bore signs of physical abuse. In one instance the boys brought urine-soaked backpacks to school. Child Protective Services visited Valva's home three times from 2018 to 2019. Valva has been suspended from the police force in light of the allegations and charges and an investigation into the abuse is underway in Suffolk County. Human cruelty knows no bounds. Someone has been killing dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico for no known reason. According to a report, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found a dead dolphin last week off the coast of Naples - it was shot in the face with a gun or spear. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced a $20,000 reward for information or leads on people involved. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration These cases can rarely be solved without the public, people coming forward and saying they might have seen something and we can follow up on that, Jacksonville quoted Tracy Dunn, assistant director of NOAAs Southeast law enforcement division, as saying. FWC found another dolphin last week off the Panhandle, that had been shot in the side, and another dolphin was found shot in Captiva last year. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Bottlenose dolphins are loved by tourists and residents alike, and they are most common and popular on the coast of Southwest Florida. Its against federal law to feed or harass dolphins, and penalties can include a $100,000 fine and up to one year in jail. Unsplash One cannot fathom the reason why someone would kill these benign and friendly creatures, who are known loved for their nature and intelligence. The culprit(s) should be given the punishment of the highest order, for hurting creatures who do not have the means to defend themselves. 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. FibroGen, Inc. FGEN announced that the FDA has accepted its new drug application (NDA) for roxadustat. The company is seeking approval of roxadustat for the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in both non-dialysis-dependent (NDD) and dialysis-dependent (DD) patients. The application will be considered filed on Feb 18, 2020. The FDA has set an action date of Dec 20, 2020 for the same. Shares of the company have decreased 22.4% compared with the industrys 0.3% decline in the past year. We note that roxadustat has already been approved in China for treating anemiain CKD patients who are dialysis-dependent and NDD patients. It has also been approved in Japan for the treatment of dialysis patients with anemia of CKD. Roxadustat a first-in-class hypoxia-inducible-factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor is being jointly developed by AstraZeneca Plc AZN and FibroGen in the United States,China, and other markets in the Americas, Australia/New Zealand, as well as Southeast Asia.The drug is also jointly developed by FibroGen and Astellas in Japan, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East and South Africa. Astellas also plans to file a marketing authorization application with the European Medicines Agency in first-half 2020. The NDA was supported by positive results from a phase III study including more than 8,000 patients. The filing of the roxadustat NDA has triggered a $50-million milestone payment from AstraZeneca to FibroGen. Roxadustat is also in a phase II/III development in China for anemia associated with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and phase II study for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in the United States. FibroGen, Inc Price FibroGen, Inc Price FibroGen, Inc price | FibroGen, Inc Quote Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to Consider FibroGen currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked stocks from the healthcare space include Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc. PCRX and KalVista Pharmaceuticals Inc. KALV, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Story continues Paciras earnings per share estimates have increased from $1.53 to $1.55 for 2019 and from $2.11 to $2.19 for 2020 in the past 60 days. The company delivered a four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 35.4%, on average. KalVistas loss per share estimates have narrowed from $1.83 to $1.63 for 2020 and from $2.78 to $2.74 for 2021 in the past 60 days. The company delivered a four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 30.02%, on average. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks 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 AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PCRX) : Free Stock Analysis Report FibroGen, Inc (FGEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (KALV) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Virginia House Approves Assault Weapons Ban Virginia lawmakers on Feb. 11 passed legislation that would would redefine assault firearms and ban their sale and transfer in the U.S. state. The vote on H.B. 961 was passed by a narrow margin of 51-48, The Wall Street Journal reported. It will now go to the Senate, where a more stringent version of the proposed law was withdrawn earlier in the session. House Bill 961 expands the definition of an assault weapon and bans anyone from purchasing or selling certain semi-automatic firearms, including AR-15 style rifles. The legislation also makes it a Class 6 felony to import, sell, transfer, manufacture, purchase, possess, or transport large-capacity firearm magazines, silencers, and trigger activators, all defined in the bill. It also forbids anyone in certain Virginia localities from carrying a shotgun with a magazine that will hold more than seven rounds of the longest ammunition. If the bill is passed by the Senate, it would be a Class 6 felony from July 1, however anyone in possession of a large-capacity firearm magazine, silencer, or trigger activator has until Jan. 1, 2021 to render them inoperable, remove the weapon from Virginia, transfer it to a person outside of Virginia who is not prohibited from possessing it, or surrender it to the police. Class 6 felonies in Virginia are punishable by one to five years in jail or up to 12 months in jail and a fine of $2,500, according to Criminal Defense Lawyer. However, the bill states that any individual who legally owns an assault firearm on this date may retain possession of it if they obtain a permit from the Department of State Police to possess an assault firearm in accordance with procedures established in the bill. This legislation, just like other bills passed by the House this year, is intended to make Virginians safer every day, House Democrats said in a statement after the vote. VA House Dems will continue to listen to the voters mandate from November to support gun violence prevention efforts, they added. Supporters say the proposed legislation is a response to mass shootings. Seven other states already have laws prohibiting assault-style weapons, including New York and California. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Fifty-nine contacts of the countrys first three confirmed cases of novel coronavirus are suspected of having the new viral disease now called COVID-19, a health official said Wednesday as authorities brace for the possibility of local transmission. Of this number, 44 people came in contact with the Chinese couple from Wuhan the Chinese city at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, while the rest were contacts of the third case the 60-year-old Chinese woman, also from Wuhan, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said in a briefing. Domingo said they all showed red flag symptoms of the new viral infection first discovered in China. A total of 277 of the 455 contacts of the pair have been tracked down by government authorities. On the other hand, 246 out of 731 contacts of the elderly Chinese woman who went back to China on January 31, were traced. Of that number, 149 reported they had travel history to China, and were quarantined in their homes, Domingo said. The official said the number of contacts of the third case is higher than the first two cases because the DOHs epidemiology bureau included all her co-passengers in the flight from Cebu to Tagbilaran in the tally. Over half of people under watch COVID-19 negative As of Wednesday noon, more than half of people under watch for possible infection have already tested negative for COVID-19. The DOH said 208 of the 408 people they are keeping an eye on as possible virus carriers have yielded negative results. They will be discharged soon, Domingo said. Of the running total, 238 are currently admitted to various hospitals and classified as patients under investigation" or PUIs those who exhibit signs of the new viral infection as well as had history of travel to China or contact with confirmed cases. The department added that 165 PUIs have already been discharged. DOH said that people under watch include 240 Filipinos, 98 Chinese, 18 Americans, four Finnish, 3 Germans, one Brazilian, one British, one French, one Italian, one Japanese, one South Korean, one Kiwi, one Dutch and one Taiwanese. The overall figure of those "under investigation" and "under monitoring" includes the Philippines' first three confirmed cases and the two PUIs who died due to other causes. One of the three confirmed cases a 44-year-old Chinese man who died in Manila was the first COVID-2019 fatality outside of mainland China. Domingo added that the agency is ramping up efforts in the event of a local transmission of the disease. So far, all confirmed cases in the country have come from China. "We always have that at the back of our minds that it will happen, it can happen thats why were preparing our hospitals to make sure that kung dumami talaga 'yung cases [if the number of cases increase] and we might have to change strategies, dapat ready tayo [we have to be ready]," said the health official. He said they will follow Singapore's lead in changing strategies. Singapore already recorded cases of local transmission of COVID-19, Domingo noted. "Kapag ang bansa nagkaroon na ng local transmission katulad ng Singapore nagshishift. Kapag ncov ka, sa bahay ka na lang, inaadmit na lang severe cases hindi na lahat tinetest. Ang tinetest mo na lang talagang high risk," he explained. [Translation: If a local transmission occurs in the country, just like Singapore, this means a shift. If you have COVID-19, just stay at home and we will admit only the severe cases and not everyone will be tested. We will only test those at high-risk.] Domingo also reported that there are no more PUIs resisting hospital admission. Last week, the official said nine PUIs have refused to be admitted to a hospital. This prompted Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to appeal to the suspected cases to help authorities stop the spread of the COVID-19. By IANS WASHINGTON: Well ahead of his first visit to India, US President Donald Trump said that he is willing to sign a trade deal with India if it is the right one. Speaking to the media at his Oval office on Tuesday, Trump said: "I am looking forward to the first visit to India this month. They (Indians) want to do something and we'll see... if we can make the right deal, (we) will do it." Trump will be in India on February 24-25 on an invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier in the day, sources said the government is organising the event 'Kem Chho, Trump', the Gujarati equivalent of the Texas event 'Howdy Modi', in Ahmedabad for President Trump and his wife Melania. In a tweet, Modi hinted at the ongoing preparations for Trump's two-day visit. "Extremely delighted that POTUS Donald Trump and First Lady will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-US friendship," Modi tweeted. Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2020 Sources said Trump and Modi will do a roadshow from Ahmedabad airport and visit the Sabarmati Ashram to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Later, Trump will inaugurate Ahmedabad's newly-constructed Sardar Patel Stadium with a seating capacity of over 100,000 people. The 'Kem Chho, Trump' event will be held at the stadium. Trump is likely to sign a limited trade deal with Modi ahead of the US Presidential election later this year. He hopes to draw votes from the Indian diaspora in the US. New York, US (PANA) - Promoting education for adolescent girls is an indispensable foundation for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared at the launch event of the "Drive for 5" education initiative at UN Headquarters on Tuesday, hosted by the Irish Mission to the United Nations [February 12, 2020] Speck Announces New Presidio Perfect-Clear Cases for Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra SAN MATEO, California, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Speck announced its line of Presidio cases for the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra, including its brand new Presidio Perfect-Clear line. The most protective clear cases that Speck has ever designed, Perfect-Clear, Perfect-Clear with Impact Geometry, and Perfect-Clear with Grips feature an innovative crystal clear coating that's guaranteed to resist yellowing and discoloration. Available now on speckproducts.eu the full assortment for the Galaxy S20 series also includes favorites Presidio Pro and Presidio Grip. Designed to show off the phone's beauty without compromising on clarity, the Presidio Perfect-Clear line now gives clear case users a variety of different styles and functions. The new perfect clear coating is guaranteed to prevent discoloration or yellowing for the lifetime of your device. Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips combines the best of both worlds: a clear case o show off the device, with the Speck signature grip design to make the case easier to hold to prevent drops before they happen. The no-slip grips on the back of the case now provide extra durable grip for texting and photography. Perfect-Clear with Impact Geometry includes a proprietary clear phone-cushioning rubber around the perimeter of the case to provide extreme impact protection you can see. All Speck Presidio cases for the Galaxy S20 series are engineered to withstand drops of up to 4 metres without adding bulk to the device. Each case features a raised bezel to protect the device screen from scratching and shattering and also includes Microban antimicrobial protection to prevent bacterial growth, keeping your case cleaner, fresher, longer. The Speck assortment for Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra includes: Presidio Perfect-Clear (29.95 - 34.95) -- New, innovative clear coating guarantees protection against yellowing and discoloration. Presidio Perfect-Clear with Impact Geometry (29.95 - 34.95) New design showcases the clear impact geometry that provides unparalleled impact protection. Presidio Perfect-Clear with Grips (29.95 - 34.95) New combination of clear protection with no-slip grips makes the case easier to hold. Presidio Pro (29.95 - 34.95) -- Protective, slim case with a soft-touch finish that provides an enhanced look and feel. Presidio Grip (29.95 - 34.95) -- Raised rubber ridges provide a confidence-boosting grip, designed for better gaming, texting, and photography. Speck cases for the Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra start at 29.95 and are available at speckproducts.eu. About Speck Speck creates award-winning cases designed to make an impactand take one. Since 2001, we've been making distinctive products for the world's top smartphones, tablets and laptops. We deliver a balance of artful design and drop-tested protection, for a difference you can see and feel. Our roots are in the heart of Silicon Valley, at the intersection of design and technology, inspiring us to craft masterfully-engineered products. We believe that excellence is in the details, so our cases go beyond superior protection with beautiful design, sleek lines, and purposeful features. We create cases that enable you to go more places and enjoy more from your mobile devices. Get to know us at speckproducts.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089683/Speck_Products_Samsung_Galaxy_S20_Cases.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/178443/speck_logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Reese McGuire of the Toronto Blue Jays was arrested last weekend for the exposure of sexual organs. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) This is certainly not the kind of first day of spring training story that the Toronto Blue Jays hoped would be coming out as pitchers and catchers report to Dunedin, Florida in advance of the 2020 season. Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire was arrested last weekend for the exposure of sexual organs and given a notice to appear in court, according to Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, reports Sportsnets Shi Davidi. In a statement, the Blue Jays acknowledged their awareness of the situation. The Toronto Blue Jays are aware of the recent police incident involving catcher Reese McGuire. He has been in communication with the Blue Jays and we are working to gather more information. Out of respect for the legal process, neither he nor the club will comment any further at this time. According to reports, McGuire was inside an SUV in a parking lot in Dunedin on Friday afternoon at the time of the incident. McGuire enters spring as the presumptive favourite to be half of the teams catching tandem with Danny Jansen. McGuire, who turns 25 on March 2, appeared in 30 games with the Blue Jays last season, posting a .299/.346/.526 batting line. He is due to appear at the Criminal Court Complex in Clearwater on March 16. More Blue Jays coverage from Yahoo Sports A second batch of foreign diplomats reached Jammu and Kashmir to take a note of the ground situation in the region, half a year after the Parliament scrapped the erstwhile state's special status and split it into two Union Territories. The second batch included diplomats from across 25 countries including--Germany, Canada, France and Afghanistan. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats visiting the Kashmir valley within a month. The delegation includes diplomats from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland, and Rwanda. The delegation met with fruit growers in North Kashmir before reaching Srinagar, wherein they are scheduled to meet media representatives, civil society groups and politicians. Earlier on Wednesday, photographs of the envoys sailing in Dal Lake was shared by news agency ANI. READ| Mehbooba Mufti's PSA dossier mentions 'daddy's girl' and 'Kota Rani' as charges Envoy to meet Indian Army The Indian Army is expected to brief the visiting diplomats on the security situation in the Kashmir valley, and would also be giving a detailed presentation on Pakistan's involvement in propelling terror in the newly formed Union Territory. According to reports, the envoys will stay for the night in Srinagar before moving to Jammu next day where they are expected to meet Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and civil society groups. The Foreign Ministry notified that the group is visiting Baramulla, Srinagar and Jammu where they would meet representatives of the civil society, including youth from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic communities, local business and political leaders, civil administration and representatives of mainstream media. They will also receive briefing about the development programmes being implemented, get assessment of the security situation, and witness for themselves the progressive normalisation of the situation. READ| EU delegation visit Kashmir, says 'supportive' of Centre's move The fresh batch of diplomats also includes representatives of the European Union.Their participation assumes significance as the EU Parliament recently initiated to bring a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir, the vote on which was later deferred. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including United States Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru had visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 to see first-hand efforts being made by the government in the region. Restrictions have been put on communication links since August 5. These were subsequently eased. The internet is functional at a few places through leased lines. Mobile internet facility has been made functional but with a speed of 2G with special instructions that it would not be used to access social media sites. READ| Omar Abdullah's sister moves Supreme Court challenging his detention under PSA (With ANI inputs) TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Perception Point , a leading cybersecurity firm preventing file, URL, and social-engineering based attacks in any content-exchange channel, today announced its newest product - Advanced Salesforce Security - which will be added to its multi-channel advanced threat prevention offering. The increase in enterprise communication and collaboration (EC&C) apps, among them CRM apps like Salesforce, has caught the attention of sophisticated attackers who are continuously seeking new ways to obtain sensitive information and financial gains. According to a survey conducted by Perception Point in 2018, two out of three companies experienced an EC&C-born attack. Leveraging techniques such as impersonation, phishing, malware, and even APTs, which were previously common only in the email domain, attackers are able to bypass existing security measures, causing severe damage to their targets. Perception Point has developed a one-of-a-kind solution that intercepts any attempt to attack an organization via Salesforce. "A potential attack using CRM apps would leverage the Salesforce Customer Portal - a tool used by companies to manage their relations with end-users," said Shlomi Levin, Co-founder and CTO of Perception Point. "An attacker can pretend to be a client of a B2C company and use the Customer Portal framework to upload a malicious file, which would later be opened by Salesforce users, unknowingly compromising the entire organization." "We are proud to natively support Salesforce and enable users to work freely and safely while utilizing the Salesforce Customer Portal," said Yoram Salinger, CEO of Perception Point. "Our enriched product offering will help our clients interact with their customers without the fear of being compromised by malicious actors. It ensures maximum protection while keeping the same user experience that is expected by Salesforce users." About Perception Point Perception Point is powered by several decades' experience successfully developing and implementing innovative cybersecurity solutions for organizations worldwide. With its proven R&D leadership formerly playing key roles within the elite Israeli Intelligence Corps, Perception Point is committed to building agile cybersecurity solutions for the digital-first enterprise, with a mission to protect all content exchanges across the enterprise, through any channel, with one extremely easy to deploy cloud solution. For more information visit www.perception-point.io . Media Contact: Yael Hart GK for Perception Point [email protected] +972-533-359-896 SOURCE Perception Point Related Links https://perception-point.io WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would sign a trade deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi if it was the right one. Trump is scheduled to make his first visit as president to the world's largest democracy later this month. The two countries have been trying to reach a limited trade pact with lower tariffs, but talks have run into problems over issues with data privacy and e-commerce controls. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Chris Reese) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Just who was behind more than half of the income of WAs major political parties in 2018-19 remains a mystery. WAtoday has analysed the financial returns of the states four biggest political parties, and disclosures from donors and associated entities all lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission for the 2018-19 financial year. WAtoday has analysed donations to WA political parties in 2018-19. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola Under current AEC rules parties are only forced to declare payments if they are over a $13,800 threshold. Confusingly though, WA Electoral Commission rules state gifts or donations of $2500 must be declared, but only those political parties registered under the WA commission are required to declare above that amount. Most of WA's major parties are registered under the federal commission. As the graphs below show, nearly $5 million of the Liberal Partys $8.25 million 2018-19 income, and $2.83 million of WA Labors $5.16 million, was not disclosed. The source of more than $500,000 of the Nationals $625,000 also remains a mystery. Advertisement Outside of entitlements paid to parties by taxpayers after the 2019 federal election and donations from their federal counterparts, wealthy individuals, unions and the business world were more than willing to chip in financial support. Perhaps unsurprisingly, WA Labor received the most payments from unions, which stumped up more than $1 million. The biggest of those was the retail workers' union SDA WA which contributed $375,000, followed by United Voice at $206,000. The CFMEU and Transport Workers' Union coughed up $116,000 and $128,000, respectively. Both the Liberal and Labor parties were showered with cash from the business sector, with big resources and property companies dumping in hundreds of thousands of dollars. In 2018-19, the oil and gas sector had huge projects in front of various government agencies and lobbied hard for the WA government to tame the WA Environmental Protection Authority after its surprise zero-carbon emission guideline announcement. The biggest of those companies, Chevron and Woodside, each spent tens of thousands of dollars on the Liberals, Labor and Nationals, which they said went to attending business forums held by each party. Advertisement Nationally, Woodside spent $283,000 across the political spectrum while Chevron spent $129,000. WA-based Mineral Resources was the biggest donor from the mining sector, giving $85,000 to the WA Liberals, $50,000 to Labor and $20,000 to the Nationals. Crown Perth was also a major donor to all WA parties, sending nearly $60,000 to the Nationals and Liberals and $29,000 to Labor. The property, development and construction sector spent a total of $316,000 on the three parties. The associated entities list detailed donations to holding companies, unions and fundraising machines for their aligned party. The Labor Partys Perth Trades Hall, which runs the 'cash for access' Labor Business Roundtable, saw payments come in from groups including Scarborough developer 3 Oceans Property, Fortescue Metals Group, Satterley and Georgiou Group. The Liberal Party of WA Pty Ltd took payments from Wesfarmers, Woolworths and the Commonwealth Bank. Advertisement The mystery surrounding donations and the size of corporate donations incensed WA Greens integrity of government spokeswoman Alison Xamon, who described donations as an outright attempt to influence politics. I think that it absolutely raises the question as to the degree to which decisions are being influenced by [donations], every single government will claim theyre not being influenced but I dont think that passes the pub test, I think people would expect that corporations give money to political parties because they hope to benefit from that, she said. I think it undermines democracy, it undermines good decision making and I think people should be very concerned about that. Ms Xamon called for an overhaul of the donations system, which included banning all corporate donations, drastically reducing the disclosure threshold to $1500, and removing discrepancies in state and federal laws. She also has a bill before parliament that would effectively ban cash-for-access forums such as the Labor Business Roundtable. We dont believe that entities that are simply in the business of trying to make a profit should be partaking in that democratic process in the same way that Australian citizens do, she said. The Greens have a self-imposed disclosure threshold of $1500 but $410,000 of the WA branchs 2018-19 donations were anonymous. Advertisement Ms Xamon said because of the nature of the Greens' membership, many of those donations were small amounts that fell even under their reduced threshold. When questioned about the payments, businesses defended their motives and stressed they donated lawfully and followed the Australian Electoral Commission disclosure rules. A Mineral Resources spokesman said as an Australian-founded and focused company it valued the democratic process and believed it was important to support major political parties in a bipartisan way to ensure that we retain a strong system of political parties and, in turn, a strong government. A Crown spokeswoman said political donations were a regular feature of Australias political landscape and Crown engaged with both sides of the political sphere to support the democratic process. Registered political parties in Australia rely heavily on donations in order to communicate their messages and policies to the Australian public, she said. A Woodside spokeswoman said the company did not donate to campaign funds for any political party, politician or candidate in any country, but did reveal it had renewed membership with both state and federal party business forums. Advertisement A man dubbed a coronavirus super-spreader has been identified as a volunteer scout leader who works with children. Steve Walsh, from Hove in East Sussex, is still in quarantine at Guys Hospital in London despite fully recovering from the virus. He contracted the virus at a conference in Singapore. He earned his "super-spreader" moniker in reports because he stopped off for several days at a French ski chalet where five Britons, including a nine-year-old boy, were later infected with the virus. Steve Walsh is a scout leader in Brighton. Source: Brighton and Hove News Mr Walsh has also been linked with five more cases of coronavirus in the UK, including two doctors one of whom worked at a Brighton surgery that has temporarily shut. Mr Walsh released a statement from hospital revealing the steps he took to prevent the virus spreading further. I would like to thank the NHS for their help and care whilst I have fully recovered, my thoughts are with others who have contracted coronavirus, he said. As soon as I knew I had been exposed to a confirmed case of coronavirus, I contacted my GP, NHS 111 and Public Health England. I was advised to attend an isolated room at hospital, despite showing no symptoms, and subsequently self-isolated at home as instructed. When the diagnosis was confirmed I was sent to an isolation unit in hospital, where I remain, and, as a precaution, my family was also asked to isolate themselves. A sign is pictured on the door of the Deneway branch of the Warmdene Doctor's Surgery in Brighton. Source: Getty A worker in protective clothing cleans the floor of the pharmacy attached to the Warmdene Doctor's Surgery at County Oak Medical Centre. Source: Getty The Scouting Association confirmed to Yahoo UK Mr Walsh has not been to any scout meetings since his return to the UK. We wish him well and hope he recovers soon, a spokesperson said. Mr Walsh is employed at gas analysis company Servomex who told Yahoo UK they are offering support to their employee and his family. We are working with public health authorities to ensure the welfare of our staff and communities and wish anyone with the virus a quick and full recovery, a spokesman said. Story continues While 11 people are confirmed to have received the virus from Mr Walsh, there are fears he may have spread it to others, with a focus on the 677-room Grand Hyatt hotel where he stayed in Singapore. He was also on board Easyjet flight EZS8481 to Gatwick from Geneva on January 28. With Yahoo UK 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. The Dublin-based Macquarie Aircraft Leasing posted a $51.1m (46.8m) profit in its last financial year - unchanged on the previous year - even as turnover fell to $146m from $165.3m, newly filed accounts show. The leasing firm - part of Australia's global Macquarie investment bank - had a fleet of 38 aircraft at the end of March last year. That compared with 49 a year earlier. Eight of its aircraft are leased to other Macquarie firms, while 30 are leased to airlines. The accounts also show that the company paid a $25m interim dividend during the 2019 financial year, compared with $93.9m a year earlier. Its operating profit slumped to $36.3m from $77.7m. The firm's operating lease income last year was $122.5m, which compared with $134.9m a year earlier. The Dublin unit is part of the wider Macquarie AirFinance Group, which manages a fleet of almost 200 aircraft across the world and was established in 2006. It has 60 aircraft on order. In December, Macquarie signed a deal to sell a 25pc stake in the AirFinance division to Sunsuper. Sunsuper is one of Australia's largest superannuation funds. Its head of alternative strategies, Bruce Tomlinson, said that Sunsuper would help to grow the leasing business. "The investment is unique in its size and structure for an Australian superannuation fund and will deliver strong returns to Sunsuper members for the next decade," he added. Last year, Macquarie also sold 25pc of Macquarie AirFinance Group to Dutch infrastructure fund PGGM. PGGM is a 211bn Dutch asset manager. Macquarie's head of transportation finance, Stephen Cook, said at the time that PGGM was an "ideal partner" to support the group's strategy for continued investment in the aircraft operating lease sector. After a three-month hiatus, following her marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Kenneth Petty, Nicki Minaj has returned to the spotlight in a big way. From the release of her new single, Yikes to a slew of new Instagram photos, and her return to Queen Radio, its clear that Minaj has something up her sleeve. Unfortunately, The Pinkprint rappers return hasnt been all about music and her career. In the last month, shes had several confrontations with her ex, rapper Meek Mill. In January, the exes got into a verbal spat at a Hollywood clothing store where Petty also found himself in the mix. More recently, the pair were engaged in a vicious Twitter war, with Minaj claiming that Mill always has something nasty to say about her husband. Now the Queen rapper just explained why she thinks Petty is just like Prince Harry. Who is Nicki Minajs husband, Kenneth Petty? Minaj wed Petty on October 21, 2019, in a super-secret wedding. Though the duo has never shown the public any photographs of their big day, the rapper shared a small glimpse of her wedding with a caption that read, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty 102119. Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about Minajs choice in a husband. Though Petty and the rapper dated when they were younger, before Minaj was famous, Petty has a hair-raising criminal history. In 1994, Petty was convicted for attempted rape. A knife/cutting instrument was reportedly wielded during the attack. The survivor in question was a 16-year-old girl and Petty is still a registered sex offender as a result. Then in 2006, Petty was convicted of manslaughter. He shot someone with a loaded handgun (sic) multiple times thereby causing his death. He served 7 years in prison. Now, people are uncertain about Pettys motives with Minaj. Nicki Minaj is constantly defending her husband When people question Pettys character, the All Things Go rapper defends him. In her recent Twitter feud with Meek Mill, she accused him of constantly attacking her husband. She tweeted, Trigger fingers turn to #TwitterFingers. She then accused Mill of being a bad built face a** obsessed with the Queen. She added he had been, tweeting bout my man for a year now. Talking bout he went to my page to see him but he was blocked. In the past, Minaj also clapped back at Wendy Williams for her remarks about Petty. I didnt know that in our society, you have to be inaudible by your past, she said on Queen Radio. I didnt know that people cant turn over a new leaf. I didnt know that your viciousness and evilness was this deep-rooted. I understand now. When a woman isnt really being loved at home, their viciousness is a different type. But I really wanted to pray for you today because look at where you are now in your life. Nicki Minaj compared her husband to Prince Harry With the return of Queen Radio Minaj was eager to get into Megxit. She compared Prince Harry sacrificing the life hes always known for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to something her husband would do. I do want to get into something. Who thinks its good that Meghan Markle left the UK with her husbandKudos to Harry, she said. This is what I love about my husband. Real men always say a happy wife a happy life. Thats what real men say. Thats so attractive. It turns me on. Put your woman first. What happened with Princess Diana, we dont need a rerunyou know how much I love Princess Diana. If youre being bullied in the media, and youre sick of the st, and all you wanted was to marry the man you lovethen get the fk out of there. Donald Trump described Roger Stone's sentencing as a 'miscarriage of justice' just before the Department of Justice said the sentence was being re-evaluated: EPA Donald Trumps determined efforts to seize and wield ever greater power within government are setting more alarm bells ringing as opponents claim the president has now engineered significant legal sway within the Department of Justice. Attorney General William Barr is increasingly taking control of legal matters of personal interest to President Donald Trump, NBC News reports, citing multiple people familiar with the matter. The move has been widely interpreted as an erosion of the separation of powers between the presidents office and the justice system a keystone of democracy. Concerns have mounted after Mr Barr apparently intervened in the Roger Stone case. Last year Stone was convicted on seven counts, including witness tampering and lying to investigators in relation to his work for the Trump campaign. But on Tuesday, the president lashed out at the sentence recommended by Stones prosecutors, of nine years in jail. This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. His tweet was condemned by Democrat House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said the president had engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone, and said his actions should be investigated. Later on Tuesday, the prosecution team then resigned en mass, when the Department of Justice reportedly under Mr Barrs direction said it was planning to reduce the recommended sentence. Mr Trumps administration has also rescinded the nomination of Jessie Liu, who had supervised the Stone Case, for a job as an undersecretary at the Treasury Department. Ms Liu was also overseeing the inconclusive criminal investigation into former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, who was accused by the Department of Justices inspector general of lying to investigators. Mr McCabe has not been charged, despite Mr Trump repeatedly saying he should be sent to prison. Story continues Mr Trump and Mr Barrs interventions in the Department of Justice come as the president has attacked those officials subpoenaed to testify in the impeachment proceedings against him. Democrat politician and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, has called on the Justice Department Inspector General to open an investigation immediately. The president seems to think the entire Justice Department is just his personal lawsuit to prosecute his enemies and help his friends. Rule of law in this grand tradition in this wonderful Justice Department is just being totally perverted to [suit] Donald Trumps own personal desires and needs, and its a disgrace, Mr Schumer told reporters in Washington. Dr Brian Klaas, a UCL lecturer and expert on democracy, authoritarianism and American politics, told The Independent Mr Trump and Mr Barr were in serious breach of democratic norms. He said: For a country to be a democracy, rule of law must be completely separate from political machinations. In authoritarian regimes and in countries lurching towards authoritarianism like Turkey or Hungary rule of law is a weapon wielded by the leader. They use it to protect their political allies and investigate their political rivals. With Attorney General Barr, President Trump has found someone willing to bend rule of law to his whims and wishes. And whats remarkable is that its not even being done secretly. Trump is openly calling to investigate political rivals. He has repeatedly called to imprison political opponents. And now the Justice Department, which is supposed to be separate from politics, is getting directly involved in a case to reduce the sentence for the presidents longtime friend and adviser, Roger Stone. That move came shortly after Trump tweeted his disapproval of how the case was being handled. This is a serious breach of democratic norms and a serious red flag for the erosion of democratic institutions. When rule of law breaks down, the decline of democracy follows. Heres a fact: there are now more Canadians over 65 years old than under 15. Heres another fact: almost two-thirds of working Canadians do not belong to an employer-based registered pension plan. Canada has an increasingly aging population, yet the majority of people are not ready for retirement. And thats a worrying trend, according to a new report from the National Institute on Ageing at Ryerson University. The report, Improving Canadas Retirement Income System: A Discussion Paper for Setting Priorities, was released on Tuesday. In it, the authors show that only 6.2 million of the approximately 19 million working Canadians are members of a workplace pension plan. Thats a problem because according to the report, Canadians who enter retirement with a workplace pension and other public pension programs like CPP and OAS (Old Age Security) have a median annual income of $55,400, compared to $31,400 for those without a plan. Adding additional strain is the fact that the number of Canadian seniors is projected to increase approximately 10 million Canadians will be over 65 by 2038, while those under 15 will remain steady at about six million. The researchers say its high time for the federal government to increase CPP and QPP for Canadians who dont have a pension plan. If you think of peoples life cycle in terms of prework, work and post-work, if that post-work period keeps getting longer and at the other end of the cycle the birth rates are much lower than they used to be, so demographics take over and you end up having an aging population, said Keith Ambachtsheer, a researcher at the institute and director emeritus of the Rotman International Centre for Pension Management (ICPM). We need to make some financial adjustments, rethink retirement age. Part of the story is that its going to take more than the traditional 35 years of work to save enough and have the investment returns compound on those savings to be able to fill that gap. To remedy the situation, the paper proposes three broad priorities: increase pension coverage for Canadians without a pension plan; increase savings rates for middle-income earners; and increase incentives and opportunities for people to work at older ages, as life expectancy increases. Ambachtsheer applauded an agreement reached in 2016 between federal and provincial governments to increase pensions for all Canadian workers, but noted its still not enough. Some people still need to be able to save some part of their pay to top up those CPP and OAS benefits, he said. Weve got to make it easier for Canadians to save cost-effectively for their retirement. Canada is ranked number nine out of 37 countries evaluated on the quality of retirement income systems, according to the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, a position Ambachtsheer said is not terrible but shows the country can do better by covering more workers with workplace pension plans. We need to be more prepared about working longer and saving more in a well-organized, thoughtful way, he said. Turkey has given a Faylaq al-Sham two shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft missiles, although it is not known if they were used recently to shoot down a helicopter reports Jesr. Jesr has learned from sources that the Turkish army has delivered Faylaq al-Sham, part of the National Front for Liberation, one of the formations of the National Army, two advanced shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft missiles. The source did not specify the type of these rockets, and also did not say if the regime aircraft downed today was with one of these missiles. Opposition fighters downed a regime forces helicopter while it was flying above the town of Qmenas southeast of Idleb. The delivery of this limited quantity to a faction close to Turkey is a hint from Ankara about the possibility of escalation to the maximum possible extent. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Syrian government will pay a heavy price for the attack on Turkish soldiers, which killed five and wounded others. He added: Tomorrow we will announce the steps we will take in Idleb, saying, We have responded strongly to the attacks of the Syrian regime and have incurred losses, but this is not enough. 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. A bill revoking the medical license of any doctor who performs an abortion passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives last week and now moves to the Senate. H.B. 1182, which passed 71-21, would add performance of an abortion to the list of unprofessional conducts that can get a doctors license revoked. Any doctor who performs an abortion would lose his or her license for one year. Rep. Jim Olsen, a Republican, is the bills sponsor. In supporting this, we [are] thinking about the value of the life of the mother and equally the life of the baby, Olsen said, according to the Baptist Messenger. Then-Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed a similar bill in 2016, saying it was vague and could not withstand a court challenge. But she was term-limited and has been replaced by Gov. Kevin Stitt. He, like Fallin, is Republican. We are told the [U.S.] Supreme Court is the supreme law of the land, that we cannot protest its decision, Olsen said. There is a court even higher than the Supreme Court. There is the court of God. Abortion is a violation of the law of God. Republicans control both chambers. The bill says performance of an abortion shall be grounds for denial or revocation of a medical license. It allows for an exception to save the mothers life or to prevent substantial or irreversible physical impairment of the mother that substantially increases the risk of death. But it also says an abortion on the basis of the mental or emotional health of the mother shall be grounds for denial or revocation of a medical license. Minority Leader Emily Virgin, a Democrat, voted against the bill. Folks, this is not an easy issue, she said, according to the Tulsa World. Its not black and white. There are situations with a lot of nuance. For us to wade into the nuance, the most personal details of a persons life, of a family ... for us to say that we know better, that we know whats best for you, to insert ourselves into this most personal situation, I think is just wrong. Related: No Room for Pro-Lifers in Democratic Party, Sanders Says: Abortion Rights Are 'Essential' 'Life Is a Sacred Gift from God' Trump Backs Ban on Late-Term Abortion in State of the Union Address Does Pete Buttigieg Believe Abortion Should Be Completely Unrestricted? Photo courtesy: J.C. Gellidon/Unsplash Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. CANBERRA, Australia - The Australian government has scrapped a 12-year-old timetable for ending indigenous disadvantage, declaring on Wednesday that the policy had failed. A new centre-left Labor Party government launched the ambitious Closing the Gap initiative in 2008 aimed at achieving equality for indigenous Australians in health and life expectancy within a generation. Prime ministers have presented to Parliament a report every year since then quantifying progress made in seven areas. Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison used his annual report on Wednesday to note only two of the seven measures were on track -- closing the gap between indigenous and other Australians in finishing high school and getting 4-year-olds enrolled in early education. But indigenous men continued to die almost nine years younger than other Australian men and indigenous women died almost eight years younger than other women. The gap is widening in the measure of child mortality, which is twice rate in the indigenous community than in the wider Australian society. Morrison said successive governments top-down approach to Closing the Gap hasnt worked. For 12 years, I have sat in this chamber and listened to Closing the Gap speeches. Its a tale of hope, frustration and disappointment, Morrison told Parliament. The results are not good enough. Over decades, our top-down, government-knows-best approach has not delivered the improvements we all yearn for, he added. Morrison foreshadowed new measures of progress that focused on local problems and priorities involving local indigenous communities. Those new steps would be agreed within months. I want the gaps to be defined by indigenous Australians, Morrison said. I look forward to the shared targets with the right data that can inform us. Morrison said the federal government would work with state governments and indigenous groups to reach a new agreement aimed by at creating equality for indigenous Australians. Im very hopeful that a new approach thats more locally-led and more collaborative will take us much further than the top-down, one-size-fits-all, government-led approach ever could, Morrison said. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese described the current targets as modest and the gap in living standards between indigenous Australians as a chasm. Albanese noted that while indigenous adults made up only 2% of the Australian population, they accounted for 27% of the prison population. Ken Wyatt, the first indigenous person to become minister for indigenous Australians, said that leaders from the Coalition of Peaks, which represents 50 indigenous groups, had asked to sit at the table to shape the direction of Closing the Gap into the future. Coalition of Peaks representative Jonathan Ford welcomed the new collaborative approach. Over the last 12 years, the failure has primarily been because we havent had a say on what happens to our people, Ford said. So the new approach that theyre talking about is basically giving us an opportunity to have a say, co-design and make decisions in partnership with government. KOKOMO, Ind. (WLFI) Indiana State Police have charged a suspect on Monday after an investigation into home improvement fraud. According to ISP, 60-year-old Dennis Sanders is facing felony charges for corrupt business influence, two counts of home improvement fraud, and three charges of theft. Sanders also faces a misdemeanor charge for home improvement fraud. Police served the warrant at the Howard County Jail where Sanders is currently being held on unrelated charges. According to ISP, officers began an investigation in August 2019 after receiving information that Sanders had allegedly committed home improvement fraud in Miami County. On three separate occasions, homeowners reached out to Sander's company, Ace Handyman, requesting home repair services. Sanders allegedly provided the residents with estimates, agreed to do home repairs and took down payments. All three jobs were not completed and in some cases led to worse damage. Police also said Sanders purposely overcharged and suggested repairs that were not needed. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday accepted the resignation of AICC Delhi in-charge P C Chacko and Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra, and appointed Shakti Sinh Gohil in Chacko's place. Chacko and Chopra resigned from their post in the wake of the party's debacle in the Delhi assembly elections. "Congress president has accepted the resignation of P C Chacko, AICC in-charge of Delhi and Subhash Chopra, president Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect," a party communication said. "The Congress president has appointed Shakti Sinh Gohil as interim AICC in-charge along with his present assignment of Bihar," it said. The party also appreciated the contribution of outgoing in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko as well as outgoing DPCC chief Subhash Chopra, who was recently appointed. Chacko earlier said he has resigned taking moral responsibility for the party's performance. "I have resigned from my post and have sent my resignation letter to the Congress president. It is up to her to take a decision on my resignation letter," he said. Subhash Chopra had announced his resignation on Tuesday owing to the party's rout in Delhi polls, for the second time in a row. The Congress fared poorly and was routed in the Delhi Assembly polls. It did not get a single seat for the second time after 2015 elections. The party's vote share also declined further from 9.7 per cent last time to 4.26 per cent this time, its lowest ever. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : cellcycle (vacoule), : USANews : ABC very impressed by Trump rally : BBS (Tue Feb 11 15:17:36 2020, ) So Jonathan Karl of ABC News, he went to the Manchester Trump rally. And whenever these Drive-By Media people actually go get a visa to go to one of these rallies rather than just watch it on TV or read about it later, they more often than not are profoundly moved by it. Here is Jonathan Karl. This is last night on the ABC News website. Hes the White House correspondent. His reaction to Trumps rally in Manchester last night. KARL: Trump supporters are as fired up as I have ever seen them. I mean, this rally is in an arena that I was at just two nights ago, Saturday night at an event that included all of the major candidates for the Democratic nomination, and we have a bigger crowd here by far just for Donald Trump than we had on Saturday for all of the Democrats. Trump supporters are very energized. Youve got the impeachment acquittal, good news on the economy, and Democrats coming out of Iowa seem to be in disarray. They feel like they re on the winning side. And also, by the way, Trumps approval rating has hit its highest level ever. -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 165.] COLUMBIA, S.C. - Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer has hired one of South Carolinas most influential black lawmakers as an adviser to his campaign as the billionaire businessman tries to make inroads in a state where black voters will play a dominant role in the Feb. 29 primary. Steyers campaign told The Associated Press on Wednesday that state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter has signed on as a senior national adviser. Cobb-Hunter, who first took office in 1992, is the longest serving member of the South Carolina House and is the current president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Cobb-Hunter has made a point in the past to note that she chooses not to endorse candidates during primaries. In an announcement of her hire, Cobb-Hunter said climate activist Steyer had the broadest appeal to voters across the country. Steyer is building the most racially diverse coalition of voters who look like America as it is today, Cobb-Hunter said. He is the only candidate who walks the walk and talks the talk. The move is part of Steyers effort to build among black leaders in South Carolina, where rivals Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders already have gained the support of members of the legislative black caucus. Steyer has been vocal about his outreach to South Carolinas black voters, who account for the majority of the Democratic electorate. Along with seven other Democratic hopefuls, he participated in a march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January and spoke at a Statehouse rally. Before that commemoration, he had spent several days campaigning in the state, notably speaking at an NAACP rally at South Carolina State University. Last fall, he was one of just a handful of candidates to speak at a cook-off in Orangeburg long known as a staple for presidential candidates. A month later, he was at South Carolina State University to take part in an environmental forum co-ordinated by Cobb-Hunter. In December, there was a roundtable on issues important to black men. He also released a plan for historically black colleges and universities and participated in a black womens issues forum. And on Tuesday, Steyers wife, Kat Taylor, announced that she had moved to the state, where she plans to remain throughout the duration of his entire campaign. Cobb-Hunters move aligns her with a fellow House member, with whom she has fueded in the past, Jerry Govan, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and early Steyer backer. In 2018, a jury found Govan not guilty of assault in a confrontation with Cobb-Hunter. She testified that Govan grabbed her arm and twisted her wrist during a 2017 argument over a school consolidation bill. Govan said he was acting defensively after Cobb-Hunter pushed paper in his face. A legislative investigation found both lawmakers equally at fault. Both Govan and Cobb Hunter are veteran lawmakers representing parts of Orangeburg County, home to two HBCUs and an area frequently visited by candidates. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives 1. I would like to know if my proposed project is eligible before completing the letter of intent template. What should I do? Completing the letter of intent template is the only way for the Public Health Agency of Canada to assess your proposed project and determine its eligibility and fit with the funding opportunitys principles and objectives. 2. Are international organizations eligible to apply for this funding? No, only Canadian organizations may apply for funding under this solicitation process. 3. Are organizations currently receiving funding from the Government of Canada, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, eligible to apply to this funding opportunity? Yes, organizations currently receiving funding from the Government of Canada, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, for other projects can apply for funding under this solicitation. However, organizations cannot request additional funding for a project that is currently being funded by the Government of Canada, including the Public Health Agency of Canada. 4. Are projects to evaluate the effectiveness of dementia awareness raising initiatives considered eligible for funding? Only projects focussed on raising awareness of how to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and/or how to encourage and support communities to become more dementia-inclusive will be considered for funding. A performance measurement/evaluation plan will be required of all funded projects. 5. Can an applicant submit more than 1 letter of intent? Yes, applicants may submit more than 1 letter of intent if the proposed projects are significantly different in terms of the scope of the work. A complete letter of intent is required for each project being proposed. 6. What is the total amount of funding available to a recipient for a project? The total amount of funding available to a recipient for a project is up to $716,000 over 2 years: up to $375,000 in fiscal year 2020/21 (beginning in late summer/early fall 2020) and up to $341,000 in fiscal year 2021/22. 7. Are organizations required to apply for the full amount of funding that is available or can they apply for a smaller amount? Organizations can apply for smaller amounts of funding. The project cannot exceed the total amount of $716,000 over 2 years, unless the extra cost is covered by other funding sources. 8. How broadly will approved projects be required to share knowledge, including lessons learned? Applicants will be required to have a knowledge mobilization/translation plan in place, including the most appropriate ways to share lessons learned with key audiences and stakeholders. 9. What is the difference between the Dementia Community Investment and the Dementia Strategic Fund? The Dementia Community Investment funds community-based organizations that aim to optimize the wellbeing of people living with dementia and caregivers through intervention research (i.e., by developing, testing, disseminating and scaling up initiatives, knowledge and tools to support these groups). The current funding opportunity under the Dementia Strategic Funds awareness raising initiatives is limited to conducting an awareness raising initiative on how to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and/or how to encourage and support communities to become more dementia-inclusive. 10. Are there any geographic priorities for this funding opportunity or a plan to ensure that there is a spread of projects across Canada? There are no specific geographic priorities. The intention of this funding opportunity is to support awareness raising projects that best align with the objectives and principles of the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives. Projects that involve multi-sectoral partnerships which span jurisdictions are encouraged. The geographic distribution of projects is a factor that will be taken into consideration when proposals are reviewed. 11. How will I know if my letter of intent is successful? The Public Health Agency of Canada will notify all applicants via email. 12. What is the anticipated start date for proposed projects? It is anticipated that successful letter of intent applications will be identified in spring 2020, at which time they will be sent an invitation to submit a funding request. It is anticipated that successful projects will be initiated by summer/fall 2020. These timelines may be subject to change. 13. Can you provide an example of past projects that were funded? The Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives is a new fund; there are no past projects. 14. What is the accepted maximum length of the letter of intent? Letters of intent (LOIs) must be completed using the Public Health Agency of Canadas template. A cover letter is also required with the submission. The maximum length of the completed LOI, including the cover letter, is 12 pages, single-spaced, in size 12 font. Submissions exceeding 12 pages will be rejected. In addition, please note that Section 2, Question 1 (The What and the Why) has a limit of 500 words. No other supporting documents will be accepted at this time. 15. Are letters of support required at the letter of intent stage of the process? No, letters of support are not required at the letter of intent stage. 16. In addition to the letter of intent, can applicants submit supporting documents, such as literature reviews or needs assessments? No, supporting documents will not be accepted at this time. 17. Is collaboration with other organizations a mandatory requirement for this funding? Collaboration with other organizations and sectors with complementary areas of expertise is not a mandatory requirement but is strongly encouraged, as are projects involving partnerships that span more than 1 province/territory. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the organizational capacities and expertise required to undertake the proposed project. Collaborating organizations may contribute some of these capacities and areas of expertise to the proposed project, as described in the applicant capacity section of the call for letters of intent. 18. I will apply as a business with a non-profit partner. Would the non-profit partner need to write their own cover letter? Only the lead organization that is completing the letter of intent is required to write a cover letter. The collaborating organization must be included in Section 5 of the letter of intent template. 19. Is involvement of people living with dementia and/or caregivers a mandatory requirement for this funding? All projects focused on stigma reduction and dementia-inclusive communities must include people living with dementia and/or caregivers at each stage of the project as the project must be informed by lived experience. Examples of meaningful engagement may include representation on project advisory committees or the engagement of people living with dementia and/or caregivers in awareness raising activities. Consideration may also be given to the inclusion of people living with dementia and/or caregivers in the development and implementation of awareness raising initiatives focused on prevention, though the level of engagement will be dependent on the scope of the project. 20. Is there a limit to the number of organizations that can collaborate for one proposed project? No, there is no limit to the number of collaborating organizations for a proposed project. However, only 1 organization (the recipient) can sign the contribution agreement with the Public Health Agency of Canada and will be accountable for the obligations and conditions of the contribution agreement. Once the contribution agreement is in place, the recipient is free to set up their own sub-agreements with collaborating organizations. 21. Can an organization partner with a provincial or territorial government organization to undertake a project together? Yes, an organization can partner with a provincial, territorial, regional and/or municipal government or agency. 22. Can we forward this funding opportunity to another organization? Yes, information about this funding opportunity can be shared with other organizations. However, all interested applicants must contact phac.cgc.solicitations-csc.aspc@canada.ca directly to receive the letter of intent template, ensuring Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives is indicated in the email subject line. 23. Given that this is an initiative funded by the federal Health Portfolio and the basis of every project should be a public health and/or health promotion activity, can collaborating organizations for the proposed project be from other sectors, for example law enforcement, the legal system, housing, etc.? Yes, we encourage multi-sectoral and multi-agency collaboration. However, please be reminded that the proposed project and its key activities must still be focused on raising awareness of how to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and/or how to encourage and support communities to become more dementia-inclusive. This could include raising awareness among those who may interact with people living with dementia and caregivers through their work, for example, health professionals, first responders, and those working in transport, retail or financial sectors. 24. What are examples of awareness raising activities in the context of dementia? The objectives of the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives are to prevent dementia, reduce stigma (including stigmatizing behaviours) and encourage and enable communities to become more dementia-inclusive. Depending on the chosen objective(s), awareness activities could be targeted to youth, women, people living with dementia, caregivers, first responders, or others who could interact with people living with dementia and caregivers in, for example, retail, transport or financial sectors. Awareness activities could also target populations at higher risk of developing dementia and/or facing barriers to equitable care, such as Indigenous populations, those with intellectual disabilities, those with young onset dementia, LGBTQ2+, ethnic and cultural minority communities, as well as official language minority communities. Examples of awareness activities include the development of tools, resources and messages to communicate about dementia through, for example, social media, workshops, community events, or training sessions for service providers on how to organize their space and interact with people living with dementia in a way that better meets their needs and is free of stigma. 25. Will I be able to charge a fee for service? No, activities or expenses that require a payment from the target population to use, register or participate (for example, educational events, workshops, or applications offered by the recipient) are not eligible for funding. 26. Is there a preference for a particular type of organization to lead the project? For example, is there a preference that a university lead the project over a non-governmental organization? No, there is no preference for who leads the proposed project. It is up to the collaborating organizations to determine which organization is best suited to lead the proposed project in terms of their capacity to undertake required governance and financial administration/management. 27. Does the letter of intent need to demonstrate alignment with all the principles set out in the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiatives call for letters of intent? Proposed projects must align with 1 or more of the objectives of the Dementia Strategic Fund: Awareness raising initiative: to prevent dementia, reduce stigma, and encourage and enable communities to become more dementia-inclusive. The assessment will also consider the proposals alignment with the relevant principles of the funding program. 28. What are the official languages requirements? As per the requirements of the Official Languages Act, the recipient must ensure that services and documentation intended for public use be available in both of Canada's official languages. The recipient is also expected to report on their actions with regards to official languages minority communities. For additional information, consult the Official Languages Act. 29. When will we hear the results of the letter of intent process, and, if successful, what would be the timelines for submitting the full application? When would results be announced? It is anticipated that successful letter of intent proposals will be identified in spring 2020, at which time, these applicants will receive an invitation to submit a funding request. Successful projects could be initiated as early as summer/fall 2020. These timelines may be subject to change. 30. Am I eligible to apply with my university affiliation? An individual is not eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include: not-for-profit voluntary organizations and corporations for-profit organizations, provided they partner with a not for profit organization unincorporated groups, societies and coalitions provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and agencies organizations and institutions supported by provincial and territorial governments (regional health authorities, post-secondary institutions etc.) (regional health authorities, post-secondary institutions etc.) Indigenous organizations working with First Nations, Inuit or Metis 31. Is it anticipated that national groups/organizations will be applying for the funding and will be leading some of this work? Eligible applicants are not limited to national groups/organizations. Please refer to the list of eligible applicants noted above. 32. Can First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities apply directly for funding? Yes, First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities can apply directly for funding. Indigenous governmental organizations can also apply directly for funding. 33. I have a question about eligible expenses. When would be the appropriate time to ask these questions? The letter of intent template does not ask for information about eligible expenses. Successful letter of intent applicants that will receive and invitation to submit a funding request will be required to provide more detail about the project proposal, including eligible expenses. Questions related to eligible expenses will be addressed at that time. 34. I would like to have a one-on-one meeting to discuss my letter of intent. Who do I talk to? In order to ensure a fair and transparent competitive process, the Public Health Agency of Canada is unable to meet with individual organizations. Instead, this FAQ document will be updated as new questions are received and shared with all interested organizations. 35. I have a question that is not covered in this document. What should I do? For any questions not answered in this document, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canadas Centre for Grants and Contributions by email at phac.cgc.solicitations-csc.aspc@canada.ca. GREENWICH, Conn., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TRG Community Development, LLC, a division of The Richman Group Development Corporation, was recently selected as Master Developer by the Virgin Islands Housing Authority (VIHA) for the redevelopment of Public Housing in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. As the Master Development partner, TRG Community Development will work with VIHA to complete a master plan that provides a long-term sustainable development plan to implement its Portfolio Repositioning Strategy for the island of St. Croix that is designed to transform its public housing portfolio to housing-of-choice that incorporates significant energy-efficient elements and energy-resilient concepts. VIHA is empowered with the responsibility for planning, constructing, maintaining and managing public housing developments on the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas, which comprise approximately 15% of the total territorial housing stock. VIHA owns and manages approximately 3,014 public housing units on St. Thomas and St. Croix and administers approximately 2,029 housing choice vouchers on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated several Caribbean Islands, including the United States Virgin Islands. In November 2017, HUD allocated $243 million of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR) funds to the U.S. Virgin Islands to support long-term recovery efforts. "We are grateful for the opportunity to extend our development platform and services to assist the Virgin Islands Housing Authority with repositioning its public housing stock which, in turn, will deliver thoughtful, high-quality, mixed-income and mixed-use communities," said Andre Blakley, President of The Richman Group's Community Development, LLC. "Integrating energy-sustainable and resilient concepts will provide a complete transformation and true benefit to the residents of St. Croix." The Richman Group (TRG) is considered the leading LIHTC syndicator in the U.S. Territories where invested LIHTC, through its various investment partnerships, includes $450M+ in 75 properties in Puerto Rico creating 5,707 units, over $61M at three properties in Guam creating 302 units, $50M+ at two properties in Saipan creating 94 units and $6M in St. Croix creating 80 units. On a national basis, TRG has invested over $14B at over 1,400 local partnerships in 49 states and four U.S. territories through 130+ investment funds. "We are incredibly proud of our role in revitalizing St. Croix and providing best-in-class housing to those residents in the area," said Richman Group Development Corporation President, Kristin Miller. "We are grateful for this opportunity and eager to continue working with the partners of this project to bring to market dynamic and vital housing communities. With our extensive experience both in the Caribbean and nationally, The Richman Group remains committed to providing excellence in housing for this project." About The Richman Group Founded in 1987, The Richman Group has grown into one of the nation's largest privately owned residential real estate investment, development and asset management firms. With extensive experience in both affordable and market-rate developments, they have developed over 25,000 residential units, totaling a combined $14B in development costs, and owned or asset managed over 115,000 units. Furthermore, it offers every expertise in-house, from architects to property managers. The Richman Group's philosophy is to be best-in-class in all sectors in which it participates. Customer service is a fundamental value, as is its intention to maintain its leadership in creating innovative developments and financial structures. The company is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, and has 15 regional offices, serving communities in 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Saipan and Guam. For more information visit, www.therichmangroup.com Media Contact: The Richman Group Kristen Fuechslin [email protected] 813.252.2990 SOURCE The Richman Group Development Corp. Related Links http://www.therichmangroup.com Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Wednesday in Kano confirmed that two suspected cases of Coronavirus have so far tested negative in the country. Ehanire disclosed this while declaring the two- day Kano State Primary Health Summit open at Government House. He affirmed that the country was fortified with three well-equipped centres to diagnose the deadly disease and other viral infections while an emergency ambulance will soon be launched in Abuja. He explained that the Federal Government has already provided adequate mechanisms at all entry points in the country to screen all incoming passengers to ascertain their health status in order to prevent possible carriers from gaining entrance in the country. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 12:03 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063f86de 1 World Indonesia,UN-Security-Council,Palestine,US,diplomacy,Middle-East-conflict,politics Free Indonesia, together with a majority of the United Nations Security Council members, rejected the United States recently announced Middle East peace plan during a council debate on Tuesday but has backed down from proposing a vote for a resolution condemning the proposal. All 15 member countries except the US distanced themselves from US President Donald Trumps so-called deal of the century, which was overwhelmingly considered to have failed in securing the rights and meeting the aspirations of the Palestinian people. Indonesian Ambassador to the UN Dian Triansyah Djani said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict needed a two-state solution developed under credible multilateral negotiations and guided by internationally agreed-upon parameters in accordance with international law. He called on the Security Council to be more involved in addressing the Palestinian struggle. The Security Council cannot afford to be seen as a spectator in the maintenance of international peace and security, particularly in securing the independence of Palestine, he said in the session broadcasted on the UN website. On Jan. 28, Trump announced the Middle East peace plan in a joint address with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposed plan laid out a vision for establishing a Palestinian state while also legalizing Israeli rule over settlements built in occupied territory. The plan, which was drafted without consulting the Palestinians, dictates strict conditions for them to follow, including a requirement that the future Palestinian state be demilitarized. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, who was present at the Security Council meeting, denounced Trumps proposal as a "Swiss cheese" deal that would give the Palestinians only a "fragmented state" without control of their airspace, territorial waters or East Jerusalem. Brandishing a large map of a future Palestine as laid out by Trump, Abbas denounced the plan and warned that Israel would create an apartheid situation if it moved ahead with annexation. "Who among you would accept such a state?" Abbas asked the council, as quoted by Reuters. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated the world bodys commitment to the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 lines. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft described her countrys plan as specific and realistic, offering the prospect of a self-governing and fully recognized Palestinian state while touting the possibility of an investment of more than US$50 billion in Palestine. Other council members called the Trump proposal a unilateral plan that excluded input from the Palestinians. Despite the strong condemnation during the council session, the Palestinians dropped plans for a vote on a resolution pushed by Indonesia and Tunisia that would have implicitly criticized Trump's plan, including Israel's retention of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. AFP reported that the United States had put heavy pressure, including threats of financial repercussions, on Security Council members and that even some European nations were hesitant. According to diplomats at the UN, the draft resolution had attracted 11 or 12 votes in favor of the passage of the resolution by the 15-member council. Another diplomat said, as quoted by Reuters, that it would have required too many compromises to get the 14-1 vote that the Palestinians had sought. The US still has the power to veto any council resolution it dislikes. A senior US official hailed the development, saying, "By not putting forward a polarizing resolution, the United Nations Security Council demonstrated that the old way of doing things is over." Hamdan Basyar, a Middle East expert from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that one of the possible reasons why Palestine decided to forfeit its plan was to consolidate support among rival Palestinian factions. "Even though both Fatah and Hamas rejected Trump's proposal, they do not have any counter proposal, the scholar said on Wednesday, referring to the ruling Palestinian party in government and the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip. Hamdan said the Palestinians would have a better chance and likely more support if they tabled the draft resolution at the UN General Assembly, where it could be passed without the threat of a US veto, but also risk being legally nonbinding. Indonesia has previously said it will consult with the Palestinians before taking any action at the Security Council. As a staunch supporter of the Palestinian struggle for statehood, Indonesia has consistently backed the cause both at the national level and in global forums such as the UN and ASEAN. But as the Palestinian position weakens in the face of a Jewish state emboldened by Washington, Indonesia and other like-minded countries face an uphill battle in consolidating further support for the cause. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi tweeted about her visit to the leadership of Muhammadiyah in Yogyakarta to raise the issue of Palestine, in an apparent move to garner support for Palestine from Indonesias large Muslim grassroots. The day before, Retno also met with leaders of Indonesias largest Muslim group, Nahdlatul Ulama, to consult about the Palestinian cause. "We have been consistent in supporting the cause of the Palestinian people. [But] the struggle [...] is not getting easier; in fact it has grown more difficult, she told reporters on Tuesday. It is a tough road ahead but I believe that if we talk about bringing justice, then this is what we have to do. (tjs) Apriza Pinandita contributed to the report Editor's note: Updated with expert comments, details Armenias Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Suren Papikyan, met in Georgia with Armenian cargo companies drivers who have parked their trucks nearby Tbilisi for more than a week now because of the traffic jam at Upper Lars due to snowstorm. Papikyan and Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Ruben Sadoyan listened to the concerns of these drivers, and discussed options for assistance and mitigating the situation. The drivers mentioned that they had been brought food from the Armenian embassy for which they were grateful. They proposed to wait, not in Georgia, but in Armenia where they would be more comfortable. The ambassador suggested that they would provide a car for them at the same time every day, and would take several of these drivers to Tbilisi to buy food at reasonable prices. New Delhi, Feb 12 : Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of Indian Cellular And Electronics Association (ICEA) on Wednesday said that the Indian electronics industry is staring at a shutdown due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in China and its eventual impact on trade. Speaking at an event here, Mohindroo said that although some factories in China have opened, it needs to be seen whether workers actually turn up. There have been concerns over the impact of the spread of the virus across sectors in India including aviation and electronics. China plays a major role in the Indian electronics industry as India imports a major part of the components from its northern neighbour. In the case of smartphones too, majority of the components are imported from China. The outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China has impacted trade and several industries across many countries. The death toll due to novel coronavirus infection rose to 1,113 as of Tuesday and the overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland has touched 44,653 cases. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Photo : REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo) FILE PHOTO: An Apple logo hangs above the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York City, July 21, 2015. Apple won't be willing to release iPhones on the request of law enforcement, but a new warrant indicates the tech giant is joining forces with officers in other ways. The document acquired by Forbes reveals the firm's device is intercepting and checking user's emails for illegal material, with a focus on child sexual abuse. ALSO READ: Dark net websites let pedophiles boldly watch and trade child sexual abuse images How Apple identifies messages Apple's systems are using 'hashes' to identify pics and videos in the message that may include the illicit content, which might be then flagged and quarantined for further investigation. If the questionable email has been found to have unlawful cloth, Apple will dispatch the information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other authorities. Forbes underscored that it isn't the staff this is sifting through emails; however, a machine that uses the same technology with Facebook, Twitter, and Google to find child abusers. ALSO READ: Google, Facebook And Twitter Team Up To Eradicate Child Abuse Images From The Internet The technology works through growing a unique fingerprint, called a 'hash,' for each photo stated to the foundation, which might be then exceeded on to internet businesses would be automatically removed from the net. Once an email has been targeted, a human employee will then look at the content of the record and analyze the message to decide if it needs to be sent over to the proper authorities. What happens next? According to Forbes, Apple provided data about the user's name, address, and mobile smartphone number to regulation enforcement. The government, besides, requests the users' emails, texts, messages, and other documents stored on his iCloud. An Apple insider, as cited by Forbes, explained that authorities do no longer go to the intended recipient when Apple intercepts the email with suspected images. According to the special agent at the Homeland Security Investigations unit, the employee who was able to intercept the messages will then examine each of these photos of suspected child pornography. The open warrant suggests that Apple is willing to sign up for forces with officers, even though it has pushed lower back in other ways inside the past. What about encrypted messages? The real battleground, however, is in which content material is encrypted. It's impossible for Apple structures to flag illegal content in messages which have been sealed with a key that most effective customers have. The so-referred to as crypto war-where tech corporations like Apple are being told by the government to help smash their own safety to allow access to user records-sparked recently when FBI sent a letter to Apple asking to help unencumber iPhones of the alleged terrorist shooter on a Pensacola naval base in December. The FBI wanted to get the encrypted data to search for possible leads; however, it didn't explain why forensics gear, just like the iPhone-cracking GrayKey, couldn't unencumber the devices. Such tools have long been able to get at information on older iPhones, just like the five and seven models in the Pensacola case. And, as with the case above, Apple had already given over applicable iCloud information to the feds. ALSO READ: Experts Find Security Hole In Apple's iMessage Encryption: Here's What They Were Able To Do One senior FBI worker told Forbes that the enterprise has "been able to get into those for years." And, the supply added, they didn't consider the DOJ and Attorney General William Barr had selected the right hill to die on in that case, raising issues approximately how damaging the letter might have been to increasingly pleasant relations with Apple. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With the hectic awards season now over and done with, actress Joey King did some shopping with her family. The 20-year-old star of The Act was spotted on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with her parents, Terry and Jamie. The actress' outing comes just days after her and her sister Hunter King attended the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, where she ran into Billie Eilish. Retail therapy: With the hectic awards season now over and done with, actress Joey King did some shopping with her family The actress stepped out with a purple turtleneck sweater, with cuffed sleeves that cut off at her elbows. She also wore tight-fitting black jeans with her phone sticking out of one of the pockets, with blue-tinted sunglasses. She completed her look with white flats, a powder blue handbag and a smart watch strapped to her wrist. Stepping out: The actress stepped out with a purple turtleneck sweater, with cuffed sleeves that cut off at her elbows King hit the red carpet on Sunday night with her sister Hunter at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, rocking a leafy brown dress. The starlet also showed off a glowing complexion that was enhanced by makeup artist Melanie Inglessis, who used skincare products from Babor to prep King's skin for the evening. 'I started by layering the Doctor Babor Hyrdo RX 3D Hydro Gel Eye Pads and the Doctor Babor Lifting RX Silver Foil Mask for 20 minutes to really hydrate Joeys skin,' she shared. 'After removing, I massaged the extra serum in for added hydration. To give Joeys skin an extra glow, I used the Doctor Babor Refine RX Glow Bi-Phase Ampoules. I love that these ampoules to instantly hydrate skin and impart immediate glow.' During the party, King shared a photo on Instagram of her with teenage pop star Billie Eilish, who performed during the In Memoriam segment at the Oscars. King revealed that Eilish wanted to be King when she was younger, because her 2010 movie Ramona and Beezus, 'was the best,' with King responding, 'yah that movie slaps hard.' After-party look: King hit the red carpet on Sunday night with her sister Hunter at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, rocking a leafy brown dress Billie and Joey: She also shared a photo on Instagram of her with teenage pop star Billie Eilish, who performed during the In Memoriam segment at the Oscars While King starred in director James Franco's indie film Zeroville in 2019, her year was largely devoted to the small screen. She starred as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu's The Act, alongside Patricia Arquette and Chloe Sevigny. The actress was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance in the series. Small screen: While King starred in director James Franco's indie film Zeroville in 2019, her year was largely devoted to the small screen King will next be seen on the big screen in Camp, alongside Nolan Gould, Horatio Sanz and Annalise Basso, which doesn't have a release date yet.' She will also reprise her role as Shelly 'Elle' Evans in The Kissing Booth 2, a sequel to Netflix's 2018 romantic comedy The Kissing Booth. She stars alongside Jacob Elordi, Molly Ringwald and Joel Courtney in the sequel, slated for release later this year. New Hampshire voters on Tuesday handed Sen. Bernie Sanders his second primary victory in four years, with the progressive Democratic presidential candidate beating Pete Buttigieg by a narrow margin amid a rise from Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The progressive Vermont senator declared victory Tuesday night shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday. This primary here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, Sanders said, referencing the Republican president who defeated Sanders rival, Hillary Clinton, in 2016. With 87% of the total vote counted, Sanders leads with 66,854 votes - 26% - just over 4,000 votes more than Buttigieg, who has 24.3% currently. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, fresh off a strong debate performance, came in third place with 19.8% - 50,996 votes. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren followed with under 10% of votes. Former Vice President Joe Biden came in fifth with 8.4% Sanders will look to carry momentum through Super Tuesday, when the remaining candidates will vie for delegates in 14 states, including Massachusetts. The New Hampshire contest comes a week after controversy and confusion surrounding the Iowa caucuses, in which the states Democratic party said there were flaws in reporting systems and a relatively untested caucus reporting app. Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has said that Ukraine counts on reaching serious progress in the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products () or so-called "industrial visa waiver" in 2020. "We talked about speeding up Ukraine's so-called "industrial visa waiver," Honcharuk said at a joint briefing with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Kyiv late on Tuesday. The prime minister said that Ukraine expects to make serious progress on this issue already in 2020, and to sign the in the coming years. He also said that Ukraine is waiting for the EU technical mission. In turn, Varhelyi said that the parties will try to do all the preparatory technical work under the project in 2020, after which in 2021 there will be an opportunity of moving on to the formal part. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 09:36:10|Editor: ZD Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Coast Guard on Monday rescued 81 migrants off the country's western coast, the International Organization for Migration in Libya (IOM Libya) said Tuesday. "Last night, 81 migrants, among them 18 women and 4 children were returned to Tripoli by the Libyan Coast Guard," the IOM Libya tweeted. "IOM staff were at the disembarkation point to provide medical screenings and emergency assistance," the IOM Libya added. Libya has become a preferred departure point for migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe due to the insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Over 600,000 migrants are in Libya, many of whom need assistance especially as conflict continues, the IOM Libya earlier said. The IOM also said more than 110,000 migrants made their way to Europe through the Mediterranean in 2019, while 1,283 died on the way. The IOM has repeatedly stressed that Libya is not a safe port for migrants' disembarkation due to the deteriorating security condition in the country. A UK court has ruled that Ryanair is not liable to pay compensation in relation to disruption caused by union-led strike action. The Judgement on Appeal ruling confirmed that the airline is not liable to EU261 compensation in relation to disruptions caused by union-led strikes as such disruptions constitute extraordinary circumstances and are beyond the airline's control. "As a matter of principle no airline can control the demands made on it by a trade union," said Judge Iain Hughes. "All airlines, whether they are state-owned or owned by their shareholders, are subject to competing interests and cannot simply concede all such demands as are made on them by trade unions. "Airlines have to take into account a much broader range of interests, including the interest of the business itself, the interests of passengers, the interests of non-striking employees, the interests of its owners and must have regard to the competition that it faces in the market place." Welcoming the ruling this morning, Ryanair's Kenny Jacobs said that the 2018 union-led strikes "constitute extraordinary circumstances". Mr Jacobs said that the airline pays the "vast majority" of EU261 compensation claims it receives but must reject claims where it is believed that an unavoidable disruption is due to extraordinary circumstances. "While we do not wish to disappoint customers, who may have been expecting EU261 compensation, we must defend such claims as we have a duty to all our customers, our staff and the regions we serve to manage our costs responsibly. "Failure by Ryanair in this regard would raise fares and reduce choice for all our customers, in particular on regional routes which are disproportionately affected by EU261 costs." Ryanair said that they assess each disruption on a case by case basis and it is company policy to pay all valid EU261 compensation claims within 10 days of receipt from its customers. The UK court decision follows similar court decisions in Ireland, Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah, MP for Kwabre East 12.02.2020 LISTEN A research conducted by the Center for Progressive Governance (CenProG) has revealed that female Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region are likely to retain their seats in the upcoming primaries. The latest findings from a research conducted by CenProG into the NPPs Parliamentary Primaries in the Ashanti Region has revealed that the female MPs are doing well. The exercise which was centered around the best performing and most liked NPP MPs in the Region proved that all five female MPs are doing well and within the top 15 of all Parliamentarians in the Region. All five (5) female MPs were within the top 15 and two (2) made it into the top five. This goes to underscore the need for more women representation in parliament, the findings of the CenProG research disclosed. The research further uncovered that female MPs attract floating voters during elections, giving an indication that they will have a better chance of benefiting from such voters during the primaries slated for April 2020. One significant quality that was common amongst female MPs is their attractiveness to the floating voters. This is important because a significant number of floating voters said their choice of Presidential candidate is affected by who the parliamentary candidate is, the research according to CenProG has said. Top performing and most likely NPP MPs in the Ashanti Region according to CenProG below: 1. MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO HAVE PERFORMED WELL AND MOST LIKELY TO GET ANOTHER TERM Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah, Kwabre East The youngest legislator in the parliament of Ghana, Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah is the most liked NPP MP in the Ashanti region. Respondents cite charisma, eloquence, attractiveness to floating voters and integrity as the qualities they look for in a Member of Parliament. Out of respondents in the Kwabre East constituency who said they were NPP members, 96% named her as the candidate with the qualities they wanted in an MP. 89% said there were satisfied with her performances; out of with 90% indicated there were very satisfied. 92% of the floating voters named her as the candidate with the qualities they want in an MP, 87% were satisfied with her performance; out of which 88% said they were very satisfied. CenProGs verdict: Averagely, 94% of the respondents named Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah as the candidate with the qualities they wanted in an MP with 88% satisfied with her performance. Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah may not go unopposed but she is most likely to beat whoever contests her in the Parliamentary primaries because her approval ratings remain very high amongst her constituents and the highest in the region. It is therefore in the interest of the NPP to avoid a long and bitter contest by allowing the current MP to contest unopposed. 98 96 94 92 90NPP members 88Floating Voters 86 84 82 Named as preferred Satisfied with Very satisfied candidate performance Hon. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Manhyia South The Minister of Education may not be liked by some outside his party and the Ashanti region but he is the second most liked NPP MP in the Ashanti Region. Respondents cite charisma, eloquence, closeness to grassroots, attractiveness to floating voters and long service/commitment to party as the qualities they look for in a Member of Parliament. 94% of respondents in the Manhyia South constituency who said they were NPP members named Hon. Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) as the candidate with the qualities they wanted in an MP. 90% said there were satisfied with his performances; out of with 85% indicated there were very satisfied. 89% of the floating voters named Napo as the candidate with the qualities they want in an MP, 86% were satisfied with his performance; out of which 83% said they were very satisfied. CenProGs verdict: On the average, 91.5% of the respondents named Hon. Mathew Opoku Prempeh as the candidate with the qualities they wanted in an MP with 88% satisfied with his performance. Napo may likely go unopposed as whoever will contest him is likely to face the wrath of his constituency executives who are solidly behind him coupled with his approval ratings; it is an exercise in futility to contest him. 96 94 92 90 88 86NPP members 84Floating Voters 82 80 78 76 Named as preferred Satisfied with Very satisfied candidate performance Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Suame The Majority Leader is currently one of the most experienced legislators in Parliament and so it no news that he is one of the most liked NPP MPs in the Ashanti region. Respondents in this constituency cite charisma, integrity, eloquence, closeness to grassroots, attractiveness to floating voters and long service/commitment to party as the qualities they look for in a Member of Parliament. 89% of respondents from Suame believe the Majority leader is the candidate with the qualities they want in an MP. 86% said they were satisfied with his performances; out of with 82% indicated there were very satisfied. 88% of the floating voters named him as the candidate with the qualities they want in an MP, 80% were satisfied with her performance; out of which 87% said they were very satisfied. CenProGs verdict: Having stayed in Parliament for a long time and with a depth of institutional memory, he is one MP the NPP cannot afford to lose. With an average of 88.5% constituents believing that he has the qualities they want in their MP and 83% satisfied with his performance, it would be an uphill task trying to unseat Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu. His detractors have used his long stay in parliament as a basis for why he should be changed but the delegates would likely not buy any of that as his approval ratings rightly suggests. The Majority leader has advocated for some selected MPs being allowed to go unopposed and if the party were to take such a decision, it might be in the partys interest in the long run. 90 88 86 84 82NPP members 80 Floating Voters 78 76 74 Named as preferred Satisfied with Very satisfied candidate performance Hon. Joyce Adwoa Akoh Dei, Bosome Freho Hon. Joyce Adwoa Akoh Dei might not be the name on many lips in terms of national politics but her constituents adore her. Respondents cite integrity, incorruptibility, closeness to grassroots, attractiveness to floating voters and long service/commitment to party as the qualities they look for in a Member of Parliament. Of the respondents in her constituency who said they were NPP members, 87% named her as the candidate with the qualities they wanted in an MP. 84% said there were satisfied with her performances; out of with 84% indicated there were very satisfied. 82% of the floating voters named her as the candidate with the qualities they want in an MP, 80% were satisfied with her performance; out of which 90% said they were very satisfied. CenProGs verdict: Hon Joyce Dei scored an average of 84.5% as the candidate with the qualities her constituents want in their Member of Parliament with 82% saying there were satisfied with her performances. Whether or not she goes unopposed in the parliamentary primaries, Hon Dei would certainly be representing the party in the 2020 elections. 92 90 88 86 84 NPP members 82 Floating Voters 80 78 76 74 Named as preferred Satisfied with Very satisfied candidate performance Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah, Manhya North Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwah may have some bones to pick with the Ashanti regional party hierarchy due to past events but when it comes to his constituency, he seems to enjoy a lot of support. Respondents cite eloquence, closeness to grassroots, attractiveness to floating voters and long service/commitment to party as the qualities they look for in a Member of Parliament. 72% of the respondents in Manhyia north constituency who said they were NPP members, named Hon. Collins as the candidate with the qualities they wanted in an MP. 68% said there were satisfied with his performances; out of with 73% indicated there were very satisfied. 70% of the floating voters said he was the candidate with the qualities they want in an MP and are satisfied with her performance; out of which 65% said they were very satisfied. CenProGs verdict: The MP over the years has tried to bridge the gap between himself and some power brokers within the NPP, at least by his public utterances. It isunclear whether the people he sought to appease are willing to let go. What is clear however is the fact that he is liked by majority of his constituents both within and without the party. With an average of 71% saying he has the qualities they want in an MP and 66.5% saying they were satisfied with his performance, it is unlikely that Hon. Collins would be unseated in the parliamentary primaries. He would most certainly not be allowed to go unopposed because of the obvious, but his approval ratings should see him prevail at the end of the primaries. 74 72 70 68 NPP members 66 Floating Voters 64 62 60 Named as preferred Satisfied with Very satisfied candidate performance Hes cute if you dont look at the teeth. Photo: Sonic the Hedgehog. This interview originally ran last year, but were republishing it ahead of the release of the new-and-improved Sonic the Hedgehog movie. As most devoted children of the 1990s already know, the trailer for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie dropped. And its clear, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the worst thing about its confusing display of both live-action and CGI scenes are those teeth. Someone made the awful decision to give Sonic (clearly a hedgehog) human teeth. Its terrifying, and we hate it. So we asked Laurie Hess, an exotic-animal veterinarian at the Veterinary Center for Birds & Exotics in Bedford Hills, New York, to walk us through the horror. What were your initial thoughts on the new Sonic the Hedgehog image I sent you? It was adorable. I mean, I love hedgehogs. Theyre really adorable. I guess for me, the main thing is that I love the idea of drawing attention to hedgehogs, as long as it promotes responsible pet ownership. You know, its a cute picture. It doesnt look like a real hedgehog looks obviously. Its got a different color, little prickly things, you know. What do hedgehog teeth really look like? So hedgehog teeth are actually very tiny, and the big problem, ironically, given the big teeth [of new Sonic], is the overgrowing of their gums. Their gums actually grow up over their teeth and obscure their teeth or make them look actually smaller. So theyre definitely not large or, like, canine-looking teeth. If you could compare hedgehog teeth to the teeth of another animal in the animal kingdom, what would that animal be? Theyre not at all related to them, but theyre more like ferret teeth. You know, theyre very small and they get a lot of the same diseases that ferrets get and cats get. What would you say is the most common ailment that you treat when it comes to hedgehogs and their teeth? Both the buildup of tartar in the mouth and then they get periodontal disease, where their teeth get loose and fall out. And also the overgrowing of the gum on their teeth, which means theyre chewing with their gums, which can get very painful. Whenever the hedgehogs get checkups once a year, it should include a thorough, full oral exam, which can be really difficult because, as you know, hedgehogs ball up, and its hard enough to get them to open up and even glance at their faces. So there are some tricks that we have, like filling a plastic tub or pan or little plastic container with water, and we put them in there, try to get them to unfurl and to open their mouths. Sometimes we cant even do that and we have to anesthetize for a brief period to get into their mouths. They get a lot of tumors in their mouths. Are hedgehogs your primary patient types? I dont think they are any one persons primary patient types. Im an exotic-animal vet, so I dont treat cats or dogs. I treat quite a few hedgehogs. I dont think any one veterinarian could survive on seeing just hedgehogs because I dont think theyre that popular as pets. Theyre definitely popular; theyre definitely fun. I definitely see more hedgehogs than anybody in the New York area. An adorable hedgehog named Prickle. Photo: Dr. Laurie Hess Approximately how many hedgehogs mouths have you worked on? It comes in spurts. In the course of the week, we might see two to three hedgehogs a week. I examine every one of their mouths. Dental problems and mouth problems are a really big part of what we see. When do you usually give hedgehogs an anesthetic? They have this incredible ability to ball up, and thats how they hide from predators. They literally ball into a big prickly ball. Theyre not like porcupines, so they dont shoot their quills, but their quills are prickly, and its really hard. They have strong muscles along their back that enable them to completely hide their face. If someone brings in their pet hedgehog and expects me to do an exam, and theyre very tame and social and they unfurl readily, you know, I can do a very regular exam like you would on any animal cat, dog, or bird. Starting at their heads and looking at their eyes and their noses and their mouths, working my way down their body and feeling the abdomen, looking at their reproductive regions and at their feet and all those things. If they wont cooperate with me, the first thing Ill try is filling up that little bowl or bin with water. They dont love to stand in water, so they do kind of stretch out. Sometimes I get so far that I can do an overall exam, but if I try to open their mouths or listen to their hearts, thats a little more specific in detail; theyll ball up again. So if they really fight me and dont respond to the whole get-them-in-water thing, I have to put a little anesthetic mask over their body and give them gas anesthesia, which lasts a couple of minutes and enables me to get them to relax, and I can do a thorough exam. Its a pretty common obstacle that people with hedgehogs have to overcome. Its the balling up. Have you ever been bitten during a procedure? Ive been bitten by everything. [Laughs.] Have I been nipped by hedgehogs? Sure. With hedgehogs, theyre really shy and theyre not aggressive. The balling up thing enables them to hide their mouths from me and avoid their whole interaction. Thats kind of their defense mechanism. Would you say their bites are painful? Its a nip. Its not like daggers or anything. Theyll typically try to curl up. Have you ever tried to floss a hedgehogs teeth? Its really hard. So no. [Laughs.] There are little teeny tiny toothbrushes used for puppies and kittens that I use for ferrets, and Ive actually given them to hedgehog owners too. Theyre called finger brushes and they fit over the tip of your pointer finger. They actually come with meat-flavored toothpaste. [Hedgehogs] eat insects and things like that, but they have chicken toothpaste. I will have owners try to brush their hedgehogs teeth. I think if you start at a really young age, and you try to get them used to getting their teeth touched with water and a brush, you can prevent a lot of the dental things since you eliminate all the tartar. Most adult hedgehogs just wont let you start doing that. Flossing is not really an option. I get why everyone is freaking out about how Sonic looks in the trailer. It's because his teeth are not accurate to real hedgehogs. I fixed it. You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/nUfTE4n5Bt Jon Risinger (@JonRisinger) April 30, 2019 I cant tell whats worse: #SonicMovies off putting human teeth, or if they had used anatomically correct hedgehog teeth. pic.twitter.com/opZ4woLOJC Carmen ANE (@honeyeaue) May 1, 2019 When you do oral exams, do you have really small dental tools? Yep. We have little mouth speculums that open their mouths. Theres actually a human nasal speculum built to go up someones nostrils, but we use it in hedgehogs and guinea pigs and rabbits. It kind of looks like a clamshell, but instead of up and down it opens side to side. Theres a little light and we just put it in their mouths. They dont love it, but it lets us look at the backs of their mouths so we can see their teeth and their gums and all that stuff. Do you think the live-action Sonic would be scarier with actual hedgehog teeth? I think real hedgehog teeth would be less scary than [the teeth in the movie]. Theyre not really aggressive. Theyre active animals; theyre not aggressive animals. They tend to be kind of shy and fearful, and thats why they ball up; its a defense mechanism. I think Sonic is more outgoing than most hedgehogs, unless you socialize them and get them young and handle them a lot. A lot of them can be really friendly and open to strangers. Unfortunately, most people dont do that, so [their hedgehogs] get really scared and ball up. I cant say that Ive watched Sonic in action, but if Sonic is balling up and doing those normal things, and then is interactive and social, thats a good way of portraying a hedgehog. Thats reality. Do you have any feelings on the rest of Sonics look? The blue is not realistic, but they do have white on the bottom. The part thats all spiky and prickly, thats called the mantle on a normal hedgehog. They do have a soft area underneath the prickly part on their back. You can kind of see the little quills on the back. Thats realistic. The nose is similar. There are two main types of hedgehogs. Theres the European hedgehog. We dont really see those in the U.S. We see African pygmy hedgehogs, and those are the ones we keep as pets. Theyre the ones that I see. I would say [Sonic is] a stuffed-animal version of what a hedgehog would look like. In the end, what do you think it is about Sonic with human teeth that makes people uncomfortable? Hedgehog teeth are cute and small, just like them. Their teeth match their size. Maybe thats why people dont think big teeth match the tiny, cute hedgehog. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Former North Korean deputy ambassador to Britain Thae Yong Ho announces his candidacy for Seoul's parliamentary elections in April on Feb. 12, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. A high-profile North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea has officially announced he is running for parliament in the South, in a move that has boosted the spirits of the marginalized North Korean refugee and defector community. Thae Yong Ho, who was deputy ambassador at the North Korean embassy in the United Kingdom prior to his 2016 defection, told a press briefing in Seouls National Assembly that he would run for a seat in the assembly as a part of the right-wing opposition Liberty Korea Party in elections to be held on April 15. Thae said that if elected, he could contribute to Koreas unification by drawing upon the experience and understanding of North Koreas government that he gained while working as a diplomat. I know more about North Koreas system and regime than anyone else in South Korea, Thae said. With my experience and expertise, I will work on making plans toward implementing a realistic unification policy that all Koreans can agree on, he said, adding that any plan for unification must be based on liberal democracy, not a one-sided antagonistic winner-take-all approach. The parliamentary candidate also said he would make efforts to improve the situation of the more than 30,000 North Korean refugees who have settled in South Korea. Should Thae win the election, he would be the first North Korean defector to be elected as a lawmaker from a local constituency in South Korean history. An earlier defector, Cho Myung-Chul, served as a proportional representative from 2012 to 2016, representing the same party, which at that time was called the Saenuri Party. Thae said that becoming a lawmaker elected by the people would have a huge impact not only among the community of defectors and refugees in the South, but on people inside North Korea. As soon as the North Korean people from the elite and common classes see that Thae Yong Ho, who was once a senior North Korean diplomat, but was able to become a lawmaker [in the South] representing a local constituency and elected by South Korean people, I believe they will have hope that we are one step closer to unification, said Thae. He said he wanted to run for office because he was frustrated to see South Korea send young North Koreans back to the North, and that if he were present in the National Assembly he could prevent such incidents. RFA reported in November that Seoul had deported two North Korean fishermen back to North Korea after they had confessed to killing 16 crew members before their arrival in the South. The two were not given a trial in South Korea, and the Ministry of Unification said they were deported because of the threat they could pose as members of South Korean society. North Korean refugees and defectors in the South occupy a stigmatized societal position, often looked down upon by native-born South Koreans. A report by the American Psychological Association published in Sep. 2018 said North Koreans living in South Korea experience mistreatment, discrimination, alienation and suspicion by natives of South Korea. RFAs Korean Service spoke to several refugees who said they had high hopes for Thae because his election would be a big win for the community. Seo Jae-pyong, the secretary general of the Association of North Korean Refugees in South Korea told RFA Tuesday that it was courageous to run in an election where South Koreans are voting for the person to best represent them. It is impressive that he has made a bold political challenge as a South Korean citizen who is a North Korean defector, said Seo. He also urged Thae to contribute to the effectiveness of the ROK North Korea Human Rights Act, which he said has been nullified even though it became law in 2016. Conservatives say that the law, which requires human rights to be an integral component of Seouls North Korea strategy, has been undermined by various overtures toward Pyongyang made by President Moon Jae-Ins administration, including three inter-Korean summits in 2018. Kim Jieun, a refugee who has been practicing Asian traditional medicine in South Korea after arriving in 1999, was also supportive of Thae. I want to applaud, she said, adding, I think he made a very difficult decision and it will be a very difficult path. Lim Il, a refugee who became a writer in South Korea, said he was surprised by the fact that Thae is running for a position where he needs votes from ordinary South Koreans to win, but had nothing but praise for him. He is showing us that anything is possible. In that sense, I would like to say that it is a very courageous decision and a good one. According to South Koreas Ministry of Unification, more than 33,000 North Koreans have entered South Korea over the past several decades, including 546 as of June last year. Reported by Jeong Eun Lee and Seung Wook Hong for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Shiv Sena activists and other organizations have organized protests against the state government in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. In this sequence, the Chhindwara-Nagpur highway was blocked. Actually, Chhatrapati Shivaji's statue was removed by the state government in Chhindwara. In protest against the removal, activists of Shiv Sena and other organizations closed the Chhindwara-Nagpur highway. The ADM of Chhindwara said, 'The statue was kept at the site without permission. The inspection of the matter is going on.' Big disclosure: Nepal closes its resort after 08 deaths According to media reports, the highway was closed for three hours. However, there has been an assurance from the authorities that the statue will be restored on February 19, the day of Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary. The movement was called off only after the assurance. During the protest on Tuesday, more than two thousand protesters took to the road. Due to this, traffic was also disrupted. Haryana CM Flying team raids HUDA offices In a meeting of the officials, it has been decided that on February 19, Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary will be celebrated with pomp and the statue will be installed at the Mohegan Tirahe here. Earlier on Tuesday, shops were closed on the protest against the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and the city was completely closed. WHO gives official name to coronavirus, death toll crosses 1017 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 The start of this week saw a resumption of activities in China after authorities extended the Lunar New Year holidays over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, including for thousands of Indonesian citizens who had chosen to stay put on the mainland. Private sector players began reopening their doors on Monday, a week after civil servants resumed their duties, according to the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing. People started to pack the streets of Beijing on the first day that shops and restaurants went back to business. Despite this facade of normality, however, Indonesian Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun still urged all Indonesian citizens who had stayed in China to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to ensure they are unaffected by what the World Health Organization has labelled a global public health emergency. 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 Indian players had mixed fortunes in the fifth round of the Cairns Cup Chess here with Koneru Humpy posting a win and D Harika suffering a defeat. Humpy returned to winning ways with a superb victory against overnight leader Nana Dzagnidze with black pieces on Tuesday. She had suffered a defeat in the second round and shared points in the third and fourth rounds after opening with a crushing win over Carissa Yip. She is on three points after five rounds, half a point behind the leaders -- Wenjun Ju and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Humpy, the world rapid champion, outlasted her rival in a long-draw 83-move game. Dzagnidze, who had been in good touch in previous games, was undone in Lady Gambit game as the Indian ace capitalised after gaining a pawn. World champion Wenjun Ju posted a win over Katernya Lagno, despite making errors which her Russian opponent could not capitalise on. Harika was beaten by Valentina Gunina in a Sicilian Closed game in 38 moves. It was Harika's first defeat in the 10-player tournament. Meanwhile, former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk outplayed Mariya Muzychuk to join Ju at the top. Young American Carissa Yip, who had faced four straight defeats, opened her account with a win over compatriot Irina Krush. In the sixth round, Humpy faces Kosteniuk while Harika comes up against the current world champ Wenjun Ju. Results: Fifth round: Koneru Humpy (3) beat Nana Dzagnidze (3), Wenjun Ju (3.5) beat Katernya Lagno (2.5), Alexandra Kosteniuk (3.5) beat Mariya Muzychuk (2.5), Valentina Gunina (2) beat Dronavalli Harika (2.5), Carissa Yip (1) beat Irina Krush (1.5). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minimum hourly pay for Jackson County workers to rise to $15 KANSAS CITY, MO (AP) - Kansas City's Jackson County is boosting the minimum wage for its employees to $15 per hour over the next two years. The county said in a news release Monday that the increase is the result of a study that examined whether wages were competitive. Across social media we noticed very little support for this move when we posted the newsboth local fast food union leaders and local activists seemed to politely ignore the courthouse progress. Here's a follow-up report: [February 12, 2020] Kinetica Poised to Deliver Active Analytics Across Singaporean Enterprises and Government After Being Accredited By IMDA Kinetica, the leading Active Analytics Platform for the modern digital economy, announced today that the company has been accredited by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore's (IMDA) [email protected] Digital program, to deliver deep data analytics and other data-intensive capabilities like artificial intelligence (AI) and geospatial analysis. With this prestigious acknowledgement, Kinetica stands to gain opportunities to offer its products and solutions to the Singapore government, and the company will be able to further expand its triple-digit growth in the Asia-Pacific and Japan region. The [email protected] Digital ([email protected]) is a programme by which IMDA accelerates the development and growth of Singapore-based companies through recurring market access platforms and match-making of government and enterprise demands. It plays a vital role in developing Singapore's Infocomm Media (ICM) technology ecosystem, which aims to invest and build capabilities in upcoming disruptive technologies such as AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, immersive media, and Internet of Things (IoT). "We are excited to welcome Kinetica to the [email protected] Digital programme, where they can enable government agencies and enterprises to leverage geospatial data to derive meaningful insights and address complex data challenges. Through our programme, we hope to connect Kinetica with sophisticated users to drive new business opportunities," said Mr. Edwin Low, Director of Enterprise Growth Acceleration, Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore. "The sought-after accreditation offered by the highly respected IMDA confirms Kinetica's readiness to tackle the most significant data challenges governments and businesses face tday," said Mr. Stuart Fisher, President, Asia Pacific at Kinetica. "With the partnership of Singapore's IMDA, we will be able to address the most complex business IoT, edge, and artificial intelligence challenges the region faces, such as 5G rollout, smart city initiatives, financial risk assessment, and real-time customer and citizen response across industries." Enterprises can use Kinetica's platform to build smart analytical applications that capture data, continuously assess it, and automatically react - revolutionizing the pace and potential of businesses across industries. Kinetica's approach aligns with IMDA's objective of fostering an innovative technopreneur ecosystem to build market-leading products that can scale globally and drive regional economic growth. In addition to being accredited by IMDA, Kinetica most recently expanded its footprint in Australia and New Zealand to offer significant growth market opportunities for early technology adopters from banking to telecommunications. Kinetica's extensive work with Indonesia's leading mobile carrier, Telkomsel (News - Alert), and the market's largest digital payments platform, OVO, a subsidiary of the Lippo Group, as well as other brands including Softbank in Japan is a testament to the company's commitment to growing its presence in the region on an accelerated timeline. The Kinetica Active Analytics Platform brings together all key elements of active analytics in a unified platform: historical data analytics, streaming data analytics, location intelligence, and AI and ML-powered predictive analytics. ?The Kinetica Platform includes a distributed, in-memory, GPU-accelerated database that utilizes a powerful combination of CPUs and NVIDIA (News - Alert) GPUs to analyze massive, complex datasets with millisecond response times. In a recent ?independent technical review by InfoWorld?, the Kinetica Active Analytics Platform was also recognized for excellence with a rare 4.5-star rating and received the sought-after InfoWorld Editor's Choice award. About Kinetica The Kinetica Active Analytics Platform combines streaming and historical data with location intelligence and machine learning-powered analytics. Organizations across automotive, energy, telecommunications, retail, healthcare, financial services, and beyond leverage the platform's GPU-accelerated computing power to build custom analytical applications that deliver immediate, dynamic insight. Kinetica has a rich partner ecosystem, including NVIDIA, Dell, HP, and IBM (News - Alert), and is privately held, backed by leading global venture capital firms Canvas Ventures, Citi Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures, and Meritech Capital Partners. For more information and trial downloads, visit kinetica.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005913/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation on Behalf of PlayAGS, Inc. Investors (AGS) The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation on behalf of PlayAGS, Inc. ("PlayAGS" or the "Company") (NYSE: AGS) 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 August 7, 2019, PlayAGS reported a net loss of $7.6 million for second quarter 2019, which included a $3.5 million impairment to goodwill and $1.3 million impairment to intangible assets related to the Company's real money gaming business. On this news, the Company's share price fell $8.99, or nearly 52%, to close at $8.31 per share on August 8, 2019, on unusually heavy trading volume. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased PlayAGS 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/20200212005910/en/ New Delhi: After its humiliating defeat in the Delhi Assembly poll, the BJP leadership will be forced to tweak its poll strategy in Bihar and West Bengal where the next elections are scheduled. While Bihar will go to polls before the end of the year, West Bengal will do so next year. Both states have a significant number of Muslim voters. The BJPs plank in favour of the CAA and NRC is perceived to be anti-Muslim and drew protests across the country. BJP ally, JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has declared that NRC will not be implemented, though his party supported the CAA in Parliament. However, after the Delhi poll results, the BJPs bargaining power seems to have decreased. The BJP had declared Mr Kumar as the NDAs face only after realising that going solo may prove detrimental. Though state politics is abuzz with rumours on whether or not Nitish will ditch the BJP, the saffron partys poll managers are confident that he will not repeat the mistake as it would only tarnish his own image and credibility. Yolanda Hadid the model mom cut a stylish figure on an outing in New York on Tuesday. The 56-year-old is in the Big Apple to support her incredibly successful daughters Gigi and Bella during the city's Fashion Week. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star lives on a farm in Pennsylvania which she purchased in 2017 but regularly visits New York to see her children. Model mom: Yolanda Hadid was spotted on the streets of New York City on Tuesday Her daughters are two of the most in-demand models in the industry as Gigi Hadid, 24, strutted her stuff down the catwalk for Proenza Schouler on Monday. She also modeled at Tom Ford's show last week which was in Hollywood. Younger sibling Bella, 23, has had an even busier schedule as she has rocked the runway for Michael Kors, Rodarte, Khaite, Oscar de la Renta, and Brandon Maxwell in addition to Tom Ford's show on the West Coast. No. 1 fan: The 56-year-old is in the Big Apple to support her incredibly successful daughters Gigi and Bella during the city's Fashion Week and accessorized with Gigi Hadid for Vogue Eyewear sunglasses The mother-of-three, who was joined by a male friend, looked fab as she showed off her long legs in skin tight black leggings and a sweater. She teamed the look with a black, geometric pink, red, yellow and green patterned sweater. Topping off the look, she wore black and red booties. Hadid seemed to be cooling off as she carried a large black and yellow puffer jacket on her arm. Catwalk queens: Yolanda's daughters Gigi (left) and Bella Hadid have been busy as they began Fashion Week in LA with the Tom Ford presentation last week Ravishing in red: The 24-year-old older sister Gigi strutted her stuff down the catwalk for Proenza Schouler on Monday Busy: Younger sibling Bella, 23, has had an even busier schedule as she has rocked the runway for Michael Kors (pictured), Khaite, and Brandon Maxwell In-demand: Bella seen at the Rodarte show (left) and walking for Oscar de la Renta (right) Her short blonde locks were pulled back into a ponytail and she covered her eyes in Gigi Hadid for Vogue Eyewear cateye sunglasses. Yolanda is in a relationship with Joseph Jingoli. The relationship was fresh off her 2017 divorce from music producer David Foster. She was previously married to Mohamed Hadid with whom she shares daughters Gigi, 24, and Bella, 23, as well as son Anwar, 20. The controversial Shannon LNG gas terminal is a step closer after a vote today in the European Parliament. MEPs today voted down a motion objecting to a list of priority energy projects across the EU. They include the Silvermines hydro-electric plant in Tipperary and the Shannon project, both of which are eligible for EU funding and fast-tracking. Critics say it goes against climate targets and will lead to fracked gas being imported from the US. MEPs today voted against a Green Group objection to the list. Green Party MEP for Ireland South Grace OSullivan said it is a backwards move. Ms O'Sullivan said: "In Ireland's case it's bringing fracked gas from Pennsylvania in the US into Shannon in Ireland. "Because we are reminding the parliament that the Green Deal is front and centre here in Europe and because of climate chaos and biodiversity decline, it's really important that we move into renewable projects and that public money is spent in those areas and not going down a regressive path." However, Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly is warning that we might run out of gas due to the UK leaving the EU. Mr Kelly said Ireland needs security of supply, saying: "By rejecting one particular project on the basis that it might have fracked gas won't reduce by one iota the amount of fracking that will take place in the US and elsewhere. "This is a far bigger problem in terms of security of supply for Ireland, the Corrib gas line will be depleted in a number of years. "We are now dependent on a third country, the UK, for our supply. If they change the rules we could find a situation down the line where we'd have no gas to heat our houses, to run our industries, to power our transport." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Goodness, we are lucky on Staten Island. Not only to we get our pick of the best regional mozzarella -- it is made right here in the borough at most pork stores and markets -- but we get some rather exciting variations of it as well. Like burrata. As the name suggests, burrata means buttered in Italian. Thats a reference to the texture of the cheeses molten insides -- torn bits of mozzarella, called stracciatella, coddled in fresh ricotta. This is the gift that gives the creation its creamy, decadence. To capture such goodness, the package is held together by a pliable skin, courtesy of hand-worked curd stretched as thin as possible. Before plating burrata, start with a ball left at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will allow its soft insides to melt and pool a bit. Use a sharp knife to slice gently but firmly through the equator of the cheese -- essentially to rip it open. Use a fork or spoon to cull the milky goodness, ideal for eating in its pure state. The skin or liquid part of the cheese also can be spread on crusty Italian bread. Vinum, in Stapleton, uses Lioni brand burrata -- which comes over freshly sliced cherry tomatoes and topped with microgreens. Burrata at Vinum, Stapleton, is served with crusty, rustic Italian bread. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) One of the boroughs largest manufacturers of burrata is Joe Mozz, a.k.a. Joe Badalamenti, who hand-pulls and stuffs the cheese. His limited burrata inventory is for sale at 1021 Post Ave., Port Richmond; 917-626-2813 with the retail shop open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. IF YOU LIKED THIS STORY AND VIDEO, HERE IS MORE IN FOOD: Mozzarella stuffed with avocado: A new cheese sensation? Italian breads & cookies by the thousands at Rosemarie Bakery on Staten Island Capicola: What it is and how Staten Islanders say it Touring Peppis amazing backyard garden in South Beach, Staten Island From mutz to mozzarella: How to say it & make it like Pastosa on Staten Island Follow, Pamela Silvestri on Instagram @StatenEats for sneak peeks, happy borough eats and the official Advance word on Staten Island food. T-Mobile and Sprint win court approval for merger T-Mobile US, Inc and Sprint on Tuesday said the companies are going ahead with their merger to create the New T- Mobile, after they received a favorable decision in Federal Court in New York. District Judge Victor Marrero rejected the claim by a group of states led by California and New York that the deal would violate antitrust laws and raise prices. The court agreed with arguments by T-Mobile and Sprint that the merger would better equip the new company to compete with top players Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc, creating a more efficient company with low prices and faster internet speeds. Even after the $26 billion deal closes, the combined company would only be third-largest US wireless carrier by market capitalisation. In his ruling, the judge noted the difficulty in deciding an antitrust case since it forces the judge to predict the future in deciding if a deal will lead to higher prices. T-Mobile has redefined itself over the past decade as a maverick that has spurred the two largest players in its industry to make numerous pro-consumer changes. The proposed merger would allow the merged company to continue T-Mobiles undeniably successful business strategy for the foreseeable future, the court ruled. Today was a huge victory for this merger and now we are FINALLY able to focus on the last steps to get this merger done! We want to thank the Court for its thorough review of the facts we presented in our case. Weve said it all along: the New T-Mobile will be a supercharged Un-carrier that is great for consumers and great for competition, said John Legere, chief executive officer of T-Mobile. The broad and deep 5G network that only our combined companies will be able to bring to life is going to change wireless and beyond. Look out Dumb and Dumber and Big Cable we are coming for you and you havent seen anything yet! he added. Judge Marreros decision validates our view that this merger is in the best interests of the U.S. economy and American consumers, said Sprint executive chairman Marcelo Claure. Today brings us a big step closer to creating a combined company that will provide nationwide 5G, lower costs, and a high-performing network that will invigorate competition to the benefit of all mobile wireless and in-home broadband consumers, he added. The two companies plan to focus on quickly completing the few remaining necessary steps to close this transaction. The T-Mobile and Sprint combination is subject to certain closing conditions, including possible additional court proceedings, and satisfactory resolution of outstanding business issues among the parties. The US Justice Department approved the deal in July after the carriers agreed to sell some prepaid assets to satellite provider Dish Network Corp, which would create its own cellular network to ensure that there would still be four competitors in the market. The Federal Communications Commission also approved the deal in October. Uniting T-Mobiles low-band spectrum and Sprints mid-band spectrum could allow a fast rollout of a national 5G network. Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai said the ruling was a big win for American consumers and would help ensure US leadership in rolling out a 5G network. The FCC approved the deal last year in a vote split 3-2 along party lines. Japans Softbank Group Corp holds a controlling stake in Sprint. BEIRUT - Lebanons international backers said Wednesday they supported its new Cabinet, while urging it to swiftly tackle the countrys snowballing crises amid ongoing anti-government protests. The group urged Prime Minister Hassan Diabs government to commit to major reforms that would stop and reverse the deepening crises afflicting the country economically and politically. Those issuing the statement included international partners like France, the United States, Russia and the United Nations. Lebanons economic slump has sparked months of mass protests against its government and ruling elite, many of them in power since the end of the 15-year-long civil war in 1990. Diab, a former professor at the American University of Beirut, was picked by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and its allies after Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned at the end of October, two weeks after the nationwide protests erupted. The new Cabinet secured 63 votes out of the 84 lawmakers who attended Tuesdays session. Over forty lawmakers skipped the vote while the protesters hurled stones at security forces outside the fortified barriers surrounding the legislative chamber. Diab urged the international community, and local opponents, to give his government a chance. Lebanon is at the centre of a foreign power play between supporters and detractors of Iran. Hezbollah, a major ally of Tehran, has come under intensifying U.S. sanctions as Washington seeks to put pressure on Iran and its regional allies. Thousands of protesters clashed with security forces outside the Parliament on Tuesday while lawmakers voted on the new government. Nearly 400 people were injured in the melee. Speaking ahead of the vote, Diab said he fully realized the massive task ahead but was confident it was possible to rescue Lebanons economy from complete collapse and that his government would get to work immediately. Diab vowed to fight corruption, while ushering in judicial, financial and administrative reforms, but offered few specifics in his 16-page plan. Amid a spiraling financial crisis, Lebanese banks have imposed informal capital controls on withdrawals of U.S. dollars and halted transfers of foreign currency abroad. Lebanon has one of the highest debt ratios in the world, standing at more than 150% of GDP with no economic growth, a liquidity crunch and high unemployment. International donors had pledged some $11 billion in grants and loans for Lebanon in 2018, calling for major reforms to unleash the money. In recent weeks, friendly nations have said they will not bail Lebanon out without those major policy and regulatory changes. On Wednesday, the international group, which also includes the European Union, Britain, China, Germany and Italy, said it supports Lebanons efforts to restore economic stability, credibility of the financial sector and key sector reforms. It also announced its support for peaceful protests. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 19:24:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Medical staff pose for a photo at a temporary hospital converted from "Wuhan Livingroom" in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) From food supply to family care, from cash bonus to tailored insurance products... Chinese cities are upping measures to support medical workers and their families in the ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak. NANCHANG, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese cities are upping measures to support medical workers and their families, who have been in the national spotlight with their sacrifices and heroism in the ongoing battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak. In north China's Shanxi Province, the provincial women's federation has started weekly deliveries of vegetables, fruits, meat and other daily necessities to families of doctors and nurses who are at the front line to assist the hardest-hit province of Hubei. So far, hundreds of medical families in the province have received such parcels. In Wenzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province, the women's federation also supplies masks and disinfectants, which are in tight supply in most Chinese cities, to needy medical families. The city government of Bengbu, Anhui Province, has asked hospitals and communities to assist the families of medical staff in solving "practical difficulties," including purchasing necessities, their children's education and their elderly parents' care. The province in eastern China also promised a cash bonus of 6,000 yuan (861 U.S. dollars) to doctors and nurses working at the anti-virus front line, and promotions for those with outstanding performances. Some cities are digging into their tourism resources. The city of Chishui in Guizhou Province has waived the entrance fees to its major scenic spots, including a world natural heritage site, for the nation's medics this year in a move to "salute the doctors and nurses at the front line of the epidemic fight." Photo taken on Feb. 3, 2020 shows a view of a ward in Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing, capital of China. The Beijing Ditan Hospital, a designated hospital to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus in the city, has opened three general wards and one intensive care unity to treat infected patients in a bid to fight against the coronavirus outbreak. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) In Beijing, the insurance sector is urged to offer tailored products for medics. Li Mingxiao, director of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission's Beijing Supervision Bureau, said insurance agencies in the Chinese capital had donated 25.8 billion yuan worth of insurance to frontline medics and their families. To contain the spread of the epidemic, Chinese health authorities have dispatched a total of 11,921 medical personnel from across the country to Hubei, the National Health Commission said Sunday. Outside Hubei, a large number of medical workers are also racing against the clock in isolation wards. Some families have seen both the husband and wife busy dedicating their time to hospital work, leaving only the elderly and children at home. In east China's Jiangxi Province, officials called for all sectors of society to take good care of the families of frontline medics as if they were "close family." Liu Ying, an emergency doctor in Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi, has been in an isolation ward for more than half a month. "I only sleep for about four hours every day," said Liu, whose wife has just given birth and needs extra care. To Liu's relief, his hospital has arranged staff to supply food to the family while reassuring his wife with daily updates about Liu's work. After some volunteers donated a batch of fresh vegetables to the hospital, the family immediately received a portion. "I feel sorry for my family but at the same time I'm glad that the hospital has come to our aid," said Liu. "We should not only provide full protection of medical staff, but also eliminate their fears and worries by helping their families," said Zhang Wei, director of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, where Liu works. Wu Chongyang and Wang Pinghong, who both work at the hospital, are barely able to focus on their daughter as she prepares for the college entrance examination this year. Xiong Qiuyan, head teacher of her class, offers to tutor her via the Internet every day. "It seems that the entire society is caring for us. It gives us courage and strength in our fight against the novel coronavirus," said Liu. The minister who will make the final decision on the national Holocaust memorial next to Parliament today repeated the Governments support for the project. Westminster councils planning committee rejected the Victoria Tower Gardens scheme last night and it will now go to a public inquiry. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the Government was implacably committed to the memorial. In the presidents view, the city on the hill was too permissive and vulnerable; welcoming foreigners opens the doors to an existential threat. Trump promised his supporters to wall it off, and he has stuck to that vision. His Make America Great Again message conjured a time before the rapid economic and demographic changes of globalization. He is leaning heavily on that message again to win in November, depicting Democrats as radical extremists who want open borders and those who encourage sanctuary for immigrants as enabling violence and murder. French prosecutors on Wednesday launched an investigation into the business dealings in France of a suspect in the 2017 killing of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. In a statement they said were responding to a complaint filed in December by the family of the slain journalist and by French media rights campaigners Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Financial investigators would try to establish if business dealings in France by people under investigation in Malta over the killing had been linked to corrupt practices abroad, the statement said. The complaint named a number of senior figures being investigated by the Maltese police, including tycoon Jorgen Fenech. Fenech, who owns hotels and a racing horse stable in France, has already been charged in Malta with complicity in Caruana Galizia's murder. In their complaint, the family and RSF accused Fenech of having used money from his French assets to bribe two senior figures inside the Maltese administration to win a major public contract. The complaint names them as Keith Schembri, former chief of staff to the then prime minister Joseph Muscat; and former tourism minister Konrad Mizzi. Galizia Caruana was investigating this story when she was killed by a car bomb on October 16, 2017. - Close cooperation with Malta - Muscat resigned as prime minister in December following accusations that he had intervened to protect Schembri and Mizzi. The French prosecutors, in their statement, made it clear they would be cooperating closely with the Maltese authorities. Caruana Galizia's family and RSF welcomed the news. "(It) sets an important standard in the prosecution of corruption across European borders and in the crimes committed against journalists," her sister Corinne Vella told AFP. "Institutional failure and state capture in Malta has left our government without the will or capacity to deliver full justice." RSF secretary general Christophe Deloire welcomed the new investigation as an important development. Writing on Twitter, he said it might shed more light on the what had happened behind the scenes of the assassination. The complaint he helped file in December also suggested that Fenech's French business assets might have been used to pay those hired to carry out the bombing. Three men accused of the murder itself have already been arrested. Shortly before her assassination, Caruana Galizia had revealed that a company based in Dubai, 17 Black, paid two million euros to Schembri and Mizzi. After her death, a group of journalists who took up her investigation showed that 17 Black was owned by Fenech. Said Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign (CPBD) Manager Chris Coffey, "For months now our members have been calling for Delaware to make progress in diversifying its court system, but to no avail. We said from the beginning we weren't going to be afraid of calling out those we see responsible for perpetuating a rigged system the only helps a select few, and this billboard shows how serious we are about that. "The inequities in Delaware's justice system, caused by a court system run by mostly white judges is a direct result of firms like Skadden Arps denying opportunities to people of color. We can't possibly expect the judges in our courts to accurately reflect the racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic diversity of this state if they aren't given the opportunity to gain the relevant experience. "Of 282 law partners listed at Wilmington firms, not even 5% are racial minorities. Per their own reporting, Skadden Arps epitomizes the problem out of 10 partners in the Wilmington office, not a single one is black. "Lacking diversity in our justice system is a national and systemic issue. But in a state that's home to the country's busiest corporate courts, where judges are handpicked to join an old boys' club from top firms like Skadden, it's critical we end the status quo." Contact: Chris Coffey, [email protected] SOURCE Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- David L. Pfeifer, DDS, MS, MEd, FACP, was recently honored with the American College of Prosthodontists Education Foundation (ACPEF) Founders Society Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact on the growth and development of the Foundation and has demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment to the specialty of prosthodontics. Dr. Pfeifer served on the Foundation Board for 11 years and is a past president of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP). He served for over 22 years in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of Captain and upon retirement was awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Metal. "Receiving this award is truly a great honor," said Dr. Pfeifer. "While the award is a personal recognition, the reality is that it's representative of the many individuals who have worked so very hard for the current success of the Foundation." Dr. Pfeifer received his DDS degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry, and went on to receive two masters' degrees from The George Washington University, one in oral biology and another in education. He completed his specialty training in prosthodontics at the Naval Postgraduate Dental School in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Pfeifer practiced prosthodontics for 27 years in California. The mission of the ACP Education Foundation is to secure and steward resources with the aim of advancing prosthodontics. The Foundation provides funding to support education, research, and other opportunities for growth within the specialty of prosthodontics. About Prosthodontists A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the restoration and replacement of missing teeth and other oral or facial issues. Prosthodontists specialize in helping patients with implants, dentures and veneers, all the way to full mouth and jaw reconstructions. About the ACP The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) is the association that represents the specialty of prosthodontics. Founded in 1970, the ACP is dedicated to advancing the art and science of prosthodontics and promoting the specialty to the public and dental professionals. For more information, consumers can visit GoToAPro.org and dental professionals can visit Prosthodontics.org. Evan Summers [email protected] SOURCE American College of Prosthodontists Related Links http://GoToAPro.org A 63-year-old Iranian woman has reportedly died of a suspected Coronavirus (recently named 'COVID-19' by the WHO) infection in a Tehran hospital on February 10, an Iranian local media reported. According to reports, an investigation has now been ordered into the case of her death. However, a spokesperson for Iran's Health Ministry, Kianush Kahanpour, denied the reports and said that there have been no cases of Coronavirus in Iran. The outbreak which took place in Wuhan in January has now killed hundreds of people. The death toll for the virus in China has also reportedly jumped to nearly 1,100 with another 1,638 new confirmed cases. The total number of confirmed cases across China are now more than 44,200. Hubei province, which is the epicentre of the viral outbreak, has also reported 94 new deaths. READ: British Mr Bean Impersonator Decides To Stay Back In Wuhan Amid Coronavirus Outbreak The World Health Organisation has reportedly said that China's Coronavirus outbreak is a 'very grave threat for the rest of the world' and should also be viewed by other nations as 'public enemy number 1'. The virus officially also named 'COVID-19' at the conference in Geneva held by WHO, where the body's chief further said that countries had a chance of stopping its global spread. Earlier this month, WHO also declared the Coronavirus as a 'global public health emergency'. READ: Man Faces Five-year Jail Term For Pulling Off Coronavirus Prank Inside Moscow Metro Vaccine in 18 months The WHO chief on Tuesday said that the first vaccine aimed at combating China's deadly new Coronavirus could be available in 18 months. The WHO chief also added that until a vaccine is developed the countries around the world must combat the virus with everything that is available to them today. The organisation further cautioned about the spread of cases outside of China as it could be 'the spark that becomes a bigger fire'. There are also more than 300 cases in 24 other countries and territories. However, only two deaths have been reported outside China so far. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also reportedly said that although 99 per cent of cases are in China, where it remains 'very much an emergency', it also 'holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world'. READ: Asian Markets Rise As Coronavirus Concerns Ease READ: Amid Coronavirus Dread, Sony And Intel Withdraw From Mobile World Congress (With Agency Inputs) GRANTS PASS, Ore. The man suspected of robbing a Rogue Credit Union branch in Grants Pass last month has been arrested in Nevada, according to the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety. Just before noon on January 31, a man entered the credit union at 249 NE Terry Lane and demanded money from the bank teller. He left the branch with an undisclosed amount of money before driving away in a green sedan, GPDPS said. "Officers and detectives responded to the area and began an in-depth investigation," the agency said. "Information about the suspect and the bank robbery was sent out via social media." Appropriately, it was social media that led detectives to a suspect in the case. A GPDPS dispatcher deployed overseas happened to see an unrelated post on social media indicating that a 21-year-old Joseph Arrunategui had gone missing after telling family members in Albany, Oregon that he was in some kind of trouble. Investigators later determined that Arrunategui was on the run after having robbed a bank in Washington. During her off time on deployment, the dispatcher did more research and reportedly found details that linked Arrunategui to the Grants Pass robbery, handing the information off the GPDPS detectives. The detectives soon discovered that Arrunategui had been arrested in Mineral County, Nevada on unrelated charges the day after the robbery. With the assistance of the local Sheriff's Office, GPDPS detectives issued search warrants to be served in Mineral county "Evidence was obtained linking Arrunategui to the Rogue Credit Union bank robbery," the agency said. "Arrunategui is currently in custody in the Mineral County Jail on their local charges, as well as an arrest warrant out of Washington." GPDPS said that the investigation is still ongoing as it continues to work with law enforcement in Nevada and Washington. Charges are being referred to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office at the conclusion of the investigation for the Rogue Credit Union robbery. "GPDPS wants to express our thanks to Mineral County Sheriff's Office for their assistance with this investigation and assisting with our local charges, as well as our sharp eyed dispatcher working from afar to help keep Grants Pass safe," the agency said. Legendary actor and activist for veteran causes Gary Sinise was honored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society with its Patriot Award on February 5th at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is a group made up of Medal of Honor recipients. Each year they present the Patriot Award to "those persons, who through their life's work, have distinguished themselves as Americans who are dedicated to freedom and the ideals represented," according to a Department of Defense release. The Patriot Award committee also looks to honor individuals who demonstrate of the six values embodied by the Medal of Honor: courage, sacrifice, commitment, integrity, citizenship and patriotism. Most recently that was Sinise. "I've made such good friends amongst this incredible group of people, and to have them acknowledge me is just a great, great honor," Sinise said during the ceremony. Related: The Man Behind 'Lt. Dan' Is All Patriotism, No Politics If you've stumbled here by accident, let's review why Gary Sinise is such a great candidate for this honor. Sinise, well respected in the theater and film acting communities, made a connection with active duty and veteran military members when he played the role of Lt. Dan in the 1995 Oscar Best Picture "Forrest Gump." Related: Here Are the Top 4 Military Moments From 'Forrest Gump' (Now on 4K!) Hundreds of thousands of active duty military men and women, veterans and civilians have been entertained by his music at Lt. Dan Band performances at USO shows and other public events the world over. He's worked extensively with Disabled American Veterans over the past 35 years and his Gary Sinise Foundation, founded in 2011, has focused on finding ways to provide direct support to individual military members, veteran, first responders and their families. Gary received the award from fellow actor and military supporter Joe Mantegna. ''As you all may know, not all heroes are made on the battlefield,'' said Mantegna during the presentation. ''All I can tell you is knowing this man for as long as I have, for 40 years, his status as a patriot is only equaled by his status as a husband, as a father and as a friend." Gary will next be on screen in the upcoming movie "I Still Believe," based on the true story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp, set for release on March 13. The movie was directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin, themselves grandsons of World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Henry "Red" Erwin. Erwin's MoH story was told in the 1951 movie "The Wild Blue Yonder." It's all connected out there when you pay attention. Full-service agency HaveYouHeard, started 2020 with five new clients - Absa, Campari Africa, Jameson Global, Jeep Clothing and Trotters UK. The agency which has offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London has been appointed by Absa Retail Banking to address its influencer marketing strategy and implementation. Campari Africa has tasked it with similar responsibilities, primarily in Nigeria as a starting point and rolling out onto the continent later in the year, while Jameson Global has appointed it to develop its global experiential and activations strategy, based on its current Global brand platform.Jeep Clothing is seeking strategy and execution within South Africa while Trotters, a childrens clothing brand in the United Kingdom, has appointed the agency as its digital partner. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, center, speaks during a ministerial meeting at Seoul Government Complex in Jongno District, Wednesday, regarding the novel coronavirus spread in Korea. Yonhap South Korea's finance minister on Wednesday warned against excessive fear of the spread of a new coronavirus, urging people not to curb their normal economic activities. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki told a meeting with economy-related ministers that the economy is expected to feel the brunt of efforts to contain the virus, but most economic impact may came from "excessive fear and anxiety." "As confirmed cases are under the government's prevention and control works, (the government) asks people to carry out normal economic and consumption activities," Hong said. As planned, the government will push ahead with investments worth 100 trillion won (US$84.6 billion) this year to keep the economy's recovery momentum, Hong said. The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) has elected Luca Maddalena, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, as a fellow in the world's oldest professional body dedicated to the aerospace community. Maddalena, who has been at UTA since 2010 and serves as director of its Aerodynamics Research Center, is a member of the NATO Task Force in Hypersonic Turbulence and has also served as past chair of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics' Hypersonic Technologies and Aerospace Planes Program Committee. Maddalena was instrumental in the design and construction of an arc-heated, hypersonic wind tunnel at UTA. One of only a handful in the United States and the only one of its kind at a U.S. university, the hypersonic tunnel was brought online in July 2019. "This is a tremendous honor and great recognition of Dr. Maddalena's scientific leadership, and represents the esteem in which he is held by his peers in academia and the aeronautical community worldwide," UTA President Vistasp Karbhari said. "I'm extremely proud of him as a faculty member at UTA. His work in hypersonics and the innovation he showed in building a unique test facility have placed the University on the map in his area of his specialty, and I look forward to hearing of many more successes in the future." Maddalena has worked extensively on fundamental investigations of mixing and combustion in turbulent supersonic flows and their application to hypersonic airbreathing propulsion. He also has studied reusable thermal protection systems and thermal management for sustained hypersonic flight. His research has been funded by NASA's Langley Research Center, the Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In 2019, he won a pair of Office of Naval Research grants totaling more than $1.5 million. The first was a three-year, $820,000 grant for fundamental research on characterizing arc-jet plasma flow and the second was a $690,000 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) grant to purchase a femtosecond laser system, which is the only one of its kind to be used in an arc-heated wind tunnel in the United States. (A femtosecond is one quadrillionth, or one millionth of a billionth, of a second.) Maddalena previously earned a $1.01 million DURIP grant to support the design and construction of the new wind tunnel. "I am honored to have been elected a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and I look forward to being an active contributor and supporting its activities," Maddalena said. Maddalena is the second current College of Engineering professor to be honored as an RAeS fellow. Frank Lu, a professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department and former director of the Aerodynamics Research Center, is also a fellow. UTA's Aerodynamics Research Center boasts low-speed, transonic and supersonic wind tunnels and a hypersonic shock tunnel in addition to the arc-jet tunnel. It has been a national leader in aerodynamics research for nearly 35 years. ### The Royal Aeronautical Society exists to further advance aeronautical art, science and engineering around the world. Established in Britain in 1866, the RAeS has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace, seeking to promote the highest professional standards and provide a central forum for sharing knowledge. It now has over 22,500 members and has become an international, multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community. Fellowship of the Royal Aeronautical Society is the highest achievement attainable and is only bestowed upon those in the profession of aeronautics or aerospace who either have made an outstanding contribution to the profession, attained a position of high responsibility or have had long experience of high quality in the profession. -- Written by Jeremy Agor, College of Engineering Nationals leader Michael McCormack has vowed to fight for his job in order to prevent his party from turning into a "destabilised rabble", after admitting he could face another challenge from former leader Barnaby Joyce. Mr McCormack denied being part of a controversial plan to use taxpayer-funded travel allowances to attend the Nationals' centenary in Victoria next month, as he hit back at leaks against him. He also insisted he had the support of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, despite reports of growing doubts over his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and the way his party's turmoil has damaged the wider government. Asked if he was expecting another challenge, Mr McCormack said "time will tell" but urged his challengers to focus on the Australian people, not on power. Review at a glance T he seed for Alex Edelmans Just For Us was planted when fellow stand-up Bridget Christie suggested that he did fewer what he calls dumb bulls*** jokes and more material about the real world. Out of that remark grew this thought-provoking political piece, nominated for an Edinburgh Comedy Award in 2018 and now returning for a London outing. At the heart of the narrative is a riveting account of the young Bostonian like an ugly Louis Theroux attending a white nationalist meeting in a Manhattan apartment. It superficially resembled any New York social gathering, except that the guests were essentially Nazis in civvies. Oh, and Edelman is Jewish. Along the way this meticulously delivered monologue dips out of the main arc to find original humour in subjects ranging from parenting tips, white privilege and his twin brothers Olympic career representing Israel in the skeleton, a hair-raising event for those that think luge is for wimps. Some anecdotal digressions included two years ago have been dropped, making proceedings feel tighter. This people pleaser is happy to be the punchline fall guy, recalling how he unwittingly found himself offering racists tips on boosting their Twitter presence. There is still some welcome dumb bulls***, but also maturity and it feels more relevant than when he wrote the show. If you cannot see him live he has a Radio 4 series, Alex Edelmans Peer Group, on Wednesdays at 6.30pm. Onstage or on radio he is well worth a listen. Until Feb 16 (020 8050 9241, vaultfestival.com) The Maharashtra government will celebrate the diamond jubilee of statehood from May 1, 2020 with various programmes. This decision was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday under Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. May 1 is celebrated as Maharashtra Din to commemorate the formation of the state from the division of the Bombay State on that day in 1960. A presentation on the 60 years of the state's formation was made during the Cabinet meeting which included glimpses of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, Marathi theatre, cinema, folk art, forts, programmes on the life and times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, social reformers and freedom fighters etc. It was decided that various cultural events will be organised throughout the state. A coffee table book to highlight various facets of the state; organising programmes with involvement of Maharashtrians residing overseas; conceptualising a theme song are being planned, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Close Trump denies interfering in Roger Stone sentencing Donald Trump is receiving swift backlash for claiming without evidence that rogue prosecutors were possibly responsible for handing his longtime associate Roger Stone a lengthy prison sentence, as Bernie Sanders' celebrates victory in New Hampshire. The president's comments were described as a "vile smear job" by a key witness as former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in a tweet: "Justice must be blind." Mr Trump's incendiary tweets came shortly after prosecutors said Stone should be sentenced to seven-to-nine years for lying to Congress during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, results from New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary continued to be dissected throughout the day, as Mr Sanders' strong showing appeared to place him on a clearer path to securing the Democratic nomination than ever before. Pete Buttiegieg and Amy Klobuchar, who trailed the Vermont senator respectively, have also since thanked supporters for their solid performances on Tuesday night. The attorneys then resigned from the case after the Justice Department overruled them and said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for Stone. The departures on Tuesday raised immediate questions over whether Mr Trump, who earlier in the day had blasted the original sentencing recommendation as very horrible and unfair, had at least indirectly exerted his will on a Justice Department that he often views as an arm of the White House. 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 department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night before Mr Trumps tweet and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. Even so, the departures of the entire trial team broke open a simmering dispute over the punishment of a Trump ally whose case has long captured the Republican presidents attention. Recommended Trump refuses to rule out pardoning Roger Stone The episode was the latest to entangle the Justice Department, meant to operate free from White House sway in criminal investigations and prosecutions, in presidential politics. The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia team, comprised the entire Justice Department trial team that won convictions against Stone last fall. Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has welcomed the decision by the High Court in Pretoria to dismiss an urgent relief sought by Eskom. Eskom sought urgent relief to allow them to increase tariffs by 16.60% for the 2020/21 financial year, and by 16.72% for the 2021/22 financial year. The High Court dismissed Eskoms application on Monday for urgent relief. This judgement means that the Energy Regulators decision, made on 7 March 2019, regarding Eskoms fourth Multi-Year Price Determination (MYPD4) for the control period of 2019/20 to 2021/22, remains in force, NERSA said. The regulator said its cognisant of the fact that the hearing of Part B of the review of the Energy Regulators decision on Eskoms MYPD4 revenue application is still to take place. Eskoms MYPD4 application was for revenues of R219bn, R252bn and R291bn for the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years, respectively. The Energy Regulator approved Eskoms allowable revenue of R206,380bn for financial year 2019/20, R221,843bn for financial year 2020/21 and R233,078bn for financial year 2021/22. The approved allowable revenue resulted in average price increases of 9.41%, 8.10% and 5.22% for the financial years, respectively, NERSA said. In performing its duties, NERSA is guided by, among others, the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act No. 4 of 2006) and the regulatory framework. NERSA remains confident that its determination is consistent with the governing legislative and regulatory requirements, the regulator said. SANews Lubumbashi (DR Congo) (AFP) - DR Congo magnate and political heavyweight Moise Katumbi will seek to recover his mining operations after a French court restored his right to assets sold to liquidated French company Necotrans, his lawyer said Wednesday. Katumbi, an opposition leader and former governor of the mineral-rich Katanga province, returned to DR Congo last year after three years of self-imposed exile in Belgium. The French supreme court has ruled to restore Katumbi's rights to Mining Company Katanga or MCK, Mumba Gama, one of the former governor's lawyers, told AFP. Gama said the court ruling showed that "fraudulent manuevers" to try to sell Katumbi's shares had failed. "We will regain possession of all of MCK's heritage and prosecute those who have illegally enjoyed it," he said. MCK operations, its transport fleet, offices and premises are currently "illegally occupied" by NB Mining Africa, the lawyer said. NB Mining was founded by Pascal Beveraggi, a French businessman who has been fighting in French court since 2017 with Katumbi. "Pascal Beveraggi was not party to the transaction between MCK and Necotrans," a press release for NB Mining said. It said the Katumbi team were wrongly exploiting the court ruling, which the statement said had nothing to do with Beveraggi or NB Mining Africa. MCK, which specialised in logistics services and civil engineering for the mining sector, was bought from Katumbi at the end of 2015. The sale happened two months after Katumbi announced he had broken ranks with former President Joseph Kabila, who he accused of trying to stay in power beyond the end of his mandate. After President Felix Tshisekedi came to power in the December 2018 election, Katumbi returned to the DR Congo, where he continues political and business activities. The bronze plaque that was stolen last week was first placed in the sidewalk just outside 0 Court Square, an old brick building not far from the City Hall, the Court Square Tavern and the Albemarle County Circuit Court in 2014. But for decades before that, there was another plaque at that same address, at eye level. When it was removed, Mr. Williams wanted to know why. It appears that to Charlottesvilles government, black history does not matter, he wrote a June 10, 2014, letter to the The Daily Progress, a local newspaper. Mr. Williams said that Mr. Allan had reached out to him about the letter years ago because he shared the same concerns, and that the two men had been in touch ever since. He added that while the plaques recent removal received a lot of attention, it was going take this type of attention for us to ever expect race relations to be better understood. But RaShall M. Brackney, the chief of the Charlottesville police, who is black, questioned the attention Mr. Allan and Mr. Parks had gotten. Its two people who are absolutely controlling the narrative, she said. And is that the position that we want to find ourselves in again, where someone else is controlling the narrative of Charlottesville, its residents and those persons impacted particularly the enslaved persons who were auctioned off at that very site? she added, noting that Mr. Allan has said that his own ancestors enslaved people. The brick building at 0 Court Street also known as Number Nothing was home to a trading business in the early 1800s and was later as used as office space. Historical documents suggest that Presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe all of whom owned slaves used to gather in front of the building to talk. A stone block that once sat outside the buildings southwest corner was used for auctioning both goods and people until slavery was abolished in 1865, according to city documents. Slave auctions frequently took place on plantations, but enslaved people were sometimes traded in town on court days, when auctions for many types of goods were sold at auction houses or in front of public buildings. It was common to sell people at the courthouse to settle debts owed to Albemarle County and for estate probates. Other locations, such as a tree stump near the court, functioned as auction blocks. A day after a crushing defeat in the Delhi assembly election, a newly-elected BJP MLA echoed the views of some of the partys leaders who had described Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Paty (AAP) boss Arvind Kejriwal as a terrorist. Arvind Kejriwal is a corrupt man, he sympathises with terrorists, plays role of Pakistan Army spokesman, raises questions on Indian Army and supports tukde-tukde gang. Indeed, terrorist is the appropriate term for him, ANI quoted OP Sharma, BJP MLA from Vishwas Nagar as saying. The terrorist tag had backfired spectacularly on the BJP as Delhi voters gave a thumbs down to the saffron partys hyper nationalist election campaign. The BJP which claimed it would win at least 45 seats and form the government in Delhi bagged only eight of the 70 seats in the Delhi assembly while the AAP swept the rest. Delhi BJP MP Parvesh Verma and Union minister Prakash Javadekar had called Kejriwal a terrorist as the saffron party ran a high-voltage campaign where they targeted the AAP for allegedly supporting the anti Citizenship Amendment Act protesters in Shaheen Bagh locality. Vermas rant earned him a 96-hour campaign ban from the Election Commission. The poll panel banned him for a second time for 24 hours that prevented him from campaigning in the last leg. Kejriwal had hit back after Vermas terrorist slur, saying that as chief minister he had worked for improving the quality of education, healthcare, free pilgrimage for old citizens. Are these steps that a terrorist would take? he had asked. The BJP had deployed an entire phalanx that included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath to win Delhi where the party has been put of power since 1998. But despite winning all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi eight months ago, the BJP suffered a stunning gloss in the assembly elections, virtually sinking with little trace. A former Russian prison service official shot himself dead in a courtroom after being handed a three-year sentence on corruption charges. Local court and investigative officials said Viktor Sviridov, who had served as chief of department in the federal prison service, took out his pistol and shot himself dead in the courtroom after hearing the verdict. A man wanted in a fatal shooting almost 20 years ago in the Bronx was arrested Friday in Bethlehem. Ralph Berry, 52, and Frank Lopez, 43, are both charged in the June 2000 shooting of Caprice Jones on East 161st Street in the Bronx, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said. Jones did not die the day he was shot, but ultimately died from his wounds in 2010, when he was 42. Berry and Lopez were part of a crack-dealing operation at the time of the shooting, prosecutors said. Federal prosecutors allege Berry handed Lopez the gun, and Lopez opened fire, hitting Jones. On Friday, Berry was arrested in Bethlehem and Lopez was arrested in Plano, Texas. Berry appeared in federal court in Philadelphia. He was being held there while awaiting transfer to New York. Each man faces two charges that carry maximum sentences of death or life in prison: murder through use of a firearm and murder in connection with drug trafficking. Before Jones died, Berry in 2009 pleaded guilty to felony drug charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, according to court records. Last October, Berrys sentence was reduced to time-served, followed by eight years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors are appealing the reduced sentence. Many years have passed since Caprice Jones was murdered, but the detectives of the NYPD continued investigating, working to see that justice would be done. Now, thanks to their extraordinary efforts, in partnership with the special agents of our office, Ralph Berry and Frank Lopez face federal murder charges, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a news release. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Listed landlord and developer Hibernia Reit says it has made good progress in lease negotiations for the majority of its available office space. However, it reported an overall fall in the take-up of office letting in Dublin last year when compared with 2018. The vacancy rate in Hibernia's office portfolio remains at 12pc and is primarily across 2 Windmill Lane, Central Quay and the Forum, all of which are located in Dublin. The estimated rental value of these vacancies is 7.8m. Hibernia expects rental negotiations for the bulk of the available space to start concluding "shortly", according to a trading update for the period October 1 to date. At its 2 Cumberland Place development, which is due for completion in the latter half of this year, Hibernia said it was in negotiations with tenants for the majority of the 56,000 sq ft (5,203 sq m) of office space in the building. Kevin Nowlan, CEO of Hibernia Reit, said the letting market ended last year strongly, "with a pick-up in demand from tenants of all sizes, after a quieter period in the middle of the year, particularly for smaller occupiers". He added that 2020 "has started positively". The group has invested 2.5m in two acquisitions since September, both of which are assets adjoining properties it owns. No disposals were made in the period. At December 31, Hibernia had net debt of 229m, and cash and undrawn facilities of 166m. The take-up for leased space in Dublin exceeded 3.3 million sq ft in 2019, down from a record 3.9 million sq ft in 2018. A number of transactions in the Dublin market remained outstanding at December 31 last year, with over 1.3 million sq ft of space reserved. Hibernia said the final three months of last year were "highly active", following two relatively quiet quarters. Vacancy rates in Dublin at the end of December 2019 were 6.4pc for Grade A space in the city centre, up from 6pc in September. Meanwhile, prime Grade A headline rents in the centre of Dublin remained stable at in excess of 60 per sq ft, according to Knight Frank. Colm Lauder, analyst at Goodbody, said: "In what has been a quiet period, Hibernia has continued to focus on its operational performance." He added: "We remain confident that Hibernia will achieve its target of reducing the portfolio vacancy by year-end March 31." WEST HAVEN University of New Haven officials Thursday cut the ribbon on the Samuel S. Bergami Jr. Cybersecurity Center, a cutting-edge facility where students will learn to fight global threats of cyberattacks and hacking. The star of the day was the facility that puts UNH in an elite class in the field of cybersecurity and forensics, but the superstars were Sam and Lois Bergami, major benefactors to UNH, who made the center possible. At the ceremony Tuesday, Stephen J. Morin , vice president for student advancement, called the Bergamis the dynamic duo of the last decade. Sam Bergami, owner of a manufacturing company headquartered in Milford, said hes been impressed with the project all along and wonders why he didnt think of it from the start. Bergami said he deals with high-level security all the time in his business, where three codes are needed to get into the server room. He cited a security problem in which a customer in China sent him a letter on company stationery in the owners signature saying to direct future payments to an address and account in Australia. When $200,000 was sent to the address - a scam - Bergami said his company wasnt out the money because its security steps were in order. Lois and I are looking forward to the discoveries, Sam Bergami said of the center where students learn to ethically hack into computers for positive use. Morin said the goal is for all students of all backgrounds to able to pursue a career in cybersecurity. Keynote speaker Diane M. Janosek of the NSA praised the new Cybersecurity Center as transformational in the field. She said the center is in an elite class and that there is a great need because everyday we hear of cyber attacks. Janosek said that by building the up field, cyber criminals are getting the message: Were going to protect ourselves. A 2019 Internet Crime Report from the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center includes more than 467,000 complaints of suspected Internet crime, with reported losses of more than $3.5 billion. Since the Internet Crime Complaint Center was begun in 2000, the center has received more than 4.8 million complaints, according to the FBI. Thanking the Bergamis, Janosek said, Americans need the University of New Haven. Janosek, an attorney, is an award winning cybersecurity leader and a member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service since 2012. She currently serves as the National Security Agencys commandant and training director for the National Cryptologic School. The universitys Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation, which will open in spring 2020, and the Bergami and Pompea Graduate Center both are named in the Bergamis honor. Sam Bergami is a member of the universitys Board of Governors. Actor Will Arnett is feeling "bittersweet" with the conclusion of his Netflix series "BoJack Horseman" as he admits that it is hard for him to let go of it. The show, created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, ended with its sixth season, which was divided into two parts. The first installment came out on October 25 last year, while the second part started streaming from January 31. The animated series narrates the story of a depressed alcoholic horse called BoJack (Arnett), who plans his return to celebrity relevance with an autobiography. Talking to Variety, the actor said he is "satisfied" with the way the show ended. "It's bittersweet. I feel satisfied with what we did. (Raphael) is an incredible writer and I feel fortunate I got to be a part of something like that, and ride his coattails a bit," Arnett said. The actor, who has also featured in shows such as "Arrested Development" and "Riviera", admitted that it is still "hard to say goodbye". "Last week, we had a little screening in LA and Raphael, (Paul F. Tompkins) and (Aaron Paul) and I were talking. We were like, 'What (else) can we do?' We're always doing that because it's hard to let go," Arnett said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Artificial intelligence researchers selected as AAAS Leshner Public Engagement Fellows The American Association for the Advancement of Science has selected 12 scientists and engineers working in artificial intelligence as AAAS Leshner Leadership Institute Public Engagement Fellows. The Alan I. Leshner Leadership Institute for Public Engagement with Science at AAAS addresses topics at the intersection of science and society, convening researchers who demonstrate leadership and excellence in their research careers and interest in promoting meaningful dialogue between science and society. The scientists and engineers selected for the 2020-2021 cohort represent the field of artificial intelligence, working to develop or study machines and algorithms that augment or mimic human abilities, learn from and adjust to new situations, and perform tasks such as responding to search requests, managing manufacturing processes, and assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. A reception will be held on Thursday, February 13 at 4:00 p.m. at the 2020 AAAS Annual Meeting in Seattle to welcome the new AAAS Leshner Public Engagement Fellows. The incoming AAAS Leshner Public Engagement Fellows will convene in June at AAAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a week of intensive public engagement and science communication training, networking and public engagement plan development. The fellows will return to their institutions with resources and connections to develop, implement and evaluate their public engagement activities, opportunities for training other scientists in their communities and increased capacity for public engagement leadership. AAAS staff provide ongoing support and continuing professional development throughout the fellowship year. The 2020-2021 AAAS Public Engagement Fellows are: Omalabake Adenle, Ph.D., director, AJA.LA Studios Benjamin Grewe, Ph.D., professor of systems circuits and neuroinformatics, ETH Zurich Michael Littman, Ph.D., professor of computer science and co-director of Humanity-Centered Robotics Initiative, Brown University Heather Lynch, Ph.D., IACS endowed chair for ecology & evolution, Stony Brook University Nicholas Mattei, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science, Tulane University Anita Nikolich, M.S., research professor, director of the Advanced Computational Thinking Center, Illinois Institute of Technology Carolyn Rose, Ph.D., professor of computer science, Carnegie Mellon University Brian Scassellati, Ph.D., A. Bartlett Giamatti professor of computer science, cognitive science, and mechanical engineering, Yale University William Smart, Ph.D., professor in the Robotics Program at Oregon State University Biplav Srivastava, Ph.D., distinguished data scientist and master inventor, IBM Chief Analytics Office Lyle Ungar, Ph.D., professor of computer and information science, University of Pennsylvania John Zimmerman, MDes, Tang Family professor of artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction, Carnegie Mellon University For more information about the fellows, please visit: https:/ / www. aaas. org/ programs/ center-public-engagement-science-and-technology/ 2020-2021-leshner-leadership-institute . The AAAS Leshner Public Engagement Fellows program, now in its fifth year, continues to build on the long-standing commitment of AAAS to science communication and public engagement through its support of these fellows. The Leshner Leadership Institute is wholly supported by philanthropic donations. The Institute is managed by the AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology, established in 2004 by Alan I. Leshner, CEO Emeritus of AAAS. ### About the American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS. AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society, dedicated to "Advancing science, Serving society." This story has been published on: 2020-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Arole Oodua & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II on Tuesday played host to several traditional rulers across the six South West region of the country, during the unveiling ceremony of an empowerment project initiated and sponsored by the prominent oil magnate, Mr. Jack-Rich Tein Jnr. While addressing the gathering, Ooni Ogunwusi expressed his belief that project is capable fast tracking an all-round development in the Region, calling on traditional rulers to support the initiative. The Jack-Richs BELEMAOIL Producing Limited is the only indigenous company in the countrys oil sector with a very high profile of Corporate Social Responsibility. He and his family are renowned for helping others especially the poor and other vulnerable members of the society. This South-West (Oduduwa States Initiative) will benefit our subjects in the areas of education, infrastructure and more. The Ooni noted. While unveiling the project titled South-West Nigeria Project, Mr. Jack-Rich explained that the project is designed to empower its beneficiaries in the areas of Women and Youth development as well as the issuance of scholarship opportunities for the less privilege children in the South-West. Also, it shall include the construction of several infrastructural projects like roads and water projects across the region. We have not come to showcase wealth but love, we are aware of the economic and social situation across the country and we cant afford to watch without doing our best. We keep multiplying in this country every day but we are not making use of the population to improve the countrys productivity, this is the reason behind the rising cases of insecurity which we must carefully examine. This project is designed to transfer wealth to youth Nigerians and women towards making them realize their dreams, and we thank our father the Ooni of Ife and all traditional rulers across the region here present for their presence and show of solidarity. Mr Jack-Rich noted. In his words of appreciation, the Ayangbunrin of Ikorodu, Lagos State, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, thanked the Jack-Rich family for counting the Southwest region worthy of such lofty project, promising that it will get the needed support for a successful execution. In the same vein, the Ajero of Ijero, Ekiti State, Oba Joseph Adewole, described Jack-Rich as a detribalized Nigerian who is interested in the development of the country, adding that such attribute should be emulated by other privileged members of the society. The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Soliu Adetunji, Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Olu Adeyemi, Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole, Olugbon of Ile-Igbon, Oba Olusola Alao, Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Elemure of Emure Ekiti, Oba E.A. Adebayo, Oloye of Oye, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abduganiyu Adekunle, Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege and the Elerinmo of Erinmo Ijesa, Oba Michael Odunayo were among the traditional rulers present at the event. Sultan Muhammadu Saad Abubakar of Sokoto who missed the event due to delayed flight arrived the Oonis at about 10:35pm and ushered into inner chamber of the palace held private discussions with the Ooni only joined by Mr Jack Rich and his wife. Both kings later moved to the banquet hall for a dinner where Sultan gave his speech. The Sultan expressed his delight for making it to Ile-Ife despite the delay, saying his love for the Ooni motivated his determination to make the trip which he found so important and inevitable. By my calculation,I had hoped to be in Ife by 2:00 pm to honour my dear brother the Ooni of Ife and other Yoruba kings for the launching of South west empowerment project by the Jack Rich Foundation. But God is the ultimate decider as the weather in Akure and Ibadan delayed and had to route through Lagos from Abuja and from Lagos to Ife, it took me five and half hours to arrived Ife. If its possible I would have driven from Sokoto to Ife to show our love that we are one in this country. We are brothers and sisters living in different regions of the world. I made up my mind that no matter what it takes; I have to be in Ife to be with my brother Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of Ife who is doing a lot for the unity, peace and progress of this country to celebrate with him on the project launched today by the Tien Jack Rich. As for Jack Rich, Im not surprised because that is what he(Jack Rich) normally does. He has done the same in North and now doing it in the Southwest starting from the source Ile-fe. The essence of our living is to bless the poor and the vulnerables which Jack Rich is doing and I know as he continues doing that; God will keeps blessing him. I have utmost belief that we would be here together in no distant time to commission it for the benefit and use of mankind. Sultan said. Rev father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry based in Enugu who also had a similar delayed flight experience like the Sultan arrived the Oonis palace received by Mr Jack Rich and the Oonis Director of media, Comrade Moses Olafare who ushered him to meet the Ooni for a private meeting. Earlier, the Lord Mayo of the city of Brampton in Canada, Mr Patrick Brown had described Ooni Ogunwusi as a special gift to the humanity, Africa is blessed to have such a dynamic visionary leader as a foremost king. Mayor Brown who is on a 3-day working visit to Nigeria said this while making his speech at the palace of the Ooni during a courtesy visit to the Spiritual head of the Yoruba race worldwide. Mr Brown said his encounter with the Ooni has educated him better about Nigeria. Your majesty, you came to Canada and visited us in Brampton and you proclaimed Brampton as a city of love and Canadian city of the Africans. We promised to reciprocate the visit and we are here today in your palace You are indeed a special gift to the humanity and Africa is so blessed to have such a dynamic visionary leader like as a foremost king. I am really feeling at home here. We have seen this a tourist hub, we will look at business opportunities in tourism and in oder areas like agriculture, mining, healthcare and renewable energy and ultimately, we are going to really strengthen cultural relations between Brampton and Nigeria. Mayor Brown said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Driver of the Member of Parliament for Asawase constituency, Muntaka Mubarak was among the undisciplined drivers nabbed by Citi TV's War Against Indiscipline exercise on Wednesday night. The Member of Parliament was in the vehicle while his driver abused a siren and strobe lights to get ahead of traffic by driving against oncoming vehicles on the Airport-Afgo bypass during rush hour. His driver, who also failed to produce a valid license, was processed for court amid threats from the MP's police attache to Citi TV's journalist and cameraman on the beat. Other errant drivers stopped included uniformed officers and a foreign national. Also, a Chinese driver who drove in a CD registered vehicle was stopped by police for driving in an undisciplined manner and cautioned not to repeat the same as a result of the immunity he enjoys. Among other the culprits, were two males with stickers of Office of the President embossed on the windshield of their vehicles. The two verbally abused the officers on duty saying, 'the worst that could happen to them is a fine, adding that money was not a problem.' A Member of the Public Affairs Department at the Police Headquarters ASP Simon Tenkuu disclosed to Citi News, that the immigration officer and her husband who were arrested last week have been fined GHC 720.00 each. It is expected that the uniformed officer who threatened to give the Police and the #WAI team a show will be made to face internal disciplinary action for dragging the image of the Service into disrepute. The errant drivers, just like the driver of the MP, will be arraigned tomorrow. ---citinewsroom KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The aquaculture VC will dedicate the money to further invest in their own portfolio and recruit a fourth cohort for their accelerator program, which has started accepting applications again on the 12th of February. HATCH Managing Partner and Co-Founder The fund was first opened for investment 11 months ago and solely focused on investing in technology that benefits the sustainability of the aquaculture sector. It managed to attract significant expertise to its board in the form of Rubicon Resources founder and former CEO Brian Wynn, former EWOS CEO Einar Wathne, as well as Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Eric Archambeau and Kai Sato. At the recent final demo day in Singapore, Managing Partner Dr. Carsten Krome stated that: "It's those first LPs, those first investors that we are grateful for. We're a first-time fund manager. This means that people ask you if you even know how to raise a fund, how to identify good companies, how to transact in those companies. We knew we know that, but to bring this across and to get people's trust is another issue." The closing of the fund coincides with another expansion of the HATCH team, growing from eight full-time staff members to 10. The company is currently filling two senior positions in Bergen and another one in Ireland, where their Europe team is deepening their cooperation with the Irish Seafood Board, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), who was a key supporter of their second cohort 2018 in Cork, Ireland. HATCH continues to maintain its locations in Hawaii, Bergen and Singapore and will shortly announce its new offer for their Global Cohort 2020. Head to www.hatch.blue for more information. Press Contact: Moritz Mueller [email protected] Related Images dr-carsten-krome.jpg Dr. Carsten Krome HATCH Managing Partner and Co-Founder Related Links www.hatch.blue SOURCE HATCH Related Links https://www.hatch.blue/ The Supreme Court will on February 14 hear the PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed by a doctor, asking for directions to the Central government in connection with an immediate ban on unregulated medical devices which are being sold on-line in open market. A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice N V Ramana will hear the petition filed by Dr Rohit Jain through his lawyer, Shashank Deo Sudhi on Friday. Jain had moved the top court, seeking a direction to the government for an immediate ban on the online or offline sale of all names of glucometers/in vitro diagnostic medical devices. The petition, a copy of which is available with ANI, stated that there are various unregulated medical diagnostic devices, which are easily available in the open market and can be easily purchased by any unqualified, unauthorised and or unlicensed persons. It further stated that these medical devices are vulnerable to the lives of the common people as there is no regulation enforced on part of the operation of these medical devices. "It is the need of the hour to formulate a comprehensive guideline to regulate the medical devices being used for generating a clinical report to ascertain its authenticity for proper and accurate treatment," the plea said. It claimed the government has become completely insensitive to the enormity of the problem being faced by the common people, who are not getting proper medical treatment. "Ordinary people are forced to go to the illegal and unauthorisedly running diagnostic laboratories which are producing lab report with help of uncalibrated testing equipment," the petition added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds flocked to Texas Southern University Saturday afternoon to watch presidential candidate and former Senate candidate Beto ORourke speak at a campaign rally. After touring states in the Midwest and North, and officially launching his campaign in his native El Paso Saturday morning, ORourke began speaking at 3100 Cleburn St. shortly after 6:30 p.m. - more than an hour and a half after the rally was scheduled to begin. It was the first time O'Rourke visited Houston since kicking off his presidential run. For subscribers: How Houston shaped Beto O'Rourke's message As a cold front blew through the historically black university, O'Rourke wore a TSU hat and told those gathered that Houston was pivotal in his 2018 Senate campaign and will be key to his presidential race. "It's going to be the people of Texas, it's going to be the people of Houston, Texas, who will help lead the way," O'Rourke said. The 46-year-old candidate echoed comments he made at his kick-off event and in town halls across Iowa and Pennsylvania - lauding immigration, calling for action on climate change and chastising President Donald Trump. He touched on universal medical care, raising teachers' salaries and ending the federal prohibition on marijuana. He said Houston had led the way on several initiatives he would like to see spread across the country, including working to eliminate cash bail and electing diverse officeholders. If the rest of the country can follow the lead of Texas' largest city, O'Rourke said, his campaign will culminate in the White House. "We're going to make sure that we meet every single one of our aspirations - not by half the measure and not by half the country," O'Rourke said. "At this very divided, very polarized, hyper-partisan moment, what this country needs if for us to come together." This story will be updated during the rally. Check back for updates. A 52-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Lyra McKee. Paul McIntyre is due before Londonderry Magistrates Court this morning. The 29-year-old journalist was shot dead in Derry on April 18 2019 as she observed a riot. McIntyre, who was arrested by detectives on Tuesday and taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite, is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation. Three other men arrested over her death were released on Tuesday night. A 20-year-old and a 27-year-old were released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service while a 29-year-old was released without charge. We saw widescale revulsion after Lyra was murdered Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: "I have always said a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation, the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing. "I understand that people may be frightened to talk to us. "I have previously given my personal assurance relating to anonymity for the purpose of this investigation and I renew this assurance today, as we approach the anniversary of Lyra's murder. "We saw widescale revulsion after Lyra was murdered and I remain determined to work with the community and local policing to convert that revulsion into tangible evidence to bring those who murdered Lyra to justice," he said. Supporters of McIntyre, from the Ballymagowan Park area of Derry, last night condemned his arrest and charge. They urged local republicans to attend the court this morning "to show Paul their support". Ms McKee was killed in the Creggan area of Derry. The New IRA admitted responsibility for the murder, which sparked headlines across the UK and Ireland. In the wake of her killing, DUP leader Arlene Foster joined a vigil at the scene of the killing alongside Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald. Ms McKee's funeral later heard calls for political leaders to resolve their differences and restore power-sharing. The PSNI renewed its appeal for mobile phone footage of the night of the murder not previously shared with the police to be passed on to detectives. The 29-year-old journalist was shot dead in Derry on 18 April 2019 as she observed a riot. The man, who was arrested by detectives on Tuesday and taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite, is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation. He will appear at Londonderry Magistrates Court on Thursday. Earlier, three other men arrested over her death were released on Tuesday. A 20-year-old and a 27-year-old were released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service while a 29-year-old has been released without charge. The quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: "I have always said a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing. "I understand that people may be frightened to talk to us. I have previously given my personal assurance relating to anonymity for the purpose of this investigation and I renew this assurance today, as we approach the anniversary of Lyras murder. We saw widescale revulsion after Lyra was murdered and I remain determined to work with the community and local policing to convert that revulsion into tangible evidence to bring those who murdered Lyra to justice, he said. Expand Close Lyra McKee / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lyra McKee Ms McKee was killed in the Creggan area of Derry. The New IRA admitted responsibility for the murder, which sparked headlines across the UK and Ireland. In the wake of the murder DUP leader Arlene Foster joined a vigil at the scene of the killing alongside Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald. Ms McKee's funeral later heard calls for political leaders to resolve their differences and restore power sharing. The PSNI renewed its appeal for mobile phone footage of the night of the murder not previously shared with the police to be passed on to detectives. Lyra McKee's family have complained to the Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson about how the PSNI carried out a search operation in Derry before her killing. The PSNI said the search was necessary for operational reasons aimed at targeting dissident republicans. As David McDonald heard the story over the on-and-off decade he's lived in Hudson, a teenage Ella Fitzgerald served time in the early 1930s at a state reform school for girls in the Columbia County city along the Hudson River. After she escaped, Fitzgerald won a talent show at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, launching a jazz-singing career that would last for most of the rest of the 20th century. But details were scarce for McDonald, a journalist, videographer and filmmaker who about 15 years ago directed "Woodstock Revisited," a documentary that traced the roots of the counterculture movement that led to the 1969 music and art festival. He found a New York Times story about that period of Fitzgerald's life, and he unearthed additional information from the Prison Public Memory Project, launched in 2011 in Hudson, which has had prisons in and around it since at the least the 1880s. But Fitzgerald herself always refused to address her experiences at the New York Training School for Girls, open from 1904 and 1975 and the destination for girls ages 12 to 16 from across the state convicted of delinquency crimes. Subsequent investigations revealed patterns of physical and sexual abuse by school staff and racial segregation into dilapidated housing of the black girls. Frustrated at lack of verifiable specifics on which he could base a factual account, McDonald turned to fiction. Initially conceived as a film, which proved too expensive, then a play for an off-off-Broadway theater in Greenwich Village, which didn't work for reasons of cost and logistics, McDonald's story became "Ella the Ungovernable." The play will have its world premiere this weekend at Valatie Community Theatre, a venue found thanks to a serendipitously timed lunch. McDonald, after trying to cast the play last summer in Hudson, was at the Valatie Diner when he saw kids and teens coming out of the Valatie Community Theatre across the street. Curious, he went over and met George Phelps, who was running rehearsal for his wife, Tanya, the theater's education director and director of a production of "Frozen Jr.," a version of the Disney musical designed for a young cast. When McDonald bemoaned his inability to find girls to play his main characters the 15-year-old Ella and her reform-school roommate, Alice Tanya Phelps offered two, whom she knew from the Valatie theater and her The Columbia Elite All-Stars dance school in Hudson. And Phelps herself became director of the production. "I knew of Ella Fitzgerald, of course, but I had no idea she'd spent almost a year of her life at a reform school in Hudson," says Phelps. "I was fascinated by the story." Told on a split stage, the play alternates between scenes in 1933 at the reformatory and in Fitzgerald's earlier life. The latter trace her journey from her native Virginia to Yonkers, where she spent her prepubescent years, to Harlem, where she lived with her aunt after her mother died and her stepfather became abusive. By 15, working as a lookout for a brothel and a numbers runner for a gambling ring, Fitzgerald was nabbed by the authorities and sent upstate. "This is dark material, but what happens is insinuated we don't see any of the abuse on stage," says Phelps. There is some strong language, and the teenage Ella, played by Hannah Wisdom of Hudson, tells her roommate, Alice (Taveonna Ridley of Castleton), about what has happened to her. "I've been telling people it would be rated PG-13," says Phelps, "but I would say it would be fine for mature 10-year-olds, too. Parents should use their discretion. They know their kids." Though McDonald originally wanted the play to debut in New York City, and he hopes it will still be performed there if a video of the Valatie production succeeds in piquing interest, he's pleased the world premiere will be in the upper Hudson Valley. "So many creatives have left the city," he says. "It feels like most of them are up here anyway. I had to keep asking myself what the big rush was to try to get it done in New York. Why not let it start up here?" sbarnes@timesunion.com 518-454-5489 blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping @Tablehopping facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic Victim: A wounded Syrian boy receives treatment at a makeshift hospital after an airstrike on Idlib. Photo: Abdulaziz Ketaz/AFP via Getty Images More people have fled fighting in Syria over the past 10 weeks than at any other time in the nine-year conflict and the city of Idlib, where many are sheltering, could become a graveyard if hostilities continue, two UN agencies said yesterday. Syrian government forces are shelling their way northwards, backed by Russian air strikes, driving people toward the Turkish border as they try to seize remaining rebel strongholds near Idlib and Aleppo. Turkey, which backs the rebels and is fearful of additional refugees, has retaliated militarily, with displaced civilians caught in between. "It's the fastest growing displacement we have ever seen in the country," Jens Laerke from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, adding that nearly 700,000 people had fled since December, mostly women and children. Another 280,000 people could flee from urban centres if the fighting continues, including from the city of Idlib, which is packed with people who have escaped fighting elsewhere and which has not yet seen a full military assault on its centre. "It has the world's largest concentration of displaced people and urgently needs a cessation of hostilities so as not to turn it into a graveyard," Mr Laerke added. Of Syria's 17 million people, 5.5 million are living as refugees in the region, mostly in Turkey. A further six million are uprooted within their own country. Civilians are struggling to find shelter, amid harsh winter conditions with snow, rain and wind from Storm Ciara. Mosques are full and makeshift camps are overcrowded, said Andrej Mahecic, a spokesman for the UN refugee agency. "Even finding a place in an unfinished building has become nearly impossible," he told journalists in Geneva, describing the humanitarian crisis as "increasingly desperate". OCHA has sent 230 trucks over two authorised border crossings in Turkey so far this month. They contained food, water and hygiene equipment, Mr Laerke added. Last month, 1,227 trucks were shipped in the biggest cross-border aid operation there since the operation started in 2014. I just cant get over the comment of Jim OCallaghan, newly elected Fianna Fail TD for Dublin Bay South, that Sinn Fein could turn the country into Venezuela. If a Dun Laoghaire matron like my late mother had said it, I would just have rolled my eyes. Coming from a highly respected and very effective TD, the comment makes me angry. Ruling out a coalition between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein, he said there was no purpose in going through the charade of talks. We must always talk. We must talk, particularly, to people who are not like us. Tribal politics should have no place in this representative democracy. God knows, we have spent long enough lecturing about that to unionists and nationalists in the North. We have thought nothing of encouraging unionist MLAs, whose family members and friends were injured or killed by the Provisional IRAs murderous campaign, to sit down together and make friends with Sinn Fein. And here are high-profile Fianna Fail representatives (notably Jim OCallaghan and Michael McGrath) seeming to rule out even discussing coalition with their fellow Republicans. Oh, but Im forgetting something. The difference between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein may run even deeper than that between Northern nationalists and unionists, because it is one of class. I know this will be hurtful for Fianna Fail members and supporters, but they have left behind their working-class origins. Their place, in ill-served housing estates and economically moribund rural areas, has been taken by Sinn Fein. This is a place that the Labour Party should have taken, though it is a matter for political scientists to ponder whether a country such as ours, with no traditional industrial base, could ever have supported a national movement based on workers rights. My family was a Labour Party household and my parents were friendly with Labour stars of the 1970s, such as Justin Keating and Conor Cruise OBrien. They helped lay the foundations for a pluralist, liberal society and that became Labours mission, hitched to the vehicle of Fine Gaels Garret FitzGerald, who was also a family friend. I never heard a working-class accent in the house, unless spoken by someone who was paid, as a trades person, to be there. My family was broad-minded, but that is the stark reality of class division in this country. Sinn Fein has captured much of this countrys working-class vote by hoisting the tricolour, not the hammer and sickle, and their brand of left-wing nationalism is flying off the shelves. I can forgive no Fianna Failer for refusing to recognise this mandate by not attempting to form a coalition with Sinn Fein. Fine Gael is different. I agree with Paschal Donohoe that there is, in policy terms, too big a stretch between them and Sinn Fein across the centre of Irish politics. As Gerard Howlin wrote here, yesterday, Fine Gael seems almost jubilant to be heading to opposition, where they can solidify the centre-right position their middle-class voters demand of them. But Fianna Fail? What is Fianna Fail doing if it turns its back on the nationalist, left-wing vote? What I have heard from Christian Brothers-educated Micheal Martin, since he became Fianna Fail leader, was a repositioning of the party firmly to the left of centre. He controversially retained Limericks Willie ODea on his front bench, citing his support in working-class areas. This was the Fianna Fail that dreamed of forming, after Saturdays election, a centre-left coalition with the Greensand with some combination of the Social Democrats and Labour. The people voted, in huge numbers, for Sinn Fein, a left-wing party that has a genuine mandate from the people who have been shut out of much of the economic success of this country. When the results came in, there was much wailing on the airwaves about the failure of the electorate to increase the number of women in the Dail and to return progressives, such as Labours Joan Burton, Fine Gaels Kate OConnell and Regina Doherty, Independent Katherine Zappone, and Fianna Fails Lisa Chambers. Progressive seemed to equate with support for repeal of the Eighth Amendment and diversity with gender balance. In the context of this country, diversity of class is far more difficult to achieve, even more than diversity of race, but I believe it is a diversity we must have. Many of Sinn Feins 37 TDs have followed traditional, middle-class paths through college to work, but many havent. Take Wexfords Johnny Mythen, who worked in construction for the ESB and was a senior trade unionist. Take Kildare Souths Patricia Ryan, who was elected while on holiday, and was a trade union shop steward for the workers of the Tyna knitting factory. Take East Corks Pat Buckley, who counts among his political motivations the suicides of two of his brothers. Through the Lets Get Together charity, he fights for mental health in working-class communities. Dublin Fingals Louise OReilly, who has just been appointed to the Sinn Fein team negotiating possible government formation, came to politics following a career as a trade union organiser. Meath Easts Johnny Guirke was a construction worker who had to emigrate to the US for 18 years. Dublin Mid-Wests Mark Ward has qualified as a behaviour therapist specialising in addiction, but was himself homeless for six months, in 2016: When I grew up in north Clondalkin, I didnt know I grew up in a council house, he was reported as saying during the campaign. I just knew I grew up in a home. Yes, it is distressing that Dessie Ellis, who served 10 years in prison for possession of IRA explosives, got 44% of the vote in Dublin North West. YES, it was distressing to hear Waterfords David Cullinane shouting, Up the Ra, after his election, preceded by the comment, They didnt break the hunger strikers, they didnt break Bobby Sands and Kevin Lynch Theyll never break Sinn Fein. I would have thought dead was about as broken as a man can be. Far more relevant now, however, was his avowal that if FF and FG came together to block Sinn Fein, they would come back at them with double the candidates and become the largest party in the State. I understand Micheal Martins desire that Sinn Fein should publicly disavow the IRA and all itsvile work, before the party is fully rehabilitated in government, but the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 is as good a disavowal as we will get and the Irish people have voted to rehabilitate Sinn Fein. That war is over. But the class war will have only just begun if Sinn Fein is kept out of government. Press Release February 12, 2020 Pia welcomes wide support for PIFITA Bill to provide better investment access for average Filipinos Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Pia S. Cayetano welcomed the wide support coming from different stakeholders in favor of the immediate passage of the proposed Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA). The panel on Wednesday (February 12) held its second hearing on 'Package 4' of the government's Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), which seeks to make passive income and financial intermediary taxes in the country "simpler, fairer, more efficient, and more regionally competitive." During the hearing, various stakeholders from government, business organizations, industry groups, and private companies expressed their support for the measure, with only a few concerns raised regarding specific provisions. Manifesting general support for PIFITA were representatives from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), Capital Market Development Council (CMDC), Insurance Commission (IC), Association of Global Custodians (AGC), Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), and Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), among others. "I am very happy to hear that most [stakeholders] are supportive [of PIFITA], and there are just a few issues that need to be resolved," Cayetano stressed in an interview on the sidelines of the hearing. On the other hand, the senator noted that the concerns raised by various sectors would also be taken into account when the committee drafts its version of the bill. Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua, for his part, said the administration remains open to endorse the amendment of certain provisions that are worrisome for industries. "When you think of passive income, there are many other areas that are affected, like trust corporations, thrift banks, microfinancing, insurance corporations, non-life and life. The objective of the administration is to simplify it... So we have to hear everybody so that we are sure about the effect on all of these sectors," Cayetano stressed. "Ang objective talaga natin is to provide a market so that the Filipino citizens - hindi lang mayayaman kundi ang mahihirap - can invest their money and have access to these markets. Para hindi naman mauubos ng taxation ang kanilang mga iniipon," she added. The senator said the panel is planning to conduct at least two technical working groups (TWG) to discuss and address specific concerns on certain provisions of the measure. "At this point, everything is open. I understand the [stakeholders'] concerns. They want a level playing field. We don't want to create a situation where we are discouraging investments in certain sectors. So we take note of [those concerns and] we want to study them properly," Cayetano said. "We just have to [make] clear with everyone that we can try our best to address their concerns," she further noted. HUSKY CLASSIC SCHEDULE | HUSKY CLASSIC ENTRIES | DON KIRBY ENTRIES | DON KIRBY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. The University of New Mexico track and field team has another big weekend ahead of them as the Lobos host the Don Kirby Elite Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center while five Lobos will be in Seattle, Wash., at the Husky Classic. Starting this Thursday, the Lobos will host schools such as Oregon, Colorado, UCLA, Utah, California, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State, Stanford, SMU, Virginia Tech and North Carolina. There will also be a heavy Mountain West presence with Air Force, Colorado State, Utah State, San Jose State, UNLV, San Diego State and Fresno State at the two-day meet. Stanford, Oregon, Colorado and Washington are ranked eighth through 11th in the latest USTCCCA national womens rankings with UNM 12th, while on the mens side, Oregon enters the meet ranked 11th and Colorado 17th. The meet will begin at 1 p.m. MT with the womens long jump, womens weight throw and mens pole vault, while the track events begin at 2:30 p.m. MT with the mens open 400-meters. Fridays events will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the womens shot put and the track events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the qualifying round of the womens 60-meter hurdles. This will be the fourth consecutive week that the Lobos will be hosting with two more meets still on the schedule at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Both days of the meet will be streamed on FloTrack HERE. Live results will also be available HERE. Heading into the meet, the Lobos have seven of the top results in the Mountain West with Aidan Quinn (triple jump), Tanner Battikha (long jump), Weini Kelati (5000-meter, 3000-meter, mile), Carlos Salcido (400-meter) and Jay Griffin (200-meter). On a national level, the Lobos have five runners in the top 12 in three events with Kelati second in the 5000-meters and 3000-meters, and third in the mile, Emily Martin 10th in the 5000-meters and Adva Cohen 11th in the 5000-meters. Cohen, Martin, Gracelyn Larkin, Hannah Nuttall and William Fuller will be in Seattle running in the Husky Classic on Friday with Cohen, Larkin, Nuttall in the 3000-meter and Martin and Fuller in the 5000-meter. The 3000-meter is scheduled to run at 8:30 p.m. MT with the womens 5000-meter at 9:10 p.m. MT and mens 5000-meter at 9:30 p.m. MT. A 90-year-old man had to beg staff at Cork University Hospital to give his wife a bed after she had been left on a trolley for hours. Bernadette Walshe phoned The Neil Prendeville Show on Corks RedFM, saying her mother, who is 89 next month - had not been feeling well and had been referred to the Bons Secours Hospital before being transferred to the CUH. She was sent to the CUH for a suspected stroke. It was later found to be a respiratory problem. Speaking to Red FM, Ms Walshe said: "Because they suspected it was a stroke she was brought straight to a cubicle. "So my mom went through the doors approximately about half-past five on Friday evening and my mom spent up to Sunday evening in a cubicle where 48 hours had passed at this stage. "Mum seemed quite content in there. She was getting excellent care, and we didn't have an issue with this. "But at 7 o'clock on that evening [Sunday], there was an emergency came in. And my poor mom, who is [88], had to be moved out into the hallway again. Ms Walshe said it was "chronic" in the A&E at that time. She said that her dad, who had spent 20 hours on a trolley last April, "went up and begged the nurses to give his wife a bed". "But unfortunately they could do nothing for my dad." Ms Walshe said she went home to west Cork and rang the hospital's bed management at 10 o'clock. She said: "I asked them could they explain to me why my mother of [nearly] 89 years of age has been in a trolley for so long when other people had gone in ahead of her and had been allocated beds [in a ward]? "They told me...the response first was 'we have no private rooms left'. "And I said, look, it doesn't matter. Can I just get my mom, who is very distressed because she has respiratory problems and she has an overload of fluid and a chest infection... "I said this is not a suitable environment for my mom for all the obvious reasons. "So they said at 10 o'clock that night 'we will consider opening a five-day ward. And if we do we'll transfer your mom'." Ms Walshe said she asked "on whose authority do you make this decision?" When she asked if it was a managerial authority or a staffing authority she was not provided with an answer. Cork University Hospital A spokesperson for the CUH said: "At Cork University Hospital, the decision to open additional beds is dependent on the availability of staff. "This is reviewed by hospital management on an on-going basis." Ms Walshe said her mother had been a staff nurse and she explained to staff "my mother was part of the health care system, could you at least - please - give my mom a little bit of respect and dignity. "And just take her off the trolley and just allocate her a bed." Ms Walshe said she was concerned for her mother on the trolley as she had a chest infection. "At 12 o'clock, they opened the ward and they allocated my mom - and four other people - to the ward," said Ms Walshe. She said she rang risk management to highlight how dangerous it was for elderly people to be on trolleys in A&E. She said she was not just ringing for her own mother but for "all of the elderly people of Ireland who are getting lost in a system that is not fit for purpose." Speaking to The Echo, Ms Walshe said: "Elderly people should not be put into general A&E. They are the most vulnerable patients. They are at risk of more health complications. They are confused and disorientated, they are wailing and crying, trying to get out of their beds. The trauma experienced by these people comes home and we have to pick up the pieces. Ms Walshe told Red FM that she told risk management that there should be an A&E especially for elderly people. She told The Echo that staff in the hospital "are excellent". "They are trying their best. Its not them, they are up against the structure and the system. They are minus 60 beds at the start of the day. You can judge a society by the way it treats its elderly. What sort of society are we living in? Ms Walshe said, as of this morning, her mother is still in the CUH in a mixed five-bed ward. Earlier this morning, the INMO revealed that there are 492 patients on waiting for beds in Irish hospitals. The Trolley Watch figures show that 349 are waiting in the emergency department, while 143 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital. University Hospital Limerick is the worst hit hospital with 75 patients on trolleys, followed by the CUH with 52 patients waiting for beds. By Arriana McLymore and Diane Bartz NEW YORK (Reuters) - T-Mobile US Inc's edged closer to a takeover of Sprint Corp after a federal judge on Tuesday approved the deal, rejecting a claim by a group of states that said the proposed transaction would violate antitrust laws and raise prices. During a two-week trial in December, T-Mobile and Sprint argued the merger will better equip the new company to compete with top players Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc as the third-largest U.S. wireless carrier, creating a more efficient company with low prices and faster internet speeds. Shares of T-Mobile rose 11% to $94.01 while Sprint soared more than 74% to $8.34. Finalising a deal will be a boon to Japan's Softbank Group Corp <9984.T>, Sprint's controlling shareholder, as the conglomerate offloads a troubled asset that has lost subscribers at a faster rate and as it seeks to secure funding for a second Vision Fund. During the trial, Sprint executives argued that the deal was a matter of survival. Uniting T-Mobile's low-band spectrum and Sprint's mid-band spectrum could allow a faster roll-out of a national 5G network, the companies have said. Sprint and T-Mobile said in a statement that they would move to finalise the merger, which is still subject to closing conditions and possible additional court proceedings. FIERCE OPPOSITION The states, led by California and New York, had said the deal would reduce competition, leading to higher prices. "The merger of T-Mobile and Sprint will create another telecommunications behemoth in an already dangerously consolidated market," U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote on Tuesday. The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Victor Marrero clears the path for the deal, which already has federal approval and was originally valued at $26 billion. Judge Marrero said he based his decision on three essential points. The first was that he was not persuaded by the states that the deal would lead to higher prices or lower-quality wireless services. He disagreed that Sprint would remain a strong competitor and was unconvinced that DISH Network Corp , which is buying divested assets from the deal, would fail to live up to its promises to enter and compete in the wireless market. Story continues "The court concludes that the proposed merger is not reasonably likely to substantially lessen competition," Judge Marrero wrote, adding that he was confident in DISH's ability to transform into a "disruptive maverick" in the wireless industry. The states maintained that Dish was ill-equipped to become a competitive fourth wireless carrier, noting that it lacks experience, scale and brand recognition in wireless. New York's attorney general said the state is considering an appeal; California's attorney general said that state is "prepared to fight." Rani Habash, a partner at the law firm Dechert LLP who specializes in antitrust, said the states would have difficulty winning an appeal. The judge "found the Sprint and T-Mobile side to be more credible for their prediction of the future," he said. "When you have a factual determination, that's very hard to overcome." A spokesman for the California Public Utilities Commission, the last regulatory body to decide on the merger, said its review of the deal is expected to conclude in July. The judge's decision to let the deal proceed drew criticism from some antitrust experts. If this merger is not anticompetitive, even with the remedies agreed to, it is hard to know what is, said Eleanor Fox, trade regulation and antitrust law professor at New York University. The U.S. Justice Department approved the deal in July after the carriers agreed to sell some prepaid assets to satellite provider Dish, which would create its own cellular network to ensure there would still be four competitors in the market. The Federal Communications Commission signed off on the deal in October in a vote split 3-2 along party lines. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the ruling was a big win for American consumers and would help ensure U.S. leadership in rolling out a 5G network. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and David Shepardson in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Kenneth Li and Dan Grebler) Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi sparked off a row on Wednesday as he wrote a Twitter post about Coronavirus. BJP IT in-charge Amit Malviya pointed out that Gandhis post contained a world map that incorrectly depicted Indias official boundaries. The map which claims that the coronavirus infection has spread all over India has portrayed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a part of Pakistan. After the backlash, Gandhi removed the image and replaced it with an article from the Harvard Gazette. Why would you repeatedly use a map which shows a mutilated J&K? https://t.co/1sstfl22Or Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 12, 2020 Read: BJP's Pro-CAA Rally Features 'wrong Map Of India' In Karnataka; Netizens Call Out This is Rahul Gandhi's deleted tweet containing the wrong map of J&K: Read: Rahul Gandhi Congratulates Arvind Kejriwal & AAP For Delhi Win, Silent On Congress No-show 'Timely action is critical' Earlier, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad broke his silence on the coronavirus crisis grappling the world. Terming it as an extremely serious threat, Gandhi contended that it had consequences for the Indian economy as well. Moreover, he accused the Centre of adopting a lackadaisical attitude in this regard. The Corona Virus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical.#coronavirus https://t.co/bspz4l1tFM Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 12, 2020 Read: Rahul Gandhi Attacks Modi Govt Over SC's Order On Reservations, Alleges Abolition Attempt Instances of the distorted map in the past Incidentally, this is not the first time that Congress has been accused of distorting the official map of India. In December 2019, Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor had shared a poster confirming his participation in a rally in Kozhikode against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. However, the map in the poster contained a mutilated J&K. Subsequently, he issued an apology in this regard. In 2017, a Congress booklet published on the failures of the Narendra Modi government referred to J&K as Indian occupied Kashmir. Later, party leader Ajay Maken clarified that it was a printing mistake. Recently, a parliamentarian from Malviyas party was also embroiled in a similar controversy. BJP Lok Sabha MP Shobha Karandlaje addressed a pro-CAA rally in Chikmagalur, Karnataka on January 17, 2020. The poster on the stage included PoK in the territory of Pakistan. Read: Tejashwi Yadav Does Not Back Rahul Gandhi's 'danda' Comment, Says 'Talk About Pen Instead' February 11 this year was the 36th death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat, co-founder of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. Bhat was hanged inside Tihar Jail on February 11, 1984. Similarly, another Kashmiri named Afzal Guru was hanged at Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013. This year, it was his seventh hanging anniversary. The man who witnessed many hangings, including those of Bhat and Guru, at Tihar Jail, has a lot to say about the duo. The man is none other than Sunil Gupta. In his recently-released book Black Warrant, co-authored with Sunetra Choudhury, the former spokesperson and legal adviser of Tihar Jail recalls the hangings of two Kashmiris, Maqbool and Afzal. The details are bone chilling. Mr Gupta began working in Tihar Jail in 1981. He has been an eyewitness to many a hanging, including executions of high-profile prisoners like Maqbool and Afzal. After Afzal Gurus arrest soon after the Parliament attack, his wife, Tabassum, had applied for clemency. On February 3, 2013, then President Pranab Mukherjee rejected the mercy petition. It was also rejected on January 23, 2013. A clemency petition was filed by Tabassum in 2006. Afzal was sentenced to death for providing logistical support to the men who attacked the Indian Parliament in 2001. He was sentenced to death in August 2005. Gurus hanging was Mr Guptas last black warrant. According to him, every aspect of Afzal Gurus case was controversial. The Supreme Court itself admitted that Afzal Guru was not part of any terror group, not part of Jaish-e-Mohammad which was behind the Parliament attack, he writes. The Supreme Court in its judgment had said the evidence was circumstantial: As is the case with most conspiracies, there is and could be no direct evidence amounting to criminal conspiracy. It further said: The incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, had shaken the entire nation, and the collective conscience of society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender. He was suspected of ferrying and assisting the attackers who targeted the Indian Parliament. The Supreme Court had said there was no direct evidence of Gurus involvement in the attack nor was he part of a militant group that attacked Parliament. The court approved orders on his hanging to satisfy the collective conscience of society. Dissatisfied with the SC judgment at the time, many leading judicial experts and authors like Arundhati Roy and others described Gurus hanging as judicial murder. Gautam Navlakha, a human rights defender based in New Delhi, voiced his concern: We are against the death penalty. It has been our demand since day one that capital punishment should be abolished in India. In a way, the decision to hang Afzal Guru, I think, is a judicial murder, Mr Navlakha told this writer, adding, When you dont allow a person a fair trial and a chance to defend himself, you are being unfair. According to Mr Guptas account, the hanging of Guru still haunts me. Call records showed that Guru had been in touch with Mohammed, one of the attackers. However, what Afzal pointed out (and the court did not accept) were details of how that phone was provided to him by the Special Task Force (STF) in Kashmir. According to him, the STF had tortured him from the time he returned to Kashmir from his failed adventure as a separatist in Pakistan. Afzal alleged that he had no choice but to help Mohammed. Afzal named someone called Davinder Singh, a deputy superintendent of police in the Jammu and Kashmir Special Operations Group. He said his involvement in the entire attack came about because Singh asked him to take Parliament attacker Mohammed to Delhi and to provide him with all the help he needed. More important, after the dramatic arrest of J&K polices decorated DSP Davinder Singh in Srinagar recently, it came to the surface once again that Guru had ferried one of the Parliament attackers, Mohammed, to New Delhi allegedly at Singhs behest. Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy has written in detail about the same. In 2006, Davinder Singh, in an interview, had himself admitted to having tortured Afzal Guru. The same officer had dealt with Afzal when he had surrendered. Singh was arrested recently from Srinagar while ferrying and shielding a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Naveed alias Babar Azam. On the hanging anniversary of Mohammad Afzal Guru, Kashmir remained shut in protest. The authorities shut down low bandwidth 2G mobile Internet services, imposed Section 144 and also deployed additional units of paramilitary troops to maintain the law and order situation. According to the governments version, Guru was the prime accused in the attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. After his hanging in February 2013, the authorities interred his body in Delhis Tihar Jail, where he had been in solitary confinement for 12 years. Gurus wife, Tabasum, and son, Ghalib, were not informed. Bhats mortal remains also lay buried in Tihar Jail. That is why Afzal Gurus hanging has stirred a controversy. Several letters attributed to Afzal Guru have mentioned how he was allegedly tortured by government forces personnel and coerced to ferry a militant to New Delhi. Nandita Haksar, noted human rights lawyer and author, in her book The Many Faces of Kashmiri Nationalism, gives a detailed account of how Afzal Guru was treated inside the notorious torture centres and jails, and how he was made a victim. After all, in order to understand Afzals story, one would have to practically know the history of insurgency and counterinsurgency in Kashmir. And history cannot be presented as evidence in a court of law. Afzal was a victim of history, Ms Haksar writes. (The Many Faces of Kashmiri Nationalism p. 185) She writes that a police officer, DSP Davinder Singh, ordered Guru to confess to being in touch with militants and possessing weapons. When Guru refused, the author says that he was stripped naked and put in freezing water and given electric shocks. Afzal was forcibly made to drink water and given electric shocks for three hours by an inspector called Shanti Singh, while the officer (DSP Davinder Singh) watched. Petrol was poured into his anus and chillies stuffed into it and he was kept in that state the whole day, (The Many Faces of Kashmiri Nationalism, p. 184; the details of the torture were written in a letter by Guru to his lawyer in the Supreme Court, Sushil Kumar, and the letter was later published in a pamphlet.) Omar Abdullah, then chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and now arrested under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), had confirmed that his government was kept in the loop regarding the decision on Gurus execution. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then the main Opposition, had condemned the hanging while launching a scathing attack on the Omar-led coalition government. On Maqbool Bhat, Mr Gupta said that he was the highly educated, pious inmate with whom I used to practice my English language skills. In Kerala at the third edition of the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL 2020), Mr Gupta told this writer that Bhat was a learned man. Graceful. He was passionate about the freedom of Kashmir. It was very clear that Maqbool was a political prisoner and he was treated as one too. Unlike others who would spend their time gossiping or trying to make trouble, all he did was read, Mr Gupta writes in a chapter titled The Anatomy Of A Hanging (p.72). He described Bhat as a victim of circumstances. U. of I.'s three campuses each will get additional funding for facilities that will be part of the new Illinois Innovation Network, including $85 million for the Drug Discovery and Innovation Pavilion in Chicago, $40 million for the Big Data Science and Analytics Hub on the Urbana-Champaign campus, and $15 million for the Capital Innovation Center in Springfield. Another $35 million will be devoted to hubs in Peoria and at the states other public universities. For years, someone has been plastering hundreds of white-and-black stickers that read, Cyne, onto Key West street signs and spray-painting the word on Lower Keys bridges and even Navy property. The person behind Cyne has always eluded arrest. But Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay says the person behind Cyne has finally been caught. Brandon Joseph Mims 29, of Key West, was jailed Tuesday on 20 counts of criminal mischief, including two felony charges in which the estimated damage was more than $1,000. Mims was also arrested on six felony charges of burglary and one misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. He was released from the Stock Island Detention Center the same day after posting a $62,500 bond. Mims videotaped himself spray-painting graffiti on a military building on Naval Air Station Key West property, the sheriffs office said. Reached by phone Wednesday, Mims said he didnt want to talk about the case yet. Asked if he is the person who does the Cyne stickers and paint, he wouldnt answer. Many locals cheered his arrest on Facebook. I hope they make him clean up every single one of his Cynes, posted Mark Masca of Key West. Is he a graffiti artist or a vandal? So far, no one in Key West has publicly defended the Cyne graffiti as good art. Im not really offended by graffiti and/or street art, posted Key West photographer Mark Hedden. I am offended by how relentlessly lame, uninteresting, and ubiquitous this guys tagging is. Police say theres no question about it and that by the time the Cyne graffiti is cleaned up, it will cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. Brandon Joseph Mims What this suspect did is not art, said Ramsay. It is vandalism, plain and simple. Defacing someone elses property is a crime. As Ive said many times, I firmly believe that cleaner, safer streets result in cleaner, safer communities. Sheriffs Office Detectives Ken Fricke and Wendy Negron issued a search warrant for Mims social media accounts and reviewed more than 42,000 pages he had posted. Story continues Cyne has been spray-painted on seawalls and bridges over the past few years in the Lower Florida Keys. Mims openly admitted to the vandalism in many cases, said Adam Linhardt, the sheriffs spokesman. In one Instagram post, Mims posted a map of how he illegally entered Naval Air Station Key West property and vandalized one of their buildings located near Boca Chica Road, Linhardt said. The case began in November 2019 when deputies responded to the old quarry property on No Name Key after a report of trespassing. Someone had spray-painted Cyne on a metal dredging crane and a storage container. Mims was found on the property inside a 2006 GMC SUV registered to his mother, Renee Mims, according to police reports. Deputies said they found a half gram of marijuana on Mims along with dozens of spray paint cans, both new and used, inside the SUV. Mims told deputies at the time that he does paint graffiti but only at legal locations on Stock Island. Deputies also said they found a stack of the same type of Cyne stickers that have been posted on property across Key West. The search warrant later showed that Mims designed and ordered several hundred dollars worth of the same sticker, Linhardt said. One Instagram post by Mims included photos he took of that interaction with deputies in November 2019 on No Name Key. Mims wrote in the post that he was almost caught. The Cyne culprit has ventured onto restricted Naval Air Station Key West property on Boca Chica Road to leave a 4-by-6-foot Cyne on the back of one government building. Cyne has also been spray-painted across several bridges along U.S. 1, including the Key Deer overpass at mile marker 32.5 on Big Pine Key. Mims has no adult criminal history in Monroe County. But Mims, a former U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, in 2013 was found not guilty of murder in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Michael Ray Staggs was killed by a shotgun blast to the head while he sat in his car in a parking lot outside a Chinese restaurant on Jan. 20, 2011, according to the Fayetteville Observer. Prosecutors had circumstantial evidence linking Mims to the crime, including gunpowder residue on one of his trucks window areas and the fact he owned the type of gun used, the Observer reported. Mims had been seen in the parking lot not long before the murder. Staggs did not know Mims, according to Staggs family. Cape Town Unknown gunmen have attacked six communities and torched a teacher-training college in Quissanga district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, in the space of less than a week, a development that marks an escalation in attacks on the gas-rich province. Unidentified fighters emerged in 2017, the insurgence worsened over the years, and they are now claimed as an affiliate by the Islamic State (IS). The brunt of the impact is being felt by the local population, who risk being abducted or even beheaded in attacks on villages and the provinces roads. Ernesto Agostinho Parivo, Director of the Teacher Training School of Bilibiza (EPF), was forced to flee with students and school staff. On the morning of the day of the attack, around 11am, there was a warning that the village would be attacked by the insurgents, so that most of them were preparing to take refuge in safe areas, namely, on the other bank of the river that exists in surroundings. It turns out that at EPF there were only three students (one from Muedumbe and two from Nampula) and one maintenance worker. When it was around 5 pm, as predicted, the village of Bilibiza was actually attacked where the insurgents burned and destroyed all the infrastructure that existed in the area. When I noticed the movement of people stampeding outside my house, I soon got in touch with a colleague who was at the EPF ordering them to immediately leave the EPF and also take refuge near the river where I was already and where we crossed by canoe. During the route we heard shots and saw smoke and we realized that it was the EPF that was being attacked, in addition to the village. It was around 5 pm. The gunfire and smoke continued throughout the night until the next day at around 7 am / 8 am, while we continued to be refugees in the woods together with the police. When it dawned the following day, Friday, no one had the courage to return to the village, and it was in these circumstances that I asked the police to accompany me to see what conditions the school would have been in. Once the police accepted, we went to the place where we found the warehouse and the pedagogical section still on fire with all the books and wallets burned. Then the police asked us to identify and unite to see all the traces in the area. After this action I went back to the river where I rented a canoe and then we walked along the road, a trip that only ended at 22h after having covered 70km on foot and a few more kilometres travelled in the school car, finally at 2h in the morning we arrived in the city of Pemba accompanied by the police. In our absence, the population vandalized our warehouse, as was the case with the Agrarian Institute. This attack was strange because despite the warning from the authorities, it could not be avoided and our main concern was that on this date we would receive many students, since the beginning of classes was scheduled for the 4th. For the future, we still do not have solutions but we have two chances: either proceed with classes at the Alberto Chipande Teacher Training Institute, in Pemba or occupy the place where the XI FRELIMO Congress was held, which is a large space. These two hypotheses are still being considered but we are in permanent contact with the students. This account was translated from Portuguese. allAfrica.coms reporting on peacebuilding is supported by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The first in the country primary in New Hampshire is finished, with Bernie Sanders narrowly beating Pete Buttigieg. The 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The dueling Democrats represent different generations, see divergent paths to the nomination and embrace conflicting visions of Americas future. Voting in New Hampshire began at midnight for three communities. The rest of the state voted during traditional voting hours on Tuesday. Here are the results: 100% of precincts reported results as of 5 p.m. ET Wednesday Bernie Sanders won with 25.73% of the vote Pete Buttigieg finishes in second with 24.43% Amy Klobuchar finishes in third with 19.82% Elizabeth Warren rounds out the top four with 9.23% Next up, the Nevada Democratic caucuses take place Feb. 22 and the South Carolina Democratic primary is on Feb. 29. 3:56 p.m. Voter turnout surpassed a previous high from 2008 for New Hampshire. As of Wednesday afternoon, with 98% of precincts reporting, more than 295,000 people voted in the Democratic primary. For New Hampshire, that's up from around 251,000 in 2016 (when Sen. Bernie Sanders defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) and nearly 288,000 in 2008 (when Clinton defeated then-Sen. Barack Obama, although both landed the same number of delegates). 11:45 p.m. (Feb. 11) In a tight race with former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary Tuesday. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar finished in third and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren rounded out the top four. Former Vice President Joe Biden finished in fifth place. 10:45 p.m. Bernie Sanders held a narrow lead over Pete Buttigieg in the New Hampshire Democratic primary Tuesday. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was trailing in third place in Tuesday's results. It was an unexpectedly strong showing for Klobuchar, who surged following a standout debate performance last Friday. With votes still coming in, the race was too early to call. But the night was disappointing for two prominent White House hopefuls. Former Vice President Joe Biden was competing with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for fourth place. Neither was on track to receive any delegates. 10:15 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar said she has redefined the word grit and beaten the odds once again in New Hampshire. Speaking to supporters in Concord on Tuesday night, the Minnesota senator thanked New Hampshire voters before turning her focus to a broader audience. Hello, America, Im Amy Klobuchar, and I will beat Donald Trump, she said. After lagging in the polls for much of the year and finishing fifth in Iowa, Klobuchar gained momentum in the days before the New Hampshire primary in part because of a strong debate performance Friday night. I came back and we delivered, she said. America deserves a president who is as resilient as her people. 10 p.m. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said he will reflect on his lackluster showing in the New Hampshire primary and will soon make some decisions on the future of his Democratic presidential campaign. Patrick, who entered the race in November, had said that a strong showing in New Hampshire was needed to have a credible shot at winning the nomination. But he trailed far behind the leading contenders in early election returns. Patrick said Tuesday night: We needed the winds from New Hampshire at our back to carry us on in this campaign. He also lamented media coverage of his campaign, which he said cemented the idea in the minds of potential supporters that he jumped in too late. Despite being one of the latest Democrats to enter the race, Patrick disputed that he entered too late. But he said the weight of skeptical coverage was in the way. 9:45 p.m. After dropping out of the Democratic presidential primary race, Andrew Yang said that he felt his message resonated but that voters wanted someone with a different profile that they had felt a higher degree of familiarity with and security with. Speaking to reporters Tuesday night, Yang insisted his central campaign promise of universal basic income that would give every American adult $1,000 per month would continue on. Yang declined to endorse any specific Democratic candidate, saying he would get behind anyone who came out in support of the universal basic income and made it a top priority in their administration. Yang said he hopes his campaigns legacy is that he focused on the problems that got Donald Trump elected rather than Trumps actions day to day and talked to voters about the problems they see around them on the ground and not in terms of political talking points. The fact is that Americans feel that many politicians havent been up to the challenge of addressing the problems we see around us, he said. They were hungry for a different type of conversation, a different set of solutions, a different form of leadership. 9:35 p.m. A pair of Joe Biden surrogates tried their best to mask a disappointing night for the absent Democratic presidential candidate at his campaigns New Hampshire watch party. Biden originally planned to attend, but his campaign announced late Tuesday morning that he would instead hold an event in South Carolina. That left former New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and Biden's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, to take his place. Biden Owens said this was "the very beginning of a long marathon to the nomination. And we're ready to go the distance." "While the results don't seem to be what we hoped, we're going to take our campaign to every corner of this country," Biden Owens said. Appearing to the audience via live stream, Biden vowed to return to defeat President Donald Trump in Novembers general election. "I do love New Hampshire," Biden said. And I mean it. 9:25 p.m. Tom Steyer's campaign says that the candidate is not dropping out of the 2020 presidential race. This comes after a reporter erroneously tweeted that Steyer told a New Hampshire crowd that he would suspend his campaign for the presidency. Steve Bottari, an anchor at sister station WMTW-TV, spoke with the Steyer campaign Tuesday. They say reports of Steyer leaving the race are "bogus," noting the candidate isn't in New Hampshire. The campaign said Steyer spent Monday campaigning in Reno, Nevada. Were just getting started, Steyer's Press Secretary Colin Booth said. 8:50 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren addressed her New Hampshire supporters without waiting for results in the states primary. The Massachusetts senator took the stage at her party near the airport in Manchester barely 20 minutes after polls closed in some areas Tuesday. She spoke for 15 minutes, then had attendees line up for her famous selfie line. Warren said that both Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg had strong nights and congratulated her friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for how wrong political pundits are when they count us out. She said Sanders and Buttigieg are both great candidates. She added, I respect them both, but the fight between factions in our party has taken a sharp turn in recent weeks." Warren calls herself the best candidate to unite the Democratic Party, adding, The fight were in, the fight to save our democracy, is an uphill battle, but our campaign is built for the long haul and were just getting started. 8:30 p.m. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announced he would end his 2020 Democratic presidential bid after pinning the campaign's hopes on New Hampshire. As of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Bennet had received 0.28% of the vote. 8 p.m. Polls have officially closed in New Hampshire for the states first-in-the-nation presidential primary. At the same time that the polls closed in the Granite State, Andrew Yang announced that he would suspend his campaign. The decision was pretty clear, Yangs campaign manager told PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor. It doesn't feel honest to keep taking money and enthusiasm from our supporters, but also from the Democratic Party." President Donald Trump easily won New Hampshires Republican primary against minimal opposition. Trump was declared the winner as polls in the state closed Tuesday night. Four years ago, the state offered Trump his first primary victory and helped catapult him to the White House. But Trump narrowly lost New Hampshire to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November general election. 7 p.m. Polls have begun to close in New Hampshire as voters in the Granite State cast their ballots in the nation's first primary. Results are expected to come shortly. Bernie Sanders is fighting for Democratic front-runner status Tuesday. The party is hoping the primary will bring some clarity to a presidential nomination fight that has so far been marred by dysfunction and doubt. Polls started closing at 7 p.m. in some areas of the state and will close at 8 p.m. in other parts. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is hoping to seize the backing of his partys establishment with a strong finish, while former Vice President Joe Biden looks to avert political disaster. He left the state for South Carolina before polls closed. By night's end, New Hampshire could begin culling the Democrats' unwieldy 2020 class, which still features nearly a dozen candidates. 5:30 p.m. Elizabeth Warrens campaign is arguing that her top rivals have flaws that will be exposed over time in the Democratic presidential primary and that their White House bids arent built for the long haul like hers is. A lengthy memo from Warren campaign manager Roger Lau, obtained Tuesday, draws the sharpest contrasts yet between the Massachusetts senator and her rivals, something the candidate has mostly refrained from doing personally. It suggests Bernie Sanders, the races other strong progressive, has a ceiling for support, while former Vice President Joe Bidens campaign could soon collapse. It argues that Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, wont be able to win states that are more diverse and vote later in the year. Warren finished third in Iowa and isnt expected to win Tuesdays primary in New Hampshire, even though it borders her home state. Her campaign says it has staffers in 30-plus states and is built for a long, possibly protracted race. Laus memo seeks to reassure supporters that she will make it that far. ___ 4 p.m. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren says rival Joe Bidens planned trip to South Carolina as the New Hampshire primary unfolds means hes not here to fight for votes. The Massachusetts senator stopped at a polling place in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tuesday afternoon to hug and shake hands with supporters who cheered and waved her campaign signs in a light rain. Warren was asked about the former vice president saying he was heading to South Carolina, which holds its primary later this month. She replied, I think it says that hes not here to fight for the votes in New Hampshire. She added: I think that this is what democracy is about: Get out, talk to voters, fight for every vote." Supporters chanted, Its time for a woman in the White House! Biden's campaign has said he and his wife will travel to Columbia, South Carolina, on Tuesday night for a launch party. The campaign says Biden will address supporters in New Hampshire via livestream. __ 2 p.m. Bernie Sanders hugged and shook hands with supporters outside a Manchester polling place as he awaits the results of the New Hampshire primary. Sanders wouldnt speculate as to whether he expects a resounding victory in Tuesday's primary but said hes hoping for a win. He didnt comment on rival Joe Bidens decision to essentially cede New Hampshire and travel to South Carolina later Tuesday. Sanders says hes proud that we have spoke to tens of thousands of people in New Hampshire. Supporters outside the polling place wished Sanders luck and said they were proud of him. One of those voters was Linda Bouldin, 63, who just moved to New Hampshire where her daughter lives last year. She voted for Sanders in the 2016 Texas primary and I never stopped loving him. __ 11:35 a.m. As votes are counted in New Hampshire, former Vice President Joe Biden is shifting ahead to South Carolina, where success is critical to his campaign. Biden's Democratic presidential campaign says he and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, will travel to Columbia on Tuesday night for a launch party. U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond is Biden's campaign co-chairman and had already been planning to attend the event. The campaign says Biden will address supporters in New Hampshire via livestream while his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, will thank them in person. Biden has a lot at stake in South Carolina, where he has led polling and has long relationships with the heavily black electorate. But other candidates including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and billionaire Tom Steyer have been campaigning hard in the state. Biden says in a release he plans to travel later in the week to Nevada, which holds its caucus vote later this month. __ 10 a.m. The results are in from three communities who take part in midnight voting in New Hampshire. Dixville Notch, Hart's Location and Millsfield all voted at midnight. Amy Klobuchar has the early lead in the Democratic primary with eight votes. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both have four. President Donald Trump is leading in the Republican primary. He has 31 votes. Bill Weld, former governor of Massachusetts, has five votes. RELATED: Get to know the candidates: Candidate Cafe || Conversation with the Candidate The Viroqua Chamber Main Street is delighted to announce that Annual BASH tickets are on sale now! Join us on May 7 from 5-8 p.m. for a night of fun and celebration! The Viroqua Chamber Main Street is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the business and tourism climate in Viroqua through innovation, facilitation and support. The Annual BASH is our big fundraiser of the year. This fundraiser allows us to continue to bring innovative programming to Viroqua like the Pop-Up Shop initiative, community beautification, facade grants, as well as programming that is loved by the community like the Viroqua Farmers Market and Viroqua Night Market. Help the Viroqua Chamber Main Street continue in a positive direction. Attend our epic dinner catered by James Beard Award semifinalist, and host of Wisconsin Foodie, Chef Luke Zahm of the Driftless Cafe. Enjoy local beer and wine selections, Wisco-Pop, Kickapoo Coffee and cake from Viroqua Baking Company. Special thanks to Pedrettis Party barn and Vernon Vineyards for use of their exquisite venue. The event will include silent auction items, live auction, 50/50 raffle and music. At 5 p.m., enjoy beautiful appetizers and drinks, and browse the silent and live auction items. Socialize with members of the business community as we celebrate Viroqua! Dinner is at 6 p.m. Tickets are just $ 75 each for multiple appetizer courses, braised pork with Hawaiian rolls, chicken and sausage paella, seared udon noodles and roasted mushrooms, cheese and charcuterie boards, and antipasto trays. For dinner, enjoy tenderloin and potatoes, green salad and white truffle risotto. Dessert will be from Viroqua Baking Company. To purchase tickets, visit the Viroqua Chamber Main Street Facebook page or call 608-637-2575. Instagram for Dummies, Feb. 19We are excited to host Instagram for Dummies Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Viroqua Chamber Main Street, 114 S. Main St. Viroqua. This class will get you through all of the basics and have you understanding and loving this fantastic social media tool for small businesses. Viroqua Chamber Main Street members will be able to attend this class free of charge, non-members pay $10. Registration is online at Viroqua-wisconsin.com or via Facebook. Bring your phone, laptop or tablet to the session with the Instagram app downloaded and ready for use. Thanks to Bad Axe Enterprises for co-hosting the event with us. If you have questions about this educational session, please call 608-637-2575 2001: A Space Odyssey, Feb. 212001: A Space Odyssey will be shown at the Historic Temple Theatre, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. An imposing black structure provides a connection between the past and the future in this enigmatic adaptation of a short story by revered sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke. When Dr. Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and other astronauts are sent on a mysterious mission, their ships computer system, HAL, begins to display increasingly strange behavior, leading up to a tense showdown between man and machine that results in a mind-bending trek through space and time. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at https://www.historictempletheatre.com/. Coffee tasting, Feb. 29Kickapoo Coffees coffee tasting and roastery tour will be held at the Kickapoo Coffee Roastery Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. Interested in learning more about what Kickapoo Coffee does and why they do it? Thirsty to try more of their coffees? Just looking to expand your general coffee knowledge? Kickapoo Coffee holds a monthly cupping on the last Saturday of every month at their roastery inside the Food Enterprise Center, located at 1201 N. Main St. (parking in back). This tour of their facilities and coffee tasting is free and open to the public. Call 608-637-2022 or email info@kickapoocoffee.com with any questions you might have. Steely Dane, Feb. 29Steely Dane will perform at the Historic Temple Theatre Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. United by their passion for Steely Dan music, 15 of Dane Countys best musicians formed Steely Dane: We consider ourselves to be more of a celebration of Steely Dan than a tribute. Its a fantastic experience; a real blast to play these tunes that everyone knows and sings along with, director Dave Adler. The large ensemble fills the hall with soul and smarts. Its a big band with a big sound, John Roach of Madison Magazine. Winner of the Madison Area Music Award for best cover band, Steely Dane is dedicated to bringing an energetic live-show experience to the crowd. Tickets are $25 and are available at https://www.historictempletheatre.com/. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A leading Bangladesh publisher has been charged under controversial digital security laws for associating with someone suspected of spreading fake about the prime minister and her son, an official said Wednesday. Nur Mohammad, the owner of Guardian Publications, was arrested by police at his office in the capital on Monday, the company's deputy managing director, Mahmudul Hasan, told AFP. "He has been charged under the country's Digital Security Act," he said. Journalists and rights activists say the Digital Security Act passed in 2018 is a serious threat to freedom of expression in the nation of 168 million people. Under the Act, anyone can face a life jail term for "propaganda" against the nation and up to 10 years for digital content that "hurts religious sentiments" or "creates unrest". Odhikar, a rights group, reported at least 29 arrests last year under the law. Nur Mohammad's arrest came after Guardian Publications was blocked from taking part in the country's largest annual book fair, which takes place this month. Guardian Publications is a leading publisher of literature about Islamic philosophy, religion, Bangladeshi culture and history. The company has published two books by Pinaki Bhattacharya, a leading critic of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bhattacharya, who fled the country for France last year after security forces allegedly raided his home, condemned Mohammad's arrest and called for his release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 52-year-old man has been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. The man is also charged with "possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation," the PSNI added. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 12/29/2021 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! Which couples are still together and which MAFS couples have split up and divorced? And where are they now? 's first thirteen seasons featured 49 different couples getting married at first sight -- so which couples are still together, who has split up and divorced, and where are they all now?Each season of -- which premiered in the United States seven years ago and is based on a Danish series -- features couples (previously three couples, but four couples on Seasons 8 and 9, and five couples beginning with Season 10) being matched together by relationship experts and agree to marry when they first meet.Complete strangers become husband and wife in a matter of minutes, and the couples' lives are then documented by TV cameras over the course of the next four to eight weeks (eight weeks, in the case of 's most recent seasons).The couples typically enjoy their first night together in a hotel after exchanging vows -- with some couples deciding to consummate their marriage immediately -- and then embark on a honeymoon, move in together, and simply attempt to deal with the struggles of daily life as man and wife.At the end of the extreme marriage experiment, each couple must decide whether they'd like to stay married or get a divorce on "Decision Day."has experienced very mixed results over the years. While a significant number of couples decide to stay together and continue their new marriage at the end of their season, the real world seems to hit them hard after the cameras leave, resulting in the couple splitting up only months later.Do cast members see a different side of their spouses once cameras are gone, or do the romances naturally fizzle over time?Some couples are still together to this day and are extremely happy. Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner from Season 1, for example, have had two children.Several other couples have also had children -- including Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd Deonna McNeill and Greg Okotie , and Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd However, there are also relationships that ended badly. Jessica Castro from Season 2, for instance, accused Ryan De Nino of alleged death threats, and she went on to file a restraining order and lawsuit against him.Some couples have also never even made it to "Decision Day" and ended their marriage prematurely, including Season 4 couple Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz as well as Season 6 couple Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic Are the remaining couples now lovers, friends or enemies?! What about early season couples like Cortney Hendrix and Jason Carrion, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone, Vanessa Nelson and Tres Russell, Sonia Granados and Nick Pendergrast, and Lillian Vilchez and Tom Wilson?And how about more recent season couples like Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek Sheila Downs and Nate Duhon Jaclyn Schwartzberg and Ryan Buckley Dave Flaherty and Amber Martorana , and Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally Keith Dewar and Kristine Killingsworth , and AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Click thelink below to see photos of each couple and find out! BEGIN GALLERY >> Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. DMK president M K Stalin on Wednesday sought the Centre's intervention in securing the release of around 100 Indians, including six from Tamil Nadu, from a cruise ship quarantined in Japan for nearly 10 days over outbreak of novel coronavirus. The "Diamond Princess" has been in quarantine at Yokohama since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week after the virus was detected in a former passenger who got off the ship in Hong Kong. A total of 174 confirmed cases have been reported from among the 3,700-odd passengers and crew. Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in this connection, saying a native of Madurai in Tamil Nadu employed in the ship has called for help. In his letter, Stalin said the cruise ship was docked at the Yokohama harbour for the past nine days. The stranded man, who is employed in the ship, has sent a message to his friends through WhatsApp, that about 100 Indians are working in the vessel, of whom six are from Tamil Nadu, Stalin said. In his message, he has sought the Centre's intervention for the release of these hundred Indians from the vessel, the DMK said and urged Jaishankar to immediately intervene and ensure their safe return. Passengers and crew in the ship are now halfway through a 14-day quarantine that is due to end on February 19 and have been mostly confined to their quarters, aside from being allowed brief periods on deck while wearing face masks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.12 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The European Investment Bank (EIB) support to Azerbaijan is focused on social and economic infrastructure, the Bank told Trend. "In general, the EIB support to Azerbaijan is focused on social and economic infrastructure, local private sector development and climate action. We support projects that contribute to the stabilization and modernization and are beneficial for both Azerbaijan and its relationship and connection with the European Union," said EIB. The EIB said it finances projects in Azerbaijan in a close cooperation with EU member states and EU partners on the basis of EU budget guarantees for projects of significant interest to the EU and the countries concerned. When coming to the milestones in EIB-Azerbaijan cooperation this year, the Bank said in 2019 it signed a loan contract to support with 700 million euros implementation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) that is also relevant for Azerbaijan. Moreover, the EIB said following the recapitalisation of AccessBank Azerbaijan, that became effective in March 2019, the Bank is closely monitoring the turnaround of the lender. "EIBs aim is to support facilitating access to financing for small and medium enterprises in Azerbaijan," said the Bank. The Bank is represented in Azerbaijan by the EIB Regional Office for the South Caucasus in Tbilisi that facilities. "EIB presence ensures market proximity and an increased operational delivery capability for the EIB, as well as closer institutional ties with the national authorities. It contributes to project identification and screening, appraisal of new operations, and the development of new products to finance the public and private sectors," said EIB. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn Premature exhilaration is no laughing matter. One over-excited Liverpool FC fan has been mocked for getting a tattoo declaring the mighty reds Premier League champions for 2019-20 before the deal is sealed. Boris Johnson should take note of the old footie cliche one game at a time. The hubristic manager of the mighty blues told everyone Brexit was won and the free trade deal trophy was already in the bag. But EU bosses continually warned him Brexit was a game of two halves. Theyre now spelling out what crashing into the WTO league will actually mean at the end of 2020s transition season. Im Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independents daily Inside Politics briefing. Inside the bubble Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today: NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Sasol Limited (Sasol or the Company) (NYSE: SSL) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and indexed under 20-cv-01008, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Sasol securities between March 10, 2015 and January 13, 2020, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased Sasol securities during the class period, you have until April 6, 2020 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Sasol was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sasol operates as an integrated chemical and energy company in South Africa. The Company operates through Mining, Exploration and Production International, Energy, Base Chemicals, and Performance Chemicals segments. On October 27, 2014, Sasol announced the construction of a of an $8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, dubbed the Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP). According to the Company, the LCCP includes seven manufacturing units, some of which are in continued development, including the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) facility and Ziegler alcohol, ethoxylates and Guerbet alcohol facilities, among others. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Sasol had conducted insufficient due diligence into, and failed to account for multiple issues with, the LCCP, as well as the true cost of the project; (ii) construction and operation of the LCCP was consequently plagued by control weaknesses, delays, rising costs, and technical issues; (iii) these issues were exacerbated by Sasols top-level management, who engaged in improper and unethical behavior with respect to financial reporting for the LCCP and the projects oversight; (iv) all the foregoing was reasonably likely to render the LCCP significantly more expensive than disclosed and negatively impact the Companys financial results; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On June 6, 2016, Sasol reported that the expected total capital expenditure for the [LCCP] could increase up to US$11 billion, including site infrastructure and utility improvements; a slower rate of capital resulted in an extended project schedule and contributed to further project cost increases; [t]he expected returns for the project have reduced due to changes in long-term price assumptions and the higher capital estimates; and [t]he increase in the estimated LCCP capital cost and extended schedule will reduce the expected project returns by approximately the same amount as the Companys lower long-term price assumptions. Following these disclosures, Sasols American depositary receipt (ADR) price fell $3.53 per share, or 10.99%, to close at $28.60 per share on June 6, 2016. On May 22, 2019, during pre-market hours, Sasol disclosed that the cost estimate for the LCCP has been revised to a range of $12,6 to $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million. Sasol cited a $530 million change in the projects cost forecast because of a [c]orrection for duplication of investment allowances of approximately $230 million; a [c]orrection for certain contracts and variation orders managed by Sasol, outside the primary engineering, procurement and construction contract, of approximately $180 million; and forecast improvements that were not expected to be realised and adjustments for potential insurance claims and procurement back-charges of approximately $120 million. Following these disclosures, Sasols ADR price fell $4.50 per share, or 14.93%, to close at $25.64 per share on May 22, 2019. Later, on August 16, 2019, during pre-market hours, Sasol issued a press release disclosing that it was delaying the announcement of its 2019 financial results because of possible LCCP control weaknesses. On this news, Sasols ADR price fell $0.74 per share, or 4.02%, to close at $17.67 per share on August 16, 2019. Then, on October 28, 2019, Sasol disclosed that its review of the LCCP control weaknesses had brought to light errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the [LCCP] cost estimate, and a number of unethical and improper reporting activities that took place at the highest level of management. Sasol also announced the resignation of, inter alia, its Joint Presidents and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), effective November 1, 2019, and Senior Vice Presidents and others previously in charge of the LCCP. Finally, 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. 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. Following these disclosures, Sasols ADR price fell $1.70 per share, or 7.84%, over the following two trading days, closing at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com LONDONBritain on Wednesday introduced a plan that would give the government more latitude to regulate internet content, as part of an effort to force Facebook, YouTube and other internet giants to do more to police their platforms. The government said the countrys media regulator, known as Ofcom, would take on new responsibilities monitoring internet content and would have the power to issue penalties against companies that do not do enough to combat harmful and illegal terrorist and child abuse content. Left unanswered were many details, including what penalties the new regulator would have at its disposal or how it would keep tabs on the billions of pieces of user-generated content that are posted on the social media platforms. A proposal circulated by the government last year suggested that the regulator could issue fines, block access to websites and make individual executives legally liable for harmful content spread on their platforms. The government said further details would be released in the spring. We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections, accountability and transparency people deserve, said Nicky Morgan, the secretary of Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the agency that announced the proposal Wednesday. The push for tougher regulation shows a divergence from the U.S.-led vision of the internet that is largely market-driven and free of government oversight. In Europe and in Britain, where free speech is more regulated than in the United States, there has been a growing willingness to impose new rules on the web, particularly related to hate speech, terrorism and material targeting children. In Germany, companies risk fines if hate content is not removed in as little as 24 hours. France is considering a similar proposal. The European Union is also debating changes to laws that protect internet companies from being liable for content posted on their platforms. Free speech and human rights advocates warned the policies would lead to censorship and be used as a template by more repressive governments. Europe has been targeting the tech industry for years over growing concerns that U.S. tech giants have too much power and influence. A sweeping privacy law enacted in 2018, called the General Data Protection Regulation, limits what personal information can be collected and shared online. Enforcement of European Union antitrust laws has resulted in billions of dollars in penalties against Google, Apple, Amazon and others for anticompetitive behaviour. Wendy Hall, a computer scientist and professor at Southampton University in England, said the British proposal showed how the internet was fracturing, with different regions adopting different standards. At one end, she said, is the U.S. approach that lacks regulation and is largely market-driven; at the other sits Chinas top-down government control and censorship. Hall said that Europe was attempting to find a middle path, but that democratic governments must tread carefully because judging what is acceptable online is often very subjective. Theres not an easy solution if youre not an authoritarian government, said Hall, who has served as a government policy adviser on the use of artificial intelligence. The British proposal is the first step toward building on recommendations that officials introduced last year to regulate the web. The regulations to be debated in the months ahead will apply to internet platforms that carry user-generated content, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Placing Ofcom in charge of internet-content regulation adds to the agencys responsibilities overseeing Britains television networks, radio stations and newspapers, as well as the countrys internet service providers. Child-protection groups have pushed for the regulations, arguing that too much harmful content is available to young people. The government has today signalled they are willing to stand up to Silicon Valley and commit to landmark British regulation that could set a global standard in protecting children online, Peter Wanless, the chief executive of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said in a statement. In Britain, the handling of the tech industry presents a dilemma. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the sector is critical to the countrys economic future outside the European Union, but his government is also attempting tighter oversight. Antitrust regulators have vowed to clamp down on anticompetitive behaviour by big online platforms. And the countrys top privacy regulator is investigating the internet advertising industry. Many who work in the tech industry are concerned the rules will have unintended consequences, particularly for startups that dont have the financial or legal resources to navigate a more complex regulatory environment. It becomes a moat for them, said Rob Kniaz, a partner at the venture capital firm Hoxton Ventures in London. These things always favour the incumbents. Read more about: Mark Kelly has been the CEO of Eurocell plc (LON:ECEL) since 2016. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. See our latest analysis for Eurocell How Does Mark Kelly's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? At the time of writing, our data says that Eurocell plc has a market cap of UK260m, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK459k for the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK372k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from UK155m to UK618m, and the median CEO total compensation was UK650k. So Mark Kelly receives a similar amount to the median CEO pay, amongst the companies we looked at. While this data point isn't particularly informative alone, it gains more meaning when considered with business performance. You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Eurocell has changed over time. LSE:ECEL CEO Compensation, February 12th 2020 Is Eurocell plc Growing? Earnings per share at Eurocell plc are much the same as they were three years ago, albeit slightly lower, based on the trend. Its revenue is up 15% over last year. The lack of earnings per share growth in the last three years is unimpressive. While the revenue growth is good to see, it is outweighed by the fact that earnings per share are down, over three years. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future. Has Eurocell plc Been A Good Investment? Boasting a total shareholder return of 66% over three years, Eurocell plc has done well by shareholders. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. Story continues In Summary... Remuneration for Mark Kelly is close enough to the median pay for a CEO of a similar sized company . We're not seeing great strides in earnings per share, but the company has clearly pleased some investors, given the returns over the last three years. So we think most shareholders wouldn't be too worried about CEO compensation, which is close to the median for similar sized companies. Shareholders may want to check for free if Eurocell insiders are buying or selling shares. If you want to buy a stock that is better than Eurocell, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. RZD International, a special purpose engineering company of Russian Railways Holding (RZD), has expressed its interest in participating in the proposed semi-high speed railway project between Ahmedabad and Rajkot in Gujarat. In their meeting with the Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, Aleksei V Surovtsev and RZD International's Vladimir Finov expressed their readiness to participate in the project, a state government release said on Wednesday. "RZD International expressed its interest in participating in the project as it presents the tremendous potential for economic and all-round development of the two areas," the release quoted Russian officials as saying. RZD International had in the past made DPRs for 580-km high speed rail between Nagpur and Secunderabad in India. The detailed report on the semi high-speed railway project between Rajkot and Ahmedabad, a distance of around 230 kms, is being prepared by the Gjarat Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (G-RIDE), a Special Purporse Vehicle (SPV) formed from the joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Gujarat government. "The Russia Railway company would like to go ahead with the project's detailed engineering design, project execution and complete finance after consultation with Gujarat and Indian governments," the release said. Russian representatives assured the government that the company will complete the project within six years of design preparation. Rupani said this high-speed railway project would be vital in reducing heavy traffic load on Rajkot-Ahmedabad road and cutting down the travel time. RZD International had entered into an MoU with the Ministry of Railways for modernisation of railways and the singaling system. In Gujarat too, it is eager to work with G-Ride Company for this semi high-speed rail project, it said. Vladimir Finov also expressed the desire of RZD International to contribute to new projects in increasing rail connectivity for freight corridors from ports as well as to increase existing speed of passenger rail and freight trains, the release stated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad: Students of Osmania University burned an effigy of minister K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday in front of Arts College alleging that his followers have been harassing girls at Sircilla government welfare hostels. According to an official note from the Rajanna Sircilla Scheduled Castes welfare officer E. Rajeswari, on Tuesday cases were booked on catering contractor T. Devayya and cook Vijayamma at the Government SC Welfare Hostel for sexually harassing girls through social media and posting videos. The catering contract was suspended and the report regarding the same was submitted to the collector. Following this, OU students alleged that Devayya and others involved in similar cases were followers and demanded that the minister should take action in this regard. Madiga Student Federation (MSF) president Rudravram Lingaswamy said, Several girls from government hostels are being sexually assaulted and some are even being trapped into prostituition, and a proper enquiry should be done in this regard. Its KTR followers who have been harassing girls. The McIntosh shooting unfolded in August 2014 near California Avenue and Polk Street as eight officers jumped out of three cars and confronted a group of men who police had heard were armed. McIntosh bolted to the rear of a nearby house with the officers on his heels. Officer Robert Slechter later told investigators he shot and killed McIntosh after the teen pointed a gun at him from homes back porch, where officers reported finding a loaded 9 mm pistol. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) A court in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur has ordered the arrest of Kapa-Community Ministry International Inc. founder Joel Apolinario, as well as other officials and promoters of the group on charges of investment fraud. The Bislig City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 on Tuesday issued warrants of arrest against Apolinario, his wife and corporate secretary Reyna Apolinario, and trustee Margie Danao, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC in a statement on Wednesday said the following individuals were also ordered jailed for "promoting" the supposed investment scam: Marisol Diaz, Adelfa Fernandico, Moises Mopia, Catherine Evangelista, and Rene Catubigan. Short for Kabus Padatoon [translation: making the poor rich], KAPA claims to be a religious group which has been recruiting members and asking them to donate funds to the organization. In exchange, donors are promised a 30 percent monthly return called "love gifts" or "monthly blessings" in perpetuity. The Department of Justice filed criminal charges against the group for violations of the Securities Regulation Code. State prosecutors said KAPA willfully, unlawfully and criminally engaged in the selling or distribution of securities to the public without securing a registration statement from the SEC. In June 2019, the SEC filed a complaint against KAPA for employing a Ponzi scheme, an investment plan that offers high returns and pays investors using money contributed by other investors. The SEC, in the same month, secured from the Court of Appeals a freeze order covering all bank accounts and properties linked to the group. President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered the shutdown of KAPA and similar investment scams, even saying that benefactors should be arrested as they are involved in clear cases of "syndicated estafa." KAPA has repeatedly denied allegations of an investment scam, and has insisted it remains a religious group. Stephanie Cox, 30, disappeared on January 30 after climbing into a dumpster The remains of a woman who died in an apparent dumpster-diving mishap have been discovered in a landfill. Stephanie Cox, 30, disappeared on January 30 after climbing into a dumpster behind the Alamance Crossing shopping center in Burlington, North Carolina. A police search located her suspected remains on Monday afternoon at the Uwharrie Environmental landfill in Montgomery County. While official identification is pending with the medical examiner, police say they have reason to be confident that the remains are indeed Cox's. No foul play is suspected in the case. Video shows Cox climbed into a dumpster behind Five Below (above) a little after midnight on January 30, and did not leave the dumpster before a truck serviced it at 1.47am Cox's family members say that it was not uncommon for her to collect items from local dumpsters. Police warn that so-called 'dumpster-diving' is not a safe activity Cox's family members say that it was not uncommon for her to collect items from local dumpsters, according to a statement from the Burlington Police Department. The tragic saga first came to police attention on January 30, when Cox's family members reported her missing, saying she'd last been seen in nearby Greensboro. Cops in Burlington responded to a report of an unattended vehicle behind the Alamance Crossing strip mall, and determined that the car was Cox's and it did not appear to be stolen. Surveillance video from the shopping mall revealed the grim sequence of events. Shortly after midnight on January 30, Cox was seen on the video climbing into one of the dumpsters behind Boot Barn and Five Below, a teen-oriented retail chain. Cox did not emerge from the dumpster before a garbage truck arrived and serviced the dumpster at 1.47am, tipping the contents into an on-board compactor. 'A review of all associated video never shows others on the property until the truck arrived to service the dumpster,' Burlington police said in a statement. Police launched a search at the Uwharrie landfill, but were delayed for several days by inclement weather. Cox's presumed remains were discovered at the landfill on Monday at around 5pm. 'This case brings to light the dangers associated with collections from dumpsters,' Burlington police said. 'The commonly known practice of dumpster diving is not safe.' Cox's family and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her funeral. 'She had the best sense of humor & was always there with positive encouragement when her friends needed her,' Cox's friend Amy Cooper wrote on the fundraiser page. A GoFundMe campaign has begun in honour of Keira Kagan, the four-year-old found dead at Rattlesnake Point Sunday night. The fundraiser, set up by family friend Danit Fischtein, described Kagan as special, vibrant, kind-hearted, a wonderful big sister and a loving daughter. The funds collected will be used to commemorate Kagans life by going to a cause that was important to her. None of the proceeds will go to us for any reason...We want her to be remembered, said Philip Viater, Kagans stepdad. Her life cannot be in vain ... Keira was the kind of person that would change the world for the better, wrote Fischtein on the GoFundMe page. The fundraiser aims to raise $10,000, and as of Tuesday night it had already collected $7,765. The family of Keira, who was found dead alongside her father at the bottom of an escarpment west of Toronto, said they were going to view her body today. Viater said he and his wife, Jennifer Kagan, Keiras mother, were going to the coroners office to say goodbye to the four-year-old. Halton Regional Police Service said the deaths are not considered homicides at this point but their investigation continues. Police said the homicide unit is routinely called in to investigate all deaths involving children under the age of five. The child and her father went missing Sunday afternoon and their bodies were found around 11 p.m. The disappearance triggered a massive search and police said the pairs injuries were consistent with a fall. Viater said he and his wife believe Keiras father, Robin Brown, jumped off the cliff in a murder-suicide. The CBI informed the Delhi High Court Wednesday that it has filed a charge sheet in the bribery case allegedly involving its then special director Rakesh Asthana. The high court was hearing CBI's pending application in which it had sought more time to complete the investigation in the case lodged in 2018. Justice Vibhu Bakhru was informed by Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee that the CBI has already filed a charge sheet before the concerned trial court in the case. The court noted that now nothing survives in the agency's application in which it had sought more time to complete the probe. The CBI had Tuesday filed a charge sheet against Dubai-based businessman and alleged middleman Manoj Prasad in connection with the case. It had given a clean chit to Asthana in the charge sheet. The agency has also absolved RAW chief S K Goel, who was under the scanner in the case. CBI DSP Devender Kumar, who was arrested in 2018 and later got bail, also got a clean chit by the probe agency. The high court on January 8 had directed the CBI director to be present before it on February 12, if the agency fails to complete the investigation in the bribery case. It had pulled up the CBI for not completing the investigation in a time bound manner despite multiple court orders passed in the case and for repeatedly seeking extension of time to conclude the probe. The court had noted that initially on January 11 last year the agency was granted 10 weeks to complete the investigation and thereafter, the CBI approached the court with several applications seeking to extend the time which was allowed. Asthana, CBI's then Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devender Kumar and businessman Manoj Prasad were booked on allegations of criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Kumar, earlier the investigating officer in a case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi, was arrested on allegations of forgery in recording the statement of Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana, who had allegedly paid a bribe to get relief in the case. Kumar was arrested on October 22, 2018 and granted bail on October 31, 2018. The high court had in January 2019 disposed of three petitions of Asthana, Kumar and Prasad by a common order in which the CBI was directed to complete the investigation in the case within 10 weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) EU lawmakers condemns Trumps so-called peace plan The US president unveiled the controversial "Deal of the Century," Jan. 28 to end one of the longest-running disputes in the Middle East. Members of the European Parliament voiced harsh criticism for the so-called US Middle East peace plan during a plenary session Tuesday. The overwhelming majority of EU lawmakers agreed US President Donald Trumps plan goes against international law and is biased towards Israel. "THIS PLAN IS A ONE-STATE SOLUTION" The proposal clearly challenges the internationally agreed parameters of a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. Its difficult to see how it can bring both sides to the table. Borrell acknowledged the plan could be a starting point for peace negotiations but he clearly denied it can be an endpoint for a long-term solution in the Middle East. He said most EU member states did not even consider the plan. Dutch social democrat lawmaker Kati Piri called Trumps plan one-sided, illegala good starting point. and intentionally provocative, that aims at legalizing settlement and annexation of the West Bank and risks bringing more suffering for the Palestinian people. MEP Hilde Vautmans said the plan is a one-state solution. The Belgian centrist-liberal politician urged the EU to use its credibility to intervene as an honest broker and suggested Borrell initiate a peace conference. Trump proposed an independent Palestinian state but with the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital". Hundreds of police are searching for a 6-year-old South Carolina girl who has been missing since Monday. More than 250 police officers have been trying to locate Faye Swetlik. The first-grader was last seen around 3:45pm after she got off the school bus and was playing outside her home in Cayce, a town outside Columbia, South Carolina. WIS News 10 reported the girls family reported her missing around 5pm on Monday. Faye was last seen wearing a black shirt and polka-dot boots. The 6-year-old is reportedly lactose intolerant and has a speech impediment and a tethered tongue. Authorities said they planned to go door-to-door to search for the child. The FBI has also gotten involved in the search and the Lexington County Sheriffs Office is asking anyone in the area with security cameras to reach out to them. Lexington County Sheriffs Office spokesman Adam Myrick shared video on Twitter of FBI agents going door to door to question neighbours about the missing girl. Cayce Public Safety Department Sergeant Evan Antley said local police have received many offers from residents volunteering their time to help the search. He said the police would do everything possible to find the girl. "We want to get Faye back home so were not leaving any stone unturned," Mr Antley said. The Cayce Public Safety Department has established a specific hotline just for tips regarding the girls location. Solomon Lews long-running dispute with Hong Kong businessman Christian Larpin and Credit Suisse banker Kai Nargolwala over the ownership of a luxury Thai villa has come to an end. Lew has lost. Solomon and Rosa Lew. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: For those new to the saga, the billionaire rag trader launched legal action against Nargolwala who was selling the property in Phukets glitzy Andara Resort after the banker sold to Larpin despite Lew verbally agreeing to purchase the villa several weeks earlier. Larpin had agreed to pay $US2.7 million more. Still, it was hard to fathom why Lew was bothering with the lengthy legal proceedings. With a net worth of $2.8 billion, according to the Financial Reviews Rich List, surely he could just purchase the entire resort? But close observers of the legal proceedings in Singapore this month noted Lew had a good reason to covet Anadara Villa 29. SEATTLEAmazon has asked a federal court to let it depose President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper, arguing that hearing from them was essential to determining if they had intervened against the internet company when the Pentagon awarded a multibillion-dollar defence contract to a competitor. The request, which was unsealed on Monday, escalates a legal battle over a major cloud computing contract to modernize the Pentagons operations, called the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure project, or JEDI. Amazon Web Services, the largest cloud provider, was widely considered the front-runner for the $10 billion (U.S.) contract, but in October, the Department of Defense surprised analysts when it awarded the project to Microsoft, the No. 2 provider in the market. Amazon challenged the decision in December, claiming that Trump used improper pressure on the Pentagon to prevent Amazon from winning the contract as part of an attempt to harm the companys chief executive, Jeff Bezos. Trump has criticized Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, a publication that has reported aggressively on the Trump administration. The question is whether the President of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of the DOD to pursue his own personal and political ends, Drew Herdener, an Amazon spokesman, said in a statement. The Pentagon said it strongly opposes Amazons deposition request, saying it is unnecessary, burdensome and merely seeks to delay getting this important technology into the hands of our warfighters, according to a statement by Robert Carver, a spokesman for the Department of Defense. In court filings unsealed late Monday, Microsoft opposed the depositions, arguing that Amazon only provided the speculation of bias, with nothing approaching the hard facts necessary to demand them. Microsoft pointed to its previous statements on Amazons legal protest. We have confidence in the qualified staff at the Department of Defense, and we believe the facts will show they ran a detailed, thorough and fair process in determining the needs of the warfighter were best met by Microsoft, Janelle Poole, a company spokeswoman, said in December. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure project formally opened for bids in July 2018. The contest turned into a showdown between four companies, including Amazon, Microsoft and Oracle. Oracle previously protested Amazons involvement in the bid, but a federal judge rejected that claim. In its new motion, Amazon called Trumps animosity for Bezos a matter of public record. It cited Trumps Twitter posts and other public comments. Amazons legal filing documents Trumps general animus toward Bezos and his interest in JEDI, but it does not provide direct evidence that Trump ordered Esper to award the contract to a competitor, nor that Esper followed such orders. Without the depositions, the motion said, the court cannot objectively and fully evaluate AWSs credible and well-grounded allegations about bias and bad faith. Read more about: LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ePharmacy is an online platform where vendors sell medicines and send orders to consumers via shipping companies. The epharmacy market growth is mainly driven by the penetration of the internet, ecommerce, increasing awareness related to chronic diseases, improved healthcare infrastructures, rise in the aging population, growth in a number of patients, and large customer base in developed and developing countries are driving the growth of the market. Free Download Sample Report Pages for Better [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/1746 Acumen Research & Consulting, a global provider of market research studies, in a recently published report titled "ePharmacy Market (By Drug Type: Prescription Drugs, Over the Counter (OCT) Drugs; By Product Type: Dental, Skin Care, Vitamins, Cold and Flu, Weight Loss, Other) Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Opportunities and Forecast, 2019 - 2026". North America dominated the global epharmacy market in the year 2018. The well-developed healthcare infrastructures, high-speed internet, many healthcare insurance policies, a large number of medical products available in the epharmacy, along with a strong distribution channel, cost-efficient, increase in expenses in healthcare, rise in the elderly population, and rise in awareness related to chronic diseases are accelerating the growth of epharmacy market. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US emphasis on actively apprising the native concerning the rules and regulation of epharmacy and make them informed about the safety of purchasing medicines online. The USA and Canada are the strongest economies that can be the utmost important market in this region. The European region is anticipated to exhibit the second-largest share in the epharmacy market. However, the existence of prominent players and rising pharmaceuticals needs, mostly baby boomers are fueling the growth of the global epharmacy market in the coming years. The regularity authorizes taking initiatives to increase awareness related to the purchase of prescription drugs through epharmacy which abolish the extra cost incurred in the supply of medicines from producers to end-users removing the long distribution channels. Moreover, shift of consumer behavior towards online purchasing which is encouraging consumers to buy medicines from epharmacy sites due to high price discounts, easily accessibility of information, home delivery, presence high network speed, high adoption of ecommerce sites, and large customer base further grow the demand for epharmacy in the region during the forecast period. View Detail Information with Complete [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/epharmacy-market Asia-Pacific is anticipated to project the highest CAGR over the forecast period. The increasing penetration of high-speed internet with a smartphone in urban and rural areas, soaring adoption of ecommerce platforms, presence of the great patient groups, rising target population, rise in the popularity of ecommerce websites are estimated to fuel the epharmacy in this region. In addition, regularity authorities are taking steps to and investing funds to upgrade the healthcare infrastructures, offline pharmacy retails are unavailable to meet the rapidly rising needs are inducing towering demand for online availability of drugs, increasing awareness level about chronic diseases among citizens are also accelerating the growth of global market in the near forthcoming years. Moreover, in the Asia Pacific region, there are many rapidly emerging countries that becoming a profitable market. Not only China and India are through numerous economic changes, but they also have a huge population that is a ready-made market for a large number of products and services. Japan is another strong economy that has advance technology and high-speed network are few factors that can enhance the global epharmacy market over the forecast period. Over the counter segment dominated the epharmacy market on the basis of drug type in the year 2018. It is drugs that are sold to customers directly without prescription by the physician such as vitamins, supplements, cough syrups to get instant relief from minor symptoms. Additionally, rising initiatives by many countries to develop the healthcare sector, such as, Safe India medicines supported 60 new startups that emerged in India for epharmacy. Many developing are don't have well-developed hospitals that's why most of the population are depending on over the counter drugs as they don't have consult doctors or any lab tests, lower the economic burden, and easily available and convenient in over the counter further anticipated raising the segment over the forecast period. Related Reports eClinical Solutions Market Will Reach US$9,756 Million Globally in 2026: http://www.mynewsdesk.com/fi/pressreleases/eclinical-solutions-market-competitive-status-trend-and-forecast-to-2026-2952542 Healthcare Staffing Market Size to Reach US$ 45.2 Bn by 2026: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/healthcare-staffing-market-size-reach-120455834.html Telehealth Market Size to Reach Around US$ 20 Billion by 2026: https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/telehealth-market Some of the leading competitors are Walgreen Co., Rowlands PharmacyWalmart Stores, Inc., The Kroger Co., DocMorris, Optium Rx, Inc.,Banner Health, CVS Health Corporation, Giant Eagle, Inc., and Express Script Holding Company. Some of the key observations regarding epharmacy industry include: In January 2019 , Meds online pharmacy of Swedish has invested US$ 5.5 million to expand its business across Europe and other European countries. , Meds online pharmacy of Swedish has invested to expand its business across and other European countries. In June 2015 , Rite Aid crop has acquired Rx Option that provide mail pharmacy services including prescription drugs which has facilitated to enter into the field of epharmacy. , Rite Aid crop has acquired Rx Option that provide mail pharmacy services including prescription drugs which has facilitated to enter into the field of epharmacy. In March 2019 , 1mg, an Indian online pharmacy garnered LegitScript certification from the National association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), USA making it the first organization in India to earn the said certification. The certification has increased the trust of the consumers in the company products. , 1mg, an Indian online pharmacy garnered LegitScript certification from the National association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), making it the first organization in to earn the said certification. The certification has increased the trust of the consumers in the company products. In November 2016 , Netmeds Marketplace Limited has acquired Pluss which is hyperlogical drugs delivery app. This acquisition has enabled the company to focus on enhancing the company's online app. , Netmeds Marketplace Limited has acquired Pluss which is hyperlogical drugs delivery app. This acquisition has enabled the company to focus on enhancing the company's online app. In 2016, Safe Medicines India has supported 60 new startups for online pharmacy in India . Request for [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-customization/1746 The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation. Buy this premium research [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/buy-now/0/1746 If you would like to place an order or have any questions, please feel free to contact at [email protected]| +1-407-915-4157 OR +1-408-900-9135 About Us Acumen Research and Consulting (ARC) is a global provider of market intelligence and consulting services to information technology, investment, telecommunication, manufacturing, and consumer technology markets. ARC helps investment communities, IT professionals, and business executives to make fact based decisions on technology purchases and develop firm growth strategies to sustain market competition. Among the industries served include aerospace and defense, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductor and electronics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, chemicals, advanced materials, banking, finance services and insurance (BFSI), and others. Our collective industry experience of over 100 years has helped us to offer appropriate market information and our global reach and regional connects ensures appropriate insights into regional markets to guarantee apt delivery of information. Our regional market intelligence helps our clients to identify potential opportunities and develop growth strategies across regions and countries. Our services are geared towards offering best market research to our clients. 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] Website: https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com SOURCE Acumen Research and Consulting The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described as fake a document suggesting how then Vice President John Dramani Mahama allegedly dealt directly with manufacturers of the Brazil aircraft, Embraer E190 SA. The letter published by the Daily Guide newspaper says Mahama was 'excited' about the support from the Embraer organization, "in completing arrangements for the supply of the Embraer E190 SA aircraft to Ghana." Embraer Letter The 26th April 2012 correspondence was addressed to the Director-Sales and Business Development, International Business Development of Embraer Defence and Security, Felipe Monteiro. The Vice-President's direct communication with a private company the way the former President did, exposed him to all manner of temptations. Mahama's Involvement The fear expressed by many Ghanaians at the time was because of the unusual action of the former president as leader of the team to prurchase the Embraer for the military. It looked unusual for a Vice-president to be dealing directly with a private firm in matters of procurement. Some experts have said it is against best practices for a President or the Vice-President to deal directly with manufacturers of such expensive items like aircraft. In July 2011, it was decided by the Mills/Mahama government to purchase an Embraer 190 Executive jet for the Ghana Air Force. The aircraft was intended to perform the role of "Strategic Airlift Aircraft". The arrangement was shrouded in myriads of challenges, with some bordering on suspicions of impropriety. While Brazilian sources attributed the failure to what they described as corporate issues most Ghanaians pointed at controversies over the pricing of the aircraft. No Reference Letter However, a member of the Communication team of the NDC, Bernard Anim Piesie, says the document is fake because there is no reference number on the statement. According to him, the NPP wants to tarnish Mahama's image following the airbus bribery scandal. Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FMs morning show 'Kokrokoo, Bernard Anim Piesie said: "the letter is fake . . .there's no reference number on the letter; why this desperation? What is this libido NPP has about the airbus scandal? You have forwarded the issue to the SP (Special Prosecutor) so why the rush. If you dont believe in the investigation why dont you say so? . . . as for us we welcome any investigation into this matter) Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ROME - The Senate on Wednesday voted to allow prosecutors to proceed against League leader Matteo Salvini for allegedly illegally detaining a group of migrants when he was interior minister in a previous government. The case regards Salvini's decision to not allow more than 100 rescued migrants to disembark from the Gregoretti Coast Guard ship for several days during a long standoff in July. The Senate's immunity panel had already given the OK for the Catania court of ministers' request to parliament to proceed against Salvini for allegedly abusing his power and the floor of the Upper House has now ratified the decision to lift Salvini's parliamentary immunity. Salvini, who operated a closed ports policy while interior minister in the last government, sending the League's poll ratings sky-high, faced prosecution before but his parliamentary immunity was never lifted so he could go to trial in previous similar cases. "I'm absolutely relaxed about this and proud of what I did," Salvini told ANSA after the vote, which members of his party did not take part in. "I'll do it again as soon as I get back in government. "I swore on the Constitution, which says that defending the nation is every citizen's duty. "I defended Italy". Salvini argued that, as in other such cases, his decision was made with the rest of the government he was then part of. Premier Giuseppe Conte, on the other hand, said he was not involved in the specific decision of whether to allow the migrants to disembark. Salvini pulled the plug on Conte's first government in August prompting the creation of a new ruling majority. Asked if he was worried about becoming ineligible for office in the event of a conviction, Salvini said "absolutely not". He said he had "no back-up plan" for that eventuality. He said he had "absolute and total faith" in the Italian judiciary. Viti Crimi, interim leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), Salvini's former government partner, said "the League leader has been living in a confused state for months. "First he hailed his decision on the Gregoretti case, then he cried plot, saying it was an action promoted by the whole government. "First he says he wants to be tried, then he doesn't want to any more, and then he wants to again. "He has changed his mind so many times that it's impossible to understand what he really thinks about it", Crimi said in a post entitled "Only fleeing and lies from Salvini". The M5S, which was in government with Salvini for 14 months until he toppled it last July, is now in government with the centre-left democratic Party (PD), ex-PD leader and former premier Matteo Renzi's centrist Italia Viva (IV) party, and the leftwing Free and Equal (LeU) party. Eamonn Harrison, from Northern Ireland, who is wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated shipping container in Essex, has been granted permission by a High Court judge in Dublin to appeal against his extradition to the UK. Mr Justice Donald Binchy accepted arguments raised by Harrison's defence team related to the issuing of the European Arrest Warrant. His lawyers claimed there were "manifest errors" in the original warrant. They contended that when additional information was sought from the UK authorities that that information was provided by the Crown Prosecution Service, instead of a judicial authority. Judge Binchy said there was a need to explore the points raised in a higher court. He formally made an order granting extradition to the UK, but placed a stay on the execution of that order pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among eight women and 31 males, all Vietnamese nationals, whose bodies were discovered in the trailer in an industrial park in Grays in the early hours of October 23. On Tuesday it was revealed the provisional cause of death for those in the lorry was a combination of suffocation and overheating in an enclosed space, Essex Police said. A team of detectives investigating the deaths are in Vietnam to meet the victims' families. Lorry driver Maurice Robinson has previously admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property - namely cash. Expand Close A court sketch of lorry driver Maurice Robinson PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A court sketch of lorry driver Maurice Robinson The 25-year-old, of Laurel Drive in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, has yet to enter pleas to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit human trafficking and transferring criminal property. Co-defendant Christopher Kennedy, 23, from Darkley, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, has denied being involved in the alleged human trafficking plot and denied conspiring to assist unlawful immigration. A further hearing will take place on March 16 at the Old Bailey, with a provisional trial set for October 5. A 22-year-old man was arrested in Northern Ireland on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating unlawful immigration. He is currently in custody in Essex, the force said. Expand Close The container lorry in which 39 people were found dead (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The container lorry in which 39 people were found dead (Aaron Chown/PA) Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, was arrested at Frankfurt Airport on January 29 under a European Arrest Warrant and will appear at the Old Bailey on March 16, Essex Police said. He faces 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Eamonn Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Co Down, Northern Ireland, is wanted in the UK on 39 charges of manslaughter and charges of conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. BBC1 has commissioned writing duo Harry and Jack Williams brand new drama The Tourist for BBC One, produced by their production company Two Brothers Pictures (Baptiste, The Missing, Liar) in association with Stan which is also announced as the Australian co-commissioning partner, Highview Productions, all3media international and the South Australian Film Corporation. The show was ordered by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content. In the glowing red heart of the Australian outback, a British man is pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat and mouse chase unfolds and the man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Mans search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback. The Tourist is a character-driven mystery packed thriller, full of shocking, surprising, funny and brutal turns. Set in a world populated by quirky, enigmatic characters, off-beat black comedy punctuates high-stakes action. The six-episode series twists and turns through the dusty outback of Australia, to the frantic noise and lights of Singapore, and to the calm, luxury white-sand beaches of Bali. At its heart however, is a story of self-discovery with a ticking timebomb underneath: as The Man starts to uncover the mystery of who he was, hes also forced to ask who he is now and fast. Will he unlock the secrets of his identify before those who are trying to kill him catch up with him? Harry and Jack Williams, Writers and Managing Directors of Two Brothers Pictures said: The Tourist is a departure from anything weve written before. It isnt an easy show to categorise so we wont. We are, however, hugely excited to have Chris Sweeney on board as director, and to be making this for the BBC. Were thankful for their support of this ambitious project. Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, said: The Tourist has one of the boldest and most brain-twistingly brilliant conceits which thriller fans will have experienced in a long time. We are delighted to be home to this inspired and utterly original idea and cant wait to see how Jack, Harry and the exciting team at Two Brothers will bring it to life. Christopher Aird, Two Brothers Pictures Head of Drama, said: The Tourist has a very special tone which I think will surprise, shock and amuse by turns. Were really excited to be making this distinctive show for BBC One this year. CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation Kate Croser said: It is fantastic to see acclaimed South Australian producer Lisa Scott partner with the Emmy-award winning producers of Fleabag to bring this new series to SA. Nick Forward, Chief Content Officer at Stan said: The Tourist is such a unique story and were delighted to be partnering with BBC One, Two Brothers Pictures and the SAFC on this project. Filming will begin later this year and casting will be announced in due course. The Tourist is a Two Brothers Pictures (an all3media company) production for the BBC, in association with, Highview Productions, all3media international, the South Australian Film Corporation and Stan. The 660 drama has been written by Harry and Jack Williams (Baptiste, The Missing, Liar), who alongside Christopher Aird (Baptiste, Liar, Cheat) and Chris Sweeney (Back To Life, Liar) will serve as executive producers, for Two Brothers Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. Lisa Scott (The Hunting, Pine Gap) will produce and Chris Sweeney will direct. International sales will be handled by all3media international. Share this story Ashlee Brown suffered more than 100 injuries. The mother-of-three had been bound, gagged and had her long hair cut off A Muslim man who left his wife to die for five days after a horrific attack likened to an 'Islamic honour killing' believes he should not have to serve eight years for his crimes. Mohamed Naddaf will face Victoria's Court of Appeal - and his dead wife's mother - next month when he challenges the severity of that jail term. Naddaf's wife Ashlee Brown was found in the passenger seat of the family car after enduring a 'deliberate and frenzied assault' which included being tied up with clothesline wire. The 25-year-old mother of three children aged under five had been bashed, stabbed, gagged and had her long strawberry blonde hair cut off. Her 37-year-old husband told police he found Ashlee in that state and chose to 'care' for her in their house at Craigieburn in Melbourne's north rather than calling for help. Naddaf had helped his wife into their bathroom, put her down on a flannelette sheet on the floor and fed her water through a syringe for five days. He set up a television and heater and brought Ashlee a pillow as he tended to her wounds in what a court heard was their 'unkempt and dirty' home. Naddaf finally called emergency services after Ashlee died on November 6, 2016 from complications arising from more than 100 injuries. Ashlee's mother Siobhann believes her daughter's injuries and the circumstances of her death had 'all the hallmarks of an Islamic honour killing.' Ms Brown describes Naddaf's appeal as a slap in the face for her family, who may never know what really happened to Ashlee. It is not suggested Naddaf was involved in the attack on his wife. Mohamed Naddaf was sentenced to eight years' jail for the criminally negligent manslaughter of his wife Ashlee Brown in their Melbourne home. Ashlee had suffered more than 100 injuries. Naddaf is now appealing against the severity of that sentence in Victoria's Court of Appeal Siobhann Brown (pictured) had not heard from her eldest daughter Ashlee for five years when she learnt of her death. Ashlee had called to say she was converting to Islam to get married. Ms Brown believes her daughter's death had 'all the hallmarks of an Islamic honour killing' Ashlee Brown and Mohamed Naddaf (both pictured) lived together in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Ashlee was 25 when she was found dead on the bathroom floor of the couple's home Ms Brown said Naddaf had only been found responsible for not having called an ambulance for Ashlee and no one had ever been convicted of inflicting her injuries. 'The knowledge that Mohamed could have called for help and saved Ashlee's life but chose not to do so clearly should show how cold he really is,' Ms Brown said. A post-mortem examination found Ashlee had suffered injuries to her head, torso, buttocks and limbs. She had been stabbed in the thighs and had bruising to her right side, including her breast. Naddaf, who was trying to resuscitate Ashlee in front of their two-year-old daughter when paramedics arrived, told police: 'I honestly didn't think she was going to die.' He pleaded guilty to criminally negligent manslaughter and was sentenced in July 2018 to a minimum eight years in jail. Naddaf indicated last year he intended appealing against the severity of that sentence and the case has now been set down for hearing by three judges of Victoria's Court of Appeal. Ms Brown, who describes Naddaf's appeal as 'Mohamed's pity him day' says she will turn up to the hearing 'with bells on'. 'We still do not know exactly what happened to our Ashlee,' Ms Brown said. 'Nobody was ever charged with her murder. ''What Ashlee must have felt and endured is beyond anything anybody should ever have to go through but she did.' Ms Brown said Ashlee would have turned 29 on January 23. Five years after Ashlee Brown told her mother she was marrying Mohamed Naddaf (pictured) she was found dead in the couple's marital home. Naddaf pleaded guilty to manslaughter Siobhann Brown protesting outside court before Mohamed Naddaf was jailed for eight years 'Ashlee was a fun-loving girl,' Siobhann Brown told Daily Mail Australia of her child. 'She was giving. She was loving. She loved the sun, the beach. She loved singing, dancing, having fun' 'It is one thing to have to live through the nightmare of Ashlee's passing with no trial, no murder charge, but now the law allows him to appeal his sentence as he feels it is too excessive,' she said. 'Where is our Ashlee's appeal? Where is the reasoning? There isn't any. 'That is like slapping Ashlee's familys face and then laughing at us. That's how I feel. 'I can only hold fast and have faith that justice will prevail and he stays inside to carry out his entire sentence.' The Supreme Court heard Naddaf found his wife covered in blood from 'head to toe' but Justice John Champion found there was 'no explanation as to how and in whose hands she was treated so brutally.' Naddaf told detectives his wife had asked him not to call for help and he had warned her 'you're gonna die baby, you're gonna die.' Justice Champion said Naddaf's response was 'pathetically weak' and showed a 'gross lack of respect' for his wife. He did not accept Naddaf's claim that Ashlee asked him not to call for help in case their three children were taken by authorities. 'All that was required was a phone call,' Justice Champion said. 'Her death was slow, avoidable and miserable.' Siobhann Brown waves an Australian flag at a protest organised by the Australian Liberty Alliance outside the sentencing of Mohamed Naddaf over Ms Brown's daughter's death 'I'm not telling Ashley's story to make friends,' Siobhann Brown says of her daughter. 'I don't want to tell lies, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm telling Ashlee's story for it to be known' 'You left her to deteriorate and die before your own eyes and those of your children.' Police initially charged Naddaf with assault and false imprisonment. They later accused him of killing his wife, but then prosecutors withdrew the charges and agreed to let him plead guilty to manslaughter. HOW DID 25-YEAR-OLD ASHLEE BROWN DIE? Ashlee Brown was found dead on her bathroom floor at Craigieburn, in Melbourne's north, on November 6, 2016. Her husband Mohamed Naddaf, 37, told police he had found Ashlee bloodied and beaten in their garage four or five days earlier. Naddaf said he had 'cared' for Ashlee instead of calling an ambulance because she had not wanted help. A post-mortem examination found Ashlee had suffered more than 100 injuries to her head, torso, buttocks and limbs. She had been stabbed in the thighs and had bruising to her right side, including her breast. Naddaf was originally charged with assault and false imprisonment. He was later charged with killing his wife but then prosecutors withdrew the charges and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter based on negligence. Naddaf was not accused of causing any physical harm to Ashlee. He was sentenced to a minimum eight years' prison in July 2018. Advertisement Justice Champion said Naddaf's motivation for not acting to save his wife was unclear. The court heard Naddaf had a significant criminal history and was a long-term drug user - taking heroin, marijuana and ice. 'The Crown is not in a position to prove who inflicted the injuries upon Ms Brown,' Justice Champion said. 'It is not possible to say exactly when Ms Brown died but... she suffered to a considerable degree.' Naddaf was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years before being eligible for parole. He had already served 621 days in pre-sentence detention. Ms Brown has previously told Daily Mail Australia she had not heard from her eldest daughter since a phone call five years before she died. On that occasion her daughter told her she was marrying a Muslim man and was three months' pregnant with her first child. Ms Brown had met Naddaf when Ashlee visited the family's home in country Victoria when she was about 18. 'She introduced him as 'Macca',' Ms Brown said. 'It was very brief. 'He seemed like a nice, very polite, young man. It pains me to say that. I didn't see him again after that.' There was no communication for some time before a phone call came 'out of the blue' that would mean the end of all contact between Ms Brown and her daughter. Ashlee Brown, 25, was found dead on her bathroom floor with more than 100 blunt and sharp force injuries covering most of her body. She had been bound, gagged and had her hair cut off 'It's an absolute kick in the guts,' Ms Brown has said of Mohamed Naddaf's appeal against his sentence. 'It's such a shock, I couldn't believe it. The whole thing makes me physically sick' When Ashlee was about 20 she rang to say she was pregnant and wanted her mother's blessing to convert to Islam and marry Naddaf. 'She said to me, "Mum, I need your blessing to become Muslim". She said, "I'm three months' pregnant and I'm engaged to Mohamed. I would really like to marry him, mum, and settle down and have a baby". 'I said to her, "Darling, I don't know anything about the Muslim religion. As long as you know what you're doing". 'I said, "Do you have to wear one of those burqas or hijabs?' I didn't know what they were called". 'She said, "No mum, only when I go into the mosque because it's disrespectful for a woman to show her face before God". 'I said to Ashlee, "As long as you're making a fully informed decision and it's what you really want".' Ashlee said that it was. Siobhann Brown and her teenage daughter Dakota-Lee (right) both have an elaborate arm tattoo in memory of Ashlee(left). Mother and daughter want people to know how Ashlee died 'There was a pause after that,' Ms Brown said. 'She said, "Thank you, mum". And then her voice seemed to change and she said, "It's Islam". That didn't mean anything to me at the time. 'We said goodbye to each other and we hung up and I didn't hear from Ashlee again.' Ms Brown said she was convinced the lack of subsequent contact with Ashlee was solely down to her religious conversion and Naddaf controlling his wife. 'I believe Islam killed my daughter,' the 48-year-old said. 'If I could have taken that phone call back I would have not have given her my blessing. I would have said "No, sorry love". 'I'm not telling Ashlee's story to make friends. I don't want to tell lies, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm telling Ashlee's story for it to be known.' Ms Brown could not believe her daughter would willingly cease all contact with her mother and three siblings, who are now aged 13 to 23. She has never met Ashlee's three children who were aged aged three, two and six months old when their mother died. A spokesman for the Court of Appeal said Naddaf's appeal against his sentence would be heard by the Court of Appeal on March 2. Some of the Israeli reaction on Wednesday was equally unsparing of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile. The Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz, in condemning the publication, said Ms. Bachelets office had lost touch with reality. Israels mission in Geneva, home to Ms. Bachelets office, lamented that she had succumbed to pressure to publish the defamatory blacklist and had lost all credibility or ability to promote human rights in our region. Publication of the list would have profound consequences for Israels relations with the high commissioners office, the Israeli mission said. The Palestinian leadership, on the other hand, welcomed the move. Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said it enhances and consolidates the credibility of the Human Rights Council and international organizations in the face of the fierce attack and the intense pressure that the Trump administration places on these institutions. He said it was a crucial first step to restore hope in multilateralism and international law. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement welcomed publication of the list, describing it as a first significant and concrete step by any U.N. entity toward holding Israeli and international businesses to account for profiting from Israeli settlements. Publication of the list came a day after the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, denounced the Trump administrations plan for Middle East peace in an address at the U.N. in New York. The plan would allow Israel to annex about 30 percent of the West Bank, including all its settlements there, while offering the Palestinians chunks of territory connected by tunnels and bridges that they could call a state. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that he would be meeting Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao within next two days. Sawant told ANI that he would be meeting the Archbishop either on Thursday or Friday, depending on the appointment given by him (Archbishop). Goa Chief Minister, however, refused to reveal the agenda of the meeting and refused to comment on whether the meeting was in regard to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) "I am going to meet him, that is what it is," he said. The Chief Minister's decision to meet the Archbishop comes days after the religious leader issued a statement demanding to revoke CAA. In a statement, the Archbishop had appealed to the central government to "immediately and unconditionally revoke the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and desist from implementing the Registration of Citizens and the Population Register." The statement further read, "The very fact that CAA uses religion, goes against the secular fabric of the country. It goes against the spirit of our land which, since times immemorial, has been a welcoming home to all, founded on the belief that the whole world is one big family." 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.) AltMed Florida Dispensary Design Were pleased to be opening another MUV location in the Florida Panhandle, just a few weeks after opening in Tallahassee, in our tireless efforts to serve patients in all parts of our home state AltMed Florida continues to be one of the fastest growing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MMTC) in Florida (source: OMMU) with the upcoming grand opening of its 17th MUV Dispensary at 10 a.m. Saturday Feb.15 (pending final approvals) at 4785 North 9th Ave. in Pensacola, Florida. The new MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensary is located in the Birchwood area of Pensacola just east of Interstate 110 near the Cordova Mall, the largest shopping center in northwest Gulf Coast Florida. Were pleased to be opening another MUV location in the Florida Panhandle, just a few weeks after opening in Tallahassee, in our tireless efforts to serve patients in all parts of our home state, said AltMed Director of Corporate Affairs Todd Beckwith. During the grand opening, all licensed Florida medical cannabis patients will receive 25 percent off their entire first purchase and the first 100 patients will receive a MUV SWAG bag with their purchase. Patients can also order online at muvfl.com for express pickup or delivery. The Pensacola MUV Dispensary will offer an extensive selection of award-winning products including flower, pre-rolls, a wide range of vaporizer pens, metered dose inhalers, topicals, oral sprays, patent-pending encapsulation formulations in its Tinctures, 72-Hour Transdermal patches and transdermal gels. MUV is also recognized for having one of the widest selections of concentrates for patients needing macro-dosing options. Our dispensaries set the standard for quality products, service and overall patient experience at our current locations and were excited to offer our premium MUV medical cannabis brand to even more patients as we expand our presence throughout the state, said AltMed Florida CEO John Tipton. Our MUV dispensaries are unlike any in the state and were excited to invite licensed patients throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa and other surrounding counties to visit our newest state-of-the-art location in Pensacola. Like AltMed Floridas 16 other locations (Apollo Beach, Clearwater, Deerfield Beach, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville/San Marco, Jacksonville Beach, Lakeland, Longwood/Orlando, Lutz, Downtown Orlando, Sebastian, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and Wellington/West Palm), the new Pensacola MUV Dispensary stands out from others because its designed as a premium experience: think Apple Store, with a modern, open-concept design and expert staff with extensive training. The MUV brand already has a wide following in other legal medical cannabis markets, including Arizona, where it has won five Best of Arizona medical cannabis awards. MUV products are sold exclusively in Florida at MUV dispensaries because, unlike other states, Florida does not allow wholesale of product between license holders - only products that license holders make themselves can be sold in their dispensaries. For more information about the new ADA-compliant Pensacola MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensary, including hours and available MUV products, visit muvfl.com. AltMed Florida is on pace to open 40 MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensaries across the state, all supplied by its 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art cultivation facility. Visit this link for images of AltMed Floridas cultivation operations and watch this brief video to see what makes AltMed Florida and its MUV Medical Cannabis Dispensaries stand out. About Plants of Ruskin, LLC - d.b.a. AltMed Florida, LLC - With a focus on quality and attention to detail, Plants of Ruskin has more than 35 years of experience in providing seedlings to farmers for vegetable and medical product production. Plants of Ruskin founders, the Dickman Family, are 4th generation farmers with a long history of working in conjunction with the University of Florida, including an endowed chair specifically dedicated to plant improvement. About AltMed Enterprises - Alternative Medical Enterprises, LLC, headquartered in Sarasota, FL and doing business as AltMed Enterprises, is a fully integrated medical cannabis company that brings compassion, community engagement and pharmaceutical industry precision to the development, production and dispensing of medical cannabinoids. About MUV - The MUV brand of cannabis infused products was launched in Arizona in 2016 and quickly gained international attention and recognition. In its first six months alone, MUV received four best of Arizona medical cannabis awards, including two first prizes for its proprietary Ethanol extractions that are the basis of all MUV products. Forward-Looking Statements - To the extent any statements made in this press release contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking in nature and merely express our beliefs, expectations or opinions. For example, words such as may, should, estimates, predicts, continues, believes, anticipates, plans, expects, intends, potential, strategy and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations or estimates and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) our ability to implement our business strategy of distributing high quality cannabis products where permissible under applicable law; (ii) availability and cost of additional capital; (iii) our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees and management; (iv) the impact of federal, state or local government regulations; (v) competition in the cannabis industry; (vi) our ability to generate revenues; and (vii) litigation in connection with our business. All forward-looking statements included in this press release and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, regardless of whether new information becomes available, future developments occur or otherwise. I cant tell you how proud all of us here at Crown are of Dwayne. His dedication and vision continue to inspire us to reach new levels as individuals, and as a company. Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas are home to many prominent civic and business leaders. Each year, the Florida Council on Economic Education (FCEE) honors only a select few of those who contribute so much to these Tampa Bay Communities. This year Dwayne Hawkins, founder and CEO of Crown Automotive Group, is among those being honored for their years of dedication, leadership and resolve to give back to the Tampa Bay community. Im absolutely thrilled to see him honored, said Kevin Hawkins, Executive Director at Crown Automotive. My father has spent most of his life giving to our community. Seeing him recognized with so many great leaders here really means a lot to me, Dwayne and our family. The FCEE has been honoring local business leaders from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota counties for over 33 years. Those nominated and honored have formed the backbone of the dynamic and vibrant Tampa Bay area community in place today and serve as inspiration and examples for the leaders of tomorrow. Jim Myers, President and COO of Crown Automotive Group, added, I cant tell you how proud all of us here at Crown are of Dwayne. His dedication and vision continue to inspire us to reach new levels as individuals, and as a company. The award celebration will be co-chaired by Oscar Horton (class of 2010) and Darryl LeClair (class of 2015) and will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2020, at the Tampa Convention Center. ABOUT CROWN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP Over the last 50 years, Crown Automotive Group has grown into one of the largest privately-owned dealership groups in the nation with operations in Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee. Every Crown Automotive dealership features an extensive selection of new, certified, and meticulously inspected pre-owned vehicles with financing options for every budget. Customers can also expect superior service from a team of highly trained technicians at Crown's signature award-winning service facilities. Driven by four core values: Customer Focus, Teamwork, Integrity, and Growth, the group is committed to providing each customer with The Better Way To Buy for 50 years. Visit http://www.crowncars.com for more information on Crown Automotive Group and The Better Way To Buy. Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Raleigh. 2 seriously injured after vehicle crashes into broken-down car in Raleigh, police say Read the full story on WNCN. Former Raleigh, Wake officer bought a show horse, luxury home in fraud scheme Read the full story on The News & Observer. Raleigh animal control officer helps save abandoned ducks Read the full story on WFMY. Raleigh police abruptly end use of controversial facial recognition tech Read the full story on WRAL TV. Almost 500 without power in Raleigh after crash on New Bern Avenue Read the full story on WRAL TV. 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. Two people were seriously injured when a car crashed into a broken-down car Tuesday evening in Raleigh, police said. A former officer for the Raleigh Police Department and Wake County Sheriffs Office will serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and other charges. Raleigh Police say Officer Collishaw was able to pick one duck up, but the other ran off to a pond. The Raleigh Police Department has halted the use of a facial recognition app that appears to violate the agency's own internal policies, six months after it paid a tech startup for the service. HANOI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Vietnam has assigned the military to quarantine 950 Vietnamese returning from China, where the coronavirus epidemic has killed more than 420 people, state media reported on Tuesday. The 950 people will be isolated at two military camps outside Hanoi for at least 14 days, reported the official Voice of Vietnam Radio. The report didn't say when they will return to Vietnam, but said they will arrive at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi and Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh province. "During the time of quarantine, anyone of them showing symptoms of fever will be transferred to a hospital for treatment," the report cited Nguyen Viet Thang, Hanoi's military chief medic as saying. The government said last week that cross-border trade between Vietnam and China was "not encouraged" and on Sunday announced it would ban all flights to and from China over coronavirus concerns. Vietnam confirmed an additional case of the new coronavirus on Tuesday, the health ministry said, bringing the country's total to nine cases. (Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Michael Perry) YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Minister of territorial administration and infrastructures of Armenia Suren Papikyan met with Georgias minister of economy and sustainable development Natela Turnava in Tbilisi. We had a comprehensive talk with the Georgian minister of economy and sustainable development Natela Turnava about the energy cooperation and ongoing programs, Minister Papikyan said on Facebook. We both highlighted the energy transit significance of Armenia and Georgia in the region. In this context we recorded the existing achievements in the implementation of the Armenia-Georgia high-voltage electric transmission line and the Ddmashen sub-station construction program. The ministers also discussed transportation communication issues connected with the possibilities for railway alternative and obtaining ferries in the Black Sea port. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan KYODO NEWS - Feb 12, 2020 - 05:59 | All, World North Korea is believed to have been involved in exporting some 3.7 million tons of coal from January to August last year in defiance of U.N. resolutions, with more than 70 percent of it likely smuggled to China through ship-to-ship transfers, according to a diplomatic source. The value of the illicit coal trade during the period is estimated to be $370 million. About $280 million of the total was from coal shipped to China after being transferred from North Korean vessels to Chinese vessels at sea, the source said. Amid an escalating series of sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang, the U.N. Security Council in 2017 passed a measure banning key exports including coal in a bid to reduce funding for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The latest information on coal smuggling was included in an annual report on North Korea sanctions violations compiled by a panel of experts. According to the report, North Korea has continued to develop nuclear weapons with revenues earned through smuggling. The country has also strengthened and diversified its development of ballistic missiles. The illicit coal sales to China alleged in the report were worth roughly twice the $141 million released by Chinese customs authorities as the value of all goods imported from North Korea for the same eight-month period through August 2019. It also surpassed the $215 million China reported as its total imports in 2019 from North Korea. Following media reports of North Korea's coal-smuggling, the Chinese representative to the United Nations said in a statement that China is fulfilling its duties as set forth in the U.N. resolutions in a sincere manner. The ship-to-ship transfer of North Korean products has been criticized as a method of evading U.N. sanctions on the country. Related coverage: North Korea marks army's founding anniversary amid coronavirus woes Mother dies at 94 with daughter's return from North Korea unfulfilled N. Korea leader sends letter to China's Xi over anti-virus campaign Bong Joon Ho with the awards for best director and for best international feature film for "Parasite" at the Oscars on Sunday. Read more Although some folks were surprised by Sundays Academy Award wins for South Korean director Bong Joon Ho and his movie Parasite, you could see on Oscar night see that fellow nominees Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino were not among them. Both are movie buffs, familiar with Bongs impressive career, and clearly knew it was only a matter of time before his work was recognized on an international scale in fact, Parasite had already won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019. Also probably not surprised? Oscar winner Brad Pitt (best supporting actor for Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), who produced Bongs last movie Okja, released in 2017. Filmmakers and hard-core movie fans have been hip to Bong for years. Bongs other films have already received a good deal of recognition and praise from American critics and filmgoers, said Jae Won Edward Chung, assistant professor of Asian languages and cultures at Rutgers University and a Bong fan. Snowpiercer (2013) and Okja have A-list stars like Chris Evans and Jake Gyllenhaal, and The Host (2006) got rave reviews when it was released in the States. Theyre all worth checking out, he said, but for the uninitiated, he also recommends some of the directors early, lesser known work. "Most people probably havent heard of Barking Dogs Never Bite a quirky black comedy about a struggling academic trying to settle a score with a neighbors dog that wont stop yapping, he said. Its probably still my favorite film by Bong Joon Ho. It doesnt take itself as seriously as his later works, and yet it has these wonderfully observed everyday moments that really haunt you for a long time after its over. If you want to see Parasite and some of the directors previous movies, heres what to expect and how to find them: Parasite (2019). Two Korean families, one rich and one poor, intertwine in increasingly fraught ways as members of the lower-class family take jobs in the wealthy household. Starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, and Park So-dam. The movie is still in theaters, including the Ritz Five and Bryn Mawr Film Institute. You can also rent or buy on Amazon, Apple, FandangoNow, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube. Okja (2017). A Korean farm girl (Ahn Seo-hyun) lives in the mountains with a giant pig, who is removed and taken to New York, where an agribusiness CEO (Tilda Swinton) has sinister plans for the animal. The corporate agenda is undermined by animal rights activists (Paul Dano, Steven Yeun). Gyllenhaal is the TV celebrity mixed up in the ensuing media frenzy. Streaming on Netflix. Snowpiercer (2013). Survivors of a climate-engineering disaster hurtle through a frigid future inside a train, where a revolutionary (Chris Evans) tries to disrupt the rigid class hierarchy that exists on board. With Swinton, Ed Harris, and John Hurt. Streaming on Netflix. Mother (2009). An extremely twisted tale of a mother (Kim Hye-ja) who will do anything for her son, and a son (Won Bin) who will do anything for mom. As we see in the directors other films, family can be murder. You can rent or buy on Amazon, Apple, FandangoNow, Vudu, Tubi, and YouTube. The Host (2006). Chemicals dumped into a river produce a ravenous creature that preys upon local residents. A street vendor (Song Kang-ho) fights back when the thing abducts his daughter (Ko Ah-sung). A repertory classic that often turns up in midnight screenings and horror festivals. You can rent or buy on Amazon, Apple, FandangoNow, Google Play, Vudu, Tubi, and YouTube. Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000). Residents of an apartment complex turn on each other when one mans irritation at a noisy dog leads to an unpredictable sequence of retaliation and retribution. You can rent or buy on Amazon Apple, FandangoNow, Tubi and Vudu. Press Release February 12, 2020 Poll says many Filipinos dissatisfied with K-12; Gatchalian reiterates need for urgent reforms Almost half of Filipinos are dissatisfied with the K-12 program, revealed by Senator Win Gatchalian, who commissioned Pulse Asia to measure public satisfaction over the program's implementation. With 1,200 respondent-families nationwide, Gatchalian shared that 47 percent of Filipinos are not satisfied with K-12, 38 percent are satisfied, and 13 percent are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. Among those who expressed dissatisfaction with the program, 78 percent said that K-12 is an added cost, 40 percent said a high school diploma is not enough in getting a better job, 40 percent feared that two more years of high school will increase the drop-out rate, 39 percent cited the need for more classrooms and teachers, and 31 percent said that they would opt to have better education rather than just having more education. They also cited that students cannot work immediately or help their parents at once because of the additional two years in school. Furthermore, they share the view that companies prefer those who have finished college more than those who have only finished high school. When the K-12 program was enacted into law in 2013, it promised better employability for graduates of the senior high school (SHS) program. A 2018 survey by online portal JobStreet revealed, however, that out of 500 companies, only 24 percent are willing to hire K-12 graduates. "Kung susuriin natin ang opinyon ng taong bayan, makikita natin na hindi natutupad ng K-12 ang pangako nito. Ngunit hindi ang mismong programa ng K-12 ang may problema kundi ang pagpapatupad nito, kaya mahalagang mabigyan natin ng pansin ang mga repormang kinakailangan upang maiangat natin ang kalidad ng ating edukasyon," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. According to Gatchalian, the fastest way to improve the K-12 program is to decongest the curriculum. He says that the curriculum currently requires too many competencies, teachers and students found themselves having less time to teach and absorb the lessons. It also prevented students from having sufficient competence in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, which leads to continued presence of non-readers in higher grades. Teachers' readiness should also be given more focus, Gatchalian said, noting that teachers are not adequately equipped with the expertise required in teaching K-12 competencies. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the availability of quality and updated learning materials such as textbooks, Gatchalian added. Gatchalian recently filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry on the implementation of the K-12 program. The inquiry's findings are expected to guide policy recommendations and complementary legislation to ensure that the program meets its objectives. ### Mga pinoy hindi kuntento sa K-12; mga reporma sa edukasyon isinusulong ni Gatchalian Maraming mga Pilipino ang hindi kuntento sa pagpapatupad ng programang K-12. Ito ang lumabas sa isang Pulse Asia survey para suriin ang pananaw ng taong bayan sa naturang programa. Ayon sa mahigit isang libong (1,200) respondents ng isinagawang survey, halos limampung (47) porsyento ng mga Pilipino ang hindi kuntento sa K-12. Halos apatnapung (38) porsyento naman ang nagsasabing kuntento sila, at labintatlong (13) porsyento naman ang hindi sigurado kung kuntento nga ba sila o hindi. Sa mga nagsabing hindi sila kuntento sa programa, halos walumpung (78) porsyento ang nagsasabing dagdag gastos ang karagdagang dalawang taon sa high school. Apatnapung (40) porsyento naman ang nagsasabing hindi sapat ang high school diploma upang magkaroon ng sapat na trabaho, at mahigit tatlumpung (31) porsyento naman ang nagsasabing mas nais nilang makatanggap ng dekalidad na edukasyon imbes na karagdagang taon ng pag-aaral. Apatnapung (40) porsyento rin ang nangangambang tataas ang drop-out rate dahil sa K-12, at halos apatnapung (39) porsyento rin ang nagsasabing nangangailangan pa ang mga paaralan ng karagdagang silid-paaralan at guro. Noong isinabatas ang K-12 taong 2013, ipinangako ng programa na madaling magkakaroon ng trabaho ang mga makakatapos ng senior high school. Ngunit ayon sa isang survey na isinagawa ng JobStreet noong 2018 sa limang-daang (500) kumpanya, wala pang tatlumpung (24) porsyento ang handang tumanggap sa mga nagtapos ng K-12. "Kung susuriin natin ang opinyong ito ng taong-bayan, makikita natin na hindi natutupad ng K-12 ang pangako nito. Ngunit hindi ang mismong programa ng K-12 ang may problema kundi ang pagpapatupad nito, kaya naman mahalagang mabigyan natin ng pansin ang mga repormang kinakailangan upang maiangat natin ang kalidad ng ating edukasyon," pahayag ni Gatchalian na Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Ayon kay Gatchalian, ang pag-reporma sa curriculum ang pinakamabilis na hakbang upang ayusin ang programang K-12. Dahil sa dami ng kailangang pag-aralan sa ilalim ng curriculum, kulang na ang panahon ng mga guro at mag-aaral upang lubos na maunawaan ang kanilang mga aralin. Dagdag ni Gatchalian, kailangan ding tutukan ang kakayahan ng mga guro. Ibinahagi ni Gatchalian ang naging karanasan ng mga guro, kung saan hindi sila nabibigyan ng sapat na training para sa K-12. Ani Gatchalian, isa pang isyu na kailangang tutukan ang pagkakaroon ng mga dekalidad at napapanahong mga kagamitan tulad na lamang ng mga textbook. Kamakailan ay naghain si Gatchalian ng isang resolusyong magpapatawag ng isang pagdinig hinggil sa pagpapatupad ng programang K-12. Anumang resultang makukuha sa pagdinig ay inaasahang gagabay sa anumang polisiya sa sektor ng edukasyon para siguruhing natutupad ang layuning mabigyan ng dekalidad na edukasyon ang mga mag-aaral. ### Its Black History Month, folks. In honor of this annual remembrance and celebration, were taking the opportunity to reflect on all of the incredible contributions African-American writers have made to literature and our society as a whole. Thats why were picking up these 11 new (and new-ish) books by some of the most incredible Black authors writing today. RELATED: 13 Podcasts That Can Help Us Learn About Race and Racism in America 1. BLACK FUTURES EDITED BY KIMBERLY DREW AND JENNA WORTHAM Edited by art curator and writer Drew (This Is What I Know About Art) and New York Times writer and Still Processing podcast co-host Wortham, this collection of images, essays, memes, dialogues, recipes, tweets and more tells the story of the radical, imaginative, provocative and beautiful world that Black creators are bringing forth today, and what it means to be Black and alive right now. With contributions from Kiese Laymon, Solange Knowles and more, the book features content ranging from an ode to Sandra Bland to recipes for fried pig ears, for snackin and coconut sweetbread. Buy the book 2. PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER: THE FEAR-FIGHTER MANUAL BY LUVVIE AJAYI JONES Theres a strong chance you know Ajayi Jones from her witty Instagram, her previous New York Times bestseller or her incredible TED talk. Add to the list: Her new book, Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual, slated to be released next month. Like a self-help book minus the corniness, Professional Troublemaker covers what we have to get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us; how to use our voices for a greater good; and how to put movement to the voice we've been silencing. Buy the book 3. THE PURPOSE OF POWER: HOW WE COME TOGETHER WHEN WE FALL APART BY ALICIA GARZA In 2013, Garza wrote what she calls a love letter to Black people on Facebook, in the aftermath of the acquittal of the man who murdered 17-year old Trayvon Martin. One of the creators of Black Lives Matter, her first book is an essential guide to building the type of movements that can address the challenges of our time. She offers reflections on how making room amongst the woke for those who are still waking can inspire and activate more and more people to join the fight for the world we all deserve. Story continues Buy the book 4. YOULL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO LACEY: CRAZY STORIES ABOUT RACISM BY AMBER RUFFIN AND LACEY LAMAR Written by Late Night with Seth Meyers Ruffin and her sister Lamar, Youll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey is about the sisters everyday experiences with racismboth subtly casual and overt. From strangers putting their whole hand in Laceys hair to being mistaken for a prostitute (or for Harriet Tubman), Ruffin and Lamar tackle modern-day racism with the perfect balance of levity and gravity. Buy the book 5. TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM BY YAA GYASI This knock-out novel follows a Ghanaian family in Alabama, narrated by its daughter, a PhD candidate at Stanford studying reward-depression and addiction (after her brother died of a heroin overdose after an ankle injury left him hooked on OxyContin). It's a deeply moving portrait of a family of immigrantsand faith, science, religion and lovewhose experiences are far from the so-called American Dream. (It's also an important reflection of what it's like to be a Black woman in science.) Buy the book 6. IDA B. THE QUEEN: THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LEGACY OF IDA B. WELLS BY MICHELLE DUSTER Journalist, educator and activist Ida B. Wells was born enslaved in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1862. In this biography, Duster tells the incredible story of Wells's life, from stories of her childhood in Mississippi, to her refusal to give up her seat on a ladies' train car in Memphis to her later work as a pioneering journalist and anti-lynching crusader. Called a dangerous negro agitator by the FBI, and a brave woman by Frederick Douglass, Wells changed the course of American history and continues to inspire millions. Buy the book 7. How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays by Kiese Laymon Originally published in 2013, this new edition of award-winning author Laymon's (Heavy: An American Memoir) first work of nonfiction includes six new essays which draw heavily on his family's experiences in the South. From an interview with his mother to reflections on Ole Miss football, Laymon's essays are candid, whip-smart and unforgettable. As one of our other favorite writers, Roxane Gay, notes, "I first encountered Kiese Laymon's writing when I read How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. I was stunned into stillness." Buy the book 8. FINNA: POEMS BY NATE MARSHALL Here's how author Nate Marshall defines his latest collection of poems: fin-na /fin/ contraction: (1) going to; intending to rooted in African American Vernacular English] (2) eye dialect spelling of "fixing to" (3) Black possibility; Black futurity; Blackness as tomorrow. Finna examines Black vernaculars influence on pop culture and its necessity for familial survival, while exploring the erasure of Black lives and other oppressed people in the American narrative and asking how gendered language can provoke violence. Buy the book 9. BE ANTIRACIST BY IBRAM X. KENDI The author of the New York Times bestselling book, How to Be An Antiracist, Kendi has long pointed us toward new ways of thinking about ourselves and our society. Antiracism, though, is not a destination, but a journeyone that takes deliberate, consistent work. Be Antiracist is an essential roadmap for this journey, with more that 150 original prompts, questions and quotes from the bestselling book that will help you consider your personal history with race and new ways of thinking about ourselves and our society. Buy the book 10. HOOD FEMINISM BY MIKKI KENDALL This powerful essay collection tackles the intersection of race and feminism, with Kendall arguing that the feminism many women know only benefits a specific type of female. Here, she asserts the feminist movement and its participants need to face issues like guns, incarceration and hungerand how the fate of Black women is the fate of feminism itself. Buy the book 11. LUSTER: A NOVEL BY RAVEN LEILANI This absolutely unsettling (in a good way) first novels tracks three charactersEdie, a young, Black assistant in a publishing house, the older white man shes having an affair with and that older, white mans over-achieving white wife. Eventually, Edie moves in with the coupleand things only get weirder from there. Buy the book RELATED: 13 Movies to Stream on Hulu for Black History Month PureWow may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from PureWow's editorial and sales departments. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Joseph Scott Pemberton, the US Marine convicted of killing transgender Jennifer Laude, should be transferred to the New BIlibid Prison following the termination of the Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement with the foreign state, a lawyer said Tuesday. I hope after the six month period, and the VFA has finally been terminated, that he will be finally moved to Muntinlupa where he belongs together with the Ampatuans and other killers, Atty. Harry Roque, who has served as the legal counsel of the Laude family, told CNN Philippines The Source on Wednesday. Pemberton was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison after he was found guilty in the 2014 murder. Laude was found lifeless neck blackened with strangulation marks and head rammed into a toilet in an Olongapo City motel room after a night out with Pemberton in October of that year. READ: Revisiting the Jennifer Laude murder case The American soldier has been detained at the custodial center in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City an area Roque labeled as a golden cage pursuant to provisions of the 1998 military deal. But with the notice of termination on the table, Roque said Pembertons move to the state penitentiary should now be pursued. The only reason why he's being kept in that golden cage is because of the VFA. Without the VFA, he should be treated like all other prisoners, convicted felons, and sent to Muntinlupa, Roque added. In previous conversations with reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Pemberton should remain in custody of a local court, as the Philippines already acquired jurisdiction over him. Panelo said this will not be affected by the possible termination of the VFA. After repeated calls from the chief executive, the Philippine government on Tuesday finally sent the United States its notice to terminate the two-decade military pact. Expiration of the agreement, however, will come 180 days from the formal notification. READ: US Defense Chief says ending VFA a 'wrong' move amid China aggression VFA termination not a loss to PH Despite warnings that the move may result to cuts in international financial assistance, Roque maintained the VFA would not be a huge loss for the country. We did argue that it was unconstitutional because Americans did not bother to treat it as a treaty without Senate concurrence, the former Palace spokesperson said. The VFA is the first of two agreements between Washington and Manila about the treatment of their troops when they are in the US or the Philippines. Among the provisions of the deal include lax visa and passport policies for US troops, and rights of US government to retain jurisdiction over military personnel, among others. Addressing issues on the formality of the termination, Roque said theres no need for Senate approvalas the VFA is only an implementing agreement to a treaty. Since it is not a treaty, then it does not require Senate concurrence. The confusion here is just because the Philippine Senate gave its concurrence to the VFA does not make it a treaty, he said. DECATUR Police say a Decatur man was cut by a man who held him at knife point while demanding money. Decatur police Sgt. Chris Copeland said officers were sent to HSHS St. Mary's Hospital at 7:01 p.m. Tuesday where the 35-year-old victim was being treated for minor knife wounds he received at his residence in the 2200 block of East Eldorado Street. Police said the suspect was allowed entry into the residence by the victim's roommate. The suspect left for about a half hour and returned appearing to be under the influence of drugs, Copeland said. He said the victim's roommate left the residence shortly after, leaving the suspect and victim alone together, when suddenly the suspect asked for $20. After the victim said he didn't have the money, the suspect pulled out a knife and held it to the victim's neck while threatening to kill him, according to Copeland. Police said the victim was able to get away, but did suffer a cut on his right thumb and a laceration measuring 8 to 10 inches on his left arm. An unknown white male then entered the residence, which seemed to calm the suspect down, and the victim gathered his belongings and left, police said. The case is currently under investigation by the Decatur Police Department. FROM THE ARCHIVES: 10 infamous Central Illinois crimes Contact Garrett Karsten at (217) 421-6949. Follow him on Twitter: @GarrettKarsten Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Seasonal rains cause deadly floods and widespread damage in northern and western Bolivia. Civil defence authorities in Bolivia reported on Tuesday that eight people died after heavy rains, floods and mudslides hit swathes of the country. Torrential downpours caused rivers to overflow in the departments of La Paz, Santa Cruz, Potosi, Beni, Cochabamba and Tarija. According to reports, some 250 families have been affected by the floods. Local media reported that mudslides levelled at least 50 homes. In the aftermath, desperate residents scoured their destroyed homes for belongings. This follows a wet weekend in Peru where heavy rain pounded northern and western parts of the country, causing rivers to burst their banks and highways to flood. Rain battered the northern town of Tumbes, 1017 kilometres (632 miles) north of Lima, near the Ecuador border. Streets were flooded, cutting off traffic in many parts. In Junin, 204km (127 miles) east of the capital city of Lima, the rain triggered mudslides causing widespread damage. Many fields were flooded and both the Canchamayo and Perene rivers overflowed. A resident of Junin complained that emergency services personnel did not respond to calls for help during the worst of the storms which occurred overnight. Last night, we were all asking for help but no one came. We called citizen security; we called civil defence nothing, nothing. They didnt come until morning when a neighbours wall fell, he said. Peru is in the midst of its rainy season, which usually extends through April. Similarly, Bolivias wet season runs from November until March. 1st mountain lion killed by landowner under California law, officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A radio-collared mountain lion living in the western Santa Monica Mountains has been shot and killed by a landowner, the first under a California law that allows the "specially protected" species to be killed if it harms pets or livestock. The cougar, known as P-56, was fatally shot on Jan. 27 after a property owner who had lost a dozen animals received a depredation permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service said in a press release Monday. The hunting of mountain lions, which are designated by the state as a "specially protected mammal," has been banned in California since 1990. However, a property owner can request a depredation permit to kill the large cat if it has killed or injured livestock or pets, according to the National Park Service. MORE: California man sentenced to 30 days in jail for fatally shooting protected mountain lion In December 2017, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife implemented a "three-strike" policy that adds protection to the cougar populations in the Santa Monica Mountains and the Santa Ana Mountains, where there is another isolated at-risk population. In these areas, a landowner must first use non-lethal means to deter the mountain lion before a depredation permit is issued, according to the National Park Service. PHOTO: This April 7, 2017, photo released by the National Park Service shows P-56, a young male mountain lion that roams the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California. (National Park Service via AP) The property owner in this instance had nine depredation incidents resulting in the loss of 12 animals over two years. Even though the incidents involving P-56 took place beyond the boundary of the current geographic area for the three-strikes policy, the landowner implemented measures "including bringing in as many livestock as possible, penning any remaining livestock close to the barn and houses, and utilizing trained guard dogs, hot wire fencing, motion activated lights and auditory (radio) hazing," the National Park Service said in the press release, citing officials at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who had investigated the depredation incidents. Story continues MORE: California man facing criminal charges for fatal shooting of protected mountain lion P-56, a 4-to-5-year-old male cougar that roamed the most western end of the Santa Monica Mountains, was first caught and collared with a GPS-tracking device in April 2017. He's believed to have fathered a litter of four kittens in July 2018. PHOTO: This April 7, 2017, photo from video released by the National Park Service shows P-56, a young male mountain lion that roams the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California. (National Park Service via AP) Mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains have been a part of a nearly 18-year-long study by the National Park Service that looks at how the small population is faring in a highly fragmented region. Although the National Park Service is conducting research on the local cougar population, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for managing the state's wildlife, including mountain lions. MORE: Inside the legal lion bone trade With the killing of P-56, there is now only one adult male mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains that the National Park Service is tracking as part of its research. The loss of a breeding male is a concern for the study, especially when the population is already very small, Jeff Sikich, the study's lead field biologist, said in a statement Monday. There are always animals out there that are not being tracked." The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has a number of recommendations on its website for keeping cougars wild and eliminating depredations, such as confining livestock in a full enclosure at night, using properly trained guard dogs and keeping domestic pets indoors at night or, if outside, keeping them in a mountain lion-proof enclosure. Lawyers for Katie Brennan who sued the state in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving a former campaign operative for Gov. Phil Murphy say talks aimed at settling the highly charged case have failed, and now seek to proceed to trial. In a state Superior Court filing Tuesday night, Brennans attorneys said despite having engaged in mediation in good faith over many months, no agreement has been reached, nor is one likely. In that filing, Kathryn McClure, who represents Brennan, also said the Murphy for Governor Campaign, which is a defendant in the lawsuit, has yet to sign an order specifically releasing campaign workers from non-disclosure agreements that they signed , which could effectively silence them as witnesses in the case. Paul Josephson, an attorney for Murphys 2017 campaign, said he had only just seen the filing and declined comment. McClure said only she would let the papers speak for themselves. Brennan, now chief of staff to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, has alleged that she was assaulted in her apartment by Albert J. Alvarez during the 2017 gubernatorial race, following an after-hours gathering of campaign workers at a Jersey City bar that April. The former head of Latino and Muslim outreach for the governors campaign, Alvarez later served as deputy director of personnel for the Murphy transition, and was chief of staff to the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. He was forced to leave his job with the administration after Brennan went public with her allegations. Alvarez has denied the charges and has filed his own counterclaim against Brennan. In her lawsuit, Brennan accused the governors campaign and the state of failing to take action after she reported what had happened to her. It charged administration officials with bungling their response to her rape allegation by violating her confidentiality, failing to inform her of her rights, and failing to investigate her claims. In addition, she is also suing Alvarez for unspecified damages. Alvarez in an interview last year with NJ Advance Media said he was wrongfully terminated by the state. He was never criminally charged by authorities after Brennans allegations were investigated by prosecutors in Hudson and Middlesex counties. He has told investigators that what happened between the two was consensual. Last summer, all sides in the Brennan case agreed to submit to voluntary mediation in an effort to reach a settlement. But McClure in her filing said that mediation has failed to produce an acceptable resolution, nor does a potentially mutually agreeable resolution appear likely at this time. Alvarezs attorney on Tuesday evening did not respond to a request for comment. With the apparent collapse of settlement talks, McClure sought a schedule to begin discovery and depositions in the case in advance of trial. Meanwhile, she separately sought a court resolution to an apparent ongoing dispute over the non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, that were signed by workers during the Murphy campaign. In earlier filings, Brennans attorneys said those gag orders prevented at least five women from speaking publicly about what was described as the discriminatory, harassing and retaliatory work environment in the campaign. Last month, Murphy said publicly that former campaign workers who claim they have been legally prohibited from talking about what they experienced during the gubernatorial race were free to speak their minds about workplace issues on the campaign. But in her letter to the court, McClure noted that the announcement did not mention the NDAs, and that lawyers for the governors campaign have not agreed to sign a consent order that would specifically address the restrictions of the agreements signed by Brennan and others. The attorney said there was no reason why the campaign would refuse to sign that consent order, unless, of course, the campaign intends to continue to enforce NDAs including that which Ms. Brennan signed. Late in the day on Wednesday, meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the governor reiterated there was nothing stopping campaign workers from speaking about their work environment. "As the governor has previously said, all campaign employees are absolutely free to speak about their workplace experiences including at trial and only discussion of proprietary information, such as campaign strategy, is prohibited. Campaign attorneys have confirmed this in writing to Ms. Brennans legal counsel, said Caitlin Mota. NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio 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. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Ever since winning a spot on the Board of Supervisors by a landslide just over a year ago, Supervisor Matt Haney has quickly established himself as one of the most visible and outspoken public officials in San Francisco. As the District Six supervisor for such neighborhoods as the Tenderloin, South of Market and Civic Center, Haney oversees one of the most troubled swaths of San Francisco. In the past year, he has approached the job with boundless energy and a laser-like focus on the citys most pressing issues: homelessness, mental health and drug addiction. While his supporters applaud his stamina, his critics say he has stoked division in City Hall by constantly dressing down city leaders, claiming they are ineffective. His criticisms of mayoral departments are often perceived as a rebuke of the mayor herself. And as his name recognition grows, a chorus of San Francisco political observers are pondering another question: Does Matt Haney have his eyes on the mayors office? In an interview with The Chronicle, Haney objected to speculation of his political ambitions: I'm not thinking about that at all, he said. Im doing the job that I have right now and working to keep the promises that I made to to the residents of District Six. For years, District Six has been the epicenter of San Franciscos homelessness, mental health and drug crises. Haney says his constituents expect him to focus on one job at a time. I don't think I was elected to come in here and be nice to city bureaucrats and the department heads, he said. I was elected to come in here and get them to do their jobs. Jim Ross, a longtime political consultant, said it makes sense that Haney is focused on the citys most pressing issues. His district is really ground zero for a lot of issues, he said. His work on that is going to put him out in front, naturally. Still, his first year on the Board of Supervisors filled with a stream of legislation and a spirited presence on social media suggests his aspirations may stretch far beyond the districts borders. Thats not even a question, said Del Seymour, a longtime Tenderloin activist, when asked whether Haney seemed like he was seeking higher office. With Breed barely a month into her first full term as mayor, some political observers said it was too soon to guess who might take her on in the next election. But the mayor and her staff appear to be sizing Haney up as a potential rival. The mayor was just sworn in for a four-year term a month ago, and we are focused on addressing the very real challenges facing our city, especially around housing and homelessness, said Jeff Cretan, a spokesman for the mayors office. We will continue to work with the members of the board to advance solutions to address these issues, he said. Randy Shaw, director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, and a reliable Breed supporter, said the mayors staff members think Haney is readying for a run. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Before becoming a supervisor, Haney was a longtime school board member whod worked at a social justice nonprofit and taught law and sociology. During his tenure, Haney and other board members have been deeply critical of the Department of Public Health, the Juvenile Justice Department and Public Works. Everything that Im doing is to make changes happen up against a bureaucracy that is continuing to fail my district, Haney said. Over just the past few months, Haney has pushed forward legislation to overhaul the citys mental health care system and is readying a November ballot measure to break up Public Works into two departments. But in following his political instincts to seize the spotlight, Haney has stumbled at times. After sparring for months with Public Works over street cleaning, Haney called for the ouster of its powerful director, Mohammed Nuru, after Nuru was charged with fraud this month. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle But Haney had to walk back his remarks after an organization that represents government managers said he may have been flirting with official misconduct. The citys Charter forbids supervisors from influencing hiring and firing decisions. Haney later tweeted that so much time and energy had been expended trying to prevent me from speaking out about Nuru. Privately, members of Breeds staff fumed at Haneys outspokenness on the issue. Its great that Matt is pushing on a lot of fronts. But since the Nuru thing, hes been a little more combative than strategic, said Shaw. The notion has been that Nuru did all this and it connects to London Breed and her administrations culture. Its perceived by her people as Matts running for mayor. Breeds public response to Haneys criticisms has been generally muted. And while both Haney and Breeds office say theyre always willing to work together, the friction is clear. Last week, Haney said he received no heads-up before Breed announced a plan to open a sobering center for methamphetamine users in his district. Shaw said keeping Haney in the dark about the proposal meant Tenderloin residents also werent informed about an important development in their community. Were in an unfortunate dynamic where the mayor thinks getting back at him requires the disenfranchisement of the Tenderloin, he added. Meanwhile, some legislation sponsored by Haney has made a splash in City Hall, but also rankled the mayor. Perhaps the most notable was Mental Health SF, a sweeping plan to overhaul the citys behavioral health care system. He spearheaded the proposal with Supervisor Hillary Ronen. The plan rankled Breed and the Department of Public Health, who say they werent consulted in the plans creation. Breed and the department then came up with their own competing plan, which they said was more realistic. 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. In the end, they compromised, but Ronen and Haney argued the overhaul wouldnt have happened without their leadership. Ronen praised Haneys work ethic. I get texts from him early in the morning and late at night with ideas and worries and frustrations about what is going on. Weve shared similar struggles to get departments to be responsive, she said. Among his colleagues, Haney was behind only Supervisor Aaron Peskin in the number of pieces of legislation sponsored in 2019. Some of the proposals called out the executive branch for what he sees as ineffective leadership. For example, he tried and failed to get a measure on the November ballot to create an oversight commission for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. The proposal frustrated Breed, who argued it would increase bureaucracy. Blanchard; John Now Haney is fighting to get a homeless shelter in every district that doesnt have one a response to the majority of homeless resources landing in his district. But some of his board colleagues are not thrilled. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Haneys supporters say he is genuinely fighting for the needs of his district. Seymour, the Tenderloin activist, said over his 37 years working in the neighborhood, he has never seen a supervisor out on the streets as much as Haney. We see him in the Tenderloin daily, which I have never seen with a supervisor, he said. Privately, Haney's critics claim he offers a lot of empty bluster hearings and task forces that have yielded few tangible results. Haney rebukes the criticism that he is too active, but doesnt deliver change. I could write legislation to basically micromanage everything that every department is doing. Nobody wants me to do that. Instead I'm trying to force them to actually be responsible and accountable, and wherever I have the opportunity, I will legislate, Haney said. Jason McDaniel, a political scientist at San Francisco State University, said Haneys status as a newcomer in San Francisco politics has given him the freedom to call out the so-called establishment. He is active, McDaniel said. But Ive been wondering if its because Im on Twitter a lot and so is he or if its something else. Dominic Fracassa and Trisha Thadani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com, tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa, @TrishaThadani KERRVILLE, Texas, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a family-owned jewelry retailer based in Texas, announces the relocation of its store at Northwood Plaza to The Arboretum in Austin on Wednesday, February 26 at 9777 Great Hills Trail, Austin, Texas 78759. "We have been in business in Northwood Plaza for more than 40 years and are grateful to our customers for supporting us through the years," said James Avery, Vice President of Architectural Design, Howell Ridout. "Our move to The Arboretum gives us the opportunity to offer our guests an enhanced and enjoyable shopping experience." The Arboretum location is James Avery's fourth Discovery Center and Store and it will offer the Avery Handbag Collection, special edition Designs from our Archives, a Create Your Own Art Glass Charm station, personalized embossable leather goods and a convenient Buy Online Pick-up In Store drive-through window. Guests are invited to register for gift card drawings of $50, $100 or $500 to be held during the grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 7. The first 300 guests receive a special gift with purchase. The current Northwood Plaza store is open for business through 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 25 and the new Arboretum store opens Wednesday, February 26 at 10 a.m. The store is under the direction of Manager Colleen Ellison and store hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. About James Avery Artisan Jewelry James Avery is a vertically integrated, family-owned company located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. We offer finely crafted jewelry designs for men and women in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold, gemstones and leather handbags. James Avery jewelry is designed by our own skilled artisans in Kerrville, Texas. We are a multi-channel retailer with 93 James Avery stores in five states. Our jewelry is also available in more than 220 Dillard's stores in Texas and 28 additional states, airport stores in Austin and Houston, Army and Air Force Exchange Service locations at Fort Hood and Fort Belvoir and nationwide through JamesAvery.com. James Avery crafts jewelry in Texas workshops in Comfort, Fredericksburg, Hondo and Kerrville, made of the finest materials sourced worldwide. For more information, visit JamesAvery.com or Facebook.com/JamesAvery. About the Drawings Odds of winning depend on total number of entries received. Thirty James Avery gift cards will be awarded: twenty-four $50 gift cards, three $100 gift cards and three $500 gift cards. Entries accepted February 26 through March 7. Hourly drawings held March 7, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. during the Grand Opening celebration at the James Avery Artisan Jewelry store at The Arboretum. No purchase necessary. Must be at least 13 years old to enter. Only one entry per person per day. Winners not eligible to win a subsequent gift card in the same promotion. Winners need not be present to win; however, if prize is not claimed within 14 days of drawing, prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. Associates and immediate family members not eligible for this gift card promotion. SOURCE James Avery Artisan Jewelry Related Links http://www.JamesAvery.com When children with ADHD dont take their medication, the symptomsdifficulty sustaining attention, impulsiveness, and sometimes physical restlessness and hyperactivityre-emerge, particularly in younger children. New research, led by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Australia and published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, shows that children with ADHD were going without treatment 40 percent of the timewhich could make it difficult for them to focus in class and work with their teachers and classmates. In the Australia-based study, associate professor Daryl Efron, the studys lead author, said medication use was relatively high in the first few months, then progressively decreased, only increasing again after five or six years of treatment. Previously published studies from other countries, including the United States, have found generally similar results. This does make it more difficult for caregivers and teachers to work with these children, but more importantly makes it difficult for the children to engage well in the school work and other activities, and to get along calmly and happily with their friends, Efron wrote in an email to Education Week. In the United States, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act forbids school personnel from requiring students to take prescribed medication or establish it as a condition for eligibility for special education services. And for families with school-age children, there are many potential barriers to consistent medication useincluding access to transportation and scheduling of medical appointments, school nurses and school nurse supervisors told Education Week. Theres still a stigma around ADHD, said Clayton Wetzel III, the 2017 Vermont school nurse of the year. But pretending your child doesnt have it or saying, Yeah, they might have it, but I dont want them to take medication, is not the best approach, he said. In Australia, school nurses are not very involved in the management of children with ADHD, Efron said, because many children on ADHD medication take once-daily doses given in the mornings, so the nurses do not need to administer another dose at lunchtime or midday. Laurie G. Combe, the president of the National Association of School Nurses has observed a similar trend in U.S. schools, but said that nurses here still play a role, along with teachers and administrators in evaluating whether students are receiving the appropriate medication. There are times when medication is not right and you can [address ADHD] through other means, said Wetzel, the school nurse at Waitsfield Elementary School in the Harwood Unified schools in Vermont. But in some cases, medication really is the thing. Wetzel has seen firsthand children who become more focused students after taking medication, he said. Kids become lost in class and disinterested and then they take even the lowest dose and all of a sudden they can focus, Wetzel said. It can help them not just in class, but overall socially and emotionally. The Australia study of more than 3,500 children looked at all redeemed ADHD prescriptions of the three medicinesmethylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin), dexamphetamine, and atomoxetineby participants in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The results revealed that boys were four times more likely to be prescribed ADHD medication than girls. For families with school-age children, there are many potential barriers to consistent medication useincluding access to transportation and scheduling of medical appointments, said Kate King, the director of health, family, and community services for the Columbus, Ohio, school system and a former school nurse. The Australia study also found that children from socially disadvantaged families who were prescribed ADHD medication were less likely to consistently take it because it can be more difficult to attend medical appointments, pay for appointments to get prescription refills, and miss work to attend appointments. People start [the medication], but because its a controlled substance, parents actually have to go get a prescription in their hand and take it to the pharmacy every month, said Kate King, the director of health, family, and community services for the Columbus, Ohio, school system and a former school nurse. Well, thats hard. Its really hard. The Columbus, Ohio, schools use 11 school-based health centers to help families get their childrens medication on a regular basis. With the health centers, parents can stop in to get their childs prescription when they drop off or pick up their children, King said. During her time as a school nurse, King said that rather than focusing solely on whether children were taking the medication, she partnered with families to ensure the medication worked for their children. So often people just stop taking it and they dont feel [comfortable] to back to their physician and say, Hey, this isnt working, King said. Some meds work for some kids and other meds work for other kids. King encourages the school nurses under her charge to do the same and, if granted approval by families, to connect directly with health-care providers. If we have a release, we can say, The parents arent seeing it work and were not seeing it work. So, can we try something else, King said. In some cases, that something else may not even be medication. The study found that almost 4 percent of families never redeemed their prescription for ADHD medication. I dont preach that medication is the best thing, but if medication is, let the school nurse be a part of that solution, Wetzel said. Even parents that have been hedging on whether or not they want to do medication, theyre sometimes more willing to listen to the school nurse than their doctor because they have a personal relationship with that school nurse. Wetzel works with teachers to collect information that may be helpful for doctors prescribing the medication or in determining whether students should be evaluated for ADHD, such as: Are students consistently making careless mistakes on their schoolwork? Are they listening when spoken to directly? Are they completing assignments? We see them much more often than their providers do. Its about making sure the doctors are in touch with what the parents are seeing, what the students are seeing, and the what the teacher sees, Wetzel said. The students are important too. If they have no appetite, or if theyre feeling [unusual], or its under-stimulating to the point where they just dont have energy, they need a different medication. As he rallies support for his reelection in November, President Donald Trump is closer than ever to delivering on his promise for a United States with taller walls, tighter immigration laws and fewer foreigners entering the country. In the past three years, the president has hardened the nation's immigration system into an obstacle course of physical and bureaucratic barriers, causing illegal border crossings to plummet and legal immigration to slump. The number of refugee admissions to the United States fell to the lowest level on record last year, and this year the administration set the refugee cap lower, reserving 18,000 spots for people who are fleeing persecution around the globe. The Trump administration also is blocking asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border and flying them instead to Guatemala or sending them back into Mexico. Other visitors are being turned back or staying away entirely: foreign students and tourists are coming in fewer numbers, according to the latest State Department data, and green cards issued abroad since 2016 have dropped 25%. The Trump administration just added six names to a growing list of travel-restricted countries: Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan and four African nations, including Nigeria, the continent's most populous one. "It's no secret that the administration is consciously trying to close America to immigrants," Lucas Guttentag, an immigration law professor at Stanford University's law school, said in an email. "Trump policies and practices have attacked virtually every facet of the immigration system: effectively dismantling asylum protections at our southern border, imposing wealth restrictions on immigrants who are spouses and family members of citizens, burdening businesses that legitimately depend on skilled immigrant workers and threatening mass deportations regardless of how long or deep a person's ties to country and community are." Not since the "openly racist" policies of the United States in the 1920s, Guttentag said, has the nation "experienced such a fundamental shift in immigration policy fueled by such aggressive and unashamed appeals to hatred." As the president continues to fulfill his promise to build hundreds of miles of steel border barriers, critics say he is retreating from former president Ronald Reagan's vision of America as a welcoming "city upon a hill" whose doors should be "open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here." In the president's view, the city on the hill was too permissive and vulnerable; welcoming foreigners opens the doors to an existential threat. Trump promised his supporters to wall it off, and he has stuck to that vision. His "Make America Great Again" message conjured a time before the rapid economic and demographic changes of globalization. He is leaning heavily on that message again to win in November, depicting Democrats as radical extremists who want "open borders" and those who encourage sanctuary for immigrants as enabling violence and murder. "Border control is necessary to save our citizens' schools, hospitals, jobs and very lives - and to keep criminals out of our communities," said White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley. "President Trump's policies are restoring the rule of law, saving lives and raising wages for African American and Hispanic American workers who have been completely forgotten and betrayed by the Democratic Party." On Monday, Trump's White House released a 2021 budget proposal that would increase the frequency of deportations by adding thousands of new immigration agents and expanding jail capacity. Hours later, Attorney General William Barr announced Justice Department lawsuits against "sanctuary" jurisdictions that eschew cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. And at an evening rally in New Hampshire ahead of the state's Democratic primary, the president dusted off one of his vintage campaign routines, reciting a dark allegory he calls "The Snake" about a serpent that turns on its generous host, injecting fatal venom. "This is about immigration," he told the crowd, to raucous cheers. "Gotta come in legally and through merit!" the president shouted. "Under my administration, we're fully taking care of our own citizens first." During his State of the Union address last week, Trump spoke of immigrants almost exclusively in negative terms, railing against "sanctuary jurisdictions" and highlighting the lurid killing of a 92-year-old woman in New York last month. While his predecessors in the Republican Party often balanced calls for tighter border controls with a reaffirmation of the country's immigrant identity, Trump has largely dispensed with those phrases to depict newcomers as criminals, competitors and a welfare burden. Guided by immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller, one of the president's longest-serving and most-trusted aides, Trump and his administration have announced a flurry of new restrictions in recent months. Lawsuits from immigration advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union have slowed the implementation of some of those policies, but appellate courts have been allowing Trump's restrictions to go forward. The U.S. Supreme Court last month ruled in a 5-to-4 decision to allow the administration to implement its "public charge rule" - a policy central to Trump's agenda that allows the government to deny green cards to more low-income applicants. That decision and other court victories have given the administration new momentum after the Central American migration crisis and failed family separation plan that largely derailed Trump's immigration agenda in 2018 and early 2019, when more than 1 million migrants streamed across the southern border. That crisis is now relatively under control, squelched by enforcement measures that curb the ability of asylum seekers to apply for protection in the United States. The number of arrests and detentions along the U.S. southern border has plunged 75% since May. Cris Ramon, an immigration analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, said the administration reached a turning point last summer, when it debuted measures such as the "Migrant Protection Protocols" that sent asylum seekers back across the border instead of allowing them to wait in the United States for their court dates. By pressuring Mexico and Central America to assist with immigration enforcement, the administration was able to wield restrictive new tools Congress would not approve. Trump administration officials could then turn back to their immigration priorities in the U.S. interior. "I think what happened in 2019 was the administration was able to pivot back to legal immigration, especially once MPP began having impact on the arrival of Central American migrants," Ramon said. "They were slowly trying to push through reforms, and now that the crisis has diminished, they are moving forward." There have been signs in recent weeks that the administration is forcing fewer returns to Mexico, a process that still affords asylum seekers a hearing with a U.S. immigration judge. Instead, authorities are putting migrants on planes to Guatemala, part of the "Asylum Cooperation Agreements" the Trump administration has reached with Central American governments. The move lightens the load on U.S. courts - migrants' asylum claims are instead deferred to other countries for processing - and eliminates an avenue migrants previously had for gaining entry. Homeland Security officials and defenders of Trump's immigration policies say Democrats and immigrant advocates have overreacted to the president's policies, pointing out that the number of people taking the naturalization oath reached 833,000 in 2019, an 11-year high. The United States remains the most welcoming and generous nation in the world, they say, and no other country takes in so many immigrants and affords newcomers the same rights as its native-born citizens. The number of immigrants already present in the United States who were issued green cards as legal permanent residents rose to nearly 577,000 last year, roughly the same as the previous year and a higher total than the last years of the Obama administration. Immigration experts and advocates say it is not unusual to see increases in applications for permanent residency and naturalization at times of heightened anxiety about immigration status. Critics also note that wait times have soared during the past three years, and the administration is preparing to dramatically hike its fees. Homeland Security officials have proposed raising fees for naturalization from $640 to $1,170, an 83% increase. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which runs the legal immigration system, is a fee-funded agency, and officials say the increase is needed to cover rising administrative costs. Dan Tichenor, a political scientist at the University of Oregon who specializes in the history of U.S. immigration policy, said the country has not seen anything like Trump's immigration approach since the 1920s, in the midst of the Great Depression. "We've had crackdowns in the past, but what's striking is just how broadly the Trump administration has pursued restrictions, from green cards to travel restrictions to family separation and ending DACA," Tichenor said. The difference now is that the United States is in the middle of an economic boom, not a crash. Trump's first "travel ban" in early 2017 targeted mostly Muslim-majority countries, and its sudden implementation unleashed travel chaos at U.S. airports and lawsuits. The policy was blocked in federal courts, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the restrictions to take effect while legal challenges are pending. Homeland Security officials say that the latest nations to face restrictions are not subject to a "ban" and that about 13,000 would-be travelers per year will be affected. The decision to announce the measures came after months of efforts to get the nations to adhere to information-sharing requirements that the administration believes are crucial to national security, officials said. "For a small number of countries that lack either the will or the capability to adhere to these criteria, certain travel restrictions have become necessary to mitigate potential threats," Chad Wolf, the acting homeland security secretary, said in a statement. "The new, additional restrictions are not blanket restrictions. These tailored restrictions will make the U.S. safer and more secure. And countries that make the necessary improvements will have their restrictions removed accordingly." The Trump administration lifted restrictions on the nation of Chad in 2018, a year after it was added to the original list. Trump has told aides that he plans to run for reelection on his immigration record and his pledge to complete more than 500 miles of new barriers along the Mexico border by early next year. His administration has completed about 120 miles so far, according to the latest construction figures, but the White House is expected to unveil plans in coming weeks that would call for building nearly 900 miles of new barriers by 2022, mostly with money diverted from Defense Department budgets. A Gloucestershire farmer has been ordered to pay nearly 6,000 after he failed to keep cattle records. Ian Slatter, of Naunton Farm, Toddington pleaded guilty to 13 breaches of animal health legislation at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on Monday 10 February. The 58-year-old was convicted of breaches including mixing up the identities of cattle on his farm, failing to report or keep records of cattle deaths and failing to record where carcasses were disposed of. He also admitted failing to send cattle that had died on his farm aged over 48 months for testing for BSE, as is required by law. The court heard that in June 2018 the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) identified that the number of cattle on Mr Slatters farm was far fewer than records showed should be there. They referred the matter to trading standards, who carried out an investigation into the whereabouts of the missing cattle. Following outbreaks of diseases such as foot and mouth and BSE, it is a legal requirement for farmers to maintain complete records of cattle birth and death, movements on and off farm and how carcasses are disposed of. The measures are in place so action can be taken to contain outbreaks and the source can be easily identified. Despite this, Mr Slatter was unable to confirm what had happened to the majority of his cattle and said during a formal interview that he believed that they had all died on his farm. He had been previously convicted in 2017 for offences relating to animal health legislation. Cllr Dave Norman, responsible for Gloucestershire County Councils trading standards, said: It is vitally important both for our export status of beef and for consumer confidence in British meat that farmers comply with the requirements of the legislation and uphold high standards of record keeping. By failing to do this he has let himself and the farming community down and in bringing this prosecution Gloucestershire trading standards are sending out a clear message that breaches of this nature will be brought before the court. The UKs chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: We welcome this action by Gloucestershire County Council which serves as a reminder of the importance of farmers adhering to robust disease controls and traceability rules. This is key to prevent fraud and protect the UKs world-leading standards of biosecurity and animal health. Mr Slatter was fined 2,915 and was ordered to pay 3,000 in costs and a 30 victim surcharge. A fresh batch of 25 foreign diplomats, including those from Germany, Canada, France and Afghanistan, will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to witness the ground situation in the region nearly six months after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Consitution. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats that will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir in the last one month. According to local media reports, the delegation will be meeting fruit growers in North Kashmir before reaching Srinagar where they are scheduled to meet media representatives, civil society groups and politicians of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army will also brief the visiting diplomats on the security situation in Kashmir and are expected to give a detailed presentation on Pakistan's involvement in fomenting and sponsoring terrorism in the newly-formed Union Territory. According to reports, the envoys will have a night halt in Srinagar before moving to Jammu next day where they are expected to meet Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and civil society groups. The fresh batch of diplomats also includes EU representatives from Poland, Bulgaria and Czech Republic, and their participation assumes significance as the EU Parliament recently initiated to bring a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir, the vote on which was later deferred. Also, the India-EU summit is also slated to take place in Brussels next month where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be participating. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 to see first-hand efforts being made by the government in the region. ANI spoke to some of the envoys who visited Kashmir last month. The diplomats had expressed satisfaction and hoped for the return of normalcy in the region soon. Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau had said he witnessed "normalcy in the daily lives of the people" during his trip to Jammu and Kashmir. "I want to say that it was a very worthwhile trip. Seeing is believing. That has us to have a fuller picture of the situation here," Chau had told ANI. "My observation is that we see normalcy in the daily life of the people, which is a very positive sign," the envoy had said, adding that his interactions with different groups in the region had him felt that they are "very happy with the current situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after the NRC authority accepted non-renewal of its contract with Wipro on time as the cause for all data vanishing from official website, an RTI application was filed on Wednesday with the National Informatics Centre, seeking details of the pact with the IT firm. Though NRC authority denied any wrong doing in all data going offline and put the blame of non-timely renewal to the earlier NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela, opposition Congress has alleged it as "malafide" and "deliberate" action. While the Centre assured all that the data is safe and termed the data going offline as "technical issues", IT service provider Wipro said authorities concerned did not renew the services contract for the project after it expired. Social media went berserk after the broke with netizens strongly criticising the NRC Authority's "negligence" in handling the sensitive data, which contained the list of exclusion and inclusion of bonafide Indian citizens and were uploaded on its official website 'www.nrcassam.nic.in' after the final list was published on August 31, 2019. Senior journalist-cum-RTI activist Saket Gokhale filed an RTI application to the NIC, the IT wing of the government, and made it public through his twitter account. He sought a copy of the contract with Wipro regarding online hosting and storage of the official NRC list of Assam. "Please provide name and details of the company used for cloud storage of the Assam NRC list along with the contract signed with it thereof," the RTI requested. Gokhale also sought all the relevant files pertaining to the contract renewal along with all official correspondence with Wipro and the cloud storage company. In a separate tweet, the RTI activist questioned the NRC Authority's decision to host the mammoth data on a private cloud service when the government has its own such platform. "What's even more murkier is that govt-owned NIC has its own cloud service called Meghraj. Why the hell was the Assam NRC data stored on the Amazon AWS cloud when a domestic govt- owned option was freely available?" Gokhale tweeted. He shared a screenshot from Wipro's official website that talks about putting in place a "state-of-the-art fluid data center at Guwahati". He questioned on the micro blogging site: "How on earth, then, did this data get on to a cloud service where it went offline? Who authorized this - the NIC or the Assam Govt.?" Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday clarified that the NRC data in Assam is safe even though some technical issues were visible and that will be resolved soon. Reacting to the development, IT major Wipro said: "The IT Services Contract was not renewed by the authorities upon its expiry in October, 2019. However, as a gesture of goodwill, Wipro continued to pay the hosting service fee until January- end, 2020." Talking exclusively to PTI, NRC State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma accepted that the data have been made offline, but refuted the allegation of any "malafide" intent in it. "...this was not renewed by the earlier Coordinator. So, the data got offline from December 15 after it was suspended by Wipro. I assumed charge on December 24," Sarma said. He also informed that the state coordination committee has discussed the issue in its meeting on January 30 and wrote to the Wipro during the first week of February. "Once Wipro makes the data live, it will be available for the public. We hope that people will be able to access it in the next 2-3 days," Sarma said. Leader of the Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia wrote to the Registrar General of India and requested him to look into the matter urgently. "It is a mystery as to why the online data should vanish all of a sudden, especially as the appeals process has not even started due to the go-slow attitude adopted by the NRC Authority. There is, therefore, ample scope to suspect that the disappearance of online data is a malafide act," he said. Criticising strongly, former Congress MP Sushmita Dev tweeted, "Till today the @BJP4Assam government has not stated officially whether the Assam NRC published on 31 Aug 2019 is VALID or NOT. How convenient! Now the plot thickens, the data has vanished. Did people spend money, time & energy for NRC in vain?" Economist Rupa Subramanya commented, "If you assume this is incompetence, you're being naive. It's sinister as there's a lot to be gained by having a "cloud over this data." Linking the data going offline to criticism over less number of exclusions in the NRC, advocate Aman Wadud said that if 70 lakh were excluded instead of "only" 19 lakhs from NRC, "they would have spent 16000 crores to secure it". "NRC annihilated decade of lies about illegal migration to Assam,there are reasons why they didn't even renew contract on time despite SC direction to secure data," he tweeted. "After 5 years long exercise, spending 1600 crores tax payers money, harassing people unimaginably, NRC authority didn't renew subscription with Wipro for cloud storage on time? This is not negligence, this is deliberate, this is criminal, this is contempt," Wadud said in another tweet. Attacking the Centre's plan to have NRC across the country, Karnataka Congress MLA Priyanka M Kharge tweeted: "Brilliant! Manyavar is unable to think NRC through in Assam, but wants to implement this across India!" Twitterati Jude David said, "Technical issue(?) or better Sense or like Vikas or like Rafael papers.." The final NRC was published by excluding 19,06,657 persons. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When the Yankees opened spring training Wednesday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., outfielder Cameron Maybin was nowhere to be found. And with good reason. MLB Networks Jon Heyman reports Maybin signed with the Tigers. Cameron Maybin has deal with Tigers. 1.5M guarantee that can increase to 2.8M with bonuses. Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2020 It will be Maybins third tour in Detroit. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2007. After stints with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves, Maybin returned to Detroit in 2016. In 2017, Maybin moved on to the Los Angeles Angels before landing with Houston Astros for their World Series run. Then it was back to the Marlins in 2018, who traded him to the Seattle Mariners that summer. Maybin started 2019 with the Indians. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman acquired him from Cleveland for just $25,000 on April 25. In 13 MLB seasons, Maybin has been traded no less than seven times, including a couple of blockbuster deals. In 2007, when he went from the Tigers to the Marlins, he was part of the deal which brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit. In 2015, when he went from the Padres to the Braves, he was part of the deal which brought closer Craig Kimbrel to San Diego. Buy Yankees tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek Maybins production in the Bronx last season helped the Yankees survive a wave of injuries in the outfield, with Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge all being shut down at some point last season. Maybin ended up playing 82 regular-season games for the Yankees, hitting .285 with 11 home runs. But with the outfield getting healthy for the 2019 playoffs, the 32-year-old Maybin only got seven post-season at-bats. Things didnt look much better for him in 2020. Judge and Stanton are healthy. Brett Gardner is back on a new contract. Mike Tauchman and Clint Frazier are on the 40-man roster. And Miguel Andujar is taking reps in the outfield. All that made Maybin the odd man out. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Democratic voters turning out for Tuesday's New Hampshire primary say they are looking for a candidate who can beat President Donald Trump over one who agrees with them on the issues by a roughly 2-to-1 margin, according to early exit polls conducted for CNN. Six in 10 Democratic voters in New Hampshire prioritize a nominee who can beat Trump. Yet Democrats seem split over what qualities a candidate ought to have. Just over a third say that they sought a candidate who could bring needed change, while about the same amount said they were seeking one who could unite the country. Far fewer prioritized finding a candidate who cares about people like them, and the share who said they were looking for a fighter landed in single digits. View CNN's live coverage of the New Hampshire primary Almost 2 in 5 New Hampshire Democratic voters who prefer a nominee who can bring about needed change voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders, far more than any other candidate. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sanders lead among those who prioritize a candidate who can unite the country, with each drawing around 3 in 10 voters in that group. Among voters who prefer a nominee who can beat Trump in November over someone who they agree with on the issues, over a quarter voted for former South Bend, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, 1 in 5 for Klobuchar, 1 in 5 for Sanders, 1 in 7 for former Vice President Joe Biden, and around 1 in 10 for Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Still, more than 8 in 10 who voted today say they plan to vote for the Democratic nominee in November regardless of who it is, while just 1 in 8 say they won't. Liberals vs. moderates Sanders leads among New Hampshire voters who consider themselves 'very liberal' in ideology, with around half of the group voting for him. Warren follows with fewer than 1 in 5 of this group, and Buttigieg at 1 in 7. But the balance of the electorate has shifted since 2016. In 2020, 'very liberal' voters made up about 1 in 5 voters, down from 26% in 2016. Moderate voters were up to just over a third in 2020, from 27% in 2016. Klobuchar and Buttigieg lead among moderate Democrats, around 3 in 10 for Klobuchar and a quarter for Sanders, still a close race. Less than 1 in 5 in that group voted for Sanders and 1 in 10 voted for Biden. Klobuchar drew around a third of white college-educated women, followed by over 1 in 5 for Buttigieg, and slightly less for Sanders. White women without degrees were split between Buttigieg and Sanders. For white men, those without college degrees strongly supported Sanders (over a third), while around a quarter of those with degrees supported him, followed by Klobuchar and Buttigieg. Democratic voters are angry Eight in 10 New Hampshire Democratic primary voters are angry at the Trump administration, the highest share of voters from the non-incumbent party who are angry stretching back to 2000, according to CNN exit polls. Six in 10 Republican primary voters were angry at the Obama administration in 2016, and 40% were angry in 2012. Meanwhile, 62% of Democratic primary voters were angry at the Bush administration in 2008, and 46% were angry in 2004. Almost 6 in 10 of Tuesday's voters say that impeachment hasn't made any difference to Trump's reelection chances, while one in five say it has hurt him and fewer say it has helped. About 6 in 10 who turned out to vote in Tuesday's primary say they made up their minds since the beginning of February, including nearly half who say they decided on their candidate just in the last few days. That's double the 25% who decided in the final few days in 2016, and, in early data, the highest in exit polling back to 2000. About half overall say the most recent debate -- held in New Hampshire on Friday night -- was an important factor in deciding their vote for president. And early exits indicate that only about 1 in 8 are first-time Democratic primary voters, down slightly from 16% in 2016 and 19% in 2008. Turnout was expected to be high heading into the primary. According to the most recent CNN tracking poll conducted by University of New Hampshire, 74% of adults in New Hampshire said they were extremely or very interested in the 2020 primary election and a similar three-quarters said they would definitely vote. The eventual Democratic nominee for president has taken first or second place in the New Hampshire primary in every race since 1968. Health care is the top issue More than one-third of Democratic voters going to the polls in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary said health care was the most important issue in determining their vote. Sanders was the clear favorite among this group, garnering support from more than three in 10. Buttigieg and Klobuchar each attracted 1 in 5 of these voters, while Biden was the pick of 1 in 10. Warren, who has also campaigned on health care, landed in the single digits among this group. Just under two-thirds of voters supported a single-payer system -- with Sanders attracting more than one-third of those voters and Buttigieg nearly a quarter. Climate change followed, with about 3 in 10 naming it their top concern. About 2 in 10 rated income inequality as tops and 1 in 10 named foreign policy. The early exit polls also indicate majorities of Democratic primary voters turning out today support more liberal policy positions designed to address both health care and income inequality. Support for a Medicare-for-All-style health care plan, where a single government plan provides coverage for all Americans and replaces the current system of private health insurance, has divided the top candidates in the race for much of the campaign. But almost 6 in 10 New Hampshire Democratic primary voters today said they would support such a government plan, 4 in 10 were opposed. About two-thirds said they would be in favor of making tuition free at public colleges and universities, a plan that has likewise divided the top candidates. Several residents who voted in Manchester told CNN that health care was their top priority and influenced their vote. Moe Abdel, a 24-year-old pharmacist, said he supports 'Medicare for All.' 'I see firsthand a lot of people who struggle to pay for their prescription drugs, especially older people on fixed incomes,' said Abdel, who declined to specify whom he voted for. Health care also emerged as the most important issue for choosing a nominee among Iowa Democratic caucusgoers earlier this month, according to the entrance polls conducted there. Two in five Iowa caucus participants chose health care, and about 1 in 5 said climate change, while fewer chose foreign policy or income inequality. Health care has been at the forefront of the campaign since the beginning, but the party is split between radically overhauling the nation's health insurance system or taking smaller steps. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, has led the fight to create Medicare for All. It would essentially replace private insurance, providing sweeping benefits at no cost to patients. But its price tag -- estimated at around $32 trillion over 10 years -- has spooked many people, providing a line of attack by rivals former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. While Sanders has acknowledged he'd have to raise taxes on the middle class, he hasn't laid out specifically how he would cover the tab. Providing a detailed financing plan for Medicare for All may have contributed to the decline of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's popularity. Her poll numbers took a nose dive after she laid out a proposal in November that called for states, employers, corporations and the wealthy to pay for the single-payer system, which she also supports. Meanwhile, moderates such as Biden, Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar favor building on the Affordable Care Act. They would add to the Obamacare exchanges a government-backed public option, which would presumably have lower premiums and would compete with the private insurers. They would also boost federal subsidies so more people could afford coverage. The CNN Exit Poll was conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool. Results are based on interviews conducted throughout the day with 1,947 randomly selected Democratic primary voters at 45 wards in New Hampshire. Results for the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. 'See It Through Buffalo' being screened at United Nations forum Still from the documentary short "See It Through Buffalo." Buffalo and the work of our faculty and students have much to contribute to this crucial global conversation on urban issues. BUFFALO, N.Y. Buffalos story of place is being shared with mayors, ministers, journalists and thousands of others attending the United Nations 10th World Urban Forum this week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The citys story is being told through the lens of film, with a screening of See It Through Buffalo, a documentary short presented by the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning at the Time Space Existence exhibition of the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. The 15-minute film offers a candid view of Buffalos diverse urban landscapes and transitioning neighborhoods, where faculty and students work to address issues such as energy-efficient design, economic development, food systems planning, and refugee resettlement. It was co-produced with noted Buffalo filmmaker John Paget of Paget Films. See It Through Buffalo is an official selection of the inaugural UN-Habitat Better Cities Film Festival and will be screened today (Feb. 12) in Abu Dhabi. The festival, organized in partnership with First+Main Films, features documentary and fictional films from around the world on urban issues, including the theme of this years World Urban Forum Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation. The film showing will be followed by discussions on topics and key areas raised. The film is an inspirational contribution to UN-Habitats theme of connecting culture and innovation, because it portrays an academic institution and a new generation engaged in experimentation and exploration within their city, said Paget. After this week, the UN-Habitat Better Cities Film Festivals Best of Fest reel will become a traveling festival available for screenings at other UN-Habitat and UN events and cities and towns around the world. Samina Raja, professor of urban and regional planning at UB and director of the Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab, is leading the discussion following the screening of See It Through Buffalo. Raja served as a keynote speaker for the Universities Roundtable at the World Urban Forum on Tuesday. Drawing on her food equity work, both in Buffalo and in the global south, Raja spoke about the ways in which universities can co-produce actionable knowledge that can lead to creating culturally inclusive and innovative cities. The World Urban Forum is the worlds largest and most important conference on urban issues. It is held every two years and attracts thousands of participants including ministers, mayors, policy makers, academics, community activists, artists and journalists. Buffalo and the work of our faculty and students have much to contribute to this crucial global conversation on urban issues, said Robert G. Shibley, professor and dean of UBs School of Architecture and Planning. From our Buffalo-rooted food systems planning tools now being implemented from Jamaica to Kashmir, to See It Through Buffalo, a cinematic tribute to Buffalos urban landscapes and our work within them over 50 years, this is a story about the power of university-city partnerships to incubate globally relevant policy and design innovation, Shibley added. Some of the worlds largest financial institutions have stopped putting their money behind oil production in the Canadian province of Alberta, home to one of the worlds most extensive, and also dirtiest, oil reserves. In December, the insurance giant The Hartford said it would stop insuring or investing in oil production in the province, just weeks after Swedens central bank said it would stop holding Albertas bonds. And on Wednesday BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, said that one of its fast-growing green-oriented funds would stop investing in companies that get revenue from the Alberta oil sands. They are among the latest banks, pension funds and global investment houses to start pulling away from fossil-fuel investments amid growing pressure to show they are doing something to fight climate change. If you look at how destructive oil sands can be, theres a very strong rationale, Armando Senra, head of BlackRocks iShares Americas funds, said in an interview, saying that the oil sands, along with coal, are the worst offenders, if you want, from a climate perspective. Rajeev Sharma A day after the February 8 polling in Delhi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi came up with an intriguing remark: The Hindu community is not synonymous with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that opposing BJP does not amount to opposing Hindus. This was indeed a politically-loaded remark. He was speaking at an event in Goa, and went on to say, [The] Hindu community does not mean BJP, and opposing BJP does not amount to opposing Hindus...Political fight will continue but it should not be linked to Hindus." This is the template against which the just-concluded Delhi elections have to be seen. Did Joshi foresee the writing on the wall for the BJP and its eventual rout in Delhi polls? Maybe. Joshis comments came against the backdrop of the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which offers citizenship to people from six communities Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians who entered India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, is this remark limited only to that or is there something beyond it? This could be the RSS cautioning its protege BJP to be neither complacent nor presumptuous in assuming that the BJP alone is the sole custodian of Hindus. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections had seen the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi and all senior party leaders making rounds of temples. In Madhya Pradesh, after winning the assembly elections, Congress Chief Minister Kamal Nath had made singing Vande Mataram mandatory in all schools. Now cut to 2020. Immediately after winning the Delhi polls emphatically, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dashed off to a Hanuman temple to thank the deity for showering him and his party an over three-fourths majority in the 70-member assembly on a Tuesday, the day of Hanuman. With this, and other examples, Kejriwal outplayed the BJP in its own game by giving the Hindu voters a campaign soaked in religious symbols. Kejriwal adopted a political strategy of taking on the religious and nationalistic fervour of the BJP. The AAPs invocation of Hanuman against the BJPs Jai Shri Ram was a political masterstroke. The BJP has reached a vital crossroad after the Delhi elections. It cant continue without the polarisation politics which is more likely to woo the Bihar electorate with the Shaheen Bagh model of political campaigning. In fact, a repeat of the Delhi tactics in Bihar could be politically more conducive for the national party. The BJP finds itself in a tight spot with no major ideas left with it: issues such as the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir are long dusted. Even Pakistan-bashing didnt help the BJP in the Delhi elections. Therefore, the BJP is strategically placed to repeat its Shaheen Bagh campaign style in future elections as well. In that sense, the polarising campaign in Delhi was just a test run. Though the BJP may have lost the Delhi election, it cannot see the prospect of entering the Bihar polls without this form of election campaign as it ended up enhancing its vote share in Delhi from 32 percent in 2015 to 38.5 percent in 2020. So, what about the RSS caution? It has to be seen how the BJP reacts to itbut if the BJP feels that this style of campaigning has worked for it, it is unlikely to change it. The BJP is likely to further perfect the model in Bihar, and later use it in West Bengal for the 2021 state polls. The BJP is expected to continue with its polarising Hindu-Muslim campaign there. Given these signs, one has to expect the BJP to continue with its polarising campaign, in Bihar towards the end of 2020, in West Bengal in 2021, and beyond. Supreme Court judge Justice M M Shantanagoudar recused himself on Wednesday from hearing the plea filed by Sara Abdullah Pilot challenging the detention of her brother and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah under the J-K Public Safety Act. IMAGE: Sarah Abdullah Pilot, daughter of former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah at the Supreme Court in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo Pilot's plea came up for hearing before a three-judge bench comprising justices N V Ramana, Shantanagoudar and Sanjiv Khanna. "I am not participating in this matter," Justice Shantanagoudar said at the outset without citing any specific reason for his recusal. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Pilot, urged the bench to list the matter for Thursday. The bench said the plea would be heard on Thursday. Pilot had on Monday moved the top court challenging her brother's detention under the J-K Public Safety Act, 1978, saying the order of detention is 'manifestly illegal' and there is no question of him being a 'threat to the maintenance of public order'. The plea has sought quashing of the February 5 order detaining Abdullah under the PSA and also sought his production before the court. Pilot has said that exercise of powers by authorities under the CrPC to detain individuals, including political leaders, was 'clearly mala fide to ensure that the opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution is silenced'. Her plea said the intent of exercise of power was to ;incarcerate not just him (Omar Abdullah) but the entire leadership of the National Conference, as well as the leadership of other political parties, who were similarly dealt with including Farooq Abdullah, who has served the state and the union over several years... stood by India whenever the situation so demanded'. It said that on the intervening night of August 4-5, 2019, Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was put under house arrest and it was later learnt that section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 was invoked to justify such arrest. 'There has been a grave violation of Articles 14, 21 and 22 of the Constitution,' the plea said, adding, 'similar orders of detention have been issued by respondents (authorities of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir) over the last seven months in a wholly mechanical manner to other detenues, which suggest that there has been a consistent and concerted effort to muzzle all political rivals.' It said there could be no material available to detain a person who has already been detained for previous six months and the 'grounds for the detention order are wholly lacking any material facts or particulars which are imperative for an order of detention'. 'In fact, a reference to all public statements and messages posted by the detenue (Omar Abdullah) during the period up to his first detention would reveal that he has kept calling for peace and cooperation - messages which in Gandhi's India cannot remotely affect public order,' it said. The plea said Abdullah was not even served with the material that formed the basis of the detention order and its non-supply vitiates the detention, which is liable to be quashed. It said that at no point of time in his 'prolific political career', he has resorted to or indulged in conduct unbecoming of a 'conscientious public figure'. The grounds of detention against Abdullah, chief minister of the state from 2009-14, claims that on the eve of reorganisation of the state he had allegedly made attempts to provoke general masses against the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A. Abdullah, who has been junior foreign minister and commerce minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led Cabinet in 2000, was served with a three-page dossier in which he was alleged to have made statements in the past which were 'subversive' in nature. - Efia Odo and Shatta Wale had fought in the past weeks - She called Shatta Wale a thief and an evil person - It has emerged that Shatta Wale caused Efia Odo to fall out of favour with her employers - This made her angry leading to her social media fight with Shatta Wale Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Shatta Wale and Efia Odo have fought recently, and YEN.com.gh has obtained the information about the cause of their fight. According to sources, Shatta Wale had caused Efia Odos employers, South Africa Wines, to fall out with her. The details have it that, Efia Odo claimed that Shatta Wale had stolen her business partners and making a lot of money from them. READ ALSO: Fameye exposes Ghanaian sugar mummies who keep chasing after him in new video Efia Odo was said to have been approached by the owner of the wine shop, who has been identified as Eunice Ijeoma Aku Ogbugo, to use her celebrity status to get the business rolling. Shatta Wale was then appointed as the ambassador of the South Africa Wine, and was tasked to work hand in hand with Efia Odo. However, Shatta Wale was said to have started backstabbing Efia Odo to the owner of the shop, in order for him to gain their favour for more money. This got Efia very offended and betrayed, thus calling Shatta Wale names like thief, evil, threatening to expose his ill deeds to the world. READ ALSO: Beautiful video drops as Baby Maxine plays with mum McBrown like adult YEN.com.ghs checks reveal that the official Instagram page of South Africa Wines only follows Shatta Wale and the owner Eunice, Efia Odo has been unfollowed. The CEO's Instagram page. Photo credit: Instagram Source: Instagram The official Instagram page of South Africa wine following only Shatta Wale and the owner. Photo credit: Instagram Source: Instagram READ ALSO: No breathing space as Ghanaians mob Nakeeyat at airport in new video Meanwhile, Efia Odo and Shatta Wale were very close friends, and they were said to be sleeping together. In a report by YEN.com.gh, we published how the two were captured banging in Shatta Wales bed. In the other report, Shatta Wale confirmed sleeping with Efia Odo, and told the size of her sexual organ. Mathew Anim Cudjoe showered with money after Hearts - Kotoko game in Accra | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Power of riches: Stephen Appiah gets never-seen before suit in new photos 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his "extreme delight" that US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump will be in India later this month and said they will be accorded a "memorable welcome". In a series of tweets, the prime minister said India and the US share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. "Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world," he said. Trump will be visiting India on February 24 and 25. Modi said the visit is a very special one and will go a long way in further cementing the India-US friendship. "India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests," the prime minister said. The US president and the first lady will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad during the visit from February 24-25, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in Washington on Tuesday. Trump's predecessor Barack Obama had travelled to India twice, in 2010 and 2015. During a phone call over the weekend, Trump and Modi agreed the trip would further strengthen the India-US strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people, Grisham said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Baltimore, Maryland for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 21 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Baltimore, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Baltimore with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Baltimore. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Baltimore, Maryland please visit https://www.help.org/best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-baltimore-md/ 2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Baltimore, Maryland (in alphabetical order) Ashley Addiction Treatment 800 Tydings Lane Havre de Grace, MD 21078 800-799-4673 Family Health Centers of Baltimore Community Recovery Program 631 Cherry Hill Road Baltimore, MD 21225 410-354-2000 Gaudenzia Park Heights 3643 Woodland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 410-367-5501 Glenwood Life Counseling Center 516 Glenwood Avenue Baltimore, MD 21212 410-323-9811 Harbel Prevention and Recovery Center 5807 Harford Road Baltimore, MD 21214 410-444-2100 Helping Up Mission 1029 East Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21202 410-675-7500 Hope House Treatment Centers 26 Marbury Drive Crownsville, MD 21032 410-923-6700 Ideal Option 19 Fontana Lane, Suite 108 Rosedale, MD 21237 877- 522-1275 Maryland House Detox 817 S Camp Meade Rd. Linthicum, MD 21090 833-506-0319 Penn North Recovery 2410 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite #200 Baltimore, MD 21217 410-728-2080 Powell Recovery Center 14 South Broadway Baltimore, MD 21231 410-276-1773 Right Turn-IMPACT 1209 Liberty Road Eldersburg, MD 21784 410-581-4900 Tranquility Woods 171-A Ryan Road Pasadena, MD 21122 410-442-6638 Treatment Resources for Youth (TRY) 3319 West Belvedere Avenue Baltimore MD 21215 410-578-8100 Total Health Care 1501 W. Saratoga Street Baltimore, MD 21223 410-383-8300 Tuerk House 730 Ashburton Street Baltimore, MD 21216 410-233-0684 Turning Point Clinic 2401 East North Avenue Baltimore, MD 21213 410-675-2113 Wells House 124 East Baltimore Street Hagerstown, MD 21740 301-739-7748 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. Amazon's top spokesperson, Jay Carney, said Wednesday the company wants President Donald Trump to shed light on his involvement in a $10 billion cloud contract to make sure the process was "free of political interference." Earlier this week, Amazon said in newly unsealed court documents that it's looking to question Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and former Defense Secretary James Mattis as part of its protest of the JEDI cloud contract award. It's not uncommon for companies to protest a government contract award. But Carney said Amazon's lawsuit is less about losing the contract itself and more about examining whether Trump used his position as president to interfere in the decision process. "All we're trying to do through this protest and this request for a legal review is to ensure that a proper decision was made on behalf of U.S. taxpayers," Carney, a former press secretary for President Barack Obama, told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Wednesday when asked about Amazon's move to depose Trump. "It's about ensuring that the government, the Department of Defense, is free of political interference in these kinds of political decisions that affect the capabilities of our armed services," he said. Church mulls decision due to scarcity of priests in Amazon and decreasing number of Roman Catholics in Latin America. The Vatican is set to reveal whether Pope Francis supports a proposal to let married men be ordained as priests in the Catholic Church. Last year bishops in the Amazon region voted to relax a celibacy rule dating back thousands of years because of a shortage of priests. But not everyone thinks it will work. Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman reports from Santiago. T he White House Farm murderer's legal team has claimed that newly unearthed evidence undermines his conviction. Jeremy Bamber has spent 33 years in jail for killing his parents Nevill and June, both 61, along with his model sister Sheila Bambi Caffell, 26, and her six-year-old twins Daniel and Nicholas during the night of August 6, 1985 at White House Farm, Essex. His sister Sheila, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was initially the suspect in an apparent murder-suicide. However, Bamber's behaviour at his parent's funeral, coupled with inconsistencies in his account, led to him becoming the lead suspect. Jeremy Bamber has spent 33 years in prison / PA One of those key inconsistencies was that Sheila had been shot twice in the neck, a detail that was used at Bamber's trial to rule out suicide. Now Bamber's legal team has claimed that new evidence has emerged that proves that Sheila was only shot once, The Guardian reports. This is reportedly based on newly discovered police statements which officers say do not mention that Sheila had two gunshot wounds when they first found her. The Guardian reports that police Surgeon Dr Ian Craig recorded in his witness statement on August 7 that "there was what appeared to be an entry wound in the throat." Later at the Dickinson inquiry into the Essex Police's handling of the case, he said: "I only saw one gunshot wound at this stage" Jeremy Bamber was convicted of killing his sister, Sheila. Another police officer who visited the scene, DS Jones, reportedly informed a City of London police inquiry that he was surprised when he was told that there had been two wounds. "Up top that point I thought there had only been one", he said. The incident is the subject of "White House Farm", a six-part ITV dramatisation. Mark Newby, a solicitor advocate at Quality Solicitors Jordans, which represents Bamber, told the Guardian: The jury only heard of the two shots, which was relied upon by the crown to support their case, but this wasnt the whole picture. It represents yet another significant aspect to this case which supports Jeremy Bamber and undermines this conviction. Speaking to The Evening Standard, Mr Newby added: "We have a pending judicial review hearing over the Crown Prosecution Service significant non disclosure we have identified. In due course there will then be a further application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. After the Chinese government cracked down on the pro-democracy movement in 1989, the Chinese people in effect signed a social contract with the Chinese Community Party (CCP). Nothing was officially written down, but the terms have been well understood: The people would accept limited rights and freedom in exchange for the prosperity and stability the CCP promised to provide. For several decades, the social contract has seemed to work well for both sides. Chinas GDP per capita rose from $310 in 1989 to $16,186 in 2018. Many Chinese cities have been transformed from economic backwaters to commercial and industrial centers with lots of shining skyscrapers and large neon signs rivaling New York Citys Times Square. Western corporations have been bending over backwards, willingly giving up their technology and imposing unabashed self-censorship in order to gain access to Chinese consumers. Chinese tourists have been welcomed everywhere because of their deep pockets and seemingly insatiable taste for luxury goods. Chinese people are not only getting richer, they are confident in the vision that Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, presented to them the China Dream, which proclaims that Chinas rise is unstoppable and it is destined to return to its former glory as the most powerful nation under the sun. Sure, there are some inconveniences of life in China here and there: being constantly watched by a mass-surveillance system, being instructed on how to behave by an intrusive social credit system, the increasing censorship and inability to access popular sites such as Facebook and Twitter due to the Great China Firewall, and the heightened crackdown on religious believers and political dissenters. Yet the majority of Chinese people have raised no objection to the CCPs authoritarian rule and have simply accepted these inconveniences as a necessary price to pay for stability and prosperity. Then came the news of the coronavirus outbreak. There was no lack of effort on the Chinese governments part to cover it up from the beginning. Chinese authorities waited a full month before informing the World Health Organization and waited until late January to notify the Chinese public. In the meantime, the authorities arrested whistleblowers, warned doctors and nurses to keep their mouth shut, kept the infected number artificially low, and sent an army of censors to scrub the internet clean from coronavirus related images, discussions and messages. Still, the outbreak is not something the Chinese government can easily censor away. It took place right in the heartland of the country, at a time when the majority of the 1.4 billion Chinese were on a long break and supposed to celebrate the nations most important holiday with their families and relatives. Story continues The virus has claimed over 720 lives and infected over 35,000 people worldwide, with the vast majority in China. Even though the Chinese government took draconian steps to lock down 60 million people including Wuhan, a city of 11 million residents and the epicenter of the outbreak the virus has spread to all corners of China. Unlike the imprisonment of the Uyghurs or Christians, this outbreak hits close to home. Everyone is impacted in one way or another. China is known as the factory of the world, but it is now struggling to provide a sufficient number of face masks. Chinas biotech industry has had double-digit growth in the last two decades, yet there is a shortage of coronavirus testing kits. The government-run healthcare system is overwhelmed by patients and people who want to get tested. It often ends up turning away sick patients who should be treated and quarantined. Social media now is full of images of desperate Chinese people asking for outside help, such as this. Here is a heartbreaking video of a mother who was begging guards to let her and her leukemia-stricken daughter pass so they could go to a different hospital for her daughters treatment. While the Chinese government seems unable to handle the virus effectively, it doesnt hesitate to deploy some of the cruelest measures imaginable to undermine human lives in the name of fighting the virus. The New York Times reports that last Thursday, Wuhan authorities started house-to-house searches, rounding up the sick and warehousing them in enormous quarantine centers. Such mass quarantine centers are not a good idea. Given the shortage of doctors and nurses and lack of a cure, people are naturally afraid that they will be left to survive or die inside those centers on their own. No one wants to go to these centers. There are videos of people being forcibly dragged out of their homes. There are also images of local authorities sealing doors to either individual apartments or even an entire building when they believe at least one person inside was infected by the virus. The lack of concern for human lives and dignity is beyond appalling. In cities that have been on lockdown, life for those who arent sick with the coronavirus isnt easy either. Prices in supermarkets have skyrocketed. All public transportation has stopped. Many elderly or disabled are left to fend for themselves. A 17-year-old boy with cerebral palsy in Hubei province died from a lack of care after his caregivers were quarantined. People are starting to feel a sense of desperation. They want to know what kind of world power China really is if it is unable to take care of its own people against a flu-like virus. One Chinese user posted: After reading the story, can you still brag China is strong? In this other video, an outraged woman who didnt even both to hide her face blasted her anger at the CCP: You have promised us prosperity by 2020. All we got is the loss of our family! You are living the high life while we are dying! Internationally, several countries cut flights to and from China. Chinese visitors, tourists and even investors suddenly feel they are not welcome anymore. China hasnt been this isolated since its self-imposed isolation in the 18th century. Then the Chinese people learned that all their misery could have been prevented had Chinese authorities listened to whistleblowers who warned about the virus as early as December 30, 2019. Instead, the whistleblowers were reprimanded for spreading rumors and were warned to shut up or face criminal charges. One of whistleblowers, Dr. Li Wenliang, was reprimanded by Wuhan authorities for spreading rumors after trying to warn his friends about the virus in December 2019. He was hospitalized starting January 12 after unknowingly treating a patient who was infected by the coronavirus. Strangely, Dr. Li wasnt confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus until February 1. During this period, China insisted that no medical professional had been infected and the coronavirus wouldnt transmit from human to human. Dr. Lis delayed diagnosis might have delayed his treatment. He passed away on February 6 at the young age of 34. To many Chinese, Dr. Li paid the ultimate price for speaking truth in China. Dr. Lis death unleashed the Chinese peoples pent-up anger and frustration toward the Chinese government. They are fed up with the governments cover-ups, lies, and inability to do anything effective. They see the Communist Party leaders singular focus on maintaining control and stability at all costs, even if it means sacrificing human lives, as deeply troubling. A national soul-searching has begun. The number of online posts and the directness of how people express their grief, anger, and frustration are unprecedented. The hashtag #wewantfreedomofspeech# went up on Chinas most popular messaging site, Weibo, on Friday morning. It survived for five hours, with two million views and over 5,500 shares before it was scrubbed by censors. People also posted videos of the Les Miserables song Do You Hear the People Sing and the text of Chinas Constitution, which stipulates freedom of speech. But more people, probably unafraid of censorship for the first time in their lives, posted comments such as, Its time to reflect on the deeply-rooted, stability-trumps-everything thinking thats hurt everyone. Such comments indicate that the Chinese people have started rethinking the social contract they had agreed to exchanging freedom for stability and prosperity. The coronavirus outbreak shattered the facade of stability and forced many to realize that trading away ones freedom is never a good deal. The Chinese government has gone into overdrive to contain peoples outrage. We dont know if the Chinese peoples outrage will result in any meaningful change in China. But what happens in China always has implications elsewhere. When you trade your freedom for stability, you will end up with neither. More from National Review Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) Nigeria and Ethiopia on Tuesday signed a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Defence The agency said that it believes that the weak domestic demand for new vehicles will see India's vehicle production continue to contract in 2020. New Delhi: Fitch Solutions on Wednesday said it expects vehicle production in India to contract by 8.3 percent in 2020 as the auto industry faces increasing risk of supply shortage due to China's coronavirus outbreak, possibly hitting domestic output if the virus spreads in the country. In China, where the virus originated, automotive manufacturers have halted production in order to limit the congregation of people and reduce the exposure of its population to possible infection. "We see India adopting similar policies if the virus spreads throughout the country," it said. Given that India's health care system is ill-equipped to deal with a large scale epidemic, the rating agency said "the impact on Indian autos will be much larger because the virus will likely spread much faster in the country when compared to China". Furthermore, because China is one of India's largest supplier of automotive components, a slowdown in the supply of China-made components will lead to shortages in India and could force automakers to slow or stop production. "As a result, we forecast vehicle production in India will contract by 8.3 percent for 2020, following an estimated contraction of 13.2 percent in 2019," it said. The agency said that it believes that the weak domestic demand for new vehicles will see India's vehicle production continue to contract in 2020. "China supplies India with between 10-30 percent of its automotive components, and this could be two to three times higher when looking at India's EV segment, which highlights just how exposed India's automotive manufacturing industry is to the slowdown of vehicle Chinese component manufacturing," it said. Fitch also believes that the protectionist policies presented in the country's 2020 Budget with regards to electric vehicles will offer some upside potential for local EV production, but it will be accompanied by increased trade risk. The Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday arrested an absconder after a long hunt of 12 years from Delhi, a spokesman of the investigating agency said. Tariq Arafat, a resident of Uttarakhand, was arrested from the national capital for his alleged involvement in a case registered in Crime Branch, Jammu in 2005 under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, the spokesman said. "The accused is involved in the case for impersonation of candidates appearing in Common Entrance Tests conducted by the Board of Professional Entrance Examination in 2005 for selection in different professional courses including MBBS and BDS," the spokesman said. He said the investigation of the case was closed as proved and the chargesheet was filed before the court of law against the six accused persons on June 27, 2008. "Arafat had gone underground to evade arrest since November 2008 and the court had issued an arrest warrant against him under Section 512 CrPC for his arrest after production of the chargesheet," the spokesman added. He said the case was registered after revelation of facts surfaced during the investigation of an FIR that some candidates appearing in CET conducted in 2005 had managed their selection in different professional courses by impersonation and fraud. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Monash University researchers have developed radical non-invasive X-ray technology to help diagnose, treat and manage respiratory lung diseases. The technology, now being commercialised by med-tech company 4Dx Limited, allows researchers to see the movement of air through the lungs in real-time, improving their capacity to assess functional airflow in both healthy and diseased lungs. The technology can pinpoint localised areas of deficiency in a lung, offering potential for faster and more accurate diagnoses. Monash University researchers in Australia have developed radical non-invasive technology that can be used to diagnose respiratory lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and lung cancer, and potentially fast-track treatments for patients. Researchers have for the first time taken technology usually confined to high-tech synchrotron facilities into a common laboratory setting, and applied new four-dimensional X-ray velocity (XV Technology) imaging to provide high-definition and sensitive real-time images of airflow through the lungs in live organisms. The study, led by Dr Rhiannon Murrie from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University, shows the likely impact this technology has in respiratory disease detection, monitoring and treatment through non-invasive and non-terminal means. The technology also has the potential to see whether treatments for respiratory illnesses are working much earlier. The technology has since been commercialised by Australian-based med-tech company 4Dx Limited, led by CEO and former Monash University researcher Professor Andreas Fouras. The technology has been upscaled for human clinical trials taking place in the USA, with Phase I already completed successfully. The study was published in the internationally-renowned Nature Research Scientific Reports in January 2020. "The early diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of genetic and chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and lung cancer, is currently hampered by the inability to capture the spatial distribution of lung function in a breathing lung," Dr Murrie said. "Since pulmonary function tests are measured at the mouth, these tests are unable to localise where in the lung any change in function originates. Additionally, CT scans, while providing quality 3D images, cannot image the lung while it is breathing, which means airflow through the airways and into the lung tissue cannot be measured." Research by Dr Murrie and the multi-disciplinary collaboration of physicists, engineers, biologists and clinicians are changing this approach to the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases, by determining the functional lung movement and airflow in live mice, acquired through X-ray technology at 30 frames per second. A comparison of a cystic fibrosis mouse model against a healthy control mouse allowed researchers to observe a dramatic reduction in lung aeration in the left lung of the diseased mouse largely due to an obstructed airway path. Researchers were able to pinpoint the exact locations where lung deficiencies were present and the location of the obstruction causing the restricted airflow. The successful trial opens up avenues for respiratory diseases to be diagnosed, treated and managed earlier than current technology allows and at a lower radiation dose than current CT scanning. "The ability to perform this technique in the lab makes longitudinal studies on disease progression and treatment development feasible at readily accessible facilities across the world," Dr Murrie said. "This finding is an exciting step in advancing the understanding of lung diseases and treatments that affect millions of people globally, and particularly for those with cystic fibrosis, which affects more than 70,000 people worldwide." Professor Fouras said: "I am pleased to see this technology, originally developed at Monash University, and now being commercialised to maximise clinical impact, also enabling cutting-edge medical research like this." ### This research project was supported in part by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. To download a full copy of the research, please visit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-57376-w The research team comprises: Dr Rhiannon Murrie, Dr Freda Werdiger, Dr Isaac Pinar, Melissa Preissner and Dr Stephen Dubsky (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University); Professor Andreas Fouras (Monash University and 4Dx Limited); Dr Yu-Wei Lin, Dr Jiping Wang and Professor Jian Li (Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute); Dr Kaye Morgan (School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University); Dr Martin Donnelly and Associate Professor David Parsons (University of Adelaide and Women and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide); and Dr Chaminda Samarage and Dr Richard Camibella (4Dx Limited). MEDIA ENQUIRIES Monash University T: +61 3 9903 4840 E: media@monash.edu Lee Dongyeong, a director, enjoyed the Shen Yun Performance at Ulsan Culture & Arts Center in South Koreas Ulsan City, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Quan Jing-lin/The Epoch Times) ULSAN, South KoreaCaptivated by Shen Yun Performing Arts spectacular performance in South Koreas Daegu City last year, Lee Dongyeong, head of program productions, Busan branch, at Korean Broadcasting System, exclusively made it to Ulsan City from the neighboring city he lives on the evening of Feb. 11, 2020, to attend the performance presented by Shen Yun Performing Arts New York Company at Ulsan Culture & Arts Center. As what he had experienced last year, Lee Dongyeong was once again deeply moved by Shen Yuns performance celebrating humankinds precious traditions and enduring virtues this year. Shen Yun creates a new opportunity for the rebirth of humanity, he said. [Shen Yun] vividly displays celestial realms that move our souls and enlightens our wisdom. That is the aim, according to Shen Yuns website: This is a storyline of 5,000 years. Now is your chance to embark on an incredible adventure that captures the spirit of ancient China. Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun Performing Arts weaves a wondrous tapestry of myths and legends, leaving audiences with newfound inspiration and hope. [Shen Yun] demonstrates the high-level culture by means of [authentic] Chinese classical dance directly, Lee Dongyeong said. Not only are the dances and images on the backdrops very beautiful, but every detail of dancers movements, the [set] design as well as the color-matching of costumes are perfect, he continued. Shen Yun is a masterpiece that will be remembered by the entire world, he said. Its really remarkable. Lee Dongyeong very much enjoyed the mini-drama pieces based on stories and legends that have been documented throughout Chinese civilization. There are many [dance dramas] featuring legendary stories of celestial beings, he explained. They demonstrate the beauty and peacefulness of the world to us. Generally speaking, what Shen Yun performs is something about culture and arts, and its contents are wonderful, he added. Even the celestial realms, which are completely different from the real world, are also demonstrated in Shen Yuns performance. In particular, the last piece ended with the descending of Buddha [is very touching], he said. Lee Dongyeong hopes that such a soul-stirring performance with abundant cultural connotations can be enjoyed by more people so that the world can be a more peaceful and more harmonious place. Shen Yun truly touches the human soul, he said. I earnestly hope that the cultural and artistic values [of Shen Yun] can persistently be passed down to future generations through its world tours. It would be something great, if [Shen Yun] can usher in the new epoch for the rebirth of humanity, he said. With reporting by Zhao Run-de and Billy Shyu. 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. Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC), a community based nonprofit organization, is currently seeking volunteers for mediation training to further its mission of helping change the culture of conflict in Wayne County. WCDRC is one of 18 dispute resolution centers in Michigan, and provides mediation services for Wayne Countys Third District Circuit, Juvenile, and Probate Courts as well as mediations for general civil, small claims, landlord-tenant, neighbor disputes, elder care and Child Protective Services. WCDRC school programs include restorative practices, special education mediation and facilitation, truancy prevention mediation, peer mediation services and independent party mediations. Mediating disputes can be an extremely rewarding experience as our mediators truly make a difference in peoples lives, said David Robinson, executive director of WCDRC. Serving as a volunteer mediator is a valuable way to give back to the community. According to Robinson, WCDRC volunteer mediators receive 40 hours of a state-approved training session from highly regarded and qualified experts in their field. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and backgrounds, added Robinson. Many are current or retired teachers, social workers and attorneys who want to provide pro bono services. Attorney Niccole Maria Hudson, a 2019 Archer Pro Bono honoree, was recently featured in the January-February 2020 issue of Detroit Lawyer for volunteer mediation services she provided to WCDRC. Licensed Professional Counselor Cartrenia Colbert, who completed WCDRCs mediation training for domestic and civil issues in 2013, recently shared how serving as a volunteer mediator has impacted her life. I have a passion for working with teens, said Colbert. When I can talk with parents and change the environment for children in a positive way, its a wonderful feeling to know Ive made a difference in the life of a child. Its a natural high. Registration is now open for General Civil and Domestic mediation training sessions that are held at WCDRCs offices located in the Dearborn Atrium, 835 Mason, Suite C30, in Dearborn. The 40 hours General Civil training session will be led by Barbara Johannessen and held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day on March 20, 21, 27, 28 and April 3, 2020. Domestic Relations mediation training of 40 hours and an additional eight hours of Domestic Violence screening training led by Zena D. Zumeta, J.D., will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day on April 16 18, and April 23 25, 2020. For more information about Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center at www.wcdrc.org and to apply for the General Civil or Domestic training sessions, please call WCDRC at 313-561-3500 or email info@wcdrc.org. As class size is limited, early registration is highly recommended. Jersey Citys food truck policy could be changing again. The City Council will consider an ordinance this week that would change food truck permit fees and overhaul where and when vendors can operate their vehicles. The new ordinance would amend a August 2019 law that mandated food truck owners pay $200 a day to sell food from their vehicles while parked on Montgomery Street. Food truck owners said the fee, which was subsequently suspended, would drive them out of business. But the new ordinance would cut that fee by more than half and create 52 Mobile Food Vendor Parking Spots," each of which would be assigned to a food truck on a yearly basis. Food truck owners would pay different fees depending on where they operate. Vendors parked in designated spots in Zone 1, which includes Christopher Columbus Drive, Montgomery Street, and Grand, Sussex, and Second streets, would pay $10,000 a year, or about $27 a day. Vendors in Zone 2, which covers designated spots in a range of areas, including Summit Avenue, West Side Avenue, and the container village on Martin Luther King Drive, would pay $7 an hour to sell food. Under the new rules, the city would decide unilaterally where to put each food truck. The City may, but is not required to, consider preferences and feedback from the surrounding neighborhoods and special improvement districts, the ordinance states. Vendors would only be allowed to sell food between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., except for those on Columbus Drive, which could operate until 11 p.m. The ordinance approved in August permitted food trucks to operate between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. Under the current rules, its effectively impossible for the trucks to stay in the black, said one vendor near Exchange Place said. Youre going to put us out of business, he said but preferred to remain anonymous. Youre asking the smallest business in the city to pay $50,000 a year. The new rules were fair, he said, adding that he had met with city officials to protest the previous ordinance. The owner of another food truck by Exchange Place, who also preferred not to give his name, said that the new payment rules were much more reasonable. And he welcomed the idea of permanent parking spots. We can make this our brick-and-mortar, he said. We have to evolve," he added, "which I dont think is necessarily a bad thing. Fausto Hernandez, who owns the Dona Maria food truck on Sussex Street, said the idea of permanent food truck spots was probably more reasonable, but worried about being assigned to a place with little foot traffic. Its a little inconvenient if they put you in a spot (where) theres no business for you, he said. Some food truck owners said they hoped the new rules would end what they perceived as hostility from Jersey City. Last summer, the citys Quality of Life Task Force impounded six Exchange Place food trucks. And last October, real estate developer Mack-Cali sued the city over the food truck ordinance, saying the rules conflicted with state parking laws. Jersey City spokeswoman Kim Wallace-Scalcione said the new ordinance would be beneficial for food trucks. (It) is expected to reduce the amount of police response made regularly to the area surrounding the chaos and quarreling over spots, she said in an email. It will also help the city hold food trucks more accountable to cleanliness and other issues at each spot since they are responsible for their own spot. The ordinance will have its first reading Thursday. If approved on a second reading, it would take effect next spring. [February 12, 2020] OMNIA Partners Contract Award Expands immixGroup's Reach into the SLED Marketplace immixGroup, an Arrow Electronics (News - Alert) company, has been awarded a contract by Region 4 Education Service Center through its wholly owned subsidiary, EC America. This contract, which is available through OMNIA Partners, enables immixGroup and Arrow suppliers and solution providers to more effectively reach the state, local and education markets. OMNIA Partners, Public Sector is one of the largest and most experienced cooperative purchasing organizations dedicated to public sector procurement. Their purchasing power and industry-leading suppliers have produced a comprehensive portfolio of cooperative contracts and relationships, making OMNIA Partners a valued and trusted resource for organizations nationwide. Through this arrangement, immixGroup provides access to a competitively solicited and publicly awarded contract that includes a wide range of technology solutions. The contact allows state, local and education customers access to immixGroup and Arrow Electronics' substantial IT portfolio and select solutions they need to carry out their initiatives and priorities. OMNIA Partners' cooperative purchasing program is convenient, saves staff resources and increases productivity for customers, technology manufacturers and partners alike. "We are very excited to work with OMNIA Partners, Public Sector to provide state and local end-users a means to easily acquire the IT products, solutions and services they need," said Troy Fortune, immixGroup vice president and general manager. "This demonstrates our commitment to helping our solution providers and suppliers succeed in the SLED marketplace." About immixGroup immixGroup, an Arrow Electronics company, is a value-added distributor that helps technology companies do business with the government. Since 1997, immixGroup has offered the specialized resources and expertise to help IT manufacturers and solutions providers grow their businesses. Learn more at immixgroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005909/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Netflix series shows how Christian pharmacist took down deadly opioid 'pill mill' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Warning: This article contains spoilers A new four-episode Netflix docuseries highlights the story of a Christian pharmacist in New Orleans suburb who turned the grief from his sons death into a determination to shut down a doctor he believed was fraudulently prescribing painkillers to thousands in his community. The online streaming platform released the new series, The Pharmacist, last week. The program centers on the efforts of Dan Schneider, who worked for years at a local pharmacy in St. Bernards Parish, an upper-middle-class community located adjacent to New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward. The Lower Ninth Ward had developed a reputation through the decades for crime and drug addiction. It was a community plagued by the crack epidemic during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1999, Schneiders son, Danny Jr., was shot to death during what was believed to be a drug deal gone bad in the Lower Ninth Ward. With so many killings happening in the Lower Ninth Ward at the time, Schneider was not pleased that authorities were not able to find and hold accountable his sons killer. As Schneider took time off from his job to run his own investigation into his sons murder, the entire first episode was devoted to his months-long quest to find out who killed his son. Schneider canvassed the streets looking for clues. Thanks to a courageous witness who faced death threats and had to flee her hometown, a teenager named Jeffery Hall was identified and eventually sentenced to prison for the crime. After Schneider returned to work at the pharmacy following Halls conviction, he noticed a high number of teenagers about his sons age coming in with prescriptions for OxyContin. Produced by Purdue Pharma, the pill was billed at the time as somewhat of a revolutionary pain medication that was supposed to have a lower risk of addiction. However, the people he noticed coming into this pharmacy to fill the prescriptions showed no signs of obvious pain that would warrant such pain medication. Schneider would often ask questions of the customers to figure out what their need for the medication was and consulted many of them not to take the medication. Schneider began to notice a troubling pattern as he looked through the records at his pharmacy most of the prescriptions the store was filling were for pain medications being prescribed by the same doctor. That doctor is Dr. Jacqueline Cleggett. What Schneider was noticing was the beginning of the nations opioid epidemic in his community. Being that many of those filling prescriptions were his sons age, he saw his sons spirit in them. He wanted to do something and he did. I want to do something for my son and myself. I want a calling and I believe I may have a special calling, because I also, God, have given my only son, Schneider said in the docuseries. And I want to give him purpose on Earth, as it is in Heaven. He became a martyr I don't know if that's the right word but he may save some of these other kids' lives. And again, maybe that's my mission. Schneider notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency about his concern about Cleggett. However, Schneider received little information from either agency about what the federal government was doing to investigate the matter. Therefore, Schneider launched his own investigation with the help of a former patient of Cleggetts who used to fill prescriptions at his pharmacy. According to a former patient interviewed in the documentary, Cleggett would usually prescribe him three drugs: Oxycontin, Soma and Xanax. Those three drugs are referred to as the Holy Trinity. Cleggett was selling prescriptions for cash and would see a staggering 76 patients per day on average, according to a DEA investigator interviewed for the series. Seventy-six is far more patients than an average doctor can consult in a day if they are doing a serious consultation. Cleggetts operation was described in the docuseries as a pill mill, a term to describe doctors who open medical clinics to sell prescriptions for OxyContin, Soma and Xanax. Schneider continued to grow troubled that federal authorities were taking so long on their investigation into Cleggetts practice. He grew conflicted even more when he began to read or hear in the news about how people his pharmacy was filling prescriptions for were dying of overdoses. Schneider heard about how one doctor in Ohio was prosecuted for writing 4,000 fraudulent prescriptions. Knowing that Cleggett had prescribed far more than 4,000 prescriptions, Schneider was advised by a local prosecutor in Ohio to voice a complaint with the local medical board. He was hoping to get smoking gun proof at his work at Bradleys Pharmacy. The smoking gun turned out to be a mother and her small daughter who came into the pharmacy with high-dose prescriptions for OxyContin, Valium, Soma and Roxicodone. Those drugs were alleged to help the 100-pound child deal with pain from Sickle Cell Anemia. However, Schneider said that such a high dose of those medications could have killed the girl. After they left, Schneider called Cleggetts office and asked Cleggett directly if she issued the prescription. She confirmed that she did. When Schneider pressed her on the danger of the child taking such medication, Schneider said that Cleggett told him: Who the f*** made you a doctor? He eventually spoke with the young girls physician who treated her for the illness. The doctor told him that he only prescribed the child Tylenol for the pain. Schneider then filed an affidavit with the local medical board, which then suspended Cleggetts license and halted her practice. As a pharmacist, I felt it was my mission to make a difference, Schneider said. An investigation uncovered that Cleggett had prescribed as many as 180,000 OxyContin pills in just one year across only 10 pharmacies. Although Cleggett faced the possibility of 20 years in prison and 37 counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for no medical purpose, she was involved in a terrible car wreck that left her with two brain hemorrhages and five skull fractures. Cleggett accepted a plea deal in which she was convicted of one count of conspiracy to prescribe a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose. Because of her medical condition, Cleggett was spared jail time and sentenced to three years probation. I pleaded guilty to one count even though I knew that I had not done what they stated I had done, Cleggett, who was also accused of abusing prescriptions herself, said in the docuseries. Cleggett was one of the first pill mill doctors in the U.S. to be shut down and prosecuted. She was followed by many more across the nation as the opioid crisis took a grip. After Dr. Cleggett got shut down I felt like I had accomplished my mission, Schneider said. And I thought that might be the end of this. That wasn't the end. That was the beginning. It was like a cancer. It metastasized. With Cleggett out of business, more than 60 other pain clinics popped up in New Orleans and fatal overdoses doubled in St. Bernard Parish. Schneider continued to do his best to make a difference in this community by pushing legislators to do something to tackle the crisis. He also advocated for a prescription monitoring program, which made it easier to prosecute doctors. I not only wanted to change St. Bernard, but I also wanted to change the country, he said. I felt God wanted me to do something beyond Cleggett. In 2007, Purdue Pharma was convicted of misrepresenting the addictive potential of OxyContin. The companys marketing of the pill was said to be deceptive and criminal. Although Purdue Pharma was forced to pay $600 million in fines, the company continued to push the product. As the company faces thousands of lawsuits claiming that the company misled doctors about OxyContin, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy last September. In Mexicos Matamoros, thousands of asylum seekers wait in an encampment for their asylum cases to be heard in the US. Matamoros, Mexico Preparing for lunch hour, Maria* adds firewood to her wide mud stove shaded by a tarp shelter amid hundreds of similar structures home to asylum seekers like her, waiting for months in this camp with hopes to cross the border, just a few paces away, into the United States. Maria, 38, serves grilled meat, rice, salad and tortillas for lunch to some of her neighbours encamped on the bank of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, just across from Brownsville, Texas. Dozens of other cooking fires like Marias burn throughout the camp all day. Hundreds of mismatched camping tents cluster between the scraggly mesquite trees, picked clean for firewood. Families without tents sleep under plastic tarps hoisted over branches and tied to wooden stakes in the mud. Carla Moradel wipes her face after prepping tortillas to sell for lunch at a makeshift kitchen in the Matamoros encampment for asylum-seeking migrants [Pu Ying Huang/Al Jazeera] Maria eventually came here from El Salvador with her husband and nine-year-old son, with hopes of filing their asylum claims then moving on to join family in the US like many other Salvadorans who had come before. But when they arrived, the door had been shut. Now, almost six months later, the American flag waves to Maria from behind a razor-wire fence, just across the river from where she does laundry. At this point, she says, all she can do is to keep waiting with hope. We have faith in God that the law will change and they will let all these people in, Maria says, shielding smoke from her eyes as people stroll along the broad dirt pathway through the tents outside her stall. Thats why we keep waiting here. Her family stays in the encampment with between 2,000 and 3,000 other migrants and asylum seekers, many of whom are waiting for their cases to make their way through the US courts. They are forced to wait in Mexico under the US governments Migrant Protection Protocols programme, informally known as the Remain in Mexico programme. Many often must wait months. When Marias family first arrived, they slept on the street until local churches brought tents and clothing to the growing population of stranded migrants and asylum seekers, most of whom are from Central America and Cuba. Through a few odd jobs Marias family raised the money to start roasting corn for sale, and over the months built their business into the tiny restaurant that also serves eggs for breakfast and beans for dinner. During that time they saw a haphazard clumping of tents grow into the sprawling little shantytown it is today, supported almost entirely by charity from across the border. In a few months time an entire village has been created, says Joyce Hamilton, 69, standing amid a cluster of tents where she and six other self-proclaimed Angry Tias and Abuelas of Brownsville stock supplies and staples that they buy for about $7,000 each Monday, shopping at a wholesale store with donated funds. Its amazing how much infrastructure has developed. But the encampment is not a village at all at least not in the sense of comfort and permanency. The goal of most of the people here is not to stay forever, but to be allowed to enter the US. Coalition of grassroots efforts Under four massive awnings raised earlier this year by the Mexican government, a third section of the camp has grown with more orderly rows atop plastic flooring rather than the squiggling paths through brush and often mud in the first two sections. In January, World Central Kitchen, a nongovernmental organisation, opened a large tented dining hall to harbour the efforts already made by local and incoming volunteers to feed everyone each night. Global Response Management, another NGO, offers basic medical services out of a trailer and a few shelters. A local woman runs a thrice-weekly primary school on a sidewalk on evenings here. A large portable filter-and-pump system draws clean water from the river. Hundreds of families cook dinner on fires each night and wash themselves and their clothes with donated soaps in the nearby river. The Mexican government has supplied a phone-charging station and 50 portable bathrooms, and it plans to lay gravel to control the deep mud that follows the rain here. This effort has happened without the large organisations that would typically mount responses to refugee crises. Instead, a coalition of grassroots groups has joined up under the guidance of a nearby nun. Donations brought over the border from volunteer group Angry Tias and Abuelas are wheeled into the Matamoros migrant camp [Pu Ying Huang/Al Jazeera] Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, hosts a weekly conference call with 10 to 15 individuals from local charity groups. Each week, she sits down with Mexican government officials and a few volunteer leaders. Pretty much anything we ask [the Mexican government] to do when we meet with them, they do, Pimentel says. The Mexican government has covered most costs for camp infrastructure, says Miguel Garay, spokesman for the Matamoros city hall. But the encampment has stressed the border city of 500,000, which finds itself obligated to manage the situation. International rules say that we have to attend to them, Garay says. We cant kick them out by force. He adds that the government had hoped to move the migrant population into a large empty factory near the border, but had abandoned an initially selected location after outcry from local residents. Those residents didnt want the large displaced population sheltered close to their homes, so the search continues for a more permanent shelter space. The idea is to build like a dignity village, says Sister Pimentel, describing a massive order of rigid shelters and better facilities for hygiene and schooling. But fundraising has fallen short of that massive goal, and summer flooding will force this camp to relocate. Pimentel hopes the government will find a new and appealing shelter for them before that. Some of them have been there so long that it will be very hard to move them from where they are, says Pimentel, who grew up in the local Rio Grande Valley. But as soon as we get into hurricane season, were going to see the river flood. Challenge with getting legal counsel The shelter, Pimental says, is a temporary solution. The most urgent objective, she says however, is finding lawyers to represent the asylum seekers so they could move into the US. Erin Thorn Vela, a lawyer who works in the camp with the Texas Civil Rights Project, says that although many lawyers have turned up to offer volunteer services, less than one percent of asylum seekers in Matamoros have legal counsel to guide them through the process. What we see is an incredibly low success rate, she says, citing compiled records requests and regular interviews that have been conducted outside nearby tents due to the absence of public information. Theres no hard data we can access. Lawyers estimate that about one percent of asylum claims are being approved from the Matamoros camp. Without lawyers, the migrants and asylum seekers are left to navigate the asylum process for themselves, appearing via video conference before US immigration judges from new tented court facilities built on the northern bank of the Rio Grande. Migrants and asylum seekers living in the Matamoros encampment pause from their midday swim to watch US Border Patrol guards steer their boat down the Rio Grande [Pu Ying Huang/Al Jazeera] One asylum seeker, a 30-year-old Cuban woman, says she paid a local restaurant owner $40 to explain to her how to assemble an asylum case, and she carried a file full of flawed English translations. God is my lawyer, says another 42-year-old woman from Belize at the camp. Maria, patting tortillas in her tarp-shelter restaurant in the camp, explains that she still doesnt understand the asylum process. She has been to the tent courts twice, once on September 12 and again on October 28. Both times, she says, she was led with a long line of people to appear before a judge speaking on a TV screen through a Spanish interpreter for about 15 minutes. She still hadnt been asked to explain her case. The judge tells us the best thing would be to get a lawyer, she says, but obviously here we are in no condition to pay a lawyer. Migrants, most of them asylum seekers sent back to Mexico from the US under the Remain in Mexico programme, officially named Migrant Protection Protocols, wait in line for a meal outside the Human Repatriation office in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico [File: Loren Elliott/Reuters] Her troubles, she says, started about a year ago when her husband, who drove a truck, was kidnapped while driving. His truck was stolen and his family paid a ransom to release him. Despite warnings from his kidnappers, he reported the crime to local police. Some weeks later, gang members showed up at the shoe store that Maria had owned for 15 years, demanded $20,000 and threatened to kill the entire family if she didnt pay. Maria and her husband put their parents in hiding, and two days later left the country with their son, travelling by bus through Mexico for a week before arriving at the border in the same clothes theyd worn when they left home. Everyone here is here because we can't return home. Maria Maria and her family thought they could just walk into the US as immigrants had done before new rules this year required that they wait across the border. They slept in the streets of Matamoros before a local church gave them a tent. They started selling fire-roasted corn, then expanded their business with pots and pans and a tall mud oven to make and sell full meals. Marias next court date is set for this week. She isnt sure if shell be granted admission northward, but word around the camp is that the chances are not good. Everyone here is here because we cant return home, she says, wafting smoke from her cooking fire away from her face. All the sacrifice that these people have made in the end isnt worth anything. If her familys asylum isnt granted, Maria says, shell use some money shes saved from her business to pay smugglers to take them over the river anyway. *Name has been changed to protect the individuals identity. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - More than four years after gunshots rang out before dawn on a quiet college campus and stirred fears of a mass shooting, an Arizona man has been sentenced to six years in prison for killing a fellow student and wounding three others. Steven Jones had faced up to 10 years behind bars in the October 2015 death of Colin Brough, 20. Rather than risk a potential second-degree murder conviction, Jones pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault. The sentence Tuesday brought little relief to the shooting victims and their families who filled a courtroom in Flagstaff, a mountainous city that is home to Northern Arizona University. School officials said it was the first deadly shooting at the university founded in 1899. Prison wont be easy for Jones, but it doesnt bring my son back, said Broughs father, Doug. Through this four-and-a-half years of whats been going on, everything has been one-sided to the defendant, even after he admitted doing everything, he said. Hes guilty. He pleaded guilty. But he still gets the benefit of the doubt. Jones, 23, displayed little emotion during the hearing, except when his attorney played a video showing him crying uncontrollably in a police interview the night of the shooting and shortly before learning his punishment. Standing before the judge in a blue jail-issued jumpsuit, Jones said it would be disrespectful to the victims and their family to talk about how he personally had been affected by the shooting. I should probably just say, if it were possible, I would in a heartbeat trade places with Colin Brough, he said tearfully. If he could be home with his family and I could be dead, I would do that. But thats not possible. Jones was weeks into his freshman year in college sheltered and naive, his attorney said when he and friends walked by an apartment complex that housed fraternity members. One of Jones friends rang a doorbell at the complex and ran off. Someone came out and punched Jones in the face, though its not clear who. His glasses flew to the ground. Jones ran to his car believing he was being chased and verbally attacked to retrieve a gun from his glove box. He walked back toward campus and shined a tactical light affixed to it into the darkness. Most people thought it was a police officer or security guards flashlight. No one thought it was a gun, although Jones said he announced it as such and told people to stand down before pulling the trigger and killing Brough. Nick Piring was struck in the arm and hip as he jumped over a bush to reach Brough, his onetime roommate. These other guys were angry at us, and I dont know, someone pulled a gun and shot us, Piring said in a video played in court Tuesday. Jones, who was trained to use firearms growing up, fired again as a group piled on top of him, trying to wrest away the gun but without aiming the weapon. Nick Prato was struck in the neck and suffered permanent nerve damage. Zientek was hit twice in the back, losing a kidney. None knew Jones before then. Police arrived to a chaotic scene and separated people while they tried to determine whether there was another shooter. Jones told them he was solely responsible. A jury deadlocked on charges in Jones first trial in 2017. His attorneys later argued successfully to reduce the first-degree murder charge, which carried a maximum penalty of life in prison upon conviction, to second-degree murder. But before a retrial could start in January, Jones pleaded guilty. Doug Brough said he supported a plea agreement because of the multiple delays in the case, caused mainly by turnover in Jones defence team. Lou Diesel, a longtime attorney in Flagstaff who represented some of the shooting victims, said he had to assure his clients that the case would move forward. I continue to tell them, this normally doesnt happen. How do you console the inconsolable? How do you do that? The late-night phone calls, the screams, the horror, the depression, he said in court, his voice rising then falling. We almost lost Claudia. Broughs mother, Claudia, described in court how she sank into a deep depression after her son died, withdrew from everyone and tried to end her own life. Time has healed nothing, she said, gripping the papers that bared her words and seesawing on the heels of her shoes. I have learned to live with my pain, and I still have days when the pain is stronger than I am. She spoke after prosecutor Ammon Barker played a 17-minute video that had pictures of Brough smiling and laughing as a child, and at family gatherings, parties and in college. Groups of people in the slideshow set to the theme song of the 1991 film Dying Young wore orange shirts with Colins image on the back and #LiveforColin on the front a campaign his parents started to advocate for gun-free campuses. Wow, what a great life Colin had, cut way too short, for no reason, said Doug Brough, shaking his head and throwing up his hands as he pleaded for the lengthiest sentence possible. He and his family left the courtroom as the defence began its presentation. Doug Brough later said we knew it was all lies. Jones attorney, Christopher Dupont, tried to draw parallels between Brough and Jones, saying Jones also was well-loved by extended family, friends and co-workers, and grew up with Christian values. Jones long maintained he shot the four in self-defence. But the tone changed Tuesday. Jones actions the night of the shooting were reckless and unjustified, Dupont said, then described what he saw as a convergence of fear and anger. Fear on the side of Jones that he could be severely injured or killed after he was punched in the face, heckled and assaulted, he said. Anger on the side of fraternity brothers who lived at an apartment complex and who Dupont said reveled in drugs and alcohol and were unkind to outsiders. With all the wildness going on, police incidents, it was only a matter of time before something went horribly wrong there, he said. Barker, the prosecutor, said the victims werent bullies or thugs and never attacked Jones. Jones received six years in prison on the manslaughter charge and five years on each of the three counts of aggravated assault all of which will run concurrently. He must serve at least 85% of the sentence and also gets credit for the seven months he was in jail. Jones spent much of the time since the shooting in the custody of his parents in metropolitan Phoenix, about 145 miles (233 kilometres) south of Flagstaff. A presentence reported noted zero violations. Coconino County Superior Court Judge Dan Slayton took into account Jones lack of criminal history, his age, co-operation with police, use of a deadly weapon and other factors in handing down the sentence. No matter the length of punishment, it wouldnt bring peace and closure, Slayton said. This case has been troubling for our community, for citizens of the state, even for the nation, he said. Declan Kelly Teneo has acquired Bridge PR strategic communications and content creation shop based in Ireland's County Clare. Founded in 2011 by Eugene Hogan, ex-journalist who was regional director of FTI Consulting, Bridge PR represents clients such as Shannon Airport, Hotel Doolin, Clean Ireland Recyling, Bothar and Element 6. Hogan said the opportunity to link with Teneo will enable Bridge PR to scale its operations and deepen resources for its client base. Irishman and Teneo CEO Declan Kelly noted that Ireland is an important market for many of the worlds leading companies. With the exit of the UK from the European Union, Ireland is a natural fit for the regional headquarters of US companies eager to do business on the Continent. Kelly was US CEO of Financial Dynamics and executive VP at FTI Consulting before co-founding Teneo, which bills itself as a global advisory for CEOs, in 2011. "Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay," Buttigieg told cheering supporters. Yet Sanders and Buttigieg enter the next phase of the campaign in different political positions. While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, well-financed and with an ardent army of supporters, is quickly becoming the leader of the progressive wing of the party. Meanwhile, Buttigieg still has moderate rivals to contend with, including Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire. Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina, while former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on Tuesday's ballot but looms next month. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would provide clarity in their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: just-the-facts moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of color left in the race. Nacogdoches, TX (75965) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A few sprinkles possible. High 58F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. Visitors can explore the provinces Metis and francophone history for free for the rest of the year at the Saint Boniface Museum. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Visitors can explore the provinces Metis and francophone history for free for the rest of the year at the Saint Boniface Museum. The Manitoba 150 committee, overseeing celebrations of the provinces 150th anniversary, made the announcement Tuesday at the Tache Avenue centre. "Were the only Canadian province that entered Confederation through Indigenous leadership with the Metis Nation, and also where the people got together and determined the terms under which they wanted to join this country," said Monique LaCoste, Manitoba 150 host committee co-chairwoman. "Its a very unique story that speaks to who we are as Manitobans. This is a story that every Manitoban should know. Free admission at the (museum) will help bring this story to life for thousands of Manitobans." Museum admission is normally $7 for adults and $20 for families, but is now free for individuals and families until 2021. Representatives of the Manitoba Metis Federation were not on hand for Tuesdays announcement. MMF president David Chartrand has reportedly blamed his frosty relationship with Premier Brian Pallister for the organization not having a bigger role in events organized by the independent Manitoba 150 committee (which receives much of its funding from the province). However, "We want to work with everybody," said committee co-chairman Stuart Murray. More Metis and francophone Manitoba 150 events throughout the province will be announced at the Festival du Voyageur kickoff Friday, he said. "Im excited about the launch of (the 2020) festival culminating in Louis Riel Day," said MLA Rochelle Squires, the minister responsible for francophone affairs, who attended the museum event. "What makes Manitoba special is everyone has a home in Manitoba." Wearing a Metis sash, a great-grand niece of Manitoba founder Louis Riel stood before an array of cultural artifacts at the museum, asking her fellow Manitobans to get to know them. "Please come visit the museum with your families," said Paulette Duguay, president of the Union nationale metisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba. "The (museum) is not just the home of historical artifacts," Murray said. "The museum itself is its own piece of history." The building began as the convent of the Grey Nuns, who started a hospital, orphanage and school, and founded the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba, which is sponsoring the free museum admission. 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. "Its also the first place known as a hospital in Western Canada and is the oldest building in Winnipeg," said Catholic Health chief executive officer Dan Lussier. As a museum, its now "the keeper of francophone and Metis heritage." "Through learning about one another we can better understand one another... as Manitobas story continues to evolve." Museum director Vania Gagnon said staff want to personalize the visits, with interpreters bringing history to life on Sundays throughout July and August at the main building and neighbouring cemetery and cathedral grounds. Meanwhile, an announcement about which performer will be headlining this summers Unite 150 concert June 27 on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature will be made later, said Murray. When asked about rumours local music legends and Guess Who greats Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman will be performing, Murray was tight-lipped: "Thats another announcement but hang on. As they say: you dont want to peel the onion too fast." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca A Casino Reinvestment Development Authority proposal to provide $1.2 million to convert a few vacant rooming houses wont transform Atlantic Citys housing landscape. And thats OK, at least for now, because its clear there is still no long-range vision for how to rebuild and reshape the city and its housing stock. So lets just call this proposal an experiment, test it quickly, gauge the appetite for the conversion loans. Meanwhile, both CRDA and the city should be working on developing a more thorough strategy. After decades of neglect, Atlantic Citys housing and zoning issues need to be addressed. What the city needs is a clear purpose that works for both housing inside and out of the CRDA-controlled tourism zone. This plan must be realistic and factor in the citys economy, workforce and its history. Housing options should take into account that many of the citys jobs are low-paying and therefore include homes or living options that those workers can afford. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 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 price of auto insurance has increased in the past years. Although driving their vehicles is a necessity for most drivers, some will even consider dropping coverage and become uninsured in order to escape from the increased insurance costs. However, there are some ways that can help drivers keep car insurance costs under control and even pay less on their premiums. 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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/576155/Cheap-Car-Insurance-2020-Tips--How-To-Keep-Car-Insurance-Premiums-Low NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2020 / TriPoint Global Equities/BANQ a leading electronic broker-dealer, announced today that the Firm's client SQID Technologies Limited, a payment processor completed the listing of its ordinary shares ("Shares") on the Canadian Securities Exchange "CSE" on January 21, 2020 under the symbol CSE:SQID. TriPoint acted as the North American financial advisor to the transaction. The listing was handled by a team of advisors including First Growth Funds, Joanne McClusky Barrister & Solicitor to the Company and Shape Capital. SQID is a payment processor headquartered in Australia with proprietary software. SQID's software platform enables merchants to receive debit or credit card payments online by providing a connection to an acquiring bank ("Acquirer") which is a registered member of a card network such as Visa or MasterCard ("Card Network"). The "Card Network" connects "Acquirers" to a customer's bank ("Issuing Bank") so that a customer transaction can be verified. When a customer uses a debit or credit card for a purchase, the "Acquirer" will approve or decline the transaction based on the information the Card Network and Issuing Bank have on record about that cardholder's account. The merchant submits the purchase transaction information to the payment processor ("SQID") used by its "Acquirer" via a payment gateway SQID's software) that facilitates the communication of transaction information. SQID's technology provides merchant services and transaction processing to business merchants and e-commerce customers across both "Business to Business' (B2B) and "Business to Consumer' (B2C) segments to bridge both retail and wholesale transactions through its platform. Its technology is powerfully structured to allow layered access to payment and merchant transaction data, and integrates these retail and wholesale layers (creating many separate customer nodes within the network), providing split settlements between each layer. This provides a broad platform for commission structures and transaction-based rewards that are settled at the same time as the underlying transaction is settled. The business model is applicable to significant business channels including affiliate marketing, rewards programs, franchises, marketplace apps, agencies, etc. As a "Payment Processor", SQID has contracts with merchants to handle transactions from various channels such as credit and debit cards. SQID receives a merchant fee, which is a percentage of the transaction value and also in some cases, a fee per transaction. The SQID business has a proven business model of delivering sustained profitability over time. Revenue growth has been achieved through strong growth from merchants in industries related to training and education. For the latest three-month period ending September 30, 2019: (i) the Company has reported revenues of $1,719,261, which increased 89% from $912,053 in the same quarter of fiscal 2018, delivering a normalized profit before income tax of $346,700 for the quarter (after adding back listing costs of $269,003) and (ii) 253,000 merchant transactions processed with a total transaction value of $47.9m. For the fiscal year ended June 2019, SQID reported: (i) revenues of $5,403,525 and profit before income tax of $1,147,722 reflecting a 72% increase in revenues and 85% increase in its profit before income tax over the same period for fiscal 2018, and (ii) 794,000 merchant transactions processed with a total transaction value of $145.4m reflecting an increase of 67% over the previous fiscal year, and (iii) a strong balance sheet with net assets reported at fiscal year June 2019 of $2,585,925, reflecting an increase of 47% over the same period for fiscal 2018. For further information please visit the company's corporate website at www.sqidpay.com, the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and in the Form 2A listing statement at the CSE website where its final long-form prospectus dated December 18, 2019, is available for review. "We are excited to be a member of the team who assisted SQID in their public listing on the CSE. The listing is a great accomplishment for the SQID team to help create shareholder value and to allow investors to participate in their continued success as management expands their footprint into North America," said Mark Elenowitz, CEO of TriPoint. About TriPoint and BANQ TriPoint Global Equities, LLC ("TriPoint "), a FINRA member firm, is a boutique investment bank. TriPoint focuses on providing U.S. and non-U.S. companies of up to $500 million in revenue with capital raising, corporate finance advisory services and assistance with navigating the regulatory environment for companies listing on U.S. markets. TriPoint maintains specialized practices in Reg A+ IPO's, institutional private placements, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance. BANQ, the online division of TriPoint, www.banq.co, is an electronic investment banking platform that takes the entire public and private offering process digital and online, providing access to U.S. opportunities and offerings in the U.S. markets. BANQ widely markets its offerings utilizing the new general solicitation and advertising rules promulgated by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, in response to the passage of the JOBS Act of 2012 including Reg A+ and Reg D. TriPoint has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit http://www.tripointglobalequities.com For further information please contact: Mark Elenowitz CEO TriPoint Global Equities, LLC 1450 Broadway, 26th Fl New York, NY 10018 Direct 212 732 7184 sales@tpglobal.com or: SQID Directors: Peter Hall / John O'Connor investors@sqidpay.com SOURCE: SQID Technologies Limited (SQID) View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576106/Tripoint-Global-EquitiesBanqR-Advises-Sqid-Technologies-Ltd-Listing-on-CSE Over 100 people in Sindhupalchowk district, Nepal are affected by the flu-like condition which has symptoms similar to coronavirus, according to reports. Jugal Village Council requested the central government of Nepal in an official letter on Monday to provide assistance to diagnose the cause of disease, suggest reports. The disease contracted by the citizens has symptoms like that of coronavirus, however, it hasnt been established whether they are infected with the Wuhan 2019-nCov or some other ailment. The pneumonia-like symptoms have been detected among several people and it was yet to monitor the cause of the sickness, as per the reports. People suffering from cough, high fever Lok Bahadur BK, the Chief Administrative Officer, wrote in a letter to the Ministry of Health and Population that people in Jugal Village Council's Ward no. 3, Gumba have been experiencing symptoms like that of Coronavirus. They were suffering from cough, high fever that is also a symptom of the coronavirus, it was thereby requested that the government sent over a team to identify and diagnose it at the earliest, said reports. Read Man Faces Five-year Jail Term For Pulling Off Coronavirus Prank Inside Moscow Metro Read Asian Markets Rise As Coronavirus Concerns Ease Coronavirus which first appeared in December in the Wuhan city of China has reportedly claimed at least 1,100 lives as the case toll continues to spike amid the lockdown of millions in the Hubei province of China. According to the reports,Nepal became the first South Asian nation to confirm infection from the new strain of coronavirus. WHO, which reportedly declared a global public health emergency urged the nations to opt containment measures to curb the contagion of the deadly virus that is rapidly transmitting globally raising international concerns. Hom Narayan Shreshta, Chairman of the Jugal village council told the media that the symptoms could be of viral where people depict symptoms similar to coronavirus, however the authorities had no source to confirm it. Over a 100 people in Nepal showed similar symptoms in a single day on Tuesday, he added. Read Amid Coronavirus Dread, Sony And Intel Withdraw From Mobile World Congress Read Illinois Lab Begins Testing For New Coronavirus (With inputs from agency) New Delhi, Feb 12 : Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday accepted the resignations of Delhi Congress in-charge P.C. Chacko and state president Subhash Chopra. Following the debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections, Chacko tendered his resignation on Monday while Chopra submitted it on Tuesday. As of now, Shakti Singh Gohil has been appointed as the interim in-charge of Delhi, who will also continue to look after Bihar till the final replacement is made. A notification issued by K.C. Venugopal, General Secretary (in-charge organisation) said: "Congress interim president has accepted the resignation of P.C. Chacko and Subhash Chopra. Shakti Singh Gohil has been appointed as interim in-charge." The party's internal rift came out in the open after the Congress lost the recently held Delhi Assembly elections. The party reprimanded the Delhi leaders earlier on Wednesday. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the leaders should introspect on their roles in the party campaign for the elections before blaming each other. The party, which got 22 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha polls held last year, ended up with less than a 5 per cent vote share in the Delhi Assembly elections. [February 12, 2020] Cyber Center of Excellence Launches Cyber Insiders Podcast Series SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), a San Diego-based nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating San Diego's cyber economy, today announced the launch of Cyber Insiders, a 10-part podcast series aimed at educating consumers and businesses on the cyber threat landscape, protection and risk management strategies, innovations and growing workforce needs. The new podcast series, available on iHeart Radio, brings together cyber leaders from industry, academia and government agencies including the California Guard, FBI, ESET, GoSecure, EY, Lockton, Cooley, Sentek, U.S. Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), FICO, Qualcomm, Sharp Healthcare, Teradata, Journeys Map, Booz Allen Hamilton, California State University San Marcos, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting and more. The series is hosted by Kevin Dinino, President of KCD PR, and will run through July 2020. Thefirst two episodes feature the FBI discussing the threat landscape, counterintelligence and available resources for citizens and businesses, as well as CCOE and Cyber Operations, California State Guard discussing California's cyber economy. Rear Admiral Ken Slaght, Chairman & President of CCOE commented, "Never before has cybersecurity been so front of mind in mainstream society. As talk of cyber wars and government hacking command headlines, Cyber Insiders brings together the people on the front lines to help educate the public on what's really happening, how to protect yourself as an individual or business, and to tell the story of California's thriving cyber ecosystem." Cyber Insiders is produced as part of the CASCADE II Grant, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Defense through the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, to bolster the state's defense supply chain cybersecurity resilience and innovation capacity, and to support the growth of California's cybersecurity workforce. Follow the series to receive notifications of monthly postings. About Cyber Center of Excellence The Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) is a non-profit organization that supplies the leadership and fosters collaboration, to establish San Diego as a worldwide center for cybersecurity products and services. Working together to build programs that promote cyber best practices among the key economic pillars of our community, and by promoting talent acquisition, retention and development, the CCOE aims to make San Diego a magnet for an industry that already provides 19,660 jobs and invests $2.2 billion into the San Diego economy. Learn more at www.sdccoe.org. Media Contact: Luciana Da Silva KCD PR [email protected] 619.566.7788 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cyber-center-of-excellence-launches-cyber-insiders-podcast-series-301002658.html SOURCE Cyber Center of Excellence [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Seattle, Washington--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - CFN Media (OTCQB: CNFN), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the North American cannabis industry announces publication of an article discussing the future of cannabis retail. CalEthos (OTC PINK: BUUZ) is a Southern California company stepping up to the challenge, with its innovative SHOWCASE cannabis retail store and event center concept. Cannabis has been grown and sold illicitly for generations in California. But legal sales of cannabis through retail stores is still relatively new. With black- and gray-market sellers as precursors, most cannabis dispensaries today don't stray far from the old-school medical dispensary or head-shop model - cramped and crammed with a wide variety of products pushed together on whatever shelf space is available, with little to no organization. In addition, there is a lack of in-store education about products, and the traditional marijuana culture can be intimidating for the novice cannabis consumer. With a precedent that leaves so much to be desired, cannabis retail is ripe for disruption and reinvention. CalEthos aims to bring a new level of learning and shopping to the canna-curious consumer. In a traditional dispensary, cannabis brands have a difficult time developing brand identity or connecting with consumers. There are a lot of nascent brands competing for limited shelf space, advertising and promotion is often restricted, and there is no real in-store representation or consumer education. For consumers, typical dispensaries can be uncomfortable, high-pressure environments, with little room or time to browse, and little access to product expertise or education. The SHOWCASE cannabis superstores and event centers planned by CalEthos were specifically conceived to respond to all of those pain points. With a focus on large-format spaces, direct brand representation, and accessible consumer education, the company is changing the way cannabis retailing is done. CalEthos is in the process of financing its first SHOWCASE location, with a building and the appropriate licenses already secured. Nine more stores are planned across Southern California in the next three years, an expansion that would permanently change the face of cannabis retail in the region making CalEthos one of the dominant retailers in the market. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL6Kb0MH2ts Click the Video Above to Step Inside the SHOWCASE Cannabis Superstore and Event Center Virtual Reality Tour Giving Brands a Voice Before developing the model for CalEthos' SHOWCASE venues, company founders took the time to listen to the hurdles facing cannabis product companies as they look to build their brands. Overwhelmingly, they heard the same main issues from the leading brands in California -- inadequate product display and representation and no way to connect with consumers and educate them on products. A diversified brand may produce a dozen or more strains of cannabis flower, along with lines of pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, topicals, beverages or edibles. A leading California cannabis brand can have 100 or more distinct products or SKUs. But in a traditional dispensary, that brand may only be given the space to represent a few SKUs at a time. Those products will usually be mixed in with a multitude of other brands, and there are no real incentives for dispensary workers to highlight or educate consumers about any particular product, especially when there is a line of customers waiting for service. In short, there is limited opportunity to build brand recognition and loyalty through retail dispensaries today. CalEthos' SHOWCASE stores flip the current model on its head. Each store will feature 20,000 square feet of floor space. That space will be divided up into a number of functions - retail showroom, pharmacy, event center, cafe and lounges - to give consumers an optimal experience. But the biggest innovation is in how SHOWCASE stores cater to brands. For a fee, a brand can occupy its own in-store boutique, or command a section in a kiosk or display area dedicated to a specific product type (vape, concentrates, flower/pre-roll, CBD, edibles or beverages) where they control what products are available. With the luxury of dedicated space, brands will be able to display entire product lines and introduce them directly to browsing consumers. Each boutique or product section is staffed by a brand ambassador trained in the details of each company's products. Imagine the make-up department at Nordstrom, with its Clinique, M.A.C., and Estee Lauder counters. Or the Samsung and Sony "experience shops" in Best Buy. Similarly, brands in a SHOWCASE venue can feature their products exclusively and reach consumers directly via product experts, without the expense and complication of their own retail location. Additionally, brands can use the SHOWCASE event center to highlight their products and participate in daily educational classes, workshops, seminars, and fun promotional events on everything cannabis. 3-D rendering of the Santa Ana, California SHOWCASE store. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6612/52349_29a45b26b4cadb54_002full.jpg The model is advantageous for CalEthos as well, giving the company the ability to develop a large retail space with some amount of revenue certainty derived from brand membership fees. Cannabis Consumers the Real Winners But cannabis consumers -- and especially novice or casual "canna-curious" consumers -- are the real winners here. In a SHOWCASE store, the open and inviting space allows customers to relax, explore, and learn as they shop. The pharmacy offers free medical consultation to consumers interested in using cannabis as an alternative or addition to conventional remedies. An inviting cafe and comfortable lounge areas encourage extended visits. And the event center's daily offerings lure those seeking more knowledge and community. Compared to the typical Southern California retail cannabis shopping experience, SHOWCASE provides an appeal and attractions to drive significantly larger foot traffic and intense customer loyalty. CalEthos' unique approach is summed up in its motto - "Giving brands a voice and consumers an educated choice." The Plan for Southern California CalEthos is focused solely on Southern California, the largest legal cannabis market in the world. With more than 20 million residents and 142 million visitors annually, the four most populous counties in the region (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Riverside) provide CalEthos a very large consumer base to deploy its SHOWCASE business model. California is the trendsetter for the world in general, and the cannabis industry in particular. It's the best place to launch a new cannabis retail model. The next step is opening the company's first store in Santa Ana to serve 3.2 million Orange County residents and 40+ million visitors per year, currently in the funding phase. Click Here to Receive a CalEthos Investor Presentation & Company Updates The Upshot Businesses succeed when they find gaps and pain points in a market, then solve them. CalEthos has identified several such pain points, for both brands and consumers, and conceived one elegant retail response to them all. While other retail industries have struggled with the rise of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands, brick-and-mortar experiences remain critical in cannabis. As the industry looks to expand and thrive beyond the niche pot culture, innovation in retail learning and shopping experiences will be essential. CalEthos is driving that kind of innovation, and it looks to prove its concept across Southern California. Stay tuned Ready to SHOWCASE your Brand? Click Here to Apply. For Additional Information on CalEthos Please Visit the website at: https://www.calethos.com Click here to read the full article: http://bit.ly/31PKzAa Click Here to Receive CFN Media's Newsletter Every Week in Your Inbox About CFN Media CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN) is the owner and operator of CFN Media, the leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the legal cannabis industry. For Visitors and Viewers CFN Media's Cannabis Financial Network (CannabisFN.com) is the destination for savvy investors and business people profiting from the worldwide cannabis industry. Viewers will see breaking news, exclusive content and original programming involving the people, companies and investments shaping the industry. For Cannabis Businesses & Companies CFN Media is a leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the cannabis industry. We help private, pre-public and public cannabis companies in the US and Canada attract capital, investors and media attention. Our powerful digital media and distribution platform conveys a company's message and value proposition directly to accredited and retail investors and national media active in the North American cannabis markets. Since 2013, CFN Media has enabled the world's preeminent cannabis companies to thrive in the capital and public markets. Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: https://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/ Disclaimer The above article is sponsored content. CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, have been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/ CalEthos MIchael Campbell mc@calethos.com 714-352-5315 CFN Enterprises President Frank Lane 206-369-7050 Flane@cannabisfn.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52349 13.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard When asked about his interference in Roger Stones sentencing, Trump claimed he has the right to tell the DOJ what to do. Trump said, No. I didnt speak to the Justice, but I have the absolute right to do it if I want. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldnt believe, but I didnt speak to them. I thought the recommendation was ridiculous. I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous, and I look at others who havent been prosecuted, but when you see that, I thought it was an insult to our country, and it shouldnt happen, but well see what goes on there, but that was a horrible aberration. These are the same Mueller people Video: Asked about Roger Stone, Trump says he has an absolute right to tell the Justice Department what to do pic.twitter.com/AZRv9Aff7P Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 11, 2020 Trump does not have the absolute right to do anything, except resign. He is not a king. The Constitution does not give presidents absolute rights or unlimited powers. Trump didnt have to speak directly to Barr. He communicated his displeasure with a tweet, but no one should believe a president who is approaching 20,000 lies in office. Of course, Trump intervened to help Stone. He overruled federal prosecutors and corrupted the DOJ in a way that is a disgrace to the nation. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook A few days ago, it was confirmed by KGF director Prashanth Neel that actress Raveena Tandon has joined the team and will soon commence shooting for her portions. And now, the first picture of the actress from the set was shared by leading man Yash himself. Yash took to social media to welcome Raveena on board and wrote, Ramika Sen may not be welcome to Rocky's territory.. but Raveena Ma'am is definitely more than welcome to Yash's hometown!! It's a pleasure having you onboard ma'am !! Let's have a blast (sic) Raveena too shared a stylish video with the Rocking star and wrote, When looks can kill.. the death warrant has been signed on Rocky..#kgfchapter2 #RamikaSen #rockykgf @hombalefilms @prashant_neel @thenameisyash @duttsanjay #hotnhappening For the uninitiated, Raveena will be seen in the role of a cop named Ramika Sen. In a recent interview, the actress also opened up about shooting in Mysuru for KGF. Raveena said, Mysuru reminds me of the old Bangalore of the '80s and '90s. I have travelled to Mysuru many times, as some of my dear friends live in the city, and I am very familiar with this place, says the actor, adding that she also loves travelling to Nagarhole and Kabini. I love going to the forest, and I think I will make that trip again before I head back to Mumbai. I always felt that the people of Mysuru are really lucky. I hope it doesnt turn out to be what Bengaluru is today. Produced by Hombale Films, KGF: Chapter 2 will also see Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt in the role of the main antagonist, Adheera along with Sreenidhi Shetty, Anant Nag, Malavika Avinash and Vasista Simha in pivotal roles. The highly anticipated Sandalwood biggie is all set to release in the latter half of 2020. ALSO READ: KGF Star Yash Shows Humbleness In This Viral Video; Watch ALSO READ: Yash Starrer KGF: Chapter 2 Enters The Final Phase Of Shooting 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, 11 February 2020. PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 11 February 2020 was 27.73 USD 21.40 GBP and year-to-date performance was 2.9%. 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/20200212005916/en/ Contacts: Media Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk On Tuesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey received the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Australia, His Excellency Dr Alexey Pavlovsky, and Mrs Olga Pavlovskaya, accompanied by the Attache, Embassy of the Russian Federation, Ms Svetlana Vorobeva and Honorary Consul-General of the Russian Federation, Mrs Irina Bruk. Following, at St Josephs College, Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill, His Excellency attended St Josephs College Scholars Assembly, and the Governor addressed students and guests and presented awards. In the afternoon, at Government House, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey received a briefing and hosted an afternoon reception for the Advisory Board of the Committee for Brisbane, and the Governor addressed guests. A Syrian man was killed and another was wounded in a rare clash on Wednesday between American troops and a group of government supporters who tried to block a US convoy driving through a village in northeastern Syria, state media and activists reported. The state-run media said the man killed was a civilian. He was among residents of a village east of the town of Qamishli who had gathered at an army checkpoint, pelting the US convoy with stones and taking down an American flag from one of the vehicles. At that point, American troops fired with live ammunition and smoke bombs at the residents, the reports said. A US military spokesperson said coalition forces conducting a patrol near Qamishli encountered a checkpoint occupied by pro-Syrian government forces. After coalition troops issued a series of warnings in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the patrol came under small-arms fire from unknown individuals, coalition spokesperson Myles Caggins said. In self-defence, coalition troops returned fire. The situation was de-escalated and is under investigation, he added in a statement. Air Force lieutenant colonel Carla Gleason, travelling with the US defence secretary in Brussels, said no Americans were killed in the incident. Syrias children waiting in doorways Show all 17 1 /17 Syrias children waiting in doorways Syrias children waiting in doorways Shayma al Hassan, five, a Syrian refugee born in Lebanon Her family arrived from the city of Halab in 2014. They lived on the perimeter of Halab airport in Syria, which was under control of the Syrian Free Army. As they fled under the cover of darkness by car they saw dead bodies of families lining the pavements and roads near their home. They would love to return to Syria at some point in time but life in Lebanon is better than a war zone. Lack of water, and financial handouts being cut by aid agencies means the family have less access to food. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Ahmed Abdulaziz Farai, three, was born a Syrian refugee in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon His family arrived in 2014 from the city of Raqqa. They were faced with the impossible dilemma, stay in Syria and face conscription to the government regime, join Isis who were in full swing or leave to neighbouring Lebanon that has shouldered approximately 2 million refugees from Syria. Ahmeds father, Abdulaziz, who works as a painter and decorator is yet to be paid four months wages by his Lebanese employers, putting enormous financial strain on his family. They all want to return home to Syria if they can together as a family if the situation allows it in the future. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Warda al Hammoud, nine, from Reef Halab in Syria arrived at Mohsin Yaseen Camp, Bekka Valley They fled fierce fighting between government forces and Isis. Airstrikes destroyed their home. After settling on the Turkish border for two months they decided to move to Lebanon. Smugglers demanded $1200 (950) to facilitate passage for the family. They work eight-hour days for $13 per day to ensure that all bills are paid. Warda is in grade 1 in school and has hopes one day to become a doctor. The family prayers during the holy month of Ramadan is to return home to Syria one day. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Sharook Sbaa, nine, lives in Jaraheyi Camp in the Bekaa Valley She arrived in Lebanon in 2013 from Reef Halab. The journey to Lebanon took three days across the mountain using smugglers at a cost of $300. Sharooks mother, Tharah, tripped and fell, breaking her arm on the journey whilst six months pregnant. The Syrian Free Army destroyed their schools because they were funded by the regime state. She dreams of becoming a doctor. Tharah laughs, turns to Sharook and said how can you possibly dream of becoming a doctor if you have never been to school? Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Waedad Sheikh, seven, is a Syrian refugee from Haleb She arrived with her family in the Bekaa Valley in 2013. Her mother Malachy ran away with the children, alone, as her husband was working away at the time to provide an income for his family. They left with only the clothes on their backs as the neighbouring homes were being bombarded by heavy tank artillery and airstrikes. Waedad was extremely scared as they came across the mountain that they may be caught by officials. She dreams of being able to go to school one day soon, although, her request for enrollment has been rejected many times due to lack of funding. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Hiba al Masader five, was born in a refugee camp in Lebanon Hiba suffers from hay fever and cant stop rubbing her eyes. Her hands are covered in dirt and bacteria from the camp where rats live among the rubbish, open sewers and drains. Her father Ghadeer explains that doctors are concerned her eyes are becoming infected. This could permanently damage her vision unless regular medication is purchased at a cost of $5 per week Ghadeer simply can no longer afford. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Aziz, six, and Majid Al Haj Mohamed nine, arrived from Reef Halab with their family in 2014 after crossing over the mountains The family now live in Jaraheyi Camp in the Bekaa Valley. They work prising scrap metal from the dirt of the camp and the surrounding land, which they sell to dealers for 65p/kg. When asked what they were working to be able to afford, they replied: We just want to be able to help our families to buy food. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Hiba Alawad Hilali 10, and her family arrived in Lebanon from Raqa in Syria in 2017 They were illegally smuggled across the mountains and entered the country like so many others. Isis had taken control of Raqqa, residents of the city like Hiba and her family were prisoners in their own homes without access to regular food or water. She passes the time by playing hopscotch with her friends. However she has never been to school or sat in a classroom. Hiba can only write her name but she still dreams of becoming a teacher one day. The family have made several applications for her to go to school only for it to be rejected on the basis there is no space and no funding for new classes or facilities. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Aymen al Yasr, six, arrived from Raqa in Syria in 2016 and now lives in the Bekaa Valley They fled their home after a neighbours house was hit by airstrikes, killing all members of the household. Aymens father made the passage to Lebanon ahead of the family to find the safest route and then returned to collect them. Aymen has made good friends in the camp and has started grade one in satellite school operated in the camp for restricted hours in the week. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Yasmeen Ahmed, eight, left Alleppo, Syria when war broke out in 2012 They had very little access to food or water and so were forced to become refugees in neighbouring Lebanon. They feel it would be impossible to return back to Syria not knowing if they have anything to return to. The UN provide $200 per month for the whole family which must provide for eight people. The family explained they urgently need funds to ease the financial burden here at Mohsin Yaseen Camp in the Bekaa Valley. The rent on their tarpaulin tent is $150 per month excluding electricity. The family have an $800 loan from the camp shop which they are struggling to repay as the family have been in various forms of employment but have been without any work for two months. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Louay Al Hassan, five, a Syrian refugee at Mohsin Yaseen Camp, Bekka Valley, Lebanon, arrived from Reef Halab in 2017 During the time in which they fled, Isis had infiltrated all the neighbouring towns and villages. They were trapped. The only available option was to plan their escape under the cover of darkness. They used boats to escape across rivers. Louay and his family live on less than a dollar per day each which covers food, heating and any other expenses. They have to pay $100 ground rent for their tent to their Lebanese landlord. Landlords evict tenants immediately if they miss one months rent. They mainly eat rice and cant afford to buy vegetables that often. Meat is the rarest of luxuries, at a cost of around $17 per kg for lamb. The family run a credit line of up to $700 with the camp shop in order to survive. Louay and his mother Khadeeja wish during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims worldwide to be able to return to Syria with dignity. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Azzadin Jassam, eight, from Reef Halab, arrived in Lebanon in 2012 as civil warfare engulfed the country They arrived illegally over the mountains with smugglers at a cost of $400. His father Zacharia currently works in a restaurant as a cleaner, until harvest season when he will start picking potatoes in the fields for around $10 for eight hours per day. Azzadins youngest sister, Jaydeh, lies on the floor of the family tent, wrapped in a blanket to protect her from the draft finding its way in. Zacharia raises her trouser leg and jumper to reveal her painfully emaciated and skeletal frame. Jaydeh has been sent home by a Lebanese hospital to die. The family, powerless, could no longer afford to fund the hospital bills. At six months old she caught a virus which in turn restricted the supply of oxygen to the brain. She has led a mainly normal life in part, however, the past few months has seen her condition deteriorate. Jaydeh died that afternoon in the camp. His fathers wish during the holy month of Ramadan is to have my beautiful daughter alive with us. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Najwah Alawi, 12, a Syrian refugee, arrived in Lebanon from Todmor, Homs, in 2014 Life was extremely difficult when war broke out in Syria. Food was incredibly scarce. They were forced to sell their livestock to pay for food. Najwahs father has been forced to take whatever employment he can to ensure the family is provided for. The family rely on handouts of food from the Syrian community of refugees. Najwah is fortunate to attend a government-funded school paid for by a private donor; she is the cleverest girl in her year and has hopes of becoming a doctor in the future. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Yasr al Ali, 10, arrived from Raqqa in 2016, displaced through civil war Yasrs family had to run from the Syrian regime and Isis arriving on foot across the mountain pass. He explains life here is really hard, I miss my home in Syria. Yasr is in grade KG3 in school and hopes to become a businessman when he completes his schooling. He dreams of one day being able to buy a house and a car. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Aisha Sheikh, two, was born in the camp. Her family They arrived to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon in 2013 Her mother Malachy ran away with the kids alone as her husband was working away at the time to provide an income for his family. They left with only the clothes on their backs as the neighbouring homes were being bombarded by heavy tank artillery and airstrikes. There has been no news from relatives in Syria for over six years. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Hassan Khudr, six, arrived from Haleb in Syria in 2014 and now lives in the Bekaa Valley They fled their home after a neighbours house was hit by a shell. He has made good friends in the camp. His mother Aisha explains that life is extremely hard in the camps and the winter was so cold with heavy rainfall for prolonged periods causing the settlements to flood. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Syrias children waiting in doorways Ghayda Jassam, five, born a Syrian refugee in Lebanon Her family escaped civil war, arrived from Reef Halab in 2012, illegally over the mountains with smugglers at a cost of $400. Her father Zacharia currently works in a restaurant as a cleaner, until harvest season when he will start picking potatoes in the fields for around $10 for eight hours per day. Paddy Dowling/Muslim Aid Hundreds of US troops are stationed in northeastern Syria, working with their local partners from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to fight against the Islamic State group. The US carries out patrols in northeastern Syria, but it was not immediately clear why the convoy drove into a government-controlled area. The incident marks a rare confrontation involving US and Syrian troops in the crowded region where Russian forces are also deployed - and is certain to further escalate tensions. State-run Al-Ikhbariya TV aired a mobile phone video showing an armoured vehicle flying a US flag standing on a rural road while a car appeared to be blocking its way. Locals are seen walking past the US armoured vehicle, with at least two soldiers inside, one of whom steps down as civilians approach. One civilian is seen tearing a US flag as he approaches the soldier. The TV said protests spread, preventing reinforcements from coming to help the US convoy. The report said the wounded civilian and was being treated at the Qamishli hospital. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said residents and armed pro-government militiamen in Khirbet Ammu blocked the path of a US convoy. The militia fired in the air, prompting the American troops to fire smoke bombs. Tension escalated and US troops killed one person, the Observatory said. The Observatory, which has a network of activists on the ground, said it is not clear if the killed was a civilian or a militia member. The Observatory also said that a Russian convoy arrived on the scene to defuse the tension. The Syrian war, now in its ninth year, has pulled in international players including the US, Russia and Turkey. Russia has supported president Bashar al-Assad's government, while Turkey is the rebels' main backer. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will attack Syrian government forces anywhere in Syria if another Turkish soldier is hurt. He added that Turkey is determined to force the Syrian military back from the gains it has made in the northwestern province of Idlib by the end of February. As of today, in the event of any minor harm to our soldiers, I announce that we will strike regime forces everywhere without being bound to Idlib or the boundaries of the Sochi agreement, Mr Erdogan told a ruling party meeting in Ankara. Forces loyal to Mr Assad, backed by Russian air cover, have been advancing into the last rebel-held areas of Idlib and nearby Aleppo countryside, seizing dozens of towns and sparking a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Recommended Five Turkish soldiers killed by Assad forces in deadly escalation Under a 2018 agreement with Russia in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Turkey established a dozen military observation posts in Idlib, where it backs some opposition groups. Several of these posts have been surrounded by government forces in recent weeks. At least 13 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Syrian artillery fire this month. Mr Erdogan said he had spoken to Russian president Vladimir Putin by telephone about the situation in Idlib. The Kremlin said that the phone conversation underlined the need to fully implement the Russian-Turkish agreements. Mr Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that despite a pledge by Turkey, militants in Idlib have continued to launch attacks on Syrian troops and threaten Russian facilities in Syria. It's inadmissible and it runs contrary to the Sochi agreements, Mr Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. Associated Press PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 15:31:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 561 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Red Lake Gold Inc. (CSE:RGLD)(FWB:P11) ("Red Lake Gold" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's-length agreement to acquire the Fenelon North Gold Project which is situated near mining projects being advanced by Wallbridge Mining Company Limited ("Wallbridge Mining") and Great Thunder Gold Corp. ("Great Thunder Gold")."Among other features, the Fenelon North project has substantial coverage of the Jeremie Pluton which is an intrusive structure that has recently come to be understood as increasingly important to gold mineralization discovered in the area (see recent news releases and public disclosures by Great Thunder Gold and Wallbridge Mining). As reference, the Northbound project recently announced by Great Thunder Gold is located entirely within the Jeremie Pluton.Fenelon North provides RGLD shareholders with ownership of a large-scale tenure position in an emerging exploration hot spot while achieving that prospective upside in a very low-risk and highly accretive manner.As a result of the transaction announced today, stockholders of Red Lake Gold stand to directly benefit from geological developments that may result from a broadening of exploration in the Fenelon area," stated Ryan Kalt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Red Lake Gold.The Corporation cautions that results or discoveries on proximal or adjacent properties may not necessarily be indicative as to the presence of mineralization on the Fenelon North Gold Project.Fenelon North Gold Project ( https://www.redlakegold.ca/fenelon_north) The Fenelon North Gold Project is comprised of two primary claim blocks, one situated approximately 1km west of the claim boundary of Great Thunder Gold's Northbound project and the other situated approximately 2.5km northeast of the claim boundary of Wallbridge Mining's Fenelon project. The project is also contiguous to tenure held by Balmoral Resources Ltd.Figure 1: Map of the Fenelon North Gold ProjectSee also an available online map:Recent work by Great Thunder Gold on its nearby Northbound project has outlined Long Wave InfraRed ("LWIR") survey data (see Great Thunder Gold Corp. news release, Great Thunder Options Northbound Gold Property dated February 4, 2020) which also contains areas of interest to Red Lake Gold that are covered by the Fenelon North Gold Project.A map of regional geology associated with the Fenelon North Gold Project can be found at:The Fenelon North Gold Project was acquired for nominal consideration. A pre-existing two percent royalty on the claims was assumed by the Corporation.Qualified PersonToby Hughes, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101, who has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information presented in this news release.On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsRyan KaltChairman & Chief Executive OfficerEmail: info@ redlakegold.ca Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently expected or forecast in such statements.Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Red Lake Gold Inc. The country's top industry regulator has unveiled new measures, including financial support, to encourage smalland medium-sized enterprises to resume production as early as possible. The move is part of China's broader efforts to maintain economic stability and help companies weather temporary difficulties caused by the novel coronavirus epidemic. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in its latest notice that it will spare no efforts to help companies resume production after the Lunar New Year holiday. A string of 20 measures have been unveiled to support SMEs and help boost their innovation capabilities. On the premise of ensuring employees' health, companies are encouraged to start normal operations. One of the top priorities is to implement favorable tax policies designed for crucial medical equipment makers, the ministry said. The ministry also said it has encouraged local governments to roll out their own favorable fiscal policies to support SMEs. Also, more efforts will be made to help SMEs better apply for loans from banks and adopt cutting-edge technologies to advance digital transformation. Song Xuanyi, an expert at the China Centre for Promotion of SME Development, said favorable tax and fiscal policies are crucial for boosting the confidence of SMEs in weathering the temporary difficulties. Apart from helping lower production costs for companies, measures have also been promised for financial support to SMEs to sustain employment, Song said. A number of Chinese companies have already resumed normal operations. Zhang Ying, deputy head of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, said on Monday that 80 percent of Shanghai manufacturing enterprises surveyed by the commission are willing to resume production. Also, 80 percent of software enterprises in Shanghai have started normal operations, with 70 percent of them engaged in remote work from home, Zhang said. In Shandong province, most medical supplies companies have also gone back to work, with some producing masks, protective suits and goggles. As of Thursday, 32 mask makers in the province have been running at full capacity, data from the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Shandong province show. Also, about 1,268 enterprises in the province said they have restarted or are ready to immediately restart operations. To maintain stability and promote healthy economic development amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, measures have already been taken to facilitate work resumption in different places in China. Staff members have disinfected workshops and self-protection training has also been offered to prevent staff from being infected by the novel coronavirus in East and South China. Song said all the above measures will lay down a relatively sound base to help enterprises to smoothly resume work. Top leader stresses Wuhan win vital to national virus fight Medical personnel at a centralized isolation point in Wuhan express confidence in winning this relentless battle against the novel coronavirus. Photo: Cui Meng/GT China vows to win the battle against the coronavirus while the epicenter of the disease has now entered a critical stage amid this people's war against the epidemic, forcing local authorities to deal with a management crisis and respond to public discontent discontent more efficiently. Although new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outside Central China's Hubei Province, where the highly contagious virus originated, has been dropping for seven consecutive days, as showed by the official data, the situation in Wuhan, the capital city of the province, remains a core challenge. During a video call with medical care personnel in Wuhan on Monday, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said epidemic prevention and control work is at a critical stage and we must persist and resolutely win the defensive battle in Wuhan and Hubei, which will also guarantee a national victory against the virus, according to Xinhua News Agency. Total confirmed cases nationwide reached 42,725 as of Tuesday with the death toll hitting 1,017, and suspected cases reaching 21,675. The epidemic-stricken Hubei saw confirmed cases rise to 31,728 with 974 deaths. The epidemic situation outside Hubei has shown downward trends, as other provincial-level regions have recorded decreasing numbers of new confirmed cases for the seventh consecutive day, He Qinghua, an official from the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press briefing on Tuesday. However, analysts advise that people should not be too optimistic as the turning point has not emerged yet given the mass migration during the return travel rush. And the most challenging battleground is still in Wuhan. While some experts suggested that continuous decreasing numbers of confirmed cases show that the inflection point outside Hubei is expected to arrive in about 10 days, Zhong Nanshan, China's top epidemiologist, told the Global Times via a video call interview on Tuesday that the inflection point of the outbreak cannot be predicted now. "It may peak in mid or late-February," he said. Facing dire circumstances, the whole country has stepped up efforts in supporting Wuhan and Hubei in fighting the battle. Medical workers cheer for each other before setting off for Wuhan in Hubei Province, in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 2, 2020. The second batch of 122 medical workers from Henan set off on Sunday to aid the coronavirus control efforts in Wuhan. (Xinhua/Li An) All-out efforts As of Sunday, 165 medical teams in total from 29 provinces and municipalities including three teams from military hospitals arrived in the province to join the battle, discontentinvolving 19,916 personnel, according to media reports. Of them, 152 teams with 18,226 medical staff have been dispatched to all designated hospitals in Wuhan to treat patients infected with the coronavirus, while the other 13 teams have been arranged to serve hospitals in prefecture-level cities like Huanggang, Xiaogan and Ezhou. Local authorities in Wuhan have also launched citywide carpet screenings on suspected cases and the city's Party secretary Ma Guoqiang vowed to test all suspected cases of the NCP by Tuesday. Meanwhile, as part of enhanced measures in fighting against the virus, local authorities have set up checkpoints in residential areas to cut contagious channels starting from Tuesday, and Global Times reporters saw medical staff in protective suits standing at those checkpoints. "We have arranged 1,930 beds and all the medical staff available for work are now at the frontline, it's indeed the final battle," Cheng Cai, a veteran doctor at Wuhan's Tongji Hospital, told the Global Times on Tuesday. However, hospitals in Wuhan are still facing shortages of supplies, and many medical personnel have been overworked, in addition to the fact that the characteristics of this virus remain unknown, "these are the major challenges for us," Cheng said. Major hospitals at the epicenter still face supply shortages due to a grim situation and heavy workloads, and hospitals such as Jinyintan and Central Hospital asked for public donations including supplies like N95 masks, protective suits and protective goggles, the Hubei Health Commission said in a post published on Tuesday. A photo of Li Wenliang is among the flowers people sent to the Central Hospital of Wuhan on Saturday. Photo: Cui Meng/GT Public discontent Incompetence and slow response to the crisis at the early stage of the outbreak has put local authorities of Wuhan and Hubei under spotlight while the public urged that those officials who failed to raise the alarm in the first place and fulfill their duties should be held accountable for the people who have been suffering, some of whom lost their loved ones. Zhang Jin, Party secretary of the Hubei Provincial Health Committee, and Liu Yingzi, director of the committee, were both removed from office, China Central Television reported on Tuesday. Wang Hesheng, a veteran health official whose last post was in the NHC, is now assigned to take the two posts. Wang is also one of the members of the central government group assigned to take charge of epidemic control work. Wang Hongwei, a professor at the Renmin University School of Public Administration and Policy, told the Global Times that sacking two senior officials from the Hubei health commission is a response to public sentiment, which was fermenting after their once-a-year Spring Festival holidays were ruined and ordinary people's lives disrupted by the viral outbreak. "They believe someone should be held responsible and take the blame." Some online voices went further to demand more Hubei officials be punished for "their misjudgment and poor performance," but Wang slammed such a suggestion as an "irrational request." He agreed the Hubei government, although informing the virus, failed to respond in a timely manner. Other slacking of duty, such as unaware of the quantity of medical resources at the press conference, deserve indignation. But the central government already sent investigation teams to probe into this matter, decisions regarding the appointment and dismissal of officials should be based on results of their investigations, said Wang. The most pressing task now is not to claim credit or level accusations on certain officials, it's the fight against the virus. The majority of officials working on the frontline of viral prevention needed more support from the public, not finger pointing, according to analysts. Enhanced measures taken by local authorities showed some progress, reflecting by the latest data. Mi Feng, spokesperson of NHC, said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that the number of newly reported suspected cases reached a peak on February 5 with 2,071 and dropped to 961 on Monday, showing that Wuhan has been pushing forward steadily in the campaign of rounding up all patients and suspected patients for collective treatment. Ma Guoqiang, the Party Secretary of Wuhan, told a press conference on Monday night that 99 percent of local population has been screened, sparking online discontent as netizens continue publishing SOS posts on the Chinese Twitter-like Weibo in recent days, yearning for help and public attention regarding their family members who could not receive proper treatment. Also, some online rumors, with the aim of tarnishing the reputation of the public administration in Wuhan city, continue circulating, claiming that medical supplies brought by aid teams from Shanghai have been stolen. . The government of Wuhan and Hubei Province seemed to be panicked after the outbreak, they rushed into making serious enforcement measures all at once, Liu Yuanju, a research fellow at the Shanghai Institute of Finance and Law, told the Global Times. "At a crucial time like this, the public can be easily panicked; but officials are here to calm them down and come up with effective countermeasures," Liu noted. As more people are treating the virus with a more rational attitude after they saw the accumulated data collected in recent days showing fatality rates of the virus are relatively low, we are at another stage of fighting the virus, both the public and the Hubei government should treat it with more rationality and practicability, he added. VEX Collective/iStock(ATLANTA) -- An Atlanta firefighter was suspended without pay for reportedly breaking protocol when he went into a burning home to save a 95-year-old woman. Yet questions around what exactly led to the suspension remain, and whether or not policies were in fact breached. Capt. Daniel Dwyer, a 15-year veteran with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, responded to a fire on Collier Drive on June 27, 2019, according to a copy of the complaint against him signed by Fire Chief Randall Slaughter last week and obtained by ABC News Wednesday. The complaint states that Dwyer broke policy by entering the home "without your crew members, which is in immediate conflict with no freelancing, accountability and maintaining crew integrity." A video of the incident, also obtained by ABC News, shows the house engulfed in flames. The actual sequence of events at the fire is unclear, including the actions of the first responders before the video begins, but the footage shows multiple firefighters at the scene and one pulling what appears to be a person out of the house. Sgt. Cortez Stafford, a spokesman for the fire department, told ABC News while he had not seen the complaint, he was under the impression that Dwyer entered the home on his own. "We have a policy that states that for firefighters making an entry or making a rescue, they need to make sure that they're with the crew if something goes wrong," Stafford said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "Apparently that didn't happen in this instance." But Paul Gerdis, the president of Atlanta Professional Fire Fighters, the local branch of the International Association of Fire Fighters union, disagreed. Gerdis told ABC News Dwyer entered the home with two other crew members. Those two firefighters were trying to suppress the flames while Dwyer conducted a search of the first floor, according to Gerdis. Dwyer successfully located the woman and pulled her out, but she later died from her injuries, according to Gerdis. Gerdis called Dwyer's suspension "absolutely odd." Stafford said in his 14 years with the department, he could not recall a similar suspension. Gerdis said that while policies are always in place, those are meant to protect the firefighters. "It goes against the American Fire Service to punish firefighters for acts of valor," Gerdis said. "When a citizen's life is on the line, safety protocols for the firefighters need to be set aside." When reached by ABC News, Dwyer said he could not comment because he is appealing his suspension. Dwyer will be suspended without pay on Thursday and Sunday, considering firefighters work 24-hour shifts, according to a copy of the complaint. Gerdis noted that while the department was investigating Dwyer's actions, he was promoted from lieutenant to captain and now works in the firehouse nearest the home where the incident happened. "He's got to live with the guilt of not being able to rescue this homeowner, and now he's facing the 48 hours without pay after being put into the territory of this homeowner," Gerdis said. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Members of the 55th Electronic Combat Group stand in formation during the final flight of an EC-130H Compass Call at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, January 15, 2020. The aircraft that was retired was the first specially modified aircraft for the Compass Call mission. US Air Force/Senior Airman Christina Rios The first EC-130H "Compass Call" aircraft, modified to disrupt enemy communications, arrived at at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona in March 1982. That aircraft, tail number 1587, made its final flight over Arizona in January this year. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. On March 19, 1982, the first specially modified EC-130H "Compass Call" aircraft, tail number 1587, arrived at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. On January 15, 2020, the aircraft made its final flight over the skies of Arizona. The Compass Call aircraft is an airborne tactical weapon system used to disrupt enemy command and control communications and limit adversary coordination essential for enemy force management. The aircraft, assigned to the 55th Electronic Group, supported various missions over its 37 years including, but not limited to, Operations Inherent Resolve, Iraqi Freedom and Desert Storm. "The retirement of aircraft 73-01587 is a historic event for the US Air Force and a proud moment for the EC-130H COMPASS CALL program," said US Air Force Col. Phil Acquaro, 55th ECGcommander. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call US Air Force/Senior Airman Christina Rios "In March 1982, 'Kermit' entered USAF's ranks as the first aircraft modified into an airborne electronic attack platform to answer the nation's call to enhance defense of American and allied interests in Europe. Its service culminated in closeto 29,000 flight hours, almost 11,000 of which have been in direct support of combat operations." The 55th ECG, a geographically separated unit from Offutt AFB, Nebraska, is the only Compass Call unit in the Air Force and the service's longest continuously deployed unit since 2001. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call US Air Force/Senior Airman Christina Rios "We have been supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom Sentinel since they began and the unit as a whole had a rotation out since, minus September through December 2002; thatwas the last time the 55 ECG has been able to celebrate the holidays as a whole," said Master Sgt. Michael Meredith, 755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. Story continues Air Force EC-130H Compass Call US Air Force/Senior Airman Christina Rios This may be the end of A1587's flying career, but the aircraft will continue to represent the 55th ECG as it is scheduled to be modified into a static aircraft, placed in front of the ECGcampus. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call US Air Force/Senior Airman Christina Rios "Aircraft 1587's legacy was derived from the blood, sweat and tears of the thousands of Americans that designed, built, maintained and flew this aircraft for the last 37 years," said Acquaro. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens "Over the years, the nickname has changed from Kermit to Reaper. This respected aircraft has been through numerous modifications to keep pace with evolving technology and satiate new mission requirements by combatant commanders. Reaper has delivered preciseelectronic fires to disrupt our adversary's command and control networks and save lives of American and coalition forces around the world. It has served with distinction and it is a proud day as we salute its last flight." While the EC-130H fleet reaches the end of its lifespan, the EC-37B Compass Call is slated to start replacing the fleet to keep the mission alive and jamming our adversary's communications. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Martinez Compass Call.JAMS!! Read the original article on Business Insider The World Health Organization warns against predictions that the outbreak is slowing, as UK confirms first London case. The World Health Organization has cautioned it is way too early to say whether the new coroanvirus, COVID-19, might have peaked or when it might end, following a drop in the number of new cases. The warning came shortly before the United Kingdom confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in its bustling capital, London. The death toll in mainland China continues to climb, with 1,113 deaths and 44,653 infections reported on Wednesday. Most deaths are in Hubei province and its capital city of Wuhan, where the virus originated. At least 25 countries have confirmed cases and several nations have evacuated their citizens from Hubei. Two deaths have been recorded outside mainland China one in Hong Kong and one in the Philippines . The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned the virus poses a grave threat to the world, with chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, saying the virus could have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action. Here are the latest updates: Wednesday, February 12 UK confirms new case, first in London The UK has confirmed its ninth case of coronavirus, saying the latest patient the first in London had caught the virus while in China. One further patient in England has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases in the UK to nine, Christ Whitty, chief medical officer for England said in a statement. This virus was passed on in China and the patient has now been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at Guys and St Thomas in London. Update on #coronavirus: A further patient in England has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases in the UK to nine. The individual acquired the virus in China. More information: https://t.co/JxyPR6oLcN pic.twitter.com/NK5F3ggs7P Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) February 12, 2020 Read more about which countries have confirmed cases here. Mobile World Congress cancelled The Mobile World Congress tech conference has been cancelled after several major companies pulled out over coronavirus fears, the GSMA telecoms association said. With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event, John Hoffman, the CEO of organiser GSMA, said in a statement. WHO says way too early to predict end of coronavirus The UN health agency has cautioned it is way too early to say whether COVID-19 might have peaked or when it might end, following a drop in the number of new cases. I think its way too early to predict the beginning, the middle or the end of this epidemic right now, Michael Ryan, head of WHOs health emergencies programme told reporters. Pope prays for coronavirus victims Pope Francis has prayed for victims of Chinas cruel coronavirus. A prayer goes out to our Chinese brothers and sisters who are suffering from such a cruel disease, the pontiff said during his weekly general audience at the Vatican. May they find the road to recovery as soon as possible, he said. Pope Francis has made reference to the coronavirus several times since the outbreak began [Reuters/Remo Casilli] Spaniards repatriated from China to be discharged All 19 Spanish citizens who were repatriated from China on January 31 will be discharged from hospital on Thursday after testing negative for the coronavirus, the government said. They have been under quarantine in a military hospital in Madrid since being evacuated from Wuhan on a flight arranged in cooperation with the UK. Air China cancels flights to Greece through March 18 Air China has cancelled all flights to Athens, Greece from February 17 to March 18 as a precaution to stem the coronavirus outbreak, a company official in Greece said. Air China previously flew to Athens three times a week on Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays. Vodafone joins Mobile World Congress exodus Vodafone, the worlds second largest mobile operator said it was pulling out of Barcelonas Mobile World Congress because of the coronavirus outbreak, joining an exodus of major Europeans players. Vodafone has been carefully monitoring the news on the coronavirus and has noted the recent warnings from the World Health Organization, the company said. After careful consideration, we have decided to withdraw from this years Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Cambodia to allow cruise ship shunned over virus fears to dock Cambodia has agreed to let a cruise ship that has been turned away by five countries over fears that someone on board may have the coronavirus dock and disembark its passengers, the Holland America Line said. For nearly two weeks, the MS Westerdam, a ship of healthy passengers, had been sailing throughout Asia after being turned away by Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Guam and the Philippines. We will immediately begin making our way to Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Westerdam captain Vincent Smit told passengers, according to a recording of the announcement reviewed by Reuters news agency. OPEC says coronavirus to trim 2020 oil demand OPEC cut its forecast for global growth in oil demand this year due to the coronavirus outbreak and said its output fell sharply in January as producers implemented a new supply-limiting pact. In a monthly report, OPEC said 2020 demand for its crude will average 29.30 million barrels per day (bpd) 200,000 bpd less than previously thought. Chinese president promises aid to industries hit by virus Chinese President Xi Jinping promised tax cuts and other aid to industries hurt by the virus outbreak in a renewed effort to rein in the rising damage to Chinas economy. Xis announcement comes as companies face increasing losses due to the closure of factories, offices, shops and many other businesses in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed. The measures have disrupted travel and other industries. Beijing needs to maintain stable economic operation and social harmony, Xi said in comments broadcast on state television. Formula One postpones Chinese Grand Prix Formula One organisers have postponed the Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled in Shanghai on April 19, because of the outbreak of the coronavirus. Motorsport federation FIA said, along with Formula One, it had accepted a request from the promoter to postpone the race. The Chinese Grand Prix was set to be the fourth race of the season [File: Aly Song/Reuters] A potential alternative date later in the year will be looked at if the health situation improves, a statement said. The Formula One season opens with the Australian Grand Prix on March 15. The Chinese Grand Prix was the fourth of the season following Australia, Bahrain and an inaugural race in Vietnam. Coronavirus outbreak just beginning outside China: Expert The coronavirus epidemic may be peaking in China where it was first detected in the central city of Wuhan but it is just beginning in the rest of the world and likely to spread, a global expert on infectious diseases said. The Chinese governments senior medical adviser has said the disease is hitting a peak in China and may be over by April. He said he was basing the forecast on mathematical modelling, recent events and government action. Dale Fisher, chair of the Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network that is coordinated by the World Health Organization, said the predicted time course may well occur if the virus is allowed to run free in Wuhan. Its fair to say thats really what we are seeing, he told Reuters in an interview. But it has spread to other places where its the beginning of the outbreak. In Singapore, we are at the beginning of the outbreak. Uzbekistan sends protective equipment to virus-hit China Uzbekistan is sending 40 tonnes of protective suits, masks and gloves to virus-hit China, the Central Asian nations government said, as a fully loaded military cargo plane departed Tashkent. The Tashkent cabinet said in a statement it was preparing a second shipment. It did not specify whether the flights were headed for the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, Beijing, or another location in China. Boeing sounds alarm about virus impact on aviation Boeing issued a stark warning about the impact of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, saying there was no question it would hammer the aviation industry and the broader economy. You have several global airlines that have limited their traffic in and out of China, thats revenue, said Ihssane Mounir, the US plane makers senior vice president of commercial global sales and marketing. You have business trips not happening, you have cargo not going in and out. It will have an impact on the economy, it will have an impact on revenues, it will have an impact on these carriers theres no question about it. Singapores UOB allocates $2.1bn for companies impacted by coronavirus Singapore lender United Overseas Bank (UOB) said it has allocated S$3 billion ($2.16bn) to companies in the city-state as relief assistance to help tide them over during the coronavirus outbreak. In the face of the likely economic fallout and its impact on industries and businesses, UOB sees the need to help its corporate clients, in particular the SMEs (small-and-medium enterprises), in addressing their near-term liquidity needs, it said in a statement. Britains Native Antigen Company introduces novel coronavirus antigens British-based The Native Antigen Company said that it had introduced novel antigens to deal with the coronavirus afflicting China. The Native Antigen Company, one of the worlds leading suppliers of reagents that enables research into vaccines and diagnostics for emerging and endemic infectious diseases, today announced the commercial introduction of its Novel Coronavirus antigens, derived from the emerging Wuhan strain, it said in a statement. These recombinant proteins offer scientists high-quality reagents to support ongoing infectious disease research, and the development of diagnostics and vaccines, added the company. Iran denies woman died of coronavirus infection An Iranian woman has died of a suspected coronavirus infection, the state daily newspaper IRAN reported without citing any sources. The 63-year-old woman died in a Tehran hospital on Monday, the newspaper said, and an investigation has been ordered into the cause of her death. A spokesman for Irans Ministry of Health, Kianush Jahanpour, denied the report: There have been no cases of coronavirus in Iran. Second of two coronavirus patients recovers in Russia Russia discharged a Chinese national from hospital in the Siberian city of Chita after he recovered from a coronavirus infection, local authorities said. He was the second of Russias two confirmed cases of coronavirus to recover. The other victim, also a Chinese national, was said by authorities on Tuesday to have recovered and been released from quarantine in Siberias Tyumen region. Singapore bank DBS evacuates 300 staff Singapores biggest bank DBS has evacuated 300 staff from its head office as a precautionary measure following a confirmed coronavirus case at the bank, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters News Agency. I regret to inform you that there is one confirmed case of coronavirus at DBS Asia Central on Level 43 today, Singapore country head, Shee Tse Koon said in the memo. As a precautionary measure, all 300 colleagues on Level 43 at MBFC have been evacuated and will work from home for the time being. Indonesia criticises Harvard study questioning lack of cases in country Indonesia has criticised a US study questioning why the country has not recorded any cases of the coronavirus, calling the findings an insult and insisting it was on high alert. A study by Harvard University public health researchers this week said Indonesia should have reported cases because of its air links to China and the city of Wuhan. Indonesian Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto called the Harvard report insulting late on Tuesday and said the country had proper testing equipment. They can be baffled but its a fact there are no cases, he told reporters in Jakarta. I am just telling you like it is. Hopefully there wont be any cases and we will keep praying, but were being vigilant at the highest level. iPhone maker hopes to resume some China production at month-end Taiwans Foxconn, which makes iPhones for Apple and also supplies other tech companies, hopes to resume half of its production in China by the end of the month, a source told Reuters on Wednesday. It aims to resume 80 percent of production in China in March, the source added. Legislators urge Southeast Asia to stop using fake news laws in virus battle Southeast Asian legislators have called on regional governments to stop using broadly-worded fake news laws against people accused of spreading misinformation about the coronavirus, urging them to invest in health messaging campaigns to educate the public on the outbreak instead. A number of people in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia face hefty jail terms for sharing misinformation online, while Vietnam has threatened steep fines for those found guilty of sharing fake news about the virus. Across the region we are seeing a trend of ambiguously-worded laws being used to prosecute citizens, Teddy Baguilat, a former Philippines parliamentarian who is on the board of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, said in a statement. Thailand has used its Anti-Fake News Center to identify and charge two people for sharing false information on the virus [File: Patpicha Tanakasempipat/Reuters] Laws that rely on vague prohibitions, such as punishing so-called fake news, excessively restrict the right to freedom of expression and should be abolished. Malaysia has abolished its fake news law but is prosecuting a woman for public mischief over coronavirus posts under the Penal Code. Chinese family members allowed on latest virus evacuation flight to South Korea South Korea on Wednesday welcomed home 147 people, including 67 Chinese nationals, in its third evacuation flight from Wuhan. It was the first time Chinese spouses and immediate family members had been allowed on a Korean flight At least one of the passengers was showing symptoms of the virus, officials said. On Tuesday night, the same aircraft carried 16 Chinese nationals who wished to return to their homes in Hubei province, including at least one woman who had been diagnosed with the virus but recovered, Yonhap news agency reported. South Koreas Asiana Airlines asks crews to take unpaid leave South Koreas Asiana Airlines has asked members of its cabin crew to take unpaid leave following the suspension of flights to China, a company spokesman said on Wednesday. Asiana Airlines is currently accepting applications from cabin crew members to take an unpaid voluntary leave of absence between February 15 and 29, the spokesman said. The airline is also considering accepting applications for unpaid leave in March. Yonhap news agency reported earlier on Wednesday that 80 percent or more of flights between China and South Korea has been suspended or reduced due to concerns about the virus Japan says another 39 on quarantined cruise ship have virus An additional 39 people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored off Yokohama have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Wednesday. Out of 53 new test results, 39 people were found positive, he told reporters. Some 174 people on the ship. which has 3,711 passengers and crew, now have the infection. Those who remain on the ship have been asked to stay inside their cabins and are allowed only briefly onto open decks where they have to wear masks and keep a distance from each other. Separately, one quarantine officer also tested positive, Kato said. Read all the updates from Tuesday, February 11 here. Gregory Timm, 27, was arrested several hours after six volunteers working on Trump's 2020 re-election campaign were targeted in Jacksonville, Florida A man charged with driving his van into a tent in Florida where local Republicans were registering voters told deputies he did not like President Donald Trump and that 'someone had to take a stand,' an arrest report revealed. Gregory Timm, 27, told deputies that he had gone to the Walmart in Jacksonville on Saturday to get some food when he noticed the tent set up by Duval County Republicans in the shopping mall's parking lot. He purchased food and cigarettes inside the store, got back in his older model van and accelerated toward the voter registration tent. No one was injured after the vehicle rammed the tent, knocking over tables and chairs. The driver got out of the van, took video of the scene, made an obscene gesture at some onlookers and drove off. Timm later showed deputies cell phone video he took before driving into the tent, but he was upset that the video ended before what he described as 'the good part,' the arrest report said. Six volunteers working on Trump's 2020 re-election campaign were targeted when the van struck their outdoor stall Saturday, according to the Duval County GOP Twitter account The driver did not strike any of the volunteers, and reportedly made an obscene gesture as he sped away from the scene. One of the volunteers who avoided injury is pictured Timm has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a person 65 years old or older, one count of criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license. The arrest report said no drugs or alcohol were involved. State and local Republicans have called what happened a 'partisan political attack' since it was obvious that the event was meant to support the president. A heavily redacted arrest report was released on Sunday. But a less redacted version was filed in online court papers Tuesday, providing the new details. According to social media posts from a few years ago, Timm is originally from Arizona but relocated to Jacksonville about two years ago. His landlord said Timm seemed to be doing well career-wise, talked about wanting to buy an expensive car and never discussed politics. Police were pictured on the scene. 'We are investigating this as a aggravated assault... we are taking the situation very seriously,' the Sheriff's Office stated Trump's tweet included a threat to the perpetrator to 'be careful' 'I'm blown away. I am, seriously, can't believe this happened,' the landlord told First Coast News. 'I didn't know I had a crazy person living in my house.' Records indicate that Timm is not registered to vote in Florida. The station first reported that the 27-year-old suspect was training to become a sound engineers and had only recently joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Emplyoees. President of the Jacksonville branch of the stagehand union told First Coast News Timm had used his middle name, William, when he applied to join the organization. In the wake of his arrest, Timm has been suspended from the union. Timm made his initial court appearance on Sunday and was ordered held in jail on bail totaling more than $507,000. He is due back in court on March 3. Timm made his initial court appearance on Sunday and was ordered held on bail totaling more than $507,000 Soon after the incident, President Trump sent a tweet warning the perpetrator to 'be careful who you play with'. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is reportedly looking at the incident as an 'interruption of the political process.' 'We are investigating this as an aggravated assault. Several people were in the area and could have been seriously hurt... we are taking the situation very seriously,' the Sheriff's Office told Daily Wire before Timm's arrest. Duval County GOP Chairman Dean Black released a statement which read: 'We are outraged by this senseless act of violence toward our great volunteers. The Republican Party of Duval County will not be intimidated by these cowards and we will not be silenced.' @DuvalGOP shared this series of images to their Twitter account on Saturday afternoon Timm is originally from Arizona (pictured in his younger days) and he is not registered to vote in Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican, said in a tweet that the Duval County GOP 'will not be silenced or intimidated. They will redouble their efforts to support strong Republicans in NE Florida and around the state!' Mayor of Jacksonville Lenny Curry tweeted: 'This is outrageous. The hate is toxic and dangerous. Thankfully no one was injured but certainly they are shaken after being targeted because they were registering voters. Ive spoken to the Sheriff and of course his team is on top of this.' 'I call on every Republican in our great city to stand up, get involved, and show these radicals that we will not be intimidated from exercising our Constitutional rights.' The sentiment was shared by GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who tweeted: 'These unprovoked, senseless attacks on @realDonaldTrump's supporters need to end. I want to echo the @DuvalGOP in saying: We will not be silenced by cowards, and these disgusting acts will only make us work harder to win November.' The Duval County Democratic Party released a statement saying: 'we are thankful the perpetrator of this cowardly attack has been apprehended by JSO and continue to call for civility during this election cycle.' SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RODO Medical announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive, global licensing and distribution agreement with Institut Straumann AG. The original agreement between the two companies provided Straumann with distribution rights in limited jurisdictions, but with this new agreement, Straumann will be able to distribute RODO Medical's proprietary products throughout the world. In addition, the two companies agreed to terminate the option agreement pursuant to which Straumann had a right to increase their ownership in RODO Medical in future years. The termination of the option agreement will enable RODO Medical to raise capital through equity financing and to grow further in the US and other countries. About RODO Medical RODO Medical is an innovative dental device company dedicated to improving the quality of life of patients and practitioners since 2009 and is a privately held U.S. company located in San Jose, California. RODO Medical has developed novel devices in implant dentistry, called Smileloc and Smilekey, which are cleared by the FDA 510(k) for marketing in the US, and has marketing clearance in Europe (CE Mark). RODO Medical, Inc., 6399 San Ignacio Ave., Suite 100, San Jose, CA 95119 Tel: +1 408 245 7636 Homepage: www.rodomedical.com Contacts: Corporate Communications / Investor Relations +1 408 245 7636; [email protected] Disclaimer This release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of management. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this release. RODO Medical is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any statements contained in it as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE RODO Medical, Inc.; Straumann Related Links http://www.rodomedical.com The number of chinstrap penguins in some colonies in West Antarctica has fallen by as much as 77 percent since they were last surveyed in the 1970s, say scientists studying the impact of climate change on the remote region. The chinstrap penguin, named after the narrow black band under its head, inhabits the islands and shores of the Southern Pacific and Antarctic Oceans and feeds on krill. The declines that we have seen are definitely dramatic, said Steve Forrest, a conservation biologist who joined a team of scientists from two US universities Stony Brook and Northeastern on an Antarctic expedition that has just ended. Something is happening to the fundamental building blocks of the food chain here. Weve got less food abundance thats driving these populations down lower and lower over time and the question is, is that going to continue? The number of chinstraps at one important habitat in the region, Elephant Island, has plummeted by around 60 percent since the last survey in 1971 to fewer than 53,000 breeding pairs today, the expedition found. While several factors may have a role to play, all the evidence we have points to climate change as being responsible for the changes we are seeing, said Heather Lynch, associate professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University. The World Meteorological Organization said last week that a research base in Antarctica recorded the hottest temperature ever for the continent, 18.3 degrees Celsius (64.94 degrees Fahrenheit), as global warming causes an increase in melting of the ice sheets around the South Pole. Greenpeace is calling on the United Nations to commit to protect 30 percent of the worlds oceans by 2030, a target called for by scientists and a growing number of governments as the minimum needed to halt the damage being done by harmful human activity. The UN will meet from March 23 to April 3 to try to agree on a global ocean treaty, which could then take years to ratify. I think we stand to lose much of what we love like the penguins from Elephant Island, but I think in the end its what kind of world do we want to live in? Frida Bengtsson, Greenpeace Oceans campaigner, told Reuters news agency. Our oceans are incredibly important to regulate our global climate. Speedboat captains charged PHUKET: Both boat drivers involved in the tour speedboat collision that killed two Russian children and injured more than a dozen tourists on Monday have been charged with reckless behaviour causing death and injury, police have confirmed. tourismtransportaccidentsdeathmarineSafetyRussianpolice By Tanyaluk Sakoot Wednesday 12 February 2020, 10:00AM Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana and Marine Department Chief Witthaya Yamuang inspect the ALP 11 tour speedboat on Monday (Feb 10). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub UPDATE: An official at Phuket Provincial Court confirmed this morning that Atsarawut and Anusorn were both released on bail of B150,000 each at 4pm yesterday (Feb 11). They are to present themselves to the court in seven days. Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan also confirmed to The Phuket News that police had requested that the court deny bail. The collision, between tour speedboat ALP 111 and tour speedboat Payan 5, occurred in the channel linking Phuket Boat Lagoon and Royal Phuket Marina to Phang Nga Bay at about 8am on Monday (Feb 10). The Payan 5, operated by Seastar Tour Co, was en route from Laem Nga in Rassada to pick tourists up at Royal Phuket Marina when the accident happened. While the Payan 5 was turning into the access channel to arrive at Royal Phuket Marina, it was struck by the ALP 111, operated by Andaman Leisure Phuket Co. The ALP 111, driven by 24-year-old Atsarawut Suden, had 35 passengers on board, all Russian, who had boarded the boat at Boat Lagoon Pier, further inside the channel. (See story here.) Russian boy Lysxi Iaroslav, age 12, and girl Lysaia Mirasalavr, age 9, were killed in the collision, and 19 of the remaining tourists were rushed to hospital for immediate treatment of injuries. All but Mrs Tatiana Erhova, 52, and 29-year-old Azamat Isinalinov received treatement and were discharged from hospital care. Mrs Erhova on Monday was listed as admitted at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, but no updates on her condition have been issued since. Mr Isinalinov, who suffered head injuries that required 40 stitches, on Monday was listed as under observation at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, but no updates on his condition have been forthcoming. Phuket City Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Chana Suthimas late yesterday confirmed to The Phuket News that Atsarawut, who was driving the ALP 111, and Anusorn Duangkiet, 33, who was driving the Payan 5, have both been charged with recklessness causing death and injury. They are now being held at Phuket Provincial Court. Both of them have denied the charges against them, so it is likely they do not realise their actions caused people to die and be injured, he said. The next step is for the court to make them realise with the evidence, he added. Marine Department Chief Witthaya Yamuang in Phuket on Monday told the press that he had already ordered for both captains to be banned from driving any boats for two years. (See story here.) Toronto, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) today announced that The Co-operators has joined the organization as a member. On behalf of our board and membership, I am pleased to welcome The Co-operators to IFIC, said Paul C. Bourque, President and CEO, IFIC. The co-operatives broad membership and national scope will provide a unique perspective on industry matters. Since 1945, The Cooperators have become a trusted leader in the financial services industry, providing insurance and investment solutions to Canadians. IFIC is recognized and respected as the advocate for the investment funds industry, explains Kevin Daniel, EVP and Chief Client Officer, The Co-operators. The Co-operators, through Co-operators Financial Investment Services (CFIS), is very pleased that our membership further enables our participation in the dynamic industry dialogue, while helping meet the wide-ranging financial needs of our clients. For more information on The Co-operators, please visit www.cooperators.ca About IFIC The Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canadas investment funds industry. IFIC brings together 150 organizations, including fund managers, distributors and industry service organizations, to foster a strong, stable investment sector where investors can realize their financial goals. By connecting Canadas savers to Canadas economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation. The organization is proud to have served Canadas investment funds industry and its investors for more than 50 years. About The Co-operators The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian co-operative with more than $47.6 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies, it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is ranked as the Corporate Knights' #1 Best 50 Corporate Citizen in Canada and listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Kincentric (formerly Aon Hewitt.) For more information on The Co-operators, please visit www.cooperators.ca. The report, the culmination of weeks of public and private hearings by the House Intelligence committee, says the president subverted foreign policy toward Ukraine and undermined national security when he pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to announce investigations into Trumps political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, as well as debunked theories that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. Trumps so-called scheme was undertaken with the knowledge and approval of senior administration officials, including Perry, the former Texas governor who stepped down as U.S. Secretary of Energy earlier this week. Though it offers few new bombshells, the report details Perrys involvement in Trumps effort, which included participating in a sort of diplomatic back channel with Ukraine led by the presidents personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The report, largely built off accounts of officials who publicly testified before the committee over the last several weeks, notes that Perry, along with 11 other administration officials, refused to testify or turn over information subpoenaed by the committee at President Trumps direction. THE LATEST: In 300 pages, House lays out evidence for Trump impeachment Perry, who was originally named in the whistleblower report that sparked the impeachment inquiry, has emerged as a central figure in the ongoing scandal. Perry, 69, has denied wrongdoing and last month said he doesnt see the American people buying into this thing. He has framed his work in Ukraine as part of a long-term effort as energy secretary to expand the market for U.S.-produced LNG abroad. The report says that Perry was one of the so-called Three Amigos who Trump put in charge of dealing with Ukraine. Trump ordered the group, which also included Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and Ambassador Kurt Volker, special representative for Ukraine negotiations, to work with Giuliani, the report says. The three led the U.S. delegation to Zelenskiys inauguration in May, according to the report. During a meeting with Zelenskiy on that trip, Perry handed Zelensky a list of people he trusts from whom Zelensky could seek advice on energy sector reform, the report says David Holmes, counselor for political affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv told the committee. Perrys staff excluded embassy personnel from subsequent meetings between Perry and key Ukrainian energy sector contacts, Holmes told the committee. The report cites testimony from Sondland that everyone was in the loop about the scheme. He told the committee that the Three Amigos did as Trump ordered and worked with Giuliani. Sondland testified that Perry agreed to reach out to Giuliani first given their prior relationship. Sondland said Giuliani made it clear to the Three Amigos that Trump wanted a public statement about the investigations he sought from Zelenskiy. The group allegedly informed senior Ukrainian officials during two separate White House meetings in July that there was a prerequisite of investigations before an Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskiy. That grated on former National Security Advisor John Bolton, who warned nobody should be meeting with Giuliani, according to Fiona Hill, a former Russian expert at the White House. Following one White House meeting with Ukrainian officials in July, Bolton ordered Hill to follow Perry, Sondland and Volker as they walked out with the Ukrainians, instructing her to find out what theyre talking about and come back. Perry has previously pushed back on Sondlands testimony, including in a Fox News interview last month when he said that not once was the name Burisma or Biden mentioned to me. If theres anyone saying anything different, then theyre surmising and thats not a wise thing to do, Perry said at the time. I know what I saw, I know what I heard. Most full-time farmers will be coming off a welcome period of relative calm. They can use December and January to switch into minimal operations mode - no new projects starting, keep the ship floating along and get some rest. By contrast, many part-time farmers can be run off their feet in the holiday period to do paperwork and physical jobs around the farm that they haven't been able to get round to. The annual leave from the 9 to 5 off-farm day job and the availability of the children, on holiday from school or college, provides a perfect opportunity to catch up and clean up on the farm. Part-time farming is the forgotten sector in Irish agriculture. Over 50pc of the 140,000 farmers in this country farm on a part-time basis - ie, either the farmer or spouse work off-farm to supplement household income. The vast majority are beef farmers, so they are recovering after a fairly rough year in 2019. This will be compounded in 2020 and 2021 as GLAS scheme payments run out before the next reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In fact, early soundings from the proposed reform raises further concerns for part-time farmers due to the text around the definition of an active or genuine farmer. No income support is proposed for "those whose agricultural activity is an insignificant part of their overall economic activities or whose principal business activity is non-agricultural". Tests on income and labour activity are suggested criteria for evaluation of "the genuine farmer" which would ultimately decide what subsidies, premia and grants are drawn by individual part-time farmers. This could have significant implications for the farm business finances on part-time farms. It is vital for our industry to understand what motivates part-time farmers to farm. If we understand part-time farmers we can then make plans for any potential changes in the upcoming CAP reform and protect this vital sector of the industry. The success of long-term leasing of agricultural land has caused many to question continuing part-time farming. The tax-driven leasing policy is a clear signal from government to part-time farmers that the transfer of land to larger full-time viable farmers is preferred. Yes, we have small fragmented, farm holdings in Ireland; this measure is good for improving this aspect of the industry, but we must not forget the viability of the part-time farmer. If we fail to do so, we could end up with vast tracts of land lying abandoned in parts of the country. Hobby / lifestyle farmer Hobby or lifestyle part-time farmers will not be affected with a reduction in farm subsidies or an increase in the work required to get subsidies. Income and profitability are not the priority on these farms. These farmers are good custodians of the land and are often open to receiving knowledge and new technology. These farmers are often the best proponents of agri-environmental schemes. These part-time farmers must be included in any future agricultural policy. Part-time longing to be a full-time farmer The category most at risk in the CAP reform. Reduced or no subsidies would put a huge dent in this farmer's plans and ambitions. In my opinion it would completely demotivate this type of part-time farmer. These part-time farmers are very valuable to our industry and must be protected. Part-time farmer by default These most likely inherited a farm; they are really only coasting along farming against their will because they are not brave enough to exit farming by leasing out or selling the farm. Reduced or no subsidies would affect this type of part-time farmer, but would it affect them enough to exit the industry? I am not convinced - and these part-time farmers are a burden on the industry. It appears there will be much more flexibility for individual member states to have national policy for distribution of funds under the new CAP reform. This surely is the perfect opportunity for government to put in place policies that acknowledge, support and encourage part-time farming. Genuine part-time farmers have lots to contribute to a vibrant agri-food industry. Part-time farmers need to question why they are farming in the first place, and more importantly to have a clear vision of where they see their farm business in 10 years. Mike Brady is managing director at Brady Group agricultural consultants and land agents; mike@bradygroup.ie A woman who was jailed for attempting to stab her ex-husband revealed she intends to kill him upon her release from prison, a court has heard. Carol Ann Hall, 44, was found guilty one count of aggravated attempting to cause serious harm with intent when she tried to stab her ex-husband Stephen Hall as he sat in his car. South Australia District Court heard from mental health experts who believe Hall remains a danger to Mr Hall. Prosecutor Jim Pearce QC said her failure to accept guilt or show any remorse made sentencing difficult. On Christmas Eve, 2017, Hall hid a steak knife in bit of paper and attacked Mr Hall when he arrived to pick up their child, The Advertiser reported. A court has heard Carol Ann Hall intends on killing her ex-husband upon her release from jail for attempting to stab him on Christmas Eve, 2017 (stock image) Mr Hall managed to grab the blade of the knife and stop the attempted stabbing. Hall was found guilty at District Court of South Australia and remains behind bars awaiting sentencing. 'In his victim impact statement, Mr Hall said he 'hoped that something good might come from this' and that Hall 'receives some treatment',' Mr Pearce said. 'He is not timid, he is no 'Nervous Nellie', but now that he's been advised of her comments he says he's prepared to sell up his business and move himself and his daughter away. 'It's quite dramatic, and quite amazing, that he's prepared to basically up stumps if needed. Their protection, and that of the community, must be of paramount consideration.' After her arrest Hall told police she kept knives hidden around the house in 'handy' spots because she knew the day would come when she would 'snap'. Her lawyers argued Hall's threats, lack of remorse and refusal to admit guilt, did not constitute a desire to 'finish off' her husband. Judge Muscat said all the evidence presented to the court indicated Mr Hall was still 'at serious risk of serious harm from her'. Hall will be sentenced next month but Judge Muscat conceded sentencing would be a complicated prospect given the new information. A Chinese patient was discharged from a Ho Chi Minh City hospital on Wednesday after three weeks of treatment for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, taking the number of cases clear of the virus in Vietnam to seven. Thank you Vietnam, thank you Vietnamese doctors! he said through an interpreter as he was walking out of Cho Ray Hospital in District 5. The patient is Li Ding, a 66-year-old Chinese citizen, who was hospitalized with his 28-year-old son Li Zichao on January 22 for COVID-19 treatment. He was discharged at 5:00 pm after twenty-one days of medical care at the hospital, considered the best one in southern Vietnam. He was active, shaking hands with Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son, Cho Ray director Nguyen Tri Thuc, and representatives of the Chinese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. His full recovery can be seen as a miracle, as he has suffered many pre-existing conditions that could have killed him anytime, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. He also went under the knife for his lung cancer in 2018. He was in really bad health upon hospitalization, unable to walk on his own. His son left the same hospital on February 4 after his tests for the virus returned negative. The two were the first positive cases in Vietnam, according to Cho Ray Hospital. The father visited his son in Vietnam from Wuhan, Hubei, China, the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak. Li Ding started suffering a fever and fatigue on January 17, four days after flying with his wife from Wuhan to Hanoi. In Vietnam, he traveled by plane, train, and taxi from Hanoi to Nha Trang City, Ho Chi Minh City, and Long An Province. His son has lived in Long An, located in southern Vietnam, since October 2019. Li Zichao has never been to an outbreak area and, prior to meeting his father, had never got into contact with any person from such an area. But he stayed with his father in the same hotel room in Nha Trang for three days and caught the virus, with symptoms including coughing, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Both father and son came to see doctors at Binh Chanh Hospital in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City and were advised to be admitted to Cho Ray Hospital on January 22. The receptionist at the hotel where they stayed in Nha Trang was infected after having close contact with them. She came out of the hospital free of the COVID-19 on February 4. Li Dings wife is healthy and has never got infected. Over 44,000 people have been infected by the virus in mainland China, with nearly 4,000 fully recovering and over 1,100 killed. Vietnam has confirmed 15 cases so far, with seven having been discharged from the hospital. Li Ding (L) shakes hands with Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 12, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Li Ding (R) receives a certificate of discharge from Nguyen Tri Thuc, director of Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 12, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Li Ding (second right), his son (middle), and his wife (second left) pose for a picture at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 12, 2020. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Li Ding said that his son and him had been well cared for by Cho Ray doctors. He said he would remember the healthcare workers at the hospital forever. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Google and the EU battled in court Wednesday as the search engine giant tried to persuade judges that it was unfairly accused of ill-treating rivals of its Shopping service. The Silicon Valley juggernaut is appealing a 2.4 billion euro ($2.6 billion) fine from 2017 that was the first in a series of major penalties imposed by the European Commission, the EU's powerful anti-trust regulator. The court case launches a new phase in the decade-long duel and is a major test of the combative tactics taken by the EU commission against big tech. The next months will see Google appeal all three decisions that saw Brussels slap a total $9 billion in EU fines, with the giant's Android mobile operating system and ad service also caught out for illegal behaviour. The tech giant has paid the fines and changed its behaviour, but the company on Wednesday strongly condemned the EU's verdict on shopping in the EU's General Court as ill-founded and unfair. "If Google would have faced the commission?s decision in 2008, Google would have had no other option but to abandon its innovative technologies and its improved designs," Thomas Graf, a lawyer for Google told the EU's General Court. Supporting Google, a lawyer for the CCIA tech lobby in Brussels argued that the Commission's demands "would ultimately harm consumers and internet users". - 'Colossus' - The Commission's lawyer, Nicholas Khan, deplored the power of the Mountain View, California giant. "Google's status as the colossus of the digital age is unquestioned and until recently unquestionable." The commission was joined by other plaintiffs, who shot down Google for aggressive business practices. "Google's behaviour constitutes a serious abuse of dominance which must stop or it will destroy competition in all the markets in which it decides to enter," said Thomas Hppner, a lawyer for three companies fighting the group. The EU and Google have been locked in battle since 2010 when the commission first looked into accusations that the search engine was squeezing rivals from results in order to promote ads and Google Shopping, its price comparison service. For several years Brussels and the US giant sought a negotiated settlement, but the EU abruptly reversed course in 2014 after the intervention of member states and the arrival of Margrethe Vestager who took over as EU competition chief. Vestager, a former Danish finance minister, quickly became known for her relentless pursuit of US tech giants that drew attention worldwide. Instead of negotiation, she repeatedly fined Google and slapped Apple with a 13 billion euro tax bill that boss Tim Cook dismissed as "political crap". The appeal hearing is to last three days with a decision possible by June. The case can then go to the EU's highest court, the European Court of Justice. The EU's case mirrors similar litigation against Microsoft, a legal labyrinth that ran throughout most of the 1990s and early 2000s and saw the Windows-maker fined about 1.4 billion euros. Google was expected to plead that the commission had wrongly applied arguments used successfully against Microsoft and that the company has the right to give advantage to its own services. The company would also underline that the EU case erroneously failed to account for the spectacular rise of Amazon and eBay in its assessment of Google Shopping. Players in other sectors are following the case closely, and hoping that Vestager swoops in on other features such as maps, travel and job ads where Google has yet to face push back from regulators. More than 30 travel firms -- including TripAdvisor and Expedia -- wrote to Vestager on Monday complaining that Google was unfairly trying to enter the vacation rental ad business. The EU has already said it was looking into Google's similar push into job ads. Google and the European Union are to meet in court again in the latest phase of a legal saga that began a decade ago EU competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, quickly became known for her relentless pursuit of US tech giants that drew attention worldwide WASHINGTON Joy that the federal government finally green-lighted funding for the Portal Bridge was tempered when the Gateway Tunnel failed to win support. The U.S. Department of Transportation said that the sponsors of the new Hudson River tunnels failed to show that they had the local funding in hand to qualify for federal dollars. Gateway supporters, however, said they did everything required to ensure that they had the money to cover their share of the project. They submitted a new application last August that lowered the tunnels cost by $1.4 billion and sought $4.4 billion rather than $5.6 billion from Washington. While DOT simply seems to be unwilling to take yes for an answer, we will continue to work with them in good faith to move forward on building this critically-needed tunnel," said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The projects latest cost was $9.5 billion for the new tunnel and $1.8 billion to repair the existing tubes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The Federal Transit Administration said while NJ Transit worked with staff to address its concerns, the Gateway partners have not done the same. Outstanding issues include obtaining all of the funding outside the Capital Improvement Grant they are seeking, and developing a final cost and schedule for the project. For example, the FTA questioned the sources of funding to pay back a $2.7 billion federal loan that would be part of the local share, Gateway Development Corp. spokesman Steve Sigmund said. Sigmund said the Port Authority had set aside the money in its capital budget. We responded to their feedback," Sigmund said. "Our view is we answered their criticism. The funding issues led the FTA to rate the project medium-low, even as the Portal Bridge rating was raised to medium-high, making it eligible for federal assistance. Nat Bottigheimer, New Jersey director for the Regional Plan Association, said there were ways to increase Gateways score. Program funding rules assign scores to things like total cost, reliability of public funding sources, and expected transportation system benefits, Bottigheimer said. Theoretically, changes could be made to these aspects of the project to raise the overall score. U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the concerns were bogus. Once again, Donald Trump is being vindictive, nasty, and not doing whats in the national interest, and it always, always, always catches up with you, Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol. Trump, a Republican, at one point even threatened to shut down the federal government rather than allow federal funds to flow to Gateway. Still, Congress continues to fill various transportation accounts with money for the project. Gateway was a project that was highly rated by the previous administration, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said in an interview Tuesday. "More money has been put into the project from the states of New York, New Jersey and the Port Authority. Otherwise, nothing else has changed. It should have improved the ratings, but the ratings went down, he said. "The reality is the Trump administration and President Trump himself in a political vendetta is undermining not New York or New Jersey, not the Northeast, but the entire country. Still, Gov. Phil Murphy said the Portal Bridge approval was a good sign and eventually could lead to funding for the tunnel as well. The Democratic governor told reporters Tuesday in Maple Shade that state officials had been in close communication with the Trump administration on both projects. Moving forward is a good piece of evidence the strategy weve deployed there is working, Murphy said. Were proving to be responsible, cooperative partners, not withstanding frustration thats a big deal. Were not there yet, he added. "But this is a big step toward that. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. 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. Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon reported record net profit of $718m (658m) last year. This was a slight increase on its 2018 profit of $717m (657m). Lease revenue increased by 2pc year-on-year to over $2.6bn (2.4bn), according to its annual results. During the year the companys total assets increased 5pc to $28.3bn (26bn). In 2019 Avolon delivered, transitioned or sold a total of 170 aircraft. Its owned, managed and committed fleet at year end was 925 aircraft. Domhnal Slattery, Avolon CEO, said it was another year of strong financial performance for our business, where we achieved a major corporate milestone with our upgrade to investment grade. We built on this achievement by delivering net profit of $718m, the highest net income in any year in Avolons history. Looking ahead, he warned the continued spread of the coronavirus creates an uncertain backdrop for our airline customers. However, in previous periods of dislocation air traffic has proven to be resilient, he said. At year end, Avolon had $16.6bn (15bn) future contracted rental cashflows. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Wednesday endorsed Representative Doug Collins (R., Ga.) against incumbent Senate-appointee Kelly Loeffler in the special election for Loefflers seat. Ive watched Doug Collins fight against all odds in a vicious Pelosi-led and Adam Schiff/Jerry Nadler fueled House of Representatives, Huckabee said in a statement. He unflinchingly has stood up to the Trump-hating Democrats in the House and the Trump-hating media. Collins was a staunch ally of President Trump during the House impeachment inquiry. Governor Huckabee is a leader who has never wavered from the conservative cause and I couldnt be more proud and excited to have his support, Collins said in response to Huckabees endorsement. Collins decided to run for the Senate seat, vacated by Johnny Isakson due to health issues, after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to the seat. President Trump and allies had wanted Kemp to appoint Collins, citing the representatives record of support for the president. Conservatives have also criticized Loefflers record on abortion. However, since Collins decided to enter the race for Loefflers seat, the National Republican Senate Committee has harshly criticized the representative for a move they believe will jeopardize the Republican Senate seat. Collins is a swamp creature that claims to be conservative, NRSC executive director Kevin McLaughlin told CNN on Wednesday. Now, having made an emotional, ill-informed and selfish decision, he finds himself at a crossroads. Republicans who are working to reelect President Trump and retain the Senate majority hope he has a moment of clarity, does the right thing and walks away from this poor decision. The NRSC has also warned vendors and consultants not to work with Collins or risk losing all NRSC business, causing at least three vendors to abandon Collins just days after joining the campaign, according to the Wall Street Journal. More from National Review Dr Vasanth Kumar (top) is surrounded by police officers at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad, after he threatened to set himself ablaze on the hospital premises on Tuesday. He had packed three bottles of petrol in his vest and held a lighter, and said he would immolate himself. After a stand-off, police and firemen (left) grabbed him, doused him in water and took him into police custody. (Photo: S. Surender Reddy) Hyderabad: A resident medical officer of Gandhi General Hospital, Dr. Vasanth Kumar, on Tuesday threatened to commit suicide by self-immolation. He attributed his recent transfer from the hospital after he highlighted its lack of security and sanitation during a meeting three days ago on the hospitals preparedness against the coronavirus infection. At around 12.30 pm, Dr Ku-mar entered the hospital with three bottles of petrol inside his shirt and holding a lighter in his hand. He claimed he was forced out of the hospital for raising concerns about its state of aff-airs. When threatened to set himself on fire, a cop grabbed the doctors hand. Fire services personnel arrived at the spot and sprayed fire retardant foam on Dr Kumar as a precaution. He was posted in the casualty ward and claimed his tran-sfer was reported by regional media news outlets as a case of suspension, with some claiming that he had confirmed positive coronavirus. These sullied my reputation and standing, he reportedly said. I want to kill myself. At the recent coronavirus meeting, the discussion got heated when he raised security matters. He had an inqu-iry under the Right to Infor-mation Act, through which he learnt that only 30 security guards were deployed while funds were allotted for 100 security guards. Following the meeting, the hospital superintendent wrote to higher authorities saying Dr Kumar created a disturbance at their meeting, following which he was transferred to DMHO. Garment workers leave at the end of their shift from a factory near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 11, 2020. The European Union on Wednesday announced plans to suspend tariff-free access for around one-fifth of Cambodias exports to its market, citing drastic rollbacks on democracy and human rights in the Southeast Asian nation. The partial suspension of preferential trade status Cambodia enjoys under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme for developing nations would affect around U.S. $1.1 billion of the countrys exports to the EU by reinstating tariffs on garments and footwear, as well as travel goods and sugar, beginning Aug. 12, unless it is blocked by the blocs governments or its parliament, the European Commission (EC) said. The European Union will not stand and watch as democracy is eroded, human rights curtailed, and free debate silenced, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. For the trade preferences to be reinstated, the Cambodian authorities need to take the necessary measures. 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. The EU launched the process to strip Cambodia of its preferential trade terms following the arrest of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Kem Sokha in September 2017 and the Supreme Courts decision to ban his party for its role in an alleged plot to topple the government two months later. The ban, along with a wider crackdown on NGOs and the independent media, paved the way for Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament in the countrys July 2018 general election. Cambodias Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the ECs announcement on Wednesday with a statement suggesting that its decision had been triggered by many misperceptions and misunderstandings about the actual realities in Cambodia. The ministry dismissed the decision as politically driven and devoid of objectivity and impartiality, and said Cambodias government would reject any attempt by external parties to use trade or aid as pretexts to justify their interference in Cambodias internal affairs. It also referred to it as an example of a double standard when it comes to the EUs preferential practices with other trading nations, without elaborating. On Wednesday, the EU Parliament ratified a landmark free trade deal with Vietnam over the objections of lawmakers citing the Southeast Asian nations human rights record. In the lead up to Wednesdays decision, despite warnings from civil society that loss of EBA status would devastate Cambodias working class, Prime Minister Hun Sen had said he had no interest in meeting the EUs demands to improve his countrys rights record. Cambodia is the second-largest beneficiary of EBA trade preferences after Bangladesh, 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. Call to change course Kasit Piromya, a former Member of Parliament of Thailand and a board member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), on Wednesday called the EU decision an outcome that didnt need to happen, and blamed it on Hun Sens drastic crackdown on human rights. This decision by the EU to remove duty-free access on some Cambodian exports under the Everything but Arms programme heaps more pressure on Hun Sen and his government to reverse its dramatic slide towards authoritarianism, he said in an emailed statement. Let this be clear: the responsibility to reverse course and regain the trade preferences does not lie with the EU, but with Hun Sen. It is up to him to change course and drop all charges against CNRP members and human rights defenders, allow opposition parties to return to the political fold, and amend laws to ensure Cambodians rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, called the plan for a partial suspension a slap down of PM Hun Sen and his blatant disregard for human and labor rights. While the EU gave Hun Sen ample opportunities to reverse his crackdown, the prime minister doubled down on his repressive tactics over the past year, Robertson said, leaving the EU no choice but to suspend some trade preferences, in line with EBA rules. This is not the EU punishing Cambodia, but rather Hun Sens arrogant indifference to human rights hurting the Cambodian people who livelihoods may be impacted because of the EUs decision, he said. Its his governments failure to act to respect rights and fix problems identified by the EU that is driving this decision. PM Hun Sen should recognize this reality and come to the negotiating table now. Robertson advised Hun Sens government to work to fix rights problems identified by the EU while Phnom Penh engages in six-months of negotiations with Brussels focused on, among other things, the imposition of tariffs on goods subject to suspension. PM Hun Sen should stop his senseless threats to cease discussions on human rights and democracy with the EU, and recognize the only way forward is rescinding abusive laws, and ending punitive attacks, arrests and trials of activists and political opponents, he said. Meanwhile, the EU needs to stand firm and set clear benchmarks for the government to meet in pursuit of real reforms on human and labor rights. Vietnam trade pact The EUs decision to ratify the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) on Wednesday while suspending some of Cambodias privileges highlights the blocs determination to use trading partnerships as incentives to secure protections of environmental, human, and labor rights. Last week, a group of international and Vietnamese nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) urged EU lawmakers to postpone consent on the EVFTA until Vietnams government agrees to reform laws they said has led to the jailing of as many as 300 government critics. On Wednesday, however, the European Parliament consented to the pact with a vote of 401 in favor, 192 against and 40 abstentions. EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan touted what he called the huge economic potential of the EVFTA in a statement issued after the vote, adding that efforts by Vietnam to improve labor rights in a bid to secure the deal proves that trade policy can be a force for good. The EVFTA, inked in June, will eliminate 99 percent of tariffs on goods between the bloc and Southeast Asian country, although some will be reduced over a 10-year period and others will be limited by quotas. The EU is Vietnams second-largest export market after the U.S., mostly for garment and footwear products, and in 2018 the Southeast Asian nation sent U.S. $42.5 billion worth of goods and services there, according to official data. Vietnam imported U.S. $13.8 billion from the EU that year. The Vietnamese government has said that the EVFTA will boost EU exports to Vietnam by more than 15 percent and those from Vietnam to the EU by 20 percent by 2020, while the agreement will increase Vietnams gross domestic product by up to 5.3 percent annually between 2024 and 2028. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:09:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Wednesday that a new phase has begun in Lebanon after the new cabinet's success in gaining a vote of confidence a day earlier, a statement by the president's office reported. "I am sure that Lebanon will get over its current crisis and restore its prosperity," Aoun said during his meeting with Joseph Habis, Singapore's honorary consul-general in Lebanon. Aoun assured that any official who has stolen money from the Treasury will be tried according to laws. "It is very important at this point to differentiate between the honest politicians and those involved in corruption," Aoun said. The nationwide protests that have started in October 2019 labeled all Lebanese politicians as corrupted without any differentiation and hence people have even opposed new ministers who were appointed for the first time in the new cabinet. The new cabinet headed by Prime Minister Hassan Diab has gained a vote of confidence on Tuesday with a majority of 63 votes. The Ghana Statistical Service has cited the upcoming compilation of a new voters' register as one of the reasons for the postponement of the 2020 population and housing census. Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Annim explained that the census would require a period of reduced mobility of persons hence the need to allow the Electoral Commission (EC) to complete its exercise. The EC has announced a tentative date of between April and May to compile a new voters register amidst stiff opposition by some political parties and civil society groups. Prof. Annim believes the census period spanning June to July, should also help the EC have access to some data to be captured which will be relevant for a complete voters register for the 2020 general elections. From our perspective, when we are doing the enumeration, we exclude activities within the diplomatic nations. And from our operational perspective, we've allowed for a two-week gap for the end of the voter registration exercise and the start of the lifting of structures. And indeed with the window for the lifting of structures, because we're not going to enumerate persons, we also consider that as a window to ensure that the voter registration exercise will not adversely impact on the census activity. From the data merge point of view, definitely the two activities will have the two agencies sitting together to see how data from the census would inform the data that we need for our electoral processes, he said. 2020 census rescheduled to June 28 The Ghana Statistical Service has for a while now been going back and forth about the date for this year's population and housing census. However, in the most recent development, it announced June 28 as the new date to commence the national headcount. According to the Service, processes including the recruitment of field personnel and other persons required for the census are underway ahead of the commencement. ---citinewsroom Good question! Photo: Universal Pictures Last August, Universal made headlines by pulling its upcoming movie The Hunt from theatrical release and shelving the film indefinitely. The studio put out a statement along with its announcement, which said, in part, We stand by our filmmakers and will continue to distribute films in partnership with bold and visionary creators, but we understand that now is not the right time to release this film. That all changed today, however, when producer Jason Blum and The Hunt co-writer Damon Lindelof told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie is coming to a theater near you on March 13. The specifics of it, however, remain largely unknown, given that few people inside let alone outside the film industry have seen it. Its fair to wonder: What the hell is everyone talking about? A quick recap of the movies first attempt at release: Universal started pulling back on its marketing campaign following the mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. Based on the trailer and the limited official plot descriptions provided by Universal, The Hunt directed by Craig Zobel and written by Nick Cuse and Lindelof (who all executive-produced the film with Blum) focuses on a group of Americans who are kidnapped and dropped off in a rural area in Europe. In this natural arena of sorts, they are then hunted down by rich people who have paid for the Most Dangerous Game experience of murdering them with an array of weapons, including guns. In light of the two recent instances of gun violence in the U.S., Universal decided it was best to shelve the movie and give it no rescheduled release date. In the latest THR interview, Lindelof says a perception [of The Hunt] was largely formed based on all the events in the aftermath of the horrific weekend before. [But] we really dont want to be pointing fingers, and more importantly, we dont want to be wagging fingers at anyone for overreacting or reacting incorrectly. We just felt like the movie was being misunderstood. What exactly is there to misunderstand about a film Blum is now framing as probably the most judged movie thats ever existed that everyone who judged it hadnt seen? Heres your brief guide: Does The Hunt feature deplorables being hunted for sport? A preferred refrain on Fox News last week claimed the movie features privileged vacationers hunting down deplorables. While privileged vacationers does seem appropriately vague, there is no use of the word deplorable in the trailer or official plot descriptions provided by the studio, either in conjunction with the trailers release, or even in various casting announcements reported by the trades. The first footage does feature characters saying they hail from Wyoming, Mississippi, and Florida. One character tells us every year a bunch of elites kidnap normal folks like us, but neither the elites nor the normal folks use the word deplorable. So, does The Hunt feature deplorables being hunted for sport? After ads for the movie were pulled, the Hollywood Reporter posted a few quotes from the movies screenplay. It reportedly referenced our ratfucker-in-chief and slaughtering a dozen deplorables. One of the journalists who co-authored that piece, Kim Masters, told Vulture those phrases are in fact in the film or, at least, in the cut of the film the studio was sitting on before it was shelved. That means the existence of the word deplorables is: confirmed. Are the hunters members of the liberal elite? Next up, the word liberal elite has been used to describe the hunters of The Hunt, and heres where we have a change from the original press run. That ideological qualifier did not appear in any of Universals official descriptions, and a detail that accompanied the casting announcement for Betty Gilpin said the pic explores escalating aggressiveness between the political right and left in America without specifying the ideological alignments of the characters. In the newly cut trailer, we now have a character saying Did you read that article? Every year these liberal elites kidnap a bunch of normal folks like us and hunt us for sport. The way the trailer cuts during that line implies the posh looking liberal elites are doing bad things to people, so we can switch the status of this detail to: confirmed. Deplorability aside, are the people being hunted supposed to be Trump supporters? The movies first trailer features a photo lineup of the hunted, showing the individuals doing things like holding a gun in front of an American flag, posing with a poached rhinoceros, marching with a tiki torch similar to those carried by white nationalists, sitting menacingly behind what looks like a podcast microphone. Some of the images contained within the photo lineup have been associated with conservatives, the alt-right, and/or neo-Nazis some of whom are Trump supporters but theres no direct mention of any of the hunted voting for Trump. The original title of the film was Red State vs. Blue State, and based on reporting by THR it was apparently received with trepidation when Universal bought the project. But considering the persistent vagueness of Red State vs. Blue State and the fact that the new trailer does not provide political party alignment, and that producer Blum announced the new release date saying None of us were interested in taking sides with this movie, Vultures conclusion about whether or not Trump supporters are the ones being hunted remains: We have no idea. OK, but are the bad guys the globalist elite? Another description that has come up about the antagonists in the The Hunt is that they are globalist elites. None of the information provided about The Hunt has specified whether or not Hilary Swank, who seems to be the architect of the murder game, and her clientele are globalist or isolationist or members of the New World Order. All we know is that they are rich enough to buy their way into the Hunt, and rich enough for Swanks character to say in the trailer, We pay for everything, so this country belongs to us. (Honestly, they sound a lot like the members of the Elite Hunting Club from the Hostile franchise, and those guys were mostly just politically ambiguous assholes.) So, are the bad guys the globalist elite? Even with the new trailer, which seems to make the The Hunts narrative progression more transparent than the first marketing campaign, the verdict stays the say the same: cant stress enough how little information we have. Is The Hunt racist? The president weighed in on the moral compass of Hollywood during the first wave of controversy, explaining during a press appearance on the White House lawn that an unnamed upcoming movie is made in order to inflame and cause chaos. While he did not specifically name The Hunt, that particular film was mentioned several times on Fox News prior to his quote. Trump also tweeted, Liberal Hollywood is Racist at the highest level, and, They are the true Racists, and are very bad for our Country! Based on what little we have seen, is The Hunt racist? Really tough to make an assessment on this one based on two trailers, but what weve seen features entirely white-on-white violence and one actor saying, Im playing an Arab refugee, but I identify as white. I think thats problematic, too, in some way. Do we have access to any other details whatsoever about the individual characters or their ideological motivations within the movie? No. Judgment: truly cannot tell you anything about this movie. Is this movie about living in a society, man? Honestly that: seems possible, but with a lot less ennui than Joker. This has been your myth-busting guide to The Hunt. Stay vigilant, everyone. *This story has been updated to include comment from a journalist at The Hollywood Reporter as well as new facts available based on the renewed marketing campaign. President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday arrived Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for a sympathy visit. Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, announced the presidents arrival in Maiduguri in a Tweet on Wednesday afternoon. 12:45pm. President Buhari, aboard the BBJ from Addis Ababa just landed in Maiduguri. He is paying a sympathy visit to the government and people of Borno following the recent horrific incident in which BH terrorists killed several travelers, Mr Shehu wrote. PREMIUM TIMES reported one of the recent Boko Haram attacks in Auno where over 30 travellers were killed by Boko Haram after their vehicles were stopped from entering Maiduguri after 5:00 p.m. The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, blamed the military for the attack. We have made repeated plea to the military to re-establish a base in Auno since it is one of the flashpoints of the Boko Haram, but nothing has been done to that effect, the governor said. On Wednesday, the president was accompanied by the defence minister, the National Security Adviser, the governors of Imo and Cross River states, Hope Uzodimma and Ben Ayade, and other federal government officials. Mr. Buhari was immediately driven into Maiduguri town amidst tight security mounted by the army and the police. The president also visited the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Elkanemi. Fla. county agrees to let atheists give invocations; pays $490K in legal settlement Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Florida county will now allow atheists to give invocations at the start of government meetings and was ordered to pay $490,000 as part of a recently agreed upon legal settlement. The Brevard County Board of Commissioners reached a settlement with a group of plaintiffs who were prohibited from giving invocations at the meeting. The plaintiffs will now be allowed to give invocations, according to an announcement by Americans United for Separation of Church & State. The county will also dole out $430,000 in court costs and legal fees, as well as $60,000 in damages to the plaintiffs. Alex J. Luchenitser, associate legal director for Americans United who helped represent the plaintiffs, supported the settlement. This settlement protects the religious freedom of everyone in Brevard County. No one should be excluded from participating in local government because of their beliefs about religion, said Luchenitser in a statement released Tuesday. In 2014, David Williamson of the Central Florida Freethought Community and other leaders asked to do an invocation at the beginning of the Brevard County Commissioners meeting. In response, Brevard Commissioners unanimously approved a measure banning atheist invocations from opening their public meetings. Brevard County Chair Mary Bolin Lewis told Williamson that he could offer an atheist invocation during the public comments section of the meeting. "The prayer is delivered during the ceremonial portion of the county's meeting, and typically invokes guidance for the County Commission from the highest spiritual authority, a higher authority which a substantial body of Brevard constituents believe to exist," wrote Lewis at the time. "The invocation is also meant to lend gravity to the occasion, to reflect values long part of the county's heritage, and to acknowledge the place religion holds in the lives of many private citizens in Brevard County." Williamson and other plaintiffs sued the county in 2015, being represented by Americans United, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union. In September 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida ruled against the county and in July of last year, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit also ruled against the invocation policy. Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus authored the opinion, arguing that although Brevard County was allowed to have sectarian invocations, they could not exclude certain groups from giving them. Brevard County has selected invocation speakers in a way that favors certain monotheistic religions and categorically excludes from consideration other religions solely based on their belief systems. Brevard Countys process of selecting invocation speakers thus runs afoul of the Establishment Clause, Marcus wrote in his decision last year. Secular humanists are far from the only group viewed with disfavor some of the Commissioners and former Commissioners have testified unambiguously that they would not allow deists, Wiccans, Rastafarians, or, for that matter, polytheists to deliver prayers, and that they would have to think long and hard before inviting a Hindu, a Sikh, or a follower of a Native American religion. National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, Stephen Atubiga says the partys Deputy National Organizer, Chief Biney should resign from his position following the announcement of his marriage with a female member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). According to him, Chief Biney marrying MASLOCs Afia Akoto is dangerous for the NDC since he will be dining with their opponents. The heartbeat, strength, and strategy of winning 2020 or election for NDC, is in the hands of the national organizer and his deputies. There is no room for family, love or stomach when leading us (NDC) as a national executive for (war) elections while wining and dining with our opponents (enemies). The party is very naked now my people, he stressed in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com. He also wants the partys former Central Regional Chairman, Allotey Jacobs be disallowed from joining strategic executive meetings ahead of the 2020 Elections in order not to jeopardize their victory. Read full statement below: In consultation with most stakeholders, party executives and members of the party, it will be in the partys interest for chief Banni to resign from his position or the leadership of the party protecting the party by relieving him from his post entrusted to him by us. ( party members) The heartbeat, strength, and strategy of winning 2020 or election for NDC, is in the hands of the national organizer and his deputies. There is no room for family, love or stomach when leading us (NDC) as a national executive for (war) elections while wining and dining with our opponents (enemies). The party is very naked now my people. Chief Banni should not be allowed in any national meeting at the national level, Fegg, security or any strategic meeting in the interest of 2020 victory for JDM/ NDC. Alotey Jacob and co are far less dangerous for jdms victory as ordinary members, then the strategic seat and position my brother chief banni holds for the party, and going with it into this dangerous relationship against the partys interest. The Afia Akoto I have known, will never let Her NPP down for any man or love. Especially for JDM she has insulted, called JDM names till date. Well. I am calling on all NDC members to help protect and project the NDC party from where we love, where we eat, and how we make friends in the interest of the party. We have positioned some grassroots to storm the party office, anytime chief banni is in attendance of any meeting at the headquarters. To make sure he is not pat of the meeting. And for the safety of all national executives during Fegg or any strategic meeting of NDC involving( former national deputy organizer chief Banni, blame yourselves when blood is spelling to protect the partys nakedness. the party is bigger than atubiga, The part is Paramount including who I chose to befriend, play or get married to when leading and holding a strategic position. Chief banni has the right to marry whoever he wants as a Ghanian and as human, he can even marry Nana Addo's daughter, dont get me wrong. The problem is the position he is holding, and WHO he is marrying to is very dangerous to the NDC party as a whole. We cant afford for the sweetness of Afia Akoto to keep us in opposition with own secret through her husband. chiii, chiii, chii, mmbano. Very dangerous to JDM and /NDC. This 2020 elections victory for JDM is a war, Nation rescue movement, boot for boot. no room for games. Either you are ready to help JDM / NDC win power, or stay in your lane for your safety. Over to you JDM, there are more tractors as I have been telling you to sit up as the leader of the NDC, Use the power given to you to give us victory, or you allow others to use their powers to keep us in opposition. Justice and protection for NDCs secrets. Stephen Atubiga. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video When Dr. Mark Haverkorn opened his medical practice on the North Side just over a year ago, he wanted his business to be different, where the prices are transparent. We publish our prices on our website and give them out over the phone, he said. We try to be as responsive as possible to patients financial concerns. Weve never sued a patient, and we are absolutely against surprise bills. The oral and maxillofacial surgeon said when he was part of the old system, patients asked him how much a procedure cost, and he couldnt tell them. It took months for all the statements to come out and bills to be settled. Haverkorn and his practice, River City Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, are part of what he describes as a small, but growing movement to reform health care doctors who choose not to participate in murky medical billing practices. Patients are used to the old system even if they dont like it, he said. When I talk to my colleagues, they are glad the new model is working for me but are scared to take the leap. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Dr. Roger Moczygemba is another local doctor frustrated with the current health care system. The longtime primary care physician started his own enterprise near Blanco Road and Loop 410 called Direct Med Clinic. His clinic sells service agreement memberships for less than $2 a day that includes unlimited $10 visits for urgent care and primary care. Purchased as an alternative to traditional insurance with high deductibles, he says his agreement covers 90 percent of medical needs. Moczygemba also recently started the San Antonio chapter of the Free Market Medical Association, an Oklahoma-based organization thats looking to change the way patients buy health care services. The group is hosting its first quarterly meeting March 4 at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Collonade. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Johns Hopkins surgical oncologist Dr. Marty Makary will be its first speaker. Makarys 2013 book Unaccountable: What Hospitals Won't Tell You and How Transparency Can Revolutionize Health Care is credited for inspiring the Fox television show The Resident. The Baltimore surgeon is also co-developer of the life-saving checklist outlined in Atul Gawande's bestselling The Checklist Manifesto and has become an advocate for driving down health care prices. Last week, Makary and Dr. Simon Mathews, another physician at Johns Hopkins Medicine, proposed a five-star rating system for medical billing. The metrics are detailed in an article called Billing Quality is Medical Quality in JAMA, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association. The billing process ranges from friendly and helpful to downright predatory, Makary said. On ExpressNews.com: Texas lawmakers crack down on surprise medical bills, tighten rules on freestanding ERs He said hospitals should be measured on whether they can provide easy-to-read, itemized bills, real prices for common services and staff who can respond promptly to billing concerns. Aggressive collection tactics, such as suing to garnish wages or place a lien on their home for unpaid medical bills, should be avoided, he said. Consumers should also look at whether providers send surprise bills. Hospital billing and pricing practices, he said, need to change so that the good actors are rewarded for transparency and the bad ones are held more accountable by the public. Financial toxicity, the difficulties a patient has related to the cost of medical care, is a medical complication, Makary said. He warned that these practices erode public trust in the medical profession. A survey of 1,000 patients, cited in the JAMA article, found that 64 percent reported delaying or neglecting medical care in the past year because they worried about high medical bills. Contributed Dr. Arti Thangudu, a San Antonio endocrinologist, said shes seen obscure pricing practices determined by third parties deteriorate the doctor-patient relationship, which is essential for getting patients healthier. Thangudu opened an endocrinology clinic called Complete Medicine in Stone Oak that offers memberships starting at $150 a month. This includes all visits and direct access to the doctor at any time via text, email or phone. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox She doesnt accept health insurance, and shes on Instagram helping her followers with advice on how to reverse diabetes through lifestyle changes. We need pricing transparency in order to care for our patients, she said. Physicians, she added, are often shielded from pricing, which can lead them to make care decisions that may economically burden their patients without the physician even knowing it. Haverkorn said its one thing for individual doctors to reform billing quality in their own practices, but hospitals and big institutions need to commit to billing quality reforms. We should all embrace these billing quality metrics and begin to ask providers and institutions how they measure up against these metrics, he said. 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 ROCHESTER HILLS, MICHIGAN, Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: INFU) (InfuSystem or the Company), a leading national health care service provider, facilitating outpatient care for durable medical equipment (DME) manufacturers and health care providers, announced today that it has entered into an agreement whereby it will add Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) to its Integrated Therapy Service (ITS) platform. As part of the new relationship, InfuSystems turnkey solutions will include providing the durable medical equipment, overseeing logistics, biomedical services, and managing third-party billing. Richard DiIorio, chief executive officer of InfuSystem, said, We are pleased to announce the addition of NPWT to the Integrated Therapy Services platform, joining our existing therapies, oncology and pain management. This addition results from a premier global health care services company seeking out InfuSystem and our unique expertise in providing clinic-to-home DME solutions. The core market to be targeted under the new agreement is U.S. home health care, which as a subset of the broader NPWT market, has an estimated addressable market of $600 million per year. We are excited to collaborate with a Top-10 health care services company on this new therapy and we look forward to a long and successful relationship, Mr. DiIorio continued. As seen with past new business wins, the nature of our ITS business involves an initial period of on-boarding the participating facilities. We will soon begin that on-boarding, but we do not expect to see meaningful revenue from NPWT until the second half of this year. It should be noted that NPWT was not part of the Companys previously announced full-year 2020 financial guidance. We plan to update this guidance in the coming quarters, concluded Mr. DiIorio. About Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a therapeutic technique using vacuum dressing to promote healing of acute and chronic wounds. Examples of acute wounds treated include those from surgery and c-sections, and chronic wounds treated include pressure ulcers, trophic, and vascular ulcers. The U.S. market for NPWT therapy is estimated to exceed $2 billion by 2024. Story continues About InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of infusion pumps and related DME support services to hospitals, clinics and other alternate site healthcare providers. Headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, the Company delivers local, field-based customer support and also operates Centers of Excellence in Michigan, Kansas, California, Massachusetts and Ontario, Canada. The Companys stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol INFU. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are considered to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, such as statements relating to future actions, business plans, objectives and prospects, future operating or financial performance. The words believe, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, should, plan, expect, strategy, future, likely, variations of such words, and other similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, our dependence on estimates of collectible revenue, potential litigation, changes in third-party reimbursement processes, changes in law and other risk factors disclosed in the Companys most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, to the extent applicable, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required by law. Additional information about InfuSystem Holdings, Inc. is available at www.infusystem.com . CONTACT: Joe Dorame, Joe Diaz & Robert Blum Lytham Partners, LLC 602-889-9700 Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett faces new charges in relation to an alleged hoax attack. He has been indicted by a special prosecutor on six counts accusing him of lying to Chicago police. In January 2019 Smollett said he was walking home in Chicago when two men approached him, shouting racist and homophobic slurs, beat him up, poured bleach on him and looped a rope around his neck. He claimed the attackers said This is Maga country, referring to Donald Trumps Make America Great Again election campaign slogan. But shortly afterwards, Chicago police said he faked the attack. Smollett was charged with 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct for allegedly hiring two men to stage a racist, homophobic attack against him in downtown Chicago. He has repeatedly denied making up or orchestrating the attack. Prosecutors last March agreed to drop criminal charges against him, a decision which at the time drew claims of a whitewash of justice. In August a judge appointed special prosecutor Dan Webb to look into why the original charges were dropped, including whether Kim Foxx, the Cook county states attorney, had unduly influenced the decision to drop charges. Based on the recommendation of the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor), a Cook County grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Jussie Smollett with making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime, Webb has now said. Smollett also faces a civil suit that demands reimbursement for the cost of investigating his reported attack. He filed a countersuit in November. The actor was dropped by Empire and did not return for its final season. Smollett is due in court on 24 February. Source: The Guardian, CNN The virus itself is still a mystery. Experts expect the number of new cases to begin to recede soon, but what if it doesnt? What if the governments effort to protect the economy by forcing a return to work causes a fresh contagion or the epidemic persists into the summer? Xi would have to turn to Peoples Liberation Army generals and other security chiefs for help, but Johnson detects some hints that the military is already grumbling about cleaning up a mess created in part by the bad political decision to suppress information about the outbreak back in December. If you live in Bridgeport, you're in a good spot for Valentine's Day at least according to a survey by Apartment List. The site surveyed 11,000 single renters across the country on their dating experiences in the cities they live in to determine the best and worst cities for dating in 2020. Bridgeport snagged the number four spot in the country, and meanwhile New Haven came in as the fourth worst. Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires Democratic primary Tuesday, edging Pete Buttigieg in the Democrats presidential nominating contest after last weeks muddled results in the Iowa caucuses, according to projections by media outlets. Less than 1 percent of the pledged delegates to the national convention were at stake, an even smaller number than in Iowa. But the first two states typically winnow the race and define the frontrunners after voters in the small states have spent months kicking the tires on all the campaigns. Thank you, New Hampshire, Sanders said. Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was on pace to finish a strong third. And since 1972, no Democratic candidate finishing lower than second in the New Hampshire primary has gone on to win the nomination. In the last six contested Democratic primaries, New Hampshire voted for the partys eventual nominee half the time. Next up are the Feb. 22 caucuses in Nevada, a state with a more racially diverse population than the first two and one where labor unions play an outsized role. South Carolinas primary is Feb. 29. We just won the New Hampshire primary. What we have done together here is nothing short of the beginning of a political revolution. Join us live at our primary night rally in Manchester! https://t.co/OmKd1xIumv Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 12, 2020 In California, the state with the largest cache of delegates at stake, early ballots have already been mailed to voters. Californias results will be tallied as part of Super Tuesday on March 3, when a third of all delegates will be awarded. - Maureen Groppe Buttigieg: We are here to stay As networks called a narrow victory for Bernie Sanders, second-place finisher Pete Buttigieg thanked New Hampshire for validating his campaign. Story continues Thanks to you, he said, a campaign that some say shouldnt be here at all has shown that we are here to stay. Buttigieg called for a debate over which candidate has the best vision for how to win the White House and unify the country, countering his rivals without citing them by name. We must get this right, he said. Lets welcome that debate. While all Democrats share the goals of bringing balance to the economy and health care to everyone, along with attacking climate change and gun violence, he said, there are different views on how to get there. In an implicit swipe at Sanders, Buttigieg said that the politics of my way or the highway is not the way to defeat Trump. He also addressed the criticism from Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar who finished a surprising third -- and former Vice President Joe Biden who left without winning any delegates -- that he doesnt have enough experience to be president. While some might dismiss him as a naive newcomer, he said, a fresh outlook is what makes things possible and is how you build a new majority. Although Buttigieg didnt win New Hampshire, his close second was stunning, considering that he was a virtual unknown a year ago. And Sanders was the New Hampshire favorite going into Tuesday because he won the state with more than 60% in the 2016 primary. The contest came after Buttigieg picked up more delegates than Sanders in the Iowa caucuses, according to the Iowa Democratic Party. Who would have predicted six months ago that the race in N.H. would end in a fight to the finish between @BernieSanders and @PeteButtigieg? tweeted David Axelrod, who was chief strategist for Barack Obamas presidential campaigns. The former South Bend mayor is having another big night, putting more wind in the sails of his improbable quest. - Maureen Groppe Trump mocks Impeachment King Steyer and rest of Democratic field WASHINGTON With all eyes on New Hampshire, what is the leader of the free world supposed to do? If youre Donald Trump, you take to Twitter and offer a rolling color commentary on the Democratic field as results roll in from the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. A lot of Democrat dropouts tonight, very low political I.Q., Trump wrote after entrepreneur Andrew Yang and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet ended their presidential campaigns following a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary. Trump tore into a favorite target Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called for Democrats to unite as she headed for a disappointing fourth-place finish. Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night, he tweeted. I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a nice cold beer with her husband! Trump ripped businessman Tom Steyer, who before jumping into the Democratic primary founded and pumped millions of dollars into a group calling for Trump to be impeached. With more than two-thirds of the vote reported, Steyer appeared headed for a distant sixth-place finish. Impeachment King Steyer (how did that work out?) spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1% of the vote in Iowa, and only 3% of the Vote in New Hampshire, Trump gloated. Could it be that something is just plain missing? Not easy to do what I did, is it? Trump even went after former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who wasnt on the New Hampshire ballot. A very bad night for Mini Mike! he tweeted. Just a few hours earlier, Trump-branded Bloomberg a lightweight, accused him of trying to buy the Democratic primary, and said hed rather run against him than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in November. Sanders has real followers, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Whether you like him or not, whether you agree with him or not I happen to think its terrible what he says but he has followers. Bloomberg is just buying his way in. - Michael Collins Amy Klobuchar: Tonight is about grit Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar presented herself as one of New Hampshires famous comeback kids Tuesday night, as incomplete results showed she would finish in the top three in the first-in-the-nation primary. Tonight is about grit, Klobuchar told her cheering supporters as she stood in front of a large, green Amy sign. And my story, like so many of yours, is one of reliance. Counted out of the race by most people as recently as a week ago Thank you, pundits she added Klobuchar said she came back and we delivered. And, man, were we at the debate in New Hampshire! she said. Following a strong debate performance Friday, Klobuchar surged in the past week after her apparent fifth-place finish in Iowa. About half of those surveyed in a CNN Exit Poll said the most recent debate was an important factor in Tuesdays vote. Klobuchar said President Donald Trumps worst nightmare is the people in the middle who have had enough of his name-calling and mud-slinging and now have someone else to vote for in November. She promised to turn her happy, scrappy campaign into a movement of fired-up Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans that see the election as a check on the economy, on patriotism and decency. Its not about having the loudest voice or biggest bank account, she said, but the best ideas and the person who can turn those ideas into action. But Klobuchar, whose fundraising and staffing lags far behind the other top candidates, could have a tough time replicating her success in the upcoming states. The acceleration of this race is hard to capture, David Plouffe, the 2008 campaign manager for Barack Obama, said on MSNBC. Shes got to now put together a national campaign overnight. - Maureen Groppe It aint over man: Joe Biden promises to win South Carolina After a disappointing finish in New Hampshire, Joe Biden told a cheering South Carolina crowd Tuesday night he was counting on them to be the opening bell of the campaign for him. The fight to end Donald Trumps presidency is just beginning, the former vice president said, speaking at a launch party in Columbia. Biden touted the importance of the next two elections: the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22, and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29. Biden left New Hampshire even before the polls closed after predicting he would not do well in the Granite State. Having lost in Iowa and New Hampshire whites make up a disproportionate of the electorate, Biden is pinning his hopes on the black and brown voters in more diverse states. Up til now, we havent heard from the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party, the African American community. And the fastest-growing segment of society, the Latino community, he said. So to hear all these pundits and experts, all these cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them: it aint over, man. Were just getting started. Our votes count too. Unofficial election results show Biden fishing in fifth in New Hampshire after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa Democratic caucuses last week. Even he conceded Sunday he won't be in the winner's circle when the Granite State finishes counting ballots in its first-in-the-nation primary. "It's a long race," he said during Friday's debate in Manchester. "I took a hit in Iowa, and I'll probably take a hit here." A poor showing in New Hampshire is traditionally a death knell. Since 1972, no Democratic candidate who finished lower than second has gone on to win the presidential nomination. - Ledyard King Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar leading New Hampshire primary field Three candidates Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar were leading the board as the results came in. MSNBC projected that those are the only three who will end up with pledged delegates when the results are final. Sanders, the Vermont senator who won New Hampshire handily in the 2016 primary, was at the top. Buttigieg and Klobuchar were closely behind. Looks like Bernie will win but not like he did in 2016, tweeted Joe Lockhart, who was former President Bill Clintons press secretary. State of the race no clearer tonight. Although no candidate is likely to leave New Hampshire with the frontrunner title, the primary did narrow the field. Two candidates Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet suspended their campaigns before the results were final. - Maureen Groppe Gabbard says she will continue her campaign in South Carolina Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard told supporters that she will stay in the primary race and continue on to South Carolina after a projected disappointing finish in New Hampshire. No matter what happens here tonight, I want you to know that we have already been victorious because of what we have built here, together." Gabbard, who relocated from Hawaii to New Hampshire in December to focus on the primary, said in a speech Tuesday night. As much as they have tried to erase us from this election, we stand strong. We are still here." Gabbards campaign is planning multiple events tomorrow in South Carolina. - Savannah Behrmann Sanders supporters feeling confident MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Loud cheers erupted from Sanders supporters at his election night party, held in a basketball gym on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University, when CNN showed him in first with 28 percent of the vote. The crowd, many waving Bernie signs, counted down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! as polls closed and then broke into chants of, Bernie! Bernie! Bernie! They continued to cheer as votes trickled in and Sanders lead maintained. I believe in the movement, I believe in the cause and I believe its time to take America back by the people and for the people, said Scott Dakota, a 55-year-old musician and composer from Keene, New Hampshire, positioned directly in front of the stage where Sanders will be speaking. No recent Democrat nor Republican recent candidate has made sense to me until Bernie Sanders came along, said Dakota, a campaign volunteer who opened his house as a canvassing station. Bernie Sanders brought me back into politics. John Thyng, 47, of Deering, N.H., wearing a purple SEIU Local 1984 sweatshirt, said hes hopeful Sanders performance in New Hampshire will set the stage for the rest of the country. Hes great for workers, working people, and we need to make a change, Thyng said. We need a revolution and hes the person whos going to help us do it. He added: Theres a lot of people who have been trying to pull Bernie down here in New Hampshire, a lot of the political establishment, but people want change and hes going to bring the change that we need. Standing next to Thyng, Ruth Simcox, 69, a volunteer from Bloomington, Indiana, said shes been volunteering in New Hampshire since last Thursday, mostly helping with canvassing. She said she talked to many Sanders supporters who after Iowa, theyre planning on this being a big night for us. I think Bernie Sanders is one of the truest, honest candidates weve had in a long time, Simcox said. Hes for the people, not for the money. She said she feels good about the results that have come in so far and that it will hold up. Im sure they will, she said. Warren campaign looking ahead as she falls behind in New Hampshire Elizabeth Warren spoke to a New Hampshire crowd as she was projected not to crack the 15% threshold required to receive delegates in the first-in-the-nation primary. Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar are projected to land in the top three slots. But Warren said her campaign is still looking to the remaining primaries. Warren said she respects the Sanders and Buttigieg, and I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out. Senator Sanders and Mayor Buttigieg are both great people and either of them would be a far better president than Donald Trump. Undeterred, Warren said her campaign would unite the Democratic Party and the country behind ideas that accomplish structural change, making life better for the majority of Americans. Our campaign is best positioned to beat Donald Trump in November, because we can unite our party. She also decried harsh tactics of attacking fellow candidates in ads and supporters shouting curses, and urged the party to avoid falling into factions. Were two states in, with 55 states and territories to go. We still have 98% of the delegates for our nomination up for grabs, and Americans in every part of our country are going to make their voices heard. -Jeanine Santucci Michael Bennet ends campaign for president Sen. Michael Bennet, who joined the presidential race after a fiery speech on the Senate floor during the government shutdown last year, has ended his bid for the presidency, according to the Associated Press. Bennet had staked much of campaign's future on the New Hampshire primary, forgoing months of campaigning in other early states to stick to the Granite State. But Tuesday's early results showed Bennet trailing his top-tier rivals by double-digits. Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency Andrew Yang, an entrepreneur whose signature policy included giving all adults a monthly stipend, has ended his quest for the presidency, according to several news outlets. "I'm so proud of this campaign. Thank you to everyone who got us here," he tweeted Tuesday shortly after polls closed. Yang's candidacy comes to an end following an unexpected rise last year, where he outlasted a New York City mayor, former and current governors, and even several U.S. senators in his quest for the presidency. Despite being relatively unknown when he first announced his candidacy, Yang grew an energetic and passionate base known as the Yang Gang that propelled him into a household name. Yang, 45, is the founder of the nonprofit Venture for America, and before announcing his campaign for presidency, had never run for elected office before. The Obama administration selected him in 2012 as a Champion of Change and in 2015 as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship. New Hampshire Democratic primary voters prioritize electability over issues Most New Hampshire voters participating in the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary Tuesday are angry with the Trump administration, support a Medicare-for-All style health care plan, and think the nominees most important quality is the ability to beat President Donald Trump in November, according to an exit poll conducted for CNN and other television networks. Surveys of voters taken before polls closed in the Granite State provide an early indication of whats motivating people as they fill out their ballots. The exit poll, conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool, are based on interviews conducted throughout the day with 1,947 randomly selected Democratic primary voters at 45 wards in New Hampshire. Results for the full sample have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Among their findings: Nearly half who say they decided on their candidate did so only in the past few days, a sign of how in flux the Democratic field is. About half said Fridays debate in Manchester was an important factor in deciding their vote for president. By a roughly 2-1 margin, voters said they are looking for a candidate who can beat President Trump over one who agrees with them on the issues, echoing similar trends found in previous voter surveys. Eight in 10 say they're "angry" about the Trump administration. About four in 10 cited health care as the most important issue, and six in 10 said they could support a single-government plan, such as Medicare for All, a program outed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Climate change was the next most often cited issue with about 3 in 10 naming it their top concern. The exit polls also showed two trends that could be warning signs for Sanders, according to MS-NBC About a third of voters were 65 or older, compared to only 11% between 18 and 29. In addition, about four in 10 identified themselves as moderates or conservatives compared to about two in ten who called themselves very liberal. Progressives and younger voters have been the core of Sanders support. - Ledyard King Trump says hed like to run against lightweight Bloomberg President Donald Trump offered his thoughts on the Democratic presidential field on Tuesday just a couple of hours before polls closed in New Hampshires first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Trump mocked former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as lightweight and accused him of trying to buy the Democratic nomination. Hes also one of the worst debaters Ive ever seen, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump said hed rather face Bloomberg in November than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders has real followers, Trump said. Whether you like him or not, whether you agree with him or not I happen to think its terrible what he says but he has followers. Bloomberg is just buying his way in. Asked about former Vice President Joe Bidens campaign, Trump said: Its stumbling. Its mumbling. Not pretty." But Trump said he thought Biden still had time to turn his campaign around. Its not going to be easy, Trump said, but I think he can turn it around. I think he has a shot. Hes got probably almost as good a shot as anyone. But hes going to have to work very hard much harder than they thought. - Michael Collins Democratic strategists will be watching closely after muddled Iowa results All eyes will be on participation in New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary as Democratic strategists wrestle with the consequential uncertainty of whether voters are already tuning out with nine months left on the election calendar. Lower-than-expected participation in the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses and arena-packed crowds at President Donald Trumps rallies that have eclipsed those of his rivals including one on the eve of the New Hampshire primary have rattled some and undermined the early narrative that Democrats are so energized after losing in 2016 that theyre ready to show up in droves in 2020. The Granite States participation in Tuesdays primary could portend whether Democrats are facing the same enthusiasm headwinds that worked against Hillary Clinton four years ago. Democrats cant just take it for granted that well have an enthusiasm advantage in November, said Josh Schwerin with Priorities USA Action, a political action committee that supports Democratic candidates. Just having Trump on the ballot isnt enough. A higher turnout in New Hampshire would allay concerns over the challenges facing Democrats in November, including a strong economy and volatility in their own field. But strategists warn its still early in the primary process, and the entire dynamic could change as the field begins to narrow and Democrats coalesce around a candidate. Read more on whether the Democrats face an enthusiasm gap as they prepare to take on Trump. - Courtney Subramanian and John Fritze Warren volunteers remain confident MANCHESTER, N.H. Needing a strong performance in her neighboring state that overperforms her sagging projections, Elizabeth Warren thanked supporters outside a voting site here Tuesday afternoon, telling them, Were going to do this together. Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts, arrived to chants of Big structural change and Just two cents from dozens of her followers outside Webster Elementary School north of downtown Manchester. We love you, Elizabeth! one woman yelled. The senator took turns taking selfies as she greeted a line of fans that led to the schools front-door. Fighting back is an act of patriotism, Warren said to one man who called her a patriot. Thats right! he responded. Warren ignored questions from reporters asking what a victory looks like Tuesday and whether she needs to win the state. At one time, Warren was considered a strong contender in New Hampshire given its proximity to Massachusetts. But now many polls have her in fourth place, surpassed most recently by the surging Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Any finish lower than the top two would raise questions about the long-term viability of her campaign but the campaign is already pushing back. After New Hampshire tonight, 98% of pledged delegates will still be up for grabs, Warrens campaign manager Roger Lau wrote in a campaign memo released ahead of election night. And as the race consolidates after Super Tuesday, we expect the results to show that Elizabeth Warren is the consensus choice of the widest coalition of Democrats in every corner of the country. Warrens volunteers outside the Manchester polling site said they still have confidence she can win the nomination. Not at all, said Colin Pio, a Warren volunteer from Manchester, when asked whether he has concerns about her poll numbers. Look, I worked for Hillary Clinton here in 2008. We woke up on election morning and she was down 10 points and she ended up winning. Who knows whats going to happen? Frankly, I think this race is going to go on for months after months at this point. This is the tip of the iceberg. MaryRose Mazzola, a campaign volunteer from Boston, touted Warrens ground game and said Warren historically outperforms her polling. Shes hopeful she can finish at least third in New Hampshire. Especially with third place wide open, I think she has a great shot at it, said Mazzola, who is chief of staff for Massachusetts state Sen. Barry Finegold, a Democrat from Andover, Massachusetts. The chaos in Iowa has kind of led to the race continuing to be wide open, Mazzola said. Shes a unique candidate. You see the polling where shes a lot of peoples second as well as first choice. So, I think third would be strong and could translate, get the fundraising back up and could really spread across the country. - Joey Garrison Biden will leave New Hampshire earlier than expected to go to South Carolina WASHINGTON Former Vice President Joe Biden will leave New Hampshire earlier than expected Tuesday to go campaign in South Carolina. Ahead of what could be a lower finish in the Granite State, the Biden campaign announced he and his wife Jill Biden would leave New Hampshire following the conclusion of the primary, opting out of a planned event in Nashua, and travel to South Carolina. The Bidens will instead attend a launch party with campaign co-chair Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., and address New Hampshire supporters in a livestream. According to the campaign, Joe Bidens sister Valerie Biden Owens would thank New Hampshire campaign supporters in person. In a statement, Biden said he had enjoyed traveling across New Hampshire but was looking forward to traveling to South Carolina this evening and Nevada later this week to hear from diverse voters. The South Carolina primary is Feb. 29. Live results: Follow results from the New Hampshire Democratic Primary I'll probably take a hit here': Biden faces big test in New Hampshire, where hes struggling in polls Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaking to supporters at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, N.H., on Monday. According to Bloomberg News reporter Jennifer Epstein, Biden told reporters he was "mildly hopeful here in New Hampshire" shortly after his campaign announced the change in scheduling. The primary electorates in South Carolina and Nevada, the next two states to hold Democratic presidential primaries, are more diverse than those in New Hampshire and Iowa. Biden has maintained stronger poll numbers among minorities as he has slipped in national polls. A national Monmouth University poll released today showed Biden dropping 14 percentage points nationally since last month, from 30% to 16%, and the RealClearPolitics average of New Hampshire polls has him tied for fourth place in the state with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. - Nicholas Wu Having Trump on the ballot isnt enough: Democrats battle to rev up enthusiasm for November New Hampshire voters look to Sanders, Klobuchar, Buttigieg as they seek nominee to take on Trump MANCHESTER, N.H. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., appeared to be the most popular choice among New Hampshire Democratic primary voters leaving Parker Varney School, set in a middle-class neighborhood in west Manchester, Tuesday afternoon. But Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who has shot up in polls in recent days in New Hampshire, had converts as well. Leaving the polls, Marilyn Muir, 88, said she decided to vote for Klobuchar following her strong televised debate performance Friday. She was so determined and so honest, said Muir, who is retired. Thats what I felt. Up to then, I hadnt determined who I would vote for. It was between her and Biden, but I went for her. Muir voted for Sanders, who is 78, in 2016 but said she has concerns with his age this year. Hed be good except that hes too old. Thats a stress on a man that age. But Sean Karkos, a 29-year-old attorney, said he voted for Sanders last time and again Tuesday. Ive been a supporter of his since the last election, and I havent seen any change in his policies or what hes arguing for. He cited Sanders progressive causes closing the wealth gap, pushing for equal rights and his backing of a Green New Deal as issues that appeal to him as a voter. Im confident he can beat Donald Trump. Fortunately, I think most of the people running today could. Sanders, who leads all the latest polls, is the overwhelming favorite to win Tuesdays primary. He won New Hampshire in the 2016 primary by 22 percentage points. But Klobuchar has rapidly surged in the state in recent days, while former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, has enjoyed a big post-Iowa bounce as well. Mike Barber, a former construction worker who also voted for Sanders, said he almost switched to Klobuchar at the last second, but opted to back Sanders as he did in 2016. I just like his passion. I like some of the things he says, Barber, 56, said. I dont agree with everything he says. He just hits my instincts. I think hes the man. People ask if he can stick up in a general election to Trump. But I absolutely think he can. Thats my biggest concern right now. Socialist this, socialist that, Barber said, dismissing criticism that Sanders is too far to the left to defeat Trump. But he cant do anything without Congresss help. Chad Johansen, 27, a self-described moderate who voted for Sanders, backed Sanders in the 2016 primary but voted for Trump in the general election over Hillary Clinton. Im a small business owner, so a lot of people focus on some of his plans that are going to increase taxes, said Johansen, who owns a phone and tablet repair shop. But a big thing for me is the struggle to find good reliable help especially with health care. The way it is today, I cant compete as a small business owner with what these larger businesses can offer for health benefits. He said he found common ground in some of Sanders and Trumps positions back in 2016, but has regret for voting for Trump. He called it Trump-gret, and plans to most likely support the Democratic nominee against Trump regardless of who that is. Some people like the way he acts, but I think its childish and he needs to keep things professional as the president of the United States. Joey Garrison Buttigieg defends electability as New Hampshire votes Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg defended his electability in an interview with NBC's "Today" show Tuesday as voters cast their ballots in New Hampshire's primary election. Polls have consistently shown Buttigieg with little backing among African-Americans, a group whose support former Vice President Joe Biden has touted as evidence he is best suited to become the nominee of a party that prides itself on diversity. But Buttigieg argued that a good performance in New Hampshire, on the heels of his apparent win in the Iowa caucuses The Associated Press has still not called that race will give him a boost with minority voters. "Voters of color who are laser focused on defeating this president, more than anything else, want to know that you can actually win," Buttigieg said. He said the positive results from the first two contests have given his campaign "the look that we now need as we will travel directly to states like Nevada, South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states that have a lot of racial diversity and where we can make that case eye-to-eye. - William Cummings Voting has started in the New Hampshire primary The first votes in the first-in-the-nation primary were cast just after midnight in three small New Hampshire towns on Tuesday. In Dixville Notch, where midnight voting became a tradition in 1960, the town's remaining five residents delivered a surprise victory for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg with three write-in votes (one from a registered Republican). The town's other two votes were split by Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. In the nearby town of Millsfield, WMUR reported that most of the residents cast their ballots in the Republican primary, with 16 voting for the incumbent, President Donald Trump, and one for former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota received two votes, doubling the totals of Buttigieg, Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden, who got one vote each. I'll probably take a hit here': Biden faces big test in New Hampshire, where hes struggling in polls Klobuchar also dominated in the town of Hart's Location with six votes, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts got four, entrepreneur Andrew Yang three and Sanders two. Biden, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and billionaire Tom Steyer each got one vote, according to the town's website. On the Republican side, Trump got 15 votes while Weld got four and self-described "states' rights maniac" Mary Maxwell got one. According to New Hampshire law, the polls in those three towns can close as soon as every registered resident has voted. The website for Hart's Landing boasted that the polls there opened at midnight and closed at 12:04 a.m., with the results posted by 12:33. "Were off to a great start in New Hampshire today!" Klobuchar tweeted, touting her success in the small sample from the midnight votes. - William Cummings What to know about today's New Hampshire primary New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primaries are finally upon us just eight days after chaos surrounding the release of Iowa's Democratic caucus results. The primaries began at midnight a tradition in the township of Dixville Notch and will stay open in most places until 7 p.m. ET. On the Democratic side, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont heads into Tuesday's primary as a frontrunner after leading several recent state polls. The momentum follows his finish in the Iowa caucuses, were he earned the most raw vote support and was in the top two in state delegate equivalents. 'Stakes are incredibly high': New Hampshire voters feel the pressure as primary looms Sanders also has a home-field advantage in New Hampshire: his home state of Vermont is a neighbor, and neighbors have fared well in previous Granite State primaries. Plus, he's won New Hampshire before. In 2016, Sanders took 60% of the vote in the Democratic primary, compared to his rival Hillary Clinton at 37%. Former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg also heads into Tuesday with momentum from the Hawkeye State. He leads Iowa in state delegate equivalents (the marker traditionally used to declare a winner) and the party has stated he received the most national delegates, though no winner has officially been declared. He has shot to second place in several New Hampshire polls, and could pick up undecided voters, of which there are still many. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who finished third in Iowa and is from the neighboring state of Massachusetts, has fallen slightly in polling ahead of Tuesday. Once seen as a frontrunner in some early states, some recently polling has seen her fall out of the top 3. She will be looking for a surge of enthusiasm in New Hampshire. More: Bernie Sanders takes lead for the first time in national Quinnipiac poll ahead of New Hampshire primary Sen. Amy Klobuchar is seeing a late surge in the state, coming in at third in several of the most recent state polls. She also could benefit from the number undecided New Hampshire voters. Former Vice President Joe Biden, however, has been lowering expectations in the state, after his fourth-place finish in Iowa. Biden on Friday during the Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire said, Ill probably take a hit here. His campaign is pointing to the upcoming elections in Nevada and South Carolina, where he holds a lead in polling. On the Republican side, President Donald Trump is expected to win handily over challenger former Gov. Bill Weld. Polling has show Trump with a substantial margin of support, and he overwhelming won the Iowa Republican caucus. The New Hampshire primary is only the second voting contest in the election of a party nominee, but it holds an outsize influence: No Democrat since the 1970s has places lower than second in New Hampshire and become the nominee. In addition, those who finish at top in the state will likely benefit from media attention and fundraising before the Nevada caucuses and South Carolina primaries. Check back for updates throughout the day. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Hampshire primary results: Bernie Sanders wins, Buttigieg second MANZINI The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has revealed why it believes CMAC committed an error when compiling their balloting results. SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said according to balloting results which were issued by the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) on Monday, the commission made an error by comparing the number of their members who had cast their votes against the total membership of the union. He said this logic was in utter conflict with Section 86 (6) of the Industrial Relations Act of 2000 (as amended) which says consider the simple majority of those who had cast their votes. In fact, the secretary general said during the balloting process for the 2017/18 cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) strike, the commission used the number of SNAT members who voted to calculate the simple majority. He said according to the aforementioned results, the total number of SNAT members was 11 191 and those who voted were 6 233. Voted He said the results reflected that those who voted for the strike were 98.63 per cent, while only 0.98 voted against the industrial action. He said the remaining 0.39 per cent votes were spoiled. On the other hand, the secretary general said this year, the CMAC results reflected that the total membership was 12 222 and those who voted were 2 432. He said it also showed that out of the 2 432 who had cast their votes, 2 384 voted for the strike, while only 34 opposed it. The remaining 14 votes were spoilt. However, he said when calculating the percentage, CMAC divided the number of the members who voted for the strike by the total number of SNAT membership and multiplied it by 100 to get 19.5 per cent. Strike If CMAC calculated the percentage according to the law as it did in 2017/18 CoLA balloting exercise, it was going to divide the number of members who voted for the strike by those who had cast their votes and multiply it by 100. This is to say, CMAC was supposed to divide 2 384 (members who voted for the strike) by 2 432 (total members who cast their votes) and multiply it by 100 and get 98 per cent of members who were for the planned industrial action, the secretary general said. He added that this formula was going to give them results which would mean that out of the total members who cast their votes, 98 per cent of them voted for the strike, which was something that would give them the green light to engage in the proposed industrial action. Action The secretary general added that by comparing the number of members who had cast their votes against the total membership, allegedly made the commission to assume that those who did not participate in the voting process, were opposing the proposed industrial action. Furthermore, the trade union accused CMAC of being incapacitated to conduct the balloting exercise by itself. As a result, the union leaders said they had to transport the commission staff members and lend them other working tools like laptops. Farm aid legislation that its Republican sponsors contend is bigger and bolder than what Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed earlier this year would provide farmers with tax credits and health insurance deductions that would cost about $36 million annually if it can get through the Legislature on time. The package of five bills is more than four times as expensive as Evers $8.5 million proposal, and includes an estimated $9 million in annual health insurance deductions for sole proprietors such as farmers and a three-year targeted tax credit for the states smallest farms that would cost about $27 million per year. The GOP effort also includes amended versions of two of Evers bills. Several of the items brought forward by Republicans were included in Evers 2019-21 budget, including similar health insurance deductions for self-employed individuals. However they were removed by the Republican-led Legislature. Farmers would be able to apply the tax credit to up to 66% of property taxes on buildings exclusively used for farming. The credit would be capped at $7,500, and claimants would have to make at least $35,000 in annual farm income to be eligible for the credit. Farmers already pay virtually nothing in income taxes because of an agriculture and manufacturing tax credit Republicans created in 2011. At a committee meeting Tuesday, Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, estimated the credit to cost $27 million. He pointed to the states recently announced added tax revenue as a potential source of funding. This bill would put $27 million directly into the pockets of farmers at a time when their number one issue is cash flow, Tranel said, describing the credit as a short-term fix. In the first year, farmers would be able to request the credit from the Department of Revenue. It would transition to a refundable tax credit in the two following years before the credit sunsets. Some Democratic lawmakers, including Evers, have questioned whether the bill will get money to farmers in a timely fashion, but Tranel said funds should be available by late spring or early summer. With the agriculture industry struggling, hundreds of Wisconsin farms shuttered last year. Wisconsin farmers received more than $432 million in federal aid between September 2018 and November 2019, according to data provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, said about 85% of Wisconsin farmers were self-employed in 2017. Of the estimated $9 million cost of the insurance deduction provision in the bill, about $2.5 million would go to farmers, while the remainder would go to other self-employed small businesses. This is I think a really progressive tax bill, said Rep. Dave Considine, D-Baraboo. The rest of that is going to go to the working poor. The GOP proposal also would direct UW-Madison to compile a report on ways to best serve the states farmers and conduct research on technology specific to agriculture. Another bill would require the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to work with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to increase state exports of farm products including milk, meat and crop produce. Under the bill, up to $5 million would be allocated to expanding exports in the 2021-23 fiscal biennium. Evers had originally proposed spending $1 million on expanded exports, with funds made available immediately. Republicans also amended Evers bill to award grants to dairy processing plants only if they produce no more than 50 million pounds of processed product per year. The grant would provide $1.2 million split over two years to eligible plants. Evers initially proposed dairy processing grants and increasing dairy export spending in his 2019-21 budget, but the items were stripped by Republicans. With the Assembly expected to adjourn this month and the Senate likely closing out the session next month, the bills have little time to reach Evers for his signature. Were on a very tight time frame, Assembly Agriculture Committee chairman Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Two Indian crew members have been tested positive for novel Coronavirus onboard quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess. At least 174 people on the ship have been tested positive out of 3711 persons on-board (including 2666 guests and 1045 crew members). Among all, 132 crew members and 6 passengers are Indian nationals. The cruise ship has been kept in quarantine at anchor, off the coast of Yokohama, Japan till February 19. "As of 12 February 2020, altogether 174 people have tested positive for nCoV, including 2(two) Indian crew members. All 174 have been taken to hospitals for adequate treatment - including further quarantine, in accordance with the Japanese health protocol. Those who have not tested positive, irrespective of their nationality, have not been allowed to disembark. However, an exception has been made for critically ill passengers/crew members, who have been allowed to be taken to hospitals/medical facilities, under supervision, for further treatment and quarantine," officials said. The Embassy of India in Tokyo has reached out to the Indian nationals (crew members and passengers) through emails and telephone calls. "The Embassy has explained to them about the health and safety regulations of Japanese authorities and have requested for cooperation. None of the Indian nationals have complained of discriminatory treatment meted out to them. The Embassy has been in constant touch with the ship management company - Princess Cruises (for the crew members) and the employer or the six passengers, to tie up their travel back to India," officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nairobi (Kenya), Febr 12, 2020 (SPS) - The president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Brahim Gali, has attended the state funeral honors of the former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi conveying to the people and Government of Kenya the maximum condolences of the Saharawi people and Government. The state funeral of former President Daniel Arap Moi, who died last February 4, was held Tuesday at Nyayo Stadium, in a mass event attended by African heads of state and high-ranking personalities of the continent. During his speech before heads of state, personalities and thousands of Kenyans at Nyayo Stadium, the Saharawi president has described Daniel Arap Moi as one of the best children of the African continent for his defense of freedom, dignity, security and development". All the African people share your sadness. Our condolence to the family of the former president, the great Kenyan family and the most excellent president Uhuru Kenyatta, added the Saharawi president. Accompanied by the Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, heads of state of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Djibouti, South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. Important international delegations and special envoys have also been present. Daniel Arap Moi assumed the presidency of Kenya in 1978 after the death of the country's leader and founder Jomo Kenyatta. In 2002 he said goodbye to power and ending a long career leading the country. The remains of the second president of the African country will be transferred tomorrow Wednesday to Kabarak, his native region, where he will be buried. 125/090/TRA [February 12, 2020] Touchpoint Group Holdings Enters into Licensing Agreement with English Celebrity Joey Essex MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Touchpoint Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: TGHI) (Company or Touchpoint), a media and digital technology holding company, today announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with celebrity and reality star Joey Essex to utilize the Touchpoint app to connect and interface with his expansive fan base. The Touchpoint app provides subscribers the ability to live stream exclusive content hosted by their favorite celebrities and elite influencers that use the platform and purchase original merchandise. The celebrity influencer can live stream or record content and upload to the app, providing users access to the content anytime. Joey Essex is an English TV star, international DJ and celebrity influencer. Beginning his career on The Only Way is Essex, he quickly rose to prominence as a premier star in British television. Essex currently stars in the smash hit Celebrity Ex on the Beach, which features his relationship with new-found love, Lorena Medina. Essex has played headlining DJ sets throughout the world, selling out shows at nightclubs in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Dubai, as well as throughout the UK. Essex recently began to expandinto the world of fashion with his jewelry brand, Calm Storm, and he will be launching his full fashion brand shortly. Mark White, Chief Executive Officer of Touchpoint, stated, We are extremely excited to have entered into a licensing agreement with Joey Essex to utilize the Touchpoint app. Touchpoint provides subscribers easy access to content, live or recorded, and unique merchandise will be available for purchase. We look forward to building further this relationship with Joey Essex given his dynamic reach. Joey Essex commented, I am extremely excited to begin this partnership with Touchpoint. They are doing something really special with their technology, which will allow me to better reach my fans and get them the exclusive live stream content they want. By providing unique access to my life and sharing insights, I look forward to leveraging the Touchpoint app to enhance my own unique brand. This app will also serve as a home for all of my fashion endeavors. Its an exciting time to communicate with my fan base, and I cant wait to get this technology rolled out. Ill be making further announcements on my Instagram, so stay tuned! About Touchpoint Group Holdings Touchpoint Group Holdings, Inc. is a media and digital technology acquisition and software company. For more information, see http://touchpointgh.com/ . Safe Harbor Statement This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward looking-statements. Potential risks include such factors as the inability to enter into agreements with parties with whom we are in discussions, the uncertainty of consumer demand for the Companys products, as well as additional risks and uncertainties that are identified and described in the Companys SEC reports. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company does not undertake, and it specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Contact Crescendo Communications, LLC 212-671-1021 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ryanair has lost its High Court bid to overturn decisions requiring the airline to pay compensation to 10 passengers over flight cancellations due to strike action by its Irish-based pilots. Ryanair had challenged determinations of the aviation regulator directing compensation to be paid to five passengers in respect of a flight cancellation due to strike action on July 12, 2018, and to a further five passengers in respect of a cancellation due to strike action on July 20, 2018. The determinations were made by the Commission for Aviation Regulation in accordance with a European regulation, enforcement of which is the regulator's responsibility. In judicial review proceedings, Ryanair argued it was entitled, under the 2004 regulation, to a derogation of the obligation to pay compensation/fixed sum because the cancellations arose in the type of "extraordinary circumstances" allowed for under the regulation. The regulation provides an airline shall not be obliged to pay compensation if it can prove the flight cancellation is caused by "extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures were taken". In her judgment today, Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan rejected those arguments. The case involved consideration of various CJEU judgments concerning claims against airlines. A number of principles emerged from those judgments which assisted in deciding whether or not the derogation sought by Ryanair applied in this case, the judge said. The CJEU had made clear the primary purpose of the regulation is to increase passenger protection and the regulation must be examined from a "passenger perspective", she outlined. Although "extraordinary circumstances" is not defined within the regulation, the case law defines it as referring to events which, by their nature or origin, are not inherent in the "normal exercise" of the activity of the air carrier and are beyond its "actual control". A requirement for equal treatment of passengers meant compensation was payable to passengers who suffered a delay beyond three hours, she said. Other principles included that air carriers may, as a matter of course when carrying out their activity, have disagreements or conflicts with all or some of their staff and that the circumstances of each individual case must be considered. In this case, she said it was "unstateable" for Ryanair to suggest the strike at issue might, because of the involvement of the trade union Forsa, be considered "extraordinary". The union had acted as agents for members of Ryanair's staff and domestic law on whether or not a strike is lawful cannot control the application of an EU Directive, she said. Ryanair had argued the origin of the dispute was a May 2018 letter from Forsa while the regulator said the strikes seemed to have stemmed from Ryanair's decision not to accede to 11 minimum requirements set out by Forsa in that letter, she noted. Ryanair had not shown "extraordinary circumstances" because it had not shown the events were not inherent in the normal exercise of its activity or were beyond its actual control, she held. The regulator's decision that no extraordinary circumstances existed here was in accordance with a CJEU judgment and there was no "manifest error" in that decision, she ruled. Orders will be made on a later date after the sides have considered the judgment. Gerard Downey BL, for Ryanair, indicated it may seek a stay on the court's decision. The Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp said Wednesday it now has more than two billion users around the world as it reaffirmed its commitment to strong encryption to protect privacy. WhatsApp, acquired by Facebook in 2014, has grown into one of the most widely used services in the Facebook "family" of apps, offering free messaging along with voice and video calls. "Private conversations that once were only possible face-to-face can now take place across great distances through instant chats and video calling," a WhatsApp blog post said. "There are so many significant and special moments that take place over WhatsApp and we are humbled and honored to reach this milestone." The statement said WhatsApp remained committed to its "strong encryption" that enables users to connect privately even amid calls by law enforcement in the United States and elsewhere to provide more access. "Strong encryption is a necessity in modern life. We will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe," WhatsApp said. "For even more protection, we work with top security experts, employ industry leading technology to stop misuse as well as provide controls and ways to report issues -- without sacrificing privacy." Last week, child protection organizations called on Facebook to halt plans for strong encryption of all its platforms, saying that would allow predators to operate freely. WhatsApp employs "end to end encryption" which can in many cases prevent law enforcement from accessing user data even with a court order. The social network is working to extend end-to-end encryption across its messaging applications, including Facebook Messenger and Instagram. - Back door dilemma - Child protection groups have expressed fears that stronger encryption of online exchanges would facilitate the sharing of child pornography. Backers of strong encryption argue that any special access or "backdoors" allowed for law enforcement would weaken security and could be exploited by criminals, hackers and authoritarian governments. Officials from the US, Britain and Australia late last year called on Facebook to allow authorities to circumvent encryption to better fight extremism, child pornography and other crimes. The heads of Facebook's WhatsApp and Messenger, Will Cathcart and Stan Chudnovsky, responded in a letter to officials from the three countries that allowing this kind of "backdoor" access "would be a gift to criminals, hackers and repressive regimes" while leaving users vulnerable. Facebook's stance on encryption has been backed by more than 100 activist organizations, security experts and industry groups who warned against efforts to force tech companies to weaken encryption. Despite its strong encryption, WhatsApp has seen flaws exploited in cyberspace. Human rights activists have said that spyware hidden in WhatsApp messages, possible developed by Israel-based NSO Group, was used to track dissidents and others. Amazon chief Jeff Bezos's phone is also believed to have been infected by spyware hidden in a WhatsApp message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. WhatsApp in October sued NSO Group, accusing it of using the messaging service to conduct cyberespionage on journalists, human rights activists and others. - Breakup? - WhatsApp is one member of the Facebook app "family" that includes its core social network, Instagram and Messenger. Facebook said recently some 2.89 billion people globally are daily users of at least one of these services. But the growth has also attracted attention of regulators and activists concerned over the dominance of major tech platforms. Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren has been among those calling for the breakup of the big technology firms. Facebook has argued against the idea of a breakup, saying the company is better able to keep its services safe and secure with a unified infrastructure. The WhatsApp mobile messaging service owned by Facebook said it has more than two billion users as it reaffirmed its commitment to strong encryption Facebook, whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seen here, has defended the use of strong encryption on its services This is Highly Recommend, a column dedicated to our very opinionated editors favorite things to eat, drink, and buy. I first noticed Zooba, an Egyptian fast-casual joint that opened its first New York City outpost last September, because of the design. The graphic to-go bags that line the entrance. The fun food posters on the wall that remind me of works by famed Egyptian artist Hassan Hajjaj (hes photographed Cardi B!). And have you seen the LED ceiling?! I had serious design envy. It's all inspired by the streets of Cairo, with the branding by playful brand agency &Walsh and the restaurant design by creative studio AE Superlab. When I first went to Zooba, I thought it would just be to check out the decor. But when I sat down to eat, I ended up falling in love. Every dish was so delicious and nostalgic for me, having grown up not too far from Egypt in Saudi Arabia. Eating ful medamesstewed fava beans and Egypts national dishwas my familys Sunday ritual as a kid. Now, going to Zooba is my weekend ritual in my home away from home. From the oozy cheese hawawshi (fluffy baladi bread stuffed with a tender meat-veg patty and creamy roumy cheese) to the pickled lemon taameya (freshly fried balls of mashed fava beans) to the zaatar fries, Zooba is my go-to spot for lunch. And dinner. And...really anytime Im craving Egyptian food (which is often). Ive basically become Zoobas unofficial ambassador, taking any friend in town or the whole art team to the restaurant on a given day. Design might have been the gateway, but its really all about the Egyptian food here. Go there: Zooba Originally Appeared on Bon Appetit Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Wed, February 12, 2020 06:30 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063e3044 1 National Riau-Islands,Karimun,church,Catholic-church,church-rejection,renovation,intolerance,building-permit,IMB Free The renovation of the 92-year-old Santo Joseph Catholic Church in Karimun, Riau Islands, has been halted following protests from local groups. The church, which was established in 1928, obtained a building license (IMB) for the renovation last October but had postponed starting the process after objections from the local United Muslim Forum (FUIB) and the Karimun Regency Caring Alliance (APKK), who objected to the churchs location in Karimuns capital of Tanjung Balai. Parish head, Kristiono Widodo, said that when workers were about to start the renovation last week, a group of around 20 people started yelling from outside the church, demanding that they stop working. They wanted to go inside and look for the church management whom they considered to be provocative, and asked for the work to stop, Widodo told The Jakarta Post. After a heated discussion, Widodo said that church officials agreed to go to the Karimun Police headquarters with the group. When we got there, it turned out that the Karimun regent, an APKK representative and customary leaders were already there, Widodo said. At the police headquarters, the representatives discussed the APKK and FUIBs objections and Karimun Regent Aunur Rofiq asked the church to temporarily halt the renovation work. The APKK has also filed a lawsuit against the Karimun administration at the State Administrative Court seeking to revoke the churchs building permit. The lawsuits first hearing was held at the end of last month. Separately, Aunur said that local Muslims, as represented by the APKK and FUIB, proposed three demands to his administration, namely relocating the church, turning the church into a historical site or revoking the permit already issued for the church renovation. As an IMB is a legal product, we have to wait for the ongoing legal process, he said, calling on all sides to exercise restraint to maintain the tranquility of the region. APKK chairman Hasyim Tugiran said the group wanted the church to refrain from starting the renovation work while the lawsuit was still ongoing. Meanwhile, Widodo said that the congregation remained determined to renovate the church in accordance with the IMB they had already obtained. He said that the APKK and FUIBs demands to turn the church into a heritage site and relocate the church to another location were not the solution that his side wanted. The churchs current capacity can no longer accommodate [the congregation] during mass, that is why why renovation is urgent, he said, expressing the hope that a planned meeting to be held in the Religious Affairs Ministry in Jakarta between the Karimun regent and the Pangkal Pinang bishop could result in a decision that was in line with the prevailing law. Head of the Religious Affairs Ministrys Karimun regency office, Zamzuri, was not available for comment. In May 2012, the churchs renovation committee wrote a letter to ask for support from the local community. It collected 107 signatures to be enclosed with the renovation proposal, based on which the RT (neighborhood unit) 01, RW (community unit) 01, Tanjung Balai subdistrict, in July 2012 issued a recommendation letter for the renovation. The church began pursuing a building permit in 2012 by collecting 107 signatures of non-Catholic residents in Tanjung Balai who supported the renovation. This was in line with a 2006 joint ministerial decree on places of worship, which requires a congregation to get 90 signatures from its members and another 60 from other residents before building a house of worship. The Tanjung Balai district office issued a recommendation letter on the renovation on July 2, 2012. Two soldiers have written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that while serving, the Colonel allegedly had sex with a civilian female employee inside his office. With their letter, a court of enquiry has been initiated against the Colonel in question. The soldiers from the infantry battalion in the complaint had stated that they had made a video clip of the incident after they were victimized by the officer. Sources said the Colonel was stationed in Abohar in Punjab when the incident took place. He has retired now, according to a report by news agency IANS. Representational Image The soldiers of 25 Rajputana Rifles wrote to the Defence Minister that they were being victimised for having exposed the deeds of the Colonel. They alleged in their complaint that they made the video in order to teach the Colonel a lesson as he used to mistreat them. Even as the Colonel is now retired, the inquiry under the Army rules and regulations. The Indian Army also stated that during the inquiry, it will also be probed whether the soldiers alleged tried to blackmail the Colonel. One of the biggest tech events of the world, Mobile World Congress (MWC), is scheduled to kick off on February 24 in Barcelona, Spain. However, due to the outbreak of novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), many companies have pulled out, putting a big question mark over the event. GSMA, the organizers of MWC, released a statement earlier this week reassuring that MWC will go as planned, while also confirming that the event will have an attendance of 2,800 exhibitors. But according to a new report coming out of Spain, GSMA is holding a meeting on Friday, February 14, to decide the fate of MWC 2020. There's no word from GSMA yet about this meeting, so we'll have to wait until Friday to know whether it gets canceled or proceeds as planned, albeit with the additional measures in place announced earlier. You can head this way to know more. Until now, over a dozen tech companies have pulled out of MWC 2020, including LG, TCL, Amazon, Nvidia, Ericsson, Sony and vivo. However, Xiaomi recently announced it will attend the event, but will put its staff from European offices on duty at the booth to avoid increasing the risk of 2019-nCoV spreading in Barcelona. Source (in Spanish), Via | Image Source By Krishna N. Das and Mei Mei Chu CAREY ISLAND, Malaysia, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Sime Darby Plantation, the world's largest palm oil planter, has suspended two Malaysian suppliers for failing to meet its environmental standards and identified 55 others as "high-risk" in recent months as it fights against deforestation. Sime Darby is potentially one of the biggest losers from a European backlash against an industry accused of clearing vast areas of tropical rainforest to make way for plantations. Company officials said this was the first such action taken since the launch of an online tool last May which allows anyone to trace the sources of its palm oil and raise complaints if necessary. The company, which counts Nestle, McDonald's , Unilever and Ferrero as customers, refines 4 million tonnes of palm oil a year in Malaysia, 1 million tonnes of which is sourced from third parties. The palm industry "still has issues around deforestation, we don't deny that, but somehow the attention is always on us," Rashyid Redza, principal sustainability officer at Sime Darby, told Reuters. "We have not been proactive enough in the past to counter the allegations, and we have not been organised as an industry in the past." He did not name the suspended suppliers, who would need to ensure their plantations did not cause deforestation and that their workers are not exploited before being considered for re-inclusion in its supply chain. The high-risk suppliers have been identified based on their location near protected forest areas or orangutan ranges, he said on Jan. 31 at the company's plantation in Carey Island, an hour's drive southwest of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Sime Darby, which has 590,000 hectares of planted area across Malaysia, Indonesia, Solomon Island and Papua New Guinea, was one of four Malaysian palm giants that Indonesia accused of carrying out slash-and-burn land clearing practices that led to a cross-border haze crisis in the region in September. Story continues It has denied the accusation, saying that most fires were started by local communities living within its concession. In 2018, WWF-Indonesia https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palmoil-indonesia-deforestation/palm-oil-from-indonesias-shrinking-forests-taints-global-brands-report-idUSKBN1K827N named Sime Darby among several companies that bought "tainted" palm oil mills - those that source palm oil from plantations that illegally encroached protected forest areas on Sumatra island. At that time, Sime Darby said it was working with NGOs to eradicate deforestation. Indonesia and Malaysia account for about 85% of palm oil production and are set to lose the most from EU regulation to phase it out from renewable fuel by 2030. (Reporting by Krishna N. Das and Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Attorney General Bill Barr will testify before House Democrats next month where he'll face questions on why he overruled Roger Stone's sentencing and what is going on with Rudy Giuliani's investigation of the Bidens. House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, who helped lead the impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump, announced Wednesday Barr will testify on March 31. Nadler outlined three areas he intends to question Barr on, all of them having to do with allegations from Democrats that the president abused his power. Attorney General Bill Barr will testify before House Democrats on March 31 House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, who helped lead the impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump, will lead the questioning Barr has been a defender of President Trump's policies Barr will be asked about the removal of U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu, who oversaw the prosecutions of President Trumps deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates, President Trumps former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and President Trumps longtime political adviser Roger Stone. Trump withdrew Liu's nomination to be the Treasury Department's undersecretary for terrorism and financial crimes, a top position overseeing economic sanctions, after the four prosecutors overseeing Roger Stone's case resigned in the wake of Justice Department interference in Stone's sentencing. Liu would have to face confirmation before the Senate for the position and would be sure to be subject to tough questioning from Democrats on Stone. Barr will also be asked about the process by which Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani is feeding him information about his probes of Joe and Hunter Biden. And, finally, Barr will be asked about the decision to reduce a recommended sentence for Stone, who was convicted of lying under oath. The announcement comes as Elizabeth Warren, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, called for Barr's resignation. 'Congress must act immediately to rein in our lawless Attorney General. Barr should resign or face impeachment. And Congress should use spending power to defund the AGs authority to interfere with anything that affects Trump, his friends, or his elections,' she wrote on Twitter. Barr sparked outrage when the Justice Department recommended a lighter sentence for Stone, a longtime ally of President Trump - move that came after the president tweeted about the unfairness of the sentence. The Justice Department denied the two events were related. Stone faced up to nine years in jail for what prosecutors call 'contempt for this court and the rule of law,' having clashed with the judge over a gag order. Now, prosecutors advised the court to rely on its own judgement in meting out a sentence. Trump on Tuesday denied asking his attorney general to roll back prosecutors' recommendation. Elizabeth Warren called on AG Bill Barr to resign Barr will face questions about the withdrawal of Jessie Liu's nomination to the Treasury Department Barr will face questions about the Justice Department recommended Roger Stone's sentence be reduced But Barr has been a zealous defender of Trump's prerogatives. Additionally Barr said earlier this week the Justice Department has set up an 'intake process' to review information out of Ukraine and confirmed that it was taking information from Giuliani. Barr made the comments after Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Sunday the Justice Department was getting information through Giuliani about Ukraine just days after the Senate voted to acquit President Trump of abuse of power for his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Giuliani is gathering in Ukraine about the presidents Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who held a lucrative post on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. But even as he confirmed the department he oversees would be fielding information from Giuliani, Barr cautioned that federal officials have 'to be very careful' with information coming from Ukraine. The attorney generals comments at an unrelated news conference in Washington come a day after Graham said Barr told him the department had 'created a process that Rudy could give information and they would see if it's verified.' 'The DOJ has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant,' Barr said. 'But as I did say to Senator Graham, we have to be very careful with respect to any information coming from the Ukraine. There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine, a lot of cross currents. And we can't take anything we received from Ukraine at face value.' Barr will face questions about how Rudy Giuliani is feeding information to the Justice Department Giuliani is investigating Hunter and Joe Biden Two of Giuliani's associates who aided his work in Ukraine, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, have been indicted for alleged campaign finance violations. Giuliani himself is reportedly under federal investigation. His work in Ukraine featured prominently in the arguments put forward in the Trump impeachment, which Democratic managers argued amounted to cheating in an election by trying to induce foreign election interference. Congress' PC Chacko on Wednesday tendered his resignation from the post of Delhi Congress in-charge, a day after the party failed to secure even one seat in Delhi election results. Earlier today, Chacko had said that his party lost its hold after late Sheila Dikshit took charge of the capital as the Chief Minister. Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, "The downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 when Sheila ji was the Chief Minister. The emergence of a new party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took away the entire Congress vote bank. We could never get it back. It still remains with the AAP." Yesterday, the ruling AAP scored a landslide victory in Delhi assembly elections for the second time in a row as it swept aside both BJP, which was again restricted to a single digit and Congress which could not win a single seat. AAP won 62 seats in the 70-member assembly, five seats short of its 2015 tally when it had won 67 seats. The BJP won eight seats, five more than its tally in the previous election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Investors can buy low cost index fund if they want to receive the average market return. But if you invest in individual stocks, some are likely to underperform. That's what has happened with the Sensata Technologies Holding plc (NYSE:ST) share price. It's up 18% over three years, but that is below the market return. In the last year the stock price gained, albeit only 1.5%. See our latest analysis for Sensata Technologies Holding To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. 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. Sensata Technologies Holding was able to grow its EPS at 7.0% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. The average annual share price increase of 5.8% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). NYSE:ST Past and Future Earnings, February 12th 2020 Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here. A Different Perspective Sensata Technologies Holding shareholders gained a total return of 1.5% during the year. But that was short of the market average. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it is certainly better than the yearly loss of about 1.3% endured over half a decade. So this might be a sign the business has turned its fortunes around. 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Sensata Technologies Holding you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US 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. Catholic faithful and mourners, on Tuesday, turned out in their numbers for the funeral mass of Michael Nnadi, a seminarian at the Goo... Catholic faithful and mourners, on Tuesday, turned out in their numbers for the funeral mass of Michael Nnadi, a seminarian at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, who was killed after spending three weeks in captivity. The deceased was among the four students abducted when suspected Boko Haram insurgents invaded the seminary on January 9. Matthew Kukah, Catholic bishop of Sokoto diocese, paid tribute to Nnadi, condemning the widespread insecurity in the country. Nnadis remains were lowered at the seminary amid tears and anguish from those in attendance. Below are pictures of the burial: A crowd of mourners the deceased was just 18 years His former colleagues seated at the funeral mass A procession of priests Nnadi 'going home' (Natural News) Warnings continue to multiply over the insane and invasive report that recommends Canadas Liberal government register and regulate internet media content providers. (Article by Lianne Laurence republished from LifeSiteNews.com) A number of commentators in and outside Canada denounced the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR) panels report released last week as a breathtaking and unprecedented plan to regulate the internet. The government-assembled panel of broadcasting experts chaired by Janet Yale was tasked with advising the Liberals on overhauling the countrys allegedly outdated broadcasting laws. Its report recommended a massive expansion of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as the renamed Canadian Communications Commission. A key recommendation was to extend licences currently granted to radio and television stations to all media content, along with a much stricter compliance regime, noted the National Posts John Ivison. Indeed, so strict is this proposed scheme that two former CRTC members are among the reports fiercest critics. Former CRTC vice-chair of telecommunications Peter Menzies wrote in the Globe and Mail that in a breathtaking expansion of scope and bureaucratic hubris and a series of invasive and unjustifiable recommendations, the panel advocated for a sweeping series of interventions that would make all online media from online sites such as Rabble to Rebel News and in any language subject to government regulation. That was echoed by former CRTC commissioner Timothy Denton, who in a Financial Post op-ed wrote that the report advocates an unprecedented power grab for the federal government and the CRTC aimed at nothing less than a statist counter-revolution against the internet. That was echoed by well-known Canadian pundit and political commentator Andrew Coyne. The report is breathtaking a regulatory power grab without precedent, either in Canada or the democratic world, noted Coyne in the Globe and Mail. Nobody elsewhere else is proposing anything like it, and for good reason: because its insane. But what the Liberal government will do remains a critical question after Heritage Minister Steven Guilbault caused a firestorm by first appearing to endorse the idea of government licenses for internet news sites, then reversing his position the next day. On Sunday, Guilbault told CTV News: If youre a distributor of content in Canada we would ask that they have a licence, yes. On Monday, both the minister and the prime minister insisted the Liberals wont license internet news or regulate internet news. But thats not exactly reassuring given the report recommends that companies delivering media content by means of the internet would be required to register with the new Canadian Communications Commission, and that it makes no mention here of any exemptions for news organizations, noted Ivison. And while the reports implications for press freedom are obvious so obvious, that one would expect the whole newspaper industry to rise up as one and reject it, it also contains an offer of goodies for that beleaguered sector, Coyne observed. Indeed, even as critics allege the Trudeau governments $595 million media bail-out announced in its last budget compromises Canadas legacy media, the report outlines more ways the government could help news outlets losing out to digital competitors, the Globe and Mail reported. It recommends that online media content providers must register with the CRTC and pay into a fund to support select Canadian news organizations, it reported. Newspapers would be eligible for subsidies paid for out of the taxes on aggregators and sharers, who would also be obliged to link to those Canadian news sites the CRTC deems accurate, trusted and reliable, Coyne explained. Are we really going to bite the hand that feeds us, now or in the future? he added. Liberals and their beneficiaries believe they are saving quality journalism, noted Ivison, while everyone else thinks its a transparent bribe. Thats echoed by Jack Fonseca, director of political operations at Campaign Life Coalition, Canadas national pro-life, pro-family lobbying group. The Liberal bailout of the privately-owned mainstream media was a bribe to ensure that major media outlets will become dependent on the government, and therefore not report anything critical about Trudeau, or else, he told LifeSiteNews. Its similar to the Liberal governments new rules to muzzle so-called Third Party Advertisers at election time, including simple information posted on Canadian websites, he said. Fonseca maintains those rules were designed to de-platform all small-c conservative voices which might be critical of Liberal policies, including that of Campaign Life Coalition. We actually had to shut down our pro-life Voters Guide for months during the election, and then massively restrict access to it. Canadians should regard the recent controversial broadcasting report in the context of what they know about the Liberals, and particularly the prime minister, who in May 2014 expressed his admiration for Chinas basic dictatorship, he pointed out. We need to take Trudeau at his word, and not just laugh at him as if hes some kind of joke. He was deadly serious. A basic dictatorship is what he admires. And it seems fairly clear thats where hes trying to steer the country, with a clear plan in his own mind, Fonseca said. The possibility that the Liberals could create a media registry and start licensing internet and social media-based news outlets is the latest in a string of warning signs that Justin Trudeau is the most dangerous man in Canadian political history, he added. Moreover, if the Liberals move ahead with this plan, its reasonable to assume websites like LifeSiteNews would be forced to shut down because the Liberal government would refuse to give them a license, warned Fonseca. In short, Liberals will have total control of the internet and the power to block all dissenting voices. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support his governments decision to form three capital cities for the state for a decentralised administration and also to abolish the state legislative council. The chief minister, who had a 90-minute meeting with Modi in Delhi, explained to him the reasons for his governments decision to go in for three capital cities for AP executive capital at Visakhapatnam, judicial capital at Kurnool and legislative capital at Amaravati, an official spokesman from the chief ministers office said. Jagans sudden meeting with Modi, a day after the announcement of results for Delhi assembly elections, triggered speculations in the state that the Bharatiya Janata Party might invite the YSR Congress party to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, there has been no confirmation from either the BJP or YSRC in this regard. A senior YSRC leader familiar with the development said Jagan was also planning to meet Union home minister Amit Shah but could not get an appointment. The chief minister might come back to Delhi again in a couple of days, depending on the availability of Shah, the party leader said. According to an official release from the CMO, the chief minister explained to Modi that his government had taken the decision to form three capital cities to remove regional imbalances and work out plans for a comprehensive development of the state through decentralised administration. The state cabinet has given its nod for the formation of three capitals and the state assembly had passed the relevant bill for decentralisation, Jagan told the Prime Minister. He also explained how the state legislative council, having majority of the members from the opposition party, was stalling several crucial bills introduced by the government for better administration and the benefit of the common man. The council was creating hurdles to the decisions taken by the popularly-elected government. That is precisely why the state assembly had resolved with two-thirds majority to abolish the state legislative council, Jagan said and appealed to Modi to direct the Union law ministry to take follow-up measures in the abolition of the council. The chief minister also wanted the Prime Minister to give instructions to the Union law ministry to take necessary measures for shifting the state high court from Amaravati to Kurnool. Further, Jagan appealed to Modi for the Centres nod to the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment Act)-2019, also known as Disha Act, aimed at providing speedy justice to women and children who were subject to atrocities. He wanted that the Union home ministry give its approval to the Disha Act at the earliest. The chief minister invited the Prime Minister to Andhra Pradesh to attend the distribution of house sites to 25 lakh poor families on Ugadi day. It is a historic programme taken up as part of our Nava Ratnalu (nine jewels) programme, he said. Among other major demands put forth by Jagan before the Prime Minister were: giving administrative approval for release of Rs 55,549 crore for the Polavaram irrigation project, including immediate release of dues to the extent of Rs 3320 crore; reimbursement of revenue deficit to the extent of 18,969 crore, release of pending grants-in-aid from the Centre, release of Rs 1050 crore towards special package for development of backward areas on the lines of Bundelkhand and Kalahandi areas. The Central assistance for construction of steel plant at Kadapa and port at Ramayampatnam, Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor and Kakinada Petroleum Complex and granting of special category status to AP to boost industrial investments in the state also figured in the wish list of the chief minister to Modi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 18:09:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that Manila's move to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States "is in the right direction". From the point of view of the Philippines, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the decision to terminate the VFA "is a move in the right direction that should have been done a long time ago." The Philippine government on Tuesday officially notified the U.S. government about Duterte's decision to scrap the VFA that allows the U.S. forces to take part in large-scale joint military exercises with the Philippine troops. The Philippines said the termination will take effect 180 days later and will not need U.S. concurrence. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Manila's withdrawal from the VFA "would be a move in the wrong direction." Panelo slammed Esper's statement, saying the U.S. defense chief's commentary "is expected given that the VFA favors the United States and its abrogation affects its global strategic defensive positioning." "It is about time that the Philippines strengthen our defense capabilities," Panelo said. "Reliance on another country for our own defenses against the enemies of the state will ultimately weaken and stagnate our defense mechanisms. We must stand on our own and put a stop to being a parasite to another country in protecting our independence and sovereignty," he said. "Our studied action is consistent and pursuant to our chartering an independent foreign policy, with our foreign relations anchored solely on national interest and the general welfare of our people," he said. "Should any country however threaten our territorial integrity and assault our sovereignty, we will rise by our own resources and valiantly defend our motherland the way our forefathers did during their time," he added. When Duterte, who has been harshly critical of U.S. policies, came to power in 2016 he decided to chart an independent foreign policy course, saying the Philippines is "a friend to all, and enemies to none". The Philippines and the United States signed in 1998 a VFA allowing joint Philippine-U.S. military operations. The Philippine senate ratified the agreement in 1999, seven years after the closure of the last U.S. base on Philippine territory. Citizen scientists discover rare cosmic pairing Citizen scientists have uncovered a bizarre pairing of two brown dwarfs, objects much smaller than the Sun that lack enough mass for nuclear fusion. The discovery, reported in The Astrophysical Journal and confirmed by a scientific team led by astrophysicist Jackie Faherty at the American Museum of Natural History, shows that brown dwarf systems--the formation of which are still poorly understood--can be very low mass and extremely far apart yet inexorably linked. "Astronomers would conclude that brown dwarfs separated by billions of miles would dissolve as they moved through the galaxy over time," said Faherty, a senior scientist in the Museum's Department of Astrophysics and a co-founder of the citizen science project Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, which led to the new discovery. "But we've found one that is still very much together." The Backyard Worlds project lets anyone with a computer and an internet connection flip through images taken by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft and help astronomers identify new worlds beyond our solar system. If an object is close enough to Earth, it will appear to "jump" when multiple images taken of the same spot in the sky a few years apart are compared. The goal for Backyard Worlds volunteers--of which there are more than 50,000--is to flag the moving objects they see in these digital flipbooks for further investigation by the science team. So far, volunteers have reviewed more than 4 million flipbooks. In June 2018, citizen scientists flipping through the Backyard Worlds images noticed an unusual pairing: one object that appeared faint but moved fast--the telltale sign of a new brown dwarf--and another brighter object moving nearby and at the same rate. The Backyard Worlds science team was alerted and became immediately excited about this rare cosmic sighting. Brown dwarfs, sometimes called "failed stars," are spread throughout the Milky Way. They lack enough mass to sustain stable nuclear fusion but they are hot enough to glow brightest in the infrared range of the light spectrum. While stars and brown dwarfs can be found in pairs or larger groupings, finding a pair with low total mass and at a very large separation from each other is not common. In December 2018, members of the Backyard Worlds science team used the Baade Magellan telescope in Chile outfitted with the FIRE spectrograph to confirm that the fainter source is indeed a member of one of the coldest classes of brown dwarfs: a T8. The brighter object was also confirmed as a low-temperature object: an L1. In addition, they learned that the L1 was previously observed with the European Space Agency's Gaia telescope and found to be just 78 light years from the Sun. The researchers used the distance calculated by Gaia to precisely measure the brightness of each source and extract mass estimates. They found that the T8 object has about 34 times the mass of Jupiter, and the L1 has about 72 times the mass of Jupiter. They are separated by 341 astronomical units (1 astronomical unit is roughly the distance between the Sun and the Earth, about 93 million miles). The system is estimated to be a few billion years old. "While there are a handful of young pairings that rival this mass and separation, there is no known older system that rivals it, which raises the question: how and why did this cosmic pair survive?" said Marc Kuchner, an astrophysicist and citizen science officer for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "This is an excellent example of citizen scientists on the case," Faherty said. "We are still searching for clues as to how brown dwarfs form and this system is a provocative instance of what is possible at the extremes of survivability in the Milky Way." ### The Backyard Worlds project was developed by scientists at NASA, Arizona State University, the University of California Berkeley, the science crowdsourcing site Zooniverse, and the American Museum of Natural History. AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH.ORG) The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 and currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State's official memorial to its 33rd governor and the nation's 26th president, and a tribute to Roosevelt's enduring legacy of conservation. The Museum's five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, as well as on specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the only American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree and also to grant the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Annual visitation has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum's exhibitions and Space Shows are seen by millions more in venues on six continents. The Museum's website, mobile apps, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) extend its scientific research and collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to additional audiences around the globe. Visit amnh.org for more information. Follow Become a fan of the American Museum of Natural History on Facebook at facebook.com/naturalhistory, follow us on Instagram at @AMNH, Tumblr at amnhnyc, or Twitter at @AMNH. This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / AZARGA URANIUM CORP. (TSX:AZZ)(OTCQB:AZZUF)(FRA:P8AA) ("Azarga Uranium" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that President Trump's fiscal 2021 budget proposal has requested an annual allocation of US$150 million for a 10-year period, totaling US$1.5 billion, to establish a United States uranium reserve, noting that "establishing a uranium reserve provides assurance of availability of uranium in the event of a market disruption and supports strategic U.S. fuel cycle capabilities." Blake Steele, President and CEO stated, "We commend the President's recognition of the importance of the United States nuclear fuel cycle and specifically the uranium sector. President Trump's proposed fiscal 2021 budget requests US$1.36 billion for the office of nuclear energy, which includes US$150 million (US$1.5 billion for 2021 to 2030) to establish a strategic United States uranium reserve. The budget proposal from President Trump confirms the administration's commitment to reviving the United States nuclear fuel cycle, of which uranium mining is a critical component." Steele further noted, "Our flagship asset, the advanced stage Dewey Burdock In-Situ Recovery Uranium Project in South Dakota, USA (the "Dewey Burdock Project"), is one of the preeminent undeveloped uranium projects in the United States. A robust Preliminary Economic Assessment was recently filed for the Dewey Burdock Project, which estimated direct cash costs of US$10.46 per pound of production and low initial capital expenditures of US$31.7 million. This, coupled with the positive Atomic Safety and Licensing Board decision on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission license and the Environmental Protection Agency permit advancements in 2019, continues to de-risk the Dewey Burdock Project and pave the way towards construction. The Company anticipates being well positioned to realize the benefits of the administration's support of the United States nuclear industry." On 15 July 2019, the Company announced that President Trump had established the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group (the "NFWG") to develop recommendations for reviving and expanding domestic nuclear fuel production. The Company also noted that President Trump acknowledged that the "United States uranium industry faces significant challenges in producing uranium domestically and that this is an issue of national security." The proposed fiscal 2021 budget "addresses immediate challenges to the production of domestic uranium and reflects the Administration's NFWG priorities. The NFWG will continue to evaluate issues related to uranium supply chain and fuel cycle." About Azarga Uranium Corp. Azarga Uranium is an integrated uranium exploration and development company that controls ten uranium projects and prospects in the United States of America ("USA") (South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado), with a primary focus of developing in-situ recovery uranium projects. The Dewey Burdock in-situ recovery uranium project in South Dakota, USA (the "Dewey Burdock Project"), which is the Company's initial development priority, has received its Nuclear Regulatory Commission License and draft Class III and Class V Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permits from the Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") and the Company is in the process of completing other major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA. For more information please visit www.azargauranium.com. Follow us on Twitter at @AzargaUranium. For further information, please contact: Blake Steele, President and CEO +1 303 790-7528 E-mail: info@azargauranium.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain information and statements in this news release may be considered forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for purposes of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), which reflect the expectations of management regarding its disclosure and amendments thereto. Forward-looking statements consist of information or statements that are not purely historical, including any information or statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information or statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to President Trump's proposed fiscal 2021 budget requesting US$1.36 billion for the office of nuclear energy, which includes US$150 million (US$1.5 billion for 2021-2030) to establish a strategic United States uranium reserve, the Company's Dewey Burdock Project Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its mineral projects, including the Dewey Burdock Project, the timing and amount of estimated future production and capital, operating and exploration expenditures, the Company anticipating being well positioned to realize the benefits of the administration's support of the U.S. nuclear industry and Azarga Uranium's continued efforts to obtain all major regulatory permit approvals necessary for the construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits Azarga Uranium will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including without limitation: the risk that President Trump's final approved budget for fiscal 2021 does not include the proposed or any allocations for the office of nuclear energy and the establishment of a strategic United States uranium reserve, the risk that the Dewey Burdock Project is not constructed and the estimated economics of the PEA are not realized, the risk that the estimated economics contained in the PEA do not reflect actual project economics, the risk that the Company does not realize the benefits of the administration's support of the U.S. nuclear industry, the risk that Azarga Uranium does not obtain all major regulatory permit approvals necessary for construction of the Dewey Burdock Project, including the final Class III and Class V UIC permits from the EPA, the risk that such statements may prove to be inaccurate and other factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable securities laws, Azarga Uranium assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about these and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties are set out in the "Risks and Uncertainties" section in the most recent AIF filed with Canadian security regulators. The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this News Release. SOURCE: Azarga Uranium Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576143/President-Trump-Requests-US15-Billion-Over-10-Years-to-Establish-United-States-Uranium-Reserve Attorney General William Barr to Testify Before Congress Attorney General William Barr has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31. House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and other House Democrats wrote a letter (pdf) to Barr on Wednesday, saying they were writing to confirm Barrs agreement to testify at the upcoming hearing. Citing news reports, the lawmakers claimed that Barr has engaged in a pattern of conduct in legal matters relating to the President that raises significant concerns for this Committee. That pattern, the chairs said, included the creation of a new system to vet information submitted by President Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani and others. The Justice Department has the obligation to have an open door to anybody who wishes to provide us information that they think is relevant. Barr told reporters earlier this week. We cant take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value. For that reason, we had established an intake process in the field, so that any information coming in about Ukraine could be carefully scrutinized by the department. The House Democrats also expressed concern about the Department of Justice filing a memo in the case of Roger Stone, a former Trump campaign advisor. Prosecutors from the Justice Department (DOJ) recommended to a judge this week that Stone be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison for seven counts, including obstructing a congressional investigation. The DOJ filed a memo the next day that said Stone should be given jail time but asked for a sentence far less than the recommended time. Four prosecutors withdrew from the case, one of them resigning from the department. Roger Stone (L) with his wife Nydia Stone leaves federal court in Washington on Nov. 15, 2019. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) Those two issues and the matter of U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu would be discussed in the committee hearing, Schiff and the other House Democrats wrote. Liu had stepped down from her U.S. Attorney position after being nominated to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes but her nomination was withdrawn, the White House said on Wednesday. The Department of Justice later confirmed that Barr will appear before Congress. Barr last testified to Congress on May 1, 2019. The agreement with the House came after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters on Wednesday that he wouldnt subpoena Barr to testify about the Stone case. Hell come in as part of oversight, but were not going to call him based on this, Graham said. Senate Democrats have called for the Senate Judiciary Committee to call Barr to testify soon. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also called for an investigation into the decision to reduce the sentencing recommendation for Stone. Janita Kan, Bowen Xiao, and Jack Phillips contributed to this report. February 12 : Vidhu Vinod Chopra says he is uncompromising when it comes to making films, whether its 3 Idiots, Munna Bhai or currently released Shikara. Vidhu Vinod Chopra was interacting with the media on the sidelines of his visit to KC College to promote Shikara along with Aadil Khan and Sadia on Tuesday in Mumbai. While talking about filmmaking and his approach, Chopra said, Chopra said that he never compromised on anything while making films in his career, he said, All my life I have never made a compromise on films which I made whether it is 3 Idiots or Munna Bhai series or Shikara. In every film, I tried and give you guys a message. In Munna Bhai, I talked about Jaadu Ki Jhappi and in 3 Idiots; I gave critical advice to students that chase excellence success will follow. I am happy to say that many lives changed with that film. Further adding, Vinod Chopra expressed that his recently released film, Shikara, talks about uniting despite all the negative press. He said, In Shikara, we have a message which says dont break, unite because we are at stage in life where it is becoming a norm dont unite, break. Everything is breaking be it systems or cities so, I would urge you to watch this film and spread the message of this film because you (students) are the future. If you like the films then go to social media and fix that rubbish (criticism about Shikara) and if you dont like the film then also remember message of the film. After the release of Shikara, certain section of people accused Chopra of commercialising the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in his recently released film but filmmaker quips the movie is close to his heart. He said, This is a very special film and this film talks about events which happened even before all of you (students) were born. Around 30 years back, four lakhs Kashmiris were thrown out of their home land and my mother was one of them. I am technically a refugee in my own country because I am from Kashmir. Shikara is produced and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, starring newbie Aadil Khan and Sadia. The film is based on the Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. Local authorities in Virginia would have the power to remove Confederate monuments in their public spaces under legislation approved on Tuesday by state-level politicians. In the two legislative sessions that followed a violent 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Republican politicians in the Viriginia's state assembly defeated bills that would have rewritten an existing war memorials law to allow the controversial statues to be removed. But the GOP in November lost control of the assembly, giving Democrats an opportunity to take another look at the statues that critics say distastefully glorify Virginia's history as a slaveholding state. On Tuesday, largely along party lines, the Democrat-led House and Senate passed measures that would give cities and counties the autonomy to remove, relocate, contextualise, cover or alter the monuments in their public spaces. Delegate Delores McQuinn, a Democrat from Richmond who sponsored the House bill, said it would let local communities decide for themselves how they want to memorialise history, whether it's right in your face or they want to memorialise it in another way. Charlottesville's proposed removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee helped spark the infamous 2017 gathering of white nationalists that descended into chaos. A white supremacist ploughed his car into a group of counter-protesters, killing a woman. The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Show all 23 1 /23 The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, burn a swastika and cross during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, U.S on March 9, 2019 Reuters The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network hold up balloons decorated as the face of Adolf Hitler and give a white-power hand signal as they celebrate the German fascist's birthday outside Atkins, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Billy Roper of the ShieldWall Network attends a party at a home outside Atkins. The group primarily operates in Arkansas and includes three other members who were recently charged with assault in connection with the beating of a gay man, according to police reports REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network march to a rally opposing legal abortion and supporting gun rights at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Jeff Schoep, former chairman of the National Socialist Movement, speaks during a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas on November 10, 2018 Reuters The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Crosses lit by members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan burn outside Yanceyville, North Carolina, U.S., November 4, 2017. The Loyal White Knights is one of the largest Klan groups in the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which tracks extremist groups REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan prepare for a cross-burning outside Yanceyville, North Carolina, U.S., November 4, 2017 REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network perform a Nazi salute as a swastika and cross burn during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, March 9, 2019 REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US High chairs are seen in a building owned by The Knights Party, a white nationalist group formerly named the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, outside Harrison, Arkansas, March 10, 2019. The organisation is opening an education center for the children of white nationalists REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Chris Barker of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan addresses an audience before a cross-burning outside Yanceyville REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US A figurine of a black man being lynched inside the home of Chris Barker of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Yanceyville REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US John Carollo, a member of the ShieldWall Network, holds up a photo montage of (clockwise from top left) Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, Adolf Hitler, founder of the American Nazi Party George Lincoln Rockwell, Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof and Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess, while attending a party at a home outside Atkins REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Symbols of white nationalism are displayed on the jacket of a member of the National Socialist Movement as they gather in a parking lot before attending a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network prepare a swastika for burning to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday outside Atkins REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US A new member of the ShieldWall Network, Nicholas Holloway, and other members of the white nationalist group go boating to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday outside Russellville, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Courtney Calfy, wife of Julian Calfy, helps to prepare a meal as members of the ShieldWall Network gather to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday outside Atkins, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US John Carollo, a member of the ShieldWall Network, on the phone during a celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday outside Atkins, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US A plaque on top of a flagpole with the number 1488 is carried by members of the National Socialist Movement as they attend a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, November 10, 2018 REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network John Carollo, Julian Calfy and Nicholas Holloway gather at a member's home before departing to disrupt a Jewish Holocaust memorial event in Russellville, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network burn a swastika to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday outside Atkins, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Chris Barker of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is seen inside what the group calls its church, next to his home in Yanceyville REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network go boating to celebrate Adolf Hitler's birthday outside Russellville, Arkansas REUTERS The far-right plot to normalise white supremacy in the US Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, prepare to burn a swastika and cross during a party at a home outside Atkins, Arkansas REUTERS Many places around the country quickly responded by taking Confederate monuments down, but Virginia localities were hamstrung by the state law that prevents cities and counties from removing, damaging or defacing them. Charlottesville, which later also sought to remove a statue of Confederate general Thomas Stonewall Jackson, has been fighting the issue in court. Charlottesville officials are encouraged by the legislation's progress, city spokesperson Brian Wheeler said in an email. If it is signed into law, the city will meet any procedural steps it requires to remove the statues of Lee and Jackson, he said. Opponents of the measure, who compare removing Confederate monuments to erasing history, have raised concerns that the legislation could lead to a push to take down memorials to other controversial conflicts, such as the Vietnam War. I do not believe this will end well, said Republican delegate Charles Poindexter, who added that the bill sent a tough message to every veteran or dead veteran's family. Delegate Jay Jones, who is black, said in a speech on Monday that many of the monuments were erected in the 20th century, decades after the Civil War had ended and during the throes of Jim Crow. He said people in Norfolk, his district, overwhelmingly want a Johnny Reb statue removed from a downtown square. Every time I drive past it - which is every day to get to my law office - my heart breaks a little bit, he said. Each chamber advanced different versions of the legislation. The House and Senate may next conform the language of the bills to match or advance them to a conference committee that will work out the differences. The Senate's bill imposes several hurdles not included in the House version that a local government must take before removing a monument. Under the measure, local leaders must first pass a resolution stating its intention to remove the monument, then request a report from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources with background about the person depicted and the circumstances under which the monument was established. The locality would then have to make that report public and then hold a public hearing before it could vote. A decision to remove a monument would require a two-thirds vote or could be sent to voters for a referendum. Under both the House and Senate bills, the locality would have to offer the monument to a museum, historical society, government, or military battlefield for a period of 30 days, though both measures say the local government has the sole authority to determine its final disposition. Democratic governor Ralph Northam said at the start of this year's legislative session that he supports lifting the existing prohibition on the removal of Confederate war memorials. He also said he backs a measure advancing through both chambers that lays out a process for removing a statue of Lee that Virginia contributed to the US Capitol grounds. That legislation, which establishes a commission that would recommend a prominent Virginian who could replace Lee as one of the state's two contributions in the National Statuary Hall Collection, passed the Senate on Monday and the House on Tuesday. Other city governments that have signalled their intent to remove a Confederate monument include Alexandria, Portsmouth and Norfolk, which voted to move the Johnny Reb statue to a cemetery and has also sued over the law. In Richmond, where a commission convened by the mayor recommended removing one of five Confederate statues along the city's famed Monument Avenue, the city council passed a resolution last month asking the general assembly for local control. One of those five statues, a soaring tribute to Lee, is state property. Northam has said there's an ongoing discussion about that statue's future, though his office has declined to answer further questions. The Washington Post The conspiracy to eliminate the newly elected Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Yadav, who was declared winner from Delhi's Mehrauli Assembly seat on Tuesday, was hatched about 20 days ago. But, because of the election campaign, Yadav was always surrounded by his supporters, and the police was also maintaining a tighter vigil, and the plan was thwarted, the police said on Wednesday. An officer of the rank of Additional Commissioner of Delhi Police on condition of anonymity told IANS: "From the facts that have emerged so far, it does not seem to be the result of a gang war. It seems to be a fallout of an old enmity. However, it is not correct to say anything concrete until the investigation is complete and all the accused/conspirators are arrested." When asked about the basis of denying the gang war angle, the top police officer said: "Actually after talking to the victims, some facts which have come out don't point towards the gang war. Even then, we cannot take this information as categorical. Since the police has to prove the case legally in court, it is necessary to complete the investigation from all angles." After the counting process was almost over and Naresh Yadav was declared winner, he was attacked by unidentified assailants in the Vasant kunj - Kishangarh area on Tuesday night. The MLA was returning from the temple with his well-wishers at the time of the incident. A person named Ashok Mann died in the attack, while Yadav escaped unhurt. After the incident, all the top police officers and a forensic team reached the spot. The police was also searching for any CCTV footage to identify the attackers. According to an Assistant Police Commissioner level officer involved in the investigation, "Even if there is no CCTV footage, we have some important information from the victim side, which will prove helpful in reaching to the attackers. Some people have been detained and this will help us get to the attackers." The officer also said: "The plan was to attack Yadav in the middle of the election campaign. But the presence of the police did not let this happen. After the counting of votes, the attackers felt that now the police and the candidates have all become little lax, so they carried out the attack on Tuesday." Union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh stirred a controversy by describing Deoband as Gangotri of terrorism. He said different incidents of terrorism had links with Deoband. The Union minister made the remark while addressing an event in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Saharanpur on Tuesday evening. The event was jointly organised by Jansankhya Samadhan Foundation and Hindu Jagran Manch to support the Citizen Amendment Act and demand a law to control population. I had said once that Deoband is the Gangotri of terrorism, the minister told PTI, adding that all big terrorists like Hafiz Saeed come from there. Islamic seminary Darul Uloom is also situated in Deoband town of Saharanpur district. The minister said that India had no fear of Pakistan. The danger was from traitors. The minister also dubbed the anti-CAA stir a protest against the country. It is against India. It is a kind of Khilafat andolan, he said, reminding JNU student Sharjeel Imams anti-India remarks. Singh said that the Shaheen Bagh protest in Delhi was against the country. This Shaheen Bagh protest is no longer an agitation. A group of suicide bombers is being raised here and conspiracy against the country is being hatched in its capital, he claimed. Reacting to the Union ministers statement, Congress leader and former MLA Imran Masood said Giriraj Singh has been blinded by hate to such an extent that he even insulted a sacred word like Gangotri. Saharanpur MP and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Haji Fazlur Rehman too flayed the minister for his statement and said Deoband has been the karmabhoomi of freedom fighters. Taking a dig at the Union minister, the MP said those whose leaders helped the British during the freedom struggle and tried to divide Hindus and Muslims were accusing Deoband of terrorism (With agency inputs Julie Sinnamon, the CEO of Enterprise Ireland, is to step down from the role. The government agency made the announcement today, saying Ms Sinnamon would step down later this year. Enterprise Ireland is responsible for developing Irish business globally and Ms Sinnamon has been in charge since 2013. "It has been, and remains, an honour to lead this organisation and to work with colleagues throughout Ireland and globally to support the success of Irish exporters," said Ms Sinnamon. "I would like to thank our Chairman and Board, colleagues across the agency and in Government, and our clients for their support throughout my time as CEO. "It has also been my absolute privilege and joy to work with ambitious companies throughout Ireland to help them realise their potential on the global stage. "I will work with the organisation until later in the year to ensure an orderly transition and, in the meantime, will continue to devote all of my efforts to help colleagues and clients achieve further success in global markets and in the development of Enterprise Irelands new 2021-2025 Corporate Strategy." Enterprise Ireland Chairman, Terence ORourke, paid tribute to the departing CEO, saying Ms Sinnamon made "a hugely significant contribution" to the agency. "A record 221,895 people are now employed by Enterprise Ireland-backed companies, with exports of almost 24bn, the highest in the history of the agency," said Mr O'Rourke "I would like to thank Julie for her work as CEO, her leadership of the Enterprise Ireland team and for her commitment and dedication in supporting our client companies, ensuring that Irish enterprise is in a very strong position for the future." Mr ORourke said that the agency would soon begin the recruitment process for a new CEO. Advertisement CNN anchor Don Lemon has put his classy Harlem apartment on the market for a cool $1.75 million to move closer to work, DailyMail.com can disclose. Lemon, 53, is entrusting his fiance Tim Malone to sell the luxurious pad, and Malone, 35, has been teasing his social media followers about an upcoming top secret listing over the past few days. The apartment boasts two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen and ample closet space, which is complete with shelving units. Malone, a real estate broker with Douglas Elliman, laughed and admitted to DailyMail.com it was an easy decision for Lemon to give him the listing, as he revealed Lemon was giving up the apartment in order to live closer to CNN's new office in Hudson Yards. He added: 'What [Lemon] loved about the apartment is the proximity to major subways, he could get right to Columbus Circle in seven minutes.' CNN anchor Don Lemon has listed his chic Harlem apartment on the market for a cool $1.75 million, DailyMail.com can disclose. Lemon, 53, is entrusting his fiance Tim Malone to sell the luxurious pad One of the apartment's main selling points is the chef's kitchen that has sleek cabinetry, stone countertops and top-of-the-line appliances including a Wolf kitchen range, a dual fuel oven, Subzero refrigerator and a Miele dishwasher The apartment boasts two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a state of the art kitchen and ample closet space The home has an open layout that can easily be converted from the two bedrooms into a three bedroom apartment The 1,400 sq ft pad offers sweeping views of downtown Manhattan from the building's 11th floor Malone, a real estate broker with Douglas Elliman, laughed and admitted to DailyMail.com it was an easy decision for Lemon to have him list his apartment, as he praised the neighborhood of South Harlem. Pictured: The couple in October 2019 The apartment has an open layout that can easily convert the two bedroom apartment back into a three bed, Malone said. Lemon appears to be currently using the second bedroom as a gym. One of the apartment's main selling points is the chef's kitchen that has sleek cabinetry, stone countertops and is complete with a Wolf kitchen range, a dual fuel oven, Subzero refrigerator and a Miele dishwasher. Additional features include a Sonos system, new hardwood flooring and large windows filling the spaces with Instagram-worthy views of downtown Manhattan and Harlem. Looking at the skyline from the 11th floor of his master bedroom, it's clear to see why Lemon is a fan of the Frederick Douglass Boulevard building, as he's also previously owned two other units there. Malone said: 'The neighborhood has been amazing, there's fantastic restaurants and shopping, and just a lot of character and culture in the neighborhood.' He purchased his current 1,417-square-foot unit for just under $1.5 million in 2013, a year before selling his one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in the same building for $710,000. The Emmy-winner pocketed $969,000 when he sold off his other one bedroom, one bathroom neighboring unit in 2017, according to Curbed. Lemon also has a Sag Harbor home which he plonked down $3.1 million for in August of 2017. In April, the CNN Tonight anchor announced his engagement to Malone after the real estate agent popped the question while celebrating his own birthday. Lemon took to Instagram to share the good news with a heartwarming photograph of the couple's dogs wearing matching bow tie-shaped tags that read: 'Daddy will you marry Papa?' The home has an open layout that can easily convert the two bedroom apartment back into a three bedroom apartment Additional features inside the home include a Sonos system, new hardwood flooring and large windows filling the spaces with an abundance of light and east and south-facing Manhattan and Harlem city views In April, the CNN Tonight anchor announced his engagement to Malone after the real estate agent popped the question while celebrating his own birthday Looking at the skyline from the 11th floor of his master bedroom, it's clear to see why Lemon is a fan of the building, as he's also previously owned two other units in the building Malone said: 'What Lemon loved about the apartment is the proximity to major subways, he could get right to Columbus Circle in seven minutes' 'He gave me a present on his birthday. How could I say no?' Lemon wrote, showing off their engagement rings. Lemon and Malone had been dating since 2016, even sharing an on-screen kiss during a live broadcast of during CNN's New Year's Eve broadcast in 2018. Lemon came out in his book Transparent, published in 2011, where he wrote: 'I think it would be great if everybody could be out. But it's such a personal choice.' The anchor revealed that the pair met in a restaurant in New York City and hit it off right away. The host told Metrosource magazine in 2018 about how the couple met: 'He was seeing someone, and I was playing the field. They broke up, and we got together, but we knew each other as friends for a year-and-a-half.' He added: 'I'm never sure why people are interested in me. Is it because of me? Is it because of what I do? Is it because they think they're gonna get some sort of fame, or I have no idea. 'So in that sense, dating was a bit difficult. And it's probably why I was single for so long, 'cause I was just so focused on my career and probably not so trusting of people wanting to get into a relationship with me.' The couple were spotted vacationing in Florida with their two adorable pups last month. They shared a kiss as they held their poodles, Boomer and Barkley, in waist-deep water at a beach in Miami. Malone sported a pair of black New Balance shorts while Lemon wore multi-colored swimming trunks. At one point they both let their dogs paddle in the water as they remained close by. DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) Major changes are underway at the place near where Abby Williams and Libby German were found dead. The teens were enjoying the nature out at Delphi's Monon High Bridge when they were killed in February 2017. Now in February 2020, developers are bringing new life to the historic bridge known for its tragic past. The Monon High Bridge, just east of Delphi A new sketch, video and more audio of who police believe is the suspect in the Delphi double homicide was released on April 22, 2019. Provided by Indiana State Police A new sketch, video and more audio of who police believe is the suspect in the Delphi double homicide was released on April 22, 2019. Provided by Indiana State Police The Monon High Bridge, just east of Delphi The trail leading back to the bridge is blocked off, and has been since just after the killings. Many people think it's because of the homicides, but actually $260,000 worth of renovations are happening on the Monon High Bridge. The High Bridge was part of the Monon Rail Line built in the 1890s. It crosses Deer Creek about 60 feet up from the water. It is Indiana's second-longest and third-highest railroad bridge. The last train ran across the line in the 1980s, and it has been sitting since. Related: Bonus drone video of Mary I Gerard Nature Preserve and Monon High Bridge The ink was drying on an ownership change when the events of Feb. 13, 2017 happened. The bridge ownership actually transferred from CSX to Indiana Landmarks just a few days after Abby and Libby were killed. "We pulled off any activity out here," said Director of Indiana Landmarks Tommy Kleckner when he found out about the homicides. "We held off on pre-development work, soil testing, surveying, knowing that investigators needed to be able to do their job." Now three years later, the bridge is becoming a pedestrian trail. Thanks to a grant from North Central Health Services, crews have just finished repairing a damaged pier. The next phase begins early this summer. "It's a beautiful natural area that has been an attraction for decades and decades, over a century," said Kleckner. "Once it is finished, it will be a destination." The western third of the Monon High Bridge, about 300 feet in total, will be decked and rails put up. Indiana Landmarks said the eventual goal is to finish the entire bridge with a path that connects back to Delphi on existing roads. "Following February 2017, trail safety became a really important issue, said Kleckner. "Our motivation before was really preservation. Following those events, it became preservation and trail safety." The City of Delphi is working on the project as well. A $1.2 million grant from the state will help pave the trail, widen it 10 feet and help with soil erosion. "It's one of the assets this community has that a lot of others want to emulate," said Delphi Mayor Shane Evans. "If you see the successful communities in the state of Indiana, they're trying to put trails in. They're trying to make it pedestrian friendly, biking friendly." The public trailhead can be accessed from the Freedom Bridge crossing the Hoosier Heartland Highway, or from the Mary I. Gerard Nature Preserve off County Road West 300 North. Trail cameras and mile markers were installed along the trails since the killings. Despite the tragic past, Indiana Landmarks said people are on board for a new future. "There has not been resistance," said Kleckner. "The community has really been supportive of this effort. Those events did provide greater motivation to move this forward to make sure we are successful at completing this and with greater sensitivity." The bridge is currently on private property, so Indiana Landmarks say you are trespassing if you go back there. Once finished, ownership will be given to the canal association to become part of the public trail. A grand opening of the bridge is expected in late summer of 2020. Police say 50,000 tips have been submitted so far in the investigation. Email abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com with any information in the killings of Abby Williams and Libby German. Thursday on the 3-year anniversary of when the girls went missing, we take our questions about the investigation directly to Indiana State Police's Superintendent. We will tell you where it stands three years later, Thursday on News 18 This morning. COHOES The Albany County public defender's office has filed a motion seeking to force a Cohoes city judge to recuse himself from a case in which he set bail for a defendant in a low-level criminal case after issuing an order challenging the constitutionality of the state's new bail statutes. The nine-page motion filed by assistant Public Defender Jessica M. Gorman does not address the constitutional questions raised by Judge Thomas Marcelle, instead focusing on what her office contends is his conflict in presiding over a politically charged case while also working as a "policy analyst" for Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple. The sheriff, along with many law enforcement officials across New York, has raised concerns about the sweeping criminal justice reforms adopted last year by the state Legislature and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. In defiance of a new law which prohibits judges from setting bail in many felony and misdemeanor cases, Marcelle last week set bail at $100 for a man with a long history of failing to show up for his court appearances. The judge did so after writing a 12-page decision questioning whether the state Legislature and Cuomo had exceeded their authority and violated the separation of powers by passing a law mandating that judges can never set bail in certain "non-qualifying offenses," ranging from misdemeanors to felony drug trafficking. The 35-year-old defendant was arrested last month in Cohoes and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and cited for traffic offenses. He has skipped court appearances and failed to pay fines for minor offenses stretching back years across multiple counties including last fall in Cohoes, when he failed to appear twice in City Court on similar misdemeanor charges and traffic violations. But in the current case, the man has attended every court appearance required. Gorman's motion also challenges whether Marcelle is improperly inserting himself in the case as "a litigant" because neither her office nor the Albany County district attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, had raised the issue. She said the judge also had characterized the defendant "as being permanently unwilling to appear in court when directed even though evidence was not presented at the appearances to establish this." But Gorman's motion argues primarily that Marcelle, due to his employment with the sheriff's department, needs to step aside. "The defense was not previously aware of the judge's other employment, and raised the issue as soon as it became aware," she said. "Additionally, the judge has an independent obligation to avoid an appearance of impropriety; the defense was not obligated to raise the issue." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In court last week, Marcelle had set bail for the man at $100 cash, $200 bond or $500 personal recognizance bond, but immediately stayed that order after acknowledging that it was part of a larger legal battle over the constitutionality of the new bail statutes. It's unclear whether the constitutional issues raised by Marcelle will be litigated in Albany County Court if he recuses himself from the case. Judges still have discretion under the revised law to set bail for defendants who "persistently and willfully" fail to appear in court. Last year, the defendants in the Cohoes' case had twice failed to show up for a prior arrest in which he was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; bench warrants for his arrest were issued in both instances, and bail was not set. The written decision issued by Marcelle last week was shared among the 120 members of the state's Association of City Court Judges, raising the prospect that other judges may also seek to test the validity of the new statute even if the case is Cohoes does not end up doing that. Many lawmakers in Albany are raising concerns about the legislation, and contend it may need to be amended or repealed. Criminal justice reform advocates have countered that law enforcement officials and other critics are engaging in "fear-mongering" and that the concerns of public endangerment are misplaced. Good morning and welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. Im Lisa Lerer, your host, in Manchester, N.H., the morning after the New Hampshire primary. Sign up here to get On Politics in your inbox every weekday. This could go on for a while. That was my thought on Tuesday night, as I watched the results of the New Hampshire primary with the rest of The New York Times politics team. I wasnt the only one offering ominous forecasts of electoral longevity: The word slog reverberated through the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott in Manchester. The loser is certainty, proclaimed Senator Cory Bookers former campaign manager. The building sector has been an important leader in this sphere, McGown said, but part of the challenge is that while there is forward momentum within sectors, the consistent business voice for consistent policy has been lacking. This year, the hope is to weave some of the good work of individual industries together and to effect Canadian climate policy overall. The objective of the Canadian Business for Climate Policy is to advocate for three things: climate policy thats consistent, which requires governments to establish policies that can withstand an election cycle; climate policy thats effective, which takes Canada toward its domestic and international climate commitments; and climate policy thats efficient, which means that are the costs spread equitable across the economy. McGown was approached by the Ivy Foundation, which focuses its resources on their Economy and Environment program, supporting objectives and missions to create a compelling, credible vision for a sustainable low carbon economy. In 2019, the foundation challenged the business community to step up and establish a strong voice on climate policy, McGown said, and over the course of the year, he worked with a number of partners to see if there existed enough value and desire to establish a new organization that would bring a business voice to the climate table. While this was happening, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) Chair Phil Rubinoff had an idea to form an organization that was focused on grandparents concerned about climate risk for future generations. He mentioned his idea to RCCAO Executive Director Andy Manahan, who discovered there were similar organizations. The two were soon put in touch with David McGown, who was already deep into developing a group of like-minded leaders across various industries. We shifted gears and decided, lets do something a bit larger, Manahan said. Booked up: lock yourself in your room this Valentines Day with a romantic novel In case it had escaped your notice, this Friday is Valentine's Day, an event in which the martyrdom of a Roman priest in the third century has strangely transmogrified into a festival of romantic love, cellophane-wrapped teddy bears, identikit red roses and social media showboating. But halt! You don't need to go out for the overpriced set menu, or show the world how #blessed you are with your perfect partner, when you could shut yourself alone in a room with a good book. What could be more romantic? For as long as writers have touched ink to paper, they have explored the agonies, ecstasies and ambiguities of romance, from the medieval tradition of courtly love (note to Petrarch: she's just not that into you) to the modern novel. Literature is at its best when it prods at the constraints society places on people, making love the perfect topic: a battleground between our most basic biological urges and the changing social mores around what constitutes an acceptable relationship. In this round-up of literary love stories, constraints are explored in all their forms: from lovers crossing the spidery cracks of class differences in Georgian England to those stepping across dangerous chasms that have divided people based on sexual orientation or faith. Some celebrate romantic success, some help you feel you're not alone in your heartbreak, others question the boundaries and meanings of love itself. 10. The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion Let's start with something light: a successful relationship usually means adjusting to how someone else sees the world. This is more of a challenge when that someone is Don Tillman, who cooks exactly the same thing every week according to The Standardised Meal System, calculates everyone's BMI on first glance, and decides to find a wife by distributing a questionnaire. Enter chaos in the form of Rosie, who meets none of the criteria but nonetheless, well, ticks his box. Beneath the fun and the fluff there is a quietly profound exploration of the assumptions around autism and what it means to have an atypical - or a typical - brain. 9. Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Expand Close Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garca Marquez / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garca Marquez This is a luscious, complicated tale of lingering teenage passion, told by Colombia's Nobel prize-winning master of magical realism. Two young lovers, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza, are parted by the latter's disapproving father. Fermina marries someone else; they live separate lives and grow old. Once Fermina is widowed following an unfortunate incident involving a mango tree and a parrot, they meet again and become a couple. The novel explores what it means to be faithful and the subtle nature of a successful marriage. 8. Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy Expand Close Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy Love and marriage belong in two different boxes in this sprawling, epic account of the married Countess Anna Karenina's doomed love affair with Count Vronsky. Her brother's womanising is tolerated; Anna's less so. Caught between fierce love, insecurity, hypocritical social pressures and the plodding presence of her husband, she finds it impossible to extricate herself. It does not end well. If you're having relationship problems, think: "What would Anna Karenina do?" Then do the opposite. 7. The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald Expand Close The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald What's the difference between love and obsession? Not a great deal if you're rich kid Jay Gatsby, standing on your lawn under the stars and sighing after Daisy Buchanan. This elegant and elegiac novel pairs a decadent moment in American culture with the solipsism of romantic fixation. Gatsby projects his own needs onto Daisy, and the gap between imagination and reality is beautifully exposed. 6. Under the Udala Trees, by Chinelo Okparanta Expand Close Under the Udala Trees, by Chinelo Okparanta / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Under the Udala Trees, by Chinelo Okparanta One of a number of Nigerian writers to draw inspiration from the country's Biafran war, Chinelo Okparanta uses the conflict as a backdrop to this love story about two young women. Ijeoma is a Christian Igbo, and Amina is a Muslim Hausa. Suffice to say, things are complicated. This is an evocative portrayal of how passion pushes against the strictures of faith, family, class and pretty much everything in its path. 5. Middle England, by Jonathan Coe Expand Close Middle England, by Jonathan Coe / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Middle England, by Jonathan Coe Do opposites attract, or will marriage between a Remainer and a Leaver always end badly? This is one of the many questions deftly explored in Coe's funny, touching novel about Britain before and after Brexit. While the conventional relationship is between two gently mismatched lovers - university lecturer Sophie and driving safety instructor Ian - it's the relationship between dreamy novelist Benjamin and his sister that warrants the inclusion here. Not in a Game of Thrones kind of way: Coe's novel is a reminder that we fetishise romantic love and overlook the significance of other bonds. 4. A Single Man, by Christopher Isherwood Expand Close Single Man by Christopher Isherwood / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Single Man by Christopher Isherwood The opposite of a "happily ever after", Isherwood's novel explores what happens when the person you love dies. The bereaved in question is George, a gloriously prickly professor struggling to get over the loss of his partner, Jim. His isolation is compounded by the homophobia of the Sixties. This concise novel captures the legacy of love and the utter discombobulation of grief, as well as showcasing Isherwood's laconic brilliance. 3. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte Expand Close Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte From the red room of childhood nightmares to the mad woman locked in an attic, this Victorian novel has lent us some powerful symbols. It also stands as an enduring love story between the overlooked but fiercely intelligent governess of the title and Mr Rochester, who gradually learns to value what's in front of him. 2. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green Expand Close The Fault In Our Stars by John Green / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Fault In Our Stars by John Green Even while dealing with terminal illness, the teenaged characters in this book pulse with life. A support group for kids with cancer isn't the obvious setting for a romance, but this emerges as a tragicomic triumph. It's a hymn to the importance of being in the moment, with a twist at the end that would make a sociopath snivel. 1. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen There is a reason this novel is basically synonymous with romance, spawning endless tributes and adaptations over 200 years after it was written: it captures what so many people long for in a relationship. No, not an ornamental lake and a man in britches, but for someone to see your true value. Darcy puts aside his concerns over Elizabeth's lower social standing; Elizabeth moves past his terrible line in small talk. There's a beautiful symmetry in the way their relationship sloughs off faults on both sides, while Austen's barbed prose is a timeless joy. For the first time since Jan. 27, when the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced five state residents had been tested for the new coronavirus from China, no test results are pending, health officials said Wednesday. Of 15 people tested for the virus in Wisconsin, all have been negative except for a Dane County resident who last week was reported to have the virus, the state health department said. Additional people who traveled to China or came into contact with an infected person and developed symptoms could still require testing, and officials said last week they wouldnt be surprised if Wisconsin sees more positive cases. But as of Wednesday, no suspect cases were awaiting test results. Thursday will mark two weeks since Jan. 30, when the Dane County person was evaluated and tested at UW Hospitals emergency room before beginning isolation at home. The person returned to Dane County Regional Airport that day after traveling to Beijing and immediately went to the ER, officials said. Health officials have said the new coronavirus, now called COVID-19, appears to have an incubation period of two to 14 days. If that is accurate, people who were in close contact with the Dane County case before the persons isolation began would be expected to have developed symptoms. Since COVID-19 emerged late last year in Wuhan, China, more than 45,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths have been reported, mainly in China but also in two dozen other countries. Meanwhile, seasonal influenza activity remains high in most of the United States, including Wisconsin, which has reported 30 deaths from flu since October. Flu vaccine is still available to protect against flu. Otherwise, the best way to prevent COVID-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses is summed up on the state health departments website: Wash your hands, cover your coughs, and if you are sick stay home. In the wake of the most violent start to a year in Harrisburgs recent history, Police Commissioner Thomas Carter says he wants to offer an olive branch. And if that doesnt work, hell move to another plan to end the violence. Speaking to a group gathered at the Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church on Tuesday night for the Mayors Interfaith Advisory Commissions Community Night of Prayer, Carter said he didnt know how Harrisburg got to where it is. Back when I was growing up, which was many years ago, we showed each other love, Carter said. I hear people saying theres no love in this city anymore. We dont care for each other anymore. That God has left Harrisburg. He said that he felt God, standing there in church. At the same time, during the last two weeks of January amid the series of shootings and killings, it was horrible. Continued Carter: A lot of people dont understand that when we get to these shooting scenes, these victims are really young and theyre taking their last breaths. And theyre scared to death. And my officers are there trying to comfort them. And my officers are there trying to give them faith, trying to give them courage. And this is a situation that I wish on no one. Carter said he knows the key to the problem is with Harrisburgs youth, and that they need to be shown love, but its been hard for him to put labels on the kids involved. At a meeting Carter attended the other day, he said he was the only person calling offenders teams of juveniles" and that he was having a hard time calling them gangs. Carter said someone told him he better face reality, because these kids are sophisticated, have weapons and know what theyre doing. He said the gangs are teens and young men, committing crimes. So what can he do? I love the citizens of Harrisburg. I have a hard time incarcerating anybody, but especially a young child, Carter said. But my thought pattern has changed because my responsibility is to you out here sitting and you deserve to have life liberty and pursuit of happiness. Out of this conversation and these thoughts arose Carters plan to extend an olive branch for a couple of days. I will give you an opportunity to put down your guns, to contact police, Carter said. No questions asked. Drop the guns off somewhere, and thats that. Carter remembered a young man last year who came to him trying to help a teenage family member who had an AK47 with multiple magazines in his possession. Carter took the weapon and bullets, and that was that. I want to extend that olive branch for a couple days, Carter said. And after that, were going to do what we have to do to bring peace in this city. Carter encouraged residents who know people who want to put down the guns, who want to do the right thing, to get in touch with the police for a safe surrender. We will get the youth all of the help that they need. If its mental health, if its a job, if its schooling, anything that they need, were willing to walk the extra mile with them, Carter said. But if they continue to do what theyre doing out there, shooting each other, robbing each other, just having no respect for human life, were going to deal with them. When that happens, Carter said, there will no longer be leniency. Im going to be silent," he said. "And silence is deadly. He did not give a specific date when that would take place. To Carter, its important to provide the olive branch for those who want a second chance. I think everybody deserves the opportunity to change. So thats why Im giving them a grace period, Carter said. After that, were going to do what we have to do to make sure that the citizens of this city and surrounding areas are safe. Carter did say the kids involved are from all over the county, and that all the other middle and high schools should be talking with their kids as well. Carter said the department is working with officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on this, and they will run background checks on the guns after they are turned in. The only way someone turning in a gun would be questioned is if they are a felon, Carter said. My expectation is that people that have guns will hear this message and just laugh about it and say were not going to give up anything,' so thats well and good. Were not giving cash for guns. This is just an opportunity for them to do the right thing, Carter said. So when we do what we have to do, theres no questions asked because we gave them an opportunity. Commissioner Carter can be reached directly about the olive branch plan at 717-585-3903, and Community Policing Coordinator Blake Lynch can be reached at 717-255-3018 or by email at balynch@harrisburgpa.gov. Watch Carters full speech here: Read more on PennLive: 14th American diagnosed with new coronavirus after CDC warned spread was 'likely' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A 14th American has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, hours after the Centers for Disease Control warned the spread of the disease in the U.S. was "likely." The person who tested positive was one of those evacuated from Wuhan, China, where the disease first emerged, on a flight that landed in California on Feb. 7, according to the CDC. It is the second person at the San Diego military base to test positive for the disease, but officials said the two arrived on different flights and there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission in the quarantine. More than 600 people remain in quarantine in the U.S. after being flown out of China last week, officials said. MORE: PHOTOS: Coronavirus outbreak sparks global health emergency Top health officials prepped Americans for the prospect of novel coronavirus spreading in communities in the United States during a news conference earlier Wednesday. "At some point, we we are likely to see community spread in the U.S.," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "[We] can and should be prepared for this new virus to take a foothold in the U.S.," Messonnier said. So far, there are only 14 cases confirmed in the United States, according to the CDC. The patients are in Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington and Wisconsin and all but two cases are linked to travel to Wuhan, China. PHOTO: A Chinese woman wears a protective mask and gloves as she walks in a nearly empty and shuttered commercial street on Feb. 12, 2020 in Beijing. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) The 13th case was reported in a patient who returned from Wuhan on one of the State Department's evacuation flights. Given the spread of the virus in Wuhan, it's not surprising to see a case of coronavirus among the repatriated Americans, Messonnier explained. The patient is currently hospitalized with mild symptoms. A mix-up at the CDC caused an initial false negative diagnosis, which Messonnier called "unfortunate," noting that the agency has since put additional quality control measures in place to prevent future mistakes. Story continues Some of the new coronavirus diagnostic kits that were mailed out to states last week delivered inconsistent results when states tested them to ensure they worked correctly. While some states should be able to start doing their own testing this week, others are delayed while the CDC figures out what went wrong. Even when all states are up and running, the CDC will continue testing patient samples at the agency's headquarters in Atlanta. "Speed is important, but equally or more important, is making sure the lab results are correct," Messonnier said. PHOTO: Director of the Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Dr. Nancy Messonnier speaks about the public health response to the outbreak of the coronavirus during a news conference in Washington, Jan. 28, 2020. (Amanda Voisard/Reuters) The agency is still investigating whether 14 days is the most accurate incubation period for the virus, a process that's complicated by patients who may have mild symptoms, or who are asymptotic while infected with the disease. "We still think that for today, for now, 14 days is the right interval to use," Messonnier said. Meanwhile, the CDC has screened more than 30,000 passengers at 11 U.S. airports. None of those screenings have resulted in a novel coronavirus diagnosis so far. Countries respond to the threat of COVID-19 Shanghai is postponing its Formula One Chinese Grand Prix racing event, previously scheduled for April 19, as novel coronavirus continues to claim lives in China. The decision was made in order to "ensure the health and safety of the traveling staff, championship participants and fans," FIA, the international racing association, said in a statement. The Shanghai racecourse is located roughly 500 miles east of Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. MORE: Death of doctor who blew whistle on coronavirus sparks outrage in China At the same time, Cambodia has accepted the Holland America cruise ship that had been wandering the seas in search of a port, and will allow passengers to disembark there, the company said in a statement. The ship, which was supposed to disembark in Yokohama, Japan, was rejected by multiple countries, despite having no known or suspected cases of the new coronavirus among its passengers and staff. WHO Director Genera Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus rebuked countries that have denied the ship entry to their ports, "often without an evidence-based risk assessment," and praised Cambodia for giving the ship permission to dock. "Outbreaks can bring out the best and worst in people," he said during a Wednesday news briefing. The Diamond Princess quarantine continues In Japan, where travelers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been quarantined for over a week, the mood among passengers shifted Wednesday as dozens more people tested positive for the novel coronavirus. "[We] really just need to get off this boat," New York resident Guy Cerullo told ABC News in a text message. PHOTO: Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as it arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine, in Yokohama, Japan, Feb. 12, 2020. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images) What was supposed to be a honeymoon cruise around Asia has turned into a nightmare for Cerullo and his wife, Milena Basso, who are among the thousands of people on board the Diamond Princess, which has been quarantined at sea since docking in the Japanese port of Yokohama on Feb. 3. At least 174 people aboard the vessel had tested positive for the new coronavirus by Wednesday -- with 39 new cases in the past 24 hours. One quarantine officer has also been infected, according to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. All those infected with the disease have been brought ashore for treatment, while the other passengers remain confined to their rooms on board until the quarantine period ends, the ministry said. The newlyweds, who were in better spirits when speaking to ABC News earlier in the week, said the spiking number is worrying and cabin fever is beginning to take over. "To think that they are still going to use this boat is mind-blowing," Cerullo said. "No one will ever want to go on it." Some experts questioned whether the cruise ship quarantine was doing more harm than good. "The issue with quarantine remains the lack of ability in a closed environment like this to maintain infection prevention measures on a ship," said Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York. "We are seeing numbers increase dramatically, which likely means that there is ongoing spread of the virus on these ships. Thats concerning, as it's creating a second epicenter of the infection in a Japanese port." PHOTO: The Diamond Princess cruise ship is seen beside a Japanese flag as it lies at anchor at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japanm Feb. 12, 2020. (Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters) A spokesperson for Princess Cruises, which operates the ship, confirmed the new cases of coronavirus. "We are following guidance from the Japan Ministry of Health on plans for disembarkation protocols to provide medical care for these new cases," the spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. Approximately half of all people who were on board the Diamond Princess are from Japan, while more than 400 passengers are from the United States, according to the cruise line spokesperson. On Tuesday, the cruise line spokesperson confirmed to ABC News that 23 Americans were among those infected. It's unclear whether the new cases include any U.S. citizens. MORE: American Airlines extends flight suspensions to Hong Kong and mainland China amidst coronavirus The wife in another couple on board the ship, whom ABC News interviewed earlier in the week, said her health has declined. Utah resident Karey Maniscalco said she is suffering from kidney stones but hasn't sought medical attention because "they will remove me alone from the ship and leave my husband here." "I hear rumors if you get off they restart your quarantine, which isn't something I can risk," Maniscalco told ABC News in a text message Wednesday. "It's been very challenging." Another Utah resident, Melanie Haering, who is on the cruise with her husband John to celebrate their retirement, said her spouse has had a high fever and it took hours before they were seen by a doctor. He has not yet been tested for coronavirus, Haering told ABC News in a text message. The worldwide response to COVID-19 Since the first cases of the newly discovered virus were detected back in December in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, China's National Health Commission said Wednesday that it has recorded a total of 59,841 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,336 deaths. The numbers surged on Thursday local time after China expanded its criteria for cases, including "clinically diagnosed cases," such as through CT scans of the lungs, as opposed to just confirmed lab tests. There were 14,840 new cases in Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, due to the new criteria. The number of deaths in the past day reached 242 -- 135 of which were "clinically diagnosed cases" -- more than double the previous daily high. MORE: 13th American diagnosed with coronavirus as death toll tops 1,000 in China There are at least 395 cases confirmed in 24 other countries, according to the World Health Organization, which has declared the outbreak a global health emergency. The only deaths from the outbreak outside of China were one each in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of the country, and the Philippines. PHOTO: Pedestrians wear face masks as they walk on a footbridge in Hong Kong on Feb. 12, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images) The novel coronavirus causes symptoms similar to pneumonia, ranging from mild, such as a slight cough, to more severe, including fever and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. There is no vaccine yet for the virus, nor any known effective therapeutics. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced Tuesday that the coronavirus is now called COVID-19. "Co" stands for coronavirus, "Vi" is for virus and "D" is for disease, he said. MORE: Here are the coronavirus symptoms to watch out for amid outbreak On Wednesday, the WHO concluded its two-day research and innovation forum in Geneva, which brought together more than 300 scientists from around the world to help control and stop the outbreak. Top priorities for the group include diagnostics, infection prevention, potential therapies to treat patients and accelerating the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates. ABC News' Maggie Rulli, Karson Yiu, Justin Soloman and Anthony Trotter contributed to this report. Savings in procurement of medicines for the funds of the 2019 national budget under the adult oncology program exceeded $26 million, Tetiana Korotchenko, the head of the representative office of the British procurement agency Crown Agents. "We are proud that Ukraine has become an attractive supplier, companies want to participate in procurement. This means that they trust the country, they trust the level of competition in the country, this means that suppliers are sure that there will be no corruption and that payments will be made on time. This means that new manufacturers will come here," she told reporters in Kyiv. Korotchenko noted that the total procurement budget under the adult oncology program for the 2019 national budget is about $63.734 million. In total, within the framework of the program, 100% of medicines defined by the Ministry of Health were purchased, including more than 9.358 million units of medications on 96 positions, of which 62.4% is currently supplied. At the same time, Korotchenko said that deliveries are currently being made taking into account the amount of the order and the amount of additional purchase for the saved funds. "Often the question arises as to why drugs are now being supplied for the budgets of past years. This is an additional purchase for the saved money," she said. Korotchenko specified that 24 suppliers, including 17 manufacturers, took part in purchases under the adult oncology program. Holland America Says Cruise Ship Westerdam to Dock in Cambodia Passengers ask President Trump for help on Twitter Holland America said its Westerdam cruise ship, which has been rejected by about a half-dozen countries over fears of the mysterious new virus that has ravaged parts of China, will be able to dock at a port in Cambodia. The operator said it will disembark Thursday while passengers are able to go on shore, the Carnival Corp.-owned company said in a statement. All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support, the firm wrote, adding that the cruise will dock in Sihanoukville. Passengers will then disembark before being transferred via chartered flights to the countrys capital, Phnom Penh, paid for by Holland America. The cruise ship has been rejected by Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. territory of Guam, but Holland America said there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, on the Westerdam. There were fears that the vessel could run out of food and supplies as it searched for a port to dock. In its statement, Holland America reiterated that all guests on board are healthy and despite erroneous reports, there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board, nor have [there] ever been. The Westerdam has about 2,200 people on board, including passengers and crew members. The ships captain also confirmed the latest plan to dock in Cambodia. We will immediately begin making our way to Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Westerdam Captain Vincent Smit told passengers, as reported by The Guardian. There will be a brief health inspection on board by the Cambodian authorities which will take place at anchor just before we arrive. Holland America said that a full refund will be offered to passengers on the Westerdam. Flights home will also be covered by the firm. After Thai authorities rejected the ship, some passengers on the Westerdam started sending messages to President Donald Trump on Twitter. Accounts belonging to Vice President Mike Pence and Pences chief of staff Marc Short were also targeted. @realDonaldTrump @VP @marcshort45 MS Westerdam needs US govt help. 600 Americans stuck at sea including my daughter who needs medical attention. Scott Willett (@srwillett) February 11, 2020 @realDonaldTrump Mr President I am on amthe #Westerdam ship floating in the China sea. I am an American. No country including Guam will allow us to dock. Noone onboard has signs or symptoms of Coronavirus. We need rescued. Please help us. #sos #prayforus #rescue AJ (@Mountain_AJ) February 7, 2020 Mr. President I am on the Westerdam ship floating in the China sea. I am an American. No country including Guam will allow us to dock, one person, who said he was on the ship, wrote on the social media website. Last week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed that at least one person on the Westerdam was suspected of being infected with COVID-19. At the time, Holland America denied rumors that any passengers were infected. Based on the immigration control law, we will refuse non-Japanese on the ship entry, unless there are exceptional reasons, Abe said, according to public broadcaster NHK. The ship was originally slated to make a port of call and disembark in Yokohama on Feb. 15. At the same time, Princess Cruises Diamond Princess has been held off Yokohama in medical isolation after officials discovered that a Hong Kong man on board the vessel had contracted the virus. So far, about 175 people on the ship have come down with COVID-19, according to the latest update from Japanese health authorities. Samsung has announced that Nedbank Mastercard cards are now supported on the Samsung Pay app. The announcement was made during Samsungs 2020 Unpacked event. Samsung Pay will go over 70% coverage of all the bank cards in South Africa, the company said. Samsung also sent a notice to Nedbank customers informing them that they can now enrol their Nedbank Mastercard into Samsung Pay. Use your phone as a card The Samsung Pay mobile app lets owners of selected Galaxy smartphones use their devices for payments. Users can link their bank card to their phone and use the device to pay at paypoint terminals. The system employs both NFC and MST technologies for secure payment. The app was originally launched in South Africa in August 2018, after a short early access period. At its launch, the payment platform supported Absa and Standard Bank cards, while FNB came onboard in March 2019. Other partner banks include Discovery, Investec, and RMB. Now read: New South African bank branches where you can get your Smart ID and Passport In a major Cabinet reshuffle, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has removed his brother James K Sangma as the home minister of the state in view of alleged discontentment expressed by other ministers against him. The coalition partners of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance(MDA) government have been demanding the removal of James K Sangma as home minister over his alleged involvement in illegal transportation of coal. James K Sangma was also shifted from the district council affairs department. The chief minister's elder brother was given the charge of taxation besides information and public relations departments, according to a notification issued by chief secretary MS Rao on Tuesday. He will retain others portfolios - power, food, civil supplies and consumers' affairs and law. Lahkmen Rymbui of the United Democratic Party (UDP) will be the new home (police) minister of the state while urban affairs minister Hamletson Dohling will now take charge of the district council affairs department, the notification said. "The governor on the advice of the chief minister is pleased to order the reallocation of portfolios of the (four) ministers...," it read. Rymbui will also continue to hold charge of education, forest and environment and border area development departments. Dohling of the People's Democratic Front (PDF) will retain municipal administration and information technology portfolios. Besides health and family welfare, AL Hek of the BJP will hold additional charge of home (jail) and home (passport) departments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malis President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Monday said his government is prepared to talk with jihadist groups in the hope of ending insurgency in the West African nation. Why not try to contact those who we know are pulling the strings, Mr. Keita said in a recording of the interview published by Radio France Internationale. The number of dead in the Sahel is becoming exponential. Its time for certain avenues to be explored. Mali has been facing violence since 2012, when Islamist militants took over the north. With the help of France, Malis army has recaptured the territory. However, insecurity there continues and the violence has spread to other countries in the region. The army has suffered increasing losses in recent months at the hands of Islamist fighters, who have also stepped up attacks on soldiers and civilians in neighboring countries in the Sahel region, particularly Burkina Faso. Earlier this year, Mali announced a plan to increase the size of its army by about 50% in a recruitment drive this year aimed at uprooting jihadist groups. The plan is to hire 10,000 new soldiers in the coming months to allow our armed and security forces to be much more present in quantity and I hope in quality in areas where they were not, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse had said. Much of central and northern Mali is largely lawless, and groups use the area as a base from which to launch attacks across neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. France has 4,500 troops in Mali and the wider Sahel and local international forces have also teamed up to contain the problem, but attacks have continued. For the first time in 25 years, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform voted a DC statehood bill to the full House. If it became law, the bill would give the citizens of DC full Congressional and Senatorial representation for the first time in history. Since Republicans control the Senate, there's little chance the bill will pass both Houses of Congress. Still, Democrats did the right thing by moving the bill forward, and showing their commitment to ensuring that all people, wherever they live in the US, are properly represented. Democrats can and should go further, though. Specifically, they should make DC the first contest in their presidential primary. Currently, the first two contests on the Democratic presidential schedule are the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. That's tradition but, unfortunately, as this year has made clear, tradition is frequently terrible. In caucuses, voters argue for their candidates over the course of the night and then switch their choices if their candidates don't do well enough. The lengthy process excludes many disabled and working people. It's cumbersome and confusing, and this year tabulation of results was so bungled there still isn't a real winner more than a week later. In addition to the logistical problems with caucuses though, Iowa is a poor choice for a first contest in the Democratic field because it's disproportionately white. The Democratic party touts its commitment to diversity and anti-racism. But Iowa is 85 per cent white. New Hampshire is 90 per cent white. Meanwhile, the country as a whole is only 64 per cent non-Hispanic white. That means that the first test of electability, and the first big news media bumps for candidates, are determined by electorates that include few people of color. As a result, candidates like Pete Buttigieg, whose support with black voters has hovered around an embarrassing 4 per cent, end up doing disproportionately well. Buttigieg essentially tied with Bernie Sanders in Iowa and came in a close second to Sanders in New Hampshire. Sanders' support with black voters has increased from around 17 per cent to 27 per cent after his strong showing in the first caucus, but he still trails Joe Biden, who has 35 per cent support among black voters, and finished a dismal fourth in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire. Democrats have argued for some time about which state might be better as the lead in the primary process. Massachusetts papers have argued for Massachusetts, Illinois politicians have argued for Illinois. I think the primary with the best argument for primacy, though, is Washington DC. Washington DC is around 48 per cent black and 40 per cent white. No Democratic contender could get through the primary appealing only to white voters. DC would also be convenient for many national politicians. Buttigieg and Biden were able to stump Iowa the last week of the caucuses while Sanders, Warren, and Klobuchar were stuck in DC for impeachment hearings. If the first primary were in DC, that would negate this kind of unfair disadvantage. DC is also appealing because it is small. Many commentators like Iowa because it encourages retail politics candidates go door to door, making personal connections. But Iowa, with 3 million voters, is four times as large as DC, which has some 711,000 people. Candidates could get to know and meet a lot of those voters personally as could the national media. And that's the most important reason to put DC first. The first primary brings a huge amount of attention to bear on local people, local politicians, and local issues. In Iowa, that means national politicians pledging their support for biofuels every four years. In Washington DC, it would mean a huge spotlight on the fact that people in DC don't have voting representatives in Congress. Voters in DC don't get to vote for Senators, nor for a Congressperson. Wyoming, with 577,000 people, has two Senators; DC, with 100,000 more inhabitants, has none. That's unfair to the people of DC, who, without representation of their own, are often targeted by conservative national legislators who want to force the district's liberal voters to live with conservative gun laws and abortion restrictions. It's also unfair to the rest of the country. The Senate currently leans very conservative, because large, low-population, rural, mostly white states like Wyoming get as much Senate representation as huge, diverse states like California and New York. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters As a result, Republcians gained 9 Senate seats in 2014 with 52 per cent of the vote; Democrats won 54 per cent of the popular vote in 2016 and only picked up 2 seats. Giving DC statehood wouldn't fix this problem. But it would start to ameliorate it. Two more Democratic votes would not have resulted in a majority vote for acquittal for Trump in 2020. It would have made the attempt at ACA repeal much less of a nail-biter for Democrats in 2017, though. And it would greatly increase the chances of a Democratic takeover of the Senate in 2020. That's without discussing Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, all of which also deserve representation. The calculus here isn't just partisan. It's a matter of principle. The Civil Rights Movement was dedicated to enfranchising black people who had been systemically prevented from casting ballots for hundreds of years. Now it's some 60 years later and black voters are still being systemically disenfranchised. Florida is trying to reinstitute a poll tax. North Carolina used gerrymanders to keep black people from being represented at the state level. And the POC majority in Washington DC has no representation in the Senate or the House. The US was founded on the principle of no taxation without representation. But too many people in the nation still are denied real, equal representation because of antiquated rules and deliberate, often racist efforts to keep their voices from being heard. Democrats should do all they can to change that. And one thing they can do, on their own, immediately, is to give Washington DC voters the first say in the presidential primary going forward. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- As a general rule, Im not a big fan of corporations being guided by corporate raiders, a.k.a. shareholder activists. They tend to rely on financial engineering to boost the stock price; cut back on expenses like customer service and research and development; and run for the exits when they see the roof caving in. But Xerox Holdings Corp. may be the exception. The companys biggest shareholder is the activist of activists, 83-year-old Carl Icahn, who controls around 11% of the stock. The chairman, Keith Cozza, is the chief executive officer of Icahn Enterprises LP, Icahns holding company. One board member, Nicholas Graziano, is a portfolio manager with Icahn Capital LP, Icahns hedge fund. Another is John Christodoro, a former managing partner at Icahn Capital. And John Visentin, the Xerox CEO, while not an Icahn guy the way the other three are, clearly sees eye to eye with the big dog. He got the job in no small part because he agreed with Icahn that Xeroxs planned merger with Fujifilm Holdings Corp. was a bad idea. When Xerox pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and agreed to put Icahns allies on the board Visentin, who had backed away from negotiating with the previous board, was installed as the new boss. Its hardly news that Icahn is an aggressive investor. What is news is that under Visentin, Xerox lumbering, old-school Xerox has become just as aggressive. He has managed to breathe new life into the 113-year-old printer company. Hes doing the share buyback thing, but hes also streamlined the company, increased free cash flow and consistently beat the Streets expectations even as revenue has continued to decrease gradually. According to Bloomberg data, the share price rose 87% last year, a number not seen in many years. Of course, the most visible manifestation of this new aggressiveness is Xeroxs effort to buy its much larger rival HP Inc. The attempt, which became public in November soon after an unimpressive HP analysts meeting heated up on Monday when Xerox raised its offer to $24 a share from $22, bringing its bid to $35 billion. Talk about the minnow trying to swallow the whale. Xerox has $9 billion in revenue. HP has $58 billion. Xerox has a market cap of $8 billion. HP has a market cap of $31 billion. Not all that long ago, an audacious move like this by Xerox would have been unthinkable. Story continues And HP? Nearly eight decades ago, it was the original Silicon Valley startup, the avatar of the tech industry. But by the 1980s, it had congealed in its own bureaucracy, and a kind of paralysis set in, compounded by some well-publicized gaffes. In 2015, in an effort to create a more nimble culture, the board split the company in two. Hewlett Packard Enterprise got the software and services side of the company, while HP kept printers and laptops. Last year, HPs stock was down 21% before Xerox announced its intentions in early November. The essential problem is that the printer business is in a slow but steady decline and like newspapers, cable television and many other businesses, that decline is likely irreversible. For HP, the decline is made worse because it makes most of its money in the printer division by selling expensive ink cartridges and many consumers buy less expensive cartridges made by competitors. At the analyst meeting in October, HP announced that it would eliminate up to 9,000 jobs by 2022, saving $1 billion, and would turn to a subscription model to revive its flagging cartridge business. Analysts were unimpressed, and in the aftermath of the meeting, the stock dropped 9.4% In Icahn-like fashion, this was exactly the moment Visentin pounced. Xerox, of course, has the same problem as HP its printer business is declining and it doesnt have other businesses, like laptops, to soften the blow. The shrinking of the printer business has convinced Visentin that industry consolidation is inevitable; in a statement at the time of the original offer, Xerox said that our industry is overdue for consolidation, and those who move first will have a distinct advantage. In the materials it has provided to HP shareholders, Xerox claims that a merger will have synergies worth $2 billion and will generate nearly $6 billion in free cash flow. And Visentin plans to use that money less to manage the decline than to buy smaller, more innovative companies while investing in research and development that will allow the company to chart a new course that will generate growth and profits. There is no way of knowing whether Visentin can pull this off if he lands HP, though his track record so far at Xerox should give shareholders hope. Indeed, he is so clearly right about the first-mover advantage of consolidation that what HP really ought to do is turn around and make a tender offer for Xerox, which would require a lot less debt. And then it should install Visentin as CEO. Instead, HP has reverted to form, contending that the Xerox bid is inadequate, that its financing is shaky and generally avoiding coming to grips with reality. But sometime soon, HP will have to set the date for its annual meeting, and at that point its shareholders will have a say in the matter. Xerox, ever the aggressor, is proposing a slate of directors to replace HPs current board. I know one big shareholder who will vote for the Xerox slate. A few months ago, Icahn bought 4% of HPs stock. HPs odds of going it alone much longer arent good at all. To contact the author of this story: Joe Nocera at jnocera3@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Daniel Niemi at dniemi1@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Joe Nocera is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He has written business columns for Esquire, GQ and the New York Times, and is the former editorial director of Fortune. His latest project is the Bloomberg-Wondery podcast "The Shrink Next Door." 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. New Canaan: Local pharmacies have run out of face masks that people often wear to protect against spreading infections or being infected from a contagious disease. The virus called novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is making local residents nervous. This is one in a strain of viruses that causes illness that range in severity from the common cold to more serious ailments such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS-CoV, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS-CoV. Local medical professionals do not agree on the efficacy of masks. Even though no one in the area has gotten the virus, local pharmacies and the hardware store are out of masks, and as soon as they get a shipment, they sell them out. CVS on 94 Park St. is experiencing a vast demand for masks, soon as they come in, they sell. Right now, the warehouses are out of them. It is really different. People are worried about their health, manager Jess Sempertegui said. He gets dozens of requests for masks a day, he said. A number of related products are also hard to keep on the shelves, including hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes and medical gloves, he added. New Canaan Pharmacy has also run out of masks, according to cashier Darshite Patel. The distributor does not have any, she said. A local pharmacist, not wishing to be identified, said he recommends people check out hardware stores for dust masks. Weed & Duryea at 21 Grove St. is also out of masks, said manager Jason Sellman. Last week, the store started selling many more of them than usual and sold about 100 of all different ones. Walgreens at 36 Pine St. is also out of masks, but the manager said he could not talk about it without corporate permission. Will a mask help? Two local doctors think the masks can tamp down the contagiousness of a disease. I do think they are helpful in preventing the transmission of respiratory diseases, Dr. Peter Hasapis of 173 East Ave. said. If someone with the flu wears the mask, it stops droplets from entering the room, if the patient sneezes or coughs, he said. He questioned if there is any need for the masks right now, since the coronavirus is rare in the United States and has not been detected near New Canaan. Dr. David Dayya of 19 South Ave. also thinks the masks can help protect people from the spread of the virus. A lot of people are asking about it, the virus, he said. He recommends the 3M, N95 masks because they are the higher quality, respiratory masks and are what we use in the hospital, he said. Health Director Jen Eielson told the Health & Human Services Commission Thursday that there has been an increased demand for masks, but that the 3M N95 model is more effective than a simple dust mask that covers the nose and mouth when it comes to preventing being infected. Officials are not recommending wearing masks, she said. Doctors wear the masks when confronted with a patient that has dangerous and highly contagious disease such as tuberculous. In the hospital doctors wear a helmut-type cap, while an attendant tests if it is positioned correctly and sprays a mix such as saccharine, and asks if you can taste it, Dayya said. Eielson said local health directors are regularly updated by the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Health. The CDC late last week was distributing 700 to 800 kits to test for coronavirus, she said. She said those in direct contact with someone who has been infected with coronavirus are most at risk. The Ebola virus made doctors more aware and helped train doctors to ask people about travel history, Dayya said. These are the kind of wake-up calls, that create valuable awareness as borders are eroding, he said. Some populations are more vulnerable, such as unhealthy seniors and younger people with asthma, he explained. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals. SARS was transmitted from civet cats and MERS from camels to human, according to the CDC website. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Dr. Tedros Adhanom of the World Health Organization said during an online video that a vaccine is probably 18 months away, but in the meantime, there are steps people can take. He said people should either clean their hands in an alcohol- based hand sanitizer or soap and water regularly; cover ones mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or the inside of the elbow, and avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness. Contributions to this article were made by John Kovach. A fire broke out overnight at Exxon Mobil Corp.s Baton Rouge oil refinery in Louisiana, halting production at the fifth-biggest fuel-making plant in the U.S. The outage at the massive complex which supplies fuel products across the southeast U.S. and all the way to New York Harbor means the refinery needs fewer barrels of crude oil, depressing a market already reeling from the coronavirus crisis in China. But it could help ease a gasoline glut in the Gulf Coast, where stockpiles hit a record in late January. The blaze erupted in a natural gas line, affecting first one and then all of the facilitys crude distillation towers which heat and break down raw oil into products according to people familiar with operations. As a result, other units such as the catalytic cracker and the chemical plant had to cease operations. The fire has been extinguished and there were no injuries, according to Exxon. Operations continue at the refinery and chemical plant, spokesman Jeremy Eikenberry said in email. Industry consultant Genscape Inc. said in a report Wednesday that its monitors detected that all crude sections as well as a catalytic reformer at the plant are shut. The facility is located along the Mississippi River about 80 miles northwest of New Orleans and accounts for about 15% of the refining capacity in Louisiana. The local WAFB TV stations website showed images of the fire, and said local people reported their houses being shaken by the incident. There was no initial off-site impact to air quality, or an immediate call for an evacuation of the nearby area, WAFB said. The complexs chemical plant has shut, including its olefins unit which takes feedstocks such as naphtha, butane, propane and ethane from the oil refinery and converts them into ethylene and propylene that are used to make plastics. The facility can process more than 500,000 barrels of crude a day, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Gasoline in the Gulf Coast spot market rose 1.13 cent per gallon to a 8.13-cent discount to Nymex Rbob futures Wednesday morning. Exxon is in the process of a massive expansion of the plastic-ingredient capacity on the chemical side of the Baton Rouge complex thats scheduled to begin output next year. The combined refining and chemical operations account for one in every 10 jobs in southwest Louisiana region, according to the company. U.S. refineries handled an average of about 16.5 million barrels a day of crude so far this year, Energy Information Administration data show. A 29-year-old television (TV) actor from Punjab was strangled and her body burnt by her husband and his friend in Uttarakhands Nainital over suspicions that she had an extra-marital affair, a senior Uttarakhand police officer said on Wednesday. TV actor Anita Singhs charred body was found in Kaladhungi area of Nainital - about 30 km from the district headquarters, Nainital district police chief Sunil Kumar Meena said. Meena said her husband Ravinder Pal Singh and his friend Kuldeep had been arrested in this case. Ravinder Pal Singh and Anita had travelled to Nainital on January 30, covering a distance of nearly 600 km from Ferozepur in Punjab where they lived. Ravinder had told his wife that his friend Kuldeep would put her on his contacts who could help get her get acting assignments in Mumbai. The two then met Kuldeep at a local eatery, where he offered her tea laced with sedatives, said Meena. When she lost her senses, the two strangled her with a rope and burnt her body before fleeing from the spot at around 1.30 in the night. After the murder, Kuldeep went home (a short distance away in Kaladhungi) while Ravinder went to Delhi, said Meena. It turned out that Ravinder Pal Singh had long suspected that his wife had an affair with a man from Kashmir. When Anita Singh told him that she wanted to move to Mumbai to work in movies, he conspired to murder her, the police alleged. Meena said Ravinder Singh had planned the murder with Kuldeep and took her to Nainital, claiming that Kuldeep knew someone in Mumbai who could help her get work. When Nainital police found a charred body, it started scanning footage from CCTV cameras along the route to the spot where Anita Singh was found. Meenas team located the owner of the car, Ramanjeet Singh. He told us that on January 30, the car was borrowed by his brother-in-law and one of the accused, Kuldeep, Meena said. Meena said Kuldeep was the first one to be arrested on Tuesday. Ravinder Singh was arrested from Haridwar on Wednesday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON File Photo: Travellers walk past a thermal camera upon arrival at the international airport in Manila on February 5, 2020. (Photo: ROMEO GACAD/AFP via Getty Images) MANILA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Thirty Filipinos returned to the Philippines on Sunday from Wuhan City in China's Hubei province, the epicentre of a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 800 in the mainland, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Twenty-nine adults and an infant flew on a chartered flight arranged by the foreign affairs and health departments which landed in Clark Air Base, located about 40 miles northwest of the capital, Manila. The returning passengers and a 10-member government team were transferred from the plane into buses that brought them to the nearby Athlete's Village in New Clark City in Tarlac province for a 14-day quarantine, the DFA said in a statement. There were about 300 Filipinos in Hubei, based on the Philippine government's estimate, but it said not all had wanted to be evacuated. The Philippines has reported three positive cases of the coronavirus infection in the country, including a 44-year-old Chinese man who had travelled from Wuhan and died in a government-run hospital in Manila after developing severe pneumonia. There were more than 230 "patients under investigation" for coronavirus infection in the country as of Saturday, including around 100 in Manila, according to the health department. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Flash Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated the rejection of a newly released U.S. Middle East peace plan, calling it an "Israeli-American proposal." "I have come to you on behalf of 13 million Palestinians to call for a just peace. That is all. I have come to you today to reaffirm the Palestinian position that rejects the Israeli-American proposal," Abbas told the UN Security Council, which met to discuss the U.S. plan. The rejection of this plan reaffirms, or is the result of its unilateral steps and the fact that it violates international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, said Abbas. "It annuls the legitimacy of Palestinian rights, our rights to self-determination, freedom, and independence in our own state. It legitimized what is illegal: settlements and confiscation of land, and annexation of Palestinian land." "I would like to reaffirm that this plan or any part in this plan should not be considered as an international reference for negotiations," he said. "This is an Israeli-American preemptive plan in order to put an end to the question of Palestine. It was rejected by us because it considers that East Jerusalem is no longer under the sovereignty of the state of Palestine. That alone is enough for us to reject this plan." He warned that the plan would put an end to the question of Palestinian refugees. It will end all basis for a peace plan. It means the rejection of all agreements and obligations to establish two states along the pre-1967 lines, said Abbas. "This plan will not bring peace or stability to the region. And therefore, we will not accept this plan. We will confront its application on the ground." Showing a copy of a map of the U.S.-proposed two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, Abbas said it looks like a piece of "Swiss cheese," which features large holes. "This is the summary of the project that was presented to us. This is the state that they will give us. It's like a Swiss cheese, really," said Abbas. "Who among you will accept a similar state and similar conditions?" he asked. The U.S. plan includes the entrenchment of occupation and annexation by military force and the strengthening of "the apartheid regime," said Abbas. "This plan rewards the occupation, instead of holding it accountable for all the crimes it perpetrated against our people and our land." "In this difficult time and before it is too late, I would like to say to (U.S. President) Mr. Donald Trump that the proposed American deal cannot achieve peace and security, because it canceled international legitimacy," said Abbas. "Who can cancel international legitimacy, international legitimacy, who can annul and cancel it? President Trump did so. It cancels all resolutions of international legitimacy. It cancels all the rights of the Palestinian people. It even decided that East Jerusalem is no longer part of the Palestinian sovereignty. This does not meet the aspirations of a two-state solution (for) Israel and Palestine." "I wish President Donald Trump will be just, will be fair, and will support the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy so that we can have a real opportunity for peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said. "If you impose peace, it will not last. It cannot last." Tuesday's Security Council meeting was requested by Tunisia and Indonesia after Trump on Jan. 28 revealed a controversial Middle East peace plan, which calls for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." The U.S. plan was immediately rejected by Palestine and the Arab world as well as other countries around the world. Prior to Tuesday's meeting, the four EU members of the UN Security Council -- Belgium, Estonia, France and Germany -- plus Poland, which has just left the council, said in a joint statement that the U.S. plan "departs from internationally agreed parameters." While Gov. Ned Lamont announced a landmark deal Tuesday to develop New London harbor and an offshore wind center, the partisan battle over Connecticuts quasi-publics including the entity overseeing this project intensified. Lamont announced Eversource and its Denmark-based partner, rsted North America, will transform New London into the green energy capital of the Northeast as part of a deal unanimously ratified by the Connecticut Port Authoritys oversight board. A few hours earlier, though, Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, charged Lamont should have fully disclosed the deal before ratification, given the port authority scandals that dominated headlines in 2018 and 2019. Fasano, who also criticized the Democratic governor last Friday for proposing $45 million to launch another development authority supported by an ally in the tolls debate, called Tuesday for a voluntary moratorium on funding increases for all quasi-public entities. Economic growth has remained a top priority throughout my administration, and this agreement paves the way for a surge in activity in New London and eastern Connecticut that will cement the states position as a leader in the industry, said Lamont, who signed the new development deal Tuesday. This is what places all over the world are trying to figure out how to do, said port authority Chairman David Kooris. The authority will oversee the project, which is expected to be completed by August 2022, and could create 400 jobs and generate as much as 4,000 megawatt hours of electricity once fully developed man years from now. rsted North America an international pioneer in offshore wind projects and Eversource will work with Gateway Terminal, which operates state pier in New London, to remake it into a heavy-lift capable port that can accommodate wind generation equipment and other related cargo. This venture, which Lamont insists is vital for Connecticuts energy and economic futures, is one of the reasons the governor ordered wholesale changes to the port authority shortly after he took office in 2019. State Auditors John Geragosian and Robert Kane reported last year that port authority officials spent thousands of dollars on expensive meals and liquor, incurred excessive legal fees and generally acted without clear policies governing purchases, personnel matters and ethics. The auditors complained repeatedly about a lack of management oversight, saying the port authoritys board and executive director had failed to establish policies to govern various operations. Lamont, who inherited the mess, had reached similar conclusions. The governor named Kooris as new port authority chairman, wrote new rules and procedures, and canceled debit cards. But Fasano said the governor should have gone farther. The administration notified legislative leaders via email Saturday that a deal would be completed on Tuesday, and provided them Monday evening with a written summary. Given the authoritys past, the administration should have released the full agreement, not just a summary, and opened it to legislative and public scrutiny before signing off, Fasano said. Execution and oversight of contracts is an Executive Branch function and Lamont and his administration countered they went above and beyond to keep lawmakers in the loop. Too rushed? Lamont asked rhetorically. Im just the opposite. What the heck took so long? There have been discussions in Connecticut about harnessing wind power since the 1960s, the governor added. I dont want to wait any longer, he said. I dont need any more studies. But Fasano said Connecticuts problems with quasi-public entities goes beyond just the port authority. Though called quasi-public, they still are public entities created by the legislature. The term quasi-public stems from the fact that certain agencies have functions similar to the private sector, but doesnt mean they actually are exempt from public ethics and disclosure rules, or from government oversight. For years Republicans have proposed policies to stop quasi-publics from engaging in questionable behavior and mismanagement of taxpayers dollars, Fasano said. Unfortunately, past administrations have turned a blind eye to these problems, allowing new quasi-publics to be formed without proper oversight, controls or transparency. With the most recent scandals at the CT Port Authority and CT Lottery Corporation, these issues can no longer be ignored by those in charge. The former vice president of the lottery corporation, Chelsea Turner, is suing lottery President Gregory Smith for unspecified damages. Turner was suspended last July after disclosing she had reported suspicions of wrongdoing at the lottery in 2014 to the FBI. Senate Republicans proposed several changes Tuesday to improve regulation and monitoring of all quasi-public entities including: Requiring all separation agreements between quasi-publics and their employees, if they involve an annual cost of $50,000 or more or a duration of greater than five years, to be sent to the attorney general for review. Eliminating an exemption within the state ethics code for quasi-publics that allows them to enter into contracts with immediate family members of quasi-public staff. Mandating all entities submit their salaries for review annually to the comptrollers office, the legislative committee with jurisdiction over that respective entity, and the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis. Blocking any proposed salary greater than $200,000 for quasi-public staff, or any pay increase greater than 5 percent, without prior review by lawmakers. Requiring all quasi-publics to report annually to legislative committees, to attend at least one committee meeting to answer questions, and to submit core financial data yearly to the comptroller for review. Requiring that at least one representative of the governors budget office serve on the finance committee of each quasi-public entitys oversight board.We believe that leadership needs to be intrusive, Fasano said, paraphrasing a quote last summer from Lamont, who also called for much stronger oversight of quasi-publics as the Connecticut Port Authority scandal dominated the headlines. Sometimes intrusive leadership is required to make sure that happens, and now is one of those times, Lamont wrote in a July 30 press release. Both Fasano and Lamont said quasi-publics have a positive role to play in state government, provided there is sufficient oversight. Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief operating officer, said the current administration is providing that oversight in a way few other administrations can match. Mounds said his office meets monthly with all quasi-public agencies to review their respective missions and their progress, as well as conformity to the overall direction required by the governor. Lamonts budget office also provides monthly reviews of quasi-public finances, administration officials said. All contracts and salaries are posted on the states online fiscal transparency website, Mounds added. The quasis give us room to put together partnerships like this, Lamont said, referring to the venture between Eversource, rsted North America and the state. The quasis are innovative and nimble in terms of what weve got to do. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday underlined that the Election Commission will not go back to the ballot paper and that the electronic voting machines are here to stay. The statement assumes significance after the final voter turnout figure in the Delhi polls was delayed by more than 24 hours raising questions on the reliability of the EVMs. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called it extremely shocking. Echoing his party leaders views, senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said that this is perhaps the first time in the countrys history that the Election Commission is not ready to release the voter turnout data, after the completion of the polls. The percentage of voting in Delhi elections is what the people of Delhi and the country want to know. Why is the Election Commission taking so long to tell the voting percentage? Within 1 hour in the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission reveals the voting percentage, why so much delay in a small state like Delhi? Singh asked. The CEC, speaking at the Times Now Summit, said that the Commission would engage with political parties in the coming days on various electoral reforms and the model code of conduct. He said EVMs can malfunction like a car or a pen but they cannot be tampered with.He said the machines are in use for 20 years now and there was no question of returning to the ballot paper. Various courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the use of the machines to cast votes, he pointed out. The day-to-day political dialogue, contended the CEC, is becoming more coarse and it should be avoided. A case in point is the gag order on BJPs Parvesh Verma, West Delhi lawmaker who was banned twice by the Election Commission for his inflammatory remarks in the run-up to the Delhi election. He had called Arvind Kejriwal a terrorist. On January 30, the poll panel had barred Verma for four days for his remarks on Shaheen Bagh where a gathering has been on a sit-in protest for over a month. Verma had allegedly said those participating at Shaheen Bagh could enter homes to rape and kill women, indicating the site would be cleared on BJP being elected to power. TULSA, Okla. - A transgender inmate can sue the state of Oklahoma and prison officials who she says stopped her hormone therapy because they thought she was faking her gender identity, a federal judge has ruled. A physicians assistant ordered an end to Glenn Porters hormone therapy after a staff psychologist at Dick Conner Correctional Center suggested she was masquerading as a woman, according to the complaint. Chief U.S. District Judge John Dowdell on Monday ordered an evidentiary hearing be held regarding Porters request for a preliminary injunction that, if granted, would forbid prison officials from denying her the hormone treatments, Tulsa World reported. Porter, whose name appears as Glen Arthur Porter Jr. in some state court documents, has been serving a life sentence since 1999 for murder in the killing of her grandfather. In her initial federal complaint, filed Sept. 10, 2018, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Porter says she sought gender reassignment surgery after three prison doctors, including the Department of Corrections chief medical officer, diagnosed her with gender dysphoria in 2016. Gender dysphoria is a medical condition describing the significant distress an individual can experience when their gender identity differs from the sex theyre assigned at birth, according to the judges ruling. Porter claims she received hormone therapy for two years while in prison. In her lawsuit, Porter contends she is being housed in an all-male open dorm where she is subjected to harassment and discrimination based on her gender identity and physical appearance. She also says she has been subjected to cross-gender strip searches by male guards on numerous occasions. Dowell called for a status hearing on the case to be held April 2. BJP leader Giriraj Singh here stoked a controversy by describing Deoband as the "Gangotri of terrorism" from where terrorists like Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed come. The minister said this when asked about the protest against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) in Deoband. "I had said once that Deoband is the Gangotri of terrorism," the minister told reporters, adding that "all big terrorists like Hafiz Saeed" come from there. The Union minister was in Saharanpur for a programme in support of the CAA. The minister also dubbed the anti-CAA stir a protest against the country. "It is against India. It is a kind of Khilafat andolan," he said, reminding JNU student Sharjeel Imam's "anti-India" remarks. Reacting to the Union minister's statement, Congress leader and ex-MLA Imran Masood said Giriraj Singh has been "blinded by hate" to such an extent that he even "insulted" a sacred word like "Gangotri". Saharanpur MP Haji Fazlur Rehman too flayed the minister for his statement and said Deoband has been the "karmabhoomi" of freedom fighters. He said ulemas of Deoband sacrificed their lives and went to jails for the cause of freedom. Taking a dig at the Union minister, the MP said those whose leaders helped the British during the freedom struggle and tried to divide Hindus and Muslims were accusing Deoband of terrorism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Retro Fitness, a leader in the high-value, low price fitness space, is excited to announce a partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to support the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children. Beginning February 2020, Retro Fitness club locations nationwide will engage members, employees and franchise owners to encourage fundraising participation throughout the year. As Retro Fitness commits to its overall initiative to GET REAL, the Retro Fitness team is thrilled to inspire the members of its communities to GET REAL through philanthropy. Every Retro Fitness is individually owned and operated, and with the support of great franchisees will host a number of activations, beginning with the Share the Love In-Club Donation Campaign this February. Club members will be invited to donate an amount of their choosing to St. Jude, then post a personalized Donation Card in the club. Throughout 2020, each Retro Fitness location will feature co-branded St. Jude items, such as reusable water bottles and t-shirts, with 10% of the purchase price being donated to help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food because all they should worry about is helping their child live. New and current club members will be invited to add a voluntary recurring donation to be automatically added to their monthly membership payment with 100% of that donation going directly to St. Jude. Retro Fitness corporate employees and franchise team members will be able to easily give to St. Jude through turn-key donation channels. Additional partnership initiatives planned for 2020 include club-level participation in the national St. Jude Walk/Run event held in 61 markets, a club vs. club donation challenge and a Retro Blends Smoothie donation activation. "Retro Fitness has always been dedicated to investing in the communities and hometowns where our clubs operate," said Andrew Alfano, CEO of Retro Fitness. "As we look to further engage with our members and GET REAL, it was an easy decision to invite them to participate in our philanthropic initiatives through exciting activations. Childhood cancer is one of the most devastating issues facing the world today, and we couldn't think of a more worthy partner to fight alongside than St. Jude Children's Research Hospital." About Retro Fitness With more than 150 gyms open or under development across the United States, Retro Fitness is a growing gym franchise that combines a variety of fitness experiences all under one roof. Retro Fitness gyms feature the latest circuit and weight training equipment, best in class cardio burning machines equipped with personal flat-screen TVs, Individual and Group Training options, functional training areas, signature Retro Blends Smoothie Bar, and supervised child sitting all for a great value. For more information, please visit www.retrofitness.com to learn more about franchise opportunities. About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, sharing stories and videos from St. Jude Inspire, liking St. Jude Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel. Media Contacts: 5W Public Relations [email protected] 212-999-5585 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Kurt Rossler [email protected] 901-297-3512 SOURCE Retro Fitness Related Links http://stjude.org Crude oil production in North Dakota could peak over the next five years as producers will have drilled up the core production areas and will have to move to less prolific corners of the oil patch, North Dakotas Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms told state lawmakers. Exploration and production companies will finish drilling the core areas in North Dakotas oil patch in the next two to five years, Helms said at a meeting of the interim Government Finance Committee. At that point, say five years from now, the drilling has to move out into the non-core areas, and that will yield lower producing wells, said Helms, as carried by Grand Forks Herald. Producers will find it much more difficult to increase crude oil production from the non-core drilling areas, he said, noting that We can now see that horizon from here. According to Ron Ness, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, the states oil production could peak at 1.8 million bpd if oil prices hold, as carried by The Associated Press. Oil production in North Dakota jumped last year as oil prices had recovered and drillers continued to drill in core areas. Crude oil production hit an all-time high of 1.518 million barrels per day (bpd) last October, while production in November held steady at 1.515 million bpd. The December production is expected to have dropped from those levels. In the Directors Cut release in January, with figures for November, Helms said that 98 percent of drilling in the state of North Dakota now targets the Bakken and Three Forks formations. Lower crude oil price, gas capture, workforce, and competition with the Permian and Anadarko shale oil plays for capital continue to limit drilling rig count, Helms said last month. Operators continue to maintain a permit inventory that will accommodate varying oil prices for the next 12 months, he added. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A Block Development Council (BDC) chairman was arrested for allegedly attempting to kill two brothers over an old enmity in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Wednesday. Vijaypur BDC chairman Yogeshwer Singh, a resident of Suchani village, was arrested in connection with a case registered against him and his relatives at the local police station under various sections including attempt to murder, a police spokesman said. The court of Principal Sessions Judge, Samba, had on February 6 granted interim bail to Singh. It, however, revoked the bail on Tuesday, leading to his arrest. On January 31, Mohit Jamwal lodged a complaint with the police alleging that he and his brother Rohit Jamwal, also residents of Suchani village, were assaulted by the BDC chairman and his relatives with the intention to kill them over an old enmity, the spokesman said. The brothers had reached Vijaypur police station in an injured condition. They alleged that Singh saw them leaving their house on a motorcycle and within minutes, a vehicle, in which the BDC chairman's relatives were travelling, hit them from behind on reaching Patyari, causing injuries to them, the spokesman said. Maneshwar Singh was driving the vehicle and Dineshwar Singh was also travelling with him at the time of the incident. After the brothers were left injured, the vehicle occupants returned with Yogeshwar Singh and his brother Romeshwar Singh and allegedly assaulted the complainant with rods and a bat, the police spokesman said. He said efforts are on to arrest other accused in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Macedonian lawmakers on Tuesday (local time) ratified by an overwhelming majority of votes a protocol on the country's accession to NATO. "A total of 114 lawmakers [out of 120] voted in favour of ratification", President of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi announced after the vote. North Macedonia's path toward NATO membership opened after it signed a deal with Greece last June that resolved their years-old row over Macedonia's official denomination. Athens has repeatedly blocked the country's accession to the military alliance due to the naming dispute, but in October 2019, the North Macedonian parliament started the process of renaming the country. The nation signed an accession protocol to become a member of the alliance in February 2019. The Balkan nation becomes the North Atlantic Alliance's 30th member. The last country to join the military organisation was Montenegro back in 2017, which was preceded by Albania and Croatia in 2009. Moreover, North Macedonia was also set as a priority country for EU expansion during the 2003 European Council summit in Greece, as it was initially planned that accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania would start by the end of 2019. Discussions on the bloc's expansion have reportedly been delayed by tensions between the EU's leading states, Germany and France. Paris has repeatedly expressed caution about enlarging the European Union. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ISLAMABAD The Taliban have issued an ultimatum to Washington after weeks of talks with a U.S. peace envoy, demanding a reply on their offer of a seven-day reduction of violence in Afghanistan, or they would walk away from the negotiating table, two Taliban officials said Wednesday. A reduction in violence deal for a very short period is sought by the Taliban because they dont want to commit to a formal cease-fire until other components of a final deal are in place. They have previously said a cease-fire could blunt their battlefield momentum if the U.S. or Kabul renege on their promises. A teenage model who was repatriated from the Chinese city of Wuhan to Brazil has expressed her relief for being evacuated from the epicentre of a new viral outbreak. 18-year-old Adrielly Eger has been transferred along with 34 other people to the Anapolis airbase, in the Brazilian state of Goias, where she will remain in quarantine for two weeks. Eger was in Wuhan for a three-month modeling contract that came to an end as Chinese authorities called for a quarantine. Anxious to leave the epicentre of the viral outbreak, dozens of Brazilian citizens joined forces and pleaded in a video for the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro to repatriate them. Now back in Brazil, all have passed a series of health exams - none have shown any symptoms of the virus. The hotel hosting them inside the military base complex has been equipped with internet, phones, leisure areas and individual rooms for all 34 of them - mostly Brazilians and in some cases their foreign parents. Brazil has had no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and is still investigating a few suspect cases, according to the health ministry. A person was killed after some unidentified people opened fire at MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy in southwest Delhi's Kishangarh village on late Tuesday night, police said. The newly-elected MLA along with his supporters was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in his constituency, the police said. According to sources, seven rounds were fired at the Mehrauli MLA's convoy. The on Wednesday registered an FIR in connection with the firing incident. said that investigation is on and working "on all angles" to find out the motive behind firing the shots at Naresh Yadav's convoy. One volunteer Ashok Mann was killed while another volunteer Harender was injured when shots were fired at Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy here on Tuesday night. In a tweet, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh claimed party volunteer Ashok Mann was killed in the attack. "Convoy of MLA Naresh Yadav attacked in Mehrauli, Ashok Mann killed. Naresh Yadav was returning home after visiting a temple," Singh said in a tweet in Hindi. "Shots fired at MLA @MLA_NareshYada and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," the said in a tweet. Ankit Lal, AAP's social media in-charge tweeted: "Multiple shots were fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav & @AamAadmiParty volunteers accompanying him to his home in Mehrauli after visiting a temple as part of victory procession. Miscreants in another car opened fire near Fortis. 1 dead and 1 injured. Police is at the spot. "The incident is really unfortunate. I do not know the reason behind the attack but it happened all of a sudden. Around 4 rounds were fired. The vehicle I was in was attacked. I am sure if Police inquires properly, they will be able to identify the assailant," Naresh Yadav, AAP MLA had said. "Two people were shot in which Ashok Man Ji has died and Harender Ji was injured. I do not know whether they attacked me in particular but they certainly targeted our convoy. Anybody could have been shot in this attack," he added confirming the development. Sanders was 18 years old when he was charged with carjacking, armed robbery, theft, criminal confinement and other counts in 2013. According to court records, Sanders and another man approached two women Aug. 20, 2013, in the 4900 block of Chestnut Avenue in Hammond and each pulled a gun. Sanders and the other man attempted to force the women into a car but failed, so they got into the car and drove off. They later pawned an amplifier and guitar pedal in the car and split the proceeds. Just four days later, on Aug. 24, 2013, Sanders entered a mans home in the 1100 block of Summer Street through an unlocked door, pointed a gun at the man and took off with a bicycle, records state. Sanders pleaded guilty in November 2014 to robbery and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was on parole for that conviction in February 2016, when broke into a home in the 1200 block of Summer Street, flipped over a dresser and took an Apple watch, jewelry and a radio. His fingerprints were collected from the bedroom window, records state. A driver from Michigan is lucky to be alive after a steel beam crashed through his front windshield and almost saw him impaled. Johnnie Lowe, 49, from Lansing was driving a 26-foot box truck along I-96 when the enormous metal object flew off from the vehicle in front and would have certainly hit him as well, were in not for the steering wheel which stopped the projectile in its tracks. Pictures show just how close to death Lowe came as the metallic missile came to a stop just inches from his chest. A driver escaped death by inches after metal beam crashed through his truck windshield An unsecured steel beam flew off the back and straight through Johnnie Lowe's window only to be stopped by the steering wheel The beam flew off the flatbed after it suddenly switched lanes. Father-of-three, Johnnie Lowe, 49, from Lansing, Michigan, was driving a 26-foot box truck along I-96 when the enormous metal object flew off from the vehicle in front and went straight through his windshield 'I saw something fly off of his truck -- and I thought it was a plank off a privacy fence, like a piece of wood ... and then I saw it was a big piece of steel,' Lowe told CNN. 'I thought it was just going to hit the front of the truck,' Lowe said. 'But it climbed up the grille, rolled up the hood and shot through the windshield.' 'Then here it came,' he said. 'It bounced my way, so I just put my arm up, put my hand on the back of the steering wheel, put my foot on the brake, eased the brake.' 'When it bounced off the concrete I knew this was going down,' he said. 'I just braced myself.' 'My life flashed before my eyes,' he said. Lowe, who is a dad-of-three, said that he braced for the impact just as the beam smashed through the windshield showering him with glass. Incredibly, the steering wheel was the only thing that stopped the beam from going any further. Incredible pictures show just how near to tragedy Lowe came. The dashboard is a complete wreck but miraculously the steel beam was halted after hitting the steering wheel 'I could feel my face was bleeding. ...Thank God, I had one little cut on my face, but I'm staring at a steel beam about half a foot from my chest.' 'I'm looking at my windshield with a big slice right in front of me with a big 6-foot piece of steel sticking out of it,' Lowe said. It was only after he pulled over and took photos of what happened that he realized just how close to death he had come. 'I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe I was alive. 'God blessed me that day.' It was only after he pulled over and took photos of what happened that he realized just how close to death he had come Police have not yet managed to find the owner of the truck from which the beam flew off. 'I could've got killed,' he said to Freep. 'That steel beam could've gone right through my heart.' 'I'm one lucky man,' Lowe said. 'I feel like I need to go play the lottery. Definitely.' A white supremacist gang in Oklahoma murdered one of its own men because he destroyed an air conditioning unit during a fight with his girlfriend, who is also a member of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood. Jared Langworthy, 23, a member of the gang - which was established inside the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 1993 - was severely beaten, shot and left for dead. He died the following day on December 6 and as of last week police had arrested six out of seven people connected to the slaying. After his silver SUV was caught leaving the scene, another member, Cody Lee Fulmer, 31, admitted that he bashed Langworth. Jared Langworthy, 23, a member of the gang established inside the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 1993 - was severely beaten, shot at and left for dead His mother believes it was because he ripped an AC unit during a fight with his fellow Universal Aryan Brotherhood gang member girlfriend Destiny Rae Asher (left) Left to right: Cody Lee Fulmer, Taylor Michelle Harper, Destiny Rae Asher, Billy Shawn Griffith, Tyler '100' Coyle, and Jerry 'One Eye' Brian Williamson He said that the victim's girlfriend Destiny Rae Asher lived with his relative and Langworthy was known to damage property whenever he couldn't get Asher to come outside. 'This made [Fulmer] mad because his family member Charlie was extremely old and in a wheelchair and did not deserve that to happen,' the affidavit states. Langworthy's girlfriend told the fellow gang members where her boyfriend could be found, documents state. It continues that Tyler '100' Coyle, Billy Shawn Griffith, Aaron Mitchell Welch, and Jerry 'One Eye' Brian Williamson went after Langworthy with a bat and drove him to Coyle's home. There, Coyle's girlfriend Taylor Michelle Harper was heating a metal object in a fire and Williamson picked up the victim by his neck and burned off his 'SS' lightning bolt shoulder tattoo. The patch is a symbol for the gang, which is modeled off the Aryan Brotherhood formed in the 1960s in California prisons. Fulmer told cops they threw him into a pond before they drove him to another house. Once there, Langworthy was left for dead in a ditch. A gang member said Langworthy didn't fear for his life after being warned the group was after him. He is said to have told the person: 'I'm Hollywood, I ain't running from s**t.' One of his last utterances was: 'Why? Am I going to die?' However, Fulmer denies using a weapon when he beat him and says he didn't leave Langworthy for dead, an affidavit filed at the District Court for Tulsa County states. Girlfriend Destiny Rae Asher (left) told them where he was. Tyler '100' Coyle's (center) girlfriend Taylor Michelle Harper (right) heated a metal object in the living fire before they burned off his 'SS' lightning bolt shoulder tattoo. They were arrested early January TCSO located and arrested 39-year-old Billy Shawn Griffith in January (left). Jerry Brian Williamson, 49, who goes by 'one eye' was arrested last week (right) In early January, TCSO arrested Tyler Brett Coyle, Taylor Michelle Harper and Destiny Rae Asher in connection with the murder. They are charged in the first degree and also face a variety of additional charges for gang-related offenses, maiming and conspiracy to commit a felony. Creek County Sheriff's Office and the Creek County DA Task Force Billy Shawn Griffith, 39, was the fifth suspect to be arrested and Jerry Brian Williamson, 49, who goes by 'one eye' was arrested last week after deputies from TCSO's THA Community Enhancement Unit received information that a wanted subject was possibly in an apartment located at 1504 West 59th Place. Aaron Mitchell Welch, 36, is still at large. Langworth's mother Toni believes her son was killed because he ripped the AC unit. However, a friend thinks the murder was ordered from inside prison where the Universal Aryan Brotherhood (UAB) allegedly runs a racketeering enterprise. One more gangmember is still on the run. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Aaron Mitchell Welch, 36, is asked to call 918-596-5601 The 'whites only' prison-based gang which refers to female members as 'featherwoods' have committed acts of murder, kidnapping, the trafficking of methamphetamine and firearms, money laundering, assault, and robbery throughout the state. They used contraband cell phones to operate and use 'hate, fear, affliction, and violence' to operate according racketeering charges from last February. Key players allegedly involved in UAB operations, include six inmates inside Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester. Mathew D. Abrego, 33; Christopher K. Baldwin, 39; Jeremy C. Anderson, 31; Johnny R. Jameson, 36; Robert W. Zeidler, 45; and James C. Taylor, 52, were some of the people who used social media and 'kites' to carry out operations that 18 people were charge for last February. A friend thinks the murder was ordered from inside prison where the Universal Aryan Brotherhood (UAB) allegedly runs a racketeering enterprise. Oklahoma State Reformatory is pictured UAB members and associates are alleged to have participated in a significant and widespread methamphetamine distribution scheme, and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal drug proceeds using cash transfers, stored value cards, PayPal, and Walmart money transfers, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) found. An indictment from a year ago alleges that they murdered people on the orders of the Main Council, which is the highest governing body of the UAB. Oklahoma State Reformatory inmate Donald Jones was stabbed to death in 2005 in a retaliation against African American inmates. UAB also ordered the murders of Blake Ford and James Mask. University of Tulsa student, Sufeng He, 24, was shot dead May 31, 2011, during an attempted carjacking as a UAB member fled police officers. Jason Harris was murdered during a kidnapping and robbery in 2017. The Department Justice states the gang used kidnapping as a way to 'enforce discipline, recoup drugs and other debts, and to ensure the individuals were not cooperating with law enforcement'. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Aaron Mitchell Welch, 36, is asked to call 918-596-5601. Apartment buildings on Henry Street on the Lower East Side. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images A New York judge has temporarily suspended the states week-old ban on broker fees for tenants, and, as a result of the ruling, real-estate brokers will be able to continue to collect commissions from tenants until at least March 13. On Monday in Albany, Supreme Court Justice Michael Mackey issued a temporary restraining order against the ban after powerful real-estate-industry groups sued the New York Department of State alleging it had exceeded its legal authority in applying the sweeping new laws. The Real Estate Board of New York, which lobbies on behalf of property owners, developers, and brokers in New York City, has argued that the Department of State illegally overstepped its role in issuing its new guidance on rental brokerage commissions and that the ban was instituted without giving the industry enough time to respond. The organization, joined in the suit by the New York State Association of Realtors, has said the ban has upended the lives of thousands of real-estate agents and claims it will lead to higher rents for tenants. The state ruling that instituted the ban and went into effect last week shocked the real-estate industry and quickly sent it into a panic. There was also at least some evidence that brokers were continuing to charge the fees even after the ban came into effect. The regulation prohibited the broker fees that renters are often forced to pay before being allowed to move in. Such fees are particularly common in New York City, where they are often unavoidable and typically cost more than a months rent making them one of the largest financial obstacles would-be tenants face when looking for a new apartment. Under the ban, tenants would have to pay broker fees only if they had hired the broker themselves, as is the case in most U.S. cities. New York brokers could still charge landlords the fee, however. The restraining order is in place through at least March 13, when the New York Department of State has to respond to the ruling in court. There is no indication of how the court will ultimately rule, but the real-estate industry will undoubtedly continue to put up a big fight. With one riposte, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald may have changed the course of Irish history. It was debate night in the middle of the general election campaign, and rival party leaders Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin were attacking her party's tax-and-spend promises, ignoring their own at times questionable economic record. "Listening to these men you'd never imagine that one had crashed the economy and that the other is so fiscally irresponsible that he's producing the most expensive hospital in the world," McDonald witheringly told them, drawing wild applause from the audience. From that moment, the campaign was transformed. A poll days later saw Sinn Fein's backing surge. In the Feb. 8 election, the party won the popular vote in what has been described as a 'Mary Lou monsoon' with voters braving storms and heavy rain to support Sinn Fein in record numbers, and putting the party on the cusp of power south of the border for the first time. For Sinn Fein, it was a vindication of its decision to choose McDonald, A privately educated woman from an affluent corner of Dublin, to replace Gerry Adams when he stepped down in 2018. That was a decisive break with the party's Northern Irish, blue collar roots, with its deep ties to the IRA. "She represents a wider generational change at the top of the party, it's no longer dominated by figures who are associated with the conflict in the north," said Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of history at University College Dublin. "That makes a difference." Sinn Fein's rise fits with a wave of populism upending the established political order across the continent. In the Irish case, the nationalists' surge could amplify an uncomfortable conversation around reunification, and may lead to more immediate seismic shifts, including the arrival of the country's first woman premier and the most left-wing government in the history of the state. The "center has been shaken, but held," Irish Prime Minister Varadkar said in a speech in Dublin on Wednesday, paraphrasing the poet WB Yeats, to say the "dark future" has not yet come to pass. Speaking to reporters, he hinted he might be prepared to work with other centrist parties if Sinn Fein can't form a government. We "stand by the state," he said. In Saturday's election, Sinn Fein won 25% of the first preference vote, with McDonald capitalizing on discontent with a housing shortage and an ailing health service. She also tapped into a sense it was time to topple the two-party power structure that has dominated Irish politics for almost a century. The party took 37 seats, leaving it just one short of Fianna Fail, and placed McDonald in contention to become the nation's first left of center, female premier. In 2016, under Adams, the party won 23 seats, making it a distant third to the established parties of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Two years later, McDonald took over. Born on May Day 1969, McDonald comes from Rathgar, an affluent district in South Dublin. Her father was a builder and member of Fianna Fail, but her grandmother, Molly, was the key figure in shaping her politics, according to Deaglan de Breadun's 2015 book, 'Power Play: The Rise of Modern Sinn Fein.' Molly's brother opposed the treaty which split Ireland in 1921, and was executed in the Civil War that followed, de Breadun wrote McDonald was not yet a teenager when Bobby Sands, an IRA member on hunger strike, died in 1981. The strike captured global attention when IRA prisoners led by Sands refused to eat. The men wanted the U.K. to classify them as political prisoners, not criminals, a demand rejected by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Sands was elected to the British parliament while on the strike. His death at age 27 sparked riots and fueled a surge of nationalist sentiment across Northern Ireland. That inspired the IRA's ally, Sinn Fein, to contest elections in the 1980s as part of a strategy known as the "Armalite and the Ballot Box." McDonald later said, that for her, 90 miles way in Dublin, the hunger strikes were a "road to Damascus 'moment," de Breadun wrote. Initially, though, McDonald followed the standard middle-path of life for many in South Dublin. She attended a fee-paying school, studied English at the cobbled-lined university in the heart of the city. Trinity College, worked in think-tanks and joined Fianna Fail. By the late 1990s, she felt her nationalism and interest in social justice was out of step with the party. Inspired by a Gerry Adams' speech in the Mansion House, the meeting place of the Irish parliament during the War of Independence with Britain, she joined Sinn Fein, according to de Breadun. She quickly rose through the ranks as the party sought to broaden its appeal, and calm voter concerns about its historic links to the IRA terror group. "I wear no balaclava," she assured voters in 2004. She said she was occasionally resentful of the suggestion that she "was cute but not that bright" and groomed for power as the "acceptable face" of Sinn Fein. That year, she was elected as an member of the European Parliament for Dublin. She then won a seat in parliament in 2011, as the party fought austerity in the wake of the nation's international bailout, placing her in position to succeed Adams. The ride hasn't always been smooth since then. In fact, her leadership was questioned after a poor performance in local, European and presidential elections. At times, she's struggled to keep a lid on the party's more militant side as she tried to broaden its support. Last year, she apologized for walking in the U.S. behind a banner brearing a slogan that read, "Get England out of Ireland." Fearful of the party's performance in the 2020 election, she stood down party candidates, a mistake that meant Sinn Fein lost out on the chance to be the biggest party by seats in parliament. The party itself has been taken by surprise by its swift rise, and many analysts are struggling to explain how exactly McDonald turned it around. After the debate, she overtook Varadkar and Martin as the most popular leader, polls show, and is in the race to be prime minister, as the various parties eye coalition options. The party seems likely to be in government, if not after this election, then after the next. Transforming a party of protest into one of government will present McDonald with a fresh challenge. As Tony Smurfit, chief executive officer of Dublin-based global packaging company Smurfit Kappa Group Plc, put it, "it's very easy to criticize from opposition." The healthcare logistics market is poised to grow by USD 33.64 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 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/20200212005654/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the healthcare logistics market from 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Healthcare Logistics Market Analysis Report by Service (Transportation and Warehousing), Product (Pharmaceutical products and Medical devices), and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America and MEA), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024." https://www.technavio.com/report/healthcare-logistics-market-industry-analysis The market is driven by the rise in seaborne pharmaceutical transportation. In addition, the growing number of initiatives to promote cold chain logistics are anticipated to boost the growth of the healthcare logistics market. The rise in seaborne pharmaceutical transportation is one of the critical drivers for the healthcare logistics market growth. The increase in carbon emission through roadways and air transportation, and the rising fuel costs are forcing pharmaceutical companies to choose seaborne shipments. Seaborne transportation also helps mitigate other production expenses. On top of this, security is another major advantage since the container remains untouched until it reaches the destination. Hence, several pharmaceutical companies are opting for seaborne transportation over air or roadways. For instance, AstraZeneca, a prominent multinational pharmaceutical company, shifted around 65% of its product transportation to seaborne transportation in 2014. 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 Healthcare Logistics Companies: Air Canada Air Canada has business operations under various segments, including passenger and cargo. The company offers a wide range of healthcare logistics services which includes air freight services, ocean freight services, ground transportation, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions for pharmaceutical products and medical devices. AmerisourceBergen Corp. AmerisourceBergen Corp. offers a wide range of healthcare logistics services which includes air freight services, ocean freight services, ground transportation, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions for pharmaceutical products and medical devices. CEVA Logistics AG CEVA Logistics provides several services such as international customs brokerage for air, ocean, and ground transportation; deferred air pickup and delivery; and other value-added services. The company also provides contract logistics activities, which include the provision of inbound logistics, manufacturing support, outbound/distribution logistics, and aftermarket logistics. Cold Chain Technologies LLC Cold Chain Technologies LLC has business operations under various segments, such as qualified shipping solutions, Koolit refrigerants, KoolTemp insulated containers, temperature monitoring, and reusable solutions return service programs. The company offers a wide range of healthcare logistics services which include air freight services, ocean freight services, ground transportation, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions for pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Continental Cargo OU Continental Cargo OU operates its business through four segments, namely road freight, sea freight, air freight, and logistics services. The company offers a wide range of healthcare logistics services which include air freight services, ocean freight services, ground transportation, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions for pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Healthcare Logistics Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020-2024) Transportation Warehousing Healthcare Logistics Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020-2024) Pharmaceutical products Medical devices Healthcare Logistics Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 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 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/20200212005654/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Two letter bombs exploded on Wednesday at two separate locations in the Netherlands but nobody was hurt in the incidents, which police blamed on an extortionist who had demanded payment in bitcoin. Both explosions were minor, one at an ABN Amro bank mail-sorting office in Amsterdam and the other 225km (140 miles) away in a mailroom of Japanese electronics group Ricoh, police said. No arrests have been made. The police believe the most likely scenario is that the letter discovered on Wednesday was one of several letter bombs sent to locations across the country, they said in a statement, referring to the Amsterdam incident. An employee in the Amsterdam sorting office heard a hissing sound as they were about to open a letter, city police said. The employee threw the letter away and there was a small explosion, they said on Twitter. Payment of bitcoins is required in the extortion letter, they added. Bitcoin is a digital currency whose payments can be difficult to trace. ABNs chief executive, Kees Van Dijkhuizen, said he had spoken to the employee who had handled the letter at the sorting centre on the western outskirts of Amsterdam. Good news is that he is not wounded, bad news of course is that these things happen and that our people have to deal with it, Dijkhuizen told journalists. The second explosion, in the southern town of Kerkrade, on the border with Germany, was at the offices of Ricoh. Thankfully there were no injuries, but those involved are of course very shocked, Ricoh said in a statement. The blast caused some damage and the facility was closed for forensic analysis, police said. A third suspected letter bomb found at an ABN Amro branch in the southern city of Maastricht later turned out not to contain explosives but a computer mouse, police said. Dutch police have been investigating a spate of letter bombs since January 3, which they said appeared to have been sent by the same person in December and January. The previous letter bombs were all intercepted before they could go off. Previous targets have included a hotel, a gas station, a garage, a real estate agent and a bill collection service. With massive market caps of $256.1 billion and $210.3 billion, Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM and Chevron Corporation CVX dominate the energy sector. Both the companies businesses are primarily guided by oil and natural gas prices. However, there are some key factors need to be analyzed elaborately before ranking the two integrated energy firms. Doppelgangers ExxonMobil and Chevron are among the leading integrated energy players with strong presence in upstream and downstream operations. ExxonMobil The company has upstream presence in the United States and abroad. Apart from operations in the most prolific domestic play Permian ExxonMobils upstream portfolio includes Guyana and Brazil. In the Permian, the company plans to produce more than 1,000 thousand oil equivalent barrels per day (KoEB/D) by 2024. Moreover, with 16 discoveries in the Stabroek Block, located off the coast of Guyana, ExxonMobil has estimated gross recoverable resources of more than 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent. In fact, the leading integrated energy player estimates 750,000 barrels of oil production per day from the offshore region by 2025. Other major energy players having interests in the Stabroek Block are Hess Corporation HES and CNOOC Limited CEO. Additionally, in Brazil, the company has more than 2.3 million net acres of upstream resources. ExxonMobil also has a strong downstream presence with interests in more than 20 refineries across the world. Notably, the company has estimated its total refining capacity at 4.7 million barrels of oil per day. Chevron The companys core upstream assets comprise Permian and Deepwater Gulf of Mexico along with resources in Australia, Kazakhstan and Nigeria. In Permian, Chevron has 16.2 billon barrel of oil equivalent (BBoE) resources as of 2019-end, significantly up from 9.3 BBoE in 2017. Moreover, majority of the companys refining capacity is located in the United States, while the rest is in Asia. Story continues Both Are Dividend Aristocrats If a company raises dividend for at least 25 successive years, it gets the status of dividend aristocrat. ExxonMobil has successfully managed to grow dividend payments over the past 37 years at an average annual growth rate of 6.2%. Meanwhile, Chevron has hiked dividend payments for 33 straight years. Not only are these integrated energy players dividend aristocrats, the firms pay higher dividend yields than the Zacks S&P 500 composite. Currently, the dividend yield for ExxonMobil and Chevron is a respective 5.75% and 4.28%, way higher than the Zacks S&P 500 composites 1.68%. Although it seems that dividend investors might choose ExxonMobil over Chevron for more than one percentage difference in their yields, the question lies with sustainability considering ExxonMobils aggressive capital spending plans. Chevrons Edge Over ExxonMobil ExxonMobil has an aggressive capital spending program in place as compared to Chevron. In 2020, ExxonMobil is planning to invest $33 to $35 billion, while $30 to $35 billion will likely be allocated from 2021 through 2025. Chevron, in comparison, is planning to spend $18 to $20 billion in 2020. From 2021 through 2023, Chevron is planning to allocate $19 to $22 billion capital. While ExxonMobil intends to invest heavily in coming years, this might require the company to divest assets and rely more on debt funding. This could weaken ExxonMobils balance sheet and lower the companys free cashflow that will be available for dividend payments. This has probably justified the question of the companys sustainability of paying higher dividend yields than Chevron. Importantly, investors are constantly pressing companies to focus more on returns rather than solely on production. Hence, ExxonMobils aggressive capital spending program, mostly for oil and natural gas production, might have disappointed investors. However, though Chevron has a conservative capital program in place, it is projecting compound annual production growth rate of 3-4% in five years, reflecting strong operational efficiencies. In case of the Zacks Rank as well, Chevron has a clear lead with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) while ExxonMobil carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks 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 CNOOC Limited (CEO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chevron Corporation (CVX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hess Corporation (HES) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Why is it acceptable to pretend that the mass groping, sexual assault and organised intimidation of the young women of Gargi College on the evening of February 6 never happened? All geared up to enjoy the final evening of their annual fest, the girls had arrived to find a crowd three times the size of the usual gathering at the venue. The main gate had been thrown open and no one was checking for the mandatory visitor passes. Middle-aged men, far too old to go to college themselves, put their hands on everyone near them. Many said they were part of a pro-CAA rally. They were heard chanting Jai Shri Ram in accompaniment to their execrable moves. With no space to turn or run away, the girls were left with no choice but to stand and fight. Each to the best of their ability, they endured what came their way. That included cheap taunts and offers to buy them make-up should they go out with their abusers. The motive of the assault was clear. It was to deter women from participating in co-curricular activities. Strangely, that was exactly the sentiment echoed by the principal of the college, Promila Kumar, when a student complained: Do not come to the fest if you feel unsafe. She pointed out a special arena for girls on the premises, saying they should have confined themselves to that space. An FIR was registered only after the DCW issued a notice to Delhi Police and the outraged students took out a march on Monday. The FIR was registered under IPC sections 452, 354, 509 and 34. Yet the ample security at the venue had played the role of mute spectators, if not cheerleaders, for the duration of the raid. Why is it even acceptable not to discuss what happened at Gargi College? How else can one investigate, introspect and affix responsibility where it belongs? Does the name of Ram absolve one of moral wretchedness? It is an open question. The family of an Icelandic man who disappeared in Dublin a year ago are again appealing for information. Jon Jonsson went missing a day after arriving in the city with his fiancee for a poker tournament. Last Sunday, February 9, marked a year since Jon Jonsson vanished in Dublin city. The 41-year-old was last seen at around 11am near the Bonnington Hotel in Whitehall, where he was staying. Despite high profile appeals and large scale searches, his brother David says the investigation is at a dead end. "For me it feels like you're kind of stuck just in the middle of the waiting game," said David. "Waiting to see if something comes up that you can use." David said that in cases like his brother's time is crucial. "Since we didn't get much information in the first weeks and months, I am not surprised that the situation is like this at this moment. "But I am also aware that it can change really fast." Private Investigator Liam Brady has been hired by the family to help find the dad of four and says he may have a possible lead. He hopes to interview someone who is currently in jail abroad in relation to the case. "I would be appealing to anybody that may have information and I believe that there are people out there that do have information as to what has happened." Jon is 6 foot, of medium build and had short brown hair when last seen. An NRL star said he is 'extremely embarrassed' after copping a huge fine for breaching a little known road rule he had no idea existed. Brisbane Broncos player Joe Ofahengaue, 24, faced the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to 'being in control of a vehicle while under the influence' The hulking prop told the court he was 'extremely embarrassed and remorseful' for the incident, The Courier Mail reported. Brisbane Broncos star player Joe Ofahengaue (pictured with girlfriend Sofi Leota) has been fined for sleeping in his car while drunk Ofahengaue was at a house party celebrating a friend's cancer free anniversary when he went out to his car. Defence lawyer Dave Garratt said Ofahengaue went to his vehicle to collect a speaker but ended up falling asleep inside the car instead. 'He had a number of drinks, went to his car to retrieve a speaker, he simply sat in his car and fell asleep for a number of hours and then police arrived,' Mr Garratt said. 'He had no intention of driving. He simply started the car for the aircon, being a hot summer's night.' He said his client had no idea what he was doing was an offence. Mr Garratt also argued his client would be facing extra punishment as a result of his job and place in the public eye when asking for a light punishment. 'Hes going to be sanctioned by the club and also by the NRL this could take the form of missing games, a financial punishment and also having to do extra community service activities,' he said. The hulking Broncos prop (pictured) said he felt extremely 'embarrassed' and 'remorseful' for the incident Mr Garratt also said that Ofanhengaue felt like he had let down younger players that looked up to him. The court imposed a $1000 fine on Ofahengaue and he was disqualified from driving for three months. The Brisbane Broncos told Daily Mail Australia they referred the incident to the NRL Integrity Unit. 'The club informed the NRL Integrity Unit when the incident occurred, and now that the case has been dealt with in court, the unit will complete its investigation,' a spokesman said. 'The Broncos will wait for the Integrity Unit to hand down its findings before commenting further.' The epicenter of global coronavirus outbreak is 7,000 miles away, but fear of the illness has turned Chicagos Chinatown into a veritable ghost town, with customers staying away in droves, leaving some restaurants and businesses nearly empty during lunchtime this week. It was, at first glance, business as usual, with people mostly eschewing masks as they straggled in and out of restaurants, emerged from the Park To Shop with groceries and went to the bank. But the bustle was missing, with wide-open sidewalks and plazas casting a surreal pall over the popular Near South Side neighborhood and tourist attraction. Chinatowns two-level retail courtyard, home to an eclectic mix of stores and restaurants, resembled a vacant movie set Tuesday. Diners were few and far between, with lunchtime traffic down as much as 50% at some restaurants since news of the coronavirus outbreak spread -- along with infections -- from a live meat market in Wuhan, China, late last year. People may be a little bit scared, but Chinatown is OK, said Tommy Wong, 50, manager of Lao Sze Chuan, a Chinatown staple. On Tuesday, two diners quietly ate lunch in the otherwise empty restaurant. A typical weekday lunch crowd would have 20 to 30 customers, Wong said. The novel respiratory virus, which causes pneumonia in some patients, is spread primarily through coughing and sneezing. There have been more than 43,000 diagnosed cases of coronavirus in China, with the death toll there surpassing 1,000 on Tuesday, according to the World Health Organization. Coronavirus has been diagnosed in 24 countries, with 13 confirmed cases but no deaths in the U.S.. There have been two confirmed cases in the Chicago area -- a husband who was infected by his wife after she returned from a visit to Wuhan. It was the first known case of person-to-person coronavirus transmission in the U.S., according to the CDC. The couple has since been released from a hospital in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates. The coronavirus, which health officials recently named COVID-19, has killed more people in mainland China than the 2003 SARS epidemic, fueling not only humanitarian concerns, but worries about a prolonged drag on the global economy. The cruise industry has been hit particularly hard, as some passengers have remained stranded on ships struck with the virus. Those worries are hitting home in Chinatown, a neighborhood rich in restaurants, small stores and other attractions that cater to both residents and visitors. Its been tough, said Pat Jan, manager of Judys Cosmetics, which has seen a steep decline in traffic among its mostly Asian clientele. Judys Cosmetics, which specializes in Japanese Shiseido products, was empty during the normally busy lunchtime Tuesday, where walk-in customers from nearby restaurants often stop in to browse. Jan said fear that the illness is in the Chinatown community is keeping customers away from her store, which she has managed for more than 20 years. Business is slow for all Chinatown businesses because people are afraid, and you cant blame them, she said. The falloff in business was not as bad during the SARS epidemic, Jan said, in part because customers saw China as more isolated when the short-lived outbreak occurred 17 years ago. Economists echo the point. China has grown from about 4% of the worlds GDP in 2003 to 17% today. Meanwhile, the country has become the worlds largest outbound tourism market, with more than 2.8 million Chinese tourists visiting the U.S. last year, up more than tenfold since the turn of the century, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. Staff may have outnumbered diners at Chinatowns Joy Yee restaurant Tuesday, with only a few tables occupied during lunchtime. Vincent Li, 43, manager of the restaurant for five years, said business has been cut in half since the coronavirus outbreak began. Joy Yee, which started in Evanston in 1994 and opened the Chinatown location two years later, has a small Chicago-area chain that includes restaurants in Naperville and Tinley Park. All of the locations have seen sales declines over coronavirus fears, Li said. Even a place that is not affected, people are still concerned about it, Li said. They are like, Chinese food, no lets go to an American or Italian place. While Li said he was not concerned about contracting coronavirus, he acknowledged that his employees were a little bit worried, although none donned masks at work. The few customers patronizing his restaurant during lunch Tuesday did not wear masks. Mabel Moy, owner of a travel agency and president of the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, said coronavirus fears are widespread in the U.S., with Chinatown businesses in other cities experiencing sharp downturns as well. While weekends are busier than weekdays, traffic in Chicagos Chinatown is down across the board, Moy said. Concerns about the virus are overblown, she said. The coronavirus does not exist within the community, Moy said. Everybody goes to work, everybody opens their business, everybody walks down the street like normal. The local people, we go out to eat every day, we go to lunch, we go dim sum, we go to the grocery store as usual. But the only thing we need is the visitors, and the suburban people and others to come. Not everyone is afraid to visit Chinatown. Katie Stack, 23, of Wicker Park, came there Tuesday with her friend, Ben Touhey, 23, of Naperville, for one reason -- the dim sum at MingHing Cuisine. Walking off the meal on their way to the Field Museum, the pair strolled the streets of Chinatown without masks or fear of contracting coronavirus. Im not worried about it, Stack said. I feel like theres probably going to be coronavirus anywhere, so for someone to just avoid Chinatown seems a little off to me. Touhey likewise dismissed fears of coronavirus with a fatalistic yet pragmatic approach. If its going to be somewhere and Im going to catch it, Im going to catch it, Touhey said. "Thats just how it is. I dont think theres much I could do to prevent it anyway. A Lakemba man has been charged with manslaughter and interfering with a corpse after allegedly hitting a 21-year-old pedestrian with a garbage truck in the early hours of Wednesday morning and then moving the body. Emergency services were called to Central Street in Sydneys CBD about 1.30am after the body was found. Police stopped a garbage truck on Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross, about 4.30am. The driver, 51-year-old Tuiniua Fine, was arrested and taken to Day Street police station for questioning. Netanyahu, 'Olmert paves way to a Palestinian terror state' After meeting with Abbas defined as 'peace partner' (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 12 - Premier Benyamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized his predecessor Ehud Olmert (leader of the now defunct centrist party Kadima) after he met yesterday in New York with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, and called him a ''partner of peace''. ''Our history has touched its lowest point'', commented Netanyahu on twitter, ''Olmert is preparing the ground for a terrorist Palestinian state'', added Defense Minister Naftali Bennett. The prime minister also claimed that today Olmert is not a private citizen but an ''advisor and intimate friend of Benny Gantz'', leader of the centrist Blue and White party. Referring to the latest developments in domestic politics three weeks ahead of political elections, Netanyahu said that ''Gantz would not succeed in forming a government without Ahmed Tibi'', a leading lawmaker of the United Arab List. ''Tibi will do everything indicated to him by Abu Mazen''. ''Gantz - concluded Netanyahu - has surrendered to the ultimatums of the United Arab List and can't be Israel's prime minister''. (ANSAmed). Japan Airline crew are seen at Los Angeles International Airport wearing masks to prevent coronavirus infection: Getty Health experts have warned that the new coronavirus, which has killed at more than 1,100 people and made ill a further 45,000 globally, is will likely take a foothold in the US. As officials said the number of new cases in China appeared to have stabilised, experts at the centres for disease control (CDC) said they were preparing for the disease to spread here. At some point, we are likely to see community spread in the US or in other countries, Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs national centre for immunisation and respiratory diseases, told reporters on a conference call. According to CNBC, she added: This will trigger a change in our response strategy. Health officials had confirmed 13 US cases of the virus, now named COVID-19, short for Corona Virus Disease. Ms Messonnier said the CDC was talking with manufacturers of medical supplies, such as masks and gloves, to ensure enough were available in case of an outbreak. At this time, some partners [in other countries] are reporting higher than usual demand for N95 respirators and facemasks, she said. Meanwhile, in Geneva, offices with the World Health Organisation said while the number of of new cases in China had stabilised, the apparent slowdown in the epidemic spread should be viewed with extreme caution. This outbreak could still go in any direction, said the WHOs director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. At the end of a two-day meeting on research and innovation into measures to tackle the new viral outbreak, Mr Tedros welcomed the energy and enthusiasm of scientists starting work. He added that a WHO-led advance team that travelled to China earlier this week had made good progress on the composition and scope of its work. The CDC said it had not yet been invited to send in experts to assist with the investigation of the coronavirus outbreak. An advance team of World Health Organisation medical experts arrived in China on Monday to help investigate the outbreak, and the United States has been waiting for approval to send its experts as part of the WHO team. Story continues Ms Messonnier said the CDC has monitored since mid-January more than 30,000 travellers coming to the US. from China. She said it had not detected any cases from returning travellers. At the same time, traveller are being ask to monitor their own symptoms and limit their outdoor activities, she added. Our goal is to be as least restrictive as possible, while ensuring the safety and health of all Americans, she said. We are continually reassessing our recommendations around quarantine and self-monitoring. Additional reporting by Reuters Read more Another tech company pulls out of major conference amid coronavirus Chinese Grand Prix officially postponed due to coronavirus outbreak Thai minister apologises for threatening to kick out western tourists Cruise passengers refused refunds after coronavirus changes The push for renewable energy is an attempt to create jobs in new industries while solving a major problem, she said. We know that not everything can run on air and the sun, but we do know that our environment is being harmed. We are about conservation, and were about innovation. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by eleven Independent candidates who could not file nomination papers from New Delhi constituency in the Assembly elections. Notably, the New Delhi seat was from where Chief Minister-designate and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal won yesterday. The bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde refused to entertain the plea citing that the polls have already been concluded and the petition is completely infructuous now. "We are not going to decide the infructuous petition. Dismissed," the bench ruled. Also, the Delhi High Court had also dismissed their plea stating that any interference by the judicature would tantamount to hampering the election process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi is set to repeat all its ministers in the Cabinet led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in its third term, senior party leaders indicated on Wednesday, adding that the CM, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and the five other ministers will take the oath of office and secrecy in a grand ceremony at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday. The other ministers likely to be sworn in by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on February 16 are Satyendar Jain, who may retain the urban development, PWD and power portfolios; Gopal Rai, who was the labour minister in the previous term; Kailash Gahlot, who was the environment, transport and law minister; Rajendra Pal Gautam, who was the social welfare minister, and Imran Hussain, who held the food and civil supplies portfolios. There was some speculation over the inclusion of prominent first-time MLAs Atishi and Raghav Chadha, who won from the Kalkaji and Rajendra Nagar seats respectively, as the AAP made history by winning 62 out of 70 seats on Tuesday in the assembly elections just five short of its staggering 2015 tally. But two senior party leaders said that the AAP wanted to signal continuity by not shuffling the Cabinet, particularly since the mandate was secured on the back of a successful stint in office, in which the governments work on schools, health care, and power and water subsidies, was appreciated by the electorate. In 2015, when the AAP won 67 seats, the swearing-in ceremony was held, also at the Ramlila Maidan, on February 14. Addressing a press briefing earlier on Wednesday, Sisodia said the party decided to shift the date of the oath-taking ceremony from February 14 to February 16 this time so that it could make the necessary arrangements. We invite everyone in Delhi to attend the swearing-in event. The party is also mobilising people and all candidates have been asked to invite residents form their respective constituencies. So, this will need some time, he said. The Ramlila Maidan was also at the heart of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011, when Kejriwal come into prominence as one of the prime movers of an agitation for an anti-corruption ombudsman. Kejriwal formed the AAP the following year, in September 2012. It was not immediately clear if the AAP would invite senior non-BJP leaders from other states as has become the norm in swearing-in ceremonies of late at a time when the Opposition is trying to display a united front against the ruling National Democratic Alliance NDA. A senior leader of the AAP, who asked not to be named, said that Kejriwal was likely to retain the water portfolio, which means he will continue to be the chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board. Sisodia, in all likelihood, is going to keep the education and finance departments. He will also continue to remain Delhis deputy CM. While conveying his decision to retain all the ministers, Kejriwal made it clear that people of Delhi voted for the work done by the AAP government in the past five years. So, in no way should the ongoing schemes and projects and those that are in the pipeline be affected by a change in the political executive, said a second party leader on condition of anonymity, after a meeting at the CMs residence between Kejriwal and all the newly elected MLAs. Only seven ministers, including the chief minister, can be appointed in Delhi as per stipulations that restrict the size of the Cabinet to 10% of the size of the assembly. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal went to meet L-G Anil Baijal, with whom the AAP government had several run-ins over the last three years over approval for issues such as CCTV cameras, and transfers and appointments of bureaucrats. Kejriwal met the L-G today and submitted the AAPs proposal to form the government in Delhi. Besides, he also held a meeting with all newly elected MLAs of the AAP at his residence in the morning. The MLAs unanimously elected him (Kejriwal) as the leader of legislative party, which is a formality necessary to stake claim to form a government, Sisodia said. Since Delhi is a Union Territory, and parts of its administration come under the Centre, the L-G will now write to the President through the ministry of home affairs apprising him that the AAP has won a majority in the elections, and that it is eligible to form the government in Delhi. The President will then issue a warrant appointing the AAPs legislative party leader as the chief minister. The oath-taking ceremony can be held once this procedure is complete, senior officials in the government said. Mumbai, Feb 12 : Actor Angad Bedi, who got injured while shooting for an action sequence for his upcoming web show "MumBhai" a while ago, recently underwent a knee surgery at a hospital in Mumbai. And before undergoing the surgery, his wife Neha Dhupia captured a video in which she can be seen cheering up Angad. Sharing the video on Instagram, Angad wrote: "That's me minutes before going in for a knee surgery... I think my nerves got me talking too much... captured by my wifey (also pls note she has no clue which knee is injured) but I still love her too much ... stay tuned for more ... will keep u posted with more videos if I'm not dying in pain ... #AngadsKneedy #Vlog1." In the video, Neha is also seen taking down orders for Angad's meals. "I have been starving for almost 8 hours," Angad said. To which Neha added: "This is the longest you've gone without a meal." Apart from "MumBhai", Angad will also be seen in "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Press Release 12 February 2020 In a year where we have been given one extra day, Four Seasons set out to discover what is most meaningful to travellers, looking at both the value of time off and how we choose to spend that time. Advertisements According to a new global study commissioned by Four Seasons, almost everyone surveyed, across geographies and age groups, valued more vacation time over more money if given the choice, reaffirming that time continues to be the greatest luxury of all. The study of adults from the US, UK, China and the *GCC revealed that more than half of Millennials (54%), Gen X (53%) and Boomers (56%) would opt for more vacation days over more compensation. Only Gen Z - many of whom have the luxury of more time yet seek financial independence - value a raise (62%) over more days off (38%). By contrast, the wish list for how we spend our time while travelling is much more universal, spanning all generations surveyed. Reflecting our ongoing quest for self-fulfillment, travellers of all ages seek meaningful and personally fulfilling experiences, both big and small, that leave them feeling more interested in different cultures, more engaged with the world, and more deeply connected to themselves and others. "As we continue to innovate the Four Seasons guest experience, our global market research provides insight into how travellers prioritise and value time, both generationally and across regions," says Christian Clerc, President, Global Operations, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. "Today's travellers are seeking purpose through authentic experiences, returning home with a different understanding of the world around them. As a luxury hospitality company, we are at the forefront of this shifting consumer desire, and it inspires how we curate the guest experience, ensuring travellers leave Four Seasons with a sense of deep connection to the community and the destination's culture." What Comfort Zone? Travel can often lead us to do things we never dreamed possible, casting aside our daily routines so that we can experience the world differently. When it comes to life post-vacation, the key to "coming home different" might be taking part in transformative experiences that push us and broaden our horizons. The survey found that younger travellers - Millennials and Gen Z - are bigger risk-takers compared to Boomers; however, nearly all (95%) respondents agreed that a vacation is when they would be most likely to step outside of their comfort zone. In fact, more than a third of travellers have done something while on holiday that they didn't know they could, like trying a new sport or learning a new skill to challenge themselves mentally and physically. This is particularly true for respondents in China, where two-thirds (66%) of Chinese adults surveyed say their travel style is better described as "getting out of their comfort zone" versus other markets (45%). Come Home Different Collectively, we see the world differently after having been on vacation, with travel offering us time to reflect, be our best selves and embrace new ways of thinking. Reinforcing the notion of a "post-vacation glow," more than half (51%) of global respondents noted feeling more motivated, more optimistic (46%) and more patient at work (42%) after a holiday. Close to 4 in 5 (79%) Americans agree that after a vacation, they are more productive in the workplace. In the UK, nearly 3 in 5 respondents who've "come home different" say they did so with greater positivity or optimism, more appreciation for their loved ones (45%), better understanding of others' motivations (39%) and greater ability to manage stress (38%). After taking time off, adults from the GCC are maintaining their vacation happiness for significantly longer than other respondents, at an average of 26 days versus 15 in other regions. UK residents maintain their vacation happiness for only 11 days on average, the shortest amount of all respondents. Broadening personal horizons can also produce lifelong benefits. Nearly 3 in 5 respondents reported adopting new interests as a result of their travels, such as listening to new music (43%), learning new languages (36%) and appreciating new forms of art (36%). Younger adults are especially eager to take a new path to self-fulfilment while on vacation, with three quarters of those under 40 picking up a new hobby or interest. The most popular travel takeaway? Universally, the most common new interest across age groups and regions is cooking or eating new foods (56%), reinforcing the importance of unique and authentic dining experiences, something that Four Seasons is known for the world over. #FSTakeYourTime With 24 extra hours in 2020, what will you do with more time? Four Seasons believes in real, tangible transformation through connection to the world and the people around us, no matter how much time one has. This leap year, take a pause with Take Your Time: Daily Discoveries, a collection of Four Seasons experiences that require no more than 1 day, 1 hour or even 1 minute. Whether a quiet moment of meditation, an hour spent walking historic grounds, or full-day guided expedition, curated experiences driving deeper connections are available at properties worldwide, brought to life by the people of Four Seasons. Read on for a sampling of #FSTakeYourTime offerings. 1 Minute Moscow, Russia: Chimes of Spasskaya Sip a glass of Champagne on the balcony of a Four Seasons Imperial Suite, listening as the chimes of Spasskaya Tower ring out through Red Square. Hoi An, Vietnam: A Goodnight Kiss The body resonates with healing vibrations as it's bathed in the evocative music of singing bowls during the spa's nightly ritual. Set intention in writing, and then release a wishing candle onto the lotus pond as we say goodnight to the earth. 1 Hour Mexico City, Mexico: Top of The Hill Wander the sunlit halls and take in city panoramas from the terraces of Castillo de Chapultepec, a massive 18th-century castle atop Chapultepec Hill, within walking distance of Four Seasons. Sydney, Australia: Scale New Heights Take it one step at a time. The 360-degree views after a challenging 1,332-step walk up the towering Sydney Harbour Bridge are well worth the climb. 1 Day Athenian Riviera, Greece: Slow Down on the Sea Cruise the Aegean aboard a traditional kaiki boat and embrace a slower pace of life. Go fishing, see ancient sites, swim in the Saronic Gulf and savour local flavours during a romantic sunset dinner aboard a private vessel. Langkawi, Malaysia: Natural History Glide through a maze of 550 million-year-old cliffs and tangled mangroves and spot Langkawi's Flying Five on the Mangrove and Eagles Safari with Four Seasons, followed by a trip to the Geopark Discovery Centre and a family barbecue on a private villa patio. *GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Michael Bennet, the Colorado senator and former public school superintendent, is ending his campaign for the presidency, he said. Bennet's exit comes on the night of the New Hampshire primary, after he said he needed to finish in the top three or four to continue. "I've got to do well here," Bennet said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Monday. "I bet it all on New Hampshire." Bennet's final push through New Hampshire included 50 town halls in the last 10 weeks leading up to the primary, a tour in which he touted himself, a moderate Democrat, as someone who could defeat President Donald Trump. Bennet, 55, entered the race last May, a decision he made after successfully undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, he touted his track record of working with Republicans and winning elections in Colorado, a "purple state." Unlike some of his more liberal opponents, Bennet opposed Medicare-for-all, instead supporting keeping private insurance while allowing people to buy into a public option. He called for doing away with the electoral college but did not support adding justices to the Supreme Court. In a crowded primary field, Bennet found it difficult to break through, though he outlasted several other candidates. At one point, he tried to use his steadiness as an advantage, suggesting he would be boring compared to Trump - and that that was a good thing. "If you elect me president, I promise you won't have to think about me for 2 weeks at a time," Bennet tweeted last August, a message he later converted into a campaign ad. "... So you can go raise your kids and live your lives." Toward the end of his campaign, Bennet focused most of his time and resources on New Hampshire while his opponents were criss-crossing Iowa. For much of January, however, Bennet found himself stuck in Washington for Senate impeachment proceedings, unable to travel even to the Granite State to campaign. He hung on through the Iowa caucuses, where he received zero percent of the state delegate equivalents and no national delegates. Bennet was the second candidate to drop out Tuesday, after Andrew Yang earlier in the night announced the end of his presidential bid. Nine candidates remain in the hunt for the Democratic presidential nomination. THE Regional Trial Court of Bislig City has ordered the arrest of Kapa-Community Ministry Internationals (Kapa) founder, key officers and promoters for the investment fraud charges initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Bislig City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 on February 11, 2020 issued Warrants of Arrest against Kapa founder and president Joel Apolinario, trustee Margie Danao and corporate Secretary Reyna Apolinario, along with promoters Marisol Diaz, Adelfa Fernandico, Moises Mopia and Reniones Catubigan. The Warrants of Arrest were issued after prosecutors at the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against Kapa for violations of Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code (SRC). In separate information, the DOJ has accused Kapa of willfully, unlawfully and criminally engaging in the selling or offering for sale or distribution of securities in the Philippines without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the SEC. Accordingly, the DOJ charged Kapa, along with Apolinario and Danao, of violating Sections 8(8.1), 26.1 and 28 of the SRC. It also indicted Diaz, Fernandico, Mopia and Catubigan for violation of Section 26.1 of the SRC for promoting the investment scam. The DOJ further charged Diaz before the Antipolo Regional Trial Court for violation of Section 28. It filed similar Informations against Mopia and Fernandico with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 93. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court earlier issued a Warrant of Arrest against Fernandico and Mopia on December 2, 2019. The criminal proceedings stemmed from the complaint filed by the SEC on June 18, 2019 against Kapa for the unauthorized sale or offering for sale or distribution of securities to the general public. In a resolution issued on September 25, 2019, the DOJ found probable cause to bring charges against Kapa, affirming the findings of the SEC. The commission found Kapa to have enticed the public to invest at least P10,000 in exchange for a 30 percent monthly return for life, without having to do anything other than invest and wait for the payout. Story continues The SEC also found Kapa to have employed a Ponzi scheme, an investment program that offers impossibly high returns and pays investors using the money contributed by later investors. Under Section 8 (8.1) of the SRC, securities shall not be sold or offered for sale or distribution within the Philippines without a registration statement duly filed and approved by the SEC. Section 26.1 further provides that it shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of any securities to employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud. Section 28 adds that no person shall engage in the business of buying or selling securities in the Philippines as a broker or dealer, or act as a salesman, or an associated person of any broker or dealer unless registered with the SEC. The SEC initially issued an advisory against Kapa in March 2017. It would later issue a Cease and Desist Order on February 14, 2019 and an Order of revocation of the Kapas Certificate of Incorporation on April 3, 2019. In the interest of affected investors, the commission, through the Anti-Money Laundering Council, likewise obtained a Freeze Order from the Court of Appeals on June 4, 2019 to preserve assets linked to Kapa. The SEC also continued to remind the general public to exercise more caution and discernment as certain supporters and promoters of Kapa peddled false information about the groups supposed revival. It is about time that the people behind KAPA answer the criminal charges filed against them, SEC Chairperson Emilio Aquino said. May this serve as a reiteration of the Commissions resolve to stamp out investment scams and shield the investing public from fraud and other abuses in the corporate sector. Affected Kapa investors may file complaints at the Securities and Exchange Commission Cebu Extension Office on V. Rama Avenue, Guadalupe, Cebu City. (PR) This is the latest study from a Keck School of Medicine of USC research team to show e-cigarette users develop cancer-related molecular changes similar to smokers Biologically important changes in DNA seen in smokers are also being found in people who vape, according to a new study published in the journal Epigenetics. A team of scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have found people who vape exhibit similar chemical modifications in their overall genome and in parts of their DNA as people who smoke cigarettes. These specific chemical alterations, also known as epigenetic changes, can cause genes to malfunction -- and are commonly found in nearly all types of human cancer as well as other serious diseases. The findings add to a growing list of health concerns associated with vaping, which is perceived by many as a safer alternative to smoking. E-cigarette use has soared among youth, with more than 25 percent of high school students now using the products, according to the CDC. The new study, led by Ahmad Besaratinia, PhD, associate professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, examined a group of people matched for age, gender and race, divided equally into three categories: vapers only, smokers only and a control group of people who neither vaped nor smoked. Blood was drawn from each of the participants and tested for changes in levels of two specific chemical tags attached to DNA that are known to impact gene activity and/or function. These chemical tags include: (1) methyl groups in a specific DNA sequence, named Long Interspersed Nucleotide Element 1 (LINE-1); and (2) hydroxymethyl groups in the genome overall. Changes in the levels of these chemical tags, which are important for genomic stability and regulation of gene expression, occur in various stages of development, as well as in diseases such as cancer. Of the 45 study participants, vapers and smokers both showed significant reduction in the levels of both chemical tags compared to the control group. This is the first study to show that vapers, like smokers, have these biologically important changes detectable in their blood cells. "That doesn't mean that these people are going to develop cancer," said Besaratinia. "But what we are seeing is that the same changes in chemical tags detectable in tumors from cancer patients are also found in people who vape or smoke, presumably due to exposure to cancer-causing chemicals present in cigarette smoke and, generally at much lower levels, in electronic cigarettes' vapor." This is the newest study Besaratinia's team has done on vapers and smokers. Their earlier study published last year (IJMS, 2019) examined changes in gene expression in epithelial cells taken from the mouths of vapers and smokers compared to a control group. In that study, both vapers and smokers showed abnormal gene expression in a large number of genes linked to cancer. "Our new study adds an important piece to that puzzle by demonstrating that epigenetic mechanisms, specifically changes in chemical tags attached to the DNA, may contribute to the abnormal expression of genes in vapers and smokers alike," said Besaratinia. He and his team plan to continue their research. The next step is to look at the whole genome and identify all the genes targeted by these two chemical changes in vapers versus smokers. "Considering the established role many genes play in human diseases, this investigation should provide invaluable information, which may have immediate public health and policy implications, said Besaratinia. "The epidemic of teen vaping and the recent outbreak of vaping-related severe lung injury and deaths in the U.S. underscore the importance of generating scientific evidence on which future regulations for electronic cigarette manufacturing, marketing, and distribution can be based." ### In addition to Besaratinia, the study's other authors are Andrew W. Caliri, Amanda Caceres, and Stella Tommasi, all of Keck School of Medicine of USC. This work was supported by grants from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health (1R01DE026043 to AB) and the University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (26IR-0015 and 28IR-0058 to AB and 26IP-0051 to ST). by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 12, 2020 Siding against Netflix, a federal judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss claims that the interactive video show Black Mirror: Bandersnatch infringed the trademark of Chooseco -- publisher of the Choose Your Own Adventure book series. Netflix's interactive show featured a character who referred to a fictional book, Bandersnatch, which he described as a Choose Your Own Adventure book. Books in that children's series -- popular in the 1980s and 1990s -- allow readers to decide the outcome of the story. Chooseco alleged in a lawsuit brought last year that Netflix used the wording choose your own adventure in order to benefit from nostalgia for the series, and that the phrase gives viewers the impression that the streaming video show is affiliated with the books. advertisement advertisement Chooseco also alleged that Netflix attempted to license the phrase, but wasn't able to agree on terms. Netflix subsequently began using the expression without a license. Netflix countered that its program, including the use of the words choose your own adventure, is protected by free speech principles, and asked U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions III in Vermont to dismiss the case at an early stage. Among other arguments, the streaming video company said the phrase merely describes the show's interactive format. Sessions rejected Netflix's request -- at least for now. He said he needs more evidence to evaluate Netflix's argument that its use of the phrase was protected by free speech concepts. The court lacks the facts necessary to determine whether consumers perceive the phrase in a descriptive sense or whether they simply associate it with Choosecos brand, Sessions wrote in a 30-ruling that allows Chooseco to proceed with its claims. Chooseco has pleaded sufficient factual allegations indicating that it is at least plausible Netflix used Choose Your Own Adventure ... in bad faith, he wrote, adding that Netflix's unsuccessful attempt to license the phrase could support the argument that it aimed to benefit from the the good will of Choosecos brand. New Delhi, Feb 12 : A day after the Delhi poll results were announced, the Congress is busy in finding the reason for the debacle as two prominent leaders have owned up the defeat and have tendered their resignation. Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily said that "Delhi results are final wake up call for the party". Speaking to IANS on phone from Bengaluru, Moily said, "Congress has always the capacity to bounce back and it will bounce back, time will change and party will form government in 2024." "We have to build the party for future and on the agenda which could focus in the future and its necessary that youth should be involved in the process. Lots of dynamism need to be injected in the party," said Moily, adding that every Congressman should work for the party. Our difficulty is that we always pursue power and not build organisation. The former chief minister said that organisation should be built on firm ground as it will take the party forward in the country and the states. "We should also keep the historical facts in mind that BJP had just 2 seats in 1984, but they have grown gradually and if we work we can also build the party. The Congress ruled Delhi for 15 years, so its wrong to say it has been wiped out," he added. Similar sentiments were expressed by some of the Delhi leaders who said that it is time to build the party organisation first and then think of fighting elections. The party in Delhi, which got 22 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha polls held last year, ended up with less than 5 per cent vote share in the Delhi assembly polls. Congress leaders have blamed excessive polarization among voters in which the party could not become a choice of any side. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A repeat felon who was accused of beating his landlord with a metal pipe last year has been convicted of misdemeanor assault. But Anthony Gambino, 38, had some good news, too: The jury acquitted him of more serious felony charges of second-degree assault and third-degree criminal weapon possession. Gambino was busted on May 28, two days after police said he attacked the victim. The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. on May 26 on the 200 block of St. Marks Place in St. George, said a criminal complaint. Prosecutors said Gambino smashed the victim multiple times with a pipe, resulting in fractures of the jaw and face. The victim was hospitalized for two days due to his injuries, said prosecutors. Gambino was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of assault and criminal weapon possession. Defense lawyer John M. Murphy III said the evidence at trial in state Supreme Court, St. George, ultimately demonstrated there was no pipe. Were very happy with the jurys findings, said Murphy in a brief phone conversation on Wednesday. They certainly took the time and examined all of the facts of the case and came to the correct conclusion. Gambino was sentenced after the verdict Tuesday to 364 days in jail. A five-year order of protection was issued in the victims favor. The sentence will run concurrently to a prison term of two to four years, which Gambino is presently serving. That term consists of concurrent sentences for convictions of third-degree grand larceny in Manhattan and attempted second-degree assault on Staten Island. In the latter case, Gambino was accused of hitting his father on the forearms and legs with a wooden cane during an argument in their Princes Bay home on Oct 19, 2017. Gambino also punched his father in the face, said a criminal complaint. Last April, Gambino pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted second-degree assault to resolve the case. The defendant admitted the victim was at least 65 years old while he is more than 10 years younger. Gambino was 36 when the episode occurred; his dad was 66, the complaint said. Gambino has previously spent time behind bars. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary. He was sentenced in July of that year to four years in prison, according to statements previously made in court. A Hunterdon County veteran was awarded with Frances most prestigious distinction for military or civil service by the French Consulate on Tuesday morning. Raritan Township resident John Paller, who served as an airman in the 491st Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force Division throughout World War II, was presented with the Legion of Honor by Consul General for the Consulate General of France in New York City Anne-Claire Legendre in a ceremony held at the Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse. Legendre thanked Paller, the last surviving member of his squadron, for making the ultimate sacrifice to secure the liberty of the people of France. It is thanks to two million Americans who served in Europe such as you, and to the hundreds of thousands of men who didnt make it back from the battlefield, that we live freely today, Legendre said. The French government and the French nation will never forget your service. French Consulate General Anne-Claire Legendre addresses the audience.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com In accepting the honor, Paller expressed his gratitude for the event. I never expected this many people this morning. I really am honored to have you all here," Paller said. He continued to read off the names of his fellow World War II crew members, stating that "without them, I wouldnt be here. John Paller addresses the audience.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Officials in attendance of the ceremony included Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16); Chief of Staff for Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) Roseann Brown; Hunterdon County Freeholder Deputy Director Susan Soloway; Hunterdon County Freeholder John E. Lanza; Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi; Hunterdon County Sheriff Fred Brown; Hunterdon County Surrogate Susan Hoffman; Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael Williams; Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor David Culley; Raritan Township Mayor Jeff Kuhl; Raritan Township Committee Member Scott MacDade; and Frenchtown Mayor Brad Myhre. A number of county veterans also attended the ceremony, as did Pallers children and granddaughter. A number of county veterans were in attendance of the ceremony.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Paller's family was in attendance of the ceremony.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The event was organized by the Hunterdon County administrative services office, the staff of whom was approached by Hunterdon County Veterans Services Officer Richard Booth last week after Paller revealed to him that he would be receiving the honor. At first I didnt understand what he was talking about. And I was like, Okay, let me see if I could help you out," Booth said. And then he explained it a little more, and he said it was from the French government ... and he said, Would you mind if we did it in your office? "And I said, No sir; weve got a better place. In addition to receiving the Legion of Honor, Paller was also presented with a joint legislative resolution by Zwicker on behalf of himself, Bateman, and Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-16). He speaks with such eloquence and such a quiet sense of pride over the job that he did," Zwicker said. "Theres not a sense of bragging; theres just a sense of a job well done. Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16) presents John Paller with a joint legislative resolution issued on behalf of himself, Senator Kip Bateman (R-16), and Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-16).Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Paller also received proclamations from both the Board of Freeholders and the Raritan Township Committee, both of which were issued to recognize Paller as a recipient of the Legion of Honor. We greatly appreciate the decision by the government of France to recognize a member of our nations greatest generation, Mr. John Paller, who has heroically served us both in protecting the freedom of our country and in the restoration of freedom of France during World War II, Soloway, liaison for the Hunterdon County Veterans Affairs Office, said. Deputy Director for the Board of Freeholders Sue Soloway and Freeholder John E. Lanza present a proclamation to John Paller.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com We appreciate everything youve done in World War II for us, to keep our freedoms, and Ill say that at time you didnt have the technology and things to fly and do what you do today," Raritan Township Mayor Jeff Kuhl said. Raritan Twp. Mayor Jeff Kuhl and Committee Member Scott MacDade present a proclamation to John Paller.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Officials also expressed their gratitude to the French Consulate during Tuesdays ceremony. Soloway gifted Legendre with a pound of grass-fed cheese produced by Milford-based Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse that received a silver medal in Lyons 2018 Farm Cheese Awards. You may not be aware that Hunterdon County is an agricultural county. We have over 100,000 farmland acres here in our county, and 1,600 farms, many of which continue to be dairy farms," Soloway said. "I think its quite an achievement that cheese produced in the United States right here in Hunterdon County (was) recognized in France. Deputy Director for the Board of Freeholders Sue Soloway addresses the audience.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Frenchtown Mayor Brad Myhre presented Legendre with a photo of the boroughs Easel of Love exhibit, created by the Frenchtown Business & Professional Association following the 2016 terrorist attack in Nice that resulted in the deaths of 86 people. During the boroughs Bastille Day of that year, Myhre said that residents and visitors of the area were encouraged to write messages of love and support to the people of Nice, France." We also have the original exhibit which is here with us today, but its about 15 feet high and 10 feet long, so we figured that it might not be the best for transportation," Myhre quipped. I hope you will be able to proudly display this photo as a symbol of our two countries ongoing friendship and solidarity in the face of terror," he added. Frenchtown Mayor Brad Myhre gifts French Consulate General Anne-Claire Legendre with a photo of Frenchtown's Easel of Love.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Legion of Honor was founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, and is the highest distinction of military or civil service that can be conferred in France. Other American citizens who have received the honor include Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Enlisting at the age of 19, Paller bombed a Nazis headquarters and flew a total of 35 combat missions in France and Germany. While serving in the war, Paller rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and was awarded with over a dozen medals for the great valor and bravery he demonstrated as a soldier, according to Legendre. In returning to the United States, Paller served as a flight instructor in the Air Force for 22 continuous years. Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us.nj.com/tips Police responding to reports of a single-car crash early Saturday morning in Virginia arrived to find the bodies of a young D.C.-area couple. Both victims had been shot once in the head. PEOPLE confirms with Virginia State Police that Ayanna Maertens Griffin, 18, and her 21-year-old boyfriend, Ntombo Joel Bianda, were executed along a rural stretch of Route 58 in Halifax County, about 10 miles away from the North Carolina border. Their bodies were found close to Biandas silver Nissan Maxima, which had struck the highways median. Police described the area in a press release as fairly isolated and not heavily traveled in the overnight hours. Investigators have not revealed a possible motive for the killings, but local authorities have announced they are looking into the possibility that another vehicle may have been involved in the tragedy. We are exploring multiple possibilities to include there being a second vehicle involved, which is why it is so important for anyone who may have seen or heard something suspicious early Saturday morning along Philpott Road to reach out to state police, Capt. David O. Cooper II, Commander of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations Appomattox Field Office, said, WDBJ7 reports. WSLS spoke to Maertens Griffins father, George Maertens Aramayo, who said he was supposed to get married this week. Now, hes planning his daughters funeral, and has created a GoFundMe page to help fund it. I definitely now understand the words of a parents true nightmare, Aramayo said. Biandos family has also set up a GoFundMe for his funeral service, noting that he died just 16 days after his birthday and that he was so caring and would gladly lay his life down for his family. Ayannas mother, Melissa Griffin, also spoke to WSLS. Even through the worst of days, she would light up, you know, anyones face if they were having a rough day, Griffin said. Beautiful personality. Beautiful human. Everyone that encountered her loved her. Story continues She said she hopes police will find the couples killer quickly. 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. I hope that whoever is responsible for this is caught and, you know, punished to the fullest extent, she said. I dont think its fair that whoever did this is still breathing while my daughter isnt. Anyone with information pertinent to this case is urged to call Virginia State Police at (434) 352-7128. Tips can also be texted to #77 or emailed to questions@vsp.virginia.gov. The World Health Organisation warned Tuesday that the opportunity to limit the international spread of the coronavirus outbreak is fading, and that if the disease isn't contained it could wreak global havoc. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said that the virus "is more powerful in bringing serious consequences than any terrorist attack [can accomplish]". "It's not just the health issue, it's a matter of economic, political and social upheavals." "I remind and will continue to remind the world to take [the outbreak] really seriously. We are asking countries to be as aggressive as possible," said Tedros. "Time is of the essence." During the briefing on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO officially dubbed the virus Covid-19 " for coronavirus disease of 2019 " in an effort to create a common title that did not refer to a geographic location or a specific animal. "Having a name prevents other names that could be used for stigmatisation," Tedros said. The WHO's warnings came after the coronavirus claimed its highest number of lives within a 24-hour period, with China reporting 108 deaths on Monday. Since the disease emerged in late December, more than 42,000 confirmed cases and over 1,000 deaths have been reported in China. Outside China, there have been 476 confirmed cases and two deaths. The deadly virus, which originated in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, has led numerous countries to close borders and suspend travel with China in fears of the infection. The Trump administration announced on January 31 a ban on any non-US citizen who had recently visited China from entering the US. Major airlines around the world have suspended routes to China, Hong Kong and Macau. Last week, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line said they would temporarily bar any passengers holding passports from China, Hong Kong and Macau from boarding their cruise ships regardless of when they had last been in China. Story continues Tedros also stressed that the WHO, the United Nations' health agency, was continuing with its containment strategy toward the virus. He praised China's government for locking down Wuhan, a city of 11 million that is a transit hub in central China, to reduce migration from there to other parts of the country and the world. In doing so, he said, Beijing had created a "window of opportunity" for the world to limit the spread of the outbreak. But, Tedros urged, "let's be serious about using the window" because "I don't think the window will stay long". He did not offer an estimate of what he imagined the time frame to be. Tedros's cries of alarm come after the WHO first declined to declare Covid-19 a global public health emergency in mid-January, only to reverse itself on January 30, citing the contagion's potential to spread to countries not prepared to deal with it. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the WHO is hosting a forum of 400 scientists globally, both in person and online, to discuss how to work better together to combat the disease. The latest development is that the first vaccine could be ready in 18 months, Tedros said. Michael Ryan, the WHO's head of emergency programmes, said on Tuesday that Covid-19 had the potential to spread faster than either the Ebola or Sars viruses. Earlier this week, Covid-19 exceeded the Sars outbreak of 2002-03 in terms of deaths attributed to it. "We have the unknowns about the ways of transmission and about the mild cases," Ryan said. The latest report by the US Centres of Disease Control and Prevention said that still "much is unknown about how [the virus] spreads". Transmission methods have been shown to include human-to-human contact. The incubation period is believed to be up to 14 days. In recent days, epidemiologists have said that the contagion may also spread through "aerosol transmission" " when tiny particles or droplets of the virus suspended in the air are inhaled. Others indicated that transmissions are possible from patients who show mild or no symptoms. WHO officials said that the agency had also activated a UN crisis management team to better assess and mitigate the outbreak's economic implications. In the long term, the WHO needs to focus on prevention, the officials said. Last week, the agency issued a call for US$675 million to support preparedness and response operations around the world from February through April 2020. "The world is getting smaller and smaller. Whatever happens in the weakest link [of the world's health care system] will affect all of us," said Tedros. "If the world doesn't want to wake up to fight this as our No 1 enemy, I don't think we will learn the lesson," he added. "Time is ticking." 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. As the 2019-nCoV coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the oil markets, dropping oil prices more vehemently and abruptly than the 2003 SARS outbreak did, the current plight of Libya has been somewhat underreported. Once perceived as the wildcard of OPEC+ production cuts, Libyan oil output has plummeted sixfold to less than 0.2mbpd in less than two weeks as the production and export closure imposed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar continues to strangle Libyas capacities. With Libyas export terminals placed into force majeure regime, storage capacities at ports like Es Sider or Ras Lanuf (where aggregate storage possibilities do not exceed 2MMbbls) filled up very soon, compelling oil producers to halt production as well, unable to store it anywhere. Can it get any worse than now? The narrative of the ongoing Libyan force majeure situation is fairly straightforward. As the fate of Libya suddenly turned into one of the main subjects of Eurasian politics, with separate Putin-Erdogan summits and two quite representative international summits taking place to settle the issue, Field Marshal Haftar decided to take things into his hands and elicit a beneficial outcome by sheer force. When the Russian-Turkish document on an immediate ceasefire starting immediately from mid-January was finally carved out, with Fayez Serraj (the head of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord) agreeing to it, Haftar plainly rejected it and flew back to Libya. Suspicious of the subsequent Berlin Conferences outcome, he declared force majeure on all major ports in Libya. Only the Bouri and Farwah terminals remain operational as of now, both several dozen miles out in the sea. Graph 1. Libyan Oil Production since the naval blockade was launched on January 17, 2020 (in million barrels per day). Source: Libyan NOC. With the Libyan NOC being unable to take sides in the long-standing conflict, as it has sought to present itself as an entity that serves the interests of the Libyan people regardless of the political leader, its CEO at least warned of the manifold adverse consequences such a force majeure will bring about. Mustafa Sanalla compared the blockade to setting ones own house on fire, claiming that it would deprive Libya of oil and gas revenues, bring forth the collapse Libyan dinar, push all foreign companies out of the country and damage infrastructure to such an extent that it might take months if not years to restore it. To back it up, the NOC has started to publish a bulletin on the losses it had reluctantly incurred. Related: Chevron Ramps Up Oil Production In Venezuela If we are to take the production levels witnessed before January 17, the cumulative loss of Libyan oil production has surpassed 20 MMbbls by February 10, leading to financial losses upward of $1.3 billion. Simultaneously, the NOC was forced to shut the 120kbpd Zawiya Refinery on February 10, effectively leaving the eastern part of the country without fuel supply (the Haftar-controlled territories can still avail themselves of fuel supplied from the Ras Lanuf Refinery). But the blockade does not affect only territories under GNA control with all onshore ports in force majeure and production curbed, power plants in and around Benghazi had to close down because their natural gas supply was cut. Even from if one is to look at the larger picture, the timing of the blockade could not have been worse for the Libyan NOC after 2015-2017 barely saw an onshore exploratory well spudded, drilling activity has just started to pick up gradually, to the extent of 9 exploratory wells drilled in the second half of 2019 alone (there were none in H1 2019). Interestingly, all the exploratory wells were located within Haftar-controlled territory, none in the countrys west if we disregard the offshore Mellitah field. Moreover, it might be a bit far-fetched to perceive other oil-producing nations in the Mediterranean as capitalizing on the Libyan turmoil, yet the truth is that the disruption has regionally alleviated the consequences of the coronavirus-induced market panic by boosting light sweet crude prices. Related: Oil Traders Could Lose Big On Coronavirus Panic Rival Saharan Blend rose to a 9-year high with its February official selling price set at a 2.46 per barrel premium over Dated Brent and current trades heard around a 2.9 premium to Brent, rising almost 1 USD per barrel in the past 3 weeks. The impact has been even more palpable with Azeri Light/BTC which has risen by almost 1.5 USD per barrel to a 6.5-6.9 USD per barrel premium against Dated Brent. Even medium sour Urals trading in the Mediterranean rose by 0.5 USD per barrel compared to January 17. Although Libya still did not fall to the lowest possible level if only the offshore fields and condensate supplies were to be supplied, its exports would fall to a mere 70kbpd any further decrease is unlikely to alter the Mediterranean light sweet market as both its offshore grades, Bouri and Al-Jurf, are heavy crudes with a relatively high Sulphur content. The only resolution to the Libyan crisis will be political, as can be ascertained by Field Marshal Haftars disdain for the pleas of the Libyan NOC. However, there is no Libyan summit scheduled, there are no active preparations for a multi-party conference or anything of that sort. Even the UN Security Council is lagging behind in exerting pressure onto Libyan warring entities and can only express its (purely verbal) deep concern for the ever-increasing number of mercenaries fighting in Libya. Although much of the Berlin Libya Summit boiled down to the UN finally becoming the only negotiations platform on a national conciliation plan, 3 weeks later UN Secretary General Guterres talks again of the African Union taking a greater role in mediating between the sides. Looks like there might only be a military end to see the blockade lifted once and for all. By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Medicines for All Institute has entered into a partnership with a manufacturer in South Africa to commercialize advances made by the institute to improve access to lifesaving medications for HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The institute, which has successfully developed cost-saving formulas for key anti-HIV drugs, is based at Virginia Commonwealth University and its College of Engineering in Richmond, Virginia. Officials at VCU and Chemical Process Technologies Pharma Ltd. recently signed a three-year agreement outlining their collaboration. The South African company will validate and scale up processes developed by Medicines for All and serve as a test site for increased production. The institute will work with the company to develop new processes and technologies. "We see this as a beneficial collaboration for both parties," said Perrer Tosso, Ph.D., global innovation manager for Medicines for All. The institute seeks to have its processes implemented in low-income countries, especially in Africa. CPT Pharma does not have to start from scratch to develop new processes. "The manufacturer has the opportunity to adopt our processes and carry them through commercialization," he said. Both partners hope the cooperation will lead to lower drug costs in the local market -- and ultimately, the global market. CPT Pharma, based in Waltloo, Pretoria, South Africa, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chemical Process Technologies, which has been manufacturing animal health products and animal health active pharmaceutical ingredients since 2001. In 2014, CPT began expanding its business into human health. With support from South African government agencies, it opened a four-story pilot plant in Pretoria in 2017 to manufacture generic active pharmaceutical ingredients. Hannes Malan, Ph.D., managing director of CPT Pharma, said he was intrigued when he heard about the institute's groundbreaking work on the anti-HIV medication nevirapine. South Africa is home to the world's largest AIDS epidemic and relies on medications that are imported. "Medicines for All's vision of improving access to lifesaving medications by developing and commercializing technology could help make the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in Africa a reality," Malan said. Malan's company focuses on chemical process development and technology commercialization. "We understand the challenges of taking a reaction," and deploying the final major step to scale it up, he said. "We're extremely excited about the opportunity." During the technology transfer process, VCU will host South African doctoral students and researchers in Richmond and send its researchers to South Africa. CPT Pharma's pilot plant was developed with funding from the state-owned Industrial Development Corp., which seeks to spur sustainable economic growth in South Africa and Africa. "It is anticipated that commercializing processes developed by [Medicines for All] in South Africa will improve the security of the supply of priority drugs, and create the institutional capacity to develop a local [active pharmaceutical ingredients] manufacturing industry," said Nelis Geyer, industry development champion for chemical products and pharmaceuticals at Industrial Development Corp. One goal of the institute is to reduce global dependence on a few manufacturers while empowering other countries to be self-sufficient in providing high-quality health care to their own citizens. The institute is also working with the Ivory Coast government to train researchers and develop high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities in the West African country. ### About VCU and VCU Health Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 217 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Thirty-eight of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU's 11 schools and three colleges. The VCU Health brand represents the VCU health sciences academic programs, the VCU Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Health System, which comprises VCU Medical Center (the only academic medical center in the region), Community Memorial Hospital, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, MCV Physicians and Virginia Premier Health Plan. For more, please visit http://www.vcu.edu and vcuhealth.org. About Medicines for All The Medicines for All Institute operates under the auspices of the Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering. The institute's mission is to improve access to affordable, highquality medicines. This is done by lowering the cost of medications, both in market and in development, as well as enhancing the security of supply chains for these essential medications. Medicines for All accomplishes its mission by reducing the cost of active pharmaceutical ingredients -- a major cost driver in treating infectious diseases in the developing world. Visit medicines4all.vcu.edu. Chinatown's Shark Fin House, one of Melbournes most loved restaurants, has been forced to close after customer numbers collapsed over coronavirus fears. Co-owner Gabriel Chan said people had been scared to come to the venue, a favoured lunch spot for politicians, businesspeople and celebrities for over 30 years. Mr Chan wept when describing how he was forced to close the doors on Sunday on the restaurant that he co-founded in 1989. He said its customer numbers had dropped by 80 per cent and more than 40 staff and 10 casuals have been laid off. Healthcare was a key issue in the Delhi assembly elections, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) using its mohalla clinics and upcoming hospitals as poll pitch and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) complaining about non-implementation of its flagship national health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat. AAP chief ministerial candidate Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday evening, The people of Delhi have given birth to a new kind of politics in the country; it is called the politics of work. They have said the votes would go to the person who gets schools made, who gets mohalla clinics made. After coming to power in 2015, the AAP government had promised to set up 1,000 mohalla clinics - one for each square kilometre of the inhabited area in Delhi - to provide free consultation, medicines, and 212 tests. The AAP government inaugurated 450 mohalla clinics till January this year, with the tussle with the Lieutenant Governor and problems in acquiring land delayed the project. Healthcare has to follow a pyramid structure, with primary care at the bottom. The pyramid in India is inverted, with all the focus on tertiary care, less on secondary and almost no focus on primary care, Delhis health minister Satyendar Jain had told HT before the polls. The clinics have been hailed as a step in the right direction towards achieving the sustainable development goal of universal health coverage by health experts, including former United Nations Secretaries-General Ban Ki-Moon and Kofi Annan. The AAP governments mohalla clinics have brought healthcare right inside the slums. It has strengthened primary healthcare. It is a low cost and extremely effective. It has also paid a huge political dividend for the party, said former health secretary K Sujatha Rao. Former director of AIIMS in New Delhi, Dr MC Mishra, said that there is a need to invest in primary healthcare, no matter which party does it. The mohalla clinics are a good concept, but it has to be implemented properly on ground. There have been several news reports of deficiencies. One of the key components of the Ayushman Bharat are the wellness centres as well. There is a need to focus on primary level preventive healthcare, it is the only way to save on future health problems, he said. For tertiary care service, the AAP government started the Delhi Arogya Kosh scheme that reimburses private healthcare for providing its patients over 1,200 medical and surgical procedures and expensive radiological tests that are either not offered in Delhi government hospital or the waiting period is over one month. The treatment of accident, fire and acid attack victims is covered under Farishtey scheme. Work is also ongoing for building or revamping 26 hospitals to add 15,154 to the existing 11,353. The BJP, however, has been targeting the government for not implementing the central Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme. What is the fault of the poor Delhiites that they are not getting the benefit of free treatment of up to R 5 lakh? If a Delhi resident who is a beneficiary of the scheme who goes to Gwalior, Bhopal, Surat, Nagpur, Hyderabad, or Chennai for some work and falls ill suddenly there. Then, will these mohalla clinics go there? But, under Ayushman Bharat scheme the person would have received free treatment in the hospitals there, said Modi in a rally in Delhi. The government countered saying that the scheme would not benefit a majority of Delhiites and does not cover OPD services, which the AAP government provides free to everyone under their healthcare schemes. If we implement Ayushman Bharat in Delhi, only about two per cent of the 2 crore people will get covered. What would we do with the rest of the 98 per cent? The scheme does not even cover OPD services. If a person is prescribed an MRI, CT scan or lab test in OPD, it will not get covered. This means you have to wait for admission. Why? If you have diabetes or hypertension, treat that. Why do you need to wait till you get a heart attack? Jain had told HT. The scheme in Delhi is universal and also has no cap. I think it is working well. Why then would the government want to implement the central scheme and share credit with the other government? It is not possible to confine treatment only to public hospitals as the demand is huge and the private sector is necessary to ensure equitable access. The government also has to invest in its own hospitals so that they become quality markers, said Rao. U.S. Army convoys could be made safer for soldiers by implementing autonomous vehicle technology to reduce the number of service members needed to operate the vehicles, according to a new study from the RAND Corporation. "The Army is interested in autonomous technology because if they can reduce the number of soldiers needed to run a convoy, they can keep soldiers safe," said Shawn McKay, lead author of the study and a senior engineer with RAND, a nonprofit research organization. McKay and his colleagues examined three different autonomous vehicle concepts: the fully autonomous employment concept, where all the vehicles are unmanned; the partially unmanned employment concept, featuring a lead truck with soldiers followed by unmanned vehicles in a convoy; and minimally manned, a "bridging" concept featuring a soldier in the driver's seat of each of the follower trucks to monitor the automated system and driving environment. A minimally manned Army convoy put 28 percent fewer soldiers at risk compared to current practices. A partially unmanned convoy would put 37 percent fewer soldiers at risk, and a fully autonomous convoy would put 78 percent fewer soldiers at risk. The technology to make an Army convoy fully autonomous doesn't exist yet. McKay said part of the challenge for the Army is that current automated technology is still limited and has mainly been tested in settings with well-manicured infrastructure, including standardized road markings and signs. "We're looking at a combat environment - it's very complex," McKay said. "An Army convoy could be operating in a Third World environment where road markings and road conditions are very poor, there's open terrain, there's herds of animals, and you're under combat situations." "With current technology, human 'operators' are still required to monitor the driving environment and regain control when the autonomous systems are unable to handle the situation. When you have a convoy of several vehicles driving autonomously and one halts due to an obstacle the autonomous system cannot handle, you have a situation where the convoy becomes vulnerable. The bridging concept mitigates this risk while still reducing soldier risk." Partially unmanned technology won't be available for highway driving for several more years, but minimally manned is currently ready for Army adaptation and deployment in urban and highway environments, McKay said. The study recommends the Army implement the minimally manned concept as a necessary bridging strategy to achieve the partially unmanned capability. The Army also should develop clear and practical technical requirements to reduce key development risks, such as from cyberattack. Pressure to leverage automated trucks to reduce the number of soldiers at risk may build before the Army has worked out all the problems with these systems so the Army will need to prepare accurate assessments of system readiness and the risks associated with implementation before the Army is ready. ### Other authors of the study, "Automating Army Convoys: Technical and Tactical Risks and Opportunities," are Matthew E. Boyer, Nahom M. Beyene, Michael Lerario, Matthew W. Lewis, Karlyn Stanley, Randall Steeb, Bradley Wilson and Katheryn Giglio. Research for the study was conducted within RAND Arroyo Center's Forces and Logistics program. RAND Arroyo Center, part of the RAND Corporation, is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the U.S. Army. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. To sign up for RAND e-mail alerts: http://www.rand.org/newsletters.html RAND is a registered trademark A loyal dog refused to leave its owner's side after he was killed by a falling branch in Storm Ciara. The dog walker in his sixties was hit by the tree on Tuesday while exercising his pet at Black Wood in Woolton, Liverpool, as high winds battered the UK. His family, who laid flowers at the scene last night, were too upset to comment and he has not yet been identified. Pensioner Elizabeth Sorsky, 79, who has lived on a street overlooking the park for 26 years, said last night: 'We have been on about the trees for a long time - we have sent letter after letter and have complained and complained and complained to the council. 'And now a man who went out for a walk in the morning has died. It's horrendous - the dog was still waiting for him. 'Maybe now the local authorities will pull their finger out and do something. 'The trees are so close to the road that they could fall on school children going to the local school, or on our house.' Emergency services at the scene in Woolton Woods, Liverpool yesterday, where a dog walker was hit by a tree His family, who laid flowers at the scene last night, were too upset to comment and he has not yet been identified Mrs Sorsky said that a lady on her road told her a woman ran out of the woods saying a man had been hit by a tree, and another neighbour went to check his pulse, but found he was dead. A spokesman for Merseyside Police also confirmed to local media that the man's loyal dog was still at his side when police and paramedics arrived at the scene. Elizabeth's husband Philipp Sorsky, 80, a retired social research interviewer added: 'It's terribly sad. 'Three years ago a tree fell and it smashed the wall of the house two doors down. 'Luckily the car wasn't in the drive and the children weren't going out to school. 'There used to be people who came and picked up things and cut the trees back but no longer, or they just blow the leaves around and do nothing else.' Emergency services near Black Wood in Woolton, Liverpool, attending to the dog walker Pensioner Elizabeth Sorsky, 79, who has lived on a street overlooking the park for 26 years, said last night: 'We have been on about the trees for a long time - we have sent letter after letter and have complained and complained and complained to the council' Woolton resident Mrs Donohue, 64, who lives opposite the woods, heard the moment the tree fell. She said: 'I heard the tree fall about quarter past 10. 'I had just got up and was opening my curtains when I heard it in my upstairs bedroom. 'It was just like a crack, that was all. 'It didn't sound like anything much, so I didn't think to alert anyone. 'I just thought it was a branch breaking - we don't usually have much trouble with any of the trees. 'It was only when I saw the police and fire engines arrive later that I thought something might have happened.' Mrs Sorsky said: 'Maybe now the local authorities will pull their finger out and do something' Emergency services near Black Wood in Woolton, Liverpool, attending to the dog walker Retiree Raymond Garnett, 78, from Woolton, witnessed the police cordon shortly after the tragedy. The pensioner said: 'I was walking my daughter's dog through the park when I came across the police cordon. 'I was trying to find a way out when a lady police officer allowed me through the cordon at the Woolton Road entrance to the park. 'It was about 12:30pm. It was very windy, it was quite dangerous - lots of branches were swaying. 'The policewoman advised me not to go through wooded areas and she saw me through to safety. 'There was another dog walker there who offered to take the man's dog, but the police said the dog was being looked after, I don't know who by. 'After lunch around 2pm I came past the gate again and it was padlocked off.' A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said yesterday: 'The council is shocked and saddened to hear of this death and all thoughts are with the gentleman's family and friends. 'The ancient woodland belongs to Liverpool City Council and the council will co-operate fully with any subsequent investigation.' The council spokesman declined to comment further on the Sorskys' allegations. Statutory child rights body NCPCR has moved the Supreme Court for an SIT probe, monitored by the top court, into the cases of children allegedly sold by shelter homes of the Missionaries of Charity, which was founded by Mother Teresa, in Jharkhand. It has sought direction for an apex court monitored time bound investigation of all such organizations in Jharkhand to ensure protection of children. The NCPCR, which has for the first time moved the apex court under Article 32, sought enforcement of fundamental rights of prohibition of trafficking in human beings guaranteed under Article 23 of the Constitution. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said discrepancies have been found in children's homes in various states and it has arrayed them as parties in its plea. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant issued notice on Monday to Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra governments and tagged the matter with the already pending matter related to protection of child rights in school. The plea, filed through advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi, cited cases of child rights violation in Jharkhand and said that authorities in the state have adopted a callous approach to protect the minors. "During course of inquiry by petitioner (NCPCR), shocking revelations were made by the victims which included the factum that the children were being sold in the children homes. These facts were emphatically brought to the notice of the state government (Jharkhand) but continuous attempts were made to sabotage and derail the inquiry," the plea said. Giving details of the incident, the NCPCR said that it had taken cognizance of a media report of 2018, which said that a member of Missionaries of Charity was arrested in Ranchi, Jharkhand, for her involvement in illegal child trade. The plea said the commission raised the issue with the chief secretary of Jharkhand by writing a letter to him and sought information with regard to various questions like total number of children at shelter homes and their legal status -- orphan/abandoned/surrendered and whether the shelter homes are registered and action taken against sisters of Missionaries of Charity, Ranchi for selling the children. It said that on July 24, 2018, a member of NCPCR visited a centre of Missionaries of Charity at Ranchi, and gross irregularities were found in their functioning, which was conveyed to the chief secretary and Director General of Police of Jharkhand. The plea said that on July 10, 2018, Additional secretary of Department of Women, child development and social security of Jharkhand government responded to the queries raised by the commission about the district wise details of Missionaries of Charity, in the state but the details were found to be with certain discrepancies and the NCPCR termed it as unsatisfactory. It said that information was also sought from Missionaries of Charities on August 9, 2018, about the total number of child care institutions and list of children and their legal status. The plea said that NCPCR received the information from Missionaries of charity on September 8, 2018, about the institutions run by it and provided details of only 78 child care institutions instead of 80. It said that reply of Missionaries of charity pointed to several ambiguities like children were kept who are neither abandoned, surrendered or orphan, children not produced before Child Welfare Committees and others. Citing another incident, the NCPCR said that one of its teams had visited Dumka district in Jharkhand for holding a camp where the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) provided statements of two minor girls who said that they were sexually abused and sent to shelter homes run by Missionaries of Charity by their parents, where they had delivered their babies and returned to their respective homes with babies. "In spite of these statements of victims being available on record no appropriate action has been taken by the authorities in Ranchi," the plea said, adding that till date no information has been received from their end on the action taken and current status of the case. The NCPCR said that considering the seriousness of the matter, it sought information from others states with regard to the working of Missionaries of Charity Homes. "The reports from some states were found to be either full of discrepancies or unsatisfactory in nature," it said, adding that thereafter it decided to move the apex court with a writ petition. The commission said, "Fundamental right of prohibition of trafficking of human beings guaranteed under Article 23 of the Constitution cannot be trampled in any manner and it includes protection of children from trafficking, child prostitution, and other related offence with any hindrance". It said that States have failed in discharging their statutory duty by not conducting further investigation with due diligence even after repeated request by the commission. The NCPCR also sought direction for creation of a SIT in every state to investigate similar organizations to ensure that the child rights violation are not happening in organisations located in other States. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TASHKENT -- Tashkent's Ilhom Theater, one of the first independent theaters in the former Soviet Union, has won a reprieve in the battle over its premises after a last-minute interdiction by Saida Mirziyoeva, the Uzbek presidents oldest daughter. "I myself am a fan of the theater and want to assure everyone that we won't forsake it! [Ilhom] is the pride of our cultural life!" Mirziyoeva wrote in a message on Twitter on February 11. The theater said last week that it had received a notice from Ofelos Plaza company, the owner of the premises in downtown Tashkent where the theater has performed for more than four decades, saying it must leave the building by April due to repair work. "Losing the space provided by the government to the founder of the theater, Mark Weil, in 1976 is, in essence -- a death sentence for Ilhom," the theater company said on its website. The announcement sparked an online battle for the theater (#saveilkhom) with several luminaries in Uzbekistan, Russia, and elsewhere, including the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan Tim Torlot, urging Uzbek authorities to preserve it. But once the president's daughter weighed in, it took only a few hours for Uzbek Culture Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov to meet with the artistic director of the theater, Boris Ghafurov, and a founder of Ofelos Plaza, Olga Shavrina, where a deal was worked out to preserve the theater's historic premises. The Ilhom (Inspiration) theater was established in 1976 as the Experimental Studio of Theatrical Youth and was one of the first Soviet independent theaters. Its name was later changed to Ilhom. After its founding director Mark Weil was stabbed to death in 2007, the theater was renamed as Mark Weil's Ilhom Theater. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, has condemned the recent attack that killed over 30 persons in a deadly attack on Auno, a village 25 kilometres from the main town of Maiduguri, the state capital. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the travellers who were en route to the capital city were attacked by suspected Boko Haram insurgent group around 10 p.m. on Sunday. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State blamed the military for the attack, saying authorities had ignored repeated requests for a military base to be established at Auno. President Muhammed Buhari, at about 12:45 p.m., arrived at Borno after his trip to Addis Ababa to pay a sympathy visit to the government and people of Borno following the attack. Ms Farouq in a release on Wednesday, however, expressed condolences with the families and loved ones of the victims of this dreadful attack. She described the attacks as cowardly and a disregard for the right of Nigerians. Read her full statement below. The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq strongly condemns the attack on Sunday, February 9th, 2020 by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Auno, Borno State, claiming innocent lives and destroying properties. Saddened by the incident, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq commiserates with the families and loved ones of the victims of this dreadful attack. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go to the families of the victims and to the Government and the good people of Borno State. We pray that Almighty Allah grants the injured speedy recovery, she stated. While condemning the attack, the Honorable Minister noted that Sundays assault was a cowardly disregard of the right of Nigerians to life and peace. The Honourable Minister further stated that the Ministry will continue to work within its mandate and will interface with the relevant humanitarian actors, disaster relief and security agencies to ensure that the survivors of this dastardly act are adequately catered for. Tamil Nadu: Artificial reefs breathe new life for Tamil Nadus fishing communities February 12,2020 | Source: India Mongabay Reefs do not come to mind when one thinks of Indias coastline as coral reef establishments are limited to the waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. However, when fishermen from Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu, reported that their fish catch was declining, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation (TNFDC) stepped in with the solution of deploying artificial reefs. Artificial reefs (AR) are man-made structures deployed on generally featureless seabed to create a substratum to support a variety of marine life or where existing natural reefs have been destroyed. An AR can serve several purposes recreational activities (surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, tourism), disaster management, coastal protection, managing and promoting marine biodiversity, increasing fish catch, and preventing trawling. It is important to identify the needs of the area and the community before installing an AR, as the models can vary with the purpose, explained S. Velvizhi, principal scientist at MSSRFs Fish for All centre. The AR project here aims to improve fish stocks by creating a sustainable marine ecosystem, thus providing a secure source of livelihood for local, traditional fisherfolk. The demand for such intervention came after villagers from Poompuhar heard of the success of the year-old AR project from the neighbouring coastal villages in Karaikal, Puducherry. Shaktivel, 35, a fisherman from Tirumalairayan Pattinam, Karaikal, said that for some time now even as fish stocks were declining due to various reasons and operational costs of fishing were increasing. Thus the ARs deployed last year by the MSSRF were a ray of hope. It has been there for just one year but I have already got four or five large catches, Shaktivel said. I was lucky to benefit from a bumper catch near the reef just last month. It was worth nearly Rs 30,000. Many a times traditional fishermen like Shaktivel return without a substantial catch, barely covering their expenses, and such bumper catches around the ARs, which support a thriving marine habitat, can save the day. Different structures for different species In its Poompuhar project, MSSRF has laid nearly 60 concrete structures weighing 800 kg to one tonne in the compound of the Fish for All centre in Poompuhar. These structures are of three makes and each supports a different species, explained E.Thamizhazhagan, development associate at MSSRF. Some of the 60 will attract lobsters, others small fish (mackerel, small fin fishes, carangrid), and some will be home to groupers and bream fish. The structures, costing Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 a piece, are sunk at preselected spots within 15 nautical miles of the coast. Scientists at MSSRF explained that some basic criteria for site selection include a depth of 10 metre to 50 m on sandy sea bed, and assessing other factors such as tidal action, type of soil, temperature, water quality, water current, dissolved oxygen, other species in the area, nutrients, benthos and plankton. The sites should not be on clayey sea beds, trawling zones, existing coral area and fish migration routes. Once deployed, fishing around newly sunk reefs is banned for at least six months to a year. Over time the ARs develop a healthy marine habitat attracting shoals and other marine flora and fauna, after which fishing can be resumed. Long-lasting habitats Corals grow at just 1 cm a year, so it will take nearly 5-7 years for it to look like a proper reef, explained Velvizhi. ARs, however, are different from traditional fish aggregating devices (FADs) used by fishermen. While an ARs can be deployed as FADs, traditional FADs built using certain trees, barks, coir or coconut fronds and more recently tyres, metal structures and other solid waste are temporary and may pollute the marine environment. ARs, if done properly, are long-lasting habitat which includes seabed, sea grass, other smaller fishes, nutrients, and so on, explained Hussain Mohamad Kasim, a retired scientist, formerly with the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Kasim has advised government departments on AR projects in the past, and has extensively recorded various benefits of reefs. It is particularly useful for artisanal fishermen who are marginalised by those operating mechanised boats, and can significantly improve their income. The situation in Shaktivels village, dominated by artisanal fishermen operating smaller craft, is a case in point. Unlike larger motorised boats and trawlers, we cannot venture more than 15-17 nautical km away from the coast, he said. Trawling really impacts our catch also. Around 10-15 nautical miles is also the ideal zone for AR, thereby protecting the livelihood of artisanal fishermen using hook and line, gill netting and phased fishing on smaller crafts, said E.Thamizhazhagan. Apart from a better catch, other benefits include reduced journey time to and from fishing grounds, hence lesser expenditure on fuel. According to Velvizhis calculations ARs can boost fishermens income by 100 percent in the next three to seven years. Previous research by Kasim and others show that in some instances ARs can increase fish catch and income by anything between 20 and 4000 percent. Multiple impacts ARs arent new to India. Some of the earliest recorded externally fabricated and traditional ARs in India were created by local fishermen in Kerala in the 1950s, according to this CMFRI bulletin. Interventions by organisations and scientists from Ford Foundation, CMFRI, NABARD, UNDP, fisheries departments of Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu picked up in the 1980s and 1990s. An area of at least 1,97,750 sq km was covered by artificial reef until 2012, according to Kasims research. AR has also been used to reclaim islands and prevent coral bleaching. The combined effects of ocean warming and acidification may have negative impacts on coral reef cover and marine fisheries, and exacerbate global inequities, reducing resilience and thereby likely worsening outcomes under all climate change scenarios, the December 2019 report by the High Level Panel on Sustainable Ocean Economy had noted. Such impacts are evident in Thoothukudi where the destruction of marine life due to warming ocean and coral bleaching threatens the livelihood of over 10,000 fishermen, according to the project report published in 2015 by the NABARD Consultancy Services for the Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu. The AR project off the coast of Thoothukudi district, in the Gulf of Mannar, was started in 2007 with multiple aims of reviving corals and coastal habitats, preventing 21 islands from sinking, reducing trawling as well as protecting the livelihood of traditional fishermen. Not every artificial reef is a success Not everyone can deploy AR it is a technology and it impacts coastal communities. You cant use the ocean as a dumping ground and call it an AR, warned Kasim. Several ARs projects in the past have missed two crucial aspects assessing the suitability of the areas and doing it in coordination with the local community, explained Thamizhazhagan. In Nagapattinam and Karaikal, fishermen said that their fishing nets were often damaged due to ARs which were haphazardly deployed some years ago. Such projects eventually did not support any habitats. The success of the reef also depends on socio-economic factors. ARs are a fishing villages common property resource, and can benefit the community as a whole. Both Velvizhi and Kasim emphasised the importance of empowering local communities in the process of laying, monitoring, management and effective implementation of AR projects. In order to ensure community participation, MSSRF formed village monitoring committees and a project monitoring committee. They held several public meetings with panchayat leaders and fishermen for the selection of the site, models, and so on. Since the area where the AR is deployed needs to be undisturbed, involving fishermen makes the monitoring of the sites easy. They collectively manage the resource over time, Velvizhi explained. Shaktivel from Karaikal was part of MSSRFs village monitoring committee last year. He worked with MSSRF and the local panchayat to identify the points suitable for the reef, provide inputs about their needs, and share traditional knowledge about their practices and the region. The local fishermen said they would prefer the reef to be on the traditional fishing ground, so that the future resources will be bountiful, Shaktivel explained. Today, nearly 48 concrete structures at Tirumalairayan Pattinams common fishing along the Coromandel coast are now turning into reefs attracting a diverse range of species day in and day out. Recalling his recent catch he added, It seems to be working already. Nissan has revved up its action against Carlos Ghosn, hitting him with a civil lawsuit on Wednesday (February 12) and seeking $91 million dollars in damages over his alleged financial misconduct. Now the firm says the figure may increase if it looks to recoup any fines levied by regulators relating to Ghosn's alleged misconduct. Its former boss in December fled Japan, where he was facing criminal charges, which included the misuse of company funds. He's since been hunkered down in his childhood home of Lebanon. Ghosn denies any wrongdoing, but may face separate legal action over what Nissan called "groundless and defamatory" remarks made in a news conference in Beirut last month. Any extra money could be pretty timely for the firm. Sources familiar with Nissan said it might report its first quarterly loss in more than a decade on Thursday (February 13) because of slumping sales. The ousting of Ghosn has led to a period of rebuilding for Japan's number 2 automaker, with disruption caused by China's coronavirus outbreak also possibly dragging profits lower. One Reuters sources said Thursday's figures would be "dismal." That after figures out last month showed third quarter sales were down 11% on the year. Nissan had no comment ahead of its official announcement. Parents and family members of students who died in 2014 terror attack on Army Public School in Peshawar on Wednesday protested against the escape of former Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan from a Pakistani jail. Dawn reported that families of the victims led by Shuhada APS Forum President Advocate Fazal Khan, staged a demonstration outside the Peshawar press club and shouted slogans against Ehsanullah's escape. "The news of escape has created a sense of deprivation among the APS victims How can a terrorist escape from a highly-guarded red zone area? It's a good joke," Khan was quoted as saying. Last week, parents and family members of children who died in a 2014 terror attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar moved the Peshawar High Court over the escape of Ehsan from Pakistani jail. In an audio message released recently, Ehsan had claimed he escaped from the jail on January 11. However, no confirmation has been made by the Pakistani Army in this regard yet. The escape of Ehsan has created an uproar in Pakistan where the opposition is accusing the government of "sheer incompetence". As many as 140 people, most of them children were killed on December 16, 2014, in a terror attack on APS, Peshawar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When releasing novel medical devices, companies often face challenges in how to ensure both their commercial team and healthcare practitioners have a clear understanding of the unique capabilities of the device. With a diversity of tools available, the question is: where should companies employ high-fidelity virtual-reality simulation? The simple answer is that high-fidelity VR simulation can be used everywhere, from demonstrations at conferences to training for sales partners and healthcare professionals. It is a quick and economical method to prepare your product for success and to start your sales. High-fidelity virtual-reality simulation is not merely a like-for-like alternative to traditional simulation, but is, in fact, a superior option. Seeing is Believing As medical device companies are innovating beyond the boundaries of known technological developments and medical science, manufacturers, and particularly salespeople, must be able to explain succinctly how and why a newly launched device is superior to existing alternatives. An efficient and engaging explanation is best achieved with a live demonstration, and a high-fidelity VR simulator allows for the closest replication of a clinical environment. The eye-catching qualities of customized high-fidelity VR simulators not only bring health care practitioners to your booth, but encourages them to stay longer to get hands-on with the new device. This gives you a chance to gain extended and more productive engagement, as health care practitioners can build up an accurate understanding of the procedure and grow more likely to be open to trying the first case. Rapid, simple, and clean set-up is also a valuable characteristic for simulators in high demand. For two years now, we have been using VirtaMed systems in urology but also in gynecology, especially for congresses, workshops, courses, in Germany and internationally. All participants and our own team show growing enthusiasm because of the very easy and fast set-up and because of the clean working space. Stefan Gille, Head of Product Marketing for Urology, Richard Wolf GmbH Improved Training Results In Higher Adoption of Devices and Superior Clinical Results In order to impart confidence with new devices, and to ensure that they are being employed to their full potential, comprehensive physician training is necessary. When opting to implement a new procedure, one of the key factors for healthcare practitioners is the availability of manual-skills training, and training to increase understanding of the method and to develop the ability to overcome obstacles. With high-fidelity VR simulation, healthcare practitioners can practice until both you and they are confident that their skills are ready to be transitioned to a clinical environment. Some companies with this technology now employ VR simulation to carry out objective tests on physicians to determine their ability to utilize new instruments and successfully carry out new procedures. One example of this is the high-fidelity VR simulator developed by VirtaMed in 2015 to support the introduction of the Rezum Water Vapor Therapy device. The Rezum II pivotal study enabled the development of five highly representative procedures based on procedure videos from 197 different patients. The simulator gave scores based on how successfully the physicians carried out the procedure, and in training, physicians were required to score 85 percent or more on each of these five cases prior to performing their initial patient case(s). In both the medical technology field and general physician training, there has been an increased uptake of this type of proficiency-based training. A study carried out by the Arthroscopy Association of North America found that employing simulation in combination with step-by-step learning goals offers significantly improved results in comparison to either traditional education or simulator training without objectively set, quantitative targets. High-fidelity VR simulations can be developed for your unique device and to follow your suggested process stages, as per the Instructions For Use (IFU). The ability to develop training for specified pathologies and complications allows physicians to select your device for even the most challenging patient cases. Some medical device companies have found that when presenting innovative devices and procedures, it is beneficial to offer simulation training to a wider range of relevant healthcare professionals, from the entire OR team to those working in recovery and rehabilitation. This method is employed to offer a greater overall understanding of the advantages and risks involved. Lowered Training Costs The use of a high-fidelity VR simulator lowers expenditure both for the delivery of training programs and for marketing and sales. Some of these costs, such as running cadaver labs, are seen as ongoing, while others, including the time spent waiting for an appropriate patient to be scheduled in the OR for your procedure, are more implicit. With high-fidelity virtual-reality simulators available on-demand, users can experience the use of your device from a classroom or office environment. As the simulator is always ready for use, training can be completed more rapidly, and with reduced reliance on a proctor for one-on-one feedback. Simulation training also offers unlimited repeatability. There are no added costs, whether a physician requires two or 200 procedures to reach proficiency. Virtual reality simulators are definitely the future of medical education. Surgeons can repeat the procedure to infinity. So far, the problem was to reproduce a simulation close to reality: The VirtaMed solution has closed this gap. Professor Luca Carmignani, Head of Urology IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan While the development of simulators does necessitate an initial financial outlay, this is significantly lower than the costs of developing the new device itself. Work on the simulator can begin before the device is approved, and it can even be employed to train the physicians that will carry out pre-market clinical trials with your new device. Sales Training High-fidelity VR simulators are mobile and can be used at conferences, seminars, workshops, and for 1-1 training sessions, making them an efficient training method for your field staff and distributors. Sales associates, like physicians, can engage with the simulator as frequently as needed until they gain a firm understanding of the device. Potential customers have far more confidence in salespeople who are comfortable with a novel device or procedure and familiar with its training, as opposed to staff speaking only from hand-outs or other types of simulation. During the lifespan of a medical device, it is likely that personnel changes will take place within both your field sales and clinical specialist teams. The use of a high-fidelity VR simulator makes it simple to ensure that all new team members receive the same training content, delivered to the same standards. The ability to provide this training on-demand reduces the time needed to integrate new team members fully. Why VirtaMed? VirtaMed has extensive experience in developing custom high-fidelity virtual-reality simulators and has collaborated with some of the worlds largest medical technology companies, including a recent project with Smith + Nephew to develop a custom simulator. Each company receives the individual support they deserve, irrespective of size. We loved working with VirtaMed! They are obviously a very competent and highly skilled team, and they were very responsive when we made suggestions or asked for certain functions and features. There were times when we asked for things that were a little outside of what they had done, and, kudos to the team, they would go away, think about it, and within a couple of days to a week come back to us with a solution. Amanda Heys, Senior Manager Professional Education &Training, NxThera With the combination of years of experience and the option of engaging an established technology and software platform, VirtaMed can decrease development time and reduce the resources required to translate new procedures into high-fidelity virtual reality. About VirtaMed VirtaMed is a Swiss company that develops & produces highly realistic surgical simulators for medical training. Surgeons use original instruments to train in a safe environment before performing surgeries on patients. Vision VirtaMed's vision is to improve the quality of medical care with state-of-the-art, virtual reality based medical training and education. Mission Our mission is to alter the way medical skills are taught. Values As a company, we live innovation in a customer-oriented, agile, diverse and passionate work environment. 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. The Grow Boating Networking Evening - March 2020 Start From: Friday 6 March 2020, 05:00PM to Friday 6 March 2020, 10:00PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun. The Grow Boating Networking Evening for March 2020 will be held at The Speakeasy Yacht Club, at The Royal Phuket Marina on Friday the 6th of March 2020 from 5pm onward. If you would like to be the drinks sponsor for the evening please let us know. There will be a light buffet sponsored by The Speakeasy Yacht Club and special prices on your favourite beverages. Come and join in the fun, everyone is welcome. There is no entry fee, just drop your business card or register at the bar. We hope to see you there and if you know anyone you think would be interested in coming please invite them along. To join our mailing list please send an email to growboatingphuket@gmail.com Grow Boating is kindly supported by our media partner The Phuket News, Live 89.5 radio and Phuket News TV. See www.thephuketnews.com The Grow Boating Networking Evening is organised by the Thai Yachting Business Association. Find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/491098897758155/ or our Website https://www.thaiyachtingbusinessassociation.com/grow-boating-networking-evening CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-based intellectual property law firm McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP (MBHB) is pleased to announce the launch of its Cannabis Practice Group. Led by Nicole Grimm and George "Trey" Lyons III, MBHB partners and chairs of the firm's Cannabis Practice Group, the practice will offer full-spectrum intellectual property support and counseling for cannabis clients ranging from startups to established companies. "There is a significant need for intellectual property rights education amongst professionals in the cannabis industry," said Ms. Grimm. "As the fast-growing cannabis industry continues to evolve, we look forward to providing the best intellectual property counsel to our clients through this dedicated practice group." "It's been incredible to watch this industry expand and mature over the past few years," said Mr. Lyons. "The growth has been meteoric and, as the industry continues to normalize, we've seen so many clients increase their focus on protecting their IPfoundational assets for any company looking to protect their innovation and brand." Lawyers in the Cannabis Practice Group are experts in a broad range of intellectual property matters, including: preparing and prosecuting patent, copyright, and trademark applications as well as litigating and providing counseling on these issues and others. "The firm is thrilled to launch this practice group to support the emerging cannabis industry," said Gavin O'Keefe, managing partner of MBHB. "Our lawyers' unique combination of legal and scientific credentials will be especially beneficial in this space, and we are eager to help the industry as it matures." For more information about MBHB's Cannabis Practice Group, visit https://www.mbhb.com/services/cannabis. About McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP With offices in Illinois, California and North Carolina, MBHB provides a variety of intellectual property services, including litigation, prosecution and general client counseling. With a balanced focus on prosecution and litigation, MBHB attorneys are experienced in the procurement, licensing, enforcement, and defense of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition actions in a number of technological disciplines and product categories including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, cannabis, chemical, electrical, mechanical and materials, medical device and diagnostics, software and business methods, and telecommunications. Visit www.mbhb.com for more information on the firm. SOURCE McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP Related Links http://www.mbhb.com Strategists and pollsters call it Bibi fatigue. Its irrelevant to the half of Israeli voters, who already loathe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but it certainly applies to the other half, made up of his supporters or just people who think that he is a good prime minister. There is a creeping awareness among these voters who are not part of Netanyahus hard-core base that he has exhausted all he has to offer. They have grown tired of the cacophony surrounding him and the endless racket raised by him and his supporters. They are weary of the muck being slung in every direction and the personality cult surrounding that surrounds the prime minister. While some will not yet admit that they are ready for someone new in the office, they have their concerns. It is exactly this phenomenon that Netanyahu is now fighting. The only person who could never suffer from Bibi fatigue is the man himself. He certainly isnt exhausted. Even at 70, he has been crisscrossing the country at a killer pace. His previous two campaigns focused on intense online activity including Facebook videos and live social network broadcasts round the clock. This time, Netanyahu has decided to leave the web and go back to his roots, to go out into the field and breathe fresh life into his faltering camp, to spread his optimism and convince his supporters that the task in front of him is possible. As part of this campaign, the Likud has been passing around polls showing that the Netanyahu camp is now approaching 61 seats. People tend to react to these polls with skepticism. The numbers have not been confirmed by independent polls. But the basic idea is obvious to everyone. Netanyahu isnt fighting to reach 61 seats. He is fighting to prevent the opposing camp from achieving a Jewish majority. Netanyahu knows what Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz and Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman are planning. They want to win 54 seats, in the hope of leaving the right-wing/ultra-Orthodox bloc with just 53 seats. (According to all the polls, the Joint List would win the remaining 13.) This breakdown would allow Gantz to swear in a new government consisting of 54 seats, with the Joint List abstaining. Then Liberman could stick to his principles, something he was unable to do last time around. Netanyahu is fighting against that scenario. While the prospect of winning a 61-seat majority now seems like a lost cause, a Jewish majority is still possible. Netanyahu is fighting to win every vote. He is investing enormous effort to win back the Ethiopian constituency, part of which abandoned him last time for Blue and White. He has managed to recruit an Ethiopian Knesset member from Blue and White while announcing that he plans to bring another 400 Ethiopian Jews to Israel who have waited years to immigrate. He went after the angry taxi drivers by putting the reforms proposed by the Ministry of Transportation and small businesses collapsing under the tax burden and bureaucracy by appointing a special adviser to focus on the issue. On Feb. 9, his government approved tens of millions of shekels in aid to the town of Ashkelon, which continues to suffer from rocket fire from Gaza. Every vote is important in Netanyahu's effort to preserve a Jewish majority. So he is using every ruse and dirty trick available and proving yet again that it is too early to eulogize him. Even the people closest to Netanyahu and his most ardent supporters have no idea what could extricate him from the mire in which he has been stuck ever since Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit indicted him for serious crimes. Lets assume that he is able to prevent Gantz from winning a Jewish majority or even that he actually manages to win 61 seats, one senior Likud member commented to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Does Netanyahu really believe that he can run the most complicated and challenged state in the world when he has court appearances four times a week from morning to afternoon? Does he believe that his coalition partners would allow that to happen? That the public can handle it? No one has a clear answer. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has been ignoring the issue, more focused than ever before on campaigning. One of his greatest dangers is that Yamina seniors Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, former minister Ayelet Shaked and Knesset member Matan Kahana might defect from their party after the March 2 election and join up with Blue and White. At an election rally this week, Netanyahu admitted that the only reason he appointed Bennett to be his defense minister was to prevent such a thing. The fear of Bennett defecting was enough to appoint him to the most volatile, sensitive and important portfolio in the entire cabinet. If he had made such a confession just a few years earlier, it would have triggered a political earthquake. Now, however, it passed under the radar and almost no one mentioned it. With Netanyahus envoys and agents lashing out regularly at the legal system and threatening the rule of law, no one is even reacting to the prime minister engaging in horse-trading with Israels holy of holies, the defense establishment, for his narrow personal interests. We are used to it. At this stage, Blue and White is having a hard time responding to Netanyahus stirring daily appearances. The only person in the party who is giving the prime minister a real fight is former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, who also heads the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The other former chiefs of staff who lead Blue and White are focused on a much more basic concern: preventing Israel from getting swept up in a military operation or adventure on the eve of the election as a result of the stark situation facing the countrys current leader. The barrel of gunpowder in which Israel has been thriving for the past 71 years could be ignited at any moment as a result of some poor or mistaken decision by one of the sides. So far, the most dismal predictions that Netanyahu will throw open the gates of hell for the country to avoid his personal one have been false. But now the moment of truth is approaching. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 00:30:08|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Albania has destroyed a total of 13,000 toys that failed to meet the environmental protection standards, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance and Economy Wednesday. The State Inspectorate of Market Surveillance (ISHMT) seized the hazardous toys following inspections carried out between November 2019 and Jan. 20 this year, said the statement. Authorities found out that these toys, which had high levels of toxic substances and didn't comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive and Albanian legislation, pose a high risk for children aged 0-36 months. ISHMT urged all companies operating in the import and trade market of toys to comply with the legislation. The laboratory tests were carried out in accredited labs in Italy, said the statement. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal will take oath as the chief minister of Delhi on February 16 for the third consecutive time at the historic Ramlila Maidan here, in a grand ceremony that will be open to public. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, senior party leader Manish Sisodia, who was the deputy chief minister in the outgoing government, said all cabinet ministers will also take oath along with Kejriwal at the event. An AAP functionary said the party has planned a mass mobilisation of people for the mega event on Sunday and all newly-elected party MLAs have been asked to ensure huge participation from their constituencies. "I request the people of Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the chief minister at the Ramlila Maidan in large numbers," Sisodia said, adding that the ceremony will take place at 10 am. Choosing Ramlila Maidan as the venue for the oath-taking ceremony assumes significance as it was from this ground that Kejriwal along with Anna Hazare led a massive anti-corruption agitation that eventually proved to be a launching board for his political career. Kejriwal has taken oath as the CM twice before at the same venue. According to the party, no decision has yet been taken on the names who will find a place in the new Cabinet, but sources said Kejriwal is likely to retain all the outgoing ministers. The Aam Aadmi Party won 62 out of the total 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly while the BJP won eight. The Congress has drawn a blank. Lauding the voters, Sisodia said, "Heartiest congratulations to the people of Delhi. They have given huge respect to the of work." Taking a dig at the BJP, whose campaign, opposition alleged, revolved around emotive issues such as Shaheen Bagh protests, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Sisodia said people rejected " of hatred". "Work done by Kejriwal is a model of development. It has proved that patriotism means good education for your children and working for the welfare of people." Earlier in they day, Kejriwal held a meeting with newly-elected MLAs at his official residence. The MLAs also elected him the Leader of Legislature Party, a formality necessary to stake claim to form government. Lt Governor Anil Baijal will formally be apprised about Kejriwal being elected the Leader of Legislature Party. Thereafter, the LG will write to the President through Union Home Ministry, saying the AAP has won the majority. The President will issue a notification appointing the leader of legislature party as the chief minister. In states, governors appoint chief minister. On Wednesday morning, Kejriwal also met the Lieutenant Governor. The meeting lasted for around 15 minutes, an official said. "It was one-on-one meeting. Kejriwal discussed formation of new government with the LG," the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) galaxy z flip 6 Samsung/YouTube Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip on Tuesday, a new foldable smartphone that resembles a flip phone. The Galaxy Z Flip has a 6.7-inch screen and will be launching on February 14 for $1,380. It's a completely different form factor than last year's Galaxy Fold, which is more expensive at nearly $2,000 and has a larger screen that unfolds to become a tablet. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Samsung announced the Galaxy Fold only a year ago, but it's already showing off a new phone with a foldable display. The phone, called the Galaxy Z Flip, has a clamshell design much like the Motorola Razr, which launched just days before Samsung's Unpacked event on February 6. Like the Razr, Samsung's new Galaxy Flip's design also looks like a modern take on the classic flip phone from the early 2000s. The Galaxy Z Flip will be launching on February 14 for $1,380, making it slightly less expensive than the $1,400 Galaxy S20 Ultra. The unveil also comes after Samsung teased the announcement with a commercial that aired during the Oscars on Sunday night. The Galaxy Z Flip has a 6.7-inch display on the inside, and a small screen on the front for showing notifications, the time, and other types of information. Samsung also says the phone's screen is made of ultra-thin foldable glass, which is a big departure from last year's Galaxy Fold. That phone, which has a completely different form factor that opens up like a book to reveal a tablet-sized display, has a plastic screen. The new Flip also has a bezel-free display with a hole-punch-like cutout for the camera, similar to Samsung's flagship Galaxy phones, unlike last year's Fold. Samsung also says the Z Flip has a new hinge designed to prevent debris from entering the phone, which should hopefully prevent any durability issues as was the case with the Galaxy Fold. The company also says the phone should be strong enough to withstand being folded and unfolded more than 200,000 times. Story continues As was the case with the Fold, Samsung also made some changes to the phone's software to take advantage of its flexible design. The Z Flip has a new mode called Flex Mode, which allows you to split an app above and below the fold in the middle of the display. The firm showed how the phone could be use to view a YouTube video in the top section of the screen and type in a comment on the bottom portion of the display, for example. The Galaxy Z Flip launches as the foldable smartphone market has become increasingly crowded, with companies like Motorola and TCL entering the space. It's also a critical launch for Samsung following the release of last year's Galaxy Fold, which faced a delayed launch after the device's screen malfunctioned for some reviewers. The Z Flip is Samsung's opportunity to prove that it can overcome the Fold's shortcomings and establish itself as a leader in what it clearly sees as being the next-generation of smartphones. This story is developing, please refresh for the latest. Read the original article on Business Insider Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the government is not taking the coronavirus threat seriously and called for timely action to prevent the spread of the virus. In India three cases of coronavirus have been detected so far but there has been no casualty. "The coronavirus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical," Gandhi said in a tweet. The death toll in China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak has gone up to 1,113 with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of the virus jumped to 44,653. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and not seen before. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Renowned Chinese fashion designer Wang Tao on Tuesday showcased her Fall/Winter 2020 collection at the ongoing New York Fashion Week, stressing women power with the theme "coffee at dawn in Paris." Some 36 looks in the latest collection embodied Wang's signature note of sophisticated minimalism and sent out a clear message: women can be feminine and powerful at the same time. By using colors such as dawn grey and various shades of cafe au lait, Wang sought to reinvent the scene where a woman sit at an outdoor cafe at dawn in Paris, taking time to drink a cup of coffee before diving right into work. "I enjoyed doing so every time I went on a business trip to Paris," said Wang, adding that professional women should also be able to stop and smell the flowers. Apart from her usual use of cashmere and wool for the outwear, the designer used silk for blouses in order to add a touch of briskness. The carefully chosen materials embodied the Taoray Wang's spirit, that is women could be soft outside and strong inside. It was the 12th time that Wang brought her namesake brand Taoray Wang to the fashion week, and also the most difficult one. The designer's team in Shanghai, China, could not come to the fashion week because the United States banned the entry of all foreigners who have traveled to China in the past 14 days. Wang went through great difficulties in assembling a temporary team to prepare for the runway show and transporting clothes and accessories from Shanghai to New York city. She said she's honored to be one of the few representatives of China's fashion industry that still manage to release new collection in a professional way at New York Fashion Week. "I want to show the world that we Chinese always keep our promises and will never give up," Wang told Xinhua on the sidelines of the runway show. At a time when China is fighting against the novel coronavirus break, the designer said people from different industries are all making contribution as much as they can in their own ways. "Together face challenges and overcome difficulties. The dawn is here," he said. Many of Wang's clients applauded her for making it happen. She empowers women through her designs, and tells people to stay positive and strong in this difficult time by presenting an amazing show, said Amy Zhang, a long-time client of Taoray Wang. "You can do anything that you set your mind to. And she proves that," said Zhang, executive vice president and portfolio manager of Fred Alger Management. Wang, a graduate of East China Normal University in Shanghai, has grown from an aspiring designer to one of Asia's most successful female entrepreneurs. Since her brand made its debut in the fall of 2014, she has become a regular at the New York Fashion Week. Held in February and September, the semi-annual event is one of the four major fashion weeks in the world, collectively known as the "Big Four," along with the Paris, London and Milan fashion weeks. Enditem A delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence led by Deputy Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh is paying a working visit to Singapore from February 10-13. Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (left) and Singaporean Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How While in Singapore, Vinh met with Permanent Secretary at the Singaporean Ministry of Defence Chan Heng Kee and Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How. He informed the hosts that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has completed preparations for the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) slated for February 18-20 in Hanoi, with special attention paid to the prevention of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus (nCoV). Apart from ADMM and ADMM Plus (ADMM ) meetings, Vietnam is planning to organise a ceremony marking the 10th founding anniversary of ADMM Plus in 2020 with the participation of defence ministers. Vinh took the occasion to invite leaders of the Singaporean Ministry of Defence and army to attend a conference on womens participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and an international defence expo to be held in Vietnam for the first time later this year. Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army Lt. Gen. Le Huy Vinh, who has been joining the delegation, had a meeting with Singaporean Chief of Defence Force Melvyn Ong, during which he conveyed the invitation of Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang to the latter to attend the 17th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting in Vietnam. At these meetings, the Singaporean officials said the Singaporean Minister of Defence and army leaders are looking forward to attending the ASEAN-related meetings to be hosted by Vietnam. They affirmed that Singapore supports and will provide as much assistance as possible to help the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence successfully organise all military-defence activities in 2020 when the country serves as ASEAN Chair. During their stay in Singapore, the Vietnamese delegation also attended the Singapore Airshow 2020, and had working sessions with some local agencies to consult them about the organisation of the international defence expo. As one of the biggest defence exhibitions in Asia held biennially, the Singapore Airshow 2020 attracted 930 companies from 45 countries worldwide./.VNA "The chilling effect resulting from an absence of clear and actionable regulatory guidance from the Department of Labor is immeasurable," said Goldstein. "Average employees pay the price when business owners turn away from forming ESOPs because DOL hasn't done its job. Fear of making a misstep because DOL has not given guidance costs average employees wealth and job security." "It has been over 45 years since Congress enacted ERISA, and DOL has yet to finish their rulemaking on proper ESOP administration. Our nation faces the potential loss of literally millions of profitable businesses as record numbers of business owners approach retirementand employee ownership and ESOPs are the perfect way to keep these businesses in operation," said James Bonham, ESOP Association President and CEO. "Yet, these retiring business owners fear a mis-step that could come back to haunt them years later in the form of a DOL inquiry. That puts a big wart on an otherwise very attractive option." This looming wave of retirementsknown as the Silver Tsunamimeans businesses that have no succession plan or qualified buyer face the possibility of being forced to shutter operations or sell to competitors who most often break the business apart. Goldstein's testimony showed that ESOPs can present a qualified, willing, buyer when others might not existwhile providing tremendous benefits to employees and the community. But first, federal agencies must be required to follow Congress' instructions and make it easier for founders to form and operate ESOP companies. To that end, Goldstein specifically asked the Small Business Committee and others in Congress to: Task the Department of Labor with issuing regulations on adequate consideration and other issues vital to forming and growing ESOPs. The ESOP community has waited 45 years for the agency to issue such regulations. Task the Small Business Administration with carrying out the mandates of the Main Street Employee Ownership Actsuch as streamlining the ESOP loan process and working to promote employee ownership. One quick fix: The SBA should be required to add ESOP loans to the agency's Preferred Lending Program. This decentralized program speeds lending decisions and clearly was the intent of the authorizing legislation, the Main Street in Employee Ownership Act. "Our company has seen businesses that had no succession plan in place and essentially had to sell," said Goldstein. "When those companies are sold to an ESOP, the employees go from possibly losing their jobs to becoming owners. It is a life-changing shift for many peopleone that all employees should be able to enjoy," said Goldstein. Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)who introduced the Main Street Employee Ownership Act two years agoconcluded the hearing by stating: "Despite our work in the 115th Congress to address some of the obstacles to employee ownership, it is clear we still have more work to do and progress to achieve. And I heard you loud and clear on the Department of Laborwe'll be dealing with that issue." Goldstein's written testimony and video of the hearing can be found online. The ESOP Association The ESOP Association: The ESOP Association is America's largest employer-sponsored advocacy and education association focused on employee stock ownership plans. Founded in 1978, the Association seeks to enhance federal laws governing ESOPs, provide members with expert information, and fund research via the Employee Ownership Foundation. Over 13,000 people participate annually in more than 160 ESOP Association events nationwide. The ESOP Association is a national non-profit organization with 18 state and regional Chapters. Its members include ESOP companies and their employees, companies considering an ESOP, and service providers that assist in setting up and maintaining ESOPs. About Folience Folience was started in 1884 and for more than 130 years has operated primarily as a family-owned print and broadcast media company. The company launched its ESOP in 1986 and became 100% employee owned in 2012. Today, the company has 570 employee owners who work and own shares in Folience's suite of businesses in the media and vehicle manufacturing businesses. Daniel Goldstein Daniel Goldstein is CEO/President of Folience (www.folience.com). He joined the company in April 2016 and has 20 years of executive leadership experience on five continents. He serves on The ESOP Association Board of Governors and the Employee Ownership Foundation's Board of Trustees. SOURCE The ESOP Association Related Links http://www.esopassociation.org The last tweet Wendell Rodricks wrote was about his dream project that was slated to come up in Colvale, the small village of Goa in which he and his partner of many decades, Jerome Marrel lived. Rodricks, 59, passed away on Wednesday. Modagoamuseum final plastering at work, the tweet dated February 9, read, and it was accompanied by a link to a photograph in his Instagram account. It showed a sunlit narrow passage, its space filled with scaffolding, and a staircase with a wooden bannister. Moda Goa a fashion museum with more than a hat tip to Goas deep heritage which will open later this year, arose out of Rodricks deep wish to celebrate not just Goa, but also his lifelong passion for style, sustainability, design and fashion. It is my hope and dream that the Moda Goa Museum becomes what Goa has always been. A stop on the international crossroads of humanity, he wrote. Not many know that this museum, which already possesses hundreds of artefacts, including some dating back to the 7th century, will open in the home (itself a heritage structure) that he shared with Marrel for over two decades, before moving out a few years ago. I am on the threshold of senior citizenship, Jerome is already 62, and we wanted to downsize. To find a home that made fewer demands on us and was more compact. I realised then that selling was not an option. Anyone spending so much would want to tear down parts, extend and build over or along the original walls. And I had given my word that I wouldnt let that happen, Wendell told Sathya Saran, the former editor of Femina, in an article published in the Hindustan Times in 2017. Parmesh Shahani, who heads the Godrej India Culture Lab, has fond memories of that home, which he would visit as a young man. Shahani wrote about Rodricks and Marrels marriage in his 2008 book, Gay Bombay: Globalization, Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India. They were such an inspiration. It gave me and a generation of young gay people hope, to have such a template: that one could live with a partner, be married to them. By living an open and unapologetic life, they helped us imagine such a life for ourselves, Shahani said. Rodricks and Marrel signed a PACS or Pacte Civile de Solidarite, the French civil solidarity pact that offers legal status to same-sex couples in 2002.In his autobiography, The Green Room, he spoke about how he was outed by columnist Shobaa De. But his family, he said, always knew about his sexuality and contrary to expectations was not troubled by it. A Mahim boy, Wendell grew up in Bombay, but he moved to Goa in the early 90s. He worked in hotels, and then studied fashion design in the US and France in the late 1980s. When he returned to India, he pioneered clothing categories like resort-wear and eco-friendly garments, long before they became catchphrases in the fashion world. For Rodricks, however, sustainability was always an integral part of his design sensibility. Filmmaker Apurva Asrani, another close friend of Rodricks, wrote in his tribute on Instagram: When he was at the top of his game as a designer, he made clothes for plus size women.. He worked bravely for LGBTQ rights and gave people like me hope for long lasting same sex relationships. He was a fine author and created magic with his book, Poskem. He was a reservoir of knowledge and spoke eloquently about arts, politics and culture.. He wore many hats, observed author Vivek Menezes who knew Rodricks for years. His career trajectory was interesting: first, as a well regarded fashion designer for which he won the Padma Shri; as a queer activist who always made the appeal that its about love; and then, a remarkable third career as a writer. He was always so generous to so many people. Journalist Neil Pate, a close friend of Rodricks for close to two decades, recalled the time when Rodricks sent over a dabba of bangra (mackarel) curry and rice, while Pate was shifting in to his own home in Goa. Wendell was a wonderful cook, but his mothers prawn curry recipe was delicious. He said that he would serve that in the museum, when it opens. One of Rodricks last Instagram posts showed a photo of two puppies whom he and his partner had recently adopted, after the recent death of his pets, Sophia and Tyra. After 28 years of high end breed dogs, we got these adorable stray puppies from @79thepetstop, he wrote. The angels have arrived. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has said that preparatory work for the further review of the EU-Ukraine free trade agreement can be completed this year so as to sign all the necessary documents next year. He said this during a joint briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 11, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "We have also agreed to advance and frontload our work when it comes to the review of the DCFTA (Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) due next year. And our colleagues will be looking very carefully on the areas where we could supplement the agreement according to its rules and we will again return to this issue very soon so we can have a very effective and short procedure next year to update the agreement," Varhelyi said. He also assured Honcharuk that the new European Commission continues to stand by Ukraine and will insist on Russia's full and conditional implementation of the Minsk agreements. "We take no compromise when it comes to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and we will continue to stand by it," he said. The Ukrainian government believes that revising the terms of the free trade agreement with the EU will open new opportunities for increased trade with the European Union. op Brendan McDermid/Reuters NASHUA, New HampshireAs the two apparent winners of the Iowa caucuses quibbled over who narrowly edged the other out of the top slot, Amy Klobuchar was already eyeing the next state. Somehow, someway, Im going to get on a plane tonight to New Hampshire, the Minnesota senator said from her neighboring state last Monday night. We are bringing this ticket to New Hampshire. Now, just two days out from the primary, Klobuchar appears to be hitting several indicators of success here. After what aides contend was her strongest debate performance yet, the senator attracted her largest crowds of the primary cycle and enjoyed a cash bump that comes with it, $3 million in donations in 48 hours. And, as she touted at several stops in the southern part of the state on Sunday, she got a polling boost. Weve gone up to No. 3! Klobuchar said to raucous applause on a chilly afternoon in Nashua. Indeed, Klobuchar has managed to turn what would ordinarily be an embarrassing showing for most candidatesfinishing in fifth place in her neighboring states contestinto a rallying cry. And it appears to be working. As voters hundreds of miles away continue to ponder the caucuses that offered no decisive answer for the Democratic Partys ideological directionwith former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) each declaring victorysome admitted to taking an eleventh-hour look at Klobuchar. Addressing an overflowed middle school gymnasium whose green painted doors matched the circular Amy stickers handed out to attendees, Klobuchar effused about one newly released poll from Emerson College that placed her a hair above Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), for third place. Sanders and Buttigieg still led Klobuchar substantially, earning 30 percent and 20 percent of support, respectively, but her campaign largely sees upside. Relegated to a polling asterisk for months, the senators heightened retailing across the state (we went to four diners this morning she said at one stop on Sunday, and somehow ended up at a speakeasy at another) has contributed to her status as a serious contender for a strong finish on Tuesday. Story continues I just did that to impress New Hampshire, she joked in Nashua about launching her campaign exactly one year ago in the middle of a snowstorm in Minneapolis. The parallel wasnt perfect. But it didnt seem to matter. With just a few flurries on the ground here, voters appeared to appreciate the sentiment, part of her dialed-up rhetoric that indicates a top New Hampshire showing is vital. At one point, live in front of millions of viewers during Friday nights debate at Saint Anselm University, she appeared to court endorsements from the states two popular female senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, by praising them multiple times. Her best debate of the eight, an aide texted in reference to that moment. With nearly half of voters still undecided, Klobuchar is also making an overt play for the largest bloc in New Hampshire: independents, who comprise 42 percent of the electorate. We better not screw this up, Klobuchar said in Nashua. I cannot think of a better state that gets this than New Hampshire, with your big tradition of independent voters, she added, tweaking her stump speech to the state. In a brief interview with The Daily Beast, Klobuchar further detailed her pitch to the consequential voting segment, listing off several parts of her candidacy that appeal uniquely to them, including hooking our economy into the education system and expanding into things that they care about like long-term care, mental health, and addiction, she said. Lots in her stump speaks to them, one source directly familiar with Klobuchars thinking said about her strategy. The fact that she pays for everything she proposes, like her opioid and mental health plan its common sense, its practical, and the numbers add up. New Hampshire independents like that kind of honest talk and fiscal clarity, the source said. That straight talk approach appeals to some voters eyeing Klobuchar now. People in New Hampshire are very pragmatic. They dont want their lives made worse by politicians, Louise Eastman, a voter from Nashua, said. They dont want to be taxed to the point where they cant even afford stuff. Certain candidates, and I wont name names, are too liberal to the point where they scare people. The idea that some Democratic aspirants are too liberal and might alienate certain populations was picked up in interviews with a dozen New Hampshire voters across three cities. In that, the rationale for Klobuchar is easy: Shes decidedly more moderate than Sanders and Warren. In essence, her proposals are workable things that she can get through the system, Krishna Mangipudi, a Nashua Democratic voter, put it. And then theres her background. While some voters acknowledge qualities they like in Buttigieg, several contend his status as a national neophyte, the mayor of a medium-sized Midwestern city, is too much of a gamble against President Donald Trump. And most werent expecting former Vice President Joe Biden to decline so swiftly. She obviously has more experience than Pete, and Bidens age is a little bit of a concern for me, said Audrey Broyer, a Democratic voter from Merrimack. Annette Ricci, a registered independent from Windham who leans conservative, agreed. Biden, in my opinion, seems like a nice man but I dont think he has it. Its a little too late for him and hes got too much baggage. A general reluctance to embrace Biden, whose campaign as the national frontrunner has leaned heavily on extending the Obama legacy, appears to be benefiting Klobuchar. After coming in fourth place in Iowa, the former VP all but conceded on the debate stage that he would not win the primary a week later, throwing the electability argument that he has built much of his candidacy around into question. I guess I dont believe that, Elizabeth Witmer, a Democratic voter from Merrimack, said about Bidens contention that he is the best positioned to rival Trump. Witmer said she made up her mind to support Klobuchar on Sunday night. While also using parts of the Obama-Biden accomplishments to her advantage on the trail, promising shes not going to blow up the Affordable Care Act, for example, Klobuchar offers voters something different. While Biden recalls working to pass bipartisan legislation in years past, Klobuchars a sitting senator in the thick of the action, and one who was notably absent from the campaign trail, or, as she put it, bolted to that desk in Washington as a juror in Trumps impeachment trial, which ended for Democrats in a disappointing acquittal. Still, throughout the day, the presidents presence loomed large. At one point, Klobuchar evoked Mitt Romney, a household name in New Hampshire before he won the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, as a beacon of courage for being the sole GOP senator to vote to impeach Trump. Theres not one negative reaction, Klobuchar told The Daily Beast about mentioning Romneys name at her campaign rallies. I actually think that is so cool about our democracy right now. That people get what courage and strength is. Political courage is factored into her thinking with voters, too. That is, if she can convince former Trump supporters to join her side, Democrats will have a greater path to victory in November. For some of them, that I acknowledge that they did or some of their friends might have either voted for Trump or stayed home, Klobuchar told The Daily Beast. Its kind of like, OK, lets step back and think about what a different world could be. And the decency issue is huge for them. Denise Marden, an independent from Hooksett, fits squarely into that camp. Shes not Trump, Marden said. And I voted for Trump, adding shes now looking at Democratic contenders. I feel like Amy could be my friend. 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. After scripting a scintillating win in the just-concluded Delhi polls, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is now likely to focus on the next municipal elections, sources said on Wednesday. In a near-repeat performance of 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday retained power with a stunning victory, winning 62 of the 70 assembly seats and leaving the BJP with just eight seats. The AAP had bagged 67 seats in 2015. "As the party has registered a landslide victory in the assembly elections, it will now focus on the next MCD polls," a source said. "The AAP will further strengthen organisational structure in view of the next civic polls," he said. In its manifesto, the AAP had promised to give Rs one crore to the kin of sanitation workers who die while performing duty. This move will garner support of the workers of the corporations, the sources said. The BJP, which swept the 2017 civic polls in Delhi, had betted big on its municipal leaders to shore up the party's fortune for the February 8 polls. Four former mayors, as many deputy mayors and other municipal leaders, serving and former councillors of the three BJP-led civic bodies (NDMC, SDMC and EDMC), had fought the polls, numbering about 20. However, the saffron party received a major drubbing at the hands of the AAP and could get eight seats, while the Congress again drew a blank as in the 2015 Delhi polls. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the AAP's vote share was 53.57 per cent. The BJP got 38.51 per cent of the total votes. The Congress performed very poorly with 4.26 per cent vote share. The AAP's stupendous victory comes nearly eight months after it suffered a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls in which the party drew a blank, while the BJP won all the seven seats. The erstwhile unified MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) was trifurcated into the NDMC, SDMC and the EDMC in 2012. The BJP has been ruling the civic bodies for over a decade now. Incidentally, the ruling BJP had not fielded its sitting councillors in the MCD elections in 2017 and brought in fresh faces, including four Muslim candidates. There are a total of 272 wards in the three municipal corporations in the city, including 104 each in South and North Delhi municipal corporations, and 64 in the East Delhi municipal corporation. In the 2017 civic polls, the BJP had scored a hat-trick, comfortably retaining control of the three municipal corporations, dealing a severe blow to the Aam Aadmi Party and dashing the Congress' hope of a revival. Winning 181 out of 270 wards where elections were held, the saffron party had added muscle to its decade-long domination of the corporations, effortlessly bucking anti-incumbency by riding on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP's corporation-wise tally was: SDMC - 70, NDMC - 64 and EDMC - 47 as against AAP's tally of 16, 21 and 11, respectively. The Congress had finished last with 12, 15 and three wards. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking its intervention on a plea which wanted removal of protestors from Shaheen Bagh here, claiming that the petition is "collusive" and the administration has "deliberately blocked" roads connecting Delhi to Noida and Faridabad. Azad has claimed in his application that the petition pending before the apex court has been filed in "collusion with the central government", which controls the Delhi Police, and it can have a far-reaching impact on the human rights of the people. He has intervention in the appeal filed by advocate Amit Sahni, who had earlier moved the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Delhi Police to ensure smooth traffic flow on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, which was blocked by anti-CAA protesters since December 15 last year. While dealing with Sahni's plea, the high court had asked the local authorities to deal with the situation keeping in mind law and order. The apex court had on February 10 said the anti-CAA protestors, who are holding agitation at Shaheen Bagh, cannot block public road and create inconvenience for others. The top court had said that people are entitled to protest but it has to be done in an area identified for agitations and it cannot be done on a public road or a park. Azad, along with two others, has filed the intervention application and alleged that alternate roads have been blocked by the administration on the pretext of the Shaheen Bagh protests to deliberately cause traffic jams for commuters in Delhi, Noida and Faridabad and create inconvenience. "The present petition (of Sahni) has been filed in collusion with the central government...the intervenors apprehend that the real facts will not be placed before this court, and that the court may be misled into passing orders that will be used by the central government as a pretext to commit mass genocide of innocent women and citizens of this country," it said. "The allegation of road block by protestors is just an excuse and the administration has deliberately blocked various roads on the pretext of Shaheen Bagh demonstrations to deliberately cause inconvenience to the public," the application said. The petition said the Shaheen Bagh protests are "peaceful" and "iconic" and is being replicated in most of the major cities and states across the country. "The Shaheen Bagh protests are peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, as well as discrimination by removing reservation for SC, ST, OBCs and has the support of over 85 per cent of citizens comprising the Muslim minority, SC, ST, OBC and other citizens who do not subscribe to the Manuvadi ideology," the plea said. Restrictions have been imposed on the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch and the Okhla underpass, which were closed on December 15 last year due to the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Besides Sahni, former Delhi MLA Nand Kishore Garg has also filed a petition in the apex court seeking directions to authorities to remove the protestors from Shaheen Bagh. The apex court is scheduled to hear the pleas of Sahni and Garg on February 17. In his plea, Garg has sought laying down of comprehensive and exhaustive guidelines relating to outright restrictions for holding protests or agitations leading to obstruction of public place. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the government of not taking the coronavirus threat seriously. The Corona Virus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical, he tweeted. The Corona Virus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical.#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/E5Aqg9vYIo Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 12, 2020 The toll in the coronavirus outbreak in China has risen to 1114. Ninety of the victims died Tuesday. On January 31 and February 1, the central government evacuated over 600 Indians from Chinas Wuhan city, the epicentre of the outbreak. The evacuees who were flown to Delhi are now housed in two quarantine centres one in the national capital and the other in Manesar in Haryana. Also Watch l Health Minister Harsh Vardhan lists steps taken to counter coronavirus The government has also set up screening facilities in many airports, seaports and border check points with Nepal to detect any possible case of coronavirus positive patients. India has so far reported three positive cases of the virus, all of them Kerala. Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Keralas Wayanad. Two of patients, one in Thrissur and the other in Alappuzha, have since recovered and the state health authorities are waiting for the final results from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. According to a Kerala health department official, the third patient in Kasargode (north Kerala) is also responding well to treatment. Kerala had also put hundreds of others including many who have returned from China in quarantine to stop possible infection. On February 3, the Kerala government had declared a state of calamity after the third positive case was reported before lifting the status four days later after one positive case of coronavirus turned negative and tests in 67 suspected patients gave clean chits. The state government carried out a massive drive to contain the secondary infection including an awareness campaign at the grassroots level. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 17:32 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20641bc00 1 National Religious-Affairs-Ministry,Catholic,Catholic-church,Catholicism,Fachrul-Razi,religion,civil-servants,BKN Free After six months of the position being filled by Muslim officials, Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi has named Aloma Sarumaha, a Catholic, as the acting head of the Catholic Community Guidance Directorate General. The appointment came after the ministry was flooded with criticism after a bureaucratic blunder led to two Muslim officials filling the post in succession. The order letter has been signed by the religious affairs minister. Per today, acting head of the Catholic Community Guidance Directorate General is Aloma Sarumaha, ministry secretary-general Nur Kholis Setiawan said on Tuesday in a release made available to The Jakarta Post. Prior to the appointment, Aloma Sarumaha held the position of secretary in the same directorate-general. Nur himself had previously been appointed to the role in January, replacing another Muslim official, Muhammadiyah Amin, who had filled the position since the previous director-general Eusabius Binsasi, who was a Catholic, retired last July. Read also: Is the pope Catholic? Ministry apologizes for appointing Muslim as acting Catholic affairs director-general Nur took the blame for the gaffe, saying he had given mistaken advice to the ministrys top brass after misreading a National Civil Service Agency (BKN) circular that regulated who could temporarily fill vacant positions in ministries and other state institutions. I apologize for this oversight, Nur said in a statement on Monday night. (gis) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya and Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 18:44 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206424fd7 1 National coronavirus,China,Bali-Airport,Lion-Air,Garuda-Indonesia,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,nCoV-19,Weibo,Anhui-province Free Authorities in Anhui province, China, have reported that a Chinese national who visited Bali late last month has tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as Indonesian authorities scramble to verify the information on Wednesday. The administration announced via Weibo on Feb. 6 that the Huainan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Feb. 5 that a patient, identified only as Jin, flew on Lion Air flight JT2618 from Wuhan the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak to Bali on Jan. 22. The patient stayed on the island for about a week before flying on Garuda Indonesia flight GA858 from Bali to Shanghai on Jan. 28. The patient was found to have been infected with the virus that causes the disease on Feb. 5 by Huainan CDC according to the Weibo post. For passengers on the aforementioned flights, please enact preventative measures immediately, wrote the Anhui administration on its Weibo account, which is a local version of Twitter. "Please don't go out for a while and if you get a fever, go to the nearest hospital," the statement said. "Please use masks when you travel to the medical center and don't use public transportation," it went on. Garuda Indonesia spokesman Dicky Irchamsyah said he had not yet received a report about the case but will check up on it. Lion Air spokesman Danang Mandala separately said he would also look into the case. Meanwhile, the Health Ministrys disease control and environmental health director general, Anung Sugihantono, said his office had not yet received the information and was still confirming it" but he was quick to say that it was "a rumor". The ministry advises regular washing of hands, avoiding uncooked meat and wearing face masks when sick to minimize the chances of contracting the disease. The regulatory body also has two hotlines for more information: 021-5210-411 and 0812-1212-3119. The Post's verification The Post first obtained the information about the Anhui administrations statement from a Chinese citizen who sent a letter to us on Wednesday. The citizen provided two links: one was the Weibo post and the other was a search page for "Epidemic situation, public transportation epidemic inquiry". We asked two Chinese journalists from two respected media in China to check whether the links are official or not and both confirmed that the links are official. The Chinese citizen who first informed us about the alert from the Anhui provincial authorities provided an English translation of the Weibo post and we also asked an Indonesian journalist friend who understands Chinese to translate it into Indonesian. The Post also ran a search with keyword "GA858" on the public transportation history site and found a result dated Jan. 28 that contained a link to the Weibo post from Anhui. We also searched the site with the keyword "JT2618" but it did not show any result. The Post tried to contact the Anhui and Huainan CDC offices on Wednesday to find more information about the patient but our calls were not answered. Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun told the Post he had yet to receive any information about the matter but he would find out more information. A senior judge has slammed authorities for failing to bring a prisoner to court for sentencing, as the release of new figures underlines the legal profession's frustrations at the impact of Victoria's soaring prison population on hearings. The lack of free cells at Shepparton police station on January 31 meant Corrections Victoria and police had nowhere to hold a man who was to be sentenced that day for serious sex offences from the year 2000, against three girls aged under 10. A prisoner is led into court in Melbourne. Credit:Penny Stephens His victims, now women in their 20s, and their supporters were at court expecting a degree of closure but were instead told that Corrections had not brought the man from prison because all the available cells were full. The Shepparton court house does not have a holding cell so prisoners are kept at the nearby police station. County Court judge Mark Taft said the incident was "unacceptable and indeed disgraceful", and showed a "complete disregard" for the victims. The judge was so incensed that he sought an explanation from the police station's senior sergeant. The Queen's cousin Lady Tatiana Mountbatten has shared a glimpse into a glamorous girl's holiday in Kenya, showing how the royal family camp in style. Lady Tatiana, 29, who lives in Chelsea, is the 4th Marquess of Milford Haven and the Queen's, 93, second cousin. The passionate horse-rider has taken to Instagram over the last few days to share enviable snaps of her safari holiday, which has included riding alongside giraffes in the rhino sanctuary Borana Conservancy. Tatiana went on to reveal how the group had enjoyed 'many' G&Ts by their campfire, before sleeping out on double beds under the stars. The Queen's cousin Lady Tatiana Mountbatten, 29, who lives in Chelsea, has shared a glimpse at her adventurous vacation in Kenya and took to Instagram this week to post picture of her glamorous surroundings The royal was joined by friends Olympian Charlotte Dujardin and close friend Leah Beckett on the girl's holiday away. In one of the snaps, Tatiana could be seen beaming as she rode alongside a giraffe in the rhino sanctuary. She captioned the picture: 'This is Sundance, the most perfectly behaved stallion Ive ever met.' The horse-mad Lady Tatiana went on to share another snap alongside Charlotte and Leah as they rode through the savanna. The royal has shared a number of enviable pictures on her Instagram page as she explored the African landscape She also shared a photograph perched atop a clifftop overlooking the stunning scenery, writing: 'Leaving London and my vertigo behind.' Tatiana and her friends finished off their trip by saying they'd slept inside the national park, with the horse-mad socialite revealing the camping had been her 'favourite part' of the trip. Sharing a picture as she relaxed with a gin and tonic in hand, she talked through the stages of her glamorous camping adventure. She said the first stage had been to 'arrive at camp' and enjoy a 'G&T ASAP.' The 29-year-old revealed one of the highlights of her trip was a camping adventure when she slept in the wilderness The royal went on to say: 'The tents are literally a mosquito nets and off the floor to keep away from creepy crawlies. Horses on picket line.' She said the group went on to have 'more g&ts by the fire, and supper' before listening to 'silly stories of close shaves with leopards'. She added that she had hardly slept because she was 'certain there was a leopard outside the tent' but added 'everyone else slept like logs.' The royal shared pictures with her Instagram followers as she relaxed by a campfire and watched the sunset The 29-year-old called camping in the luxurious covered double beds 'her favourite part of the trip' Horse-mad Lady Tatiana once wanted to be a ski instructor, but now works training dressage horses. Her polo-playing father George swelled his fortune by founding and selling price-comparison company uSwitch, and is thought to live in Switzerland. After stints in Denmark and Germany, Tatty has settled in London, where she runs a very smart horse yard. More Than 2,400 Fetuses Found at Illinois Home to Be Buried More than 2,400 fetuses found last year at the suburban Chicago home of one of the Midwests most prolific abortion doctors will be buried on Feb. 12 in Indiana, a state with some of the nations most stringent pro-life laws. Indianas top law enforcement official will preside over the mass burial in South Bend. The service comes five months after relatives sorting through Dr. Ulrich Klopfers belongings after his Sept. 3 death came across 2,246 sets of preserved fetal remains stacked floor to ceiling in his garage. Later, 165 more were found in a trunk of a car at a business where Klopfer kept several vehicles. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill will speak at the burial and later offer an update on the investigation into Klopfer and whether anyone assisted him in moving the remains to his home in Crete, Illinois, about a mile from the Indiana state line. The burial plot at Southlawn Cemetery was donated by the Palmer Funeral Home, and all the remains will be laid to rest in the same grave, Hills office said. Klopfer, who was 79, performed tens of thousands of abortions over 40 years, mainly in Indiana and often as the only abortion doctor serving South Bend, Gary, and Fort Wayne. He was a reviled figure among pro-life activists, who held weekly demonstrations outside his clinics, sometimes blocking entryways. Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill speaks during a news conference about the fetal remains found at the home of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer in South Bend, Ind., Oct. 3, 2019. (Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via AP/ File) Pro-life activists heralded Hills role in making the burial happen. Im so grateful that, finally, the bodies of these little boys and girls will be treated with the dignity they deserved, said Cathie Humbarger, who heads Right to Life in northeast Indiana. Indiana is one of just a few states with a law mandating burial or cremation of fetal remains after abortions. The law did not take immediate effect because of court challenges after then-Gov. Mike Pence signed it into law in 2016. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May upheld the law. Previously, during Klopfers career, clinics could turn over fetal remains to processors that dispose of human tissue or other medical material by incineration. Authorities have said the fetal remains in Klopfers garage were from abortions in the 2000s. Will County Sheriffs patrol car is stationed outside the home of deceased Dr. Ulrich Klopfer in unincorporated Crete, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2019. (Teresa Crawford/AP Photo/File) Planned Parenthood officials have long said that such laws will increase costs to clinics, making them less economically viable and thereby reducing womens access to abortion. As it is, nine facilities in all of Indiana provided abortions in 2017, according to the abortion-rights Guttmacher Institute, citing the latest available data. Klopfers career started unraveling in the early 2000s with a flurry of complaints, including that he performed an abortion on a 10-year-old girl raped by her uncle and did not notify law enforcement. His career effectively ended in 2016, when authorities suspended his medical license, citing, among other things, shoddy post-op monitoring of his patients. Klopfer complained that conservative state officials were in cahoots with pro-life groups to close him down. Mass burials of aborted fetuses are rare but have happened before. Around 16,500 fetuses were buried at a Los Angeles cemetery after their discovery in the 1980s in a cargo container repossessed from the home of a former operator of a medical laboratory. A headstone reads, In memory of the 16,500 precious unborn, buried here, Oct. 6, 1985. Theres no indication Klopfer told others about his grim collection, including his wife. And no one has a clear understanding of his motive. Some have speculated that it was part of a hoarding disorder or that he was trying to save disposal costs as he racked up legal bills suing and being sued by abortion opponents. News reports about Klopfer going back decades portrayed him as combative and quick to give the finger to protesters. By Michael Tarm and Rick Callahan HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to take up massive protests against anti-Dalit and backward classes attitude of the BJP government at the centre. A decision in this regard was taken after senior leaders of the TPCC met at Gandhi Bhawan on Wednesday under the chairmanship of state party chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy in the background of Supreme Courts verdict on reservations for SCs and STs. Addressing media after the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy recalled Supreme Court saying that reservation in promotions was not a fundamental right. However, the BJP-led government at the centre did not utter a single word against the SC verdict. The TPCC chief charged that BJP is trying to deprive SCs, STs and BCs of reservations in the name of Supreme Courts verdict. He announced that a dharna would be held on February 16 at Indira Park against the attitude of centre towards reservations. He assured that Congress would fight to protect SC, ST and other backward class reservations at the national level, alleging that the central and state governments are suppressing the rights of SCs and STs. At the meeting, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka recalled that the Congress had introduced a number of laws to ensure that Dalits, BCs and minorities lived a dignified life. But the present BJP government has hatched a conspiracy to remove reservations. The CLP leader charged that when former MP V. Hanumantha Rao attempted to install a statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar at Punjagutta Circle, the TRS government blocked the move and even destroyed the statue. He asserted that if the state government fails to install Ambedkars statue at Punjagutta, the Congress would do so. BAY CITY, MI - With counties around the state considering "Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions, the Bay County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 11, opted for a different approach to the issue. The Board of Commissioners passed a resolution proposed by 7th District Commissioner Michael Lutz that does not designate the county as a Second Amendment sanctuary, but instead emphasizes the boards overall support of the Constitution. The Board of Commissioners is, by passing this resolution, reaffirming our commitment to serve you. We also reaffirm our oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and the State of Michigan, said Lutz. The resolution states that the Bay County Corporation Counsel determined a sanctuary declaration would have exceeded Bay Countys authority. We will, by our action, continue to support our Second Amendment rights as one of our laws, said Lutz. We do not have the power to tell the sheriff or the prosecuting attorney of Bay County how to do their job or selectively do their job. Lutzs resolution passed 6-1, with 1st District Commissioner Michael Duranczyk casting the lone dissenting vote. Bay County joins other Michigan counties that have addressed the issue, which has gained traction after the state of Virginia began considering so-called red flag laws allowing law enforcement to temporarily confiscate someones firearms if they are determined to be a threat to themselves or others. The action taken by the Bay County board on Tuesday met with mixed reviews. The Bay County Chapter of the Michigan for Sanctuary Counties group, which has spearheaded the local push for a Bay County Second Amendment sanctuary, submitted its own resolution earlier this month to the board for consideration and was hoping that the board would vote on it. Were looking for an up-or-down vote on our resolution, member Eric Gladwish said. The submitted resolution asked the board to declare its support of the Second Amendment by making such a declaration while affirming allowing law enforcement to use its discretion to not enforce against any citizen an unconstitutional firearms law. The groups resolution was not voted on by the Bay County Board of Commissioners. Chair of the Bay County Sanctuary Counties group Padraic Ingle said the groups focus may shift from enlisting county support to seeking state action on the issue. Retired Bay County probate judge Karen Tighe praised Bay Countys decision. Im not opposed to the Second Amendment at all," she said. But I do believe that when Corporation Counsel looked at the resolution that some of the Second Amendment supporters have proposed, an accurate legal argument was made for the fact that we have three branches of government and the legislature passes laws and the judges decide on whether or not those laws are constitutional. Lutzs resolution was supported by Carol Sullivan, a volunteer with the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense group. I think they really nailed it, they upheld their support of the Second Amendment and regular law and order. Both are important," she said. For those who are concerned about the Second Amendment, Lutz reminded them of the power that they had as voters. You need to go to the polls and vote for the people that you want in Washington to represent you and the people in Lansing to represent you so that you dont have to be concerned about whether you can carry a gun, whether it be open carry, whether it be hunting, whether it be concealed weapons," Lutz said. Related news: 5 things to know about the Second Amendment Sanctuary movement in Michigan Gun rights resolution up for consideration in Berrien County Lapeer County votes to become a Second Amendment Sanctuary You cannot have our guns: Group urges Jackson to be 2nd Amendment sanctuary county Gov. Whitmer, Democratic leaders push extreme risk gun bills after national shootings While stop-and-frisk plagued New Yorks minority communities, in Chicago, police similarly made street stops that a study by the American Civil Liberties Union found targeted blacks and Latinos in lower-income communities. The 2015 study found that Chicago police made more than 250,000 stops that did not lead to an arrest in mid-2014 which was much higher than similar stops in New York. The Chicago study and a subsequent lawsuit led to reform measures that are still being worked through. Dr. David Grogan credits USOSM as being the first company of its kind focused on the OMS specialty. Dr. Grogan understands the OMS profession and its surgeons on a deep and personal level. U.S. Oral Surgery Management (USOSM) a specialty management services company headquartered in Irving, Texas, that exclusively serves premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons is pleased to announce the renowned Dr. David Grogan will join USOSM. Dr. Grogan will spearhead the companys physician recruitment program, effective immediately. As an educator, industry leader and former private practitioner, Dr. Grogan understands the OMS profession and its surgeons on a deep and personal level. He has a reputation for compassion, professionalism and thought leadership throughout the industry. Attracting new, board-certified oral surgeons and associates to join our partner practices is critical to practice growth and our long-term success. Dr. Grogan will be a tremendous asset to our team, and were honored to have him help us in this important role, says Richard Hall, USOSM president and CEO. For the past 20 years, Dr. Grogan has worked for Texas A&M College of Dentistry, where he served as the oral and maxillofacial surgery department head and associate professor. In addition, he is an alumnus (class of 1981 and 1986). Dr. Grogan was elected teacher of the year multiple times during his tenure, and his annual teaching load included 87 hours of lecture in 10 different courses, 72 hours of lab instruction and 430 hours of clinical teaching, according to the college. Before joining Texas A&M, Dr. Grogan was in private practice for 14 years in Waco, Texas, where he continues to make his home today. In addition, Dr. Grogan has delivered more than 100 professional presentations in cities throughout the nation, and has served as president of several industry organizations. His past presidencies include the Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the North Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Central Texas Dental Society. USOSM is the first company of its kind focused on the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery and they provide a unique partnership model and culture. Theyve already been successful in partnering with premier practices and leaders within the specialty, says Dr. Grogan. I look forward to being part of the high quality team theyve assembled and contributing to their continued growth. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, USOSM has partner practices spanning six states: Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, Minnesota and Alabama. A shared services organization, USOSM collaborates with premier oral and maxillofacial surgeons to offer a partnership solution for continued and accelerated practice success. USOSM provides operational, marketing and administrative support services, reinvests resources, and applies best practices to improve clinical and financial performance and produce steadier, more profitable growth for all. Hopeful of all its problems getting resolved this year, embattled Sahara group's chief has said two large foreign investors have been roped in for real estate and city development businesses and nearly Rs 22,000 crore deposited with regulator Sebi will also eventually come back. Roy has also assured all Sahara investors that they would get their invested amount with full interest and an additional interest would be paid even for a day's delay. In a letter to investors on the occasion of the group's 42nd Foundation Day, celebrated on February 1, Roy said the group always kept intact its tradition of timely payments and excellence in services but there has been delay in payments during the last seven years at certain places due to "some undesirable circumstances". Referring to a long-running dispute with capital market regulator Sebi over funds garnered by two group firms through issuance of certain bonds, Roy said the entire amount generated through sale or mortgage of assets or from joint ventures had to be deposited in a Sebi-Sahara account due to an embargo imposed by the Supreme Court. "Out of this, we cannot use even a single rupee for organisational work or even towards repayment to the esteemed investors," Roy wrote. Roy said Sahara has huge land parcels but developing townships or colonies on them has been difficult due to lack of funds for internal infrastructural development and for the requirement of depositing in Sebi-Sahara account any advance payment taken from residential unit buyers. He, however, said these problems would be resolved soon as "two esteemed foreign investors with huge funds are coming with us in our real estate and city development businesses". "Keeping in mind the directions of the Supreme Court, certain agreements have been signed, which will resolve Sahara's problems within this year, that is 2020," Roy said. Sebi had ordered Real Estate Corporation Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd (SHICL) in 2011 to refund the money raised from around three crore investors through Optionally Fully Convertible Bonds (OFCDs). After a long process of appeals and cross-appeals, the Supreme Court on August 31, 2012 upheld Sebi's directions asking the two firms to refund the money collected from investors with 15 per cent interest. Sahara was eventually asked to deposit an estimated Rs 24,000 crore with Sebi for further refund to investors, though the group has always maintained it amounted to "double payment" as it had already refunded more than 95 per cent investors directly. Giving an update on the Sahara-Sebi matter, the government informed Parliament this Monday that Sahara group has deposited Rs 15,448.67 crore to 'Sebi-Sahara Refund" account as on February 1, 2020, while a cheque of Rs 41.59 crore has also been given by the group in late January, which the court has directed to be accepted without prejudice. Replying to a Lok Sabha question, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur further said that Sebi had received 19,560 applications in total involving 53,361 bond certificates for an aggregate amount of Rs 81.3 crore. Out of this, Sebi has made refunds with respect to 14,146 applications, involving 39,499 certificates, for an aggregate amount of Rs 109.86 crore (including Rs 58.52 crore as principal and Rs 51.34 crore as an interest), the minister said. Thakur also said Sebi had issued advertisements advising investors to file their refund claims and last such advertisements were issued on March 26 and June 19 in the year 2018, informing the investors that July 2, 2018 was the last date for receiving refund applications and no claim would be accepted after the cut-off date. The investors were told it was their last and final opportunity to claim refund. Talking about the refund process, Roy said in his letter to investors that nearly Rs 22,000 crore was deposited in the Sebi-Sahara account (including the principal amount and the interest accrued on the same) till date, but Sebi could repay little over Rs 100 crore to investors despite giving four rounds of advertisements in 154 newspapers across the country. "In the fourth advertisement, Sebi had clearly written that hereafter, it will not entertain any claims. This last advertisement appeared about a year ago, which means that no further payments are pending. As per the instructions of the Supreme Court, Rs 22,000 crore will eventually come back to Sahara after verification," Roy said. As per the latest available figures, the pending refund applications with Sebi are estimated to involve maximum Rs 20-25 crore, excluding interest component. In its last annual report, Sebi had said Rs 20,173 crore (the recovered amount along with the interest earned on them after providing for refunds made to the investors) was deposited in nationalised banks as on March 31, 2019 as per the Supreme Court order regarding the money lying in 'Sebi-Sahara Refund' account. Roy said various restrictions are making it difficult for the group to do business and things could have been set right much earlier "if only we had a bit of relaxation to do business in housing development". He said the group has thousands of acres of land across India, but they are spread over a number of large parcels of 100-300 acres and there are no ready buyers for such big plots due to a prevalent downturn in the real estate market. While there are a few willing buyers, they are offering one-fourth or even less of the real value, but a deal at such low rates is not possible because Sahara is not allowed to make any sale below 90 per cent of the government circle rate, he said. BP's new CEO Bernard Looney set a goal to reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions and become a net-zero carbon company by 2050. In a Wednesday morning statement, BP said the company aims to fight climate change by reducing the carbon footprint from its global operations, as well as the oil and natural gas it sells, to net zero -- meaning the company will be responsible taking more greenhouse gas emissions out the atmosphere than it produces. BP produces the equivalent of 55 million tons of carbon dioxide per year from global operations. Another 360 million tons is released from the oil and natural gas it sells, company figures show. Oil & Gas: BP's outgoing CEO warns about moving too fast on climate change During a Wednesday morning webcast, Looney said the company would achieve the goal by employing emissions-reducing technology, offering more low-carbon or no-carbon products, and supporting policy changes such as carbon pricing, which encourages companies to reduce carbon emissions by taxing them. "We can be a force for good to make this change happen," said Looney, who took over as CEO this month. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox Although headquartered in London, BP has a large presence in Houston and Texas. The company filed for 243 drilling permits in Texas last year and has filed for 44 so far this year. The company's nearly 3,000 leases in Texas produced nearly 1.9 million barrels of oil and 280 billion cubic feet of natural gas from January to November in 2019. Figures about how much natural gas the company flares in its Texas operations were not immediately available but with its net-zero pledge, BP is joining the ranks the of Houston oilfield service company Baker Hughes and Spanish oil major Repsol in being carbon neutral by 2050. In a statement, Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp applauded BP's decision and policy leadership but noted that the announcement was light on details. The direction is good, and we look forward to hearing more about the specifics," Kupp said. "Time will tell if he gets BP where it needs to go. Its real actions and verifiable emissions reductions that will be the measure of success. Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC, the "Company" or "UEC") applauds President Trump's "Budget for America's Future" which includes a 10-year, $150M per year program ($1.5 billion total), to purchase U.S. mined uranium for a strategic national Uranium Reserve. In the budget, the Administration noted that: "Establishing a Uranium Reserve provides assurance of availability of uranium in the event of a market disruption and supports strategic U.S. fuel cycle capabilities. This action addresses immediate challenges to the production of domestic uranium and reflects the Administration's Nuclear Fuel Working Group (NFWG) priorities. The NFWG will continue to evaluate issues related to uranium supply chain and fuel supply." In commenting on the Uranium Reserve proposal, US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette indicated: "This is the very beginning of a long process to revitalize in many respects the entirety of the nuclear fuel cycle. What you've seen in the President's budget is a request for $150 million to begin the process of purchasing uranium. But it won't stop there." Former Secretary of Energy and UEC Chairman, Spencer Abraham, stated: "We appreciate the Trump Administration's recognition of the national security risk from U.S. over reliance on imported uranium for 99% of uranium supplied to the commercial nuclear reactor fleet. The establishment of a Uranium Reserve will allow domestic uranium companies to restart some operations and begin to rebuild domestic uranium mining capability. We hope Congress will support the Administration's proposal and funding request. The sooner action is taken the sooner we can put people back to work in the uranium mining sector and begin reducing our overdependence on uranium imports from countries that are not always aligned with U.S. interests." President and CEO, Amir Adnani, added: "The Administration should be applauded for taking steps to revive and expand domestic nuclear fuel production as outlined in President Trump's July 12, 2019 memo establishing the NFWG. We are pleased President Trump has taken the first step to act on the recommendations of the NFWG by initiating a program to purchase U.S. mined uranium for America's strategic Uranium Reserve. This is great news for the domestic uranium mining industry, and we look forward to working with the NFWG to help fulfil the program's objectives." Since inception in 2005, UEC's main strategic focus has been on acquiring and developing U.S. in-situ recovery (ISR) projects that are an environmentally friendly and a lower cost alternative to conventional mining. The Company has a near term extraction profile of 4 million pounds of U3O8 per year from our South Texas and Wyoming ISR projects. The Company's South Texas hub-and-spoke strategy contains the fully licensed and operational Hobson Processing plant with a capacity of 2 million pounds a year, and license amendments pending, to increase that capacity. Our South Texas Palangana mine has proven production capabilities and received renewal permits in 2019, authorizing extraction for an additional ten years. UEC has made the only new discovery of a uranium resource* in the U.S. over the last decade at Burke Hollow in South Texas, and has been aggressively advancing the project towards extraction over the last two years. Burke Hollow has received all its major permits, has an expanded Production Area 1 after this past year's drilling campaign and can be a timely source of supply for the national Uranium Reserve. The Company's Reno Creek ISR project in Wyoming is the largest, licensed, pre-production project in the U.S. with a Measured and Indicated Resource of 32 million tons grading 0.041% U3O8 containing 26 million pounds of uranium and Inferred Resources of 1.92 million tons grading 0.039% U3O8 containing 1.49 million pounds*. Reno Creek is licensed to produce 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year and received a modified Permit to Construct in 2019, allowing the Company to move forward with construction of ISR wellfields that could also contribute to the U.S. Uranium Reserve Program. About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company. In South Texas, the Company's hub-and-spoke operations are anchored by the fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility which is central to the Palangana, Burke Hollow and Goliad ISR projects. In Wyoming, UEC controls the Reno Creek project, which is the largest permitted, pre-construction ISR uranium project in the U.S. Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of uranium projects in Arizona, New Mexico and Paraguay, a uranium/vanadium project in Colorado and one of the highest-grade and largest undeveloped Ferro-Titanium deposits in the world, located in Paraguay. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. Stock Exchange Information: NYSE American: UEC +Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol: U6Z WKN: AJDRR ISN: US916896103 *Notice to U.S. Investors The mineral resources referred to herein have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101 and are not compliant with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Industry Guide 7 guidelines. In addition, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to herein are economically or legally mineable. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company are or may constitute "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws and including, without limitation, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, for which the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other 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, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as forward-looking statements. Such 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 future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp Related Links http://www.uraniumenergy.com/ Investigators are searching an area after a human skull was found in a wooded area of Dauphin County. Hikers discovered the skull on Sunday in a wooded area north of the 7800 block of Fishing Creek Valley Road in West Hanover Township, according to state police. State police, along with members of the Dauphin County Coroners Office and a forensic anthropology team from Mercyhurst University, searched the area on Tuesday. At this time no, additional remains have been located, and further testing is necessary to determine other identifying characteristics of the skull," according to a news release from state police. The analysis process will include support from the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification." State police will continue to search the area for additional remains and investigate leads surrounding area missing persons cases. The news release notes the skull was discovered in the area where Heike Leich went missing in 2007. Leich, 47, Harrisburg, was reported missing by Joseph Hawthorne, her common-law spouse on Aug. 8, 2007, according to state police. She was last seen in her driveway on Fishing Creek Valley Road, West Hanover Township. 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. Her new Riverdale spin-off series Katy Keene launched earlier this month. Lucy Hale made a splash Tuesday at the premiere of her new horror film Fantasy Island in Los Angeles. The 30-year-old actress looked effortlessly chic in a floral gown. Leading lady: Lucy Hale, 30, made a splash Tuesday at the premiere of her new horror film Fantasy Island in Los Angeles Lucy bared her trim arms in a black off-the-shoulder dress. The floor-length outfit was decorated in stunning floral designs and featured a ruched midriff. It had a thick black strip of fabric running down her front, and she paired the ensemble with a matching set of pointy black heels. The Pretty Little Liars alumna wore her lustrous raven tresses in a stylish bob, and she carried along a sleek octagonal clutch. Gun show: Lucy bared her trim arms in a black off-the-shoulder dress Eye-catching: The floor-length outfit was decorated in stunning floral designs and Back in black: The Pretty Little Liars alumna wore her lustrous raven tresses in a stylish bob, and she carried along a sleek octagonal clutch Fantasy Island is a reimagined version of the ABC fantasy series of the same name that aired from 19771984. Each week, guests would pay $50,000 to experience the fantasy of their choice on the secluded island, though they often found it wasn't quite what they expected. The remake recasts the series as a horror film in which guests on a remote island find their fantasies turning into nightmares. Old school: Fantasy Island is a reimagined version of the ABC fantasy series of the same name that aired from 19771984 Amazing experience: Each week, guests would pay $50,000 to experience the fantasy of their choice on the secluded island, though they often found it wasn't quite what they expected; still from Fantasy Island Chilling: The remake recasts the series as a horror film in which guests on a remote island find their fantasies turning into nightmares Lucy's co-star Charlotte McKinney also favored black at the premiere, though she opted for a more risque look. She wore a lacy off-the-shoulder bustier-style top that highlighted her cleavage, and she completed the look with black flared slacks and pointy silver heels. She posed on the red carpet with her co-stars Jimmy O. Yang and Ryan Hansen. Jimmy, best known for his hilarious role in HBO's Silicon Valley, was on point with a pink suit decorated with tropical scenes, and Ryan wore exactly the same thing. Revealing: Lucy's co-star Charlotte McKinney also favored black at the premiere, though she opted for a more risque look. She wore a lacy off-the-shoulder bustier-style top that highlighted her cleavage, and she completed the look with black flared slacks and pointy silver heels New friends: She posed on the red carpet with her co-stars Jimmy O. Yang and Ryan Hansen Twinning: Jimmy, best known for his hilarious role in HBO's Silicon Valley, was on point with a pink suit decorated with tropical scenes, and Ryan wore exactly the same thing Michael Pena takes over in this new version as Mr. Roarke, the man who sets everyone's fantasy in motion. He looked dapper in a gray suit with a silver striped tie and classic browline glasses. Mr. Robot's Portia Doubleday stunned in a lacy sheer black dress. Paris Fitz-Henley showed off her winning smile in an eye-catching dress with a lacy beige top and a coral skirt. Mysterious figure: Michael Pena takes over in this new version as Mr. Roarke, the man who sets everyone's fantasy in motion. He looked dapper in a gray suit with a silver striped tie Sultry: Mr. Robot's Portia Doubleday stunned in a lacy sheer black dress. Her long blonde locks cascaded down her back Beaming: Paris Fitz-Henley showed off her winning smile in an eye-catching dress with a lacy beige top All smiles: Her outfit featured a coral skirt and zigzagging black trim; pictured with Lucy and Portia Ashley Iaconetti rocked a casual look with a black Goofty Movie T-shirt, acid wash jeans and black open-toe heels. Her husband Jared Haibon was similarly casual with his denim jacket, black hoodie and black jeans. Vanderpump Rules' Scheana Shay wore an edgy black crop top with a matching jacket, black pants with unusual straps attached her her midriff and black combat boots. Cartoonish: Ashley Iaconetti rocked a casual look with a black Goofty Movie T-shirt, acid wash jeans and black open-toe heels Lovebirds: Her husband Jared Haibon was similarly casual with his denim jacket, black hoodie and black jeans Toned tummy: Vanderpump Rules' Scheana Shay wore an edgy black crop top with a matching jacket, black pants with unusual straps attached her her midriff and black combat boots Canadian actress Lola Tash stuck with a simple double-breasted black dress that showed off her toned arms. Her sister Nora Tash sparkled in an emerald green dress with a thick black Chanel belt around her midriff. Josh Diaz arrived in a tan suit, which he dressed down with a black sweater. Lookalikes: Canadian actress Lola Tash stuck with a simple double-breasted black dress that showed off her toned arms. Her sister Nora Tash sparkled in an emerald green dress with a thick black Chanel belt around her midriff Chiseled features: Josh Diaz arrived in a tan suit, which he dressed down with a black sweater Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Michael Rooker looked as if he was in a blue mood with his lustrous blue shirt and blue sunglasses. Horror producer extraordinaire Jason Blum had all eyes on him in a shining red suit and kaleidoscopic slip-on sneakers. Rounding out the creative team was director Jeff Wadlow, who previously directed Lucy in the critically reviled but commercially successful Blumhouse horror film Truth Or Dare. Too cool for school: Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Michael Rooker looked as if he was in a blue mood with his lustrous blue shirt and blue sunglasses Blood red: Horror producer extraordinaire Jason Blum had all eyes on him in a shining red suit and kaleidoscopic slip-on sneakers Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Kentucky...Illinois...Missouri... Ohio River at Paducah. Ohio River at Cairo. Ohio River at Olmsted Lock and Dam. .Recent heavy rainfall and snow melt will continue to keep water levels on the lower Ohio River in or near minor flood this week. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Ohio River at Paducah. * WHEN...Until early tomorrow afternoon. * IMPACTS...At 39.0 feet, Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 7:00 PM CST Monday the stage was 38.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise to a crest of 39.0 feet tomorrow morning. - Flood stage is 39.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && The market for small satellites is sure to boom in the years ahead. The United Kingdom aims to build a spaceport in the north of Scotland, the first on European soil. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) has also endorsed the idea of a national space-port. It is to serve as the pad for small-to-midsized launchers that haul research instruments and small satellites into space. These microlaunchers are engineered to carry a payload of up to 350 kilograms. Aerospike engines are an efficient means of powering these microlaunchers. They offer the welcome prospects of far less mass and far lower fuel consumption. A research team from Fraunhofer IWS and TU Dresden's Institute of Aerospace Engineering developed, manufactured and tested an aerospike engine over the past two years. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funded the project. What sets this aerospike engine apart from others is that its fuel injector, combustion chamber and nozzle are printed layer by layer in an additive manufacturing process called laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). The nozzle consists of a spike-like center-body designed to accelerate combustion gases. The technology behind aerospike engines dates back to the 1960s. But our ability to produce engines as efficient as this is owed to the freedom brought by additive manu-facturing and its embedding in conventional process chains, says Michael Muller, scientific assistant at the Additive Manufacturing Center Dresden (AMCD), which is jointly operated by Fraunhofer IWS and TU Dresden. Aerospike rocket engines promise fuel savings of around 30 percent over conventional rockets. They are also more com-pact than conventional systems, which reduces the overall systems mass. Every gram saved is worth its weight in gold in space flight because less fuel has to be taken into orbit. The heavier the overall system, the lighter its payload has to be, says Mirko Riede, group manager 3D manufacturing at Fraunhofer IWS and colleague of Michael Muller. The aerospike nozzle developed by Fraunhofer IWS and TU Dresden better adapts to the changing pressure on the trip from Earth to orbit. This makes it more efficient, so it burns less fuel than conventional engines. An additively manufactured nozzle with conformal cooling We opted for an additive way of manufacturing the metal rocket because the engine requires very good cooling and needs internal cooling channels. This complex regenerative cooling system with labyrinthine internal ducts cannot be milled or cast in conventional ways, says Riede. Applied layer by layer, the powder is then melted. This selective laser melting gradually builds a component with one-millimeter-wide cooling channels that follow the combustion chambers contours. Residual powder in the channels is then vacuumed out. This metal has to hold up to rigorous demands, remaining solid at high temperatures and conducting heat well to ensure optimum cooling. Temperatures of several thousand degrees Celsius prevail in the combustion chamber, so this does require active cooling, says Muller. Scientists at Fraunhofer IWS and TU Dresden are looking to the injection system in a bid to further boost engine efficiency. Called CFDSAT, this project has been underway since January 2020 with the Ariane Group and Siemens AG taking part as associated partners. Injectors pose major design and manufacturing challenges. Fuels first serve to cool the engine. They heat up and are then induced into the combustion chamber. Liquid oxygen and ethanol are added separately to be blended via an injector. The resulting gas mixture is ignited. It expands in the combustion chamber and then flows through a gap in the combustion chamber to be decompressed and accelerated by the nozzle, notes Muller, explaining how this engine produces thrust. Engine hot-fire test The Dresden-based researchers have already tested the prototype of the aerospike engine in a test cell at TU Dresdens Institute of Aerospace Engineering, achieving a burn time of 30 seconds. This process is special because there have been scant few precedents for aerospike nozzles tests. We have proven that a working liquid- propellant jet engine can be produced by way of additive manufacturing, says Muller. This project is one example of the close collaboration between the TU Dresden and non-university research institutes within a science cluster called the DRESDEN-concept. TU Dresden is responsible for the engines design and layout; Fraunhofer IWS for the manufacturing and material validation. Their first step was to adapt the design to the additive manufacturing process. The researchers then selected and characterized the material. Next, they produced the engines two components with the L-PBF method and reworked their functional surfaces. The components were joined by laser welding and a computed tomography scanner inspected for pores and other defects. This non-destructive evaluation can also determine if sintered powder is obstructing the cooling channels. This project demonstrates how AM processes can be integrated into todays process chains in a productive way across all industries to advance the state of the art in manufacturing. Mirko Riede Group Leader 3D-Manufacturing Fraunhofer-Institut fur Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS mirko.riede@iws.fraunhofer.de Phone +49 351 83391-3188 Winterbergstrae 28, 01277 Dresden www.iws.fraunhofer.de https://www.iws.fraunhofer.de/en/pressandmedia/press_releases/2020/presseinforma WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arabella Advisors, a Certified B Corporation that provides guidance and support to the world's leading philanthropists and impact investors, has announced that the company is opening its fifth office in Durham, North Carolina in the second quarter of 2020. Arabella Advisors will open the Durham office with roughly 20 staff and aims to grow the office into one of the company's largest. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Arabella Advisors also has offices in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York. After considering 12 locations, Arabella Advisors chose Durham because it is a growing, livable, affordable, and sophisticated metropolitan area that provides a great opportunity to recruit from a diverse talent pool, including highly skilled technology and accounting talent. Last year, Fortune called the Raleigh-Durham area America's third best city to work in. Sampriti Ganguli, Arabella Advisors' CEO, explained: "The Raleigh-Durham area scores very high on all major quality of life indices, has excellent public schools, and a commute time half that of other major cities." Ganguli added, "With this new office, Arabella Advisors will expand our geographic footprint to better serve the broad community of philanthropists, attract new talent, and retain the exceptional talent driving the firm's growth and helping our clients achieve their diverse social-impact goals." To support those clients, Arabella Advisors provides a wide range of advisory and implementation services, all designed to help foundations, corporations, and individual donors practice effective philanthropy and impact investing. Using networks and know-how built over 15 years in the field, Arabella helps clients turn inspiring philanthropic ideas into life-changing impact by engaging effectively with the right people, partners, and platforms to energize and empower their efforts. For more information about the company, its new office, and the range of services it offers related to strategic philanthropy and impact investing, visit ArabellaAdvisors.com. About Arabella Advisors Arabella Advisors was founded in 2005 to provide strategic guidance for effective philanthropy. Since then, the company has evolved into a mission-driven, Certified B Corporation that has helped hundreds of clients increase their philanthropic impact through thousands of projects spanning the social sector. For more information, visit ArabellaAdvisors.com. Media Contact Steve Sampson 202-595-1037 SOURCE Arabella Advisors Related Links http://ArabellaAdvisors.com The hard work now begins for the United Kingdom to shape an independent trade policy outside of the European Union. Brexit has finally happened after more than three years of negotiations, posturing, parliamentary shenanigans, two elections and considerable policy uncertainty. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The hard work now begins for the United Kingdom to shape an independent trade policy outside of the European Union. Brexit has finally happened after more than three years of negotiations, posturing, parliamentary shenanigans, two elections and considerable policy uncertainty. As the New York Times reports, the U.K. faces complex and arduous negotiations trying to maintain its privileged access to 450 million European consumers with zero tariffs or other trade restrictions. Its crucial for the U.K. to negotiate and sign some sort of trade agreement with the EU as soon as possible because the transitional period ends on Dec. 31, 2020. After that date if there are no deals, the British will lose their preferential access to that important market. This will significantly disrupt trade flows and supply chains that are vital to the U.K. economy. Unfortunately, thats a very short time to negotiate a deal. Trade deals typically take more than two years to hammer out. Deal with U.S.? The EU is critical, but the U.K. is also looking to sign trade deals with other countries perhaps none more important for the British economy than one with the United States. But a deal with the Americans is at best a few years away and will not come easy, even though the U.S. is an important partner for the U.K. and there has been a lot of discussion about such a deal. There are many significant road blocks to such a deal Donald Trumps administration is more about protectionism than it is about trade agreements, and it will be extremely difficult to negotiate as the president focuses on re-election. Witness the tumultuous and prolonged negotiations over minor improvements to the NAFTA agreement. Even if Trump is defeated in November, the Americans have not been able to negotiate a deal with the EU. Talks started in 2013 and were suspended in 2016. The lack of results stemmed from challenges on both sides but does not bode well for a desperate and less economically powerful U.K. to be able to make headway with the U.S. Losing preferential access Meanwhile, the U.K. has other important trade policy challenges to resolve. Not only do the British lose privileged access to the EU on Dec. 31, but they also lose preferential access to all the countries and trading blocks with which the EU currently has agreements. The EU has trade deals fully implemented, or partially in place, with 88 countries, including Canada. Many of these agreements are with small economies, but the point is that due to Brexit, the U.K. will lose all the preferential access its enjoyed as a member of the EU. The U.K. must negotiate agreements with these 88 countries simply to maintain its current trade relationship. But British officials dont have experience or capacity to effectively negotiate multiple new trade agreements and will already have their hands full negotiating with the EU. This is where Canada comes in. Canada has an important and comprehensive agreement with the EU called CETA, short for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. CETA is a cutting-edge and modern trade agreement that is comprehensive in its coverage. It also contains progressive commitments to promote labour rights, environmental protection and sustainable development. A perfect template CETA provides the perfect template for the U.K. to adopt and use as a model for future bilateral agreements after finalizing a free-trade agreement with Canada. Obviously, the U.K. urgently needs to complete a deal with the EU first and foremost. But a deal with Canada should be its second priority. Not only can CETA provide a model for a U.K.-EU deal, it can also be the template for the Canada-U.K. deal. The U.K. can get an early and relatively easy win by completing a new trade agreement with Canada. The two countries, in fact, have already agreed informally to move forward on a Canada-U.K. agreement built on CETA. Along with Dylan Klemen of the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy, I have argued that this would be an important win for Canadian trade policy as well. The U.K. is Canadas fifth largest trading partner, and was its largest trading partner when it remained in the EU. The U.K. is Canadas second largest source of foreign direct investment, and the second largest foreign destination for Canadian investors. With Brexit, Canada lost one of its key objectives in signing CETA in the first place free trade with the U.K. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began informal discussions on free trade with former British prime minister Teresa May, and recently confirmed his commitment to a trade agreement between the two countries under Boris Johnson. Easy to complete? 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. For Canadian trade policy, there is another reason to move quickly with a CETA-based agreement with the U.K. and another reason to believe the agreement will be easy to complete. And thats the opportunity for Canada to move forward with its diversification strategy and achieve its progressive trade objectives. The U.K. and Canada should quickly negotiate a free-trade deal with strong environmental and labour provisions modelled closely after CETA. Free trade with Canada provides an early and relatively straightforward win for the U.K. as well as a win for Canadas trade diversification strategy and progressive trade agenda. Its also important that both countries complete a deal to avoid disruptions to the flows of trade and commerce between the two countries. Meanwhile, the U.K. can use CETA as a template for its own negotiations with the EU. Such a template could be a model for future negotiations with the long list of countries with whom it will be trying to ensure continued market access. Eugene Beaulieu is a professor of economics at the University of Calgary. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. In Australia, after hauling hundreds of thousands of tons of iron ore to China, returning freighters can face a 14-day quarantine before being able to reload. BHP, which has headquarters in London and Melbourne and is one of the worlds largest copper-mining companies, has been in talks to possibly delay shipments to Chinese ports. And from Qatar to Indonesia, exporters of liquefied natural gas face the prospect of disrupted shipments after a crucial importer in China is reportedly turning back deliveries after invoking clauses in long-term contracts that blame a greater force. The coronavirus outbreak in China has generated economic waves that are rocking global commodities markets and disrupting the supply networks that act as the backbone of the global economy. Rick Moranis is returning to the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids franchise with Disney after taking an acting hiatus in 1997. The 66-year-old actor made the decision to focus on being a single father after losing is wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in February 1991. The couple had two children together: Rachel and Mitchell. Moranis is gearing up for his return to Hollywood by starring in the reboot of his highly-popular film franchise according to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday. The return: Rick Moranis (seen in April 2017) is returning to the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids franchise with Disney after taking an acting hiatus in 1997 to focus on being a single father after the death of his wife Signature role: He originally starred as protagonist Wayne Szalinski in 1989's Honey, I Shrunk The Kids He originally starred as protagonist Wayne Szalinski in 1989's Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. Original director Joe Johnston is set to return to direct the new project as Frozen's Josh Gad is set to star as Moranis' son Nick. In the first film, his scientist character's children stumble upon one of his experiments in the family home and end up shrinking themselves to the size of bugs. Tragedy: The 66-year-old actor made the decision to focus on being a single father after losing is wife, costume designer Ann Belsky, to breast cancer in February 1991, as they are seen together at the 1990 Academy Awards Best role: The couple had two children together: Rachel and Mitchell, as Moranis is seen with his kids in 1989 The original film was so successful that Rick returned for sequel Honey, I Blew Up The Kid in 1992. He completed the trilogy with straight-to-video sequel Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997 which was his last on-camera role before his hiatus. Despite taking a step back from the spotlight, he never retired from the industry as he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015: 'I took a break, which turned into a longer break. 'But Im interested in anything that I would find interesting. I still get the occasional query about a film or television role and as soon as one comes along that piques my interest.' New hijinks: Frozen's Josh Gad (pictured at The Oscars on Sunday) is set to star as Moranis' son Nick in the reboot 'I took a break which turned into a longer break': Despite taking a step back from the spotlight, he - seen in April 2017 - never retired from the industry he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 The Toronto, Canada native is a comedy film legend as he also starred in classics Ghostbusters and Spaceballs. He was offered a cameo in the 2016 female-driven Ghostbusters reboot alongside co-stars including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver but turned it down. 'I wish them well,' he told the publication. 'I hope its terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?' Moranis has since done voicework for a few animated projects including 2003 film Brother Bear and TV series The Animated Adventures Of Bob & Doug McKenzie but not appeared on camera since the Disney franchise. He also starred in Frank Oz directed sci-fi film LIttle Shop Of Horrors in 1986 in addition to 1989's Parenthood and 1983's Strange Brew. Update: Lorna Neary has been located safe and well. Family 'concerned' for welfare of missing Dublin woman The family of a young woman who has gone missing in Dublin say they are concerned for her welfare. Lorna Neary, 24, hasn't been seen since she left her home in Terenure last Wednesday afternoon. Lorna Neary She's slim, with shoulder length blonde hair, and was last wearing a black padded bomber jacket, black leggings and black sketcher runners. Anyone who can help find her is asked to contact Garda. Terenure Garda Station can be contacted on 01 666 6400 or the Garda Confidential Line can be reached at 1800 666 111. Joining a list of big global firms pulling out from the Mobile World Congress, British telecom major Vodafone, a board member of GSM Association, on Wednesday said it will also give a miss to the event this year due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Many big and small firms including some of the sponsors have already announced their withdrawal from the world's largest telecom sector event organised by the GSM Association (GSMA) annually in February at Barcelona in Spain. "Vodafone has been carefully monitoring the on the coronavirus and has noted the recent warning from the World Health Organisation. After careful consideration, we have decided to withdraw from this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona," Vodafone said in a statement. The company said that it will look forward to attending the next Mobile World Congress. Earlier, Nokia, HMD Global, Tanla Solutions and some other companies had announced their withdrawal from MWC 2020. "Nokia has taken the decision to withdraw from MWC 2020 after a full assessment of the risks related to a fast-moving situation. Primary focus has been to safeguard the health and well-being of employees and others while also recognizing responsibility to the industry and customers," Nokia said in a statement. Ericsson has already announced to have pulled out of the event. This withdrawal leaves only Huawei, ZTE and Samsung among top telecom network gear maker firms continuing with their plan to participate in the MWC 2020. Many leading companies including Cisco, LG, Vivo, NTT Docomo, Sony, Amazon, Facebook, Mediatek, Intel, Nvidia etc have withdrawn their participation from the annual telecom sector event. "We have made the difficult decision to withdraw from participating in Mobile World Congress scheduled for February 24-27 in Barcelona due to concerns about the current outbreak of Coronavirus," Cisco said in a statement. BSE listed Tanla Solutions said that the company said that "It's unfortunate that we will miss the networking opportunities at MWC this year but we cannot risk the health of our employees." GSM Association, organiser of Mobile World Congress, said that the coronavirus issue has created disruption for attendees specially 5,000-6,000 attendees from China. However, the global telecom industry body maintained that the event will continue as per schedule with extra precautions and stringent screening mechanism. "We are grateful for the preventative measures our Chinese exhibitors have put in place, notably ZTE and Huawei. Today, the GSMA is moving ahead as planned and will host MWC Barcelona 24-27 February 2020. While the GSMA confirms some large exhibitors have decided not to come to the show this year with others still contemplating next steps, we remain more than 2,800 exhibitors strong," GSMA said in reply to an email query on Tuesday. There have been reports that the board of GSMA is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five people were arrested on February 11 on suspicion of conspiring to sell sanctioned Iranian oil to a refinery in China, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release. Four suspects in Texas and one in New York were each charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Between July 2019 and February 2020, four defendants -- Nicholas Hovan, 33, James Fuchs, 26, Robert Thwaites, 30, and Daniel Ray Lane, 38 -- allegedly conspired in Philadelphia and elsewhere to purchase the oil and sell it to a Chinese firm represented by 39-year-old Zhenyu Wang. Lane allegedly offered to launder money through his company and the suspects agreed to use a Polish shell company as the seller of the illicit oil, according to the complaint. Lane is the president of STACK Royalties, a Texas-based firm that sells oil and gas mineral rights to investment funds and private equity companies. "With the goal of illegally enriching themselves, the defendants conspired for over eight months to devise a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, particularly the ban on foreign oil sales," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. "The sale of oil is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy. At the same time the United States was increasing its sanctions in order to pressure Iran to stop its malign activities, these defendants put greed ahead of country." If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $1.25 million. New Delhi, Feb 12 : A petition was moved in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into the alleged molestation of students at a cultural fest at Gargi College, a women's college under Delhi University. Advocate M.L. Sharma moved the PIL seeking a direction from the top court to the investigating agency to seize camera footage along with other video material. "The state government took no action. It is a clear criminal conspiracy hatched by a political party to deploy accused persons to provoke the Delhi public for manipulate voting in their favour. Despite presence of Delhi Police ... on February 6, neither the principal nor other state authorities tried to stop and arrest the accused," the PIL stated. The students, who were allegedly molested, shared their experience on Instagram and narrated the incident which occurred on February 6, alleging that security personnel were mere bystanders while the unruly group molested women on the campus. The plea termed the incident a conspiracy in the wake of Delhi elections, which were due on February 8. "The entire incident is being supported/protected by the state government and no action has been taken till now to prosecute the accused. Therefore, unless this court takes action, real political persons and the accused will not be arrested," the plea said. The petition claimed that deliberate chanting of religious slogans indicated the incident was politically motivated. Besides college security, Delhi Police and paramilitary force personnel were stationed in the vicinity of the college. The police have registered a criminal case under various sections and is investigating the matter. Snapchat parent company Snap Inc. has collaborated with the Royal Commission of AlUla to bring a new dimension to the Desert X AlUla art exhibition, with the first sponsored Landmarker in the Middle East. Introduced in 2019, Landmarkers are Snapchat Lenses that enable augmented reality experiences that transform the worlds most iconic landmarks in real-time. During the event, artists Zahrah Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia), eL Seed (Tunisia) and Lita Albuquerque (US) will feature their work on Snapchats inaugural Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Landmarker location, Qasr Al Farid. The artists work will be brought to life using a dedicated lens, creating an exciting augmented reality (AR) experience for everyone to participate in. We are excited to have Desert X AlUla, the first international collaboration for Desert X, as part of Winter at Tantora festival said Nora Aldabal, Arts and Culture Programs director at Royal Commission of AlUla. Artists from around the world will showcase their art in the desert of AlUla, home to a series of fascinating historical and archaeological sites. Having Snapchat participate in this landmark event will bring the landscape of AlUla to life in an entirely new light, in a juxtaposition of modern technology and history. To enable the feature, when Snapchatters are close to Qasr Al-Farid they will be prompted to find the icon of this landmark. Royal Commission of AlUla's sponsored lens will be the first placement in Snapchats lens carousel, and as Snapchatters point their phones cameras at Qasr Al-Farid, they will be able to bring to life the work of the three exhibiting artists over a six-week time span at two-week intervals each. Each experience is specific to the artist's work and will have its own unique sound to come full circle. I am thrilled to be among the artists whose work will be uniquely displayed on Qasr Al-Farid using a Snapchat Lens, said Zahrah Al Ghamdi, one of the exhibiting artists at Desert-X AlUla. This amazing feature will transform my artwork into an interactive experience. Augmented reality has become an integral element that brings art to life and provides people with an unparalleled experience. - TradeArabia News Service New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delivers a speech at Fordham Law School in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, on July 18, 2019. (Scott Heins/Getty Images) Cuomo to Meet With Trump After New Yorkers Banned From Trusted Traveler Programs Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said hes going to meet with Republican President Donald Trump over the Trump administrations recent ban of New Yorkers from trusted traveler programs, including Global Entry. White House spokesman Judd Deere confirmed to The Epoch Times that Cuomo and Trump would meet on Thursday. The location of the meeting wasnt immediately clear. Trump said over the weekend that Cuomo canceled a meeting at the White House while the New York governor was in Washington for a governors meeting. He offered a meeting and his earliest availability was tomorrow and I took him up on it, Cuomo said on Wednesday while speaking on WAMC-FM. Cuomo said he would give information from the state Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) database to federal authorities, which cited New Yorks refusal to do so as the cause of the ban. But he said such information would only be given on a case by case basis and that he will never give federal authorities access to information on illegal immigrants. Thats what they want: they want access to the undocumenteds so they can give it to ICE, and ICE can have a feeding frenzy assaulting undocumented people, he said, calling the decision to ban New Yorkers from the traveler programs pure politics. Melissa DeRosa, secretary to Cuomo, said in a tweet that the DMV information will only be shared for people who are applying for a trusted traveler program. He said he would give the feds access to DMV database SPECIFICALLY for Trusted Traveler Program ONLY, she said. Department of Homeland Security official Chad Wolf speaks in Washington on Oct. 29, 2019. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) The decision to ban New Yorkers from Global Entry and other trusted traveler programs was announced on Feb. 5. In a letter to New York officials, acting Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said the decision stemmed part of a law passed by state lawmakers last year. The law, which lets illegal aliens get drivers licenses, forbids the state DMV from providing drivers license and vehicle registration information, Wolf wrote to Mark Schroeder, acting commissioner of the state DMV, and Theresa Egan, executive deputy commissioner of the DMV. Customs and Border Protection, which runs the trusted traveler programs, has relied on data from the DMV to validate that a person applying for the programs qualifies for low-risk status or meets other program requirements, Wolf wrote. Agents also check on criminal history. And they use records to check on whether used vehicles can be exported. Wolf later said that the move wasnt in response to illegal immigrants getting drivers licenses, pointing to the law shutting off access to DMV records. Ken Cuccinelli, the acting principal deputy director at the Department of Homeland Security, told reporters that the ban was because the law reintroduced the main problem that allowed 9/11 to happen. Nearly 80,000 New Yorkers in processing would be denied permits and others would lose benefits from the programs when their current privileges elapse. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, and Cuomo criticized the move, with James claiming it was political retribution and Cuomo calling it extortion. James filed a lawsuit on Feb. 10. Lome, Togo (PANA) - The candidate of the Citizens' Movement for Democracy (MCD) in the Togolese presidential election on 22 February, Mouhamed Tchassona Traore, explained on Tuesday the outlines of his social project, during the live talk show on a public television Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's largest trade show for the mobile phone industry, has been canceled amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak. The organizers behind the Barcelona-based event, GSMA, announced Wednesday it would no longer be holding MWC due to ongoing concerns over the spread of a new strain of coronavirus which originated in China. "With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event," GSMA said in a statement. Multiple firms had pulled out of the tech conference prior to the GSMA's decision, putting pressure on the hosts to drop the event. LG, Sony, Ericsson, Nokia, Nvidia, Intel and Amazon are some of the biggest names to have suspended their attendance in recent days. Various tech firms have been monitoring the health crisis, with some deciding to pull out of MWC as they assess the risk it would have on their staff. While plenty had backed out altogether, some had instead scaled back their presence. Huawei, for example, said it would send its European staff to Barcelona to cover for stranded Chinese employees. RALEIGH Some good news for the states community colleges: Enrollment rose this fall for the first time in almost a decade. The N.C. Community College System said Wednesday that statewide college enrollment climbed 4.4 percent in the fall semester compared to a year ago. In a news release, the college system said 53 of North Carolinas 58 community colleges had more students this fall than they did in 2018. Driving the enrollment surge was a 9.4 percent increase in sign-ups for short-term job training programs and a 3.8 percent increase in the number of students enrolled in traditional academic programs. Enrollment had declined statewide for nine straight years, a trend that system leaders expected as the state and nation rebounded from a severe recession. During economic recoveries, potential community college students often opt to get jobs rather than take classes. Some full-time students will go to school only part-time because they can find work. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 00:41:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- African experts and policymakers attending the Africa Business Forum have emphasized that African countries can achieve "exponential" economic growth with good governance and creation of enabling policies for private capital to flow into the energy, health and ICT sectors. They made the urgent call towards promoting good governance during the Third Africa Business Forum (ABF-2020) that was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Wednesday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa under the theme "Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity." The high-level continental forum allowed a number of African leaders, including Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mozambique's Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario, as well as various ministers and investors, to share ideas on innovative financing in the energy, health and ICT sectors. The leaders also discussed Africa's readiness to seize renewable energy by creating the right mix, technologies being pioneered by its youth to help solve problems, and abundant opportunities that can be unleashed through the enactment of the right policies and regulatory frameworks, particularly in these three sectors, with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement set to become operational in July. Mnangagwa, addressing the high-level gathering, reiterated that Zimbabwe was open for business and ready to welcome investors into the country's energy sector. "Increasing energy production in the country will allow us to mechanize our agriculture and in the process enhance productivity, boost food security, which is our main concern right now, and create jobs," said Mnangagwa. He also urged fellow African leaders should walk the talk on agreed programs that seek to transform the continent. Rosario also stressed that his country is also ready to welcome investors into its energy sector. "Mozambique, like the rest of Africa, has vast natural resources that are waiting to be tapped. We have oil and gas company and would readily welcome investors willing to work with us for the betterment of our people," he said. The Executive Secretary of the ECA, Vera Songwe, also said that "one of the reasons we cannot silence the guns in Africa is because there are no jobs for the youth." "There is no energy to power job creation. We can silence the guns if the right investments are made into our energy and ICT sectors, including strengthening our health systems in partnership with the private sector," "If we cannot ensure Africa has the energy it needs then 2030 is really a distant dream. We need to do more and we need to do it faster," the ECA chief said, as she emphasized that "Africa should make clean energy investments now." "Ambitious climate action can deliver a 26 trillion U.S. dollars boost to the global economy between now and 2030. If we enter into the new climate economy, we can create 20 million jobs for the continent. Right now we need 13 million jobs every year," Songwe added. Meanwhile, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Seychelles also during the high-level gathering signed a commitment document aimed at implementing a joint ECA-African Union (AU) led AfCFTA-anchored Pharmaceutical Initiative for local production and pooled procurement of maternal and childcare medicines in Africa. Scott Mather, high-level official at the Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), whose company manages 2 trillion U.S. dollars worth of assets over the world for private investors, also stressed that his company is ready to work with African governments to ensure they tap into clean energy to power the continent's inclusive development and address climate change at the same time. "Africa presented a historic business opportunity for international investors," Mather said, adding that "a bold initiative is needed to address Africa's energy challenges. We can work together to find concrete ways with the partners we represent to push Africa's sustainable development vision." "We need governments and policymakers, especially at the national level, to create enabling policies for the capital to flow," he added. The Africa Business Forum, hosted by the UN-ECA and its partners, brought together Africa leaders, government representatives, chief executive officers, business and finance leaders, philanthropists and high-level representation from the African Union (AU) and United Nations system. According to the report, from June of 2018 to July of 2019, more than 2,200 pharmacies shuttered their doors; many of which point the finger directly at DIR fees as the main reason. XIL Consulting, one of the leading pharmacy analysts in the nation and a key advisor to the top players in the industry, has issued findings that opportunistic payers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers are piling on obscure pharmacy fees totaling $8.5 billion since 2013. From the perspective of XIL Consulting, seniors do not benefit from these fees and continue to struggle to pay out-of-pocket prescription costs as evidenced by frequently buying drugs from foreign countries such as Canada. Consequently, 53% of seriously ill Medicare beneficiaries are experiencing financial hardships in paying for their healthcare needs. Direct & Indirect Remuneration pharmacy (DIR) fees are applied after the point-of-sale by health plans and PBMs for participation in Medicare Part D pharmacy networks, but analysis shows those fees have skyrocketed by 1,600% in the last five years. A loophole in the Medicare anti-kickback law allows health plans and PBMs to charge pharmacies fees to fill Medicare prescriptions. Thats an unsustainable level by any measure, said Susan Lang, CEO of XIL Consulting. Oversight and change is necessary to ensure that savings written into the law are passed on to seniors instead of shuffled over to PBMs that drive small critically needed pharmacies out of business. Yet, the larger problem is that an increasing portion of these fees are being retained by health plans and PBMs. In turn, thats putting additional pressure on the household budgets of seniors, while pushing many independent pharmacies right out of business. According to the report, from June of 2018 to July of 2019, more than 2,200 pharmacies shuttered their doors; many of which point the finger directly at DIR fees as the main reason. Lang suggested the current situation has been particularly damaging to providers in rural communities throughout the country where just over half are now considered pharmacy deserts. In 2017 alone, PBMs drained approximately $4 billion out of the systema fact that should give lawmakers strong reason to redirect their attention to curbing these exorbitant abuses, Lang suggested. If not, the situation looks pretty direa recent National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) survey found 58% of local pharmacists are uncertain about their chances of making it the next two years. Change is possibleas long we hold all parties accountable. https://www.xilangconsulting.com/post/policy-alert To learn more about XIL Consulting, visit http://www.xilconsulting.com. Media Inquires: press@xilconsulting.com "Our conferences and digital events provide actionable solutions and space to create so localization professionals can walk away with practical ideas to implement now," said Ani Obermeier, VP of Marketing at Smartling. Smartling, the premier software and language translation services company that established the category Translation Cloud, today announces its 2020 Global Ready Calendar. Global Ready, Smartlings branded event series, is now in its fifth year and is expanding into new markets and different mediums. Global Ready Conference, the flagship ticketed event, returns to San Francisco, California and London, England; and, for the first time will be held in Sydney, Australia and New York, New York. Global Ready Webinar, a new addition to this year's series, features four prominent speakers presenting on topics related to scaling and measuring content performance. And finally, Smartling is rebranding its Bootcamp series to Global Ready Connect, which consists of 12 regional networking events throughout North America and Europe. The theme of this years Global Ready series is Space to Create. As consumers relish accessibility to products and services of all types, businesses have to find ways to simplify work priorities to keep up with the perpetually increasing demands. Global Ready facilitates an environment that gives localization practitioners and content creators the room to maneuver and author irresistible experiences for a worldwide audience. The content and community positions delegates to future-proof translation strategies and accelerate their localization programs with tactical guidance backed by research and case studies from leading brands. Its such an exciting time to be part of the localization community right now, said Ani Obermeier, VP of Marketing at Smartling. All across the enterprise, companies are looking to expand their adoption of AI-powered translation technology alongside the art and scientific approach human translators bring to the process. The intent of this years Global Ready series is to provide attendees with a supportive, like-minded community. Our conferences and digital events provide actionable solutions and space to create so localization professionals can walk away with practical ideas to implement now. At Smartling, we continually strive to meet our customers and the industry's needs by helping them to Move the World with Words, which all starts by forging a deeper connection between customers and translators in a space where they can truly create. Throughout the 2020 Global Ready Series, attendees will walk away with the practical skills and concepts they need to allow themselves the space they need to create. The first conference on the 2020 Global Ready calendar will take place on April 1 in Sydney, Australia featuring Michael McQueen, a multi-award winning speaker, trend forecaster and bestselling author, as the keynote speaker. The event series continues with stops in San Francisco on May 19, London on September 8, and New York to round out the year (date being announced soon). Registration for these events are now open at smartling.com/conference. While the 2020 Global Ready Calendar is targeted towards localization managers, developers, marketers and product owners, anyone with a vested interest in the translation industry is welcome to attend and participate. To purchase tickets and stay updated on all quarterly conference and webinar updates, please visit smartling.com/conference. To learn more about Smartling, please visit smartling.com. About Smartling Smartling is a language translation company that enables customers to localize content across devices and platforms. The company is recognized by CSA Research as the #1 Leader of the 2019 MarketFlex for Language-Oriented TMS, and by users on G2 as the Leader of the 2019 G2 Grid for Translation Management. Smartling established Enterprise Translation Cloud, a data-driven approach to localization, which enables its customers to achieve higher quality translation at a lower total cost. Smartling is the platform of choice for hundreds of B2B and B2C brands, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Shopify, Slack and SurveyMonkey. Smartling is headquartered in New York, with offices in Dublin and London. For more information, please visit smartling.com. Locals of Bhaktapur province of Nepal have started protesting against governments decision to quarantine the evacuees from Coronavirus-hit Wuhan near human settlements. The local residents of Bhaktapur are of the opinion that the proposed isolation centre, where the evacuees will be kept under quarantine, is extremely close to the human settlements and fear that they would also get infected from the deadly virus due to the close proximity. Bimala Tamang, one of the protesters told ANI that the government should lodge the evacuees in vacant hospitals or reserve hotels if thats not possible. We won't accept it. If they only care for about 180 citizens then they should get rid of us," said Tamang. At least 1,113 people have died to the epidemic and more than 44,000 cases have been detected globally. Read: South Korea, Israel Issue Travel Advisory Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Though the government has not declared the evacuation date, the process of evacuation has already started and 180 Nepalis living in the Hubei province of China have submitted the application for it. Apart from the locals, the elected representatives from Bhaktapur district have raised their voice against the proposed plan at a parliamentary meeting. Such kind of quarantines should not be kept in the middle of a densely populated area. It should be kept far away from residential areas as per the standards of WHO. I would like to attract the attention of the government over the issue," said Prem Suwal, an elected representative from Bhaktapur during the session. Read: Vietnamese Airlines Endures $430m Loss Amid Coronavirus Outbreak 'Grave threat for the world' The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief has called coronavirus outbreak a very grave threat for the rest of the world even if 99 per cent of the cases remain restricted to mainland China. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said that transmission among people with no travel history to China could be the 'tip of the iceberg'. A leading public health epidemiologist from Hong Kong reportedly warned that around two-thirds of the worlds population could get infected by the new Coronavirus in case it can not be controlled. Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Chinese Doctors In Wuhan Overworked, Unprotected Read: Iran: Woman Dies Of Suspected Coronavirus Infection, Health Ministry Denies Claims (With ANI inputs) ANNAPOLIS, Md., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Drobots Company , a national leader in STEM and Drone educational experiences for students K-12, together with DroneBlocks , a provider of real-world application of drone technology and online curriculum announced this week that registration is now open for the Spring 2020 Synchronized Drone Dancing Competition (DDC). Praised by teachers globally during the 2019 competition, DDC is the only international drone contest combining digital and visual arts with aerial robotics. "This was such a great learning experience," stated Judy May, Teacher at Glen Rose Middle School, Dallas, TX. "Students enjoyed the process, made friends, and learned so much about programming drones in a creative, fun way. The curriculum was exceptional." DroneBlocks' Marisa Vickery states: "Our goal is to promote student involvement in STEM by combining coding with real-world drone applications. This competition encourages students skilled in the arts to collaborate with those interested in technology, allowing students to explore both the logical and creative sides of their brain. This is an incredible integration of choreography, art, music and technology; the purest example of what STEAM education truly is!" "Drones provide a gateway to engage students in learning through exploration," says Robert Elwood, Founder/CEO of Drobots. "Providing the opportunity to collaborate, create, and choreograph four-dimensional drone performances is exceptional. Drobots is thrilled to be educating the next generation of change-makers and disruptors!" Presentations are submitted virtually, allowing students to compete globally. Registration is only $20 and includes DroneBlocks' one-year licensed DDC curriculum ($700 value). Due to strong demand following the 2019 competition, the 2020 DDC is limited to 100 teams for 5th-8th grade students, perfect for any classroom, club, or after-school program. Regardless of drone experience, all educators and students are encouraged to participate in this unique opportunity. DDC Judges are carefully selected from within the explosive drone/UAV industry, representing Drone Racing League, American Airlines, Women and Drones, and more. About The Competition and Curriculum The program seamlessly connects design flow and engineering with visual art and programming through a scaffolded curriculum for educators and students. Content and learning processes follow real-life application, exposing students to potential career paths while fostering problem-solving, creativity and collaboration. Website: drobotscompany.com/dancing-drone-competition SOURCE DroneBlocks Related Links https://drobotscompany.com/dancing-drone-competition/ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court seeking to be heard before the court passes any order on a plea by a Congress leader against his election last year to the Rajya Sabha. The caveat has been filed through advocate Swarupama Chaturvedi on behalf of Jaishankar seeking to be heard before the court decides any plea filed against the Gujarat High Court's February 4 order. The high court had dismissed the plea of Congress leader Gaurav Pandya, who had challenged Jaishankar's election to the Rajya Sabha. It had also dismissed two others petitions filed by Congress leaders Chandrika Chudasama and Paresh Dhanani against the election of BJP candidate Jugalji Thakore. Both Jaishankar and Thakore were elected to Rajya Sabha on July 5 last year in bypolls held on seats vacated by Union ministers Amit Shah and Smriti Irani. Jaishankar and Thakore had defeated Congress candidates Pandya and Chudasama respectively in the bypolls. The Congress leaders had moved the high court, challenging the election on the ground that the Election Commission's notifications, treating the two vacant seats to be of different categories and requiring by-polls to be held separately, were "illegal and in violation of provisions of the Constitution, the Representation of People (RP) Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961". The high court had dismissed the petitions saying the petitioners failed to disclose the cause of action under the provisions of the RP Act relating to the grounds for declaring an election void. It had also said the petitioners failed to point out any provision of the Constitution or the RP Act requiring the EC to hold a single by-election for filling up all casual vacancies. "The non-compliance of provisions of the Constitution or provisions of the said (RP) Act constituting the cause of action has to be specifically pleaded, and the interpretation of the petitioner of a particular provision of Constitution or of the Act in a particular manner cannot be termed as the noncompliance of such provision for the purpose of challenging the election," the high court had said. Jaishankar and Thakore had contended before the high court that the EC broke no rules by holding separate elections for two seats and it has been a consistent practice by the poll panel since 2009 to issue separate notifications for holding by-polls for casual vacancies in the Rajya Sabha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Today Samsung not only took the wraps off its new S20 family and the Galaxy Z Flip, its second foldable smartphone, but also took the time to introduce a couple of special editions. First off, we have the previously leaked Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition. This version of the foldable is created in collaboration with the iconic New York fashion brand and its "bold, timeless style". It features distinctive Thom Browne signature brand colors on a pebble grey exterior, as well as a Thom Browne New York logo on the back of the casing. What's more, you can complete the look with custom designed Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Watch Active2, as seen in the image above. The Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition smartphone is "the first-of-its-kind to be encased in glass while still having a matte look that is soft to the touch and effortless to hold". Iconic blinds, which are apparently a reference to the mid-century office aesthetic in the Thom Browne world, appear on screen every time the phone is turned on and off. App icons are custom too, as are sound cues: a typewriter for the keyboard, an analogue ringtone, a shoe tap on a marble floor, all of these create a unique soundtrack. Of course you get a custom wallpaper too. The Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition will be available in limited quantities in select markets, with pre-orders starting on February 14. The official launch will be in March, and pricing hasn't been revealed yet - but do expect to pay a premium for this compared to the already-not-cheap $1,380 vanilla Z Flip. Additionally, on stage at its Unpacked event today Samsung also announced the Galaxy S20+ 5G Olympic Games Athlete Edition, which, as its name implies, isn't going to go on sale. Instead, Samsung will give these special edition devices to those partaking in the Tokyo Olympic Games this year. It's an S20+ in an exclusive Mirror Gold finish, with the logo of the Olympic rings added on the back underneath Samsung's. And of course this one should also come with exclusive custom wallpapers, icons, and sounds too. Except mere mortals won't be able to touch it, so it's just an exercise in exclusivity in the end. A bill to regulate pesticides business and compensate farmers in case of losses from usage of spurious agro-chemicals will be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament, the government said on Wednesday. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Pesticides Management Bill, 2020, which seeks to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968, for regulating the pesticide sector by fixing prices and setting up an authority. It would also regulate advertisements of pesticides and provides for heavy penalty as well as jail term for any violation of the law. "As far as farmers are concerned because that is our primary concern, Pesticides Management Bill, 2020 will be introduced in this session of Parliament. Today, pesticide business is regulated by 1968 rules which have become age old and needs immediate rewriting," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters. The minister said this is an important bill for farming community and yet another step by the government for the welfare of farmers. Highlighting various features of the proposed law, Javadekar said the main objective is to protect the interest of farmers and ensure they get safe and effective pesticides. "Secondly, he (farmer) will not get spurious pesticides. Because many times he is at the receiving end if he gets spurious pesticides," the minister said. Javadekar informed that all pesticide manufacturers have to be registered under the new Act, once it is passed. "Even their advertisements will be regulated that there should be no confusion or no cheating in any way of the farmers," he added. Javadekar also said that if there is any loss because of the spurious or low quality of pesticides, then there is a provision for compensations. This is a unique feature of the bill, he added. "The penalties collected from the companies and money put, if required, by the government will form a central fund which will take care of compensation," he added. That apart, Javadekar said farmers would be empowered to get all information as the data would be in open source and in all languages. "More importantly, he (farmer) will know about the strength and weakness of pesticides, the risk and alternatives and this will be an open data in digital format also," he noted. The minister said farmers would essentially get these information from the dealers selling pesticides. The bill also intends to promote organic pesticides. Javadekar informed that a bill in this regard was presented in 2008. In 2008, a Pesticide Management Bill was approved by the Cabinet and introduced in the Rajya Sabha. After that, it was referred to the standing committee on agriculture. During the first term of the Modi government, a draft bill was prepared by the in 2017-18. The draft bill sought to regulate the import, manufacture, export, storage, sale, transport, distribution, quality and use of pesticides with a view to control pests. Other provisions included ensuring availability of quality pesticides, permitting use only after assessing its efficacy and safety and minimising the contamination of agricultural commodities by pesticide residues. Pesticide companies would have to pay a huge penalty ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50 lakh for violation of any rules and regulations, according to the earlier draft. The new bill also proposes imprisonment of up to five years, up from two years at present. The second phase of the Budget session starts from March 2. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) EVA Air employees are seen at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) wearing masks, to prevent the coronavirus infection, COVID-19 in Los Angeles, California on Feb. 12, 2020. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images) CDC Officials Cite Label Error, Delay in Testing in Mixup Involving Coronavirus Patient Release Federal officials said a labeling error and a delay in testing caused the mixup that involved a coronavirus patient who was mistakenly released from a hospital back to quarantine. A female evacuee from Wuhan who landed in California recently was hospitalized with symptoms of the new virus, COVID-19, along with several other patients. She and the other patients were released from UC San Diego Medical Center on Sunday. While the patients were being driven back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, the mixup was discovered, Dr. Christopher Braden, who leads the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delegation in San Diego, said at a press conference on Tuesday. The officials received a text as they approached the base that said it was an important message, Braden said, indicating how close the infected woman was to mixing with other evacuees. Dr. Nancy Knight, center, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talks to reporters at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif. on Feb. 11, 2020, along with other officials including Dr. Christopher Braden. (Amy Taxin/AP Photo) The CDC said the error occurred after it issued a negative finding Sunday on a large batch of specimens taken from people quarantined at the base. The woman had her sample taken at the hospital, where she was being observed for a cough. The hospital released her at the CDCs direction after being told that everyone quarantined had shown negative results, when, in fact, her sample was excluded from the rest of the batch. There are a large number of specimens being processed at the Atlanta-based agency, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, a director at the agency, told reporters in a phone call on Wednesday. Because of the way the sample was identified, it wasnt included in the first run. After the mixup was discovered, the sample was tested as part of a second run. After the test results showed the woman had the virus, she was isolated at the hospital. In this case, the normal procedures for matching a person to a specimen the procedures didnt work properly. The person was misidentified as testing negative, Messonnier said. People wear protective masks as they cross a footbridge at a mall in Beijing, China, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Officials have added additional quality control protocols to the testing process as a result of the mixup. A difference in labeling by the medical center and the CDC was also involved. UC San Diego Medical Center officials said Tuesday that it used pseudonyms on labels to protect patient privacy and that the CDC used different naming protocols that were not shared with our institution. It was an issue with the labeling, Braden said at a news conference. They have their procedures, we have our procedures. They didnt match exactly. The female patient is doing well at the hospital with minimal symptoms, officials said. She was the 13th confirmed case in the United States, but the first patient who was evacuated from Wuhan to test positive for the virus. Some 800 Americans were evacuated on five flights from the epicenter of the virus. Four groups are still in quarantine. A plane carrying evacuees from the virus zone in China lands at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 5, 2020. (Gregory Bull/AP Photo) The other group, the first to arrive in the United States, was released from quarantine on Tuesday. The 195 people were let go after being isolated for 14 days. They happily returned to their families and communities and pose no health threat to the surrounding communities or the community they will be returned to, Messonnier said. Among those leaving the base was Consul General Jamie Fouss. He described how they had to check passengers against the manifest on the chartered plane in China, check bags, and conduct health screenings before taking off for Alaska and later California. The quarantine, he said, wasnt as challenging as he thought it could be, adding the group stayed busy with evacuees, running Zumba, art classes, and activities for the children. Everybody felt like the quarantine was their civic duty to do what they needed to do to keep themselves and their communities safe, he told reporters. Today as we took off our masks and were given the clean bill of health, we all realized we had gone through this experience together, and we made good friends. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Depression soon, heavy showers likely in several regions of TN; Puducherry Puducherry Assembly adopts resolution against CAA, NPR, NRC India oi-PTI Puducherry, Feb 12: The Congress-ruled Puducherry on Wednesday adopted an Assembly resolution against the controversial amended Citizenship Act, becoming the first union territory in the country to say no to the law. Earlier, states including Kerala and West Bengal, whose Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee, respectively, are at the forefront of anti-CAA movements, had adopted Assembly resolutions against the Act. Amidst an opposition boycott, the one-day special session of the territorial Assembly adopted the resolution tabled by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. Bengal becomes 4th state to pass resolution against Citizenship Act It also registered strong protest against the National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. Members of the opposition AINRC and AIADMK boycotted the session while the three nominated BJP legislators staged a walk out after registering their objection to the tabling of the resolution. As soon as Narayansamy started reading out the contents of the resolution, BJP members V Saminathan, K G Shankar and S Selvaganapthy were up on their feet and objected to the moving of the resolution. They were heard saying the resolution was a "murder of democracy" and "violation of constitutional provisions." They later trooped out of the House and did not return for the rest of the session. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA as it was "totally opposed to the principles of secularism." It was passed after the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues and legislators belonging to the Congress and its ally the DMK spoke on the resolution. Speaker V P Sivakolundhu said the resolution was "adopted unanimously." The resolution stated that the CAA had caused "pain and chaos" among the people at large in the country. The enactment of the legislation in the Parliament had created "peaceful agitations across the country," it added. Kerala Assembly resolution against CAA has no legal validity: Governor The CAA was shattering to pieces the principles of secularism which is the basis of the constitution, it said. Claiming that there was a hidden agenda in the CAA as the Muslims were ignored, it said the law was "totally injurious" to the great sacrifices made by Mahatma Gandhi for protection of secularism. The resolution alleged that certain forces were trying to introduce religious sentiments by forgetting the path shown by the first Indian Prime Minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru. "If there was any space available for the divisive forces it would only mean that a historic blunder would be committed, hitting the cardinal principles of secularism (and) the great sacrifices made by martyrs and freedom fighters of the country." The resolution also expressed disappointment over the CAA not including the Sri Lankan Tamils, staying at various places and in refugee camps in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, for Indian citizenship. Similarly, the Rohingya Muslims living as refugees in northern states of the country and have also not been included in the Act, it added. The resolution urged the Centre to withdraw the CAA, the NRC and the NPR. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 17:04 [IST] PHILIPSBURG:--- In connection with an ongoing investigation into drug smuggling, (KUMA) the Police force of Sint Maarten (Alpha Team) arrested two male employees of Menzies Aviation Sint Maarten on Wednesday, February 12th, 2020. The suspects with the initials E.S.C. C and O.F.S were arrested on suspicion of exporting narcotics via the Princess Juliana International Airport to Canada. A quantity of narcotics was seized in Canada earlier this year that arrived with a flight out of Sint Maarten. This investigation is being conducted by the personnel of Alpha Team in collaboration with Customs and the Coastguard, KMar and other units of the KPSM. In addition to the arrests, several house searches took place on Wednesday morning under the supervision of the examining judge and the prosecutors office. A search also took place at Menzies Aviation office at the Princess Julian International Airport. The two suspects are being held at the police station pending further investigation. The investigation is still ongoing. KPSM Press Release. Vietnamese exporters have had to put hundreds of tons of shrimp into storage, after Chinese traders stopped taking deliveries amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. Chinese importers have notified Vietnamese shrimp exporters, many of whom have received orders for hundreds of tons of shrimp, to stop or delay delivery of shipments. Storage costs are building up day by day, said the anonymous owner of a shrimp business. His business had received an order of 600 tons of shrimp, but was only able to deliver half before the Lunar New Year holiday, the rest headed for storage. Vietnamese shrimp exporters also complained that negative sentiment induced by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has made it harder to win new orders from major importers in South Korea, the U.S. or EU. The epidemic has further hampered trade between China and other shrimp suppliers, such as Ecuador, India and Thailand, who are currently seeing shrimp shipments stuck at Chinese ports awaiting customs clearance. Many ships remain undock at Chinese ports due to slow or halted cargo handling services. Thus, foreign exporters are also looking for alternative markets like the U.S. or EU, which could affect worldwide demand for Vietnamese shrimp, local exporters stated. However, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnamese shrimp now has the opportunity to gain a larger market share in U.S., Japan and EU markets. These are traditional export markets for Chinese shrimp, but have all temporarily halted orders of shrimp from the hard-hit nation. China was one of Vietnams six biggest importers of shrimp in 2019, with related exports to China last year reaching $543 million, up 10.3 percent year-on-year, but this figure is forecasted to fall this year as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, according to VASEP. The following portrait of Mr. Ray was put together from interviews, court documents and news coverage by The Times over the years. Heres what we know about him: Ties to reputed mobsters, fears of a hit man Mr. Ray, who is also known as Lawrence Grecco, grew up in Brooklyn and New Jersey. In the 1980s, he became a partner in a bar in Scotch Plains, N.J., called Club Malibu and JJ Rockers. At the bar, he began meeting people from all walks of life, including politicians from New York and New Jersey. In the early 1990s, he formed a commercial insurance brokerage firm, helping insure people for projects such as construction. In this role, he met a reputed mobster who owned a company called U.S. Bridge of New York, according to federal investigators. Mr. Ray agreed to help the company get insurance for a major project. At some point in the mid-1990s, Mr. Ray began to believe that someone from the mob attached to the company was trying to kill him. Mr. Kerik helped him contact the F.B.I., according to emails between the two men. Mr. Ray began serving as an informant in a federal investigation related to a wide-ranging securities fraud scheme involving the pumping and dumping of stocks. He ended up being indicted himself, along with 18 others, for a role in the scheme. In 2000, federal investigators charged Mr. Ray with agreeing to pay a $100,000 bribe to a bond brokerage firm executive, according to a 2004 federal court filing. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit security fraud and was sentenced to five years probation. Friendship with Mayor Giulianis police commissioner President Klaus Iohannis has met at the Coroceni Presidential Palace, on Wednesday, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. According to a Presidential Administration release, State Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir reiterated the invitation extended to Romania's President by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to pay a visit to Riyadh, an invitation which has been accepted by President Iohannis.Iohannis commended, within the meeting, the good relations existing between Romania and Saudi Arabia, in the context in which this year marks 25 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Saudi Arabia."Romania's President underscored that there in an important potential to strengthen them [the relations], at both political and economic level," the Presidential Administration showed.According to the quoted source, the two officials pointed out the necessity to develop bilateral relations both in economic and in other areas of shared interest, such as infrastructure, agriculture, IT, renewable energy, tourism, defence and security.Moreover, President Iohannis welcomed the decision of the authorities in Riyadh to issue tourist visas for foreign citizens, including for Romanians.Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir congratulated President Iohannis for his re-election and commended Romania's standpoint in important files included on the international agenda, such as the Peace Process in the Middle East, Syria, Yemen, underscoring the similarity of positions of the two states regarding these topics.The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is paying a visit to Romania on Wednesday and Thursday. A woman from Enniscorthy is currently being featured on a television campaign aimed at encouraging people in Ireland who have difficulty with reading, writing, maths or technology to get the help they need. The 'Take the First Step' campaign is an RTE initiative and one of the people at its forefront is Mary Devereux. The campaign is fronted by RTE personalities, Joe Duffy, Brenda Donohue and Marty Morrissey. Mary left school in her Junior Certificate year and worked in Kelly's Hotel, in Rosslare, for 26 years. She loved working there and especially liked meeting people and interacting with guests. However, she gave up her job when her son was born because he has autism and Fragile X and Mary became his fulltime carer. It was partly because of the important role she plays in her son's life that she went back to education four years ago. She wanted to improve her reading, writing and spelling to help her fill out all of the forms relating to her son's healthcare. Since starting with Waterford Wexford ETB, Mary says she hasn't looked back and one of the things she likes about the classes is that they have enabled her to finally get things from her head onto paper. The social aspect of the classes is also something she really enjoys. As part of the campaign she is encouraging people who are going back into education to stick it out. It can be a daunting thing for many people - especially if they left school a long time ago. 'My advice for anyone going back to education is to stick with it and your life will improve,' said Mary. She first got involved in the campaign when the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) asked her to share her story last September on social media. In the interim RTE has partnered with NALA to promote Mary's story and the story of other students on television, radio and online. A spokesperson for the NALA said the aim of the campaign is to encourage adults with difficulties in reading, writing, maths or technology to contact a Freephone support line 1800 20 20 65, through which they will be able to get support. Once they make contact NALA will put them in contact with their local ETB Adult Education Centre or tell them about other free services that will meet their needs. 'We are delighted that RTE are supporting 'Take the first step' as the campaign represents a very important public service message,' said Patrick Gleeson, who is Communications Officer with the NALA. 'Often people who return to education say the hardest part was making the first call or taking the first step into an Adult Education Centre,' he added. 'The aim of this campaign is to encourage people to take the first step to get the help they need.' Dr Inez Bailey, who is CEO of NALA, thanked Mary for sharing her story in an honest way through the campaign. 'Thanks to Mary sharing her story so honestly through this campaign, many people won't feel as alone and I have no doubt they will be encouraged to pick up the phone to us to get information about different courses to suit their needs.' Christian group sends face masks, food to China as coronavirus death toll rises above 1,000 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian humanitarian organization has announced a new campaign to provide aid to Chinese families in cities that have been deemed high risk for the deadly coronavirus as the death toll rises above 1,000. World Help, an organization serving the physical and spiritual needs of people in impoverished communities around the world, announced that it's partnering with pastors on the ground to distribute emergency relief in the provinces surrounding Wuhan. The aid will include protective face masks and food for those living in areas where the coronavirus is spreading. The situation in the areas surrounding Wuhan is critical. Our partners tell us people feel helpless they dont know if they are going to be the next person to get infected. Worst of all, they cant find or afford the supplies they need to protect their families and keep them healthy, said Vernon Brewer, founder of World Help. Theyre scared. And they need our help. The death toll from the coronavirus a respiratory illness with pneumonia-like symptoms is continuing to climb, Chinese officials said on Tuesday. By the end of Monday, 1,016 people had died from the coronavirus an increase of 108 from the previous day, the government said. The number of confirmed infections in China also skyrocketed to at least 42,638 from about 40,000 a day earlier. Most of the infections are in Hubei. The rapid spread of the coronavirus has resulted in police-enforced quarantines and lockdowns across the country. Increasing demand has created a shortage of protective face masks, and food supplies are running low as prices continue to rise. According to World Help, $20 will provide a weeks worth of food and a protective mask to one person. Thankfully, many brave Christians and pastors are still visiting their sick neighbors and congregation members, Brewer said. They are ready and willing to pass out the lifesaving aid that supporters make possible so people in China can experience the love of Christ. As Christians, we have a responsibility to show the love of Christ to our neighbors in crisis whether they live next door or around the world. Please stand with these Chinese families in their darkest hour, said Brewer. The deadly virus is continuing to spread into other countries, with almost 500 of the 43,138 confirmed cases elsewhere. This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the 13th case in the U.S. The World Health Organization on Monday proposed an official name for the illness caused by the coronavirus: COVID-19. The director-general of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that under international guidelines, the WHO had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease, he said on Twitter. With 99 percent of cases in China, this remains very much an emergency for that country, but one that holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world, Tedros said. Chinese authorities have been accused of failing to inform the world about the severity of the coronavirus and of silencing those who appealed for donations of medical supplies on social media. Dr. Li Wenliang, who last week died from the deadly illness, was forced on Jan. 3 by police to sign a letter saying he spread untrue speech for warning colleagues about the virus, reports The Wall Street Journal. Amid the unrest, numerous reports have emerged of Christians in Wuhan distributing masks, sharing the Gospel, and offering shelter to those fleeing from Hubei province who face housing discrimination. A video shared by Father Francis Liu from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness showed that encouraging sermons were being broadcast to their communities through speakers placed on balconies. According to ICC, a Christian rode his bike to a pharmacy where people gathered and played a sermon through a portable speaker. Another video circulated on social media showed Christians distributing face masks and Gospel pamphlets to passersby on the streets as a sermon plays in the background. Earlier during the week, a Chinese pastor living Wuhan, identified only as A Wuhan Pastor, wrote to the international faith community, urging them to pray and revealing that fellow pastors from around the world had been reaching out. It is readily apparent that we are facing a test of our faith, the pastor wrote. The situation is so critical, yet [we are] trusting in the Lords promises, that His thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (Jeremiah. 29:11), and that He allows for a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to establish us. He continued, Therefore, Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for those in this city who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ. [When] disaster strikes us, it is but a form of Gods love. Spoken for today, Wuhans pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ; this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ. PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French luxury goods company Kering SA (PPRUY.PK, PPRUF.PK) reported Wednesday that its full year 2019 net income, Group share, declined 37.4 percent to 2.31 billion euros from a restated 3.69 billion euros in the prior year. Earnings per share, Group share declined to 18.40 euros from 29.49 euros last year. The decline in net income was due to the non-recurring tax expense relating to the tax settlement concluded in Italy on May 9, 2019 and the 1.18 billion euros net gain recognized in 2018 following the distribution in kind of PUMA shares. Recurring net income, Group share, increased 15.1 percent to 3.21 billion euros from restated 2.79 billion euros last year. Recurring operating income increased 19.6 percent to 4.78 billion euros from a restated 3.99 billion euros a year ago. Consolidated recurring operating margin increased 90 basis points year-on-year to 30.1 percent. Consolidated revenue for the year grew 16.2 percent to 15.88 billion euros from 13.67 billion euros last year. Revenue increased 13.3 percent on a comparable basis. Francois-Henri Pinault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, 'Kering delivered another year of sustained profitable growth in 2019, as total revenues significantly exceeded the 15-billion-euro mark and our recurring operating margin topped 30% for the first time ever. We are pursuing the implementation of our strategy - we are focused on developing our Houses, executing flawlessly, and creating value.' Gucci's revenue for the year was 9.63 billion euros, rising 16.2 percent as reported and 13.3 percent on a comparable basis. Yves Saint Laurent sales for the year rose 17.5 percent on a reported basis and 14.4 percent on a comparable basis to 2.05 billion euros. Bottega Veneta generated revenue of 1.17 billion euros, up 2.2 percent on a comparable basis and 5.3 percent as reported. At its February 11, 2020 meeting, Kering's board of directors decided to ask shareholders to approve a cash dividend of 11.50 euros per share for 2019 at the Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. 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. A special CBI judge on Wednesday lashed out at the probe agency for its investigation into a bribery case that was alleged to involve top CBI officers, asking the investigating officer to explain why the accused with a larger role in the case were still free but the agencys deputy superintendent of police, or DSP, was arrested. Why did you arrest your own DSP Devender Kumar and spoil his career when the main player (Somesh Prasad) is yet to be arrested? Special CBI judge Sanjeev Aggarwal told the CBI. Devender Kumar was arrested in October 2018 shortly after the case was filed by the agency. He was later released on bail. The agency yesterday told the court that its former special director Rakesh Asthana and DSP Devender Kumar were found to be in the clear during investigations. The court will take up the case again on February 19. The CBI had registered the case against Asthana on the basis of a complaint from Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Sana Babu, facing probe in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. The FIR was ordered by then CBI chief Alok Verma that eventually led the government to move out Alok Verma and Asthana from the CBI. A probe by the central vigilance commission later indicted Alok Verma for suspected corruption, interference in probes and an attempt to induct tainted officers. Within the CBI, the probe against Asthana was seen as an attempt to scuttle Asthanas chances from becoming the CBI chief by framing him. Verma has denied this accusation. CBI vs CBI case A case against Sathish Sana Babu was at the centre of the tug of war between Verma and Asthana. Sathish Sana Babu was eventually arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in a money laundering case involving controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Asthana, who was overseeing the CBIs special team put together to probe a bunch of complaints against Moin Qureshi, had pushed for Sathish Sana Babus arrest. Asthana had alleged that Sathish Sana Babuhad paid off some CBI officials to stay out of trouble. Officials said it was around this time that Sathish Sana Babu, an accused in the case, filed a corruption complaint against Rakesh Asthana. In the FIR registered by the CBI in October last year, Babu alleged that he had paid a Rs 2 crore bribe to Asthana via Dubai-based brothers - Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad - to be spared any action in the investigation linked to Qureshi. The money, he alleged, was paid over a 10-month period -- starting from December 2017. Case status CBI officer Satish Dagar, who is investigating the case, told the special CBI judge on Wednesday that a look-out circular had been opened against Somesh Prasad and letter rogatory are pending in further probe. The agency told judge Sanjeev Aggarwal that investigators had been able to establish meetings and calls between Sathish Babu Sana and Manoj and Somesh Prasad. Sathish Sana Babu had also stood by his claim that he paid the bribe for a favourable treatment in the Moin Qureshi case but complained that his employee Punit Kharbanda, who allegedly delivered Rs 1.95 crore at the Press Club of India parking lot in central Delhi to Someshs father-in-law (as alleged in FIR), was deceptive. On Sathish Sana Babus claim that he paid Rs 1 crore to the Prasad brothers in Dubai as the first instalment, the CBI told the judge that there is no hard evidence of that payment. When it comes to nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs, don't overlook the value of collisions. That's the guiding principle behind the Cambridge Innovation Center, a 20-year-old co-working space optimized to encourage the exchange of ideas and expertise among entrepreneurs. It is the key reason CIC has managed to expand and thrive, while competitors like WeWork have sputtered. "Entrepreneurs need three resources: money, ideas, and talent," says co-founder and CEO Tim Rowe. "In innovation districts, CIC mixes money, ideas, and talent like you were making a smoothie." CIC has become a focal point for entrepreneurs within the eight innovation districts it serves--Cambridge, Massachusetts; Boston; Miami; Philadelphia; St. Louis; Providence, Rhode Island; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Warsaw, Poland--thanks in part to its nonprofit offspring, Venture Cafe. The cafe's free weekly programs, which convene startup teams and others for conversation and events ranging from hackathons to workshops on patent strategies or emotional awareness, have become required activities among area entrepreneurs, regardless of whether they use CIC's co-working facilities. The events attract "anybody who believes that innovation is a way to fix the world," says Travis Sheridan, president of Venture Cafe, which Rowe founded in 2010 as a means for maximizing the number of "collisions" among creative people. Today, the nonprofit operates within 11 cities, including three where CIC is not yet established. Observed Behavior Rowe didn't set out to colonize the next wave of startup ecosystems. When CIC started in 1999, it was just a bunch of friends doing their separate entrepreneurial things in 3,000 square feet of office space in Kendall Square, the neighborhood around MIT. "The landlord needed somebody on the lease, and that was me," says Rowe, an MIT grad who at the time was segueing from consulting into startups. As he observed interactions among entrepreneurs in the building, Rowe became fascinated by the power of density. He found research showing that separation--even by a flight of stairs--reduces collaboration and knowledge sharing. Silicon Valley "had three times more physical space with startups and companies than Cambridge," Rowe says. "But they are spread out. In Kendall Square, we were concentrated in one tiny area. The possibilities were different." Over time, CIC tried on different business models. While it had always charged local startups and entrepreneurs fees for renting office space, the company hadn't really considered giving quarter to larger companies. That all changed in 2005, when the team developing Android moved in. Google's interest in the CIC approach wakened Rowe to the potential for a larger market. But it wasn't until 2013, when the former provost at MIT--who had earlier become chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis--invited CIC to set up shop, that the company began its expansion. CIC anticipates being in 50 cities globally in the next decade. Get With the Programs CIC facilities combine space designed to maximize interactions; technology services and support; mentoring and education--including office hours with investors; free food; and, in some locations, wet labs. Of course, since the company's founding, a slew of accelerators and co-working spaces have sprung up offering some or all of these amenities. What sets apart CIC and a few competitors--such as Launch Pad, based in Stockton, California--is their mission to not just serve their tenants, but also to act as innovation hubs for their larger communities. CIC's chief mechanism for doing that is Venture Cafe. The organization's signature event is five hours of programs and networking held every Thursday, except Thanksgiving, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. across all its locations. In smaller markets like Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 200 people might attend. St. Louis often draws more than 500. A typical Venture Cafe comprises between eight and 12 workshops, educational sessions, or experiential programs. A panel might feature an acrobat and an attorney talking about how different professions define acceptable risk. "So you get one community [member] there that is a fan of acrobats and one that wants to hear what the lawyer has to say," says Sheridan. When Adam Hoffman planted his startup in the CIC in St. Louis, he was excited to find Venture Cafe unfolding each week right outside his door. "There are hundreds and hundreds of people and all kinds of sessions," says Hoffman, founder of Qstodian, which makes a restroom monitoring system for facilities. Hoffman often attends himself and uses the events as a form of workforce development. "I tell my employees to feel free to take the second half of the day off, invest in your human capital," he says. "Grab a drink and meet the folks from across the space." Ben Doranz founded Integral Molecular, a biotech company that discovers antibodies to fight disease, in Philadelphia's University City in 2001. He says the introduction of Venture Cafe is among several developments that have helped transform the neighborhood into a full-fledged innovation district. "They have good attendance and it keeps growing," says Doranz, who drops in for presentations on subjects like artificial intelligence and the intersection of art and science. "It has also become a go-to event for many people outside the city--an excuse for them to come in and network with people here." [February 12, 2020] Moody's Analytics Launches Discount Curve Service for IFRS 17 Moody's Analytics, a leading provider of financial intelligence, today announced the launch of the Moody's Analytics Discount Curve Service for IFRS 17. This new service offers insurers a convenient, flexible, and robust solution to the significant challenge of building discount curves required to value future cash flows under IFRS 17. To develop this solution we have built upon our expertise in financial economics, and are capitalizing on our operational infrastructure to offer a reliable and timely service that enables customers to meet demanding reporting timelines. The new service offers illiquidity-premium term structures for a range of credit classes, allowing insurers to tailor the content to the characteristics of their liabilities under valuation, such as duration, liquidity, and currency. "Constructing discount curves for IFRS 17 presents insurers with a number of challenges," said Christophe Burckbuchler, Managing Director at Moody's Analytics. "These include the selection of an appropriate methodology that provides stable and robust valuations of liabilities, and production of curves and necessary documentation to meet reporting timelines. Our new service addresses these challenges and enables insurers to accelerate their IFRS 17 project and production timelines." The launch of the Moody's Analytics Discount Curve Service for IFRS 17 expands our offerings for IFRS 17, which include the RiskIntegrity for IFRS 17 solution and the AXIS actuarial system. This month, Moody's Analytics won IFRS 17 Solution of the Year at the annual InsuranceERM awards. 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 or 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/20200212005401/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] While we have worked extensively over the past four months to address damage and mitigate erosion, a full study of the lakeshore is needed to fully understand and respond to the extent of its vulnerabilities, the statement said. "While we are incredibly disappointed to learn that the Trump administrations budget fails to provide federal funding for this effort we will continue to work alongside the Illinois Congressional delegation and Army Corps to repair the shoreline. Air India CMD Aswani Lohani said on Wednesday that rumours that carrier is going to shut down are totally false. "Air India employees need not worry. Nothing wrong will happen to them... Rumours that Air India is going to shut down are totally false. Air India will continue its operations," Lohani told reporters here. Lohani also attended an exhibition on Air India here. "Air India is still a great airline. It is always there when the country needs Air India. Recently, we brought back Indians from Wuhan. There are a lot of other evacuation stories," he said. Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that the entire dues and arrears of Air India employees will be paid before the proposed disinvestment of the airline is concluded, as the government set the ball rolling for the privatisation of the carrier. The government had invited preliminary bids to divest its entire stake in Air India, and the airline's subsidiary Air India Express along with its joint venture Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited. The Civil Aviation Minister had on January 2 met representatives of various employees unions of Air India and addressed their concerns regarding the privatisation of the carrier. The government has said that privatisation of debt-ridden airline has become a compulsion as fear grows about its shutdown. The minister had also said that debt over Air India has made it "unsustainable" and the national carrier needs to go in private hands to keep it running. Earlier today, the government invited preliminary bids to divest its entire stake in Air India, and the airline's subsidiary Air India Express along with its joint venture Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited. As per a preliminary information memorandum (PIM) issued by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, the last date for submission of expression of interest is March 17 and qualified bidders will be notified on March 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Kingdom Parliament raked up the extradition of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who is facing espionage charges by the United States. The Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, on the floor of the House, asked UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson if the rights of journalists and whistleblowers will be protected in the country. Corbyn backed MPs on the Council of Europe, who warned that Assange's extradition "sets a dangerous precedent for journalists." Calling to oppose the extradition to the United States, Corbyn, he said, "The deep disparity with the US is about to be laid bare, when the Court decides, whether the WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange will be extradited on charges of espionage for exposing war crimes, the murder of civilians, and large scale corruption. Will the Prime Minister agree with the Parliamentary report that's going to the Council of Europe, that this extradition should be opposed and the rights of journalists and whistleblowers are held for the good of all of us." READ| Julian Assange, looking pale & sickly, caught on camera leaving London Court in Police van In response to Corbyn, Boris Johnson refused to comment on an 'individual case' of Julian Assange, however, asserted that the rights of 'whistleblowers and journalists should be upheld.' He said, "I am not going to comment on any individual case, but it is obvious that the rights of journalists and whistleblowers should be upheld in this country and this government will clearly continue to do that." Jeremy Corbyn speaks out against the extradition of Julian Assange in UK parliament today. pic.twitter.com/jagVMoXSvf Assange Edits (@AssangeEdits) February 12, 2020 Julian Assange Case The 48-year-old whistleblower currently imprisoned in Belmarsh is slapped with 18 charges in the United States including the Espionage Act, for conspiring to gain access into US military secrets between January and May 2010. If convicted, he will face upto 175 years in the US prison. Julian Assange was holed up in London's Ecudorian embassy for seven years, until he was dragged out by the UK Police. He took refuge in a small office converted into a bedroom. The 47-year-old lived there with his cat. Wikileaks, an anti-secrecy organisation, was founded in 2006 as a platform for whistleblowers to release classified information anonymously. By 2015, Wikileaks became a portal to publish over 10 million documents, including top-secret documents. Ever since its launch in 2006, Wikileaks has published thousands of classified documents, disclosing the details from national security, war, politics to the film industry. In 2010, as per published files of WikiLeaks, Congress' Rahul Gandhi told the then US Ambassador at lunch that Hindu extremists groups post a greater threat to his country than the Muslim terrorists. READ| Julian Assange struggles to say his own name, as he fights extradition READ| British woman draws comparison between Meghan Markle and Corbyn, netizens divided The Commercial Club is comprised of senior leaders in the region who represent the business, education, cultural and philanthropic sectors. In 1983, the Commercial Club founded the Civic Committee, a group of senior executives from leading employers who focus on making the region a better place to live, work, and do business. Scanlon also will serve as vice chair of the Civic Committee. Santi will be the chair of that committee. Four tech giants whose initials spell out President Donald Trump's favorite acronym have sent the stock market soaring to record highs. Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Apple have driven a bull market - together they account for about 17 percent of the S&P 500 and almost 70 percent of the NASDQS gain this year. The four tech giants all have market caps larger than $1 trillion. And the president has taken credit for the boom. A strong economy is central argument for his November re-election campaign. 'The market is setting a record. We set another record today,' Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday. 'It will be the 144th time in a three-year period that I'm President.' 'And we have four trillion-dollar companies. One is Microsoft, one is Apple, one is Google, one is Amazon. So you have Amazon, Google, Apple, and Microsoft. And so, you have an M, you have an A, you have a G, and you have an A. You have MAGA,' he added. Four tech giants whose initials spell out President Donald Trump's favorite acronym have sent the stock market soaring Trump has been critical of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, seen together with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at a June 2017 meeting at the White House Trump has better relations with Apple CEO Tim Cook He held up a sheet of paper showing how the first letters spelled out the initials of his campaign slogan: Make America Great Again. The president, however, has a tense relationship with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post. Trump routinely criticizes the Post for its coverage of his administration and labels stories he doesn't like 'fake news.' Additionally Bezos is seeking testimony from President Trump and other top administration officials about how the tech giant was shut out of a $10billion military cloud computing contract, according to court documents made public on Monday. As part of an evidence gathering phase of an appeal on the awarding of the 'JEDI' contract to upgrade the US military's computing networks, Amazon asked a judge to call for depositions of Trump and other administration figures including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his predecessor, James Mattis. 'President Trump has unique knowledge about his involvement in the bid process, including private conversations with and instructions to others about the process and the award,' the filing read. Amazon has alleged that Trump improperly intervened in the procurement process to deny the company the massive contract in late October. The president does have better relations with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who he has met with at the White House. The four stocks - Amazon, Google parent Alphabet, along with Apple and Microsoft - accounted for two-thirds of the S&P 500's gain so far in 2020, DataTrek Research said in a note on Monday. The index is up 4.4% year-to-date. Apple and Microsoft also account for 5% of the weight in MSCI's all-country world index, a closely-watched barometer of global stocks, according to Ned Davis Research. That amounts to a larger market value than 47 of the 48 non-U.S. country markets in the index, all but Japan, according to Ned Davis. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner leave a party at Jeff Bezos' Washington D.C. home in January after the annual Alfalfa dinner Google CEO Sundar Pichai - parent company Alphabet is one of the trillion dollar companies Trump touted Microsoft founder Bill Gates - his company is one of the trillion dollar valued ones 'It's just not sustainable,' said Tim Hayes, chief global investment strategist at Ned Davis Research. The risk, Hayes said, is 'that at some point these stocks are no longer going to be propping up the market but instead weighing it down.' 'And that would happen in the U.S. and then the U.S. would weigh down the global trend,' Hayes said. Trump's praise of the companies comes as US federal regulators are stepping up their investigation of the market dominance of five giant tech companies - the four the president mentioned plus Facebook - demanding detailed information on their acquisitions back to 2010. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued orders to Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Google's parent firm Alphabet. The FTC, the Justice Department and a House committee have been investigating the conduct of big tech companies and whether they aggressively bought potential rivals to suppress competition and hurt consumers. Some critics have pointed to Facebook's acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp, for example, as deals that should be questioned. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg - his company and the four other tech companies are facing increased scrutiny from federal regulations The popular messaging services are among some 70 companies that Facebook has acquired over the past 15 years or so, giving it what critics say is massive market power that has enabled it to snuff out competition. The regulators' action could fuel expectations that as a result of the investigations, the government may require tech giants to unwind earlier acquisitions and divest companies. 'This initiative will enable the (FTC) to take a closer look at acquisitions in this important sector, and also to evaluate whether the federal agencies are getting adequate notice of transactions that might harm competition,' FTC Chairman Joseph Simons said in a statement. The agency is asking the companies for information and documents on the terms, scope, structure and purpose of acquisitions made between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019. Google faced antitrust scrutiny more than a decade ago over its acquisition of DoubleClick, a competitor in digital advertising. Apart from the government and congressional investigations, state attorneys general from both political parties are conducting antitrust probes of Google and Facebook. In the Google investigation, the attorneys general have asked the company for internal documents related to how it sells ads and tracks the behaviour of people who use its search engine and other products. Spokespeople for the companies could not immediately be reached for comment. Rep David Cicilline, the chair of the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust who is leading the panel's probe, has said that Congress and antitrust regulators wrongly allowed the big tech companies to regulate themselves, enabling them to operate out of control, dominating the internet and choking off online innovation and entrepreneurship. He has suggested that legislative changes may be needed, though he has called breaking up the companies a last resort. 'It is far too common to hear horror stories from startups and other small businesses about how a dominant platform's abrupt changes have destroyed their business,' Mr Cicilline said at a hearing last month at which executives from small and medium-sized tech companies testified. NEW YORKLawrence V. Ray showed up at his daughters elite college, in a New York City suburb, in late 2010, shortly after being released from prison, and moved into her dormitory. Soon, he started doing therapy sessions with her roommates, convincing them he could help with their problems. Over time, using threats and coercion, he persuaded the young adults he first met at the school, Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, to confess to crimes they had not committed and then extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from them, prosecutors said. He eventually compelled some of them to work without pay on his family property in North Carolina, and he threatened others with knives. He forced one young woman into prostitution, taking the hundreds of thousands of dollars she made from selling sex to strangers, the prosecutors said. On Tuesday, Ray, 60, once a close associate of former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, was charged in a federal indictment in Manhattan with conspiracy, extortion, sex trafficking, forced labour and related charges. For eight years, through 2018, the indictment said, Ray subjected the victims to sexual and psychological manipulation and physical abuse. For the better part of the last 10 years, Ray has continued to mentally and physically torture his victims, William F. Sweeney Jr., head of the FBI office in New York, said at a news conference Tuesday. The charges depict Ray as a man who exploited his victims, initially college sophomores, like a cult leader, learning intimate details of their private lives and their mental health struggles under the pretense of helping them. He alienated several of the young adults from their parents, convincing them that they were broken and in need of fixing by him, the indictment said. For so many of us and our children, college is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and new-found independence, a chance to explore and learn all within the safety of a college community, Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said at the news conference announcing the charges. Ray exploited that vulnerable time in these victims lives through a course of conduct that shocks the conscience, Berman said. Rays extortion scheme relied on false confessions that he extracted from his victims, using tactics like sleep deprivation, psychological and sexual humiliation, verbal abuse, physical violence and threats of legal action, the indictment charged. He got them to falsely confess to damaging property and in some cases to trying to poison him, then used those confessions as leverage, the indictment said. Ray was also accused of laundering about $1 million (U.S.) he obtained from his victims, the indictment said. He was arrested Tuesday morning at his home in Piscataway, New Jersey and was ordered jailed overnight after a brief hearing in Federal District Court. Ray was escorted into the courtroom smiling, dressed in a flannel shirt, cargo pants and work boots with his legs shackled. The investigation that led to the charges against Ray was prompted by an article in New York magazine in April titled The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence, Berman said at the news conference. The startling accusations are all the more remarkable for the environment in which prosecutors say they first played out the verdant Sarah Lawrence campus, where red brick buildings frame wide lawns and a wisteria arbor dominates the grounds. Equally remarkable is Rays own strange history, a life where he seemed to see-saw between mob figures, on the one hand, and top law enforcement and military officials, on the other; he even has made claims, largely credited, that he worked for a United States intelligence agency in Kosovo. He was an FBI informant in the late 1990s, dishing dirt about a Gambino crime family soldier, but his efforts to co-operate with the bureau failed, and he was later charged with more than a dozen other men in a federal racketeering and stock fraud case in Brooklyn. Perhaps the most unusual public episode in Rays career came in 1997 when he arranged a City Hall meeting for Mayor Rudy Giuliani with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Earlier in the 1990s, Ray became close to Kerik, whom Giuliani had appointed as New Yorks Citys correction commissioner and later named the police commissioner. Ray was the best man at Keriks wedding and paid for part of the celebration; a short while later, Kerik helped Ray get a $100,000-a-year job with a construction company, Interstate Industrial Corp. Part of Rays responsibility was to help the business get a license from city regulators, despite allegations it was tied to organized crime. But Ray and Kerik had a falling out in 2000, around the time of the racketeering indictment, and Ray began co-operating with prosecutors investigating Kerik, who ultimately pleaded guilty, first to state and then later to federal charges stemming from the renovations and his efforts on behalf of Interstate. In the New York magazine article, Kerik was quoted as saying: Larry Ray is a psychotic con man who has victimized every friend hes ever had. Its been close to 20 years since I last heard from him, yet his reign of terror continues. Sarah Lawrence said in a statement that the school had just learned of Rays indictment and called the charges serious, wide-ranging, disturbing and upsetting. The school said it would co-operate with investigators if asked. Ray later served time in a New Jersey state prison on charges stemming from a child custody dispute. It was after his release in New Jersey that Ray moved in with his daughter in student housing at Sarah Lawrence. During the months he spent living at the school, Ray laid the groundwork for psychological conditioning that would eventually lead these young adults to become unwitting victims of sexual exploitation, verbal and physical abuse, extortion, forced labour and prostitution, Sweeney said. In the summer of 2011, the indictment said, some of the Sarah Lawrence students moved with Ray into a one-bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he continued to exploit them. The indictment also charged that Ray subjected his daughters friends to interrogation sessions that often lasted hours at a time and escalated into verbal and physical abuse. He would falsely accuse them of damaging his apartment and property and of harming him and his family, the indictment said. Around 2013, the indictment said, Ray took some of his victims to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where he forced them to perform manual labour on his familys property, including the installation of an irrigation system, purportedly to repay money he claimed they owed him. He forced one woman to work as a prostitute from 2014 to 2018, and took more than $500,000 from the money she earned, authorities said. Ray was also physically violent with her and once tied her to a chair, placed a plastic bag over her head and nearly suffocated her, the indictment charged. The indictment also said that Ray extorted $1 million from five of his victims, which he shared with two unidentified associates. Some victims drained hundreds of thousands of dollars from their parents savings accounts at Rays direction, Berman said. On the college campus Tuesday, a number of students said they had been aware of the New York magazine article and felt relief at Rays arrest. But they expressed concern his actions had evaded the attention of authorities for so long. Its pretty shocking that its taken 10 years to get this guy charged, said Wyatt Button, 20, a sophomore who is studying film. Audrey McGonagle, 18, a freshman studying dance, said that although Rays stay on campus was some years ago, she felt uncomfortable when she visited the dorm, Slomin 9, where Ray had installed himself with his daughter and her friends. Its just creepy, McGonagle said. Empuraan, the Mohanlal starring upcoming action thriller which is a sequel to the 2019-released blockbuster Lucifer, is undoubtedly one of the most-awaited upcoming films of Malayalam cinema. Mohanlal, the lead actor of the project opened up about Empuraan during the recently held Vanitha Film Awards 2020 ceremony. The complete actor confirmed that the pre-production works of the Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial will begin by the end of 2020. If things fall in place, Empuraan will go on floors by mid-2021 and will hit the theatres the same year. Mohanlal also dedicated the Best Actor trophy which he received for his performance in Lucifer, to the team members. According to the superstar, there is a magic that happens behind the success of every film. When it comes to Lucifer, director Prithviraj Sukumaran, scriptwriter Murali Gopy, and producer Antony Perumbavoor are totally capable of creating that magic. Mohanlal also stated that Prithviraj will soon emerge as one of the finest filmmakers of Indian cinema. According to the reports, the sequel of Lucifer needs more time and effort while compared to the original and will be made in a larger canvas. Empuraan will narrate both the past and future of Mohanlal's character Stephen Nedumpilly aka Khureshi Ab'Ram, and can be called both a sequel and prequel to Lucifer. In a recent interview, director Prithviraj had confirmed that he and writer Murali Gopy have already finalised the storyline of the Mohanlal starrer. The actor-director had also revealed that the project will start rolling exactly after six months from the day Murali hand over the full bound script. Most of the actors from the original star cast, including Indrajith Sukumaran, Vivek Oberoi, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Baiju Santhosh, Kalabhavan Shahjohn, and so on will be retained in part two as well. Prithviraj Sukumaran, who made a cameo appearance in the role of Zayed Masood in Lucifer, will have more screentime in Empuraan. A woman from Satara district of Maharashtra stranded in Wuhan in China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak there has appealed to the Centre through social media to airlift her and several compatriots facing a similar situation Mumbai: A woman from Satara district of Maharashtra stranded in Wuhan in China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak there has appealed to the Centre through social media to airlift her and several compatriots facing a similar situation. Ashini Avinash Patil, in a video being circulated on social media, claimed she was stuck in Wuhan, one of the worst-hit cities in China, along with 70-80 other Indians. "Last week, the Indian government airlifted 700-800 people from here, but I and other 70-80 Indians are stranded in the city. The Indian government should make necessary arrangements to airlift us," she said in the video appeal. Responding to her appeal, former Maharashtra chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday wrote a letter External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asking him to take necessary steps for help. In the letter, Chavan said he had spoken to Patil on Monday night and Tuesday morning, besides contacting the point person in the Indian Embassy at Beijing. According to Chavan, Patil submitted her passport with VFS Global for processing visa, but due to 2019-nCoV outbreak in Wuhan, all commercial operations have been suspended and her passport remains stuck with the VFS. "She is running out of food and water. It is therefore necessary to arrange emergency travel documents and ensure her travel out of Wuhan. All the necessary transport arrangements will have to be made," Chavan said in his letter to the EAM. "She has agreed to comply with all the medical and quarantine procedures as required by authorities," his letter read. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government issued a release saying state minister Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar also called Patil and assured her of necessary steps to bring her and others back to the country. The release claimed 26 students from Maharashtra have been brought back from China and are in quarantine currently. "Currently the students are under observation and health department will send them home soon," said Yadravkar. Despite the numerous break-up rumors that their relationship has gone through since it started in 2016, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara looked even more in love at the 92nd Academy Awards, Sunday night. The couple made their Oscars debut as they posed at the red carpet radiating their love into the Oscars atmosphere before heading to the awards show. During the show, Mara then cheered on her lover as Phoenix received his Best Actor Award for his movie "Joker" where he portrayed Batman's arch-enemy to a tee. To celebrate the "Joker" star's Oscar win, the couple was then spotted at Monty's Good Burger which is known for its plant-based menu in Los Angeles. The couple was still dressed in their red carpet outfits while digging into their burgers looking even more in love. Their post-awards night grub was captured by Greg Williams a photographer who then took it to Instagram to post the photo of the lovebirds. The moment was describe by E!Online as the most adorable Oscars after-party in Academy Awards history. The couple met in the set of the film "Her" in 2013 where Phoenix starred as Theodore Twombly a writer who fell in love with his intelligence virtual assistant portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. While Mara played as Catherine, Twombly's ex-wife. The two, however, did not start dating until 2016 when they started filming the movie, Mary Magdalene. The two kept their relationship under wraps until 2017 when they first appeared as a couple during the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Also read: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Feud Continues Following SAG Reunion with Ex-Wife Jennifer Aniston Although the couple's relationship seems to be going strong, they were favorite targets of break-up rumors circulating. For one, in December 2019, the couple was reported to have broken up over January Jones trying to pursue the "Joker" star. Per Gossip Cop , January was reportedly "crushing hard" on the actor after his portrayal of Mr. J. In February of 2019, there were also rumors of the to splitting up after rumors that they were fighting due to Phoenix's refusal to get married, have kids and raise a family. There have been more rumors about the coupe allegedly breaking up in the course of their relationship. However, the couple has debunked these rumors in their appearances where they show up even more in love with each other each time. And have been reported engaged by Vanity Fair. During the 2020 Golden Globes back in January, the couple walked the red carpet together where Phoenix was caught adoring his rumored fiance as they made their way through the photographers. During the show, Phoenix also received the Golden Globe for Best Actor for "Joker" where he expressed his love to Mara while wiping away tears during his acceptance speech. In October 2019, the "Her" actor also opened up about how he became infatuated with Mara even revealing that she was the first and only woman he ever stalked online. The Oscars' best actor also emphasized that he already has everything he needs in his life with Mara in it. Related news: Oscars 2020: 'Parasite' Wins Historic Best Picture, Brad Pitt's Speech; Natalie Portman's Controversial Outfit @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Our congressional and government leaders are broken. It is time for a new generation to lead, with leadership positions populated by those who choose to bring us together, rather than continuing this drive to tear their opponents apart. Explainer: Is AAP's next plan - BBMP election? India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bengaluru, Feb 12: A day after bagging a massive victory in New Delhi, keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the forefront of the opposition, Aam Aadmi Party is all set expand its power outside national capital. Now, its focus is on the IT Capital Bengaluru. Speaking to reporters, AAP state co-convener and BBMP campaign in-charge Shanthala Damle said, "Delhi assembly results have given new hope and enthusiasm to AAP workers across the country and sent a message that you can win elections purely based on good work. Our focus is now on winning Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections this year." Arvind Kejriwal wins from New Delhi seat, AAP wins 62 seats, BJP 8 As AAP gradually began to gain its momentum on the victory side in New Delhi, AAP workers and party leaders in Bengaluru and other parts of the state, took to streets to celebrate the victory. Keeping AAP's victory in the national capital aside, the party is seen working hard in Bengaluru for the upcoming BBMP elections. Within 18 months, the party have already opened offices in different wards and appointed presidents to prepare for the civic polls. Meanwhile, the AAP leaders and workers would take part in padayatra, urging people to recommend candidates and seek suggestions from the residents for the development of the city. Jana Samvada - (Dialogue with people): This campaign, by the AAP in Bengaluru, is expected to be fruitful as they would conduct such rallies across the city. Though the AAP had not tasted victory in the IT Capital, its victory in the national capital might be a game changer. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda hails Arvind Kejriwal: Former Prime Minister and JDS chief HD Deve Gowda congradulated Kejriwal over his victory in the national capital. Speaking to reporters, the JDS chief said that the developmental works taken by Arvind Kejriwal has touched each and every corner in Karnataka. Withy the ruling BJP in the state, it can be seen that the JDS might lend its support to AAP, only to keep BJP aside. This could probably be after the coalition government collapsed in Karnataka during trust votes in 2019. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 15:01 [IST] By Laman Ismayilova Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva has visited Bona Dea International Hospital in Baku. Leyla Aliyeva met with children suffering from ichthyosis, epidermolysis bullosa and immunodeficiency. At the hospital, she was informed of the treatment of children. Gifts were presented to children, who undergo treatment with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Notably, Bona Dea International Hospital opened its doors in 2018. The hospital consists of seven floors, with an area of 37,500 m. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva The main goal of the Bona Dea International Hospital is to provide all patients with the highest quality of care and aim for the highest patient and employee satisfaction while applying innovation at all levels of care. The hospital has 32 medical departments. It has many specialties onsite including cardiology, general surgery, endocrinology, emergency medicine and others. The Bona Dea International Hospital aims to become one of the top hospitals in the Caspian region operating according to western European standards of healthcare. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Embattled aircraft maker Boeing has urged a US court to dismiss the main thrust of a $740m-plus (678m) claim made against it by a Dublin-based jet leasing firm due to delayed deliveries of the troubled 737 Max. Timaero Ireland signed an agreement with Boeing in January 2014 to buy 20 Max aircraft. In 2016, Timaero converted two Boeing 737-800 orders to Max orders. The firm is owned by Russian state-owned development bank Vnesheconombank. Max jets have been grounded all over the world since March last year following two fatal crashes linked to one of the aircraft's software systems. Timaero has claimed in an Illinois court that Boeing's delivery delays are in breach of the aircraft delivery schedule agreed to by the pair and are the result of "Boeing's fault and negligence in designing the aircraft with a defective flight control system that it did not properly test and analyse". It filed the lawsuit against Chicago-headquartered Boeing in December. But Boeing has already fought back at Timaero's efforts to sue it. "Timaero's 2014 order of 737 Max airplanes from Boeing is the subject of a detailed purchase agreement between the parties, and this dispute should be resolved in accordance with the terms of those agreements," it told the court. "The law does not permit a plaintiff to transform a contract claim like Timaero's into a tort case, absent specific allegations of fraudulent or intentionally wrongful conduct," it also claimed. The aircraft maker added that Timaero had claimed Boeing intentionally sold the leasing firm aircraft that it knew at the time were unsafe, with the intent to injure Timaero in its aircraft leasing business. "These allegations are both wholly implausible and fatally vague," claimed lawyers for Boeing. Lawyers for the aircraft maker have also sought to have the case transferred to Washington state, where Boeing has major manufacturing facilities. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:24:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Royal Cambodian Limousine Group, a subsidiary of the Royal Group, has purchased 452 new vehicles in preparation for the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) on Nov. 16-17 in Phnom Penh, an English-language daily newspaper reported on Wednesday. Jacob Montross, managing director of the Royal Cambodian Limousine Group, said this new purchase would bring the total number of vehicles in the fleet to more than 700, making it the largest luxury transportation provider in Cambodia. The purchase comprises BMWs, Toyotas and Hyundai vehicles imported from both the United States and Germany. They will be delivered by the end of February. The fleet now also includes 55 BMW 7 Series vehicles, a model considered to be the gold standard for chauffeur-driven transportation services for visiting foreign delegates. "We have spent more than 30 million U.S. dollars on this latest purchase, bringing the overall investment in our fleet to now over 40 million U.S. dollars," Montross was quoted as saying to the Khmer Times. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said late last month that the biennial summit will bring together leaders from 51 countries. "The forthcoming 13th ASEM is the biggest diplomatic and historic event for Cambodia," he said. "It will be the best opportunity for Cambodia to express its highest-level commitment to strengthen multilateralism, to contribute to the world's efforts to tackle global challenges, and to contribute to seeking opportunities for the betterment of the global economy." I want to start by turning myself in to Jason Kenneys investigators. I admit to being against further oilsands development, making me a person of interest to the sleuths in Kenneys $30-million war-room who are tasked with vilifying oilsands critics. Of course, theyre really hoping to unmask foreign-funded special interests, and I dont have a single dollar of foreign backing. Still I do what I can! The war room is just one of the Alberta premiers bullying tactics, along with threatening Western separation, as he tries to intimidate critics and pressure the Trudeau government into approving the proposed Teck mine, a vast 293-square-kilometre open pit mine, which would be the biggest tarsands mine yet. Given that such an approval would hopelessly compromise any Canadian effort to battle climate change which, lets not forget, threatens the world including us here in Canada the answer must clearly be no. In the election last fall, two-thirds of the country voted for parties that advocated strong action on climate change. The fact that this is seen as a difficult decision reveals the Trudeau governments keenness to be accommodating when dealing with opposition, which is coming from the right and backed by powerful business interests. Meanwhile, theres a willingness to play hardball when opposition is coming from Indigenous people and powerful business interests are against them. These hardball tactics have been on display in northwestern B.C. in recent weeks as Wetsuweten Indigenous protestors, trying to block a pipeline from crossing their land, have been confronted with highly militarized RCMP officers dressed in combat fatigues, bearing assault rifles and police dogs. Chainsawing though a gate marked Reconciliation, the RCMP have forcibly removed the occupiers that is, people occupying their own land amid prayers for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, sparking nationwide protests. Most of the media attention has focused on how disruptive the protests have been to southern train travel. But the hardball tactics are alarming. The RCMP were prepared to shoot the Indigenous protestors, according to a report last December in the U.K. Guardian. Documents cited in the article show that RCMP commanders argued that lethal overwatch is reqd a term for deploying an officer able to use lethal force. What makes the strong-armed clampdown so outrageous is that the natural gas pipeline, approved by the B.C. government and enforced by a court injunction, is to be built across land that has never been ceded. A 1997 Supreme Court of Canada decision ruled the title was held by the Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs. Indigenous people have long been on the receiving end of strong-arm police tactics ordered by Canadas federal and provincial governments, particularly when they stood in the way of colonial settlement or resource extraction. From the late 1800s, Indigenous people were forcibly relocated to reserves, with their children sent to now-notorious residential schools. In recent years, Canada has extended the national security apparatus to prevent protestors often Indigenous people protecting their lands from interfering with oil and gas developments. Casting such protestors as terrorists, Stephen Harpers government with qualified support from Justin Trudeaus Liberals passed the 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act, which authorized police surveillance and arrest powers against those interfering with critical infrastructure. And so it is that oil and gas infrastructure are given the full protection of the state, even as these projects and their corporate backers further cement our reliance on fossil fuels, thereby imperiling all of our futures. On the other hand, Indigenous people, trying to protect land over which they hold legal title according to Canadas Supreme Court, are treated as criminals and terrorists, rounded up and arrested, even as they are doing us all the immense favour of slowing down or stopping yet more climate-endangering projects. Meanwhile, Kenney is trying to position Albertas oil interests as the real victim in all this. In a bizarre twist, he denounced the nationwide protests supporting the Wetsuweten as eco-colonialsm coming from people in urban southern Canada presumably the next best thing to foreign-funded special interests. Certainly, if Kenneys war room manages to find a protester with an American dollar in her pocket, well never hear the end of it. Linda McQuaig is a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: is a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @LindaMcQuaig Read more about: From our body shape to the state of our skin, in today's world of selfies and social media there is so much to worry about when we look in the mirror. But little else dents our confidence like a truly bad hair day. While it's completely normal for our hair to constantly change (we shed around 100 strands in 24 hours), thousands of us will struggle with noticeable hair loss at some point in our lives. From pregnancy to medication - and even over-styling - there's a plethora of reasons why we begin to lose our locks. Here, we talk to three people who have dealt with the devastating impact thinning hair has had on their confidence - and how they overcame it with revolutionary vitamin gummies which costs less than most salon trips. The supplement - Starpowa - is a three-in-one vitamin and mineral boost made especially to help you maintain healthy hair, skin and nails. It's so popular with customers, it has become one of Holland & Barrett's best sellers and boasts rave reviews on Trustpilot. So, could it help you take back control of your crowning glory? Hair loss story: Pregnancy Lois, 33, receptionist from Cheshire Pregnancy took its toll on Lois' hairline and she found her locks much thinner and flatter after giving birth. After taking Starpowa, she saw dramatic regrowth after 30 days 'I have always spent a fortune on looking after my hair. I have very straight, fine hair that I have spent years colouring from blonde to dark brown. 'As most people do, I wanted full, lustrous hair and I wouldnt think twice about booking in at a fancy salon for my rapture extensions. I'd happily spend around 600 for long, thick hair! 'Then I got pregnant. At first I had a lovely bounce and shine but towards the end and when my daughter Bonnie was born, my hair seemed thinner, flat and lifeless. Hair loss myths * Hair loss is inherited from the male parent * Female hair loss causes abnormal menstrual cycle * Hair dye, hair spray and washing hair increases hair loss * Hair loss only happens to women over 50 'I tried everything to cover it up and add volume and make it look fuller. Different colours, different hairbrushes and hairdryers, YouTube tutorials and even more extensions. 'My friend Fiona started mention Starpowa to me after it helped improve her nails. She advised me of the advantages it had to hair and skin - and thanks to it being on offer, I ordered two 30-day supplies straight away. 'I noticed a change in my skin first. It went from looking dull to a fresh. The compliments started to come in and then I noticed my hair seemed much thicker as I was drying it. 'I just couldnt believe after 30 days I was already seeing results and would send pictures to my friends and family in our message groups! 'I honestly can't recommend this product enough. Im loving my skin and hair at the moment and feel so confident. Usually, I would feel uncomfortable showing my tired dark under eye area, but Im happy to have make-up free days now!' Lock down on hair loss: Help your hair stay healthy with Starpowa While we are all going to have off days, the essential vitamins, key minerals, organic compounds and amino acids in Starpowa, alongside a healthy diet, can help provide the nutrients we need on the inside - making it much easier to look great on the outside. And getting your daily dose couldn't be easier - you simply need to add two gummies to your morning routine. But what are the amazing natural ingredients that give Starpowa its power? Click HERE to find out the magic formula that's helping women secure their hair health... and pick up yours TODAY to buy one get another for just a PENNY. Hair loss story: Health issues Carly, 31, nanny from Northampton Medical problems and subsequent prescribed hormones made Carly's hair thin. She claims Starpowa's three-in-one gummies helped her hair and skin look healthier 'My hair has always been quite slow growing in general and Im always on the lookout for something to make it thicker and healthier. I have fine, frizzy hair - but have always had a lot of it. 'However, last year after some medical issues made a shocking reappearance and I had to have investigative surgery. I was then diagnosed with endometriosis and was prescribed progesterone hormones to try and put a stop to it advancing. Hair loss facts * Both parents genes contribute to hair loss * Menstruation is not affected by hair loss * Hair styling and dying does not cause hair loss * Fifty per cent of women from 18 to 40 will experience hair loss 'Unfortunately, the progesterone has a rare side effect which causes hair loss - and mine started to shed rapidly, leaving me with large areas of balding with very little amount of hair in the area! 'I was panicked by this and the doctors found that progesterone causes your body to create testosterone, which in turn makes the hairs resting phase shorten, causing the rapid shed. 'I couldn't walk past a mirror without checking my hair - it was all consuming. I had seen a friend of mine who had great hair growth results after chemotherapy by using Starpowa, so I took a leap and purchased 3 bottles to try. 'Within a month, I had so much new hair with massive regrowth in the spare areas. My skin still isn't the best due to the hormones but my nails are a lot longer and stronger. 'I feel so much more confident. Ive never been so happy to share a product on social media and several friends have already purchased some to try. Hair loss story: Receding and thinning hairline Harpal, 30, businessman from Essex Harpal treated his thinning hair and recede with a transplant, but struggled with growth for months afterwards. He tried Starpowa for five months and his hair is the longest and thickest it's been since the treatment 'Since my early twenties, I have suffered with a receding hair line and hair loss for a few years. I decided to get a hair transplant in Turkey last year, however the re-growth was really slow. 'I was told to buy a supplement with Biotin and Zinc in it to help maintain healthy growth. I have tried everything! But I do think products that work on the inside have worked much better for me than anything topical. 'I tried multiple supplements but the best I have used is definitely Starpowa. I have been taking them everyday for five months and my hair has been the thickest and longest it's been since my transplant. 'To be honest it was not instant but after 3 months I could see a clear difference. I tell everyone about these gummies now; my mum uses it and has seen hair growth on the front of hairline which she said she has not seen in years. 'Most importantly this process has helped me be happy with my appearance - I have never felt more confident with women in my life. It's defiantly given me a new MOJO and I look younger than I did before. The only downside is my nails grow at the speed of light and I have to constantly cut them! President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that the Pentagon should review the conduct of a former White House national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats' impeachment case and potentially consider disciplinary action against him. Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, who until last week was detailed by the Pentagon to the White House, testified before the House impeachment panel that Trump inappropriately pushed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Vindman was ousted from his job on the White House National Security Council on Friday, just two days after the Senate acquitted Trump on abuse of power and obstruction of justice charges. He is to be reassigned by the Pentagon. His twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who worked as an ethics lawyer at the NSC, also was ousted from his job and was re-assigned to the Army General Counsel's Office. Trump has already been sharply criticized for pushing out Alexander Vindman and others who crossed him in the impeachment hearings. Asked whether he wanted to see Vindman face discipline, Trump said military officials can handle him any way they want but also suggested that he expected commanders to review the decorated, 20-year officer's conduct. That's going to be up the military, Trump said. We'll have to see. They are certainly, I imagine, going to take a look at that." Robert O'Brien, Trump's national security adviser, said later Tuesday that Alexander Vindman was not asked to leave his White House job in retaliation for his testimony in the Democrats' impeachment case. There 's absolutely no retaliation with respect to the Vindmans as far as impeachment goes, O'Brien said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council. But the president is entitled to a staff that he has confidence in and that he believes will execute his policy. O'Brien said it was his decision and that the president did not ask him to remove them. They were not retaliated against," O'Brien said. Their services were no longer needed. ... The hiring and the decisions on personnel are made by the National Security Council. Ultimately the buck stops with me, but there is a chief of staff, we have a deputy and we have lawyers who are involved in every one of those decisions, he said. So those were my decisions and I stand by them. Noting that both are lieutenant colonels in the Army, O'Brien suggested that the Vindman twins were not acting to implement the president's policy decisions. The policy of the United States is formed and decided by the president of the United States, he said. We're not some banana republic where lieutenant colonels get together and decide what the policy is. Defense Secretary Mark Esper was asked earlier what the Pentagon would do to ensure that the former NSC staffers face no retribution. "We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that," Esper said. "We've already addressed that in policy and other means." Alexander Vindman's attorney, David Pressman, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier, Pressman said that telling the truth cost his client his "job, his career, and his privacy. ___ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a consistent global brand, farmers can be confident that products containing picoxystrobin and labeled with Onmira active possess the benefits of Cortevas exceptional research, development and testing Corteva Agriscience announced today that it is implementing Onmira active (pronounced ON-meer-uh) as the new global brand name for picoxystrobin, the active ingredient in more than 15 proven fungicides from Corteva. With a consistent global brand, farmers can be confident that products containing picoxystrobin and labeled with Onmira active possess the benefits of Cortevas exceptional research, development and testing, said Keith Graham, Global Portfolio Leader, Corteva Agriscience. Farmers worldwide will also be better able to recognize our high-quality active ingredient in these current Corteva fungicide products, as well as new ones we will be launching in the future. For example, Corteva continues ramping up Vessarya fungicide with Onmira active1, one of the latest technologies released as part of the companys robust innovation pipeline. Onmira is a highly active strobilurin (Group 11) fungicide used for the control of foliar and soil-borne plant diseases. Products with Onmira are labeled for crops including soybean, corn, wheat, rice, sunflower, canola and oilseed rape. Drawn from Latin and Romance languages, mira is associated with words meaning to see, as well as to wonder at or admire. Onmira captures the products proven ability to support farmers in growing visibly stronger, more vigorous crops. Local commercial teams are coordinating plans to integrate this brand into Corteva marketing and packaging materials in the coming year. About Corteva Agriscience Corteva Agriscience is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry - including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva Agriscience became an independent public company on June 1, 2019 and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at http://www.corteva.com. Follow Corteva Agriscience on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. 1 Vessarya fungicide with Onmira active is trademarked in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. ,, Trademarks and service marks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners. SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via CannabisNewsWire Holy Herb, LLC , a Santa Clarita, California-based provider of high-quality products combining full spectrum hemp extracts and the Santa Yerba herb cultivated on their farm, announces its participation in the upcoming USA CBD Expo . The expo takes place Feb. 13-15, 2020, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Holy Herb Products can be found in booth 152 at the CBD expo, and the company will be offering free samples of Holy Herba Honey, Holy Herb Pain Relief Spray and Holy Herb Pain Relief Cream throughout the three-day event. Our unique products are the very first to combine high-grade full spectrum hemp extracts with Santa Yerba, which was first utilized by Native Americans for thousands of years due to its vast healing properties, said Dustin Arklin, co-owner of the Holy Herb Brands. The Santa Yerba Herb grows throughout the mountains of Southern California. After 10 years of Lab R+D and formulation, we carefully have cultivated in our growing fields enough Santa Yerba herb to satisfy our commercial production requirements. Holy Herbs CBD Pain Relief Spray and Pain Relief Cream are designed to quickly penetrate the skin and go deep into the tissue to deliver fast, sustainable results. To produce the companys unique Holy Herba Honey, Holy Herbs bees gather pollen from its Santa Yerba flowers when in springs full bloom. The Santa Yerba-derived honey is then infused with Holy Herbs high-quality, full spectrum hemp extracts for maximum health and delicious flavor results. USA CBD Expo attendees can sample and learn more about Holy Herbs products by visiting vendor booth 152. The Las Vegas Convention Center is located at 3150 Paradise Road in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information about Holy Herb, visit the companys website at www.HolyHerb.com or follow the company on Instagram @HolyHerb_llc . About Holy Herb Brands Holy Herb is a fully tested pain relief spray and cream unlike any other on the marketplace. Using his unique aging and extracting process, Dr. Nalbandyan and his team at Holy Herb Brands have created the first and only product made with high-grade hemp and Santa Yerba, The Holy Herb. Santa Yerba grows naturally throughout Southern California and was used by Native Americans for thousands of years for the same reasons that people use cannabis today. They would put it in their tea, make lotions, and smoke the herb. Native Americans named the plant The Holy Herb because of its many medicinal benefits. They would use the herb topically to help sooth mosquito bites, rashes, bruises, wounds, sprains, muscle aches, joint pain and more. They would also brew tea with The Holy Herb to make a great tasting natural antioxidant that helps treat fevers and coughs. These two herbs combined together create a highly potent pain relief spray that delivers fast and sustainable results. For more information, visit www.HolyHerb.com . Company Contact Dustin Arklin 661-733-5738 info@holyherb.com WASHINGTON - A divided House committee on Tuesday advanced a District of Columbia statehood bill to the floor for the first time in nearly three decades, bringing advocates closer to their goal of making the nation's capital the 51st state. The bill has a good chance of passing the House of Representatives, because Democrats have a solid majority and the cause of statehood has become a darling of Democratic leaders, national civil rights groups and presidential candidates. But it faces almost certain death in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. "It is fitting that this historic vote happened in the midst of Black History Month, for I dare say - achieving D.C. statehood would be black history," Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said in a statement. A plurality of the overwhelmingly Democratic city's approximately 700,000 residents are African American. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., made District statehood a priority shortly after she took over leading the chamber last year, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., reversed his long-standing opposition to the concept in May. The one time the House voted on statehood, in 1993, it failed 277 to 153, with support from 60 percent of Democrats and one Republican. Now, the bill has 223 co-sponsors and is considered a civil rights litmus test for the party's left flank. When Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., cast her committee vote in favor of the legislation on Tuesday, she was emphatic: "Absolutely, yes." "For such a historic achievement for the District of Columbia, the only message I can convey is gratitude," said District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, the city's nonvoting representative and the lead sponsor of the bill. "We have only one last hill to climb in the House - onward to the House floor!" The bill is unlikely to even get a vote in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., strongly opposes statehood, in part because a new state would probably add two Democratic senators. Democrats and Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform spent more than six hours debating the bill, which would shrink the seat of the federal government to a two-square-mile enclave, encompassing the White House, Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court and other federal buildings. The rest of the District would become the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, after the famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who lived in Washington for the last part of his life. "The United States is a democracy, but its capital is not," Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the committee chair, said before the meeting. Republicans - who oppose District statehood on ideological, fiscal and constitutional grounds - introduced amendments that would impose restrictions related to abortion, immigration and gun laws on the proposed new state and federal enclave. All 15 were defeated on party-line votes. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the ranking Republican on the committee, argued that only a constitutional amendment, ratified by two-thirds of states, could create a state - not mere legislation. "You want to form a 51st state, then knock yourself out," added Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La. "Follow the constitutionally mandated process to make that happen." Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a constitutional law professor and longtime statehood proponent, countered that after the 13 original colonies, the United States admitted 37 states by a simple act of Congress, which is how Democrats propose to make the District a state. Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., offered an amendment based on the federal Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which she said was necessary after Gov. Ralph Northam, D-Va., made comments last year that Republicans interpreted to mean he favored infanticide. Northam strongly rejected that interpretation. Norton called Miller's proposal "unprecedented." The gentle lady wants to legislate for the new state before it is a new state," Norton said. "The whole point of this process is to give the new state the right to decide its own laws." Republicans also offered amendments that would wipe out gun laws in the new federal enclave and force the new state to cooperate with federal immigration agencies. Raskin called such amendments an affront to District residents' right to self-determination. "Please do not use their drive for statehood as an opportunity to finger-paint and scrawl graffiti all over their state constitution with your pet political agendas," he said. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., questioned why the proposed new state would include the Trump International Hotel, in the former Old Post Office building, but exclude the FBI headquarters on the opposite side of the street. Both are in buildings owned by the General Services Administration. He said statehood advocates were seeking tax revenue generated by the Trump hotel, and offered an amendment that would make all contiguous federally owned buildings part of the in the federal enclave, not the new state. Republicans also seized on a scandal involving District Council member Jack Evans, who resigned last month before his colleagues could expel him from office over repeated ethics violations. (Evans is now running for his old seat.) Jordan and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., have written to Maloney asking for a hearing to examine Evans' "disturbing ethical transgressions as the WMATA Board Chair and a D.C. Council member." Norton replied that over the past decade, the Department of Justice has prosecuted corruption in every state represented by Republicans on the committee. One study Mr. Pildes cited in support of his thesis shows small donors are less polarized than others. The true risk today is dominance by megadonors, many ideological themselves. In 2016, 400 wealthy donors gave more money than 5 million small donors combined. Donations from individuals giving more than $1 million made up 31 percent of the funds for the entire election. Support from people who gave $200 or less accounted for 21 percent of the election funds. Small-donor public financing remains our best chance at effective reform. JOURNALIST: - Sir, towards the end of 2019, the cement industry continued to set an export record of nearly 34 million tons, which was the highest level ever. What do you think will be the pressures on cement exports in 2020? Mr. NGUYEN QUANG CUNG: - 2018 was the first year that cement and clinker exports reached USD 1,246 bn, with a production of 32 million tons. 2019 continued to be a successful year for exports of cement and clinker, with a total production of approximately 34 million tons, reaching USD 1,394 bn. Not only was the second year in the top billion-dollar export club, but also the second consecutive year that the cement industry had a record export. Contrary to the original forecast, due to the impact of the trade war in 2019, the world economy slowed down and real estate fell into difficulties, but cement exports reached 2.5 million tons. In 2019, Vietnam was still stable compared to other world cement markets. It is estimated that total cement and clinker production in 2019 reached 98-99 million tons, up 2% compared to 2018. This year, the Ministry of Construction forecasts cement demand will continue to increase at 4-5% compared to 2019, and will be about 101-103 million tons, in which domestic cement consumption will be about 69-70 million tons, and export about 32-34 million tons. However, I think the growth will be lower. The reason is that the real estate market does not have many new projects, and infrastructure projects are no better. These are the two main consumption sources for construction material. In addition, the price of cement has increased due to increase in raw material prices, and if the price increases too high, it will not be able to compete with imported products. Therefore, the story of the cement industry is still quite bleak as there is also a great amount of pressure on exports this year. - Not only real estate, but will the slowdown in urban transport infrastructure also affect the growth of the cement industry this year? - Not only will construction and real estate have a direct impact on the cement industry, but basic construction works for transport also will need cement. In fact, the past years show that, if big traffic projects such as roads and bridges are constructed more, the cement industry grows well. In the last two to three years, many projects are leveling off, new projects have no scale, partly due to the impact of the government tight spending policy, so the domestic market for the cement industry is not the answer. Currently, the domestic market for the cement industry is only a segment of civil construction but that is not significant. So, in 2019 cement exports increased sharply. It can be said that in 2019, the cement industry promptly changed to cope with difficulties when the real estate market leveled off. But in my opinion, in 2020, difficulties for the cement industry will be greater. Especially at the present time, after the restructuring period, the production of cement for export to China and Thailand has increased, which will make Vietnam's cement exports more competitive. Therefore, domestic cement manufacturing and export enterprises need to grasp the latest developments in the world cement market in order to timely adjust production activities, increase or decrease supply to avoid a price squeeze, and have a long-term strategy for their production and business marketing activities. - There is a view that despite two consecutive years of success in exports, our cement market is still fragmented, more investment is needed in production and labor, while efficiency is very low. What is your opinion on this issue? - Vietnamese cement has made a name in the world market now with a presence in 40 countries and territories. In particular, in 2019, exports reached 34 million tons, making Vietnam the largest exporter of cement in the world. However, in the long term, the industry requires restructuring and production efficiency if we have to stay in the world market. If we look, we will see that foreign enterprises have already entered the Vietnamese cement market in the last five years, mainly from ASEAN countries, though not multinational corporations. Domestic cement manufacturing and export enterprises need to grasp the latest developments in the world cement market in order to timely adjust production activities, increase or decrease supply to avoid a price squeeze, and have a long-term strategy for their production and business marketing activities. These enterprises take more risks and have decided to invest for two main reasons. First, the need of the enterprise to invest abroad because of limited domestic economic prospects such as in Thailand; or with a strategy to buy back Vietnamese cement to export back into their domestic market, such as in Indonesia. Second, a long-term plan for growth of the cement industry for future economic development in the prospect of meeting both supply and demand and the opportunity to merge with another enterprise. Currently, Vietnam has cement production capacity of about 120 million tons with more than 60 production factories, while Thailand has production capacity of nearly 60 million tons with five manufacturers. Vietnam has two third of the cement production lines with a capacity of one million tons per year, accounting for about 20% of the industry's total output. Meanwhile, the minimum scale to ensure competitiveness of a cement factory must be two million tons per year and to ensure long-term efficiency, the scale of a cement enterprise must produce at least 5-10 million tons per year, by reducing costs, increasing labor productivity, and investing in new technologies. This fact has been proved by large-scale cement manufacturers such as Vissai, Xuan Thanh, and Vicem, who have always more advantage in business and export negotiations because they produce in bulk. Therefore, the overall restructuring of the cement industry is something to be seriously considered. - Thank you very much. Translated by Minh Chau Son Thuy (Interviewer) U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy confirmed on Twitter late Wednesday night that Cambodia had authorized the ship to dock in the port of Sihanoukville. He said he had dispatched an embassy team to work with the ship's representatives and Cambodian officials to help U.S. citizens disembark and transfer to their onward destinations. The study, published Feb. 3, demonstrates how endothelial (blood vessel lining) cells orchestrate inflammatory stress within the microenvironment of the bone marrow. The scientists demonstrated the function of two connected pathways involved in myelosuppressive injuries (like those caused by chemotherapy), in which bone marrow activity decreases, leading to less blood cell production. The myelosuppression leads to chronic activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway causing local and systemic inflammation, in turn driven by the Nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) signaling pathway. This chronic inflammation resulted in disruption of the integrity of blood vessels and functional defects to the hematopoietic stem cell. Utilizing a genetic model to block the NF-kB dependent endothelial inflammation, led to the discovery of a novel protein, Stem Cell Growth Factor Alpha (SCGFa). The SCGFa was tested, and the models' data showed promise. The SCGFa preserved vascular function and promoted hematopoietic recovery and hematopoietic stem cell function when infused following myelosuppressive treatments, such as chemotherapy. The scientists were also able to tamp down the vascular and hematopoietic inflammation by the administration of SCGFa, which boosted the recovery following the inflammation. "We showed that SCGFa could be used therapeutically, to allow recovery of these crucial systems following myelosuppression," said Pradeep Ramalingam, the study's lead author. "The elderly population tend to do worse following cancer treatments that result in myelosuppressive injury, since their bodies can't sustain as much chemotherapy as the young can," said Jason Butler, Ph.D., an associate member of the CDI, and the senior author, whose work is also part of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center's National Cancer Institute-designated consortium. "But if we infuse patients with SCGFa, we may be able to protect their hematopoietic system and allow for rapid regeneration and rejuvenation of their bone marrow. This would allow us to potentially give patients more chemotherapy and ultimately lead to better outcomes and lower relapse rates." Dr. Butler and his laboratory are currently working on exciting future directions for the work, including the direct effects of SCGFa on hematopoietic stem cells and how SCGFa may enhance the homing, engraftment, and function of hematopoietic stem cells following bone marrow transplants. "These studies will become important to understand the precise molecular mechanisms by which SCGFa enhances hematopoietic regeneration and to develop treatment strategies directed towards protecting the hematopoietic system and the (bone marrow) endothelial niche following myelosuppressive therapies," the authors concluded. ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children's hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick. Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 34,100 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves. The network's notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker's Healthcare's "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2019" list. The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it. Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies. For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org. About the Center for Discovery and Innovation The Center for Discovery and Innovation, a newly established member of Hackensack Meridian Health, seeks to translate current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and other life-threatening and disabling conditions. The CDI, housed in a fully renovated state-of-the-art facility, offers world-class researchers a support infrastructure and culture of discovery that promotes science innovation and rapid translation to the clinic. About John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is New Jersey's largest and most comprehensive center dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, management, research, screenings, and preventive care as well as survivorship of patients with all types of cancers. The 14 specialized divisions covering the complete spectrum of cancer care have developed a close-knit team of medical, research, nursing, and support staff with specialized expertise that translates into more advanced, focused care for all patients. Each year, more people in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area turn to John Theurer Cancer Center for cancer care than to any other facility in New Jersey. John Theurer Cancer Center is a member of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium, one of just 16 NCI-approved cancer research consortia based at the nation's most prestigious institutions. Housed within a 775-bed not-for-profit teaching, tertiary care, and research hospital, John Theurer Cancer Center provides state-of-the-art technological advances, compassionate care, research innovations, medical expertise, and a full range of aftercare services that distinguish John Theurer Cancer Center from other facilities. For additional information, please visit www.jtcancercenter.org. SOURCE Hackensack Meridian Health Related Links https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org A Jack in the Box restaurant in San Franciscos Union Square neighborhood has been ordered by a San Francisco Superior Court judge to fix its faulty plumbing, which for several months last year leaked water and feces onto Biscuits and Blues, the old-school music venue below it that has remained closed for almost a year. The order is part of a temporary injunction issued by the court on Monday. It comes roughly 10 months after the building at Geary and Mason streets began to have plumbing issues. According to the filing, Jack in the Box must stop any leaks from the refrigerators and freezers up to and including unplugging the appliances. It goes on to say Biscuits and Blues continues to suffer irreparable harm while the 24-hour burger joint operates. The order does not specifically state which repairs need to be made or whether Jack in the Box will be forced to temporarily close. Im more excited now about whats happening than I have been in a while, said Steven Suen, owner of Biscuits and Blues. I feel like this could be the official start of our countdown to when were finally back in business. Biscuits and Blues, which closed last April, opened in 1995 and is one of the oldest blues bar and restaurants in San Francisco, where the number of similar venues has been shrinking. What first drove the Jack in the Box location and Biscuits and Blues to court was a disagreement about who would pay to fix the plumbing. Biscuits and Blues said it was Jack in the Boxs responsibility. The fast-food restaurant owner said it was the duty of the landlord, and the landlord said the Jack in the Box operator should pay for the work. Jack in the Box Inc., which does not own the restaurant but was later added to the lawsuit as a defendant, and the legal representatives for the San Francisco franchisee did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As the court battle raged, Suen said Biscuits and Blues teetered on the brink of a permanent closure. Over nine months, Suen said he has canceled more than 100 shows. He said all 16 of his employees have left to find other work. In late 2019, Suen said he was losing as much as $250,000 each month. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2019 But simply fixing the plumbing and changing appliances as the injunction orders wont address all of the buildings issues, according to Gordon J. Calhoun, who represents the franchisee of Union Squares Jack in the Box, Saeed Khan. During a Jan. 29 court hearing, Calhoun said the plumbing in the building was more than 20 years old and repairing it would require structural work on the buildings foundation, which would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take roughly two years to complete. But according to a Jan. 28 letter from Tony Sanchez-Corea, a local building inspector who reviewed the property at the request of Biscuits and Blues, the damage at the location is fairly minor in nature and could not reach a level requiring a seismic or foundation upgrade. Alexander Hamilton of the Versant Law Group, a representative for Meiyan Enterprises Inc., the landlord of the property that houses both Jack in the Box and Biscuits and Blues, said during the Jan. 29 hearing that he wanted to see both tenants able to operate and remain in place. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Despite the doors being closed to Biscuits and Blues, Suen said he spends his time functioning as though the business were to reopen tomorrow. He was scouting blues talent in Memphis during Super Bowl weekend. Later this year, he plans to attend a blues music awards show for the same reason. Hes also working on upgrading the payment system at the bar and restaurant. Since music venue mainstays in the city like Bissap Baobab, Elbo Room and Hemlock Tavern are either closing, moving or being sold, the local blues community has rallied to support Biscuit and Blues. Roughly 20 people have attended each court hearing for the business over the past nine months. Chris Siebert, a piano player and bandleader for Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, performed regularly at Biscuits and Blues for 25 years until it closed. Both Siebert and Smith sat in the audience at the Jan. 29 hearing. Its just incredibly frustrating to see what has been happening. Theres just so many people that care about this place, Siebert said while leaving the hearing. Youve been seeing honest, hardworking people being stonewalled by a big corporation. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won all five Muslim-dominated assembly constituencies in Delhi by large vote shares, ranging between 53% and 76%, data published by the Election Commission (EC) shows. Delhi has five assembly segments which, according to data shared by political parties, have a Muslim population above 40% currently. They are Okhla in south-east Delhi, Seelampur and Mustafabad in the north-eastern peripheries of the city, and the Old Delhi seats of Ballimaran and Matia Mahal. In four of these five seats, no candidate since 1993 has won an election with vote shares as high as what the AAP candidates received. To be sure, the boundaries of Delhis assembly and parliamentary constituencies were redrawn in 2008 making this comparison not entirely scientific. Also Watch | AAP sweeps Delhi: Meet the 8 BJP candidates who defied Kejriwal wave & won The AAP candidates Amanatullah Khan in Okhla, Abdul Rehman in Seelampur, Haji Yunus in Mustafabad, Imran Hussain in Ballimaran and Shoaib Iqbal in Matia Mahal won with vote shares ranging between 53.2% (Mustafabad) and 76% (Matia Mahal). Ballimaran was also the constituency that had recorded the highest voter turnout of 71.6% in this election. Rehman and five-time MLA Shoaib Iqbal are AAPs new recruits; Khan and Hussain won their respective seats in the 2015 assembly elections also; and Yunus lost the Mustafabad seat to Bharatiya Janata Partys Jagdish Pradhan last time. On Tuesday, Pradhan lost the seat despite the BJP improving its vote share by seven percentage points from 35.3% in 2015 to around 42%. This is also BJPs best performance in terms of vote share in any of the five Muslim- dominated seats. Of the five Muslim seats, the Congress received 15.6% share in Seelampur, where Mateen Ahmed, a veteran of the grand old party received around 15.6% of the vote. In all other seats, the Congress was pinned down to under 5% vote share, the data suggested. According to EC records, in 2015, the Congress got a vote share of 12% in Okhla and 21.28% in Seelampur. In Mustafabad, the party got 31.7% in vote share, 13.8% in Ballimaran, and 26.7% in Matia Mahal. Mohammad Mustaqeem, 32, a resident of Matia Mahal, said residents of his area voted to defeat hate politics. There is a sense of anger among Muslims over of the kind of campaign the opposition party (BJP) had launched. People were really agitated by the way Muslims were targeted. Other voters said they were also impressed with AAPs work. Ateekh Ahmed, a businessman in Ballimaran, said the community voted for the AAP not just to defeat the BJP, but also on account of the work done by the party. The Muslims in Delhi voted for development. We voted for the AAP because it has delivered on what it had promised. The result is not a huge surprise. As common people, we always want a government that makes our life easier... Electricity and water bills have reduced. These small things matter for people and that is why we voted for AAP, said Shahzad Ali, a resident of Shaheen Bagh, whose daughter studies in a Delhi government school. Nabi Ansari, a resident of Jamia Nagar in Okhla, said, National issues cannot dominate local elections. People want cleaner streets and safer homes. There used to be water-logging in our area which has reduced drastically. Why wouldnt people vote for a party that made it possible? Praveen Rai, political analyst with the Centre for Studies of Developing Societies (CSDS), pointed out a few other factors for the consolidation of Muslim votes. He counted among them the BJP campaign that led to a reverse polarisation amid anxieties among Muslims created by the recently amended citizenship law and a strong demand for civic amenities in most Muslim-dominated areas. The BJPs campaign on Hindu-Muslim issues has been counterproductive. It only led to reverse polarisation, consolidating anti-BJP votes in favour of the AAP. Muslims were already anxious over the CAA. They were clear that any vote for the Congress would split votes and benefit the BJP. Secondly, most Muslim-dominant areas need good schools, hospitals, water and sewer connections. People believe the solution to such civic issues lies with AAP, Rai said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A paedophile teacher that sexually abused four students in his care has been jailed. Trevor Alan Spurritt, 76, faced County Court of Victoria on Wednesday were he was sentenced over the assaults on students aged between 12 and 14. He was sentenced to five years and eight months behind bars, but will be eligible for parole after three years. Spurritt assaulted the boys at Camberwell Grammar between 1969 to 1971 while the students were in the classroom and on school camps. Trevor Alan Spurritt, 76, faced County Court in Victoria on Wednesday were he was sentenced over nine indecent assault charges of students aged between 12 and 14 The court heard Spurritt repeatedly assaulted a boy at two school camps after telling students it was time for bed, according to the Herald Sun. He also preyed on a boy who was sick and alone in the mess hall of a school camp by touching his bottom. The sentencing was delayed by Judge Patricia Riddell last year so the paedophile could have a knee replacement surgery in December. The court heard Spurritt suffers osteoarthritis and resulting procedure had increased his pain with more surgery recommended. But Ms Riddell refused to delay the sentencing so the paedophile could serve justice before he dies. 'I must allow for the reasonable possibility that you may not survive a term of imprisonment,' she said. The court heard Spurritt repeatedly assaulted a boy at Camberwell Grammar (pictured) by masturbating him on two school camps after telling students it was time for bed Ms Riddell said the Spurritt had never admitted to the crimes or expressed empathy for his victims. She added the non-parole period of three years was set for several reasons, including his lack of offending since and his poor health. The principal of Camberwell Grammar, Paul Hicks, issued a statement and apologised to students on the behalf of the school for the 'hurt and pain they have experienced'. 'The men who brought these complaints to the police have shown great courage, and while we understand that the sentence imposed by the Court will not undo the events of the past, I hope that this outcome will bring them at least some peace,' he wrote. The former CEO of Goldman Sachs has warned the Democrats about nominating Bernie Sanders as president, claiming Russia prefers him to Donald Trump. Sanders won the New Hampshire presidential primary election last night, narrowly edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Party's chaotic 2020 nomination fight. But Lloyd Blankfein, the ex-chief executive officer at finance giant Goldman Sachs, warned Democrats that Sanders is the choice the Kremlin would prefer to go against President Trump later this year. He expressed concern for Sanders' electablity and whether he would be able to defeat Trump in more moderate states in the race for the White House. Blankfein, who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 when she lost to Trump, warned Sanders was just as a divisive figure as Trump. Democratic presidential candidate SenATOR Bernie Sanders takes the stage during a primary night event last night Lloyd Blankfein, senior chairman at Goldman Sachs speaking onstage during the 2018 New York Times Dealbook And in a reference to the interference scandal that engulfed Trump's early presidency, Blankfein said on Twitter that the Russians would prefer Sanders as president even over Trump as the Democrat 'doesn't care about our military'. Blankfein, who is still senior chairman at Goldman, claims Russian President Vladimir Putin would use Sanders to 'screw up the US' and damage the economy. He tweeted after last night's primary: 'If Dems go on to nominate Sanders, the Russians will have to reconsider who to work for to best screw up the US. 'Sanders is just as polarizing as Trump AND he'll ruin our economy and doesn't care about our military. If I'm Russian, I go with Sanders this time around.' Sanders last year unveiled a plan to reverse President Trump's tax cuts and hike corporate tax rate from 21 per cent to 35 per cent as well as introducing a Medicare for All package alongside free college fees. Blankfein is not the first Democrat to express concerns about the 78-year-old Vermont senator, who describes himself as a democratic socialist. He began at Goldman in 1994 when the firm he work as a precious metals salesman was bought by the company. Lloyd Blankfein tweeted his concern about Sanders after his New Hampshire primary win Bernie Sanders speaking to supporters after winning the Democrat primary in New Hampshire last night Blankfein stepped down as CEO of Goldman in 2018 after taking over in 2004. In a 2012 speech in the Senate Sanders criticized Blankfein for supporting a reduction in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, calling him the 'face of class warfare'. After being announced as the winner of the primary last night, Sanders criticized billionaires involvement in the political process. He said: 'We're taking on billionaires and we're taking on candidates funded by billionaires. 'But we are going to win because we have the agenda that speaks to the needs of working people in this country.' During the 2016 Democrat primaries, Russia backed the Sanders campaign, but its activities in support of Trump and his presidential campaign were more extensive, according to the Mueller report. Our federal government was elected by the Canadian people to do what is best for the people. Protesters and the radical vocal minority were not so its time to enforce the law and lock up the protesters who keep disrupting law abiding citizens preventing them from going to work so they can provide for their families. How do these protesters find the time and means to go and set up blockades in the first place? What do they do to generate income? Any person whose primary source of income is supplied by the government for not working should not be protesting, they instead should be thankful that the government is able to tax corporations and the working class to fill the coffers so that the government can provide income for those who cannot or chose to not work. Anyone with half a brain should realize that fossil fuels will be here for a long time before an affordable priced mass-produced alternate source of energy will be available to allow us to drop our dependence on fossil fuel. Not only for transportation and heat, but the use of plastics in most everything we use in our daily lives currently requires fossil fuels. How do we replace plastics? Some of these protesters are funded by non-Canadian sources that profit by Canada not being able to get our oil to global markets. As a result, Canada and particularly Alberta subsidizes fuel costs in the USA by being forced to sell their land locked resources at substantially lower than real world pricing. Wake up, all Canadians benefit when our economy does well and we have a resource-based economy. So until there is a viable non fossil fuel available, the government needs to act in the best interest of the majority of Canadians and put an end to the blockades. Guy Bissonnette Prohibitionwhich took effect one hundred years agowas the culmination of a century-long backlash against Americas seemingly insatiable drinking habit. What began as a grassroots religious appeal for temperance morphed into a stunningly ambitious campaign to legislate morality by trying to put one of the countrys largest industries out of business. The push for prohibition was caught up in broader societal anxieties about rapid urbanization and mass migration. It also provided a powerful catalyst for organizing womenmost notably through the Womens Christian Temperance Unionwho not only resented that wages were being spent on booze rather than bread but were on the receiving end of much of the drinking-induced male violence. But only by adding patriotism and the intensely anti-German climate of World War I to the mix were prohibitionists actually able to do what no other lobby group has ever done: change the Constitution of the United States. World War I was a godsend for the anti-Saloon League, the most powerful single-issue lobby organization the country had ever seen. German drinkers and brewers could now be cast as not just sinners but traitors. As Wayne Wheeler, the head of the league, who devoted his life to the cause of Prohibition, told the New York Times in 1917, The liquor traffic aids those forces in this country whose loyalty is called into question at this hour. Speaking German in public or on the phone was outlawed in Iowa, playing Beethoven in public was prohibited in Boston, and German books were burned in Wisconsin. German toast became French toast, Frankfurters became hot dogs, Sauerkraut became freedom cabbage, and Kaiser rolls became liberty buns. Little wonder, then, that it was so easy to cast the countrys German brewers as unpatriotic, even downright traitorous. Dry advocates masterfully exploited the war to push their own agenda, and indeed their eventual success in imposing Prohibition is difficult to imagine in the absence of the war. They made frightening claims about how alcohol was putting the country at risk: Brewery products fill refrigerator cars, while potatoes rot for lack of transportation, bankrupting farmers and starving cities. The coal that they consume would keep the railroads open and the factories running. The Anti-Saloon League declared that Kaiser kultur was raised on beer. Going dry was the best way to beat the wet Germans: Prohibition is the infallible submarine chaser we must launch by thousands. The water-wagon is the tank that can level every Prussian trench. Total abstinence is the impassable curtain barrage which we must lay before every trench. Sobriety is the bomb that will blow kaiserism to kingdom come. The 1917 U.S. Food Control Act, meant to secure the nations scarce resources in wartime, became a prohibitionist tool: even though there was no serious food shortage, the law was used to curtail turning food into distilled spirits. The law also stipulated that the president could limit or prohibit the manufacture of beer or wine as he saw fit. President Wilson opted to cut the supply of grain to brewers by 30 percent and water down the alcohol content of beer. Beer drinking was not only portrayed as Germanic and therefore unpatriotic, but the German roots of American brewers were used to taint them as traitors. The leader of the Anti-Saloon League wrote to the federal custodian of alien property: I am informed that there are a number of breweries in this country which are owned in part by alien enemies. It is reported to me that the Anheuser-Busch Company and some of the Milwaukee Companies are largely controlled by alien Germans.Have you made any investigation? It was this wartime context that helped to fuel calls for a nationwide prohibition on alcohol. By the time WWI began, the treasury was generating as much as one-fifth of its total annual revenues through the taxation of alcohol. And as was true elsewhere, the war prompted even higher taxes on alcohol through the War Revenue Act of 1917. This continued a long-established pattern: starting with Hamiltons establishment of an alcohol tax to help pay off war debts, every major U.S. military engagement had brought with it a spike in the alcohol tax. But this time there was a crucial difference: the first peacetime income tax in American history had also been introduced in 1913, and was generating more revenue every year. This gave the Anti-Saloon League another opening: they lobbied the government that not only was prohibition the righteous thing to do, but it was also becoming more fiscally viable as reliance on alcohol taxes declined. The new fervor of wartime patriotism and long-festering moral indignation proved a potent political mix. The Eighteen Amendment to the Constitution was passed with remarkable ease, with Congress pushing through the needed votes to overturn President Wilsons veto. Prohibition advocates were far less successful in persuading European allies to follow their lead. The U.S. government suggested that the allies should cease brewing beer in the interest of rationing. The British declined, pointing to the difficulties and dangers of imposing upon the working classes any sweeping measures of prohibition especially at a moment when drastic compulsory rations are coming into force. In November, 1919, American prohibitionist William Pussyfoot Johnson gave an invited speech at Essex Hall in London about the benefits of prohibition, and was quickly shouted down by the students in attendance. We say that if Britain wants to be wet or dry, one of them came up to the front to proclaim, that is a thing for Britishers alone to decide. We dont want Americans coming over here with elaborate and ornate speeches, telling us what we ought to do. We won the battle of the Somme on rum, and rum only, and the sooner Mr. Johnson realises that the better. The raucous crowd cheered him on, and the event soon devolved into a riot through the streets of London in which Johnson lost his right eye. If World War I was the crucial context that gave birth to Prohibition, the Great Depression was the crucial context that killed it off. The great need for tax revenue in desperately hard times ultimately trumped Americas waning enthusiasm for Prohibition. The Anti-Saloon League had promised that Prohibition would cleanse and purify the nation. Instead, an increasingly weary public and skeptical media came to blame Prohibition for poisoning the nation by fueling corruption, violence, and lawlessness. Although no one saw it cominga constitutional amendment, after all, had never been repealed beforein the end Prohibition was discarded as easily as it had been imposed. Peter Andreas is the John Hay Professor of International Studies at Brown University. This essay is adapted from his new book, Killer High: A History of War in Six Drugs. A truck loaded with respirators is ready for departure to Central China's Hubei Province. [For Women of China] Medical teams have rushed to aid the coronavirus control efforts in Central China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, one after another. Countless medical supplies and daily necessities have been donated to the province. Numerous people are busy working to support the province in the fight against the virus. Staff members of the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) as well as the partners of the foundation are some of the loving people. Since the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which fell on January 25 this year, the CWDF has coordinated with its partners and received their support. The staff members knew about the needs of the local medical workers and patients with the help of the Women's Federation of Hubei Province. When the CWDF heard on January 30 that there was an urgent need of respirators in hospitals in Hubei, its staff members took immediate action to raise money to purchase the respirators. A group of the CWDF's partners, including Cummins (China) Investment Co. Ltd, JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd, the China Association for Small and Medium Commercial Enterprises and the Herose Club, an association of women entrepreneurs, lent their helping hands to the fund-raising project in two days. In order to transport the respirators efficiently and precisely, the CWDF's staff members contacted the frontline medical staff through the Women's Federation of Hubei Province and experts involved in the Health Express for Mothers, a project initiated by the CWDF to improve impoverished women's health, so as to examine the performance of the devices and determine the hospitals that would receive the devices. The staff members raced against time to send the 56 respirators which cost a total of 11.38 million yuan (US $1.63 million). All the procedures, ranging from fund raising to delivery, were done within 72 hours. The medical equipment are expected to be sent to seven hospitals in the cities of Wuhan, Huanggang, Xiaogan and Xiangyang in the province. The respirators are packaged and ready for delivery. [For Women of China] The respirators are loaded onto a truck. [For Women of China] The respirators are ready to be delivered to hospitals in Hubei Province. [For Women of China] (Women of China) Wedding chain Noahs Event Venue closed abruptly last week, leaving numerous engaged couples without a place to have their ceremonies including Eva Hung and A.J. Kruk of Houston and Kristina Kucey and Billy Hunt of San Antonio. The Utah-based company filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Act in May 2019, according to the Better Business Bureau. A judge and a U.S. Bankruptcy trustee overseeing the case changed it to a Chapter 7 liquidation last Thursday, the company's attorney Kenneth L. Cannon II, told other media outlets. Hung and Kruk received no notice from Noahs and only learned about the closing from the Internet. HUNGRY FOR LOVE: 18 Valentine's Day dining specials in Houston The couple, who are expecting around 150 guests to attend their nuptials on Feb. 29, 2020, booked the space at 21402 Merchants Way in Katy last Feb. We cant delay the wedding. Its not possible. Our friends and family have taken vacation time and paid to fly in," Hung told the Houston Chronicle. We chose it because it had enough space for our guests and it offered do-it-yourself options while allowing outside vendors. It was a happy medium for us." The couple reserved the space by making several upfront payments, which total an estimated $12,000. Thus far, no refund has been offered from Noah's. We are trying to work with our credit card company to see if they can help us," Hung said. HoustonChronicle.com: He's dying of cancer. She survived it. They had their wedding at Houston Methodist. With only weeks to go before their wedding date, the couple is now in search of a replacement venue. We are narrowing it down by whether or not they have the date available. We are crossing our fingers, Hung said. When Kucey and Hunt of San Antonio found out theyd lost their venue last weekend, they were shocked. It felt like a punch to the stomach, Hunt told mySA.com. The bride- and groom-to-be, who had already paid around $3,700 to Noahs, booked the venue last summer for their Oct. 3, 2020, wedding. "If we knew they filed for bankruptcy, we would have not booked with them," Kucey said. Kucey and Hunt were also left scrambling to find another venue. "It's been eye-opening to see how the community of wedding planners and caterers are rallying together to help all of us. It's nice to see others trying to help, Hunt said. The Better Business Bureau advises people with a monetary claim against Noah's, which includes couples who booked the venue, to obtain a proof of claim form from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and submit it to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah, 350 Main Street #301, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101. Case number 19-23840 should be included on the form. There is a Facebook group that is for couples affected by the closure. Marcy de Luna is a reporter. You can follow her on Twitter @MarcydeLuna and Facebook @MarcydeLuna. Sarah Lawrence College dad pleads not guilty in sex trafficking, extortion case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The father of a Sarah Lawrence College student pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of sex trafficking, extortion, forced labor and other offenses in Manhattan federal court. Lawrence Ray is accused of targeting his daughter's roommates and subjecting them "to sexual and psychological manipulation and physical abuse." MORE: Student's parent charged with sex trafficking, forced labor at Sarah Lawrence College Prosecutors said in court Wednesday that some of the material they have gathered from the alleged victims includes sexually explicit images and Ray berating them. Prosecutors also revealed they have interviewed 17 witnesses and issued more than 100 subpoenas as part of the ongoing investigation. The allegations stem from so-called therapy sessions he provided to Sarah Lawrence College students after he moved into his daughter's on-campus housing in 2010. Ray moved in after he was released from a prison sentence for security fraud. He moved into a one-bedroom apartment with several of the roommates on Manhattan's Upper East Side in 2011. Ray presented himself as a father figure to the students and learned "intimate details about their private lives, vulnerabilities, and mental health struggles under the pretense of helping them" during the sessions, according to the indictment. PHOTO: U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman announces the indictment against Lawrence Ray aka 'Lawrence Grecco' in New York, Feb. 11, 2020. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Yet instead of helping, he alienated them from their parents and convinced several that they were "broken" and "in need of fixing by Ray," the indictment claimed. In some cases, he allegedly made up lies about the students and when they denied it, he would subject them to interrogations that included "sleep deprivation, psychological and sexual humiliation, verbal abuse, threats of physical violence, physical violence, and threats of criminal legal action" -- actions that then garnered false confessions, according to the indictment. Story continues Ray used the confessions to extort money from the students and for those who couldn't pay, he ordered them to drain hundreds of thousands of dollars out of their parents' savings accounts, open lines of credit, engage in real estate fraud and in one case earn money through prostitution, according to the indictment. He was arrested Tuesday in Piscataway, New Jersey, and was with one of the students identified in the indictment and one of his daughter's roommates at the time, authorities said. PHOTO: A sign along a hedge row marks the campus of Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, N.Y., Feb. 11, 2020. (Luke Sheridan/AP) Sarah Lawrence College called the charges "serious, wide-ranging, disturbing, and upsetting," according to a statement from the school sent to ABC News. MORE: Members of alleged sex cult NXIVM appear in federal court The statement also noted that the school conducted an investigation into the accusations against Ray in 2019, after a lengthy profile appeared in New York Magazine's The Cut, which detailed his dealings with the Sarah Lawrence College students. The school found the investigation "did not substantiate those specific claims," according to the statement. A spokesperson for the college did not respond to ABC News when asked what specific claims were investigated. In that profile from The Cut, Ray denied mostly all the accusations and did not talk about his past, but did admit to taking money from one of his alleged victims that she earned through escorting. Ray is being held without bail. The next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26. Syrian government forces after taking control of an area in Aleppo province (AFP or licensors) Pope Francis asks for prayers for war-torn Syria where so many innocent people are being forced to flee violence. By Linda Bordoni So many families, so many elderly people and children, are forced to flee from the war, said Pope Francis on Wednesday during the General Audience in the Paul VI Hall, as he asked those present to take a moment to pray for that beloved and martyred land. Syria has been bleeding for years, he said. The Popes request for prayers for the people of Syria comes on the heels of an appeal he issued on Sunday in which he expressed concern for Syrians in Idlib Province. Painful reports are still emerging from northwestern Syria, particularly regarding the plight of so many women and children, as well as of people forced to flee because of a military escalation, he said during the Angelus. He appealed to the international community and to all parties involved to search for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict and safeguard lives. Meanwhile, Turkey announced Wednesday it is sending a delegation to Moscow in coming days to discuss the escalating conflict in Syria's Idlib province where around 1 million people have been displaced due to Russian-backed Syrian attacks. The Turkish Foreign Minister said Germany had provided his country with 40 million euros in support of Turkish plans to settle Syrians fleeing from Idlib. More people have fled fighting in Syria over the past 10 weeks than at any other time in the 9-year-old conflict. The UN warned this week that the city of Idlib, where many are sheltering, could become a graveyard if hostilities continue. Syrian government forces are shelling their way northwards, backed by Russian air strikes, driving people towards the Turkish border as they try to seize remaining rebel strongholds near Idlib and Aleppo. Turkey, which backs the rebels and is fearful of additional refugees, has retaliated militarily, with displaced civilians caught in between. A south Winnipeg church plans to help people in their neighbourhood put down a few roots this spring. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A south Winnipeg church plans to help people in their neighbourhood put down a few roots this spring. To help combat climate change, the United Church in Meadowood will place a group order with a Portage la Prairie tree nursery at the end of month, offering the public 14 varieties of trees and shrubs at wholesale prices, says Rev. Gordon Taylor. "Climate change was weighing heavily on people and people were wondering how to deal with something so big," he says explaining why the congregation undertook the project, dubbed TRIM for Tree Replacement in Meadowood. "Were just concerned it is important for the City of Winnipeg and it is something individuals can do." Last week, a city report said a reforestation plan to plant one million trees over the next two decades could cost $43 million. Mayor Brian Bowman announced the goal of planting one million trees last September, to be achieved by 2040, when Winnipegs population is projected to reach one million people. Taylor says people dont have to wait for the city to act. He encourages residents to plant more trees on their own property this spring or fall, or replace ones damaged by last Octobers huge snowstorm, which hit before most trees had lost their leaves. The church contracted with Jeffries Nurseries of Portage la Prairie to place a minimum order of $1,400, with trees ranging in price from $50 to $68. The nursery recommended 11 varieties, including Delta hackberry, Japanese tree lilac and Ohio buckeye as suitable for planting on city lots due to their ornamental appeal and hardiness for this climate, says sales representative Amy Cleland. "I think its comes down to getting a tree suitable for the area," she explains. Reverend Gordon Taylor (left) with Aiden Gauthier. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "(The program) is just a good incentive for people planting (trees) and thinking about the canopy." The church is also offering three types of shrubs for $14 each. Orders are due at the end of February and potential buyers can attend a free tree-planting workshop at the church at 1111 Dakota St., 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, which will cover optimal times for planting trees, and how to care for them after planting. Order and payment details are available on their website https://ucim.org. Taylor said the nursery will deliver the trees to the south St. Vital church in late May, and people can pick up their orders and take them home, with the church providing volunteers to load trees into private vehicles. He said 25 people from the congregation volunteered to be part of the tree planting initiative, including Grade 11 student Aiden Gauthier, who plans to study forestry and environmental sciences at university. 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. "Its something you can do to help the environment suck up tons of carbon dioxide, and trees planted by rivers prevent erosion," said Gauthier of the positive effects of planting trees. Taylor encourages other religious groups to follow his congregations example as a practical and accessible way of addressing climate change. "By sharing this information with other churches, they might decide to do the same thing in motivating people to plant on private property," he said Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship plans to replace some diseased trees and add new ones on its Fort Richmond property this spring, after dedicating $500 for trees in its annual budget, said church member Peter Sawatzky. "Its the same reason we installed solar panels (on our building). Its to save the planet," said Sawatzky, also a member of the Mennonite Creation Care Network. brenda@suderman.com Both Centre and state governments are trying to assuage fears over missing data related to the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam from the official website. Government has said that the data is "safe" and that it will be available online soon. The Centre and state governments have clarified that the Assam NRC data went offline because of some technical issues, which would be addressed soon. Notably, the data on NRC of Assam, including information on individuals who made it to the final list as well as those who were excluded, has been missing from the NRC website since December 15. This created panic, mostly among people excluded from the list as the rejection certificates were yet to be issued. "The NRC data is safe. Some technical issues are invisibility on the cloud. These are being resolved soon," a home ministry clarification stated. Refuting the allegations of any "malafide" intent, NRC State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma accepted that the data went offline. According to Sarma, the data went offline after December 15 as the contract regarding its cloud services, earlier provided by IT firm Wipro, expired on October 19 last year. He said this was not renewed by the previous coordinator and went offline. In a meeting held on January 30, the state government decided to undertake all necessary formalities and write to Wipro to make the data live again, he added. "Once Wipro makes the data live, it will be available for public. We hope people will be able to access it in the next 2-3 days," Sarma said. Previous NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela had relinquished the charge on November 11 following his transfer to his home state Madhya Pradesh. Sarma was appointed the NRC State Coordinator Hitesh on November 9. The final list of people in the updated National Register of Citizen (NRC) was published on August 31. It stripped nearly 19 lakh people in the north-eastern state of Assam of their citizenship. In the final draft of NRC, out of 3.30 crore applicants, 31.11 crore names were found to be eligible for inclusion in updated NRC and a total of 19.06 lakh persons were excluded. The NRC is a list of people who came to Assam before 24 March 1971, a day before India's neighbouring country Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan. The first NRC was prepared in 1951 on the basis of year's census in Assam. It is the country's only state to create such a document. NRC was created to control unabated migration from Bangladesh. The state is said to have faced longstanding foreigner problem, to remove illegal migrants and arrest further inflow. Also read: Assam NRC final list out: What will happen to the 19 lakh excluded people? Edited by Manoj Sharma with PTI inputs [February 12, 2020] Winners Announced for the World Ocean Initiative's 'Women and the Ocean: Changemakers Challenge' LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The winners of the 'Women and the ocean: Changemakers challenge' have today been announced as: Dr Katie St. John Glew , Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Southampton and the Marine Stewardship Council, UK. , Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Southampton and the Marine Stewardship Council, UK. Dr Ling Ka Yi , Chief Scientific Officer/co-founder, Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd., Singapore , Chief Scientific Officer/co-founder, Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd., Olga Lucia Caro Jacome, CEO and co-founder, Procoreef, Colombia The competition, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, aims to showcase leading female change makers and entrepreneurs, often overlooked, who are working to develop business solutions to achieve ocean-related sustainability and offering innovative solutions to some of the ocean's greatest challenges. The goal is to ensure that women are visible across the ocean supply chain and their contribution is recognised and elevated. To help bring the three changemakers' ideas to life, they will receive guidance from renowned female ocean leaders as part of a 12-month mentorship programme and present their vision for a blue economy at the World Ocean Summit in Tokyo, Japan , on March 9th-10th 2020. Since 2012, the World Ocean Summit has become the main global event at which policymakers, business leaders, civil society and scientists gather for important discussions about the blue economy. The term 'blue economy' describes a sustainable ocean economy that harnesses marine ocean resources for long-term economic development and social prosperity while protecting the environment in perpetuity. Applicants were invited to submit a short video of no longer than one minute in which they addressed the following questions: 'How are you contributing to the sustainable development of the ocean economy? How would you benefit from an ocean leader as a mentor?' The winning video submissions can be watched at: oceanwomen.economist.com The three mentors are: Maria Damanaki , global ambassador for oceans, The Nature Conservancy. Maria will mentor Dr Katie St. John Glew and her idea to verify fish catch locations and improve traceability. , global ambassador for oceans, The Nature Conservancy. Maria will mentor Dr and her idea to verify fish catch locations and improve traceability. Maren Hjorth Bauer , chief executive and co-founder, Katapult Ocean. Maren will mentor Dr Ling Ka Yi and her innovation in cell-based clean meat. chief executive and co-founder, Katapult Ocean. Maren will mentor Dr and her innovation in cell-based clean meat. Susi Pudjiastuti, former minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, Indonesia ; founder, PT ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation; Susi will mentor Olga Lucia Caro Jacome and her project to protect and restore coral reefs through eco-tourism. Martin Koehring, head of the World Ocean Initiative, said: "Women play a significant role in the ocean economy. However, their innovations rarely receive the support, recognition and publicity they deserve. Our challenge shows that there are incredibly talented women changemakers out there with great ideas to solve some of the ocean's biggest challenges, such as overfishing, the decline of coral reefs and plastic pollution. Hopefully, our challenge and the mentorship programme will help to support and scale up the contributions of these inspiring women changemakers." Maria Damanaki, global ambassador fo oceans, The Nature Conservancy, said: "Women are at the forefront ofand disproportionately affected by major ocean emergencies like climate change, ecological crisis in coastal areas, plummeting fish populations, and illegal fishing. Globally, there has been enormous momentum on gender parity. If we translate that into action for a healthy ocean, we have a chance of tackling the crisis facing the largest life-sustaining ecosystem on the planet. I'm proud to be supporting these inspiring changemakers in their work to develop innovative business solutions to one of the biggest challenges of our time." About the winners: Dr Katie St. John Glew, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Southampton, is a marine spatial ecologist with a passion for impact driven research and implementing innovative science solutions to address the current challenges facing our environment. She completed her PhD in marine biology in 2018 and has been working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Southampton collaborating with the Marine Stewardship Council, looking at bringing her academic work in fisheries traceability to a commercial market. She has extensive experience engaging with scientists, government agencies and industry at both a national and international level. Dr Ling Ka Yi, Chief Scientific Officer/co-founder, Shiok Meats Pte. Ltd., Singapore, is a developmental biologist with over 10 years expertise in tracing and studying stem cells during development. Ka Yi received the prestigious A*STAR's National Science Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor's and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked closely with stem cell and developmental biology experts like James Thomson, Davor Solter and Barbara Knowles. Following graduation, Ka Yi did her postdoc at IMCB, A*STAR. She is an active science communicator since her days in Madison and frequently takes part in Singapore's science outreach events. She also did a podcast called "Science Now" and "Life after PhD" with fellow scholar. Ka Yi is passionate about marrying her experience in biotech research and her love for food to produce sustainable food products. In August 2018, she co-founded a cell-based crustaceans startup called Shiok Meats, along with Dr Sandhya Sriram. Olga Lucia Caro Jacome, Sustainable Entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder, Procoreef, Colombia, is an ecologist with 18 years of professional experience and extensive experience in design, execution, and coordination of conservation projects. She has experience in coordination and management of projects with multilateral organizations such as Global Environment Facility GEF, World Bank, the Program of the United Nations for the Development PUND and the German Agency of Cooperation GIZ. She has also been a coordinator in the adjustment and execution of Public Policies of the National and District. Olga has also worked as the coordinator of special projects of the Biodiversity Institution of Investigations Alexander von Humboldt. She is the co-founder and currently the executive director of Procoreef. About the mentors: Maria Damanaki is the global ambassador for oceans at The Nature Conservancy. She leads a global team focused on transforming how the world manages the ocean, including sustainable fisheries management, large-scale protection and restoration of coral reefs and other ecosystems, coastal resilience and a first-of-its-kind mapping and quantification of the full value of the ocean to people. Maren Hjorth Bauer is the CEO and co-founder of Katapult Ocean. Maren completed an MSc in Finance and Accounting at London School of Economics (LSE) and a BSc from NHH. She has a strong track record from 10+ years in leadership positions within strategy, business development, and marketing. She is also an investor and board member in several startups. Katapult Ocean is an investment fund and accelerator that supports impact-driven ocean startups. Since Maren co-founded the company in April 2018, it has made 23 investments in innovative ocean tech companies from all over the world (fourteen countries, four continents). She is in the Advisory network for the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Susi Pudjiastuti is an Indonesian entrepreneur. She was Indonesia's minister of maritime affairs and fisheries under President Joko Widodo's 2014-19 Working Cabinet. She is also the owner of PT ASI Pudjiastuti Marine Product, a seafood export company, and PT ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation, which operates Susi Air charter airline. About the World Ocean Summit Since 2012 the World Ocean Summit has been the main global event at which policymakers, business leaders, civil society and scientists have gathered for important discussions about the blue economy. After Singapore, the US, Portugal, Indonesia, Mexico and Abu Dhabi, the World Ocean Summit arrives in Tokyo this year to advance new ideas on how to decouple economic growth from ocean degradation and build a new and sustainable ocean agenda. oceansummit.economist.com About the World Ocean Initiative The Economist Group's World Ocean Initiative (WOI) fosters a year-round global conversation on the greatest challenges facing the seas and progress towards building a truly "blue" economy. This means harnessing ocean resources for economic growth while protecting the environment and ensuring social equity. The WOI builds on The Economist Group's mission to be the leading source of analysis on international business and world affairs. We have the capability to convene global audiences and world-leading experts, conduct new and insightful research, and hold politicians and businesses to account over progress towards a sustainable ocean economy. woi.economist.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/winners-announced-for-the-world-ocean-initiatives-women-and-the-ocean-changemakers-challenge-301003757.html SOURCE The World Ocean Initiative [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] EDWARDSVILLE The purchase of 90 rifles and outfitting 19 new vehicles for the Madison County Sheriffs Department were among several items approved at the County Boards Public Safety Committee meeting Monday. Most of the meeting dealt with spending approvals from the Sheriffs Department and Madison County 911. The committee approved the purchase of 90 S.W.O.R. D. International MK-15 rifles, an AR-15 variant, for $131,780.30. During budget meetings last year Capt. Eric Decker, who discussed the purchase at the committee, said the department was planning to re-arm deputies because both the handguns and rifles used by officers were more than a decade old and having maintenance issues. In addition, the department is switching to 9mm handguns, from .40 caliber. The rifles will be semi-automatic .223 caliber short-barreled rifles, equipped with special sites and suppressors. The suppressors are a new item for the department. After the meeting, Decker said they are becoming more common in law enforcement primarily because of concerns about hearing loss. He specifically cited active shooter situations and training inside buildings. According to information by the National Rifle Association, hearing loss can occur at above 140 decibels. Gunshots range from approximately 144 decibels for .22 rimfire rounds to 172 decibels for larger rounds, and suppressors can normally reduce that by about 30 decibels. Decker said because the rifles will be short-barreled and be equipped with suppressors they will be registered with the federal government as National Firearms Act weapons. The federal law, dating from 1934, regulates automatic weapons, silencers and short barreled rifles and shotguns, which are all generally illegal in Illinois except for law enforcement. The committee also approved a resolution to purchase and install new equipment in 19 new vehicles at a cost of $42,300. This is part of the departments routine vehicle replacement program. It was noted that when possible they would remove and use old equipment, but in the past officials with the sheriffs department have said this often is not feasible because they are switching from cars to SUVs. Other sheriffs department expenditures approved include $8,000 in annual fees for the U.S. Marshals Task Force Officer and $6,782,20 for a one-year support contract for a video surveillance system. The committee also approved two resolutions for the annual New World computer-aided dispatch system. One resolution for $24,523.86 would cover the sheriffs departments cost; the other is the $176,469.54 cost to Madison County 911. Also approved was $706,951 in reimbursements by Madison County 911 to local 911 dispatch centers. This is the second payment that would be made under a program begun last year as part of the consolidation of the countys 911 system. All of the purchases and spending resolutions must be approved by the Finance and Government Operations Committee, which meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, before going to the full Madison County Board next week. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. The Philippines says it is withdrawing from a major security agreement with the United States. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. announced Monday in a tweet that he had sent a "notice of termination" of the Visiting Forces Agreement to the deputy chief of mission of U.S. Embassy in Manila, following through on an order made by President Rodrigo Duterte. The Visiting Forces Agreement, signed in 1998, allows for U.S. forces on Philippine soil to conduct military exercises and humanitarian missions in the region. Duterte has repeatedly threatened to quite the VFA since taking office in 2016, most recently in January, after Washington canceled the visa of Senator Ronald dela Rosa. Dela Rosa was the Philippines national police chief when Duterte began his deadly anti-drug campaign that was condemned by the international community and human rights groups for the indiscriminate killings of suspected drug dealers. Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation, the person said Ledeen had made little headway before the recent storm over Stones sentencing, calling it a turning point. Treasury officials believe Trump himself made the call to withdraw Liu because her confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee was set for Thursday, and Trump was concerned she would be asked about the case, the person said. 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. Theres an early scene in Derek Cianfrances The Light Between Oceans that precisely captures the movies tempestuous emotional undercurrents in miniature. Its the early 1920s, and Isabel Sherbourne, who has recently suffered a miscarriage, rebukes her husband, Tom, for having sent for a doctor to examine her an assumption based on a misunderstanding that is soon resolved. Yet that brief, violent collision of feeling his quiet calm cushioning her fierce, implacable anger echoes and reverberates through the picture, meticulously foreshadowing the wrenching human dilemmas that loom on the horizon. And what a horizon it is. The primary setting of this handsome, halfway-effective prestige weepie adapted by Cianfrance from M.L. Stedmans 2012 debut novel is the fictitious Janus Rock, a small island off the Australian coast. As lusciously photographed in a hundred different golden-pink sunset hues by the cinematographer Adam Arkapaw, the place is an almost unseemly repository of cinematic beauty, alive with the natural poetry and at times, the inevitable kitsch of windswept coastal vistas and gold-dappled waves lapping at the shore. Tom and Isabel are very much of a piece with the movies radiance, which is another way of saying that they are played by Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, whose much-publicized off-screen relationship provides this somber movie with both a core of emotional truth and a juicy potential distraction. In this case, at least, truth largely wins out. The actors hurl themselves into their roles with sufficient commitment and feeling that you believe in Tom and Isabel completely, even when the creaky narrative machinery around them begins to trigger your skepticism. Advertisement It begins persuasively enough. The horrors of World War I are still fresh when Tom, a gentle, taciturn soul forever haunted by his memories of the Western Front, agrees to take a position as lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock. Its a job that suits his desire for a life of total isolation that is, until he falls for Isabel, a spirited young woman from the mainland who renews his sense of joy and purpose. The two soon marry, and their life together on the island is one of blissful simplicity and simple bliss, marred only by a pair of pregnancies that are cut tragically short. What follows is the storys most glaring (but not only) contrivance, one that calls forth much agitated camera movement and some churning, Philip Glass-like arpeggios from Alexandre Desplats score: A dinghy washes ashore, carrying a man and an infant girl. The man is dead, but the baby lives, and Isabel, her grief abating in the presence of this divine miracle, persuades Tom to leave the discovery unreported in the lighthouse ledgers, so that they can raise the child as their own. These fateful developments a startling discovery, a criminal conspiracy hatched in the name of love serve as a reminder that Cianfrance has a particular affinity for the big, dramatic turning point. His best-known earlier film, Blue Valentine (2010), arguably consisted of nothing but turning points as it shuttled back and forth through time, tracing the convulsive arc of a couples difficult, doomed relationship. The directors underappreciated follow-up, The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), adopted a more linear approach that nevertheless still found him pushing against the usual three-act strictures (befitting a student of the legendary avant-garde filmmakers Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon). The Light Between Oceans is both Cianfrances first foray into a non-American period setting and his most traditionally constructed narrative, though he retains his interest in strategically placed flashbacks and shifting perspectives. As the foundling child, Lucy, grows into an adorable girl of 4 (at which point she is played by Florence Clery, a born scene-stealer), another major character emerges in the form of Hannah Potts (a fine Rachel Weisz), a grief-stricken widow who, like the Sherbournes, has her own unique set of war scars. Her mysterious connection to Tom, Isabel and Lucy is easy enough to figure out, even though it will take years including one nearly three-decade leap into the future for the characters entwined fates to find their proper resolution. Toms function as keeper of the lighthouse flame is both literal and highly symbolic. He is more cursed than blessed by a level of superior knowledge that eludes the others, and in a drama that pivots on its characters sudden triumphs and failures of conscience, Tom is the one who will ultimately guide the others to shore, no matter how much it may cost him, or how many fresh tears it may harvest from the audience. How effectively The Light Between Oceans earns your own tears I misted up a little, almost out of a sense of duty will likely depend on your susceptibility to the storys manifold manipulations, which are no less transparent for being so skillfully handled. No movie lover, of course, can rightly claim to hate manipulation; even the purest, most spontaneous emotions are the product of a filmmakers successful calculation, and The Light Between Oceans, rooted somewhere between the grand tradition of classic melodrama and the seaside tearjerkers of Nicholas Sparks, need not apologize for lingering on Vikanders flurries of maternal anguish, Weiszs dignified sniffles and Fassbenders bravely choked-back sobs. The deeper problem is that, in its overly insistent visual and musical touches, the film doesnt amplify so much as thwart the emotional integrity of what its showing us. Although hes stronger at realizing big moments than finding the connective tissue between those moments, Cianfrance tries to bridge the gaps as gracefully as possible, with an abundance of elegiac voice-over and tenderly observed scenes of a family dwelling together at the very edge of the world. These shots, with their natural lighting and fluttery camerawork, bespeak the subtle influence of the director Terrence Malick as does the use of John Taveners Funeral Canticle, a magisterial choral piece that has been in heavy soundtrack rotation since it appeared in Malicks The Tree of Life. That film pointedly differentiated between the way of nature and the way of grace, between personal gratification and selfless compassion a human struggle that The Light Between Oceans also embodies. Its most powerful moments are predicated less on the characters sudden reversals of fortune than on their desperate, flailing attempts to do the right thing under impossible circumstances, and above all to show one another a decency they dont always deserve. In these fugitive moments, a movie that can seem hard to trust becomes surprisingly easy to forgive. ------------ The Light Between Oceans MPAA rating: PG-13, for thematic material and some sexual content Running time: 2 hours, 12 minutes Playing: In general release See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Trump administration's point person on Indian policy took a brutal beating here as tribal leaders opened a meeting in the nation's capital with warnings about dire threats to their sovereignty. At the National Congress of American Indians winter session on Tuesday, tribal leaders confronted Assistant Secretary Tara Sweeney with numerous questions about her effectiveness. Even as she reiterated her pledge to serve as an "advocate" within the Republican political administration, the doubts once again exposed her limited ability to influence decisions coming out of Washington, D.C. "You decide what's appropriate and inappropriate for Indian Country," Jessie "Little Doe" Baird , the vice chairwoman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe , told Sweeney at NCAI's meeting, being hosted at a hotel just a couple of blocks from the White House occupied by Donald Trump. But instead of asserting authority as an advocate, tribal leaders accused Sweeney of allowing other political officials to dictate outcomes for Indian Country. They said the Department of the Interior is moving to restrict how tribes in the lower 48 states and in Alaska can reclaim their homelands -- many of which were stolen by colonial governments and were taken through fraudulent dealings -- all without soliciting their input. "It's unconscionable and unthinkable that [on] something that is this critically important to so many tribes [we] are not being consulted with," said Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, the chairwoman of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe . "It appears there is something going on underneath our noses, behind closed doors, that could undermine our sovereignty and our ability to have our tribal lands protected by the United States, which we paid for in advance through the blood and life of our ancestors, our natural resources and our lands." At National Congress of American Indians, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney calls crisis of missing & murdered Native Americans an epidemic. Trump administrations new #MMIW #MMIP task force holds 1st listening session on Wednesday. #ECWS2020 @ASIndianAffairs pic.twitter.com/TyxZGx3EnG indianz.com (@indianz) February 11, 2020 And while tribal leaders initially couched their concerns to Sweeney as rumors originating from the D.C. swamp, she all but acknowledged ongoing efforts to replace, rescind or otherwise eliminate two legal opinions that had been issued during the Barack Obama administration in order to bolster tribal rights. She said the Office of the Solicitor at Interior, whose leader was formally installed just a few months ago , was the one calling the shots on key Indian policy issues. "She confirmed it," Lance Gumbs , a longtime regional vice president of NCAI who serves as the vice chairman of the Shinnecock Nation , told Indianz.Com after the dust up. By the end of the day, NCAI was being pushed to take stronger action. Ron Allen , the organization's longtime former treasurer, said tribes must send a clear message to Sweeney about her trust and treaty responsibilities to the first Americans. "Make it unequivocally clear: This your job," said Allen, who received a special honor from NCAI on Tuesday evening in recognition of his decades of service. "Do your job and get our land back into trust ," said Allen, who has served as chairman of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe for more than four decades. EARLIER: You have an obligation to protect sacred sites and sacred areas. You have failed: Tohono Oodham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr blasts Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney for letting Trump administration desecrate sacred places for wall along US border. pic.twitter.com/yrEzEgetBJ indianz.com (@indianz) February 11, 2020 Sweeney, who is the first Alaska Native to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and only the second woman in that role, also faced criticism about a project that is near and dear to President Trump's re-election campaign. Construction of the controversial and costly wall along the U.S. border with Mexico recently resulted in the destruction of tribal burial grounds , said Ned Norris, Jr., the chairman of the Tohono O'doham Nation "They desecrated those human remains that were there," Norris said, citing activities that just took place a couple of weeks ago in Arizona, right after a key Democratic member of Congress visited the border to oversee construction of the wall. "You have an obligation to protect sacred sites, sacred areas and religious areas for Native American people," Norris, whose people were divided by the imposition of the border through their homelands, told Sweeney. "You have failed to protect those areas." "I call on you to exercise your responsibility and stop the destruction of sacred sites within Native American communities," Norris said to applause. The fire directed at Sweeney hardly comes as a surprise. During her appearance at NCAI's 76th annual conference last October, she was hit with similar complaints about the fee-to-trust process at Bureau of Indian Affairs and how it is impacting tribes whose federal recognition was only recently confirmed by the U.S. government, as well as tribes in Alaska. Four months later, and long after her arrival in D.C. in the summer of 2018, Sweeney remains outmaneuvered at Interior, the federal agency with the most responsibilities in Indian Country. She admitted that Solicitor Daniel Jorjani, who was narrowly confirmed by the U.S. Senate to his post last September, was holding the cards when it comes to tribal homelands in the lower 48 and in Alaska. "I have to tell you that the Solicitor's Office sets the position for the department," Sweeney said on Tuesday, essentially abdicating authority to the legal arm of her agency. "My role is one of advocacy, and advocacy for clarity and decision-making." "In my discussions with the Solicitor, I continue to advocate that Indian Country deserves to have transparency in the process," Sweeney continued. "Indian Country deserves to have decisions rendered in a timely manner and that there's clarity in how we make decisions." For tribal leaders from Sweeney's home state of Alaska, timeliness and transparency have all but gone out of the window. Jackie Pata, NCAI's longtime former executive director , posed nearly the exact same question to the Assistant Secretary on Tuesday as she did in October. "We have heard nothing from the department as to where we are with any proposed rules, or even just implementing Alaska land-into-trust," said Pata, who serves as second vice president for the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes , which is the largest Native government in the state. "I'd love to have your response." WOW. A day after hailing the "historic" addition of an Alaska Native to the team, the Trump administration has withdrawn -- pending "further review" -- an Obama-era legal opinion that affirmed the rights of tribes in Alaska to restore their homelands https://t.co/q89IVhGRpi pic.twitter.com/1i4KrcDMRo indianz.com (@indianz) June 29, 2018 The response hadn't changed, and it again rested on the whims of the Solicitor's Office at Interior, which halted all land-into-trust applications in Alaska and put a hold on a pro-tribal legal opinion affecting tribes in the state , before Sweeney could even take office. "The land-into-trust issue with respect to Alaska is still under review," Sweeney said of a process that was initiated by the legal arm of Interior more than 18 months ago, to no apparent conclusion. "I don't have any other information to provide you at this time." "I wish I could give you a different answer but you know that I will always give you an answer," Sweeney added. "It may not be one that we agree on -- but you're going to get an answer from me." The legal opinion, known internally as M-37043 , was written during the Obama administration after tribes in Alaska secured a major court victory that confirmed their right to have their homelands restored through the fee-to-trust process . A formal regulation, also finalized during the Obama era, adopted the outcome of the decision Even though the court ruling was never reversed, the Trump administration refuses to follow it by failing to process fee-to-trust applications for tribes in Alaska. The web page for the Solicitor's Office merely states that M-37043 remains withdrawn "pending review." Jessie "Little Doe" Baird, the vice chairwoman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, the chairwoman of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe, stand at a microphone during the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2020. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) A second legal opinion is also on the chopping block, tribal leaders said at NCAI. M-37029 was written during the Obama administration in response to the devastating U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar According to Carcieri, the BIA can acquire lands in trust for tribes, but only for those tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. The legal opinion, Shinnecock Vice Chairman Gumbs told Indianz.Com, represents a "ray of hope" because it explains how an Indian nation whose status may not have been clear decades ago can continue to have their homelands protected by the U.S. government in its role as a trustee. "We hold our lands since time immemorial," Gumbs said of his people's territory in present-day New York state. Federal laws, some dating as far back as the late 1700s, during the early days of the U.S. government , have long recognized the sovereign status of tribal lands, well before the fee-to-trust process was formally established. Despite the documented history, outside forces -- typically states and local governments, but also non-Indian private parties -- have repeatedly pushed for a weakening of those protections . The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, whose ancestors helped some of the first Europeans survive in present-day Massachusetts some 400 years ago , is among those whose homelands are being threatened by the Trump administration's refusal to stand up to the challenges. "Don't let them pressure you into doing the wrong thing," Vice Chairwoman Baird, whose work in preserving the Wampanoag language led her to becoming one of the first Native women to receive a prestigious "genius" grant , told Sweeney. "Stand up for what's right if this is going on and make sure that there's consultation if this is happening," Baird said to applause at NCAI. Join the Conversation Related Stories Economists and business leaders agree that innovation is a major force behind economic growth, but many disagree on what is the best way to encourage workers to produce the "think-outside-of-the-box" ideas that create newer and better products and services. New research from the University of California San Diego indicates that competitive "winner-takes-all" pay structures are most effective in getting the creative juices flowing that help fuel economic growth. The findings are based on a study authored by professor of economics Joshua Graff Zivin and assistant professor of management Elizabeth Lyons who partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific, one of the globe's largest bio tech companies, in creating a contest for the Baja California office. Participants in the competition, which was open to all non-management employees of Thermo Fisher and other tech companies in the region, were asked to design digital solutions to help share medical equipment across small healthcare clinics in the region. The competition was created to test which of two common compensation models produced more novel ideas. Those who signed up were randomly selected to compete in either the "winner-takes-all" category, in which there was one prize of $15,000 awarded to first place, or the "top 10" category, in which the same amount of prize money was spread out among the top 10 entries. "Participants under the winner-takes-all compensation scheme submitted proposals that were significantly more novel than their counterparts in the other scheme," said the authors of National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper, who both hold appointments with the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. "While the two groups did not statistically differ from one another on their overall scores, the risk taking encouraged by the competition with a single prize resulted in innovators pursuing more creative solutions." They added, "These findings are significant because the 21st century economy is one that prizes novelty. Firms view it as an important source of comparative advantage. It is also an essential ingredient in the development of technological breakthroughs that transform markets with major impacts to consumers and producers." How firms can produce more creative ideas with a limited amount of resources Most modern-day mechanisms created by chief technology officer (CTOs) and management gurus designed to spark innovation often rely on performance-based-pay and hinge on assumptions regarding the ability and ambitions of employees and their risk preferences. However, the results from the NBER paper show that with identical groups of innovators, companies can increase the innovative output of employees just by changing how they pay them. "Those competing for one big prize had to push further in making their results creative; however what is most surprising is that this is a relatively low-cost way for companies to induce more radical innovation," Lyons noted. Though there was more risk vs. reward in the "winner-takes-all" category, both produced the about the same number of submissions (20 in "top 10" category and 22 in the "winner-takes-all" category), indicating that having less of a chance of winning a monitory award did not have an impact on the amount of work output. The entries were judged by a panel of six experts. Half of the judges were from industry (Thermo Fisher and Teradata) and the other half were from academia (computer sciences professors from local universities in the Baja California region). The novelty of the submissions was evaluated on a scale from one to five, relative to what is currently and/or soon to be available on the market. The lowest possible score of one was given for proposed solutions already on the market and the highest score of five was awarded to submissions in which no one else has thought of a similar idea. Those who entered could work as an individual or in teams. The results of teams vs. individual entries in both categories are consistent with other studies, showing that teams with diversified skill-sets and deepened professional experience produced better entries than that of individuals. However, the team entries in the "winner-takes-all" category were again more novel than the group work in the "top 10" category. Subsequently, participants in both categories were surveyed on their risk preferences. Not surprisingly, those less averse to risk performed better in the "winner-takes-all" category. The results also revealed that women who submitted entries in the contest performed better than average in both categories of the competition. In conclusion, the authors noted that genius is not created by incentives, but empowered by them. "It is important to recognize that incentives alone are insufficient to spark creativity," they wrote. "More work is required to understand the raw ingredients that shape the relationship between creativity and compensation." ### Understanding human capital, innovation and the future of work is among Graff Zivin and Lyons teaching and research interests at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy. This story was first published in the Toronto Star on March 11, 1978: Werner Gruener walked out of a courtroom a free man last night, leaving two of the only friends he has in the world behind in the prisoners dock. Gruener was acquitted of first-degree murder in the slaying of shoeshine boy Emanuel Jaques. His co-defendant Josef Woods, a man Gruener describes as a good friend, was found guilty of second-degree murder, while Saul David Betesh was found guilty of first degree-murder. The 11-member jury took two hours to reach its verdict in the Supreme Court. As he was being led away from the courtroom, Gruener, the 29-year-old who reads the Bible continuously, murmured God bless. After walking past the homicide detectives who arrested him last summer, Gruener told reporters Im not the type of person to hold a grudge. Im a rather friendly person. York Crown Attorney Peter Eickaby said he will be recommending the Crown appeal the verdict on Gruener. Jury foreman James Spencer stood up before Mr. Justice William Maloney at 10:23 p.m. to read the verdict. Gruener then shuffled out of the court-room a free man. Homicide detectives outside the courtroom, their faces showing obvious shock, shrugged their shoulders. Gruener was taken to a small anteroom on the fifth floor of the University Ave. courthouse by his lawyers. Only a few spectators, including Emanuel Jaques 17-year-old sister, Valdemira, were in the courtroom to hear the verdict announced. From the archives: Clippings of Blatchford's work at the Star View document on Scribd As it was read, Valdemira, who had been in court since the trial began Jan. 16, showed little emotion. The 26-year-old Woods, appearing impassive as his own verdict was read, showed obvious pleasure on hearing Gruener was acquitted. Murmuring under his breath, with a slight smile on this face, Woods nudged Gruener several times in the ribs. At the other end of the dock, an empty seat away from them, sat 27-year-old Betesh. His hair tousled, a little paler that usual, the man who was the first to rape and assault Emanuel showed absolutely no expression. He stood to hear his conviction (which carries a minimum term of 25 years) with his hands clasped in front of him, as calm as he appeared a week ago on the witness stand. Judge Maloney complimented the jury on a wise and just decision, one which he had instructed them to find. In his five-hour address to the jury earlier in the day, he told them to find Woods guilty of second-degree murder and to acquit Gruener. With Betesh, the judge said there were only two possible verdicts guilty as charged or not guilty because of insanity. Missing from the prisoners dock, as he had been since his conviction in mid-trial was 29-year-old Kribs, the thin, bearded man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. As the trial drew to a close this week, Kribs was painted by other defence lawyers as the villain in the slaying the man whose aggressive instincts triggered an impulse in Betesh. Although Kribs and Betesh originally told police they together drowned Emanuel in a sink last July 29, when he was on the witness stand last week Betesh told the jury he could remember nothing about the night, claiming he had blacked out after trying to strangle the boy. The trial that a lawyer last night described as a pressure cooker very nearly bubbled over in the excitement after Grueners acquittal. Shortly before 10 oclock, when police were planning to arrest Gruener on a charge of being an accessory after the fact and take him downstairs to a holding cell, one Metro detective was alerted to leave the courtroom as soon as the verdict was announced. Outside the courtroom, one policeman said prosecutor Rickaby had told them not do anything. Gruener? Hes a free man. Betesh and Woods were remanded until next Friday for sentencing. Also to be sentenced is Robert Wayne Kribs, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder earlier in the trial. He did so, then came back in apparent confusion. A few minutes later, Gruener made his way out. Crown prosecutors were almost as disappointed in Maloneys charge to the jury as policemen were in the verdict. Prosecutor Frank Armstrong, obviously angry, argued eloquently after the jury had retired, that Maloney should re-instruct the 11 members about Woods. There is not a thing your lordship can do to correct the damage done in the case of Werner Gruener, Armstrong said. In fact, Maloney was prepared to re-instruct the jury when it returned with a verdict. The jury reached a verdict about the time I had decided I had decided I would recall them, to instruct them that Woods could be guilty of first-degree murder, Maloney told lawyers before the jurors returned. But it would not have affected the result... they would have to have had no reasonable doubt that Woods was privy to an intention to kill, and on the evidence that would have been difficult, Maloney said. Armstrong had argued in a closed-door argument: Your Lordship has gone far beyond your right to give an opinion. This is a fatal charge in the sense that it cannot be corrected. Armstrong, visibly angry, said the judge had placed the jury in an impossible position by suggesting the verdict of second-degree murder for Woods. Editors note: An earlier version of this story took quotes from Christine Blasey Ford, about how she decided to testify in the confirmation hearings of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, out of context. The quotes have been removed from the story. In a rare public appearance since her testimony before a U.S. Senate committee 18 months ago, Christine Blasey Ford took the stage in San Francisco on Tuesday to discuss her decision to come forward in the confirmation hearings for now-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Blasey Ford; Chanel Miller, whose 2015 sexual assault by a Stanford University swimmer became a national story; and Tyah-Amoy Roberts, an activist and survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., received Courage Awards for their advocacy at the Presidio Theatre in San Francisco Tuesday night. Blasey Ford, a psychology professor who teaches at Stanford University and Palo Alto University, described the strong sense of civic duty she said pushed her to testify that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her at a party when they were high school students during his confirmation hearings in 2018. She said as she considered whether to testify, she discussed it with her children, family members and friends. Her description of the alleged assault 30 years ago, and the judges angry response, gripped the nation, and the Senate ultimately confirmed Kavanaugh. The trio of women were honored at a fundraiser hosted by Futures Without Violence, a nonprofit working to end domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment. Proceeds will benefit the organizations future Courage Museum, an interactive learning center designed to teach people how they can prevent and end violence, organizers said. Blasey Ford, Miller and Roberts are expected to collaborate on stories, installations, and youth leadership and education programs in association with the Courage Museum, organizers said. The museum is slated to open in 2021 on the Main Post of Presidio National Park. Roberts, a Stanford University freshman, has been crusading for gun-violence prevention ever since 17 people were killed and 17 others were injured in a mass shooting at her high school. She told the crowd, which rose in a standing ovation when she was awarded the Courage Award, she takes pride in standing for women, the black community and for people of color all of whom she says are disproportionately impacted by violence. We have to go into conversations with open ears and open hearts, she said, to strive for a future that is progressive, that is safe for everyone. Blasey Ford, in describing the months leading up to her decision to testify in the Kavanaugh hearings, said that her children noticed a change in her behavior. She didnt wade into the ocean during family outings to the beach. She spent more time on the phone. Privately, friends offered support varying counsel before her decision to come forward: Remember, no matter what, youve already won. I salute you, patriot. The future of the country is in your hands. In a surprise, prerecorded video message to Blasey Ford, California Sen. Kamala Harris commended her for shining a light on how survivors of sexual assault are mistreated, for having the courage to face those who tried to silence her, and for showing the world the transformative power of one voice. Women in the audience wiped awat tears, snapped their fingers in a gesture of unity and nodded silently. Blasey Ford, later seated in the audience, rose to her feet and applauded when Miller activist and author of her memoir, Know My Name, which chronicled her journey navigating the judicial process and the trial of the man convicted in her sexual assault walked to the stage. 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. She said the event was her first major Bay Area appearance that she agreed to do, citing death threats and security concerns that halted any possibility of a book tour or other appearances. For the first time in five years, Miller said she felt like she and her loved ones were allowed to be in a celebratory space. She said shes clung to the elements of light that peppered the traumatic legal process that followed her assault. Waves of supportive messages were addressed to Miller after she released her survivor impact statement that she had read in court. There are so many kind people that I met along the way that were actively talking me through it. She said she decided to partner with Futures Without Violence because of their fresh approach to their central mission. When she first met with organization officials, she recalled being met with croissants, and recalled how they pulled window blinds down so that the sun wouldnt bear down on her. They know that I am human, they just accepted me as I was and took care of my primary needs, Miller said. Whereas in court, the primary needs are neglected and they really dont care who you are, and it felt like any worth that I wanted to have had to be earned. I didnt like that at all. I did not like that it was not inherent. I think it needs to be more natural that we care and deserve fair treatment. Speaking backstage of the Presidio Theatre ahead of the event, Miller told The Chronicle that she is looking forward to her partnership with Futures Without Violence. She said it was the first time she has seen an outlet for people to have a collective discussion on violence, and how everyone can play a role in reducing it. This is extremely new to me, and it means so much to me, Miller said. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavor Sinn Fein called on the European Union on Tuesday to back its bid for a united Ireland after a surge in support saw it become the second largest party in parliament at weekend elections. The result has shaken up the political landscape in the EU member state, with Sinn Fein -- once shunned because of its links to IRA paramilitaries -- also the second biggest party across the border in British-ruled Northern Ireland. When counting from Saturday's poll finished in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the nationalist left-wing Sinn Fein had secured 37 of the 160 seats in the Dail, Ireland's lower house of parliament. Centre-right party Fianna Fail was only one seat ahead with 38 while Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael took 35 -- a result likely to topple the premier from office. If a new government is to be formed when the Dail reconvenes on February 20, it must contain multiple parties. Talks have already begun to thrash out a coalition. Sinn Fein wants a central role in power after winning 24.5 percent of first preferences in Ireland's single transferable vote system -- the largest of any party. Its leader Mary Lou McDonald has already talked to smaller left-wing parties to try to determine whether it is possible to form a government without the two main centre-right parties. "I may well be the next taoiseach (prime minister)," she said on a walkabout in Dublin on Monday. "Sinn Fein won the election, we won the popular vote... I'm very clear that people who came out and voted for Sinn Fein have voted for Sinn Fein to be in government." Even if Sinn Fein form an alliance with the 29 lawmakers of the four small left-wing parties, they would still need support from independents to reach the 80-seat threshold to form a government. Ireland's president Michael D Higgins said Tuesday it would be "important to be positive" as negotiations began, telling the Irish Times he had "great confidence in the process we have". - Protracted talks - The surge in support for nationalist Sinn Fein, once regarded as the political wing of the IRA, broke the stranglehold of two-party politics in Ireland. Its former leader Gerry Adams and other party representatives were even banned from the airwaves in the UK as violence raged over British rule in Northern Ireland over the three decades to 1998. But with two decades of peace and new leader McDonald, Sinn Fein's left-wing policies on tackling crises in housing and health have found favour, especially among younger voters. McDonald said the two main parties -- Fine Gael and Fianna Fail -- were "in a state of denial" and had not listened to the voice of the people on pressing domestic issues. Coalition talks are expected to be protracted and difficult, all the more so as Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have both ruled out any deal with Sinn Fein because of its past associations with the IRA. Adams has long denied allegations that he had a leadership role in the IRA, which waged a bloody campaign over UK-rule in Northern Ireland that saw more than 3,000 killed on all sides. - Border poll - Sinn Fein's flagship policy of a united Ireland is likely to figure prominently in whatever role it plays in government. It wants to call a referendum on the issue within five years. McDonald herself called on the European Union to back the party's position. "I think the European Union needs to take a stand in respect of Ireland in the same way that it supported the reunification of Germany," she told BBC television on Monday night. "In the same way that it (Brussels) has a position on Cyprus, for example, and a positive approach to the reunification of that country. I think Ireland is no different." McDonald described the partition of Ireland in 1921 -- when six northern counties remained under British rule and the rest of the island became self-governing -- as a "disaster". "Reunification, reconciliation and good relationships with our next-door neighbours is the way forward," she added. Former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern said a border poll was now "inevitable". But Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said only Britain's Northern Ireland secretary could call a border poll "if it appears likely to secure a majority" in the province. "No such circumstances exist," said Foster, who is also first minister of the devolved administration in Belfast. She pointed to recent opinion polls indicating that a majority are not in favour of such a vote. Irish republican party Sinn Fein, led by Mary Lou McDonald, wants a central role in power after a surge in support Final results of the Feb 8 Irish general election Composition of the new lower house of the Irish parliament after Saturday's election Prime Minister Leo Varadkar risks losing office ALBANY Albany School Superintendent Kaweeda Adams is asking state lawmakers to amend a 2019 electoral law that enabled hundreds of school employees to miss work on Election Day and provide funding to support an influx of at-risk students the district absorbed due to recent criminal justice reforms. On Nov. 5, 511 district employees, about 30 percent of the district's total workforce, exercised their right to take three hours to cast their ballots on Election Day, Adams testified Tuesday at a joint legislative budget hearing on elementary and secondary education. "As a result, the district is planning for half-days of instruction on April 28 and June 23 the latter being a day of Regents testing for high school students due to the potential of absences that would far exceed our capacity to provide substitutes," Adams said. (The dates in question are, respectively, the days of the New York's presidential primary, and the state and federal primaries.) The state passed a slew of reforms designed to increase access to the ballot during the 2019 legislative session, including measures enabling young people to pre-register to vote, expanded voting hours in primaries, early voting, and granting workers three hours during the workday to cast their ballots. School leaders across the state last year petitioned legislators to exempt school employees from the law, arguing it would place a particular strain on school districts during elections that fall during Regents exams, which are "all hands on deck in terms of staff" for many districts. Albany school officials support an amendment sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chair Shelly Mayer clarifying that employees of public, charter and private schools may only take time off if they do not have four consecutive non-working hours available while polls are open. Adams also requesting an additional $500,000 to hire staff to support an influx of students engaged with the criminal justice system as a result of the Raise the Age law, which diverts 16- and 17-year olds away from the criminal justice system. Adams emphasized that school leaders fully support raising the age of criminal responsibility, as well as newly implemented bail and discovery reforms, but noted the criminal justice reforms have coincided with a significant rise in at-risk behavior among local teens. Albany city schools saw a 64 percent spike in student disciplinary hearing requests due to weapon possession and student physical violence between September and November 2019 when compared to the same time period a year earlier, according to school data presented at a recent Board of Education meeting. Of 80 requests made during the review period, 49 were for firearms or explosives, according to the school's department of Pupil Personnel Services. The district has also absorbed dozens of students released from detention centers and supports the needs of justice-involved students through its Family and Student Support Team (FASST) and the Connecting Youth in Transition (CYT) program. Raise the Age has strained both programs, school officials said. To support the teens, the district must hire more social workers, behavior specialists, guidance counselors and school psychologists, Adams said. The district is also requesting more funding for its pre-kindergarten program and tweaks to the state's foundation aid formula which officials say fails to account for tax-exempt buildings. Lawmakers also heard from union leaders, state education officials and advocates who pushed back at Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's school funding proposal at the budget hearing, the ninth of 11 total hearings scheduled in January and February. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. School leaders across the state object to Cuomo's proposal to consolidate 10 expense-based reimbursements into the state's school aid formula, which is intended to steer funds to the state's neediest districts, but has been politicized in recent years. The executive budget has proposed an $826 million increase for 2021, bringing total education spending to $28.5 billion. Just $504 million of that increase is earmarked for operational expenses. State Education Commissioner Shannon Tahoe reiterated the Board of Regents request for a foundation aid increase of $1.9 billion. State Education officials are asking for an additional $26 million to expand pre-k programs across the state. The executive proposal allows a $15 million increase for pre-k expansion. Like Adams, Tahoe sought relief for unfunded mandates on the state Education Department (SED). The department is asking that 5 percent of the state aid increase be set-aside to provide resources for officials to implement new initiatives. She said that staffing shortages at the department have improved in recent years; SED currently has 24 vacancies, when it once had 200 hires pending. We want to implement all your programs thoughtfully and carefully, but in order to do that we need the staff to support those programs, Tahoe said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told the UN Security Council that the world should reject US President Donald Trump's Middle East plan, calling it an outside imposition that cannot bring lasting peace. Brandishing a large map of Israel and Palestine as laid out by Trump's long-awaited 28 January announcement, Abbas called it a "Swiss cheese" deal that would limit Palestinian sovereignty. "I would like to say to Mr. Donald Trump that his plan cannot achieve peace and security as it cancels international legitimacy," Abbas told the Security Council. "It cancels all the rights of the Palestinians. This does not meet the aspirations of a two-state solution," he said. "If you impose peace it will not last, it cannot last," he said, asking: "What gives you the right to annex these lands?" Abbas said that peace with Israel remained "achievable" adding "I have come to build a just partnership." A one-sided deal can not be imposed on Palestine "This deal is not an international partnership. This proposal was from one state, supported by another state to be imposed." The Palestinians have sought to rally international support against the plan, which Trump unveiled alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has since moved forward with efforts to annex vast areas of the West Bank. While the Palestinians have refused to deal with Trump, seeing him as biased, Abbas said his first encounters with the billionaire-turned-president had been positive. Trump, whose evangelical Christian base is strongly supportive of Israel, has since taken a series of landmark steps such as recognising contested Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state and ending assistance to the UN body that helps Palestinian refugees. Widespread criticism of Trump plan The Palestinians have won support from the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union which have all rejected Trump's plan. On Tuesday, the four European Union members of the Security Council -- France, Germany, Belgium and Estonia -- as well as Poland, which left the council at the end of last year, jointly said that any Middle East solution needs to be based on pre-1967 lines, a reference to settlements built since the Jewish state captured the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War. Trump's plan "departs from these internationally agreed parameters," they said in a joint statement, while applauding "all efforts" to reach a peaceful resolution. Senator Bernie Sanders, the professing socialist from Vermont, is not a member of the Democratic Party, but he is at the moment the leading candidate to win that partys presidential nomination in 2020. He is an ideological outlier who speaks more openly about a particular -ism socialism, in this case than many of his allies do or would prefer he do. He has a strange and occasionally embarrassing personal history more befitting a gadfly than a serious candidate for the presidency of the United States of America. He is intellectually unserious and develops his policy positions by simply taking one step in the direction of extremism beyond his rivals, though his extremism relative to the other contenders for the partys nomination is at least as often rhetorical as substantive. The parallels with Donald Trump in 2016 are obvious enough he even has an interesting real-estate portfolio. The betting markets currently have Senator Sanderss chances of winning the nomination at 43.6 percent, well ahead of No. 2 Michael Bloomberg (26.6 percent), Pete Buttigieg (14.6 percent), and Joe Biden (9.1 percent), to say nothing of Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and the rest of the sub5 percent gang. Sanders leads in most of the national polls. So, what if its Bernie? A Sanders nomination would turn the race on its head and not in the way that Democrats might hope. For one thing, President Trump could reasonably present himself as the moderate in a race against Sanders, who promises revolution and seeks to reorganize the U.S. government we have his own word on this along Nordic lines. Trump, for all his bombast, proposes nothing comparable. When it comes to the major domestic activity of the U.S. government entitlement spending Trump seeks no meaningful change at all, promising only to defend the status quo and current benefits. Sanders seeks to impose a monopoly single-payer health-care system on the United States; Trump has learned that health-care reform is hard (Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated, the president says, overgeneralizing just a little), but with unemployment low, wages rising, and the growth in health-care costs slowing down slightly, his administration is under less pressure than it otherwise might be on the issue. Trump has not been successful in reordering American foreign relations or trade relations, but he has not initiated any new major wars Tehran declined his invitation to the dance and his trade war has played into populist passions that are shared in the main by those who support Senator Sanders, who is not exactly a free-trade man himself. Story continues The most obvious lines of criticism that opponents might direct at President Trump that he is bumptious and unsteady, that he is as a matter of both character and intellect poorly suited to the office, that he has defective judgment would sound more than a little preposterous emanating from a batty socialist relic with a heaping dose of creepy on his curriculum vitae. Will Senator Sanders charge Trump with self-enrichment from his lakeside dacha? Will the man who honeymooned in the Soviet Union and who not long ago praised Hugo Chavezs autocratic Venezuelan regime for having created a place where the American dream is more apt to be realized denounce the extremism of Donald Trump, who was bosom friends with Bill and Hillary Clinton until the day before yesterday? The Republican Partys contemporary anti-urbanism is a genuine vulnerability, but the Brooklyn refugee representing the bucolic green hills of Vermont is not especially well-placed to exploit that in a race against a man who is so closely identified with New York City. President Trump might be faulted for his lack of interest in the deficit and for the general fiscal indiscipline of the GOP under his leadership, but not so much by a man who is proposing $97 trillion in new spending (over ten years) thats about five times the GDP of the United States today with no imaginable plan to pay for it. What might President Trump say for himself in a race against Senator Sanders? That, despite his long career in politics, Sanders has not a single major legislative achievement to his name. That on foreign policy, Sanders is a vague Blame America Firster. That wages are growing more quickly today than they did under the Obama administration, and are growing at an especially robust clip for lower-income workers. That unemployment is low and that economic growth is steady if not spectacular. (What the president actually has to do with any of that is not very clear, but thats how we Americans talk about presidents, for whatever reason.) He could boast that his administration backed down Tehran and reminded Beijing that it needs U.S. markets more than the United States needs Chinese imports. President Trump has a reasonably strong economy to run on, along with what passes for peace in these United States in Anno Domini 2020. Senator Sanders is a quondam Chavista with a shuddersome literary uvre. It takes a lot a hell of a lot to make Donald J. Trump look like the normal one in the race. But Bernie Sanders may be just the ticket. More from National Review Eric Yollick was firing back Wednesday as video emerged on social media showing him removing door hangers of other candidates from homes in The Woodlands. Yollick, along with Bruce Tough, Vince Santini, Robert Kasprzak and Chris Buck, are all vying to be the new 457th state District Court judge. VOTER GUIDE: See the Houston Chronicle's comprehensive voter guide for the March 3 primaries In several different videos, Yollick, who is running for the 457th state District Court bench, is captured by doorbell cameras removing door hangers of candidates, including U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady, crumbling them up and putting them in his pocket. Yollick then places his political hanger on the door and leaves. Yollick, who admits he removed several door hangers while block walking, said took to Facebook explaining the reason he did so was because the hangers were tattered. I pulled a tattered, totally wet from rain, door hanger of Congressman Kevin Brady's off of a door. I realized there was a doorbell camera. The doorhanger made Congressman Brady's campaign look bad. It made the Republican Party look terrible, his post states. Instead of thanking me, a person in Brady's campaign and some of the hacks in the establishment are accusing me of stealing the piece of damaged, soggy campaign material on an innocent person's door in a neighborhood where people were already angry with Brady's campaign for putting up dozens of yard signs in people's yards without asking their permission first. Part of the door hanger was already torn off and lying on the ground in the entrance area of the people's home. I picked that piece off the ground and took it away to the garbage where it belonged. Yollick called the release of the video a political tactic. MORE FROM CATHERINE DOMINGUEZ: Conroe council seek support for stricter term limits However, several challengers in the bid for the 457th state District Judge said removing the door hangers was telling. My opponents campaign has been based on the premise that his conduct as an activist would have no baring on how he operates as a judicial candidate or as a judge, Kasprzak said. These unfortunate circumstances serve to illustrate what many already believe, this particular leopard cant change his spots. Tough echoed Kasprzak. The video speaks for itself, Tough said. Buck said he was a bit surprised by Yollicks action but called the situation unnecessary. Santini, who did not want to address the incident directly, said judges and well as judicial candidate are held to a higher standard. Judges are held to a higher standard and candidate for judicial races are held to a higher standard and what they do outside of the courtroom, outside of the bench matters to whether their behavior can be fair and impartial and act with integrity and dignity this bench deserves, Santini said referencing the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct. Thats what citizens need to look at. According to the Canon 4A 1 of the code, a judge shall conduct all of the judge's extrajudicial activities so that they do not cast reasonable doubt on the judge's capacity to act impartially as a judge. Yollick maintains he was simply cleaning up trash. I'm running to be a public servant, Yollick stated. I have no qualms about cleaning up messes, handing people their packages in their doorways, carrying their newspapers up their driveway to hand to them, or cleaning up another candidate's inadvertent mess. That's what being a conservative is all about. That's what being a Republican is all about. The Republic and Democratic primaries are March 3. Early voting begins Tuesday. cdominguez@hcnonline.com A 25-year-old Indonesian woman narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt while using a ride-sharing app. The woman reportedly ordered a car from her home to the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in South Jakarta on Feb. 6 through Grab. The woman noticed something was off when she heard her driver talk cryptically to another person over the phone or a walkie talkie. She became more concerned when she realized that her driver was driving in the opposite direction. The driver allegedly got into a confrontation with the woman, claiming that he would take her instead to a different area. The woman then reportedly shared her location with her boyfriend and contacted Grabs call center through the apps emergency button. the driver yelled at the woman and then dropped her off on the side of a road before driving off. The womans boyfriend reportedly picked her up later. Grab purportedly suspended the driver. The Singaporean ride-hailing app has since conducted an investigation into the incident alongside local law enforcement The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) on Wednesday overruled a constitutionality objection filed by the Ombudsman over the provisions of Emergency Ordinance 57/2019 regarding the Administrative Code, according to sources with CCR. On August 28, 2019, the Ombudsman announced having filed a constitutionality objection over the provisions of Emergency Ordinance 57/2019 regarding the Administrative Code. AGERPRES The World Health Organisation on Tuesday said "Covid-19" would be the new official name for the deadly coronavirus that was first identified in China on December 31. "We now have a name for the disease and it's Covid-19," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva, explaining that "co" stood for "corona", "vi" for "virus" and "d" for "disease". The first vaccine targeting China's coronavirus could be available in 18 months, "so we have to do everything today using available weapons", World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Tuesday. People enter Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 where DBS headquarters is situated in Singapore on Feb. 12, 2020. (Edgar Su/Reuters) Singapores DBS Sends 300 Staff Home After One Contracts Coronavirus Singapores biggest bank DBS Group Holdings asked 300 staff to leave its head office in the financial district on Feb. 12 and work from home as a precautionary measure after an employee tested positive for coronavirus. Singapore has reported 50 coronavirus cases, one of the highest tallies outside China, and there is mounting evidence of local transmission. The government has been trying to calm nerves after it raised the virus alert level last week, sparking panic buying of essentials such as rice and toilet paper. DBS confirms today that one employee has been infected with the Novel Coronavirus, it said in a statement. DBS said an employee was tested on Feb. 11 and the bank was informed of the confirmation of coronavirus on Wednesday morning. A health officer (L) screens arriving passengers from China at Changi International airport in Singapore on Jan. 22, 2020. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images) As of noon, the bank asked all staff on the floor where the infected person worked at its headquarters at the Marina Bay Financial Center (MBFC) to vacate the premises. The bank employs more than 5,000 people at MBFC, where it occupies 18 floors in one tower. Employees at the bank told Reuters that other floors were unaffected. We are also currently conducting detailed contact tracing with all employees and other parties that the infected employee may have come into contact with, DBS said. Long lines formed this week outside some offices in Singapores financial district as employers started taking workers temperatures. Warnings by building managers of cases in some downtown offices have been widely shared on social media. Building managers conduct temperature screenings outside a building in the financial district of Singapore on Feb. 10, 2020. (Roslan Rahan/AFP via Getty Images) Some companies, including DBS, are cancelling physical results briefings and holding them via webcasts and teleconferences instead. The government has also cautioned people against shaking hands as a form of greeting. The outbreak has revived memories of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which killed more than 30 people in Singapore in 2003, and nearly 800 worldwide. DBS said it has activated business continuity plans, with employees working from home or from split sites. It said staff will also receive a care pack which includes face masks, a thermometer, hand sanitizer, and vitamin C. By Singapore newsroom India's armed forces are at the cusp of transformation, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday, noting that proxy war and cross-border terrorism remained the key security challenges facing India. Gen Rawat also rejected criticism that the armed forces are suppressing the rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir and said required steps are being taken keeping in view ground realities and the threats of terrorism in the union territory. Asked about his controversial comments that India has deradicalisation camps, he said what he meant was classification of people based on their views and the impact of relentless efforts to deradicalise young people. "When I said camps -- I meant groups of people. The classification of people based on their views and the impact of relentless efforts to deradicalise young people. The word camp got misunderstood," he said during an interactive session at a conclave organised by Times Now channel. In an address at the Raisina Dialogue last month, Gen Rawat said deradicalisation camps are operating in the country as it is necessary to isolate people who are completely radicalised. Girls and boys as young as 10 and 12 years are being radicalised in the Valley, he said, describing it as a matter of concern. "We have got deradicalisation camps going on in our country." At the conclave on Wednesday, Gen Rawat also talked about the need for preventive deradicalisation strategies and how the Indian Army is running a number of schools in Kashmir as part of its outreach programme. Talking about evolving a regional security matrix, Gen Rawat said developments beyond India's immediate neighbourhood, such as in West Asia, may impinge on the country's security interests. "India needs to fulfill a larger responsibility in context of global peace. We have to expand our influence," said Gen Rawat. Asked whether creation of the chief of defence staff has added another layer of bureaucracy, the former Army chief said it was a long-pending proposal aimed at ensuring greater integration in functioning of the three services. He said both the CDS and the defence secretary have clear responsibilities and both will work in coordination to bring in transformational changes in the military. "Indian armed forces are at the cusp of transformation... If we look at the future of warfare, then the military has to grow. Our priority is quality, not quantity," he said. Gen Rawat also talked about plans to have an air defence command as well as a separate logistics command. "The focus will be to ensure better utilisation of resources," he said. The CDS added that the armed forces are ready to deal with any challenge along the borders with China as well as Pakistan. Talking about modernisation of the armed forces, he said India is not competing with China. "It is not them vs us. China is aspiring to become a global power. We are aspiring to become a regional power. We have to be prepared to protect our borders, our peninsula, our islands and requirement of internal security," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Getty Eager to avoid losing an ounce of power, Donald Trump used two tweets to pressure additional Senate Republicans from supporting a measure that would limit his authority to launch military operations against Iran. A final vote is expected on Thursday on a measure pushed by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia that would require the president push through both chambers a formal declaration of war or other "specific" measure giving Congress' blessing for military operations against Tehran. "The resolution underscores that Congress has the sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution," Mr Kaine said in a statement. "The resolution will force a public debate and vote in Congress as intended by the framers of the Constitution to determine whether United States forces should be engaged in these hostilities." Mr Kaine, a member of the chamber's Foreign Relations Committee, crafted his measure after Mr Trump ordered the killing of Maj Gen Qassem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force. The Trump administration has deemed the IRG a terrorist organisation. The White House used that designation and the office of the president's Article II powers to defend the country against all threats as legal justification for taking out the Quds leader, backed by most Republicans on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has voiced his opposition to the Kaine measure, which he deemed "deeply flawed on a number of levels," a signal to his caucus that he wants it to fail. "It is too blunt and too broad. It is also an abuse of the War Powers Act, which was designed to strike a balance between the president's constitutional war powers and Congress' own war powers and oversight responsibilities," the Kentucky Republican said. "Some of us believe the War Powers Act went too far in undermining the Separation of Powers and infringing upon the authorities of the commander in chief." Story continues The measure has the support of several Senate Republicans Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jerry Moran of Kansas. But despite those GOP members' support, Mr McConnell is expected to keep enough of his 53 members in line to deny Mr Kaine a two-thirds majority needed to overturn Mr Trump's inevitable veto. Still, their support has the commander in chief's attention. "It is very important for our Country's SECURITY that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution. We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani...." Mr Trump tweeted ahead of a procedural vote on the measure. "...If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Don't let it happen!" All post-9/11 American presidents have been sceptical of or outright opposed to various measures floated over the years that would have harnessed the powers of their office to wage war or conduct one-off military strikes on violent extremist groups. Mr Trump's opposition to the Kaine measure is one of the handful of similarities he has with George W Bush and Barack Obama both of whom, like Mr Trump, used Article II and a purposely legally broad authorisation for the use of military force to justify all kinds of military and other operations against terrorist organisations or their associated forces. Read more Trump slammed by ex-Bush spokesman over Stone: 'Justice must be blind' Trump praises his attorney general over Roger Stone sentencing Trump wants Bernie over Bloomberg and suggests Vindman be punished Progress continues toward Bayer Animal Health acquisition antitrust clearance Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) announced today it has signed an agreement to divest the European Economic Area and UK rights to the Drontal and Profenderproduct families from Bayer AG's (ETR: BAYN) animal health business, to Vetoquinol SA (EURONEXT: VETO), a French pharmaceutical company, for $140 million in an all-cash deal subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Drontal and Profender are both de-wormers for dogs and cats. Divesting the rights to Drontal and Profender in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom further advances Elanco's efforts to gain European Commission clearance for the previously announced acquisition of Bayer AG's global animal health business. The closing of the transaction with Vetoquinol is contingent on Elanco closing its transaction with Bayer, as well as other customary closing conditions. "We're pleased with the continued progress on a number of fronts to move the acquisition of Bayer AG's animal health business toward completion," said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco. "Vetoquinol's dedication to pet health and care make the company a natural choice to take Drontal and Profender into the future, maintaining European pet owners' access to these important pet care products." Matthieu Frechin, CEO of Vetoquinol, said, "We are very pleased to acquire the Profender and Drontalproduct lines that are highly valued by veterinarians and pet owners. The acquisition of these two strong brands is at the heart of our strategy. On the one hand, they will significantly increase the size of our business and our visibility in the parasiticide segment, one of our strategic therapeutic areas. On the other hand, they will strengthen our portfolio of Essentials, the engine of our growth." Bayer's Drontal and Profender join Elanco's previously announced Osurnia and Capstar on the list of divestitures. This brings total divestitures announced to date near the $120 million to $140 million in revenue Elanco originally stated it would need to divest across both organizations to achieve any required clearances globally. Elanco is in advanced discussions with required regulatory authorities, which are progressing as expected. Elanco has already received antitrust clearance for the transaction in China, Turkey and Ukraine. Any proposed remedy and final clearance for the Elanco/Bayer transaction remain subject to review and approval from regulatory authorities. Advisors Stifel acted as transaction advisor to Elanco. Covington Burling LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton Garrison LLP acted as legal counsel to Elanco. McDermott Will Emery LLP acted as legal counsel to Vetoquinol. About Elanco Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) is a global animal health company that develops products and knowledge services to prevent and treat disease in food animals and pets in more than 90 countries. With a 65-year heritage, we rigorously innovate to improve the health of animals and benefit our customers, while fostering an inclusive, cause-driven culture for approximately 5,800 employees. At Elanco, we're driven by our vision of food and companionship enriching life all to advance the health of animals, people and the planet. Learn more at www.elanco.com. Forward Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about our expectations concerning our antitrust filings with the FTC and other regulators in connection with our acquisition of the animal health business of Bayer AG, and reflects Elanco's current belief. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Elanco's most recent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Elanco undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005843/en/ Contacts: Investor Contact: Jim Greffet (317) 383-9935 or greffet_james_f@elanco.com Media Contact: Colleen Parr Dekker (317) 276-4076 or colleen_parr_dekker@elanco.com Court needs to apply 'therapeutic jurisprudence' more broadly An old man suffering from dementia, who had been handed a five-year prison sentence for killing his wife, avoided jail time Monday after the High Court amended the original sentence giving him a three-year prison term suspended for three years. Instead of commuting the sentence, the court based its ruling on "therapeutic jurisprudence" focusing on the fundamental resolution of the problem rather than incarceration. In its ruling, the High Court said, "Allowing the defendant to continue to receive treatment is in accordance with the Constitution declaring that all citizens shall be assured of human dignity." The decision drew attention because it was the first case in Korea in which therapeutic justice principles have been applied to offenders diagnosed with mental illnesses. Therapeutic jurisprudence is a concept focusing on treatment devised by David Wexler, a law professor from the University of Arizona, as an alternative to the blanket incarceration-centered criminal justice system. The lower court sentenced the old man, 68, to five years in jail for killing his wife in 2018. At the time of his crime, he was already suffering from dementia and this was considered in the court's determination of punishment. His condition worsened while in prison and a court released him on bail last September so that he could receive treatment in hospital. Given the dire need to prevent recidivism by removing the roots of pathological behavior in some crimes, it's necessary to consider adopting therapeutic jurisprudence more broadly. But there are some points to make. As the court is supposed to wholly decide what to do with offenders being subject to therapeutic jurisprudence, controversy could arise over the abuse of its judicial power. This requires the court to be more specific in determining the scope of offenses governed by therapeutic jurisprudence. The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.) have introduced legislation to combat climate change and invest in the country's infrastructure. Read more As a Republican from Pennsylvania and a Democrat from Delaware, we have more in common than you might expect. Aside from a shared devotion to the Philadelphia Eagles, we both believe that Congress can and must do more to combat climate change and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. These two issues go hand in hand and have the potential to shape our communities and our country for decades. Climate change is already costing our economy through increased flooding, more severe storms, and devastating droughts. Delawares and Pennsylvanias 1st Congressional District are about 40 miles apart, but they both border the Delaware River and are home to communities, including Levittown and Wilmington, that are at significant risk of damaging floods in the near future. Extreme weather is also impacting the efficiency and safety of our ports, roads, and other infrastructure, which are already in need of repair. In Pennsylvania, our bridges rank as some of the worst in the country. Every one of us has blown or damaged a tire on our roads due to the growing number of potholes. Flooding and hurricanes are hitting our communities in both Pennsylvania and Delaware more often, inundating our roads, homes, and businesses. The Delaware Department of Transportation has estimated that it will cost nearly $1.5 billion to sustain the states most vulnerable roads and bridges in the coming years. We can and should tackle both problems. Thats why we have each introduced legislation proposing a price on carbon to curb harmful emissions that are causing climate change and to invest in infrastructure here at home. HR 4520 would impose a tax on the greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuels. S 2284 would impose a carbon fee on the use, sale, or transfer of certain fossil fuels and fluorinated gases that emit greenhouse gases. READ MORE: Will Philadelphia and the Northeast U.S. lose our seasons to climate change? Not if we can help it. | Opinion Business leaders, economists, and a growing number of Republicans and Democrats agree that placing a price on carbon is the most efficient, market-based approach to fighting climate change while growing the economy and creating jobs. Were convinced that a carbon price will level the economic playing field in the energy sector, power market-driven innovation, and lead to the deployment of technologies that will reduce or eliminate emissions of greenhouse gases. Weve both introduced legislation to use revenues from carbon fees paid by polluters to make substantial, much-needed investments in infrastructure in our region and across the country, which is more important than ever at a time when discussion around a national infrastructure package has ground to a halt. Building a more sustainable infrastructure will create and support jobs across a wide range of sectors from trades professionals to construct and maintain our clean energy infrastructure, to scientists and engineers to design new technologies. The bottom line is that we dont need to choose between clean energy and economic growth, or between combating climate change and creating jobs. We can and should do both. Seven in 10 Americans are concerned about climate change, more than ever before, and an overwhelming majority of young Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, support policies that reduce carbon emissions. American businesses, from large oil and power companies to small manufacturers and service providers, have united to call on Congress to enact a federal carbon price. Momentum is building on both sides of the aisle for practical, bipartisan solutions to combat climate change. As a Republican and a Democrat, we both know the time to act is now. We know that while were at it, we can create new jobs, build a 21st-century infrastructure, and bring our two political parties together to finally get something done. Sen. Chris Coons is a Democrat representing Delaware. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is a Republican representing parts of Southeastern Pennsylvania. ISTANBUL Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doubled down on threats to retaliate against Russian-backed Syrian forces in Idlib, where an ongoing government offensive has escalated tensions between Ankara and Damascus. Recent clashes between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish troops stationed at observation posts in Idlib left 14 Turkish soldiers and personnel dead, drawing a strong rebuke from lawmakers in Ankara. If any harm comes to our troops at the observation posts or anywhere else, we will hit the regime forces anywhere, without limiting ourselves to Idlib and to the boundaries of the Sochi Memorandum, Erdogan said Wednesday during a Justice and Development Party (AKP) meeting in the Turkish capital. He added that Syrian regime forces must pull back beyond Turkish observation posts by the end of month, returning to boundaries set by the Sochi agreement in an effort to stem violence that has sent hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing for safety along the Turkish border. To achieve that, we will do whatever is necessary on the ground and in the air without any hesitation and without allowing any stalling, Erdogan said. Responding to the statements, a Syrian Foreign Ministry official said Erdogan was disconnected from reality and that his comments only reveal ignorance in threatening to hit Syrian army troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, Statements by Turkish representatives about alleged attacks by Russian forces on civilians in the Idlib de-escalation zone do not correspond with reality. It went on, The real reason for the crisis in the Idlib de-escalation zone unfortunately is the non-fulfilment by our Turkish colleagues of their undertakings to separate moderate opposition militants from terrorists. The taunts come as Ankara officials seek to avoid an influx of new refugees. Turkey currently hosts more than 3.7 million Syrians and their impact on the labor market is believed to have cost the ruling AKP votes in the 2019 municipal elections. Meanwhile, US special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey arrived in Ankara Tuesday night to evaluate developments in Syria with Turkish counterparts. Speaking to the Turkish press, Jeffery reaffirmed previous statements by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, underlining Washington's support for Turkey, a NATO ally, he said in Turkish, despite recent tensions between the two nations. More than 5,000 Turkish troops and heavy artillery have entered Idlib over the last week as reinforcement for observation posts and military positions in an effort to de-escalate fighting in Idlib and stop the loss of territory held by opposition rebel groups, some of which are backed by Ankara. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told the Associated Press that at least four of 12 observation posts in Idlib are now in Syrian government-controlled territory, along with two Turkish military positions. Akar echoed Erdogans statements that his troops would respond even more powerfully to Syrian regime attacks, and reiterated that Turkish soldiers would not pull back from the M5 highway, a key land route connecting Damascus and Aleppo over which Assad forces recently took control. Though the highway was included in a rebel-held area delineated by 2018 cease-fire accords between Ankara and Moscow, Russian leaders have supported recent gains by Syrian troops, claiming Turkey did not uphold prior commitments to remove extremist rebel factions from Idlib. In a phone conversation between Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Wednesday, the two discussed the aggravation of the situation in Idlib and said they would work toward the full implementation of prior cease-fire agreements to limit further escalation. Russian and Turkish officials will hold high-level talks on Idlib soon, though no date has been set Nigar Goksel, Turkey project director for the International Crisis Group, said the discord stemming from developments in Idlib may eventually require Ankara and Moscow to renegotiate prior cease-fire arrangements to reflect the new reality on the ground. It appears Ankara and Moscow are trying to box each other in as much as they possibly can, but it doesnt seem like theres any other option apart from a new cease-fire [agreement], Goksel told Al-Monitor. Taking a tougher stance on the issue, Nationalist Movement Party leader and close Erdogan ally Devlet Bahceli said Turkey should reassess its relations with Russia after the clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces. Assad is a murderer, criminal, illegal and a source of strife," Bahceli said during a speech in Ankara Tuesday. "If necessary, the Turkish nation should plan to enter Damascus. The statements were not supported by most Ankara lawmakers, many of whom have sought Western and NATO backing to contain and de-escalate the conflict in Idlib. Pervin Buldan, co-leader of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party, said Turkey should fully withdraw from Syria and leave the fate of the nation to its citizens. Reflecting on recent developments, Fabrice Balanche, an associate professor at the University of Lyon 2 and adjunct fellow at The Washington Institute, said he did not expect a serious escalation between Turkish and Syrian troops due to Russian leverage on both sides. Most likely, Balanche said, Ankara may seek to fortify key observation posts, such as in Taftanaz which has access to a military airport while withdrawing from positions taken over by regime forces. Regarding the humanitarian crisis on the Turkish border, Balanche added Turkish officials may seek to relocate displaced Syrians to areas controlled by Turkey-backed troops in northeast Syria, but the process of transferring civilians may prove challenging. To relocate the refugees to northeast Syria, Erdogan needs to take Kobani [for] territorial continuity between Jarablus and Tall Abyad, Balanche told Al-Monitor. If he tries to send refugees to Tall Abyad and Ras al-Ain through the Turkish territory, people could decide to stay and not go back [to Syria]. And according to international law, displacement through Turkish territory would not be acceptable. For the time being, he said Ankara officials might seek concessions from Moscow to gain more territory within Syria. Yet Russian officials are currently coordinating talks between Damascus and Syrian Kurds as Assad seeks to regain all territory lost in the nine-year-old conflict. In this process, Balanche said Moscow may use the threat of another Turkish operation in northeast Syria to pressure Kurds to reunite with the Syrian regime and cut ties with remaining American troops in Deir ez-Zor. If [Erdogan] is making a lot of noise, its because he wants something, but the problem is that Russia doesnt want to give him Kobani or Kurdish territory Balanche told Al-Monitor. He added, If Russia gives something to Turkey now, the situation with the Kurds is finished. So, I think in two or three months, if there is no progress in negotiations between Russia and the Kurds and American troops are still in Deir ez-Zor, Kurds could lose more territory. Wilkes is the highest ranked institution in Luzerne County and within the top 25 percent of independent institutions in the nation. Wilkes University is once again being recognized for its commitment to social mobility. In ROME - The Italian Senate voted by a large margin Wednesday to allow the prosecution of right-wing opposition leader Matteo Salvini for making 131 rescued migrants to remain on a coast guard vessel for days when he was Italys interior minister. Salvinis fellow senators let stand a Senate commissions vote to lift his immunity as a lawmaker so Italys Tribunal of Ministers can decide if he effectively held the migrants hostage last summer. The Senate vote fell 84 short of the number needed to overturn its commissions decision on Salvinis immunity last month. Salvini insisted during Wednesdays pre-vote debate that he would be proud to stand trial for defending Italys borders, but senators from his anti-migrant League skipped the vote. Once the tally was announced, he immediately compared himself to impeached U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the investigations during his presidency as the work of Democratic opponents and vindictive political enemies on the left. I, like Trump? Salvini tweeted. He has a few more billions and a few more years, but its a bad little habit of the left, going around in the world, to try to win by judicial means. As interior minister, Salvini launched a crackdown on unauthorized migration, blaming migrants for crime and other problems. His policies, which included denying migrant rescue ships access to Italian ports, brought his euroskeptic League party support at home and criticism abroad. I want to be proud of what I did, with my head held high, Salvini told reporters as the Senate debated his fate earlier Wednesday. He added: Our Constitution says that protecting our homeland is a holy duty for Italian citizens. Politicians from Premier Giuseppe Contes ruling coalition have contended Salvini wants to boost his popularity among voters by casting himself as a martyr. Opinion surveys have pegged Salvini as one of Italys most popular leaders. However, a trial before the Tribunal of Ministers could derail his ambitions to put the League back in power and to become Italys premier; conviction carries a prison sentence of six months to 15 years. Senators from Salvinis party on a Senate commission granted their leaders wishes and voted last month in favour of lifting his immunity, paving the way for Wednesdays debate and vote by the full Senate. Salvini professed confidence in the neutrality of magistrates because I believe that what I have done was in the interest of the Italian people. Prosecutors in Sicily investigated Salvini for alleged kidnapping for keeping 131 rescued migrants aboard an Italian coast guard vessel for six days last summer. Similar standoffs played out in the Mediterranean Sea during the anti-immigration stance Salvini took as interior minister. An even more dramatic case will come before the Senates immunity commission later this month. That one involves Salvinis refusal to let around 100 migrants disembark from the Spanish rescue ship Open Arms for three weeks. That standoff ended when Sicilian prosecutors ordered the evacuation of the migrants from the ship to land. In March 2019, when Salvini was still interior minister and his party in government, the Senate immunity commission voted against lifting his immunity in still another case involving migrants held aboard a different Italian coast guard vessel. In the case pondered by the Senate on Wednesday, migrants had been transferred to the Italian coast guard vessel after some of them were rescued by a cargo boat, while others were taken from their unseaworthy boat by an Italian border patrol vessel. Libya-based human traffickers launch boats crowded with Europe-bound migrants. Sicilian prosecutors eventually shelved the case, but another judicial body decided to proceed. The Tribunal of Ministers handles cases involving alleged misdeeds government ministers performed while carrying out their official duties. Curiously, twice in the past decade, that same tribunal absolved previous interior ministers of wrongdoing in the cases involving migrants. Salvinis League is now in the opposition after he pulled his party out of Premier Giuseppe Contes first government in August in a failed bid for an early election. By insisting last month on shedding his parliamentary immunity, Salvini gambled hed win sympathy votes for the League, which was trying to break a decades-long hold by the left in a Jan. 26 regional election in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna. But the gamble backfired, at least in the short run, with his party failing to pull off victory. Supporting Salvini in the Senate debate Wednesday was a fellow opposition senator from ex-premier Silvio Berlusconis centre-right Forza Italia party. Italians are on the side of Salvini for trying to stop illegal immigration, Sen. Daniela Santanche said. A tax fraud case cost Berlusconi his own Senate seat once, and the media mogul has contended that the left-leaning magistrates use their powers to try to ruin careers of conservative politicians. In the debate, another opposition senator, Emma Bonino, from the tiny More Europe party, mocked Salvinis arguments that he was protecting Italians from danger. Was Italy at risk of being invaded by an Italian military ship? Was state security threatened by Italian sailors and by shipwrecked foreigners who were asking to disembark? Bonino said. (Photo : Screengrab from Youtube (MBCdocumentary)) (Photo : Screengrab from Youtube (MBCdocumentary)) This is not a Korean drama with a tragic ending, but this video is truly heart-wrenching! This documentary by MBC, shows the reunion of a mom named Jang Ji-sung, and a virtual recreation of her daughter Nayeon. Aired in a TV documentary in South Korea on Feb. 6, an unsettling reunion of a mother named Jang Ji-Sung, and a daughter was captured on video. The Virtual Reality recreation of the daughter Nayeon on VR was made just for that single episode, and viewers are left with mixed feelings about seeing this happen. The production of Nayeon, the deceased daughter of Jang Ji-Sung Aju Business Daily released a statement saying that the production of this particular virtual reality took everyone working on the project about eight months to build. This also included the development and audio engineering of her voice into reality. The whole documentary took about 10 minutes long, but it is already enough for viewers to feel strong emotions about this specific event. There was a specific scene that really captured the hearts of viewers, and this was the birthday backdrop where the VR circulated around Nayeon's birthday. Middle East Broadcasting Company's contribution to this event It was the Middle East Broadcasting Company which first shared this video to the world. The video of Jang Ji-Sung meeting the virtual construction of her daughter Nayeon took the world by shock because of how emotionally full this video was. Peaking with overflowing emotions, the video made viewers feel mixed emotions, maybe positive or negative. The gravity of the video What really struck the hearts of people is Jang's reaction to the VR of Nayeon. Breaking down in tears and hesitant to even interact, Jang was overwhelmed with emotion by seeing a spitting image of her daughter in VR. Clearly, at first, Jang was hesitant and shocked, but throughout the video, she was painfully able to ease in and even interact with the VR Nayeon. Read Also: Google Ends Daydream VR Experiment Jang's family was there when the scene unfolded, and they were witnesses to the authenticity of the whole scene. Watching from a distance, they shared tears as they saw Jang break down but slowly embraced the reflection of her daughter in VR. The possibility for future VR An article by Futurism gave their comments on the documentary saying that this could even become a norm. People talking to the deceased could become a whole different industry as there are already a couple of startups that are focusing on creating their very own versions of Nayeon, which is an avatar of the deceased. This also includes chatbots where the algorithm of the conversation is programmed to act like the deceased it is patterned on. Read Also: Top 5 Best VR And AR Companies In 2019 The process of creating this VR Gathering the necessary data on the person is no easy task. There are pictures, videos, and audio clips to be compiled just to get enough data to virtually mimic the deceased while the use of machine-learning algorithms creates the personality of the avatar. This can be a very complicated process because the right algorithms have to be applied, and the right data has to be given just so that programmers and developers can have a glimpse of the deceased. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi, Feb 12 : A day after Aam Aadmi Party got a resounding victory in Delhi elections, party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday called on Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at the Raj Niwas here, ahead of government formation. The meeting was part of the procedure of government formation. After meeting Baijal, Kejriwal returned to his residence where he will hold another meeting with the newly elected Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. The legislators have been coming to his residence since morning. They will elect him as the leader of the legislature party, following which he will stake claim to form the government. The President appoints the Chief Minister and his Cabinet in Delhi. According to the party, Kejriwal's swearing-in as the Delhi Chief Minister for the third time will take place on February 16 at the historic Ramlila Maidan. MLAs elect, including Gopal Rai, Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Amantullah Khan and close to 30-40 others have been here for the meeting, while others are on the way. The MLAs are allowed to bring their spouse for the meeting at Kejriwal's residence. Senior party leader Sanjay Singh has also reached Kejriwal's residence for the meeting. Of the 70 assembly seats in Delhi, AAP has won on 62 seats while eight went to its nearest rival, the BJP. Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bennet starts off his day with a stop at a polling place at Webster School on February 11, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Sen. Michael Bennet dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential race as results started rolling in from the New Hampshire primary Tuesday. Bennet thanked his supporters in a tweet before giving remarks Tuesday night, after NBC News projected that the top three in the New Hampshire primary would be Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. TWEET Bennet, who has represented Colorado since 2009, failed to gain traction in the race, topping out at 1% support in most recent polls. His fundraising also lagged well behind most of his rivals in the crowded field. He participated in the June and July Democratic debates, but failed to make the cut for every debate after. In the Iowa caucuses, the first 2020 primary contest, Bennet failed to register, receiving 0% of votes and no state delegates, NBC News reported. Shortly before he declared his presidential bid in May 2019, Bennet was diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to CNN. He had surgery soon after and had recovered by the time he joined the race. When jumping into the primary, Bennet touted his victories in tough races in Colorado, considered a swing state. In his campaign announcement, Bennet focused on expanding health care access with a public health insurance option, implementing a tax cut for families and reforming the political system, from lobbying to campaign finance laws. The moderate Democrat pushed back against proposals from some of his more progressive rivals, like the "Medicare for All" and tuition-free public college plans championed by Sens. Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) "I'm not going to say there's a simple solution to a problem if I don't believe there is one," he said in the video launching his candidacy. "You can't fix a broken Washington if you don't level with the American people." Hotels in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, recorded significant growth in demand and occupancy in January, said a report from STR, a global marketplace insights provider for the hospitality sector. Based on daily data from the month, Jeddah hotels posted a 36.4 per cent increase in demand and a 31.3 per cent rise in occupancy to 63.7 per cent. However, average daily rate (ADR) dipped 8.9 per cent to SR601.01 ($159.9) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) climbed up 19.6 per cent to SAR382.57 ($101.8). Supply for the month of January also rose by 3.9 per cent. STR analysts attribute the year-over-year spike in demand to the mid-year school break (January 2-18), which was celebrated in December during the last academic year. - TradeArabia News Service In Wisconsin, about half of the assisted living providers are adult family homes, but they offer only about 1 in 7 of all assisted living beds. In many states, these small homes are an option that often slips under the radar. Residential care homes can provide the same basic services as large assisted living centers. Staffers help with personal needs, including bathing, dressing, eating, medication management, toileting and emergencies. Some states allow for various levels of care in the homes, from independent living to high levels of assisted living, so make sure you know what's included. Most offer transportation to medical appointments or will contract with a third party. What you won't find is the same level of care as in a nursing home. Typically, there are five to 10 people (but maybe as many as 20, depending on state regulations), who live in a home, which is licensed in every state using the same requirements as any other assisted living community. Staff who directly care for residents must have mandated annual training. Residents must have care plans. Employees are required to keep records on them, too. Each state has its own standards. Some homes allow pets or have staff that can speak multiple languages. Some focus on memory care, specific disease management or general care. Someone is on site 24/7. Private individuals usually own group homes. Staff may live in the house, and so may their families. That said, a company also may own several houses. Residential care homes often cheaper The cost for services at board and care homes across the country hasn't been precisely calculated. A 2019 cost-of-care survey from Genworth, a Richmond, Virginia-based company that sells long-term care insurance, puts the national median charge for assisted living at nearly $50,000 a year and the national median charge for skilled nursing at $90,000 to more than $100,000 annually, depending on whether a resident is living in a double or single room. The report does not include the costs at group homes, but the fees are less than traditional assisted living or skilled nursing. In California, where the high cost of living was exceeded only in Hawaii and the District of Columbia, the average yearly costs in a six-bed home is $36,000 for a shared bedroom and $48,000 to $84,000 for a private room. Genworth estimates the California care costs at $54,000 for an assisted living facility and $105,000 to almost $128,000 for a nursing home. The local market determines prices, but expect to pay less than a larger assisted living community, in part because of fewer amenities such as on-site beauty salons or art classes. Expect homes that specialize in dementia care to be on the higher side because of additional safeguards to keep residents from wandering or engaging in other behavior that could put them in danger. Monthly charges are either paid out of your own pocket, through long-term care insurance, or if the home has a Medicaid contract, via government financing. Veterans and their surviving spouses may qualify for a benefit called Aid and Attendance. Advantages of group home living The lower price, higher staff-to-client ratio for example, Florida limits its adult family care homes to five residents at most and family-oriented setting distinguish this option. Other pluses: More personalized care and continuity of care is possible, unlike in larger assisted living communities. With fewer older adults, staff can more easily detect physical and emotional changes in residents. The staff-to-client ratio is often higher than in large assisted living complexes or skilled nursing. Meals are home cooked and can be customized. The homelike, smaller environment may be a better fit for those with dementia and could help any resident form friendships with fellow residents and staff more easily. The presence of other residents encourages socialization, and can lessen loneliness and enhance well-being. A smaller monthly fee generally is the result of fewer amenities. The disadvantages of small scale Living in a small house with just a few people can feel homey or not serve a resident's needs. The downside to this arrangement: Fewer opportunities to discover compatible friends, participate in activities or use amenities (than can be found in a larger assisted living community) can make for less stimulation. Potentially less privacy. Residents have a room and shared spaces rather than their own apartments. No physician and rarely an on-site nurse. However, a home sometimes contracts with a medical professional or practice to make house visits. If complex medical tasks are necessary, the resident must bring in help or move to a nursing home. What to ask when visiting To explore residential care homes for your loved one or yourself, you need to visit and ask a lot of questions. This is a major move, so you'll want to look at places more than once and at different times of the day. Before you go further, though, make sure state officials have licensed the home. Depending on where you live, that might be a department of elder services, health or social services. While you're at it, see if the department's website has any formal complaints against the group home. Taking the pulse of the home is a must. Does it seem relaxed? Are residents up and about? Are staff warm, welcoming and receptive, or do they seem rushed and indifferent? See how they interact with residents. If you can, ask residents about their experiences and definitely talk to their families. Find out what they like or don't not like about the place. Are their needs being met? Is the staff responsive? Many of the questions you'll want answered are the same ones that should be on your checklist for larger assisted living facilities. This is also what you need to know: 1. Ownership. Who are the owners? What is their background, and how long have they been in business? Do they live on-site, and how involved are they? 2. Staffing. Is a staff member on duty all the time? What is the staff-to-resident ratio? What are the qualifications of the staff? 3. Cleanliness and safety. How clean are the residents rooms and the common spaces? Are private and shared rooms available? Where are the bathrooms? Do you see handrails and call buttons? If not, how do residents reach staff? Ask to see an inspection report and complaints against the home; officials are required to show you. 4. Costs. What does the monthly fee include? Three meals a day, snacks, housekeeping, laundry, cable TV and internet access? Does the home have more than one pricing model? 5. Health care. How do residents access medical services? Is transportation available to a doctor or other health care providers and is that included in the monthly fee? What happens when a resident is hospitalized? Does the home have a group of doctors or nurses who make house calls? If your loved one needs more assistance (perhaps for incontinence) than is offered, what is the next step? Can you bring help in? 6. Other residents. How many others live in the home, and what are their needs? How independent or impaired are they? If someone has dementia, what safety measures are in place, and how does staff care for the resident? 7. Social interaction. What happens on a typical day? Does staff have any organized activities? What are the rules? Most important: Can your loved ones see themselves living there? Does this place feel like the right fit? If you're not sure, take a look at other group homes. One of them is likely to feel the most like home. Sally Abrahms, a longtime AARP contributor, cared for both her parents and in-laws. She writes on aging and boomers for national publications. Yet another tech company has pulled out of an upcoming major conference amid fears about coronavirus. Nokia as well as its telecoms business HMD Global said the concern over the spread of the disease was too high for it to participate. Mobile World Congress 2020 has come under threat in recent days as many of the world's biggest tech companies have pulled out of the event. Facebook, Amazon, LG, Sony, TCL and other companies have announced they will no longer take part. "MWC Barcelona has always been a key event in our annual calendar and we were very excited to showcase our new products to our partners, customers, media and fans. However, the health and safety of our employees, customers, and stakeholders is our highest priority," HMD Global said. 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 "We believe the prudent decision is to cancel our participation at Mobile World Congress and want to express our sincere thanks to the GSMA and other authorities for their tireless efforts to address the challenges resulting from Covid-19, and they have our full support as they move forward. "We will update the media, our partners and customers on a new timeline for our product announcements." Recommended Coronavirus fears leads tech firms to pull out of major MWC conference MWC is due to take place at the end of the month, but almost all of the largest attendees have announced they will pull out because of fears over coronavirus. Organisers the GSMA has insisted the event will go ahead, though rumours have suggested it could give a further announcement at the end of this week. GSMA has introduced a number of new safety measures to prevent the spread of the strain of coronavirus, officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation. MWC has banned attendees from the Chinese province of Hubei - where the strain Covid-19 is thought to have originated - and anyone who has recently been to China will be asked to confirm that they have been outside the country for 14 days prior to the show. Organisers have also confirmed that temperature screening will be in place and it is encouraging those attending to adopt a "no-handshake" policy. As of Wednesday morning, The total number of cases of Covid-19 was around 45,000 globally, with the number of deaths in mainland China reaching 1,113. Additional reporting by agencies Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro made a surprise visit at The Send, a worship event this weekend in Sao Paulo, saying that he believes in Jesus as his savior and that Brazil belongs to God. Bolsonaro hasnt been quiet about his faith in recent years. According to CBN, hes considered himself a God-fearing man. His faith was strengthened during his presidential campaign and after he was nearly killed in an assassination attempt. Doctors who attended to me said that for every 100 stabbings of the kind I endured, only one person survives. So, I am a survivor and owe my life to God. It was His will for me to live, he said, according to Church Leaders. As the 38th Brazilian president, Bolsonaro campaigned to make Judeo-Christian principles a high value in his administration. Known as the Trump of the Tropics, his motto has been Brazil above everything, God above all. His appearance at the Send conference livened the 140,000-person crowd. Im utterly astounded by what God is doing in Brazil, tweeted one of the speakers, Christine Caine. In 31 years of ministry, Ive never gone to preach the Gospel from one 65,000 seat arena straight to a 55,000 seat arena in the same day. It was surreal. God is on the move. Reports rolled in after the weekend of thousands of people becoming believers in Jesus, enrolling to bring revival to their schools, and to give help for orphans. Almost 200 speakers preached from the stage, including Daniel Kolenda, Francis Chan and YWAM founder Loren Cunningham. Get ready for the greatest harvest of all times! The Send said on their Facebook page. What is happening today in Brazil impacts all the nations of the world. The hungriest nation is now committing to the Great Commission in a new level of obedience. Christine Caine left the country in awe. My biggest takeaway from being in Brazil is that I dont believe God enough, she said. I dream too small. I expect too little. I rationalize too much. Ive decided to press in for more. Dig deeper for more. Pray fervently for more. My faith has been stretched and I love it!!! Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Buda Mendes/Staff 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. Ace fashion designer and environment rights activist Wendell Rodricks, passed away at his home in Goa on Wednesday evening, family members have confirmed. Rodricks, who made a name for himself in the fashion industry quickly rising up the ranks in India and abroad, was also awarded the Padma Shri. Rodricks who was ailing for some time, had handed over his designing label to his protege Schulen Fernandes a few years ago. He chose to focus more on his private projects including his museum and writing books. His funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon. Deeply shocked to hear about the passing away of acclaimed fashion designer Padmashri Wendell Rodricks. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat tweeted. Wendell was outspoken on several issues, such as the rights for the LGBTQ community. As recently as 2018 had called on leaders of the Catholic church to help the LGBTQ community, their families and friends and bring them closer to the Church. I will be the public face of this endeavour to establish a hotline to assist LGBTQ and family, friends who need guidance and support to keep the faith. I was moved to tears when Cardinal Gracias not only gave his total approval and support but also agreed to advise his clergy to be more compassionate and less condemning of the LGBTQ community, Rodricks had said after meeting Cardinal Oswald Gracias in Mumbai. Rodricks was among the first Indians to come out openly as gay in the early 2000s. Rodricks also championed several environmental causes including that in his own village of Colvale where he spent the last few years of his life. Rodricks, who was on course to launch a museum at his ancestral house, had barely a week ago tweeted images of finishing touches being done on the Moda Goa Museum that was due to be inaugurated. Rodricks has authored several books on fashion with specific focus on the historical fashion including The Green Room, Moda Goa and Poskem a novel based on the lives of Poskem or adopted children in Goa who were often adopted by rich aristocratic families only to serve around the household. The funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon. South Africa: Live in the image of Madiba President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africans must strive to emulate the values and principles of the late former statesman, Nelson Mandela, in order to fulfil the vision he had of a free and prosperous South Africa. The President said this when he addressed hundreds of people, most of them the youth, at the Grand Parade in front of Cape Town City Hall, as the country commemorated the 30th anniversary of the release of Mandela from Victor Verster Prison (which is now known as Drakenstein Correctional Centre). On 11 February 1991, President Ramaphosa was part of the delegation of leaders, who went to receive President Mandela from the gates of the prison. The struggle icon had spent 27 years in prison after being incarcerated alongside many others as a younger man in the 1960s by the apartheid government. As we remember Madiba on this day 30 years after his release let us all, each one of us, try to live in his image. Let us try to ensure that the vision he had is fulfilled, as we all work together to achieve the South we want -- a South Africa that is democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous, so that the prosperity can be shared among all of us, he said. Mandelas release an emotional moment When Mandela walked out of the gates of the Victor Verster Prison, hand-in-hand with his late wife Winne Madikizela-Mandela, to hundreds of supporters and onlookers, President Ramaphosa said that was an emotional moment that is not easy to describe. The historic moment was broadcast live by the international media. President Ramaphosa, who was part of the welcoming committee at the time, helped Mandela into a convoy from Paarl to the Cape Town City Hall reception. The committee had, President Ramaphosa said, asked that the army and the police from the apartheid government not be part of Mandelas convoy because they did not trust them and feared that they might harm the late Statesman. President Ramaphosa quipped that amid the hullabaloo and the complicated convoy, they all lost the car that Mandela was being driven in for hours. When they eventually found him, Mandela went on to deliver a historic speech to supporters, who had waited for years to hear his voice once again ever since his arrest in KwaZulu-Natal. Despite doomsayers stating that South Africas economy and state of affairs could not be pulled out of the hole it was in, given the damage done by the apartheid government, South Africa successfully navigated its way through the CODESA negotiations, formed a democratic government and turned the economy around under the leadership of Mandela, who became affectionately known as Madiba (his clan name). Need to intensify efforts to make good on Madibas promise The President said, meanwhile, that the country is faced with numerous challenges and that to tackle them, it is important for the country to make good on Madibas promise. Today we are at a decisive moment as well as a nation. We know that our country is facing many challenges. We too can no longer wait. The state of the economy, the high levels of unemployment, the social ills wreaking havoc in our communities, the shameful killing of women and girls, the stench of corruption and abuse of public funds have led to a trust deficit with our citizens, and this threatens to reverse our democratic gains. [On Thursday], I will be delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament to report back to the people of South Africa on what we have done and what we have not succeeded in doing over the past year. We will also talk frankly about how we should chart a new course for the year ahead. Millions of our people continue to live in poverty. Millions of our people, especially young people, are unemployed. The divide between the haves and the have nots continues to widen. We must intensify our efforts to make good on the promise made by Madiba and his generation of leaders to bring a better life to our people, especially young people, who have come out in their numbers today and who, despite our many challenges, see this country as a place of promise and opportunity. Madiba advocated the empowerment of young people and the empowerment of women in all respects, and their role in decision-making, not only in his party but in government, society and business, said President Ramaphosa. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Sharmistha Mukherjee, the leader of the Delhi Congress Womens Wing, lost her calm when P Chidambaram took to Twitter on February 11 to laud AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022 P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 11, 2020 With due respect sir, just want to know- has @INCIndia outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if yes, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop! https://t.co/Zw3KJIfsRx Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) February 11, 2020 The former union minister wrote:Pointing out how Chidambaram mentioned nothing about his own partys abysmal performance, she lashed out at him on social media and wrote: Her angst stems from the fact that the grand old party of India, which had helmed the affairs in the national capital for 15 long years before Kejriwal took over, won no seat and lost as many as 63 deposits. This is the second time the Congress fell with a thud after Assembly elections, not winning in even one of the 70 seats in Delhi. Chidambaram was outside Parliament on February 11 after the results were declared. The veteran Congress leader told the media: Those who fought the election will learn lessons and build the party. We r again decimated in Delhi.Enuf of introspection, time 4 action now. Inordinate delay in decision making at the top, lack of strategy & unity at state level, demotivated workers, no grassroots connect-all r factors.Being part of d system, I too take my share of responsibility Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) February 11, 2020 BJP playing divisive politics,Kejriwal playing smart politics& what r we doing? Can we honestly say that weve done all 2 put our house in order? We r busy capturing Congress whereas other parties are capturing India. If we r 2 survive, time 2 come out of exalted echo chambers! Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) February 11, 2020 Mukherjee, in a series of tweets, admonished the partys lackadaisical approach towards campaigning and urged members to descend from their exalted chambers and reach out to people. She also reminded Congress leaders that only basking in past glory would not ensure the partys survival. BOSTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legislation drafted by registered nurses on the front lines of the state's behavioral health crisis have received favorable reports from the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, moving forward solutions aimed at specific challenges while at the same time momentum on Beacon Hill appears to have shifted toward making substantial mental health care improvements to support patients and families. Nurse-backed legislation is advancing as Gov. Charlie Baker is advocating for a 30% increase in investment in primary and behavioral healthcare and Senate President Karen Spilka has introduced a bill to improve mental health parity by requiring any hospital with an emergency department to "have the capacity to evaluate and stabilize a person admitted with a mental health presentation at all times," among other provisions. "Ensuring our patients and their families receive the kind of high-quality and safe mental health care they need to successfully recover is a responsibility we must fulfill," said Donna Kelly Williams, RN and President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. "We know patients in acute crisis need specialized treatment programs, and that our emergency departments are overflowing with patients who deserve better care. Our legislation will help solve these problems and we look forward to our elected officials comprehensively tackling our state's behavioral health crisis." At the same time elected officials are signaling investment in mental health, hospital executives are eliminating or proposing to close essential services. Baystate Health has proposed shuttering inpatient mental health services in Greenfield, Westfield and Palmer, and Tenet Healthcare recently said it would close its specialized psychiatric unit within the system's Natick emergency department as part of a larger elimination of inpatient services. The two MNA mental health bills that have advanced favorably are: An Act Relative to Creating Intensive Stabilization and Treatment Units within the Department of Mental Health (S. 1163/H. 1719), sponsored by Sen. Marc Pacheco , D- Taunton and Rep. Patricia Haddad , D- Somerset , creates male and female Intensive Stabilization and Treatment units within the state Department of Mental Health. Patients exhibiting extreme aggression, highly assaultive behavior and/or self-destructive behavior would be admitted to a specialized unit. These units would be highly secure, physically separate, structured environments with specially trained staff. Healthcare professionals, patients and families are experiencing increasingly dangerous conditions at facilities like Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, where a WCVB Channel 5 investigation last year revealed patient deaths, illicit drugs and alarming rates of assaults. The reports paint a grim picture of the conditions at WRCH, including patient overdoses, physical and sexual assaults, and hundreds of injuries to staff. As of May 2019, there had been at least 381 assaults reported at the facility, according to MNA records. State records obtained by WCVB showed 96 assaults with injuries requiring medical attention over the past three years. "As healthcare professionals on the front lines, we see the danger posed to our patients, co-workers, and ourselves by individuals who may become violent and we must take proactive steps to address these dangers," said Karen Coughlin RN, member of the MNA Board of Directors and former longtime Department of Mental Health RN. "While we believe individuals with severe behavioral health needs deserve the best care possible, the fact remains that there are patients who, despite the best efforts of treatment, pose a risk due to violent behaviors. These units will be designed and staffed to provide the level of care and attention to this complex population requires to ensure their safety and the safety of staff providing care." An Act Relative to Creating a Pilot Program to Transfer High Acuity Behavioral Health and Dual Diagnosis Patients Away from Crowded Emergency Departments (S. 1164/H. 1720), sponsored by Sen. Marc Pacheco , D- Taunton , and Rep. Patricia Haddad , D- Somerset , creates a pilot program at Taunton State Hospital to transfer medically stable, high acuity behavioral health and dual diagnosis patients away from overcrowded emergency departments until such time that an appropriate placement is found to meet the patient's needs. For years, an influx of behavioral health patients into Massachusetts emergency departments has been clashing against an ED system in which patients are already waiting too long for care. A study conducted by the Mass. legislature's Mental Health Advisory Commission found that as many as 40,000 patients a year are boarding in our state's hospital emergency departments, waiting for hours or even several days for appropriate beds and services. Research by registered nurse and Boston College associate professor Judith Shindul-Rothschild also demonstrates the existing ED wait-time problem in Massachusetts hospitals. For example, her research showed that patients at UMass Marlborough Hospital on average waited more than two hours to be evaluated in the ED. MassNurses.orgFacebook.com/MassNurses | Twitter.com/MassNursesInstagram.com/MassNurses ____________________________________________ Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association Related Links http://www.massnurses.org WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Tuesday withdrew the nomination of former U.S. attorney Jessie Liu of Washington, District of Columbia, to a high-ranking Treasury Department post after being lobbied by critics of her office's handling of cases, including ones inherited from special counsel Robert Mueller III, two people familiar with the decision said. Liu, 47, served more than two years in the politically sensitive post of top federal prosecutor in the nation's capital and was Trump's first nominee to the position, serving from September 2017 until Jan. 31. In the job, Liu oversaw late-stage courtproceedings for top Trump aides and Mueller defendants, including deputy 2016 presidential campaign manager Rick Gates and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, as well as the November trial and conviction of longtime Trump political adviser Roger Stone. However, over the past two weeks, coinciding with Liu's departure, the U.S. attorney's office has changed its sentencing stances in both Flynn and Stone's cases, with prosecutors moving from stiffer sentencing recommendations to more lenient ones. Emerging accounts of the circumstances surrounding Liu's departure from the administration cast those decisions in a fresh light. The White House's move to drop Liu was disclosed Tuesday after all four career U.S. prosecutors handling the case against Stone withdrew from the legal proceedings when the Justice Department undercut their sentencing recommendation for Trump's longtime friend and confidant. Prosecutors on Monday said Stone should serve 7 to 9 years in prison. Trump has been lobbied extensively against Liu by people who do not like her handling of the District office - particularly as it relates to the Mueller probe, an administration official said. The decision to withdraw the nomination was made Tuesday afternoon, the official said. A second administration official confirmed Liu was notified at that time. A third person familiar with the situation - who like the others spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly- said Liu's nomination was opposed vocally by Barbara Ledeen, a conservative operative and Republican Senate staffer unhappy about Flynn's prosecution for lying to the FBI. Ledeen's husband co-authored a book with Flynn and she was named in the Mueller report as a person Flynn contacted during Trump's 2016 campaign to obtain Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's private emails. Speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the situation, the person said Ledeen had made little headway before the recent storm over Stone's sentencing, calling it a turning point. Treasury officials believe Trump himself made the call to withdraw Liu because her confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee was set for Thursday, and Trump was concerned she would be asked about the case, the person said. Ironically, Liu had no role in Stone's sentencing recommendation, having left office before it was sent to supervisors for approval, several people said. Ledeen, a Senate Judiciary Committee staffer since 2000, said in an interview, "I'm a Senate staffer. I can't lobby either the Senate or the White House. I'm kind of amazed my name came up in this." She added, "Somebody likes to throw around my name." Liu did not respond to requests for comment. Trump's reversal was striking because Liu, who had served on his presidential transition team and was a Treasury appointee early in his term, was personally vetted by then-White House counsel Donald McGahn, and met with Trump in the White House before he first named her U.S. attorney. Late last year, the White House announced plans to promote her, saying on Dec. 10 that Trump intended to nominate her to undersecretary of the Treasury Department for terrorism and financial crimes, to lead the administration's use of economic sanctions as a national security and foreign policy tool. Liu's nomination was sent to the Senate on Jan. 6, and she told the U.S. attorney's office of plans to leave at the end of the month, people in the office said. Liu's departure at that time was seen as somewhat unusual because she had not yet received Senate confirmation for her new job before being replaced on an interim basis by Timothy Shea, a former counselor to Attorney General William Barr. That same period saw a shift by Flynn's prosecutors. On Jan. 6, prosecutors recommended that Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., be sentenced to zero to six months in prison, emphasizing that defendants in similar cases served time behind bars. But in a follow-up filing Jan. 29, they made clear they agreed with Flynn "that a sentence of probation is a reasonable," citing cases where defendants were spared incarceration. The filing came as Flynn continues his effort to withdraw his guilty plea, alleging government misconduct. Prosecutors did not explain in their filing the reason for the shift. - - - The Washington Post's Keith L. Alexander contributed to this report. Volunteer accompanying AAP MLA Naresh Yadav shot dead in Delhi India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 12: An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteer accompanying his party MLA, Naresh Yadav has been shot dead. The volunteer was killed after an unidentified miscreant fired shots at AAP MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy on Tuesday night. The deceased has been identified as Ashok Mann. Another person who sustained injuries has been rushed to hospital. Both the volunteers were accompanying Yadav while they were on their way back from a temple. An FIR has been registered at the Kishangarh police station. Delhi Legislative Assembly to have 16 first-time MLAs, all from Kejriwal's AAP Yadav said that four rounds had been fired. The incident is unfortunate and I do not know the reason behind the attack. It happened all of a sudden, Yadav also said. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 "Shots fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," AAP said in a tweet. Toy Soldiers 2: Finest Hour Release Date, Details February 11, 2020 at 3:28pm By Jason Stettner Signal Studios has announced that Toy Soldiers 2: Finest Hour is set for a 2021 release date with the note of it being an action strategy title. It will be available on Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch and PC platforms. The general description is Saving the free world from from Axis domination isn't all franks and beans in TS2: Finest Hour. Survive Dunkirk, seige the beaches of Normandy, battle the Imperial Navy in the Pacific and beware the dreaded arsenal of secret Nazi weapons! The belligerents include; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Empire of Japan, United States of America, the British Empire and the German Reich. Another noted bit of details Keep moving soldiers! Destroy the enemy Toybox with an arsenal of new radial menu battlefield options such as equipable infantry squads and territory grabbing mobile units. Be careful not to let your defenses down. Youre going to be able to command from above, or dive right into the combat below. Direct the chaos of battle. Deploy, command or take direct control of any unit on the battlefield. Physics based obstacles, deformable terrain, fluid placement, dynamic pathing and responsive AI. There will be new modes, where you can create and deploy your own scenarios in turn-based creator mode. Everything we loved about Toy Soldiers and Toy Soldiers Cold War is back and better than ever in TS2 including improved mp, co-op, overcharge, deadly barrages, competitive mini-games, crazy new survival modes, and much more. Check out more game hubs for additional coverage, or read our review of their most recent entry below. Read our Warchest Review View our Game Hubs How Visionary CEOs Compete for the Best Talent I wrote this book for the executive who has significant power to change the way recruiting is done at their companybut until now has lacked the right strategy and tools. HR technology leader, Jerome Ternynck, announced to 1,200 talent acquisition executives at his companys annual conference the release of Hiring Success: How Visionary CEOs Compete for the Best Talent. This is the first book by Ternynck, a pioneer in applicant tracking systems with 30 years in the industry and three successful exits. He is currently the Founder & CEO of SmartRecruiters, the worlds most modern and enterprise-grade recruiting platform. Ternynck is on a mission to connect people to jobs at scale, by solving search friction between job seekers and businesses around the globe. After all, the ability to hire exceptional talent is the true sustainable differentiator for any business to compete and thrive. Rapidly-changing market conditions make this an interesting challenge to overcome: Specialized jobs are creating a skills gap, where a Korn Ferry report estimates that demand for skilled workers will surpass supply by over 85 million people in 2030; remote work is trending, because gone are the days when companies hire exclusively from the local talent pool; and tenure is dropping after hires are made, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that workers remain at each job for an average of 4.5 years. For younger workers, its half that. Is it surprising, then, that a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that 77% of CEOs see hiring for key skills as one of the biggest threats to their business? I wrote this book for the executive who has significant power to change the way recruiting is done at their companybut until now has lacked the right strategy and tools, said Jerome Ternynck. Recruiting must be treated as an investment rather than a cost center to drive meaningful change. This book shows CEOs how to achieve hiring success through stories and actionable examples of other reputable businesses that Ternynck has worked with, including many on the Fortune 500. As hiring models evolved from staffing, to recruiting, talent acquisition, and now hiring success to support the fourth industrial revolution, CEOs are more ready than ever to embrace the importance of hiring. Hiring Success enables CEOs to strategize, take action, and win in todays competitive talent market. Hiring Success is now available for purchase on Amazon. About the Author Jerome Ternynck is on a mission to connect people to jobs at scale and remove friction in the labor market. He is an entrepreneur with his heart in recruiting and soul in technology who currently serves as founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based SmartRecruiters, a global talent acquisition suite rated as the most strategic provider by industry analysts. Jerome has thirty years of experience building award-winning enterprise recruiting software, during which time he pioneered applicant tracking systems and achieved three successful exits. He is recognized as a thought leader in the industry and has been named a top HRTech influencer year after year. Start a conversation with Jerome on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn. About SmartRecruiters As a global leader in enterprise recruiting software, SmartRecruiters offers a cloud-based Talent Acquisition Suite that allows businesses to attract, select, and hire the best people. More than 4,000 companies worldwide rely on SmartRecruiters to drive hiring success, including brands like Visa, Bosch, Skechers, and Avery Dennison. Built on a modern cloud platform, SmartRecruiters offers full functionality for recruitment marketing and collaborative hiring, with an open marketplace of 600+ connected solutions. For more information on how we connect people to jobs at scale, follow us at @SmartRecruiters, on LinkedIn or on https://www.smartrecruiters.com. A young woman with a severe nut allergy claims she almost died after drinking a coffee from McDonald's which had been made with the wrong milk. Savannah, 24, had three sips of her latte when her throat began to close up while she was driving home from McDonald's in Dapto, in Wollongong, NSW, on Tuesday morning. Savannah was going into anaphylactic shock after she claims she had been given a coffee made with almond milk by mistake - which McDonald's denies. As the young woman frantically gasped for air, she lost control of her car and smashed into a letterbox. 'My life flashed before my eyes, everything went black, I was just so desperate to breathe.' Luckily, Savannah EpiPen with her and she was able to inject herself with the adrenaline before calling her sister for help who was nearby. She was then rushed to hospital where she was given more adrenaline to open up her airways. Savannah said McDonald's staff need to be educated to avoid similar incidents happening again Savannah told Daily Mail Australia she believes the McDonald's staff were careless and put her life at risk. She said she had made staff aware of her allergy when she ordered the coffee and repeatedly checked to ensure she was given full-cream milk. She claimed her receipt even had 'full cream milk' on it. 'People just think you're being fussy and maybe don't like the taste but your throat can close up and you can die,' she said. 'I tasted it and I thought ''this doesn't taste right'', but I thought maybe they'd just put heaps of sugar in it. 'Lucky I wasn't took far from home when the reaction started coming on - I was off the highway and in a quiet street - otherwise it could've been much worse.' She said staff need to be educated to avoid similar incidents happening again. 'It's more serious than these people realise. 'The nurses said if I had come in five minutes later I wouldn't be here.' A McDonald's Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia in a statement 'the safety and quality of the food and drinks we serve to our customers is of the utmost priority to us'. 'We have thoroughly investigated this situation, including reviewing CCTV, and can confirm that the customer was provided with the small iced latte ordered. 'From the CCTV footage, we've confirmed the almond milk carton was not touched or poured while the customer's order was being made. 'Also, there were no almond milk orders at the restaurant during the time the customer's order was being prepared and served.' India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, but still the country doesn't release how big the problem is. The reason: India doesn't have any standard official method for reporting air pollution, leading to missing data or huge data gaps. Globally, there are established official methods to address data gaps to construct a trend for compliance reporting. However, India has no such standard operating procedure in place to report air quality. These findings are a part of the Centre for Science and Environment's report 'Breathing Space: How to Track and Report Air Pollution Under the National Clean Air Programme" released at the 2020 Anil Agarwal Dialogue and Annual Media Conclave held in Nimli, near Alwar. The problem is not just missing data but inadequate data too. The report finds that 73 per cent of the air quality monitoring stations capture poor quality data on air quality trends. The norm is set at 104 days for manual monitors in a year but the available data from these stations is inadequate. After a year of completion of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), a total of 122 cities were asked to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30 per cent by 2024 from 2017 levels -- they are expected to achieve an annual reduction of at least 6 per cent per year to meet the target. "The cities are expected to immediately begin reporting on their annual progress. But for that, they must know the methods and standard operating procedures for such reporting. How will cities know if their pollution levels are rising or declining, asks Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE. Roychowdhury adds: "The report reviews global methods and demonstrates their application to Delhi's real-time data to assess the changes in air quality, and draws lessons for other cities." Also read: E-cigarettes, odd-even days unlikely to tackle pollution issues, says expert Currently, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) releases annual average of stations and spatial average for cities based on analysis of only manual monitors. The real-time data is available on its portal, but it is not yet used for legal reporting. The report says as the monitoring network expands for both manual and real-time monitors, cities need to know what kind of monitors should be used, how data should be averaged and what geography they should represent. While air quality monitoring has begun to expand under the NCAP to address the data deficit, without a methodical system for reporting, the data will remain unusable and cannot drive change in cities. "Given the limitation of missing data, India requires methods for addressing data gaps, as other governments do, to meet the legal requirement of air quality trend reporting and compliance. India has not adopted such methods yet," says Roychowdhury. The report, after analyzing methodologies for compliance and trend analysis across geographies such as US, Europe, Canada and Australia, found the US method was most applicable to address data gaps in India. It shows how such methods need to be adopted and how their application to Delhi's real-time data can show the change in air quality. Also read: Delhi pollution: Govt steps up purchase of air purifiers for ministries Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas says he needs to cut $4 billion in spending from the states budget over the next four years to keep it in surplus amid trying times. Mr Pallas new savings target doubles the $2 billion in spending he planned to slash, mostly through forcing the public service to find efficiencies, when he brought down the budget nine months ago. Treasurer Tim Pallas wants to slash $4b from the state budget. Credit:Jason South The Treasurer told Neil Mitchell on 3AW on Wednesday the bushfires and the coronavirus crisis were expected to hit the Victorian economy hard and that projections of consumer activity and tax revenues were already being downgraded by the Department of Treasury and Finance. A recovery in stamp duty revenue on the back of a stronger property market was expected to be offset by a hit to the state's share of GST revenue from the federal government, whose own budget position is facing the same headwinds. Two letter bombs exploded at two separate locations in the Netherlands but nobody was hurt in the incidents, which police blamed on an extortionist who had demanded payment in bitcoin. Both explosions were minor, one at an ABN Amro Bank's mail-sorting office in Amsterdam and the other 225 km in a mailroom of Japanese electronics group Ricoh, police said. No arrests have been made. Dutch police say the motive for letter bombs was extortion, ANP News reported. The police believe the most likely scenario is that the letter discovered on Wednesday was one of several letter bombs sent to locations across the country, police said in a statement, referring to the Amsterdam incident. An employee in the Amsterdam sorting office heard a hissing sound as they were about to open a letter, city police said. The employee threw the letter away and there was a small explosion, the police said. Payment of bitcoins is required in the extortion letter, they added. Bitcoin is a digital currency whose payments can be difficult to trace. ABNs chief executive, Kees Van Dijkhuizen, said he had spoken to the employee who had handled the letter at the sorting centre on the western outskirts of Amsterdam. Good news is that he is not wounded, bad news, of course, is that these things happen and that our people have to deal with it, Mr Dijkhuizen told reporters. The second explosion in the southern town of Kerkrade, on the border with Germany, was at the offices of Ricoh. Thankfully there were no injuries, but those involved are of course very shocked, Ricoh said in a statement. The blast caused some damage and the facility was closed for forensic analysis, police said. Dutch police have been investigating a spate of letter bombs since early January, which they said appeared to have been sent by the same person. The previous letter bombs were all intercepted before they could go off. Previous targets have included a hotel, a gas station, a garage, a real estate agent and a bill collection service. - Reuters LAS VEGAS, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- February 12, 2020 Quorum Information Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture: QIS) ("Quorum" or the "Corporation"), announced Q Analytics, its new advanced reporting and analysis tool for automotive dealerships. Q Analytics offers dealerships easy to understand reports and analysis for all departments with full drill-through ability to view the source data within Quorums flagship Dealership Management System (DMS), XSellerator. The cloud-based system leverages the industry leader in reporting systems, Microsofts Power BI. Users of Q Analytics can view critical measurements for their dealership or department in a customizable visual app-based layout. Q Analytics also has the capability to view data and reports from other systems used within the dealership. The system from Quorum already has reports from its Autovance desking system division, as well as reports that visualize the entire sales process, which combines data from Autovance, XSellerators embedded Sales CRM and Q Leads (Internet lead management provided through a third party partnership). Q Analytics also allows dealers with multiple locations and brands to view and aggregate data across their enterprise. Our dealership customers lead us to the creation of Q Analytics. While the reports within XSellerator and developed in Microsoft Excel (FlexReports), were very useful already, our customers asked us for better enterprise reporting and analytics to help them guide their businesses in todays competitive environment, said Dan Ichelson, XSellerators Vice President of Product and Operations. So, we turned to the most robust and widely accepted reporting engine in the market, Microsofts Power BI, and spent the past year working with our dealers to develop an interface and set of reports to cover their entire operations. Were not done, yet, however, Ichelson added, we are continuing to build more reports and add more data sources to give dealers the window into their business that they need to separate themselves from the competition. Our vision is that Q Analytics is a dealerships single enterprise reporting tool that reports across all of Quorums software products, and our partners as well. Imagine one reporting solution for all your dealerships core systems. Look for future announcements about Q Analytics extended capabilities. Quorum invites dealerships to come see Q Analytics and XSellerator at the NADA Show in Las Vegas February 15th 17th, 2020 (Booth #3292C). Schedule your appointment at www.QuorumDMS.com/nada2020 . 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 and F&I menu solution 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 http://www.QuorumInformationSystems.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, this press release includes forward-looking information relating to results of operations, plans and objectives, projected costs and business strategy. 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/687181b1-7dfb-449d-9713-e7ab4bfde8fc Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 21:12 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206427f07 1 Politics Jokowi,Bakamla,maritime-security Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has inaugurated Vice Adm. Aan Kurnia as the new chief of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), replacing Achmad Taufiqoerrochman, who has entered retirement. Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony at the State Palace on Wednesday, Jokowi said he envisioned Bakamla as the Indonesian coast guard rather than just a coordinator in efforts to secure the countrys maritime interests. We are hoping that Bakamla will be the embryo of an Indonesian coast guard, so that later on, [personnel] of other institutions could go back to their respective institutions and only Bakamla would be given the authority [in maritime security], Jokowi said. Jokowi added that he hoped Aan would be able to accelerate the process of turning Bakamla into an Indonesian coast guard entrusted with the authority to secure the countrys maritime territory. Aan said one of his immediate priorities after taking the helm of Bakamla was to coordinate with relevant authorities on maritime security, as he acknowledged that there was an issue of overlapping authority among state institutions as well as laws in maritime affairs. The former chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Academy also said that he would standardize human resources at Bakamla to achieve among its personnel comprising officials from institutions including the TNI, the National Police and the Attorney Generals Office (AGO) a common understanding with regard to laws and regulations. I would like to create some standardization, so that, when they enter Bakamla, they have knowledge of maritime laws, international laws []; all should be on the same page, said Aan. Aan also expressed his desire to see Bakamlas weaponry upgraded, as he deemed the existing systems insufficient to carry out Bakamlas mandate, although he vowed to settle the issue by intensifying coordination with other stakeholders. Stacker compiled a list of famous speeches from every U.S. president. Read on to understand what these speeches were about and how they relate to particular moments in U.S. history. This article was first published on theStacker.com According to the Miyapur police, K. Ramnaiah, 26, a native of Atmakur mandal in Kurnool district of AP, completed an engineering and came to the city looking for a job. Hyderabad: An engineering graduate from Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, who bought six mobile phones using a fake Aadhaar card and failed to pay the monthly installments, was arrested by the Miyapur police on Tuesday. According to the Miyapur police, K. Ramnaiah, 26, a native of Atmakur mandal in Kurnool district of AP, completed an engineering and came to the city looking for a job. He joined a private finance company as a sales in-charge. He worked with the company for about nine months then quit the job without notice. The company learned that the EMIs for six mobile phones worth Rs 90,000 taken during his tenure were not paid. When police visited the addresses provided when purchasing the mobiles, the details were found fake. The Miyapur police traced Ramanaiah who confessed to uploading copies of fake Aadhaar cards. He would morphed the numbers of the original cards. Operator: Welcome and thank you for standing by. At this time, I would like to inform all participants that your lines have been placed on a listen only mode until the question and answer session of todays call. Todays call is also being recorded. If anyone has any objections, you may disconnect at this time. And now I would like to turn the call over to Mr. Benjamin Haynes. Sir, you may begin. Benjamin Haynes: Thank you Sue. And thank you all for joining us for todays briefing to update you on CDCs 2019 novel coronavirus response. We are joined today by Dr. Nancy Messonnier, Director of CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, who will give open remarks before taking your questions. I will now like to turn the call over to Dr. Messonnier. Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Thank you for joining us. Today, I would like to provide a few updates on important developments over the last few days. First, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the American who died in China over the weekend. As far as we know, this is the first American to die from this new coronavirus. Though more than a thousand people in China have died. My sympathy and my thanks go to the people of China, for those who have lost loved ones and those who are on the front lines battling this virus. In China, they are taking aggressive measures just as we are in the United States. Since we briefed you last, there has been one new confirmed novel coronavirus infection detected in the United States. The new confirmed infection is an individual who returned from Wuhan and was quarantined at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. This individual was on one of the last Department of State flights out of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China. Given the spread of the virus in Wuhan, it is not surprising to see a positive case among people who recently returned from there. That is in fact the reason they are being quarantined. Currently the person has mild illness but is hospitalized. This brings the total number of confirmed positives in the United States to 13. I want to clarify some of the reports that have been circulating about this case. Last Thursday when one of the planes from Wuhan landed at Miramar, a few people were sick and transported to local hospitals for further evaluation. These people were placed in isolation and samples were taken for testing. When running laboratory diagnostics for any disease, anywhere in the world, the ability to match the individual to the specimen is key, and is part of the normal procedures put in place to ensure that that matching is done correctly. But in this situation with this patient, it didnt work correctly, and the patient was misidentified initially as negative. The issue was identified within 24 hours. The CDC tested the sample, the positive result was conveyed quickly to the local public health and CDC teams. The mishap was unfortunate, but we have corrected this from happening again in the future by adding additional quality control. And its really important to emphasize that during this time appropriate infection control precautions were taken around everyone, including around this patient who, again, is doing well. Now Id also like to update you on our diagnostic test kits. As you know, this is a dynamic, rapidly evolving situation, and our response continues to be based on the latest science. We continue to be flexible to meet the public health challenges that the virus presents, and clearly a success is the CDC rapid development of a diagnostic and rapid deployments to the states, which was clearly important to try to bring the testing closer to patients to avoid delays that have been inherent in sending samples to CDC. When the state receives these test kits, their procedure is to do quality control themselves in their own laboratories. Again, that is part of the normal procedures, but in doing it, some of the states identified some inconclusive laboratory results. We are working closely with them to correct the issues and as weve said all along, speed is important, but equally or more important in this situation is making sure that the laboratory results are correct. During a response like this, we know things may not always go as smoothly as we would like. We have multiple levels of quality control to detect issues just like this one. Were looking into all of these issues to understand what went wrong, and to prevent these same things from happening in the future. Before I take questions, I want to give you a couple more updates. Since the airport screening began in mid-January, CDC and its partners have screened more than 30,000 passengers from China. With the temporary restrictions on travel, we are seeing fewer and fewer travelers from China, especially from Hubei province. Passengers are being funneled through 11 airports, most of these people are coming from parts of mainland China outside of Hubei, show no symptoms and have not been assessed as high risk. Those who passed the screening continue on to their final destination where they self-monitor their health for 14 days in cooperation with their state and local health departments. Were asking these people to limit their activities and stay home during that 14-day period. Our goal is to be as least restrictive as possible while ensuring the safety and health of all Americans. Since starting our travel restrictions and funneling through airports, we have not detected any cases among returning travelers from China. Most of the U.S. cases were found before the travel restrictions were put in place among travelers who returned from Wuhan and later sought medical care for their illnesses. These cases were picked up by astute clinicians and reported to CDC. We are continually reassessing our recommendations around quarantine and self-monitoring and will continue to work with state and local public health departments to refine and improve this process. Most of the diseases in China, however, we can and should be prepared for this new virus to gain a foothold in the U.S. The goal of the measures we have taken to date are to slow the introduction and impact of this disease in the United States but at some point, we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. Or other countries and this will trigger a change in our response strategy. This will require the effort of all levels of Government, the public health system and our communities as we face these challenges together. We are focusing now on preparing in other areas, including development of guidance for our health care practitioners, and planning for increased demand on our health care system. One important aspect of this is taking steps to make sure there are enough supplies and appropriate guidance to prevent the spread of the disease, especially among health care personnel caring for patients. We understand the importance of providing guidance that health care facilities can implement given the availability of personal protective equipment or PPE supplies. CDC talks regularly with health care industry partners as well as PPE manufacturers and distributors to assess availability of PPE. At this time, some partners are reporting higher than usual demand for select N95 respirators and face masks. CDC does not currently recommend the use of face masks for the general public. This virus is not spreading in the community. If you are sick or a patient under investigation and not hospitalized, CDC recommends wearing a face mask when around other people and before entering a health care providers office, but when you are alone, in your home, you do not need to wear a mask. People who are in close contact with someone with novel coronavirus, for example, household contacts and care givers of people with known or suspected 2019, Im sorry, nCoV 2019, we should wear a face mask if they are in the same room as the patient and that patient is not able to wear a face mask. Health care personnel should wear PPE including respirators when caring for confirmed or possible nCoV patients because theyre in direct contact with those patients which increases their risk of exposure. We will continue to work with our public health partners around the clock to address this public health threat. Some good news this week is that yesterday the first group of 195 people who returned from Wuhan on a State Department flight completed their 14-day quarantine. None of those people have this new virus, and all left March Air Reserve Base successfully and happily returned along the way to their families and their communities. Its important that people understand that these people being released from quarantine pose no health threat to the surrounding communities or the community that they will be returned to. I want to extend my thanks to them for their cooperation and patience during the quarantine and wish them well as they return to home, work and school. I also want to thank the men and women on March Air Reserve Base and their families for their graciousness while hosting these guests. I also want to say that CDC is working in close collaboration with Japanese health authorities to ensure precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of disease on the Diamond Princess cruise ship as well as making sure the American citizens on that cruise ship are safe. We recognize the continued uncertainty of the current situation. As always CDC public health experts strive to make the best recommendations based on the most up-to-date data. I would be happy to take questions now. Operator: Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. In order to provide everyone the opportunity to ask questions, we ask that you limit your questions to one question and one follow up. If you have further questions, simply reinsert yourself back into the queue and your additional questions will be answered as time permits. To ask a question, please press star followed by one. Please ensure your phone is unmuted and record your name clearly when prompted. Again, that is star followed by 1 to ask a question. If you need to withdraw your request press star 2. One moment for the first question. Our first question is from Richard Harris with NPR. You may go ahead. Richard Harris: Thanks very much. I have a point of clarification and then a question. And my clarification is based on your description of what happened with the test mix up, it sound as though somebody was misidentified as being positive and this person was misidentified as being negative, right, and then you realized that you had the identities wrong and you switched them. I want to make sure that I understand that. Let me ask my question also, which is a little more in-the-weeds, but Im interested to know what the status is of being able to have a stereological test to identify people who have been exposed but havent shown signs of disease. Where is that right now? Dr. Nancy Messonnier: The answer of the first question is thanks for asking me to clarify because no, that is not exactly right. Because of the problem with identification of the patient, the initial run didnt include that. You know, as you can imagine, at CDC, there are a large number of specimens being processed, coming in and out, and its important that they be identified appropriately so that theyre prioritized. Because of the way that sample was identified, it wasnt run in that first run. Therefore, it was when the second run was done that we found that it was positive, so it isnt that somebody else was identified as positive. The sample wasnt initially run. And the answer to your second question is clearly a stereological test is important in the United States we want to be able to look to see if people zero converted but especially hopefully well be able to help the Chinese look. That test would be really helpful to be able to understand the spectrum of illness that is are there people who are either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic that have stereological evidence of being exposed to pathogens. We have the beginnings of the stereological tests, because we now have patients in the United States, were able to collect additional specimens but we have to collect them over time so that we can have the appropriate timing of specimens to make sure that we understand what the immune response looks like. Once we complete the gathering of those specimens from the patients well be able to pretty rapidly, I would say within a couple of weeks, three weeks, four weeks, be able to have a test available but right now, were still in the range of testing of gathering the appropriate specimens from the patients in the U.S. Next question. Operator: thank you, the next question is from Ivan Couronne with AFP, you may go ahead. Ivan Couronne: Thank you. Have any of the test kits already been actually shipped outside of the U.S.? And if so, which country? Operator: One moment, please stand by. Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Im here. Thank you, Im sorry. I didnt get off mute, so excuse me. We have shipped the test kit internationally. I dont have the specific list of countries in front of me. On last count and this is a couple of days ago, it was somewhere more than 30 countries. Its important to recognize that this is part of a normal procedure that CDC uses for exactly this kind of reason, to get help make test kits available to other countries who may not have easy access to the same reagents and resources that CDC does, so its test kits and each of those countries that are receiving it will go through the same procedures that the recipients in the U.S. are, which is they would do an internal validation verification process before theyd be using those kits, so I also dont know yet, and we can follow up on this whether any country that has received the kits has gone through that process yet, and whether countries have actually used it. I just dont have that in front of me. Next question. Operator: Thank you, the next question is from Hillary Bourke with Business Insider, you may go ahead. Hillary Bourke: Yeah, thanks for taking my call. I had a question about the incubation period. Im wondering what you think about the new paper that suggests its possible the virus might incubate for as long as 24 days in some cases. Have you seen any evidence to support that idea so far? Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Yeah, so, its a really interesting report that has come out. As you can imagine, there is a lot of data coming out and a lot of scientists appropriately are rushing to make sure that any data that they have is in the public realm where all the rest of the scientific community can make use of it. I applaud everyones efforts. We have seen in some situations the rush to get data published hasnt necessarily led to there being the usual level of oversight to make sure that each of the findings is quality controlled, frankly. So, were looking at that data closely, but were frankly looking at all the other data thats available that looks at incubation periods. I would say the incubation period is obviously really important for us as we look to make sure that were releasing these people safely from quarantine, but the abundance of data, that is available still is consistent with our current stance, which is to use 14 days as the end of that incubation period. I also would say that this is a confusing situation because there may be patients that have mild or even asymptomatic disease that isnt recognized and when you look at incubation period, youre starting at the point where a patient is exposed and then counting the days until that patient mounts symptoms. But if there is widespread community spread, for example, it may be that some of those initial exposures arent detected and it makes it hard to be sure about the actual incubation period. Our CDC staff there actually are something like 50 separate modeling groups in the United States that are working with us on exactly these issues. Its important that we work with all of these modelers because they have different symptoms than we do, but were working with all of the greatest minds in the country and globally try to pin down these facts as much as we can, and we still think that for today, for now, 14 days is the right interval to use. Next question. Operator: Thank you. The next question is from Mike Stobbe with the Associated Press, you may go ahead. Mike stobbe: Hi, thank you for taking my call. My initial question is I need to ask about this, the reports out of China, the cases reported dropped down significantly the last couple of days. I know its just two days, but they were in the 3,000 range and now theyre 2,478 and 2,050, that dropped, what if anything do you make of that, and my follow-up question is about you discussed the kits going out to the states, could you say a little more about did kits go to all 50 states and were you expecting that theyd be up and running this week but now it means its going to be two weeks from now. Could you help us better understand the impact of whats going on and what kind of delay it entails, thank you. Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Sure. Its only two questions this time. Good. So, the Chinese cases dropping down, Im going to be optimistic that that is a sign that their aggressive efforts have been effective, but I really do think its too soon to say that for sure, not having hands on the data ourselves. There is a WHO advanced team in China now, and Im hopeful that they will have access to the data themselves and be able to validate those findings. It would certainly be reassuring if we were now seeing at least a slowdown of this outbreak in China. So thats the first question. The second question is a little complicated but what I would say is that of course we hoped that everything would go smoothly as we rushed through this, you know. We moved quickly, thats appropriate under these circumstances but its equally appropriate to do quality control which is what we do, and where these where this issue was caught, it is part of the normal procedures. Of course, I hoped that this week every state and every state did receive a kit every state would be up and running. How long is it going to take? I cant tell you that for sure because I understand that not every state has completed their verification yet. And it wont be until we have results from every state that we know which states can continue and which states we need to we need to get new reagents to. Were working closely with FDA. Again, we do expect this week that some states may move forward. Other states may need to get additional reagents from CDC, and I dont have an estimate yet from our laboratory staff as to how long that takes, and when we do, we will definitely be, first, letting the states know and then letting you all know. Next question. Operator: Thank you. The next question comes from Denise Grady with New York times. You may go ahead. Denise Grady: Hi, thank you very much. Ill ask you both questions. One is could you please go over the criteria, so we understand exactly who is being tested, whos qualified for testing and then if the result is negative, does it mean anything? Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Im sorry, Im going to just pause because theres an ambulance going through. Just wait. Okay. So, lets see, the criteria for testing in the United States focuses on people who are ill with the spectrum of symptoms that we have associated with this, which is fever, respiratory symptoms, cough, shortness of breath who have had appropriate travel history or who have been identified as contacts of a confirmed patient. And so, in each of the states where these cases have been identified, weve been looking at potential contacts of patients as to look to see if it spread, that contact tracing did identify the two cases that we say werent directly associated with travel. Those are in close contacts of two patients who traveled but outside of those close contacts around confirmed cases, our focus right now is on people who have a travel history that is consistent with where this outbreak is spreading. And were comfortable with that as the basic criteria because so far, we are not seeing widespread community spread in the United States. That is that the cases were seeing are all directly linked with travel to Hubei and China. It is also true that we did some testing of asymptomatic people, but it wasnt in the setting of trying to make a clinical diagnosis. It was in the setting of using that to try to learn more about how this is being spread, and I think people may have misunderstood it. We did that in the first 195 people who were repatriated into the United States, but we have not been testing asymptomatic people who have returned on the other repatriation flights. And that relates to this question of what being negative means. If we have a patient who is symptomatic and has the right travel history, a negative means that at least at that point we dont think they have disease. If a patient is at very high risk in clinical discussions with their health care provider and health department, they may be tested again. If theyre at very high risk. But in general, in a symptomatic patient, a negative, we think means that theyre negative. The difference is that when we were using it at march air force base to learn more about how this was being spread, it is possible that someone could be negative and still be incubating the virus and therefore we, in that setting, didnt judge a negative to let us be confident that somebody was able to be released from quarantine. So thats the distinction that were making. Next question. Operator: Thank you. The next question comes from Julie Steenhuysen with Reuters, you may go ahead. Julie Steenhuysen: Thanks, I have a couple of questions. First off, we know now that the w.h.o. Has a team in China. Are you are any representatives from the CDC a part of that team? And can you say a little bit more about what kinds of problems the state labs encountered in validating the tests and why you need to send new reagents and finally are there any more flights expected from China carrying U.S. citizens? Thanks. Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Okay. The advance team is three WHO staff. Theyre staff that are well known to us. They have a lot of experience. They are being articulated as an advance team, and I heard a report from them this morning. Theyre getting access to data, and doing the things you would expect them to do and as you all know, CDC stands ready to send staff to the affected areas in China to work on this investigation and as soon as were given the invitation, we are happy to do that, but we havent been invited yet. More planes, I think there is continued conversation that Americans who are still in Wuhan or other parts of China, so those conversations are ongoing, and I dont have any specific information right now as to whether there will be additional folks repatriated in groups like we saw with these planes. So, I dont have any specific information on that. In terms of the test problems, it gets a little weedy, but I can give you a little more detail. When a state gets the test kits, they have to verify that it works the same in their lab that it worked at CDC. And when some states were doing this, we received feedback that they werent that it wasnt working as expected, specifically some public health labs at states were getting inconclusive results and what that means is that test results were not coming back as false positive or false negatives, but they were being read as inconclusive. Now, these were not tests being run on actual clinical specimens from potential patients. These were part of the verification process, and because of that we are when we evaluated what the issue is, we think that there might be an issue with one of the three assays and we think that maybe one of the reagents wasnt performing consistently, so its a long story to say that we think that the issue at the states can be explained by one reagent that isnt performing as it should consistently and thats why we are re-manufacturing that reagent, obviously a state wouldnt want to be doing this test and using it to make clinical decisions if it isnt working as well as perfectly at the state as it is at CDC, so this is part of a normal process and procedure and redoing the manufacturing is the next step. Next question. Operator: Thank you. The next question comes from Erika Edwards with NBC news. You may go ahead. Erika Edwards: Yeah, just to follow up on that, are all the tests still coming through the CDC in Atlanta for conclusive results while the states work out their issues? And separately, I just wanted to learn more about your thoughts on that growing number of cases on the cruise ship docked in japan. I mean, is there anything that CDC is even able to do to help the Americans on board? Thanks. Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Yeah, thanks for the clarification and yes, all clinical specimens are still being sent to CDC for validation. I think you would expect nothing less from us as obviously the results of this test are so meaningful, and well continue to provide that backstopping frankly even after states are up and running. I would ask that you that the right language wouldnt be a problem with the states. Its a collective problem, so I dont want this to be seen as something that the states are doing incorrectly. That is certainly not the situation here. This is really part of a normal process and procedure, and, you know, we have the quality control set up specifically to allow us to identify these kinds of problems. In terms of the cruise ship, I know that there are Americans on board, there are certainly Americans that are ill and its certainly concerning the high number of cases on that cruise ship. We are working closely with the embassy in japan, and the state department to help with thinking through whats the right actions. Somebody from the state department may be on the phone, and if so, Ill ask them if they want to make a comment on this. Ben, is somebody there? Benjamin Haynes: No, Nancy, sorry, nobody from Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Okay. So, I guess theyre probably not on the phone because theyre helping working with us to think through what to do. Obviously, its a high priority to make sure that the people that are already sick or the people that are still on the ship and asymptomatic are getting the best care possible. We want to protect their health, and were working closely, again, through the embassy on thinking through what the right next steps are, and when theres more information, we will clearly make that available as quickly as possible. Next question. Operator: Thank you. The next question comes from Tom Howell with the Washington Times. You may go ahead. Tom Howell: Hi, thanks for doing the call. Just branching off the question about the cruise ship, do you have any numbers of how many Americans are on board and how many of them might be infected if any? Dr. Nancy Messonnier: I actually dont have those numbers in front of me but what I would say is there are definitely Americans on board who have been diagnosed with and now I have to get this name right, nCoV 19. Excuse me for not getting it right. Im still working on it. There are Americans on board that have been diagnosed with nCoV 19, but I dont have the numbers on me right now, and we can certainly follow up. Next question. Operator: Thank you, the next question comes from Nate Wetzel with The Hill, you may go ahead. Nate Wetzel: Hi, thanks for doing this call. Im just wondering, there have been reports that the virus might either weaken or sort of die out as the weather gets warmer. Do you have any evidence for that? Has that been officially confirmed? Dr. Nancy Messonnier: So, I think I would caution overinterpreting that hypothesis. I think what folks are saying, which I think is a valid point is that most viral respiratory diseases are seasonal, and well use as an example influenza. Influenza has a season. It can alter a little bit but its generally, we know what time of year is going to be the peak of influenza and in general, as we head towards spring and summer, we expect the cases of influenza in the United States to fall off. Thats true for other viral respiratory diseases also that have a winter season. So, if this behaves similarly, it may be that as we head towards summer and, I guess, spring and summer, the cases would go down, but this is a new disease. We havent even been through six weeks of it, much less a year, and so I certainly would, I mean, Im happy to hope that it goes down as the weather warms up, but I think its premature to assume that, and were certainly not using that to sit back and expect it to go away. The aggressive actions were taken or were taking are because we dont think we can count on that since again, we havent been through even a single year with this pathogen. Next question. Benjamin Haynes: Sue, we have time for one more question, please. Operator: Thank you. Our last question comes from Steve Baragona with voice of America, you may go ahead. Steve Baragona: Hi, thanks for doing the call. You mentioned a couple of times about information youre getting from the Chinese. I know thats been an issue throughout this outbreak. How is your access to data? Are you getting all the information you need, and if not, whats the hold up? What impact does that have on your ability to respond? Dr. Nancy Messonnier: Im happy to talk about this. Ill start by saying theres nothing really new in this space compared to what we have said previously. There has been a lot more data coming out of China in the recent weeks, compared to perhaps from the very beginning, and there have been meetings, for example, hosted by w.h.o. Where Chinese authorities have presented their data. As an epidemiologist seeing a graph that somebody else produced is never as good as touching the data yourself. Being able to look at it yourself and being able to ask the questions and run the data directly, so having that distance from the actual ongoing investigation in China or anywhere is never the best way for us to be able to be completely confident that we understand the situation. That is the part of the reason that we want to have folks on the ground. Im working specifically on this investigation, the other is that I would say that CDC scientists are certainly some of the best in the world and our scientists have a lot to offer in terms of looking at whats going on right now in terms of the analysis. We also find that when youre in the midst of doing an investigation yourself, sometimes its hard to step back and folks coming from outside who havent been so enmeshed in the day-to-day sometimes can pick up things you didnt think of or have a different perspective. Thats the other reason that it would be helpful to have a broader set of folks being able to look at the data itself. I have nothing new to say in terms of the data coming out. There is more coming out in the published literature but CDC staff themselves havent yet gained direct access to the data and we continue to be hopeful that well be invited to do that. Thank you. Benjamin Haynes: Thank you, Dr. Messonnier, and thank you all for joining us for todays briefing. Please check CDCs 2019 novel coronavirus web site for the latest updates on CDCs response efforts and if you have further questions, please call the main media line at 404-639-3286 or e-mail media@cdc.gov, thank you. Operator: Thank you, that does conclude todays conference. Thank you all for participating. You may now disconnect. Members of China's Uighur minority living in exile are sounding the alarm over the risk of the coronavirus spreading in camps inside the country, where NGOs say hundreds of thousands of people have been rounded up by Beijing. So far, official figures released by Chinese state media give no major cause for concern over the COVID-19 outbreak in the northeastern region of Xinjiang that is home to the Uighurs, a Muslim minority who speak a Turkic language. It is far from the epicentre of the outbreak and just 55 cases have been reported in the region so far. The first patients to fully recover in the region have already left hospital, according to official media. Over 1,100 people have died in China due to the coronavirus epidemic although most of the deaths and infections have been in the central Hubei province, whose capital, Wuhan, is the epicentre of the outbreak. But representatives of the Uighur diaspora warn there is real reason to fear a rapid spread of coronavirus in the controversial Chinese camps. The virus spreads from person to person through droplets disseminated by sneezing or coughing, and confining large groups of people together, possibly without adequate access to germ-killing soap and water, will increase the likelihood of an outbreak. China has rounded up an estimated one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in internment camps, NGOs and experts say, and little is known about the conditions inside them. Beijing insists the camps re "vocational training centres" necessary to combat terrorism. "People are starting to panic. Our families are there, dealing with the camps and the virus, and we do not know if they have enough to eat or if they have masks," said Dilnur Reyhan, a French sociologist of Uighur origin. A petition posted on Change.org signed by over 3,000 people urges the closure of the camps to reduce the threat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former PNC Bank employee should get $2.4 million in damages after a customer with a troubled history at her bank branch grabbed her and grinded into her buttocks, an Essex County jury said earlier this week. Damara Scott, a wealth manager at the Glen Ridge branch, filed a civil lawsuit against her former employer alleging the bank knew the wealthy customer had a history of harassing behavior aimed at African-American women at the bank and did nothing about it. The jury agreed, awarding Scott $2.4 million in compensatory damages, Scotts attorneys said. The jury recognized that PNC had failed to provide a safe workplace for Ms. Scott, said Nancy Erika Smith, one of Scotts attorneys. We hope PNC will now take the steps to eliminate harassment throughout the company. PNC Bank, based in Pittsburgh, plans to appeal the verdict, saying there were errors made by the court. PNC does not condone harassment of any kind. We have a long-standing history of providing a safe workplace for our employees, and robust policies and procedures to help ensure that we continue to do so. We are disappointed by the verdict, even though the jury expressly found that this was not a case where punitive damages were appropriate, bank officials said in a statement. The lawsuit, filed in 2015, took years to get to trial and raised questions about when and how a company is legally responsible for protecting an employee from possible sexual harassment by clients. Scott, 41, of Bloomfield, alleged she was leaving the Glen Ridge branch in 2013 when a customer was waiting at the door. She asked if he was coming inside. No, Im following you, Scott recalled the customer saying as she walked to her car. I offer full services and Im willing to please. Then, he grinded into her buttocks, she said. The customer, Patrick Pignatello of Glen Ridge, was charged with sexual assault. He died of a heart attack while shoveling snow at age 77, less than two months after the incident and before his case could go to trial. Pignatello, the owner of a local construction company, was known as Mr. Glen Ridge because of his philanthropy work in the Essex County borough. Scott settled a lawsuit against Pignatellos estate last year for an undisclosed amount. His family previously declined to comment on the allegations. In her lawsuit against PNC Bank, Scott claimed Pignatello was well known at the bank for bizarre behavior, including groping and harassing African-American female workers and customers in the Bloomfield Avenue branch. She said he had been occasionally banned from the branch, but his accounts were never closed because bank management knew he was a wealth management client and a profitable customer for the bank. Scott, who is African-American, said she sued her employer of 18 years because she is still traumatized by the incident. She began having panic attacks after the alleged assault and is no longer working. I want it to be clear to companies, to businesses, that women matter and women should matter above profit, Scott told NJ Advance Media on the eve of the trial last month. Before they went to court, PNC officials alleged Scott mischaracterized the incident outside the bank and surveillance video of the parking lot would prove there was no sexual assault. One of the great things about our justice system is that citizens can sit in judgment on powerful corporations and hold them accountable said Smith, Scotts attorney. Women are tired of employers who tolerate sexual harassment. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The chances of that plan advancing appeared tenuous going into the fall session, however, and it flamed out when a group of progressive Chicago-area lawmakers said they wouldnt support it without a significant percentage of the new revenue going toward homelessness initiatives. Lightfoot said at the time the request for 60% of the plans revenue to go toward homelessness is never going to happen, obviously," because of the citys budget constraints. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Main player is still free: Delhi judge pulls up investigators in CBI vs CBI A special CBI judge on Wednesday lashed out at the probe agency for its investigation into a bribery case that was alleged to involve top CBI officers, asking the investigating officer to explain why the accused with a larger role in the case were still free but the agencys deputy superintendent of police, or DSP, was arrested. Read more. After another zero, large-scale changes expected in Delhi Congress The Congress is likely to go for a massive overhaul of its Delhi unit after its complete decimation in the assembly elections. The grand old party not only failed to open its account for the second time in a row but 67 candidates of the Congress-led alliance out of 70 forfeited their deposits as well. Read more. SC to hear plea by Omar Abdullahs sister against his detention on Friday One of the three Supreme Court judges hearing the plea against former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs detention recused from the case on Wednesday. Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar announced his decision to step back from the case as soon as the bench took up the petition filed by Omar Abdullahs sister Sara Abdullah Pilot. Read more. With due respect: Congress Sharmishtha Mukherjee rebukes Chidambaram for gloating over AAP win Delhi Mahila Congress chief and party spokesperson Sharmishtha Mukherjee lashed out at fellow party leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram who posted a tweet celebrating the defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi Assembly elections. Read more. 25 wickets, hat-trick of five-wicket hauls: Siddarth Kaul swings back to recognition Cutters, slower ones, knuckleballs, yorkers Siddarth Kauls bowling revolved around them. They were the reason why he had two terrific IPLs 16 wickets in 10 matches in 2017 and 21 wickets in 17 matches in 2018 helping him break into the Indian side. Read more. Love Aaj Kal: CBFC cuts short Sara Ali Khan-Kartik Aaryans kissing scene, blurs cleavage The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has once again run the scissors over the reels of an upcoming Bollywood film. The new victim is Imtiaz Alis Love Aaj Kal that features Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan in lead roles. Read more. Charles Darwin 211 birth anniversary: Interesting facts about man behind the Theory of Evolution Charles Darwin, who is best known for his contributions to the science of evolution, was born on February 12, 1809. He published his theory of evolution in the 1859 book On the Origin of Species. Read more. Between November 2014 and January 2016, Mount Carmel's current mayor, Christopher Scott Jones (pictured), allegedly swindled the elderly woman out of nearly $394,000 before she passed away in 2016 A Tennessee mayor has been indicted for stealing nearly $400,000 from his own grandmother during the final years of her life. Between November 2014 and January 2016, Mount Carmel's current mayor, Christopher Scott Jones, allegedly swindled Marceline Carpenter out of nearly $394,000 before she passed away on January 2, 2016. According to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Jones embezzled the money by writing checks from her account to himself for false reimbursements. Authorities began their investigation into Jones in August 2019 at the request of 3rd District Attorney General Dan Armstrong. Armstrong ordered the investigation after allegedly finding evidence of the fake checks. Jones has been charged with one count of theft over $250,000. If found guilty, Jones could face between 15 and 25 years behind bars. He was arrested and booked into the Hawkins County Jail on a $300,000 bond on Monday. According to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Jones (left, during a meeting) embezzled the money by writing checks from her account to himself for false reimbursements In March 2016, Jones' mother, Barbara Jo Long and two of Jones uncles, Robert Carpenter and Gary Wayne Carpenter, filed a lawsuit against the mayor. The lawsuit claimed that Carpenter suffered from dementia toward the end of her life and was not competent to sign away her power of attorney or endorse checks. But last year, Jones denied that claim and said that his grandmother wanted him to have the money from her West Virginia estate. 'She said, "I cant take it with me, and I want you to have it. They can have what I leave in the other account." What she gave me was what she gave me,' Jones told the Kingsport-Times News He also said he didnt know how much he had received from his grandmother. 'She did have a will, and she had another bank account she wanted the other relatives to have, and they got that money. I have no idea how much that was. She gave (her other funds) to me before she died, so she didnt need to put that in her will,' he said at the time. In March 2016, Jones' mother, Barbara Jo Long and two of Jones uncles, Robert Carpenter and Gary Wayne Carpenter, filed a lawsuit against the mayor The lawsuit claimed that Carpenter suffered from dementia toward the end of her life and was not competent to sign away her power of attorney or endorse checks. But last year, Jones denied that claim, saying his grandmother wanted him to have the money Greeneville attorney William Nunnally, who represented Jones' mother and uncles told the Citizen Tribune that he doesn't believe the family will receive 'sizeable sums of money' from the lawsuit. 'I dont think its in a tin can in the back yard,' Nunnally said. Nunnally also said that Jones does not have a luxurious home, an expensive vehicle or any other lavish items. It's unclear how Jones allegedly spent the money, but Nunnally said that the mayor claimed to have used the funds on improvements he made to his grandmothers house. Jones hasn't presented any evidence to back-up this claim. WASHINGTON Only 14% of New Hampshire Democrats said they were very confident that the process for picking a presidential nominee would be fair, a sign of possible doubts lingering in voters minds at the states Tuesday primary. The trouble tabulating results in last weeks Iowa caucuses, an issue that has yet to be fully resolved, may have rattled the faith of some voters amid uncertainty about who is the Democratic front-runner. The skepticism was clearest among Bernie Sanders backers, with about 6 in 10 saying they had little or no confidence in the Democratic primary process. Majorities of voters for every other top Democratic contender described the primary process as fair. The results from AP VoteCast suggest that Sanders younger and generally more liberal supporters distrust their fellow Democrats, a potential reflection of the Vermont senator losing the 2016 nomination to Hillary Clinton. These suspicions could set up a bruising round of election contests in the weeks ahead as Democratic voters choose whether it is better to lean into an overtly liberal contender or embrace a more moderate challenger to President Donald Trump in November. Matthew Gage, a 40-year-old EMT attending a Sanders party in Manchester, New Hampshire, said he was angered by the use of super delegates in the 2016 election and remains suspicious that the process is fair this time around. This year, he said, I have more confidence only because theres more eyes watching them and they know they cant hide stuff. AP VoteCast is a wide-ranging survey of more than 3,000 Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the University of Chicago. There is clear tension between liberal and moderate Democrats. Former Vice President Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar have attempted to carve out a more moderate lane, while Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders have found strength as liberals. Nearly 6 in 10 New Hampshire Democrats described themselves as moderate or conservative. Buttigieg held an advantage with this group of voters. And there were signs voters were searching for a more moderate choice ahead of the primary. About half of voters who made a decision in the final days went to Buttigieg or Klobuchar. Voters also see liabilities in the Democrats vying to run against Trump. About 6 in 10 said a candidate with strongly liberal views would have difficulty competing with the incumbent president, evidence that Sanders and Warren may be struggling to make the electablity argument outside their base of supporters. But roughly 6 in 10 also said a gay nominee Buttigieg would also face greater hardship in the general election. Still, New Hampshire Democrats are willing to rally around their partys nominee. At least 6 in 10 said they would be satisfied with Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Sanders or Warren as their presidential candidate. Fewer about half said they would be pleased if Biden became the nominee. Broader questions about fairness in U.S. society have been a central concern for the Democratic candidates. An overwhelming share of New Hampshire Democrats nearly 8 in 10 view the economy as unfair. But there is little consensus on which candidate would do the best job of stewarding the worlds largest economy. Roughly a third of voters who said the economy is very unfair favor Sanders to lead the economy. About 2 in 10 think Warren is most capable. Sanders and Warren have campaigned to overhaul an economy they say caters to billionaires, each proposing wealth taxes to fund programs for the middle class and poor. The roughly 2 in 10 New Hampshire Democrats who believe the economy is fair have another candidate in mind: former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Worth more than $60 billion and not on the ballot in New Hampshire, Bloomberg had a slight edge on the economy among this group. _______ Associated Press writer Kathleen Ronayne in Manchester, New Hampshire, contributed to this report. _______ AP VoteCast is a survey of the American electorate conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for The Associated Press and Fox News. The survey of 3,111 voters in New Hampshire was conducted for seven days, concluding as polls closed. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish. The survey is based on interviews with a random sample of registered voters drawn from the state voter file. The margin of sampling error for voters is estimated to be plus or minus 3.0 percentage points. ___ Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game. Punjab elections: You will never have to stage another dharna says Kejriwal Covid-19 cases are rising in Delhi, but no need to panic as hospitalisation low, says Kejriwal No lockdown in Delhi for now but some curbs, says Arvind Kejriwal amid Covid surge Is it time for Aam Admi Party to give it another shot on the national scene India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Feb 11: A banner outside the Aam Admi Party's office in Delhi read, join AAP for nation-building. To join the AAP, dial, 9871010101. The AAP won in the most outstanding fashion in the Delhi elections. However, this banner is an indicator that the AAP has once again started to nurture national ambitions like it had done in 2014. In 2014, the AAP launched the Main Bhi Aam Admi campaign. It had provided a toll-free number for people to either give a missed call or send a message in order to join the party. In 2014, AAP had fielded 434 candidates. The party managed to win four seats, all from Punjab. The vote share of the party was at 2 per cent. 414 of its candidates forfeited deposits as they failed to secure one-sixth of the vote in their constituencies. As AAP leads in 58 seats, Lt Guv Anil Baijal dissolves Delhi Assembly In the 2013 Delhi elections, the party had won 32 seats, but in the national poll, it failed to bag even a single one. Even in the 2019 national election, the AAP did not win a single seat, despite it bagging 67 of the 70 seats in the assembly polls. In the 2019 elections, the AAP did throw its hat into the national ring. It fielded candidates from Delhi, Goa and Punjab. In Haryana, the party had formed an alliance with the JJP and contested on three Lok Sabha seats. Out of the 40 seats that the AAP contested on, it won 39 of them. The AAP also tried its hand in the assembly segment outside Delhi. In Goa, the party lost all the seats it contested in 2017. In the Punjab election of 2017, the AAP contested with the Lok Insaaf Party. In all the alliance won 22 seats, of which 20 were bagged by the AAP. In the Haryana and Maharashtra elections, the AAP contested on 70 seats but lost all of them. It fielded 24 candidates in Maharashtra and 46 in Haryana. Loss for BJP means it is out of power in Delhi for 27 years Dr Sandeep Shastri, one of India's top psephologists tells OneIndia, the AAP should not try its hand in the national arena now. The Delhi victory is based on the sustained and solid groundwork done over a long period. One does not see that groundwork elsewhere and hence I feel the Delhi replication on the national stage at this juncture is difficult. Aston Martin wants to be among the "top teams" in Formula 1. Recently, as the British luxury carmaker struggled with financial problems, it was bailed out by a group led by Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll. As a result, Aston Martin said it would stop being Red Bull's title sponsor after 2020 and instead become Racing Point's new identity from 2021. "There's no immediate impact on our current campaign and we will continue to compete as Racing Point until the rebrand takes place at the start of the 2021 season," team boss Otmar Szafnauer said. The Silverstone-based team started life as Jordan, but was subsequently also known as Midland, Spyker and Force India. "The team has been in business, under various names, for 30 years and is more than ready to become a manufacturer team," said Szafnauer. "Lawrence spoke to the staff last week and set out the clear objective to establish Aston Martin as one of the top teams in the sport. "It's exciting to transition into a manufacturer team and we've got the best part of a year to make all those changes - much of which will be happening behind the scenes." (GMM) A review of Indias energy policy by the International Energy Agency (IEA) could have been an invaluable contribution. However, an agency uniquely qualified for the task failed perhaps because of diplomatic nicety. A 304-page report was released in January in New Delhi. The IEA was started in 1974, soon after the first oil shock. Its monthly oil Market Report and annual World Energy Outlook influence both short and long-term energy markets. It came as a surprise that the IEA, with such a rich background, has given not just a passing grade but close to an excellent grade to Indias energy policy. India has been an associate member since 2017. In my view, India deserves a passing grade at best, in comparison to most developed countries, and may deserve an above-average grade in comparison to most developing countries. In the IEAs words, India offers an inspiring example for many countries around the world, with an impressive track record of expanding access to electricity and clean cooking for its citizens, implementing a range of energy market reforms and swiftly deploying renewable energy technologies, notably solar energy. Around 750 million people in India have gained access to electricity between 2000 and 2019. This is definitely impressive. While electricity is available in all the villages of India today, supplying power 24/7 is still a distant dream even in large cities. The IEA glosses over this, praising India merely for giving high priority to doing so. While the IEA is all praise for the working of the Energy Regulatory Commissions, the continuing losses racked up by distribution companies (Discoms) on a large scale and their impact on the power sector has not been discussed in any detail, nor recommendations made. UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) is certainly a much-needed central initiative to improve the balance sheets of the Discoms, but the IEA could have discussed how to overcome the political compulsion of giving free electricity to some sections. The importance of coal to the energy sector is recognized by the IEA and so also the inefficiency of Coal India. While appreciating the baby step India has taken to invite private participation in the coal sector, the IEA does not give any innovative idea to transform the sector. The IEA also has no creative policy suggestions to improve the operations of the oil and gas sector. While Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) has been praised, the reasons for such commendation are missing. Has there been any interest shown by MNCs to invest in Indias oil exploration after HELP? The IEA supports the policy decision of increasing the gas share to 15% in the energy mix by 2030 from the current level of 6%. But it does not go into any discussion on the optimum way of increasing gas supplies and simply recommends market-based pricing. By promoting the use of LPG through Ujjwala program, the use of biofuel for cooking has been reduced to some extent. While LPG is now available for a large percentage of people in India (95% of households by end of 2019), the rural poor are still unable to completely switch over to LPG. This has not been discussed in the IEA report. IEA has high praise for Indias efforts to increase power production from renewables. By December 2019, India had 84 GW of grid-connected renewable electricity capacity and by 2022, it wants to have 175 GW. Modi has announced Indias intention to have 450 GWs (no timeframe), which is admirable. The IEA should have discussed what needs to happen for India to achieve these ambitious targets. There is no such analysis except to stress the obvious -- that there needs to be better system integration. The IEA has some kind words for the yet-to-be-completed National Energy Policy (NEP) by NITI Aayog, which has been in the developmental stage for over three years. NITIs draft NEP came under severe criticism from different experts. But the IEA seems to feel that it is an excellent framework for policymaking. One wonders if the IEA experts have really studied the NEP. The IEA has discussed the subsidy issue in a politically correct manner by highlighting how India has eliminated selling petrol and diesel below cost and how subsidies for residential LPG and kerosene are decreasing gradually to phase out the subsidies. But it has failed to discuss how subsidizing petroleum products results in generating large amounts of black money, which is politically inconvenient to discuss, and also the compulsion to give LPG subsidy to the middle class. As the world and that too, the developed world has already started to make the transition by decarbonization of energy sector, the IEA could have helped India by suggesting how to leapfrog to avoid stranding of fossil fuels-oriented investment using coal, oil and gas. In the telecom sector, India leapfrogged to mobile telephony and avoided investing in expensive fixed line telephony. India could do the same in the energy sector by adapting energy technology which has minimum impact on the environment and contributes to fighting climate change. After highlighting several successful initiatives of India to reform the energy sector, the IEA lists several high-level recommendations. Unfortunately, none of them is any out-of-the-box type or transformative type. Here are some: Establish a permanent energy policy to coordinate the different energy sector activities; continue to rationalize subsidies and cross-subsidies; emphasize market to allocate energy supplies; promote smoother integration of variable renewable energy; promote energy security by increasing strategic petroleum reserves; improve data collection in energy sector. While the IEA has developed an excellent primer on Indias energy sector, it could have done a far better job of analysing all that information and recommending policies to help India make a smooth and efficient energy transition to a decarbonized economy. And IEA has the required expertise. ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan anti-terrorism court on Wednesday (February 12, 2020) sentenced 26/11 mastermind and Lashkar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed to five years in jail following his conviction in two terror-funding cases. The order was passed by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge Arshad Hussain Bhatta. A Lahore court had earlier delayed the verdict of two terror-financing cases against Saeed. Saeed was slapped with a prison sentence of five and a half years and a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case. The sentences of both cases will run concurrently. He was convicted under ATA Section 11-F (2) and 11-N, according to Dawn.com. Saeed, who is a UN-designated global terrorist, is the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He has been arrested 16 times in the past but released every time. In July last year, the top 13 members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) were allegedly financing terrorism from the massive funds collected through non-profit organisations and trusts including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust including Saeed who was booked in nearly two dozen cases for terror financing and money laundering under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. Subsequently, Saeed was arrested by the Punjab counter-terrorism department on charges of terror financing while he was travelling from Lahore to Gujranwala. A total of 23 FIRs were filed against 13 individuals belonging to the JuD, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Falah-i-Insaniyat foundation. Eleven of these 23 FIRs directly named Hafiz Saeed as the culprit. In August last year, chargesheet in the cases were filed while the anti-terror court in Lahore commenced the hearing on November 30 last year. Acting swiftly the anti-terror court Lahore had indicted Saeed on December 11 and the cases were heard on a daily bases from December 16. The defence completed its argument on January 30, 2020, while the prosecution carried on with its argument. The hearings had concluded on February 6. Meanwhile, Saeed remains in the central jail in Lahore. Saeed is also believed to be involved in several terror attack cases, including the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Liquor baron was back at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday for the second day of his High Court appeal against extradition to India, during which his lawyers argued against any prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against him. The 64-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss, wanted in India on charges amounting to an alleged Rs 9,000 crores in unpaid bank loans, sat in the public gallery as his legal team highlighted the widespread woes of the in India, including another collapsed firm Jet Airways. Let's hear the arguments in court, he said, as he entered the courtroom. Lord Justice Stephen Irwin and Justice Elisabeth Laing, the two-member bench hearing the appeal, confirmed at the start that they would not be handing down their verdict immediately after the hearing, scheduled until Thursday. Mallya's barrister, Clare Montgomery, reiterated the central defence that there had been no misrepresentation or fraud on the part of her client and that Kingfisher Airlines was the victim of economic misfortune alongside other airlines. "The is littered with examples of struggling airlines being supported for strategic reasons," said Montgomery. She has focussed her arguments on trying to establish multiple errors in Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot's verdict in favour of her client's extradition in December 2018 and revisited a series of bank statements and balance sheets provided to Indian banks to seek loans as proof of full disclosure. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), appearing in court on behalf of the Indian government, is set to counter the defence arguments later on Wednesday, mostly as a supplement to already submitted written arguments. Justice Irwin repeated Montgomery's previous assertion of this being a very dense case and has sought a detailed chronology and list of documents from the defence team by Monday, before they consider their verdict. On Tuesday, Montgomery had opened her arguments to try and establish that Mallya had no fraudulent intentions when he sought bank loans for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines because he is no fly by night figure but an immensely wealthy man who was not running any sort of ponzi scheme but a reputable airline, which fell into economic misfortune along with other Indian airlines. She [Arbuthnot] did not look at all of the evidence because if she had, she would not have fallen into the multiple errors that permeate her judgment, she said. Representatives from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the Indian High Commission in London were present in the court for the hearing. Mallya had received permission to appeal against his extradition order signed off by former UK home secretary Sajid Javid last February only on one ground, which challenges the Indian government's prima facie case against him of fraudulent intentions in acquiring bank loans. At the end of a year-long extradition trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London in December 2018, Judge Arbuthnot had found clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the CPS on behalf of the Indian government. Mallya remains on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017 involving a bond worth 650,000 pounds and other restrictions on his travel while he contests that ruling. Suspended paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan was released from the Mathura district jail after he was granted bail in connection with an anti-CAA speech at the AMU in December last year. He was released on Tuesday evening after being granted bail by the Aligarh chief judicial magistrate a day before. Khan was arrested by the UP Special Task Force from Mumbai on January 29 in connection with the speech he had delivered during an anti-CAA protest at Aligarh Muslim University on December 12. A case was registered against him at the Civil Lines police station here for promoting enmity between different religions. After his arrest in Mumbai, Dr Khan was brought to Aligarh, from where he was immediately shifted to the district jail in neighbouring Mathura. According to police, this was done as a precautionary measure in view of the anti-CAA protests on the AMU campus and at the Eidgah grounds in the old city. Police had said that the Dr Khan's presence in the Aligarh jail could have aggravated the law and order situation in the city. The doctor was earlier arrested for his alleged role in the death of over 60 children in one week at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur in August 2017. Short supply of oxygen at the children's ward was blamed at that time for the deaths. About two years later, a state government probe cleared Khan of all major charges, prompting him to seek an apology from the Yogi Adityanath government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly arrived domestic helpers from Indonesia wait for transportation to an agency after going through a medical check in Singapore, March 6, 2012. A Singapore court convicted and sentenced two Indonesian maids to prison terms Wednesday for sending money to supporters of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, an official from Indonesias embassy and Singaporean media said. Defendants Turmini, 31, and Retno Hernayati, 37, pleaded guilty at the Singapore District Court to terrorism-financing charges in separate cases, an embassy spokeswoman confirmed. They both pleaded guilty. The next step is being discussed with their lawyers, Ratna Lestari Harjana, an official with the embassy, which provided the defendants with consular assistance in their cases, told BenarNews. Turmini, who goes by one name, was sentenced to three years and nine months for transferring 1,217 Singapore dollars (U.S. $878) to a man named Edi Siswanto, the Straits Times newspaper reported. Retno received an 18-month sentence for sending 140 Singapore dollars (U.S. $101) to her fiance, Fikri Zulfikar, the paper said. She raised the money through a combination of her own cash and donations she collected. Edi and Fikri both allegedly supported the IS and its Indonesian affiliate, Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD). Nicholas Khoo, Singapores deputy public prosecutor, said the money Turmini had donated was the largest amount before the courts, according to the Straits Times. Khoo said cash was remitted on five occasions, which was the most number of occasions any offender has donated to terrorism. Turmini and Retno were among four Indonesian domestic workers arrested by Singapore in September 2019 under the city-states Internal Security Act, on suspicion of being involved in terrorism-financing activities. The other two were Anindia Afiyantari and an unidentified fourth Indonesian. This woman was found to have not been radicalized but was deported to Indonesia because she had not reported the activities of the other three to police although she was aware of them, the Singaporean home ministry said in a news release in September. Anindias case is pending, the Straits Times reported. Turmini, Retno and Anindia were radicalized in 2018 after viewing online materials linked to IS, according to the statement from the ministry. Their radicalization deepened after they joined multiple pro-ISIS social media chat groups and channels. They were drawn to the violent visuals disseminated on these platforms, such as ISISs bomb attacks and beheading videos, as well as recycled propaganda on ISISs past victories in the battlefield, the ministry said then, using another acronym for IS. The three became acquainted with each other around the time they were becoming radicalized, it said. Over time, they developed a network of pro-militant foreign online contacts, including online boyfriends, who shared their pro-ISIS ideology, the ministry said, adding that they evolved into strong supporters of JAD and actively galvanized support online for ISIS. The trios arrest brought to 19 the number of radicalized foreign domestic workers detected in Singapore since 2015, the ministry said in September, noting that the 16 others had been repatriated after they were investigated. An estimated 120,000 Indonesians were working as maids in Singapore as of January 2018, according to the New Paper, a local publication. In 2017, the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), a Jakarta think-tank, reported that dozens of Indonesian women working in Hong Kong had used their earnings to support IS after being recruited over the internet by the extremist group. The report explored how dozens of Indonesian migrants in Hong Kong had become vulnerable to extremist recruitment as religious teachings and prayer groups grew alongside demand in the labor market for more nannies, domestic helpers or caretakers for the elderly. IPAC urged Indonesia the worlds most populous Muslim country to work with labor recruiting agencies to prevent radicalization of migrants. Some of these women were drawn in by jihadi boyfriends they met online, Nuraniyah, an IPAC analyst, said at the time the report was released. The report identified at least 50 female radical workers in East Asia who had taken part in a variety of extremist online discussion groups, including 43 who had worked in or were working in Hong Kong, three in Taiwan and four in Singapore. New York, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Education scholar Okhee Lee announced today the launch of her website, which was created to raise awareness of her efforts to advance policy and practice that promote STEM and language learning for all students, including those learning English as an additional language. Visitors to the OkheeLee.com website will be able to keep current with her appearances, research, publications, curriculum development, and policy influences. Moreover, visitors will be able to read her story and learn why it is her lifes goal to make a difference in the lives of children, especially children who are underserved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. I am extremely excited to be able to reach a broader audience with whom I can share my message through the new OkheeLee.com website. I want the general public alongside educators and academics to have the opportunity to understand why learning standards in STEM and language need to be equal for all children, including children who are English learners, said Lee, a professor at New York Universitys Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. English learners make up the fastest growing subset of the U.S. student population. According to the most recent statistics, English learners constituted 9.6 percent of the public-school population, or 4.9 million students (National Center for Education Statistics, 2019). Lees published research shows that misalignment between English language proficiency standards and content standards are at the root of why English learners often do not reach their potential in STEM subjects. She is the first to call for education scholars from both camps to take the first step toward new policy by coming to the table and creating a consensus to align proficiency standards with content standards for English learners. She discusses her recommendations in a new video published by the American Education Research Association that can be accessed through her website. To learn more about Okhee Lee, please visit OkheeLee.com. Attachment A social worker sat down at an encampment in a wooded area on the West Side on a cold January morning, taking information from a homeless person to try to find him help. I dont want to go to Haven for Hope, the homeless man said, brooking no argument. Ive tried it and its not for me. Thats not an uncommon reaction among the chronic homeless to perhaps the most well-known shelter in San Antonio, a 22-acre campus that serves 1,700 people daily. Not everyone can accept the rules at Haven for Hope and others dont like sleeping outdoors in the courtyard when it gets crowded. Thats OK. Haven for Hope isnt the only entity that offers help there are more than 100 other organizations providing everything from transportation to food and a warm bed, even haircuts and tattoo removal but a series of public forums has revealed a significant lack of coordination between those groups and the city officials and volunteers working with the homeless in the streets. Communication. That is something that is coming up quite often in the community input forums, said Morjoriee White, the homeless administrator for the citys Department of Human Services. The forums are part of the citys efforts to conduct an assessment of the current situation of the homeless living in San Antonio and gather ideas, in conjunction with the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless and Homebase, a San Francisco-based company hired by the city to develop a strategic plan to address homelessness. Initially, only three forums had been scheduled, but two more were added this week as interest and attendance has grown. You must see it, Jeroen Ziljema , a member of the Dellview Area Neighborhood Association, said to White at a forum this week. There is a complete disconnect between you and the gentleman sitting over there and the lady sitting over there Ziljema said, pointing at a pastor who provides homeless services and a woman who said she used to be homeless. I think thats where this is going wrong, the Dellview resident added. You dont work with them and they dont work with you. They dont know what youre doing and its vice versa. The woman who was once homeless voiced the frustrations of not knowing where to go or who to turn to when you are suddenly out in the streets. I went to Haven for Hope. I went to the Salvation Army. It is not all that it is cracked up to be, said the woman, who asked not to be identified. I did contact the City of San Antonio. A lot of it you kinda have to do on your own. But not everybody has the know-how. Greg Goodrich, interim senior pastor for Church Under the Bridge a church specifically created for the homeless community said his volunteers want to provide more help, but it hasnt been an easy process. We had to wait an entire year to partner with the city because our bookkeeping wasnt to the citys standards, he said. Simple things like that that kept us out of the picture last year. In cooperation with the city, the churches are ready, he said. They have outreach ministries, evangelism ministries, that are just waiting to go out there and help find people. Patrick Wigmore, the deputy managing director of HomeBase, was at the Monday forum nodding along with what residents were saying. When it comes to the coordination piece, I completely agree, Wigmore said. We are seeing from the interviews, that there needs to be better coordination. On ExpressNews.com: San Francisco company finds good resources for homeless in SA Wigmore, who has conducted fieldwork in San Antonio since November, talking with dozens of stakeholders and learning about homeless programs and visting shelters, has said hes impressed with the resources San Antonio has to offer. But more coordination is needed, he said. HomeBase wont be presenting their plan until April, but it likely will note that San Antonio needs to take better advantage of its strengths, including the extensive involvement of its faith-based community and the high number of volunteers. Part of the plan we are trying to detail is ways we can create coordination and create a much more seamless process, Wigmore said. And not make it where its kind of thought of that Haven is the only option or entity in town that can solve homelessness. Resource Directory One option that needs more publicity, officials acknowledge, is the San Antonio Community Resource Directory, a kind of map-based app that pinpoints services for San Antonios homeless and impoverished residents. Where is the nearest food pantry? What can you go to take a shower? Who do you call if you want counseling for anger management? If your grandma needs a ride to a doctors appointment, but she cant afford an Uber, is there a service for that? SACRD was created to answer questions like this, said Bill Neely, treasurer of the organization that created the app. The directory includes information about organizations, churches and individuals all over San Antonio and Bexar County who provide free human services for the homeless population and impoverished. When you go to sacrd.org there are more than 150 services listed shelters, counseling, transportation, foster care, tenants rights, ID recovery, pregnancy services, free meals, education, tattoo removal, resume development, pet supplies, laundry and more. All a user has to do, Neely said, is click on the type of service needed, put in the current address or zip code and the closest places that offer the needed service pop up on the map along with the address, distance, contact information and hours of operation. People can find something that is close to them and not a two-hour bus ride away, Neely said. Something that is in their neighborhood, that is somewhere they may be a able to form a relationship with the community. sara.cline@express-news.net Even as other private colleges struggled, Concordia University-Portland seemed to be on the upswing. Enrollment at the Northeast Portland campus had stabilized, its law school in Boise secured full accreditation from the American Bar Association and just last week, the university raised more than $350,000 at its annual fundraising gala. With a new interim president at the helm of the 115-year-old institution, few suspected how deeply deceiving that picture was least of all the 5,000-plus students paying as much as $31,000 in annual tuition to attend the private Christian university. Turns out Concordia University, which announced this week that it will shut down after the end of the spring semester, wasnt immune to the same pressures that forced the closures in recent years of Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego and the Oregon College of Art and Craft. Interest and enrollment in post-secondary education has been on the decline nationwide, as people choose employment over the expense of college. But some of Concordias troubles were also of its own making. The school embarked on an aggressive plan to increase its enrollment by offering online classes. While it did indeed gain thousands of online students, that growth came at a steep price, as The Oregonian/OregonLives Jeff Manning reported. The university paid $59 million in 2016 to HotChalk Inc., the company offering the online courses. Considering its revenue from tuition and fees for 2016 was only $131 million, the wisdom of such an expensive arrangement is questionable at best. Oregonian editorials Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Therese Bottomly, Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, John Maher and Amy Wang. Members of the board meet regularly to determine our institutional stance on issues of the day. We publish editorials when we believe our unique perspective can lend clarity and influence an upcoming decision of great public interest. Editorials are opinion pieces and therefore different from news articles. To respond to this editorial, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor If you have questions about the opinion section, email Helen Jung , opinion editor, or call 503-294-7621. But thats not the only question. Portland is left to wonder whether this university and other small colleges that closed before could have done more to correct these issues before pulling the plug and leaving so many lives in turmoil. Not that anyone at Concordia is all that interested in entertaining those questions. The chairman of the board of regents was not available Tuesday for comment. And members of the board most of whom live out of state in California, Nevada and as far away as Missouri left the responsibility of making the announcement to its new interim president, Rev. Dr. Thomas Ries, who started at the Portland school all of six weeks ago. That distance may make it easier to avoid the anxiety gripping students, staff and faculty members, who are scrambling to figure out what their educational or employment futures will look like. It may also help to ignore the disruption and confusion in the community, such as with Portland Public Schools with whom Concordia partnered to rebuild and run the innovative Faubion School for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. But Concordia needs to show that in disengaging from Portland, it still cares about this community. That means following through with promises to help students find a way to continue their education without financial penalty or interruption. It means helping faculty and staff members bridge the gap between their jobs and their next place of employment. And it means working with city and county officials to see if its land and dormitories can help fill the breach that its abrupt departure is creating. Concordias mission has been about shaping graduates who bring their sharp minds and deep compassion for meeting the worlds needs. In its last acts, the school should set an example for how to do so. - The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board WASHINGTON Beto O'Rourke has made a decision. The former El Paso congressman set off a feeding frenzy of speculation about his future Wednesday with a statement saying he's decided how he can "best serve our country." But he didn't say how. Close associates have been saying for months that he is considering a 2020 White House run, though a number of Texas Democrats would like to see him take on GOP Sen. John Cornyn. FOR SUBSCRIBERS: Texas lawmakers in spotlight as House rebukes Trump on border emergency O'Rourke, in a cryptic statement first published by the Dallas Morning News, did nothing to settle the question. The same statement, sent later to the Hearst Newspapers, CNN and others, said only that O'Rourke and his wife Amy now know what they want to do, but aren't saying yet. "Amy and I have made a decision about how we can best serve our country," he said. "We are excited to share it with everyone soon." O'Rourke, who came within an armadillo hair of upsetting conservative icon Ted Cruz in the 2018 Senate race, has been riding on a wave of national publicity ever since. Several Texas Democrats close to O'Rourke have said in recent weeks that he is no longer considering a challenge to Cornyn, who is seeking a fourth term in 2020. That would leave the state Democratic field wide open. Another top Lone Star State Democrat, former San Antonio mayor and HUD Secretary Julian Castro, has already opted for a presidential run, a decision that will likely occupy his twin brother, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, as well. O'Rourke, a 46-year-old father of three, has said he would make a decision about a presidential run by the end of February. But he hasn't said when he will announce, and a press aide did not respond to an inquiry Wednesday about the timing. Thursday is the last day of February. STATE POLITICS: Get the most out of what's going on politically through our Texas Take newsletter. Sign up here. The Minority in Parliament has once again criticised the budget for the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam which it claims has been hugely inflated. Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu on Wednesday insisted that the project is a complete rip-off and must be reviewed. The Pwalugu Multipurpose project will consist of three main components, namely; hydropower plant, 60MW solar plant and an irrigation scheme covering an area of some twenty-five thousand (25,000) hectares. The 60-megawatt facility is expected to cost US$366 million, but together with the irrigation component of the dam, the entire project is estimated at close to US$1 billion. The project, according to President Akufo-Addo, will be the single, largest investment ever made by any Government in the Northern sector of the country. But speaking at a forum organized by the opposition National Democratic Congress dubbed State of Ghana's Energy Sector: Confronting Corruption and Ensuring Wealth Creation for All, Not A Few on February 12, 2020, Haruna Iddrisu said: the Minority caucus on the leadership of the energy committee [of Parliament] has indicated [to them that] $366 million for 60 megawatts of electricity is a complete rip-off and padded. Background on project The President cut the sod for the commencement of the project on Friday, 29th November 2019 and stated that the dam will avert the perennial flooding caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam. The Volta River Authority says the project will commence in April 2020. The entire project will be executed by a Chinese construction firm, Power China International and supervised by the Volta River Authority over a period of five years. Parliament to approve agreement this week Parliament will later this week, take a decision on the three agreements currently before the House in relation to the engineering, procurement, and construction of the Pwalugu multi-purpose dam. Minority threatens to boycott deliberations on Pwalugu multipurpose dam The Minority in Parliament had hinted of boycotting all activities related to the approval of the agreements. The Minority MPs insist that the government must suspend the deal immediately. Addressing the press last week, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu bemoaned what he calls the inflated and padded cost of the project. The caucus has been raising issues about the deal since Parliament returned from recess in January 2020. Pwalugu multipurpose dam needs no renegotiation Majority Leader The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, says the Minority's concerns about the cost of the Pwalugu multipurpose dam project are misplaced as the scope of the work to be done warrants the budgeted amount for the project. ---citinewsroom Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India will give a memorable welcome to US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump when they visit India on February 24. Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship, Modi said on Twitter. Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2020 India and USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world, he said in the second tweet. Also Watch l PM Modi is a friend of mine, a great gentleman: Donald Trump ahead of India visit The visit is expected to strengthen the strategic partnership. Trump, apart from Delhi, is scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad where India has hosted a public reception on the lines of Howdy Modi! show in Houston. I look forward to going to India, Trump had said as the White House announced the schedule for his India visit. He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is a friend of mine. Hes a great gentleman, the US President further said in response to a question. Talking about the agenda, Trump said that a trade agreement with India was possible but only if it was the right deal, indicating perhaps that negotiators from the two countries have not found it yet. We wanted to do something, (but) we will see, President Trump said to reporters at the White House, when asked if he is expected to sign a trade deal during the visit. If we can make the right deal, we will do it. Trump did not elaborate. But the United States is looking for greater access to the Indian market for its dairy producers and makers of medical devices and some other concessions, for a near-term deal, with the larger and more complex issues of a Free Trade Agreement and others kicked down the road to another time. Indians, in return, are seeking the restorations of its benefits under a preferential US trade regime called the Generalized System of Preferences, which were terminated by the Trump administration last summer for Indias refusal to concede more market access to US companies. Trump and first lady Melania Tump start on a two-day visit to India on February 24, the two sides have said in simultaneous announcements. Ahmedabad is likely to be their first stop, followed by New Delhi and a brief stopover in Agra on the way back to the United States. Cobwebs to boost investigative capabilities of British police forces, intelligence agencies, and corporate security teams on the deep, dark, and open webs LONDON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cobwebs Technologies (Cobwebs), the specialized open-source web intelligence company, announces the opening of its office in London, England. Cobwebs provides intelligence agencies, law enforcement agencies, and corporate security teams with a high-powered and multi-functional machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) powered web intelligence and investigation platform. Designed by intelligence experts with extensive operational experience, it rapidly identifies and locates malicious threat actors on the surface, deep, and dark webs. "We're excited about the opportunities for Cobwebs in England, where we can assist British law enforcement and intelligence agencies and companies to protect their businesses, people, and assets," says Jonathan Clayman, Country Manager of Cobwebs Technologies. "In high-risk situations, rapid access to accurate data is crucial. The challenge for many in the security and risk fields is figuring out how to best navigate through the surface, deep, and dark webs to locate threat actors and discover the data needed to solve a crime. Cobwebs provides investigators with a multifunctional online intelligence and investigative tool that addresses this problem effectively." Investigators only need one small lead such as a name, photograph, keyword, hashtag, cryptocurrency wallet, social media account, etc., to start the process. After they enter the term in the Cobwebs platform, with little more than a click they initiate a rapid, deep search through open-source information located on all layers of the web and all social media platforms and blogs around the world. Working similarly to an Internet search engine, the platform finds information data that matches the search term requirements, then analyzes and displays it on an intuitive user dashboard. "While the system displays all collected data, it does not determine if the data is valid evidence. Rather, it points users toward potential evidence and leaves it up to the investigators to determine if the information is relevant to the case they are working on and if it is, in fact, usable evidence," explains Clayman. "Cobwebs also gives investigators the ability to identify who the threat actors are and how they are connected to other people in their group. They can obtain a deeper understanding of people who may be associated with the threat actor but not necessarily an active member of their group. They can identify new threats, proactively prevent incidents, and/or rule out irrelevant information." In any investigation time is always an issue. "Cobwebs significantly accelerates the investigative process without compromising accuracy. The platform cuts days, weeks, and in some cases, months, off a case," says Clayman. "With this capability, investigators can identify perpetrators and prevent terror attacks, protecting infrastructure, businesses, and reputations." High-powered intelligence, natural language processing, and fully automated online search capabilities make the Cobwebs platform ideal for delivering specific investigative components required by law enforcement, national security agencies, anti-terror units, immigration, cyber authorities, and border control entities in the government sector. In the private sector, Cobwebs is well suited for corporate security teams, financial services markets, and security departments protecting Britain's critical infrastructure. In 2019, Frost & Sullivan presented Cobwebs Technologies with its Global Technology Innovation Award in the web intelligence market. Cobwebs has established offices in Singapore and New Delhi and recently opened an office in New York City. Cobwebs Technologies is a worldwide leader in web intelligence. Our innovative solutions are tailored to operational needs of national security agencies and the private sector, identifying threats with just one click. Cobwebs solutions were designed by our intelligence and security experts as vital tools for the collection and analysis of data from all web layers: social media, open, deep and dark web. Our web intelligence platform monitors these vast sources of data to reveal hidden leads and generate insights. Our exclusive technology extracts targeted intelligence from big data using the latest machine learning algorithms, automatically generating intelligent insights. For more information: https://www.cobwebs.com/. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=povOuMUo3gQ For press inquiries, please contact: Fortress Strategic Communications Evan Bloom, CEO Tel: +1-315-744-4912 E-mail: evan@fortresscomms.com Web: www.fortresscomms.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 15:37 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206414977 1 Business high-speed-railway,Jakarta-Semarang,Jakarta-Bandung,development,RPJMN-2020-2024,Jokowi,connectivity,economy Free The government has planned on finishing construction of a new high-speed railway connecting the capital Jakarta with Central Javas provincial capital Semarang in 2024 to cut travel time to three-and-a-half hours from five hours at present. According to the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) signed by President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Jan. 20, the 435-kilometer Jakarta-Semarang high-speed railway will begin construction in 2023. High levels of urbanization in major cities [Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang and Bandung] have not been complemented with high-speed rail connectivity to improve mobility between the metropolises, the RPJMN reads. The development of the Jakarta-Semarang railway is still in its preparation phase at present, while the Jakarta-Bandung semi-high-speed railway was 50 percent complete as of 2019 with its operations to begin in 2022. A business consortium of Indonesian and Chinese companies called PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC) will invest an overall US$6.07 billion to build the 142-km Jakarta-Bandung railway, which will cut travel time from three hours to just 40 minutes. The two railway projects in Java are estimated to cost a combined Rp 63.6 trillion (US$4.6 billion) over five years. Public-private partnerships are expected to cover about two-thirds, or Rp 42 trillion, of the funds needed. The projects are among the 41 priority projects under the RPJMN, which all together will cost an estimated Rp 7.4 quadrillion between 2020 and 2024. The development plan is expected to help transform the Indonesian economy as the President hopes to achieve his goal of becoming one of the top five largest economies by 2045 with a poverty rate of almost zero percent. (mpr) A lawyer for an Iranian-French academic detained in Iran for eight months says his client has ended a six-week hunger strike. Fariba Adelkhah "responded to a written request from civil and political activists and ended her hunger strike at midday," the lawyer, Said Dehghan, told the AFP news agency on February 12. Dehghan said Adelkhah began her hunger strike on December 24. "Her mental and physical condition is not good, she has been weakened," he said. "Her voice was difficult to hear and she has difficulty walking." Adelkhah, an expert on Iran and Shi'ite Islam, was arrested in Tehran in June 2019. She is being held in Tehrans Evin prison as she awaits trial on charges including spreading "propaganda against the political system" of Iran. Adelkhah's partner and colleague at Paris's Sciences Po University, Roland Marchal, was also arrested by Iranian authorities in June while visiting her. Iran, which does not recognize dual nationality, has repeatedly rejected calls from Paris to release the two. Based on reporting by AFP and RFE/RLs Radio Farda Four years ago, Rep. Jennifer Wexton was a state senator frustrated by Republican leaders in Richmond, Virginia, who killed her resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. On Thursday, the Virginia Democrat will preside as speaker pro tempore of the House when lawmakers are expected to pass a resolution that would eliminate the deadline for enshrining the long-sought amendment in the U.S.Constitution. With Democrats newly in the majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, Virginia last month became the 38th state to ratify the amendment, meeting the threshold set when it was first approved by Congress nearly 40 years ago. Proponents say the amendment, which guarantees legal protections on the basis of sex, can now be enacted. But opponents say the deadline set by Congress has long passed - and that several states that initially approved the amendment have rescinded their votes in recent years. Both sides have filed lawsuits seeking a court decision on the issue, even as ERA supporters in Congress seek legislative remedies. Thursday's vote is on a resolution introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., that would eliminate the deadline. Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced a similar resolution in the Senate. All Democrats in the House and Senate from Virginia and Maryland are cosponsors of the resolution, except Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who missed the deadline to be a cosponsor of the resolution but is a strong supporter of it. Women lawmakersin the House plan to wear purple on Thursday to commemorate the vote. At a news conference Wednesday showcasing leaders of the ERA movement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats paid tribute to Virginia's role in pushing the amendment forward. As Wexton approached the lectern, Pelosi said, "Virginia!" and led lawmakers and activists in a round of applause Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., introduced Wexton as "the woman who's bringing us so much excitement from her state." Wexton defeated Republican Barbara Comstock in 2018. She is one of three freshman Democrats from Virginia - the others are Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Elaine Luria - who flipped red seats blue that year, helping Democrats take control of the House. "Do we have any Virginians in the house?" Wexton asked on Wednesday. Spanberger was there, with her mother, Eileen Davis, a longtime ERA advocate who was in Richmond to witness the ratification vote by a General Assembly that boasts a record number of women delegates. Wexton shared a favorite story about the reverse side of the Virginia state seal, which depicts three goddesses and is inscribed with the Latin word for "persevering." "And that seems especially fitting today," Wexton said. "How is this possible with all the things women have done, all the strides women have made in their professional careers and everything else," Luria said in an interview, "how is it not written into the Constitution that women have equal rights under the law?" After the amendment was ratified in Richmond, commemorative copies of the state House and state Senate resolutions were delivered by courier to members of the Virginia congressional delegation. Luria, Wexton and Spanberger last week posed for photos with their copies in front of a monument in the Capitol Rotunda to three pioneers of the women's suffrage movement: Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The congresswomen say they each plan to frame the historic documents and hang them in their Capitol Hill offices. Luria, a former Naval commander, said in an interview that she for years did not realize that women's equality was not enshrined in the Constitution, perhaps because she relied on the protection of equality clauses in military policy. "The military does often lead on social issues," she said. "If you think about integration, opportunities for women, LGBT equality, it is often policies in the military that [were] ahead of laws on a broader scale." Spanberger recalled watching her mother work for years in Richmond to get the state legislature to pass the amendment. She will stand on the House floor Thursday with the feisty 12-year-old daughter of a constituent who advocated for the ERA. But she said she will be thinking of Davis as well. "As a daughter I feel great pride in watching the movement grow and expand," she said in an interview. "There's women and men of all ages, of all backgrounds cheering and advocating and excited about the ERA." Wexton said she always knew the Virginia House would ratify the ERA, eventually. "And if they didn't, we'd elect people who would," she said. "And we did." The Birmingham Police Department will host Coffee with a Cop at locations throughout the city over the next several months. The coffee dates are set to be held in February, March and April and are designed to allow the men and women of the BPD to meet and discuss community issues with Birmingham residents. Here is the schedule: Feb. 12: 6 p.m., East Precinct, 600 Red Lane Road Feb. 17: 10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m., Regions Bank, 2800 Lomb Avenue Feb. 19: 10 a.m., McDonalds Woodlawn, 5904 First Ave. North March 18: 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., Sammys Sandwich Shop, 4921 Messer Airport Highway April, TBA, United Methodist Church, 1045 20th Street South THE MERCIES By Kiran Millwood Hargrave On Christmas Eve 1617, a catastrophic storm hit the remote Finnmark region of Norway, drowning 40 men from the fishing village of Vardo in a heartbeat. In an age when the occult was as sure a threat as the arctic cold, Finnmark authorities suspected witchcraft as the cause and issued a sorcery decree. What followed was a wave of brutality that even the infamous hysteria in Salem, Mass., a few decades later would not match. Trials were held in Vardo, with men and women, Norwegians and Sami (the northern Indigenous people sometimes known by the disparaging term Lapps) among the accused. In the end, 91 people at the time a substantial share of the population were put to death by the state. Taking these historical events as its premise, Kiran Millwood Hargraves novel The Mercies begins with a young Vardo woman named Maren Magnusdatter, who is mending a sail when the storm comes in like a finger snap. With a keen ear for both physical sensation and cadence, Hargrave describes the shock of the sudden storm sending Marens teeth into her tongue and hot salt down her gullet. Screaming would be useless; there is no sound save the sea and the sky and all the boat lights swallowed and the boats flashing and the boats spinning, the boats flying, turning, gone. Maren loses her father; her brother, Erik; and her fiance, Dag, to the storm. Erik leaves behind his pregnant wife, Diinna, the only Sami person living in Vardo. Nearly all the villages men are lost. After a time of stunned mourning, the women bury their dead (who wash up on shore) and fend for themselves. Two opposing leaders emerge. There is practical, trouser-wearing Kirsten Sorensdatter, who takes over a dead fishermans reindeer herd, handles trade with nearby villages and leads the women in the mens work of boat fishing. And there is sanctimonious Toril Knudsdatter, to whom Kirsten refers disparagingly as one of the kirke-women who spend much of their days in church, atoning for the sins that took their husbands from them. Between the two leaders, Maren notes, the divide is growing, sure as a crack in the wall tapped upon by ceaseless fingers. A few years after the fateful storm, the local legal authority invites Commissioner Absalom Cornet, a seasoned Scottish witch hunter, to Finnmark, where the Devils breath reeks. Scots earned a reputation as peerless witch hunters after King James VI of Scotland published a treatise on witchcraft, Daemonologie, in 1597. Finnmark, the local leader says, requires men who can follow Daemonologies teachings to spot, prove and execute those who practice maleficium. KYODO NEWS - Feb 12, 2020 - 18:51 | Feature, All, Japan, World A 112-year-old Japanese who has been recognized as the world's oldest living man cited "laughter" Wednesday as the secret to his longevity. Chitetsu Watanabe, who was born on March 5, 1907, pumped his fist as he was handed a certificate by a Guinness World Records official at the nursing home in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, where he resides. He is in good health, according to the facility. "I look up to my father, no matter his age," said Watanabe's daughter Teruko Takahashi, 78. Watanabe was recognized as the oldest living man after the previous holder of the title, Masazo Nonaka from Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, died Jan. 20, 2019, aged 113. Born to a family of farmers in Joetsu, Watanabe moved to Taiwan at the age of 20 and spent 18 years there. He returned to Japan after World War II and worked as a civil servant in his hometown until his retirement. He has five children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, according to his family. Japan is one of the world's top countries for longevity. Kane Tanaka, a 117-year-old Japanese resident of Fukuoka Prefecture, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person following the death in July 2018 of another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako from Kanagawa Prefecture, at 117. Related coverage: 112-yr-old Japanese recognized as world's oldest man Giant Mona Lisa replica created with 24,000 rice crackers in Japan Bengaluru: A Congress MLA's son Mohammed Nalapad Harris on Wednesday maintained he was not involved in the accident caused by a high-end car in the city and challenged anyone to prove otherwise. A day after police said he allegedly drove the car, injuring a two-wheeler rider and damaging an autorickshaw, Harris appeared before them and later told reporters he would fight it out in court. The accident occurred on Sunday. "If there is evidence, let them prove it. I am going to the court, I will fight it out till I can. This is not the first case of a car accident but I did not drive the car," said Harris, son of Congress MLA N A Harris. He claimed that he was driving the Lamborghini whereas his driver Balu was at the wheels of the Bentley car, which was involved in the accident. Harris said he made arrangements to admit the accident victim to the hospital and paid his bill. He alleged "there are people" wanting to frame him in the case and get his bail canceled to send him to jail. Claiming it was "only an accident" and not done intentionally, Harris urged the media not to demonise him. Harris, who is out on bail after remaining in judicial custody for three months in a case of attempt to murder related to the midnight brawl in February 2018, said he has completely changed after the incident. "I am completely changed after the incident (pub related brawl where he made the murderous assault) but I am branded as a 'Goonda' (rowdy)," said Harris who turned emotional. However, police said they have "adequate evidence" that Harris was involved in the accident. "We are not bothered about what he is saying outside, but we have evidence that he was involved in the accident. Since the accident was a bailable offence, he has been granted bail," said Dr. B R Ravikanthe Gowda, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic). According to Cox Automotive's recent Reimagining the Automotive Consumer Experience Study , consumers universally agreed 89% that an ideal ownership experience would include a service where a dealer picks up the vehicle in need of maintenance or repair and returns the vehicle when the work is complete. "With the digital economy raising expectations of convenience, it's critical for dealers to further modernize their fixed operations functionality to meet consumer demand," said Adam Carley, vice president of product for Clutch Technologies. "This solution truly eliminates hassle for the consumer, boosting customer loyalty and driving higher retention on service." Xtime Schedule and Clutch Fleet Sync For dealers on Xtime, customers can book their service appointment at the dealership with Xtime Schedule and reserve a loaner through Clutch Fleet Sync. Leveraging Clutch's partnership with TSD, the leading provider of loaner management software, Fleet Sync provides current and projected loaner availability within Xtime, so that a loaner reservation can confidently be made as part of booking a service appointment. When the service appointment is finalized, the loaner reservation will be created with the consumer's information. The consumer will then receive a secure link to provide their payment card, driver's license and insurance information, which are added to the loaner reservation. Finally, as the appointment approaches, the system automatically assigns the right vehicle to the right customer. The dealer benefits from increased efficiency at the loaner desk and higher utilization of the loaner fleet. Consumers benefit from greater availability of loaners and a streamlined experience. Xtime Schedule and Clutch Service Pickup & Delivery Scheduling a concierge pickup of their vehicle for service with the option of a loaner to be dropped off when pickup happens is just as simple. Dealers and consumers can add pickup to service appointments booked within Xtime's multichannel scheduling tools. Xtime Schedule will display availability of both loaners and valets so that appointments can be made with confidence. From that point, Clutch handles the full workflow for the dealer, including scheduling concierge labor and messaging with the consumer. Through its integration with TSD Cirro, Clutch also has the ability to deliver digital loaner contracts for signature in seconds within Clutch's Sideflip concierge app. In addition to driving customer loyalty, this collaboration is intended to generate extra service revenue for the dealership, with 67% of today's consumers willing to pay a premium for a more convenient service experience. Additional revenue will be realized over time with a more efficient usage of loaner vehicles and repeat business from customers. "Convenience is key when evaluating how to implement or enhance a dealership's customer-centric service experience," said Tracy Fred, vice president and general manager for Xtime. "Marrying the very best of what Xtime and Clutch have to offer provides dealers with an opportunity to standout in the market and not only attract new business but turn them into repeat customers." Functionality of the new Cox Automotive fixed ops solution offered by Clutch Technologies and Xtime will be available progressively over the second quarter of 2020. About Clutch Technologies Clutch Technologies is the leader in subscription and mobility services software to the automotive industry. Utilizing Clutch's end-to-end platform, automotive dealers, OEM's, car rental companies and fleet operators can increase asset utilization, offer new revenue streams and deliver innovative consumer experiences. Clutch, a Cox Automotive company, is recognized as a pioneer in the subscription category and has been chosen, trusted and recommended by more than 200 dealer rooftops and nearly 20 OEM brands across the U.S., Canada and Germany. Learn more about Clutch at www.driveclutch.com. About Xtime Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust. In 2019, Xtime booked 55 million service appointments and processed more than 100 million repair orders annually. Forty-four global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $23 billion in service revenue last year for more than 7,300 dealerships. About Cox Automotive Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, VinSolutions, vAuto and Xtime, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com SOURCE Clutch Technologies and Xtime Related Links http://www.driveclutch.com Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the visit of US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump in February end will go a long way in further cementing the friendship between the two countries. In a series of Tweets, the Prime Minister said that the US President and his wife will be visiting in India on February 24 and 25. "Extremely delighted that @POTUS@realDonaldTrump (Donald Trump) and @FLOTUS (Melania Trump) will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship," Modi tweeted. Modi further said that India and the US share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism and that both nations are "cooperating extensively" on a wide range of issues. He also mentioned that the friendship between the two countries is beneficial for all. "Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world." Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2020 India and USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. Robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2020 It would be Trump's first trip to India after becoming the US President. The US President and the country's First Lady Melania Trump will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad during the two-day visit. Trump's visit is expected to further strengthen the Indo-US strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, had travelled to India twice, in 2010 and 2015. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Reuters, the world's largest multimedia news provider, announced today the launch of a new fact-checking initiative aimed at identifying misinformation on social media, in partnership with Facebook's Third-Party Fact-Checking Program. The newly created fact-checking unit at Reuters will verify content posted on Facebook and Instagram and identify where media is false or misleading. The fact-checking initiative is an extension of the media verification efforts Reuters has built through its long history of providing accurate and trustworthy news content. Reuters will now assess the authenticity of user-generated photos, videos, headlines and other content on social mediain the run-up to the U.S. election and beyondverifying for Facebook's U.S. audience in both English and Spanish and publishing findings on a specially created blog. "We are steadfastly recognizing the magnitude of misinformation taking place around the world. It's a growing issue that impacts society daily and it's a responsibility for news organizations and platforms to halt the spread of false news," said Jess April, Director of Global Partnerships, Reuters. "Reuters has a superior track record in sourcing, verifying and clearing user-generated content for distribution to thousands of clients globally and we are best placed in using our in-house expertise to fact check social media content." Keren Goldshlager, Facebook Integrity Partnerships said "Expanding our fact-checking program is an important part of our work to fight misinformation. We are thrilled that Reuters is joining our U.S. partnership, and know we'll benefit deeply from their expertise in visual verification and user-generated content." Reuters has played an increasing role in researching and identifying various forms of synthetically generated media. Since 2018, Reuters has been working to educate the industry and the world about the ways in which images and videos can be distorted and how to spot them. Most recently, Reuters partnered with Facebook Journalism Project to develop an e-learning course to help newsrooms around the world identify and reject manipulated video, pictures and audio, available in four languages including English, French, Spanish and Arabic. About Reuters Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider. Founded in 1851, it is committed to the Trust Principles of independence, integrity and freedom from bias. With unmatched coverage in over 16 languages, and reaching billions of people worldwide every day, Reuters provides trusted intelligence that powers humans and machines to make smart decisions. It supplies business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Reuters: The Real World in Real Time. CONTACT Deepal Patadia Communications Manager, Americas Reuters [email protected] SOURCE Reuters Without the participation of the U.S., a solution regarding the peace process, which can be viable in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, cannot be conceived, Minister-designate of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu has stated on Wednesday, in a joint statement alongside Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, who is paying a visit to Romania on Wednesday and Thursday. "I have reiterated Romania's standpoint regarding the necessity of a sustainable solution of this conflict which should be grounded on a comprehensive agreement, a fair agreement, based on the solution of the two states, to coexist in peace and security, this being the only viable solution which can correspond to the aspirations of both sides. I have underscored the importance of the United States being involved in this process, because without the participation of the United States, a solution regarding the peace process cannot be conceived, a solution to be viable, sustainable in this file," Aurescu pointed out.Talking about Iran, the Romanian official said that, in the dialogue with his counterpart, he reconfirmed Romania's stance regarding the "necessity of Iran fully complying with the nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action." "I underscored that if this agreement fails, a more ambitious agreement needs to be drafted, which also takes into account aspects related to the ballistic programme," he added.In his turn, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir referred to the common principles of the foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia and Romania, respectively.Both sides believe in the national sovereignty principle and in the principle of enforcing international legislation and non-interference in the domestic problems of other countries. These lines guide the foreign affairs of our countries. (...) We have a common philosophy in the area of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi official showed.This visit comes after a long period of time, but certainly, it is not the last one, the Saudi Minister said.According to Aurescu, the two talked about re-activating the periodical political consultation mechanism between Romania's and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministries, about creating the Romania-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation, organising a business forum, but also the proposal to open a direct flight between the two countries.The visit of the Saudi high official takes place in the context of celebrating, in 2020, 25 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Saudi Arabia. AGERPRES As Dean of the Gary/Northlake Deanery, I find hope in his experience with minority communities. Urban ministry can be a moment when we can show Christ to those who sometimes feel left behind or forgotten. I am impressed with the Bishops excitement and his offering of the love of Christ to all. These are exciting times. I look forward to working with him, said the Rev. Charles Mosley, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Catherine of Siena parishes in Hammond. Tyre major CEAT Ltd inaugurated its new greenfield manufacturing facility at neighbouring Sriperumbudur near here on Wednesday, set up at an outlay of Rs 4,000 crore over a 10-year period. The facility spread across 163 acres is dubbed to be the largest passenger radial tyres manufacturing plant for the RPG Enterprise flagship firm. Chief Minister K Palaniswami formally inaugurated the facility located at Kanathanangal village, Mathuramangalam Post, Sriperumbudur along with a host of government officials. For setting up the unit, company officials and State industries department exchanged documents in 2018 in the presence of Palaniswami. According to company officials, the plant would have a manufacturing capacity of 28,500 passenger car radial tyres per day and 2,500 motor-cycle radial tyres per day. The Chennai unit would be one of the most advanced tyre plants in South Asia for CEAT with capacity of serving developed markets and high-end automobile manufacturers. The company said Rs 4,000 crore investment has been planned over a period of 10 years and initially invested Rs 1,400 crore. It has planned to employ more than 1,000 people over next few years. The company said the manufacturing unit would be the first to recruit women to be employed in the shop floor. The Chennai unit is the sixth manufacturing unit for CEAT Tyres along with other plants located at Mumbai, Nasik, Nagpur, Ambernath and Halol. "CEAT's factory will be a jewel in the crown of Tamil Nadu. We are certain that this will bring in many new job opportunities", Palaniswami said at the inauguration. He said after being a first in vehicle production, Tamil Nadu ranks top in production of tyres. "All types of tyres are manufactured in Tamil Nadu from two-wheeler to fighter aircraft. (Of the total tyre production in the country), 40 per cent is contributed from Tamil Nadu", he said. CEAT Tyres, Managing Director, Anant Goenka said the state offered the benefit of having many automakers besides its proximity to various ports. "We are proud to inaugurate our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Kancheepuram. Tamil Nadu offers the unique benefit of having many automobile manufacturers, proximity to port and high-quality labour..", he said. "We aim to positively enhance the ecosystem here by creating more job opportunities and contribute towards overall betterment of the society and community", he said. According to a company official, the expansion would create skill development opportunities in the region. In its annual report, CEAT Tyres said it has lined up investment of Rs 3,500 crore to ramp up production capacity across its plants over a three to four year period. The company said it has already put in capital to expand plant in Gujarat. "The total investment in capacity expansion is Rs 3,500 crore, including the amount already incurred on the Halol commercial radial tyre expansion, with the remaining amount to be spent over the next 3-4 years", the report said. The company was also increasing its two-wheeler tyre manufacturing capacity at Nagpur by 170 lakh tyres per annum. The company has manufacturing facilities at Bhandup, Mumbai, Nashik, Halol and Nagpur. It also has an off-highway tyre manufacturing plant at Ambernath, Maharashtra. CEAT produces over 35 million tyres a year and offers wide range of tyres to all segments. It exports tyres to around 100 countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Norgine to receive upfront payments, undisclosed milestone payments along with double-digit percentage royalties - Norgine retains full commercial rights to PLENVU in all unlicensed countries AMSTERDAM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Norgine B.V. (Norgine), a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company, today announced a number of deals for the commercialisation of Norgine's product PLENVU around the world. Norgine entered into exclusive licence and distribution agreements with: Faes Farma S.A. in Chile , Colombia , Costa Rica , Dominican Republic , Ecuador , El Salvador , Guatemala , Honduras , Mexico , Nicaragua , Panama and Peru . in , , , , , , , , , , and . Pharmacare Limited T/A Aspen Pharmacare in the Republic of South Africa , Lesotho , Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia . in the Republic of , , Eswatini, and . Swixx Biopharma in Central and Eastern Europe including Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bulgaria , Croatia , Czech Republic , Hungary , Kosovo , Montenegro , North Macedonia , Poland , Romania , Serbia, Slovakia , and Slovenia . Peter Stein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Norgine said, "Colonoscopy plays a critical role in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases including colorectal cancer. Through these partnerships with Faes Farma, Aspen Pharmacare and Swixx Biopharma PLENVUwill be able to help more patients around the globe." Gonzalo Lopez, General Manager of Faes Farma commented, "We are pleased to include PLENVU in our portfolio and are convinced that it will contribute to the development and improvement of colonoscopy in Latin America, a region where our company invests significantly to bring added value treatments to patients. We hope this collaboration with Norgine will be a first step and new cooperation opportunities may materialize in the future." Lorraine Hill, Aspen Pharmacare Group Chief Operating Officer said, "The agreement completed between Pharmacare Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aspen Holdings and the Group's primary South African trading company, and Norgine is a positive extension of our relationship locally. The inclusion of the PLENVUbrand will supplement our existing portfolio in this therapeutic area." Swixx CEO, Jean-Michel Lespinasse noted, "Adding PLENVU to our gastrointestinal (GI) portfolio, represents a great opportunity for Swixx, building on our existing excellent collaboration with Norgine. PLENVU has the potential to help improve colonoscopy outcomes, patient experience and adherence." Following the announcement of Norgine's exclusive licence agreement with Korea Pharma in January 2019, PLENVU has now launched in South Korea. PLENVU is a lower-volume (1L) polyethylene glycol (PEG) based bowel preparation for colonoscopy in adults. It is the first lower-volume bowel preparation to show superior segmental cleansing of the colon vs. standard of care.[1] PLENVUis currently available in mainland Europe (except France and Sweden) and Australia via Norgine, in South Korea via its partner Korea Pharma and in the USA via its partner Salix Pharmaceuticals.[2] For further information on PLENVU in the EU visit www.expertiseincolonoscopy.com/plenvu Notes to Editors: About PLEN VU PLENVU, Powder for Oral Solution (PEG 3350, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Chloride, and Potassium Chloride), is indicated in adults for bowel cleansing prior to any procedure requiring a clean bowel. About Colorectal Cancer and colonoscopy Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality world-wide.[3] Colorectal cancer is largely preventable, with early detection being associated with a 90% cure rate.[4] Colonoscopy is an effective method for colorectal cancer screening and has been shown to reduce both the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer when applied in the general population. Inadequate pre-colonoscopy bowel cleansing reduces the diagnostic accuracy of colonoscopy, particularly for the detection of smaller lesions and sessile (slightly flattened) polyps. This may result in repeated procedures, thereby potentially increasing patient burden, resource requirement and costs and can possibly delay the initiation of treatment.[5],[6],[7] About Norgine Norgine is a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company that has been bringing transformative medicines to patients for over a century. Our commitment to transforming people's lives drives everything we do and our European experience, fully integrated infrastructure and exceptional partnership approach enables us to quickly apply creative solutions to bring life-changing medicines to patients that they may not otherwise be able to access. Norgine is proud to have helped 22 million patients around the world in 2019 and generated 419 million in net product sales, a growth of 6% over 2018. Norgine has a direct presence in 14 European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. We also have a strong global network of partnerships in non-Norgine markets. We are a flexible and fully integrated pharmaceutical business, with manufacturing (Hengoed, Wales and Dreux, France), third party supply networks and significant product development capabilities, in addition to our sales and marketing infrastructure. This enables us to acquire, develop and commercialise specialist and innovative products that make a real difference to the lives of patients around the world. In 2012, Norgine established Norgine Ventures, a complementary business which supports innovative healthcare companies through the provision of debt-like financing in Europe and the US. For more information, please visit http://www.norgineventures.com/ . NORGINE and the sail logo are trademarks of the Norgine group of companies. Follow us @norgine About Faes Farma Founded in 1933, Faes Farma is a Spanish pharmaceutical company with wide international experience that researches, produces and markets pharmaceutical products and raw materials, exporting them to many countries. The identity of the company is defined by an unwavering search of excellence, the constant pursuit of a maximum pharmacological quality of all its products and the consequent effort to always offer highly effective solutions for patients in selected therapeutic areas among which gastro enterology is one of the most important for the company, as well as allergy treatments. Faes Farma operates in many countries, employing more than 1.200 people. Its headquarters, manufacturing and R&D centre are located in Leioa, (Bizkaia). Faes Farma also has facilities in Madrid and subsidiaries in Portugal, Laboratorios Vitoria, in Barcelona, Diafarm Laboratories and also in Italy, France, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Nigeria. About Aspen Aspen is a leading global player in specialty, branded and generic pharmaceuticals with an extensive basket of products that provide treatment for a broad spectrum of acute and chronic conditions experienced through all stages of life. With an acknowledged presence of nearly 2 decades in the pharmaceutical sector, Aspen remains committed to its core values of providing quality and effective healthcare solutions to millions of patients in more than 150 countries, with its core focus being in the Thrombosis, Anaesthetic and High Potency & Cytotoxic therapeutic categories. Aspen has a strong presence in both emerging and developed countries. Its emerging market footprint includes Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, comprising Russia and the former Soviet Republics. It is also a leading pharmaceutical company in developed countries including Australia and most notably in Western Europe. Aspen operates with an established business presence in approximately 50 countries spanning 6 continents and employs more than 10,000 people. The Group operates 26 manufacturing facilities across 18 sites. Aspen holds international manufacturing approvals from some of the most stringent global regulatory agencies including the FDA, TGA and EMA. Aspen's manufacturing capabilities are scalable to demand and cover a wide variety of product-types including oral solid dose, liquids, semi-solids, steriles, biologicals, APIs and infant nutritionals. With a market capitalisation of approximately $10 billion, Aspen is the largest pharmaceutical company listed on the JSE Limited (share code: APN) and ranks amongst the top 20 listed companies on this exchange. For more information visit: http://www.aspenpharma.com/ About Swixx BioPharma AG Swixx now operates fully-owned subsidiaries across Central and Eastern Europe, offering coverage from Moscow to Prague and from Tallinn to Sofia. Net sales in 2019 were 143 million Euros and in 2020 should reach 225 million Euros. Established in 2014, Swixx has gathered outstanding specialty pharmaceutical, rare disease, medical device and OTC / consumer healthcare talent under one roof. The company specializes in representing research-based pharmaceutical, biotech, orphan, medical equipment and self-care brands. For more info about Swixx, please visit: www.swixxbiopharma.com References [1] Repici A., Amlani B., Uebel P., Schreiber S. Superior high-quality colon cleansing with 1L NER1006 versus sodium picosulfate + magnesium citrate, 2L polyethylene glycol + ascorbate, or oral sulfate solution: Post hoc pooled analysis of three randomised phase 3 clinical trials. P0159. Monday 22 October. 12:30 - 13:30 CET. UEGW 2018 [2] In Austria, Spain and the Netherlands it is known as PLEINVUErather than PLENVU March 2018. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/31722. Accessed June 2018. [3] World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer Last accessed February 2020 [4] American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/detection.html Last accessed February 2020 [5] Bechtold ML, Mir F, Puli SR et al. Optimizing bowel preparation for colonoscopy: a guide to enhance quality of visualization. Ann Gastroenterol 2016; 29: 137 - 146 [6] Brenner H, Stock C, Hoffmeister M. Effect of screening sigmoidoscopy and screening colonoscopy on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. BMJ 2014; 348: g2467 [7] Baxter NN, Warren JL, Barrett MJ et al. Association between colonoscopy and colorectal cancer mortality in a US cohort according to site of cancer and colonoscopist specialty. J Clin Oncol 2012; 30: 2664 - 2669 Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/597589/Norgine_Logo.jpg US President Donald Trump will be on a two-day visit to India on February 24 and 25, according to the White House statement, President Trump and First Lady Melania will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Gujarat and "interact with a wide cross-section of Indian society". It has also been confirmed that Trump will be inaugurating the Sardar Patel Stadium at Motera in Ahmedabad which is touted to be the world's largest stadium upon an invitation extended to Trump by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017. According to sources, a program dubbed as 'Kem Chho Trump' will be held inside the stadium where both Trump and Modi will address a large gathering estimated around 1.25 lakhs. It is noteworthy that PM Modi had participated in a similar event on September 22 2019, in the US city of Houston called 'Howdy Modi'. 'Howdy' is a colloquial word meaning hello while the Gujrati word 'Kem chho' is also used as a greeting. Meanwhile, preparations for the visit of the dignitaries in Ahmedabad is on full swing. The roads from the airport leading up to the stadium and around the stadium, which will be used by both Trump and Modi's convoy is being readied. Also, make-shift helipads have been constructed behind the stadium. In New Delhi, Trump and Modi will take part in delegate-level talks to improve bilateral trade issues between the two nations. On Trump's visit, PM Modi said, "President Trump's visit is very special and will go a long way in further cementing India-US friendship," adding, "Robust friendship between India and US augurs well not only for their citizens but also the entire world." On Tuesday (February 11), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that India and US's global strategic partnership is based on trust, shared values, mutual respect, and understanding, and marked by warmth and friendship between the people of the two countries. The MEA also expressed confidence that President Trump's two-day visit to India will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review progress in bilateral ties and further strengthen the Indo-US partnership at different levels. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 23:00:58|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close BERLIN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The index of real wages in Germany rose by 1.2 percent on average in 2019, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Wednesday. Nominal wages in Germany increased by 2.6 percent year-on-year in 2019, while consumer prices rose by 1.4 percent, provisional figures by Destatis showed. The trend of previous years, in which the gross earnings of employees rose faster than consumer prices, had continued in Germany, Destatis noted. "Real wages in Germany have continuously increased for the last 10 years. This is an encouraging development," Christoph Schroeder, senior researcher at the German Economic Institute (IW), told Xinhua on Wednesday. "Although the labor market is still strong, Germany's competitiveness has declined significantly," Schroeder warned. The German industry had "already recorded lower order numbers and we expect only moderate growth of real wages in the future." Despite the rise in nominal wages, Germany's trade union ver.di criticized that the minimum wage currently at 9.35 euros (10.2 U.S. dollars) per hour "was considerably too low" and demanded to raise it to at least 12 euros per hour. Germany had one of the "largest low-wage sectors in Europe," Ralf Kraemer, union secretary at ver.di, told Xinhua. The Marine Corps needs quality over quantity, according to the service's top general. That's what's behind a newly proposed move to shrink the size of the Marine Corps by more than 2,000 leathernecks next year. The plan, which Commandant Gen. David Berger said he was considering last year, was formally laid out in the Marine Corps' 2021 budget request. It proposed dropping the Marine Corps' congressionally authorized end-strength from 186,200 personnel to 184,100. "We will get smaller in order to get better," Berger told Military.com after a Tuesday speech on Capitol Hill. "We need the resources. When we shrink a little bit in structure ... we're going to take that money and pour it into the Marine Corps that [the country needs]." If approved, it'll mark the first time the Marine Corps has trimmed personnel from its ranks since 2016, when it ended a years-long post war drawdown that cut 20,000 people. Rear Adm. Randy Crites, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget, said on Monday that the Marine Corps likely won't retain as many people in 2021 as it trims the force. "These were primarily focused on headquarter reductions," he said of the end-strength cuts. "They looked for excess capacity, so non-operational units, per se." Related: Marines Plan to Cut Thousands of Personnel, Cull Fleets of MRAPs and AAVs Crites declined to comment further on the communities likely to be affected by the cuts, citing an upcoming Marine Corps force redesign Berger said will be released in the next 30 days. "Ill sit down with the leadership at the Pentagon this week and next week, and then we're off to the races," Berger said. That review will lay out plans for the future structure of the Marine Corps. Berger said in November that the process would result in a "radically different" Marine Corps. "We are designed ... for a competition behind us, not in front of us," he said last fall. "That's driving the Marine Corps to redesign our force." The service must adapt to take on threats from countries such as China and Russia, the commandant said. Berger has called China's activities in the South China Sea a game changer for the Navy and Marine Corps -- the two services likely to be called on to respond to threats in the Asia-Pacific region. Berger acknowledged that not everyone will agree with the decision to cut the size of the force to pay for equipment upgrades. "I understand the perspective of mass having a quality of its own," he said. "But right now, we need quality. ... And the force that we end up with will be much better." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read more: Force-Wide Review Could Result in a 'Radically Different' Marine Corps Multi-User XR for CAD, BIM & Point Cloud Visualization with Magic Leap 1, HoloLens 2 & Mobile AR OTTAWA, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Arvizio today announced the launch of XR Connect, a suite of services for secure multi-location edge and cloud collaboration for enterprise XR (Extended Reality). The Arvizio XR Platform is a complete solution for optimization, visualization and collaboration using 3D CAD, BIM, LiDAR, 3D scans and photogrammetry models for AEC, energy, mining, engineering and advanced manufacturing applications. Arvizio's XR Connect services allow multiple XR users to interact over wide area networks including both fixed broadband and mobile 4G/5G connections. Arvizio's specialized servers offer WAN-optimized data transfers, spatial anchor sharing and synchronization of shared content together with real-time audio and video communications. With a unique edge and cloud hybrid architecture, sensitive 3D model data is stored securely on the customers location and relayed to XR devices on demand over encrypted wide area services. The Arvizio XR platform has 3 key elements, the Arvizio XR Immerse app that runs on Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) or standalone Virtual Reality (VR) devices, Arvizio XR Director which is used to prepare, optimize and serve 3D models and associated content from a PC or edge server and Arvizio XR Connect which provides connectivity and sharing services across locations. Arvizio XR Director allows fully automated or user-guided workflows to reduce the size of large 3D models and point clouds for display on AR devices and headsets. In addition, hybrid rendering capabilities allow models to be streamed to the headsets from GPU equipped PCs and edge servers using Nvidia, AMD or Intel GPUs. Along with seamless integration with Autodesk Revit, BIM 360 and Fusion 360, users can combine CAD/BIM models with point clouds in the same scene to visualize placement of a model in a real-world LiDAR scan or photogrammetry model. Real time IoT data can be displayed and augment a 3D scene to provide an XR digital twin. "New augmented reality services with AR content streaming will require scalable edge and cloud architectures in order to take advantage of the power of 5G networks," said Jonathan Reeves, CEO at Arvizio. "Our XR Connect services, along with advanced tools, hybrid rendering, and support of multiple devices leverage new 5G deployments and enable our customers to visualize and implement project solutions faster than they've been able to in the past. This is particularly important in the AEC, mining, energy and manufacturing industries where accuracy and time to completion directly impact the bottom line." Arvizio has also released three new tiers of the XR Platform to allow customers to begin their digital transformation with a solution scaled to best fit their organization; all three packages include XR Director, the Immerse XR app and Immerse Mobile AR. The XR Platform Innovator Edition provides the ability to walk through designs at life size, align models with the real world for AR and MR digital twin scenarios and synchronize the view for participants at a single location. The Pro and Pro Plus Editions extends this set of capabilities to conduct virtual design reviews and collaborative meetings with audio bridging and two-way video for multiple participants across locations. Arvizio will be offering live demonstrations of their XR Platform at the Industrial VR/AR Forum February 25 26, in Houston and in conjunction with Qualcomm, at MWC Barcelona February 24 - 27. For additional information, please visit www.arvizio.io . SOURCE Arvizio Inc. Related Links http://www.arvizio.io/ Koreans and their Chinese family members leave a third government-chartered plane after they arrived at Gimpo International Airport from Wuhan, China, Wednesday. Yonhap South Korea's third evacuation flight from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan arrived back in Seoul on Wednesday, carrying about 140 of its citizens, their Chinese spouses and family members, with five of them showing symptoms of the coronavirus. The chartered plane landed at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul at 6:23 a.m. The passengers with the symptoms were sent to a hospital for additional medical checks and treatment. The evacuation mission came less than a fortnight after two flights brought back a total of 701 nationals from the city amid growing fears over the spread of the deadly virus that has sickened more than dozens of people in South Korea. Among the passengers on the third flight were some 60 Chinese nationals who boarded the plane with their South Korean family members with the approval from the Chinese authorities. A boy who arrived with Koreans and their Chinese family members at Gimpo International Airport from Wuhan, China, Wednesday, looks outside a bus as they are transported to a quarantined residential facility in Icheon, Gyeonggi Progince. Yonhap Gov't advises against traveling to Southeast Asia Seoul city offers coronavirus information in 12 languages Couples in dilemma over wedding ceremony amid coronavirus fears Seoul initially planned to bring to Korea about 170 people, including 70 Chinese, on the latest flight. It remains unknown why some of them did not board the plane. The evacuees are to be screened for possible infection before being transported to temporary accommodations at the Korea Defense Language Institute in Icheon, 80 kilometers south of Seoul, where they will stay for 14 days, the virus' incubation period. Amid the mounting dread of the virus that emerged in Wuhan in December, South Korea has been beefing up quarantine efforts, as well as its diplomacy to ensure the safety of its citizens in Wuhan and its vicinity. There are still an estimated 100 South Koreans in the epicenter of the epidemic, raising expectations that Seoul could mull sending another flight. Advertisement Female Peshmerga soldiers have been photographed tearing into snakes and rabbits with their teeth as part of a graduation ceremony to make them officers of the formidable Kurdish fighting force. Pictured today, the female members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party took part in their turning out among other male recruits near the Iraqi-Kurdish town of Soran, 60 miles northeast of the Kurds' capital, Erbil. During the ceremony, the women showed their military might by rolling through sloppy mud, knocking down their male counterparts in combat and tearing into a live snake and rabbit with their teeth. The Peshmerga, which is the armed forces of Iraqi-Kurdistan, first became a key player in the ground war against the Islamic State in August 2014 when the Sunni-extremist troops launched an unexpected attack on their region. One of the female troops' most notable triumphs was when they held off an ISIS assault on the city of Kobane during a bloody four-month long battle, and reclaimed the strategically crucial Mosul Dam soon after it fell to the militants. The Kurdish Peshmerga is famous for its use of female soldiers, all of whom battle alongside their male counterparts on the frontline. A female Peshmerga officer told the MailOnline in 2014, as the war on ISIS was raging, that women were particularly terrifying to the extremists because they believe men dispatched by women won't go to Paradise. An Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga female officer bites a snake while demonstrating skills during a graduation ceremony in the Kurdish town of Soran, about 100 kilometres northeast of the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region Arbil, on February 12, 2020 A female officers rips through the body of a snake with her teeth while demonstrating skills which make her an officer during a graduation ceremony in the Kurdish town of Soran today A female Peshmerga officer stands with her thumbs up as a mauled rabbit hangs from her teeth during a graduation ceremony for officers in the Kurdish town of Soran today Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take both sides of a snake and sink their teeth in during an officers' graduation ceremony today in Soran, an Iraqi-Kurdish town 60 miles northeast of Erbil Officers tear at the carcass of a rabbit during a graduation ceremony for Peshmerga officers today in the Kurdish town of Soran The hide of a rabbit hangs between a female Peshmerga officer's teeth in a skills display in the Iraqi-Kurdish town of Soran today A female Peshmerga officer paints the face of her fellow officer during the graduation ceremony today in the Kurdish town of Soran Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga female officers stand to attention wearing camouflage face paint and kit in the valley near the Kurdish town of Soran in the Kurds' autonomous region of Iraq today A female member of the Kurdish Peshmerga delivers a high kick through a board during an officers' graduation ceremony today in Soran, Iraqi-Kurdistan Female Peshmerga officers roll through mud during their graduation ceremony at a military camp in Soran, Erbil Province, Iraq today Female Peshmerga officers stand amid an ignited smoke bomb today during a graduation ceremony for officers at the Erbil Infantry military centre in Soran, 60 miles northeast of Erbil Female Peshmerga officers train alongside their male counterparts, as seen in this image from the officers' graduation ceremony today in Erbil Province, Iraqi-Kurdistan Female fighters stand to attention during today's graduation ceremony at the Erbil Infantry military centre, 60 miles northeast of the Iraqi-Kurdistan capital of Erbil Female fighters crawl through mud during today's graduation ceremony at the Erbil Infantry military centre, 60 miles northeast of the Iraqi-Kurdistan capital of Erbil Female fighters stand to attention during their turning out ceremony today at a military centre in Soran, Iraqi-Kurdistan Female officers crawl through mud as they display skills learned through their training at a military centre near the Kurdish town of Soran today Female fighters stand to attention after wading through mud at a graduation ceremony in the Iraqi-Kurdish town of Soran today CLEVELAND, Ohio -- You haven't seen the last of the Yang Gang. Thats the message former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang repeated as he made the rounds on the cable news shows the morning after ending his campaign. Too many Americans do not feel like theres a place for them in the 21st century economy that is transforming before our eyes, he told CNN. The problems that animated my campaign are not going away. Im not going away, the Yang Gangs not going away, so the plan is to keep on pushing the ideas of this campaign across the finish line. So were not going anywhere and I would certainly not rule out running for office again. What about vice president? I would certainly be honored to serve as someones running mate, he said. Im already on the record too saying if I could solve these problems as someones vice president, a member of an administration. We just need to start solving these problems for the next generation. Im happy to do my part. Andrew Yang says he does "not rule out running for office again" after ending 2020 bid: "I'm not going away, the Yang Gang's not going away, so the plan is to keep on pushing the ideas of this campaign across the finish line. So we're not going anywhere" https://t.co/WTFRWpfJ08 pic.twitter.com/v3zaJH6dyv CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 12, 2020 CNN's Poppy Harlow to Andrew Yang: "Do you want to be a vice-presidential candidate?" Yang: "I would certainly be honored to serve as someone's running mate.... I am also happy to do my part to campaign for the nominee and beat Donald Trump in the fall" https://t.co/N7DAjzvIpp pic.twitter.com/YdhqwWqwuO CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 12, 2020 Yang added that while some of the other candidates have reached out to him, hes not endorsing anybody. At least not yet. I am also happy to do my part to campaign for the nominee and beat Donald Trump in the fall," he said. Earlier on MSNBC, Yang talked about the difficulty of running as an unknown and a Washington outsider. One thing I would recommend is some kind of change in the debate format, said Yang, who appeared in seven of the eight debates but received the least amount of speaking time in all but one. Right now the made-for-TV format of the debates lends itself towards certain types of conversations that generally remain pretty much on the surface. WATCH: Andrew Yang discusses how he would change the Democratic nominating process after dropping out of the 2020 race for president. "You haven't seen the last of the 'Yang Gang'." pic.twitter.com/xZG4wCMls8 MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 12, 2020 Yang made history by becoming the first Asian-American man to run for president as a Democrat. He dropped out Tuesday night after receiving less than 3 percent of the vote in New Hampshire. But Yang, who ran on the central idea of giving every adult American $1,000 a month, has already sparked speculation about a possible run for New York mayor next year. @AndrewYang would make a very interesting candidate for NYC Mayor in 21, former New York City deputy mayor Howard Wolfson tweeted. More Life + Culture stories: Rolling Stones stadium tour: How to buy tickets early Crafted Festival returning to Tremont for 3rd year Rock Hall Class of 2020: Ranking the albums Sauce the City gains 2nd stand in Ohio City Galley Clevelands Gotta Groove Records vinyl business affected by Apollo Masters factory fire Hontiveros calls for immediate crackdown of 'fly-by-night' POGOs "Tama na. Sobra na. We need an immediate crackdown on fly-by-night POGOs," said Senator Risa Hontiveros as she presented Lai Yu Cian or Ivy, a 23-year-old Taiwanese national trafficked into the country to work in a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators company. Ivy, who was forced to work for Chinese nationals in Makati, said she was recruited to work in advertising but was scared when she found out it was a POGO operation. The Taiwanese national said that her passport was confiscated and that her Chinese employers mentally and physically abused her. "They touched my body in front of other men, and they laughed at me," Ivy said to the media. She said that since her rescue early this month, she has received numerous threats to her safety. The senator underscored that Ivy's story is one of the many stories of workers, especially women, who are illegally made to work in the Philippines by POGO companies. "We can't add more crimes being committed to the country. We need to stop these illegal POGO companies immediately," urged Hontiveros. "Maraming krimen ang nakatali sa POGO: illegal recruitment, illegal detention, at sexual harassment. Kailangang matigil na ang mga ito," she concluded. South Africa: Watch SONA along with your community To ensure citizens far and wide are able watch the live broadcast of the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will host a number of public viewing sites. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to outline governments plans and programmes during a joint sitting of Parliament, in Cape Town, at 7pm. The live broadcasts, which take place at a venue within a community, aim to mobilise South Africans to watch the address, as well as give citizens an opportunity to actively engage in their own development. The live viewing events will take place in the following venues: In Gauteng: Boitumelo Informal Settlement, Sport Ground Zonderwater Correctional Service In the Free State: Ngwathe Local Municipality Paul Roux In KwaZulu-Natal: Eskawini TVET College In Western Cape: Montagu community Hall Laingsburg Thusong Centre Bredasdorp Thusong Hall Riversdale Thusong service Centre Witteklip Community Hall, Vredenburg Ruth First Hall, Philipi In Limpopo: Blouberg TVET College In the Northern Cape: 3 Sai, Roodepan In the North West: Losper Prison PH Moeketsi Secondary School - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. West African countries have agreed to investigate the impact of Nigerias decision last year to close off its land borders to trade, Nigerias presidency said on Monday. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has shut his countrys border last year with neighboring countries, Benin Republic and Niger. Africas most populous nation has banned the import and export of all goods through these borders since last August as part of what it described as a campaign to tackle smuggling. A statement released by a spokesman for Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States agreed Sunday night to set up a committee to study and make a full report on Nigerias land border closure with her neighbors. There is no timeline for when the report is due, but it is meant to be completed as soon as possible, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said, according to the statement. Nigeria and 14 other West African countries are members of ECOWAS and are signatories to the protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services in the sub-region. Promulgated in 1979, the protocol provides a legal framework granting member states citizens the right to enter, reside and engage in economic activities in the territory of other ECOWAS members. New Delhi/Islamabad, Feb 12 : Just ahead of the FATF review, founder and patron of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Saeed, was convicted in terror funding cases and sent to jail for five-and-a-half years by a Pakistani court on Wednesday. Sources in Pakistan said the mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks was sentenced to five-and-a-half years and imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each of the two cases related to terror funding. However, the jail terms in both cases will run concurrently, the Lahore anti-terrorism court said. The sentence was announced in front of Saeed in the courtroom by judge Arshad Hussain Bhatta. The Jamaat-ud- Dawa (JuD) chief Saeed was found guilty of "being part of a banned terrorist outfit" and for "having illegal property", his lawyer Imran Gill said. The JuD was financing terror by raising funds through non-profit organisations and trusts including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust and others. Banned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Saeed faces 23 terror cases in Pakistan alone. Even as he was put under house arrest a few times due to international pressure and India's repeated lament, Saeed continued to enjoy his freedom and even held public rallies against India. Pakistan filed charges against him only after Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog for terror funding and money laundering put the country under 'grey list'. The grey and black listing at FATF has adverse consequences for Pakistan's international trade and investment. Pakistan expects to get off the grey list by showing compliance to the FATF conditions for curbing terror funding, later this week. In 2015, I crowdfunded a trip to cover the UK general election as an independent journalist. One of my first pieces was an interview with Nancy Taaffe, then the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition candidate in Walthamstow who was challenging incumbent Labour MP Stella Creasy from the left. The Labour Party is no longer a socialist party, she told me. I found her arguments compelling, and after Labour lost that election, I thought she had a point. So, in a column for The Gay UK Magazine, I endorsed lifelong socialist and leftwing campaigner Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership. To my delight, he won. The revolution was finally coming. How quickly things changed. By 2017, it was clear that Jeremy Corbyn though I agreed with him on most issues couldnt win a game of tic-tac-toe, let alone a general election. The party was in disarray. Corbyn was embroiled in an antisemitism scandal (which persists to this day). There were fears of entryism from radical voices who sought to remake the Labour Party as they saw fit. Accusations flew that the hard left was trying to purge the party of more moderate leftwing voices. Many MPs feared Corbyn and his supporters who were known to bully fellow party members and attempt to deselect (read: primary) MPs who didnt perfectly toe the Corbyn line were woefully out of touch with the British public. I led The Gay UKs election coverage that year, and it was painfully clear to me that Labour was not going to defeat Theresa May. Given Mays unpopularity generally and the fact that the nation was weary after seven years of Conservative austerity, it should have been Corbyns to lose. And it was. He lost it. The party tried to spin the gains he made as a victory, but almost winning is also known as losing. He maintained his hold on the reins of power, though, leading Labour into the 2019 election and to its worst electoral defeat since 1935. Which brings us to New Hampshire. Last night, Bernie Sanders eked out a narrow victory in the popular vote over Pete Buttigieg. As I watched the results come in, I couldnt help but feel I was living in the film Groundhog Day I had literally experienced all of this before, only the accents were different. Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks tweeted that if progressives take over the party we should ban all the corporate Democratic consultants (he doesnt specify who, but anyone reading it knows he means moderates). A few days prior, when I tweeted that in order to win in November Bernie would need voters like me who support other candidates in the primary, a Bernie supporter told me we dont negotiate with terrorists. Last night, another enthusiastic Bernie fan compared my candidate of choice (Pete Buttigieg) to Hitler. I despair. Bernie Sanders and his supporters seem to doing every play in the Corbynista playbook in hopes that theyll have a different result. They wont. I get why its tempting, though. Firing up your base in the primary or the leadership campaign is all well and good. It feels nice. People are passionate. It might even make you the nominee or leader. Most of the party will fall in line, because they want to win and you are their only shot at electoral victory. Voters, however, will not. After the that 2015 election in the UK, I wrote another essay succinctly titled Why Labour Lost. The gist of my analysis at the time was that leftwing ideas were enjoying unprecedented popularity, so of course if Labour presented a truly socialist manifesto then victory would be easy. How wrong I was. Most voters saw Corbyn as woefully out of touch. They worried he was a dangerous radical who would compromise national security. Their interactions with his supporters online left a bad taste in their mouth. They felt that the party was focused more on issues affecting the cosmopolitan elite than the kitchen table issues of Middle England. Corbyn didnt win over swing voters, and many longtime Labour voters left the party or didnt vote. As a result he lost to a national joke, a crass and boorish man with floppy blonde hair who has a history of saying racist things and just a few years ago no one thought would be prime minister. Sound familiar? AOC whips up the crowd at Bernie Sanders campaign event Sanders and his supporters, especially, risk alienating longtime Democratic voters who maybe arent quite as ready for the revolution. They certainly risk alienating swing voters in crucial states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania for whom big, structural change sounds scary and disruptive because it is scary and disruptive. Forget the nomination for a moment and play the long game. Any Democrat we nominate will need both those groups if she or he hopes to win the White House. That includes Bernie Sanders. I sympathize with Bernie and his supporters, because Im a socialist. Not a milquetoast democratic socialist like Bernie, but a proper, old-school socialist. I believe in open borders. I believe the people should control the means of production, not capital and not the state. I believe in a massive redistribution of wealth. But crucially, I also believe in winning. The only point of electoral politics is to win power. In order to win power, you must meet voters where they are and work within the system as it is. That means working with Blue Dog Democrats who win in more conservative parts of the country, not purging them from your ranks. Compromise and working within the system are anathema to the radicals who support Bernie Sanders, because the system is exactly what they want to tear down. Thats not going to happen overnight. Its not going to happen this year. Its not even likely to happen in our lifetimes. So we are where we are, and if we hope to make things better for anyone, were going to have to meet the American people where they are. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters Bernie Sanders has a lot of great ideas for America, but the so-called Bernie Bros are an albatross around his neck. If I could give them one piece of advice, it is to cut. it. out. Like it or not, youre going to need other Democrats, independents, and swing voters if you hope to put your man in the White House. Right now, your ideological purity tests, bullying of those who disagree with you, and threats of purging the party of your opponents are alienating far too many of us. The most important thing right now is that we defeat Donald Trump and win. Because of that, if hes the nominee, Bernie will have my vote. But if his acolytes continue to act like a bullying, braying mob, he will not have my support. Jeremy Corbyn lost because of his and his followers arrogant refusal to accept differing views. Unless Bernie and his bros soon change course, hell lose too if not at the convention, then in November. From left to right: Subrina Singh, Ijmal Haider, Pooja Mehta, and Vaidehi Gajjar As a biracial person growing up in an Indian community half of the time, I came to learn early on how strong the stigma surrounding mental illness can be. I visit India once a year, and as much as I enjoy being in my second home, I often feel cornered. Since childhood, my emotions tend to come through intensely. I cry often, which raises questions like, Why are you so moody? Right before my senior year of high school, just after my grandfather passed away, I began to understand my emotions were depression. It was the first time I realized mental illness was very much part of my life. I wanted my grandmother to see what was happening, so she could piece together part of the reason I am so moody. As I began to broach the subject, I was met with a chuckle and essentially told it was is all in my head. Related: 21 Signs That Told People It Was Time to Cut a Toxic Person From Their Lives I was crushed. I dont know what I expected her response to be, but it wasnt that. Later, as I began to figure out what I wanted to study, I mentioned my interest in psychology and understanding the human mind. Psychology isnt a real field, was her response. Now that Im nearing the end of college, I can say she is less abrasive when it comes to mental health. Do I discuss it with her on my own? No, but I can tell she is more receptive to the topic. Nonetheless, I still struggle to explain my health to my family. When my chronic and mental illnesses make an appearance while in India, they chalk it up to just stress. All of this and more has impacted me emotionally. I find it difficult to communicate what Im feeling, and I tend to isolate myself to avoid unwanted questions. Im not the only one who has faced difficulties due to stigma. Many South Asian communities both based on nationality and religion dont acknowledge or validate mental illness. It is something that, as Mighty community member Benita T. said, is swept under the rug. Story continues Related: Harvey Weinstein's Lawyer Says She 'Never Put Herself in the Position' to Be Sexually Assaulted Why mental health stigma exists in the South Asian community is complicated. But generally, it is because people were raised to believe mental health is a weakness or that it doesnt even exist. Mental illness is real, and having a mental health condition doesnt make you weak. To bring awareness to this unique perspective, we interviewed four people from the South Asian community. They shared their stories and ways the stigma impacts their lives, and even provide some words of wisdom for other individuals who may be in a similar position. Vaidehi Gajjar Photo of Vaidehi Gajjar Related: What to Consider If People Call You Sensitive Vaidehi Gajjar, contributor and editor for Brown Girl Magazine, grew up in North America and is from a Gujarati Indian family. She is heavily involved in South Asian mental health advocacy, working on the boards of three different organizations. She writes about her experiences as well as mental health. An only child whose family moved a lot, Gajjar now understands her anxiety began when she was young. These feelings increased after an assault, which left her feeling drained and caused difficulties socially in college. Physically, anxiety and depression left me exhausted, Gajjar told The Mighty. It was as if the weight of my thoughts had trickled from my brain into my bones, and I was left dragging myself around or rather my anxiety and depression were left dragging me around. When it comes to the connection between mental illness and culture, Gajjar feels being Indian and Hindu definitely makes the discussion much more difficult between generations. She added: I feel that my own generation does seem more open to discussing mental health; however, there still seems to be a disconnect between the older generation and my own There is largely a sense of never actually focusing on the mental illness, but rather other issues that may be a result of problems with mental health. I also feel like no matter how open we claim to be with our parents, or the generations that came before us in general, theres just some door that automatically closes when it comes to our mental health and the struggles that come with it. Because of this disconnect, Gajjar couldnt open up and didnt seek help. Eventually, she found solace in writing and sharing her own story with others. She wants people to know that sharing your story isnt about receiving pity or sympathy, its about promoting understanding. Its for every individual suffering in silence day in and day out simply because theyve been made to feel like they dont matter, Gajjar said. They all matter, regardless of whether they come forward with their story or not. Subrina Singh Photo of Subrina Singh Subrina Singh also works at Brown Girl Magazine. She comes from an Indo-Carribean background. Her mother is a first-generation Trinidadian and her father is from Guyana. In college, she pursued Asian and Asian American studies and later South Asian religion and philosophy. Since adolescence, Singh has fought with her emotions and some days struggles to accept her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. In 2012, she lost her eldest sister to gun violence. This event changed her emotionally to the point she began to have nightmares and suicidal ideation. This event pushed me to my first attempt, Singh said. Surviving suicide is a continuous battle My mental health journey has been a roller coaster, but it has given me a strength that I never even knew possible. Singh had a hunch something was off before her diagnosis and wanted to address it but cultural taboos began to creep up. She said: I was 14 when I asked my parents to see a therapist. The answer was simple, No. We do not air our dirty laundry. Basically, it wasnt their way. If I had a problem, they couldnt understand why I couldnt come to them. But what I understand and accept now as mental health is so foreign to my parents. When [a psychiatrist] gave the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, my dad asked, When will she be cured? We all wanted to know because I too knew nothing about mental health or illnessesThey come from a world and culture where mental health and illness was not only not discussed but almost didnt exist. This entire journey has been a learning process that we have gone through together. I am grateful now that they trust my judgement. At first, Singhs parents felt pressure to try alternative means of treatment. Although her family is not religious, she began a course of more spiritual treatments: fasting, ritual baths and pools. None of them relieved any of her symptoms. Since then, Singhs parents gained a clearer understanding of her diagnosis and the treatment required. Her experience with religious treatments inspired her masters thesis a look at the stigma around mental illness within the Indo-Carribean communities of Trinidad and Guyana. She visited the two countries to collect data and learn about the use of religious treatments such as pujas, a type of prayer ritual, and Indo-Caribbean black magic known as obeah. When she began her research, she realized stigma and taboos surrounding mental illness are so deeply ingrained not only into our culture but very much so into the Hindu religion. For centuries, mental illness or instability of any kind was seen as demonic. Hindu texts even discuss instances of these episodes and how this began an association between mental illness and evil. Singh knows living with mental illness is often not easy, and that South Asians face another set of challenges, but she wants people to persevere in the face of adversity. She said: We need to be brave and have the unwanted conversations. Our parents dont understand, not because they dont want to, but because they were never informed or never exposed. It is a different world now, and if we are patient change is out there. We can make change happen. People will say hurtful things but mainly because they dont understand; disregard their comments. Always make your mental wellness a priority. And to those that do understand, they still have not walked in your shoes and truly understood what it is like to live with a mental illness. Only you know the struggle, and for that I promise you are a better person. Ijmal Haider Photo of Ijmal Haider Ijmal Haider was born in Canada to Pakistani parents who immigrated in the 70s. Though they encouraged Haider to learn about his roots as well as Canadian culture, there was somewhat of a disconnect when it came to his mental health. Mental health isnt something that is widely discussed in my culture. Admittance of a decline in mental health can be seen as weakness, Haider said. This doesnt mean my family doesnt understand it, it just took a while to reframe to them that its not a negative or a weakness, also that its ok to admit weakness and vulnerability in these areas. Haider believes stigma stems from being expected to be strong and not show weakness at a young age. The focus is to be the best you can be, which can mean to hide any faults, he said. Haiders advice? Reframe weaknesses as a positive and an opportunity for growth. Dont allow anyone to minimize your struggles or encourage you to hide them, he said. If we want to break stigma we have to face it head-on If we want to break stigma from anything we need to not shield the world from it. Pooja Mehta Photo of Pooja Mehta Pooja Mehta is a first-generation American from an Indian family. In school, she studied biology and public health and is working on a masters in health policy. She also started Project: I Define Me an initiative that lets people share their stories and show they are more than their mental illness. Mehtas goal is to influence the South Asian culture so that people are comfortable talking about their mental health struggles and asking for help, and that there are no economic or physical barriers to seeking care. Mehta began having panic attacks at the age of 13. Out of fear, she would hide away so her parents would not see. When they eventually found out, they were incredibly receptive and took her to her doctor. She was then diagnosed with schizoid anxiety and major depression. Despite this, Mehtas family discouraged her from discussing her diagnoses We were part of a robust South Asian community, and my parents knew how people with mental illnesses are treated in our culture, having seen it firsthand with family members. To protect me from that, they told me not to talk about my diagnoses with anyone, which I did until I was 19. However, Not being able to talk about it made me feel an incredible shame about having mental health diagnoses, and I didnt really believe I had a problem, and therefore wasnt really able to recover properly. Mehta attributes three factors to the stigma in South Asian communities First, we are an incredibly tight knit community, with families being very close to each other and community members constantly in each others affairs. People are afraid to talk about struggling with a mental illness because they know that it wont be a private matterthe entire community will be gossiping about it over a cup of chai. Second, a lot of us are first generation Americans, and our parents really struggled and made a lot of sacrifices to come to this country. With all of the privileges afforded to us, we have no justification to feel sad or anxious or compulsive (of course, mental illnesses dont need justification, they just happen). And third, the model minority myth calls on us to be conventionally successful, becoming an engineer or doctor or lawyer. Theres a universal perception that people with mental illnesses cant succeed conventionally, and so people dont want to say they have a mental illness because they then can be a part of the model minority stereotype. Read more stories like this on The Mighty: The Transition to College How to Access Support Colleges: Stop Trying to Replace Real Mental Health Services With Puppies To the Friend I Lost to My Mental Illness Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren called on Wednesday for Attorney General William Barr to resign or face impeachment after the Justice Department pushed back on prosecutors excessive sentencing recommendation for President Trumps longtime adviser Roger Stone. Congress must act immediately to rein in our lawless Attorney General, the Massachusetts senator wrote in a tweet. Barr should resign or face impeachment. Warren also demanded that Congress use its funding powers to constrain the attorney generals ability to interfere with anything that affects Trump, his friends, or his elections. After President Trump complained Tuesday on Twitter that the prosecutors seven-to-nine-year sentencing recommendation constituted a horrible and very unfair situation, his Justice Department submitted a revised filing stating that the prosecutors recommended lengthy sentence could be considered excessive and unwarranted. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the Houses investigation into the Trump campaigns connections to Russia. All four of the prosecutors who recommended Stones seven to nine year sentence either resigned or quit the case after the DOJ weighed in. The White House denied Trump had pressured the DOJ to show lenience to Stone. Hes the chief law enforcement officer. He has the right to do it. He just didnt, said Hogan Gidley, the White House principal deputy press secretary, saying Trump did not interfere here with anything. Trump congratulated Barr later in the day for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Warren noted that she has called for an independent Justice Department task force to investigate alleged crimes by Trump administration officials and called on all other Democratic candidates to commit to doing the same, so Trump officials know they will be held accountable by career prosecutors once he is out of office. Story continues Abusing official power to protect political friends and attack opponents is common in authoritarian regimes like Putins Russia, Warren said. Trump and Barrs conduct has no place in our democracy. To end it, Congress must actand the American people must hold them accountable in November. More from National Review President Trump doesnt seem to understand the value that words have when you are as powerful as he is. It makes him being president a dangerous situation. Another main reason President Trumps rhetoric is so divisive is because he separates Americans into his supporters and not his supporters. For example, when he won the presidency he went on a victory tour in celebration, but he only went to the states that he won during the election. He recognized those states as his loyal supporters and none of the states were worth his time, even though hes president of the whole United States, not just the ones that he won. Moreover, ever since Donald Trump became president, partisan polarity has only grown. It started with President Obama, but has only increased further with President Trump, according to the Pew Research Center. The reason for it is because President Trump makes it seem like Americans have to choose. They can either support him or join the radical left Democrats. The political parties are growing farther and farther apart because with Donald Trump, there is no middle ground, only division. A San Antonio burger was recently named "the absolute best" in Texas by a national health magazine. Eat This, Not That! used Yelp's star ratings and amount of reviews to find the best burger joint in each state, then looked through the reviews to crown the best beef patty on a bun at each establishment. The magazine determined that El Caliente Burger at Papa's Burgers is the best burger in the Lone Star State. The West Side eatery describes the dish as "just like San Antonio summers... HOT!" READ MORE: S.A. burger place apologizes, pledges to add staff after being inundated following national ranking Owner Robert Walker packs 1/3 of a pound of fresh grilled patty, pepper jack cheese, sliced jalapenos, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, onions, and pickles between the buns. The sandwich alone costs $7.50 and the combo with fries and a soft drink costs $10.95. Eat This, Not That! advised its readers to "spice things up with this caliente burger and a side of crinkle-cut fries." Papa's Burgers has received national acclaim before. In 2018, Money Magazine named the hole-in-the-wall restaurant, located at 709 Old Highway 90 West, the fourth best in the country. The resulting flood of customers overwhelmed the staff, so Walker hired more employees and apologized for not meeting the company's standards. Validus Vietnam and Nafoods Group signing the co-operation agreement on Feb 10 Agriculture is a crucial sector that accounts for 10 per cent of Vietnams GDP and supports 40 per cent of its total employment. Agricultural exports like fruits and vegetables surged by 29 per cent in 2018, contributing $438 billion to the country exceeding conventional commodities like crude oil and rice. Local SMEs make up 97 per cent of the total number of registered enterprises in Vietnam, but these businesses face an unmet $21 billion SME financing gap in the country. Tran Thi Thuy Ha, chief business officer of Validus Vietnam, said, SMEs play a crucial role in the countrys economy. With access to financing, these SMEs are able to obtain capital to fund their business operations as well as expand and accelerate their business growth. Validus Vietnam is proud to be working alongside Nafoods Group and its SMEs, as agriculture continues to be a key sector that contributes significantly to the countrys economy. The partnership iterates Validus commitment to providing ways and bridging the financing gap that many SMEs face when it comes to business financing. Through its Corporate Partnership programme, Validus seeks to actively work with companies like Nafoods to provide supply chain financing to its SMEs, such as farmers and distributors. Nafoods is a Vietnamese agri-food business and manufacturer that integrates agricultural processing from farm to distribution. It is also backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that works with the private sector in developing countries to create markets that open up opportunities for all. Nguyen Manh Hung, chairman and CEO of Nafoods Group, said that many farmers and SMEs along the supply chain sometimes do not get the funding on time to purchase their primary materials for crop growth. Many agricultural SMEs in Vietnam face financial issues due to challenges in getting loans from banks such as insufficient collateral, strict corporate customer screening criteria, and lack of financial literacy. Through working with Validus Vietnam, SMEs can obtain financing in time to improve their productivity to grow and expand their businesses. Nafoods Group is among the most innovative fruit and vegetable growers, processors, and exporters in Vietnam, specialising in fruit juice/NFC, puree, concentrate, IQF, and fresh fruits. The company sources more than 13,300 tonnes of fresh and processed fruits annually from farmers located in various regions in Vietnam, including the Central Highlands, the northwestern mountains, and the north-central coastal regions. The companys products are distributed all over the world, especially in Europe, the United States, Oceania, the Middle East, as well as Japan and Korea. Nguyen Chi Long, general director of Long Hue Investment JSC, an SME supplier to Nafoods, admitted that he was able to boost his cash flows for operational expenses and expand his business operations after receiving funding from Validus Vietnam. In the past, it was difficult for small business owners like myself to obtain sufficient funding from banks due to the lack of collaterals and business records. Thanks to Validus Vietnam, I can now receive financing on time to purchase farming equipment to harvest fruits and vegetables on my farm and sell them to Nafoods. I managed to improve my cashflow to purchase new supplies and expand my crop variety. These SMEs each play an important role in supplying local produce like fruits and nuts, supporting and helping to boost Vietnams strong food culture. Validus is proud to be a part of Vietnams agricultural ecosystem by supporting the SMEs in Nafoods supply chain with much-needed financing, added Ha from Validus Vietnam. Focusing on agri-business, Nafoods marks Validus Vietnams third corporate partnership in the country within a short span of less than three months since its launch last November. This comes after Validus Vietnams pilot partnership project with Medicare Vietnam, the largest pharmacy, health, beauty, and personal care retail group, and Unicons, a member of Coteccons Group and one of the leading private construction enterprises in Vietnam. Validus Vietnam looks to plug the unmet financing needs of SMEs in Vietnams burgeoning industries like agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and healthcare. It operates using the same proprietary technology and credit scoring systems used in Singapore and Indonesia (known as Batumbu) to provide local SMEs to fast, reliable, and affordable sources of growth financing. Agriculture capitalising from private investment Private sector investment has recently surged in the field of agriculture, contributing to building sustainability in the sector across Vietnam. Phuong Hao reports. IFC supports Nafoods Group to improve processing capacity and exports IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is helping Nafoods Group JSC, a local agribusiness, to expand its existing fruit processing capacity, boost exports, ... In the wake of controversial appointments to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the provinces chief human rights commissioner is calling on Attorney General Doug Downey to sign an agreement reaffirming the commissions independence. In addition, Renu Mandhane notes in a Feb. 7 letter that Downey failed to consult with her in advance of the January appointments of two part-time commissioners and has, despite multiple requests, not met with her since becoming attorney general in June 2019. Mandhane wrote she is concerned that Downeys failure to affirm an existing agreement signed by Caroline Mulroney, his predecessor, may compromise the commissions autonomy and independence from government and could result in Ontario failing to meet established international standards for human rights institutions. Reached by the Star, Mandhane said the letter, posted to the commissions web site, speaks for itself. The Star sent a list of questions to Downey Wednesday morning and did not receive a response. Last month, Premier Doug Ford quietly appointed a Toronto police officer and a professor with Progressive Conservative links to sit on the commission. Neither Const. Randall Arsenault nor Violetta Igneski, a McMaster University associate professor in philosophy, were among a list of 330 applications submitted to Mandhane for vetting. The part-time appointments come amidst the commissions ongoing inquiry into allegations of racial profiling and discrimination against the Toronto Police Service, raising questions around conflict of interest. Mandhane told the Star last month she had come up with a shortlist of about 30 candidates late last year under a process she believed had been agreed to by the Ministry of the Attorney General. When the picks were made public by the Star, Downeys office said in a statement that Arsenault and Igneski were named to support and advance the commissions mandate to provide leadership for the promotion, protection and advancement of human rights, and builds partnerships across the human rights system. The appointments were made in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, the statement said. Since coming into power, the Ford government had allowed all of the part-time commissioner positions to lapse, leaving only Mandhane in place as full-time chief commissioner. Her five-year term expires in the fall. The two appointments were immediately criticized, including by Toronto-based Black Legal Action Centre, a provincially-funded legal aid clinic. In an open letter, the clinic said the appointment process and the premiers handpicked candidates raise questions about the commissions integrity and ability to combat racism. Indeed, this seems to be one more step in Fords gutting of the human rights system in Ontario, the clinic said in the letter. In her letter to Downey, Mandhane points out that under the provinces Agencies and Appointments Directive a change in minister requires the new minister to sign a letter of affirmation, which is then attached to an existing memorandum of understanding between the commission and the government. The memorandum, wrote Mandhane, is an important assurance of the Ontario Human Rights Commissions (OHRC) capacity to function independently and impartially. Because the OHRCs autonomy from government and independence are not explicitly guaranteed by the Ontario Human Rights Code, the government must take other concrete steps to guarantee the independence and autonomy of the commission, she wrote. Both of the recent commissioner appointments have Progressive Conservative ties. In September 2018, Arsenault posted a picture on Instagram of himself and his partner in uniform with the premier at that years Ford Fest in Vaughan. In the caption, the officer wrote that police officers have been taking photos with politicians in all levels of government and all political parties for quite some time now. I was proud to stand beside our Premier Doug Ford. Igneskis sister held senior posts in the Tory governments of premier Mike Harris and prime minister Stephen Harper. The commission has the power to conduct inquiries and litigate. Its commissioners make decisions on which issues to take on and sign off on research and reports. 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: A Newark police lieutenant accused of killing his estranged wife and attempting to murder her new boyfriend will turn down a proposed plea deal, his lawyer said on Tuesday. Prosecutors offered Lt. John Formisano a 40-year prison in exchange for guilty pleas on the murder and attempted murder charges. Formisano is "not inclined to take that deal, his lawyer, Anthony Iacullo, told NJ Advance Media. With that said, we will continue to speak and entertain any reasonable resolution that is proposed as I feel it is both sides best interests, Iacullo said, adding that they are preparing for a trial. Formisano could face life in prison if found guilty at trial, which is unlikely to start before the summer. In addition to turning down the plea deal, Iacullo anticipates filing a motion to dismiss the indictment against Formisano, which also charges him with endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct. Formisano, 49, was in his police uniform at the time of the killings, 911 callers said. Newark police officials have said he was off-duty. He has since been suspended without pay. Shortly after his arrest on July 14, Formisano allegedly told investigators he "blacked out, but remembers firing at his estranged wife, Christie Solaro-Formisano, and her new boyfriend, identified only as T.S. in court documents. The couples two young children were home at the time of the shooting. If the motion to dismiss the indictment is not granted, Iacullo plans on filing a motion to suppress statements Formisano made during the investigation. Assistant Prosecutor Chris Shellhorn said the state will file a motion to have those statements submitted as evidence. Solaro-Formisanos family did not speak to reporters following the Monday hearing during which prosecutors detailed and offered the plea deal. A judge will rule on the dismissal motion on April 14. Another hearing on the planned motions is set for early May. Formisano is being held in a psychiatric facility pending a trial, although he has been cleared to stand trial. Its not clear what he is being treated for. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Bernie Sanders says being pro-choice absolutely essential to being Democrat; critic calls it excommunicating Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders stated at a forum in New Hampshire that he believes it is absolutely essential for a Democrat to be pro-choice on abortion. Speaking at the Our Rights, Our Courts forum in Concord on Saturday, the senator from Vermont was asked by MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle if he believed it was possible to be pro-life and a Democrat. While acknowledging the existence of a few pro-life Democrats in Congress, Sanders nevertheless concluded, By this time in history, I think when we talk about what a Democrat is, I think being pro-choice is an essential part of that. In response, Princeton University Professor Robert P. George took to Twitter to denounce Sanders' comments, believing that the candidate was officially excommunicating pro-life Democrats. So: if you're pro-life you are unacceptable, unwanted, an intruder. Time to go elsewhere, said George. Nevertheless, George also commended Sanders for showing superiority to his competitors in terms of honesty and forthrightness. His answer was direct and clear. No oiliness. Sanders is a man of principle--I only wish he had the right principles, he added. The forum was sponsored by the pro-choice groups Demand Justice, Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and All* Above All Action Fund. In addition to Sanders, seven other Democratic candidates were interviewed at the event: former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, philanthropist Tom Steyer, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, businessman Andrew Yang, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Sanders is not the only Democratic candidate being asked about his opinion of pro-life Democrats. At an Iowa town hall event last month, Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats For Life of America, asked Buttigieg about how his campaign would welcome pro-life Democrats. Well, I respect where you're coming from and I hope to earn your vote. But I'm not going to try to earn your vote by tricking you. I am pro-choice. And I believe that a woman ought to be able to make that decision, responded Buttigieg in part. The best I can offer is that if we can't agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line. And in my view, it's the woman who's faced with that decision in her own life. Day took issue with the response she received from Buttigieg, later writing in a column for USA Today that she believed he did not properly answer her questions. instead [Buttigieg] focused on his unyielding support for abortion and did not really seem to want the vote from me or people who share my views," she wrote. Buttigieg likes to talk about future former Republicans. With his extreme stance on abortion, though, he is doing precisely the opposite: building an army of future former Democrats, disturbed by Trump but forced into a corner. Two followers of the Sheikh of Hate Abdullah el-Faisal have been jailed for four and a half a years for running his website and writing his speeches. El-Faisal inspired terrorists including the London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan, 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui, shoe bomber Richard Reid and 20-year-old Sudesh Amman, who was shot dead two weeks ago after stabbing two people in Streatham. The preacher was jailed for nine years in 2003 but went to Jamaica on his release in 2007 and Mohammed Kamali, 31, helped him continue to spread his message of hate around the world. Kamali organised a network of volunteers who worked on El Faisals website called Authentic Tauheed and owned the domain. It allowed el-Faisal to continue to give sermons to deluded followers who crowded in front of screens to watch his broadcasts. From 2011 to 2015 he and his recruit Mohammed Abdul Ahad, 38, edited, published and glorified the sermons given by el-Faisal and even wrote his newsletter. Sheikh of Hate Abdullah el-Faisal inspired terrorists including the London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan, 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui and shoe bomber Richard Reid El-Faisals speeches included Jihad, declaration of war and No peace with the Jews which encouraged 12-year-olds to make bombs, praised ISIS, and incited followers to wage war against non-believers. One rant stated: Even today in modern times you should cut the throat of the kaffir with a machete. An Old Bailey jury convicted Ahad, of Euston, central London, of four charges of disseminating terrorist material and one of possessing articles useful for terrorism last week. He was jailed for four and a half years. Kamali was found guilty of four charges and received the same sentence. The court heard he was a dole queue jihadi who was convicted of fraud when he claimed benefits with 300,000 from the sale of a council flat sitting in his bank account. Mohammed Ahad at the Old Bailey. The court heard Ahad downloaded a copy of terrorist manual Inspire which gave instructions on how to use an AK-47 assault rife and called for attacks on nightclubs, army recruiting centres, highways and busy shopping malls Kamali, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, who worked for online retailer Shop Direct was found guilty of four charges of disseminating terrorist material. Judge Anuja Dhir said: Kamali was el-Faisals right-hand man. He was in almost daily contact with him. He put the lectures together and made them more explosive. Judge Dhir took the unusual step of inviting Kamalis mother, and his sister Regina, to sit in the court as she passed sentence. Your actions meant that views and the words of el-Faisal reached a wider audience, said the judge as Kamalis mother wept. Each of you communicated with extremists. Each of you had an extremist mindset. Each of you disseminated a number of terrorist documents. Mohammed Kamali, of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of four charges of disseminating terrorist material The court heard Ahad downloaded a copy of terrorist manual Inspire which gave instructions on how to use an AK-47 assault rife and called for attacks on nightclubs, army recruiting centres, highways and busy shopping malls. Matthew Brook, prosecuting, said: A significant number of el Faisals speeches amounted to terrorist publications because they praised terrorist organisations such as ISIS. They encouraged his listeners to support those terrorist organisations and directly or indirectly encouraged terrorist action by encouraging support for a wider violent jihad. The speeches spoke of violent jihad and how boys or girls and how boys or girls aged 12 could participate as they could make IEDs (improvised explosive devices). El-Faisal said it was compulsory for true Muslims to participate in jihad and encouraged followers to kill non-believers so that they would take their place in hellfire. Mr Brook added: Kamali and Ahmed assisted with the dissemination of Faisals lectures by editing the notes and other such administrative tasks, which enabled the lecture notes to be disseminated on the AT website. Kamali and Amad transcribed the speeches and published his work on the website, making it available to followers as part of daily newsletter dropped into their inbox. An Old Bailey jury convicted Ahad, of Euston, central London, of four charges of disseminating terrorist material and one of possessing articles useful for terrorism last week Brett Weaver, defending, claimed Kamali is a changed man. He does not hold any extremist views at all, the barrister said. El-Faisal had toured Britain urging groups of up to 500 rapt followers to use chemical and nuclear weapons on their enemies. A friend of hook-handed mosque leader Abu Hamza, he suggested running power stations on the corpses of Indian Hindus and blamed Jews for the Holocaust. The Home Office had tried to deport el-Faisal, whose original name is William Forrest, but he was later allowed to stay in the country with his wife and child. He then began preaching his sermons of death that would take him the length and breadth of Britain. Detectives first discovered an audio tape of the hate-filled rantings in the car of a man arrested in Bournemouth, Dorset, in December 2001. Asked about the World Trade Centre attacks, the sheikh said: When there is a legitimate target, you strike at it. If women and children die, they become collateral damage. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in Kurdamir. The head of state first laid flowers at a statue of the national leader in the Heydar Aliyev Park. Head of Kurdamir Executive Authority Jeyhun Jafarov informed President Ilham Aliyev of the work carried out in the region *** As part of his visit to Kurdamir, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the newly renovated Pirili-Muradkhan-Sor-Sor highway. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed President Ilham Aliyev of the technical indicators of the road. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the highway. *** President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the presentation of the agropark owned by Global Agro LLC in Karrar settlement of Kurdamir region. *** President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of the Kurdamir branch of Azerkhalcha Open Joint-Stock Company. Chairman of the Board of Azerkhalcha OJSC Vidadi Muradov informed the head of state of the conditions created at the enterprise. President Ilham Aliyev met with carpet weavers. Welcoming the enterprise team, President Ilham Aliyev said: - I congratulate you on the opening of the carpet factory and wish you every success. I am glad that a carpet factory is opening in Kurdamir District as well. A lot of work has recently been carried out in this direction. There are plans to open 32 factories, of which 11 are already in operation. One factory is officially opening in Kurdamir district today. According to the information available to me, about 100 jobs have been created here for women. This is a very positive fact. On the one hand, we provide jobs to citizens, especially women. On the other hand, our ancient art, the art of carpet weaving will develop. You continue this art, share your experience and knowledge with the younger generation. Thus, you are gaining new opportunities for yourself, while at the same time making an important contribution to the future successful development of our country. After all, carpet weaving is our ancient art, while carpets are export-oriented products. Our main task now is to increase exports in the non-oil sector. There is a great demand for Azerbaijani carpets in the world. Foreign visitors to our country show great interest in carpets. Considering that 3,170,000 foreigners visited our country last year and their number will further increase this year, the demand for our carpets will also increase. You will have more work to do. Here you will be provided with a good salary and excellent working conditions. It is possible to say that all workers of the factories that have recently opened under the umbrella of Azerkhalcha are satisfied. Carpet-weavers: And we are very pleased. Thank you very much, we are grateful to you. We wish you a long life. May Allah protect you! Carpet-maker Yeman Abdurahmanova: Mr. President, welcome to our district, to our enterprise. We have been waiting for you with great pride. We are glad that you are here to meet with us. On behalf of all the women representing the intelligentsia of Kurdamir district, our elderly mothers and weavers, I would like to express our deep gratitude to you. Mr. President, greetings to you, your family, children and grandchildren. May Allah grant you good health and a long life, so that you continue the legacy of national leader Heydar Aliyev. Dear Mr. President! May the day come when you sign the Victory Day order. Mr. President, I apologize, maybe I talk a lot. The carpet factory in Kurdamir began to operate in the 1930s. Our mothers and grandmothers continued this work, and now it is being continued by us. In 1989, a carpet factory was opened in Kurdamir. We gathered all the girls. Initially, there was a factory only in the village of Shilyan of Kurdamir district. After a carpet factory was opened in the city of Kurdamir, workshops were created in the villages of Yenikand, Kohnabazar, Kohunlu and Shilyan. However, there is a huge difference between those workshops and now. There is a huge difference both in terms of equipment and in terms of the ornaments. The new workshops play a major role in the sale of our products. When meeting with our girls, I always say: remember those working conditions? Our beautiful workshop is now equipped according to European standards. May Allah grant good health to both our President and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. You value our art and do everything to keep it alive. After 2001, the factory stopped its operation. When women asked me as a carpet specialist why the carpet factory wasnt working, I was embarrassed to answer. And now I feel a sense of great pride. Mr. President, on behalf of not only the carpet weavers but also of all the elders of Kurdamir, I express my gratitude to you. You have eliminated the differences between cities and villages. Today, villagers also use gas, are uninterruptedly provided with electricity and water. Mr. President, in May 2017, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Azerkhalcha Open Joint-Stock Company, you awarded me the Taraggi medal as a leading carpet specialist. I said at the conference for all the weavers of Kurdamir to hear: this medal is not only mine. It belongs to all carpet-weavers. An ASAN xidmt Center has opened in our city today. All office buildings have been built. Whatever department or organization one visits, everywhere one is greeted with a smile and politely escorted. And all this is thanks to you. Nobody will forget that. Mr. President, we had to travel for more than an hour and a half from the village of Shilyan to the city. Now we can reach the outermost parts of Shilyan in just five minutes. Greetings to you on behalf of all elderly mothers, thank you, thank you very much! May Allah rest the souls of your father and mother. May their souls always be your support. On behalf of all the mothers, greetings to you, your children and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva. Thank you very much! President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you for your kind words. Yeman Abdurahmanova: Thank you very much. These words are coming from the heart, I am being sincere. President Ilham Aliyev: I know. You are absolutely right. Very large changes have taken place in Kurdamir district recently. I said at the opening of the ASAN xidmt center today that I visited Kurdamir for the first time as President in 2005. There were problems with electricity at the time. It is possible to say that there were no roads, there was no gas, there was no water, there were no jobs. As a result of the comprehensive measures taken, we have gradually resolved all these issues. First of all, there should be a supply of electricity, after which all the villages of Kurdamir should be provided with gas. Only two villages have not been supplied with gas yet. This will be accomplished this year or in 2021. Thus, gas supply rate will reach 100 percent. Half, or 50 percent of roads, have been renovated. The remaining 50 percent will be fully renovated by 2023. The problem with drinking water in the city of Kurdamir was resolved in 2013. Modular type water treatment facilities have been installed in the villages. More than 40 new facilities will be installed. Such a beautiful factory has been opened to create jobs. You will see how beautiful the ASAN Hyat complex and the ASAN xidmt center are. A total of 320 types of services will be provided there. At the same time, there will be nice cafes, public places, a cinema and places for children's entertainment there. So a community center has been set up. The establishment of such a center in Kurdamir is evidence of a special attitude to the district because this center will cover six districts. The establishment of a carpet factory is of particular importance. As you noted, it is possible to say that we were about to lose this art in the regions. In the regions, there were machine tools left over from the old days only in the houses. Weavers worked on an individual basis. There were practically no orders and it was impossible to sell the woven carpets. You are well aware that you need equipment, facilities and material to create a carpet. Yeman Abdurahmanova: Praise be to Allah, everything is available. President Ilham Aliyev: How can you weave a carpet without all this? And how to sell a woven carpet? Therefore, our art of carpet weaving was alive only in the city of Baku perhaps. However, each of our regions has its own school of carpet weaving. Therefore, the goal of creating 32 factories across the country was to keep this art alive in the regions, to attract women, to create excellent conditions for them to earn good money, to benefit our citizens and the state. We are achieving this. I am sure that all the carpets woven here will be worthy of the highest price and you will pass on this art to the younger generation through these factories. I can see that there are young girls among you. I am sure that they will gain experience and then will attract their children. Thus, our ancient art of carpet weaving will live forever. I congratulate you once again and wish you success. Thank you! Carpet-weavers: Thank you very much, we are grateful to you! The head of state then cut the carpet woven here. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Director Bong Joon-ho reacts with CJ Group Vice Chairwoman Lee Mi-kyung and cast and crew after winning the Oscar for the Best Motion Picture for "Parasite" during the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 9. EPA-Yonhap By Kim Rahn For politicians whose success depends on how much they remain in the public eye, it seems only natural for them to take advantage of current social trends. The recent success of Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" at the Academy Awards is no exception. Many politicians are already using it as a platform to market themselves. Such moves by members of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), however, are drawing criticism, because the party's predecessor, the Saenuri Party and its leader, former President Park Geun-hye, used to suppress Bong and the film's investor and distributor CJ ENM for making films that they did not agree with. Rep. Khang Hyo-shang of the LKP, who represents a constituency in Daegu, said Tuesday that he would set up a "Bong Joon-ho Film Museum" in Duryu Park. Bong is from Daegu and attended elementary school there until third grade before his family moved to Seoul. "Director Bong was born in Daegu, he is the pride of Daegu," Khang said at a party meeting in Seoul. "As Daegu is Bong's hometown, a cinema needs to be the icon of Daegu, a city of culture and art." Jang Won-yong, who plans to run for the April 15 general election on the LKP ticket in a Daegu district, promised that if elected he would set up a Bong memorial hall and park; while another potential candidate Bae Young-shik said he would name a street after Bong, erect a statue of him and restore the house of his birth. Chauncy Lump: Broward County Sheriff's Department Charges have been dropped against a Florida security guard accused of threatening President Donald Trump after prosecutors said his online video was "a rant by an idiot." The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports federal and state prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Chauncy Lump, 26, and he was released from jail recently, a month after he was charged. Prosecutors issued a memo saying Lump's threat against Trump was "more of a rant by an idiot" than an act of someone with the "intent to actually carry out" his words. The Secret Service said Lump did a live Facebook video last month shortly after the US military killed an Iranian general. They say Lump told the camera "he killed my leader and I have to kill him" while periodically displaying a semi-automatic rifle. Lump had white cream on his face, a towel wrapped like a turban on his head and an apparent shower curtain wrapped on his body, the agency said. He allegedly made several threats, including "He killed my leader, please tell me where is Donald Trump?" and "I need to find the Donald because if I don't find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County." The president was staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort, less than an hour from Lump's home. The Associated Press Read more Woman who blasted through Mar-a-Lago barricades in car is opera singer Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday met the families of jailed anti-CAA protesters in Akhilesh Yadav's stronghold, days after her party targeted the SP chief for not finding time to visit his parliamentary constituency. The Congress general secretary dubbed the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre "anti-poor and anti-people" and said raising one's voice in a democracy is not a crime. Last week, police dispersed Muslim women protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) Maulana Jauhar Park here. An FIR was registered against 135 people, mostly unnamed, and 20 arrested, police had said. The protesters alleged they were lathi-charged and the venue deliberately flooded to thwart the agitation. Addressing people in Bilhariaganj locality from the top of her SUV, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Whatever happened with you was wrong, was injustice. All of us will stand against injustice. She claimed that the BJP government is destroying the Constitution and urged people to save it. "You all have to stand up because all the laws which they are planning to bring in are not against one community, but against the entire Constitution," she said as the crowd chanted slogans. Her visit came against the backdrop of the recent appearance of posters here claiming that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is missing from his Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency. They questioned the MP's "absence after the police action on women protesting against the CAA here last week. "The SP leader claims to be a well-wisher of Muslims but has confined himself to merely tweeting on police brutality on women protesters," UP Congress minority cell leader Nadeem Javed had said. Asserting that the Congress will stand with peaceful protesters, Priyanka Gandhi said, "I heard the womenfolk. I had gone to Bijnor, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Varanasi and other places where police and the administration committed atrocities. She said a report drafted by the Congress was submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and she would also send names of policemen who committed atrocities in Azamgarh. "The Congress party stands by you today. It will stand by you tomorrow and will continue to stand by you till you get justice," she added. Before addressing the crowd, Gandhi met family members of some protesters and offered sweets to children. She met us like a family member and asked us what exactly happened on February 4, a woman later said. We want our leader Tahir Madni and those against whom false cases have been registered released, the local resident said, referring to the Ulema Council general secretary who was also arrested. She said Gandhi told them that her party will raise the issue in the Lok Sabha and the UP Assembly. Ahead of the visit, the Congress leaders tweeted in Hindi, Raising one's voice in a democracy is not a crime. And it is my duty to stand with those against whom crime has been committed." This is her second visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh in less than a week after her Varanasi trip on Sunday for Ravidas Jayanti. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP Outside Salem high school, where Pete Buttigieg was attending a town hall rally on Sunday evening, fans could take their pick between oversized pins of the presidential nominee silhouetted against a rainbow flag, or the stars and stripes. There was a Pride for Pete pin, and a Give Pete a Chance pin. There were T-shirts screen-printed with Princess Leia and the words We are the Resistance, a nod, perhaps, to the debunked rumor that Buttigieg once planned to change the name of South Bend, Indiana, where he was mayor until this year, to Sith Bend. And there were sweatshirts helpfully emblazoned with a phonetic spelling of the candidates family name: Boot Edge Edge. Buttigieg used to joke about having a name that can be difficult to pronounce, but if it was ever an electoral handicap that time is past. He enters the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday a close second to Bernie Sanders after success in Iowa. Is it a blip? For those crowded into Salem high school, with George Michaels Freedom pumping from the loudspeakers, Buttigieg was the real deal, a candidate who could take on Donald Trump and win. Related: Pete Buttigieg: fresh, upbeat voice, or policy-lite novice? Buttigiegs name was always the least of his challenges, of course. But whats remarkable is how little his biggest challenge his sexual orientation has appeared to register, until now. A poll last October found that almost four in 10 Americans felt the country was not ready for a gay president, but at the Salem event attendees seemed baffled that it would be an issue at all. Thats not what this is about, said Sandy Thomas, a Buttigieg supporter. Its about who is going to lead our country. Kevin Brown, from Windham, agreed. I dont care about his gender or sexual orientation: can he be our next president? Can he reunite us with our allies and bring more common sense to the White House? Ironically, the question of Buttigiegs sexuality may be less of an issue for older, moderate voters like those at the Salem event than for young millennials. Harrison Ivins, a 20-year-old who had grown up in Tennessee, and identified as a Republican until Trumps election, acknowledged being an anomaly as a young gay Buttigieg supporter. While he is a member of the LGBTQ community, a lot of people dont view him as being radically queer, he said. I think theres a distinction between what makes somebody gay and what makes somebody queer, he added. Being gay is about who you love, its not your identity; being queer is much more about how you define yourself, so I think theres an aspect of being queer which is visible, its not something you can hide. Story continues For Ivins, Buttigieg was gay, but he was not queer. This might seem like semantics to older, and straight, voters, but for some millennials it matters. They see a candidate who makes a virtue of traditional institutions with often deeply homophobic histories such as when photos emerged of Buttigieg soliciting donations, in 2017, for the Salvation Army. Its not that Buttigieg, who came out publicly in 2015 the year that the supreme court voted in favor of marriage equality is downplaying his sexual orientation. His husband, Chasten, has been a visible presence on the campaign trail, and in Salem on Sunday the largest cheer came when he brandished his wedding ring, but the campaigns emphasis has often been on Buttigiegs military service in Afghanistan and his faith. To a lot of people, that looks like assimilation. Is it possible that we have reached a stage where a gay candidate for president could lose a critical demographic for not being gay enough? Pete Buttigieg drops by a polling location in Hopkington, New Hampshire, on 11 February. Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters In an irony that appears to have passed under the radar, LGBTQ+ millennials are largely flocking to Bernie Sanders, a 79-year-old straight white man. Meanwhile, Buttigieg, the only viable millennial among the candidates, is doing strongest with those aged 60 and over. According to a poll in late January, more than one in three LGTBQ+ voters support Sanders. He was followed by Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden, with Buttigieg trailing in fourth place. What is a gay candidate supposed to look like? asked Alex Halpern Levy, a Democratic speechwriter who supports Buttigieg. Should he wear Balenciaga sneakers? Ive heard people criticize the fact that Pete sometimes wears brown shoes with a navy suit. In the staid world of politics, that passes as a gay aesthetic. Levy suggested the millennial backlash was primarily a social media phenomenon. Pete is decried as an assimilationist, but its the culture of assimilation that allows gay Twitter to say they care more about the big revolution or structural change than supporting a historic gay candidacy, he said. If you are a gay kid in suburban Ohio, you are inspired by Petes campaign. That may be true, but its also in states such as Ohio where Buttigieg may have to play down his sexual orientation or, per the advice of Johnnie Cordero, the chair of the Black Caucus for South Carolina Democrats, not flaunt it a trigger word for generations of gay men who were forced to hide their identity. To win votes over Biden hell have to find a way to secure socially conservative Democrats, like the woman in Iowa captured on video trying to change her vote after learning that Buttigieg was gay. At one point, after paraphrasing the Bible, she asked: How come this has never been brought out before? For Jason McNary, a 41-year old CEO of a fashion company, the reaction to Hillary Clinton in his own Southern Baptist family is a cautionary tale. A few weeks before the 2016 election he had returned to Memphis, where he had grown up, and casually asked his aunt who she planned to vote for. She said no one because she didnt believe it was a womans place to be a president, he said. It was not just my aunt that stayed away [from the polls], it was the whole church. As primary season kicks into high gear, McNary, who is black and gay, finds himself wondering if history will repeat itself should Buttigieg become the Democratic nominee. Although he admires Buttigieg, whom he considers the smartest candidate in the race, he is sticking by Biden for now. I worry they would wait another four years rather than vote for a gay man, he said. My priority is getting Trump out of office. I worry they would wait another four years rather than vote for a gay man Jason McNary If Buttigieg does well in New Hampshire and then consolidates his success on Super Tuesday, skeptics like McNary may be persuaded to switch allegiances. After Iowa, there was a palpable sense that many Americans were contemplating, for the first time, the possibility of having an out gay pesident. What does it take to turn a possibility into an inevitability? To see a gay candidate standing in front of a national audience claiming victory in Iowa was a very emotional experience, recalled Fred Karger, a political strategist. I started crying. Although now largely forgotten, Karger was the first openly gay candidate to run for president, in 2012, when he stood for the Republican nomination. Largely self-funded, Karger tied his entire campaign to his sexual orientation, holding town hall meetings in gay bars and distributing frisbees and business cards emblazoned with the words Fred Who? His aim, he said, was to use the platform of televised debates to illuminate the Republican partys appalling record on LGBTQ+ rights. In the end, Karger didnt make any debates. He came in ninth place in New Hampshire, with 346 votes, and withdrew from the race in June. But eight years is a long time. Karger was an early supporter of Buttigieg, after turning up to see him speak at a Brooklyn library last February. Since then he has seen Buttigieg go from Pete Who? to a household name. At his gym in Orange county last week, Karger was watching the New Hampshire debate, when a man came in and switched the channel to Fox News. I asked to switch it back to the debate, and he started working out and listening to what was being said, Karger recalled. And then he nodded to Pete on the screen and said: I like that guy. Former US Vice President Joe Biden, who is seeking a single Democratic candidate to run in the general election, said the whole struggle is just getting started, CNBC reported. Biden, who is still the favorite of the presidential race among the Democrats, took only fourth place in the Iowa on February 3, and fifth in the primaries in New Hampshire on February 11. Without waiting for the results of voting, the politician flew to South Carolina, which is considered one of his strongholds. It aint over, man. Were just getting started, he said. Our votes count, too. ... You cant be the Democratic nominee and you cant win the general election as a Democrat unless you have overwhelming support from black and brown voters," Biden said. Winning World's Best Tennessee Whiskey continued a trend for the family-owned Nearest Green Distillery. Earlier this year, it was announced that the company spent 2019 quietly racking up 50 top awards in spirit competitions and industry publications around the globe, including 10 Best in Class and Best in Show awards, and 25 Platinum, Double Gold and Gold medals. Jim Murray's Whisky Bible rated the brand's 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey a 94.5, the highest score for a Tennessee Whiskey or Bourbon. Murray was joined by the more than 10 other industry leaders who rated Uncle Nearest's three labels between 90-96, with an overall industry-wide rating of 92.6. "Our team works from before sunrise to well after sunset every day sharing the legacy of our namesake, Nearest Green, the first-known African-American master distiller," said Kate Jerkens, Senior Vice President of Sales for Uncle Nearest. "We are incredibly proud of the work we are doing in this industry and could not be more honored that the World Whiskies Awards bestowed this honor upon us not once, but two times in a row." Other winners of the night included: World Best Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Kentucky Peerless Distillery World's Best Bourbon - Ironroot Republic Harbinger Best American Blended - FEW Spirits American Straight Whiskey Best American Blended Malt - Virginia-Highland Whisky Port Cask Finished Best American Grain - Bainbridge Yama Mizunara Cask Best American Rye - Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Best American Single Cask Single Malt - Westland Distillery Cask #3204 Best American Single Malt - The Notch Nantucket Single Malt 15 Years Old Best American Wheat - Bainbridge Two Islands Hokkaido Cask For more information on the World Whiskies Awards, or for the full list of award winners, visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com. To learn more about the Nearest Green Distillery, visit unclenearest.com/distillery/, and follow @nearestgreendistillery on Instagram. SOURCE Nearest Green Distillery Related Links http://www.unclenearest.com/distillery WSJs Shan Li and Stephanie Yang were quarantined for 11 days in Chinas Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus, before returning to the U.S. The reporters describe what life is like under a mandatory 14-day quarantine at U.S. military bases. Photo: Stephanie Yang / The Wall Street Journal The former governor failed to register in polling and fundraising and never made it onto a presidential debate stage. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the last remaining African American candidate in a Democratic presidential field once defined by its diversity, ended his 2020 campaign for United States president on Wednesday after his late bid failed to catch fire or resonate with voters. The departure of Patrick from the race comes a day after he lagged near the bottom of the Democratic field in the New Hampshire primary. His decision leaves just one other candidate of colour, Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a Samoan American, in the Democratic contest. It brings the number of Democrats in the presidential primary race to eight. Patrick launched his bid for president in mid-November but failed to register in polling and fundraising, and never made it onto a presidential debate stage. Patrick raised just $2.2m in the final six weeks of last year, and while a super PAC created to support his bid committed nearly that much to advertising in the early primary states last month, Patrick still barely registered in New Hampshire. It is a disappointing finish for someone who, in part because of his rhetorical skills, has long drawn comparisons to former President Barack Obama. The two men are personally close and Patrick counts some of Obamas aides and donors as part of his own inner circle. Valerie Jarrett, one of Obamas closest advisers, was one of Patricks most prominent supporters. But Obama has largely avoided wading into the race, and Patrick said throughout the primary that he did not expect the former president to bolster his bid. Patrick focused his campaign entirely on New Hampshire, hoping the familiarity of a neighbouring state would help boost his chances in the race. He offered what aides felt was a unique message in a field that ultimately boiled down largely to career politicians with little executive or private sector experience: that he had the track record as governor and through years of business experience to deliver on Democratic priorities like fighting climate change and reforming health care. But another New England candidate, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, won the state. Also, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, emerged as the leading moderate, winning many of the same centrist voters Patrick had sought. On the campaign trail, Patrick made a case for compassionate capitalism, the idea that businesses and government can work together in service of the public good, and he drew on his time working for Bain Capital developing businesses that promote positive social change as evidence. While some donors and moderate Democrats said both his message and the messenger were sorely needed, in a primary season dominated by progressives calls to break up big corporations and expand government aid programs, Patricks arguments seemed to fall flat with some voters. The CIA read the encrypted messages of several countries, including India, for decades through its secretly-owned Switzerland-based company trusted by governments all over the world to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret, according to a leading American daily. According to a report by The Washington Post and German public broadcaster ZDF published on Tuesday, the company, Crypto AG, entered into a deal with America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1951 and came under its ownership in the 1970s. The joint reporting project, which uncovered the secret operation from CIA classified documents, described how the US and its allies exploited other nations' gullibility for years, taking their money and stealing their secrets. The company specialised in communications and information security and was founded in the 1940s as an independent firm. The CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA) spied on allies and adversaries alike through Crypto AG specialising in making cryptography equipment, the report said. For more than half a century, governments all over the world trusted the Swiss firm to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret, the Post said. The company had clients such as Iran, military juntas in Latin America, India, Pakistan and even the Vatican, it said. There was no immediate official reaction from New Delhi. However, none of its customers ever knew that the Swiss firm was secretly owned by the CIA in a highly classified partnership with West German intelligence. These spy agencies rigged the company's devices so they could easily break the codes that countries used to send encrypted messages, according to the report. "It was the intelligence coup of the century. Foreign governments were paying good money to the US and West Germany for the privilege of having their most secret communications read by at least two (and possibly as many as five or six) foreign countries," the CIA report reads, according to the Post. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Netflixs To All the Boys: P.S. I Love You will be released on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and fans couldnt be more excited. The highly anticipated sequel of the breakout teen franchise will continue Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinskys (Noah Centineo) romance. But hold on, theres even more content to look forward to. Prior to the second films premiere, the streaming service confirmed To All the Boys 3: Always and Forever, Lara Jean will be coming out. So heres everything we know about the third movie so far. Update at the bottom. To All the Boys 3: Always and Forever, Lara Jean was filmed back-to-back with the second movie In August 2019, the To All the Boys Ive Loved Before threequel was given the green light. Netflix made the announcement through an Instagram video featuring Condor, Centineo, and newcomer Jordan Fisher, who plays John Ambrose McClaren in P.S. I Love You. The trio held up cards in a potential reference to Love, Actually. Hey, its me, Lana, Noah, [and] Jordan, the cards read. You guys have been so supportive and loving and patient. So lets just say, our movie is coming soon! What, you want more? To All The Boys P.S. I Still Love You premieres February 12! Then the cast revealed To All the Boys 3 is coming soon. We almost forgot something, the cards read. The third film To All The Boys Always And Forever, Lara Jean is in production! Meanwhile, in early February 2020, Condor stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss the sequel. Its a trilogy in the books. So we were hoping we would get a sequel, Condor said. And when we got it, I was really excited because I felt like Lara Jean had a lot more to grow as a young woman. The actress also shared To All the Boys 3 has officially wrapped production. Yeah, we finished shooting it, Condor said when asked about the third film. Its done! We shot two and three. Lana Condor and Noah Centineo say goodbye to their TATB characters Now, it appears production for To All the Boys 3 ended on Sept. 10, 2019, as Condor bid farewell to Lara Jean on Instagram in an emotional post. On Sept. 26, the actress wrote: One day all of this will be proof, proof that we were here, proof that we loved each other. Its the guarantee that no matter what happens to us in the future, this time was ours. Always and Forever, Lara Jean. Its been 16 days since the To All The Boys Ive Loved Before franchise wrapped shooting movies 2 & 3. Ive been really struggling how to put into words my feelings towards this ending words will never be able to describe my love for Lara Jean. Her family, her friends, Peter. Words will never be able to describe the long nights on set, where it would suddenly hit me, like a ton of bricks, that I was getting the honor of portraying a girl so fiercely determined in love, who represents strength in softness. Words will never be able to describe my gratitude to YOU, for loving her as much as I do. For tying your hair up in a scrunchie and saying lets do this. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart, youve made me feel like the luckiest girl alive. Always & Forever, your Lara Jean. Tonight was my last night as Peter Kavinsky. I hope you all love these last installments as much as we do. Forever grateful for the opportunity to be yours Thank you Lana, thank you Michael, Thank you Matt, Thank you Netflix, grateful to every person who told this story with us Noah (@noahcent) August 17, 2019 Centineo also penned his own goodbye letter to Peter on Sept. 17. Tonight was my last night as Peter Kavinsky, the actor wrote on Twitter. I hope you all love these last installments as much as we do. Forever grateful for the opportunity to be yours. He continued: Thank you Lana, thank you Michael, Thank you Matt, Thank you Netflix, grateful to every person who told this story with us. The To All the Boys 3 release date and time Lana Condor | Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images For now, Netflix has yet to announce the release date and time for To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean. But since the second and third movies were filmed back-to-back, its likely To All the Boys 3 will come out sooner than later. Nevertheless, fans will just have to wait and see which air date the streaming platform chooses for the franchises conclusion. Even so, remember P.S. I Still Love You is making its debut this February. And basically, it seems there are plenty of road bumps ahead for Peter and Lara Jean. Still speaking with The Tonight Show, Condor teased how fans reacted to the sequels new love triangle. Its like an honest, true love triangle, Condor said. Theres a new character named John Ambrose McClaren, whos played by the amazing Jordan Fisher, and he comes in and rocks the boat. We had the premiere days ago the fan screening and people went nuts. They were screaming at Lara Jean, like, Why?! Its hard to believe what all started with a letter, a hot tub, and a diner could turn into this To All the Boys: Always and Forever premieres February 12! pic.twitter.com/fiTiemcdnE Netflix (@netflix) January 13, 2021 Update: On Jan. 13, Netflix confirmed To All the Boys: Always and Forever will premiere on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. The third film should drop by 3 a.m. ET. Read more: Why Does the To All The Boys Ive Loved Before Sequel Have A New Director? Jubilee Secretary General and Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has this morning been involved in a road accident. Tujus vehicle reportedly hit a matatu at Magina area on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. He was rushed to Kijabe hospital, and is set to be airlifted to Nairobi. The CS was heading to Kabarak for the burial of former president Moi. Here are some pictures from the scene. This is a developing story The Korean film "Parasite" made history in the Korean film industry by winning the Best Picture awards at the Oscars. However, director Bong Joon Ho and his "Parasite" cast and crew still can't believe that they were able to take home 4 wins and they are still pinching themselves as their joyful night of celebration took place on the 92nd Academy Awards. Many fans of the movie including those who attended the Oscars were having tears of joy and many celebrations were in store for the South Koreans on Sunday night. The "Parasite" cast and crew were the toast of Hollywood as they walked into the party after party together they are being greeted as heroes of the night. The people, who attended the party danced, drank Champagne and dined on sushi, crab legs, boba parfait and caviar-topped tater tots at the official post-Oscars bash. Wow, it seems like "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho kept his promise to drink "until next morning" after making history and taking home four Oscars on Sunday night. Director Bong Joon Ho's "Parasite" was the first-ever non-English-language film to win the best picture and the first South Korean film to win the best international feature in history. In celebration for their wins, the cast and crew of "Parasite" hopped around from Los Angeles' Soho House to the Vanity Fair Oscars party before ending up at Koreatown's Soban, where they celebrated until surise, according to some reports. Jennifer Pak, who is the Korean restaurant owner told a source that the restaurant made multiple Korean dishes like galbi jjim which is a braised short rib, bibimbap, and seafood tofu pancakes. Director Bong Joon Ho and the cast and crew of "Parasite" celebrated and partied at Soban from 2:45 until 5 in the morning. Their visit to this particular restaurant was not random at all since Bong had visited the restaurant earlier in January together with "Parasite" star Song Kang Ho. The fans of the film "Parasite" took to Twitter to celebrate Director Bong Joon Ho's success and to laud the cast's afterparty. One twitter user shared "Bong Joon-ho going out for Korean BBQ to celebrate his Oscar wins and then using his speech to praise portrait of a lady on fire & celine. Bong Joon-ho I would DIE for you." The "Parasite's" Four Oscars wins are considered historic and Asian Americans shouted out and expressed their joy over the recognition of social media. The pride echoed back to South Korea, where South Korean President Moon Jae-in applauded the film's wins at a staff meeting on the following day which is Monday. To top it all off, the Walt Disney Family Museum also congratulated Director Bong Joon Ho who had the same wins as Walt Disney's 1954 single-night record of four Oscars wins. Once again Congratulations to the cast and crew of the film "Parasite." All that 19-year-old Sam Gordon wanted was a fast car, and he was prepared to empty his bank account to get it. Fortunately, his father redirected him towards a wiser investment. My dad gave me the nudge towards property after I was wanting to blow all my savings on a hotted-up car. I took his advice and bought my first property in November 2009 a unit in Moss Vale and did a cosmetic renovation on it. And I was bitten by the bug, Sam says. He soon landed a tenant for his unit, but it didnt take him long to realise that he had a negatively geared problem on his hands. I was making barely anything at that time, clearing $584 per week. I couldnt afford the negative cash flow associated with the property, and being a green investor I didnt know what strata was or how to work out or manage my cash flow, he explains. AT A GLANCE Years Investing: 10 Current number of properties: 15 Portfolio value: $5.190m It was a visit to the dentist that jump-started Sam on a path to expanding his knowledge of the industry. I picked up a property magazine at the dentists and started learning everything I could by reading all the great stories and what others had done. My strategy just evolved from there! As he was a low-income earner, it took Sam years and multiple jobs to recover enough financially to save for his next deposit. Then he took another blow when a sketchy buyers agent cost him. I trusted someone I thought was a reputable buyers agent, and they burnt me by $10,000 at a time when I certainly didnt have that money to lose, he says. I didnt let it stop me though, and instead worked even harder to find the absolute best way forward and to make the best decisions I could. In 2012, he was finally able to purchase his second property, a house in Moss Vale priced at just over $350,000. Today, the propertys value has more than doubled. Subsequently, over several years, Sam went interstate for his next four purchases, located in South Australia and Queensland. However, his best deal was back at home in Moss Vale, where he purchased his first duplex in 2017. I sourced the land for about $100,000 below market because no one else saw how to fit it on the block it was a very tricky block. I worked the block, built wholesale and received a $270,000 equity uplift, as well as positive cash flow to the tune of about $12,000 per annum! When a property was eventually constructed on the land, it reaped a high rental yield of 7.1%. I saved myself a lot of money on the landscaping by doing almost everything myself. With over $15,000 per annum depreciation and one set of rates, as well as cheaper insurance, it was a great deal! Open land and high cash flow In the past decade, Sam has refined his buying criteria and strategy to strengthen his cash flow. I always buy below market price and almost always in a metro market. I also only invest in markets with a tight vacancy rate so that I am not caught without a tenant, he says. There has to be a twist so I can always extract my capital back out of the deal to recycle into the next investment. Sam considers three factors when he looks at potential investments. I typically invest in three different types of deals: my bread and butter properties I buy below market value in a highgrowth location with strong cash flow; high cash flow properties targeting high rental returns to supplement my income and provide that consistent income stream; and manufactured-equity deals small developments that keep capital rolling in, he says. Applying a combo of these deals allows me to keep moving forward, and so each property is assessed via different criteria. Sams favourite investment strategies are ones that allow him to add value, thereby increasing cash flow. I source vacant land with higher-than-average development potential, such as dual occupancy or duplexing, and build as close to a wholesale price as I can. I then extract the majority of my money out of the deal through a revalue by the bank and a refinance. I keep rolling that capital into the next deal, and with the dual income the property is always cash flow positive after all expenses, he explains. Every purchase you make means you buy a little bit more of our country, and theres something about that that makes me feel really good about what I do My second strategy is to source high cash flow unit blocks that require renovation, and strata or community titling so I can break them off into individual titles. After a renovation, I can again get a valuation done. With age and experience has come wisdom, and Sam has learned to take out loans with greater care as well. I went hard when I was younger and had much higher LVRs to get me into deals. But I am a lot more conservative in this space now. I always keep my cash fl ow strong, and my LVRs on all properties have to remain below 80%. Big dreams Sams main goal is for his portfolio at present is to generate $250,000 in passive income per annum, but hell up the ante once he hits his mark as he did before. I would ideally like to hit this with an LVR position of 30% on the portfolio. I like the idea of a low debt level and therefore a much lower risk profile, he says. My initial goal was to acquire 20 properties whilst still in my 20s and reach $50,000 in passive income. Once I hit that, I reset my aim to $250,000. In addition to some ambitious accumulation plans, Sam is also looking to work on his first big development project. I would like to kick off my first decent-sized development. I have strata-titled and renovated unit blocks, and I developed small parcels of land; however, I would like to do a small subdivision next year and then continue upsizing with each deal. Every purchase you make means you buy a little bit more of our country, and theres something about that that makes me feel really good about what I do He is aiming to step out of his comfort zone and make his first commercial investment. I am just a hardworking young fella who wanted to build himself a future to be proud of, and it just evolved from there into something really worthwhile. I am quite excited for whats ahead and dont intend to slow down, he says. I absolutely love investing within Australia every purchase you make means you buy a little bit more of our country, and theres something about that that makes me feel really good about what I do! KEY MILESTONES 2009 At the age of 19, Sam buys and renovates his first investment property in Moss Vale after a gentle nudge from his father. However, the property is negatively geared, so despite having a tenant Sam struggles to get his finances together to support it. 2012 After a period of taking multiple jobs, Sam is finally able to save enough for a deposit on his second property a house in Moss Vale. This investment is one of Sams most successful, as its current value ($750,000) is more than twice the original purchase price ($355,000). 2015 Sam makes his first interstate buys in SAs Elizabeth North and Smithfield Plains. Both properties generate strong yields of around 8%. 2016 He looks into the Sunshine State next and purchases a couple of houses for $212k each in the suburbs of Churchill and Silkstone. 2017 Back in Moss Vale, Sam buys his first duplex, which becomes his most successful property deal. With the blocks tricky position, he is able to get it below market value. He builds wholesale on the block, generating significant equity and strong cash fl ow. 2019 He kicks off the year with a bang, going back to SA to purchase a block of four units in Mount Gambier. These units all reap very solid rental returns of 10% and up. He buys one other unit in the area that is seeing considerable value growth. 2019 Sam returns to Queensland, buying a townhouse in Woodridge and a house in Goodna. Both properties are high yielders, producing 8.1% and 7.8% returns, respectively. 2019 Sam is getting ready to work on building his second duplex in Moss Vale on a site he purchased for $270,000. Bangkok: The operators of a cruise ship that was barred from docking by four governments over fears of a new virus that originated in China announced Wednesday that it will finally disembark passengers in Cambodia. Thailand refused Tuesday to allow the MS Westerdam to dock at a Thai port after it had already been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. The Westerdam in happier times. Credit:iStock The ship was unwelcome despite assurances from operator Holland America Line that no cases of the viral disease known as COVID-19 have been confirmed among the more than 2200 passengers and crew on board. US Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy confirmed on Twitter late Wednesday night that Cambodia had authorised the ship to dock in the port of Sihanoukville. He said he had dispatched an embassy team to work with the ship's representatives and Cambodian officials to help US citizens disembark and transfer to their onward destinations. Dramatic footage of a motorist driving through a vast swarm of locusts in Kenya has highlighted the crisis facing Africa as the United Nations warned that time is running out. The shocked driver can be heard shouting in disbelief as the insects turn the sky black and surround his car as he drives through the countryside. The video emerged as UN officials warned the international community that immediate action was required to stop a humanitarian catastrophe. It is feared that a 40-mile-wide swarm of 360 billion locusts could grow 500 times bigger within the next four months. A driver in Kenya posted a video after driving through a huge swarm of locusts The swarm appeared like a cloud on the horizon before engulfing his vehicle as he drove The desert locusts have already decimated vital crops in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, and damaged farmland in Djibouti and Eritrea before they flew into Uganda and Tanzania this weekend. Mark Lowcock, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, said: 'In this region where there is so much suffering and so much vulnerability and fragility, we simply cannot afford another major shock. And that's why we need to act quickly.' He added: 'We do have a chance to nip this problem in the bud, but that's not what we're doing at the moment. We're running out of time. 'I'm calling on the countries concerned, the international community, the donors, to step up and to step up now. 'There is a risk of a catastrophe. Perhaps we can prevent it; we have an obligation to try. Unless we act now, we're unlikely to do so.' A ranger is surrounded by locusts in Nasuulu, north Kenya, where crops have been decimated The swarm began in east Ethiopia and central Somalia last year before the insects spread across Ethiopia and into Kenya. Pictured: Locusts hopping across the ground like ants in Somalia FAO director-general Qu Dongyu warned in a video message: 'Without rapid action, we will be facing a rapidly expanding humanitarian crisis. The desert locust swarms are growing exponentially.' The UN has asked for 58.5million in immediate aid. So far, it has just under 15.5million. The United States said Monday it has released $800,000 (616,000) and the European Union has released one million euros.(840,000). One of the swarms - which can number up to 80 million individuals per square kilometre - has been spotted flying 50km from the border with South Sudan, and is expected to reach the country 'any day'. More than 13million people face severe food insecurity as Africa faces its first plague of locusts since 1989. Cressman told The National on Monday that Kenya has faced 'waves and waves of swarms' since January. He said: 'A swarm in one day can eat the same amount of food as everybody here in the tri-state area, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. So not taking action in time - you can see the consequences.' Uganda held an emergency meeting after the insects were spotted and ordered two planes to spray pesticides over the affected region - which is considered to be the most effective form of control. The locust swarm began in east Ethiopia and central Somalia before spreading down into Kenya and now entering northeastern Uganda (pictured above) Africa's last major locust plague swept through the region in 1987 to 89. Pictured above is a group of adult locusts, as shown by their wings, in Nasuulu, north Kenya, on February 1 Pesticides have also been applied in Kenya and Somalia in a desperate attempt to stop the spread of the insects, but experts say the scale of the infestation is beyond local capacity as desert locusts can travel up to 150km (95 miles) in a day. Cressman also said the UN is to test drones equipped with mapping sensors and atomizers to spray pesticides in a bid to save crops. He said specially developed prototypes would be tested that can detect swarms via special sensors and adapt their speed and height accordingly. He said: 'Nobody's ever done this with desert locusts before.' A Uganda People's Defence Force soldier holds a locust after the swarm spread to the country Kenyan authorities have deployed pesticides, sprayed from planes, in a desperate attempt to control the swarm. This plane was pictured in Nasuulu, north Kenya, on February 1 Officials in Kenya say drones could play an important role given the limited number of aircraft. 'Every county wants an aircraft, but we only have five at the moment and they can only be in one location at one time,' said David Mwangi, head of plant protection at Kenya's ministry of agriculture. 'We have not used drones before, but I think it's worth testing them as they could help.' In Somalia, tackling the problem is made even harder as large areas are under threat, or held by, the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group. That makes it difficult or impossible to conduct the aerial spraying of the locusts that experts say is the only effective control. The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for more help from the rest of the world. He said: 'The UN has issued an urgent appeal for assistance. I ask the international community to respond with speed and generosity to ensure an effective response and control the infestation while we still have the chance.' The swarm of desert locusts, which usually live solitary lives until a combination of conditions promotes breeding and leads them to form massive swarms, began in eastern Ethiopia and central Somalia last year before spreading through both countries and travelling down to Kenya. Major market players are focusing on innovations to boost flavors, appearance, packaging, and taste, in a bid to bolster profits in processed beef items. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / The global processed beef market is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 227 Bn in 2029, with an impressive rate of growth during 2019 - 2029. According to a new study by Future Market Insights (FMI), the market for processed beef is predominantly driven by hectic consumer lifestyles, and rising consumption of ready-to-eat products by the millennial demographic. "High quality and better shelf-life of processed beef drives its demand. Besides convenience preparation and consumption, changing breakfast habits have enabled the market growth," says the FMI report. Request report sample with 200+ pages to gain in-depth insights https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11028 Key Research Findings of FMI's Processed Beef Market Study Households account for a major market share. Tech innovations in processed beef operations marks an important trend, eventually leading to better quality. North America will remain the leading regional market for processed beef. Economies in Asia Pacific will display a higher rate of growth. Expanding health-conscious consumer population is heavily contributing towards the growth of organic category. Key Growth Drivers - Processed Beef Market Rapid development of global cold chain infrastructure is driving up demand of fresh, chilled, and frozen processed foods, including processed beef. Benefits in terms of convenience, quality, and shelf-life continue to fuel demand for frozen processed beef products. Increasing awareness about associated health benefits continues to be a major growth driver for market. Key Impediments - Processed Beef Market Low growth rates of beef animals and inconsistent meat quality are the prominent challenges facing livestock farmers. Lack of proper supply chain infrastructure and poor animal health control continue to result in a measurable loss. Price fluctuations, lack of enforcement for meat grading systems, and inadequate technical knowledge remain major roadblocks to production. Explore the full processed beef market report with 119 illustrative figures, 78 data tables and table of contents. Also avail a detailed market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-11028 Competition Structure Analysis - Processed Beef Market Competition landscape of the global processed beef market will primarily remain influenced by the rising number of acquisitions of smaller regional businesses. Leading market players are adopting acquisition strategies in a bid to strengthen geographical presence and boost product portfolios. Major players and new entrants in the industry are anticipated to increase their efforts to penetrate fast developing economies such as China and India in the near future. Some of the major participants in the global processed beef market that are analyzed in this report include, but are not limited to, SYSCO Corp, JBS SA, Smithfield Foods Inc., Hormel Food, BRF SA, Harim Co. Ltd., WH Group, Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Meat Solution Corp., and Danish Crown A/S. Explore Future Market Insights' comprehensive coverage on, Cottonseed Oil Market - The report includes a detailed competitiveness analysis and details on the key players in the cottonseed oil market with their strategy overview. Modified Soya Flour Market -This research report provides a range of insights which identify revenue pockets, potential prospects, key strategies, and more associated with modified soya flour. Plant Based Ice Creams Market - This write up comprises in-depth secondary research, which has been used to estimate at the overall market size, key industry players, top products and industry associations. Gain access to Market Ngage, an AI-powered, real-time business intelligence platform that goes beyond the conventional research solutions to solve the complex strategy challenges that organizations face today. About the Report The report offers global, regional, and country level analysis of the latest industry trends impacting the processed beef market. The study provides compelling insights on the processed beef market on basis of product forms (chilled, frozen, and shelf-stable), by nature (organic and conventional), by application (food processor and manufacturers, HoReCa sector, and household and residential buyers), by sales channels (traditional grocery stores, supermarket/hypermarket, internet retailing, convenience store, discounters, and others) across 30 countries spanning seven key regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, Middle East and Africa, and Japan). About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. CONTACT: Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/processed-beef-market Research Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/processed-beef-market SOURCE: Future Market Insights View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576174/Processed-Beef-Sales-to-Reach-US-227-Bn-in-2029-Majorly-Buoyed-by-Rise-in-Popularity-of-Ready-to-Eat-Products-Future-Market-Insights FORT DODGE, Iowa - A Fort Dodge man accused of beating a pastor to death outside a central Iowa church was found mentally unfit Wednesday to stand trial. Webster County Judge Gina Badding ordered Joshua Pendleton, 36, to undergo treatment at the Iowa Medical Classification Facility, the Des Moines Register reported. The treatment will be designed to make Pendleton eventually competent to stand trial, Badding wrote in her ruling. Last month, the judge suspended proceedings in the case and ordered Pendleton to undergo a mental competency evaluation after his attorney said he had been acting irrationally. Pendleton is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of the Rev. Allen Henderson. Officers sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge on Oct. 2 found Henderson, 64, lying unresponsive outside. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Security footage shows a man whom officers identified as Pendleton trying to get into the building, police said. Pendleton later acknowledged that he had fought with a man at the church. Henderson was senior pastor at St. Paul and had served as a chaplain to first responders. Kate Mulvey (pictured) argues infidelity DNA kits are no different to an old-fashioned private detective YES by Kate Mulvey Several years ago, I started to suspect my then-fiance was cheating on me. The sudden nights away on business, the constantly guarded phone, the shifty looks he gave me after a night out with friends. It was a gut feeling, but I didnt have any proof. There is simply nothing worse than the feeling you are being lied to by someone you love. So, yes, I would use one of the newly available infidelity DNA testing kits in a heartbeat if I ever found myself in that agonising position again. For 90, anyone who suspects their partner of having an affair can now send off a sample, such as underwear or bedsheets, to be tested for rogue DNA, thus determining if cheating has taken place. While I admit snooping on your partner isnt generally a good idea because it can cause mistrust and collecting the evidence is, quite frankly, a bit weird, not to mention illegal in the UK without the persons consent (the tests are done in a laboratory in the U.S. where it is legal) I think the pain that infidelity causes completely validates it. No one is going to go to such drastic lengths unless they have very good reason. In todays digital age, social media and dating apps have made it much easier to fool around with someone who isnt your partner. I would argue that we need a more effective way to confront modern infidelity, and anything that can bring closure on a cheating partner is worth it. Because, lets face it, calling out a cheat isnt easy. When I asked my fiance if he was seeing someone else, he flatly denied it, and then had the gall to tell me not to be so insecure and jealous. I was desperate and confused. It got to the point where he only had to glance at a woman in the supermarket to trigger my anguish. He denied an affair. I wish Id done this test When, after months of crippling doubt, I eventually found out he had been seeing a woman from his office (a mutual friend told me), it blew my world and my trust to smithereens. I know from experience just how important it can be to get physical proof your partner has been lying to you. As far as I am concerned, DNA cheat kits are simply a technological version of the old-fashioned private detective; a quicker and less expensive way to put an end to months, or years, of lying. And if your partner isnt cheating, no one need ever know you had the test done. Suspecting a partner of being unfaithful is emotional torture. Confirmation gives you back the control and power that has been taken away from you. Thats got to be a good thing. Olivia Fane (pictured) argues it's better to talk to your partner if you suspect that they're keeping a secret NO by Olivia Fane I understand that people are driven mad by the suspicion that their partner might be cheating and just how tempting it is to want to find out for certain. Still and I cant believe Im really having to say this sending off their smalls for DNA testing is not the answer. Quite apart from the fact these tests fall into a legal grey area (in the UK, the companies act as brokers, sending samples abroad for testing to get around the rules), snooping of any sort only ends in tears. You might think your partner is deceiving you, but using a DNA test without their knowledge is no different. Youre deceiving him, too. And when you get the results back, how are you going to feel? Ive caught you, and youre out of here! a sort of victory? But its not a victory. Your marriage is dead. What are you going to feel about yourself if the test proves that your partner is innocent? If that is the case, youre as jealous and possessive as the worst of wives. And now its you with the secret, and the secret goes: I dont trust you, I follow you around with my DNA kit thats the kind of person I am. Trust lies at the very core of a marriage, and without it you may as well go your separate ways. Will you confess what you did? Will you thrust your arms around him and say: I just needed to make sure, darling, and now Im so happy! Steal his DNA and you are deceiving him, too I wouldnt if I were you. Because if I found out my husband had done that to me Id walk out on him and not look back. A marriage should be a safe place where you feel you can tell your partner everything. Almost the worst aspect of infidelity is that the openness you had with each other, that real intimacy which involves knowing every tiny detail about your partners life, has been smashed, just like that. Even if youre never found out, the guilt you have about keeping a secret eats away at you and can stop you feeling close. If you are worried hes keeping a secret of any sort talking is always better. Dont directly accuse him: any bloke is just going to say no, and then youre no further on. But talk about your marriage in general, kindly, on the sofa. Ask him about any problems at work, anything thats bothering him that he would like to get off his chest. Even tell him you love him, but youve noticed he seems distracted and you want to know if theres something bothering him. The truth will come out, and if its perfectly innocent, you can both get on with your marriage. Why Sex Doesnt Matter by Olivia Fane (16.99, Mensch). President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the investigation into the tragic events on the Independence Square (Maidan) during the Revolution of Dignity is the most complicated case in the country. "Evidence, documents were lost. There are no people, no witnesses. They say that much has been cleaned up on the scenes after this tragedy. The most complicated case in our country is the Maidan," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. The president also said that all forces are involved in the investigation. "I know for sure that they are working on them faster than several years before. It is not clear when they will find the paymasters, while it is more clear about the killers, - I cannot say. All forces are involved in these cases and we are doing our utmost," he said. This support comes despite the nationwide anti-regime protests in November, where the mullahs launched a massive crackdown, killing 1,500 peaceful protesters, injuring 5,000, and arresting 12,000. Borrell, who met with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, President Hassan Rouhani and the parliaments speaker, Ali Larijani, said he wanted to decrease tensions following the assassination of Iranian Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike last month. In effect, he gave the mullahs more ammunition for their propaganda machine. After all, in his press release about the visit, Borrell failed to mention the regimes downing of the Ukrainian civilian airliner, which killed 176 people or the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) murder of young protesters during the November uprising or human rights in Iran at all. All he said was that the visit would allow him to convey the EUs strong commitment to preserve the nuclear deal and discuss EU-Iran cooperation. This visit attracted condemnation across Europe, particularly at a conference of Italian lawmakers on Wednesday, where he was eviscerated for not upholding human rights or condemning the regimes domestic oppression and aggressive expansionism. Senator Roberto Rampi, a member of the Italian Senate Human Rights Commission, said: Unfortunately, Europe wants to continue dialogue and support for this bloodthirsty regime. We must tell them, loud and clear, that this approach is wrong. We must continue to work to establish democracy and freedom in Iran. Economic interests are important, but they cannot and should not be prioritized over human rights and security, and we must speak clearly to the European Union and call for a regime change in Iran. Indeed, Borrell must end this appeasement of Iran and follow the US path of increasing pressure on Iran through sanctions and diplomatic isolation, because the EU should not condone the regimes fundamentalism. Struan Stevenson, the coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change and a former member of the European Parliament, wrote: Borrell needs to open a new chapter on EU policy in the Middle East. He must accept that appeasement has failed It is shameful to see the EU placing more emphasis on trade and commerce than on human rights. The people of Iran expect Europe and the United Nations to be on their side. They expect their calls for democracy to be taken seriously. Human rights and womens rights cannot be compromised or marginalized on the pretext of political considerations, trade deals or the flawed nuclear agreement. Read more: Europes Appeasement of Irans Evil More than 2,400 fetuses discovered last year at the suburban Chicago home and car of one of the most prolific abortion doctors in Midwest will be buried today in Indiana, a state with some of the nation's toughest anti-abortion laws. Indiana's top law enforcement official will preside over the mass burial in South Bend Wednesday. The ceremony comes five months after relatives sorting through Dr. Ulrich Klopfer's belongings after his September 3, 2019, death came across 2,246 sets of preserved fetal remains stacked floor to ceiling in his garage. Later, 165 more were found in a trunk of a car at a business where Klopfer kept several vehicles. Scroll down for video The remains of 2,411 fetuses that had been aborted by Dr. Ulrich Klopfer (pictured in 2014) will be laid to rest in South Bend, Indiana, Wednesday In this September 19, 2019, file photo, Will County Sheriff's patrol car is stationed outside the home of deceased Dr. Klopfer in Crete, Illinois Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill will speak at the burial and later offer an update on the investigation into Klopfer and whether anyone assisted him in moving the remains to his home in Crete, Illinois, about a mile from the Indiana state line. The burial plot at Southlawn Cemetery was donated by the Palmer Funeral Home, and all the remains will be laid to rest in the same grave, Hill's office said. Embattled Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill will preside over the mass burial of the medically preserved fetal remains Klopfer, who was 79, performed tens of thousands of abortions over 40 years, mainly in Indiana and often as the only abortion doctor serving South Bend, Gary and Fort Wayne. He was a reviled figure among anti-abortion activists, who held weekly demonstrations outside his clinics, sometimes blocking entryways. Protesters once hacked holes in the roof of the South Bend clinic and poked a water hose through a mail slot, flooding an entry room. Hill, a Republican seeking a second term as attorney general, has been under scrutiny in recent months over allegations that he drunkenly groped a female state legislator and three other women at an Indianapolis bar in 2018. He has denied the accusations and put his defense of state laws tightening abortion restrictions at the forefront of his campaign for another term. Multiple messages left for Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, which has been a staunch critic of Hill, were not returned on Tuesday. Foes of abortion heralded Hill's role in making the burial happen. "I'm so grateful that, finally, the bodies of these little boys and girls will be treated with the dignity they deserved," said Cathie Humbarger, who heads Right to Life in northeast Indiana. Humbarger, who will attend Wednesday's services, said she saw no sign Hill's participation at the burial was motivated by anything but sincere opposition to abortion. Hill is awaiting a decision from the Indiana Supreme Court on whether he will face disciplinary action over the groping allegations. A special prosecutor declined to press criminal charges, but the state attorney discipline commission is seeking a two-year suspension of his law license, which would put his state position in jeopardy. Indiana is one of just a few states with a law mandating burial or cremation of fetal remains after abortions. The law did not take immediate effect because of court challenges after then-Gov. Mike Pence signed it into law in 2016. A US Supreme Court ruling in May upheld the law. Previously, during Klopfer's career, clinics could turn over fetal remains to processors that dispose of human tissue or other medical material by incineration. Authorities have said the fetal remains in Klopfer's garage were from abortions in the 2000s. Planned Parenthood officials have long expressed concerns that such laws will increase costs to clinics, making them less economically viable and thereby reducing women's access to abortion. Relatives sorting through Klopfer's belongings at his home after his death found 2,246 sets of fetal remains in his garage (pictured) Officers from the Fort Wayne Police Department block the entrance to the site of a former abortion clinic operated by Dr Klopfer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in September 2019 An Additional 165 medically preserved fetal remains were found in a trunk of a car (pictured) As it is, just nine facilities in all of Indiana provided abortions in 2017, according to the abortion-rights Guttmacher Institute, citing the latest available data. Critics of fetal-burial laws say they also contribute to stigmatization of those women who abort pregnancies. Klopfer's career started unraveling in the early 2000s with a flurry of complaints, including that he performed an abortion on a 10-year-old girl raped by her uncle and did not notify law enforcement. His career effectively ended in 2016, when authorities suspended his medical license, citing, among other things, shoddy post-op monitoring of his patients. Klopfer complained that conservative state officials were in cahoots with anti-abortion groups to close him down. Klopfer performed tens of thousands of abortions over 40 years, often as the only abortion doctor serving South Bend, Gary and Fort Wayne, Indiana Mass burials of aborted fetuses are rare but have happened before. Around 16,500 fetuses were buried at a Los Angeles cemetery after their discovery in the 1980s in a cargo container repossessed from the home of a former operator of a medical laboratory. A headstone reads: 'In memory of the 16,500 precious unborn, buried here, Oct. 6, 1985.' There's no indication Klopfer told others about his grim collection, including his wife. And no one has a clear understanding of his motive. Some have speculated that it was part of a hoarding disorder or that he was trying to save disposal costs as he racked up legal bills suing and being sued by abortion opponents. Some who knew him recalled the German-born Klopfer as a lonely, enigmatic figure. Unprompted, he would often tell how he took shelter as a 4-year-old when Allied planes bombed his hometown of Dresden during World War II. He would describe emerging three days later with buildings smoldering around him, bodies in the rubble. News reports about Klopfer going back decades portrayed him as combative and quick to give the finger to protesters. He spoke emphatically about ensuring women had access to abortion in Indiana. Discussing the abortion debate, he once told a reporter: 'If men got pregnant and women didn't, this wouldn't be a discussion.' President Donald Trump unloaded on prosecutors Wednesday who proposed Roger Stone get a sentence of up to nine years in jail demanding they apologize and claiming his longtime associate did 'nothing wrong.' Speaking at length about the Roger Stone case amid continued blowback for his personal intervention, Trump brushed off Stone's conviction on seven counts of lying to Congress and witness tampering in connection to the Russia probe. 'The fact is that Roger Stone was treated horribly and so were many other people, their lives were destroyed,' Trump fumed in the Oval Office alongside the president of Ecuador. Four seasoned prosecutors had themselves removed from the case after the Justice Department intervened to reverse a Monday request Stone get between seven and nine years in jail. He alternately went after regular foils fired FBI Director James Comey and former FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page while also blasting prosecutors who first sought a tough sentence for Stone, only to have the Justice Department do a 180 and propose no particular jail time at all. 'Think of it. A man leaks classified information, highly classified. They give him two months. Roger Stone for doing nobody even knows what he did,' Trump vented. President Donald Trump fumed at prosecutors for their treatment of longtime associate Roger Stone and complained about their recommended sentence 'In fact, they said he intimidated somebody. That person said he had no idea he was going to jail for that. That person didnt want to press charges. They put him in for nine years. Its a disgrace. And frankly they ought to apologize to a lot of the people whose lives theyve ruined,' Trump said. Trump's defense echoed that put forward by Stone, who touted the hashtag #RogerStoneDidNothingWrong as he sought to defend himself. 'Ill tell you what. People were hurt viciously and badly by these corrupt people. And I want to thank the Justice Department for seeing this horrible thing and I didnt speak to them by the way, jut so you understand,' he said. 'They saw the horribleness of a nine year sentence for doing nothing,' Trump added. Shortly after Trump's comments, the House Judiciary Committee announced that Barr would finally come and appear on March 31st. Trump said he wasn't concerned about the federal prosecutors who took themselves off the case in an evident protest. 'I'm not concerned about anything. They ought to go back to school and learn.' Then he complained about the proposed sentence. 'You have murderers and drug addicts they dont get nine years. Nine years for doing something that no one can even define what he did. Somebody said he put out a tweet. And the tweet, you base it on that. We have killers, we have murderers all over the place, nothing happens. And then they put a man in jail and destroy his life, his family, his wife, his children. Nine years in jail its a disgrace.' 'In the meantime Comey walks around making book deals And hopefully it will be treated fairly. Everything else will be treated fairly,' Trump predicted. Earlier, Trump lauded Bill Barr for 'taking charge' of Roger Stone's case just hours after he denied asking the attorney general to roll back the sentence request for his longtime political ally. Even as Democrats howled that he was interfering in the neutral administration of justice to help Stone, Trump railed online against the Mueller probe and what he termed 'rogue prosecutors.' Four federal prosecutors either quit or took themselves off the Stone case Tuesday in a dramatic move that a Justice Department official acknowledged was an act of protest. Prosecutors wanted Stone to serve jail time for lying to Congress about his contacts with Wikileaks as well as witness intimidation. 'Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!' Trump Tweeted Wednesday morning. Trump made his comments alongside Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno (L) Trump called the original sentencing recommendation for longtime advisor Roger Stone a 'disgrace,' and called the proposed sentence 'ridiculous.' On Tuesday he denied speaking to Bill Barr about the sentencing recommendation. But on Wednesday he congratulated Barr for 'taking charge' of the case President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno and his wife, Rocio Gonzalez, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2020 In another tweet, he wrote: 'Two months in jail for a Swamp Creature, yet 9 years recommended for Roger Stone (who was not even working for the Trump Campaign). Gee, that sounds very fair! Rogue prosecutors maybe? The Swamp!' He tagged the morning show Fox and Friends and prime time host Tucker Carlson, who has said Stone deserves a pardon. Amid the stunning turnaround from prosecutors, Stone faced up to nine years in jail for what prosecutors call 'contempt for this court and the rule of law,' having clashed with the judge over a gag order. Now, prosecutors advised the court to rely on its own judgement in meting out a sentence. Trump's 'swamp creature' line may have been a reference to former Senate Intelligence Committee aide James Wolfe, who received a two-month sentence for lying to investigators conducting a leak investigation about his contacts with journalists. He pleaded guilty and said he was lying to cover up an affair. A Justice Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on the president's tweet praising the Attorney General for 'taking charge' of the case. Trump congratulated Barr for 'taking charge' of the Roger Stone case. Stone is a longtime political advisor to Trump who prosecutors wanted to get up to nine years for lying about his contacts with WikiLeaks Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering. Trump brought up the two-month sentence given to a former Senate Intelligence Committee aide who pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators Trump congratulated Barr (l, with FBI Director Christopher Wray) for 'taking charge' of the Roger Stone case Trump on Tuesday denied asking his attorney general to roll back prosecutors' recommendation that longtime advisor Roger Stone face serious jail time after the Justice Department did a sudden 180-degree turn in court and every prosecutor on the case quit. Barr has been a zealous defender of Trump's prerogatives, and drew Democrats' ire when he issued a four-page summary of the Mueller report that Mueller complained did not capture the 'context' of his deep examination of Russian election interference and contacts between Trump advisors and Russians. The Department of Justice dramatically reversed its demand to jail Stone Tuesday just hours after Donald Trump slammed it on Twitter as a 'miscarriage of justice' though officials said the timing was coincidental. The reversal prompted the extraordinary decision by four experienced federal prosecutors to remove themselves from the case with one resigning his position with the government entirely. Trump stood by his decision Tuesday afternoon, calling the original recommendation a 'disgrace,' and terming the proposed sentence 'ridiculous.' 'I thought it was ridiculous,' Trump said. 'No I didn't speak to the Jus I'd be able to do it if I wanted. I have the absolute right to do it. I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn't believe. But I didn't speak to them. I thought the (original) recommendation was ridiculous, I thought the whole prosecution was ridiculous,' Trump vented. 'I look at others that haven't been prosecutors.' He said he considered it an 'insult to our country.' He called them 'the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell.' But he also maintained: 'I have not been involved.' 'I think it's a disgrace. See what happens.' Trump declined to say whether he was considering commuting Stone's sentence, whatever it turns out to be. But he did suggest another man he considers a political enemy, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, might face a military investigation. 'We sent him on his way to a much different location, and the military can handle him any way they want. General Milley has him now. I congratulate General Milley,' Trump said, referencing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Mark Milley. 'He can have him. And his brother also,' Trump said. 'We'll find out,' he added, without explanation. According to its updated filing, which came after Trump's overnight tweets: 'The defendant committed serious offenses and deserves a sentence of incarceration that is 'sufficient, but not greater than necessary' to satisfy the factors set forth in' sentencing guidelines. 'Based on the facts known to the government, a sentence of between 87 to 108 months' imprisonment, however, could be considered excessive and unwarranted ... Ultimately, the government defers to the Court as to what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case,' the updated memo said. Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to sentence Donald Trump's confidant Roger Stone to serve between seven and nine years in prison after his conviction in November 2019 A senior Justice Department official told ABC News "it does appear" the the prosecutors asked to be taken off the case as a form of protest. But the official denied Trump's nearly 2 am tweet played a role in the turnaround, calling it an 'inconvenient coincidence.' Stone has been a Trump confidant for decades, and served as an informal advisor during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's denial came after prosecutors filed a new memo in the Stone case leaving it to the judge to recommend the appropriate sentence. Leaders at the department, which is headed by Attorney General Bill Barr, found it extreme and excessive, and disproportionate to Stone's offenses, one official said. Shortly after the announcement, the lead prosecutor in the case, Aaron Zelinsky, used a court filing to announce that he had resigned 'effective immediately' as a special assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He retains a federal post in Maryland. A second, Jonathan Kravis, followed him shortly afterwards, resigning from government service as an assistant U.S. attorney. A third federal prosecutor, Adam Jed, also withdrew as counsel to the government in the case. Later Tuesday, it was revealed that prosecutor Michael Marando withdrew from the case. Kravis served in the public integrity of the Justice Department, served in the White House counsel's office under Barack Obama, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Jed clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. All four used court filings to announce their departures, apparently to the surprise of their own colleagues in an unmistakable sign of protest. Zelinsky was a member of Mueller's team, but remained after Mueller departed to work on the Stone case. Trump had tweeted in the early hours of Tuesday morning: 'This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' Just before midday, the DOJ announced its walk back but one official told Fox News the decision had been made before Trump's Twitter rant. All three were seasoned prosecutors who worked on special counsel Robert Mueller's team. The official did not explain why the reversal had not been announced until after the tweet. The DOJ has not said what sentence it will now seek. The move prompted immediate anger and derision from Democrats with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying: 'They'll probably recommend the presidential medal of freedom!' He said he was asking the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate whether Bill Barr had directed the reversal. Veteran 'dirty trickster' Stone is due to face sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on February 20, after a jury in November found him guilty on seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Attack: Democratic congressman Bill Pascrell likened Trump and the DOJ's move to a banana republic Trump tweeted Monday night: ''This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!' (pictured: at a campaign rally in Manchester last night) Prosecutors will now have to ask the judge for permission to abandon their initial recommendation and submit a new one. 'We look forward to reviewing the government's supplemental filing,' Stone's lawyer, Grant Smith, said in an email to Reuters. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of its own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Normally, United States attorneys have wide latitude to recommend sentences on cases that they prosecuted. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original Justice Department recommendation. Long-time consigliere: Roger Stone has been advising Donald Trump on politics for more than 20 years, including in 1999 during his first putative White House run Jackson, the judge, has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. The judge barred Stone from social media last July after concluding that she repeatedly flouted his gag order. Besides, judges invariably frown upon crimes that they see as perverting the functions of the criminal justice system, such as making false statements or obstructing an investigation. The Justice Department plans to refile the recommendation later Tuesday. Federal prosecutors also recently softened their sentencing position onFlynn, saying that they would not oppose a probation of punishment after initially saying that he deserved up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI. The Flynn prosecution is also being handled by the U.S. Attorneys office in Washington. The White House referred questions about the decision to the Justice Department. Stone is one of several people close to Trump who faced charges stemming from then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has the power to pardon people for federal crimes, although he has yet to use it in the cases of other former aides convicted in the wake of the Mueller investigations. His tweet hunted he could use that power, or his power to commute sentences if Stone were to get the level of custody demanded by prosecutors. Stone's own defense had asked for probation. Senior Democratic lawmakers expressed amazement at the move but Trump loyalists said they now hoped Mike Flynn - the disgraced former national security advisor who is currently trying to get out of his guilty plea to lying to the FBI - would also get 'clemency.' Outrage: Senior Democratic lawmakers including senators Chuck Schumer - the Senate minority leader - Chris Van Hollen and Sheldon Whitehouse all expressed anger at the move to abandon the call for a nine-year sentence Trump-world reacts: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor whose daughter Sarah was the White House press secretary, was among the president's supporters calling for Mike Flynn to also be affected by the apparent presidential intervention into a prosecution During the trial, prosecutors pressed their case that Stone lied to lawmakers about his outreach to WikiLeaks - the website that disclosed many hacked Democratic emails ahead of the 2016 U.S. election that proved embarrassing to Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton - to protect Trump from looking bad. Stone, who has labeled himself an 'agent provocateur' and has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to the U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee during its investigation into Russian election interference. Stone's colorful trial featured references to the film 'The Godfather Part II,' an impression of Senator Bernie Sanders by prosecution witness Randy Credico, and testimony by political heavyweights including former Trump campaign chief executive Steve Bannon and former Trump deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates. Those witnesses said they believed Stone had inside information about when WikiLeaks might release more damaging emails about Clinton. In truth, he had no such information. Stone was also accused of tampering with Credico's testimony, when Credico was summoned to testify before Congress and speak with the FBI. In emails and texts, Stone told Credico among other things: 'Prepare to die,' 'You're a rat. A stoolie,' and 'Stonewall it.' Prosecutors also charged that Stone had threatened Credicos therapy dog, Bianca, saying he was 'going to take that dog away from you.' London, Feb 12 : The Boris Johnson government has suspended a part of funding to the Commonwealth Secretariat and has made the provision - around A4.7 million a year - conditional to its processes meeting high standards. It was revealed here on Wednesday. The UK's decision has come after Patricia Janet Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, was criticised by auditors for "circumventing" the competitive tendering rules in award of a lucrative consultancy contract to a company run by one of her friends, according to a BBC report. The auditors also discovered that procurement rules were waived by the Secretariat on around 50 occasions in the last three years. Responding to the criticism, the London-based Secretariat said it had been implementing recommendations made by external auditors. The Johnson government's decision threatens to plunge the Secretariat into a financial crisis and will raise fresh questions about Lady Scotland's leadership. New Zealand and Australia have also suspended their discretionary funding to the Commonwealth Secretariat until its financial systems are streamlined and tested by external auditors. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said, "We are committed to an effective Commonwealth that delivers for its member states, so we have set a number of conditions on the UK funding to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation for this financial year. "These include conditions relating to ensuring that the Secretariat's procurement policy and its implementation are in line with international best practice." Commonwealth heads of government had previously rejected calls to automatically renew Lady Scotland's job when her term of office ends later this year. A Commonwealth spokesman told the BBC, "The Commonwealth Secretariat doesn't comment on private exchanges with its member countries. The Secretariat complies fully with the audit process and implements recommendations accordingly." The Commonwealth Secretariat is the central administrative system for the inter-governmental organisation that comprises 54 countries - many of them former British colonies - and encompasses almost a third of the world's population. An Indian-origin mother and her daughter are missing from the city of Leicester and the UK Police has issued an appeal to trace them. Leicestershire Police said they are concerned for the welfare of 34-year-old Komal Karaji, who got into a taxi from her home in Leicester on Tuesday afternoon and travelled to Leicester Railway station. It is believed she then boarded a train to Birmingham with her seven year-old daughter, Amaya Goraniya. Officers are concerned for the welfare of a Leicester woman who has been reported missing with her young daughter, a Leicestershire Police appeal said. "Komal is Asian, 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build, with shoulder length black hair which was tied into a bun," the appeal said. According to the police, she was last seen wearing a black waist length raincoat, light blue jeans which had rips in the knees and white trainers. She was carrying a light yellow beach bag which had pink and blue flowers and a paisley design on it, and a light grey or blue handbag. Amaya is 3ft 3ins tall, slim, with shoulder length dark hair. She was wearing a pink jacket and white trainers, the appeal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While several independent TDs are keen to be part of a new coalition government and see their election promises implemented, they are biding their time as the bargaining begins. A number of non-party TDs told the Irish Examiner that they are absolutely open to talking with others about how to progress their election wish-lists. New or expanded groups for parliamentary speaking rights are also being formulated ahead of the 33rd Dail sitting for the first time next week. Former MEP Marian Harkin, elected for Sligo Leitrim, said she is absolutely interested in being involved in government. I don't like the phrase kingmaker. After being in the European Parliament for 15 years, it was all about compromise there. My interest would be rural-focused, to try and drive policy changes to the regions. The TD, who was previously in the Dail in 2002 and set up a technical group for speaking rights, said she is currently in talks with other independents about options. You are either relevant or you risk being irrelevant. How do you deliver? The best way is by being part of a grouping that has a common cause or platform. Ms Harkin is close to fellow independents Denis Naughten and Michael Fitzmaurice, two returned Roscommon-Galway TDs who are seen as contenders for coalition talks. Elsewhere, returned Donegal TD Thomas Pringle, a member of the group Independents4Change, said it is incumbent on deputies on the left to try and put together an administration. However, the group has not yet been in contact with Sinn Fein, which is currently leading formation talks. Mr Pringle said his priorities for "change" are housing, health and rural Ireland. "We need to get away from the market-driven response to these issues, which is what Fine Gael and Fianna Fail did for years." A key player in any talks with independents could be returned Galway East TD Sean Canney. He is the only returned independent minister from the last coalition. I will talk to anybody who has an interest in talking to me. "It is important we have a stable government, not for months but for the next three to four years, said the former Independent Alliance member. His priorities, if he was part of a pact or coalition, would include tackling the housing crisis as well as the setting up of a pricing regulator for beef farmers. Cathal Berry, a former army commander elected as an independent for Kildare South, is also being watched as a potential partner for coalition after campaigning about low pay for soldiers. Elsewhere, the existing Rural Independents group from the last Dail met and is considering whether it will support anyone. Member and the returned Kerry TD, Michael Healy-Rae, told the Irish Examiner: I have an open mind. The concerns I have include health and housing. But you have to also balance a budget. It is very difficult for a party to promise anything. Cork South West returned TD Michael Collins is also being touted as a contender for coalition negotiations. But Mr Collins has an extensive wish-list including a dedicated ministry for fishing, a rural resettlement programmes and resources for Bantry Hospital. Both he and Mr Healy-Rae initially held talks to be in government at the start of the last Dail with then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny, but they decided against going into power. Advertisement A big wave surfer was knocked unconscious after being slammed by two freak waves during a competition in Portugal as storms created 'exceptional' weather conditions. Alex Botelho was being towed back to shore on a jetski by fellow surfer Hugo Vau when they were caught between the two breaking waves. They were trying to outrun one giant wall of water behind them when another surged in from the front. The Canadian-born Portuguese surfer was knocked unconscious and was dragged ashore by Vau and other competitors during the Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge, which saw waves up to 45ft, on Tuesday. He was revived by paramedics and was said to be 'stable and conscious' in hospital today. Big wave surfer Alex Botelho was knocked unconscious after being slammed by two freak waves during a competition in Portugal as storms created 'exceptional' weather conditions. He was being towed back to shore on a jetski (pictured) by fellow surfer Hugo Vau when they were caught between the two breaking waves One Portuguese star wasn't so lucky and was rushed to hospital after being towed by a jetski when he was pummelled by an approaching wave They were trying to outrun one giant wall of water behind them when another surged in from the front, tossing the vessel into the air Rescuers pulled Alex Botelho from the water unconscious and was treated at the scene before he was taken to hospital. He is now said to be stable and conscious Alex Botelho from Portugal rides a wave during the Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge before being knocked unconscious 'Big wave surfer Alex Botelho was involved in a very serious incident during the Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge,' the World Surf League (WSL) said in a statement. 'A heartfelt thank you to the safety and medical teams for their quick response. We are wishing Alex a full and speedy recovery.' Nic Von Rupp, another Portuguese big wave surfer, wrote on Instagram: 'Heartbreaking watching my brother between life and death right in front of the eyes of the world. 'Honestly, very few would have survived.' It is the first time the WSLs Big Wave world tour has visited Nazare, a fishing village notorious for its dangerous conditions with waves up to 100ft high. Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa holds the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed when he took on a 24m monster at Nazare in 2017. Breathtaking photos show surfers gliding over enormous waves and taking air before miraculously reaching the shore through treacherous whitewater during the nail-biting spectacle. The competition made history for allowing women for the first time in mixed-gender teams. For the first time ever, Brazilian record holder Maya Gabeira and French surfing legend Justine Dupont competed with men in pairs as part of a new format for the event where competitors alternate between surfing and driving a jet ski. Nazare's breathtaking waves are caused by 5km deep and 200km wide underwater canyon ending just before the town's shoreline, with the event making sure to take advantage of the 'exceptional' weather conditions, the World Surf League said. Surfers battled 45ft waves in Portugal to compete for the top spot at the World Surf League in Portugal on Tuesday, after a swell caused by Storm Ciara created 'exceptional' weather conditions for the event The competition, which is held in the ancient fishing village of Nazare known, was treated to near-perfect forecast, as active storms in the North Atlantic, together with light winds, whipped up ideal waves The competition, which traditionally featured a male-only paddle competition, even made history for allowing women for the first time in mixed-gender teams Nazare's breathtaking waves are caused by 5km deep and 200km wide underwater canyon ending just before the town's shoreline Surfers and technical team help the Portuguese surfer Alex Botelho who got injured during the Nazare Tour Surfing Challenge, the 5th stage of the Big Wave Tour, of the World Surf League For the first time ever, Brazilian Guinness World Record holder Maya Gabeira and French surfing legend Justine Dupont competed with men in pairs as part of a new format for the event where competitors alternate between surfing and driving a jet ski Surfer Sebastian Steudtner is seen riding a wave. The big wave competition that took place on the Praia do Norte beach took advantage of the huge swell that hit the Portuguese coast Spectators gather to watch Surfer Lucas Chianca gliding down an enormous wave on the Portuguese coast during the nail-biting competition Breathtaking photos show surfers were gliding over enormous waves before miraculously taking air or reaching the shore through treacherous whitewater during the nail-biting spectacle A surfer from Team Europe braves the waves during the incredible competition which was treated to enormous waves Nazare's breathtaking waves are caused by 5km deep and 200km wide underwater canyon ending just before the town's shoreline A surfer from Team France surfing during the 2020 Nazare Challenge. The seaside village is also known as 'Portugal's most dangerous wave' The gold-standard travel insurance policy will offer the option to cancel for any reason or cancel anytime. This insurance could kick in, for example, if youre afraid to travel to a location because of the coronavirus. Such policies can cost as much as 50 percent more than a standard travel insurance policy. A North Myrtle Beach lawyer says a disgruntled employee stole company funds for personal use and is now releasing clients confidential information. Walter Pigg, a North Myrtle Beach businessman who was twice arrested last year in connection with embezzling thousands from a rental company for personal use and is under investigation by both state and local agencies, is the subject of a lawsuit that was filed by the Law Office of Stephanie Vaught Little, PC in Horry County on Tuesday. Pigg was hired last May to perform paralegal services for the law firm but was ultimately fired on Jan. 7 after using the law offices debit card for personal expenses, according to the lawsuit. Little, in her lawsuit, says Pigg is now retaliating against the law firm by using confidential information, including client names and addresses, to reveal trade secrets and disseminate false and defamatory statements to clients, the suit states. On at least one occasion following his firing, Pigg sent a letter to a client of the law firm, according to the lawsuit, and in early February, Pigg, with his lawyer, called an existing client and recorded the call. The suit additionally alleges Pigg made slanderous statements to a third party. Pigg knew the information was confidential but disclosed or used the information without the express or implied consent of the Law Office or Attorney, the suit states. Piggs actions are threatening the confidential information of third parties, such as clients of the Law Office. Little, in her suit, says her firm is required to protect client information, and as result of Piggs actions, the law firm has incurred expenses, damages, and special harm. The suit requests the court issue a cease and desist and require Pigg to pay for any damages, punitive damages, attorney fees and other costs the firm has incurred. Pigg must also return client information and be prohibited from communication with clients and making disparaging comments to third parties, according to the lawsuit. Story continues The law firm is also requesting the court issue a temporary restraining order against Pigg, arguing that he is seeking to inflict harm by continuing to disclose the confidential nature of clients information and their relationship with the law office. Past alleged incidents Pigg, who is currently a suspect in numerous other cases involving his alleged role in unpaid rental proceeds to property owners, has been under investigation by North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Law Enforcement Division and other agencies for nearly a year. Pigg was arrested last June and charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent after allegedly stealing over $17,000 from a Homeowners Association for personal use. According to police, Pigg withdrew the HOA money through ATM and debit purchases, without HOA approval, to spend at The Big M Casino in Little River and Harrahs Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina. PIGG, WALTER FRANK - BREACH OF TRUST WITH FRAUDULENT INTENT,VALUE $5,000 OR MORE, BREACH OF TRUST WITH FRAUDULENT INTENT,VALUE $5,000 OR MORE He was arrested again a month later. Pigg, who owned Keye Beach Rentals in North Myrtle Beach, was arrested on July 1 and charged with six counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent after he withheld close to $25,000 overall in rental money from six property owners. Pigg, who was responsible for collecting rent from tenants and distributing it to condo owners on a monthly basis, collected rent though personal checks and credit cards, but as of June, no money had been paid to any of the property owners, according to arrest warrants. Pigg deposited a renters more-than-$2,000 check into his personal account and spent it at The Big M Casino in Little River and Harrahs Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina, the warrant states. One condo owner reported they havent received any payments since last June, while others said they havent been paid since November. North Myrtle Beach police last year launched an investigation into Pigg after officials say they received nearly three dozen complaints, outlining Piggs alleged misconduct and unethical business practices since purchasing Keye Beach Rentals, a 55-unit rental agency located at 601 Hillside Drive, in 2018. Keye Beach Rentals in North Myrtle Beach has been closed after the owner surrendered his business license. Walter Pigg is under investigation after allegedly embezzling close to $100,000 from property owners and renters. Feb 22, 2019. Pigg officially closed his agency last February after his property managers license was suspended by the S.C. Real Estate Commission. Pigg later surrendered his business license to the city. About a dozen property owners who rented condos to Keye Beach Rentals told The Sun News how Pigg failed to pay them on time when he first bought the business, and later refused to pay them altogether. Pigg also restricted owners from overseeing rental activity, double-booked units, charged renters higher rates without the condo owners knowledge, and left units dirty, despite charging owners for cleaning services, owners told The Sun News. Pigg reportedly continued to showcase their rentals and make reservations through the Keye Beach Rentals website even after losing his license and owners taking their business to another rental agency and changing their locks. The Sun News also spoke with several vacationers renting condos through Keye Beach Rentals who arrived on various weekends to the vacant rental agency only to discover they had nowhere to stay despite having their vacations paid in full, some a year in advance. According to police reports filed from January through April of last year, vacationers also found their credit cards were repeatedly charged but their reservation was either canceled, double-booked or the unit was no longer associated with Keye Beach Rentals. The Sun News spoke to Piggs lawyer, Kirk Truslow, last February, where he attested that Pigg had done nothing wrong and those who filed complaints were seeking vengeance. The Sun News reached out to Truslow Wednesday afternoon for a comment and he was unavailable. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After the success of my op-ed How Can You Follow Jesus and Support Donald Trump? I decided to release this as part two (so to speak). The title above may be shocking and disheartening to many of us, but it's a reality check on what could happen. The 2020 election will be one of the most important elections in the history of America (as was Abraham Lincolns who was a Republican fighting slavery). Most are not aware that President Trump barely won in many swing states, with margins as low as 1.2% in Florida and a very narrow 0.23% in Michigan. I hope you realize how narrow this is. The 2016 election caught Democrats off guard, but they wont let that happen again. My concern is that the 2020 election will catch Republicans off guard this time. Complacency may lead to apathy when the economy is good and the president's approval rating is high. We cant become comfortable thinking that Trump will easily take it again. God wants us to trust in Him, not in opinion polls and the economy. Be clear on this: amid voter fraud, ballot harvesting, and media giants railing against Trump, only a sovereign act of God can bring about a re-election. Also be sure that every trick in the book will be unleashed, from sandbagging to illegal voting. As we just saw in Iowa, the person counting the votes is more important than the voters. They will do whatever it takes to acquire victory you can count on that. (For those interested in more information on this topic, I recommend Stephen Strangs new book, "God, Trump, and the 2020 Election.") Many are angry very angry. A video released in January showed a man identified as a campaign organizer for Bernard Sanders saying cities burn if President Trump wins. He also predicted violence against police at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Where is the outcry? How is this OK? This is what is brewing beneath the surface. We as believers must be different but no less committed. Instead of burning cities, we should be on fire ourselves on our knees in prayer, on our feet at the ballot box, and passionately supporting those candidates who will fight for the unborn and for the freedom to pray in schools and who are willing to stand for what is right. As I said in a 2019 op-ed, Americas Microwave Christianity Must Change, many churches have a form of microwave Christianity. Service times last just over an hour, prayer is glanced over, worship is designed to entertain the masses, and the Word is confined to a 12-minute sound bite neatly sandwiched between a funny anecdote and a softly spoken appeal to emotion with every eye closed. How many pastors are guilty of trying to avoid offending their audience and seeking to be motivational rather than convicting? If we truly want to see revival, the face of the present-day church needs to change, starting with the pulpits. Granted, there are wonderful churches, but as a whole, we have drifted significantly off course. For example, do you ever wonder how a Christian (let alone a pastor) can embrace gay marriage and encourage it? Listen to this Fox News interview I did to find out. People are bored, they say, so our services need to be more appealing. They are not wrong in sensing the problem but they have the wrong solution. Church is boring because the power of God has vanished from many congregations; there is a lack of desire in the pulpit as well as in the pew. Like Samson, they dont realize that the Spirit of the Lord has departed (Judges 16:20). But there is hope. We can once again position ourselves to seek God: You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). To seek in this context means to find what is missing. The Hebrew word for seek has a very strong meaning. Imagine losing your child in a crowded mall. Your entire heart would be engaged. How would you spend your time? Where would your energy be concentrated? Have you ever sought the Lord in this way? Are you seeking Him this way now? Pastors and Christian leaders, we must again passionately seek God as if our nation and the future of our children depend on it because they do. Where is the weeping? Where are the early morning prayer meetings? Where is the fasting? In 2016, I remember many nights of prayer and early morning worship services with zero gloating. I remember seeing desperate Christians cry out to God because of the hellish direction of our Republic. We seasoned our lips with humility as we earnestly fasted and prayed for God to intervene. We must recapture that again and soon. Pride in our hearts can be deception (see Obadiah 1:3). Dont get me wrong. Many are doing exceptional things, such as calling a million young adults to fasting, motivating pastors, and mobilizing communities by building a grassroots approach. Praise God for that, but we need revival. We need an awakening. No, politics wont save America, but to implement change and help others, we must take action. Would you have remained silent in the 1800s over slavery? Of course not. We are blessed to be governed by the will of the people, hence, the political process. If we truly wish for our nation to seek God, we need the Lord to bring revival, to stir the hearts of the people again. As I said before, men must lead the charge stop the silly video games, get off Facebook, and kill your porn habit. Youre called to lead, love, and die, if necessary, for your family. We are the reason that the nation is deteriorating. We are the reason the family is breaking down. We must stop blaming everyone from God to the government and start taking responsibility. We must humble ourselves, initiate prayer meetings, and begin seeking the heart of God. Leonard Ravenhill rightly noted that the Cinderella of the church of today is the prayer meeting. The prayer meeting, if she exists at all, is relegated to a dark corner somewhere in the church on an off night so that there is little expectation that anyone will pay her any attention. She goes about unnoticed, unloved, and uncelebrated, yet she is the one who keeps the house clean. Its time for Cinderella to go to the ball to get dressed for our King and seek His face for grace and mercy, to intercede on behalf of our nation. We must respond with humility and repent of our sins. We must be grateful and thankful because we are blessed beyond measure. Pastors, it's time to stop worrying about who will be offended by your sermons (watch the sermon, When The Weak Are Destroyed By The Powerful here). Its time to stop tip-toeing through the lilies of political correctness. Its time to seek powerful sermons rather than popular ones. Some people will leave your church it is true. Truth divides, and those seeking to have their itching ears tickled will move on to less convicting pastures. But the strength of the church is in her purity, not in her numbers. Start a prayer meeting and make it the heartbeat of the church. Even if only a handful of people show up, God is looking for faithfulness, not numbers. He doesnt need the majority; He is the Majority. Prayer can no longer be a footnote at the end of a sermon prayer must be the priority across the landscape. Remember, it only took 12 men empowered by Gods Spirit to change the world. We must return to prayer, real prayer that shakes heaven. Our gun safes are full, but our prayer closets are empty. The 2020 election is yours to lose. God help us. NEW HAVEN A former New Haven man exonerated of a 2000 conviction for murder has sued the city and two former detectives in state court, alleging they were negligent in their handling of evidence that would have cleared him. Marquis Jackson was convicted, along with city resident Vernon Horn, for the January 1999 murder of Caprice Hardy, 22, who was slain in a robbery at a deli near the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Bassett Street. Jackson spent 19 years in jail before being released in May 2018, just before his 40th birthday, after a judge vacated his conviction due to previously overlooked evidence and newly discovered phone records. In the lawsuit, Jackson alleges that former detectives Leroy Dease and Petisia Adger were negligent in failing to report the existence of 137 pages of phone records that, in his and his attorneys perspective, would have been exculpatory, or would have shown he was not guilty. Jackson alleged Dease and Adger obtained records for a cell phone taken from the scene of the crime that pointed to another group of individuals as the perpetrators of the crime, then failed to report the existence of those records to prosecutors, Jackson or his attorney until shortly before Jackson was released. The city, Jackson alleges, was negligent in failing to provide appropriate oversight over Dease and Adger or the handling of evidence by the New Haven Police Department. Jackson previously sued the city, Dease and Adger, as well as former detective Daryl Breland and former state firearms examiner James Stephenson, in connection with the same investigation in March 2019. Horn filed a similar suit in September 2018, which remains in progress. Horn alleged at that time that Dease and Adger, among other claims, withheld material evidence, denied him due process, unreasonably prolonged his detention and failed to intervene to prevent misconduct, according to the complaint in that case. Dease and Adger, through their attorneys, denied wrongdoing in their response to that lawsuit in April 2019, including denying that they hid records. The city also denied wrongdoing. Adger admitted that she had given 137 pages of phone records that had been with other documents in her basement to an investigator, as previously alleged by Jackson, but left the defense to prove that they were exculpatory, that she understood their significance, and that she failed to turn them over to the State Attorneys office, among other claims in the suit. On Jan. 31, in the most recent filing in the case, Jacksons attorneys, Kenneth Rosenthal and Daniel F. Lage, sought to amend the federal complaint to add a claim of negligence against Dease and Adger. In that filing, Rosenthal and Lage indicated Adger had testified regarding her alleged contemporaneous lodging of the suppressed phone record evidence with the (New Haven Police Department) in a recent deposition, prompting, in their view, the rationale for the new claim, as the records were not included in the departments file for the case. If credited by the jurors, distinct from the deliberate suppression claims advanced in other counts of the complaint, Plaintiff should be permitted to present the negligence and continuing course of conduct claims he now seeks to include by this discrete amendment claims that, prior to Defendant Adgers recent testimony, he had no way of ascertaining: to the contrary, the state of the documentary record (complete absence of any such documents or returns in the NHPD files) suggested precisely the opposite, Rosenthal and Lage wrote in that filing. The city, Dease and Adger are not yet represented by an attorney in the Connecticut case, according to judicial records. The attorneys representing them in the federal suit, as well as Corporation Counsel John Rose Jr., did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com WASHINGTON Tohono Oodham Nation Chairman Ned Norris said the controlled blasting for a border wall that will ultimately cut through his reservation is just the latest example of the federal government ignoring its duty to consult with tribes. Federal agencies involved in border wall construction are in violation of their own policies since meaningful consultations have not been held with the Tohono Oodham Nation, Norris said in a statement Monday. The statement was in response to reports that crews have begun blasting Monument Hill in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument an area that includes a burial ground sacred to the Tohono Oodham. Customs and Border Protection, in a statement, confirmed that contractors have started blasting in the area and said it will continue to have an environmental monitor present during these activities as well as ongoing clearing activities. That was little comfort to critics, who noted that the federal government has exercised its Section 102 authority to waive regulations, including consultation with tribes and environmental rules, if they could get in the way of border wall construction. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Wednesday announced the creation of a Conviction Integrity Unit that will review criminal convictions across Pennsylvania to ensure justice. The unit will be headed by former Somerset County District Attorney, Lisa Lazzari-Straisser, whose resume includes a stint as a public defender in Cambria County. It will work with district attorneys, law enforcement agencies and crime victims to re-evaluate whether punishments in criminal cases are appropriate. There will be a focus on cases where wrongful convictions are alleged. This unit provides a mechanism for the review of cases to make sure justice was served, and if not, to right the wrongs of our imperfect system, Shapiro said. This is critically important work and our focus will be to collaborate with Pennsylvania counties lacking the necessary resources to properly revisit and analyze past convictions. I can tell you it is the responsibility of prosecutors to pursue justice and correct past mistakes, even when those mistakes are made by law enforcement, Lazzari-Straiser said. Marissa Bluestine, assistant director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, called the integrity units creation a critical development for incarcerated individuals and their families. No prosecutor wants an innocent person in prison, Bluestine said. This unit offers county prosecutors wanting to achieve justice the resources to review past convictions--an undertaking requiring many hours and devotion to looking behind a conviction. New Delhi, Feb 13 : The organiser of the world's biggest phone show 'Mobile World Congress' 2020 on Thursday cancelled the annual event in Barcelona in the wake of the Novel Coronavirus fears which saw several top exhibitors and tech companies pulling out of the event. In a statement, the GSM Association (GSMA) said that the coronavirus outbreak which has killed over 1,000 people and left thousands infected has made it "impossible" to hold the event. The MWC 2020 was set to take place in Barcelona from February 24 till February 27. "With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event," said GSMA CEO John Hoffman. The 'Host City Parties' respect and understand this decision. The GSMA and the aHost City Parties' will continue to be working in unison and supporting each other for MWC Barcelona 2021 and future editions. Our sympathies at this time are with those affected in China, and all around the world," the CEO added. Most infections and deaths from coronavirus are being reported in Wuhan and Hubei Province in China but nearly 25 countries have now reported Coronavirus cases. The MWC has a big economic impact of 492 million euros and also generates over 14,000 part-time jobs. Earlier, Cisco and Facebook became the latest big tech firms to drop out of the world's largest mobile industry exhibition. Both companies joined the growing list of companies -- including LG Electronics, Ericsson, Nvidia, Sony, Amazon, Intel, Vivo, and NTT Docomo to not attend the mobile trade show. "Out of an abundance of caution, Facebook employees would not be attending this year's Mobile World Congress due to the evolving public health risks related to coronavirus. We will continue to collaborate with the GSMA and our partners and thank them for their efforts," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. Cisco took to Twitter to announce that it would not participate in the MWC 2020. "We have made the difficult decision to withdraw from participating in Mobile World Congress scheduled for Feb 24-27 in Barcelona due to concerns about the current outbreak of coronavirus," the company tweeted. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi, however, said that it will participate in MWC 2020 and will also stick to its original schedule. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) At this moment, a team of seven pharmacists is assisting with the delivery of medication to guests Open source The Diamond Princess cruise ship with 174 infected people on board will be released from quarantine on February 19, CNN reports, citing operator Princess Cruises. Around 3,700 people from 50 different countries have been held on board since February 4. As it was stated by the company's executive vice president Rai Caluori, the highest priority is "providing guests and crew with their prescription medications, and more than 2,000 prescriptions have been brought on board." At this moment, a team of seven pharmacists is assisting with the delivery of medication to guests. As we reported earlier, the evacuation of Ukrainians from Hubei province has been postponed. Currently, there are ongoing preparations for the next stage to take place. According to Ukraine's Minister of Health, the Ukrainian side examines medical facilities that are supposed to host the patients for a two-week-long quarantine. "These are not healthcare facilities, they are health resorts. After exploring the possibility of redeveloping these facilities into temporary observatories, the final location will be determined. Discussions are underway, some technical guidelines, recommendations on the properties this institution should have, on how the security should be organized, on how certain equipment should be provided have already been developed. Once these establishments are inspected, we will determine the final location, Acting Director-General of the Public Health Center of Ukraines Health Ministry Ihor Kuzin said. A pledge to close the health and wellbeing gap between Aboriginal and other Australians is failing, the government has admitted, describing the situation as a source of national shame. Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Australias parliament on Tuesday that just two of seven key targets to improve the lives of the countrys Indigenous people were on track unchanged from last year. More Aboriginal children were enrolled in early education and graduating from high school than ever before, he said, but attendance rates were still lagging behind other groups. Other targets to halve the gap in child mortality, literacy, life expectancy, and unemployment rates were not being met. Morrison called the failure to give Indigenous children opportunities equal to other Australian kids a national truth and a national shame. Colonisation The admission comes 250 years since Captain James Cooks first voyage to the vast continent, a journey that led to British colonisation and upended Indigenous communities. The life expectancy for Aboriginal Australians is about eight years lower than the national average. Indigenous children are twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday and 25 times more likely to be imprisoned than the rest of the population, according to official statistics. The report marks 12 years since then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to Aboriginal people for centuries of injustice and launched the Closing the Gap initiative. Morrison said on Tuesday that the policy would be replaced after consultation with the community. Over decades, our top-down, government-knows-best approach has not delivered the improvements we all need, Morrison said. The results are not good enough. A lorry driver wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated shipping container in Essex has been granted permission to appeal against his extradition to the UK. Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among eight women and 31 males, all Vietnamese nationals, whose bodies were discovered in the trailer in an industrial park in Grays in the early hours of October 23 Eamonn Harrison, from Mayobridge, Northern Ireland, appeared in Dublin's High Court in connection with the deaths last Tuesday and was awaiting extradition to the UK. He faces 39 charges of manslaughter and charges for conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. A judge today granted Harrison, 23, permission to appeal his extradition to Britain. Eamonn Harrison, from Mayobridge, Northern Ireland , appeared in Dublin's High Court in connection with the deaths last Tuesday and was awaiting extradition to the UK The judge ruled concerns raised by Harrison in relation to the European Arrest Warrant issued by UK authorities justify examination by a higher court. Mr Justice Donald Binchy said it is in the public interest to explore the issues, noting that they transcend the facts of Harrison's case and could have ramifications for other extradition proceedings. Harrison is wanted for his alleged role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men, all Vietnamese nationals, were found on an industrial park in Grays in the early hours of October 23 last year. The 23-year-old, who was arrested at Dublin Port days after the discovery in England, is alleged to have driven the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium and later signed the shipping notice for it. The Crown Prosecution Service is seeking to prosecute Harrison for 41 offences - 39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one human trafficking offence, and one count of assisting unlawful immigration. Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among 39 Vietnamese nationals whose bodies were discovered in the lorry trailer in the early hours of October 23 Harrison's lawyers claimed there were 'manifest errors' in the original warrant. They contend that when additional information was sought from UK authorities, it was provided by the CPS, when it should have been issued by a judicial authority - namely a judge in Essex. Judge Binchy said there is a need to explore the points raised in a higher court. He formally made an order granting Harrison's extradition to the UK, but placed a stay on the execution of that order pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. He said: 'I formally place a stay on the execution of the order pending the appeal.' Harrison, who is represented in court by senior counsel Siobhan Stack and junior counsel Tony McGillicuddy, has 14 days to lodge his appeal with the Court of Appeal. Dressed in a purple jumper and jeans, he gave a thumbs up to solicitor Paul Tiernan after the ruling was delivered on Wednesday morning. He was further remanded in custody pending the appeal. It comes as Essex Police said a team of 12 officers and staff will be in Vietnam until the end of the month meeting relatives as they look into the alleged human trafficking plot. Staff from the National Crime Agency and officers from Vietnam's ministry of public security are assisting with the investigation. On Tuesday it was revealed the provisional cause of death for those in the lorry was a combination of suffocation and overheating in an enclosed space, Essex Police said. Ham radio club can provide emergency communications Since 1977, the Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club has been a part of Smiths Falls and surrounding regions with the home base in Smiths Falls, Ontario Inside Ottowa Valley reports Formerly known as the Rideau Lakes Repeater Association it amalgamated with the Smiths Falls Amateur Radio Club and changed the club's name to Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club in 1995. We are the computer geeks of two generations ago, said club member Robert Bell VE3NZQ. Everybody you meet, you learn from and theres always somebody or something that keeps them interested. Bell is one of the newer members of the club but has been involved with two-way radios since the late 1980s. Mike Ligeza VE3UIL has been a member since he moved to Smiths Falls 16 years ago. Keith Carter VE3JKC has been involved with two-way radio since 1950 and joined the club when he moved to Smiths Falls in 1989. He is the second oldest members of the group turning 88 later this year. The club has 17 members with all of them active with two-way radios on a weekly basis. Oldest and founding member of the club, Alice Germaine Purcell VE3MHP, 93, has been involved since the current club started in 1995. In case of an emergency in the town, such as the ice storm in 1998, members of the club who are Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members would be in contact with ARES members across Canada to see who would be available to help. Were a group of volunteer; second responders and in the event of an emergency like the ice storm, there was 92 volunteers from all over Ontario (who came) here and do various things like provide communication to relief centres, said Bell. Whether youre an actual member of ARES or not, the skill you require in pursuing this hobby is quite useful. Read the full story at https://www.insideottawa valley.com/news-story/9843800--the-computer-geeks-of-two-generations-ago-rideau-lakes-amateur-radio-club-going-strong-in-smiths-falls-after-42-years/ India and Vietnam on Wednesday vowed to strengthen ties in key sectors such as economy and defence, while also agreeing to cooperate at multilateral fora, especially on account of the southeast Asian country becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, who is on an official visit to India from February 11 to 13, held delegation-level talks with her Indian counterpart M Venkaiah Naidu. "The delegation-level talks were held in warm, cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two leaders discussed all aspects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on political, defence, economic and security issues of mutual interest," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said. The two sides agreed to continue their close coordination and mutual support at multilateral fora, especially on account of Vietnam becoming non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council (2020-21) and assuming the ASEAN Chair in 2020, it said. Dang will also be calling on President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday. The visit of the Vietnamese vice president is a step closer towards strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2016 between the two countries, the MEA said. As comprehensive strategic partners, India and Vietnam have a strong bilateral relationship based on mutual trust, understanding, convergence of views on regional and international issues. The joint inauguration of the launch of direct flights between India and Vietnam was also held here and an agreement was also signed to open a resident office of Voice of Vietnam in New Delhi. The Vietnamese vice president would visit Bodh Gaya on February 13. Her visit has imparted momentum to the bilateral relationship and provided an opportunity to review various areas of collaboration and cooperation of the comprehensive strategic partnership, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PERE 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 Along with Bahamian hoteliers and tour operators, Director General Joy Jibrilu and Deputy Director General Ellison "Tommy" Thompson provided key destination updates, showing attendees why a record-breaking seven million travelers visited The Bahamas in 2019. Bahamian-inspired dishes and cocktails and performances from Junkanoo dancers also gave guests a taste of the Bahamian culture. The BMOTA leaders at these events emphasized that The Bahamas is open for business and ready to welcome visitors for a tropical getaway across the islands. Grand Bahama Island and The Abacos have celebrated a number of reopenings since Hurricane Dorian hit the two northern islands in September 2019. "The Bahamas is very excited for travelers to experience the islands' adventurous activities that cannot be found in the mountains of Colorado," said Director General Joy Jibrilu. "The beautiful sun, sand and sea are now just a short airplane ride away." For the first time ever, travelers from the Denver-area can take advantage of non-stop flights to Nassau, The Bahamas just in time for spring 2020 travel. Beginning March 7, 2020, United Airlines will be launching a Saturday-only nonstop service between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau. The flight will suspend during the off-peak travel season beginning in August 2020 and commence again on October 21, 2020 on an annual basis. To reinforce the enduring beauty, warmth and adventure of these islands, the BMOTA debuted its new multi-channel, creative brand campaign, Still Rockin', to entice travelers to visit The Bahamas now. As a follow up to the BMOTA's Fly Away campaign, which debuted in February 2019, Still Rockin' once again features Bahamian-American rock legend, Lenny Kravitz. The television commercial and supporting marketing efforts capture Kravitz's deep personal connection to The Bahamas, as well as the authentic spirit of the Bahamian people in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. PRESS INQUIRIES Anita Johnson-Patty General Manager, Global Communications Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation [email protected] Weber Shandwick Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation As the digital revolution continues to transform education and business, rural and underserved regions across the country are at risk of being left behind because of geographic and demographic barriers. At a Feb. 5 event called Kickstarting the Digital Heartland, Future Tense, the publication Issues in Science and Technology, and New Americas education policy and cybersecurity programs convened experts to discuss how Americans in the heartland can access to the same kind of digital education and opportunities as their fellow citizens on the coasts. Advertisement There is a crisis of money in the Midwest, Mark Hagerott, chancellor of the North Dakota University System, said at the event. He argued that the current lack of cyber opportunities in rural America results from a serious lack of resources, both in terms of human capital and in funding. In response, he has proposed a radical idea: Using the 1860s land-grant university system as a model, he would have the federal government fund the building of hybrid university campuses in rural states to teach the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed in a 21st-century knowledge economy. Just as the original land-grant universities educated students about new innovations in agriculture and technology, this new digital land-grant university system would cover new advancements in digital literacy and cyber technology. Hagerott said he hopes this approach would draw both online and in-person students and new educators from outside the traditional academic structure, and attract philanthropists and business to invest in these schools and their students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One other major challenge to the idea of a digital land grant university system is the lack of existing infrastructure. Carrie Billy, president and CEO of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, urged the audience to think of a cellphone signal coverage map. The gaps in coverage, she said, are what one would call Indian country. Any attempt at building a digital land grant university system in rural America would have to close those gaps, which are a significant factor in the lack of opportunity in those regions. We need this kind of bold idea because we know the talent is there, but the opportunity is not, Billy said. She went on to add that a new cyber landscape is one way to achieve a kind of equality, for not only American Indians and Alaska natives, but also all of rural America. Rodney Petersen, the director of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, pointed out that building capacity and improving broadband connectivity is something educational institutions to assist with. As an example, he pointed to the University of Marylands role in investing in internet infrastructure. Advertisement Without prior investment in education and industry in many of these regions, new startups and investors will avoid setting up there, which can further isolate communities. Tracy Van Grack, the senior vice president of communications and public policy at Revolution LLC, hopes that a digital land grant system could bring communities together, which can do so much for an entrepreneurial community in terms of getting them access to partners, customers, and mentors. Advertisement Billy agreed with Van Grack, arguing that tribal communities, which often lack partnerships or relationships with industry, would benefit from in-person time with investors, technologists, and entrepreneurs. Bringing industry, tribal colleges, the tribes, the local governments together to figure out what plan works for them is extremely important, she said. And it takes someone who can bring them togetherthey wont naturally come together. Overcoming geographic barriers to give all equal access to cyber education and tech investment is a mammoth challenge. But as New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter said, Even when compared to the Progressive era, we are living in an era of immense upheaval, driven by technology, and exactly because of that we need sweeping change, and we need to believe its possible. Watch the full event on the New America website. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Twenty-eight years ago, Armenian armed forces occupied Malibeyli and Gushchular villages of Azerbaijans Shusha region on 11 February 1992. Armenian and Russian servicemen serving in Azerbaijans Khankendi region launched an offensive on Malibeyli and Gushchular villages on February 9 with the support of the 366th Motorized Rifle Regiment deployed in the region. The unequal battle lasted for three days - on 11 February 1992 both villages were occupied. The villages were burnt, houses, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, administrative buildings, cultural monuments were destroyed. About 30 civilians were killed, taken hostage, hundreds were wounded. The rest of the village residents made it to Aghdam region with great difficulty. On 8 May 1992, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha entirely. As a result of the occupation, Shusha city and 30 villages of Shusha region were destroyed, 195 civilians were killed, 165 were wounded and 58 persons went missing. More than 24.000 inhabitants of Shusha were subjected to ethnic cleansing. The occupation of Shusha was part of Armenias systematic policy of occupation and aggression against Azerbaijan. As an outcome of this policy, Armenian forces occupied Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, conducted ethnic cleansing against hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis in the seized territories and committed other serious war crimes and crimes against humanity. Following the ethnic cleansing conducted in course of Shusha's occupation, the occupying forces destroyed the historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan and gradually changes the cultural image of the city. The occupation of Shusha was particularly painful for Azerbaijanis as the city is considered to be the cultural and music center of Azerbaijan. Shusha occupies a special place in the musical culture of Azerbaijan. The city, built in the middle of the 18th century by Karabakhs Azerbaijani rulers, began to play the role of the musical center of Azerbaijan in the early 19th century. It was also called "the Conservatoire of the Caucasus". --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Leaders of Nigerias main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, on Tuesday, took their protests to the offices of the United Nations and embassies of the European Union and France in Abuja. The party began the protest to diplomatic agencies last year after the Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as the governor of Imo State and replaced him with Hope Uzondinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They had previously taken the exercise to the British High Commission and the United States embassy in Abuja. Alleging regression of democracy under the government of the APC, the party which ran Nigeria for 16 years until 2015 said critical democratic institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Assembly and Judiciary have been compromised. Tuesdays protest was led by the PDP Deputy Chairman (North), Suleiman Nazif. We are not happy; we are not satisfied with the way democracy is being run in Nigeria, he told journalists. We have come here to complain because the National Assembly is being intimidated by the executive. The judiciary is being arm-twisted; the rule of law has become a mockery. Nigerians have seen what the opposition party is going through. We saw what happened in Bayelsa State and Imo State with respect to the Supreme Court judgment. We are calling for a review of that judgment. We believe that with mounting pressure from international organisations, I think the right thing should be done. The National Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Tsauri, said of the five pillars of democracy, only two had not been compromised by the APC-led government; the media and the international community. He said contrary to President Muhammadu Buharis promise to fight corruption, insecurity and improve the economy; the situation in Nigeria had worsened. He said the president has failed. This is why we came to the international community to tell them that this is the expectations of Nigerians from them and we want them to do exactly what is expected of them to do. In Nigeria today, if you talk about security, it is zero. When Buhari came into government, he said that he is going to fight corruption, he was going to intensify on economy and then security, none is working now. This government does not listen to any voice except the international community. That is why we are here, Mr Tsauri said. The party leaders submitted petitions to the officials of the three offices. The PDP earlier held a protest in January against the Supreme Court judgment on Mr Ihedioha. PDP members have also protested in Imo State. Chen-Ching Liu, the American Electric Power Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, is one of 87 new members elected to the National Academy of Engineering for 2020. Liu is being honored for his contributions to computational methods for power system restoration and cybersecurity. A faculty member of Virginia Techs Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, he serves as director of the Power and Energy Center. I am humbled by the opportunity to join leaders at the National Academy of Engineering and serve Virginia Tech and the country, Liu said. Under Lius leadership, the Power and Energy Centers researchers are creating advanced technologies for their envisioned power grid of the future, the Cyber Grid, and training the next generation of power engineers in a time of unprecedented transformation for the industry. The power industry now looks to tap into innovative resources like renewable energy and microgrid, as well as advanced technologies for information, communication, control, measurement, and computing, to achieve a reliable, resilient, and secure infrastructure. For decades, the Power and Energy Center at Virginia Tech has been recognized as a global leader in developing new technologies for the power industry, said Liu, who has served as the centers director since 2018. At a time when the industry is fast-changing, the center is taking a leadership role to significantly strengthen our capabilities for multidisciplinary research and education and develop strong collaborations with industry and government agencies. Lius major contributions to power engineering research are new methodologies and tools for handling abnormal operating conditions in energy management systems, such as power outages. His pioneering work on power system restoration in transmission and distribution systems led to the development of practical tools for the power industry in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute and the Pacific Northwest National Lab through the Department of Energy. Liu has 153 publications in major technical journals, 28 invited book chapters, 165 conference papers, and three edited books. As a professor, he has supervised 37 Ph.D. students and 56 masters degree students. When Chen-Ching came to Virginia Tech two years ago, I soon realized that we were fortunate to have recruited not only a talented researcher and teacher, but also a great person to work with, said Luke Lester, the Roanoke Electrical Steel Professor and head of the electrical and computer engineering department. Dr. Liu has demonstrated that he is a skilled instructor at the national and departmental level, a dedicated and prolific mentor of graduate students, an outstanding scholar, and a strong participant in professional service. All these things, combined with his positive attitude and high energy level, make him a remarkable colleague and leader. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Liu was the Boeing Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering at Washington State University and founding director for its Energy Systems Innovation Center. He has also served as professor of electrical engineering and associate dean of engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle; the Palmer Chair Professor at Iowa State University; and professor and acting/deputy principal of the College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences at University College Dublin, Ireland. In 1994, Liu was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He received the Presidential Young Investigators Award from the National Science Foundation in 1986 and the IEEE Power and Energy Society Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award in 2004. He also received an honorary doctorate from the Polytechnic University Bucharest, Romania, in 2013 and was inducted as a member of the Washington State Academy of Sciences in 2014. Liu has served in leadership positions in several international communities of power system engineering, including as a member of the Governing Board of the IEEE Power and Energy Society, founding president of the International Council of Intelligent System Applications to Power Systems, and as chair of the IEEE Power and Energy Society Fellow Committee and Technical Committee on Power System Computing, Analysis, and Economics. Liu received his bachelors and masters degrees in electrical engineering from National Taiwan University in 1976 and 1978, respectively, followed by a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from University of California, Berkeley, in 1983. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer, according to a press release issued by the organization, which also states that membership honors those who excel in their contributions to engineering research, practice, or education. New members will be formally inducted in a ceremony at the National Academy of Engineerings annual meeting in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, bringing the organizations total U.S. membership to 2,309. Written by Suzanne Irby Two suspected letter bombs have exploded in the Netherlands. One of the explosions happened at a business in Amsterdam and the other at a post sorting office in the southern city of Kerkrade, according to police. Nobody was injured in the blasts. Last month, letter bombs were sent to several businesses in the Netherlands, followed by a warning letter. Police did not reveal details about the warning letters. There have been no arrests announced in the investigation into those explosive devices, none of which went off, and police have not given details about a possible motive. It is not clear if the two explosions were linked to the letter bombs delivered in January. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 17:39:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 952 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CSE:CBDT)(OTC:EPWCF)(Frankfurt:8EC) ("Empower" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated and growth-oriented CBD life sciences company is pleased to announce that its Sun Valley Health division will be a lead sponsor at the Arizona Cannabis Industrial Market Place expo February 13th & 14th, 2020 at the Phoenix Convention Center. In addition, the Company will run an onsite Sun Valley Health POP-UP medical clinic, offering cannabis consultations, certifications and services by Sun Valley Health doctors."Our Sun Valley Franchising team has toured the U.S. over the past six months sharing our Scientific Approach to Alternative Medicine," said Dustin Klein, SVP Business Development and Director. "Being the title sponsor for the Cannabis Industrial Market Place national tour has brought us tremendous opportunities from around the globe. The upcoming Arizona CIMP Expo gives us the opportunity to share our growth and recent success with our dedicated community of patients, advocates, and business partners." The Company is also pleased to announce that Andrejs Bunkse, a Company Director, will be participating as an expert panelist in the "Growing Your Business in the Cannabis Industry" - Fireside Chat hosted by Rebel Rock Accounting of Phoenix Arizona."Being an active participant in our industry is imperative to our growth, it provides us greater connections to patients, plus early access to trends and new developments that allow us to be progressive thought leaders," said Steven McAuley, Chairman & CEO."We are delighted to host this event, bringing together many of Arizona's successful cannabis operators," said Melissa Diaz, CFO & Co-Founder of Rebel Rock. "Our women owned business is at the forefront in helping the cannabis industry become more mainstream and appealing to women consumers and entrepreneurs." ABOUT EMPOWEREmpower is a vertically-integrated health & wellness brand with it's first hemp-derived CBD extraction facility under development, the Company produces its proprietary line of cannabidiol (CBD) based products and distributes products through company owned and franchised clinics, with wholesale partnerships, online channels and with new retail opportunities nationwide in the U.S. The company is a leading multi-state operator of a network of physician-staffed wellness clinics, focused on helping patients improve and protect their health, through innovative physician recommended treatment options. The company has commenced activity on how to connect its significant data, to the potential of the efficacy of alternative treatment options related to hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) therapies.ABOUT REBEL ROCKRebel Rock was founded in 2019 by three accomplished female entrepreneurs to fill a clear and vast void in the cannabis industry. Rebel Rock puts confidence in cannabis, by helping emerging cannabis companies manage all their accounting, tax and operational efficiency needs. The Company offers customized cloud accounting solutions and business system implementations that provide peace of mind, streamlined operations and improved profitability.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:Steven McAuleyChief Executive OfficerCONTACTS:Investors: Steven McAuleyCEOs.mcauley@ empowerclinics.com 604-789-2146Investors: Dustin KleinSVP, Business Developmentdustin@ svmmjcc.com 720-352-1398For French inquiries: Remy Scalabrini, Maricom Inc., E: rs@ maricom.ca , T: (888) 585-MARIDISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. 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.Forward-looking statements can frequently be identified by words such as "plans", "continues", "expects", "projects", "intends", "believes", "anticipates", "estimates", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding; the Company's intention to open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility, the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders as a result of the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; the effectiveness of the extraction technology; the expected benefits for Empower's patient base and customers; the benefits of CBD based products; the effect of the approval of the Farm Bill; the growth of the Company's patient list and that the Company will be positioned to be a market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond. Such statements are only projections, are based on assumptions known to management at this time, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including; that the Company may not open a hemp-based CBD extraction facility; that legislative changes may have an adverse effect on the Company's business and product development; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate financing to pursue its business plan; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; failure to obtain any necessary approvals in connection with the proposed acquisitions and partnerships; and other factors beyond the Company's control. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements in this release, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly r Swiss voters support including sexual orientation in hate crimes law Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Voters in Switzerland approved on Sunday a proposal to include sexual orientation in the existing criminal law against hate crimes. Evangelicals have warned that it will conflict with freedom of expression. In a referendum, more than 62 percent of voters supported the proposal to make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and sexual identity a criminal offense, according to pollster gfs.bern, Reuters reported. Although the Swiss parliament had passed a law in 2018 to include sexual orientation in its anti-racism statutes, providing for imprisonment of up to three years for an offender, opponents gained the 50,000 signatures needed to call for a referendum on proposed legislation. The Swiss Evangelical Alliance, locally known as SEA-RES, called the decision problematic and superfluous. Extending criminal protection against hatred and discrimination to members of sexual minorities is problematic and superfluous. On the one hand, the existing law already offers sufficient possibilities for punishment and, on the other hand, a conflict with freedom of expression is foreseeable, SEA-RES said in a statement. While evangelicals "condemn all forms of hatred and violence against people of all sexual orientations and believe current laws already protect LGBT persons, the proposed legislation could restrict religious freedom by penalizing those who speak out against LGBT lifestyles or in favor of traditional marriage "in accordance with the understanding of the Bible," the alliance warned. The historic Protestant Church of Switzerland (or EKS), which is theologically liberal in its teaching on sexuality, supported the changes in the law and encouraged voters to vote yes in the referendum, according to Evangelical Focus. The LGBT community celebrated Sunday's vote. The result proves a strong sign of acceptance for lesbians, gays and bisexuals, Pink Cross Switzerland said, according to BBC. After the clear yes, the LGBTI community will use this momentum to achieve the consistent implementation of the penal code and to enforce marriage equality. A bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Switzerland has been in the pipeline since 2013, and LGBT groups are now likely to push for it. SEA-RES General Secretary Marc Jost said evangelical churches see the marriage of a man and a woman as the only couple they want to marry. We just want to be free to say: OK, we want to privilege the marriage of a man and a woman. And we don't want to be at risk if we share this opinion, and treat other couples in a different way, he explained, according to BBC. HABARI HIZI ZINAPATIKANA KWENYE APP YA UDAKU SPECIAL, BONYEZA HAPA KUIDOWNLOAD KWENYE SIMU YAKO BURE SOMA HABARI HIZI KIRAHISI KUPITIA APP YETU YA UDAKU SPECIAL Join AJIRA YAKO Group for Daily Job Updates CLICK HERE Socialite Hamisa Mobetto did not see it coming nor did her photographer warn her against flaunting her China made fake designer bag!Hamisas Doir bagWell, just a few days ago Hamisa Mobetto stepped out looking like a bag of money with her new photo shoot; only for fans with good designer taste to realize that her bag was written Doir instead of Dior.This has left Hamisa Mobetto is a tricky situation since her frenemies on social media have started trolling her.MisaIs Hamisa Mobettos lifestyle fake?This comes just a few days after she was said to be romantically involved with her ex and baby daddy Diamond Platnumz.The two were allegedly seen rolling around in the same ride and after fans spotted them; they dashed and parted ways to avoid their photos taken together since Diamond Platnumz is with Tanasha!Hamisa back with Diamond PlatnumzAnyway so far the lady has been accused of buying cheap and fake designer clothes, bags and jewelry. A few years back Zari went on to ask Hamisa Mobetto to pick the cheap earnings; left on Diamond Platnumz bed after they allegedly hooked up behind Zaris back. Two men who sexually assaulted and drugged a 24-year-old woman for several hours at a downtown Toronto bar have been sentenced to nine years in prison, but one may soon be released on bail pending an appeal that is almost certain to succeed. This was a prolonged, violent and degrading sexual assault, Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot said, delivering his sentencing decision in a downtown courtroom Wednesday morning. College Street Bar owner Gavin MacMillan and bar manager Enzo DeJesus Carrasco were callous to a degree that is difficult to comprehend throughout the assault, the judge said. The victim was visibly and significantly impaired, stumbling and crashing into tables, and ultimately was either asleep or unconscious seated at a table, he said. When the sexual activity commenced, her condition was little changed. Dambrot found that the victim was unconscious or virtually unconscious while being simultaneously sexually assaulted by both men, and that she never consented to any of it. The two men also gave her cocaine to keep her awake and available for their sexual gratification, he said. She was not consenting and the accused could not have imagined that she was, he said. The two predators might have engaging and charming public personas, Dambrot said, but they have a deep sense of entitlement and profound disrespect for the personal integrity of women. The sexual assault might have begun as a crime of opportunity but, as it went on, it became a well-orchestrated and chillingly deliberate horrendous crime that calls for exemplary sentences, he said. DeJesus Carrasco, 34, who faces two more trials on three counts of sexual assault involving three complainants, has been in custody since the jury verdict in November. MacMillan, 45, had been on bail pending his sentence but was taken into custody after the sentence was passed Both men are appealing their convictions on the basis that they were forced to choose a jury under a new procedure introduced by the Liberal government that came into effect in September, after they had already chosen to be tried by a jury. In a ruling overturning a murder conviction, the Court of Appeal last month found that the old jury selection procedure should have been used in cases that predated the change in law. As a result, the College Street convictions are going to be overturned despite a very, very strong Crown case, Court of Appeal Justice James MacPherson said Wednesday afternoon at MacMillans hearing for bail pending appeal. There is going to be another trial, the judge said. This is very unusual. The Crown opposed bail for MacMillan given the seriousness of the offence and lengthy sentence, and said that Crown is will seek to appeal the jury selection decision at the Supreme Court of Canada. MacMillans appeal lawyer Breana Vandebeek said it is agreed that MacMillan has never violated his bail over three years, is not a flight risk and that any risk to public safety can be managed in the community with strict bail conditions. A decision on whether MacMillan will be released on bail pending appeal is expected next week. DeJesus Carrasco has also filed a notice of appeal but has not sought bail. He faces three more sexual assault charges at two judge-alone trials set for July and March. A jury found the two men guilty of gang sexual assault and drugging to facilitate a sexual assault after deliberating for four days last November. 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. Juries do not give reasons for their decisions. In order to find both men guilty of sexual assault, the jury had to find they committed a sexual assault during at least one point during the hours of sexual acts at the bar, which was closed to the public that night after a bartending class. The victim, who was visiting Toronto, had come to the bar to see a friend who was taking the class. During the trial and at sentencing, the Crown and defence presented two very different versions of the events that night, which were captured on security cameras at the bar that did not record sound. The Crown sought a sentence of 12 years in prison for both men, stressing the catastrophic impact on the victim, who has lasting physical and psychological injuries. Dambrot, who is now presiding over the first-degree murder trial of Kalen Schlatter, said he has not yet been able to write full reasons for his decision but gave a brief summary of what he found to have happened on the night of Dec. 14, 2016. He entirely rejected the defence position at trial, which was that the victim was consensually dominated by the two men at her own explicit request. No reasonable person who views the video of these events could think that the victim was pretending to be unconscious and was directing the sexual activity, and that the two men were obeying her commands, he said. He also said it was entirely incredible to imagine that a woman being violently sexually assaulted by two men while she was unconscious or virtually unconscious would awake from her unconsciousness, find herself being abused in this horrific way and would not only immediately consent to it continuing, in fact continuing for many hours, but more than that, would take over as the director of the activity, requiring it to continue even when the offenders were prepared to end it. Dambrot said that, viewed in isolation, there are moments in the video where it appears that the victim was consensually engaging in some of the subsequent sexual activity. But that would be to ignore reality as well as that the two men were also found guilty of drugging the victim in order to sexually assault her, he said. MacMillans defence lawyer, Sean Robichaud, had argued that the judge should find that the sexual assault was limited to only one portion of the night, in the main area of the bar. He said in that case, a sentence of 12 months would be appropriate. 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 argued a six-month sentence should be given. Both defence lawyers said a sentence of two years would be fair, based on the Crowns version of events. The victim, whose identity is under a publication ban, was not in court but her mother was. All we wanted is, for once, victims to be able to come forward and speak up, and not to be put through the hell that they have been, said her mother. Both her dad and I are so proud of her that she did this. With files from the Canadian Press (Alliance News) - SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Ltd on Wednesday said the managing director of its joint investment manager is stepping down, though he will continue to chair its alternative investment fund manager. Neil Roberts, managing director at SQN Capital Management (UK) Ltd - SQN Asset Finance Income Fund's joint investment manager - is leaving that company. However, Roberts will remain as chair of SQN Capital Management's US parent company, which is also SQN Asset Finance Income Fund's alternative investment fund manager. He will, in addition, "continue to provide support" for the Anaerobic Digestion segment of SQN Asset Finance Income Fund's portfolio. Shares in SQN Asset Finance Income Fund were down 1.0% at 49.49 pence in London on Wednesday morning. By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump escalated his campaign of retribution against his perceived impeachment enemies Tuesday, railing in the Oval Office about a decorated combat veteran who testified about the president's conduct with Ukraine and suggesting the Defense Department should consider disciplining him. "The military can handle him any way they want," Trump said of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who was ousted from his position on the National Security Council last Friday and reassigned to the Pentagon. Asked whether he was recommending the military take disciplinary action against Vindman for his House testimony in the impeachment proceedings, Trump replied, "They're going to certainly, I would imagine, take a look at that." Trump also leaped to the defense Tuesday of Roger Stone, his longtime former adviser and friend who faces a prison sentence after being convicted by a jury of obstructing Congress and witness tampering in connection with the Russia investigation. Stoking new worries about improperly politicizing the Justice Department, Trump admonished federal prosecutors for recommending a seven-to-nine year sentence for Stone, which the president felt was too long. "That was a horrible aberration," Trump told reporters gathered in the Oval Office. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves," he said, adding that the prosecutors were "an insult to our country." Trump provided fresh evidence that he feels emboldened and will say and do as he pleases after the Republican-controlled Senate voted last week to acquit him in the impeachment trial. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Trump's actions in recent days have seemed "almost delightedly vengeful" and are cause for "very deep and profound concern and alarm." "It completely explodes this delusion that he's learned his lesson and he will turn over a new leaf, which was magical thinking from the start and a fig leaf for a number of my Republican colleagues," Blumenthal said. "We ought to be very, very afraid of this kind of dictatorial personal vengeance against dedicated public servants who stepped forward to tell the truth." Republicans who control the Senate resigned themselves this week to the reality that they are unable to check or even influence Trump, even as some GOP strategists are warning that the president's actions threaten the party's Senate majority by complicating the home-state politics for a quintet of endangered incumbents. One of them, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said last week that she believed Trump had learned "a pretty big lesson" by being impeached. But this week she said she had been so "concerned" about Trump's desire to punish two impeachment witnesses, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and Vindman, that she reached out to the White House. "My general position is that anyone who answers a congressional subpoena and comes forward and testifies should not face retaliation," Collins said. Asked what senators could do to rein Trump in, she replied, "I called to try to prevent the action." Yet the senator's call did little to persuade the president. Trump last Friday fired Sondland and reassigned Vindman, as well as his twin brother, Yevgeny, also a lieutenant colonel, to the Defense Department. The Vindman brothers were escorted off the White House grounds, according to their lawyer. Trump later took to Twitter to attack Alexander Vindman, who testified before the House last November that he was concerned about Trump's conduct with Ukraine. Some Senate Republicans said they were more concerned about Sondland's fate. Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., explained that they tried to save Sonland, a major GOP donor, from the embarrassment of being fired on the same day as Vindman. Both senators said they talked to senior White House officials when they learned that Sondland's job was in jeopardy. "I just wanted him to be able to leave with dignity," Johnson said Monday evening. Sondland was said to have been willing to resign his EU post within a few weeks had he been given the time. Neither Johnson nor Tillis raised any objection to the ouster of Vindman, a nonpartisan official who was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in the Iraq War. Tillis said his motivation for reaching out to the White House was simply to create some separation between Vindman and Sondland's dismissals as a way of helping to preserve the public image of Sondland, a Portland-based hotelier whose $1 million in donations to Trump's 2017 inaugural committee paved his way into the president's inner circle. "I agreed with the decision on Vindman," Tillis said. "I just felt like having the two have some distance would have been appropriate." Some Republican strategists are privately warning that Trump's acts of retribution, should they continue, could endanger the reelection chances of five incumbent senators in competitive races: Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona, as well as Collins and Tillis. "The White House and the [Trump] campaign need to look at this election through the lens of the vulnerable Republican senators," said one top GOP strategist, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity to avoid retribution from Trump or his aides. "It's not that hard. You say to yourself before you make a move, 'What's this going to do to Cory or Joni or Martha or Thom or Susan?' That's what's lacking here." Trump, this strategist continued, "is always going to do a little crazy every week because a little crazy is what motivates his base. But this is a team sport, and he does not want to lose the Senate. You saw what happened when he misjudged 2018 and lost the House. He got himself impeached. The Senate is the backstop." Democrats have zeroed in on Collins' claim that Trump had learned a lesson from being impeached, an assessment she later clarified as a "hope" that he would not ask foreign leaders to conduct investigations against his rivals. "She said that the president has learned his lesson. Those were her words, and then the next morning President Trump went out and disgraced himself before people of faith at the National Prayer Breakfast, and then President Trump turned around and held [a] make America hate again rally in the White House," Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., one of the House impeachment managers, told reporters Tuesday. Trump also has been seeking to retaliate against Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the lone Republican to vote to convict the president. In Tuesday's Oval Office appearance, Trump slammed his longtime foil, telling reporters, "Romney's a disgrace." Romney said Tuesday that he has received a fine reception from his Senate colleaguesand in meetings with Utah GOP leaders following his conviction vote. Romney flew home to Salt Lake City last Thursday for meetings and then, signaling he wants to be seen as a team player, jetted to Palm Beach, Florida, to attend a big fundraising retreat for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Romney said in a brief interview following the weekly Republican senators' luncheon, which was attended by Vice President Mike Pence, that there was no awkwardness over his rebellious vote at the fundraiser or at Tuesday's lunch. "I'm sure people have different points of view, that's what we're entitled to do in a democracy," Romney said. Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, a Republican, described his visit with Romney as a "very frank" conversation, but one that GOP leaders appreciated. "It actually took a lot of courage to do that in the wake of what happened, primarily because many of us here are disappointed with what happened yesterday," Wilson said Thursday. Even as Trump has mocked him and his citation of his Mormon faith in guiding his vote, Romney said Tuesday that his Senate colleagues have been fully supportive so far. "I certainly respect each of them for the conclusions they reached and believe that when people of character vote their conscience, that is a good thing," he said. Duane 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' Chapman remembered late wife Beth Chapman ahead of his first Valentine's Day without her. 'A lot of Valentine's Days memories that will last forever,' the 67-year-old wrote on along with an Instagram tribute to his wife of 24-years. The montage of photos showed some sweet moments of the pair throughout the years. In loving memory: Duane 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' Chapman remembered late wife Beth Chapman ahead of his first Valentine's Day without her, telling fans some 'memories will last forever.' They are seen in 2006 together above The pair were married from 2006 until the time of her death. Tragically, Beth passed away last June after being diagnosed with stage II throat cancer. The reality TV star announced her passing on Twitter, telling fans: 'Its 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain.' 'Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven. We all love you, Beth. See you on the other side.' Tragic: Beth passed away last June after being diagnosed with stage II throat cancer. the pair are seen in 2014 above The truth: Dog shocked fans when he proposed to his late wife Beth's friend Moon Angell in a teaser video for The Dr. Oz Show... but the full episode on Monday proved it was just a stunt While Dog has been trying to move on following his longtime love's passing, it's been a tough go. Chapman recently proposed to longtime friend Moon Angell during an episode of Dr. Oz. But later the reality star revealed that the proposal was just a stunt. A teaser clip for The Dr. Oz Show seemingly showed Duane Chapman popping the question to Moon, who is his son's ex-girlfriend, just seven months after the death of his wife Beth. But Monday's full episode of the daytime medical talk series showed that the whole thing was fake to prove to fans that the pair are no more than 'friends.' 'I think this will put a stop to a lot of this,' the 67-year-old said on the show. 'Moon Angell will you marry me?' The question seemed pretty cut and dry, however, Dog went on to explain that he asked her knowing that her answer would be a firm 'no.' 'What? No,' Angell said in response. 'We're friends, Duane. I love you as a friend.' 'I know, but I want everyone else to know,' he said to emphasize his point, calling her his 'dearest friend.' 'I think this will put a stop to a lot of this,' the 67-year-old said on the show. 'Moon Angell will you marry me?' She said no: Dog said during the show that he asked Moon, knowing she would say 'no', as a way to prove they're just friends For her part, Moon said she wouldn't take their platonic relationship romantic despite the flurry of rumors and anger about their companionship from Dog's own daughter. 'I think he's an amazing human being, but I've known him before he was famous,' she said. 'To me, he will always be my best friend. I don't see myself thinking past that.' Adding: 'Beth was my best friend. Duane is my best friend. I'm not crossing that line.' During the episode, the reality star revealed to Dr. Oz that he was suicidal following Beth's death in June and he credited Moon for helping him find the will to live. Mr and Mrs: The show promoted the proposal as if it was the real-deal but Moon said she wouldn't take their platonic relationship to a romantic level At the time of the taping, production insiders told TMZ that the proposal appeared to be actually legit. 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. Chapman's kids said his late wife would be 'heartbroken and angry' over his televised proposal, despite seemingly knowing that it wasn't legit. Dog who has 12 kids from his four marriages, including three children with Beth is not believed to have actually got engaged, but his family think his late wife would have been furious if she'd seen the moment. Upset: Chapman's kids said his late wife would be 'heartbroken and angry' over his televised proposal, despite seemingly knowing that it wasn't legit Beth and Moon had spoken before her death and her friend promised to look after the 66-year-old star after she passed away, according to TMZ. Sources claimed when Beth recounted the conversation to the kids, none of them were happy. And Dog's brood were 'extremely hurt' when he claimed Moon was the reason he decided not to take his own life, as they felt he should want to stay alive for them. However, sources close to the Dog The Bounty Hunter star insisted he has no intention of replacing Beth but Moon has proven to be a good support and is helping him through the day-to-day grind of life. Tangled web: Beth and Moon had spoken before her death and her friend promised to look after the 66-year-old star after she passed away, according to TMZ (Beth pictured) The reality star still keeps Beth's ashes in his bedroom. She died in June after a battle with cancer. Dog's 32-year-old daughter Lyssa Chapman hit out at Moon Angell, because she reportedly romanced Lyssa's brother before she struck up a relationship with Dog. Taking to her social networking sites, Lyssa 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? 'If you went to your mothers closet and saw she moved all her clothes and replaced them with her own, what would you do? #ItsNotWhenOrWhyItsWho.' Pamela Anderson seems to be reeling after her shock split from movie producer Jon Peters after just 12 days of 'marriage' - it is not known yet if the union was real or not. The Playboy cover girl suffered a blow when the 74-year-old Hollywood vet - who made Batman and A Star Is Born - accused her on Tuesday of using him to pay off her $200,000 debt. Soon after, the 52-year-old Baywatch vet took to social media to reveal that she feels 'betrayed.' Heart ache? Pamela Anderson seems to be reeling after her shock split from movie producer Jon Peters after just 12 days of 'marriage' - it is not known yet if the union was real or not. Seen in 2003 Painful: The 52-year-old Baywatch vet took to social media on Tuesday to reveal that she feels 'betrayed' and she feels 'pain' The note said: 'We are all getting our share in this crazy world. 'As long as we are wrestling we are alive. As long as we recognize insanity we are sane.' The blonde Stacked actress added, 'It is better to be betrayed than not to trust, better to be disappointed than not to love.' She then said: 'Don't ever run from pain, just face it allow it to be and it will pass.' The star then ended with: 'And we will have grown to the next level.' On Tuesday, Peters has claimed he paid off her $200,000 debt and bought her a new wardrobe during their 12-day marriage. At war: The Playboy cover girl suffered a blow when the 74-year-old Hollywood vet - who made Batman and A Star Is Born - accused her on Tuesday of using him to pay off her $200,000 debt Insisting 'everything she told you was a lie,' Jon called himself 'an old fool' in an email to Page Six. 'I welcomed her into my life with open arms and love since I have looked after her for many years,' he wrote. 'I paid [her] bills since she was broke. I bought her a completely new wardrobe.' Refuting claims he had asked the star to be his wife, he instead claimed the pinup proposed to him - via text. He wrote: 'When she texted me that she wanted to get married, it was kind of a dream come true even though I was engaged to someone else and the lady was moving in. 'I dropped everything for Pam. She had almost $200,000 in bills and no way to pay it so I paid it and this is the thanks I get. There's no fool like an old fool.' For her part, Pamela's representatives called Peters' claims 'ludicrous'. As they were: Jon and Pam in 1989 when they briefly dated Five times married Pamela tied the knot with the film producer on January 20 and announced just 12 days later that they had split. According to previous reports, only three days after they tied the knot, Jon texted Pamela about ending their 'beautiful amazing love fest'. He allegedly wrote: 'This whole marriage thing has scared me. It made me see that at 74 I need a simple quiet life and not an international love affair. Therefore, I think the best thing we can do is that I'm going to go away for a couple of days and maybe you need to go back up to Canada. 'The world knows we did it and I think now we need to go our own separate ways. I hope that you can forgive me.' The pair never filed formal paperwork for their marriage, so it wasn't yet legal when they decided to go their separate ways. The two had been friends for 30 years, following a brief relationship, but never lived together. A source told People magazine: 'Living with someone, you truly get to know them. Pam's a romantic, but she is also very independent.' According to another insider, the blonde beauty thought she had made a 'terrible mistake' after she and Jon had spent just a day and a half together as husband and wife. Pamela is said to have found her new husband overbearing and too focused on fame, which no longer interests her as she's more devoted to her charity and activist work. The source said: '[Pamela felt Jon was] trying to be too controlling over her. 'Pamela felt that he was frustrated over how she wanted to maintain her financial independence ... He started to make calls about her career and cast her in a movie he was working on, things she didn't want.' In February 2019, Mr. Trump declared that unlawful migration at the southern border was a national emergency. At the time, official statistics showed that illegal border crossings were hovering near historic lows. Moreover, Mr. Trump freely admitted that the purpose of using an emergency declaration was to get around Congress, which had refused to fund his pet project, a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico. His administration then announced that it would use emergency powers to raid funding from 127 military construction projects, including ones for weapons maintenance shops, crash fire rescue stations and cyberoperations facilities. When Congress passed the Emergencies Act in 1976, it included a critical check against just such abuses. Congress would be able to terminate any emergency using a so-called legislative veto, a law that takes effect without the presidents signature. But in 1983, the Supreme Court held that legislative vetoes are unconstitutional, and Congress was forced to amend the law. As it now stands, lawmakers effectively have to muster a veto-proof supermajority to end an emergency. Before last March, Congress had never even attempted such a vote, even though presidents had issued 59 emergency declarations since the law went into effect. It is proof of the unpopularity of Mr. Trumps declaration that Congress voted, not once but twice, to terminate the border emergency. In the Senate, 12 Republicans broke ranks to register their disapproval an extraordinary showing given the partys record of fealty to Mr. Trump. To achieve a veto-proof supermajority, though, 20 Republicans would have had to defy the president on something that he had made a centerpiece of his presidential campaign. The result was predictable: Mr. Trump twice issued a veto, and Congress was unable to override it. That left the courts as the sole institutional backstop. To date, federal judges have issued rulings in three cases holding the presidents actions unlawful. Other lawsuits, however, have been thrown out based on findings that the plaintiffs had no right to sue. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has won the right to continue dipping into the funds while the government appeals the adverse rulings and has built 101 miles of new border wall. Lawmakers from both parties have recognized that the system isnt working. Last July, the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted 12-2 to pass the Article One Act, introduced by Mike Lee, Republican of Utah. Under this bill, presidentially declared emergencies would generally terminate after 30 days unless Congress voted to approve them. This would give the president flexibility when he most needs it in the moment of crisis but would ensure that Congress could meaningfully weigh in once the dust cleared. The legislation has broad bipartisan support, as the 2020 presidential election looms and each party considers how these powers might be used if the other side wins. But the bill, like all other legislation, was moved to the back burner during the impeachment proceedings. HOLYOKE The city could follow communities around the state including Springfield that have banned retailers and grocery stores from giving customers single-use plastic bags. On Tuesday, the Ordinance Community discussed ban proposals presented by Councilors Terence Murphy and Rebecca Lisi. Under Murphys proposal, the ban would take effect within 180 days of the City Council approving it. Acting City Solicitor Crystal Barnes said the committee should consider the time retailers would need to transition to alternative bags. Springfield passed its ban in April 2019; it takes effect in June 2020 for larger stores and six months after that for smaller ones. The citys Law Department recommended adopting an ordinance similar to one enacted in Cambridge. Lisi, the Ordinance Committees chair, said she wants input from officials in Northampton and South Hadley, which have also instituted plastic bag bans. Ban supporters like the Sierra Club says plastic bags are an environmental hazard, with discarded bags ending up caught in trees or making their way into water bodies, where wildlife can mistake them for food and choke. Murphy said he wants an ordinance that protects the environment but wont cause financial hardship for consumers or business owners. He wants input from retailers and grocery stores in Holyoke. All this can be done with little consumer expense, he said. Lisi suggested the Holyoke Board of Health should enforce the ban, as it regularly conducts on-site inspections. The committee tabled the motion for time to collect more information, including drafting legal language. In another matter before the committee, members recommended adopting a property tax abatement for residents deployed overseas in the Massachusetts National Guard. Jesus Pereira, the director of the Holyoke Department of Veterans Services, proposed waiving part or all of the property taxes owed by Guard members during extended deployments. Massachusetts General Laws (Chapter 59, Section 5) allow municipalities to issue up to 100% property tax abatements under certain circumstances. Pereira said the committee should tread lightly in when considering whether to have different abatements for those who serve in war zones and those who do not. Not all service members are kicking down doors but still serve, he said. The Holyoke Board of Assessors must approve the military abatement policy. The Ordinance Committee briefly discussed an order filed by City Council President Todd McGee that eliminates a council appointment to the Community Preservation Committee. Kip Foley, the Community Preservation Committees chair, said his committee had not discussed McGees order. He sees a city councilor serving on the committee as a positive. Councilor Mike Sullivan representative the City Council on the Community Preservation Committee. Murphy said open communication between the boards was critical. Lisi said she was ambivalent about the appointment. She added that the Community Preservation Committee regularly appears before the council to discuss grant awards. The committee tabled the matter for further discussion. SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is narrowing the issues needed before it can conduct a certification test flight on the grounded Boeing 737 MAX, but will not commit to a timetable for lifting a flight ban, its top official said. "We are following a very diligent process and it is important that we stay focused on the process and not on the timeline," FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told reporters. "Having said that we are approaching a milestone: the certification flight is the next major milestone and once that is completed I think we will have a good bit more clarity on where the process goes forward from there," he said during a visit to the Singapore Airshow. The certification flight to be carried out by FAA pilots "is not scheduled yet because we still have a few issues to resolve, but we continue to narrow the issues. We are waiting for proposals from Boeing on a few items," he added. The 737 MAX was grounded last March following two fatal crashes in the space of five months. Boeing has adjusted cockpit software which has been blamed in part for overwhelming pilots and dropped objections to simulator training for pilots. Dickson said he expected close technical alignment between global regulators over the criteria for reversing the grounding, when the time for that decision comes, but noted there could be differences in how the jet is put back to service worldwide. (Reporting by Tim Hepher, editing by Louise Heavens) Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk & Compliance Division Wins "Great Place to Work" Status from Three Leading Publications Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) division has won three major accolades, recognizing it as a "Great Place to Work." The awards, all decided by independent editorial panels, celebrate Wolters Kluwer GRC as a global employer that values its staff, recognizes and promotes talent from within and fosters a collaborative and high-performing culture. Wolters Kluwer GRC provides legal and banking professionals with a broad range of solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. Its portfolio of businesses include two which provide Legal Solutions (CT Corporation and Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions) and three which are dedicated to Banking & Regulatory Compliance (Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, Wolters Kluwer Finance, Risk & Reporting (FRR) and Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions). Corporate Vision magazine has named Wolters Kluwer GRC The Best Place to Work for Legal and Regulatory Compliance Software. US Business News, meanwhile, has named its three Banking & Regulatory Compliance businesses as its Global Employer of the Year for Financial Technology, as has Finance Monthly magazine in its hotly contested FinTech Awards 2020. "These awards, all from global publications, reflect our commitment to providing our valued employees with a collaborative and inclusive environment in which talent is nurtured and rewarded," commented Jan Schreur, Vice President of Human Resources for Wolters Kluwer GRC. "With around 4,000 employees globally, we also promote an exciting and high-performing culture that fosters innovation and excellence. It is only through our staff's dedication that we are able to maintain our position as the leaders across the markets we serve. On behalf of Wolters Kluwer I would like to thank Corporate Vision, Finance Monthly and US Business News for recognizing Wolters Kluwer GRC as a truly inspirational and rewarding place to build a career." These awards follow a record year for award wins in 2019 for Wolters Kluwer GRC. Risk magazine awarded Wolters Kluwer FRR its coveted Regulatory Reporting System of The Year Award for the second year runnig and Waters Technology has also named the business its Best Market Risk Solution Provider in its annual Technology Rankings. Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions won a record 14 awards in 2019, including for new product launches such as Portfolio Sync and iLien Motor Vehicle. Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions, meanwhile, enjoyed 30 award wins last year, including major accolades from Chartis across Enterprise Governance, Risk & Compliance, IT Risk Management and Operational Risk & Conduct Risk. Wolters Kluwer is also the #1 provider in both Regulatory Reporting and Liquidity Risk according to the RiskTech100, as compiled by Chartis, ranking #8 overall and #1 for Customer Satisfaction in the Top Ten. Wolters Kluwer GRC's Legal Solutions businesses, meanwhile, picked up a total of 28 accolades from leading award programs, with CT Corporation's UCC Filing Hub application named Best Legal Solution in the Business Technology category of the 2019 SIIA CODiE Awards. Wolters Kluwer ELM Solutions' awards included two Best in Biz Awards. Of all the Best in Biz Award winners, Wolters Kluwer GRC ranked number two overall on the list of companies that received the highest number of awards. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 18,600 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005014/en/ : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found shortage of 5.56 mm INSAS rifles and 12,061 live cartridges in the Special Armed Police Battalion (SAPB) here and has come down on state police chief DGP Loknath Behera for purchasing bullet proof vehicles for VVIP security, violating guidelines. There was shortage of 250 9 mm Drill Cartridges, which was "covered up" with dummy cartridges, the report on General and Social sector for the fiscal ending March 31, 2018 said. It also found that anti Maoist operations at Palakkad, Malappuram, Idukki and Wayanad had taken a hit due to dependence of police on analog communication equipment and blamed the state government for failing to make timely payment of spectrum charges and obtain license from the Union government for procuring Digital Mobile Radios. Briefing reporters on the CAG findings,Accountant General (General and Social Sector Audit), S SunilRaj said a joint verification on October 16, 2018, in the Bell-of-Arms of SAPB, along with the Assistant Commandant, revealed shortage of 25 5.56 mm INSAS rifles and 12,061 live cartridges. While the police department was aware of the shortage in ammunition, it "attempted to cover up" instead of identifying and taking action against those responsible for it. Coming down on Behara, the report said he had "violated" MPF (Modernisation of Police Force) scheme guidelines, which prohibit procurement of vehicles for VIP/VVIP security utilising the MPF funds. The police department procured two bullet resistant vehicles for security of VIPs, VVIPs and Z+ category visitors to Kerala at a total cost of Rs 1.10 crore without inviting tenders as required under the Stores Purchase Manual. The objective of providing increased mobility to police forces as envisaged under the MPF scheme would have been achieved had the department procured bullet proof/mine proof vehicles for deployment in naxal infested areas rather than acquiring bullet proof cars for VIP security, the report said. Behera also diverted Rs 2.81 crore meant for construction of upper subordinate staff quarters for construction of villas for SPC/ADGPs, it said. When the opposition Congress led UDF raised the charges on the CAG report in the house,Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government would examine it as per procedures. Vijayan rejected the charges raised by P T Thomas, MLA, against the police department, saying the government had verified the detailed report submitted by the police in this regard and found that all the allegations were "baseless". Countering the charge that laptops, cameras and vehicles were purchased violating store purchase rules, he said it was natural to buy them as part of modernising the police force. The computers and laptops were purchased with the permission of the state empowered committee under the government and CCTV cameras were brought through open tender. The CIMS (Central Intrusion Monitoring System) project, against which the opposition levelled corruption charges, was the first such surveillance system in the country, aimed at checking robbery by installing cameras at houses, he said. State-run Keltron was the implementing agency and neither the police department nor the government was spending any fund for the initiative, the Chief Minister said. He also rubbished the charge that the fund earmarked to construct quarters for Station House Officers (SHOs) in Maoist infested areas was diverted to build bungalows and villas for high rank officers without the permission of the government. Meanwhile,Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded a CBI probe against Behera and an NIA probe into the missing ammunition. He also wondered why the Chief Minister was giving 'evasive replies' to the allegations raised by P T Thomas. The Audit report also said the police department had violated Stores Purchase Manual and CVC guidelines in the procurement of equipment. In at least four instances, there was a "clear nexus" between officers of the police department, vendors and Keltron in fixing prices, resulting in pecuniary loss to the scheme. Instead of taking steps to overcome the vehicle shortfall in police stations,15 per cent of the 269 light Motor Vehicles procured by the police department were luxury cars were deployed for use of high-level officers and non operational units like CB-CID, it was stated. Reacting to the report, Behera said in a statement that as per procedure, the audit report would be sent to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is competent and empowered to take decisions on the allegations. "We will give a reply to the authority concerned as per procedures and rules", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) February 12 : Talented Vicky Kaushal is one of a kind actor in Bollywood. He made big name in Hindi film industry with his tremendous work so far. He never fails to make a statement with his outfits and his looks can never go unnoticed. He surely sets goals for the youngsters about fashion statement. Vicky Kaushal was seen interacting with the media on Tuesday in Mumbai at the sidelines of 'Lakme Fashion Week'. Watch the video When asked about the actors Fashion extention, on this Vicky said "Fashion has to be my extention of expression, where I feel comfortable. Whatever I wear it has to be me. This is what Fashion is for me. Hence, I try to avoid fashion, which doesn't suit me or doesn't makes me comfortable." On the work front, Vicky will be seen in the movie 'Bhoot Part One: The Haunted Ship'. The film is an upcoming horror thriller directed by Bhanu Pratap Singh and jointly produced by Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Shashank Khaitan. It also features Bhumi Pednekar and Ashutosh Rana. It is scheduled to release on 21 February 2020. Latest updates on Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2020 The Bexar County Sheriffs Office is investigating after a 6-year-old child found a relative dead Tuesday morning in south Bexar County, according to Sheriff Javier Salazar. Deputies responded to the 1900 block of Sandy Circle at around 8:30 a.m. for a call about a 37-year-old man found lying in his backyard suffering from extensive trauma, Salazar said. Salazar wouldn't elaborate on what the trauma was but said it was obvious it was a homicide. This is important to us to figure out exactly what happened, Salazar said. This was a very, very violent scene, there is no way else to describe it. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The incident is believed to have occurred sometime Monday night. The child, along with his mother and several other children went to the residence before school to check on the man, Salazar said. The man lived alone, so investigators are trying to determine who else was in the house Monday night. Salazar said deputies don't believe the incident was random, citing the remoteness of the residence. We don't believe that the community at large has anything to worry about with the location of this, the sheriff said. Salazar said investigators will be at the residence for a while as they process the crime scene and canvas the area. The adult female and the children were taken from the residence and will be provided with counseling resources, Salazar said. The sheriff's office is waiting for an official cause of death from the medical examiner but is treating the incident as a homicide. The department is asking for anyone who may have information to reach out to BCSO by calling 210-335-6070 or by email at bcsotips@bexar.org. We would love as much information as you can give, Salazar said. You may think its not much, but it could break the case wide open. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway M Ps could play a role in the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, the Attorney General has said. Geoffrey Cox insisted the Government has "no desire" to see politically appointed judges, but proposed a potential Canadian-style appointments system in which parliament interviews candidates. In Canada, potential nominees must undergo an interview phase where nominations are reviewed by an advisory board. The person must also appear before a parliamentary committee, and then the prime minister decides whether to press ahead with the nomination. Judges in the Supreme Court may have to go through a Canada-style appointments system / Jay Galvin/Creative Commons The Tories pledged at the general election to examine the relationship between the Government, Parliament and the courts, and vowed to set up a Constitution, Democracy & Rights Commission within a year to come up with proposals to restore trust in democracy. Mr Cox, speaking at a Q&A at the Institute for Government, on Wednesday morning, said: "Let me make plain, we have no desire to see politically appointed judges, that is completely off the table. There is no question of politicians appointing judges, we have a good system now, the Judicial Appointments Commission. "Were not going to be talking about a party politically appointed set of judges. "However, I think there is a case for looking at how Supreme Court judges are appointed." He went on to say: "One of the things that is worth looking at in my view is how its done in Canada. "In Canada now, for appointments to the Supreme Court, there is a committee of the Canadian parliament that will carry out interviews. "In our country it could be a joint committee of the House of Lords and the House of Commons under clear guidance. There would be rules as to the questions that could be asked. "But what it would lend, potentially, is transparency to a position which, people have seen, has enormous power. "Now Im not saying that that is something that I would support. But its something, I think, that the commission may need to look at. Mr Cox, who is tipped to lose his job in tomorrow's Cabinet reshuffle, added: "The chief justice of Canada has recently commented that he now thinks that it is indispensable to public confidence in the supreme court of Canada." But Labour MPs immediately hit back at the proposed overhaul, saying it would lead to a politicised judicial system. Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff Central, said it would be "a very dangerous step in a very dangerous direction." Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti added: "A bucket full of maple syrup wont sweeten the threat that his far-right Government poses to the Rule of Law." The seeds of the Government's battle with the courts were sown during the Brexit rows, when campaigner Gina Miller successfully challenged the Government over then prime minister Theresa May's right to trigger Article 50 without a vote in Parliament. The Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that Mr Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament was unlawful fuelled Tory suspicions about judicial activism. Financial technology, or otherwise known as FinTech, is gradually incorporated into financial institutions, and with a CAGR of 25-30% in the forecast years between 2019 and 2025, it is expected to revolutionize numerous sectors. For instance, implementing a trustworthy and secure Chatbot in banking systems will save banks, by 2023, a whopping sum of $7.3 billion. But of course, this is just one minor example of the huge changes digital platforms have to offer for the industry. This is why startups, such as Applied Payments, are flourishing, especially thanks to great entrepreneurship minds, such as Renjith Jose George Palamattom, behind them. With a strong sense of vision, great passion, and a strong team of experts, Palamattom has started one of the leading startups, not just in FinTech, in India today. Palamattom has always been a dreamer, one who knows how to dream big yet within his strengths. He tells that as a child, he aspired to be an astrophysicist, relying on his interest and knowledge in physics. However, at the age of 15, as he spent his summers in Frankfurt, Germany (where he acquired his German), Renjith was exposed to the vast world of technology. And thus, he realized this was where he belonged always marching to the beat of his own drum. After completing his B.Engg in Computer Science at the Mangalore University and his studies in the Management of Technology with honors at the University of Pretoria, rather than joining a large tech corporation Renjith chose to take the road less traveled. Starting out as Project and Senior System Engineer at S1 Corporation, he was introduced and dove into the payment solution world, working with some of the leading FinTech companies in the market as well as playing a key role in implementing Africas first Active/Active Postilion payment solution. As he continued to develop at the African digital payment solutions market, Palamattom became a Tech Project Manager at ACI, which was previously S1. In this capacity, Palamattom not only covered varied and complex projects but was also in charge of chairing organization workshops, assisting guiding and mentoring developers and supporting engineers as well as hiring and training new personnel. From there, Renjith moved on to work at one of Africas largest financial groups, Nedbank, as a Product Specialist. Developing business and technology solutions, resolving complex technical issues and cross-product integration, among other skills, allowed Renjith to make a name for himself, not only in Africa but worldwide. After a relatively short stance at Paycorp South Africa as a Postilion Consultant and a realization that the South African market was lacking experts in his field, Renjith was ready to enter the market with his own independent consultancy. With over 8 years of experience as a leading and managing product engineer in the Financial Technology field, Renjith was ready to establish and serve as the Director of Applied Payments. Also serving as Applied Payments Technology Managing Director and the Director for Business Engineering Consulting Technology Ltd. Renjith has established himself as a leading expert, focusing mainly on EFT and Payment technologies. While the company was founded in South Africa, after its swift success, Renjith was set to fulfill yet another dream; return to his homeland in India. Thus, he moved the company to India and worked hard to penetrate the Indian market. When asked about one of his proudest moments, Renjith smilingly recalls the recognition of his startup by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry as one of the best 10 startups in the country. Along with the prestigious recognition also came subsequent funding, and from there and on anything was possible for the aspiring company. Looking into the future, Renjith strives to make a change not only in the industry of FinTech but also in his ecosystem and human tapestry around him. He states that his personal managerial style is very personal as he hand-picks his employees and believes in nurturing people from within the company. Thus, he is able to create a workplace that is not only groundbreaking in its contribution to the industry, but is also one that allows for growth and learning; one that will surely constantly strive for excellence and innovation. CAMEROON, Cameroon - The U.N. Security Council is set to vote Wednesday on a resolution that would endorse a 55-point road map for ending the war in Libya and condemn the recent increase in violence. The British-drafted resolution demands the warring parties commit to a lasting cease-fire and insists on full compliance with a U.N. arms embargo that has been repeatedly broken, as called for in the plan approved by leaders of 12 world powers and other key countries meeting Jan. 19 in Berlin. It also recalls the commitment of all participants at the Berlin meeting to refrain from interfering in Libyas conflict and its internal affairs and expresses concern over the growing involvement of mercenaries in Libya. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that the agreement has been repeatedly violated by continuing arms deliveries to the warring parties and escalating fighting. He called the current offensives by rival forces a scandal, saying the commitments apparently were made without a true intention of respecting them. Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a civil war toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi who was later killed. A weak U.N.-recognized administration that holds the capital of Tripoli and parts of the countrys west is backed by Turkey, which recently sent thousands of soldiers to Libya, and to a lesser degree Qatar and Italy. On the other side is a rival government in the east that supports self-styled Gen. Khalifa Hifter, whose forces launched an offensive to capture the capital last April and are backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt as well as France and Russia. The Tripoli authorities and U.S. officials have accused Hifter of relying on hundreds of Russian mercenaries. Sudanese armed groups from the Darfur region recently joined the fighting on both sides, according to a report by U.N. experts. The draft resolution welcomes last weeks cease-fire talks between Libyas warring sides in Geneva and calls for their continuation without further delay in order to agree a permanent cease-fire. It asks Guterres to submit his views on conditions for a cease-fire and proposals for effective monitoring of a truce, with a view to making detailed recommendations when a cease-fire is announced. Russia and South Africa objected to an earlier text of the resolution. Russia sought some major changes that were not accepted, including changing the welcome for the Berlin conference to takes note of the meeting and changing the expression of concern over the growing involvement of mercenaries to foreign terrorist fighters. The draft does reaffirm the need to combat ... threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. It was unclear Tuesday how Russia, especially, would vote on the resolution. The Security Council on Tuesday voted 14-0 with Russia abstaining on a resolution extending the arms embargo, travel ban, asset freeze and other sanctions on Libya and Libyans until April 30, 2021. It also extended the mandate of the U.N. panel of experts monitoring implementation of the sanctions until May 15, 2021. The draft resolution condemns attempts to illicitly export oil and refined petroleum product from Libya and it asks the U.N. experts to report on illicit exports or imports to Libya of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products. RussianAmbassador Vassily Nebenzia objected to the reference to oil imports. A former British Airways chief steward has given a fascinating insight into what cabin crew are really thinking during service. In Journey Of A Reluctant Air Steward, Simon J Marton produces a Jumbo-sized volume of revelations from his time in the skies. He describes how he would analyse passengers as they boarded for potential trouble-makers, why he found business and first-class passengers the biggest headaches and the subtle psychological techniques he would deploy to calm people down. In Journey Of A Reluctant Air Steward, Simon J Marton produces a Jumbo-sized volume of revelations from his time in the skies These insights come in the chapter titled Passenger Psychology. Here married father-of-four Mr Marton, who joined the airline industry in 1996, describes how the greeting on the aircraft is both a welcome and an analysis of several things your boarding pass, your physique could we use you as an able-bodied person in case of evacuation but also your character and anything that might suggest trouble. He adds: Rudeness is picked up on immediately, and any signs of a bad attitude, aggression or even danger are flagged mentally at that point. The commander is informed in the flight deck pre-departure of anything no matter how slight that could threaten the safety of the flight. Mr Marton, who now works for Wiltshire Council as an asset strategy officer, goes on to reveal that issues spotted by passengers, for example a potential defect in the airframe, are taken extremely seriously. The 49-year-old can recall several occasions when a first officer has come into the cabin to take a look for himself following an alert from a passenger. Mr Marton, right, reveals that the best technique for keeping children quiet was animal masks Mr Marton led cabin teams on 747s and 777s out of Heathrow Mr Marton, who led cabin teams on 747s and 777s out of Heathrow, writes in his book that the most demanding and sometimes repulsive type of people for him were those in business or first and especially gold-card holders. He writes: By a long way, these customers were mainly genteel, respectful and good-natured. However, it must be said that I have witnessed the biggest tantrums and nit-picking behaviour from among this class of customer. He recalls one gold-card member in first-class on a flight to Las Vegas who complained that no one escorted me to my seat my jacket wasnt hung up for me immediately and it took several minutes for our drinks to come. To put things right Mr Marton used a power-to-suggest resolution technique and asked him: Im sorry to hear this, is there anything I can do to redress this for you? No, not really, I just fancied a moan, was the reply. This passenger then dropped this one into the mix Simon, I notice youve got a Scouser working in First. Whats a Scouser doing serving First? Mr Marton writes that he had to hold my tongue to stop myself saying something I later regretted and left the scene politely. He also reveals that the best technique for keeping children quiet was animal masks every crew member should have one and that if passengers are looking terrified during turbulence, one of the best ways of calming them is simply to smile. Because if they see that the crew are happy, theyll realise that everything is ok. In the final part of the Passenger Psychology chapter Mr Marton reveals the flights that cabin crew dread. He writes: Its known that Israeli pax [passengers] can come across as demanding but once you get to know them they soften. A night-flight to Magaluf or Tenerife is going to bring out the boy-racers and the divas in force, and you are going to be cleaned out of lager and vodka. There will be raised voices, singing and disturbance. You have to employ the skills of assertiveness and diplomacy on such flights. A full Dublin with a pay-bar could see you rushed off your feet just on a drinks-round, leaving you with the marvel of empty trollies. The other dreaded flight, he concludes, is the delayed one, which brings out the worst in pax. But sometimes all it takes, he says, is a smiling face and the relief is all too clear. (Natural News) Earlier in January, Americans who have lost loved ones and friends to opioid overdoses and other related deaths were happy to see a judge sentence the founder of drugmaker Insys to more than five years in federal prison for a scheme to effectively bribe doctors into prescribing more of Subsys, an opioid painkiller made for patients with advanced-stage cancers who had developed a high opioid tolerance. The company claimed that its drug was far less addictive than other opioid-based painkillers and as such encouraged doctors to prescribe it off-label, or for conditions other than what it was originally intended for. The companys aggressive sales team included a former stripper who specialized in showing doctors who heavily prescribed the drug a good time, Zero Hedge reported. Just days ago, the Justice Department announced a new action tied to its efforts to hold those responsible for the opioid epidemic accountable. The DoJ noted in a press release it had reached a $145 million settlement with a firm called Practice Fusion, a San Francisco-based developer of information technology products for the healthcare industry. Company officials agreed to the terms of the payment in order to end civil and criminal investigations into whether the firm had engaged in soliciting kickbacks from a major opioid manufacturer in exchange for the use of its IT in order to push doctors towards prescribing more opioids unnecessarily. Of the settlement, $26 million went to criminal fines while about $118.6 million will go into the coffers of the federal government and states. Primary care providers relied on Practice Fusions technology in order to make decisions about which drugs to prescribe to patients. Prosecutors said such a practice was not just immoral but also patently illegal, as it violated anti-kickback statutes. Across the country, physicians rely on electronic health records software to provide vital patient data and unbiased medical information during critical encounters with patients, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ethan Davis of the Department of Justices Civil Division. Kickbacks from drug companies to software vendors that are designed to improperly influence the physician-patient relationship are unacceptable, Davis continued. When a software vendor claims to be providing unbiased medical information especially information relating to the prescription of opioids we expect honesty and candor to the physicians making treatment decisions based on that information. (Related: Opioid epidemic reaches whole new crisis level as Big Pharma drugs out America for profit.) Completely insane Practice Fusion entered into the deferred agreement with the U.S. Attorneys office in Vermont. In exchange for a sponsorship payment from a pharmaceutical company of almost $1 million, the firm allowed other companies to guide the development and implementation of CDS alerts in its EHR software. The pain alerts, as theyre known, would then alert physicians to prescribe additional opioids according to Practice Fusion executives, thereby advising opioid makers it would assist in boosting their sales. In exchange for the million-dollar payment, the firm then allowed opioid manufacturers to include input into the development of the companys CDS alerts. In an extra-cruel twist, payments were financed by the unnamed opioid makers marketing department, Zero Hedge added. A healthcare reporter for BBG described the scheme as completely insane. An electronic records company, used by doctors, admits that it TOOK KICKBACKS to INCREASE OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS. https://t.co/kvgQ2aS4tM Drew Armstrong (@ArmstrongDrew) January 28, 2020 This is completely insane: "Practice Fusion solicited a payment of nearly $1 million from the opioid company to create a CDS alert that would cause doctors to prescribe more extended release opioids. That payment was financed by the opioid companys marketing department." Drew Armstrong (@ArmstrongDrew) January 28, 2020 "Practice Fusion touted that it would result in a favorable return on investment for the opioid company based on doctors prescribing more opioids" Drew Armstrong (@ArmstrongDrew) January 28, 2020 Most attorneys general in the states along with the Trump administration have been pursuing legal remedies and criminal actions against opioid makers as the American public demanded action amid a rising epidemic of deaths. Several of the drug makers, including Purdue, have declared bankruptcy in order to escape having to pay massive civil liability claims. Many of the marketing efforts used by the Big Pharma companies were dishonest schemes aimed not at protecting the public by rather by exploiting those most in need of painkilling medications. President Trump has made fighting the opioid epidemic a priority. Earlier in January, the White House announced that for the first time since 1990, opioid deaths actually fell last year, dropping by five percent. Sources include: TheNationalSentinel.com ZeroHedge.com (@ChaudhryMAli88) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) The United States and Ecuador are close to concluding a free trade agreement and will explore the opportunity of doing so during the upcoming visit of Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno to Washington, a senior administration official said during a telephone briefing. "The United States and Ecuador are very close to [concluding] a free trade agreement. Both countries would like to explore if we can finish this offer," the official said on Tuesday evening. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Moreno at the White House on Wednesday. The development of the region's economy and trade will constitute a big part of the conversation between two leaders, the official said. The United States and Ecuador have a "really wonderful trade relationship" and planning to hold the second round of bilateral Trade and Investment Committee in the very near future., the official added Delhi University has issued an advisory asking its colleges to ensure safety of women employees and students, days after alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College. The university has also sought an action taken report within two weeks on the steps taken by the colleges to ensure the safety of students on campuses, the university said in the advisory issued by proctor Neeta Sehgal on February 10. "You are requested to take immediate steps to review the status of safety and security of female in your colleges, and accordingly prepare plans to strengthen their safety and security in consultation with the stakeholders, law enforcement agencies and social organisations working in the field," the advisory to college principals said. The college should ensure implementation of these plans in a transparent manner with an efficient monitoring mechanism in place, it said. The Delhi University Registrar said in a statement that the university stands by the students of Gargi College in their fight against harassment by some antisocial elements during the annual festival on February 6. "The university strongly condemns the said incident of hooliganism, trespass, and any act violating the modesty of students. The university earnestly appeals to the law enforcement agencies to take strong action against the culprits," he said. He said the university had sought an action taken report from the Gargi College principal immediately after receiving information about the incident. On February 11, the proctor of the university had met senior police officials and requested them to deploy police personnel round the clock at the gates of all the colleges, he said. The proctor again had a meeting on February 12 at 3 pm with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) along with the Dean, Students Welfare, and Internal Complaints Committee of the university to deliberate upon the immediate measures to be taken in the matter, he said. "The university is constantly on the vigil and is taking all adequate measures to boost confidence amongst the students and to maintain sanctity of safe academic campuses," he said. On January 15, the university had constituted a committee on Women Safety and Security. The Delhi Police had registered an FIR in the Gargi College incident on Monday. A group of men had broken into the all-women Gargi College and allegedly groped, harassed and molested students during their cultural fest 'Reverie'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The upcoming sci-fi thriller of OCN titled "Rugal" has released intense character teasers for its leads Choi Jin-hyuk and Park Sung-woong. In the drama "Rugal" Choi Jin-hyuk also known as Justice portrays the character of Kang Ki Bum who is an elite detective having a mission to uncover the criminal organization Argos. On the other hand, Park Sung-woong's character named Hwang Deuk Goo is the leader behind Argos, giving instructions to his men to without mercy kill the detective's wife and child and blind him. Kang Ki Bum is being offered by the National Intelligence Service to become a member of a crime-fighting group called Rugal, which uses "human weapons" powered by biotechnology. Then he was equipped with a pair of artificial eyes that have special powers and sent to track Argos again. In the first teaser shown it starts with Choi Jin Hyuk clothed in black, walking into a white room in what looked like to be Rugal's headquarters. His artificial eyes scan through the weapons that is being laid on a table and then he pick up a revolver gun, loads it with ammo and points the gun at the camera while staring with an intense look. Choi Jin Hyuk character's name Kang Ki-beom the Rugal's Artificial Eyes is seen on the screen as he announced "Bad guy? Got to catch those who tramped on you." Then he continued to dramatically operate shooting the gun at his enemy. At the end of the teaser, Choi Jin-hyuk's colleague in Rugal who is Jo Dong-hyuk, Jung Hye-in and Park Sun-ho makes an appearance. Meanwhile in Park Sung-woong's teaser he is shown walking through an underground dungeon. His teaser is written in tones of red, indicating danger and evil. He arrives in a huge room surrounded by men of Argos wearing masks he is standing and commanding them. He stated "You can't just work using rage. Welcome to my world," as he stares into the camera having a bad and evil expression. The words on the screen translate as introducing him as Argos's Devil Leader, Hwang Deuk-gu. Rugal is based on a hit webcomic having the same title, it tells the story of a police officer whose good deed in attempting to bring down a nationwide criminal organization ends up with him losing his wife, child and also is sight that also caused losing the person he once was. And after being recruited and receiving artificial eyes with unique abilities created by the special organization Rugal's biotechnology he is forced to become a murderer and sets himself on a mission to wipe out the criminal organization. Rugal is helmed by PD Kang Cheol-woo, whose previous works was "My Secret Romance (2017)" and "Something About 1% (2016)". The drama It is scheduled to premiere on March 16,2020 making it OCN's first-ever thriller on its Monday-Tuesday time slot. Here are the cast of the drama listed below: Choi Jin Hyuk as Kang Ki Bum- Main Role Park Sung Woong as Hwang Deuk Goo - Main Role Jo Dong Hyuk as Han Tae Woong - Main Role Han Ji Wan as Choi Ye Won [Ko Yong Deok's girlfriend] - Support Role Jung Hye In as Song Mi Na - Support Role Kim Min Sang as Choi Geun Chul - Support Role Revised estimate could bolster case for even more production curbs by OPEC and its allies to offset coronavirus impact. Uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus outbreak that started in China, the worlds leading oil importer, will depress global oil demand growth this year, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) warned on Wednesday. In its monthly report, OPEC said that world oil demand is now expected to rise by 990,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year roughly 19 percent less than previously forecast. The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Chinas economy has added to the uncertainties surrounding global economic growth in 2020, and by extension global oil demand growth, the report said. Clearly, the ongoing developments in China require continuous monitoring and assessment, it added. The report also noted that January saw a sharp decline in OPECs output as producers implemented a new production-cut pact that the cartels allies agreed to in December in order to buoy crude prices. The revised forecast for global oil demand could bolster the case for even more production curbs. Last week, a technical panel advising OPEC and its allies, a grouping known as OPEC+, recommended an immediate additional output cut of 600,000 bpd. OPEC and its allies led by Russia have implemented such curbs since 2017 to revive prices that had become depressed by a glut of crude. Global benchmark Brent crude has fallen to around $55 a barrel this year, alarming producers. In January, OPEC members over-delivered on production cuts to which they had agreed, lowering supply by 509,000 bpd to 28.86 million bpd, according to sources cited in the report. Russian output, however, increased. OPEC also trimmed its 2020 forecast for growth in non-OPEC supply to 2.25 million bpd, 100,000 bpd less than previously forecast. While a slowdown in non-OPEC supply would help the cartels efforts to manage the market, non-OPEC output is still expected to grow at over twice the rate of world oil demand in 2020. The coronavirus outbreak has some analysts questioning whether crude prices may have bottomed out on hopes the virus impact will peak this month. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday cautioned that it is way too early to say whether Covid-19, the formal name for the coronavirus pathogen, had peaked, following a drop in the number of new cases. I think its way too early to predict the beginning, the middle or the end of this epidemic right now, said Michael Ryan, head of the WHOs health emergencies programme. Stores go and come in New Canaan Village. As a man stood near the corner of Main and Elm streets holding a large sign that read Papyrus: entire store 50% off, a few doors down brown paper had just been taken off the windows to unveil the reopening of two stores on Elm Street. These are signs of the times in New Canaan village, as some stores go under, other businesses seek approvals from the Planning & Zoning Commission to revamp a location for a new enterprise. Some businesses just move in town to other locations. This is typical this time of year when we will be seeing movement. The vacancies are little bit higher than we are used to, New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tucker Murphy said on Friday, Feb. 7. She emphasized the hopeful signs. We see a lot of people looking. We get a lot of calls, she said. Nantucket Monogram moved from Morse Court to 8 Elm St., to share a space next to Taylor Luggage. The shared space opened on Wednesday, Feb. 5. In the last few days, since reopening, people have been walking by and giving a thumbs up, Brooke Boothe owner of Nantucket Monogram said Sunday, Feb. 9. New Canaan is her forever home, she said. That is a perfect example of what people should be doing. Thinking out of the box. Just merging a space, not companies, Murphy said. No sooner were people mourning the loss of Baskin Robins at 103 Main St., when Gofer Ice Cream announced it would be moving into the same location, and is planning to open in March. We have heard, I cannot confirm this, but I have heard that someone is in line with the old Aquatics space, on South Avenue, Murphy said. Somebody is already going into Papyrus. I am hearing that people are in line for those spaces, Murphy said. Several months ago Life Aquatics moved from South Avenue to 94 Park St. Wave New Canaan is moving from 107 Main St., to a larger space at 86 Elm St., where the Cosmetic Boutique was, which closed in June. Coming in Three companies came before Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday, Jan 28, including the Shade Store at 113 Main St.; the Adirondack Store at 39 Elm St., where Family Britches was; and Cross Realty at 50 Pine St., where Beval Saddlery did business. The Shade Store is going into where Crewcuts was located on the corner. They have already started gutting it because they got their permit, Murphy said. Frohling Sign Company, represented the company and asked the commission to approve four signs. The question of signage was continued and the applicant was encouraged to speak with the planner. The Adirondack Store is coming back to New Canaan. They were here for 15 years and they left. They have a store in Lake Placid. They are coming back. They are going gangbusters. They will have a little cafe in the back and they are hoping to open mid-March in the old Family Britches. We are really happy about that, Murphy said. Owners Peter Kempner, Randolph, LLC sought site plan approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission. The commissioners wanted more work done on the plans for the building facade, since the plans were to have a mostly black facade covering over the brick. The commission gave approval on the condition the owners and their representatives will talk to Town Planner Lynn Avni to make the front more consistent with other stores in the village. They are going to have a coffee bar, just to make it a more of an experience, Murphy said. You wont be able to get sandwiches, she clarified. The nearly 10,000-square-foot space at 50 Pine St., is the largest redo. The owners wish to update the windows, install a new awning, replace the sidewalks and put in additional landscaping. The loading docks have already been removed. It is really exciting for Cross Realty, but for New Canaan as well, because the spot where Beval Saddlery was located has gotten a little bit run down over the years, David J. Rucci, Lampert, of Toohey & Rucci LLC, said. He is the authorized agent for Cross Realty and said he expects it to look beautiful. This is going to be a major office for Cross Realty. They are out of Bangor, Maine. They have been recently coming into this area and accumulating lots of insurance companies. And this is really the spot where they are going to be bringing their spot for Fairfield County, he said. The company expects to have 15 people working in the building, according to Tim Brown of Cross Realty. The application was continued by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Out flux Mackenzies at 7 South Ave. closed the end of January; Papyrus at 32 Elm St., is in the process of closing along with the other stores in the chain, while the future of Hunan Taste restaurant and Embody is in question. At Embody at 51 Forest St., no one opens the door or answers the phone. We only know that their other stores are closed too, so it doesnt sound good. We have not been able to get any confirmation, Murphy said. I think Organika really took a lot of business from them, Murphy said regarding the Organika Kitchen at New Canaan at 96 Main St. Hunan Taste at 25 Elm St., had a sign on the door saying the dishwasher was broken. Online, it says the restaurant is closed. Murphy said she heard that someone may be interested in that space. There are vacancies. When you start seeing them clustered, you start thinking out of the box, who can we bring in to get over there? she said. When she thinks of an organization she contacts it. She had tried to lure an Apple Store to town, but was told there are alreadyApple Stores in the area. One of the things that I always try to remind people of that when they are looking at New Canaan, that you got to remember we serve Pound Ridge, Wilton, Weston, Vista, so dont just use the demographics of 20,000 we have here, she said. I am always thinking about stores to come in. Some people send me leads, Murphy said. Often the hardest part is figuring out who to call, she said. Other times brokers bring in clients and she serves as, a resource for brokers to sell New Canaan as best I can. Days ahead of his scheduled visit to India, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (February 12) said that he is looking forward to his February 24-25 visit to India. "I look forward to going to India," Trump told the media in the Oval Office. The US president made the statement a day after the White House officially announced that Trump will visit New Delhi and Gujarat's Ahmedabad on February 24 and 25. "He's (PM Modi) a friend of mine, he's a great gentleman and I look forward to going to India. So we'll be going at the end of the month," said the US president. Talking about his event at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium, President Trump said, "I am (going to India). He (PM Modi) said we'll have millions & millions of people. He thinks we'll have 5-7 million people just from the airport to the new stadium (Motera Stadium)." When asked about a potential trade deal with India, President Trump said that he will do it, if "we can make the right deal". On Tuesday (February 11), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that during the visit, President Trump, who will be accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, and interact with a wide cross-section of the Indian society. Live TV "The global strategic partnership between India and the US is based on trust, shared values, mutual respect, and understanding, and marked by warmth and friendship between the people of the two countries, the MEA noted in its statement. The MEA also expressed confidence that President Trump's two-day visit to India will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review progress in bilateral ties and further strengthen the Indo-US partnership at different levels. A U.S.-Taliban peace deal could be signed this month if the Taliban significantly reduces violence, which could lead to an eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, two Afghan government sources and a Western diplomat said on Wednesday. The tentative timeline shared by sources came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said there had been a possible breakthrough in U.S.-Taliban talks in Qatar. The talks had been deadlocked in part over a U.S. demand that the insurgents agree to sharply reduce violence as part of any American troop withdrawal accord. Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in the Qatari capital Doha, said progress has been made, but refused to share further details. A former senior Afghan official said on condition of anonymity that Ghani would discuss the negotiations with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later this week on the sidelines of an annual security conference in Munich, Germany. Peace move: Former Taliban militants who 'surrendered' their weapons earlier this month in Jalalabad may be a harbinger of a wider peace deal Latest casualties: Donald Trump and Mike Pence were present at Dover Air Force Base Monday as the bodies of Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio, TX, and Sgt. 1st Class Anonio Rey Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, New Mexico were repatriated. They were killed by a soldier in Afghan Army uniform on Saturday Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez (left), 28, of San Antonio, Texas, was also killed when an Afghan national army soldier opened fire with a machine gun during combat operations. So too was Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, New Mexico The attack that killed Sgt. Gutierrez and Sgt. Rodriguez happened in the Nangarhar province in Afghanistan on Saturday Doha has been the venue for talks between the warring sides since 2018 even as fighting has continued across the country, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers as the Taliban have expanded their territorial control. A third Afghan official said the United States has agreed in principle to a deal, but that it would not be signed until the Taliban could demonstrate a reduction in violence (RIV). The deal could be signed as soon as this month, the official said, requesting anonymity. A Western diplomat in Kabul said U.S. negotiators were working on the idea that the Taliban should agree on a reduction in violence for at least 10 days with no major violation. 'It is after those 10 days of RIV that both sides can hold talks and firm up plans to hold intra-Afghan dialogue,' the source said on condition of anonymity. There are about 13,000 U.S. troops as well as thousands of other NATO personnel in Afghanistan, 18 years after a U.S.-led coalition invaded the country following the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks on the United States. The United States is aiming to cut troop numbers to about 9,000, the diplomat said. The news of a potential agreement to curb violence comes amid continued attacks by the hardline insurgent Taliban that controls about 40% of Afghanistan, according to Afghan defence officials. Last month the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, a U.S. government agency, assessed that there had been a record-high number of attacks by the Taliban and other anti-government forces in the last three months of 2019. Unending violence: A suicide attack in Kabul on Tuesday was only the latest in Afghanistan's long conflict. Peace talks could reach a deal if the Taliban agree to a 10-day reduction in violence before signing an agreement with the U.S. The Taliban stages near-daily attacks and though they are negotiating with U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the armed group refuses to talk directly to Ghani's government, calling it a 'puppet' of the West. The ongoing negotiations mark the highest level of talks between the two sides since the U.S. ramped up peace efforts in 2018. 'We will stop all attacks in return for U.S. commitment to cease all their operations against us in Afghanistan,' said a Taliban commander, speaking on condition on anonymity. Earlier this month, Taliban religious leaders delivered a strong message to the United States through their negotiation team and asked them to sign the peace accord before the onset of the 'fighting season' in spring. 'They (U.S.) have wasted a lot of our time and energy in the name of peace talks. The leadership should decide to either make it happen or stop the peace process forever and give importance to the battlefield,' said a second Taliban commander. The commanders said they were prepared to launch a spring offensive and had recruited more than 6,000 fighters and suicide bombers if the peace talks fail. The annual spring offensive announcement is something the militant group does every year to intensify their attacks, even though Taliban violence never really ceases during the harsh winter months. A senior Afghan defence official said Kabul was ready to continue fighting if the talks collapse. 2014 Badaun gang rape case, 2017 Unnao rape case. These cases have one common thread and that is it took place in Uttar Pradesh. While the whole country continues to unite in fighting towards crimes against women, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed another incident that will bring shame to the entire state. In an incident that is eerily similar to the one that took place in Unnao last year, a father of a girl, who was allegedly raped six months back in Shikohabad, was shot dead on the night of February 10 in Tilak Nagar. BCCL According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Rajiv Kumar. He was taken to a government trauma centre but was declared brought dead. Sachindra Patel, Senior Superintendent of Police Firozabad, said: "Based on the family's complaint, a First Information Report has been registered. The body has been sent for postmortem and five teams have been deployed to arrest the accused." Firozabad: Father of a girl, who was allegedly raped 6 months back in Shikohabad, was shot dead on the night of 10th February in Tilak Nagar. Firozabad SSP says, "Based on the family's complaint, FIR registered. Body sent for postmortem. 5 teams deployed to arrest the accused." pic.twitter.com/sQfZAl0Yor ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 12, 2020 Based on the negligence which has been observed prima facie, Inspector Shikohabad, Inspector North Kotwali and a Thana Inchage have been suspended, he added. Meanwhile, Agra Inspector General Satish A Ganesh said earlier a reward of Rs 15,000 were announced for information on the accused and now it has been extended to Rs 50,000. Bigstock The family of the rape victim alleged that no action has been taken in the case for the past six months. They also alleged that the accused made a call to the victim's mother a few days back and threatened them. Bunty, deceased's brother, said the rape case trial was scheduled for Tuesday under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. "My brother was coming for the trial but he was shot by miscreants," he said. Another Unnao? Last year, a rape survivor was set ablaze by her rapists when the girl was en route a local court for her case hearing. The woman battled for two days for her life after five men including two who she said had raped her last year -- burned her alive. She was on her way to a court hearing at the time. The accused were out on bail. She was beaten with sticks and stabbed before they poured kerosene and set her on fire. According to eyewitnesses, who came to her rescue, the girl had run for nearly a kilometer screaming for help. Being optimistic after a stroke could ward off long-term disability by reducing inflammation of the brain, scientists claim Stroke survivors with a positive mindset can speed up the recovery from their illness and face less complications such as paralysis. Brain swelling, referred to as cerebral edema, is one of the immediate short-term perils for someone who has just suffered a stroke. Large strokes in particular may cause significant swelling on the brain that can worsen quickly and lead to serious consequences, including severe brain damage. The swelling - which causes an array of side effects such as nausea and vomiting - is caused by inflammation, which can be combated with a positive mindset, the scientists claim. In a three-month study of 49 stroke survivors, researchers from The University of Texas found post-stroke inflammation markers decreased as positivity increased. In a three-month study of 49 stroke survivors, researchers from The University of Texas said that post-stroke brain inflammation decreased as positivisty increased. (Stock image) 'Mental health does affect recovery after a stroke,' said study first author Yun-Ju La, of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. 'Patients and their families should know the importance of a positive environment that could benefit the patient.' Scientists, who are presenting their preliminary research at the American Stroke Association's 2020 International Stroke Conference, examined the relationship between optimism, stroke severity and physical disability for the three months post stroke. The study was on a small group of 45. Their age and location was not revealed in the preliminary presentation. Their optimism was measured using the Life Orientation Test, a standard psychological tool. Stroke severity and physical disability was measured through the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. It assesses complications such as facial paralysis and inability to control leg and arm movements properly. 'Our results suggest that optimistic people have a better disease outcome, thus boosting morale may be an ideal way to improve mental health and recovery after a stroke,' Dr La said. Post-stroke inflammation impairs the brain's recovery after a stroke. The participants had levels of inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) measured. As optimism levels increased, inflammatory markers reduced. IL-6 and CRP fell as optimism levels climbed - but TNF, another crucial response to injury that can sometimes cause problems long term, did not change. The scientists said understanding how these optimism relates to stroke may pave the way for recovery strategies. Optimism has been linked with lower inflammation levels and improved health outcomes among people with medical conditions, including heart conditions. However, no prior studies assessed if this association exists among stroke patients. 'We know that inflammation can worsen stroke recovery,' Dr. Ralph Sacco, chair of the department of neurology at the University of Miami Leonard Miller School of Medicine, told CNN. He added: 'There have been many other studies that have suggested that depression also is related to stroke recovery. So anything we can do to reduce depression [and] improve optimism, is likely to have an impact on reducing and improving stroke recovery.' In the UK someone has a stroke every five minutes, a rate of 100,000 strokes every year according to Stroke Association. In the US, approximately 795,000 people have a stroke every year. Elizabeth Herndon, staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and joint faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been awarded a grant of nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundations Office of Polar Projects to investigate how plants, microorganisms, and minerals compete for phosphorus in the Arctic tundra. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for life but is in short supply in some environments, putting limits on plant growth and decomposition. Herndonan environmental geochemist in ORNLs Environmental Sciences Division who holds a joint appointment with UTs Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences leads the project, which will take her to Toolik Field Station, Alaska, to conduct fieldwork. Lauren Kinsman-Costello, a Kent State University assistant professor of biological sciences and regular research collaborator with Herndon, and Michael Weintraub, professor of soil ecology at the University of Toledo, are collaborators on the project. Plants and microorganisms take up phosphorus from soil through water in the form of dissolved phosphate. Phosphate can bind to metals in the soil, limiting its availability to plants and microorganisms. Phosphorus is fundamental to what happens in an ecosystem, Herndon said. To better understand how plants, microbes and minerals compete for phosphorus, the research team will look closely at whats happening in tundra soil where warming and permafrost thaw are altering soil moisture and nutrient availability. The research will determine how soil properties can affect competition for phosphate, with broad consequences for plant growth and carbon dynamics in Arctic ecosystems. The Arctic is warming more rapidly than anywhere on the planet and there are many environmental impacts associated with that change, Herndon said. As permafrost thaws, you see ground collapse and water flowing across the landscape, which in some areas is damaging infrastructure. Plant communities are also changing. In areas where there once were only little shrubs and grasses, trees are moving inthe forest line is moving north. Specific to their research work is learning how plants access the nutrients needed to grow. Phosphorus is in limited supply, and its availability controls how much vegetation can grow in an area. The team will examine the processes at play and how the features of the physical environment where a sample is collecteda nearby hill or stream, for exampleinfluence or are affected by phosphorus. The award also supports a postdoctoral scholar and graduate and undergraduate students. Participants will design data-driven educational activities to communicate scientific results to the public. ### Herndon joined ORNL as a staff scientist in August 2019 and received a UT joint faculty appointment in November 2019. She was previously a faculty member at Kent State University. CONTACT: Karen Dunlap (865-974-8674, kdunlap6@utk.edu Amanda Womac (865-974-2992, awomac1@utk.edu) Oregons income tax and other revenues continue to outpace expectations, even as population growth and other economic indicators show signs of weakening, state economists told lawmakers Wednesday morning. Lottery and general fund revenues could come in $183.4 million higher by the end of the current two-year budget than economists predicted just three months ago. The latest bump means the states revenue expectations now stand more than $670 million above what economists predicted last May as lawmakers worked to finalize the roughly $24 billion general fund and lottery budget. The last forecast in November was $490 million higher than expected. Economists said they were still trying to figure out the causes for the windfalls and whether they reflect a long-term trend in tax revenues or a temporary shift in response to President Donald Trumps 2017 federal tax overhaul. But one reason for the revenue growth was evident: more Oregonians are leaving estates of $5 million or so when they die, generating record-shattering amounts of estate taxes. Estate taxes are on track to exceed Novembers prediction by $87 million. "Its really being driven by a handful of estates, Lehner said. Personal income tax pre-payments also are defying predictions. "Withholding continues to be a lot stronger than the underlying economy, said state economist Josh Lehner. State economist Mark McMullen said job growth continues to slow and in-migration, which plays a significant role in fueling Oregons economy, has fallen below expectations. The underlying economy is sort of slowing down in terms of growth." Forecasters expected 50,000 people a year to move to the state, but the number is closer to 35,000 based on recent estimates from Portland State University and the U.S Census, McMullen said. Nonetheless taxes and other revenues continue to outstrip expectations across the board, from income taxes to lottery and marijuana taxes. Its a significant risk for the outlook, McMullen said. Democratic leaders were quick to cite the forecast as a reason for lawmakers to spend more on their priorities during the short 35-day legislative session. Now is the time to make responsible investmentsin priorities like wildfire mitigation and preparedness, earthquake resiliency, and shelter space and services to address homelessnessthat will ensure future generations wont have to shoulder the burdens of our inaction, Gov. Kate Brown said in a prepared statement. House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said lawmakers should dedicate some of the money to help people who are struggling the most despite the long-running economic recovery. In the midst of a statewide housing crisis, I think its essential we direct some of our ending fund balance toward helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness get access to shelter, Kotek said in a written statement. "I will be increasing my request for one-time dollars for serving unsheltered Oregonians from $40 million to $60 million. Republicans alternately questioned Democrats decision to pass a $1 billion-a-year business tax to fund education last year, and cautioned their colleagues in the Legislature to set aside some of the money for the next economic downturn. Why did Democrats burden taxpayers with over $1 billion in taxes with the gross receipts sales tax disguised as an education bill? Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger Jr. of Grants Pass said in a statement. "The (Democratic) super majority is determined to weaken our economy and will do everything they can to take taxpayer dollars to fund big government. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, a member of the House Committee on Revenue which received the forecast on Wednesday, said he hopes fellow lawmakers on the Ways and Means Committee dont spend all the money. "The sunshine were seeing today may get a little cloudy in the very near future, Smith said. As a lawmaker who had to make budget cuts during recession years, Smith said, "I think its really important for us to have a little restraint and continue to save a dollar or two. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Visit oregonlive.com/newsletters to get our 2020 Oregon Legislature newsletter delivered to your email inbox. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) attends a meeting with US President Donald Trump during the G20 Osaka Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. President Donald Trump is hoping to sign another trade deal before the 2020 election. It could be with India, if he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can come to terms during Trump's official trip to the country in less than two weeks. Despite multiple attempts, the two countries' trade teams have struggled to see eye to eye in countless meetings in Washington, New Delhi and New York held over the last 18 months yielding no results. "I expect that the trade dealwhich has been previewed for months, but apparently at last reaching a conclusionwill be a major focus of the visit," Alyssa Ayres, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations said in an interview. Experts say the constructs of the trade agreement and whether it can even be called a trade deal will be determined by the outcome of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer's trip to India this week. Defense, energy, medical devices and agriculture are among the items said to be on the table, according to Eurasia analyst Akhil Bery. The New York Times reported on Monday that India was preparing to buy U.S. military helicopters from Lockheed Martin for $2.6 billion ahead of Trump's visit. Since Modi was elected, the country has been steadily increasing its purchases of U.S. defense equipment. "[Defense] been an area of significant progress in the relationship," said Ayres. In exchange for the purchase of 24 Seahawk helicopters, Jonah Blank of Rand Corp. expects that the U.S. may roll back tariffs on select American exports. "The main deliverables are likely to include announcements of Indian purchases of US military hardware, particularly a $2.6 billion deal for 24 Seahawk (MH-60R) helicopters; in return, the US may announce a year (or more) of duty-free waivers for some of the 2,000 products on which it levied tariffs last year," Blank said to CNBC. Putting ecology before the economy, Bhutan is going to charge regional travellers from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $16.85 (Rs 1,200) per day from July. Predictably, tourism operators on both sides of the border, that were riding high on the recent tourism boom, have expressed serious concerns about this move. Bhutan adheres strictly to its policy of high value-low impact tourism based on its unique Gross National Happiness (GNH) policy that is based on four principles of sustainable development, environmental conservation, preservation and promotion of cultural values, and good governance. To achieve these goals, barring regional tourists, visitors from all other countries pay significantly higher costs, including a Sustainable Development Fee of $65 (Rs 4,650) as part of a mandatory package of minimum $250 per day which includes, visa fees, sightseeing entrance fees, meals, local transport, and accommodation. The SDF is a direct revenue contribution for the maintenance of ecology and local development in the country that is also famous for being carbon negative. However, this "high value, low impact" strategy was failing in the last few years following a spike in the numbers of regional visitors, especially from India, that were exempt from SDF levy. Bhutan received a total of 274,097 visitors in 2018. Of the total arrivals, 202,290 were regional tourists. Indians make up the majority of these regional tourists and had sparked worries for the unique Himalayan kingdom's star attraction, its cherished ecology. Bhutans biggest attraction is its natural heritage and it is a fact that tourists in large numbers, running around some of the worlds most pristine landscapes, are going to damage the ecology, resulting in a loss of flora and fauna and posing a biosecurity risk. Go to any hill station in India, from Manali to Munnar, to witness the devastation caused by Indian tourists. In its Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report in 2017, the World Economic Forum noted that degradation of the natural environment was having a serious effect on the tourism sector: natural capital depletes because of overfishing, deforestation or water and air pollution so tourism revenues decline. UN Environments research has shown that the industrys use of key resources, such as energy and water, is growing commensurately with its generation of solid waste, including marine plastic pollution, sewage, loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. Tourism accounts for around 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, to quantify the industrys total carbon footprint. The report concludes that flying less and investing in payment schemes to offset the damage caused by travel will be essential to avoid unchecked future growth in tourism-related emissions. Its quite simple, a country that has a tourism sector that both cares about the sustainability of the environment and nurtures its places of natural beauty is going to attract discerning international and local visitors who are willing to pay the extra dollar. That extra dollar can go into restoration, conservation and well-being of the local biodiversity. For example, Rwandas strategy to focus on high-value/low impact responsible ecotourism, aka Gorilla Tourism, rather than mass tourism has resulted in funding for the governments programme for the protection of gorillas. Since 2010, Rwanda is considered to be one of the safest destinations in East Africa for wildlife and biodiversity experiences. Several studies, including one by the Nielsen and Cornell Universitys Centre for Hospitality Research, have estimated that 75 percent of Millennial and Gen Z travellers would be willing to pay extra for sustainable tourism. Fifty percent of the older generation or Baby Boomers are also willing to pay more for environmentally responsible destinations. Cox & Kings carried out a survey in Indias key cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram. About 5,000 respondents aged between 20 and 35 took part in the survey, and a whopping 87 percent of the respondents felt strongly about saving the environment. These are encouraging trends, and may just augur well for the tourism sector. We need carbon neutral, zero-waste, environmentally-sensitive tour packages to destinations that have environmentally-conscious, free and fair societies that value the ecosystem. MOHALI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court here on Wednesday issued non-bailable warrants against two Khalistani terrorists, Ranjeet Singh Neeta and Gurmeet Singh, alias Bagga, in a case of weapons being dropped by drones from Pakistan at Chola Sahib village in Tarn Taran district in September last year. Special judge Karunesh Kumar issued arrest warrants against Pakistan-based Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) chief Neeta, who is originally from Jammu and Kashmir and Bagga, who belongs to Hoshiarpur and lives in Germany. Bagga is a key operative of the banned terrorist organisation in Hamburg. The KZF is behind the trafficking of illegal arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices and fake currency notes into India to further terrorist activities and cause loss of life and property of citizens and threaten the countrys security. Investigation has found that the two have been able to recruit individuals from Punjab for carrying out terrorist activities. Both are wanted for dropping arms, ammunition, explosives, communication devices and fake currency notes into India by unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) originating in Pakistan. Nine people have already been arrested in this case. They are Romandeep Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Balbir Singh, Akashdeep, Balwant Singh, Shubdeep Singh, Mann Singh, Sajan Preet, and Malkiat Singh. ARMS HAUL IN SEPTEMBER In September, Punjab Police seized five AK-47 rifles, 16 magazines, 472 rounds of ammunition, four China-made .30-bore pistols, along with eight magazines and 72 rounds of ammunition. Nine hand-grenades and five satellite phones with their ancillary equipment were also recovered. Two mobile phones, two wireless sets and Rs 10 lakh in fake currency were also seized. Later, the investigation was handed over to the NIA. Drones with a global positioning system (GPS) and capable of lifting weights of up to 10kg, flew in from Pakistan seven-eight times to drop the cache of arms, ammunition and fake currency. The accused have been booked under Sections 489-A (counterfeiting currency notes or bank notes); 489-B (using as genuine counterfeit notes); 489-C (possession of counterfeit notes); and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code; besides Section 25 of the Arms Act; Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act; Sections 15, 17, 18, 18-B and 20 of the UA(P)A; and Section 52-A of the Prisons Act, 1984. Good Morning America With less than 10 months until the 2022 midterm elections, President Joe Biden heads to Georgia on Tuesday to make his biggest push yet for national voting rights bills and is expected to call for changes to the Senate's filibuster rules in order to get them passed. Echoing his impassioned address on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection when he blamed former President Donald Trump and his supporters for holding a "dagger at the throat of democracy," Biden's remarks in Atlanta are expected to be a "forceful" call to action to protect voting rights. "The president will forcefully advocate for protecting the most bedrock American rights: the right to vote and have your voice counted in a free, fair and secure election that is not tainted by partisan manipulation," White House press secretary Jen Psaki previewed in her press briefing Tuesday. February 12 : Swedish Greek Bollywood actress Elisabet Avramidou Granlund, known professionally as Elli AvrRam got nostalgic during her recent media interaction and expressed that she is very grateful to India for accepting her and not making her feel an outsider. Elli AvrRam was interacting with media on the sidelines of Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2020 in Mumbai. When asked about her experiences as a struggler when she came to India, on this Elli said, "When I came to India, I never felt that I am an outsider. I immediately felt in love and got adapted to the lifestyle of the country. Luckily I got to stay with Gujrati family, who supported me. And before learning hindi, I learnt Gujrati I must say, people of India are very cooperative and supportive. They will always be close to my heart. I feel very blessed, that have reached till here. I am really grateful to my Indians fans for accepting me and giving me so much of love added Elli. Elli was last seen onscreen in the recently released "Malang". Directed by Mohit Suri, "Malang" also features Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani and Kunal Khemu in the lead role. The movie opened with mixed reviews. She will next be seen in the Tamil film "Paris Paris" and Kannada movie "Butterfly". Butterfly or Paris Paris, are the official remakes of Kangana Ranaut starring Queen, helmed by Vikas Bahl. The Telugu version, Butterfly is directed by Ramesh Aravind and produced by Manu Kumaran. The film features Parul Yadav in the lead role. Australia's auction market returned from a seasonal slowdown and clocked strong gains in volume and success rate, according to the latest figures from CoreLogic. Auction volume almost doubled from the previous week to hit 1,122, which returned a clearance rate of 69.4%. In terms of property type, 779 homes and 343 units were auctioned across capital cities. "As the remaining results are collected, the final clearance rate is expected to revise lower, however, it's likely to come in higher than last weeks' final clearance rate of 61%," said CoreLogic research analyst Jade Harling. The recent auction results were significantly stronger than during the same period last year when only 928 homes were auctioned and just over half sold. Also read: Where Is Sydney's Unit Market Going? Sydney was the busiest and most successful auction market for the week, hosting 428 auctions and hitting a clearance rate of 79.9%. The second-highest clearance rate was recorded in Canberra at 77.8%. However, only 70 dwellings were auctioned in the city. Melbourne clocked the second-highest auction volume at 401, which returned a success rate of 74%. The weakest-selling auction market was Brisbane of the 114 homes auctioned, only 36.4% were sold. The table below shows the performance of each capital-city auction market: Missed the most recent top news in Detroit? Read on for everything you need to know. Video: liquor bottle memorial at abandoned house Emmanuel Humes, 39, talks about his empty liquor bottle memorial, which he and others contributed to in memory of his uncles. The memorial is at an abandoned house on the 4200 block of Webb Street. Read the full story on The Detroit News. How to mark Tigers' spring training The Detroit Tigers opened spring training Tuesday. Here's how you can celebrate, or commiserate, the event. Read the full story on Detroit Free Press. Detroit inspector general accuses chief medical executive of abuse of power The states chief medical executive abused her power while director of the Detroit Health Department by crafting a position for a department employee with no intention of conducting competitive interviews, according to a report released Tuesday by the Detroit Office of the Inspector General. Read the full story on The Detroit News. Development plan in Islandview neighborhood hits snag The council postponed a vote Tuesday on a brownfield plan for the 2119 Field Street Redevelopment Project. Read the full story on The Detroit 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. The first trailer for Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch was released on Wednesday. Starring a slew of A-list stars, the anthology film is the 50-year-old auteur's love letter to journalists and proves to be a delightfully quirky return to the silver screen. Based on the writings of The New Yorker, the film features Timothee Chalamet as a rebel with a cause, as well as several Anderson mainstays including Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody. The French Dispatch FIRST LOOK: Tilda Swinton plays a chic reporter in Wes Anderson's star-studded ode to journalists, in the film's first trailer which was released on Wednesday Set in a fictional 20th-century French city and follows the development of a series of stories published in the titular magazine, and it opens with editor Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray) on the paper's last day. A voiceover explaining the way the origins of the publication explains: 'It began as a holiday, eager to escape the bright future on the great plains Arthur Howitzer Jr. transformed the series of travelogue columns into The French Dispatch. 'A factual weekly report on the subjects of world politics, the arts high and low and world stories of human interest. 'He assembled a team of the best expatriate journalists of his time: Berensen (Swinton), Salzerac (Wilson), Krementz (Frances McDormand), Roebuck Wright (Jeffrey Wright), these were his people.' Revolutionary: Timothee Chalamet takes on the role of Zeffirelli, a rebel with a cause who is the subject of Frances McDormand's Krementz's latest article Drama: The film portrays a series of stories published in the titular magazine, and it opens with editor Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray, pictured) on the paper's last day Star-studded: Based on the writings of The New Yorker, the film features several Anderson mainstays including Tilda, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody, as well as Elizabeth Moss Filmed in both colour and black-and-white, the trailer features a series of montages from the articles The Concrete Masterpiece, Revisions to a Manifesto, and The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner. One story sees Tilda's character examine the subject of Moses Rosenthaler, an incarcerated artist who was 'the loudest voice of his rowdy generation' and became a sensation with his painting of muse, and prison guard, Simone (Lea Seydoux). Keen to purchase his latest piece 'Simone naked cell block j hobby room', Brody's art dealer Julien Cadazio approaches Rosenthaler to make the exchange, but the artist refuses to budge as he claims 'it's not for sale.' Fighting back: Following Zeffirelli, McDormand's story focuses on him and his fellow young revolutionaries 'obliterate a thousand years of republic authority in less than a fortnight' In colour: Scenes in the trailer switch between colour and black-and-white Art: Another sees Tilda's character examine the subject of Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio del Toro), an incarcerated artist who paints his prison guard, Simone (Lea Seydoux) Muse: Lea's Simone acts as a muse for the artist, who refuses to sell his paintings of her The second story, meanwhile, follows McDormand's Krementz as she write an article about Timothee's student revolutionary Zeffirelli, and his bid to overthrow an unjust government. Narrating the scenes, she said: 'The kids did this, obliterated a thousand years of republic authority in less than a fortnight. What do they want, freedom, full stop.' An amusing exchange between the journalist and rebel saw the former tear open the bath curtain on the latter, who squeals and said 'I'm naked Mrs Krementz,' to which she responded matter-of-factly 'I can see that.' The final story sees food critic Wright investigate the chef responsible for police cooking, as he gushes that 'the aromas of the kitchen cast a spell.' Making his mark: Thanks to his work, the incarcerated artist becomes 'the loudest voice of his rowdy generation' Eye for talent: Keen to purchase his piece 'Simone naked cell block j hobby room', Adrien Brody's Julien Cadazio approaches Rosenthaler to make the exchange, but the artist refuses Quirky: The final story sees food critic Wright investigate the chef responsible for police cooking, as he gushes that 'the aromas of the kitchen cast a spell' Brief glimpse: Saoirse Ronan also appears in the trailer sporting a curly mane of golden hair But things aren't set to go well for long, as the peace is 'mortally broken' when a phone call from Edward Norton's as-yet-unnamed character inform Mathieu Amalric's police officer that he has kidnapped the man's son. Saoirse Ronan also appears briefly in the trailer sporting a curly mane of golden hair, and she is seen telling a young boy to 'shut up'. The trailer closes back where it began, in the offices of The French Dispatch, as a young office worker informs Howitzer Jr. that the reporters have 'one hour to press.' Who is she? Saoirse is seen telling a young boy to 'shut up' in a black-and-white scene Closing down: The trailer closes back where it began, in the offices of The French Dispatch, as a young office worker informs Howitzer Jr. that the reporters have 'one hour to press' Classic look: Featuring many of Anderson's stunning visuals and regular collaborator Robert Yeoman's signature cinematography, the film is sure to delight fans of the filmmaker Clearly agitated, the editor informs the young man that he was 'fired' for giving him the message, before adding: 'Don't cry in my office.' Featuring many of Anderson's stunning visuals and regular collaborator Robert Yeoman's signature cinematography, the film is sure to delight fans of the filmmaker. The French Dispatch is set to be released across the USA on July 24, and will then be screened in the UK on August 28, 2020. Regular: This is the third time Frances has starred in an Anderson film, having previously taken on roles in Isle Of Dogs and Moonrise Kingdom Newcomers: Timothee and Lyna Khoudri (R) are working with Wes for the first time (L-R) Harald Wilhelm, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG. Finance & Controlling/Daimler Mobility, Ola Kaellenius, CEO of Daimler AG, Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG are seen at Daimler's annual press conference to announce financial results for 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. Photo: Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images Carmaker Daimler AG has slashed its dividend to the lowest since the financial crisis and promised deeper cost cuts as CEO Ola Kallenius frees up cash this year to electrify its vehicle lineup. Kallenius, who has struggled to make headway on a restructuring push in his first nine months on the job, vowed to deliver "significantly" higher profit this year than last, by squeezing out costs and capping investments. Daimler now faces rising competition from Tesla, which plans to build a Berlin factory. The goal of government should be to improve the life chances of the citizens-German Sociologist, Ralf Dahrendorf The unprecedented spate of unrelenting demolition of the so called shanties and illegal structures in Asaba, the Delta state Capital by the staff/agents of the Delta state Capital Development Agency, without adequate notice or plans of resettlement and compensation, has again made it evident that having knowledge of history and ability which goes beyond academic skills to generate ideas and translate those ideas into action are important in leadership. Apart from the facts that events have a way of repeating itself, such knowledge is employed for the greater improvement of the society. It is presupposition that man is capable of profiting from the experience of his predecessors and that progress in history unlike evolution in nature, prevents the present leader from repeating the mistakes made by the former. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the sustained demolition of some business centres/outlets tagged shanties and illegal structures by the Delta state Capital Development Agency, despite condemnation and outcry by good spirited and development minded Nigerians, shows an example of a government agency that is neither interested nor believes in the kind of thinking described above. The signs are there and could be spotted in the fact that the present action taken by the Delta state Capital Development Agency, was the kind of policy and fate Nigerians witnessed and criticized between July and September 2000, in Abuja, the Nigeria Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where over 50,000 residents were displaced from their homes of many years without alternative accommodation as a result of FGs thoughtless restoration of the Abuja master plan. And a similar occurrence in Rainbow Town, Port-Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, under Governor Peter Odili, where an estimated number of above 1,000,000 people lost their homes and business offices in a similar style. In many ways, the present administration may have a sincere desire to move the state forward, and these facts are signposted in the administrations unrelenting conscious effort to close the infrastructural deficit in the state, youth empowerment and job creation,as well as massive road construction ( a feat that has earned the Governor,-Road master as a title) Again.while it is undebatable that the government has a responsibility to ensure a planned and orderly development of the Delta state capital; this however does not and cannot justify the indiscriminate large-scale forced eviction of tens of thousand of people without any planning and provision of effective legal remedies such as adequate notice, compensation, resettlement, and rehabilitation. Forced eviction globally constitutes a gross violation of human rights. According to the United Nations Committee on Economic, social and Cultural Rights (the body responsible for monitoring compliance by state parties to the International covenant on Economic, social and Cultural Rights), forced eviction denotes the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to appropriate forms of illegal or other protection. In the same line of argument, as recognized by the international convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Ratified by Nigeria in 1993), forced eviction is a brazen violation of the right to life, right to fair hearing, right to dignity of the human person, the right to a private and family life, and the rights to property guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the African charter of Human and peoplesRight (Ratification and Enforcement ) Act 1990. Viewed differently, like every invention which comes with opportunities and challenges, having witnessed this controversy from both sides, my experience is that many things have been said about the development-some good and others tales of pains and sorrows.But in all, the overriding concern is that neither the government nor the traders could be absolved of blame. While the traders should be blamed for encroaching on, and going beyond the road/streets setbacks, the greater chunk of this blame rests at the door step of Oshimili South local Government Area. And by extension, that of the Delta state Government which of course includes the Honourable Mrapkor led Delta State Capital Development Agency. The reason(s) responsible for this notion is based on the mountains of evidence which supports the claim that the traders did not in the first instant act in isolation or erected what is today referred to as illegal structures/shanties without approval from the Local Government Authority. The vast majority of the traders sought for, and received approvals from the Oshimili South Local Government Area. The receipts of payments by these traders speak volume. In like manner, upon completion of these shops by their owners, the council officials have operated without fail in their daily visits, and in some cases weekly/monthly for the purpose of collecting revenue from these traders. And after wards, issue the local council receipts. These are verifiable facts. Whatever may be the true situation, if these claims are anything to go by, and if development of the state capital is truly what the Agency seeks; then, there are some crucial questions that must be asked; Going by the above facts that the council officials gave approval for the erection of such structures, at what point did the shops/business locations suddenly in the estimation of the government contravened the state building and development laws? Why is the agency feeling so reluctant approaching the planned demolition from a rights-based perspective? Is the agency not aware that they have a duty going by international treaties and covenants of which Nigeria is signatory, to enable the people affected by the development activity to participate in ways capable of transforming their social and economic conditions rather than using them as instruments to legitimize predetermined goals and priorities? By refusing to compensate or resettle those affected, has the agency forgotten that the viability of democracy depends upon openness, reliability, appropriateness, responsiveness and elected officials efforts to improve the life chances of the masses? And why is the demolition taking place shortly after the Governor assumed his second term in office whereas the traders have been in those locations right before his first term? Why must the state government offer economic survival of Deltans, which is the building blocks of democracy, on the altar of city beautification? In my views, it will be highly rewarding in political and economic terms if the state government stop this demolitions and comply with the set standards by the international bodies such as; the United Nations Committee on Economic, social and Cultural Rights (the body responsible for monitoring compliance by states parties to the International covenant on Economic, social and Cultural Rights),and that of the international covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Ratified by Nigeria in 1993). And most importantly, act in a particular process that allows the realization of economic, social and cultural rights of the people as well as civil and political rights, and all fundamental freedoms in a way that both protects the rights and opportunities of coming generations and contributes to compatible approaches. Jerome-Mario Utomi, ([email protected] 234-803-27253-74, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. WASHINGTON, D.C. A new momentum has taken hold of state government work to support broadband infrastructure, access and usage.This momentum, experts say, is a direct result of an increased societal understanding of broadband as a utility, rather than as somewhat of a frivolous luxury. This was a consensus opinion Tuesday at an event hosted by Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C., dubbed How to Bridge the Broadband Gap: A Conversation with State Leaders. The event featured a morning of discussions with Pew researchers, who are prepping a related report for later this month, and state government employees engaged with broadband work.It was, perhaps, a very different set of conversations than the same group might have been having as recently as three years ago, said Kathryn de Wit, manager of the broadband research initiative for Pew Charitable Trusts.More and more policymakers are seeing exactly why broadband matters, de Wit said during opening remarks at the event. This isnt something thats viewed as a nice-to-have anymore, this isnt about Netflix and cat videos ... its about what you can do by having that Internet access.The spike in awareness, she continued, is closely related to state policymakers seeing that communities are missing out on employment opportunities, education opportunities, access to telehealth and the ability to retain their younger citizens.This sea change in understanding, however, is a familiar one to those in the state broadband space. Its one that many have spent years predicating and advocating for, citing it as a foundational piece of broadband work. With the growth in understanding established, the question next became a matter of what can be done at the state level to support and promote broadband accessibility, as well as adjacent goals such as affordability and digital literacy, which means helping citizens get the skills they need to use broadband in a productive manner.This is what the forthcoming Pew report looks at directly, and what it finds is that there are five practices key to state government broadband support work: engaging stakeholders, establishing a policy framework, supporting planning efforts, providing related funding and evaluating the performance of efforts in a way that guides next steps.To make this determination, de Wit and other researchers spent 18 months studying programs and initiatives across all 50 states, ultimately narrowing the report down to a look at 10 states as case studies. These states are California, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.During the opening remarks, de Wit also stressed that there was no one approach, no magical solution to a problem as complex as this one, and that much became clear in later panels wherein the representatives from various states described what they and their partner agencies were doing.Almost all the involved states are providing funding to local and regional efforts, as well as to projects aimed at promoting the spread of broadband infrastructure. Many of the states also have robust broadband task forces that include cross-agency participation, staff from the executive branch and state lawmakers.Within that, some more singular efforts emerged as well.In Tennessee, for example, the state is focused on augmenting broadband infrastructure support with a digital literacy component, said Crystal Ivey, broadband director with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. This takes the form of small grants to local libraries to pay for digital skills instruction.Ivey noted that at some libraries in Tennessee the classes have proven so popular that there is a waiting list. The classes are often basic, tackling topics such as how to set up email, how to use online bill pay and other skills that the digitally literate tend to take for granted.If youre in a community that doesnt have access to broadband, you may not know how to do these things, Ivey said. Increasing digital literacy in an area directly impacts the investment were making in our infrastructure.Another example of a relatively novel approach to the issue came from Wisconsin. Jaron McCallum, who is the statewide broadband director with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, described a digital inclusion tool there called the Internet Discount Finder . Developed as a joint project between McCallums department and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the tool is, as its name implies, a platform that helps low-income users find Internet discounts.These and other examples at the event formed a patchwork of approaches being deployed by states across the country to not only extend broadband access but to ensure that once there, the utility benefits both individuals and communities.Pew expects to publish the report and full set of related findings by the end of February. University of Phoenix needed a solution to efficiently share our digital content across multiple learning modalities and platforms to support the needs of our students," says John Woods, provost, University of Phoenix. LearningMate, a leading education technology company, today announced that University of Phoenix (UOPX), a higher education institution for working adults, has selected LearningMates FROST Learning Content Management System for centrally managing their digital content, online courses, assignments and learning outcomes. Designed to enable the free flow of content, data, and learning to support personalized, adaptive, modular and competency-based learning models, FROST delivers a seamless way to manage and align learning outcomes, rubrics, online courses, digital learning resources, while providing the ability to search and discover digital content or learning objects before publishing to multiple LMSs and other delivery channels. The solution supports enhanced learning experiences and multiple learning modalities, like traditional online, competency-based education, microlearning, among others. "University of Phoenix needed a solution to efficiently share our digital content across multiple learning modalities and platforms to support the needs of our students," says John Woods, provost, University of Phoenix. The FROST suite provides us an opportunity to continuously offer our students flexible content. As the education industry continues to shift to digital, FROST is helping universities open up new possibilities by enabling their content and data to flow freely throughout the entire higher education ecosystem. Our platform also plays an important role in linking curriculum to workforce needs. We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with UOPX to enhance and support their future strategic growth objectives, Nachiket Paratkar, senior vice president and business head, higher education, at LearningMate. About LearningMate Solutions, Inc. LearningMate is focused on the needs of the next generation of teachers and learners. The company builds on a strong foundation of learning design with progressive technology, digital media and engineering solutions to connect todays learners, educators, administrators, policymakers and content creators with the information, tools, and solutions they need to be successful. With six consulting offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and India, LearningMate serves a global clientele of education publishers, traditional and nontraditional EdTech companies, K-20 schools, universities and career colleges, government agencies, non-profits, corporate learning departments and education consortia. For more information, visit learningmate.com. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses and interactive learning help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. We serve a diverse student population, offering degree programs at select locations across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. ### If you would like more information about this release or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Taya Bures at 605.838.8108 or via email at taya.bures@learningmate.com. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump host an event celebrating the one-year anniversary of the White Houses Womens Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the Department of State in Washington, DC on February 12, 2020. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) A Global Womens Initiative Led by Ivanka Trump to Become US Foreign Policy WASHINGTONA White House initiative to promote womens global empowerment has attracted strong bipartisan support and will soon become a priority of U.S. foreign policy, said President Donald Trumps daughter and senior adviser Ivanka Trump, who leads the initiative. We will be introducing bipartisan legislation in the Senate to promote the empowerment, development, and prosperity of women globally, Ivanka Trump said at an event to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Womens Global Development Prosperity (W-GDP) initiative. This legislation will permanently authorize the W-GDP and establish womens economic empowerment as a core facet of the United States foreign policy, she said. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who joined the event, are leading the legislative effort. Both senators have been instrumental in the creation of the White House initiative. In February 2019, President Trump launched the W-GDP program to promote womens economic empowerment across the globe. As part of his national security strategy, the initiative aims to help women advance in the workplace, succeed as entrepreneurs, and fully and freely participate in the economy. Ivanka Trump said that the W-GDP legislation is a long overdue goal as there have been continuous efforts to try to codify the role of women as a foreign policy priority since the Bush administration. She added that Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) would introduce the companion House legislation. 50 Million Women The W-GDPs goal is to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025, through U.S. government activities, public and private sector partners, and a new fund housed and managed by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative helps women gain access to vocational education, technology, and capital in developing countries. It also helps address societal and legal challenges that impede womens economic progress. We have reached over 12 million women in the last year alone, Ivanka Trump said. Farmer Aicha Bourkib talks to Ivanka Trump, the daughter and senior adviser to President Donald Trump, in the province of Sidi Kacem, Morocco, on Nov. 7, 2019. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo) The W-GDP will be housed within the State Department going forward and led by Ambassador-at-Large Kelley Currie. Speaking at the event, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted the initiative is a historic and tangible expression of our founding values. He said an Ethiopian small business owner, through the U.S. government help, has expanded her local business to 500 employees, a true testament to the effectiveness and the goodness that comes from the W-GDP programs. If we succeed, there can be many stories like hers. Trump prioritized the funding for the W-GDP in his new budget proposal, doubling the support to $200 million in the fiscal year 2021. In his budget released on Feb. 10, Trump proposed a 21 percent reduction to financial aid within the State Department and the USAID budget. The administration wants international programs to focus more on national security priorities and combating Chinese and Russian influence. Hence, expanding the W-GDPs fund is in line with these objectives, helping bolster core diplomatic efforts, according to the budget report. Legal and Societal Barriers Despite making up half of the worlds population, women remain one of the most underutilized resources for growing economies, according to the White House. Research by the White House Council of Economic Advisers showed that fully addressing the legal barriers to womens economic activity could increase annual global gross domestic product (GDP) by $7.7 trillion, or 8.3 percent. And fully eliminating restrictions to womens employment could boost GDP by $1.5 trillion. Though the lives of women and girls in developing countries have improved dramatically in the last 50 years, womens access to economic opportunities remains constrained, according to a Brookings Institute report. Womens economic participation and empowerment are crucial for economic growth and poverty reduction, the report added. However, its hard to tackle some of the barriers to womens economic empowerment, the report noted, such as soft skills gaps, social norms, informal institutions, and household dynamics. For example, in many underdeveloped countries, the gender gap is driven by social norms about the roles of women and men, which have proven remarkably resistant to change, the report stated. According to a factsheet provided by the State Department, one in two women in low-income countries doesnt have official personal identification cards as proof of legal identity. In seven sub-Saharan countries, women cant legally open bank accounts in the same way as men. And 36 countries dont allow women to apply for passports. These cultural and social barriers hinder womens access to critical services and participation in political and economic life. As part of the W-GDP, Trump signed in December 2019 a presidential memorandum addressing legal and societal barriers to womens ability to sign legal documents, access to courts and administrative bodies, access to credit, and ability to own and manage property, travel freely, and work in the same jobs and sectors as men. In 75 countries, there is at least one law that prohibits women from owning, managing, or inheriting property. We can and we must address these discriminatory laws and regulations, Ivanka Trump said. She added that the governments of Cote dIvoire and Morocco last year amended laws to address womens property and land rights, thanks to the W-GDP initiative. While the American Club Cool Fresh Taste saw the minimum hike of 10 per cent, from Rs 200 to Rs 220 for a pack of 20 cigarettes, the price of Navy Cut Filter rose by about 16 per cent, at Rs 80 for a pack of 10 sticks. Flake Filter has become costlier by 14 per cent at Rs 80, while prices of Flake Special Filter, Flake Blue Special Filter and Wave Cool Mint rose by 20 per cent. Following the hike in the National Calamity Contingency Duty (NCCD) announced in the Union Budget this year, market leader ITC increased cigarette prices by 10-20 per cent across some of its brands in all of its markets. A rise in NCCD escalates taxes on cigarettes. Manufacturers have the option to either pass it on the consumer or absorb it. "Prices of a number of brands have been revised," an ITC spokesperson said. This is the first hike in cigarettes after the Budget. Sources said while the American Club Cool Fresh Taste saw the minimum hike of 10 per cent, from Rs 200 to Rs 220 for a pack of 20 cigarettes, the price of Navy Cut Filter rose by about 16 per cent, at Rs 80 for a pack of 10 sticks. Flake Filter has become costlier by 14 per cent at Rs 80, while prices of Flake Special Filter, Flake Blue Special Filter and Wave Cool Mint rose by 20 per cent. Other brands that suffered a price rise were Gold Flake Super Star and Duke Special Filter. Incidentally, it is one of the steepest price upsurges ITC took in the past 2-3 years. Last year, the firm increased the prices of Bristol, Capstan and Flake Excel by 7-14 per cent and also introduced hikes in some regional brands while in 2017, prices rose by 6-7 per cent across brands. However, in 2016, the company took selective price increases across its cigarettes portfolio pass on the excise increase, making Classic and Gold Flake Kings brands more expensive by 13 per cent. In the year before prices went up by 12-21 per cent. The hike this time exceeded the previously anticipated surge of 7-10 per cent which sector analysts were expecting after NCCD was revised. Analysts reasoned that on a blended basis, there is likely to be an 11 per cent tax hike on the average as the dominant 64 mm (mini king size) has seen a sharper tax hike of 15 per cent while others like the king size and regular sizes have seen tax hike of 9-10 per cent. According to Abneesh Roy, executive vice president of institutional equities at Edelweiss Securities, a seven per cent hike would have led to a 3-4 per cent decline in cigarette volumes. The previous projection, however, is likely to be revised now. ITC, which commands the leadership position in the cigarettes space with a 3/4th market share, has been raising concerns over the stress on its cigarettes business prompted by taxation and illicit trade. After its third quarter results, ITC said that while the company continues to augment its product portfolio, extremely stringent regulations along with a punitive and discriminatory taxation regime on cigarettes in recent years have had numerous negative, albeit unintended repercussions. It said that such a course has resulted in decline in legal cigarette volumes in favour of lightly taxed and tax-evaded tobacco products. Moreover, the absence of mandatory pictorial warnings on illegally traded cigarettes in the country has also added to the stress on the legal cigarette industry. ITC also raised concerns that there has been widespread availability of illegal cigarettes and other tobacco products of dubious quality and hygiene to consumers at extremely affordable prices. After its results for the third quarter of the current fiscal year, ITC said that the performance during the quarter reflects the persistent weakness in the overall demand environment, especially in rural markets and wholesale channel, tight market liquidity conditions and the increasing salience of illicit trade especially at the premium end. During the nine months ended December 31, 2019, ITC posted a 6.31 per cent rise in its income from cigarettes, at Rs 17,928.69 crore, while profit from cigarette sales rose by 7.59 per cent to Rs 12,188.58 crore. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters A British woman who attempted to open a door on a passenger plane will spend around two years in jail. Chloe Haines, 26, had pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of a passenger plane, as well as assault by beating, for the mid-flight fracas on June 22 on a Jet2 flight from London Stansted Airport to Dalaman in southwest Turkey, according to the BBC. Prosecutors said Haines lunged at the door while yelling, I want to die and Im going to kill you all, as passengers and crew members attempted to detain her, CNN reports. Haines claimed she blacked out after taking a mix of alcohol and medication and didnt remember the incident, the BBC reports. RELATED: Woman Charged $105,000 After Disruptive Airplane Behavior Forced Landing Haines attorney Oliver Saxby QC told the court that his client was a troubled young person with a number of serious issues, according to the BBC. She wasnt just drunk, she was unwellShes ashamed. Shes deeply embarrassed by what she did. Jet2 | Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty At her Wednesday sentencing, Judge Charles Gratwicke said: Those that are trapped in the confined space of the aircraft will inevitably be distressed, frightened and petrified by the actions of those who in a drunken state endanger their lives. For some it will be their worst nightmare come true. 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. The British airline had charged Haines $105,000 and accused her of a catalog of aggressive, abusive and dangerous behavior and attempting to open the aircraft doors. Miss Haines behavior was one of the most serious cases of disruptive passenger behavior that we have experienced, CEO of Jet2 Steve Heapy said in a statement. She must now face up to the consequences of her actions, and we will vigorously pursue to recover the costs that we incurred as a result of this divert, as we do with all disruptive passengers. As a family friendly airline, we take an absolutely zero tolerance approach to disruptive behavior, and we hope that this sobering incidentprovides a stark warning to others who think that they can behave in this fashion, he added. LISBON (Reuters) - Surfer Alex Botelho was in hospital in stable condition on Tuesday night after a horrific incident during the inaugural Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge on the central coast of Portugal, which boasts some of the biggest waves in the world. Canadian-born big wave circuit regular Botelho was competing for Portugal in the team competition when the jetski taking him out of the impact zone was thrown high into the air by two waves colliding. The unconscious surfer was tossed around in the violent surf before support staff managed to get him to the beach, put him on a backboard and get him to an ambulance. "Big wave surfer Alex Botelho was involved in a very serious incident during the Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge," the World Surf League (WSL) said in a statement. "He was rushed to the hospital and we now have an update on his condition. Currently, he is stable and conscious. He will stay at the hospital for further evaluation. "A heartfelt thank you to the safety and medical teams for their quick response. We are wishing Alex a full and speedy recovery." Further details on his injuries and condition were not immediately available. Nazare's monstrous waves are magnified by an underwater canyon 5km (three miles) deep which ends where the North Atlantic meets the shoreline near the former fishing village. Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara put Nazare on the map in 2011 when he set a world record for the biggest wave ever surfed at 78 feet (23.77 metres). Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa bettered McNamara's mark in 2017, again at Nazare, by conquering an 80-foot wave (24.38m). The WSL estimated waves reached around 45 feet (13.7m) on Tuesday as storms out in the ocean caused a solid swell which, together with light winds, created "exceptional" conditions for the competition to take place. Hawaiian Kai Lenny won the Men's Wave of the Day for a giant righthander breaking towards the dangerous rocks, while France's Justine Dupont won the Women's Wave of the Day after successfully navigating a huge lefthander. Lenny and his partner Lucas Chianca from Brazil won the Teams event. (Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, additional reporting by Miguel Pereira, editing by Lincoln Feast) "As an organization, the SOA is committed to providing our members with innovative opportunities to elevate their skills and showcase their rigor in this rapidly changing industry," said Andy Rallis, FSA, MAAA, president of the SOA. "We are thrilled to work with Plug and Play to connect our members with tech start-ups to share best practices and help spur ideas for the benefit of the insurance industry, regulators and consumers at-large." This relationship will allow InsurTech start-ups to validate their technology and modeling processes with actuaries. At the same time, it provides SOA members with an exclusive look inside the world of emerging technologies and InsurTech business. "Actuaries bring the financial and technical expertise that our InsurTech start-ups need in order to create reliable and trustworthy InsurTech products for the insurance industry and consumers," said Saeed Amidi, founder and CEO of Plug and Play. "The efforts of SOA members, regulators, and other industry professionals combined with tech-savvy entrepreneurship will lead to innovative technologies now and in the future." There will be a variety of opportunities for SOA members and InsurTech start-ups to interact and learn from each other. A group of SOA members will embark on a multi-day immersion experience, working hand-in-hand with InsurTech start-ups at the Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale, California. A mentorship network will pair actuaries with start-ups for a longer-term collaborative experience. Additionally, members will have exclusive access to a bi-monthly webcast and podcast series featuring start-ups. The SOA will host a virtual and in-person event later this year, which will gather industry trailblazers to discuss technology and aging. "Actuaries, start-ups and regulators can all benefit from a knowledge exchange to better understand the opportunities and challenges within InsurTech," said North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread, current chair of the Innovation and Technology Task Force for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). "By sharing insights and expertise, we can work together to ensure the development of fair and financially-sound insurance products to better serve consumers." The strategic partnership with Plug and Play demonstrates the SOA's commitment to providing its members with dynamic learning experiences, rewarding volunteer opportunities, and collaborative events where they can learn from the experiences and ideas of peers around the world. Visit www.soa.org/insurtech for more information. About the SOA With roots dating back to 1889, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) is the world's largest actuarial professional organization with more than 31,000 actuaries as members. Through research and education, the SOA's mission is to advance actuarial knowledge and to enhance the ability of actuaries to provide expert advice and relevant solutions for financial, business and societal challenges. The SOA's vision is for actuaries to be the leading professionals in the measurement and management of risk. About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 25 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 10,000 startups and 300 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com. Michael Nowak Society of Actuaries 847.273.8811 or [email protected] Sarah Kossek Golin 312.729.4113 or [email protected] SOURCE Society of Actuaries Related Links http://www.soa.org Women's Aid has welcomed the first conviction in Ireland for the crime of coercive control in Donegal. The accused man, who pleaded guilty, made nearly 6,000 phone calls to his partner between March and June 2019. He made her bring her phone everywhere so he knew where she was. He has been jailed for 21 months. Sarah Benson, from Women's Aid, says it is an important test case for the legislation. "One of the challenges for this as a new crime through the courts is that is not just one single incident which is what our criminal justice system is very much geared towards prosecution of - one criminal act of assault or of criminal damage. "Coercive control is far more insidious and it's a pattern of behaviour which all together form the crime of coercive control." Ms Benson explained that coercive control is designed specifically to wear down, to degrade or to debilitate the other person. "It's usually done over a prolonged period of time. It is very personal. "It also has a devastating impact and is really dangerous so that is where the problem comes in terms of establishing it as an actual offence." A brave father who had his neck slashed while rescuing a seven-year-old girl from a rapist broke down in tears as he shared a powerful message to the young victim. Nick Gilio confronted convicted rapist Anthony Paul Sampieri, 55, in the toilets of a Sydney dance hall as the ice addict raped the young girl in November 2018. Sampieri pleaded guilty to three counts of child rape and seven other charges in June and was sentenced to life in prison in the NSW District Court on Wednesday. Outside court, Mr Gilio said he was honoured to have rescued the brave, young ballet dancer and pleaded for her not to let the 'evil break her'. 'To our little dancer and to her family; it was an absolute, my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil. I don't regret a single second,' he said. Nick Gilio (pictured outside of court on Wednesday) broke down in tears as he shared a powerful message to the young victim Anthony Peter Sampieri (pictured), 55, has been jailed for life over his sex attack on a seven-year-old girl in November 2018 'Today is your day for justice. You day towards light and healing. 'My wish for you is that you grow to be a healthy, confident, strong grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others. 'Do not let this scare you. Do not let this evil break who you are. 'As for me there is not a day that goes by that I don't think you you are there for eternity. Although I will not be there in presence, I will always send my love to you in spirit. 'You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be and if we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you.' Mr Gilio, who was left so damaged by the attack he was forced to quit his job as a diesel mechanic, said Sampieri's life sentence had provided a 'bit of closure for everyone'. 'Life is life, let's get him away from innocent victims and good people in general,' he said. 'This is a society we want to be living in, void of these cowards.' Sampieri raped the girl in the bathroom (pictured) of a Kogarah dance studio During the court hearing, Judge Paul Conlon thanked Mr Gilio for his heroism. 'To you sir I would say this everyone is indebted to you for the courage you displayed in the face of a person welding a knife.' Mr Gilio previously described the debilitating flashbacks and psychological damage the attack caused him, wishing Sampieri 'pain, darkness and misery' in jail. 'The terror and feeling of a scalpel being dragged across the back of my neck with no thought for who I am... or my family,' he told the court. 'The flashbacks will... never stop. I was a happy go lucky man, I was active, I enjoyed exercising and socialising.' Since the attack, Mr Gilio said he could no longer ride his motorbike and didn't have the concentration to continue his career as a mechanic. 'I feel as though a huge part of me has died on the night of that incident. I see all children as vulnerable. I feel as if I am responsible for protecting all children all the time. I feel frightened for them.' Another man who stormed the locked toilet stall to rescue the girl was also stabbed in the ensuing struggle. Son of dance school rapist Anthony Sampieri is RELIEVED his father will die behind bars By Josh Hanrahan The estranged son of jailed rapist Anthony Paul Sampieri says he was relieved to hear his father would rot in jail for a horrific sex attack on a young girl. Just hours after the sentencing, his son Daniel told Daily Mail Australia he was glad to hear his father - who he last spoke to months before the horror attack - would not be able to re-offend. Daniel Sampieri (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia his sexual predator father 'couldn't be fixed' 'You can't fix someone like that, he was too far gone,' Daniel Sampieri said. 'They say if a dog gets blooded it's really hard to bring them back, and that's the way I see him.' The 26-year-old had been estranged from his father for a number of years before the rapist attempted to reconnect with his son in mid-2018. Daniel said he was 'devastated' to be related to such a vile criminal and on behalf of his family issued an apology to the young girl and her parents. 'I have something to say to all of them: I feel completely devastated that I am related to this person and I am so sorry for what he did to that young kid,' Daniel said. 'There is nothing I can do to make it better but I just want them to know that Im thinking of them.' Daniel also praised the efforts of Nick Gilio (pictured outside of court on Wednesday) who was stabbed in the neck by his estranged father as he rushed to help the little girl Daniel also praised the efforts of Nick Gilio, an innocent bystander who was stabbed in the neck by Sampieri after rushing to the aid of the young girl. The trauma of the incident forced Mr Gilio to quit his job as a diesel mechanic, but he received praise from his attacker's son. 'He put his life on the line for a girl he didn't know,' Daniel said. 'I dont know what people are going to think coming for me, but I say good on him. I believe that he still has nightmares every night and he doesn't deserve that, so I am thinking of him too.' Advertisement Nick Gilio (pictured outside of court in December last year) confronted convicted rapist Anthony Paul Sampieri, 55, in the toilets of a Sydney dance hall as the ice addict raped the young girl in November 2018 Sampieri was sentenced for detaining the girl, choking her to commit a serious offence, committing two indecent acts while filming her, indecently assaulting her, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He also pleaded guilty to seven charges over 94 offensive, menacing or harassing phone calls he made to women August to November 2018. Court documents state the girl had just finished her jazz ballet class when she was attacked by Sampieri. The girl had been waiting with her mother in the carpark for her sister's class to finish when she returned to the hall to use the bathroom. As she entered the female bathroom she was confronted by Sampieri, who had been in the bathroom watching porn for the past hour. NICK GILIO'S FULL STATEMENT AFTER SENTENCING: I'd like to start off by extending a huge thank you to the citizens and community of Kogarah, St George area of Sydney and Sydney as our city. You have all shown this case compassion, respect integrity and honour with particular attention to the privacy of all parties involved. A huge thank you to Jeffrey Stack for his assistance and strength in arresting this coward and also for his courage. Members and employees of the press, thank you for treating this case in the same manner protecting the privacy of all involved especially the family of our little girl, the innocent victim of this heinous and despicable crime. Crown Prosecutor Sally Stuart and her team at the Department of Public Prosecutions for their continued hard work and dedication also giving this matter the respect and integrity it deserves. Same is to be said to the Sex Crimes Squad of Parramatta Area Command their dedication and compassion to us all has been consistent and endless. Continuing their support over the last 15 months working together with the DPP to ensure that we received our justice today. This morning we were granted our justice not only for this case but for the many sexual assault cases that have gone before us. Justice to those with a voice and justice to those who have fallen at the hands of these evil beings and who are without voice. I hope that today's justice has spoken for you all that we all have spoken for you and given you back your voice that was so cowardly stolen from you. Today also belongs to you. This is your justice also. For those who have fallen may you all rest in peace. Finally to our little dancer and to her family, it was absolutely my honour to have served you and freed you from the hands of evil. I don't regret a single second. Today is your day for justice, your day toward light and healing My wish for you is for you to grow to be a healthy, confident, strong, grounded young woman who is caring and compassionate towards others, respectful and honourable with others and do not let this scar do not let this scar you and do not let this evil break who you are. As for me there is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. You are there for eternity. And although I will not be there in presence I will always send my love to you in spirit. You are now forever locked in my heart, you are my hero and you always will be. If we are to cross paths again please know it was only yesterday that I thought of you. Thank you all, and God bless. Thank you. Advertisement Witnesses Jeffrey Stack (left) and Nick Gilio speak to the media outside the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Wednesday Jeffrey Stack, a former boxer, knocked Sampieri unconscious after he was found in the bathroom with the small girl He grabbed her and pushed her into a cubicle but she resisted. He then punched the seven-year-old in the face before locking the door. Sampieri threatened her with a knife, tied a cord around her neck and dragged her to the male toilets. 'She felt like she could not breathe,' agreed facts state. Maintaining a grip of the cord, he then subjected her to sexual acts before stuffing toilet paper into her mouth, binding her hands and leaving the bathroom. Diesel mechanic Nick Gilio was with the girl's mother when they noticed someone standing in a cubicle in men's toilet during their frantic search. Sampieri walked out of the bathroom and was asked if he'd seen the girl. After telling them he hadn't, the girl's mother went into the bathroom to investigate. She was then followed by both men. Police are seen coming to the aid of Mr Gilio after he was stabbed by Sampieri when he came to the girl's aid Sampieri admitted the rape and seven other offences during the attack Her horrified screams echoed through the building as she was reunited with her daughter. Mr Gilio grabbed Sampieri, slamming his head into the wall. After grappling with Sampieri, Mr Gilio suffered large cuts but put the rapist in a headlock before dentist Jeffrey Stack ran in and knocked out Sampieri. Dance teacher and local dentist Jeffrey Stack rushed to the bathroom after hearing the screams. He found Sampieri attempting to free himself from the headlock by biting Mr Gilio. Mr Stack then punched Sampieri hard in the face, knocking him out. The rapist later told police he'd been 'so high' before the attack as a result of using methamphetamine earlier that day. New Hampshire, with a population of 1,359,711, is smaller than forty-one other American states. Manchester is its largest city, with a population of 111,196. It would be the thirteenth-largest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, smaller than Denton but larger than Richardson. And yet, all eyes today are on this state after yesterdays Democratic Party primary won by Bernie Sanders. Although Pete Buttigieg finished a close second and Amy Klobuchar surged to third place, todays New York Times is calling Sanders the new front-runner of the 2020 Democratic primary. However, some caveats are worth noting. Since 1976, only five of the nine Democratic candidates who won in New Hampshire eventually won their partys nomination. And only one (Jimmy Carter) went on to become president. However, no modern Democrat has won the partys nomination without finishing first or second in the state. Whatever the future significance of yesterdays primary, one lesson is that the anti-Sanders vote splintered, leading to his victory. Democrats who consider Bernie Sanders unelectable are going to have to find a way to consolidate around candidates who were not their first choices. Such compromise, however, is at the heart of American democracy. Here we can learn a surprising lesson from history with strategic significance for Christians today. The Surprising Sources of Our Republic What source did the writers of the Constitution quote more than any other? The Bible. Who came in second? Charles de Montesquieu (16891755). Historian William Federer notes that the French political philosopher was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson (who translated a commentary on his thought from the French). His ideas about governance were formative for Jefferson and others who formed our nation. Montesquieu divided governments into three categories: republics, which rely on moral virtue; monarchs, which rely on honor and shame; and despots, which rely on pleasure and fear. In his view, citizens in a republic typically act as co-kings in society, remembering that they will be held individually accountable to God and behaving morally and virtuously as a result. Monarchs working within a Christian worldview (such as the British monarchy in Montesquieus day) exercise unilateral authority but remember that they are accountable to the King of kings in the next life. Despots, however, rule without reference to the biblical worldview and thus reward their supporters with pleasure while dominating their other subjects through fear. According to Montesquieu, once virtue is gone in a republic, its society will become lawless. To restrain such impulses, he introduced the novel concept of separating powers into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each by itself could become despotic, but the others serve to check such power. This separation of powers became a foundational feature of Americas governance. But the greatest force for good, according to Montesquieu, is the gospel. He said: I have always respected religion; the morality of the Gospel is the noblest gift ever bestowed by God on man. He believed that the principles of Christianity, deeply engraved on the heart, would be infinitely more powerful than the false Honor of Monarchies, than the humane Virtues of Republics, or the servile Fear of Despotic states. Generic Compassion Is a Contradiction in Terms How can we advance Christian morality as a corrective to the divisiveness of our politics and the moral dissolution of our culture? I was on my early morning walk in our neighborhood recently when an ambulance and a fire truck turned on our street. In that moment, of course, nothing mattered but the wellbeing of my wife at home. I turned and followed them until I determined that they had not stopped at my house. Imagine, however, that I had been walking through the neighborhood but knew no one who lived there. I would have prayed for those affected by this emergency but otherwise continued with my plans for the morning. This fact reminded me that generic compassion is a contradiction in terms. God can love the entire world (John 3:16) because he knows every person in the entire world better than I know my best friend. You and I cannot claim such omniscience. So, to serve the culture, we should begin with the people we know who are affected by the culture. For instance, Psalm 41 states, Blessed is the one who considers the poor! (v. 1). To help the poor, help someone who is poor. Jesus intends us to proclaim the gospel to all nations (Mark 13:10). To reach the nations, begin by sharing your faith with a lost person you know. He commissioned us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). To disciple the nations, begin by discipling someone you know. You Certainly Can Be of No Use Where You Are Not! Such personalized compassion may not bridge our partisan divides this week, but it will help the souls we serve. It will cause secular people to notice our Christlike service and perhaps draw them to that character which is foundational to our republic. Oswald Chambers notes: Never allow this thoughtI am of no use where I am, because you certainly can be of no use where you are not! With whom will you practice personalized compassion today? NOTE: The value of our lives is not in our native abilities or earthly possessions but in the way the Holy Spirit molds and uses us for eternal good. If youre a Christian, you have the Spirit. Heres the question: Does the Spirit have you? To read more, please request our latest release: Empowered: A Guide to Experiencing the Power of the Holy Spirit. Publication date: February 12, 2020 Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Justin Sullivan/Staff For more from the Denison Forum, please visit www.denisonforum.org. The Daily Article Podcast is Here! Click to Listen Entrepreneurs shouldn't be happy doing just a little bit better than yesterday. They need to think huge as big as those who, decades before them, looked up into the night sky, saw a distant moon and thought: We're going to walk on the moon, and were going to do it soon. It wasnt just the unthinkable achievement of landing on the moon that changed humankind. It was everything the 400,000 engineers and scientists who worked on the program developed on the way to Neil Armstrong taking his "one small step." From inventions such as freeze-dried food to fireproofing materials, from cooling suits to integrated circuits, these 400,000 people changed the course of history. It's the act that inspired the idea of "moonshot thinking," by which people aim to achieve something previously believed to be impossible. It's about thinking big rather than focusing on incremental gains, since succeeding with a moonshot comes with a whole host of small gains and a whole lot more. One example of a moonshot in progress? In December 2016, Congress passed a cancer moonshot initiative, allocating $1.8 billion in funding toward curing cancer once and for all. Maybe cancer will be cured, but either way, the inventions that forward-thinking individuals develop along the way could transform a number of industries. Look at the University of Missouri as an example: On Oct. 22, 2019, the institution announced that thanks to this moonshot, they plan to take a $3.7 million federal grant and work towards producing a more effective immunotherapy treatment for cancer patients. It may not be the ultimate cure, but it's a step towards it, funded due to that moonshot. Emerging areas for entrepreneurial moonshots Slowing the aging process and extending life Every day, there are advances in medical technology that could lead to humans aging better and smarter. Some recent breakthroughs include the work of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, which is experimenting with gut biomes in mice with aims to alter the current trajectory of aging. Work is also being done on the structure of plant telomerase RNA in a co-venture between Texas A&M and Arizona State University. According to the institutions, a "key component of the telomerase enzyme in the plant kingdom provides an evolutionary bridge ... for understanding how humans keep their DNA safe and enable cells to divide indefinitely." Ending malnutrition through agriculture technology Malnutrition is an enduring problem today. Reportedly, nearly 795 million people in the world, one out of every nine, do not have enough food, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 45 percent of deaths among children under five years of age are linked to malnutrition. IBM is attempting to roll out technology that could help, including IBM PAIRS Geoscope and IBM Food Trust and Blockchain. By connecting people/entities in the supply chain, this type of technology could maximize efficiency and minimize waste from farm to table. Providing energy for all In 2019, an estimated 840 million people reportedly did not have access to electricity. By 2030, that number is expected to drop to 650 million. It may be progress, but in many ways, it's not enough. Today, nearly three billion people reportedly rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste for energy. Some technology companies are looking to revolutionize the design of microgrids. By making the design faster and less expensive, rural areas and remote islands could eventually meet energy needs previously too expensive or too difficult to attain. If we can create energy to light Las Vegas every night in the middle of a desert, we should be able to find a way to create enough energy for people to survive. How to create a culture of moonshots Instead of working in a silo, entrepreneurs must share their ideas about the world's enduring problems. There will never be one person or entity with all the answers, but by working together, we may be able to piece together viable solutions. One example happening today: MITs Center for Collective Intelligence has opened up collaboration between the MIT Media Lab, the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the MIT Sloan School of Management. The overall goal of the collaboration is to "understand collective intelligence at a deep level [in order to] create and take advantage of the new possibilities it enables ... [leading] to both new scientific understanding in a variety of disciplines and practical advances in many areas of business and society. If we kept this in mind as leaders and entrepreneurs, there may be no limit to the technological heights we could reach or the societal ills we could cure. In my view, one day, we could place all of our innovations, challenges and, yes, possible solutions into a centralized hub that could be accessed and leveraged like a collaborative local library, with a directory for each addition and the process for individuals to check out the ideas they need in order to further innovation in any sector. The tech giants of today may have extremely large budgets and many great minds, but they don't have all the answers or all the talent. Do not limit yourself to what is possible; instead, find your moonshot. Every day, people have out-of-the-box ideas and others tell them that it can't be done. Instead of listening blindly, know that there's a chance you're onto something. Think about that original moonshot, which came to fruition in 1969. America didn't ask, "Can we land on the moon?" Instead, we asked, "How do we do it?" The people behind the innovation assumed leaving the ground beneath our feet and walking on the moon was possible. It was just a matter of figuring out how. Related: How to Become a Successful Gaming Entrepreneur Every Entrepreneur Should Use a VPN. Here's Why. Build Complete Websites in a Fraction of the Time With This Handy Tool Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Ireland may be on red alert for cases of the coronavirus - but are we well prepared? The challenge for our health service if a case hits is to detect the patient early, isolate them and crucially stop the spread of the infection, which kills around two in every 100 people who contract it. The problem is that this may not be a tidy exercise and is likely to be very demanding. We are told that action plans are in place, overseen by an expert advisory group made up of people such as public health doctors and specialists in viruses and this, in turn, links into the National Public Health Emergency Team. Isolation rooms have been identified in each hospital, suspect cases which come to light are all being tested in a laboratory and GPs and other front-line staff are being sent protective gear, including face masks and goggles. Hospitals and GP surgeries have been given instructions on how to manage a suspected case. The problem with this virus is that scientists are still learning how it operates. It is proving wayward in its behaviour and spread, which could leave the system here under strain if it arrives. When it first emerged it was concentrated in the city of Wuhan in China. The alert here was to be on the look-out for anyone with symptoms such as high temperature, cough or breathing difficulties within 14 days of returning from the Chinese city. Since then, this risk has expanded to anyone with symptoms who has been anywhere on mainland China in that time. And people who have never been to China have been diagnosed with the virus. In the UK, health authorities are trying to track back the movements of a businessman dubbed a "super-spreader" of the virus. He picked it up at a conference in Singapore and during a ski holiday in France passed it on to five others. In the case of anyone diagnosed with the virus here, a major contact-tracing exercise would take place to measure the exposure of other people the infected person would have encountered. If they were on a plane, in a pub or in a workplace, all of the people who were at potential exposure would have to have their risk assessed. This could lead to large numbers of people being asked to self-isolate, at huge inconvenience, for up to 14 days, which requires co-operation and surveillance. Health officials here are taking their lead from the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in how to manage the risk. Five cases of the virus have been diagnosed in England in the past week, taking the total to eight. All are being kept in isolation in hospitals in London or Newcastle. Earlier this week, UK police were given the power to seize people in danger of spreading coronavirus and force them into isolation in handcuffs. A new law was hurriedly brought into force after a patient staying at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral in Merseyside reportedly tried to leave before completing the 14-day stay after his return from China. It has been declared a "serious and imminent" threat to the British public. The language around the threat here is more restrained but that could change if a case is detected. The risk is expected to continue for some time and so far the fatalities are low. The vast majority will have only mild, cold-like symptoms. Scientists are working on a vaccine but this may take a year or longer to come to fruition. Our guest is Khalil Tafakji, director of the cartography department at the Jerusalem-based Arab Studies Society. He is also a former member of the Palestinian peace delegation and the author of a new book which examines the geographical extent of Israeli colonies in the occupied West Bank. He tells us why he thinks the US "deal of the century" is nothing more than the realisation of a vision shared by both left and right-wing Israeli leaders since 1996. He also tells us why he believes Benjamin Netanyahu's ultimate plan is to evict Palestinians from the West Bank. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Bogota, February 12, 2020 Ecuadorian authorities should conduct a speedy and transparent investigation into the explosion of a device at the home of journalist Victor Aguirre, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 4 a.m. February 8, an explosive device detonated in Aguirres home in the city of Naranjal, southern Ecuador, damaging a refrigerator and leaving a hole in the floor of his garage, but not harming him or his pregnant wife, who were both home at the time, Aguirre told CPJ in a phone interview. A gallon-sized container of gasoline connected to the device did not explode, Aguirre said. Aguirre covers politics in Naranjal at VA Television, a Facebook-based broadcaster that he founded and manages, and which employs three other journalists, he said. Ecuadorian authorities should promptly investigate the detonation of an explosive device at Victor Aguirres home and hold those responsible to account, said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick in New York. Authorities must ensure that journalists can report safely and without fear that they will be attacked for their work. In October 2019, after he covered a confrontation between Naranjal Mayor Luigi Rivera and anti-government protesters, Aguirre was forced into a car with Rivera and his brother, he told CPJ. They threatened to do me bodily harm and destroy my car if I continued to publish these things, he said. Maria Fernanda Almeida, an analyst at the Quito-based free press organization Fundamedios, told CPJ by telephone that Rivera has frequently criticized press coverage of his administration. On February 10, in a speech uploaded to his Facebook page, Rivera lashed out at VA Television by name, saying that broadcaster and other news outlets were corrupt media that are trying to mislead the public over their coverage of protests against a public housing project going up in what critics say is an environmentally sensitive area of Naranjal. CPJ called Rivera on his cell phone for comment, but no one answered the calls. In the wake of the explosion, Aguirre said he filed a formal complaint with police and requested police protection, but has so far received no response. CPJs phone calls to the Naranjal police went unanswered. Co-working firm Avanta India will invest Rs 200 crore over the next three years to expand its business across major cities to tap rising demand of flexible workspace, a top company official said on Wednesday. Avanta India, part of UK-based Avanta group, on Wednesday launched its sixth co-working centre (serviced office) at Connaught Place in the national capital. "We have opened our new centre at Kasturba Ganghi Marg with a capacity of 280 seats spread over 20,000 sq ft area," Avanta India MD Nakul Mathur told reporters here. The company has invested Rs 10 crore to open this centre. Avanta India now has six co-working centres, five in Delhi and one in Gurugram, totalling around 2,500 seats, he added. Talking about the expansion, Mathur said the company is looking to open new centres in the Delhi-NCR as well as new cities like Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. "We will be investing Rs 200 crore on expansion over the next three years. The funding will be through internal accruals and infusion from promoters," he said. On the co-working segment, Mathur said: "Co-working spaces also popularly known as flexible offices are ruling the roost and is the necessary requirement for future businesses be it a large or small-sized corporate. The benefits these spaces bring in range from zero capital investment, flexibility and hassle free allotment. These features are proving attractive for corporate and freelancers". Stating that the co-working segment has been expanding at a rapid pace, he said co-working operators have to realise that the quality of services provided, will be the differentiating and assessing factor amongst various service providers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research recognizes the University of Minnesota Medical School as the 27th most funded institution by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the 2019 NIH rankings. The University of Minnesota Medical School is ranked 27th nationally in this years rankings, improving from last years spot as 30th (and 33rd in 2017). In addition, five of the Medical Schools departments Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics; Neuroscience; Family Medicine and Community Health; Pediatrics; and Rehabilitation Medicine ranked in the top 10 for department-specific rankings. Several other departments also improved rankings in 2019. The continued progress of our medical school's climb in the NIH rankings reflects the incredible work taking place every day on our campus and in our healthcare facilities by our faculty, researchers and students, said University of Minnesota President Joan T.A. Gabel. We look forward to building on this sustained success as we seek to solve the most pressing healthcare issues here in Minnesota and around the world." The NIH is the largest federal provider of basic research money to universities. Each year, the Blue Ridge Institute evaluates NIH data tables and ranks universities based on their annual NIH grant support. Improving the Medical School rankings is a top priority of the Board of Regents as a measure for advancing the University. Rankings are good indicators of how we are building momentum at the Medical School, said Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD, Dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School and Vice President for Clinical Affairs. They help us recruit and retain our faculty, physicians, staff, and learners, generate community support, and most importantly build trust with our patients. We are grateful for the support of President Gabel and our Board of Regents, as well as the strong partnership we have with the State of Minnesota in advancing our mission. About the University of Minnesota Medical School The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. Visit med.umn.edu to learn how the University of Minnesota is innovating all aspects of medicine. WEST LIBERTY West Libertys newest library director is quickly settling into her new job and her new community. In January, Allie Paarsmith from Washington, Iowa, accepted the library director position at West Liberty Public Library. Despite only being in West Liberty for a couple weeks now, Paarsmith is enjoying herself and her work. Im just really happy to be here, she said, My staff has been amazing and everybody so far has been so welcoming, its been a great experience so far. She and her family hope to move to West Liberty soon. Previously, Paarsmith was the Washington Public Librarys adult services librarian, but she was interested in pursuing management. I was ready to stretch my legs, she explained, This job became open, and it seemed like the perfect library in a really wonderful community. Deb Lowman, the librarys previous director, left the job in late 2019 in order to become the assistant dean of libraries and learning resources at Scott Community College. I am very excited for the opportunity to serve as a librarian for Scott Community College, Lowman said last November. New York, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Analyst Hub, LLC, an independent research infrastructure platform company that provides talented sell-side analysts a path to owning their own enterprises, today announced it has expanded its executive leadership team with the addition of Corey McBride as Chief Compliance Officer. In this role, McBride is responsible for all compliance activities, including regulatory reporting, risk identification, prevention, monitoring, detection and resolution, including expansion to new regions, and for all ongoing support for Analyst Hubs affiliate Independent Research Providers (IRPs). McBride is based in Analyst Hubs New York headquarters and reports directly to founder and CEO Mike Kronenberg. McBride comes to Analyst Hub with more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as Head of European Compliance for Point72 Asset Management. In his eight years with Point72, McBride served in various compliance roles including compliance officer within the Research Compliance department in the United States (for both equities and fixed income, and certain compliance initiatives internationally such as regulatory requirements) and manager of special projects with a focus on equities in the United Kingdom. Prior to Point72, McBride worked at Deutsche Bank as Vice President of Compliance and Risk Operations. McBride also held roles in the control room capacity which included trade advisory and research compliance for Goldman Sachs. He holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a BA from Morehouse College. "Analyst Hub is reinventing the research industry with a unique business model, giving analysts the freedom to concentrate on their research with the assurance of first-class support, said McBride. My primary focus as Chief Compliance Officer is to make sure our analysts and their clients can work with confidence that they that are adhering to the highest professional standards and that all regulatory obligations are being met. Analyst Hub is the next wave of equity research and I am thrilled to be able to help in this revolution. Point72 has been recognized for their commitment to improving compliance policies in ways that go beyond what was stipulated by the SEC, according to The Hedge Fund Journal1. With Corey joining our team, Analyst Hubs affiliate analysts and their firms now have access to the highest level of compliance expertise and service available, said Kronenberg. Point72s foundational commitment to compliance, and perfect track record in this regard, set the gold standard and were proud to be able to bring that superior capability to the Analyst Hub platform. Offering outsourced infrastructure and organizational support, Analyst Hub is helping top sell-side analysts go into business on their own to provide institutional investors with independent insights and analysis. Built by senior, veteran equity research sales professionals, Analyst Hubs sales-first orientation sets up analysts for success by helping them secure and service clients, and then scale reaching a broader audience as the new firm matures. Since January 2018, Analyst Hub has facilitated the launch of equity research analyst firms and supported their ongoing operations, with institutional publishing tools, market data access, branding services, website design and hosting, CRM systems and more. Offerings related to legal, accounting, HR/payroll and compliance needs round out a robust suite of services. Analyst Hubs affiliated research-providing entities service more than 200 institutional investor clients representing a cross-section of the buy side, as well as corporate clients looking for new insight into their industries and competitors performance. About Analyst Hub Founded in 2018, Analyst Hub is an independent research infrastructure platform company that provides talented sell-side analysts a path to owning their own enterprise. The companys turn-key solution offers essential institutional infrastructure tools, compliance, experienced institutional sales, corporate access support and marketing. For further information, please visit www.analysthub.com. 1 Hedge Fund Journal Point72 Rejuvenation Continues Hamlin Lovell https://thehedgefundjournal.com/point72-rejuvenation-continues/ Attachment Doctors on the frontline of China's new coronavirus epidemic are facing a daunting task: treat an ever-growing number of infected patients and risk getting infected themselves due to a drastic shortage of masks and other protective equipment. Tired and understaffed, medical workers have had to deal with thousands of new cases per week in Wuhan, the city at the epicentre of the outbreak that first emerged late last year. Many doctors have had to see patients without proper masks or protective body suits, resorting to reusing the same equipment when they should be changed regularly. Some have even worn diapers to avoid having to take off the equipment and make it last longer, according to a health official. One doctor at a community clinic in Wuhan said he and at least 16 other colleagues were showing symptoms similar to the new virus, including lung infections and coughing. "As doctors, we do not want to work while being a source of infection," he told AFP, requesting anonymity for fear of reprisals. But "right now, there is no one to replace you," the doctor explained, adding that all medical staff without a fever are expected to work. "What would happen if there was no one working on the frontline?" Some 44 percent of the 42,600 cases nationwide -- and the majority of more than 1,100 deaths -- have been in Wuhan, home to a wild animal market where the virus is suspected of having originated before spreading between humans. The risks medical staff are facing was highlighted on Friday after Li Wenliang, a whistleblowing doctor in Wuhan, succumbed to the disease more than a month after he first raised alarm about a new SARS-like virus in the city. His death unleashed an outpouring of grief and anger on Chinese social media, with 10 academics in Wuhan circulating an open letter calling for political reform and freedom of speech. The deputy mayor of Wuhan said on Friday the city faced a daily shortage of 56,000 N95 masks and 41,000 protective suits. Medical staff in protective suits will "wear diapers, reduce how much water they drink, and reduce how many times they use the bathroom," said Jiao Yahui, a top official at China's National Health Commission. Some of them will wear the same protective suit for six or even nine hours, when they should not be worn for more than four hours in a quarantined ward, she said last week. "Of course, we don't advocate this method, but medical staff really have no alternative," she admitted. The Chinese government has responded by mobilising the entire country to increase production of masks and suits. As of Monday, three-quarters of mask and suit producers had resumed work following an extended Lunar New Year holiday, said Cong Liang, an official at China's top economic planner. China has also imported more than 300 million masks and about 3.9 million articles of protective clothing since January 24, an official said last week. The Red Cross Society of China too has received over 900 million yuan ($129 million) in donations for epidemic relief -- though it has drawn scrutiny for its lack of transparency and efficiency. "Even if we receive more masks, the number of patients increases even faster," said a doctor at a major Wuhan hospital, who requested anonymity because she was not authorised to speak with media. Each doctor or nurse uses two to four masks each day, she explained. "The consumption of masks in the hospital is enormous," she emphasised. "They have a permanent lack of masks." Doctors have also been forced to don makeshift hazmat suits, which are not adequate protection against the virus, said Xu Yuan, a 34-year-old in the US who donated $5,000 in protective equipment to former classmates working at Wuhan hospitals. "As soon as he put it on, (the suit) cracked because it was too small for him," she said, describing a friend in Wuhan -- who was also forced to wear the same hazmat suit for five days. "Everyday, he disinfects it after use," she told AFP. "He said it may have been useless, but it is still better than nothing." Handling the daily deluge of new cases takes another kind of toll too, said the doctor at the large hospital in Wuhan, whose colleagues are handling confirmed cases of virus patients. "They are exhausted," she told AFP. One of her colleagues, for instance, works at a clinic that receives 400 patients within eight hours. Many are dealing with patients "who die very quickly, whom they have not managed to save," she said. "They have a lot of pressure," the doctor said, adding that her hospital had set up psychological monitoring. Many Wuhan residents are worried, too, said the doctor at the community clinic. He and his colleagues receive calls from distressed community members, he said -- some of whom are too afraid to leave their homes. "You can hear their calls for help, but your hands are tied," the doctor said, describing families where patients are stuck at home without medical treatment. "There's nothing we can do. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She became the victim of a 'revenge porn' attack last week, after an intimate video of her was circulated on social media without her consent. And on Wednesday, Married At First Sight star Natasha Spencer put on a brave face as she made her first public appearance since reporting the incident to NSW Police. The financial analyst, 26, leaned on her friend Lincoln Alexander for support while attending a special screening of MAFS at City Tattersalls Club in Sydney. Fearless: Married At First Sight star Natasha Spencer put on a brave face on Wednesday as she made her first public appearance since becoming the victim of a 'revenge porn' attack Natasha, who is paired with Mikey Pembroke on Married At First Sight, cut a stylish figure in a navy slip dress and black heels. She accessorised with a black handbag and styled her brunette hair loosely. Lincoln, who famously disapproved of Mikey on the couple's wedding day, wore a chic embellished jacket, cropped pants and Gucci sneakers. Supportive: The financial analyst, 26, leaned on her friend Lincoln Alexander (left) for support while attending a special screening of MAFS at City Tattersalls Club in Sydney It comes after an intimate video of Natasha was leaked online last week. The reality star reported the incident to NSW Police on Tuesday, after the private footage was circulated on social media. The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Natasha's wedding to Mikey was watched by more than a million Australians. 'Revenge porn': It comes after an intimate video of Natasha was leaked online last week without her consent. She reported the incident to NSW Police on Tuesday, after the private footage was circulated on social media The footage in question was apparently filmed last year and involves Natasha and an unidentified male. A NSW Police spokesperson said: 'Officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command are investigating a report made on Tuesday 11 February 2020, by a 26-year-old Lane Cove woman concerning an incident that occurred last year.' Natasha was pictured leaving Surry Hills Police Station on Tuesday. She was holding several pieces of paper and talking on her mobile phone. Making headlines: The video is believed to have emerged on February 4, the day Natasha's wedding to Mikey Pembroke was watched by more than a million Australians A friend of Natasha's told Daily Mail Australia: 'She is taking this matter very seriously and is devastated. She also fears that it will have a negative impact on her career.' It comes after Natasha revealed she was suffering from 'psychological damage' due to trolling from MAFS viewers, before urging people to 'please be kind'. She shared a Facebook post on Monday in which she addressed her critics and also alluded to reality stars who have committed suicide in the past. 'Stop slamming me and my castmates, you're doing psychological damage. If you want me to post suicide articles from reality shows, I'm available,' she wrote. Upset: 'She is taking this matter very seriously and is devastated. She also fears that it will have a negative impact on her career,' A friend of Natasha's told Daily Mail Australia Natasha added that the trolling has led to a truce among the Married At First Sight cast as they support each other. MAFS participants have access to 24/7 assistance from Channel Nine and production company Endemol Shine Australia. In October, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Nine had set up a 'dedicated psychological helpline' for the brides and grooms. If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. WASHINGTON Four lawyers who prosecuted Roger Stone quit the case Tuesday after the Justice Department said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for President Trumps longtime ally and confidant. The decision by the Justice Department came just hours after Trump complained that the recommended sentence for Stone was very horrible and unfair. The Justice Department said the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night before Trumps tweet and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia team, had signed onto a Monday court filing that recommended up to nine years in prison for Stone. The departments decision to back off the sentencing recommendation raised questions about political interference and whether Trumps views hold unusual sway over the Justice Department, which is meant to operate independently of the White House in criminal investigations and prosecutions. Attorney General William Barr has been a steady ally of Trumps, clearing the president of obstruction of justice even when Mueller had pointedly declined to do so and declaring that the FBIs Russia investigation which resulted in charges against Stone had been based on a bogus narrative. On Monday night, prosecutors had recommended Stone serve seven to nine years behind bars after being convicted of charges including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. In a tweet early Tuesday, Trump said the case against Stone was a miscarriage of justice. A Justice Department official said authorities decided to step in and seek a shorter sentence because they had been taken by surprise by the initial recommendation. It is extremely rare for Justice Department leaders to reverse the decision of their own prosecutors on a sentencing recommendation, particularly after that recommendation has been submitted to the court. Sentencing decisions are ultimately up to the judge, who in this case may side with the original recommendation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has repeatedly scolded Stone for his out-of-court behavior, which included a social media post he made of the judge with what appeared to be crosshairs of a gun. Michael Balsamo and Eric Tucker are Associated Press writers. The Sapporo Snow Festival, an annual event in Hokkaido, Japan, is known its towering sculptures and snowball fights but this year, the festival was forced to import its snow after a year of abnormally low snowfall and warm temperatures. CNN reported that, despite the lower-than-usual snowfall and number of visitors, more than 200 snow sculptures were on display during the 11-day festival. These sculptures usually require about 30,000 tons of snow. This year, the powder was brought in on trucks from as far away as Niseko (about 37 miles). The snow sculptures on display included a gigantic cup of Ramen noodles, a tribute to "Star Wars," and a 50-foot tall replica of Warsaws Lazienki Park, created to commemorate 100 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Poland. Some concessions were made because of the lack of snow. The extra-long snow slide was about 100 feet shorter than in previous years. %image1 The festival, which ended on Tuesday also saw a dramatic drop in attendance amidst fears of the coronavirus outbreak, The Japan Times reported. A little over 2 million attended, which is about 716,000 fewer than last year which was an all-time high record number of attendees. Organizers of the festival had anticipated fewer visitors this year after a sudden mass cancellation in hotel bookings after the coronavirus epidemic broke out. Local elementary schools also canceled their traditional visits to the festival as a safety precaution. The more than two million visitors who did attend the festival were asked to wear surgical masks and use disinfectants. As if recovering from surgery wasn't hard enough, a new study shows that one in five operations could result in an unwelcome surprise: a bill for hundreds or thousands of dollars that the patient didn't know they might owe. On average, that potential surprise bill added up to $2,011, a team from the University of Michigan reports in the new issue of JAMA. That's on top of the nearly $1,800 the average privately insured patient would already owe after their insurance company paid for most of the costs of their operation. All the patients in the study chose a surgeon who accepts their insurance, and had one of seven common, non-emergency operations at an in-network hospital or at an outpatient surgery center. But they still ended up potentially owing large sums to pay other people involved in their operation or their follow-up care. The average potential surprise bill ranged from $86 for medical imaging specialists involved in a hysterectomy, to more than $8,000 for surgical assistants involved in a breast lumpectomy. These out-of-network bills were significantly more common for patients who had complications after surgery. If the patient had an outpatient procedure with an in-network surgeon, but it took place at an ambulatory surgery center that was out-of-network, the potential surprise bill could add up to more than $19,000. "These are eye-popping numbers, which most clinicians are likely unaware of, and which patients can't prepare for," says Karan Chhabra, M.D., M.Sc., the study's first author and a National Clinician Scholar at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, which funded the study. The study looked at the claims that a large insurance company received from in-network and out-of-network medical providers for more than 347,000 patients under age 65 who had one of the seven operations between 2012 and 2017. Even though all the lead surgeons and the surgery locations were in-network, 20.5% of the operations led to an out-of-network bill. The researchers couldn't see the actual "balance bills" that patients were told they must pay, which may vary depending on the insurance plan's provisions. Some insurers may pay part of the bill for out-of-network providers, while others charge patients for the entire added cost. For the study, the researchers tallied all out-of-network charges billed to the insurer for the care episode related to each operation, and deducted the insurer's typical payment for that care. State and federal implications The findings shine a light on the need for federal-level measures to address surprise billing, says Chhabra, a research fellow in the Department of Surgery at Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center, and a house officer at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. That's because state-level policies can't regulate what are called self-insured health insurance plans the kind of plan that covers most people who get insurance through their jobs or the job of a family member. Congressional committees have worked on legislation to address surprise billing but have still not agreed on a final legislative fix, though several states have passed provisions that provide some protection. Depending on what state the patient lives in, the risk of getting a surprise bill differed. In some states, less than 10% of the operations covered by the insurer led to a surprise bill, while in others more than a third did. Southern states had the highest proportion of surprise bills. The team matters, not just the lead surgeon Even if a patient takes care to choose an in-network surgeon, and an in-network hospital or surgery center, they have little to no control over the rest of the team involved in their care, and whether they take part in their insurance plan. This study reveals the extent and size of the bills that these other providers can incur if they're not in-network." Justin Dimick, M.D., M.P.H., senior author of the new paper, U-M surgery chair Chhabra notes that he and his colleagues were especially surprised that 37% of surprise bills sought payment for "surgical assistants." This is a catch-all term for other people with hands-on involvement in the operation or in post-operative care. They include additional surgeons, nurse practitioners or physician assistants with surgical training, or mid-level providers called certified surgical assistants or sometimes surgical first assistants. When such a person was involved and wasn't part of the insurance network, the average bill for their services was $3,633. Surgical assistants or their employer can bill the insurance company separately for their services, and seek payment above and beyond the rate that the insurer might have agreed on with the hospital. Other types of physicians also submitted out-of-network bills as part of the care time. For instance, 37% of operations involved an out-of-network anesthesiologist, but the potential average surprise bill from them was lower than for surgical assistants, at around $1,200. "Even if patients do their homework before they have elective surgery, this study shows they can be at risk of receiving large bills they never expected, from providers they never met or even knew about," says Chhabra. The researchers also did a separate analysis of 83,000 operations performed at ambulatory surgery centers, for patients who had in-network surgeons. In this group, 17% of patients might have received a surprise bill for an out-of-network provider on their surgical team but 6.7% might have received a bill from the surgery center itself because it was out-of-network. Implications for surgeons He notes that when all providers are in-network, such as at a large health system with employed physicians, the patient doesn't necessarily need to know or choose which pathologist looks at the tissue removed from them, which radiologist looks at the medical images made of them, or which specialist has the lead in the intensive care unit where they recover. But when some of those providers are out-of-network, it can make a major difference in their ultimate costs. It's possible that in many of the cases in the study, the lead surgeon had no idea that some of the people involved in the operation or post-op care were outside the patient's insurance network. This may be especially true for patients who have narrow-network coverage that they bought on a federal or state marketplace. In the study, more than a quarter of operations paid for by Marketplace plans involved a surprise bill. "We as surgeons need to make sure we are doing right by our patients," Chhabra says. "This disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, such as those who have weaker insurance coverage, and those with more health issues. For them, a surprise bill is adding insult to injury." He also notes that provider groups may use out-of-network bills as a bargaining chip to try to get higher reimbursement from insurers if and when they become part of their network. Even if they never send the bill for the balance to the patient, the increased cost to the insurer could mean higher costs for everyone covered by that company. What patients can do In light of their findings, the authors advise patients to take care to check their insurance network, and ask about billing practices, when scheduling an operation. If they receive a surprise bill, they should not shy away from asking the insurance company to pay the requested charge, asking for discounts or write-offs of their share of the bill, or filing complaints with state insurance regulators. The famous Soviet Russian actor and director, founder and artistic director of the Et Cetera Theater Alexander Kalyagin told the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza about his attitude to Baku. "I love Baku. I believe this is my hometown," he said in the first place. Alexander Kalyagin emphasized that it was due to the fact that he starred in Baku in such films as "Interrogation", "Before the Closed Doors", "Park" and "Other Life" by great classic Azerbaijani directors Rasim Ojagov and Rustam Ibragimbekov. "I love Baku, I love Azerbaijanis and their country, I love this country. Azerbaijan is a juicy, tasty country," the famous actor and director stressed. Alexander Kalyagin added that he was in Baku last in the mid-2010s and would like to visit it again. When I went to college, my mother gave me the usual advice. I should study hard, make new friends, and call once a week. Then she added something unexpected. Go by that girls dorm room, she said, and introduce yourself. She shouldnt think all white people hate her. Shes probably scared to death. That girl was Vivian Malone, who had been admitted in 1963, the year before I came to the University of Alabama. Everybody knows the drama associated with her entrance, alongside James Hood, another African American student, as Gov. George Wallace pontificated and waved his arms for the television cameras and crowds of people shouted and clapped. And so Wallace made his famous stand in the schoolhouse door to stop the federal government from forcing integration and to keep segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever. Hed used those words at his inaugural address and, as we would say today, they went viral.They were heard around the world. Twenty years later, in a coffee shop in Amsterdam, the waiter heard my Southern accent as I spoke to my husband. When he asked where we were from and we told him, he said, George Wallace. The daughter of that man who is known around the world has just written a book about her life with him, and the very different path she chose after growing up Wallace. The Broken Road, by Peggy Wallace Kennedy, is a powerful memoir that doesnt gloss over her fathers faults and the suffering he caused black citizens. Wallace called himself a segregationist, not a racist, but the bombs went off anyway and blood ran in the streets of Birmingham. Peggy Wallace Kennedy wondered why he didnt do something to stop that horror as she grew up protected and safe in the governors mansion with security guards and drivers and cooks. She was told to stand straight, smile, and wave to the people at the political rallies and parades that were the backdrop of her childhood. Her father seemed to be always running for office and running after women who left lipstick stains on his collars and met him in offices and empty courthouse rooms. Earlier in the marriage, her mother left with the children to live in her parents rural home down a broken road and filed for divorce, but didnt go through with it. Growing up Wallace meant having a father who was mostly gone, a kind and countrified mother, Lurleen, who would serve as governor for 15 months herself, but whod rather be fishing and smoking a cigarette with her lady pals than dressing for an official portrait. It meant living in small, dingy apartments on the wrong side of town before her fathers climb up the political ladder, and not having enough to eat when Daddy wasnt working, just politicking. It meant finally understanding that her fathers brand of politics shaped an American apartheid, where separate but equal was an oxymoron. But the book is also about the decades her father spent as a paraplegic after a failed assassination attempt. He asked to be taken to Dexter Avenue Church in Montgomery to ask the African American congregation to forgive him; he met privately with Vivian Malone to say he'd been wrong and to award her the Lurleen B. Wallace Award of Courage. Suffering made him humble, his daughter says, which was not his usual style. At the end of her book, Peggy Wallace Kennedy describes crossing over the Edmond Pettus Bridge with civil rights icon John Lewis, hand in hand. More than 50 years before, Lewis was beaten trying to do the same thing. Now they just walked on over. About her journey, Kennedy says, Breaking away from a painful past is not always easy but its always right. Thats the message of this powerful memoir. The road is still broken, but walk it anyway. A precedent-setting legal dispute between the Winnipeg Police Service and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has taken an important step forward. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A precedent-setting legal dispute between the Winnipeg Police Service and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has taken an important step forward. Competing interpretations of the rules governing police clashed Tuesday in the Court of Queens Bench, as lawyers representing the two agencies presented their arguments for the first time in open court. At the centre of the case is the question of whether WPS cadets civilian employees of the police service can be compelled to hand over their notes to IIU investigators. "At its core, this dispute is between two competing interpretations of a section of the Police Services Act We suggest there is a duty owed by the Winnipeg Police Service to the IIU that is not being satisfied," IIU lawyer Samuel Thomson said. The IIU launched a lawsuit against the city police force in April 2019, after it spent nine months trying to get the WPS to hand over internal files the watchdog agency says are needed to properly investigate an in-custody death. Matthew Richards Fosseneuve died in police custody on July 28, 2018. (Facebook photo) On July 28, 2018, Matthew Richards Fosseneuve, 34, died after being shot with a Taser by police. Two cadets were on scene and witnessed the events leading up to his death. The IIU has made repeated requests to review the cadets notes, as well as interview the cadets both inquiries have been denied. The legislation governing law enforcement in Manitoba is the Police Services Act. It specifies witness officers those who saw an incident under IIU investigation are required to turn over their notes to investigators. Subject officers those who are being investigated and could possibly face criminal charges are not required to do so. Except for these two instances, the Police Services Act is silent on the disclosure of documentation. The legislation does not specify whether police agencies are expected to hand over the entirety of investigative files to the IIU. "Its important to note this scheme doesnt expressly address the issue of what happens to an investigative file in possession of a police service once the IIU as the provision is worded assumes conduct of the investigation," Thomson said. "There are certain narrow provisions in the regulation which refer to what specifically must be done with police officer notes, but this is the only provision, wed suggest, in the entire scheme which expressly addresses disclosure issues." After news of the lawsuit broke last year, Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullen admitted there were gaps in the legislation. The province is currently conducting a review of the Police Services Act. Thomson argued if the WPSs position is upheld by the court, the IIU will not be able to access documents needed to provide proper oversight of police the core of the agency's mandate. "It would run counter to the scheme for the IIU to have less documents at its disposal for the investigation of a police officer than if the investigation had been kept by the police service. We suggest this is against the very purpose of the IIU," Thomson said. WPS lawyer Shannon Hanlin countered the obligations of police agencies towards the IIU are clearly spelled out in the Police Services Act. In other words, where the legislation is silent on matters of disclosure, the WPS cannot be compelled to hand over documents. Hanlin further claimed the mandate of the IIU is to provide an independent investigation of police conduct, so the agency shouldnt rely on police files to carry out that task. Instead, she said the IIU should do its own legwork. "Members of the IIU have all the powers, duties, privileges and protections of a peace officer or a constable," Hanlin said. "If people or agencies wont voluntarily give them what they want, this is a dilemma faced by all police agencies who conduct investigations Thats a barrier that all investigators face, whether its the IIU or police services." At its core, this dispute is between two competing interpretations of a section of the Police Services Act We suggest there is a duty owed by the Winnipeg Police Service to the IIU that is not being satisfied. IIU lawyer Samuel Thomson 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. Hanlin said WPS cadets are private citizens and therefore, barring revision of the legislation, have the same right as all private citizens to refuse to sit down for an interview with IIU investigators or decline to relinquish their incident notes. However, Hanlin conceded when it comes to WPS investigations, cadets are required to surrender such documentation. The judge has reserved decision on the case. It remains possible further hearings could be scheduled. No timeline was provided for when a decision would be delivered. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe Find all our Lessons of the Day here. Lesson Overview Featured Article: In India, Protesters and Modi Tussle Over Who Can Claim Gandhi In this lesson, you will learn about the protests that began in India last year over a law regarding citizenship and religion. Both the government and the protesters refer to Mohandas K. Gandhis ideals and challenge which side has the right to use his name and image. After reading the article, you will think about other historical figures whose words and ideas have been used on different sides of contemporary debates. Warm Up If you do not know anything about the protests in India, read this article, Why People Are Protesting in India, and answer the following questions: What does the Citizenship Amendment Act require and who would be most affected by the law? What could happen to those who are not able to pass the citizenship test? Why are Indian Muslims particularly concerned about the law? What are some of the concerns of non-Muslims about the law? Now, watch this one-minute Times video that documents some of the protests and protesters. Then take notes on one or two things you noticed while watching, as well as what questions the video raised for you. Questions for Writing and Discussion Read the article, then answer the following questions: 1. Why has Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India used Mohandas K. Gandhis image and referred to his beliefs? What do protesters think about those actions? 2. What are some of the changes Mr. Modi has enacted since his re-election? How have his supporters reacted to his decisions? What kinds of things have his critics said? (TNS) Surveillance footage showed a man suspected of fleeing officers during a traffic stop.Still, after several days, Pinellas County, Fla., Sheriffs Office deputies were no closer to identifying him. Even a flier of the suspects photos sent to other law enforcement agencies turned up nothing.Tampa police, meanwhile, were testing a powerful facial recognition technology that scanned for matches from billions of public images.Pinellas asked for help and an analyst quickly got a match. Hours later, investigators arrested the suspect.Thats when Pinellas decided that it needed to try this technology.It isnt alone.found about a dozen Florida law enforcement agencies have tried out or bought access to the facial recognition system from a little-known company called Clearview AI.Happy customers say its a tool to make the public safer. But some experts and privacy advocates warn that Clearviews system poses a significant threat to civil liberties.We sometimes talk about the slippery slope of government incursions on peoples rights, said Nathan Wessler, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union who focuses on surveillance and privacy. The prospect of this kind of facial recognition in government hands is the bottom of that slope -- its the place we dont want to get to.A flurry of media reports, including a Januaryarticle, have raised questions about the companys methods and claims. Social media giants like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Venmo have told the company to stop pulling information from their sites. New Jerseys attorney general has said police in his state should stop using Clearview.Chief among the concerns about Clearviews technology is its potential to identify virtually anyone at any time.Law enforcement officers, using the app on a mobile device, could ID anyone on the street, privacy experts warn, deterring political rallies or even people going about their daily lives.It opens up the potential for our entire lives being scrutinized by the government for every reason or no reason at all, Wessler said.Some Florida police agencies say the technologys potential to assist criminal investigations outweighs privacy concerns.Do you want to pick the Big Brothers watching you side or the side where you want to catch the bad guy? said Lt. Mark Leone, spokesman for the Davie Police Department, which is buying access to Clearviews system. We pick that we want to catch the bad guy.Clearviews algorithm has unparalleled matching capabilities, according to a description the company sent to agencies. Unlike some other facial recognition tools used by law enforcement, it isnt limited by the angle of the face, Clearview said.But perhaps one of the biggest differences of Clearview is its images database.Typically, facial recognition software is sold to police so they can scan existing law enforcement-controlled databases of photos. That includes mugshots, drivers licenses or sex offender registries, said Clare Garvie, senior associate at Georgetown University Law Centers Center on Privacy and Technology.Clearview, in contrast, said it searches at least 2 billion public photos scraped from commercial sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Venmo.Clearviews speed and accuracy are unsurpassed. But the true secret sauce is data, Clearview wrote in a marketing document it sent to the Clearwater Police Department and obtained by thethrough a public records request.It touts successes in helping with theft, bank fraud, child exploitation and other cases.What Clearview is (doing) is taking facial recognition and putting it on steroids, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.He said his agency is weighing whether to purchase licenses for the technology, noting that Clearviews massive database offers tremendous power to match images to faces.Clearview declined an interview request from thebut did answer some questions via email. Hoan Ton-That, chief executive of the New York City-based company, stressed that his technology only takes images from public websites and not from anything that has been privacy protected. He said the technology is meant to help identify perpetrators and victims of crimes from materials that have already been obtained, not to identify random members of the public.Ton-That did not respond to questions about whether Clearview had granted anyone outside of law enforcement access to its database. He also didnt respond to a question about whether childrens faces have been captured.Theidentified at least 13 Florida law enforcement agencies that have participated in a free trial of Clearviews system. Of those, at least four signed contracts for the service. A fifth is about to.The Gainesville Police Department signed a $10,000 contract in September for seven of its employees to use Clearview. Det. Sgt. Nick Ferrara said every search is recorded to limit misuse. He said police are supposed to verify any leads from using the technology.Ferrara said hes used other facial recognition programs, mentioning Vigilant Solutions, owned by Motorola, and the Face Analysis Comparison and Examination System, managed by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and used by law enforcement across Florida. That system, which Pinellas started building in the early 2000s, can access up to about 38 million images, including mugshots and Florida drivers license and identification card photos.But he said his tests of Clearview showed it was clearly superior.He can now search for faces across the country. Ferrara said hes made numerous identifications of suspects using the technology, mentioning shoplifting and financial fraud cases.Im all about using tech to gain an advantage to catch bad guys, Ferrara said.The Broward County Sheriffs Office paid $15,000 last year for 15 licenses, even though a spokesman said the agency is still in the evaluation stage of understanding Clearviews capabilities.The Volusia County Sheriffs Office paid $10,000 for six licenses in January. It said the system has contributed to about 30 suspect leads.On behalf of the, the Davie Police Department ran a reporters image through Clearviews system.In seconds, the agency called up more than 30 images of the reporters face, pulled largely from news websites and social media. Police could easily see the reporters name, as well as the names and faces of some of her friends and coworkers. The agency said it found photos from her wedding and bachelorette party.While it seems impressive, the photo scanning hasnt been extensively vetted, said Georgetowns Garvie. The only verification of the algorithms accuracy comes from the companys own audit.With Clearviews system, Garvie said, theres no guarantee that the identity associated with these photos is correct. Its possible, she said, for an innocent person to be arrested after being misidentified by the algorithm.Because the database is so big, Garvie said, the odds are greater for lookalikes and misidentifications.Clearviews level of access is also problematic, Garvie said. Most facial recognition software uses law enforcement equipment to scan law enforcement databases. Because Clearviews product is a subscription service, the company can see what law enforcement agencies are searching. This, experts say, raises all kinds of questions. The company could display incorrect or limited results for a search, tip off the subject of a search, or sell search queries to private entities.Clearview said it provides the same database with the same results to all its law enforcement clients. It said its audit was done by independent experts and it would be open to doing other tests or audits that make sense.Clearview said its services and trials are available only to verified members of law enforcement. But if Clearview ever decides to expand access to its data, Garvie said, it could be used by stalkers, criminals searching for witnesses in federal protection or those sussing out undercover officers.Even if the technology works exactly as advertised, the ACLUs Wessler said, such a powerful tool allows for law enforcement or government to target specific populations and quash dissent.While no Tampa Bay law enforcement agency has so far entered into a contract with Clearview, four have participated in trials. They are the Clearwater Police Department, Tampa Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriffs Office and University of South Florida Police Department.I had the opportunity to meet multiple officers from around the country, and I spoke very highly of your system (I should be a salesman!) Clearwater Police Department Sgt. Timothy Downes wrote in an October email to the company.Clearwaters police chief said his agency opted not to buy licenses with Clearview. Chief Dan Slaughter told thehe was happy with the facial recognition system from Pinellas.The Pasco County Sheriffs Office said it has not tested Clearview, but an email theobtained from Capt. Mike Jenkins expressed interest in the product.Several agencies around the state said they tested Clearview, but it was unclear how extensive the tests were and whether the technology was used in any specific cases.Clearview's rise renewed questions about regulation of such technology. Florida does not have any laws limiting the use of biometric information. And law enforcement agencies using facial recognition historically have operated with little oversight or scrutiny.That means that theres nothing explaining to police what they are and are not able to do, said Wessler of the ACLU.Though some agencies in Florida have policies or guidelines outlining how employees should use facial recognition technology, others havent adopted any rules.Gualtieri, who is also president of the Florida Sheriffs Association, said a regulatory framework over facial recognition would be helpful, especially given how quickly the technology is emerging.But he said bans on facial recognition technology -- like those in San Francisco and Oakland Calif., and Somerville, Mass. -- were an overreach.Privacy advocates say it shouldnt be up to police to decide.It should be up to the citizens who are subject to the use of this technology and the potential privacy and civil liberty risks to be included in the discussion of whether they want their police to have this type of tool, Garvie said.State Sen. Keith Perry, chair of the criminal justice committee, said he hasnt seen much of a policy discussion about facial recognition technology in Florida. But he said that hed like to look at our role in regulating it next legislative session.Right now, he said, the concerns outweigh the benefits for him. Then he added: I dont know enough about it and how we can regulate it. MANCHESTER, N.H. - Bernie Sanders eked out a narrow victory Tuesday in the New Hampshire primary, besting a pair of more moderate Midwestern rivals who together outpolled the champion of progressive Democrats on his New England home turf. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., finished just a few thousand votes shy of the senator from neighboring Vermont and ahead of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, whose strong showing was the biggest surprise of the night. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden were in single digits in fourth and fifth place, respectively, a weak showing that imperiled both their campaigns. Each vowed to fight on. Well before the votes were counted, businessman Andrew Yang and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announced they were dropping out. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was expected to follow suit Wednesday. All three had negligible support. ADVERTISEMENT New Hampshire has a history of political volatility, with voters tending to decide late, and the results Tuesday held true to form, with nearly half those casting ballots saying they made up their minds in just the last few days. Klobuchar, an afterthought for much of the contest despite a number of well-received debate performances - including one Friday night - appeared to be the biggest beneficiary. Sanders, who won an overwhelming victory here four years ago, was the favorite to prevail. But he did not run away with the contest, leading Buttiegieg by less than 2 percentage points with 94% of the vote counted. "This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," Sanders said as supporters at the University of New Hampshire Field House in Durham broke into chants of "Bernie Beats Trump!" Despite the exuberance, however, it was the second contest in a row - after last week's Iowa caucuses - in which Sanders failed to meet the high expectations generated by big crowds and his enormous nationwide fundraising success. Still, unless one candidate consolidates the centrist vote it will be difficult for them to pull ahead - and former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg could further fracture the moderate wing as the contest moves into states where he is spending heavily after skipping the first several contests. Buttigieg, who had appeared to plateau just a few weeks ago, benefited in New Hampshire from a burst of momentum after finishing in a virtual tie with Sanders in Iowa. He spent much of the last week attacking Sanders, a democratic socialist who speaks in bold strokes of leading a political revolution, as too dogmatic and divisive to lead Democrats into the fall campaign. "You asserted that famous independent streak and thanks to you a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay," Buttigieg told a New Hampshire rally at Nashua Community College. ADVERTISEMENT The biggest surprise, however, was the performance of Klobuchar, who used Friday night's debate to assail Buttigieg as too green to be president and Sanders too far left. She repeatedly touted her victories in Minnesota, saying she could lure back voters in the industrial Midwest who abandoned Democrats to vote for Trump in 2016. Nearly a third of voters said the debate was an important factor in their decision, and nearly 20% called it the most important factor, according to exit polling. Moreover, fully two-thirds of her supporters said they had made up their minds in just the last few days. "My heart is full tonight," Klobuchar told exuberant supporters in Concord. "While there are still ballots to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way." Waving American flags and hoisting "Amy for America" signs, the crowd of several hundred punctuated Klobuchar's speech with chants of "Vote Amy, beat Trump" and "Amy, Amy, Amy." One of Tuesday's many late-deciding voters was Marilyn Swick, 72, who did not make up her mind until the moment she walked into her polling place in a bustling community center in the Boston suburb of Hudson. "It was between Amy and Pete," said the retiree, a political independent. "She was a woman. I just decided that out of the two, she might be better nationwide." After Iowa's caucus meltdown, New Hampshire's vote was elevated in import as the presidential race now hurtles into Nevada and South Carolina, followed by a blitz of coast-to-coast balloting on March 3 - Super Tuesday - which includes California. Victory, or least a strong showing, promised to yield a further spurt of momentum and, more concretely, an infusion of cash and a first or second look from the many voters just starting to pay close attention to the race. ADVERTISEMENT The candidates with arguably the most at stake Tuesday were Warren and Biden, who finished a disappointing third and fourth, respectively, in Iowa. The former vice president has largely rested his campaign on the notion he is the candidate best able to beat President Donald Trump in November, based on his experience and relative centrism, but the argument was undercut by his weak Iowa showing. Anticipating a similar setback in New Hampshire, he preemptively declared himself out of the running - "I'm probably going to take a hit here," he said at Friday's debate - and didn't bother waiting for results. He flew to South Carolina, a state with a large black population that Biden hopes will resuscitate his campaign with its primary on Feb. 29. "It ain't over, man," he told supporters in Columbia, the state capital. "We're just getting started." Warren, who had hoped to elbow past Sanders in Iowa and establish herself as the candidate of the party's progressive wing, instead scrambled to avoid an embarrassing setback in her political backyard. She told supporters Tuesday night in Manchester she had no plans to exit the race, saying she expected the fight for the nomination to be a prolonged one. "The question for us, Democrats, is whether it will be a long, bitter rehash of the same old divides in our party, or whether we can find another way," Warren said, pitching herself as a unity candidate. Her next stop is Virginia, one of the Super Tuesday states. Sanders was looking ahead as well, with stops planned later this week in the Super Tuesday states of North Carolina and Texas. Unlike the Iowa caucuses, which are held at a set time, the New Hampshire primary was an all-day affair. Polls opened as early as 6 a.m., depending on location, and closed at either 7 or 8 p.m. depending on location. (Keeping alive their tradition, a few remote hamlets stole a march on the rest of the state by voting at midnight.) Nonpartisan voters, the largest voting bloc in New Hampshire at more than 40% of the electorate, were allowed to take part in the Democratic primary, giving the balloting a more moderate cast than Iowa, which limited participation to the party faithful. Nearly 4 in 10 New Hampshire voters described themselves as moderate, a notable increase from four years ago, and the electorate also had a distinctly pragmatic streak: More than 6 in 10 said electability - the perception a candidate could beat Trump - was more important in deciding their vote than agreeing with a candidate on issues. Buttigieg won more than a quarter of those voters and Klobuchar more than 2 in 10. By contrast, Sanders won handily among those who said they preferred a candidate who held the same positions on the issues. Republicans were also voting in their primary Tuesday, with Trump expected to win handily en route to his virtually uncontested nomination for a second term. Brian Burke, a Republican from Bedford, briefly considered crossing party lines - which is allowed under same-day registration - before casting his ballot for Trump. "I was going to vote for a Democrat because it seems like a more important race at this point," said Burke, 51, who works in finance. "But I am a Republican and I do like everything Donald Trump has actually done for us." Looming large as the Democratic campaign leaves the confines of Iowa and New Hampshire is Bloomberg, who has already spent more than $200 million on television advertising. Bloomberg has essentially ignored Iowa, New Hampshire and the other two early voting states, focusing instead on Super Tuesday and the contests beyond. It is a strategy that many other presidential contestants have attempted, only to fall well short of the nomination. None, however, had the financial resources of the media magnate, who has an estimated net worth of more than $60 billion and has shown no hesitation about spending a good deal of it in his pursuit of the White House. --- (Times staff writers Evan Halper, Janet Hook and Melanie Mason and special correspondents Caroline S. Engelmayer in New Hampshire and Arit John in Los Angeles contributed to this report.) --- (c)2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Kashim Shettima, former governor of Borno state, has advised the defence headquarters to constitute a panel to probe the recent Boko H... Kashim Shettima, former governor of Borno state, has advised the defence headquarters to constitute a panel to probe the recent Boko Haram attack in Auno, Borno. At least 30 travellers were killed when insurgents launched an attack in the town on Sunday night. In a statement on Tuesday, Shettima, who currently represents Borno central senatorial district in the national assembly, described the incident as worrisome. In recent days and weeks, there has been growing resurgence of unfortunate attacks by the callous Boko Haram in some parts of Borno state. Of them all, the incident at Auno on Sunday night has been the most dehumanizing and disturbing, he said. As Senator representing Borno Central where Auno is situated, I have the option of lobbying my colleagues and sponsoring a motion for the Senate to constitute an investigative panel on the Auno incident which clearly begs for some answers. However, as someone who knows first hand the number of soldiers that have given their lives to protect the people of Borno State, I will prefer to concede to another option. This option is that the Defence Headquarters, which coordinates and supervises all components of the Nigerian military, immediately constitute a multi-stakeholder panel of credible persons that should speedily gather all the facts relating to the Auno incident. The panel should as a necessary condition, request representatives from Borno State Government, Auno community, bereaved families, transport unions etc. The fact finding, which should be concluded within days, is to ensure justice and fairness for victims and to prevent future occurrence particularly by looking into the most acceptable and efficient motorists can be managed in the midst of the insurgency that we hope is ended soonest. Shettima commiserated with families whose loved ones were affected in the attack, the people of Auno, the state government and the entire people of Borno. A Japanese quarantine officer who caught coronavirus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship picked up the bug while going cabin-to-cabin delivering heath questionnaires, it has been revealed. The officer, who has not been identified, was among 39 new cases of the deadly virus diagnosed on board the Princess - which is quarantined in the port of Yokohama - on Wednesday, bringing the total to 174. Passengers have been confined to their rooms since quarantine began on February 3 but health officials are allowed to roam between cabins, raising fears that the officer could have spread the infection. Another 39 people have tested positive for the coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan as well as one quarantine official, bringing the total to 174 At least 24 Americans are among the infected. The boat is under a two week quarantine which will be lifted on February 19 Passengers look out from a deck of the cruise ship Diamond Princess at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Tuesday The Japanese Health Ministry, which is managing the lockdown, said the officer had followed protocol which included wearing a mask and gloves - but not a body suit. Officials were also checking the officer's family and contacts on the mainland for signs of the virus - which has sickened more than 45,000 worldwide. It is not clear what will happen to the passengers who came into contact with the infected officer, and whether they will be allowed off the boat with everyone else. A spokesman for Princess Cruises, which owns the Diamond Princess, said that as far as they were aware all passengers would be allowed to leave on schedule next week. About 3,700 people are aboard the- ship, which usually has a crew of 1,100 and a passenger capacity of 2,670. Kyodo news agency, citing the health ministry, said that of the 39 cases, 10 were crew, 10 were Japanese nationals and the others were from 11 countries including the United States and China. Four were in serious condition, media said, quoting Health Minister Katsunobu Kato. The ministry said tests are being conducted for others who are deemed to need them and it will announce the results later. The UK-flagged Diamond Princess is managed by Princess Cruise Lines, one of the worlds largest cruise lines and a unit of Carnival Corp. The government was considering allowing elderly and those with chronic illnesses to disembark before the February 19 target date for ending the quarantine, some media reported, but added it would take time to figure out where they could be sent. One patient, British honeymooner Alan Steele, was taken to hospital last Friday but said today he had tested negative for the virus and could leave quarantine shortly. Kyodo news agency, citing the health ministry, said that of the 39 cases, 10 were crew, 10 were Japanese nationals and the others were from 11 countries including the United States and China There are more than 43,000 cases worldwide so far and more than 1,000 deaths as of Tuesday As of last week, about 80% of the passengers were aged 60 or over, with 215 in their 80s and 11 in the 90s, the English-language Japan Times newspaper reported. As of Monday the death toll for the novel coronavirus, temporarily dubbed 2019-nCoV, surpassed 1,000 on Monday, with at least 42,500 confirmed cases in 24 countries. On Monday alone China reported 103 deaths in the Hubei province - the highest toll recorded in any one 24-hour period since the outbreak began in December. Wuhan, the focal point of the disease, is located within the Hubei province. This article describes how the Dental Forensic Extraction Kit (DFKMR), InnoQuant HY DNA Quantification Kit, and the MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System can be used to quickly gather conclusive results from complex samples. Introduction and Methods Degraded DNA presents a serious limitation for forensic DNA laboratories and is frequently found in cold case evidence, crime scene samples, and unidentified remains related to tragedies from mass disasters or missing persons cases. Highly degraded samples, for example, bones and teeth, are conventionally assigned to mitochondrial DNA processing because of the insufficient results attained with regular nuclear DNA testing standards. The latest advancements in extraction techniques performed upstream and quantification chemistries, along with massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technology, all enhance the chances of gathering data-intensive nuclear DNA profiles from complex samples. The data outlined in this article shows the extraordinary performance of the thorough workflow used on the degraded DNA samples. This workflow comprises the following: Dental Forensic Kit (DFK) An original technique for the recovery of dental tissue produced at Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile (Figure 1) [1,2,3,4,5] InnoQuant HY DNA Quantification Kit (InnoGenomics) A highly sensitive real-time qPCR assay for establishing the integrity, quality, and quantity of human and male DNA at the same time (Table 1) [6,7] MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System (Verogen) A DNA-to-data MPS solution created exclusively for applications within forensic DNA (Figure 2) [8,9,10,11,12] The main benefits of each technique include: Dental Forensic Kit (DFK) A more efficient extraction with greater yield Excluding the conventional grinding step mitigates the risk of contamination The tooth is preserved to enable future dental examinations or re-extraction InnoQuant HY DNA Quantification Kit Highly reproducible and sensitive DNA quantitation down to less than 0.001 ng/L utilizing high copy number retrotransposable element (RE) targets. Optimized genotyping success rate through precise degradation index, true negative screening, and PCR inhibitor detection. MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System Amplification of up to 230 STR and SNP markers at the same time, along with Amelogenin and 200 amplicons with a range of 63 to 180 bp in size. [10] Profiles that are highly discriminating can be repeatedly acquired with 16 pg total DNA input. [9] Able to produce biogeographical ancestry and phenotype estimation all at once. [9,10,11] Figure 1. DFK method overview (Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile). Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. The DFK method enhances DNA recovery from dental remains with an original and fast dental tissue extraction technique. This dynamic technique can additionally be applied to bone samples. The system starts with radiographic imaging of the tooth, with washing and external rehydration being performed after this. A specific dental instrument then perforates the bone or tooth to enable internal rehydration while reducing damage to the sample. Both dental pulp and root cement can be acquired for resulting DNA extraction employing the Quick Extract FFPE DNA Extraction Kit (Lucigen). The tooth is then sealed and retained, enabling future testing if required. [1,2,3,4,5] Degradation Study Experimental Design To assess the performance of InnoQuant HY quantification and MPS analysis in combination with the MiSeq FGx System, a degradation investigation was first carried out using DNA sourced from an anonymous male blood bank donor. Levels of degradation from moderate to severe were acquired using sonication at 50 C varying from zero to 16 hours. Utilizing InnoQuant HY, DNA extracts were quantified to gather long and short target concentrations (ng/L) and the related degradation index (DI = [Short/Long]) for every sample. From the quantified DNA, sequencing libraries were set up employing the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit, using a maximum DNA input volume of 5 L. Sequencing on the MiSeq FGx Instrument and data analysis utilizing the ForenSeq Universal Analysis Software was then performed. After the primary degradation investigation with artificially degraded DNA, a jaw bone specimen, and several teeth with postmortem intervals (PMI) varying from seven days to 45 years were analyzed. The Universidad de los Andes in Santiago, Chile performed a collaborative experiment using the DFK extraction technique to extract the dental pulp, root cement, and jaw bone DNA. The InnoQuant HY was then used to quantify the samples before processing with the MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System. Table 1. InnoQuant HY Kit Configuration. Source: Verogen, Inc. Target Genomic Location Amplicon Length Reporter Dye Short Yb8 autosomal RE 80 HEX Long SVA autosomal RE 207 Cy5 Male Y chromosome 79 FAM IPC Synthetic sequence 172 TAMRA Table 1: InnoQuant HY Kit Configuration - InnoQuant HY is a live qPCR system consisting of four targets of DNA two RE autosomal targets of different sizes, an internal positive control (IPC) target, and male-specific targets. The use of two autosomal targets strongly enhances the reproducibility and sensitivity of the quantitation of DNA and the identification of degradation in forensic samples, these are high copy number Alu and SVA Res (greater than 1,000 copies per genome). [6,7] Figure 2. The MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System. Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. The MiSeq FGx System includes the MiSeq FGx Instrument, the ForenSeq Universal Analysis Software, and the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit. Magnetic bead-based chemistries and PCR amplification are used in the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit to construct targeted DNA sequencing libraries for the MiSeq FGx instrument. MPS data are produced for up to 230 genetic markers along with Amelogenin per sample. Once sequencing has been completed, the ForenSeq Universal Analysis Software creates semi-automated allele calls and presents genotype data for the analyst to observe. Along with short tandem repeats (X chromosome, Y chromosome, and autosomal STRs), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are targeted, such as phenotypic-informative SNPs (piSNPs), biogeographical ancestry-informative SNPs (aiSNPs), and identity-informative SNPs (iSNPs). [8,9,10,11,12] Results The blood samples that had been degraded progressively produced long target concentrations ranging from 0.87 to 0.0004 ng/L and short target concentrations from 0.87 to 0.17 ng/L. The degradation index (DI) varied from 1 (no identified degradation) to 460 (strongly degraded). The samples were amplified with ForenSeq in line with the InnoQuant HY long target quantities, producing total DNA inputs varying from 1.7 to 0.002 ng. Figure 3 presents the total number of STR alleles called and iSNP loci typed for samples with progressing degrees of degradation. The sum of autosomal, Y- and X- STR alleles generated for every sample varied from 85 (100%) with a DI of 1 at 1 ng total DNA input to 23 alleles called (27%) with a 460 DI and 2 pg of total DNA input. The sum of all iSNP loci typed varied from 94 to 70 (100% to 74%). Figure 3. Total number of STR alleles and iSNP loci - Total number of STR alleles detected (blue) and total number of iSNP loci called (green) for artificially degraded blood samples with DI ranging from 1 (not degraded) to 460 (severely degraded). Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. Along with iSNP and STR data, piSNP and aiSNP data offers the biogeographical ancestry estimation and the phenotype in the ForenSeq Universal Analysis Software. Estimations of the hair and eye color phenotype, which demand 100% piSNP locus call rates, were effectively produced for the initial four samples down to 90 pg total input and a DI of 16 [11]. Estimations of hair color for the four samples sourced from the same anonymous blood donor gave the following suggestions: 74% red, 22% blond, 4% brown and 0% black. Estimations of eye color were 96 to 97% blue, 2 to 3% intermediate, and 1 to 2% brown. The prediction of biogeographical ancestry was repeatedly shown as the European population group for each of the nine samples (shown in Figure 4). Figure 4. Phenotype and biogeographical ancestry estimation - Hair color, eye color and biogeographical ancestry estimation in the ForenSeq Universal Analysis software for degraded blood with 90 pg input and DI of 16 (sample indicated with red dot). Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. In the investigation of the dental remains, the data suggested that the dental pulp or root cement extracted utilizing the DFK technique generated DNA of adequate quantity and quality for most teeth samples. Multiple extracts with PMIs varying from seven days to around six months were not degraded to a significant extent. Figures 5 and 6 show that dental extracts with DI varying from 0.7 to 7.8 and long target total DNA inputs from 0.05 to 5.7 ng caused 58 to 94 iSNP loci typed and 46 to 49 ForenSeq autosomal STR allele calls. In comparison, the equivalent dental extracts previously produced 25 to 31 autosomal STR allele calls with Identifiler Plus amplification utilizing the maximum 10 L DNA input run on the Applied Biosystems 3100 CE instrument. Figure 5. Total number of ForenSeq (blue) and Identifiler Plus (grey) autosomal STR alleles detected in teeth extracts with DI ranging from 0.7 to 7.8. Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. Figure 6. Total number of ForenSeq iSNP loci detected in teeth extracts with DI ranging from 0.7 to 7.8. Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. Highly discriminating SNP and STR results, very low levels of DNA input, and an indication of inhibition were identified by the InnoQuant HY IPC in the more challenging samples, even though a higher degree of degradation was observed. One of the more difficult teeth samples with a total long target input of 0.001 ng and a DI of 76 generated 78 STR alleles in total and 85 typed iSNP loci (Figure 7). A 45-year PMI jaw bone extract was also effectively typed with 59 iSNP loci and 48 STR alleles called at a DI of 4.7 and a long target input of 0.01 ng (Figure 7). This 45-year PMI bone sample had generated no STR alleles before with the Identifiler Plus kit run on the 3100 instrument. Figure 7. Total number of ForenSeq STR alleles and iSNP loci detected in extremely low quantity/quality teeth and bone extracts. Image Credit: Verogen, Inc. Conclusions The combined DFK extraction technique, InnoQuant HY quantification, and MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System offers a powerful workflow enabling the user to acquire effective nuclear DNA results from complex, degraded, and low-level samples. DFK extraction allowed an adequate amount of DNA to be recovered, and InnoQuant HY offered precise quantification data to allow for optimal amplification with the ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit. Applying this system to real-life, complex dental remains produced a high amount of viable data for identification. References and Further Reading Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile DFK Patent: https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf? docId=WO2014188345&redirectedID=true http://www.lucigen.com/home.php?cat=282 P. Carrasco, C. Brizuela, I. Rodriguez, S. Munoz, M. Godoy, C. Inostroza, Histological transformations of the dental pulp as possible indicator of post mortem interval: a pilot study. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.09.001 P. Carrasco, C. Inostroza, M. Godoy M, G. Gak, Innovative method and kit DFK(MR) of sample preparation from dental human remains for human genetic identity, Forensic Science International Genetics (fsigen 2018-7), Submitted January 12, 2018. Application of NGS in the analysis of human DNA from dental remains with new Forensic Kit DFK(MR) Unpublished results (manuscript in preparation) http://innogenomics.com/ A. Loftus, G. Murphy, H. Brown, A. Montgomery, J. Tabak, J., Baus, et al., Development and validation of InnoQuant HY, a system for quantitation and quality assessment of total human and male DNA using high copy targets, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2017.04.009 http://www.verogen.com/ A. Jager, M. Alvarez, C. Davis, E. Guzman, Y. Han, L. Way, et al., Developmental validation of the MiSeq FGx Forensic Genomics System for targeted next generation sequencing in forensic DNA casework and database laboratories Forensic Sci. Int. Genet. 28 (2017) 52-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2017.01.011 ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Reference Guide http://www.verogen.com/ ForenSeq Universal Analysis Software Guide v1.2 http://www.verogen.com/ MiSeq FGx Instrument Reference Guide http://www.verogen.com/ About Verogen, Inc. Introducing the worlds first sequencing company solely dedicated to forensic science. Forensic laboratories are unique, and require unique scientific solutions. We get this. Because we live it. We create thoughtfully tailored genomic solutions for forensic DNA labs. The kinds of tools we longed for when we worked in those labs ourselves. We formed an independent company with dedicated resources because we believe its the best way to fully address those unique needs. The last few decades have seen tremendous advancements in molecular biology techniques, such as massively parallel sequencing. While our colleagues in other scientific fields have embraced and benefited from these improvements, forensic genomics has yet to realize the potential of the evolved technology. Its time we had modern tools tailored to our needs. Verogen understands this. Our sole focus is to advance science to help unlock the true potential of forensic genomics. Powered by Illumina technology and free of legacy method allegiance, we are uniquely positioned to support forensic labs with innovative solutions purpose-built for the challenges of DNA identification. Working in partnership with the community, we can elevate the forensic genomics labs role in preserving public safetyand improve global justice for all. 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. JERUSALEM - The U.N. human rights office on Wednesday released a list of more than 100 companies it said are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights by operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank a first-ever international attempt to name and shame businesses that has drawn fierce Israeli condemnation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Palestinians clash with Israeli forces during a protest against President Donald Trump's Mideast initiative in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to deliver a speech at the U.N. later in the day, but members will not be voting on a draft resolution. Palestinian officials denied the resolution had been pulled, but diplomats said many members, including European countries, rejected the language in a draft that had circulated. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed). JERUSALEM - The U.N. human rights office on Wednesday released a list of more than 100 companies it said are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights by operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank a first-ever international attempt to name and shame businesses that has drawn fierce Israeli condemnation. The list's publication after repeated delays escalated a looming showdown between Israel and the international community over its more than half-century policy of building settlements in the West Bank. Emboldened by a new U.S. Mideast initiative, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annex Israel's more than 100 settlements, while the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague has indicated she will soon launch a war-crimes investigation into settlement policies. The list included well known global companies, among them Airbnb, Motorola and General Mills. Although the vast majority of the world considers settlements illegal, Wednesday's report did not accuse the companies of violating international law. Instead, it appeared to be aimed at pressuring them by drawing negative attention to their ties to a much-maligned Israeli policy. I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious, said Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. However, after an extensive and meticulous review process, we are satisfied this fact-based report reflects the serious consideration that has been given to this unprecedented and highly complex mandate." The Human Rights Council in 2016 instructed the U.N.'s human rights office to create a "database" of companies deemed to be linked to or supportive of the settlements. Beginning with a potential list of over 300 companies, it narrowed it down to 112 firms involved in practices that raised human rights concerns, such as settlement construction, security services, banking and equipment that was used to demolish Palestinian property. The report does not call for sanctions or have any concrete impact on the companies. But Israeli officials accused the report of caving in to pressure from the grassroots Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel and raised concerns the list could be used as the basis for boycotts and other economic pressure against the companies. In a statement, Netanyahu called the rights council "unimportant." Instead of the organization dealing with human rights, it only tries to disparage Israel. We strongly reject this contemptible effort, he said. FILE - This Jan. 26, 2020, file photo, shows a view of the West Bank Jewish settlement of Mitzpe Yeriho. The United Nations Human Rights Council released a list of more than 100 companies it says are operating in Israel's West Bank settlements. In a report Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, the council said the companies' activities "raised particular human rights concerns. The list is dominated by Israeli companies, but it also lists a number of international firms. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki hailed the list as a victory for international law and for the diplomatic effort to dry up the sources of the colonial system represented by illegal settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory. With broad international backing, the Palestinians claim the West Bank and east Jerusalem as parts of a future independent state. Israel, which captured both areas in the 1967 Mideast war, has annexed east Jerusalem a step that is not internationally recognized and said it has no intention of dismantling any of its West Bank settlements. Nearly 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, in addition to more than 200,000 in east Jerusalem. In a reflection of how entrenched the settlements have become, the list is dominated by Israeli companies, including leading banks, construction companies, supermarkets and mobile phone operators. But there also were international companies, including travel firms like Airbnb, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Opodo. Many offer vacation rentals in the settlements. Other names include consumer food maker General Mills, tech and communications giants Motorola Solutions and Altice Europe, and infrastructure companies like France's Egis and Alstom, and British company JC Bamford Excavators. In a statement to The Associated Press, JC Bamford said it is not involved in the activities referred to in this report and should not have been included. The company's products are offered through a local dealer, Comasco, that also appeared on the list. Airbnb declined comment. The San Francisco company said in November 2018 that it was removing its listings in West Bank settlements. After some Israeli-American homeowners sued, the company reversed course and said it would donate all profits from the listings to humanitarian aid organizations. Israel and the U.S. regularly accuse the Human Rights Council of anti-Israel bias, and the Trump administration withdrew the United States in 2018 faulting the U.N. for accepting autocratic governments that the administration said have repeatedly violated human rights. The rights council is made up of 47 governments, with countries like Libya, Venezuela and Somalia among its members. The overwhelming majority of resolutions passed by the council has focused on Israel and its treatment of Palestinians, and Israel is the only country in the world whose policies automatically face scrutiny at every council session. For decades, the U.S. joined the rest of the international community in criticizing settlement construction. That began to change after President Donald Trump took office in 2017. Surrounded by 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. In November, the U.S. said it did not consider settlements illegal. And last month, Trump unveiled a Mideast plan that would allow Israel to retain permanent control over large parts of the territory, including all of its settlements. This warm U.S. embrace could cause trouble for Israel. Emboldened by the Trump plan, Netanyahu has vowed to soon annex the settlements a step that International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has warned against as she prepares her decision on whether to open a war crimes inquiry. Under U.S. pressure, Netanyahu has put off his annexation plans until after March 2 Israeli elections. The Palestinians have rejected Trump's plan, and other countries have expressed little support for it while remaining opposed to the settlements. The rights council had never before requested such a list scrutinizing corporate activities. The report said its authors had communicated directly with the companies to allow them to defend themselves or say whether they had changed their practices. The report's authors called on the council to set up "a group of independent experts to update the database each year. Human Rights Watch, a vocal critic of the settlements, applauded the report. 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 long-awaited release of the U.N. settlement business database should put all companies on notice: To do business with illegal settlements is to aid in the commission of war crimes," said Bruno Stagno, HRW's deputy executive director for advocacy. But Israel's allies accused the council of collaborating with the BDS movement a grassroots Palestinian-led coalition that advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. The movement says it advocates nonviolent tactics to protest Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Israel and its allies say BDS has a deeper agenda of destroying the country and accuse it of anti-Semitism a charge the movement strongly denies. "The U.N. Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights has officially decided to endorse anti-Semitic BDS by issuing a defamatory list of companies it claims are supposedly involved in settlement activity, said Anne Herzberg, legal adviser for NGO Monitor, an Israeli advocacy group that is highly critical of the U.N. But in a statement, the BDS movement called for action against the companies. These companies must be held to account, including through strategic boycotts and divestment campaigns, it said. ___ Keaten reported from Geneva. Associated Press writer Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed. Campaign officials and some Biden allies say he has been in the state for decades, raising money for local officials and representing Obama as his vice president. Benjamin, the Columbia mayor backing Bloomberg, and others lauded Kendall Corley, his campaign manager in the state, as one of the best political operatives in South Carolina. Biden has more than 100 pastors across the state who have endorsed him. His aides dismiss the other primaries as dominated by white liberal voters and activists not the type where Biden necessarily does well. 3 1 of 3 Chris Marquette / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 WESTPORT The first phase of work on the Kings Highway Bridge over Willow Brook is scheduled to begin on or about Feb. 24, according to a town news release. This is an important first step in the effort to replace the existing bridge later on in 2020, the release said. What is Carnevale Romano and how did it all begin? This year, due to the covid-19 crisis and Italy's restrictions on crowds, Carnevale in Rome will be a much-reduced affaiar and will rely on video streaming, with events taking place from 11-16 February 2021, coming to an end on Martedi grasso (Shrove Tuesday). Origins of Carnevale Romano The first certain traces of Rome's carnival celebrations date back to the 12th century. The ludus carnevalarii saw the attendance of the pope since 1143, with events based in the fields below Monte dei Cocci in Testaccio. Festivities included duels and bullfights, attended by noble families as well as ordinary citizens of Rome, keen to witness the wild events as well as take advantage of the meat from the slain animals. Rome's carnevale festivities were later moved into the city centre to venues such as S. Pietro, Piazza Farnese and - in particular - Piazza Navona. However it was with the arrival of the flamboyant Pope Paul II in 1464 - and his move to live at Palazzo S. Marco near Piazza Venezia - that Rome's carnival really took off. Festivities were based in the centre with races being held along Via Lata - today Via del Corso - with categories including children, elderly, donkeys and buffaloes, all competing for handsome prize money. Over the centuries the carnival had its ups and downs, all depending on the scruples of the reigning pope: some pontiffs allowed Romans to revel in excess, others repressed the festivities. Pope Alexander VI Borgia, who enjoyed Carnevale immensely, established a special race for prostitutes in 1501. Berber horse race Two Carnevale events were particularly popular: the inaugural parade and the race of the Berber horses, both based in Piazza del Popolo and along Via del Corso. In the days preceding these events noble families would display their splendid carriages, throwing flowers and sugared almonds to the assembled crowds. The pope attended the inaugural parade, in a pomp-filled procession designed to show his power. However the most anticipated event of the Carnevale Romano was the race of the Berber horses, a wild and dangerous spectacle along Via del Corso, where crowds celebrated with colourful masks and extravagant displays of fireworks. The Berber horse race was abolished in 1874 by King Victor Emmanuel II due to the death of a spectator, resulting in Rome's carnival celebrations falling into oblivion for over a century, until their revival in recent years. Rome's Carnevale today Annual events to mark Carnevale still take place in Rome, with this year's celebrations being held between 11 and 16 February - Shrove Tuesday or martedi grasso. This time of year it is common to see children in Rome dressed up in fancy costumes and throwing colourful confetti, with bakery windows full of special carnvial treats such as frappe and castagnole. Traditionally carnival is the period of fun and festivities preceding the 40 days of fasting and prayer that Christians observe during Lent, which begins this year on 17 February, with Ash Wednesday. This interactive mapping tool was created by the Vaccine Centre and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. (Vaccine Centre) The spread of the coronavirus can be compared with other deadly disease outbreaks in a new map. The interactive tool tracks the history of the new virus, which has killed more than 1,100 people and infected 44,000. It compares it to other recent outbreaks, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2003 (also caused by a coronavirus), swine flu in 2009 and the Ebola outbreak in 2014, and enables users to view the situation around the world on any given day of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more: Hunt for 12 patients who came into contact with GPs diagnosed with coronavirus The red circles show the number of coronavirus cases and deaths around the globe. A user can then click on icons for other previous outbreaks that will bring up blue, purple and green circles to show how they compare. The makers of the map, created by the Vaccine Centre and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said they hoped it would provide more context to the daily headlines and a fresh perspective on key turning points in the diseases history. The coronavirus can be transmitted via droplets when an infected person breathes out, coughs or sneezes, and can also spread via contaminated surfaces such as door handles. Experts have said it is more easily transmitted than the Sars virus. The incubation period is believed to be up to 14 days. People may be able to infect others before symptoms appear. The new coronavirus (red) in 2020 compared with Sars (blue) in 2003. (Vaccine Centre) The coronavirus compared to Ebola (green) in 2014. (Vaccine Centre) The coronavirus compared to swine flu (purple) in 2009. (Vaccine Centre) It took the new coronavirus 48 days to infect its first 1,000 people. In comparison, Sars took 130 days to infect the same number. The worlds worst epidemic of Ebola began in Guinea in December 2013 and swept through Liberia and Sierra Leone, killing more than 11,300 people by 2016. The swine flu pandemic of 2009 killed an estimated 284,500 people, about 15 times the number confirmed by laboratory tests at the time. Read more: Coronavirus 'super-spreader' released from hospital Staff wait as coaches carrying coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. (Getty) As of Tuesday evening, a total of 1,358 people have been tested for coronavirus in the UK, 1,350 of whom were confirmed negative and eight positive, the Department of Health said. Story continues Boris Johnson has praised the response of the NHS and said anyone concerned should simply follow their advice. Read more: Brits stranded at sea after cruise ship refused entry to Thailand over coronavirus fears A worker cleans the floor at the Warmdene doctor's Surgery in Brighton after a member of staff was infected with the coronavirus. (Getty) Speaking in Birmingham on Tuesday, the prime minister said: We are a great country, we have got a fantastic NHS, we have got fantastic doctors and advice, and they should simply take the advice of the NHS. People have every reason to be confident and calm about all that kind of thing all the coronavirus, and any threats from disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the new strain of coronavirus is to be called Covid-19. Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, described the outbreak as a very grave threat for the rest of the world. Hyderabad: The GHMC has decided to give another opportunity to those who deface the city. Following outrage from public representatives, the civic body has decided to issue notices prior to penalising the violators, and give them an opportunity to appeal the fines. Officials admitted that the current penalisation scheme of the GHMCs Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EV&DM) wing violated natural law by slapping hefty fines on petty hawkers and vendors without recourse for appeal. The EV&DM penalisation scheme had caused an uproar at the recent GHMC general body meeting. Cutting across party lines, elected representatives alleged that the corporation had violated the GHMC Act in penalising vendors. After EV&DM director Viswajit Kampati came under personal attack, the council meeting passed a resolution to form a special committee to decide the penal amounts. The committee after considering the pro and cons will not only decide on the penal amounts but also the process followed in levying the fines. A senior GHMC official said that the civic body would recommend to the special committee to include the provision of issuing prior notice before penalisation and for appeal post-penalisation. The official said that this issue has been also discussed with the state government in the presence of the municipal administration and urban development principal secretary prior to the uproar by the corporators, MLCs and MLAs. Even murderers and hardcore criminals were given chance to appeal, why not violators be given a chance? The corporation would look into the appeal then decide on the penalty, the official said. He added that the corporation would decrease the penalty to bring it in line with the GHMC Act. This apart, the official said that the GHMC would send a proposal to the government to decentralise the EV&DM wing since public representatives were indulging in personal attacks on a single individual. He said post decentralisation the EV&DM would function under zonal commissioners. GARDAI are urging homeowners to ensure they have proper security measures in place to deter potential burglars. There have been a number of break-ins over the past week at homes in the city and in rural parts of the county. The advice is really the same no matter where you live - make sure that you have good quality windows and doors and that all of them are locked before you go to bed or leave the house, said crime prevention officer Sergeant Ber Leetch. Set your alarm and if you dont have one fitted seriously consider getting one. Be a good neighbour and look out for one another and if you see something say something by that I mean report any unusual activity to gardai, she added. According to gardai, burglars gain entry to the majority of homes via a rear door or a side door. Once inside, they seek cash and jewellery. Church of England officially apologizes for racist past Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Leaders of the Church of England unanimously passed a motion apologizing for past racism, in particular regarding the treatment of African and Asian immigrants. The General Synod passed the motion on Tuesday, with the motion focusing on a group of immigrants known as Windrush Generation. The generation were minority British citizens from the Caribbean who immigrated to the United Kingdom between the years 1948 and 1971. They were named after the ship Empire Windrush, which brought 500 of them in 1948. According to the motion, the Synod offered a lament and apology for the conscious and unconscious racism experienced by countless black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) Anglicans in 1948 and subsequent years, when seeking to find a spiritual home in their local Church of England parish churches The motion also called for, among other things, the Archbishops Council to research the impact of discrimination, gratitude for the contributions racial minorities have made to the Church, and for an independent person external to the Church to investigate how the ecclesiastical body can better achieve racial reconciliation. The General Synod also called on the church body to resolve to continue, with great effort and urgency, to stamp out all forms of conscious or unconscious racism. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby delivered a speech before the General Synod, informing them that the problem of racism still remained. I'm ashamed of our history and I'm ashamed of our failure. There is no doubt when we look at our own Church that we are still deeply institutionally racist, stated Archbishop Welby, as reported by the BBC. I said it to the College of Bishops a couple of years ago and it's [still] true, he added, calling upon the church body to change its "hostile environment" to a "hospitable, welcoming one. The motion was championed by Synod member the Rev. Andrew Moughtin-Mumby, who said in comments reported by The Guardian last month that he believed the church body needed to get our house in order. We know that many people did not find a home and simply left the C of E a scandal for us, stated Moughtin-Mumby, who added that while some Windrush generation did find acceptance in the Church, others experienced bigotry. We need to admit that the church is in some ways institutionally racist because we have not managed to create a space in which everyone can flourish. The motion was part of the official meeting of the General Synod, which began on Monday and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday. Considered the national assembly of the Church of England, the General Synod debates church legislation, worship forms, the budget, and other matters. The leadership body has 483 members divided among three branches: the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy, and the House of Laity. W hatever the intentions of its drafters, Bernie Sanderss new Disability Rights platform would deprive thousands of people with the most severe disabilities of both their freedom of choice and their ability to access intensive support services. Sanderss platform, concocted in tandem with a coterie of disability activists and self-advocates, details the candidates plans to pass the Disability Integration Act and to instruct the Department of Justice to aggressively enforce the Supreme Courts Olmstead decision. These policies will, if enacted, affect some of the most vulnerable members of our society, who cannot voice their objections to the dogmatic pronouncements of those claiming to speak on their behalf. The Disability Integration Act, for instance, threatens the home of Stacie Choslovsky, a resident at the Misericordia campus in Chicago. Her brother, Bill, is Stacies guardian, and an Illinois attorney who has argued and consulted on numerous disability-related cases. Bill told National Review that Stacie was born with an ageneis of the corpus collossum, which is a rare congenital brain condition characterized by the lack of transverse fibers between the two brain hemispheres. She functions at a one-year-old level and needs help with every aspect of life, Bill said, and requires assistance walking, eating, bathing, and toileting. To Choslovskys dismay, Sanders promised that he, as president, would pass the Disability Integration Act, citing the supposed endorsement of a broad cross-section of the disability community. Whether a group of federally funded advocacy non-profits and associated polemicists who call themselves the disability community is, in fact, representative of all persons and families with disabilities is unclear. Sanders nevertheless brandishes this broad endorsement in defense of the DIA. The bill, as written, would treat Stacies residential placement at Misericordia a campus setting with on-site medical, nursing, and psychiatric services as a prima facie injustice to be eliminated rather than, as Bill calls it, a family to us, and a beautiful lifeline for his sister. The DIA, which has been introduced in the Senate, instructs states to eliminate institutionalization and transition individuals with all types of disabilities at all ages out of institutions and into the most integrated setting. It also invokes the holdings of the Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C as a mandate for its proposed course of action. Story continues Despite its drafters claim to the contrary, the DIA betrays the Courts holding in Olmstead. This case weighed the legality of institutional placements under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Courts majority held that states were obligated to provide placement in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities (emphasis mine), deferring that judgment to the states medical professionals, and critically rejecting the suggestion that there was a federal requirement that community-based treatment be imposed on patients who do not desire it. The clause emphasized above, which refers to the relative medical and behavioral needs of particular individuals with disabilities, is conspicuously absent from most of the DIA. That bill calls only for placement in the most integrated setting, with no qualifications about the needs or desires of the affected individual. What does that mean for Stacie, who lives in what the drafters of the Disability Integration Act consider an institution? Here, as is often the case in disability policy, sovereign is the activist who determines what is and is not a community-based setting. Certain Olmstead proponents claim the Olmstead decision represents an unqualified integration mandate that necessitates so-called community living for all. This interpretation was rejected by both Justice Ginsburgs majority opinion and Justice Kennedys concurrence, wherein he favorably referenced an amicus curiae briefs view that, on a case-by-case basis, the most appropriate setting for an individual may be in an institution. With a tragic prescience, Kennedy warned: It would be unreasonable, it would be a tragic event, then, were the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) to be interpreted so that States had some incentive, for fear of litigation, to drive those in need of medical care and treatment out of appropriate care and into settings with too little assistance and supervision. This note of caution has come to fruition in the sort of aggressive Olmstead enforcement the Sanders campaign supports, which the Obama Department of Justice pursued with impunity. The lawsuits follow a similar pattern: The DOJ, in tandem with federally funded Protection and Advocacy organizations nominally charged with protecting and advocating for persons with disabilities, files a class-action lawsuit against a state government. The department alleges that the individuals with disabilities who reside in what it deems institutional settings are having their rights abridged under the Olmstead framework. Often, neither the flesh-and-blood individuals who live in these settings nor their families are informed of the class-action lawsuit filed on their behalf by activists in the DOJ. Families and individuals have little ability to challenge these mammoth forces waging war on their homes. The result is often the outright closure of facilities against the will of individuals and families served there. Bill Choslovsky was an intervening party in Ligas v. Eagelson, a class-action Olmstead lawsuit filed by a mere nine plaintiffs on behalf of all 6,000 persons with disabilities in Illinois who lived in institutional settings. The suit was filed without consulting the individuals and families whose loved ones were institutionalized, presuming that their very placement in a so-called institution violated the Olmstead decision. Bill spoke with families across the state and corralled an unprecedented 2,500 objectors to join him in filing a motion to intervene. The result was a favorable settlement for individuals who live in intermediate-care facilities or institutions to the disappointment of the nine plaintiffs, who called all such facilities segregated, isolated institutions that deprive people of their basic liberties. Choslovskys success in fighting this lawsuit, however, is not always possible when families are less organized or have fewer collective resources to fight an imperious government agency. A case in point: Connecticut disability-rights advocate Peg Dignoti was asked in 1993 why she decided to sue one state facility Mansfield Training School instead of the states other facility in Southbury. According to the Hartford Courant, she said that the parents of Southbury clients were better organized, wealthier and dead-set against shutting down the school (as the Courant put it). Litigious advocates often choose those facilities where families are poorly organized and, as Dignoti made clear, avoid those settings where families are wealthier and are willing to fight back against their clandestine closure efforts. To be clear, it is good when individuals who do not need or desire more intensive services can move into a more integrated setting. Indeed, Choslovsky is quick to note that, if there are people who, as Justice Ginsburg held in Olmstead, actually do not want to live in such large settings and are medically capable of living in the community, then by all means they should be allowed to do so. But, he says, you dont throw the baby out with the bath water. This hyperventilative approach to the supposed scourge of institutionalization is a remnant, Choslovsky says, of the One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest era, when a significant number of individuals with disabilities were placed in a congregate setting against their will. The statistics, in fact, belie the narrative of rampant institutionalization that seems to animate the Sanders plan. While Sanderss plan would lead one to assume otherwise, the number of people living in so-called institutions pales in comparison with the population served in so-called community settings. In 2016, for every 100 Medicaid recipients with a disability, 92 were served in home and community-based settings, while eight were served in intermediate-care facilities, or institutions. From 2005 to 2016, the number of Americans with disabilities living in what the anti-facility Case for Inclusion report deems large, isolating state institutions declined from 39,000 to 19,000, a decline born of admission freezes, closures, and expansive litigation efforts. The average resident who remains in an institution is more profoundly impacted both behaviorally and medically than an average peer in the community-based setting, and has received multiple offers and opportunities to leave. These people and their families have chosen to stay, much to the dismay of their self-appointed moral superiors. Bill emphasized that, despite her profound challenges, Stacie leads an incredibly full, meaningful, and loving life at Misericordia, which is a home in the best sense of the word. She is happy there. He worried that her quality of life would go down and she would actually be more segregated in the so-called community, which would also cost the government much more than it does for her at Misericordia, where all her services are centrally located. No one least of all Bill, who has defended the community choice as a litigator is opposed to individuals leaving institutions if they desire to do so. But there is no reason to assume, as the Sanders plan does, that the services used and preferred by self-advocates with mild disabilities who consult leading presidential candidates on the minutiae of Medicaid policy should be the same as those used and preferred by those such as Stacie, who cannot write or speak, let alone expound upon matters of public policy. That is the abiding irony of the Sanders disability plan. On the one hand, it insists that Sanders is fulfilling the long-held motto at the core of the disability rights movement: Nothing About People with Disabilities, Without People with Disabilities, highlighting a new disability commission that would be run by a person with a disability. On the other hand, Sanders puts people with profound disabilities, who cannot write, speak, or dress themselves, at the mercy of persons with disabilities who are capable of running a federal commission. The most insulting thing to me, Choslovsky said, is the suggestion that I cant be trusted with the well-being of my sister, and that academics and ivory-tower types who have never met Stacie hold her best interest in higher regard than I do. One similarly doubts that Bernie Sanders knows whats best for Stacie Choslovsky. More from National Review M ore than 100 animal species have been declared in need of urgent help after devastating bushfires in Australia decimated numbers and destroyed habitats. Almost all the 113 species on the list have lost at least 30 per cent of their habitat due to the widespread blazes which have ravaged the countrys South and East since September. The governments Wildlife and Threatened Species Bushfire Recovery Expert Panel said koalas and wallabies, as well as bird and fish species were among the worst affected. The list was based on the devastation to their habitat, their status prior to the fires and their vulnerability to fires due to their physical, behavioural and ecological traits, the report said. It consisted of 13 birds, 19 mammals, 20 reptiles, 17 frogs, five invertebrate, 22 crayfish, and 17 freshwater fish. Australia fires - In pictures 1 /78 Australia fires - In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales in December AFP via Getty Images An aerial view of bushfires burning south of Canberra Getty Images Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest on Kangaroo Island in January Reuters German tourists Julia Wasmiller and Jessica Pryor pose for a photo at Mrs Macquarie's chair, wearing face masks due to heavy smoke in December Getty Images A small aircraft dumps fire retardant behind houses at the foot of Mount Tennant as the fire front of the Orroral Valley fire creeps through the Namadgi National Park on January 30, 2020 in Canberra, Australia Getty Images A pyrocumulonimbus cloud is generated by the intense Orroral Valley bushfire buring to the south of Canberra. Getty Images Eugenie Bouchard of Canada takes a moment to catch her breath during her qualifying match against Xiaodi You of China during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park Getty Images Bernard Tomic of Australia receives medical attention in his match against Denis Kudla of the USA during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park Getty Images Massive smoke rising from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria in January AP Smoke looms over Sydney A kangaroo jumps in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire at Snowy Valley, Australia in January AFP via Getty Images Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits a resident's property in an area devastated by bushfires in Sarsfield, Victoria state in January POOL/AFP via Getty Images An injured koala rests in a washing basket at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in January Getty Images A pedestrian wears a mask as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia in January AP A large smoke plume is seen over a sheep property in the Parndana region in January Getty Images NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service staff prepare to air-drop carrots for animals in bushfire-stricken areas, in Newnes, Wollemi National Park, New South Wales in January via Reuters A wallaby eats a carrot after NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service staff air-dropped them in bushfire-stricken areas around Wollemi and Yengo National Parks, New South Wales in January via Reuters Nurses feed an injured male koala at Adelaide Koala Rescue in January Getty Images A woodchip mill burnt by bushfires is seen as smoke rises in Eden in Australia's New South Wales in January AFP via Getty Images Kylie Minogue donates to the cause @kylieminogue Cars line up to leave the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales to head north in January AFP via Getty Images HMAS Choules off the coast of Victoria, Australia in January Reuters The property of Lyle Stewart is razed to the ground at Nerrigundah, Australia in January AP Rural Fire Service firefighter Trevor Stewart views a flank of in Tumburumba, Australia Getty Images A plane flies in the tobacco-coloured skies over Auckland, New Zealand, as smoke from the wildfires traveled from Australia in January Getty Images An orange glow darkens the sky in Auckland city from the wildfires in Australia Getty Images Kiahan Bellchambers and her brother Jesse Bellchambers looking for belongings amongst the ruins of their house destroyed during bushfires in Batlow, in Australia's New South Wales state in January AFP via Getty Images Lieutenant Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire to place a memorial on Kangaroo Island, Australia in January via Reuters A firefighters backs away from the flames after lighting a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia AP Black ash and fire debris is washed up on Boydtown Beach and the banks of the Nullica River in Eden, Australia REUTERS Barb Copus holds a rescued baby brushtail possum at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in the Parndana region on Kangaroo Island, Australia Getty Images A burnt car is seen after bushfire in Batlow, in Australia's New South Wales state in January AFP via Getty Images A burning gum tree is felled to stop it from falling on a car in Corbago, as bushfires continue in New South Wales, Australia in January Reuters General view of the Dunn Road fire in January Getty Images Australian Army CH-47 Chinooks from the 5th Aviation Regiment deliver hay bales to remote bushfire-affected farms on Kangaroo Island, Australia via Reuters Volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area in December Reuters Thick smoke from wildfires shroud the Sydney Opera House in December AP A property burns from bushfires in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney in December AFP via Getty Images A fireman fights a bushfire to protect a property in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney in December AFP via Getty Images Helicopters dump water on bushfires as they approach homes located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Australian wildfires turn sky red in December brendanh_au/Twitter Firemen inspect a house recently destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Firemen prepare as a bushfire approaches homes on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Monitoring the Tianjara fire from a helicopter in the Moreton and Jerrawangala National Park in December Getty Images People wear face masks to protect from the pollution over Sydney Harbour in December Getty Images A fire approaches the village of Nerrigundah, Australia in December AP An old car burns from bushfires in Balmoral AFP via Getty Images The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo in December AFP via Getty Images Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale, Australia in December AP A horse trying to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales in December AFP via Getty Images Fire and thick smoke remains the village of Nerrigundah, Australia in December AP Gary Hinton stands amongst rubble after fires devastated the New South Wales town of Cobargo in December AFP via Getty Images A helicopter drops fire retardent to protect a property in Balmoral in December AFP via Getty Images The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia in December via Reuters A fire and rescue team inspect the damage around Torrington in Glen Innes, Australia in November Getty Images Flames from an out of control bushfire seen from a nearby residential area in Harrington, Australia in November AFP via Getty Images Bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales in November AFP via Getty Images An Air-crane water bombing helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Harrington, Australia in November Reuters Haze blanketing Manly Beach, Sydney in November Sydney Coaches via Reuters While some of the animals included on the list were already endangered, a number of the species were not. Some of the most endangered species, including the Blue Mountains water skink, the Pughs frog and the Kangaroo Island dunnart faced an imminent risk of extinction, as most of their habitat had been scorched. Other species, including the koala and platypus, are also under urgent threat, and need emergency intervention to support their recovery. Some species were considered threatened before the fires, and the fires have now likely increased their risk of extinction, a summary of the report read. Many other fire-affected animal species were considered secure and not threatened before the fires, but have now lost much of their habitat and may be imperilled. Some of the aquatic creatures have been included because they occur downstream of burnt areas, and will probably experience large mortality events if heavy rain washes large volumes of ash and sediment down waterways. However, proper analysis of the damage could not be carried out due to ongoing blazes in some areas. Sarah Legge, a wildlife ecologist on the expert panel, said the list was just a first cut. As we learn more about how species have responded on the ground, we will improve this list, she said. More species might go on to it, but Im hoping some will come off. Experts have previously estimated more than one billion animals may have been wiped out by the bushfires, which have swept through large areas of forest and grassland. The massive fires, which have been dubbed the black summer, have killed 33 people and sent 12 million hectares (29.7 million acres) up in smoke. The report comes after torrential rain hit much of the east coast in recent days, extinguishing fires across New South Wales. About 30 fires are thought to have been put out by the storms, leaving only four uncontained, according to the NSW Rural Fire Service. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 07:31:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Front) addresses a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 11, 2020. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated the rejection of a newly released U.S. Middle East peace plan, calling it an "Israeli-American proposal." (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday reiterated the rejection of a newly released U.S. Middle East peace plan, calling it an "Israeli-American proposal." "I have come to you on behalf of 13 million Palestinians to call for a just peace. That is all. I have come to you today to reaffirm the Palestinian position that rejects the Israeli-American proposal," Abbas told the UN Security Council, which met to discuss the U.S. plan. The rejection of this plan reaffirms, or is the result of its unilateral steps and the fact that it violates international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, said Abbas. "It annuls the legitimacy of Palestinian rights, our rights to self-determination, freedom, and independence in our own state. It legitimized what is illegal: settlements and confiscation of land, and annexation of Palestinian land." "I would like to reaffirm that this plan or any part in this plan should not be considered as an international reference for negotiations," he said. "This is an Israeli-American preemptive plan in order to put an end to the question of Palestine. It was rejected by us because it considers that East Jerusalem is no longer under the sovereignty of the state of Palestine. That alone is enough for us to reject this plan." He warned that the plan would put an end to the question of Palestinian refugees. It will end all basis for a peace plan. It means the rejection of all agreements and obligations to establish two states along the pre-1967 lines, said Abbas. "This plan will not bring peace or stability to the region. And therefore, we will not accept this plan. We will confront its application on the ground." Showing a copy of a map of the U.S.-proposed two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, Abbas said it looks like a piece of "Swiss cheese," which features large holes. "This is the summary of the project that was presented to us. This is the state that they will give us. It's like a Swiss cheese, really," said Abbas. "Who among you will accept a similar state and similar conditions?" he asked. The U.S. plan includes the entrenchment of occupation and annexation by military force and the strengthening of "the apartheid regime," said Abbas. "This plan rewards the occupation, instead of holding it accountable for all the crimes it perpetrated against our people and our land." "In this difficult time and before it is too late, I would like to say to (U.S. President) Mr. Donald Trump that the proposed American deal cannot achieve peace and security, because it canceled international legitimacy," said Abbas. "Who can cancel international legitimacy, international legitimacy, who can annul and cancel it? President Trump did so. It cancels all resolutions of international legitimacy. It cancels all the rights of the Palestinian people. It even decided that East Jerusalem is no longer part of the Palestinian sovereignty. This does not meet the aspirations of a two-state solution (for) Israel and Palestine." "I wish President Donald Trump will be just, will be fair, and will support the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy so that we can have a real opportunity for peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said. "If you impose peace, it will not last. It cannot last." Abbas said the Palestinians believe in democracy and reject violence and terrorism. "We will not resort to violence or terrorism, no matter how strong the attack against us is. We believe in peace. We believe in combating violence, and therefore we will not resort to violence." He stressed that Palestinians are not against the Jewish people. "Our struggle is not with the Jews. Our struggle and our fight is against anyone who attacks our land. We call on ending the occupation and on establishing our Palestinian state. Our people will not surrender." He said he is ready to start negotiations with Israel so long as he can find a real partner for peace in Israel. "At this historic moment, I would like to extend my hand for peace again before we waste this final opportunity. And I hope to find a real partner in Israel. Anyone who believes in peace in Israel is welcome to join us to create a real peace," said Abbas. "I would like to say once again that I am ready to start negotiations if we have a partner in Israel ready for peace, ready for negotiations under the sponsorship of the international Quartet (of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations) and on the basis of internationally agreed parameters." He asked the international community to lay pressure on Israel. "I say to the world, be careful not to take away the hope of the Palestinian people. I have come here to save this hope." Tuesday's Security Council meeting was requested by Tunisia and Indonesia after Trump on Jan. 28 revealed a controversial Middle East peace plan, which calls for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." The U.S. plan was immediately rejected by Palestine and the Arab world as well as other countries around the world. Prior to Tuesday's meeting, the four EU members of the UN Security Council -- Belgium, Estonia, France and Germany -- plus Poland, which has just left the council, said in a joint statement that the U.S. plan "departs from internationally agreed parameters." In the world of public-sector cybersecurity, most of our current attention is on ransomware attacks and safeguarding our elections. Those are genuine and important threats, of course, but there's another major vulnerability: the threat to the infrastructure that powers our economy and the systems we rely on in just about every aspect of our everyday lives.Most recently, our conflict with Iran in the wake of the killing of its top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, raised new worries about possible cyber-retaliation. That's a reasonable fear. Security analysts predict that state-backed hackers will target America's weakest link. Given that our power-transmission grids and energy utilities are underdefended, American energy security has never been at greater risk.This is not a hypothetical vulnerability. In 2018, then-National Intelligence Director Dan Coats asserted that nearly two decades after 9/11 the "warning lights are blinking red again," adding in a report to Congress that many nation-states are capable of causing "disruptive effects for days to weeks" to our critical infrastructure. And Karen Evans, the Department of Energy's assistant secretary for cybersecurity, questioned our ability to withstand such attacks, writing that our energy infrastructure "has become a primary target for hostile cyber actors." Iran has flexed cyber-capabilities before. In 2012, in response to U.S. sanctions, state-backed Iranian hackers launched a series of attacks that disrupted banks and the New York Stock Exchange . And in 2013, they broke into a dam's control system Federal policymakers are beginning to take commendable steps, including increasing annual cybersecurity spending, creating the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and even organizing a "cyber moonshot" initiative for a safe and secure Internet. But we need to do more, and state governments have an important role. Here are three things the U.S. should be doing now to prevent and defend against debilitating attacks on our key infrastructure:Federal and state energy regulators need to work more closely with the leadership of America's best cybersecurity companies to make sure we're using state-of-the-art protection. Such knowledge-sharing programs can produce best-practice guidelines and recommendations that provide more comprehensive security without governmental overreach.States provide most of the oversight for the nation's utilities. Nearly 90 percent of these critical systems including power generation facilities, gas pipelines, telecommunications infrastructure and water treatment plants are for the most part under state purview. And it's important to remember that contractors are considered cybersecurity's "unprotected underbelly": The worst known hack into the nation's power system targeted a small Oregon firm that works with electric utilities. The federal government can encourage state compliance and cooperation with cybersecurity recommendations through tax incentives and penalties. Publicizing relative security standings of departments would shame laggards and foster competition for the best security.Rather than cutting overall federal research and development spending, we need to better fund basic R&D and other initiatives that will enable the next generation of American researchers and entrepreneurs to stay at the cutting edge of cybersecurity. Encouraging private-sector defense companies to build cybersecurity technologies will produce tools that bolster baseline protections on critical infrastructure.America's enemies who cannot beat us in conventional warfare instead will fight in cyberspace. In this new theater of war, they gain an asymmetrical edge due to the low cost of debilitating and destructive cyberattacks. We need to move quickly to dial down the partisanship in government and dial up public- and private-sector cooperation to make sure that America is as well protected in this century as we were in the last. A Montgomery federal court judge was elevated to a seat on a federal appeals court Tuesday after the U.S. Senate voted along party lines confirming Judge Andrew Brasher to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Brasher, who quickly rose up the ranks from Alabamas solicitor general to a federal judgeship, was confirmed in a 52-43 vote in the Senate. His nomination faced criticism from the Alabama NAACP and other groups, who contended that he would be unfair to African Americans after he supported gutting key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Brasher, who was nominated by President Trump for the post in November, was rated qualified by the American Bar Association. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., applauded his colleagues for confirming Brasher. I believe Judge Brasher has served with impartiality, integrity, and purpose as a district judge, and I am confident he will continue to do so in this new capacity, the senator said in a statement. I commend President Trump on his decision to nominate Judge Brasher to the Eleventh Circuit and know that his dedication to justice will contribute to the respected standards of our nations judicial system. Shelbys Democratic counterpart, Sen. Doug Jones, voted against confirming Brasher. Sen. Jones did not support his nomination to the district court and has not seen any new information that would change his position," a Jones spokeswoman told AL.com. "That being said, Judge Brasher currently serves on the bench and Senator Jones wishes him well going forward. With Brashers confirmation to the 11th Circuit which has jurisdiction over federal appeals cases in Alabama, Georgia and Florida --, Trump has appointed half of the active judges on the circuit, according to Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law and an expert on federal judicial nominees. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who worked with Brasher for part of Brashers tenure as solicitor general, called the confirmation a victory for the rule of law. Judge Brashers deep record of public service, combined with his impeccable legal credentials, more than qualify him for a seat on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Marshall said in a statement. I am especially proud of his contributions as solicitor general for the state of Alabama, where he successfully argued cases before the Alabama Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Without a doubt, Judge Brasher will bring a renewed focus to upholding the law as he assumes his new position on the federal appeals court. MOTHERS due to give birth at University Maternity Hospital Limerick had to be transferred to either Cork or Dublin due to the hospital's neonatal unit being at full capacity, according to an inspection carried out in late 2018. The findings come in a report published this Wednesday by the Health Information and Quality Authority, as part of a full review of staffing, safety, training and infrastructure across the country. The report said the hospital, which is due a 160m relocation to Dooradoyle in the coming years, also suffered from resource deficits, particularly in midwifery and anaesthesiology. And while the report is generally positive in relation to most areas of care, Hiqa stated that the lack of a blood bank or laboratory service posed as a "patient safety risk" and has been documented on the hospital's high risk register. The report also found that a consultant on-call at UMHL was also on-call for gynaecology services at University Hospital Limerick. "Inspectors were informed that if the consultant obstetrician on call needed to attend University Hospital Limerick, another consultant obstetrician who was not rostered on call was contacted to provide cover at the maternity hospital during this timeframe. This arrangement was based on the good will of consultant obstetricians working at the hospital and is not sustainable in the long term," the report stated. The inspection, which was carried out in December 2018, found that there was a 20 whole-time equivalent deficit in midwives, around 15% of the total number. But the hospital's infrastructure and capacity proved to be one of the focal points in Hiqa's criticism. It stated that the physical environment at UMHL, built in 1960 on the Ennis Road, was not found to be not compliant with national standards. For example, in the neonatal unit, there were 19 cots; four intensive care cots; five high dependency cots; and 10 special care baby cots. However, inspectors found that there was "inadequate storage space for equipment and that space between cots was limited. Inspectors were informed that the unit operated at 100% capacity or over and that during busy periods accommodated up to 27 babies. "There were 20 babies in the unit on the first day of inspection. There was insufficient space in the unit to meet increased service demands." A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that it welcomed the report this Wednesday, and that there were "no significant risks" identified. Multiple examples of good practice are highlighted in the report around clinical governance, risk identification and management, clinical audit, safe surgery and shared learning. "The one area of non-compliance in the report relates to the infrastructure at UMHL. Almost a quarter of a million babies have been born at UMHL since it was built in 1960. "At that time, it was envisaged the hospital could manage approximately 3,000 births per year whereas in recent years there have been approximately 4,500 deliveries per year. In addition to this significant capacity issue, pregnancy and childbirth has become increasingly complex. "The relocation of UMHL from its standalone site on the Ennis Road to the UHL campus will be a significant advance for women and babies in the Mid-West. While there is no target commencement date for this vital project, it is committed to in Project Ireland 2040." It said the co-location of maternity hospitals is internationally established best practice "for very good reasons". "Co-location of UMHL and UHL will significantly reduce any risks involved in transferring critically ill mothers and babies between the two sites. And the relocation will also generate cost savings for the UL Hospitals Group." Dr Naro Imcha, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and chairperson of the Group's Quality Improvement Committee, welcomed the publication of the HIQA report as a "strong positive affirmation of the approach taken by our Quality Improvement Committee". "Achieving better quality is never an accidental outcome. It is the result of careful planning, committed leadership, and a concerned workforce. We have focused on nurturing a culture of quality with patients wellbeing at its core. This has been a resounding success, as evidenced by this HIQA report. We are progressing this quality culture throughout the entire Hospital Group, and are greatly encouraged by the support and enthusiasm for our initiatives," said Dr Imcha. Pending this major development, the hospital is working on a number of smaller projects, namely the refurbishment of the Neonatal Unit; relocating the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit away from admissions to a more private area; and the reconfiguration of the Colposcopy Unit to allow for additional treatment space and greater patient privacy. The spokesperson said that all midwife graduates in 2019 were offered permanent contracts; a clinical pharmacist (0.5 WTE) was appointed to the neonatal unit last year; funding has been secured for ultra-sonography staff; and they are recruiting for anaethetic posts. "One consulstant anaesthesiologist took up a post in January 2020 while a further two are due to take up posts in Q3 2020. Interviews for further consultant posts are to take place in the coming weeks. It is planned to prioritise additional anaesthesia sessions for UMHL at the earliest opportunity and to reinstate the clinic referred to in the report." Punjab elections: You will never have to stage another dharna says Kejriwal Covid-19 cases are rising in Delhi, but no need to panic as hospitalisation low, says Kejriwal No lockdown in Delhi for now but some curbs, says Arvind Kejriwal amid Covid surge Explained: How Kejriwal's mohalla clinic scheme wins over Ayushman Bharat in Delhi India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Feb 12: Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) thumping victory in Delhi polls is being projected as validation of its development model. Beyond education, AAP government has also made Healthcare as its priority and a key issue in the Delhi assembly elections. This is something a Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal government has generated considerable public attention on measures adopted to overhaul national capital's healthcare system. Its famed mohalla clinics model (neighborhood health clinics), multi-specialty polyclinics, free medicines and surgeries for 30 life threatening diseases, promise to quickly add 30,000 more beds in government hospitals, concept of bike ambulances among others have ganied popularity. Arvind Kejriwal wins from New Delhi seat, AAP wins 62 seats, BJP 8 The Mohalla Clinics, charge no fees and have been set up at around 158 locations across the national capital. Till January this year, the AAP government inaugurated 450 mohalla clinics. Now after his party's stupendous victory in this year's assembly polls, it is said that the opening of nearly 500 Mohalla clinics since 2015, played a vital role in tilting the balance in favour of the IRS officer-turned-politician. After assuming power in 2015, the first thing that AAP government did was to increase the funds for healthcare. From a measly sum of Rs. 3,300 crore in 2015-16 to Rs. 7,484 crore in 2019-20, the health sector budget has seen a quantum jump. The Delhi government spends as high as Rs 400 cr per year for maintaining Mohalla clinics. Taking a cue from Kejriwal dispensation's flagship Mohalla clinic scheme, several state governments have already replicating it. Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and UT of Jammu and Kashmir have already announced that they would be replicating the initiative. The Mohalla Clinics also drew international attention, from the likes of former U.N. Secretary Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon for its accessibility and effectiveness. Ban Ki-Moon had also visited one of the clinics in Delhi to have a first-hand knowledge about its functioning. While national capital's ailing public health system has received much needed booster shots by AAP government, the health story is not without its share of troubles and shortcomings. On the other hand, the BJP, however, has been targeting the government for not implementing the central Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme. In a recent rally, Narendra Modi had said that the AAP had been depriving the people of Delhi, the benefits of central government schemes for the poor. Delhi Legislative Assembly to have 16 first-time MLAs, all from Kejriwal's AAP "The government in Delhi does not care about the lives of the people living here. What is the fault of the homeless who are not allowed to get homes under the PM Awas Yojana? What is the fault of farmers that they do not get the benefits under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi? Why did daily commuters have to suffer because the fourth stage of Delhi Metro expansion was not given clearance (by city government) for two years?" Modi asked. In the last five years, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government has refused to implement the Ayushman Bharat, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Ujjwala and the PM-Kisan among other key central schemes designed for the poor. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 17:16 [IST] The incoming Lord Mayor of Dublin, who will temporarily fill in for outgoing Paul McAuliffe, after he was elected to the Dail, said that he will seek to keep his position when a permanent candidate is selected. Tom Brabazon has served as Deputy Lord Mayor since last May, but once Mr McAuliffe is declared to be elected by the returning officer when the Dail sits next Thursday, he will step up into his position. But the graduation is only until such time as Dublin City Council holds a meeting to elect a replacement. There are a number of dates "being bandied around" for this meeting - one on February 24 would only give Mr Brabazon four days as official incumbent Lord Mayor. The Fianna Fail City Councillor said that he has already began to fulfil the role and he will seek to win the council election when the opportunity arises. Honour "I'm very philosophical about these things. When I stood for election I said, 'well, if it's for me it won't go by me'," he said. "It's a huge honour to fulfil the role. You're one out of 63 and to become the first citizen of the city, it's a wonderful opportunity to represent the city as best I can. "I'm really looking forward to the role over the next few weeks and maybe after that the council may endorse my candidacy for it and we'll see where we go." Whoever is chosen as Paul McAuliffe's replacement will serve until June, when a successor will be elected. The mayoralty rotates annually between the City Council ruling group, made up of Fianna Fail, Labour, the Social Democrats and the Green Party. (Natural News) Older adults suffering from knee osteoarthritis could benefit from brisk walking and other forms of physical activity. A recent study found that regular movement makes it easier for the elderly to move and complete everyday tasks. In the U.S., osteoarthritis where cartilage wears away, causing the bones to rub up against each other is the most common form of arthritis among the elderly. Up to 13 percent of older adults aged 60 and above suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee. Two out of five patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis find that their condition significantly affects their quality of life. Currently, there is no known cure for osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients who experience symptoms often take pain-relieving pharmaceutical drugs that have various adverse effects. Advanced cases, meanwhile, require knee surgery. In a recent study, lead author Dorothy Dunlop, together with researchers from Northwestern University, investigated the impact of physical activity on impediments attributed to osteoarthritis of the knee. The teams findings were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. (Related: Electroacupuncture eases symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.) One hour of exercise weekly helps older people maintain their physical ability despite osteoarthritis The Northwestern team drew their data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a national research study that collected and evaluated medical information from patients. They chose 1,500 individuals who reported aches, pain and stiffness in their lower extremities symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. At the beginning of the experiment, the participants did not have any disability. The researchers tracked the participants physical activity using accelerometers and followed them clinically for four years. Dunlop said that she and her team wanted to know what kind and level of physical activity might help patients avoid getting disabled by osteoarthritis as they age. Their results showed that spending one hour each week on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helped preserve the mobility of elderly participants from the disabling effects of osteoarthritis. Those who maintained this level of physical activity did not experience any problems completing ordinary tasks. They could change their clothes, take a bath and move around a room or cross the street at a fast and safe pace. To avoid disabilities, seniors with osteoarthritis are advised to maintain physical activity Devoting a weekly hour to physical exercise led to an 85 percent decrease in the risk of elderly patients with osteoarthritis developing mobility-related disabilities. It also contributed to a 45 percent lower risk of developing a disability that would hamper day-to-day living. The participants didnt need to hit the gym or adopt a training regimen to prevent osteoarthritis-related disabilities. Brisk walking provided sufficient amounts of physical activity to protect them. Conversely, seniors who did not spend an hour weekly on physical exercise developed various impairments. Nearly a quarter of the participants had excruciatingly slow walking speeds and failed to finish crossing the road before the traffic lights changed color. Almost as many patients reported issues in performing their routine in the morning. The aim of the Northwestern study was to help older people who wish to avoid chronic disease but find it difficult to reach the recommended 2.5 weekly hours of moderate-to-vigorous exercise. The researchers believe older adults may find it easier to engage in physical activity for at least one hour each week. One hour a week is a stepping stone for people who are currently inactive, Dunlop said. This is less than 10 minutes a day for people to maintain their independence. Sources include: MedicalNewsToday.com AJPMOnline.org TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pure Global Cannabis Inc. (TSX.V:PURE; OTC: PRCNF) (the Company or Pure Global or Pure), an integrated growth-oriented cannabis bulk extracts and consumer products manufacturing company, operating through its wholly-owned subsidiary PureSinse Inc., a Health Canada Licensed Producer under the Cannabis Act, which also operates under a B2B brand PureCanna Solutions, is very pleased to provide a strategic update on the development of its business. The Company continues to move forward with its goal of becoming a global sector leader focused on manufacturing high quality cannabis flower, extracts, distillates, post-derivative cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) consumer products for the Canadian and international markets. The Companys key manufacturing hub is based in Brampton, Ontario with joint operations underway for scaled hemp derived CBD manufacturing in Yunnan China. Following our recently announced successful financings, which included a mortgage re-financing, a second mortgage and a non-brokered private placement, Pure Global is well capitalized and prepared for an exciting year of growth, said Malay Panchal, CEO & President. We are now strongly focused on growing our business and building shareholder value by keeping our operations lean while scalable concentrated in areas of highest sales volumes and margins. 2019 Milestones Pure Global announced a significant number of milestones in 2019. These include: Awarded Health Canadas Sales License for dried flower Q1 2019 Launched Cannabinoid Clinical Education Network for physicians Q2 2019 Acquired Spark Cannabis Clinic enabling telemedicine and referral revenues Q1 2019 Acquired Great Canadian Hemp Company Q2 2019 Established Medical Advisory Committee Q2 2019 Received Oil Sales License from Health Canada Q3 2019 Signed agreement with KMT-Hansa Corp. for large scale hemp manufacturing in China Q3 2019 Received License to sell extracts, edibles and topicals Q4 2019 Received Health Canada approval to add manufacturing capabilities Q4 2019 Received approvals from Health Canada to amend its existing license to add manufacturing capabilities to its already licensed facility in Brampton Added 10,000 sq. ft. of GMP grade manufacturing space comprising 12 rooms that will be used for cultivation, processing, extraction, and manufacturing finished cannabis and CBD products Created B2B brand, PureCanna Solutions Q4 2019 Liquidity and Balance Sheet In order to fund the execution of its business plan, Pure Global recently announced several financings that strengthens the Companys balance sheet and ensures short-term liquidity. These recently announced financings include: Mortgage Re-financing: The mortgages will be secured by Pures two industrial warehouses located in Brampton, Ontario, one of which is fully licensed and operational for indoor cultivation, extraction, and processing. The $7,250,000 in mortgages will be apportioned as follow: $5,000,000 to refinance current debt; $932,500 to provide Pure with working capital; $682,500 to be used to create a 12-month interest payment reserve; $250,000 as a holdback for potential building remedial costs; balance to cover fees, transactional and legal costs. Private Placement: The private placement offering will consist of up to 37,500,000 units of the Company to be priced at $0.056 per unit for total proceeds of up to $2,100,000. Each unit will consist of one Common Share and one-half Common Share purchase Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at $0.1225 within 30 months. Manufacturing Update Pure recently received an amendment to their existing license from Health Canada to add manufacturing capabilities to its already licensed facility in Brampton. The company has commenced cultivation in traditional indoor hydroponic and final vertical farming method with first harvest expected in Q2 2020. The Company also has capabilities for CO2 supercritical extraction, live resin distillation, and manufacturing of finished branded and white label products for the medical, legal adult, wellness, and CBD markets. The Company recently announced its B2B division, PureCanna Solutions, which offers high quality contract manufacturing, packaging, processing, and tolling services, for which it is currently securing orders for extracts, oils, tinctures, capsules, topicals, vape pens, and soon edibles among other post derivative product manufacturing and distribution. The company has commenced or is about to commence the following: CO2 super critical extraction system 25kg to 50kg monthly output starting Q1 2020 1 full vertical grow room and 1 traditional hydroponic growing room expected to achieve 150kg per month capacity with first harvest expected Q2 2020 (cultivation commenced Jan 2020) Final testing of proprietary indoor vertical growing system for Phase 2b to add 300kg per month capacity (Q3 2020) Installation of targeted 100+ tons biomass extraction systems CBD isolate manufacturing for Q2 2020 readiness Processing and packaging lines for vape pens, topicals, dried flower, oils, tinctures, edibles, among other post-derivative products for thousands of unit per day capacity, scalable with demand China Update Pure recently entered a joint operating agreement for a large scale cultivation and processing operation in Yunnan, China. With tens of thousands of acres made available to us through local, state, and federal licensing, a unique license to import high quality CBD genetics, Pure plans to produce and distribute large volumes of organic CBD globally, while creating a manufacturing hub in China with KMT. This project is supported and sanctioned through the Government of China which is making development in western provinces a priority by bringing high value crops to the regions as well as significant infrastructure development. Our development partner KMT provides the resources for the development, while Pure manages the operations and sales. Pure brings large scale commercial agricultural technology, manufacturing, and sales expertise, genetics, and an existing Canadian license through which the company will be able to operate under Special Economic Zone tax-free export provisions. We are keeping a close watch on the progress of the corona virus spread which is in the opposite region to where our project is located, and so far has not impacted our project though all travel there have been delayed. The project is progressing on schedule with cultivation expected to commence Q2 2020. Catalysts Ahead Manufacturing Upgrade - 100+ tons Biomass Extraction expected Q2 2020 First Harvest - Q2 2020 CBD Bulk Sales expected early 2020 Launch Great Canadian Hemp Company line of products in Europe and Asia - expected H1 2020 China Cultivation Start - expected Q2 2020 China Extraction and Isolate sales expected H2 2020 Canada Phase 3 Readiness - expected H2 2020 Cash Flow Positivity - expected Q2/Q3 2020 Supply and Sales Agreements expected beginning Q1 2020 Launch of Additional Branded and Private Label Products expected beginning Q2 2020 We are excited with the increasing momentum we are seeing as we enter this new year with the number of retail locations where cannabis and CBD products can be sold continues to grow month over month. We believe there will be a 10-fold increase in the market size in Canada and internationally for CBD products over the next 24 months and beyond for which we are positioning. We thank everyone for their continued support and patience and look forward to creating significant value for our investors and all our stakeholders over the next year and beyond as we strengthen our team and our presence in the market, said Malay Panchal, Founder and CEO. About Pure Global Cannabis Pure Global is an EU-GMP grade cannabis manufacturer focused on producing high-quality high margin branded and white label cannabis and CBD consumer products, premium quality bulk dried flower, full spectrum concentrates, and pre-formulated active ingredients for CPG manufacturers globally. The Company is led by a professional team of experienced pharma, biotechnology, horticultural, extraction, manufacturing and consumer packaged goods experts, and operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, PureSinse Inc., which is a licensed producer under the Cannabis Act. Pure operates a B2B brand under PureCanna Solutions which is focused on high-margin bulk cannabis extracts, bulk CBD sales, as well as white label, and co-manufacturing services. The Companys 18,000 square foot Brampton manufacturing campus houses facilities for vertically farmed hydroponic indoor cultivation, R&D, extraction, processing, and packaging. To compete in international markets, Pure Global is the process of deploying a joint operation in Yunnan, China for large scale hemp derived organic bulk CBD manufacturing and processing for international bulk and finished product sale under Special Economic Zone tax-free export provisions. Pure has also launched, or is in the process of launching, several premium branded products in targeted consumer categories into the Canadian legal adult market including PureSinse Wellness, Paper&Weed Pre-Rolls, Galaxy Cannabis, Kumo Edibles, and PureSinse Medical, which operates with Pures wholly own subsidiary Spark Cannabis Clinic, offering free telemedicine consultation for medical cannabis patients across Canada. Through its recently acquired division, The Great Canadian Hemp Company, which won Hemp Product Company of the year at the recent 2019 GrowUp Awards, Pure is launching a line of organic hemp oil and CBD topical products, into several markets in Europe and Asia in the first half of 2020. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about Pure Globals future plans and intentions. Wherever possible, words such as may, will, should, could", expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict or potential or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Pure Global cannot assure readers 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 Pure Global assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange 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 register to Pure Globals mailing list, please visit www.pureglobal.com. Follow @pureglobalcanna on Twitter and Facebook and @pureglobalcannabis on Instagram. SOURCE Pure Global Cannabis Inc. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: By Trend President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received newly appointed EU ambassador to Turkmenistan Diego Ruiz Alonso, who delivered his credentials, Trend reports referring to the Turkmen government. The sides stressed ensuring of energy security, diversification of supply of energy resources to the world markets among the priority aspects of cooperation. The diplomat said that the EU hopes for effective cooperation with Turkmenistan. At the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the aspects of enhancing partnership in a number of key spheres, including political, economic, legal, humanitarian and environmental spheres. During the conversation, the sides confirmed a mutual intention to strengthen effective partnership in such strategic spheres as environmental protection, adaptation to the climate change, diversification and digitalization of the economy, private sector support, water resources management, democratization of society, ensuring of human rights, investments in youth affairs and others. Special attention was paid to the formation of new international transport routes on the Eurasian continent as a result of globalization of the world economy. Turkmenistan and the EU regularly discuss big projects in the field of development of transport systems and regional energy infrastructure, the report said. In particular, at this stage, a draft legal framework agreement on further gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Europe is being prepared. The interested sides previously stressed that the project of laying a 300-kilometer gas pipeline along the bottom of the Caspian Sea to the shores of Azerbaijan is optimal for this task. The Turkmen fuel may be further supplied to Turkey, which borders with the European countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Every region has their own peculiarities and we have formed our own joint security task force and we have written to the federal government and we are putting things together because we had a joint meeting with all the service chiefs and the then GOC, Umahi had said. Citizen scientists have uncovered a bizarre pairing of two brown dwarfs, objects much smaller than the Sun that lack enough mass for nuclear fusion. The discovery, reported in The Astrophysical Journal and confirmed by a scientific team led by astrophysicist Jackie Faherty at the American Museum of Natural History, shows that brown dwarf systems--the formation of which are still poorly understood--can be very low mass and extremely far apart yet inexorably linked. "Astronomers would conclude that brown dwarfs separated by billions of miles would dissolve as they moved through the galaxy over time," said Faherty, a senior scientist in the Museum's Department of Astrophysics and a co-founder of the citizen science project Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, which led to the new discovery. "But we've found one that is still very much together." The Backyard Worlds project lets anyone with a computer and an internet connection flip through images taken by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft and help astronomers identify new worlds beyond our solar system. If an object is close enough to Earth, it will appear to "jump" when multiple images taken of the same spot in the sky a few years apart are compared. The goal for Backyard Worlds volunteers--of which there are more than 50,000--is to flag the moving objects they see in these digital flipbooks for further investigation by the science team. So far, volunteers have reviewed more than 4 million flipbooks. In June 2018, citizen scientists flipping through the Backyard Worlds images noticed an unusual pairing: one object that appeared faint but moved fast--the telltale sign of a new brown dwarf--and another brighter object moving nearby and at the same rate. The Backyard Worlds science team was alerted and became immediately excited about this rare cosmic sighting. Brown dwarfs, sometimes called "failed stars," are spread throughout the Milky Way. They lack enough mass to sustain stable nuclear fusion but they are hot enough to glow brightest in the infrared range of the light spectrum. While stars and brown dwarfs can be found in pairs or larger groupings, finding a pair with low total mass and at a very large separation from each other is not common. In December 2018, members of the Backyard Worlds science team used the Baade Magellan telescope in Chile outfitted with the FIRE spectrograph to confirm that the fainter source is indeed a member of one of the coldest classes of brown dwarfs: a T8. The brighter object was also confirmed as a low-temperature object: an L1. In addition, they learned that the L1 was previously observed with the European Space Agency's Gaia telescope and found to be just 78 light years from the Sun. The researchers used the distance calculated by Gaia to precisely measure the brightness of each source and extract mass estimates. They found that the T8 object has about 34 times the mass of Jupiter, and the L1 has about 72 times the mass of Jupiter. They are separated by 341 astronomical units (1 astronomical unit is roughly the distance between the Sun and the Earth, about 93 million miles). The system is estimated to be a few billion years old. "While there are a handful of young pairings that rival this mass and separation, there is no known older system that rivals it, which raises the question: how and why did this cosmic pair survive?" said Marc Kuchner, an astrophysicist and citizen science officer for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "This is an excellent example of citizen scientists on the case," Faherty said. "We are still searching for clues as to how brown dwarfs form and this system is a provocative instance of what is possible at the extremes of survivability in the Milky Way." ### The Backyard Worlds project was developed by scientists at NASA, Arizona State University, the University of California Berkeley, the science crowdsourcing site Zooniverse, and the American Museum of Natural History. AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH.ORG) The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869 and currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State's official memorial to its 33rd governor and the nation's 26th president, and a tribute to Roosevelt's enduring legacy of conservation. The Museum's five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, as well as on specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data and on one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the only American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree and also to grant the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Annual visitation has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum's exhibitions and Space Shows are seen by millions more in venues on six continents. The Museum's website, mobile apps, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) extend its scientific research and collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to additional audiences around the globe. Visit amnh.org for more information. Follow Become a fan of the American Museum of Natural History on Facebook at facebook.com/naturalhistory, follow us on Instagram at @AMNH, Tumblr at amnhnyc, or Twitter at @AMNH. DUBLIN must turn to urban high-rise living to cope with its rapid growth, according to Bank of Ireland chief executive Francesca McDonagh. Within a short walk of where we are this morning, there are thousands of people who have travelled long distances to get to work. This is not sustainable, Ms McDonagh told an Ibec conference at the Dublin Convention Centre. Housing was the issue that dominated our recent election - and for obvious reasons, she said. We are pushing another generation away from the capital, condemning them to energy-sapping, time-consuming, oil-guzzling commutes. Ms McDonagh, the former HSBC executive who took the helm at Bank of Ireland in 2017, said her previous city postings had high-rise apartments at their heart - and Dublin should too. Expand Close Francesca McDonagh CEO of Bank of Ireland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Francesca McDonagh CEO of Bank of Ireland One thing that really surprised me about Dublin was the sprawl of the city and the flatness of the skyline, she said, noting that the city is projected to gain 1 million residents and need 500,000 more houses by 2040. She said home building within Dublin had increased by only 2pc last year, while the construction of homes outside the M50 in surrounding counties had risen by 40pc. Less than a fifth of new home completions nationwide were apartments, compared with an EU average of 59pc. Dublin again is sprawling, she said. I think we need to have a more honest and open debate about building up, and challenge ourselves to deliver higher-rise, higher-density accommodation with good urban design and transport links to meet the demands that we can see on the horizon. She said development in Belfast, Cork, Limerick and Galway likewise should discourage further suburban sprawl. I would encourage the next Government - however it is composed - to urgently examine how it can deliver higher-density and higher-rise development as smoothly, as quickly and as efficiently as possible, she said. At the same event, Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said the next Government must deliver a surging demand for public infrastructure and public services. He said the States publicly financed resources were too small to compete with the power of private global wealth, which was investing more than 2bn a week into the Irish economy - an incredible sum. Private firms, he said, were creating 25 times as many jobs as the Government and this imbalance could not continue. The next Government, he said, must spend and invest wisely to rebuild the capacity of a State that is getting smaller before our eyes. The Government, because of its scale restrictions, will not be able to solve the problems that the electorate told them at the weekend they want solved: health and housing, Mr McCoy said. Who here believes that the State can out-compete the private sector for scarce construction resources? He said the next Government must take steps to spur greater Irish participation in the labour force by developing new solutions around childcare, congestion and flexible working. A Madhya Pradesh police officer has been attached to district police line after a video of him assaulting his wife in public began to appear over social media websites. In the video, police station in-charge, Narendra Suryavanshi, can be seen attacking his wife while some try to separate them. While Suryavanshi is not in uniform, some other uniformed personnel are also seen witnessing the incident. The 32-second-long video also shows Suryavanshi dragging his wife with an arm around her neck and also removing his footwear in an attempt to beat his wife with it. The incident happened in Manawar town of Dhar district after the wife allegedly opposed his illicit relationship with another woman. Following the incident, the accused cop was sent to district lines. "Narendra has been sent to district lines," SDOP Manawar said. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SPRINGFIELD - A jury in U.S. District Court convicted a New York City man in connection with a large-scale heroin and fentanyl trafficking ring that snaked from the Dominican Republic, through the Bronx to this city five years ago. Richard Rosario, 35, of Bronx, New York, was convicted of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than a kilo of heroin -- a charge that carries the potential of a minimum 10-year prison sentence. Rosario was convicted Wednesday after fewer than three hours of deliberations and a five-day trial. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches, and focused on a drug ring that brought a deadly strain of Hollywood labeled heroin to the region. The lethal batch led to eight overdose deaths in late 2015 and early 2016, according to law enforcement officials, as the opioid crisis was peaking. Rosario routinely traveled to a heroin mill at 152 Lebanon St. in Springfield where he and others packaged kilograms of heroin for retail distribution, said a statement released by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Boston. The drug trafficking ring -- headed by city resident Alberto Marte -- was responsible for bringing dozens of kilos of heroin and fentanyl to Springfield. When DEA agents raided the Lebanon Street mill on Sept. 22, 2016, they found nearly two kilos of heroin, some of which was laced with fentanyl. The powerful synthetic painkiller has been cropping up in more and more batches of heroin nationally, boosting overdose deaths in many states. Rosario is set for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni on June 29. Marte is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 28. Ten people have been arrested in connection with the recent incident at Delhi University's all-women Gargi College, where students were allegedly molested and sexually assaulted during a cultural festival last week after outsiders barged into the college. "10 people have been arrested in connection with the case registered at Hauz Khas Police Station. Over 11 teams are working on the case, looking into technical details available and visiting various sites in NCR for identification of suspects. The probe team has also spoken to Gargi College," said A Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South Delhi. Police said that as many as 23 CCTV footages have been examined and three of these were focused on the ground where the festival was on. "Initial probe suggests the college was at fault. The college authorities had not informed the police about the festival," said the police. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking a CBI probe into the incident. Advocate ML Sharma has sought the court's direction for the CBI investigation and seizing of all videos, CCTV records surrounding the campus of Gargi College. The plea also sought for the "arrest of all accused persons, including the political leaders behind this planned criminal conspiracy," and CBI to submit a report before the top court for further action against the accused. Delhi Police on Monday received a complaint from Gargi College against the alleged harassment and sexual abuse of female students by a number of unidentified men during their annual cultural fest on February 6. A case was lodged under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Hauz Khas police station. "A complaint has been received from Gargi College authorities and a case under sections 452, 354, 509 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code is being registered at Hauz Khas police station," police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Roy said Sahara has huge land parcels but developing townships or colonies on them has been difficult due to lack of funds for internal infrastructural development. New Delhi: Hopeful of all its problems getting resolved this year, embattled Sahara group's chief Subrata Roy has said two large foreign investors have been roped in for real estate and city development businesses and nearly Rs 22,000 crore deposited with regulator SEBI will also eventually come back. Roy has also assured all Sahara investors that they would get their invested amount with full interest and an additional interest would be paid even for a day's delay. In a letter to investors on the occasion of the group's 42nd Foundation Day, celebrated on 1 February, Roy said the group always kept intact its tradition of timely payments and excellence in services but there has been delay in payments during the last seven years at certain places due to "some undesirable circumstances". Referring to a long-running dispute with capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) over funds garnered by two group firms through issuance of certain bonds, Roy said the entire amount generated through sale or mortgage of assets or from joint ventures had to be deposited in a SEBI-Sahara account due to an embargo imposed by the Supreme Court. "Out of this, we cannot use even a single rupee for organisational work or even towards repayment to the esteemed investors," Roy wrote. Roy said Sahara has huge land parcels but developing townships or colonies on them has been difficult due to lack of funds for internal infrastructural development and for the requirement of depositing in SEBI-Sahara account any advance payment taken from residential unit buyers. He, however, said these problems would be resolved soon as "two esteemed foreign investors with huge funds are coming with us in our real estate and city development businesses". "Keeping in mind the directions of the Supreme Court, certain agreements have been signed, which will resolve Sahara's problems within this year, that is 2020," Roy said. SEBI had ordered Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd (SHICL) in 2011 to refund the money raised from around three crore investors through Optionally Fully Convertible Bonds (OFCDs). After a long process of appeals and cross-appeals, the Supreme Court on 31 August 2012 upheld SEBI's directions asking the two firms to refund the money collected from investors with 15 percent interest. Sahara was eventually asked to deposit an estimated Rs 24,000 crore with SEBI for further refund to investors, though the group has always maintained it amounted to "double payment" as it had already refunded more than 95 percent investors directly. Giving an update on the Sahara-SEBI matter, the government informed Parliament this Monday that Sahara group has deposited Rs 15,448.67 crore to 'SEBI-Sahara Refund" account as on 1 February 2020, while a cheque of Rs 41.59 crore has also been given by the group in late January, which the court has directed to be accepted without prejudice. Replying to a Lok Sabha question, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur further said that SEBI had received 19,560 applications in total involving 53,361 bond certificates for an aggregate amount of Rs 81.3 crore. Out of this, SEBI has made refunds with respect to 14,146 applications, involving 39,499 certificates, for an aggregate amount of Rs 109.86 crore (including Rs 58.52 crore as principal and Rs 51.34 crore as an interest), the minister said. Thakur also said Sebi had issued advertisements advising investors to file their refund claims and last such advertisements were issued on 26 March and 19 June in the year 2018, informing the investors that 2 July 2018 was the last date for receiving refund applications and no claim would be accepted after the cut-off date. The investors were told it was their last and final opportunity to claim refund. Talking about the refund process, Roy said in his letter to investors that nearly Rs 22,000 crore was deposited in the Sebi-Sahara account (including the principal amount and the interest accrued on the same) till date, but Sebi could repay little over Rs 100 crore to investors despite giving four rounds of advertisements in 154 newspapers across the country. "In the fourth advertisement, Sebi had clearly written that hereafter, it will not entertain any claims. This last advertisement appeared about a year ago, which means that no further payments are pending. As per the instructions of the Supreme Court, Rs 22,000 crore will eventually come back to Sahara after verification," Roy said. As per the latest available figures, the pending refund applications with Sebi are estimated to involve maximum Rs 20-25 crore, excluding interest component. In its last annual report, SEBI had said Rs 20,173 crore (the recovered amount along with the interest earned on them after providing for refunds made to the investors) was deposited in nationalised banks as on 31 March 2019 as per the Supreme Court order regarding the money lying in 'SEBI-Sahara Refund' account. Roy said various restrictions are making it difficult for the group to do business and things could have been set right much earlier "if only we had a bit of relaxation to do business in housing development". He said the group has thousands of acres of land across India, but they are spread over a number of large parcels of 100-300 acres and there are no ready buyers for such big plots due to a prevalent downturn in the real estate market. While there are a few willing buyers, they are offering one-fourth or even less of the real value, but a deal at such low rates is not possible because Sahara is not allowed to make any sale below 90 percent of the government circle rate, he said. CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthony Sallustio, DDS, was honored with the Private Practice Prosthodontist Award for the Northeast Region of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), covering the eastern coast of the United States from Maine to New Jersey. This award recognizes extraordinary collegiality, outreach and community service, highlighting the role a prosthodontist plays in advancing the quality of life for patients. Dr. Sallustio received this award at the 49th Annual Session of the ACP in Miami, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. "This is a proud moment for me to receive this recognition from my colleagues," said Dr. Sallustio. "One doesn't practice to receive an award like this and to be selected is truly rewarding." Dr. Sallustio practices prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics in Ocean Township, NJ. He devotes his professional time to private practice, dental education, and hospital-based dentistry. "I believe a prosthodontic practice should serve its community. By that I mean to serve not only patients, but serving as a colleague, mentor, and friend to dentists. I hope to inspire those just starting out in practice to consider their start as an opportunity to focus on developing their practice philosophies that serve this purpose and to stay active in local ACP chapters, study clubs, and residency programs," said Dr. Sallustio. After completing his biology degree at Seton Hall University, Dr. Sallustio attended the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine for his DDS and postgraduate training in prosthodontics. He completed a fellowship in maxillofacial prosthetics and dental oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY. About Prosthodontists A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the restoration and replacement of missing teeth and other oral or facial issues. Prosthodontists specialize in helping patients with implants, dentures and veneers, all the way to full mouth and jaw reconstructions. About the ACP The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) is the association that represents the specialty of prosthodontics. Founded in 1970, the ACP is dedicated to advancing the art and science of prosthodontics and promoting the specialty to the public and dental professionals. For more information, consumers can visit GoToAPro.org and dental professionals can visit Prosthodontics.org. Evan Summers [email protected] SOURCE American College of Prosthodontists Related Links http://GoToAPro.org The Tibet Autonomous Regions more than 40 ethnic minorities account for 95 per cent of its population. by Sunanda K Datta Ray Its not in India alone that a majoritys dangerous minority complex can make sections of the minority community feel under siege. The government of Sri Lanka, whose born-again Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is now visiting New Delhi, acts as if the majoritys Sinhalese language, culture and Buddhist religion are under constant threat from the minority Tamils and Muslims. It was even more comic (and also tragic) when the Peoples Congress of Tibet obediently passed a law last month reflecting the nervousness of more than 1.2 billion Han Chinese about the aspirations of 3.2 million Tibetans and nine million Uighurs. The Tibet Autonomous Regions more than 40 ethnic minorities account for 95 per cent of its population. The new Ethnic Unity Act, which will become effective from May 1, resembles a similar law introduced four years ago in the autonomous territory of Xinjiang, which China has controlled since 1949 and where 90 per cent of the people are Han. Like Tibet, Xinjiang also houses multiple ethnicities. At least a million Uighur and other Muslims, along with some ethnic Kazakhs and Uzbeks, have been detained in re-education camps in recent times. The action against Muslims who are ethnically and culturally closer to Central Asians than to the Han Chinese intensified after riots in the regional capital Urumqi killed more than 200 people in 2009. Denying the crackdown, Beijing describes the facilities where detainees are held as vocational training centres. Both ethnic unity laws reiterate that these outlying regions peopled by non-Han races have always been inalienable parts of China, and that it is the common responsibility of all ethnic groups to strengthen ethnic unity, safeguard national reunification and oppose separatism. This is not the first time that China has invoked ethnic unity. In October 2019, the General Offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee published a guideline for enhancing ethnic unity, stressing efforts to improve the governance of ethnic affairs, guaranteeing the legal rights and interests of ethnic groups and cracking down on criminal acts that sabotage ethnic unity or cause ethnic separation. Before that, in 2016, China began a campaign in Xinjiang to promote ethnic unity and called on people to respect the cultures of the minorities who call the region home. Even Xi Jinping urged the people to strengthen the community spirit and called on ethnic groups to unite. In September 2019 he emphasised the importance of patriotic teaching at an event to honour role models and groups on ethnic unity and progress. In November 2019, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council published an outline for promoting patriotic education in what President Xi calls the New Era. Obviously, patriotic education is seen as an important vehicle for promoting values that further ethnic unity. This is in line with New Era thinking which marks a departure from previous attempts at establishing a system of ethnic autonomy. Understandably, Beijing resents any American criticism of these moves, especially a bill that the US House of Representatives passed by 407 votes to 1 on December 3 that seeks to impose sanctions on senior Chinese officials for their involvement in detaining Muslims. In order to become law, the bill needs to be first approved by the Senate before it goes to President Donald Trump for approval. His decision will be influenced by the post-Phase One Sino-US trade agreement talks as well as responses to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act which became law on November 27, 2019 and obliges the US to impose sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights abuses in the former British colony. Already incensed, the Chinese media describes the Uighur Bill as part of Washingtons smear campaign and urges Mr Trump not to sign it. India-Sri Lankan relations might become equally testy given Prime Minister Narendra Modis frank speaking to Mr Rajapaksa, as earlier to his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who made New Delhi his first overseas destination after taking office in November. However, there is also a danger now that evidence of Islamist fundamentalist activity in Sri Lanka culminating in last years vicious Easter Sunday bombings might tempt New Delhi to make common cause with Colombo against terrorism. Mr Rajapaksa spoke appreciatively this week of Sri Lankan police officers participating in anti-terrorism courses in Indias premier training institutes, of intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism capacity building. No doubt these are important matters, and India cannot deny its smaller neighbour assistance in overhauling national security. But the first charge on the Rajapaksa clan which now controls Sri Lanka is the unfinished business of the disastrous 27-year civil war which ended technically on May 18, 2009 but has left behind a trail of bitterness, broken lives and shattered hopes. Sinhalese Buddhists account for 75 per cent of Sri Lankas 23 million population. The largely Hindu Tamils are 11 per cent while Muslims (Tamil, Malay and Moor) comprise under 10 per cent. Being so well-entrenched, the majority should have the confidence to share governance with the two minority communities, knowing that it is the only way of ensuring willing cooperation. The 13th amendment to Sri Lankas constitution, introduced at Indias urging as part of Rajiv Gandhis 1987 peace accord with J.R. Jayewardene, envisaged a federal dispensation instead of the present autocracy. The Rajapaksa brothers Gotabaya and Mahinda have a dual task. Not only must they tackle what the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission signally failed to achieve, but they must also live down their own roles during those 27 years of bloodshed. There may not be enough energy left for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to rise again, but surly silence should not be mistaken for peaceful cooperation. The Rajapaksas decision to drop the Tamil version of Sri Lankas national anthem from last weeks Independence Day celebrations doesnt augur well for the future. Sunanda K Datta-Ray is a senior journalist, columnist and author. An influential Catholic bishop, Matthew Kukah, on Tuesday criticised President Muhammadu Buharis administration over its handling of Nigerias security challenges. Mr Kukah spoke at a funeral mass for a seminarian who was killed after he and others were kidnapped from a seminary in Kaduna State. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary Security Agencies, Mr Kukah said. Read the clerics full speech as sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the Catholic Church Secretariat below. Homily at the Funeral Mass of Seminarian Michael Nnadi (Sokoto Diocese), on 11th February 2020 at Good Shepherd Seminary, Kaduna Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese 1. We have gathered around the remains of Michael in supplication but also as solemn witnesses to the penetrating darkness that hovers over our country. I have the rare honour of being considered the principal mourner in this ugly tragedy. It is not an honour that I am worthy of receiving. The honour belongs to God Almighty who created Michael and marked out this moment and pathway for him. The greater honour goes to his immediate family whose devotion as Catholics laid the foundation for his faith and vocation. To his grandmother, Mrs. Eunice Nwokocha, a most simple, beautiful and devout Catholic woman whose devotion and dedication saw Michael and his siblings, Chukwuebuka, Francis, Augustine and Raphael brought up in all the fine principles and disciplines of the Catholic faith. 2. The way that Mama and her grandchildren handled this family tragedy has shown clearly the depth of their faith. I got to know Mama only after the sudden death of her daughter, Caroline, who had been a devoted Lector in our Cathedral. On the day we learnt that Michael and the other Seminarians were kidnapped, breaking the news to Mama and the children was not an easy task. She took the news with equanimity and we focused on praying for their release. She and the grandchildren lived through the torments of the brutal, harsh and senseless haranguing of the kidnappers who are totally empty of any show of human emotions. 3. When the worst finally happened, breaking the news to her and the grandchildren proved to be one of the most emotionally challenging moments for me. She had called me three days earlier to say that the kidnappers had told her that they had killed Michael. I dismissed it by telling her that first, I had discouraged her from taking their calls, and secondly that this was part of the psychological warfare by these evil men. On Wednesday 29th, Peter Paul, the brave young man who had served as the main negotiator with the kidnappers, had already told us that they had gone to the village where the kidnappers said they had dumped the bodies of both Michael and Mrs. Ataga but found no corpses. This was the thread of consolation we held on to as a means of solace that Michael was still alive. 4. When we concluded the negotiations with the kidnappers on Thursday evening, I was in the Seminary to receive the three Seminarians and, although we received only two, I was still confident that Michael was still alive. We were simply going to sit and wait out for the next call and the agonizing round of negotiations again. I left for Abuja that same evening to continue my trip to Sokoto the next day. It was on my way to the airport to catch a flight back to Sokoto on that Saturday morning that Fr Daboh called to tell me that the corpse of Mrs. Ataga had been found and that there was a second unidentified corpse which they were being asked to come and identify if it was Michael. My heart sank. 5. After the call, I switched off my phone in denial, but hoping for some reprieve to enable me board my flight with some sanity. I arrived Sokoto and refused to switch on my phone for some time. When I finally did, I refused to read the text messages, but then, Fr Habilas call came through at about 1pm with the news that, sadly, they had identified the corpse as that of Michael. I did not know where to start and how to break the news to Mama. Happily, two of our senior Parishioners, Sir Julius Dike and Mathews Otalike, were on hand and I summoned them to my house. It took us the better part of seven hours to negotiate how to break the news because, first, Mama was in the market and I felt she should at least finish the days business in peace. Finally breaking the news opened a different chapter in this ugly, painful but memorable tragedy. Like the death of Lazarus, it would become clear to me that Michaels death would bring glory to God. 6. Later that evening as I sat down to try and console Mama, she looked up at me and said tearfully, My Lord, you said Michael was still alive. Is he really dead? Before I could say anything, she provided a moving answer: My Lord, but Michael entered Seminary with all his heart and body, all, she said with finality. From that evening, I watched her regain her composure and right up to Saturday, the evening before I left Sokoto, she had become a consoler and an inspiration to others. 7. The depth and impact of this tragedy belongs first, to the three surviving colleagues of Michael, the entire Seminary community led by the Rector, Fr. Habila Daboh, his team of formators and entire family of Good Shepherd Seminary. All have lived through almost two months of trauma, agony, pain and despair. They have been held together by the glue of deep faith, hope and family solidarity. I commend all the Formators for standing together and guiding the Seminarians through this dark tunnel of emotional pain in the days that turned to weeks, and weeks that turned to months. The entire Catholic community in the Province, led by our Metropolitan, Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso, all shared in this burden. His Grace and the Rector will both speak to us at the end of the Mass. 8. The third layer of pain has been borne by the entire country and the Catholic world. The national and international reactions to the death of this young man have made me step back and ask what message God has for our country. Michael is the first Seminarian to carry the mark of this brutality and wickedness. Priests have died in the hands of these wicked human beings. Michael was only a Seminarian in his first year of training. I had seen him in his cassock which he wore in my presence, not with pride but with dignity. Why would the tragic death of a young man such as him elicit such an unprecedented level of emotions here and around the world? 9. Maria Lozano, a staff of the Aid to the Church In Need, an organisation dedicated to the cause of the persecution of Christians around the world, called me frantically immediately after the news of the kidnapping of the Seminarians went out. The next day, she sent me an emotional voice message to say that she heard that Michael was an orphan and that since the kidnappers will be looking for money might his life be in danger if they realise that he is an orphan? Could she mobilise especially mothers to become parents for him, to keep him and others in their hearts and to continue to pray for him? Maria remained with us emotionally and requested for information about the burial. 10. When the Archbishop approved the date of the burial, I passed the information to her immediately. By the next day, February 5th, she sent me a message to say that when she asked people around the world to light a candle for Michael on the date of his burial, 2, 436 persons from Afghanistan, Pakistan, United States of America, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Madagascar, South Africa, Congo, Mali, Spain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia responded. Germany alone had a total of 3,305 persons in a matter of hours. In the light of this, I wondered, who are we to mourn? Who are we to refuse this crown of honour and glory? We ceased to mourn for Michael thereon. 11. Your Grace, my brother Bishops, Rev Fathers, Rev. Sisters, and all the good people of God, I therefore bring you only greetings and praise to God from all of us in Sokoto Diocese. This is a solemn moment for the body of Christ. This is for us the moment of decision. This is the moment that separates darkness from light, good from evil. Our nation is like a ship stranded on the high seas, rudderless and with broken navigational aids. Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is on the crossroads and its future hangs precariously in a balance. This is a wakeup call for us. As St. Paul reminds us; The night is far spent, and the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light (Rom. 13:12). It is time to confront and dispel the clouds of evil that hover over us. READ ALSO: 12. Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for. Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her. Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average office holder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office. The Yorubas say that if it takes you 25 years to practice madness, how much time would you have to put it into real life? We have practiced madness for too long. Our attempt to build a nation has become like the agony of Sisyphus who angered the gods and had to endure the frustration of rolling a stone up the mountain. Each time he got near the top, the gods would tip the stone back and he would go back to start all over again. What has befallen our nation? 13. Nigeria needs to pause for a moment and think. No one more than the President of Nigeria, Major General Muhammadu Buhari who was voted for in 2015 on the grounds of his own promises to rout Boko Haram and place the country on an even keel. In an address at the prestigious Policy Think Tank, Chatham House in London, just before the elections, Major General Buhari told his audience: I as a retired General and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers. They are capable and they are well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty. If am elected President, the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria. Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa. We will pay sufficient attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will develop adequate and modern arms and ammunition. We will improve intelligence gathering and border patrols to choke Boko Harams financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural developmentwe will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front. 14. There is no need to make any further comments on this claim. No one in that hall or anywhere in Nigeria doubted the President who ran his campaign on a tank supposedly full of the fuel of integrity and moral probity. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary Security Agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that, to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian. 15. Today, in Nigeria, the noble religion of Islam has convulsed. It has become associated with some of worst fears among our people. Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and intellectuals have continued to cry out helplessly, asking for their religion and region to be freed from this chokehold. This is because, in all of this, neither Islam nor the north can identify any real benefits from these years that have been consumed by the locusts that this government has unleashed on our country. The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His north has become one large grave yard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country. 16. Why have the gods rejected this offering? Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution. His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Emir of Kano are the two most powerful traditional and moral leaders in Islam today. None of them is happy and they have said so loud and clear. The Sultan recently lamented the tragic consequences of power being in the wrong hands. Every day, Muslim clerics are posting tales of lamentation about their fate. Now, the Northern Elders, who in 2015 believed that General Buhari had come to redeem the north have now turned against the President. Advertisements 17. We are being told that this situation has nothing to do with Religion. Really? It is what happens when politicians use religion to extend the frontiers of their ambition and power. Are we to believe that simply because Boko Haram kills Muslims too, they wear no religious garb? Are we to deny the evidence before us, of kidnappers separating Muslims from infidels or compelling Christians to convert or die? If your son steals from me, do you solve the problem by saying he also steals from you? Again, the Sultan got it right: let the northern political elite who have surrendered the space claim it back immediately. 18. The persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria is as old as the modern Nigerian state. Their experiences and fears of northern, Islamic domination are documented in the Willinks Commission Report way back in 1956. It was also the reason why they formed a political platform called, the Non-Muslim League. All of us must confess in all honesty that in the years that have passed, the northern Muslim elite has not developed a moral basis for adequate power sharing with their Christian co-regionalists. We deny at our own expense. By denying Christians lands for places of worship across most of the northern states, ignoring the systematic destruction of churches all these years, denying Christians adequate recruitment, representation and promotions in the State civil services, denying their indigenous children scholarships, marrying Christian women or converting Christians while threatening Muslim women and prospective converts with death, they make building a harmonious community impossible. Nation building cannot happen without adequate representation and a deliberate effort at creating for all members a sense, a feeling, of belonging, and freedom to make their contributions. This is the window that the killers of Boko Haram have exploited and turned into a door to death. It is why killing Christians and destroying Christianity is seen as one of their key missions. 19. On our part, I believe that this is a defining moment for Christians and Christianity in Nigeria. We Christians must be honest enough to accept that we have taken so much for granted and made so much sacrifice in the name of nation building. We accepted President Buhari when he came with General Idiagbon, two Muslims and two northerners. We accepted Abiola and Kingibe, thinking that we had crossed the path of religion, but we were grossly mistaken. When Jonathan became President, and Senator David Mark remained Senate President while Patricia Ette was chosen by the South West became a Speaker. The Muslim members revolted and forced her resignation with lies and forgery. The same House would shamelessly say that they had no records of her indictment. Today, we are living with a Senate whose entire leadership is in the hands of Muslims. Christians have continued to support them. For how long shall we continue on this road with different ambitions? Christians must rise up and defend their faith with all the moral weapons they have. We must become more robust in presenting the values of Christianity especially our message of love and non-violence to a violent society. Among the wolves of the world, we must become more politically alert, wise as the serpent and humble as the dove (Mt. 10:16). 20. Every Religion has the seeds of its own redemption or destruction. It is a choice between Caesar and God. We cannot borrow the crown of Caesar without consequences. The boundaries between faith and reason are delicate but they are fundamental to how a society builds a moral code. Faith without reason breeds the fanatic, the demagogue who genuinely but wrongly believes that he has heard the voice of a god ordering him to kill another. Reason without faith produces the ideologues who will also kill because the ideology of the state orders him to do so. Societies can only survive when a Constitutional basis has been established to create a balance between both extremes and to place our common humanity at the centre of every pursuit. 21. My dear brothers and sisters, Anger, the quest for Vengeance, are a legitimate inheritance of the condition of unredeemed human being. Both have appeal. Through Violence, you can murder the murderer, but you cannot murder Murder. Through violence, you can kill the Liar, but you cannot kill Lies or install truth. Through Violence, you can murder the Terrorist, but you cannot end Terrorism. Through Violence, you can murder the Violent, but you cannot end Violence. Through Violence, you can murder the Hater, but you cannot end Hatred. Unredeemed man sees vengeance as power, strength and the best means to teach the offender a lesson. These are the ways of the flesh. 22. Christianity parts ways with other Religions when it comes to what to do with the enemy. Here, we must admit, Christianity stands alone. This is the challenge for us as Christians. Others believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or that one can take either blood money or make some form of reparation one way or the other. However, for us Christians, Jesus stands right in the middle with a message that is the opposite of all that is sensible to us as human beings. Put back your sword (Mt. 26: 52). Turn the other cheek (Mt. 5:38). Pray for your enemy (Mt. 5: 44). Give the thief your cloak (Lk. 6:29). None of these makes sense to the human mind without faith. This is why Jesus said the only solution is for us to be born again (Jn. 3:3). The challenge before us is to behold the face of Jesus and ask the question, Are we Born against hatred, anger, violence and vengeance? 23. There is hope, my dear friends. Are we angry? Yes, we are. Are we sad? Of course, we are. Are we tempted to vengeance? Indeed, we are. Do we feel betrayed? You bet. Do we know what to do? Definitely. Do we know when to do it? Why not? Do we know how? Absolutely. Are we in a war? Yes. But what would Christ have us do? The only way He has pointed out to us is the non-violent way. It is the road less travelled, but it is the only way. 24. How and why does God choose these young persons as our models? Leah Sharibu and now Michael, all teenagers when they confronted evil and became martyrs. In a recent report in Daily Trust on February 2, 2020, I read the story of one of the Dapchi girls and their incredible show of bravery in the face of fire. They were asked by their ferocious captors to point out the Christians among them or they would all face death. In response, they said in unison that they were all Muslims. Then, she continued, when they intensified their threat to kill us, Leah stood up and said that she was a Christian. She said they could go ahead and kill her instead of killing all of us. So, they separated her from usbefore we were rescued, they told us that if Leah would convert to Islam, they would free us, so we tried as much as possible to convince her but she refused saying she would never renounce her religion for fear of death. 25. We have no evidence of what transpired between Michael and his killers. However, for us Christians, this death is a metaphor for the fate of all Christians in Nigeria but especially northern Nigeria. For us Christians, it would seem safe to say that we are all marked men and women today. Yet, we must be ready to be washed in the blood of the lamb. The testimony of the Dapchi girl above suggests that our country has a future, a future based on the innocence of our youth who have seen beyond religion. Leah Sharibu is a martyr for the faith and so is Michael. St Paul has already said it well: We carry this treasure in vessels of clay so that all this surpassing power may not be seen as ours, but as Gods. Trials of every sort come our way, but we are not discouraged. We are left without answers but we do not despair, persecuted but not abandoned, knocked down but not crushed. At any moment, we carry in our person, the death of Jesus, so that in life, Jesus may also be manifested in us (2 Cor. 4: 7-10). 26. Finally, we praise and thank God that Pius, Peter and Stephen are alive and will continue to bear earthly testimony of this horror. May God help them to all heal. We join the family of Michael in their act of forgiveness while calling on God give these killers their own road to Damascus experience deep in the forests and highways. For now, we in Sokoto are at peace and feel mightily honoured that we have been chosen for this task of being called upon to walk the footsteps of the passion of Jesus Christ. We know that the Lords burden is never heavy. We are humbled but not bowed. Although we are only a little flock, we are pleased to offer from the little we have to the Master. Like the owner of the donkey on which Jesus rode to Jerusalem, we are asking no question because the Master has asked for Michael (Lk. 19:31). Like the Galileans (Lk. 13:1), we surrender the blood of Michael to the vicious Herods of today but we know we will one day rise to a new life. The choice of our son Michael as a Simon of Cyrene is a remarkable gift that we must embrace with both hands. We feel as if our son has been chosen to represent us in the national team of martyrs. Without fear, we will complete the journey he started because his memory will give us strength. 27. We know that Michaels strength will inspire an army of young people to follow in his steps. We will march on with the cross of Christ entrusted to us, not in agony or pain, because our salvation lies in your cross. We have no vengeance or bitterness in our hearts. We have no drop of sorrow inside us. We are honoured that our son has been summoned to receive the crown of martyrdom at the infancy of his journey to the priesthood. We are grateful that even before he could ascend the earthly altar, Jesus the high priest, called Him to stand by His angels. He was a priest by desire but he is concelebrating the fullness of the priesthood beside His Master. He was lifted up even before his hands could lift up the sacred chalice. May the Lord place him beside His bosom and may he intercede for us. If his blood can bring healing to our nation, then his murderers will never have the final say. May God give him eternal peace. PARADISE, Calif. - Paradise Town Councilwoman, Jody Jones said they have clarified some things in their emergency ordinance, about temporary RV camping. "At this point in the process, you have to have power and sewer hookups. You cannot dry camp anymore," according to Jody Jones. The first annual Butte County Museum Weekend is set for Feb. 20 and March 1. This event was created to promote and celebrate history, art, and culture through Butte County's museums and cultural centers. All participating locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This event is free to the public. Statistics Update 1,476 water advisories lifted 801 building permit applications received 45 homes rebuilt (certificate of occupancy issued) 576 building permits issued 30 properties with standing homes are left to be tested. PID said it expects to complete all testing to all standing homes by March 2020. Other Updates Home Builders Resource Connection: On Friday, Feb. 28, those looking to build in Butte County have a chance to speak with local agencies, realtors, architects, general contractors, lenders, insurance agents and more. This is a free event. Business Outreach Forum: Hosted by the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce with partner agencies, all local businesses are invited to attend the Together We Rise Ridge Business Forum. This will be at the Paradise Lutheran Church at 780 Luther Drive on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Rebuild Advocates at Building Resiliency Center: Those rebuilding in Butte County have help at the Building Resiliency Center. Advocates are on hand to help people through the process, including helping with unresolved insurance issues. They can also help guide residents through the financial resources available to make rebuilding more affordable such as help people apply for loans and connect with contractors. You may call 530-872-6291 ext. 130 to schedule an appointment. 23rd Annual Valley Contractors Exchange Crab Feed: A bigger space for a bigger party. All-You-Can-Eat Crab, Shellys Famous Clam Chowder, Snapshots Photo Booth and Cigars on the House! Back again this year is Dog House for your musical enjoyment. Come enjoy a wonderful night. Thinking about rebuilding? Rebuild Paradise, Paradise Chamber of Commerce, Butte College, Paradise Realtors Association, Chico Builders Association, and Valley Contractors Exchange invite you to join them Friday, Feb. 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Paradise Alliance Church for the Home Builders Resource Connection. This is a special opportunity to connect with local agencies, realtors, architects, general contractors, lenders, insurance agents and more. This event is free to the public. The address of the event is 6491 Clark Road RELATED: Paradise Rebuilding and Recovery: Manufactured homes community meeting Tree Removal: The Paradise Town Council and the Butte County Board of Supervisors passed ordinances requiring the removal of hazard trees damaged by the Camp Fire from private property that may fall into public roadways. Property owners may enter the Government Tree Program to have the trees removed by the State at no out-of-pocket cost. Enrollment in the Government Tree Program requires a Right-of Entry form. Property owners may also identify and remove hazard trees themselves but must submit an inspection form so an inspector may verify the removal of the hazard trees from the property. Property owners may also call the Tree ROE Center directly at (530) 552-3030 or submit Tree ROEs by email at TreeROE@buttecounty.net. The Tree ROE is available for download online at www.ButteCountyRecovers.org/treeremoval. ROE forms may also be picked up at the Tree ROE Centers when they open. An ROE Center will be open at the Butte County Library's Paradise Branch Community Room on 5922 Clark Road, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 pm. Businesses Opening The Cleaning Connection is now open: Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 7515 Skyway Jens Place, Ribbon Cutting: Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - 7126 Skyway Upcoming Meetings & Events PID Regular Meeting When: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: PID Boardroom, 6332 Clark Road Home Builders Resource Connection When: Friday. Feb. 28, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Paradise Alliance Church Gym, 6491 Clark Road Business Outreach Forum When: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Where: Paradise Lutheran Church, 780 Luther Drive Butte County Museum Weekend When: Saturday, Feb. 29 and Sunday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Locations throughout Butte County Fridays for Lunch Free Lunch When: Fridays, noon to 1:30 p.m. Where: Paradise Lutheran Church, 780 Luther Drive Paradise Community Dinner Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 The government is expecting mining investments to reach US$7.75 billion this year, the highest projected amount between 2015 and 2024, fueled by a tidal wave of smelter development projects. The largest chunks of investment this year are slated to come from mining heavyweights PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara. According to Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry data released Tuesday, the two mining giants would invest $2.3 billion and $1.59 billion respectively. 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 it comes to West Virginia politics, nothing surprises me. Well, that was until Gov. Jim Justice and Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. invited Virginia counties that are against proposed gun laws to secede and become part of the Mountain State. Without having done any polling, Im pretty confident that Democrats taking control of our state sparked some outrage in other states. There was a time, however, when Democrat was the party of West Virginia. I was born and raised in West Virginia and remained there until I was almost 49. Democrats were in control when I headed to Virginia. The tide turned in 2016 when Donald Trump rolled through the Mountain State to victory. At the time, coal miners wanted to believe the industry could be revived (still hasnt happened), so they put their trust in Trump. So, lets get back to the secession proposal. With a Republican-led Legislature (House of Delegates and Senate) in Charleston and Falwell leading a university based in Lynchburg, Justice and Libertys leader put out the welcome mat for Virginians, especially those with concerns about the Second Amendment and pro-lifers. Delhi University has issued an advisory to all principals to ensure safety of women employees and students in the aftermath of the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at Gargi College last week. The university has also sought an action taken report within two weeks on the steps taken by the colleges to ensure the safety of students on campus, it said in the advisory issued on February 10. DU also condemned the Gargi College incident and urged police to take strong action against those involved. It said it has also sought an action taken report from the college principal in the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hello, Amy Klobuchar! Where have you been all my life? Or, at least, the whole Democratic presidential primary? Its not often that someone comes in third in the New Hampshire primary and then gives what amounts to a victory speech. And it all sounds pitch perfect. My heart is full tonight, she told supporters. We have beaten the odds every step of the way. We have done it on the merits. We have done it with ideas. And we have done it with hard work. Ive been slow to give the Minnesota senator her due. Thats partly because my first impression was not a positive one. In September 2018, Klobuchar was marketed as a feminist warrior who battled white male privilege and the creeps whose boorish behavior led to the #MeToo movement. Still, you would think that a former prosecutor who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee would know that defendants have the right to be treated fairly. When Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was nominated, that did not happen. As someone who knows her way around a courtroom, Klobuchar is adept at drawing pictures. And the picture she tried to draw of Kavanaugh was not flattering or based on evidence. But now, I feel better about Klobuchar. A lot better. For one thing, as she noted in her remarks Tuesday night from New Hampshire, she can pull herself off the mat when life knocks her down. America deserves a president who is as resilient as her people, she told the cheering crowd. When Klobuchar launched her campaign for president as a moderate from a purple state in a crowded field of Democrats darting to the left not many political experts gave her a chance. And I cant imagine anyone back then thought that, once Democrats started voting, shed be doing as well as shes doing now. At first, she didnt raise a lot of money, and her poll numbers were dismal. But slowly she began to rise. What turned things around? The debates. Klobuchar is extremely strong in that forum, taking jabs and telling stories and pouring her heart out while opponents respond to questions with stale, robotic and rehearsed answers intended to pander to special interests. Heres what Democrats are supposed to learn from the rise of Klobuchar. To borrow a phrase: Its character, stupid. Democrats in New Hampshire were confused and angst-ridden as they cast ballots this week because they were trying to strategically pick the candidate who can beat President Donald Trump. Not a good plan. Gaming the system almost never works. Too many variables. Candidates lie. Voters are fickle. The media gets it wrong. Elections are unpredictable. The question for Democrats is not electability, or who comes from your corner of the ideological spectrum, or who wears the label you most identify with, or even in an argument that Klobuchar makes often who can win over disaffected Democrats because she has previously found support in a swing state. None of that matters. The only thing that matters is character. We cant always define it, but we know it when we see it. And when a candidate shows flashes of honesty, empathy and authenticity, thats character. Klobuchar seems to check all those boxes. When it comes to personal qualities, she runs the board. Everyone else in the top tier comes across as a phony, an opportunist or a quick-change artist. What has a lot of Democrats buzzing is the same thing that likely fueled Klobuchars surge in New Hampshire: the final two minutes of her outstanding closing remarks in last weeks debate in Manchester. She raised $3 million after the exchange. And its no wonder why. She delivered an impactful and memorable statement of who she is, what shes about and why shes running. And she didnt forget to ask people for their votes. Klobuchar argued that Americans are in a crisis of empathy one that starts with the charlatan in the White House. She reminded us that a great president needs to know ordinary people and feel their everyday struggle. To do that, you have to start by thinking of yourself as smaller than the country you serve. Dont sell Klobuchar short. She has the most important quality Americans should look for in a president: character. That is Trumps weakness. He cant run against character. But its not his fault. Hes not the least bit familiar with the concept. ruben@rubennavarrette.com ALTON In honor of Robert Wadlows 102nd birthday on Feb. 22, The Old Bakery Beer Co. at 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, is throwing a party in his honor. Wadlow of Alton holds the record for being the tallest person in recorded history at a height of 811 before his death at age 22. The U.S. national flag flies as the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Oak Spirit, operated by Teekay Corp., sits docked with Poland's first import of U.S. LNG at the Gazoport terminal, operated by Polskie LNG SA, in Swinoujscie, Poland, on Thursday, July 25, 2019. More "freedom gas" from U.S. shale basins is earmarked for Europe after the company behind a Louisiana export project expanded a deal with Poland. Bloomberg Europe can buy its natural gas wherever it wants, including Russia, but there should be more competition among suppliers, a top U.S. energy official told CNBC, adding that Russia was "fearful" of a rise in energy exports from America. "We expect that a lot of countries will continue to buy gas from Russia," Frank Fannon, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for energy resources, told CNBC Tuesday. "That's fine, that's great, so long as it's based on a competitive model is there transparency in pricing, is there even a market, you can't possibly have a market if you have one supplier that's not a market, there's no competition." The Supreme Court on Wednesday (February 12) adjourned hearing in case of plea filed by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah's sister Sara Pilot after one of the judges recused himself. Pilot's plea was to be heard by a three-judge bench comprising justices N V Ramana, Shantanagoudar and Sanjiv Khanna. Justice M M Shantangoudar recused himself from hearing the plea at the outset. The petition filed by Sara Abdullah Pilot, challenged the National Conference leader's detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). In her petition, Sara has said that Omar Abdullah's detention is "manifestly illegal" and there is no question of him being a "threat to the maintenance of public order". Sara also urged the top court to quash the February 5 order which put the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister in detention under the PSA and said that Abdullah should be produced before the court. Sara Pilot has also said that exercise of powers by the authorities under the CrPC to detain individuals, including political leaders, was "clearly mala fide to ensure that the opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution is silenced". "There has been a grave violation of Articles 14, 21 and 22 of the Constitution," the plea said, adding, "similar orders of detention have been issued by the Respondents (authorities of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir) over the last seven months in a wholly mechanical manner to other detainees, which suggest that there has been a consistent and concerted effort to muzzle all political rivals". The bench then said it will hear the plea on Thursday. The duchess wants to encourage a UK wide conversation about childcare. (Getty Images) The Duchess of Cambridge has proved herself braver than Indiana Jones by handling a corn snake while on a trip to a zoo in Belfast. Catherine paid a quick visit to Northern Ireland, where she stopped in at the Ark Open Farm in Newtownards and showed she can work with both children and animals. Catherine invites some of the children to touch the corn snake. (Getty Images) The visit was part of her early years work and the 5 Big Questions survey, which she hopes will spark a nationwide conversation about the first five years of childhood. As she held out her arms to take the snake, she said: Are you sure its OK? Oh my goodness. No way, before adding: Is there a way to hold her? Wow, look at that. She asked a youngster next to her: Do you want to touch the snake? Catherine was apparently very enthusiastic to hold the snake. (Getty Images) Kate added: Shes got the most amazing skin. This is the first time Ive ever held a snake like that. How cool is that? The snakes handler Sophie Wrigglesworth, 26, from Co Down told PA they had not originally planned to bring the snake out to the duchess as they had been advised she had a fear of them. But she said, oh no, I want to see the snake, straight away she held it, she said, adding that they often receive visitors with a fear of snakes. We have a creepy crawly loft, spiders, hissing cockroaches, and stick insects, you often get people who say oh no, Im not touching them but then they do have a feel and it encourages them to face their fears. It was good fun meeting the duchess, quite nerve wracking initially but she was so calm and collected, and she was good at approaching people and making sure everyone felt comfortable. Kate helps feed a lamb at the farm. (Getty Images) Kate also seemed charmed by an alpaca. (Getty Images) During her one-stop visit, the first time she has been to Northern Ireland on her own, she also stroked an alpaca, fed a lamb and talked to a young boy about the farms massive bull. The duchess has been touring the UK to promote the 5 Big Questions survey, and spoke to Early Years representatives, parents and grandparents in the Arks cafe. Kate chats to a boy about a hedgehog. (Getty Images) Her surprise visit to Northern Ireland came a day Kensington Palace confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been asked to go to Ireland for a state visit between 3 and 5 March. Story continues Kate travelled from Northern Ireland to Scotland, where she visited the Social Bite cafe in Union Street. The cafe provides jobs to people who have been homeless, and Kate, who is the Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, spoke to customers and staff about the lasting impact of childhood experiences. Catherine poses with the staff members at the Social Bite. (Getty Images) The Duchess, or the Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, helps out in the kitchen. (Getty Images). Alice Thompson, the cafes co-founder, said: Were always delighted to have anybody in the public eye come and shed a spotlight on our mission to end homelessness in Scotland. Its completely doable and people like the Duchess of Cambridge coming to help publicise our message means the world. A pensioner who was arrested over his cannabis plants has credited the drug with saving his life as he battles kidney failure. Tony Bevington said police have visited him twice at his home to tell him to stop growing his own cannabis, which he would use to make CBD oil. The 79-year-old said he turned to the drug after he was diagnosed with stage three kidney failure, which is not treatable. He has claimed his condition has improved since he started using cannabis as a form of medicine. Is it better to be illegally alive or legally dead? he said. I have grown it to save my life. Where is cannabis legal in the US? Show all 11 1 /11 Where is cannabis legal in the US? Where is cannabis legal in the US? Alaska Recreational cannabis use was made legal in Alaska in 2014 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Washington Washington was among the first states to legalise cannabis in 2012 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Michigan Recreational cannabis use was made legal in Michigan in 2018 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Massachusetts Recreational cannabis use was made legal in Massachusetts in 2016 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Colorado Colorado was among the first states to legalise cannabis in 2012 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Vermont Since January 2018 it has been legal to posses up to one ounce and two cannabis plants in Vermont. Commercial sales are not legal Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? California Recreational cannabis use was made legal in California in 2018 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Illinois Recreational cannabis use was made legal in Illinois in 2019 Getty Images Where is cannabis legal in the US? Oregon It was made legal in Oregon to possess up to one ounce of cannabis in 2014 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Maine Recreational cannabis use was made legal in Maine in 2016 Getty Where is cannabis legal in the US? Nevada Recreational cannabis use was made legal in Nevada in 2016 Getty The pensioner from Camborne, a town in Cornwall, said he would turn the drug into oil to swallow it like any other medicine. Mr Bevington was arrested along with two members of his family and also received a caution after neighbours tipped off the police. They came and took my plants, my pots, everything, he said. They came back again six to eight weeks later to caution me and I had started again, which I had to do to get my medication. Mr Bevington told local media that he will have to try and get cannabis off friends who grow the drug in the future. I cant grow anymore because Ill go to prison, he told Cornwall Live. At 80 years old, that is ludicrous. He said: I accept that as the law stands, Ive broken the law. But in my thoughts, the law is an ass. Devon and Cornwall Police said that legislation was a matter for the government but confirmed three people remained under investigation for drug-related offences. Additional reporting by SWNS Ki's agency said on Tuesday, "We have notified FC Seoul and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors that we are ending negotiations. Ki won't return to the K-League this season unless something extraordinary comes up." He is now in negotiations with several clubs overseas, it added. Ki has been negotiating with some K-League clubs since he left Newcastle United in the English Premier League early this month. Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng's plan to return to the K-League appears to have been thwarted by contractual difficulties. Ki joined FC Seoul in 2006 and made his professional debut the following year. In 2009, he moved to Celtic FC in the Scottish Premiership on a transfer deal worth 2 million pounds and spent the following decade in Europe. He played for Swansea City in the EPL, was loaned briefly to Sunderland and eventually joined Newcastle United, which he left on Feb. 1 after terminating his contract by mutual consent. Although Ki has attracted interest from several clubs in China and the Middle East since becoming a free agent, he first contacted FC Seoul, as he wished to return home. But he was disappointed by the club's offer and no deal was reached. He next turned to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, which initially made him a strong offer. However, it later backed out when it learned that his 2009 transfer contract from FC Seoul to Celtic included a provision requiring Ki to rejoin the Seoul club when he returns home, or pay it a penalty of W2.6 billion (US$1=W1,184). Jeonbuk said, "This is not a transfer fee. Paying such a hefty penalty would set a bad precedent." FC Seoul later offered a better deal but Ki notified both clubs that he was breaking off the negotiations. "He thought his return could be disruptive to the K-League," his agency said. "He is very disappointed with how things have worked out. He also feels sorry for fans who were expecting his return," it added. The Bahrain Real Estate Investment Exhibition 2020 launches the third edition tomorrow under the patronage of Shaikh Salman bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Chairman of Real Estate Regulatory Authority President of Survey and Land Registration Bureau on Thursday, 13 February 2020 at the Galleria area of Bahrain City Centre Mall. The exhibition will run over three consecutive days from 13 to 15 February 2020 during the mall timings, and it is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors. Aseel Al Mohandes, Exhibition Chairman and Founder of Expressions PR and Events, the event organiser, said: The real estate community in Bahrain celebrates the opening of the third edition of this unique property exhibition that gathers elite sponsors and exhibitors of property developers, managers and brokers. Ms Al Mohandes added: The innovative concept of BREIX20 focuses on the housing and property investment opportunities offered at the Bahraini local market. The exhibition also emphasises the offerings of readily available and licensed properties all at the convenience of a shopping mall which guarantees for visitors easy access to a wide array of quality projects in one place. The exhibition is also organised in strategic partnership with Tamkeen and the support of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority and the Survey and Land Registration Bureau. Moreover, key property developers are sponsoring the event starting with Diyar Al Muharraq and Eagle Hills Diyar as Prime Sponsors, and Naseej as the Signature sponsor. There will be 12 exhibiting companies ranging between property developers, brokers and service providers. The exhibition promotes a culture of property investment, and aim to attract and facilitate GCC property investments in the Bahraini market; showcase existing and future properties at competitive prices; create a periodic event where real estate investors and professionals can meet and interact. Mask-clad commuters get off a train at a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stop in Taipei following the Lunar New Year holidays on Jan. 30, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) Top CDC Doctor Warns: US Should Prepare for Coronavirus To Take a Foothold A top Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official said it is preparing for the new coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, to take a foothold inside the United States. At some point, we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. or in other countries, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the head of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters during a conference call. This will trigger a change in our response strategy. The CDC, she added, is taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for a domestic outbreak, noting that while most of the cases of the virus are in mainland China, there will come a time when it begins to spread more in the United States. The goal of the measures we have taken to date are to slow the introduction and impact of this disease in the United States, but at some point we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. or other countries and this will trigger a change in our response strategy, the official said. If and when it spreads more in the United States, all levels of the government and different federal agencies should work in tandem to curb the threat, according to Messonnier. Officials need to ensure there are enough medical supplies, including face masks, to prevent the spread, she continued. But as of now, Messonnier said the CDC doesnt recommend the general public to use masks as COVID-19 is not spreading in the community. Community workers distribute free vegetables to members of households inside the residential compound, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Feb. 11, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) The CDC, so far, has confirmed 13 cases of the virus in the United States, with seven in California, two in Illinois, one in Washington state, one in Arizona, one in Wisconsin, and one in Massachusetts. Almost all of the patients are people who recently traveled to virus epicenter Wuhan, China, although two cases in California and Illinois were confirmed to have involved person-to-person transmission. Outside of China, where dozens of cities have been placed on lockdown, the most cases have been confirmed off the coast of Japan on cruise ship Diamond Princess. Japanese health authorities said more than 170 people have been infected with the disease after an elderly Hong Kong man is believed to have initially spread it. 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, on Feb. 4, 2020. (cnsphoto via Reuters) Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been sickened by the virus in China, although netizens and activists have accused the Chinese Communist Party of not reporting the full scope and engaging in draconian measures to censor human rights abuses. Some inside China have expressed public outrage following the death of Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who was reprimanded by Wuhan police after he tried to warn about the virus before he was diagnosed with COVID-19 himself. A prisoner of conscience who practices traditional meditation Falun Gong was also arrested, tortured before losing consciousness, and later sent to a virus quarantine, according to a report, which added that CCP officials did so in order to cover their abuse. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced it would send a team to China to study COVID-19, national security advisor Robert OBrien said no U.S. experts are being included. That team does not include American doctors, he said during a talk in Washington. We have offered the Chinese the opportunity to have American doctors from CDC and NIH and other experts. That offer has not been accepted at this point. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Turkeys president accused Russia of committing massacres in its support of the Syrian government on Wednesday, escalating a war of words as more Turkish reinforcements arrived on the ground. Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to strike Syrian regime forces everywhere if its soldiers come under renewed attack, but Russia hit back and accused the Turks of failing to neutralise terrorists in the northwestern province of Idlib. Turkey has shored up its positions in recent days in Idlib the last rebel bastion in Syria with hundreds of vehicles carrying artillery and soldiers. And a new convoy of Turkish armoured vehicles arrived Wednesday in the town of Binnish, northeast of Idlib city, in a new deployment, an AFP correspondent said.- Turkish officials say they have lost 14 soldiers in the past nine days and claim to have killed scores of Syrian government troops as they try to push back forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian forces backed by Russian air strikes have pressed ahead with an offensive to retake Idlib from rebel groups that began in December, despite a 2018 deal agreed between Turkey and Russia in Sochi. The offensive which has retaken numerous towns and a crucial motorway has killed hundreds of civilians and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing for safety in harsh winter conditions. Terrorist groups Erdogans direct criticism of Russia is a rare move since 2015 when Turkey shot down Moscows fighter jet that had strayed into its airspace. The tensions over Idlib highlight the complexity of ties between the two countries, whose rivalry stretches back into their imperial pasts and has been characterised by centuries of mistrust. The regime, backed by Russian forces and Iran-backed militants, are continuously attacking civilians, committing massacres and shedding blood, Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling party in parliament. He said Turkey would do whatever necessary to push Syrian forces back behind the 12 observation posts it set up in Idlib under the Sochi deal. I hereby declare that we will strike regime forces everywhere from now on regardless of the Sochi deal if any tiny bit of harm comes to our soldiers at observation posts or elsewhere, he added. In return, Russia accused Turkey of failing to honour the 2018 deal, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the Turkish side had taken upon itself an obligation to neutralise terrorist groups in Idlib. But all these groups are mounting an attack on the Syrian army from Idlib and are acting aggressively towards Russian military installations, he added. Differing interpretations Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed Erdogans claims of attacks on civilians, telling journalists: We have differing interpretations from Turkey. Under the bilateral agreements, radical groups were required to withdraw from a demilitarised zone in the Idlib region held by an array of rebels. The Russian defence ministry also blamed the crisis in Idlib on Turkish colleagues failure to fulfil their obligations on separating fighters from the moderate opposition from terrorists. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan spoke by phone on Wednesday, with the Kremlin urging Ankara to implement the Sochi deal. The Turkish presidency confirmed the call but did not provide details. Erdogans threats also prompted an angry response from the Syrian government, accusing the Turkish leader of being disconnected from reality. The head of the Turkish regime comes with empty statements only issued by a person disconnected from reality, state news agency SANA quoted a source at the foreign ministry as saying. US coalition clashes A Russian delegation including military and intelligence officials held two rounds of talks in Ankara this week, but no concrete agreement emerged. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said a Turkish delegation would now go to Moscow in the next few days. Continuing to work with Russia, we are working to secure a lasting ceasefire. But even if nothing results from this, our determination is clear and we will do what is necessary, he said. US special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey held closed-door talks with Turkish officials in Ankara including with Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin. Both officials said the attacks on Turkish army posts in Idlib by Syrian forces were unacceptable, the Turkish presidency said. Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million refugees from Syria, fears a fresh influx if Idlib falls to the government and has kept its border closed to newly displaced people. SOURCE: AFP | PHOTO: AFP The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. All times below are in Beijing time. 9:15 pm: OPEC cuts oil demand outlook for 2020 as coronavirus outbreak stifles China OPEC has slashed its forecast for oil demand growth this year, citing China's coronavirus outbreak as the "major factor" behind its decision. In a closely-watched monthly report published Wednesday, the Middle East-dominated producer group downwardly revised its outlook for global oil demand growth to 0.99 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2020. That's down by 0.23 million bpd from the previous month's estimate. The amended forecast is likely to reinforce the case for OPEC and allied non-OPEC producers, including Russia, to impose additional output cuts sooner rather than later. 8:30 pm: Chinese Grand Prix postponed over coronavirus concerns The Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, the organizers said on Wednesday.The FIA, the sport's governing body, announced it had taken the decision because of "continued health concerns and with the WHO (World Health Organization) declaring the coronavirus as a global health emergency." The Formula One (F1) race had initially been scheduled to be held in Shanghai on April 19. On Feb. 5, sports authorities in Shanghai had recommended the suspension of all sporting events in the city. 8:10 pm: Cruise ship stranded at sea reportedly allowed to dock in Cambodia A cruise ship that had been turned away from a number of different countries over fears someone on board might be infected with the coronavirus has received permission to dock in Cambodia, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing the Holland America Line. The MS Westerdam cruise ship, which is reported to have 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members on board, will dock in Cambodia to allow passengers disembark. The ship, which has said it does not have any sick passengers, had been turned away from Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and the island territory of Guam. 7:30 pm: Singapore's United Overseas Bank keeps $2.2 billion aside for firms hit by coronavirus Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB) has allocated 3 billion Singapore dollars ($2.2 billion) to provide businesses in the city-state with relief assistance as China's coronavirus continues to spread internationally. "In the face of the likely economic fallout and its impact on industries and businesses, UOB sees the need to help its corporate clients, in particular the SMEs (small-and-medium enterprises), in addressing their near-term liquidity needs," the bank said in a statement, Reuters reported Wednesday. As of Tuesday evening, China's National Health Commission reported that a total of 44,653 cases had been confirmed, with 1,113 deaths. (See 10:09 a.m. update). 5 pm: China warns graduates of a 'more complex and grim' employment situation over coming months China's Ministry of Education has cautioned graduates to expect challenging job market conditions over the coming months, citing an economic downturn and escalating fears over the fast-spreading coronavirus. "Taking into consideration the downward pressure on the economy and the additional impact of the (virus), (we) expect higher education graduates in the first half of this year will face a more complex and grim employment situation," Wang Hui, director of the higher education department at China's Ministry of Education, said at a press conference Wednesday, according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks. The class of 2020 is set to increase by 400,000 from last year to 8.74 million graduates, Wang said. He added the ministry has a four-point plan for helping these students find jobs, including increasing online recruitment and allowing schools to hold necessary residential paperwork for two years. Cheng. 3:19 pm: Singapore's DBS confirms an employee has been infected, others evacuated from premises DBS Group said that one of its employees had been infected with the pneumonia-like coronavirus after being tested on Feb. 11. The bank said it was informed Wednesday morning and at 12 p.m. evacuated employees on the affected floor at DBS' main Marina Bay Financial Centre office. DBS said in a statement that contact tracing was being conducted and that the affected office space will be disinfected. According to an internal memo obtained by CNBC, 300 employees had been evacuated. DBS did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The bank, one of Asia's largest lenders, is due to release fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, Feb. 13. 1:35 pm: State Department official at Singapore Airshow says US monitoring situation rationally The virus outbreak that has killed more than a thousand people, mostly in China, should be monitored using professional medical guidance instead of relying on rumors and emotions, R. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary for political-military affairs at the U.S. Department of State, told CNBC. Explaining the U.S. delegation's presence at the Singapore Airshow, despite more than 70 companies pulling out at the last minute including defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin, Cooper said, "(What) actually fed into our calculus of being here is the actual facts and science." "We have more people back home in the United States dying of influenza right now, and so being very realistic and pragmatic about what the conditions are and how that relates relative to everything else," he said. On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the 13th case of infection in the country, detected in California. Huileng Tan 12:34 pm: More central banks sound the alarm over near-term economic impact of the coronavirus Malaysia's central bank said Wednesday that first-quarter growth will be affected by the outbreak that spurred shutdowns in China in efforts to contain the virus' spread. "The overall impact of the virus on the Malaysian economy will, however, depend on the duration and spread of the outbreak as well as policy responses by the authorities," Bank Negara Malaysia said in a statement. For its part, Malaysia has agreed to set up a joint working group with neighbor Singapore to coordinate responses to the virus outbreak. (see 7:42 a.m. update) New Zealand's central bank, which kept its official cash rate unchanged at 1%, said it assumed the overall economic impact in the country will be short and mostly concentrated in the first half of 2020. Governor Adrian Orr predicted around six weeks of disruption, with the assumption that some normalization would happen over March and that travel restrictions to China are lifted, Reuters reported. Last week, the Philippine central bank warned of an "adverse impact" on economic activity and market sentiment in the near-term due to the outbreak. 10:09 am: China reports additional 97 deaths and 2,015 confirmed new cases China's National Health Commission said there were 2,015 confirmed new cases on the mainland and 97 additional deaths related to the new, deadly strain of coronavirus, most of them occurring in Hubei province. (see 7:05 a.m. update) As of Tuesday night, the Chinese government said a total of 44,653 cases have been confirmed and 1,113 people have died in the country. The NHC did not disclose if any confirmed cases were removed from the tally as of midnight Feb. 11. On Feb. 7, the Chinese government made a policy announcement that implied patients who did not exhibit symptoms of the virus would no longer be considered confirmed cases. Cheng 9:55 am: Rakuten pulls out of Mobile World Congress Barcelona Rakuten's mobile communications business, Rakuten Mobile, said Wednesday it will no longer participate in the Mobile World Congress Barcelona from Feb. 24 to Feb. 27 due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. A number of prominent tech names have pulled out of the international telecommunication conference in recent days including Facebook, Amazon, Sony, Intel, and Nvidia. Organizer GSMA will have a board meeting on Friday to discuss the possibility of canceling the event, Reuters reported, citing an industry source. 9:28 am: China virus updates due As of 9:28 a.m., China's National Health Commission had not yet released the national-level infection and death numbers. In previous instances, those numbers had been released just before 8 a.m. Beijing time. Numbers published Tuesday showed the death toll in the country from the coronavirus outbreak topped 1,000. 8:50 am: Coronavirus crisis will speed up US-China 'decoupling' more than the trade war The outbreak could help speed up the so-called "decoupling" between the United States and China, more so than the trade war did, Milken Institute Asia fellow Curtis Chin told CNBC. The ongoing crisis, which has killed more than a thousand people mostly on the Chinese mainland, will underscore to companies the importance of diversifying supply chains away from China. Weizhen Tan 8:47 am: Virus outbreak could affect US-China phase one trade deal, official says The disease outbreak in China looks like it could have an impact on Beijing's commitments to buying U.S. agricultural produce this year, White House national security advisor Robert O'Brien said at an Atlantic Council event. U.S. agricultural purchases by China are part of a phase one trade deal both countries signed last month to ease trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. "We expect the phase one deal will allow China to import more food and open those markets to American farmers," O'Brien said. "As we watch this coronavirus outbreak unfold in China it could have an impact on how big, at least in this current year, the purchases are." He also said that the United States has offered China the "opportunity" to have American doctors and health experts on the ground to help contain the virus' spread. "That offer has not been accepted at this point, but that's an outstanding offer," he said. 8:05 am: Another 39 cases reported on cruise ship docked in Japan Another 39 people tested positive for the coronavirus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship currently quarantined at sea off the coast of Japan, ship operator Princess Cruises said Tuesday evening stateside. The company added it is following guidance from Japan's health ministry on plans for disembarkation protocols to provide medical care for the newly reported cases. The Ministry of Health in Japan also said on its website one of the quarantine officers was infected with the virus. Princess Cruises on Monday had confirmed 66 additional cases, which brought the total number of infections to 136. The ship, carrying more than 3,700 passengers and crew, had been quarantined since early February after a previous guest tested positive for the disease six days after disembarking. 7:42 am: Singapore and Malaysia to establish a joint working group to fight the coronavirus Singapore said on Tuesday that together with Malaysia, it will establish a joint working group to strengthen cooperation on preventing the spread of the infectious disease, which the World Health Organization recently named COVID-19. Senior health officials from both countries would work together over the next few days to determine the composition and terms of references of the group, Singapore's health ministry said. As of Tuesday noon, Singapore reported 47 confirmed cases 25 of which were locally transmitted. Neighbor Malaysia reported 18 cases of infection. 7:05 am: Hubei province reports additional 94 deaths China's Hubei province reported an additional 94 deaths and 1,638 newly diagnosed, confirmed cases related to the deadly pneumonia-like coronavirus as of the end of Tuesday. According to the Hubei Provincial Health Committee, 1,068 people have died in the province from the disease and there have been a total of 33,366 confirmed cases thus far. Most of those cases and deaths occurred in the city of Wuhan, where the virus was first detected. A woman wears a protective mask as she rides a bicycle on February 11.2020 in Wuhan. Hubei province, China. Flights, trains and public transport including buses, subway and ferry services have been suspended. Getty Images All times below are in Eastern time. 5:08 pm: First American evacuees from Wuhan released from federal quarantine The 195 Americans who were first evacuated from Wuhan last month were released from their 14-day quarantine on March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California earlier today. None of the evacuees tested positive for the new coronavirus, Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said at a news briefing, warning against discrimination. "They don't need additional tests, they don't need to be shunned, they don't have novel coronavirus," he said. One of the evacuees, Jarred Evans, told CNBC after the news briefing that he was on a bus to the airport. Feuer 4:05 pm: Outbreak could affect Airbnb's IPO, WSJ reports Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 23:12:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte discussed the situation in Libya during a phone call on Wednesday, the Kremlin has said in a statement. Putin emphasized the importance of coordinating with Libyan parties on all the parameters of a settlement plan being worked out through the United Nations (UN) Security Council. Interest was expressed in continuing joint work aimed at achieving long-term normalization in Libya, the statement said. The Libyan conflict escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rival governments -- the UN-backed Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and a Tobruk-based government allied with the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar, who seeks to take over Tripoli. Phoenix, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/12/2020 -- Twenty-five percent of Connecticut's workforce is at least 55 years of age and the 65 and older population is expected to outnumber the 18 and under population by the years 2035. As a result, Senator Haskell, at age 22, has co-sponsored a bill on age discrimination which is strongly supported by AARP. The legislation prohibits employers from asking an applicant applying for any position information regarding their age, date of birth, or graduation date unless the information is relevant to a specific qualification for an occupation. Protections against age discrimination for adults 40 years of age or older were first signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967. However, these protections were whittled away by a Supreme Court Ruling in 2009 which made it more difficult for workers to sue businesses for age discrimination if they felt they were being forced out of a job or denied a work opportunity. AARP found that 60 percent of older workers saw or experienced age discrimination in their own workplace in 2018, and 75 percent of those individuals found it as an obstacle to finding a new job. At the same time, almost a third of U.S. households headed by someone over the age of 55 have no retirement savings or pension, meaning they will need to rely on Social Security or continue working. How will this bill impact older adults in the workforce? It ensures that during the paper submission interview process the person will not be denied an interview based on his or her age. This allows them the opportunity to advocate for themselves during an in-person interview and present attributes that an employer may not be able to learn from a resume. Senator Haskell is looking forward to building support for this bill on both sides of the aisle. He recognizes that people of all ages bring valuable perspectives to Connecticut's workforce, and no one should be denied an interview because of their age. Senator Haskell's age and enthusiasm attracted attention from the Washington Post, the New York Times and Time magazine when he was running for his Senate seat. We are thrilled to have Senator Haskell as a guest on Voices for Elder Care Advocacy to learn more about this bill and discuss the issues surrounding age discrimination faced by so many of our elder citizens. About Phyllis Ayman, MS/SLP, CDP, CADDCT and Rubina Chaudhary, BSc, MBA: Phyllis Ayman, host of Voices for Eldercare Advocacy, is a speech language pathologist, certified dementia practitioner, trainer, and best-selling author who has been dedicated to improved quality of life and quality of care for residents in the over 40 skilled nursing facilities in which she's worked. She's known for her communication skills, empathy unwavering high standards of care, and is passionate about our attitudes towards and treatment of our elder citizens and meeting the needs of our culturally diverse senior population. She understands the root causes faced by nursing home residents and empowers families, providing valuable information so they can more effectively advocates for quality care for their loved ones which is ultimately our future selves. Phyllis is a speaker, trainer, radio personality and TV host as well as a board member of the Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and advisor to Olive Community Services based in Los Angeles, California. Rubina Chaudhary's passion for elder care stems from her personal experience as an only child living more than 1,000 miles away from her aging parents, both of whom are now 91 years of age. This experience led to the founding of OLIVE Community services, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization providing culturally appropriate supportive services to seniors, their families and the community. Rubina is an entrepreneur providing engineering management consulting services for infrastructure projects through her company MARRS Services, Inc. About VoiceAmerica VoiceAmerica is the original digital broadcast company for the production and delivery of Live Internet Talk Radio programming and continues to be the industry leader in digital media, marketing, and distribution. We are the pioneers of digital radio programming and have been since 1999. We create and distribute over 500 unique and innovative radio programs for our millions of engaged listeners worldwide over five niche community based channels: the flagship VoiceAmerica Variety Channel, VoiceAmerica Empowerment Channel, VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel, VoiceAmerica Business Channel, and VoiceAmerica Influencers Channel. VoiceAmerica TV offers targeted and exclusive video programming channels. Our network channels distribute live programs daily that reach a growing domestic and international audience who connect through all devices via our mobile, desktop, and tablet VoiceAmerica destinations. Learn more at http://www.voiceamerica.com. Download the VoiceAmerica App now to listen live on Apple and Android. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about the VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network, or our parent company, World Talk Radio, LLC, call 855-877-4666. DETROIT A father and son will be sentenced next month for crimes related to running an illegal gambling operation that involved 19 slot-style gaming terminals at a Roseville cafe. 57-year-old David John Hoppe of China Township was found guilty by a jury in January of three felonies and a misdemeanor related to illegal gambling in 2018 at 777 Cafe, 32488 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville. His most serious offense carries up to 10 years in prison, while his son 31-year-old Lucas Hoppe of China Township took a plea deal and faces up to five years in prison for one felony. Illegal gambling operations not only pose a threat to consumers through rigged games, but they also rob our schools and our government of essential funding, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. We have gambling regulations in place to protect our residents and those who defy those regulations will be held accountable. The charges against the Hoppes resulted from a joint investigation by the Roseville Police Department, the Michigan Department of Attorney General and the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). David Hoppe will be sentenced by Chief Judge James M. Biernat Jr. at 8:30 a.m. on March 5 for one felony count of running an illegal gambling operation, two felony counts of using computers to commit a crime and a misdemeanor charge of maintaining a gambling house for gain. Lucas Hoppe pleaded guilty in January in Macomb County Circuit Court to a reduced felony charge of attempting to run an illegal gambling operation. Three other charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. He will be sentenced by Judge Diane M. Druzinski at 8:30 a.m. on March 12. Charges were dropped against a third defendant, 65-year-old Denise M. Hagann of Mussey Township. Illegal gambling operations can lead to other serious crimes, Richard S. Kalm, MGCB executive director, said in a statement. In general, people are cheated, and the money earned by these facilities funds organized crime. We urge Michigan citizens to report suspected illegal gambling to local authorities or to our agency. The investigation into gambling at 777 Cafe followed a series of tips. David Hoppe reportedly claimed that slot-style gaming terminals in the cafe were certified and approved by an independent gaming lab. A search warrant was executed in June 2018, which resulted in the seizure of 19 gaming terminals, gaming receipts and an undisclosed amount of cash. This is not the first time David Hoppe has been caught in illegal gambling. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to a one-year misdemeanor charge of maintaining a gaming or gambling place. As part of a plea arrangement, he agreed not to make available to the public any gaming machines not certified as non-gambling devices. The agreement led to dismissal of a 10-year felony charge of conducting a gambling operation where wagering was used without a license. Michigan residents may report illegal or suspicious gambling activity through the MGCBs anonymous tip line at 888-314-2682. READ MORE: Moms clash at childrens dance recital at Ann Arbor school, police say Unpaid tax letters are a scam, Michigan sheriff warns The first hearing where women were invited to publicly share their experiences with sexual harassment in New Jersey politics included allegations against one of the states most powerful politicians. In emotional testimony Tuesday evening, a labor official came forward at the public forum in Fort Lee to accuse state Senate President Stephen Sweeney of intimidation, including verbally threatening her in public several years ago after she opposed his efforts to cut state pensions. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, contributes to a culture of toxic masculinity in New Jersey politics, Fran Ehret, a staff representative from the Communications Workers of America, told the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in New Jersey Politics. The explosive remarks before about 50 people at the forum were among a handful of stories women shared at the invitation of the workgroup, which was formed last month by state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, to hold listening sessions. The group plans to come back with suggestions on how to improve the political culture for women in New Jersey. Sweeney, the international vice president of the ironworkers unions, was the chief architect behind the passage of a law Gov. Chris Christie signed that cut public employee pensions and benefits. Ehret said the Democratic leaders comments were made during a heated exchange at a union meeting in 2010. At the union meeting, Ehret said Sweeney "stood up, pointed his finger at me and he said, If you were a man, I would take you outside right now and kick your ass. When a man who is much bigger than you towers over you and threatens you with violence, that is not okay, Ehret told the panel. That is sexism. That is abuse of power. Ehret also described an instance in which she spoke out against Sweeney during a Gloucester County Freeholder meeting, which Sweeney ran as freeholder director. When she left the meeting, she said five large men from the building trades followed her onto the elevator and crowded around her. There was no mistaking what the message was. I was being told to shut up," she said. If we are going to hold public hearings to talk about misogyny by people in power and the many forms of abuse women are subjected to in the workplace, I think we should start with the gross misogyny and abuse of power by Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Ehret said. Reached by phone Tuesday night, Sweeney said Ehret often organizes protests against him. This is in individual who has attacked me day in and day out for many years, Sweeney told NJ Advance Media. Anything she says, it should be taken into account the way she handles me. This is someone who has organized public rallies against me, has tried to drown me out, shut me out, and shut me down, Sweeney added. Shes not an honest person. In fact, shes a very dishonest person. She has been the ringleader in trying to silence different views, he continued. The bad blood between public sector unions and Sweeney is well documented. The New Jersey Education Association which has spent years backing and raising money to support mostly Democratic candidates endorsed Sweeneys Republican competitor, Fran Grenier, in the 2017 election. Amanda Richardson, chairwoman of the Harding Township Democratic Committee, speaks during the first hearing of the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in Fort Lee.George McNish | For NJ Advance M During Ehrets testimony, the panel of women serving on the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny listened quietly and did not ask questions. Weinberg formed the group last month in response to an NJ Advance Media report detailing sexual harassment and sexual assault in state politics. The report, published Dec. 29 on NJ.com and in The Star-Ledger and its affiliated newspapers, included the experiences of 20 lobbyists, political consultants and elected officials who recounted everything from sexist comments to groping and rape while working in state government and politics. The report prompted Gov. Phil Murphy and state lawmakers to call for systematic changes in state politics. The organizers of the states two high-profile political gatherings the state Chamber of Commerces annual train trip to Washington, D.C., and the annual state League of Municipalities convention also promised changes to make the events safer for women. Amanda Richardson, chairwoman of the Harding Township Democratic Committee, told the committee she was dismayed by the presence of alcohol in political gatherings when she got involved in politics three years ago. It made it difficult for her as a new mother to participate because she couldnt go out to bars after meetings, she said. Leadership must prioritize creating a welcoming environment for women, and embrace a cultural change to ensure connections can be made outside of bars and parties," Richardson said. A womens caucus could help promote daytime events where children are welcome or online events, she added. Deborah Cornavaca, Gov. Phil Murphy's deputy chief of staff, speaks during the first hearing of the Workgroup on Harassment, Sexual Assault and Misogyny in Fort Lee.George McNish | For NJ Advance M Deborah Cornavaca, Murphys deputy chief of staff, said the administration is committed to bringing in experts to create more effective anti-harassment training programs. The work should also include women of different racial and religious backgrounds because these minorities are the most often subject to harassment, she said. The administration is absolutely committed to change, and we pledge ourselves to achieve this change, Cornavaca said. This work will not be easy, this work will not be fast. The workgroup will hold two additional listening sessions in March in Central and South Jersey on dates to be announced, organizers said. There will also be one closed-door session where women can tell their stories in private or anonymously. This is just the beginning, Weinberg said at the close of the meeting. The group also has an anonymous survey where women can share their experiences. Some 360 people have responded to the survey since it was launched on Jan. 28, the committee said. Weinberg said the committee will decide how the problems ought to be addressed. She could imagine sponsoring legislation or making sure workplace training programs are provided. I thought we had passed most of the laws that were needed to protect people, Weinberg said in an interview before the meeting. I wasnt shocked about any story I have heard. What is more upsetting is we have not helped establish the atmosphere where women and some men feel like they have a safe space to speak. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. February 12 : Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra who recently released Shikara amidst of heated and controversial backlashes, reveals that Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron has praised the film and people criticizing the film are nothing but Donkeys. Vidhu Vinod Chopra was interacting with the media on the sidelines of his visit to KC College to promote Shikara along with Aadil Khan and Sadia on Tuesday in Mumbai. After the release of Shikara, certain section of people accused Chopra of commercialising the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in his recently released film. When asked about backlashes Shikara is facing and if the filmmaker wants a rebuttal, Vidhu Vinod Chopra said, We took 11 years of our life to make this film, Shikara. I feel today things are very funny because I make films which collects 30 crores on its first day (3 Idiots) and when I make a film which collects 30 lakhs (Shikara) on its first day in the memory of my mother then people say that I have commercialized pain of Kashmiri people so, I feel people who are thinking that way are donkeys and thats why I want to tell you (students) dont be donkeys. First see the film and then form your opinions about it. Further adding, Vidhu revealed the Avatar filmmaker James Cameron has praised his film and wrote a letter. He added, This film opened with great reviews everywhere. I presume you would have heard about a man called James Cameron who has directed Titanic and Avatar. He called this film as a masterpiece in a four page letter. And then, we come to India where film releases in full houses and great reviews. Then, suddenly all this hate wave came. Shikara is produced and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, starring newbie Aadil Khan and Sadia. The film is based on the Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. Infill drilling results confirm model grades and thickness of main orebodies: Orebody BF2: 10.64 g/t Au over 9.8m; Orebody BF: 9.88 g/t Au over 3.88m; Orebody BA: 6.16 g/t Au over 10.00m Over 18,000 metres of planned growth exploration drilling TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Jaguar Mining Inc. ("Jaguar" or the "Company") (TSX:JAG) is pleased to announce results of its 2019 Infill diamond drilling campaign and the resumption of growth exploration drilling activities at its Pilar Mine Operation ("Pilar"). Infill Drilling completed in 2019 confirms expected modelled grade and thickness of the main and subsidiary Pilar Banded Iron Formation ("BIF") Orebodies which are the source of current production. This drilling is expected to support replacement of Mineral Reserves net of 2019 production depletion. Definitions: ETW - estimated true width, g/t Au - grams per tonne gold, m - metres, grade (g/t Au) x thickness (m) = GM (gram - metres). At Pilar, 26 infill drilling intersections have grade (g/t Au) x thickness (m) results > 25 gram metres (GM) with the best results from Orebody BF2, reporting 10.64 g/t Au over 9.8m, Orebody BF, reporting 9.88 g/t Au over 3.88m and Orebody BA reporting 6.16 g/t Au over 10.00m. (see Table 1, Figure 1 and Appendix 1 and 2). The 2019 infill drilling program completed 14,300 metres. Geological mapping of development, especially at the lower levels of the mine has allowed a greater appreciation and understanding of the complex, structural fold geometries which are prominent features of the BIF hosted mineralization. Updated schematics derived from ongoing geological mapping activities and current structural interpretation are presented in Figure 2. Contractor, Major Drilling, have mobilized an underground diamond rig dedicated to growth exploration at Pilar through 2020. This drilling (18,600 metres) will focus on further delineation of depth and lateral extensions to the currently exploited and known mineralized BIF packages (BF, BF2, BF3 and BA orebodies) as well as the more recently identified SW, Sao Jorge and Torre mineralization packages (see Press Release dated June 4, 2019). The location of targeted 2020 infill and growth exploration drilling (9,000 metres) is presented in Figure 3. Vern Baker CEO, Jaguar Mining commented: "The positive infill drilling results reported today from Pilar follow the equally positive results recently reported for the Turmalina Mine (see press release dated January 28, 2020). Resumption of growth exploration is a key part of our plan to build long-term, sustainable mines with growth upside for increasing our resource base. Our Infill drilling activities are expected to continue replacing depleted reserves. Exploration drilling at Pilar will target extending our consistent production zones, which are centred on our BIF orebodies, as well as developing new resources in areas higher up in the mine. Sustaining our four-year reserve inventory continues to provide the foundation of our sustained production. I look forward to more positive results from this next phase of growth drilling at Pilar. Jon Hill, Expert Advisor, Geology and Exploration, Jaguar Mining Management Committee commented: "this new phase of growth exploration drilling will continue to leverage our geological knowledge gathered from previous underground structural mapping, development and infill drilling completed in 2018 and 2019. The current drilling program will target further delineation and evaluation of the Pilar Mineralized Zones laterally from the existing mine infrastructure as well as down plunge extensions located below current mining levels. This strategy will target additional productivity via increased ounces per vertical metre and increase life of mine via depth extensions to mineralized zones." Figure 1. 2019 Infill Drilling Results Pilar Mine - Intercepts with greater than 25 gram metres. Table 1. 2019 Infill Drilling Results Pilar Mine - Intercepts with greater than 25 gram metres. Summary of Significant Intersections, Drilling Program Jaguar Mining Inc. - Pilar Mine Hole ID From (m) To (m) Down Hole Interval (m) Estimated True Width (m) Gold Grade (g/t Au) GT (GM) Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Orebody BA PPL621 16.38 23.42 7.04 6.75 4.61 31.12 9/23/2019 PPL622 11.00 21.24 10.24 9.30 4.53 42.13 9/30/2019 PPL624 20.00 32.00 12.00 10.00 6.16 61.60 12/6/2019 Orebodies BF, BF2 and BF3 FSB745 0.00 11.60 11.60 11.30 4.11 46.44 6/3/2019 PPL547 178.65 186.90 8.25 7.70 7.65 58.91 6/3/2019 PPL551 198.15 204.20 6.05 5.20 6.25 32.50 7/1/2019 FSB810 0.00 6.70 6.70 3.33 9.74 32.43 12/6/2019 FSB847 18.80 29.40 10.60 6.50 7.11 46.22 1/3/2020 PPL583 17.60 21.80 4.20 3.88 9.88 38.33 1/4/2020 PPL553 159.00 219.00 60.00 9.56 5.39 51.53 8/9/2019 PPL604 164.00 181.00 17.00 3.50 15.97 55.90 6/3/2019 FSB700 12.60 18.85 6.25 6.17 8.38 51.70 6/3/2019 FSB724 0.00 13.60 13.60 5.59 4.68 26.16 6/3/2019 FSB742 2.85 12.50 9.65 8.99 3.10 27.87 6/27/2019 FSB763 0.00 11.50 11.50 9.65 3.32 32.04 6/27/2019 PPL550 162.45 186.25 23.80 4.50 7.75 34.88 6/27/2019 PPL551 162.15 194.15 32.00 4.60 8.61 39.61 7/1/2019 PPL606 145.50 158.80 13.30 12.80 1.95 24.96 7/1/2019 PPL606 176.05 181.40 5.35 5.25 6.85 35.96 8/28/2019 PPL613 58.00 73.00 15.00 14.65 1.99 29.15 8/28/2019 FSB807 0.00 10.08 10.08 9.80 10.64 104.27 12/6/2019 FSB808 1.95 13.40 11.45 8.25 4.27 35.23 12/6/2019 PPL604 87.80 120.10 32.30 5.31 6.26 33.24 6/3/2019 PPL602 69.40 76.00 6.60 6.20 6.96 43.15 6/3/2019 PPL616A 36.00 48.90 12.90 12.30 3.00 36.90 8/28/2019 PPL558 137.00 142.00 5.00 4.50 7.70 34.65 11/4/2019 Orebody LPA PPL547 201.90 206.45 4.55 4.30 9.13 39.26 6/3/2019 PPL552 195.00 206.00 11.00 10.57 4.18 44.18 9/30/2019 FSB848 0.00 2.30 2.30 1.90 23.93 45.47 1/3/2020 Orebody SW FSB766 19.45 29.40 9.95 9.30 4.36 40.55 6/27/2019 Figure 2. Pilar Mine - Schematic Plan showing the relative geological setting and location of Pilar Orebodies BA, BF, BFII, BFIII, Torre, SW and Sao Jorge. Figure 3. Location of planned 2020 Infill and Growth Exploration Drilling at Pilar Mine. Table 2. Meterage of 2020 Infill and Growth Exploration Drilling Pilar Mine. Qualified Person Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAUSIMM, Senior Expert Advisor Geology and Exploration to the Jaguar Mining Management Committee, who is also an employee of Jaguar Mining Inc., and is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Control Jaguar continues to use a quality-control program that includes insertion of blanks and commercial standards in order to ensure best practice in sampling and analysis. HQ, NQ, and BQ size drill core is sawn in half with a diamond saw. Samples are selected for analysis in standard intervals according to geological characteristics such as lithology and hydrothermal alteration. All diamond drill hole collars are accurately surveyed using a Total Station instrument and down-hole deviations are surveyed using a non-magnetic north seeking Reflex GyroTM Mean grades are calculated using a variable lower grade cut-off (generally 0.5g/t Au). No upper gold grade cut has been applied to the data. However, the requirement for assay top cutting will be assessed during future resource work. Half of the sawed sample is forwarded to the analytical laboratory for analysis while the remaining half of the core is stored in a secure location. The drill core samples from growth exploration drillholes are transported in securely sealed bags and sent for physical preparation to the independent ALS Brazil (subsidiary of ALS Global) laboratory located in Vespasiano, Minas Gerais, Brazil.The analysis is conducted at ALS Global's respective facilities (fire assay are conducted by ALS Global in Lima, Peru, and multi-elementary analysis are conducted by ALS Global in Vancouver, Canada). ALS has accreditation in a global management system that meets all requirements of international standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and ISO 9001:2015. All major ALS geochemistry analytical laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for specific analytical procedures. The infill drilling results presented on this news release are from drill holes completed by both Major Drilling on contract and Jaguar Mining Inc's own drilling machines. The infill samples are transported for physical preparation and analysis in securely sealed bags to the Jaguar in-house laboratory located at the Roca Grande Mine, Caete, Minas Gerais. For a complete description of Jaguar's sample preparation, analytical methods and QA/QC procedures, please refer to the "Technical Report on the Roca Grande and Pilar Operations, Minas Gerais State, Brazil", a copy of which is available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The Iron Quadrangle The Iron Quadrangle has been an area of mineral exploration dating back to the 16th century. The discovery in 1699-1701 of gold contaminated with iron and platinum-group metals in the southeastern corner of the Iron Quadrangle gave rise to the name of the town Ouro Preto (Black Gold). The Iron Quadrangle contains world-class multi-million-ounce gold deposits such as Morro Velho, Cuiaba, and Sao Bento. Jaguar holds the second largest gold land position of a gold producer in the Iron Quadrangle with just over 25,000 hectares. About Jaguar Mining Inc. Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with three gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims covering an area of approximately 64,000 hectares. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar and Roca Grande Mines, and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on temporary care and maintenance since April 2018. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com. For further information, please contact: Vern Baker Chief Executive Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. vbaker@jaguarmining.com +55 (31) 3232-7101 Hashim Ahmed Chief Financial Officer Jaguar Mining Inc. hashim.ahmed@jaguarmining.com 416-847-1854 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking information set forth in this news release is qualified by the cautionary statements below and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. Forward-looking information contained in forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "are expected", "is forecast", "is targeted," "approximately," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "continue," "estimate," "believe," or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, may be considered to be or include forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. This news release contains forward-looking information regarding potential and, among other things, expected future mineral resources, potential mineral production opportunities, geological and mineral exploration statistics, ore grades, current and expected future assay results, and definition/delineation/exploration drilling at the Pilar Gold Mine and the Turmalina Gold Mine in Brazil, as well as forward-looking information regarding costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects and new deposits, success of exploration, development and mining activities, capital requirements, project studies, mine life extensions, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Company has made numerous assumptions with respect to forward-looking information contained herein, including, among other things, assumptions about the estimated timeline and for the development of the drill program at the Pilar Gold Mine (and its expanded exploration footprint) and the Turmalina Gold Mine; its mineral properties; the supply and demand for, and the level and volatility of the price of, gold; the accuracy of reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions on which the reserve and resource estimates are based; the receipt of necessary permits; market competition; ongoing relations with employees and impacted communities; and political and legal developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations including, without limitation, the impact of any potential power rationing, tailings facility regulation, exploration and mine operating licenses and permits being obtained and renewed and/or there being adverse amendments to mining or other laws in Brazil and any changes to general business and economic conditions. Forward-looking information involves a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including among others: the risk of Jaguar not meeting its plans regarding its operations and financial performance; uncertainties with respect to the price of gold, labor disruptions, mechanical failures, increase in costs, environmental compliance and change in environmental legislation and regulation, weather delays and increased costs or production delays due to natural disasters, power disruptions, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations; uncertainties inherent to capital markets in general (including the sometimes volatile valuation of securities and an uncertain ability to raise new capital) and other risks inherent to the gold exploration, development and production industry, which, if incorrect, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described herein. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development, mining and production, including without limitation environmental hazards, tailings dam failures, industrial accidents and workplace safety problems, unusual or unexpected geological formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding, chemical spills, and gold bullion thefts and losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Although we have 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 forward-looking information. Appendix 1 2019 Infill Drilling Results Pilar Mine. Summary of Significant Intersections, Drilling Program Jaguar Mining Inc. - Pilar Mine Hole ID From (m) To (m) Down Hole Interval (m) Estimated True Width (m) Gold Grade (g/t Au) GT (ETW) Date (mm/dd/yyyy) Orebody BA PPL621 6.02 8.60 2.58 2.40 2.89 6.94 9/23/2019 PPL621 16.38 23.42 7.04 6.75 4.61 31.12 9/23/2019 PPL622 11.00 21.24 10.24 9.30 4.53 42.13 9/30/2019 PPL623 16.00 19.55 3.55 3.40 7.15 24.31 11/4/2019 PPL623 21.47 26.95 5.48 2.63 2.85 7.50 11/4/2019 PPL624 20.00 32.00 12.00 10.00 6.16 61.60 12/6/2019 Including 20.00 24.23 4.23 3.53 13.48 47.51 12/6/2019 PPL583 54.40 58.90 4.50 2.70 6.66 17.98 1/4/2020 Orebodies BF, BFII and BFIII FSB740 3.50 5.85 2.35 1.33 3.58 4.76 6/3/2019 FSB740 14.25 16.25 2.00 1.06 1.21 1.28 6/3/2019 FSB741 0.95 3.70 2.75 1.54 1.31 2.02 6/3/2019 FSB745 0.00 11.60 11.60 11.30 4.11 46.44 6/3/2019 FSB756 11.90 16.10 4.20 4.00 1.85 7.40 6/3/2019 FSB789 7.85 11.15 3.30 3.30 1.05 3.47 7/1/2019 PPL547 178.65 186.90 8.25 7.70 7.65 58.91 6/3/2019 PPL547 222.80 226.00 3.20 3.04 7.14 21.71 6/3/2019 PPL549 192.00 195.00 3.00 2.77 2.87 7.95 7/23/2019 PPL550 187.00 204.35 17.35 4.60 4.22 19.41 6/27/2019 PPL551 198.15 204.20 6.05 5.20 6.25 32.50 7/1/2019 PPL552 172.00 193.00 21.00 5.45 3.83 20.87 9/30/2019 PPL552 212.00 217.50 5.50 5.10 2.79 14.23 9/30/2019 PPL554 187.65 204.68 17.03 3.50 4.34 15.19 9/23/2019 PPL554 221.82 229.60 7.78 7.60 3.10 23.56 9/23/2019 FSB697A 0.00 6.60 6.60 3.87 1.13 4.37 11/4/2019 FSB759 2.10 6.55 4.45 3.00 6.16 18.48 11/4/2019 FSB748 6.80 13.80 7.00 2.00 1.83 3.66 11/4/2019 FSB697 0.00 5.70 5.70 3.40 1.99 6.77 11/4/2019 FSB739 0.00 7.55 7.55 1.90 8.11 15.41 11/4/2019 PPL557 186.00 193.00 7.00 1.10 2.35 2.59 12/6/2019 PPL557 217.00 238.00 21.00 3.78 2.88 10.89 12/6/2019 FSB810 0.00 6.70 6.70 3.33 9.74 32.43 12/6/2019 FSB810 9.45 13.70 4.25 2.16 4.02 8.68 12/6/2019 FSB810 19.70 39.10 19.40 9.64 1.59 15.33 12/6/2019 FSB778 1.00 5.30 4.30 3.80 3.11 11.82 1/2/2020 FSB803 0.00 6.80 6.80 4.55 3.53 16.06 1/2/2020 PPL556 197.30 198.50 1.20 0.45 7.38 3.32 1/2/2020 PPL556 237.40 242.45 5.05 1.72 4.71 8.10 1/2/2020 FSB847 8.30 16.80 8.50 3.25 3.65 11.86 1/3/2020 FSB847 18.80 29.40 10.60 6.50 7.11 46.22 1/3/2020 Including 25.30 29.40 4.10 2.51 10.20 25.65 1/3/2020 FSB848 15.85 26.50 10.65 3.97 3.26 12.94 1/3/2020 PPL593 15.00 16.70 1.70 1.45 4.79 6.95 1/3/2020 PPL583 0.00 9.00 9.00 8.44 1.42 11.98 1/4/2020 PPL583 17.60 21.80 4.20 3.88 9.88 38.33 1/4/2020 PPL594 16.60 20.10 3.50 3.00 2.65 7.95 1/4/2020 PPL594 28.90 31.80 2.90 2.48 1.92 4.76 1/4/2020 PPL650 206.60 212.00 5.40 1.45 2.40 3.48 1/2/2020 PPL553 159.00 219.00 60.00 9.56 5.39 51.53 8/28/2019 PPL604 164.00 181.00 17.00 3.50 15.97 55.90 6/3/2019 FSB700 1.45 4.00 2.55 2.50 2.04 5.10 6/3/2019 FSB700 12.60 18.85 6.25 6.17 8.38 51.70 6/3/2019 FSB703 17.75 20.05 2.30 2.20 5.96 13.11 6/27/2019 FSB724 0.00 13.60 13.60 5.59 4.68 26.16 6/3/2019 FSB724 27.70 34.00 6.30 2.72 2.06 5.60 6/3/2019 FSB725 0.00 7.25 7.25 2.58 2.18 5.62 6/3/2019 FSB742 2.85 6.40 3.55 3.20 2.78 8.90 6/27/2019 FSB742 2.85 12.50 9.65 8.99 3.10 27.87 6/27/2019 FSB750 1.10 9.20 8.10 7.99 1.69 13.50 6/3/2019 FSB750 12.70 14.90 2.20 2.15 2.31 4.97 6/3/2019 FSB751 7.60 12.50 4.90 3.22 6.29 20.25 6/3/2019 FSB752 1.65 5.95 4.30 2.59 2.95 7.64 6/3/2019 FSB752 20.80 24.20 3.40 1.98 8.64 17.11 6/3/2019 FSB754 0.00 4.40 4.40 4.20 2.46 10.33 6/27/2019 FSB755 0.95 4.40 3.45 3.38 1.83 6.19 6/27/2019 FSB763 0.00 11.50 11.50 9.65 3.32 32.04 6/27/2019 FSB765 0.00 5.40 5.40 2.17 1.36 2.95 6/3/2019 FSB765 16.55 21.80 5.25 2.80 1.71 4.79 6/3/2019 PPL547 135.70 147.75 12.05 11.25 1.06 11.93 6/3/2019 PPL549 117.00 119.00 2.00 1.83 2.02 3.70 6/27/2019 PPL549 147.35 152.00 4.65 4.15 1.74 7.22 6/27/2019 PPL549 164.00 190.00 26.00 3.00 6.78 20.34 7/23/2019 PPL550 162.45 186.25 23.80 4.50 7.75 34.88 6/27/2019 PPL551 111.08 118.00 6.92 6.00 1.42 8.52 7/1/2019 PPL551 162.15 194.15 32.00 4.60 8.61 39.61 7/1/2019 PPL553 135.07 139.53 4.46 4.20 3.53 14.83 8/28/2019 PPL553 145.44 154.00 8.56 8.00 1.14 9.12 8/28/2019 PPL554 173.65 184.10 10.45 3.16 4.14 13.08 9/23/2019 PPL602 119.40 123.45 4.05 3.89 1.76 6.85 6/3/2019 PPL604 151.08 153.00 1.92 1.80 3.06 5.51 6/3/2019 PPL606 102.50 124.90 22.40 3.50 2.80 9.80 7/1/2019 PPL606 145.50 158.80 13.30 12.80 1.95 24.96 7/1/2019 PPL606 176.05 181.40 5.35 5.25 6.85 35.96 8/28/2019 PPL612 63.10 67.00 3.90 3.75 1.10 4.13 8/1/2019 PPL612 86.45 88.00 1.55 1.50 1.74 2.61 8/1/2019 PPL613 58.00 73.00 15.00 14.65 1.99 29.15 8/28/2019 PPL614 64.00 67.00 3.00 2.90 1.23 3.57 6/27/2019 PPL615 87.20 91.10 3.90 3.79 4.87 18.46 7/1/2019 PPL555 128.45 145.05 16.60 2.68 7.99 21.41 11/4/2019 FSB697A 11.10 17.10 6.00 3.55 5.11 18.14 11/4/2019 FSB729 22.10 30.00 7.90 2.50 8.62 21.55 11/4/2019 FSB772 15.10 19.10 4.00 1.82 1.89 3.44 11/4/2019 FSB775 10.30 13.25 2.95 1.24 5.17 6.41 11/4/2019 FSB776 0.00 7.10 7.10 1.20 3.97 4.76 11/4/2019 PPL555A 131.40 142.82 11.42 3.65 2.46 8.98 11/4/2019 PPL555A 149.00 158.14 9.14 2.60 3.07 7.98 11/4/2019 PPL555A 162.82 186.00 23.18 3.90 1.90 7.41 11/4/2019 PPL555A 192.00 198.00 6.00 2.02 2.36 4.77 11/4/2019 PPL555A 200.00 211.00 11.00 3.78 5.56 21.02 11/4/2019 FSB800 4.70 8.00 3.30 1.20 7.22 8.66 12/6/2019 FSB800 14.45 21.30 6.85 1.90 8.47 16.09 12/6/2019 FSB807 0.00 10.08 10.08 9.80 10.64 104.27 12/6/2019 Including 4.00 8.23 4.23 4.11 19.98 82.18 12/6/2019 FSB808 1.95 13.40 11.45 8.25 4.27 35.23 12/6/2019 Including 8.80 12.40 3.60 2.59 8.94 23.20 12/6/2019 FSB809 4.80 8.80 4.00 1.57 1.10 1.73 12/6/2019 FSB809 13.40 16.40 3.00 1.02 2.18 2.22 12/6/2019 FSB809 22.35 28.35 6.00 2.04 10.28 20.97 12/6/2019 FSB809 37.35 42.80 5.45 1.90 1.66 3.15 12/6/2019 FSB811 0.00 4.63 4.63 3.29 3.75 12.34 12/6/2019 PPL604 87.80 120.10 32.30 5.31 6.26 33.24 6/3/2019 FSB711 5.75 8.35 2.60 2.55 6.96 17.75 6/3/2019 PPL527 141.25 143.75 2.50 2.33 1.16 2.70 6/3/2019 PPL602 69.40 76.00 6.60 6.20 6.96 43.15 6/3/2019 PPL602 84.00 87.00 3.00 2.90 3.99 11.57 6/3/2019 PPL614 44.80 62.40 17.60 4.50 4.62 20.79 6/27/2019 PPL615 42.07 46.00 3.93 3.70 3.81 14.10 7/1/2019 PPL616A 36.00 48.90 12.90 12.30 3.00 36.90 8/28/2019 PPL617 47.15 49.00 1.85 1.75 2.27 3.97 9/30/2019 FSB729 2.75 5.40 2.65 2.40 7.76 18.62 11/4/2019 PPL558 137.00 142.00 5.00 4.50 7.70 34.65 11/4/2019 PPL558 145.10 148.00 2.90 2.60 6.60 17.16 11/4/2019 FSB801 10.20 13.20 3.00 2.50 4.75 11.88 12/6/2019 FSB801 14.20 19.95 5.75 3.15 4.68 14.74 12/6/2019 FSB802 0.00 12.10 12.10 2.15 3.70 7.96 12/6/2019 PPL650 22.00 24.00 2.00 1.71 13.68 23.39 1/2/2020 PPL618 44.00 49.00 5.00 4.45 3.89 17.31 11/4/2019 FSB773 5.15 7.73 2.58 0.66 2.55 1.68 11/4/2019 FSB773 16.75 22.75 6.00 1.16 1.55 1.80 11/4/2019 PPL619 42.00 49.00 7.00 6.45 2.16 13.93 12/6/2019 PPL547 111.65 113.55 1.90 1.80 1.96 3.53 6/3/2019 PPL547 124.75 127.05 2.30 2.23 2.43 5.42 6/3/2019 Orebody LPA PPL549 197.35 201.50 4.15 3.73 1.06 3.95 7/23/2019 PPL547 201.90 206.45 4.55 4.30 9.13 39.26 6/3/2019 PPL549 205.50 215.00 9.50 8.50 1.49 12.67 7/23/2019 PPL552 195.00 206.00 11.00 10.57 4.18 44.18 9/30/2019 PPL554 207.85 212.42 4.57 4.50 1.38 6.21 9/23/2019 FSB847 0.00 2.20 2.20 1.55 13.76 21.33 1/3/2020 FSB848 0.00 2.30 2.30 1.90 23.93 45.47 1/3/2020 PPL593 6.31 10.90 4.59 3.95 3.88 15.33 1/3/2020 Orebody LFW FSB782 5.65 8.45 2.80 1.93 1.62 3.13 6/3/2019 PPL604 43.00 46.00 3.00 2.88 1.75 5.04 6/3/2019 PPL604 65.00 73.00 8.00 7.69 1.21 9.30 6/3/2019 PPL614 18.15 21.00 2.85 2.80 5.13 14.36 6/27/2019 PPL558 66.00 74.00 8.00 7.20 1.98 14.26 11/4/2019 PPL619 13.00 15.00 2.00 1.85 10.34 19.13 12/6/2019 FSB813 30.75 34.60 3.85 2.39 1.40 3.35 1/2/2020 Orebody SW FSB766 19.45 29.40 9.95 9.30 4.36 40.55 6/27/2019 FSB769 1.00 4.00 3.00 2.20 2.03 4.47 6/27/2019 FSB769 10.00 14.00 4.00 3.06 0.84 2.57 6/27/2019 FSB770 0.70 1.65 0.95 0.90 1.60 1.44 7/1/2019 FSB771 8.05 12.00 3.95 3.80 3.31 12.58 6/3/2019 FSB774 0.00 3.05 3.05 1.70 2.80 4.76 6/3/2019 FSB774A 0.00 3.65 3.65 1.48 4.54 6.72 6/3/2019 FSB774A 6.20 11.00 4.80 1.73 5.84 10.10 6/3/2019 FSB785 2.20 8.40 6.20 2.38 2.53 6.02 6/27/2019 FSB787 41.05 44.45 3.40 3.30 3.15 10.40 6/27/2019 FSB812 4.90 7.90 3.00 2.40 4.88 11.71 1/2/2020 FSB812 21.00 24.90 3.90 3.05 2.65 8.08 1/2/2020 Orebody TORRE PPL621 61.30 66.92 5.62 5.35 2.55 13.64 9/23/2019 PPL622 77.00 91.95 14.95 3.50 5.22 18.27 9/30/2019 PPL583 114.15 117.95 3.80 3.50 4.76 16.66 1/4/2020 NO IMPACT FSB696 No significant impacts 6/3/2019 FSB737 No significant impacts 8/28/2019 FSB738 No significant impacts 8/28/2019 FSB753 No significant impacts 6/27/2019 FSB784 No significant impacts 6/3/2019 FSB784A No significant impacts 6/3/2019 FSB786 No significant impacts 7/1/2019 FSB788 No significant impacts 6/27/2019 FSB790 No significant impacts 7/1/2019 FSB791 No significant impacts 7/1/2019 PPL620 No significant impacts 9/23/2019 FSB744 No significant impacts 11/4/2019 FSB730 No significant impacts 11/4/2019 FSB743 No significant impacts 11/4/2019 PPL620A No significant impacts 12/6/2019 PPL532 No significant impacts 1/2/2020 FSB815 No significant impacts 1/3/2020 Appendix 2 Drill Hole location data for holes reported in this Press-Release - Pilar Mine. Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Total Depth (m) Collar Azimuth () Collar Dip () Orebody Drilling Company FSB696 662718.62 7788570.17 60.20 35.25 329.82 -0.76 BF Jaguar FSB700 662712.26 7788549.49 60.01 25.15 94.66 2.32 BFII Jaguar FSB703 662717.56 7788550.62 81.23 20.05 88.82 -1.23 BF Jaguar FSB711 662699.03 7788529.53 59.74 12.05 274.60 0.24 BFIII Jaguar FSB724 662703.51 7788488.92 102.05 34.85 158.09 -27.67 BFII Jaguar FSB725 662697.67 7788479.37 101.48 26.20 169.01 -35.11 BFII Jaguar FSB740 662777.15 7788451.90 84.81 25.30 0.41 -0.92 BF Jaguar FSB741 662762.81 7788450.70 84.22 25.20 180.00 0.57 BF Jaguar FSB742 662762.05 7788456.76 84.16 20.45 358.49 0.00 BFII Jaguar FSB745 662734.61 7788490.41 82.51 20.85 270.81 -1.08 BF Jaguar FSB750 662715.22 7788595.26 82.11 35.05 271.31 0.75 BFII Jaguar FSB751 662715.91 7788596.61 82.12 30.50 328.67 3.59 BFII Jaguar FSB752 662717.91 7788597.25 82.15 41.25 18.28 -1.00 BFII Jaguar FSB753 662720.47 7788567.22 81.26 8.45 315.00 1.16 BFII Jaguar FSB754 662713.81 7788552.62 81.19 5.00 319.40 0.00 BFII Jaguar FSB755 662705.01 7788540.18 81.05 5.25 319.89 1.43 BFII Jaguar FSB756 662717.42 7788589.07 81.68 26.25 129.89 0.38 BF Jaguar FSB763 662711.00 7788482.15 24.48 28.60 88.37 1.77 BFII Jaguar FSB765 662721.54 7788567.50 80.65 30.00 327.73 -29.98 BFII Jaguar FSB766 662624.13 7788534.13 -13.79 87.50 271.81 -2.32 SW Jaguar FSB769 662624.51 7788550.01 -11.23 57.75 269.48 0.65 SW Jaguar FSB770 662628.22 7788566.06 -9.03 63.55 301.04 -1.49 SW Jaguar FSB771 662633.27 7788564.09 -8.87 15.55 98.73 -0.04 SW Jaguar FSB774 662645.54 7788573.59 -6.06 3.05 178.18 0.91 SW Jaguar FSB774A 662645.31 7788573.59 -6.17 14.25 178.11 -4.00 SW Jaguar FSB782 662658.17 7788569.11 -3.95 16.60 52.59 -44.46 LFW Jaguar FSB784 662658.87 7788565.59 -3.68 8.10 199.65 -45.73 SW Jaguar FSB784A 662660.33 7788571.86 -4.25 15.50 187.84 -44.04 SW Jaguar FSB785 662656.15 7788568.94 -3.57 20.15 354.29 -44.86 SW Jaguar FSB786 662621.82 7788472.76 -22.81 92.20 268.34 1.28 SW Jaguar FSB787 662623.59 7788515.86 -16.43 46.70 269.74 -0.43 SW Jaguar FSB788 662622.89 7788495.35 -19.58 5.30 270.80 -3.18 SW Jaguar FSB789 662709.42 7788545.36 196.14 32.15 89.15 -0.14 BF Jaguar FSB790 662709.04 7788546.36 196.28 26.55 59.94 1.29 BF Jaguar FSB791 662708.71 7788546.97 196.23 32.35 34.48 0.10 BF Jaguar PPL527 662602.63 7788350.52 32.24 257.75 64.30 -27.47 BFIII? Jaguar PPL547 662602.67 7788350.50 33.04 241.20 65.24 -3.68 BF - BFII- LPA Jaguar PPL549 662602.67 7788350.32 32.87 260.50 66.74 -10.71 BF - BFII- LPA Jaguar PPL550 662602.67 7788350.35 32.89 242.65 66.84 -6.99 BF - BFII Jaguar PPL551 662602.61 7788350.10 32.73 234.95 67.33 -9.47 BF - BFII Jaguar PPL552 662602.65 7788349.90 32.94 230.55 72.00 -7.84 BF - LPA Jaguar PPL553 662602.61 7788349.70 32.73 245.05 76.43 -20.29 BF - BFII Jaguar PPL602 662606.29 7788407.71 24.41 215.15 72.20 -21.20 BFII- BFIII Jaguar PPL604 662607.66 7788407.41 24.50 215.45 78.00 -8.84 BF - BFII - BFIII Jaguar PPL606 662607.67 7788407.29 24.36 222.30 79.90 -13.45 BFII Jaguar PPL612 662658.21 7788490.27 10.73 161.45 73.24 -2.42 BFII Jaguar PPL613 662658.23 7788489.73 10.75 172.50 88.59 -2.02 BFII Jaguar PPL614 662658.19 7788489.23 10.77 173.10 105.42 -1.41 BFII - BFIII Jaguar PPL615 662658.06 7788489.73 10.38 186.85 90.20 -18.58 BFII - BFIII Jaguar PPL616A 662658.18 7788490.12 10.49 192.95 75.67 -14.29 BFIII Jaguar PPL617 662657.96 7788490.16 9.74 181.15 79.94 -22.68 BFIII Jaguar PPL622 662754.50 7788541.44 263.64 200.20 117.00 -2.52 BA - TORRE Jaguar PPL555 662602.60 7788350.03 32.74 146.55 71.08 -18.24 BFII Jaguar FSB697A 662740.50 7788479.56 102.89 20.10 183.57 -46.47 BFII - BFIII Jaguar FSB729 662692.73 7788502.03 45.43 46.55 60.29 -2.39 BFII - BFIII Jaguar FSB744 662625.74 7788429.70 -28.28 15.80 89.62 -1.76 - Jaguar FSB759 662757.54 7788466.58 103.70 20.15 180.58 -39.04 BF Jaguar FSB748 662767.82 7788482.41 104.43 44.00 124.50 1.65 BF Jaguar FSB730 662692.62 7788502.28 45.44 51.10 58.77 -1.46 BFIII Jaguar FSB743 662626.68 7788444.79 -25.98 15.70 90.13 -0.72 - Jaguar PPL618 662657.73 7788489.46 9.78 181.10 93.35 -25.03 BFIII? Jaguar FSB697 662740.51 7788479.55 102.87 18.45 184.13 -46.31 BF Jaguar FSB739 662746.24 7788473.78 104.30 25.95 159.36 0.80 BF Jaguar PPL558 662602.64 7788350.45 32.56 174.15 61.23 -19.75 BFIII - LFW Jaguar FSB772 662709.15 7788431.59 45.13 26.10 206.48 0.02 BFII Jaguar FSB773 662704.82 7788431.75 44.81 26.15 229.66 -1.71 BFIII? Jaguar FSB775 662724.71 7788434.46 45.66 30.95 179.75 -1.72 BFII Jaguar FSB776 662740.17 7788440.86 46.02 30.90 177.33 -0.69 BFII Jaguar PPL623 662754.52 7788541.04 263.58 155.05 125.67 -3.85 BA Jaguar PPL555A 662602.49 7788349.92 32.82 253.30 71.08 -18.24 BFII Jaguar PPL557 662602.42 7788349.45 32.73 246.50 81.87 -17.47 BF Jaguar PPL619 662657.89 7788490.39 9.75 215.10 71.68 -19.53 BFIII - LFW Jaguar PPL620A 662608.15 7788406.69 24.33 99.05 79.13 -13.40 BFIII Jaguar PPL624 662754.52 7788540.92 263.30 176.15 127.93 -14.00 BA Jaguar FSB800 662704.69 7788460.19 44.74 30.70 89.43 -0.20 BFIII Jaguar FSB801 662700.16 7788460.50 44.76 30.05 278.88 0.68 BFIII Jaguar FSB802 662693.01 7788476.47 45.14 36.65 270.54 -1.24 BFIII Jaguar FSB807 662681.79 7788505.22 102.52 30.30 214.44 30.11 BFII Jaguar FSB808 662700.15 7788500.13 103.61 31.95 202.72 30.99 BFII Jaguar FSB809 662700.92 7788499.69 102.26 48.30 169.18 -17.97 BFII Jaguar FSB810 662719.45 7788487.60 102.44 40.95 149.88 -17.53 BF Jaguar FSB811 662713.86 7788493.11 104.13 25.75 148.32 34.55 BFII Jaguar FSB778 662769.64 7788426.50 47.41 25.40 179.25 -0.50 BF Jaguar FSB803 662772.38 7788425.90 47.41 33.70 180.84 -1.79 BF Jaguar PPL532 662852.65 7788513.69 289.16 132.80 271.76 23.40 TORRE Jaguar PPL556 662602.48 7788349.33 32.71 248.45 84.59 -20.21 BF Jaguar FSB812 662635.47 7788814.31 216.13 45.90 343.26 10.08 SW Jaguar FSB813 662635.67 7788813.45 216.01 60.35 186.61 10.80 LFW? Jaguar PPL650 662657.74 7788488.86 9.81 250.55 106.52 -24.62 BF - BFIII Jaguar FSB815 662746.66 7788568.80 26.43 30.60 90.67 -0.71 BFII Jaguar FSB847 662784.17 7788444.20 47.21 50.00 182.77 -19.02 LPA - BF Jaguar FSB848 662783.24 7788444.62 47.13 26.50 210.14 -20.46 LPA - BF Jaguar PPL593 662767.53 7788470.69 103.72 254.45 95.20 -31.83 LPA - BF Major PPL583 662767.78 7788470.65 105.53 200.70 95.79 19.48 BF - Torre Major PPL594 662767.28 7788470.23 103.68 251.90 107.79 -30.66 BF Major SOURCE: Jaguar Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/576071/Jaguar-Intercepts-High-Grade-Gold-Mineralization-at-Pilar-Gold-Mine-Resumes-Growth-Exploration-Drilling-at-Pilar Seiber is recognized for championing franchise and small business issues locally and nationally through his work with the Franchise Action Network. An initiative of the IFA, the Franchise Action Network seeks to mobilize the franchise industry at the grassroots level to present a united front against anti-franchising forces as well as educate policymakers about the franchise business model and its positive impact on communities across the country. FAN ensures the personal and unique stories of local small business owners are heard in Congress, federal agencies, and state and local legislatures when decision-makers are taking actions that impact the bottom lines of small business and franchises. Through his continued commitment and contributions to FranPAC, Seiber has worked to create relationships with key members of Congress and ensure they understand franchising and promote a legislative and regulatory climate favorable to franchising. Despite an uncertain economy, franchise industry growth is anticipated to continue. The number of franchise businesses in the U.S. is expected to grow to 785,316 this year, adding 232,000 jobs, and growing total employees to 8.67 million. The overall GDP contribution by the franchise industry is expected to grow by 4.6% to $494.96 billion. (Source: Franchise Business Economic Outlook 2020, prepared by FRANdata) "I am honored to receive this award for work I believe is essential to the vitality of the franchise industry," Seiber said. "We all have to work together to make sure our franchise community is protected from harmful legislation so we can continue to make business ownership a reality for all entrepreneurs." About FranFund, Inc. A member of the International Franchise Association Supplier Forum, FranFund, Inc. designs smart all-in-one funding plans that grow with franchise businesses. Founded by a veteran in the franchise industry with first-hand experience as a franchise owner, franchise developer, and new franchise creator, FranFund specializes in funding solutions for franchisees. By utilizing a franchise-specific pre-qualification tool and cultivating an extensive network of lenders who are franchise and small business friendly, clients pre-approved by FranFund have a loan approval rate of 99%. FranFund takes a consultative approach, providing clients a personalized experience that helps them gain the confidence to move forward with a funding solution that makes the most sense for them. For more information, visit www.franfund.com SOURCE FranFund, Inc. Related Links http://www.franfund.com The European Parliament Wednesday voted in favor of a landmark free trade agreement with Vietnam that will eliminate almost all tariffs over the next ten years. The E.U.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) was voted in favor by 401 European Union lawmakers. There were 192 votes against and 40 abstentions. The agreement, which went through a negotiation period of eight years, will remove virtually all customs duties between the two parties over the next ten years, including on Europes main export products to Vietnam: machinery, cars and chemicals. Vietnams National Assembly is expected to vote on the trade pact in May, and it is set to be effective one month after both parties have completed all legal procedures. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai told reporters that the trade pact is a major step for Vietnams trade sector, but businesses such as fruit exporters will need to meet the E.U.s high standards to take advantage of the deal. Under the deal, Vietnam will eliminate 99 percent of its import duties over 10 years and the E.U. will do the same over seven years. The pact will open up Vietnams services, including post, banking and shipping and public procurement markets, align some standards and protect E.U. food and drinks, such as French champagne or Greek feta cheese, from imitations being sold in the country. Belgian lawmaker Geert Bourgeois said: "The deal will boost prosperity, create new and better paid jobs, cut costs for companies big and small, and give them better access to each other's markets." European lawmakers on Wednesday also voted in favor of the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), which includes modern rules on investment protection enforceable through the new Investment Court System and ensures that the right of the governments on both sides to regulate in the interest of their citizens is preserved. "The IPA is a step forward in Vietnams orientation to move from quantity to quality of foreign direct investment. It will help us procure more advanced, high tech and sustainable investment, especially projects with high added value," Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment, had said earlier. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has expressed its support for the trade pact. "Labour and environment requirements of EVFTA would help to facilitate win-win and sustainable achievement for Vietnam by avoiding the "race to the bottom" and ensuring that the growth today does not come at expense of future generations opportunities," said ILO Vietnam Director Chang-Hee Lee. The EVFTA is E.U.s second deal with an ASEAN country, after Singapore, and one of few with a developing country. The E.U. was Vietnams second largest export market last year behind the U.S. with a value of $41.48 billion, down one percent year-on-year. A 28-year-old man who had been absconding after he allegedly killed a businessman two months ago for resisting a robbery bid was arrested from Delhi's Nizamuddin area, police said on Wednesday. The accused, Neeraj, is a resident of west Delhi's Uttam Nagar, they said. "A trap was laid and Neeraj was apprehended near Nizamuddin on Tuesday while he was travelling on a scooter. On verification, the scooter was also found to be stolen from Uttam Nagar area," said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) A K Singla said. During interrogation, Neeraj disclosed that on December 11 last year, he along with his associates barged into the house of one Jugnu Khan in Uttam Nagar to rob him. When Khan resisted the robbery bid, the accused shot him dead, he said. Neeraj's associates -- Anshu, Katiya and Mohit -- were arrested, while he had been on the run, he added. Neeraj was previously involved in nine criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, armed robbery, burglary and theft, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Coronavirus outbreak struck China just ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday season in the worlds most populous country. The outbreak of the 2019 nCoV is now a global crisis, with the international agencies still debating the pandemic moniker. The death toll as of February 11 crossed 900. India has offered assistance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaching out to Chinese President Xi Jinping. But, this isnt the first time India has offered help. Dwarkanath S Kotnis, an Indian doctor born in a middle-class Maharashtrian family in Solapur went to China in 1938 nine years before Indias independence. Dr Kotnis graduated from the Seth GS Medical College in Mumbai and was preparing for his Masters when Subhash Chandra Bose made an appeal for doctors to go to China to help. Dr Kotnis was part of medical mission to offer health assistance to wounded and plague-stricken Chinese soldiers during the second Sino-Japan war. Kotnis served on the frontline and treated many soldiers while saving lives of hundreds in China. Dr Kotnis commitment to the cause was such that he fell ill and eventually died in 1942 at the age of 32. During his four-year stay in China, Dr Kotnis fell in love with a nurse Quo Qunglan, who worked under him treating soldiers. Later they married and had a son After Dr Kotnis death, Quo stayed back in China looking after their only son. The doctor is not a widely known figure back home, except that there is a memorial to him in Solapur built by the local civic body. In China, Dr Kotnis is revered as hero and has memorial with a statue built in a park in Shijiazhuang city of the northern Chinese province of Hebei. The Chinese government also has a stamp bearing Dr Kotnis picture. It is for the same reason Chinese premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Indian in May 2013 took a break from his schedule and met Dr Kotnis family members in Mumbai, a symbolic moment of appreciation for services rendered by an Indian doctor decades earlier. The Indo-Chinese friendship has been strengthened by the contribution of late Dr Dwarkadas Kotnis, who rendered humanitarian help in China, Li has said then. Dr Kotnis sister, Manorama, has, in multiple media interactions reiterated that at the time her brother went to China little was known about the country. Eighty-two years later, China is well known today and is facing another medical emergency. India, in the spirit of Dr Kotnis, is ready and on hand to help. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Yogesh Joshi Yogesh Joshi is Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times. He covers politics, security, development and human rights from Western Maharashtra. ...view detail A Social Security Administration office in San Francisco. Getty Images President Donald Trump has publicly vowed to protect Social Security. Yet advocates for the program fear that his just released budget proposal would hit individuals hard when it comes to disability benefits, as it includes cuts to the tune of $71 billion, according to one congressional estimate. "This budget is a non-starter," said Congressman John Larson, D-Conn., who is chairman of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee. "His proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, food-assistance programs and more will only hurt those who are already struggling," Larson said. "The president should live up to his promise, instead of breaking it." The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, the president affirmed his commitment to the program during his State of the Union speech. "We will always protect your Medicare and we will always protect your Social Security. Always," Trump said. However, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, an advocacy organization, said the budget suggests otherwise. That's because the spending plan includes a proposal to add an additional layer of reviews for individuals who receive disability payments. The continuing reviews evaluate whether individuals are able to go back to work. "They're going to try to do more to move people off the rolls," said Dan Adcock, director of government relations and policy at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare. The Social Security Administration has stricter standards for qualifying for disability benefits than private plans or other government agencies. A worker is considered disabled for eligibility purposes if they have a severe medical condition that continues for at least a year or could result in death. Of those who start receiving benefits at age 55, 1 in 6 men and 1 in 8 women die within five years of their disabilities, according to the Social Security Administration. Consequently, Trump's efforts to reduce the number of people on disability might not be realistic, Adcock said. "The vast majority of them are in no position to go back to work, given the severity of their disabilities," Adcock said. This isn't the first time Trump has gone after disability benefits. Similar proposals have appeared in all three of his previous budgets, Adcock said. The agency has been so underfunded for several years that that affected their ability to provide customer service. Dan Adcock director of government relations and policy at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare But this year, the plans are more concrete. The Social Security Administration gave a preview of the new scrutiny in a proposed a rule in November. "We don't think it's in the best interest of beneficiaries," Adcock said. Social Security Works, another advocacy organization, has also voiced concerns about the proposed change. "I think they see disability benefits as low-hanging fruit," said Social Security Works president Nancy Altman. "They think they can convince the American public that these are not people who need benefits." Paying for replacement cards Sean Dunne's Irish bankruptcy trustee has agreed to lift a legal claim registered over a valuable Dublin 4 property which was sold for 14.2m more than three years ago, the High Court has heard. The agreement by Official Assignee (OA) Chris Lehane to lift the lis pendens registered by him over 'Walford' on Dublin's Shrewsbury Road, and to consent to a declaration that a trust set up for the benefit of the children of financier Dermot Desmond has acquired good title to Walford, was made under settlements of proceedings arising from Sean Dunne's Irish bankruptcy and issues over the ownership of Walford. Mr Dunne had paid a record 58m for Walford in 2005 at the height of the boom under a trust set up for his second wife Gayle. The couple are now estranged. In late 2016, a Cyprus-registered company, Yesreb Ltd, of which John Dunne, a son of Sean Dunne's first marriage, was said to be a director, sold Walford for 14.25m to Celtic Trustees Ltd. Celtic is the sole trustee of the Merdon Trust, whose settlor is billionaire financier Dermot Desmond, and which was set up for the benefit of Mr Desmond's children. Last week, the High Court was told three separate sets of proceedings, all with some link to Sean Dunne's bankruptcy and/or Walford, had settled but Mr Justice Denis McDonald was asked to adjourn making orders to allow various complex steps be taken in a number of jurisdictions. When the cases returned before him today, he was told by Bernard Dunleavy SC, with Edward Farrelly SC for the OA, the steps had been taken and orders were being sought, on consent, in the three sets of proceedings. The judge agreed to make those orders, including an order striking out proceedings by the OA against Yesreb, with Celtic as a notice party, and vacating all previous orders. He also vacated a lis pendens registered by the OA over Walford in December 2016. Rossa Fanning SC, for Celtic, said orders could also be made on consent striking out his client's separate case against the OA and making a declaration Celtic has acquired good title to Walford. In its case, Celtic had claimed it had good title to Walford. Mr Fanning said the third set of proceedings, taken by Mr Desmond and various members of his family against the OA and the Insolvency Service of Ireland over the alleged leaking of confidential material to a newspaper concerning an agreement to buy Walford, could also be struck out with no order and vacating all previous orders. Mr Justice McDonald made all the orders sought. File photo of Sean Dunne. The settlements came after the judge was told last Friday that Sean Dunne had separately initiated injunction proceedings in New York aimed at restraining John Dunne using funds held by Yesreb to settle the Irish High Court proceedings. Mr Lehane had sued Yesreb here in a bid to recover the proceeds of the sale of Walford for the benefit of the estate of Sean Dunne whose Irish bankruptcy has been extended for 12 years over failure to co-operate with the official assignee. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Mr. Rogers, the television host played by Oscar nominee Tom Hanks, wanted children to be his neighbors. Commonly unappreciated are the deep Biblical dimensions of this seemingly simple hope. In its 1991 Final Report, the bipartisan National Commission on Children found that many children are in jeopardy. They grow up in families that are in turmoil. Some of these children are unloved and untended. Implicit to these comments (which I know because I helped write the report) was concern that these problems were getting worse. Recent social and legal changes eased access to divorce, a surge in non-marital births, and consequent fatherlessness may have contributed to adult freedoms and choices. However, the effects on children were mostly negative, adding to their sense of being unloved and other fears. Fred Rogers understood this. He might have entered into the culture wars over marriage and family. Yet, as his biographer Maxwell King notes on a related point, he worried that such public posturing would cause confusion with the parents and children who watched his show. Mr. Rogers held that kindness, understanding, and openness in relationships would have more effect. Like a battlefield medic, he was there to nurture the wounded young and to help them begin to heal. Some conservative critics of his show, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, would take its creator to task for telling children to feel good about themselves, even if behaving poorly; what they really needed was a good dose of personal responsibility. Such judgments missed the larger cultural picture of adult behaviors less ready to put the needs of children first. For Mr. Rogers, his work was actually the Bible in action. Even regular watchers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood were (and are) sometimes surprised to learn that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister. Indeed, in the 895 episodes of the show that he wrote, directed, and acted in, he seldom openly discussed matters of religious faith. All the same, the very premise of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood was profoundly scriptural. It rested on one of the most vital of Biblical passages, where Jesus lays out the Second Great Commandment: Love your Neighbor as Yourself. For Fred Rogers, children were his most important neighbors, in the rich Gospel sense of that word, and the focus of his pastoral care. They were beings made in the image of God. There is merit in author Amy Hollingsworths depiction of Mr. Rogers as a latter day Saint Francis of Assisi, who once said: Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words. Like St. Francis, Mr. Rogers did live a simple life, avoiding alcohol, tobacco, meat, evening parties, and even most television. Every day, he rose at about 5 A.M. to pray for those in need and to read passages from the Bible chosen to prepare him for the special tasks of that day. For himself, he asked for the goodness of heart to be the best person he could be toward each child or adult that he would meet. In other ways, Fred Rogers was complex. He is properly remembered as a quietly effective advocate for racial reconciliation, for engaging severely handicapped children in his broadcasts, and for other acts of inclusion: all of which he understood as following in the footsteps of Jesus. His 1969 testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee in favor of federal funding for the nascent Public Broadcasting System is legendary and still used today to shame politicians, such as Mitt Romney, who have had the temerity to seek cuts in PBS support. Fred Rogers was also, it appears, a lifelong Republican. Did he know success? Certainly, his show aired on about 400 PBS stations and, given its format and intended audience, enjoyed fairly solid Nielsen ratings. Statistics, though, fail here. Anecdotes are better. The new film, Its a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, wonderfully recreates an episode witnessed in 1998 by Esquire magazine writer Tom Junod. Mr. Rogers and he were caught in a Manhattan rainstorm. As usual, the taxis disappeared. The two took a subway. It was late afternoon and the train car was crammed with school children, heading home. Though of all races, Junod reports, the children were mostly black and Latino, and they didnt even approach Mr. Rogers and ask him for his autograph. They just sang, joining spontaneously in his shows opening tune, Wont You Be My Neighbor? and turning the clattering train into a single, soft runaway choir. Fred Rogers died in early 2003, age 74. At the funeral, his friend the Reverend William Barker shared Mr. Rogers favorite Bible passages. He was particularly fond of the Psalms, and had memorized Psalm 121. It concludes: The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and coming in from this time forth and for evermore. Television cannot confer immortality. However, reruns and YouTube do provide a digital shadow of life after death. Mr. Rogers Neighborhood continues to reach children, especially those under stress, with a simple, reassuring message: You are special. You are loved!" The Houston GLBT Political Caucus on Saturday endorsed Harris County district attorney candidate Audia Jones, a rebuke of incumbent DA Kim Ogg, who is openly lesbian and won the caucus endorsement last cycle. Caucus members voted 121-95 in favor of Jones, a Democratic Socialist who is pledging to make a vigorous push for criminal justice reform policies. She argues that Ogg, who was elected in 2016, has insufficiently championed such reforms. The vote came after a contentious debate among members and the 13 people on a screening committee that vetted the candidates. Eleven screeners recommended Jones, with some describing an antagonistic meeting with Ogg. Speaking to the caucus Saturday, Ogg defended her record as DA, arguing that she has started criminal diversion programs for nonviolent offenders while working with 87 law enforcement agencies, leading 800 employees, to protect you and this community. Theres a balance as the DA, and I represent that balance, Ogg said. My record shows it. Ive made difficult decisions to exonerate people against perhaps the police unions recommendation, and I have stood for crime victims and the LGBT community. Ogg spoke minutes after Jones, who criticized the incumbent for asking commissioners court for more prosecutors in her office. Jones also contended that Ogg has not done enough to root out policies that are disproportionately targeting our communities of color. In 2016, we got nothing but promises, and in 2020, we are standing here with nothing but failures from our current district attorney, who stated that she was going to support cash bail reform when in fact she was the only Democrat that opposed it, Jones said. Democrat Carvana Cloud, the former chief of the special victims' bureau under Ogg, argued that her experience would help her enact criminal justice reform more effectively than Jones. When you understand reform principles, you can take those reform principles and you can apply them to every practice to make sure you have true criminal justice reform, she said. Last month, Jones picked up an endorsement from the Texas Organizing Project, a progressive advocacy group that backed Ogg in 2016. Ogg, meanwhile, is endorsed by the Victory Fund, a national political organization that supports gay, lesbian and transgender candidates. The groups president, former Houston mayor Annise Parker, attended the caucus meeting Saturday and voted for Ogg. In an interview, Parker said "the far left, which is what was represented largely in the room today, and the far right are opposing (Ogg) because she has chosen over and over again to do what she thinks is right." Parker, a former caucus president, argued that Jones' supporters want Ogg to "stop prosecuting certain crimes," but "she swore an oath to the Constitution and the laws of the state of Texas, and she will use her discretion to the best of her ability. But she's not going to arbitrarily not enforce laws." "It's a combination of the changing of the guard, and that Kim is doing exactly what you would want from a DA, and that is going forward where she sees fit and not catering to either side," said Parker, who was Houstons first openly gay mayor. GLBT Caucus President Mike Webb shot back at Parker on Twitter, writing, "We are at a point in our history where we need leaders that fight for the ENTIRE LGBTQ+ community, particularly advocating for our queer communities of color." Todd Overstreet, another Democratic candidate, did not attend the caucus meeting. Three Republicans also are running for DA: Mary Nan Huffman, a former Montgomery County prosecutor and current legal counsel to the Houston Police Officers Union; Lori DeAngelo, who was a Harris County prosecutor for more than 20 years, including in Oggs office; and Wayne Lloyd Oliver, a defense lawyer who has run unsuccessfully for several offices as a candidate for both major parties, primarily as a way to advertise for his legal practice. KANSAS CITY, MO (AP) - A federal judge has thrown out a free-speech lawsuit against a former police detective filed by a man who was arrested while questioning a speaker at the Kansas City Public Library in 2016. Chief Judge Beth Phillips ruled that Brent Parsons, a Kansas City Police detective at that time, had probable cause to arrest Jeremy Rothe-Kushel. Shinhan suffers 12% decrease in net profits By Anna J. Park Korea Investment & Securities maintained its top position in 2019 brokerages' earnings results for the fourth consecutive year, while Shinhan Investment suffered a major setback with a drop in net profits. According to the Financial Supervisory Service, Korea Investment posted a record high net profit of 709.9 billion won ($598 million) in 2019, up more than 42 percent from the previous year. An official from Korea Investment attributed the record-high number to a diversified revenue structure and synergy among business divisions. "In particular, earnings from investment banking and wealth management have led the growth in performance. Return on equity (ROE) the standard index for measuring profitability was 14.3 percent, one of the highest in the industry," the official said. The remarkable performance was not only confined to the industry's frontrunner. Despite last year's KOSPI slump, eight major securities firms here saw their combined net profits increase by around 33 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year. Mirae Asset Daewoo and Meritz Securities kept their second and third positions, with net profits of 663.7 billion won and 554.5 billion won, respectively. Rounding out the top five were NH and Samsung at fourth and fifth with yearly net earnings of 476.4 billion won and 391.8 billion won. The rankings were the same as 2018. Hana Financial Investment recorded an impressive 84.6 percent year-on-year growth in net profit. An official from Hana said the brokerage house's focus on expanding revenue through its core businesses, including big investment banking deals and the over-the-counter market, played an integral part in its earnings increase. However Shinhan Financial Investment slipped to eighth from the previous year's sixth, with net profit decreasing by 12.1 percent. The firm is facing a series of lawsuits and a prosecution investigations due to links to the alleged fund fraud involving Lime Asset Management. Besides the eight major firms, other smaller-sized firms, including Hanyang, SK and KTB, also recorded a sharp increase in their net profits last year, which grew 360.1 percent, 125.4 percent and 45.7 percent, respectively. Market watchers say the profitability of securities firms in general has largely been enhanced, as its business model has transformed from a traditional brokerage-focused structure to that of a capital investment earnings structure, particularly in the areas of investment banking and wealth management. However, some analysts warned that the strong growth will slow from this year because of the government's tightened regulations on real estate. "The securities firms' net profits started to increase around 2016, as big investment banking deals related to real estate accumulated, leading to structural changes in the firms' business models," Kang Seung-gun, an analyst at High Financial Investments told The Korea Times. "But this increase is expected to slow, taking into account the government has intensified regulations on real estate," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:16:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Global financial service giants are bullish on the long-term growth prospects of the Chinese market, revving up donations to help the country combat the novel coronavirus outbreak. James Paradise, head of the securities division for Asia-Pacific at Goldman Sachs, said he is confident that China will successfully deal with the challenge and the firm is ready to help. The investment bank has promised to offer donations totaling 1 million U.S. dollars to help with the virus-control efforts. Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Chase also announced donations totaling 1 million U.S. dollars respectively to help the country tide over the difficult period. "It's important that we join hands, pool our resources and overcome the difficulties together," said Mark Leung, CEO of J.P. Morgan China. Toshiyasu Iiyama, head of the China Committee at Nomura Holdings, spoke highly of China's efforts to fight the novel coronavirus and expressed his respect for the nation's medical personnel. The company donated a total of 1.5 million yuan (about 215,150 U.S. dollars) to help with disease control. The Gerber baby is iconic, and now your child could be the face of Gerber. This is the 10th year in a row the company has launched a national search for its Spokesbaby. Applicants have to provide photos and videos of your little one, tell the company what makes your baby special and talk about a favorite tradition or memory. The child cant be older than 4 years old. The applications will be judged on visual appeal, expressiveness and consistency with Gerbers heritage Anything for Baby mission," the website said. The winner will also get $25,000. The past two years have been big for Gerber babies. In 2019, Kairi Yang became the first Gerber baby of Hmong descent and Lucas Warren was the first Gerber baby with down syndrome in 2018. More than 1,000 babies from Massachusetts have been entered. So, what are you waiting for? Entrees are accepted until Feb. 21. Related Content: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 04:06:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A train departs from an underground station in London, Britain on Aug. 12, 2019.(Xinhua/Han Yan) Despite its escalating cost, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave green light to HS2 high-speed rail, the country's biggest infrastructure project since World War II. LONDON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Despite its escalating cost, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday gave green light to HS2 high-speed rail, the country's biggest infrastructure project since World War II, warning that Britain was being held back by its inadequate infrastructure. Admitting it was "a controversial and difficult decision", Johnson told the House of Commons that "the government must show it still has the courage to dream big dreams." Addressing criticism of the project and its soaring costs -- now estimated to be over 100 billion pounds (130 billion U.S. dollars) -- Johnson said he is to appoint a government minister to oversee the HS2 linking London and northern England. "I am drawing a clear line under the mismanagement of the past -- HS2 must be delivered more efficiently and cost-effectively so that communities feel its benefits more quickly, particularly those in the North," he said. Work on Phase 1 of the rail link between London and Birmingham is set to start in April, the government said in an official statement. Once the project is completed, London to Birmingham travel times will be cut to 52 minutes from one hour and 21 minutes, according to the Department for Transport. The first trains are expected to run on the route between 2028 and 2031 -- long after the original opening date of 2026 while Phase 2 to Manchester and Leeds is likely to open in 2035-40, according to local media. For British Chambers of Commerce Director General Adam Marshall, Johnson's decision "was a long time coming." "So it's great news for businesses, investment and growth in many parts of the UK...It's time to stop debating and start delivering the new capacity and connections that HS2 will bring to our communities and businesses," said Marshall. "At the start of this new decade, firms are feeling more optimistic and want to invest. This historic Budget offers the chance to turn rising optimism into a surge in investment across the UK," said Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry. Alongside giving the go-ahead to HS2, Johnson on Tuesday also affirmed his commitment to accelerating progress on Northern Powerhouse Rail with an integrated plan to maximise benefits of rail investments across northern England. Facebook has been forced into an embarrassing postponement of its new dating service all across Europe 36 hours before Valentines Day after Irelands Data Protection Commission stepped in. The regulatory body, which oversees Facebooks operation across the EU, sent agents to the social media giants offices in Dublin because Facebook had not informed the regulatory body of the launch. The move leaves the social media body red-faced, even though Independent.ie understands that Facebook will proceed with the European dating launch in future and that the product has been postponed rather than cancelled. A spokesman for DPC Helen Dixon said that Facebook only informed it on February 3rd that the dating launch was occurring on February 13th. We were very concerned that this was the first that wed heard from Facebook Ireland about this new feature, he said. Our concerns were further compounded by the fact that no information or documentation was provided to us on the third of February in relation to the Data Protection Impact Assessment or the decision-making processes that were undertaken by Facebook Ireland. In order to expedite the procurement of the relevant documentation, authorised officers of the DPC conducted an inspection at Facebook Irelands offices in Dublin on Monday last, February 10th, and gathered documentation. Yesterday, Facebook informed journalists and the DPC that they were postponing the launch. Its really important that we get the launch of Facebook Dating right so we are taking a bit more time to make sure the product is ready for the European market, said a Facebook Ireland spokesman. We have worked carefully to create strong privacy safeguards and have shared this information with the [Irish] DPC ahead of the European roll out. The DPC is now reviewing documentation associated with the proposed dating service. DEEPENING DEMOCRATIC PARTY DIVISION AFTER FAILED IMPEACHMENT THREATENS TO HELP PREZ TRUMP WIN REELECTION!!! Prez Trump Path To 2020 Victory Emerges Trump advisers say their ideal Democratic primary scenario is taking shape NASHUA, N.H. - One clear winner has emerged so far from the Democratic presidential contest, according to strategists aligned with the presidential re-election team this year - Donald Trump. BERNIE BROS RALLY!!! Iowa debacle deepens division between Sanders, national party There is deep frustration among Sanders's supporters and allies over the historic meltdown of the first-in-the-nation caucuses. The race is too close to call, but the late results trickling in appeared to be breaking in Sanders's direction and there's still a chance he could win both the popular vote and a plurality of delegates. Contrary Survey Seyz Everything's All Right With DNC Democrats Viewed as Divided, but Satisfied With Candidates Story Highlights Two-thirds of Americans consider the Democrats divided rather than united Majority of 56% consider Republican Party united Supporters of both parties satisfied with choices for 2020 nomination WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With 11 Democrats vying for their party's 2020 presidential nomination as the primary season kicks off, 65% of Americans describe the Democratic Party as divided while 34% see it as united. Dems Doing It To Themselves 'Manna from heaven': Trump and GOP stoke Democratic discord The Trump team has already spent much of the last several weeks stoking Democratic discord, pushing the idea that the Democratic establishment is working to deny liberal insurgent Bernie Sanders the party's nomination. Establishment Plea To Politely Ignore Fundamental Beliefs Klobuchar: 'We need to build a big tent' for anti-abortion Democrats Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. (D-Minn.) on Tuesday said that the Democratic Party should be a "big tent" for people of different beliefs, including those who oppose abortion rights. Klobuchar, who is running as a centrist candidate and alternative to Sens. (I-Vt.) Prez Trump Targets Community Trump Ramps Up Outreach To Black Voters After State Of The Union Push President Trump ramped up his outreach to black voters on Friday in a speech aimed squarely at highlighting policies he says are helping provide jobs, education and opportunities. In his first policy speech since his State of the Union address on Tuesday - which also highlighted his outreach to the African American community - Trump traveled to Charlotte, N.C., and announced a new addition to his team. Prez Obama Legacy Forgotten The Exhaustion of Listening to White Presidential Candidates Discuss Racism South Carolina Was the Prize in the Democrats' New Hampshire Debate What Twitter Has to Say About the Friday Democratic Debate Trump Is Flaunting His Impunity Scared of Bernie? Not Feeling Pete? Your Unity Candidate Is Running Out of Time. By Friday evening, I was already over it. Press photo op nice news speaks to this town's glory and a Democratic Party connection from the Midwest to the Left Coast:Meanwhile . . .Both Kansas City's highest elected officials, Congressman Cleaver and Speaker Pelosi represent the Democratic establishment. Once againandthreaten to send 2020 into upheaval.Bernie Bros and Mike Bloomberg have been relentless in their push for power and have captured thesupport along with more hopeful liberal allies who rank among the loudest and most frequent voters.Here's our quick rundown and a more up-to-date collection of news that doesn't follow the local happy-go-lucky narrative attempting to sell more grocery store cereal . . .Developing . . . Fewer South Korean students think South Korea should cooperate with North Korea as cross-border relations soured last year, a survey suggests. The government polled 66,042 schoolkids nationwide from Oct. 21 to Nov. 29 last year and found that the mention of North Korea triggered increasing associations with words like "war," "militarism," "dictatorship" and "poverty." Some 43.8 percent said South Korea should cooperate with the North, down 7.1 percentage points from the same poll a year earlier, while 35.8 percent said South Korea should be on its guard against the crackpot country, up 7.6 percentage points. The proportion of students who think the South should help the North dropped from 12.1 percent to 8.2 percent, while 8.1 percent see the North as an enemy, up from 5.2 percent. SPRINGFIELD Most adults in Illinois give the states public school system only a so-so grade, but they give slightly higher marks for their own local schools. Thats according to a new survey commissioned by the Illinois Education Association, the states largest teachers union. The survey, called the State of Education Report, also found broad public support for increasing funding for K-12 education and raising educator salaries. High-quality public education remains a high priority, and while there is no consensus on how to fix schools, funding and quality teachers are seen as a key, IEA President Kathi Griffin said during a news conference Tuesday. The survey of 1,000 adults in Illinois was conducted Nov. 13-21 by Normington-Petts & Associates, a Democratic polling firm, and We Ask America, a Republican-leaning firm. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. When asked to give the states public school system a letter grade, only 2 percent of respondents gave it an A, while 20 percent gave it a B, both down slightly from a similar survey conducted last year. Forty-one percent gave the state a C, while 31 percent gave it a D or F. Opinions were slightly more positive when respondents were asked about the schools in their own local community: 16 percent gave an A to their local schools and 37 percent gave them a B. Forty-three percent gave their local schools a C or lower. Griffin said the survey revealed no clear consensus about how to improve the states school system, although 59 percent said having high-quality public schools should be a top priority. The only other issue that ranked higher in the survey was cleaning up corruption in state government. Reducing crime, balancing the state budget and lowering taxes all ranked lower. The survey also found broad support for increasing education funding in Illinois. Overall, two-thirds of respondents said the state should increase school funding compared to only 5 percent who said it should be cut and 23 percent who said it should stay the same. The survey did not ask respondents where they think the additional money should come from. Griffin, however, said she believes the state needs to continue funding the Evidence Based Funding program that lawmakers passed in 2017, and that it should do so with revenue from the proposed graduated income tax amendment that will be on the November general election ballot. (T)hat will assist in making sure that our schools have the resources they need so that we can provide a quality education for all of our students, she said. The survey was conducted just months after Illinois lawmakers passed measures aimed at relieving the states teacher shortage. Those included bills raising the minimum wage for teachers to $40,000 by 2023 and easing some of the states licensing requirements. Griffin, however, said it will take time for the effects of those new laws to set in. Just over half of all respondents in the survey said they believe teachers in their communities are paid too little, while only 8 percent said they were paid too much. One-third said they thought teacher salaries were about right. The survey also found support for other measures aimed at reducing the states teacher shortage, including lowering the minimum retirement age for teachers in the Tier 2 retirement system those hired since 2011 to 60 instead of 67. Much to the chagrin of the U.S. government, the UK Government announced in late January it would allow Huawei equipment to be used in the rollout of 5G in the country. While some western intelligence agencies and politicians still claim Huawei poses a national security threat if its technology is used, the decision ensures the rollout of 5G technology and networks in the UK avoids long delays. Ignoring the politics and rhetoric, what real risk does 5G pose to UK enterprises, and does Huawei increase those dangers? UK cautiously says yes to Huawei While the Chinese company is regarded as a high-risk vendor and may be used in a limited capacity, the UK Government deems the risk to be acceptable and manageable. At the same time, the NCSC published advice on using equipment from high-risk vendors such as Huawei in UK telecoms networks. These include not using said vendors on core parts of network functions, capping high-risk vendors to 35% of network equipment, keeping high-risk equipment away from sites significant to national security, or deploying them on networks used for operation of government or critical national infrastructure. We ask operators to use Huawei in a limited way so we can collectively manage the risk, NCSC Technical Director Dr. Ian Levy said in a blog post. Weve 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. While Levy acknowledged that the NCSC considers Huawei to be a high-risk vendor, it was not the only one on that list (ZTE are also regarded as such) and the sector needed greater plurality of choice. There are only three scale suppliers of 5G Radio Access Network kit that can currently be used in the UK: Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei. Thats crazy. We need to diversify the market significantly in the UK so that we do not end up nationally dependent on any vendor. According to the NCSC, factors that contribute toward whether a vendor is high risk include scale in the UK and global market, quality and transparency of the vendors engineering practices and cyber security controls, past practices, resilience, and considerations around ownership and location including influence and legislation of states. Politicians in the U.S. have expressed their disappointment at the move, which they say may affect future relations. The U.S. and Australia have already banned the Chinese technology company from its networks based on national security concerns, but a softer stance has been taken in Europe. Germany has already stated it will allow Huawei into its 5G networks while the European Union Commission recently published guidelines on how to help secure high-risk venders and left the decisions around such venders up to the member states, tacitly giving countries the greenlight to use Huawei if they see fit. Huawei backdoors, possibly vulnerabilities, definitely When it comes to Huaweis involvement in 5G, most of the concern is around the companys links to the Chinese communist party and whether there are government-mandated backdoors that could allow state actors and intelligence services direct access to critical infrastructure. Though there has been little evidence publicly revealed around this, it remains a distinct possibility. However, there is more reason for concern around the companys engineering practices. Though its equipment has been used in UK telecoms infrastructure for years, the NCSC has long considered Huawei a high-risk vendor because of its market share, relationship with the Chinese Government and the regulatory environment in the country, and often low engineering quality. The HCSEC Oversight Board, a body set up to identify and mitigate risks from Huaweis involvement in the UKs critical national infrastructure, has previously identified significant technical issues in Huaweis engineering processes and approach to software development. The serious and systematic defects in Huaweis software engineering and cybersecurity competence HCSEC found include issues around configuration management, use of an old and soon-to-be unsupported operating system, flaws in software component lifecycle management, and hundreds of software vulnerabilities. However, HCSEC did acknowledge that Huawei is still willingly working with it to fix issues and the current arrangement is the best way to identify and mitigate risks around Huaweis involvement in the UK telecommunications sector. The head of Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Arne Schonbohm, has previously said the agency has no such evidence around government-mandated backdoors to justify banning the company from Germanys networks. The issue highlighted by the security agencies has mainly been down to a lack of consistency in deployed devices, compared to the tested ones says Jimmy Jones, cybersecurity telecoms expert at Positive Technologies. A lot of this probably comes from Huawei creating local software solutions to support onsite challenges when they deploy in operator environments, but these tend to be complex installations into mature networks with a mixture of vendors. Smaller off-the-shelf solutions should be less affected. Politically it looks pretty obvious there is no way that Huawei can completely unpick itself from the Chinese government, so really it comes down to trust and that is unquantifiable. The final decision for the individual CISO [around using Huaweis 5G technology] has to come down to corporate stance, the deployment situation and the risks that presents to the core business, and possibly individual opinion. 5G: New technology, same risk model? 5G may offer benefits around the scale and speed that data can be moved around, but like any new technology it is still a relative unknown when it comes to security. Even before mass deployment, vulnerabilities have been found within 5G standards and protocols, many of which were also present in previous generations and have been brought forward. An EU assessment of the risks around 5G stated that while many of these vulnerabilities are not specific to 5G networks, their number and significance is likely to increase due to the increased level of complexity of the technology around and greater reliance on 5G infrastructure. Very few operators will deploy standalone 5G networks and, if anything, will be using almost exclusively a mixture of different generations, with the added complication of interworking between them, explains Jones. The reality is that many 5G networks contain security flaws from day one due to their reliance on the existing 4G network core. Security threats associated with 3G and 4G will continue to remain long after 5G reaches the public and will heavily influence deployments for at least the next three to five years. As an example of how this can be exploited, a cross-protocol attack reveal a subscriber's international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the unique id number associated with that connection, by exploiting vulnerabilities in 3G networks or obtaining of data about the operator's network configuration via the 4G part of the network. Jones adds that many use cases around 5G augmented reality, drones, driverless cars, robotics, etc. are so latency sensitive that the networks operations are being moved to the edge. So, instead of being located in a highly secure data center, more information is being processed and managed at smaller edge locations such as cell tower base stations with fewer people and security controls. New ones will inevitably present themselves, too. For example, a report by 5GAmericas suggests 5G network slicing which allows for the creation of isolated end-to-end networks to create more efficiencies could be abused if poorly configured. In a potential scenario, malware in an IoT device could jump between slices and infect other endpoints if there isnt enough isolation between different parts of the network. Other threats could include a denial of service (DoS) attack by depleting the available resources of a given slice. 5G technology will have a virtualized core, says NordVPNs digital privacy expert Daniel Markuson. That means software, rather than specialized hardware, will be routing voice and other data to ensure it gets to the right destination. Software-based architecture means that there are more potential entry points for attackers, and higher speeds will mean that hackers will be able to work and download data faster. The sheer number of devices that 5G will enable is a key consideration that organizations should bear in mind. While those devices will need securing, authenticating, patching and monitoring, the threat model for enterprises wont change too much, according to Bharat Mistry, principal security strategist at Trend Micro. Enterprise networks are mainly hub-and-spoke designs whereby devices connect to centralized switching and routing infrastructure, where cyber hygiene such as inspection and control can be practiced, he says. With 5G, the network will change from centralized hardware switching to distributed software-defined digital routing. In a 5G software-defined network, activity is pushed outward to a web of digital routers throughout the network, denying the potential for chokepoint inspection and control, says Mistry. To remedy this, he says, security operations teams will need to think about how to protect and detect malicious activity on remote 5G devices as many will connect to a network without any firewall or intrusion protection capabilities as well as how to retrieve data from the devices and how to contain or isolate the infected devices. How companies need to think about 5G security While it is still in its infancy in terms of large-scale deployments, end-user companies are already concerned around some of the security challenges 5G will pose. Over 40% of organizations believe 5G will have very significant impact on their networks and may require a new security stack or an entirely new set of processes, according to a survey of over 700 security professionals globally by AT&T. Chief concerns were around a larger attack surface due increased connectivity, fears about the number of devices connecting to the network (and the policies and authentication around those devices), and the fear of as yet unknown vulnerabilities in 5G technologies. 5G still the most secure connection It should be stressed that 5G will probably be the most secure external connection an enterprise can use says Positives Jones. The telecom community has woken up to the security issues of previous generations and with 5G are attempting to design in security. He advises that CISOs should ensure their service providers are working on their security as an ongoing process and ensure the operator fulfilled their due diligence but also made the effort to understand their unique environment. It can no longer be a cookie cutter approach. The relationship with the telecom operator needs to be far more proactive. A yearly visit to discuss the call charges or upgrade the office phone system will no longer cut it, Jones says. In the world of 5G deployments, the relationship between the 5G provider and the enterprise may well have to take on a different look, with more collaboration needed to ensure the network and everything on it is adequately protected. The traditional network perimeter as we know it will be completely eradicated as 5G connected devices can communicate over the internet to both public and corporate applications and services, says Trend Micros Mistry. Protection of these devices requires a collaborative approach between the enterprise organisations and the 5G service provider conceptually very similar to the cloud services shared responsibility model. Management and network orchestrating is one of the most important components of the 5G infrastructure. It is responsible for the configuration and management of all significant functions of 5G, and CISOs will want to know the 'guard rails' the ISP has put in place to ensure the infrastructure is configured in the correct manner, based on best practices and how they ensure any misconfigurations or actions of a malicious insider are identified and mitigated quickly. In addition, supply chain management becomes even more important when dealing with 5G. Enterprises should be aware that outsourcing is common, meaning although a 5G service may be being supplied by a network provider, behind the scenes it might be being directly run by the potentially high-risk vendors building the infrastructure. Jones also says enterprises need to consider the applications they consume that are delivered via 5G. The 5G core is expected to allow much greater third-party access with additional elements added to facilitate API access, allowing the third party to directly communicate and deploy to the operators infrastructure, says Jones. If an enterprise uses these services, they need to ensure they understand exactly how, and who is delivering the services. Telecom operators are almost implicitly trusted, but their level of control could be eroded so a full understanding of the supply chain is needed. Boca Raton, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2020) - LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics offers state-of-the-art age management treatments at their Boca Raton office. Using the latest technology, they provide a variety of age management therapies including hormone therapy, joint injections, and stem cell therapy. Aiming to help their clients feel happy and healthy, the team at LifeGaines Medical uses an innovative approach to overall health. Focusing on age management and regenerative therapies, the team at LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics is led by a highly respected pioneer in age management medicine, Dr. Richard Gaines. Board Certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Richard Gaines is qualified to provide advanced age management protocols to those who seek them. This enables LifeGaines to offer cutting-edge therapies in their Boca Raton office. Dr. Gaines is the Chief Medical Officer of LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics, a new age management medical practice located in Boca Raton, FL. LifeGaines is located at 3785 N Federal Highway, Suite #150, Boca Raton, FL 3343. Call (561) 931-2430 to set up an appointment. To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6848/52337_77da00293414f830_001full.jpg As a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Dr. Gaines believes in using an integrative approach to achieve total body health. He and his team do this by offering several different treatments to their clients that are said to help people who are aging keep their health throughout their golden years. Among these treatments are hormone replacement therapy, stem cell therapy and joint injections. Get age management treatments from a trusted Boca Raton physician at LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics. Age management looks different for every person that visits LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics. Some people are looking for help in maintaining their sexual wellness while others are more concerned with cosmetic changes like sunspots and unsightly veins. The team at LifeGaines understands that overall well-being is about both controlling the physiological changes as well as the cosmetic changes. To best serve their clients, LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics also offers aesthetic procedures in their age management programs. The most common of these procedures are PRP facials, sun spot removal, Botox, and spider vein removal. Access advanced age management practices by calling LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics at (561) 931-2430. In addition to their wellness therapies and cosmetic procedures, Dr. Richard Gaines also helps those suffering from sexual dysfunction due to aging. Without the use of commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals, Dr. Gaines and the team at LifeGaines use hormone therapy to help their clients maintain their sexual wellness and boost their libido. As a piece of overall health, sexual wellness is a significant part of age management medicine. LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics is an age management practice owned by renowned functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Richard Gaines. His age management practice provides a wide selection of cosmetic treatments from their office located at Florida. The team at LifeGaines specializes in age management treatments, stem cell therapy, sexual wellness and platelet-rich plasma procedures. With the services offered at LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics, South Floridians can maintain their overall health and improve their quality of life as they age. Aging Floridians should visit LifeGaines Medical and Aesthetics online or call their office at 3785 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton to schedule their initial consultation. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52337 He tied them up, covered their eyes and raped them. According to detectives, he then forced his victims to shower away any trace of DNA that would link him to the crimes. During one of the attacks, a woman begged him to stop because she was pregnant. Houston investigators on Tuesday named 28-year-old Brandon Jay Carter as the suspect behind a string of harrowing assaults that began last June in west Houston and Greenspoint after tying him to the use of a victims stolen debit card. The attacks started three months after his release from the Harris County Jail on a criminal trespass charge. Police believe he stalked his victims and waited for them to be alone. Brandon Carter is not a very nice man, said Reagan Daniel, a Houston police detective. Hes very, very methodical about not leaving evidence at the scenes. So far, Carter has been charged with debit card abuse and one count aggravated sexual assault, with the likelihood that he will face more charges, police said. As of Tuesday afternoon, he had not been apprehended. He has ties to the Greenspoint area. Carter, who is 58 and weighs about 150 pounds, has shown a pattern of predatory behavior in his decade-long rap sheet. Most of the arrests were for misdemeanors, and whichever felonies he was charged with were either dismissed or downgraded. Two warrants for Carters arrest were issued last month, one for debit card abuse linked to the latest, Jan. 5 attack, and another for aggravated sexual assault for a June 18 allegation. In the latest incident, the woman revealed it was the first time her boyfriend had not spent the night with her, Daniel said. The attacker ambushed her outside her apartment as she left for work. He forced her back inside at gunpoint, court records show. The charging papers for debit card abuse do not say that she was sexually assaulted but detectives linked the events at news conference. During the attack, the man covered her face with a hood and bound her with zip ties. He found her debit card and demanded that she give him her PIN, documents state. While receiving an examination at a hospital, the woman called police and checked her bank account. More than $400 in cash had been withdrawn at a convenience store in the 600 block of Greens Road, authorities said. Surveillance footage was used to link Carter to the withdrawal, and that another man was him with. He made a mistake and we caught it, Daniel said. A bag with suspicious contents A hint of how methodical the attacks were carried out was found in a bag seized by police last April when a womans brother spied Carter loitering near her apartment. The bag contained a BB gun, latex gloves, two sets of blacked-out goggles, nine zip-ties, a pair of pruning shears, rope and a trash bag. The contents, while suspect, were not illegal to have, police said. Though Carter was under suspicion of trespassing and did not live at the apartment building patrol officers apprehended him on outstanding traffic tickets, Daniel said. Afterward, Carter never came to collect his possessions. The stash was logged as usual and kept in an HPD property room until Carter was identified in the January assault. People get arrested with the strangest stuff, Daniel said. But there's no crime in carrying goggles and theres no crime in carrying a pistol. Daniel now believes he was likely stalking a prospective victim when he was encountered in April. Two months later, Carter broke into a womans Greenspoint apartment and used goggles to cover his victims eyes, according to court documents. The 42-year-old woman woke to find a man pointing a gun at her. A strip of cloth covered the bridge of his nose and he was wearing her shoes, court documents show. He bound her hands behind her back. And when the goggles refused to stay on, he fashioned a shirt into a blindfold and sexually assaulted her. The woman said Carter then forced her to brush her teeth and shower as he watched with a gun pointed at her. He began assaulting her again and she pleaded with him to stop because she was pregnant, according to court documents. He instead had her take a second shower so she would scrub the evidence away. Details from a third assault in December were not readily available, but Detective Ramon Garcia told reporters the woman was also stalked, alone and forced to shower. In each sexual assault kit, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences found no sign of the suspects DNA, according to police. Exposure charge on HPDs own turf Amid a scattering of arrests, court records reveal that Carter was often busted on accusations of sexual offenses and breaking into homes. In 2011, the Harris County Sheriffs Office arrested Carter on the felony charge of attempted sexual assault. He made bond and landed in a Fort Bend County jail the next year for burglary with the intent to commit a sex offense, records show. The Harris County case was dismissed in 2012 out of preference for the Fort Bend County investigation. In 2016, that case was dismissed for the following reason: Identification suppressed. No additional evidence at this time. Carter was arrested again in 2017 for burglary after he entered a womans home with the plan to rob her. He entered a guilty plea and the charge was downgraded to criminal trespass, a misdemeanor. His lawyer at the time noted in court documents that Carter was looking at many years in prison. Long before Carters suspected sexual assault spree, Houston police encountered Carter on their own turf. He exposed his genitals to a woman at 1200 Travis St., the Houston Police Department headquarters. Carter was found guilty of that 2009 charge, also a misdemeanor. nicole.hensley@chron.com Village Green, 715 S. Saginaw Road, is a staple in the Midland area, known for both its floral arrangements and quality products, including jewelry and chocolates. Shop owners Joe and Maureen Kozuch, of Midland, recently marked the 20th anniversary of purchasing the business. Village Green began as Central Michigan Nurseries in 1958 and was owned by the Horsley family. In 1977, Herb and Emelie Horsley handed the business, then called Horsley's Flowers and Gifts, to Larry Wegner, who changed the name to Village Green. Maureen began working in the shop in 1984 and Village Green provided floral arrangements for her and Joe's wedding in 1985. Joe worked for Maple Hill and 4D Inc., and thus had experience in plant care. Then, at a Midland Noon Rotary Pancake Supper, the Kozuchs and Wegners got together and talked about the future of Village Green. Mawson research station on the Antarctic mainland in 1954. Credit:Antarctic National Research Expedition Men of an Australian National Antarctic research expedition returned to Melbourne yesterday in triumph after defeating ice and hurricanes to set up a new base, named Mawson, on the continent of Antarctica. First published in The Age on April 1, 1954 Their ship, the ice-breaker, Kista Dan, was met at North Wharf by the Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Casey) and about 200 officials, relatives and friends. Mr. Casey paid a tribute to the ships captains, Captain Pedersen, for his skill and courage in navigating the Kista Dan through Antarctic ice and gales during its absence from Melbourne of almost three months. The Antarctic Continent was becoming an increasingly important source of meteorological information for Australian and New Zealand weather forecasting, he said. Ten men left at Mawson called after Sir Douglas Mawson, which may become Australias first permanent settlement on the Antarctic continent. Australia also has scientific stations at Heard and Macquarie Islands. The House of Representatives has called for a proper investigation into the utilisation of funds released for Nigerias education sector in 2019. The house committee on basic education and services said this during a visit to the ministry of education in Abuja on Tuesday over the implementation of the 2019 budget. The education minister, Adamu Adamu, during the meeting, said the ministry was only able to achieve 40 per cent implementation of the 2019 budget due to poor budgetary releases and time constraint. The lawmakers, led by the chairman of the committee, Julius Ihonvbere, earlier said the education sector is underfunded. They appealed to the 774 local governments to fund it at the grassroots level. It is obvious that the sector is underfunded, there is no how less than 50 per cent release of the appropriation act will address the challenges of the sector, it is important that the local government areas must begin to fund education at the basic level, the chairman said. He said it is important to know how the released funds are utilised. It is more about how the funds released are utilised. We need to see the projects the funds released were used on as well as the quality of work done in the sector, he said. We achieved 40% budget implementation in 2019 Mr Adamu, during the meeting, appealed to the National Assembly to increase the budgetary allocation to the education sector to 15 per cent in the 2021 National Budget, considering the level of decay and decadence in the education sector. Mr Adamu said the ministry was only able to achieve 40 per cent implementation of the 2019 budget due to due to poor budget releases and time constraint. The minister said the total amount appropriated to the education sector in 2019 was N634.5 billion with a percentage of capital releases to the sector as 42.96 per cent. Mr Adamu said out of the N58.7 billion allocated to the federal ministry of education in 2019, only N25.2 billion was released to agencies, universities, polytechnics and unity colleges. According to the minister, in the 2019 sectoral capital appropriation act, N11 billion was allocated to universities while only N3 billion was released. Of the N2.5 billion appropriated to colleges of education, only N957.6 million was released, he said. For the unity colleges, he said N10 billion was allocated to over 104 Nigerian government colleges but only N5 billion was released for implementation of projects in the schools. Mr Adamu said N84.7 billion was allocated to the education ministry in the 2020 appropriation act for it to attend to the needs of 19 agencies, 43 federal universities and five inter-university centres. READ ALSO: In the summary of the 2020 appropriation act, N10.4 billion is allocated to unity schools, N11.8 billion is allocated to universities, N5.7 billion appropriated to colleges of education, N2.6 billion allocated to polytechnics while N35.2 billion was allocated to agencies under the federal ministry of Education, the minister said. Though the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommended 26 per cent, there was the need to compare what Nigeria was allocated to education with some African countries such as Rwanda that allocates about N22 per cent of her budget to education, he said. Other issues Meanwhile, Mr Adamu said the sector was bedevilled with challenges of acute shortage of classrooms, hostel accommodation, laboratories and library facilities, inadequate teaching personnel, unqualified teachers, poor and inadequate provision of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities and lack of security infrastructure in schools. He also expressed sadness about the high number of out-of-school children in the country. The minister said the government would soon set up an education watch group to ensure that children were in school. Currently, the out school children in Nigeria according to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is about 10.2 million. On the delay in the completion of the National Library project, Mr Adamu said the complex was yet to be completed due to inadequate budgetary provisions over the years. He said about N46 billion is required to complete the multi-billion naira edifice, whose construction had begun in 2006 with an initial completion period of 22 months. Advertisements He said considering the importance of the National Library to the nation, the ministry has written the president to possibly direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to invest in completion of the project. He said about N232 million was appropriated to the complex in 2019 while the same N232 million was appropriated in 2020. He said this amount was grossly inadequate to complete the complex. Mr Adamu urged state governors to invest more in basic education and do more to access the matching grant from the UBEC. He also called for the dedication of 1 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to the funding of the newly approved National Secondary Education Commission so as to ensure its take-off while also increasing the UBECs 2 per cent of CRF to 3 per cent to boost the Commissions intervention effort. The federal government last year inaugurated a 15-man committee for the take-off of the National Commission for Secondary Education. The law establishing the commission was signed in 1999 but was never implemented. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 16:31:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An invisible mask against the novel coronavirus outbreak, public health emergency intervention on mental health care has been launched in China to quell people's fear of the unknown and address problems concerning psychological health. by Xinhua writers Chu Yi, Liu Fangqiang and Qiu Yi BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Timely and comprehensive mental health services have been deployed across China in its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak to help the public tackle epidemic trauma. The virus had claimed more than 1,100 lives as of Tuesday on the Chinese mainland and infected over 44,000, with Wuhan, where the outbreak started, hit hardest. ASSISTANCE AT EPICENTER To quell people's fear of the unknown and address problems concerning the psychological health, Wuhan opened two 24-hour hotlines on Jan. 23 when the megacity was put on lockdown, with services offered by the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and the Hubei Psychological Consultant Association. "We receive nearly 100 phone calls from the public every day on average, but only about five calls are from medical staff," said Xiao Jinsong, head of the Hubei Psychological Consultant Association. "Most frontline medical staff are fully concentrating on their work now, almost having no time to relax, which may cover their negative emotions. Besides, some medics habitually work under high pressure, but this is not conducive to their mental health," Xiao said. Xiao encouraged the frontline personnel to vent their negative feelings in time to calm themselves before going back to work. A member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) provides psychological counseling for a resident at a community in Xihu District of Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) In the fight against the virus, Wuhan is never alone. The second batch of 148 Shanghai medical staff were dispatched on Jan. 28 to offer assistance in Wuhan Third Hospital. The team has set up psychological consultation rooms, consisting of psychologists and professional nurses, in their working area and the hotel they live in, to offer one-on-one mental health services to patients and medics. "Online services are also available and those in need can reach us by scanning our QR code on WeChat," said Shi Weixiong, a member of the medical team. "Also, experts in Shanghai can be contacted to offer online psychological assistance," Shi added. On Feb. 4, a 55-member emergency medical rescue team from Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University was dispatched to Wuhan. The team has launched psychological training for its team members and also provided psychological support to frontline medical staff in Wuhan. According to Liu Zhongmin, head of the Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University, the hospital has compiled a book about psychological self-help and rescue, more than 95,000 hard copies of which have been handed out free of charge to citizens in Hubei and Shanghai, while its electronic version can also be downloaded for free. DEPLOYMENT ACROSS NATION The National Health Commission has released guidelines for local authorities to promote psychological crisis intervention for patients, medical workers and people under medical observation. Medical specialists answer telephone calls through the government service hotline "12345" to provide consultation service on prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia for citizens in Haikou, south China's Hainan province, Feb. 8, 2020. (Photo by Pu Xiaoxu/Xinhua) China opened a mental health hotline for people who need help with psychological issues related to the epidemic, according to Beijing Normal University, which is famous for its psychology studies and began providing the service on Jan. 27. The Ministry of Education encouraged the establishment of more such telephone- and internet-based counseling services across the country. So far, provinces including Hubei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Henan have opened psychological hotlines amid the outbreak. Shanghai was among the first batch of cities in China to assign psychiatrists to isolation wards. Some patients, having fears, worries, sadness and depression about the epidemic, need psychological support. There are also medics in need of help, as they work for a long time, with high pressure and guilt toward their families, said Chen Jun, an expert from the Shanghai Mental Health Center. "A stable state of mind can help reduce irritability and agitation, which is helpful for treatment. Providing psychological counseling and appropriate medicine, psychiatry can play an important role in the battle against the epidemic," Chen said. A psychologist answers a call from a citizen in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) A psychological crisis intervention panel, consisting of 73 psychologists and psychiatrists, was set up on Jan. 30 in east China's Anhui Province, launching two 24-hour hotlines for those who are mentally affected by the epidemic. "It is quite normal to feel anxious when there is a public health crisis. The problem will become increasingly obvious as time goes by amid this epidemic outbreak. Therefore, it is time for psychological experts to step in," said Liu Yong, a psychiatrist at Anhui Mental Health Center, where most members of the intervention panel come from. In central China's Hunan Province, the municipal health commission of Zhuzhou released a psychological hotline on Feb. 1, with experts offering around-the-clock free services to the public every day. "There is a process of epidemic control. It is within expectations that the number of confirmed cases is on the rise, and a turning point will only come after the peak," said Chen Xiangqing, vice president of the Third Hospital of Zhuzhou, when answering an incoming call. Statistics show that the hotline in Zhuzhou had received more than 300 phone calls as of Tuesday. A psychological counseling course is held for nurses who volunteered to join the fight against the novel coronavirus at Mawangdui section of People's Hospital of Hunan Province in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) ONLINE SUPPORT Thanks to the rapid development of social media, many psychological aid teams have been established online, providing convenient services to those with epidemic trauma. Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology have set up several psychological support groups through QQ, a popular social media platform in China. With more than 2,000 doctors offering 24-hour services, e-commerce giant JD.com started to provide psychological counseling for users on Jan. 26. A staff member chats through video with people being treated in isolation for medical observation at a hotel, in Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, Feb. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) On the same day, KnowYourself, a public account on WeChat, opened a green channel for frontline medical workers, patients and their family members, hoping to help them reduce panic attacks. The account said members of its psychological team have been receiving regular training and professional supervision, offering more than 300,000 services since 2015. "One of my patients is confirmed with the novel coronavirus. I am aware of the high risk of infection, but I don't have time to think of myself. I am afraid of going home now because I don't want my family to be infected," read a message left on KnowYourself by a 35-year-old ICU doctor. To help the stressed-out doctor, KnowYourself suggested multiple measures including taking deep breaths, self-hugging and meditating. "In this special period, people are encouraged to talk and listen to each other, voicing all complicated emotions while listening to others actively and without criticism," said the account. (Ma Shurui, Wang Zuokui, Li Changzheng, Yue Wenwan, Liao Jun and Yang Jian also contributed to the story) (Video reporter: Bai Bin; Video editor: Zhao Xiaoqing) Radisson Hospitality AB (publ) will release its Financial Report Q4-2019 on Tuesday 25 February 2020 at 7:30am CET. Federico J. Gonzalez, President & CEO, and Sergio Amodeo, CFO, will also host an audio webcast on the same day, at 15:00 CET. To access the telephone conference, please dial one of the following numbers: LOCATION PHONE NUMBER Belgium National free phone 0800 48740 Belgium +32 (0)2 400 9874 France National free phone 0805 103 028 France +33 (0)1 76 70 07 94 Norway National free phone 800 51874 Norway +47 2396 0264 Sweden National free phone 0200 125 581 Sweden +46 (0)8 5069 2180 Spain National free phone 800 098826 Spain +34 914 146 280 United Kingdom National free phone 0800 376 7922 United Kingdom +44 (0)844 571 8892 USA National free phone 1 866 966 1396 USA +1 631 510 7495 Canada National free phone 1 866 992 6802 Standard international dial-in +44 (0)207 192 8000 Confirmation Code: 4972465 To follow the webcast, please visit: https://www.radissonhospitalityab.com/investors Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is out of the presidential race, meaning a trio of Democrats have called it quits in the hours after New Hampshire voters cast their ballots. Deval made his exit official Wednesday after telling supporters at his Granite State primary night event that he needed to 'go home and rest and reflect on this outcome' after garnering just .4 per cent of the vote. 'I believed and still believe we had a strong case to make for being able to deliver better outcomes. But the vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us to create the practical wind at the campaign's back to go on to the next round of voting,' Patrick said in a statement obtained by CNN. 'So I have decided to suspend my campaign, effective immediately.' Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick made his exit from the 2020 presidential race official on Wednesday Deval Patrick, seen campaigning in New Hampshire in the run-up to Tuesday's primary, got in the race late, not announcing he was seeking the White House until November 2019 Andrew Yang was the first Democratic candidate to drop out after polls closed in New Hamsphire Tuesday night Andrew Yang was followed by Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who never made a dent in the presidential race Patrick had been the last black candidate competing in what was once a racially diverse Democratic field. Patrick followed businessman Andrew Yang and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet out the door. Yang was the first candidate Tuesday night to announce he was done. As his crowd chanted '2024!' Yang encouraged his #YangGang, 'We are just getting started.' 'This movement is the future of American politics,' he said. 'This movement is the future of the Democratic Party.' While he consistenly polled in the single digits, Yang made history by being the most formidable Asian-American candidate to seek the White House. Prior to his run, he never served in elected office, coming from the tech world instead. He centered his campaign around the concept of giving Americans a universal basic income - what he dubbed a 'freedom dividend' - $1,000 a month to citizens over 18 that they could spend however they want. Minutes after Yang gave his final campaign speech, Bennet announced he was dropping out of the race too, becoming the 20th Democrat to do so. Bennet had a steep hill to climb, announcing his bid in May 2019, after many of the front-running candidates were already in. Like his fellow U.S. senators, he was also kept off the campaign trail in the vital weeks leading up to last Monday's Iowa caucuses thanks to President Trump's impeachment trial. In New Hampshire, Bennet got help from longtime Democratic strategist James Carville, but it didn't do enough to keep him in. 'I love you New Hampshire, I do,' Bennet told his crowd Tuesday night. 'Whether you knew it or not, we were having a great time together,' he joked. Patrick got in the presidential race even later, not announcing his bid until November 2019. He also decided to bypass the Iowa caucuses, focusing on New Hampshire instead, hoping he might get a boost from being a next-door-neighbor. He did not. It was clear he saw the writing on the wall Tuesday night. 'No matter whether it is a candidate for president, or as a public citizen. I'm going to stay involved,' Patrick told supporters then. 'No matter what decision we make tomorrow morning about the practical ability of this campaign to continue. I'm going to stay involved, and so must you.' With Patrick's exit there are now just eight Demorats in the race, with a caucus in Nevada and a primary in South Carolina coming next. Twenty-one Democrats have already dropped out. Anthony Sampieri will die in jail after raping a seven-year-old girl in a "horrifying and degrading" attack inside a public toilet at a Sydney dance studio. The girl was punched, bound and choked for almost an hour as the drug addict filmed the ordeal and threatened to kill her in November 2018 at Kogarah. Sampieri, who pleaded guilty to 10 charges related to the attack including three counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, was sentenced in Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday. The 56-year-old also admitted to charges related to 94 sexually explicit and harassing phone calls he made to women in the months before the attack. The US military has switched from trying to degrade or reduce the effectiveness of terror groups to merely trying to contain them as their deadly threat rises, according to a new government report. The US military's activities in Africa extend from the Sahel region just south of the Sahara Desert to Somalia. However, limited resources and manpower have pushed the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) to switch strategies from degrading terror groups to containment, a new government report says. The news is likely to be a blow to France. French Defense Minister Florence Parly last month asked her US counterpart Mark Esper to keep supporting Paris' operations in the Sahel. The US military largely supports the militaries of France and African countries in their fight against the extremists, including with limited counterterrorism operations, and carries out airborne intelligence and surveillance operations. Competition and criticism Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told reporters in January that American troops were not withdrawing from AFRICOM entirely, but he suggested the US might pull back on the counterterror mission in Africa to address competition from China and Russia elsewhere in the world. About 6,000 US military personnel are deployed across the continent, the inspector general report adds, including 500 special operations forces in Somalia and about 800 personnel in West Africa. However, America's military engagement in Africa is not without criticism. Last month, an unprecedented attack against US forces in Kenya left three soldiers dead, renewing doubts about the US' counter-terrorism strategy. The attack, blamed on the al-Qaida-linked al-Sabab in Somalia, was the deadliest since an extremist ambush in Niger in 2017, which killed four US troops. New strategy In the course of three years, the security situation in West Africa has deteriorated, with Burkina Faso bearing the brunt, according to the new report, citing AFRICOM. Story continues Hundreds of civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled. Across the border in neighbouring Malli, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, announced this week that his government was now in contact with leaders of the most active extremist group, the al-Qaida-linked JNIM. It is a sign that troubled West African countries are exploring various options, including negotiations, to curb the threat. Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday showered praises at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who led the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to a stunning victory in the Delhi elections for the second time in a row. Sinha, who had exited the BJP to shift to the Congress ahead of last years national elections, referred to Kejriwal as a super leader in six tweets. Many Congratulations to the super leader #ArvindKejriwal, #AAP & his entire team for the spectacular, grand victory in the #DelhiElections2020. The writing on the wall was absolutely clear, despite many obstacles, propaganda, man & obvious money power of the opponents, said Sinha in one of the tweets. Many Congratulations to the super leader #ArvindKejriwal, #AAP & his entire team for the spectacular, grand victory in the #DelhiElections2020 The writing on the wall was absolutely clear, despite many obstacles, propaganda, man & obvious money power of the opponents. Though it pic.twitter.com/xRiYvXm6EC Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 12, 2020 was expected, nonetheless it was a super birthday gift for #MrsSunitaKejriwal w/o #CM,#ArvindKejriwal & their children Harshita & Pulkit. Thanks to his work for the society, love for #Delhi, capacity to fulfill all promises, giving bonus to the women, senior citizens & for being pic.twitter.com/YrLsd4IoL1 Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 12, 2020 Sinha also didnt miss the opportunity to take a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though indirectly, that had led an aggressive campaign against the AAP and was Kejriwals prime rivals in the national capital. Jinhe naaz hai hind par, aab woh kahan hai? (Where are those who say we are proud Indians?) he said. But before signing off, Sinha made it clear that the comment in this tweet is in his personal capacity. The line was written by poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi and used in filmmaker Guru Dutts Pyasa. It has also been prominently displayed by those protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA. Jinhe naaz hai hind par, aab woh kahan hai? This tweet is in my personal capacity as a friend, well wisher,supporter & admirer of Arvind Kejriwal in true sportsmanship spirit. Long Live Arvind Kejriwal & team #AAP! Jai Hind #DelhiElectionResults Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 12, 2020 He also congratulated the Kejriwal family, saying the election victory is the best birthday gift for Arvind Kejriwals wife Sunita, and Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who retained his Patparganj seat in a closely-fought contest. This victory has proved that negative, hatred & vendetta politics doesnt work, only service to society helps to achieve success. Best wishes especially to Deputy CM #ManishSisodia, our friend, brother, confident & sharp spokesperson #SanjaySingh, #RaghavChadha, #AtishiMarlena, #Ashutosh, well wishers, workers & supporters. Once again, good wishes to a leader with a personality in totality #ArvindKejriwal & belated warm birthday wishes to Mrs. Kejriwal & love to their beautiful children, said Sinha. This victory has proved that negative, hatred & vendetta politics doesnt work, only service to society helps to achieve success. Best wishes especially to Deputy CM #ManishSisodia, our friend, brother, confident & sharp spokesperson #SanjaySingh, #RaghavChadha, #AtishiMarlena, Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) February 12, 2020 Sinhas disclaimer came against the background of criticism in sections of the Congress over its drubbing in the Assembly elections. The party couldnt win a single seat, scoring a duck for the second time in Delhi. Many leaders have called for action, rather than introspection. Senior Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee even attacked fellow party leader P Chidambaram for showering praises on AAP and criticising the BJP. With due respect sir, just want to know- has @INCIndia outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if yes, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop! Mukherjee said on Twitter. Sinha was the BJPs in-house critic for years before joining the Congress last year. Also called Shotgun for his piercing comments, Sinha has been targeting the BJP for months. The former Patna Sahib lawmaker finally exited the BJP last year before the national elections when the BJP decided to field law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat. Sinha was defeated by Ravi Shankar Prasad who secured 62 per cent of the votes cast as against Sinhas 33 per cent. San Francisco, Feb 12 : US carrier T-Mobile's acquisition of Sprint worth $26 billion is finally a done deal now after a federal judge ruled that the merger can go ahead. The merger would bring together US' third and fourth largest mobile carriers, thus, effectively reducing the number of key carriers from four down to three. A judge's approval of T-Mobile US Inc.'s takeover of Sprint Corp. will usher in a new balance of power in the U.S. wireless market and test whether three giants will compete as aggressively for cellphone users as four unequal players once did, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. US District Judge Victor Marrero gave the go ahead to the deal while rejecting earlier claims that combining the third-and fourth largest national wireless US carriers would be anti-competitive. In fact, Marrero, it seems, sided with the latter. He lauded T-Mobile's business practices in a statement. "T-Mobile has redefined itself over the past decade as a maverick that has spurred the two largest players in its industry to make numerous pro-consumer changes," Judge Marrero was quoted as writing by TechCrunch. The merger has already cleared a number of key hurdles, including Justice Department approval. Involved states, however, are considering an appeal. "From the start, this merger has been about massive corporate profits over all else, and despite the companies' false claims, this deal will endanger wireless subscribers where it hurts most: their wallets," NY Attorney General Attorney Letitia James said in a statement, added the TechCrunch report. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Charges have been dropped against a Florida security guard accused of threatening President Donald Trump after prosecutors said his online video was a rant by an idiot. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports federal and state prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Chauncy Lump, 26, and he was released from jail recently, a month after he was charged. Prosecutors issued a memo saying Lumps threat against Trump was more of a rant by an idiot, than an act of someone with the intent to actually carry out his words. The Secret Service said Lump did a live Facebook video last month shortly after the U.S. military killed an Iranian general. They say Lump told the camera he killed my leader and I have to kill him while periodically displaying a semi-automatic rifle. Lump had white cream on his face, a towel wrapped like a turban on his head and an apparent shower curtain wrapped on his body, the agency said. Lump allegedly made several threats, including He killed my leader, please tell me where is Donald Trump? and I need to find the Donald because if I dont find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County. The president was staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort, less than an hour from Lumps home. At first Ryan Beck just wanted a retirement to look forward to. My initial reason for investing in property was to create a diversified retirement plan alongside my superannuation. Despite having a good job with an above-average income, I always felt a strong desire to plan for my future and invest in assets, he explains. AT A GLANCE Years Investing: 4 Current number of properties: 11 Current portfolio value: $4.275m I was lucky enough to work with a couple of people who were investing in property at the time, and they introduced me to the idea of increasing my long-term wealth through real estate. After saving for about four years, Ryan settled his first property, located in Adelaides Evanston Park, for $400,000 in March 2016. He was 28 at the time and used his personal savings, squirrelled together over a number of years, to finance the deposit. The X factor of this property was that it had two separate dwellings on the one title, which could be subdivided. Through research, I had been learning about the process involved in building a duplex, and I knew the general process involved in a simple two-in-to-one subdivision from a top-line perspective, he explains. I phoned the local councils town planner and asked if the property could be subdivided, to which they answered yes. I invested an additional $20,000 into the subdivision process, which included council, land surveyor and legal costs, he explains. Therefore, all up, this fi rst investment cost me $82,000 in cash. Creating equity As he prepared for his next investment, Ryan recognised that he needed to learn more about the industry. I continued to develop my knowledge through books, podcasts, magazines and YouTube videos. I also began to speak with buyers agents to leverage their experience and further expand my knowledge base, he says. His first foray into property had proved successful, with his Evanston Park subdivision generating $260,000 in equity; to this day, it remains Ryans most successful investment. It also informed his overall direction as an investor when he chose to focus his strategy on creating equity through subdivision, strata titling, building duplexes, renovation and rebuilding. Ryans second investment in Armidale, NSW, was a strata-titling project that took nine months to complete and generated big equity. His third property in the Maitland suburb of Thornton was a duplex development that gained nearly $200,000 in equity. I believe that an equity creation focused strategy has been important for me to grow a portfolio during the current market conditions, such as the peaking of the Sydney and Melbourne markets and the present lending environment. His most recent purchase in Ormiston, Queensland, is set to be his first splitter-block knock-down rebuild project. Each project I have undertaken has been different from the last. I have continued to expand my knowledge base, and I have worked on projects that I believe I have the capability to complete successfully through leveraging the team of experts I pay to be involved, including buyers agents, land surveyors, accountants and building and pest inspectors, he explains. An investor with one to two years experience in completing a subdivision, duplex build and renovation might appear risky on face value, but the risk is reduced by working with a team that has completed such projects time and time again in the past. He also conducts studies on the feasibility of each equity creation project, and gets quotes from tradies and for materials. My end goal has evolved as my knowledge base and experience with property has developed. Although I was initially looking to achieve a stable and diversified retirement income, my aim has now become more crystallised and specific, Ryan explains. I am working towards an annual passive income of $300,000 for my family and me to be achieved within the next 19 years, when I turn 50. I believe that an equity creation focused strategy has been important for me to grow a portfolio during the current market conditions Staying on top Despite his strong start, Ryans journey has not been perfect, and he admits that a few mistimed decisions did affect his portfolio. One of my earliest purchases was an off -the-plan property in Southbank, Melbourne. I had purchased at the incorrect stage of the cycle, and as such, none if little growth could be achieved. This was at a time when I had little education, he says. Another hard lesson came when Ryan worked with a finance broker who lacked the experience he needed for the situation. I have a couple of finance rejections on my record now because simple mistakes were made on my application, which could have been avoided. With the wisdom and experience Ryan has gained since then, his criteria for determining a good investment has become more focused. He takes into consideration his end goal as an investor, how the property fits into his strategy, and where the market is at the time, based on resources like Herron Todd White, CoreLogic and other data sources. I have a preference for countercyclical investing so that I have less competition. This means that I can hopefully negotiate a better sales price, complete the project to create equity, and refi nance to recycle my capital all before an intended second wind hits the market through the now-primed timing of the market cycle. By buying in five different states, Ryan has diversified his portfolio to capitalise on several markets. In the near future, he plans to stretch himself further by buying his first commercial property through his SMSF. In the meantime, he continues to manage a digital marketing agency as his day job, using his experience in this field to look after his portfolio. "I have direct experience with P&L [profit and loss] accounts, cash flow forecasts and end-of-financial-year accounting. Each month, I spend time updating my property portfolio P&L, as well as updating my cash flow forecast, Ryan says. By being three months ahead in my cash flow situation, I can make informed decisions about new property acquisitions and property improvements, without putting myself under unnecessary financial risk. With his rebuild project in Ormiston underway and big plans for the future, including buying a principal place of residence, the skys the limit for this young man. I believe Ive had a positive start to my investing journey, growing a portfolio of 11 properties and one block of land in under four years from a self-funded initial deposit! Ryan has diversified across SA, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland I am working towards an annual passive income of $300,000 for my family and me to be achieved within the next 19 years, when I turn 50 (click for larger image) KEY MILESTONES 2016 On his 28th birthday, Ryan spots an advertisement for what will become his first and most successful investment property in Evanston Park, SA. He makes an offer of $400,000 after determining that the property can be subdivided. 2017 The subdivision project is successful, generating over $200,000 in equity. Ryan refinances the property and, following a period of studying the market, picks up his second and third investments, two duplexes in the NSW suburbs of Armidale and Thornton. 2017 He commences a strata-titling project in Armidale and develops the Thornton duplex over the next two years. 2018 Ryan buys an off -the-plan apartment in Southbank, Victoria, which, in retrospect, he believes was an unwise decision given the limited growth prospects and few options to add value. To counter this, he completes a profitable project in Armidale and boosts his equity. 2019 The Thornton duplex is finished and generates $190,000 in equity. Ryan also purchases his first house in Prospect, a suburb of Launceston, Tasmania, after looking into the areas long-term potential. 2019 Ryan makes his first Queensland investment a piece of land in Ormiston that he intends to do a rebuild on. RYANS ADVICE FOR NEW INVESTORS Samsung has revealed its new Galaxy S20 and a foldable flip phone at a huge price. The new handsets are packed with the latest technology, including a bendy display that allows the Z Flip to fold right across its screen. But they are also very expensive, with the price of the S20 starting at $999. The Z Flip costs just under $1,400, which the company said was focused on early adopters. As well as the bending screen in the Z Flip, the new Galaxy phones the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra feature high-powered cameras and better support for 5G. They will arrive on 13 March. They come at a difficult time for Samsung, which made headlines in becoming the first high-profile company to release a bending phone, with the Samsung Galaxy Fold. That launch went wrong after it was revealed that early models appeared to have defective screens that would break as they were bent. 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 Galaxy Z Flip includes similar technology but has received more positive reviews from early critics. The device opens and closes vertically, much like classic flip phones from the early 2000s, and also features a smaller outer screen which displays notifications when the device is shut. Recommended Samsung reveals new folding phone during the Oscars Samsung's Rebecca Hirst said the Z Flip was "another giant step forward" for the company, describing it as a "new kind of device for a new decade of innovation". The foldable will go on sale later this month, Samsung confirmed. It was introduced at a live event alongside three new versions of the company's flagship Galaxy S20 range. All three of the new phones feature what Samsung calls Space Zoom, a new feature in the rear camera system which will allow users to zoom in up to 30 times on the S20 and S20+, and up to 100 times on the S20 Ultra - previously unheard of in a smartphone. For the first time, Samsung also confirmed that all of the devices in the range support 5G data networks. The device range is split into three screen sizes; the 6.2-inch Galaxy S20, the 6.7-inch S20+ and the 6.9-inch S20 Ultra. The Korean technology giant has focused on improving the experience of using the cameras on its new phones, as it looks to capitalise on the increasing popularity of smartphone camera use, particularly for social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. As a result, Samsung has also introduced a new camera feature called Single Take Mode, which enables users to capture photos and videos from all of the individual camera lenses at once, giving them a portfolio of different content to choice from to post to social media. The tech giant will hope the new devices can solidify the company's position as the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, ahead of closest rivals Huawei and Apple. Huawei has been hit by its US trade ban, while Apple reported slowing iPhone sales during 2019 - although it did reveal stronger figures in its most recent financial results. Technology industry expert Ben Wood from CCS Insight said Samsung's use of 5G across the S20 range could help it stand out in the crowded smartphone market. "Samsung is continuing its metronomic updates to its Galaxy flagship devices with the S20 family," he said. "The challenge, which it faces together with all other smartphone makers, is how to stand out from the endless stream of similar-looking black touchscreen rectangles. "The support for 5G across all three variants of the S20 line-up is a key element, ensuring customers are getting a future-proof purchase and the camera certainly stands out, particularly on the Flagship S20 Ultra." Additional reporting by agencies A former school bus attendant for Galena Park ISD is charged with misdemeanor assault after being accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old disabled student on several occasions, according to court documents. Sergio Lopez, 67, was fired by the school district in January. The incidents were then reported to Harris County Constable Pct. 3, according to court documents. He worked for Galena Parked ISD nearly four years, according to the district. CAUGHT: Suspected serial rapist apprehended in Spring According to the charging documents, on three occasions between Nov. 19 and Dec. 2, 2019, Lopez was seen on video recorded on the bus assaulting the 13-year-old girl. An investigator said Lopez, who was an attendant of the bus, could be seen waiting for the driver to exit the bus, then would touch and rub the victim's leg. The girl, who is physically disabled and non-verbal, could be seen pushing Lopez's hand away. In one incident, Lopez appears as if he "picks up his right hand and motions 'shh' with his right finger toward the victim." The investigator reported that on two occasions in mid-January, Lopez was also captured on video kissing the girl about her face. Prosecutors asked for Lopezs bail to be set at $10,000 due to the disturbing nature of the case and safety to the public, according to a report by KPRC 2. The judge set Lopezs bail at $100. HoustonChronicle.com: ReelAbilities fest to educate Houston public on disability inclusion According to the terms of the bond, Lopez was ordered to stay 500 feet away from any place where children routinely gather, according to court documents. Galena Park ISD released the following written statement: I can confirm out Human Resource Services Department, in conjunction with the Transportation Department investigated a former employee, who had been employed by GPISD since February 2016 about allegations involving a student. The investigation commenced as soon as the District learned of the concern on January 13, 2020. The employee has not been employed by the District since January 14, 2020. The District has taken every effort to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and has reported the incident to the appropriate authorities. Danny Hermosillo is the Sr. Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com The unprecedented Oscar haul for South Korean director Bong Joon-ho black comedy "Parasite" has shattered a 92-year-old glass ceiling and opened a new era for Korean and other foreign films on the global stage. A genre-defying thriller about a poor family infiltrating a wealthy household, "Parasite" won four Oscars Sunday night, becoming the first non-English language film to win the top prize since the Academy Awards debuted in 1929. The film, shot in Korean and without any international cast members, achieved a feat that could potentially be game-changing. "Not only did director Bong change South Korea's cultural history, he also changed the history of Hollywood," the South's major daily Chosun Ilbo wrote in its editorial Tuesday. The Academy had been "obsessed with English-language films made by white people" it said, so that it was harder "for a Korean person to win an Oscar with a Korean-language film than be awarded a Nobel prize for literature". But the movie's awards -- it also took best director and best original screenplay, as well as best international feature -- signalled the "arrival of a new era" and created "tremendous potential" for foreign pictures in the US, said Gina Kim, a professor at UCLA and filmmaker originally from the South. Hollywood "still prevails and dominates the film industry worldwide", she told AFP, and "has been notorious for not allowing foreign language film to enter its own 'turf'. With the success of 'Parasite', it is changing". After his victory, the director told reporters that people around the world were increasingly connected. aSo I think naturally we will come to the day when a foreign-language film or not doesn't really matter, and a foreign-language film winning this won't be much of an issue later on hopefully,a he said. - Soft power - Bong's historic win comes a year after the 100th anniversary of South Korean cinema in 2019. The country boasts the fifth-biggest film industry in the world, and has become increasingly prominent on the festival circuit in recent years and decades. In 2004, Park Chan-wook's action thriller "Oldboy" took the Grand Prix at Cannes, and director Kim Ki-duk's 2012 drama "Pieta" -- a violent tale of a loanshark -- won the Golden Lion at Venice. South Korean directors have also made inroads into Hollywood, with Park's 2013 psychological thriller Stoker starring Nicole Kidman and Mia Wasikowska, and Bong himself making his English-language film debut the same year with sci-fi action "Snowpiercer", featuring Tilda Swinton and Ed Harris. Unlike its neighbour China, where movies and other creative content are regularly censored, the South has enjoyed diplomatic soft power by virtue of its cultural exports in multiple fields, with K-pop and boyband BTS high-profile examples. Korean cinema underwent a renaissance in the 1990s with the advent of democracy after decades of military rule. In 2007 the country's left-leaning former president Kim Dae-jung told government officials: "Provide financial support for artists, but never interfere with what they do. Once government intervenes, the creative industry will go broke." Nonetheless thousands of artists, including directors Bong and Park, were later secretly blacklisted by the conservative administration of Park Geun-hye, who was brought down by street protests over corruption and abuse of power. Bong's Oscar win is a "a significant opportunity for the Korean film industry to showcase its wealth of talent that has been flourishing for decades," said Jason Bechervaise, a professor at Korea Soongsil Cyber University. "It has problems like any industry but I suspect its neighbours in the region will be rather envious." Using a medium banned in its own country, the global arm of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV tweeted plaintively on Tuesday: "The #Oscars are over - Time to explore the best in Chinese film". - Asian representation - Bong's best picture win triggered an overwhelming and emotional response from diaspora Asians in North America, including Korean American writer Min Jin Lee and Hollywood actor Sandra Oh. Representation of Asians "still remains largely sparse" despite the success of 2018 all-Asian-cast romantic comedy "Crazy Rich Asians", said Michael Hurt, a sociologist at the University of Seoul. Bong's win was a "surprising step forward" for diaspora Asians, he said, adding that many still feel invisible in North America. Kieran Meyn, a Korean-American who grew up in suburban Connecticut with "much pressure" to assimilate, said watching Bong's speech at the Oscars was unforgettable. "There are only so many days where you can go to school and have kids call you all kinds of names and pull their eyes into slits," he told AFP. "'Parasite' winning these awards, while telling a Korean story, featuring a heavily Korean cast and crew, in Korean - proves that 'it can happen here; in America'." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 11 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani. "On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I heartily congratulate you and your people on the occasion of the national day of your country, Victory of the Islamic Revolution," President Aliyev said. "Today's level of Azerbaijan-Iran relations, which are based on historical, cultural and religious roots and are developing in an atmosphere of good neighborliness, is satisfactory. I am confident that our cooperation both in bilateral format and within international organizations, especially within the Non-Aligned Movement, will be strengthened further through our joint efforts to the benefit of our peoples," President Aliyev said. "Taking this pleasant opportunity, I wish you the best of health, success in your endeavors, and the friendly people of Iran everlasting peace and prosperity," Ilham Aliyev added. People enjoy seeing bad guys in stories get their punishment more than witnessing them being forgiven, according to a study. However, even though people don't enjoy the forgiveness stories as much, they do find these narratives more meaningful and thought-provoking than ones in which the bad guys get punished. "We like stories in which the wrongdoers are punished and when they get more punishment than they deserve, we find it fun," said Matthew Grizzard, lead author of the study and assistant professor at The Ohio State University in the US. "Still, people appreciate stories of forgiveness the most, even if they don't find them to be quite as fun," Grizzard said in a statement. The study, published in the journal Communication Research, involved 184 college students who read short narratives that they were told were plots to possible television episodes. The students read 15 narratives: one-third in which the villain was treated positively by the victim, while one-third in which the villain received a just punishment. The rest involved the villain who was punished over and beyond what would have been a suitable penalty for the crime. Immediately after reading each scenario, the participants were asked if they liked or disliked the narrative. More people liked the equitable retribution stories than those that involved under- or over-retribution, Grizzard said. The researchers also timed how long it took the readers to click the like or dislike button on the computer after reading each of the narratives. They found that readers took less time to respond to stories with equitable retribution than it did for them to respond to stories with under- or over-retribution. "People have a gut-level response as to how they think people should be punished for wrongdoing and when a narrative delivers what they expect, they often respond more quickly," Grizzard said. When the punishment did not fit the crime, the participants took a bit longer to respond to the story with a like or dislike. However, why they took longer appeared to be different for stories with under-retribution versus stories with over-retribution, Grizzard said. After the participants read all 15 narratives, they rated each story for enjoyment, and appreciation. Participants thought stories in which the bad guys were over-punished would be the most enjoyable and those in which the bad guys were forgiven would be the least enjoyable to watch. However, they also said they would appreciate the stories about forgiveness more than the other two types of narratives, according to the researchers. The participants may have paused slightly before responding to the forgiveness stories to reflect, because they saw them as more meaningful, Grizzard said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UNI Lahore/IBNS: In a crucial development, a Lahore court on Wednesday convicted Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, who was arrested last year, in two terror financing cases, media reports said This is the first time when the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind has been convicted in a terror case. He was slapped with a prison sentence of five and a half years and a fine of Rs15,000 in each case. The sentences of both cases will run concurrently. The court also granted him the benefit of Section 382-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure (reduction of period of sentence of imprisonment), reported Dawn News. He was convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act Section 11-F(2) pertaining to membership, support and meetings relating to a proscribed organisation and 11-N (punishment under Sections 11-H [fund-raising] to 11-K [money laundering]), reported the Pakistan-based newspaper. The Lahore court also directed authorities to keep Saeed under custody until further orders. The verdict was announced by ATC judge Arshad Hussain Bhatta. Saeed is wanted in India for several terror attack cases The US government had earlier placed a 10 million bounty on his head. he is considered as a mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The 2008 Mumbai attacks were twelve coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai by members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 and lasted until Saturday, Nov 29, 2008, killing 164 people and wounding at least 308. London: The Chinese authorities are using a potentially risky strategy to help identify coronavirus patients by stopping the sales of fever and cough medicines to force people to go to hospital rather than self-medicate. Authorities have blocked the sale of cold medicine to try to flush sick people out of their homes. Credit:Kevin Frayer The death toll from the virus, which can cause breathing difficulties, has topped 1000, with the number of infections soaring past 43,000. At least three Chinese cities have announced over the past week that they will ban the sales of medicines that treat two of the main symptoms of the virus fever and cough to smoke out anyone trying to mask their illness at home. The cities include Hangzhou in the east, which has almost 10 million residents and 157 confirmed cases. It announced on February 7 that retail pharmacies would not be able to sell 106 types of medicines, including both Western and traditional Chinese options. A Dunmanway man on a drinking bender crashed his car into the front door of his local garda station and the next day carried a bottle of brandy into the building where he insulted gardai as pigs and threatened to kill one officer. John Murray, 39, of Derragh, Dunmanway, Co Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to damaging the station, threatening to kill Garda Heather Chandler, and dangerous driving. Detective Sergeant Kevin Long testified that Garda Chandler was on duty on October 2 last year when she heard a loud bang outside the station. A Volkswagen car had been driven into the front door. On examination of CCTV, the driver was seen getting out of the car and throwing the keys at the garda station before leaving. The following afternoon, John Murray returned and kicked in a door of the public office. He caused damage to the office phone and CCTV camera in the public office. Det Sgt. Long said, He had a bottle of Hennessy brandy in his hand. He came towards (Garda Chandler) and said, you fucking pig guard. She retreated through the corridors of the station and he followed her saying, You fucking pig guard, I will kill you pig guards. She shouted at him to leave the station and he did so. Shortly afterwards in the Square in Dunmanway, Murray approached Garda Martin Hanley and made more comments about pig guards. Murray was carrying a bottle of brandy. Garda Hanley wrestled it from him and arrested him, Det Sgt Long said. Paula McCarthy said the defendants father had died a week earlier and the defendant went on a drinking binge after the funeral. Det Sgt Long said there had been no animosity from the defendant towards gardai in the background to this incident. Ms McCarthy said the accused had been in custody since this happened in October. Judge Sean O Donnabhain remanded him in custody until May 3 for a probation report to see what supports and structures could be put in place to assist the defendant when he is eventually released from custody. After 10 days fighting the new coronavirus, Du is preparing her homecoming, giddy with joy. Nguyen Thi Du, 23, could not hide her smile after being discharged from National Hospital of Tropical Diseases on February 10. "After two of my tests returned negative, I felt happy and excited with the thought of going home," said the patient, hospitalized and quarantined since January 25. Returning from Wuhan, China, she was the first in northern Vinh Phuc Province to be diagnosed with the new coronavirus. Du was stressed out during her time at the hospital, her infected mother, sister and two other relatives still in quarantine. "I am cheerful after spending a long time in quarantine," said Ly, 29, through tears of joy. Both Du and Ly were part of a group of trainees sent to Wuhan that returned to Vietnam on January 17. Ly attended work the following day before returning to her hometown for Lunar New Year (Tet). She started coughing on January 27, without experiencing fever. The patient was quarantined on January 31 and diagnosed with 2019-nCoV. Lys family members are also in quarantine at a local medical center since coming in close contact with her. Fortunately, none have shown any symptoms of infection. During 10 days in quarantine, with no one around apart from doctors, phone calls became a bridge between Ly and her family in northern Vinh Phuc Province. Ly and Du were discharged alongside another male patient. According to Doctor Nguyen Viet Nam, working in the hospitals emergency department, all three patients were extremely happy upon learning they were cured. Yearning for home, they promised to strictly follow the doctors instructions, self-isolate themselves for a period of time and check their body temperature daily to prevent the deadly virus from clawing its way back. Du, although released, remains worried about her four family members since diagnosed with the virus. The only man discharged from the hospital on February 10 did not forget showing his gratitude to doctors before heading home in Vinh Phuc. The only man discharged from hospital on February 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. All positive-nCoV patients are monitored closely in special quarantine rooms with modern medial equipment, improving the possibility of successful treatment, according to Pham Ngoc Thach, director of the National Hospital Of Tropical Diseases. According to the Ministry of Health, there is so far no specific treatment or vaccine against the deadly virus (COVID-19), all the patients are provided with treatments for symptoms and immune system improvement. Including the three, six people have so far been discharged from hospital after doctors declared them free of the new coronavirus. Vietnam officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak an epidemic on February 1, and the country had confirmed 15 cases of infection as of Tuesday. As of Wednesday morning, the global death toll from the epidemic had climbed to 1,115 and confirmed infections topped 45,000, of whom over 4,500 have recovered. liveslow/iStock(MANCHESTER, N.H.) -- Older and more educated voters, moderates, and those looking for a candidate to unite the country lifted Amy Klobuchar to competitive status in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, largely at Joe Bidens expense, as Bernie Sanders held on to younger and very liberal voters, and as in last week's Iowa caucuses, Pete Buttigieg demonstrated appeal across a range of groups, according to exit polling. Whatever divided these voters, they were united in one regard: a remarkable 78% in ABC News exit poll results described themselves as angry about the Trump administration. Backing someone who can unite the country was a top concern in the poll, and Klobuchar, a U.S. senator from Minnesota, split that group with Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Klobuchar prevailed among seniors and voters with advanced degrees and ran well -- again with Buttigieg -- among moderates. Klobuchar also led with 27% among those who called the most recent ABC News debate important in their decision, while Buttigieg won those who made their choice in the campaigns closing days. Those late deciders accounted for a remarkable 50% of all voters, far more than in previous New Hampshire primaries. For his part, Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, produced another strong performance among younger voters -- not just under 30, but up to age 44 -- and those who called themselves very liberal, with a sweeping 51% support. He ran well but did not dominate among somewhat liberals, and fell back among moderates. In contrast with Klobuchar, Sanders won voters seeking a candidate who can bring needed change as well as those looking chiefly for one who cares about people like me. Among his best groups were the six in 10 voters who back a government run, single-payer health care system. His support among those voters was triple that of Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, another champion of a single-payer approach. Sanders also won handily, with 39%, among those seeking a nominee who agrees with you on major issues. But many more voters -- 63% -- were focused instead on the candidate who can beat Donald Trump, and there Sanders support fell by nearly half. A similar result came in a question asking whether the next president should return to the policies of Barack Obama -- under whom Biden served as vice president -- or pursue a more liberal approach. Voters were divided about evenly, with Sanders soaring among those looking for more liberal policies, but cratering among those favoring a return to Obamas priorities. Buttigieg collected votes across an array of groups, much the same as in his top-two finish in the Iowa caucuses last week. He ran a distant second to Sanders among 18- to 29-year-olds -- a poor group for Klobuchar -- yet was also second to Klobuchar among seniors, a poor group for Sanders. Buttigieg did notably well with better-off voters, winning a third of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more. Klobuchar, 59, and Buttigieg, 38, found some benefit from their comparative youth. With Sanders, Biden and Warren in their 70s, two in 10 voters said candidate age was an important factor in their vote, and two-thirds of them backed Klobuchar or Buttigieg. There was a substantial gender gap for some candidates: Sanders did 9 points better with men than women, Klobuchar was 7 points better with women than men, and Buttigieg ran more evenly in both groups. Among Klobuchars best groups were the 24% of voters with an advanced degree; she won 31% in this group, versus Sanders 19%. That included 35% of women with advanced degrees and 26% of advanced-degree men. Klobuchar also won 29% of college-educated women, followed by 24% for Buttigieg, 21% for Sanders and just 12% for Warren. Non-college men, by contrast, backed Sanders with 37%, as Buttigieg came in a distant second in this group, with Klobuchar farther back. For all of Sanders' strengths, the results pointed to a too liberal problem for the Vermont senator, who was described this way by 51% of New Hampshire voters. That group went for Klobuchar at 37% and Buttigieg at 33%, with just 11% backing Biden. Fewer, but still 42%, also called Warren too liberal, compared with single digits for Buttigieg and Biden. The question wasnt asked about Klobuchar. In a multi-candidate race, Sanders couldnt retain his support levels from 2016, when he won 60% overall in a two-way contest with Hillary Clinton. One difference: He won 29% of independent voters Tuesday, compared with 73% in this group four years ago. Biden took a hit for running the most negative campaign; among the three in 10 who said hed done so, he won 2% support. Biden also had trouble among the few nonwhites in the electorate, a group whose support hes been banking on. Sanders won 29% of nonwhites, with Biden at 20%, Buttigieg at 15% and Klobuchar at 11%. One reason is that nonwhites were somewhat younger than the whites who turned out, and, as noted, young voters favored Sanders. Still, the result raises questions for Klobuchar and Buttigieg at the next primary in South Carolina, where nonwhites (mostly blacks) accounted for 65% of voters in 2016. In New Hampshire, Hispanics voted 40 percent for Sanders, with all other candidates registering in the teens or lower -- including 10% for Biden. Health care was the top-cited issue among four that were tested, and Sanders won those who picked it. He also won voters focused on income inequality. Those who cared most about climate change and foreign policy tilted toward Buttigieg. In the Republican primary, Bill Weld pulled in 18% of GOP voters with an advanced degree and 17% of moderates. He soared to 43% among Republican voters who oppose building a wall among the border with Mexico; however they accounted for just 12% of the electorate. Trump, for his part, peaked at 98% of very conservative voters and 94% of evangelical white Christians. Turnout among conservatives in the GOP primary was at a record high, 79%, up from a previous record of 71% in 2016. That contrasted with a 61% liberal turnout in the Democratic contest, a bit off the 2016 high. Indeed, 31% in the Republican primary were very conservative, again a new high. And 55% said their allegiance was more with Trump than with the Republican Party. For 40%, it was more with the GOP. There was a sharp difference by education in the two primaries: Thirty-five percent of Republican voters were college graduates, compared with 53% of Democratic voters. All the same, GOP voters were 21 points more likely than those in the Democratic primary to say theyre getting ahead financially, 42% versus 21%. There also was a customary gender difference: Men accounted for 55% of Republican primary voters, women for 57% in the Democratic contest. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Laura Bluestein (with short, dark hair) sits next to her attorney, Robin Lord, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, after a Burlington County jury in Mount Holly acquitted her of first-degree murder and a weapon charge, but convicted her of aggravated manslaughter and tampering with evidence in the Aug. 6, 2017, shooting death of her wife, Felicia Dormans. Read more A Burlington County jury on Wednesday acquitted a South Jersey woman of first-degree murder and a weapons offense, but found her guilty of aggravated manslaughter and tampering with evidence in the shooting death of her wife three years ago in the bedroom of their Mount Holly home. Laura Bluestein, 31, had admitted to fatally shooting Felicia Dormans, 29, in the face on Aug. 6, 2017, but said it was an accident. Bluestein showed no reaction to the verdict, reached on the panels third day of deliberations. Superior Court Judge Terrence Cook scheduled sentencing for April 23. Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey, who had sought a murder conviction, said afterward that Bluestein faces up to 30 years in prison for manslaughter a first-degree offense and five years for the tampering charge. He declined to say what sentence his office would seek. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina was in the courtroom for the verdict and comforted the victims father, Joe Dormans. The victims mother, Christina Dormans, wept as she left the courtroom. I was happy, Christina Dormans said later of her tears. We wanted anything but her [Bluestein] walking. Defense attorney Robin Lord said Bluestein and her family were extremely distraught that the jury found her guilty of anything. She said she plans to appeal. In a video statement on the night of the shooting, a sobbing Bluestein called Dormans my soulmate and said she never would have shot her intentionally. In the statement to investigators from the Burlington County Prosecutors Office and the Mount Holly Police Department, Bluestein said Dormans had bought a gun about six to 12 months earlier for safety purposes and kept it by her side of the bed, but always had trouble loading it. About 3 p.m. that Sunday afternoon, they were in their bedroom when Dormans handed her the gun and wanted Bluestein to load more bullets into it, Bluestein told investigators. Bluestein said Dormans was sitting on the floor, and she was sitting on their bed about five to six feet away, just looking at" the gun sights, and had the gun raised and pointed above Dormans when the next thing I know, she was bleeding out of her eye. Yes, I did shoot her, but it was an accident, she said. Lackey contended that the shooting was intentional and at a closer distance. Ian Hood, the county medical examiner, testified that Dormans had gunpowder stippling on her face. He estimated the gun was about 1 to 2 feet away from her when she was shot. After the shooting, Bluestein said in her video statement, she ran to Dormans and tried to stop the bleeding but knew she was dead. Describing herself as an emotional wreck, she said she phoned both of her divorced parents and said, Felicias dead. Her father thought she was kidding, she said. Asked by investigators why she didnt call 911, she said: I was scared. According to surveillance video played by prosecutors in court, Bluestein went to a Lowes store afterward and bought two shovels and blue tarps. After she returned, she began digging a grave in the couples yard, prosecutors said. Police officers arrived at the couples Mill Street home after her father called 911 and asked them to check the home for a personal matter, according to the call played in court. At the home, Mount Holly officers knocked loudly and announced themselves for several minutes before Bluestein opened the door. After officers ordered Bluestein to get on the ground outside, they found Dormans body on a tarp in the bedroom. In her statement to investigators, Bluestein contended that she and Dormans bickered over things like cleaning the dishes, doing laundry, or paying credit card bills. Bluestein said she worked in construction, and Dormans didnt work but would use Bluesteins credit card for purchases. Money was tight, she said, but they didnt have major arguments. She told investigators that she and Dormans had met when they were 17, but then both moved, then began dating about 2 years earlier after seeing each other on Tinder, the dating app. She said they married a year later. The victims mother previously told The Inquirer that her daughter had said she was physically abused by Bluestein, and that she had warned her daughter to leave. Jurors, who had begun deliberating late Friday afternoon, declined to comment after the verdict. By PTI CANBERRA: An Australian senator called on the nation's spies to investigate whether eco-terrorists were responsible for the country's unprecedented bushfire crisis. Addressing parliament Tuesday Concetta Fierravanti-Wells -- a senior member of the ruling conservative Liberal party and former government minister -- echoed online conspiracy theories to claim it "defies logic" that hundreds of bushfires could have started at the same time. Head of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Shane Fitzsimmons earlier said arsonists were not the main cause of the fires that tore through millions of hectares of south-eastern Australia in 2019. "This season has been dominated by natural causes, mainly lightning," he said in January. Fierravanti-Wells claimed that the vast number of fires that started around the same time "not only gave the impression of the possibility of arsonist attack but also suggests a level of coordination." "Who are they? What was their motive and intent? Are they lone actors or part of a sinister collective conducting eco-terrorism?" she asked. The bushfires have reignited Australia's climate change debate, and the senator's comments echo online disinformation about the cause of the flames. Fierravanti-Wells is the latest lawmaker from Prime Minister Scott Morrison's party to blame arson for the bushfires. The PM is likely to distance himself from the claims after public pressure forced him to acknowledge climate change is a driver of the fires. Over months blazes scorched more than 10 million hectares in the country's east and south, killing at least 33 people and an estimated billion animals while destroying more than 2,500 homes. The fires were exacerbated by prolonged drought and worsened by climate change in the country's hottest and driest year on record. Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will take part in the 2020 Munich Security Conference, Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi said. "President of the Republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been invited to this conference by the organizers. He has respectively accepted the invitation and will take part [in it]," the top diplomat said. Tleuberdi underlined that he had also been invited to attend the event. "Naturally, I intend to primarily accompany the president as well as participate in it myself. We have bilateral meetings planned with my counterparts, the president also has bilateral meetings [scheduled]," TASS cited the minister as saying. The 2020 Munich Security Conference takes place on February 14-16. Conference attendees traditionally take this opportunity to hold bilateral and multilateral contacts apart from plenary meetings and sessions at the forum. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 10:58:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday asked the United Nations (UN) Security Council to exercise caution on the issue of sanctions against Libya. Libya is facing multiple challenges such as the fragile security situation, rampant terrorist forces, and outstanding refugee and migration issues, said Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN. Given the current grave situation in Libya, it is necessary for the international community to continue its strict implementation of the arms embargo, and refrain from military intervention or any other actions that may escalate the conflict, Wu told the Security Council after it adopted a resolution to extend the ban on illicit oil exports from Libya and the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Libya Sanctions Committee of the Security Council. It is China's consistent belief that sanctions are not the end, but a means that should always serve the political settlement of relevant issues, said Wu. When taking actions on the extension of the Libya sanctions regime, the Security Council needs to base its decision on full consultations. A council decision should serve as a positive message to the international community and the countries involved so that it facilitates the political settlement of the Libya issue, he said. The international community should respect Libya's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and support the advancement of the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process under the auspices of the UN, said Wu. Sanctions on Libya have been in place since 2011 after the political turmoil that led to the toppling of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Apart from an arms embargo and a ban on illicit oil exports, the Security Council also imposes a travel ban and asset freeze against designated individuals and entities. Married At First Sight's Ivan Sarakula was glued to his mobile phone during part of his honeymoon with 'wife' Aleksandra Markovic on Tuesday's episode. And in an ironic twist, it seems the Sydney-based real estate agent had voiced his concerns over the impact of technology on relationships. Back in October 2019 - during the filming of the Channel Nine reality show - he shared a post titled: 'Look what our phones are doing to us'. That's ironic: Married At First Sight's Ivan Sarakula (left) has shared a post about the sad truth of mobile phones - despite being glued to his during his honeymoon on Tuesday's episode The post featured artistic images that showed people glued to their devices and missing out on spending quality time with their family or partners. The irony of the images comes after Ivan's work phone continuously interrupted his honeymoon with Aleksandra. He continued to field calls from his business despite having checked into a lavish suite at the Palazzo Versace Gold Coast - much to his 'wife's' dismay. Effects of technology: Back in October 2019 - during MAFS filming - he shared a post titled 'Look what are phones are doing to us'. The post featured artistic images depicting people glued to their devices and missing out on spending quality time with their family or partners Later in the day, as the couple enjoyed a ride in a Rolls Royce around the town, Ivan looked for his phone to show a picture of his pet dog but was unable to find it. The pair returned back to the hotel where he found the device underneath the well-crafted seats. Anxious to get his phone immediately, he tried to lift up the seat but was told to stop by the driver and later by a hotel customer service representative. Distraction: The irony of the images comes after Ivan's work phone continuously interrupted his honeymoon. He enjoyed a ride in a Rolls Royce around the town but lost his phone. The phone was later found under the luxury car's seat The next day Ivan was told the car would have to be taken to the Rolls Royce dealer for his phone to be retrieved and that it would be returned to him in a week. Despite this, he maintained a calm and reasonable outlook. Ivan told producers: 'The old Ivan would've been a little more pissed off about the telephone debacle, but lucky I've got a lovely bride to take my mind off things.' Thanks to the lovely bride: Ivan told producers, 'The old Ivan would've been a little more pissed off about the telephone debacle, but lucky I've got a lovely bride to take my mind off things'. Meanwhile, a shocked Aleksandra admitted, 'I thought he would scream and have tantrums' Meanwhile, Aleksandra said: 'I was actually quite shocked. I thought he would scream and have tantrums. 'I'm really proud of him in how far he's gotten since I first met him. I've seen a softer side of Ivan,' she added. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine The owners of two South Jersey bars that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons who then caused fatal motor vehicle crashes have agreed to 30-day liquor license suspensions and to sell their licenses within two years, the state Attorney Generals Office said Tuesday. Under settlements reached by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control with the owners of the liquor licenses for the Brickwall Tavern & Dining Room in Burlington City and the Alloway Village Inn in Alloway, Salem County, the licenses must be sold within two years or be indefinitely suspended afterward, the office said. Brickwalls license suspension began Feb. 3 and its owners will pay a $300,000 fine; the Alloway suspension will begin Sept. 4 and its owners will pay a $175,000 fine, the Attorney Generals Office said. The settlements resolve charges filed by the division in connection with three separate drunken driving crashes one involving an off-duty Burlington Township police officer who was served at Brickwall in which his female passenger was killed, the other two involving intoxicated patrons served at the Alloway inn. About 2:10 a.m. Sept. 23, 2016, after drinking at Brickwall, off-duty Officer Justin Rodriguez, 25, lost control of his Acura Integra and it slammed into a utility pole on West Front Street in Florence, killing his passenger, Ariana Williams, 27, of Florence, authorities said. Rodriguez was sentenced to four years in state prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide. Toxicology tests revealed that he had a blood-alcohol level above the legal definition of drunken driving, 0.08%. On May 9, 2013, a vehicle driven by Kenneth Furr, 30, of Woodstown, rear-ended another vehicle near Salem, killing that cars driver and injuring its passenger, after Furr had been drinking at the Alloway Village Inn. Furr pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. On Nov. 29, 2015, Matthew Moore, 55, of Lower Alloways Creek, crashed his vehicle into a tree on Waterworks Road in Quinton Township, killing his nephew, 35, who was a passenger, after Moore had been drinking at the Alloway Village Inn. A jury convicted Moore of vehicular homicide; he was later sentenced to three years in prison. State law prohibits licensed establishments from selling alcoholic beverages to any patrons actually or apparently intoxicated. Hudson Countys state legislators have called on the governor to nullify the Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center land sales to the owner of a chain of nursing homes part of multi-pronged plan to stave off the closing of the two hospitals. In a letter sent to Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, three state senators and six assembly members requested that the Murphy administration intervene in negotiations that have left the future of CarePoint Healths three hospitals in the county uncertain. In November, Avery Eisenreich, the owner of the Alaris Health nursing homes, purchased the BMC site and a 70% share of the HUMC property. Since then, he has inhibited the sale of the CarePoint operations at Bayonne Medical Center and Christ Hospital from going through, a CarePoint Health lawsuit alleges. Now, Christ Hospital is nearing bankruptcy and Bayonne Medical Center is close behind, the letter to Murphy says. A deal for RWJBarnabas Health to assume operations of Christ Hospital and Hobokens hospital has also stalled. Tuesday afternoon, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop met with state Sens. Brian Stack and Sandra Cunningham, representatives of the hospitals and Alaris, and others. One action the legislators request of Murphys administration is to ensure the Department of Health takes action nullifying the sales of all real estate of Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center. Murphys office did not answer multiple requests for comment Tuesday on the lawmakers demands. Eisenreich did not return a message seeking comment. They are developing legislation to pave the way for an eminent domain proceeding that would help Jersey City acquire Christ Hospital if it goes bankrupt, said a source familiar with the discussions. That would serve as a last-resort effort to save the hospital if a negotiation to sustain it from bankruptcy is unsuccessful. At this point, it is clear we need you and your administration to take aggressive action to assure the survival of these hospitals and access to quality health care for the residents of Hudson County, Sens. Nicholas Sacco, Stack and Cunningham, and Assembly members Raj Mukherji, Annette Chaparro, Angela McKnight, Pedro Mejia, Nicholas Chiaravalloti and Angelica Jimenez said in the letter. The letter additionally calls on the governor to appoint state financial monitors for Bayonne Medical Center and Hoboken University Medical Center. It also requests the state appoint receivers for Christ Hospital and Bayonne Medical Center. Receivers manage an institutions finances while it is in bankruptcy. The impact of closing one or more of these facilities on the Hudson County community would result in a devastating loss of health care access for thousands of individuals and families, the letter states. We believe that Hudson County needs all three facilities to stay open and fully operational. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the BJP-led Central government of not taking the Coronavirus threat "seriously". Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said that the Coronavirus is an "extremely serious threat to our people and our economy." He added that "Timely action is critical." However, he failed to explain why he felt that the Government has not taken the threat seriously. The Corona Virus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical.#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/E5Aqg9vYIo Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 12, 2020 'We thank and appreciate India's support' China on Monday expressed appreciation over the letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering assistance to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. "We thank and appreciate India's support for China's fight against the NCP (Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia). India's acts of goodwill fully demonstrate its friendship with China", said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Prime Minister Modi had written to President Xi Jinping and offered India's assistance to face the challenge. PM also offered condolences at the unfortunate loss of lives due to the outbreak. India offered to evacuate students from neighbouring countries On February 7, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Parliament that India had offered to evacuate students from all its neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, studying in Wuhan. This was an offer made to all our neighbours but only seven nationals of Maldives chose to avail the offer, Jaishankar had said. India had despatched aircraft of the state-owned Air India on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 to Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. So far, over 600 Indians have been evacuated from China. READ | Rahul Gandhi casts Delhi election vote at Aurangzeb Road, flashes 'V' for Cong victory India is leading efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the Southeast Asian region, even as the three confirmed cases at home keep health officials on their toes. India has also agreed to test clinical samples from abroad in its laboratories, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed Parliament. READ | Rahul Gandhi congratulates Arvind Kejriwal & AAP for Delhi win, silent on Congress no-show Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has offered to do testing of samples for southeast Asian region countries. We have agreed to provide technical assistance to Bhutan in managing this infectious disease and screening of passengers, he said. India has already been testing samples sent from the Maldives, stated Harsh Vardhan. The death toll in China from the novel coronavirus epidemic has surpassed 1,000 and the number of confirmed cases has risen to over 40,000. READ | Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi govt over SC's order on reservations, alleges abolition attempt READ | Ramdas Athawale throws 'anda' counter at Rahul Gandhi's 'danda' attack New Delhi, Feb 12 : Security has been put on high alert in the Valley amid rumours about the critical health condition of separatist Kashmiri hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani. In a late night development, the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference released an 'urgent' statement from Muzaffarabad (Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir), saying that all Imams and people should gather at Eidgah, Srinagar, for the funeral in case Geelani breaths his last. On the other hand, sources in the government in New Delhi said that Geelani's health condition is serious but stable. In a two-page statement, Hurriyet announced that Geelani (90) has recently expressed his wish to be buried at the Mazar-e-Shuhada, Eidgah, Srinagar. Hurriyet, which has its office in Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, also appealed to the people of the Valley to be respectful to the leader and join the funeral (in case he is no more). The written statement said that for the last few days, the chest infection of Geelani was not responding to the ongoing treatment. "There are rumours in the Valley about Geelani's health condition. Till late night, nothing adverse has been reported. We are taking stock of the situation," said a senior officer of the Srinagar police. Considered as the senior most Hurriyat leader, Geelani was previously a member of Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir but later on founded his own party by the name of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He has served as the Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyet (Freedom) Conference, a conglomerate of separatist parties in Jammu and Kashmir. Geelani became an MLA from Sopore constituency in 1972 and won in the Assembly polls from the same constituency in 1977 and 1987. Police have branded as cruel and disgusting anti-PSNI recruitment posters depicting an officer who was severely injured in a dissident republican bomb attack. The posters use a picture of Peadar Heffron along with a warning that anyone thinking of joining the police could suffer similar injuries. Mr Heffron lost a leg when a dissident bomb detonated under his car near Randalstown in 2010 as he travelled to work. He now uses a wheelchair. As captain of the PSNI GAA team, the Catholic officer was targeted by the violent extremists as part of their efforts to intimidate other nationalists from joining up. The posters were erected amid an ongoing recruitment drive by the PSNI a campaign that is seeking to address the under-representation of Catholics in the police. On Tuesday, Sinn Feins Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill and her party colleague Gerry Kelly revealed that police had warned them dissidents were planning to attack their homes. The threat is understood to be linked to the politicians attendance at a PSNI recruitment event in Belfast last week. Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said those behind the posters were cowards. These posters can only be described as cruel and disgusting and have clearly been created by those who fear a fully representative police service, he said. The cowards who hide behind this fake rhetoric and who ridicule the resolve, commitment and bravery of every person who works every day to keep each of you safe, have nothing to offer our society and should be condemned by all right-thinking people. I would urge anyone who comes across these posters, either online or physically, not to share or circulate this material further. SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the images were crass and grossly offensive. He said they were an attempt to intimidate the people of Derry. I strongly condemn these posters and those groups behind them, he said. Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer the people of the North and they must get off the backs of the local community. The SDLP is resolutely committed to a diverse and inclusive PSNI, which serves the whole of our community. Anyone should have the right to follow their chosen career path without fear of intimidation or attack. DUP Assembly member for Foyle Gary Middleton described the posters as repulsive. Whilst we should never be surprised by the tactics of dissident republicans opposed to the rule of law in Northern Ireland, the use of this imagery is particularly depraved and repulsive, he said. It will rightly be rejected by the people of Londonderry and further afield," he added. The PSNI is a police service for everyone in Northern Ireland. Constable Peadar Heffron served the entire community and these disgusting images cannot undo his service or that of current police officers and staff, from whatever background they come. Dissident elements will not succeed in their attempts to take us backwards. These posters, however, demonstrate once again the importance of a united community stance, not just in opposition of those who would threaten or use violence, but pro-actively in support of choosing policing as a career. Sinn Fein MLA for Foyle Martina Anderson said: Those responsible for erecting these posters have nothing to offer, they have no politics and no strategy to achieve anything. Its well past time they got off the backs of the community. This tactic is disgusting and disgraceful and comes from unrepresentative groups with little support in the community. Everyone should have the right to choose their career path free from any fear or intimidation. Policing Board chair Professor Anne Connolly said: As a board, we condemn those responsible for the distribution of these deeply offensive posters. The attempt to threaten and intimidate potential applicants to the Police Service in this way is vile. We welcome the widespread political and community condemnation that has been voiced in response and for the support that is being given to the latest PSNI recruitment campaign. Representative image The coronavirus outbreak is hitting a peak in China this month and may be over by April, the government's senior medical adviser said on February 11, in the latest assessment of an epidemic that has rattled the world. In an interview with Reuters, 83-year-old epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan, who won fame for combating the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, shed tears about the doctor Li Wenliang who died last week after being reprimanded for raising the alarm. But Zhong was optimistic the coronavirus outbreak would soon slow, with the number of new cases already declining in some places. The peak should come in middle or late February, followed by a plateau and decrease, he said, basing the forecast on mathematical modelling, recent events and government action. "I hope this outbreak or this event may be over in something like April," he said in a hospital run by Guangzhou Medical University, where 11 coronavirus patients were being treated. Though his comments may soothe some global anxiety over the coronavirus - which has killed more than 1,000 people and seen more than 40,000 cases, almost all in China - Zhong's previous forecast of an earlier peak turned out to be premature. 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 Also Read: Coronavirus death toll in China rises to 1,110; confirmed cases at 44,200 "We don't know why it's so contagious, so that's a big problem," added Zhong, who helped identify flaws in China's emergency response systems during the 2002-03 SARS crisis. He said there was a gradual reduction in new cases in the southern province of Guangdong where he is based, and also in Zhejiang and elsewhere. "So that's good news for us." With China taking unprecedented measures to seal infected regions and limit transmission routes, Zhong applauded the government for locking down Wuhan, the city at the epicentre which he said lost control of the virus at an early stage. "The local government, local healthcare authority should have some responsibility on this. Their work had not been done well," he said. The virus is believed to have originated in early December in a Wuhan seafood market where wildlife was illegally sold. "Hero of China" Local authorities have also come under fire for their heavy-handed treatment of the late doctor Li, who was reprimanded by police in early January for "spreading rumours" about the disease before becoming its best-known fatality on February 7. Also Read: Whistleblower doctor succumbs to coronavirus; even in death China censors report "The majority of the people think he's the hero of China," Zhong said, wiping tears. "I'm so proud of him, he told people the truth at the end of December, and then he passed away." Behind him stood hundreds of other doctors all wanting to tell the truth and now being encouraged by the government to do so, he said. "We really need to listen," he said. The virus has now infected more than 40,000 people on the Chinese mainland and spread to at least 24 countries. Zhong, who said the government's unwillingness to share information prolonged the SARS crisis, said Beijing had done much better this time on issues like transparency and cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO). But more should be done, he said, including an end to wildlife trade, better international cooperation on hygiene technology, improved operation of disease control centres, and a global "sentry" system to warn of potential epidemics. "If we have better cooperation and coordination, we can find it earlier and figure out the human-to-human transmission earlier," he said during the roughly 90-minute interview, adding that the outbreak would not be quite so serious if such a system was in place. Zhong said uncertainties remained about how the coronavirus was infecting patients, if it can spread via faeces and whether so-called "superspreaders" were helping transmit the disease. Also Read: British man spreads coronavirus to 11 others, may be a super-spreader; has fully recovered So far, China's data shows the recovery rate to be quite low, with less than 10 percent of confirmed patients discharged, but Zhong said authorities were leaving nothing to chance, with many patients still quarantined inwards now reasonably healthy. "They didn't know if they were going to re-infect or not... so that's why the cure rate up to now is not that high." Wearing masks outside contagion zones was not always necessary, he said, and the United States' and others' entry ban on Chinese was an over-reaction. Furthermore, it appeared children were less vulnerable, he added. Global, apolitical cooperation was crucial, Zhong said. "I think maybe we should be going closer, I mean in particular our colleagues and scientists, and have more cooperation," he said. "We're just dealing with the disease - nothing to do with the political, nothing." The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the coronavirus a global health emergency in recognition that the disease risk no longer is confined to China. United Nations member countries may decide to close their borders, cancel flights, implement special screenings at airports, or take other steps in response to the notice. U.S. health officials earlier this week announced they would fast-trackwork on a coronavirus vaccine, with the goal to have an early-stagetrial within three months. That timeline is consideredoptimistic, and even if the work proceeds apace, a phase 1 trial is still a long way from avaccine ready for mass deployment, the National Institute of Allergy and InfectiousDiseases, an agency within the Department of Health and HumanServices, has emphasized. It could take a year or even longer before any vaccine is released for widespread use. That is likely of little comfort to those in the Chinese city ofWuhan, which is ground zero for the coronavirus outbreak and essentially has been quarantined. As of this week, the virus has killed106 people in mainland China, and it has infected nearly 4,700 peopleworldwide, including in the United States. The Chinese government rapidly constructed a1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan as a way to contain and treat patientssuspected of contracting the virus. Named the Wuhan HuoshenshanHospital, it reportedly is a 25,000-square-meter facility purpose-built to address thisoutbreak. The goal of the Chinese was to have the hospital finishedand operational in just 10 days. A second and even larger facility, the Leishenshan Hospital, also is under construction, and the goal is to have that building finished in just 15 days. Medieval Measures Essentially locking down an entire city or region isnt exactly a newtactic, and it certainly is not effective. When the Black Death spread during the Middle Ages, it was commonplace for port cities tobe closed to ships suspected of coming from infected areas. In the 14th century, Venice was among the first cities to formalize suchmeasures, closing the citys waters to suspected vessels, and evensubjecting travelers and nearly all ships to 30 days of isolation. The period was extended to 40 days, which led to the term quarantine. Sadly, those efforts generally were unsuccessful, and it is unclear if amodern quarantine would have any better success. However, this weekthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Americans toavoid all nonessential travel to China and extended its travel warningfrom Wuhan to the entire country. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The effectiveness of this move currently is being debated, said Mariea Snell, assistant director of Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at Maryville University. At this point, the recommendation is that travel be limited, as therisk is considered to not outweigh the benefit at this point, she told TechNewsWorld. Modern air travel exponentially increased the spread of influenza eachyear, based on a study by Chong and Chung, originally conducted in 2012 and updated in 2017. Air travel restrictions should become apriority when flu or other potential pandemic could occur, the researchers recommended. Some companies are heeding such advice. Apple CEO TimCook on Tuesday announced restrictions on employee travel andeven took the drastic measure of shutting down one store in China. The question is whether restricting travel and utilizing quarantinepractices be effective at curbing the spread of infection. Recent studies indicate that it may not be as beneficial asoriginally thought to be, Snell said. We learned a lot from theSARS and Ebola outbreak in this regard. While it may slow it down, itwill not eliminate it, she noted. The best way to prevent the spread ofillness is to wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick, Snell said. Detection Technology Aside from quarantines, efforts to halt the spread of disease include screenings. It has gotten far easier to determine if someone is contagious and carrying an illness through various methods of detection, which can be as simple as taking temperatures and observing individuals for symptoms. A D V E R T I S E M E N T A helpful way that technology can and is being used to stop thespread of illness is the use of public health surveillance data, noted Snell. The effectiveness can be hit or miss, however, largely depending on the virus. In the case of the coronavirus, scientists say that the viral sheddingperiod period when you are contagious can occur up to a weekbefore you start to show symptoms, Snell explained. Given this, using technology to detect infection like fever would notbe very effective at preventing the spread, she noted. This can behelpful during acute illness, but it would not catch all infected people. Predictive Technology Technology isnt just used just to determine if someone is ill, however.Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning now are beingused to predict where an outbreak might occur or even moreimportantly, where it might spread. One such effort is an early-warning system that utilizes artificialintelligence and machine learning, as well as natural language processing, totrack more than 100 infectious diseases, developed by the Canadian firm BlueDot. The program is designed toread from more than 100,000 articles in 65 languages, and the data then iscompiled to determine the potential for the spreading of diseases. Itwas used earlier this month to track the coronavirus and then predictwhere it might spread. Considering the coronavirus is a global disease, AI hasnt done agood job stopping it but a much better job in tracking it, said RogerEntner, principal analyst at Recon Analytics. However, it could take time to refine any AI to be truly successful. AI could certainly help, but its early days for AI yet, and thisvirus is moving faster than it would probably take to set up a good AImodel and train it on the right data set, cautioned Roger Kay, principalanalyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates. More important is to execute existing protocols rigorously, liketracing contacts and quarantining and treating infected people, hetold TechNewsWorld. Crowdsourcing Disease Tracking A number of crowdsourcing methods could be effective in tracking the spread of disease. People are also using cellphone data to track population movement andhow they interact, noted Snell. This helps understand or predict where disease may spread so thatscientists and healthcare providers can take a proactive approach,she added. Social media is another promising avenue. Algorithms have been set up to detect certain buzzwords like flu orfood poisoning to detect and track possible large-scale outbreaks,noted Snell. Connected World The ease with which so many people can jet set around the world for businessmeetings, conferences, trade shows, vacation and other occasions also hascontributed to the spread of contagious diseases. Perhaps some of those occasions for travel eventually could transition to virtual reality or augmented reality experiences both to save moneyfor the participants, and to keep big gatherings such as the annual CESor the Davos political gathering from becoming ground zero fora pandemic. Not everyone is sold on that idea, however, and convincing attendees ofthose shows not to mention the exhibitors could be an uphillstruggle. The moment we have to do AR/VR in a response to a pandemic, then weare so deep in trouble not even AR/VR can save us, ReconAnalytics Entner told TechNewsWorld. In the end, there is no substitute for meeting someone in person,shaking their hand and looking them in the eye AR/VR cant do that,he added. Virtual conferences are already happening for cost reasons, of course. The only issue is you cant get people to sit through three days ofcontent on a virtual connection it just doesnt work, observedKay. Networking is an important part of conferences, but if you dont needto do business development, there is no reason not to get the contentin a format like a TED talk, and there are lots of software tools forconferencing at various levels, he added. Much of what one can learn or needs to learn from majorevents or trade shows can be done through technology, maintained Snell. Virtual events or trade shows can deliver the information in a waythat is safe and cost-effective, she noted. We can integrate discussion in an online platform and share thelatest information on products, as well as view presentations from ourhome or office, Snell suggested. Utilization of this technology forevents such as these should be industry standard as we try to navigatethese global health concerns. In September 2018, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH, issued its Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Research, which outlined research priorities to reduce and ultimately end the burden of tuberculosis (TB). TB is a bacterial disease that has claimed the lives of more than a billion people in the past two centuries. Now, a new "Perspective" in The Journal of Infectious Diseases by NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and other Institute officials summarizes recent progress in improved TB diagnostics, therapeutic regimens and prevention approaches that made 2019 a "banner year" for TB research. Therapeutics trials described by the NIAID authors include BRIEF TB/A5279, a Phase 3 clinical study demonstrating that a one-month course of two antibiotic drugs worked as well as a nine-month regimen of a single drug to prevent TB disease among adults and adolescents with HIV at risk of developing active TB. In June 2019, NIAID and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, also part of NIH, launched the Phase 3 PHOENIx MDR-TB trial in 12 countries. PHOENIx MDR-TB (Protecting Households on Exposure to Newly Diagnosed Index Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients) will compare two oral regimens for preventing active TB in adults, teens and children who are at high risk of infection because they live with adults who have multidrug-resistant TB. "Results from this innovative study will inform new TB prevention guidelines to avert the pain, disability and death associated with MDR-TB," Dr. Fauci and his coauthors write. Advances in TB vaccine development in 2019 included exciting preclinical and clinical results from several studies, the Perspective authors write. A study in macaques, in which the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine--the world's only licensed TB vaccine--was administered intravenously (IV) instead of by the standard intradermal route resulted in a dramatic increase in efficacy. The findings support further investigation of IV BCG administration in future human clinical trials. The authors described results of a Phase 2b trial of a candidate TB vaccine M72/AS01 (developed by GlaxoSmithKline) as "groundbreaking." The trial enrolled 3,575 volunteers in three countries and demonstrated 50% efficacy in preventing development of active pulmonary TB compared with placebo. The challenge in 2020 and beyond is to build on the momentum generated by these recent accomplishments, the authors note. Still urgently needed are rapid, inexpensive and accurate point-of-care diagnostics; new and more effective drugs; and new and improved vaccines that prevent transition from latent infection to active TB disease or that prevent infection altogether. Achieving the end of TB within a generation is possible only through concerted, collective and collaborative efforts that involve government, academia, industry and civil society at all levels, the authors conclude. A man was booked by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police for stalking and threatening to kill a minor girl for refusing his advances, according to the girls complaint. The man has been identified as Sameer Arun Ranpise, 22, a resident of Kalewadi area of Talegaon Dabhade. The complaint has been lodged by a 16-year-old girl who told the police that the accused had been following her on many occasions since the past year. She told her father that on January 27, he slapped her in order to get her to talk to him. The father brought her to us and we immediately registered a case to send a strong message of support to the women, said senior police inspector Amarnath Waghmode of Talegaon Dabhade police station. The man belongs to an economically weak household and has been unemployed for years. He has finished education till Class 12. The girl told her parents and the police that he had allegedly clicked pictures of her without her permission. He allegedly threatened to show those pictures to her family members and threatened to kill her if she refuses to speak to him, according to her complaint. He has run away from home. We have formed two teams to look for him, said senior PI Waghmode. A case in the matter was registered on Monday evening. Ranpise was booked under Sections 354(d) (stalking), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (insult with an intention to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code along with Sections 66(c) of the Information Technology Act was registered at the Talegaon Dabhade police station. Police inspector (crime) Shahji Pawar of Talegaon Dabhade police station is investigating the case. Taika Waititi's debut appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show is being dubbed "awkward" due to the audience's apparent inability to understand his accent or trademark deadpan sense of humour. Waititi brought along his Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar trophy and JoJo Rabbit star Roman Griffin Davis along for the interview, but for many viewers the focus was the crowd's lack of enthusiasm. "The audience has never been this quiet. Probably couldn't understand them!" one YouTube commenter wrote, while another dubbed the crowd "dead as doorknob". Waititi's irreverent conversation style was in full swing from the get-go, replying to Ellen's "Hello, you two!" with a dry "Hello, you one". That quip was applauded by one commenter as "typical Maori humour". "Taika is hilarious," another comment read. "The audience did not get his jokes at all lol." Other viewers were perturbed that the Kiwi filmmaker didn't receive enough applause when DeGeneres congratulated him on his Academy Award, or when he announced he'd be moving to Australia to work on the new Thor movie with Chris Hemsworth. "He said he was making another Thor movie and no one clapped? I think the audience was not able to understand his accent," one comment read. Another said Waititi talked like a "drunk pirate" and that they needed subtitles to follow along. DeGeneres appeared to miss a couple of Waititi's gags, too. When asked about playing the role of Hitler, Waititi said it "didn't make any sense to him". "Because, look at me," he continued. "...I'm way too good looking to play Hitler," he added after a brief, silent pause. Some YouTube users commented that the most enthusiastic the crowd got was when they were told they'd be receiving a free copy of JoJo Rabbit, which DeGeneres said was one of her favourite films ever. Newshub. Foodies are going wild for new Toblerone cheesecake, which can be found on sale in Coles supermarkets across Australia. The delicious dessert was spotted by the people behind the Instagram profile Food Finds Geelong, who gave the frozen food 8/10 in their rating. 'The topping generally tastes like a Toberlone but when eaten all together it does get lost as the biscuit base does overpower it,' the food bloggers posted. Foodies are going wild for new Toblerone cheesecake (pictured), which can be found on sale in Coles supermarkets across Australia 'In saying that, the biscuit base is delicious and blends perfectly with semi sweet centre and again really good for a frozen cheesecake. 8/10.' The frozen dessert was spotted in Coles supermarkets, and it is currently available online for $11. Product description on the website states that the cheesecake is 'a delicious baked cheesecake on a chocolate flavoured biscuit base topped with Toblerone's smooth milk chocolate'. Since they saw it, foodies have been going crazy for the idea. 'Oh my god, I need this!' one posted. 'I'm dead, this looks amazing,' another added. The dessert comes hot on the heels of Toblerone ice cream (pictured), which launched in January for just $5 a pack The ice cream promises to have a 'chocolate honey flavour with nougat and Toblerone pieces coated in milk chocolate' The dessert comes hot on the heels of Toblerone ice cream, which launched in January for just $5 a pack. Versions of the ice cream had proved popular in the UK and Philippines since its release in 2018 but this is the first time Australians have been able to taste-test the delicious treat. The exciting addition to the freezer section sent Aussies into a spin, with everyone hurriedly tagging their friends in the post to hint at their next supermarket purchase. 'Undoubtedly this will change my life for the better,' one person said. The ice cream promises to have a 'chocolate honey flavour with nougat and Toblerone pieces coated in milk chocolate'. Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls of the day: Boeing, Micron, Wynn & more Published Wed, Feb 12 2020 8:25 AM EST Updated Wed, Feb 12 2020 9:00 AM EST Two women from Belfast have become the first people ever to have a same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. Robyn Peoples, 26, and Sharni Edwards, 27, made history on Tuesday afternoon when they married at a hotel in Carrickfergus. The newlyweds have been together for six years (PA) The newlyweds first dance was to a Nathan Sykes and Ariana Grande song, Over and Over Again, according to a reporter at the venue. The pair have been in a relationship for six years and booked a civil partnership last summer, but changed the ceremony to a wedding after the law in Northern Ireland changed last month. As of Monday 13 January, same-sex couples were able to register to marry in the country, and those who were already married had their union recognised by law. This brings Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. Same-sex marriages have been legal in England, Scotland and Wales since 2014. The discrepancy was able to continue for six years because same-sex marriage was an issue devolved to Stormont, the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ahead of the ceremony Ms Peoples, who is a care worker in Belfast, said: Were both nervous but very excited. Ms People and Ms Edwards wedding is a landmark moment for equal rights in Northern Ireland (PA) Our love is personal, but the law which said we couldnt marry was political, she said. We are delighted that with our wedding, we can now say that those days are over. While this campaign ends with Sharni and I saying I do, it started with people saying No to inequality. By standing together, weve made history. Ms Edwards, a waitress from Brighton who did not even know the law was different in Northern Ireland until she moved to Belfast, added: We feel humbled that our wedding is a landmark moment for equal rights in Northern Ireland. We didnt set out to make history we just fell in love. Asked why they think it took so long to happen, Ms Peoples said: Our politicians. Its been a religious battle between them, and not really very human so they sort of battled between each other and it took Westminster to push it forward and here we are, its happened. New Hampshire: Its the state always asking Vermont to do something about the weed smell. But today they were the state holding the second Democratic primary, and because normally the most exciting thing to do in New Hampshire is watch mountains grow, Election Day gets the people going like nothing else. TREVOR NOAH The reason the primaries start in Iowa and then go to New Hampshire is because its important that we know what the very whitest people think first. JIMMY KIMMEL Voting in todays New Hampshire primary started at midnight last night in the 12-person town of Dixville Notch. Dixville Notch is also what Joe Biden called a voter that disagreed with him. [Imitating Biden] Ill pop you in the kisser, you dirty Dixville Notch. SETH MEYERS Dixville Notch sounds less like a place and more like something Joe Biden would scream after stubbing his toe. JAMES CORDEN SBC pastors threaten boycott over inclusion of female teaching pastor Hosanna Wong at conference Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Organizers of the Southern Baptist Convention's Pastors' Conference are facing backlash from some SBC pastors who've reportedly threatened to boycott the conference over the inclusion of female teaching pastor and spoken word artist Hosanna Wong in the lineup of featured guests. Wong is a network associate teaching pastor at the Chula Vista campus of the multisite EastLake Church in the San Diego, California. She is expected to appear at the conference in her capacity as a spoken word artists but some SBC leaders, such as Sam Bunnell, pastor of worship and discipleship at South Reno Baptist in Nevada, have raised concerns about her planned appearance at the pastors' conference on June 7-8 in advice of the SBC's Annual Meeting that same week in Orlando, Florida. The last thing I want to do is sow discord in the body of Christ. And I do not believe I'm doing so. I must, however, question @PastorDavidUth on @SBCPastorsConf including @waynecordeiro & Hosanna Wong. This does not represent the majority of the SBC. We will fight for right, Bunnell noted in a statement on Twitter. Dwight McKissic, senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, was quick to point out, however, that: A teaching pastor is not the lead pastor. If Phoebe could be entrusted to deliver the Roman epistle to the church at Rome, & the church be told to receive her in the Lord...and assist her, ...then the pastors conference can receive Hosanna Wong. Churches are autonomous. Michael Frost, a missiologist and theologian who founded the Tinsley Institute at Morling College in Australia asked his nearly 9,000 followers on Twitter to pray for Wong as he outlined efforts by objecting pastors to get Wong removed from the lineup. This is Hosanna Wong, the teaching pastor at EastLake Church. She was invited to speak at the SBCs Pastors Conference, but SBC pastors have written a letter of protest, demanding that she repent, and threatening to withhold all funding until she is disinvited. Pray for her, he said. Frost also noted in a similar message to his more than 17,000 followers on Facebook that the pastors planned to organize a boycott of the event if Wong isnt disinvited and it set off a firestorm of comments with many objecting to the negative reaction to Wong. David Clemons, an instructor at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, argued, however, that the objecting pastors are acting on a valid interpretation of Scripture. You can disagree with them, certainly. You can call them sexists. You can call them hypocrites and Im sure some of them are, but by reading most of the comments on this thread it looks as if there is absolutely no appreciation where theyre coming from. "Theyre not just making this up from thin air. The SBC like many Protestant American denominations are theologically evangelical. Im sure many of you are aware, one notable trait of evangelicalism is a deep respect for a more literal reading of the scriptures. The key verse these guys are looking to is 1 Timothy 2:12-15, he wrote in response to Frosts call. True, there are some evangelicals who have female pastors because they interpret this verse a different way but I applaud anyone who sincerely wrestles with the scriptures and seeks to make her or his life conform to them even if I disagree with their interpretation. "I respect their desire to live their lives in obedience to the Bible. If youre a person of faith and you have a high regard for the scriptures (I know not everyone is or does. Im not talking to those people. Im talking to those who do), then disagree with them all you want. Tell them their interpretation of the Bible is wrong, but at least meet them where they areat a starting place that deeply respects the scriptures, he added. Frost argued, however, that seeking to boycott the event over a theological disagreement smacked of sexism and hard-heartedness. I appreciate where theyre coming from. I have colleagues who agree with them on the interpretation of those passages. But my colleagues know that it is legitimate to hold to the egalitarian position and they would NEVER boycott an event simply because a female teaching pastor was one of the presenters. I think theyve gone beyond mere complementarianism to hard-heartedness and, yes, sexism, he replied to Clemons. Conference president and Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Orlando David Uth told the Baptist Press that the speakers and music performers confirmed for conference have good relationships with his church. He also noted that Wong would not be preaching at the event. "She's not preaching. She's not coming as a preacher. She's coming as a musical artist, Uth told the publication. "My goal, my prayer was that we could open ourselves up to hear from people that maybe were good friends of ours, but not in our Southern Baptist Convention," he said. "I feel like they have a message for us. I feel like God wants to speak to us through them. So my goal and my hope was that we could hear their message, we could learn from them, and we could embrace it." He further explained that his staff is monitoring social media to determine if Wongs presence at the conference would put her in any danger. "If we sense that it is going to be an environment that's not going to be helpful to her, or it's going to be in some way hurtful, I would not risk that for anything. She is a precious lady. She and her husband do a great work in San Francisco, Uth said. Lawyer, former gymnast and outspoken abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander also threw her support behind Wong in an extended statement on Twitter, in which she called out SBC pastors for treating their position on women in ministry more seriously than sexual abuse. Popular Bible teacher and author Beth Moore who has come under similar criticism from SBC leaders for being an outspoken woman in ministry also appeared to support Denhollanders response to the uproar over Wongs inclusion. And then theres what goes on away from the official table after they whistle for the attack dogs, which, of course, they are doing: relentless social media harassment, bullying, lying about & slandering the woman. Its so sinful. And all in the name of Scripture, Moore wrote on Twitter. I want nothing more to do with it. But I am going to have a dang hard time staying silent if they look like they are going to put Hosanna through anything similar to what others of us have endured over these people. Shes not preaching at it, for crying out loud, she added. FILE PHOTO: A security officer in a protective mask checks the temperature of a passenger following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, at an expressway toll station on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, in Xianning By Tamara Mathias, Roxanne Liu and Manojna Maddipatla (Reuters) - The fast-spreading coronavirus is starting to disrupt testing of experimental medicines in China, posing a threat to plans by global drugmakers that have invested billions of dollars to harness the potential of the Asian economic powerhouse. The U.S. clinical trials database lists nearly 500 studies with a site in the city of Wuhan, which has endured the brunt of an outbreak that has killed more than 1,100 people and infected more than 44,000 in China. About 20% of global trials are now conducted in China, up from about 10% just five years ago, according to GlobalData Plc. China has imposed a virtual lockdown on Wuhan and severely restricted travel in its wider province of Hubei and some other cities. While it is too early in the outbreak first detected in December to fully assess its impact on clinical trials, if it goes on much longer the pharmaceutical industry's China strategy is likely to be disrupted. Virus-curbing efforts by the government have made it difficult for trial patients to reach hospitals running studies, according to interviews with two contract research organizations that conduct trials for drugmakers, local drug companies and doctors. Others fear becoming infected if they return to a healthcare facility for a trial. "Hospitals aren't focused on clinical trials right now," said Ian Woo, president and chief financial officer of Everest Medicines, which is developing drugs for the Chinese market. "They have plenty of other things to be focused on." The outbreak has delayed the launch of new studies, and research organizations like dMed Biopharmaceutical Co said they have been unable to send staff to monitor trial sites. Affected ongoing studies include trials testing a Novartis medicine for a rare blood disorder, a cancer drug from BeiGene Ltd and a treatment for a type of spinal arthritis from Chinese drugmaker Tasly Pharmaceutical Group, according to doctors involved. Beijing-based BeiGene, which has more than 20 trials ongoing in Wuhan, said it was working to minimize potential delays and disruptions, but that it was "too early to speculate on any specific impact on our clinical trial and commercial progress in China." Story continues Other drugmakers with trials in China, including Roche, Zai Lab Ltd and Hutchison China MediTech Ltd (Chi-Med), also said it was too soon to speculate on the outbreak's consequences. But the impact is being felt. Shenghao Tu, who is working on the Tasly clinical trial in Wuhan, said the study in his hospital has been suspended. "This is a problem that (we) never encountered before," Tu said. The issue is not limited to Wuhan. Two doctors testing the BeiGene cancer drug tislelizumab in Beijing and Guangzhou city said efforts to contain the virus have hampered patient enrollment and capacity. Both their hospitals now require that each room hold only one patient to prevent cross-infection, reducing the number they can accommodate. The delays are disrupting a booming, homegrown pharmaceutical industry China hopes will supply its domestic market and compete globally. INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT International drugmakers including Britain-based AstraZeneca Plc, Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding, U.S. biotech Amgen Inc and Switzerland's Novartis AG have made big investments, hoping to benefit from cheaper trial costs in China, access to large patient populations and the ability to identify new drugs for Asian markets. Amgen last year agreed to pay $2.7 billion for a 20.5% stake in BeiGene to develop cancer drugs for the Chinese market. A few weeks later, BeiGene in November became the first drugmaker to receive U.S. approval for a cancer therapy based on trials conducted largely in China. Amgen research chief David Reese said at the time BeiGene has built "one of the premier clinical trial platforms in China," noting its strong relationships with trial investigators and regulators. Deals and joint ventures between international companies and China-based biotechs surged to at least $10 billion in 2019, from about $3.2 billion in 2015, according to a Reuters analysis of GlobalData information. Graphic: China's growing global drug development footprint https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/CHINA-HEALTH-CLINICALTRIALS/0H001R8B4BV8/eikon.png BeiGene's chief advisor Eric Hedrick sees the potential for more lucrative deals for his company. "We think that there are other companies out there, like Amgen, who have the same sort of ambitions where BeiGene would make a good partner," Hedrick said in an interview prior to the outbreak. BETTING ON RESILIENCE The surge in investment followed years of effort by Chinese regulators to elevate healthcare facilities to match global standards and increase the role China-run trials play in U.S. and European drug approval decisions. Brad Loncar, chief executive of Loncar Investments who created a fund that tracks the Chinese pharmaceutical industry, said the epidemic could delay deals in the short run. Longer term, investors expect the outbreak will prompt China "to accelerate its plans to really modernize its drug and healthcare sector," he said. Amgen said it had not yet seen disruptions to BeiGene operations. Novartis said it was monitoring the situation and would handle any disruptions. Tasly declined comment. Much will depend on how long the outbreak lasts, particularly for trials set to begin later this year and ongoing studies that will take years to complete. Chi-Med Chief Executive Christian Hogg was optimistic about a resolution. "This a relatively new phenomenon ... and China is a resourceful country," he said. Roche, which last year opened a drug development center in Shanghai, sees China as key to its strategy to get new treatments to the global market. "You can imagine the large number of patients (in China)," Jing He, head of Roche's Shanghai pharmaceutical development center, told Reuters. "We will be able to enroll patients faster." For now, that may not be the case. A doctor working on a study of Novartis' eltrombopag for severe aplastic anemia who asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak with media, told Reuters the trial could be slowed due to patient recruiting obstacles. Some patients are not allowed to travel from their cities to qualified hospitals for required screening procedures, he said. (Reporting by Tamara Mathias and Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru, Roxanne Liu in Beijing; Additional reporting by Rebecca Spalding in New York and Deena Beasley in Los Angeles; Editing by Patrick Graham, Michele Gershberg and Bill Berkrot) Intensive care units in public acute hospitals lack the resources to cope with a coronavirus epidemic, a medical expert has warned. You can cope with sporadic cases but if there is a large number we will struggle to cope and probably won't, said Dr Rory Dwyer, clinical lead of the Irish National Intensive Care Unit Audit. But there is no doubt that if we had a major epidemic we'd lack the resources to cope with that. The HSE has surge protocols and procedures in place but the system is already very stretched just with the existing workload. Dr Dwyer was speaking before the launch of the ICU Audit Annual Report for 2018 from the National Office of Clinical Audit which found that a shortage of ICU beds is leading to delays in admissions of critically ill patients. I think we are all well aware that there are capacity issues in ICUs in Ireland. The number of beds we have per head of population is low by European standards. What the report shows is that it is leading to delayed admission to ICU because we are waiting for other patients to be discharged," he said. Ireland has 5.2 ICU beds per 100,000 population, Britain has 7.2 and the European average is 11.5. A capacity review by the Department of Health published in 2018 recommended an 80% increase in critical care beds from 240 to 430, by 2031 but Dr Dwyer said the beds are needed now. Those ICU beds would bring us up to 8.7 beds per 100,000 population, which would be a lot better than where we are now. The report shows that bed occupancy is high, at about 88% overall and up to 96% in some units when 75% is the recommended level. Once patients are admitted to ICU, survival rates in all units were within the expected range, indicating that the quality of care is good. But the threshold for admission to ICU in Ireland is higher a patient has to be sicker to be admitted because of a lack of capacity and that affects eventual survival. Our data shows that if you get to ICU the care is very good and equivalent to what you would get in the UK and against other health systems as well. The difficulty is getting in, said Dr Dwyer. Business group, Isme, says it is time for Irish employers to make plans for when cases of coronavirus are confirmed in Ireland. All businesses are now in a position to adopt basic levels of precaution ahead of coronavirus entering the Irish population, the group said. Consult with your staff, customers and suppliers. If you have Asian suppliers you need to talk to them immediately about their production and export plans. Employers are also advised to maximise the use of remote and flexible working. Meanwhile, recruitment platform, Indeed, expects all employees to be back in their offices today after fears of possible exposure to coronavirus were dispelled. It emerged yesterday that family members of an employee based in Singapore who had visited a hospital caring for a coronavirus patient have all tested negative for coronavirus. The company advised employees working in Singapore to work from home while the test results were awaited. As an extra precaution, it deep-cleaned all three offices and also advised employees in Dublin and Sydney to work from home. Adam OCarroll, 23, and Tom Doherty, 28, have been fixing fences for free (Picture: Mercury) Two handymen have fixed more than 50 broken fences damaged by Storm Ciara for free. Adam OCarroll, 23, and Tom Doherty, 28, put a call out on their business Facebook page for elderly residents whose fence panels had been damaged by Sundays storm. They received a big response within an hour with their post being shared more than 6,000 times, and the pair have since made dozens of repairs across Tameside, Manchester. Mr OCarroll, from Manchester, said: The phone has been going off non-stop since Sunday. Our usual job is weather dependent so weve been fixing the fences in between - it only takes about one minute to lift up the fence and slot it back in place. Storm Ciara has caused havoc across the country (Picture: Mercury) Mr OCarroll added: We wouldnt expect an elderly person to lift up a heavy fence panel by themselves, it takes a few people to do it. Sometimes the fences are broken beyond repair and weve had to prop it up for the meantime. Theres a local fencing place that we recommend and then we offer to go back and fit the new panel for free. Weve actually now been offered discounts by that place which is great. Read more: Storm Ciara: Dramatic video shows lifeboat almost capsizing The Good Samaritans, who run T&A Resin, said the elderly people were really nice and offered them food and payment. Mr OCarroll said: Theres been some very touching stories so far - one lady said her parents are both ill, one with cancer, and other people weve helped have been disabled. Read more: Storm Ciara weather warnings still in place as snow hits UK following floods and gales The handymen have been fixing fences in Manchester (Picture: Mercury) The men came up with the idea after helping Mr OCarrolls fiancees grandma fix her fence during a previous storm. After his own fence panel blew out over the weekend, Mr OCarroll thought it would be nice to assist OAPs who might need a hand. Because the demand has been so high, the men have drafted in help of their family and apprentice. Read more: Dog remained by side of owner killed by falling tree branch during Storm Ciara Story continues Mr OCarroll added: Today my brother is coming to help - I fell asleep early last night and woke up to 14 requests already. Were going to keep on helping people when we can. Ive actually lost count of how many fences weve fixed! Women who have these genetic mutations face a significant risk, even at a young age, of breast and ovarian cancer. No fully-effective breast cancer screening method currently exists for nursing mothers in this high-risk group. New mothers, and to a greater extent those with a BRCA mutation, also face an increased risk of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC), which can be aggressive, for about a decade postpartum . "Breast milk essentially provides a liquid biopsy of the entire breast," says lead researcher Kathleen Arcaro from the UMass Breastmilk Lab. "We hope to better understand breast tumor development and progression in these at-risk women." Through the examination of breast milk cells, the hope is to uncover profiles that may identify risk of breast disease. The research team hopes to ultimately develop a new, noninvasive test that would use women's breast milk to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. The study is recruiting participants from across the U.S. through social media and with the help of breast surgeons and lactation specialists like Dr. Mitchell. Women will provide breast milk and saliva samples, and their BRCA test results. They'll need to complete a health questionnaire and agree to annual, long-term follow-up. A control group with neither a BRCA mutation nor multiple close relatives with breast cancer is also being recruited. The research is supported by a grant from the Department of Defense's Breast Cancer Research Program. Dr. Mitchell has a special interest in breastfeeding medicine. In addition to her breast surgical oncological fellowship training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she is a board-certified lactation consultant and lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to lactation and breast cancer. Ridley-Tree Cancer Center at Sansum Clinic Ridley-Tree Cancer Center is a world-class regional cancer facility in Santa Barbara, California that provides a level of multidisciplinary medical care on par with major academic centers. Our highly-trained physicians and compassionate staff utilize the latest technology, clinical research and protocols, as well as evidence-based wellness programs and services, to provide every opportunity for successful treatment and recovery. Ridley-Tree extends its reach with an office in Solvang to provide all patients in Santa Barbara County access to the myriad of services offered, close to home. This kind of care is made possible thanks to the generosity of community donors and our long-standing partnership with the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara. www.ridleytreecc.org Contact: Nicole Young, Marketing Department [email protected] O: 805-681-7783 C: 310-699-2629 SOURCE Ridley-Tree Cancer Center at Sansum Clinic Related Links http://www.ridleytreecc.org Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, appearing before the United Nation Security Council on Tuesday, rejected the Middle East Plan proposed earlier by US President Donald Trump. He said that the peace plan was Trumps gift to Israel and was unacceptable to the Palestinians, international Media reported. Failed efforts Waving a copy of the map the US lead plan envisions Abbas said the state carved out for Palestinians looked like a fragmented Swiss Cheese. The draft security council resolution that was circulated by two countries-Tunisia and Indonesia-that would have criticised Trumps plan was reportedly not put to vote, giving a major setback to the Palestinians. International media citing two UN diplomats reported that the resolution which aimed at isolating the US did not go forward because it failed to garner support from Council members. Speaking at the UNSC Meeting, Abbas said This is the state that they will give us. Its like a Swiss cheese, really. Who among you will accept a similar state and similar conditions? Read: Palestinians Rally Against Trump Plan Amid Struggle At UN Read: Palestinians Rally Against Trump's MidEast Plan In response to the Palestinian Presidents comments Netanyahu, while speaking at a rally said that This is not Swiss cheese. This is the best plan that exists for the Middle East for the Middle East and for the State of Israel and for the Palestinians, too. He added that the plan recognizes reality and the rights of the people of Israel, both of which you constantly refuse to recognize. Pres. #Abbas ...if this Councils resolutions are disregarded,then who do we resort to? Everytime I look at this map, I lose hope. Is this what the the #Palestinian ppl deserve? How did we get here? Our ppl will not surrender... @UN #DealOfTheCentury pic.twitter.com/0uq2rJ3kln State of Palestine (@Palestine_UN) February 11, 2020 Read: Suspect In Migrant Truck Deaths Can Fight Extradition To UK Trump released his Middle East plan on January 28 in Washington in the presence of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the proposed plan, Israel would get authority over West bank Jewish Settlements including Jerusalem as its capital. On the other hand, Palestine would get a state with a West Bank village east of Jerusalem as its capital but only if fulfils certain conditions. The US cannot be the sole mediator, Abbas said rejecting the traditional US role in seeking to broker an end to the conflict and calling for an international conference. Read: First 'Jerusalem-Mumbai Festival' To Be Held In Mumbai On Feb 15, 16 (With inputs from Agencies) MONTREAL - Canadas rail system was under stress Tuesday as Via Rail cancelled passenger service on key routes and Canadian National Railway Co. warned it will be forced to close significant parts of its freight network unless blockades impeding its lines are removed. Via Rail cancelled service on its Montreal-Toronto and Toronto-Ottawa routes because of a blockade near Belleville, Ont., in support of opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project that crosses the traditional territory of the Wetsuweten First Nation in northwestern B.C. Although we remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached, in view of the current uncertainty, VIA Rail is cancelling all departures until Thursday end of day on the Montreal-Toronto and Toronto-Ottawa routes, in both directions, Via spokeswoman Marie-Anna Murat said in an email. A blockade near New Hazelton, B.C., means normal rail activities are also being interrupted between Prince Rupert and Prince George, she said. Via Rails announcement followed the warning from CN, which has halted more than 150 freight trains since Thursday evening, when demonstrators set up the blockades in B.C. and Ontario. The Montreal-based railway said Monday that long-distance freight shipments in Central and Eastern Canada were already at a virtual standstill. Chief executive JJ Ruest stressed the limited parking space in its network, with traffic backed up from Halifax to Windsor, Ont., and in parts of B.C. approaching Prince Rupert. CN will have no choice but to temporarily discontinue service in key corridors unless the blockades come to an end, he said in a statement Tuesday. The impact is also being felt beyond Canadas borders and is harming the countrys reputation as a stable and viable supply chain partner. The ongoing blockades are near Belleville, Ont., and New Hazleton in B.C.s northern interior, while demonstrations cropped up Tuesday in locations ranging from the Halifax port to the B.C. legislature. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce called on all levels of government and police to work together to bring an immediate end to the blockades and to restore all rail service. From propane to grain and food and consumer items, Canadas supply chains are being severely damaged by the continuing interruptions to Canadas rail services by protesters, the chamber said on Twitter. The rail system affects the entire Canadian economy and Canadians everywhere, including people trying to get to and from work. They must be allowed to continue to serve the thousands of businesses that depend on them. Industry groups expressed concern about the shutdown as shipments to and from the U.S. and China are delayed or cancelled. Its a real crisis, said Joel Neuheimer, head of international trade with the Forest Products Association of Canada. Wood, pulp and paper producers have lost tens of millions of dollars so far, he said. We ship massive amounts of pulp to the United States and to places like Asia, so big negative impacts there, Neuheimer said in a phone interview. We have members whose customers arent placing orders right now in the U.S. because they know that its not going to get there as soon as it needs to get there. Olin Corp., a Missouri-based chemical maker with a facility near Trois-Rivieres, Que., cautioned Ottawa that its tight distribution schedule means the 50-odd Canadian companies it serves will soon stop receiving chlorine used in part to treat drinking water which it says is only shipped by rail. Olin is alarmed by the current freight rail situation in Canada, and we are concerned that customers and municipalities will not receive shipments of vital chemicals including chlorine within one week, chairman and CEO John Fischer said in a letter to federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau on Tuesday. The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, whose members typically load about 4,500 rail cars a day, is urging government officials to work with police to restore service on the tracks. In Canada theres not really other alternatives to move stuff around. The highways and trucks especially in Quebec and southern Ontario are already at a very, very high utilization of available capacity, association president Dennis Darby said in a phone interview. Stakeholders from chemical companies to Dannon Yogurt called this week to raise concerns, he said. They cant get their stuff out. Garneau said he is working with the railways and his Ontario counterpart Caroline Mulroney to find a solution, and that blockage of tracks is dangerous and illegal. Despite the countrywide impact, he underscored that responsibility for enforcing court injunctions against the anti-pipeline protesters lies with provincial politicians and police. Obviously we hope its going to be resolved, but it is up to the provinces to make those injunctions effective by taking action, Garneau told reporters in Calgary. Its having an important impact on the economy of the country. Earlier Tuesday, Via Rail said 157 passenger trains have also been cancelled, affecting 24,500 travellers on its Montreal-Toronto, Ottawa-Toronto and Kingston-Toronto routes. Ontario Provincial Police said officers are in talks with protesters behind a blockade that sits metres from the tracks, though not across them. OPP spokesman Bill Dickson said an officer of the court read an injunction to the protesters Tuesday morning ordering them to abandon the blockade, which bisects Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, about 20 kilometres east of Belleville. While CN obtained the injunction on Friday, Tuesday marked the first time it was read aloud in accordance with court procedure, Dickson said. Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Chief R. Donald Maracle expressed solidarity with the Wetsuweten community in northwestern B.C. and called out actions by the RCMP, which has been enforcing a court injunction on the First Nations traditional territory and arresting those attempting to block access to the pipeline route. We call on both federal and provincial governments to demand the RCMP immediately reconsider how it addresses peaceful protests and demonstrations, and allow the opportunity for sound discussion with a common sense approach to achieve peaceful outcomes, Maracle said in a statement. Brendan Marshall, head of economic and northern affairs at the Mining Association of Canada, said buyers of natural resource products were as vulnerable as producers some of whom are already curtailing production. If youre a facility thats reliant on rail service in order to get your product to a site, then its kind of like sand through the hourglass when it runs out, the plant cant work anymore, he said. This report by the Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2020. With files from Michelle McQuigge Companies in this story: (TSX:CNR) A new documentary claims rapper Tupac Shakur is still alive after faking his own death and fleeing to New Mexico where he is being protected by the Navajo. The film alleges Shakur escaped from University Medical Center in Las Vegas after he was gunned down in 1996. Shakur was hit four times in a drive-by shooting as he was being driven by notorious record producer, Suge Knight, after watching a Mike Tyson fight at a casino in Sin City. The 25-year-old was struck in the chest, arm and thigh by the four .40 caliber rounds. The legendary musician died in hospital from his wounds six days later and the killer has never been caught, despite numerous theories over the identity. But filmmaker Rick Boss purports that Shakur did not pass away in hospital and in fact sneaked out of the ward and fled to New Mexico to start a new life. Tupac Shakur in the 1993 film, Poetic Justice. He was gunned down in 1996 as he traveled in a BMW in Las Vegas Filmmaker Rick Boss claims rapper Tupac Shakur is alive and well and living in New Mexico with the Navajo tribe In the explosive new documentary, 2Pac: The Great Escape From UMC, Tupac Shakur, Boss claims the rapper is being protected by the Navajo tribe. Boss says the Native American tribe, who live throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah offer a perfect hideaway as FBI agents are not allowed on their land. The filmmaker alleges the rapper arrived in Las Vegas for fight night and was told of a planned hit on him. That was when the escape plan, involving planting a double in Knight's BMW and a strategic aerial exit by helicopter, was born. Boss told KTNV: 'After the shooting. What's next? This movie is about Tupac actually escaping from University Medical Center here in Vegas and relocating to New Mexico. 'Getting protection from the Navajo tribe. When certain FBI agencies are looking for you, they are going to block the airport. 'So you can't travel out so the best way to escape is through helicopter, private helicopter to another state.' The scene of the shooting after the assassination of Tupac Shakur in 1996. Suge Knight's BMW can be seen behind a police cordon Tupac Shakur performing on stage (left) and (right) backstage at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois, in March 1994 Witnesses to the Vegas shooting described seeing a white Cadillac pull up alongside the pair's black BMW - from which the assailant then carried out the shooting in a matter of seconds. Suge Knight, who headed up Death Row Records, survived the attack and went on to be jailed for 28 years over the hit-and-run killing of Terry Carter, his friend and co-founder of Heavyweight Records, in 2015. Many conspiracy theories have spread since the shooting of Shakur, often by fans desperate for the rapper to still be alive. Boss added: 'When certain FBI agencies are looking for you, they are going to block the airport. 'So you can't travel out so the best way to escape is through helicopter, private helicopter to another state.' Tupac Shakur at a Christies Auction in New York in 1994. A new documentary claims the musician used a body double and escaped in a helicopter to get away from UMC in Las Vegas Boss said the documentary, which comes out next year, will focus on the rapper's circle of family and friends and claims it is not a work of fiction. He added: 'You can write a fiction. You can write a fiction story but this is not a fiction. This is facts through certain people I know. 'Let's just say Mr Shakur the family is aware of the movie and they're okay with the title so that should tell you more or less what's going on.' It comes after a private investigator claimed that there is proof that rapper Tupac is ''alive and well and living in Belize''. The filmmaker also leaked a photo of the rapper pictured after 1996 on his YouTube channel and is convinced that it is the real thing. Last December a so-called 'Tupac body-double' was allegedly spotted at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Around six months after the death of Shakur, fellow West Coast rapper Notorious B.I.G, also known as Biggie Smalls, 24, was gunned down in a similar incident in Los Angeles in March 1997. No one has ever been charged in their deaths and the cases remain unsolved, with many conspiracy theories about the identities of the shooters. A couple who sent their baby girl to China to escape the bushfire crisis are now desperately trying to bring her home after she became trapped in Hubei amid the coronavirus outbreak. Eighteen-month-old Chloe Luo, from Canberra, has been stuck in the Chinese province since January, when her parents flew her out to stay with relatives. The little girl was sent to stay with her grandmother in Suizhou, three hours from the city of Wuhan, after the Australian capital became blanketed by toxic bushfire smoke. 'I sent her alone, back to my country. I just felt like it was a good thing [to get out] of a bad environment,' her mum Yi Zhao told 9News. Yi Zhao (left) and Yufei Luo (right) from Canberra, flew their 18-month-old daughter Chloe to China last month, in a bid to keep her safe from the bushfires Little Chloe now remains stranded in with grandmother in Suizhou, three hours from Wuhan, after the province was place on lockdown amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak Chloe is now among the hundreds of Australians unable to return home after the government implemented a travel ban in a bid to stop the disease from spreading. Ms Zhao and husband Yufei Luo say they now feel 'guilty' for sending her abroad and have spent the last few weeks worried sick over their young daughter. 'I just want to cuddle her, or kiss her,' the mum said tearfully. The parents are now asking the government to help bring Chloe home, as she was unable to fly back on an evacuation flight alone. So far, over 300 Australians have been evacuated from the epicentre of the disease following an emergency evacuation efforts via airplane. However, Foreign Minister Marise Payne announced on Wednesday the government was not 'considering a third flight at this time.' She also confirmed Chloe does not fall under those 'vulnerable' Australians who are being given priority. The worried parents sent little Chloe to stay with relatives in China after toxic bushfire smoke blanketed Canberra last month (pictured) Foreign travellers who have recently left or passed through mainland China are currently banned from entering our shores. Pictured are visitors arriving in Brisbane before the ban was implemented. 'Our effort has been to try to keep families together where possible. What we've been able to do is to assist those Australians to leave Wuhan who are cleared for departure by Chinese travel authorities,' she said in a press conference. 'That does not include family members of Australian children who are Chinese nationals and who are not Australian permanent residents.' Ms Payne suggested the best thing for Chloe would be to remain in the care of her family in China, until it is safe for her to travel home. Earlier this week, Health Minister Greg Hunt warned the travel ban will likely be extended as the worldwide death toll surpassed 1,000. 'We expect it will continue. We're not putting a timeframe on it,' the minister told The Australian. Mr Hunt added the government acted on the best medical advice to implement the ban. 'Ultimately, our job our responsibility, is to provide protection and national health security for the Australian people,' he said. 'They've been difficult decisions but made on the basis of the medical advice and we'll implement the medical advice.' Australia currently has 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus while four Australians are among 65 newly-confirmed cases aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama in Japan. The federal government also admits the ban has taken a toll on the tourism industry, which is losing an estimated $1billion a week. Qantas this week also enforced the temporary suspension of its two direct services to mainland China until March 28. The Supreme Court (SC) is scheduled to hear a petitition filed by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah's sister, Sara Abdullah Pilot, challenging the National Conference leader's detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on Wednesday (February 12). A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana will hear Sara Pilot's plea. In her petition, Sara has said that Omar Abdullah's detention is "manifestly illegal" and there is no question of him being a "threat to the maintenance of public order". Sara has also urged the top court to quash February 5 order detaining the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister under the PSA and said that Abdullah should be produce before the SC. Sara Pilot has also said that exercise of powers by the authorities under the CrPC to detain individuals, including political leaders, was "clearly mala fide to ensure that the opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution is silenced". Her plea said the intent of exercise of power was to "incarcerate not just him (Omar Abdullah) but the entire leadership of the National Conference, as well as the leadership of other political parties, who were similarly dealt with including Farooq Abdullah, who has served the state and the union over several years... stood by India whenever the situation so demanded." In her petition, Omar Abdullah's sister has said that the NC leader was put under house arrest on the intervening night of August 4-5, 2019 and later section 107 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 was invoked by the Jammu and Kashmir to justify his arrest. "There has been a grave violation of Articles 14, 21 and 22 of the Constitution," the plea said, adding, "similar orders of detention have been issued by the Respondents (authorities of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir) over the last seven months in a wholly mechanical manner to other detenues, which suggest that there has been a consistent and concerted effort to muzzle all political rivals". Live TV In her plea, Sara Pilot has said that there could be no material available to detain a person who has already been in preventive custody for over six months and the "grounds for the detention order are wholly lacking any material facts or particulars which are imperative for an order of detention". "In fact, a reference to all the public statements and messages posted by the detenue (Omar Abdullah) during the period up to his first detention would reveal that he has kept calling for peace and co-operation - messages which in Gandhi's India cannot remotely affect public order," it said. 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. Climate change could open a whole different area in Canada to farming, says newly published research. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Climate change could open a whole different area in Canada to farming, says newly published research. But Evan Fraser of the University of Guelph, a co-author of the international study, warns that simply turning northern forests into waving wheat fields would sow disaster. Climate change could open a whole different area in Canada to farming, says newly published research. (The Canadian Press) "Canada is actually holding a good card when it comes to climate change, and one of the potentially positive changes is a longer growing season in our backyard," he said. "There is an interesting opportunity to generate food in a world that needs more. "(But) there's some very serious environmental consequences." Fraser and his colleagues looked at temperature and precipitation projections for large swaths of the globe currently unsuitable for growing crops. They found that, if only those two factors are considered and current international greenhouse gas policies continue, climate change could by 2060 open up land equal to about 30 per cent of that now under cultivation. The big winners would be Canada and Russia, which could each see more than four million square kilometres of boreal forest become arable land that might be able to grow cold-tolerant plants such as potatoes, wheat, maize and soy. That would make the 650,000 square kilometres Canada now harvests look like a farmyard. A farmer harvests wheat with a combine harvester against the light of the setting sun near Sehnde, Germany, August 11, 2014. Climate change could open a whole new Canadian farming frontier, says newly published research. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/dpa, Julian Stratenschulte It would also be great news for a hungry planet that some studies suggest needs to increase food production by 70 per cent within 30 years. There's a catch. Simply plowing the new land would release vast amounts of carbon to the atmosphere. Fraser calculates that, globally, the top metre of the frontier soils could unleash up to 117 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases about 119 years worth of all emissions in the United States. "If we clear a lot of land and plow a lot of soil, what we could see is a huge release of carbon dioxide," he said. "For Canada, a large-scale conversion of land in the North to agriculture would eliminate any chance we have as a country of meeting our Paris commitments." The study doesn't account for how much land climate change could make unfarmable. The effect on lakes, rivers and wetlands of agricultural conversion is also unknown. Impact on biodiversity for example, caribou herds or the billions of birds that depend on the boreal forest for nesting has not been measured. Fraser points out the land that could be transformed isn't empty either. It's the home for thousands of Indigenous people in Canada and around the world. "We have to be mindful of the fact that these are the homes of people. Any land-use decisions and any opportunity that results has to be done very explicitly with Aboriginal people at the centre of it." If farming in northern latitudes seems far-fetched, remember the Amazon, said Fraser. "Thirty years ago, we didn't think the Amazon would be converted to farms. Then a plot was cleared, and another little plot was cleared, and over a 20-year period, we now have a massive land-use change that's had huge environmental and cultural impacts." He said the paper is preliminary and much more needs to be done to understand the possibilities and consequences of Arctic agriculture. Berry crops or caribou husbandry might be both sustainable and culturally appropriate, he suggested. Still, Fraser said, some are already considering bigger things. "There are casual conversations with policy-makers or casual conversations with industry ... thinking, 'Canada's going to have this warmer growing season. We can do agriculture farther North.'" The Northwest Territories has already adopted an agricultural strategy to increase the amount of food grown locally. Yes, but, said Fraser. "If we're thinking of developing strategies for taking advantage of these new, longer growing seasons, we really have to do it in a way that's mindful of the environment." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2020 Follow Bob Weber on Twitter at @row1960 - Will allow funds, family offices and high net worth individuals to access OTC markets seamlessly - B2C2, the leading cryptocurrency liquidity provider, and SFOX, the premier cryptocurrency prime dealer for large-scale investors, today announced a partnership that will provide asset managers, hedge funds, family offices and high net worth individuals with a new source of liquidity. The partnership will allow SFOX clients to access B2C2's deep pool of liquidity and streaming OTC pricing via a single point of access, replacing the need to manage multiple exchange accounts and API keys. SFOX's full set of trading algorithms will be able to execute against B2C2's prices. B2C2 is the first OTC trading venue to be added to the SFOX platform. Over the past three years, cryptocurrency OTC markets have gained market share from traditional exchanges. A report by Aite Group1 predicted that OTC activity would soon account for the majority of cryptocurrency trading volume. Danny Kim, Head of Growth at SFOX, said: "We are delighted to partner with B2C2, the largest OTC liquidity provider whose streaming pricing and electronic trading capabilities are relied on by institutional market participants globally. SFOX clients will now benefit from a new source of OTC liquidity coupled with greater price discovery." Max Boonen, Founder and CEO of B2C2, said: "We are delighted to partner with major crypto prime dealer SFOX whose next-generation platform allows clients to execute trades seamlessly. Our partnership enables a broader set of market participants to access B2C2's real-time OTC pricing and deep two-way markets. Much like the FX markets which are almost entirely OTC, the digital asset class is increasingly trading off-exchange, resulting in tighter spreads and deeper liquidity." Rob Catalanello, CEO of B2C2 USA, said: "The cryptocurrency markets are fast evolving and investors increasingly expect institutional-grade capabilities. As the first and leading U.S. prime dealer, SFOX has been at the forefront of the cryptocurrency institutional market and we are excited to now offer our services to the thousands of traders and funds on their platform. Our business model is to provide the best possible pricing and a level of customer service normally only seen in traditional financial markets something our clients say sets B2C2 apart. This partnership will further B2C2's expansion in the Americas and cement our position as the number one institutional cryptocurrency liquidity provider." The technological infrastructure supporting the crypto markets has rampant inefficiencies compared to that of the mainstream financial markets. Firms such as B2C2 and SFOX are addressing this problem by partnering to build the technology and tools required to interact with a fast-developing market. Trusted by retail brokerages, exchanges, banks and fund managers to provide 24/7 liquidity, B2C2 offers exposure to large-cap cryptocurrencies2 and gold, with flexible trade size and settlement. The firm's best-in-class technology provides streaming prices and instant execution via REST, WebSocket and FIX APIs, in addition to its web interface and voice trading capabilities. Focused on giving digital asset traders and investors edge, SFOX's prime service is trusted by some of the largest traders, fund managers, investors and family offices. Their suite of products includes smart order routing execution, global crypto liquidity aggregation, real-time orderbook feed, global market data tools, separately managed account solutions, and blockchain infrastructure; all of which are accessible via API and web interface. Ends About B2C2 Founded in 2015, B2C2 is the leading cryptocurrency liquidity provider. Named 2019 Best Institutional Crypto Liquidity Provider by the readers of Profit Loss, B2C2 bridges the gap between traditional financial and cryptocurrency markets. The company is trusted by retail brokerages, exchanges, banks and fund managers to provide 24/7 liquidity. Headquartered in the UK, with offices in London, Jersey City and Tokyo, the firm is privately held. B2C2 OTC Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 810834). For more information, please visit https://www.b2c2.com About SFOX Founded in 2014, SFOX is the first and leading U.S. cryptocurrency prime dealer that provides high-volume traders and institutional investors higher returns through best price execution via a global integrated order book. The platform offers a simple, reliable, and secure way to access best-priced liquidity for digital assets with advanced algorithmic order types, global market data analysis, and blockchain infrastructure support. Headquartered in the U.S., SFOX has become the trusted partner to over 200,000 traders, funds, and businesses in the crypto industry. Learn more at www.sfox.com 1https://aitegroup.com/institutional-crypto-trading-platforms-blockchain-meets-block-trade 2BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC, EOS, BCH, XLM View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005377/en/ Contacts: Teresa Chick Public Relations teresa@b2c2.com John Hyatt Public Relations Johnh@dittopr.co Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Madison Bogisch (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 10:33 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2063ee612 1 Entertainment To-All-The-Boys-Ive-Loved-Before,To-All-the-Boys-PS-I-Still-Love-You,Lana-Condor,Noah-Centineo,Netflix,film,Netflix-original-film,romantic-comedy,#moviereview Free The thought of teen romantic comedies often leaves some people rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, as the movies offer unrealistic scenarios with no real message. However, Michael Fimognaris Netflix exclusive To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is different. As the sequel of the 2018 global hit To All the Boys Ive Loved Before, Fimognari had a tough job on his hands conveying Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peters (Noah Centineo) relationship in a believable and endearing manner. Yet somehow he did it. As a coming-of-age film, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You presents the challenges a teenager faces upon figuring out who he or she is, as well as navigating the complexities of a new relationship. After pretending to be a couple throughout To All the Boys Ive Loved Before, Lara Jean and Peter are now the real deal. While the pair appear to be nothing but crazy for each other, Lara Jean starts to feel as if the grass may be greener somewhere else. This is emphasized when John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher) emerges after receiving one of Lara Jeans old love letters sent out in the franchises first movie. Fishers character appears to be perfect for Lara Jean. Shared interests and the pair volunteering at the same aged care facility leaves her questioning whether Peter truly is the man for her. The audience may be divided on whether they will be Team Peter or Team John, but the end result is one that can be accepted by all regardless of their initial opinion. Read also: 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before': A nod to simpler times The film also sees Lara Jeans regular confidants reappearing, such as Kitty (Anna Cathcart), Margot (Janel Parrish) and Chris (Madeleine Arthur). To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You also introduces an unlikely friend, Stormy (Holland Taylor). While Lara Jeans regular support system proves to serve her well, Stormys character brings an element of flare to the film, offering the girl pearls of wisdom as the elder friend sips from a cocktail. The idea of being in a perfect relationship often clouds the real experience and To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You challenges this idea quite obviously. One of the first scenes of the film has Lara Jean and Peter promising to never break one anothers hearts, something that is often proclaimed not only in young love but also between adults. While the pair do find themselves breaking each others hearts, how they overcome it is what truly makes the movie. The takeaway message of the film is to enjoy being with the people you love, regardless of what happened in the past or what may happen in the future. Fimognari is able to depict real relationships to a teenage audience, creating a striking and realistic movie. Unlike some romantic teen comedies that might leave you cringing, Peter and Lara Jean are a couple who can make the audience hopeful for teenage romance. To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is available exclusively on Netflix on Wednesday. (wng) ---------------------------- Madison Bogisch traveled to Indonesia under a program with ACICIS Study Indonesia. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has indicated that President Nana Akufo led administration has undertaken and continues to undertake many projects that matter to poor people in villages and communities across Ghana. Such projects, he said, are in addition to projects undertaken in urban towns and cities. Dr. Bawumia was speaking at the maiden edition of the 2020 Townhall Meeting held at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. The meeting was held under the theme: Accounting to the people: achievements of Government from 2017 to date. He told the gathering that We have undertaken and are undertaking many projects that matter to the poor in our villages and communities in addition to projects in the urban towns and cities. He added that these include water, toilets, markets, school blocks, health facilities, police stations, etc. According to him, the massive investment in water and sanitation infrastructure for example has resulted in an increase in the number of Open Defecation Free communities from just 410 in 2016 to over 4700 communities by the end of 2019. Daily Guide WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the military may consider disciplining former White House National Security Council aide Alexander Vindman, who testified in Trump's impeachment trial. Vindman, an Army lieutenant colonel who provided some of the most damaging testimony during the House impeachment probe, was ousted from his White House job last week. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the military may consider disciplining former White House National Security Council aide Alexander Vindman, who testified in Trump's impeachment trial. Vindman, an Army lieutenant colonel who provided some of the most damaging testimony during the House impeachment probe, was ousted from his White House job last week. Trump said the military can now deal with Vindman any way they want. (This story Ccorrects headline and first paragraph to say Trump said discipline may be considered, not should be considered) (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Leslie Adler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The shot that killed Det Gda Adrian Donohoe during a credit union robbery seven years ago was fired from six or seven feet, a firearms expert has told the Central Criminal Court. The jury in the trial of Aaron Brady (28), who is accused of the capital murder of the detective, was also shown a shotgun that a garda ballistics specialist said was similar to the firearm used in the fatal shooting. Det Gda Seamus O'Donnell, of the force's ballistics section, said he examined a number of items recovered from the scene of the robbery at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth. These included a green shotgun cartridge found near Det Gda Donohoe's body, which he said was made by a Spanish ammunition manufacturer and was normally used to shoot birds or small animals. Det Gda O'Donnell told the jury he also carried out test shots to determine the range from which the shot that killed the detective was fired. Mr Brady denies the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty at the credit union on January 25, 2013. Wound The accused, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, also denies robbery of around 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. Det Gda O'Donnell said he established that the shot impact pattern of the wound to Det Gda Donohoe's right eye was around 60mm in diameter. He told the court that a gunshot from seven feet gave a shot impact pattern of 64mm, while firing the weapon from six feet gave a shot spread pattern of 52mm. He agreed with prosecuting counsel Brendan Grehan that, based on these tests, Det Gda Donohoe was struck between six and seven feet from the tip of the shotgun muzzle. These tests were carried out with a 12-gauge Beretta semi-automatic shotgun, which he said was similar to the weapon that fired the fatal shot. A 12-gauge Beretta semi-automatic shotgun was then produced in court and made safe by Det Gda O'Donnell before being shown to the jury. The witness agreed with Mr Grehan that the firearm was being used for illustrative purposes and was not the gun used at the credit union. The court previously heard the shotgun used in the killing has not been recovered. Det Gda O'Donnell will continuing giving evidence today. A US television actor who was accused of fabricating a hate crime was indicted on six counts related to the incident on Tuesday, after all charges against him were dropped last year. Former "Empire" star Jussie Smollett was indicted by a grand jury in Cook County, which handles crimes in Chicago, on six counts of disorderly conduct related to the alleged false reporting. The 37-year-old, who had been one of the Fox musical drama's main cast members, was accused of masterminding a hoax attack in Chicago to gain publicity and secure a bigger paycheck. He reported to police in January 2019 that he was attacked in the middle of the night by two masked men while walking near his home in the large midwestern city. But Chicago police eventually said he staged the whole thing. Smollett, who is gay and African American, maintained his innocence in the face of a damning public account from authorities of their case against him. They accused him of sending himself a threatening letter -- complete with homophobic and racial slurs -- and hiring two acquaintances to stage the attack while invoking Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. The curious case got even weirder when Cook County prosecutors eventually dropped the initial 16 felony counts against him last March. The city did, however, send a letter to Smollett's attorneys, asking the actor to pay the $130,000 cost of overtime work related to the police investigation. The episode revived America's long-simmering debate about how just the country's criminal justice system really is, whether the rich get off easy -- and whether prosecutors should have so much discretion. Actor Jussie Smollett leaves Cook County jail after posting bond in February 2019 in Chicago, Illinois Professional services firm, Provincial Development Group, announced today that they have become a Corporate Partner of Kingdom Advisors, providing their membership with another option to help the business aspects of their Wealth Management firms thrive. As a part of the newly formed relationship, Provincial Development will be participating in Kingdom Advisors annual conference in Orlando, Florida, at the renowned Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate, February 19th 21st. The conference is the premier gathering of faith-based companies and advisors that work within the Wealth Management space. Members from across the United States, as well as international attendees, will gather for an outstanding lineup of speakers, including Eric Metaxas, Michael Kitces & Kingdom Advisors Founder Ron Blue. The theme of this years conference is Fearless, which is one of the core aspects that the Provincial Development Group team often reminds their clients to be committed to. As a professional services firm that serves the Wealth Management sector, Provincial Development Group is pleased to build relationships within the community of advisors that have aligned themselves with Kingdom Advisors, and offer the leaders of these firms an opportunity to get clear about the future of the business side of their businesses, grow their firms and create scalability. Blain Wease, president of PDG was grateful for an introduction to Kingdom Advisors Partner Program Director, Stuart Easterly. It was evident that there was a great deal of synergy and value to be found between our two organizations. We are both excited and optimistic about our newly formed relationship with Kingdom Advisors and look forward to the opportunities we have to serve their membership with our unique blend of services and results, stated Provincial Development President, Blain Wease. Kingdom Advisors is delighted to welcome Provincial Development Group as a Corporate Partner and we look forward to a productive relationship, Kingdom Advisors Partner Program Director, Stuart Easterly. http://www.provincialdevelopment.com live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Yes Bank on February 12 said it has received non-binding expressions of interests (EOIs) and is currently in discussion with several prominent investors for capital raising. The private lender also informed exchanges that the third-quarter earnings will be delayed beyond the regulatory timeframe. Given that the current capital raising process has the banks fullest attention, it would like to inform the exchanges that it will publish its unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine-month period ending December 31, 2019, on or before March 14, 2020, Yes Bank said in an exchange filing on February 12. The private lender said that the new investors include J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC, Tilden Park Capital Management LP, OHA (UK) LLP (part of Oak Hill Advisors) and Silver Point Capital. The bank and its financial advisors are currently in discussions with these investors on the commercial terms, including pricing, of their investments which, it may be noted, will be subject to certain conditions and receipt of requisite approvals, including regulatory approvals with respect to the size of the stake to be acquired, as well as necessary dispensations with regard to applicable pricing guidelines, Yes Bank said. As per banking norms, a single investor cannot own more than 10 percent in a private bank. Also, any acquisition of shareholding or voting rights of 5 percent or more would be subject to obtaining prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India. This is the second list of fresh investors that the bank has released since November 2019. The first list included names of Canadian industrialist Erwin Singh Braich, SPGP Holdings, Citax Holdings and Citax Investment Group. MD & CEO Ravneet Gill had said the bank had offers of $3 billion on the table. Last month, the banks board rejected Braichs $1.2 billion offer and had decided to consider the offer of $500 million from Citax Holdings and Citax Investment Group. While we shall keep the exchanges apprised of progress with respect to capital raising, in the meantime, we request you to kindly take note of our decision to announce our quarterly financial results for Q3 FY 2019-20 on or before March 14, 2020, Yes Bank said. As per regulatory norm, a company must declare results within 45 days of a quarter end. On February 7, the bank received shareholders' approval to increase authorised share capital of the bank to Rs 1,100 crore from Rs 800 crore and to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore via issuance of equity shares or other convertible securities. As per media reports, Yes Bank has appointed global investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, Ambit Capital and IDFC Securities to help with its fundraising plans. Cantor Fitzgerald is led by Gills former colleague and mentor Anshu Jain. The capital-starved lender is running out of time to shore up it capital adequacy levels to stay above regulatory requirement and provide for bad loans as it continues to report higher slippages quarter after quarter. Last month, the bank issued a statement to allay fears of falling capital adequacy. "The bank's overall Capital Adequacy Ratio is comfortably above regulatory requirements and all efforts are being made to financially strengthen the bank even further. Kindly, therefore, pay no heed to these unfounded reports," the lender said in a statement. The banks capital adequacy ratio stood at 16.3 percent with Tier-1 ratio at 11.5 percent as of September 30. In the previous quarter it had slipped to 15.7 percent and 8 percent respectively, following which Yes Bank raised Rs 1,930 crore via qualified institutional placement (QIP) in August. Yes Banks bad loans have risen sharply over the past year. In the July-September quarter, its gross non-performing assets (NPA) ratio was at 7.39 percent, as compared to 5.01 percent in the previous quarter. The latest report card on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing has been lashed by indigenous MPs as 'dismal' after it revealed poor results in health and jobs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will on Wednesday release the latest Closing the Gap report, declaring things are 'better than they were ... but we have not made as much progress as we should have by now'. 'There remains much more to do and we will do it differently by working together,' he is expected to say. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised by Indigenous MPs after he said the reporting methods of the Closing the Gap report didn't reflect the positives of Indigenous Australians 'By going from good intentions and sky-high aspirations, to local, practical action that's driven by local leaders and local needs with clear accountability and responsibility and a clear line of sight to the community.' The report reveals indigenous health and employment continues to be a concern. In 2018, the indigenous child mortality rate was 141 per 100,000 - twice the rate for non-indigenous children. which is 67 per 100,000. Life expectancy is 71.6 years for indigenous males (8.6 years less than non-indigenous males) and 75.6 years for indigenous females (7.8 years less than non-indigenous females). In 2018, the indigenous employment rate was 49 per cent compared to 75 per cent for non-indigenous Australians. The annual report was initiated by former prime minister Kevin Rudd following the formal apology to the stolen generations. Indigenous NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the lack of progress was a direct result of poor government policy such as the cashless welfare card Mr Morrison believes the reporting method has many shortcomings, masked 'real progress' and failed to build lasting partnerships with indigenous communities. 'The targets don't celebrate the strengths, achievements and aspirations of indigenous people,' he will say. But indigenous NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy said that was passing the buck, and the lack of progress was a direct result of poor government policy. 'When we look at policies like the cashless debit card, which entrenches First Nations people in poverty, of course we're not going to see the outcomes that we want to see in health, in education, in housing, in life expectancy,' she told AAP. 'You need to do more than say that it's someone else's problem, prime minister.' Indigenous MP Linda Burney slammed lack of improvement in the infant mortality rate for Aboriginal children and said the people that suffered were 'people not statistics' Linda Burney, another indigenous MP, said the situation was dismal. 'The people who suffer are not statistics, they are real people,' she said. 'I think most people would find it completely unacceptable if the infant mortality rate for Aboriginal children was the infant mortality rate across the board.' Only two of the targets are rated as 'on track'. The goal of 95 per cent of all indigenous four-year-olds being enrolled in early childhood education by 2025 is close to being reached with a 86.4 per cent enrolment rate in 2018, compared with 91.3 per cent of non-indigenous children. As well, halving the gap in terms of Year 12 attainment is on track. In 2018/19, 66 per cent of indigenous Australians aged 20-24 years had attained Year 12 or equivalent. Over the decade the proportion of indigenous Australians aged 20-24 years attaining Year 12 or equivalent increased by 21 percentage points. President Donald Trumps post-impeachment acquittal behavior is casting a chill in Washington, with Attorney General William Barr emerging as a key ally in the presidents quest for vengeance against the law enforcement and national security establishment that initiated the Russia and Ukraine investigations. In perhaps the most tumultuous day yet for the Justice Department under Trump, four top prosecutors withdrew on Tuesday from a case involving the presidents longtime friend Roger Stone after senior department officials overrode their sentencing recommendationa backpedaling that DOJ veterans and legal experts suspect was influenced by Trumps own displeasure with the prosecutors judgment. With Bill Barr, on an amazing number of occasions you can be almost 100 percent certain that theres something improper going on, said Donald Ayer, the former deputy attorney general in the George H.W. Bush administration. The president has only inflamed such suspicions, congratulating Barr on Wednesday for intervening in Stones case and teeing off hours later on the prosecutors, calling them Mueller people who treated Stone very badly. The president said he had not spoken with Barr about the matter, but Ayer called the attorney generals apparent intervention really shocking, because Barr has now entered into the area of criminal sanction, which is the one area probably more than any other where its most important that the Justice Departments conduct be above reproach and beyond suspicion. To many of Trumps critics, the episode was the most alarming in a series of Trumps post-acquittal reprisals: Last week, he dismissed two officials who were key witnesses in his impeachment Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and U.S. Ambassador to the E.U. Gordon Sondlandand a third, NSC ethics lawyer Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, whose main indiscretion seemed to be his last name. The Vindmans, who are twin brothers, have returned to the Army. Story continues Barrs evident intervention in matters of personal interest to the president, particularly as they relate to former campaign advisers once at the center of Muellers Russia probe, has now put the reputation of an entire institution at risk, DOJ veterans said. It sent an alarming signal to hundreds of line attorneys inside the department, who may now fear that any work touching on the presidents allies will be subject to political interference, they said. And it could undo decades of post-Watergate work to separate the president from the justice system, in ways that could damage DOJs credibility with federal judges and with the public as a whole. I do have concerns regarding the independence of that office on certain matters, and to some extent, the offices credibility, particularly with judges, said Channing Phillips, who served as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia from October 2015 to September 2017. The presidents campaign of retribution apparently doesnt stop there: He also pulled former U.S. Attorney Jessie Lius nomination to serve in a senior Treasury Department post, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed during a hearing on Wednesday. As the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Liu oversaw the prosecutions of Stone, Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, while the offices case against former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabewho Trump has repeatedly lambastedhas languished without an indictment. Mnuchin would not tell the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday why Lius nomination was withdrawn. Liu, who at one point was considered for the No. 3 job at the Justice Department, would likely have faced tough questions from lawmakers about the presidents conduct during her public confirmation hearing that was scheduled for Thursday. The Justice Department declined to comment on the record on Wednesday. But DOJ veterans and other legal experts who spoke to POLITICO unanimously agreed that Tuesdays act of protest by the career prosecutors on the Stone case was unprecedented. I've never seen anything this dramatic, said Mary McCord, the former acting assistant attorney general for national security, who accused Barr and his deputy Jeffrey Rosen of being willing to do the presidents bidding for political purposes in individual cases. The four attorneys who withdrew from the Stone case should be seen as heroes in some respects, said Phillips. It was obviously a courageous action on their part. Its a pretty dramatic thing to do, said Edward MacMahon, Jr., a veteran D.C. defense attorney who has dealt with the D.C. U.S. attorneys office for decades. Ive never seen anything quite like this. Trump criticized the prosecutors in harsh terms in his off-the-cuff remarks on Wednesday, contrasting the high end of their recommended sentence for Stone to those doled out to murderers and drug addicts. They put him in for nine years, Trump said. Its a disgrace. That argument angered even some Republicans, who said it amounted to a demand for favorable treatment for the president's allies. There are literally tens of thousands of people in prison under such very harsh sentences, said Charles Fried, the former solicitor general under President Ronald Reagan. The question is: Do you get to be treated differently from this vast army of harshly punished persons because you are in fact a crony of the president? Well, I think the question answers itself. Nor is Stone the first Trump ally to benefit from his attempts to influence the justice system, others noted. Eddie Gallagher, a retired Navy SEAL who had been demoted and charged with war crimes, was freed from pretrial detention and had his rank restored by Trump after being convicted of posing for a picture with a dead ISIS fighter. Richard Spencer, the Navy secretary at the time, asked Trump not to intervene further and was fired; Special Warfare Rear Adm. Collin Green, a Navy admiral who clashed with Trump over the Gallagher case, will reportedly resign his post early. Trump declared on Tuesday that he had an absolute right to intervene in the Stone case, though he denied doing so. And his allies cautioned that the post-Watergate model of clear boundaries between the president and the Justice Department is just an accepted norm, not a legal imperative. John Dowd, a former DOJ attorney who was Trumps personal lawyer for a portion of the Mueller probe, said that this idea that DOJ is independent of the president is nonsense. Dowd said it appeared to him that the prosecutors, the same crowd wedded to the Mueller agenda, had been grossly insubordinate in recommending a steep sentence for Stone despite senior DOJ officials reported objections, and that Barr was doing the right thing by cleaning up the D.C. U.S. attorneys office. Trump wasnt out of line, Dowd added. He is the chief law enforcement officer. He has the right to react, and [the sentencing recommendation] was horrible. Mark Corallo, a former Bush DOJ official who also served briefly as the spokesman for Trumps legal team, said he thought Barr had finally done the right thing. The idea that career prosecutors would ask for a 9-year sentence against Roger Stone on a process crime is the very definition of cruel and unusual punishment, he said. MacMahon, the defense attorney, noted that while he believes the sentencing guidelines are out of whack, and that the 7-9 year sentence prosecutors recommended for Stone was heavy and unrealistic, Trumps comments were still inappropriate. Should the president be intervening publicly in a criminal case? he said. I dont think so. Barr works for the president. Thats a matter of fact, he added. But that doesnt mean DOJs decisions have to be politicaltheyre supposed to be in furtherance of the rule of law. Not even members of the conservative Federalist Society, whose co-chairman Leonard Leo has helped Trump stock the nations courts with conservative judges, seemed completely comfortable with the presidents conduct. Im not super bothered in that it isnt uncommon for senior members of DOJ to interfere with individual prosecutions done by U.S. attorneys, said one member of the Federalist Society who clerked for a conservative Supreme Court justice. But from an optics perspective, sure, it is concerning, this person acknowledged, adding that it looks like Trump is getting involved in his friends cases. The fact that Stones crime was related to election interference, which is what Trump was impeached over, only makes it look worse, this person said. Another Federalist Society member and former Trump administration official acknowledged that the prosecutors withdrawal had damaged the image of the Justice Department, but characterized the furor over the Stone case as the result of a horrible lack of communication between DOJ leadership and the prosecutors on the case. But DOJ veterans disputed that. Under department policy, the sentencing recommendation would have been reached after consultation all the way up through the attorney general, McCord said. Former FBI general counsel Jim Baker echoed that assessment, noting that the ethos of DOJ is to operate by consensus. The prosecutors withdrawing from the case is a sign that that didnt happen, Baker said, and is a very strong statement that something seriously wrong was afoot. Ultimately, Stones fate will be left to Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who Trump has attacked with unfounded accusations of political bias. Jackson denied Stones motion for a new trial last week and Stone is set to be sentenced on February 20. Baker said he expects Jackson to put the lawyers on the record about the sentencing confusion, to find out why DOJ so dramatically changed its legal position and all of the lawyers resigned from the case, he said. The revised memo the DOJ put out on Tuesday was signed by Timothy Shea, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, and John Crabb, Jr., the acting chief for that offices criminal division. Stones allies, meanwhile, are still hoping for a presidential pardon. This entire investigation was a political hit job, and we believe the MAGA movement agrees: The president should pardon Roger Stone, said Michael Caputo, a former Trump campaign adviser who founded a committee on Wednesday aimed at encouraging a pardon for Stone. Trump has not ruled it out. But a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed hope that the president opts against it. Its not necessary. Because the guy committed serious crimes, the official said, referring to Stone. Donald Trump is impressed when people do a good job for him and dont make themselves the story. Oh, and dont break the law. Quint Forgey contributed. H undreds of police are needed to tackle a 14 per cent rise in domestic violence offences, Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey said today. He claimed that he could fund 500 extra officers in safeguarding units by cutting waste at City Hall. There were 89,103 domestic abuse offences 244 a day in 2019, compared with 78,124 two years ago, according to new Met Police figures. A study by the charity Womens Aid said women in the capital experience higher rates of repeated victimisation and are much more likely to be seriously hurt. However, domestic homicides nearly halved from 27 in 2018 to 15 last year. Mr Bailey, who will challenge Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan in May, said: Too many people in London are falling victim to these offences with women and girls bearing the brunt of these disgusting crimes. We need an urgent solution to this rising evil which is why I will immediately invest additional resources into growing safeguarding units across London. By having specialist officers on the ground... more crimes will be resolved, preventive work can be undertaken, and more victims can be encouraged to come forward. Pressure will be taken off existing personnel, creating a more dynamic force for good across London. Making London safe is an absolute priority of mine. Mr Bailey hopes the proposed extra officers will increase the effectiveness of safeguarding units and improve the willingness of victims to come forward. He claims 15.4 million saved at a bloated City Hall could be spent on detectives. With longtime La Porte ISD Superintendent Lloyd Graham retiring, district trustees are looking to fill his spot by April. A tentative date for a new top executive to start is July 1. As part of his resignation agreement, Graham, who announced in November that he would be leaving, will stay on for a while after his replacement is found to ensure a smooth transition. School board president Kathy Green said trustees are working with a search team to fill the spot, either internally or from outside the district. However, the board is getting some additional help. This go-around, the process has included focus groups made up of community members, teachers, parents, students and administrators who met to discuss and make recommendations to the search team firm of Thompson & Horton LLP about what they want and dont want in a new superintendent. Green said she was encouraged by the energy the focus groups brought to their role. People were engaged and wanted to participate, she said. Their job was to tell us what we can do better. According to Green, focus group members hope the district hires a superintendent who will improve discipline, be more visible in the schools and is committed to continuing to increase the rigor of La Porte ISDs curriculum for its nearly 7,200 students. As for her own wish list, Green said integrity and honesty are her top priorities. The superintendent we have now is very ethical, she said of Graham, who has been superintendent for 12 years and earns a base annual salary of $270,300. That is very important to me. Integrity and honesty are as important as anything else. Green added that she wants the next superintendent to be able to identify talent when hiring for staff positions and who understands and appreciates the districts diversity. She said this diversity has long been a characteristic of La Porte ISD and something to take pride in. She added, because of the citys geography, whomever is hired should understand how a natural disaster like a hurricane would impact the districts children and their families. We need someone who knows the Gulf Coast and someone who is focused on safety, Green said. Adam Holland, the districts interim communications director, agreed. The next superintendent, he said, has to understand the nature of these storms and what happens in the aftermath. Green praised Grahams understanding how poverty can affect a students academic performance. She said his successor must understand that as well, particularly because all of La Portes campuses are designated as Title I, which means they receive federal funds because of their large numbers of low-income students. (Graham) believes that poverty affects education more than anything else, and everything he brings to the table is to make sure those kids are covered educationally, Green said. Graham came to La Porte ISD after serving as superintendent in the Greenville school district about 45 miles northeast of Dallas. With that in mind, Green said that, ultimately, she is looking for a stakeholder when choosing the next superintendent. This is not political, she said. I need the best person here to take care of our school district. UPS has entered multi-year agreements with Kinetrex Energy and TruStar Energy who will supply up to 80,000,000-gallon equivalents (GE) of renewable natural gas (RNG). ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Kinetrex will supply UPS with up to 52,500,000 GEs of RNG to be used in tractor trailers throughout the Midwest. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> The RNG will fuel LNG-powered trucks in Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, St Louis and Toledo. TruStar will supply up to 27,500,000 GEs of RNG in California, powering CNG trucks in Visalia and Moreno Valley. Mike Whitlatch, vice president of global energy and procurement, UPS, said, the RNG is part of UPSs strategy to increase alternative fuel consumption to 40% by 2025. We are using both liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) as bridging fuels to increase our use of RNG. This will have a measurable impact as RNG yields up to a 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when compared with conventional diesel. Using RNG is what will ultimately help UPS meet its 2025 sustainability goals, he said. My fellow Americans, we face a national emergency. Never before have we had a president so utterly lacking in personal integrity, so able to lie and abuse his powers with such impunity and so blindly backed by an amoral party, an unscrupulous attorney general and a media-fund-raising juggernaut. It is an engine of raw power that will cram anything the president says or does right down your throat. James Carville had it exactly right when he noted on Morning Joe the other day that the only thing standing in the way of lasting damage by this machine to all that makes America unique and great is the Democrats nominating the right person to defeat Donald Trump. We have to get this right. This is no ordinary time, no ordinary Republican Party, no ordinary incumbent, and it will require an extraordinary Democratic machine to triumph. Because, without doubt, Russia and China also will be voting Trump 2020 for three reasons: (1) Trump keeps America in turmoil and unable to focus on building the infrastructure we need to dominate the 21st century the way we did the 20th. (2) Both Beijing and Moscow know that Trump is so disliked by Americas key allies that he can never galvanize a global coalition against China or Russia. And (3) both Russia and China know that Trump is utterly transactional and will never challenge them on human rights abuses. Trump is their chump, and they will not let him go easily. J oe Biden has been mocked for forgetting which state he just spent the day in after he mixed its name up with another. The former Vice President confused New Hampshire with Nevada during a speech on the night of the states first-in-the-nation primary, telling supporters in South Carolina: Its important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken. It is not the first time the 77-year-old has made an embarrassing blunder in public, nor the first time he has mixed up state names. In November, he confused Iowa for Ohio in response to a question about infrastructure, saying: How many unsafe bridges do you still have here in the state of Ohio? I mean Iowa. Joe Biden / AP Trying to glide over the gaffe he explained: I was just in Ohio. Because they have more." Twitter users have ridiculed the presidential hopeful for his latest slip-up, with one user commenting: Joe Biden confuses Nevada with New Hampshire & theyve only been to two states so far. Republican campaigner Steve Guest added: Joe Biden confuses states AGAIN. This is a pattern. It came as Mr Biden's performance in the US presidential primaries continued its shaky start. Long considered the Democratic frontrunner, the former VP left New Hampshire as votes were still being counted, with polls suggesting he was set for a disappointing ranking. He made the surprise decision to head straight down to South Carolina before his weak performance was confirmed, with results later placing him behind Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders in a modest fifth place. Bernie Sanders narrowly wins New Hampshire primary He previously ranked fourth in the Iowa caucuses, although major technical issues have sparked calls for a recount. But Mr Biden struck a note of defiance as he addressed supporters in the southern coastal state on Tuesday evening, insisting: We just heard from the first two of the 50 states. Two of them, Mr Biden continued. Not all of the nation, not half the nation. Sweeping victories usually offer little scope for detailed interpretation as all data tends to point in the same direction. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)s performance in this state election was remarkable for many reasons. First, AAP maintained an extremely high vote share as an incumbent, which is rare. Forty of its 43 re-running MLAs won their race, which is even rarer as voters tend to reject usually half of those they elected in the previous election. The performance is also all the more remarkable when one compares it to its poor showing in the last general election. Barely eight months ago, the AAP scored less than 20% vote share, stood behind Congress and failed to win a single Delhi assembly segment. It now won 62 of those segments with a 35% vote share gain, which, once again, is highly unusual. It has now become a given that voters behave differently in general and state elections, but we havent been used to seeing these kinds of gaps before. Performance indicators show that this was by no means a closely contested election. Only 13 candidates won with a victory margin smaller than 5% and only four with a margin below 2%. The AAPs average winning margin is 17.5% against 8.2% for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The AAPs vote share was markedly higher in reserved seats, at 58.4%, against 52.8% in general seats, with an average winning margin of 23%. In 2015, the AAP swept reserved seats with 60% of vote share. While we do not have information yet on how the AAP performed with first-time voters, it is safe to assume that it has maintained its previous electoral base while performing well among new voters as well. As such, the AAP does more than replacing the old dominant Congress in Delhi. Its vote base is wider and its appeal cuts across more sections than the Congresss ever did. The BJP, on the other hand, got its second worst seat share in Delhi with its second-best vote share. In 1993, when it came to power last in Delhi, BJP scored 42% of vote share and slid gradually from the mid-30s to the low 30s. They may take comfort in the six-point bump in Delhi, but it remains that eight months ago, they swept 65 assembly segments in the general election with 56.5% of the votes. Besides holding its bastion in Rohini, BJPs performance is concentrated in Delhi North-East, a part of the city with a large migrant population from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. As far as the Congress is concerned, one is reluctant to shoot at an ambulance after it hit a tree. The party that ruled Delhi for 15 years between 1998 and 2013 failed to reach second position in any seat. Sixty-three of its 66 candidates even lost their deposits. The list of factors that explain the decimation is almost too long: weak local leadership, unpopular national leadership, half-hearted campaign, failure to recruit party workers, among other things. It takes comfort in saying that it campaigned against the BJP and the Prime Minister but in the process, it forgot to campaign for Delhi. But it is not just data that makes the AAPs victory unusual. When it burst on to the political scene in 2013, the AAP represented a strong alternative political force that bore the promise of transforming the way the business of politics is conducted in India. The party started its career as the United Progressive Alliances bete noire and persisted in that role, leading a vigorous frontal charge against the BJP. After a series of backlashes, notably a resounding defeat in the 2017 Delhi municipal elections the AAP toned down its confrontational posture to concentrate on its work in Delhi. In the process, the AAP completed its mutation from a political movement into a conventional political party. It shed some of its adopted self-righteousness and put aside its quest for national political purification for a humbler and more technocratic attitude focused on local governance and delivery. This transition also led the partys leadership to push aside internal dissenters, to concentrate powers further in the hands of the Chief Minister, at the cost of internal party democracy. In terms of organisation, the AAP has gradually become a conventional political party, personalised, autocratic and pragmatist. This, once again, makes the AAPs victory remarkable and significant, as it succeeded in reinventing itself as a party without losing political ground or appeal. In 2015, the AAP came to power through a wave carried by many voters who wanted to support a party that did not abide by the usual rules of the electoral game, and was committed to transparency. While the AAP stepped back on many of these promises and aspirations, it offers something else that many Delhi voters find appealing, in the form of a no-nonsense technocratic approach to governance and public goods delivery. While successful in Delhi, this model places the party in a conundrum, should it wish to export it to other states. The depoliticised technocratic approach adopted by the AAP may work in Delhi, a relatively affluent state, where questions of social identities are not too deeply entangled with peoples economic prospects. But in states where who you are has a greater bearing on what you get, the AAPs reluctance to take strong positions on deeper political questions might come as a disadvantage. Besides, the AAP does not have the organisational capacity for expansion at the moment. Its local branches across the country remain largely composed of young volunteers and sympathisers who still look towards the AAP as the party it used to be five years ago. Perhaps other parties in power across the country will take their cue from the AAP and find inspiration from its success. But at the moment, the AAPs victory does little to alter fundamental national political equations, in which the BJP remains unrivalled and unchallenged. Gilles Verniers is Assistant Professor of Political Science, Ashoka University Joe Biden is hoping a blitz of TV appearances will help him bounce back from disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden campaign officials told donors in a call Wednesday they plan to have the former vice president appear on more TV news and talk shows, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the briefing was deemed private. The call came a day after Biden failed to capture a single delegate in the New Hampshire primary. Biden, who had been considered the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination for much of the cycle, is looking to bounce back with stronger showings in the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29. Biden himself spoke on the call with donors and expressed confidence he would do better in Nevada and South Carolina, the people added. The former vice president landed in fourth place in the Iowa caucuses, while he came in fifth in New Hampshire. A spokesman for Biden declined to comment. One of the donors on Wednesday's call noted that they had seen deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield on CNN and MSNBC earlier in the day and asked whether Biden himself would be going on TV more often. The donor remarked on the call that Bedingfield did well on TV and noticed Biden was recently getting on air more frequently, one of the people familiar with the call said. This source noted that the donor was hoping to see that trend continue. An advisor chimed in to say Biden has been getting on TV and that donors will be seeing him even more on air in the weeks ahead, these people added. The former vice president and his wife, Jill, are scheduled appear on ABC's "The View" on Thursday. Biden's attempt to reassure donors comes as some of his loyal bundlers are becoming increasingly concerned that the campaign won't survive another loss like New Hampshire. Biden has two big-money fundraising events scheduled for Thursday in New York. Despite his recent struggles, the gatherings are expected to be at capacity, according to a person familiar with the matter. The campaign needs the money. Coming into 2020, Biden had only $8.9 million on hand and was behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the money race. Since he entered the campaign in April, Biden kept his TV appearances to a minimum. Yet he showed up on more cable news shows as the New Hampshire vote approached and unfolded. The TV blitz shows that the Biden campaign is determined to keep the former vice president on voters' minds as he gears up for South Carolina. The primary in the Palmetto State is a must-win for him prior to Super Tuesday, March 3, when more than a dozen states head to the polls. This is at least the second briefing during the past two weeks during which the Biden campaign told donors that it expects major success in Nevada and South Carolina. Biden's donors were briefed last week after the Iowa caucuses. Biden, vice president under President Barack Obama, has been a consistent favorite to win the Democratic primary in South Carolina, which has a large base of African American voters. Yet billionaire candidate Tom Steyer is looking to pull an upset as his campaign aggressively canvases there. The VA Maryland Health Care System has announced that Johnny Delgado has been selected as the new Chief of Police Service for the health care system. His extensive experience as a leader in law enforcement with the Baltimore City Police Department, combined with his military service, gives him an edge in maintaining the safety and well-being for our veteran patients, employees, volunteers and visitors. The VA Maryland Health Care System has announced that Johnny Delgado has been selected as the new Chief of Police Service for the health care system. An Army veteran with more than 25 years of experience with the Baltimore City Police Department, Delgado will oversee the safety and security operations for the entire health care system, which includes three inpatient facilities and five community-based outpatient clinics located throughout Maryland. We are pleased to have Mr. Delgado join our team as the new Chief of Police, said Dr. Adam M. Robinson, Jr., director of the VA Maryland Health Care System. His extensive experience as a leader in law enforcement with the Baltimore City Police Department, combined with his military service, gives him an edge in maintaining the safety and well-being for our veteran patients, employees, volunteers and visitors. Delgado had a long and distinguished career with the Baltimore City Police Department and served as the Northwest District Commander prior to his retirement. After retiring, he joined the executive staff of the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Lochearn, Md, as the director of facilities and public safety. As the Chief of Police Service for the VA Maryland Health Care System, Delgado will lead approximately 70 staff members, including police officers, security assistants, dispatchers, program support clerks, investigators, physical security specialist, and personnel security specialists. He will also be responsible for all police and security operations at the Baltimore, Loch Raven and Perry Point VA Medical Centers, in addition to the Cambridge, Eastern Baltimore County, Fort Meade, Glen Burnie and Pocomoke City VA Outpatient Clinics. Im eager to begin this new stage of my career by contributing to the safety and wellbeing my fellow veterans, said Delgado. Delgado attended Penn State University and Northwestern University School of Professional Studies. He lives in Baltimore County. # # # The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at three medical centers and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from VAMHCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans health care, research and education. It costs nothing for veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a veteran can do. To enroll for VA health care, interested veterans can call 877-222-8387 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or they can visit http://www.va.gov and clinic on Apply now for VA health care. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 Trend: Head of the Press Service Department of the MFA of the Republic of Azerbaijan Leyla Abdullayeva responded to question of the media on the statement of the Armenian MFA on the European Court of Human Rights ruling on Saribekyan and Balyan v. Azerbaijan case, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. "The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on Saribekyan and Balyan v. Azerbaijan case of 30 January 2020 is not a final decision and the Azerbaijani side has the right to bring the case to the Grand Chamber within 3 months. Currently, this issue is being examined by our side," Leyla Abdullayeva said. "Let me stress that the decision was not taken unanimously and the Azerbaijani judge Latif Huseynov presented special opinion in this regard," Abdullayeva added. "I would like to remind that the Armenian citizen Manvel Saribekyan was detained on September 11, 2010, with espionage equipment, while a group of Armenian saboteurs were prevented on the north-west direction of the line of contact of the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan. On October 5, he committed suicide, and a criminal case was launched at the Baku Military Prosecutor's Office," the head the MFA Press Service said. "The Armenian policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis living in the territory of present-day Armenia was further aggravated in the late 1980s and forced expulsion reached its culmination by violent deportation of Azerbaijanis from the Gafan region in 1988-89. By military occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding 7 districts of Azerbaijan, Armenia perpetrated ethnic cleansing against the Azerbaijanis residing in these territories and hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis became internally displaced persons. The cruelty of the armed forces of Armenia targeting civilian population during the aggression and the brutal killing of 613 Azerbaijani civilians only in one night on February 26, 1992 in Khojaly town is firmly condemned by the international community and recognized as genocide," Leyla Abdullayeva said. "As a result of the Armenian aggression, 3889 Azerbaijanis went missing and hundreds of people held in Armenian captivity died as a result of severe torture," she added. "We remind the Armenian MFA that exactly the ECHR ruling of Chiragov and others v. Armenia of 16 June 2015 affirmed the responsibility of Armenia for aggression against Azerbaijan and it was confirmed that the illegal regime in our occupied territories survives by virtue of the military, political, financial and other support given to it by Armenia," Abdullayeva said. "The statement of the MFA of Armenia is completely contradictory with the joint statements calling for the preparation of populations of both countries for peace, adopted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia as well, and it reveals the true intentions of the leadership of Armenia," the head the MFA Press Service concluded. Facebook (www.Facebook.co.za) is partnering with nine non-profit organisations and government agencies throughout sub-Saharan Africa to raise awareness about Internet safety and security for Safer Internet Day, celebrated on the 11th February 2020 with the theme Together for a better Internet. The partners Facebook is working with this year include: Digify Africa (www.DigifyAfrica.com), South Africa Phambano Technology Development Centre NPC (www.Phambano.org.za), South Africa Diana Schwarz Attorneys (www.DianaSchwarzAttorneys.co.za), South Africa Watoto Watch Network (https://WatotoWatchNetwork.org), Kenya Paradigm Initiative (https://paradigmhq.org), Nigeria Child Online Africa (https://ChildOnlineAfrica.org), Ghana Youth First Madagascar (www.YouthFirstMadagascar.org), Madagascar Computing and Information Association (https://envaya.org/ciatz), Tanzania Asikana Network (https://AsikanaNetwork.org), Zambia Were committed to ensuring Facebook and Instagram are places for everyone, especially the youth, says Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy: Strategic Media Partnerships Manager for Facebook in sub-Saharan Africa. Thats why we offer a range of tools on our platforms to give people full control over their experience, and work with our partners to drive awareness about the practices, resources and tools people can use to protect their online wellbeing. Young people can benefit from the following Facebook and Instagram safety tools and resources: New tools on Instagram that filter comments that may be inappropriate, offensive or bullying including keyword filtering, sensitivity screens, offensive comment and bullying filters. On Instagram weve created new ways to help stop bullying before it happens. If someone writes a comment or caption for a feed post that our AI detects as potentially offensive, they will receive a prompt that the language used is similar to language that has been reported for bullying. They will then have an opportunity to edit the caption or comment before posting. The Instagram Safety Centre (instagram-together.com) is a place where you can learn more about the safety features on Instagram. The Youth Portal, which is a central place for teens to get a better understanding of Facebooks products, hear from other peers, and get tips and advice on controlling their experience. This is part of the safety centre (https://bit.ly/2w5WoGp), a resource for topics like suicide prevention, social resolution and bullying prevention. Use of artificial intelligence (https://bit.ly/38lGS7u), to help identify when someone might be expressing thoughts of suicide, including on Facebook Live and Instagram Live. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires KYODO NEWS - Feb 12, 2020 - 09:09 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that Japan will bar foreign travelers from China's Zhejiang Province effective Thursday, in an additional measure to contain the global coronavirus outbreak. Entry will also be denied to holders of Chinese passports issued in the eastern Chinese province. Japan has already taken a similar step targeting visitors from Hubei Province whose provincial capital is Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Related coverage: Raging coronavirus from China named COVID-19 by WHO G-20 to focus on impact of coronavirus on global economy Japan torn over whether to test all on cruise ship for coronavirus Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 04:55:27|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Egypt condemned on Wednesday a recent terrorist attack that targeted an Algerian army barracks near its border with Mali and left one soldier dead. In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry expressed Cairo's solidarity with the Algerian people and government, extending condolences to the family of the deceased soldier. The ministry also highlighted Egypt's rejection of terrorism and extremism of all forms. On Feb. 9, a bomb-laden car raced to a military barracks in the Algerian town of Timiaouine before exploding at the entrance, killing a soldier. In 2019, the Algerian army killed 15 terrorists and arrested 25 others, while 44 surrendered to authorities. The North African nation deployed tens of thousands of troops along the border with Mali and Libya to thwart intrusion of terrorists and arms. Tropical Cyclone Uesi is forecast to bring large, powerful three-metre swells from Thursday lasting about 13 seconds as it rushes towards Queensland's southern coast and northern New South Wales. The Bureau of Meteorology said the tropical cyclone would possibly come as close as 600 kilometres to the coast. This would be a similar distance to last year's Cyclone Oma, which crept towards the coastline before turning north-east. Swells forming from Fraser Island to northern New South Wales are expected to be large and powerful. Credit:Photo: Brook Mitchell Meteorologist Kimba Wong said she expected at least one more day of heavy rainfall in south-east Queensland before the swells make an impact. She said the highest rainfall total in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday was in the town of Jandowae, near Dalby, with more than 100 millimetres and reports of flash flooding. WASHINGTON - With a new continental trade deal all but done, it might be tempting to think that cross-border business anxiety will soon be a thing of the past, at least for a while. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An American flag on a nearby resident's home waves in the breeze near a U.S. Border Patrol truck blocking the road northwest of Nogales, Ariz. on Dec. 15, 2010. With a new continental trade deal all but done, it might be tempting for the average Canadian to think that cross-border business anxiety will soon be a thing of the past, at least for a while. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star WASHINGTON - With a new continental trade deal all but done, it might be tempting to think that cross-border business anxiety will soon be a thing of the past, at least for a while. But as the NAFTA era gives way to the age of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, experts say it's time to focus once again on Buy American, an age-old protectionist tool that some fear could be on the verge of a new dawn regardless of whether Donald Trump or a progressive Democrat is in the White House next year. The president's signature on a new USMCA implementation bill was barely a week old when reports began to surface of a draft executive order that would pull the U.S. out of a procurement agreement under the World Trade Organization that provides signatories, including Canada, preferential access to U.S. government contracts worth more than $800 billion a year. The White House has been silent on the subject, and the office of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer did not respond to queries Monday. But the reports clearly caught the eye of the federal government in Ottawa, where the House of Commons is moving toward ratifying a NAFTA replacement that lacks the procurement provisions of its predecessor. "We did talk about it," Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said last week in Washington after meetings with U.S. lawmakers and government officials, including Lighthizer. But she refused to elaborate, citing her long-standing pact with the American trade ambassador to "keep our private discussions private." The radio silence has made it hard to gauge how real the threat is, but experts acknowledge that Canada needs to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. "We're talking about Donald Trump," said Patrick Leblond, a public policy professor and trade specialist at the University of Ottawa and a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Ont. "Anything's possible." There are exemptions where Canada would continue to enjoy preferential access even outside of the agreement, in particular in the area of defence, where the shared interest in defending North America's borders has long compelled the two countries to treat each other as one. But even if a withdrawal doesn't come to pass, it drives home the point especially with USMCA just months away from becoming the law of the land that Canada and the U.S. still have dramatically different approaches to trade policy, Leblond said. "It goes against the idea of free trade. We're just reimposing protectionist measures, which ultimately is bad for business on both sides," he said. "You have ultimately a protectionist administration that doesn't look at trade agreements in terms of 'OK, let's free-trade, let's make it easier to do business across borders.' What you have is an administration that negotiates bilaterally and limits the amount of preferential access in order to see what it can get for the United States." It's part of the reason why Freeland was in Washington last week in a high-powered trade delegation that included the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, all of them seeking to champion the USMCA, decry Buy American sentiment and sell their congressional and gubernatorial counterparts on the merits of cross-border business opportunities. It's all a bit reminiscent of the early days of Barack Obama's presidency, when the effort to dig out from under the financial crisis of 2008 resurrected a protectionist mood and U.S. lawmakers worked to ensure that companies and workers in their regions were the primary beneficiaries of the president's big-ticket economic stimulus package. That put Canadian businesses on high alert and triggered a diplomatic effort to ensure Canadian interests were represented at the table, said Scotty Greenwood, chief executive of the Washington-based Canadian American Business Council. "It made a lot of sense for all of the reasons that we talk about all the time: proximity, the relationship, the efficiency of the supply chain and the integration of the markets all of those things," said Greenwood, a former U.S. diplomat in Ottawa. "But it requires constant minding to remind policymakers that it's much more efficient and it makes a lot of sense to approach some of the big challenges together than it does to put up these artificial fences around what's an otherwise very integrated economic space." It's also a reminder that protectionism can be a bipartisan sentiment, said Leblond and that a change of administration won't necessarily mean greener pastures for free-trade champions north of the border. "If you look at someone like Bernie Sanders and his views on international trade, ultimately they're not necessarily very different from those of Donald Trump," he said. "If you had someone like Bernie Sanders as president, his views are for greater government involvement in the economy, less free trade, protection of jobs." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2020. Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle Four from Papua New Guinea's Bougainville province survived in the Pacific for 32 days on coconuts and rainwater and made it on the shore alive while eight of their companions, including an infant, were killed in the ocean due to starvation, said reports. The group left Bougainville, East of mainland Papua New Guinea in the month of December last year to celebrate Christmas on Carteret Islands in the Pacific Ocean, and their boat had capsized. The four individuals, that are now recovering in the Solomon island told the media that they managed to stay alive by eating coconuts and drinking rainwater that they collected in the coconut shell. Dominic Stally, one of the survivors told the reporters that the group was sailing to the island in a small boat that capsized and several group members drowned in the ocean. He added that few of them were accounted for and managed to hook on to the vessel, however, there were more fatalities due to the powerful wave thrusts in the perilous ocean. Read Spain Searches For 67 Missing At Sea, Rescues 119 Others Read Britain Says 'open For Business,' Seeks Deeper ASEAN Ties Fishing vessels passed nearby without noticing Dominic further added that it was heart-wrenching to see people die but survival was made impossible by the severe ocean currents and lack of food. He said that a couple could not survive the ordeal and left behind an infant struggling to survive. He added that it was him who held onto the baby for as long as he could, however, unfortunately, the baby died at sea. Stally told the reporters that a number of fishing vessels were seen in the sea but they were unable to signal them for help. The survivors were finally rescued and were safely taken on a vessel on January 23 off New Caledonia after they had drifted some 2,000 kilometers famished. Reports suggest that the survivors comprised two men, a woman and a girl aged about 12 that were picked at New Caledonia by a fishing boat, Honiara and were under-recovery procedures. The group was treated for dehydration and has been discharged under the supervision of John Balavu, PNG High Commissioner. Read Spain Rescues 119 Migrants At Sea, Searches For 67 Missing Read Feds Suing NJ, Seattle County Over 'sanctuary' Policies Kathmandu: Nepal closed one of its resorts for three months and canceled the license. The main reason behind this is the security arrangements of the resort. At the same time, it is being said that 8 Indians were killed, due to which Nepal was forced to take this big step. The accident occurred due to gas leaks from the heater at a resort in Makwanpur district. At the same time, 15 tourists from Kerala were present in the hotel, out of which 8 died. It also had four minors. This accident took place on 21 January. The tourism department on Sunday closed its Everestak Panorama resort in Daman for three months. Kejriwal will take oath on February 16, to meet Lieutenant Governor today During the investigation, it was found that the committee did not have adequate security arrangements and proper service was not being provided to the guests. Apart from this, the standards set for the resort were also not being followed there. After three months, if the resort is to be restarted, the management there will have to upgrade their services. This accident took place on 21 January. The tourism department on Sunday closed its Everest Panorama resort in Daman for three months. The report was submitted by the inquiry committee, taking on the responsibility entrusted to investigate the accident and then the resort has been closed. This information was given in a report published on Tuesday in Kathmandu Post. Priyanka Vadra will visit Azamgarh today to meet the victims injured in action by policeShutdown Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, Sharmistha Mukherjee angry All the tourists were found unconscious in the room. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. According to local media, the dead were identified. The names of these dead were Prabin Kumar Nair (39), Sharanya (34), Ranjit Kumar TB (39), Indu Ranjith (34), Shri Bhadra (9), Abinab Soraya (9), Abi Nair (7), and Baishnab Ranjith. WHO gives official name to coronavirus, death toll crosses 1017 [February 12, 2020] Ergotron and Ingram Micro Partner to Donate Medical Carts to Aid in Coronavirus Outbreak Ergotron, a global movement company that builds environments that help people thrive, has partnered with Ingram Micro (News - Alert) China to donate medical carts to two hospitals in Wuhan, China, the city at the epicenter of the recent novel coronavirus outbreak. The carts were provided to Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals-emergency facilities built in just days to help contain the spread of the virus. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005623/en/ At Ergotron's facility in southern China, the company's StyleView medical carts are prepared for shipment to Wuhan. (Photo: Ergotron) Twenty-four of Ergotron's StyleView mobile medical carts were transported from the company's facility in Dongguan, southern China, to Wuhan-a 600-mile trip that took 16 hours by truck. At the hospitals, the carts wil be used for telemedicine applications and to aid with processing electronic medical records. "The Wuhan medical teams are working around the clock to treat a huge influx of patients," said Patrick Shao, chief executive officer at Ingram Micro China. "Ergotron's StyleView carts can help them work more efficiently." The medical carts were jointly funded by the two companies, and they worked together on delivery logistics, setup and installation. "We're so proud to work with our distribution partner, Ingram Micro China, to make this donation happen in a short timeframe," stated Chad Severson, chief executive officer at Ergotron. "Without their help, this would not have been possible. They've been a truly outstanding partner in this unfortunate situation." Michael Kralj, Ergotron's director, Asia Pacific, said: "Not only is the coronavirus outbreak a global health concern, but this emergency has serious implications for our colleagues. We have a team in China, and a number of our employees traveled home to the Hubei province for the Chinese New Year holiday. We want to do whatever we can to support our team, their families and the Wuhan community." About Ergotron Ergotron, Inc. is a global company focused on improving how people work, learn, play and care for others. Using human-centered design principles and the technology of movement, Ergotron builds solutions that help people thrive in healthcare, education, contract furniture and general office environments. Its custom solutions group provides innovative product offerings to companies like Amazon, Haworth, GE Healthcare and Cisco Systems (News - Alert). The company has a 35-year history of innovation with more than 200 patents and a growing portfolio of award-winning brands including WorkFit, CareFit, LearnFit and JUV. Ergotron is headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a global sales and marketing presence in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. All products are designed in the United States and produced in Ergotron's facilities in St. Paul and China. Learn more at www.ergotron.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005623/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Big wave surfer Alex Botelho was involved in a serious accident at the Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge in Portugal on Tuesday. Botelho is is stable and conscious, the World Surf League said in a statement. The surfer was after being rushed to the hospital after being pummeled by the wake of two massive waves while being towed. The WSL said that he will stay at the hospital for further evaluation. A heartfelt thank you to the safety and medical teams for their quick response. We are wishing Alex a full and speedy recovery, the statement added. In video of the accident shared by the WSL, Botelho can be seen being towed by a jet ski when he and the jet ski are then caught in the cross-section of two waves. Both Botelho and the driver of the jet ski are tossed high into the air before another massive wave crashes down in the same spot. WARNING: Some readers may find the video below disturbing RELATED: Surfing Champion Poeti Norac Dies at 24: A Beautiful Person with a Radiant Smile Botelho was recovered by the competitions water safety team, who can be seen in the video rushing into the frothy water as he is washed up near the shore. The days Jogos Santa Casa Commitment Award went to the water safety team for their quick response. The Nazare competition is a dangerous one, with waves so big that the WSL said ahead of the contest that it would not be surprising if a Guinness World Record for the largest wave was broken. The biggest wave ever ridden was at Nazare in 2017 by Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa. Koxas monster wave was 24.28 meters, nearly 80 feet. Story continues Rescuers surrounding Botelho | World Surf League/Instagram Alex Botelho during the Nazare Challenge 2016 | Shutterstock RELATED: Surfing Legend Sunny Garcia Hospitalized and in Intensive Care Amid Depression Battle In a video teasing the event, the WSL said that severe wipeouts and daring feats of water rescue were to be expected. Seventeen men and two women were paired up into tow teams where a surfer is towed into a wave by a jetski for the competition, with each team surfing in two, one-hour heats. The performances were judged later in the day by the athletes themselves, who voted for the days awards. The mens and womens wave of the day went to Kai Lenny and Justine Dupont, respectively, and the team champions award went to the pair of Kai Lenny and Lucas Chianca. Nine Bangladeshi Hindus who entered India illegally were arrested from a village near the international border in West Tripura district, police said on Wednesday. The nine people aged between two and 75 years were suspiciously loitering in Matai village under Sidhai police station on Monday night. The local people captured them and handed them over to police. "The group consists of three men, three women and as many children. They did not possess any valid document. A local court remanded them to police custody for five days," said Bijoy Sen, officer-in-charge of Sidhai police station. The Bangladeshis had sneaked into Indian territory from Chittagong and Sylhet districts. Local MLA and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) leader Brishaketu Debbarma said he met those Bangladeshis who informed him that they want to live in India permanently. The tribal-based IPFT is a coalition partner of the ruling BJP in the state. "We are not against any community, caste or religion. But we are opposed to the Constitution (Amendment) Act. Bangladeshis should not get official right to stay in our country," Debbarma told reporters. Bangladeshis in connivance with local agents used to sneak into Tripura and manage to get official documents to prove their Indian citizenship, he alleged. The BSF had on Sunday detained two Bangladeshi Muslims from Kailashahar in Unakoti district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 11 February 2020 - PETRONAS President and Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin is once again recognised as the only ASEAN CEO and sole Oil & Gas CEO from Asia in the list of 100 best global Brand Guardians for 2020, by Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation authority. [IMAGE CAPTION] Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin, PETRONAS President and Group CEO receiving the Brand Guardianship Award from David Haigh, Brand Finance CEO at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee was globally ranked number 58 in this year's list, up from 93 in the previous year. He received the recognition from Brand Finance due to his far-sighted stewardship of the Company in matters of business, brand and sustainability as well as prudent management in steering the national oil and gas company and industry forward. Other eminent business leaders in the Brand Guardians 2020 list include LVMH's Bernard Arnault, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Shell's Ben van Beurden. PETRONAS was also recognised as ASEAN's most valuable brand again, with the highest Brand Value (BV) growth across all regional brands in the Global 500 at US$15.2 billion. Brand Finance mainly attributed this recognition to the Company's stronger business performance, as well as a strong, positive forecast. This recognition complements PETRONAS' climb up this year's Top 500 Most Valuable Brands list to number 120 from 130 the previous year. Brand Finance CEO David Haigh said: "PETRONAS, along with all the Oil & Gas giants, is facing persistent market volatility. In facing the challenges, the Company has clearly set its intentions to strive towards delivering energy solutions in a more sustainable manner while strengthening its resiliency and continuing to be agile." Based on the world's top companies by portfolio brand value, the Brand Guardianship Index rates CEOs to capture how well they measure up as brand managers and ambassadors. Similar to its Brand Strength Index, Brand Finance's new metric score of 0-100 considers multiple inputs reflecting CEOs' success in Investment, Guardian Equity and Performance. Story continues The 2020 iteration of the Brand Finance Global 500 report on the world's most valuable brands across all sectors and countries was announced today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. About PETRONAS Established in 1974, Petroliam Nasional Berhad ("PETRONAS") is Malaysia's fully integrated oil and gas multinational ranked among the largest corporations on FORTUNE Global 500. As the custodian of Malaysia's national oil and gas resources, we explore, produce and deliver energy to meet society's growing needs. The growing demand for energy inspires and strengthens our purpose to steadily drive for new solutions and push boundaries towards a sustainable energy future. For further information, please visit www.petronas.com. Editors note: The following piece was written before the results of the New Hampshire primary were released. Though this may not be a representative opinion, I think Joe Bidens decline turned into a power dive with his claim over the weekend of almost sole responsibility for the destruction of Robert Borks nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. Even this was dishonest, as Teddy Kennedys savage attack, imputing to Bork the desire to banish women who sought an abortion to the care of butchers in back allies, carried more weight than did Biden, who as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee was supposed to show a modicum of impartiality. But they were both guilty of abominable mistreatment of a very distinguished nominee. Nothing else counted but the Kennedy-Biden surmise that Bork wished to ban abortions. This had its ironies, as both Biden and Kennedy often made a considerable display of their status as Roman Catholics, and as American public opinion has shifted, approval of unrestricted abortion at the taxpayers expense is no longer a political free lunch. The fact that Biden remains triumphalist about his blackballing of Bork, along with his defensiveness opposite Senator Kamala Harris when she accused him of opposing general school-busing for racial balance in the 1970s even though it meant taking millions of schoolchildren out of their neighborhoods, show again how malleable Biden is. In other circumstances, it would be sad to see Biden gradually reduced from the status of a popular and somewhat respected former holder of a national office to his present pitiable state as the former odds-on favorite to an also-ran with neither financial nor popular support. It is usually distressing, at the human level, to see the implosion of the dreams and status of the elderly. On this occasion, distress is mitigated by his nastiness in the Bork affair, by his boast of having secured the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor, and by his unbecoming complacency, as in his unctuous assertion that he would not comment on his sons questionable activities in Ukraine, so as not to distract from the guilt of the president (as if there were any chance of Trumps being guilty of anything raised in the nonsensical impeachment fiasco). Story continues Bidens decline is not altogether surprising either, since in his pursuits of the Democratic presidential nomination before he was vice president he never got any traction, and he had to abandon his campaign in 1987 after he was caught plagiarizing from British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock that he was the first person in my family in a thousand generations to go to university. (A thousand generations back takes us to the Cro-Magnon era.) It was not such a lapidary phrase, nor was Kinnock such a substantial figure, to justify lifting the words as if they were original. And court-ordered school busing was an insane policy that he should have remained proud to have opposed. This waffling is the affliction of the Democrats, not just of Biden. It is toe-curlingly embarrassing to see Michael Bloomberg apologize for the police policy of stop and frisk, the random search of people by police to determine if they are carrying unlicensed firearms. It was good policy and it reduced crime, but Bloomberg bugged out. In todays Democratic Party, all pressure is from and toward the left, and Amy Klobuchar deserves credit for dissenting and expressing reservations about a presidential nominee who is a declared socialist. She is the only candidate in the Democratic fray who has raised a peep of concern about scrambling leftward like a frightened spider. She preserves, to some extent, the fine conscientious tradition of Hubert Humphreys Minnesota Farmer-Labor Democrats. Apart from her, this is a uniquely contemptible turn of events. In 1972, when the Democrats nominated George McGovern, who advocated increased taxes, obligatory mass school busing whatever parents thought of it, and a peace in Vietnam that was, as even the New York Times acknowledged, more humiliating to the United States than North Vietnam was itself seeking, McGovern prevailed over Edmund Muskie and, to a degree, Hubert Humphrey, who stuck to centrist positions throughout the campaign. He lost 49 states and trailed Richard Nixon by a still-unequaled 18 million votes, but it was a contest of principles. In 1964, when Barry Goldwater won the Republican nomination against Nelson Rockefeller, he held to a narrow states-rights definition of the constitutional prerogatives of the federal government, which effectively would have prevented the enactment of President Lyndon Johnsons civil-rights reforms, but both Goldwater and the New York liberal Nelson Rockefeller stuck to their positions and allowed the primary voters to make a clear choice. Goldwater lost by 16 million votes, but he had made a principled stand, some of which was redeemed by Ronald Reagan 16 years later. Now we have the Democrats, including Biden and excepting only Klobuchar, either at the hard left or hastening toward it. Trump holds all the responsible right and practically all the center. He was not venturing far into his constructive hyperbole when he told a packed crowd in Manchester, N.H., on Monday night that the Democrats are the party of high unemployment, high taxes, high crime, open borders, over-regulation, and late-term abortions. In 2016 Trump was given a hard fight by Senator Ted Cruz, who said in Indiana that God told (him) to run for president and largely pitched his campaign to the right, from the sophisticatedly wealthy to the wool-hats with M-16s on the rack in the rear window of their pickup trucks. And Hillary Clinton, with great difficulty and powerful assistance from the party elders and their hundreds of unelected super-delegates, kept the nomination out of the hands of Bernie Sanders and the far left. Trump, whatever the caterwauling about his sense of etiquette and propriety, has run a centrist administration with tax policies similar to those of Kennedy, Johnson, and Reagan, and he has done more for prison reform than any modern president. He has stood his ground against the Green Terror, but his environmental record is very defensible and his civil-rights record is impeccable. He is far from a reactionary. The Republican Party is solidly ensconced in the center and the moderate right and has the solidity and unambiguous command structure of a Roman legion. The Democrats, barring a Klobuchar miracle, appear to be entering a death struggle between the Marxist left, all of the above plus reparations to African Americans, and the center left, if Bloomberg can buy enough delegates fast enough. He would balk on high taxes, nationalized health care, and probably open borders, though as mayor of New York he tried to finesse immigration. As New Hampshire voted, the Democrats were down to a goal-line stand against Marxism. One that unless Klobuchar can inherit the majority of the Biden vote, and thus become the party establishments candidate will depend on the most magnificently bare-faced acquisition of votes in world history, with the blessing of the Clinton-Obama party establishment. That is likely the choice, between unprecedented alternatives: the stark repudiation of capitalism or its egregious coruscation in the outright pecuniary acquisition of the party membership. Both options will crack the Democrats wide open, and neither will unseat Trump, whose record is unassailable and who looks a lot more presentable and reassuring than Comrade Sanders or a human check-book. Bloomberg, at least, would make a respectable race of it, and if elected, would be a competent president. As the country awaits special counsel John Durhams treatment of those who tried illegally to influence and then undo the last election, it is hard not to be astonished at the descent of the Democrats so quickly into this abyss, as Election Day approaches again. More from National Review Turkish military vehicles are seen in Hazano near Idlib, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Khalil Ashawi/Reuters) Turkey Says 51 Syrian Soldiers Killed as Rebels Hit Back in Idlib Turkey said on Feb. 11 that 51 Syrian soldiers were killed in northwest Syria as Turkish-backed rebels struck back against Russian-supported government forces who had made gains in their campaign to eliminate the last insurgent bastion in the country. The Turkish Defense Ministry cited sources on the ground for the information, adding that two Syrian tanks and one ammunition store were destroyed as well. Hours before, a war monitor reported that Syrian government forces seized control of the main Aleppo-to-Damascus highway running through the embattled northwest province of Idlib for the first time since the early days of the civil war in 2012. But Syrian state media made no mention of this and rebel sources later said fighting was continuing in some northern areas near the M-5 highway, which links Aleppo with the capital Damascus and ultimately Deraa in the far south. In response, insurgents shot down a Syrian military helicopter and advanced toward the town of Nairab, which the Turkish Defense Ministry said had been abandoned by Syrian government forces. A Turkish official said the rebels, bolstered by Turkish artillery, had begun a full-fledged attack on an area recently lost to the government side near Saraqeb, a strategic crossroads town on the M-5 highway. A rebel commander told Reuters they were pushing back government forces there. A man rides on a motorbike past Turkish military vehicles in Hazano near Idlib, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Khalil Ashawi/Reuters) For its part, the Syrian army said on Tuesday it would respond to attacks by Turkish forces who it said were trying to halt army advances into Idlib province. The flare-up of fighting has given rise to some of the most serious confrontations between Ankara and Damascus in the nine-year-old war in which Russia and Iran have backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. U.S.-Turkish Talks on Wednesday James Jeffrey, the U.S. envoy for Syria, is set to meet senior Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday and the U.S. Embassy there said they would discuss working together toward a political solution to the conflict. Today, our NATO ally Turkey is facing a threat from Assads government and Russia. We are here to assess the situation with the Turkish government and offer support if possible, said Jeffrey, who arrived in Ankara late on Tuesday. Idlibs fate may well be decided by Turkey and Russia as much as by Assad. Russia has officers on the ground advising the Syrians on the campaign as well as some ground forces, and Russian warplanes have carried out numerous air strikes. Ankara has sent thousands of soldiers across the border to help stem the Syrian offensive. Relief agencies meanwhile said an exodus of hundreds of thousands of civilians from the afflicted areas was the largest such movement in the war and marked a new humanitarian crisis. Turkey already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees and says it cannot absorb any more. It said it would halt any new refugee waves from Idlib and its military would remain deployed there. Internally displaced Syrians from western Aleppo countryside, ride on the back of a truck with belongings in Hazano near Idlib, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Khalil Ashawi/Reuters) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the Syrian government would pay a very heavy price for attacking Turkish troops, including five killed on Monday and eight Turkish personnel killed a week earlier. We gave the necessary responses to the Syrian side at the highest level. Especially in Idlib, they got what they deserved. But this is not enough, it will continue, he said in Ankara, adding he would announce on Wednesday a detailed plan for Idlib. Talks in Ankara between Turkey and a Russian delegation ended on Monday without agreement on halting the fighting, a Turkish diplomatic source said. Turkish officials told the Russians that attacks on Turkish posts inside Idlib must cease immediately and that Turkish forces had destroyed several Syrian government targets in retaliation. Erdogan has warned Turkey will drive back Assads forces unless they withdraw by the end of this month. The Kremlin said on Tuesday all attacks on Russian and Syrian forces in Idlib must stop. Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the situation with Erdogan by phone later on Tuesday, TASS news agency said. Air Raids Since launching their new offensive in December, government forces have recaptured more than 230 square miles of territory, and in recent days wrested control of dozens of towns and villages. The rebels are a mix of nationalist factions and Islamist militants who have had deadly rivalries but are now closing ranks. Last week government troops recaptured rebel-held Saraqeb, where Turkey had several military personnel stationed. Rescue teams said on Tuesday Russian and Syrian warplanes had bombed several towns in Idlib and carried out air raids in nearby western Aleppo province where rebels are present. At least 13 civilians were killed overnight in the air strikes, they said. A general view of vehicles carrying belongings of internally displaced Syrians from western Aleppo countryside, in Hazano near Idlib, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2020. (Khalil Ashawi/Reuters) The rapid advances by Assads forces in Idlib have driven nearly 700,000 peoplemostly women and childrenfrom their homes toward the sealed Turkish border in the past 10 weeks. This is, from our initial analysis, the largest number of people in a single period since the Syrian crisis began almost nine years ago, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations OCHA humanitarian agency, told reporters in Geneva. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Andrej Mahecic said the harsh winter weather was making their suffering worse and that shelter was hard to find. Even finding a place in an unfinished building is becoming nearly impossible, he said, adding that mosques were full. Witnesses and rebels said a new column of Turkish reinforcements, including tanks, rocket launchers, and armored vehicles, crossed the border into Idlib overnight. The battle for Idlib is a crucial stage of a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of combatants and civilians, made millions refugees in their own country or overseas, and fractured the wider Middle East since it broke out amid the Arab Spring in 2011. Moscows military intervention in 2015 helped swing the war decisively in favor of Assad, Syrias ruler for nearly 20 years, but he now presides over a devastated country. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Orhan Coskun The members of the France-Artsakh Friendship Circle welcome the proposal of the French President to implement practical programs, Arsakh MFA reported. According to the MFA, they intend to contact interested ministries to study the conditions for their implementation. On January 29 this year, French President spoke at the event organized by the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF). Emmanuel Macron have already participated for the second time at the event. Asked to comment by the CCAF two co-chairs, Murad Papazian and Ara Toranian, President Macron said that human dignity and solidarity are inseparable. He touched upon the situation around the self-determined Artsakh. Recalling the role of France as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, President Macron noted that Paris will give preference to a law serving the people. Chairman of the Artsakh-France Friendship Circle Guy Teissier expressed his gratitude to the CCAF co-chairmen and President Macron amid the expectations of the Artsakh people from France - the republic, which they consider to be an authoritative country as an advocate of peoples and an implacable state regarding basic human rights issues. The French president also touched on the friendship declarations signed between France and Artsakh, most of which were canceled by the administrative courts on prefects claim acting by order of the ministries. Wanting to alleviate the situation, the president admitted the application of the law does not exclude dialogue and said he henceforth wants to move forward in a realistic and effective way. Emmanuel Macron expressed the hope that a direct dialogue will be established between the ministries of foreign affairs and internal affairs of France, on the one hand, and by local authorities with similar intentions, on the other hand to stop resisting each other in this matter and to find more effective facilities. Elaborating his idea, the president suggested discussing the steps so that those local authorities who want to provide aid to the population of Artsakh can make effective and legal decisions within the working group. If the goal is cultural or humanitarian aid, they will find the legal framework for their implementation, he added. The Friendship Circle is pleased to accept such progress in the position of the president and will follow that it is realized. According to Pascal Doll, Mayor of Arnouville, his goal is to implement educational and humanitarian development programs with Artsakh. The previously signed memorandum of friendship was canceled by the court. Over the coming weeks, he along with many members of the Circle will establish a relationship with the Ministry of the Interior to study how this cooperation can be practiced, respecting the rule of law and the values of the Republic, the mayor added. The Friendship Circle is ready to stimulate cooperation with local authorities of Artsakh, following the presidential initiative, and develop constructive relations between France and Artsakh. Pharmactive's affron, affronEYE and ABG10+ are now certified organic MADRID, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The nutraceutical powerhouse Pharmactive Biotech Products, S.L. has received organic certifications for its range of saffron-based formulations, affron and affronEYE. The company was granted its organic designation from the Committee of Ecological Agriculture of Madrid (CAEM) rising to meet the burgeoning global consumer demand for naturally sourced botanicals. The company also was granted organic certification for its next-gen aged black garlic extract, ABG10+. The organic line will be presented at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, March 4-7 Booth #3909. "We nurture, harvest, and process our own home-grown saffron, and are present throughout the entire saffron production and preparation cycle to ensure full traceability," informs Alberto Espinel Head of R&D for Pharmactive. "This organic seal of approval is a confirmation of the integrity of our ingredients. It reassures today's informed consumers that our saffron brand can be trusted as purely sourced and wholly unadulterated." Pharmactive's saffron ingredients are based on an all-natural extraction of 100% Spanish saffron (Crocus sativus L.), grown and traditionally hand-picked from its the company's private fields in Castillae-la-Mancha. No pesticides or chemical substances are used, and the saffron is dried on site, immediately after harvest to ensure maximum stability of the bioactive compounds. The company collaborates with select, skilled saffron farmers, and has positioned a committed quality control department to run periodic analyses of its raw material to ensure adherence to the highest standards of quality. Pharmactive's affron saffron brand has the backing of five clinical studies demonstrating its ability to improve mood, relieve stress, support relaxation, and enhance sleep. Affron is also the first saffron extract clinically studied on adolescents. This premium ingredient demonstrates the lowest dosage threshold on the market - just 28mg per day - with proven bioavailability and rapid one-hour absorption. The company's affronEYE saffron extract has been standardized to a higher percentage of crocins, the biomolecule known to support eye health. "Pharmactive is continually developing new manufacturing procedures to preserve the bioactives of the extracts, while being respectful of the environment," adds Espinel. The company applies a unique, proprietary low-temperature extraction technique that procures superior, highly concentrated saffron but with less industrial processing, less energy use, and zero chemicals, thus significantly reducing the overall carbon footprint. Organic certification also extends to Pharmactive's new generation of aged black garlic extract, ABG10+, targeting heart health and the culinary segment. The formulation is obtained from fresh garlic (Alium sativum L.) that has been aged in a process that profoundly enhances its antioxidant properties, particularly with S-allyl cysteine (SAC), a compound noted for its potent antioxidant and cardioprotective capabilities. "Pharmactive's goal is to attain organic certification for its entire portfolio of botanicals," says Julia Diaz, Head of Marketing for Pharmactive. "We have invested much effort into deploying the optimal production processes and controls, and in acquiring quality seals from relevant external regulators in order to earn the full confidence of our customer as to the clean-label attributes of our all-natural ingredients." Pharmactive's credentials for quality have been endorsed by internationally accredited certification bodies, including Bureau Veritas and SGS which awarded the company GMP recognitions for its quality manufacturing systems as upheld in its production plant. It also includes ISO 14001 for its commitment to environmental values, and DNA certification confirming the authenticity of its botanicals in compliance with targeted species specifications. AffronEYE was a recent winner of the Nutra Nutraingredients Awards Asia in the healthy aging subgroup. Both saffron-based formulations and ABG10+ can be readily used in food matrices and supplements. They are kosher- and halal-certified, non-GMO, non-irradiated, and maintain a three-year shelf-life. Visit us at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, March 4-7 Booth #3909 Nutraceuticals Europe in Madrid, March 4-5, Booth G15 For more information, contact: Company contact: Press Contact: Pharmactive Biotech Products, S.L. NutriPR Julia Diaz, Head of Marketing Liat Simha Tel: +34-91-112-38-48 Tel: +972-9-9742893 Email: marketing@pharmactive.eu E-mail: liat@nutripr.com Twitter: @Pharmactive_SP Twitter: @NutriPR_ Web: www.pharmactive.eu Website: www.nutripr.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089544/Pharmactive_Saffron_Field.jpg English Finnish Uponor Corporation Stock exchange release 12 February 2020 08:05 EET Notice to the Annual General Meeting of Uponor Corporation The shareholders of Uponor Corporation are hereby summoned to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Monday 16 March 2020 at 15:00 at Finlandia Hall (Helsinki Hall), address Mannerheimintie 13 e, Helsinki, Finland. The registration of the attending shareholders and the distribution of voting tickets will commence at 14:00. Coffee will be served after the meeting. Matters on the agenda of the general meeting At the general meeting, the following matters will be considered: Opening of the meeting Calling the meeting to order Election of persons to scrutinise the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes Recording the legality of the meeting Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes Presentation of the financial statements, the consolidated financial statements, the report of the Board of Directors as well as the auditors report and the consolidated auditors for the year 2019 -Review of the business by the Managing Director Adoption of the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that a dividend of 0.53 per share be distributed for the financial period 2019. The dividend shall be paid in two instalments. The first instalment of 0.26 per share shall be paid to a shareholder registered as a shareholder in the shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the dividend payment on 18 March 2020. The payment date proposed by the Board for this instalment is 25 March 2020. The second instalment of 0.27 per share shall be paid in September 2020. The second instalment shall be paid to a shareholder registered as a shareholder in the shareholders register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the dividend record date, which, together with the payment date, shall be decided by the Board of Directors in its meeting scheduled for 15 September 2020. The dividend record date for the second instalment would be 17 September 2020 and the dividend payment date 24 September 2020. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director from liability Adoption of the Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies The Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies is attached to this notice and available on Uponor Corporations investor website at https://investors.uponor.com/governance/corporate-governance Resolution on the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors The Nomination Board proposes to the general meeting that the yearly remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors shall be: 90,000 for the Chair of the Board, 51,000 for the Deputy Chair of the Board, 51,000 for the Chair of the Audit Committee and 46,000 for other members of the Board. The Nomination Board proposes that approximately 40% of the remuneration shall be paid by acquiring Uponor Corporations shares in public trading and/or by conveying Uponor Corporations shares held by the company and the rest shall be paid in cash or, alternatively, by paying the full remuneration in cash and obligating the Board member to use approximately 40% of the remuneration paid in cash to acquire Uponor Corporations shares in public trading. The yearly Board remuneration shall be paid within two weeks after the publication of the companys half-year report for January-June 2020. In case the full remuneration is paid in cash, a Board member shall make the purchase of shares within two weeks after the publication of the companys interim report for January-September 2020. The Nomination Board proposes that travel expenses related to Board meetings shall be paid according to the travel policy of the company. The Nomination Board further proposes that a remuneration per each actual board and committee meeting (excluding decisions without a meeting) shall be paid to the members of the Board of Directors amounting to 600 for meetings held at the country of residence of the member, 1,200 for meetings held elsewhere on the same continent, and 2,400 for meetings held on another continent. The remuneration for telephone meetings shall be the remuneration for meetings held at the country of residence of the member. The Nomination Board also proposes that in addition a remuneration of 600 shall be paid to the Chair of the Board for each Board meeting and to the Chairs of the Board committees for each respective committee meeting. In addition, the Nomination Board proposes to discontinue the practice of taking out insurance under the Employees Pensions Act for the members of the Board acting as persons in a position of trust. Resolution on the number of the members of the Board of Directors The Nomination Board proposes to the general meeting that the number of Board members shall be six. Election of the members and chair of the Board of Directors The Nomination Board proposes to the annual general meeting that Ms Pia Aaltonen-Forsell, Mr Johan Falk, Mr Markus Lengauer, Mr Casimir Lindholm and Ms Annika Paasikivi, currently members of the Board of Directors, be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors for the following term of office. Ms Eva Nygren has notified that she is no longer available for re-election. The Nomination Board proposes that Mr Michael G. Marchi (b.1959) will be elected as a new member. Mr Marchi has in depth experience in the plumbing industry. He has served as COO of Lixil Water Technology Americas, CEO of Grohe Americas and President of Kohler Kitchen and Bath Americas. Earlier in his career, he has held various leadership positions at GE and Citibank among others. He holds B.S. in Marketing and Economics, and an MBA in Finance. Mr Marchi, a U.S. citizen, is CEO at MGM Executive Consulting, which provides executive coaching and consult services to public companies, family owned privately held companies and private equity firms. The Nomination Board further proposes that the general meeting elects Ms Annika Paasikivi as the Chair of the Board. Resolution on the remuneration of the auditor The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting that the remuneration to the auditor to be elected shall be paid as per invoice approved by the company. Election of the auditor The Board of Directors proposes based on a recommendation from the Audit Committee that KPMG Oy Ab, a company of Authorised Public Accountants, be elected as the auditor of the company for the following term of office. KPMG Oy Ab has announced that the principally responsible auditor would be Anders Lundin (APA). The Board of Directors also proposes that the general meeting request the auditor to give a statement in the auditors report on the adoption of the financial statements, the granting of discharge from liability and the Board of Directors proposal for distribution of funds. The proposal of the Board of Directors is based on the competitive procurement process of the companys audit. As a result of the competitive process, the company received offers from four authorised public accountant organisations. According to the evaluation of the Audit Committee of the tenderers, KPMG Oy Ab best fulfils the selection criteria that had been determined in advance. The recommendation of the Audit Committee for the appointment of the auditor is available on Uponor Corporations investor website at https://investors.uponor.com/governance/annual-general-meeting/agm-2020 . The Board of Directors notes that its recommendation is free from influence by a third party, and the Board of Directors is not subject to compliance with any such clauses referred to in Article 16(6) of the EU Audit Regulation (537/2014) that would restrict the choice as regards the appointment of a statutory auditor or audit firm. Authorising the Board of Directors to resolve on the repurchase of the companys own shares The Board of Directors proposes that the general meeting authorises the Board of Directors to resolve on the repurchase of the companys own shares, in one or several instalments, using distributable earnings from unrestricted equity as follows: The Board of Directors is authorised to resolve on the repurchase of no more than 3,500,000 of the companys own shares amounting in total to approximately 4.8 per cent of the total number of the shares of the company at the date of the general meeting. The Board of Directors shall resolve how the shares shall be repurchased. Shares may be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the existing shareholdings of the companys shareholders (directed repurchase). The companys own shares may be repurchased at the market price quoted at the time of the repurchase through public trading on the trading places where the companys shares are traded. Own shares may be repurchased on the basis of the authorisation in order to finance or carry out acquisitions or other business transactions, in order to develop the company's capital structure, to improve the liquidity of the company's shares, to be disposed for other purposes or to be cancelled. This authorisation will revoke the earlier authorisation granted by the general meeting on 18 March 2019 to resolve on the repurchase the companys own shares. The authorisation is valid until the end of the next annual general meeting, however, no longer than 18 months from the date of the general meeting. Authorising the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting to authorise the Board of Directors to resolve on issuing new shares or transferring the companys own shares on one or more occasion as follows: By virtue of the authorisation, the Board of Directors is entitled to resolve on issuing a maximum of 7,200,000 new shares or transferring the companys own shares, amounting in total to approximately 9.8 per cent of the total number of the shares of the company. The Board of Directors is authorised to resolve on all the conditions of the issuance of shares. The issuance of shares may be carried out in deviation from the shareholders pre-emptive rights (directed issue). The authorisation includes the possibility to issue own shares to the company for free. The Board of Directors proposes that the authorisation be used for the financing or execution of any acquisitions or other arrangements or investments relating to the Companys business, for the implementation of the Companys incentive plans or for other purposes subject to the Board of Directors decision. This authorisation will revoke the earlier authorisation granted by the general meeting on 18 March 2019 to resolve on the issuance of shares. This authorisation is valid until the end of the next annual general meeting, however, no longer than 18 months from the date of the general meeting. Closing of the meeting Documents of the general meeting The above mentioned resolution proposals relating to the agenda of the general meeting, the Remuneration Policy for Governing Bodies as well as this notice are available for shareholders inspection on the companys investor website at investors.uponor.com . Uponor Corporations Financial Statements, the Board of Directors report and auditors report will be available on the website no later than 24 February 2020. The proposals for decisions and the other above-mentioned documents are also available at the general meeting. Copies of these documents will be sent to a shareholder upon request. The minutes of the general meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website on 30 March 2020, at the latest. No separate invitation to the Annual General Meeting will be sent. Instructions for the participants in the general meeting Shareholders registered in the shareholders register A shareholder, who on the record date of the general meeting, 4 March 2020, is registered in the shareholders register of the company, held by Euroclear Finland Ltd., has the right to participate in the general meeting. A shareholder, whose shares are registered on his/her personal Finnish book-entry account, is registered in the shareholders register of the company. A shareholder who is registered in the shareholders register of the company and who wants to participate in the general meeting, shall register for the meeting no later than Wednesday 11 March 2020 at 10:00 EET (Finnish time), by which time the registration must be received at the company. The registration can be made: - via the companys website at investors.uponor.com - by telephone +358 20 770 6883 on week days from 9:00 to 16:00 EET (Finnish time) - by email to agm@uponor.com or - by mail addressed to Uponor Corporation, Legal Services, P.O. Box 37, FI-01511 Vantaa, Finland. In connection with the registration, a shareholder shall notify his/her name, the personal/business identification number, address, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant, proxy representative or legal representative and the personal identification number of the proxy representative or legal representative. The personal data given to Uponor Corporation is used only in connection with the general meeting and with the processing of related registrations. More information on the usage of the personal data can be found from https://investors.uponor.com/governance/annual-general-meeting/agm-2020 . The shareholder, his/her legal representative or proxy representative shall, if necessary, be able to prove his/her identity and/or right of representation in the meeting venue. Holders of nominee registered shares Holders of nominee registered shares have the right to participate in the general meeting by virtue of any shares that would entitle him/her to be registered in the shareholders register of the company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the general meeting, i.e. 4 March 2020. The right to participate in the general meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholder, on the basis of such shares, has been registered in the temporary shareholders register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd at the latest by 11 March 2020 at 10:00 EET (Finnish time). This constitutes the required registration for the general meeting for nominee registered shares. Changes in the shareholding after the record date of the general meeting do not have any impact on the right to participate in the general meeting nor on the number of votes. A holder of nominee registered shares is therefore advised to request from his/her custodian bank, without delay, any necessary instructions regarding the registration in the temporary shareholders register of the company, the issuing of proxy documents and the registration for the general meeting. The account management organisation of the custodian bank has to register a holder of nominee registered shares who wants to participate in the general meeting in the temporary shareholders register of the company at the latest by the time stated above. Proxy representative and powers of attorney A shareholder may participate in the general meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder at the general meeting. When a shareholder participates in the general meeting represented by several proxy representatives who each have shares in different securities accounts, each proxy representatives shares shall be identified in connection with the registration for the general meeting. Possible proxy documents are requested to be delivered in original copy to Uponor Corporation, Legal Services, P.O. Box 37, FI-01511 Vantaa, Finland, or to be sent as a scanned copy by email to agm@uponor.com before the final date for registration. Other instructions and information Pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the general meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting. On the date of release of this notice to the general meeting 12 February 2020, the total number of shares in Uponor Corporation is 73,206,944, each of which represents one vote. The total number of shares, on the date of the release, includes 219,527 shares held by Uponor Corporation, which do not have a voting right at the general meeting. Accordingly, the maximum total number of votes available at the general meeting amounts to 72,987,417. The voting ticket to the shareholder or proxy representative will be handed out upon registration at the general meeting. Vantaa 12 February 2020 Uponor Corporation Board of Directors Susanna Inkinen Vice President, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Tel. +358 20 129 2081 DISTRIBUTION: Nasdaq Helsinki Media www.investors.uponor.com Uponor in brief Uponor is rethinking water for future generations. Our offering, including safe drinking water delivery, energy-efficient radiant heating and cooling and reliable infrastructure, enables a more sustainable living environment. We help our customers in residential and commercial construction, municipalities and utilities, as well as different industries to work faster and smarter. Uponor employs about 3,800 professionals in 26 countries in Europe and North America. In 2019, Uponor's net sales totalled approximately 1.1 billion. Uponor Corporation is based in Finland and listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.uponor.com Attachment More than 1,500 people will lose their jobs when Concordia University-Portland shuts down permanently this spring. The small college in Northeast Portland said the layoffs of 1,518 people will begin this month and should be complete by September. Concordia submitted the information to the Oregon Dislocated Worker Unit and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Its unclear how many of those jobs are full-time. At 1,518, thats more jobs than Concordia has on-campus students. Concordia enrolls about 5,700 students, but sources estimate only about 1,200 of them attend class on campus. The bulk of the students study remotely via Concordias online classes. Concordia stunned students and faculty alike when it announced on Monday that it would close its doors for good after the spring semester. The college has been struggling financially. It is the third small private college in the Portland to fail in the last two years. -- Jeff Manning 503-294-7606 WALLDORF, Germany, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP User Group Executive Network (SUGEN), the global network of 22 independent SAP user groups, commends SAP for the announcement about officially maintaining SAP S/4HANA until the end of 2040. At the same time, SAP announced that it will provide mainstream maintenance for core applications of SAP Business Suite 7 software* until the end of 2027 followed by optional extended maintenance until the end of 2030. The long-term commitment for SAP S/4HANA brings clarity and stability for organizations who plan their future based on SAP software. And with the extension of the maintenance of SAP Business Suite 7, SAP recognizes that there are many organizations that require more time and flexibility for the transition to SAP S/4HANA. This news shows that SAP is committed to the success of its customers and that customer feedback received through SUGEN is taken into serious consideration. Customers not only have more return on investment on their current SAP solutions through the prolonged maintenance period but they also have more time to ready themselves for the transition to SAP S/4HANA and strengthen the related business cases. Many SAP customers are going through significant business transformations and want SAP S/4HANA to enable and support the redesign and optimization of their business. The flexibility that SAP now provides reflects the individual pace and complexity of customer projects. "This is an important announcement that SAP customers across the world will be pleased about," states Gianmaria Perancin, Chairman of SUGEN. "We applaud SAP for taking this step. Now, customers have more clarity, and have more time to embrace the value and innovations that SAP S/4HANA brings. This announcement also demonstrates the value of the global dialogue between SUGEN and SAP for the benefit of the SUGEN members and the wider SAP ecosystem." With SAP and user group surveys confirming that more customers globally are moving to SAP S/4HANA, we look forward to continuing to work with SAP. Our aim remains that all SAP customers benefit from new developments and can be confident about their future roadmap based on SAP solutions. SAP official press release: https://news.sap.com/2020/02/sap-s4hana-maintenance-2040-clarity-choice-sap-business-suite-7/ *Core applications of SAP Business Suite 7 software include SAP ERP 6.0, SAP Customer Relationship Management 7.0, SAP Supply Chain Management 7.0, and SAP Supplier Relationship Management 7.0 applications and SAP Business Suite powered by SAP HANA. About SUGEN Established in 2007, SUGEN is a global network of twenty-two user groups designed to facilitate open, honest dialogue between members and SAP. By working together, SUGEN members provide consolidated strategic influence priorities and work with SAP to resolve them, provide an effective and efficient method for communication among user groups and SAP, and share best practices between users groups and SAP for the mutual benefit of all. Current members include AFSUG (Africa), ASUG (North America), ASUG Argentina, ASUG Brazil, ASUG Colombia, ASUG Mexico, AUSAPE (Spain), AUSED GUPS (Italy), CSUA (China), FINUG (Finland), INDUS (India), JSUG (Japan), LSUG (Luxemburg), NZSUG (New Zealand), SAPSA (Sweden), SAUG (Australia), UKISUG (UK & Ireland), SAPience (Belgium), SBN (Norway), SUG-MENA (Middle-East, North Africa), USF (France), and VNSG (Netherlands). The members of the elected SUGEN leadership team are Paulo Moraes (ASUG Brazil), Philip Adams (UKISUG, UK & Ireland), Chris Crone (ASUG, North America), Hans de Labije (VNSG, the Netherlands), Grahame Reynolds (SAUG, Australia), and Gianmaria Perancin (USF, France). Media Contact: SUGEN TEL: +31613546018, email: [email protected] SOURCE SAP User Group Executive Network Related Links http://www.sap.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 11:14:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Here are the latest developments: -- China's National Health Commission said on Wednesday that it received reports of 2,015 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 97 deaths on Tuesday from 31 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. By the end of Tuesday, a total of 1,113 people had died of the disease and 44,653 confirmed cases had been reported on the Chinese mainland. -- Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said the epidemic peak should appear in mid-to-late February, but the inflection point is still undetermined. -- Central China's Hubei Province, the hardest-hit province, reported 1,638 new confirmed injection cases and 94 new deaths on Tuesday. The capital city of Wuhan reported 1,104 new infections and 72 new deaths. -- The city of Huanggang, one of the hardest-hit cities in Hubei, had identified 13,000 feverish individuals during a screening campaign that covered communities, public spaces, road checkpoints as well as enterprises and public institutions. Everyone with a fever has been quarantined and put under observation in hospitals. -- The Ministry of Commerce released a circular to arrange for the steady supply of daily necessities in key cities to win the battle against the new virus. Supply of daily necessities include rice, flour, cooking oil, meat, eggs, dairy products, vegetables and instant food. -- Chinese authorities called for improved humanistic care and a safer working environment for medical staff at the frontline against the novel coronavirus pneumonia, as well as stronger publicity for deeds of outstanding figures among medical personnel. They demanded financial subsidies be provided to frontline medical staff and epidemic prevention workers, and easy access to identify occupational injuries for medical personnel. Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Wednesday announced an agreement with Ltd. to acquire select divisions of its branded generics business in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives for a consideration of Rs 1,850 crore. The agreement comprises a portfolio of 62 brands in multiple therapy areas such as respiratory, neurology, VMS, dermatology, gastroenterology, pain and vaccines. will transfer Dr Reddy's related sales and marketing teams; and the manufacturing plant located in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh with all plant employees. The business undertaking is being transferred on a slump sale basis, according to the company. "India is an important market for us and this acquisition will help in considerably scaling-up our domestic business. The acquired portfolio shall enhance Dr Reddy's presence in the high growth therapy areas. We believe the portfolio holds a lot of potential and will get an impetus under Dr Reddy's. We welcome the team joining as part of the deal to the Dr Reddy's family," G V Prasad, the companys co-chairman and managing director said. Dr Reddy's expect to close the deal in the first quarter of financial year 2020-21. Dr Reddy's made India-centric product acquisition last time in 2015. It had acquired Belgian company UCB's select product portfolio business in India, besides Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives for Rs 800 crore, The acquisition of UCB's existing brand equity in the areas of dermatology, respiratory and pediatrics diseases will further expand Dr Reddy's footprint into these fast growing areas, it said earlier. The transaction also included 350 employees engaged in operations of India business. Dr Reddy's recently revealed that it was aiming to become one of the top five players in the Indian market and also exploring inorganic opportunities in India and emerging markets, the two focus areas for its business growth in coming days. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Qusthan Firdaus (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 Discussions on repatriating former fighters of the Islamic State (IS) movement and their families have intensified in Indonesia four months after the killing of IS leader Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi last October. In contrast, developed countries have been dealing with this problem more intensively since IS suffered a major defeat in mid-2017. As Indonesia is the worlds largest Sunni-Muslim-dominated country, the Islamic denomination that IS claims to represent, it is surprising that we seem to fail to pay attention to the fate of the former fighters and their families from Indonesia. 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 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. The Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres has warned that residents in the Hawkesbury-Nepean region would have "been in a lot of trouble" had the city's main dam been closer to capacity. Using the wild weekend weather to defend the NSW government's plan to raise the Warragamba Dam wall, Mr Ayres said communities escaped a severe flood because of the drought. Outer-western Sydney escaped a severe flood because water levels in the Warragamba Dam were so low, Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres says. Credit:Wolter Peeters The drought had caused the dam's water levels to drop to as low as 43 per cent but then surged to 71.3 per cent as of Wednesday after the city was hit with heavy rain over the weekend. Mr Ayres, who has been a vocal supporter of the controversial plan to increase the height of the dam's wall by 14 metres, said the region was spared because the dam's levels had been so low. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the richest among all the ministers in his council of ministry with assets worth over Rs 64.26 crore. According to property statement submitted by the ministers, Patnaik as on March 31, 2019, possess assets worth over Rs 64.26 crore which includes movable property worth Rs 62,66,663.93 and immovable inherited properties of Rs 63,64,15,261. The chief minister's immovable property includes a farmland and a building at Tikrikhera in Faridabad worth Rs 10,75, 51,071 and two-third share in the property of Naveen Niwas worth Rs 9,52,46,190 in Bhubaneswar. These two properties are inherited from his mother late Gyan Patnaik. Patnaik also has 50 per cent share in property inherited from his father late Biju Patnaik situated at APJ Abdul Kalam Road in New Delhi which is valued at Rs 43,36,18,000, the statement said. However, Patnaik has a liability of a personal loan of Rs 15 lakh borrowed from his elder sister Gita Mehta. The chief minister has a 1980 model Ambassador car worth Rs 8,905 and jewellery worth about Rs 2,12,252. He has deposit of over Rs 40 lakh in two branches of State Bank of India at Hinjilicut of Ganjam district and Padampur in Bargarh during the general elections last year, the statement said. Sports and IT Minister Tusharkanti Beheras total property is worth Rs 26 lakh which include a 4.830 square feet land in Chandka area in Bhubaneswar, a car worth Rs 5 lakh and 90 grams of gold. Panchayati Raj Minister Pratap Jenas assets are valued at Rs 10 crore, the statement said. Health Minister Naba Kishore Das and his family members possess cash worth Rs 32 lakh, Rs 1 crore worth of bank deposits and fixed deposit of over Rs 2 crore. He is the only minister in Odisha having two revolvers and a rifle. "I have revolver and rifle much before becoming a minister or an MLA. I am a businessman before entering politics," Das told reporters. Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Arun Kumar Sahoo and his wife own assets worth Rs 67 lakh. Apart from Patnaik, there are 20 other members in his council of ministers in Odisha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The data collection practices used by political parties could pose a threat to voters engagement in the democratic process and could have negative implications for Canadian democracy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The data collection practices used by political parties could pose a threat to voters engagement in the democratic process and could have negative implications for Canadian democracy. British Columbias Privacy Commissioner recently found that political parties in British Columbia collect sensitive personal information about voters, such as income, ethnicity, religious affiliation and political beliefs, without their knowledge or consent. In the United Kingdom, an investigation launched following the Cambridge Analytica scandal "uncovered a disturbing disregard for voters personal privacy." It concluded that Cambridge Analytica had aggregated Facebook users personal information without their consent for use in political campaigns, such as in the U.K., where it was used it to send micro-targeted information to voters. Similar practices have been uncovered around the world. British Columbias privacy commissioner noted that similar and largely unchecked digital practices in Canada pose significant risks for "our democratic system of governance." Elections all over the world are becoming increasingly electronic and data-driven. At the same time, data is quickly becoming such a highly valued commodity that recent publications have not only described it as the "oil" of the 21st century, but as its "plutonium." Canadian voters remain largely unaware of the types of personal information that political parties collect. Many are also not informed that federal privacy legislation does not apply to political parties in Canada, leaving parties largely beyond the reach of federal law in their use and collection of data. That may change, however. Canadas Competition Bureau recently announced its investigating the three largest federal political parties amid allegations they "made misleading statements about the manner in which they collect and use Canadian voters personal information." How are voters affected? As researchers, we sought to find out: How does the collection and use of personal information by federal political parties affect voters willingness to interact with campaign personnel during elections? As a part of the Digital Ecosystem Research Challenge, we conducted a survey of Canadians during the 2019 federal election campaign. We informed respondents that political parties may collect a wide variety of personal information about voters, including their religion, gender, ethnicity and political views. After being informed about these data collection practices, more than half (51 per cent) of respondents said that they would be "somewhat" or "very" unlikely to speak with campaign personnel. This suggests that awareness of federal parties collection of personal information may discourage some voters from engaging with party officials during elections. This is concerning, given that engagement between voters and parties during campaigns is an important way to mobilize the vote. At the same time, our study suggests something can be done. More than 40 per cent of respondents said that a partys stance on privacy made a "moderate" or "major difference" in their willingness to engage with campaign officials. Strong privacy practices appeal to voters If data is the new means of parties targeting and reaching out to voters, good privacy laws and policies could perhaps promote Canadians willingness to engage with them and enhance voter confidence in party institutions. Current federal laws merely require political parties to publish their privacy policies publicly, including online. Federal privacy law does not set minimum standards for the content of policies and establishes no mechanism for ensuring parties compliance. Nor does it provide a mechanism to ensure parties abide by their privacy promises. Canadian federal law provides no way for people to find out what information parties hold about them. British Columbia is the only province in Canada where privacy law binds political parties. This allows the B.C. privacy commissioner to examine political parties data collection practices. Stronger powers required Extending federal privacy laws to political parties will not fix all of the troubling data collection practices of the digital 21st century, but its a start. Daniel Therrien, Canadas privacy commissioner, supports extending privacy legislation to political parties, as does the House of Commons Ethics Committee. 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 Cambridge Analytica scandal erupted in a country where political parties are bound by privacy legislation. U.K. privacy laws did not stop political parties from amassing large quantities of data and using it to micro-target British voters. However, British privacy laws did enable the U.K. information commissioner to investigate and to require parties to provide information about their practices. These laws also enabled the U.K. privacy commissioner to impose fines, to instigate criminal investigations and to issue warnings to all major British political parties. In Canada, voters have little information about what exactly is being done with their data. Thats because federal privacy law does not impose specific legal requirements on how political parties collect and use their data, and there are insufficient enforcement mechanisms or investigatory powers. Left unchecked, this power could have consequences for voter trust in federal political parties and democratic engagement in elections. Sara Bannerman is an associate professor and Canada Research Chair in communication policy and governance at McMaster University, Julia Kalinina is a law student at York University and Nicole Goodman is an assistant professor of political science at Brock University. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. A mother came close to death after catching a flesh-eating bug through a paper cut on her hand. Heather Harbottle, 49, from Hawaii, drove to hospital in December 2017 after a rough two nights with progressing hand pain and a fever. The self-employed independent paparazzi consultant never expected a small wound on her left hand to be the cause of necrotising fasciitis, an infection which kills the skin, muscle and soft tissue. It was rapidly spreading through her hand, eating away at the tendons, and travelling up to the armpit and heart. The vicious bug had led to life-threatening sepsis, which is when the immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the body. It caused her kidneys to fail. Doctors administered tonnes of antibiotics while cutting away at the rotting flesh every three days. Ms Harbottle nearly-missed amputation of her arm, and when she was well enough, doctors were able to a skin graft by taking tissue from Ms Harbottle's thigh. After 65 days in hospital, Ms Harbottle was able to return to her six-year-old daughter, AnnJolie. She is still regaining movement in her hand. Heather Harbottle, 49, came close to death after catching a flesh-eating bug through a paper on her hand. Pictured, the tissue on her hand eaten by the bacteria The vicious bug had led to life-threatening sepsis, which is when the immune system goes into overdrive and attacks the body. It caused Ms Harbottle's kidneys to fail Ms Harbottle nearly-missed amputation of her arm, and when she was well enough, doctors were able to a skin graft by taking tissue from Ms Harbottle's thigh Ms Harbottle believes she cut her hand on a cardboard box while moving into her new house. She said: 'On December 7, 2017, I woke after a rough night with progressing hand pain. My pinky was swollen and it was starting to spread. 'I was thinking it was a sprain or dislocation of my pinky. But between my pinky and ring finger was a cut so, I thought in the move I must have hit it or something. 'I stayed home to rest while everyone else made the four-hour round trip for another load during the move. The cut on my finger was already showing an infection and my hand was now beginning to swell. 'That night I had started having a fever and any movement of my arm or body was excruciating. I was so weak. 'So, on Friday at around 5am we drove the two-and-a-half-hour trip to Hilo Medical Centre.' Once at the hospital, doctors discovered Ms Harbottle had necrotising fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease'. Mrs Harbottle drove to hospital in December 2017 after a rough two nights with progressing hand pain and a fever. She is pictured recently Once at the hospital, doctors discovered Ms Harbottle had necrotising fasciitis, more commonly known as 'flesh-eating disease' The infection, caused by Streptococcus bacteria, was rapidly spreading through Mrs Harbottle's hand, eating away at the tendons It is a rare but extremely vicious bacterial infection. 'Necrotising' refers to something that causes body tissue to die, and the infection can destroy skin, muscles and fat. The disease develops when the bacteria enters the body, often through a minor cut or scrape. As the bacteria multiply, they release toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the area. Ms Harbottle was told Streptococcus bacteria had entered her body. There are around 1,000 cases in the UK each year that are caused by group A Streptococcus, according to The Lee Spark NF Foundation. In the US, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say between 700 and 1,200 cases occur each year. Necrotising fasciitis gets rapidly worse, and up to 40 per cent of people will die, even with treatment, according to the NHS. Survivors are often left with long-term disability as a result of amputation or the removal of a lot of infected tissue. Ms Harbottle said: 'After being diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, doctors were very extremely hesitant to touch it. The first step was to get every antibiotic on board and hope for results. 'I had just come close to death and was now facing possible amputation if the infection was too strong. The bacteria had already eaten through to my tendons and has now reached my armpit.' The infection travelled to Mrs Harbottle's armpit In January 2018, Ms Harbottle had a groin flap procedure, where they take a chunk of healthy tissue to replace the tissue lost on the hand. It was attached to her groin for a while so it could receive blood flow (pictured) After 65 days in hospital, Ms Harbottle was able to return to her six-year-old daughter, AnnJolie. She is still regaining movement in her hand The infection led to life-threatening sepsis, an over reaction of the immune system leading to rapid deterioration in health. WHAT IS NECROTISING FASCIITIS? Necrotising fasciitis is most commonly caused by an infection with group A Streptococcus, but can be caused by several different types of bacteria. They infect flat layers of a membrane known as the fascia, which are connective bands of tissue that surround muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels. The infection also damages the tissues next to the fascia. Sometimes toxins made by these bacteria destroy the tissue they infect, causing it to die. When this happens, the infection is very serious and can result in loss of limbs or death. Necrotising fasciitis can progress very quickly and lead to serious problems such as sepsis and organ failure. The infection kills 40 per cent of sufferers, even with treatment, according to the NHS. Those who survive can often be left with long-term disability as a result of amputation, or the removal of infected tissue. Advertisement Ms Harbottle said: 'My kidneys were failing. The [necrotising fasciitis] infection was already spreading to my elbow travelling to the heart. 'I was in such a state that my body was so ill and shutting down and the infection was so bad that after being wheeled into emergency I remember very little until I woke up in ICU. 'At this point everything sets in. I'm in a serious situation and I'm far from being out of danger. Being strong was the only option. But emotionally and mentally I suffered. 'I left at 5am that morning leaving my sleeping six-year-old thinking I'd be right back. I never imagined we would be separated for 65 days. 'I was broken hearted but that was my motivation to fight through.' While having numerous antibiotics, Ms Harbottle had a debridement every three days, which is the removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from a wound. Once her skin was healthier, the next stage was to undergo a skin graft. However, an abscess developed just before it was scheduled. Ms Harbottle nearly-missed amputation of her arm. While having numerous antibiotics, Ms Harbottle had a debridement every three days. Pictured, her hand in a vacuum seal Ms Harbottle is still in occupational therapy learning how to use her fingers again after her surgeries. Her new hand is pictured fully healed Ms Harbottle had to be airlifted to a different hospital where she had another surgery on her forearm and ring finger, where the cut initially was. In January 2018, she had reconstructive surgery on her hand using a groin flap procedure. A section of the skin on the groin is lifted like a flap and covered over the missing skin from the hand. Everything is sewn in place and left there for a couple of weeks so the skin from the groin grows new blood vessels to the transferred hand, supplying it with blood. Then, the hand is detached from the groin. Ms Harbottle said: 'The pain was beyond unbearable. I was on heavy doses of narcotics. The bandage changes every two to three days were excruciating. I fought through a patient's advocate to demand to be put under because I just couldn't handle it. 'Antibiotics and pain management were obvious. But what sped the process in healing was an amazing device called the wound VAC. 'It's a suction through a sponge that pulls the bad toxins out of the wound and regenerates healthy blood flow. 'I also received some health and wellness treatment. Medicine for depression and anxiety were given which helped immensely. 'Two follow up surgeries were required to debulk the graft as it was just a chunk of fat from my side.' Soon after the skin graft Ms Harbottle was reunited with her daughter and has been recovering since. While she is still in occupational therapy learning how to use her fingers again after her surgeries, she has learnt to adapt to a new normal life. She said: 'I'm still in occupational therapy and working hard to regain full use of my fingers again. It's definitely something I've just adapted to but there is a lot I have a hard time doing. 'It's the little things; scooping change, unscrewing things etc. I also acquired a frozen shoulder so just getting dressed or putting a hair bobble in is a struggle still. But you adapt and learn a different way. 'I'm so glad I'm in the days I prayed for in the moment. When I can look back and say it's over. And to have my daughter in my arms and all my family. I'm truly lucky and blessed to be here. 'In the long term, I'm always very aware of what could happen as a result of something so minute. We also watch for any type of fever. 'If it wasn't for the fever, I wouldn't have questioned what was really going on and I wear gloves when doing any work especially outside.' Ms Harbottle is grateful to be alive and wants to spread awareness of NF. She said: 'I'd say just try to find the positive joy out of each day. Let yourself off the hook for yesterday. Don't worry about moulding tomorrow too perfectly and just be present in that twenty-four hours. 'As horrible as you have it in that moment someone else has it worse than you. Be thankful for what is.' * Sees 2020 sales between flat and 6% higher * Consensus forecast was +5%, slows from 10% in 2019 * Shares drop to eight-week low, then recover (Adds CEO comment, bullets, updates shares) By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Finland's Kone, one of the contenders to buy the elevator business of its German rival Thyssenkrupp, is very interested in the unit and sees significant "scale advantages," its CEO said on Tuesday. Chief Executive Henrik Ehrnrooth was speaking after the company revealed quarterly profit that beat expectations, but a weaker sales outlook for 2020 pushed its share price briefly to an eight-week low. Kone, which is working with private equity firm CVC was due to make a bid on Jan. 27 for Thyssenkrupp's elevator business, valued at around 15 billion euros ($16.64 billion). Ehrntooth declined to say whether Kone had bid, but said he believed Kone would be "a good owner" and Kone would not be interested in just a minority stake. "The joined companies would have very significant scale advantages," he said. Kone forecast 2020 sales growth of 06% at comparable exchange rates, down from 10% growth the firm reached in 2019. Analysts surveyed by Kone had forecast average sales growth of 5% in 2020 and estimates had ranged from 3% to 7.6% growth. Ehrnrooth said there were fewer orders for this year compared with 2019 and the outbreak in China of the newly-identified coronavirus added uncertainty. Ehrnrooth said Kone's two factories in China would remain closed for at least an additional week because of the virus. "This will affect our first quarter and we don't know when our clients' construction sites will be reopened," he said. Kone reported a 15% rise in fourth-quarter adjusted operating profit to 367.5 million euros ($407.7 million), above the 363.3 million expected by 21 analysts in a poll provided by the company. The company's board proposed a dividend of 1.70 euros per class B share for 2019. Shares in Kone dropped almost 4% on the results report but later recovered to close 0.2% lower at 58.02 euros. ($1 = 0.9014 euros) (Reporting by Anne Kauranen and Tarmo Virki Editing by Barbara Lewis) If Fianna Fail wants to rebrand itself, from the party that wrecked the housing industry to the party that helps revive it, it should enter government with Sinn Fein. Since the extent of the Sinn Fein surge in the election became apparent, a number of Fianna Fail TDs have bullishly insisted Mary Lou McDonald can easily form a left-wing government. "[McDonald] and the left-leaning parties should get together, form a government, find the 22bn and off they go," huffed Barry Cowen, in an interview with this newspaper. Speaking on RTE's 'Claire Byrne Live', Thomas Byrne declared "between [McDonald] and the other parties, they have a majority" and "that's probably where the thing has to go at this point". This shouldn't have to be spelled out, but Sinn Fein secured 37 seats, the Green Party 12, Labour six, the Social Democrats six and Solidarity People Before Profit five, making a grand total of 66 - a good deal below the majority number of 80. Fianna Fail TDs, who assert McDonald can lead a left-wing coalition, are conveniently omitting the State's fourth biggest 'party' from their calculations, Independent TDs who won 21 seats. There are six left-leaning Independents. In the event all of them came on board, the grand 'left' coalition rises to 72 - still not enough to guarantee legislation, or budgets, can be passed. Even if the arms of other Independent TDs could be twisted and deals done to secure their support, how stable could a government comprised of five separate parties and 14 Independents really be? How could an administration that precarious and fragmented credibly hope to tackle the hugely serious issues this country faces in housing and health? Fianna Fail has had an appalling election and lost TDs and staff. It is understandable its members are reeling and need time to process the full implications of the electorate's decision. But glibly responding "let Mary Lou at it" - the subtext being "nothing to do with us" - when asked about government formation sounds petty and bitter. Fianna Fail may be smarting at the result, but McDonald cannot conjure left-wing TDs from the ether to join her in government. Everyone in Leinster House has to work with the hand the electorate dealt them and it is difficult to fathom a government other than Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail, joined by the Greens or the Social Democrats or Labour, as the eventual outcome. Fianna Fail could refuse to work with Sinn Fein. That is the party's prerogative. Instead, it could try to form a government with Fine Gael and some of the other small parties or Independents. But in an election in which voters resoundingly expressed a desire for change, how wise would it be for Fianna Fail to instead deliver more of the same? If it were to go down that route - leaving Sinn Fein, the party that won the popular vote, as the main opposition - it would be signing its own political death warrant. If Fianna Fail refuses to do a deal with either Fine Gael or Sinn Fein, the prospect of another election looms large. Does the party really want to embark on a second election campaign so soon after this devastating result? Sinn Fein candidates had nearly 120,000 surplus votes in Saturday's election, which predominantly went to other left-wing parties. In any subsequent election, the party would field many more candidates and likely secure a lot more seats. Sinn Fein would also be able to go back to the people on the basis that Fianna Fail's intransigence meant it needed a bigger mandate to ensure its policies could be implemented, and it is entirely possible its share of the vote could increase. For Fianna Fail, this is what is called a rock and a hard place. Micheal Martin definitively ruled out coalition with Sinn Fein before the election on two grounds: moral questions about the party's links to "external forces", or shadowy figures, and incompatible policies when it comes to the State's finances. But that was then and this is now, and if a large cohort of the electorate has decided to trust Sinn Fein, Fianna Fail could also make that leap. The parties' proposals on housing, the requirement to build 100,000 public homes and tax credit for renters, are very similar. The only real divergence is a rent freeze and SSIA scheme for first-time buyers. On health, both parties are committed to Slaintecare. Taxation policy when it comes to business would be trickier to navigate, but it shouldn't be beyond the wit of negotiators to come to some form of compromise. If Fianna Fail is looking for lessons on how best to do a reverse ferret, it could follow the smell of burning tyres wafting from the headquarters of business lobby group Ibec after it engaged in a screeching U-turn yesterday. Before the election, Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy warned Sinn Fein's economic policies could have "grave implications" for Ireland's business model. Yesterday, having suddenly warmed to our new political reality, McCoy told the 'Irish Times' businesses would "absolutely" be able to work with Sinn Fein and its policies were "not that mad" after all. Even former Fine Gael MEP and current head of Ireland's biggest banking lobby group, Brian Hayes, was sanguine about the prospect of Sinn Fein in government. People should be "relaxed", he said, as suggestions of an increased risk to business from a Sinn Fein administration were "exaggerated". If bankers and business can get on board, why not Fianna Fail? There are certainly risks for the party from any coalition but the rewards could be huge. For many voters, Fianna Fail is indelibly associated with the crash that destroyed the economy and precipitated a decade of austerity. Entering a confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael did nothing to rehabilitate its image. But if Fianna Fail was part of a government that actually lived up its commitments to voters by addressing the crises in housing and health, and improving the quality of life for families, it could write a new chapter in the party's story. Any incoming government would have to take radical action and make difficult decisions, but the problems the country faces are not insurmountable if the political will to deal with them is there. Fianna Fail is at a crossroads. It can slink off to lick its wounds, gripe about an inconclusive result and eventually precipitate a new election. Or it can roll up its sleeves, opt to work with the TDs the people have elected and try to improve the lives of everyone who lives on this island. The people voted for change. Fianna Fail can either tell them they were wrong or help deliver it. The decision is up to them. Representative Image Delhi Congress chief PC Chacko on February 12 resigned from his post after the party's abysmal performance in the Assembly polls of the national capital, according to news agency ANI. The Congress drew a blank for the second time in a row and saw its vote share reduce from 9.7 percent in 2015 to 4.27 percent in the recently-concluded polls. A day after the party's poll drubbing, Chacko said the downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 during Sheila Dikshit's stint as Chief Minister. He also said that the emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has dented the popularity of Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP retained power in style, winning 62 of the 70 assembly seats The Delhi Congress in-charge had earlier accepted the party's "defeat with humility" and assured that the party will work hand to regain its stature. "We lost very badly. We accept our defeat with humility. The Congress will work hard and come back," Chacko had said on February 11. Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra has also resigned from his post. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:36:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that Manila's move to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States "is in the right direction." From the point of view of the Philippines, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the decision to terminate the VFA "is a move in the right direction that should have been done a long time ago." The Philippine government on Tuesday officially notified the U.S. government about Duterte's decision to scrap the VFA that allows the U.S. forces to take part in large-scale joint military exercises with Philippine troops. Duterte decided to scrap the VFA after the U.S. cancelled the visa of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, his longtime aide, over Dela Rosa's role in the war on drugs during his term of Philippine National Police chief. "I think the cancellation of Senator dela Rosa's visa was the immediate trigger," Lucio Blanco Pitlo, the Research Fellow on international relations at the Philippine think tank Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, told Xinhua. Specifically, Duterte was angered by the U.S. lawmakers' demand to free detained Senator Leila De Lima, who has been detained over drug-related charges since February, 2017. "The visa cancellation was taken by Duterte as an affront to one of his key domestic policies which is the anti-drug war and an interference in the Philippine justice system as there is an ongoing case related to the detention of De Lima," Pitlo said. "I suppose he wants to send a strong message of displeasure against what he sees as persistent foreign interference in the country's domestic affairs," Pitlo added. Pitlo said Duterte's actions also fit with his foreign policy which is to distance his administration from the United States. Spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Wednesday that reliance on another country for his own country's defenses against the enemies of the state will ultimately weaken and stagnate its defense mechanisms. "We must stand on our own and put a stop to being a parasite to another country in protecting our independence and sovereignty," he said. "It is about time that the Philippines strengthen our defense capabilities," Panelo added. He said, "Our studied action is consistent and pursuant to our chartering an independent foreign policy, with our foreign relations anchored solely on national interest and the general welfare of our people." Panelo has said the termination will take effect 180 days later and will not need U.S. concurrence. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday that Manila's withdrawal from the VFA "would be a move in the wrong direction." Panelo slammed Esper for making such a statement, saying the U.S. defense chief's commentary "is expected given that the VFA favors the U.S. and its abrogation affects its global strategic defensive positioning." Pitlo said the Philippines-U.S. relations "will certainly experience turbulent times" under Duterte's term which ends in 2022. "The military-to-military ties will be seriously affected if VFA will be terminated," Pitlo warned. U.S. State Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper said on Monday that the U.S. has about 300 engagements and exercises that the U.S. forces conduct bilaterally with the Philippines. Asked what is at risk without a VFA, Cooper said, "Well, without a VFA, it puts at risk things like these engagements, like these exercises." The Philippines and the U.S. signed in 1998 a VFA allowing joint Philippine-U.S. military operations. The Philippine senate ratified the agreement in 1999, seven years after the closure of the last U.S. base on Philippine territory. When Duterte came to power in 2016, he vowed to scrap the VFA and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the U.S. and chart an independent foreign policy. The owners of a paint company in Valdemoro (Madrid) that went bankrupt during the crisis, young people who lost their jobs, and working-class folk who saw their incomes drop and were afraid they wouldnt have enough to support their families. These are some of the kinds of people who have entered the marijuana business in the last four years, according to the Spanish Civil Guard. During this time, the hauls of this soft drug have rocketed in Spain, with raids carried out almost weekly. Of the nearly 20,000 arrests for drug trafficking made in the country each year, more than half are cannabis-related and almost 70% of the detainees are Spanish, according to official statistics. Rooms, garages, sheds, storage rooms, attics, small boats, trucks and motorhomes are all ideal for growing marijuana under lights Last weeks so-called Operation Mocy, involving more than 500 Civil Guard officers, resulted in 69 raids and 76 arrests in the provinces of Granada, Malaga, Cadiz and Valencia. The majority of those picked up by the police lived in modest homes or social housing in the municipality of Pinos Puente, 16 kilometers from Granada. In the neighborhood of Las Flores, women in house robes and slippers and sleepy-looking youths in jeans were led out of their homes in handcuffs. Operation Mocy was just one of dozens of raids carried out by the police this year. From 2013, when records began, to 2018, hauls of marijuana plants have soared by almost 600% from 175,000 to nearly one million plants, according to the Interior Ministry. It has been rising progressively, with a significant spike in 2017 and a steady upwards trend since then, according to investigators from both the National Police and the Civil Guard. In the last year alone, it has risen by 90%. In terms of kilograms seized, the figure has risen from 15,174 in 2014 to 37,220 in 2018, according to data from the Intelligence Center against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO). A marijuana grow house raided by Spain's National Police. The illegal marijuana business has expanded in the wake of the economic crisis and taken hold with help from criminal organizations that operate in Spain. Investigators note that these groups view marijuana as an easy business. Investment requirements are low: between 10,000 and 30,000 for an indoor setup, depending on its size. The returns, on the other hand, are significant: in the UK, for example, a kilogram of marijuana goes for 4,000. On top of this, the risks are minimal, with criminal penalties ranging from one to three years in prison and the likelihood of a suspended sentence for those with no prior record. Rooms, garages, sheds, storage rooms, attics, small boats, trucks and motorhomes are all ideal for growing marijuana under lights. The criminal gangs have seen a golden opportunity in the homes of low-income families. They show up and set up everything for them the plants, the electrical wiring, the lights and they leave a handbook with step-by-step instructions on how to care for the plants, as if it were written for dummies, says a spokesman for the Civil Guards drug division. They move in for the harvest between five and 20 kilograms, three or four times a year and pay families the agreed amount, which is around 5,000 per harvest. It works almost like a big cooperative of small producers; they collect and send the goods to Europe: Germany, England, France, Poland, Estonia, Latvia... A way of life While there are larger plantations in more isolated rural areas of Toledo, Catalonia, Extremadura and Alicante, not to mention some greenhouses in Almeria, the new trend has resulted in a proliferation of small growers throughout the southern half of Spain, with a higher concentration in provinces such as Granada, according to the cannabis plant distribution map drawn up by the Interior Ministry. In some villages, it has become a way of life for residents seeking to boost their low incomes as well as for those particularly young people who view it as an easy and low-risk way of making a quick buck, according to the experts. The drug gangs leave a handbook with step-by-step instructions on how to care for the plants The investment is small and practically pays off after the first harvest. The electricity for the grow lights that are kept on 24/7 is usually siphoned off from a neighboring power line often providing a clue to the whereabouts of plantations. There have been instances of entire populations being left without electricity due to the high consumption needed for the lamps. According to one Civil Guard officer who has worked in this field for 18 years, once people get a taste of the easy money involved in growing marijuana, they find it hard to give it up. This is adversely affecting the social fabric in some communities, where people who once held decent jobs are now dedicating their lives to growing marijuana, he says. It is becoming like Campo de Gibraltar, but much more hidden, he adds, alluding to an area in Cadiz province where drug gangs have been operating for years. The former store hashish in their homes while in this case, people take care of marijuana plants. Its not just a public health issue, its also about the violence attached to it, because anyone who has something of value will often use weapons to defend it. The violence After last weeks raid in Pinos Puente, where the smell of marijuana hangs in the air around every corner, nobody in town is willing to talk about the underground economy that keeps many families afloat. Just four days after the sting, a man was shot to death here in what the Civil Guard has described as a settling of scores. At another time, I would have arranged for you to talk to a drug trafficker and you would have gotten more insights, says one marijuana distributor in Granada. But with all the police pressure on them at the moment, its just not possible. No one, least of all me, can risk even asking them. If they are arrested one or two months down the line for whatever reason, well be the ones to blame. And I assure you that we would end up paying for it. The marijuana plants are under grow lights 24/7, leading to high electricity consumption. POLICIA NACIONAL Faced with the clandestine nature of a business that continues to expand in Spain due to great demand in Europe, the polices strategy consists of organizing large raids to reduce the general feeling of impunity. It is a socially accepted drug, says a police source. There is constant talk of its curative properties and other countries are moving towards legalization. Those involved in the business are aware of that. They know that there is unlikely to be either criminal or moral recrimination, and the economic temptation is huge. Politicians growing dope In the province of Granada, there have been cases of politicians getting arrested for growing the drug. In the small village of Pampaneira, in the Alpujarras region of Granada, a Socialist Party (PSOE) councilor resigned over a year-and-a-half ago after the Civil Guard found 355 plants on his property. And the deputy mayor of El Valle, Manuel Palma of the Popular Party (PP), was held on similar charges. The National Police arrested him last summer after finding 256 marijuana plants inside a house with two grow rooms perfectly set up for cultivation. But the growers are only the first link in the chain. Normally, there are go-betweens for the mafias, people who have contacts with distributors who, in turn, have different small suppliers; it works like a multinational, explains a spokesman for the Civil Guard. They ask for so many kilos and someone is in charge of collecting them and sending them where they need to go, sometimes using ordinary couriers with the goods wrapped in towels and packed as merchandise, like the Chinese used to do. The Chinese players The arrival of the Chinese mafias onto the marijuana scene has also meant major growth in the sector. The Chinese are mainly buyers and distributors, says one police officer who specializes in marijuana trafficking. They have a reputation for always having money, being good payers and paying in cash. They are a producers dream. Thats why they have cornered a share of the market. According to CITCO data, it has taken just four years for Spain to become the third largest producer and exporter of marijuana in Europe, trailing only behind Albania and Italy. Outside of Europe, Mexico and the United States are the countries with the biggest marijuana seizures. What is happening is similar to the growth of intensive greenhouse agriculture in Almeria, says an expert. We live in a society in which the big lobbies for the cannabis companies, some of which are even listed on the stock exchange, are pushing for legalization and promoting a kind image of a natural drug that is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and where modifications and genetic hybrids have made its THC the psychoactive component soar from 2% to 30% with all the risks this entails for the mental health of the consumer. Besides, as we have seen, legalization always comes with a black market. English version by Heather Galloway. The highest number of votes in the None of the Above (NOTA) category was polled in Matiala, with six of the nine candidates in the constituency getting lesser than it in the tally, according to data shared by the Election Commission on its website. Over 43,000 votes in the just-concluded Delhi Assembly polls were cast in the NOTA category, constituting about 0.5 per cent of total votes polled. In Matiala, the NOTA votes stood at 1,602, the highest under that category across the total 70 constituencies, while the lowest number of NOTA votes were polled in Matia Mahal -- 216. The election, largely seen as a battle between the AAP and the BJP, was held on Saturday and fought by 672 candidates -- 593 men and 79 women. The final voter turnout was 62.59 per cent, five per cent less than 2015. The votes polled under NOTA category was -- 43,108 -- as per the figures released by the EC on its website. In a near-repeat performance of 2015, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday retained power with a stunning victory, winning 62 of the 70 assembly seats and leaving the BJP with just eight seats. The AAP won with a voting percentage of 53.57, while the BJP got eight seats with vote share of 38.51 per cent. The Congress drew a blank for the second successive assembly elections in Delhi. In Matiala, AAP's Gulab Singh amassed 1,39,010 followed by BJP's Rajesh Gahlot with 1,10,935 and Congress's Sumesh Shokeen with 7317 votes. Rest all six candidates in the constituencies got lesser votes than the NOTA count. In the 2015 Delhi elections, the NOTA vote percentage had stood at 0.4 per cent of the total votes cast. The AAP had swept the polls with 67 seats. After the Supreme Court order in September 2013, the EC added NOTA button on the electronic voting machines as the last option on the voting panel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One mans trip to a popular local restaurant for a little bit of kek and a sweet drink ended up leaving a bitter taste in his mouth when he noticed that the servers had labeled his receipt with a rather nasty remark. Nazly Rosli visited an outlet of the popular restaurant chain Secret Recipe in the Wangsa Maju neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur earlier this month and asked them to hold the whipped cream on his iced chocolate beverage. Instead of just noting the request, one of the servers appears to have keyed in gemuk tak nak cream, which loosely translates to the fat one does not want cream a message that ended up appearing on the customers receipt, and subsequently on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral. Rude! We guess thats one way to get your customers attention and, yknow, to out yourselves as insensitive pricks dedicated to keep middle school-era fat-shaming protocols alive and well. Secret Recipe Malaysia pls advise your staff not to key in unnecessary remark when taking customer's order. I asked for Posted by Nazly Rosli on Saturday, February 1, 2020 I asked for no whipped cream for the ice chocolate [and it] turned out that the order was entered as gemuk tak nak cream. I wonder if this was directed at me or the employee who made the drink, Nazly wrote in his post. Furthermore, [some of the staff] were chatting loudly about how the drinks made by their colleague could literally potong kaki [cut your leg off], he added, an apparent jape about diabetes-related amputations (classy!). Fortunately, I was amused, instead of angry. Just imagine if one of your fussy customers had this printed on their receipts? It is okay to be happy at work, but please be professional. In the comments section, Nazly clarified that he had not noticed the comment when he was at the restaurant, but only later when he was clearing his pockets at home. He has since reposted his complaint directly to Secret Recipes social media page, and is awaiting a response from the chain. This article, Rude! Local restaurant accused of fat-shaming customer who asked to hold the whipped cream, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! File image In what was a near-repeat of the 2015 Legislative Assembly election result, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on February 11 retained power in the national capital. AAP bagged 62 out of the total 70 Assembly constituencies in Delhi. The main challenger Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the remaining eight seats. In 2015, AAP and BJP had won 67 and three seats, respectively. The result is likely to have an impact on politics of not just Delhi, but the entire country. Here are the key takeaways: Kaam ki rajneeti AAP had run its campaign on claims of having delivered cheap and uninterrupted electricity and water supply, and educational reforms. There were other initiatives such as installation of CCTV cameras and free rides on public transport that were also highlighted. Rejecting AAPs claims of development, BJP had focused its campaign on nationalism and especially on the sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The results data indicates that BJPs campaign was not able to influence voters minds in constituencies beyond east Delhi. With this win, AAP has secured for itself a third consecutive term in office. Speaking to party workers after the poll win, Kejriwal asserted that the people of Delhi have given birth to a new model of politics, which is the 'kaam ki rajneeti' (politics of work). Listen in: Rajneeti podcast | Decoding Delhi poll results insight into AAP's resounding win, BJP's gains and Congress' decimation BJPs hidden gains BJP lost the election by a wide margin in terms of seats. But it did manage to gain from the last time, when it won just three. More importantly, BJPs vote share increased. The BJP-led alliance comprising Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (JLP) secured a combined vote share of around 40 percent. This was significantly more than 32.3 percent votes the saffron party had won in 2015. Additionally, political observers point out that running a faceless campaign hurt BJPs prospects. The party had not named a chief ministerial candidate. This worked against the BJP as they were competing one-on-one against AAP, which has an undisputed leader in Kejriwal. Decimation of Congress Election data shows that Indian National Congress, which was once a dominant political force in Delhi, has virtually evaporated from the political setting in the national capital. The party, led by Sheila Dikshit, had governed the national capital for three consecutive terms between 1998 and 2013. However, this was the second straight election (following the 2015 polls) it failed to win a single seat. Worse, the Congress, along with ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), lost its deposit in 67 of the 70 constituencies. While Congress contested 66 of the 70 seats, RJD fought on the remaining four. All four RJD candidates lost their deposits. On the other hand, 63 of the 66 Congress candidates lost their deposits. The three constituencies where Congress candidates were able to save their deposits were Badli, Gandhi Nagar and Kasturba Nagar. Also read: Congress+ loses deposit in 67 out of 70 seats Centre vs state polls pattern confirmed The election result confirms that the people across the country are voting differently at the Centre and in the states. Meaning, a voter is not shying away from opting for different political parties while voting in elections for different levels of governance. Besides Delhi, three states had gone for state polls after the 2019 general election concluded. These were Haryana and Maharashtra in October 2019 and Jharkhand in December 2019. In all of the three states, the BJP and its allies had done exceedingly well in the general election. However, they were unable to match their performance in the state polls. In retrospect, election results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan also fit into this pattern. BJP had lost Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in December 2018. But it still won 9/11 seats in Chhattisgarh, 28/29 in Madhya Pradesh and 24/25 in Rajasthan. The remaining one seat in Rajasthan was in fact won by its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP). Moneycontrol had reported about the emergence of this voting pattern ahead of the Delhi election. Possible impact in Bihar This result comes around eight months before the Bihar Legislative Assembly election. BJP and its ally, Janata Dal (United) are in an alliance. They are expected to fight the election together. In fact, BJP leader Amit Shah has said that they will fight the polls under the leadership of JD(U) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, there has been no formal seat-sharing deal yet. Having lost power in Maharashtra, having failed to secure a majority on its own in Haryana and now with losses in Jharkhand and Delhi, BJP may have lost its hard-bargaining power when it comes to seat-sharing negotiations in Bihar. For 17 years, Angela Hewitt, one of the worlds foremost classical pianists, has been performing recitals and creating acclaimed recordings with a rare concert grand piano. But their partnership has now ended. This week, she composed a eulogy for her beloved instrument, as full of emotion and longing as the music she once created with it, after movers dropped the piano, destroying it. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Ms. Hewitt described having just completed a recording of Beethoven variations at a studio in Berlin. She was elated with the results, she said, and as she was finishing up with her producer, the movers entered the control room, mortified. They had dropped my precious Fazioli concert grand piano, she wrote. I adored this piano, she continued. It was my best friend, best companion. CNN Opinion contributors weigh in with political analysis on the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary results. The views expressed in this commentary are their own. View more opinion articles on CNN. SE Cupp: A bad omen for the Warren campaign Having grown up north of Boston, just a few miles from the New Hampshire border, I can tell you New Hampshire voters and Massachusetts voters are dissimilar in some striking ways. But that notwithstanding, someone like Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Senator, should have done much, much better in tonight's New Hampshire primary. With more than 85% of the vote in, she is in a distant fourth behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. That should sound some loud alarms for her campaign, which is already reeling from a third place finish in Iowa, some embarrassing staff defections in Nevada and looming money woes. Warren was hoping New Hampshire would give her a much-needed jolt. My assessment? Warren has failed to capture a lane. Sanders came out swinging as a Democratic Socialist, out-lefting nearly everyone in the field. Klobuchar has emerged the more promising moderate than a flailing former Vice President Joe Biden. Buttigieg is the exciting newcomer, leaving Warren where, exactly? No man's land. Back in 2018, the Boston Globe editorial page told Warren not to run, that she'd missed her moment in 2016. The reason they offered was she was too divisive to take on Trump. But maybe it was that she was too inconsistent, vacillating on issues and losing steam this week. She even admitted herself that in the last debate before this primary, she "just didn't say enough, didn't fight hard enough." There are a number of contests where Warren could still be competitive, if she can last that long, but finishing fourth in a New England state full of white, older, female suburban voters is likely a very bad omen for her campaign. SE Cupp is a CNN political commentator and the host of "SE Cupp Unfiltered." Ian Sams: Sanders' victory underscores a new reality Don't get it twisted: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is the Democratic frontrunner. His New Hampshire victory, within a week of winning Iowa's popular vote, underscores a reality in this crowded primary: you don't need anywhere near a majority of the electorate to win. You just need a loyal base. Gone is the famous "Obama coalition." The "Bernie Bloc" is in. Sanders' base of millennials and Gen Z, very liberal voters, men, non-black minorities and working class whites may be unconventional, but it sure looks big enough to keep delivering him narrow wins. It's taken everything former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar had to come close to Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden are still competing with them for the driver's seat in the same lane. They're all scrambling to build a broader base for later states. Women, college educated suburbanites, rural moderates and black voters are split. The winner: Sanders. I will say: credit to Buttigieg, who showed that he is here to stay with a narrow second place New Hampshire finish. His near victory proved that his Iowa win in the delegate count wasn't a fluke, and voters in the states to come will give him another look. It's a remarkable rise for the largely unknown former small city mayor, but now his challenge is proving that he can grow his base beyond older voters in mostly white states. With the volatility to come, Sanders ought to be licking his chops. As others compete with each other for an expanded coalition within largely the same lane, in both homogeneous and diverse states the "Bernie Bloc" may be enough to win. Ian Sams is a Democratic strategist with experience on seven state and federal campaigns. He was most recently national press secretary on Sen. Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Errol Louis: What matters most is who lost As Democrats seek a candidate to run against President Trump, the party entered New Hampshire urgently needing to trim the size of the 10-candidate field. Some candidates are bumping into hard financial and logistical facts that will spell the end of their candidacies. Andrew Yang, a newcomer to politics, suspended his campaign shortly after the polls closed. His campaign had spent more than $3 million on television ads in New Hampshire and he campaigned in the state for 62 days -- far more than any other candidate except Tulsi Gabbard (who rented a home near Manchester and more or less moved into the state). Senator Michael Bennet dropped out as well. Former Vice President Joe Biden hasn't dropped out, but his likely 5th-place finish was a humiliating blow, coming after his self-described "gut punch" of finishing 4th in the chaotic Iowa caucuses. Biden may finish with less than 10% of the vote in New Hampshire and likely won't win a single delegate. Any lingering sense of Biden's inevitability or electability died in the Granite State. In advance of the results, he hastily departed to South Carolina, which he has described as a "firewall" of black supporters that will restore his electoral fortunes. "The fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning," Biden told supporters. "It ain't over man. We're just getting started." Sen. Elizabeth Warren was also a big loser, finishing no higher than fourth in a state adjacent to her home of Massachusetts. Her single-digit finish likely means that she, too, leaves New Hampshire empty-handed with zero delegates. In a speech to supporters, Warren warned her fellow Democrats to tone down the level of attacks between them. "We cannot afford to fall into factions," she said. "We win when we come together." Warren's back-to-back losses in Iowa and New Hampshire raise serious questions about how long she will stay in the race. Billionaire Tom Steyer spent more than $17 million on television advertising in New Hampshire, and with over 60% of precincts reporting holds less than 4% of the vote and zero delegates. If his luck doesn't change soon, it's possible that the wealthy businessman will call it quits. Errol Louis is the host of "Inside City Hall," a nightly political show on NY1, a New York all-news channel. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Jen Psaki: The real test is coming up After Tuesday night, a few things are clear: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is the Democratic frontrunner, and he is effectively tapping into a desire for change. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg's win in Iowa was not a fluke, and his support is broad and sustained. And Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's strong debate performance and weekend surge put her in the top tier. But after the Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar supporters celebrate tonight, the real question will be what this means for the nomination fight moving forward. For Sanders, he is running on the promise of bringing new people into the process and expanding his group of supporters. The turnout numbers in Iowa do not help him tell that story. His campaign also continues to run the race as an outsider, but he is now the frontrunner and if he wants to win the nomination, he will need to build on his support beyond his committed and loyal base. For Butigieg, he is running on a message of bringing people together -- effectively drawing from the support of not just former Vice President Joe Biden, but also Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Still, there are major questions about his ability to draw support from people of color. He has growing operations in Nevada and South Carolina and he has invested in both paid advertising and staff resources, but if he wants to go the distance, he will need strong performances in both of those states. For Klobuchar, her rise over the final days leading up to the New Hampshire primary positions her as a real contender. But she is also playing catch up. The Nevada and South Carolina caucus and primary come quickly. Sanders, Buttegieg and even Warren and Biden have had operations in the next two states for months. As a top tier candidate, she will also be under much greater scrutiny -- including for her record as a prosecutor in Minnesota. No candidate is perfect in any race ever. But the test is how they capitalize on success during the primary process while also managing their individual weaknesses. Jen Psaki, a CNN political commentator, was the White House communications director and State Department spokeswoman during the Obama administration. She is vice president of communications and strategy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Follow her at @jrpsaki. Scott Jennings: Yang dropped out, perhaps Warren should Given that I'm a Republican, you'd think I would be happy when any of the Democrats running for president fails. But that's not true. I never met Andrew Yang, but it appeared to me that he was the only person running for president in their primary who was actually having fun. He had an optimistic message built on fixing things and modernizing various pieces of the government. He was running on a platform warning about the threats of automation one article said he "ran on a platform warning against the threats of artificial intelligence and automation"-- which is a little technocratic for a presidential campaign but probably cemented him as an "ideas guy" for the Democrats for years to come. And that's a good thing. We need more people like Yang in politics (I mean, some of his ideas were nutty but fun to talk about), not only because he seems like a good man but also because his platform wasn't built on punishing everyone liberal Democrats hate. That's the strategy that seems to animate many of the other candidates: demonize successful people, brand Republicans and Trump supporters as racists, attack the traditional values of people in rural areas. But I didn't sense Yang was motivated by that same sort of vindictive attitude; I'm not sure it ever dawned on him to use politics for that purpose. Which is the exact opposite of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who doesn't seem to realize her campaign is over. Her speech on Tuesday night gave the impression that she intends to stay until the bitter end, which will serve no purpose other than to let her push her vindictive platform and opinions, like the time at her CNN town hall when she took a mean-spirited jab at voters who believe in traditional marriage. Warren's message is not unifying, and her ongoing trouble with the truth about her own narrative has exposed her as inauthentic (she has told some whoppers about her heritage and her kids' private schooling, for example). Bernie Sanders appears to be in the driver's seat now, and the only question for Democrats is whether he will benefit from the same condition of protracted fragmentation within his party that helped Donald Trump win the 2016 GOP primary. With Warren's announcement of her intention to stay in and with Mike Bloomberg lurking in the wings, it seems perhaps that he may. Oh, sorry, Joe Biden. You've never finished higher than fourth in a presidential primary state in three national campaigns. Don't wait until South Carolina. Bow out now and save yourself the embarrassment. Scott Jennings, a CNN contributor, is a former special assistant to President George W. Bush and a former campaign adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell. He is a partner at RunSwitch Public Relations in Louisville, Kentucky. Follow him on Twitter @ScottJenningsKY. David Gergen: Bloomberg could be the heavyweight the Dems are waiting for Some late-night reflections after the New Hampshire primary: The biggest story of the campaign so far is the near-collapse of former Vice President Joe Biden's candidacy. One wonders whether in the controversy over Ukraine, the Trump team ultimately accomplished what it wanted -- a smearing that badly weakened Biden. To be sure, there were other factors: Biden has a long, disappointing record in national campaigns. This is his third, and he has yet to win a primary. Unless he now wins Nevada and South Carolina, pressures will rise for his exit. Biden's stumbles opened up the moderate lane for former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar -- and both have smartly seized their opportunity. "Mayor Pete" has the talent to go all the way but perhaps, as with Jack Kennedy in his national debut, he will need more seasoning to get there. Klobuchar grows on people as a candidate but she, too, may need more gravitas. Give her credit; she has already shown she should be at the top of any short list for Vice President. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders deserves credit, too. In his case, he has already become the most popular socialist in American history. But he may have crested in the 2016 campaign. After all, he won New Hampshire by over 20 points then against Hillary Clinton; this time, he won New Hampshire by less than 2 percentage points. And across most of the Democratic Party, strategists are worried about his chances against President Donald Trump. To them, he is the Jeremy Corbyn (leader of Britain's Labor Party) of the American left. Biden's troubles have also opened the door to Michael Bloomberg -- and he, too, has smartly seized his opportunity. A national Quinnipiac poll last week found him rising to third place in preferences among Democrats. More importantly, in a head-to-head against Trump, he held the widest lead over the President: 9 points. One danger for him is that leaders on the Democratic left will try to destroy him before voters have had a say. One can already see signs of that. As some of the savviest observers believe -- see Tom Friedman in the New York Times -- Bloomberg could be the most effective heavyweight the party has in slugging it out with Trump. But will the Democratic left give him a fair hearing? As always these days: stay tuned! David Gergen has been a White House adviser to four presidents and is a senior political analyst at CNN. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is a professor of public service and the former director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Sery Kim: Sanders has a winning strategy -- and it's similar to Trump's As the Democrats comically fouled their Iowa caucuses and flew to New Hampshire, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden warned of the dangers posed by President Donald Trump's reelection. This stood in stark contrast to the approach that the eventual victor in New Hampshire's primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, offered -- radical change with a side of fun. Beyond his policy proposals, Sanders offered live music by The Strokes. He made the process of picking a presidential candidate as fun, engaging and accessible as could be. And the Sanders' choice here is critical, because voters, many of whom are exhausted by a prolonged primary process, want to have a good time when they pick a presidential candidate. They want to feel good about themselves, about the candidate they vote for -- and certainly about the direction of the country he or she will take it in. And you know who knows this best? Trump. "They can't take a joke," the President gleefully proclaimed in New Hampshire on Monday, as the crowd laughed and cheered. And keep in mind, this crowd stood in freezing New Hampshire rain for hours because seeing Trump in person was like seeing The Strokes in concert: Trump is their rock star. Moving forward, the Democrats need to lighten up and enjoy this process. Warren was never more popular than when people saw how much she loved taking selfies for hours on end. And Andrew Yang, who just exited the race, lasted longer than multiple senators and congressmen, in part, because he often looked like he was having a great time. Sery Kim is an attorney, Republican strategist and former senior adviser in the Trump Administration. She currently resides in Texas where she works at the law firm Scheef & Stone, LLP. Van Jones: Yang's race may have ended, but his ideas live on Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar will get most of the attention Tuesday night, and they deserve it. But one of the biggest stories out of New Hampshire was businessman Andrew Yang's decision to end his presidential campaign. A decade from now, he will appear to be a much more significant voice than we recognize right now. Yang's campaign did not ask you to hate anybody. So much of politics now is, "Who do you hate?" Liberal elites? Immigrants? Billionaires? Socialists? But you could join the #YangGang and not hate anyone. He simply wanted to make sure we re-tooled the economy for the human, environmental and technological challenges to come. One year ago, Yang was an unknown technology entrepreneur with interesting ideas but limited organization. In the months that followed, he showed the power of ingenuity and authenticity. The fact that he lasted so long -- on stages with senators, governors and a former vice president -- is nothing short of remarkable. And he broke a color barrier as an Asian-American guy who inspired young Asian-Americans to get involved in the political process. He forced candidates to talk about automation, algorithms and how we measure what is important in society. A year ago, his ideas around universal basic income seemed like a fringe idea few had heard of. Now, UBI is right in the thick of conversation across the country. Yang's presidential campaign may have ended, but his ideas will live on. Van Jones is CEO of REFORM Alliance and co-founder of #cut50, a bipartisan criminal justice initiative of the Dream Corps. He is also the author of "Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together." Sarah Isgur: We've got a long way to go Now everything changes. Nevada and South Carolina are contests totally unlike their more famous siblings in Iowa and New Hampshire, in which retail politics traditionally help win the day. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar may be leaving New Hampshire with the wind at their backs, but everything about their campaign structures -- ground game, messaging, voter targeting -- are going to have to shift into new gears. First, the voter demographics are completely different in the next two states. Race is the biggest factor. Iowa and New Hampshire are predominately white states. Nevada, on the other hand, is less than half white -- and more than a quarter of South Carolina voters are black. These more diverse states will have different needs and priorities -- and the candidates will have to speak to those. Second, these candidates are moving away from states that had held their first-in-the-nation status for decades. Nevada and South Carolina have only held two early nominating contests for Democrats -- in 2008 and 2016. This means there is no tried and true path to victory, and far fewer polls to guide the way. And it means there aren't the same traditional events -- like the famous wooden eggs handed out at New Hampshire's Politics & Eggs Forum -- where voters know to go to meet the candidates. While there's nothing unusual about finding an Iowa voter who has met four presidential candidates in person and asked them each a question, Nevada and South Carolina are still adjusting to their new role in the spotlight. And none of these states will have mattered if this turns into a true battle over delegates. The first four states combined award less than 200 of the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. The contests held across the country on Super Tuesday, including California and Texas this year, will award a third of the delegates needed for the nomination. So, what does all this mean for the candidates? In short: we've got a long way to go. Sarah Isgur is a CNN political analyst. She has worked on three Republican presidential campaigns and is an adjunct professor at George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Daniel Guild: More surprises lay ahead Of all the oddities of the American political system, surely the hardest to explain to a non-American is the role expectations play in primary politics. The idea that the candidate who finished third could be the "winner" is, well, strange. Yet that may be exactly what New Hampshire has done. Because, though, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the victor, with former Mayor Pete Buttigieg just behind him, the real winner -- at least in terms of expectations -- is Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. A mere three weeks ago, she was an afterthought in New Hampshire, mired in the mid-single digits. But a strong close in the Iowa caucuses gave her some measure of momentum. And one supporter told me on Monday that her exchange with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during the debate over democratic socialism and health care is what energized her campaign. She made clear she was an alternative to the current Democratic frontrunner by offering a more moderate path. Notably, in the CNN exit poll, Klobuchar won among those who wanted to unite the country, while Sanders won those who wanted much-needed change. These two competing goals define the divide in the Democratic Party as much as ideology does. If identifying the winners was hard, the losers were easy to spot. Nothing so defined former Vice President Joe Biden's performance in New Hampshire as his decision to leave the state for South Carolina while voting was still underway. My candidate, Elizabeth Warren, fared little better. She organized early, and she actually led in October -- but struggled to maintain that momentum. So, where do we go from here? In the same CNN exit poll, 50% of New Hampshire voters said they did not decide until the last few days of the primary campaign. Perhaps the final lesson from New Hampshire is more surprises are ahead. Daniel Guild is lawyer, project manager and Democratic activist in New Hampshire. He writes for Bleeding Heartland, a progressive political blog. Joe Lockhart: The center-left is strong There are enough numbers out of New Hampshire to craft any narrative that supports your own view of the party and Democratic voters. So, let me get it out of the way right up top. The Democratic party is a center-left party, not an ultra-liberal or far-left party. Exit polls in New Hampshire show that 76% of voters consider themselves somewhat liberal or moderate. Only 21% say they are very liberal. The results tonight are no surprise, with Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Biden combined polling better than Sanders and Warren combined. Second, the Sanders victory is not the blowout we saw four years ago in New Hampshire from the Vermont senator when he won by almost a 2-1 margin over Hillary Clinton. There are more candidates this time around, but it is significant that youth turnout dropped from 2016 by 20%, according to a CNN exit poll. Sanders talks about bringing new voters into the party, but tonight the new voters are not showing up in growing numbers. But the most interesting race, as anticipated, was for third place. Amy Klobuchar, coming off a strong debate last week, has remade her candidacy as one of the top three and viable for the first time. Joe Biden came in a distant fifth, a second gut punch that will be hard to take. But he's in South Carolina tonight playing to his firewall, African Americans who could, emphasize could, put him back in the race. But even among African Americans, his support has dropped significantly nationally, although not as much in South Carolina. That leaves Elizabeth Warren. She has to be disappointed with a distant fourth place finish. And the question is what happened and what can cushion the descent. As to what happened, I don't think the political professional class has figured that out, since it happened so quickly. She went from a favorite in the race to someone fighting for her life. My best guess was her somewhat subtle move to the middle made the far left of the party much more comfortable going with the more ideologically dependable Bernie Sanders. Less apparent is that the rise of Pete Buttigieg has also eaten into her base of highly educated middle- and upper-middle-class voters. And she has no firewall in South Carolina, where she is polling poorly among African Americans and it's not clear where she can turn it around. That leaves Nevada. She has a good organization and it better book tickets to Vegas and get going. It may be her last stand. Joe Lockhart was White House press secretary from 1998-2000 in President Bill Clinton's administration. He co-hosts the podcast "Words Matter." Ministers must not let history 'repeat itself' by allowing children to get hooked on e-cigarettes, the Chief Medical Officer warned. Professor Chris Whitty said that although the devices are 'definitely safer' than tobacco cigarettes, there remain question marks over their long-term harms. And in a swipe at big tobacco firms many of whom have moved into the e-cigarette market he said he has 'serious concerns' about their ability 'to addict people young'. Several companies including British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands are investing heavily in vaping devices because tobacco smoking in the Western world is declining. But some of their products appear to be brazenly marketed at children and popular e-cig flavourings include bubblegum, chocolate mint and butterscotch. Professor Chris Whitty said that although the vaping devices are 'definitely safer' than tobacco cigarettes, there remain question marks over their long-term harms Professor Whitty told the Mail: 'We need to make sure history does not repeat itself. 'The test of whether a product is being targeted at children is if it starts to be increasingly used by children and that will lead to action. If e-cigarettes are increasing in children then we should assume that they are being marketed towards them or at least pushed on them in some way, and deal with that very, very strongly.' Figures from NHS Digital last August showed 25 per cent of pupils aged 11 to 15 had used e-cigarettes, the same as in 2016. But the figure had increased compared to 2014 when 22 per cent had tried them. Professor Whitty said: 'No-one would claim that e-cigarettes are safer than not smoking at all and so if you don't smoke, don't use an e-cigarette. He added that there is a 'question mark' about the long term effects of the flavours of some e-cigarettes. 'If you're just using them for a short period to come off cigarettes that isn't such a concern, but obviously if they're using them for long periods it can be, because we don't know what the effect will be and we wont know for many years,' he said. He also said he has 'serious worries' about tobacco firms' 'continuing ability' to get youngsters hooked on ordinary cigarettes. 'There are still children who are smoking and it's not happening by accident. That's an area we really need to look very seriously at. 'The model of action for the cigarette industry is very straightforward. If you get people early, they get addicted to something which is going to kill them and then once they're addicted, they say it's all about choice.' Professor Whitty is also looking at whether the thousands of cannabidiol (CBD) products on our high streets are safe amid concerns some may contain trace amounts of the the harmful tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Sales of the cannabis extract have doubled in the last two years. It is a legal substance derived from the marijuana plant and unlike the illegal THC also obtained from the plant doesn't make you high.' A man in Ho Chi Minh City has been arrested for physically abusing his four-month-old son, causing the infant to suffer serious injuries including brain hemorrhage and a broken leg. Police in District 9 confirmed on Tuesday they had apprehended and initiated legal proceedings against Chau Minh Tien, 24, for inflicting injuries on his four-month-old child, C.M.K.. K. was admitted to the Childrens Hospital 2 in the citys District 1 on February 4 with multiple bruises and injuries. Doctors later stated the boy suffered from brain hemorrhage and a broken right leg. The infant was still receiving treatment at the infirmary as of Tuesday. According to Tiens statement, K. is the son of his and Nguyen Hong Tim, 21. The two recently got separated. On the evening of February 3, Tims mother brought K. to Tiens house and asked him to babysit the boy. Colonel Trang Viet Thanh, chief of the police unit in District 9, speaks to the press regarding a child abuse case on February 11, 2020. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre At around 11:00 pm the same day, the baby started crying and did not stop even though Tien had fed him some milk. The father became angered and slapped the boy. When the crying persisted, Tien shook the hammock the baby was lying in violently, causing the child to fall to the floor. Tien and his father then brought K. to the hospital. Records showed that Tien previously went to a rehab center from March 2017 to July 2018. He was caught using drugs in April 2019 and again in January 2020, with police officers sending him to rehab each time. Investigators have ruled out the possibility that Tien beat up his son while he was high on drugs, as he tested negative for narcotics following the incident. Tim, K.s mother, said Tien often abused her verbally and physically during her pregnancy. She decided to move out with the infant child in late January. Further investigation is ongoing. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The head office of McDonald's in the united kingdom in november 2021 at Utrecht, the netherlands. The company sets up a branch in Central Park in the station area. It is currently the headquarters of the chain is in Amsterdam, the netherlands. Central Park is currently being built between the city hall and the building of The VERSION. The building midway through to 2021 will be delivered. In Central Park, a number of large companies, such as the Bank, Aalberts Industries and VodafoneZiggo. "For our new office, we were looking for an easily accessible and dynamic venue, with which we put our talents can be retained and new talent to be able to attract," says Paul Ditto, the managing director of McDonald's in the Netherlands. Central Park and meets, according to the Matching of these terms and conditions. Updated Date: 11 February 2020, 17:00 Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 02:01:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for the integration of child protection provisions into peace processes. In a presidential statement issued to coincide with the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, the council asked UN member states, UN entities, the Peacebuilding Commission, and other parties concerned to integrate child protection provisions into all peace negotiations, cease-fire and peace agreements, and in provisions for cease-fire monitoring. The council also called on all parties concerned to ensure that the protection, rights, well-being and empowerment of children affected by armed conflict are fully incorporated and prioritized in all post-conflict recovery and reconstruction. The council welcomed the UN practical guidance on the integration of child protection issues into peace processes, which was developed by the secretary-general's special representative for children and armed conflict, together with relevant child protection actors, and will be launched on Wednesday. The Security Council encouraged mediators, facilitators and other negotiators, including member states, regional and sub-regional organizations and all other relevant actors involved in peace and mediation processes, to use this practical guidance as a tool, as much as possible, in peace and mediation processes. It urged all parties concerned to ensure that child protection provisions relating to the release and reintegration of former child soldiers are integrated into all peace negotiations, cease-fire and peace agreements, and in provisions for cease-fire monitoring. The council stressed the importance of accountability for all violations and abuses against children in armed conflict and called on all states to continue to address impunity. (TNS) All town and school buildings have been without internet access since Saturday after officials discovered that an unauthorized user may have attempted to access the towns computer system, according to police Lt. William Meier.The Police Department is investigating, Meier said.Meier said officials have established limited internet access to ensure that certain critical operations, including the towns internal IT systems, are still functioning. But basic internet access, including all email systems, are down, he said.Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily secured certain systems in the towns network while an investigation is done, he said.The town and school phone systems are still functioning, and town buildings and schools continue to operate under a normal schedule, Meier said.So far, the investigation has not revealed evidence that data or personal information was stolen, Meier said this morning. However, the investigation is still ongoing.The privacy and security of data is a top priority for the town Meier said. We are taking this matter very seriously.Meier said the town is working with investigative partners and subject matter experts to help determine what happened over the weekend.Officials anticipate that the temporary shutdown will last several days, Meier said.School Superintendent Joseph Macary told Meier that the schools are still functioning, despite the Internet shutdown.Its having a minimal impact on day-to-day activity, Meier said of the local schools. Teachers have been replacing lessons that have online components with more traditional methods.Many of us remember a time before internet, where learning and instruction still took place, Meier said. BLOOMFIELD - More than a dozen dogs were seized and the owner of a Bloomfield kennel that breeds Portuguese Podengo Puqueno dogs was arrested on animal cruelty after police received complaints of animals left out in the cold and excessive barking, according to WFSB. Margaret Boisture owns Star Mountain Kennel where she breeds the dogs which have participated in the Westminster Dog Show, reports said. Boisture is now facing several counts of animal cruelty and other charges including failing to have rabies certificates for some of the dogs. She was released on $75,000 bond following the arrest. Bloomfield animal control officers began investigating the kennel after receiving a report that dogs were left outside at a property on Tunxis Avenue Extension. Bloomfield police had to obtain a search warrant to get into the kennel since they were denied access by the owners, reports said. Police also determined that the outfit had no valid kennel license and that some of the dogs were held in excessive confinement, WFSB said. More than a dozen dogs were brought to a veterinarian for evaluation while another 23 were left in the care of Boisture and her husband with an arrangement that police could inspect the premises daily. Boisture released a statement saying that she received the highest marks from a recent American Kennel Club inspection. "Many of her dogs are champions and grand champions," the statement said. "The dogs are raised in a modern 2,000-square-foot building with certain amenities that many people do not enjoy, such as in-floor heating, that reflect her high standards." Carsten Thiel is a biopharmaceutical expert with over 25 years experience in the commercial pharmaceutical industry. Holding a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, he has contributed to countless medical advancements throughout his career, particularly in the fields of oncology and rare diseases. He has had numerous leadership positions internationally including CEO of Abeona Therapeutics Inc, CCO at Alexion and Head of Europe at Amgen. Most recently, he has been appointed to the position of President of Europe at EUSA Pharma, a young specialty pharmaceutical company with a global reach. What drove you to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry? My parents were both in the medical field themselves, so in a way you could say its in my blood. But, even though I was inspired by the work my parents did, I do feel I came to find a passion for pharmaceutical work on my own terms. I can still remember the moment in one of my biology classes that I first learned of DNA. Though young, I was entranced with the idea that every living creatures biology could essentially be broken down into genes that define every single one of your characteristics. The idea that we have this genetic roadmap encoded in all of us was an alluring one -- discovering the key for that map would mean the answer to cures as well as the prevention of so many devastating diseases. I knew at that point that I desired nothing more than to use my aptitude toward the sciences to research and study such cures. What was your educational path like? I decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in the field of biochemistry. I started my education in Germany at the Philipps University of Marburg, but I was soon given the opportunity to enroll in the prestigious University of Bristol in England. I was quite comfortable in Marburg, but the University of Bristol is one of Britains most research-intensive institutions, which appealed to me greatly. While I obviously desired to make a prolific career for myself, I was drawn to Bristols emphasis on academics rather than vocational training and made the decision to transfer. After receiving my undergraduate degree in biochemistry, I returned to Germany to attend the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science. During my time at the Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, I focused my research on the transition of cells from healthy to cancerous, and specifically the role proteins play in that transition. It was there I earned my Ph.D in molecular biology. What is an example of a pivotal choice youve made in your career? A choice that comes to mind pretty quickly was one that had ethical ramifications as well as financial. I was working with my team on the development and distribution of a new treatment for colorectal cancer, and just before it was approved for production and introduction into the mass market we learned of a biomarker that could be used to discern whether a patient would respond well to the drug therapy. As leader of the team, it was down to me to make the call of whether to proceed on schedule in light of the new information. On the one hand, if we proceeded as planned and didnt disclose the biomarker there was a potential for a much higher profit, as patients would need to purchase and try the drug to determine its effectiveness for them personally. On the other hand though, in an oncological treatment plan where time can be of the essence, saving time by pre-determining a patients response to their cancer treatment could prove to be vital to a patients recovery. I felt that morally we were accountable to divulge the information, and even took it a step further proposing the creation of a standardized test for practitioners to use, providing initial education on the product, as well as offering specialized customer service support. This was met with some pushback, but I believed it was not only the moral path to follow, but also the more innovative one. What advice do you have to give to other leaders, whether in your field or otherwise? I would say to surround yourself with an incomparable team that you personally admire. It can be a hard pill to swallow, especially as a leader or entrepreneur, but nobody can do it all. Because of that it is essential that you learn and know your own strengths well, so that you can put your time and energy into that and delegate other matters to people whos strengths better match the task. At this point in my career, eighty percent of my day to day operations I spend interacting with patients and people, and this is a conscious choice I have made. While I love science, I am aware that my true abilities within the industry are best served by utilizing my people skills and ability to connect with people. As far as how Ive built my teams, Ive actually trekked the Swiss Alps with a few of my colleagues, so that should be a good indication in and of itself of the trust I am able to put in them. Follow Carsten Thiel on Twitter and ThriveGlobal. LINCOLN Dig out your shovel and warm clothes. Winter isnt done with us yet. Snow will be arriving Wednesday, with the heaviest totals of 4 to 6 inches along and north of the Interstate 74 corridor, including Bloomington-Normal. The snow will taper to less than an inch south of Interstate 70, with a total of 2 to 4 inches forecast for the Decatur area but less than an inch around Mattoon-Charleston. A Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect for McLean and DeWitt counties at 11 a.m. Wednesday and continues through 10 a.m. Thursday. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for Macon, Logan and Coles counties from 9 a.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday. Livingston County will be under a Winter Weather Advisory from 2 p.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday. Hazardous conditions will affect the evening commute, according to the advisories. Snow should start accumulating around 3 p.m. in the Bloomington area and noon in Decatur, said Lyle Barker, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Lincoln. The more intense snow should fall during the evening, he said. The snow should taper off Thursday morning but then the wind will pick up, blowing the snow around, Barker warned. Be prepared for drifting snow and snow blowing over the highways causing black ice to develop, he said. Adding insult to potential injury, temperatures will plummet and winds will increase on Thursday. By 5 p.m. Thursday, the temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-teens in Bloomington and Decatur. With winds gusting to nearly 30 mph, the wind chill temperature will be below zero. Temperatures will fall below zero Thursday night in Bloomington and Decatur and only reach the low to mid-teens during the day on Friday. Mattoon will stay above zero Thursday night and flirt with 20 degrees for Fridays high. Its going to be cold and nasty, said Barker. Its going to be Illinois winter. But before you buy your tickets to flee to Florida, be aware that temperatures will rise to the mid- to upper 30s on Saturday and things are looking comparatively balmy for Monday. The forecast calls for a high of 46 in Bloomington and nearly 50 in Decatur and Mattoon. Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 She was recently revealed to have got engaged to multi-millionaire fashion tycoon Michael Lewis. And Lady Kitty Spencer displayed her stellar sense of style as she attended the Centrepoint Ultimate Pop Quiz at the 229 Club in London on Tuesday. The socialite, 29, looked in good spirits at the event where she donned a tan knee-length coat with a matching turtle neck jumper. Event: Lady Kitty Spencer, 29, displayed her stellar sense of style as she attended the Centrepoint Ultimate Pop Quiz at the 229 Club in London on Tuesday Lady Kitty also sported a pair of blue skinny jeans while she added height to her frame with a pair of brown heels at the event, which was sponsored by Baylis And Harding's new Goodness range. Styling her blonde locks into a chic updo, the fashion model completed her look for the evening with a pair of diamond earrings. Also in attendance at the event was Shirley Ballas who sported a lemon long-sleeved top with a frilled detail and a pair of black slim-fitting trousers. The Strictly Come Dancing star was all smiles at the bash where she styled her brunette locks into her trademark voluminous style. Fashion: The socialite looked in good spirits at the event where she donned a tan knee-length coat with a matching turtle neck jumper TV presenter Matt Richardson went for a casual look for his appearance at the event, donning a navy, purple and white patterned short-sleeved shirt and dark jeans. Meanwhile, Christopher Biggins wore a blue tartan shirt and a black jacket. It was revealed last month that Lady Kitty is set to wed a fashion tycoon five years older than her father. South Africa-born multi-millionaire, Michael Lewis, who turns 61 this month, is 32 years older than the society model, who has now agreed to become his second wife. All smiles: Also in attendance at the event was Shirley Ballas who sported a lemon long-sleeved top with a frilled detail and a pair of black slim-fitting trousers Casual: Matt Richardson went for a casual look for his appearance at the event, donning a navy, purple and white patterned short-sleeved shirt and dark jeans Famous face: Christopher Biggins wore a blue tartan shirt and a black jacket for his appearance at the event A source told the Mail: 'Michael proposed to Kitty before Christmas. Shes been in Cape Town for the holidays and told her mother and the rest of the family. 'Michael is loved by all of them. Despite his wealth, hes very humble and low key. Mr Lewis has three adult children and was previously married to a woman named Leola in 1985. It's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will convert to Judaism, Mr Lewis' faith, before the big day. Three young men were detained here on Wednesday after they staged a protest against the visit of foreign envoys to Jammu and Kashmir, police said. They protested against the visit and called it a waste of money while the envoys were enjoying a Shikara ride in the Dal Lake. A second batch of foreign envoys arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday for a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir for a first-hand assessment of the situation in the Union territory. The envoys of over 20 countries arrived at the Srinagar airport at around 11 am but could not visit Baramulla town in north Kashmir as per schedule due to inclement weather there. They instead went for a Shikara ride. The envoys are from the European Union, South America and the Gulf countries, officials said. "The government should stop wasting money on these events. The money saved should be spent on the development of Kashmir," one of the youths said while being whisked away by the police. They were taken to the nearby police station, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Economic Development Authority estimated economic damage to be around PHP7 billion (around US$139 million). [This] isnt the largest sum of money in the grand scheme of things, however, its worth noting that there was little tangible damage from fire or lava, Hope said. The main economic damage is estimated to be around PHP4 billion (US$79.2 million), caused mainly from the agriculture and fisheries sectors that have been affected by the ash. From an insurance point of view, there hasnt been much physical damage that has been insured, but theres been food and crop damage from the affected businesses. Hope contrasted the Philippines situation to another tragedy that occurred at around the same time the bushfires in Australia. The former is an emerging market characterised by low take-up of insurance, especially with small businesses and homeowners. It is not like Australia and the recent bushfires where insurers and all levels of government were heavily involved in significant dialogue with the public in general, providing a much more sophisticated response, he said. The Taal volcano event was a limited event with minimal effect on insurers. The market itself is less developed and most businesses were uninsured, Hope added. Had the volcano sustained a full eruption then it is likely the impact would be greater as a wider area would sustain damage. According to Hope, the low take-up of insurance means the risk cannot be spread as efficiently, therefore minimising the effect of insurance cover. However, the economic impact regardless of penetration is still the same, he said. Compared to other markets such as Australia, for example, where there is a very high pick-up of insurance then the situation would be a lot different. As for recovery efforts, there is not much that the insurance industry can do, due to the lack of cover in the market. Obviously we have damage to the agriculture and fisheries, but over time that will recover and at the moment theres a fairly limited response that we can actually do, he said. People are quite resourceful and will clear up the ash and get back to business fairly quickly, I presume. 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. Donald Trump: Chris Kleponis/EPA Donald Trump is receiving swift backlash for claiming without evidence that rogue prosecutors were possibly responsible for handing his longtime associate Roger Stone a lengthy prison sentence, as Bernie Sanders' celebrates victory in New Hampshire. The president's comments were described as a "vile smear job" by a key witness as former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in a tweet: "Justice must be blind." Mr Trump's incendiary tweets came shortly after prosecutors said Stone should be sentenced to seven-to-nine years for lying to Congress during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2020 election. Meanwhile, results from New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary continued to be dissected throughout the day, as Mr Sanders' strong showing appeared to place him on a clearer path to securing the Democratic nomination than ever before. Pete Buttiegieg and Amy Klobuchar, who trailed the Vermont senator respectively, have also since thanked supporters for their solid performances on Tuesday night. The attorneys then resigned from the case after the Justice Department overruled them and said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for Stone. The departures on Tuesday raised immediate questions over whether Mr Trump, who earlier in the day had blasted the original sentencing recommendation as very horrible and unfair, had at least indirectly exerted his will on a Justice Department that he often views as an arm of the White House. The department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night before Mr Trumps tweet and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it. Even so, the departures of the entire trial team broke open a simmering dispute over the punishment of a Trump ally whose case has long captured the Republican presidents attention. The episode was the latest to entangle the Justice Department, meant to operate free from White House sway in criminal investigations and prosecutions, in presidential politics. The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia team, comprised the entire Justice Department trial team that won convictions against Stone last fall. Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load Read more Trump refuses to rule out pardoning Roger Stone By Sergio Goncalves LISBON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Portugal expects to hit a new investment record for export-focused projects this year, in the face of Brexit and global trade tensions, with authorities already scrutinising plans worth more than 1 billion euros ($1 billion). The proposals submitted so far this year, the bulk of it foreign investment, almost equals the record 1.17 billion euros of projects contracted in the whole of 2019, according to AICEP, the state agency that promotes investment and exports. "The live pipeline is very strong, which is excellent news ... and AICEP will continue to raise more projects," Luis Castro Henriques, the head of the agency, told Reuters. "Even after a second consecutive year of record highs, more than 1 billion euros of investments have been applied for in January. They are being analysed to be contracted in 2020, despite the various world uncertainties, which affect the decisions of companies." Export-focused projects involve those that provide goods or services to be exported from Portugal to other countries, rather than for domestic consumption, for example auto equipment or aircraft parts destined for German carmakers or European planemaker Airbus. This year's proposals include 13 new industrial projects, from automaking to chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, which have drawn an estimated global investment of 737 million euros. They also include 10 research and development (R&D) projects with a total investment of 276 million euros . Castro Henriques said the accelerating investment testified to Portugal's competitiveness gains over the past few years. Exports and booming tourism supported Portugal's economic and fiscal recovery after a 2011-14 debt crisis and bailout and, despite a slowdown last year, the country still outperforms the euro zone as a whole in terms of growth. This year, the government expects to post the country's first fiscal surplus in 45 years, of 0.2% of gross domestic product, while projecting growth at 1.9%, the same as in 2019. Castro Henriques said foreign investment in Portugal was becoming more diversified, and coming from countries such as the United States, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, in addition to more traditional sources such as Germany, France and Spain. More foreign money was also flowing into R&D, he added. ($1 = 0.9162 euros) (Editing by Andrei Khalip and Pravin Char) Rights groups pushed Wednesday for the swift handover of Sudan's ousted strongman Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court after the country's new authorities pledged to bring him to justice for alleged war crimes in Darfur. Top Sudanese officials said Tuesday that the new rulers had agreed with rebel groups to send Bashir and three former aides to The Hague-based court for their role in the conflict in the western Darfur region. "The Sudanese authorities should translate these words into action" and immediately transfer all four, said Amnesty International acting secretary general Julie Verhaar. "Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC over the murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape of hundreds of thousands of people during the conflict in Darfur. "A decision to hand him over to the court would be a welcome step towards justice for victims and their families." The conflict in Darfur, a region the size of France, erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Bashir's then Arab-dominated government, accusing it of economic and political marginalisation. The ICC has charged Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict. Bashir, who is detained in Sudan after being convicted of corruption, denies the allegations. He evaded arrest for more than a decade, travelling overseas in open defiance of the ICC. The court has also indicted three of his former aides, Ahmed Haroon, Abdulrahim Mohamed Hussain and Ali Kushied. - 'Beyond time' - Bashir and the three others wanted by the ICC "have to go there," Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishay, a member of Sudan's new ruling sovereign council, said on Tuesday. "We agreed that we fully supported the ICC and we agreed... that the four criminals have to be handed over," Taishay said in the South Sudanese capital Juba where a government delegation was meeting rebel groups from Darfur. He did not specify when they would be transferred to The Hague. Rights groups say widespread abuses have taken place in Darfur, where the United Nations says about 300,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict began. "Sudanese security forces' widespread attacks on civilians under Bashir's campaign of terror, including pervasive sexual violence as a weapon of war, have had devastating impacts on the lives and livelihoods of their victims," US-based NGO Physicians for Human Rights said in a statement. "It is beyond time that his victims and their families receive justice." Taishay said that the Juba talks had focussed on several mechanisms for achieving peace in Darfur, including the establishment of a special court to investigate crimes in the region. Sudanese government spokesman Faisal Mohamed Salih told reporters on Wednesday that "details of how Bashir and others will be presented in front of the ICC will be discussed with the ICC and armed groups". - Economic woes persist - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said the ICC faced a major responsibility ahead. "The Court needs to get this right: it must re-engage with victims and affected communities and publicise its work effectively so that justice is visible to the people affected by the crimes," its president Alice Mogwe said in a statement. Bashir was ousted by the army in a palace coup last April after months of protests against his three decades of iron-fisted rule. He was arrested and later sentenced to two years in a detention centre on corruption charges. Anti-Bashir protesters, residents of Darfur and rebel groups from the region have consistently demanded that he be handed over to the ICC. Years of conflict in Darfur and other regions and the secession of South Sudan in 2011 left the country's economy in a shambles -- the key factor for nationwide protests against Bashir last year. Ten months after his ouster, acute shortages of bread, fuel and foreign currency continue to hamper Sudan's economic revival. Long queues still form at bakeries, and rows of vehicles can be seen outside fuel stations across Khartoum. "Every family is divided these days in a way," said Hassan Ahmed, a private sector employee waiting to fill his car at a fuel station. "Some members are standing in a queue for bread, some for fuel and others for cooking gas. We are suffering a lot." Police are in a standoff at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kansas, after search for a possible gunman. SOURCE: KMBC Police are in a standoff at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kansas, after a search for a possible gunman, authorities say.This is near the Legends shopping area.There are no reports of injuries.KMBC has a crew at the scene.This is a developing story. The Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF), Boston, MA, today announced $3.5 million in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) research grants to fund 12 projects around the world in pursuit of more precise treatments for this uncommon cancer affecting an estimated 171,000 Americans. After investing $26 million in research during the past 15 years, NETRF has helped to establish the NET knowledge base needed to expand the exploration of improved treatments, according to Elyse Gellerman, NETRF chief executive officer. "We can see real momentum in this new round of grants. We hope the discoveries from these projects will lead to improved treatment options for patients." NETRF is supporting a new pioneering approach to NET immunotherapy with a Petersen Accelerator Award to Steven Libutti, MD, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, to characterize a novel immune regulator called B7x to determine whether it has a role in shutting off the body's immune response to fight against pancreatic NETs. This round of funding features multiple new fronts for NETRF. To help grow the NET scientific workforce, the Foundation granted two inaugural Mentored Awards for early career researchers, one of which was funded by an educational grant from Ipsen. There were also new areas of NET inquiry. For the first time, NETRF is funding pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma research, including an evaluation of a novel radiotracer for imaging adrenal NETs. NETRF also funded four research projects in lung NETs, an area that has not previously received the attention of other NET sites. These lung studies include: Conducting single-cell genomic analyses to understand how lung NETs form, grow, and spread. Mapping the cellular networks of typical and atypical lung NETs to find biomarkers that help predict a tumor's aggressiveness. Characterizing the molecular makeup of a newly identified, aggressive lung NET called "supra-carcinoid." Determining the sociodemographic and geographic patterns of lung NETs in California. "Advances in NET research have been hampered by the lack of effective laboratory disease models, and a limited understanding of the molecular and genetic profiles of NETs," said John Kanki, PhD, NETRF director of research. "Now that we are making strong headway along these lines, we can finally begin to drill deeper with greater specificity, to identify and explore new strategies for treating NETs." ### See an overview of all 12 grants here: https://netrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/GrantsListingFinal_2.10.2020.pdf NET tumors require the expansion of new blood vessels in order to grow and spread and two new grants explore new therapies that target developing tumor blood vessels. Researchers at Vanderbilt University will explore the potential efficacy of a combination therapy testing a drug known to affect the formation of new blood vessels (cabozantinib) together with an experimental drug called CB-839. At Columbia University Medical School, scientists will conduct preclinical laboratory experiments to test whether turning off two complementary blood vessel-forming processes together can improve therapeutic efficacy in pancreatic NETs. NETRF also approved grants to study a potential cause of small intestinal multifocal tumors and to evaluate the role of the gut microbiome in carcinoid syndrome. Seventy-five percent of the grants were awarded to research institutions that are new to NETRF including five grants funding international research at Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Netherlands; Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel; International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), Lyon, France; Istituto Auxologico Italiano - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan, Italy; and Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. Seven of the 12 grants fund innovative NET research at American academic institutions, including Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA; Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ; University of California, San Francisco, CA; Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. The NETRF grant process is a competitive and structured peer-reviewed process. The Foundation is currently accepting applications for its next grant cycle. Applications must be received by March 9, 2020. https://netrf.org/for-researchers/funding-for-researchers/ Gellerman thanked the many individuals and foundations whose gifts to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization support NETRF's research and educational activities. A generous gift from the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation will fund several of the new projects. Additional support has been provided by the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation of Los Angeles and Advanced Accelerator Applications. "If you check the health of a woman, you check the health of society." - Rebecca Milner Why is Health Screening in Men between 40 and 64 years so important? Screening tests help to diagnose diseases early when symptoms have not yet appeared. Early detection of diseases permits early treatment and prevention of complications. Some diseases like cancer can be completely cured only if detected early. Men are at their productive best between the ages of 40 and 64 years. However, this is also the period when they are exposed to high stress levels and are prone to various health issues. Regular health checkups along with screening for various diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure as well as cancers help to control or nip the problem in the bud before it is too late. Some of the diseases which can be detected in this age group include: Diabetes, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Colorectal Cancer and Prostate cancer. Besides, individuals can also be advised to follow a healthy lifestyle during their interactions with the physician. What tests are recommended for screening men between 40 and 64 years of age? Several screening tests are recommended for men between 40 and 64 years of age. These include: Routine Examination by a Doctor A routine examination should be done every 1 to 5 years. It should include examination of the skin and testes for cancer. Individuals should be advised to do monthly testicular self examinations as well as lead a healthy lifestyle by exercising, controlling weight and avoiding smoking and alcohol. In some countries, the physician may advise vaccination against diseases like flu, pneumonia, tetanus-diphtheria and herpes zoster. Dental Examination Men are advised to undergo annual dental examinations and cleaning of teeth. Eye Testing Eye examination should be carried out every 2 years above the age of 40. Testing for glaucoma should be done every 2 years over the age of 45. Blood Pressure Blood pressure should be checked once every 2 years and more often if it is above normal level. Lipid profile A lipid profile to check cholesterol levels should be carried out once every 5 years beyond the age of 34 years. If the individual suffers from additional problems like diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease, a more frequent testing may be needed. Colon Cancer Screening Colon cancer screening is advised for men over 50 years of age. African Americans, who are at a higher risk for colon cancer, are recommended to start screening when they are over 45 years. The tests could include a yearly stool test, a flexible sigmoidoscopy with a stool guaiac test every 5 years, a colonoscopy every 10 years or a CT colonography. People at high risk may be advised a colonoscopy more often. Prostate Cancer Screening Men should discuss with their physician about prostate cancer screening once they are 50 years of age or 45 years in case of African Americans or other individuals at high risk for developing the cancer. Digital rectal examination and blood tumor market testing for Prostate Specific Aantigen (PSA) are recommended for screening prostate cancer. Osteoporosis Screening Men can discuss with their doctor regarding osteoporosis screening between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Blood sugar Testing A fasting and postprandial blood sugar level should be done once in 3 years to check for diabetes. Hemoglobin A1C testing may also be used alternatively to detect diabetes. HIV Testing Men with multiple sexual partners or at high risk for developing HIV may need to undergo screening for the disease. The Independent reports: Indonesia has introduced a female flogging squad to punish women who violate Islamic law. In a separate lashing, a woman who was sentenced to 30 lashes fell unconscious during her punishment for being found in the company of a man other than her male guardian. Im not sure what is more barbaric flogging or having it being a crime for a woman to be in the company of a man. This is the sort of human rights violation that the UN Human Rights Council should be loudly condemning, rather than their fixation on one country. But will we hear a word? Well by coincidence Indonesia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr By Kane Wu, Anshuman Daga and Scott Murdoch HONG KONG/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Bankers in Asia are bracing for a deal drought as efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus epidemic have put key meetings and roadshows on hold. Several auctions of assets are facing delays or re-assessments and preparations for potential Chinese initial public offerings (IPOs) are also slowing, bankers said By Kane Wu, Anshuman Daga and Scott Murdoch HONG KONG/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Bankers in Asia are bracing for a deal drought as efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus epidemic have put key meetings and roadshows on hold. Several auctions of assets are facing delays or re-assessments and preparations for potential Chinese initial public offerings (IPOs) are also slowing, bankers said. "All our deals are on hold now - capital markets or M&A. Nothing is happening," said a Hong Kong-based senior investment banker with a Wall Street bank. Baring Private Equity Asia is expected to extend a bidding deadline for the sale of HCP, a Shanghai-based packaging business valued at around $1 billion, said four people with knowledge of the deal. The Hong Kong-based investment firm sent out teasers before Chinese New Year and was initially expecting bids to come in as soon as this month, they said. Baring declined to comment and HCP did not respond to a query for comment. The launch of a sale process of Eu Yan Sang International, a Singapore-based healthcare company specialising in Chinese medicine, is likely to be postponed, said two people aware of the matter. They said the company had hoped to value itself at more than $500 million. The sale of the company, partly owned by a unit of Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL] and with a significant chunk of its business in Hong Kong, is being pushed back as most of its targeted buyers are Chinese, these people said. Responding to a Reuters query, Eu Yan Sang's Group CEO Aaron Boey said in a statement late on Tuesday the company did not comment on "rumours", adding it was focused on "executing our strategies and enhancing shareholder value" during these extremely challenging times. Temasek declined comment. "Any China-related deals are off, so that means Q1 is probably washed out. European and U.S. buyers are also worried about travelling to Asia," said a Singapore-based banker. Major banks in Hong Kong and Singapore have restricted travel to mainland China and are allowing staff to work from home while moving others to different office locations. A number of countries have reduced or cancelled flights in and out of China while Singapore and Hong Kong have demanded people returning from China quarantine themselves for up to 14 days. The virus has claimed more than 1,000 lives and has spread to 24 other countries and territories. The bankers declined to be identified because the transactions are confidential. LESSONS FROM SARS During the 2003 SARS epidemic, the volume of China-related IPOs fell 25% in the first half of the year compared with 2002, while M&A volumes halved, according to Refinitiv data. The epidemic ended in July 2003. China has become a far bigger factor for both markets since then, accounting for 55% of M&A and 66% of IPO activity in Asia-Pacific over the past four years, compared with an average 16% and 50% in 2003. Another factor that will concern investors in IPOs is the potential for a company's outlook to worsen because of the epidemic, bankers and lawyers said. "The most significant adverse impacts, as of today, are the ability of IPO candidates and the reporting accountants to get their financials prepared and audited and for advisers to conduct on-site due diligence given the disruption to regional travel," said Michael Jacobs, a partner at law firm Allen & Overy. Buyout firm Carlyle Group Inc has delayed the U.S. IPO of its German specialty chemicals group Atotech, concerned that the coronavirus outbreak would hurt its valuation, Reuters reported last week. While video conferencing is making it easier to hold meetings than during the SARS outbreak, dealmakers expect the drought to last for weeks to come. "Over the next few weeks, nothing much is expected to come to the markets in this environment - on both the M&A and IPO side. I'm trying to focus on other deals where there's hardly any China involvement," said a banker based in Hong Kong. (Reporting by Kane Wu and Scott Murdoch in Hong Kong; and Anshuman Daga in Singapore; Writing by Kane Wu; Editing by Jennifer Hughes, Neil Fullick and Lincoln Feast.) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A woman from Hyderabad has requested the central government to bring back her husband from Dubai where, she claims, he has been arrested by the local police. The woman, Raza Begum, has no clue as to on what charges her husband was arrested and in which prison he is currently lodged in Dubai. Speaking to ANI, Raza Begum said, "My husband Syed Dayanat Hussain Razvi went to Dubai to work in June 2014 and since then he is working there in a company." "He came to India in September 2017 and after 15 days he went back to Dubai. My husband's return to India was scheduled on January 6, 2020, and when he was at the Dubai airport the local authorities arrested him and sent him to jail," she said. "We don't know why he was arrested and what was the problem. We appeal to the central government and the Indian Embassy in Dubai to rescue my husband," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Greetings from Pierre, where week four of the legislative session has allowed us to hear powerful testimony from our neighbors, families, and businesses that will be affected by the decisions we make. We appreciate those who came to share their stories with us. We hear you, and we will continue to fight for what matters to you. HB 1008 to legalize the growth, production, and transportation of industrial hemp in the state, passed unanimously out of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and passed on the House floor on Monday. Amended by Governor Noem, this bill addresses her concerns as well as the interests of our agricultural and manufacturing industries who will benefit from this legislation. The amended bill is a collaboration between the legislative Industrial Hemp Committee and state agencies and has come a long way in the past year. The strong bipartisan support HB 1008 has received means were working together to make South Dakota better. Unfortunately, we have also encountered bills that make the national news and reflect negatively on our state and its government. HB 1096, which prohibits commercial surrogacy and provides a penalty for facilitating a commercial surrogacy. It brought a lot of debate to the House floor this week as we told the stories of families whose children exist because of this process and from the surrogates who helped them. This is one of those bills that is a solution looking for a problem. Democratic Representatives would like to see a summer study on this complex, emotional, and life-altering issue affecting so many families in South Dakota before making a final decision. It passed the House and will be assigned to a Senate committee soon. We also heard meaningful testimony this week from supporters of HB 70, authorizing other languages to be used in the process of issuing driver licenses and permits. Its clear this bill will benefit the agricultural, manufacturing, and hospitality industries, health care facilities and more. We are one of just three states offering manuals and tests in English only. South Dakota is open for business. Lets pass SB 70. Kudos to VJ Smith for getting the bill out of senate transportation with a 5-2 affirmative vote Friday. It passed on the senate floor Tuesday. Clearly, its the voices of our citizens that have the greatest impact on how we govern. Because your voice and your vote matter, we introduced House Joint Resolution 5002 this week. The resolution proposes creating an Independent Redistricting Commission to draw legislative districts instead of having our legislators draw their own.When our elected officials are allowed to pick their own voters, the opportunity is there for them to manipulate the maps to their own benefit. Tell your state legislators to vote YES on HJR 5002 and give the power to the people where it belongs. Remember, we want to hear from you and want you to visit with us! Democratic caucus meetings are always open to the public, so if youre in Pierre, please join us. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Senator Bernie Sanders won Tuesdays New Hampshire primary election, the first primary of the 2020 presidential election. With 84 percent of precincts reporting, the progressive Vermont independent received 25.8 percent of the vote, beating former South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg, who came in second at 24.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota surged into third place, garnering 19.7 percent and passing both Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who received 9.4 percent, and former vice president Joe Biden, who received 8.3 percent. Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick all received less support in New Hampshire than the top tier of Democratic candidates. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who was also competing for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire, suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday night, saying the numbers do not show a path to victory for him. Two other lower-tier candidates, billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer and Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, suspended their 2020 campaigns over the course of the evening as well. Klobuchars swift surge in support, which catapulted her into third place in the primary, followed a strong performance in Fridays Democratic debate. Before his lackluster finish, Biden, formerly the national frontrunner for months, left New Hampshire earlier than his rivals to travel to South Carolina and addressed his supporters in New Hampshire by livestream. The South Carolina primary will take place on February 29. Buttigieg and Sanders visited polling locations on Tuesday to rally their supporters before polls closed. Both Buttigieg and Sanders claimed victory following the botched Iowa caucuses last week. The caucuses descended into chaos as results were delayed due to glitches in the smartphone app the state Democratic party was using to record results and phone lines jammed when local precinct managers attempted to call Iowa Democratic Party officials, only to be put on hold for hours. Story continues The final caucus results showed Buttigieg beating Sanders by a mere tenth of a percentage point, receiving 26.2 percent of the vote to Sanderss 26.1 percent. Buttigieg won the caucuses with 14 delegates, while Sanders received 12 delegates, although Sanders won the popular vote. Sanders on Monday requested a partial recanvass of the caucus results. Sanders is currently leading nationally in the polls at 23 percent, with Biden in second place at 20 percent and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg behind them at 13 percent, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. More from National Review NetDragon\-\-s Multiple Online Education Products Support Continuous Online Learning amid No-School Period NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (\NetDragon\ or \the Company\, Hong Kong Stock Code: 777), a global leader in building internet communities, acknowledges that the novel coronavirus has recently been a major concern for many. In order to support the call of China\-\-s Ministry of Education (\MoE\) to \build online cloud classes to ensure students can study at home when face-to-face classes are not allowed\, NetDragon announces that, as a part of upholding corporate social responsibility, the Company\-\-s online education platform One Stop Learning is introducing a new service plan to provide live-streaming of courses for over 10 million users free of charge. Meanwhile, NetDragon also offers online interactive education platform and resources to teachers and students in Hong Kong and Macau to continue virtual schooling for free. On 1 February, the Fuzhou Bureau of Education published the \Guidelines on proper management of education for primary, secondary, and vocational schools amidst postponement of school semesters\. The guidelines state that NetDragon\-\-s One Stop Learning is chosen as the official platform in support of Fuzhou\-\-s \Continuous Learning amid School Suspension\ mandate. NetDragon\-\-s One Stop Learning platform will facilitate online learning of over one million teachers and students as well as several million parents, showcasing technical capabilities of NetDragon and its One Stop Learning platform in sustaining quality service. On top of Fuzhou, One Stop Learning platform has also been aiding the Department of Education of Hubei Province. In collaboration with Hubei Province, NetDragon established the \Hubei Education Cloud Platform\, which has gradually rolled out free education services, including online lectures, online teaching videos and micro lessons, to over a million teachers and students in Hubei Province. The construction and testing of the platform were completed in merely three days and live trials were conducted in three cities, including Macheng, Xiantao and Yangxin on 30 January. The platform received enthusiastic support from the Center for Educational Technology of Xiantao City. One Stop Learning platform will extend its services to support online live stream schooling for nearly 30 cities, counties and districts in Hubei Province and ensure \Continuous Learning amid School Suspension\ is well-implemented. The service of One Stop Learning platform\-\-s \Continuous Learning amid School Suspension\ not only provides the latest information of the novel coronavirus and public health measures, but also supports features including teachers\-\- class preparation and teaching, online assignments and exams, live-communication between schools and parents, academic research, and operational management that allows users to efficiently accomplish their daily work. In addition to One Stop Learning, NetDragon is offering its integrated software for lesson preparation and delivery, 101 Education PPT, to all teachers in China free of charge, to facilitate easy online lesson preparation and delivery. Supported on multiple platforms including PC, iOS and Android, 101 Education PPT is an integrated teaching software which comes with millions of readily-available teaching materials. Besides, Kami English, an oral English teaching and learning assistant system for K-12 students introduced by NetDragon\-\-s subsidiary Chivox, is opening all online VIP-exclusive services free of charge to all students and teachers in primary and secondary schools across the country, as well as extending VIPs\-\- subscription period, to ensure students can carry on with their English learning during this school suspension period. In Hong Kong and Macau, classes are also tentatively suspended until March or later. As such, Edmodo, a subsidiary of NetDragon, will continue to support online interactive learning during the period. On the Edmodo platform, teachers can share reading materials and educational videos with the class, along with online discussions to encourage independent learning among students, such that they can keep up with their learning progress. On the other hand, the Company also uses Amazon Web Services (\AWS\) to provide a free \cloud-based learning platform\ to serve as a short-term solution for schools in Hong Kong with cross-border students who may encounter issues when commuting between Hong Kong and mainland China. This cloud can be utilised as a platform for teachers to share their lecture recordings and for students to retrieve learning materials; and coupled with the support of assignment delivery function on Edmodo, students can make use of these tools to facilitate their daily learning at home. In the face of the novel coronavirus, we will continue our full support towards both students and teachers by rolling out more online education services. Knowledge is the key to a brighter future, and at NetDragon, we uphold this especially during such tough times. About NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKSE: 0777) is a global leader in building internet communities with a long track record of developing and scaling multiple internet and mobile platforms that impact hundreds of millions of users. These include China\-\-s number one online gaming portal, 17173.com, and China\-\-s most influential smartphone app store platform, 91 Wireless, which was sold to Baidu for US$1.9 billion in 2013 as the largest Internet M&A transaction in China. Established in 1999, NetDragon is one of the most reputable and well-known online game developers in China with a history of successful game titles including Eudemons Online, Heroes Evolved and Conquer Online. In recent years, NetDragon has also started to scale its online education business on the back of management\-\-s vision to create the largest global online learning community, and to bring the \classroom of the future\ to every school around the world. For more information, please visit www.netdragon.com. For investor enquiries, please contact: NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited Ms. Maggie Zhou Senior Director of Investor Relations Tel.: +852 2850 7266 / +86 591 8390 2825 Email: maggie@nd.com.cn Website: ir.netdragon.com Wildlife managers say they'll need money to keep up The prevalence of chronic wasting disease in Montana has created "a new reality" for hunters and wildlife managers, just two years after it was first detected in the state. An extensive program of testing deer, elk and moose harvested across Montana from April 1, 2019, to Jan. 29, 2020, turned up 142 positives from Libby to the Hi-Line to the Ruby Valley to southeastern Montana, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. The positives included 86 white-tailed deer, 53 mule deer, two moose and one elk. Additionally, the Montana Department of Livestock announced earlier this month that an elk on a game farm in eastern Montana has tested positive for the disease, leading to a quarantine of the facility. State wildlife officials had expected the slow-moving disease to gradually spread across the state, southward from Canada and northward from Wyoming, both of which have infected animals. But statewide testing showed the disease is already present far from those borders. "It's now the new reality in Montana," said Nick Gevock, conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation. "It's showing up all over. A deer [that tested positive] was 50 miles north of Miles City - that's a long way north from either Wyoming or south from the Canadian provinces. It could just be about everywhere." For wildlife managers, the high number and wide dispersal of positive results in 2019 demonstrates that the neurodegenerative disease, which affects cervids and is always fatal, has likely been on the landscape for a while. "We've got it showing up in places that surprised us," said Ken McDonald, wildlife bureau chief for FWP, in a Jan. 16 meeting of the interim Environmental Quality Council. "We need to assume it's more widely distributed than we expected or modeled." 'REALLY RAMPING UP' In 2018, FWP tested 1,922 samples for CWD. In 2019, the state tested 6,977 samples. About 60 percent of those tests were conducted in priority sampling areas, including the Hi-Line, the southeastern corner of the state, and Libby. Priority sampling areas are locations FWP has determined to be at highest risk of hosting wildlife infected through the natural spread of CWD. "It's really ramping up, in terms of geography [and] species affected," said Pat Byorth, a member of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. Byorth expressed concern that the presence of CWD on the landscape could affect hunters' willingness to hunt in areas where the disease is more prevalent. Public hunting is FWP's primary strategy for managing cervid populations. CWD was newly detected in 12 Montana hunting districts in 2019. Twenty-eight of Montana's 165 hunting districts have produced a positive test since 2017. In some CWD-positive areas, the state sponsors special hunts to help combat the spread of the disease and generate more sampling opportunities. After a deer tested positive in Libby in 2019, the state established a CWD Management Zone, and testing determined that 13 percent of white-tailed deer within the city were CWD-positive. FWP check stations throughout the state are responsible for the majority of the testing, but more than 1,000 of the samples collected in 2019 were submitted by hunters who wanted to know if their kills were infected. The majority of tests statewide have been performed on healthy, hunter-harvested animals that show no symptoms of the disease, according to Dr. Emily Almberg, a disease ecologist with FWP. In addition to hunters, food banks that receive harvested meat and individuals who harvest roadkill are also encouraged to test their animals. CWD can spread throughout the brain before causing any symptoms. Eventually, infected animals begin to look emaciated, lose muscle coordination and display excessive salivation. The disease has never been transferred to humans. However, the Centers for Disease Control advises testing animals before consumption and recommends against eating infected animals. In areas where CWD is known to be present and in priority sampling areas, hunters are required to get their animals tested and there are restrictions on carcass movement. Hunters who shoot a positive deer are allowed to get a new tag. Martha Williams, director of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, told the Environmental Quality Council the disease has so far had no discernible effect on the sale of hunting licenses, and that special hunts to help combat the disease's spread have sold out quickly. 'CHANGING HUNTING IN MONTANA' FWP is reviewing how to move forward after 2019, and is looking at changes - possibly including heightened harvest allowances, special hunts and increased testing - in regions four, five and six in central Montana, said Greg Lemon, a spokesman for the agency. "What we still have yet to do is sit down with the internal action team, the citizen advisory committee and go through what we learned, talk about what we need to do and [what] we can do as far as strategies moving forward," Lemon said. With the disease spreading, the Montana Wildlife Federation is asking hunters to sign its CWD pledge to use gloves while field dressing, properly dispose of carcasses and report any sightings of animals acting strangely, Gevock said. "It is changing hunting in Montana," he said. "But the last thing we want to see is hunters stop participating. I was told by FWP we did not see a decline in participation this year and that's a good thing." Mac Minard, executive director of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, said that while the disease is certainly a concern for the industry, he's seen no diminishment of client interest in hunting in Montana. He agreed that hunters need to act carefully to help prevent the disease's spread. "It's a new reality, something we're going to have to keep in the front of our minds as we go forward," Minard said. "Within the industry, it causes us to examine our best practices." FWP: LONG-TERM FUNDING NECESSARY Between 2018 and 2019, the state increased its number of CWD field technicians more than threefold, from eight employees to 27. Last year, the state Legislature budgeted about $397,000 for chronic wasting disease surveillance. About 75 percent of that comes from federal Pittman-Robertson Act funds, which are generated by a tax on firearms and ammunition, and the rest comes from state hunting license fees. Already, FWP is approaching that total in expenditures for fiscal year 2020, which runs from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Since July 1, the department has spent $310,342 on chronic wasting disease programs, according to agency figures. The department also anticipates at least an additional $70,000 in testing expenditures before the end of the fiscal year, with the possibility of another $9,000 worth of testing, Lemon said. The agency will also have continued personnel costs for the program's one full-time lab employee. "Long-term funding is going to be necessary," McDonald told the council. "We'll be bumping up that request again to make sure we continue to provide those services." Gevock said while the testing is expensive, it's worthwhile. "It's important and we have to do it," Gevock said. Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, is proposing a constitutional amendment to raise the voting threshold for passing articles of impeachment in the House to three-fifths, from a simple majority, because of what he saw as a partisan attempt to impugn Mr. Trump. On the Democratic side, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon wants to institute a rule that would guarantee new witnesses and documents to be allowed, after Republicans led by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, thwarted Democratic attempts to do so. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, endorsed the concept. Id like to see witnesses and documents be required, Mr. Schumer said. Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, wants to deem any House-passed articles of impeachment as sent to the Senate within a certain time period even if the House does not formally send them a response to Speaker Nancy Pelosis decision to sit on the House-passed accusations against Mr. Trump for weeks. Republicans saw that as an unacceptable attempt by the House to dictate to the Senate the trials timing and ground rules. There ought to be some way to get the trial started, you would think, short of the physical papers being delivered, Mr. McConnell, who supports Mr. Hawleys idea, said in an interview. Despite dissatisfaction in both parties about how parts of Mr. Trumps trial unfolded, some senior lawmakers warn that the Senate should not act hastily in making underlying changes to the rules when emotions remain raw. One lawmakers nuisance impeachment would no doubt be anothers necessary one. 'Do the Muslims of India think they are receiving justice from their nation and particularly from the Supreme Court?' asks Aakar Patel. India's Supreme Court suo moto (on its own) wants to hear the matter of an infant dying after being brought to the Shaheen Bagh protests. It also separately heard on Monday, February 10, the matter of the protests obstructing traffic. The Supreme Court has not heard the matter where 25 protestors have been killed (I would say murdered) by the police. The Supreme Court has not heard the matter where the government of UP has illegally begun to confiscate without process the property of protestors against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Supreme Court has not intervened in the matter of children being interrogated multiple times by police in Bidar because of a school play critical of Narendra Damodardas Modi. The Supreme Court has not heard the matter of Kashmiri leaders being locked up without charge or trial. The Supreme Court has not given Kashmiris the right to use the Internet though it made some pious noises about this in January. The Supreme Court has not stayed the CAA though the judges were told there is a danger that this has created serious turmoil and unrest. The Supreme Court has not given justice to 1,000 people in Assam's concentration camps, who are jailed without crime, families separated with no way and no mechanism of getting out. The Supreme Court has not intervened when the Modi government announced that all non-Muslims in these camps would be freed. Only the Muslims would remain in jail. The Supreme Court has not heard the issue of when the Muslims among the 19 lakh people not included in Assam's National Register of Citizens will get the chance to prove their citizenship. The Supreme Court has not heard the matter of the serious irregularities in the conduction of the Assam NRC. These include the BJP government's extension of two year contracts to those workers who declared maximum people illegal, and the Supreme Court has not heard the cases of those people who were declared foreigners because of spelling mistakes and differing dates in their documents. The Supreme Court has taken away the land on which the Babri Masjid stood and given it to those who broke the mosque down. But it has not enforced the trials of those accused of breaking it. Lal Kishenchand Advani's case is still going on. He is in his 90s and the case is now almost three decades old. The NRC and the NPR have been illegally linked together, but the Supreme Court has not heard that matter or thought it important to list. I could go on with this list, but I will stop here. The fact is the Supreme Court of India shows in its conduct what it chooses to hear and what it chooses to not hear. In ordinary times, this would not be too much of a matter of concern. But not at a time when the world is aghast at what India is doing to its own people, when millions of people are on the street to fight for survival, and in the fact of a government that is ideological and openly prejudiced. The reputation of India as a rule of law country where minorities are protected has been thoroughly shredded by Modi and this government. It is unthinkable that a majority of members of Europe's parliament would propose a resolution condemning an Indian law. But that is what External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will have to face when he goes to Brussels in a few days's time. It is unthinkable that the United States Congress would have 59 legislators supporting a resolution demanding that India release Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and return the Internet to the Kashmiris, but that is also what has happened. Because they have taken on everything that interested them, India's Supreme Court judges have had to be increased from eight judges in 1950 to 31 in 2008. Today there are 33. The Supreme Court is composed of one bench of the Chief Justice's court of three judges and 13 or 14 benches of two judges in 13 or 14 courtrooms sitting regularly day after day. In no Supreme Court of other jurisdictions are there benches of 13 courts of two judges each as the Indian Supreme Court now has. The US supreme court, on which India's court is modelled, has only one bench of 12. But is there any justice that is coming out of all these benches? The answer to this question should come from the people that the State is brutalising today. Do the Muslims of India think they are receiving justice from their nation and particularly from the Supreme Court? I cannot speak on their behalf, but if I had to guess, my answer would be a very firm no. Aakar Patel is a writer and columnist. You can read Aakar's earlier columns here. Mazda has called off restarting production in China since the company has been particularly badly affected by the coronavirus epidemic. The company, which is one of the largest automakers headquartered in Japan, originally planned to resume its operation in China after February 12. However, the automaker has delayed reopening its factory in Nanjing, Jiangsu province to next week as it struggles to deal with supply chain disruptions from the epidemic, according to Nikkei Asia. Mazda Motor has halted its restarting production in China since the firm has been particularly vulnerable amidst the coronavirus contagion Worthy of note, this is the third time Mazda has delayed the launch of the SUV factory. In Vietnam, as VIR previously reported, THACO Premium Automobile Assembly Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO), has issued a recall notice for 10,100 Mazda 3 vehicles for a Check-Engine warning light problem in 2016. As of January 17, a Mazda 3 owner in Hanoi reported an automatic emergency braking problem, which was similar to an issue that prompted Mazda North American Operations to recall several units a few weeks before. Particularly, more than 35,000 Mazda vehicles are being recalled in North America due to potential problems with automatic emergency braking, where a software defect may cause the system to unexpectedly engage, increasing the risk of an accident or crash. Elsewhere, experts expressed concerns that the production disruptions by the outbreak are expected to affect companies of all sizes including giants like Apple, Qualcomm but smaller companies will be hit harder. Nissan,Toyota, and Volkswagen suspended production in Japan and China Another car manufacturer, Volkswagen AG from Germany, last week pushed back the date to resume production at some plants to February 17, citing challenges in its supply chain and in securing factory workers as they face limited travel options. Earlier this week, Nissan Motor and Toyota Motor also suspended production in Japan and China since they were facing difficulties in procuring parts from China due to supply chain disruptions. Three defendants in Baring Vostok case put under house arrest / "" 17:50 12/02/2020 MOSCOW, February 12 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has released from detention and put under house arrest Baring Vostok partner Vagan Abgaryan, the banks Investment Director Ivan Zyuzin, CEO of a debt collection firm Maxim Vladimirov, involved in the 2.5-billion-ruble (about $40 million) embezzlement case, RAPSI reports from the courtroom on Wednesday. The court dismissed a prosecutors move to extend the detention of the defendants, citing the absence of any evidence that they could interfere with witnesses, or had property abroad. The defense also put forward an argument that some defendants had been already freed from detention and put under house arrest. Neither of the defendants admits guilt. Earlier, the Moscow City Court has ruled that the motion to extend detention of Abraryan, Zyuzin, and Vladimirov until February 13 was to be reexamined by the Basmanny District Court of Moscow. This February, the same court extended house arrest of Baring Vostok investment company's founder Michael Calvey and Baring Vostok partner for the financial industry sector Philippe Delpal untl May 13. In early December, the Moscow City Court denied release of over 7.5 million rubles ($117,000) belonging to Calvey from attachment but overturned the seizure of his flat. In mid-February 2019, Moscows Basmanny District Court ordered detention of Calvey and five other defendants including Delpal, Abgaryan, Zyuzin, Vladimirov and ex-chairman of Vostochny bank board Alexey Kordichev. On April 11, Moscows Basmanny District Court released Calvey from detention and put him under house arrest. Delpals measure of restrained was changed in October. According to investigation, Calvey knowing about a 2.5-billion-ruble debt of the First Collector Bureau, a firm under his control, has organized the sale of its shares to Vostochny bank that has led to embezzlement. The Investigative Committee claims that he committed a crime that could not be classified as business crime because he used a chain of sham companies settling the deal. Moreover, investigators say they have a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit report on the done deal estimating the sold shares at 600,000 rubles, which indicates an instance of fraud. Calvey denies allegations insisting that the deal was fair as both companies agreed its terms and stood for it, including a person reporting an alleged crime to law enforcement bodies. He noted that a report has been filed with police by a member of Vostochny bank board of directors Sherzod Yusupov. According to Calvey, the real reason of his prosecution is a wide corporate dispute related to the control of the bank by two groups of shareholders: Baring Vostok and stockholders coming from Uniastrum bank, which was reorganized and joined to Vostochny in early 2017. Baring Vostok company founded by Calvey in 1994 focuses on private equity investments in the CIS and Russia. The company has invested in shares of Yandex, Vkusvill, Tinkoff Bank and other major projects. A medical staffer works with test systems for the diagnosis of coronavirus, at the Krasnodar Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology microbiology lab in Krasnodar, Russia on Feb. 4, 2020. (AP Photo) Top US Official Warns Against Assuming New Coronavirus is on the Decline Though Chinese officials claim the number of new coronavirus infections are on the decline, a top American official warned against wishful thinking and said virus still poses a serious threat. I think that we better be careful about jumping to the conclusion that this is turning around, because when you look into monitoring of infections you sometimes see it go up and down, Dr. Tony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease, said during an appearance on Bloomberg TV on Feb. 12. The number of new cases reported every day is alarming, Fauci said. I think we better be careful that as much as we want things to turn around, we may not have wishful thinking. We still have a very serious problem in China and as we get more travel-related cases, the threat of this becoming more diffuse is great, he said. A man wearing a mask is seen at the Shanghai railway station in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus on Feb. 12, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters) The official numbers released by the Chinese Communist Party havent been verified by outside parties and have been widely questioned. Fauci said the number of cases reported by China is certainly lower than the true number, noting that patients with minimal or no symptoms generally dont get counted. Everyone feels rather confident that the total number of infected people are much greater than the 45,000 count that were getting from China. Right now, the new virus is spreading rapidly, much easier than the SARS virus spread. There are more than five times as many cases of COVID-19, the new virus, in under two months than there was with SARS in an entire year, Fauci noted. A driver has his temperature checked at a checkpoint of a village in Vinh Phuc province, Vietnam on Feb. 12, 2020. (Kham/Reuters) His comments come after a study found that the incubation period for COVID-19 can last for up to 24 days, based on patient observation. The study also found evidence of rapid human-to-human transmission. Such transmission has occurred in multiple countries outside of China. Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters in Washington this week that China hasnt broadened its ability to track mild cases and expressed concern about the transmissibility of the virus. So far, our strategies seem to be working here in the U.S. But it may be that with additional cases, particularly if they dont involve symptoms, or very mild symptoms, that itll be very difficult to block the spread, she said. If containment doesnt work in the United States, she said, the next strategy would be to work to slow the spread of the virus, delaying its peak. That can be done with non-pharmaceutical measures such as social distancing, or having more people telework and possibly closing some schools. The aim would be to reduce crowds and mass gatherings, which has been done in China. Another intervention would be having people who are exposed to the virus self-isolate even if they arent showing symptoms. Dr. Michael Ryan, director of the World Health Organizations emergency program, said at a press conference in Geneva on Tuesday that theres going to be more and more cases in the coming weeks stemming from people gathering, including at conferences and on cruise ships. Any time people congregate theres always going to be a concern, he said. There is no such thing as a zero-risk. We must minimize risks. A worker wearing a mask and a protective suit operates a forklift to load boxes containing food to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is quarantined in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 12, 2020. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images) A business conference in Singapore in January has been linked to cases in six different countries. A British man who attended the conference then traveled to France, where he infected five other British nationals, including a child. Five people in the United Kingdom also became infected from the man, along with a person in Spain. Cases among people who traveled to the conference were also confirmed in Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. Another 39 people on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan were confirmed on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 175. The cruise ship, operated by Princess Cruises, was placed in quarantine after arriving back in Yokohama on Feb. 3 after a man who was on the ship tested positive for the virus. About 3,700 people are on board. Another ship with no confirmed cases was heading to Cambodia on Thursday, its operator said. Some six countries have rejected the ships requests to dock. NCP chief and former Union minister Sharad Pawar said that the BJP tried to polarise votes, but the people of the national capital rejected it. Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Tuesday hailed the victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly elections. While Mr Thackeray said that Jan Ki Baat won over Mann ki Baat in Delhi, Mr Pawar said that he was not at all surprised by the drubbing the BJP got. In an apparent reference to the BJP, Mr Thackeray said that the BJP considers itself as desh premi (patriotic) and those who oppose it as desh drohi (anti-national). However, the people of Delhi have destroyed this illusion. I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal for his party's victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. The people of Delhi have shown the path that Jan ki Baat will prevail over Mann ki Baat. The so-called nationalist government in Delhi (Centre), in spite of putting in all its efforts, failed to stand before the broom (the symbol of AAP). The strong party (BJP) fielded all its top guns and leaders in the Delhi Assembly elections. Moreover, they also compared Mr Kejriwal to a terrorist. With an intention to divert the attention of voters, they ignored local issues and raised international issues. Despite this, they failed to defeat Mr Kejriwal. The people of Delhi backed a genuine person who carries out development works. The people reposed their faith in democracy. We are patriotic and those who are opposing and others are desh drohi (anti-national). This illusion has been smashed by the people of Delhi, Mr Thackeray said in a statement in Marathi. In his greetings to Mr Kejriwal, the Maharashtra chief minister said, I, on behalf of people of Maharashtra and the Shiv Sena, congratulate the people of Delhi and Mr Kejriwal. I also wish him for his future endeavours. Meanwhile, NCP chief and former Union minister Sharad Pawar said that the BJP tried to polarise votes, but the people of the national capital rejected it. Speaking with reporters in Pune, the NCP chief said, The Delhi poll results indicate winds of change blowing in the country. The results are not surprising to me. Mr Pawar said that the BJP, as usual, played the communal card to polarise votes, but failed. The Delhi Assembly poll contest was only between the Aam Aadmi Party and BJP hence one might claim that the saffron party's vote share is soaring. The veteran politician said that all regional parties need to come together to keep the BJP out of power. "Today's result is not limited to Delhi alone as people from various states live in the national capital. There is an environment of change in their own state and that is what they have expressed in Delhi," he said. The warning comes in the wake of Storm Ciara. Disruptive weather looks set to continue this week in Northern Ireland with another weather warning in place for Thursday. Heavy rain is to douse Northern Ireland from midnight until 8am on Thursday with a yellow warning put in place. Forecasters are warning of transport disruption. The Met Office said rain will spread northwards during the early hours of Thursday, preceded by a spell of snow on higher ground. "Some heavy rain is possible over the Mournes and Antrim hills. Coupled with snow melt this may lead to some local flooding. Drier weather will spread to all parts from mid-morning," meteorologists said. It comes after a blanket of snow descended on Wednesday morning in the wake of Storm Ciara. Six schools were forced to close. Three in Co Down, two in Tyrone and one in Armagh. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Blanket of snow covers Northern Ireland [Photos] Close Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Press Eye - Weather Picture - Cave Hill Belfast - 12th February 2020 Photograph by Declan Roughan Press Eye - Weather Picture - Cave Hill Belfast - 12th February 2020 Photograph by Declan Roughan Press Eye - Weather Picture - Cave Hill Belfast - 12th February 2020 Photograph by Declan Roughan Press Eye - Weather Picture - Cave Hill Belfast - 12th February 2020 Photograph by Declan Roughan Press Eye - Weather Picture - Cave Hill Belfast - 12th February 2020 Photograph by Declan Roughan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pacemaker Press 12-02-2020: Northern Ireland looks set for more bad weather this weekend as a second storm approaches. Storm Dennis will bring "very strong winds" and potential for transport disruption from Sunday, the Met Office said. A yellow wind warning is in place from midday on Sunday February 16 ending at midday Monday. Condition on the Glenshane Pass in the north west are particularly bad. Picture By: Arthur Allison. Pacemaker Press. Weather forecasters have warned of a "miserable" week of weather. Storm Dennis is heading for Northern Ireland over the weekend with the Met Office warning of potentially more disruption. A yellow warning for wind is in place from midday on Sunday for 24 hours. A low-pressure system is to develop in the North Atlantic before making its way across Northern Ireland. Steve Ramsdale, chief meteorologist at the Met Office said: Another spell of very wet and windy weather is expected for Saturday, although Storm Dennis is currently not expected to be as severe as Ciara disruption is still likely. "Our confidence in the forecast means we have been able to issue severe weather warnings well in advance, giving people time to prepare for potential impacts of the storm." Over the weekend wind gusts will widely reach in excess of 50mph, even across some inland areas, with gusts of over 60mph possible over hills, coastal areas and exposed locations. While winds have the potential to bring disruption they are not expected to be as strong as the gusts over the past week. In some parts of the UK Storm Ciara brought gales of 97mph. Heavy rain is also expected with Storm Dennis with a risk of flooding. Disruption is expected to transport with possible power cuts. Thursday will see more snow, mostly on higher ground before thawing out by the afternoon. Friday is to start with gales then sunshine and a few showers. It will be wet and very windy on Saturday with sunshine, blustery showers and severe gales on Sunday. Russ Singleton became the CEO of Journeo plc (LON:JNEO) in 2013. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. 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 method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO. View our latest analysis for Journeo How Does Russ Singleton's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Journeo plc has a market capitalization of UK4.5m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK179k over the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK150k. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below UK155m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is UK251k. That means Russ Singleton receives fairly typical remuneration for the CEO of a company that size. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Journeo has changed from year to year. AIM:JNEO CEO Compensation, February 12th 2020 Is Journeo plc Growing? Over the last three years Journeo plc has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 103% per year (using a line of best fit). It saw its revenue drop 5.2% over the last year. This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. Revenue growth is a real positive for growth, but ultimately profits are more important. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Has Journeo plc Been A Good Investment? I think that the total shareholder return of 51%, over three years, would leave most Journeo plc shareholders smiling. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. Story continues In Summary... Russ Singleton is paid around what is normal the leaders of comparable size companies. The company is growing earnings per share and total shareholder returns have been pleasing. So one could argue the CEO compensation is quite modest, if you consider company performance! CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Journeo (free visualization of insider trades). Important note: Journeo 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. Donald Trumps administration is the gravest threat to the rule of law in a generation, a top Democrat has claimed amid outcry over the sentencing of Roger Stone. One prosecutor has quit and at least one other withdrawn from the case, after the department of justice announced it would seek a shorter sentence for the onetime Trump ally and confidant. It made the announcement after the president complained about the seven to nine years in jail being sought by prosecutors, after Stone, 67, was found guilty to seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. This is a horrible and very unfair situation, Mr Trump wrote on Twitter early on Tuesday, about Stone, a close friend over a number of decades. Officials then said the DOJ intended to override the prosecutors recommendations and seek a less harsh sentence for the charges, related to special prosecutor Robert Muellers two-year investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 election, and possible links to the Trump campaign. 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 When news of the about-face emerged, two prosecutors connected with the case said they no longer wanted anything to do with it. Democrats were quick to pounce on what they said was clear wrongdoing by the president and his administration. Trump says black poverty rates 'reversed' Coupled with the presidents blatant retaliation against those who helped expose his wrongdoing, the Trump administration poses the gravest threat to the rule of law in America in a generation, said congressman Adam Schiff, one of Democrats who prosecuted Mr Trumps impeachment case in Senate, and where the president was acquitted. He added: I do not take a position on the proper prison term for Mr Stone, but it would be a blatant abuse of power if president Trump has in fact intervened to reverse the recommendations of career prosecutors at the department of justice. Another Democrat, senator Chris Van Hollen tweeted: They are turning us into a banana republic. Additional reporting by Reuters This article, Mysterious repeating radio signal traced to unexpected outer space location, originally appeared on CNET.com. The source of strange signals called fast radio bursts from across the cosmos is one of the most perplexing puzzles in astronomy. This week, astronomers identified the source of one such repeating signal for just the second time, and the result seems to have generated more questions than answers. There have been hundreds of detections of these fast radio bursts, or FRBs, over the past two decades, but only a handful of the enigmatic signals have ever repeated themselves. In 2017, repeating FRB 121102 was traced back to a distant dwarf galaxy, 3 billion light-years beyond the Milky Way. Now an international team has tracked another repeater back to a very different source, the star-forming region of a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way. (To be precise, that's FRB 180916.J0158+65 and spiral galaxy SDSS J015800.28+654253.0.) "The found location is radically different from the previously located repeating FRB, but also different from all previously studied FRBs," said Kenzie Nimmo, a Ph.D. student at the University of Amsterdam, in a release. In other words, FRBs -- both repeating and nonrepeating -- seem to originate from radically different locales around the universe. This leaves Nimmo and others wondering if the origin of an FRB isn't the most important clue in solving the puzzle. "It may be that FRBs are produced in a large zoo of locations across the universe and just require some specific conditions to be visible," she said. A study, co-authored by Nimmo and led by Benito Marcote at Europe's Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC, outlines the process of localizing a repeating FRB for just the second time. It was published in Thursday's issue of Nature. While the new study may cast doubt on what we thought we knew about FRBs, the good news is that the newly mapped repeater is relatively close at "only" half a billion light-years from Earth, providing a prime opportunity for studying FRBs more closely. Originally published Jan. 9, 11:14 a.m. PT People stand by the wreckage of a car that has been blown up by suspected Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's troubled northeastern city of Maiduguri on March 25, 2014. (AFP/Getty Images) Suspected Boko Haram Islamists Kill at Least 30 in Northeast Nigeria: Residents ABUJAAt least 30 people have been killed in Nigerias northeastern Borno region after suspected Boko Haram Islamist terrorists set ablaze several trucks carrying passengers on Sunday night, eyewitnesses and residents told Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Boko Haram group and rival Islamic State terrorists in West Africa (ISWA) splinter group have often carried out attacks in the area. The passengers were stranded on Sunday evening at a military checkpoint due to a curfew imposed by the military in the town of Auno before the attack happened at around 2100 GMT, resident Bunu Ali who witnessed the attack said. Auno is a town 15 miles (24 km) from Maiduguri, the state capital. An eyewitness said the insurgents attacked on motorbikes shooting sporadically. They set at least 18 vehicles ablaze and abducted several people, another eyewitness said. Nigerian Army Commander said the casualty figure was much smaller because the military had recovered 10 bodies on Monday. The commander said the military closed the road at 1500 GMT to curb insurgency. President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday condemned the attack, adding that he was receiving more military hardware and intelligence to counter the current security challenges, a statement from the presidential office said. Borno state is the epicenter of the Boko Haram and ISWA insurgency. The conflict has lasted a decade, during which time the terrorists have killed thousands. Millions have fled from their homes in the region. By Chijioke Ohuocha As the Legislature prepares to convene next month, Orleans Parish school officials want lawmakers to focus on students in need of mental health services because of exposure to trauma. The school district would support any legislation that puts money into mental health services and trauma-related care, said Justin McCorkle, director of community relations for NOLA Public Schools. Expanding mental health services is among the legislative priorities school officials highlighted during an Orleans Parish School Board committee meeting Tuesday. The district is also asking the state for money to create additional spots for students in pre-K programs and to cover raises for teachers and other staff. The request came months after a panel commissioned by the New Orleans City Council reported that programs to alleviate trauma reduce juvenile crime, and the same day the Greater New Orleans Foundation reported that student demand for trauma counseling far exceeds its citywide availability. +11 The Children of Central City: Stolen Focus Trauma can have a devastating impact on a childs education. So why have some New Orleans schoolsfailed to address the problem? The City Council report was influenced in part by the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies, a group that found that one in five children in New Orleans' Central City had witnessed a murder and one in three had witnessed domestic violence. The Greater New Orleans Foundation report, called "New Orleans School Partnership Study: What Our Students Need and How We Can Help," found that social-emotional programming is available for only one-third of students who need it. 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 The school district has begun efforts to improve mental health programs for students. This year, it has partnered with the New Orleans Health Department, Childrens Hospital and other groups to implement pilot programs in schools. Teachers receive training in how to spot students who have experienced trauma and teach them coping skills, rather than implementing harsher disciplines like expulsion or out-of-school suspensions. Heres how the Orleans School Board plans to help traumatized students Work is underway within the Orleans Parish School Board to improve the behavioral health supports for public school students citywide. Meanwhile, the district is also pushing for money for additional pre-K spots. A study released by Tulane University's Education Research Alliance for New Orleans in 2017 found there were fewer pre-K options available to New Orleans parents than before Hurricane Katrina, when many schools hadn't yet transitioned to the charter system. Orleans School Board to ask Legislature to move $10 million from facilities to academics The Orleans Parish School Board is planning to ask state lawmakers during the 2019 Legislature session to empower its schools chief to redirec Charter organizations at that time said the pre-K programs were expensive and the state didn't give them enough of a subsidy to make them worth offering. Several schools have complained over the years of needing to subsidize early education by pulling resources from K-12 students. The district is also asking for more state funds for teacher and staff pay raises, for continued TOPS funding and for more money for the state's per-pupil, minimum foundation program. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) President Rodrigo Duterte made several appeals to broadcast media practitioners during Wednesday's induction of officers of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). The chief executive told media entities to report the truth even if it destroys him. "Ako ang aking hinihingi is simply the truth [I am simply asking for the truth]. If the truth will destroy me, so be it... If the truth will masisira ako [ruin me], thats the price of being in public service. The President also asked media people to continue reporting on the various issues such as water deals with Maynilad and Manila Water, while lauding the role of the countrys mass media in promoting awareness and spreading vital information. This comes at the heels of a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against TV network ABS-CBN, which is a member of the KBP. While the President stayed silent on the franchise issue during the event, he did warn media from abusing broadcast privileges. "While our Constitution upholds the freedom of the press, the function to broadcast is a privilege granted by the government. It is imbued with the best interest of the nation and our people. We will not tolerate any abuse of (this) privilege. CNN Philippines' Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report. Actress Frances Barber has revealed in an emotional interview how she narrowly avoided being sexually assaulted by a major film producer. The incident, which happened in the 1980s involved a well-known industry figure who attempted to rape her after offering her a major film role. The assailant was at least 40 years older than Ms Barber who was in her early 20s at the time of the alleged attack. Actress Frances Barber, pictured, revealed today that she was attacked by a major film producer in a London hotel during the 1980s and was saved by hotel staff who were investigating a leak from the suite's bathroom Ms Barber said the senior figure, who she did not name, invited her to his room at the Athenaeum Hotel in Mayfair The attack is alleged to have happened in the 1980s at the Atehnaeum Hotel in London She revealed details of the attack, which is alleged to have happened at a top London hotel. The Olivier-winning actress, 62, told Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio 5 Live about the incident. She said: 'He wanted to have a meeting with me at the Athenaeum Hotel, so I went. I would have been 23, maybe at that point. So I got up to his room and there on the table there was champagne and caviar, and, remember Im 23, Im from a council estate in Wolverhampton, Ive been to Bangor University, I know nothing.' Ms Barber said the producer asked her to put on a shirt so he would be able to 'asses' her body. After putting back on her clothes, the producer, who she does not name, appeared wearing a bathrobe while drawing a bath. She claimed the man ordered her to get into 'the tub' before launching his attack. She said: 'He was grappling with me at the door and I really was scared and upset and I was crying and I went "no, no, no, no, dont touch me, dont touch me, dont touch me." Ms Barber said staff had knocked on the door saving her because there had been complaints about water leaking into the room below. Ms Barber claimed the staff told her that she was the 'third girl this week' who had been in that position. She added: 'Of course those things happened. Those things happened. But I was so lucky, you know, literally by the skin of my teeth...had the bath not run into the room below I dont quite know what Id have done.' The hacked company advises consumers to secure their personal accounts A hack of one of the largest health care systems in the U.S. has compromised the personal and private data of more than a million people who were exposed. A recent filing showed that 1,357,879 were impacted by the breach in October 2021. In a letter to customers, Broward Health stated that the stolen information may have included names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, financial or bank account information, Social Security numbers, insurance information, driver... Immigration to Atlantic Canada continues to rise significantly with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick leading the way through the Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Pilot Atlantic Canadas immigration revolution continues Immigration to Atlantic Canada continues to rise significantly with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick leading the way through the Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Pilot Atlantic Canadas immigration revolution continues Immigration to Atlantic Canada continues to rise significantly with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick leading the way through the Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Pilot Atlantic Canadas immigration revolution continues Immigration to Atlantic Canada continues to rise significantly with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick leading the way through the Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Pilot Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Atlantic Canadas incredible immigration run continued in 2019 as the region welcomed nearly 18,000 newcomers. The Atlantic region, which includes Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, has been making significant efforts in recent years to welcome more immigrants. Atlantic Canada has a rapidly aging population, low birth rate, higher rates of out-migration, and lower rates of interprovincial migration than other parts of the country. As a result, governments, employers, colleges, and universities, and immigrant-serving organizations within the region have been working to develop strategies to welcome and retain more immigrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers. In 2010, Atlantic Canada welcomed only 8,000 immigrants. This accounted for about 3 per cent of all newcomers to Canada, even though the region comprises about 6.5 per cent of Canadas population. In other words, Atlantic Canadas immigrant intake was disproportionately lower than the newcomer intakes of other provinces. Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, CIC News Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs Immigration revolution began in 2016 Since 2016, Atlantic Canadas immigration revolution has been in full force as the region was able to welcome nearly 5 per cent of newcomers to Canada that year. This was largely due to the region welcoming more Syrian refugees as well as more economic class immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). In 2017, the federal government launched the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) to complement Express Entry and the PNP as an added tool to promote immigration in the Atlantic region. The AIP began to pick up steam in 2018. In conjunction with the PNP, the AIP has brought approximately 14,000 immigrants to the Atlantic region. This represented a 22 per cent increase compared with the nearly 12,000 immigrants welcomed by the region in 2017. A 26 per cent increase in 2019 In 2019, the number of immigrants in Atlantic Canada increased by another 26 per cent. All four Atlantic provinces broke their own immigration records. Newfoundland and Labrador saw a 21 per cent increase in its newcomer population, welcoming nearly 1,900 immigrants, up from 1,500 the previous year. Prince Edward Island saw a 15 per cent increase as its intake went up to nearly 2,500 compared with 2,100 in 2018. Nova Scotia experienced a 27 per cent gain to about 7,600 immigrants compared with 6,000 in 2018. New Brunswick had the largest increase as its intake grew to 6,000 compared with about 4,600 the previous year. Atlantic Canada could reach an important milestone in 2021 Atlantic Canada is on the right track and is closing in on an important milestone. It needs to welcome about 24,000 newcomers to reach its proportional share of immigrants to Canada. Assuming it continues to increase the number of newcomers by 20 per cent or more per year, as it has recently done, it could reach this milestone as early as 2021. Increases to the regions PNP allocations in recent years have been instrumental in the success of immigration to Atlantic Canada, as has the AIP. The current federal government has stated in the mandate letter from Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino that it will make the AIP a permanent program. Canadas 2019-2021 Immigration Levels Plan set a target of doubling the AIP intake from 2,000 in 2019 to 4,000 in 2020. The PNPs intake target will also rise to 67,800 compared with the 61,000 target in 2019. This means that Atlantic Canadas PNP allocation will likely increase in 2020. As such, there is strong reason to believe that Atlantic Canada will welcome 6.5 per cent of Canadas newcomers within the coming years. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs Kareem El-Assal is the Director of Policy & Digital Strategy at CanadaVisa. 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that different banks and the postal department are involved in conducting surveys on behalf of the union government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre. The chief minister asked people not to share any document or information with those surveyors. Banks and the postal department are being used for collecting data. Dont answer them. Share no information or document. They cant do it without the approval of the state government and we havent given them any permission. Send these people away from your home, Banerjee said while convening an administrative meeting in Bankura district. The meeting was streamed live on social media. After the meeting, she went to the neighbouring West Burdwan district and led a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) in Durgapur. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit president Dilip Ghosh criticized Banerjee following this remark and alleged that the chief minister herself was creating a state of chaos, leading to disruption of regular work in the banking sector. How can a chief minister ask people not to share information with banks? She is harming basic financial activities and also misleading the people. Only those refusing to share information with the banks would suffer, as the banks have nothing at all to do with NRC or NPR, said Ghosh, a Lok Sabha MP from Midnapore. On Wednesday, he led a rally supporting CAA in north Bengal. They are even opposing banks KYC (know your customer) forms. Do they want to paralyze the banking system? Ghosh questioned. The chief minister had earlier cautioned people against sharing personal information with workers of non-government organizations (NGOs), alleging that the BJP had employed NGOs to secretly collect information for NPR and NRC. The stage government has already halted all work related to NPR and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has stopped updating Aadhar card information. Owing to a state of panic over the citizenship screening exercise in different districts of the state, the preparations for the house-listing phase of census, scheduled to be held between April and September this year across the country, has also been hit. In an unrelated development, the police in Siliguri in north Bengal used water cannons to disperse agitators belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist)s youth wing who were protesting different policies of the state government and the Centre on Wednesday afternoon. Sluggish home construction in Vancouver was partially compensated for by accelerated activity in Montreal, latest data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation showed. The national housing starts trend last month was at 210,915 units, just a little bit lower than the 212,212 reading in December 2019. This was despite the massive 50% annual drop in Vancouvers activity, from 2,067 homes in January 2019 to just 1,024 units last month. To contrast, Montreal enjoyed a significant 48% acceleration, from 1,422 starts last year to 2,107 this January. The BBC must not be diminished amid a growing battle for global influence and attempts at democratic disruption, the broadcasters chairman has said. Sir David Clementi said that the BBC would no longer be the public service the nation knows and values if it went behind a paywall. He also spoke against the possible decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee, saying licence fee payers would be the ultimate losers. Sir David cited the broadcasters influence around the world. Sir David Clementi (Jeff Overs/BBC) Of the World Service, he said: As a public service broadcaster, not a state broadcaster, it has been a beacon of journalistic impartiality and a lifeline for millions living in fear, uncertainty, or captivity worldwide. There is a growing battle for global influence in which news provision has emerged as a key weapon, he said. The BBCs main competitors are the well-funded, state-backed actors of Russia and China who see news as an extension of state influence and a tool for democratic disruption, Sir David said in a speech in MediaCity, Salford. China continues to build a communications infrastructure across Africa that will beam Chinese-produced content directly into millions of African homes. It has been described as a stroke of soft-power genius. Meanwhile, RTs (formerly Russia Todays) coverage of the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury is a prime example of how hard Russia works to undermine reports from the West and sow mistrust in democratic institutions worldwide. Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan (Paul Ellis/PA) The next few years will decide which competing vision of the future of news will triumph, the state-controlled or the fair and free. The basic World Service has been funded by the BBC from the licence fee, with 250 million, since 2010. The Government gave the BBC additional funds to increase the service, recognising the role the BBC has played in enhancing Britains reputation and influence around the world Sir David said, three years ago. Story continues This had delivered for communities across the world and deepened Britains democratic influence, he said. Sir David also hit back at suggestions that the BBC had agreed to fund the free TV licence for over-75s as part of negotiations with the Government. There was no agreement, as is often claimed, that the BBC would simply copy the Governments concession, he said. A whole raft of observers, politicians, commentators and journalists, who were nowhere near the 2015 Agreement at the time but would like to put blame on the BBC, keep insisting that something else was agreed and that the BBC has not honoured this something else. Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan signalled the possible end of the TV licence fee, which underpins funding of the almost 100-year-old broadcaster. Sir David said that critics of the licence fee need to think much harder about what the BBC, funded through a voluntary subscription, would look like. James Corden during filming for the Gavin And Stacey Christmas special at Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales (Andrew Matthews/PA) And he added: I have no doubt that the BBC could thrive as a subscription model. But it would not be the BBC that the nation knows and values and, behind a paywall, it would not be available to everyone. He said: Sitting behind a paywall, it would no longer be the place that brings the country together for the Strictly final, or Gavin & Stacey on Christmas Day, or the Armistice Anniversary or Holocaust Memorial. Nor would it be the place that all could turn to celebrate live important moments we enjoy as a nation: Royal Weddings or Jubilees, or Olympic successes. The appointment of a new director general, following the decision of Lord Hall to stand down, was a matter for the BBC Board alone, Sir David added. He also spoke against the possible decriminalisation of non-payment of the licence fee, after the Government launched a consultation, saying it would be likely to cost the BBC hundreds of millions of pounds making licence fee payers the ultimate losers. Info Edge (India) on Wednesday posted a consolidated loss of Rs 62.1 crore for the quarter ended December 2019. The company had posted consolidated profit of Rs 330 crore in the year-ago period, Info Edge (India) Ltd said in a filing to BSE. The consolidated income of the company, however, increased to Rs 359.7 crore in the October-December period, over Rs 323 crore in the year-ago period. Commenting on the results, the company's CFO Chintan Thakkar said, "We are pleased to witness yet another robust quarterly result containing double digit growth in all key matrices such as billing, revenue nd operating EBITDA on year-on-year basis. We continue to leverage our strong cash surplus position to invest in technology and branding." Info Edge (India) runs leading internet businesses Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, 99acres.com and Shiksha.com. Shares of the company were trading at Rs 3,001.40 apiece, up 0.14 per cent from the previous close on BSE. (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 Chen Dongxiao (The Jakarta Post) Shanghai Wed, February 12, 2020 13:06 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2064048b4 3 Opinion opinions,China,Wuhan-coronavirus,wuhan,Wuhan-lockdown,coronavirus,#coronavirus,#Wuhan,outbreak,disease,nCoV Free The novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) epidemic has become a common international concern. Since the first infection was diagnosed in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the coronavirus has been spreading at a speed beyond expectations. Chinas government mandated a quarantine of Wuhan city on Jan. 23 and 31 provinces and municipalities have also taken first-level response measures to this major public health emergency. On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization declared the epidemic a global health emergency. The actions of Chinas government and people are key to the global campaign against this epidemic. Why has Chinas government taken such strong measures? How effective are they? What are the epidemics effects on Chinas economy? And how can the international community together tackle the international emergency? Here are some tentative answers by experts of the Institute of Global Governance of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. 1. Why were mass quarantines imposed on Wuhan and other epidemic areas? Quarantine is a traditional yet most effective measure to contain a deadly epidemic. With no cure for virus-caused infections, standard public health emergency measures usually prove the most efficient, including isolating the sources of infection, cutting off or interrupting transmission routes and providing special care for the most susceptible people. Humans are all susceptible to this deadly new coronavirus; thus source isolation and transmission chain interruption are by far the only reliable and effective methods. The unprecedented full quarantine on Wuhan reflects Chinas dedication as a responsible great power. Since the quarantine began, the number of confirmed cases in all regions has grown at a much lower speed than in Hubei province; and Wuhan remains the only city with concentrated infections. Of all confirmed cases outside Hubei, most patients have either lived in or traveled to Wuhan or other areas of Hubei recently, and the rest have been in close contact with the above patients. High-level emergency alerts have been activated all across China. Travelers from Wuhan and other epidemic areas are advised to report their travel records and to self-quarantine for two weeks to prevent transmission. Reportedly, 5 million people who had left Wuhan before the lockdown were migrant workers seeking family reunions in their hometowns or holiday travelers. What if China had not closed off Wuhan and other epidemic areas? Highly connected transport networks may enable pathogens to cross six continents in under 36 hours. Yet by Jan. 30, eight days after the Wuhan lockdown, 18 countries had reported 98 scattered cases of infection, the WHO reported. As WHO director-general Tedros A. Ghebreyesuson said, the Chinese government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures [...]. The Commerce Ministry has activated a material supplying mechanism involving nine provincial authorities, through which basic items flow into Hubei. The Chinese traditionally store more than enough food and other items for the Spring Festival season. Although Wuhans public transportation has been suspended, residents have not been restricted and most households have opted for self-quarantine to avoid potential infection. Community organizations offer vehicles for those who must travel. Locals lives have begun to return to normal with the regular disclosure of information and stepped-up personal hygiene measures. Hubei province has 72 A-grade hospitals and 942 other medical facilities. Two of Chinas top ten hospitals are in Wuhan, along with 229 other medical facilities. Medical institutions across China stand ready to assist Wuhan at request and medical personnel are arriving in Wuhan to reinforce its public health system. Following the model of Xiaotangshan Hospital built in 2003 to treat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients in Beijing, three new hospitals have been erected in Hubei, including the Huoshenshan Hospital (with 1,000 beds and covering 34,000 square meters) and Leishenshan Hospital (with 1,500 beds and spanning 75,000 square meters) in Wuhan, scheduled to be ready within 10 days after plans for construction were made. 2. Can the Chinese government contain the epidemic? Beijing activated the public health emergency response mechanism as soon as the number of confirmed cases rose to 200. On Jan. 20, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang instructed all levels of government to pay their closest attention to the epidemics development. On Jan. 25, Premier Li was designated chair of a new central group on battling the epidemic. Over 52 batches of 6,097 medical professionals are working in Wuhan and other places in Hubei. The Finance Ministry has allocated 1 billion yuan (US$143.4 million) in emergency funds for Wuhan and Hubei. Food and other necessities have been sent from other places to Wuhan for its 9 million residents. Most of the confirmed cases reported outside Hubei are imported infections patients who have either traveled to or lived in Wuhan or come into close contact with carriers of the virus. There have been no other epicenters other than Wuhan thanks to early intervention. Priorities for local governments include identifying and caring for symptomatic patients and advising and monitoring people with records of travel to Wuhan to self-quarantine. Measures such as migration control and mass quarantine may cause social disorder, requiring appropriate responses from local authorities. Price control and quality supervision are also necessary amid soaring demands for face masks and liquid soap. In rural areas, many remain reluctant to wear masks and to wash their hands with soap. Family reunions during the Spring Festival also increased the likelihood of mass infection. Financial and material donations from enterprises have been growing since the onset of the virus. Corporate giants like Alibaba and Fosun International Limited have made overseas purchases of medical equipment for Wuhan. Chinese tech firms have proven that the internet plays a special role in Chinas social governance. Tencent has set up 11 platforms providing online services such as up-to-date information and medical advice. Another platform helps debunk rumors. Didi, a car-hailing service firm, has set up a convoy to ferry medical staff amid Wuhans shutdown Since the SARS outbreak, internet companies have shouldered increasing corporate responsibilities in times of crisis. The public has experienced a quiet Spring Festival, with canceled gatherings and vacations. Despite initial anxiety, criticism and concerns over information disclosure, the public rationality in a country with a population of 1.4 billion and 800 million netizens has been commendable. With the governments enhanced information transparency, criticism was replaced with optimism and support for government initiatives and programs. Now, the public is admiring the medical staff from across China working in Wuhan, hailing Zhong Nanshan the first professional to warn of human-to-human transmission as a national hero, and watching live at 3 a.m. the construction of hospitals with chants of Hang on Wuhan, we stand with you. Today, more and more Chinese are comforting and encouraging each other. Besides donations to charities and Red Cross agencies, the public has mailed to Wuhan masks and protective suits. Social groups have volunteered to work in Wuhan. Overseas members of alumni societies of Wuhan University, Nanjing University and Tsinghua University have provided medical materials to Wuhan hospitals. Medical associations have volunteered to counsel patients families. In Shanghai, residents sent frontline medical personnel milk tea and meals. Some placed hundreds of face masks at a police stations entrance without leaving their names. The third question that many have raised is the likely impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic on Chinas economy. There are three main views about what impact the epidemic will have on Chinas economy. The critical impact theory maintains that the epidemic will have a serious effect on the [now slackening economy, slowing its growth rate and handicapping the global economy. Based on data about the economic impact of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, the manageable impact theory holds that the epidemic will have a limited effect on Chinas economy, and that the performance of the whole year will not be much influenced despite slowed growth in the first quarter. The uncertain impact theory holds that the economic impact will depend on how long the epidemic lasts. The size of Chinas economy (99 trillion yuan in gross domestic product) is nine times the size it was 2003 (11.7 trillion yuan). Indeed, it would be imprudent to judge the epidemics economic impact by historical experience. In the new millennium, China has witnessed epidemics, disasters and other acute incidents. Yet the government has managed to contain them one by one, including SARS in 2003 (which caused the biggest short-term economic effect), H1N1 (swine flu) in 2009 and H7N9 (bird flu), as well as the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Even in the face of the 2009 global financial crisis, China maintained steady economic growth with a strong stimulus package and international efforts led by the Group of 20. However, the potential impact of this epidemic could be different from all previous epidemics and other incidents. For one, it has occurred when Chinas economy is facing three daunting tasks domestically: guarding against systemic financial risks, pollution control and poverty eradication. Externally, with globalization under unprecedented challenges and China-United States trade frictions only starting to ease, Chinas economy will be further hit if it is labeled an epidemic area. The epidemic has also influenced larger areas and to greater degrees. Not only is it the first time in history that a complete quarantine has been placed on Wuhan city and that first-level responses have been enacted by more than 30 provinces or municipalities, but the epidemic has also impacted employment, local government debts and the stability of the yuan. Economic growth is forecast to decline 1.5 percentage points. The epidemic poses the danger of direct harm to three main sectors: the service sector, especially tourism, catering, entertainment and logistics; the manufacturing sector, typically the mobile phone, automobile and electronic industries, which could disrupt global industrial chains; and the trade sector, owing to potential cuts or even a shutdown of airline routes, sea routes and borders by some countries. Nevertheless, the resilience of Chinas economy cannot be underestimated. The epidemic has benefited industries such as electronic commerce and online gaming and entertainment. The government boasts strong financial capacity in crisis management as of Jan. 29, 27.3 billion yuan (US$3.9 billion) had been provided by governments of all levels for epidemic control. Some Americans doubt if China can fulfill its commitment made in the Phase I deal with the US; however Chinas purchase of American agricultural products could reach a new high, as the deal ended much of the uncertainty of China-US trade relations. Besides, China will likely increase its purchases of other products, such as medical supplies. Notably, the epidemic will be taken into full consideration in the making of Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). As the worlds second largest economy, the epidemic cannot undermine Chinas huge potential in consumption, urbanization and new economic fields such as 5G and artificial intelligence. 4. How can the international community work together in the interests of common human security? In our globalized world, the epidemic will inevitably have global impacts. China has been striving to fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations to counter the epidemic. With utmost openness and promptness, the government is working closely with the World Health Organization at every step, as exemplified by President Xi Jinping's meeting with WHO director-general Ghebreyesus on Jan. 28. After he declared the epidemic a global health emergency, Chinas mainstream media reported the news immediately, indicating that the government has nothing to hide. Next, the government has given its full understanding and assistance to other governments in their actions to prevent the spread of the epidemic, such as the evacuation of their citizens from Wuhan and their decisions to halt flights to China. Furthermore, the government has remained open and grateful to all kinds of assistance from other countries. China is considering promoting such cooperation in the event of future epidemics around the world. Finally, both the government and public opinion are quite concerned about the epidemics global impact. The government has been trying to minimize the spread of the epidemic to other countries by increasing its control of overseas travel by populations in the worst-hit regions and calling on the public to prevent the dissemination of the virus. We recommend the international community take these actions for our common security: First, optimize the distribution of up-to-date information. Chinas daily epidemic bulletin plays a key role. The bulletin is provided in multiple languages of neighboring countries such as Russian, Japanese, Korean and English, so that factual information and data can be accessed to counter the spread of fake news and rumors. Successful government actions to prevent the spread of the virus be also be explained in detail in the bulletin as well. The real-time bulletin should be provided in multiple languages on the websites of the Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. International media and think tanks should maintain an objective, comprehensive and humane stance when reporting or conducting analysis on the epidemic and avoid hyping unconfirmed information or even rumors. Second, the international community must strengthen the international exchange of experience in epidemic control. China should translate the latest Guidelines for preventing the 2019-nCoV into different languages and pass it to neighboring countries swiftly and in multiple forms. This will also contribute to Chinas image as a kind neighbor and responsible great power. We call for more support from the US, the European Union and other developed countries in the provision of medical equipment and supplies, as well as their best practices in epidemic control. Third, the international community must oppose discrimination against people from epidemic-struck regions. The epidemic must not become a new barrier between countries, but should be turned into a new bridge across nations. Chinas Foreign Ministry and its missions are in close contact with the governments and health agencies of other countries, updating them with the latest progress in countering the epidemic. Chinese communities abroad are also keeping a close eye on the health of Chinese people in their neighborhoods, and are ready to help local epidemic prevention agencies, if necessary, to provide health certifications, so as to prevent any ugly anti-Chinese events being spark by a lack of information. We advise the publics of all countries to remain calm and avoid discrimination against Chinese people or any infected persons. For we, as human beings, are one family and no ethnic group can stand immune to our common challenge. *** President of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS). The following is part one of a two-part abridged version of a report from the SIIS task force on global governance, Coronavirus Battle in China: Process and Prospect, published on Feb. 1. The reports coauthors are Liu Kan, Lu Chuanying, Zhang Haibing, Ye Jiang and Qiang Xiaoyun. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. The development located at 58 Grattan Street, in the heart of the Bohemian Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, will offer over 10,000 square feet of elevator serviced commercial space with a dramatic ground floor retail space featuring double height ceilings, a terrace and three floors of up to five commercial loft / studios perfect for artists, producers, start-ups and established small / medium sized firms. "This is an exciting and significant moment in history as we bring the modular construction of the future to New York City with our industry innovators, Porsche Consulting," said Mikael Hedberg, CEO of Admares, adding that this marks the company's first North American project. "Building 4.0 technology allows us to complete 100% modules in the assembly factory. The completed modules can then be installed quickly over two days, causing minimum disturbance to the surrounding neighborhood." Building 4.0's development is being spearheaded by developers from The Skylight Development Group and Easy Street Properties, which has been involved in several New York City-based projects, including the Elsewhere Music Venue located at 599 Johnson Avenue and one of Brooklyn's most unique residences The Townhomes of Marlborough Road at 56 Marlborough Road. The project is designed by Brooklyn-based architecture studio, PAUL.nyc. "Modular technology is the future of construction and manufacturing, and we're honored and excited to partner with Admares and Porsche Consulting. We are proud to be a part of a team bringing these forward-thinking building techniques to Brooklyn and New York City," said Andy Epstein, Managing Member of Bushwack 7, LLC Ownership to 58 Grattan Street. Using the technology developed by Admares, Building 4.0 allows for 95% of the construction to take place in a U.S.-based factory, with only 5% of the above grade building actually completed onsite. The same technology has been the basis of Admares' new modular assembly factory, which was designed in cooperation with Porsche Consulting. The new smart factory is planned to break ground during 2020 and be completed two years later. Porsche Consulting is the exclusive manufacturing consultant for Admares. As such, it will work to improve the overall manufacturing efficiency of Building 4.0. Enlighted, Inc., a Siemens Company and leading provider of Internet of Things (IoT)will provide a platform that is integrated throughout 58 Grattan Street, creating a "sensory system" using smart sensors densely distributed through lighting fixtures. "We've had the pleasure of aligning ourselves with some of the world's most recognizable partners over the years," said Hedberg. "Working with pioneers such as Enlighted and Porsche Consulting allows us to bring modular construction to the forefront and create the best possible facilities we can." "Beyond that, these partnerships underscore Admares' mission to create an end-to-end solution for commercial construction. We are selling our clients products with guaranteed cost, time and consistent quality, which will be completed in a smart factory instead of projects with varying cost, time and quality which are completed outdoors in challenging conditions," Hedberg added. The project is expected to break ground in March 2020. For more information, please visit www.admares.com . About Admares Admares is a world leader in alternative real estate with pioneering construction methods that combine cutting-edge marine, offshore, land and modular construction techniques. Admares utilizes highly specialized proprietary modular technology to build custom-designed private villas, hotels, beach resorts, piers, islands or even complete cities, tailored in design to fit with local architecture and technical requirements. Whether for new construction or property extensions, our turnkey modular construction and pre-assembly solutions allow the majority of the construction and outfitting to take place off-site. By minimizing disruption and greatly reducing on-site construction time frames, Admares provides powerful commercial advantages to our clients. The company is privately held, headquartered in Finland with offices around the world. Media Contacts: BAM Communications on behalf of Admares Michael Zucconi [email protected] SOURCE ADMARES Related Links http://www.admares.com Nyxoah raises 25 million in private funding round Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium - 12 February 2020, Nyxoah S.A., a healthtech company developing neuromodulation-based therapeutic solutions for sleep disordered breathing conditions, today announced that it has raised 25 million in a private financing round. Completion of the financing round is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur later this month. ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) (ASX:RMD), a world-leading digital health company in the fields of sleep apnea, COPD, and other chronic diseases, joined as a new shareholder. Under the lead of Mr. Robert Taub, Nyxoah executive chairman, Cochlear Limited (ASX:COH) and several historical shareholders completed the 25 million financing round. The proceeds will enable Nyxoah to further advance in developing long-term clinical evidence on the Genio system, prepare for the IDE pivotal trial in the United States and accelerate the ongoing market access and commercialisation activities in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Olivier Taelman, CEO of Nyxoah, commented: "We have an innovative approach to treating OSA. Having ResMed, the global leader in sleep apnea, support this significant funding round along with our existing shareholders will help Nyxoah to further accelerate its development." - ENDS - About Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the Genio system OSA is the world's most common sleep disorder, affecting almost one billion people globally1. OSA makes a person stop breathing during sleep, while the airway repeatedly becomes partially (hypopnea) or totally (apnea) blocked, limiting the amount of air that reaches the lungs. OSA is a chronic condition that is associated with increased mortality risk and comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression and stroke. The current standard of care consists of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy, a treatment whereby air is pushed into the upper airway to keep it open. The Genio system is the world's first and only, battery-free, leadless and minimally invasive implanted neurostimulator designed to keep the upper airway open during sleep for certain people with OSA by bilateral stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. About Nyxoah Nyxoah is a healthtech company focused on the development and commercialisation of innovative solutions and services for sleep disordered breathing conditions. Nyxoah's lead solution platform is based on the Genio system, a validated, user-centered, next generation hypoglossal neurostimulation therapy for OSA, the world's most common sleep disordered breathing condition that is associated with increased mortality risk and comorbidities including cardiovascular diseases, depression and stroke. Following successful completion of the BLAST OSA study in patients with moderate to severe OSA, the Genio system received its European CE Mark in March 2019. The Company is currently conducting the BETTER SLEEP study in Australia and New Zealand for therapy indication expansion, and a post-marketing EliSA study in Europe to confirm the long-term safety and efficacy of the Genio system. The IDE pivotal study to prepare for US market entrance is currently in discussion with the FDA. For more information, please visit www.nyxoah.com . Caution - CE marked since 2019. Investigational device in the United States. Limited by federal law to investigational use. 1 Benjafield, Adam V et al. Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: a literature-based analysis. Lancet Respir Med 2019 Published Online July 9, 2019 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30198-5 The UK government will give Ofcom new regulatory powers to police what is posted on the internet, it has said. The decision was made as part of a new online harms plan that ministers say will protect people as they use the internet. However, critics say the addition of new rules and regulations could stifle free speech and give the government unprecedented powers to decide what is posted and available on the internet. Campaign group Big Brother Watch has called the plans dangerous and wrong and suggested they are a direct attack on the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Ofcom will have the power to enforce a duty of care on companies such as Facebook and Twitter to protect users from harmful and illegal terrorist and child-abuse content. It will be able to punish companies that fail in that duty. Previous proposals have suggested allowing the regulator to issue fines against platforms and websites that it judges to have failed to protect users from seeing harmful videos such as those depicting violence or child abuse. 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 government said the regulator would have responsibility for making sure that online companies have the systems and processes in place to fulfil the duty of care to keep people using their platforms safe. The new update comes in the wake of the online-harms white paper, which set out a variety of suggestions for how the government could look to protect people online. Since then, the government has been consulting with tech firms, charities and other groups in an attempt to refine those suggestions. In the latest announcement, ministers said that the new regulation would be introduced with a view to protecting free speech. Freedom of expression, and the role of a free press, is vital to a healthy democracy, wrote the culture secretary, Dame Nicky Morgan, and the home secretary, Priti Patel. We will ensure that there are safeguards in the legislation, so companies and the new regulator have a clear responsibility to protect users rights online, including freedom of expression and the need to maintain a vibrant and diverse public square. Recommended This is life under the longest internet shutdown in history The government said it had chosen Ofcom as the new regulator because of its history, which has in the past only extended to broadcasting, telecoms and other related industries, and added that the regulator is the best fit because it wants one with a proven track record of experience, expertise and credibility. With Ofcom at the helm of a proportionate and strong regulatory regime, we have an incredible opportunity to lead the world in building a thriving digital economy, driven by groundbreaking technology, that is trusted by and protects everyone in the UK, Dame Nicky said. We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections, accountability and transparency people deserve. Ms Patel said: While the internet can be used to connect people and drive innovation, we know it can also be a hiding place for criminals, including paedophiles, to cause immense harm. It is incumbent on tech firms to balance issues of privacy and technological advances with child protection. Thats why it is right that we have a strong regulator to ensure social media firms fulfil their vital responsibility to vulnerable users. As the new regulatory plans were unveiled, Ofcom also announced that civil servant Dame Melanie Dawes had been appointed as its new chief executive. Dame Melanie has been permanent secretary at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2015 and will start in early March. Ofcoms chair, Lord Burns, will also step down later this year after the government indicated that it wanted a chair who would be able to implement its online-harms programme in full over the next few years. Agencies contributed to this report Iowa Democratic Party Makes Plans to Start Partial Recanvass of Caucuses The Iowa Democratic Party agreed to a partial recanvass of the caucuses after two presidential candidates challenged the final results. The campaigns of South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78, made the requests for a partial recanvass on Monday before a deadline set by the state party. The Iowa Democratic Party sent letters to the campaigns on Wednesday accepting the requests. Party chairman Troy Price told the campaigns that the audit will be overseen by recanvass administrators, will start on Feb. 16, and will last two days. Up to two representatives from each presidential campaign will be allowed to oversee the precinct recanvass on site but the recanvassing room wont be open to the public or press. The state party will send the campaigns on Friday details on the costs associated with the recanvass and the expected timeline and the campaigns will have 24 hours to decide whether to proceed or not. Sanders requested a recanvass of three satellite sites and 25 precincts. Buttigieg wants a recanvass of all satellite sites in the state as well as 57 precincts. In total, they requested a recanvass of 143 unique precincts, Price said at a press conference in Des Moines on Tuesday. Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders is accompanied by his wife Jane OMeara Sanders as he arrives to speak at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Manchester, N.H., on Feb. 11, 2020. (Rick Wilking/Reuters) Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks to supporters at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua, N.H., on Feb. 11, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Throughout this process, we thank the campaigns for their patience and open lines of communication. The Sanders and Buttigieg campaigns, in particular their Iowa teams, have been partners with the IDP since the beginning, and we remain committed to bringing the 2020 Iowa Caucus to completion. It is safe to say, this was not the caucus that the hundreds of thousands of Iowa Democrats deserved, he said. An issue with an application developed by Shadow Inc., which employs many former campaign staffers for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, failed to work properly on caucus night, causing a major breakdown and delaying the transmission of the results for days. While a recanvass is just the first step in the process and we dont expect it to change the current calculations, it is a necessary part of making sure Iowans can trust the final results of the caucus, said Jeff Weaver, senior adviser for the Sanders campaign, in a statement. He said the 41st delegate, which is awarded to the overall winner of the state, would be awarded to Sanders after a recanvass. The Iowa Democratic Party declared Buttigieg the winner and awarded him 14 delegates, including the one awarded to the winner, while giving Sanders 12. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70, has eight; former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, has six; and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59, has one. Sanders and Buttigieg tied again in New Hampshire. With 98 percent of votes reported on Wednesday, Sanders had 75,859 votes to Buttigiegs 72,126. But they had both received nine delegates. Klobuchar had six delegates. No other candidates had even one. By Trend Uzbekistan and Great Britain discussed the current state and prospects of expanding trade, economic and investment cooperation, Trend reports citing Uzbek media. These issues were discussed at the meeting of Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK Said Rustamov with the UK Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade Graham Stuart in London on Feb. 10. The British minister noted the considerable success achieved by Uzbekistan in implementing comprehensive reforms, particularly in economic liberalization and increasing investment attractiveness. This achievement, which has already been reflected in the improvement of Uzbekistan's position in the UN rating "Doing Business", as well as recognition of Uzbekistan by the British magazine "The Economist" as "country of the year", opens wide opportunities for increasing bilateral trade turnover and volumes of investments as well as expanding cooperation in technological, financial and educational spheres, the news report said. The sides also discussed issues of conducting a number of joint events in the near future, including a session of Uzbek-British Industry and Trade Board in London. Furthermore, British companies were invited to participate in Tashkent International Investment Forum to be held in Uzbekistan on March 5-6, 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. Buying under-rated businesses is one path to excess returns. For example, long term Koninklijke Philips N.V. (AMS:PHIA) shareholders have enjoyed a 79% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 24% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 33% in the last year , including dividends . Check out our latest analysis for Koninklijke Philips To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During five years of share price growth, Koninklijke Philips achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 40% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 12% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). ENXTAM:PHIA Past and Future Earnings, February 12th 2020 We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Koninklijke Philips's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Koninklijke Philips's TSR for the last 5 years was 105%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective It's nice to see that Koninklijke Philips shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 33% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 15% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. 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 1 warning sign for Koninklijke Philips that you should be aware of. Koninklijke Philips is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on NL 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 ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition CPI(M) slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for the hike in cooking gas price, alleging that the objective of the move was to avenge the saffron party's drubbing in the Delhi assembly polls. LPG price was hiked by a steep Rs 144.5 per 14.2 kg cylinder to Rs 858.50, due to spurt in benchmark global rates of the fuel. "BJP is an anti-people party and its decisions and policies are a reflection of that. Despite its series of defeats in several assembly polls, they are yet to learn their lessons," TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said. "They are trying to take revenge for the defeat in the Delhi assembly polls. Just because people did not vote in BJP's favour, they are punishing them by increasing the LPG price," said CPI(M) legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty. Reacting to the remarks, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said the hike in LPG price was not related to the assembly election results in Delhi. "LPG prices increase and decrease periodically. It has nothing to do with elections or poll results," Ghosh said. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission on Tuesday, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won in 62 of the 70 seats in Delhi, while the BJP emerged victorious in the remaining eight seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An 11-year-old boy is among those arrested in a string of vehicle burglaries, New Orleans police announced Wednesday. The boy was arrested in connection with 22 burglaries in the Gentilly Terrace area, according to a report from WWL-TV. +4 Mayor Cantrell, Juvenile Court judges debate how to reduce youth crime following growing outcry In the latest escalation of the debate over how to reduce youth crime in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Orleans Parish Juvenile Co Investigators have issued an arrest warrant for another juvenile in the same 22 burglary cases. Two other people might be involved. A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested in nine burglaries in Lakeview. A woman is wanting in a separate Lakeview case. An adult man is wanted in connection with two cases in Gentilly. +5 5 arrested, 13 guns seized by NOPD in vehicle burglaries investigation Police officers battling a surge in vehicle burglaries around the city arrested five suspects and seized 13 firearms Friday, which New Orleans Read the full WWL-TV report here. By Karen Lema, Martin Petty and Phil Stewart MANILA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced the termination of a two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States (VFA), delivering on threats to downgrade an alliance important to U.S. interests. U.S By Karen Lema, Martin Petty and Phil Stewart MANILA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday announced the termination of a two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States (VFA), delivering on threats to downgrade an alliance important to U.S. interests. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the decision "unfortunate" and said it would be a move in the wrong direction at a time when Washington and its allies were trying to press China to abide by "international rules of order" in Asia. The mercurial Duterte, who has clashed with the United States over several issues, decided to pull the plug on the troop rotation pact with the former colonial ruler to enable the Philippines to be more independent in its relations with other countries, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said. "The president will not entertain any initiative coming from the U.S. government to salvage the VFA, neither will he accept any official invitation to visit the United States," Panelo said. The decision, sparked by the revocation of a U.S. visa held by a former police chief who led Duterte's bloody war on drugs, could complicate U.S. military interests in the Asia-Pacific region as China's ambitions rise. It would also limit Philippine access to U.S. training and expertise in tackling Islamist extremism, natural disasters and maritime security threats. Panelo said Duterte's decision was a consequence of U.S. legislative and executive actions that "bordered on assaulting our sovereignty and disrespecting our judicial system". Given the importance of the alliance with the Philippines in broader U.S. strategy, Washington hopes the decision will be reversed or delayed before it takes legal effect in 180 days. Esper told reporters travelling with him to Brussels for a NATO meeting he only received notification of the move late on Monday. "We have to digest it. We have to work through the policy angles, the military angles. I'm going to hear from my commanders. But ... in my view, it's unfortunate that they would make this move," he said. While he said he did not think the step was necessarily tied to China, it was a move "in the wrong direction as we both bilaterally with the Philippines and collectively with a number of other partners and allies in the region are trying to say to the Chinese 'You must obey the international rules of order...'" SETS OUT RULES The VFA is important to the overall U.S.-Philippines alliance and sets out rules for U.S. soldiers to operate in the Philippines. It underpins what Washington has called an "ironclad" relationship despite Duterte's complaints about U.S. hypocrisy, ill treatment and ageing weapons. Duterte says the United States uses the pacts to conduct clandestine activities like spying and nuclear weapons stockpiling, which he says risk making the Philippines a target for Chinese aggression. Ending the VFA could hurt Washington's future interests in maintaining an Asia-Pacific troop presence amid friction over the presence of U.S. personnel in Japan and South Korea and security concerns about China and North Korea. Some Filipino senators sought to block Duterte's move soon after news of it broke, arguing that without Senate approval he had no right to unilaterally scrap international pacts it had ratified. "We must have a say on this important matter," said Senator Richard Gordon. Some lawmakers are concerned that without the VFA, two other pacts would be irrelevant, namely the 2014 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement made under the Obama administration, and a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty. Those cover dozens of annual military training exercises and broaden the access of U.S. forces and equipment to the Philippines, as well as bind the two countries to defend each other from external aggression. Supporters of the agreements argue they have deterred Chinese militarisation in the South China Sea and $1.3 billion of U.S. defence assistance since 1998 has been vital in boosting the capabilities of under-resourced Philippine forces. Philippine nationalists, however, say the United States did nothing to stop China building islands in the South China Sea equipped with missiles, and say the VFA is lopsidedly favourable to Americans, including the granting of immunity from prosecution for U.S. servicemen. Duterte, who favours closer ties with China and Russia, pressed ahead with the termination despite a Senate hearing on the VFA last week during which his senior generals and defence and foreign ministers spoke in favour of it. (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila and Steve Holland, David Brunnstrom, Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in Washington; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel, Tom Brown and Sonya Hepinstall) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Xiao Qiang BERKELEY In his 2016 book "The Perfect Dictatorship: China in the 21st Century," Norwegian political scientist Stein Ringen describes contemporary China as a "controlocracy," arguing that its system of government has been transformed into a new regime radically harder and more ideological than what came before. China's "controlocracy" now bears primary responsibility for the coronavirus epidemic that is sweeping across that country and the world. Over the past eight years, the central leadership of the Communist Party of China has taken steps to bolster President Xi Jinping's personal authority, as well as expanding the CPC's own powers, at the expense of ministries and local and provincial governments. The central authorities have also waged a sustained crackdown on dissent, which has been felt across all domains of Chinese social and political life. Under the controlocracy, websites have been shut down; lawyers, activists, and writers have been arrested; and a general chill has descended upon online expression and media reporting. Equally important, the system Xi has installed since 2012 is also driving the direction of new technologies in China. Cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) are all being deployed to strengthen the central government's control over society. The first coronavirus case appeared in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, Dec. 1, 2019, and, as early as the middle of the month, the Chinese authorities had evidence that the virus could be transmitted between humans. Nonetheless, the government did not officially acknowledge the epidemic on national television until Jan. 20. During those seven weeks, Wuhan police punished eight health workers for attempting to sound the alarm on social media. They were accused of "spreading rumors" and disrupting "social order." Meanwhile, the Hubei regional government continued to conceal the real number of coronavirus cases until after local officials had met with the central government in mid-January. In the event, overbearing censorship and bureaucratic obfuscation had squandered any opportunity to get the virus under control before it had spread across Wuhan, a city of 14 million people. By Jan. 23, when the government finally announced a quarantine on Wuhan residents, around five million people had already left the city, triggering the epidemic that is now spreading across China and the rest of the world. When the true scale of the epidemic finally became, Chinese public opinion reflected a predictable mix of anger, anxiety, and despair. People took to the internet to vent their rage and frustration. But it did not take long for the state to crack down, severely limiting the ability of journalists and concerned citizens to share information about the crisis. Then, on Feb. 3, after Xi had chaired the Standing Committee's second meeting on the epidemic, the CPC's propaganda apparatus was ordered to "guide public opinion and strengthen information control." In practice, this means that cutting-edge AI and big-data technologies are being used to monitor the entirety of Chinese public opinion online. The controlocracy is now running at full throttle, with facial-, image-, and voice-recognition algorithms being used to anticipate and suppress any potential criticism of the government, and to squelch all "unofficial" information about the epidemic. On Feb. 7, Li Wenliang, one of the physician-whistleblowers who tried to sound the alarm about the outbreak, died of coronavirus, which unleashed a firestorm on social media. The Chinese public is already commemorating him as a hero and victim who tried to tell the truth. Millions have taken to social media to express their grief, and to demand an apology from the Chinese government and freedom of expression. For the first time since coming to power, Xi's high-tech censorship machine is meeting with intense resistance from millions of Chinese internet users. The controlocracy is being put to the test. Most likely, though, the outbreak itself will be used to justify even more surveillance and control of the population. Xi is an unabashed dictator. But his dictatorship is far from "perfect." His obsessive need to control information has deprived Chinese citizens of their right to know what is happening in their communities, and potentially within their own bodies. As of Feb. 9, the outbreak has killed more than 900 people and infected another 40,000 in over 25 countries. For all its advanced digital technologies and extraordinary economic and military power, China is being governed as if it were a pre-modern autocracy. The Chinese people deserve better. Unfortunately, they and the rest of the world will continue to pay a high price for Xi's hi-tech despotism. Xiao Qiang, founder and editor-in-chief of China Digital Times, is a research scientist at the School of Information, University of California, Berkeley. His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). A Cork city retail investment up for sale on St Patricks Street is topped and tailed by two interesting features it has a limestone drinking stone trough for dogs, done by renowned sculptor Seamus Murphy down at street or paw level, while overhead it now has planning secured for a three-bedroomed apartment, with River Lee and bridge views. Listed for sale with estate agent Lia Dennehy of Savills is 124 St Patricks Street, directly next door to the citys new Tourist Office and opposite Merchants Quay Shopping Centre. Its guided at 460,000, and runs to 1,650 sq ft over four levels, with 640 sq ft at ground. No 124s also noted for the presence of the carved limestone trough with the Irish word for dogs, Madrai, carved in it, under the display window. The trough, or font, was commissioned in the 1950s by the Stokes family who owned the Milk Bar premises (later the Bridge House,) to be used bydogs passing or for those tied up to railings outside while their owners were sipping within No 124, and who the Stokes felt also deserved to lap up a cool al fresco drink. The same, delicately Madrai lettered trough which is an officially protected item of street furniture feature on Pana, caused a temporary furore a year ago when it seemingly went astray, or disappeared on walkies. However, despite the lost and found brouhaha, the heritage item was rapidly reinstated with the official explanation that it had been removed for cleaning and conservation, at the request of the family of the late, great sculptor Seamus Murphy, among his other works s citywide. Mr Murphy recalled some of his delights in the book Stone Mad , voted Corks favourite Book in 2013. Anecdotally at last, its recorded that when asked shortly before his death what his favourite work was, the sculptor (who had church commissions, the busts of five Irish presidents and US President John F Kennedy to his credit) replied the Madrai in Patrick Street. The diminutive Murphy trough grants a certain lap of honour to No 124 St Patrick Street, and its one of seven properties in this block between Drawbridge Street and Lavitts Quay. It changed hands quite recently, but now is being re-offered for sale with planning clearance secured for a triplex apartment by the landlord, via a Section 5 declaration with City Hall through engineers Brian OKennedy & Associates. This now has scope to generate significant additional rental income, says Savills Ms Dennehy. The upper floors have fine, framed views down the River Lees north channel, past St Patricks Bridge, towards new office blocks rising up to the east at Penrose Quay and Horgans Quay. It comes to market after sales were secured by agent Cearbhall Behan of Behan Irwin Gosling of two nearby St Patricks Street retail investments, No 120 (the former Central Shoe Store,) and No 121. They were both acquired from BIG by a Swiss-based investor for c 1m, also facing the Merchants Quay Shopping Centre where a multi-million euro upgrade is ongoing with owners Clarendon Properties. DETAILS: Savills 021-4271371 A new policy aimed at welcoming newcomers and turning Winnipeg into "a city without racism" recommends city hall create a "welcome pass," giving new residents affordable access to municipal services during their first year in Canada, and developing a diversity hiring program with a focus on youth employment. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A new policy aimed at welcoming newcomers and turning Winnipeg into "a city without racism" recommends city hall create a "welcome pass," giving new residents affordable access to municipal services during their first year in Canada, and developing a diversity hiring program with a focus on youth employment. Those are just some among dozens of ideas more than half of which don't yet have any funding attached included in the proposed newcomer welcome and inclusion policy, released Tuesday and set to be discussed at next week's executive policy committee meeting. (Any proposals would have to be later adopted by city council before implementation.) "The City (of Winnipeg) will be an advocate and ally to newcomer residents, and will work to ensure that all newcomers are made to feel welcome, safe, equal and included, and at home in their new communities and city." "The City (of Winnipeg) will be an advocate and ally to newcomer residents, and will work to ensure that all newcomers are made to feel welcome, safe, equal and included, and at home in their new communities and city," the policy states. Documents tabled Tuesday in support use 2016 census data to show about a quarter of Winnipeggers (26 per cent) are immigrants, with the majority of them arriving in Canada as recent graduates, skilled workers, businesspeople, and family members. Immigration is expected to be a main driver of Winnipeg's population increases in the coming years. Part of Winnipeg's newcomer-welcoming strategy would mean training the public service "on anti-oppression, including anti-racism and cross-cultural competency," according to the policy. It aims to encourage newcomers to use city services and make it easier to do so, as well as build a more representative workforce. With that goal in mind, the city is tracking diversity within its own ranks. Its first diversity report to be presented to councillors estimates the proportions of women, Indigenous people, visible minorities and people with disabilities working for the city will increase. As of the end of 2018, women represented roughly 30 per cent of the civic workforce; employees who self-identified as visible minorities accounted for slightly less than 15 per cent; while Indigenous people accounted for roughly 10 per cent. Only about three per cent of the city's workforce was made up of people with disabilities. The diversity reports, which include each group's median salaries, are now set to be completed annually. Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) pushed for the release of the workplace diversity data. Last summer, she put forth a motion, along with Mayor Brian Bowman, calling for the creation of a diversity report. 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 an email Tuesday, Sharma said she's pleased the first such report has been released, and that it will be an annual requirement. "It gives us a snapshot of where we are at, and the work that needs to occur to ensure the City of Winnipeg workforce is reflective of our population," Sharma wrote. "It is important to have this data to see where we are currently and to track the progress year-to-year. "The next step is to decide where we want to focus our efforts and develop a diversity and inclusion plan to reach those goals." katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Get this newsletter in your inbox Monday-Friday by signing up at subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters. Top stories for Wednesday, Feb. 12 POLICE SCANDAL: West Linn police apparently have no plans to reinvestigate an officer who deleted racist texts (above) from his phone, denied their existence and admitted violating basic police tenets in a wrongful arrest case against the city that led to a $600,000 settlement. Then-Detective Tony Reeves targeted a black man, Michael Fesser of Portland, on a trumped-up theft charge for a friend of the former police chief. A police department statement Tuesday said in part that swift and appropriate disciplinary personnel action was taken in the matter. (Watch: Michael Fesser talks about why he sued West Linn Police) CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK: Rebecca Frasure of Forest Grove one of at least 135 people with a coronavirus diagnosis aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship is hospitalized in Japan while awaiting retesting. Meanwhile, she wants answers. PREDATORY TOWING: Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill to crack down on predatory towing by creating a new board with the power to investigate complaints, impose civil penalties and revoke a towers authority to do business in the state. JEREMY CHRISTIAN TRIAL: Two psychologists testified for the defense Tuesday in the trial of Jeremy Christian, accused in the 2017 MAX stabbings. The testimony included statements that Christian has cognitive deficits that could have led him to stab three men, two fatally, and that he has autism that affects his emotional control. Keep up with the trial at oregonlive.com/crime, by subscribing to our free email newsletter, or via podcast or your digital assistant of choice - well have dispatches from the courtroom most afternoons. Snap of the day STATE PARKS: Ecola State Park, the setting for this view of the Oregon coast near Cannon Beach, has been closed indefinitely after a landslide damaged the entrance road and disconnected the parks main waterline. Luckily, Oregonians have plenty of other state parks to visit, as evidenced by the record 2,953,537 people who camped at Oregon state park campgrounds in 2019. Take a look at last years 20 busiest state park campgrounds. (Jamie Hale/Staff) More news Unlikely alliance of Nike and U.S. Justice Department combine to shut down Avenatti Vacasa founder Eric Breon resigns as CEO of Portland vacation rental giant Eugene fiberboard mill will close, lay off 84 Prineville bar sued for $2.1M for over-serving man who killed 2 Get a first look at Portlands returning Top Chef hopeful in Season 17 preview Find more at oregonlive.com Weather and traffic We may see drizzle Wednesday morning. Some patchy fog is likely before 10 a.m. and the day finishes with increasing clouds. High 51, low 37. In Eastern Oregon, flooding victims are urged to report damage online by noon Thursday. In Tigard, police are now issuing $265 tickets for drivers who run red lights and are caught on camera at Oregon 99W and Hall Boulevard. Get the latest forecast at oregonlive.com/weather Stay up to date on traffic conditions at oregonlive.com/commuting Advice Ask Amy: Trauma survivor wants to confront bully from the past Dear Abby: Brothers angry outbursts make family get-togethers unpleasant Dear Annie: Readers offer advice for woman with digestive issues Find more, including todays horoscope, at oregonlive.com Today's comics Click here to see today's comics Today's obituaries Click here to find area deaths reported recently Today in history In 1809: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Hardin (now LaRue) County, Kentucky. In 1980: The FBI announced that about $5,800 of the $200,000 ransom paid to hijacker D.B. Cooper before he parachuted from a Northwest Orient jetliner in 1971 had been found by an 8-year-old boy on a bank of the Columbia River in Washington state. In 1999: The Senate voted to acquit President Bill Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "In-Vitro Toxicology/Toxicity Testing Market by Product & Services, Toxicity Endpoint & Test (Carcinogenicity, Dermal Toxicity), Technology (Cell-based, HTS), Method (Cellular Assays), Industry (Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics), Region-Global Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The In-Vitro Toxicology Testing Market is Expected to Reach USD 12.7 Billion by 2024 from an Estimated USD 8.1 Billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 9.3%. The opposition to animal testing, technological advancements, and increasing R&D expenditure to detect toxicity at an early stage during drug development are the primary growth factors for this industry. The increasing focus of the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries on using in-vitro methods for product testing along with the improvement in silico methods for predictive toxicology studies are expected to offer significant growth opportunities for players in this market. However, the dearth of skilled professionals is a substantial market challenge. The software segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. Based on the product & service, the in-vitro toxicology testing market is segmented into consumables, assays, equipment, software, and services. The software segment is projected to witness the highest growth in the in-vitro toxicology testing market during the forecast period. Growth in this segment is driven mostly by the rising number of new technologies to develop in-vitro signatures and computational models capable of predicting in vivo responses. Also, the increasing use of the latest software in the industry and the academia to predict toxicity by comparing the data of new substances with other structurally or biologically similar compounds, are expected to drive the growth of this segment. The ADME segment is expected to account for the largest market share in 2018. Based on toxicity endpoints & tests undertaken across all industries, the in-vitro toxicity testing market is segmented into ADME; skin irritation, corrosion, and sensitization; genotoxicity; cytotoxicity; ocular toxicity; organ toxicity; phototoxicity; dermal toxicity; and other endpoints & tests. The ADME segment accounted for the largest share of the in-vitro toxicity testing market in 2018. This can be attributed to the high adoption during the drug development process with the advantage of producing highly reproducible & accurate data. Toxicogenomics is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. The toxicogenomics segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, primarily due to the technological advancements taking place in the field of proteomics and genomics. Also, the improvements in proteomic technologies are enhancing the study of gene & protein activity during toxicity analysis. Technological advancements taking place in the field of proteomics and genomics will further drive the growth of this segment in the coming years. Europe is expected to hold the largest share for players operating in the in-vitro toxicology testing market. Europe accounted for the largest share of the in-vitro toxicology testing market in 2018. Factors such as high adoption of in-vitro toxicology testing assays and services in the cosmetics and chemical industries after the ban on animal testing in the region are among the few factors expected to contribute to the growth of this market. Market Dynamics Market Drivers Opposition to Animal Testing Technological Advancements R&D Toward Early Stage Toxicity Detection Market Restraints Reluctance of Regulatory Authorities to Consider Alternative Methods for Proving Safety and Efficacy Failure to Establish the Intricacies of in Vivo Conditions, In Vitro Lack of In Vitro Models to Study Complex Endpoints Market Opportunities Increasing Focus on Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine Using In Vitro Methods Increasing Number of Toxicology Databases Market Challenges Dearth of Skilled Professionals Company Profiles Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Bioivt Catalent, Inc. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. Covance, Inc. Creative Bioarray Creative Biolabs Cyprotex PLC Eurofins Scientific SE GE Healthcare Gentronix Limited GVK Biosciences Private Limited Insphero MB Research Laboratories Merck KGaA Promega Corporation Qiagen N.V. SGS S.A. Shanghai Medicilon Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gea7u2 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. An extinct giant turtle had a horned shell up to three metres big that it may have used for combat, scientists say. Five to 10 million years ago, what is today a desert area in Venezuela was a humid swamp teeming with life. This included Stupendemys geographicus, a turtle species first described in the mid-1970s. An analysis of several new shell specimens and the first lower jaw remains of the animal, which was the largest land turtle of all time, reports the biggest complete turtle shell ever identified. Venezuelan palaeontologist Rodolfo Sanchez and a male shell of the giant turtle (Edwin Cadena/PA) It is 2.40 metres long and may have housed a 1.145-kilogram turtle twice as large as the largest modern variety, researchers say. Marcelo Sanchez, director of the Paleontological Institute and Museum of the University of Zurich (UZH) and head of the study, said: The carapace of some Stupendemys individuals reached almost three metres, making it one of the largest, if not the largest turtle that ever existed. He added: The two shell types indicate that two sexes of Stupendemys existed males with horned shells, and females with hornless shells. Researchers suggest the unique horn-like shells at the front of the hard upper shells, may have served to protect their massive skulls when engaged in combat with other males. The scientists also discovered jaws and other skeleton parts of Stupendemys, enabling them to revise the evolutionary relationships of this species within the turtle tree of life. Prof Sanchez explained: Based on studies of the turtle anatomy, we now know that some living turtles from the Amazon region are the closest living relatives. The new discoveries and the investigation of existing fossils from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela suggest a much wider geographic distribution of Stupendemys than previously assumed. The animal lived across the whole of the northern part of South America, according to the study published in Science Advances. When Carol Pak-Teng, an emergency room doctor in New Jersey, hosted a fundraiser in December for Democratic freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski, her guests, mostly doctors, were pleased when she steered the conversation to surprise medical bills. This was a chance to send a message to Washington that any surprise billing legislation should protect doctors' incomes in their battle over payments with insurers. Lawmakers are grappling over several approaches to curtail the practice, which can leave patients on the hook for huge medical bills, even if they have insurance. As Congress begins its 2020 legislative session, there is evidence the doctors message has been received: The bills with the most momentum are making more and more concessions to physicians. As surprise medical billing has emerged as a hot-button issue for voters, doctors, hospitals and insurers have been lobbying to protect their own money flows. All that lobbying meant nothing got passed last year. Television and internet ads are the most visible manifestation of the battle. But in taking their cause to politicians, doctors like Pak-Teng have waged an extraordinary on-the-ground stealth campaign to win over members of Congress. Their professional credentials give them a kind of gravitas compared with other lobbyists, who are merely hired guns. Ending the practice of billing patients for the amount of their treatment not covered by insurance sometimes triggered by unwittingly seeing a doctor out of network is ultimately a fight between doctors and insurers over rate-setting and reimbursement. But as more patients balk at surprise bills or suffer the enormous financial strain lawmakers are under pressure to protect patients. In turn, powerful lobbying forces have activated to protect doctors and insurers who don't want to pay the price for a fix. The main message physicians are using to bring lawmakers into their corner? "We just want to be paid a fair amount for the services rendered," Pak-Teng said. Her congressman, Malinowski, has not endorsed any surprise billing legislation. In congressional testimony in July, he cited the "extra $420 million" in medical debt patients in New Jersey reckon with each year. "There are many things that Republicans and Democrats sincerely disagree about in this body," he said. "I don't think that this is one of them. I don't see any philosophical difference amongst us about whether people should be stuck with massive surprise medical bills." Doctors say they are taking the brunt of the criticism. But little has been as powerful in shaping surprise billing legislation as the clout of hospitals and their doctors, many of whom are, in fact, employed by private equity-backed companies and armed with years of experience shaping surprise billing legislation at the state level. They are throwing in a lot of money, too, funneling millions to lawmakers ahead of the 2020 elections. Four physician organizations that have heavily lobbied on surprise medical bills and have private equity ties the American College of Emergency Physicians, Envision Healthcare, US Acute Care Solutions and U.S. Anesthesia Partners gave roughly $1.1 million in 2019 to members of Congress, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of Federal Election Commission records. The biggest recipients, from all four PACs combined, were Reps. Donna Shalala and Stephanie Murphy, Florida Democrats who got $26,000 each. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) took in $25,500, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell got $25,000, and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) received $22,500. That was in tandem with a ground game led by local doctors. ER doctors, anesthesiologists, radiologists and other specialists who most often charge out-of-network prices and also are among the highest-compensated practitioners fanned out to shape legislation in a way that maintains their pay, and to voice their concern to lawmakers that insurance companies would have too much leverage to control their compensation. "We by necessity place a tremendous amount of trust in our physicians," said Zack Cooper, an assistant professor at Yale University who has extensively researched surprise medical bills. "Frankly, they have an easier time lobbying members [of Congress] than the folks who are affected by surprise billing." Arguing over the fix Lawmakers in both parties appear unified on the need to resolve the problem of surprise billing. But as was clear when all the air blew out of legislative proposals on the table at year's end, that is largely where the agreement ends. Fixing the problem comes down to settling on a system for deciding how much to pay for a disputed bill. One approach is to set up an outside arbitration process, in which doctors and insurance companies would negotiate payment this is the model preferred by doctors, who contend it puts them on better footing against insurance companies. Another option would be to resolve surprise billing disputes by having insurance companies pay doctors based on the median in-network rate for the service, an approach known as benchmarking. Large employers, labor unions and insurance companies prefer this. The failure to get legislation through Congress set up a potentially explosive battle in an election year. Republicans and Democrats who have vowed to do something about health care costs must reckon with powerful industry groups whose influence transcends party lines. Meanwhile, physicians and hospitals have made their case in Washington and back home through in-person meetings and phone calls with lawmakers and congressional staff. They've hosted dinners and fundraisers and organized fly-ins to swarm Capitol Hill with in-person meetings. They've even led tours of their emergency rooms. Pak-Teng is among them, coming to Washington this month with other physicians to petition lawmakers. She is employed by Envision, a physician staffing company backed by private equity firm KKR. She's also on the board of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, a trade organization representing ER doctors. "There is a lot of anti-physician rhetoric out there," said Pak-Teng, who is pushing her physician colleagues to be more active in shaping public policy by sharing stories about the reality of caring for patients. The lobbying by hospitals and physicians trying to protect their reimbursements has divided key lawmakers, compounding disagreements among senior House Democrats over the policy details of a bill and turf wars in Congress. Three House committees have now unveiled legislation to ban surprise medical bills, each with different details. "We are not trying to stop legislation. We are trying to stop bad legislation," said Anthony Cirillo, an emergency medicine physician who describes a "bad" bill as one that favors insurance companies over doctors. Cirillo is also a lobbyist for US Acute Care Solutions, a physician staffing company backed by private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe. WCAS, which manages $27 billion in assets and is focused on health care and technology investments, is based in New York City and co-founded US Acute Care Solutions in 2015. In an interview, Cirillo said he met with lawmakers and their aides about "10 to 12 times" in Washington last year. Financial disclosures show he spent $340,000 between July and September lobbying on surprise billing on behalf of US Acute Care Solutions. USACS' political committee also contributed $134,500 to lawmakers in 2019, according to FEC records. Tilt toward doctors Before the private equity-fueled dark-money group Doctor Patient Unity started running ads warning of the dangers of government price controls as an argument against legislation, surprise billing legislation being drafted in one of Congress' most powerful health care committees was already tilting to be more favorable to doctors. "People on the Hill are very sympathetic to hospitals and physicians because they're actually providing the care itself," said one Democratic aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity to candidly describe sensitive political dynamics. "Nobody wants to defend the insurers." In May, a House Energy and Commerce Committee draft proposal included no mention of outside arbitration. The same was true for a bill the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved in June. Instead, under those proposals, surprise billing disputes would be resolved by insurance companies paying doctors based on similar rates in that area. By mid-July, though roughly a week before Doctor Patient Unity registered as a business in Virginia the Energy and Commerce legislation was amended to allow doctors to appeal to an independent arbiter if their payments exceed $1,250. The revision was pushed by two physicians on the committee Democrat Raul Ruiz of California and Republican Larry Bucshon of Indiana and was a moment Sherif Zaafran, a Texas anesthesiologist, describes as a "turning point" in negotiations over the bill. "It's all about fairness," said Zaafran, who works for private equity-backed U.S. Anesthesia Partners. He has been involved for a decade in surprise billing fights in Texas, which enacted a new law with an arbitration process last year. U.S. Anesthesia Partners gave $197,900 in campaign contributions to members of Congress last year. Zaafran chaired another coalition of medical specialists, Physicians for Fair Coverage, in 2019, and pressured Congress to pursue a surprise billing approach modeled on a New York law under which insurers and providers rely on arbitration. Under that process, if there is a payment dispute between doctors and insurers, the two sides submit a proposed dollar amount to an independent mediator, who then selects one. In New York, the mediators were told to base their decisions on the 80th percentile of the prices set by the hospital or physician. Research has suggested that the model is broadly making health care more expensive for state residents because of higher payments to doctors, according to findings from the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy. Still, on Capitol Hill, doctors complained that many procedures would fail to cost enough to qualify for arbitration as proposed in the Energy and Commerce bill, bolstered by data ER doctors presented to lawmakers showing that prices mainly fall below $1,250. "It's largely out of reach," said Laura Wooster, a lobbyist with the American College of Emergency Physicians, whose political action committee contributed $708,000 to lawmakers in 2019. "The problem with a threshold is, you just have one threshold. It's going to impact different specialties so differently." By December, House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders and Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Republican who chairs the Senate HELP Committee, agreed to lower the arbitration threshold to $750 as part of a bipartisan agreement on a bill. Notably, several hospital lobbying organizations, such as the American Hospital Association and the Greater New York Hospital Association the latter a strong financial backer of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer refused to back the deal. Pak-Teng and other physicians also say that arbitration threshold is still too high. The House Education and Labor Committee has unveiled surprise billing legislation with a similar framework. "I'm open to listening to all sides on this," Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said in an interview. "We want to make sure doctors are adequately compensated." Walden had harsh words for private equity firms that have attacked the Energy and Commerce legislation in a series of TV and internet ads, saying they were "misleading and scaring people" and just made lawmakers dig in deeper. The ads prompted a bipartisan probe from Walden and committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) into how the companies have influenced surprise billing practices. "I'm not trying to hurtle a rock at them, but they've been throwing a few my way," he said. What's coming Arvind Venkat, a Pittsburgh emergency physician employed by US Acute Care Solutions, traveled to Washington multiple times last year to meet with congressional offices representing Pennsylvania. But he also made sure to bring up surprise bills on his home turf, giving his congressman, freshman Democrat Conor Lamb, a tour of the emergency room at Allegheny General Hospital last summer. "There are two issues here," said Venkat, who leads the Pennsylvania chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and has practiced at Allegheny General for 12 years. "Patients need to be protected, [and] we need to avoid anything that disrupts in-network relationships between insurers and clinicians." The call seems to have been heard: Legislation is likely to change further this year as the House Ways and Means Committee pushes an approach that is friendlier to hospitals and doctors. It builds off a one-page document committee leaders issued Dec. 11 that blunted momentum for a bipartisan deal that was to be included in a December spending bill. The latest proposal from the committee includes an arbitration process to resolve payment disputes, with no minimum dollar amount needed to trigger it, and doesn't ban surprise billing from air ambulance companies a win for yet another special-interest lobbying group. The patient protections would not take effect until 2022. Richard Neal, a Massachusetts Democrat who chairs the committee, remains an ally of Massachusetts hospitals. He released the brief December surprise billing document two days after the Massachusetts Medical Society and Massachusetts Hospital Association wrote a joint op-ed in The Boston Globe arguing that benchmarking physician payments as the Senate HELP and Energy and Commerce deal would do would wreck the state's health care system. "The heavy hand of government would create an unfair imbalance in the health care marketplace and insurers would have no incentive to engage physicians in building robust health care networks. The connected system of care we have all been working toward in Massachusetts would immediately become fragmented and disjointed," the two groups wrote in The Boston Globe. "They weren't asking for favorable treatment. They were asking for fair treatment, and there's a big difference," Neal said in an interview. "I don't want to rule anything out, but I think that the momentum right now is arbitration." "We need to get a little bit more balance," added Shalala, who endorsed the Ways and Means legislation unveiled earlier this month. Shalala has at least two hospitals in her Miami-area district that rely on private equity-supported physician staffing companies. "I'm worried about the hospitals," she said. "And the providers obviously include the docs." Victoria Knight contributed to this story. A Malaysian student returned from an overseas trip to find her landlord had evicted her over coronavirus fears. She found a note taped to the door of her Perth rental property outlining why the house was in lockdown. The community services student, named as Helen, told ABC Perth she had been away for a few weeks to visit her family in Malaysia. A Malaysian student returned from an overseas trip to find a note saying she had been evicted from her Perth rental property over coronavirus fears 'I feel so sad and confused because I didn't do anything... why has this happened to me?', she said. Her landlord had changed the locks on her student accommodation and taped a note to the door which read: 'Warning no trespassing. 'Due to you failure to stay in contact with me with world health organisation global emergency over coronavirus you are no longer welcome in this house,' the note continued. Helen said she attempted to reach out to her landlord but couldn't get in contact, so was forced to stay with a friend. 'We called the police and the police told us they couldn't do anything about it,' she said. She was also unable to collect her belongings that were left inside the house. 'I didn't want to go back to the room to pick them up because I was so scared,' she said. Helen is now living with a friend and hopes action will be taken against what she says is 'racism' brought on by the coronavirus crisis. 'I think they need to do something, not send the wrong message to everyone. It's not fair,' she said. The Centre on Wednesday sought to allay concerns over data of the contentious Assam NRC going offline, asserting that the dossier is safe though there are some technical issues while IT major Wipro said its service contract for the project was not renewed after it expired last October. NRC data was not available for a couple of days and it created panic, mostly among the people excluded from the list as the rejection certificates were yet to be issued. "The NRC data is safe. Some technical issues are in visibility on cloud. These are being resolved soon," a home ministry spokesperson said here. Bengaluru-based Wipro was appointed as the system integrator for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) project in Assam in 2014 "after a rigorous tender process". In a statement, Wipro said it had continued to pay the hosting service fee until January-end "as a gesture of goodwill" and that it is willing to continue providing these services if the agreement is renewed by the authorities. "The project was commissioned by the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and was monitored by the Honourable Supreme Court of India. "As an IT services provider, Wipro was tasked with providing the technical architecture and technology solutions for the project," it said. "The IT Services contract was not renewed by the authorities upon its expiry in October, 2019. However, as a gesture of goodwill, Wipro continued to pay the hosting service fee until January-end, 2020," Wipro said. However, the company did not comment on the quantum of dues or whether discussions were underway to resolve the issue. The company's statement comes hours after the central government said the NRC data in Assam is safe. NRC State Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma on Tuesday accepted that the data has been made offline, but refuted the allegation of any "mala fide" intent in it. The cloud service for the huge set of data was provided by IT firm Wipro and their contract was till October 19 last year. However, this was not renewed by the previous coordinator. So, the data got offline from December 15 after it was suspended by Wipro, Sarma had said. He said the state coordination committee had decided to do necessary formalities in its meeting on January 30 and wrote to the Wipro during the first week of February. "Once Wipro makes the data live, it will be available for public. We hope people will be able to access it in the next 2-3 days," Sarma said. The complete detail of exclusion and inclusion of bona fide Indian citizens in the NRC was uploaded on its official website http://www.nrcassam.nic.in after the final list was published on August 31, 2019. The final NRC was published by excluding 19,06,657 people. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants. After the earlier NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela relinquished the charge on November 11 following his transfer to home state Madhya Pradesh on a direction from the Supreme Court, Sarma was appointed in his place on November 9. Meanwhile, an RTI application was filed on Wednesday with the National Informatics Centre, seeking details of the pact with the IT firm. Senior journalist-cum-RTI activist Saket Gokhale filed the RTI application with the NIC, the IT wing of the government, and made it public through his Twitter account. He sought a copy of the contract with Wipro regarding online hosting and storage of the official NRC list of Assam. "Please provide name and details of the company used for cloud storage of the Assam NRC list along with the contract signed with it thereof," the RTI requested. In Guwahati, the Assam Public Works (APW), an NGO, accused Hajela of tampering with the final version of the NRC by excluding two persons from the list. In a complaint with the state CID, the APW, which is the original petitioner in the Supreme Court leading to the updating of the NRC, also alleged that Hajela altered public records after making those exclusions. Hajela disobeyed the Supreme Court's orders, made a false document, forged a public register and committed cyber offences by misusing his powers and position, APW president Abhijeet Sarma alleged in a press conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 04:48:49|Editor: ZD Video Player Close National guards prepare to raise the NATO flag in front of the Parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, Feb. 11, 2020. The Parliament of North Macedonia on Tuesday ratified the NATO Accession Protocol with all 114 MPs present voting in favor. (Photo by Darko Duridanski/Xinhua) SKOPJE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Parliament of North Macedonia on Tuesday ratified the NATO Accession Protocol with all 114 MPs present voting in favor. The delayed action law will enter into force after Spain completes the procedure for ratifying the accession protocol which makes North Macedonia the 30th member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The formal session for the adoption of the law in the Parliament was attended by senior officials of North Macedonia, members of Parliament from neighboring countries, NATO officials and diplomatic corps. "Our aspiration to join the EU and NATO has been constant for almost 30 years," said Oliver Spasovski, the caretaker prime minister, moments before the vote for ratification, referring to the accession as "a secure future for our country". North Macedonia was invited to become NATO member in July 2018 after resolving the long-standing name issue with Greece. The NATO Accession Protocol was signed in February 2019. So far, 28 of NATO's 29 member states have ratified the protocol. Three of four men arrested by detectives investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have been released. The men, aged 20, 27, 29 and 52, were detained under the Terrorism Act in Derry on Tuesday morning. The 52-year-old remains in custody. The 27 and 20-year-olds were released pending a report to prosecutors. The 29-year-old was released without charge Ms McKee, an author, was shot dead while observing disorder in the Creggan area of Derry on April 19 2019. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the murder, which sparked headlines and revulsion across Ireland and the UK. Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy renewed an appeal for information. "I have always believed that some people within the community know what happened and who was involved," he said. "I understand that people may be frightened to talk to us. "I have previously given my personal assurance relating to anonymity for the purpose of this investigation and I renew this assurance today, as we approach the anniversary of Lyra's murder. I want the community in Creggan to think about how that horrific attack impacted them personally and how it impacted the entire community. "We saw widescale revulsion after Lyra was murdered and I remain determined to work with the community and local policing to convert that revulsion into tangible evidence to bring those who murdered Lyra to justice. "I also know that many people were recording mobile phone video clips that night and, whilst we had a huge response to my initial appeal for those videos, I believe that others may exist." The force asked for anyone with mobile phone footage to upload it to the Major Incident Public Portal here. It was a rough and embarrassing moment on Tuesday for Seriake Dickson as some former aides to the Bayelsa governor violently prevented him from leaving the Government House, Yenagoa. The former aides are accusing Mr Dickson of refusing to pay their salaries and allowances. The governors tenure ends in two days. He will be succeeded by David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress who won the November 2019 election. A video posted on Twitter by one Theresa Tekenah (@TheresaTekenah) around 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday captured the confrontation at the Government House gate. Pay us our money, a man is heard shouting in the video as an angry crowd used pipe, sticks, and stones to barricade the entrance to the Government House. In a few seconds of skirmish, an unidentified man from Governor Dicksons side is seen in the video pushing down one of the protesters, while some police officers were busy lifting away the rods, stones, and other obstructions from the road for the governors convoy to drive through. As the convoy drove slowly through the angry crowd, the voice in the video kept shouting, Pay us our money! Wicked governor! You don come kill our party, party wey we dey manage for how many years! Wicked man, you go die with EFCC! An aide to Mr Dickson, who did not want his name mentioned in this story told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday afternoon that most of the protesters were people hurriedly hired by the governor around October for the governorship election which his party lost. It is commonplace in Nigerian politics for state governors to hire new political appointees when elections draw near just to shore up their political strength. The last time he paid political appointees salary was in November, the aide said. Because he lost the election, he didnt bother with them again, he was not even interested in paying them a dime. When they tried to meet with him (over the unpaid allowance), he dismissed them and said they were hoodlums. He has been avoiding holding a meeting with them. The aide said the Tuesday protest forced Mr Dickson to stay inside the Government House for hours and that when the governor eventually drove out, he went to his community and did not return to the Government House throughout that day. The commissioners, the aide said, are threatening to boycott Thursdays valedictory service in Yenagoa because of dispute over unpaid entitlements. Another of Mr Dicksons aide, who spoke in favour of the governor, had this to say about the Tuesday protest when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him Wednesday afternoon. Some people from the rural development area were dropped. If a tenure is coming to an end, do you retain all your appointees forever? The man (Dickson) retained those that are rendering essential services and said the government is in transition now, the bulk of the appointees should go. They are the ones coming to say pay us our salary. He said the state government paid the former aides their salary up to November before they were dropped in December. They are saying pay us salary for December and January and the government is going by February. Where will the government get money to pay appointees and (then) pay civil servants? The aide said, The governor is moving freely all over Yenagoa, there is no molestation, nobody is attacking him. There are people who are angry and envious that the man has effectively completed eight years, for the first time in the history of the creation of this state. And the man has also completed many projects, we just finished the commissioning of the dualised Azikoro Road, the first phase of the road, judges quarters. We are now going to another project site. A homeless woman is accused of robbing a used car lot and garage in Wilson Borough and driving a BMW off the lot. Kristin Zona, 47, is charged with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and simple assault in Tuesdays incident. Wilson Borough officers were called shortly before 9:30 a.m. to Fulmer Auto Sales, 1711 Northampton St., for a report of a stolen vehicle. The business owner reported workers had backed a white BMW out of the garage and were letting the engine run, while a woman walked onto the lot. The woman later identified as Zona managed to get into the BMW and steal it, according to police. A Fulmer Auto Sales mechanic stood behind the car in an attempt to stop Zona from driving away but she accelerated toward him, striking the mechanic with the car while driving away, police said. The mechanic suffered minor injuries but did not seek medical treatment, according to police. Wilson officers were notified just after 10 a.m. Tuesday the BMW was stopped by Bethlehem police and city officers took Zona into custody. Zona was arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter III, who set bail at $100,000. In lieu of bail, Zona was taken to Northampton County Prison. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A prisoner extradited to the UK from Thailand has been named as one of two inmates being tested for coronavirus, a Thai official has confirmed. Mark Rumble, 31, was flown back to the UK on January 27 after being accused of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, charges which he denies. Rumble, who was identified as a prisoner being tested by Thailand's Department of Corrections, is said to have collapsed in his cell just days after arriving back in the UK. Mark Rumble is being tested for coronavirus () / Facebook A staff member at Thailand's Department of Corrections told the Standard that Rumble had been tested before leaving the country and was found to be fit to travel. She said: "We already checked his medical condition and he was fine. "But we're not sure about where or when he could have got the virus. But at the moment there is no confirmation of the result." 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 A statement from Thailand's Department of Corrections also confirmed his identity. It said he was seen by medical teams in November and in January. Coronavirus: The confirmed cases around the world Rumble has been charged with six counts of conspiracy to supply drugs, and one count of possession of drugs. These include tree counts of conspiracy to supply class A, three counts to supply class B and one count possession of class B The second prisoner being tested at HMP Bullingdon has not been identified. There are currently eight confirmed cases in the UK, and more than 45,000 worldwide - the majority of which are in mainland China. Thailand has 33 cases of the virus confirmed. However, the nation's Department of Corrections said there have been no reports of cases among prisoners thus far. Two prisoners are being tested for coronavirus at HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire / Google Maps The pair were confirmed as being infected with Covid-19 on Tuesday afternoon and are among 39 new cases aboard the Diamond Princess vessel. It brings the number of Brits infected from the ship to three, following the diagnosis of honeymooner Alan Steele last week. It comes as the number of cases in China swelled to 44,653 despite the rate of infection appearing to slow down. There are more than 45,000 cases the world over. Zhong Nanshan, one of China's most prominent health advisers, indicated that the declining infection rate may mean the outbreak could be over by April. "I hope this outbreak or this event may be over in something like April," said the 83-year-old epidemiologist who played a role in combating an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003. On Wednesday, the nation reported its lowest number of new cases since late January, with 2,015 confirmed on Tuesday. A British royal couple could meet a Sinn Fein taoiseach in just three weeks' time. Prince William and Kate Middleton will make an official visit to Ireland in March, Kensington Palace confirmed yesterday. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Ireland for three days between March 3 and March 5. The trip was announced in the aftermath of General Election 2020, and the government of the 33rd Dail may still be in flux when they arrive. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is currently frontrunner to form a working coalition and potentially become the next taoiseach. Queen Elizabeth visited Ireland in 2011 in what was described by outgoing Tanaiste Simon Coveney as a "watershed moment" for British-Irish relations and the upcoming visit may well be even more historic. With the Troubles hanging over the country, there was no visit by a British monarch for decades. In August 1979, Prince William's great grand-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, was killed in an attack by the IRA off the coast of Ireland while on a fishing boat. In January, it was rumoured William and Kate were interested in taking part in a series of engagements as part of a two-day visit to Ireland. It has not yet been confirmed where in Ireland the pair will visit on their trip. However, the royals are expected to take in Cork and Dublin in their first trip to Ireland as a couple. The individuals behind the accounts posed as locals as part of what appears to be a military intelligence operation. Facebook has removed three unconnected networks of accounts, Pages and Groups for engaging in foreign or government interference which is coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a government or foreign actor on Facebook and Instagram, according to Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Facebook's Security Policy. The first operation originated in Russia and primarily targeted Ukraine and its neighboring countries. The second originated in Iran and focused mainly on the US. The third network originated in Myanmar and Vietnam and targeted audiences in Myanmar, the report says. Each of them created networks of accounts to mislead others about who they were and what they were doing. "We're constantly working to detect and stop this type of activity because we don't want our services to be used to manipulate people. We're taking down these Pages, Groups and accounts based on their behavior, not the content they posted. In each of these cases, the people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts to misrepresent themselves, and that was the basis for our action," the report says. Read alsoSBU busts "bot farm" operating massive number of fake accounts in Russian, "DPR" favor In the latest sweep, Facebook removed 78 Facebook accounts, 11 Pages, 29 Groups and four Instagram accounts for violating its policy against foreign or government interference. This activity originated in Russia and focused primarily on Ukraine and neighboring countries. The individuals behind this activity posed as locals and used fake accounts some of which had already been detected and disabled by our automated systems to manage Groups and Pages, post and comment on various content. Some of these accounts represented themselves as citizen journalists and tried to contact policymakers, journalists and other public figures in the region. The Page admins and account owners typically posted content in Russian, English and Ukrainian about local and political news including public figures in Ukraine, Russian military engagement in Syria, alleged SBU leaks related to ethnic tensions in Crimea and the downing of the Malaysian airliner in Ukraine in 2014. Although the people behind this network attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation found links to Russian military intelligence services. About 500 accounts followed one or more of these Pages, about 6,150 accounts joined at least one of these Groups and around 100 people followed one or more of these Instagram accounts. Read alsoUkraine's culture minister: Only 8% of Ukrainians can distinguish fake from truth "We found this activity as part of our internal investigations into Russia-linked, suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior in the region," Facebook reports. The report also included a sample of the content posted by some of the Pages in question: "Reshare text: Hot summer for the MH17 investigation team?" Malaysian authorities ask for the proof that Russia is to be responsible for the tragedy of the MH17 Malaysia Airlines in Donbass region in 2014, said the country's prime minister Mahathir bin Mohamad. According to him, Malaysia agreed with the investigation report made in Netherlands, but only until the clause which indicates that the plane was hit with a missile by Russia. "They blame Russia, but where is the proof? We know that the missile that hit the plane was of the Russian type, but it could also have been produced in Ukraine," he mentioned. Netherlands and all the "Civilized World" have already relaxed, being sure that this catastrophe will disappear from the agenda quietly and unnoticed, becoming just another mystery like Kennedy Assassination or the 9/11. Proved, didn't prove, found, didn't find what's the difference? They already started to forget the PROMISED TRIBUNAL The funding for the 'investigation' has been already issued by three countries up until 2023, teams of bureaucrats formed, all lined up to allocate the funds So they just sat there, didn't bother anyone, got the bucks while having imitated the frenzied activity, and..here you go! They have to write it anew, and this time for REAL.. And what has gotten into the Malaysian prime minister, who in one announcement nullified all the 5-year-long 'work' and 'achievements' of the Europeans???) It seems to me that this summer will be hot for some" Another post said: "Shortage of 200 tonnes of fuel and faulty canned goods found during the inspection in the 46th Unified Supply Center Link: "Treason of the Armed Forces of Ukraine": Poltorak revoked the grade title from military officers due to the scandalous embezzlement of 200 tonnes of fuel." The research has the potential to significantly impact our understanding of how geological forces drive microbial evolution, said Mark Jutila, head of MSUs Department of Microbiology and Immunology. The efforts of Dr. Boyd and his team in securing this grant are impressive. It is a testament to the impact and recognition of Dr. Boyds research and leadership. At the surface, life is generally supported by energy from the sun. In the absence of the sun, Boyd explained, microbial life can still flourish with a supply of nutrients such as hydrogen. In rocky environments, such as the Earths subsurface, hydrogen can be generated when water reacts with certain minerals. Imagine if you were to drop an iron nail in a glass of water. That nail would rapidly oxidize, forming a thin coat of rust (oxidized iron) and releasing bubbles of hydrogen. However, that coat of rust also protects the metal from further oxidation. Without fresh minerals capable of reacting with water, the potential for how much life can be supported by such nutrients becomes limited. Thats where earthquakes come in. Dr Reddy's will acquire select divisions of its branded generics business in India and a few other international territories of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives. Dr Reddy's Laboratories has announced that it has entered into an agreement with pharma major Wockhardt to acquire select divisions of its branded generics business in India and a few other international territories of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives for a consideration of Rs 1,850 crore. #BREAKING | @WockhardtHosp to sell Baddi manufacturing facility to @drreddys, transaction expected to be completed in May 2020 pic.twitter.com/V3f3KTPSvD CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) February 12, 2020 The business comprises of a portfolio of 62 brands in multiple therapy areas such as respiratory, neurology, VMS, dermatology, gastroenterology, pain and vaccines, which would transfer to Dr Reddy's along with related sales and marketing teams; and the manufacturing plant located in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh with all plant employees, the two companies said in separate regulatory filings. The business undertaking is being transferred on a slump sale basis, the filing said. GV Prasad, the Co-Chairman and Managing Director of Dr Reddy's said, "India is an important market for us and this acquisition will help in considerably scaling-up our domestic business. The acquired portfolio shall enhance Dr Reddy's presence in the high growth therapy areas with market-leading brands such as Practin, Zedex, Bro-zedex, Tryptomer and Biovac." He said that the portfolio holds a lot of potential and will get an impetus under Dr Reddy's. The transaction is expected to be closed in the first quarter of the financial year 2020-21. Wockhardt will also transfer to Dr Reddy's the sales and marketing teams related to these areas, and a manufacturing plant located at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh with all employees. Wockhardt said revenue from business undertaking proposed to be transferred was Rs 594 crore during FY2018-19, and Rs 377 crore during the nine-month period of the ongoing fiscal ended 31 December 2019, reported PTI. Wockhardt Group Founder Chairman Habil Khorakiwala said the intended sale of business portfolio is in line with the company''s strategic plan to shift from acute therapeutic areas to more chronic business like anti-diabetes, central nervous system (CNS) and also to its niche antibiotic portfolio of new chemical entities (NCEs). "The divestment will also ensure adequate liquidity to bring in robust growth in the chronic domestic branded business, international operations, investments in Biosimilars for the US market apart from the company''s global clinical trials of Break-through Anti-lnfectives (NCEs approved under coveted QIDP1 program of United States Food & Drug Administration) and R&D activities," he added. After the sale of the select business, Wockhardt said it would continue to own all international operations in UK, USA, Ireland and other locations through its step down subsidiaries. The formulation plants located at Waluj, Shendra and Chikalthana in Aurangabad, Bhimpore and Kadaiya in Daman; bulk drugs plant at Ankleshwar, India and manufacturing facilities at all existing international locations would also continue to be owned by the company. Wockhardt said its research and development centers located at Chikalthana, Aurangabad, India and existing facilities in the international locations would also continue to be under its fold along with a significant part of domestic branded business constituting chronic and speciality portfolios. With inputs from agencies N ew BP chief Bernard Looney today unveiled ambitious plans to make BP a net zero carbon emitter by 2050. The company has set out 10 aims to make it happen, including committing more investment into non-oil and gas businesses. Looney said: For BP to play our part and serve our purpose, we have to change. The worlds carbon budget is finite and running out fast; we need a rapid transition to net zero. He added: We all want energy that is reliable and affordable, but that is no longer enough. It must also be cleaner. To deliver that, trillions of dollars will need to be invested in replumbing and rewiring the worlds energy system. It will require nothing short of re-imagining energy as we know it. The company hopes steps such as installing methane measurement tools at oil and gas processing sites by 2023 will help the firm hit its targets. It has also dismantled its century-old upstream and downstream operations used to explore for and refine oil and gas. The oiler will instead be split into four business segments: production and operation; customers and products; gas and low carbon energy, and innovation and engineering. Looney, who has an account on Instagram, took over as BP chief executive last week and has quickly set out his modernist agenda. The worlds top oil and gas companies have come under heavy pressure from investors and climate activists to fall in line with the 2015 Paris climate accord which aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees from pre-industrial levels. But the City has been sceptical over whether BP can change. A Beyond Petroleum plan in the early 2000s under ex-boss Lord Browne to build a large renewables business ended with huge losses. Looneys predecessor Bob Dudley recently warned against the industry moving too fast on new technologies to counter climate change, because their failure could lead to financial ruin. Climate change activists such as Greenpeace said the changes did not go far enough, adding that Looney had not provided enough detail about how the company plans to hit the targets. Charlie Kronick, oil advisor at Greenpeace, said: "BPs ambitions and aims leave the urgent questions unanswered. How will they reach net zero? Will it be through offsetting? When will they stop wasting billions on drilling for new oil and gas we cant burn? What is the scale and schedule for the renewables investment they barely mention? And what are they going to do this decade, when the battle to protect our climate will be won or lost." Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Rachel Kennerley added: This is clearly an inadequate, as well as cynical, response to climate breakdown from one of the worlds biggest polluters. Apple shelved plans to give iPhone users control over encrypted backups stored on the companys iCloud service over concerns raised by the FBI and internal sources, Reuters reported Tuesday. The company made the decision to retain control over iCloud encryption around two years ago, but it came to light just recently, the news service noted, citing six sources familiar with the matter. The plan would have removed Apples ability to decrypt users backups. The company dropped it after representatives of the FBI complained that taking that action would deny the agency one of the most effective means of gaining evidence against iPhone-using suspects, Reuters reported. Government authorities in the United States requested data for 3,619 accounts and received data for 90 percent of them, according to Apples latest transparency report, for the first half of 2019. Much of the information used to satisfy those requests wouldnt have been available if Apple had implemented its end-to-end encryption plan. Another concern could have played a role in scrapping the plan, Reuters also reported. It would have prevented Apple from assisting customers locked out of their backups. The FBI declined to comment for this story. Apple did not respond to our request for comment. Setback for Freedom and Privacy Because Apple refused to break into iPhones despite intense pressure from the U.S. Justice Department in several high-profile cases, the news of the companys apparent capitulation on the backup encryption issue puzzled some privacy advocates. Im not sure why Apple did this, said Roger Grimes, data-driven defense evangelist at KnowBe4, a security awareness training provider in Clearwater, Florida. Its an unfortunate setback for Apple, Apples customers, and freedom and privacy in general, he told the E-Commerce Times. Law enforcement and governments dont like default encryption because it makes their jobs harder, Grimes continued. I also dont know of a single case where information learned from breaking encryption was the only lead to the information gained law enforcement. When encryption is broken, it usually leads to a confirmation and additional evidence, but it is rarely the only evidence, he said. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Requiring or allowing a government to always be able to see private conversations is a bad thing for freedom and privacy, maintained Grimes. I get that some very bad people will not be arrested or convicted because of encryption, but thats the same for all our rights. Avoiding Diatribes To some privacy experts, Apples actions reflect a consistent policy toward law enforcement. Apple generally responds to subpoenas, warrants and legal processes, so this doesnt surprise me, said Timothy Toohey, head of the cybersecurity practice at Greenberg Glusker, a law firm in Los Angeles. Theyre trying to strike a balance between privacy and national security, and so is everyone else. Its a difficult balance to strike, he told the E-Commerce Times. They also dont want to be on the receiving end of diatribes by Bill Barr and Trump. Just how much influence the FBI had over Apples decision to forgo user-controlled iCloud encryptiion isnt clear, said Tim Erlin, vice president of product management and strategy at Tripwire, a cybersecurity threat detection and prevention company in Portland, Oregon. Apple made a decision after they had a conversation with the FBI, but not necessarily because the FBI requested them to do so, he told the E-Commerce Times. I have a hard time saying this hurts Apples credibility when we dont have the full story on the decision, and were probably not likely to get it either. Support problems created by encrypting backups could have been a real problem for Apple, too, Erlin added. When Apple considered how much theyd have to deal with unhappy customers who couldnt get access to their data, and how much theyd have to deal with unhappy law enforcement who couldnt get access to a criminals data, that combination may have influenced their decision. User Choice Alternative While support could be a problem with encrypted backups, there are ways to build multiple backups and access protected data, KnowBe4s Grimes pointed out. Microsoft has done it with BitLocker across billions of computers, he said. There are times when Microsoft support has to tell panicked users that the data they encrypted and lost the keys to is lost forever. Thats the potential reality anytime you do encryption, Grimes continued. A D V E R T I S E M E N T I think people understand it will happen, and when it happens, it just reinforces that its good encryption. It actually builds trust. It doesnt diminish trust, he maintained. Users could have been given the option to encrypt their backups or not, said Kurt Opsahl, general counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an online rights advocacy group based in San Francisco. That gives users the choice of running the risk of losing their data if they lose their key or choosing not to and trusting Apple with access, he told the E-Commerce Times. The EFF has been after Apple for some time to give users control over encrypting data in iCloud. Apple has a reputation for providing strong security, but backups are a hole in that security, Opsahl said. Making the World a Better Place For Apple, which has been trumpeting its leadership in protecting the data of its users, this latest development could be a sour note in that riff. For a long time people have been looking up to Apple as standing for privacy, noted Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research, a technology research and advisory firm in Cupertino, California. To walk that back is going to get people to scratch their heads and ask, Are you going to protect my data or not? With all this back and forth, whats shaken is the trust between the buyer and the brand that is Apple, she told the E-Commerce Times. From the start, the brand of Apple has always set out to positively change the world, Miller observed, so the question becomes, is chipping away at the definition of privacy really leaving the world a better place? It's interesting how the popularity of The Beach's beach remained popular even after the movies (fleeting) relevance faded, people wanted to go just because other people had gone and it was pretty enough to be picked for a movie. Overtourism is such a fucking cancer and I get real tired of adventure or eco travelers who think they aren't part of the problem. Going off the beaten path has shown to be WORSE than staying within the high impact areas. Honestly, people need to stop traveling, social media has made it all about status than about gaining anything of value. Unfortunately so many places rely on tourism, but the destruction caused will ruin the economies anyway. Reply Thread Link Travel is ok but when it's done from a movie making somewhere really popular that's when it gets bad. Imagine the footprint of Elvis house in graceland Reply Parent Thread Link The photos of all those people waiting on Mount Everest are so disturbing. Reply Parent Thread Link Climbing Mt. Everest needs to be straight up banned, and Rebecca Louise plans to climb it, and NGL, I've lost a lot of respect for her over that. I definitely won't be buying any of her stuff, although I'm still doing the workouts she posts on her YouTube channel. Reply Parent Thread Link Screaming at her FB post about it. Mr. Green Boots is gonna have a skinny neighbor soon: "Some may call me crazy. Let us show them what crazy can do!" Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I legit am starting to hate social media and how invasive it has become in our lives/society more and more every day like im trying to be on my phone less now - i notice how my neck hurts from looking down, i constantly just cycle through the same apps refreshing over and over, for every positive thing i see theres 10 negative things that follow but social media is a large aspect of my job as well and that may be adding to my negative feelings Edited at 2020-02-12 01:33 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Not sure Instagram would do the right thing and get rid of geotagging, but I think it would help. Other places I can think off the top of my head: Horseshoe Bend Antelope Canyon Kanarra Falls Angel's Landing ... and those are just in the Utah/AZ area! They've all been affected since 2011 and the rise of Instagram (I also blame Utah's Mighty 5 campaign.. be careful what you wish for I guess) Reply Thread Link getting rid of geo tagging would be so good tbh Reply Parent Thread Link I did angels landing this summer and seeing people do crazy shit at the peak just for the Instagram picture was wild. The Narrows a bit less so, since theres less danger and the worst of it is just people ill prepared for it Edited at 2020-02-12 03:42 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Hanging Lake CO Maroon Bells CO Conundrum Peak CO Hell...there's way too many people in Colorado. It took me five hours to get to the mountains on Saturday. Reply Parent Thread Link its saturday lol... i feel like thats been the case in getting to mountains since 2012 in CO but yeah hanging lake is fucked and it makes me sad Reply Parent Thread Link A lot of trails I'd like to hike are now weekday only for limited hours, because people have f*cked them up. I can't do that because I work M-F, and dammit, I need my weekly hikes! They help with my anxiety, help me keep fit, and even help my marriage, because when we're hiking, we communicate in ways we just don't at home with everyday sh*t pressing in. So the natives are stuck not being able to enjoy our state because tourists are awful and should be left in the wilderness to be eaten by the re-surging wolf packs. Reply Parent Thread Link Conde Nast is idiotic and they're hyping Philippine beaches now so I guess it will be the next Koh Phi Phi to be destroyed by white people who thinks they can roam the earth freely bec of their free visas. Leave Southeast Asia alone. We don't need white tourists Reply Thread Link God I hope not. I was in Cebu last year and at least most of the tourists I came across were young Korean adventure seekers (they get so many Korean visitors there are direct flights from Seoul and the guides actually learned Korean because of the volume) so it's not as bad as your annoying white Instagrammer, but even then Kawasan Falls was packed with so many people waiting to jump off cliffs. I can't imagine what it'd be like if it became a popular spot for westerners. Reply Parent Thread Link they're already coming to Oslob. They're also there in Romblon, Palawan, Bohol, and Clark. Koreans are very nice tourists tbf (based on experience dealing with and teaching them English lol) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Uggh. For real though. When I last visited my cousins which was years ago, those beaches were practically empty. We were just straight up chillin'. The famous rice terraces were not overcrowded, but my friend went recently to visit family and she said it's filled with tourists with drones that fly over and disturb the locals and other tourists. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I went to Boracay late last year and its become so different and depressing. Aside from how overcrowded and filthy the island has become because of overtourism, there were also too many old white men preying on young boys and girls. Pedophiles were everywhere on the island, yet the government isnt doing anything about it. The Philippines has so many beautiful beaches and islands and hopefully they get to preserve those. Boracay is already ruined, maybe they should just contain the tourists in that island and control the tourism in other places. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i absolutely hate seeing our places get featured on Western travel media because it basically is an invitation for destruction. Same with YouTube vlogs. please leave us alone Reply Thread Link I remember going to Bali and being shocked by how much it was just overwhelmed by Western tourists that I felt gross just being there tbh. Much of Bali's economy is tourism-based probably but it doesn't seem to improve the locals' standard of living enough to be worth this invasion. Reply Thread Link 95% of them in Bali are Australians, dont blame the rest of us. Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe in the party areas but most of the accents I heard in Ubud were American/Canadian. Reply Parent Thread Link I would've agreed 5-7+ years ago but the Chinese are flocking there also. Reply Parent Thread Link Im always torn about this. Everyone should be able to travel and experience beautiful things; just because you were born in some bumfuck, middle of nowhere place doesnt mean you shouldnt be able to see the world if you can. But of course humans are awful so theres no way to really ensure only responsible people get to go. Reply Thread Link Agreed. Traveling is so fulfilling for me and I think we should be seeing the world and gaining perspective. But of course the effect on the environment is terrible, and I hate the idea of traveling for the sake of posting. Reply Parent Thread Link I wish people would stop coming to New Orleans to be completely honest. AIRBNB is putting out people left and right, people come to "party" and they end up contributing to our crime rates, and 1/3rd of them stay to be a fake homeless with a dog because they think its cool. Reply Thread Link damn. Am i i wrong to assume its a lot of white ppl doing the last part Reply Parent Thread Link Not at all. Its 100% yts that do that. They're usually addicted to heroin and just out there for that but it's still too much. Reply Parent Thread Link I live in BC and we're familiar with IG & social media ruining pristine places in nature, like Joffre Lakes. No one outside of locals (and even then, not even a lot of locals) knew about Joffre a few years ago, then it got popular on IG and the trails & lake were overloaded by tourists. It was such a little-known spot that there was only a small parking lot at the trailhead, so cars were parked on both sides of a 2-lane road for kilometres. Geotagging is the worst and it's going to singlehandedly ruin a lot of beautiful and ecologically important and/or sensitive areas. Reply Thread Link Super not the point, but damn, who else remembers when Leonardo diCaprio was hot? Reply Thread Link This is what baffles me about him tbh. Im in my mid twenties and do not remember an actual hot Leo. In older movies, yes of course, but never current or recent. Yet he still pulls in girls younger than me. With that face and that bloat. None of it makes sense. Reply Parent Thread Link I am convinced his purposely sabotaged his looks to avoid the pretty boy roles and get more serious stuff. Reply Parent Thread Link Leo in Titanic was so damn beautiful. It all went downhill fast. Reply Parent Thread Link It really seems like ages ago. It all went downhill around the time of Blood Diamond imo Reply Parent Thread Link he aged like an old mayo Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link I cant stand people who are so self centered and entitled to want a picture even though to get it would be doing environmental and cultural damage to the very place theyre visiting. Its ruining it for locals and others who would be more respectful of the sight. Im also thinking about a video I saw of these idiot beach goers who killed a baby dolphin because they wanted to take a picture with it. Not a single person tried to release it back into the ocean. Damn monsters. Reply Thread Link That just crushes my heart :( Reply Parent Thread Link that dolphin story will haunt me to my grave. it makes me hate humanity so much. Reply Parent Thread Link I think so many things have a detrimental effect on places, not least of which is AirBnB. Ive stopped using it because of all the articles Ive read that say it has contributed to housing crises in many cities (including mine). https://m.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/airbnb-regulations-toronto_ca_5d643c35e4b008b1fd1f6413 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/31/airbnb-sharing-economy-cities-barcelona-inequality-locals Oia in Santorini (of the famous sunset) was shocking. I didnt even go in high season but it was so packed. The streets are so narrow and it is not built for that many people. People were crowding everywhere just to take pictures of regular buildings and the town only has a population of 1,500.I think so many things have a detrimental effect on places, not least of which is AirBnB. Ive stopped using it because of all the articles Ive read that say it has contributed to housing crises in many cities (including mine). Reply Thread Link i'm using airbnb for my trip next month, and was uncomfortable about that since i was always opposed to it for these very reasons. i chose it because it was cheap, but for future trips i'd definitely look into hostels. and in nyc, airbnb is technically illegal, though it's up to the city to enforce that and they rarely do. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah it can definitely be cheaper, and Ive used it in the past, like when I went to Hong Kong because it was much cheaper than hotels or even hostels. But then I found out its technically illegal there too. Now I am just always on hotel listing sites looking for good deals when I go somewhere. Reply Parent Thread Link If you want a less guilt way to use airbnb, book rooms in people's houses instead of a whole place. You're not displacing a possible renter when you're just using a room in the house and you're likely helping the host make ends meet (spoken as a 6-year airbnb host for my spare bedroom.) Reply Parent Thread Link AirBnB has caused so many issues with rent in Orlando it's insane, and I think part of it is because most apartment complexes are owned by management companies rather than individuals renting to tenants, so they don't really care who's actually staying in the unit as long as rent is being paid, which sucks for those of us who actually live here and have to pay. I live 4 miles from Disney, when I moved into my complex summer of 2018 rent for my 2/2 was around $1600 which was slightly above average for the area, our lease didn't see a dramatic increase when we renewed last year, but in that amount of time to sign on a new lease for the same unit is over $2000 now. I'm fortunate in my financial situation because I'm in grad school and only work part time, but some of the people I work with at Disney work 50+ hours a week and still are living 2 people per bedroom because the wages just don't match up with the climbing rent in the area. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The amount of times I masturbated to Leo on "The Beach"... Reply Thread Link Israel on Wednesday rejected as shameful the UNs publication of a list of 112 companies that do business in its settlements, while the Palestinians cheered its long-delayed release as a victory for international law. The list published by the United Nations human rights office includes a range of large international firms including Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Motorola Solutions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at retaliation. Whoever boycotts us will be boycotted, a statement from his office quoted him as saying. We strongly reject this contemptible effort. Foreign Minister Israel Katz labelled the move a shameful surrender to pressure from countries and organisations who want to harm Israel. He noted that multiple countries had expressed concern about the list, produced by the office of UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet on a mandate from a 2016 Human Rights Council resolution. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates a wide-ranging embargo of Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians, welcomed the list. The publication of this database is a very significant first concrete step by any UN entity towards holding to account Israeli and international corporations that enable and profit from Israels illegal settlements, which constitute a war crime, it said in a statement. But it said the database was incomplete and called for all companies with a role in Israels apartheid regime and grave violations of Palestinian rights under international law to be included. Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki applauded the publication as a victory for international law and diplomatic efforts. Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat called the long-delayed report a crucial first step to restore hope in multilateralism and international law. This announcement enhances and consolidates the credibility of the Human Rights Council and international organisations in the face of the fierce attack and the intense pressure that the Trump administration places on these institutions, Erekat added. US President Donald Trump, a close ally of Israels rightwing government, reportedly pressed the UN to shelve the report. About 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are considered illegal under international law. The Yesha Council which represents settlers said the list showed the UN had once again proven to be a biased, non-neutral body that acts against the State of Israel. Israeli officials have voiced concern that the UN list would be used to justify a large-scale boycott of the countrys private sector. They have also more broadly questioned the legitimacy of the Human Rights Council. Israel is the only country subject to a dedicated agenda item at the Council, meaning the Jewish states conduct is automatically discussed at each session. The United States, which no longer considers settlements illegal, has withdrawn from the council, in part over its treatment of Israel. bur/bs/scw/par TRIPADVISOR EXPEDIA Selbyville, Delaware, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global NFC Puree market value is expected to cross USD 13.5 billion by 2025, as estimated by GMI. Growing consumer health consciousness and trend towards consumption of natural & organic products will escalate the demand for not from concentrate puree products, thus fostering the overall market growth. According to market analysis, increasing consumer awareness on the quality and content of food & beverage products will fuel not from concentrate puree demand. Regulations pertaining to the declaration of the added sugar are likely to propel the consumption of low-calorie & low-sugar content products. The product can be labeled as made with real fruit, providing food manufacturers a competitive edge. Also, a surge in the number of specialty fruit processors accompanied by an increase in refrigerated warehouses will foster the demand of not from concentrate puree. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4537 Sugar has diverse functionalities and acts as sweeteners, flavoring agents, preservatives, fermentation substrates, and bulking agents. Manufacturers are looking for a trade-off between product taste and the nutritional value to cater to diverse applications. Single strength not from concentrate (NFC) purees with added sugar are the essential ingredients in the foodservice sector for the production of ice creams, sorbets, and bakery products. According to industry analysis, some major findings of the NFC puree market report include: Rising health-related concerns among the young and geriatric population coupled with growing consumption of products with natural sweeteners and flavor have boosted the demand for single strength NFC puree. Favorable functional characteristics such as flavor enhancement, color improvement, along with superior nutritional profile will drive product usage in varied applications. Growing organic fruit production in developed economies in the North America and Europe region, accompanied by the willingness to pay higher for premium products will foster the overall product demand. Some of the key market players manufacturing not from concentrate fruit puree are Agrana, Tree Top, Doehler, Boiron Freres SAS, Symrise AG, Hain Celestial Group and SunOpta Inc. NFC puree market for food applications were the highest and the sector is further anticipated to witness significant gains due to the rise in competitiveness for baby food, bakery, confectionery, and dairy industry. Asia Pacific region acquired a significant share in the global not from concentrate puree market owing to significant F&B spending, and penetration of large-scale multinational manufacturers in the regional market. Browse key industry insights spread across 550 pages with 831 market data tables and 17 figures & charts from the report, Not From Concentrate (NFC) Puree Market Outlook By Product (With Sugar, No Added Sugar), By Form (Liquid, Frozen), By Fruit (Berry Fruit [Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Kiwi], Citrus Fruit [Orange, Lemon], Exotic Fruit [Banana, Mango, Melon, Pineapple, Tomato], Orchard Fruit [Apple, Apricot, Peach, Pear]), By Application (Food [Baby Food, Dairy & Frozen Products, Bakery & Confectionery, Others], Beverage[Alcoholic Beverage, Smoothies & Snack Drinks, Others]), By Category (Organic, Conventional), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 2025 in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/not-from-concentrate-nfc-puree-market As per market trends & analysis, NFC puree market from food application is anticipated to witness gains over 5% up to 2025 due to increasing product utilization in dairy & frozen products, baby foods, and baked goods. In infant nutrition, parents are increasingly opting for natural-based products. Factors such as increasing consumer spending on nutritional products development of new infant & clinical nutrition products will spur not from concentrate puree industry growth. Manufacturers are engaged in strategic initiatives such as mergers & acquisitions, distribution collaborations, and geographic expansions in order to improve their market share and compete with major players. For instance, in October 2015, SunOpta completed the acquisition of Sunrise Growers, the U.S. based processor of conventional and organic individually quick frozen (IQF) fruit products for USD 444 million. This strategy will help the company gain operating synergies along with expansion in their product portfolio. According to industry analysis, Europe NFC puree market is anticipated to witness growth over 4% by the end of 2025. Europe region observes a significant demand for mango purees owing to superior taste and mouthfeel, with India, accounting for more than 50% of Europes imports. Growth in the organic farming practices supported by a surge in the number of specialty fruit processors will augment the demand for organic not from concentrate puree in the region. Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/4537 Browse Related Reports: Fruit Concentrate Puree Industry By Fruit Family (Berry [Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry], Citrus [Orange, Lemon], Exotic [Banana, Apple, Mango, Melon, Pineapple, Coconut, Tomato], Orchard [Apricot, Peach, Pear]), By Application (Food [Baby Food, Dairy & Frozen Products, Bakery & Confectionary, Others], Beverage [Alcoholic Beverage, Smoothies & Snack Drinks, Others]), Products (With Sugar, No Added Sugar), Concentration (Liquid, Powder), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019 2025 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/fruit-concentrate-puree-market About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Recipient of the Magnum Photos Emerging Artist Award, photographer Sophie Wedgwoods latest project focuses on her husbands hometown, Havana, Cuba. Her goal, notes Its Nice That, was to avoid the common cliches of Havana, a popular destination for photographers, while simultaneously addressing her role as a Western photographer at the same time. I think the images happened very naturally, she says. Ive always found how we react to different people so interesting, she says. The women who had gone missing during the Oregon flood was found deceased on Sunday, Feb. 9, according to a press release issued by the Umatilla County Sheriffs Office. The 62-year-old woman, Janet Tobkin Conley, was reported missing on Saturday from the Bar M Ranch area, according to the news release. Neighbors recalled being in contact with her the day before on Friday and said that Conley expressed that she wished to stay home. At the time of the contact, floodwaters were rising in the area. The news release stated that there was a search effort for Conley on Saturday, where several volunteers from the Umatilla County Search and Rescue and rescuers from the Oregon Air National Guard searched for the 63-year-old. Searchers and neighbors in the area found Conley on Sunday morning on the Bar M Ranch property after the flood event, according to the news release. It seemed that she was swept away by rushing water during the flooding. Dwight Johnson, sergeant of the Umatilla County Sheriffs Office and the incident commander, offered his condolences, saying, Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of Ms. Conley in this difficult time, according to the news release. Oregon Live reported that Conleys death was the only reported fatality as a result of the flood. As reported by Fox News, the flood resulted from a combination of heavy snow in the mountain area, heavy rain, and warming temperatures, which sent torrents of floodwater into the city of Pendleton as well as several rural communities. As a result of the flood, several other people had to be rescued from the rising water. Oregon Live reported that 51 people were rescued from the flood, with 25 of them airlifted to safety as Oregon National Guard troops dispatched their teams to conduct rescue missions during the weekend. Christopher Ingersoll, a spokesperson for the Joint Information Center Umatilla County Sheriffs Office, stated that the number of people being rescued slowed down as weather conditions changed. With dry weather over the next couple of days in the forecast. We are expecting that to assist with water receding, Ingersoll said, Oregon Live reported. A meteorologist at the National Weather Service, Mary Wister, said the weather is improving. They expect no further flooding in the next seven days, at least, as there arent any instances that could cause more flooding according to weather reports. Colder temperature and clear skies are anticipated in the upcoming days, and this could slow the ice melting, which would help clear out the flooding, according to Oregon Live. For the short term, things are looking good, Wister said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Taking the law into your own hands is not justice. And because several men wanted to avenge a friends death less than an hour earlier, an innocent 67-year-old bystander was killed two years ago in New Brighton, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday. Now, Isaiah Kelson, the man who fired the bullet that slew Frances Williams shortly after noon on July 10, 2018, must pay for that crime, as must his friends who helped him that day, Assistant District Attorney Adam Silberlight said in his closing argument at Kelsons murder trial. These men may have wanted revenge because their friend was just killed, but revenge is not justice, said Silberlight. (The victim) is someone who is simply walking down Jersey Street at the wrong place and the wrong time. She may not have been the person Isaiah Kelson wanted to kill but that, plain and simple, is murder. These men need to be accountable for their actions during a cold-blooded slaying, Silberlight said, his voice rising. Kelson was aiming at a rival gang associate running down Pauw Street, but instead hit Williams, who was standing at a bus stop on Jersey Street near Pauw, said Silberlight. The victim was affectionately known as Miss Franny. Silberlight said Kelson, 23, an alleged West Brighton gang member, and others, including two co-defendants in the case, West Brighton residents Marquise Tart, 26, and Jaleel Hewitt, 27, sought to avenge their friend, Robert Craigwell, who was fatally mowed down by a van in St George. Members of a rival New Brighton crew were in the van, said prosecutors. Tart and Hewitt, who are also on trial, are charged with conspiracy and criminal facilitation. They are not charged with murder. In his summation, Robert Reuland, Kelsons lawyer, said the foundation of the prosecutors case is built on lies; specifically, the testimony of two cooperating witnesses. Both men were charged in the case and cut plea deals in the hope of obtaining lenient sentences. Of all the witnesses the D.A. brought you in this case, the only two with anything to gain with their testimony just happen to be the only two witnesses who put a gun in my clients hand, said Reuland. They came here and told lie after lie. Do you really want to base your verdict on the testimony of two liars? Reuland said. One of the cooperators testified that he drove Kelson and the other cooperator to the shooting scene. The second cooperator, who has pleaded guilty to murder and manslaughter, testified that both he and Kelson fired at the fleeing rival gang associate. He said Kelson was shooting with a 9 mm handgun down Pauw Street toward Jersey Street, while he had a .38-revolver. The victim was slain by a 9 mm bullet, a medical examiner testified. Silberlight and Reuland addressed the jury a day after Rick J. Pasacreta and Mario Romano, the respective attorneys for Tart and Hewitt, presented their summations. With the court closed Wednesday for Abraham Lincolns birthday, state Supreme Court Justice William E. Garnett will charge jurors on the law on Thursday. Pasacreta and Romano had similarly contended that the prosecutors case against their clients hinges heavily on the testimony of unreliable witnesses; namely, the cooperators. Their testimony, Pasacreta maintained, was tailored to fit prosecutors theory of the case, and to save their own skins. In addition, there are notable inconsistencies in those witnesses testimony relative to each other and to their own prior statements to authorities, said the lawyers. The cooperators names are being withheld at prosecutors request for fear of reprisal. Prosecutors, Reuland contended, had rushed to judgment against Kelson. There is no forensic evidence linking Kelson to the crimes, he said. His DNA was not found on the recovered .38-caliber gun, which the other shooter said Kelson had given him, said Reuland. Nor was it found on the .32-caliber handgun Kelson allegedly gave Craigwell before the incident in St. George, the attorney said. The 9 mm gun was not recovered. In addition, Kelsons DNA was not on the sweat clothes, which both cooperators said Kelson had changed into in the car en route to New Brighton and changed out of on the way back to West Brighton after the shooting, said Reuland. Perhaps even more importantly, Reuland maintained that physical evidence showed Kelson couldnt have killed Williams. I hold in my hands absolute proof my client did not fire the gun that killed Ms. Williams, said Reuland, showing jurors the autopsy report. A city medical examiner testified that the victim was shot in the left jaw with the bullet lodging in her right upper body, Reuland said. One of the cooperators testified that Kelson was running down Pauw toward Jersey when he fired, which would have put the defendant up the street on Williams right side. Even if Williams was facing Pauw, a bullet shot by Kelson could not have entered her body on the left side the way the medical examiner said it did, contended Reuland. How did Ms. Williams get shot?,'' he asked. "The short answer is I dont know. I cant explain it, but I dont have the burden to explain it. They do, he said, pointing at Silberlight and Assistant District Attorneys Andrew Botelho and Arda Ozdinc, who are prosecuting the case. Silberlight scoffed at that notion. What we heard (from the defense) is theres some unknown guy on Jersey Street that did the shooting and is still out there,'' said Silberlight. "No way. The prosecutor said the only shell casings found were from six 9 mm bullets in the area on Pauw where the other shooter said Kelson had fired his gun at the man fleeing toward Jersey Street. Kelson was firing diagonally down Pauw, which would have put his bullets on a direct path toward Williams, said Silberlight. Furthermore, Silberlight said, the medical examiner testified that Williams could have been turning her head when she was shot, explaining the bullets trajectory in her body. Silberlight said surveillance videotape showed the victim had done that. The prosecutor also said surveillance videotape and witness testimony showed the three defendants and the cooperators had all conspired to avenge Craigwell. He said Tart and Hewitt are seen on videotape after their friends death driving around New Brighton in Hewitts car scouting for rivals. Afterward, while the two men were en route to West Brighton, Kelson, who was now on the way to New Brighton, Face-Timed Hewitt via phone, said Silberlight. Kelson told Hewitt to follow him, which Hewitt did, turning his car around, said Silberlight. The prosecutor said surveillance videotape showed the two cars were briefly side-by-side twice, and those individuals inside are definitely communicating. Hewitts car then followed Kelson to New Brighton, and back to West Brighton after the shooting, said Silberlight. Both Pasacreta and Romano, the lawyers for Tart and Hewitt, contend that there is no testimony that their clients were told about a revenge plan. Everyone had a role,'' said Silberlight. "It was understood. They each knew what the plan was and what had to be done. Theres no difference between backing up friends in a fight or in a shooting, Silberlight said. They may not have had the gun, but they clearly conspired with the shooters. They did everything they could to help them. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions The average salary of London-based software engineers increased by 13% in 2019, to 74,000 ($95,848), which was the biggest increase of any tech hub globally, according San Francisco-headquartered jobs marketplace Hired. This equated to a pay increase of 8,000 ($10,362) from 2018 and was well above the overall average salary of 37,000 ($47,983) in Britain for full-time employees. Hired attributed this wage growth to the continued influx of funding going into the U.K.'s tech sector. British tech firms received 10.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2019, up 44% on the previous year, according to U.K. network Tech Nation, which claimed this investment outstripped that of the U.S. and China. The Canadian city of Toronto had the second biggest salary increase in its tech sector, with an average pay rise of 9%, or 4,000. In the U.S., New York software engineers saw their pay bumped up by 7% on average, while San Franciscans got a salary boost of 6%. The average global salary for a software engineer was 100,000, according to Hired's annual report. Hired gathered outside data from job interview requests and offers as well as collecting its own survey responses from 1,600 software engineers using its platform. Gaming engineers got the biggest pay rise of any type of software engineer in London and San Francisco, seeing their salaries increase by 19,800 and 13,600 on average, respectively. Machine-learning engineers in New York pocketed an additional 13,800 on average and search engineers in Toronto earned an extra 19,800. Jobs in augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) saw the sharpest rise in demand by employers globally, with interview requests up 1,400% on Hired's platform for this role. This overtook hiring demand for blockchain engineers, which rose 517% in 2018 but slowed to 9% last year. Hired said the growth in demand for people with skills in AR/VR reflects how the use of this technology has expanded beyond the world of gaming. It pointed out that beauty company Sephora and furniture retailer Wayfair were among the companies now using this technology. Mehul Patel, CEO of Hired, said managers should focus on assessing a candidate's skills rather than basing the selection of new hires too much on education. "While 50% of software engineers have a computer science degree, another 32% either taught themselves to code or learned through a coding bootcamp," he said, suggesting that they may therefore "have the same set of programming skills." Egypt's Competition Authority (ECA) has said that it will look at a request filed by Vodafone Egypt to study whether shareholder Telecom Egypt has the right to claim preemption over the potential sale of a majority stake in the company. Vodafone Group announced last month it had signed a preliminary deal to sell its 55 percent stake in the Egyptian unit to Saudi Arabias largest telecom operator STC for $2.39 billion. Telecom Egypt owns the remaining 45 percent of Vodafone Egypts shares. "The authority received a request from Vodafone Egypt to study whether the use of preemption by Telecom Egypt to buy Vodafone Group's share in Vodafone Egypt is in line with the competition law," it said in a statement on Wednesday. The competition watchdog said it will take necessary legal action according to the competition law and its executive regulations. Recent reports said that Telecom Egypt, the largest fixed-line operator in Africa and the Middle East, may resort to the right of preemption in The sale of Vodafone Egypt's shares to the Saudi company should be completed in June. *Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly reported that the request is filed by Telecom Egypt. It is filed by Vodafone Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: DOJ had intervened to revise the sentence suggested for Stone by the departments own prosecutors, prompting outrage. US President Donald Trump has praised Attorney General William Barr, while attacking the federal prosecutors who resigned after the Department of Justice (DOJ) intervened in the recommended sentencing of Republican operative Roger Stone. The DOJ officials stepped in after federal prosecutors recommended that Stone, who helped Trumps rise to power, face sentencing within federal guidelines of seven to nine years following his conviction on charges that include lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House of Representatives investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election. Stone, who has labelled himself a dirty trickster and agent provocateur and famously has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back, was one of several Trump associates charged with crimes in special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference. Muellers final report concluded that the president did not collude with Russia in the meddling and the president has repeatedly called the investigation a witch-hunt. Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 The DOJ move, which undermined its own prosecutors who were following institutional guidelines, has prompted accusations of political interference in the justice system. DOJ officials have said they made the decision without consulting the president. Trump, for his part, has said he did not instruct the DOJ in the matter, while contending he has the right to do so. Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought, Trump tweeted on Wednesday. Following the DOJs intervention, prosecutors Michael Marando, Aaron Zelinsky, John Crabb and Jonathan Kravis, who won Stones conviction, all withdrew from the case. Kravis told the court in a filing he was not only leaving the case but quitting his post as a federal prosecutor. Who are the four prosecutors (Mueller people?) who cut and ran after being exposed for recommending a ridiculous 9 year prison sentence to a man that got caught up in an investigation that was illegal, the Mueller Scam, and shouldnt ever even have started? 13 Angry Democrats? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 Who are the four prosecutors (Mueller people?) who cut and ran after being exposed for recommending a ridiculous 9 year prison sentence to a man that got caught up in an investigation that was illegal, the Mueller Scam, and shouldnt ever even have started? Trump tweeted on Tuesday. He followed up on Wednesday by describing the DOJ employees as rogue prosecutors. In tweets, Trump also targeted the judge in the case, who is set to make the final decision on Stones sentence on February 20, while retweeting a post that urged a full pardon of Stone as well as another former Trump adviser, Michael Flynn. Democrats have called for an investigation into the DOJs actions. An advocate has moved the Madras High Court, challenging the deletion of the sentence "the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) took a pronounced anti-Muslim stance" in the 10th standard social science textbook. "The statements/versions appearing in the said text books is part of history and it cannot be re-written based upon some sentiments," S Doraisamy said. He submitted that the school education department had issued a circular for 'hiding' the sentence in both the Tamil and English versions of the textbook and requested the court to quash the circular. Admitting the plea moved as a PIL, a division bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha directed the department to file a counter affidavit by March 19 on how the syllabus is prescribed and appraised and the procedure to be adopted for deletion of certain portions in the textbooks. The issue pertains to a plea moved by a petitioner before a single judge of the court, seeking deletion of the sentence from the English and Tamil versions of the textbook. During the course of hearing by the single judge, the government pleader had submitted that the 'objectionable portion' in the textbooks have been ordered to be deleted by the competent authority. Now, claiming that such history cannot be deleted from books on mere sentiments of a group of people, the advocate wanted the bench to quash the circular. Opposing it, special government pleader C Munusamy contended that the issue has been analysed in detail and a 'conscious decision' has been taken by the department. Recording the submissions, the bench directed the authorities concerned to file a detailed counter affidavit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indore, Feb 12 : The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the state government to pay a compensation of Rs five lakh to a 68-year-old man for keeping him in jail to serve a sentence for a dead convict over mistaken identity. In a case of serious negligence, the police kept an innocent senior citizen in jail for four months in place of another man who was sentenced to life for murder. The original convict had died three and a half years after being released on parole. Justice S.C. Sharma and Justice Shailendra Shukla delivered the verdict on Monday while granting the habeas corpus petition of Kamlesh, son of Husan (68) of Dhar district. A person named "Husna" was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case in Dhar district. He died on September 10, 2016, after being released on parole. When the convicted prisoner did not return to prison at the end of parole, an arrest warrant was issued against him. The police arrested "Husan" in place of "Husna" and sent him to the Indore Central Jail on October 18, 2019, due to mistaken identity. The old unlettered tribal was arrested despite repeated pleas for innocence. Expressing deep displeasure over this gross negligence, the High Court bench ordered Husan to be released immediately. The bench also ordered a contempt of court case against a sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP). This officer gave incorrect information in the affidavit to the court in the case. The bench said that a contempt case should also be filed against all police personnel who lodged separate entries about Husan describing him as "Husna" (deceased convict) in the scroll of the concerned police station at the time of wrongful arrest. The court said, "The present case is an example of arresting innocent people without identifying them properly, and therefore, it is directed that in all cases, where an arrest is made, the authorities shall identify the persons so arrested through bio- metric process as well as other documents in order to ensure their identity, and ensure that no innocent person like father of the present petitioner would end up in jail." Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Bakersfield, California for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 16 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Bakersfield, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Bakersfield with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Bakersfield. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Bakersfield, California please visit https://www.help.org/best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-bakersfield-ca/. 2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Bakersfield, California (in alphabetical order) Above It All Treatment Center 28200 Highway 189, Suite J-100 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352 877-978-3312 Action Drug Rehabs Bakersfield Outpatient Services 3801 Buck Owens Boulevard, Suite 105 Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-325-4357 Action Family Counseling, Inc. 22722 Soledad Canyon Road Santa Clarita, CA 91350 800-367-8336 Aegis 7246 Remmet Avenue Canoga Park, California 91303 818-206-0360 Aspire Counseling Services 9830 Brimhall Road, Suite 100 Bakersfield, California 93312 888-585-7373 Bakersfield Medical & Mental Health Services 1010 1/2 South Union Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93305 661-321-0234 Bakersfield Recovery Services 531 Knotts Street Bakersfield, CA 93305 661-325-1817 Beacon House 468 Pine Avenue Pacific Grove, CA 93950 866-422-3597 Community Service Organization (CSO) Brotherhood Center 1124 Baker Street Bakersfield, CA 93305 661-327-9376 KCMH Consumer Family Learning Center in Bakersfield 2001 28th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-868-7550 Lake Hughes Recovery 48745 3 Points Road Lake Hughes, CA 93532 866-402-8801 Legacy Village Recovery Center 1603 California Avenue, Suite 107 Bakersfield, CA 93304 800-997-6977 Quest 2 Recovery 3239 W Avenue, K1 Lancaster, CA 93536 866-679-0174 Synergy Recovery Services 7910 Downing Avenue, Suite 200 Bakersfield CA 93308 661-878-9100 The Salvation Army Bakersfield Adult Rehabilitation Center 200 19th Street Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-325-8626 Workit Health 2001 F Street, Suite 102 Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-843-6121 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said work is in its final stages at the emirate's House of Wisdom library project which is set to open in April. Boasting an area of 12,000 sq m and characterised by iconic design elements, contemporary Arabic architecture and interactive facilities, this high-tech library and social hub was unveiled by HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah in April last year to mark the celebration of the emirates recognition as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019. The iconic House of Wisdom, built to commemorate the Unesco honour recognising Sharjahs ongoing cultural journey and achievements for nearly 50 years, is the latest addition to the emirates numerous cultural offerings, in which books and knowledge can be openly accessed by people of all ages and nationalities. The Scroll, a striking monument, stands close to the House of Wisdom, which Shurooq commissioned to UK-based artist Gerry Judah, and was unveiled at the time Sharjah began its year-long tenure as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2019. The high-tech monument reimagines libraries for the 21st century, based on the principle of flexibility. The two-storey archive is the traditional library, where members can research and read in relative quiet. It will initially contain 40,000 books which will expand to a 105,000 collection when it is fully operational. There will also be an extensive collection of books in Braille. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Sharjah World Book Capital, SWBC, Advisory Committee and Vice President of International Publishers Association, IPA, yesterday (February 11) conducted a detailed inspection visit of the library project. Designed by the award-winning British architectural design and engineering firm, Foster + Partners, the essence of the structures unique design is the large floating roof with 15-metre cantilevered overhangs, said the statement from Shurooq. This serves to effectively protect the large transparent building from the elements of nature. To achieve more shading on the bottom portion, specially manufactured bamboo shades that can be manipulated to increase or decrease the coverage from the sun, have been utilised, it stated. The glass feature also serves to underline the fact that it is a beacon of knowledge in the way it lights up the surroundings at night, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Riding on its development agenda, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has romped home to a resounding victory in the Delhi assembly elections to retain power for a third term. After a bitterly fought election, the AAP won a thumping 62 of the 70 seats, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win just 8 seats and Congress drew a blank. The high voltage election campaign was marked with bitterness and hate speeches to polarise the atmosphere in the national capital along religious lines that finally led voters to reject the ruling BJP. A rejection of hate politics While AAP focused on fixing state-run schools and providing free healthcare, the BJP was accused of running a campaign based on religious polarisation, with many of its leaders targeting the Muslim community, who form a little more than 10 percent of the capital's population. The party's victory was a win for governance and a defeat of hatred. People saw through the BJP's designs, AAP's candidate, Amanatullah Khan told RFI. Frantic to wrench victory from the hands of the ruling anti-corruption AAP, the BJP used every ploy to stir the electoral pot to polarise voters and position the Delhi assembly election beyond the national capital to engage the party's cadre and hardcore supporters with its national vision for the country. Finally, hate speeches, guns, bullets, fear-mongering and targeting Muslims backfired so badly. People saw through their disruptive narrative and democracy has won, AAP's spokesperson Jasmine Shah told RFI. Thanking voters after a hard-fought election, AAP chief, Arvind Kejriwal, who will be sworn in for a third time, described the win as a victory of the people of Delhi and said the politics of work had taken root in Delhi. Political analysts said much of the BJP's campaign has sought to divide on the basis of religion, in the hope of consolidating Hindu voters behind it - a tactic that has worked for the party in other states, especially the 2019 general elections that saw it win a huge majority in parliament. It was the dirtiest election campaign witnessed ever in India's electoral history. It was toxic and I hope there is some introspection in the BJP that will not wash with people, said political analyst Sudheendra Kulkarni. A controversial citizenship law The top leadership of the BJP saw the Delhi election as a test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity after months of fiery protests against the controversial citizenship law which was widely criticized as discriminatory. Many Muslims feared it could be used with its sinister twin, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), to harass and disenfranchise them. For over two months, Delhi has been the centre-stage of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In the election campaign, AAP highlighted its developmental work over the last five years, positioning itself as a party of governance, with pro-poor, pro-welfare policies a message that seems to be working. Analysts believe that when it seemed like the election campaign was slipping away, the BJP cranked up its Hindu nationalism and anti-Pakistan rhetoric. Since Modi's ascension to power in 2014, a climate of intolerance has reigned where minorities have often faced the brunt. In June last year, US State Department released its international religious freedom report, which painted a dark picture of the situation for religious minorities in India. WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at 2:00 pm ET Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) will host the first Quarterly Call regarding its "Gender Diversity in Innovation Toolkit." The turnkey toolkit was developed by a subcommittee of the association's Women in IP Committee to help organizations evaluate gender parity and create a culture that encourages women to invent. Facebook, Inc. is one of the companies that piloted the toolkit as a guide to self-evaluate and increase gender parity among its staff. Charu Kurani and Jeremiah Chen from Facebook will be panelists on the call moderated by Sandra Nowak of 3M, one of the toolkit's key developers. The hour-long Quarterly Call will be available via a link on the IPO website. The call will be in webinar format and will allow attendees to post questions for the moderator and panelists in real time. This is the first installment of a series of planned calls that are meant to keep an open dialogue and receive feedback about the toolkit's recommendations. Subsequent topics for the Quarterly Calls will break out and dissect other suggested best practices the toolkit identifies for leveling the playing field for female inventorship in corporations and universities. IPO IPO is an international trade association for patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret owners. Members include companies from industries ranging from high tech to automobiles to life sciences. About 12,000 people from companies, law firms and other member classes are involved in advocacy, education, and networking programs. IPO was founded in 1972. Contact: Nyree Berry 202 507 4514 [email protected] SOURCE Intellectual Property Owners Association Related Links http://ipo.org Opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to Venezuela on Tuesday after an international support-building tour and called on the people in the crisis-wracked nation to keep pushing back against President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido -- who had defied a travel ban to visit Colombia, the United States, Canada and several European nations -- was greeted by a throng of cheering supporters at the international airport outside the capital Caracas. "We're in Caracas now. I bring back with me the commitment of the free world, ready to help us regain democracy and freedom," Guaido wrote on Twitter, before tweeting a picture of himself at passport control that was captioned "HOME." Shortly before his arrival, fighting broke out between his followers -- including several lawmakers -- and Maduro's supporters. "Guaido, fascist!" shouted employees of the state-run airline Conviasa, which was subjected to US sanctions last week, who had entered the area where the 36-year-old's backers were waiting for him. Several diplomats were present. Videos circulating on social media appear to show Guaido sprayed with soda by an airline worker. The opposition leader seemed to laugh it off. Security escorts flanked the opposition leader -- wearing a white shirt and a wooden cross around his neck -- as he got into a white vehicle to head to Caracas. After his trip abroad -- including a meeting with US President Donald Trump, who threatened to "smash" Maduro's regime -- Guaido promised new sanctions "against the dictatorship" would be coming soon, and called for renewed protests. "We came to work and leave the rest, to do what is necessary to accomplish the goal" of pushing Maduro from office, Guaido later told a rally attended by about 500 people. His office said late Tuesday that a relative traveling with Guaido had vanished after being held by airport officials. 'A new moment' In a veiled reference to Guaido's return, Maduro called on his supporters to focus on "defending Venezuela." Story continues "Let's not get distracted by stupidities, by dummies, by traitors to the homeland," he said at a ceremony broadcast on state television. Guaido rose to prominence in January 2019 when he declared himself the country's acting president in a direct challenge to Maduro. He derived such authority from his position as the speaker of the National Assembly, after the legislature declared Maduro's 2018 re-election invalid following a poll widely denounced as rigged. Lawmakers called Maduro a "usurper" while more than 50 countries recognized Guaido as interim president. However, Maduro retains the support of Venezuela's powerful military and has resisted Guaido's challenge, even as the United States ramps up the pressure. The international trip was the second time Guaido, who called for a legislative session to be held Wednesday, had flouted the travel ban. Maduro's number two Diosdado Cabello said Monday that he didn't expect much of anything to change after Guaido's travels, which he called a "tourism trip." "He is nothing," Cabello said. But Guaido tweeted Tuesday: "A new moment has begun that won't accept setbacks and in which we need everyone to do what they have to do. The time has arrived." "Now more than ever, we need unity, confidence and political discipline. Look out for new announcements." (AFP) Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images As the earliest results from New Hampshire showed Bernie Sanders with a slim lead in the Democratic race and Trump with a substantial one in the GOPs technicality of a primary, NBC News reported that Attorney General William Barr has taken direct action in legal matters that are of personal interest to the president twice in order to ease sentences for Trump allies. Most recently, that involved the case against Trump surrogate Roger Stone: After prosecutors requested a sentence of seven to nine years for the GOP operative for witness tampering and lying to Congress, senior Department of Justice officials pushed for less prison time. (The action resulted in four prosecutors withdrawing from the case, which former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance called a four-alarm fire at Justice.) But as NBC News reports, the DOJ action wasnt a first: Senior officials at the Justice Department also intervened last month to help change the governments sentencing recommendation for Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. While the prosecutors had once recommended up to six months in jail, their latest filing now says they believe probation would be appropriate. In Roger Stones case, the revision states that the seven-to-nine year sentence could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances and that it does not accurately reflect the Department of Justices position on what would be a reasonable sentence in this matter. Ive never seen this happen, ever, Gregory Brower, a former U.S. attorney for Nevada, told NBC News. Id be shocked if the judge didnt order the U.S. attorney to come into court to explain it. Though a Justice Department spokesperson claims that Barr had no contact with the White House regarding Stones sentencing recommendation, the attorney general has mobilized the DOJ in favor of the presidency before. When reports emerged that the DOJ was considering an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey, New Yorks Jonathan Chait wrote that Barr was using the Department of Justice to selectively hold his opponents to the most exacting levels of legal scrutiny that are not broadly applied. The president ultimately may not need his attorney general to follow through on apparent plans to ease sentencing on his allies who have remained loyal to him. On Tuesday, Trump floated the idea of pardoning Roger Stone, and in response to a tweet advocating a FULL PARDON for Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, Trump suggested their cases were prosecutorial misconduct. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire -- The Investor Summit , the East Coasts premier investor conference, will host its spring summit in New York City next month. One of NYCs most architecturally significant hotels, The Essex House, is the venue for the event scheduled to take place on March 25-26, 2020. There, at the annual summit, organizers will once again draw hundreds of investors and bring together executives in an event known for building connections that increase exposure, market value and long-term growth for stand-out companies across multiple industries. The two-day event will feature approximately 160 presenting companies in healthcare, technology, consumer, cannabis, financial, blockchain, energy, and other sectors that will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses for upward of 1,000 quality institutional, RIA, family office, and high-net-worth investors. The Investor Summit team takes a concierge approach to connecting executives with investors, who come from across the country to participate in the events unique delegate program. Companies take the stage to share insight, offerings and the latest trends, and then participate in face-to-face management meetings that speed the due diligence process to connect opportunity with capital. We take great pride in the quality of the presenting companies, investor audience and connections for success and growth that we facilitate through our Investor Summit, says Fred Rockwell, founder of the conference. Both emerging companies looking to increase market awareness and investors seeking out great opportunities are rewarded though the collaborations and relationships built at our annual spring summit. For more information and to register for the upcoming Investor Summit, visit www.microcapconf.com . About Investor Summit Investor Summit is the largest independent investor conference on the East Coast. Its independence allows conference organizers to focus on customer service and scheduling high-quality meetings between the executives and investors who attend. The Investor Summit team sets the bar for quality service in a space traditionally dominated by banks who focus more on selling their services than on building the connections companies need to succeed. The team behind Investors Summit has facilitated countless valuable interactions for its presenting companies, which have often led to increased exposure, market value appreciation and long-term growth. For more information, visit www.microcapconf.com . General Inquiries: Fred Rockwell Investor Summit Fred@microcapconf.com PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 20:02:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 545 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Dealers from Across Canada Gather in Toronto for a Packed Day of DiscussionTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 12, 2020 / Canada's independent franchised new vehicle dealers gather in Toronto for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association's annual (CADA) Summit to hear from leading experts on what to expect in the decade to come, market opportunities, and the future of auto retailing."Canada's retail auto sector has never been in a better position to offer customers the best and most innovative products that are safer, more technologically advanced, and better for the environment than today," said CADA President and CEO Tim Reuss. "The automotive landscape is changing rapidly. Technology and demographics developments are reshaping consumer experience. The Summit provides a forum for the industry to discuss how these changes will transform the whole automotive ecosystem, and how dealers can adapt to meet the needs of consumers across the country." The annual Summit leads into the Canadian International Autoshow, beginning on February 13 in Toronto. "Our industry is thriving and evolving quickly and we are working diligently to advocate on behalf of our dealers," added Reuss. "We're advocating to keep Canada's fuel economy standards harmonized with the United States, we're working with the federal government on the delivery of their Zero Emission Vehicle rebate program and looking at whether an expansion of the program is possible. We're also fighting against the proposed luxury tax that could have a detrimental impact on the livelihood of many dealers and the people they employ." The Summit will also honour the 2019 CADA Laureate Award winners. "The Laureate Award is a prestigious award that recognizes dealer's excellence and their contribution to the industry and community. Congratulations again to Jamie Massie, Aziz Ahamed and Charles Saillant", said Tim Ryan, CADA Vice-President."Dealers from across the country attend the Summit every year as an industry precursor to the larger Auto Show, and we are thrilled to have such a fantastic line-up of speakers at this year's Summit," said Bonnie Wasser, Industry Relations Manager at CADA. "This might be our best Summit yet, and there's no better way to kick of the new decade." Full list of speakers:Michael McGhee, Senior Vice President & Division Head, TD Auto FinanceMike Stollery, Chair, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association and President,Founder and Chairman of AutoIQ NetworkMichael Hainsworth, Futurist and Finance and Technology PersonalityMichael Robinet, Executive Director, Automotive Advisory Services, IHS MarkitChristian Bourque, Executive Vice-President and Senior Partner, LegerInga Maurer, Partner, McKinsey & Company, Automotive & Assembly, Operations, and Private Equity PracticesBill Harbottle, President, The Jim Pattison Auto GroupPatrick O'Regan, President, O'Regan's Automotive GroupLars-Johan Jarnheimer, Chairman, IKEA GroupLarry Dominique, Chairman CEO, PSA Automotive North AmericaFrank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group, Former Premier of New Brunswick, Former Canadian Ambassador to the United States of AmericaThe Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is the national association for franchised automobile dealerships that sell new cars and trucks. Our 3,200 dealers represent a key sector of Canada's economy. Through our dealers, we are represented in nearly every community and those dealers collectively employ nearly 160,000 people across the country.For more information please contact:CADA Public AffairsTelephone: 613-230-2079/1-800-465-3054SOURCE: Canadian Automobile Dealers Association WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SpiderOak is pleased to announce and welcome Michael Campanelli, who will join the SpiderOak Mission Systems team as the Vice President of Federal, working remotely from the DC Metro Area. Within this role, Campanelli will establish and lead the SpiderOak business in the government market, specifically supporting customers in the Intelligence & Defense communities. Michael comes to SpiderOak from Prominent Edge LLC where he was the Executive Director of Business Development, responsible for all new business ventures, contracts, marketing, and sales. A former Director on the Board of Directors for the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), Mr. Campanelli is a sixteen-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence Community and has spent his career leading teams in the design and implementation of large-scale systems for the storage, analysis, and exploitation of complex data. "Michael has the leadership experience, proven track record, and stellar reputation in IC and DoD spaces, which is exactly what we need as we take our business to the next level," said Christopher Skinner, Chief Executive Officer, SpiderOak. "At SpiderOak Mission Systems Michael will introduce the federal market to a disruptive new technology that helps protect our nation and save lives." "I was attracted by the company's mission to Secure the World's Data and the commitment that the company has to improve our nation's security," Campanelli said. "I believe that truly secure products on-demand cryptographically secure enclaves - are going to change how the federal government works, shares, and communicates data. This technology is a game changer." Campanelli combines his experience in business development and leadership with past experience in a number of other areas, specifically Motion Intelligence, Mission Planning, and Radar. Throughout his career Michael has had the honor and privilege to work both behind a desk and in the field, including the opportunity to spend time at sea on board the Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer, USS The Sullivans. Mr. Campanelli earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University, a M.S. in Systems Engineering from The George Washington University, completed post-graduate study in Geospatial Intelligence at Penn State University, and most recently completed a course of study in Data Science at MIT. "We offer a preventive way that stops the pain caused by so few to so many," added Skinner. "It's time to embrace new and seek out the root cause of constant failure. We make it possible to operate on any network, creating enterprise controls for distributed systems. Michael Campanelli brings the experience and knowledge needed to fulfill our mission." SpiderOak builds need-to-know technology that supports customers working in hostile environments. Traditional systems trust IT infrastructure to maintain the whole security system, even though the news is rife with evidence that this model does not work. Our software combines end to end encryption with a distributed ledger technology to offer best-in-class security with no backdoors. About SpiderOak Mission Systems Inc.: SpiderOak Mission Systems offers the US defense and intelligence communities tools which enable the creation of secure virtual enclaves. Designed to offer strict need-to-know assurances. We believe you deserve the easy, efficient deployment of SaaS solutions without compromising the security of the mission, sensitive information, or team members themselves. Built on distributed ledger (blockchain) technology. Cryptographically secure, zero-trust, compartmentalized data protection with mission-level controls, even over arbitrary networks. Enterprise controls for distributed systems is the future of security. For inquiries, please call Christopher Skinner, (866) 432-9888 ext. 6 or write [email protected] SOURCE SpiderOak Sanders, who boasts of his ability to attract new voters to his presidential run, acknowledged Tuesday that turnout in Iowa had not been as high as he wanted but cited an increase in the number of young voters as an encouraging sign. He touted the 7,500 attendees at his Monday-night rally in Durham, tweeting that it was it the largest New Hampshire rally of any candidate in this primary. As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists are warning the world to brace for heat waves, extreme storms, wildfires and other dire consequences. While chemists are actively searching for new ways to mitigate climate change, they are also developing technologies to allow people and ecosystems to not only survive, but thrive, in a warmer world, according to a special issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society. The challenges of adapting to climate change are many. Feeding the world's growing population is expected to become more difficult, as farmers battle prolonged droughts and heat waves, alternating with crop-damaging storms. Fragile ecosystems, like coral reefs, will be vulnerable to changing conditions such as warmer, acidified oceans. And cities around the world must update their infrastructure to prepare for extreme weather in the form of heat, fires and floods. In a series of articles, C&EN describes how chemists will play a critical role in helping the world thrive in the face of climate change. In the area of agriculture, scientists are reengineering crops to increase yield and resist disease in varied soil and atmospheric conditions. Other researchers are working to preserve existing coral reefs while modifying corals' DNA to make the tiny creatures more resilient. Still other efforts focus on developing innovative solutions to help cities protect their infrastructure from heat and violent storms and safeguard their water security. ### The article can be viewed here. 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 on Twitter | Facebook Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 19:41 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2064268e6 1 Business state-owned-enterprises,state-banks,bank-mandiri,bni,Bank-Rakyat-Indonesia,erick-thohir,management,management-shakeup,reshuffle Free The State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry will shake up executives at three state-owned banking giants this week, Minister Erick Thohir said on Wednesday. Erick, however, brushed off concerns over the reasons for the management reshuffle beyond a regular refreshment of leaders in the nations top state banks. The three state lenders that are likely to see new faces in their boards of directors are Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI). "It's normal as long as we can see someone who has great expertise," Erick said in Jakarta during the launch of an SOEs internship program, denying the reshuffle was an overhaul. Bank Mandiri, BNI and BRI have all been scheduled to organize annual general shareholders meetings next week with agendas that include adjustments in corporate management, according to the banks disclosures made available to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). The management restructuring would be the latest in a series of state firm restructuring efforts to improve SOEs performances since Erick took the job in October last year. The businessman-turned-bureaucrat dismissed seven undersecretaries from their posts in November to make the ministry more efficient in accordance with President Joko Jokowi Widodos mission. The number of undersecretaries has also been reduced to three from the previous seven. "All SOEs are being 'refreshed. Certainly, such plans aim to strengthen them, SOEs Ministry aide Arya Sinulingga told Kompas.com in Jakarta on Tuesday evening. As part of the wider government restructuring of SEOs, Deputy SOEs Minister Kartika Tiko Wirjoatmodjo said last Thursday that the ministry would close down or merge state-owned companies that have consistently failed to post profits. He said Minister Erick wanted to reduce the number of state-owned firms to 100 from 142 at present in order to improve efficiency. Ten years after it opened, South of Markets Bar Agricole is moving. Owner Thad Vogler hopes the new and improved space will allow him to realize the goal hes always had for his James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar: to establish and own the category of single-origin spirits, he says. The current Bar Agricole (355 11th St.) will shut down on April 15; Vogler expects to unveil the new digs, nearby at a luxury residential complex at 1550 Mission St., in late 2020. Agricole may be as famous for its design as for its drinks; winning the Outstanding Design Award in the James Beard Awards in 2011. (It also won Outstanding Bar Program in 2019, after being nominated eight times.) The new spot will look different, Vogler says, but still be design-forward. Architecture and design firm Snhetta will outfit the 5,000-square-foot space. Better foot traffic and a better kitchen layout are two advantages at 1550 Mission St. There will still be a full food menu, but Vogler who also owns the S.F. bars Trou Normand, Obispo and Nommo wants to turn the attention a little bit less toward the kitchen and more toward the bar. I want to regroup and focus on what Im best at, which is single-origin spirits, he says. Single-origin spirits, in Voglers view, are those that come from a specific place not blended across disparate regions and taste like it. Theyre products that have what Vogler has called a sense of regionalism, the bartending philosophy he expresses in his 2017 book By the Smoke and the Smell. Regionalism, to him, is about choosing spirits that have a sense of place, are not produced industrially and are made by the same people who grow what they distill. As hes said before, Making drinks should be like making salads. Hes never understood why restaurants take pride in having responsibly farmed wines and fair-trade coffee but then stock industrially sweetened spirits behind the bar. That idea has taken off with wine, chocolate, coffee, Vogler says. Spirits still havent taken off in that niche. I want to work with that more. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2018 His bars names refer spirits that Vogler believes are capable of expressing regionalism. Bar Agricole is named for rhum agricole, a type of rum from the French Caribbean thats distilled from fresh cane sugar rather than from molasses. Trou Normand is named for a traditional French palate cleanser: a shot of Calvados (apple brandy) with a little scoop of sorbet. Along with the new Bar Agricole, Vogler will also open a spirits retail shop on the same block. It will be a chance to highlight some of the products that he imports, and he may even launch a proprietary spirits label through some of his import connections. Meanwhile, there are major changes underway at Obispo, Voglers rum bar in the Mission that opened in late 2018. He has temporarily closed it to reconfigure the concept and expects to reopen it later in the spring. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Why? Voglers vision for Obispo was an authentic, emphatically non-tiki rum bar one that would serve single-origin rums and affordable, simple cocktails alongside the sort of food that one might find in rum-producing places like Martinique. But he admits that the concept, coming from him, a 68 Northern European guy telling people how to make food from Martinique, felt a little strained, especially given its location in the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. Hes hired a new executive chef, and the food will be less explicitly designed to fit within a concept. It will be generally San Francisco ingredient-driven cuisine, Vogler says. The drink program will remain the same. Were still gonna sell a lot of rum, he continues, but just make it less Epcot center. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob What if I said that everything youve been led to believe about your sex life isnt true? That the standards by which you judge yourself, and possibly your partner, are unrealistic? That you can feel little or no spontaneous desire, but at the same time have a happy and mutually satisfying sex life in the long term? There arent many areas of science where we have got it so wrong for so long that great myths have seeped into our collective psyche, but sex is one. So much of our understanding comes from culture, religion, hearsay and magazines that we have lost track of the facts. My time as a clinical psychologist and psychosexologist has been spent unlearning everything I thought I knew about sex in order to help those who come to see me. The truth is, sex science has moved on but the way in which we understand sex and desire as a society has not yet caught up. Dr Karen Gurney who is author of new book Mind The Gap: The Truth About Desire, shared advice on how to futureproof your sex life (file image) My new book, Mind The Gap: The Truth About Desire, And How To Futureproof Your Sex Life, is intent on righting some widespread wrongs. These include the idea that desire should happen easily if you love each other, that a good sex life equals lots of spontaneous sex and that sexual satisfaction inevitably dwindles throughout a long-term relationship. The last one is particularly unhelpful, as it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. A lifetime of great sex doesnt happen as if by magic. But all of us can, and should, strive for our sex life to get better and better over time. So how exactly do we futureproof our sex life? Forget the good old days Many couples come to see me because they want it to be like it was in the beginning. But the intense lust of the early stages cant last. Sadly, it is very common for women to blame this change in desire on themselves and to feel broken because of it. Take Anna, 36, who is single, who told me: In the beginning I feel like sex a lot but then, after some time, it just goes. It must be me that has the problem, as its happened in every long relationship Ive had. Annas drop in spontaneous desire is a normal experience for women. In fact, a large proportion never or almost never feel like having sex out of the blue with their life partner. Dr Karen said maintaining a high level of sexual satisfaction with the same person requires investment, research shows discussing sex together can improve your sex life (file image) This is not a problem with desire, but with how we understand it. Wouldnt it be great if Anna and the rest of us understood that desire works perfectly well if we know how to encourage and maintain it? For many couples, the things they value about longer relationships (security, knowing another person completely) can bring an over-familiarity and predictability that isnt always great in the bedroom. If we add this to societys unhelpful message that you should desire sex spontaneously, then we can start to understand why sexual dissatisfaction within relationships is so common. It is possible to maintain high levels of sexual satisfaction and desire while having sex with the same person again and again, but it requires investment and effort. Lets talk more about sex Research reveals that the more you talk about sex together, the higher your chance of a better sex life. Talking allows us to share our likes and dislikes we cannot expect our partners to be mind readers, after all. Women are often having the wrong type of sex for them, then feel guilty when they dont enjoy it But communication is also important because we are heavily influenced by the world we live in. Unless we are able to state our preferences, we risk being shoehorned into a model of what society tells us sex should be like. We also risk making wrong assumptions about our partner, based on gendered stereotypes. Take Helen, 48, and Doug, 51, whod been together 15 years when they came to see me. Helen had been feeling less inclined to have sex. She put it down to early menopausal symptoms and the fact that she was caring for a sister who was suffering from cancer. Clinical psychologist revealed it's common for heterosexual couples to fall into a set menu, with women often having the types of sex that isn't best fit for their anatomy (file image) She had started to find Dougs pleas for sex irritating and perceived his repeated requests for sex, or jokes about how long it had been, as insensitive and hurtful. During therapy, however, we learnt that Doug was actually motivated to have sex when he wanted to feel close to Helen. Over the course of her sisters illness, he had become increasingly worried about Helens mortality and preoccupied with her becoming ill. She was shocked, and understanding what sex meant for him totally changed her feelings. In fact, sex took on a life-affirming meaning in a time of heightened stress. Always shun the set menu Are you stuck in a sex rut? Does intimacy always start with a quick fumble followed by penetrative sex? It is common for heterosexual couples to fall into a set menu despite it being not terribly fulfilling for the woman and not conducive to maintaining desire for either partner. In fact, women are often having the types of sex (penetrative) that are not the best fit for their anatomy, then feeling shame for not experiencing the right amount of orgasms. Dan, 36, and Vanessa, 34, are a case in point. They had been together for 11 years and Vanessas desire had dwindled until it was non-existent. I discovered that, like most women, Vanessa mostly enjoyed clitoral stimulation as her main source of sexual pleasure. Dr Karen said another bad habit couples can fall into is giving each other the scraps, one-word answers and barely any eye contact (file image) Yet their sex life tended to amount to two minutes of kissing followed by Vanessa pleasuring Dan, then penetrative sex that lasted until he had an orgasm. Dan wasnt intentionally orchestrating sex that limited Vanessas pleasure. Vanessa hadnt even thought about it. They were both just recreating an image of sex that is societys norm. But its unsurprising that Vanessas arousal, enjoyment and desire had dwindled. The one word in our language I despise the most, which restricts our sexual pleasure by its mere existence, is foreplay. It represents a hierarchy that elevates some types of sex as better or more like proper sex. Pay attention to the dangers of such assumptions and always ordering the set menu. Especially if you are planning to eat in the same restaurant every night for the rest of your life. Stop giving each other the scraps Can you remember the last time you really laughed, felt excited or exhilarated by your partner? Another bad habit we often fall into is presenting the most dynamic, interesting sides of ourselves to our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours. Back home, we give one-word answers, lie on the sofa and barely make eye contact. I call this giving each other the scraps. Taking a positive view, it can be seen as the joy of having a committed other, someone in whose company you can completely relax. Recent research suggests an injection of novelty and self-expansion outside the bedroom can boost what happens within it (file image) This in itself is a wonderful thing. But there is also a risk that you and your partner could start to forget those best sides of each other that were so delightful in the early days. A recent paper by sex researcher Dr Amy Muise and colleagues in the U.S. suggests an injection of novelty and self-expansion outside the bedroom can affect what happens within it, and that couples who spend more time engaging in novel and challenging activities individually or together see an improvement in their sex life as a result. That might include learning a language, visiting a new place or taking on a physical challenge. It could be as simple as watching our partner charm the new neighbours at a party, and seeing them through fresh eyes. For others it might be planning an adventure together or learning how to dance. Dont be fooled, though, into thinking that spending time in the same room, house or flat constitutes this time. To start with, put down your phone, switch off the TV and really connect, listen and value each others thoughts or opinions. The idea is that such activities bring about a change in intimacy, and new perspectives on a partner who may otherwise seem too familiar. This can bring about a real injection of desire. Dr Karen said it isn't always realistic to expect sex to just happen, it's normal to want to watch Netflix and scroll through Instagram after you've totted up your time (file image) Add intimacy to your to-do list One of the main hurdles for couples is the notion that sex should just happen. Thats what we see in films and on TV, so the idea that you should set time aside is seen as decidedly unsexy. But lets be realistic here. Think about your week with your partner. Discount any time with children or family and any time at work, exercising or seeing friends. Discount any time you spend getting dressed, cooking, cleaning, doing admin and sleeping. How much is left? By the time youve totted it all up, you may feel as if all you want to do is watch Netflix and scroll through Instagram. You would be normal in this regard. But how much of a challenge is it to expect sex to happen easily in this narrow window? Katy, 26, and Ryan, 28, came to me after realising their schedules had no space for sex, and that their expectation that sex should happen spontaneously was unrealistic. They decided to put aside one night a fortnight Katys yoga night, which Ryan usually spent with friends to really connect emotionally and physically, to create the right environment and conditions for sex. They didnt always have sex on these nights, but more often than not they did. Your sex life is on its own trajectory. The question is, how much you want to steer it or just see in which direction it drifts? Dr Karen revealed developing high levels of sexual currency is one of the easiest changes you can make to improve your intimate life (file image) Turn up the sexual currency The term sexual currency refers to the amount of erotic charge or interaction between you and your partner, aside from actual sexual experiences. And its one of the easiest changes you can make to improve your intimate life. Introduce ways of reacting to your partner that have undertones of sex. A brief touch as you pass in the kitchen, a seconds-long but passionate kiss before heading off to work, or just spending some time naked in bed together, not having sex. The litmus test is: would you do it with your aunt? If not, and it doesnt involve a sexual act of some type, its sexual currency. High levels of sexual currency make you a more sexual couple whether you are having sex once a day or once a year. If you are reading this and realising that you and your partner only ever passionately kiss as part of sex, or relate to each other mainly as flatmates or co-parents, then the important thing to realise is that you can easily change this behaviour. Once we know more about how desire works, we can be in the driving seat in control. Yes, yes, yes... it can get better With age Our sex lives are constantly at the mercy of changes in our relationships and changes to our bodies, identities and preferences. This is why communication is key; without it we have no way to navigate these changes. For example, women generally report fewer concerns about body image the longer they have been with a partner. They also report higher levels of sexual assertion and so sexual satisfaction as they age. For some of them, this can show itself in a newfound sexual confidence and feeling of wanting more variety in their sex lives as they move through life. The myth of women reaching their sexual peak at an older age to men is not about sexual function per se, but an awareness that (sadly) it can take women decades to stop being held back by fears about body image, lack of knowledge about their bodies and feeling unable to demand the types of sex they need. Research suggests many people in midlife and older dont feel comfortable talking to a doctor about their sex life (file image) This increase in sexual confidence is to be celebrated, but the relationships women find themselves in need to be able to withstand these changes and adapt to them. One way I often talk about couples embracing change and growth in their sexual relationship is by creating a ritual of regular review and conversation about sex. This involves four key questions: Whats been going well in our sex life that we want to continue? What would we like to do more of? What new directions might we take? And what would we like to explore, try together or alone, or learn more about? We often think of changes in bodily function, health and ability as negatives for sexual function, but they need not be. The physical and psychological impacts of the menopause, such as hot flushes and low mood, of course reduce desire. But research suggests that how your sex life was pre-menopause, and your feelings towards your partner, are more reliable predictors of how sex will be post-menopause than oestrogen levels. Research also tells us many people in midlife and older dont feel comfortable talking to a doctor about their sex life. This is a by-product of the impact of ageist (and inaccurate) ideas about our sexual needs. But please do get support through this transition, so you can enjoy the surprising benefits of ageing when youre out the other side. Advertisement Adapted by Felicia Bromfield from Mind The Gap: The Truth About Desire, And How To Future-proof Your Sex Life, by Dr Karen Gurney (14.99, Headline Home), out on March 5. Dr Karen Gurney 2020. To pre-order a copy for 12 (offer valid to 05/3/20; P&P free), visit mailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155. A 26-year-old woman from Thane city in Maharashtra has lodged a police complaint against her husband and mother-in-law for allegedly harassing her, an official said on Wednesday. The woman also alleged that the two accused indulged in gambling and demanded money from her, police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said. The victim told the police that she got to know the accused man through Facebook following which they fell in love and got married in January 2017. However, her husband and mother-in-law later allegedly started demanding money from her and her father gave Rs five lakh to them in June last year, the official said. Later, her husband allegedly made another demand of Rs 25 lakh and threatened her with dire consequences if she failed to get it, the official said, adding that her mother- in-law also abused and cursed her. She also alleged that her mother-in-law and husband used to frequently go to a casino for gambling, Narkar said quoting the complaint. The complainant claimed that at times, she was also taken to the casino and forced to consume liquor and smoke. Later, her husband threatened her with pictures clicked at the casino, she said. Fed up with the harassment, the woman left her husband's home three months ago and was currently staying with her parents in Thane city, she said. Based on the complaint, the Naupada police registered a case on Monday against her husband and mother-in-law under IPC Sections 498-A (cruelty), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention), the official said, without revealing identity of the accused. No arrest was made so far, she said, adding that a probe was underway in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actors of director Bong Joon-ho's film "Parasite" returned home to a hero's welcome after the film's historic success at the Oscars. Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Jo Yeo-jeong and other actors arrived at Incheon International Airport early Wednesday morning, whereas Bong stayed behind in Los Angeles due to other commitments. "Parasite" won best picture, best director, best original screenplay and best international feature film at this year's Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on Sunday. Understanding Maines Statehood At first glance, maybe its not much to look at: a couple of pages from an old book containing lists of names and places. The pages feature handwritten notes in neat cursive adorning the margins next to some of the names. For anyone remotely interested in how the state of Maine came about, however, this is a supremely important document. Marieke Van Der Steenhoven, librarian at Special Collections & Archives Its a draft copy of the Maine constitution from 1819, explained Marieke Van Der Steenhoven, education and outreach librarian at Bowdoin Librarys George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives. It dates from the constitutional convention of that year, when representatives gathered to discuss how the new state of Maine would look. This particular copy includes a heavily annotated list of the 236 delegates, marking who turned up and which of them were replaced by others. Many of these delegates had Bowdoin connections, said Van Der Steenhoven, such as College trustees John Chandler and William Preble, who was also an honorary degree recipient. Overseer and trustee William King, meanwhile, chaired the convention, while another of the delegates was Stephen Longfellow, father of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Class of 1825. The document is one of dozens on display this semester in the State of Maine exhibition on the second floor of the Hawthorne-Longfellow Library. Maines complicated road to statehood culminated on March 15, 1820, when the district separated from Massachusetts and was accepted as the twenty-third state in the Union. Van Der Steenhoven curated the exhibition, which uses rare books, political tracts, maps, and other materials to explore the unexpected and familiar narratives that led to statehood, and considers Bowdoins unique role in that journey. The Natural Resources and People of Maine The exhibit comprises materials arranged thematically by display case, with one dedicated to Maines natural resources, climate, and people, explained Van Der Steenhoven. The materials in Bowdoins historic collections routinely reflect dominant perspectives due to historic collecting practices. Finding the voices of indigenous folks, people of color, or women can often prove challenging within our collections. It is the work of scholars, librarians, and archivists to build representative collections and to read through the absences to build a broader understanding of our history. Using Samuel Purchass 1625 map of New England to discuss the erasure of the Mawooshen tribe of the Wabanaki people, or Joseph Whipples 1816 problematic characterization of women to discuss how statehood impacted white, African American, and Native American women, are just two of the ways to read across these historical texts. In Benjamin Lincolns description of the District of Maine from circa 1793, the natural resources of the area are considered, primarily to encourage trade between Massachusetts and the West Indies. However, this documentation of the eighteenth-century climate can also help us better understand climate change. The Maine weather during the pre-separation era was typically more severe than now. The statewide average temperature was 3.2 degrees colder and growing seasons were two to three weeks shorter. Separation Anxiety While indigenous people have resided in areas across this region for centuries, the first European settlers colonized Maine in the early seventeenth century and the district was gradually appropriated by Massachusetts beginning in 1651. This section of the exhibit looks at the issue of Maines separation from Massachusetts Van Der Steenhoven said. Prior to the formal act of separation in 1819, there were at least six previous votes on the issue dating from 1792 (and even earlier attempts dating to the early 1700s). The pamphlets on display feature the passionate addresses made by separationists to the people of Maine. The campaign for separation was complicated and allegiances shifted over time, explained Van Der Steenhoven. Reflected in the exhibition is the tension between those settlers in the interior of the state and the coastal merchant class, who opposed it, fearing statehood would add to their tax burden by introducing another domestic border and more tariffs. Another section looks at the establishment of Maine as a state, its constitution, and the Missouri Compromisethe legislation that admitted Maine into the Union as a free state, while simultaneously admitting Missouri as a slaveholding one. Though slavery was abolished in Massachusetts (and thus the District of Maine) in 1793, its an unfortunate reality that the foundation of statehood is inextricably tied to the growth of slavery in the US, said Van Der Steenhoven. This national debate over slavery and Maines statehood is represented in the exhibit through a variety of published addresses made on the floor of the US House and Senate. A Bloodless War Moving later into the nineteenth century, an area of the exhibit looks at the changing shape of Maine. In 1820, Maine was geographically smaller than it is today, explained Van Der Steenhoven. The Pine Tree States first few decades were wrapped up in the Northeast Boundary dispute, which took issue with the vague border description outlined in the Treaty of Paris between the US and the British territory that is now Canada. The issue was resolved by a peaceful compromise, the WebsterAshburton Treaty in 1842, following the Aroostook War, which involved no actual fighting. It was then that the state took the shape we are familiar with today. It was an important moment in Maine historythe state (and country) was allocated 9,000 square miles of more territory. The library has no shortage of maps, letters, and original government documents on this issue, said Van Der Steenhoven. If we had the space, we could do a whole exhibit on this topic alone. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 13:39 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206407625 1 Business Boeing,aircraft,Indonesia,Southeast-Asia,Vietnam,Thailand Free Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are in motion to become Southeast Asias top three economies in driving future demand for new aircraft, according to one of the worlds top plane manufacturers. United States airplane manufacturer Boeing said in a statement on Wednesday that Indonesia and Thailand were the regions second-fastest growing aircraft markets after Vietnam. Since 2010, annual demand growth was about 10 percent in the former two and 15 percent in the latter. With an expanding middle class in a market that continues to liberalize, coupled with a strong domestic, regional and international tourism sector, Southeast Asia has become one of the worlds largest aviation markets, said Boeing commercial marketing vice president Randy Tinseth. As a result, Southeast Asia is expected to require 4,500 new airplanes, worth US$785 billion, over the next 20 years. The regions demand for new planes makes up 10.2 percent of projected global demand during the period. Most of the planes will be small, single-aisle units instead of the larger, twin-aisle units. Growing demand for airplanes also translates to a growing market for airline services and industry employees. The manufacturer estimates the regions airline service demand will be worth $785 billion until 2038 and require 182,000 new employees, including pilots, cabin crew and technicians. Karnataka bandh tomorrow: Autos, taxis not to ply India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Bengaluru, Feb 12: There would be a Karnataka Bandh tomorrow. The bandh has been called by the Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota for increasing reservation in jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors. The organisation is demanding the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report which recommends a certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in the public sector undertakings, private companies, and multinational companies. The report was submitted in 1984 but is yet to be implemented. The auto and taxi unions have extended support to the bandh. Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners Association have extended support to the bandh. The bandh would last between 6 am and 6 pm. The KSRTC has not yet decided on taking part in the bandh. This would mean that buses would ply, but cabs and autos will stay off the road. The others who have extended support to the bandh are the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), and the lorry owners association. Google leverages Earth View images for the Wallpapers app on Android. Google worked with Ubilabs to sift through 36 million square miles of satellite imagery. Google Earth View is getting 1,000 more images. This is the biggest update yet to the collection. The new images show off stunning sights from satellites and providing a birds-eye view of the Earthslandscapes and oceans. The new images are optimized for todays screens. They feature brighter colors, sharper images, and resolutions up to 4K. Earth View is a collection of the most striking landscapes found in Google Earth. Google presents the pictures in the Earth View gallery or via its Chrome extension. For reference, Earth View is a spinoff of Google Earth, which represented 3D images of Earth that uses satellite and aerial photography to present landscapes and scenes from different perspectives. Google says, to prepare the final image, we optimize the color profile for the particular landscape, and export the final image in ultra-high resolution. Google leverages Earth View images for the Wallpapers app on Android alongside using them for Ambient Mode on idle Chromecast-connected screens, Smart Display Photo Frame and Android TVs. Now, the total number of images available now is 2,500. The upgraded imagery features more locations around the globe like Greenland, Venezuela, Australia, the United States, Antarctica, and Saudi Arabia. Google worked with Ubilabs to sift through 36 million square miles of satellite imagery, while maintaining fine camera control to get just the right shot. Clash over electoral system continues By Malkhaz Matsaberidze While Georgia is preparing for the 2020 elections, it is still to be determined when or with which system they will be held. The dispute over the potential electoral system remains as the central topic of todays Georgian politics. The Georgian Dream ruling party and the United Opposition still haven't reached consensus.The government insists on holding the elections with the current mixed electoral system, whereas the opposition demands proportional elections and doesnt settle for the minimal compromise that the ruling party offered- to reduce the number of MPs from 73 to 50.Along with the opening of the spring session in the parliament on February 5, so renewed the opposition rallies. Despite no large turnout, it is still an annoyance to the parliament majority.Emergency visits to the US, arranged by the Georgian Dream, started with Foreign Minister Davit Zalkanianis visit there last week. Parliament Chairperson Archil Talakvadze and Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia will follow suit. The Georgian government claims that the series of visits will answer every question and concern that the strategic partner has been actively expressing about the countrys representatives.Recently, the Georgian government has been receiving letters from US congressmen and senators. The letters express concern over the rejection of democratic reforms by the government, violent dispersal of peaceful rallies, and political oppression of the opposition. The US government has never criticised the Georgian government so acutely. The Georgian Dream believes that such sharp criticism is due to the oppositions spreading of misinformation and is counting on the strategic visits to the US. The visits will, by all means, concern the fair holding of elections as well as the system to hold them in. The government representatives will have to account for blocking the Anaklia Deep-Sea port construction. But first and foremost, the Georgian Dream will have to artfully dissociate themselves from having orchestrated anti-western and, specifically, anti-US propaganda through various forms of media and Facebook.In 2019, the Georgian government spent 2,7 million dollars from the state budget on lobbying services. Official information regarding this fact made the topic the central theme of the present Georgian politics. In the pre-election period, it is expected that the lobbying warfare between the Georgian Dream party and the opposition will intensify.Georgian President Salome Zourabischvili created intrigue while answering a question from Russian MP Kalashnikov at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at the end of January 2020. Kalashnikov blamed Georgia for beating Russian MP Gavrilov during his official visit to Georgia on June 20, 2019. In her answer, Zourabischili mentioned that Georgia is ready to break its own National Law on Occupied Territories of Georgia and allow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov into the country. Georgia, as the head country of the Council of Europe, is supposed to host the Ministerial of the Council of Europe in May 2020. It is not too early to guess that Lavrovs visit might irritate the population and cause another wave of protests.Last week, Newspaper Qronika+ published the so-called Georgian Dreams Secret Research, which estimated that the Georgian Dream party will receive 25% at the Parliament Elections, and be defeated by the United Opposition. In response, the ruling partys representatives made a bold statement, saying that they are expecting to receive more than 60-70 % of the votes. The opposition responded with sarcasm- If youre so confident in your victory, why make such a fuss about the electoral system?There are talks about snap parliamentary elections now and then. If the opposition and the government dont reach an agreement regarding the electoral system, early elections might even benefit the parliament as they will be held with the mixed system and the 3 % barrier. Governments are always better prepared for snap elections than oppositions, even though early elections might not be able to save the government anyway. Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed was on Wednesday convicted by a court in Lahore and given a five-and-a-half year prison term in two terror financing cases the first time the US-designated terrorist has been held guilty by the Pakistani judiciary. The verdict came four days before the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) plenary meeting in Paris to assess action taken by Pakistan to counter terror financing and money laundering. Saeed, who was detained last July, can appeal against the ruling in higher courts. Anti-terrorism court judge Arshad Hussain Bhatta ruled that the five-and-a-half year prison terms given to Saeed in both cases would run concurrently and also fined him 15,000 in the two cases. In both cases, Saeed was convicted under Section 11-F(2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act for being a member of a proscribed organisation, which entails a maximum prison term of six months, and Section 11-N for facilitating fund-raising by terror groups, for which he was given five years in jail. The judge directed authorities to keep Saeed in custody until further orders. Saeed, 69, for whom the US has offered a bounty of $10 million, has been detained without charge several times since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but has never been formally charged or prosecuted in Pakistani courts. US and Indian officials have accused him of a key role in masterminding the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people. Earlier this month, the anti-terrorism court had deferring its verdict in the cases against Saeed. The court was to announce its verdict against the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief on Saturday but postponed it. Saeed recorded his statement in court and pleaded not guilty. The terror financing cases were registered against him in several cities by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province. He had claimed the Pakistan government was being pressured by India and the US to file false cases against him, and had asked the court to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him. Pakistani authorities have refrained from acting against the LeT and JuD for years but they finally banned all groups headed by Saeed last year because of mounting pressure from the FATF and Western powers. The FATF placed Pakistan in its grey list in 2018 and several reports by the multilateral watchdog have highlighted the countrys repeated failure to stop fund-raising by groups such as LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Taliban, Haqqani Network and al-Qaeda. Saeed was arrested by the CTD last July after 23 cases were registered against him and 12 aides, including his brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki, in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and Sargodha. They were accused of using a network of trusts and non-profit organisations to collect funds for terrorism. This was the first time Saeed was directly named in a case registered against the LeT and its front organisations for involvement in terrorism. The cases named trusts and organisations such as Dawat ul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, Al-Anfaal Trust, Al Hamd Trust, and Al Madina Foundation Trust. The CTD said the accused had gathered assets from funds of terrorism financing (and) held and used these assets to raise more funds for further terrorism financing. The assets and organisations of the LeT and JuD were also taken over by the government in compliance with UN sanctions. The last review conducted by the FATF in October 2019 concluded that Pakistan will have to take extra measures to stop terror financing and money laundering. The FATF meetings beginning in Paris on February 16 will assess Pakistans implementation of a 27-point action plan. Western diplomats expect Pakistan to be retained in the FATFs grey list as it has fully or partially complied with only 14 of the points in the action plan. DUBLIN In a century-old political system controlled by two seemingly indistinguishable center-right parties in Ireland, Jamie Clarke did what seemed sensible to him: He never voted in a general election. Until Saturday. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were the people that made the decisions, and someone like me could never change it thats the way it felt, Mr. Clarke, a 33-year-old bartender, said on Monday, referring to the Irish political duopoly that has traded power since 1932. I was so disaffected by how far they were from me. But in recent years, successive public votes in Ireland to legalize same-sex marriage and repeal an abortion ban have pulled many young and dissatisfied people into politics, giving voters a chance to shake up traditions that were once rigidly enforced by the Roman Catholic Church. Their next target was Irelands ossified political hierarchy. On Saturday, voters cast off that relic, too, ending the two-party stasis in Irish politics with a breakout vote for Sinn Fein, a party long shunned by the mainstream for its ties to the Irish Republican Army, a paramilitary group that sought the reunification of Ireland. Despite what he called the partys shady history, Mr. Clarke said, he voted for Sinn Fein because he felt it was the tonic that Irish politics needed. Restaurateur John Brandt-Lee, who owns Avalon Bistro in Bryn Mawr, is offering to help those who hold gift cards to Tango, a once-popular restaurant at the nearby Bryn Mawr train station that closed abruptly over Christmas. In a goodwill gesture, Brandt-Lee said he would deduct $25 from any Avalon guest check in exchange for a Tango card of any value through March 1, though not on Feb. 14 or Feb. 15. One card may be used per table per visit. Brandt-Lee has no ties to Tango or its owners. Since extending the offer last month, Brandt-Lee said he had redeemed about 20 Tango cards, some of which apparently had been purchased shortly before the closing. READ MORE: What to do with a restaurant gift card Brandt-Lee made a similar offer when Gilmores, a popular French restaurant in West Chester, closed with no warning in 2012. At the time, Brandt-Lee owned another Avalon restaurant nearby. Tango owners Joe Baldino and Samuel Sheridan have not returned numerous calls and messages seeking comment or guidance about redeeming gift cards. (Baldino, incidentally, is not related to Joey Baldino, owner of Palizzi Social Club and Zeppoli.) The restaurant space, owned by Amtrak, is available for what its listing called an extremely below market lease with 10+ years remaining. Tangos liquor license, R17236, is listed in the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Boards database as being in safekeeping status, likely to be offered to whoever leases the restaurant. Montgomery County court records show a confession of judgment filed in September 2019 by Branch Banking & Trust Co. against Tango, the owners, and their wives, seeking more than $848,000, including interest and fees. The debt stems from a construction loan secured in 2013, the suit says. Delaware County court records show a complaint filed in August 2019 by the Farmart, a Folcroft produce vendor, alleging that Tango owed it more than $12,700 plus interest and attorneys fees. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:24:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has postponed start of new school semester and encouraged students to study at home over safety concerns as the country fights a novel coronavirus outbreak that has infected over 40,000 people. A series of measures will be taken to prevent the spread of the virus in colleges and universities, education officials said Wednesday. Wang Dengfeng, a senior official with the Ministry of Education (MOE), told a press conference that the ministry had required postponement of school semesters across the country. Colleges and universities will reopen on a staggered schedule to avoid travel peaks of students, he said, adding that all schools must carry out disinfections after reopening. Students coming from areas hit hard by the epidemic, and those with close contacts of confirmed cases or those having symptoms such as fever or cough, might need to be put under quarantine. Other students will need to have their health conditions checked on a daily basis, according to Wang. Students from Hubei Province, where the epicenter city of Wuhan is located, will not be able to leave for schools outside the province until they meet local requirement, he said. NEVER CEASE TO LEARN Although schools have been put on hold, Chinese students will be able to attend classes online or study via television during the period. The MOE has issued a guideline for universities to organize online classes, with 22 online platforms offering 24,000 courses to students, said Wu Yan with the ministry at the press conference. These courses are of high quality and were carefully selected over the past several years, Wu said, adding that more platforms will be launched in the future. A "cloud platform" will also be launched on Feb. 17 to provide students in elementary and secondary schools with education resources covering all major school subjects, said Lyu Yugang with the MOE. Aside from school knowledge, students should also learn about epidemic prevention and control during the period and receive education on patriotism, life and psychological health, according to a separate guideline issued by the MOE and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Wednesday. For students in remote or rural areas with low Internet accessibility, a Chinese education television channel will start airing classes on Feb. 17 for them to study at home, according to Lyu. SUPPORT IN JOB-HUNTING Officials said at Wednesday's press conference that more help in job-hunting will be offered to a total of 8.74 million students expected to graduate from college this year. Offline recruiting activities have been suspended across the country to avoid mass gatherings, and online recruiting services, such as online interviewing and contract signing, will also be improved, said Wang Hui with the MOE. The authorities would conduct strict reviews on the employers and recruitment information online, Wang added. The ministry would pay extra attention to the students with special needs, including those from poor families or students with physical difficulties, said Wang. "We will also open some online courses or hotlines to guide the students on finding jobs and provide psychological counseling," said Wang. Enditem Michael Bloomberg's campaign rolled out endorsements from three African American members of Congress Wednesday a day after President Trump accused the former New York Mayor of being a 'TOTAL RACIST.' The endorsements by black caucus members came after Bloomberg's past support for stop-and-frisk policing blew up as a campaign issue, after video resurfaced and Trump attacked. It also coincides with a push by Democrats to crank up efforts to compete for black and minority support in more diverse states now that Iowa and New Hampshire are behind them. The three included Democratic U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks of New York City, where Bloomberg was mayor for 12 years. As a senior caucus member and chair of a caucus fundraising arm, his is one of the highest-profile endorsements yet for Bloomberg, who is seeking his party's nomination to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in November's election. shakes hands with supporters during a rally at Alabama State University student center in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. He rolled out endorsements from three Black Caucus members a day after President Trump called him a racist Meek's endorsement, first reported by Reuters, signals that Bloomberg is building support among some top African-American politicians despite a 2015 audio recording that surfaced on Tuesday. In the recording, Bloomberg made a blunt defense of a policing strategy during his mayoralty, known as stop-and-frisk, that disproportionately ensnared blacks and Latinos. Also endorsing Bloomberg on Wednesday were U.S. Representative Lucy McBath of Georgia, who said she was backing Bloomberg in part because of his proposals to curb gun violence. She hailed his "unmatched record in gun violence prevention." McBath lost her 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, after he was shot in 2012 at a Florida gas station following an argument over music. Michael Dunn was convicted of attempted murder. Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, a Congressional Black Caucus member who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands as a nonvoting member of Congress, also endorsed the billionaire former New York City mayor. Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) Meeks is a senior lawmaker who chairs subpanels on the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees. The House Ethics Committee concluded an investigation of him back in 2012 after examining a $40,000 loan he got from a real estate agent who admitted to an unrelated mortgage fraud. The audio of the former New York mayor adamantly defending the use of stop-and-frisk policing in minority communities emerged at a time when Democrats seeking the presidential nomination are intensely focused on support from black voters. Blacks make up a majority of the electorate in South Caroline, which votes later this month. The two states that kicked off the nominating process, Iowa and New Hampshire, are among the whitest in the nation. Bloomberg was heard in the tape from 2015 saying '...we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods. Yes, that's true. Why do we do it? Because that's where all the crime is.' In the audio Bloomberg acknowledges that part of the strategy is to 'put all the cops in minority neighborhoods' with the hope of tackling gun violence. 'Ninety-five percent of murders- murderers and murder victims fit one M.O. You can just take a description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops,' Bloomberg told the audience. The speech was tweeted by a Bernie Sanders supporter. The attack comes weeks before the South Carolina primary, where black voters will make up a substantial share of the electorate. Bloomberg is skipping the first four contests In this June 17, 2012, file photo, the Rev. Al Sharpton, center, walks with demonstrators during a silent march to end New York's 'stop-and-frisk' program. On Aug. 12, 2013, a federal judge sitting in New York said the department made thousands of racially discriminatory street stops and appointed a monitor to direct changes President Trump attacked Bloomberg's golf game after deleting his earlier tweet calling him a racist Bloomberg also launched a campaign swing through North Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee. He blasted Trump for the attack Tuesday after meeting with a group of faith leaders. His campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, told NBC News: 'When you threaten Trump, you become a target. Mike was mayor for 12 years and fought for all New Yorkers, but he also knows you dont back down from a bully and we are in a war to remove him from office.' Meeks said he backed Bloomberg for his economic policies and ability to beat Trump. 'The most vulnerable communities in America cannot weather another four years of a Donald Trump presidency,' Meeks said in a statement. Bloomberg has been rising in public opinion polls despite not competing in the first four state contests for the Democratic nomination: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Instead, the billionaire former mayor is spending hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money to blanket the national airwaves with advertising. As a moderate Democrat, Bloomberg hopes to win votes beginning on March 3, known as Super Tuesday, when his name will be on the ballot in 14 state nominating contests. Those hopes have been buoyed this month as the early moderate front-runner, Joe Biden, has performed weakly in Iowa and New Hampshire. Bloomberg has long struggled with the legacy of the stop-and-frisk tactic employed while he was mayor of the United States' biggest city 2002 to 2013, in which police stopped and searched pedestrians. He apologized for the policy in November just before announcing his candidacy and has since taken great pains to court the black vote, including a proposal unveiled last month to narrow the wealth gap between black and white Americans. Bloomberg apologized on Tuesday amid the uproar, in comments reported by Bloomberg News, which is part of the billionaire's media empire. 'I apologize. I own it. And theres nothing Im going to live with it. My heart, I think, was in the right place of trying to do something of reducing murders but the police I didnt pay as much attention to them as I should have. And you know, I apologize,' Bloomberg said. Predator Fabian Henry (pictured) was jailed for 12 years for raping a 17-year-old girl twice and for abducting and having sex with a girl of 15 while on bail These are the faces of a 'brutal' killer and a 'devious' rapist whose deportations back to Jamaica were blocked by last-minute legal challenges. Knifeman Fitzroy Daley stabbed a 50-year-old man to death after a minor scuffle outside a pub, and was jailed for ten years. Predator Fabian Henry was jailed for 12 years for raping a 17-year-old girl twice and for abducting and having sex with a girl of 15 while on bail. Both violent criminals won an 11th hour reprieve along with dozens of hardened offenders after campaigners said the deportation would risk repeating the mistakes of the Windrush scandal. Some of the removals were blocked on a technicality on Monday night by the Court of Appeal, which found they were unable to make phone calls to their lawyers from two detention centres near Heathrow. Others submitted additional legal challenges. The failure to deport the men is bound to alarm their victims, particularly after ministers said all of them posed a danger to the public. Another of the 25 Jamaican nationals taken off Tuesday's flight was a child rapist and, in all, the criminals were sentenced to an astonishing 136 years in prison, the Mail can reveal. Government sources have said they fear the Jamaican criminals remaining in Britain will win bail within days and be released from immigration removal centres. Daley killed Eric Paul after the pair fought outside a pub in east London just before Christmas 2012. Knifeman Fitzroy Daley (pictured) stabbed a 50-year-old man to death after a minor scuffle outside a pub, and was jailed for ten years The Old Bailey was shown CCTV footage of Daley attacking Mr Paul from behind as he walked away after a 'minor scuffle'. A jury acquitted Daley, then 36, of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter. The court heard Mr Paul was stabbed several times with a six-inch kitchen knife. Det Insp Andy Manning, who led the investigation, said: 'Fitzroy Daley used brutal violence to settle what was essentially a minor dispute with Eric Paul. His actions have devastated Mr Paul's family.' In Henry's case, he was described as 'devious, callous and manipulative' by a judge at Bristol Crown Court in August 2013 when he was sentenced. Henry, then aged 30, denied all the charges against him, forcing his two young victims to relive their ordeals in the witness box. The court heard how Henry groomed both girls by bombarding them with hundreds of messages from his Blackberry phone. He lured his 17-year-old victim to his cousin's flat in Bristol where he twice forced himself on her in July 2012. Mr Corbyn appeared to be referring to a secretly taped 1990 conversation in which Mr Johnson agreed to provide the address of a News of the World reporter to a friend who wanted to arrange a punishment beating Henry took degrading pictures of her naked and in her underwear, and then published them on social media in a bid to silence her. After the girl left the flat, Henry followed her and forced her to get into his car where he threatened to 'box' or hit her. She only escaped after one of his friends intervened. Henry was also convicted of abducting a 15-year-old girl to his flat in London, where he had sex with her in December 2012. He had started grooming her at the age of 14. She sent text messages to her father saying she had been kidnapped. The first messages said 'Help' and 'He took me'. A quick-fire string of messages followed, starting with 'He's driving me somewhere in the back of his car, he tied up my feet' and continuing with: 'What do I do?', 'He's coming', 'Dad, Dad' and 'He's gonna take my phone'. Three police officers went to a first-floor flat in Hackney, east London, at about 3.45am the following day and found Henry lying with the child under his duvet. At Prime Minister's Questions yesterday Jeremy Corbyn questioned whether Mr Johnson could himself have been deported Passing sentence, Judge Michael Longman told him: 'Both cases demonstrate an inappropriate sexual interest in girls much younger than you.' Public 'fear role of judiciary in politics' The Attorney General has warned that creeping 'judicialisation of politics' is alienating British people. Geoffrey Cox, the Government's senior law officer, said there was a fear that unelected officials, including judges, were usurping Parliament over key decisions. 'I do think there is a question now whether or not the judicialisation of politics has gone too far and requires some amelioration or changing of the balance,' Mr Cox said. He added: 'There is a real risk that those of us in Westminster or in the legal profession do not understand that out in the country there is a concern about whether or not decisions that ought to be taken by democratically accountable politicians are in fact being taken by those who are not elected.' Mr Cox suggested Supreme Court judges could be subjected to questioning by MPs and peers before they are appointed. No10 has promised an inquiry into judicial review after last year's legal fight over the prorogation of Parliament. Advertisement Henry was handed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from unsupervised contact with youngsters and ordered to register as a sexual offender for life. The mother of one victim told the Bristol Post: 'He took away her innocence... He vandalised her life and she has got to live with that for the rest of her life.' At Prime Minister's Questions yesterday Jeremy Corbyn questioned whether Mr Johnson could himself have been deported. The Labour leader said: 'If there was a case of a young white boy with blond hair who later dabbled in Class A drugs and conspired with a friend to beat up a journalist, would he deport that boy or is it one rule for young black boys from the Caribbean and another for white boys from the United States?' Mr Corbyn appeared to be referring to a secretly taped 1990 conversation in which Mr Johnson agreed to provide the address of a News of the World reporter to a friend who wanted to arrange a punishment beating. Mr Johnson, who was born in New York and has admitted using cocaine as a teenager, said: 'I think quite frankly that Mr Corbyn demeans himself and, by the way, besmirches the reputation of the Windrush generation. He has no right to conflate them with those foreign national offenders that we are deporting today.' The Government was embroiled in a scandal in 2018 after it emerged that British citizens who came here in the Windrush generations from the 1950s onwards had been wrongly deported to the Caribbean. Rupert Smith, 32, from London, was deported after being convicted in 2016 of committing actual bodily harm attacking a man with a wrench. He received a 15-month sentence Last night one of the 17 people deported to Jamaica on Tuesday morning said he had been left destitute after arriving in Kingston. Rupert Smith, 32, from London, was deported after being convicted in 2016 of committing actual bodily harm attacking a man with a wrench. He received a 15-month sentence. Mr Smith arrived in the UK aged 13 and has three children in the UK, all British citizens. 'I'm numb, hurt, wounded. There is no sensation, no feeling,' he told BBC Newsnight. 'I have done my crime, I've served my time. If I was a British child, it would have finished at me serving my time. But because I'm Jamaican it's like I'm serving my sentence three times over.' Michael Bennet, a moderate Democratic senator from Colorado, has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race. Bennet announced his decision as votes rolled in on primary day in New Hampshire. A former superintendent of schools in Denver, he cautioned against the Democratic party moving too far into progressive politics. His announcement immediately followed Andrew Yang, a businessman who campaigned on giving Americans a universal basic income of $1,000 a month, dropped out of the race. Their concessions Tuesday bring the number of Democrats vying for the White House down to double digits. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Florists in Vietnam have come up with a bizarre idea to put together their Valentines Day bouquets not with flowers but with face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer amid growing concerns over the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Gone are the days when a bouquet had to be made of real flowers. Last year, bouquets of edible 'flowers' made from chocolate-covered strawberries emerged as popular gifts for Valentines Day in Vietnam. This year, so-called 'health bouquets' are the new trend in the Southeast Asian country in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Meant for people willing to go the extra mile to protect their loved ones from the disease, a health bouquet includes packs of medical masks and bottles of hand sanitizer arranged amid babys breath flowers. A bouquet of face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer is seen in this photo taken at a florists in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 2020. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre Gift shops have also jumped on the bandwagon by giving face masks and hand wash gel as extra offerings for purchase. Photos of these out-of-the-box but in-fashion alternative gifts for Valentines Day have whipped up a huge interest in netizens in Vietnam, as they are widely shared on social networks. Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14, originally to honor a Christian saint named Valentinus. It has become a commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world including Vietnam, when people often gift flowers and chocolate to their loved ones. The novel coronavirus disease, officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, has killed 1,112 people and infected nearly 44,800 globally since it first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, according to the South China Morning Post. A bouquet of face masks and bottles of hand sanitizer is placed next to flower bouquets in this photo taken at a florists in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 2020. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre Vietnam has confirmed 15 cases of the virus, including 12 Vietnamese, one Vietnamese American, and two Chinese. Among them, seven have fully recovered. They were all treated for free. The latest confirmed infection is a three-month-old infant from the northern province of Vinh Phuc. The child is the youngest COVID-19 patient so far in Vietnam. The WHO has declared the new coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern. The organization said on Tuesday the first vaccine targeting the virus could be available in 18 months, according to Reuters. A sign promoting face masks as extra offerings for purchase is put up at a clothing store in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, February 2020. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! An expert has revealed how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's escape to Canada may have made it easier for Autumn and Peter Phillips to reassess their own situation. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, announced last month that they would be stepping down as senior royals and splitting their time between Windsor Castle and Canada. And just weeks after their announcement, the Queen's eldest grandson Peter, 42, and his wife, 41, confirmed their separation after 12 years of marriage earlier this week. Now, Dr. Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic has explained how family crises often come in multiples, as one incident can trigger other members of the family to look at their own circumstances, and take action to change it. An expert has revealed how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's escape to Canada may have made it easier for Autumn and Peter Phillips to reassess their own situation. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, announced last month that they would be stepping down as senior royals and splitting their time between Windsor Castle and Canada (seen last month at Canada House) Speaking to Femail, Dr. Becky said: 'The latest upset to hit the British Royal Family has been the announcement that Her Majestys grandson, Peter Phillips, and his wife, Autumn Kelly, are about to separating. 'Is it just a coincidence that this announcement comes so soon after Harry and Meghans decision to distance themselves from royal duties and move to Canada? Maybe, but maybe not. 'Harry and Meghans decision was certainly a big one, and must have been very upsetting for some of their family membersbut it has also opened up the opportunity for others to assess their own lives and situations, and to take radical steps to change what is not working out for them. 'It may feel to Harrys relatives as though his decision has essentially given them permission to put the brakes on when the royal life is not working out for them. Just weeks after their announcement, the Queen's eldest grandson Peter, 42, and his wife, 41, confirmed their separation after 12 years of marriage earlier this week (seen last June). Dr. Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic has explained how family crises often come in multiples, as one incident can trigger other members of the family to look at their own circumstances, and take action to change it 'While Peter and Autumns marriage problems surely started long before Harry and Meghans announcement, they may have been holding back on making them public because they did not want to distress the older members of their family, or to draw unwelcome attention to an extended family that already has to deal with more than enough. 'Now that Harry and Meghan have made the huge decision to essentially leave the royal inner circle, it may feel to their relatives that all bets are off, and that what used not to be OK now is.' Dr. Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic has explained how family crises often come in multiples She explained: 'Families are not just a random collection of individuals who happen to share some DNA, but closely interlocking behavioural systems that often function as a unit. 'In this context, we can understand any member of a family as one element in a system. 'Therefore, anything that happens to a single member can have a considerable impact on the rest of the family, and often one or more people changes their behaviour and interactions with the others in response to the change that has taken place. 'We see this happen all the time whenever something occurs in a familydivorce, bereavement, and so forth can have a domino effect, impacting throughout the family. 'At some point, most families will experience discord, and some will experience marriage breakdown. At these difficult times, what they need most is time and space to heal and to build a new normal that is respectful of everyones needs. Hopefully the Royal Family will be given this.' Relationship expert Lee Wilson added: 'Prince Harry and Meghan are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place in that while Harrys relationship with his family is important, the two have likely come to the realization that in order for their relationship to endure forever, they both must put the other first. 'While it would be ideal for both the Prince and Meghan to maintain and cultivate a close and warm connection with the Queen and others in his family of origin, both Harry and Meghan must be prepared to make the incredibly difficult decision to choose each other over any other relationship if it came to that. 'Hopefully, the recent exit from certain aspects of the Princes family will still allow the possibility of love and connection with them. It could be that the couple needs time to develop and nourish their own identity before it would be best for them to consider or attempt a full reunion with the royal family.' It was reported earlier this week that Peter and Autumn informed their families of their 'amicable' decision to divorce 'at the end of last year' after deciding it was 'the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship'. The statement, released by a spokesperson on behalf of the couple on Monday, revealed the former couple have both remained in Gloucestershire to co-parent daughters Savannah, nine, and Isla, seven. Meanwhile the rest of the royal family are said to be 'sad but supportive' as the couple 'consciously uncouple' (pictured with Prince Charles and the Queen at the Braemar Games in September) Issued earlier this week by Gerard Franklin, their official spokesperson, reads: 'After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn jointly agreed to separate. 'They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship. The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and although sad, is an amicable one. 'The couple's first priority will remain the continued well being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla. 'Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children. 'Both Peter and Autumn have remained in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years. Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and compassion for their children while the family continues to adapt to these changes.' Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner supports new efforts to introduce a hop-on, hop-off tourism bus in Brisbane as soon as possible. The buses are a regular feature of major cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas, and they are also run in Sydney, Darwin and Auckland by several companies. Brisbane's riverside Queensland Gallery of Modern Art has been suggested for the bus route. Credit:Glenn Hunt. The more professional services run commentaries in various languages and take between 90 minutes and two hours to complete a route of city highlights. Visitors can hop off a tourism bus at any stop, explore the area, then hop back on a later bus all for one price. PR-Inside.com: 2020-02-12 18:34:03 Blackstone: Battery technology, Solid state battery and Lithium- the biggest structural trend in the 21st Century. Blackstone Resources AG Doris Suta. Blegistrasse 5 CH-6340 Baar Switzerland T: +41 41 449 61 63 F: +41 41 449 61 69 info@blackstoneresources.ch Investor Relations ir@blackstoneresources.ch Media Enquires media@blackstoneresources.ch Blackstone Resources AG (SWX: BLS) held one of its signature-conference events last Thursday at the Widder Hotel, Zurich. The theme of the conference was on how batteries will reshape our global economy and play a significant role in our lives in the future. During the event, Blackstones experts spoke to its investors about some of the exciting projects the company is currently engaged in. These include its lithium exploration project in Chile and the launch of its battery technology programme in Erfurt, Germany. Blackstone believes that mankinds future will be determined by its ability to support a sustainable clean-energy world using battery technology. It considers the emergence of this theme to be one of the biggest structural trends of the twenty-first century. This vision has shaped the way the company operates today. Below is a summary of some of the topics that were covered during the event. Lithium exploration Blackstone is currently exploring and developing several licence areas in the Antofogasta region that cover an aggregate more thatn 3000 hectares. This is an area that is well-known for its rich lithium resources. Blackstone has done substantial works and a 43-101 report of our licences. This project forms part of Blackstones broader battery-metal portfolio, which it has built up over the years. 3D-printed battery technology The patented 3D-printed battery technology Blackstone has developed offers 25% more energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries, due to its disruptive process technology. Almost any geometry in addition with thicker layers can be printed. Multi-layer batteries are also possible, which offer higher voltages on cell level. This single fact can significant reduce the cost in the battery module production. Solid-state battery technology The 3D-printed battery technology is the key technology to manufactured Solid-state batteries (SSBs) in large scale. By developing solid-state batteriy printing technology, Blackstone will be able to double the energy density of the batteries it produces at much less cost. Moreover, it will be able to supply itself with its own battery metals during this process. Blackstone Resources holds a diversified portfolio of invested interests across the battery supply chain. This includes battery metal mining interests, plus significant investments in battery technology. Both areas are expected to evolve into multi-billion-dollar markets in the future, presenting significant potential upside for the company. Exposure to these two areas also makes Blackstone the world's first truly vertically integrated battery technology company. Blackstone Resources AG Blackstone Resources is a Swiss Holding Company, with its legal domicile in Baar, Kanton Zug and is concentrating on the battery metals market as primary metals. In addition, it sets up, develops and manages refineries used for gold and battery metals. It offers direct exposure to the battery metal revolution that is being driven by the demand of electric vehicles that need vast quantities of these metals. These include cobalt, manganese, graphite, nickel, copper and lithium. Blackstone Resources has developed the new Battery code BBC. In addition, Blackstone Resources has started a research programme on new battery technologies on solid state batteries and its production process. For more information please visit www.blackstoneresources.ch or contact: The disclaimer is an integral part of this press release. Please ensure you consult the disclaimer for a full understanding of the content within: http://www.blackstoneresources.ch/investors/discla View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005 Claims Currently Leased to McEwen Mining Inc. Include a 2% Royalty Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) -Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQB: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ("Nevada Select") has signed a binding term sheet (the "Agreement") with a private individual (the "Seller") to purchase eight unpatented mining claims in Eureka County, Nevada (the "Claims"). The Claims are currently leased to a subsidiary of McEwen Mining Inc. ("NYSE" and "TSX: MUX" or "McEwen") and the Agreement includes an assignment of the leases to Ely Gold. The Agreement is subject to the signing of definitive agreements and approval of the TSX-V. (the "Closing"). The Agreement Under the terms of the Agreement, Ely Gold will: purchase two HNT Claims and assume the corresponding lease; purchase six JAM Claims and assume the corresponding lease; pay the seller US$125,000 at Closing; and issue 100,000 share warrants to the Seller. The Warrants will expire two years from Closing and each Warrant will allow the Seller to purchase one share of Ely Gold common stock at a price of CAN$0.77. The annual lease payment covering the HNT Claims is US$5,000 and the annual lease payment covering the JAM Claims is US$7,000. Both leases provide for a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty at current gold prices. Trey Wasser, President and CEO of Ely Gold commented, "This transaction gives us two additional properties in the Nevada Gold Bar Complex, and with the addition of the HNT and JAM Claims we now hold a total of six properties and royalties at Gold Bar. We believe that both claim blocks contain excellent targets and represent resource expansion potential for McEwen Mining's Gold Bar Producing Mine." The HNT Claims The HNT Claims (Figure #1) are located 3,500 feet NW of the Gold Bar South deposit owned by McEwen Mining and cover part of the NW extension of the Gold Bar South deposit. Large jasperoid bodies developed along the McColley Canyon-Lone Mountain Dolomite contact and along northeast-trending faults contain highly anomalous gold and gold pathfinder elements in the area. The heart of the historic deposit has been tested by mostly vertical drilling which produced near-surface intercepts of 38.1 meters of 1.71 gpt Au and 33.53 meters of 1.96 gpt. (HNT drill results reported in a technical report by Mineral Resources Development, Inc. February, 1995) JAM Claims The Jam Claims (Figure #1) are dominated by a linear series of prominent cliff-forming jasperoid outcrops that have developed along the northwest trending Wall fault.The Wall fault has juxtaposed rocks of the Ordovician Vinini Formation with the lower plate carbonate rocks of the Devonian Devils Gate Limestone. The jasperoids are locally highly anomalous in gold with values as high as 1.56 g/t gold in outcrop. Gold mineralization found to date is confined to structural jasperoids along the Wall Fault, the Upper Denay Limestone host rocks intersected in the drilling were strongly decalcified and contain elevated gold pathfinder elements. McEwen recently reported drilling a deep hole along the Wall Fault at Pot Canyon (see MUX press release dated October 15, 2019). McEwen is currently testing lower plate stratigraphy along the Wall Fault and believes it may be the extension of the Cortez Fault to the northwest. Figure #1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4181/52335_75037a2024280b46_001full.jpg Qualified Person: Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release. About Ely Gold Royalties Inc. Ely Gold Royalties Inc. is a Vancouver-based, junior royalty company with development assets focused in Nevada and Quebec. Its current portfolio includes 37 Deeded Royalties and 22 properties being sold to third parties. Ely Gold's royalty portfolio includes producing royalties, fully permitted mines and development projects that are at or near producing mines. The Company is actively seeking opportunities to purchase existing third-party royalties for its portfolio and all the Company's option properties are expected to produce royalties, if exercised. The royalty and option portfolios are currently generating significant revenue. Ely Gold is well positioned with its current portfolio of over 20 available properties to generate additional operating revenue through option and sale agreements. The Company has a proven track record of maximizing the value of its properties through claim consolidation and advancement using its extensive, proprietary data base. All portfolio properties are sold or optioned on a 100% basis, while the Company retains royalty interests. Management believes that due to the Company's ability to generate third-party royalty agreements, its successful strategy of organically creating royalties, its equity portfolio and its current low valuation, Ely Gold offers shareholders a low-risk leverage to the current price of gold and low-cost access to long-term mineral royalties. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Signed "Trey Wasser" Trey Wasser, President & CEO For further information, please contact: Trey Wasser, President & CEO trey@elygoldinc.com 972-803-3087 Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer jjobin@elygoldinc.com 647 964 0292 FORWARD-LOOKING CAUTIONS: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding its current assets, Company acquisitions of additional royalty interests, and the requirement for TSX Venture Exchange approvals. These matters are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. 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 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 risks that the Company may not secure the required regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, and the Company may not be able to identify suitable new royalty acquisitions, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal disputes or changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. 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 effect. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52335 BAGHDAD - The United States has granted Iraq a 45-day sanctions waiver enabling the country to continue importing vital Iranian gas and electricity supplies. In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said the waiver ensures that Iraq is able to meet its short-term energy needs while it takes steps to reduce its dependence on Iranian energy imports. The U.S. has applied stringent sanctions on Iran that punish any country trading with it. The issuance of the waiver came amid fraught U.S.-Iraq ties following an American drone strike that killed the top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, near Baghdad airport on Jan. 3. Washington had expressed willingness to extend the sanctions waiver, which was due to expire this week, Iraqi officials told The Associated Press, on the condition that Iraq provide a timeline detailing a plan to wean itself off of Iranian gas dependence. The two officials said the U.S. issued the waiver anyway and offered the possibility of a longer time period if Iraq produces the requested timeline. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the matter. In its statement, the U.S. State Department said: Iran has proven itself as a highly unreliable source of energy for Iraq. Reducing Iranian energy imports is therefore paramount for Iraq to achieve energy security. The new waiver gives Iraq just 45 days to show Americans that it is making good on conditions to boost domestic gas supply or find alternative sources for power, and lessen its reliance on Iran. The previous waiver, issued in October, had given Iraq 120 days. A senior Iraqi official with knowledge of sanctions negotiations with the U.S. said the period could be extended again once Iraq submits a technical timetable detailing how it plans to meet gas independence. It happened that the United States of America gave us a period of 45 days, and it could be extended in the event of us submitting a timetable regarding Iraqi gas investment, the official said. Until now, we have not sent them a timetable. Iraq remains highly dependent on Iranian natural gas to meet electricity demands, especially during the scorching summer months when imports account for a third of consumption. Late payments by Baghdad for Iranian power and gas have resulted in interruptions in recent years. In the summer of 2018, that was one factor that lead to destabilizing protests in the southern oil-rich province of Basra. The U.S. waiver enables Iraq to avoid penalties while paying Iran billions of dollars for energy imports. It has been granted successively since November 2018, when the Trump administration re-imposed sanctions on Iran. The Iraqi Cabinet moved toward placating Washingtons conditions to renew the sanctions waiver in late January, by approving six oil contracts awarded by the Oil Ministry in April 2018 that would boost domestic gas supply in over two years, according to a Cabinet statement on Jan. 23. A man wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a shipping container in Essex has been granted permission to appeal against his extradition to the UK. Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Northern Ireland, was granted permission by a High Court judge in Dublin on Wednesday. He is alleged to have driven the container, which held 39 Vietnamese nationals, to a port in Zeebrugge in Belgium in October last year. Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among eight women and 31 men whose bodies were discovered in the trailer in an industrial park in Grays. Today's court hearing comes as a team of detectives from Essex Police visit Vietnam to meet the victims' families. Vietnamese bodies found in Essex lorry returned to their homeland Mr Harrison is sought in respect of 41 offences, 39 counts of manslaughter which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one count of a human trafficking offence and one count of assisting unlawful immigration. In November, Dublin Central Criminal Court heard that Mr Harrison was identified as the driver of the lorry carrying the container via CCTV in Belgium. Mr Harrison signed the shipping notice for the container, which was later found in Essex with the bodies of the victims, all Vietnamese nationals inside, the court heard On January 24, a Dublin judge ruled that the 23-year-old could be extradited to the UK to face trial after receiving comprehensive arguments from both sides. However, Mr Harrisons defence team claimed there were manifest errors in the European Arrest Warrant against their client. They said that when additional information was sought from the UK authorities, the information was provided by the Crown Prosecution Service instead of an judicial authority. Mr Justice Donald Binchy accepted their arguments and said there was a need to explore the points raised in a higher court. He formally made an order granting extradition to the UK, but placed a stay on the execution of that order pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. Vietnamese bodies found in Essex lorry returned to their homeland Meanwhile, Essex Police said a team of 12 officers and staff will be in Vietnam until the end of the month meeting relatives as they look into the alleged human trafficking plot. Staff from the National Crime Agency and officers from Vietnams ministry of public security are assisting with the investigation. On Tuesday it was revealed the provisional cause of death for those in the lorry was a combination of suffocation and overheating in an enclosed space, Essex Police said. Lorry driver Maurice Robinson has previously admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property namely cash. The 25-year-old, of Laurel Drive in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, has yet to enter pleas to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit human trafficking and transferring criminal property. Co-defendant Christopher Kennedy, 23, from Darkley, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, has denied being involved in the alleged human trafficking plot and denied conspiring to assist unlawful immigration. Third Man Faces Manslaughter Charges Over Essex Lorry Deaths A further hearing will take place on March 16 at the Old Bailey, with a provisional trial set for October 5. A 22-year-old man was arrested in Northern Ireland on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating unlawful immigration. He is currently in custody in Essex, the force said. Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, was arrested at Frankfurt Airport on January 29 under a European Arrest Warrant and will appear at the Old Bailey on March 16, Essex Police said. Founded in 2017, Dehui Solar has, in recent years, pivoted from European to US clients. European shipments dropped from 200MW in 2018 92MW to Germany, 65MW to the Netherlands, and 51MW to Spain to 50MW in 2019. US sales have jumped in recent years, reaching an estimated 300MW in 2019. Dehui plans to retain the market focus through dedicated service via its US subsidiary based in Delaware and a presence at solar trade shows in the country. Hui Huang, CEO of Dehui Solar, said:" As of 2019, Dehui has reached 1.5GW and 2GW in combined cell and module capacity, respectively. We are also planning to scale up production majorly. The company currently runs 250,000 square feet split across five production lines but has set aside a further one million square feet land to host factories in the future." Going forward, Dehui will offer solar buyers its Max and BiMax product lines, respectively mono- and bifacial modules incorporating 166mm x 166mm (M6), mono PERC, half-cut cells with 9BB. The modules' reported efficiency of 22.5% is believed to be the highest among Vietnamese makers. Mofe Stallings, Dehui Solar's USA General Manager, underlined the central role the firm assigns to bifacial as it looks to expand its focus of past years residential and commercial distribution to also encompass utility-scale projects in the US. "Now we transition to also serve the utility solar sector in the US, including reserving at least 45% of our module capacity for bifacial projects," Stallings said. "We are confident that Dehui Solar will be of service to a good share of the US market in 2020 and beyond." "We will also enter into the project development and battery energy storage solutions segments, to form a dependable renewable energy company with vertical solutions," Mofe added. About Dehui Solar As an emerging force in the renewable energy industry, Dehui Solar is passionate about building a vertical supply chain, including solar cells, PV modules, energy storage systems, and project development, to share value for a green future. Anchored by state-of-the-art production facilities in Vietnam, Dehui Solar proudly serves global customers with quality products and excellent service. All the PV-making facilities of the company are located in the Bac Ninh Province, a one-hour drive from capital Hanoi and a two-hour drive from the South China Sea port of Hai Phong. These manufacturing facilities create over 700 jobs for the local community. SOURCE Dehui Solar Related Links www.dehui-solar.com A special court in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district has sentenced a 21-year-old man to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for smuggling cannabis. Special judge Vivek Kumar Tiwari convicted Mukesh Kumar Bharti under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on Tuesday evening, special public prosecutor A K Shrivastav said on Wednesday. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the accused, who will have to serve an additional two-year jail term if he fails to pay the fine, he added. A native of Uttar Pradesh, Bharti was arrested in Saria area of Raigarh while transporting a quintal of cannabis in an SUV to his hometown from Odisha in February 2018, Shrivastav said. A chargesheet was filed against the accused in the court in April 2018, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The second batch of foreign envoys, who are on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the ground situation in the Union Territory, took a tour of the famous Dal Lake upon reaching Srinagar on Wednesday morning. As a part of the outreach efforts, the visit of the second group of foreign Heads of Mission is being organised to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on February 12-13. The group is visiting Baramulla, Srinagar, and Jammu where they will meet the representatives of the civil society including youths from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic communities, local business and political leaders, civil administration and representatives of mainstream media, according to an official release. They will also receive a briefing about the development programmes being implemented, get an assessment of the security situation, and witness for themselves the progressive normalisation of the situation. This is the second batch of foreign diplomats that will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir in the last one month. The group comprises 25 foreign Heads of Mission representing various geographical regions. They represent Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Austria, Republic of Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Kingdom of Denmark, Dominican Republic, the European Union, French Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Guinea, Republic of Hungary, Italy, Republic of Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Republic of Namibia, Kingdom of Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Poland, Republic of Rwanda, Slovak Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uganda, and Republic of Uzbekistan. Security has been beefed up in the city and around the hotel where the delegation of foreign envoys is staying. Last month, envoys of 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh, and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 to see first-hand efforts being made by the government in the region. ANI spoke to some of the envoys who visited Kashmir last month. The diplomats had expressed satisfaction, hoping for the return of the normalcy in the region soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) What passes for democracy in India is a colourless simulacrum of the thing itself: an argument over the possession of a power that has been gutted of all pretence that there ought to be some kind of equality amongst all those who participate in it. The great mass of the French nation, wrote Karl Marx in his magisterial essay on the bizarre rise of emperor Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, is formed by the simple addition of homologous magnitudes, much as potatoes in a sack form a sack of potatoes. A small holding, the peasant and his family; beside it another small holding, another peasant and another family, Marx continued. A few score of these constitute a village, and a few score villages constitute a department. For this peasant class, Marx continued, their representative must at the same time appear as their master, as an authority over them, an unlimited governmental power which protects them from the other classes and sends them rain and sunshine from above. Liberals have, this past day, been hailing the sweeping triumph of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Delhi as evidence of the resilience and power of Indian democracy. Effective politics, the argument goes, has shown it has the power to defeat demagoguery. The Right will not dispute the core of this argument: triumphs of democracy lie ahead for it, too, in Bihar and, conceivably, even Bengal. In truth, what passes for democracy in India is a colourless simulacrum of the thing itself: an argument over the possession of a power that has been gutted of all pretence that there ought to be some kind of equality amongst all those who participate in it. The norms which govern Indias democracy are frayed; the institutions which sustain it decayed; perhaps most important, the ethical foundations on which it rests have crumbled. Looking out from our windows, we can see a world curiously similar to the France Marx observed in 1852 and ought to be able to discern the dangers that lie ahead. Indian democracy isnt winning. *** In 1841, Louis-Napoleon famous for a failed coup, his scandalous affair with the actress Elisabeth Felix, and for being the nephew of General Napoleon Bonaparte; a man, his foreign minister Drouyn de Lhuys held, of immense desires and limited abilities was elected Frances first president, winning over 74 percent of the vote. He had successfully reached out to peasants fed up with rising prices, unemployed workers and small businessmen, promising to defend religion, family, property, the eternal basis of all social order. Then, president Louis-Napoleon staged a coup against his own government and declared himself emperor Louis-Napoleon. Cheered on by the French public, he plunged into a series of wars ending with utter humiliation at the hands of Prussia in 1870. How did France come to acquiesce in the annihilation of its hard-won democracy? To Marx, the answer lay in the inadequate political culture of its largest group, the peasantry. Their field of production, the small holding, he argued, permits no division of labor in its cultivation, no application of science, and therefore no multifariousness of development, no diversity of talent, no wealth of social relationships. Even though agglomerations of peasant families might share similar material interests, he argued, the identity of their interests forms no community, no national bond, and no political organisation among them. Louis-Napoleon could thus emerge as their prophet, giving voice to their interests and their fantasies. Like French peasants of the nineteenth century, Indian inhabit a narrow social universe: kinship, caste and ethnicity mark its frontiers, not ideology or their relationship with the state. Less than six percent of Indians, the scholars Tridip Ray, Arka Roy Chaudhuri and Komal Sahai have demonstrated, marry outside their own caste. Perhaps more important, the percentage who do so has remained more or less invariant for over four decades. Enforced by the family and the khap, tradition remains the principal source of order, not law or the criminal justice system. Even judges of the High Courts, after all, believe rapists can be absolved of their crimes by marrying their victims. To be sure, India is not a peasant society. Even though 833 million Indians (69 percent) live in rural areas, growing numbers are abandoning unsustainable small landholdings, either to work as agricultural labourers, or abandoning the countryside altogether for cities. But in Indias cities, the old order has replicated itself. There is a large scholarly literature, Niranjan Sahoo has shown, demonstrating that accelerated urbanisation, globalisation, transformations in employment structures these have not aided to a significant degree in the dismantling of deep social and ethnic divides known to Indian society. The sheer scale of segregation, scholars Naveen Bharathi, Deepak Malghan and Anadaleeb Rahman note, challenges the bedrock assumption that that urbanisation can help in remaking ethnically segregated physical spaces in an agrarian regime. Fractured by ethnicity, religion and caste: what passes for a social fabric is impossible to distinguish from a cluster of ghettos. Indias democracy has done served to amplify and entrench the authoritarian impulses this landscape breeds not to temper them with new ideas and possibilities. *** Their imaginations fired by the success of the freedom movement, Indian liberals had imagined tradition would be displaced by a new mythos: the values of secularism and egalitarianism institutionalised in the Constitution. This was, of course, fantasy: law and rights are artefacts of state power. There can no rule of law in fractured states; nor a well-ordered state exist without a political culture capable of sustaining it. The post-independence Indian state proved too anaemic to be an agent of transformation. Figures assembled by the Institute of Conflict Management show India still does not have the elements needed for a well-ordered state. There are, for example, 1,622.8 government servants for every 1,00,000 residents. The United States of America has 7,681. The Central government, with 3.1 million employees, thus has 257 serving every 1,00,000 population, against the United States federal governments 840. In large swathes of the country, the state is simply in no position to even deliver education, health and social services. Bihar has just 457.60 public servants per 1,00,000, Madhya Pradesh 826.47, Uttar Pradesh has 801.67 the bulk of them in non-executive roles. There arent enough teachers, or nurses, or sanitation workers, or police. Ethnicities, religious communities or castes may enter into tactical alliances to capture these resources but there is no social foundation for genuine solidarity built around shared values or ideas. There are few local democratic institutions, either, through which a wider identity might emerge, like elected school boards or public hearings on civic issues. Few spaces exist for the kinds of popular culture that might engender a democratic culture: the working-man's clubs, reading rooms, pubs and music hall that historians like Gareth Steadman Jones have shown reshaped identity and consciousness through Europes industrial revolution. In the decades after independence, the Congress-run political system institutionalised these dysfunctions using the reactionary cleric, or the rural criminal-turned-caste-spokesperson, to mediate between their community and the state. The collusion of the Congress with Islamists in Kashmir, Khalistanis in Punjab or Hindu nationalists has no small role in the rise and perpetuation of these crises. Long before Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Parvesh Verma claimed that Shaheen Bagh protestors will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters, kill them, union minister Babu Jagjivan Ram described Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis 1984 election triumph as a vote for Hindu India. Muslims, he went on, had no choice but to vote Congress, because they have to live in this country. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi herself asserted that the Hindu religion and traditions were under attack. Shaheen Bagh religious reactionary Sharjeel Imams much-condemned advocacy of a Muslim insurrection to blockade Assam because a massacre is taking place over there is, thus, remarkable only in their banality. From ethnic-Meitis blockading roads into Nagaland, to Jat caste agitators shutting down blocking highways into Delhi and the communally-charged violence in Murshidabad, chauvinist violence has become the principal language of the Indian republics political life. For the Indian state, for political parties, and for citizens, this should be a cause for grave concern. Francesco Guicciardini, Machiavellis friend and critic, knew that the alternative to politics the business of choosing the possible over the seduction of utopia was unending war. We fight to great disadvantage when we fight with those who have nothing to lose, he warned. Louis-Napoleons ghost has risen over India more than once: the excesses of Indira Gandhis Emergency serves, among other things, to hide how half-formed Indian democracy has always been. The story of the ersatz emperor should warn us that our republics survival ought not, and cannot, be taken for granted. Twelve alleged drug peddlers, including a Punjab resident, were arrested along with contraband substance from different places in Jammu and Kashmir, a police spokesman said on Wednesday. While seven of the peddlers were arrested from Udhampur and Reasi districts on Wednesday, five were nabbed in Jammu on Tuesday, he said. Sarabjeet Singh, an inter-state narcotic smuggler hailing from Ludhiana in Punjab, was arrested when 32 kilogram of poppy straw was seized from his truck in the Chenani area of Udhampur district on Wednesday, the spokesman said. He said Singh was on the way to home from Kashmir when he was intercepted by a police party at a checkpoint on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Gulzar Ahmad and Mohammad Arif were arrested with 35 gram of charas at Dhar Road in Udhampur in the afternoon, he said. The spokesman said four more peddlers -- Sushil Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Pawan Kumar and Rakesh Kumar -- were arrested from Kanjli and Katra towns in Reasi district on Wednesday after 40 gram of heroin, 800 gram of poppy straw and 200 gram of charas was seized from their possession. Four drug peddlers, identified as Sanjay Kumar, Mukesh Kumar, Anjum Ali and Ashu, were arrested after 250 gram of charas was seized during the search of their vehicle at Amphalla chowk in Jammu on Tuesday, he said. He said another drug peddler, Arif Nabi, was arrested after 300 grams of charas was seized from his possession at Panjtirthi on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) San Diegos South Bay has more than 300,000 people and only one independent bookstore. Bay Books has been a fixture on Coronados Orange Avenue for 28 years. Angelica Ayala Muller, the stores owner, doesnt know if theyll make it to 29. The issue isnt lost revenue to online retailers like Amazon; the store actually turns a profit, Muller said. The uncertainty of Bay Books future lies with its new landlord. Kleege Enterprise bought almost the entire block of Orange Avenue between 10th Street and C Avenue for $22 million last year. Advertisement When the new owners bought the block, they initially told the bookstore its rent would nearly triple, Muller said. We panicked, she said. Muller came up with a counter-offer: Bay Books will cut its square footage in half and pay its current rent. Negotiations are ongoing and Kleege has been open, professional and courteous throughout the process, Muller said. Bruce Kleege, the president of Kleege Enterprise, has an ambitious vision for the block. He plans to create an inside-out concept with walkways that people can use to get from Orange Avenue to an open courtyard in the middle of the block. The courtyard can host small concerts or farmers markets, and restaurants on Orange Avenue will have front and back entrances. Were hoping this will be the premier block in Coronado and were hoping the restaurants we have there will be the top three or four in Coronado, Kleege said. I think people will start coming from outside Coronado just for a dining experience. Were not only trying to attract the people of Coronado and the tourists of Coronado, but the people of San Diego. Some of the existing businesses, such as Leroys Kitchen, Moo-Time Creamery, and Bungalow 56, will stay on the block. But to make room for newcomers, businesses that have been on that block for decades are going to have to leave. Some already have. Since the purchase date, a surf shop and Coronados only towing garage closed. The town newspaper moved down the block and another store is in the middle of a going-out-of-business sale. Twenty-one years in business and it all comes down to a 50-percent-off sale, said Tad Walicki, the owner of a boutique gift shop called Forget-Me-Not. Walicki is sad to leave. But it couldve been worse. The landlord originally asked him to leave at the end of June but allowed him to stay until the end of July so that he could sell off his inventory. Ultimately, it comes down to money. As a business man, Walicki doesnt take it too personally. The more money you have, the more rights you have, thats America, Walicki said. And I agree with this. If I had lots of money I would not let them do this to me. Then again, if I had lots of money, I probably wouldnt be here. Around Coronado, long-time residents are concerned changes to the block will disrupt their small-town community. At Bay Books, employee Barbara Chambers has spent all summer having the same conversation with customers over and over again. First they ask if the bookstore will stay open, then they say the town is turning into a strip mall. They dont want Coronado to be La Jolla; they want Coronado to be Coronado, Chambers said. Everybodys talking about it in town now. Barbara Chambers has been managing Bay Books in Coronado for the past 27 years. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) Kleege, who bought a house in Coronado five years ago, is sensitive to the issue. His goal is to have as many local ties as possible with new businesses. The poke store that is set to replace Island Surf is owned by two people, including one Navy veteran, raising their families in Coronado. The owner of the Buona Forchetta, the restaurant that will replace El Cordova Garage, recently bought a house in Coronado. So did Sam Fox, the owner of the restaurant group behind True Food Kitchen who will open a restaurant were Costa Azul currently operates, Kleege said. We want to keep the character of the block right there and increase the traffic so that the retail stores that are there and remain can sustain themselves, Kleege said. I dont think its going to take away from Coronado. I think its going to add tremendously. Brant Sarber doesnt agree with Kleeges vision. Sarber opened Costa Azul 18 years ago to be a place where locals can get dinner and a drink for reasonable prices. When the new owners bought the block, they told Sarber they planned to have more fine-dining restaurants and gave him the opportunity to write a proposal of how Costa Azul could change to fit their vision. Sarber offered to raise prices a little bit and make a few changes to the menu. But other than that, he wasnt interested in changing. Nobodys really caring about the locals anymore, he said. All they are caring about are the part-time residents, the tourists, and the people with money. Youre not going to be able to get an $8.95 hamburger and French fries anymore. Everything is going to be $20.95. Costa Azuls lease expires in August. Whats happening to Orange Avenue is part of a bigger change in Coronado, Sarber said. When he grew up in Coronado, it was a military town where Navy families could rent a house for a couple of years before being assigned to another base. Now military families tend to rent south in Imperial Beach or more inland because Coronado is too expensive. People buying homes tend to buy vacation homes instead of primary residences. On Sarbers block, more than 10 houses are empty throughout the week, Sarber said. The whole town is just losing its charm, he said. Kleege hopes the project will be up for design review within a month and residents will be able to see his vision. His tentative timeline is to turn the garage and Costa Azul to the new restaurants in September. If Kleeges plans for the block are approved, he would start all of the tenant improvements with the goal of opening March or April of next year. We dont want to go into next summer without it being at least 90 percent finished, he said. Whether Bay Books will be part of that remains an open question. Kleege said hed prefer to keep the bookstore and is trying to get them to stay by putting them somewhere on the block. Bay Books cant stay in business with an increased rent so their best option is to keep their current rent and downsize. Negotiations are ongoing, but the store doesnt have a lot of time to wait. Bookstores order new books from publishers months in advance. The store already ordered books for the rest of 2018, but if they want next years titles, they will have to order them soon. Muller doesnt want to spend the money ordering books until she knows if shell have a store. Coronado and the South Bay risk losing more than just another business if the bookstore closes, Muller added. What message are we sending to new generations, she asked. If we dont teach our children to read, to question, to explore knowledge, were doomed. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter RE- ADVERTISEMENT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) TENDER TITLE: CONSULTANCY TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF NON-TARIFF BARRIERSIN THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND ALSO DEVELOP THE FOLLOWING: A TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR THE NATIONAL MONITORING COMMITTEES; AN INTEGRATED EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY WIDE NTB SMS/ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM; AND A NON-TARIFF BARRIER TOOLKIT AND FACTBOOK. TENDER NUMBER: PRQ20181142 TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) is an organisation funded by a range of development agencies to promote regional trade and economic integration in East Africa. East African Community (EAC)with the support of TMEA is seeking proposals from qualified firms/consortium for the Consultancy to Measure the impact of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in the EAC and also developa training programme for NMCs; an integrated EAC Wide NTB SMS/Online reporting system; and an NTB toolkit and factbook. Terms of reference for this consultancy and the Request for Proposals (RFP) document can be obtained at https://www.trademarkea.com/get-involved/procurement/. All queries quoting the above Tender Title and Number should be emailed to procurement@trademarkea.com. The closing date for submissions is Wednesday4thMarch 2020 at 11.00 am (Kenyan Time). Applications are only opentofirms/consortium. Interested and qualified consultancy firms/consortium must register and apply online ONLY on the TMEA procurement portal at the website: https://procurement.trademarkea.comand all attachments must be 10 MBs or less. TMEA cannot answer any query relating to this tender seven (7) days or less prior to the submission deadline. GREEN ISLAND Brandon Sylvester had a sense of humor. Green Island School Superintendent Kimberly Ross remembers him calling on his cellphone from the school bathroom to ask the office to bring him some toilet paper, convincing a teacher to buy him McDonald's food and making funny videos. "He was a gentle soul that filled his friends with joy and laughter," Ross said at a Tuesday night vigil for the 17-year-old killed on Saturday night as he ran across I-787 at Tibbitts Avenue. "The best way to remember Brandon is to adopt his philosophy of being kind, smile often, laugh more, be funny and love forward." The tribute to Brandon, held at the gym at the Heatly School, was also an occasion to pray for healing for the five others who were with Sylvester at the time three of whom were seriously injured Brandon's sister Jenna Sylvester, Joshua LaPlante and Tyler VanDeWal. The night, which included a candlelight walk to the gazebo at River Park, also acknowledged the trauma of the two other uninjured teens, Max Van Bramer and Ariana Gonch, who were with the group of high schoolers as they made their way from a gas station in Cohoes. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said the fatal collision happened about 11 p.m. when a car driven by a 22-year-old with multiple suspensions on his driver's license struck the teens. The car had the green light, Apple said. LaPlante, 17, was critically injured and has been in the intensive care unit at Albany Medical Center since Saturday. Jenna, 15, suffered a fractured leg and is recovering from surgery. VanDeWal, 16, suffered neck and back injuries and several broken bones. He is still recovering at Albany Med. His grandmother, Colleen McLean, was at the vigil and said she was grateful for the support of the community. "He's blessed to have so much support, family, friends, the school and a gifted group of doctors," McLean said, adding that her grandson will be able to walk eventually. "This vigil gives people a place to grieve. This has affected everyone in so many ways all at the same time. The kids are resilient. That's the beauty of having so many people supporting you." Ross said the loss of Brandon does affect everyone in Green Island because it is a small community with only 280 students in the school district. "We are a family here," Ross said. "We like to honor our students and be respectful of what our children are going through right now." Elijah Legault, a Board of Education member, said he knew all of the teens. "They are all amazing," Legault said. "Nice, so smart. Too young." More Information A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Sylvester family. It can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/1w9trgc7c0 See More Collapse LaPlante's aunt, who did not wish to be identified when contacted Monday, said the teen's father has been at the hospital since Saturday night, and that there has been an outpouring of support from the Green Island community. "Everybody has shown up to the hospital to check on these kids and bring them what they need down there," she said. "That's small towns for you." After Ross, Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty, students and teachers spoke at the podium and the more than 200 people walked to the park where they lit candles, prayed and sang "Amazing Grace." Many wept, some wailed, as a gust of wind whipped through the park. After a prayer, the somber crowd silently turned away. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. While clear that family and friends are devastated, the fate of the driver is uncertain. Apple said they cannot yet rule out charges. Last June, the driver was arrested for drunken driving. But Apple stressed there was no reason to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. "Unfortunately this is a very tragic accident," Apple said. "Everything that could've went wrong, went wrong. The kids crossed when they shouldn't have, this guy was driving when he shouldn't have." The sheriff's office impounded the vehicle after the crash and investigators will download data from its computer to determine whether speed was a factor. He said investigators plan to scrutinize the driver's cell phone records to determine whether he was distracted when the crash occurred. Meanwhile, a community grieves. "So many of our kids are struggling to understand why," Ross said. "They don't know how to move from this grievous loss. Together we will get through this because we are Green Island strong." Eugene Stanley Hyland passed away on Feb. 10, 2020, at the age of 77. Gene was born to Stanley and Elvina (Himle) Hyland in Burbank, Calif., on Nov. 30, 1942. His family later moved back to Hayfield. In 1960, Gene graduated from Hayfield High School. He was a lifelong member of West St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Gene served his country as a medic in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1964 to 1970. In 1968, he married Susan Redfern from Kasson. For 52 years they lived contentedly in rural Hayfield. They had a daughter and three grandkids, whom he cherished. Gene drove for United Parcel Service for 30 years serving Kasson, Mantorville and the surrounding countryside. In the early 1960s, he played a bass guitar for the Talismen, a local rock and roll band. He was also in his father's band, The Shades of Country, in the 1970s. Gene was very proud of his family and their accomplishments and enjoyed attending school and family events. In later years, he enjoyed coffee with friends, attending concerts and weekends at the cabin with family. A lifelong hunter, Gene started as a youngster, plinking for rabbits and squirrels in the neighborhood. Over the years, he hunted deer and turkey locally and enjoyed several big game hunts in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Eugene is survived by his wife, Sue; their daughter, Andrea (Vince) Reynolds; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jacob and Patrick Reynolds; sister, Sheila (Mike) Kyllo, and much loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gerald Hyland. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Czaplewski Family Funeral Home, 501 Second St. NW, Hayfield, and one hour before the service Friday at the church. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at West St. Olaf Lutheran Church, 70640 260th Ave., Hayfield with Rev. Paul Thompson officiating. Interment will be in the West St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery with military honors by the Hayfield American Legion Rothie Post #330. Blessed be his memory. To share a special memory or condolence, please, visit www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com; Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes; 507-477-2259 Belfast couple Andrew Hackett (26), from the Falls Road and Stephen Galway (31), who was born on the Shankill Road, are set to get married this October. Andrew, a financial crime analyst, says he feels emotional about the prospect of at last being able to refer to his partner, also a financial analyst, as his husband. We actually met on Tinder," he says. "Our first date was lovely. We just made each other feel at ease. It wasn't an effort with each other. We got on so well, we had similar interests and it was just so easy to talk to each other. We will be together five years this May. "I proposed when we were in Paris. It was just the two of us in our hotel room. Stephen is not a fan of big showy gestures, so it was just intimate. I got down on one knee and asked him to spend the rest of his life with me. Luckily he said yes or it would have been very awkward." Andrew says that the couple had long hoped that same-sex marriage laws would be passed. "It's about time these new laws came into effect," he says. "The way I look at it is that everyone has the right to love whoever they want. Why does it matter if it's a man and woman, two women or two men? How does my life impact other people's lives? I'm just happy enough loving my partner, going around doing my day to day things. "We were always hoping and praying that same-sex marriage would be made legal and come through. I'm happy now that Northern Ireland is eventually catching up with the rest of the world about same-sex marriage. "Because we were thinking of getting married up here in Northern Ireland, we had initially planned to hold a ceremony up in the north and go down south and get married in Dublin. But obviously now with the legislation change we don't have to do all that. We can have everyone that we want at the wedding." Andrew and Stephen are now busy with final preparations for the big day, which will take place later this year. "We are getting married in the middle of October in the Hedges Hotel in Ballymoney," he says. "There are around 150 people going. If Stephen could have his way he would have a Harry Potter-themed wedding. And, yes, there are Harry Potter aspects to it. "Our cake is Harry Potter-themed and we will have bits and pieces dotted throughout the wedding. I'm into comic books so our flowers on our lapels are going to be made from comic book strips. We are combining both our interests. "It feels amazing that I can marry the man I love after all this time and that I can say 'this is my husband' without getting looks or having to say 'this is my friend'. I can call him my husband, show people that I love him and that I am proud of this. I am just glad that Northern Ireland has caught up with the rest of the world. "Our wedding will be very emotional because of all that." Musician Susan Donaghy - better known as Susie Blue - lives in Belfast with her fiancee Audrey Gillespie (21), an artist and photographer. The 26-year-old, who has written many songs about the issue and long campaigned for marriage equality, says she can't wait to marry the love of her life. Expand Close Loved up: Susie Blue and her fiancee Audrey / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Loved up: Susie Blue and her fiancee Audrey The first time we met was in a bar," she says. "We didn't talk until two or three years later. And then she starred in a video for one of my songs, Guess The End. The first time we kissed was on camera. We have that moment in time captured on film. We have been together now for four-and-a-half years. "I asked her to marry me shortly after we met. But we didn't actually get properly engaged, because it wasn't legal, until midnight on the day the law was passed. "I gathered together all our friends in our west Belfast home for a Countdown to Equal Marriage Party and when it hit midnight I proposed. I got down on one knee. She jokingly took the ring, said no and laughed. "We are getting married in spring 2022 in the Merchant Hotel in Belfast on the rooftop. It will be quite a small ceremony. We are going to have an open stage for all our musician friends who want to perform a song for a couple of hours we well as a DJ. "Audrey has her dress picked out that she wants made and I'm going to get a suit made. We can't wait." Susie says that she has been long campaigning for equal rights and that she had expressed her frustration over lack of movement through her music. "I have been campaigning along with a lot of other people on the issue of marriage equality," she says. "I have written songs about it and I performed at one of the last marriage equality marches in Belfast. So when the law was passed it was like the five or six years of fighting for it was worth it and it actually worked. "I wrote a song called People Like Us about people not liking people like us. The chorus is 'They don't like us, they don't like people like us. They think it's a choice and it's all our fault'. It's just about people not really understanding that people are gay, part of the LGBT community and that is the way that they were born. "It does feel like a victory in some ways. It feels like I can finally get married without losing any of my rights. There is still a lot of work to be done, but this is a small victory." Susie says that her wedding day will be a poignant occasion because her mother, who died last year, wont be there to celebrate her special day. "Although I will at last be able to marry the woman I love, it does feel bittersweet," she says. "My mummy passed away in March of last year, so she didn't make it to see the law get passed. She had liver failure, she was just 60 years old. She wasn't able to see me get married. So though I'm really happy that the law is through, but I just wish it had been sooner. "But we will make sure that mum is part of the day. There will be an empty chair at the table for her. Our daddies will walk us up the aisle. It will be a beautiful day." Samuel Shannon-Anderson (34), who performs across Northern Ireland as drag queen Alexis Cox, had a civil partnership with his chef husband Adrian Shannon-Anderson (33) in June 2018. They live in Cookstown and, after the new laws were introduced are planning an upgrade as soon as further laws are passed. Expand Close Samuel Shannon-Anderson civil ceremony pics - he is the one with no beard. And also one of he and Adrian when he is Alexis Cox / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Samuel Shannon-Anderson civil ceremony pics - he is the one with no beard. And also one of he and Adrian when he is Alexis Cox Adrian and I met around 10 years ago in the Royal Hotel in Cookstown, he says. That was in my straight days. Adrian was always flirting with me. Where I come from being gay was not really accepted. I think I was in denial all my life. But then we met again three years later and it all sparked off from there. We are together now eight years. We had sat down and talked about tying the knot and settling down. We both had agreed on it and picked our rings. We went down to the Titanic Centre along with my 11-year-old son and we got down on one knee. Adrian asked me, I asked him and then that was it. Expand Close Adrian when he is Alexis Cox / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Adrian when he is Alexis Cox We had our civil partnership celebration on June 18, 2018 in the City Hall, had our pictures taken in Lady Dixon Park and came back to the Royal Hotel to have our reception there. Samuel says that he and Adrian, who plan to upgrade from their civil partnership to marriage, are frustrated that more laws are preventing them from having their union properly recognised in Northern Ireland. Its quite frustrating, he says. I was so excited when I heard the law was going ahead, because I thought we could get an upgrade from a civil partnership to marriage. But now we have to wait. We are now a civil partnership until we upgrade. We thought that once the law was passed that it was legal for anyone to get married, anyone in a civil partnership could ahead and upgrade. But the government still have to pass another law and it seems that they are prolonging that. So were just waiting for a date. Expand Close Samuel Shannon-Anderson civil ceremony pics - he is the one with no beard. And also one of he and Adrian when he is Alexis Cox / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Samuel Shannon-Anderson civil ceremony pics - he is the one with no beard. And also one of he and Adrian when he is Alexis Cox People said to us that we should wait until the law is passed. But we felt why should we wait? Just because the country says no, we were ready then. The amount of money we spent the first time getting hitched was astronomical, so this time its going to be just a little upgrade and then out for dinner with our parents and then a little party. Anyone should be allowed to marry whoever they want. These laws are the first massive step for Northern Ireland. We are way behind everyone else when it comes to these things. Elaine McCrory (40), a team leader in an accountancy firm, got engaged to her fiancee Nikki Leonard (30), a post office manager, in Las Vegas last month. She says that being able to get married will be bittersweet for her after losing her mother in October last year. Expand Close Elaine McCrory's (left) Las Vegas engagement to Nikki here. Elaine is the one with the brown curly hair. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elaine McCrory's (left) Las Vegas engagement to Nikki here. Elaine is the one with the brown curly hair. Nikki and I met through a mutual friend who introduced us, she says. Our first date was in Laverys in Belfast city centre. We met for drinks, then went into town, partied and danced. We just clicked straight away. We have been together for two and a half years. Our proposal was actually a double one. I had no idea she was going to propose and she had no idea that I was going to do it. I proposed to her on January 14. We were in Las Vegas with my family and I took her on a helicopter ride at the Grand Canyon. We had a picnic at the bottom of it and I got down on one knee. Then she proposed to me the next day on the rooftop of the most amazing restaurant overlooking Las Vegas. The only person who knew that we were both going to propose was my late mum Mary. Nikki had told her and I had told her. And my mum took that secret to the grave. She died in October from COPD. Our wedding day will be bittersweet because shes not here. But I definitely felt like she was there on our engagement day. And its a comfort that she went knowing that the two of us had the same idea in mind. She knew that Id be happy and that Id met the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Expand Close Elaine McCrory's engagement to Nikki / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elaine McCrory's engagement to Nikki Elaine says that the new same-sex marriage laws mean that they can plan on getting married at home surrounded by their friends and family. Personally I think its brilliant, she says. I had always said that we wouldnt get married because for me I didnt think that there should be a distinction between if you were a same-sex couple or not with regards being able to get married. For me, marriage is really, really important. Had I considered it with Nikki before legislation, we would have had to go away and do it. And now the laws have changed and we can actually get married here and that is just so lovely, because all of our family is here. We are in the process of planning it all now. We are looking around venues and we are taking all our families with us to look at places. That is a very special family time and had we had to get married outside of Northern Ireland, we wouldnt have been able to do that. We are thinking of May 13 either next year or the year after. Thirteen is a very unlucky number, but we feel very lucky, so why not? Expand Close Elaine's Las Vegas engagement to Nikki / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elaine's Las Vegas engagement to Nikki Its amazing to be able to marry the woman I love at home. The new laws make life feel like it should, we now have the same rights as everyone else, and that is amazing. Love is love at the end of the day, whether you are a same-sex couple or not. ATLANTA, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Remedy Intelligent Staffing has been named one of 2020's top franchise opportunities by Entrepreneur Media. Based on a proprietary evaluation system and an extensive set of data points, the 41st annual list of the Franchise 500 is featured in the current issue of Entrepreneur magazine and published online at www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Remedy and Westaff are a franchise division of EmployBridge, North America's largest industrial staffing firm. Both Remedy and Westaff branch locations provide client companies and associate workers with the in-depth local knowledge, expertise and community commitment of a local business and the latest technology, tools and support of a leading national staffing company. Entrepreneur Media has been ranking the Franchise 500 for more than four decades with a comprehensive, proprietary system based on more than 150 data points from five evaluation pillars: 1) costs and fees, 2) support, 3) size and growth, 4) brand strength and 5) financial strength and stability. This year, a record number of more than 1,100 franchisors provided data to Entrepreneur Media. Remedy ranked in the top 20% of all entries. "We're proud to have Remedy honored by Entrepreneur's Franchise 500," said EmployBridge Franchise Division President Steve Mills. "In addition, Remedy was among the fastest movers on the 2020 list, and we see this as a reflection of the strength and vitality of our franchise operators as well as the consistent and reliable support provided by EmployBridge." "This honor reflects well on everyone connected to Remedy," said EmployBridge COO Paul Galleberg. "We're fortunate to have some truly outstanding franchisees, and we take pride in helping them deliver the best service and support to their valued customers across every market Remedy serves. This is a win for our operators and all our corporate departments." In addition, on Feb. 4, it was announced that Remedy Intelligent Staffing and Westaff have also won ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards, ranking among the very best in serving both clients and workers. Less than 2% of all staffing firms in the U.S. and Canada earned this prestigious distinction, which is based on ratings from both clients and temporary workers. In 2019, Remedy Intelligent Staffing was ranked among the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 after providing information to the publication's editors for the first time. Founded in 1965, Remedy has been offering franchise opportunities since 1987. "With literally thousands of franchise opportunities in the marketplace, we're honored to have Remedy ranked in the top 200 of this year's Franchise 500. And although we are gratified by this recognition, we are not satisfied," Mills said. "Remedy and Westaff are great brands with a compelling and effective business model, and we're working hard to reach the top 100 next year." About Remedy Intelligent Staffing, Westaff and EmployBridge Remedy Intelligent Staffing and Westaff are franchise divisions of EmployBridge, the largest specialty staffing firm in North America. As workforce specialists, EmployBridge provides value-added workforce solutions and job opportunities through focused specialty divisions including ResourceMFG, ProLogistix, ProDrivers, Select, RemX, Remedy Intelligent Staffing, Westaff and Decca, Resdin, and Vaughan. Combining the advantages of national scale, in-depth local market knowledge; supply-chain expertise; and powerful recruiting and retention tools. The company puts more than 400,00 temporary associates to work annually across a network of over 400 offices in 48 states. In 2019, EmployBridge provided more than 151 million work hours to 13,000 customers, generating more than $3.1 billion in revenue. EmployBridge is also helping close the skills gap in America's supply chain by providing free, career-focused skills development courses to its temporary associates as well as personal training courses through the firm's Better WorkLife Academy and Life Skills Studio. For more information, please visit www.remedyfranchise.com, www.remedystaffing.com and www.employbridge.com . Media Contact: Ken Christensen (404) 534-2346 SOURCE EmployBridge Related Links http://www.employbridge.com Citing the ongoing rail line blockade in support of Wetsuweten Nation, Via Rail has extended their train cancellations between Toronto and Montreal, and Toronto and Ottawa until end of day Thursday, Feb. 13. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, 157 trains have been cancelled since the blockade started Friday Feb. 7. The total number of passengers impacted at this point is at least 24,500 customers, said Via spokesperson Marie-Anna Murat. Murat said they are giving full refunds for the cancelled trips, a process that could take up to 10 days due to the volume of transactions. We know that this unfortunate situation has an impact on our passengers travelling plans and we apologize for the inconvenience it is causing, said Murat. The blockade is also continuing near New Hazelton in British Columbia, and is interrupting rail traffic between Prince Rupert and Prince George both ways until further notice, a Via statement said. Via Rail is encouraging passengers to take alternate routes over the next few days and to check viarail.ca for updated trip schedules. The B.C. government and hereditary chiefs have failed to reach an agreement on a peaceful resolution over the enforcement of an injunction in northwestern B.C. The dispute is over the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through the nations traditional territory near Houston. Police have been trying to clear protesters from the territory of Wetsuweten Nation. The RCMP arrested four people Friday as demonstrators continued to organize blockades in the area. Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi Read more about: [The stream is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] World Health Organization officials are holding a press conference Wednesday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more people than SARS. As of Wednesday, more than 45,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in over two dozen countries, resulting in least 1,115 deaths almost exclusively in China. The WHO declared the virus a global health emergency last month, a rare designation that helps the international agency mobilize financial and political support to contain the outbreak. The WHO on Tuesday announced the new name for the virus: COVID-19. The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, announced. "Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing," he said. "It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreak." WHO officials also said Tuesday that the virus likely originated in bats and then jumped to an "intermediate host" before infecting humans. Scientists studying the virus' genetic sequence found that the new virus is very similar to other coronaviruses found in bats, Dr. Sylvie Briand, head of WHO's Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness division, said. But when scientists went to the seafood market in Wuhan, they "didn't find so many bats," Briand said. It "requires more research." The WHO's global research and innovation forum met for the first time Tuesday at the organization's headquarters in Geneva and the forum concludes Wednesday. Attendees include representatives of China and other member states, infectious disease experts, bioethicists, and major research funders, according to the preliminary agenda. The mission of the forum is to establish a common understanding of the virus and to agree upon priorities and governance framework moving forward. Tweet. To see the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit CNBC's live updates here. Perfect cautioned, however, that if Ford's proposal becomes law, it's unlikely any Indiana company would implement even a voluntary chipping program, since the company then would have to maintain two systems for employee timekeeping, door access, vending machine sales and everything else the microchips could be used for. "The technology would not advance because we have to hold on to the old ways," Perfect said. Ford insisted he isn't trying to hold companies back. He simply wants to ensure Hoosier workers are protected from unwarranted invasions of their privacy. "I'm just trying to put some regulations on it so people can maintain their freedom and not be required to put microchips in their hands," Ford said. The committee voted 9-1 to forward the legislation to the full Senate. A chamber vote next week could advance it to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law or vetoed. This isn't the first time Perfect's position on a labor issue has raised eyebrows at the Statehouse. UK police arrest two more for truck disaster that killed 39 Vietnamese Police are seen at the scene where 39 bodies were discovered in a truck container, in Grays, Essex, Britain, October 23, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Hannah McKay. The British police have arrested two more men on suspicion of involvement in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese in a refrigerated truck last October. An unidentified 22-year-old man was arrested in Northern Ireland last Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating unlawful immigration. He is in custody in Essex. The British police joined hands with German authorities to arrest Gheorghe Nica, 43, who had a European arrest warrant, at Frankfurt Airport, on Wednesday last week. Nica appeared in court on Saturday and was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. He is due to reappear in a London court on March 16. The Essex police recently completed post-mortems and are awaiting the final reports for all 39 victims. The provisional cause of death in the refrigerated container truck in Essex on October 23 was a combination of hypoxia and hyperthermia (overheating) in an enclosed space, the police said in a statement on Tuesday. Maurice Robinson, the truck driver from Northern Ireland, admitted last November to plotting to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property. British authorities are also trying to extradite Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Ireland on charges of manslaughter, human trafficking and immigration offenses. He is due at the Dublin High Court on Wednesday. "Our teams are continuing to progress hundreds of lines of enquiry and are working with the National Crime Agency and other law enforcement agencies from across the globe to further their lengthy and complex investigation," the Essex police said. Last November authorities released the identities of all 39 Vietnamese killed. The youngest were 15 years old and the oldest was 44. Their remains were brought home later that month. Twenty one of the victims were from Nghe An Province in north central Vietnam, 10 from neighboring Ha Tinh, and the rest from the nearby Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue Provinces, and Hai Duong Province and Hai Phong City in the north. Last year the British police arrested seven people for their involvement in the disaster. In Vietnam, police have arrested 11 people in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces for suspected involvement in human trafficking. Prosecutors, who have been criticized in recent weeks for their long inaction despite Mr. Matzneffs avowed pedophilia, are moving on a separate track that could lead to more criminal charges. They said on Tuesday that they would actively seek other victims of the author, and on Wednesday they raided for the second time the headquarters of Gallimard, one of Mr. Matzneffs publishers, to seize more of his books and manuscripts, according to the French news media. Mr. Matzneff openly talked and wrote about pedophilia, but the dynamic changed after the publication last month of Le Consentement (Consent) by Vanessa Springora, the first testimony by one of the writers underage victims. Fueling an abrupt cultural shift in France, the book touched off the sudden downfall of Mr. Matzneff, who was dropped by his three publishers, stripped of a rare benefit from the French government and abandoned by longtime supporters. On Wednesday, Christophe Girard, the deputy for culture to the mayor of Paris, released a statement on his Twitter account acknowledging that he had arranged the payment by the Yves Saint Laurent design house of Mr. Matzneffs hotel bills in the mid-1980s, as reported by The New York Times. Mr. Girard said he had followed the instructions of Pierre Berge, the business tycoon and partner of Mr. Saint Laurent. Mr. Girard also wrote that it was possible that when he occupied the same position in Paris in 2002, he had written a letter of support that won Mr. Matzneff a seldom-awarded lifetime annual stipend from the National Book Center. Until just a few weeks ago, Mr. Matzneff was recognized as a celebrated writer. He won one of Frances most prestigious literary awards in 2013. His most recent book, LAmante de lArsenal (The Mistress of the Arsenal), came out three months ago in the prestigious Collection Blanche of Gallimard, regarded by many as Frances most distinguished publishing house. He had also enjoyed a wide audience through a column in the magazine Le Point. Shen Yueyue, President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), visited China Women's University (CWU) on February 6 to inspect and guide its prevention and control efforts of the novel coronavirus epidemic, before the Lantern Festival which will fall on February 8 this year. Shen also greeted the faculty members and students, including foreign students, staying at the campus during the ongoing winter vacation. Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, also attended the inspection. Along with their sincere greetings, they also brought the faculty members and students yuanxiao, a type of sweetened dumpling made of glutinous rice flour and stuffed with a variety of fillings, usually eaten on the Lantern Festival. They asked about the health conditions of the CWU's students who are in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and the capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, and other cities in the province. They also inquired about the implementation of the university's one-on-one contact system between teachers and students. They inspected the student management, teaching arrangement and logistic support amid the epidemic outbreak, and they urged the university to further do the work of epidemic prevention and control well. Shen urged the school leaders to pay close attention to the health conditions of the teachers and students, especially those in Hubei, and extend full care to teachers and students who are quarantined for medical treatment or observation. Epidemic prevention and control knowledge should be publicized among teachers and students in a scientific way so as to further raise their self-protection awareness and skills, said Shen. She encouraged students to continue with their study at home and learn from the role models in the epidemic prevention and control efforts. When visiting the dormitories of some foreign students, Shen and Huang asked the students whether they had informed their families of their personal safety and if there were any special needs or difficulties in their studies and lives. The foreign students replied that they had been in close contact with their families and that there was no need for their parents to worry about them since the Chinese government has made an all-out effort to curb the spread of the virus and the university has provided them with comprehensive assistance since the epidemic outbreak. Maryam Hamdu Khalfan, from Tanzania, said her parents work on medical and health care, so she and her family members all know the epidemic prevention measures in China are scientific and effective. Lynda Chibane, from Algeria, said that China is very powerful and that she and other foreign students have full confidence in the country's winning the battle against the virus. Khadie Bakarr, from Sierra Leone, said she lives well in China and the Chinese are her family members. She will unite with her family members to win the battle. Shen introduced that the international community has spoken highly of China's efforts in the prevention and control of the virus, and she called on foreign students to protect themselves, maintain close contact with their families, and make concerted efforts in the battle against the epidemic. Shen and Huang urged the staff members to continue caring for foreign students, help them feel the warmth of the Chinese and the great spirit of the nation in facing challenges with united strength, and encourage them to act as a bridge connecting China and other countries. Cai Shumin, Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, also attended the inspection. (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) The Jammu and Kashmir administration has wrested control of a prized piece of land in Punjab's Amritsar city which was under illegal occupation for nearly 56 years, an official spokesman said on Wednesday. The Resident Commission of the Jammu and Kashmir government took over the possession of 20 kanals (2.5 acre) of land, situated at Daim Gunj, Dhapai Road, Amritsar, on Monday, the spokesman said. He said the land had been under illegal occupation since 1964. "A decree in the case was instituted in 2006 by Jammu and Kashmir government but the execution petition was initiated in 2017 only which was fast-tracked and followed vigorously during the last one and a half years," the spokesman said. He said a chunk of land comprising 32 kanals (four acres), situated at Daim Gunj, Dhapaie Road, Amritsar, and belonging to the government of Jammu and Kashmir had been leased out to three different parties for a period of five years, prior to 1964. "The lease was not renewed and the occupants and their descendants continued the possession illegally," the spokesman said. During the last two years, he said, the matter has been taken up on a fast track basis with the high court and the lower court for retrieval of the land. "An application under Section 151 CPC had been filed on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir government before the lower court for getting the Warrants of Possession. The application was decided in favour of the J&K government on December 13 last year," the spokesman said. With the present action, under court orders, on February 10, one chunk of 20 kanals has been retrieved, he said, adding the process for retrieving the remaining 15 kanals (1.8 acres) is also under adjudication and shall get settled soon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A moving and honest suicide awareness play will be staged in Tullamore later this month. 'Bring Me Back Alive' will take to the stage at the St. Mary's Youth Centre on February 29. Members of the online support group, MI Life, held a tattoo drive and raised enough money to bring the play to the town. The play is aimed at helping people recognise signs of mental health problems and to ask for help. The play has won awards, is written by Patricia McCann and directed by Tony Coloe. The production is set in a youth centre in modern-day Dublin. The play highlights some of the warning signs to watch out for, it focuses on the need for more mental health services in order to deal with this escalating crisis. "The devastating effects that suicide has on family and friends is also brought to the fore. But the main aim of this play is to show that there is hope, there is an alternative. This play is written in a somewhat light-hearted way in order to give hope to those who need it the most," organisers said. Admission will be free to the play when it lands in Tullamore on February 29. It is aimed at those aged over 16. Donations on the night can be made to suicide charity AWARE. Although it is free, tickets must be booked. You can get yours on www.eventbrite.ie. Get more information HERE. China's military drills near Taiwan on two consecutive days this week were "completely inappropriate," a U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday. On Monday, Chinese jets crossed an unofficial middle line in the Taiwan Strait, just a day after Chinese fighters and bombers flew around the island. Both generally stay on their respective sides. "Absolutely it concerns us" said R. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary for political-military affairs at the U.S. Department of State. "It was completely inappropriate of China to take such an aggressive act," Cooper told CNBC's Nancy Hungerford in Singapore. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as Chinese territory that must one day be reunited with the mainland and Beijing has never renounced the use of force to take Taiwan by force. Tensions between China and Taiwan have risen since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen from the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took office in 2016. She won re-election in January on a platform of defending Taiwanese sovereignty. Recently, tensions spiked further as Taipei accused Beijing of blocking Taiwan's access to the World Health Organization amid the outbreak of the COVID-19. This particular strain of coronavirus is believed to have originated from the Chinese city of Wuhan, but has also hit Taiwan. The U.S. has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its main arms supplier. "All states, including China, are part of the broader constellation in the Indo-Pacific region," said Cooper. "What that means is that there should be responsible behavior to make sure that the region is free and open not just for navigation but also for trade and for relationships," he said. "Such coercive, aggressive behavior is counter to having a free and open Indo-Pacific region," he said. China's People's Liberation Army said on Monday that the drills were aimed at improving combat capabilities. The U.S. is bound by the Taiwan Relations Act to aid the island's self-defense. "They need to be able to defend their homeland, and our relationship with Taiwan through the Taiwan Relations Act, we certainly are going do anything we can to bolster their self-defense needs," said Cooper. Cooper said that China's military moves toward Taiwan this week may be broader reflection of China's stance toward the entire region. "That aggressive act is not just a reflection on China's relationship with Taiwan, it certainly is reflective about how China may be looking at the entire region in total," said Cooper. William and Catherine will go to Ireland in March. (Getty Images) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Ireland next month on a royal tour, Kensington Palace has announced. William and Kate have been asked by the Foreign Office to undertake a three day tour, and will travel there on 3 March. It comes shortly after the UK left the EU, leading to political tensions over the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Kensington Palace declined to comment on whether the couple would be making a trip further afield, to Australia, before confirming a visit to Ireland. Charles and Camilla have been to Ireland on numerous occasions, and the Queen visited herself in 2011. Rumours of the trip emerged in January, and The Sun reported the couple would likely visit places in Cork and Dublin. The British Embassy in Ireland tweeted: We look forward to welcoming The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Ireland next month. Further details will be announced in due course the palace said. Hearts with love messages illuminate Rome street. Rome's Via Borgognona lights up with love. For the second year in a row, the street in the heart of Rome's historic centre is illuminated with red hearts to celebrate St Valentine's Day. Traders on the exclusive shopping street near the Spanish Steps, who also fund the street's Christmas lights, have replicated their Valentine's Day tradition but with a surprise. The interior of each coloured heart in this year's S. Valentino installation features lyrics from a romantic song. Shopkeepers on the street say that last year's initiative attracted a multitude of tourists and locals who were "pleasantly impressed by the intense and romantic red colour of the lights." Photo RomaToday The 400-strong audience at Miami Beachs 1 Hotel crackled with anticipation as their next speakers strode to the podium. Guests included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos, U.S. sporting legends Alex Rodriguez and Magic Johnson, famed architect Sir Norman Foster and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The common denominator amongst the ultra-exclusive gathering last Thursday was that they were all stinking rich, either multi-millionaires or billionaires. Theyd been invited there by JP Morgan Chase & Co, Americas largest bank and the sixth largest in the world with total assets of $2.6 trillion. And the star headline act was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. So far theyve refused to confirm or deny reports they were paid between $500,000 and $1 million for their appearance. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, (pictured in South Africa, in October) were the headline act at the JP Morgan Chase & Co event. So far theyve refused to confirm or deny reports they were paid between $500,000 and $1 million for their appearance The 400-strong audience at Miami Beachs 1 Hotel (pictured) crackled with anticipation as their next speakers strode to the podium. Guests included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos, U.S. sporting legends Alex Rodriguez and Magic Johnson, famed architect Sir Norman Foster and Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The common denominator amongst the ultra-exclusive gathering last Thursday was that they were all stinking rich, either multi-millionaires or billionaires They were introduced by their friend, CBS News host Gayle King, and then after a brief introduction by Meghan, Harry delivered a speech about his favourite topic: mental health. More particularly, he spoke about how hes been undergoing years of therapy to deal with the death of his mother Princess Diana. None of this was new territory. Indeed, Harry has talked of little else in recent years, constantly emoting in public speeches about his struggle with his grief even now, 23 years later. It would take a heart of stone not to have sympathy for a man who was just 12 when he was made to walk behind his mothers coffin in front of a billion TV viewers. I remember watching that at the time and thinking it was a disgracefully heartless thing to make a heartbroken little boy do. But Harrys not the only person to ever lose a parent when he was young. Its sadly happened to many millions of people, including me my father died when I was one. And theres a big difference between talking about it to raise public awareness of grief-related mental health issues - and doing it privately for a big fat fee to a bunch of super-rich bankers, business tycoons, politicians and celebrities. By commercially exploiting his mothers death to make vast pots of money like this, Harry is surely behaving in exactly the same way he professes to despise from the media? Harry spoke about how hes been undergoing years of therapy to deal with the death of his mother Princess Diana (pictured with Harry as a young child in 1987) It would take a heart of stone not to have sympathy for a man who was just 12 when he was made to walk behind his mothers coffin in front of a billion TV viewers The brazen hypocrisy didnt stop there. Last July, the Duke and Duchess posted an urgent plea to save the planet on their Instagram to their 11 million followers. It read as follows: As a continuation of our monthly social awareness approachwe turn our attention to the environment. There is a ticking clock to protect the planet with climate change, the deterioration of our natural resources, endangerment of sacred wildlife, the impact of plastics and microplastics, and fossil fuel emissions, we are jeopardising this beautiful place we call home for ourselves and for future generations. Lets save it. Lets do our part. Harry was then directly quoted in the same post saying: Environmental damage has been treated as a necessary by-product of economic growth. So deeply ingrained is this thinking that it has been considered part of the natural order that humankinds development comes at the expense of our planet. Only now are we starting to notice and understand the damage that weve been causing. With nearly 7.7 billion people inhabiting this Earth, every choice, every footprint, every action makes a difference. Just weeks after this post, the Sussexes were caught using Sir Elton Johns private plane from London to the South of France and back a very short 90-minute journey, with 30 commercial flights available every day. The justifiably harsh criticism meted out to them for preaching one thing about the environment and then doing the complete opposite themselves was one of the things that drove them to quit official royal life. Harry and Meghan like to tell us what to do, but not be held to any account for their double standard actions at taxpayers expense. Last July, the Duke and Duchess posted an urgent plea to save the planet on their Instagram to their 11 million followers And now theyre free to do whatever they wish, theyve shown their true environmental colours. The Sussexes were flown to the JP Morgan forum in the firms lavish Gulfstream private plane, from the $11 million mansion in Vancouver theyve been living in for the past few months as guests of a mysterious billionaire benefactor. (Once in Miami, they stayed, again for free, at Serena Williamss palatial home in Palm Beach. Say what you like about Harry and Meghan, but they sure know how to blag a freebie..) And what has been JP Morgans contribution to saving the planet? The bank was recently revealed, by the Rainforest Action Network, to have invested $195 billion into fossil fuel companies in the past three years alone. They were by far the worst offenders on the banking list of shame, with Wells Fargo a distant second at $151 billion. Just the type of company a pair of royal eco-warriors would want to support and take money from right?! In fact, its hard to imagine a more ludicrously inappropriate first gig for them to take in their brave new progressive, planet-saving royal celebrity world. Sadly, this appears to be just the start of the Sussexes shameless nose-in-trough descent into banking partnerships. Yesterday, it was revealed that Harrys held talks with another monster investment bank, Goldman Sachs, to build on the Sussex Royal brand. The Sussexes were flown to the JP Morgan forum in the firms lavish Gulfstream private plane, from the $11 million mansion in Vancouver theyve been living in for the past few months as guests of a mysterious billionaire benefactor. And what has been JP Morgans contribution to saving the planet? The bank was recently revealed, by the Rainforest Action Network, to have invested $195 billion into fossil fuel companies in the past three years alone Yesterday, it was revealed that Harrys held talks with another monster investment bank, Goldman Sachs, to build on the Sussex Royal brand. This is the same Goldman Sachs thats been widely lambasted for its part in the 2008 financial crash, and for making billions of dollars at the expense of its clients during and after it This is the same Goldman Sachs thats been widely lambasted for its part in the 2008 financial crash, and for making billions of dollars at the expense of its clients during and after it. In fact it emerged after the crash that Goldmans were both selling worthless packages of sub-prime loans to clueless customers AND betting their own money on the value of the loans collapsing, at the same time. And this is the same Goldman Sachs thats invested $59 billion into financing fossil fuel projects, coming 12th on the RAN report. Its not hard to see why these banks want a piece of the royal action its a great way to show off to their clients. But Harry and Meghan will soon discover they have to sing increasingly frankly for their highly paid suppers, and that they cant keep serving up the same old depressing speech about Diana and mental health. The pressure on them to reveal ever more juicy royal revelations will grow, just as it did with previous royals like Fergie the Duchess of York who tried to exploit their status in the ruthless commercial world, to disastrously tawdry effect. And it will all, inevitably, end in humiliation and tears. The speed with which Harry and Meghan have sold out to these woefully ill-suited banking partners is as staggering as their willingness to use Dianas death to justify the fees is distasteful. They only announced they were leaving Royal duty a month ago, and theyre still on the publicly funded sovereign grant payroll until May. British royal protection squad officers accompanied them to the JP Morgan forum, at an undisclosed cost to the British taxpayer. So, were now paying for them to fleece the royal status Harry inherited and Meghan married into, without them having to do any of the mundane duties that such fleecing normally requires in return. The Sussexes said they quit British royal life because they wanted peace, privacy and the freedom to focus on projects like saving the planet. In fact, as we now can see, they just wanted the freedom to whore out their royal names to the highest planet-wrecking investment bank bidders. Photo from Getty Images SINGAPORE Two Indonesian maids pleaded guilty to financing terrorism and were sentenced to jail on Wednesday (12 February). Turmini, who only goes by one name, was jailed for three years and nine months after the 31-year-old maid admitted to providing $1,216.73 to terrorist group Jemaah Anshaut Daulah (JAD), which is affiliated to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), over five months. Turmini had used her employer, whom she worked for six years, to unwittingly transfer the monies to a bank account of a supporter of the terrorist group, whom she had believed she loved and wanted to marry. The other maid, 36-year-old Retno Hernayani, was sentenced to one year and six months jail after she similarly remitted $140 to a supporter of the same terrorist group whom she loved and intended to marry. She had collected the money from other foreign domestic workers for the donation. Retno and Turmini, who did not know each other, had pleaded guilty to two and three charges respectively under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, with remaining charges of a similar nature taken into consideration for their sentencing. Turmini Turmini first met a supporter of the terrorist group, Edi Siswanto, whom she knew as Zubair, on Facebook in 2018. Turmini knew Edi to be a supporter of the group and a member of the religious charity, the Aseer Cruee Centre (ACC). The ACC conducted donation drives through social media platforms such as Telegram and Facebook, and was used by JAD to finance its terrorist activities. Edi told Turmini that if she wanted to go to heaven, she must support entities that were trying to uphold Islamic Law, such as ISIS and JAD, said Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPP) Cheng Yuxi, Nicholas Khoo, and Tan Hsiao Tien. Turmini learnt more about ISIS through Edis Facebook posts. The two chatted almost daily. He further added the accused to WhatsApp groups that he created, in which ISIS-relate topics were discussed, and materials such as photographs and videos of killings done by ISIS were shared, DPP Tan said. Story continues In 2018, Turmini also befriended through Facebook a Rozaliany Rozz, who asked her to download Telegram to learn more about ISIS. Turmini ended up joining at least four different Telegram channels and a group that consisted of supporters of ISIS and JAD. Turmini also fell in love with Rozaliany and planned to marry him upon her return to her village in September 2019 after she finished her employment contract. On 19 September and 3 October 2018 and 30 January last year, Turmini asked her employer to help her remit money to a bank account belonging to Edi. She lied that the bank account was a joint account between her mother and Edi, whom she said was her brother. Turmini had transferred the monies to Edi intending for him to donate the money to ACC. Retno was arrested and detained by the Internal Security Department (ISD) on 22 August last year and issued an Order of Detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in September. Retno Hernayani In 2012, Retno befriended a compatriot, Tuning Ambarwati, while taking the same MRT train. She became acquainted with ISIS after reading Tunings Facebook posts about the terrorist group in 2014. While she did not initially buy into ISIS ideology, she gradually became influenced by Tunings posts and had a change of heart in 2018. She began supporting ISIS, believing that its battles were in the name of Islam against a coalition of other countries and were legitimate. She started posting articles relating to ISIS and viewed videos depicting innocent people being killed. Her pro-ISIS stance was reported by Facebook users and her accounts were eventually banned. She then joined at least three Telegram chats and five groups related to ISIS. She also created two WhatsApp group chats for the purpose of spreading ISIS ideology and added three friends to the group. Tuning introduced Retno to Fikri Zulfikar, an ISIS sympathiser, in April 2018. Retno, a divorcee with two children aged 13 and 15, said she started dating Fikri, who later became her fiance. She said that she set up a mineral water business with Fikri and wished to join him if he were to go to Syria for jihad. Retno and her three friends decided to donate to ACC. She collected $100 from friends while she donated $40, and remitted the sums to Fikri. Retno was arrested and detained by the ISD on 20 August last year and issued an Order of Detention under the ISA in September. Three of Retnos friends had also donated to ACC. Two of them had left Singapore and had not re-entered while one of them, Anindia Afiyantari, had been charged under the same Act in Singapore. Mitigating for Retno, lawyer Mohamed Muzammil Mohamed said that Fikri had falsely preached the beliefs of and teachings of Islam, and had even visited her family in the village of Lampung in Indonesia to win her affection and confidence. As for Turmini, the lawyer highlighted the humanitarian aspect in Turminis donations, which she believed would aid family members of JAD and ISIS members who were either killed or detained, and not strictly to be used for war. Have a tip-off or a story lead to share with us? If you come across something newsworthy, do e-mail us at sgnews.tips@verizonmedia.com. In your e-mail, do provide as many details as possible including videos and photos. If you are open to speaking to us as a witness to an incident, please provide your name and contact number. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories 3 Indonesian maids detained under Internal Security Act for supporting terrorism: MHA 3 Indonesian maids who were working in Singapore for years charged with funding terrorism Partnership advances innovation and increases precision of liver-directed oncology therapies for patients WOBURN, Massachusetts, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirtex Medical , a leading manufacturer of targeted liver cancer therapies, today announced a collaboration with MIM Software Inc., a leading global provider of practical imaging solutions in the fields of radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroimaging and cardiac imaging. Under the terms of the agreement, Sirtex's specialized sales teams in the United States, Europe and other key global markets will offer MIM SurePlanTM LiverY90 software alongside the company's SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres to improve treatment precision for patients with hepatic tumors. MIM SurePlan LiverY90 provides timesaving tools and post-treatment dosimetry for interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians treating hepatic tumors with SIR-Spheres. The software allows physicians to quickly calculate the dose delivered by the microspheres to improve treatment decisions and patient care. The technology also incorporates CT, PET, SPECT and MRI scans simultaneously to deliver results on spheres deposition, coverage and absorbed dose, allowing physicians to make informed decisions faster about next steps. In addition to sharing a mission to provide physicians the tools they need to treat cancers, Sirtex and MIM also share a commitment to provide patients the best care throughout the treatment journey. "Given the overlap of their technology and our SIR-Spheres product, Sirtex and MIM have a long history of working alongside clinical care teams," said Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Sirtex. "Now as partners, we will be able to combine our expertise and resources to provide an even higher level of support to treat liver tumors. We are excited to see how this collaboration will benefit physicians and ultimately improve treatment outcomes for patients." "We are proud and excited to partner with Sirtex, mainly because it will provide access to personalized dosimetry for a large number of patients across the globe," said Andrew Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of MIM Software Inc. "The treatment of liver tumors requires a multi-disciplinary approach, so it's a natural evolution for companies like ours to partner to provide an even faster, higher level of support and resources to treatment teams." In the United States, SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres received Premarket Approval (PMA) from the FDA and are indicated for the treatment of non-resectable metastatic liver tumors from primary colorectal cancer in combination with intrahepatic artery chemotherapy using floxuridine. SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres are approved for the treatment of inoperable liver tumors in Australia, the European Union, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and several countries in Asia, such as India and Singapore. About Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) using SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres is a prescription device for the treatment of inoperable liver tumors. SIRT is a minimally invasive treatment that delivers high doses of high-energy beta radiation directly to the tumors. SIRT is administered to patients by interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians, who infuse millions of radioactive resin microspheres via a catheter into the liver arteries that supply blood to the tumors. By using the tumors' blood supply, the microspheres selectively target liver tumors with a dose of radiation that is up to 40 times higher than conventional radiotherapy, while sparing healthy tissue. About Sirtex Sirtex Medical is a global healthcare business with offices in the U.S., Australia, Germany and Singapore, working to improve outcomes in people with cancer. Our current lead product is a targeted radiation therapy for liver cancer called SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres. More than 100,000 doses have been supplied to treat patients with liver cancer at more than 1,300 medical centers in over 50 countries. For more information, visit www.sirtex.com . SIR-Spheres is a registered trademark of Sirtex SIR-Spheres Pty Ltd. About MIM Software MIM Software is committed to enhancing patient care by providing customer-focused and innovative solutions. MIM Software provides practical imaging solutions in the fields of radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroimaging and cardiac imaging. MIM is a privately held company that sells its products globally to imaging centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, research organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Learn more by visiting www.mimsoftware.com . APM-OUS-363 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/926923/Sirtex_Medical_Logo.jpg AMPI Playa del Carmen swears in new president Playa del Carmen, Q.R. The new president for AMPI Playa del Carmen says her goals for the real estate sector this year includes the strengthening of the Real Estate Law while encouraging real estate agents to become registered, which she says, will provide security and respond to the demands of the market. Leslie Suaste Ayala, the new head of the Asociacion Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (AMPI) for Playa del Carmen for 2020 accepted her position, endorsing her commitment to the real estate sector with informative meetings while increasing the number of legal associates. During her acceptance speech, Suaste Ayala recognized work in the past administration and urged agents to continue working in unity so that Playa del Carmen can be a reference in the real estate sector nationally and internationally. The new director for the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) Playa del Carmen comes at a time when the sector continues to face global challenges, especially in the arrival of expatriates who look to invest in Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya with peace of mind. Suaste Ayala became the new AMPI Playa del Carmen head days before the Quintana Roo Investment Summit 2020 Real Estate Expo is set to take place. The summit, which begins Wednesday, will include AMPI board of directors from the states branches of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Chetumal. The event, which is being held at the Cancun Convention Center, will include the Secretaria de Desarrollo Territorial Urbano Sustentable (SEDETUS) directed by Carlos Rios Castellanos, who will promote projects from sectors such as urban infrastructure, tourism, energy and others that offer opportunities for the investment world. This edition of real estate networking will be to promote and broaden the horizons and business visions of local and foreign entrepreneurs to attract more investments that consolidate the state as the most important economy in the country, he said. The Secretary of Sustainable Urban Development also noted that the convention is a unique event being hosted by AMPI with the vision of seeing the Mexican Caribbean as a spearhead for foreign investment with Cancun as a business epicenter. Andrew Lichtenstein/Getty The father of a former student at New Yorks elite Sarah Lawrence College has been charged with starting a sex cult in his daughters dorm room, eventually forcing one woman into prostitution and holding a knife to a male victims throat until he confessed to a crime he didnt do, authorities said Tuesday. Lawrence Ray, 60, faces nine federal charges, including sex trafficking, extortion, and forced labor for allegedly subjecting his victims to sexual and psychological manipulation and physical abuse, and laundering about $1 million from five different victims under the guise of self-help. One of the victims, identified in the indictment as Female Victim-2, was present at his New Jersey residence at the time of his arrest, authorities said. Beginning in 2010, prosecutors allege Ray targeted a group of college students and others for indoctrination and criminal exploitation, using fear, violence, and coercion to commit unspeakable abuse, Geoffrey Berman, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said during a Tuesday press conference. If youre not angry, you dont have a soul, added William Sweeney Jr., assistant director-in-charge of the FBI in New York. Prosecutors allege that shortly after his release from a New Jersey prison in 2010, Ray moved into his daughters on-campus housing at the private Westchester County university and began manipulating her friendspreaching about his personal philosophy and conducting therapy sessions all while presenting himself as a father figure. The alleged abuse later continued in his Manhattan apartment, North Carolina, and other locations. NXIVM Founder Convicted of Running Sex Cult That Turned Women Into His Slaves During the therapy sessions, the 60-year-old learned intimate details about their private lives, vulnerabilities, and mental-health struggles under the pretense of helping them. Ray alienated several of the victims from their parents and convinced several of the victims that they were broken and in need of fixing by Ray, the indictment states. Story continues To ensure his victims silence, Ray allegedly extracted false confessions using sleep deprivation, psychological and sexual humiliation, verbal abuse, physical violence, and threats of legal action. Ray ultimately extracted false confessions from at least seven victims that they had intentionally damaged Rays and his family members and other associates property, the indictment said, adding other erroneous confessions including that they had poisoned Ray and his family members. The father, who also allegedly took explicit photographs of some of the victims to ensure their silence, documented these false confessions with video recordings, doctored journal entries, and copies of emails. He also forced students to give him thousands of dollars, often making them drain their parents bank accounts, to ensure their loyalty, authorities said. At least one of the college students also engaged in prostitution for four years to pay back debts to Ray that she was manipulated into believing she owed, prosecutors allege. She allegedly earned more than $500,000 for Ray, prosecutors allege. NXIVM Sex Cult Leader Forced 3 Sisters to Get Abortions, Ex-Follower Testifies Prosecutors also said that if any of these students made a mistake, or went against Rays teachings, he would accuse them of sabotagewhich often led to cruel physical and emotional punishment. After Ray falsely accused one male victim of damaging his property, he allegedly placed a knife to his throat until he confessed, before grabbing another mans neck until he was unconscious. When two of the female students came home with cold food, Ray accused them of wrongdoing and grabbed one of the women by the face and neck before shoving her to the floor, according to authorities. On another occasion, Ray put a plastic bag over one victims head until she almost passed out, Berman said. According to the indictment, Ray coerced several victims, including the woman present at his arrestinto forced labor, silencing them by accusing them of intentionally damaging his New Jersey property and threatening to alert the authorities or Sarah Lawrence of the misdeeds detailed in their false confessions. Rays alleged extortion and sex-trafficking scheme was first detailed in a New York magazine expose last Aprilwhich authorities said Tuesday prompted their investigation. While Ray was once a close friend of ex-New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, he played a central role in the top cops prosecution and previously acted as an FBI informant. I havent spoken to Larry Ray in over 19 years. I only wish that the FBI and the Justice Department realized what a conman he was prior to making him their superstar witness against me, Kerik told The Daily Beast after Rays arrest. They were so adamant in destroying me and my family, they ignored his lies, deceit, and inconsistencies. Hopefully, this indictment will be the end of his reign of terror on every friend he has conned, manipulated, or deceived. A spokesperson for Sarah Lawrence College called the charges serious, wide-ranging, disturbing, and upsetting. As always the safety and well-being of our students and alumni is a priority for the College, the statement says, adding that Sarah Lawrence previously conducted its own investigation last year which did not substantiate those specific claims alleged in the indictment. - Additional reporting by Harry Siegel NXIVM Founder Convicted of Running Sex Cult That Turned Women Into His Slaves 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. JACKSON, MI The city clerk is a full-time position in Jackson again, as the City Council voted to increase the hours and the pay at its Tuesday, Feb. 11 meeting. Clerk Andrea Murays salary will jump from $40,000 to $88,602. No extra duties will be added onto the position, Mayor Derek Dobies said, as the extra time is needed to do the job and help run the four elections scheduled for this year. The deal also gives Muray four weeks vacation time, sick time, has the city contribute to her deferred compensation plan, makes her eligible for the city pension plan and allows her four months severance pay and six months of medical benefits if fired, among other perks. Muray was on probation last fall, after her office failed to get two proposed street millages on the November 2019 ballot, as ordered by council. "The problems that have existed were caused in a large part by the hours that were dedicated to that position and the responsibilities that were included," Dobies said. "(They) simply didn't match up." Councilmembers Jeromy Alexander and Laura Schlecte voted no on the contract change despite the board showing it was Alexander and Councilwoman Kelsey Heck voting no. Alexanders motions to postpone the vote or start Muray at a lower salary were voted down. Weve had numerous issues, Alexander said. Weve had five, six, seven different issues with the clerks office over the last year, year-and-a-half. We just came off probation for this position. Councils deal puts Muray at a grade 20 on the pay scale, out of the 22 grades. The only city employees higher on the scale are the city manager and city attorney. Muray is now on the same pay grade as the director of police and fire services, director of finance and director of public works, per the citys personnel policy. While the clerks office has only three full-time employees, Muray said she has to train 60 inspectors for the elections. There are elections in the city in March, May, August and November this year. Councilmembers and City Manager Patrick Burtch werent sure of the amount of Murays new salary until a staff member informed them of it during Tuesday nights discussion. Murays salary also doubled from $20,000 to $40,000 in 2018. The clerk's position had been full time until Clerk Lynn Fessel retired in 2013. She was making $93,920 in her final year, per city documents. To save money, the city hired an elections coordinator and paid an extra $20,000 to Treasurer Randy Wrozek to do the clerks duties. He was relieved of his clerk duties in 2017 and Muray was hired. The elections coordinator position will not be cut, despite making the clerk a full-time position again, Dobies said. Councilmembers asked if they should get a report on what other cities pay their clerks, but Burtch said theyll just recommend paying the same amount Jacksons other department heads are getting. Jackson's new clerk pay is slightly higher than similarly-sized cities, using information received via a 2019 Freedom of Information Act request. City clerks in Mount Pleasant, Port Huron and Bay City earned between $69,000 and $86,000. Hollands clerk made $82,000 before vacating the seat in 2018, per the Holland Sentinel. More Jackson news: Clerk taken off probation, gets council support after perfect storm problem Gift to Jackson YMCA project is largest in Henry Ford Allegiance Healths history Coalition forms to fight Jackson water rate hikes, city calls it intentional misinformation When snow gets flaky: Inconsistent weather makes it tough for snow removal businesses Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has been sentenced and fined by a Pakistan anti-terrorism court in two terror-financing cases on Wednesday. The Jamat-ud-Dawa chief will serve two sentences of five and a half years each and will have to pay two tranches of Rs 15,000 as fine. He will serve both jail terms concurrently. The anti-terrorism court, or ATC, in Lahore indicted Saeed and his close aides in two cases of terror financing, reports said. He was present in the courtroom when his sentence was pronounced. He was found guilty of "being part of a banned terrorist outfit" and possessing illegal property, his lawyer Imran Gill told AFP. The terror financing cases were filed by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) chapters in branches in Lahore and Gujranwala. Saeed was arrested by the CTD in July last year when he was travelling from Lahore to Gujranwala. The Pakistan anti-terrorism agency had accused Saeed's JuD of financing terrorist activities from funds amassed via various non-profit organisations. ALSO READ: Not meeting FATF obligations would be devastating for Pak economic reform program: US ALSO READ: FATF blacklisting may have implications on Pakistan's capital inflows, says IMF report A month before Saeed's arrest, the Financial Action Task Force had directed Pakistan to deliver on its promises on putting an end to terror financing from its soil. In October last year, the Paris-based organisation had decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list and will take a decision in this matter during its meeting that begins on February 16. Saeed has been accused by India and the United States of orchestrating the devastating 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai which claimed 166 lives, six of them Americans. The US and United Nations have already declared Saeed a global terrorist. His organisation, Jamat ud Dawa is seen as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba that is held responsible for the attacks. ALSO READ: Pak court indicts Hafiz Saeed on terror financing charges ALSO READ: Hafiz Saeed pleads not guilty on terrorism financing charges Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt says successive governments have "failed" to reach the lofty expectations of closing the gap of Aboriginal disadvantage in health, education and employment set a decade ago and a new community-led approach is needed. The annual Closing the Gap report, to be released today, shows a staggering failure to meet targets in improving levels of Indigenous childhood mortality, life expectancy, school attendance and employment. Ken Wyatt. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Wyatt told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald an Indigenous child mortality rate of 141 per 100,000 twice the rate for non-Indigenous children - "shouldn't be occurring in a first-world nation" and showed governments and agencies "still have a lot of work to do". But the annual report to Parliament threatens to be overshadowed by a fresh round of Coalition infighting over constitutional recognition. For a New Mexico mom, a recent text is another blow from someone greedy and heartless. Five years ago, April Sanchez's baby boy was killed. His father plead guilty to the crime. Sanchez recently had her baby's ashes made into a keepsake starfish. When postal workers delivered it to her home in late January, a woman pretending to be her sister took the starfish. After the report aired, hundreds of viewers shared it on social media. Then Sunday evening, Sanchez got a text from a number she did not recognize out of California. "I don't know how they found my number," she said. The person who sent the text demanded $30 upfront, then $30 more when they delivered the starfish. Sanchez asked if they could send a photo of the missing starfish. They didn't. She thought it was a scam. Investigators with the U.S. Postal Service think so, too. A spokesman for the agency said the texter could not provide proof they had the item, and also demanded money up front, both signs of a scam. As for the woman pretending to be Sanchez's sister, the Postal Service says they have a person of interest, but they still do not have the missing starfish with the baby's ashes. ALBANY - City police and fire companies are investigating a suspicious package at the downtown campus of UAlbany, police spokesman Steve Smith said. Smith said the package was spotted on Tuesday night at around 8:45 p.m. in the bushes at 1225 Western Avenue. He also said that hazmat personnel were at the scene to handle the package. WATERLOO A former Waterloo teacher has admitted to taking money from the teachers union. Anthony Dehl pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. Sentencing will be at a later date, and Dehl remains free in the meantime. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars and a fine of up to $250,000. Dehl, a 30-year teacher with Waterloo Community Schools who retired last year, had been treasurer for the Waterloo Education Association, the school employees bargaining unit. As part of the plea, Dehl admitted he took about $54,254 from the organizations credit union accounts for gambling and other personal uses. He allegedly used the groups debit card for his own purposes, made cash withdrawals and wire transfers and issued unauthorized checks. Court records allege that between 2014 and 2019, Dehl made $49,380 in ATM withdrawals, many at the Isle Hotel Casino Waterloo. He also wrote $559 in unauthorized checks at restaurants and other businesses and cashed $5,910 in unauthorized checks to himself. He refunded $1,596 to the association before he was caught, records state. Prosecutor allege he covered his tracks by issuing false treasurer reports to the organization and state officials. WEA officials discovered the scheme in January 2019 when Veridian Credit Union reported suspicious activity and froze the organizations account. When Dehl discovered the accounts status, he approached a director and said he made a mistake with the groups money and had a gambling problem, according to court records. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 5 Angry 11 Young and Old Face Ageism in the Workplace Too Experienced or Not Experienced Enough TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ageism, prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person's age, remains very much an issue in hiring according to a new Express Employment Professionals survey of businesses leaders and job seekers. It is an issue that continues to persist despite Canadas near record low unemployment rate and high demand for skilled workers. In the survey, 81% indicated they believed their age was a consideration in the hiring process; only 16% said no. Nearly half of those that thought ageism was an issue were in the 55-to-64 years old category. Michael Elliott, an Express franchise owner in London, Ontario, was asked whether he sees examples of age discrimination during the hiring process. Even with todays tight labour market, he argued that it exists at both ends of the spectrum. Older workers may not be considered for emerging sectors since their pay expectations are typically higher, and their job skills and experience may not align with the new generation skillsets in these sectors. Younger Millennials and Gen Zs are unfairly cast as difficult to place in traditional work environments, where experience still trumps enthusiasm and creativity, Elliott said. Survey respondents also reported real-life examples of perceived ageism, including: I was told by the hiring supervisor, I believe you are just too old to give us much time here. You'll probably want to stay home and sit by the pool with the grandkids within a year. I've been interviewed by several job offering companies, and when they realized how experienced I was and the number of years that I have been working, the inevitable statement was, You are too experienced for the position. In my 20s, I was the top candidate for a position, but it was never offered. I later asked the employer why, and they stated that while I had all the education and experience, I did not have enough whiskers. Im still young and inexperienced, and employers do not like that. They dont want to have to waste time training the new guy how to do something. Elliott suggested that attempting to define a group by common characteristics doesnt give credit to those who have upgraded their skills to become more tech-savvy or who have learned through experience to flex their work skills to adapt to any generation. Elliott noted that bringing different age groups together is a good thing, making the culture at work more interesting and diverse. Unfortunately, not everyone sees hiring the same way; nearly 20% of all workplace human-rights claims filed in Ontario allege age discrimination. This statistic is similar in other provinces, and these claims are on the rise.1 Age discrimination can have a negative impact on a companys brand and could mean costly mistakes due to inexperienced workers, according to Patty Smith, vice president of Human Resources and Compliance at Express International Headquarters. Businesses should avoid crafting job descriptions with phrases such as young and energetic and use motivated and driven instead. When interviewing candidates, businesses should have an age-diverse panel and evaluate a prospect on the knowledge, skills and behaviors required for the job. And if the time comes to lay off employees, decisions should be made objectively, Smith added. A successful economy is made up of workers from every generation because people of all ages bring different skills and life experiences to the table, said Express CEO Bill Stoller. Regardless of age or any other factor, at the end of the day, its important to hire the best person for the job. The survey of 704 business leaders, decision makers and job seekers was conducted in January 2020 through the Express Refresh Leadership and Job Journey blogs. If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Adria Minsky at (416) 620-7111 or email adria@mapleleafstrategies.com . About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 800 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Since its inception, Express has put more than 7.7 million people to work worldwide. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit www.ExpressPros.com . 1 Wrongfully fired employees can work together to help end age discrimination, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/leadership/article-wrongfully-fired-employees-can-work-together-to-help-end-age/ NOVEMBER 23, 2018 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ec5e153c-2e27-410b-9794-e4189d7e9c3f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43c9d560-796e-496b-816a-eb8f7bd2ef66 MONTREAL - An American fugitive wanted for murder in Texas says he fears for his safety if returned to the United States. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - An American fugitive wanted for murder in Texas says he fears for his safety if returned to the United States. Derek Cameron Whisenand made the comment today during what was expected to be a hearing to determine his admissibility to Canada. Derek Whisenand, age 27, is seen in this handout photo provided July 9, 2019. An American fugitive wanted for murder in Texas says he fears for his safety if returned to the United States. Derek Cameron Whisenand made the comment today during what was expected to be a hearing to determine his admissibility to Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Cavalier County Sheriff's Department Instead, Whisenand told the Immigration and Refugee Board member hearing his case that he wants to make a refugee claim. Whisenand refused to go any further after he learned journalists were present. His case was put off until March 10. The 28-year-old has been detained since his Dec. 30 arrest, which came after police responded to a call about the shoplifting of work boots at a Walmart in the Bayers Lake area of Halifax. Whisenand is a suspect in the June 2019 death of a 78-year-old man in Eastland County, Texas, about 170 kilometres southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He told the Immigration and Refugee Board on Tuesday that he didn't feel comfortable speaking with reporters present. "My safety is in jeopardy so I'm trying to apply for citizenship (sic) in Canada," he said, later correcting it to refugee claim when it was pointed out by the board member. "I don't feel comfortable putting that out ... for hundreds of thousands of people to read," he added about his security concerns. Dianne Tordoff, the board member hearing his case, told him to meet with the Canada Border Services Agency about a possible refugee claim. Whisenand had refused to leave his cell during his last hearing in January, explaining Tuesday he didn't want to appear without a lawyer present and he has had trouble finding one. He is alleged to have crossed illegally into Manitoba sometime in late June from North Dakota, where authorities found his car. The fugitive hasn't explained how he got to Nova Scotia, but he was found living in a tent near the commercial area in Halifax where he was arrested. The CBSA said he has no family or friends in Canada. Whisenand was ordered to remain detained at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility on the basis he was a flight risk and a danger to the Canadian public. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2020. EPIcenter has abandoned plans to turn CPS Energys shuttered Mission Road power plant into a $75 million project aimed at showcasing San Antonio as a center for energy innovation. The 5-year-old project started with commitments of more than $20 million to EPIcenter in 2015 to turn the former power plant into an innovation hub. Features were to include an accelerator and fabrication labs for energy startup companies, an education center, an exhibit area to house energy exhibits and an auditorium. The problem was raising nearly $55 million. EPIcenter CEO Kimberly Britton acknowledged the difficulty of fundraising. It also was a distraction to the operation of the energy centers programs. We realized that maybe constructing a singular headquarters was not the way to go, she said. HELEN L. MONTOYA/San Antonio Express-News She said the startup accelerator and a lecture series are up and running without the power plant headquarters. With seven full-time employees, the organization operates out of Geekdom co-working space on Houston Street and CPS Energy headquarter. EPIcenter officials are currently looking for a permanent home downtown. The organizations plan to drop the power plants renovation, in addition to the stalled Lone Star Brewery redevelopment, mark a setback to development along the Mission Reach, which features an eight-mile linear park along the San Antonio River. ENTER TO WIN: Four tickets to Morgan Wallen at the San Antonio Stock & Rodeo Show CPS Energy officials said theyre looking to put the power plant up for sale within the next six to 18 months. Robin Jerstad /For the San Antonio Express-News We expect to receive a wide range of interesting proposals for the site, utility CEO Paula Gold-Williams said. The gas-fired Mission Road plant was built at the turn of the 20th century and operated until 2003. The EPIcenter project had been seen as more than jump-starting the area south of downtown. Its aim was to put San Antonio on the map as an energy innovation center. The EPIcenter will promote energy-sector education, research, and innovation in an effort to directly impact and stimulate job creation, urban economic revitalization, and business development rooted in the New Energy Economy, said then-CPS Energy CEO Doyle Beneby in May 2015 when the project was announced. CPS Energy was one of the centers founding members of EPIcenter, and the Mission Road facility was to be its flagship project. CPS Energy /Courtesy CPS Energy Gold-Williams, whos also an EPIcenter board member, said the utility supports Brittons decision to abandon the Mission Road plan. We ultimately realized that asking their team to focus on a big capital campaign was not the best use of their talents, she said. Alternatively, we can now better optimize EPIcenters nimbleness and talented staff. They are concentrating their efforts on finding and vetting new promising ideas and companies that, over time, will help improve our efficiency while expanding the products and services we offer our customers. At least one of the startups helped by EPIcenter, Go Smart Solar, has partnered with the utility to offer a solar power program for apartment dwellers and homeowners whose homes cant accommodate rooftop solar. Other startups are working on concepts not specifically connected to CPS Energy projects. Among the 18 startups EPIcenter has assisted since 2018, Britton said, 45 percent are located outside the San Antonio area. Other innovation center features, such as the fabrication labs, would have duplicated efforts elsewhere in San Antonio. Britton said Southwest Research Institute and Port San Antonio already house such labs. We realize that given the broad needs of the startups that it could be more practical to outsource, she said. That includes EPIcenters speaker and education program. The organization rents venues at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and Trinity University, among other locations. Five years ago, CPS Energy agreed to donate the power plant to EPIcenter, which the utility considered a $6 million contribution to the project. Another founding member of EPIcenter, OCI Solar Power, agreed to donate $5 million once the center filed formal plans to begin renovation of the power plant. OCI sells solar energy to CPS Energy under a contract. The OCI donation is in addition to a combined $5 million that OCI Solar Power and two other founding members Itron, and Landis+Gyr agreed to kick in for the renovation of the power plant. Itron and Landis+Gyr also are CPS Energy vendors. EPIcenter, however, used some of that $5 million to cover operating costs. William Luther /San Antonio Express-News Britton said the agreement with OCI Solar Power, Itron and Landis+Gyr allowed the EPIcenter to use all or part of the $5 million for the operating expense. The center hold about $3 million of the donation in reserves. The three CPS Energy contractors agreed to give another $5 million for goods and services for the planned energy innovation center. Britton said shes negotiations with the companies, hoping to use the funds for existing programs. EPIcenter runs on an approximately $1 million annual budget, according to the organization, and brought in revenue of $750,000 last year a combination of grant money and fee income from the energy startups, as well as a new energy advisory business. Britton said the organization is succeeding, even without the bricks-and-mortar innovation center. Austin isnt the only place in Texas for innovation, she said. San Antonio is more than tacos and margaritas. 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 Joe Biden brought his wounded presidential campaign to South Carolina on Tuesday, staking his hopes for a comeback on the loyalty of black voters in the state after a dismal finish in the New Hampshire primary magnified his disappointing finish in Iowa. 'I know this is going to be the fight of my life,' Biden told about 200 enthusiastic supporters gathered near the South Carolina Capitol to hear the 77-year-old former vice president deliver an emotional appeal. Biden eagerly looked ahead as the nomination fight moves beyond the overwhelmingly white opening states to Nevada, South Carolina and a Super Tuesday slate where African Americans and Latinos will hold considerable sway. 'We just heard from the first two of 50 states. Two of them,' Biden said. 'That's the opening bell, not the closing bell.' Joe Biden brought his wounded presidential campaign to South Carolina on Tuesday, staking his hopes for a comeback on the loyalty of black voters in the state Your browser does not support iframes. The candidate argued that no Democratic nominee has succeeded without significant support from African Americans, the core of his base in a fractured primary field. The electorate in South Carolinas February 29 primary, the first in the South, is expected to be more than 60% black and could approach 70%, according to state party leaders. NEW HAMPSHIRE RESULT 1. Bernie Sanders (nine delegates) 2. Pete Buttigieg (nine delegates) 3. Amy Klobuchar (six delegates) 4. Elizabeth Warren (no delegates) 5. Joe Biden (no delegates) 6. Tom Steyer (no delegates) 7. Tulsi Gabbard (no delegates) 8. Andrew Yang - dropped out 9. Write-ins 10. Deval Patrick - expected to drop out 11. Michael Bennet - dropped out Advertisement Still, there is no Democratic precedent for the kind of comeback Biden is trying to pull off. No Democrat has claimed the nomination in the modern primary system without winning either Iowa or New Hampshire. Biden's campaign had said for months they didn't have to win either state, but that strategy didn't necessarily consider finishing so far off the pace. In recent days, Biden's donor base has since grown nervous, raising questions about his financial viability if he doesn't rebound quickly. Biden boarded a private jet in Manchester on Tuesday evening - even before New Hampshire primary polls closed - ending an eight-day whirlwind that saw the former vice president go from a national front-runner for the nomination to a battered underdog. He finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses, and with votes still being tabulated in New Hampshire, he looked set to come in fifth, after Senator Elizabeth Warren. Each was at risk of finishing without winning any delegates out of the nations first primary. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, speaks at a campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina on Tuesday, where he fled before the polls in New Hampshire closed Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden attend a primary election night rally on Tuesday night in Nashua, New Hampshire The sparsely attended election night party in New Hampshire came as Biden appeared to be set to finish fifth in the contest, winning no delegates In his remarks Tuesday night, Biden praised Iowa's and New Hampshire's opening roles, but argued that 99.9% of African Americans and 99.8% of Latinos haven't yet had the opportunity to cast Democratic primary ballots. 'Do not let anyone take this election away from you,' he said in a speech that touted his deep political ties to South Carolina and to the black community. Biden mentioned his relationship with South Carolinas lone Democratic congressman, Jim Clyburn, the highest ranking black lawmaker on Capitol Hill. He noted his service as President Barack Obamas top lieutenant. He recalled meeting South African leader Nelson Mandela. And he promised black Americans a seat at the table in the Oval Office. 'Too often your loyalty, your commitment, your support for this party has been taken for granted,' he said. 'I give you my word as a Biden that I never, ever, ever will.' Biden was introduced by his campaign co-chairman, Cedric Richmond, a Louisiana congressman and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond recalled for the crowd the first question he asked himself when deciding who to support: 'Who do I trust?' South Carolina has been a springboard for the nominee before. Four years ago, Hillary Clinton and Sanders battled to a draw in Iowa and Sanders beat her in New Hampshire, prompting a round of hand-wringing from some party leaders and national media. A man walks past a sign for Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden lying on the ground in Nashua on the day of New Hampshire's primary Clinton went on to crush Sanders in South Carolina and the diverse states that immediately followed, building a delegate lead he could never overcome. Eight years earlier, it was Obama, the nation's first black president, who used the black vote to put distance between his campaign and Clinton. This isn't a two-person race, though, and Biden is looking merely to return to contender status. But 2020 already has proven unusual, with no candidate having demonstrated the ability to build a broad coalition across the party's racial, ethnic and ideological factions. Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg achieved a split decision in Iowa and Sanders barely edged out Buttigieg in New Hampshire. Sanders, a Vermont senator and democratic socialist, has paltry support among the party's establishment core, and for months he has trailed Biden in support among non-white Democrats. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has struggled to corral meaningful support from black or Latino voters. The same is true for Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who finished just behind Biden in Iowa but finished third in New Hampshire. Biden does have competition for the black vote in South Carolina. Billionaire businessman Tom Steyer has spent large sums on advertising, while Biden's financial struggles have left him largely absent from the state's airwaves. The former vice president will depend on voters like Tina Herbert, a Columbia attorney who was eager to see him Tuesday night. 'I thought it was important that I showed my face and showed my support for him tonight,' she said. 'I've been with him since Day One.' Herbert said she wasn't concerned about Biden's finishes in any other early states. 'We are not really receptive to outsiders, so we don't listen to their opinions, even when we should, good or bad,' she said. [February 12, 2020] Applied Insight Acquires DAE, Expands Market Leadership in Cloud Innovation for Government Applied Insight, a market leader in solving complex technology challenges for federal government customers, backed by The Acacia Group, announced today its acquisition of Digital Age Experts LLC, specialists in cloud system design, cloud-native development and development security operations for the federal government. The acquisition of DAE, completed in August 2019, strengthens the company's lead in developing next-generation cloud solutions for federal customers, adding unique and complementary intellectual property to AI's portfolio of cloud technologies with DAE's SHIFT cloud emulation platform. "Applied Insight is a market leader in helping government agencies leverage the full power of the cloud," said John Hynes, AI CEO. "DAE strengthens our position with a highly experienced team and proprietary cloud technologies. Its SHIFT emulation technology combined with AI's Altitude cloud management platform uniquely positions us to solve all low-to-high side development, testing and integration challenges for government customers. We're excited by the potential of what we can achieve together." Founded in 2011 and based in Reston, Virginia, DAE has an exemplary track record of innovation. Its team of cleared engineers is skilled in cloud-native development, cloud migration and the integration of third-party tools into federal cloud environments. DAE's SHIFT cloud emulation platform is designed for customers operating in air-gapped cloud computing environments as part of an enhanced security regime. It emulates a customer's air-gapped region experience, enabling users to test and adapt their workloads fo system impact, compatibility and performance before migration. "We have been particularly impressed with DAE's approach to innovation, which closely aligns with our own," said Dede Dascalu, AI's chief technology officer. "The DAE team partners with customers to solve complex technical challenges in ways that no one else has been able to do. Their SHIFT cloud emulation technology is a great example of that. The team's experience further boosts our ability to build the next generation of intelligent cloud environments for federal customers within our aiLabs research and development program." SHIFT has had a transformational impact on DevSecOps in the cloud. It enables uncleared developers to work in environments that emulate classified regions but don't touch them, significantly broadening the scale of the developer talent pool from which customers can draw. SHIFT accelerates the process by which applications can be made region ready, enabling more rapid deployments to support customer mission objectives and deliver significant cost savings. SHIFT dovetails with AI's award-winning Altitude automated cloud platform-as-a-service. Altitude provides a cloud infrastructure that combines cloud management and governance technologies, giving customers that are operating at scale in the cloud complete control over their cloud environments. SHIFT and Altitude together transform the ability of government customers to work at scale across air-gapped regions within their own security, governance and compliance boundaries. Along with AI, DAE is one of only approximately 30 companies worldwide to be an Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) Advanced Consulting Partner with AWS Government Competency. DAE was also the first small business in the world to be part of an even more exclusive group of AWS-accredited companies that specialize in defense and national security. About Applied Insight Applied Insight leaves no stone unturned to solve complex technology challenges for Federal Government customers. We practice accountable innovation, designing solutions that account for the customer's mission and the user's reality right from the start. With proven capability in cloud, analytics, cybersecurity and mission solutions, our approach to technology empowers people to collaborate more effectively in delivering services vital to the nation. To learn more about AI, visit www.applied-insight.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. About The Acacia Group The Acacia Group is a team of operational investors with a long track record in the U.S. technology and services markets. We see value in technologies that enable people to collaborate in sustaining our society, from our security and economy, to our institutions and infrastructure. We invest in entrepreneurs who share that mission, bringing the capital, experience and relationships to enable them to take their business to new heights. For more information, please visit The Acacia Group or follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005036/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Roger Stone, departs following a status hearing in the criminal case against him brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., March 14, 2019. On the same day, all four prosecutors involved in Stone's trial dramatically quit the case in apparent protest of the about-face on the sentencing request. One of those prosecutors resigned from the government altogether. Hours later, the Justice Department said it would take the unusual step of revising the sentencing recommendation. Timothy Shea, the new U.S. attorney for Washington, filed another sentencing memorandum Tuesday, calling for Stone to receive "far less" time behind bars. That proposal on Tuesday came under attack from Trump, who raged against not only the severe recommended sentence but also the judge overseeing Stone's case. Just two days earlier, prosecutors from the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C., recommended that a judge give Stone a harsh sentence of between seven and nine years in prison. Trump, in a tweet, congratulated the department's chief, Attorney General William Barr, "for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought." President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to endorse the Justice Department's controversial decision to overrule career prosecutors and recommend a shorter prison sentence for Trump's longtime friend, Roger Stone, for crimes related to the 2016 presidential election. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, speaks to William Barr, U.S. attorney general, during the 38th annual National Peace Officers Memorial Day service at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., May 15, 2019. Democrats condemned the Justice Department's move. "Attorney General William Barr should be ashamed and embarrassed and resign as a result of this action directly interfering in the independent prosecution of Roger Stone," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Wednesday. Blumenthal called Trump's actions "Simply the latest examples of political interference by the president to alter the independent decisions of the Department of Justice." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaking on the Senate floor, said, "What is more swampy, what is more fetid, what is more stinking than the most powerful person in the country literally changing the rules to benefit a crony?" Schumer has asked the Justice Department's internal watchdog, Inspector General Michael Horowitz, to "immediately investigate" the decision to weaken Stone's sentencing recommendation. "This situation has all the indicia of improper political interference in a criminal prosecution," Schumer wrote in a letter to Horowitz on Tuesday. Stone, 67, was convicted at trial last fall of lying to Congress about his contacts with WikiLeaks during the 2016 presidential election, and for pressuring an associate, Randy Credico, to endorse his lies. WikiLeaks during the election released emails stolen by Russian agents from the chief of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign and from the Democratic National Committee. The revised court filing did not recommend a specific prison term for Stone. DOJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec told NBC News that the reversal was made before Trump's first tweets complaining about the initial sentencing request. Wednesday morning on Twitter, the president also slammed the investigation in which Stone's charges were brought: former special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign. "Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!" Trump tweeted. Mueller has not been credibly accused of lying during his testimony before Congress in July. Trump also targeted the four prosecutors who withdrew from Stone's case. "Who are the four prosecutors (Mueller people?) who cut and ran after being exposed for recommending a ridiculous 9 year prison sentence to a man that got caught up in an investigation that was illegal, the Mueller Scam, and shouldn't ever even have started?" Trump tweeted. TWEET But the prosecutors' recommendation was not "exposed." Rather, it was submitted to the public court docket in Stone's case, and was supported in a 26-page memo that stressed the seriousness of his offenses and the fact that he was fully aware of the crimes being committed. Stone's lawyers, in their own sentencing proposal submitted late Monday night, had asked the judge to deliver a sentence of probation that would keep him out of prison. Trump attacked that judge, Amy Berman Jackson, suggesting that she had treated former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort worse than notorious mobster Al Capone. TWEET House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who led Democrats' impeachment efforts in Congress over Trump's dealings with Ukraine, tore into Trump for putting his thumb on the scale in Stone's case. "For the president now to intervene, through his attorney general, to seek lighter sentences for people who are covering up his own this conduct is just an egregious violation of the rule of law," Schiff said Wednesday. "I think we are seeing a dismantling of the post-Watergate reforms, like nothing, we've seen in decades," Schiff added. David Becker/Getty Sen. Elizabeth Warren has built her presidential campaign around the contention that she has a plan for everythingbut her plan for winning the Democratic nomination after a disappointing fourth-place finish in New Hampshire is far from clear. Following her loss on Tuesday evening in what was essentially a home game for the Massachusetts senator, and as she continues to trail the frontrunners in South Carolina polling, plugged-in primary watchers told The Daily Beast that Warren has one last card to play: the caucus state of Nevada. If she can even make it here, that is, a Nevada-based official for a rival campaign said. The Warren campaign, which has one of the largest payrolls of any candidate seeking the Democratic nomination, has had an outsized presence in Nevada almost from the outset. The senator has assembled a small army of more than 50 campaign staffers on the ground in Nevada, and has dispatched top-flight surrogates like former rival Julian Castro to the state to underscore her closing unity candidate message. The Warren team was the first one on the ground here and has a large team with many field offices, said Donna West, chair of the influential Clark County Democrats, when asked about Warrens ground game in the state. They have been working on their grassroots voter contact and engagement, as have most campaigns. In a 2,000-word memo released to campaign staff and supporters on Tuesday afternoon, campaign manager Roger Lau highlighted the fact that Warrens ground team is closing in on nearly a million contacts with voters in Nevada. Our campaign has been organizing in traditionally red and blue areas of Nevada, South Carolina and states voting in March for months, and in some places nearly a year, and we are confident that we'll continue to show strength by competing everywhere, not just in pockets that reflect one segment of our party or another, Lau wrote. In her election night address to supporters on Tuesday, Warren indicated that her team is preparing for a longer, harder primary than she might have hoped for, noting that we still have 98 percent of the delegates for our nomination up for grabs, and Americans in every part of our country are going to make their voices heard. Story continues Nevada, the most diverse of the early voting states and a locus for organized labor on the Democratic primary calendar, would normally be a logical target for Warren, whose early investments in on-ground organizing would normally be paying dividends by now. But many voters, West said, remain undecided only days before the states early voting period begins on Saturdayand two back-to-back poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire have some supporters on the ground worried that she wont be able to compete in the state. She keeps saying shes a fighter, but you have to actually win a fight sometime if you want people to take you seriously here, an official with one of the states influential labor unions told The Daily Beast. The official is personally backing Warren, but their union has not yet made an endorsement ahead of next weekends caucuses. You cant unify the party from the back row. The official noted that Warren aired her first television advertisement in the state only in late January, a 30-second Spanish-language ad titled Elizabeth Warren Es Una Luchadora or Elizabeth Warren Is A Fighter. Shes a fighter who will beat Donald Trump, the ads narrator says in Spanish. And when the dust settles, she will fight like hell to make this a country that works for everyone. In comparison, former Vice President Joe Biden, also on the ropes after dismal finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, aired his first television advertisement nearly four months ago, and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg was up on TV as of December. Even Warrens late-to-the-party ads are now being scaled back, however. After the senator emerged from the messy Iowa caucuses with a third-place showing, her campaign pulled six figures worth of television ads from the airwaves in Nevada, as well as South Carolina. Warren told The Washington Post that the ads were pulled because she wants to be very careful with the campaigns money, which is running low. According to campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission, Warrens campaign had a mere $13.7 million at the beginning of 2020. Warren does still have $2 million in ad buys reserved in Nevada and South Carolina through February, as well as digital ads highlighting praise for the Massachusetts senator from former President Barack Obama (who has not endorsed any candidate yet). But Nevada is also the early-voting state that Warren has visited the leastone of the many factors that prompted a group of staffers in the state, all women of color, to depart from the campaign last week. During the time I was employed with Nevada for Warren, there was definitely something wrong with the culture, Megan Lewis, a former field organizer, told Politico about the exodus, which amounted to nearly 10 percent of Warrens Nevada staff. I filed a complaint with HR, but the follow-up I received left me feeling as though I needed to make myself smaller or change who I was to fit into the office culture. Staffers cited the campaigns late addition of Spanish-language campaign literature and a low number of organizers who could speak Spanish as complicating its outreach to Nevadas huge Latino population as an additional reason why they leftand did so publicly. Warren apologized for the reasons that the staffers left after a town hall in New Hampshire last Thursday, saying that she took personal responsibility for the departures. I believe these women completely and without reservation and I apologize that they have had a bad experience on this campaign, Warren said at the time. I take personal responsibility for this and Im working with my team to address these concerns. In the memo released on Tuesday afternoon, Lau outlined the path forward for Warren as a delegate hunt even beyond Nevada and South Carolina. The remaining three early states of New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina appear poised to keep the race wide open, Lau wrote, adding that no candidate has yet shown the ability to consolidate support among key Democratic constituencies. Lau pointed to the delegate threshold of Super Tuesday as the real test for Warrens candidacy, and revealed that internal projections show us at or above the 15 percent threshold in nearly two-thirds of the Super Tuesday map. But the time to address concerns about Warrens pathway to victoryor, at a minimum, survivalin the Silver State and beyond may have already passed, the rival campaign official told The Daily Beast. The unity candidate message only works if you have something in the W column, they said. Nobody unifies around third place. 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. Portugal has ordered a freeze on the bank accounts of the Angolan billionaire businesswoman Isabel dos Santos. Isabel, the daughter of the former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is currently the subject of a criminal investigation in Angola. The public prosecutors office in Lisbon confirmed reports that dozens of personal and corporate accounts belonging to Isabel Dos Santos and her husband, Sindika Dokolo, were the subject of a seizure order. Isabel Dos Santos amassed a fortune estimated at $2.2bn while her father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, was president of Angola. She is battling allegations of corruption and nepotism following the publication of Luanda Leaks, an investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. She denies all wrongdoings. The allegations against Dos Santos relate to suspected maladministration and misappropriation of funds during her 18-month term as chair of the nations state oil company, Sonangol. We confirm that the public prosecution service requested the seizure of bank accounts, as part of the request for international judicial cooperation from the Angolan authorities, the Portuguese prosecutors office told news agency Lusa. Angola is the second-largest oil-producing nation in Africa after Nigeria, and its state oil company is central to the economy, accounting for some 90% of exports. BASF announces Schwarzheide, Germany, as location for cathode active material production in Europe Battery materials plants in Germany and Finland will utilize an industry leading energy mix lowering CO 2 emissions across the value chain BASF is announcing a new battery materials production site in Schwarzheide, Germany, as part of its multi-step investment plan to support the European electric vehicle (EV) value chain. This state-of-the art plant will produce cathode active materials (CAM) with an initial capacity enabling the supply of around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year with BASF battery materials. Innovative cathode materials by BASF increase the performance of batteries, promoting the success of climate-friendly mobility. The Schwarzheide plants modular design and infrastructure allows for the rapid scale-up of manufacturing capacities enabling BASF to meet increasing customer demand for the European EV market. The plant in Schwarzheide will use precursors (PCAM) from BASFs previously announced plant in Harjavalta, Finland. Startup of the two plants is planned for 2022. The plants in Finland and Germany will offer our customers reliable access to tailored high-nickel cathode active materials in proximity to their European manufacturing facilities, said Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, President, Catalysts division at BASF. With these investments in Finland and Germany, BASF will be the first CAM supplier with local production capacities in todays three major markets Asia, the U.S. and Europe. BASF will become the leading supplier with a reliable, sustainable and European-based supply chain which will comprise base metal supply, particularly nickel and cobalt, precursor production, and cathode material production within one region. The site in Schwarzheide uses an energy-efficient gas and steam turbine power plant that operates on the principle of combined heat and power generation. It is currently being modernized to further increase its eco-efficiency. Until the battery materials plant is commissioned, the integration of renewable energies is also planned. The Harjavalta plant will utilize renewable energy resources, including hydro, wind and biomass-based power. This advantageous energy mix will provide CAM material with a very low CO 2 footprint. The investments in Harjavalta, Finland, and Schwarzheide, Germany, reinforce BASFs support of the European Commissions agenda towards a European battery production value chain and are part of the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) that was approved by the European Commission on December 9, 2019 under the European Union state aid rules. To learn more about BASF Battery Materials and BASFs commitment to e-mobility, visit our website: https://catalysts.basf.com/products-and-industries/battery-materials You can find TV footage and additional photo material of BASFs battery material research and production sites in our TV-service and photo pool (please choose battery as search term). Dear Amy: I had a horrific childhood with an alcoholic, violent father who physically beat my mother, sisters and me on a regular basis. l would get so scared I would literally pee in my pants during the beatings because I thought that he would kill me, or them -- it was that bad. When I was 9, the sexual abuse started. No one protected me. To make matters worse, when I started the fifth grade, there was a girl who bullied me consistently, and beat me up a couple of times. She made my days hellish. I recently found her on Facebook under a different (married) name. I am told she is a nice person now, but I wouldn't know, because our paths haven't crossed since the end of fifth grade. I feel such rage when I see her picture. I want to contact her and let her know about my home life and how horrible she made me feel for an entire school year. I want to say that I never forgot her cruelty and that I am now a grown, successful woman who would "kick her behind" if I ever saw her. She caused me so much pain, it is only fair that she suffers for what she did to me. Unfortunately, I start getting anxious. I revert back to the child that was terrified of the bully, and my monster father. My father died suddenly, so I never got the chance to stand up to him. I don't know if I am a coward or being kind to myself by letting sleeping dogs lie. I would appreciate your words of wisdom. -- Survivor Dear Survivor: You were victimized by unspeakable abuse during childhood. Your survival is a triumph. "Letting sleeping dogs lie" is not the answer for you, because, for you, the dogs never sleep. These memories still pace and stalk and threaten to pounce. You need to deal with your rage. Vengeance doesn't quiet rage ... it stokes it. You deserve (and would be well-served by) professional help with a trauma specialist to continue to recover from years of childhood abuse. Children who bully and violate other children are often re-enacting and expressing their own rage. Unless she is a genuinely deranged psychopath (a true rarity), I suggest that the monster who bullied you in school was most likely also a wounded, desperate, degraded child whose twisted instinct was to target the only person she saw who was perhaps more wounded and vulnerable than she. You are still too close to this, and too triggered, to feel compassion for her. It might seem like cliche, but you truly need to tend to, love, and honor both sides of yourself: the terrified and victimized child, and the fierce and angry survivor. Becoming a warrior does not mean that you victimize other people, but that you stand up for yourself (and others) bravely and with honesty and integrity. When you are ready, you could contact this woman to speak your own truth without threatening her, but you're not there yet. Until then, disengage from her on social media and continue to work on your own recovery. Dear Amy: You frequently mention therapy or finding a therapist in your columns. Could you offer some advice in a future column of how to go about this? I lucked into a great therapist years ago, but she moved away. Since then, I've tried half a dozen therapists and haven't found one who I click with or who works for my schedule. I've given up on therapy because starting with a new therapist is arduous and I've been burned before. I wonder if others are in a similar position. Your advice? -- C Dear C: The American Psychological Association offers a helpful database for finding therapists on their website: apa.org (search "psychologist locator"). You can type in your ZIP code and nearby therapists are located with their specialties noted, and the forms of insurance they accept. Many therapists will connect with clients virtually, using telepsychology. Even though your previous "good fit" therapist has moved away, she might be happy to provide Skype sessions. Dear Amy: I have an idea that might help relationships in this divided age. Each person should watch one hour of the other person's news program (of that person's choosing) each day. What do you think? -- Balanced Perspective Dear Balanced: Yes, this might help. It might also make both sides of this divide want to set their collective hair on fire. (You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.) COPYRIGHT 2020 by AMY DICKINSON. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. Read more advice: Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney Saint Paul, MN, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SAINT PAUL, February 12, 2020 The Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) invested $56,845,772 in grants and program-related investments in 2019 to more than 650 organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and western Wisconsin. The total represents OBTs ninth consecutive year of record charitable distributions. In just the past eight years, we have invested more than $365 million via grants and other financial vehicles to qualified organizations that are working on the front lines to creatively address issues that impact the daily lives of people throughout the region, said Charlotte Johnson, Co-CEO and Trustee, OBT. Since 1944, we have worked with organizations and community leaders to identify and implement projects that provide residents of the Upper Midwest with opportunities for a better life. As we close out 2019 and look to 2020, we are particularly excited about our previously announced geographic expansion, said Dan Reardon, Co-CEO and Trustee, OBT. This year we are expanding our funding to organizations in the state of Montana and eastern Wisconsin. We look forward to bringing additional resources to many new communities in those areas. In addition to OBTs longstanding commitment to responsive grant making, the organization has been continuously innovating its products and services to provide the entire region with new financial resources. Recent examples include medium-term loans, investments in patient-capital funds, revolving lines of credit, real estate acquisition funds, and health services financing. In 2019, OBT established Community Benefit Financial Company as a vehicle to grow the availability of its financial resources with professional quality and consistency. Community Benefit Financial will provide a wide range of both program- and mission-related investments to qualified organizations throughout our four-state region, said Brian Lipschultz, Co-CEO and Trustee, OBT. By consolidating our lending and investment initiatives, we will increase the efficiency and visibility of these efforts. We will share more information about Community Benefit Financial in the months ahead. About the Otto Bremer Trust The Otto Bremer Trust is a bank holding company and a private charitable trust based in Saint Paul, Minn., that works at the intersection of finance and philanthropy. Created in 1944 by Otto Bremer, it is today one of the regions largest philanthropic organizations and is committed to supporting a better quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. OBT is the majority owner of Bremer Financial Corporation, a regional financial services company, and manages a diversified investment portfolio. Since its founding, OBT has invested more than $750 million in people, places, and opportunities in the Upper Midwest. Visit ottobremer.org for more information, including a list of grants and program-related investments. Samsung officially unpacked the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra at its event in the United States. The South Korean giant also unveiled its first vertical folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip. Besides these, there were also a host of other announcements made at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020. Here is everything that happened: Samsung Galaxy S20 series Samsung launched three new flagship smartphones - the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra. Specifications for these devices had leaked days before the event. The three feature a QHD+ 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display, with screen sizes varying from 6.2-inches to 6.9-inches. The highlight spec for the three Galaxy S20 smartphones is their camera module. The Galaxy S20 Ultra features a quad-camera setup with a 108MP f/1.8 primary sensor that uses 9-to-1 pixel binning for 12MP images. The other three camera sensors include a 12MP ultra-wide lens, f/2.2 primary sensor, a 48MP telephoto sensor, and a depth sensor. The 48MP telephoto lens uses pixel-inning to generate 12MP images and features OIS. It also supports a whopping 100x super-resolution zoom, which Samsung calls the Space Zoom. Galaxy S20 features a 12MP f/1.8 sensor, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, and a 64MP telephoto sensor. The Galaxy S20+ shares the three sensors and also includes an additional DepthVision sensor found on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. All three smartphones support 8K video recording. The Galaxy S20 Ultra uses the primary 108MP sensor for 8K video recording, whereas the other two smartphones use the 64MP telephoto lens. Other specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC or Exynos 990 chipset, depending on the region. The Galaxy S20 Ultra features up to 16GB RAM and 512GB UFS 3.0 storage. The standard Galaxy S20 comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.0 storage, whereas the Galaxy S20 Plus gets 12GB RAM and up to 512GB UFS 3.0 internal storage. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy 20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra launched starting from $999 Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, Galaxy S20 Ultra price Samsung has launched the vanilla Galaxy S20 for $999 (roughly Rs 71,000) and the Galaxy S20+ for $1,199 (roughly Rs 86,000). The most-premium Galaxy S20 Ultras price in the US starts at $1,399 (roughly Rs 1,00,000). The Galaxy S20 series price in India is currently under wraps. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip The Galaxy Z Flip is Samsungs second foldable smartphone. It features a tall 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 21:9:9 aspect ratio and a 1080 x 2636 resolution. The foldable smartphone uses what Samsung calls the Ultra-Thin Glass for added durability. It also has a secondary 1.1-inch Super AMOLED screen positioned on the back cover that displays notifications. The foldable phone is covered with Gorilla Glass 6 on the outside as well as the inside. Samsung has built a three-stop hinge on the Z Flip that allows you to use both halves of the device independently when it is propped up. Additionally, the hinge of the Z Flip is designed to prevent dust from getting inside, a significant issue which plagued the Galaxy Fold during its initial launch. Samsung has developed special fibres to keep dust out. Further, Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy S20 series users will get better Google-Duo integration for an improved video-calling experience. Performance engine includes a Snapdragon 855+ SoC paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 3.0 storage. The phone runs on Android 10 with the One UI 2.0 skin out of the box. It packs a 3,300 mAh battery with 15W wired charging support. The Z Flip packs a set of stereo speakers tuned by AKG and wireless charging support. Optics on the Galaxy Z Flip includes a dual-camera setup with a 12MP prime wide sensor and a 12MP ultrawide lens. On the front, the punch-hole notch houses a 10MP, f/2.4 selfie camera. The Galaxy Z Flip is priced at $1,380 (approx. Rs 98,400) and will arrive in the US and South Korea on February 14. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip vs Motorola Razr: What's the difference between the two clamshell phone and which one is better? Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Samsung has upgraded the Galaxy Buds+ which now features two speakers instead of one. The wireless earbuds feature three mics and an improved ability to reduce ambient sound. It also supports switching between multiple connected devices. Samsung claims that the new Galaxy Buds+ offer 11 hours of battery on a single charge, and the charging case offers another 11 hours of juice. Samsung Galaxy Buds+ come integrated with Spotify. The device is priced at $149 (roughly Rs 10,600) in the US. Thanks to an anonymous donor, nearly 1,000 elementary school kids across the North East Independent School District were able to clear their school lunch debts. The donation, in the form of a $5,000 check, was delivered through a lawyer, so not even the district knows who it came from. It paid off the negative balances on school lunch accounts with enough left over to provide meals to students who were running out of funds, said Sharon Glosson, the districts executive director of school nutrition. This is very important to these kids, Glosson said. There are programs and resources for free meals but often we forget about the students who are above the qualification requirements but still struggle to pay for it, even if (the meal price) is reduced, so they may accumulate that negative bill. This provides them with a little extra help. On ExpressNews.com: Proving value of leftovers, NEISD grads can now donate lunch money The district sets a limit on how far into the red students can go before theyre given a cheaper meal than the one provided to the other kids. They still get fed a sandwich, fruit and milk and their debt doesnt increase, Glosson said. At NEISD cafeterias, school lunches typically cost about $2.60 and breakfast costs about $1.10. In the elementary schools, the most a student can be in arrears is $15. For middle school and high school, its $10 and $5, respectively. The district thanked the donor in a Facebook post, saying, It takes a village to raise a child. In the post, Huebner Elementary School principal Carol Pierce called it a beautiful thing to be the recipient of such a generous and kind donation for our students. The schools motto this year is, In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND, she noted. And every day we talk to our students about sharing kindness with others. On ExpressNews.com: School leaders say tighter food stamp requirements would hurt school lunch programs Glosson said the school district has received multiple donations since the start of the school year to cover students meal debt. It now totals about $20,000, including $3,000 from newly graduated seniors whose parents volunteered the money left in their accounts. In December, a $5,000 gift from Waterman Construction, a San Antonio firm, was enough to pay almost all of the meal debts. And so for us to have accumulated so many negative balances again is really telling you that this is a negative cycle, Glosson said. Anyone who wants to help reduce students meal debt can contact the NEISD school nutrition department at 210-356-9100. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Some residents of Borno state booed President Muhammadu Buhari as his convoy made its way into Maiduguri on Wednesday. Buhari, who h... Some residents of Borno state booed President Muhammadu Buhari as his convoy made its way into Maiduguri on Wednesday. Buhari, who had been in Ethiopia since Friday for the African Union summit, headed straight to Borno to condole with the people over the latest Boko Haram attack. On Sunday, about 30 people were killed in an attack at Auno, near Maiduguri. As the convoy of the president made its way, some residents shouted in Hausa: Bama so! Bamayi!, which translates to We dont want; were not interested. Commenting on the hostile reception, a Twitter user wrote: If what Ive been hearing from the people welcoming President Buhari to Maiduguri is all but to judge, then the people of Borno are not happy. Just an opposite of his earlier Visits. Bama so! Bamayi! This is really serious. There must be a change of strategy in Fighting BH. Just an opposite of his earlier Visits. "Bama so!" "Bamayi!" This is really serious. There must be a change of strategy in Fighting BH If what I've been hearing from the people welcoming President Buhari to Maiduguri is all but to judge, then the people of Borno are not happy.Just an opposite of his earlier Visits."Bama so!""Bamayi!"This is really serious.There must be a change of strategy in Fighting BH pic.twitter.com/SqIteNKBHc February 12, 2020 Borno is a stronghold of the president. Below is a video of people protesting on Wednesday: Closure of Chinese businesses and ports to curb spread of the virus is likely to hurt economies and companies worldwide. Business activity is slowly sputtering back to life in China but the extended Lunar New Year holiday originally scheduled for January 24-30 has affected companies around the world as the Chinese government enforces curbs to prevent the spread of a deadly coronavirus. Closed-off ports and delayed shipments from China are not only affecting Chinese workers and companies but also their trading partners overseas who depend on supplies to keep business running. Stephen Wong, a Malaysian who imports tech components from China for a business producing locally branded computers on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, told Al Jazeera that most of his products are stuck in Shenzhen in southern China as workers there have been instructed to stay at home. Without inventory on hand, we expect to lose 70-80 percent of sales, said Wong. Globally, Malaysia was the eighth-largest importer of Chinese goods and services in 2018, according to World Bank figures. But companies in countries such as South Korea, Japan and the United States could suffer the most due to disrupted supplies of components and finished goods from China. As the fallout of the coronavirus continues to affect the operations of multinational companies, these firms are likely to turn to other manufacturing hubs worldwide, Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit, told Al Jazeera. For many global multinationals, the severe disruption of Chinas industrial output has highlighted the vulnerability of their global supply chains to excessive reliance on China, he said. Other global manufacturing hubs in Asia and Latin America are likely to benefit as firms turn away from China to cope with demand, said Biswas. The experience of the coronavirus epidemic will likely further accelerate efforts over the medium term by global firms to diversify their supply chains to other manufacturing hubs in Southeast and South Asia, including Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and India, as well as to other major emerging markets manufacturing hubs, notably Brazil and Mexico. But many countries could also suffer due to the closures in China because their exports to the country are also being disrupted. In fact, most countries today rely on China to consume the majority of their goods. Some industries have it worse than others. In a blow to some global commodity suppliers, some Chinese companies have reportedly used force majeure clauses in contracts to delay or cancel purchases of goods including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and copper. A force majeure is a legal provision that exempts companies from meeting contractual obligations because of events beyond their control. French oil giant Total said on Friday that it rejected a force majeure request from a Chinese LNG buyer, the first global firm to push back against the use of the clause. Some Chinese customers, at least one, are trying to use the coronavirus to say I have force majeure, Philippe Sauquet, head of Totals gas, renewables and power segment, said on Thursday. We have received one force majeure that we have rejected. A copper smelter in China has also declared force majeure, sources told Reuters. China is the worlds largest importer of copper and iron ores, accounting for approximately 50 percent of world demand for copper in 2019, according to World Bank data. In Chile, one of the worlds largest producers of mined copper, Chinese buyers have asked miners to delay shipments due to port shutdowns. While the suppliers have not reported any contract breaches, they have verbally agreed with clients to reschedule some deliveries, according to Victor Garay, market coordinator for Cochilco, the copper commission in Chile the worlds biggest miner of the metal. Chile and Peru are the most significant producers of mined copper, with Chile accounting for 27 percent of all copper mined globally. Meanwhile, trade in iron ore could be affected in the medium term as the coronavirus prompts a long delay in construction activities, according to economists at ING. Manufacturers with significant operations in China, such as phone maker Apple Inc and large global carmakers, are also warning of a decline in output and profits due to the extended closure of factories. Hyundai has halted production in South Korea because of a lack of parts from China and Tesla has warned that it would see a delay of more than one week in the ramp-up of production on its Shanghai-built Model 3 cars. Economists with government-backed think-tanks in China are already forecasting a loss of at least 1 percent in economic growth due to the virus outbreak. Based on estimates by ING, the effects could travel beyond global supply chains to hurt several economies, especially those in Asia. Classroom lessons cover behavior on social media as well as in real life. Anyone, at any age, can have lapses of character and engage in bullying or hurtful behavior online. Misconduct can seem amplified among middle school-aged children navigating the pitfalls of adolescence and peer pressure. The deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has so far killed over 1,100 people in China, can hit economies of the Asia-Pacific region if it prolongs, and the impact will be more pronounced on banks with poor profitability and asset quality, rating agency Moody's has said. Many parts of China are in a shutdown mode after the virus outbreak last month. The World Health Organisation has described the epidemic as very serious and has issued a global alarm. Already many industries have been hit across the world as China is the single-largest source market for the world economy today. Moody's in a note on Wednesday warned that the larger impact on regional economies will be visible through poor bank profitability and worsening asset quality because of the impact the hit on travel and tourism, consumption, commodity prices and supply chain disruptions will have on banks. "If the outbreak of the coronavirus outbreak intensifies and the disruptions stemming from it are not contained in the next few months, it will hurt the asset quality and profitability of banks in the Asia-Pacific region," Moody's Investors Service warned. "The severity and length of the outbreak remain highly uncertain. If the virus related disruptions are short-lived, there will be a limited credit impact on APAC economies and banks. However, the outbreak can also last for a prolonged period and become more severe," it said. On travel and tourism, the note said as people travel less, economic growth and employment conditions will weaken in these economies in general and those dependent on foreign travellers in particular. "This will hurt banks' asset quality, in turn driving up credit costs and weakening profitability," it said. If the outbreak lasts longer, it will force households to consume less at brick-and-mortar retail outlets, hurting businesses that are dependent on domestic private spending. Banks will face credit losses from exposures to weaker companies, it added. Factory closures in China will disrupt supply chains, particularly in electronics and automotive sectors, which are already impacted by it. "In that event, credit risks for banks will arise from financing for suppliers or subcontractors that are dependent on orders from major technology or auto companies," it said. Poor demand from China will drive down commodity prices, pulling down growth in commodity-exporting countries, impacting the financial health of commodity companies, which will pose risks to banks' asset quality. Real estate prices can decline as a result of weaker economic growth and investor confidence, leading to larger losses on mortgages and property exposures, it added. The impact on the financial markets will be visible through falling prices of financial assets, leading to a decline in value of mark-to-market securities held by banks and fall in revenue from financial markets, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday welcomed apparent progress towards a US-Taliban deal in Afghanistan but warned the militants must reduce attacks. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reported "notable progress" in negotiations between Washington and the Taliban, which have now lasted over a year. The prospective deal would see the US pull thousands of troops from Afghanistan, in return for which the Taliban would provide various security guarantees and launch eventual talks with the Kabul government. "We would welcome any step that can lead to the reduction of violence," Stoltenberg said as he arrived for a meeting of NATO defence ministers, who will discuss the alliance's training and support mission in Afghanistan on Thursday. A New York Times report citing Afghan and US officials said President Donald Trump has given conditional approval to a deal with the Taliban as he seeks to end America's longest war. But progress remains fragile -- a deadly suicide attack in Kabul on Tuesday underlined the continuing threat of violence, and Stoltenberg warned the jihadists must make good on their promises. "The Taliban has to demonstrate a real will and ability to deliver a reduction in violence to make it possible to have any progress towards a lasting and sustainable peace solution in Afghanistan," Stoltenberg said. A de-facto ceasefire would enable the Americans to start withdrawing thousands of troops from Afghanistan, where between 12-13,000 are currently based. The US and the Taliban have been on the brink of a breakthrough before, with a deal all but complete in September before Trump nixed it at the last moment amid continuing Taliban violence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Norgine to receive upfront payments, undisclosed milestone payments along with double-digit percentage royalties - Norgine retains full commercial rights to PLENVU() in all unlicensed countries AMSTERDAM, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Norgine B.V. (Norgine), a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company, today announced a number of deals for the commercialisation of Norgine's product PLENVU() around the world. Norgine entered into exclusive licence and distribution agreements with: -- Faes Farma S.A. in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. -- Pharmacare Limited T/A Aspen Pharmacare in the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia. -- Swixx Biopharma in Central and Eastern Europe including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Peter Stein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Norgine said, "Colonoscopy plays a critical role in the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases including colorectal cancer. Through these partnerships with Faes Farma,Aspen Pharmacare and Swixx Biopharma PLENVU( )will be able to help more patients around the globe." Gonzalo Lopez, General Manager of Faes Farma commented, "We are pleased to include PLENVU() in our portfolio and are convinced that it will contribute to the development and improvement of colonoscopy in Latin America, a region where our company invests significantly to bring added value treatments to patients. We hope this collaboration with Norgine will be a first step and new cooperation opportunities may materialize in the future." Lorraine Hill, Aspen Pharmacare Group Chief Operating Officer said, "The agreement completed between Pharmacare Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aspen Holdings and the Group's primary South African trading company, and Norgine is a positive extension of our relationship locally. The inclusion of the PLENVU( )brand will supplement our existing portfolio in this therapeutic area." Swixx CEO, Jean-Michel Lespinasse noted, "Adding PLENVU() to our gastrointestinal (GI) portfolio, represents a great opportunity for Swixx, building on our existing excellent collaboration with Norgine. PLENVU() has the potential to help improve colonoscopy outcomes, patient experience and adherence." Following the announcement of Norgine's exclusive licence agreement with Korea Pharma in January 2019, PLENVU() has now launched in South Korea. PLENVU() is a lower-volume (1L) polyethylene glycol (PEG) based bowel preparation for colonoscopy in adults. It is the first lower-volume bowel preparation to show superior segmental cleansing of the colon vs. standard of care.([1]) PLENVU( )is currently available in mainland Europe (except France and Sweden) and Australia via Norgine, in South Korea via its partner Korea Pharma and in the USA via its partner Salix Pharmaceuticals.([2]) For further information on PLENVU( )in the EU visit www.expertiseincolonoscopy.com/plenvu [http://www.expertiseincolonoscopy.com/plenvu] Notes to Editors: About PLENVU() PLENVU(), Powder for Oral Solution (PEG 3350, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Chloride, and Potassium Chloride), is indicated in adults for bowel cleansing prior to any procedure requiring a clean bowel. About Colorectal Cancer and colonoscopy Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality world-wide.([3]) Colorectal cancer is largely preventable, with early detection being associated with a 90% cure rate.([4]) Colonoscopy is an effective method for colorectal cancer screening and has been shown to reduce both the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer when applied in the general population. Inadequate pre-colonoscopy bowel cleansing reduces the diagnostic accuracy of colonoscopy, particularly for the detection of smaller lesions and sessile (slightly flattened) polyps. This may result in repeated procedures, thereby potentially increasing patient burden, resource requirement and costs and can possibly delay the initiation of treatment.([5],[6],[7]) About Norgine Norgine is a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company that has been bringing transformative medicines to patients for over a century. Our commitment to transforming people's lives drives everything we do and our European experience, fully integrated infrastructure and exceptional partnership approach enables us to quickly apply creative solutions to bring life-changing medicines to patients that they may not otherwise be able to access. Norgine is proud to have helped 22 million patients around the world in 2019 and generated EUR419 million in net product sales, a growth of 6% over 2018. Norgine has a direct presence in 14 European countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. We also have a strong global network of partnerships in non-Norgine markets. We are a flexible and fully integrated pharmaceutical business, with manufacturing (Hengoed, Wales and Dreux, France), third party supply networks and significant product development capabilities, in addition to our sales and marketing infrastructure. This enables us to acquire, develop and commercialise specialist and innovative products that make a real difference to the lives of patients around the world. In 2012, Norgine established Norgine Ventures, a complementary business which supports innovative healthcare companies through the provision of debt-like financing in Europe and the US. For more information, please visit http://www.norgineventures.com/ [http://www.norgineventures.com/]. NORGINE and the sail logo are trademarks of the Norgine group of companies. Follow us @norgine About Faes Farma Founded in 1933, Faes Farma is a Spanish pharmaceutical company with wide international experience that researches, produces and markets pharmaceutical products and raw materials, exporting them to many countries. The identity of the company is defined by an unwavering search of excellence, the constant pursuit of a maximum pharmacological quality of all its products and the consequent effort to always offer highly effective solutions for patients in selected therapeutic areas among which gastro enterology is one of the most important for the company, as well as allergy treatments. Faes Farma operates in many countries, employing more than 1.200 people. Its headquarters, manufacturing and R&D centre are located in Leioa, (Bizkaia). Faes Farma also has facilities in Madrid and subsidiaries in Portugal, Laboratorios Vitoria, in Barcelona, Diafarm Laboratories and also in Italy, France, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Nigeria. About Aspen Aspen is a leading global player in specialty, branded and generic pharmaceuticals with an extensive basket of products that provide treatment for a broad spectrum of acute and chronic conditions experienced through all stages of life. With an acknowledged presence of nearly 2 decades in the pharmaceutical sector, Aspen remains committed to its core values of providing quality and effective healthcare solutions to millions of patients in more than 150 countries, with its core focus being in the Thrombosis, Anaesthetic and High Potency & Cytotoxic therapeutic categories. Aspen has a strong presence in both emerging and developed countries. Its emerging market footprint includes Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, comprising Russia and the former Soviet Republics. It is also a leading pharmaceutical company in developed countries including Australia and most notably in Western Europe. (CONTINUA) RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Researchers working on an Army project developed nanoscale thermal switches that are key to thermal management of nanoscale devices, refrigeration, data storage, thermal computing and heat management of buildings. The journal Nature Nanotechnology published an Army-funded study from University of Michigan researchers that showed for the first time how a nanoscale thermal switch can be built by employing nanoscale effects that arise when heat is transferred between a hot and cold nanoscale-thick membrane via thermal radiation. In comparison to the vast array of devices, such as transistors and diodes that are available to control the flow of electricity, there exists currently very few proposals for controlling the flow of heat, especially at the nanoscale. To overcome this challenge researchers have been exploring nanoscale phenomena that may enable novel functional thermal devices. "It's exciting to see Army investments in basic research leading to the discovery of new effects and proof of concept demonstrations of novel thermal devices," said Dr. Chakrapani Varanasi, a program manager at the Army Research Office, an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory. "These findings can have a strong impact on thermal management for next generation computing for the military." The Army's network modernization strategy is designed to enable the Army to fight tonight while also actively seeking next-generation solutions to stay ahead of potential adversaries. A 2018 discovery by the research team, which highlighted how heat is transported in preferential directions from nanoscale membranes, led Dr. Dakotah Thompson, the lead author of the 2018 study, to begin exploring potential applications. "After some thought it became apparent to us that we could potentially create a thermal switch by controlling the emission properties of the nanomembranes by bringing a third object into close proximity of the nanomembrane," said Dr. Edgar Meyhofer, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. In order to test this hypothesis, Thompson developed a scheme where a planar object can be brought into close proximity (microns) of two co-planar membranes that were exchanging heat. "In order to accomplish this challenging goal, I nanofabricated both suspended calorimetric devices that had unprecedented calorimetric resolution and a planar mesa-shaped object, and controlled the separation between them using a custom developed nanopositioner," Thompson said. From these experiments the authors could show that heat transfer between nanoscale membranes can be turned on and off by simply modifying the separation between the membranes and the planar mesa. In order to make precise numerical predictions of the experimental observations, Dr. Linxiao Zhu, a post-doctoral fellow at Michigan, and Thompson performed detailed calculations that showed how the observations can be quantitatively related to how the propagation of light, which is the carrier of heat, from one membrane to the other is impeded by the planar mesa which can either absorb the light propagating between the membranes or reflect it away from the membranes. Scientists at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory are closely following this research to use these developments to create novel Army relevant devices. ### In addition to the Army Research Office, the Department of Energy also funded this study. The CCDC Army Research Laboratory is an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. As the Army's corporate research laboratory, ARL discovers, innovates and transitions science and technology to ensure dominant strategic land power. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command. (Newser) David Hockneys exuberant painting "The Splash" sold at auction at Sotheby's in London on Tuesday for almost $30 million. Its pre-sale estimate had been $26 million to $39 million, the AP reports. Painted in 1966, Hockneys bold canvas shows a California swimming pool in the moment after a diver has leapt in. Hockney left gray Britain for southern California in the 1960s, and captured the intense LA light and the rippling surface of swimming pools in a series of paintings including "A Little Splash" and "A Bigger Splash." "The Splash was last sold in 2006, when it fetched $5.4 million at a Sothebys auctionat the time, a record for Hockneys work. The current record price for a work by the 82-year-old artist is $90 million, paid at a Christies auction in 2018 for another pool painting, "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)." Queen Letizia of Spain oozed business chic as she stepped out in a stunning baby pink trouser suit while attending a Princess of Girona Foundation Awards event in Valencia today. The royal, 47, cut an elegant figure in the stylish blush Boss suit, which she paired with matching pumps and a cream Carolina Herrera blouse. Queen Letizia could be seen chatting as she relaxed alongside fellow attendees and guests at the event, at which the scientific research winner for the awards was announced. The former journalist, who is known for her thrifty fashion sense and love for rewearing pieces, last donned the ensemble for an event in December last year. Queen Letizia of Spain, 47, cut an elegant figure as an event for the Princess of Girona Foundation event in Valencia The royal oozed business chic in the chic trouser suit by Boss, which she paired with a Carolina Herrera blouse (pictured) Looking stylish from head to toe, the former journalist paired her pastel jacket with a crisp, white blouse from Carolina Herrera. Elongating her slender frame, the mother-of-two teamed her form-fitting trousers with matching pink high heels. She wore her hair loose with a light wave, while showing off a peek at her sparkling earrings underneath. A natural beauty, the royal sported eye shadow, mascara, and a layer of black eyeliner which she complimented with a light layer of bronzer and subtle pink lip gloss. The former journalist could be seen chatting animatedly with fellow attendees as she arrived for the announcement of the winner of the scientific research award The mother-of-two appeared in high spirits as she attended the event in Valencia and could be seen chatting with fellow attendees The Queen was without her husband King Felipe at the event, whom she married at the Almudena Cathedral at Royal Palace, Madrid, in May 2004. The couple are parents to Princesses Leonor, 13, and Sofia, 11. The Princess of Girona Foundation Awards is named after the Princess of Girona, the title held by Letizia's eldest daughter Leonor. The charity is a private foundation set up in 2009, with King Felipe VI of Spain taking on the role of the honorary chairman on behalf of his daughter Princess Leonor. The royal sat alongside other attendees at the event and beamed as she chatted with fellow guests The Foundation aims to support young people in their professional and personal development, and has a special interest in identifying young people with talent. Her appearance comes during a busy week for the royal, who visited the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid in a bid to help raise awareness of the online issues brought about by cyber bullying. The mother-of-two celebrated Safer Internet Day 2020 during her visit, meeting with members of staff at the centre. It was also announced yesterday that President Donald Trump had invited Queen Letizia and her husband King Felipe to his third state dinner at the White House in April. IQVIA Holdings Inc. IQV reported solid fourth-quarter 2019 results, wherein the companys earnings and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.74 beat the consensus mark by 1.2% and increased 16% on a year-over-year basis. The reported figure exceeded the midpoint ($1.7) of the guided range of $1.65-$1.75. Total revenues of $2.9 billion outpaced the consensus estimate by 1.9% and increased 7.7% year over year on a reported basis and 8.5% on a constant-currency basis. The reported figure came above the guided range of $2.807-$2.857 billion. Shares of IQVIA have gained 22.8% over the past year, against 1.7% decline of the industry it belongs to. Lets check out the numbers in detail: Segmental Revenues Revenues from Technology & Analytics Solutions (TAS) totaled $1.21 billion, up 7.7% on a reported basis and 9% on a constant-currency basis. The segment accounted for 42% of total revenues. Research & Development Solutions (R&DS) revenues of $1.47 billion increased 7.5% on a reported basis and 8.1% on a constant-currency basis. The segment contributed 51% to total revenues. Revenues from Contract Sales & Medical Solutions (CSMS) totaled $210 million, up 8.8% on a reported and 8.3% on a constant-currency basis. The segment accounted for 7% of total revenues. Operating Performance Adjusted EBITDA was $642 million, up 10.1% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 22.2% from 21.7% in the year-ago quarter. Operating income was $166 million, down 19.8% from the year-ago quarter. Operating income margin decreased to 5.7% from 7.7% in the year-ago quarter. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow IQVIA exited the quarter with cash and cash equivalents balance of $837 million compared with $863 million at the end of the prior quarter. Long-term debt at the end of the quarter was $11.5 billion compared with $11.4 billion at the end of the previous quarter. Story continues The company generated $583 million of cash from operating activities in the reported quarter and CapEx was $137 million. 2020 Guidance The company projects adjusted earnings between $7.15 and $7.35 per share. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.26 lies within the guided range. Revenues are now expected between $11.8 billion and $12 billion. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate stands at $11.83 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is now anticipated in the range of $2,565 - $2,620 million. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider IQV currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Investors interested in the broader Zacks Business Services sector are awaiting fourth-quarter 2019 earnings of key players like Delphi DLPH, Waste Management WM and Republic Services RSG, each scheduled to release results on Feb 13. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2019, while the S&P 500 gained and impressive +53.6%, five of our strategies returned +65.8%, +97.1%, +118.0%, +175.7% and even +186.7%. This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 2019, while the S&P averaged +6.0% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +54.7% per year. See their latest picks 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 Waste Management, Inc. (WM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Delphi Technologies PLC (DLPH) : Free Stock Analysis Report IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Ford v Ferrari Rated PG-13 for some language and peril Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92 percent Available on Disc and Streaming One of the most underrated films of 2019, and winner of two Academy Awards, is this film based on the true story from the 60s where the Ford racing team, lead by legendary car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) went head to head against Enzo Ferrari in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. As far as racing movies go - its one of the best ever made with an equal amount of both great storytelling and action. And in 152 minutes, it zips by due to the masterful filmmaking of James Mangold (Logan) and his talented production team. As someone who cares little about these kinds of films, it made me want to care in ways I didnt expect. A- First Love Rated NR - but would be R if rated Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97 percent Available on Disc and Streaming In Japanese with English Subtitles From prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike comes this peculiar, off-balance crime thriller about a talented and serious young boxer who, after a diagnosis of inoperable brain cancer, falls in love with a prostitute and gets swept up in a crazy drug-smuggling scheme over the course of one night in Tokyo. Just like this weeks Oscar-winning Korean filmmaker Boon Jong Ho, Miike has a unique style of story-telling that might seem unusual to American audiences, but is none-the-less entertaining. This film is a bit violent and scatter-brained, but I also found it to be hilarious and memorable. Sure the story is somewhat hard to follow, but its worth the attempt for sure. B+ White Snake Rated NR - but would be PG-13 if rated Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74 percent Available on Disc and Streaming From GKIDS comes this animation import from China about a young snake catcher from a small village who discovers a beautiful and mysterious young woman who has lost her memory. Together they go on a frightening journey to save the world from an evil power. Culturally, the film apparently has more meaning in its native China, but there is much to take in and appreciate here. The story itself is fairly hard to follow but no worse than what youd find from Miyazaki. But what interested me the most was the spectacular animation. This is truly a beautiful film to look at and listen to, with a score that feels inspired by Tan Duns Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Its a little rough for the youngsters with more violence than youd expect as well as an abbreviated sex scene that is rare for animation. So pre-teens and teens, and especially adults, are the target audience. B- Shutter Island: 10th Anniversary 4K SteelBook Limited Edition Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68 percent Available on Disc and Streaming Back in 2010, Martin Scorsese knocked it out of the park with this psychological thriller about a detective (Leonardo DiCaprio) who travels to a remote mental hospital to investigate the disappearance of woman who was admitted after murdering her three children. I am fully convinced that the only reason this film didnt succeed to a much larger degree was that most folks only saw it once. Once just doesnt do it. The story is good the first time around, but it just isnt great. But watch it a second time, in close proximity to the first, and the film takes on a completely different personality and tone. Its not even remotely the same film the second time you watch it. To me, that made the film truly special, and one of the most under-appreciated films in recent history. This complexity is mind-boggling at the very least and genius at its very base. With all of his accolades and notoriety for his body of work, this remains my favorite Scorsese movie to date and still one of my favorite films of all time. A+ Danny Minton may be reached at danny@dannyminton.com. After his wife was diagnosed with cancer, Jordan Peterson went on an anti-anxiety drug to cope with the stress. It turned out that the drug was toxic, and he was sensitive. His daughter, Mikhaila Peterson, who first notified people about the situation in September, recently posted an updated video about Jordan Peterson's near-death experience. In her September 2019 video, Mikhaila talked about the shock to the family when Tammy Roberts, her mother and Peterson's wife, was diagnosed with cancer. After a successful surgery, Roberts had a bad reaction and almost died. Because Canadian doctors couldn't cope with Roberts's illness, she ended up hospitalized in America. The American doctors saved her. Peterson never left Roberts's side, but the stress was extreme. His doctor put him on a low dose of Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine. What no one in the family knew is that Clonazepam is highly addictive (two weeks will do it), and some people's chemistry makes withdrawal unusually difficult. Peterson ended up in a rehab program to get weaned off Clonazepam. He was put on other, milder, shorter-acting benzodiazepines. Mikhaila was happy to report that her dad was recovering and her mom was out of the woods. And that's where the story ended in September 2019. Last week, though, Mikhaila came back with a deeply disturbing update about Peterson: Here's a brief rundown of what Mikhaila says: the rehab treatments were not working. The family finally found a rehab center in Russia that offered emergency medical benzodiazepine detox. By the time Peterson was hospitalized in Russia, though, he had pneumonia and ended up spending four weeks in the ICU. He was put in an induced coma for eight days and almost died. As a result of the medications, the withdrawal, and the time in the ICU, Peterson has neurological damage and can neither type nor walk well. His muscle strength was so depleted that he had to get therapy to sit up by himself. It's a horrific story of well intentioned medical care run amok. It's also appalling to think how close the world came to losing a man who has helped inject meaning back into ordinary people's lives. What's so important about Peterson is that he does not offer the cheap and easy self-improvement, self-realization, and self-actualization that characterized the 1970s and that still haunts the self-help aisle in any library or bookstore. Al Franken perfectly summed up that type of self-improvement with Stuart Smalley's catchphrase, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and gosh darn it! people like me." Vapid affirmations are part of what weakened the American psyche, paving the way for safe spaces, triggering, and the politics of perpetual offense. For Peterson, recognizing that you are an individual worthy of respect is only the beginning. That idea isn't the end of the self-examination, but only the beginning: every person inherently is a worthy child of God, but it's after acknowledging this reality that the real work begins. To optimize your potential, says Peterson, you have to stand up straight, organize your surroundings, treat yourself with dignity and respect, choose friends who value and cultivate the best in you, raise likable children, and work to make yourself a better person every day. Peterson also argues that truth is the dividing line between order and chaos. Lies are chaotic. Truth is clarifying. To the extent that we speak the truth, we align ourselves with reality and order. This is why, Peterson says, it is so important that we have free speech. Government-coerced speech too often forces people to live in a world of lies, lies that will inevitably collapse, bringing the system down with them. These lies also force people into moral contortions that pave the way to Auschwitz, the Gulags, and the re-education camps. Enforced lies have the power to invade the inviolable core of every individual. That is the fundamental evil of Marxism. In a shallow, non-religious, material world, one in which the left is doing its darnedest to deny reality, people crave truth. Peterson gives them a rationale for demanding that the world be an honest place and a meaningful one. In that way, he's important, and his recovery matters, not just for himself and for his family, but for a world that needs his message about beginning to improve the world by improving oneself, through hard work and honesty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that he is extremely delighted that US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are visiting India and assured that the country will accord a "memorable" welcome to the esteemed guests. "Extremely delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS will visit India on 24th and 25th February. India will accord a memorable welcome to our esteemed guests. This visit is a very special one and it will go a long way in further cementing India-USA friendship," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. Modi's remarks come hours after Trump said he is looking forward to his maiden visit to India. He added that five to seven million people are expected to welcome him in Ahmedabad during his visit. "I am (going to India). He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) said we will have millions and millions of people. He thinks we will have five to seven million people just from the airport to the new stadium (Motera Stadium)," Trump told reporters at White House on Tuesday. PM Modi further said India and US are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. "India and the USA share a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. Our nations are cooperating extensively on a wide range of issues. The robust friendship between our nations augurs well not only for our citizens but also for the entire world," his tweet read. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Trump is expected to attend an event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on the lines of the 'Howdy Modi' function that was addressed by the US President and Modi in Houston in September last year. Trump is slated to pay a two-day visit to India from February 24. During the visit, Trump, who will be accompanied by First Lady Melania, will attend official engagements in New Delhi and Ahmedabad, and interact with a wide cross-section of the Indian society, the MEA said in a statement. The announcement of Trump's first official visit to India was earlier made by the White House on Monday, which, in its statement, said that the US President and Modi had agreed during a recent phone conversation that the trip will "further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Young people are quick to notice contradictions between and among religious leaders, doctrines, and lifestyle choices. In this episode, I interview an amazing young woman who grew up in a multi-generational Mormon pioneer family. Carrie Sheffield once romanticized the Mormon Churchs worldwide missionary achievements, but eventually rejected her parents faith tradition. After living life as an agnostic, she became a follower of Jesus Christ. In this episode, we discuss her transformation. Carrie Sheffield is a millennial who has achieved enormous success as a columnist and broadcaster. The founder of Bold TV, Carrie has testified before Congress and been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, and other major news outlets. Carrie Sheffield Website: https://carriesheffield.com BOLD TV: https://bold.global/author/carrie-sheffield/ Secrets of Wealthy Women: How Carrie Sheffield Changed Her View of Money The former partner of Princess Beatrice's fiance has slammed female members' club 'The Wing' in London as 'the most sexist design I've ever seen.' American architect Dara Huang, 37, who lives in London, is the former partner of Princess Beatrice's, 31, fiance Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 37, and the mother of his toddler son Wolfie. She took to Instagram earlier this week to slam the London based club, posting snaps of the design in the 'women-only space' as 'something for '50s housewives'. In a scathing comment, Dara wrote: 'The Wing is in London now and sorry but this brand is about female empowerment and yet it's the most sexist design I've ever seen. It's like we're '50s housewives.' Dara Huang, 37, who lives in London, slammed The Wing online, calling the pink and flowery design 'sexist' Sharing another snap of the pink and flowery interior of the Fitzrovia-based club, Dara sarcastically wrote: 'Naturally women want to do business in a flower tiled cafe, right?' She added: 'Sorry, I'm a very positive person and I would never criticise someone else's business but this is just a design critic which I am good at. 'I find pink to be very masculine and feminine colour and it should be used with sophistication.' 'I think women and men both want to be in creative professional environments.' American architect is the former partner of Princess Beatrices' fiance Edo Mapelli Mozzi and the mother of his toddler son The architect went on to reveal that one of her favourite colours was 'dusty rose.' The Wing was founded in 2016 and initially promoted itself as a women-only space, but in January this year it clarified that stance following a $12million discrimination lawsuit brought by 53-year-old James Pietrangelo in 2018. It bills itself as a women's club and working space modeled after the clubs of the late 19th and 20th centuries, that were established by women who were barred from joining male-only clubhouses and educational institutions. It currently has 10 locations in New York, Chicago, DC, Boston, Los Angeles and London. Two more locations are planned in Seattle and Toronto. The American architect took to Instagram to slam the design of the club house in Fitzrovia, saying it was 'sexist' and suggesting it was unsophisticated The firm boasts 11,000 members worldwide with another 35,000 on the waiting list. Users pay up to $250-a-month for access to all clubhouses, along with facilities including lactation rooms, phone booths named after feminist icons, and work spaces heated to the female-friendly temperature of 72F - warmer than most offices. Members are also granted access to exclusive events such as intimate talks with Hillary Clinton, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and Jennifer Lawrence. Clubhouses also promote activism, with classes such as 'Prenup 101', community discussions like 'F*** Harvey Weinstein', and chartered buses to feminist rallies. Dara is the former partner of Princess Beatrice's fiance Edo Mapelli Mozzi (pictured here with Edo and their son Wolfie) The Wing has also been accused of discriminating against low-income women who could most benefit from the networking opportunities it provides. Kaitlyn Borysiewicz, who wrote a critique of The Wing in April 2018, accused its founders of promoting 'a certain type of women' who need helping the least. The Wing denied the claims, saying it offers scholarships to the underprivileged and has a diversity team to focus on including women of color in its community. The Donald Trump administration is doubling down on its 3-year-old pitch to Congress to overhaul foreign military aid and its using one of Capitol Hills favorite countries to do it. The State Departments 2021 budget, released Monday, highlights Tunisias request to purchase $500 million in US-made light attack aircraft to bolster the administration's request for $8 billion in global loan authority under the foreign military financing (FMF) program. The budget request says that while the full range of partners interested in foreign military financing for fiscal year 2021 is not yet known, the government of Tunisia is specifically interested in a $500 million loan to procure the aircraft for the Tunisian military. The State Department said that having global loan authority for foreign military financing "would allow the administration to provide financing to support this sale, as well as other future sales to support countries pursuing the divesture of Russian legacy equipment. Foreign military financing currently provides US security partners with grants to spend on American defense equipment. President Trumps 2021 budget frames the $8 billion loan request as a complement to the $5.5 billion in foreign military financing grants it has also asked Congress to fund. The 2021 budget request would allocate $40 million of those grants for Tunisia. The budget says the United States prioritizes foreign military financing for Tunisia, which is on the front lines of the fight against [the Islamic State] and other terrorist groups, to ensure that these threats are defeated. The Trump administration first proposed replacing the grant program with loans in 2017 as part of its efforts to slash foreign aid. After facing overwhelming bipartisan opposition in Congress, the State Department dropped the idea in 2018 only to tweak it last year by pitching the loan proposal as being complementary to the grant program. Its certainly plausible that its a strategic attempt by the administration to try to persuade Congress to support FMF loan authority, both because Tunisias a country they like and Tunisia has explicitly requested loan authority to support the purchase of those light attack aircraft, said Andrew Miller, the deputy director at the Project on Middle East Democracy. This is a case where theyve potentially requested the loan. Its not being forced on them in lieu of grant replacement. Indeed, if last year is any indication, Congress is likely to provide Tunisia with more military grant funding than the State Department has requested, but not the $500 million loan, which Tunisia also sought for fiscal 2020. Although the State Department only requested $40 million in Tunisian foreign military financing grants for fiscal 2020, Congress more than doubled that, appropriating $85 million to Tunis without providing the loans for the fighter aircraft. Miller and other skeptics of replacing the grant program argue that loans are a loss for both US taxpayers and the recipient countries. When FMF loans were a much more common tool, the preponderance of countries ended up defaulting, in which case the US was responsible for the loans, Miller told Al-Monitor. In which case, the US was responsible for the loans, and in many instances the US ended up making the difference for the full value of loans. So we ended up paying it anyway, but it still did damage to the creditworthiness of those countries. Miller suggested that the Tunisians could instead seek cash-flow financing an arrangement that would allow Tunis to finance the aircraft purchase with installation payments over multiple years. Israel is currently the only country with access to cash-flow financing. Iraq was the last country to receive a foreign military financing loan. Washington provided Iraq with a $250 million, eight-year loan in 2016 to help fight the Islamic State. The State Department has not requested any foreign military financing for Iraq this year. Conversely, the 2021 budget seeks $500 million in foreign military financing grants for Jordan to support the acquisition of upgraded fighter aircraft. This is a $150 million increase from the State Departments 2020 grant request for Jordanian foreign military financing and the exact same amount that Tunisia is seeking in loans. Venezuela's 'interim president' Guaido returns to country Juan Guaido was received by his supporters inside the airport upon his return. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has returned to his country after a three-week international tour. Although the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) had banned Guaido from traveling abroad, the Venezuelan opposition leader left his country on Jan. 19 to seek international support. "I'M BRINGING WITH ME THE COMMITMENT OF FREE WORLD" During his tour, Guaido held meetings in the US, Canada, Colombia, and several European nations asking them to impose sanctions on Venezuela. Moreover, he was received by US President Donald Trump at the White House and he also attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. However, a large number of people protested outside the airport and shouted "dirty traitor" and "get out". In a Twitter message, Guaido said: "I'm bringing with me the commitment of the free world willing to help us recover democracy and freedom." Guaido declared himself interim president early last year and is recognized as the countrys legitimate leader by the US, most Latin American countries and the European Union. * Irish nationalists Sinn Fein won most votes in Saturday poll * Sinn Fein's talks with smaller parties unlikely to succeed * Bruised Fine Gael and Fianna Fail stand aside for now * Ultimate government call likely to fall to Fianna Fail By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Ireland's Fianna Fail and Fine Gael let Sinn Fein proceed with trying to form a government without them on Tuesday, a process most acknowledged would ultimately require two of the now three largest parties to work together. Sinn Fein, a left-wing Irish nationalist party, stunned the establishment by winning the highest number of votes in Saturday's poll but its low number of candidates meant it finished between the two centre-right parties by number of seats. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party "won the election" and would try to form a left-wing led government with smaller parties and independent lawmakers, technically possible but a task even some of her senior colleagues said was highly unlikely to succeed. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar's Fine Gael and historical rival Fianna Fail, which have led every previous Irish government but fell to their lowest ever combined level of support, were also sceptical but happy to let others talk while they regrouped. "Mary Lou McDonald is the leader of the party who got the most votes in the election and should now do what she says she's going to do," Health Minister Simon Harris of Fine Gael told national broadcaster RTE. "She made a lot of promises, a lot of commitments, let her off now and see if she can try and form a government. If she can't, I do think there is an obligation on the centre of Irish politics, which still won a hell of a lot of votes by the way." Fine Gael has strongly ruled out governing with Sinn Fein, citing policy differences and the nationalist party's role as former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) The IRA fought against British rule in Northern Ireland for decades in a conflict in which some 3,600 people were killed before a 1998 peace deal. Story continues Harris said a pre-election offer of a first ever full coalition with Fianna Fail still stood. UNCERTAINTY Fianna Fail insisted it would not enter government with either party during the campaign, although its leader declined to repeat earlier outright refusals to consider Sinn Fein, saying only there were significant incompatibilities on policy. There are open divisions over such a tie-up among Fianna Fail lawmakers, who won 38 seats to Sinn Fein's 37 in the 160-seat parliament. Fine Gael have 35 seats. Analysts say it will eventually come down to whether Fianna Fail is willing to negotiate with Sinn Fein and if they can even then agree to a policy programme its members would back. The process could take weeks or months, they say. "The momentum is with Mary Lou McDonald, there's no doubt about that, but at some point Fianna Fail will have to make a crucial decision as to which way to go," said Theresa Reidy, a politics lecturer at University College Cork, "If those kind of refusals continue, we are looking at a second election, although it is very unlikely any of the parties will want that. There are a lot of obstacles on the pathway to an arrangement (between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein) too and that is why it is really very uncertain where we go from here." (Additional reporting by Graham Fahy Editing by Gareth Jones) Five members of a family, including two women, were killed on Wednesday when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said. The accident happened when the family was carrying the body of a baby from Jammu to their Bahadat village in Drabshalla for last rites, he said. Near Paani Nallah, the driver of the private car lost control over the wheels, the official said. The deceased were identified as Pawan Kumar (32), his wife Rekha Devi (26), Rita Devi (30), Kewal Krishan (37) and P Kumar (30). Senior Congress leader and former minister G M Saroori expressed grief over the loss of lives and said the repeated road accidents in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Udhampur districts must be a grave concern for the JK administration. "It is a situation which demands immediate measures and attention of all of us, especially the officers of transport, traffic police, National Highway Authorities and Border Roads Organisation to put forward their departmental specific assignment of the causes responsible for causing accidents in these hilly districts, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - GOLO Mobile Inc. (TSXV: GOLO) ("GOLO" or "the Company") announces that it has obtained a Liquor Delivery Service Licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. GOLO currently operates in high population density areas in Toronto, as well as other cities in North America. "With our ability to deliver alcohol to our customers in Toronto, GOLO continues to offer convenience and everyday items to our customers in high population density areas," said Peter Mazoff, President and CEO of GOLO Mobile Inc. This is the latest in a string of recent strategic initiatives for the Company. In 2019, GOLO signed exclusive partnership deals with leading Canadian real estate property management firms including Canderel Management Group Inc. and Cominar Properties. About GOLO Mobile Inc. GOLO provides eco-friendly delivery of everyday items to individuals in high physical-density areas. We focus on office towers, residential buildings corporate campuses, hospitals, airports and other areas with suitable populations. We provide property managers with increased tenant engagement, as well as revenue sharing opportunities, and our open API allows for integration into leading platforms and building systems. GOLO offers customers a variety of high-quality products and services for purchase from its native mobile or web-based applications, providing time-saving convenience for daily tasks such as mobile ordering ahead of food and restaurant meals, pharmacy items, pet supplies, dry cleaning, and more. GOLO currently services the Montreal, Toronto, and Chicago markets. GOLO is backed by strong institutional shareholders and private equity investors including Blackstone and CVC Capital Partners. GOLO Mobile Inc. is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GOLO.V. NOTE TO THE MEDIA: For interview requests with GOLO's CEO and/or additional information, please contact Chantale Baar. For Investor Relations inquiries, please contact ir@goloir.com. -30- Information: Chantale Baar, PR Consultant Communications Chantale Baar (514) 992-6463 cbaar@communicationcb.ca Source: Stefani Balinsky, Marketing GOLO Mobile Inc. (514) 670-8219 stefani.balinsky@golo.io Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) is responsible for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52354 WASHINGTON - The number of migrants taken into custody along the U.S.-Mexico border declined for an eighth straight month in January, but unauthorized crossings by Mexican nationals are on the rise, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said Tuesday that U.S. officials apprehended or deemed "inadmissible" 36,679 migrants in January, a drop of 10% from December. But he said the number of Mexican adults taken into custody has climbed 32% from this time last year, a shift he attributed to smugglers "scrambling to come up with new tactics" as overall migration numbers have fallen. "While this number represents the eighth straight month of declines, smuggling organizations are changing their tactics," Morgan said. "They're looking to other vulnerable groups." Morgan said that at this time last year, approximately 61% of the migrants U.S. officials encountered were from the northern triangle countries - Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. "Now, eight months later, that same percent, about 61%, are actually Mexican nationals," Morgan said. Morgan attributed the overall decline to the Trump administration's immigration policies, which he said have enabled authorities to quickly deport "95%"of the migrants encountered along the U.S.-Mexico border, including tens of thousands of Central American asylum seekers who have been sent to Mexican border towns to await their U.S. court hearings. "If we encounter you, if you're illegally in this country, you will not be allowed in the United States," he said. "You will be promptly removed and returned." Morgan defended the policies in the face of a report released Tuesday by Doctors Without Borders, which found that asylum seekers who have to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court hearings were facing high levels of violence. The international aid organization reported that 34 of the 44 asylum seekers it interviewed in the border city of Nuevo Laredo had recently been kidnapped. Morgan said the information he received from U.S. and Mexican authorities did not align with Doctors Without Borders' findings. He said crime has not been as severe as the group claimed. Though migration has been declining, Morgan predicted that another influx of migrants is possible, owing to "seasonal" trends. Last May saw a historic number of children and families apprehended along the border, overwhelming border authorities and U.S. immigration infrastructure. The White House on Monday submitted its 2021 budget request to Congress, which included $4 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services to hold unaccompanied migrant children - roughly double what it requested last year. In a rare admission of CBP misconduct - on a different border - Morgan on Tuesday acknowledged that border agents in Washington state last month behaved in a way "that was not in line with our directions" when they detained dozens of U.S. citizens and U.S. green-card holders of Iranian heritage for hours at the Canadian border. The Department of Homeland Security had developed an "enhanced" security posture in response to heightened tensions with Iran, but CBP officials claimed at the time that they were not targeting people because of their national origin. A newspaper in Blaine, Washington, later published what it said was a leaked memo from CBP's Seattle office, which explicitly instructed border agents to target anyone with Iranian, Lebanese or Palestinian connections for enhanced scrutiny. "I would say in that one instance, leadership just got a little overzealous, and we corrected that right away," Morgan said Tuesday. 12 Feb 2020, 12:10 PM World Health Organisation names coronavirus as COVID-19 The new coronavirus that has killed over 1,000 people in China and sickened more than 43,000 others globally has been named 'COVID-19', the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday. The CO stands for corona, the VI for virus and the D for disease, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, announced Tuesday at a news conference at the agency's headquarters in Geneva. CBI books Educomp Solutions, its directors for defrauding banks of Rs 1,955 crore The CBI has booked Educomp Solutions, its subsidiary and directors for allegedly defrauding an SBI-led consortium of 13 banks to the tune of Rs 1,955 crore and carried out searches at eight locations on Tuesday. After filing the FIR, the agency carried out searches at eight locations in Delhi, Dehradun and Gurugram on the premises of Educomp Solutions, Edu Smart and its directors, the officials said. Looking forward to my first visit to India: US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump has said that he is looking forward to his first visit to India later this month and indicated that the two countries may sign a trade deal. At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump is slated to travel to India on February 24 and 25. In addition to New Delhi, he will stop in Ahmedabad in Gujarat to address a joint public meeting with Modi at a stadium. Delhi Election Results: AAP clean sweeps Delhi as BJP, Congress concede defeat early on Aam Aadmi Party left the two national parties no choice but to accept their defeat even before the counting of votes for Delhi Assembly elections was halfway done. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party convincingly managed to claim a third stint in power at the national capital by winning 62 out of 70 seats up for grabs in the poll fray. The Bharatiya Janata Party remained a distant second with only 8 seats to its name. Congress could not win a single seat this time either. India's economic growth set to bounce back as slump bottoms out: government adviser Indian economic growth is poised to bounce back after slipping to a more than six-year low of 4.5% in the July-September quarter as the government has taken measures to prop up investments and consumer demand. "Corporate tax reductions, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and the banking sector reforms have helped and will help propel growth further," Sanjeev Sanyal, principal economic adviser at the finance ministry, told Reuters. Sitharaman seeks to debunk data fudging claims, takes on Chidambaram over defence budget allocation Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday sought to debunk claims of data fudging by the government and said the government was not hiding any numbers. Without naming Congress leader P Chidambaram, she took on the former finance minister for his remarks that the chief of defence staff should strongly protest against the reduced budget allocation for defence sector and that his party would stand in his support. Talking about previous UPA government, Sitharaman said "the entire defence ministry was paralysed, the defence of India was paralysed, they did not have an equipment and look at the way, bullet-proof dresses were not available". She asserted that Modi government has not fudged any accounts. As severe thunderstorms head to south-east Queensland, residents of a small Western Downs town have been told to prepare to leave their homes after heavy rainfall triggered an emergency alert for major flooding. The weather bureau warned about 5pm on Wednesday that thunderstorms would bring heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding in the next several hours. Locations that may be affected include Warwick, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Gympie, Ipswich, Kingaroy, Coolangatta, Stanthorpe, Caboolture, Cleveland, Gatton and Jimboomba. Other areas in the south-east also remained on flood watch. NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand (Reuters) - Facebook celebrity doctor Parkphum Dejhutsadin said his phone suddenly started pinging on Saturday - scores of his two million followers in Thailand were desperate and they needed his help. With nowhere to turn as they cowered in a shopping mall from a rogue soldier who had already killed more than two dozen people, they looked to Facebook and other social media to send their pleas and to try to find escape. Parkphum could help - and said for the next 16 hours thats all he did: living up to his panda-eyed Facebook persona as sleepless doctor Mor Lab Panda. They told me where they were and sent me pictures of their hiding places. Authorities didnt know where anybody was hiding. But I knew everything, said Parkphum. I didnt sleep a wink. I didnt want them to die. While social media have been accused of exacerbating or even encouraging mass shootings such as last years mosque massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand, in Thailand they were also crucial to pulling off a safe and dramatic rescue from the shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima city. Before 32-year-old killer Jakrapanth Thomma was cornered in a basement and shot dead, Thai commandos managed to coordinate raids into the mall to spring hundreds of people to safety. We were communicating on Facebook with the people inside to exchange information, Pongpipat Siripornwiwat, deputy commander of Nakhon Ratchasima police, told Reuters. Without it, our work wouldve been very difficult and we wouldnt have had any idea how many were trapped and what was going on inside. FACEBOOK LIFE The tragedy underscored the extent to which Facebook is the communication platform for daily life in the country of 69 million which has about 56 million active users a month and where the average person spends three hours a day on social media. Most social media activity is on mobile phones. And it was on Facebook that the killer, apparently angered by a property deal gone sour, first signaled his intentions. Do they think they can spend the money in hell? his post ended, roughly three hours before he opened fire at a house, then moved to an army camp, a temple and then the shopping mall - leaving a trail of murder behind him. At one point he posted a selfie in front of a fire. His last message before his Facebook account was shut down - Should I give up? - came nearly four hours after the first shot. But after facing criticism for failing to take down the Christchurch shooters livestream quickly and when a Thai father murdered his child on Facebook Live in 2017, the worlds biggest social media company moved faster once it heard what was happening. It shut his Facebook and Instagram accounts and then worked to remove anything that he had posted and was being shared by others - including by spoof accounts apparently set up in his name by other people after his own was blocked. There is no place on Facebook for people who commit this kind of atrocity, nor do we allow people to praise or support this attack, a Facebook representative said in a statement, adding that it worked closely with Thai authorities to take down content that violated its policies. We also responded to emergency requests from the Royal Thai Police to share information related to the shooter to prevent further harm, it said, without giving further details. Twitter, where graphic videos of the incident were circulated, said it also took action - a company representative said it monitored its platform to remove video content of the attack and to shield graphic content from view. But police said the shooter, who killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 before he was stopped, had not only used social media to publicize what he was doing but also to track police movements through online news sites. Social media was a double-edged sword. It helped police rescue people, but it also helped him keep up with our movements, said Pongpipat. PANDA EYES Parkphum, a medical technologist working for Thailands National Blood Center, is so famous he even has his own set of stickers for social media messaging apps with his trademark panda eyes and white coat. Every message from the people about where they were hiding and how many were with them all turned out to be true when police got there. People were hiding in (fashion store) H&M, Eveandboy (a cosmetics shop), a gym. I now know the entire floor plan of the mall, he said. Other Facebook celebrities with millions of followers also stepped in to coordinate and reassure. I told them to stay as quiet as possible and mute their phones, to send their locations and phone numbers, said Witawat Siriprachai, 36, known by Thais as the Sergeant of the social commentary page Drama-addict. I warned them not to livestream from their locations, because the shooter was also using Facebook during the rampage, said Witawat, who is not a sergeant in real life. At the shopping mall, 42-year-old Pat said she had just finished a meal when she heard the first shots and ran to hide in a mobile phone store. She said she was still traumatized and did not want to give her full name. For five hours she said she scrolled through her Facebook newsfeeds to keep up with what was happening. Afraid to make the slightest noise she messaged friends who told her where to contact the police. I waited in complete darkness, and then the police replied to ask my exact location, she said. Police worked with the information she gave to coordinate an escape route and timing for people on that floor - and when they gave clearance that the shooter was three floors down, everybody just sprinted to the fire exit. At a crouching run, masked commandos led them to safety. Just before 11 p.m., she posted to friends that she was safe. To understand how some companies have lost their souls, consider what happened after U.S. Bank stiffed a customer before Christmas. Nicholas Kristof: One challenge here was how to mix the particular story with the larger picture. The only reason to write about Emily James being fired was to make a larger point about irresponsibility in corporate America, but if I began with that it would seem tendentious and dry. So I decided to start with a quick phrase about the larger picture how some companies have lost their souls and then get into the story. Marc Eugenio had deposited a $1,080 paycheck into his account at U.S. Bank. The bank put a hold on most of the sum, and he spent many hours in a branch office over two days, trying to get access to the money so he could buy presents for his 9-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son. Confirming that the amount was $1,080 was surprisingly difficult. One person told me that it was $1,082. Its only a $2 difference, but its the kind of fact that you have to get right. If youre not right on the details, youre not trusted on the big picture. I could also have spent many hours going through the details of the hold and his interactions with the bank. My first draft went through the play-by-play that explained the hold, the fact that he was then given access to $200, and so on. In my first draft, I spent several paragraphs on this, but then my column was way too long. So I cut these details, figuring that they were not central to the narrative: Distressed customer, employee tries to help, employee is fired. On Christmas Eve, Eugenio found himself parked at a gas station in Clackamas, Ore., a Portland suburb, both his fuel gauge and his bank balance on empty. A bank employee had told him that money would soon show up in his account perhaps a ruse to get him out of the branch office. For hours Eugenio then tried his debit card at the gas pump, so he could buy a few gallons and get home to his wife and children. Both his fuel gauge and his bank balance on empty: This nice line came from my editor, Bruce Levine. Writers sometimes distrust editors, but I think of them as my rescuers. If they misunderstand a line, readers surely will as well. And Bruce here gave the sentence a poetic touch. I was stranded, he told me. I could have walked home, but it would have been five miles in the cold. Thats when Eugenio found an angel. I wondered about using this term, angel. I certainly wouldnt have in a news article, and I worried that it might seem over the top. But in the end I decided that in a single word it conveyed the role she played. He telephoned the banks toll-free number and spoke with Emily James, a senior officer at a call center in Portland. She spent an hour on the phone with Eugenio, trying to get some money released so he could at least get home. She soon realized that he had been misled, and that money wouldnt reach his account any time soon. Feeling bad for a customer stuck on Christmas Eve, James offered to drive over from her call center and personally hand him $20. Feeling bad was originally a grammatical error: I had written feeling badly, which is incorrect, and it slipped by editors. A reader pointed out that it should be bad, not badly, and we corrected it. No, no, no, Eugenio told her. He couldnt impose. But she suggested she could use her break, and she received permission from a supervisor to drive 20 minutes to Eugenio. She later recalled that when she arrived, she wished him Merry Christmas and handed him $20 of her own money. This was a writing challenge. Emily had said that the $20 was hers, while the bank and said that it was the managers. It didnt much matter, but I wanted to be sure to make clear that it wasnt the banks money without getting into the weeds. So I attributed the sentence with the she later recalled to signify that this was her version. I thought it would be too much to say something like $20 of what she says was her own money. But ideally I would have put the attribution later or made it clearer that this was one account rather than a definitive version. Twenty dollars wouldnt break me, she explained to me, and it would enable him to get home to his family. EDWARDSVILLE A Granite City man on Tuesday was charged with animal torture and aggravated cruelty to animals after he allegedly poured a corrosive liquid on a small dog, nearly killing it. Rodney W. Johnson, 45, was charged with allegedly pouring the liquid on a 10-year-old Maltese mix breed dog named Charlie. The burns destroyed most of the dogs hair. Bail for Johnson was set at $40,000. A Madison County prosecutor said an unknown person dropped the dog off at the Madison Police Department and officers immediately contacted Pound Pets, Inc., an animal welfare agency. The agency contacted Veterinary Specialty Services in Manchester, Missouri, for urgent medical attention. Charlie was given a small chance of survival, said Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons. With continued intensive care and nurturing from Veterinary Specialty Services and Pound Pets, Inc., Charlie has continued to fight for his life. Authorities said they know Johnson is not the owner. Assistant Madison County States Attorney Chad Loughrey said Johnson became a suspect because he is living with the owner. The images depicting the injuries to Charlie are heartbreaking and truly disturbing to look at, Gibbons said. However, we cannot turn our eyes away from the injustices he has suffered. The terrible abuse and cruelty alleged in this case must be dealt with swiftly and severely so that we can restore a sense of justice to our community and right such terrible wrongs, he said. We have a zero tolerance for abuse and cruelty to animals in Madison County, and the filing of these charges is just the beginning of that lesson for this defendant. He commended the work of the Madison Police Department for contacting Pound Pets Inc. to get Charlie emergency care and for the quick and comprehensive investigation which led to Tuesdays charges. Under Illinois law, animal torture is a Class 3 felony and aggravated cruelty to animals is a Class 4 felony. If convicted, the maximum penalty for a Class 3 felony is five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The maximum penalty for a Class 4 felony, if convicted, is three years. How to Get Virgin Media Engineers to FIX Hub 3.0 Problems and NOT BS Customers So your virgin Media Hub 3.0 stops working properly, keeps losing it's settings, and so you get an engineer to come out and fix it. In this video a HUB 3.0 no longer holds it's settings every time it reboots either switched off or after an update. However, unbelievably and contrary to the experience of every router I had over the past 30 years, the Virgin Media Engineer starts giving me bullshit that the HUB is SUPPOSED to lose it's settings and revert to default each time it is turned off. What a load of cods wallop! Find out how to deal with Virgin Engineers who bullshit customers rather than fix what's wrong! By HGR http://www.howtoguidesandreviews.com http://www.marketoracle.co.uk Copyright 2005-2020 Marketoracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd). All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 23:06:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russia is to launch a new investment cycle in order to achieve an annual investment growth of 5 to 7 percent, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday. "I look forward to the joint work of the Russian government and the central bank" to achieve the goal, Putin said at a meeting with senior officials, according to a Kremlin transcript. A high rate of economic expansion is the basic condition for successful social development, creating jobs, increasing real incomes and population growth, he said. Russia has all the factors to provide macroeconomic stability and reduce the vulnerability of its economy to external impact, he added. The alleged mastermind of a deadly attack on India's financial capital over a decade ago has been jailed in Pakistan for nearly six years on separate terror charges, his lawyer said Wednesday. Hafiz Saeed was found guilty of "being part of a banned terrorist outfit" and for "having illegal property", his lawyer Imran Gill told AFP He is wanted in India for allegedly planning a shocking 2008 attack in Mumbai, when 10 Islamist militants armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and other explosives killed 166 people and injured hundreds more on a three-day rampage. Lawyer Imran gill gave no details about Saeed's conviction apart from saying he would be kept in prison in the eastern city of Lahore. The firebrand cleric -- declared a global terrorist by the United States and United Nations, and with a $10 million bounty on his head -- is the leader of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa Islamist charity. Its militant wing Lashkar-e-Taiba is believed by Washington and Delhi to be responsible for the Mumbai attacks. Saeed has denied involvement, but has spent years in and out of varying forms of detention in Pakistan, sometimes under house arrest, on various charges. For the most part he has been free to move at will around the country, enraging India which has repeatedly called for his prosecution. Saeed's jailing comes as Pakistan faces potential blacklisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an anti-money-laundering monitor based in Paris -- for failing to combat terror financing. Hafiz Saaed had denied being the mastermind of the 2008 terror attacks on India's financial capital Worries around the novel coronavirus are mounting in India, with multiple cases surfacing up and people being quarantined. In Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, a man killed himself because he suspected he had coronavirus. According to a report by The Times of India, the man developed certain symptoms which were similar to that of coronavirus. He thought that he had contracted the disease and wanted to keep his wife and children safe. The man, identified as K Bala Krishna, native of Seshamnaidu Kandriga village in Thottambedu mandal of Chittoor district, had watched on his mobile phone videos related to the Coronavirus and started believing that he had been infected, the TOI report added. A miscommunication with doctors led to his death as he wrongly thought he had coronavirus. The doctors told the man that he did not have coronavirus but they also told the rest of the villagers to stay away from him else they would contract the disease too. Representational Image The man was advised to wear a mask due to some infection so that he did not contract other infections. He started behaving strangely and killed himself on Monday, said the report. His son said that his father was convinced he has coronavirus. This led to panic and he killed himself to protect others in the village. In Kerala, where three people have been confirmed positive for the novel virus, a total of 2,826 suspected Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) cases are being monitored in various districts of the state. BCCL Out of these 2,826 cases, 2,743 are under home quarantine and 83 are under observation in hospitals. A total of 263 samples of suspected cases of nCoV have been sent to the National Institute Virology for examination. Coronavirus, which originated from Wuhan, a Chinese city, in December last year, has infected nearly 20,000 globally and has killed more than 500 in China. 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. Buttigieg awarded the most delegates from Iowa Caucus; Sanders a close second Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg was awarded the most national delegates from the Iowa Democratic Caucus, confirmed the state party after reviewing results from some of the precincts. Held last Monday, results for the Iowa Caucus have been complicated by problems chiefly centered on a newly released mobile app. Following a review of 55 of the 1,765 precincts, or 3 percent of the precincts, the party announced on Sunday that they were allotting 14 national delegates to Buttigieg, 12 to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 8 to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, 6 to former Vice President Joe Biden, and 1 to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Prior to reporting the totals, the IDP shared with each campaign the analysis of the submissions and any resulting corrections, explained the Iowa Democratic Party. Corrections were made when the reported precinct numbers were inconsistent with the precincts official results, as signed by the precinct chair, secretary, and representatives of presidential campaigns. Results for the first-in-the-nation state contest for the Democratic presidential candidates were delayed due to technical problems associated with a mobile app used to record the votes. The app was developed by Shadow Inc., a Democratic tech firm whose leadership has ties to the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Shadow was paid around $63,000 by the state Democratic Party for the app, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Due to the complications, results for the precincts were released by piecemeal. Last Tuesday, with 62 percent of precincts reporting, Buttigieg led with 26.9 percent on state delegate equivalents, followed by Sanders with 25.1 percent. Last Thursday, with 97 percent reporting, Buttigieg's advantage over Sanders narrowed, with him having 26.2 percent while Sanders had 26.1 percent, according to The Hill. By the time 100 percent of precincts had reported, Buttigieg maintained his narrow lead over Sanders. However, the senator from Vermont had won the popular vote. Buttigieg celebrated the first reported result last week, stating that "nothing can take away what happened on Monday, just an extraordinary moment for the movement that we have built." Speaking at a press conference last week regarding the possibility of a review of the results, Sanders did not believe much would change about the results. What I expect will most definitely happen is that Mr. Buttigieg and I will end up with the same amount of delegates 11 now, each probably a little bit more, stated Sanders, as reported by the Washington Examiner. That's what will happen, ain't going to change, and what certainly is not going to change is the fact that in terms of the popular vote, we won a decisive victory. The next statewide contest will be the New Hampshire Primary, the first primary in the nation, which will be held on Tuesday. According to an average of polls by RealClearPolitics accessed on Monday, Sanders leads the Democratic field with 28.5 percent, followed by Buttigieg with 22 percent, Warren at 12.3 percent, Biden at 11.5 percent and Klobuchar at 11 percent. The two outfits were instrumental in mobilising protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam last December The Congress government in Puducherry passed a resolution against the controversial act on February 12. Commenting on the move, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said, Resolution urging the Centre to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act has been passed in Puducherry Legislative Assembly. This move makes Puducherry the sixth government to formally pass a resolution against law. The state joins the ranks of West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh in passing out the anti-CAA resolution. According to a report from India Today, AIADMK and All India NR Congress leaders boycotted the resolution, and were not present during the proceedings. They had submitted a petition to the Speaker VP Sivakolundhu of the state Assembly on February 6, urging him to stop any discussion or resolution against CAA. They had claimed it is not within the ambit of powers vested on Puducherry and exceeds the powers of the Legislative Assembly under Government of Union Territories Act 1963. Bedi had written a letter to Narayanasamy on February 10, stating the Act passed the Centre is applicable to the union territory and he cannot question it. O fcom will hold social media companies to account for potentially harmful content on their platforms under news powers, it has been reported. Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan will announce a widened remit for Ofcom as an internet watchdog on Wednesday, the Financial Times reported. The idea of Ofcom dealing with technology firms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube has previously been suggested following a Government white paper into online harms in April. However proposals put forward in August consider allowing the regulator to issue fines against platforms and websites it judges to have failed to protect users from seeing harmful videos such as those depicting violence or child abuse. Nicky Morgan will announce a wider remit for Ofcom today, it has been reported / AFP via Getty Images The suggested Ofcom scheme would serve as an interim arrangement until an online harms regulator is appointed under future legislation. The Government white paper could extend the remit of the regulator further by requiring them to monitor illegal activity and content to behaviours which are harmful but not necessarily illegal. Concerns about the impact of social media on vulnerable people come amid suicides such as that of 14-year-old schoolgirl Molly Russell in 2017, who was found to have viewed harmful content online. Mollys father Ian spoke of the urgent need for greater action in an emotional foreword to a Royal College of Psychiatrists report, in which he described the wrecking ball of suicide that smashed brutally into his family, blaming pushy algorithms. The Government has previously mooted a statutory duty of care for internet companies / PA Wire/PA Images He said of her social media accounts: Among the usual schoolfriends, pop groups and celebrities followed by 14-year-olds, we found bleak depressive material, graphic self-harm content and suicide-encouraging memes. I have no doubt that social media helped kill my daughter. Ofcom was established in 2003 and took on duties previously performed by the separate regulators of broadcasting, telecommunications and radio. Andy Burrows, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Childrens head of child safety online policy, said: Any regulator will only succeed if it has the power to hit rogue companies hard in the pocket and hold named directors criminally accountable for putting children at risk on their sites. Boris Johnson can protect families and support law enforcement by standing firm against some of the worlds most powerful companies. Mario Cavolo, an Italian-American writer and communications adviser, sits down for an interview. (Photo/Peoples Daily Online) An article written by Mario Cavolo, an Italian-American writer and communications adviser living in China, has recently attracted attention from worldwide netizens. The article, titled Something's Not Right Here Folks, compares the situations between Americas 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak and the current novel coronavirus epidemic in China, garnering over 1 million views in just 4 days. Born in the United States, Mario has lived in China for over 20 years. His wife comes from Shenyang, northeast Chinas Liaoning Province. Amid Chinas efforts to stem the tide of the coronavirus outbreak, Mario decided to write about what he has observed in China and answer questions from the outside world. In response to some hateful and vicious attacks on the Chinese government for their supposedly intentional conspiracy to intentionally under-report the number of infections, Mario explained that this is exactly and always the case with such flu outbreaks, no matter what country it is. The U.S. H1N1 swine flu numbers were vastly underestimated and updated three years later, because, dear friends, that is the nature of such viral outbreaks, which don't care which country they started in, he noted. An article written by Mario Cavolo titled Somethings Not Right Here Folks published on his LinkedIn account. (Screenshot of Mario Cavolo LinkedIn account) Mario pointed out in the article that the United States 2009 H1N1 swine flu eventually infected 60 million people in the US, with close to 300,000 deaths globally. In 2009, did UK subjects in America get a notice from their kingdom to leave America? No. Did the world suggest we isolate from America? Close the U.S. borders!? No, Mario asked rhetorically. Its not a conspiracy, its just tragedy, Mario said in the article, stressing that the world should be applauding Chinas unprecedented, broad and aggressive response instead of targeting Chinese people with xenophobic attacks. After the article was posted on Marios LinkedIn account, posts from netizens showing support and agreement flooded the comments section. (Screenshot of Mario CavoloLinkedIn account) After the article was posted on Marios LinkedIn account, a social media platform, voices of netizens showing support and agreement flooded the comments section. Many readers applauded Marios article for being unbiased, prudent and taking a reasonable perspectives. Mario said he hadnt expected the article to be so well received. Virus are enemy, but Chinese people are not. Nobody wanna spread out virus; nobody wanna be victims. Trust China government. Trust Chinese people, one Linkedin comment read. As for the efforts taken by the Chinese government to combat the outbreak, Mario said that there is no other country like China where people trust and cooperate with the government so much, noting that the Chinese government is making every effort to protect society, families and people. I saw the truth of what people outside of China couldn't see. So I have to tell them the truth that China is a great country and I feel it my duty to speak up for it, said Mario. Nigeria and Ethiopia have signed a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Defence. President Muhammadu Buhari and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed witnessed the signing of the agreement Tuesday in Addis Ababa by their Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and Gedu Andargachew, respectively, during the State Visit of the Nigerian leader. Earlier, while meeting with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, President Buhari had discussed how to explore new areas of collaboration to further enhance and expand Nigeria-Ethiopia bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefits of the two countries. The visa waiver agreement is expected to ease travels by officials and contribute to further strengthening of bilateral relations. The Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation is important to both countries in the coordination of efforts in the fight against terrorism and securing peace and stability in their respective sub-regions, as well as on the continent of Africa. The MoU will also enhance bilateral military cooperation in the areas of training and education, technical assistance, exchange of visits and defence technology transfer. It also entails cooperation in peace support operation issues within the framework of the respective laws of the Parties and on a reciprocal basis. Both sides agreed to swiftly conclude negotiations on the revised Bilateral Air Services Agreement and the MoU on cultural cooperation. READ ALSO: The consummation of these two agreements will provide veritable platforms for deepening existing air transport services, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. President Buhari expressed gratitude to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia for the warm and generous hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the visit. He further extended an invitation to Prime Minister Ahmed to pay a reciprocal State Visit to Nigeria on mutually convenient dates. Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Congress on Wednesday targeted the Union government on the LPG cylinder price hike and the party's women's wing said it will protest against the government's decision. A day after the poll process in Delhi concluded, the prices of LPG cylinders were hiked by a steep Rs 144.50 taking the price to Rs 858.50 per cylinder. A circular issued by the Mahila Congress President to all state and district units says that "The BJP government has once again hiked the price of LPG gas cylinder which is a big blow to the people of the country who are already suffering due to the severe economic crisis and unemployment." The organisation head directed all the units across the country to hold demonstrations. "The common man relies on fuel for his everyday needs and commute. Petrol prices have skyrocketed under BJP multiple times but not once has BJP assured the people that prices will be controlled. As long as BJP's divisive agenda is being fulfilled, they don't care about the people," tweeted Congress. The hike on Wednesday is one of the steepest increases in the LPG prices in over five years. A non-subsidised 14.2 kg cylinder will now cost Rs 858.50 in New Delhi, Rs 896 in Kolkata, Rs 829.50 in Mumbai and Rs 881 in Chennai. Usually LPG prices are revised on the first of every month, however, amid Delhi election the process seems to have been deliberately delayed. With the increase, the subsidy burden for the government will also jump by almost 100 per cent with Centre deciding against revising the price of subsidised cooking gas cylinders provided to households and those receiving LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The price of subsidised LPG cylinder (14.2 kg) currently works out to around Rs 557 with government providing Rs 157 as subsidy directly into the account of eligible consumers. With the revised prices, government's subsidy under direct benefit transfer (DBT) to eligible consumers would increase to over Rs 300 per cylinder with the PMUY customers getting about Rs 312 in their accounts now. An official of a public sector oil company said on condition of anonymity that even the common man using LPG cylinders would not be spared from a price hike as the amount of actual subsidy would not cover for the increase in the GST post revision of prices. This would mean that they would receive between Rs 5-10 less per cylinder into their accounts as cash transfers from the government for buying cooking gas at market price. Along with 14.2 kg cylinder, the oil companies have also increased the price of 19 kg cylinders by Rs 225 to Rs 1,466 in Delhi. According to the revised prices, which will be applicable from Wednesday, the 19 kg cylinder will cost Rs 1,589 in Chennai, Rs 1,416 in Mumbai and 1,540 in Kolkata. LPG cylinders are sold at market prices, but the Central government subsidies 12 cylinders for each household per year by providing direct subsidy. We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Sparebank 1 Nordvest (OB:SNOR). What Is Insider Buying? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'. View our latest analysis for Sparebank 1 Nordvest The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Sparebank 1 Nordvest While no particular insider transaction stood out, we can still look at the overall trading. In the last twelve months Sparebank 1 Nordvest insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! OB:SNOR Recent Insider Trading, February 12th 2020 Sparebank 1 Nordvest is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership of Sparebank 1 Nordvest Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Our data indicates that Sparebank 1 Nordvest insiders own about kr18m worth of shares (which is 7.0% of the company). However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing! Story continues So What Do The Sparebank 1 Nordvest Insider Transactions Indicate? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Sparebank 1 Nordvest shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in Sparebank 1 Nordvest and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. 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. AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man was found dead Tuesday after SWAT officers entered his apartment following a six-hour standoff in the citys Kenmore neighborhood, according to police. UPDATE: Akron man died of self-inflicted gunshot during SWAT standoff, medical examiner says The man has not been identified, but police believe he is the 62-year-old tenant who barricaded himself in the apartment and shot at officers after he was served an eviction notice, Lt. Michael Miller said. Officers used a robot device to break into the apartment on the 1200 block of Wilbeth Road, and found the man dead around 5:20 p.m., Miller said. Miller declined to elaborate on any apparent cause of death. SWAT officers were shot at by the man in the apartment at least twice, but officers did not return fire, Miller said. The Summit County Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comment section. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Over 1 billion animals have died in the Australia bushfires, but the survivors are getting relief from Multi Radiance Medical Super Pulsed Laser Therapy. We are proud to support the hardworking veterinarians as they work tirelessly to save this iconic species, and were humbled that our technology is making a difference in their road to recovery. The recent devastating Australian bushfires have killed an estimated one billion animals, including the koala. The native species has existed in Australia for thousands of years and has become iconic of the country. The 2019 bushfires have accelerated the decimation of the already-endangered koala population. Authorities estimate that one-third of the current koala population has died in the bushfires. In addition, their habitats and food sources have been destroyed. Experts say it could take over 100 years for the koalas to repopulate to pre-bushfire levels. Fortunately, many good Samaritans are helping to rescue and treat injured koalas, which have escaped with severe, painful burn injuries. Enter the staff and volunteers at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in New South Wales, Australia. The Koala Hospital normally treats 3-4 koalas a month, but the facility has been at capacity during the 2019 bushfire season, treating 60+ koalas at any one time. After seeing extensive media coverage of the hospitals incredible recovery efforts, veterinary equipment distributor REM Systems introduced a technology manufactured near Cleveland, Ohio to help relieve pain and accelerate healing in the marsupials: Multi Radiance Medical Super Pulsed Laser Therapy. The staff immediately started noticing results on the painful burns once they incorporated the laser into the regular treatment regimen. Weve had a lot of burn cases over the years and I really think it did speed up the healing process, remarked Cheyne Flanagan, Port Macquarie Koala Hospital Director. The Koala Hospital staff also appreciated the cordless, handheld laser for its ease of use and treatments that only take a few minutes to administer. Low-level laser therapy has been studied and used in both human and veterinary medicine for over half a century. Multi Radiance Super Pulsed Laser Therapy technology emits light photons that penetrate deep into tissue and kickstart the healing process in the injured cells. Additionally, a unique blue light setting kills bacteria and helps fight infection, allowing burns to heal up to 50% faster than traditional antibiotics. Multi Radiance technology is super pulsed, meaning the laser is emitted in billionth of a second pulses so it generates no heat. This makes it an ideal treatment for painful burns and open wounds. Other high-intensity therapeutic lasers would not be indicated for such severe wounds. Saving koalas is one of the first steps in recovery for those areas affected by the fires. Experts predict the effects of the bushfires will be felt for decades even centuries for certain populations like the koala but Multi Radiance is grateful to be able to support the veterinarians and community members as they begin to rebuild. Thank you to Simone Taylor and Matt Jones, DVM, at REM Systems for your work introducing laser therapy to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, said J. Mark Strong, Multi Radiance Director of Global Business Development. We are proud to support the hardworking veterinarians as they work tirelessly to save this iconic species, and were humbled that our technology is making a difference in their road to recovery. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital is accepting a variety of donations, such as adopting a recovered koala to help it return to the wild or having a koala food tree planted. Find out how you can help by visiting the koala hospital's website. About Multi Radiance Medical Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, Multi Radiance Medical manufactures FDA-cleared super pulsed laser therapy devices for pain relief, wound healing, inflammation control and more in veterinary medicine. For 10 years, Multi Radiance laser technology has offered veterinary professionals a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free alternative to traditional prescription medications and surgery. The crippled timber industry is facing more than $40 million in lost revenue and damaged machinery following bushfires which devastated the eastern states since November. Industry representatives are lobbying for a new government support package for forestry contractors, which have already put hundreds of crews out of work in three states, amid warnings there is "no relief in sight". The timber industry is facing more than $40 million in lost revenue and damaged machinery following the summer bushfires. Credit:Andrew Quilty Early estimates are that contractors have lost up to $15 million in revenue from the fires which burned through state forests and plantations over summer, with more than 40 pieces of equipment valued at $27 million damaged or lost. Contractors from NSW and Victoria now warn that unless there is urgent attention to their plight their businesses will not survive. Helen Lewis The Atlantic February 2020 How do you unmake a terrorist? Its an urgent question, particularly for Britain. About 220 people are in prison for terror offenses in the country, the majority of whom are Islamists. Until recently, 20-year-old Sudesh Amman was one of them. He was released in January after serving half of a three-year sentence for possessing extremist material. Ten days later, he was shot dead by police after stabbing two people in South London. It was the second such attack in just over two months. At the end of November, 28-year-old Usman Khan killed two people near London Bridge, also in a stabbing attack, and was also shot dead by police. He had completed two deradicalization programs as part of his 16-year sentence, of which he had also served half. His victims were fellow attendees at a conference on prisoner rehabilitation. The political debate in Britain since the latest attack has focused heavily on why Amman was freed. He had qualified for automatic early release from prison, yet was considered enough of a threat to be given police surveillance. The government now wants to change the law so terror sympathizers serve longer sentences, and are subject to more stringent assessment before release. But that wont entirely solve the problem. If youre not rehabilitating prisoners, whether you let them out in two or four years isnt very important, said Arthur Snell, the former head of the British governments anti-extremist Prevent program at the Foreign Office who now runs a business -intelligence firm. The courses Khan attended have not been fully evaluated, so their effectiveness is unknown. I think we have to be very careful about saying someone has totally changed or has been cured, the designer of one of them, Christopher Dean, said after the attack. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons view on deradicalization is perhaps too bleakhe told reporters after last weekends stabbings that the instances of success are really very fewbut the programs are resource-intensive, and Britains poorly funded prisons are badly equipped to provide them.The standard program involves multiple counseling sessions that encourage offenders to rethink their identity. The aim is not simply to provide inmates with an alternative, nonviolent version of their religionSnell, who interviewed suspected terrorist detainees in Iraq, told me it was remarkable how little your average Islamist knows about Islam. The men, who had come from Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, talked more like students taking a gap year than religious fanatics. They almost universally were young men without much sense of direction or status, and by joining the insurgency in Iraq, they felt for the first time in their lives that they mattered, that they were doing something important, almost heroic, he said. So basically, its a mental health issue.The first part of deradicalization, then, is understanding individuals psychological state, previous trauma, and personal circumstancesnot just their political and religious beliefs. We used to work with a group who worked in U.K. prisons, Moustafa Ayad, a deputy director at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, an international think tank, told me. The way they described it was deconstructing the terrorist and rebuilding the human. Its not anything thats set and planned.One of the hallmarks of a terrorist worldview is its rigidity: us and them, the righteous and the unbelievers. Cracking that is key to deradicalization, according to Rashad Ali, a former member of Hizb al-Tahrir, an Islamist group that Britain has repeatedly considered banning. Ali, now a senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told me that creating a cognitive opening to allow people to reevaluate their beliefs was vital.In the context of the penal system, this is difficult. Muslims are overrepresented in British prisons compared with the population at large, which a government report found could chime with the radicalisers message of the victimisation of Muslims. Following the July 7, 2005 bombings in London, the scope of terror offenses was widened to include glorifying and advocating terrorism. Those jailed for such offensesoverwhelmingly menare prime targets for further radicalization in prison, to move them from glorification to action. As well as training prison imams in counter-extremism, the report recommended isolation for the most extreme prisoners.The recommendation to segregate extremists hints at one of the fundamental problems of tackling Islamist radicalization in prison: These are closed systems that can develop strong hierarchies. There have been reports of sharia councils in British jails, and of high-ranking terrorists appointing themselves as emirs. Hamas and other banned organizations have compiled manuals on surviving prison, Ayad said, and these handbooks include advice on how to fool deradicalization programs. The Hamas guide warns that easy prey falls for the hunters rope and tells prisoners not to engage with guards or admit guilt, while other documents give advice on staging what Ayad calls a fabricated play co-ordinated with your brothers. In other words, how to make false confessions. He adds, Everybody running a derad program needs to know that these strategies exist. We should never take people at face value.In fact, Ali said, confusion and uncertainty are often better signs that deradicalization is working than strong pledges that a person has changed. Youre talking about people with black-and-white views on ethics; all their answers are put on a plate for them; they have strong identities and membership of a group, he told me. If someone breaks that black-and-white viewmoral ennui, thats what theyre going to face. Its like leaving a cult. Theres a sense of having no community, an identity crisis, a morality crisis, maybe even becoming more isolated. The question then, Ali said, was how do we reconnect them, create a sense of belonging, help them re-find themselves?One place offering an answer is Saudi Arabia. The country is a world leader in deradicalization. (Of course, you could also argue that the kingdom, the original home of Osama bin Laden, is also a world leader in radicalization.) The Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef Centre for Counselling and Care, as the name suggests, adopts a very different approach from Britainsi incarceration of extremists in overstretched prisons. The center has a swimming pool, art-therapy classes, and intensive counseling. More than 3,000 men have passed through it since it opened, and they are offered housing and other supportincluding help finding a wifewhen they leave. It claims an 80 percent success rate.Even if you take the Saudi programs advertized success at face value, the lessons that democratic, liberal countries can learn from Saudi Arabia are inevitably limitedIf we were giving cars to former terrorists, wed look really stupid, Ayad saidbut its investment in therapy, and focus on post-incarceration support, do highlight the issues with the British approach. In the U.K., prison deradicalization programs are voluntary, and short sentences offer no time to complete them anyway. Those sentences are themselves a problem: Several experts said they did not just fail to deradicalize extremists, but in many cases made the situation worse by increasing their sense of persecution and grievance. On release, British prisoners are given a 46 ($60) discharge grant and, if they are lucky, a place at a bail hostel. They are then expected to rebuild their life and find work largely on their own, except now they bear the stigma associated with a terror conviction.Clearly, deradicalization can workseveral academics currently working in the field are former extremists, and for more than a decade, one of Britains leading counter-extremism programs was run by a former al-Qaeda sympathizer who had traveled to Afghanistan. Was there any obvious difference between those who were successfully deradicalized and the others, I asked Snell. A lot of them are very bright, he said. They got interested in new ideas, learned new informationand their stark worldview began to crumble. Others, though, were unable to understand the moral choices they had made or the effects of their actions. Not every individual can be changed, Ali said. Just like we cant stop every terrorist attack and thats the conflict. We want to maintain that open society. There will always be individuals we cant reach.Perhaps the best way to think of it is that every terrorist sympathizer who reaches prison already represents a failurea demonstration of societys inability to stop extremist ideas from flourishing. Snell acknowledges that the Prevent program, which was designed to tackle extremism, instead left many British Muslims feeling that their whole community was being stigmatized. It also initially failed to address the growing threat of far-right terrorism, and it tried to recruit unrelated public-sector workers, such as teachers, to spot potential extremists. But, Snell said, it did force the government to recognize the root causesthe isolation, the lack of role models, the foreign-policy narrativesthat contribute to extremism.Ammans journey to that street in Streatham, South London, was a long path, strewed with failures. As the government responds to the most obviousthe fact that he was released when probation staff still believed he was a threatit should not forget others. Could he have been deradicalized? Unlike many of the Islamist fighters Snell encountered, Amman had a strong knowledge of the Koran, according to his father. But in other respects he fit a common pattern of would-be terrorists: minor criminal convictions for possessing cannabis and an offensive weapon, a controlling relationship with his girlfriend, feelings of grievance and alienation. The year and a half he spent in prison appears to have driven him deeper into an extremist mindset, rather than breaking it down.Punishment is in political vogue, Snell told me. But punishment alone doesnt unmake terrorists. No one in Britain would argue that extremists should be given an apartment, much less a spouse, but they do need a new life purpose to replace a perceived feeling of an existential struggle. They also need all the things that the British prison system struggles to give any inmate: mental-health support, education, training, and a future.HELEN LEWIS is a London-based staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights. [February 12, 2020] ScaleFactor Announces "2.020" Vision, Including Plans to Build Marketplace for On-Demand Financial Solutions ScaleFactor, the accounting and finance platform for small business, today announced its "2.020" vision, the latest in a series of initiatives to digitally transform the way business owners, bookkeepers and accountants collaborate within the back office ecosystem. The move builds upon the momentum created by its Series C funding, recently announced strategic partnerships, and new lending and expense management products. ScaleFactor 2.020 expands the company's current platform offer beyond software aimed at small business owners to also include a marketplace for on-demand finacial support. "At ScaleFactor, our north star has always been and will remain helping small businesses succeed," said Kurt Rathmann, Founder and CEO of ScaleFactor. "Our customers have taught us that great technology is only part of what small business owners need to feel financially confident. They also crave solid advice that fits their business, budget and timeframe. We're excited to enable them to tap into a marketplace of financial professionals offering right-sized, on-demand solutions." To realize its vision, ScaleFactor has appointed four new executives to its leadership team. They are: Rose Punkunus, Chief Financial Officer; Lori Williams, Chief Delivery Officer; Josh Lipton, VP of Product; and Scott Shepherd, Chief Legal Officer. This seasoned group of executives each bring a strong background in the delivery of marketplace-based solutions, further accelerating ScaleFactor's ability to design the future of work across the ecosystem of small business finance. A greater focus on developing a marketplace of finance professionals will also bring internal restructuring for the ScaleFactor team. A portion of ScaleFactor's finance professionals will be retained to foster the new marketplace from within, while ScaleFactor will also make assistance available to those who wish to start independent businesses as certified pros within its marketplace ecosystem. New Leadership Brings Marketplace Experience to ScaleFactor Rose Punkunus, CFO, will lead financial operations for the company, utilizing her experience in finance and marketplace operations to help fuel ScaleFactor's growth. Rose brings a mix of financial, operational, and product experiences from her tenure at organizations including Apple (News - Alert), Fundbox, and Uber. Lori Williams, Chief Delivery Officer, will lead operations at ScaleFactor, where she is responsible for the people, operations, and technology that allows us to serve our customers. Lori brings executive experience at organizations such as IBM (News - Alert), Appirio, and Gigster and is passionate about growing global cloud companies and marketplaces. A graduate of Baylor University, she is excited to help build the next great Texas technology company. Josh Lipton, VP of Product, joins the ScaleFactor team from Favor, a leading on-demand delivery company operating in over 130 cities with a workforce of 75,000 runners. Josh is passionate about designing and operating marketplaces that create meaningful opportunities for people to contribute work and expertise. As an entrepreneur himself, Josh has experienced first-hand the gaps in the small business finance ecosystem and is excited to help build a marketplace-based solution to address them. Scott Shepherd, Chief Legal Officer, most recently served as the Chief Legal Officer at Khoros, the industry-leading customer engagement platform, where he was responsible for global legal operations and compliance. Prior to Khoros, Scott spent more than 15 years in law-firms, primarily as a litigator. He was also commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the USMC and eventually achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserves. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. About ScaleFactor ScaleFactor is on a mission to remove the barriers to financial clarity that every business owner faces. Using software to speed up everyday tasks and a network of financial experts to address complex matters, we've set out to provide business owners with what they need to run their back offices with confidence, now and at every stage of business growth. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005630/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Claroty, the global leader in industrial cybersecurity, today announced that it has been named the 2019 Global Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan. According to the firm, Claroty's superior suite of products provides end-to-end visibility into industrial networks. Specifically, the company offers customers across a multitude of verticals unparalleled cyberthreat protection, detection and response for both IT and OT networks and devices. To receive this recognition, an organization must strive to be best-in-class in three key areas: understanding demand, nurturing the brand and differentiating from the competition. "The open architectures of OT systems, using standardized interfaces and connecting to both the Internet and internal corporate networks, results in exposure to third-party intrusionsa common attack vectorand massive disruption possibilities," said Swetha Ramachandran Krishnamoorthi, industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan. Frost & Sullivan recognizes how Claroty's platform nicely fills these critical gaps by offering a fully integrated product suite enriched with advanced features to provide unparalleled depth, coverage and scalability across a variety of domains." Claroty has the only OT cybersecurity solution that encompasses the entire spectrum of cybersecurity functions, namely identification, detection, protection and response to threats. Its platform provides industrial control networks with complete visibility into assets, high-level threat detection and risk assessment, and its secure remote accessa centralized management interfaceexpedites data integration with existing security systems to facilitate simple service deployments. "We are honored to receive this distinction from Frost & Sullivan, as it validates all of the hard work that the team has done to demonstrate excellence in growth, innovation and leadership," said Thorsten Freitag, Chief Executive Officer of Claroty. "This will be a breakaway year for OT cybersecurity as it becomes a required business mandate and Chief Information Security Officers much more aggressively seek strong partners in addressing their industrial cybersecurity challenges. We appreciate Frost & Sullivan's affirmation and look forward to continuing to drive demand, strengthen our brand and deliver unique value to customers." Moving forward, Claroty expects to continue the incredible momentum it experienced in 2019, which included: - Extending its Continuous Threat Detection (CTD) product to enable enterprises to discover and monitor their IoT devices - Introducing the integration of CTD with FireEye Helix to help industrial enterprises improve the efficiency and speed of security operations - Being the first OT security provider to receive the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's SAFETY Act approval for its best-in-class OT network monitoring solution - Making CRN's "Emerging Security Vendors to Know" and CyberCrime Magazine's "The Hot 150 Cybersecurity Companies to Watch" lists - Adding U.S. Navy Admiral (Ret.) Michael S. Rogers as Chairman of Claroty's Board of Advisors. - Appointing Thorsten Freitag as Chief Executive Officer and Jennifer Leggio as Chief Marketing Officer Download the report for more information on Claroty, its platform, and IT/OT security best practices. About Claroty Claroty bridges the industrial cybersecurity gap between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) environments. Organizations with highly automated production sites and factories that face significant security and financial risk especially need to bridge this gap. Armed with Claroty's converged IT/OT solutions, these enterprises and critical infrastructure operators can leverage their existing IT security processes and technologies to improve the availability, safety, and reliability of their OT assets and networks seamlessly and without requiring downtime or dedicated teams. The result is more uptime and greater efficiency across business and production operations. Backed and adopted by leading industrial automation vendors, Claroty is deployed on all seven continents globally. The company is headquartered in New York City and has received $100 million in funding since being launched by the famed Team8 foundry in 2015. For more information, visit www.claroty.com. Contact: Jenna West Shift PR for Claroty [email protected] 617.779.1875 SOURCE Claroty Related Links https://www.claroty.com Purdue pharmacy programs take innovative approach to saving lives WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Programs designed to provide much-needed health care services to rural families in Kenya are leading to a new generation of medical professionals and innovators who are helping save the lives of those facing financial and mobility constraints. Purdue Universitys College of Pharmacy has a strong presence in Kenya, with multiple programs supporting the health care needs of families. Purdue is one of a handful of schools involved in the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) program, which promotes and fosters a comprehensive approach to address the multifaceted needs of the western Kenyan population AMPATH serves. This program has helped to permanently change the trajectory of the millions of citizens it serves. One such example is Benson Kiragu, who was one of the first Kenyans the AMPATH program reached. Bensons experience with AMPATH serves as a microcosm of the impact AMPATH and consortium partners like Purdue can have in unlocking the potential of vulnerable populations. When Kiragu first met AMPATH staff, he was one of many street youth with an extensive list of health issues that impeded his desire to break the poverty cycle. He suffered from eye conditions, which could have easily led to permanent blindness, and life-threatening asthma that has nearly taken his life on several occasions. However, through the support of a team of faculty from Purdue and Indiana University, Kiragu has been able emerge from his humble beginnings to become the leader of several initiatives that now prevent other Kenyans from being trapped in the same poverty cycle he once found himself in. Now, Kiragu is leading programs focused on providing education to street kids and treating cardiovascular and other diseases in the clinic and in homes. I know from my own experiences that working together as teams has helped to dramatically improve health care in Kenya, Kiragu said. Western Kenya now has some of the best access to health care in sub-Saharan Africa and this infrastructure is being used to help people of all ages and incomes. Through Kiragus training as a pharmacist, he has been able to become a part of the transformation in the roles that pharmacists play in Kenya through the support of the Purdues College of Pharmacy, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Moi University School of Medicine. Pharmacists are now seen as experts in providing health care support to patients, Kiragu said. We know how certain medications will likely impact patients and which ones are the most likely to improve their lives with minimal side effects. Kiragu said he was inspired by the work of Julie Everett, an associate professor of pharmacy practice from Purdue who was based full time in Kenya. Everett had suffered an unexpected health emergency and passed away in 2006 but was able to inspire individuals like Kiragu to follow in her footsteps and address the needs of the Kenyan population. Kiragu was determined to become a pharmacist and carry on the great work Julie had started with the people of Kenya, said Sonak Pastakia, who was hired in 2007 to lead Purdues presence in Kenya. I continue to be thankful that programs like AMPATH and people like Julie have been able to inspire vulnerable youth like Benson to become the change agents the country needs to prevent additional generations of Kenyans from succumbing to treatable illnesses or being trapped in the poverty cycle. It is because of AMPATHs years of collaborative efforts that I have the good fortune of working alongside people like Benson who have a deep firsthand knowledge of the challenges Kenyans face and then work tirelessly to overcome them. Pastakia and his team in Kenya have worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent some of their technologies and approaches. They are looking for additional partners as they work to take their proven approaches and expertise to other parts of the world. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. About Purdue Research Foundation The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org Sources: Benson Kiragu, krgbenson@gmail.com Sonak Pastakia, spastaki@gmail.com Press Release February 12, 2020 SENATE ADOPTED RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY GORDON HONORING FOCAP CO-FOUNDER FOR CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNALISM, PRESS FREEDOM The Philippine Senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 317 "Honoring and Remembering Gabino "Gaby" De Guzman Tabunar, Jr. for His Exemplary and Outstanding Contribution to Journalism and Press Freedom" sponsored by Senator Richard J. Gordon. The resolution states that Tabunar, who passed away on January 4 due to pneumonia, "was a proponent of honest and accurate journalism exemplifying the highest ideals of courageous, compassionate and committed journalism in his coverage of the news through the ever-changing landscape of the Philippine history from the post-World War II era to the various political transition in the succeeding decades." It also recognizes Tabunar's commitment to "responsible and fearless reporting" during his stint as a journalist. Among the major events that he covered were the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991, the Abu Sayyaf kidnappings, and the U.S. military bases turnover in Subic Bay. An official copy of the resolution was personally received by Tabunar's family at the Senate. In his sponsorship speech, Gordon said that Tabunar is one of the country's most respected journalists in the country, who rose from the ranks and became one of the pillars of journalism. "I had the privilege of knowing Gaby throughout my career; very fatherly, very courageous, full of integrity, and certainly the embodiment of what a media man should be. He was a true friend to many and a mentor to countless journalists," he said. Gordon added that Tabunar's experience as intelligence officer during the guerilla movement against the Japanese gave him "strong passion for courageous exercise for freedom that is responsible." "Here is what he said that remained in my heart and in my mind: Character is the basis of all virtues; you talk about kindness and generosity it all to character. Character is the main driver of a man whether for good or for bad," Gordon said citing a quote from Tabunar. Tabunar is one of the co-founders and served as Chairman Emeritus of the Foreign Correspondence Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), established in 1974 to fight for freedom of the press and civil liberties during the Martial Law era, where he remained active as he guided young journalists even if he was already retired. He was a longtime correspondent for Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) News in America from 1986 until 2008. Prior to that, he worked for the Philippine Liberty News after World War II, served at the War Information Office of the US government in Manila in 1945-1946, and worked as Media Director for Winthrop Sterling Company, as well. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 17:22:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the center for disease control and prevention of Chaoyang District in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) WHO Spokesperson Fadela Chaib said that the visit has sent a very important signal to both China and the international community. BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The international community have spoke highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping's inspection tour of the epidemic prevention and control work in Beijing, saying it has injected enormous confidence into the battle against the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP). Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited a residential community, a hospital and a district center for disease control and prevention in Beijing on Monday. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed firm support for China's fight against the NCP and spoken highly of Xi's field visit. WHO Spokesperson Fadela Chaib said that the visit has sent a very important signal to both China and the international community. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control work in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua that through his inspection visit, Xi has shown his concern for the people and strong determination to fight against the epidemic. The government has carried out anti-epidemic steps with great accuracy, and the whole population of China has united behind the government to carry out the steps necessary in different areas, Perry said. Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, a consultant at India's Research and Information System for Developing Countries based in India, said that Xi's inspection visit has greatly encouraged the medical staff there and sent a positive signal to citizens and investors about the health of the society and economy. Thai former Deputy Prime Minister Pinij Charusombat said that Xi's field visit at this crucial moment has shown that the government truly put the people's lives on top priority, sending out a message to the international community that the Chinese people united as one will get through the difficulties with joint efforts. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, checks the treatment of hospitalized patients at the monitoring center and talks to medical staff on duty via a video link at Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, on Feb. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Oh Ei Sun, principal advisor for Malaysia's Pacific Research Center, said Xi's visit to the residential community has shown the Chinese government's concern for the people, focus on the people's voice and understanding of the people's needs in the fight against epidemic. Xi's remarks during the inspection sent out a positive signal that scientific prevention and control measures and targeted policies are needed in the fight against the epidemic, Oh Ei Sun said. Abdalmuhdi Abumotawi, director of Egypt's Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies & National Security, said that as China has now entered a critical stage in the fight against the NCP epidemic, President Xi gave everyone more confidence by inspecting the relevant sites in Beijing. The measures taken by the Chinese government and the response and interaction of the Chinese people confirm once again that China has the ability to eliminate the virus, the Egyptian expert added. Australian crocodile wranglers have travelled to Indonesia to save a reptile that has had a tyre stuck around its neck for four years. Authorities in Palu, Central Sulawesi, launched the 'pluck a tyre off the croc' contest in January as part of a desperate attempt to free the 13-foot reptile who has worn the necklace since 2016. But the competition, which offered an unspecified reward, was called off at the beginning of February after no one volunteered for the risky task. Outback wrangler Matt Wright and right-hand-man Chris Wilson have since been called in to save the crocodile and remove the motorbike tyre. Authorities in Palu, Central Sulawesi, launched the 'pluck a tyre off the croc' contest in January as part of a desperate attempt to free the 13-foot reptile who has worn the necklace since 2016. But the competition, which offered an unspecified reward, was called off at the beginning of February Mr Wright, who arrived in Palu and then travelled to Jakarta to get a permit for the task, spoke to Today ahead of the rescue mission. 'I think this croc has been like this for about five years now,' Mr Wright said on Wednesday morning. 'We have been following it and we were actually going to try to do a show with this animal over here couple of years ago but it didn't all fall into place. 'So when we spoke with authorities over here they asked if we would come over and lend a hand and everything is falling into place.' Mr Wright said he returned to Palu after visiting authorities in Jakarta. He shared behind the scenes Instagram stories on Tuesday, showing the last minute touches to the crocodile trap which has since been put into the water. Mr Wright shared behind the scenes Instagram stories on Tuesday, showing the last minute touches to the crocodile trap which has since been put into the water Pictured: The trap which will hopefully capture the crocodile so Mr Wright can attempt to remove the tire 'Now it is all systems go,' he told Today. 'Fingers crossed that there might be a crocodile with a tyre in its neck in the trap when the sun comes up this morning.' Mr Wright said the crocodile is different to catching the reptiles in Australia because he's 'not that hungry'. The wrangler said there was a huge food source coming down the river, which included dead chickens, cows and goats. He added it was initially a bit tough to get to where the crocodile is because 'every wannabe croc catcher around the world' visited after the reward was announced. The area is now in lockdown as they attempt to catch the crocodile. Mr Wright said they don't plan to hold the reptile for long and want to release him back into the wild as soon as possible. Outback wrangler Matt Wright (right) and Chris Wilson (left) speak to Today ahead of their rescue mission 'We will catch him, we will apprehend him, tie him up, calm him down. Cut the tyre off his neck and let him go back to where he's come from,' he said. He has a free week up his sleeve and hopes that is enough time to get the job done. The crocodile wrangler often updates his fans about the process of saving the reptile. 'I'm super excited to be working with the teams on the ground in Indonesia to safely catch this animal,' he wrote in one post on Instagram. 'Unfortunately, we have heard of a couple of rouge outfits who haven't gone through the respectful and appropriate channels are already on location attempting to catch the crocodile without the proper permits or permission. 'This will taunt the croc making shy and harder for us get close to him, not to mention putting themselves and the village in danger with limited or no experience catching and handling these large reptiles reptiles.' The creature has been struggling around with the tyre since at least 2016 when it was first spotted in the Palu River in Central Sulawesi. The endangered Siamese crocodile has survived an earthquake and a tsunami that struck the region in 2018, but the tyre hasn't budged. There have been previous unsuccessful attempts to free the crocodile. Conservationist and 'animal whisperer' Muhammad Panji tried and failed in 2018 and later that year volunteers from conservation agency attempted to lure the crocodile onto dry land by using chickens as bait, but the creature showed no interest. Wildlife officials are especially concerned that the tyre will strangle the crocodile if it is not removed urgently. But two days after Mr. Yangs underwhelming performance in Iowa, his campaign laid off dozens of staff members from a team that had ballooned from fewer than a dozen people to over 200. Despite having raised more than $30 million over the course of his presidential campaign a remarkable sum for a political outsider Mr. Yangs team had only $3.7 million in cash on hand at the start of this year, according to federal filings. In an email to supporters last week, he suggested he would need to finish in the top four in the New Hampshire primary for the campaign to get the boost it needed a goal he failed to achieve. Mr. Yangs base of political support consisted mostly of young and male voters some progressive, some who previously supported President Trump, and many in between. His departure from the race could aid Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whom many of Mr. Yangs most loyal fans said they had voted for in 2016. But given that Mr. Yangs support in the polls never exceeded the mid-single-digits, no candidate is likely to be significantly helped by his exit. Indeed, at rallies and town halls throughout the primary, many members of the so-called Yang Gang said they had never been involved in politics before encountering Mr. Yang. His plans moving forward were not immediately clear, though senior campaign officials would not rule out a return to politics. We are just getting started, Zach Graumann, Mr. Yangs campaign manager, said Tuesday. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz of Berlin and Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney of New Haven said Tuesday that each has convinced the other they have the votes necessary to pass legislation next week authorizing tractor trailer tolls on a dozen highway bridges. But theres a significant complication. The Democratic leaders still have to convince their rank-and-file that the other chambers count can be trusted. And that is leading to the possibility of the House and Senate acting simultaneously an unprecedented scheme immediately denounced by Republican minority leaders as a mockery of parliamentary process, legislative history and common sense. It is the intent to bring it up at the same time, Aresimowicz said. Looney acknowledged hours later in a separate interview that synchronized debating and voting indeed was under consideration, though it was not his preference. Nor would it be easy to achieve. As a matter of legislative procedure (as well as physics), the same bill cannot be before two chambers at the same time. The workaround would be each chamber debating and voting on identical bills. To become law, one would have to be passed eventually by both chambers. Only one chamber would have to vote twice, Looney said. And that, say Republicans, would be a sophomoric solution to satisfy unnamed House and Senate Democrats, each willing to vote for tolls only if final passage is guaranteed and each saying to each other: You go first. Think about the silliness of this foot dragging until one chamber catches up to the other? said Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano of North Haven. If that doesnt speak volumes in this building, then nothing else does. Thats just silly. Its lunacy. Its absurd. Its laughable. How both chambers could simultaneously vote was unclear. Each chamber has the custom of unlimited debate, and Republicans have more than a little to say about how long a debate might run. Theoretically, Looney said, the chamber that finished its debate first could leave the voting machine open until the other was ready. Its never been done. The institution matters more than any governor, than any legislator or any bill and when you bastardize the institution, you cant repair it. And that comes first, Fasano said. That is disgusting, quite honestly, said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides of Derby. The Connecticut General Assembly has managed in the past to take controversial votes without a guarantee of what the other chamber might do, such as passing an income tax and repealing the death penalty. So, what is so difficult about a bill that would authorize a dozen tolls on tractor trailers? I dont know if its the issue itself, but rather this mischaracterization of what the bill actually does, Aresimowicz said. That frustrates Marty and I. In February, Gov. Ned Lamont proposed a comprehensive system of tolls on cars and trucks at more than 50 locations on Interstates 84, 91 and 94, as well as the Merritt and Wilbur Cross parkways. It would have raised as much as $800 million annually. When lawmakers refused to bring the measure to a vote, the administration countered with a downsized version of tolls on cars and trucks on 13 bridges. Legislative leaders could not find the votes for passage, leading to the current version of tolling only tractor trailers, raising about $175 million a year. Opponents say that the measure would be a first step to a broader system involving car tolls but cant quite explain how something so politically unpopular might win passage. The bill before the legislature would not allow car tolls without the passage of another law explicitly permitting them. Aresimowicz said a synchronized vote doesnt allow the folks that are organizing against the issue to play one chamber off against the other. Looney said Aresimowicz called him Monday night to say he had confirmed the availability next week of at least 76 House Democrats in favor of the transportation bill, the minimum necessary for passage. Democrats hold a 91-60 majority in the House. The vote would take place on the 18th, 19th or 20th, though a public hearing has been scheduled for the 19th on a controversial bill to repeal the religious exemption for school-age vaccination. Lamont said earlier Tuesday, before Aresimowicz and Looney spoke about the potential need for a synchronized vote, that he was pleased a vote may be imminent. The governor spoke at a press conference announcing the availability of CTrail exit, a mobile app allowing the online purchase of train tickets on the Hartford Line and Shoreline East. The Senates been clear. Theyve got their list. Theyve shared their lists. They know who the votes are. The houses are ready to go. Theyre both ready to vote, Lamont said. I think right now, they are doing the Kabuki dance whats the exact day and the order that people go. I think its going to happen next week. First comes the snow. Then comes the cold. A winter storm system expected to move across west-central Illinois today will leave up to 4 inches of snow in Jacksonville and the surrounding area followed by temperatures as low as zero. Snow accumulation is expected to be higher to the north and northeast, according to the National Weather Service. It looks like were going to have some light snow starting (this morning) and heavier snow later in the day, said Llyle Barker, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Lincoln. In addition to snow, Barker expects a large drop in temperatures following the downfall. Starting Thursday and into Friday morning, were expecting to be down to zero, Barker said. Thursday is probably not a good day to be outside. Wind throughout the area could cause snow drifting and make temperatures feel worse. Another problem is that were going to have wind speeds of 20-3o mph, Barker said. The windchill overnight Thursday could be as low as minus 8, according to weather forecasters at AccuWeather. For the weekend outlook, Barker expects a rise in temperatures and the area should be back in the lower 30s. Its not going to last too long, he said. Emergency Management Agency Director Phil McCarty warns people not to be complacent because of the mild winter so far this season. Our bodies are not used to it. We have had a pretty mild winter so far, he said. Its the first time it has been cold this year and that concerns me. McCarty recommends people have extra blankets and jackets in their vehicles and make sure to cover up as much exposed skin as possible. Exposure to the extreme cold can cause harm, including frostbite. The best thing to do is staying warm and indoors as much as possible, said Dr. Imran Hasanuddin, emergency room physician at Passavant Area Hospital. Things to look for when exposed to extreme cold are blue fingertips, tingling and numbness, according to Hasanuddin. Hypothermia in which the body temperature becomes dangerously low can set in quickly when exposed to such low temperatures, Hasanuddin said. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The UN Security Council is meeting on Wednesday to consider a draft resolution supporting the implementation of a ceasefire in Libya, where a truce observed since 12 January is regularly violated, perpetuating a situation of insecurity and tension in the country, at a time when the Berlin process covering military, economic and political aspects has started The Minsk Agreements enable Ukraine to demand peace from Russia with clear criteria and conditions, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the leader of the European Solidarity faction, said in an article published by the online publication Ukrainska Pravda on Wednesday. "Even today, the Minsk Agreements provide a chance for formulating tough requirements to be met by Russia, for demanding and not begging peace from it. It only takes political will. A roadmap with a clear sequence of steps, the return to the idea of UN peacekeepers, which we thoroughly elaborated on, the absence of any haste in preparing elections in the occupied territories (holding them this coming fall is simply out of the question), not entreaties but pressure on Putin - all of this is possible and essential based on the Minsk Agreements that were drawn up from September 2014 to February 2015," Poroshenko said in his article. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's team came to power by criticizing the Minsk Agreements, it has still not proposed any alternatives to guarantee peace in Donbas, Poroshenko said. "It's been almost a year since rampant critics of the Minsk Agreements came into power. It turns out the doves of peace have nothing in their beaks, that is, no peace plan of their own. Moreover, in Paris [during the recent Normandy-format summit], Volodymyr Zelensky added his signature to the package of documents that are conventionally called Minsk (and he can now keep me company in being questioned at the State Bureau of Investigations, which is digging into Minsk)," he said. Poroshenko said he has never idealized the Minsk Agreements and would not wish anyone to find themselves in the circumstances that existed before the negotiations in February 2015. "Having no resources to overcome Russia in military terms, we then played it out diplomatically and thus salvaged Ukraine," he said. BISMARCK, N.D. North Dakotas oil production may peak within five years as companies finish drilling the most prolific portions of the states oil patch, state and industry officials told lawmakers Tuesday. Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms, the states top oil regulator, said about 20% of drilling activity is now outside of the core areas of the western North Dakotas oil producing region. The end of (core area-drilling) is on the horizon; we can see it from here, Helms told the Legislatures interim Government Finance Committee. Though a typical well can have a lifespan of about three decades, the amount of oil that comes from it decreases by about half in the first two years, officials say. Helms said the outlook now is for oil production to plateau for about a dozen years after a peak, then slowly decline by the end of the century to 1980 and 1990 levels of less than 150,000 barrels daily. The state is producing a near-record average of 1.5 million barrels of oil each day. In interviews, Helms and North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness estimated production would peak at about 1.8 million barrels daily if prices hold. Ness and Helms said technology to enhance oil recovery could help stem some production losses over time. Oil is a key contributor to the wealth of North Dakota, the No. 2 producer in the U.S. behind Texas. North Dakotas oil production has exploded in the past decade with improved horizontal drilling techniques into the Bakken shale and the Three Forks formation below it. The state's fortunes from oil have seesawed for almost 70 years. The states first boom began in the late 1970s and it went bust a few years later. Just three years ago, lawmakers raided state savings, and enacted other measures of austerity that were needed to balance the budget due to slumping oil and crop prices. Lawmakers are now studying potential uses for earnings from North Dakota's Legacy Fund, the voter-approved oil tax savings account that holds about $6.8 billion. Earnings from the fund increasingly have been targeted for spending, or to balance the state budget. Ness, whose group represents about 700 companies working in the states oil patch, reminded lawmakers that oil production was only about 214,000 barrels a day a decade ago. North Dakota's coffers are fatter than projected at present due to near-record drilling. The states current two-year budget represents about $4.9 billion in state general fund spending, up about 12.5% from what was approved by lawmakers in the previous cycle. State spending has more than doubled in the past decade. We have to start looking beyond now, Ness said. South Africa: Local wine shines at Russian trade show South African wine companies are making inroads at the Prodexpo international trade show currently underway in Russia. Prodexpo is the largest international show for the food and drinks sector in Russia and Eastern Europe. Wahed Khan, the Director of Global Business Development at Cape Dreams, says the show is an ideal platform to promote his wines. The show is also providing an opportunity for the company to network and create partnerships. We are excited to be part of the show and value governments support. We have had good quality meetings over the two days with high level discussions. The main thing is not just to sell but to secure collaborations for sustainable growth and development of our brands. The competition here is stiff but our wines are strongly gaining ground. I am optimistic that we will secure deals by end of the show and beyond, said Khan on Thursday. Cape Dreams is part of the Department of Trade and Industrys (dti) business delegation to the show. The dti organised the local companies participation in the expo which is being held in the capital Moscow. The mission is funded through the departments Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme, whose objective is to develop export markets for South African products and services. The International Marketing and Brand Manager of Cape Diamond Wines, Anneli Karsten said the company has been in the Russian market for a while but are in the process of finding an importer for three of their ranges. We had successful meetings and tastings of our wines and it looks like we will be exporting our Cape Elephant range with a good number of volumes soon. I am positive that by weekend we will have a good report, said Karsten. Meanwhile, Western Cape businessman Malcolm Green has met with a number of Russian importers who are interested in South African wines. South Africans wines are creating a strong presence in this market and with the quality of wines, service and our ethics in terms of how we conduct business, we seem to be getting through the Russians, said Green. The trade show which got underway on Monday, will conclude on Friday, 14 February. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-02-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Sixty-eight per cent of top-level business leaders in Saudi Arabia believe it is agile or out, according to the latest Saudi Arabia CEO Outlook report by professional services firm KPMG. Agility is widely seen as the new currency for business and most CEOs recognize the need for continuous innovation to build resilient organizations. Dr Abdullah Al-Fozan, chairman of KPMG in Saudi Arabia, noted: In this ever-evolving and volatile environment, it is imperative for CEOs to done many hats at a time, act with agility, and most importantly, stay relevant. CEOs in Saudi Arabia are actively leveraging digital technologies, transforming their leadership team, and embracing all areas of the organization despite a less favourable macro-economic environment, geopolitical tensions. The survey also brought the rapidly evolving customer expectations to the CEOs and enquired about their strategies to respond. Fifty-four per cent of the respondents believe that they must improve their understanding of the customer. CEOs need to be aware of the integration of their front, middle and back offices. Leaders who understand their customer needs and deliver on them will build a competitive edge for their companies. In 2020 and beyond, the customer will drive the direction of the engagement, whether that is digital or otherwise, commented Arvind Singhi, head of Clients and Markets at KPMG in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, while the level of cyber threats is increasing, CEOs in Saudi Arabia do feel better prepared than in the year before, and most of them view information security as a potential source of competitive advantage and critical to engender trust with key stakeholders. Sixty-four percent of CEOs in the Kingdom, up from 38 percent in the year before, believe that protecting customer data is important to enable the organization to grow its customer base in the future. That said, 68 percent of CEOs feel their investments in improving customer experience has paid off as expected, up from 36 percent. The report also surveyed the challenges on the labour market, and found that 46 percent of CEOs in Saudi Arabia, compared with 59 percent of the global CEOs believe that they face difficulties in finding the right talent. At the same time, two-thirds of the CEOs in the Kingdom are now more focused on embedding their hiring strategies into their growth targets and upskilling the existing workforce, rather than recruiting new staff. When preparing workforce 4.0, 68 percent of the CEOs in Saudi Arabia are channelling most of their investments into new technologies, compared to 32 percent who believe it is more important to invest in developing their workforce with the right digital capabilities, although the two do not need to be mutually exclusive. Overall, KPMG found CEOs to be confident about their companies growth prospects, despite macro-economic headwinds and a relatively lower confidence in the direction of the global economy. The CEO Outlook is based on the input of 50 CEOs in Saudi Arabia, compared with KPMGs annual global survey amongst 1300 of the worlds leading CEOs and assesses some of the important international trends impacting Saudi Arabia and how companies can chart new business strategies for success over the next three years. TradeArabia News Service Philippines freezes bank accounts of Christian organization critical of Duterte Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Philippine government has frozen the bank accounts of a church organization critical of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration for probable cause, alleging they are related to terrorism financing. UCA News reports that the governments Anti-Money Laundering Council ordered a 20-day freeze on three of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines' accounts with the Bank of the Philippine Islands. In December 2019, the AMLC also ordered the bank to submit details of related bank accounts and proposed the filing of a petition before the Court of Appeals to extend the freeze order to six months. In a statement, the RMP expressed its utmost dismay with the council, saying that the decision greatly encumbers our mission to collectively witness and act as Christs disciples with the rural poor. We vehemently deny involvement in any form of financing terrorism, it said. Donations and funding received by the RMP are used to implement projects and programs to help the marginalized and oppressed. In contrast to the governments false narrative, RMP has delivered much-needed services to rural communities across the country for 50 years. We have our mission and community partners to confirm this. The group, established on Aug. 15, 1969, as a mission partner of the Association of Major Religious Superiors, said it has been repeatedly accused by government security officials of having links with communist rebels. Weve been accused of being a communist and terrorist front. Our members have been harassed and threatened, forcing some of them to seek sanctuary elsewhere, read the groups statement. In the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, schools run by the organization have been recently closed. Several senior RMP members have also been charged with various crimes including perjury, arson, kidnapping, and robbery. In its statement, the group said that "helping the poor, as Christians living out concretely your faith imperative and following the church mandate to establish the Church of the Poor, will put your liberty and life at risk." Despite pushback, the group vowed to live out its commitment to be servant-leaders with the poor farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers, and indigenous peoples so that all may truly experience Gods compassion and mercy in the here and now. RMP has openly criticized Duterte over his war on drugs that has led to the deaths of over 12,000 Filipinos, mostly urban poor. The group has accused the Philippine leader of contributing to the worsening poverty and intensifying violence in the Philippines. Last year, the Association of Southeast Asia Nations issued a report warning against Dutertes continued effort to erode the country's democratic institutions with an "unprecedented crackdown" on critics. It accused Duterte of "using trumped-up criminal charges, threats and intimidation as well as a range of other tactics to subvert democracy. The report also noted that the president or his administration directed "harsh," "aggressive" and "highly misogynistic" rhetoric towards his critics. Last August, a nun from RMP appealed to the public to support and protect missionaries, especially the laypeople, who are in the front line of the struggle against injustices, according to International Christian Concern. She also condemned unrelenting government attacks, including red-tagging, surveillance, and the filing of charges against missionaries to hinder them from performing their mission. AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Dutch brewer Heineken N.V. (HKHHF.PK) said that its Chief Executive officer Jean-Francois van Boxmeer will step down after leading the company for 15 years. He will be succeeded by Dolf van den Brink, who currently President Asia Pacific region and Executive Team member, on 1 June 2020. The Supervisory Board will nominate Dolf van den Brink as member of the Executive Board at the company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 23 April 2020 per that same date, for a period of four years. van Boxmeer joined Heineken as a management trainee in 1984. After a number of international management positions, he was appointed member of the Executive Board in 2001. In 2005, Van Boxmeer was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Heineken N.V. Separately, Heineken said Stefan Orlowski, currently president of the company's European operations, has decided to leave the business after 22 years to pursue his private entrepreneurial interests. Stefan Orlowski will leave before the summer, and his successor will be announced in due course, the company said. 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. Image: flickr The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party on February 11 witnessed a resounding victory in the Delhi elections, winning 62 of the total 70 Assembly seats. The remaining eight seats went to the BJP, while the Congress won nothing. Even as the counting of votes was underway, trends from the Election Commission had made it amply clear that the Kejriwals AAP would be coming to power for a second term. In view of their handsome victory, AAP leaders and party cadre celebrated with cake-cutting, road-shows, paying obeisance, singing and dancing. However, the Twitterati celebrated in an odd fashion savouring biryani. Hours after the victory for the ruling party was clear, Twitter users supporters and activists and various journalists put up pictures of them having biryani, non-vegetarian and vegetarian (yes, its a delicacy too), from their handles. While some may find this odd, those following the run-up to the polls could probably guess the innuendo. Weeks ahead of Delhi elections, several BJP leaders was seen making polarised remarks about Shaheen Bagh, the epicentre of anti- Citizenship Act protests. The Muslim-dominated area has seen a peaceful sit-in, led mostly by women and children, who have been sitting their resolutely for over 60 days demanding withdrawal of the contentious Citizenship Act and abandonment of a nation-wide NRC (National Register of Citizens). Lashing out at anti-CAA protesters, BJP candidate from Model Town Kapil Mishra had stoked a controversy saying electoral battle in Delhi was akin to one between India and Pakistan and that AAP and Congress had made Shaheen Bagh a mini Pakistan. Similarly, in an exclusive interview to Moneycontrol, BJP candidate from Hari Nagar had said people gathered at Shaheen Bagh were lured by biryani. Earlier, BJPs IT Cell head Amit Malviya had accused Shaheen Bagh protesters with a similar charge, saying the protest is a sponsored one and people are being lured by biryani and other refreshments. For this, the protesters had even slapped a defamation suit on Malviya demanding a compensation of Rs 1 crore. Proof of Biryani being distributed at Shaheen Bagh! pic.twitter.com/ylwnjJr2oy Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 5, 2020 In fact, three days ahead of the polls, Malviya had put up a picture from his Twitter handle with a caption that read: Proof of Biryani being distributed at Shaheen Bagh! If a rather polarising campaign by the BJP is placed in context, pictures of people savouring biryani on Twitter will make much sense. In fact, biryani sales legit went up in the national capital after the results were announced. Here is the Twitterati was up to: Heres a hate-free truly Indian Biryani! pic.twitter.com/BdoWWAPYLe vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) February 11, 2020 Residents of societies along the 90 Feet Road in Thakurli in Dombivli city are facing problems owing to the on-going digging work of the road to build underground sewer line. The road was built by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in 2015 at a cost of 2 crore, after residents complained of lack of connectivity. However, only five years on, the civic body is digging up the road to build the underground sewer network. The civic body should have planned in advance and built the sewer line instead of digging the entire stretch which was in good condition, said Kiran Mestry, 50, a resident of one of the societies. A civic body official, requesting not to be named, said, The work was initiated on this stretch six months ago. This is one of the roads among 12 sectors where the civic body has undertaken the work. The work is expected to be completed by December. We will spend 130 crore. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Chinese city has reportedly penalised nine people using its social credit system after they deliberately withheld information about their health and travels amid the coronavirus outbreak. The individuals, all from the city of Hangzhou, were said to have refused to provide personal details in an honest way during community health checks in a bid to avoid being quarantined. The nine people were blacklisted today by local authorities, according to Hangzhou Daily which published their full names and part of their ID numbers. The Chinese city of Hangzhou has linked its residents' performance during coronavirus health checks with the country's social credit system. People who deliberately withhold and conceal information about their health and travel history are subjected to be penalised by the scheme The city's authority has urged the public to give authentic information about themselves and their family members to health workers in a bid to stop the spread of the fast-spreading virus The report urged the public to give authentic information about themselves and their family members to health workers in a bid to stop the spread of the virus, which has killed at least 1,116 people. It criticised one 64-year-old woman, who lives in Hebei Province and refused to give away the fact that she and her family had just come back from Wuhan. Suspicious medical workers had to repeatedly ask her until she confessed her residential history on February 6. The woman, known by her surname Liu, was confirmed to have the coronavirus the next day and died on February 9 following failed medical treatment. The newspaper said because the woman's act, 77 people had to be quarantined and were at risk of being infected. The new coronavirus has killed at least 1,116 people and infected more than 45,200 globally The picture show Hangzhou residents choosing meat at a supermarket while wearing face masks on February 8. Nine individuals in the city have been blacklisted in relation to the virus A woman wearing a face mask is pictured walking past an entrance to a residential compound that has been blocked by shared bicycles in Hangzhou during the coronavirus outbreak Police of Weifang in Shandong, eastern China, have also launched an investigation into a coronavirus patient who was accused of concealing her travel history. The suspect, known by her surname Zhang, was tested positive on February 2, but refused to tell doctors where she had been or whom she had spent time with. As a result, 68 medical workers and 49 citizens had to be isolated as a precaution. The Hangzhou Credit Office has linked citizens' behaviour during the coronavirus outbreak with their social credits, it said in a notice today. The epidemic of the new coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, has so far claimed more than 1,116 lives and infected more than 45,200 people in 28 countries and territories around the world - but nearly 99 per cent of infections have been in China. Authorities in a Tibetan-populated county in Sichuan are offering rewards for information helping to contain the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, whose death toll in mainland China has now topped 1,000, according to an official announcement. The notice, released in recent days by authorities in Ngaba countys Jang town and written in both Tibetan and Chinese, promises pay-offs to anyone reporting on people entering the area from places with high rates of infection. Among these is Sichuans Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which saw its total number of confirmed infections climb to 27 on Tuesday with four new cases reported by state media in the prefectures Tawu (Daofu) county, already hard hit with a total of 22 cases of its own. Also noted for concern are persons arriving from central Chinas Hubei province, where the deadly virus began its spread, and local residents hosting and concealing outside visitors who have not reported themselves for medical checks. Banquets, dinner parties, and gatherings for mahjong, chess, or other games are also prohibited, and any persons found organizing these events must also be reported, the notice says. Supermarkets, hospitals, farmers markets, and gas stations are needed to meet the daily needs of the masses, though, and are exempted from the ban, the notice says, while warning against hoarding goods and driving up prices in the local markets. Each case of verified reporting will be rewarded with a payment of 300 yuan (U.S. $43) which can be cashed in within 24 hours, according to the notice, which provides a call-in number and the name of a contact person named Palchen Kyab, an ethnic Tibetan. If multiple sources report the same information separately, the first person to report will be given the reward, the notice says, adding that reporters identity will be kept in strict confidence, and that anyone filing a false report to frame others will be held legally responsible. Calls by RFA on Tuesday to verify the number given on the notice went straight to voice mail. Reported by RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney. GSMA Statement on MWC Barcelona 2020 From John Hoffman, CEO GSMA Limited Since the first edition of Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) in Barcelona in 2006, the GSMA has convened the industry, governments, ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders across the broader ecosystem. With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA (News - Alert) has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event. The Host City Parties respect and understand this decision. The GSMA and the Host City Parties will continue to be working in unison and supporting each other for MWC Barcelona 2021 and future editions. Our sympathies at this time are with those affected in China, and all around the world. Further updates frm the GSMA, are on our website and can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com. 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/20200212005755/en/ With nearly 94% of votes counted in the New Hampshire primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has narrowly landed in first place, receiving 26% of the vote and edging out former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, who came in second with just over 24%. And in a surprising turn of events, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar made a very strong showing, coming in third with almost 20%, well ahead of the remaining candidates who were on the ballot in New Hampshire. Ahead of the final tally, both Buttigieg and Sanders delivered what amounted to victory speeches to their followers. But while the results suggest strong showings to come for both candidates, and a possible Klobuchar insurgency, the race is far from over. New Hampshire, both demographically and in population, is highly unrepresentative of the Democratic Party and the country over all. And despite not winning any new delegates, Elizabeth Warren remains third in number of overall delegates collected so far. Also Read: Steve Bannon: Bernie Sanders Fans Made Trump President 'and They'll Make Him President Again' (Video) A clearer picture of the situation may begin to emerge over the next two weeks, with the Nevada caucuses happening Saturday, Feb. 22 and the South Carolina primary coming a week later on Feb. 29. The packed Super Tuesday primaries will be held just three days later on March 3. Meanwhile, the Hew Hampshire primary saw the end of two campaigns: entrepreneur Andrew Yang dropped out Tuesday afternoon, and Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet dropped out in early evening. Read original story Sanders Edges Buttigieg in New Hampshire Primary as Klobuchar Surges to Third At TheWrap Sinn Fein's big win has put a border poll centre-stage in political debate. That's not surprising. When the IRA called its ceasefire on August 31, 1994, the republican base believed that Irish unity was around the corner. Women banging bin lids on the metal fencing outside Andersonstown barracks yelled: "Brits out! Brits out!" Many grassroots republicans believed that the IRA had negotiated a secret deal with the British Government to sweep away the border. While soldiers are no longer on the streets, partition remains and Sinn Fein has been unsuccessful in securing any movement towards Irish unity. In the immediate years after the ceasefire, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness both attempted to lower expectations while still keeping the dream alive. A "united Ireland by 2016" became the new pledge. But the Easter Rising's centenary has come and gone. Four years later, a border poll by 2025 is Sinn Fein's latest catchcry. If the party enters a coalition government with Fianna Fail, its base will expect it to make a strong push on Irish unity. Sinn Fein's electoral success may be on the back of its housing, health and pensions' policies, but the party's central objective is Irish unity. Writing in the Belfast Telegraph, its vice-president Michelle O'Neill says that the next Dublin Government must begin actively planning for Irish unity. "That could involve a citizens' forum on constitutional change, a green paper on Irish unity, and the appointment of a minister with responsibility to prepare for reunification," she says. Irish unity is much more popular in the Republic than many in the media would have you believe. It may not have been foremost on the minds of those one in four voters who backed Sinn Fein in last Saturday's election. But the Ipsos/MRBI exit poll showed 57% support for a border poll rising to 75% among 18-24s. A Sinn Fein government is unlikely to secure a border poll with Boris Johnson in Downing Street. And despite a declining unionist vote, it's very doubtful the numbers are currently there for nationalists to win a poll in Northern Ireland anyway. Victory would depend on convincing a majority of the growing 'Other' section of the electorate of the benefits of unity. Only a disastrous Brexit is likely to do that in the foreseeable future. [February 12, 2020] Contact Center specialist CCT expands offerings with speech and authentication suite from industry expert, LumenVox SAN DIEGO and FRANKFURT, Germany, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LumenVox, a global leader in speech and authentication solutions, officially partners with CCT Solutions, Germany to advance speech technology and positively transform the customer experience. CCT Solutions will integrate LumenVox' solutions into their expanse of customer projects and market LumenVox as a featured solution partner. CCT Solutions has been working for 20 years to streamline customer interactions, increase productivity and create deeper customer relationships for businesses across the globe. Like LumenVox, CCT solutions is comprised of a knowledgeable integration team as well as industry experts. CCT specializes in contact center & automation developments, featuring their very own ContactPro, which provides multiple components for omni-channel interactions. They primarily operate within Europe, offering professional support to world-renown Avaya in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Additionally, CCT has been developing a presence in the United States as well, serving industry giant, ConvergeOne. Now CCT, as an official reseller of LumenVox, gives their customers direct access to the entire LumenVox speech and authentication portfolio. This includes LumenVox Automated Speech Recognizer, Text-to-Speech and Call Progress Analysis, as well as active, passive authentication and fraud detection. With these products CCT will provide end-to-end solution along with holistic support, meeting any design, implementation or project management needs along the way. The partnership results in a seamless LumenVox integration to businesses with continuous, tailored support. "CCT has demonstrated to us time and again that they are committed to crafting solutions that meet the highest standards of customer service. Their company has an impressive resume, with the ability to serve a myriad of industries," said Edward Miller, CEO of LumenVox. "With CCT's expertise and LumenVox' development of advanced solutions, I have no doubt that we will increase productivity and strengthen security for customers and businesses alike." About CCT: CCT Solutions provides comprehensive unified communications and contact center solutions for large and medium-sized companies. The company has many years of experience in contact center systems integration and expertise in meeting company-specific requirements (also by own application development) thus providing significantly increased value and efficiency in customer communication. CCT, with locations in the U.S., Germany and Switzerland, is a Technology Partner in the Avaya DevConnect program and a selected participant in the DevConnect Select Product Program (SPP). About LumenVox: LumenVox transforms customer communication. We have been creating speech and authentication solutions for over 18 years and recently merged with industry expert VoiceTrust, which is based in Munich, Germany. Our flexible and cost-effective technology enables you to create effortless, secure self-service and customer-agent interactions. We provide a complete suite of speech and multifactor authentication technology to make customer relations faster,?stronger?and safer than ever before. Our expertise is extensivewe support a multitude of applications for voice and?facial biometrics, inclusive of passive and active authentication for fraud detection. And we do it all by putting you and your customers first.?? Contacts Melinda Ziemer (Worldwide Director of Marketing) [email protected] +1 858-707-7700, say "Melinda Ziemer" View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/contact-center-specialist-cct-expands-offerings-with-speech-and-authentication-suite-from-industry-expert-lumenvox-301003497.html SOURCE LumenVox [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 20:46:38|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Five children were killed and three others sustained injuries as a mine went off in Dasht-e-Archi district of the northern Kunduz province on Tuesday, provincial government spokesman Esmatullah Muradi said Wednesday. A mine planted by the armed militants exploded in Qurji area of Dasht-e-Archi district on Tuesday evening, killing five children and wounding three others, Muradi said, adding Taliban fighters are behind the heinous crime. Without providing more details, the official said investigation had been initiated into the incident. Taliban militants didn't claim responsibility. C ity types will have noticed there are more Hong Kong expats in town lately. More often than not its because they fear coronavirus travel bans mean if they go home, they wont be allowed to leave again. Spare them a thought and a kind word; some havent seen their families for weeks. One tells me his children have only had a fortnight of school in the past couple of months, what with Christmas, riots, Chinese New Year and now the flu epidemic. He and eight other parents have clubbed together to hire a tutor and sent their kids to exile in Sydney until it all blows over. Its worse still for those who stay behind. One bank CEO tells me his Hong Kong staff are under orders to work from home if possible, and on no account meet other members of their teams. The fear is, theyll all catch the virus at the same time and knock out their line of business. Skype and Facetime make up for some of the sense of fear and isolation, but morale isnt great. Whats the upshot of it all for Hong Kongs status as the key western hub in the region? Put together with the growing rift with China, which makes Chinese nationals feel unwelcome and disrupts the daily lives of western expats, this latest blow to the troubled state adds to the pressure sending more businesses in the direction of Singapore and Shanghai. Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD) chief and 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has been convicted by a court in Pakistan for five years in terror-financing cases. The anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, on February 11, accepted Saeeds plea to club all six terror financing cases against him and his aides and announced the verdict on completion of the trial. The anti-terrorism court (ATC) indicted Saeed and others on December 11 in the terror-financing case in day-to-day hearing. The development comes two days before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary in Paris which is expected to decide on Pakistan's blacklisting or greylisting. (This is a developing story. To be updated when more details are available) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) Stars and reporters of GMA Network are expressing solidarity for their counterparts in rival TV network ABS-CBN, whose franchise renewal remains in limbo. Dingdong Dantes, the star of the Philippine adaptation of 'Descendants of the Sun,' said that although ABS-CBN is the direct competitor of his broadcast network, they belong to one industry. "Magkaiba man ng bakod, we are one in the media industry. We have one love for the many talents and crafts under this network, the products and output of which, directly or indirectly, benefit the lives of millions of Filipinos," he tweeted on Tuesday. He shared quotes from Buhay Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza during his privilege speech on Tuesday. He noted that Congress should act on several franchise renewal bills languishing in the House. The actor said lawmakers should set aside politics and act based on the laws. "In the end, I pray that the true interests of the people, under the rule of law, will prevail over any other political agenda conveniently veiled as a countermeasure against alleged abuses," he said. Kapuso actress Eugene Domingo shared an Instagram post of the ABS-CBN logo and signal tower, saying that at the end of the day, both networks are one family. GMA News reporter JP Soriano tweeted that he backs his fellow journalists in ABS-CBN. He also called to defend press freedom. The defense and police press corps, composed of reporters from different media outfits, rallied for fair treatment and due process for their fellow journalists. The Duterte administrations top lawyer, Solicitor General Jose Calida, went to the Supreme Court on Monday to ask the high court to revoke the existing franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence Inc., for allegedly violating the rules set by Congress. This comes amid pending bills in the House seeking to renew the TV giants franchise for another 25 years. The existing franchise expires on March 30. Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday assured the House of Representatives will conduct fair discussions into the bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN amid consistent calls from his colleagues to set a hearing to tackle the pending measures. Since 2018, Duterte has personally vowed to put the channel and its subsidiaries out of business. He has repeatedly slammed the network since 2018 for not airing his presidential campaign advertisements in 2016. A 22-year-old student-activist, against whom a case of sedition has been registered for allegedly shouting slogans in support of jailed JNU student Sharjeel Imam at an event here, on Wednesday appeared before the police, who recorded her statement, an official said. Urvashi Chudawala, a student of the city-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) appeared before the Azad Maidan police station in South Mumbai. Chudawala had participated in a rally organised by the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Queer (LGBTQ) community at Azad Maidan on February 1. Police allege that during the rally, she had shouted the slogan "Sharjeel tere sapno ko hum manzil tak pahuchaenge" (Sharjeel, we will realise your dreams). Sharjeel Imam, a PhD student of JNU was arrested in a sedition case lodged across several states for alleged "inflammatory" speeches made during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The Azad Maidan police had registered a case of sedition against Chudawala under IPC section 124 A. The Bombay High Court had on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to her. It had directed her to appear before the Azad Maidan police on February 12 and 13 for three hours in the morning and thereafter as and when required by them for questioning. "As per the court orders, Chudawala came to the Azad Maidan police station. She was there for over three hours, during which the police recorded her statement," the official said. "The process of recording her statement will continue on Thursday when she appears before the police again," he added. According to the official, her phone will also be recovered on Thursday as part of the probe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Victoria's public sector union says the Andrews government knocked back a proposed super increase for its own employees before revealing a bold plan for a 15 per cent super guarantee for all Australian workers. The government's plan, revealed in The Age on Wednesday, suggested sweeping changes to super including a new deal for women, families and low-income workers, but has sparked a furious backlash. The Community and Public Sector Union, which is in deadlocked wage talks over a new pay deal for 50,000 public servants and other government workers, described the state's intervention as "hyperbole and hubris". The union's secretary Karen Batt told The Age that the Victorian government's blueprint for super, submitted to the federal government's review into retirement incomes, was disconnected from its own workplace policy. "We asked for an increase in super to 12 per cent over the life of the next agreement but the request was rejected outright," Ms Batt said. Daniel Rios Rodriguez Through March 1. Nicelle Beauchene, 327 Broome Street, Manhattan; 212-375-8043, nicellebeauchene.com. Spirals are everywhere in Daniel Rios Rodriguezs paintings in Semper Virens at Nicelle Beauchene. Theyre a motif that reflects the exhibitions Latin title evergreen or always flourishing but also feels in keeping with the moment as spirals are overtaking modernist grids in popularity. Angelitos Negros (2019-20) has a spiral laid out with a rope at its center, while Agua (2019-20) has small stone rectangles shaped into a snakelike spiral and Early Life (2020) suggests a nautilus structure. Other works here include abstracted suns or moons and relate to life cycles and natural and cosmic regeneration. Mr. Rodriguezs paintings, which are more like chunky constructions with idiosyncratic homemade frames, include many found objects he collected while walking in the river valley near his home in San Antonio, Texas. There is a distinct folk-art feel to the show. Some works even conjure the vapid, cheery paintings youd find in hotel rooms or at a local cafe. The precision and structure of these works as well as nods to artists like Marsden Hartley are a giveaway, however: Mr. Rodriguez has an M.F.A. in painting from Yale. In other words, this is folk art threaded through the needle of studied composition and artistry rather than curios fashioned by a self-taught savant. What were seeing is Mr. Rodriguez discarding the rules of Western art history, pushing high painting toward craft and coaxing us to follow. MARTHA SCHWENDENER Dalit outfits here ran a postcard campaign against the Citizenship Amendment Act and sought a DNA-based National Register of Citizens. The Purvanchal Sena, Asur Chatra Sangathan and the Bheem Army also urged the prime minister to withdraw the controversial citizenship law. The campaign was launched on February 4 and around 500 postcards were posted to the prime minister on Wednesday. Purvanchal Sena president Dhirendra Pratap said, "A DNA-based NRC will be better. At least, it will be known to everyone that who is the original resident of India and who are migrants." Surendra Valmiki, another office-bearer of the Purvanchal Sena, said the campaign will end only after the withdrawal of the CAA and the NPR. "We appeal to the prime minister through postcards to use the money meant for the implementation of the CAA-NPR-NRC for free education, better health services, safety and security of women besides stopping farmers' suicides, eradication of corruption, providing facilities to soldiers and reduce unemployment," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Forbes Travel Guide has awarded its coveted 'Five-Star' rating to an Irish hotel for the first time ever, its 2020 ratings reveal. Ashford Castle in Cong, Co. Mayo, has been named as the first and only Irish hotel to receive the Guide's top award. "This hotel really proved it could hold its own not only as best in its destination, but now as one of the very best in the world," Amanda Frasier, Executive Vice President with Forbes Travel Guide (FTG), told the Irish Independent. "Particularly gracious staff members, anticipatory service gestures and luxurious facilities and amenities" all stood out for inspectors, she says. FTG Inspectors pay their way, stay incognito for a minimum of two nights and evaluate hotels against a checklist of 500 "exacting standards", with 75pc of a hotel's score based on service and 25pc on facilities. "Ashford Castle achieved a composite score higher than 88pc, which placed them on the list as one of the best hotels in the world," Frazier reveals. Expand Close Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ashford Castle, Cong, Co. Mayo. And the room rates? Standard 'Corrib Rooms' start from 295 on advance purchase rates in the off-season, but rocket to 725 per night in busier months. Were over the moon," said Niall Rochford, General Manager. "Its probably the most meticulous and internationally recognised hotel rating system in the world, so its highly sought after and Im immensely proud of our loyal and long-serving team for delivering such consistently warm and polished service and generous hospitality." Forbes Travel Guide, a separate company to the global media giant, styles itself as "the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas". The 2020 ratings are the largest in its 62-year history, with almost 1,900 properties receiving citations worldwide. Despite being described as "one of the top destinations in the world", however, Ireland receives a total of just eight listings - with six located in Dublin. As well as Ashford Castle, three Irish hotels meet its 'Four-Star' standard (The K Club, The Marker and The Merrion), while four are 'Recommended' (Dublin's InterContinental, Fitzwilliam, Shelbourne and Westbury hotels). Expand Close The 32-seater cinema at Ashford Castle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 32-seater cinema at Ashford Castle Several flagship properties - including Ballyfin, previously voted world's No.1 hotel by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, and Adare Manor, named Ireland's Favourite Hotel in our Reader Travel Awards 2020, are not listed. "Since our initial launch of Dublin in 2017, Forbes Travel Guide has endeavoured to expand further into Ireland and has been making great efforts to comprehensively cover the country, with more expansion in the works," Frasier explains. "While the number of rated properties is lower than some areas of the world, it certainly is proving its place with these superb hotels," she adds. Ashford Castle has undergone a multi-million euro refurb since it was acquired by the South African Tollman family for its Red Carnation collection in 2013, with the addition of a new pool, spa, and 32-seat cinema. London was dubbed the Guide's 'Five Star capital city' this year, with 19 hotels, including Red Carnation's Egerton House and Hotel 41, getting top gongs. Service is given a heavy weighting in evaluations, Frazier says, "because the guest experience at a hotel goes beyond looks". "How it makes them feel is what they will remember most." What the ratings mean Five-Star properties are described as "outstanding, often iconic, with virtually flawless service and amazing facilities". Four-Star properties offer "exceptional service and the quality of facility to match", according to Forbes Travel Guide. Recommended properties "are excellent with consistently good services and facilities". Full ratings are on ForbesTravelGuide.com. "Each and every student needs all of the academic guidance that we can provide, but they also need a high level of support to ensure that they are okay mentally, emotionally, and socially and with the addition of Gaggle, we now have an additional resource to assist with keeping our students safe." Gaggle, the pioneer in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology, today announced that Georgias fifth-largest school district is implementing its student safety technology. Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) in Jonesboro, Ga., is comprised of 37 elementary, 14 middle, and 11 high schools, and will use the technology to protect its students and ensure their safety and well-being in digital learning spaces. Since 1999, Gaggle has helped districts across the country protect students, avoid tragedies, save lives and protect against district liability by monitoring digital spaces and responding to safety issues and threats. The Gaggle safety solution uses a robust combination of both artificial intelligence and trained safety experts to provide real-time analysis and review of students use of online collaboration platforms, such as Googles G Suite for Education, Microsoft Office 365 and Canvas while proactively identifying and supporting students who are personally struggling; and creating a safer school environment by building a culture for improved digital citizenship. Here in Clayton County we are committed to meeting the physical, emotional, and social needs of our 54,000 students. Each and every student needs all of the academic guidance that we can provide, but they also need a high level of support to ensure that they are okay mentally, emotionally, and socially and with the addition of Gaggle, we now have an additional resource to assist with keeping our students safe, said Rod Smith, chief of technology at CCPS. Gaggle proactively assists districts 24/7 in the prevention of harmful situations. An in-house team of trained safety professionals with backgrounds in law enforcement, psychology, social work, suicide prevention and crisis management evaluate flagged content for false positives, categorizes incidents and determines their severity. The team then alerts district personnel to policy violations, inappropriate content, critical mental health issues and imminent danger to students. Over the past 20 years, Gaggle has scanned more than 13 billion pieces of student content, flagging over 151 million items for review by its team of safety experts who look for signs of self-harm and depression, thoughts of suicide, substance abuse, cyberbullying and credible threats of violence against others. We live in an era where K-12 districts cant just think about the physical security of their students and staff; they also have to worry about all aspects of security, said Gaggle CEO, Jeff Patterson. We applaud Clayton County schools in choosing to proactively take action to protect their students from harming themselves or othersbefore a disaster happens. About Gaggle | https://www.gaggle.net Since 1999, Gaggle has been the leader in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology. Using a robust combination of both artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, the safety solution proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations. Most importantly, Gaggle continues to help hundreds of districts avoid tragedies and save lives, while also protecting their liability. In the 2018-19 academic year, Gaggle has helped districts save the lives of more than 700 students who were planning or actually attempting suicide. For more information, visit https://www.gaggle.net and follow Gaggle on Twitter at @Gaggle_K12. Corey Feldman says he is living in fear and has hired 24-hour protection ahead of the release of his new documentary that he says will expose the Hollywood pedophile ring he claims abused him and his late friend Corey Haim as children. The 48-year-old former child star has long said both he and Haim were sexually assaulted as children in Hollywood. Feldman says his new documentary - My Truth: The Rape of Two Coreys - will reveal the names of the people who victimized him and Haim. The film, which has been beset with legal and funding issues, will only be shown once on his website on March 9 after no major distributor picked it up and it was reportedly turned down by Netflix because of possible legal ramifications. Feldman, who starred in The Goonies and Lost Boys, said he's had to take steps to ensure his safety in the lead up to the release following two previous alleged attempts on his life. Corey Feldman says his new documentary - My Truth: The Rape of Two Coreys - will reveal the names of the people who victimized him and his late friend Corey Haim. He is pictured above in an emotional clip from the film's trailer 'There are things you have to do for insurance reasons when you're putting out something like this. This is very, very dangerous stuff and it's very risky stuff. You know we have to have 24-hour armed security, we don't know what's gonna happen,' he said. 'Of course we have fear, there's been two attempts on my life. There obviously could be more, we hope not but we don't know what's going to happen... It's scary, it's very, very scary.' Feldman told ENews that he promised his friend Haim 11 years ago that he would publicly reveal the abuse they suffered if he died before his former child co-star. Haim, who starred in several movies with Feldman, died in 2010 following drug and alcohol battles. He said the film will reveal for the first time the names of Haim's abusers. Feldman has already publicly named one of his own alleged abusers. He accused his former co-star Jon Grissom of abusing him as a child. He referred to Grissom as Ron Crimson in his 2013 book Coreyography. He aired the allegations for the first time during a 2017 Dr Oz Show interview. Grissom, who has a prior child molestation conviction and is believed to be living in Mexico, has not been charged in relation to Feldman's claims. He said the documentary will be the first time all the details about his and Haim's alleged abuse have been detailed. 'I am able to say the names of who did what and the details of who did what,' Feldman said of the film. 'There is going to be people who are going to be very unhappy that this is coming out. People who want it silenced. Nothing can stop it at this point. 'That's why we're only showing it one time. We want to get it out. I've done my job, I've kept my promise.' The 48-year-old former child star has long said both he (right) and his late friend Corey Haim (left) were sexually assaulted as children in Hollywood. They are pictured above in the 1987 film The Lost Boys Feldman (left said he promised his friend Haim (right) 11 years ago that he would publicly reveal the abuse they suffered if he died before his former child co-star. They are pictured together in 2007 before Haim's death in 2010 Feldman hasn't released any clips of the film ahead of its release because he says he doesn't want anything taken out of context. Feldman has been vowing to expose the alleged Hollywood pedophile ring for years. He filed a new police report about one childhood assault but the Los Angeles Police Department told him the statute of limitations for the alleged crime had expired. Feldman has already publicly named one of his own alleged abusers. He accused his former co-star Jon Grissom of abusing him as a child. Grissom, who has a prior child molestation conviction from the early 2000s and is believed to be living in Mexico, has not been charged in relation to Feldman's claims California changed its law last year to give childhood victims of sexual abuse more time to decide whether to file civil lawsuits. Feldman had claimed in 2017 that he had initially given the names of his alleged sexual abusers to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office back in 1993 but they failed to investigate. The sheriff's office had previously denied the claims and said they had no records of Feldman revealing such information. They revealed a month later that a review of materials had uncovered an audio file during which Feldman could be heard giving over the names. Feldman claims he has faced multiple attempts on his life since he made his sex assault allegations public. He said he was stabbed in 2018 and was close to death but the LAPD later disputed those allegations and said he suffered no lacerations. Feldman has spent years advocating for the protection of child actors from what he claims is a systemic pedophilia problem in Hollywood. He has claimed that movie studios, senior film executives and even the Screen Actors Guild have all essentially ignored his concerns. Feldman says Hollywood has tried to cover up child sex abuse for decades and he claims senior movie industry figures are still trying to silence and discredit him. Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy, on Wednesday said the use of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) is gaining attention both in India and the world as it requires minimum effort and stressed that security forces should have the technology and strategy to prevent such attacks in the future. "Use of IEDs is gaining attention not only in India but also globally as it requires minimum effort. Security forces need technology, strategy and capabilities to prevent such attacks," Reddy said at a seminar at Security Guard(NSG) headquarters here. Last week, two suspected low-intensity Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were recovered by police at two places in Guwahati, Assam. Police have suspected ULFA's hand as per preliminary probe and stated that investigation was on. Prior to this, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said that three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists killed in an encounter on Jammu-Srinagar Highway earlier this month had an IED ready to be used around Nagrota through a third person in a few days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, 12th Feb 2020 -The human rights of members of the Human Family are fundamentally rested on: their rights to be born and identified or recognized as human persons in a particular cultural environment; exist, develop and live in secured or protected and habitable general envelopment. At natural or lawful death, their rights extend to rights to have their remains retrieved, interred or committed to mother earth and given befitting burials and funerals. These are covered by the four generations of human rights under UN System; namely: civil & political rights, economic, social and cultural rights and environmental rights. The above was the position of the Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law as contained in a statement issued today and signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi (Chair of the Board), Anayo Okoli (Board Member) and Samuel Kamanyaoku (Head of Field Data Collection & Documentation) Intersocietys statement was in reaction to coordinated and sustained plans by the Federal Government of Nigeria and its ethno-religiously lopsided security agencies to violently disrupt the 14thFeb interment and funeral of the wife of the Traditional Ruler of the Afara-Ukwu Kingdom, Lolo Sally Ugoeze Kanu. Her husband, HRM Eze Israel Okwu, was also sacrilegiously declared dead and fixed for burial same date. As a matter of fact, under Divine Rights of the Kings applicable to all generational ages and kingdoms till date including Nigeria and Igbo Land, a reigning king does not die, but join his ancestors to continue living in the cosmic world. It is also a taboo for his death to be commonly announced. His passage is usually marked with last Ofala festival or its equivalent, chiefly organized by the kingmakers. Under the same Divine Rights of the Kings operational in Nigeria and Igbo Land till date, the Palace of a King cannot be desecrated through acts of state violence or threats of same. The Palace of a King is kept holy and respected all the time same way churches and mosques are preserved and respected. These are on account of the divine principle that kings/queens are the representatives of God on earth and divinely anointed to reign forever or till they joined their ancestors. It is still remembered that the Igbo Ethnic Nationality is the oldest Nationality in Nigeria, founded some 3,470years ago. Contrarily, the present central Government of Nigeria has committed many atrocities against the Kingdom of Afara-Ukwu and their Traditional Ruler, HRM Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and brutally desecrated their Land. The Afara-Ukwu Kingdom is in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in Eastern Nigeria. The atrocities committed in the ancient Kingdom by the Government of Nigeria are unspeakably unheard of, and have never been visited on any royal Palace of an Oba in the Southwest or Emir in the Northern Muslim Nigeria. It is therefore recalled that the ancient and peaceful Kingdom of Afara-Ukwu was first visited with unprovoked and egregious attacks by the Nigerian Army in Sept 2017. The threats of the attack started on 8thSept 2017 leading to full scale and war-like Army invasion on the Palace and residence of Eze Israel Okwu Kanu, his family and the entire Afara-Ukwu Kingdom 14th Sept 2017 during which no fewer than 105 unarmed, nonviolent and defenseless Igbo citizens were shot at close range and killed. Not less than 60 others were also shot and critically injured with scores crippled for life. No single soldier was killed in the attacks. This was because the attacked were unarmed, defenseless and helpless. In the hallowed or benevolent Igbo Kingship system, this is monumentally sacrilegious and abominable; requiring thorough cleansing and justice against the perpetrators; else the ancient Kingdom will generationally be thrown into a ghost town and endless spiritual tormenting. This is because it is not only that over one hundred souls were massacred in the ancient Kingdom by the Nigerian soldiers, but they were innocent and unarmed; massacred during their peaceful assembly in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, their leader and biological son of the respected Traditional Ruler of the Community. Killing of innocent souls constitutes the highest crime and abomination in the Igbo Traditional and Kingship Society. The most undoing by the Government of Nigeria and its sacrilegiously composed security agencies is that as against all known legal provisions and rules of engagement in civil-military relationship or policing, many bodies of those killed during the grisly attacks were taken away by soldiers and thrown into the bush to decompose without traces or identification; or decimated with raw acid substances in shallow graves to evade traces and justice. Scores of those shot and injured and rushed to clinics by sympathizers; were also traced to their clinic beds, abducted and possibly killed. The Government further acted abominably by declaring both group and individual victims as terrorists. Army Attacks Likely Caused The Departure Of Eze Kanu & Death Of His Wife Considering the old ages of Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife, Lolo Sally Ugoeze and vulnerable health conditions that follow same, the grisly war-like or gun attacks by the Nigerian Army at their Palace and ancestral home are likely to have caused the untimely joining to his ancestors of HRM Eze Kanu and death of his wife. Though it is unclear whether they sustained bullet wounds during the attacks, but it is certain they were traumatized and psychologically tortured. If these turned out to be true, then the Government of Nigeria and its sacrilegiously composed Nigerian Army led by Lt Gen Yusuf Tukur Buratai are liable and shall be held to account when appropriate. The Nigerian Government & Its Army Acted Abominably, Abusively & Illegally The Nigerian Army ordered by the Government of Nigeria committed abomination and sacrilege by invading and violently attacking the Palace of Afara-Ukwu Kingdom and ancestral home of Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his family. It is also both a taboo and an abomination to massacre over one hundred innocent and defenseless souls at a peaceful and sacred traditional kingship Palace; thereby turning the Kingdom into a kingdom flowing with innocent blood and tears. In matters of legality, the atrocious acts of the Government of Nigeria and its Army totally defied constitutionality and legality. The Army monumentally acted unconstitutionally and ultra vires. This is because Mr. Kanu who was on a Federal High Court bail owing to spurious high crime charges against him ought not to have been targeted by soldiers for attack. Nigerian Army is neither the Court nor the Nigeria Police Force. Even if Mr. Kanu had violated his bail conditions, the Federal prosecutors know what to do both in law and in practice. In a serious minded democracy, the Nigerian Army Chief should have long been fired and sent to jail. Nigerian Government Has Continued Its Atrocities Even In Death The Government of Nigeria is still undone and unrepentant over the atrocities it has despicably committed against the Afara-Ukwu Kingdom and their Traditional Ruler, to the extent that the atrocities are being perpetrated even after the Kings departure and death of his wife. The Abia CPs good morning, afternoon, evening and night salutations to the People of Abia State are war of words and threats and moves to militarize Afara-Ukwu Kingdom and scuttle the royal funerals. He knows no other job in Abia State except issuance of threats against IPOB and Mr. Nnamdi Kanus royal parents funerals. As a matter of fact, the Federal Government has totally disrupted and destroyed the funerals; thereby sacrilegiously depriving the victims families and the entire Afara-Ukwu Kingdom their rights to give their royal King and Lolo befitting interment and funeral including receiving friends and well-wishers from far and near. By our checks, many notable persons are likely not going to attend the burial and funeral for fear of Federal Government threats while some said they might attend only church service if conducive and return to their bases from there. A cross section of them who shared their views with Intersociety said that the lopsidedly composed Federal security forces may likely open fire on them and others during the funerals and tag them armed IPOB terrorists. The Afara-Ukwu Kingdom and its kingmakers, as a result, have totally been thrown into state of fear including threats of state violent attacks. The IPOBs Media War Of Words With Nigeria Police & Army Not Necessary The referenced media war of words is not only unnecessary but also escalates the tensions and concerns regarding the funerals, capable of leading to chaos and bloodletting at the instigation, coordination and perpetration of the Nigerian security forces particularly the soldiers of 144 Battalion and the Abia State Police Command. The war of words also has capacity to endanger the security and safety of the mourners including the Afara-Ukwu kingmakers in whose responsibility the kingly funeral rites are exclusively entrusted. Granted that the leader of IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu is the biological son of the just passed King and his wife and heir apparent to the throne (if the stool is still not rotational); but the funeral rites of the King are to be exclusively performed by the Afara-Ukwu Kingmakers (i.e. Ndi-Ichie/Eze-in-Council and other royal men and women) as well as the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers or Ndi-Eze. IPOB, like other social groups known and friendly to the family can attend in their private capacities. Government Must Back Out & Allow The Royal Dead To Be Given Befitting Burial The Government of Nigeria through the Minister of Information and Culture is hereby called upon to address a world press conference tomorrow (13thFeb) calling the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force to order and directing them to withdraw all their armed personnel and armaments from all parts of Umuahia particularly the roads or routes leading to the ancient Kingdom. The Government must further undertake the responsibility of publicly assuring the mourners including the Afara-Ukwu kingmakers and notable personalities and groups of their maximum security and safety during the funerals. Mourners from all walks of life wishing to mourn the royally departed husband and wife must be allowed to mourn them under circumstances devoid of state threats and violence. Anything short of the above, the Federal Government of Nigeria and its drafted security personnel and their leaders shall take full blames and be held liable. Contacts: Mobile/Whatsapp Line: +2348174090052 Email: [email protected] Website: www.intersociety-ng.org Sanders voters, on the other hand, stood out for the solidity with which they stood behind him. Among the 32 percent of primary voters who said they had made up their minds before last month, nearly half (46 percent) cast their ballots for him. As in the past, Sanders did especially well among the youngest and most liberal voters. [February 11, 2020] CDB Aviation Leases Pair of E190s to Myanmar Airways International CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited ("CDB Leasing"), announced on the sidelines of the 2020 Singapore Airshow the signing of a lease agreement for a pair of Embraer E190 aircraft with Myanmar Airways International ("MAI"). The Embraer jet duo will join the carrier's all-Airbus fleet this summer. The E190s are anticipated to debut on flights within the Myanmar domestic market and some key international routes starting as early as August 2020, supplementing domestic and regional operations by sister carrier Air KBZ (News - Alert), according to the airline. MAI currently operates scheduled service to destinations in South East Asia from its main base at Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport. "We are delighted to be handing over the two E190s to our newest APAC customer MAI, marking the introduction of first-generation Embraer jets on the carrier's expanding route network," remarked CDB Aviation Chief Marketing Officer Peter Goodman. "This jet duo will fit well within MAI's expanding operations, facilitating their planned development of Myanmar's market." Kyaw Han, Chief Operating Officer of MAI, commented: "We are thrilled to operate the E190s, which will ensure MAI remains at the forefront of the aviation industry in Myanmar, with a modern fleet. The new aircraft also will enable the airline to offer better comfort in terms of jet product offering and higher capacity in response to the ongoing strong demand across its domestic and egional network." "This transaction adds to our team's track record in placing the majority of our E190s coming off lease over the past year," emphasized Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviation Chief Executive Officer, adding that "our commercial team's ongoing success is attributable to deep airline relationships across our vast network and our ability to comprehensively meet the airlines' fleet requirements." About Myanmar Airways International Myanmar Airways International ("MAI") operates from its hub in Yangon and Mandalay, serving 18 routes across Thailand, Singapore, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and India with a fleet of three A319s and one A320. Overall, MAI has approximately 12% of international seat capacity in Myanmar. As part of MAI's ambitious growth plan, it plans to double its fleet size by the end of 2020. www.maiair.com About CDB Aviation CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited ("CDB Leasing"), a 35-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moody's (A1), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the world's largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating. CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in China's leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business - listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006117/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo show different responses to virus South Korea appears to have been doing a relatively good job so far in curbing the spread of the new coronavirus, looking at what is happening in China and Japan. Emergency measures the government has taken since the first case was reported here Jan. 20 centered on tracing and monitoring people who had possibly been infected, and enforcing the temporary closure of places visited by confirmed patients, as well as providing adequate treatment in isolation to patients and those who showed symptoms. It was quick to prepare quarantine facilities for hundreds of South Korean nationals evacuated from Wuhan in central China, the epicenter of the virus outbreak. Their condition is being closely monitored by medical staff. The number of confirmed cases here has remained unchanged from the previous day at 28, Wednesday, while seven of these have been discharged from hospital after a full recovery. There have been no fatalities. Thankfully, the country's situation appears to have stabilized, and this wouldn't have been possible without the administration's quick and calm response. Our government and President Moon Jae-in who has led this fight against the virus deserve praise for that. There have indeed been some problems, mistakes and disputes in the process of combating the virus, but, generally speaking, the nation's disease-control system is now working quite well. This is probably because the government learned a lesson from the collective failure of those in responsible positions to respond to the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014, which resulted in the deaths of 304 people and ultimately became a major factor for the ouster of President Park Geun-hye a couple of years later. Even though some political attempts are evident here to fan public fears and portray the government as being incapable or incompetent which may be associated with the crucial April 15 general election it is not like the public criticism directed toward the governments of China and Japan. Chinese President Xi Jinping was reported Monday to have visited some public places in Beijing in an apparent attempt to stifle criticism of the authorities' handling of the crisis. This was actually the first media report on Xi's virus-related activity since the outbreak, and with the death toll having already surpassed 1,000 and confirmed cases having exceeded 40,000. It is not hard to imagine what would happen if a South Korean president had behaved in this manner. In Japan, the Shinzo Abe administration is also blamed for the poor handling of a cruise ship, locked down for over a week since a passenger was confirmed to be infected with the virus. Some 3,700 passengers and crew are aboard the Diamond Princess, and the number of infections there has surged to 174. The government implemented a lockdown to block possible spread of the virus, but as a result, the measure made the cruise ship the largest infection center outside China. It is not strange that many Japanese are now raising questions about the government's capacity to cope with the virus. One big question pops up as we see what is occurring in China and Japan. What is government for? Concord, New Hampshire: Self-declared democratic socialist Bernie Sanders has won the influential New Hampshire Democratic Party primary, edging out centrist rivals Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar in a close three-way contest. The trio's success came at the expense of former frontrunner Joe Biden, who flamed out in a disastrous fifth place, and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren who finished a distant fourth. With 97 per cent of precincts reporting on Tuesday night (Wednesday AEDT), Sanders was on 25.9 per cent of the vote ahead of Buttigieg on 24.4 per cent and Klobuchar on 19.8 per cent. Biden, the former vice-president, was sitting on just 8.4 per cent of the vote and Warren on 9.3 per cent. The77-year-old essentially conceded defeat before voting ended by flying to South Carolina to spend the night with supporters there rather than stay in New Hampshire. Lambert here: The new Great Game? By Tsvetana Paraskova, a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing for news outlets such as iNVEZZ and SeeNews. Originally published at OilPrice.com Despite climate concerns and environmentalist backlash against exploration for oil and gas in pristine sensitive regions of the Arctic, companies continue to explore for hydrocarbon resources in the Arctic Circle, in Russia and Norway in particular. The largest Russian energy companies are looking to explore more Arctic oil and gas resources on and offshore Russia, while Norwegian and other Western oil firms are digging exploration wells in Norways Barents Sea. Those companies lead the development efforts to tap more Arctic oil and gas resources as legacy oil and gas fields both offshore Norway and onshore Russia mature. Russias biggest energy firms Gazprom, Rosneft, Novatek, and Lukoil, and Norways oil and gas giant Equinor, as well as Aker BP and ConocoPhillips, are the top oil and gas producers in the Artic region, data and analytics company GlobalData said in a new report. Gazprom is the undisputed leader in Arctic oil and gas production, followed, at a long distance, by two other Russian firms, Rosneft and Novatek, GlobalDatas estimates show. Russian firms are ramping up exploration in Russias Arctic, while Equinor and other Western companies drill exploration wells in Norways Barents Sea, hoping for a significant discovery that could add to the Johan Castberg oilfielda massive discovery which was made in 2011, but which hasnt been replicated in the Barents Sea so far. Yet, both Russia and Norway face specific challenges in getting the most out of their respective Arctic oil and gas resources. Related: The Jet Fuel Crack Killing Oil Wont Last In Russia, the government has made Arctic oil and gas development a key priority and offers tax breaks for firms exploring in the area. Energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft dominate the exploration and development efforts in Russias Arctic. Offshore, Gazproms Prirazlomnoye field is currently the only producing Russian oil and gas project on the Arctic Shelf. But even with tax breaks, Russia may find it hard to develop its offshore Arctic resources, due to the U.S. sanctions banning collaboration on Russian deepwater, Arctic offshore, or shale projects with Gazprom, Gazprom Neft, Lukoil, Surgutneftegas, and Rosneft. These are the largest energy firms in Russia and they dont have access to capital at western banks to develop such projects. In the wake of the sanctions, many Western oil firms withdrew from joint ventures with Russian companies, which are now left without partnerships in technology needed to explore, drill, and potentially produce and process hard-to-extract oil and gas resources. Although Russian firms downplay the effects of the U.S. sanctions on their development plans, and although domestic companies are focused on developing in-house technology solutions to replace foreign-sourced tech, analysts believe that 100-percent local content technology in challenging projects would likely take years to implement. Financing for large onshore projects in the Arctic is not easy either. Rosneft, which wants to develop the Vostok Oil project, to implement a complex development program for a new oil and gas province in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, is looking east to gather funding for the US$157 billion projectto Japan, India, and China. Russias largest private natural gas producer, Novatek, is one of the success stories of Arctic resource development. Novatekwhich already exports liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Yamal LNG plantgave last year the go-ahead to its second LNG project, Arctic LNG 2 on the Gydan Peninsula. Novateks partners in the ventures are Frances Total with a minority stake as well as Chinese and Japanese companies. Related: Brace For A Global Crisis In 2020 Last year, Russian officials said that the Arctic area could become the key driver of Russias natural gas production in less than two decades, as it has the potential to produce 90 percent of all the gas produced in Russia by 2035. Norways Arctic areas open to exploration are parts of the Barents Sea, where companies are struggling to finally make a large-size discovery after Johan Castberg. Norwegian authorities say that the Barents Sea holds 64 percent of the yet to be discovered resources on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, while the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea each are estimated to hold 18 percent of the undiscovered resources. Last year, just five wells were drilled in the Barents Sea, fewer than in 2018. In 2019, a total of 17 new discoveries were made offshore Norway, of which only one was in the Barents Sea. Norways Equinor says that it continues to explore in the Barents Sea because more oil will be needed in the world just to maintain supplies. Discoveries in the Barents Sea can lead to significant economic development, nationally and locally. Based on our understanding of the geology, we hope to find high quality light oil thats in demandand better for the climate. The wells we drill in the Barents Sea are cheaper than many others, thanks to the geology and shallower waters, says the Norwegian giant. In 2020, Equinor will focus on exploration in the western part of the Barents Sea, Tim Dodson, Executive Vice President, Exploration at Equinor, told Reuters in November. Norway and Russia are leading Arctic oil and gas development, but they both face challenges in making the Arctic the next oil hotspot. Two 'vampires' who wear dental acrylic fans and feed on each other's blood have admitted that they can 'definitely draw blood' with their razor-sharp teeth if they wanted to and they usually do. Count Tim and Countess Lea, a blood-sucking couple from Austin, Texas, open up about their unusual relationship and wedding on Friday night's episode of the We TV reality series Extreme Love. 'We do wear our fangs out in public. It's part of who we are. I've had people come up to me like, "Will you bite me?" and stuff like that,' Tim explains in a preview clip. Scroll down for video Love at first bite: Count Tim and Countess Lea, a 'vampire' couple from Austin, Texas, open up about their unusual relationship on Friday's episode of Extreme Love Hard to miss: Tim and Lea both wear 'real dental acrylic fangs' out in public, and he admits that strangers will come up to him and ask, 'Will you bite me?' 'We could definitely draw blood if we really wanted to. If we bit hard enough? Oh yeah,' he says with a laugh. 'They are sharpened to a complete point,' Lea adds, explaining that they are 'real dental acrylic fangs.' The two were both practicing vampirism before they got together, and for Lea, it's an integral part of her life. 'I've been into vampirism since I moved to the United States,' she explains. 'I was six and I was obsessed from then on. '[I] read every book I could possibly get my hands on, and then felt this kindred spirit with these characters in these shows and books and such.' Both Tim and Lea want their upcoming wedding to reflect their vampiric way of life. Dangerous: Lea says their fangs are 'sharpened to a complete point,' and they both agree that they could draw blood if they bit down hard enough 'It's part of who I am. It's a part of who we are, and it's a very prominent part of our lives,' she says. 'I love every second of it, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.' The couple met at the Austin Vampire Carnival where Tim was reading tarot cards for festival goers. 'I walked up to her and I was all like, "Hey, want a reading?"' he recalls. Lea says the situation was 'very funny' because she is 'a lot shorter' than he is. 'All I saw was this very tall, dark man asking if I wanted a tarot card reading,' she explains. 'I sat down with him, and he almost made me cry.' In a 2017 interview, the couple said that their passionate 'connection of darkness' quickly developed into a blood-sucking relationship. Memories: The two were both practicing vampirism when they met at the Vampire Carnival Emotional moment: They quickly fell in love after Tim read Lea's tarot cards and almost made her cry The real-life 'vampires, who call themselves the 'Count and Countess of House Van Doorn,' even drink each other's blood. They regularly cut each other's skin with razor blades or draw blood with syringes and drink it from a goblet or suck it straight from the wound. 'When I feed via blood, it is just as good as sex because as I feel this rush of life, their essence, their energy is coming into myself and I am taking it in and I feel empowered,' Tim said. 'I feel the person I'm feeding from on a whole different level and in a totally different way than I could with words.' Lea agreed: 'I actually prefer drinking blood to having sex. You are taking the essence of a person and that to me is ecstasy. There is no better feeling. 'We are kind of like sharks once we get going,' she admitted. 'It is a sexual experience and we often draw blood in the bedroom. Vampires are highly sexualized creatures and having sex literally gets the blood pumping.' Blood suckers: Tim and Lea regularly cut each other's skin with razor blades or draw blood with syringes and drink it from a goblet or suck it straight from the wound Keeping it real: 'I actually prefer drinking blood to having sex. You are taking the essence of a person and that to me is ecstasy,' Lea says Shortly after the red-blooded lovers met, they quickly became a couple, and within weeks the feverish pair had agreed to introduce bloodsucking into their romance. Although they acknowledge that their actions can lead to blood diseases including Hepatitis and HIV Lea and Tim insisted that they are 'squeaky clean' and get tested every couple of months, something they describe as a 'bonding experience.' 'Blood feeding does tend to make people a little uncomfortable,' Tim admitted. 'Because you know they are afraid of being scarred or they are afraid of some transmitted disease and it is completely understandable given how some people can be very reckless with that. 'That's why we predominantly feed on each other to keep it very behind closed doors.' Lea added: 'We go and get tested for diseases together and it's almost like a bonding experience. I feel like it strengthens our relationship.' If they engage in vampirism with other partners outside of their relationship they take precautions to make sure they are 'sanitary.' Careful: Although they acknowledge that their actions can lead to blood diseases, Lea and Tim insist that they are 'squeaky clean' and get tested every couple of months Misconceptions: While they may be real-life vampires, Lea says they don't 'sleep in coffins' nor are they 'allergic to sunlight' 'If they are unable to provide documentation and I do feed from them, the next week I make sure I go tested right away. We haven't had any problems so far.' Tim is a divorcee, and he and Lea care for his now five-year-old son, Daedric. At the time, they said they planned on being open with Daedric about their vampirism and will welcome him into the coven should he choose to follow the same blood-streaked path. 'We won't force anything onto Daedric, but we are open with our lifestyle,' Lea said. 'If he decides to follow in our footsteps, of course, we will support him, but we feel that it is something that the vampire has to discover for themselves.' Although their family and friends are accepting of their lifestyle, Lea and Tim admitted that they do come up against some misconceptions. 'I feel like I come alive at night, but we aren't allergic to sunlight,' Lea said. 'I am partial to garlic, and we definitely don't sleep in coffins. 'Many people see our lives as controversial, but it's as natural as breathing to us. I can't see myself ever moving away from vampirism, it's not for everyone but it's who we are.' Actor Jussie Smollett was indicted in Chicago on Tuesday and charged with six counts of disorderly conduct over false statements he allegedly made to the police in connection with an incident a year ago in which Smollett reported that he had been the victim of a hate crime. Smollett, who had a starring role on Foxs Empire, was hospitalized in January of 2019 after an assault in which he said two attackers poured bleach on him and wrapped a rope around his neck while chanting racist, homophobic, and pro-Trump slogans. Chicago Police initially investigated the attack as a hate crime, but in mid-February, they announced that they were looking into the possibility that Smollett had staged the attack himself. In March, Smollett was indicted on 16 felony counts for allegedly staging the attack as part of an attempt to raise his public profile while renegotiating his salary on Empire. A few weeks later, charges against Smollett were unexpectedly dropped. The actor, who had already been removed from Empires two remaining episodes that season, did not return for the shows final season, and until Tuesday, that was the end of the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smolletts case was originally handled by Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx, but the new indictments come from a special prosecutor who was assigned to the case by a judge in June over irregularities about the way Foxx removed herself from the Smollett case when his status changed from victim to suspect. That special prosecutor, Dan K. Webb, criticized Foxxs office on Tuesday, saying they had failed to provide evidence that theyd received any new information exonerating Smollett before dropping charges, or any examples of other cases that had been handled in a similar fashion. He is continuing to investigate whether or not prosecutors engaged in any wrongdoing. Neither the states attorneys office nor Smollett have commented at this time; Smollett is due in court to answer these new charges on Monday, Feb. 24. ROME - The Onassis Foundation is improving the access facilities of the Acropolis in Athens through installing a platform lift made by an Italian firm. The panoramic lift will be tailor-made by the Como-based firm Maspero Elevatori, recognised at the international level as a leader in the design, construction, and maintenance of special elevator facilities both for people and for goods, which was recently awarded the contract. ''We are very honoured that the Onassis Foundation, which will donate the facilities to the Greek state, has chosen our firm for this important construction. By installing a platform lift that will make it possible to transport wheelchairs as well, the foundation resolve not only a practical problem but also a symbolic one, underscoring the importance of equal access for all to a monument that is an integral part of the country's cultural heritage,'' said Maspero Elevatori CEO Andrea Maspero. The firm focuses on technology and design but also considers respect for the environment and the valorisation of the monument as key. ''Our technical experts are in constant contact with the Onassis Foundation, the culture ministry, and the archeologists of the Acropolis to develop the best solution from technical, security, and aesthetic points of view,'' Maspero added. The elevator will weigh 1,350 kg and will have a 18-person capacity (or 2 wheelchairs with accompanies). The lift will also include, in the case of an emergency, the possibility to transport an ambulance stretcher. Due to the glass cabin, passengers will be able to enjoy a unique panoramic view during the ride. The elevator is expected to be up and running in May 2020 and was designed and is currently being built at the Maspero Elevatori factory in Appiano Gentile. It will later be transported and set up in Athens. Maspero Elevatori will be installing and ensuring maintenance with a 6-year guarantee, including replacement parts. Bottles of 'Heineken 0.0' at Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain. (Alex Caparros/Getty Images for Heineken) Booming sales of no-alcohol beer helped Heineken (HEIA.AS) enjoy its best sales growth in a decade last year. Heineken said on Monday that sales of its own-brand beer grew by 8.3% in 2019, the best performance in over 10 years. Part of that was down to the success of Heineken 0.0, its alcohol-free beer, which is now on sale in 57 countries. The Heineken brand growth accelerated to 8.3%, with more than 40 countries delivering double digit growth, chairman and chief executive Jean-Francois van Boxmeer said. The successful roll-out of Heineken 0.0 continued. Heineken, the company, owns more than just Heineken the beer and the company saw surging sales of low- and no-alcohol beer across its portfolio. Low- and no-alcohol beer sales jumped by 7.6% and now account for almost 5% of total sales. Heinekens total revenue rose 6.4% to 28.5bn (24bn, $31bn) in 2019 and net profit rose 13.2% to 2.1bn. In 2019, we delivered another year of superior top-line growth, with continued strong performance in the second half, Van Boxmeer said. Heineken hiked its final dividend by 5% to 1.68 per share and the stock rose 5% in Amsterdam. The company said it expects mid-single digit growth in profits this year, barring any major negative macro economic or political developments. Its too early to tell what the impact of the coronavirus epidemic would mean for the business, Heineken said. Van Boxmeer, who announced he was stepping down as chief executive earlier this week, said Heineken would continue to improve its environmental record, with an ever-increasing emphasis on the sustainability of this growth, both socially and environmentally. Over the past decade, we have lowered our water usage by almost a third to 3.4 hectolitres of water per hectolitre produced, ahead of our 2020 target, he said in a statement. We increased the proportion of renewable energy in production to 19%. In more than 60 markets, we spent over 10% of Heineken media budgets on responsible consumption awareness campaigns. Heineken said Brazil is now the biggest market for its flagship beer globally and 12 countries now sell more than one million hectolitres of the stuff each year, including the UK. Sanders projected to eke out narrow win in New Hampshire primary, with Buttigieg, Klobuchar close on his heels originally appeared on abcnews.go.com With 97% of the expected vote reported, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the top performer in New Hampshire's Democratic primary, followed by former Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The first-in-the-nation primary heated up on Tuesday as the first decisive outcome this cycle after the tumultuous Iowa caucuses. The candidates made their final pleas to voters across the state to outline their vision for the country, rebuke President Donald Trump, call for party unity and made more overt contrasts with their rivals. MORE: 2020 New Hampshire primary election results While Sanders and Buttigieg battled it out for the top spots in the primary, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden jockeyed for positions, as both have found themselves in a tight race for third and fourth place in recent polling. Here's how the day unfolded. 11:48 pm South Carolina and Nevada could produce new front-runners, analysts say Moving forward, primaries in Nevada and South Carolina could produce more competition as former Vice President Joe Biden and billionaires Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer look to gain delegates in the next two primaries. Tuesday night, Biden traveled to South Carolina, a state he has focused much of his attention on in recent weeks. ABC News Correspondent Eva Pilgrim noted that Biden event attracted the most diverse crowd shes seen at a campaign event for the former vice president. While Pilgrim said that South Carolina is not do or die for his campaign, it is definitely important. South Carolina will also be important for Bloomberg. ABC News Contributor Heidi Heitkamp. a former North Dakota senator, said that the winner tonight is Michael Bloomberg because no one has emerged as the presumptive candidate. Heitkamp believes that moving forward Bloomberg could fully cement himself within the race with strong performances in both South Carolina and Nevada. Story continues Continuing the conversation, former campaign manager for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker's presidential bid Addisu Demissie added that Tom Steyer has been quietly working in South Carolina and Nevada. Demissie continued to push that Steyer could gain some momentum heading into Super Tuesday if his work in the two states pays off. 11:07 p.m. Sanders touts diverse support in building his coalition Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the projected winner of the New Hampshire primary, addressed a cheering crowd in New Hampshire on Tuesday night and proudly touted his diverse support in building a coalition aimed at taking progressive approaches to health care, resolving student debt and curbing climate change to the White House. "The reason that we are going to win is that we are putting together an unprecedented multigenerational, multiracial political movement," he said. Bernie Sanders: "The reason that we are going to win is that we are putting together an unprecedented multigenerational, multiracial political movement." https://t.co/E7mDc03IQe pic.twitter.com/6egwD5pu6O ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 12, 2020 11:02 p.m. Buttigieg thanks diverse group of voters for his strong finish in New Hampshire Pete Buttigieg appeared triumphant as he stood before his New Hampshire supporters Tuesday night as he trailed in second place closely behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, acknowledged a diverse group of voters that propelled him near the top of the polls. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks to supporters at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua, N.H., Feb. 11, 2020. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters) "So many of you turned out -- die-hard democrats, independents unwilling to stay on the sidelines and even some former Republicans willing to try something new," he said. "So many of you chose to meet a new era of challenge with a new generation of leadership." Buttigieg congratulated his competitors, especially Sanders on his win, adding that he has admired the Vermont senator since he was a high school student. "Vote blue, no matter who," Buttigieg said to the crowd. "We are on the same team." 11 p.m. ABC News projects that Bernie Sanders will win the NH Democratic primary Based on our analysis of the vote, ABC News projects that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will win the New Hampshire Democratic primary. Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg will be second, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar third. 11 p.m. How did Hispanics vote? New Hampshire has come under fire for its early status among concerns about lack of diversity in voting before Super Tuesday. Only 2% of its population is Hispanic or Latino, but of that 2%, 40% voted with Sanders, according to ABC News analysis of exit poll data. All other candidates had Hispanic support in the teens or lower, including Biden who finished the night with 10%. According to ABC News Polling Director Gary Langer, there were 110 Hispanics tallied in exit polls, just enough for analysis. )There were only 62 African Americans in this count, not enough for analysis). ABC News' Polling Director Gary Langer reported. 10:48 p.m. Where do the suburbs stand? With 82% of expected vote reporting, as of 10:46 p.m. ET, Bernie Sanders is currently leading with 26%, followed by former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, with 24% and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, with 20%. The gap between Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is still very close, with only 4,311 votes separating them at this point. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden are still vying for fourth and fifth with Warren having 9% and Biden holding only 8%. About 2,200 votes separate the two. Some of the state's key suburbs are still outstanding with 0% of the vote in, including Hooksett, Goffstown, Dunbarton, outside of Manchester, a city in which Sanders delivered a strong performance. Around Concord, Buttigieg appears to be leading across those suburbs, particularly in Loudon and Bow, where he is the top vote-getter. But another suburb of Concord, Pembroke, has 0% of precincts reporting. In one exurb of Concord, Allenstown, Sanders topped Buttigieg with 100% of precincts reporting, 27%-22%. Around Nashua, Litchfield remains at 0%, and in another suburb, Amherst, Buttigieg clinched 29% of the vote, compared to Klobuchar's 26%, with 100% of precincts reporting there. Hanover, home to Dartmouth University, was supposed to one of the foundations of Sanders' youthful base, but it sided with Buttigieg with 26% of the vote to Sanders' 20%. ABC News' Kendall Karson and Quinn Scanlan reported. 10:40 p.m. Buttigieg nips at Bernie's heels after Iowa caucus debacle After the problem-plagued Iowa caucuses and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg's surprise catapult to the presumed top-tier, he has remained on Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' heels in the days leading up to New Hampshire. Statewide polling showed him consistently in second place since the Iowa caucuses, only points behind Sanders and within the margin of error, bumping former Vice President Joe Biden for the second place position in a number of polls. A New Hampshire poll released on Jan. 23 showed Buttigieg at 15%, nearly tied with Biden, in third place trailing behind Sanders. Polls released after Buttigieg's impressive results in Iowa showed him skyrocketing to second place and maintaining a hold at or around 20%. A poll released on Sunday evening showed Buttigieg at 22% with Sanders at 29%. Buttigieg spent 30 days in New Hampshire and held at least 80 events. His apparent strong showing in the primaries captured the attention of President Trump on Tuesday night. Trump blasted the former South Bend, Ind. mayor on Twitter, saying he was "giving crazy Bernie a run for his money." "Bootedgeedge (Buttigieg) is doing pretty well tonight. Giving Crazy Bernie a run for his money. Very interesting!" he tweeted. 10:18 p.m. Klobuchar a 'big surprise' in New Hampshire, says ABC News political analyst. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's success in New Hampshire at 20% of the vote is a "big surprise," considering polls had her pulling in juts 6% of the vote just a few days ago, said ABC News Chief Political Analyst Matt Dowd. Dowd described New Hampshire as a "hugely disappointing night" for Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, especially considering that their numbers combined, at 8% and 9% consecutively, do not add up to Klobuchar's numbers. While Klobuchar did well, what remains to be seen is whether she can have a "second act," Dowd said, adding that she will now have a "target on her back" and reminding the public that Bill Clinton only won one of the first 11 primaries and caucuses in 1992. "She will be tested in the next two or three weeks, unlike anything she's ever been tested before," Dowd said. 10:12 p.m. Strong liberals lift Sanders, Buttigieg keeps a broad base as New Hampshire centrists bring Klobuchar into contention According to a final analysis of New Hampshire exit polls, older and more educated voters, moderates and those looking for a candidate to unite the country lifted Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar to competitive status in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, largely at former Vice President Joe Bidens expense. Vermont Bernie Sanders held on to younger and very liberal voters, and, as in the Iowa caucuses last week, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg demonstrated appeal across a range of groups. ABC News' Polling Unit Director Gary Langer reported. 10:07 p.m. Where did Warren stack up with her competitors on her ground game? Warren had the most visits to the state out of her competitors, coming in at 28 over the primary cycle, but held far fewer events than some of her competitors. Andrew Yang, who ended his presidential bid on Tuesday night, held 134 events in the Granite State, the most of any of the Democrats, followed by Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard at 114, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who also left the race Tuesday night, held 103. Warren held at least 62 and overall, spent 40 days in the state. Based on preliminary exit polls, Warren clinched support from 10% of women, while Klobuchar secured the most support from women at 25%. 53% of voters, based on preliminary exit polls, between the ages of 18-35 have opted for Sanders, followed by Buttigieg at 18%. Warren fared the best among voters aged 30-44 at 13%. ABC News' Christopher Donato reported. 10 p.m. Trump targets Steyer, Warren after poor showings in New Hampshire. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to target the Democratic candidates that did not fair well in the New Hampshire primary. Trump targeted billionaire-turned presidential candidate Tom Steyer, who he called the "Impeachment King," for only garnering 1% of the vote in Iowa and just 3% in New Hampshire. Impeachment King Steyer (how did that work out?) spent 200 Million Dollars and got less than 1% of the vote in Iowa, and only 3% of the Vote in New Hampshire. Could it be that something is just plain missing? Not easy to do what I did, is it? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 Trump also criticized Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for "having a really bad night" in New Hampshire, accusing her of "sending signals that she wants out." Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night. I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a nice cold beer with her husband! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020 9:55 p.m. Klobuchar vows to unite the country to defeat Trump As the results for the New Hampshire Democratic primary come in, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar addressed her supporters on the heels of an apparent third-place finish in the state, vowing to unite the country in an effort to defeat Trump, who she called the "great divider." "We see that what unites us is so much deeper than what divides us," she said. "We know that the heart of America is so much bigger than the heart of this guy in the White House." Klobuchar emphasized that the race "is not about the loudest voice or the biggest bank account" but rather "the best ideas and the person who can turn those ideas into action." "We know that we can win by bringing people with us instead of shutting them out," she said. Klobuchar and her team are "taking this message of unity to the country" as they look ahead to Nevada and South Carolina, she said. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar waves to supporters while visiting the polling location at Webster Elementary School during the primary election, Feb. 11, 2020, in Manchester, N.H. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images) 9:45 p.m. ABC News estimates that Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar have nabbed six delegates each ABC News estimates that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar will get at least six pledged delegates. Six more have yet to be estimated-- and ABC News has not estimated any for either Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren or former Vice President Joe Biden. With 53% of expected vote reporting, as of 9:45 p.m. ET, Bernie Sanders is currently leading with 27%, followed by Pete Buttigieg, with 24%, and Amy Klobuchar, with 20%. Sanders leads over Buttigieg by about 5,400 votes, and Buttigieg leads over Klobuchar by almost 6,000 votes. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden both have 9%, but Warren leads over Biden by more than 1,300 votes. ABC News' Kendall Karson and Quinn Scanlan reported. 9:40 p.m.: Sanders continues to lead as New Hampshire Secretary of State says its too early to tell how turnout is faring. With 53% of expected vote reporting, as of 9:40 p.m. ET, Bernie Sanders is currently leading with 27%, followed by Pete Buttigieg, with 24%, and Amy Klobuchar, with 20%, who continue to battle it out over second place. Over 5,000 votes currently separate Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are in an even closer fight for fourth and fifth place, with both now at 9% each Most of the outstanding vote is across small towns with only up to three precincts. Among those towns with yet to report, some of the biggest towns are Derry, Hanover and Durham - the last two of which are home to some of the state's big universities - Dartmouth and University of New Hampshire. These areas are considered epicenters of Sanders' core base. According to a preliminary analysis of exit polls, Sanders is performing best among men, voters making under $50,000 and voters with no college degree. Women are narrowly backing Buttigieg, and those with a college degree are siding with Klobuchar. ABC News' Kendall Karson and Quinn Scanlan reported. 9:30 p.m. Biden 'moving on' to Nevada, South Carolina, he tells supporters. Former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, briefly live-streamed a message to his supporters at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire, to thank them and say the campaign is now "moving on" to South Carolina, Nevada "and beyond." PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden visits a polling station on the day of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary in Manchester, N.H., Feb. 11, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) "I've said it from the moment I entered this race, as Val mentioned, we are in the battle for the soul the nation," Biden said. "...And we want you all to know how much we appreciate everything you've done. Truly from the bottom of our hearts and so many of you have become a friend." Biden made no mention of the results in New Hampshire during his two-minute remarks, choosing instead to keep the focus on the people and supporters he met in the state throughout the campaign. ABC News' John Verhovek reported. 9:25 p.m. Buttigieg has strongest lead in pivot areas. With 51% of precincts reporting, Buttigieg strong leads in pivot areas of the state. So far, Buttigieg is carrying Wentworth's Location with 50% of the vote. It's located in Coos County, which voted for Obama in both 2008 and 2012, and then for Trump. He also carries in Croydon, located in Sullivan County, another pivot county in the state. He also carries New London, New Hampshire, in Merrimack County, where Sanders swept the vote in 2016. In the last eight years, the Manchester/Concord corridor has been New Hampshires most competitive between Republicans and Democrats and has also shifted to the right. 9:15 p.m. Presidential race for Bloomberg 'begins on Super Tuesday,' campaign spokeswoman says. The senior national spokeswoman for Michael Bloomberg's campaign, Sabrina Singh, told ABC News Chief National Affairs Correspondent Tom Llamas that the race for the Bloomberg will ramp up on Super Tuesday and beyond. "We know that this race, for us, really begins on Super Tuesday and beyond," Singh said. "These are the states that are going to be the batteground states." PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg talks to supporters, in Detroit, Feb. 4, 2020. (Carlos Osorio/AP, FILE) The Bloomberg campaign is focused on lying the groundwork in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin, which Singh said are "crucial to beating Trump in November." "We know we need to win back those voters in 2016 that did not turn out for Hillary Clinton." 9:02 p.m. With 41% of the vote reporting, Sanders carries the Democratic field. As of 9:00 p.m. ET, Bernie Sanders is still leading with 28%. The margin between Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar is widening slightly: Buttigieg has 23% and Klobuchar has 20%.Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are still in a battling it out for fourth and fifth place, with 10% and 9%, respectively. With 41% of precincts reporting, Warren's leading over Biden by about 1,100 votes. ABC News' Quinn Scanlan and Kendall Karson reported. 9:00 p.m.: Who has qualified for the ninth Democratic debate? According to an ABC News analysis, Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Sanders and Warren have qualified for the next Democratic debate on Feb. 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 8:55 p.m. Sen. Michael Bennet has dropped out of the race Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announced to his supporters in New Hampshire that he was dropping out of the race but warned that they may not have seen the last of him. "Tonight is not going to be our night, but let me say this to New Hampshire, you may see me once again," he said. Bennet thanked his supporters for giving him and the other candidates a chance and reminded them of why he decided to run in the first place. "I got in this fight because I love this country," he said. "I love America. I love the idea of democracy, and I want to make sure that our generation passes this democracy intact at least, if not in better shape, to the next generation of Americans. And tonight as we stand here, we cant say that were in very good shape. Our democracy is at risk. The ability for people to work hard and live a middle class life in this country is at risk." Bennet concluded his speech by saying he will do "absolutely everything" he can to "make sure that Donald Trump is a one-term president." "I will support the nominee of my party no matter who it is to make sure that we defeat Donald Trump," he said. 8:41 p.m. Warren touts the long game in election night speech. At her election night party, Warren took the stage and congratulated Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar for "strong nights." She also congratulated Klobuchar, her friend and colleague, for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out. Warren has pivoted to playing the long game as her results have shown her fare less than positive for her campaign, honing in on arguments that many of the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination will be awarded in the weeks to come. "We might be headed for another one of those long primary fights that lasts for months. Were two states in with 55 states and territories to go. We still have 98% of our delegates for our nomination up for grabs. And Americans in every part of the country are gonna make their voices heard," she told supporters. She's also turned her focus on "unwinnable fights" in recent days, saying she's "been winning unwinnable fights pretty much all my life -- we persist and we win," Warren said in Manchester on Saturday night. "There are a lot of people who've said we can't do it... the way I see it, they're going to keep saying that right up until we get in the fight - we persist, and we win!" ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett and Sasha Pezenik reported. 8:37 p.m. ABC News estimates Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar have won four delegates each. Based on ABC News Decision Desk estimates, at this time Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar have won four delegates each with 33% of precincts reporting. 8:30 p.m. Elizabeth Warren addresses supporters in New Hampshire "I'm here to get big things done," Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a speech to cheering supporters in New Hampshire as the results for the Democratic primary came in. Warren went to four polling locations on Tuesday, greeting supporters wearing "liberty green" at each one. She went to Portsmouth, Durham, Nashua and Manchester. She took questions from press here and there along the way, but the press scrums got pretty intense by the end, making that fairly impossible. 8:25 p.m. Andrew Yang thanks wife, supporters in exit speech As entrepreneur Andrew Yang ended removed himself from the race for the 2020 presidential election, he acknowledged his wife, Evelyn, and his supporters in New Hampshire for sticking by him."You all have uplifted me and inspired me and Evelyn and this campaign at every turn," Yang said. "Your passion and energy, your donations and hundreds of thousands of hours calling, volunteering, your enthusiasm, dedication and commitment." PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang greets a supporters who is holding a campaign sign in front of a polling station, Feb. 11, 2020, in Keene, N.H. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Yang recalled the messages of "humanity first" and "a vision of an economy and society that works for us and our families" that his campaign focused on throughout his run. "We have touched and improved millions of lives and moved this country we love so much in the right direction," he said. "And while there is great work left to be done, you know I am the math guy, and it is clear tonight from the numbers that we are not going to win this race." Former presidential contender Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar wished him well. Andrew, I will miss you on the campaign trail. Youve inspired so many new people to join politics. By thinking outside of the box, you will have a lasting mark in bringing new voters to the ballot box in 2020. And Ive enjoyed hanging out with the #yanggang. Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 12, 2020 8:21 p.m.Former Gov. Bill Weld, Trump's primary challenger, to continue to Super Tuesday. Former Gov. Bill Weld, the last standing long-shot Republican primary challenger to President Donald Trump, will move "on to Super Tuesday" regardless of tonight's results, communications director Joe Hunter tells ABC News. Bill Weld pulled in 23% of GOP voters with an advanced degree, 21%of moderates and 15%of independents. He soared to 47% among Republican voters who oppose building a wall among the border with Mexico; they, however, accounted for just 14% of the electorate. Trump, for his part, peaked at 97% of very conservative voters and 95% of evangelical white Christians.In Iowa, Trump carried the vote with 97%, according to the Associated Press. ABC News' Will Steakin reported and Polling Director Gary Langer reported. 8:12 p.m. Former Gov. Bill Weld, Trump's primary challenger, to continue to Super Tuesday. Former Gov. Bill Weld, the last standing long-shot Republican primary challenger to President Donald Trump, will move "on to Super Tuesday" regardless of tonight's results, communications director Joe Hunter tells ABC News. ABC News' Will Steakin reported. 8:17 p.m. Klobuchar looks ahead of New Hampshire. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar released two ads in Nevada before the results in New Hampshire were even finalized. The ads are set to air in the Las Vegas and Reno markets Wednesday and highlight issues critical to both liberal and moderate democrats, such as healthcare, prescription drugs and the economy. ABC News' Lissette Rodriguez reported. 8:12 p.m. Klobuchar leads with women, based on preliminary exit poll results. Theres a substantial gender gap in the New Hampshire results; Sanders does 9 points better with men than women; Klobuchar, 9 points better with women than men. Buttigieg, true to form, ran about evenly in both groups. Klobuchar prevailed among college-educated women winning 32 percent, followed by 22 percent for Buttigieg, 19 percent for Sanders and just 13 percent for Warren. Non-college men backed Sanders with 35 percent; Buttigieg came distantly second in this group. As noted, Sanders, for all his strengths, has a too liberal problem 52 percent of New Hampshire voters described him this way in preliminary exit poll results. They went for Klobuchar (39 percent) and Buttigieg (29 percent), with just 12 percent backing Biden. Biden also had trouble among the few nonwhites in the electorate, a group whose support hes been banking on. Sanders won 27 percent of this group, Biden 21 percent, with Buttigieg and Klobuchar trailing at 13 percent apiece. One reason is that nonwhites were somewhat younger than the whites who turned out, and, as noted, young voters favored Sanders. Health care was the top-cited issue among four that were tested, and Sanders won those who picked it. He also won voters focused on income inequality. Those who care most on climate change and foreign policy tilted toward Buttigieg. Klobuchar won similar levels of support across these issue groups. ABC News' Polling Unit Director Gary Langer reported. 8:10 p.m. Buttigieg supporters watch results pour in. PHOTO: Supporters watch results come in for Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at his New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua, N.H., Feb. 11, 2020. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) Supporters for Buttigieg watch as preliminary results for the New Hampshire Democratic primary come in at a rally in Nashua, New Hampshire. 8:07 p.m. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang ending his presidential bid Entrepreneur Andrew Yang has ended his bid for the presidency. Yang was widely regarded as a breakthrough candidate who surpassed the expectation of many as he outlasted sitting senators, former governors and other lifelong politicians as political newcomer. Yang has never held an elected position, yet generated a strong following that carried him through multiple Democratic debates. His departure further winnows the Democratic field, once historic for the number of minority contenders. Read more about his political journey here. 8:01 p.m. Updates with up to 14% of expected vote reporting, Sanders is leading the race at this point With up to 14% of expected vote reporting, as of 8:00 p.m. ET, Bernie Sanders is currently leading with 28%, followed closely behind by Pete Buttigieg, 22%, and Amy Klobuchar, 20%, who are vying for second place. ABC News is unable to make a projection in the New Hampshire in the Democratic primary. Sanders is leading the race at this point, followed by Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Biden and Warren are vying for fourth and fifth place. Here's how the entire Democratic field is faring, with 14% of expected vote reporting: Sanders 28%Buttigieg 22%Klobuchar 20%Warren 9%Biden 9%Steyer 4%Gabbard 3%Yang 3% Most of the vote comes from north country, the state's northern tip, representing more rural parts of the state. Some votes are beginning to trickle in from Concord, Dover and Manchester. ABC News Kendall Karson and Quinn Scanlan reported. 8:00 p.m.Older voters, moderates and those looking for a candidate to unite the county: ABC News analysis Based on preliminary analysis of New Hampshire primary exit polls, older voters, moderates and those looking for a candidate to unite the county aided Amy Klobuchar in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, all at Joe Bidens expense. Bernie Sanders held on to younger and strongly liberal voters, and, as in the Iowa caucuses last week, Pete Buttigieg demonstrated appeal across a range of groups in preliminary exit poll results. Whatever divided these voters, they were united in one regard: a remarkable 81 percent described themselves as angry about the Trump administration. Backing someone who can unite the country was one of the top two attributes of concern, and Klobuchar won 31 percent support in that group, essentially even with Buttigieg, at 29 percent. Preliminary results also found Klobuchar prevailing among seniors and running well again with Buttigieg among moderates. Klobuchar, 59, and Buttigieg, 38, also benefitted from their comparative youth. With Sanders, Biden and Elizabeth Warren in their 70s, two in 10 voters said candidate age was an important factor in their vote, and six in 10 of them backed Klobuchar or Buttigieg. Further, Klobuchar won 30 percent of those who called the most recent ABC News debate important in their decision, and she and Buttigieg roughly split those who made their choice in the campaigns closing days. Sanders, for his part, produced another strong performance among younger voters not just under 30, but up to age 44 and those who called themselves very liberal. He ran well but did not dominate among somewhat liberals, and fell back among moderates. In contrast with Klobuchar, Sanders won voters seeking a candidate who can bring needed change as well as those looking chiefly for one who cares about people like me. Among his best groups were the nearly six in 10 voters who back a government run, single-payer health care system. His support among those voters was triple that of Elizabeth Warren, another champion of a single-payer approach. Sanders also won handily, with 37 percent, among those chiefly seeking a nominee who agrees with you on major issues. But many more voters were focused instead on the candidate who can beat Donald Trump, and there Sanders support fell by half. A similar result came in a question asking whether the next president should return to Barack Obamas policies or pursue a more liberal approach. Voters divided about evenly with Sanders soaring among those looking for more liberal policies, but cratering among those favoring for a return to the Obama era. Buttigieg collected votes across an array of groups, much the same as in his top-two finish in the Iowa caucuses last week. Preliminary results found him running a distant second to Sanders among 18- to 29-year-olds (a poor group for Klobuchar), yet also second to Klobuchar among seniors (a poor group for Sanders). Buttigieg also did notably well with better-off voters, winning about three in 10 of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more. ABC News' Polling Unit Director Gary Langer reported. 8 p.m. ABC News projects that Trump will win the New Hampshire Republican primary, based on analysis of the exit polls and the vote so far. ABC News' Polling Unit Director Gary Langer reported. 8:00 p.m. ABC News cannot project a winner of the NH Democratic primary. Based on analysis of the exit polls and the vote in so far, we can say that Sanders is leading while Buttigieg and Klobuchar are vying for second. Biden and Warren are vying for fourth and fifth place in the NH Democratic primary. 7:37 p.m. ABC News exclusive: Don Jr blasts Buttigieg AMHERST, N.H.A confident Donald Trump Jr told ABC News in an exclusive interview that he believes his father, President Donald Trump, will be the big winner tonight "much like Iowa," and called former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg "the NASCAR driver of the Democrat party sponsored by every billion you can imagine." "I think much like Iowa, Donald Trump is going to win tonight. That's the one thing I can pretty much assure everyone of. It's been incredible to go around the state again, to be back here now vs 2016, we have a team, we have people, we have enthusiastic people who have seen the president deliver the things that he was promising back then. So it's the difference between maybe he could do it and hey, he's actually done it. The energy has been totally through the roof. It's been awesome." ABC News' Will Steakin reported. 7:02 p.m. Pete Buttigieg responds to Michael Bloomberg "You dont xerox people. In an exclusive interview with ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg responded to new reports about Michael Bloomberg's controversial stop-and-frisk policy, saying "Its problematic." Theres certainly tremendous racial bias in the way that stop and frisk has played out. And Im not gonna -- Ill leave it to others to characterize Mayor Bloomberg." "Any law enforcement strategy that seems to regard people as profile rather than as human beings, especially seeing how this has disproportionately impacted black and brown Americans is something that just has no place in an equitable future," he said. "You dont xerox people. And its upsetting to hear that kind of language. ABC News' Justin Gomez reported. 7 p.m. Meet the voters who cast the 1st NH primary ballots of 2020 North Country is a stretch of rural New Hampshire without government services -- there's no trash pickup, and residents dig their own wells -- and the nearest hospital at which to see a specialist could be hours away. Voting booths here have been barns and laundry rooms and bedrooms and even dining rooms. They opened at midnight on Tuesday. Read more about the community here. ABC News' Chris Donato reported. 6:31 p.m. ABC News partner FiveThirtyEight is up with their live blog ABC News partner FiveThirtyEight is up with their live analysis blog. Welcome to New Hampshire primary night!! Hopefully, well actually get results tonight in a timely fashion (looking at you, Iowa). A crew of FiveThirtyEighters has been here on the ground in New Hampshire since the debate on Friday, and weve been busy covering candidate events and hitting the campaign trail (and maybe a tattoo parlor) ever since. Our primary forecast is frozen. We won't update it with any new data, including polls, until all the results from New Hampshire are it. In New Hampshire, our forecast suggests Sanders is likely to win the most votes, with a 2 in 3 shot. Buttigieg has about a 3 in 10 chance of winning the most votes. The likelihood for the other 2020 candidates to finish first tonight is low. Check out Nate Silvers piece on 28 scenarios for how things could shake out in New Hampshire and beyond but remember that whoever finishes in second or third place could capture a lot of media attention, too, depending on the margin. For instance, a strong second-place finish by Buttigieg could keep him viable, and a second-place finish by Warren or Klobuchar could jumpstart either one of their campaigns. 6 p.m. Democratic voters making last-minute decisions. About 48% of Democratic primary voters said they made up their minds about their chosen candidate either on Tuesday or within the last few days, with 16% deciding today, according to preliminary results from the New Hampshire primary exit poll. About 59% of Democratic primary voters said they don't think Trump's impeachment made a difference in his chance of being re-elected, and about 64% of Republican primary voters said they think it helped his chances. Turnout among conservatives is at a record-high in the GOP primary, with about 81% labeling themselves as conservatives, up from the previous record of 71% in 2016. About 61% of voters in the Democratic contests are liberals, according to the preliminary exit polls. About 83% of GOP voters say they support building a wall "along the entire U.S. border with Mexico," and about 88% say Trump has mostly kept his campaign promises. ABC News' Polling Unit Director Gary Langer reported. 5:15 p.m. Turnout among independents and liberals is running high. Turnout among these two groups may hold the key to the Democratic primary, according to preliminary results from the New Hampshire primary exit poll. About 45% of voters in the early results are independents, compared to 40% in 2016, when independents boosted Sanders to an overwhelming victory in New Hampshire, winning 73% of their votes versus Hillary Clinton. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidates participate in the Democratic presidential primary debate in the Sullivan Arena at St. Anselm College on February 07, 2020 in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) On the issues, about 58% of voters said they support a single government health plan for all Americans, matching to about 57% in the Iowa caucuses, and about 37% called health care the most important issue for their vote, according to the preliminary results from the exit polls. ABC News' Polling Unit Director Gary Langer reported. 5:15 p.m. Here's the state of play in New Hampshire so far. Under pressure to excel in the Granite State amid a fiercely competitive race, many candidates have camped out in the state since early last week, spending much time openly criticizing their rivals' records and experience. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg greets supporters outside a polling station at Broad Street Elementary School, Feb. 11, 2020 in Nashua, N.H. (Win Mcnamee/Getty Images) Only eight days after the contest in Iowa -- caucuses which were thrown into turmoil due to "inconsistencies" in reporting results -- two front-runners have emerged. The state Democratic Party ultimately projected former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg the winner of the caucuses Sunday night, awarding him two more delegates than his closest competitor, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders - setting up a bitter fight between the two in New Hampshire. MORE: Surging in the polls, Klobuchar says Trump can't put himself in voters' shoes, 'I can' While Buttigieg and Sanders battle it out for the top spot in the primary, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden are jockeying for a last-minute boost, as both have found themselves in a tight race for third and fourth place in recent polling. PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to the media at a polling station at the McDonough School during the New Hampshire presidential primary election in Manchester, N.H., Feb. 11, 2020. (Mike Segar/Reuters) Though Biden has seemingly already admitted defeat in New Hampshire -- announcing plans to skip out early and head to South Carolina ahead of the Feb. 29 primary. But New Hampshire is also crowded by eleventh-hour momentum from Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, as well as a slate of lower-tier contenders vying to drain some support from the top two tiers, including Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. ABC News' Ryan Shepard contributed to this report. Members of the delegation of EU parlimentarians enjoy boat rides on a shikara on the Dal Lake in Srinagar on February 12, 2020.. (PTI) Srinagar: A second batch of New Delhi-based diplomats from over two dozen countries began a two-day tour of Jammu & Kashmir for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the troubled territory. Reports emanating from Delhi said the Russian ambassador to India declined an invitation to join the delegation. In Srinagar, the delegation was briefed by top Army officers on the security situation in the districts and along the Line of Control (LoC). They were told of Pakistans unremitting attempts to push in militants and terrorists and perpetrate ceasefire violations along the de facto border, a defence spokesman said here. Earlier in the day, the visiting envoys interacted with fruit growers and traders in Baramulla district and had a series of meetings with representatives of political parties, trade unions, civil society groups, women entrepreneurs and a select group of media persons--all handpicked by their hosts. They were also treated to shikara rides on the Dal lake. After a nights stay in a luxury Srinagar hotel, the delegation will visit the winter capital Jammu on Thursday where they are scheduled to meet Lt Gov Girish Chandra Murmu, his advisors and government functionaries, officials of the police and security forces and leaders and representatives of various political parties, civil society groups and business leaders. Opposition criticism This is the third visit by foreign diplomats and lawmakers to Jammu & Kashmir since August 5 last year, when the erstwhile state was stripped of its special status and bifurcated into two union territories. Supervised by the Union Home Ministry, the visits have been strongly criticized by the opposition which questioned the wisdom of wasting money and other resources of the state by sponsoring such pleasure trips. Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said, The visiting delegation should be allowed to meet the three former chief ministers who have been incarcerated. I too have some ideas to share with them but I wonder if they will be allowed to meet me. Ive been under house arrest for the past six months. He added, Taking them on shikara rides on the Dal lake and allowing them to meet only people handpicked by the government agencies are not going to help. Such tamashas have in the past left a negative impact on the psyche of the people, especially in the Kashmir Valley. Presence of EU diplomats This batch of diplomats being conducted around Kashmir includes those from Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland and Rwanda. The presence of diplomats from European Union member countries in this delegation is significant. The EU Parliament recently saw moves to bring in a joint draft resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Kashmir situation. A vote on the resolution was later deferred. In mid January, envoys of 15 countries including United States ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru had visited J&K at the invitation of the MEA which had said that they wanted to see firsthand the efforts being made by the government to normalise situation in the union territory. In October last year, 27 MPs, drawn mainly from far-right parties, of 11 European countries visited Srinagar but the EU embassy in Delhi was quick to clarify then that they were in India in their personal capacity and not as part of an official delegation. That visit too had drawn criticism by the Congress, National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPM and other mainstream parties, terming it a guided tour aimed at misleading the world about the ground realities in J&K. The opposition and a section of the media had in particular criticised the manner in which European MPs were brought to Srinagar. The Congress also questioned the wisdom and probity of the government in inviting foreign diplomats to visit J&K when the countrys own political leaders including MPs are being denied access to the erstwhile state. However, Union minister of state for home affairs G. Kishan Reddy told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that there are no restrictions on Indian citizens visitng J&K. We shouldnt be too fascinated by the theatrics of the impeachment process (Trump refusing Pelosis handshake, Pelosi tearing up a copy of his State of the Union address) because the true conflict is not between the Democrats and the Republicans but within each of the parties. by Slavoj Zizek Despite Trumps impeachment victory, the US is entering into an ideological civil war, because the real conflict is not between the Democrats and the Republicans, but within each of those parties themselves. Two weeks ago, while promoting his new film in Mexico City, Harrison Ford said that America has lost its moral leadership and credibility. Really? When did the US exert moral leadership over the world? Under Reagan or Bush? They lost what they never had, ie, they lost the illusion (the credibility made in Harrisons claim) that theyve had it. With Trump, what was already true merely became visible. Back in 1948, at the outset of the Cold War, this truth was formulated with brutal candor by US diplomat and historian George Kennan: [The US has] 50 percent of the worlds wealth but only 6.3 percent of its population. In this situation, our real job in the coming periodis to maintain this position of disparity. To do so, we have to dispense with all sentimentalitywe should cease thinking about human rights, the raising of living standards and democratisation. In this we find an explanation of what Trump means by America first! in much clearer and more honest terms. So we should not be shocked when we read that the Trump administration, which came into office pledging to end endless wars, has now embraced weapons prohibited by more than 160 countries, and is readying them for future use. Cluster bombs and anti-personnel landmines, deadly explosives known to maim and kill civilians long after fighting has ended, have become integral to the Pentagons future war plans. Those who act surprised by such news are simply hypocrites: in our upside-down world, Trump is innocent (not impeached) while Assange is guilty (for disclosing state crimes). So what is going on now? Its true that Trump exemplifies the new figure of an openly obscene political master in disdain of the basic rules of decency and democratic openness. The logic that underlies Trumps actions was spelled out by Alan Dershowitz (who is, among other things, an advocate of legalized torture). The Harvard Law professor stated that if a politician thinks his re-election is in the national interest, any actions he takes towards that end cannot by definition be impeachable. 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, Dershowitz argues. The nature of power out of any serious democratic control is clearly spelled out here. What was taking place in the ongoing debates about Trumps impeachment was a case of the dissolution of the shared common ethical substance which makes argumentative polemical dialogue possible: the US is entering into an ideological civil war in which there is no shared ground to which both parties to the conflict can appeal the more each side elaborates its position, the more it becomes clear that no dialogue, even a polemical one, is possible. We shouldnt be too fascinated by the theatrics of the impeachment process (Trump refusing Pelosis handshake, Pelosi tearing up a copy of his State of the Union address) because the true conflict is not between the Democrats and the Republicans but within each of the parties. The US is now transforming itself from a two-party state into a four-party state: there are really four parties that fill in the political space - the establishment Republicans, establishment Democrats, alt-right populists and democratic socialists. There are already offers of coalitions across party lines: Joe Biden hinted that he might nominate as his vice-president a moderate Republican, while Steve Bannon mentioned, a few times, his ideal of a coalition between Trump and Sanders. The big difference is that, while Trumps populism easily asserted its hegemony over the Republican establishment (a clear proof, if one was ever needed, that, in spite of all Bannons ranting against the system, Trumps reference to ordinary workers is a lie), the split within the Democratic party is getting stronger and stronger no wonder, since the struggle between the Democratic establishment and the Sanders wing is the only true political struggle going on. To use a little bit of theoretical jargon, we are thus dealing with two antagonisms (contradictions), the one between Trump and the liberal establishment (this is what the impeachment was about), and the one between the Sanders wing of the Democratic Party and all the others. Brutal battle ahead The move to impeach Trump was a desperate attempt to regain the moral leadership and credibility of the US a comic exercise in hypocrisy. This is why all the moral fervor of the Democratic establishment should not deceive us: Trumps open obscenity just brought out what was always there. The Sanders camp sees this clearly: there is no way back, US political life has to be radically reinvented. But is Sanders a true alternative or, as some radical Leftists claim, is he just a (rather moderate) social democrat who wants to save the system? The answer is that this dilemma is false: Democratic Socialists started a mass movement of radical re-awakening, and the fate of such movements is not predestined. Only one thing is certain: the worst imaginable stance is the one of some Western radical Leftists who tend to write off the working class in developed countries as a workers aristocracy living off the exploitation of developing countries and caught in racist-chauvinist ideologies. In their view, the only radical change can come from nomadic proletarians (immigrants and the poor of the Third World) as a revolutionary agent (maybe linked to some impoverished middle-class intellectuals in developed countries) but does this diagnosis hold? True, todays situation is global, but not in this simplistic Maoist sense of opposing bourgeois nations and proletarian nations. Immigrants are sub-proletarians, their position is very specific, they are not exploited in the Marxist sense and are as such not predestined to be the agents of radical change. Consequently, I consider this radical choice suicidal for the Left: Sanders is to be unconditionally supported. The battle will be cruel, the campaign against Sanders will be much more brutal than the one against Corbyn in the UK. On the top of the usual card of anti-Semitism, there will be wide use of the race and gender cards Sanders as on old white man Just recall the brutality of Hillary Clinton's latest attack on him. And all these cards will be played on grounds of a fear of Socialism. Critics of Sanders repeat again and again that Trump cannot be beaten from his (Sanders) all-too-leftist platform, and the main thing is to get rid of Trump. To this we should just answer that the true message hidden in this argument is: if the choice is between Trump and Sanders, we prefer Trump The writer is a cultural philosopher. Hes a senior researcher at the Institute for Sociology and Philosophy at the University of Ljubljana, Global Distinguished Professor of German at New York University, and international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities of the University of London. Yikes. That's the first reaction some people have had to Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who Sunday morning posted a quote from dictator and Fascist Party founder Benito Mussolini on Twitter. "'We were the first to assert that the more complicated the forms assumed by civilization, the more restricted the freedom of the individual must become.' Benito Mussolini," Cornyn posted. Only at HoustonChronicle.com: Texas gave anti-abortion group millions for women's health, despite warnings Almost as soon as the tweet was published, Twitter users began responding to the senator: "How DARE you?! My father and his brothers FOUGHT Mussolini. This whole country did. You, sir, need to resign in shame," one person replied. Meanwhile, countless others called for the Texas senator's resignation. Shortly after the tweet went viral, Cornyn more-or-less clarified why he posted the controversial quote. He reportedly intended the message as a caution against dictatorship. SMALL SCREEN: Texas lawmen who caught "Bonnie and Clyde" take center stage in new Netflix movie A Twitter user with the handle @BudKennedy tweeted: "Sen. @JohnCornyn appears to be warning us against an overly powerful central government. But it'd help if he'd clarify." Cornyn re-tweeted it with the message: " You nailed it, Bud. Since so-called Democratic Socialists have forgotten or never learned the lessons of history, and how their ideology is incompatible with freedom, I guess we have to remind or teach them." He also followed it up with another tweet: "Did I over estimate the intelligence of some in the twitter sphere?" And a third tweet, posted early Monday morning, that said: "FYI. This is a quote from F.A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom." Still, the confusion has generated a negative response from most Twitter users across the platform, with some telling him to "know when to quit." Perhaps a "(1/2)" at the end of the quote, with a follow-up explanation may have been in order? NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. By Rasana Gasimova The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry has stated that no protester was injured during the unauthorized rally held on February 11 outside of the Central Election Commissions building in Baku, following the snap parliamentary elections held in the country. In a statement published on the ministrys Facebook page on 11 February, the head of the ministrys press service, Ehsan Zahidov, said that police officers stopped the unsanctioned rally by removing its participants from the venue of protest. Police also detained one of the protesters and his case is under investigation, Zahidov said. The ministry official said that police was summoned to the venue of protest by the CEC (Central Election Committee) representatives who had been negotiating with the protesters for two hours from 18:00 to 20:00 - but failed to reach an agreement. Police officers demanded that the unsanctioned rally be stopped. But the protesters ignored the warnings of the police and sought to continue actions aimed at disrupting public order, the ministry official said. The protest participants were protesting the early parliamentary elections held on February 9. The decision to hold early elections is aimed at supporting the recent personnel reforms implemented by the Azerbaijani president. The parliamentary elections of the sixth convocation were held with the participation of 1,314 candidates. The candidacies of 246 people were nominated by 19 political parties, 1,057 were self-nominated, 11 - by initiative groups. Twenty-one percent accounted for female candidates while 79 percent male candidates. During the election day, 5,573 permanent polling stations operated in 125 constituencies of the country. There were 5,329,460 registered voters. Some 883 international observers and 77,790 local observers monitored the voting process. Among the local observers, 35,152 were representatives of political parties. International observers represented 58 countries and 59 organizations. The results of the exit polls suggest that the ruling New Azerbaijan party (YAP) has won the victory in the elections. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Ukraine's opposition politician says that none of the provisions of the Paris communique has been implemented. Moreover, there is even no sign of such a tendency If there are no changes, then there will be no meeting, Viktor Medvedchuk, Ukrainian MP and the Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, said in his interview with 112 Ukraine, NewsOne, ZIK and Inter TV channels in response to a question about the upcoming meeting of the Normandy Four format scheduled for April. When you ask about the meeting in April, my point of view is as follows: if there is no progress in implementation of provisions in the (previous Normandy meeting, - ed.) communique, there are hardly any grounds for such a meeting. But there is already an official position of the Russian Foreign Ministry, published just the other day: two months have passed, and none of the provisions of the Paris communique has been implemented. Moreover, there is even no sign of such a tendency. I gave an example with our law not in vain. Why do you adopt a law on changing only the validity period when there exists the Steinmeier formula, which we simply inserted into the law as a change and submitted it for consideration (of the parliament, - ed.). But this isnt good enough. This isnt good enough for whom? For parliamentary mono-majority - meaning The Servant of the People political party? For Mr. Zelensky? Yes, definitely," Medvedchuk said. The conclusion is non-alternative, unappealable. This isnt good enough for Zelenskys team. If so, then what kind of meeting can be discussed? If it 's not so, then how can peace be achieved? Moreover, today Im absolutely sure: if the policy of Mr. Zelensky and his team on peaceful settlement in Donbas doesn't' change, there will be no peace in Ukraine and in Donbas. This is my firm conviction, and I can give the reasons for it, among them the circumstances that I have already cited when answering your question," Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized. As we reported, on January 23, Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, MP Viktor Medvedchuk in Paris held a presentation of the Normandy Format Parliamentary Dimension, where he met with members of the French Senate, National Assembly and representatives of diplomatic and business circles of France. LAHORE, Pakistan, February 12, 2020 (Morning Star News) A high court ruling in Pakistan validating the marriage and forced conversion to Islam of a 14-year-old Christian girl has heightened fears that it will encourage others to commit such crimes, sources said. The High Court in Sindh Province on Feb. 3 dismissed a petition to have the marriage and forced conversion of a Catholic girl overturned, ruling that both were valid since a girl under sharia (Islamic law) can marry after her first menstrual cycle. Huma Younus was taken from her home in Karachis Zia Colony on Oct. 10 while her parents were away and was forced to marry the man who abducted her, identified as Abdul Jabbar of Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab Province, her attorney said. The hearing on Feb. 3 lasted only five minutes, the familys attorney, Tabassum Yousaf, told Morning Star News. The court, in just a few words citing the sharia, has justified the violation of the girls body since she has already had her first period. Yousaf added that the family was prohibited from seeing Huma because police said her life would be at risk if she was brought to the courtroom. He said the family challenged Humas marriage and forced conversion under the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013, which declares marrying a person under 18 years old an offense punishable by up to three years in prison. Although the Sindh government takes credit for becoming Pakistans first elected assembly to pass a bill on child marriage in April 2014, the law is still poorly implemented, sources said. Yousaf said he submitted Humas baptismal and school documents in court that proved she was 14 years old, but nevertheless Sindh High Court judges Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Irshad Ali Shah ruled that the marriage was valid based on her menstrual cycle. The legal battle has been going on for months with constant delays and excuses cited so as not to present the underage girl in court, sources said. The family has filed an appeal to the Court of Justice in Sindh Province, and Yousaf said a hearing is scheduled for March 4. Police will thus have more time for medical tests to determine Humas age, he said. Guardian Consent Needed The girls parents were informed via text message that Huma had converted to Islam and had married Jabbar of her free will, sources said. Since forced conversions are not illegal in Pakistan, her attorney said he believed the case hinged on Humas age. Prominent Supreme Court Advocate Saiful Malook told Morning Star News that even though sharia allows marriage of a minor girl if she has her first period, the marriage has to be validated by the girls guardian. In no way can any court of law endorse an underage marriage unless it is supported by the girls guardian, Malook said. Marriage is governed by the Contract Act, wherein no minor can enter into a contract or agreement without the explicit approval of her guardian. In this particular case, the court must take into account whether the girls legal guardian has consented to her marriage even if its judging the act under the sharia. He added that a 14-year-old minor cannot be deemed mature enough to change her religion by her own will, considering the fact that she could have been coerced or blackmailed into renouncing her faith. Huma reportedly filed an affidavit declaring that she married of her own free will, but Yousaf has said that such an affidavit can't be filed legally until she obtains an identity card at age 18. The high court must order Huma to record a statement in the courtroom, Malook said. If the police are not producing the girl before the court on various pretenses, the court should be wise enough to see through the polices mala fide and hand the custody of the minor back to her parents, he said. Malook, who represented Pakistans most high-profile blasphemy convict, Aasiya Noreen, better known as Asia Bibi, before the Supreme Court and won her freedom, said that abducting for the purpose of forced conversion and underage marriage is a major problem in Pakistan. He added that legislation effective in curbing the practice is long overdue. Christian rights activists believe that the ruling of the Sindh High Court will encourage more perpetrators of such crimes to hide behind sharia. Pakistan Center of Law of Justice Executive Director Napoleon Qayyum told Morning Star News that the high courts ruling would result in a surge in cases of forced conversion and underage marriages of Christian girls. Another Christian girl aged 14 was recently abducted and gang-raped by some Muslim youths in Bihar Colony area of Lahore, Qayyum said. The victim is a student of grade nine and was abducted by four or five boys on her way to a local tuition center on Jan. 16, 2020. The abductors not only raped her but also obtained her signatures and thumb impressions on some papers. Police were able to recover her on Jan. 19, but Qayyum said he fears the suspects will use her signed documents to produce a fake marriage certificate and religion conversion letter in a bid to escape abduction and rape charges. This is common modus operandi of Muslims to confuse the court and avoid justice, he said. In nearly all such cases, he said, the rapists threaten to harm the girls families if they reveal the truth. Moreover, the girls are also forced to give false statements in court that they have changed their religion of free will and had married of their own choice, Qayyum said. Girls belonging to minority communities often succumb to pressure and consideration for their familys security, which has further emboldened the men belonging to the majority faith. Most victims of forced conversion and marriage in Pakistan are reportedly Christian and Hindu girls and women forced to marry Muslim men who are much older than them. According to the Centre for Social Justice, at least 159 such cases were reported between 2013 and 2019. The Sindh legislature in 2016 passed a law outlawing forcible conversions and conversions before the age of 18 but, under pressure from Islamic extremist groups, the governor declined to sign it. Each year about 1,000 Christian and Hindu women in Pakistan are forcibly converted to Islam and then married off to their abductors or rapists, according to the National Commission of Justice and Peace and the Pakistan Hindu Council. Pakistan ranked fifth on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, and on Nov. 28, 2018, the United States added Pakistan to its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom. If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved. If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/? Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Oleksii Liskonih Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires presidential primary election Tuesday night, narrowly edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Partys chaotic 2020 nomination fight. Manchester: Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires presidential primary election Tuesday night, narrowly edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Partys chaotic 2020 nomination fight. In his win, the 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former Midwestern mayor, two men representing different generations and wings of their party. "This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump, Sanders declared. As Sanders and Buttigieg celebrated, an unexpectedly strong performance from Amy Klobuchar gave her a path out of New Hampshire as the contest moves on to the string of state-by-state primary contests that lie ahead. Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren posted disappointing results and were on track to finish with zero delegates from the state. The New Hampshire vote made clear that the early days of the Democratic contest will be a battle largely between two men four decades apart in age and ideological opposites. Sanders is a leading progressive voice, calling for substantial government intervention in health care and other sectors of the economy. Buttigieg has pressed for more incremental changes, giving Americans the option of retaining their private health insurance and making a point of appealing to Republicans and independents who may be dissatisfied with Trump. Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay," Buttigieg told cheering supporters. Yet Sanders and Buttigieg enter the next phase of the campaign in different political positions. While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, well-financed and with an ardent army of supporters, is quickly becoming the leader of the progressive wing of the party. Meanwhile, Buttigieg still has moderate rivals to contend with, including Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire. Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina, while former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on Tuesday's ballot but looms next month. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would provide clarity in their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: just-the-facts moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of color left in the race. While struggling candidates sought to minimize the latest results, history suggests that the first-in-the-nation primary will have enormous influence shaping the 2020 race. In the modern era, no Democrat has ever become the partys general election nominee without finishing first or second in New Hampshire. The action was on the Democratic side, but Trump easily won New Hampshire's Republican primary. He was facing token opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. Warren, among the front-runners for months, offered an optimistic outlook as she faced cheering supporters: Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started." Having already predicted he would take a hit in New Hampshire after a distant fourth-place finish in Iowa, Biden essentially ceded the state. He traveled to South Carolina Tuesday as he bet his candidacy on a strong showing there later this month boosted by support from black voters. He was not on the ballot, but Bloomberg, a New York billionaire, loomed over the New Hampshire contest as moderates failed to embrace a single alternative to Sanders. The former New York City mayor was skipping all four states that vote this month in favor of dozens of delegate-rich contests in March. Hes already devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to the effort. Bloomberg returns to the campaign trail Wednesday with stops in Tennessee but will face fresh scrutiny after audio emerged on Tuesday raising new questions about his support for New York's controversial stop-and-frisk policy found to disproportionately target people of color. Sanders and Buttigieg were on track to win the same number of New Hampshire delegates with most of the vote tallied, and Klobuchar a few behind. Warren, Biden and the rest of the field were shut out, failing to reach the 15% threshold needed for delegates. AP has allocated six delegates each to Sanders and Buttigieg and four to Klobuchar with eight still to be called. After Iowa and New Hampshire, Buttigieg held a one delegate lead over Sanders with one Iowa delegate yet to be allocated and Buttigieg leading ever so slightly in that contested count. Klobuchar now joins a close knot in a second tier with Warren and Biden, about ten delegates behind the two leaders. Democrats were closely monitoring how many people showed up for Tuesday's contest. New Hampshire's secretary of state predicated record-high turnout, but if that failed to materialize, Democrats would confront the prospect of waning enthusiasm following a relatively weak showing in Iowa last week and Trump's rising poll numbers. The political spotlight quickly shifts to Nevada, where Democrats will hold caucuses on Feb. 22. But several candidates, including Warren and Sanders, plan to visit states in the coming days that vote on Super Tuesday, signaling they are in the race for the long haul. Trumps Education Budget Proposal Consolidates 29 Federal Grants, Gives States More Autonomy The Trump administration, under its budget request for 2021, would collapse dozens of federal education grants into a single block grant, giving individual states more control over the way billions of dollars of K-12 education funding is spent. Overall, President Donald Trumps budget proposal would cut the U.S. Department of Educations spending for the fiscal year 2021 by $5.6 billion to $66.6 billion, a 7.8 percent decrease from the previous year. As part of the cut, the proposal aims to merge all 29 of the Departments K-12 grant programs, including the Every Student Succeeds Acts Title I and Title II, into one block grant of $19.4 billion, a 4.7 billion less than what Congress approved for 2020. The merger would empower States and districts to decide how to best use Federal funds to meet the needs of their students, according to the White Houses budget document, which was released Monday afternoon. While allowing the federal government to limit its involvement in state and local education systems, the change would also reduce staffing and administrative costs over time. If the proposal were to be adopted as is, the $19.4 billion of federal money would be disbursed to states using the current Title I formulas under the Every Student Succeeds Act. States would be able to use their funds to improve public schools, open new charter schools, and expand or replicate existing high-performing schools, among many other options. Instead of Washington politicians and bureaucrats forcing local schools to spend limited resources on D.C.s priorities, this budget proposes putting state and local leaders, teachers, parents, and students themselves in control of education, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in a press release. We know states will spend their money differently, and thats okay. In fact, thats what we hope they do. They know best how to serve their students. Trumps fiscal 2021 spending plan also includes Education Freedom Scholarships (EFS), which is expected to help more than 1 million children across the country to attend a school of their choice. First championed by DeVos last year, EFS calls for up to $5 billion in federal tax credits to provide a dollar-for-dollar match for contributors of school-choice programs in participating states. In addition, the budget blueprint would boost financial support for career and technical education (CTE), with a proposed increase of nearly $700 million, bringing the total CTE funding to $2 billion. During his State of the Union address last week, the president highlighted CTE when he called on Congress to back his plan to offer vocational and technical education in every single high school in America. It's boom time for the airport construction and development sector in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Asia regions as the governments race against time to improve the capacity of airports and equip them with the newest technologies for passenger facilitation. According to the Construction Intelligence Centre (CIC), airport-related construction projects in the Middle East and Africa are valued at $222.3 billion, with $92.8 billion in the execution stage. In the MEA region, Saudi Arabia leads the airport construction pipeline with projects worth $58.6 billion, followed by the UAE with $57.9 billion. According to experts, airports across the world are now in the midst of being decongested, expanded and modernised with an impressive bouquet of facilities designed to make them sleek and classy. In the Middle East and the Gulf region, especially in the UAE, it is a continuous exercise to bring about a quantitative and qualitative transformation in the aviation sector. Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, director general of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCCA) and CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), said as the aviation industry becomes increasingly advanced, the airports have become prime infrastructure requirement to every economy to grow. The G20s Global Infrastructure Outlook estimated that the airport investment plans of 50 countries alone totalled $355 billion from 2018 to 2022, but their actual investment needs were more than $433 billion. For expanding airports like we have in the Middle East, traffic growth poses both an opportunity and a challenge," he stated. According to experts, the UAE, Arab worlds second biggest economy, will see a whopping Dh1 trillion ($272.1 billion) investment in the sector within the next two decades. The ongoing airport developments in the emirates has been valued at over Dh85 billion ($23.1 billion), they stated. Assuming all projects proceed as planned, spending will reach $34.2 billion in 2021 and the highest value of project completions will be in 2022 at $52.5 billion, said a report ahead of the three-day Airport Show in Dubai. The 20th edition of the event will kick off on June 22 with tthe participation of key decision-makers of airports along with aviation experts from more than 375 companies from 94 countries. The event is expected to draw over 8,500 attendees travelling to take a look at the latest aviation technologies on display from around the world, said the organisers, Reed Exhibitions Middle East. Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director, said: "Considering strong growth in air traffic, many airports are near, at, or even exceeding their design capacities, causing congestion, lower levels of service and frustrated passengers." In such a situation, the existing infrastructure cannot handle expected growth, he stated. Angela Gittens, director general of Airports Council International (ACI), whose members operate 1,960 airports in 176 countries, remarked: "Existing airport infrastructure in many mature markets will not be able to handle the expected growth." "Investment in airport infrastructure is critical to the global economy and connectivity," she added. According to Global Data, the ongoing airport construction projects across the globe have been valued at $737.3 billion. Of this, $212 billion is in the planning stage and Asia-Pacific accounts for the highest value with $241.4 billion, followed by the Middle East and Africa with projects valuing about $196.4 billion. According to IATA, about $1.2 to $1.5 trillion is expected to be spent on global airport infrastructure development up to 2030.-TradeArabia News Service Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 12 : The Congress-led opposition in Kerala on Wednesday hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government for being unable to prevent attacks on women and children. The Opposition said Kerala now leads in number of such attacks. Moving an adjournment motion on increasing attacks on women and children, the lone women legislator in the opposition ranks, Congress legislator Shanimol Usman said that last year, according to the figures of the National Crime Records Bureau, 1,945 cases of rape and 2,076 cases against attacks on children below age 18 have been reported. "You (Vijayan) rode to power in 2016 on the campaign plank that women and children would be safe. Today what's happening is exactly the opposite -- women and children are under duress. And if the attacker is a party man (ruling party-CPI-M), then the state women's commission remains silent," said Usman. She alleged that victims are scared to report crime. "The classic example of the way the police treat the victims was a recent episode when a woman was at the receiving end when she complained of being harassed at Varkala seaside. The police response was since the incident took place at the seaside, only the Coastal Police would register a case. Such is the apathy of the police," said Usman. Vijayan's response was largely dismissive, but he admitted that there has been a spike in such crimes and that the police were doing their job. "Certain old cases have been raised today and in several of them, action has already been taken," said Vijayan. "There are many women and children friendly programmes being run by the state police and the government. A new set of protocol is now in place directing police as to how cases against women and children should be investigated. We are committed to raising the strength of women police personnel by 15 per cent. All-women police stations will soon be set up in all the districts," said Vijayan. But leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala came down heavily on the Vijayan government, saying only posters were being released. "The sad part is in these cases, trial takes a long time. Forensic reports in such cases take a long time to come. In Europe these cases are over in 45 days," he said. "Another aspect is while these cases get delayed, the police get involved in moral policing too, which is wrong. It has now come to light that the state government has not submitted the utilisation certificate for funds received under the Nirbhaya Fund," said Chennithala. Later the entire opposition trooped out of the House as the Chief Minister did not take up the issue for a discussion. I couldnt be more excited about Smiths future and this opportunity. Smith, a global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces the appointment of Todd Burke to the position of President, Americas. Todd previously served as the Vice President of Business Development of Smith since 2016. In this role, Todd will support Smiths five trading offices in the Americas in developing their focus on growing relationships and supply chain strategies with Smiths key accounts in the region. He will continue to work with his counterparts in the EMEA and APAC regions to cohesively manage Smiths multinational original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and contract manufacturer (CM) account base. Before taking on his role as Vice President of Business Development, Todd served as a Senior Account Executive managing global accounts with a team approach. He has held a variety of sales and management roles during his 23-year tenure at the company, including opening Smiths Guadalajara office. His business development and relationship management experience will be instrumental in his new position. I couldnt be more excited about Smiths future and this opportunity, said Todd. Thanks to our owners vision and the most experienced leadership team in the business, Smith is very well positioned to expand our service offerings and deepen relationships with the largest consumers of semiconductors in the Americas. Over the years, Todd has worked to develop strong and genuine relationships with Smiths customers, which will be critical to his future successes. I am proud to support Todd as he accepts this new challenge, said Marc Barnhill, Smiths Chief Trading Officer. I am extremely confident that this is the pivotal next step for Smith to continue to distance ourselves from our competitors. About Smith Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and directional drilling systems. In 16 cities around the world, Smiths legion of employees communicates in 50 languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, with global annual sales of $1.66 billion. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. The support of Smiths flexible Intelligent DistributionTM model optimizes customers supply chains from beginning to end, including offering customized options for IT asset disposition that deliver maximum ROI, sustainability, and security. Smiths testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam cover critical areas like quality management, counterfeit prevention, and environmental safety. Smiths operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the companys global IT infrastructure, offering real-time, global inventory and logistics visibility. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number nine among all global distributors. For more information, please visit https://www.smithweb.com or reach out to a Smith representative any time of day at +1 713.430.3000. New Delhi, Feb 12 : Swaraj Party leader Yogendra Yadav, who was once an integral part of the Aam Aadmi Party, has said that the results of Delhi Assembly election are a big relief, but does not show the road ahead on the political landscape of India. In a conversation with IANS, Yadav said he feels the results are a relief as the BJP could not rise to power on the basis of its communal agenda, adding "it would have been vey bad if BJP had won". The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stormed back to power by winning 62 out of 70 seats in Delhi. Yadav said the election results have halted the "wheels of Bharatiya Janata Party's communal juggernaut". The saffron party, that was locked in a high decibel pre-electoral campaign battle with the AAP, could not even manage to get double-digit seats but improved its tally to eight, compared to three it bagged in 2015 polls. Yadav was one of the prominent figures to feature in the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement of which AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal was also one of the leading faces. The AAP was, in fact, a political off-shoot of Hazare-led anti-graft campaign. After the formation of AAP, Yadav played an important role in mobilising support for the party. However, due to differences with Kejriwal, he later snapped ties and went on to form his own party. Yadav told IANS after the announcement of election results on Tuesday, that the mandate should make BJP understand that the people have discarded its communal agenda, and the party should focus more on the upliftment of the poor. "Don't stick to Shaheen Bagh issue and try to mislead the people. The AAP and the people of Delhi deserve to be congratulated for this by cleaning up the communal mind of the BJP," Yadav said. On a question if election strategist Prashant Kishor led the AAP to a landslide victory in this election, Yadav said: "I don't think so. In fact, the government treasury was 'looted' by Arvind Kejriwal in the garb of free electricity, free water and free bus ride for women. AAP is going to form the government for the third time on the basis of freebies it promised to the people." He, however, also said that Kishor has played his part by convincing Kejriwal not to answer any question of the BJP or the Congress directly. "Kejriwal's silence on Kishor's advice left the BJP and the Congress clueless," he said. Kejriwal's strategy in Delhi has been similar to that of Narendra Modi's in Gujarat, Naveen Patnaik's in Odisha, Nitish Kumar's in Bihar... first use the public fund to give freebies and then get votes in return, Yadav said. Prashant Kishor's contribution is limited to the extent that he was able to convince Kejriwal not to react to personal attacks by the BJP or the Congress. Arvind Kejriwal's 'silence' and Prashant Kishor's 'advice' helped AAP build perception in its favour. "It won't be correct to view this victory of AAP as a positive change. AAP was successful in creating a perception in its favour leaving aside the real issues. One day this will come to haunt the AAP as all the people cannot be fooled all the time," Yadav said. (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in) We adamantly disagree with unsubstantiated references to Southwests safety culture, the carrier said in a statement. Southwest maintains a culture of compliance recognizing the Safety of our operation as the most important thing we do. The success of our business depends, in and of itself, on the Safety of our operation, and while we work to improve each and every day, any implication that we would tolerate a relaxing of our standards is absolutely unfounded. Multiple inmates at a Massachusetts prison were evacuated from their cells Tuesday after a prisoner assaulted a correction officer and then started a fire, officials said. A female officer at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster was assaulted around noon with an unknown liquid by an inmate through a food slot on his cell door, authorities said. She was escorting medical staff while they were dispensing medications to prisoners when the incident took place. The inmate grabbed the officer, who was able to pull free, then started to light items on fire in his cell. An emergency response was initiated, and the Lancaster Fire Department responded, according to a statement from Jason Dobson, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Staff successfully evacuated the inmate from his cell and extinguished the fire, the statement said. Inmates in adjacent cells have been evacuated and are being treated for smoke inhalation as necessary by medical staff at the prison. The correction officer and prisoner who assaulted her are being treated at a nearby hospital, according to Dobson. The assault and fire happened within one of the facilitys restrictive housing units, according to authorities. Evidence suggests the fire was started with a battery the prisoner had in his radio. The prison is not on lockdown status, officials said. The maximum-security facility was previously locked down after four correction officers were attacked by prisoners on Jan. 10. Allegations arose after the attack a tactical team at the prison was assaulting dozens of inmates in retaliation. The prisoners, some of whom have sued DOC, have said they had no involvement with the assault on the officers. The accusations have prompted involvement from defense attorneys and advocacy groups as well as visits to the prison from state legislators. In court filings from DOC, the agency said Souza-Baranowski staff received threats of assault, rape and murder after the facility was placed on lockdown. To prevent future attacks on officers, several inmates were transferred to other facilities. Other prisoners with serious disciplinary infractions were moved to the north side of the facility, while prisoners without infractions were kept on the south side. The agency did not comment on the inmates allegations of assault in its court documents. Related Content: A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed police to take voice sample of activist Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, for comparing it with that in a video clip in which he is purportedly making a hate speech and targeting the government. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushotam Pathak passed the order on an application by Delhi Police and directed that the accused, currently in judicial custody, be produced at CFSL on February 13. The judge said "in view of the facts and circumstances of the case" and the judgment of the Supreme Court cited by the investigating officer for taking voice sample, he was allowing the application for taking voice sample of the accused. The court noted the submission of Delhi Police that Imam has given "speeches against the government which were uploaded on social media" and it wanted to compare his voice with the voice in the video clip. "Accused has made speeches and to make out an offence under section 124-A (sedition) IPC on ground that speech of the accused spread hatred; it has to be ascertain that the said speeches were made by the accused and for that purpose, it is appropriate that his voice should be compared," police told the court. Punishment under the section 124-A of IPC ranges from imprisonment up to three years to a life term. The court had on February 6 sent the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) research scholar to judicial custody. Imam was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on January 28 for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He was brought to Delhi the next day. The court had earlier sent Imam to police custody. Police had booked Imam, who came into limelight during the ongoing protest in Shaheen Bagh, on January 26 for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches against the amended Citizenship Act and a possible National Register of Citizens. According to the police, Imam, a resident of Bihar, delivered "very inflammatory and instigatory speeches in his opposition to CAA and NRC". "He had previously delivered one such speech in Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13 last year and thereafter one even more inflammatory against the government which is being widely circulated on social media," they had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Keum Suk Gendry-Kims powerful graphic novel Grass could not have hit the shelves at a more timely moment. Originally published in South Korea in 2017, Janet Hongs English-language translation for Drawn & Quarterly came out in the summer of 2019. It tells the story of Korean comfort women a term widely used to refer to the victims of Japanese sexual slavery, the author explains. Gendry-Kims vantage into this experience comes from Granny Lee Ok-sun, a survivor who shares her life story with the author. The artwork in Grass is stark: panels are dark and full of shadows, shading into crepuscular obscurity at especially brutal points of the story. The characters themselves are striking adults gaunt and angular; children softer and less defined sketched into black and white panels that make for an appropriate depiction of the grim tale. The authors black-inked landscape vistas are breathtaking. The narrative alternates between Granny Lees childhood and youth, and the sometimes fraught present-day dialogue between Gendry-Kim and Lee as the author tries to gain her confidence and learn her story. The timing was remarkable. The very summer that Grass appeared in English, a long-simmering dispute between South Korea and Japan over the latters responsibility to compensate victims of WWII-era forced labour including sexual slavery erupted into what has been described as a full-blown trade war. As so often, both antagonists in the dispute could learn a lot if they set aside their political agendas to learn from creative interventions like Grass. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) The Japan-South Korean Trade War For the past seven months, both governments have engaged in whats been described as a trade war but is really just a display of macho chest-beating. Oblivious to the harm theyre doing to their respective economies, labour forces, and regional economic growth, the handful of men driving this dispute in both administrations have even come close to scuttling regional defense agreements. The present round in this dispute dates back to late 2018, when the Supreme Court of South Korea ruled in favour of the right of former victims of wartime forced labour to seek compensation from Japanese companies. Compensation is the term being thrown around, but what victims are seeking is some measure of justice. When World War II erupted, Korea had been under military occupation by Japan since 1910, and over five million Koreans were forcibly conscripted into the war effort, including forced labour both in Japan and abroad. This number included over a quarter million Korean women (some estimates suggest close to a half million), most of them under the age of 18, who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan. Soon after the war ended, negotiations between South Korea and Japan over compensation for conscription and forced labour led to a 1965 agreement in which Japan paid over $500 million (US) in loans and grants to its overseas neighbour. Japan had initially wanted to pay compensation directly to victims, but the South Korean government (then led by President Park Chung-hee, who himself was a Japanese military collaborator during the war) insisted on being the recipient of the funds, which it then funneled into general spending. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Demands for justice for and by comfort women continued. For its part, Japan insisted the issue had been settled by the 1965 agreement (and a couple of half-hearted apology statements made in the 1990s). But in 2015 the two countries (under US pressure and mediation) came to the table and signed an additional agreement on the issue of comfort women, which was intended to see Japan pay roughly $1 billion into a fund for survivors. For its part ,South Korea was supposed to promise to stop complaining about the issue, as well as remove a statue memorializing comfort women from in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul. The agreement, reached by mostly male diplomats from the US, South Korea, and Japan, was largely criticized by comfort women survivors themselves as inadequate. So in 2017, a new South Korean government denounced the treaty and called for Japan to come to the table and re-open negotiations. Japan, under the conservative, right-leaning government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, refused, and in 2018 the South Korean Supreme Court ruled in favour of compensation suits filed by survivors of wartime forced labour against the Japanese companies that had exploited them. When those companies refused to pay, the South Korean courts in 2019 approved the seizure of Japanese-owned assets in order to fund compensation payments. Japan retaliated with a series of harshly restrictive trade measures, and the two countries launched into a trade war which has continued, with ebbs and flows, to the present. As political scientist Tom Le writes in the Washington Post, the dispute is the result of a haphazard reconciliation process and poorly designed agreements. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) I wanted to die Media has done a remarkably poor job covering the dispute, which tends to be depicted simply as a trade war with little attention given to the grievances that drive it. The way the issue has been handled from the power and politics style of news coverage by mainstream media, to the negotiations themselves is essentially the ultimate in transnational geopolitical mansplaining, with attention focused on chest-beating male politicians instead of the women survivors who deserve justice. Meanwhile, mostly-male nationalists in both countries continue to manipulate and use the issue for their own ends. Granny Lee Ok-suns experience, as depicted in Grass, is a telling one. When she was a young girl in Japanese-occupied Korea, her poverty-stricken family was forced to give her up for adoption to a couple from another town who claimed they owned a noodle shop and would send her to school. They owned a bar and put her to work instead. When the feisty, spirited young girl resisted, they sold her to a brothel owner who put her to work in the brothel tavern. Then, at the age of 15, she was abducted while running an errand whether by Japanese soldiers directly, or by traffickers who sold her to the Japanese, she never knew and sent to a Japanese military-run comfort station, or brothel. Granny Lee Ok-suns descriptions of the experience are simple, straightforward, and brutal. She got sores on her hands, and her hair began falling out. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) She was one of dozens of other Korean women at the camp, most of them abducted as well. One of her fellow prisoners got pregnant. A girl was born, but when she came back from the bathroom, the baby was gone. The managers had sold her baby off to a childless Japanese couple. / Before she could heal properly, she was forced to receive soldiers again. After receiving the men, so much blood would flow from down there that she couldnt walk around. The suffering of the Korean women did not end with the surrender of the Japanese Army. Our suffering wasnt over yet. The Soviet soldiers came. Those bastards did brutal things. They snatched any girls they saw, raped them, and did whatever they wanted. I saw so many girls raped then shot or set on fire by those monsters, relates Granny Lee. Other Koreans suffered through the war only to be killed during Japans final throes. Many Koreans who had been sent to Hiroshima and Nagasaki against their will became victims of the bombings. They suffered, without even a record of their names, because they were Korean, they were unable to receive treatment. Shim Jintae, the director of the Hapcheon Chapter of the Association of Korean Atomic Bomb Victims, claims that at least 100,000 of the 740,000 victims were Koreans, with 50,000 losing their lives in the blasts, writes Kim. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Memory and Responsibility Books like Grass, and accounts like Granny Lee Ok-suns, are tremendously important because they help put politics back into proper context. The book reminds us that it is the experience of survivors (as well as the tens of thousands who did not survive) which ought to take centre-stage in disputes such as the present one, not fine points and technicalities pertaining to trade policies. For the Japanese government to hide behind a series of inadequate treaties rather than take responsibility for the brutal actions depicted in accounts of survivors like Granny Lee Ok-sun, is both shameful and troubling. The issue is not about rule of law or free trade. Its about a Japanese administration intent on wallpapering over the memory of their genocidal, imperialistic and misogynistic brutalities in World War II. Its a struggle with broader implications as well, impelled by a question which drives a number of other contentious, ongoing global struggles: How far does responsibility for evil acts stretch? Countries as varied as Germany, Serbia, South Africa, Japan and others struggle with a lingering sense of guilt over their role in genocidal conflicts in which the world had to intervene. How deeply does the stain of apartheid stain white residents and politicians in South Africa? What about the legacy of slavery in the United States? The legacy of Indigenous genocide in Australia, the US, and Canada? (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) In the case of Japan and South Korea, the South Koreans who suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of the Japanese military do not feel Japanese war crimes have been expunged. The Japanese government, for its part, has assertively stated that it considers the matter closed and done with. Can a nation sign on a dotted line and thereby expunge its guilt for horrifying acts, once and for all? Does payment to some hurt parties automatically free a country of the need to enact reparations for other victims? Is a gesture, even a financial one, enough to close the door on a horrific crime which continues to cause its victims to suffer? Many would reply: no. Crimes, especially sexual crimes or crimes of power, are ones involving the exploitation of a relationship of power. The guilty party has a responsibility to acknowledge this and be willing to engage in a healing relationship, if it wishes to make right the terrible things that it did. Unfortunately, Japans official attitude toward its war crimes especially those involving brutal sexual violence suggests the Abe government wishes to treat it like an open and closed case, not one in which it commits to a relationship of healing. Healing works both ways. If a guilty party does not do what is necessary to help its victim heal, this often means the aggressor doesnt heal either. Payment of a sum of money in compensation does not mean the aggressor has changed their ways, and that ought to trouble us profoundly. After all, a rapist or murderer would not be released from jail if they simply paid a fine to the victim or family. The judicial system requires assurance the aggressor acknowledges and understands their guilt; that theyve accepted it and sincerely regret their actions; and that they have substantively and demonstrably changed, before they will even consider allowing the aggressor to rejoin civilized society. As many scholars have observed, Japan never really endured a substantive process of healing after World War II. Many former imperial officers, corporate allies and war criminals were rehabilitated to positions of power in the post-war government, as the US considered it a more immediate priority to rebuild Japan as a strong regional ally in its Cold War with the Soviet Union. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Healing, Compensation, and Reconciliation Of course, Japan is not the only state grappling with this type of issue. There are useful and important analogues in the North American experience as well. In Canada, for instance, a fraught debate over the meaning of reconciliation has marked the struggle to come to terms with the relationship between Indigenous peoples and settler society. Unlike Japan, whose military defeat in WWII brought an abrupt end to its five or so decades of colonial expansion, its taken Canada decades to start coming to terms with more than four centuries worth of ongoing colonial expansion, both before and after it became a sovereign nation in 1867. This involved not just seizure of Indigenous land through a combination of subterfuge, intimidation, economic pressure and military force; but also systematic efforts to eradicate Indigenous peoples and cultures through measures like the residential schools system, Indian Act legislation redefining who qualified as Indigenous, the reserve system, and more. For generations, the Canadian government and corporations pointed to treaties signed with Indigenous groups to defend its land seizures (some of them anyway much of Canada remains unceded territory). Treaties are still of central legal importance, of course. But the notion that an Indigenous people could cede their traditional territories and rights at the stroke of a pen between two individuals, in exchange for some trade or compensation, has come under rethinking in recent years. Land agreements and compensation are now guided by the notion of free, prior and informed consent which means that treaties signed under false pretence, in a hasty or manipulative manner, without substantive and meaningful consultation with all those affected, or without full knowledge of the facts may be null and void. As the Australian Human Rights Commission noted in regards to that countrys engagement with Indigenous peoples: Determination that the elements of free, prior and informed consent have not been respected may lead to the revocation of consent given. Clearly, these conditions have not been met in the case of Korean survivors. The idea that a signed agreement is the be-all-end-all of a relationship between two parties is not so clear-cut anymore. Its become nuanced by a greater understanding that the basis of such agreements ought not to be the simple stroke of a pen, but rather substantive consent, and that consent is a fluid, ongoing process. Just as sexual consent involves an understanding that it may be redefined and withdrawn at any time, this understanding of consent is gradually being expanded to relationships outside of the sexual realm as well, and particularly those involving relationships of power, culture and identity. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Our understanding of reconciliation, too, has become more broad and expansive in recent years. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a government-mandated reconciliation commission that spent seven years (2008 2015) documenting the history and impact of Canadas Residential Schools system on Indigenous students and families, emphasized that reconciliation is an ongoing and collective process: The Commission defines reconciliation as an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships. A critical part of this process involves repairing damaged trust by making apologies, providing individual and collective reparations, and following through with concrete actions that demonstrate real societal change, states the Commission Final Report, published in December 2015. Reconciliation is nota single gesture, action or statement is how Indigenous Corporate Training, an educator organization, bluntly summarizes the point. The TRC Final Report continues: As Reverend Stan McKay, survivor of a residential school, explained to the TRC (cited in its Report): An attitude of humility and respect thats what has been profoundly lacking from the Abe government in Japan. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Reparations in America Insight can also be drawn from efforts in the United States to come to terms with that countrys dark legacy of slavery. The movement for reparations for the countrys African-American population (brought to the country as slaves, brutalized and then kept in poverty and precarity through decades of deliberate white American policy-making ever since the Civil War), has intensified in recent years. But as advocates of reparations also point out, its about more than just financial compensation. Reparations for slavery, like reconciliation between Canadas Indigenous and settler peoples, is a process, and requires all parties to engage in a process of substantive healing and fundamental change. Zenobia Jefferies Warfield, writing on the topic of reparations in Yes Magazine (Winter 2020), observes that the fraught public debate about reparations for slavery in America has fomented a more holistic conception of reparations. No longer about a one-time payout to Black folks, reparations today are about collective healing thats going to take more than a check, a one-time fix or any single remedy. Others observe that these goals also require ongoing public education, with attention to how well the spirit of reparations is reflected in legislation and public institutions. The Abe governments position that compensation for Korean victims of Japans state-sponsored sexual violence was taken care of by the signing of a cheque belies any modern, reasonable understanding of reparations. The money was a start but only a start. The belligerent attitude of the Japanese government in the face of subsequent compensation claims suggests it has fundamentally failed to understand key aspects of its moral and ethical responsibility in this regard. In fact, it undermines the integrity of Japans previous compensation efforts, by underscoring that the men leading its government really have not demonstrated substantive acknowledgement of guilt or commitment to change. One step forward and two steps back, as they say. Its as if Abe is just waiting for us to die. Does he think he can wipe out the terrible past if all the victims are gone? reflects Granny Lee bitterly toward the end of Grass. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Granny Lee, who had braved the minus 12 degrees Celsius weather to join the weekly Wednesday demonstration [a weekly protest held in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, demanding justice from Japan for its past treatment of comfort women], denounced the December 28, 2015 agreement between Japan and South Korea over the comfort women issue, calling it wrong and completely unacceptable, narrates Gendry-Kim. How can an agreement be made without the consent of the victims? How could our government be in cahoots with the Japanese government, instead of speaking on our behalf? / We wont give up until the Japanese government gives us stronger apologies and compensation. We will keep fighting until the end, says Lee. Here Granny Lee joins other activists in accusing the Japanese government of seeking to simply wait out the issue, in the hopes that it will die when the remaining Korean survivors, now at an advanced age, also die. This is not only disingenuous, but it is also unlikely to be the case. White American opponents of reparations in post-Civil War America doubtless also hoped that the issue would die off when the surviving former slaves eventually died off. But it didnt more than a century after most of those survivors died, the issue is as fraught and explosive as ever. There is a lesson here for the Abe government, if they will hear it. Meanwhile, the rest of us may heed our collective responsibility as well, to hear the survivors stories and work to prevent such barbarisms from ever happening again. Books like Grass are critically important for the role they can play in educating us all. Its a harrowing but powerfully written, vitally important book. Ive never known happiness from the moment I came out of my mothers womb. / Even my sisters and brothers Id been longing to see, when they found out Id been a comfort woman, they wanted nothing to do with me, Granny Lee explains to the author. Granny Lees story is one not only of suffering, but also perseverance. Gendry-Kim ends by reminding us that central to overcoming suffering and the evils of men is the tenacious resilience of hope. (courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly) Since the first edition of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2006, the GSMA has convened the industry, governments, ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders across the broader ecosystem. With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event. The Host City Parties respect and understand this decision. The GSMA and the Host City Parties will continue to be working in unison and supporting each other for MWC Barcelona 2021 and future editions. Our sympathies at this time are with those affected in China, and all around the world. Further updates from the GSMA, are on our website and can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com. 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: @GSMA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005755/en/ Contacts: Media: GSMA Press Office Isobel Moseley pressoffice@gsma.com NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Leaders Network, the largest network of travel agencies in North America with more than 55,000 travel advisors and 5,700 agency locations, conducted a research survey of its travel advisors across the US and Canada to assess the impact of coronavirus on leisure travel bookings. While approximately 30 percent of travel agencies reported a high to moderate number of cancellations for China and other parts of Asia, few reported many cancellations to other destinations. Close to 400 travel advisors completed the survey. "It is important to keep this in perspective," said John Lovell, President, Leisure Travel, Supplier Relations & Networks, Travel Leaders Group. "While it's true that there are roughly 45,000 cases in China; there are about 440 confirmed cases outside of China and 13 in the United States. Less than one percent of the cases are outside of China. Aside from a travel advisory to avoid travel to China, there are no travel warnings regarding any other destination." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that this flu season, which started in late September, there have been at least 22 million cases of the flu in the US with 210,000 hospitalizations. When asked about cancellations due to coronavirus, advisors reported very few cancellations of trips to other destinations, including Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, the Continental US and other parts of the world due to coronavirus. Agencies reported that the vast majority of cancellations were for trips to China, followed by a lesser number of cancellations for trips to Asia outside of China. For example, advisors reporting no cancellations outside Asia ranged from 81% to 93% depending on the destination. Sixty-four (64) percent of advisors said they had zero cancellations of cruise bookings due to coronavirus worldwide. The survey found that 13 percent of advisors said they saw a high number of cruise booking cancellations with the primary impact on itineraries that include China and other parts of Asia, Lovell said. With the health and safety of passengers the highest priority, cruise lines are taking extra precautionary measures such as enhanced screening and sanitizing protocols and denying boarding to passengers from China and Hong Kong. Once the situation is addressed, 96 percent of advisors said they are confident their clients will rebook their cancelled trips. "While we are getting inquiries, we are not seeing many cancellations outside of China and Asia," continued Lovell. "This is the peak winter break travel period for sun and fun destinations like Mexico and the Caribbean. We are not seeing those destinations impacted by this. Cruise bookings in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska are solid. People are not going to give up their vacations or stop traveling." Travel Leaders Group's internal task force for major events is monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus and ensuring accurate information is shared with advisors in a timely manner. Messages with supplier updates, such as airline changes, cruise itinerary changes, insurance policy updates, as well as resources from the state department and other government agencies are distributed several times a day. The company is also hosting webinars for advisors and corporate travel customers with travel medicine experts as well as risk management experts. "At times like these, the value of booking with a travel advisor becomes increasingly apparent. We are here to help our travelers in providing information, as well as rebooking. We don't want travelers to give up their hard-earned vacations so if they are hesitant, we are suggesting alternatives in other parts of the world," said Lovell. Advisors do not make recommendations on whether it is safe to travel to a destination. Ultimately, it is the traveler who must make that decision, ideally doing so in an informed manner and considering his or her own individual risk tolerance. Travel Leaders Network advises travelers to review all official sources of information such as the CDC and the World Health Organization. Travelers should be wary of information posted on social media from unofficial sources. About Travel Leaders Network Travel Leaders Network (www.TravelLeaders.com), assists millions of leisure and business travelers annually, and is one of the largest sellers of luxury travel, cruises and tours in the travel agency industry. Representing approximately 6,000 travel agency locations across the United States and Canada. Travel Leaders Network's award-winning Agent Profiler agent locator, marketing, technology, supplier partnerships and educational programs empower member agencies to differentiate themselves in the marketplace, grow their business and lead the industry. Travelers also have access to The Travel Collection by Travel Leaders Group; a selection of travel offers and discounts available at no additional cost to holders of select American Express cards. For more information visit TheTravelCollection.com. Travel Leaders Network is a Travel Leaders Group LLC company. SOURCE Travel Leaders Network Related Links http://www.travelleadersnetwork.com Woodbine Mohawk Park would like to inform all horsepeople that training has been cancelled for Thursday morning (Feb. 13). With winter weather expected overnight and into Thursday morning, the cancellation is to allow the track crew an opportunity to prepare the racing surface for Thursdays qualifiers (beginning at 4 p.m.) and live races (beginning at 7:10 p.m.). The track is expected to be open for training on Friday morning. (Woodbine Mohawk Park) Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 19:46:30|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 militants including a Taliban local commander have been confirmed dead and 10 others wounded in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of the northern Baghlan province, police spokesman in the restive province Ahmad Jawed Basharat said Wednesday. The cleanup operation was launched in Jar-e-Khushk area of the restive district on Tuesday, 13 insurgents including a local commander Mullah Khubi have been killed and 10 others wounded, the official asserted. A weapon cache of the militants has been destroyed, the official added. The Taliban outfit, which is active in parts of Baghlan province with Pul-e-Khumri as its capital 160 km north of Kabul has not made comment. New details have emerged in the slaying of a Jefferson County toddler. Kaiden Ford, 2, died nearly one week ago after he was found unresponsive. His mothers boyfriend, 31-year-old Sylvester Corderyl Taylor, is charged with capital murder in his death. According to court records made public Tuesday, Taylor intentionally caused Kaidens death by striking him with his hands, and/or a belt, and/or a cord. The suspect made his first court appearance Tuesday and remains held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Sheriffs deputies responded to the 1100 block of Florentine Circle in eastern Jefferson County on a report of a 2-year-old child not breathing around 7:09 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, according to Deputy Chief David Agee. Center Point Fire and Rescue rushed the boy to Childrens of Alabama, where he was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m. Agee said the coroners report has not yet been completed. "After investigation it is clear that the child died as a result of injuries inflicted upon him by Taylor,'' he said. Taylor was Kaidens mothers boyfriend. The mother was at work and Kaiden was in Taylors care at the time of his death. Kaidens family has not responded to requests for comment. A GofundMe has been set up to help with Kaidens burial. Donations can be made here. Taylor served time in state prison in the Aug. 13, 2014 death of Angela Marie McCall. McCall, 34, was killed around when a car went over a curb and hit her as she walked in the 9500 block of Parkway East. Taylor pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless manslaughter. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released from prison in October 2019. He was convicted of first-degree robbery in 2008 and ordered to serve two years of a 10-year prison sentence. A preliminary hearing date has not yet been set. by Wang Zhicheng The majority of deaths (almost 96%) are in Hubei, the epicenter of the infection. The confirmed cases are 44742; suspected cases 16,067. So far the virus has spread to 24 countries, infecting 441 people and killing one. WHO gives the virus its official name: Covid-19. Beijing (AsiaNews) - The number of coronavirus deaths continues to rise. Data from the National Health Commission this morning report 1114 deaths, of which the majority (almost 96%) are in Hubei, the epicenter of the infection. The confirmed cases are 44742; suspected cases 16,067. As many as 746 people left hospitals yesterday, leading to 4742 treatments. Wuhan hospitals lack medical supplies: masks, protective glasses and suits. Because of this shortage, during work for tens of hours, doctors and nurses remain in the same suit, without a lunch break and without going to the toilet. One serious deficiency is the lack of oxygen. Many patients admitted with acute pneumonia need oxygen masks and ventilation, but there are not enough cylinders or ventilators. Yesterday, epidemiologists from all over the world met in Geneva at the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) to study a common plan to tackle the epidemic that has become a global emergency. They also found the official name of the coronavirus: Covid-19 ("Co" stands for coronavirus; "vi" for virus; 19 for 2019, the year it emerged). WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called him "the number one public enemy", more dangerous than terrorism and urged all countries to combat it with all available means. He praised the measures taken by China, which "reduced the spread in the rest of the world" and expressed concern for the poorest countries that lack prevention and verification tools. The virus has so far spread to 24 countries, infecting 441 people. Up to now, only one death has been reported outside of China in the Philippines. An Argor-Heraeus SA stamp sits on a 250 gram gold bar in Budapest, Hungary, on March 10, 2016. Gold prices eased to a near one-week low on Wednesday as risk sentiment improved after a drop in the number of new coronavirus cases comforted markets that the epidemic's effects could be contained. Spot gold was steady at $1,567.77 per ounce, having touched its lowest level since Feb. 6 at $1,561.16 earlier. U.S. gold futures settled 0.1% higher at $1,571.60. "It's basically just risk-on (sentiment) here. Some of the coronavirus fears seem to be fading a little bit and safe-haven buyers, who were buying gold, are starting to unwind some positions," said Ryan McKay, a commodity strategist at TD Securities. "Gold is going to continue to trade range-bound ... but the underlying factor that's supporting gold is the Federal Reserve and the central banks globally, especially when the interest rates have been kept really low." Investors' appetite for riskier assets grew as a drop in the number of new coronavirus cases and the Federal Reserve chairman's optimistic view of the economy lifted world stocks for a third day. China reported its lowest number of new virus cases since late January, lending weight to a prediction from its senior medical adviser that the outbreak might be over by April. Also limiting gold's appeal, the dollar held near a four-month high against a basket of rivals, making the metal expensive for investors holding other currencies. Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday told Congress the U.S. economy was in a good place, but cited the potential threat from the virus epidemic and concerns about the economy's long-term health. However, it was still unclear to what extent economic growth would take a hit from the fast-spreading virus that has killed more than 1,100 people, shuttered businesses in China and roiled financial markets since late January. "With a plethora of global risk simmering on the backburner supply chains and demand contraction notwithstanding, I still think it's too early to downgrade Covid-19 to a nasty case of the sniffles and gold will remain bid on a dip," Stephen Innes, chief market strategist at AxiCorp, said in a note. Holdings of the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust, rose 0.67% to 922.23 tonnes on Tuesday, the highest in over three months. In other precious metals, palladium gained 2.4% to $2,396.68 an ounce, silver fell 0.7% to a one-week low of $17.50 and platinum dipped 0.6% to $963.43. Spain's new left-wing government submitted to parliament yesterday a bill that would allow euthanasia and assisted suicide in certain cases, reigniting a bitter debate on whether to decriminalise both practices. Euthanasia involves a physician taking an active role in ending a patient's life whereas in assisted suicide the doctor provides a lethal substance for the patient to self administer. Under the current law, helping someone end their life carries a jail term of up to 10 years, but 84% of Spaniards are in favour of decriminalisation, according to a 2018 national opinion poll. After two previous attempts to change the law failed due to a lack of support and the premature end of the previous legislature last year, the government now has an almost guaranteed majority through the support of the centre-right Ciudadanos and a handful of smaller parties. "We're talking about clearly debilitating diseases without a cure, without a solution and which cause significant suffering," government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero said yesterday, adding that doctors who object to the practice will be able to opt out. The Catholic Church - historically a lodestar for public opinion in Spain - considers euthanasia to be morally wrong, and the main conservative opposition People's Party (PP) and far-right Vox also want it to remain a criminal offence. But the church's influence has been on the wane ever since Francisco Franco's dictatorship ended in 1975. Vox spokeswoman Rocio Monasterio said her party would mount 'fierce' resistance to the bill, which she said would allow people whose life was no longer considered useful to be 'eliminated'. Euthanasia has attracted much attention in Spain, which has one of the world's highest life expectancies, particularly since the 2004 film Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) catapulted the issue into the national spotlight. The Spanish film tells the story of how Ramon Sampedro, a paralysed man who for decades campaigned for the legal right to die, committed assisted suicide after courts denied him that right. Neighbouring Portugal is also debating legalising euthanasia and the ruling Socialists and two other political parties including the Left Bloc have submitted separate proposals, which the Portuguese parliament is likely to approve. Opponents however have collected thousands of signatures demanding a referendum. Within Europe, euthanasia and assisted suicide are allowed in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium in certain circumstances and under strict local regulations. Delhi Congress chief PC Chakho has remarked that the downfall of Congress in Delhi began in 2013, when Sheila Dikshit was the Chief Minister. He added that the entire vote bank of Congress has been taken away by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). After the Congress returned zero MLAs for the second time in a Delhi Assembly election, the long knives are out to carve up everyone and anyone in the blamegame for its dismal performance at the hustings. If hale and hearty leaders are not enough, some Congress leaders like PC Chacko have attacked deceased former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit for leaving conditions ripe in the city for the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party, which won its 3rd Assembly election on Tuesday. P C Chacko, Delhi Congress in-charge, told ANI that the partys downfall in Delhi started during the tenure of Sheila Dikshit. The entire vote bank of Congress has been taken away by Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party and they failed to get it back. Dikshits son Sandeep Dikshit, the former East Delhi Lok Sabha MP, said some leaders in the party have been blaming her for quite sometime but trying to use her work for their electoral gain. Chackos remark has not gone down well with other members of the party as well. Milind Deora, former Mumbai Congress chief and former Union Minister, slammed Chacko, saying Dikshit was a remarkable politician, who transformed Delhi and made it stronger than ever during her tenure. Furthermore, the politician dedicated her life to the party and the people of Delhi. Delhi PCC chief Subhash Chopra and Chacko have resigned from their posts after the reverse. Similarly, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was attacked for hailing AAPs victory over the BJP instead of helping the Congress gain a respectable number of MLAs. Sanjay Jha, Congresss national spokesperson, also condemned Chacko by saying that they should be a vote-winning party and not a vote-cutting party. Dikshit brought about a drastic transformation in Delhi single-handedly and they havent been able to do justice to her legacy, he said. PC Chacko, Congress on #DelhiResults2020: The downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 when Sheila ji was the CM. The emergence of a new party AAP took away the entire Congress vote bank. We could never get it back. It still remains with AAP. pic.twitter.com/aIpjSqz6bd ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 The Delhi Assembly Election 2020 Results were declared on February 11, in which the Congress party failed to open its account, BJP secured 8 seats and AAP secured 62 seats. Reports also say that the party has also failed to save the deposits in 63 of 66 contested seats. The only candidates who managed to save their deposits were Arvinder Singh Lovely from Gandhi Nagar, Abhishek Dutt from Kasturba Nagar and Devender Yadav from Badli. And if I may add, lets try and be a vote-winning party, not a vote-cutting one. We do not do justice to the legacy of the distinguished lady, the late Sheila Dikshit Ji who single-handedly transmogrified Delhi into a different league. https://t.co/CIOoLn24Z9 Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) February 12, 2020 Sheila Dikshit ji was a remarkable politician & administrator. During her tenure as Chief Minister, Delhi was transformed & Congress was stronger than ever. Unfortunate to see her being blamed after her death. She dedicated her life to @INCIndia & the people of Delhi https://t.co/XwQPlHE6cw Milind Deora (@milinddeora) February 12, 2020 For all the latest National News, download NewsX App SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LINQTO, the platform for global investor networks of Accredited Investors, today announced the launch of a new investing platform for private securities. Equity in Unicorns is now accessible and affordable to all Accredited Investors. Small investors can make private market investments in a simple, quick, and relatively inexpensive way. Linqto democratizes investing in private securities by making them affordable, accessible and liquid. Bill Sarris, CEO of Linqto said, "Small Accredited Investors now have the opportunity to participate in the growth and superior returns of private markets, as large institutional investors have done over the past 30 years. Private investing made simple." Of the world's estimated 45M Accredited Investors, all of whom are legally eligible to invest in private markets, only about 2% are actively invested in the asset class. The remaining 98% of Accredited Investors have no way of accessing and exploiting investment opportunities in private markets. This means that the 98% must wait for unicorns to go public before they can buy the unicorn shares. In so doing, they forego the greater return potential afforded to earlier investors who were able to buy their shares pre-IPO. Linqto utilizes a technology-enabled platform to address these issues. Transactions can now be completed in a fraction of the time, reducing cost and enabling a more liquid investing environment. The Linqto process reduces three major friction points in private transactions, making the private securities asset class accessible, affordable and more liquid. 1. Partnering with globaliD, Linqto has created an on-chain digital solution for KYC/AML and Accredited Investor validation. 2. By using blocks of shares that have been placed in an SPV that is listed on the issuer's cap table, unit investments in the SPV reduce acceptance periods and provide for future liquidity by enabling the trade of these interests on the Platform. 3. Documentation is immediate with auto-filled forms and electronic signatures. Linqto is a global network that includes over 100,000 Accredited Investors. Many outside of Silicon Valley do not have access to Unicorns or Acorns (startups). Linqto has provided access to the largest global deal flow of Acorns, according to the most recent PitchBook data. Linqto provides the tech platform for Keiretsu Forum. "European investors have long felt denied the opportunity to invest early into the equity of Silicon Valley unicorns. Today Linqto is changing that by providing access through an easy to use mobile app," said Matthew Le Merle, Managing Partner Fifth Era/Blockchain Coinvestors and Advisor to Linqto. Accessibility, affordability and liquidity. That's private investing made simple. The new mobile app is available in the App Store and the Play Store. For further information please contact: Bill Sarris CEO and Co-Founder [email protected] 831.521.3605 Linqto, Inc. 717 Market Street San Francisco, California 94103 USA www.linqto.com Related Images private-investing-made-simple.png Private investing made simple Linqto democratizes investing in private securities by making them affordable, accessible and liquid. SOURCE Linqto, Inc. (Newser) Bittersweet news out of Australia, where a woman severely burned in the eruption of the White Island volcano in New Zealand finally awoke from her comaonly to find out her family had died in the disaster. A rep for the family tells the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that 48-year-old engineer Lisa Dallow came out of an induced coma in a Melbourne hospital and was told her husband, 53-year-old Gavin Dallow, and only daughter, Zoe Hosking, 15, died in the Dec. 9 disaster that killed 21. "It took a while for it to sink in, and then she just kept saying she can't believe they had died," a family spokeswoman told News Corp, via 9News. Per the New Zealand Herald, the Dallow family was informed Gavin Dallow died while on a helicopter transporting victims off the island. Zoe's body, meanwhile, was discovered days after the eruption during a recovery mission sent to the island. story continues below Lisa Dallow is in serious but stable condition, suffering from burns to nearly 60% of her body. "She is burnt from head to toe all on her back," Dallow's sister-in-law, Meredith Dallow, says. "The only part of her body that is not bandaged is her face." Gavin Dallow's funeral already took place, last month, but the family had delayed Zoe's services so his wife might be able to attend. Even though that memorial is still weeks away, however, Dallow's injuries are so serious she won't be able to go to that one, either. "All she can do is watch the video," says Meredith Dallow, though she adds that at least Lisa Dallow will have some hand in planning her daughter's service. Lisa Dallow has told family members all she can recall from the tragedy is the volcano erupting, telling everyone to start running, and then rocks hitting her back. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the hospital. (Read more New Zealand stories.) Advertisement Overcome by fear, their eyes heavy with tears, these terrified children illustrate the appalling human cost of the Syrian civil war. The three tiny victims were saved from their bombed-out home following an airstrike in the city of Idlib. Footage from the White Helmets voluntary rescue unit showed the children their faces whitened by dust as they were pulled to safety. Small children in Syria are still at risk from the ongoing civil war as these pictures from Idlib in the north of the country prove Footage from the White Helmets voluntary rescue unit showed the children their faces whitened by dust as they were pulled to safety The shelling is an escalation of hostilities in Syria that have sparked the biggest exodus of people since the civil war began nine years ago Brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad, with the backing of Russian warplanes, is making his final push to clear rebels from Idlib the last insurgent bastion so he can declare victory The shelling is an escalation of hostilities in Syria that have sparked the biggest exodus of people since the civil war began nine years ago. Brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad, with the backing of Russian warplanes, is making his final push to clear rebels from Idlib the last insurgent bastion so he can declare victory. This has seen nearly 700,000 civilians mostly women and children flee towards the sealed Turkish border in the past ten weeks. But as bombing intensified and roads leaving the north-west city became even more congested, aid agencies warned that families had nowhere to go. This is, from our initial analysis, the largest number of people in a single period since the Syrian crisis began, Jens Laerke, spokesman for a United Nations humanitarian agency said. Britain once supported rebels fighting to overthrow Assad but by 2017 two years after Russia joined the conflict to swing the war in favour of Assad ministers admitted he was there to stay. One UK diplomat said Syria was one of Britains most disastrous foreign policy blunders in decades. Last night a member of the Syrian opposition and a humanitarian worker inside the city, who called himself Ismail, said civilians were facing tragedy, destruction and murder. Speaking from an internet cafe west of Idlib city, he told the Daily Mail: We live in a state of terror where the future is death or displacement. Many have died, many were injured, displaced, put in prison. All this, just for the Lions [Assads] survival. Britain once supported rebels fighting to overthrow Assad but by 2017 two years after Russia joined the conflict to swing the war in favour of Assad ministers admitted he was there to stay. One UK diplomat said Syria was one of Britains most disastrous foreign policy blunders in decades The SNPs Ian Blackford said displaced women and children were literally freezing to death. He said there were reports of babies dying from the cold and that 45,000 people were stranded with nowhere to go United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Andrej Mahecic said the harsh winter weather was making suffering worse and that shelter was hard to find Boris Johnson told MPs: This country and this Government has persistently called for the end of the Assad regime and has led the world in denouncing the cruelty of the Assad regime The battle for Idlib is a crucial stage of a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of fighters and civilians. As many as 3.6million civilians are now crammed up against the closed Turkish border in an area the size of Somerset I work with humanitarian organisations and I see with my own eyes all the massacres. Now, as we speak, the air beats and the sounds are very loud. [Assad] wants to kill all his opponents. The father-of-three added: While they are a heavily armed army, we are an unarmed people. All infrastructure has been targeted. There are terrible crimes committed every day against children, women and civilians. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Andrej Mahecic said the harsh winter weather was making suffering worse and that shelter was hard to find. Even finding a place in an unfinished building is becoming nearly impossible, he said, adding that mosques were full. The SNPs Ian Blackford said displaced women and children were literally freezing to death. He said there were reports of babies dying from the cold and that 45,000 people were stranded with nowhere to go. Boris Johnson told MPs: This country and this Government has persistently called for the end of the Assad regime and has led the world in denouncing the cruelty of the Assad regime. The battle for Idlib is a crucial stage of a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of fighters and civilians. As many as 3.6million civilians are now crammed up against the closed Turkish border in an area the size of Somerset. Innocent victims continue to die as a result of bombing and shelling by regime forces Thousands of Syrians are trying to flee Idlib ahead of the regime's continuing offensive On the deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 1,000 people dead so far, it sounds cruel to speculate on its long-term impact on Indian business. Yet it must be done, especially after the World Health Organizations warning that what we are seeing of cases outside China may just be the tip of the iceberg. Sadly, in the face of what threatens to be a global disruption of gargantuan proportions, Indian business leaders have maintained a studied silence all this while. Hopefully, that is merely an attempt to maintain calm in public, while internally there is more awareness of the perils ahead and emergency plans are being drawn up. If, however, the hope is that the storm will pass, there could be a huge price to pay because China today is a bigger contributor to global growth than the US, Europe and Japan added together. It is a given that the lockdown in Hubei province will have a significant impact on the $13.6 trillion Chinese economy that is today the fulcrum around which global trade growth turns. The impact on Chinas financial markets has been immediate and the erosion of market value will cast a shadow over investor sentiment. The beleaguered Chinese banking system is also likely to take a hit, which will affect credit. The real impact will start showing only later in the year as consumption slows down. In a worst-case scenario, if the virus cannot be contained by the end of 2020, Chinas gross domestic product (GDP) rate of growth could fall below 4.5%. The knock-on effect of that on Indian industry will be enormous. Of the $87 billion of India-China bilateral trade, a vast majority is imports into India largely in the form of goods related to capital equipment, machinery and electricals, as well as intermediate and consumer goods such as smartphones where Chinese companies account for more than half of Indias vast growing market. Crucially, Chinese imports are powering Indias pharma industry and the vast solar power revolution underway. Mint reported last week that solar power project developers in India which are dependent on Chinese supplies for 80% of their solar cell and module requirements, which in turn account for nearly 60% of a solar projects total cost, could declare force majeure on meeting project completion deadlines because of supply disruptions. Given Indias ambitious target of upping solar generation capacity to 100 gigawatts by 2022, that would be a serious setback. Blazing red signs are flashing in pharma, too. With about 85% of active pharmaceutical ingredients used by Indian pharma companies coming from China, the sectors exposure to a disruption of raw material supplies is painfully evident now. So far, the physical threat of the virus in India seems to have been contained and the government is confident of handling the outbreak. There is, however, a huge difference between managing the health aspect of the virus and handling the economic fallout of a massive dislocation of global trade. Past outbreaks of such epidemics are not enough of an indicator for two reasons. The Chinese economy is now a much larger part of the global economy than ever before, and India, too, is integrated into global supply chains in a way that makes the splendid isolation of the past impossible. Chinese researchers Wuqi Qiu, Cordia Chu, Ayan Mao and Jing Wu in a paper titled The Impacts On Health, Society, And Economy Of SARS And H7N9 Outbreaks In China estimated that the global macroeconomic impact of SARS was $30-100 billion and an estimated decrease of 1% of Chinas GDP. This was at a time when its GDP was galloping at 10%. Today, it is down to 6.1%, though on a much higher base, of course. Much would depend on how bad the outbreak is. While China has since become much better prepared to handle such situations, given the number of fatalities and ease with which the virus seems to be travelling, it is going to be extremely difficult for other countries to decide when it is safe to travel to the mainland and resume normal interactions. In a March 2016 paper titled The Inclusive Cost Of Pandemic Influenza Risk, Victoria Y. Fan, Dean T. Jamison and Lawrence H. Summers wrote: A small likelihood exists that the world will again suffer a very severe flu pandemic akin to the one of 1918. Even a moderately severe pandemic, of which at least 6 have occurred since 1700, could lead to 2 million or more excess deaths. World Bank and other work has assessed the probable income loss from a severe pandemic at 4-5% of global GNI." The 1918 Spanish influenza outbreak led to the death of nearly 50 million people. Better health infrastructure and the Chinese ability to quarantine an entire province will surely ensure that the number of deaths are not anywhere near those scary numbers. However, the impact on the global economy will be worse. Already, we are seeing effects on the shorter supply chains, as companies such as Hyundai in South Korea and Nissan in Japan have been forced to suspend production in the absence of crucial components from China. According to DHL Resilience360, a supply chain risk management software platform that helps businesses predict, assess and mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions, Chinas worst affected provinces and cities are considered vital to global technology, apart from the auto, energy, chemicals and pharma industries. All these sectors are crucial to India. It is time to draw up contingency plans. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Marijuana can really mess with your memories, according to science. Research from Maastricht University, University of California, Irvine (UC, Irvine), and other partners suggests that people are far more likely to form false memories when they are high. They found that just one puff of weed made people very suggestible, even to 'planted' memories as the result of leading questions than were sober test subjects. The findings have concerning implications for the testimonies of eye witnesses of crimes, who are not usually required to be drug-tested in the field before giving police descriptions of what they saw. And for the growing number of people who use marijuana, it could be a step to solving the mystery of why regular use of the drug is linked to poorer memory and cognitive issues. People who use cannabis are vulnerable to forming false memories, new research suggests The more that scientists learn about memory, the clearer it becomes that it is indeed a pliable thing. Not at all like the filing cabinet memory was once imagined as, we now know that every time we try to pull as memory from one of those drawers, we're letting new bits of information slip into it too, distorting the recollection. And all sorts of tricks, moods and environmental stimuli can make us more or less vulnerable to these mis-remembrances. In fact, one of the study's co-authors, Elizabeth Loftus, is effectively the architect of the downfall of eyewitness testimony. Her work from the 1970s showed that a carefully crafted line of question could warp a person's recall of a details of an event. Going several, controversial steps further, she also showed that people could be convinced that they had entirely fictionalized memories. Her studies were a turning point for psychologists' understanding of memory, and for one of the bedrocks of the legal system. Dr Loftus's testimony has also overturned cases against accused child abusers and other criminal. She's drawn international attention and ire as an expert witness for the defense in the trials of divisive figures such as OJ Simpson, Ted Bundy, Michael Jackson and, just days ago, Harvey Weinstein. But she and her team wanted to look at how weed, used by some 183 million peple worldwide, might affect memory and testimony, too. They recruited 64 adults to test the effects of cannabis. Half were given a controlled dose of marijuana, while the other half got a placebo. All participants were then subjected to two experiments. In the first, they were given a list of related words to remember. Shortly thereafter they were asked if a certain words were on the original list of 15. Those who had used weed were far more likely to falsely recall words as being in their initial set that were not, in fact. In the second experiment, each participant wore a virtual reality headset. In one experiences, they committed a crime, and in the other, they were witnesses to a crime - a railway station fight. Immediately afterwards, everyone was questioned about what they did and saw. People that were high falsely recalled details of the experiences that hadn't occurred or been present at a much higher rates than their sober counterparts did. Encouragingly, everyone's recall a week later was imperfect, but about equally so. 'Our findings show that it would be better for police officers and investigators to postpone the questioning of eyewitnesses and suspects who are under the influence of cannabis until they are sober,' said study co-author, Jan Ramaekers. 'People under the influence of cannabis should actually be treated as a vulnerable group in a criminal investigation, comparable with children and the elderly.' Tunisia: project Refat for renewable energy in agriculture Environment ministry promoting sector's development (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, FEBRUARY 12 - Ten young entrepreneurs heading start-up companies will benefit from individual funding worth 40,000 Tunisian dinars as part of a Tunisian-Italian technical cooperation project for the development of renewable energy in the agricultural and rural sector (Refat). The announcement was made by the official responsible for social economy and solidarity at the Tunisian agricultural ministry, Nawal Jebes, for the launch of the project Refat, mainly funded by the Italian environment ministry and its Tunisian counterpart, implemented by Medrec (The Mediterranean Center for Renewable Energies). Jebes has stressed that the first 10 youths were selected based on the management plans of their projects, which should respect the guidelines of the 'Refat' project and are distributed in different governorates, in particular in Gafsa, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid and Sousse. Funding will be allocated after technical training courses open to 24 candidates start. Ten have been selected while the remaining 14 will be funded through other networks. The agriculture ministry leading the program is trying to intensify the use of renewable energy to help support international efforts to reduge greenhouse gases and introduce incentives for a more equal production and consumption in the use of energy by small farmers. The project Refat 'Renewable energy for the development of the agricultural and rural sector in Tunisia', started as part of bilateral Tunisian-Italian cooperation, vies to promote pumping systems that use renewable energy (photovoltaics, wind farms and hybrid systems) and to boost the desalinization of sea water by using solar energy produced by small farmers. The objective is also to create a development program and to increase the capacity to use renewable energy in the agricultural sector by young graduates and regions active in the agricultural sector. The Court seems to be saying, juror names should be released only in cases that people do not care about or only after people stop caring about them, the motion states. By this logic, the names of jurors in high-profile cases such (as) this one might never be released. The Senate voted 51-45 on Wednesday to pass a War Powers resolution aimed at curtailing President Trumps ability to wage war against Iran, with eight Republicans voting with the Democrat-led measure in a bipartisan but likely symbolic check against the White House. Senators Mike Lee (R., Utah), Rand Paul (R., Ky.), Susan Collins (R., Maine), Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R., La.), Jerry Moran (R., Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaksa), and Todd Young (R., Ind.) all joined the resolution proposed by Senator Tim Kaine (D., Va.) after Trump unilaterally issued the order to kill Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a January airstrike. We should not be at war with Iran unless Congress votes to authorize such a war, Kaine told CNN ahead of the vote. While the President does and must always have the ability to defend the United States from imminent attack, the executive power to initiate war stops there. An offensive war requires a congressional debate and vote. This should not be a controversial proposition. Following a classified briefing in January in which officials attempted to explain the intel behind the decision, Lee and Paul slammed the administration for an absurd justification, and signaled the lack of explanation over the decision had prompted them to support Kaines resolution. A final vote is expected tomorrow, before the bill heads to the House, where it will be passed. In January, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attempted to pass her own resolution, which got through the House, but Senate Republicans signaled they would only be willing to go ahead with Kaines bill. Trump is almost certain to veto the resolution, and according to Wednesdays vote, the Senate currently lacks a two-thirds majority to overrule him. Democratic Presidential candidates Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren were all absent for the vote. The president warned the Senate ahead of the vote that this is not the time to show weakness and that the Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party. Dont let it happen! Story continues Last month, Trump broke from a White House warning and signaled he would not retaliate against House Republicans who voted for Pelosis resolution, which aimed to repeal the 2002 Authorization of Military Force that authorized the Bush administrations war in Iraq which the Trump administration used to justify its strike on Soleimani. More from National Review Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 05:15:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi warned on Wednesday that Iran's response to any Israeli aggression against its interests in the region or in Syria will be "crushing." Mousavi said over the past 70 years Israel has resorted to violence to occupy Palestine and target its neighboring countries. Iran's presence in Syria has been at invitation with the aim of fighting terrorism, the spokesman added. "Our country will not hesitate to protect its interests in Syria or in the region and will defend its national security," he noted, vowing "decisive and crushing response to any aggression or stupid act of Israel against its interests." Only four of the countrys nineteen maternity units are in proper buildings, a new report has revealed. HIQA has published an overview of its inspections of Irelands 19 maternity units and hospitals. The units which meet the infrastructure standards are in Cavan, Wexford, Drogheda and Cork but all the others need to be upgraded. While HIQA found good practice in how maternity services detect and respond to obstetric emergencies, it also identified opportunities for improvement to ensure that maternity services remain safe and effective into the future. The report notes the overall level of professionalism, teamwork and commitment displayed by staff providing maternity care across the country in what is a highly pressurised and demanding environment. Two maternity units University Hospital Kerry and St Lukes, Kilkenny were identified as having particularly high levels of non-compliance with standards. Foetal ultrasounds were not unavailable at five units. Mary Dunnion, HIQAs Director of Regulation, said: Overall, our findings provide assurance that improvements have been made in maternity services since HIQAs investigation into maternal care in Portlaoise Hospital. However, we found a lack of clarity and national leadership within the HSE regarding the responsibility for implementing the National Maternity Strategy. "This Strategy provides a framework for a new and better maternity service that improves choice for women, and ensures that smaller maternity units, in particular, are better supported to provide sustainably high-quality and safe care. It was of concern to HIQA that the HSE had made only limited progress in advancing this Strategy since it was approved by Government in 2016, and a more comprehensive, time-bound and costed implementation plan is required. "While more formalised governance structures were introduced by the HSE at the end of 2019 to improve national leadership in this area, the HSE must now implement the Strategy and establish maternity networks to ensure that pregnant women, mothers and newborns across the country have access to the same level of care and support regardless of where they live. Sean Egan, HIQAs Head of Healthcare, said: Our inspections showed that services around the country were reliant on front-line medical staff working onerous rosters some on call every three nights and midwifery staff working overtime to address staffing deficits and maintain service levels. In addition, the poor infrastructure and physical environment across maternity services significantly impacts on a womans comfort, dignity and privacy, and increases the potential risk of cross infection for women and babies. Addressing the ageing infrastructure across many maternity services will require significant funding. HIQA has made eight recommendations to the HSE to improve the quality and safety of maternity services into the future, including the development of a comprehensive plan to fully implement both the National Standards for Safer Better Maternity Services and the National Maternity Strategy. Ms Dunnion added: It is imperative that the HSE acts on HIQAs eight recommendations in a timely manner to ensure that Irish maternity services are enhanced and placed on a more sustainable and equitable footing for women and their babies. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 12:58 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206403bed 4 Business coronavirus,China,workers,Meikarta,Lippo-group,undocumented-worker Free The Bekasi administration is looking into allegations of Chinese citizens working illegally at Lippo Groups Meikarta township project in the West Java regency, after a politicians comment raised concerns over the issue. Bekasi Workforce Agency head Suhup said his side had conducted health checks on 83 out of 267 documented Chinese workers amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The checks were carried out when the agency got word that the workers not only worked as supervisors but also as blue-collar workers, he went on to say. Not all foreign workers on the Meikarta project are undocumented, Suhuf told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. However, we are looking into the allegations. Read also: Meikarta plans to sell 25% more apartments this year Meikarta spokesman Danang Kemayan Jati denied the Bekasi administrations finding, saying in a statement that the company only employed 86 Chinese citizens who worked as either supervisors or key specialists. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician and Bekasi Legislative Council (DPRD) member Budiyanto raised the issue when he told journalists on Tuesday that thousands of Chinese citizens were working illegally on the Meikarta project. He told kompas.com that the estimate was based on information from locals and a trusted source, who claimed around 200 Chinese citizens were working on Meikartas 15 under-construction towers. The law forbids companies in Indonesia from employing foreigners as blue-collar workers. President Joko Jokowi Widodo is slated to sign into law a landmark omnibus bill on job creation this year. Suu Kyis move to amend the Constitution has also not succeeded so far with the Army unwilling to give up its firm grip on the Country. In calling for amendments to the Constitution, over 3700 suggestions have come and the Army representatives have been consistently opposing the amendments on procedural grounds! by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan President Xi JinPing made a two-day visit to Myanmar on 17th and 18th of January. Though the visit was declared as one to mark the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, the real reason for the visit appears to be to regain the momentum of the Chinese dominance in Myanmar which had shown some strains recently. In an op-ed published under his name in Myanmar State owned newspapers- on the previous day of his visit, Xi said that he looked forward,to renewing Chinese pauk-phaw ties with Myanmar and discussing future cooperation during his visit. He did mention that Myanmar is an important partner country in the BRI. In fact, the idea of partnership is only to have an alternate opening to the Indian Ocean besides the CPEC corridor in Pakistan. During the visit, Myanmar and China signed a total of 33 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), agreements, exchange of letters and protocols. The agreements focussed mainly on cooperation in sectors in infrastructure mega project development, Railways, industrial and power projects, trade, investment and human resources. Thirteen of the MoUs were for strengthening collaboration in the infra structure that included China Myanmar Ruili-Muse cross border economic cooperation zone. The most significant major project was the development of the Kyaukphyu deep Sea Port and the SEZ which would enable China to connect Yunnan Province to the Indian Ocean. The cost of the project was reduced to 1.3 billion Dollars on Myanmars insistence, but it still has to pay 30 percent of the total cost. This looks to be beyond Myanmars capacity though most of the potential gains are for China! As expected, the focus was on three other projects- one, the Railway line between Kunming-Mandalay- Yangon- Kyakphyu, Overhauling of the border zones in the Shan State and a brand new city on the opposite side of the Yangons river. The last appears to be a questionable project as Yangon itself is just a few metres above sea level and it is too risky to build a modern city so close to an area that is susceptible to climatic changes. On the eve of the visit of President Xi, the general situation in Myanmar was rather grim. The much- needed peace with the ethnic armed organisations had become a distant dream. The fighting with the Arakan Army had continued and despite heavy losses both sides seem to be taking a hardline stand even on the question of a temporary cease-fire. What is to be noted is that despite the the exodus of over 100,000 civilians, the Arakan Army continues to be popular with the people! It is also observed that Arakan Army has shifted its operations further south in the Rakhine State that besides requiring more troops to the region, the areas will be closer to major Chinese investments. The three other groups of the northern alliance who are Chinese proxies continue to be defiant and is nowhere near signing the National Ceasefire agreement. Significantly, the Army unearthed a huge cache of Chinese made weapons that included handheld FN-6 portable Air Defence shoulder fired missiles- a weapon that has been given only to the Wa group by China. It is not clear whether the Army Chief mentioned this incident during his personal meeting with President Xi during his visit, but there was a total denial by the Chinese authorities a day prior to the visit. On top of these, the Army decided to up the ante by attacking the training base of Kachins in Northern Shan State in Hseni township, a clear message that Army is not going along with the Civilian authorities in looking for a cease fire with the Northern Alliance. Significantly, Suu Kyi had just visited Myitkyina the headquarters of Kachin State the previous day. Su Guoxiang, the Chinese Representative- the points man in touch with the armed organisations, met all the members of the FPNCC- The Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee prior to President Xis visit. The Joint Statement issued at the end of the visit, did say that the Chinese side supports the efforts of Myanmar side to advance reconciliation and peace process through political dialogue forward in the spirit of the Panglong Conference, in actual practice, it looks that the Chinese have advised the FPNCC not to sign the National Ceasefire Agreement and instead push for a different narrative called by the Wa leadership. The Chinese duplicity cannot be more brazen that this! There has been an economic stagnation that has been going on for the last one year with very little investment from outside, thus opening the way to receive Chinese funds with open arms!. Suu Kyis move to amend the Constitution has also not succeeded so far with the Army unwilling to give up its firm grip on the Country. In calling for amendments to the Constitution, over 3700 suggestions have come and the Army representatives have been consistently opposing the amendments on procedural grounds! Tough Suu Kyis personal popularity soared after she personally presented Myanmars case in the International Court of Justice denying Genocide, internationally her appeal was ignored and the ICJ gave a direction unanimously to Myanmar to take all means within its powers to prevent Genocide In such a situation faced by Myanmar, President Xis visit came at an opportune time, giving Myanmar diplomatic protection over Rohingya case. China made no bones of its eagerness to develop an alternate route to Indian Ocean which it did during his visit. Another major investment promise is the development of US 2.6 Billion LNG power plant project in Mee Laung Gyaing. That the Chinese side proceeded with caution is indicated by no mention of the stalled Myitsone dam, vigorously opposed by the locals, and the more ambitious development of China-Irrawady Economic Belt for which many studies have already been made by the Chinese in the last few years. The local paper Frontier called post Xis visit as a new era, but at the same time cautioned that the Chinese will have to be more careful as to how it extends its influence over Myanmar in the years ahead. One litmus test would be how far the Chinese will be able to bring around the more heavily armed members of the FPNCC, to the negotiating table for signing the National Cease fire agreement which in the long run would be in Chinese interests too. It looks that China may not oblige as it gives a firm hold on Myanmar in the near to mid term. The woman accused of making the fake 911 calls that led to the fatal Harding Street drug raid was arrested Tuesday over apparent bond violations. Patricia Ann Garcia, 53, was charged in November in federal court with fabricating details in 911 calls weeks before the Jan. 28, 2019 raid that claimed the lives of her neighbors, Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle. Garcia falsely said that her daughter was doing drugs in Tuttles home. She said Tuttle owned machine guns and that he and Nicholas were drug dealers, statements which were untrue, according to the indictment filed the day she was charged. In the wake of the raid by Houston Police narcotics officers, police said the case agent at the center of the raid lied. The officer, Gerald Goines, now faces charges in state court including felony murder charges and civil rights violations, in federal court. Wrong Door: Houston botched drug raid was not the first The 55-year-old officer has since retired. His 46-year-old former partner, Steven Bryant, is charged with tampering with government records and has also retired. Court records show Garcia was taken to court Tuesday on accusations she violated the conditions of her bond, a $50,000 unsecured cash bond. Details of the violations were not available Tuesday evening. Her attorney, John Parras, could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. RELATED: People who served time say it was based on ex-cop Goines' lies Garcias next court hearing is set for Thursday. She will remain in custody until the hearing. st.john.smith@chron.com twitter.com/stjbs Affordability is just part of the story. The metal is easy on the skin, comes with classy designs that can't be created in gold and is as just as good a style statement, if not better. Namrata Kohli reports. Photograph: Reuters It isn't really a girl's best friend. Not yet, at least. But it is getting there, slowly and steadily, and has already captured the fancy of Bollywood divas like Vidya Balan and Kareena Kapoor, who flaunt their Amrapali jewellery along with classy designer clothes by Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra respectively. But it isn't just the stars. Just about every fashionable woman is today seen wearing statement pieces such as 'tree of life' earrings, a conch shell-inspired ring, a Ganesha choker, or a peacock pendant -- unique designs handcrafted in silver. Ample scope for designing Photograph: Tribe by Amrapali/Facebook What is it about silver that allows a jeweller to play around with myriad designs and motifs, at a scale unheard of in other noble metals? "If you want to wear a 200- or a 300-gramme statement piece, you will not make it in gold as it will cost you a bomb," says Rajiv Arora, founder of Amrapali, Jaipur. "Silver is a precious metal on which you can do intricate carvings and make beautiful motifs. The magnitude of designs jewellers can create in silver is far greater than in any other metal," he adds. Arora says people who are stylish and don't just want to show off their wealth today go for a finely handcrafted piece of silver earring costing just Rs 4,000. "But that piece will be a head-turner," he adds. As silver jewellery ages, it becomes even more attractive. "Oxidised silver gets a very good patina, turns dark like Victorian black jewellery, and people simply love it," says Arora. Easy on the skin: Silver is naturally hypo-allergenic. Even someone with sensitive skin will not suffer rashes or other allergies after donning it. This isn't quite the case with other fashion jewellery. Many varieties available Jewellers manufacture three kinds of silver ornaments. One, sterling silver (92.5 per cent silver and 7.5 per cent copper) is polished and made to look shiny. This is mostly used to create contemporary designs. Two, sterling silver is oxidised and used to make traditional designs. The third is gold-plated sterling silver. Gold-plating costs Rs 30-40 more per gramme than the oxidised variety, informs Arora. Each of these has different takers -- a white salwar suit goes well with a silver piece but a Kanchivaram silk sari needs a gold-plated set. Also, for destination weddings, no one wants to risk carrying real gold jewellery, so women wear gold-plated silver jewellery. Says Kajal Jain, founder, Ahilya Jewels: "Gold-plated silver is no-worry, hassle-free jewellery. People don't want to wear costume or imitation jewellery given the auspiciousness of wedding functions. They want real metal." Where silver scores over gold IMAGE: Silver bracelet. Photograph: Hans/Pixabay The metal offers designers far more flexibility in terms of design, finish and affordability. Anything that gold can do, silver can do better, says Giva's co-founder Nikita Prasad. "Silver complements things in a way gold can't -- add a high-quality zircon and it shines like a true diamond. Add a rose gold finish and it is indistinguishable from the real thing." Complex patterns require multiple iterations, cuts and joints which leads to more wastage, so designs in gold tend to be more standard. "Intricate designs can't be done on gold because wastage makes it expensive," says jewellery designer Divya Gupta, founder, Aliame Jewelry. Because it is cheaper and malleable, designs with silver as the base tend to be more intricate. Add to that the satisfaction that silver belongs to the noble metal family and yet is much cheaper than gold, platinum and rhodium. "Silver costs about Rs 51 a gramme. In comparison, one gram of 22-carat gold costs around Rs 3,830 and rhodium is 10 times more expensive than gold," says Gupta of Aliame Jewelry. New concepts in design IMAGE: Silver Citrine floral ear studs Photograph: Tribe by Amrapali/Facebook Nature and geometry rule in jewellery designs, but new concepts like science and astronomy are being introduced as well. Chunky silver jewellery with tribal motifs is extremely popular, says jewellery designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. "Rajasthani-styled vintage silver jewellery with inlay work, lotus motifs and Ganesh motifs is pretty popular. Silver chokers are very trendy right now, especially if they have an antique or vintage finish," she adds. Chokers are evergreen. Even a mainstream jeweller such as Tanishq has a complete line, Mia, devoted to silver. According to Sandeep Kulhalli, senior vice president, retail and marketing, jewellery division, Titan, "There is an increasing demand for silver with an inclination towards light weight, modern and trendy jewellery." The top brass of Canadas military has joined the countrys premier spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), in pressing the Trudeau Liberal government to completely ban Huawei and Huawei technology from the countrys 5G network, the Globe and Mail has reported. The revelation headlined the lead article in Mondays edition of Canadas newspaper of record. The article, which was chock-full of shrill warnings from anonymous high-ranking military officials and corporate executives about the Huawei threat, represents a further ratcheting up of an already pronounced anti-China campaign. For months the military-security establishment, much of the media, and the Conservative opposition have been demanding the Trudeau governmentwhich is already joined at the hip in Washingtons military-strategic offensive against Beijingtake an even harder anti-China line. Whether Ottawa bows to Washingtons demands and imposes a total ban on Huaweis participation in Canadas 5G network is increasingly being invoked as a litmus test of its anti-China bonafides. An anonymous military official told the Globe that high-ranking officers, including Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance, believe Huawei is not a trusted vendor because its 5G equipment could be used for Chinese espionage or to disable critical infrastructure during an international crisis. Moreover, they are concerned that allowing Huawei into 5G could jeopardize security co-operation with the United States and intelligence sharing in the Five Eyes partnership of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The efforts to further intensify the anti-China campaign over Huawei follows Britains announcement late last month that it would permit the Chinese tech giant to supply equipment for parts of its 5G network. US and Australian officials, however, insist that any use of Chinese equipment in the network represents a threat. In comments delivered to a state governors meeting over the weekend, attended by five Canadian premiers, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo darkly warned of the long arm of Beijing. This follows a series of comments from senior US senators, Democrat and Republican alike, threatening Ottawa with a downgrading of intelligence sharing if it opens any part of Canadas 5G market to Huawei. Billions of dollars are at stake for the telecommunications giants. Bell and Telus, respectively Canadas second and third largest telecom communications companies, have invested heavily in Huawei technology, and have warned the government that a ban would cost them dearly. Rogers, the countrys largest cellphone and internet provider, by contrast, has little to any exposure to Huawei. Canadas ruling elite is above all determined to maintain its close military-strategic partnership with US imperialism, which has enabled it to pursue its own predatory imperialist ambitions around the globe for the past three-quarters of a century. In addition to the vicious anti-China campaign in the media, Canadas ruling elite has sided with Washington in its economic and military build-up against Beijing. The Trudeau government renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement to consolidate what is in all essentials a North American trade bloc directed against China. It also green-lighted the arrest of Huaweis chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, as she travelled through Vancouver Airport in December 2018, and is pushing for her extradition to the US on bogus charges of evading Washingtons economic sanctions on Iran. On the military front, Ottawa has deepened its collaboration with Washington in operations in the Asia-Pacific, including by sending Canadian naval vessels on so-called freedom of navigation missions designed to challenge Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. Ottawas commitment to modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), and the related push from military-strategic circles for Canada to join the US ballistic missile defence shield, are ultimately aimed at preparing the US-Canada alliance for war with major competitors like Russia and China, wars that will likely be fought with nuclear weapons. This prospect is being discussed openly in military and defence circles. At a conference hosted January 29 by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Commodore Jamie Clarke, a senior Canadian Armed Forces officer and NORADs deputy director of strategy, appealed for urgent action to upgrade NORADs capabilities, including its early warning detection system. Making clear that this upgrade would require tens of billions of dollars in additional spending on top of the 70 percent defence spending increase already announced by the Liberal government by 2026, Deputy Defence Minister Jody Thomas told the same conference, I dont think we should presume that we are going to do more with the same. Thats been the history of the department, and we cant possibly do that. Not with the amount of money that is required for rearmament under the governments national defence policy, and the money that is required for NORAD. Trudeaus initial pledge upon coming to power in 2015 to strengthen trading relations and possibly even conclude a free trade pact with Beijing have largely been dropped. An important section of the bourgeoisie, particularly those with ties to the powerful Demarais family, backed this strategy with a view to diversifying Canadian exports and opening up new business opportunities for the corporate elite. A prominent spokesman for this faction is former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, who blamed deteriorating Canada-China relations on Trump in a December interview. He accused the US president of setting a trap for Ottawa by demanding that it detain Meng and said Canada has paid the price with a souring of relations with Beijing. This has included the tit-for-tat arrest of two Canadians in China and Chinese bans on some Canadian agricultural exports. However, under conditions of Trumps expanding trade war measures and sharpening tensions between the major powers around the world, Canada is being forced to choose which side it stands on. John Turnbull, a retired brigadier general who worked in military intelligence, bluntly laid this out in Mondays Globe piece. This Five Eyes relationship is pretty important to (the Department of National Defence) and to the military intelligence world, he said, referring to Canadas involvement in the US-led global spying network. Im not sure how many people really understand 5G, but they do understand economics and they do understand power plays. And there are two big economic spheres of influence here, and when we are forced to pick a side, it tends to be with the US for lots of excellent reasons that go well beyond IT security. This unabashed assertion of Canadian imperialist interests provides yet another example of the utter fraud of the Canadian ruling elites pose, fronted since 2015 by Trudeau, as a humanitarian and progressive power. The reality is that no less than the far-right Trump in Washington, and Macron or Merkel in Europe, Canadas Liberal government is pushing a pro-war agenda combined with a sharp turn to the right on domestic policy. The foul anti-China campaign that has pervaded the Canadian media for months has created an environment that is encouraging the most reactionary political forces. As the coronavirus epidemic has spread globally in recent weeks, Chinese Canadians, who make up a significant minority, especially in the countrys largest cities, have reported an uptick in xenophobic and racist attacks. A petition initiated by parents in York Region near Toronto, where a substantial Chinese community lives, called on schools to quarantine any Chinese children and families who have travelled to the country since the virus first broke out. Such racist sentiments have been actively encouraged by journalists from mainstream media outlets. CTV investigative reporter Peter Akman triggered a wave of public outrage by tweeting a picture of himself wearing a face mask next to an Asian hairdresser. Hopefully all I got today is a haircut, read the caption. Amy Go of the Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice drew an historical parallel with the Yellow Peril racism promoted in the first half of the 20th century to divide working people and legitimize military conflicts, particularly during World War II against Japan. This kind of violation of human rights, this further stigmatization, this entrenchment of Yellow Peril perception ultimately, collectively we bear the consequences, commented Go. When coronavirus is controlled, guess whats left still? [The idea that] Chinese are the carriers of diseases. A woman who vanished before her own Super Bowl party is still missing nine days later as police suspend their ground search and prepare to send out a dive team off the coast of Massachusetts near her home. Abbie Flynn, 59, was last heard from at around 4pm on February 2 when she called her son and told him she was going for a walk before hosting friends at her home in Gloucester. When guests began arriving to watch the big game just before 6pm, Flynn was nowhere to be found. The food she'd prepared for the party was still in the oven and her phone was on the kitchen counter. Authorities spent days combing wooded areas and the coastline near Flynn's home but the ground search has since been halted. They do not suspect foul play in Flynn's disappearance and have suggested that she may have gotten lost or had a medical issue on her walk. 'There is a plan for the Massachusetts State Police dive team to commence a search with underwater means, but we have been waiting for the proper weather to go out in to the ocean,' police spokesman John Guilfoil told the Houston Chronicle. Abbie Flynn, 59, vanished on February 2 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The mother-of-three went out for a walk before hosting a Super Bowl party at her home and never returned Authorities spent days combing wooded areas and the coastline near Flynn's home but suspended the ground search has since been halted A dive team is now preparing to carry out a search off the coast near Flynn's home Flynn, a retired nurse and mother-of-three, grew up in Gloucester and in recent years has split her time between her home there and a second home in Houston, where her husband Rich works as a radiologist. Her brother, Brian Flynn, told Dateline he was visiting his son in California on Super Bowl Sunday when Rich called him and told him she was missing. Brian, Rich and several family friends from Houston flocked to Gloucester to help with the search. 'We're all in shock. This is just heartbreaking for all of us,' Brian said. 'She's very much loved. That's for sure.' He described Flynn as an 'incredibly dedicated mother' to her three children, two of whom are away at college and the third who lives in New York. 'She spoke to them that afternoon. The day she went missing,' Brian said of the children. 'She is the most caring and selfless mother, friend and sister. She'd do anything for any of us.' He said she and Rich 'have a wonderful life and are just very happy together,' adding: 'It doesn't make sense that she would just walk away.' Flynn, a retired nurse, split her time between Gloucester, where she grew up, and Houston, where her husband Rich works as a radiologist. Her loved ones flocked to Massachusetts to help with the search Brian also praised law enforcement for their quick response to Flynn's disappearance. 'They started searching right away,' he said. 'We understand what authorities have done for us has been spectacular. We're lucky to have them searching for Abbie.' The Glouchester Police Department has been leading the search with help from the Gloucester Fire Department, US Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Mass State Police, Mass Environmental Police, Gloucester Harbor Master, Rockport Harbor Master and the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council. Flynn is described as being 5'5' and weighing around 200 pounds. She has brown hair and was possibly wearing a navy blue L.L. Bean jacket, L.L. Bean boots, a flannel and jeans at the time of her disappearance. Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Gloucester Police Department at (978) 283-1212. SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (SIGKDD) announced today that the call for workshop and tutorial proposals has opened for KDD 2020, the premier interdisciplinary conference in data science. KDD 2020 welcomes submissions for half- and full-day workshops where industry leaders will present novel ideas on current and emerging topics relevant to knowledge discovery and data mining. The organizing committee is also seeking proposals for lecture-style and hands-on tutorials, which bridge the gap between research and real-world applications. "As the field of data science rapidly evolves, we are facing a crisis and opportunity of sorts in terms of how knowledge and new skills are acquired, validated and certified," said Rajesh Gupta, KDD 2020 general co-chair and professor at University of California, San Diego. "The replacement cycle of knowledge and skills has grown much tighter, requiring academic intuitions and professional groups to offer new methods of practical education. The dozens of workshops and tutorials at KDD 2020 offer essential opportunities to learn about everything from the latest techniques and tools to mind boggling issues of ethics and economics." Workshops for KDD 2020 should focus on emerging research areas, or industrial and government applications, providing an informal forum to discuss important research questions and practical challenges in data mining and related areas. Novel ideas, controversial issues, open problems and comparisons of competing approaches are strongly encouraged as topics. Lecture-style tutorials should aim to cover state-of-the-art research, development and applications in a data mining-related field to stimulate and facilitate future work. Hands-on tutorials are intended to be in-depth training on cutting edge systems and tools related to data mining and machine learning. Targeted towards novice and moderately skilled users, proposed sessions should highlight the motivation behind the tool, associated fundamental concepts and work-through examples that demonstrate real-life use cases. Key dates for applications include: Workshop Proposals Submission Deadline : March 3, 2020 : Notification of Selection : March 31, 2020 : Workshop paper submissions : May 20, 2020 : Workshop paper notifications: June 15, 2020 Tutorial Proposals Submission Deadline : March 31, 2020 : Notification of Selection : May 15, 2020 : Lecture-style tutorial date : Aug. 22, 2020 : Hands-on tutorial date: Aug. 22, 2020 Call for Papers in Research and Applied Data Science Submission Deadline : Feb. 13, 2020 : Notification of Selection: May 15, 2020 This year, the workshops will be co-chaired by Chandan Reddy, associate professor in the department of computer science at Virginia Tech; Yizhou Sun, associate professor of computer science at University of California, Los Angeles; Ying Li, chief scientist at Giving Tech Labs; and Jingo Shang, assistant professor of computer science at University of California, San Diego. Co-chairs for the lecture-style tutorials are Hanghang Tong, associate professor of computer science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Danai Koutra, Morris Wellman assistant professor of computer science and engineering at University of Michigan. Hands-on co-chairs include Shenghua Bao, senior manager at Amazon, and Wee Hyong Tok, principal data science manager at Azure. At KDD 2019, 34 workshops, 15 hands-on tutorials and 29 lecture-style tutorials were delivered in conjunction with the conference, spanning topics including AI, causal discovery, smart data for blockchain, epidemiology, finance, cybersecurity, smart fashion, intelligent transportation and education. KDD hopes to continue its status of being the premier interdisciplinary conference for data science by selecting leading research and presentations. For more information on the workshop proposals, please visit: https://www.kdd.org/kdd2020/calls/view/kdd-2020-call-for-workshop-proposals. Additional details on the tutorials can be found here: https://www.kdd.org/kdd2020/calls/view/kdd-2020-call-for-tutorials. Visit KDD's website to learn more about the conference. KDD 2020 will take place at the San Diego Convention Center from Aug. 22-27, 2020. About ACM SIGKDD: ACM is the premier global professional organization for researchers and professionals dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of knowledge discovery and data mining. SIGKDD is ACM's Special Interest Group on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. The annual KDD International Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining is the premier interdisciplinary conference for data mining, data science and analytics. Follow SIGKDD on: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SIGKDD Twitter https://twitter.com/kdd_news LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/groups/160888/ SOURCE ACM SIGKDD Related Links http://www.kdd.org US attorney Geoffrey Berman said Lawrence Ray "exploited and abused young women and men emotionally, physically, and sexually": Getty Images A father who allegedly turned his daughters university dormitory into a cult has been charged with extorting students out of $1m (770,000) and forcing one of them into sex work. Prosecutors said Lawrence Ray, 60, used physical and psychological threats and coercion to indoctrinate and exploit a group of students at Sarah Lawrence College in New York City. The ex-convict moved into his daughters dormitory at the prestigious liberal arts college shortly after leaving prison, and is alleged to have convinced her friends they were indebted to him, subjected them to hours of gruelling "interrogations," and deprived them of food and sleep. Ray was arrested on Tuesday following an investigation prompted by an article published last year in New York magazine under the headline The stolen kids of Sarah Lawrence. He is alleged to have ensnared many of his victims while they were second-year students at the university. His first victims were his daughters' flatmates, US district attorney Geoffrey Berman said. Ray moved into the students' on-campus housing in late 2010, presenting himself as a father figure to his daughters friends and conducting "therapy" sessions with them, according to an indictment filed in US District Court. Prosecutors said he alienated his victims from their parents, convincing them they were "broken", and persuaded some of them to move into a Manhattan apartment. I didnt want to go back home, and this was my alternative, one of the students said. Part of why I got in a cult at all was because I had no idea how one finds a place to live in New York. After gaining his victims' trust, Ray "turned on them, falsely accusing them of harming him by attempting to poison him or to deliberately damage his property," Mr Berman said. Ray solicited false confessions some of them recorded - from at least six victims and coerced them into making payments "they did not actually owe and could not possibly afford," the US attorney added. Story continues He allegedly directed the students to drain money from their parents' savings accounts and forced some of them into unpaid labour at a family member's property in North Carolina. Others opened lines of credit or solicited contributions from others to help pay the false debts. Ray subjected his victims to almost unspeakable abuse, Mr Berman said. He allegedly tied one a victim to a chair and placed a plastic bag over her head, almost suffocating her. Ray forced the same woman into prostitution and ultimately took $500,000 (385,000) from her, processing the money an internet domain business. For nearly a decade, Lawrence Ray exploited and abused young women and men emotionally, physically, and sexually for his own financial gain, Mr Berman said. College is supposed to be a time of self-discovery and new-found independence. But as alleged, Lawrence Ray exploited that vulnerable time in his victims lives through a course of conduct that shocks the conscience. FBI assistant director William Sweeney Jr added: There was no limit to the abuse Rays victims received, and there is no way of knowing the amount of damage he may have caused them in the years to come. Ray, who was arrested at his home in Piscaway, New Jersey, is due to appear in a Manhattan court charged with multiple offences including extortion, sex trafficking, and forced labour. He faces decades in prison if convicted. Ray has previously denied wrongdoing and claimed to New York magazine he was being poisoned as part of a conspiracy hatched by some of the students and former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik. Rays evidence had helped to convict Kerik, once his best friend, of tax fraud charges for which he was jailed in 2009. Larry Ray is a psychotic con man who has victimised every friend hes ever had, said Kerik last year, denying any part in a conspiracy. Its been close to 20 years since I last heard from him, yet his reign of terror continues. Sarah Lawrence College said it had not been contacted by federal prosecutors but would cooperate "if invited to do so." The university said it had investigated the allegations raised in the New York article but "did not substantiate those specific claims" "The charges contained in the indictment are serious, wide-ranging, disturbing and upsetting," it added in a statement. "As always the safety and well-being of our students and alumni is a priority for the college." Read more Prince Andrew must testify in sex trafficking trial, says lawyer Boris Johnsons announcement that the first stages of HS2 are to go ahead came as a bitter disappointment to a number of Conservative MPs with constituencies sited along the route of the high-speed rail line. HS2 cuts through several of the leafy shires which form the Tory heartland, and MPs from Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire have been among those complaining most loudly of the blight and uncertainty caused to residents. Some said today that they would vote against the government in any future House of Commons motions about the controversial rail scheme. A teenage girl who was allegedly gang raped in Palma has been transferred to a juvenile centre in northern Spain. The victim reportedly told a Psychologist that she was afraid one of the people involved in the alleged violation would recognise her. The Institut Mallorqui d'Afers Socials, or IMAS, reportedly did not inform her adoptive parents that she was being moved until a week ago. Very Dangerous People The teenager said that she knew one of the people awaiting trial and was afraid of being stabbed because the people from the Son Gotleu neighbourhood and from Corea are very dangerous according to a report by the Family Care Unit or UFAM of the National Police. The victim told Police that on December 24, she met a group of people from the Corea neighbourhood of the city, who persuaded her to go to with them to Son Gotleu. When they arrived, 6 boys allegedly took turns raping her, then took her to an apartment in Camp Redo where they continued to abuse her. The six minors claim the sex was consensual and reportedly gave Police some WhatsApp messages and video to support their story. A 19-year-old who was also present during the alleged incident told Police he had nothing to do with it. The German government's smaller coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), has said it could quit the alliance if Chancellor Angela Merkel is forced out of office by the new leader of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The politician seen as Merkel's successor as leader, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, announced on Monday that she would step down from the CDU chair, creating a leadership vacuum at the top of the party and setting in motion a new leadership contest that's set to take place by the summer. Merkel was expected to remain chancellor of Germany until her term in office ends in 2021 but if one of her political rivals is elected to the CDU leadership, it could be difficult for her to see out the full term. The secretary general of the SPD, which is in a coalition with the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), said Wednesday that if Merkel is forced from the chancellorship, the party could pull out of the so-called "Grand Coalition." That could trigger a full general election, ahead of a vote scheduled to take place before October 2021. "Angela Merkel is the incumbent chancellor. We went with her into this coalition. And with her we will also leave this coalition regularly for the next election date," SPD General Secretary Lars Klingbeil said, according to Der Spiegel. David Gorman knew early on he wanted to help resolve conflicts and make peace, but he was wary of becoming a diplomat tethered to the interests of a single country. Instead, he entered an expanding sector of non-governmental organisations and independent actors serving as peace mediators around the world. "If you are not attached to a government, you can be impartial, you don't have to subscribe to a certain policy view," said Gorman, regional director for Eurasia at the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD). "You are more independent, and you can be more creative," the 50-year-old, one of nearly 60 peace mediators at HD, told AFP. With the United Nations often restrained by competing interests and many governments treading cautiously, independent actors are increasingly taking over. There are cases where you realise that "the UN can't do this, states can't do this, they need something else", Gorman said. - 'Like a laboratory' - As a teenager growing up in an Irish-Catholic family in the US city of Boston in the 1970s, Gorman was keenly aware of conflicts in Northern Ireland, as well as in the Middle East, and the 1979 Iran hostage situation. He said he realised early on that "grave misunderstandings" could lead to "unnecessary conflict" and had a "sense it did not have to be this way". After training as a mediator in Washington, he went on his first mission to Israel at just 24. He has been globe-trotting from conflict to conflict ever since and joined the HD Centre in its infancy two decades ago. The centre has been involved in mediating around 40 conflicts and while most of its work is behind the scenes it has several significant public wins. Two years ago, HD's small headquarters in an idyllic park on the shores of Lake Geneva was the scene of the official disbanding of Basque separatist group ETA after nearly six decades of armed struggle. HD mediators had been quietly working on resolving the conflict for 15 years before finally acknowledging their role and declaring success. Gorman said the public triumph was important to demonstrate "that these types of processes can work". And yet, before a process reaches the final stage, the greatest value HD mediators add is discretion, he said. Mediators unattached to a specific policy agenda or the UN can host informal discussions between people who might not be ready to acknowledge publicly they are in contact. "It can almost be like a kind of laboratory," Gorman said. But HD and its peers are considered "weak mediators" as they have less leverage than someone with the weight of a state or the UN behind them. They can also face greater suspicions of being spies. "People wonder what your motive is here, your agenda for getting involved in a conflict," Gorman said. - 'The long haul' - HD receives funds from the likes of the European Union, Norway, Germany and Switzerland, but none from the United States or other countries that might have an interest in the conflicts it mediates. "So much of this is about credibility, and if we lose credibility, we lose that trust with the parties then our whole edifice comes crashing down," Gorman said. Since joining HD, he has been involved in mediating around 20 different conflicts -- including in the Philippines, Myanmar, Libya, Sierra Leone and Myanmar. When he begins a project, he is often signing up for years of following an ever-shifting situation, often in dangerous settings. Currently, he has a hand in mediation efforts in 10 situations, including the conflict in Ukraine. "We are not in a diplomatic posting where we do it for four years and then we are out. We are in it for the long haul," he said. Carving out some private space can be difficult in this line of work. Gorman travels every week but tries to spend weekends with his wife and three children at their home on Cyprus. For the children, "conflict is about their problems with their siblings or their parents, which I don't get involved in mediating because I am a party to those," he said. - 'Handing the baton' - Gorman and other independent mediators can spend years quietly doing the groundwork for peace talks only to have more official teams steer the process across the finish line and take the credit. The first project Gorman worked on with HD was the drawn-out conflict between the Indonesian government and Aceh separatists. After years of work, HD stepped back and the Finland-based Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) secured a final peace agreement in 2004. CMI's founder, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, won the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize in part for his efforts in Indonesia. Gorman acknowledged it was sometimes frustrating "if you do all the work and someone else ... gets the medal". But, he said, mediation work is about "handing the baton". "It is like a puzzle," he said, adding that he sometimes tells himself he may not have crossed the finish line, "but I did get that key middle piece there that was critical to the success of the process". "That feels good." A Vincent Van Gogh painting that was sold for just 4 in the 1960s is set to be sold for 13 million, after its authenticity was confirmed. Peasant Woman in Front of a Farmhouse, painted by the 33-year-old artist in 1885 four years before his death, is believed to be one of the first ever works Van Gogh offered for sale. It's murky history and simple 'Vincent' signature led auctioneers to dismiss the possibility it may be an authentic piece when it sold at a Staffordshire auction house for just 4 in 1967. The unfortunate Holme family parted with the painting for the small sum after growing tired of it clogging up their attic in Billington, Staffordshire. The 13 million painting: Peasant Woman in Front of a Farmhouse (1885) by Vincent Van Gogh It had been given to farm supplier John Holme as a part payment for his services in 1929 - after which it was hung in his children's nursery, winding up in storage decades later. The painting was revealed to be a real Van Gogh work in the late 1960s when an X-ray uncovered the initial sketch under the paint of a man ploughing with oxen - linking the work to another by the artist at that time. And in 2001 the piece sold to its current American owner for $1.7 million. It will be offered for sale next month at the European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht, Netherlands, by British dealer Dickinson. It could be one of the first paintings ever sold by the painter Vincent Van Gogh (pictured) at the age of 33 - he died just four years later Van Gogh expert Martin Bailey told The Times: 'It would be wonderful if it stayed in England, perhaps at the National Gallery, although raising the funds would be a major challenge.' The prolific artist did not start painting until the age of 27 or 28 and died at the young age of 37 in 1890. During his decade spent painting Van Gogh created around 900 works on canvas and 1,100 works on paper - equating to around two paintings and two drawings a week. A Kansas farmer has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for federal crop insurance fraud and bankruptcy fraud. Kevin Struss, 63, of Wakeeney, was also ordered to pay $604,303 in restitution. Struss pleaded guilty in October 2019 to defrauding the federal crop insurance program. He under-reported his 2015 corn and sorghum crops by a total of about 54,730 bushels, prosecutors said. The crops were insured with a federal subsidy, meaning Struss received crop insurance benefits he was not entitled to. In the bankruptcy fraud case, Struss falsely said in that he had not transferred property to anyone else, when he had made two transfers for a total of $470,000 to another person in 2018. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Fraud Agribusiness Kansas Operational Update Reids Dome Gas Project Brisbane, Feb 12, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ) refers to previous announcements in relation to recent activities at the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL 231), including on 31 January 2020. The Company is pleased to provide an update on production testing of the first three Coal Seam Gas (CSG) wells at Reid's Dome, drilled by State Gas.Aldinga-1AWhile production testing has not yet commenced at Aldinga East-1A (drilled in October 2019) a very encouraging build up of pressure has been observed in the well. Following the discovery during drilling of a new conventional gas pool in the Cattle Creek Formation, the Company returned to Aldinga East-1A in January to remove drilling fluid from the well. Since then the Company has observed a build up in pressure at the wellhead, suggesting gas may have commenced flowing from the Formation.The Company is continuing to monitor the well and will consider options for further testing in the coming months.Nyanda-4As previously advised, the Company commenced production testing at Nyanda-4 on 4 December.Gas flows were noticed within the first week of pumping at Nyanda-4 and were recorded at 227 mscf/d after six weeks of dewatering, prior to technical issues interrupting depressurisation of the well. Although pumping has temporarily ceased, gas production is continuing at Nyanda-4.Serocold-1The Serocold-1 test commenced on 17 January 2020 and quickly provided indications of gas production within the first week of dewatering commencing. More recently, technical issues have been encountered during pumping, delaying ongoing dewatering at Serocold-1 until new equipment can be installed.From the early indications, the Company is confident that the Serocold-1 well will successfully produce CSG.While heavy rainfall at site over the past two weeks is preventing access, the Company has undertaken troubleshooting and believes it has identified production solutions for both Nyanda-4 and Serocold-1 wells.With further rain forecast in the region, the Company is currently prioritising the options for recommencement of dewatering as soon access conditions permit.About State Gas Limited State Gas Limited (ASX:GAS) is a Queensland-based developer of the Reid's Dome gas field, originally discovered during drilling in 1955, located in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. State Gas is 100%-owner of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL-231) a CSG and conventional gas play, which is well-located 30 kilometres southwest of Rolleston, approximately 50 kilometres from the Queensland Gas Pipeline and interconnected east coast gas network. Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to State Gas' ownership. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region (Nyanda-4) into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. The extension of the coal measures into the northern and central areas of the permit was confirmed in late 2019 by the Company's drilling of Aldinga East-1A (12 km north) and Serocold-1 (6 km to the north of Nyanda-4). State Gas is also the 100% holder Authority to Prospect 2062 ("Rolleston-West"), a 1,414 km2 permit (eight times larger than PL 231) that is contiguous with the Reid's Dome Gas Project. Rolleston-West contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area. It is not restricted by domestic gas reservation requirements. The contiguous areas (Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West), under sole ownership by State Gas, enable integration of activities and a unified super-gasfield development, providing economies of scale, efficient operations, and optionality in marketing. State Gas is implementing its strategic plan to bring gas to market from Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market. State Gas' current focus has been to confirm the producibility of the gas through production testing of the wells. When state Assemblyman Rob Bonta said in January that he might propose a bus-only lane on the Bay Bridge, transit activists roared with enthusiasm. Regional transportation officials frowned. Although they support mass transit, most worried that cutting a lane of traffic and reserving it for buses would cause more problems than it would solve. But on Wednesday, members of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission which funds and operates the regions six state-owned bridges urged their staff to pursue the lane anyway. If were going to make a commitment to get people into San Francisco in a way thats not driving alone, were going to have to make difficult choices, Commissioner Nick Josefowitz said during a spirited meeting, where he and his colleagues discussed the bus lane idea. Josefowitz urged the commissions staff to start planning immediately. While the idea seems simple, the logistics are complicated, said Andrew Fremier, the commissions deputy executive director for operations. If officials set aside a lane for buses today, 1,600 hourly drivers 20% of bridge vehicles would need to switch to riding the bus to keep traffic flowing, Fremier said. Even then, there wouldnt be enough buses to accommodate them, he said. The span carries 69 buses an hour, and another 55 buses would be needed to give all those new riders seats. Then theres the problem of separating the bus lane to ensure that cars dont sneak in, which would require a physical barrier, Fremier said. Yet the biggest complication of all would be getting the buses to the Bay Bridge in the first place. During the morning commute, traffic is heaviest not on the bridge itself, but on the spaghetti-tangle of freeways leading to the structures east entrance. Buses getting on Interstate 80 at the Powell Street on-ramp in Emeryville get stuck in a bottleneck of cars and trucks. Those traveling on Interstate 580 also spend much of the journey marooned in traffic the diamond lane for buses and other high-occupancy vehicles doesnt start until just west of the MacArthur Maze. Those crushing traffic jams could get considerably worse, spreading into the streets of Oakland and other surrounding cities, if officials dedicated a bridge lane solely to buses today. Though Bontas pitch captured attention on social media, it might not be an optimal solution. Fremier and other MTC officials are pressing for other, modest improvements: extending the bus and carpool lane on I-580 back through East Oakland, doubling the length of a bus and carpool lane on West Grand Avenue, fixing the metering lights to be more efficient, and changing the geometry to unsnarl the buses at Powell Street. Even Bonta acknowledged that bus riders wont see the benefits of a bridge lane if theyre crawling for miles to get there. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. We want to do this, and we know its complex, the Democratic assemblyman said in an interview Wednesday. A resident of Alameda, he rides the transbay bus occasionally, and gets frustrated by congestion. Bus riders who spoke at the meeting touted the lane, not only as a potential improvement to their commutes, but as a grand statement about the Bay Areas transit-first values. A bus lane is visible. It would announce to people that the bus is faster now, said Kevin Burke, speaking on behalf of the Transbay Coalition a grassroots group dedicated to getting bus lanes on the bridge. Oakland resident Jean Walsh agreed. She normally takes AC Transits F transbay line to work in San Francisco and said that on good days, its a picturesque, 22-minute ride over the sparkling sweep of the bay. On bad days, the commute time balloons to 42 minutes, which she believes would not happen if the bus had a dedicated lane. At this point Bonta is not sure whether he will write a bill to create the bus lane, or make it a provision of someone elses bill. Either way, he plans to move it forward this year. Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan Airplane fuselages bound for Boeing's 737 Max production facility await shipment on rail sidings at their top supplier, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc, in Wichita, Kansas, U.S. December 17, 2019. Boeing warned Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak could hurt aircraft deliveries in the first quarter of the year, as traffic in Asia slows sharply because of the epidemic. A day earlier, Boeing reported no new aircraft orders and said it delivered just 13 planes in January. Largely centered in China, the new coronavirus has infected more than 45,000 people and killed at least 1,115. The World Health Organization, which recently named the virus COVID-19, declared a global health emergency on Jan. 30. Airlines around the world, including major U.S. carriers, have suspended or cut back on China service, citing a sharp drop in demand because of the outbreak. More than 85,000 flights to, from and within China equal to more than a third of scheduled flights have been canceled between Jan. 23 and Feb. 11, aviation consulting firm Cirium said Wednesday. Boeing's CFO, Greg Smith, told a Cowen investor conference on Wednesday that the coronavirus's impact is something "we're focused on" and that the company is working with Chinese customers over the issue. "I can certainly see that impacting, as a result of the traffic, impacting some near-term, first-quarter deliveries for a lot of us," Smith said. Chinese airlines have been important customers for Boeing and the country's air travel demand has grown rapidly. China is set to displace the U.S. as the world's largest air travel market by the middle of the decade, estimates the International Air Transport Association. Another "watch item" for Boeing that could become a long-term problem is the softening of air cargo demand. The industry last year posted the worst air freight-demand figures in a decade, as trade tensions drove down sales. The foot-and-mouth-disease virus is helping scientists to tackle a common cancer with the worst survival rate - pancreatic cancer. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have identified a peptide, or protein fragment, taken from the foot-and-mouth-disease virus that targets another protein, called v6 (alpha-v-beta-6). This protein is found at high levels on the surface of the majority of pancreatic cancer cells. Working jointly with Spirogen (now part of AstraZeneca) and ADC Therapeutics, the team have used the peptide to carry a highly potent drug, called tesirine, to the pancreatic cancer cells. When mice with pancreatic cancer tumours were treated with the drug and peptide combination, the tumours were completely killed. The study, published in Theranostics, was funded by the UK medical research charity Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. Lead researcher Professor John Marshall, from the Cancer Research UK Barts Centre, explains: "Foot-and-mouth-disease virus uses v6 as a route to infect cattle, as the virus binds to this protein on a cow's tongue. By testing pieces of the protein in the virus that attaches to v6, we've developed a route to deliver a drug specifically to pancreatic cancers. Our previous research had shown that 84 per cent of pancreatic cancer patients have high levels of v6 on their cancers." The team performed tests of the peptide/tesirine combination in both cells in the laboratory and in mice. They used genetically identical human cancer cells, some that had v6 on their surface and some that had no v6. Both types of cells were exposed to the peptide and drug combination. The cells with v6 were most affected, while the v6 negative cells needed much higher doses of the drug for the cells to be killed. The tests in mice gave the most impressive results. Mice that had v6-positive tumours were given a tiny dose of the peptide-drug combination three times a week, and this stopped the tumours growing completely. But when the dose was increased and given just twice a week, all tumours in mice that were v6 positive were completely killed. "These very exciting results, that are the result of many years of laboratory testing, offer a completely new way of treating pancreatic cancer." says Professor Marshall. "One advantage of targeting v6 is that it is very specific to the cancer, because most normal human tissues have little or none of this protein. So we're hopeful that, if we can develop this into an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer, it would have limited side effects." The team now plan to further test the peptide and drug combination in more complex mice models, to determine if it can also impact on pancreatic cancer metastases, before moving to clinical trials. Dr Emily Farthing, senior research information manager at Cancer Research UK said: "Although we have made great progress in treating many types of cancer, survival remains stubbornly low for people with pancreatic cancer and there is an urgent need for more effective treatments. This early-stage research has developed a promising new drug that reduces the growth of pancreatic tumours in the lab. And with further research to see if it's safe and effective for patients, we hope that this could one day offer new hope for people with this disease." ### An Australian woman has revealed the conditions inside quarantined cruise ship the Diamond Princess - as a 12th Australian is feared to have contracted coronavirus on board the vessel. Australian Olivia Capodicasa said she is confined to a windowless cabin and only allowed outside briefly for exercise and fresh air. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old Melbourne woman, who was a passenger on the ship currently docked off the coast of Japan, has been identified as having coronavirus, reports The Age. The passenger from Sydenham in the city's north-west was transported off the ship with her parents and younger brother on Monday night and rushed to a hospital on the Japanese mainland. She is understood to be in isolation and her other family members are under observation. 'We got a call from my daughter on the ship, we've had no other contact with the consulate in Japan... Nobody has contacted us. I don't even know if they've contacted them.' the grandfather of the 21-year-old told the publication. 'All of them are traumatised by the turn of events,' he said. Scroll down for video The Diamond Princess cruise ship, with over 3,700 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, is seen anchored at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port Australian Olivia Capodicasa said she is confined to a windowless cabin and only allowed outside briefly for exercise and fresh air In an email sent to Australians trapped on the ship, consulate officials said they were aware of an Australian citizen with a new possible case of the virus. 'We are following up for more information, and will provide any support and assistance to them that is required,' the email read, reports the ABC. 'The [infected] Australians we are currently supporting in hospital all remain stable and are recovering.' There are 3,700 people on board the cruise ship docked off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, of which 223 are Australian passengers. A woman holds a Japanese flag that reads 'shortage of medicine' on the cruise ship The passengers in quarantine on board the ship are being served food in their rooms Japan's health ministry has said that of 400 tests that have been carried out there have been 135 cases of coronavirus. Olivia Capodicasa is one of the Australian that is facing another eight days in quarantine aboard the Diamond Princess. On Wednesday she revealed what conditions are like for those stranded on board. 'People with cabins that don't have light, or windows or a balcony, are a priority,' she told the Sunrise program. 'When we're out there we have to wear our masks, our gloves, any protective gear. We can just walk around and breathe in the fresh air. I did a few sprints because I was just dying to get moving.' She also said she was optimistic despite her mundane environment. 'I think that's the only mindset you have to have when you're locked in a room,' she said. A woman waves Australian flags as she stands on her cabin's balcony on the colossal vessel Japan Self-Defence Forces officers use canvas sheets to cover the walkway from the cruise ship Diamond Princess on Friday as another 41 people tested positive for the deadly flu-like virus after 20 were rushed off to hospitals on the mainland earlier this week A man wearing protective gear is seen at the port where cruise ship Diamond Princess as preparations were made for further supplies to be delivered this morning This week World Health Organisation chief Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva it could take up to 18 months before the first vaccine is created. He also said the official name for the virus is COVID-19 with 'co' standing for corona, 'v' for virus, 'd' for disease, and '19' for the year the virus was first discovered. December 31 2019. Worldwide there have been more than 44,000 cases of the virus with more than 1,100 of them being deadly. On the Australian mainland 10 people are being treated for coronavirus and are understood to be stable. A further five have been treated and made a full recovery. Of the 15 cases, five were in Queensland, four in NSW, four in Victoria, and two in South Australia. More than 500 Australians have been evacuated from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak. The first group was flown to Christmas Island and the second group to Darwin where they are being quarantined. Passengers aboard the Diamond Princess wave to those on the shore as the media assembled to take photographs at Yokohama port The Diamond Princess cruise ship with some 3,700 people on board arrives at Yokohama port on Thursday to resupply. People on board have described confusion and boredom after being confined to cabins following the decision by Japanese authorities to quarantine the vessel. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappas decision to appoint Anand Singh as the Forest minister on Tuesday has raised conflict of interest questions, especially since he has over a dozen cases pending against him, including serious offenses under the Karnataka Forest Act. According to his election affidavit that he filed for his December 2019 byelection, the Vijayanagar MLA has shown 15 cases pending against him. These are offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act to be read with violations of the Karnataka Forest Act. This came on a day when Yediyurappa buckled under pressure and redistributed portfolios after some new ministers, including Singh, threw tantrums barely a day after they were given responsibilities. On Monday, when the ten newly-inducted ministers were given portfolios, Singh got the Food & Civil Supplies portfolio whereas B C Patil had Forest. Both were reportedly unhappy. In a quick reshuffle, Singh got Forest, Patil was given Agriculture and K Gopalaiah, who had Small Scale Industries and Sugar, was made in charge of Food & Civil Supplies. Singh, a former associate of the Reddy brothers, the tainted mining barons, was arrested in 2015 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Lokayukta on charges of illegal iron ore transportation. Singh was arrested in 2013 as well in connection with alleged illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port. Singh, a former associate of the Reddy brothers, the tainted mining barons, was arrested in 2015 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Lokayukta on charges of illegal iron ore transportation. Singh was arrested in 2013 as well in connection with alleged illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port. In September 2019, Singh was acquitted in one case pertaining to the alleged export of 1.3 lakh tonnes of iron ore from Belekeri. Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde, who took a strong position against Singhs appointment as the Forest minister. "Theres an English proverb: set a thief to catch a thief. This principle suits. Does one need my reassertion when the gentleman, against whom I have nothing in person, has voluntarily disclosed that he has cases pending against him?" Hegde said when DH contacted him. "Im presuming that my report on illegal mining has been rejected, but those in governance should at least respect such public information before allocating portfolios," he said. According to Singhs affidavit, the cases pending against him involve those pertaining to penalties for termination of mining leases and for the movement of forest produce. He also has one case specifically under the Karnataka Forest Act charging him with carrying out activities prohibited in reserved forests, counterfeiting or defacing marks on trees or timber and altering (forest) boundary. Singh, who jumped ship from the Congress to the BJP, was inducted into Yediyurappas Cabinet along with nine other turncoats last week. If youre hoping to impress a date with a romantic home-cooked meal this Valentines Day, dont forget the tablecloth. Diners eat more and for longer, and rate the food as tasting better when seated with tablecloth, according to a study published in the journal Food Quality and Preference. Participants in the experiment by the University of Hohenheim in Germany were divided into four groups, eating tomato soup with or without a tablecloth, in high or low lighting. The tablecloth was found to have the biggest impact on how the quality of the food was perceived, the amount eaten, and how long participants ate for. Professor Nanette Strobele-Benschop, the lead researcher in the study, told CNN the results were fascinating. She said previous studies had shown that environmental factors are important in how we perceive our food and she wanted to look at which parts have influence, and in which combinations. In an initial study, diners were placed in different lighting conditions, but there was no effect on how much they ate, how long the meal lasted or how the soup was perceived to taste, except that it was reported as less salty in dim lighting. The researchers speculated that this could be because our sense of taste is heightened when our ability to see is reduced. A second study was conducted involving 159 participants, adding table linen as an additional variable and eating in a group, rather than alone. In the group that ate with dim lighting and a tablecloth, people consumed a mean 51 percent more soup than those who ate in dim light without a tablecloth. The neutral, gray-and-white checked tablecloth had a far stronger overall effect on the length of meal, amount consumed, and enjoyment than lighting level. Strobele-Benschop said the findings could be useful in encouraging people in retirement homes, hospitals, or schools to eat. While it could be difficult to improve the ambience in such settings, staff could do something as simple as choosing colorful plates, she suggested. Its the combination of decorative aspects, she said. Any ambient factors could promote more enjoyment. While eating more is not always desirable, she said improving the atmosphere could help encourage diners to choose healthy food by making it seem to taste better. The researchers wrote that the human body has a sophisticated appetite control system which includes a variety of internal signals. There is an abundance of physiological, environmental, and psychological influences on our daily food intake, including eating with others, odor, color, physical surroundings, they said. An Oxford University study from 2015 found that heavy cutlery enhances the enjoyment of food, while 2008 research from Stanford University found that participants rated wines they were told were more expensive as tasting better. Strobele-Benschop said the most important factor on Valentines Day was to be with the person you love and create something you will both enjoy. But a tablecloth cant hurt. Valentines is a day when its all about ambience. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang ended his presidential campaign today, but the real surprise is how long it lasted. He outlasted more "serious" candidates like California senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey senator Cory Booker, and Washington governor Jay Inslee. He maintained enough support in both polls and donations to win a spot in every debate so far. And he picked up some impressive endorsements, most notably from Elon Musk. That's pretty good for a young (by presidential standards) Asian American from Schenectady, New York, who campaigned on an idea he admitted sounds crazy to most people: Give every American over 18 $1,000 a month for life, no questions asked. But if universal basic income sounds nutty to you, consider that the idea has been advocated by some pretty smart people, including Thomas Paine, Martin Luther King, Stephen Hawking, and Richard Branson. Why give everyone $1,000 a month? For one thing, Yang argued, it would stimulate the economy as people spend that money in their communities. It would give people who are currently struggling to find well-paid work the funds they need to either upgrade their skills or move to a location with greater opportunity. It would provide some financial security for the 60 percent of Americans who say they could not cover an unexpected expense of $1,000 from savings. Most important of all, Yang said, it would help the tens of millions of Americans who he believes will lose their jobs to automation over the next decade. That may be where the wheels came off his argument for a lot of people. After all, artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation are already in widespread use among American businesses, and, so far, we are not seeing rampant unemployment as a result. In fact, the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.6 percent is close to a 50-year low. For many employers, the shortage of available workers is driving investment in automation, rather than the other way around. While it certainly seems possible that new technology will create unemployment someday, it's not happening now. But there's a much better reason to consider creating universal basic income, even if the robots aren't coming for your job just yet: It works. A World Bank study found that, contrary to common fears, poor people who receive cash transfers don't spend that extra money on things like drugs and alcohol. Instead, they use it to create opportunity and move on to a better life. That helps all of us by reducing such things as homelessness and crime. Several nations and towns, including Stockton, California, have experimented or are experimenting with some form of universal basic income, and the results have been surprisingly positive. In Cherokee, North Carolina, members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee tribe began receiving annual checks, a share of the profits from the casino on their tribal land. These started out as small payments but grew to about $12,000--the same annual total as in Yang's proposal. Children from poor families that began receiving these payments began to do better behaviorally, and the likelihood that they'd commit a petty crime dropped significantly. How do we pay for it? When it comes to Yang's proposal, a lot of tough questions remain. Yang said a 10 percent value-added tax would be enough to cover the cost, but many experts disagreed. Some supporters of the idea want the payments to replace public assistance, while others believe they should be offered in addition to it. Yang supported giving people the choice between public assistance and universal basic income, which would make it a less effective tool for lifting people out of poverty. If supporting universal basic income is still a stretch for most Americans, or at least most American politicians, there's another proposal out there that could be easier to swallow. Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes has proposed tweaking the Earned Income Tax Credit to take into account unpaid labor such as child care or elder care and giving $500 a month to families living on $50,000 a year or less. This would help the people who need it most and it would be easier to pay for than Yang's proposal as well. Hughes proposes to pay for increased Earned Income Tax Credit costs by increasing taxes on those who earn more than $250,000 per year. Of course, Hughes isn't running for office, and so far no other candidate has championed either his plan or Yang's. With Yang out of the race, the idea may soon be forgotten as people focus on some of the more contentious issues in this election cycle. But that would be a shame. Universal basic income may or may not be politically viable, but it is an idea worth exploring. Strength in the Irish licensed and bar markets is primarily confined to cities like Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Kilkenny, according to a specialist sector report out this month. Top sale in the past year outside of Dublin was of the Wilton Bar in Corks western suburbs, which sold after auction for over 3.3m in autumn 2019. The Wilton Bar was acquired in private negotiations via agents Lisney, incorporating Morrisseys, after it was withdrawn from auction in October in Dublins Merrion Hotel, despite having surpassed its pre-auction guide of 2.5m in bidding on the day. Purchasers of the The Wilton Bar havent been revealed officially by Lisney, but are understood to be from outside of Cork,with local sources saying they have Munster bar interests. The final stage of sale and change of ownership is now coming close to completion, its believed. The Lisney-Morrisseys 2019 Review/2020 Outlook describes the 3.3m-plus Wilton sale as a highlight of the market... which now represents the highest price paid for a Cork licensed premises. That price threshold/record is clearly of values in recent/recovery years, however, as some Cork City bars traded at 5m-plus in the Celtic Tiger years; it was previously reported that The Wiltons owners, the Peters family, refused a 10m bid for the 10,000 sq ft 1991-built bar next to the Wilton Shopping Centre, on a site of 0.46 of an acre (see also 2011 Viscount Bar sale and resale reference p18). The other notable Cork bar sale in 2019 was of Clancys in the city centre, between Princes St and Marlboro St, bought prior to auction for 2.3m by a group including bar and nightclub owner Paul Montgomery, and since reopened after an extensive upgrade and further investment. The Lisney report says: The sale of these renowned licensed premises is encouraging for the market in general, as it illustrates the existence of keen demand from well-funded purchasers seeking well-located opportunities that offer both scale and business development potential. Galways big sale in 2019 was of the well-known Carbon late bar & nightclub complex on Eglinton St, bought by JD Wetherspoon for c2.3m. Elsewhere the provincial rural market has continued to struggle with limited appetite expressed from outside of the local indigenous community characterised further by reports of closures of licensed premises that are unviable, the bulk of which were located in sparsely populated districts with an oversupply of competing licensed premises. Notable in the Dublin market was the dip in the number of pubs coming for sale, contrasting with the dramatic increase in the volume of higher value, well-located prime Dublin pubs being sold, says the report. Meanwhile, Morrisseys, with Lisney Cork, reports immediate interest in the proposed sale of the well-known Tompkins licensed premises, between St Patricks Bridge and the Opera House on Lavitts Quay, as reported online by the Irish Examiner last week. Guiding at 700,000, agent Tony Morrissey says Larry Tompkins Cork Sport Bar has traded successfully in this excellent location since 1998. The traditional-style property has about 5,000sq ft, trading over two levels, and includes a two-bedroomed apartment. The sale represents an excellent opportunity to acquire this well-known licensed premises, enjoying a current sound annual turnover but also offering undoubted scope to increase the business through active, hands-on management. DETAILS: Lisney 021-4275079 Einstein famously said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. And it appears that the Irish people, after decades of doing the same thing, have finally decided to take a risk by doing something very different and voting for Sinn Fein in order, one presumes, to get a different result. Last time out, the electorate took the more conservative risk by voting for Independents. However, that experiment did result in more of the same, as they were 'coalitionised' by Fine Gael. So, is it really a surprise that the electorate went (as some commentators might have it) 'rogue' and voted for the party with the shady past - Sinn Fein? Desperate times call for desperate measures and, in my view, the Irish people are desperate to change, not just the status quo, but the priorities of government. This was not change for change's sake. This was most certainly not Ireland doing its own version of 'Brexit' or 'Trump', as some British commentators have already labelled it. The fact that our 'far-right' candidates, who traded in the same language of misplaced nationalism we hear in the UK and US, didn't even gain enough votes to claim their deposits back, is clear evidence that Irish people were not just kicking back at the establishment for the sake of it. We are a politically sophisticated country. We talk politics a lot. Heck, most of us even understand how proportional representation works. We also know our history. So, this swing to Sinn Fein was not some angry reflex, delivered without any thought to possible consequences. It was a much more considered and deliberate move designed to deliver a clear message to Dail Eireann. That message is essentially that although we understand that having a functioning economy is vital, we want to live in a healthy society, in all senses of that word. Someone far cleverer than I might know if it is, as I suspect, our history, our generational memory of disenfranchisement, of hunger, of extreme poverty and powerlessness that makes us very sensitive to the plight of others. Most people I know aren't directly affected by homelessness but they are deeply ashamed that our cities and suburbs are littered with unfortunates who are reduced to sleeping in tents. Most people I know are extremely disturbed that this country of ours, with our booming economy, boasts just under 10,000 people in so-called 'emergency accommodation', almost half of whom are children. Children living in tiny rooms with their parents and siblings; with no place to play, no space to do their homework, no opportunity to eat a home-cooked meal. We have babies who are not hitting their developmental markers because they have no area in which to crawl or learn to walk. Our modern tenements may have central heating and plumbed indoor bathrooms but they are overcrowded, they are unhealthy and they are most certainly a breeding ground for a myriad of future problems. The housing crisis is something that affects far more of us. As parents, we worry our children will be living with us forever and may never be fully independent. Many have children and grandchildren living thousands of miles away who are unable to come home because not only will they have nowhere to live, they will have no place for their children in a local school and are too afraid they or their children might need healthcare in a public system that is broken. This election was about housing, homelessness, health and social inequality. The people knew that this time a political party was needed in order to make the changes that are necessary. Fianna Fail, besides being cut from the same cloth as Fine Gael, was also the party that propped up the government for far too long as the crises in health and housing kept getting worse. And so, in the absence of any other large enough alternative, the people turned to Sinn Fein. It now needs to hold the head. It needs to understand very clearly how it got to where it is now. The landslide of votes it achieved at the weekend is not a sign the people of Ireland have signed up to all it stands for. Sinn Fein has been loaned the votes of voters desperate for social justice, for a more compassionate and caring country. Shouts of "up the 'Ra" will not go down well with these voters, nor will a premature rush for a potentially divisive Border poll. Sinn Fein must deliver a more equal Ireland, an Ireland we can all be proud of, a real republic or it too will suffer voter rejection next time out. BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the country's biggest lender, said Tuesday that it has issued over 43 billion yuan (about 6.14 billion U.S. dollars) of loans to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak and help companies restore production since Jan. 24. Among the total, 13 billion yuan of loans were used to combat the epidemic, which had killed 1,016 people as of Monday. The remaining 30 billion yuan of loans were given to companies to resume production. The lender also established a 2-billion-yuan special fund to give equity financing support to companies engaged in the fight against the epidemic, aiming to increase their production capacity and boost market supplies. The government has announced a slew of new policies to reduce financial burdens on firms and minimize the outbreak's impact on the economy. Banks across the country should ensure enterprises that produce, transport or sell medical supplies and life necessities pay less than 1.6 percent interest on their loans. Christopher Jones, mayor of Mount Carmel, Tennessee, was charged with theft after taking money from his own grandmother: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation A mayor in Tennessee has been charged with stealing almost $400,000 from his grandmother while she was cared for in a nursing home, suffering from dementia. Christopher Scott Jones is currently serving as the mayor of Mount Carmel in the northeast of the state. Residents have called for his resignation, and a Mount Carmel alderman told ABC News: Its been a long time coming, I expected this to happen. He allegedly wrote cheques to himself from his grandmothers accounts for more than a year, between November 2014 and January 2016. Marceline Carpenter died on 2 January, 2016, at an assisted care centre in West Virginia. The Kingsport Times-News reports that in March of that year Ms Carpenters daughter Jones own mother Barbara Jo Long, and two of his uncles, Robert and Gary Wayne Carpenter, filed a lawsuit in Randolph County, West Virginia. They alleged that Jones stole almost $394,000 from Ms Carpenters estate while she suffered from dementia towards the end of her life. Ms Carpenter was resident in a nursing home from February 2015 onwards and was not competent to make financial decisions or give Jones power of attorney. In 2017, Jones failed to appear in court to answer the charges and was ordered to pay his mother and uncles a total of $571,569 $393,939 in compensation, $131,313 in punitive damages, $6,200 in attorney fees, and $40,117 in pre-trial interest. An unpaid balance is subject to seven per cent interest annually. Jones initially contested the West Virginia ruling, claiming it was not valid in Tennessee, but a judge ruled against him as that was where the money was deposited. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began looking into Mr Jones in August 2019 at the request of 3rd District Attorney General Dan Armstrong. Last week, the Hawkins County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Mr Jones with one count of theft over $250,000. He was arrested and booked into the Hawkins County Jail on 10 February on a $300,000 bond. Theft over $250,000 is a Class A felony punishable by 15 to 25 years in jail if found guilty. Story continues Jones was previously a police officer, detective and fire chief in Mount Carmel, until 2013 when he was fired by the former mayor, Larry Frost. In an alleged sting operation, Mr Jones stole pills that were in a jacket turned into police having been found in a park. No criminal charges were filed. The following year Jones was elected a city alderman, and in 2016 he became mayor, having beaten Mr Frost in an election. He has said publicly that he has no plans to seek re-election this year. Read more Bus homeless to neighbouring city, says California mayor Mayor admits getting drunk and passing out in employee's bed Indonesian mayor orders anti-LGBT+ police raids after UK rapist case Tennessee announces plans for strictest anti-abortion laws in the US The brutal murder of a young woman, who was allegedly stabbed to death by her partner, has sparked mass outrage in Mexico after photos of her mutilated body were leaked to the press. Ingrid Escamilla had her organs and skin removed, in what is believed to have been an attempt to hide evidence of her grisly murder. Leaked images of her mutilated body were then splashed on the front page of Mexican newspaper Pasala alongside the caption: It was cupids fault. A suspect has been arrested, with the capital citys mayor saying on Tuesday that prosecutors would request the maximum sentence for the 25-year-olds murderer. Escamillas partner, who she had been living with, can be seen being interrogated by police in a video circulated by press in the country. Ingrid Escamilla was 25-years-old when she was killed by her partner (Instagram) Her partner, who is doused in blood sitting in a police vehicle, can be heard telling police he stabbed Escamilla in a row over his drinking and admitting to getting rid of her body parts in drainage. Critics hit out at the fact that harrowing photos of Escamilla had been published and shared photos of her looking happy and wearing brightly-coloured lipstick on social media with the hashtags #IngridEscamilla and #JusticeForIngrid gaining traction. Karen Ingala Smith, who has been tracking the numbers of women killed by men for an annual census on femicide in the UK, told The Independent: The killing of Ingrid Escamilia is shocking in its perverted brutality, but every deliberate murder of a woman should shock us and provoke a response. Too often mens fatal violence against women is accepted as normal. Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Show all 24 1 /24 Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Hundreds of Central Americans from a new migrant caravan tried to enter Mexico by force by crossing the river that divides the country from Guatemala, prompting the National Guard to fire tear gas AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Central American migrants at the international bridge that connects Tecum Uman, Guatemala, with Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Central American migrants - mostly Hondurans, travelling on caravan to the US - run after crossing the Suichate River, the natural border between , Guatemala, with Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Members of the police try to stop people crossing the Suchiate River EPA Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico A member of Mexico's National Guard detains a migrant Reuters Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico A member of the Mexican National Guard holds a migrant girl Reuters Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico A migran holds a Honduran flag as he cross the Suchiate river Reuters Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico A migrant reacts in Frontera Hidalgo, Mexico Reuters Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico EPA Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico The arrival of Honduran migrants to the border between Guatemala and Mexico EPA Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Migrants pray as they gather near the border Reuters Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico A Central American migrant and his baby travelling on caravan to the US AFP via Getty Central American migrant caravan tries to enter Mexico Hundreds of people try to cross the bridge that allows the passage to Mexico EPA That a media outlet has chosen to share an image of Ingrids mutilated body is an assault on the memory of her and compounds the distress of those who loved her. It can do nothing positive. That the same source blames love with the caption It was cupids fault is equally ignorant. Violent and abusive men chose to kill, the responsibility is theirs, violence is never an act of love and love should never be used to absolve violence. Femicides, defined as the gender-motivated killing of women, are prevalent in Mexico and more than 700 cases are currently being investigated. According to official data, an average of 10 women were killed a day in Mexico in 2018. Some 44 per cent of women have suffered violence from a partner and 66 per cent of women have experienced some form of violence during their life, according to the Mexican Institute of Statistics and Geography. The United Nations deem Latin America to have the worlds highest rates of femicide. Parsala has been contacted for comment. Subscriber content preview ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ConocoPhillips has abandoned its plan to build a temporary island as a staging area for its oil discovery project on Alaska's North Slope, an official said. The oil company has instead proposed to rely more heavily on the state's ice roads to move infrastructure to its remote Willow site. Alaska's Energy Desk reported Monday. . . . A farmer has shared the disturbing hate mail he was sent by a stranger urging him to kill himself amid the crippling drought. Mark Killen, an award-winning chicken farmer in Merriwa, in far west New South Wales, was left shocked when he opened the abusive letter last week. The note, which was printed on an A4 piece of paper, had been addressed to his home. 'Hey loser, no one cares that you have to send livestock to slaughter,' the note read. 'All the better when you are forced to send your breeding stock. 'If you cannot handle the drought, use a bullet on yourself. You know you want to. NO one cares whether you live or die, not even your family.' Mark Killen, a chicken farmer in Merriwa, (pictuyred) in far west New South Wales, was left shocked when he opened the letter last week The note, which was printed on an A4 piece of paper, had been addressed to his home Mr Killen then Googled 'farmer hate mail Australia' and discovered he was not alone. Farmers across New South Wales have been targeted by cruel thugs who have been sending abusive letters urging them to 'use a bullet' on themselves. The abusive letters come as farmers across the country struggle through one of the worst droughts on record, with the country's crop production set to fall for the third consecutive year. The drought has put a strain on many families, with a number of farmers admitting to struggling with mental health issues as a result. There are about 20 suicide deaths per 100,000 people in isolated rural areas, according to a by NSW Health and Newcastle University. Several residents in Dubbo, Walgett and Peak Hill in the state's western region reported receiving the disturbing notes in November last year, police said. Several farmers in Dubbo, Walgett and Peak Hill in the state's western region reported receiving the disturbing notes in November last year, police said The notes come as farmers across Australia struggle through a devastating drought. (Pictured: sheep drinking from a water trough in 'Barber's Lagoon' on the outskirts of the north-western New South Wales) The wording in each letter has been similar to what Mr Killen received. However, it is believed the letters were previously hand delivered, whereas Mr Killen's was mailed to him. In a Facebook post, Mr Killen said he had no idea how the sender would have found his address or who may have sent the letter. He said he shared the letter online in the hopes that others who might have received similar letters would feel less threatened. 'Some conjecture that the 'vegans' are the senders, I wouldn't know about that, but clearly someone suffering from some mental health problem is to blame. I feel very sorry for them,' he said. A farmer in 'Barber's Lagoon' on the outskirts of the north-western New South Wales Rural communities in NSW, like this one in Broken Hill (pictured) have suffered terrible drought NSW Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside has branded the acts 'downright disgraceful' and asked for anyone with information to come forward. 'It is extremely important that these letters are not over-handled, both in a physical sense and by not disclosing information to fellow members of the public which may impact the investigation,' he said. 'Victims should report the matter to local police in a very timely manner in order to increase our chances of resolving the nature of these letters. 'Anyone who has received a similar letter is encouraged to contact their local police station and report the matter.' For confidential support call Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au or Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 She has been maintaining her workout regime throughout her pregnancy. And Millie Mackintosh was once again proving advance pregnancy was no barrier as she enjoyed another session with her trainer Simone De La Rue on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, who is expecting her first child with husband Hugo Taylor, posed up a storm in a chic gym coord. Blooming: Millie Mackintosh was once again proving advance pregnancy was no barrier as she enjoyed another session with her trainer Simone De La Rue on Wednesday Millie was feeling playful as she posed up a storm in the two-piece complete with a simple crop top and legging which hugged her bump. She wore her hair in loose waves while going make-up free and displaying the fabled expectant mother glow to perfection. Just days before, Millie was seen sporting a salmon pink gym vest and leggings, Millie revealed her growing baby bump while being put through her paces at a London fitness studio. Sharing a short video of her workout on Instagram, the TV personality revealed her daily workouts had been devised to make her first pregnancy easier. Here go: She has been maintaining her workout regime throughout her pregnancy She told followers: 'Weve been working on building upper body strength to help prepare me for carrying the baby.' With her feet spaced apart, Millie lifted two small dumbells from her quads to her shoulders as she endeavored to build some core strength. Millie shared another glimpse of her blossoming baby bump on Thursday as she took to Instagram following another pre-natal workout. She revealed that at 25 weeks pregnant her bump has finally 'popped' as she shared the post of her changing frame. Let's do this: The former Made In Chelsea star is expecting her first child with husband Hugo Taylor Ulterior motive: Sharing a short video of her workout on Instagram, the TV personality revealed her daily workouts had been devised to make her first pregnancy easier In the snap Millie sported casual black workout gear that highlighted her blossoming baby bump, and appeared to go makeup free to highlight her flawless complexion. She captioned the post: 'Bump has really popped this week! Weekly works outs @bodybysimone are keeping me active #25weekspregnant.' Just hours earlier Millie also shared another snap of her prominent bump in a relaxed black maxi dress, which she teamed with edgy lace-up boots. Hard work: With her feet spaced apart, Millie lifted two small dumbells from her quads to her shoulders as she endeavored to build some core strength Important: 'Weve been working on building upper body strength to help prepare me for carrying the baby,' she told fans The beauty is set to welcome her first child with husband Hugo in May. It comes after Millie took to Instagram last week to display her pregnancy glow during a romantic meal with her spouse Hugo. The star shared a photo of herself tucking into a bowl of seafood pasta during the date night. Bumping along: Millie shared another glimpse of her blossoming baby bump on Thursday as she took to Instagram following another pre-natal workout Exciting: The former Made In Chelsea star captioned her post by revealing that at 25 weeks pregnant her bump had finally 'popped' Flawless: Just hours earlier Millie also shared another snap of her prominent bump in a relaxed black maxi dress, which she teamed with edgy lace-up boots Date night: It comes after she took to Instagram last week to display her pregnancy glow during a romantic meal with her husband Hugo Millie looked incredible in the photo as she showcased her growing baby bump in a plunging blue patterned dress. Feeling loved-up, the reality star captioned the snap with: 'Date night with @hugotaylorlondon,' followed by a heart and pasta emoji. It comes after Millie admitted that she 'misses her abs' as she shared a throwback bikini-clad video of herself taken just one year ago on Thursday. Mwah: The star took to Instagram to share a photo of herself tucking into a bowl of seafood pasta (Millie and Hugo pictured recently) Sweet: Feeling loved-up, the reality star captioned the snap with: 'Date night with @hugotaylorlondon,' followed by a heart and pasta emoji The former Made In Chelsea star was feeling reflective as she commented on how 'times have changed'. In the video, Millie showcased her washboard abs and toned figure in a white high-waisted bikini. The reality star worked her best angles as she posed up a storm before playfully pretending to dive into a swimming pool. Throwback: Millie admitted that she 'misses her abs' as she shared a throwback bikini-clad video of herself taken just one year ago on Thursday (pictured in 2019) Millie captioned the video with: '1 year ago... How times have changed! Right now I miss having abs but Im sure I will miss my bump #tbt,' followed by a pregnant emoji. The video comes after the reality star confessed to struggling with her self-confidence whilst pregnant with her first child. In a candid Instagram post earlier this month, Millie showcased her blossoming baby bump in a gingham swimsuit as she admitted to being in 'awe' of her body. Radiant: The former Made In Chelsea star was feeling reflective as she commented on how 'times have changed' Yet she went on to admit that she has a challenging relationship with her pregnancy curves, calling the experience 'wonderful', yet also 'scary'. Millie penned: 'As my bump gets bigger I am in total awe of what my body is capable of. Its a wonderful feeling to know that youre sharing your space with such precious cargo. 'However that doesnt mean that I havent had days/weeks where I felt my self confidence slowly dwindling! Candid: The reality star has confessed to struggling with her self-confidence whilst pregnant with her first child 'I particularly found the transitioning weeks from 1st trimester into the second most difficult. I was unsure of my body and its new found shape. 'Its like being an awkward teenager again, figuring out what styles suit your ever evolving silhouette. 'Everyday is different and my go to wardrobe for a quick throw on has now become a full 30 minute session ending with lots of outfits on the floor and succumbing to stretchy knits being my new best friend!' Explaining that every day brings up a different challenge, she continued: 'To say I have loved every second of watching my body expand wouldnt be honest, it has been a real transition and at times scary as I havent felt like me. 'But today was a good day! I put on a cute dress (stretchy knit of course) and headed out the door for meetings with confidence and pride of my bump! Tomorrow who knows....... taking each day as it comes!' Asking her followers for advice, she concluded: 'Would love to know what made you feel good during pregnancy? #23weeks #secondtrimester'. Challenging: Millie went on to admit that she has challenging relationship with her pregnancy curves, calling the experience 'wonderful', yet also 'scary' Millie is expecting a baby girl with husband Hugo Taylor, who she married in June 2018, one year after he proposed during a holiday to the Greek island of Mykonos. The couple briefly dated during their Made In Chelsea days back in 2011 and reunited in May 2016 shortly after Millie's split from her first husband, rapper Professor Green, 35. Millie was married to the musician, real name Stephen Manderson, for two-and-a-half years before they announced their split in February 2016. For more than an hour at an economic forum in Worcester, graphs with jagged lines mimicked EKGs depicting the current life of the economy nationally and at a state level. Percentage points absorbed every aspect of the discussion. Projections for 2020 and beyond carried the conversation. Among all the statistics and data points, two numbers created pause within the Worcester Business Journals Economic Forecast forum at the Beechwood Hotel. Jay Ash, the president and CEO of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and a former secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker, asked those in attendance to provide two figures: The number of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies that are women or persons of color. No one guessed. Ash provided the harsh reality, saying 33 women and four people of color. We have a lot to do around income inequality and equality in general and its incumbent upon, frankly, people that look like me, Ash said as he looked out on a room largely filled with white men. Right? Not women. Not persons of color, but people that look like most of this audience, as I look out on it, to do something about it. It marked one of the few moments when positivity wasnt promoted regarding the economies of the nation and state. The four speakers before Ash all projected continued economic growth in 2020. The keynote speaker Daniel Cooper, a senior economist and policy advisor for the Federal Reserve in Boston, described a booming housing market, finally surpassing the number prior to the recession. He saw no reason overall growth wouldnt continue in a presentation saturated in numbers and graphs. While Ash didnt disagree, he ventured outside economic data to discuss prosperity, concerns and success, specifically in Worcester. A list of the top cities with more than one university ranked in the top 100 by U.S. News popped on screens across the room. The top eight cities were among the most well known in the country: New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Philadelphia. Ash paused to reveal No. 9, which was the city of Worcester. Great things are happening in Worcester and you have the one resource that every business, not only in this country but in the world wants to get a hold of: talent, Ash said. That talent is fueling the second-fastest growing economy in the state, Ash said, but more can be done. Ash said five cities around the country account for 90 percent of the growth in tech jobs in the country. The only one east of the Mississippi is Boston. Ash said Worcester should be able to draft off that success. But while new tech growth is one of the success stories, Ash pointed to manufacturing as a concern. The industry in the state is expected to shrink by nearly 5 percent by 2026. It joined retail as the only two industries within the top 10 in the state that is projected to decrease within the next six years. The concern is we have to continue to find places for the middle class, Ash said. Amidst a growing economy that every speaker during the conference expected to prosper, Ash said theres room for equal growth. Growth among all communities within Worcester. Were at a point in time in Worcester where all the planets have aligned, Ash said. And frankly, shame on all of us if we dont capitalize on it. Related Content Last week, actor Vijay was questioned by The Income Tax Department over the Alleged Tax Evasion Charges in regards to his latest movie Bigil. As soon as the news broke, fans across the country were shocked to learn about the IT Raid. In fact, Vijay was busy shooting for his upcoming film Master but had to stop filming as the I-T officials reached the sets. Apart from searching the superstar's residence in Chennai, the IT department raided 20 more locations including properties of AGS Cinemas. Since then a lot of conspiracy theories have been floating on social media regarding the IT raid and how Vijay is connected to the whole controversy. To set the record straight, Vijay Sethupathi took to Twitter earlier in the day and royally shut down all the trolls by openly lending support to his Master co-star Vijay. The Super Deluxe actor posted a long note on his Twitter timeline and asked the trolls to go and do something else. His note talks about the conspiracy theory which implies that Jeppiar's daughter Regina is successfully heading a Christian Conversion movement in Tamil Nadu with the help of radical Christian priests and famous Tamil celebs like Sethupathi himself, Arya, Ramesh Kanna, and few others. The note also points at the theory that it was Regina who funded Vijay starrer Bigil and the black money from the sale portion went to the actor and the producer. Going by the tweet, it's quite evident that Vijay Sethupathi is miffed with all the conspiracy theories doing the rounds. But now that he has rubbished all the rumours, we are sure that the whole IT raid controversy will also die down pretty soon. At the moment, Sethupathi is busy with Master which is slated to release on April 9. The talented actor will also be seen in Telugu Uppena which will arrive in theatres on April 2. Thalapathy Vijay Questioned By Income Tax Authorities Over Alleged Tax Evasion Charges Uppena: Vijay Sethupathi's Intense Look As Rayanam Is Impressive Just 24 hours after Scarlett Johansson stole the spotlight at the Academy Awards in not one but two Oscar de la Renta gowns, the contenders for next award seasons best-dressed lists were unveiled at the houses New York Fashion Week show. Creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia took charge of the label two years after the death of the founder in 2014 and have been tasked with striking a delicate balance between safeguarding his legacy as the sweetheart of Manhattans Upper East Side socialites, and courting new clients in the form of Hollywoods leading names. To a fitting soundtrack of Disneys adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethes The Sorcerers Apprentice, Kim and Garcia sought to recapture the magic cast by their former mentor with spellbinding fashion for the next-gen A-list. Held in the grand surroundings of the New York Public Library, last nights showcase was also streamed live to the brands 4.5 million followers on Instagram. IMAXtree Throughout, there was much to delight princesses of Park Avenue, from micro boucle skirt suits to neat sheath dresses and trophy coats. Yet there was far more on offer to woo night owls and peacocks in a move that suggests the brands future success is pinned on winning the favour of the global glitterati. IMAXtree Bubble-hem taffeta skirts which culminated in an explosion of ruffles and firework-embellished organza gowns were shown alongside fringing and feathers galore from glittering tuxedo suits to Bella Hadids scarlet cocktail dress finished with a marabou-trimmed hooded cape. Fans of Johanssons first Oscars night look also couldnt fail to spot a close replica of her champagne silk and cobweb-crystal bodice gown on the catwalk, this time cut from black velvet and finished with a thigh-flashing split. SpendEdge, a leading provider of procurement market intelligence solutions, has announced the completion of their latest article on the key factors impacting the growth momentum in the US agrochemicals industry This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005503/en/ Companies in the US agrochemicals industry have been largely impacted by longer product development cycles and escalating costs. However, companies seem to be poised to address such challenges. They are increasingly focusing on mergers and acquisitions to extend their supply base. Organizations are leveraging digital technologies and increasing spend on research and developments to enhance their product offerings. At SpendEdge, we understand that companies in the US agrochemicals industry need to restructure their product portfolio to sustain in the market. Therefore, we have compiled a list of factors impacting the US agrochemicals industry. Key Factors Influencing the US Agrochemicals Industry Portfolio optimization Most companies in the agrochemicals industry are optimizing their portfolio through M&A to increase their geographical presence. They are utilizing M&A as a tool to reemerge in a mature market and improve growth. Not only this, but they are also focusing on R&D investments to scale external partnerships. Want to know how you can build strategic partnerships with suppliers and enhance your market share? Request free platform access to access our smart procurement solutions now and 1000+ procurement reports! Integrated product offerings To make their mark in the US agrochemicals industry, companies are offering integrated product offerings. Rather than simply offering farm inputs, they are launching digital platforms to help farmers remotely monitor their field. This is minimizing inefficiencies during field trials and creating new value pools for farmers. To know the integrated product offerings provided by leading companies, get in touch with our experts now! Sustainable agricultural practices The rising popularity of approaches such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is increasing the demand for biologicals. IPM practices proactively monitor pest populations and prevent them from growing to damaging levels. Companies, therefore, must aim to make biologicals more effective over their life cycle to increase their sales potential. To know in detail the key factors influencing the US agrochemicals industry, read the complete article here! You may also like: Global Agrochemicals Category Procurement Market Intelligence Report Recent Developments in the Global Agrochemicals Market Strategic Sourcing Analysis Helps a Specialty Chemicals Client Reduce Time and Energy Spent on Transactional Activities 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. Want to gain detailed insights? https://www.spendedge.com/get-more-info View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005503/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us [February 12, 2020] Kerrigan Advisors Represents Altoona Honda in Sale, Marks 11th Honda Dealership Kerrigan Advisors has Sold Since 2015 Kerrigan Advisors, a leading sell-side advisory firm to auto dealers in the U.S., represented and advised partners Bill Barnes and Paul Ritchie on their recent sale of Altoona Honda (News - Alert) to Timbrook Automotive. The partners will continue to own and operate Hagerstown Honda and Hagerstown Kia. Timbrook Automotive has 11 dealerships throughout Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This sale marks the 85th dealership sale and 11th Honda franchise sale Kerrigan Advisors has represented since 2015, making the firm the most active in the marketplace. "Altoona Honda has always been an integral part of the community here in Blair County," said partner Bill Barnes. "When we purchased the dealership in 2013, our aim was to respect and continue the values established in 1972, when the store opened. We went into this transaction with the same mindset. Kerrigan Advisors helped us achieve a transaction reflective of that wish, with ethical and professional representation and by identifying a buyer who shared our same values." Altoona Honda's long record of success includes winning the Honda President's Award for three consecutive years. The award recognizes Honda dealerships that achieve excellence in all aspects of sales and service operations. "Altoona Honda has always exhibited the highest levels of excellence and is a pillar of the community. We knew how very important this decision was to Bill and Paul and were honored to represent them in the sale," said Erin Kerrigan, Managing Director of Kerrigan Advisors. "Our experience through ten previous Honda transactions helped inform this process, ensuring that we identified a buyer who not only understood Altoona Honda's legacy of quality and service, but one that would carry on that legacy, while living up to the values of the Honda brand." Barnes and Ritchie will continue to own and operate Hagerstown Honda and Hagerstown Kia dealerships. The sale to Timbrook Automotive enables them to focus on their Hagerstown dealership operations, while ensuring that Altoona Honda continues to thrive. "When it was time to find a buyer for Altoona Honda, we wanted an advisor that had plenty of Honda experience, as well as one who understood the integral role Altoona plays in this community," continued Barnes. "The wisdom, business acuity and sensitivity that Kerrigan Advisors displayed in previous Honda dealership transactions convinced me that they were the right partners for us. And we were not wrong. The Kerrigan Advisors team did an excellent job representing the dealership in a successful sale. I could not be more pleased." Gabe Robleto, Vice President of Kerrigan Advisors, said, "Honda is known for its strong throughput, and very consistent dealership profitability and s highly sought after by today's buyers. Our experience with other Honda transactions meant we knew how to value the franchise and what to look for in a potential buyer. With Timbrook as the new owner, we are confident Altoona Honda will continue to compete for President's Awards and service the greater Altoona community long into the future." Michael G. Charapp of Charapp & Weiss LLP served as legal counsel to the seller. Wayne C. Heavener of Skidmore & Alderson served as legal counsel to the buyer. Kerrigan Advisors is the most active sell-side advisor in the auto retail industry. In addition to its sell-side advisory work, Kerrigan Advisors offers strategic consulting services to dealers and their families, including growth planning, capital raising and valuation analysis, creating value at every step of the auto retail lifecycle. Kerrigan Advisors monitors conditions in the buy/sell market and publishes an in-depth analysis each quarter in The Blue Sky Report, which includes Kerrigan Advisors' signature blue sky charts, multiples, and analysis for each franchise in the luxury and non-luxury segments. To download the report, click here. The company also releases monthly The Kerrigan Index composed of the seven publicly traded auto retail companies with operations focused on the U.S. market. The Kerrigan Auto Retail Index is designed to track dealership valuation trends, while also providing key insights into factors influencing auto retail. To access The Kerrigan Index, click here. About Kerrigan Advisors Kerrigan Advisors is a leading sell-side advisor and thought partner to auto dealers in the U.S. The firm advises the industry's leading dealership groups, enhancing value through the lifecycle of growing, operating and, when the time is right, selling their businesses. Kerrigan Advisors has represented on auto retail's largest transactions, including five of the Top 100 Dealership Groups in the U.S., more than any other firm in the industry. Led by a team of veteran industry experts, the firm does not take listings, rather develops a customized approach for each client to achieve their personal and financial goals. In addition to Kerrigan Advisors' sell-side advisory and capital-raising services, the firm also provides a suite of consulting services including growth strategies, capital allocation, transactional due diligence, open point proposals, operational improvement and real estate due diligence. Kerrigan Advisors publishes The Blue Sky Report, which is the auto industry's most comprehensive and authoritative quarterly report of dealership buy/sell activity and franchise values, received by over 9,000 industry recipients in 35 countries. To access The Blue Sky Report, click here. Kerrigan Advisors also publishes The Kerrigan Index, the only monthly report tracking the seven publicly traded auto retail companies. To access The Kerrigan Index, click here. Kerrigan Advisors' Founder and Managing Director Erin Kerrigan is a recognized expert on dealership valuation, real estate, and buy/sells, and is a frequent speaker at leading auto retail events and conferences, including NADA, JD Power Automotive Roundtable, Automotive News' Canadian World Congress, AICPA, and NADC. She has also been quoted numerous times by The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg and The Economist and has been a keynote speaker for events hosted by American Honda Motor Company, Audi of America (News - Alert), US Trust, Bank of America, Ohio Automobile Dealer Association, and SunTrust Bank. Kerrigan Advisors' Managing Director Ryan Kerrigan is also a sought-after industry expert. He is featured in a monthly column for Dealer Magazine and has written Op-Eds for Automotive News. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005203/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Prior to serving in the Senate, she worked for eight years as the attorney for Hennepin County, which is the largest prosecutor's office in Minnesota. As a mom to one daughter, 24-year-old Abigail Klobuchar Bessler, the senator often credits motherhood with helping to jump start her career in politics. As a long-time member of Congress, the Yale University graduate became the first woman elected from Minnesota to the U.S. Senate in the state's history, in 2006. After finishing in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses earlier this month, Klobuchar solidified her place as a top-tier candidate in the New Hampshire primary. Trailing only behind Sen. Bernie Sanders and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Klobuchar came in third place . In a 2010 interview with ELLE, Klobuchar explains that when her daughter was first born, Abigail was not able to swallow and had to be fed through a stomach tube for the first three years of her life. Though her daughter remained in intensive care for an extended period of time, Klobuchar herself was not able to remain in the hospital. She says within 24 hours "they threw me out of the hospital, which is horrible even if your baby's not sick." That experience inspired the then-corporate lawyer to go before state legislatures to successfully lobby for Minnesota to pass one of the country's first laws that guaranteed new moms and their babies could stay in the hospital at least 48 hours after birth. Klobuchar's success with getting the bill passed in Minnesota led then-President Bill Clinton to pass the law on a federal level in 1996. "I had to go and testify about things like your water breaking," she says. "So, I told them very detailed things to make them feel squeamish so they'd pass the bill the right way." When it looked like some of the lobbyists wanted to delay the process of getting the law passed, Klobuchar says she took six of her pregnant friends with her to help her testify in her case. "When they asked when this bill should take effect, all my pregnant friends raised their hands and said, 'Now,'" she explains. The 59-year-old, who is qualified to participate in the next Democratic debate on Feb. 19, plans to continue her fight for new mothers and other citizens who are in need of greater health care attention. In a Medium blog post, she writes that in her first 100 days as president she would "enact an ambitious, optimistic agenda to improve our health care, combat climate change, pursue economic justice and shared prosperity, and build a stronger democracy and safer world." Abigail, who has been seen on the campaign trail advocating for her mother's election, told CBS Minnesota last year that she's "really proud" of her mother's decision to run for president. "I'm excited for, like I said, what she's campaigning on and the issues she cares about," she said. "I'm ready to spread that, and help her in any way I can." Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube! Don't miss: Stacey Abrams has used an Excel spreadsheet to track life her goals since she was 18why it's been crucial to her success Empire actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted by a special prosecutor in Illinois on six counts of lying to police. Last year, Smollett said he was the subject of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. He claimed he was punched in the face by two masked attackers, had an "unknown chemical substance" poured on him and a rope wrapped around his neck. He also said his attackers made reference to MAGA, the Make America Great Again slogan used by Trump supporters. However, following investigations, authorities accused him of staging the attack on himself for publicity. Police claimed Smollett paid two Black brothers to carry out the attack "to promote his career" because he was "dissatisfied with his salary".Smollett denied the accusations and after an emergency court appearance in March 2019, all charges against him were dropped. Yet Chicago Police and the city's mayor stood by their case against Smollett - and accused the courts of letting him "off scot-free". Smollett now faces six counts of disorderly conduct, special prosecutor Dan Webb said in a statement.Mr Webb, the special prosecutor assigned in August to investigate how local prosecutors handled the case, said in a statement he was going to further prosecute Smollett. The actor had now been charged with "making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime," Mr Webb said. He is due in court on 24 February. The city has also sued the actor in a civil suit, seeking payment of more than $130,000 for overtime paid to officers involved in investigating his claims. Smollett has filed a counter suit. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A violent carjacker is on the loose in Melbourne after bashing a woman in the head with a hammer. The 24-year-old woman had parked her car outside her home on Cardigan Street in Carlton in Melbourne's inner north when she was attacked at 6.50am on Tuesday. A man approached her and repeatedly hit her in the head with a hammer, splattering blood onto her white Mazda 3 and into the gutter, before entering the car. Hearing her screams, the woman's husband rushed outside to help but was also assaulted by the hammer-wielding thug. A Mazda 3 car was left with large blood stains after a woman was attacked by a carjacker with a hammer on Cardigan Street in Carlton in Melbourne's inner north at 6.50am on Tuesday 'I just heard a woman sort of screaming. It was a very agonised scream. She was holding onto her head,' one witness told 7News. Another witness said: 'She was saying: "Help! Someone's stealing my car."' According to one witness, the husband was able to 'beat up' the carjacker while he was inside the vehicle. Shortly after, a hero neighbour joined the fray and pulled the attacker through the Mazda's passenger door, who tore out the car's centre console in the process. The carjacker was pinned down by the neighbour - but managed to escape by running west on Palmerston Street. The neighbour reportedly tried to stop the attacker by biting his arm at one point. Hearing her screams for help, the woman's husband (pictured) rushed outside to help but was also assaulted by the hammer-wielding thug. A neighbour was able to pull the attacker from the car and hold him down but he escaped Despite the violent attack, the woman sustained a non-life threatening injury and was taken to hospital for treatment. The husband sustained a minor injury and was assessed by paramedics at the scene. Police said the attacker is 'African in appearance and described as tall, with a thin build and short dark hair'. Authorities reportedly already have photos of the carjacker as he is believed to have committed a number of other crimes in Melbourne's inner suburbs recently. Police believe the man staged an armed robbery at a McDonald's restaurant on Victoria Street in Abbotsford (left) on February 6 before robbing a McDonald's on Church Street in Richmond (right) on Monday afternoon Police believe the man staged an armed robbery at a McDonald's restaurant on Victoria Street in Abbotsford on February 6. He also robbed a McDonald's on Church Street in Richmond on Monday afternoon. Hours later, the man attempted to carjack a Jaguar by smashing the driver with a hammer near Little Lonsdale Street in Docklands at 4.40pm on Monday. He was last seen in Carlton after his second attempted carjacking. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. The population in Australia's biggest cities is growing at more than double the national average as international student numbers soar. Australia's population growth pace is already twice the rich-world average thanks to high immigration. During the last financial year, the number of people in Australia surged by 1.5 per cent. In some pockets of Melbourne, Sydney and southern Queensland, however, the population growth pace was more than double that. Melbourne's inner-city areas experienced a 3.5 per cent population surge in 2018, making these suburbs Australia's fastest growing, a CommSec analysis and Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed. The population in Australia's biggest cities is growing at more than double the national average as international student numbers soar. Melbourne's inner-city areas experienced a 3.5 per cent population surge in 2018, making these suburbs Australia's fastest growing, a new CommSec analysis Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed. Pictured: Flinders Street Station The Victorian capital is also home to a large number of international students, with 35.3 per cent of Australia's overseas higher education enrollments coming from the state. Last year alone, the number of foreigners in Australia with a student visa surged by 8.8 per cent to 754,656, Department of Education data showed. CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said Melbourne's attraction for overseas students had helped make it Australia's fastest growing area. 'Melbourne is an education hub,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'What we have seen is a lot of international students studying in Melbourne so of course that adds to the population numbers.' Unlike Sydney, constrained by the Blue Mountains to the west, Melbourne has more room to expand. 'That's also conducive to population growth,' Mr Felsman said. 'Victoria's overall population growth is the strongest in the country.' Sydney's inner-south, stretching from Redfern to the St George area, grew by an equivalent 2.9 per cent, thanks to high density development near the central business district. Pictured is Redfern Consequently, the city's outer suburbs were also home to some of Australia's fastest growing areas, with the north-west increasing by 3.3 per cent as the south-east grew by 3 per cent. During the past decade, Melbourne's western suburbs had Australia's fastest average annual population growth pace of 3.7 per cent, putting it ahead of inner-Melbourne's 3.05 per cent. Melbourne is also home to Australia's steepest property price increases, with real estate values in the inner-east surging by 16.2 per cent in the year to January 2020, CoreLogic data showed. Median house and unit prices now stand at $1.179million in that part of Melbourne close to the city. It wasn't the only city with strong population growth. A similar population increase occurred at Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane, where land is cheaper. Pictured is the Ipswich City Centre Areas of Moreton Bay closer to Brisbane, including Sandgate, experienced an average annual population growth pace of 3.2 per cent during the past decade. Sydney's inner-south, stretching from Redfern to the St George area, grew by an equivalent 2.9 per cent, thanks to high density development near the central business district. 'There's more apartments and certainly commercial buildings that are being built along the train line,' Mr Felsman said. A similar population increase occurred at Ipswich, south-west of Brisbane, where land is cheaper. 'Housing affordability there is particularly positive for first-home buyers and potentially people relocating from interstate and overseas,' Mr Felsman said. As the French government discusses strategy for dealing with imported goods that drive deforestation, a report by watchdog Global Witness has revealed that France's leading banks are heavily involved in financing businesses linked to deforestation in the Amazon, the Congo Basin and Papua New Guinea. France has pledged to stop imports which contribute to deforestation . . . palm oil, soybeans, beef, cocoa and rubber . . . by 2030. France is definitely going in the right direction in terms of political commitment and initiatives, says Laurence Duprat, one of the authors of the Global Witness study. France is leading the way; it presented a new global alliance on forest protection last year and there is also extremely important regulation in terms of mandatory due diligence related to deforestation. But the report highlights a big gap between commitment and action. Our research showed that the French financial sector provided nearly US $2 billion between 2013 and 2019 to some of the most harmful agri-business companies directly involved in deforestation of the world's largest rainforests," Duprat continues. This makes France the second largest EU contributor of funds to these companies. What we're showing here is that there can be commitments, lots of initiatives launched, but household-name banks in France are directly backing agri-businesses which are responsible for the destruction of our forest and climate. "So there's a huge gap between commitment and action. Big-name banks stand accused The report singles out BNP Paribas, Natixis and Credit Agricole. BNP Paribas, France's largest bank, has been coordinating a 'transition bond' of US$500 million for Brazilian beef trader Marfrig, says Duprat. This was despite signing a commitment in 2015 to align its investments to ensure net zero deforestation. The transition bond supports Marfrig's cattle purchasing chain of indirect suppliers, under which the agri-business giant buys cattle without knowing where they have come from. Daniel Brindis, forests director at Greenpeace US, told AFP that Marfrig do not have consistent assurances that the farms that sell to their direct suppliers are free of deforestation. BNP Paribas told Global Witness that all its clients in the Amazon are either already certified or engaged in a certification process. The report also cites Natixis which contributed USD$50 million to a syndicated three-year revolving credit facility to Olam International. A 2016 report by environmental NGO Mighty Earth calculated that since 2012, Olam had deforested 20,000 hectares of Gabon forest. We strongly refute allegations of irresponsible deforestation or land conversion, a spokesperson for Olam told AFP. He added that Olam works closely with the government of Gabon to carefully balance Gabon's development needs with the imperative to conserve the country's unique forests. Duty of vigilance law In March 2017 France introduced a landmark duty of vigilance law requiring multinational companies operating in France to prevent human rights abuses and environmental damage throughout their supply chain. In the light of this, Global Witness believes the French government should call the banks to account. Companies, including banks, have a legal obligation to identify, mitigate and prevent these risks: environmental risks, but also abuses of human rights, says Duprat. We are calling for the French government to increase checks and controls to make sure these banks respect their legal obligations and that they don't participate in deforestation. And we ask banks to improve their own policies and to implement them. Everyone, she says, should feel concerned by the issue of financing deforestation. Deforestation and the rapid breakdown of our climate is of concern to everyone. And as potential clients of these banks, French citizens should be aware of any risk or any sort of exposure, even if it's minimal, to the destruction of our planet. (with AFP) "Parasite" director Bong Joon Ho is getting support from unexpected quarters in the wake of the film's historic Academy Awards triumph: South Korean conservatives. Since Bong became the first director of a foreign-language film to hoist a Best Picture Oscar on Sunday, conservative politicians have been rushing to lionize the filmmaker. One candidate seeking election in the country's upcoming parliamentary election has proposed naming a street after Bong and erecting statues to him and his characters. Another proposed building a film museum in his hometown. The calls are surprising if only because they're coming from members of South Korea's opposition Liberty Korea Party, the successor group that backed former President Park Geun-hye. Park's staff maintained a blacklist that denied state funding to artists such as Bong and more than 9,000 other cultural figures critical of the government. The attempt to capitalize on "Parasite's" groundbreaking Oscars success highlights a problem facing the LKP as it attempts to take the National Assembly back from President Moon Jae-in's Democratic Party in the April general elections. A recent Korea Gallup poll showed 31% of the voters were undecided, while 36% supported the ruling Democratic Party and 20% for the Liberty Korea Party, which voters historically associate with the pro-conglomerate policies widely blamed for the social inequality given global exposure by Bong's film. "Parasite" tells the story of the poor Kim family, whose son Ki-wu gets a job teaching English to the daughter of a tech executive named Park Dong-ik. The rest of the family then scheme to secure jobs in the wealthy household by inflating their qualifications and pretending they're not related. Concerns with class and inequality fueled mass protests in 2016 that led to Park Geun-hye's impeachment and subsequent ouster and propelled Moon into power the next year. While Moon's administration has since been hit by its own corruption scandals, allegations that the Park administration excluded artists including Bong from state funding complicate any opposition hopes of scoring points from his victory. Bong was among 9,473 artists and cultural figures blacklisted for voicing criticism of how the administration handled the Sewol ferry sinking in 2014, according to South Korea's culture ministry. Also on the list was CJ Group's Miky Lee, a relentless advocate for Bong who shared the Oscar stage Sunday and who the Park administration pressured the company to demote. That hasn't stopped LPK candidates from trying to leverage Bong's status as a symbol of South Korean soft power. Kwak Sang-do, who was once Park's senior presidential secretary for civil affairs and later served on the National Assembly's cultural committee, pledged to expand cultural facilities in Bong's hometown of Daegu. Another conservative candidate, Bae Young-shik, suggested erecting a statue of Bong and naming a street after him, as well as restoring his birth home. "The U.S., Russia, and Europe do not hold back on investing to honor their artists, politicians, academics, and scientists by making streets and erecting statues," Bae told the DongA Ilbo newspaper. "We must support making Bong's national contributions known all over the nationwide and worldwide." Still, it's unclear how many points such proposals will score with voters. "This is an act of desperation by the South Korean conservatives," cultural critic Chin Jung-kwon wrote on Facebook. "They are trying to free-ride on director Bong Joon Ho's glorious victory - that's some gall." The Port of Brownsville is asking a judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by the City of Port Isabel to halt construction of three liquefied natural gas export terminals at the South Texas waterway. In a Feb. 5 lawsuit, Port Isabel and two local residents accused the Port of Brownsville of negligence, public nuisance of strict liability for leasing land to the proposed Rio Grande LNG, Annova LNG and Texas LNG export terminals. Although the projects received federal permits in November, Port Isabel cited pollution and safety concerns in asking Judge Gloria Rincones with the 445th State District Court in Brownsville to issue an injunction to halt any construction activities. The Port of Brownsville has since fired back in a motion asking Judge Rincones to toss out the lawsuit, arguing that the matter belongs in federal court because the three facilities received permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "Having failed to convince FERC that the LNG terminals are not in the public interest or that the LNG terminals are environmentally unacceptable, the plaintiff's claims are nothing more than an impermissible, collateral attack on FERC's federally mandated exclusive jurisdiction over the siting, construction and operation of the proposed LNG terminals." The Great LNG Debate: Growing industry faces stiff opposition in Rio Grande Valley If they land customer contracts and secure financing, the three plants will produce and export a combined 37 million metric tons of LNG per year. They will also bring a combined $38.75 billion of private investment, thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs to the Rio Grande Valley, one of the poorest regions in the United States. With the Texas LNG export terminal bordering its extraterritorial jurisdiction limits, Port Isabel joined a coalition of Rio Grande Valley shrimpers, fishermen, environmentalists, neighbors and other communities working under the banner Save RGV From LNG to oppose the projects. Opponents of the projects are expected to file a federal lawsuit to dispute the permit issued to Rio Grande LNG, the largest of the three project, but have fought the proposed plants at other levels. On top of fighting state air pollution permits, opponents convinced the Point Isabel Independent School District to vote down tax breaks for Rio Grande LNG and Annova LNG. The two projects later received tax breaks from the Cameron County Commissioners Court. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox The four federal prosecutors withdrew from Roger Stone's case on Tuesday (local time) after the top Justice Department officials "disavowed and undercut" them by reducing the government's sentence against long time associate of President Donald Trump, reported CNN. President Trump had earlier in a tweet criticised the recommended sentencing of up to nine years terming it "miscarriage of justice". "This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!" Trump had tweeted. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors asked for Stone to be sentenced for "far less" than what the department had asked for earlier. "While it remains the position of the United States that a sentence of incarceration is warranted here, the government respectfully submits that the range of 87 to 108 months presented as the applicable advisory Guidelines range would not be appropriate or serve the interests of justice in this case," the prosecutors wrote, according to CNN. Stone was found guilty of 7 charges last year, including witness tampering, lying to Congress and obstructing a US House investigation. CNN quoted a senior justice department official as saying that original sentencing recommendation, transmitted to a judge and signed off on by the office's top prosecutor, had not been communicated to leadership at the Justice Department and that the decision to make the change was directed by the leadership of the Justice Department. Soon after the revised recommendation was made, the four prosecutors -- Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed and Mike Marando, filed a motion to withdraw from the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MATTOON The Skocy family of Mattoon has been keeping a secret for eight months now. Dave and Lissa Skocy and their sons, Trey, Henry and Jason, competed on an episode of the "Family Feud" that was filmed during June 5-7, 2019 at this game show's studio in Hollywood. Now, this episode is scheduled to debut at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 and the outcome that they have helped keep under wraps will be revealed. "It was an absolutely incredible experience," Skocy said. "We are excited for our friends to finally see it." While the family has long known the outcome of this episode, Skocy said the exact contents of this segment will still be a surprise to them too. She explained that approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes of footage is edited down to create one 22-minute episode of the "Family Feud." Skocy said they will be excited to see what moments made the final cut. The long journey to Thursday's premiere began in September 2018 when the couple's oldest son, Trey, submitted an online application on a whim for their family to appear on this game show. Skocy said they were pleasantly surprised when the application resulted in an invitation to take part in "Family Feud" auditions in November 2018 at a convention center in Schaumburg in the northwest Chicago suburbs. "Family Feud," which dates back to 1976, is known for contestants trying to guess the most popular responses to a survey question and for each family getting to play until an answer is missed. At the auditions, Lissa Skocy said they played a simulated version of the "Family Feud" against another family. She says her family was asked to "name a reason why people save money" and their opponents were asked to "name states where people speak with a southern accent." Skocy said they were pleasantly surprised, once again, when they were invited to interview with a "Family Feud" producer after the audition. She said they were each asked to talk about what makes their family unique. She said they reiterated some of the points about their family that Trey made during his application. "We are a very close knit family, the five of us, and really enjoy each other's company," Skocy said. "We like to have a great time together. We have a lot of fun." The producer then advised them to watch for an "active family file status" postcard that would be mailed to them if they were chosen for further consideration for a "Family Feud" appearance, Skocy said. Lissa noted that a postcard arrived right before Christmas 2018. Skocy said subsequent communications with the producers resulted in their filming dates being narrowed down to June 5-7, 2019, and they were flown out for these dates. Skocy added she and her husband used this opportunity to take an extended family vacation with their busy children Trey and Henry have been going to college out of state and Jason is now a freshman at Mattoon High School. Dave Skocy, a Lockport native, and his wife, a Gillespie native, met while attending Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and they lived in Du Quoin for several years prior to moving to Mattoon more than a decade ago. At the "Family Feud" studio, Lissa Skocy said everyone involved with the production worked hard so that the participating families would feel welcome and have a good time. She noted that the game show films four episodes per day. "While we were not playing, we were part of the studio audience, which was fabulous," Skocy said. In addition, Skocy said host Steve Harvey was particularly kind and fun to be around. Skocy said they did not get to take their name tags home, but they did get a souvenir that shows how Harvey looks out for his guests. This souvenir was a cue card that shows how to correctly pronounce the family's name, "Sko-see," and hometown, "Matt-toon, Ill." phonetically. Contact Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Love 20 Funny 3 Wow 3 Sad 2 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. KINGMAN, Ariz. - A man who blocked a bridge near the Hoover Dam with a homemade armoured vehicle in 2018 has pleaded guilty to making a terrorist threat. Matthew Wright, 32, of Henderson, Nevada, pleaded guilty to the terrorism charge and two other felony crimes, including aggravated assault and fleeing from law enforcement as part of a plea agreement Feb. 4, the Arizona Republic reported Tuesday. Wright faces less than a decade in prison compared to a potential life sentence, prosecutors said. He was initially charged with felony counts of terrorism, aggravated assault, misconduct involving weapons and unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, prosecutors said. Wright blocked traffic by parking his vehicle across lanes on the Mike OCallaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge above the Colorado River in June 2018, authorities said. He surrendered to authorities on the Arizona side of the bridge after a 90-minute barricade situation that stopped traffic on the main highway between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Police said they later discovered two assault-style rifles, two handguns and 900 rounds of ammunition. In a letter from jail explaining he was motivated by patriotism, Wright used the phrase for where we go one, we go all, at the end of the letter. The phrase is used on message boards in the QAnon community, authorities said. QAnon conspiracy theories centre around a supposed government insider who adherents believe is spooning out vital revelations using cryptic language and signs. Wright sent another letter to President Donald Trump that seemed to apologize for his actions, authorities said. Wrights attorney Michael Denea declined to comment on the case until his client was sentenced. Sentencing is scheduled for March 4. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. The class tittered at that remark, but then fell into shock as he continued: Calling someone a boomer is like calling someone a racial slur, Mr. Gade was quoted by the newspaper as saying. Molly Kruse, a 21-year-old senior who was in the class, said that the word jolted her. I said, Dr. Gade, I dont think you should be using that word here, she said in an interview. Ms. Kruse said she was too stunned to remember the professors response, but other students later told her he quickly moved on from the topic. Ms. Kruse, however, said she walked out of the class at that moment and went to the deans office. Other students later joined her. Miles Francisco, a senior and co-director of the Black Emergency Response Team, a student group, said it was not the first time a professor at the campus had used the slur in class and justified uttering it for educational reasons. Those instances have been infuriating, but Mr. Gades use of the word was particularly upsetting, he said. Here, it was, Lets compare boomer to a word thats rooted in historical violence, said Mr. Francisco, who was not in the classroom. This was a bit more jarring because it cant even be excused as, Oh, I was using it educationally or it was in the literature. Image Peter Gade speaking at a Gaylord College event in 2013. Credit... Austin McCroskie/OUDaily The Black Emergency Response Team, an organization of black student leaders with the stated mission of confronting racism on campus, said on Twitter that it expected full action to be taken against the professor and college. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment While Franklin Graham is being denied the use of seven venues in the UK to preach the gospel of grace, Hollywood celebrities have had a bully pulpit at the Academy Awards to propound the ungospel of their various oughts and legalisms to the whole world. Al Mohler described Morality, Hollywood Style, and its confusing ambiguity in a 2009 column. The liberal variant seems most evident when, for example, moral relativists all of a sudden discover moral scruples. The other liberal variant that so often appears is the argument that artists or celebrities or academics are above the morality to which the rest of society is accountable. Sean Fitzpatrick, writing at Catholic Exchange, also pondered the ambiguity of Hollywood morality, as reflected in the wildly popular Hunger Games. The quandary of that series, and those like it, Fitzpatrick argued, is that the moral code is not necessarily invited to play a part. Such films very often present physical actions that bear no palpable spiritual consequence, creating a permeating ethical vacuum and sheer moral ambiguity. Yet the Oscar preachers want to chastise and warn us anyway with a litany of sins. Just consider this sampling of oughts and ought nots thundered at this years Academy Awards: Veganism We ought to avoid eating meat Speciesism We ought not to regard ourselves as superior to animals Marxism We ought to support the uniting of the worlds workers to create paradise Animal rights We ought to cease killing or using animals for our own use Donald Trump We ought to support the presidents full impeachment Gospel means good news. The bad news is that sin erects an impossible barrier to knowing God in this world and living in His holy presence in the world to come. The good news is that God has got us covered through the atonement of the only One who lived and walked among us as one of us, yet was totally without a sin-debt, and therefore had the currency of holiness to pay ours. Christs innocence cancels the guilt of all who will receive it. We are justified by His blood and saved by His life. (Romans 5:9-11) Meanwhile, the ungospel smears us with guilt and leaves us there. Some who would castigate the Old Testament for its rules tell us the only way to be saved is to eat right, treat animals right, and vote right, along with all the other acts of contrition prescribed in the preachments of the celebrities. Actor Joaquin Phoenix was one of the major preachers from the Oscars pulpit February 9. On another occasion he had described his worldview like this: I dont believe in God an afterlife a soul I dont believe in nothing. I think its totally right for people to have their own beliefs if it makes them happy. C.S. Lewis summarized the contradictions of what we call here the ungospel (demonstrated starkly in the celebrity messages) like this: If we ask: Why ought I to be unselfish? and you reply Because it is good for society, we may then ask, Why should I care whats good for society except when it happens to pay me personally? and then you will have to say, Because you ought to be unselfish which simply brings us back to where we started. The reality is that ultimate oughtness exists and pulls us upward. Martin Luther King Jr. said: I refuse to accept the idea that the isness of mans present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the oughtness that forever confronts him. Dawn Dunning, who has accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, said that he told her, This is how the industry works. Apparently, that meant that she ought to submit to the mighty producers alleged demands. In an age described by some as that of the unchurching of America, many people get their theology and ethical teachings from Hollywoods preachy film. Then they hear the stars who loom as large as the Nephilim of old, many of whom have no doctrine of sin and grace, tell them how bad they are for not eating right, voting right, respecting animals right, and all the rest. The ungospel is stifling to true freedom and kills hope. Much better is what Jesus says than what the celebrity blusterers proclaim: if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36) Therefore, wrote Paul, keep standing firm in the liberty through which Christ has set you free, and dont be subject again to a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1) Even if those yokes are dangled from a stunning grandee on a glitzy Hollywood platform. At least one volunteer was killed while another was injured when shots were fired at Aam Aadmi Party MLA Naresh Yadav's convoy here on Tuesday. Naresh Yadav, AAP MLA from Mehrauli was returning from the temple when his convoy was attacked. "Shots fired at AAP MLA @MLA_NareshYadav and the volunteers accompanying him while they were on way back from the temple. At least one volunteer has passed away due to bullet wounds. Another is injured," the party tweeted from its official handle on Wednesday. Party leader Sanjay Singh questioned the law and order situation in the capital city over the incident. "Attack on the convoy of Mehrauli MLA Naresh Yadav, killing of Ashok Maan, the rule of law in Delhi. Naresh Yadav was returning from the temple after paying obeisance," Singh tweeted. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP galloped to a landslide victory by winning 62 of the 70 seats in the face of a high-voltage election campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers in its poll campaign, spearheaded by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In November 2019, Virginia voters sowed the wind when they handed the entire state government over to Democrats. They began to reap the whirlwind when the new government launched a full-scale war against Virginians' Second Amendment rights. It was exciting when myriad counties declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries. That excitement, however, did not alter the fact that a Democrat government was going on the rampage. The next step in this rampage broke on Tuesday, when the Virginia House of Delegates voted to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact ("NPVIC"), an attempted end-run around the Electoral College. A little background explains why this is such a pernicious idea, one intended to give Democrats a permanent grip on the White House. The Founders feared the mob. Therefore, they put multiple layers between voters and their government. Until the 17th Amendment, Americans didn't vote directly for senators. Instead, each state's legislature voted for the state's senators. Judges are selected by the president and approved by the senators, again putting them at a remove from voters. Only representatives come to D.C. via direct democracy and all their initiatives are tempered by the Senate (including impeachment), once again to make sure voters don't become a mob, driven by the passions of the moment. Then there's the Electoral College. Not only does it prevent the mob rule the Founders feared because it puts voters at a remove from direct elections, it also ensures that presidents cannot campaign only in large population centers, pandering to the preferences of those centers, while ignoring the rest of the United States. Without the Electoral College, presidential candidates would only campaign in, and shape their policies for, New York (Leftist), California (Leftist), Illinois (Leftist), Texas (generally conservative, but with its population centers rapidly going Left), Florida (a swing state, hewing Left because of snowbirds from New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota), Ohio (another swing state), Washington state (Leftist), Colorado (Leftist), and Massachusetts (Leftist). Everyone else in America would have no seat at the presidential table. The Electoral College, therefore, stands as a bright line between a representative executive who must campaign in all of the states, taking note of the needs and values of all Americans, and an executive who can govern to the Left of Bernie Sanders after getting votes from a handful of populous states. This is why Democrats are pushing for the NPVIC. The compact basically says that whatever the popular vote is in America, that's how signatory states must vote. Had the NPVIC been in place nationwide in 2016, Hillary would be president now because she carried the popular vote. (And it's probably not a coincidence that her popular vote lead was almost exactly equal to the number of illegal aliens in California alone.) The Democrats immediately argued that the only reason Hillary lost was because these 225-year-old rules were suddenly unfair. The NPVIC is manifestly unconstitutional because it does away with the Electoral College without the mechanism of a constitutional amendment. It ought to be a no-brainer in the Supreme Court, but the reality is that the Court is only one vote away from finding penumbras and emanations that would replace a constitutional amendment with the NPVIC. Currently, sixteen states have passed the NPVIC: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. All that is needed is for the Virginia Senate to pass the NPVIC (as it inevitably will), and for Gov. Northam to sign it (as he inevitably will), for Virginia to join the list. Not coincidentally, all of these states have voted consistently for Democrat presidential candidates in the last many elections. Fortunately, there is still a brake in place on the NPVIC: it does not go into effect until the states that passed it collectively represent an absolute majority of Electoral College votes (that is, at least 270 Electoral College votes). As matters now stand, without Virginia, the states represent 196 electoral votes. After Virginia enters into the compact, bringing with it its 13 electoral college votes, the compact will be up to 209 electoral votes. Psychologically, crossing the 200 mark is a big deal. If people who are bothered by Trump's tweets and pugnacity decide to revert to a superficially bland (but still deeply leftist) candidate such as Klobuchar or Bloomberg, and the Supreme Court once again has an activist, leftist majority, Katie, bar the door! At that point, the Electoral College will end without a constitutional amendment, and California and New York, complete with their illegal alien voting population, will set the presidential agenda for a long time to come. During the final months of World War II, from February 13 to 15, 1945, Allied forces bombed the ancient, cathedral city of Dresden, in eastern Germany. The bombing was controversial because Dresden's contribution to the war effort was minimal compared with other German cities though it was a key transport junction and used by German forces to defend the country against Soviet forces approaching from the east. Before the huge air raid, it had not suffered a major Allied attack. By February 15, however, it was a smouldering ruin 2,400 tons of high explosives and 1,500 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped on the city. An unknown number of people, somewhere between 22,700 and 25,000, were dead. British rifleman Victor Gregg was one of hundreds of men being held as a PoW in the city by the Germans. On the 75th anniversary of the start of the bombing, this is his eyewitness account of the devastation he left behind. Huddled in a crowded German prison, my mate Harry and I watched day turn into night through the glass cupola above us. It was February 13, 1945. We were both condemned men, awaiting our turn for execution. But Harry didn't seem to care. 'Something will turn up,' he said. And it did. At about 10.30pm, the air-raid sirens in Dresden one of Germany's most beautiful cities began their mournful wailing. None of our guards seemed to take any notice. The inhabitants thought that as long as the Luftwaffe kept away from Oxford in England, their own city would never be bombed. Suddenly, the sirens stopped. Then flares filled the night sky with blinding light, dripping burning phosphorus onto the streets and buildings. It was then that we realised we were trapped in a locked cage that stood every chance of becoming a mass grave. The heavy pulsating throb of hundreds of heavy RAF bombers began to fill the air, getting louder by the second. Petrified prisoners wailed and banged on the doors, but our guards had by now all hot-footed it to shelters. By February 15, Dresden, in eastern Germany, was a smouldering ruin 2,400 tons of high explosives and 1,500 tons of incendiary bombs were dropped on the city After serving for six years as a rifleman, I'd volunteered for the Parachute Regiment in 1944 chiefly because they promised us extra leave. I'd experienced so much fighting by then that I thought of myself as indestructible. So I had no presentiments of death when I was hurled from a plane that September, along with a few thousand other men. We'd been chosen to fight the battle of Arnhem in the Netherlands, which ended in a major defeat for our side. Along with the other lucky ones who survived, I was marched into German captivity laughing and joking. By that stage of the war, my mind was conditioned to accept that killing was normal. We ended up in a German work camp to the south of Dresden. My mate Harry and I had to work each day in a soap factory, about eight kilometres from the camp. As we had to walk there and back every day, we were given wooden clogs. Eventually, Harry and I managed to sabotage the factory by causing a short circuit in the electrical system. The whole place caught fire and the building collapsed in a crescendo of smoke and flames. After that, we were marched in front of the officer in charge of Dresden police, who told us there were strict penalties for sabotage: we were to be taken to a place where we'd wait to be executed. For the first time since I'd joined the Army, I felt the floor moving. The sod was going to have the pair of us shot! We were taken by car to a building in the centre of Dresden, and thrown into a huge room. Dresden's old timber-framed houses were, one by one, succumbing to the fire, and most of the wreckage was landing on top of the cellars that people were using as shelters A couple of Yanks there told us that the Germans took 30 men away every morning, and that was the last anyone ever saw of them. Soon the fireworks began. Harry suggested to me and the Yanks that it might be a good idea for us to kick some of the other prisoners away from the wall and get down as low as we could to give us a better chance of survival. Flares were still making their way to the ground when the first of the bomber streams flew over the city, dropping thousands of incendiaries and the first of the bombs. A whole string of them hit the ground, one after the other in rapid succession like a drum roll. Through the glass cupola, the sky changed from bright white to a dull red glow that danced, getting brighter and brighter before fading and dying. Without warning, around four incendiaries burst through our glass roof, shredding the men underneath. The phosphorous clung to their bodies, turning them into human torches. Nothing could be done to help them. And then about 30 minutes into the raid, a bomb blew in an entire wall of our prison. British rifleman Victor Gregg (pictured) was one of hundreds of men being held as a PoW in the city by the Germans All I can remember is being picked up by a giant hand that threw me nearly 50ft to another part of the building. Then everything went dark. When I came to, I managed to free myself from some fallen beams and lumps of stonework, and stumbled over the debris towards where I'd last seen Harry. I found him sitting against a wall, covered in dust and motionless. He was dead. I covered Harry up with his coat and stumbled out of the building now shaking and slowly collapsing and found myself at the centre of a huge bonfire. The heat was ferocious. Dresden's old timber-framed houses were, one by one, succumbing to the fire, and most of the wreckage was landing on top of the cellars that people were using as shelters. Trapped in what were effectively ovens, they slowly roasted to death. Some of the other prisoners had also made it out of the building. We were all in shock, with some screaming from the pain of their injuries. Only about a dozen of us were fit enough to walk. As the noise of the planes died away, people started to appear from the few houses that were still intact, while other survivors clawed their way up through huge mounds of rubble. The flames became more intense. Many people climbed into huge concrete water containers erected by the city authorities. As the noise of the planes died away, people started to appear from the few houses that were still intact, while other survivors clawed their way up through huge mounds of rubble Once in, it was impossible to climb back up the smooth-faced concrete sides, and men and women were trapped in water that slowly rose to boiling point. I was now part of a small group that had bonded as a unit, though we didn't know each other. We stumbled along the remains of a wide avenue, surrounded by fires and mountains of red-hot wreckage. What saved me were the clogs I'd been given me to wade through snow to the soap factory. The soles were so thick that I managed to walk unharmed through red-hot cinders and burning rubble. Finally, we found ourselves in open fields, and followed a railway line towards a station, from which a huge column of smoke and fire was climbing into the sky. We were intercepted by about two dozen firemen in uniform. Their leader, a German officer, immediately selected those of us he judged most fit and tried to march us back towards the city. When three of our group refused to follow, he pulled a pistol from his holster and shot two of them at point-blank range. The third man started running as fast as he could to catch up with us. About 30 of us, armed only with picks and shovels, marched back towards the flames. But we were stopped by the scorching heat. Instead, we ended up fixing bits of wood to our picks and shovels to turn them into stretchers for the injured. At about midnight, our leader marched us back to the railway line, where reinforcements and a food wagon had somehow been shunted in. Soon the sirens started their terrible wailing again, and I heard the throb of hundreds of heavy aircraft bearing down on us. There was no longer any need for flares to guide these bombers to their target: the whole city had become a gigantic torch. As for Dresden itself, it had no defences, no anti-aircraft guns, no searchlights, nothing. Like a great car park in the sky, the heavens were suddenly full of aeroplanes, their outlines reflected in the glow of the flames. The bombs they dropped this time were so big that we could see them falling through the air, then demolishing whole blocks of buildings in one explosion. Even the incendiaries were much larger: instead of the metre-long sticks of the first raid, we were now subjected to enormous four-tonners. When they hit the ground, a ball of fire blossomed, incinerating everything within a radius of nearly 200ft. Only 500 yards of open land separated us from the heart of the city, yet not one bomb landed on us. Even so, our bodies shook as the ground vibrated. Worse, we felt ourselves being sucked towards the inferno by a huge force as air rushed in to replace the vacuum caused by the blasts. After half an hour, the second wave of bombers started to thin out. Everything that could burn was alight even the roads were burning rivers of bubbling and hissing tar. Huge fragments of material were flying through the air. As our German officer marched us towards the city again, more horrors came into focus. We could see people slowly being sucked into a vortex and then, with a final whisk, lifted up into the sky with their hair and clothing alight. We could also hear the agonised screams of victims as they were roasted alive. Coming towards us, a small group of survivors tried to cross what had once been a road, only to get stuck in molten tar. One by one, these unfortunates sank to the ground and died in a pyre of smoke and flame. Even the railway line was a mass of twisted steel. As more buildings collapsed, we were enveloped by a new, huge blast of heat, and the air became so hot it was painful to inhale. The city was now a mass of flame rising into the night. There was nothing we could do, so we marched away and bedded down for the rest of the night. Day two. When dawn broke, new gangs of men were already filling up huge craters along the railway and relaying the track. After some hot soup, black bread and coffee made from acorns, I joined a team of 40 men all selected by the German officer. I didn't mind: even if he was the hated enemy, he represented order among the chaos. We trudged into the embers and started shovelling masonry in the hope of uncovering cellars where people had sheltered. The officer noticed I was struggling and in pain. He gently lifted my shirt to reveal a mass of blisters across my back, then sent me to one of many aid centres that had sprung up outside the city. It was while I was being attended to by a German doctor that the sirens started yet again. This time, it was the Americans. They must have known Dresden had no defences, because their fighters flew down almost to street level. Only a few bombs landed in the burning city centre; most of their 1,000lb bombs were targeted at railway yards. I joined the rest of my group again for the heart-rending job of opening the cellars, dragging out what was left of the people inside and piling them up for burning with oil and petrol. In the majority of cases, the victims looked as though they'd died peacefully through lack of oxygen, but the ferocious heat had shrivelled their bodies. Day three. Again, I joined the crews unearthing shelters under tons of rubble. It usually took a couple of hours to force our way in. Many of the men were unable to bear the sight of the corpses, some so brittle that any attempt to move them resulted in a cloud of ash. Day four. Two new leaders took over, one of them a boy in SS uniform carrying a Schmeisser machine pistol. They directed us to a small square that was now a bed of ash at least four inches thick. The first three shelters we uncovered were empty, but further examination of the third revealed a tunnel leading to another shelter. After using timber to shore up this tunnel, we finally broke through in the late afternoon and found four women and two small girls huddled together and still alive. Even the guards cheered themselves hoarse. It took an hour to get the survivors to the surface but we all felt like heroes. Sadly, this was a one-off event. In spite of all our back-breaking toil, this was the only time I found anyone alive. That evening, I was told I'd be joining a batch of British PoWs, unless I wanted to continue the rescue work for another day. My first reaction was: 'Good, can't wait to get back to my own mob.' Then I thought: what if the Germans found out that I was condemned to death? So I stayed. Day five. We were given orders to try to break into one of the main communal shelters. As it was so close to the raging flames, we were accompanied by a water truck with bags of wet rags and towels. We found ourselves faced with a still-smouldering, 20ft-high heap of rubble. It was so hot that we had to take turns doing 20-minute shifts. Finally, a German officer told me, 'Come Tommy', and handed over a 5ft crowbar. The door was a massive affair bolted from the outside which had been the general practice to prevent overcrowding. This was OK in theory, but if there's nobody left to unbolt the door, the people inside are in trouble. The heavy metal door opened slowly to reveal a horrific sight. There were no complete bodies, just bones, fat and scorched articles of clothing. We quickly closed the door. I sneaked out before dawn the next morning, making my way towards the north side of Dresden. No one challenged me as I walked against the people moving westwards, pushing their most treasured belongings in small handcarts, prams, anything on wheels. They were trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the advancing Red Army. As the morning grew lighter, it seemed the whole of Germany was on the move. By the end of the second day, I'd walked around 40 miles. As I write this now, I am 93. The sheer horror of what I witnessed remains burned into my memory, impossible to extinguish, and sometimes still wakes me at night. I have every respect for the brave lads of the RAF who flew those bombers. But it's my belief that in the act of destroying the evil of the Third Reich, we committed terrible evils ourselves. Postscript. On the third day of his trek, Victor was picked up by the Russians, who tended the blisters on his back and gave him new clothes. About two months later, they dropped him off at a transit camp, where he was told to board the next plane to 'Blighty'. After the war, he had numerous jobs including long-distance lorry-driver, chauffeur, author and spy. He celebrated his 100th birthday in October last year. Adapted from Dresden: A Survivor's Story, February 1945 by Victor Gregg with Rick Stroud, published by Bloomsbury at 5.99. Victor Gregg 2019. To order a copy for 4.80 (P&P free; offer valid to 27/2/20), visit mailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Valentine's Day is one of the few holidays that compels people to get out of the house -- except when it doesn't. Unromantic? Lazy? Cheap? Whether you love, hate or feel indifferent about February 14th, we have a Los Angeles bar that'll track with your personal brand. The interior of Melrose Umbrella Co. (Courtesy of Melrose Umbrella Co.) If You're Recently Coupled And Still Want The Benefit Of Dim Lighting Everyone looks glowy and good at post-Prohibition cocktail bar Melrose Umbrella Co. thanks to the soft candlelight bouncing off the wood and white brick walls. Squeeze into a booth with your honey in the crowded main room or head to the back patio for a quieter vibe -- although the DJ starts at 10 p.m., which will rev things up. V-Day drinks include My One & Only with vodka, sweet vermouth, white creme de cacao, rose water and raspberry and the Smoking Wreck, a combo of anejo tequila, smoked bourbon, amaro, agave nectar and habanero. 7465 Melrose Ave., Fairfax. 323-951-0709. A cocktail at Normandie Club. (Caroline on Crack for LAist) Since craft cocktail bar Normandie Club took over the back bar formerly known as the Walker Inn, you'll find more dark corners and booths. Slip into one of them and gaze into your looooooooooover's face, illuminated by a single tealight. Come between 6 and 8 p.m. for $8 happy hour martinis, Moscow Mules and Old Fashioneds. 3612 W 6th St., Koreatown. 213-263-2709. The back bar at Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood. (Caroline on Crack for LAist) If You're Trying To Get With Someone And Want To Look Classy Pick any corner in the gorgeously restored Formosa Cafe, order a martini and instantly look as classy as a George Hurrell black-and-white portrait. To score bonus points with your date, snag the booth made famous by the movie L.A. Confidential, which depicted Lana Turner hanging out with her gangster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato. The silver screen star was a Formosa regular back in the day. 7156 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 323-850-1009. Pinky's (Josh Telles) If You're Trying To Get With Someone And Want To Look Edgy Dreamy synth-pop out of a David Lynch film and an intimate bar packed with artists, fashionistas and sleeksters set the scene at Pinky's. Record producer/multi-instrumentalist Johnny Jewel (Chromatics, Glass Candy) rarely DJs but on Feb. 14, he'll step behind the turntables at the upscale tropical bar while the beautiful people imbibe cocktails like the First Date Chartreuse Swizzle, the Second Date Boulevardier and the Third Date mezcal and bubbles. What does that menu say about the trajectory of a budding relationship? You decide. 1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 323-763-0351. If You're Single And Want Someone (Anyone) To Make You Feel Less Alone For A Night You can't go wrong with a dance party thrown at popular singles bar the Bungalow, especially when it's hosted by female-friendly dating app Bumble. Flash the app at the bar and you'll be rewarded with either a free Queen Bee cocktail, made with vodka, St. Germain, grapefruit juice and sparkling moscato, or a glass of sparkling moscato on its own. 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. 310-899-8530. If You're Single And Truly DGAF About Valentine's Day What better refuge from manufactured romance than a bikini bar? There's no danger of encountering saccharine sentiments at Jumbo's Clown Room where you'll find talented, limber, tattooed performers and the barflies who love them. The Thai Town institution only accepts cash so bring a fat wallet to tip the dancers. They work hard for their money (so hard for it, honey) and they do it while wearing some of the tallest heels known to humanity. 5153 Hollywood Blvd., Thai Town. 323-666-1187. If You're Single And Just Pretending You DGAF About Valentine's Day Even though karaoke bar Boardwalk 11's website says it's the place for a perfect romantic evening, the joint doesn't plan to celebrate the holiday aside from a few pink and red balloons, maybe. Boardwalk 11 has been around for 18 years i.e. longer than most relationships. Soloists and duos can take to the stage to belt out Etta James' "At Last" or Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." With a thick songbook and an extensive craft beer selection, including 32 beers on tap, everyone will step off the stage feeling warm and fuzzy. 10433 National Blvd., West L.A. 310-837-5245. A bartender pours a drink at Death & Co. (Courtesy of Death & Co) If You're Married And Want To Feel Less Boring But Also Want To Be In Bed by 10 P.M. How's this for a date night? Sip posh cocktails and share bites at uber-hot Arts District bar Death & Co. It won't be crazy packed for V-Day as the bar offers two-hour, reservation-only seatings (at 6 and 8:45 p.m.). Vegan and non-vegan bites will be paired with cocktails or non-alcoholic beverages. Perhaps madame would care for a Buko Gimlet with a roasted beet salad? After, continue drinking in the Standing Room, which is open to the public all night, or in the Marquee Bar, which is private until the second seating's conclusion. Tickets cost $225 per couple. 810 E. 3rd St., downtown L.A. A Black Manhattan cocktail and a slice of Godiva chocolate cake at Big Bar in Los Feliz. (Courtesy of Big Bar) For the holiday, Los Feliz's Big Bar celebrates perfect pairings. No, not Meghan and Harry. Think delicious duos such as a gin martini with a burger, a lemongrass gimlet with crying tiger lettuce wraps or a rye Manhattan with a Godiva chocolate cake. Order whatever your heart desires because it's all a la carte. 1929 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. 323-644-0100. A Napoleon and Josephine at Genever. (Courtesy of Bradley Tuck) Indulge in cocktail and chocolate pairings at sexy gin joint Genever. The three offerings ($19 each) pair Marti Chocolatt handmade chocolates with cocktails inspired by famous lovers or love stories. A Josephine and Napoleon cognac cocktail is served alongside hazelnut chocolate, while a bubbly Sappho gin cocktail comes with champagne and rose chocolate. 3123 Beverly Blvd., Historic Filipinotown. 213-908-5693. If Your Friends Are Your Valentines A night of tequila, mezcal and tacos is never a bad idea but Lanea has the good stuff with a curated agave list and tacos made by one of the best in the city, Barba Kush, known for its lamb barbacoa. Tickets for the event, which start at $40 per person, include chips, guac, handmade tacos and a flight of three tequilas and mezcals. For those who want to go all out, there are nine potential upgrades, ranging from $10 to $180. There's even a flight of pechuga mezcal (when the liquor is redistilled with a raw chicken breast) for an additional $30. A DJ spins Top 40 tunes all night. 217 Broadway, Santa Monica. 424-265-7437. If You're Newly Single And Bitter About It Heal thyself at the Breakup Bar's Wall of Broken Relationships where attendees can add angry notes to their exes. The popup, located next to Severance Wine Bar, returns for a second year, this time with a chocolate fountain, a champagne bar and cocktails like "I Dealt With Your Parents for Years." (That one's a double, right?) The event is booked for Valentine's Day but is saving space for walk-ins. Or there are still openings on Galentine's Day and Saturday, February 15. 7276 Melrose Ave., Fairfax. 323-879-9067. Ever Bar at the Kimpton's Everly Hotel in Hollywood. (Courtesy of Ever Bar) It's a night of cocktails and catharsis at Ever Bar, the watering hole in the Kimpton's Everly Hotel. The lovelorn have a chance to shred old love letters and photos of S(h)e Who Shall Not Be Named. Let's hope the paper shredder doesn't overheat. Afterward, you get a free well shot. The singles' soiree runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and features drink specials and a live band. 1800 Argyle Ave., Hollywood. 213-279-3532. A Burned Letters cocktail at Pacifique in West Hollywood. (Courtesy of Pacifique) Get red-hot, flaming closure and a complimentary cocktail at Pacifique. The day after V-Day (February 15), bring in a photo of your dumb, jerky ex (we're not going to ask why you still have so many) and the bartender will hand over a complimentary cocktail then torch stupidface's picture. Stick around and enjoy $5 specialty cocktails. 631 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-359-0788. - President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Nigeria from Ethiopia - The president had left the country for the 33rd AU summit held in Ethiopia - Buhari landed in Maiduguri on a condolence visit to Governor Babagana Zulum President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in the country after the 33rd AU summit in Ethiopia. Legit.ng reports that the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement he issued on Wednesday, February 12. He said the president aboard the BBJ from Addis Ababa landed in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, to pay a sympathy visit to the government and people of Borno following the recent horrific incident in which Boko Haram terrorists killed several travelers. "President Buhari, aboard the BBJ from Addis Ababa just landed in Maiduguri. He is paying a sympathy visit to the government and people of Borno following the recent horrific incident in which BH terrorists killed several travelers," he said. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that that President Buhari reassured Nigerians and the international community of the steadfast commitment of his administration to secure the freedom of all children and other victims of abduction by terrorists. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app It was reported that the president renewed the pledge on Monday, February 10, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at a high-level breakfast dialogue on "stop the war on children affected by armed conflicts, a dividend of silencing the guns, a side event during the 33rd AU summit. This was revealed in a statement issued by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, on the evening of Monday, February 10. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed sympathy for Nigerians recently killed by Boko Haram in Borno state. The president, his delegation and members of the Nigerian community in Ethiopia observed a minute of silence in honour of those who passed away in the attack. The honour was done to the victims before the commencement of the president's meeting with Nigerians living in Ethiopia. The president had commiserated with the family of the victims in a statement released by his media aide, Garba Shehu on Sunday, Monday, February 10. The general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman condemned the release of 1,400 Boko Haram suspects by the Nigerian military. A Borno state government official had on Monday, February 10, said that the suspects were released in three tranches since the Operation Safe Corridor programme began. Apostle Suleman said the news will not motivate soldiers at the front-line fighting the terrorist group. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Can Nigerian Soldiers really not deal with Boko Haram fighters?| - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, on Wednesday termed the visit of foreign envoys to Kashmir as "orchestrated diplomacy" that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "would be proud of". "How lovely! Kim Jong Un would be proud of such orchestrated diplomacy. The only thing missing is presence of 3 former J&K ex CMs in this 'curated shikara'. I'm sure they'd have lots to share," Iltija said in a tweet from her mother's Twitter handle. She was reacting to tweets by Afghanistan's envoy to India Tahir Qadiry, showcasing the beauty of Dal Lake here. A batch of 25 foreign envoys arrived here on Wednesday as part of a Union government-facilitated trip to help them have a first-hand assessment of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a region which faced months of harsh restrictions after its special status was revoked in August last year. The envoys arrived at the Srinagar airport around 11 am but could not go ahead with their scheduled visit to Baramulla in north Kashmir due to inclement weather, officials said. The foreign dignitaries instead went for a Shikara (boat) ride in the famous Dal Lake. Iltija also questioned how the Afghan envoy was able to access Twitter as the social media sites were banned in Kashmir. "Your excellency please do enlighten us Kashmiris about which VPN you are using to tweet? We will also download and tweet freely," she said. Iltija hoped that the envoys would question the authorities here about the internet shutdown and detention of political leaders under the Public Safety Act. "Hope you & @EU_in_India question GOI about Internet ban since 5th August & economic losses suffered GOI muzzling local media in Kashmir release of detainees inc 3 ex CMs slapped with draconian PSA troop deployment to create fear amongst people. Normalcy's an illusion," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FRANKFURT, Germany, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF's Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, has received the highest supplier award in the Airbus Supply Chain & Quality Improvement Program, known as SQIP. Chemetall once again achieved the "Accredited Supplier" status in the category of Material & Parts. The award acknowledges Chemetall's sustained performance, strong continuous improvement and customer-oriented approach in line with Airbus targets and expectations. Chemetall supplies Airbus with high-quality Naftoseal aircraft sealants and Ardrox corrosion protection products which meet the stringent requirements of the international aerospace industry. Chemetall is the only company in the history of SQIP to receive the "Accredited Supplier" status six times in a row. "We are very pleased to have again received the prestigious Airbus SQIP accreditation, which is the highest recognition to suppliers for their quality performance. Chemetall was recognized for excellent collaboration, high commitment and outstanding delivery performance," said Jean-Marc Kopp, Global Segment Manager Aerospace. He accepted the award along with Ronald Hendriks, Quality Manager and SQIP Coordinator, and Cengiz Azap, Global Key Account Manager Airbus. Ronald Hendriks adds: "We continued to work closely with Airbus to further improve the performance of our European aerospace supply chain and meet their high-quality expectations." Airbus reviews the performance of its suppliers The aim of the Airbus SQIP Program is to advance major strategic Airbus suppliers toward the goal of industrial excellence with regard to product quality and delivery reliability. This goal is particularly important as production rates increase. Every year, the performance of each supplier is reviewed and either confirmed or - in case of non-conformity with the quality standards - downgraded, or even rejected. Chemetall has a long-term partnership with Airbus Over the past 25 years, Chemetall and Airbus have established a long-lasting and successful business relationship. From production sites in Langelsheim, Germany and Soissons, France, Chemetall supplies several Airbus sites with Naftoseal aircraft sealants, Ardrox corrosion protection products, Gardo cleaners and pre-treatment technologies. In 2019, Chemetall expanded its production site in Langelsheim, Germany, to fulfill the increasing global demands for aircraft sealants. About BASF's Coatings division The Coatings division of BASF is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. The portfolio is completed by the "Innovation Beyond Paint" program which aims at developing new markets and businesses. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners' needs all over the world. BASF shares skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. In 2018, the Coatings division achieved global sales of about 3.86 billion. Solutions beyond your imagination - Coatings by BASF. For more information about the Coatings division of BASF and its products, visit www.basf-coatings.com. About BASF At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around 63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089046/Chemetall_Airbus_SQIP_Award.jpg Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Court officials in Bernalillo County continue to brace for a possible onslaught of expungement cases despite what seems like a tepid first month. According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, about three dozen petitions were filed statewide in January. Fifteen of those were filed in the 2nd Judicial District in Bernalillo County. Its not a huge number, considering the cases that we know that are eligible already to have petitions filed, Chief Judge Stan Whitaker said in an interview. About half of those cases were filed by litigants representing themselves. The new law gives New Mexicans an avenue for limiting public access to a range of arrest and conviction records. As to convictions, there are waiting periods that increase based on the seriousness of the crime, and certain crimes are exempt altogether. For example, records of convictions for certain sex offenses, crimes that involved great bodily harm or death, and drunken driving cannot be expunged. People wrongly identified in an arrest or public record, and people who were criminally charged but never convicted of a crime are also eligible for expungement. Among the first to petition for expungement are a man with a 2003 marijuana possession conviction; a man arrested in 2016 on a domestic violence charge that was dismissed when the alleged victim failed to attend a preliminary hearing; a man convicted of burglary in 1982; and a woman seeking to expunge a conviction against her deceased husband. The state Department of Public Safety has estimated that around 600,000 of its records would be subject to expungement. Whitaker said the court in recent weeks posted forms on its website that should standardize the process and help petitioners navigate it. He expects that may lead to an uptick in filings and said the court is still anticipating a flood. I hope its just not a tsunami, Whitaker said. To prepare, Whitaker said, the court is asking for a special appropriation of around $323,000 to cover the costs of administrative assistants, a special master and a staff attorney who would essentially run an expungement court. If we dont find that the numbers rise to the level that we have concerns about, of course those funds wont be needed and theyll revert back, Whitaker said in a recent presentation to the Senate Finance Committee. Three judges from the civil division along with three from the criminal division will hear expungement cases. Hearings have not yet been scheduled. David Pardo, who is handling expungement for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office, said the current pace of cases is very manageable. The law requires petitioners in some circumstances to notify the relevant district attorneys office, which is invited to raise objections. Pardo said he expects that many of the cases will not be straightforward, and the DAs Office will only speak up when necessary. In a response to the first filing in Bernalillo County, Pardo wrote that a study in Michigan found that recipients of expungement had a lower recidivism rate than the general population. The same study determined that about 6.5% of eligible individuals sought expungement. It signals that people who are doing this at least in Michigan are (doing it) because theyre ready to turn their lives around and to move forward, Pardo said. Thats sort of what we want to see happen. Law 4 Small Business has posted an online quiz to help people determine whether they are eligible to file, which attorney Larry Donahue says continues to be very popular. He said hes surprised that the new law has seen a slow start. Theres been a lot of interest but just very few people wanting to pull the trigger, he said, adding that gathering all of the necessary information for the process takes time. While Donahues company initially offered an all-inclusive package to represent clients through the entire expungement process for around $3,900, it has divided that up and is now offering a variety of related services at lower costs. For example, for a $1,000 fee, it will fill out the necessary paperwork for clients who ultimately represent themselves through the court process. Kristy Donahue, chief marketing officer for law firm Slingshot LLC, said she believes the slow start could be a result of the reality that the general public doesnt fully understand the law, and expungement has a bad social media reputation. But she points out that expungement offers a way for victims of identity theft and people whose cases were dismissed without a conviction to clear their names. The main commentary the public hears about is how this law is getting criminals off, she wrote in a statement. The message isnt being heard that it helps the innocent. Another 39 people aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus, authorities said Wednesday, as thousands more steel themselves for a second week in quarantine. With 174 confirmed cases, the ship that arrived with over 3,700 passengers and crew has become the largest single cluster of the newly named COVID-19 virus outside its origin in China, where it has killed more than 1,100. Passengers and crew are now halfway through a 14-day quarantine that is due to end on February 19 and have been mostly confined to their quarters, aside from being allowed brief periods on deck while wearing face masks. "You sit out on the balcony and you hear people coughing all the way along," British passenger Sally Abel said in a video streamed on Facebook. "It is nothing like a holiday, but it is complete relaxation," she added. Fellow passenger Yardley Wong tweeted: "Anxiety uprisen" on of the new cases, saying she didn't know whether she or her family might be next. On board the ship, the captain told passengers the situation was changing all the time. "We are following the latest and best public health guidelines from the authorities," he said in a broadcast that passengers relayed on social media. He apologised for the "periodic service disruptions" to the internet, adding: "Diamond Princess has more bandwidth than any ship in the world, and at the same time, more mobile devices than ever before connected on a ship." Passengers have been active on social media throughout their quarantine and have been trying to stave off boredom and anxiety with on-demand movies, quizzes and games of Sudoku. Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters early Wednesday that the 39 new positive cases came from 53 additional test results. He said a quarantine officer was among those diagnosed, with the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reporting he had not been wearing a full protective suit while carrying out tests before the quarantine period began on February 5. Kato also revealed there were four people in hospital in serious condition, either on a ventilator or in intensive care. The Diamond Princess has been in quarantine since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week after the virus was detected in a former passenger who got off the ship in Hong Kong. Passengers have been asked to keep a distance from each other when out of their cabins, and given thermometers to regularly monitor their own temperatures. When the boat arrived off Japan, authorities initially tested nearly 300 people of the 3,711 aboard for the virus, gradually evacuating dozens who were infected to local medical facilities. In recent days, testing has expanded to 492 people, mostly those showing symptoms or who have had close contact with a confirmed positive case. "Currently we have the capacity to conduct up to 300 tests per day, but we are working... so that by the last day of the incubation period, February 18, we will be able to test up to 1,000," government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters at a regular briefing. The ship is expected to remain in quarantine until February 19 -- two weeks days after the isolation period began. Officials do not expect new cases to affect this schedule. Aside from the cruise ship, Japan has identified 28 cases -- including at least nine from evacuation flights that brought Japanese citizens out of the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus originated. Some of the passengers evacuated from Wuhan are expected to be released from quarantine soon -- possibly by Wednesday evening. Separately, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that Japan was expanding its ban on travellers to Zhejiang province. Previously, a ban was imposed only on passengers from Hubei region, the disease's epicentre. Despite the anxiety on board, one passenger praised the Italian captain for keeping stress levels manageable aboard the ship. "One reason why a panic has not occurred among passengers is the captain's leadership. Regular announcements of information, answering passengers' requests by consulting quarantine officers, walking on the deck, apologising for delayed medicine distribution," the passenger tweeted. "I want this kind of man to be our country's leader. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) US President Donald Trump and his Ecuadorian counterpart Lenin Moreno will meet on Wednesday to discuss increasing the pressure on the government of Venezuela, a senior Trump administration official said during telephone briefing. "President Trump has been taking about a decision to further accelerate our maximum pressure policy... We are going to move more in that direction in the days and weeks to come," the official said on Tuesday. "Obviously, this is something that we look forward to discuss with President Moreno." The United States has gone only half way of applying maximum pressure against Venezuela, the official noted. Washington has imposed sanctions on Caracas for more than a decade to put pressure against the successive governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro in order to topple them. The maximum pressure campaign has intensified amid a political crisis that began in January of 2018 when opposition leader Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president of Venezuela. While the United States and its allies have recognized Guaido, numerous other countries, including Russia, China and Turkey, have said they recognize Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. Maduro has called Guaido a US puppet engaged to help the United States forcefully change the government of Venezuela and claim the country's vast resources. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:05:41|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RABAT, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan police said in a statement on Wednesday that they have seized some 7.5 tons of cannabis in the southwestern city of Guelmim. A total of eight people with suspected links to an international criminal drug trafficking network were arrested during this operation which occurred on Tuesday. The drug was seized in several warehouses at the rural commune of Taghjijt, southeast of Guelmim, and inside a four-wheel-drive vehicle in an area located 60 km east of Guelmim, the statement added. Policemen also seized four vehicles, a motorcycle, two hunting rifles, 108 cartridges and a sum of money, it said. This operation is part of efforts made by Moroccan security services to fight against cross-border crimes, including international drug trafficking, the statement added. Despite efforts to crack down on cannabis cultivation during the past decade, Morocco remains one of the world's largest producers of the narcotic plant, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. A group of 25 diplomats, including the envoys of Germany, France and the EU, arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday for a two-day trip aimed at allowing them to assess the situation in Kashmir and interact with local traders, grassroots politicians, and activists. This is the second batch of diplomats allowed into Kashmir by the government since the erstwhile states special status was revoked last August and it was split into two Union Territories. As with the first group that visited during January 9-10, the diplomats did not meet representatives of mainstream political parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Conference. The group, which has 21 envoys and four deputy heads of missions, landed in Srinagar amid tight security in the morning. The group was taken for a ride in traditional shikaras on the Dal Lake after authorities called off a plan to fly them to the northern district of Baramulla in helicopters because of inclement weather. The delegation interacted with groups of politicians, civil society activists and journalists approved by the government. They also met a group of traders and entrepreneurs to discuss the status of business and tourism. The external affairs ministry described the visit as part of outreach efforts. It said in a statement that the group is visiting Srinagar and Jammu to meet civil society representatives from different ethnic, religious and socio-economic groups, business and political leaders, and the civil administration. The diplomats will be briefed about development programmes, get an assessment of the security situation and witness for themselves the progressive normalisation of the situation, the statement said. The group includes French envoy Emmanuel Lenain, German ambassador Walter Lindner, European Union ambassador Ugo Astuto and Canadian high commissioner Nadir Patel. The other diplomats are from Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Mexico, Italy, the Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Tajikistan, Bulgaria, Guinea, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Poland and New Zealand. We are here to see how things are, said Danish ambassador Freddy Svane. Others said they were here as tourists. Kashmir is a beautiful place. We are just here as tourists, said Dominican Republic ambassador Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos. Afghan charge daffaires Tahir Qadiry noted he had seen schools and shops open on the drive from the airport. On a tour of Jammu & Kashmir, [we are here] to see first-hand the situation ourselves... It is great to see people on the way we came in... people going to schools and shops open, he said. Schools in the Kashmir Valley have seen sparse attendance since last August. Qadiry tweeted that journalists who interacted with the diplomats called on the government to fully restore the internet as it is affecting their work. Prominent businessman M Ashraf Mir said, What formula does the government have for the prosperity of the state? We want revival of everything, economy as well as politics.... A group of leaders of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) also met the group. Our delegation told them Kashmiris want change. We are not concerned if political leaders are in prison but we are concerned about development...We want elections to be conducted soon..., said JD-U leader GN Shaheen. Iltija Mufti, daughter of detained former CM Mehbooba Mufti, criticised the visit . The trial against Indian Mujahideen operative Yasin Bhatkal, who is accused of planting the bomb in German Bakery on February 13, 2010, is yet to begin. Bhatkal is one of seven people chargesheeted by the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) for the bomb blasts that left 17 dead and 60 injured, a decade ago. One of the other seven charged, Mirza Himayat Inayat Baig alias Hasan, was the first person to face trial in the case and was convicted on 11 counts, including terrorism, murder, criminal conspiracy, forgery and possession of explosives, among others. The probe agency arrested Baig at a bus stop in Pune after it recovered explosives from his residence in Beed, days after the incident. On December 4, 2010, ATS registered the chargesheet against the seven, who also included Ahmed Siddibapa alias Yasin Bhatkal; Mohsin Choudhary; Riyaz Bhatkal; Iqbal Bhatkal; Faiyaz Kagzi, and Zabiuddin Ansari. Zabiuddin Ansari was arrested by the Delhi Police in June 2012, in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai attack case. ATS has not arrested him in the Pune case. The others are untraceable On April 18, 2013, additional sessions judge NP Dhote in Pune sentenced Mirza Himayat Baig to death, a convict in his mid-30s, lodged in a jail in Delhi. NOW: Sheltered, shaded and open for business. The exteriors of the revamped German Bakery in Koregaon Park on February 12, 2018. (Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO) The order was challenged in the Bombay High Court. On March 17, 2016, an HC bench of Judge SB Shukre and Justice Naresh H Patil acquitted Baig in all but two counts - possession of RDX and forgery. He was acquitted on five counts of the death sentence and five life sentences, when I was representing him. Now only one count of posession of RDX remains. The entire concept of Indian Mujahideen was introduced after the German Bakery blast. The entire video proof was orchestrated and the video was planted. After a lot of work to undo the trial court decision, I do not know what happened since the family (Baigs) appointed another lawyer for the Supreme Court proceedings, said Advocate Mahmood Pracha, who represented Baig in the Bombay High Court. The matter is admitted and is pending in the Supreme Court. All the original documents - the entire record of the lower court - was recieved from the high court some five-six months ago. No date has been given yet, said advocate Farrukh Rasheed, who is now representing Baig. This, in turn, has affected the hearing in the charges against Bhatkal, the second person to face trial in the case in the trial court in Pune. The ATS had filed an application to not hold the hearings as the documents are in the Supreme Court. I have filed a say in it and asked for whatever order is deemed fit by the court. However, no order has been passed yet, said advocate Zaheer Pathan, representing Bhatkal in Pune. While Baig is named in other cases including an arms haul case in Aurangabad, Bhatkal is convicted in other cases including a blast case in Hyderabad. L: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) holds a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington on Dec. 16, 2019. R: Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 11, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Graham Says He Wont Call Barr to Testify Over Roger Stone Sentencing Top Senate Democrats say attorney general has to testify in Judiciary Committee Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters Wednesday that he will not issue a subpoena for Attorney General William Barr to testify about the Department of Justices (DOJ) decision to lower its sentencing recommendation for former Trump associate Roger Stone after prosecutors said he should spend seven to nine years in prison. Hell come in as part of oversight, but were not going to call him based on this, Graham told reporters. His comment came as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on the Judiciary Committee to hold an emergency hearing over the Justice Departments move. Other Democrats, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), both called on Barr to testify in front of the committee. It came after President Donald Trump offered a word of praise for Barr for taking charge of the case, adding that it was was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought, Trump wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning. Four federal prosecutors on Tuesday night withdrew from the case after the Justice Department withdrew a recommendation that Stone should serve the sentence after he was convicted last year of lying to Congress as well as witness tampering. It was in connection to former special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election. The shakeup came after the DOJ on Tuesday issued a revised sentencing memorandum (pdf) that didnt offer any prison term recommendations for Stone. It argued that the prior recommendation of seven to nine years could be considered excessive and unwarranted. Roger Stone (L) leaves federal court in Washington with his wife Nydia Stone on Nov. 15, 2019. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) The government respectfully submits that a sentence of incarceration far less than 87 to 108 months imprisonment would be reasonable under the circumstances, the department wrote. The government ultimately defers to the Court as to the specific sentence to be imposed. Following the latest recommendation and Trumps comments, Barr has not issued a public comment. Trump, meanwhile, said that he didnt play a role in the revised decision when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday. Democrats in the House and Senate have demanded an investigation into the matter. It would be a blatant abuse of power if President Trump has in fact intervened to reverse the recommendations of career prosecutors at the Department of Justice, said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the lead architect of the impeachment of Trump. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wrote on Twitter that its outrageous while adding that the agency should be investigated. Attorney General William Barr delivers remarks at the National Sheriffs Association Winter Legislative and Technology Conference in Washington on Feb. 10, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Schumer, after the prosecutors withdrew, called on the inspector general of the Justice Department to investigate the matter. This situation has all the indicia of improper political interference in a criminal prosecution, Schumer wrote in a letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz. The four prosecutors who withdrew from the case were named as Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed, and Mike Marando. Zelinsky had worked on Muellers team during his investigation, which ultimately found then-candidate Trumps campaign did not collude with Russia to gain an edge during the election. On Tuesday, the president elaborated to reporters that he has not been involved with it right now in the Stone case but also faulted the prosecutors. These are, I guess, the same Mueller people that put everybody through hell and I think its a disgrace, Trump said. Stone is slated to be sentenced Feb. 20 by D.C. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama. Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has named Marianne Chow vice president in the San Jose, Calif., office. Chow will service regional clients. Chow was previously a senior vice president with NFP. She was a vice president at Thoits Insurance before that. Alliant provides property/casualty, workers compensation, employee benefits, underwriting, surety, and financial products and services. Topics California Alliant Keira Kagan, who died in a fall from a cliff with her father: Jennifer Kagan Murder detectives in Canada have launched an investigation after the bodies of a little girl and her father were found inside a nature reserve north of Hamilton, Ontario. Robin Allan McLean Brown, 35, and his 4-year-old daughter, Keira Kagan, were found in the Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area on Sunday afternoon, authorities confirmed to CP24 News. The pair disappeared after going on a hike. Authorities reported that the pair died from a fall suffered in the park. Homicide detectives are investigating the deaths. The girls mother, Jennifer Kagan, said she lost her best friend. Keira was the absolute most special girl you could ever ask for, my best friend, the most wonderful, kind-hearted girl, the most wonderful special big sister for this little guy, Ms Kaplan said. She had a shirt that said I am going to change the world, and I believe that Keira truly thought she could, so now I am going to try and do that for her. Ms Kagan and her husband, Philip Viater, had been in a heated custody battle with Mr Brown over Kiera. Mr Viater has suggested that the death of his stepdaughter and her father was no accident. There was no reason for him to be hiking at Rattlesnake Point with our 4-year-old daughter at all, he told the Toronto Sun. This is not an activity they did together. We suspect that he took her and jumped off the cliff to kill both her and himself. Mr Viater went on to criticise the judicial system, pointing to multiple unanswered complaints he claims he and his wife made regarding Mr Brown. The system is fundamentally flawed. We told everybody of the problems with this guy and nobody would listen, Mr Viater said. We have been fighting him over visitation rights and custody issues for a long time. Mr Viater said he predicted that Mr Brown would do something sinister to Kiera. I said for three years he would end up kidnapping her, kill or at very least leave her psychologically scarred. Now my worst fears have happened, he said. Story continues On 28 January the couple sought an emergency order to prevent any further unsupervised visits between Mr Brown and Keria. Mr Viater said Mr Browns fear of losing visitation could have pushed him over the edge. He could feel the walls closing in. I think he believed this could be his last visit with her, he said. I believe his attitude was if he couldnt be with her, no one could be. Around 45 officers from the Halton Regional police searched the park, which is a rugged natural preservation area. Due to the conditions tonight at the terrain in the conservation area, it isnt your typical kind of search, constable Steve Elms of the Halton Regional Police said. Its a large area. Very forested, and it does encompass a cliff as well as a bouldery area. The terrain is very rugged, very well tread and it can be slippery. [February 12, 2020] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading National Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of NexTech AR Solutions Corp. (NEXCF) on Behalf of Investors Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of NexTech AR Solutions Corp. ("NexTech" or the "Company") (OTC: NEXCF) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your NexTech investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information here or contact Charles H. Linehan of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, via email [email protected] or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. On February 10, 2020, Hindenburg Research published areport alleging, among other things, that NexTech "engaged in a paid promotion spree, pumping its stock through at least 8 promotion outlets" and that many of its customers "were either entirely unaware that they had a relationship with the company or had never actually implemented the product." On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.36, or nearly 22%, to close at $1.29 per share on February 10, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding NexTech should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected]. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg (News - Alert) Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. 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/20200212005743/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] iShepherd makes Identity and Access Management Analytics transparent. Compliance Analytics. Done Right. Sunnyvale, CA / Glattpark, Switzerland, February 11th, 2020 iShepherd, Inc., a RegTech startup based both in the heart of Silicon Valley and in Switzerland, released its version 2.0 of the Transparent Risk Monitor 360 (TRM360?) to support its customers get better insights into the assignment and usage of access rights within the organization. iShepherd integrates with all major IAM platforms and 12th St. S., 400 block, 3:10 a.m. Feb. 1. Three males assaulted a man and robbed him of a cellphone and personal belongings. The man received minor injuries. Police located three males and after a brief foot pursuit, and one of the males was taken into custody. The other two males were able to flee from the scene. A petition for robbery was obtained for a male juvenile. Other factors including free trade agreements (FTA) that will take effect in 2020 and the penetration of international brands like Zara, H&M and Mango will also favour the industrys growth. The sector has made significant progress, especially in yarn and dyeing, through IT applications, as reflected in improved productivity, accelerated production and reduced labour force. According to Truong Van Cam, Vice President of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, more than 2.5 million tonnes of yarn were churned out in 2019, of which over 1.5 million tonnes valued at about US$4 billion were exported. Fabric output also increased six times and export value clocked up US$2.1 billion, he added. The Fourth Industrial Revolutions impacts on production mindset and methods are tangible. An example is Duc Quan Investment and Development JSC in the northern province of Thai Binh, which has doubled its yarn output to 17,000 tonnes per year through the application of Big Data in production and management. Garment 10 Corporation JSC has also used online business management software DIP BMS.NET to better monitor transactions of distribution chains. Members of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) such as Hoa Tho Textile-Garment Joint Stock Corporation, Viettien General Garment JSC and Nha Be Joint Stock Corporation have joined the trend. Vinatex General Director Le Tien Truong said technological applications offer workers stable jobs with higher incomes while helping the group double its profits. Optimising the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has become an inevitable trend. However, this has met with a range of difficulties, especially a severe shortage of labourers who can use the new equipment. Humans, particular technicians, play a key role in the process, said Vinatex Managing Director Cao Huu Chien, adding that the group has mobilised different resources for personnel training. The Prime Minister has also agreed to upgrade the Hanoi Industrial College for Textile, Garment and Fashion to the Hanoi Industrial Textile Garment University, creating a major personnel training channel for the sector, he said. Charges have been dropped against a Florida security guard accused of threatening President Donald Trump after prosecutors said his online video was "a rant by an idiot." The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports federal and state prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Chauncy Lump, 26, and he was released from jail recently, a month after he was charged. Prosecutors issued a memo saying Lump's threat against Trump was "more of a rant by an idiot" than an act of someone with the "intent to actually carry out" his words. The Secret Service said Lump did a live Facebook video last month shortly after the US military killed an Iranian general. They say Lump told the camera "he killed my leader and I have to kill him" while periodically displaying a semi-automatic rifle. Lump had white cream on his face, a towel wrapped like a turban on his head and an apparent shower curtain wrapped on his body, the agency said. He allegedly made several threats, including "He killed my leader, please tell me where is Donald Trump?" and "I need to find the Donald because if I don't find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County." The president was staying at his Mar-a-Lago resort, less than an hour from Lump's home. The Associated Press The state Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to review a Berkeley tobacco shop case and decide whether property owners in California can sign away their right to a jury trial in contract disputes. The court voted unanimously to grant a hearing of an appeal by a New York company that leased credit card processing equipment to Big Als Smokeshop and Whelans Cigar Store in 2015. When the managers of both stores claimed fraud three months later and sued to cancel the deal, the company, Lease Finance Group, said any disputes would have to be heard in New York under a provision of the lease that also waived any right to a jury trial. In October, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco overturned an Alameda County judges ruling dismissing the suit and said the waiver was unenforceable because the California Constitution guarantees the right to a jury trial. A person or business that signs a lease or any other contract relinquishing that right can agree to forgo a jury once a lawsuit gets to court, but a jury trial cannot be denied merely because of language in the contract, the court said in a 3-0 decision. Citing a 2005 state Supreme Court ruling on jury waivers, the appellate panel said, Because the right to jury trial in California is a fundamental right that may only be waived as prescribed by the Legislature, courts cannot enforce pre-dispute agreements to waive a jury trial. The states high court set that ruling aside Tuesday and will hear the case at a later date. In seeking review, Lease Finance Group said the appellate decision would undermine interstate companies right to enforce contracts in California that call for future legal disputes to be heard in other states, including those that allow jury trial waivers. The ruling, if upheld, would affect the contracts and future decisions of untold numbers of businesses and persons nationwide, attorney Daniel B. Harris said in a court filing. If deprived of their bargained-for protections, they will change the way they do business in California or may elect not to do business here at all. 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. Edward Higginbotham, a lawyer for the cigar store owners, said Tuesday that courts should not allow companies doing business in California to usurp peoples rights with contracts that include jury trial waivers in small print. We just want what we feel the California Constitution entitles us to, which is to be heard by a jury of our peers in our state, he said. The case is Handoush vs. Lease Finance Group, S259523. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko A worker has been rushed to hospital after being buried in debris and rescued by volunteers after scaffolding collapsed from a concrete pour at a development site on Hotel Rottnest . St John Ambulance said the man fell three metres from on top of the scaffolding and was flown to Royal Perth Hospital, while a second person was less injured in the incident on Wednesday morning. The man was working at the rear of the popular heritage hotel on the new Hotel Rottnest Resort development. Credit:Nine News Perth The man was working at the rear of the venue on the new Hotel Rottnest Resort development, which will see 80 new rooms on two levels, two courtyard pools, a new function centre and beach club added to the popular heritage pub, which recently underwent extensive refurbishments to its main bar and dining area. Workers told a source familiar to WAtoday that "some concrete had fallen from the top floor" of the new resort development after a concrete pour, hitting the scaffolding the man was on and trapping him underneath debris before he was rescued by career Fire and Rescue Service firefighters and private volunteer firefighters. The UN health agency on Wednesday said it was extending its global emergency designation for the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo but said the sharp decline in cases was "extremely positive". The recent outbreak was first identified in August 2018 and has since killed more than 2,300 people in eastern DR Congo -- an area where several militia groups are operating. "As long as there is a single case of Ebola in an area as insecure and unstable as eastern DRC, the potential remains for a much larger epidemic," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva. Tedros voiced hope that the emergency could be lifted within the next three months on the advice of the WHO's Emergency Committee of international experts. The World Health Organization last July declared it a "public health emergency of international concern" -- a designation that gives the WHO greater powers to restrict travel and boost funding. Tedros, who will be travelling to DR Congo on Thursday to meet President Felix Tshisekedi, on Tuesday said only three cases had been reported in the past week. But for the epidemic to be declared over, there have to be no new cases reported for 42 days -- double the incubation period. The health emergency designation last year came a few days after a patient was diagnosed with the virus in the provincial capital Goma -- the first case in a major urban hub. More than a month before that, the WHO reported that the virus had spread to Uganda for the first time. The Ebola virus is passed on by contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or organs of an infected or recently deceased person. The death rate is typically high, ranging up to 90 percent in some outbreaks, according to the WHO. This is the second worst outbreak of the disease since 2014 when it killed about 11,000 people -- mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Efforts to contain the current outbreak have been hindered by attacks on health workers and conflicts in the east. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) -TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR", "TNR Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's news release dated April 24, 2019, International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC) ("ILC") issued a news release on February 6, 2020 related to the Mariana Lithium project in Salta Province, Argentina. TNR Gold holds a 1.8% Net Smelter Returns ("NSR") Royalty on the Mariana Lithium project. The news release issued by ILC stated, "ILC is pleased to announce the receipt of a technical report from strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., ("GFL") and (GFL and ILC together the "Companies"), that contains an updated mineral resource estimate for the Mariana lithium brine project (the "Project") located in Salta, Argentina. Highlights The resource estimate contained in the technical report, detailed in the table below, includes: 4,410,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate ("Li 2 CO 3 ") equivalent (LCE) in the Measured and Indicated Resource categories, an increase of 253% over the 2017 estimate of 1,248,000 tonnes of Indicated Resource; CO ") equivalent (LCE) in the Measured and Indicated Resource categories, an increase of 253% over the 2017 estimate of 1,248,000 tonnes of Indicated Resource; 49,700,000 tonnes of potash ("KCl") equivalent in the Measured and Indicated Resource categories; and an additional 786,000 tonnes of Li 2 CO 3 and 9,260,000 tonnes KCl in the Inferred Resource category. The weight of contained lithium within the Measured and Indicated Resources represents a 253% increase over the 2017 Mineral Resource estimate, and the contained lithium within the Inferred Resources represents a 32% increase over the 2017 figures. Technical Report - Mariana Lithium Brine Project, Argentina ILC received a technical report for the Mariana lithium brine project containing an update to the maiden resource estimate for the Project. Geos Mining Minerals Consultants ("Geos") based in Sydney, Australia prepared an independent lithium brine resource estimate for the Mariana lithium brine deposit in Argentina and prepared the technical report in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report, entitled, "Update of Lithium Brine Mineral Resources; Mariana Project, Salar de Llullaillaco, Argentina" and dated January 12, 2020, is now available on ILC's website and under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. The effective date for the resource estimate is August 23, 2019, which represents the date of the most recent data that supports the brine estimate in the Technical Report. The following highlights taken from the Technical Report, and set out below, should be considered in the context of the detailed information of the Technical Report. Mariana Resource Estimate To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2014/52360_ba265b2d44b868dc_004full.jpg Notes: A cut-off grade of 230 mg/L Li was applied for comparative purposes with other operations in Argentina where lithium recovery from brine is undertaken by evaporative processes. The Measured Resource stated as 1,680GL grading 314 mg/L lithium equates to 528,000 tonnes of contained lithium or 2.8Mt of lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ), using the conversion factor of 5.324. Using a process recovery estimate of 86%, an estimate of recovery from processing is 2.4Mt of Li 2 CO 3 from the Measured Resource. CO ), using the conversion factor of 5.324. Using a process recovery estimate of 86%, an estimate of recovery from processing is 2.4Mt of Li CO from the Measured Resource. The Indicated Brine Resource grades 316 mg/L lithium. The potential recoverable brine volume from this Indicated Resource, based on the same criteria as for the Measured Resource, is estimated at 960GL. This equates to 303,000 tonnes of contained lithium or 1.4Mt of lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ). CO ). Brine resources are tabulated and reported for average specific yield (SY) of 15% and a cut-off value of 230 mg/L Li. The report states that aquifer volume is still open at depth in the majority of the salar and that there is potential to extend and define additional aquifer volume proximal to the salar margins and throughout the salar at depth below the current resource drilling level. Brine deposits are unlike the majority of mineral deposits in that they are fluid. Fluids within a brine deposit can move and can mix with adjacent fluids when exploitation of a brine deposit begins. Evaluation of such deposits therefore requires special considerations that are not, in general, applied to other style of mineral deposits. In preparing these resource estimates, Geos considered and applied processes to be appropriate for brine style deposits, using the principles set out in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), Joint Ore Resources Code JORC (2012) for mineral projects, and CIM Best Practice Guidelines for Resource and Reserve Estimation for Lithium Brines. The Company cautions the reader that the only economic studies carried out on the Project are based on the maiden resource noted in ILC's news releases dated December 6, 2018 and January 22, 2019 with the corresponding technical report, "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Mariana Lithium Brine Project" (or "PEA") with an effective date of November 15, 2018, filed on SEDAR. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as defined by the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Company cannot guarantee that the resources reported here will be converted to mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability." Kirill Klip, Executive Chairman of the Company commented, "We are very pleased to see this more than 250% increase in measured and indicated resources from the 2017 resource estimate at Mariana and that Ganfeng Lithium is advancing this project in Argentina towards further updated PEA and pre-feasibility studies. The Mariana Project preliminary economic assessment ("PEA"), as announced in our news release of January 28, 2019, was the first PEA on the project that provided a potential value for the total NSR Royalty from Mariana's life of mine cashflow. TNR Gold does not have to contribute any capital for development of Mariana and our NSR Royalty does not depend on the size of ILC's potentially diluted ownership in the Mariana Project. The 1.8% Mariana NSR Royalty is an important part of TNR Gold's portfolio. The essence of our business model is to have industry leaders like Ganfeng Lithium as operators on the projects that will potentially generate royalty cashflows to contribute significant value for our shareholders." ILC press releases and website material appear to be prepared by Qualified Persons and the procedures, methodology and key assumptions disclosed therein are those adopted and consistently applied in the mining industry, but no Qualified Person engaged by TNR has done sufficient work to analyze, interpret, classify or verify ILC's information to determine the current mineral resource or other information referred to in their press releases. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned in placing any reliance on the disclosures therein. Afzaal Pirzada, a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. ABOUT TNR GOLD CORP. TNR Gold Corp. is working to become the green energy metals royalty and gold company. Over the past twenty-four years, TNR, through its lead generator business model, has been successful in generating high-quality exploration projects around the globe. With the Company's expertise, resources and industry network, it identified the potential of the Los Azules copper project in Argentina and now holds a 0.36% NSR Royalty on the entire project, which is being developed by McEwen Mining Inc. In 2009, TNR founded International Lithium Corp. ("ILC"), a green energy metals company that was made public through the spin-out of TNR's energy metals portfolio in 2011. ILC holds interests in lithium projects in Argentina, Ireland and Canada. TNR retains a 1.8% NSR Royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project in Argentina. ILC has a right to repurchase 1.0% of the NSR Royalty on the Mariana Lithium Project, of which 0.9% relates to the Company's NSR Royalty interest. The Company would receive $900,000 on the completion of the repurchase. The project is currently being advanced in a joint venture between ILC and Ganfeng Lithium International Co. Ltd. TNR provides significant exposure to gold through its 90% holding in the Shotgun Gold porphyry project in Alaska. The project is located in Southwestern Alaska near the Donlin Gold project, which is being developed by Barrick Gold and Novagold Resources Inc. The Company's strategy with Shotgun Gold Project is to attract a joint venture partnership with one of the gold major mining companies. The Company is actively introducing the project to interested parties. At its core, TNR provides significant exposure to gold, copper and lithium through its holdings in Alaska (the Shotgun Gold porphyry project) and Argentina (the Los Azules copper and the Mariana Lithium projects) and is committed to the continued generation of in-demand projects, while diversifying its markets and building shareholder value. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Kirill Klip Executive Chairman www.tnrgoldcorp.com For further information concerning this news release please contact +1 604-229-8129 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. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical 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", "will", "could" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "could" occur, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements made in relation to: TNR's corporate objectives, changes in share capital, market conditions for energy commodities, the results of McEwen Mining's and ILC's PEAs, and improvements in the financial performance of the Company. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the Company's interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. While management believes that the assumptions made and reflected in this news release are reasonable, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. In particular, there can be no assurance that: TNR will be able to repay its loans or complete any further royalty acquisitions or sales; debt or other financing will be available to TNR; or that TNR will be able to achieve any of its corporate objectives. TNR relies on the confirmation of its ownership for mining claims from the appropriate government agencies when paying rental payments for such mining claims requested by these agencies. There could be a risk in the future of the changing internal policies of such government agencies or risk related to the third parties challenging in the future the ownership of such mining claims. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements included herein are not guarantees of future performance, and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied on. In formulating the forward-looking statements contained herein, management has assumed that business and economic conditions affecting TNR and its royalty partners, McEwen Mining Inc. and International Lithium Corp. will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information herein and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52360 Opposition to Huawei telecommunications equipment being deployed in fifth generation wireless networks in Canada is waning, the latest polling showed on Tuesday. Washington has warned against allowing the Chinese tech giant to supply critical parts of 5G infrastructure on national security grounds. But, according to the Angus Reid Institute, only 56 percent of Canadians would support a ban, down from 69 percent at the end of 2019. Ottawa -- in the throes of a diplomat row with Beijing on other issues -- has yet to announce a decision. Canada's electronic eavesdropping and spy agencies are reportedly split on the issue, while military leaders were said by the Globe and Mail on Monday to favor a ban. In recent weeks, Britain and the EU set out rules allowing a limited 5G role for Huawei, but stopped short of barring the company from new communications networks designed for near-instantaneous data transfers. The US government considers Huawei a potential security threat due to the background of its founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese army engineer. The concern escalated as Huawei rose to become the world leader in telecoms networking equipment and one of the top smartphone manufacturers, and following Beijing's passage of a 2017 law obliging Chinese companies to assist the government in matters of national security. Huawei has dismissed the security accusations and says Washington has provided no evidence. The US has said the possibility of China using its commercial presence to spy on US allies -- or even shut down a network -- could force Washington to stop sharing intelligence with its partners. Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States are members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group. Meanwhile, Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou -- Ren's daughter -- is fighting extradition from Canada to the United States on fraud and conspiracy charges tied to American sanctions. Her arrest on a US warrant during a flight stopover in Vancouver in December 2018 soured Canada-China relations. Nine days later, in apparent retaliation Beijing detained two Canadians -- former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor -- and blocked Canadian agricultural shipments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hyderabad: Ruling party circles in both Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh are happy with the Delhi Assembly results for a simple reason. Leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in TS and the YSR Congress (YSRC) in AP feel with defeats in one state after another, the Bharatiya Janata Party will have to depend on regional parties in the coming days. Such an eventuality will be much more in the south, where, except in Karnataka, the BJP is in a very weak position to win seats on its own. It will be very difficult for the saffron party to occupy even the second place in most constituencies of the Telugu states, because the TRS and YSRC are in a very strong position. The main Opposition in Telangana state is the Congress, while in AP it is the Telugu Desam. Both the parties are facing difficulties. The BJP will thus have to depend, directly or indirectly, on TRS in Telangana and on YSRC in Andhra Pradesh. AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is maintaining good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Comparatively, however, TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has certain differences with the BJP after he became the CM for the second time. The common point within TRS and YSRC is that both are against Congress. While the BJP is strong in northern India, it is not the case when it comes to south. Even in the north, BJP has lost power in some states and has been unable to defeat ruling parties in other states. In the next eight months, West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu are scheduled to go for assembly elections. BJP has no chance of coming to power on its own in these three states. By the next Lok Sabha elections, BJP will complete its 10 years in power at the centre and it will face the anti-incumbency factor. In both Telugu states, there are 42 Lok Sabha seats. As per the prevailing political situation, TRS and YSRC are likely to win majority of the LS seats. Thus, if BJP or NDA do not get majority on their own to form the government, TRS and YSRC will play a crucial role. In Telangana, if TRS gets defeated, the beneficiary will be Congress. In AP, if YSRC is defeated, the beneficiary is Telugu Desam. The Congress will not support BJP and it has no confidence in TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu going by past history. When BJP has no chances of winning majorly in the two Telugu states, naturally, it would want to ally with TRS in Telangana and YSRC in AP. TRS and YSRC leaders hope that keeping all these issues in mind, the central government headed by BJP may change its attitude towards the two states. Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are thus expecting to benefit from central largesse, including resolving of several pending issues, apart from financial assistance. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 17:01 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206418f79 1 Business Jokowi,steel,Iron,imports,agus-gumiwang-kartasasmita,industry-ministry,gas-price Free President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed his Cabinet members to increase the availability of raw materials for the steel and iron industry to support infrastructure development while slashing imports. He expressed his concern during a limited Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, saying that steel and iron, as the third-largest import products in the country, contributed the most to the trade deficit. "We cannot allow this to keep on happening. We need to push for the steel and iron industry to become competitive and optimize its production," Jokowi said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Imports of iron and steel amounted to US$10.39 billion last year, slightly up 1.42 percent year-on-year (yoy), Statistics Indonesia data show. Despite recording relatively small growth, iron and steel products are the only Indonesian import commodities that saw an expansion during the period, which otherwise saw an overall contraction of 6.3 percent yoy in non-oil and gas imports. Jokowi then revealed plans to boost raw material availability to support the local steel and iron industry. "First, we need to improve the ecosystem of raw materials in the steel and iron industry, starting with their availability, as well as with price stability and gas prices," Jokowi said. "We also need to prioritize the supply of raw materials from the national mining industry." He also called for a review of several regulations related to scrap metal while paying attention to environmental sustainability. Jokowi, a former businessman, further asked the energy minister to immediately regulate gas prices for industries at US$6 per million British thermal units (mmbtu). "I asked for better calculations regarding the impact of steel imports on the quality and price competition with domestic steel," the President told his ministers. "Lastly, utilize the non-tariff policy such as the SNI [national standard implementation] to protect the domestic steel industry. Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita explained later after the meeting that the country actually imported materials that could not be produced or could not be fulfilled by local industries. Please dont always see imports as a negative thing, as they can bring added value to the industry itself, he said, adding that the government would continue to protect the national steel industry. (awa) NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (RDY) announced Wednesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy select business divisions of Wockhardt Limited for a consideration of Rs.1850 Crores. Under the deal, the company will buy select divisions of Wockhardt's branded generics business in India and a few other international territories of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives. The business comprises of a portfolio of 62 brands in multiple therapy areas such as Respiratory, Neurology, VMS, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Pain and Vaccines. These portfolio will be transfered to Dr. Reddy's along with related sales and marketing teams, as well as the manufacturing plant located in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh with all plant employees. The transaction is expected to be closed in the first quarter of the financial year 2020-21. G V Prasad, the Co-Chairman and Managing Director of Dr. Reddy's said, 'India is an important market for us and this acquisition will help in considerably scaling-up our domestic business. The acquired portfolio shall enhance Dr. Reddy's presence in the high growth therapy areas with market leading brands such as Practin, Zedex, Bro-zedex, Tryptomer and Biovac.' 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. Two Instagram pranksters have outraged New Yorkers by pretending to contaminate a subway carriage with coronavirus. David Flores and Morris Cordewell donned hazmats suits for the stunt while holding a container filled with liquid that had biological hazard markings on it. In the video Cordewell gets up and spills the liquid over the floor as train passengers quickly jump out of harm's way. However, it turns out their bucket contained Kool-Aid juice. The latest prank comes as the coronavirus death toll soared to over 1,100, with more than 45,000 infected around the world. That includes 12 with the virus in the US. David Flores and Morris Cordewell donned hazmats suits for the stunt while holding a container filled with liquid that had biological hazard markings on it 'The first half people were kinda scared.' Cordewell told Business Insider. 'After we were like "Yo it's a prank," people were laughing.' 'There was one lady with her kids sitting next to me just laughing the whole time. I don't know how she knew it was a joke, but she knew it was a joke the whole time.' He added. The New York City MTA, which operates the subway, said it had not been made aware of the video. Although many agreed with the creators that their video was funny, others were not amused. 'What the f*** is wrong with people,' David Mack, an editor at Buzzfeed tweeted. Although some of the train passengers appeared to laugh off the prank, others jumped out of the way While a woman called Kelly Sue commented on Instagram: 'How can this be funny? People have died from the coronavirus. 'Very immature & stupid. Plus people are that gullible to think it would be transported like that, it's a virus & not in liquid form.' Tyler Wallace, 19, of Joliet, Illinois, turned himself in to police on Thursday But Flores told Business Insider he wasn't rattled by the critics: 'To be honest, to me, I feel them, but I know it was a joke. At the end of the day it was a joke.' They are not the first to face a backlash after coronavirus pranks. Last week Tyler Wallace, 19, from Joliet, Illinois, turned himself in after video emerged of him spraying 'coronavirus' over $7,000 worth of produce at a Walmart. He is charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, retail theft and criminal trespass to property. Police allege that Wallace put a surgical mask over his mouth and put a homemade sign on his back that read 'Caution I have the coronavirus,' then walked through the store spraying Lysol on clothing, produce and other items. Police do not believe that either teen has the new virus. 'It appears to have been a prank that went too far,' Joliet Police Sgt. Chris Botzum said. Wallace (left) and the accomplice (right) entered the store in Joliet at around 4pm and began spraying what turned out to be disinfectant on produce, clothing, and health and beauty items Just days earlier an Instagram star, James Potok, incited chaos on a flight from Toronto to Jamaica when he allegedly yelled he had coronavirus. Potok Philippe, real name James Potok, was arrested and charged with mischief on Monday after crew on board the WestJet plane from Toronto to Jamaica were alerted to his actions and the aircraft was forced to turn back. A second flight was also cancelled as a result of the incident. Potok Philippe, real name James Potok, (pictured right) was arrested and charged with mischief on Monday after crew on board the WestJet plane from Toronto to Jamaica were alerted to his actions and the jet was forced to turn back The 28-year-old from Vaughan, Ontario, told City News: 'It was simply a joke.' The other 243 passengers didn't think it was funny when Potok stood up in the cabin and said: 'Can I get everybodys attention please. I just came back from Hunan province, the capital of the coronavirus. Im not feeling too well. Thank you.' Airline crew asked him to put on a mask and gloves and the plane had to turn around. By Geoff Percival and Eamon Quinn The Central Bank, the Parliamentary Budget Office, and the worlds largest ratings firms have all urged the next government to avoid pumping up spending that could lead to a new crash. At the launch of the Central Banks latest economic bulletin, officials called for prudence in the public finances and a focus on reducing the Governments debt burden. Nonetheless, the Central Bank forecast continued strong growth despite economic expansion slowing to 4.2% next year. It predicts 26,000 homes will be built this year, well short of the 35,000 most economists believe is required to meet demand. Its remarks come as Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail both pledged, in their election campaigns, to expand housebuilding. However, Central Bank director Mark Cassidy shied away from making comments on the main parties housing pledges. The Parliamentary Budget Office, in its latest fiscal commentary, said that GDP continues to expand at a fair clip, but warned against relying on corporate tax receipts to fuel spending plans. Unreliable corporate tax receipts pose a major challenge for the delivery of public services, said Budget Office director Annette Connolly. S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings said they believed a new government would increase spending but, nonetheless, abide by EU fiscal rules. Anticipating protracted negotiations to form a new government, S&P said Ireland will continue to rank among the strongest in the developed world, but still faces risks from Brexit. Fitch Ratings said that, despite the inconclusive election result, some fiscal easing is likely. Meanwhile, it is likely to take months to name a successor to Seamus Coffey as head of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) at a time of renewed focus on public spending amid the talks between the political parties. Mr Coffeys term as chair of the budget watchdog ended on December 31 and his successor will not be named until a new finance minister is in place. IFAC has long called on government spending programmes to be based on sustainable tax revenues. Meanwhile, debt advocate David Hall has predicted that the banks face the end of the road in selling any more of their distressed mortgage loans to vulture funds. Citing the performance of both Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty and Fianna Fails Michael McGrath in opposition, he said that he expected a new government to legislate in favour of distressed customers. Addressing the low levels of growth across the eurozone, ECB president Christine Lagarde called on governments to spend more. Amy Klobuchar charmed Meghan McCain today by saying that, although shes always been pro choice, she believe[s] were a big tent party, and there are pro-life Democrats and they are part of our party, and we need to build a big tent. Thats mighty big of Klobuchar. Pete Buttigieg may or may not be as big. He doesnt read pro-life Democrats out of the party, but says he wont trick them by moderating his pro-choice positions, which are extreme. The best Buttigieg can do big tent wise is say to pro-life Dems we may disagree on that very important issue, and hopefully well be able to partner on other issues. Come to think of it, Klobuchar isnt really offering pro-life Democrats anything more than this; she just sounds nicer. Which raises this question: What does it actually means for pro-abortion Democrats to make room for pro-life Democrats? I suppose it means nothing more than rejecting Bernie Sanderss view that being pro-choice is an essential part of being a Democrat. What does Sanders mean by that? He seems to mean, at a minimum, that you cant be a genuine Democrat if you are pro-life. Why not? Consider a voter who is (1) pro-life but doesnt regard this issue as paramount and (2) agrees with Democrats on the issues he or she considers paramount. It might well make sense for such a voter to be a Democrat. It makes no sense to say that he or she isnt a genuine one. Why did Sanders deny this obvious reality? Maybe he was just pandering to hard core feminist leftists. But maybe there was something more going on. Bernie Sanders comes out of the socialist tradition, not the liberal one. The socialist tradition includes a strong authoritarian streak. Socialist groups have long been notorious for reading those who disagree with them on almost any point out of the movement. Thats why there were always so many splinter socialist groups a source of amusement for John and me when we were socialists, or worse, in college. Sanders claims to be a Democratic Socialist. However, the Democratic Socialists I knew were strongly anti-communist and even more strongly anti-Soviet Union. Their main beef was with communist and Soviet totalitarianism. Yet, Sanders still seemed okay with the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, decades after nearly all socialists had completely given up on it. Taking all of this into account, I think Sanderss position on pro-life Democrats reflects his authoritarian streak. Klobuchars latitudinarian position reflects the traditional liberal outlook. Buttigiegs stance falls in between, but is much closer to Klobuchars. I dont mean to say that Sanderss position is bad politics. Unfortunately, the Democratic Party increasingly, and alarmingly, also contains an authoritarian streak. [February 12, 2020] Align Capital Partners' E Source Platform Acquires TROVE Predictive Data Science Align Capital Partners ("ACP") announced today the closing of a third strategic add-on for its utility intelligence platform E Source (News - Alert) (the "Company"). TROVE Predictive Data Science ("TROVE") is a leading provider of predictive analytics solutions for the utility industry. TROVE's talented team of data scientists and engineers have developed artificial intelligence ("AI") software to help clients make better, data-driven decisions to improve their bottom line, reduce operational risk, and increase customer satisfaction. Based in Buffalo, New York, TROVE helps utilities use data to optimize decision making. TROVE provides forward thinking utilities with data to forecast the impact of electric vehicle adoption, down to the transformer level. TROVE also leverages data and predictive science to forecast vegetation growth around power lines so utilities can optimize their vegetation management planning and reduce the risk of wildfires. "The customers and end markets we serve are driven by a growing need for product and program innovation," said Ted Schultz, CEO of TROVE. "With the combination of our talented teams, data, and domain expertise, we are uniquely positioned to meet these and future needs." E Source provides subscription and consulting-based services for thousands of utility employees and senior leaders across North America. "Our acquisition of TROVE allows us to apply their sophisticated predictive data science to our proprietary utility data sets, best practice research, and consulting engagements," said E Source CEO Wayne Greenberg. "They have had incredible success using advanced AI softwareto deliver big wins quickly for some of the largest utilities in the U.S. The opportunities for collaboration are endless and we welcome the TROVE team into E Source." The TROVE acquisition is a transformational moment for the Company, representing continued efforts to provide a broad offering of technology-enabled, tactical solutions to help utilities make the best data-driven decisions. ACP acquired E Source in June of 2019 and last week announced the Company's acquisition of smart meter and smart city advisory firm, UtiliWorks Consulting. Both companies will be united under the E Source brand in the months ahead. "The talents and capabilities of E Source, TROVE, and UtiliWorks are a powerful combination," said Rob Langley, ACP Managing Partner and Co-Founder. "Running a utility is exceedingly complex. Technology innovation, environmental sustainability, increased customer awareness, and decentralized power generation are just a few of the challenges facing today's utility leaders. These acquisitions create an interconnected, hard-to-replicate model enhancing E Source's position as a thought leader fully dedicated to the utility market." Operating Partner Dave Perotti, Vice President Matt Iodice, and Associate Corey Roe worked alongside Mr. Langley on the transaction. About E Source E Source is the leading problem solver focused solely on electric, gas, and water utilities and municipalities. The Company provides predictive analytics, market research, benchmarking data, and consulting services to more than 300 utilities, municipalities and their partners. E Source's data and experience helps customers make the best data-driven decisions to strengthen customer relationships, plan for tomorrow's infrastructure needs, and further their environmental sustainability while becoming more innovative and responsive in the rapidly evolving market. About Align Capital Partners Align Capital Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm that partners with business owners and management teams to create shared success. ACP manages $325 million in committed capital with investment teams in Cleveland and Dallas. ACP brings experience and resources to help companies accelerate their growth, to the benefit of management, employees, and the firm's investors. ACP makes control investments in lower-middle market business services, specialty manufacturing, and value-added distribution companies. For more information, visit www.aligncp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005104/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) service companies, required to survey individuals and their guardians annually, historically mailed paper-based surveys that yielded few responses. Fort Worth-based Caregiver, Inc. wanted a better way to track customer experience reliably and address needs quickly. Two years ago Caregiver's executive team engaged Cleveland-based Direct Opinions to design and conduct a call-based survey, alert, and measurement strategy to gauge performance and satisfaction through the Net Promoter Score (NPS) customer experience metric. "We invested in the program so we could address issues immediately," said Alex Sturges, Caregiver VP of Operations Strategy. "We want to improve services, communications with guardians, and get feedback about what's important to individuals and guardians." Caregiver now surveys all guardians in Texas and Tennessee, two of four states they serve, receiving 70 average monthly responses on 200 calls (35 percent response rate). Caregiver also gets Concern Alerts issues to address within 48 hours, usually about four monthly. "What a powerful transition from paper to calls," said Mr. Sturges. "We can see trends, compare geographic areas, even listen to recordings. Guardians feel heard, immediately." Direct Opinions calls guardians two or three times yearly to ask about their experience with Caregiver: "How likely is it you would recommend Caregiver to a friend or colleague?" The resulting NPS rates the experience 0-10, from not at all likely to extremely likely. Labels are Promoters (9-10); Passives (7-8); or Detractors (0-6). At Caregiver, a Direct Opinions' dashboard monitors results and alert requests (Concern Alerts) that notify Caregiver Area Directors, who immediately contact guardians and begin corrective action. Detractors hear from ADs with or without a Concern Alert. "Detractor labels tell us something isn't right, so we act immediately," said Mr. Sturges. "It's an outstanding system." Caregiver CEO Mark Lashley agreed. "Surveys are invaluable in assuring that every individual receives the best we can provide," he said. "The data furthers our ability to help each individual reach their goals and live their best lives." ABOUT CAREGIVER, INC. Formed in 2015, Caregiver, Inc., is a privately held company with 4200 employees within the headquarters support group and branded affiliates in four states that provides a wide range of intermediate, home and community care services to over 3000 individuals who qualify as developmentally or intellectually disabled or are impacted by related conditions. Contact: Dau Tucker, 817-447-2114, [email protected] SOURCE Caregiver, Inc. Related Links https://cg-idd.com/ Amy Klobuchar came out of the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night with a surprise third place finish and a burst of momentum for her campaign heading into Nevada and South Carolina. She defied early expectations, most of which did not see her making it past the first round of primary contests, let alone besting Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in one of them. She only trailed Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg in the first-in-the-nation primary. The Minnesota senator choked up bit when she thanked her supporters at her primary night party. My heart is full tonight. While there are still ballots left to count we have beaten the odds every step of way, she said. Thank you New Hampshire. We are on to Nevada because the best is yet to come. Amy Klobuchar came out of the New Hampshire primary Tuesday night with a surprise third place finish She thanked New Hampshire and said her heart was full Her strong finish will bring a new level of attention to her campaign, which she acknowledged in her remarks Tuesday night along with touting her ability to beat President Donald Trump in November. Hello America. Im Amy Klobuchar and I will beat Donald Trump, she said after she took the stage, her husband and daughter at her side. Klobuchar ranked near the bottom of the polls when she entered the presidential contest in February of 2019, famously giving her kick off speech in a Minnesota blizzard. She touted her ability to emphasize with those struggling financially and appealed to those tired of the polarized politics as she ran a shoe string campaign through Iowa and New Hampshire. She racked up the endorsement of The New York Times and the Quad City Times of Iowa but it wasnt until her strong performance in Friday nights debate that momentum came her way. Klobuchar pointed out how pundits counted her down and out. There were a lot of people who predicted I would not even get through that speech, she said of her snow-covered beginning. Then they predicted we wouldnt last the summer. We did, she noted. And then they predicted we wouldnt make it through the debate and man, were we at the debate in New Hampshire, she added. Across the months and months and miles of this race, we redefined the word grit. As everyone counted us out even a week ago thank you pundits I came back and delivered, she said. I never give up.' Klobuchar ran her campaign based on her Minnesota moderate pragmatism and her folksy, quick with a quip image. She skyrocketed ahead of Biden and Warren after a strong debate performance on Friday, collecting enough donations - $3 million as of Monday and support to push her to the next round of contests. But while moderates and independents who can vote in New Hampshires primary have flocked to her, she has not captured the progressive wing of the party, which tends to dominate in primary contests. She acknowledged that Tuesday night. I cannot wait to build a movement and win with a movement of fired up Democrats and independent and moderate Republicans, Klobuchar told the crowd. Amy Klobuchar greets supporters with her daughter Abigail Bessler and husband John Amy Klobuchar began her presidential campaign during a blizzard last February Klobuchar has campaigned on her ability to beat Donald Trump She asked supporters to stick with her and to donate to her campaign. I dont have that big bank account. I dont have that big name of some of those people in the race and Im not a political newcomer with no political record. What I have is your back, she said as she asked for their support. The New Hampshire crowd was fired up. While Klobuchars crowd of supporters waited for her to speak, they tried out a variety of chants and cheers: Lets go Amy; Every race, every place, every time, win big; All of us, all of us, all of us; She knows us; Who do we want? Amy? When do want her? 2020; Go Amy, Beat Trump; and Beat Trump, Vote Amy. In the end, they just shouted Amy, Amy, Amy. An Amy Klobuchar supporter at her primary party Tuesday night Tuesday started off well for Klobuchar when she came out ahead in one of the state's quirkier traditions: the midnight vote. Residents of three small towns in the northern part of the state gather at their polling places at midnight to vote, making them the first official results in the state. The Minnesota senator won two of the three midnight tallies: Hart's Location with six votes and Millsfield's with two. The closely-followed Dixville Notch, which has a population of only 12 people, went to billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn't even on the ticket. Amy Klobuchar came out ahead in one of New Hampshire's quirkier traditions: the midnight vote Amy Klobuchar waves to supporters when she gets off her campaign bus on Tuesday during a stop at the Webster Elementary School polling place New Hampshire has a partially open primary election, meaning those not registered with a political party can vote in both the Democratic and Republican primary elections. However, the state does not have a fully open primary because those registered with a party can only vote in that party's elections. And Kloubuchar's campaign saw its momentum and donations grow after her strong performance in Friday night's debate. The Minnesota senator had voters lined up out the door and banging in the rafters on Monday after she surged to third place in two New Hampshire polls that came after that debate. 'I need your help,' Klobuchar told a rally in Exeter, New Hampshire. 'Right now we are on the cusp of something really great,' she said, her voice cracking with emotion, 'but I can't call everyone you know. So I'm asking you to do that today.' She made her appeal as a new dynamic appeared in New Hampshire in the 24 hours ahead of its crucial primary: Klobuchar burst ahead of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in two polls - the same spot she would end up in Tuesday night. Amy Klobuchar had voters lined up out the door after she surged to third place in two New Hampshire polls Klobuchar answers questions from the press after a New Hampshire campaign stop Klobuchar has run a bare boots campaign reflective of her previous lower still status. Monday's rally had no walk-on song and no celebrity introduction - just a line of people out the door. The Minnesota senator's event saw voters standing outside the door to listen after the fire marshal shut down the town hall center due to capacity. And she promised the crowd in the overflow room she'd stop by, leading them to stamp on the floor - a sound that reflected through the town hall center. 'Hello to the people in the overflow room,' she said as the crowd banged with their feet. 'I love that. They're finding a way to express themselves. We hear your voice. Just dont break the overflow room.' Amy Klobuchar is coming off a strong performance in Friday's debate Klobuchar's speech was full of zingers, comebacks - when one person shouted out, asking her what she would do if President Donald Trump wouldn't debate her, she responded she'd call him 'chicken' - folksy stories, policy positions and cheery anecdotes. The crowd responded with laughter and cheers. 'If this is what the election is going to be like, it's going to be really good,' she responded. She did a packed day of five campaign events to try and capitalize on her new momentum. Klobuchar said she raised $3 million dollars over the weekend after her strong performance in the Democratic debate, where she attacked then-front runner Pete Buttigieg for his lack of experience. At Friday's debate, Buttigieg, who declared himself the victor in Iowa in the wake of its caucus debacle, took the hits that come with front runner status. Biden and Klobuchar questioned whether he had the capacity to successfully face off with Trump, questioning whether he has the experience to lead the nation. Buttigieg, who served two terms as mayor of South Bend, a city with a population of 100,000, said the Washington insider experience of some of his rivals was no longer what was needed, and it was time to 'turn the page' on the old Washington politics. 'I freely admit that if you're looking for the person with the most years of Washington establishment experience under their belt, you've got your candidate, and of course it's not me,' he said. Klobuchar hit back claiming that 'it is easy to go after Washington, because that's a popular thing to do. It is much harder ... to lead and much harder to take those difficult positions'. Then she dug into the fresh-faced Buttigieg: 'Because I think this going after every single thing that people do because it's popular to say and makes you look like a cool newcomer, I just I don't think that's what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing.' Vietnams Ministry of Health Tuesday confirmed the countrys 15th case of novel coronavirus on Tuesday, while the fishing and tourist industries in Chinas populous Southeast Asian neighbor expressed concern about the economic impact of a prolonged outbreak. The newest patient is a three-month-old baby who contracted the virus from the patients grandmother. State media reported that the babys grandmother had contracted the virus from her daughter, the babys mother, who was among a group of eight Vietnamese workers returning to Vietnams Vinh Phuc province from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the now global outbreak. The 14th case was a neighbor of one of the eight workers, and so far 10 people in Vinh Phuc have tested positive for nCoV. The head of the ministrys Treatment Examination Management Department, Luong Ngoc Khue, told the media that the baby is undergoing treatment in a clinic. The ministry will dispatch experts to the clinic in Vinh Phuc to support the treatment. The ministry also asked Vinh Phuc to expand its quarantine plans and provide updated lists of people who should be isolated, because they estimate that more confirmed cases of nCoV in the province is likely. Vinh Phuc s Binh Xuyen district on the same day established eight health check zones to assess the body temperature of residents they suspect might be infected with the virus. Seven of the 15 confirmed coronavirus patients in Vietnam have been cured and sent home. Seafood exports down As it battles to contain the coronavirus, Vietnam is bracing for a big hit to tourist revenue from the epidemic, with authorities saying Chinese tourists, which accounted for a third of Vietnams 18 million tourists, would decrease by more than 2 million in 2020, leading to a loss of tourism revenue of US $1.8-2 billion. As the virus spreads across the region, Vietnams exports of marine products to China have been suspended. Vietnams aquatic export revenue in January was down, reaching just US $650 million, a decrease of 12.5 percent compared to the same period last year, said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters & Producers (VASEP). According to VASEP deputy general secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam, some seafood exporters are facing late payments from Chinese partners because Chinese banks have not yet re-opened. In addition, many large-scale shipping firms have suspended deliveries to China. Many of Vietnams shrimp exporters say Chinese importers announced a change in their schedule for receiving shipments, meaning hundreds of tons of shrimp that have been prepared for shipment are in limbo because of the delay. However, VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe said the impact of coronavirus to the seafood industry in the first months of 2020 are not very serious. VASEP is trying to support Vietnamese seafood exporters in seeking new import markets in the United States, Japan, or the EU, Truong said. In addition, the association is advising Vietnamese fisheries to produce more frozen and canned products in the meantime. The Ministry of Industry & Commerce said hundreds of trucks carrying Vietnamese agricultural products are on lockdown at border gates due to the impact of coronavirus. Cambodia PM urges calm Meanwhile, Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen called on Cambodians not to be afraid of nCoV and to stop discriminating against Chinese people over fears of the disease. The remarks came Tuesday during an inauguration ceremony for recently repaired national highways, with hundreds in attendance. Hun Sen said that the world must solve two major issues to stop the spread of coronavirus. First it must find a vaccine and second it must develop medicines to allay peoples fears. The prime minister said that fear and discrimination are more serious conditions than coronavirus itself. He told the people to stop discriminating against Chinese because a Chinese patient was successfully treated in Preah Sihanouk province after he was discovered to be infected. Im really happy that we Khmer people do not discriminate against Chinese tourists and investors that weve welcomed into Cambodia, said Hun Sen. There are even hotels in Siem Reap province that offer discounts to Chinese tourists. Thanks for showing them our kindness, he added. Hun Sen has been an outspoken supporter of keeping connections with China active during the epidemic, even as other ASEAN countries have temporarily stopped travel and trade with China to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Some people criticize me for being too pro-Chinese, but you have to understand that our friendship is good for Cambodias political, economic, and social stability, he said. You have to understand this. If you dont please go learn more. And for those who have discriminated against China, you will see what China has to say about you when this is all over, he added. He also had a message to the other ASEAN countries. Im not trying to discipline you, but later on when you have to reopen flights, China might say they will consider it. That word, consider, that could be dangerous to those countries who unilaterally closed China off, said Hun Sen. Cambodia to date has had only one confirmed case of nCoV within its borders, a Chinese traveler who arrived in Preah Sihanouk province on July 23 and was discovered to be infected two days later. Kheang Phearum, a spokesman for the province, told RFAs Khmer Service Tuesday that the 60-year-old traveler had left the country that morning with three members of his family. We tested the Chinese man at the Pasteur Institute three times and each time he turned up negative, so he is no longer infected with coronavirus, said Phearum. The spokesman added that no others in the province have been found infected with coronavirus. Chinese diplomat appeals to Myanmar A Chinese diplomat stationed in Myanmar said people there do not need to worry about coronavirus because Chinese authorities have it under control. Deputy Consul General Li Libei, at the Chinese Consulate in Mandalay, told a press conference that in the closest Chinese province, Yunnan in southwestern China, the situation there is not very serious. I want to inform you about the situation in Yunnan province. These days infection rates in Yunnan are minimal and the numbers are decreasing, said Li. If Yunnan is safe, there is no reason to worry about an outbreak here in Mandalay, she added. In the past week we have seen many patients recover, including 19 in Yunnan. Nobody in Yunnan has died, so we must compare the situation of Yunnan with the [rest of China]. Myanmar has yet to confirm a single case of nCoV. According to data compiled by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, worldwide more than 43,000 confirmed cases of the virus have been reported, with more than 42,000 in China alone. To date, there have been 1,018 deaths globally, with 974 in China. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese and Khmer Services and Khaymani Win for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Huy Le, Pheap Aun and Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Badgers, rare birds, pangolins and monkeys are sold in the wildlife markets of Mongla, a remote town on the border with China. Much of the wildlife is eaten as it is believed to be an aphrodisiac. The illegal trade in endangered species is believed to be worth more than $5 billion worldwide every year. Ben Davies China introduced a temporary ban on wildlife markets in the country thought to be the source of the new coronavirus but there are increasing calls from wildlife organizations, activists and the public to make the ban permanent to prevent further outbreaks. The virus is believed to have originated in a seafood market (also known in China as a "wet" market) in Wuhan, Hubei province, where wild animals were also being sold. It has now infected over 44,000 people in China since the outbreak began in December and over 1,100 people have died, the Chinese government said Tuesday night. As the virus has spread, pressure has mounted on the authorities to crack down on these markets. On January 30, a temporary ban on the trade of wild animals ranging from snakes to rare birds, bats to turtles in wet markets, supermarkets, restaurants and e-commerce platforms came into effect. It's suspected that pangolins an endangered (and protected) mammal often illegally poached for its scales that are used in traditional Chinese medicine could be the source for the new coronavirus, or "COVID-19" to give it its new name, but that link is still being investigated. Wild animal meat is prized as a luxury and delicacy among some wealthy Chinese, as in other parts of the world, a factor that maintains the illegal poaching, and trading of, wild animals. When China introduced the temporary ban, it said that "any violation of the provisions of this announcement shall be investigated and dealt with severely in accordance with the law and regulations." However, it said the ban would only cover the period until "the epidemic situation is lifted nationwide." Permanent ban coming? On February 3, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave the greatest signal yet that a full ban is on the cards. Chairing a meeting to study the prevention and control of the coronavirus, he said "it is necessary to strengthen market supervision, resolutely ban and severely crack down on illegal wildlife markets and trade, and control major public health risks from the source," Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. Then on Monday, the National People's Congress (NPC) of China declared it would revise wildlife protection laws and regulations, in order to "toughen the crackdown on wildlife trafficking," Xinhua reported, with an official stating that "the supervision, inspection and law enforcement should be strengthened to ensure that wildlife trade markets are banned and closed." Experts say an outright, and permanent, shutdown of such markets is necessary. Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the director-general of a Beijing-based non-governmental organization called the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, has been very vocal in calling for a ban. He told CNBC Wednesday that he and his organization were "very happy and encouraged" by Xi's statement last week. "(A permanent ban) is very, very important. Because any advocacy, code of conduct and supervision will lack the basis if there is no legal basis," he told CNBC via email. However, he noted that "even if new laws are adopted, it is very difficult for the government to implement them effectively, which has been clearly proved by the facts in the past." He said to move forward, three basic changes were needed: "Public participation and whistle-blowing have played a crucial role in the past years. Law enforcement needs to take these reports seriously." Secondly, that social organizations "should be authorized to sue the local governments for failing to perform their duties and dereliction of duty" as well. Thirdly, he said, "There must be accountability mechanism" as he said there were government officials who are complicit in illegal wildlife trading. Jinfeng noted that some bushmeat market businesses and online trading platforms use certain licenses to make the meat they're selling look "farmed" when in fact the animals are actually wild-sourced. Jinfeng said that China should pass a biodiversity conservation law in 2020, especially as China is hosting a UN biodiversity conference later this year. Stopping the sale of wild animals appears to have the support of many Chinese people, some of whom have taken to social media to deplore the trade. Many are indignant that a wildlife market is the likely source of the coronavirus. That might have helped to apply pressure to the Chinese authorities more than Western organizations that have called out China's wildlife markets. A family wearing masks and make-shift protection gear wait for their train at the Hongqiao High-speed Railway Station in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images A petition was filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe monitored by it into alleged molestation of students by a group of men who had gate-crashed a cultural fest at the all-women Gargi College of the Delhi University. The PIL, filed by M L Sharma, has sought a direction to the probe agency to seize all video recordings and footage from CCTV cameras around the college campus. It also sought arrest of the people behind the "planned criminal conspiracy". The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their unpleasant experiences during the fest on February 6 and alleged that security personnel did nothing to control the unruly groups. The petition alleged that it was a planned political and criminal conspiracy hatched in the backdrop of the Delhi elections and since February 6, no action has been taken against the accused. Poll is Delhi were held on February 8 and the result was declared on February 11. "The state government took no action. It is a clear criminal conspiracy hatched by the political party to deploy accused persons to provoke the Delhi public for effecting voting in their favour. Despite presence of Delhi Police ... on February 6, neither principal nor other state authorities tried to stop and arrest the accused persons," the PIL stated. The petition claimed that "deliberate chants of Jai Shri Ram discloses that it is a political, planned conspiracy" and blamed the chief minister of Delhi for not taking any action against the accused. "Entire incident is being supported/protected by the state government and no action of arrest has been done till now for justice and to prosecute all accused persons therefore unless this court takes action, real political persons and accused persons will not be arrested at all," the plea said. On February 6, a group of men broke into Gargi college during the 'Riverie' fest and allegedly groped, harassed and molested the attendees, who claimed that security officials just kept watching when the incident took place. Besides the security arranged for by the college, the area had Delhi Police and paramilitary force personnel who were stationed in the area for the assembly polls. According to Atul Kumar Thakur, DCP (south), a case has been registered under IPC sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- China is encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to join online training to hone their skills amid the novel coronavirus epidemic. Policy introduction, technical knowhow and management lessons will be offered to SMEs for free during the epidemic via mobile telecommuting platforms such as Alibaba's DingTalk, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a guideline. Local governments are asked to select quality training courses and encouraged to elaborate on policies rolled out to support SMEs in videos. Many firms in tourism, catering and other sectors hit hardest by the epidemic have prompted their staff to sharpen their edge via online study for an empowered comeback after the epidemic. The surging online work and training demands have left workplace service apps including DingTalk and WeChat Work high in the Apple App Store's download ranking list in recent days. Photo credit: U.S. Navy - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics The U.S. Navy has unveiled plans to retire the first four Littoral Combat Ships, the youngest of which is only six years old. The LCS program has been problematic for more than a decade, with the lightly armed ships coming in over budget and with technical problems. The entire LCS fleet could eventually go on the chopping block as a new class of frigates comes online in the mid 2020s. The U.S. Navy wants to retire four ships of the controversial Littoral Combat Ship class, including one ship that is just six years old. The four ships all have at least 10, if not 20 years of service in them but are currently non-deployable test ships not rated for combat. Its unclear why the Navy wants to dump them when at the same time it is trying to reach a fleet of 355 ships by 2030. The Navy wants to retire the first two ships from the Freedom class of Littoral Combat Ships, USS Freedom (above) and Fort Worth, commissioned into the fleet in 2008 and 2012, respectively. It also wants to retire the first two ships of the Independence-class. USS Independence, the lead ship in the class, was commissioned in 2010. USS Coronado was just commissioned in 2014, making it less than six years old. The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program has been fraught with problems since its conception in the early 2000s. LCS was originally inspired by the concept of a small (500 ton), nimble, heavily armed Streetfighter of a ship capable of duking it out with large ships while operating in coastal regions and island chains. This gradually morphed into a much larger ship, lightly armed, and equipped with interchangeable, self-contained mission modules that allowed it to become a submarine hunter, minesweeper, ship-killer, or commando transport within hours. Photo credit: U.S. Navy - Getty Images LCS was an ambitious program. One ship, forward deployed in the South China Sea for example, could swap modules to fulfill different roles without having to return to the U.S. to undergo an expensive and time-consuming refitat least that was the theory. Story continues A series of design problems proved major shortcomings. The Navy prioritized ship speed (up to 47 knots, or 54 miles an hour) over range, which made LCS less useful in countering the fleets of great powers such as China and Russia. The ships, as Task & Purpose points out, suffered a series of high profile breakdowns and embarrassing cost overruns the Pentagon tried to conceal from the public. The ships have scarcely more armament than a Coast Guard cutter, relying on the mission modules to supply anti-submarine and anti-ship weapons, and they were only capable of defending against aerial threats to the ship. Another major problem: after more than a decade of development none of the mission modules are fully operational. The high performance engines that gave the ships blazing speed at sea proved troublesome, so much so that in 2016 the Navy took the first four ships out of frontline service and turned them into test ships for the rest of the LCS fleet. The remaining 12 hips of the LCS fleet, lacking the mission modules that gave them purpose, have for years been unable to deploy to fulfill the key missions. The early decommissioning of the first four Littoral Combat Ships is a bad look for the Navy. The Navy is desperately trying to hold onto its plan to increase the fleet to 355 ships, and decommissioning four shipsone only six years oldruns completely contrary to that plan. It is surprising that the U.S. Navy cannot find the justification to keep these ships in service until at least until 2030, even continuing to use them as training or light duty vessels. Photo credit: JACK GUEZ - Getty Images This is probably the beginning of the end of the Littoral Combat Ship program. The U.S. Navy is preparing to build a new guided missile frigate, FFG(X), and the shipbuilding budget for 2021 is 20 percent less than 2020s. The Navy is being squeezed for cash, and it seems likely that LCS, still without mission modules, will be retired as the new frigates roll out of shipyards. The only saving grace for the LCS is if the FFG(X) program also balloons in cost and experiences delays. Sadly, that's not an inconceivable scenario. You Might Also Like Widener student Michaela Kolenkiewicz shows a student portal app on her phone screen. She and two other students have worked together to develop a feature for Widener's student portal where students can type "breathe" in the search bar and a list of mental health services comes up. Read more As colleges grapple with rising youth suicide rates and a growing demand for mental-health resources, two Widener University students decided to tackle the issue themselves by creating a tool for the schools student portal, called myWidener, that allows their peers to ask for help more easily. Michaela Kolenkiewicz, 22, and Christiana Dunn, 21, said the idea for the tool which pulls up a list of resources such as the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) and information on the universitys Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) when users type the word breathe into the search bar developed from a mutual interest in mental health. Making information about counseling centers easy for students to find is a priority at other universities in the area, as well. Many colleges do that through the student portal because students are already used to accessing the site to check their email, submit assignments, see their grades, and add money to their meal cards. Villanova Universitys portal, MyNova, directs users who search depression to a page with phone numbers for the schools counseling center and health services. Bryn Mawr College also allows students to access a list of resources from their student portal, called BIONIC, and Haverford College students can schedule counseling appointments online. Rowan University uses a separate system for scheduling appointments and accessing health records through its wellness center, which students can access online through the self-service banner on the schools website. Wideners Kolenkiewicz, a senior majoring in psychology, said that, initially, she just wanted to investigate what her university was doing for its students regarding mental health. I was looking at suicide on college campuses, and I read so many articles on how these schools failed their students, she said. And when I went to my.widener.edu and typed in words like depression and suicide and mental health, nothing came up. I thought that was crazy. Since 2013, Widener has lost two students to suicide, and mental health continues to be a priority for colleges in the Philadelphia area, following three students who died by suicide at Rowan University last fall. In fact, Widener has had a group called Active Minds to spread mental health awareness since 2015, but it isnt linked to my.widener.edu. Kolenkiewicz said her research made her wonder whether Widener students knew where the counseling center was located and the support lines they could reach out to by phone or text if they were struggling. At the time, she was working with Angela Corbo, an associate professor in communication studies. Corbo, who used to work in student affairs, was immediately interested in Kolenkiewiczs idea of bringing more awareness to what mental-health resources were offered on campus. I felt that by creating a positive promotion on-campus that talked about mental health, like the whole idea of, Its OK not to be OK, that would create a different tone on campus, Corbo said. People wouldnt feel the need to isolate themselves. Corbo introduced Kolenkiewicz to Dunn, who wanted to examine how people talked about mental health on college campuses, and the pair began working together. Eventually, the project expanded to include Wideners information technology services department and CAPS. The main struggle was thinking about what to put on the page, said Dunn, a junior studying communication studies. We made a long list of resources and we got it approved when we first started, and then we met with the university psychologist and the provost to make it more reliable. Next, Kolenkiewicz and Dunn had to decide on a search word to link the list to. They struggled to think of one at first, but then an incident they witnessed during homecoming weekend led to their decision to choose breathe. Christiana actually watched a guy walk outside, grab a piece of wire, and start choking himself, Kolenkiewicz said. She called me right away, we relaxed him together, and the situation was handled. Afterward, we kept saying to each other, Breathe, its going to be OK. And we knew it had to be the word because when you say it out loud, its like youre subconsciously telling yourself to breathe and relax. After the tool was finished, Dunn and Kolenkiewicz led an awareness campaign to make sure other students knew about it. They put up posters around campus and held events to promote healthy stress management. The pair said that feedback has been mostly positive since launching. Michaela and I were known as the breathe girls, Dunn said. People questioned us about what it was. They also asked why we were doing this, and I kept telling them that it was to help people who dont feel like they have somebody. In the situation that somebodys thinking about doing something harmful, I want them to know that somebody out there created this because they care. (Adds UK government comment) LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The value of Scotch whisky exports rose to a record high last year, backed by booming sales in countries such as Taiwan and India which helped offset concerns over tariffs and the uncertainty caused by Brexit. Overseas sales of Scotch whisky rose more than 4% to 4.9 billion pounds ($6.3 billion) in 2019. The United States was the most valuable destination for Scotch, rising 2.8% to 1.1 billion pounds, even as tariffs on single malts and some liqueurs were introduced in October. The United States announced last year it was imposing 25% duties on a range of European products, including Scotch whisky as punishment for illegal EU aircraft subsidies. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said that move had resulted in exports to the United States dropping by a quarter in the final three months of 2019, compared with the previous year. "The tariffs are hitting producers hard, particularly small distillers," SWA Chief Executive Karen Betts said in a statement. "Some are now asking themselves how they can continue exporting to the U.S, whether they can build up alternative markets which is not something that can be done quickly, and if not how their businesses will cope." A UK government spokesman said the tariffs do not benefit Britain, the European Union or the United States. "We have raised the issue at the highest levels of the US administration, including with the president, the spokesman said. Scotch whisky exports to Taiwan rose 22% and to India 19.7% last year. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by Stephen Addison) Prince Harry was spotted with Disney CEO Bob Iger at last year's premiere of "The Lion King" in London. Critics of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex say that the prince cozying up to the business exec could only mean one thing -- Meghan Markle will be available for voiceover work in the future. However, this act of Prince Harry has gotten the royals to cringe at the thought. Is he really selling his wife to the highest bidder? An expert claimed that the Queen herself was left wondering why her family was trying to sell themselves so badly. Working For The Future Earlier this year, a video re-surfaced showing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle talking about the many potential opportunities they may have in the future. In the video, the Duke of Sussex can be heard telling the CEO from Disney, "Next time you need a voiceover work, we can make ourselves available." "Anything like that. Just not Scar. That's a no to Scar," the prince added. Despite having his back on the camera, Jon Favreau can be seen smiling at Meghan Markle when the Duchess said, "That's really why we are here, to pitch." Now, in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, talent manager and royal expert Jonathan Shalit quipped that he is certain members of the royal family are not happy with what happened during the said event in London. "I'm sure the senior members of the royal family who have seen this wished it hadn't happened," Shalit said. However, the critic also remarked that such things really do happen whether one is royal or not. Sometimes, parents wish their children have not done it, but they did. It is unlikely for members of the royal family to talk about work and opportunities to improve one's self, which is probably why Meghan and Harry decided to take a step back. They wanted to explore work opportunities that could make them financially independent -- and that is exactly what they are doing now. The Life Outside Being Royal Now that Harry and Meghan are no longer senior members of the royal family, they can indeed explore the possibility of a new partnership with Disney. After the brief transition period which is set to end in April, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can start setting their new goals to help them achieve financial independence. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the two would be stripped off their HRH titles, but they would still maintain their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.. The Palace also revealed that the royals will be spending more time in North America in contrast to what was previously announced. According to a close friend of Meghan who spoke with The Daily Mail, the voiceover work that Meghan spoke off with Disney is only the beginning. Another source told the publication that there is more collaboration to come in the future. "Meghan has no regrets about leaving the royal family and the sky's the limit. They (Meghan and Harry) felt like a huge weight has been lifted off their shoulders," the friend added. The couple has been spending quality time with their son Archie. Meghan has been cooking homemade baby food for Archie, too. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The promoters of Hyderabad-headquartered listed pharma player Suven Life Sciences are exploring a potential sale of their demerged arm catering to the pure play Contract Research And Manufacturing Services (CRAMS) segment, sources with the knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol. Suven Pharmaceuticals is the demerged wholly owned subsidiary of the company that has been put on the block and has applied to the bourses for permission to list. The promoters want to focus primarily on the discovery research undertaking involving molecules which is the business residing in the entity trading currently post the carve out. Plus, globally, valuations in the CRAMS segment are favourable right now so the exit timing is appropriate, said a source. Investment bank Barclays has been mandated for the sale process which is likely to be launched shortly. The deal is at a preliminary stage and is expected to attract strong interest from both private equity and strategic suitors, added a second source. The domestic CRAMS segment witnessed a transaction in July 2018 when US private equity firm TPG acquired a significant minority stake in Hyderabad based Sai Life Sciences. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. According to its 2019 annual report, Suven Life Sciences posted total revenues of around Rs 688 crores and a net profit of around Rs 150 crores. The CRAMS vertical comprises four segments, namely Base CRAMS ( which accounts for 45 percent of the total revenues), Commercial CRAMS, Specialty Chemicals, and Contract Technical Services. The shares of Suven Life Sciences plunged by over 90 percent on January 21 as the stock traded ex-demerger of its contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) business. In an interview to CNBC TV-18 dated 22nd January, 2019, Venkat Jasti, Chairman and CEO, Suven Life Sciences said, When the separation takes place, the IP and the cash will come to the Suven Life Sciences, while all the assets and the revenue generating business goes to the CRAMS side of the business. The profits after rewriting our expenses of Suven Life Sciences, the profit margins will go up by 25-30 percent. So, better profit margins and better shareholder value will be created - write offs will not be there and R&D expenses will also be small. After January 21, the stock has surged by more than 70% in the last 15 trading sessions. In February 2019, the demerger of the CRAMS undertaking of Suven Life Sciences Limited (Demerged Company) into Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited (Resulting Company) was announced. The demerger, transfer and vesting of CRAMS Undertaking on a going concern basis to the Resulting Company would result in better and efficient control and management for the segregated businesses and promote their growth, the company said as part of the announcement. The proposed demerger will enhance value for shareholders and allow a focused strategy in operation of the respective business verticals, the company added. A Barclays spokesperson declined to comment in response to a query from Moneycontrol while Moneycontrol is awaiting an email response from Suven Life Sciences and has sent multiple reminders. This article will be updated as soon as we hear from them. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, ARMENPRESS. Turkish historian Taner Akcams books on the Armenian Genocide A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility and the Killing Orders Talat Pashas Telegrams and the Armenian Genocide, have been translated, published in Arabic and now are available to a broad audience. Translator Kivork Khatoun Wanes, who is from Syria, has Armenian origins, but currently lives in Belgium, told Armenpress that the most important motive behind the translation of these books was the enrichment of the Arab Library on this subject which is rarely known to the Arab readers in addition to the courage, credibility, objectivity and impartiality of the writer. A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility was published in August 2017, and the second one in September 2019 in Lebanon by Dar Alfarabi international alliance of independent publishers. These two books are available online via the following websites: www.neelwafurat.com, www.Jamalon.com. At the beginning of 1915, under the cover of the World War I, a whole nation was deliberately killed. More than one million Armenians lost their lives as a result of massacres, forced deportation and starvation. Although many countries and historians accept the deliberate plan to kill the Armenian people, the Turkish authorities still deny that this shameful act has taken place. In this amazing work Turkish historian Taner Akcam deeply and thoroughly examines this deliberate action carried out by the Ottoman government relying mainly on the Ottoman sources, such as military notes, court hearings, parliamentary protocols and reports. In this work Taner Akcam explores the plan of extermination and its implementation by the state agencies, the army and the ruling party, the translator said in the summary of the book A Shameful Act. In the summary of the book Killing Orders, Kivork Khatoun Wanes says: In this work Akcam, who was called the Sherlock Holmes of Armenian Genocide in New York, presents the telegrams existing in the memoirs of Naim Efendi up to the smallest details and compares them with the thousands of documents received from the Ottoman archives (coding methods, signatures of Aleppo governor, telegram dates, mentioned people and events). The Killing Orders is also available in French. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Doctors and other experts say at least 50 more people, many of them elderly or ill, likely died as a result of the 2018 wildfire that devastated the town of Paradise, California, but were not counted in the official death toll, an investigation by the Chico Enterprise-Record found. Authorities have said the deadliest wildfire in California history killed 85 people. But the newspaper reported Tuesday that it had identified at least 50 more people whose deaths were linked to the fire but not attributed to it. The additional people lived in homes, retirement communities and nursing facilities in the towns of Magalia, Paradise and Concow, according to addresses on wrongful death claims filed as part of a legal case against Pacific Gas & Electric. Barely 4,000 residents now live in Paradise, whose McDonald's, pictured last October, still remains in rubble A home burns during a wildfire in Paradise, California in November 2018 which killed 85 (file) The utility's equipment was blamed for starting the fire. Each claim was vetted by a medical expert and a lawyer, and claimants had to gather evidence showing the person would not have died if not for the fire. Some claims were turned down, lawyers said, because the evidence would not necessarily stand in court. Attorneys said the online database used to record claims is not perfect, so the number may not be exact. Joe Earley, a lawyer representing several claims against PG&E and a survivor of the fire, called the list 'the tip of the iceberg.' He said most of the people whose family members he represents had health issues, were elderly and died shortly after the fire. People gather for ceremonies for the one-year anniversary of the Camp Fire in Paradise in November Robert Bean pauses at lot where a building was destroyed in 2018's Camp Fire in Paradise, Christina Taft poses with a photo of her mother, Victoria Taft, at the burned-out ruins of the Paradise home where her mother died in the most destructive wildfire in California history A home is overshadowed by towering smoke plumes as the Camp Fire raced through Paradise, California in November 2018 'I believe those people are just as much a victim as everyone else,' he said. Obituaries and GoFundMe pages offer an additional glimpse into their lives. A husband and wife who were deeply involved in Paradise community organizations passed away within a few months of each other. There was also a grandmother for whom losing her home was just too much stress. One person had a stroke after leaving anti-stroke medication behind when fleeing, Earley said. Another person on the list is Ramona Ward, a 95-year-old who had a rental business and lived on her own, according to her daughter, Virginia Kraft. She was in rehabilitation in Paradise after a successful surgery when the fire hit and was moved to a Chico facility where she got sick with a norovirus. She died in January. Her death certificate cites hypertension and a cerebrovascular accident. A piece of art sits outside the burned remains of a home destroyed by the Camp Fire. In the year since the fire, crews have removed more than 3.66 million tons of debris, twice the amount that was removed from the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks Actor Kamya Punjabi, who tied the knot with beau Shalabh Dang on Monday, threw a reception on Tuesday. Pictures and videos from the function are now online. In one video, Kamya is seen dancing her heart out with Shalabh and his son from his previous marriage, Ishaan. Kamya looks beautiful in a black embellished lehenga choli. The popular actors wedding rituals began from Saturday, when the couple got engaged. On Sunday, they held their mehendi and sangeet functions. The festivities were had close friends and family in attendance. For her wedding, which reportedly took place in a gurudwara, Kamya chose to wear a red and gold ensemble, while for her mehendi, she picked a blue shimmery dress. Also read | Bigg Boss 13: Samir Soni bats for Arti, believes it would be wrong if Sidharth Shukla wins, Archana Puran says That Sid is a jerk Kamya, for the uninitiated, has a daughter from her previous marriage. The actor was even trolled for the same. When a troll questioned her for her decision to remarry, despite having a daughter from her previous marriage, it was her good friend, actor Kavita Kaushik, who came to her defence. She had written, @lima418 cos you get married so you have a partner/companion/best friend /soulmate.. for life ! There is life beyond producing children , dont find faults in people who try to build their lives and find happiness, try to be happy for others instead of asking silly questions at such a happy time of theirs. She also said how Kamyas daughter Aara and Shalabhs son Ishan planned most of the celebrations. Earlier, in an interview to Hindustan Times, Kamya Punjabi has said, I cant disclose the date and all, but the planning is on. There is a lot of excitement and Ive already told my friends to be ready to pamper me on my wedding. Im very happy with Shalabh. With him, life is different. Now I know what blushing and glowing in love means. Now I know what it feels like to be head over heels in love with someone. I know what emotional security means. She had also said that it was the first time in 40 years that I feel so happy and loved and Im looking forward to another 40 that I feel so happy and loved and Im looking forward to another 40 years with him. Follow @htshowbiz for more Press Release February 11, 2020 PRRD, Bong Go pushes for BFP modernization; join turnover of 74 fire trucks to LGUs Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go attended on Tuesday, February 11 the turnover ceremony of 74 fire trucks to local government units (LGUs) at the Lapu-Lapu Grandstand of Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The Senator accompanied President Rodrigo Duterte who handed the ceremonial keys of the fire trucks to three representatives from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "These new equipment are testament to the government's full support for the BFP's mandate to promote public safety by saving lives and protecting property from destruction during natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies," the President said in his speech. Go is the author of Senate Bill (SB) No. 204 or the proposed Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019. In his welcome remarks, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jose Embang Jr. acknowledged the benefits of the proposed law. "Hayaan ninyo akong pasalamatan ang ating mahal na Pangulo sa kanyang panawagan at suporta na maisulong ang modernisasyon ng Bureau of Fire Protection. Malaking tulong po ang PhP10-billion Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019," Embang said. The amount is allocated in a bill pending in the House of Representatives. The President has urged Congress in his fourth State of the Nation Address in July 2019 to pass a law mandating a modernization program for the BFP, along with several other laws. Embang said that 287 or nineteen percent of the 1,489 municipalities in the country do not have fire trucks yet. "Sa aming hakbang tungo sa modernisasyon, layunin namin ang pagkakaroon ng bagong fire trucks at emergency vehicles sa bawat bayan," he emphasized. At the BFP's 46th Fire Service Recognition Day on December 14, Go said that he is pushing for the passage of SB 204. "Kaagapay ninyo ako sa inyong mga hangarin...Isa ito sa sampung priority bills na inuna kong pinasa noong Hulyo." SB 204 seeks to establish a Fire Protection Modernization Program to be implemented by the BFP and will include hiring of more personnel, acquiring modern fire equipment and trainings for firefighters, among others. The bill also mandates BFP to respond to disasters and conduct monthly fire prevention campaigns and information drive in all local government units, particularly in informal settlements and economically depressed areas. "It is high time that we upgrade the facilities and capabilities of the Bureau of Fire Protection. Let us add more services and hire more men and women who would dare to become the respected and admired firemen and women of our nation," said Go. Go also said in previous statements that he will push for the arming of firefighters so they can also help the government in its campaign against illegal drugs and criminality. "I will study and check, nabanggit na rin ni Pangulo ang arming of firefighters. Makakatulong din sila sa paglaban ng kriminalidad at proteksyunan ang kanilang mga sarili. Pati sa kampanya laban sa droga, makakatulong din sila," said Go in an interview. Go also shared before that he supported the plan to procure more fire trucks for the bureau. "Suportado ko po ang hangarin ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte na i-modernize ang hanay ng BFP. Kaya naman, sa mahigit PhP22 billion budget ng BFP ngayong 2020, nagdagdag po tayo sa Senado ng mahigit PhP232 million during the (bicameral conference) para makabili ang BFP ng additional fire trucks," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-13 05:43:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will resume its operations in Iraq, one month after the alliance suspended its mission due to the tension that occurred in the country following the U.S. attack on an Iranian military leader early January, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. It is also agreed at a meeting attended by the defense ministers of NATO members to upscale their current operations in Iraq so as to ease the burden faced by the U.S.-led coalition fighting against the militant group ISIS (the Islamic State). "Today, ally ministers reaffirmed their support to Iraq and agreed in principle to enhance NATO's training mission," Stoltenberg told a press conference after the ministerial meeting in Brussels. "Ministers also agreed to explore what more we can do beyond this first step," he added, without elaborating on the type or size of operations that could be transferred from the U.S.-led forces to the NATO structure. NATO is now engaged in a non-combat mission in Iraq, focusing on mentoring and advising Iraqi national defence forces and military education institutions. The several hundred-strong team is led by a Canadian commander. The mission was halted after a U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3 and triggered strong reaction both from Iraq and from Iran. NATO members then pulled out the majority of their personnel from Iraq out of security concern. NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market 2020-2024 The analyst has been monitoring the global negative pressure wound therapy market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.26 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period. Our reports on global negative pressure wound therapy market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02840436/?utm_source=PRN The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by increasing prevalence of acute and chronic wounds. In addition, increasing aging population is anticipated to boost the growth of the global negative pressure wound therapy market as well. Market Segmentation The global negative pressure wound therapy market is segmented as below: Product Conventional NPWT Single-Use NPWT Geographic segmentation North America APAC Europe South America MEA Key Trends for global negative pressure wound therapy market growth This study identifies increasing aging population as the prime reasons driving the global negative pressure wound therapy market growth during the next few years. Prominent vendors in global negative pressure wound therapy market We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the global negative pressure wound therapy market, including some of the vendors such as 3M Co., Cardinal Health Inc., Carilex Medical, ConvaTec Inc., DeRoyal Industries Inc., Genadyne Biotechnologies Inc., Medela AG, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Smith & Nephew Plc and Triage Meditech Pvt. Ltd. . The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02840436/?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 www.reportlinker.com New Delhi: Congress state chief Subhash Chopra offered his resignation just hours after the declaration of the results of the Delhi Assembly election 2020. On Tuesday evening, Chopra offered to resign from the post in a letter he wrote to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. The Congress party, in a repeat of 2015 assembly elections, drew a blank by managing to not win even a single seat. "I take responsibility for the debacle of the party in Delhi Assembly polls. I had less time, but still, I put all my efforts," the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president was quoted as saying by ANI. Chopra slammed the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for influencing voters on mere advertisements. "I have never seen such politics in Delhi ever where voters got influenced by the advertisements done by AAP and voted for it," he said. To add to the drubbing, 63 of the 66 candidates fielded in the polls forfeited their deposit. Even Chopra's daughter, Shivani who contested from Kalkaji Assembly seat, lost her deposit. The ruling AAP got an overwhelming majority with 62 of the 70 seats while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got the remaining 8 seats. Accomplished wildlife photographers Jud Perkins and Pat Duncan will exhibit their work at The Brookfield Library Art Gallery from Monday, March 2, to Tuesday, March 31. There is an opportunity to meet the artists at a reception for the exhibit, Feathers, Fins and Scaly Skin: a wildlife retrospective, on Sunday, March 15, from 3 to 5 p.m. They bring their combined talent for visual artistry, using their cameras to capture unique subjects, according to a news release. We dont specialize in one subject over others but allow the location, time of day and subject matter to dictate. Duncan said. Wildlife photography is especially gratifying as you are constantly trying to capture subjects that dont pose and may be in flight. One gets great satisfaction from being able to freeze a subject and convey motion at the same time, especially with birds, Perkins said. Pat and Jud have extraordinarily creative backgrounds. Jud started at Walt Disney Imagineering and was involved in the building of Walt Disney World. Pat found she had a knack for choosing art that catches the publics eye and gained an appreciation for illustration. She started her own company, Great American Puzzle Factory, which she has since sold to a gaming company. So they are both steeped in the creative world and they bring their different perspectives to their photography. They were able to transfer their earlier creative experience to their love of photography and they now travel the world capturing fascinating subjects with their cameras. Come and see the show in March, youll love their colorful array of images. Library Director Yvonne Cech said. Their award-winning work has been displayed in galleries all over Connecticut. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 21:25:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations will support African governments to expand access to quality and affordable reproductive health services for disadvantaged groups like women and girls living in urban slums, officials said on Wednesday. Dereje Wordofa, deputy executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said in a speech read on his behalf by Hala Youssef, a UNFPA policy expert, that promoting access to reproductive health services like contraceptives is key to tackling poverty and inequality in Africa. "We need to invest in high impact interventions that are key to expand access to reproductive health services to socially and economically disadvantaged women and youth in Africa," Wordofa said in the speech. He said that multilateral lenders will support targeted interventions like policy reforms, increased financing and public awareness to boost uptake of contraceptives in Africa's low-income urban settlements. "Poor access to reproductive health services and information is very acute in the informal urban settlements hence the need for urgent redress to help save the lives of women and girls," Wordofa said. Kenya is hosting a week-long pan-African conference on advancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in urban informal settlements. More than 500 delegates, including lawmakers, policymakers, researchers and campaigners, attending the Feb. 10-14 conference will share knowledge and best practices aimed at revitalizing the reproductive health agenda in the continent. Topics slated for discussion at the conference include the unmet need for modern family planning methods, unsafe abortions, sexual violence and unintended pregnancies that are rampant in Africa's urban slums. Ademola Olajide, UNFPA Kenya country representative, said improving access to contraceptives is key to reducing poverty, maternal deaths and economic marginalization affecting women and girls living in urban slums across the sub-Saharan African region. Civil rights groups and immigration advocates slammed the Trump administration after it filed a series of lawsuits and issued measures against state and local governments that have enacted sanctuary policies. The latest announcement came on Monday when US Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department was suing the state of New Jersey and King County, Washington, over immigration policies that offer protections to undocumented immigrants. When we are talking about sanctuary cities, we are talking about policies that are designed to allow criminal aliens to escape, Barr said in a statement. These policies are not about people who came to our country illegally but have otherwise been peaceful and productive members of society. Their express purpose is to shelter aliens whom local law enforcement has already arrested for other crimes. This is neither lawful nor sensible, he added. But rights groups say sanctuary policies protect immigrants rights and make communities safer. They also say President Donald Trumps retaliatory moves are legally problematic and aimed at appealing to his conservative base. Attorney General William Barr waving after speaking at the National Sheriffs Association Winter Legislative and Technology Conference in Washington, DC [Susan Walsh/AP Photo] This is just the latest chapter in a long story of DOJ (Department of Justice) failures. The Department of Justice has already lost repeatedly in its efforts to punish states and cities for exercising choices that the Constitution guarantees them, Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions Immigrants Rights Project told Al Jazeera in an emailed statement. States and cities have declined to act as ICEs (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) henchmen, deciding instead to make their whole communities safer, Jadwat said. Grace Meng, a senior immigration researcher for Human Rights Watch said the Trump administrations move will only exacerbate an already existing atmosphere of fear among immigrant communities, stoked through the presidents rhetoric and previous policies. The basic premise of the Trump administration is his xenophobic take on immigrants, foreigners, and his efforts to argue that any problems that society is facing has been brought from the outside, rather than addressing that there are really complex causes that need to be addressed in a meaningful way, Meng said. Safe place to live together Hundreds of jurisdictions at the state, county and city level have enacted laws and regulations that offer some protections to undocumented migrants or limit cooperation between local law enforcement federal officials. New Jersey prohibits state and local law enforcement from sharing information about undocumented inmates. Washington States King County prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using its international airport for deportation flights. New York passed a law that allows undocumented migrants to apply for drivers licenses and limits federal immigration authorities from accessing motor vehicle records. Protesters holding up signs outside a court in San Francisco after a federal appeals court gave the Trump administration a rare legal win in its efforts to crack down on sanctuary cities [File: Haven Daley/ AP Photo] Meng said while sanctuary policies vary across cities and states, they are premised on the idea that we cannot separate out immigrants in the community and the rationale that undocumented migrants are threatening public safety is completely false. It comes from a recognition that the community cannot be safe unless immigrants in the community, both documented and undocumented feel comfortable going to the police when they witness a crime or are victims of a crime, Meng told Al Jazeera. All of us are in this effort to create a safe place to live together. Observers say Trump, who has made a crackdown on immigration a centrepiece of his presidency, has been trying to retaliate against sanctuary cities since he took office and his administrations latest moves signal to his base in advance of the November 3 election that he will continue to be tough on the issue. In his State of the Union Address earlier this month, Trump railed against sanctuary cities, falsely claiming these jurisdictions order police to release dangerous criminal aliens to prey upon the public, instead of handing them over to ICE to be safely removed. Data shows that cities and towns with sanctuary policies do not have higher crime rates compared with non-sanctuary jurisdictions, according to the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank. US President Donald Trump listening during a round table meeting with members of law enforcement about sanctuary cities in the White House in Washington, US [File: Leah Millis/Reuters] Despite other research with similar findings, Trump often cites individual cases in which an undocumented immigrant commits a crime as justification for the administrations measures. Alex Nowrasteh, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institutes Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, said the Trump administration has been contributing to the spreading of misinformation regarding sanctuary laws. Its not a get out of jail free card, Nowrasteh told Al Jazeera. When undocumented migrants commit crimes, they are still going to be turned over to ICE and deported, he said. Nowrasteh added that Trumps efforts have little chance of succeeding in the courts, where past measures have been blocked. Legally, its going to be difficult for the Trump administration to prevail on this, but its going to make the cities, localities and states fight hard to keep their policy, Nowrasteh said. Matthew Albence, right, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, speaking during a news conference blaming the sanctuary policies of New York City for the sexual assault and killing of a 92-year-old woman [Jim Mustian/AP Photo] New York sued the Trump administration this week over a rule that blocks hundreds of thousands of residents from enrolling in federal programmes that help cut down on airport security wait times. In issuing the rule, the administration cited the states so-called Green Light law that allows for undocumented individuals to apply for drivers licences. The state called the ban a punitive measure intended to coerce New York into changing its policies. Officials in the state of New Jersey were equally defiant after Barrs announcement on Monday. Once again, the Trump Administration is sacrificing public safety for political expedience, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement. Thankfully, nothing about todays lawsuit changes our work on the ground, he added. While the President grandstands, were focused on protecting the nine million residents of New Jersey. Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has refused to deal with the International Criminal Court, ICC, his lawyer has said after authorities agreed to hand over to the Hague-based tribunal four Sudanese wanted for war crimes in Darfur. The Sudanese government indicated that the transitional administration will hand over all people wanted by ICC, following an agreement Tuesday with rebel groups in the western region of Darfur. The former President, deposed by the army in April last year, is among four Sudanese wanted by the ICC for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the Darfur conflict. Under the agreement signed Tuesday, a Sudanese domestic court will be set up to try criminals not indicted by the international court, one of the rebel negotiators, Ahmed Tugod Lissan, told VOA. One member of Bashirs defense team said the former President does not want to be judged in the Hague arguing that it is a political court and that Sudans judiciary is able to deal with any case. Lissan also indicated that the handover of the four is attached to a final peace deal with the Sudanese government. Talks between the two sides over the conflict which killed around 30,000 people, according to UN figures, resumed last year but were stalled early this year over rebels accusation against the Sudanese army for the killing of dozens of civilians in western Darfur, The New Arab reports. Bashir is detained at Kobar prison in the capital Khartoum. He is standing trial for various crimes, including killing of protestors and corruption. A Louisiana man burnt churches to promote his Black Metal brand according to reports from local law enforcement. Holden Matthews, 22, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act. He set three churches on fire in the Opelousas, Louisiana area over the course of 10 days in late March 2019. The churches targeted were Greater Union Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and St Mary Baptist Church. They had predominantly African American congregations. Hate crimes are among the charges Matthews pleaded guilty to, but authorities have not revealed whether or not race explicitly played into his actions. Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Show all 9 1 /9 Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Far-right extremist Tristan Morgan, 52, has been locked up in hospital indefinitely after torching an 18th-century grade II-listed synagogue in Exeter, Devon, on 21 July 2018. Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Far-right extremist engulfed by fireball as he torches synagogue Devon and Cornwall Police Matthews said he torched the churches to pay homage to black metal-associated church arsons in Norway in the 1990s. Varg Vikernes, of the black metal band Mayhem, became infamous for his church arsons and, later, a murder, during that time period. Vikernes, who was released from prison in 2009 after serving time for the murder of his band-mate, Euronymous, has a history of having neo-Nazi and white supremacist views. Matthews, the son of a local sheriffs deputy, bragged about the arsons in a video posted to Facebook. He said his intention was to raise his profile in the Black Metal community. He was a member of the band Vodka Vultures. Dustin Charles Talbot, Matthews's lawyer, told the New York Times that his client only had the reasoning capacities of an adolescent and that he was not motivated by racial means. Holden now fully understands the seriousness and gravity of his actions and is deeply remorseful for what he has done and the pain he has caused the congregations of these churches, Mr Talbot said. FBI Special Agent Bryan Vorndran condemned Matthewss crimes, saying: His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations, as well as all of St Landry Parish. Matthews could face betweem 10 and 70 years in prison. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, February 13 2020 The newly renovated prayer hall of Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta will be ready to welcome worshippers in time for the first tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers held after isya) of this years Ramadan. The Istiqlal management is speeding up the renovations, which are expected to be completed in March. So far, 80 percent of the renovations to the main prayer hall have been completed, so we are confident worshippers will be able to perform the first tarawih of this years Ramadan in the prayer hall, Istiqlal spokesperson Abu Hurairah Abdulsalam told The Jakarta Post on Monday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login WOOD DALE, Illinois, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial airlines and governments worldwide, announced today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide consulting services for Korean Aerospace Engineering & Maintenance Services (KAEMS). The two companies will collaborate to define required capabilities and infrastructure for a new KAEMS facility in South Korea that will provide component maintenance for the Republic of Korea Air Forces (ROKAF) F-16 fleet. The MOU includes training for KAEMS employees at AARs component repair facilities in Amsterdam and New York. As an independent maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, specifically for the F-16 platform, AAR is an ideal partner for KAEMS, said Youn Ki Cho, KAEMS CEO. Our advantages include a commercial model, skilled workforce and familiarity with the F-16 airframe overhaul. AAR has extensive expertise in component maintenance and the F-16 in specific thanks to our global repair centers, said Ken Hein, AARs SVP Group Operations. Sharing this expertise with our partners at KAEMS will bring a critical readiness capability to South Korea in direct support of its frontline F-16s. # # # About AAR AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company that employs more than 6,000 people in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AARs Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AARs Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems and Composite Manufacturing operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com. About KAEMS KAEMS is a unique MRO company designated by Korean Government and a subsidiary company of KAI. The headquarter is located in Sacheon city in the far south of Seoul. KAEMS is performing commercial and military airframe maintenance and plans to expand further with component maintenance services. With this plan, KAEMS is now discussing cooperation plans with ROKAF and the Korean Government as well as global leading companies. This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated, including those factors discussed under Item 1A, entitled Risk Factors, included in the Companys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2019. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Companys control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. For additional information, see the comments included in AARs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Attachment AAR Corp +1.630.227.5100 Editor@aarcorp.com (Natural News) The CDC has already flown hundreds of American evacuees from Wuhan, China to various cities across the United States, including San Antonio, Texas and Omaha, Nebraska. There, evacuees are being quarantined for 14 days, after which they will be released to return to their homes. This 14-day quarantine is based on an assumption that this nCoV coronavirus has a maximum 14-day incubation period. But what if that assumption was wrong? What if some patients actually experienced a 24-day incubation period before showing symptoms? If that were the case, the CDC would be releasing people into the population 10 days too early, effectively contributing to the outbreak. Guess what? Thats exactly whats happening, according to a science paper published on the MedRxIV website, backed by the British Medical Journal and Yale. The study, entitled, Clinical characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus infection in China, is noted as a preprint which has not been peer-reviewed, but the study notes that incubation periods for the coronavirus vary from zero days to 24 days. The study was based on 1,099 patients with lab-confirmed 2019-nCoV, gathered from 552 hospitals in 31 provinces, through January 29, 2020, explains the abstract. Weve posted a backup copy of the original PDF here, just in case MedRxIV removes it or stealth edits the paper. The median incubation period was noted as 3.0 days. The conclusion of the paper is not good news for the world: The 2019-nCoV epidemic spreads rapidly by human-to-human transmission. Normal radiologic findings are present among some patients with 2019-nCoV infection. The disease severity (including oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, blood leukocyte/lymphocyte count and chest X-ray/CT manifestations) predict poor clinical outcomes. Notably, only 1.18% of the patients studied by the researchers had any direct contact with wildlife. Almost everyone in the study caught the virus from other people, underscoring the human-to-human transmission thats exploding across China. If the incubation period lasts up to 24 days, then governments all over the world are releasing infected patients after insufficient quarantine Although we feel great remorse for any human being trapped in a medical quarantine, the entire purpose of the quarantine is to isolate infected people for the full duration of viral incubation. If quarantines do not cover the full range of expected incubation durations, then they will inevitably release some number of infected people into the general population. Although a 14-day quarantine will no doubt cover the vast majority of possible carriers, if even 1% of patients demonstrate incubation periods lasting significantly longer than 14 days, thats still enough to spark an outbreak in the general population. This is on top of the fact that the CDC just admitted earlier today they made a mistake in the lab and accidentally released a person from a quarantine center in California long before the 14-day quarantine requirement. As Zero Hedge reports: Dr. Anne Schuchat, a top official at the CDC, told reporters in Washington, admitted that it turns out there was probably a mix up and the original test wasnt negative. First off, whats with the doublespeak? Why not just say the first test was positive? Instead, they have to say, was not negative which is a double negative. So the pandemic language police are alive and well at the CDC, it seems, where even mentioning the word positive is now forbidden. And were supposed to trust these people to be transparent? Secondly, does anybody really believe this release of a possibly infected person was an accident? By all accounts, it seems like the CDC is trying as hard as it can to distribute potentially infected people all across the country, literally chartering commercial jets to land American evacuees from Wuhan in cities like Omaha and San Antonio. So the CDC is either lying or just flat-out incompetent. Perhaps both. But it makes no sense to distribute returning evacuees across several facilities in several states (and then release them after just 14 days instead of 24 days). If you dont believe the U.S. government is preparing for a pandemic, ask why the U.S. military is preparing 11 quarantine centers across the United States: JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI (HNL) Great Lakes Training Center Navy Base, IL (ORD) Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, TX (DFW) March ARB, CA (LAX) Travis AFB, CA (SFO) Dobbins ARB, GA (ATL) Fort Hamilton, NY (JFK) Naval Base Kitsap, WA (SEA) Joint Base Anacostia, DC (IAD) Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ (EWR) Fort Custer Training Center (DTW) As Michael Snyder writes: If this coronavirus outbreak is not a serious threat, then why is the U.S. government preparing to quarantine victims all over America? As you will see below, 11 U.S. military bases located close to major airports are being converted into quarantine centers for potential patients. When I first learned about this, I was greatly alarmed, because we have all seen what is going on in China right now. People are literally being physically dragged out of their homes and are being forcibly relocated to mass quarantine camps with hordes of other very sick people. Sadly, many of them will never come out of those camps alive. If this virus starts spreading like wildfire here in the United States, is it possible that something similar could start happening here? The answer, of course, is yes. Follow the narrative to get to the real truth on all this: Brighteon.com/78dc576c-c533-4112-b872-bbafaaf322d5 Reuters (Reuters) - WeWork on Tuesday brought forward its target of becoming free cash flow positive by a year to 2022 as Chairman Marcelo Claure pushes ahead with his five-year turnaround plan aimed at boosting valuation and winning back investor trust. The office sharing start-up, which has gone through a meltdown as its public offering imploded last year, also said it expects to record its first ever $1-billion revenue quarter this year. The company aims to achieve free cash flow of over $1 billion by 2024. As part of its overall plan, the company named real estate veteran Sandeep Mathrani as chief executive officer earlier this month to put the company on a profit-making trajectory. The company is also reshuffling its board and said on Tuesday that three directors - Mark Schwartz, Steve Langman and Lew Frankfurt - stepped down. Schwartz is a former Goldman Sachs executive and has been a board member at WeWork since August 2017. Langman is a co-founder of private equity Rhone Group, which backed a $2.9 billion real estate investment fund created in May 2019 with Canadian property investor Ivanhoe Cambridge. WeWork's board also includes Bruce Dunlevie of Benchmark Capital and Claure, who was parachuted into WeWork from SoftBank last year. WeWork said Kirthiga Reddy, who was named to the board last week, will replace Ron Fisher as a representative of SoftBank Vision Fund. WeWork also said it expects to reach 1,000 locations worldwide by 2021 and 1 million memberships by 2023. As of the end of 2019, WeWork was present in 739 locations across 140 cities. WeWork said https://reut.rs/2UIyLy8 it expects to have $2.5-$3.0 billion of additional liquidity for future growth, provided it successfully meets the target on cash-flow breakeven in 2022. The company said in December that it arranged a $1.75 billion letter of credit with Goldman Sachs that was in the process of being syndicated and whose funds were expected to be available in January. Under the new credit facility, WeWork is not required to post any cash collateral and will have access to $800 million in working capital, which was restricted under the previous credit facility. The credit line is part of SoftBank Group Corp's $9.5 billion bailout that was announced in October when money-losing WeWork was on the brink of running out of cash. (Reporting by Bharath Manjesh, Anirban Sen in Bengaluru and Herbert Lash in New York; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Maju Samuel) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Paul and Stephanie Okonoski sign a franchise agreement to bring three Ziggi's Coffee locations to Arizona. When we met the Ziggis team, they just blew our minds, said Paul. They are nice, trustworthy, honest people with an excellent product and a great company. It wasnt more than a few minutes after meeting them and we were like, where do we sign? Ziggis Coffee (http://www.ZiggisCoffee.com) announces a new multi-unit deal to bring additional locations to Arizona. Local residents of Peoria, Arizona, a Northwest suburb of Phoenix, Paul Okonoski and his wife, Stephanie have signed a franchise agreement to bring three locations to the area. Paul was at a crossroads in life after being laid off from his job last November but when the outplacement firm held an online webinar about franchising, Paul discovered a new path for himself and his family. I never even thought I had the ability to own a business, said Paul. After learning about the different financing options from the webinar, I realized this was something I could do. Stephanie and I reached out to a franchise broker who introduced us to Ziggis and the stars just aligned. A self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur and morning person, Paul was immediately drawn to Ziggis Coffee and got the process started quickly. After a trip to Colorado, where the company is based, he and Stephanie sealed the deal. When we met the Ziggis team, they just blew our minds, said Paul. They are nice, trustworthy, honest people with an excellent product and a great company. It wasnt more than a few minutes after meeting them and we were like, where do we sign? Throughout the education process, Paul and Stephanie had the opportunity to speak with Ziggis Coffee franchisees who took time to answer their questions and help them feel confident in their decision. They also visited the companys exclusive roaster, Coda Coffee, which has facilities in both Colorado and Arizona. Paul and Stephanie are currently working with the companys real estate team to find the perfect site for their location and are looking forward to introducing Ziggis Coffee to their community. This is the 42nd agreement for the company, which specializes in fast, friendly service from its signature cafe and drive-thru locations. About Ziggis Coffee Ziggis Coffee, the leading specialty coffee shop and drive-thru franchise, was recently named a 2019 Colorado Business to Watch by Colorado Biz Magazine, for representing the states thriving business ecosystem and promoting valuable growth opportunities. Ziggis Coffee is dedicated to serving only the finest sustainably-sourced coffee, uniquely handcrafted drinks, and amazing, locally-made breakfast, lunch and snack options. Founded in 2004, the Colorado-based company is on a mission to elevate the standard of service within the coffee shop industry. From specializing in a variety of great-tasting coffee and food items to providing fast and friendly service, the Ziggis Coffee brand is focused on creating a positive experience that is faster, more authentic and convenient for the demand of consumers seeking higher-quality coffee and food options on the go. In addition to its distinctive menu and superior service, Ziggis Coffee is also committed to making a positive difference in the local communities it serves. With 21 locations nationwide and additional units in development, Ziggis Coffee is positioned to quickly grow its presence in a variety of communities across the U.S. To learn more about Ziggis Coffee and its franchising opportunities, visit http://www.ZiggisCoffee.com/franchise or follow Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ### January 2019 saw a polar vortex hit the Chicago area, and it was around the same time Jussie Smolletts name hit the national news for the being victim of an alleged hate crime in the city. Investigators eventually concluded that he fabricated the story and Smollett was charged with more than one dozen crimes. After the Cook County prosecutor had the charges dropped and the case sealed, people cried foul, including the Chicago Police Department. However, its just been announced that this is not over for Smollett. Jussie Smollett | Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images What happened to the original charges against Smollett? At the time of the incident and resulting investigation, Smollett was charged with felony disorderly conduct, The New York Times reported. For each count, he was facing up to three years in prison. But the state attorneys office dropped the charges and he was never indicted. The reason? The prosecutor cited that Smollett had no prior felony record and he didnt see Smolletts actions as being a threat to public safety. But Smollett then made a deal to perform community service and surrender his $10,000 bond as restitution. Prosecutors were quick to add that the deal did not mean he was exonerated of any crime. The police department was angered and sued Smollett to recover the costs of the investigation, a case which is still in litigation. Smollett indicted by grand jury Last August, a special prosecutor was appointed to oversee a new investigation into the Smollett case as well as determine if the Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx interfered in having the charges dropped. Its said Foxx was connected to one of Smolletts family members and Michelle Obama. On Feb. 11, the new prosecutor, Dan Webb, announced Smollett was indicted by a grand jury on six felony counts of disorderly conduct, per The Associated Press. According to a statement from Webb, Smollett is being charged with making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a hate crime. Webbs office also found the Cook County Prosecutors Office unable to provide evidence justifying its dismissal of the original charges, a factor contributing to Smolletts new indictment. Whats next for Smollett The former Empire actors attorneys continue to deny any wrongdoing on the part of their client and questioned the validity of the indictment. According to AP, one of the lawyers noted that the same detectives from the first investigation conducted this one in spite of the pending lawsuit Smollett filed against the city for malicious prosecution. One of his other attorneys believes the timing of the indictment is suspicious based on Kim Foxxs current re-election bid, and calls it politically motivated. If convicted, Smollett faces one to three years in prison for each count of disorderly conduct in addition to some fines. Since the hoax accusations came to light last year, Smollett has not appeared on Empire and it is not clear if he has any additional acting projects lined up. He is due to appear in court on Feb. 24 for the new charges. Peter Keeley's arms and legs were tied with duct tape when his body was discovered near bushland in Broulee, on the NSW South Coast, about 4.50pm on February 2 Two teenage boys have been arrested over the death of a father-of-three who was found in bushland after using dating app Grindr. Peter Keeley's arms and legs were tied with duct tape when his body was discovered near bushland in Broulee, on the NSW South Coast, about 4.50pm on February 2. Police believe the 56-year-old arranged a meetup on Grindr before driving two hours from Canberra to Batemans Bay, just north of Broulee, that morning. An investigation into the Canberra resident's death was launched and detectives executed three search warrants at homes in the Broulee area from 6am on Thursday. Two 17-year-old boys were arrested and have been taken to Batemans Bay Police Station. A post mortem examination was inconclusive but found Mr Keeley suffered head and facial injuries. The Canberra father's body was discovered near bushland in Broulee, on the NSW South Coast, about 4.50pm on February 2 Speaking to the media two days after Mr Keeley's body was found, NSW Homicide Squad Commander Danny Doherty said Grindr may have played a role in the death. 'Upon arriving in Batemans Bay, we believe this man may have been using the dating app Grindr to meet with another person before his body was found,' Detective Superintendent Doherty said. According to Nine News, Mr Keeley had been a 'successful auctioneer'. When his body was found, he was wearing a dark blue sleeveless fitted t-shirt, light blue jeans and white sneakers. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. AAP MLA Naresh Yadav went to temple after poll win, convoy attacked; 1 volunteer killed The Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR after an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was attacked, leading to death of a party volunteer. Read more. Five factors behind Arvind Kejriwal-led AAPs sweep 2.0 in Delhi assembly election With 53.6& vote share, the AAP swept Delhi again, winning 62 seats. Five factors that led to AAPs stellar performance. Read more. Uber reinstates driver who took poet to cops for anti-national activities An Uber driver, who was suspended for up to 72 hours from using the taxi aggregators mobile application for reporting a poet-activist for anti-national activities, was reinstated by the company on Tuesday. Read more. India vs New Zealand: Average of 114.60, 5 wickets - Stats reveal biggest reason behind Indias series loss Virat Kohli looked dejected after his side suffered a whitewash in an ODI series for the first time under his watch. After the superb results in the T20I series, India failed to show up in the ODIs as New Zealand found new ways to bounce back and get results in their favour. Read more. 10 Years of My Name is Khan: Shah Rukh-Kajols onscreen son is all grown up, reminisces about experience It was his film debut and he got to play Shah Rukh Khan and Kajols onscreen son in the Karan Johar-directorial, My Name Is Khan This was a decade ago and he was just 12. Read more. Happy Hug Day 2020: Wishes, quotes and Messages to share with your loved ones Valentines week is underway and every day of this week is celebrated with much enthusiasm. One of the days that fall in this week is Hug Day, which is celebrated on February 12. Read more. How the new decade could cause the mass extinction of private car trips Private car trips will drop by 10% on average by 2030 to make up less than half of all city journeys, while public transport, walking and bicycle will all increase in popularity, the Mobility Futures study found. Read more. More than 350,000 has been spent on 125 prisoners to take part in Open University courses over the past two years. Of the 58 students who enrolled in 2018, all but three passed with flying colours, with just two fails and one inmate withdrawing from the course. The most popular course over the past two years has been An Introduction to Business and Management, with 12 prisoners taking it, according to records provided by the Irish Prison Service. The next most popular course was Fundamentals of Accounting, which was taken by seven people. Education relating to sport and crime was also popular, with four students each taking courses in Sport and Fitness, Sport Psychology, and Making Your Exercise Certificate Count. Four more took a course entitled Understanding Criminology, while two enrolled for Counselling and Forensic Psychology. The number taking part in Open University courses has risen this year to 67. The Irish Prison Service said it had spent close to 157,000 on these courses in 2018. The bill for last year was higher, at almost 200,000, because of increased course enrolment. Course fees can range from around 1,700 up to 3,500 with the average cost working out at approximately 2,800 per prisoner. Students are free to pick whatever course they want with three students studying Spanish, both beginner and intermediate level, during the past two years. One person opted for a creative writing course while four enrolled on a course called You and Your Money. Reflecting the fact that some might not have much formal education, some students picked subjects such as Essential Maths or Discovering Maths. A number of people were also enrolled on access modules, which provide a gentler route back into education. A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said the courses were paid from its annual budget for education, which was 1.265m in 2018. He said: [We provide] a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare, and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences, and can encourage them to lead law-abiding lives on released. He said prison bosses takes all reasonable steps to ensure prisoners who request access to education are provided with support. Vice President Mike Pence will campaign in two Michigan cities to meet with agriculture stakeholders and battleground voters weeks before the states primary elections. President Donald Trumps re-election campaign announced Pence will deliver remarks at the Michigan Farm Bureau Lansing Legislative Seminar, then hold a Keep America Great rally in Troy. The vice president will visit Michigan on Feb. 25, the religious holiday Fat Tuesday also known as paczki day. The Troy rally is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Detroit Mariott, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd. Doors open at 3 p.m. and supporters can sign up for tickets online here. Trump barely lost in the city of Troy during the 2016 presidential election, with voters choosing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by a razor-thin 314-vote margin. Trump also lost the surrounding Oakland County by 8 percentage points, and voters in suburban communities north of Detroit overwhelmingly supported Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections. However, Troy also borders Macomb County, a key Michigan battleground that helped deliver the state to Trump in 2016. Trump became the first Republican to win Michigan since 1988 in part due to his appeal among blue-collar voters in places like Sterling Heights, which Trump visited in the final days of the previous presidential election. Trump won Michigan by only 10,704 votes in 2016, his closest margin of victory in any state and the closest result in Michigan electoral history. Pences event in Troy could attract Republican voters in neighboring cities like Rochester Hills, Shelby Township and Clinton Township, to name a few. Michigan Farm Bureaus Lansing Legislative Seminar is an annual event focused on policy and issues affecting agriculture. It will be attended by a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake; House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering; Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint; House Minority Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills. The Trump administration has kept a focus on appealing to farmers as his re-election effort kicks off. Trump touted the positive effects of the new North American free trade agreement during his State of the Union address last week, saying the rewritten deal opens new markets for agricultural exports. The Michigan Farm Bureau supported the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Farmers had been offered federal bailouts to offset the impact of the presidents trade wars with China and other countries. Michigan soybean farmers were hit particularly hard by tariffs China imposed on U.S. farm products. The Trump campaign has deployed Pence to Michigan several times during the campaign cycle. The former Indiana governor visited Saginaw, Holland and Portage in December 2019, and also spoke at the Michigan Republican Partys biennial leadership conference on Mackinac Island last summer. Read more on MLive: Michigan farmers brace for new Chinese tariffs as trade war rolls on Michigan farmers say nobody wins in Trumps trade war with China Here are the Michigan farms that received the most money from Trumps aid package, by commodity Michigan farmers got $193M from Trumps tariff-aid package OTTAWACanada is calling a meeting of its Lima Group partners next week to try to build new momentum in their effort to bring democracy to Venezuela. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is hosting the gathering of foreign ministers from the coalition of Western Hemisphere countries minus the United States next Thursday in Gatineau, Que., across from Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is not expected to attend the meeting because he has just returned to Venezuela after an extensive world tour that included Canada, Europe and the U.S. to drum up support for his efforts to oust President Nicolas Maduro. Canada and dozens of other countries recognize Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate leader, and view Maduro as a dictator who stole his countrys last presidential election. Armed forces loyal to Maduro blocked elected members of Venezuelas National Assembly from entering their legislature last month, amid a bid to replace Guaido as the assemblys speaker with a legislator friendlier to Maduro. Guaido received a boisterous welcome home on Tuesday during a speech in a main square of Caracas after his international tour, telling his supporters that he has the backing of the free world to take back the country on their behalf. When Canada last hosted the Lima Group one year ago in Ottawa, it issued a joint declaration calling on the Venezuelan military to change allegiance and support Guaido. That never happened and disillusioned Venezuelans are now fleeing in record numbers. The United Nations estimates six million Venezuelans will leave their country by the years end, as its economic, health and education systems collapse a crisis widely blamed on Maduros corruption. At next weeks meeting, the major task of the Lima Group ought to be shifting to a long-term strategy for supporting Venezuela and easing the humanitarian suffering of its people, said Ben Rowswell, Canadas former ambassador to the once-prosperous, oil-rich South American nation. They have more of a failed-state situation on the ground now where the Maduro government clearly doesnt control a lot of whats happening on its own territory, which is why Guaido is still a free man a whole year after being a rival president, said Rowswell, now the president of the Canadian International Council think tank. The Lima Group is made up of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. The group needs to find ways to build support among countries, such as Cuba, that support the Maduro government, and Rowswell said that can be done if theres a concerted effort to focus on addressing Venezuelas humanitarian crisis. Those kinds of conversations can crystallize into a new and broader international coalition with the imperative of addressing the humanitarian needs as the central objective. It doesnt rule out political change, he said. While that political change may appear stalled, Rowswell said the widespread support that Guaido garnered on his international tour including the enthusiastic reception he received in Canada and the fact that he has returned to Venezuela unscathed does create new opportunities. Guaido has revived his momentum with his own population and internationally with his successful tour, he said. Guaido managed to bring that support home, and demonstrate yet again the weakness of the Maduro regime. The biggest accomplishment of last years Lima Group meeting in Ottawa was a forceful joint declaration that external military force, namely from the U.S., was not an option for removing Maduro, said Rowswell. Sabre-rattling by the U.S. only emboldened Maduros supporters and solidified his hold on power, he said. In December, the U.S. Congress issued a statement committing the American government to a peaceful negotiation as the only exit to the Venezuelan crisis, said Rowswell. (That was) as close as youre going to see to the U.S. taking the military option off the table, he said. With that, people can take a breath and realize theres not going to be an international war over Venezuela. Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 18:33:20|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close by Hassan Rouhvand TEHRAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Although chances to reverse the course of confrontations between the two regional rivals of Iran and Saudi Arabia have grown slim over the past years, Iranians continue the calls to mend the bilateral ties. "Saudi Arabia is Iran's neighbor and Iran has been trying to improve relations with the Saudis over the past years," Foad Izadi, the Iranian expert on international issues, said in an interview on Tuesday. Since Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took office in 2013, he has tried to reduce tensions with the Arab kingdom, Izadi, also a professor at the University of Tehran, pointed out. The Iranian political expert believed "the problem is that the Saudis are not interested (in the efforts to de-escalate tensions), particularly after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud came to power and started a confrontational policy towards Iran." In the meantime, "Washington has tried to follow a divide and rule policy, creating tensions between the two countries, using its propaganda tools," he said. Boost of influence in West Asia has been a major thorny cause which has put Tehran and Riyadh at odds for decades, with the latter being the top Middle Eastern ally of the United States. Washington has announced that it would oppose Iran's expansion of influence in West Asia. Since June 2015, it has started imposing "tough" sanctions on the Islamic republic's oil and financial sectors to further curb Iran's nuclear program and to suppress Tehran's growing sway across the Middle East. To counter the impacts of U.S. "adverse" policies, Rouhani has proposed Hormuz Peace Initiative "aiming at bringing regional countries together to create stability." "From Iran's points of view, there is no problem in developing ties with neighbors and resuming relations with Saudi Arabia," Rouhani announced in his recent remarks. Iran and Saudi Arabia need to leave aside their feud and look forward to solving regional problems through cooperation and dialogue, he said. Last week, Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, also announced that his government "welcomes efforts to resolve issues and is open to settle differences with its Gulf neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as quickly as possible." After all, "Iran does not consider Saudi Arabia to be an enemy ... Iran has no intention for a confrontation with Saudi Arabia," Izadi said, expressing optimism for a likely breakthrough. Though @cta is primarily used to share real-time service information and answer questions, we also like to share others content we think our followers would enjoy, including posts that highlight moments that delight our riders and what makes transit special to life in a city, a CTA spokesman said in a statement responding to a Tribune reporter questions. One of the three Supreme Court judges hearing the plea against former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullahs detention recused himself from the case on Wednesday. Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar announced his decision to step back from the case as soon as the bench took up the petition filed by Omar Abdullahs sister Sara Abdullah Pilot. I will not be part of this (matter), justice Shantanagoudar said. The judge did not give any reason for his decision to recuse himself from the case. The other judges on the bench were justices NV Ramana and Sanjiv Khanna. Justice Shantanagoudars decision led the top court to defer the hearing on the petition. A new bench will be constituted which will take up the case on Friday. Omar Abdullah, 49, was booked under the Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA) on February 5, which allows authorities to detain a person without trial for a maximum period of two years. Abdullah was earlier detained in August 2019, when the central government had scrapped Article 370 and placed the Kashmir valley in a state of lockdown. His detention in 2019 was under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which empowers an executive magistrate to order a person to execute bonds for keeping the peace. He had been in custody for six months and his detention was set to expire on February 5 when a new detention order was issued on the same day under the PSA. Abdullahs father Farooq, leader of the National Conference, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti are also in detention under the PSA. Both are former CMs of Jammu and Kashmir., Abdullah, who was the chief minister of J&K from 2009 to 2014, was accused of favouring radical thoughts and of planning and projecting his activities against the Union of India under the guise of politic while enjoying the support of gullible masses. It was alleged that after the revocation of Article 370, he instigated people on social media sites to undermine the unity and integrity of India. His sister rushed to the Supreme Court against the detention order, arguing that Omar Abdullah was a votary of peace and there was overwhelming evidence in the form of tweets and public statements made by him to prove it. Sara Abdullah Pilot also extensively quoted from the governments dossier on the former chief minister that formed part of the material which formed the grounds for the administrations decision to issue the detention order. The detention order, she claimed, is vague and irrelevant without any material facts and particulars. Further, it was her argument that none of the grounds in the detention order disclose as to precisely which prohibited action listed in Section 8(3)(b) of the PSA was committed or likely to be committed by Abdullah. OKAYAMA, Japan, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a study recently published in Nature Communications, scientists at Okayama University describe the detailed molecular pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy in mice lacking the fukutin gene (Fktn), the causative gene for Fukuyama muscular dystrophy. Heart failure is the major cause of death for muscular dystrophy patients; however little is known for the molecular mechanism of muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy. In this study, a research team spearheaded by Senior Lecturer KATANOSAKA Yuki at Okayama University demonstrate for the first time the cellular and molecular pathomechanisms of muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy using mouse models of Fukuyama muscular dystrophy with a deficiency for the fukutin gene (Fktn), which encodes a Golgi-based ribitol-phosphate transferase that catalyzes the biosynthesis of tandem ribitol-phosphate structure on a-dystroglycans (DG). As DG and proteins of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex provide structural support for the sarcolemma in muscle tissue, a loss of membrane fragility was thought to be a cause for cardiac dysfunction in these diseases collectively known as a-DGpathies. However, their data show that cardiac dysfunction in muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy occurs at the cellular cardiomyocyte level. In this study, although cardiac Fktn elimination markedly reduced a-DG glycosylation and dystrophin-glycoprotein complex proteins in sarcolemma at all developmental stages, cardiac dysfunction was observed only in later adulthood, suggesting that membrane fragility is not the sole etiology of cardiac dysfunction. Younger Fktn-deficient mice show a vulnerability to hemodynamic stress conditions via impaired compensative hypertrophic response of cardiomyocytes. Adult Fktn-deficient mice exhibit altered cardiac morphology and dysfunction, suggesting that FKTN is critical for maintaining contractile function of individual cardiomyocytes. In addition, the team show that acute Fktn-elimination causes the disordered Golgi-microtubule network in myocytes. Finally, the team show that treatment with colchicine (an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of familial Mediterranean fever) improved cardiac dysfunction of Fktn-deficient hearts via the recovery of myocyte shortening, which may open a new avenue for therapeutic strategies. Background Muscular dystrophy and heart failure: Muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition that results in debilitating muscle weakness from childhood. Symptoms range from difficulty with walking and running, frequent falls, and muscle stiffness to extreme pain. Although there are various types of muscular dystrophy, Fukuyama Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (FCMD), the second most prevalent in Japan, typically leads to cardiac and neurologic issues. FMCD results from a genetic mutation leading to loss of the fukutin protein. Heart muscles: The heart muscles make up the walls of the heart and are responsible for it beating rhythmically. Damage to these muscles can result in heart attacks, arrythmias (irregular heartbeats), and heart failure. Proper myocyte structure and intracellular Ca2+ handling are important factors for healthy hearts. Microtubule are filaments required for the myocytes proper structure. The disorganization of microtubule induces the altered Ca2+ homeostasis in myocytes. In turn, golgi bodies are required for maintenance of the microtubule structure. Reference Yoshihiro Ujihara, Motoi Kanagawa, Satoshi Mohri, Satomi Takatsu, Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Tatsushi Toda, Keiji Naruse, Yuki Katanosaka. Elimination of fukutin reveals cellular and molecular pathomechanisms in muscular dystrophy-associated heart failure. Nature Communications, (2019) 10:5754. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13623-2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13623-2 Further information Okayama University 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka , Kita-ku , Okayama 700-8530, Japan Public Relations Division E-mail: www-adm@adm.okayama-u.ac.jp Website: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/index_e.html Okayama Univ. e-Bulletin: http://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/kouhou/ebulletin/ Okayama University Medical Research Updates (OU-MRU) The whole volume: OU-MRU (1- ) Vol.1:Innovative non-invasive 'liquid biopsy' method to capture circulating tumor cells from blood samples for genetic testing Vol.75:More than just daily supplements - herbal medicines can treat stomach disorders About Okayama University Okayama University is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Japan with roots going back to the Medical Training Place sponsored by the Lord of Okayama and established in 1870. Now with 1,300 faculty and 13,000 students, the University offers courses in specialties ranging from medicine and pharmacy to humanities and physical sciences. Okayama University is located in the heart of Japan approximately 3 hours west of Tokyo by Shinkansen. Dublin has been hit by difficult weather conditions over the last number of weeks - and that will continue this weekend when the nation is faced with Storm Dennis. Met Eireann has warned the public to stay tuned for weather warning updates, after the UK Met Office named Storm Dennis and issued a "danger to life" warning. While no official warning has been issued yet in Ireland, Jonathan McGovern, a meteorologist for Met Eireann, said that it looks very likely that the storm will wreak havoc. "We advise that people keep up with the warnings closer to Storm Dennis's arrival," he told the Herald. "The UK Met Office named Storm Dennis, which will arrive Saturday, so for the next few days it's going to be largely unsettled, with low pressure staying to the west affecting our weather. "On Saturday, and the weekend on the approach to Storm Dennis, it will be very wet and windy, with rain bands associated with that storm passing between the afternoon and evening, with a temperature of 8C to 10C. Expand Close Storm Ciara at Poolbeg Lighthouse last weekend. Photo: Naoise Culhane / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Storm Ciara at Poolbeg Lighthouse last weekend. Photo: Naoise Culhane "Sunday will be another wet and blustery day with spells of rain." Since Storm Brendan hit Ireland in early January, the country has seen the tail end of two UK storms, as well as Arctic conditions with snow arriving from Canada and extremely wet and windy weather prevailing. Across the country this week, sporting events have been postponed, and thousands of houses have lost power. The country also saw a covering of snow in many areas, with Dublin witnessing extreme winds and rain. While winds of a similar or even greater magnitude are likely this weekend, Mr McGovern said that the bitterly cold weather experienced this week will at least begin to subside. Chilly "Showers today will be confined mostly to the north-west and it will clear later in the day towards the east," he said. "These will ease off today so it won't be as windy, but they'll freshen up again later on in the week. "Tomorrow looks like it will be mostly showery. It will be warmer though, the cold snap will be finished, with higher temperatures of 4C to 5C in the north and 9C to 10C in the south, it will still feel chilly with the wind though. "On Friday these winds will strengthen again and a new band of rain will move in." A man was given a three-month suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of animal mistreatment of four Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Inspectors from RSPCA South Australia were given a tip-off in May 2019 about the four dogs who were in poor health as a result of living in squalid conditions and lack of care. All four of the dogs had health problems such as ear and mouth infections, ingrown nails and matted coats. Inspectors from RSPCA South Australia were given a tip-off in May 2019 about the four dogs living in squalid conditions All four of the dogs had health ailments such as ear and mouth infections, ingrown nails and a matted coats One of the dog's nails were so overgrown they had rotated and started growing laterally while another's had pierced it's paw. Two of the dogs needed 20 teeth surgically removed following the mistreatment. One is still receiving medical treatment for the ailments procured after their neglectful owner's poor car. All four have been adopted into new homes since they were removed from their owner's care. Dr Brad Ward, RSPCA chief vet in South Australia, said the case was a wake-up call to people who want to own high maintenance dogs such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels, border collies and Jack Russell terriers. 'All dogs require regular washing and grooming to keep their skin and coats healthy, but some breeds have greater grooming needs than others,' Dr Ward said. One is still receiving medical treatment for the ailments procured after their neglectful owner's poor car Dr Brad Ward, RSPCA SA's chief vet, said the case is a wake-up call to people who want to own high maintenance dogs 'Though they are very attractive dogs, Cavalier spaniels definitely fall into that latter category and anyone thinking of getting a long-coated breed like that needs to seriously weigh up the time required for washing, clipping and grooming.' The state's section of the animal welfare body said they have also been dealing with numerous cases of grass seeds embedded in dogs' skin, ears and eyes. The grass seeds need to be removed immediately as they can result in loss of hearing or eyesight. All four dogs were badly mistreated and had inspected in their mouth and ears as a result The man who mistreated his dogs was given a three-month suspended sentence and a $500 good behaviour, which is in place for two years Dr Ward advised people not to walk their dogs in long grass. The man who mistreated his dogs was given a three-month suspended sentence and a $500 good behaviour, which is in place for two years. He is banned from being in possession of any animals for five years. By combining all the best design elements of the much-loved Q Timex 1979 Reissue with a workhorse automatic movement, Timex answers to consumer demand with gusto, delivering a timepiece that squarely addresses the renaissance sweeping the watch industry today. This watch embodies a much-lauded shift toward automatic and mechanical watchmaking, and a real appreciation for timepieces with presence, soul and character. "The M79 Automatic expands our portfolio by introducing a fresh interpretation of a much-loved Timex icon," said Giorgio Galli, Design Director at Timex Group. "With this new watch we bring together a reliable mechanical movement with a stunning modern design approach that recalls a time of incredible change and progress for Timex, and for watchmaking as a whole." Where the naming of the Q Timex collection refers directly to the quartz movements powering the watches, the M79 Automatic's name refers to the mechanical nature of this timepiece. Drawing on that era, this watch features elements drawn straight from that era such as versatile sizing, everyday functionality and sporty styling. In that spirit, this watch boasts a unidirectional rotating bezel, luminous dial markings and a woven stainless-steel band. For a reverential touch to showcase what makes this Timex watch tick, an exhibition case back displays the 21-jewel self-winding movement within a stunning array of levers, gears, springs and articulated pivot points working together to track the passage of time. The M79 Automatic, which promises more to come throughout the rest of this year, is available today for $279 on Timex.com. About TIMEX Group Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces around the world. Timex Group is a privately-held company headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut with multiple operating units and over 3,000 employees worldwide. As one of the largest watch makers in the world, Timex Group companies produce watches under a number of well-known brands, including Timex, Nautica, Guess, Gc, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Versus, Ted Baker and Missoni. Join Timex on social media: @timex For more information, please visit http://timexgroup.com. PRESS CONTACTS Jessie Schnurr [email protected] | [email protected] SOURCE Timex Related Links http://timexgroup.com Despite it being a beautiful sunny day, Denise Richards and husband Aaron Phypers were huddled in a dark corner of the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu on Thursday. 'There were five or six tables available outside on the patio overlooking the beach and ocean. It's prime seating for everyone who goes there,' an onlooker tells DailyMail.com. 'But they obviously wanted to be inside away from everyone. Aaron was doing most of the talking and Denise was giving him her full attention. They appeared to be having a serious conversation that continued later in his truck.' The couple, who have been married for 17-months, then ran errands, first to the bank and then to the post office. 'Denise's expressions were tense,' says the source. 'She clung to Aaron's arm and kept her head down.' Denise Richards and husband Aaron Phypers were spotted out at lunch at the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu on Thursday 'Denise's expressions were tense,' a source tells DailyMail.com. 'She clung to Aaron's arm and kept her head down' Sources tell DailyMail.com that the couple appeared to be having a serious conversation that continued later in his truck The couple, who have been married for 17-months, then ran errands, first to the bank and then to the post office Despite it being a sunny day, and there being available tables outside, the couple sat in a dark corner at the Carbon Beach Club restaurant in Malibu What a difference a day makes. Just the night before, the pair were dressed to the nines, and all smiles for photographers as they hit the red carpet at the 60th Anniversary Party for the Monte Carlo TV Festival in West Hollywood. The night before the sighting, the pair were all smiles on the res carpet at the 60th Anniversary Party for the Monte Carlo TV Festival in West Hollywood The couple dressed California casual for their Malibu lunch date. Denise, 48, wore a Guns N' Roses rocker tee, a trendy Aviator Nation sweatshirt, jeans and sparkly sneakers. Her hair was still blown out from the previous night. Aaron, 47, showed off his fit physique in a tight T-shirt and ripped jeans. Both wore their most important accessory, wedding bands. Last year Real Housewives of Beverly Hills focused on 'doggie-gate.' The plotline stemmed around the allegation that cast member Dorit Kemsley had given her Vanderpump Dogs rescue pup (named 'Lucy Lucy Apple Juice') to a friend who later dropped it off at an animal shelter rather than returning it to pal Lisa Vanderpump's adoption center, as is required in the contract. The RHOBH ladies spent the entire season arguing over whether it was Lisa herself or someone else who had leaked the news to the media. Thanks to Denise and former cast member Brandi Glanville, the scandal meter will be off the charts when Season 10 premieres in April. Last month, DailyMail.com broke the exclusive news that sources revealed Denise Richards and Brandi Glanville had engaged in a sexual relationship for several months, ending in the middle of 2019. The source alleged that Brandi was upset with Denise after being told by the Wild Things actress that she and Aaron were in an 'open marriage.' She reportedly later found out that wasn't the case. This comes after DailyMail.com broke the news last month that Richards and co-star Brandi Glanville had engaged in a sexual relationship for several months Brandi was allegedly upset with Denise after Denise told her that she and husband Aaron were in an 'open marriage.' She reportedly later found out that wasn't the case. The drama is likely to dominate the new season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, premiering in April The showdown happened on a cast trip to Rome in late November, multiple production sources explained. The fallout between Richards and her castmates is expected to play out in the upcoming season, which will premiere early this year. Pictured: RHOBH cast members (l-r) Garcelle Beauvais, Sutton Strackein, Erika Jayne, Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley, Teddi Mellencamp, Lisa Rinna and Denise Richards The other cast members got wind of the affair while filming in Rome and reportedly confronted Denise about it. While Denise has denied the romance with Brandi, 47, it will likely be the focus of the new season. Fan favorite and former RHOBH cast member Brandi Glanville has posted tweets that support the lesbian fling storyline. After Denise asked fans what her tag line should be for the new season, Brandi shot back with the crass: 'I might be married to a man but I'm still allowed to eat p***y,' before deleting it later on. Denise and Aaron were the darlings of the popular Bravo reality show last year, with their hastily planned Malibu wedding providing her introduction to viewers. This year they are in the eye of the storm. The 'reality show curse' has destroyed many marriages, including those of RHOBH alumni Adrienne Maloof, and most famously Taylor Armstrong. Denise was previously married to Charlie Sheen, 54, from 2002-2006 and they co-parent daughters Sam, 15, and Lola, 14. In 2011 she adopted special needs daughter Eloise, 8. Aaron was briefly married to actress Nicollette Sheridan, 56. 'Denise is no stranger to scandal, but whether Aaron can handle all of this is yet to be seen,' says a source. Celbridge Camera Club in north Kildare recently presented a cheque to a major national charity following the sale of a calendar produced by its photo loving members. A selection of shots by members were chosen for the calendar and the club was delighted with the response from the public. A lot of work by club treasurer, Frank Butler, from Naas, was instrumental in getting the project off the ground, said CCC chairman, David Wolahan Just under four hundred calendars were sold. SEE ALSO: Thomas Reid's challenge against Intel's Kildare expansion before the High Court Photographic scenes from Kildare and other parts of Ireland were used. Before going on sale, the club came to an agreement with the National Council for the Blind that 40% of the proceeds would go to the charity, which also sold the calendar. SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories Club PRO, Michael Dooley, said the calendar was sponsored by local businesses and sold in shops in Celbridge and surrounding areas. Recently a cheque for 1,545 was handed over to the NCBI at its Celbridge shop. The shop received a proportion of the sales but also part of the percentage which went to retailers. The calendar retailed at 10. Club chairman, David Wolahan, said this was the first time the club did something of this sort. We hope we will do another one next year. He thanked everyone for their support. Present at the cheque handover were David Wolahan, chairperson, CCC, Frank Butler, treasurer, CCC, Laura Meehan, Shop Manager, NCBI Celbridge and Aileen Moon, Fundraising Executive, NCBI. [February 12, 2020] Enverus and RS Energy Group Combine Forces SaaS innovators strengthen their advanced analytics, intelligence and technology offerings to the energy industry AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2020 /CNW/ -- Enverus, a leading energy SaaS and data analytics company, announces today that it has acquired RS Energy Group (RSEG), an innovative technology firm focused in the upstream oil & gas industry. The acquisition combines the companies' complementary strengths to accelerate technology, machine learning and advanced analytics across the energy market. For more than 20 years, each company has independently established a reputation for providing unique value to its customers. Backed by Genstar Capital, Enverus' leading technology enables operators, investors and oilfield service companies to make better, faster decisions and delivers unmatched, in-field business automation software and capabilities. Since Warburg Pincus partnered with RSEG in 2015, the traditionally research-focused firm has grown nearly six-fold into a technology and data science-driven organization that allows investors and corporate executives to operationalize analytics and increase transparency at enterprise scale. Together, Enverus and RSEG will transform the way energy companies and investors perform technical workflows, automate business processes and ultimately deliver shareholder value. "This is about accelerating innovation through high-powered technology and is another active step for Enverus in breaking down silos by building workflows across engineering, geology, land, operations, and so much more. Our aligned vision, client-centric focus, and a relentless commitment to innovation will help our customers solve their most complex challenges. These values will never change," said Jeff Hughes, CEO and President of Enverus. As co-CEO and Presidents of RSEG, Jim Jarrell and Manuj Nikhanj share Hughes' excitement in the potential value being created for customers. Going forward, Jarrell and Nikhnj will join Enverus as co-Presidents overseeing Enverus' Oil & Gas Analytics Division. "Combining forces with Enverus carries an enormous opportunity for both companies and their clients. We have built extremely successful businesses and share a deeply embedded culture focused on client success. That is in our DNA. Timing of this transaction is amazing as the energy industry is in the first innings of its digital transformation. Our shared vision and combined resources allow us to ramp up the delivery and innovation of solutions to the industry's toughest challenges. It's full speed ahead and we are focused on the future together," says Jarrell. "In today's energy environment, it's no longer an option to ignore the power of data and analytics. Companies that are leveraging cutting-edge advanced analytics and technologies are building sustainable, long-term strategies. With Enverus, we will be creating a single solution that is vertically integrated from the technical teams to the board room. Together we will continue to fast-track the industry's digital transformation," explains Nikhanj. "This is a monumental milestone for both companies, and a significant opportunity to demonstrate even greater value for our clients. What's most exciting is how this combination brings together the best people and technology available in the industry," adds Hughes. "The most important assets in a software company are the people not the products. With this combined team our future has never looked brighter." Clients of both Enverus and RSEG will immediately derive value with access to new data sets and unique insights. Enverus and RSEG encourage existing clients to contact their account manager for any additional questions. Goldman Sachs served as the exclusive financial advisor to Enverus. Credit Suisse and Jefferies served as financial advisors to RSEG and Warburg Pincus. Kirkland & Ellis, LLP served as legal counsel for RSEG. Simpson Thacher, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Ropes & Gray LLP, and Irell & Manella LLP served as legal counsel for Enverus. About Enverus Enverus is the leading data, software, and insights company focused on the energy industry. Through its SaaS platform, Enverus provides innovative technologies and predictive/prescriptive analytics, empowering customers to navigate the future. Enverus' solutions deliver value across upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, enabling the industry to be more collaborative, efficient and competitive. With more than 1,000 employees across the globe, the Company's solutions are sold to more than 6,000 customers across 50 countries. Enverus is a portfolio company of Genstar Capital and brings together the technology of Drillinginfo, PLS, 1Derrick, MineralSoft, Midland Map Co., MarketView, DataGenic Group, PRT, Oildex, Cortex, Red Dog Systems and RigData as one company. Creating the future of energy together. Learn more at enverus.com. About RS Energy Group RS Energy Group (RSEG) is a leading SaaS firm delivering technology, augmented analytics and technology solutions that empowers operators, investors, midstream and service companies to make more agile, trusted decisions. Clients engage with RSEG's high-quality data and analytics in a single-solution platform to quickly benchmark the competitive landscape, uncover M&A opportunities globally, optimize operations and more confidently allocate capital. RSEG has over 300 employees and has offices in Calgary, Houston, New York and Philadelphia. Learn more at rseg.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enverus-and-rs-energy-group-combine-forces-301003431.html SOURCE Enverus [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] According to the agreement, the IFCs advisory services team will work with Tanmeyah to identify areas of weakness through a two-phase project The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed an agreement on Wednesday with Tanmeyah, Egypts largest micro-finance organisation, to help increase its sustainability and boost its outreach to underserved groups across the country, especially low-income citizens. According the agreement, the IFCs advisory services team will work with Tanmeyah through its 259 branches to identify areas of weakness through a two-phase project that will include a strategic review of Tanmeyahs current loan products, an in-depth risk management diagnostic, and a review of its human resources. Chairman and CEO of Tanmeyah Amr Abouesh told Ahram Online that this is the first cooperation of its kind between the two sides, and that it aims to introduce more quality services for low-income citizens. "The micro-finance sector has witnessed a notable shift since 2014 after the activation of the micro-finance projects act and the appointing of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) as a supervisor to the sector. This act has helped in attracting more investments to the sector, and resulted in increasing the number of private companies in the sector from just two companies in 2014 to seven operating companies, and about four companies have licences to work," Abouesh told Ahram Online. Moreover, as he said, banks have raised funds for the sector, and the Central Bank of Egypt has launched a number of initiatives that were beneficial for the sector. All these efforts have resulted in an increase in the amount of finances that have been pumped in the domestic market. Micro-finance has been increasingly proving highly successful as a way to end the cycle of poverty, decrease unemployment, increase earning power, and aid the financially marginalised. Despite being a young and vibrant segment of the population, the majority of Egyptian small businesses remain outside the scope of the traditional banking industry. This agreement will help us address the financing needs of this under-served group, he added. Abouesh also revealed that his company is looking to make deals worth about EGP 5 billion in 2020, and is looking forward to counting on other sources of finance including entering the securitisation field. IFC country manager for Egypt, Libya and Yemen Walid Labadi told Ahram Online that the IFC has invested a total of $4 billion over the last decade in Egypt, and that it is committed to investing about $300 million in 2020. Labadi also said that Egypt's unemployment rate has started to go down in the formal sector, but poverty is still a big issue for Egypt and its economy. So, the micro-finance sector plays a key role in dealing with this issue through creating more job opportunities, combating poverty, and giving people hope. "The micro-finance sector in Egypt is a huge market with huge potential. Yet, there are number of challenges on the ground, including the current regulations and insufficient private capital in the sector. Actually, the micro-finance sector is serving the majority of the Egyptian people," Labadi said. Egypt has high unemployment rates, which makes a strong micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector critical to spurring job creation and economic growth in the country, Labadi said. Labadi added that only a third of adults have access to a bank account, while the formal MSME finance gap was estimated at $46.7 billion in 2017, representing a significant opportunity for financial institutions to increase their outreach to individuals and the sector. He explained that the IFC delivered more than $19 billion in long-term financing for developing countries in FY2018/2019, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. The agreement is part of the IFCs wider strategy to expand access to finance and support financial inclusion in Egypt, he added. The IFC is a sister organisation of the World Bank and a member of the World Bank Group. It is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. The IFC works with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities where they are needed most. Search Keywords: Short link: The four motels have had a total of 56 flooding claims that paid out $3.8 million over the past 10 years, and experts have predicted that flooding dangers will only increase over time. Shore towns should look at greener solutions to climate change challenges Egg Harbor Township has applied for a federal grant of $2.4 million to tear down four eyesor Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} This project and the 2015 demolition of six other blighted motels will leave the township with just two motels along the stretch of Route 40 that leads into Atlantic City from the mainland, Miller said. He said the township is committed to removing all vestiges of the motels, including parking lots and cement pads. Our application was to remove everything and preserving the land as open space, with no future buildings, Miller said. The 2015 demolition used $3 million from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. One of the motels in that project, the Golden Key, was dubbed the motel from hell after four women were found murdered behind it nearly 14 years ago. The killings made national headlines. On the 2015 properties, the cement pads were left to preserve the right to build on them, Miller said. Now, the township is considering turning all of the properties over to open space for a greenway along the highway. Champawat: In this present era, many types of diseases growing in the present day are not taking the name of havoc, while the health department team is alert on the Indo-Nepal border amid the fear of spreading Coronavirus across the country. On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, a Chinese citizen coming to India from Nepal was returned to Nepal under a security check post. The health of a Chinese citizen was also tested there due to Coronavirus. During this time the Indian officers and employees present there have also been asked to be vigilant and do a health test. Priyanka Vadra will visit Azamgarh today to meet the victims injured in action by police On Tuesday, a Chinese citizen was coming from Nepal towards India. After stopping him at the immigration check post in Banbasa, the team tested his health under the Korana virus. Although the symptoms of the corona were not found in him, he was returned to Nepal due to security reasons. ACMO Dr. HS Hyanki said that the Chinese citizen coming directly from China has been returned under instructions not to come to India. It was told that the Chinese citizen Sun Yoon Can Lily is from a city in the city of Sandown, who went from Delhi to China on 6 January and from there to Kathmandu, Nepal on 9 February. He wanted to enter India from Nepal via Banbasa on Tuesday 11 February. Shutdown Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, Sharmistha Mukherjee angry Passports and visas have been found to be correct. On this occasion, Dr. Sanjay, HV Ganesh Chand, Additional Chief Medical Officer, Dr. HS Hayanki, ACMO, Dr. HS Hayanki, gave the Indian officials and personnel present during the investigation in the immigration check post of the said Chinese citizen for 14 days. Has instructed to remain under surveillance. He has been asked to immediately inform the Health Department team if there is any symptom of any respiratory tract infection. Kejriwal will take oath on February 16, to meet Lieutenant Governor today The BBCs chairman is to warn that if the licence fee is axed, the corporation will be forced to slash TV and radio services. Sir David Clementi will say tonight that the broadcaster would be a hugely different organisation if the funding model is changed to a subscription scheme. He will claim that local TV and radio services would face cuts and the number of childrens programmes would drop. Last week the Government suggested that the licence fee funding model could be scrapped when the current Charter ends in 2027. Sir David Clementi will say tonight that the broadcaster would be a hugely different organisation if the funding model is changed to a subscription scheme But the BBC boss, in a fight back against the critics, will describe the corporation as a national asset and warn that a diminished BBC is a weakened United Kingdom. When Sir David delivers the talk in Salford, he will acknowledge that although the BBC could thrive if funded by a voluntary subscription model, it would not be the BBC that the nation knows and values. And sitting behind a pay wall where it would not be available to everyone means the BBC would no longer be the place that brings the country together for iconic live events such as royal weddings, shows such as Strictly Come Dancing or Olympic successes. The BBC would have less of a regional presence if it adopted a subscription model the boss will say in his speech In his speech, the BBC chairman will warn: A subscription service would be unlikely to have much regional presence. It would not fund anything like the amount of money that the BBC at present puts into the nations and regions, in television and in local radio. It would be unlikely to continue the level of properly curated programmes for children, or the Bitesize education services that have helped so many teenagers. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal for capital infusion and immediate release of Rs 2,500 crore for three public sector companies on account of their critical financial conditions. The decision came after United India Insurance, National Insurance Company and Oriental Insurance Company breached the regulatory solvency requirements. "The Cabinet approves the proposal for capital infusion and immediate release of Rs 2,500 crore for three public sector general insurance companies in the light of the critical financial position and breach of regulatory solvency requirements," an official statement said. It will still take time for AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to emerge as a "national leader" despite his party coming to power in Delhi for the third consecutive term, experts opined on Tuesday. The experts said Kejriwal would need to have a pan-India base to establish himself as a national leader. The AAP is at present recognised by the Election Commission as a state party. It emerged as the principal opposition in Punjab in 2017. However, its national ambitions suffered a setback when its campaigns in Goa and in the last two Lok Sabha elections were unsuccessful. It won four Lok Sabha seats in Punjab in 2014 and just one in 2019, while Delhi voters rejected it both times. Kejriwal also burnt his fingers in 2014 when he contested against Narendra Modi, who was the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, in the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, losing by over three lakh votes. Many saw a shift in the AAP's strategy after the party's drubbing in the 2017 civic polls in Delhi at the hands of the BJP, as it again focused on its development pitch in the national capital. "It is still early to say that because it was a local election and of course, there is a positive platform on which he contested but whether he can replicate it at an all-India level is difficult to say. His party doesn't have any substantial base or party infrastructure. It is premature," said Sanjay Pandey, a political analyst and JNU professor. The AAP is headed for a landslide victory on Tuesday in the high-stakes Delhi Assembly polls, leaving main rival BJP way behind and decimating the Congress in a bitterly-fought contest. Kamal Chenoy, JNU professor, said the Indian polity is "very complex" where people have different ideas. "For Arvind to be an all-India leader would take time. But what he has done has shown that there is some different kind of argument by using whatever the people need and giving them empowerment so that is important. He will grow but becoming national is going to take time," he said. Chenoy said these elections gave the AAP a kind of empowerment which will help it get the support of other opposition parties that have been trying to put up a united front against the BJP. "The BJP is upset because now Arvind has got his foot in the door and the AAP is going to move on from here," he added. Jagdeep Chhokar, one of the founding members of the Association for Democratic Reforms, said the AAP has to do a lot more before they go national. "Going national is a very different level of activity. Last time, in national elections they contested around 400 seats, they had no clue who they had nominated as their candidates," Chhokar said. Employers trying to fill roles should disclose the salary on offer to avoid losing candidates in a "jobseekers' market", according to IrishJobs.ie. The recruitment site surveyed 116 employers and 1,434 jobseekers - and found firms' refusal to offer a salary scale in the job description as the "biggest frustration" for applicants. For their part, nine out of 10 employers said they had recently lost candidates midway through the recruitment process - most commonly because they had accepted a job elsewhere - costing the firm money and time. "There is a fine line between taking enough time to identify the best candidates and taking too much time to make a decision," said IrishJobs.ie general manager Orla Moran. "We are in a jobseekers' market. The results suggest if a process is too long, employers risk losing candidates to competitors." Ms Moran said only 10pc of the 1,100 active jobs on the site explicitly state salary ranges. "It's the big frustration for jobseekers, who ask: why do I have no idea what the going rate is for this job?" she said. IrishJobs.ie does ask companies to list salary ranges and plans to make these mandatory in the coming year. Ms Moran said IrishJobs.ie plans to make jobs searchable by salary band. Companies still will be able to avoid displaying this information on the job description, but users will be able to search a group of jobs based on salary range. "They won't see 65,000- 80,000 on the job spec - but they will on the search." More than a third of surveyed jobseekers said their recent interviews had given them no chance to demonstrate skills and expertise. When asked to identify the most frustrating aspect, 27pc of jobseekers picked the lack of salary information, while 25pc cited non-existent communication from the company. Smaller numbers noted long application forms (12pc), vague job descriptions (10pc), an inability to apply for the job using a mobile phone (6pc) and an inability to submit an online professional profile (3pc) as problems. FREDERICTONNew Brunswicks premier concedes that the growing backlash to health-care reforms including closing the emergency rooms of six community hospitals during the overnight hours may hurt him politically. A defiant Blaine Higgs addressed reporters Wednesday, saying his government is convinced it is doing the right things to ensure the sustainability of the health-care system. We have to fix our situation in our province, and we have to make decisions that are not popular, but people can understand the facts and the reason, Higgs said. But Dr. Hubert Dupuis, president of Egalite sante en francais a group that lobbies for equal health services for francophone New Brunswickers said the changes are irresponsible. If there is a critically ill patient in rural New Brunswick, they need to be able to get into an emergency room. We are talking about their health and their lives, Dupuis said Wednesday. He said the move will lead to the defeat of the Tory minority, and accused the provinces health networks of being puppets of the Higgs-Austin government. Dupuis was referring to the minority Progressive Conservative government, which is being supported on confidence votes by the Peoples Alliance party led by Kris Austin. Karen McGrath, CEO of the provinces English-language health authority Horizon Health, said Tuesday the six affected ERs were only seeing an average of five patients per night, and most of those were not emergencies. McGrath and Vitalite Health CEO Gilles Lanteigne said the hospitals were also chosen because they were within 75 kilometres of another hospital with a 24-hour emergency department. Dupuis said thats still too far for someone with a health emergency to go, and the drive to get emergency care should be no more than 30 minutes. I dont think that people will stand for this. I think theres going to be a movement thats going to start. I think this government, being a minority government, is gone. I think this government is going to fall on this, Dupuis said. Effective March 11, emergency departments in Sussex, Sackville, Perth-Andover, Ste-Anne-de-Kent, Caraquet and Grand Falls will be closed from midnight to 8 a.m. The six impacted communities will get added mental health services, and 120 acute care beds will be converted to long-term chronic care beds, mainly for seniors awaiting a nursing home. Health Minister Hugh Flemming said Tuesday the changes were needed to improve care and address a shortage of human resources. A number of protests were held outside the affected hospitals on Tuesday, and Opposition Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers said his party would try to topple the government. We at the very first opportunity will do everything in our power to bring down this government to ensure the health and safety of our citizens of New Brunswick, he said. Higgs said Vickers didnt attend a briefing from the government on the reforms, and accused the Liberal leader of lashing out without the facts. Its politics at its worst and its exactly why our province is in the state its in decisions without facts, Higgs said. A number of Higgs own MLAs have expressed concerns with the reforms, but the premier said he believes theyll be supportive once they see the changes working. Green Leader David Coon wouldnt say if he would vote against the government on any confidence motion over the health reforms. Im not the kind of person who goes around making threats all over the place like that. We need to convince the government to reverse its decision, he said. The changes are being made by the regional health networks and dont need to come before the legislature for approval. The current standings in the Legislative Assembly are 21 Tories, 20 Liberals, three Peoples Alliance members and three Greens. There are two vacancies and Higgs has said hell announce the dates for the byelections in March. Liberal members of the legislatures public accounts committee have brought forward a motion calling on Health Department officials and the two health network CEOs to answer questions about the reforms. These cuts will put the health of many New Brunswickers at risk and we need the government to explain why it is taking such drastic action, said Liberal MLA Lisa Harris. Read more about: A delegation from the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has commiserated with the family of Ruth Eshun, the community health nurse who was murdered last week at Ayuom, near Sawua in the Bosomtwe District. Led by Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang, the Regional Director of Health Services, the delegation first visited the Sawua Health Center to encourage her colleagues to continue to attend to patients despite the gruesome act. It was a somber atmosphere as most of the health workers broke down in tears when the delegation arrived at the facility. Dr. Tinkorang encouraged them to be strong even in the face of the seeming insecurity and continue to provide the essential service for the good of the public. He said for a person who was returning home after rendering a critical service to be murdered in that manner was barbaric, most unfortunate and needed to be condemned. The Directorate, he said, was shocked when heard the news of the cruel killing the young lady, considering the fact that such attacks on health professionals were not common in the communities. He said the provision of healthcare in such areas involved a lot of outreaches such as home visits and stressed the need for a secured environment so that workers would not feel threatened to render such services. The Regional Director implored the workers not to be frightened or demoralised by the incident and go about their normal duties, saying that, any fear factor may adversely affect service delivery. At the residence of the deceased, Dr. Tinkorang on behalf of the Health Minister and the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service expressed the condolences of the health fraternity to the bereaved family. He acknowledged that they were going through a difficult moment and urged them to be strong as the police hunt for the perpetrators of the heinous crime. He gave the assurance that his outfit would provide the needed support toward the funeral and burial of their colleague. Ruth Eshun was murdered in cold blood by some unknown assailants, who attacked her whilst on her way home after work about a week ago. She is survived by a husband and three kids. Members of the community who spoke to the Ghana News Agency during the visit, spoke highly of her as a very calm and pleasant personality, who always treated patients with respect. A source from the bereaved family who also expressed utter shock about the lady's murder, told the GNA the deceased would be buried on Saturday, February, 15, 2020. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Nearly 40% of college students in the United States have experienced hunger, and nearly half have faced housing challenges, according to a new report. The #RealCollege survey, from Temple Universitys Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, recently released the report, which is based on research conducted in 2019 with more than 167,000 students at 227 community colleges and four-year colleges and universities in 44 states and Washington, D.C. The survey is the nations largest annual assessment of basic needs security among college students -- specifically evaluating access to affordable food and housing. Students from State Universities of New York, and private colleges like St. Johns University, which has a campus in Grymes Hill, participated in the survey study. Here are some key findings from the report: 39% were food insecure in the prior 30 days. 46% were housing insecure in the previous year. 17% were homeless in the previous year. Some racial groups of students were more at risk than others including: community college students, racial/ethnic minorities and LGBTQ students. Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability or nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire this food in a socially acceptable manner. Housing insecurity includes a broad set of challenges, such as the inability to pay rent or utilities, or the need to move frequently. Study results suggest that students are more likely to suffer some form of housing insecurity than to have all their needs met during college. Homelessness was described as a person who doesnt have a stable place to live. Students were identified as homeless if they responded affirmatively to a question asking if they had been homeless or they identified living conditions that are considered signs of homelessness. It is clear that college is now about serious financial struggles, not partying, said Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, founding director of the Hope Center and leading expert on basic needs insecurity among college students. Money weighs heavily on students minds, and without a safe place to sleep and enough to eat they cannot concentrate on learning. Researchers said there are many interconnected reasons that college students are facing basic needs insecurity. These include rising tuition rates; financial aid not up to par with the cost of living; lack of financial support; minimum wage not keeping up with the cost of living, and colleges struggling with insufficient money to help students in need. The report offered several suggestions to tackle food and housing insecurities, including: Assessing existing campus supports like food pantries, emergency aid programs, access to public benefits and case managers. Encourage faculty to add a basic needs security statement to their syllabus. Support efforts to expand SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) access for students, and work to accept EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) on campus. Create a basic needs website listing available supports. Consider centralizing fundraising for and distribution of emergency aid across institutions. Discuss the current business model for meal plans and whether the approach might be shifted to enhance retention. To become student-ready, colleges need to move beyond food pantries and take preventative measures, and policymakers must support them, said Goldrick-Rab. A report from October identified more than 2,500 Staten Island students in elementary, middle and high schools who are, or have been, homeless. The New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students, a project of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), released the data of students who experienced homelessness in New York State and New York City during the 2018-2019 school year. According to the report, Island public and charter schools enrolled 2,558 homeless students in the 2018-2019 school year. Thats 2.24% of the total number of homeless students in schools across the five boroughs. The number of Staten Island homeless students decreased from 2,909 students in the 2017-2018 school year. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Forces loyal to the Syrian government have attacked the last opposition stronghold in northwest Syria. The war in Syria, now in its ninth year, has witnessed yet another escalation as the Syrian government and its allies have launched a campaign against the opposition-held areas in the countrys northwest. In recent years, as Syrian government and allied forces took over opposition-held territory across the country, hundreds of thousands of civilians and opposition fighters from those areas were bussed to Idlib province. Parts of Idlib and Aleppo provinces are now the front lines of the battle between Syrian armed opposition groups, some of whom are supported by Turkey, and Russia and Iran-backed forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is pushing to regain control of the whole country. The government has sought to take control over the strategic M5 highway, which runs through Aleppo and Idlib provinces and which was once a major commercial route linking Aleppo to Damascus and the south of the country. Idlib is also adjacent to Latakia province, a Syrian government stronghold that is home to the Russian military airbase Hmeimim. In 2018, the advance of government forces on Idlib was paused when Turkey and Russia agreed to create a demilitarised zone in the province from which some opposition groups would withdraw. But in April 2019, the government launched a military offensive backed by Russian air power on opposition positions in the region. While a number of ceasefires were agreed to in the summer, they quickly collapsed and in December forces loyal to Damascus launched a new aerial and ground campaign. The conflict escalated further earlier this month when several Turkish military personnel were killed by Syrian government forces, prompting a military response from Ankara. Idlib province is currently home to more than three million people, the majority of whom are internally displaced. According to the United Nations, the latest push has forced more than 700,000 people from their homes, most of whom have fled to camps along the sealed border with Turkey. Aid workers have warned that the humanitarian situation at the overcrowded border area has become dire. There are about one million Syrian refugees living near the border, with IDP camps already at full capacity. The UN has warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe. Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a social mental illness that manifests itself in the refusal to accept the results of the 2016 elections. This ailment belongs to the category of political psychosis. Unlike most other mental disorders, TDS is a contagious disease that can cause epidemics and even pandemics. This syndrome is caused by the new neuropathologic coronavirus Bacillus Anti-Trumpicus (2016-nCoV). The virus, entering the human brain, selectively eats only those neurons responsible for a coherent political worldview. Theoretically, the disease is incurable, although some countries have announced successful attempts to combat the epidemic and control the spread of infection. One of the best known symptoms of TDS is the complete lack of logic in patients' behavior. For example, those afflicted with this disease claim that "President Trump is a lifelong dictator and fascist. Therefore, in the 2020 elections, we must choose a different, democratic president." For those who still do not see a logical contradiction in this phrase, we can say with confidence that your prognosis is unfavorable. For those who see it, this expression serves as a kind of warning: "Beware a sick person is before you. You should not argue with him. You should not discuss any serious problems with this individual; do not debate or argue with a schizophrenic. This person needs neuropsychiatric help, not fruitless discussions." The coronavirus Bacillus Anti-Trumpicus belongs to a well studied class of pathogens known as the Hidden Dogma of Collectivism (Occultatum Fascismo Decretum). In the same way that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) had spread for many years among people belonging to well defined social groups, Occultatum Fascismo Decretum viruses have spread for many decades among certain ideological structures, such as the Democrat Party. Since the late 1960s, this party has become the party of the left, a socialist, Marxist party of the Leninist type. The Democrats carefully concealed this from their electorate. On television, they preferred to show moderate rather than radical socialists, such as Bill Clinton. That was the period when the virus was in a latent state. Only a small group of specialists could make a correct diagnosis at such an early stage of the disease. But the arrival of Barack Obama in the White House marked the transition of Occultatum Fascismo Decretum viruses from latent to the semi-active stage. On the television screen, Obama almost always positioned himself as a moderate centrist with a charming smile, but all his actions were the actions of a vicious radical socialist, radical leftist, radical "fighter against American imperialism." The recent outbreak of TDS represents a metastatic disease that originated in 2016. By 2020, for a certain number of American citizens, it has reached vital organs. In particular, the 2016 elections forced the Democrats to peel off the mask of semi-hidden socialists, revealing the inner pathology. The 2016 election forced Democrats to oppose America with an open socialist visor. Why? Because proponents of leftist ideology have come to the (pretty reasonable) conclusion that the beginning of the Trump era means the end of the socialist era. They realized that it was time to go all in. Otherwise, the idea of turning 50 American states into 50 Soviet socialist republics would fail. So they went all-in...Putin, Russia, Mueller, strippers, Ukraine, impeachment. From the outside, all this looked silly, but what else could be expected from a host in which the number of coronaviruses far exceeds the number of healthy cells? The Democrat vote in Congress over the impeachment of President Trump confirms this. The voting results settle the assumption that there are no uninfected individuals left in the Democrat population. Moreover, for many leftists, the disease entered into the last disseminated and incurable fourth stage. Viruses Occultatum Fascismo Decretum, as a rule, cause a limited number of symptoms, which facilitates a correct diagnosis. For example, infected patients always refuse to believe they are sick. They blame everyone who does not agree with them, referring to them as fascists, projecting onto conservative political opponents their own inner fascist pathology. Organisms infected with the virus often break into militant gangs, which, as expected, and in Orwellian fashion, call themselves anti-fascists (Antifa). The incubation period of Bacillus Anti-Trumpicus is unknown. However, according to experts, it is the shortest among the entire class of Occultatum Fascismo Decretum viruses. The incubation period depends on many factors, including hereditary ones. For example, if Karl Marx's books were on the bookshelves of the patient's parents or the Frankfurt School of Socialism was discussed at the dinner table instead of the kid's school affairs, then the incubation period is practically absent. It is the case of the father of the current Democrat frontrunner, Joseph Buttigieg, who was a Marxist professor. A recent discovery by American researchers gives hope that the correct approach to the Bacillus Anti-Trumpicus problem will be found eventually. It turned out that the record-low unemployment rate and noticeable growth of accumulated wealth in pension funds sharply boost the immune system of both societies and individual citizens. In some cases, a manifestation of a complete cure is the refusal of patients to receive welfare benefits since they have obtained a high-paying job. Cases of complete massive cures were also observed in patients who took advantage of popular home remedies. For example, some patients simply stopped watching propaganda television programs that disguised themselves as news media. Bacillus Anti-Trumpicus is known to prefer an unsanitary, anti-American, and anti-Semitic habitat, which is often created by the heirs of Marxism, known as globalists. Globalism is a pandemic caused by Occultatum Fascismo Decretum viruses. Humanity still does not know much about this phenomenon, but experts believe that the globalism pandemic, although caused by a virus, carries mainly the characteristics of a social disease. Therefore, symptomatic treatment will not lead to success it is necessary to eradicate the source of infection. Unfortunately, as of now, the exact recipe for a complete cure is not entirely clear, although the actions of the current administration to start the massive de-Vindmanization process are impressive. However, the main hope is inspired by the exciting pattern confirmed by scientists: the coronavirus Bacillus Anti-Trumpicus does not survive in a pro-American environment. Gary Gindler, Ph.D. is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and the founder of a new science: politiphysics. Follow him on Twitter and Quodverum. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. With the theme of More Room in Your Room, Perfect Homes Studio from Flipkart aims to reach out to consumers in metros and Tier 1 cities, in the age group of 25 - 45 years Bengaluru: Flipkart, Indias homegrown e-commerce marketplace, today announced the launch of Perfect Homes Studio to strengthen its offering in the furniture category. With this expansion, the company has ramped up its private brand furniture selection to offer a young urban population aesthetically pleasing, minimalistic, sleek and functional furniture to meet their needs and aspirations. With the theme of More Room in Your Room, Perfect Homes Studio aims to reach out to consumers in metros and Tier 1 cities, in the age group of 25 - 45 years. The collection brings a range of multi-utility designs in wardrobes, tables, cabinets, drawers, shelves, shoe racks, stools and other small furniture, keeping in mind the space limitations most urban households face. Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President, Private Brands, Electronics and Furniture at Flipkart, commenting on the launch, said, Customer centricity is the ethos on which our private brands portfolio is built. With this entirely new range, Perfect Homes is targeting a new segment of consumers who aspire to own the latest decor and aesthetics but may have budgetary concerns. This range will allow them to feel a sense of ownership over the furniture, which many young Indians living in metros today may not otherwise experience. Living alone, with friends or with their spouses, consumers always want to build the home of their dreams, and Perfect Homes Studio allows them to do just that. Perfect Homes by Flipkart was launched in 2017 and has seen a significant growth since then. It was conceptualized after realizing the gaps that exist in online furniture offerings in the country and since then has been working on bridging them. Most of these products are made in India and in turn have played a key role in creating vibrant local manufacturing and new livelihood opportunities. The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its order on Thursday on a contempt plea, which has raised the issue of criminalisation of politics and claimed that the directions given by the apex court in its September 2018 verdict relating to disclosure of criminal antecedents by poll candidates were not being followed. A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman, which on January 31 reserved its order on the plea, observed that the issue of penalising political parties or candidates for not disclosing criminal antecedents has to be dealt with carefully as serious allegations with "political overtones" are often being made against candidates. In September 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench had unanimously held that all candidates will have to declare their criminal antecedents to the Election Commission before contesting polls and called for a wider publicity, through print and electronic media about antecedents of candidates. It had left it to Parliament to "cure the malignancy" of criminalisation of politics by making a law to ensure that persons facing serious criminal cases do not enter the political arena as the "polluted stream of politics" needs to be cleansed. During the hearing on the contempt plea, the EC had told the court that increase in number of MPs having pending criminal cases was "disturbing" and as per the statistics, there were 43 per cent MPs in Parliament who have criminal cases against them. The poll panel had agreed with the suggestions of senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing BJP leader and petitioner Ashiwini Upadhyay, including that all political parties should mandatorily upload on their website details of candidates with criminal antecedents along with the reasons as to why those without any criminal record could not be selected. However, the EC had said it was not agreeable to the suggestion regarding penalising the political party or its candidates under Article 324 of the Constitution for their failure to disclose criminal antecedents, as it does not have this power. The Election Commission has also agreed with the suggestion that political parties may be asked to furnish details on its website regarding criminal antecedents of candidates and give reasons as to why he or she has been given the ticket. On March 29 last year, the apex court had sought response from the Centre and the EC on Upadhaya's plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings for alleged violation of its judgment, directing all candidates to declare their criminal antecedents to the poll panel before contesting elections. On October 10, 2018, the EC had issued notification regarding the amended Form-26 and directions to political parties and candidates for publication of criminal antecedents. However, the plea filed by Upadhyay alleged that the EC neither amended the Election Symbol Order, 1968 nor the model code of conduct (MCC) so the said notification has no legal sanction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There wont be a minute that I wont be there with you, Tom promises, and though he is true to his word, Joans illness subjects their relationship to complicated stresses and shocks. They are going through it together, but in a cruelly asymmetrical fashion. The caregiver and the patient are allies, but neither one shares the others particular suffering, which threatens to turn them into adversaries. DSa and Leyburn (Cherrybomb, Good Vibrations) convey this with a sensitivity that is both admirable and frustrating, casting a tasteful, restrained hush over potentially unruly emotions. The music (by David Holmes and Brian Irvine) modulates from nervous to soothing to sad, and the editing (by Nick Emerson) folds one scene tactfully into the next. It has often been said that war movies inevitably glorify combat, and its also true that movies about grave illness tend to sentimentalize its ravages. That is the case here: An experience often defined by dread, indignity and tedium is softened and made beautiful. There are, nonetheless, a handful of scenes that have the rough, tender pulse of real life. The major problem is that, beyond the cancer and their devotion to each other, Tom and Joan seem barely to have lives at all. We know that they had a daughter, named Debbie, who died, though we dont know how or how long ago that tragedy occurred. Tom and Joan have, as far as we can tell, no other family, no jobs and no friends, though they do strike up an acquaintance with a couple they meet at the hospital. Tom feeds the fish in his aquarium, and he and Joan take daily power walks and squabble about nutrition, but any cultural interests or political opinions they might have remain unspoken. Or else left blank by the filmmakers, who depend on Neeson and Manville to fill in the scripts empty spaces with the force of their personalities. It almost works, but as persuasive as the performers can be, Tom and Joan seem less real the more time you spend with them. Ordinary Love Rated R. Sexuality. Profanity. Mortality. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes. Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi on Wednesday broke down outside a trial court premises in the national capital while protesting over the delay in the hanging of the four convicts in the gangrape and murder case of her daughter. This happened after the Patiala House Court offered Pawan Gupta, one of the convicts, legal aide saying that a condemned convict is entitled to it till his last breath. The parents of Nirbhaya and the Delhi government had moved the court on February 11 seeking fresh death warrants for the four convicts after the Supreme Court granted liberty to the authorities to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts. A weeping Asha Devi stated that she has been patiently fighting for the last eight years but she is losing faith in court and its legal procedures. "I am losing faith and hope now. The court must understand the delay tactics of the convicts. Now if a new lawyer is provided to convict Pawan he/she will take his/her own time to go through case files," stated Nirbhaya's mother. She also said, "The judge does not want to fix a date for hanging the convicts and is supporting them. I appeal to the Supreme Court to issue the death warrant as the Patiala House Court is in no mood to issue a fresh death warrant." Wiping her tears, she further said, "I am wandering here and there to get justice for my daughter. These convicts are using delaying tactics. I don't know why the Court is not able to understand this." Earlier, crying inside the court premises, she said, "What about my rights? I am standing with folded hands. Please issue the death warrant. I am also a human being. Its been more than seven years." Replying to her the judge said, "You have rights that's why we are listening to you." The advocate for Nirbhaya's parents said, "All delay tactics are being used. Pawan Gupta has not filed curative and mercy petitions. The Delhi High Court's order had directed them to exhaust remedies if available in seven days but that time has lapsed. Now they can't say that they want remedies." Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana expressed displeasure over delay from Pawan's side who said he has removed his earlier lawyer and will need time to engage a new one. District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) provided Pawan's father with a list of its empanelled advocates to chose from. The date of execution, first fixed for January 22 in Tihar jail, was postponed for 6 am on February 1 by a January 17 court order. The trial court later, on January 31 stayed, "till further orders" the execution of the four convicts in the case, who are lodged in Tihar Jail. The Tihar jail authorities had filed a status report on Tuesday before the trial court stating that no legal option was preferred by any convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31) -- in last seven-day period, granted by the Delhi High Court. Families living in boring old apartments are passe - people have grown to be more open to experimenting, just like this family of four in the US. Insider They have built their very own village on a 21-acre piece of land in London in Kentucky United States, and turned it into a private tiny house-village for themselves. The village is comprised of three houses - for Lennox, her brother, and their parents - that include a bathroom, an office, a pool house and a barn. Tik TOk Keli and Ryan Brinks live a tiny house village in Kentucky with their two children; their 18-year-old daughter, Lennox, and 16-year-old son, Brodey, live in their own tiny houses. Their teenage daughter gave people a peek into their unique way of life with short home tour videos on TikTok . #1 #2 @lennoxbrinks The Brinks family moved from Michigan to the plot of land in Kentucky and wanted to try out a novel way of living. Insider Lennox told DailyMail.com, "About five years ago, my mom decided that she wanted to leave Michigan so we searched for the land down here in Kentucky. Here she decided, instead of getting a big house, that we should downsize and try to live more environmentally sustainable." Insider Lennox's parents, Keli and Ryan, approached a local shed manufacturing business in Kentucky called Wildcat Barns. According to Insider, the first tiny house in the village is where Keli lives with her husband, Ryan. The children live in their own 160-square-foot houses.The pool house is one big room that measures 180 square feet. There are several seating areas inside, Insider Lennox and Brodey's tiny houses do not have bathrooms, so they have to go outside to another building when they need to shower or the bathroom. "It's really not that bad," Lennox said. "It seems much worse than it is. I just put a coat on if it's cold or raining. I'll just bundle up and run over there." Insider The family strictly believes in sustainable living and for them, living in tiny houses was the best possible way to stay true to it. Living in a tiny house means,less waste, less heating requirements, and a more environment-friendly way of life. Source: INSIDER by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, February 12, 2020 Microsoft continues to expand Bings content and advertising network through privacy search engines. On Wednesday Perion Network announced that CodeFuel, its search technology division that supports publishers, has launched the Privado Private Search Engine, offering new ways for searchers to protect their online privacy. Privado, powered by Microsoft Bing, follows another newly launched privacy search engine, Verizon Digitals OneSearch, which Bing also powers. Late last year, the privacy search engine Startpage debuted a tab for News results -- adding to features like web searches, images, videos, and anonymous views. Microsoft provides the News feed through Bing. Ads are based on the typed-in user search query, wrote Sharona Meushar, head of marketing at CodeFuel, in an email to Search Marketing Daily. With Privado, Bing does not use information about the user to target ads. advertisement advertisement Keeping browsing history private is top of mind for some internet users. About 42% of the 7,500 surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, the U.K. and the U.S. cited browsing habits such as internet search history as a major concern, according to an RSA Privacy & Security Report. To ensure that a search query is not associated with a specific user, Privado generates an anonymous ID, and users are presented with contextual information to search queries. Ad targeting relies on that contextual query. When asked why CodeFuel chose Bing to power searches, Meushar explained that the two companies worked together to develop the engine and not every search engine can handle the complex requirements of offering a true private search experience. Bing is a long-time partner of CodeFuel and offers advanced technology search results, she wrote. Tal Jacobson, GM at Israeli-based CodeFuel, leads the Privado search engine under the CodeFuel division. He has been in the high-tech industry for more than 20 years, spend time as CRO and chief business development officer at SimilarWeb, and founded Monotizer, which provided a technology for generating traffic to online retailers, and served as VP of business at McCann Erickson. CLAYTON The Clayton Board of Aldermen welcomed four special guests Tuesday night. Four of five puppies rescued in December by Clayton Police officers were on hand as the city's first responders were recognized for bringing a happy ending to the case of the Shaw Park Five. Early on Dec. 15, officers responded to an anonymous report of puppies abandoned next to a dumpster in Shaw Park. The officers scooped up the five pups and took them to the station. Interim Police Chief Mark Smith said the puppies likely part pit bull and part Labrador retriever were found when the temperature was 27 degrees. A veterinarian who checked out the puppies said they were less than two days old and still had umbilical cords attached, Smith said. Because the puppies required hourly feedings, our firefighters fed them while our police officers were on duty. The St. Louis County Department of Public Health authorized us to foster them instead of putting them in a shelter. The puppies grew and have been adopted three by Clayton officers, one by a Ladue officer, and another by a neighbor of a Clayton officer, Smith said. Photo: CTV News Daniela Luo and her daughter, Dominica, are pictured in quarantine at CFB Trenton in Ontario. The second Canadian evacuation flight from Wuhan, China touched down in Vancouver Monday night, which was a mere kilometres away from Daniela Luo and her nine-year-old daughter Dominica's home in Coquitlam. But they would not be reunited with family just yet, as the plane carried on to CFB Trenton in Ontario, where all 185 passengers on board will be quarantined for two weeks, CTV News reports. "This place is very nice," Luo said during a video chat from her and Dominicas assigned room at the military base. "We have a microwave, fridge and TV and a very big king size bed." But Luo said the best part is how everyone has treated her and her daughter from the moment they boarded the evacuation flight Monday morning. "Even the first meal they served is Wuhan noodles," she said, referencing a traditional dish served in the city at the centre of the outbreak. "When I opened this, I said, oh! I'm so thankful to them, you know." When touching down on Canadian soil, she was even more impressed. "The people, they're so nice. They're just wonderful people, wanting to help you," she said. "I am glad we are here." Luo said Dominica is loving the military base. "She wants maybe one month here. I said, really? She's so excited!" Assuming they remain healthy, the duo will be allowed outside periodically. - With files from CTV News Vancouver Iraqi locals rushed to have snowball fights, take photographs and simply revel in the snowy magic when Baghdad became a literal winter wonderland. In over a hundred years, Baghdad has witnessed snowfall only twice, 2020 and in 2008. So, this time, the residents didnt waste any time in capturing the historic moment. In 2008, Light snow fell in #Baghdad, in what weather officials said was the first time in about a 100 years. Today, #Iraq's capital is completely white! pic.twitter.com/OAmHPUvtZI Mohamad Ali Harissi (@aleeharissi) February 11, 2020 Most of the Iraqis, be it youngsters or the old, witnessed snow falling over Baghdad for the first time ever. Also, the locals in Baghdad are more familiar with heat than cold, which made this phenomenon all the more special. Snow has fallen in Baghdad for the first time in 100 years #baghdad #Snowing pic.twitter.com/wON7ANENON A. Al-Khairalla (@alkhairalla) February 11, 2020 The pictures of Baghdad covered in a blanket of snow have gone viral across the globe, for obvious reasons, and people are loving the joyous expressions of the locals. Now, this looks beautiful. Snow in Baghdad today, the first time in a very long time pic.twitter.com/exaSsejBlj Hanan (@hananjx) February 11, 2020 Locals could not stop expressing how happy they were to see the blanket of snow in Baghdad, saying that it looked like a wintry scene straight out of Europe. Were so simple and kindness people,today morning the snow fall n our joyful n happiness when we saw this view and for the first time for a while at Baghdad makes everyone of us happy n imagine ourselves as we in Europe GOD blessed iraq and his people #snow pic.twitter.com/XwL4w4xCyQ Mustafa Al-Alawi (@Mustafa_Al3lawi) February 11, 2020 Just look at this video Snow moment in #Baghdad I guess this the first time Baghdad got snow on it ! #Baghdadsnow #snow pic.twitter.com/1gI8uDC52h Mustafa (@msiq88) February 11, 2020 Beautiful. In Baghdad, Iraqis woke up on Tuesday to a sight not seen in over a decade. Snow @akhbarpic.twitter.com/3cQlm1Ph7z Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 11, 2020 Many people also expressed that in 2008, they only witnessed a short-lived snowfall that turned into slush but this time, the experience is real for them. Snow-covered palm trees are a sight to see pic.twitter.com/WmRFbVJQmD Hassan Hadad (@Abufellah) February 11, 2020 This one looks stunning. Even the riverfront is covered in snow! The streets of the capital were empty but the thick, wet snowflakes looked beautiful and the temperature also dropped significantly, making it freezing cold for the residents. Explaining this unusual phenomenon, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, Jason Nicholls said, It was due to cold air from western Russia travelling in the upper levels of the atmosphere and making its way to the city. Usually, snow is witnessed in the northern parts of Iraq, mostly the mountain area making it a rare sight indeed for the people residing in Baghdad. Getty Images Theres nothing like retiring in your prime and so goes the plan for Westminsters newly crowned champion Siba, a 4-year-old standard poodle who will be taking her leave from the dog show circuit having earned top marks at the competition Tuesday. Her victory the first for the breed since 1991 marks the 10th time a poodle has won the Westminster Kennel Club competition, now in its 144th year. Sibas poise isnt the only distinguishing thing about her: The prim pup has discerning taste, too. As Sibas handler Crystal Murray-Clas told NBC Philadelphia, the best-in-show winner sustains herself solely on chicken meat. That means no kibble, no turkey and certainly no vegetables. To fuel up before her award-winning strut, she dined on grilled chicken sandwiches from a nearby McDonalds. Not everyone was pleased with her victory, particularly those in the crowd cheering for golden retriever Daniel. Some even took to social media to express their frustration, alleging a long-standing pattern of preferential treatment when it comes to judging poodles and other so-called blue blood breeds. Read an excerpt from the Star Trek: Picard tie-in novel The Last Best Hope The following is an excerpt from Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope, an original novel written by Una McCormack and based on the CBS All Access series that premiered in January. The book is available for purchase now. In latter days, sitting alone in his manor, pondering the events of the years that preceded this self-imposed exile, trying to understand where and how it had all gone wrong, M. Jean-Luc Picard (formerly of Starfleet) would often come back to one moment. Sitting on the bridge of the Enterprise, in command, listening to the gentle rhythms and pulses of his ship . . . Playing back the memory, he would slow down time, as if instructing the visuals to move at half speed, at quarter speed, and he would observe himself, sitting in his chair, and he would marvel at the sight of the man he had once been: calm, assured, fully in command of himself and all around him. This, he would think, was the moment before the storm began, the split second before the end of his old life, when he took the first step down the path to herethe house that had never been the home, the land that he had longed to swap for strange and distant lands, the quiet, the immobility. The knowledge that nothing that he did now with his days mattered in the slightest. One more outcast, cast adrift. Prospero, on his island. An old conjurer, his magic spent, nursing old grievances. Here, now; this was the moment when everything changed. It was nothing that anyone noticed at the time. His ship, the Enterprise, his home, from which he had been banished, was sailing close to the Neutral Zone. The old order. A quiet chime on the comm, and La Forges voice coming through. James Dimmock/CBS Captain, were picking up some very strange readings here . . . And he had saidIncredible, now he thought of it! How blind can a man be!he had indeed said, Anything for us to worry about, Commander? Yes, thought Picard, years later, yes, more than you could have ever known. Watch out. Beware. Choose your course wisely now . . . Story continues Let me get back to you on that one. Another chime, this one signifying an incoming message from Starfleet Command. Picard stood up, smoothed imagined imperfections from his uniform, and went into his ready room, where he received a summons back to Earth. And all that was to follow had followed. He had not, now that he thought about it, seen the Enterprise since. Clouds flecked across the hillside. The vines hung heavy. The old clock ticked in the hall. Time yawned ahead: empty time. Picard, in limbo, pondered the past, and continued to fail to find answers there. Such were his mornings, his afternoons, his evenings. Such passed the days, for M. Jean-Luc Picard (formerly of Starfleet), the most disillusioned man in two quadrants. At this point, usually, Picard would sigh, and raise his eyes, and look around his beautiful, too-quiet land, and he would catch sight of either Laris or Zhaban looking back at him, shaking a head, as if to say: He thinks too much, and it does no good. No, he thought. None of it had ever done any damn good. Pocket Books Starfleet Command San Francisco, Earth It was a fine morning for the start of the end of everything. San Francisco gleamed in the sunshine, brash and confident, the sleek and rhythmic pulse at the heart of a great power. The kind of morning in spring that makes the world seem full of possibility. A sea breeze freshened the air when Picard stepped out of the transporter and walked with purpose across the plaza to the headquarters building. Waved through at once by a young ensign who purpled at the sight of the great man. Ushered with some ceremony up to the commander-in-chiefs meeting room. Earl Grey tea ready when he took his seat, steam rising in wisps from the cup. A room that spoke of power, of duty, honor, and responsibility. Seated already: two colleagues, about to change everything, forever. What we are about to tell you, Jean-Luc, said the C-in-C, is almost unbelievable. Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise, accustomed to believing many impossible things before breakfast, nodded at his commander-in-chief, folded his hands, and made himself more comfortable in his chair. I need hardly add that it is highly classified, said the C-in-C. Picard, hardly unused to being privy to such information, gave a noncommittal smile. Inwardly, he felt himself tighten, shift onto alert. He gave his C-in-C a more careful look. Admiral Victor Bordson, several years his junior, was, in Picards estimation, a careful man. Picard did not mean this pejoratively; quite the contrary. Rather, he considered Bordson to be a man who took care: measured, disinclined to make rash decisions, somewhat impersonal, and lacking the common touch. Picard had often tried to place himnot German, not Austrian, not Swiss, not Belgian . . . What, then? (He had been amused, at a formal dinner one evening, seated next to the mans husband, to discover that Bordson was from Luxembourg. He had only just stopped himself from slamming his palm onto the table and exclaiming, Of course!) Bordson was not averse to taking action, but considered action; he was decorated, as one would expect of his generation and seniority, multiply soa veteran of some of the grimmer arenas of the Dominion War. One did not come through repeat engagements with the JemHadar without a mark being left, some bruise, whether visible or not. Typically, in Picards observation, such officers were dogged, implacable, and more than a little haunted. Northern courage, he believed it was called in the sagas, the determination to carry on even when all hope was gone. Yes, Bordson brought to mind the Saxon warrior, shaking his spear at his enemies, sure only of defeat: Thought must be the harder, heart be the keener, mind must be the greater, while our strength lessens. A careful man; a man of cares. Gently, Picard said, Whats going on, Victor? Everything, said Bordson, is about to change. He turned to his second. Captain Kirsten Clancy, sitting at his right hand, nodded. Leaning forward, she whispered, The Romulan star is about to go supernova. Picard took a moment to consider some of the implications of this statement. As these became overwhelming, truly and terrifyingly all-encompassing, he lifted his hand to press his fingertips against the right side of his face. An instinctive action that he had never quite suppressed, to protect where he felt most vulnerable. Where he had been most harmed. Merde. Quite, said Bordson. Related content: A Fairy Tale for Sue: a touching childrens book that holds the true-to-life journey of a woman named Susan who spent the rest of her remaining days with joy and love. A Fairy Tale for Sue is the creation of published author Gregg Almes, a writer raised with strong Christian and family values. Writing poems since the early 80s, he has improved and his work progressed over the next thirty years or more, telling peoples life stories and experiences through Christian-based poems that have helped him and the people around him. Almes shares, The entire kingdom rejoices at the birth of Princess Susan! We see her grow, love and radiantly shine in her kingdom. With laughter and tears, we also see her battle a life threatening illness with grace, dignity and caring. A Fairy Tale for Sue is a poetic fantasy-recreation of the life of the authors sister in-law, Susan Almes, as he watched her squeeze every drop of love and enjoyment out of the time that she was able to spend with friends, family and loved ones. Profits from the sale of this book will be used to support the fight against Breast Cancer. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Gregg Almess new book is a beautiful retelling of Susans life told through colorful pages that will draw the kids and parents to read through such an amazing and fascinating life story. View a synopsis of A Fairy Tale for Sue on YouTube. Consumers can purchase A Fairy Tale for Sue at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about A Fairy Tale for Sue, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. TOJOY also promises no layoffs or salary cuts during the epidemic period. This move is commendable as Chinese companies are facing pressure to resume work. It is cause for celebration for everyone at the beginning of the Chinese New Year in the face of the epidemic situation. Knowing what a full-company remote work system would require, TOJOY began developing its Smart Business suite with world-class application standards from the very beginning. In 2016, TOJOY founded the TOJOY Network Technology Group to construct the Smart Business platform. "TOJOY Smart Office" was created jointly with IBM, sought out for its reputation as the world's largest information technology and business solutions provider. A team of over 500 top talents, 3 years of research and development, and an investment of over 200 million yuan went into the creation of the "TOJOY Smart Business" system, which now easily supports TOJOY's 6,000 employees across different time zones around the world in the smooth implementation of their remote work. At present, many small and medium-sized enterprises are facing a hard situation across China due to the epidemic situation. For this reason, TOJOY will be opening the "TOJOY Entrepreneur Cloud" to certified members free of charge, in order to help them regain confidence and achieve "online resumption of work" as soon as possible. From this news, as well as that of the implementation of the permanent "Migratory Working System" remote work program for all its employees, we can see that TOJOY is not only considering the health and safety of its employees and partners, but has also observed the pressure on other enterprises to return to work, and made every effort to contribute to the resumption of orderly operations throughout the economy and society. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089494/TOJOY_Publishes_Ten_Measures.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1089497/At_the_2020_New_Year_s_Online_Business_Kick_Off_Mobilization_Meeting__TOJOY_promised__no_layoffs__no.jpg SOURCE ToJoy Shared Holding Group Co.,Ltd. David Baddiel has defended giving airtime to a Holocaust denier in his new BBC2 documentary because 'ignoring them hasn't worked'. The British comedian, 55, London, whose mother Sarah escaped to the UK from Nazi Germany as a newborn with her parents in 1939, explored the subject for Confronting Holocaust Denial, which airs on BBC2 next week. The film examines the thoughts of those who claims that the horrific genocide, which is one of the most documented, witnessed and written about events in history, did not occur. He met with Irish Holocaust denier Dermot Mulqueen, who insists that Auschwitz concentration camp 'didn't have gas chambers', but did have 'swimming pools'. The Guardian reports that in a Q&A following a preview of the documentary, Baddiel compared Holocaust deniers to an extreme version of internet trolls 'Ignoring them has not worked. It doesn't mean that confronting them will work completely but I think it's a debate we have to have,' he said. David Baddiel (pictured) has defended giving airtime to a Holocaust denier in his new BBC2 documentary 'Confronting Holocaust Denial' as 'ignoring them hasn't worked' The film examines the thoughts of those who believe one of the most horrific genocides of all time did not occur 'Unfortunately, we no longer live in a culture where what is spoken about and what truths are told and what lies are told are objective any more, so my personal feeling is that you have to try to take them on.' The film explores how social media has given a new platform to Holocaust denial in recent year, and Baddiel met with Facebook's director of public policy, Richard Allen. He questioned him on the platform's policy on allowing posts promoting denial. The comedian told he was anxious to meet Mulqueen, and didn't want to shake his hand upon their first meeting Allen said that while direct attacks on Jewish people are removed, a post saying that the Holocaust didn't happen or questioning the numbers killed 'may be allowed on the platform'. 'We have a policy on hate speech so direct attacks on Jewish people will come off the platform. But to make the wrong statement about the facts of the Holocaust "I do not think the Holocaust happened", or "I think the Holocaust happened with this number of people dead or that number of people dead" may be permitted on the platform,' he said. Baddiel argued back, insisting that Holocaust denial is: 'A direct way of saying Jews are liars, Jews have tricked the world for their own gain. 'Jews are the most evil, pernicious race that exist. It is hate speech. There's no other conclusion.' Eager to meet the kind of person making these posts, David meets Mulqueen who makes ludicrous claims that 'Auschwitz had a swimming pool and no gas chambers' and 'Jews control the BBC'. The holocaust denier was jailed for five months in 2018 after he put an axe through a television at the Daniel OConnell monument in Ennis town center Dublin, in a bizarre attempt to launch International Holocaust Hoax Day. The comedian said he was anxious to meet Mulqueen, and didn't want to shake his hand upon their first meeting. He said: 'I sort of knew I wouldn't change his mind but I felt it was important for people to see the ludicrousness of this position.' Confronting Holocaust Denial with David Baddiel airs Monday 17 February on BBC2 at 9pm British police publish provisional autopsy results. Prosecutors make two more arrests. The truck of the tragedy had entered the United Kingdom on board a ferry from Belgium. "Anyone who was aware of the trafficking has crucial information to help the investigation." London (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The 39 Vietnamese migrants, found dead on 23 October in a refrigerated trailer in Essex county (east of London), lost their lives due to lack of oxygen and hyperthermia report British police, citing the provisional results of the autopsies. All postmortem examinations have now been completed and we await the final reports for all 39 victims, Essex police said in a statement. The provisional cause of death for those in the lorry was a combination of hypoxia [lack of oxygen] and hyperthermia [overheating] in an enclosed space". Essex police also report having made two more arrests in connection with the case. The refrigerated truck at the center of the tragedy had entered the United Kingdom on board a ferry from Belgium. Investigators are looking into two journeys similar to the one in which the 39 Vietnamese died between 11 and 18 October 2019. "We believe that the articulated lorries have been used to facilitate the illegal entry of people into the country through the port of Purfleet (in Essex). We are convinced that anyone who knew about trafficking has crucial information to help our investigation. " Three days ago, a 22-year-old man was arrested in Northern Ireland on charges of manslaughter and aiding illegal immigration. Meanwhile Gheorghe Nica, a 43-year-old from Essex, was arrested at Frankfurt airport on 29 January, thanks to a European arrest warrant. The man is accused of the manslaughter of 39 people. Truck driver Maurice Robinson, 25, from Craigavon (Northern Ireland), is awaiting trial for the same number of manslaughter charges. In a hearing last November, the young man admitted that he had conspired to promote illegal immigration. A second Northern Irish truck driver, 23-year-old Eamonn Harrison, will be extradited from the Republic of Ireland this week. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Here we are after the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, and we still dont know how the race for the Democratic presidential primary is going. But we know one thing: As long as theres a muddle in the race, the door remains open for Mike Bloomberg to swoop in, or for a stop-Bernie-Sanders movement, or even a brokered Democratic convention this summer. Here are the winners and losers from the New Hampshire primary. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais WINNER: Bernie Sanders The democratic socialist U.S. senator from Vermont actually did win the primary on Tuesday night, even if the pundits didnt want to talk about it. They instead wanted to rave about what a great night it was for Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar. But a lot of people are definitely feeling the Bern out there, and Sanders has the war chest to press his advantage in upcoming states. Still, Sanders barely held off Buttigieg in a state where Sanders romped over Hillary Clinton in 2016. Sanders has to expand his base Don't Edit AP Photo/Gerald Herbert LOSER: Joe Biden Maybe the biggest loser of the night. Biden finished in fifth place, and didnt even crack 10 percent of the vote. Shocking for a former two-term vice president, and someone whos been seen as the best bet to beat President Donald Trump. Biden now pins his nearly all his hopes on bringing out the black vote in South Carolina on February 29. Another finish out of the money there, or in the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22, and it could be goodnight, Uncle Joe. Don't Edit AP Photo/Elise Amendola WINNER: Pete Buttigieg Another neck-and-neck battle with Sanders for South Bends Mayor Pete, which is almost as good as a win. Clearly Democrats are looking for a moderate alternative to Sanders the revolutionary, and Buttigieg fits the bill for many. At least in overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire. Buttigieg is a robust fundraiser, but will now have an even bigger target on his back, and has to show that he can draw minority voters. His biggest tests are yet to come. Don't Edit AP Photo/Elise Amendola LOSER: Elizabeth Warren Liberal Dems have made their pick: Sanders. Warren finished fourth and couldnt crack double digits in a state that borders her Massachusetts home. She was riding so high a few months ago, but has come crashing back to earth. As with Biden, Nevada and South Carolina will tell the tale for her. Don't Edit AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty WINNER: Amy Klobuchar The Minnesota senator again exceeded expectations, with a good debate performance in New Hampshire helping her to a strong third-place finish. Klobuchar was so excited about her night that you expected her to chant Were number three! Were number three! during her speech on Tuesday. But the time to actually win something is fast approaching, and shes battling Buttigieg for votes. How long can both of them endure in the race? And does Klobuchar have the organization to truly compete from coast to coast? Super Tuesday, when 16 contests will be held, is on March 2. Don't Edit Don't Edit AP Photo/Elise Amendola LOSER: Andrew Yang Finally did the math and saw there was no path to victory. Yang pulled the plug on his campaign on Tuesday night. Don't Edit AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty WINNER: Mike Bloomberg As long as theres no clear front-runner, its all good for Bloomberg and his billions. He got a couple of write-in votes in New Hampshire, and has all the organizational and media money he needs to compete. But Bloomberg cant stay on the sidelines forever. He has to show that he can get real votes. He could make his debate debut on Feb. 19 in Las Vegas, where hed no doubt face questioning about his recently re-surfaced defense of racial profiling and stop-and-frisk while mayor of New York. Not a good look in 2020s Democratic Party. Don't Edit LOSER: Micheal Bennet Did you even remember that this guy was still in the race? He bowed out on Tuesday as well. Don't Edit AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta WINNER: President Donald Trump The longer the Democratic primary goes on, the less time the opposition has to focus on Trump and the fall campaign. And the more damage that the Dems do to themselves. That's all good for Trump. Don't Edit AP Photo/Mary Altaffer LOSER: Tulsi Gabbard Barely made a dent in New Hampshire, but the Hawaii congresswoman is still hanging in there. You can catch her campaigning in Maine this week. Don't Edit Don't Edit AP Photo/Meg Kinnard LOSER: Tom Steyer We'll remember his signature plaid ties, but the clock is ticking on the billionaire's White House dreams. CUPERTINO (BCN) Design guidelines for bird safety and light pollution will be discussed at a community meeting Wednesday evening in Cupertino, city officials said. Wednesday's meeting from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Cupertino Room at the Quinlan Community Center at 10185 N. Stelling Road is meant in part to give residents the opportunity to offer their opinions on the possible regulations. A second meeting will be held on Feb. 20 at the same time and place. Other Bay Area cities like San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond have adopted regulations that regulate building design standards for bird safety, such as requiring buildings adjacent to open spaces, water or parks to avoid using highly reflective or highly transparent glass that cause birds to crash into them. Cupertino has no such regulation. Other cities' Dark Sky policies, like the one Cupertino is also considering, seek to limit outdoor lighting that is misdirected, excessive or unnecessary, according to a Cupertino city staff report on the issue. More information about the proposed ordinances for Cupertino can be found at www.cupertino.org/birdsafedarksky. 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. VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis refused Wednesday to approve the ordination of married men or women as deacons to address a shortage of priests in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has divided the Catholic Church and emboldened his conservative critics. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Pope Francis reads his message during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis refused Wednesday to approve the ordination of married men or women as deacons to address a shortage of priests in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has divided the Catholic Church and emboldened his conservative critics. In an eagerly awaited document, Francis didn't refer to recommendations by Amazonian bishops to consider married priests or women deacons. Rather, the pope urged bishops to pray for more priestly vocations and to send missionaries to a region where faithful Catholics in remote areas can go months or even years without Mass. Cardinal Michael Czerny holds a copy of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation "Querida Amazonia" written by Pope Francis during a press conference at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The pope's dodge disappointed liberals, who had hoped he would at least put both questions to further study. It outraged progressive Catholic women's groups. And it relieved conservatives who had used the debate over priestly celibacy to heighten their opposition to the pope, and saw his ducking of the issue as a victory. Francis' document, Beloved Amazon, is instead a love letter to the Amazonian rain forest and its indigenous peoples from the first Latin American pope. He has long been concerned about the violent exploitation of the Amazon's land, its importance to the global ecosystem and the injustices against its peoples. Quoting poetry as frequently as past papal teachings, Francis addressed the document to all peoples of the world to help awaken their affection and concern for that land which is also ours and to invite them to value it and acknowledge it as a sacred mystery. Francis said he has four dreams for the Amazon: respecting the rights of the poor; celebrating their cultural riches; preserving its natural beauty and life; and showing the indigenous features of its Christian communities. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the German Bishops Conference, addresses the media during a press conference in Bonn, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 on the results of the Amazon Synod of Bishops in Rome. Pope Francis declined Wednesday to approve the ordination of married men to address a shortage of priests in the Amazon, sidestepping a fraught issue that has dominated debate in the Catholic Church and even involved retired Pope Benedict XVI. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP) Francis had convened bishops from the Amazons nine countries for a three-week synod in October to debate how the church can help preserve the delicate ecosystem from global warming and better minister to its people. The Argentine Jesuit has long been sensitive to the plight of the Amazon, where Protestant and Pentecostal churches are making gains in the absence of vibrant Catholic communities where Mass can be regularly celebrated. According to Catholic doctrine, only a priest can consecrate the Eucharistic hosts distributed at Mass, which the faithful believe are the body of Christ. Given the priest shortage, some remote communities only see a priest and attend a Mass once every few months or years. For Catholic communities in the Amazon, some of which date from the time of the Spanish colonization, the priest shortage coupled with the spread of evangelical churches risks the very Catholic nature of the communities. In the synod's final document, most of the bishops called for establishing criteria so that respected married men in their communities who have already served as permanent deacons can be ordained as priests. The bishops also urged the Vatican to reopen a study commission on ordaining women as deacons, which allows for preaching, celebrating weddings and baptisms, but not consecrating the Eucharist. Francis had created such a commission in 2016 at the insistence of nuns who want larger roles in church governance and ministry, but the group ended its work without reaching consensus. Francis didnt mention either proposal in Beloved Amazon and didnt cite the synods final document in his text or footnotes. But he did say he wanted to officially present the synods work and urged the faithful to read the final document in full, suggesting he valued the input. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a synod organizer, said its proposals remain on the table and have their own certain moral authority. But the fact the pope didn't expressly approve the final document, and only presented it, means the proposals do not form part of his official teaching, said Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, another organizer. From left, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri and Sister Augusta de Oliveira hold a copy of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation "Querida Amazonia" written by Pope Francis during a press conference at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Francis did echo some of the synods recommendations, calling for greater lay participation in the life of the church and saying the training of priests in the Amazon must be overhauled so they can better minister to indigenous peoples. He said every effort should be made to provide access to Mass. This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region, he wrote. Dom Erwin Krautler, an Austrian bishop who has spent the last 55 years in the Brazilian Amazon, said the situation is dire: more than 70% of Catholic communities in the Amazon dont receive a weekly Eucharist, and some have it once or twice a year. These communities are stripped of the Eucharist, the core of our faith, Krautler said. Conservatives rejoiced that Francis had refused to approve married priests. It is a great success, a great success for the faithful, said conservative Austrian activist Alexander Tschugguel, who was so alarmed at the pagan" proceedings of the synod that he stole three wooden statues of a pregnant woman that were featured in the Vatican meetings and threw them in the Tiber River. A conservative U.S. blogger, Thomas Peters, tweeted: Deo gratias. The Holy Spirit has spared the Church. The omission disappointed German Catholics. The issue of married priests is on the official agenda of a new process of dialogue between the German bishops' conference and a powerful lay group, the Central Committee of German Catholics. We regret very much that Pope Francis does not dare to move a step forward, said the head of the committee, Thomas Sternberg. German Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, a progressive who is rumoured to be in the running to head the German bishops conference, said he would have been happy" if Francis had allowed for married priests. His reluctance to do so, he told the German daily Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger, is perhaps an expression of the hesitancy of a 2,000-year-old church. Francis dismissed suggestions that ordaining women would serve them or the church. While agreeing that women should have greater decision-making and governance roles, Francis argued that they must find other forms of service and charisms that are proper to women. Women's advocacy groups blasted the document. Francis justified his refusal to consider ordained ministry for women as sparing them the risk of being clericalized, or placed on a pedestal. This post-synodal document is a betrayal of women by denying them the grace of holy orders to do a ministry they are already carrying out," said Miriam Duignan of the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research, a British-based progressive Catholic think-tank . Kate McElwee, executive director of Women's Ordination Conference, concurred. Recognizing womens work with diaconal ordination would be the first, most basic step towards righting the wrong of institutional sexism that hobbles our church as it attempts to respond to the moral crises of our time, McElwee said in a statement. The Catholic Church retains the priesthood for men, arguing that Christ and his apostles were male. While Eastern rite branches have married priests, and Anglican and Protestant priest converts can be married, the Roman rite church has had a tradition of priestly celibacy since the 11th century, imposed in part to ensure that priests' assets pass to the church, not to heirs. In the weeks before the documents release, the question of a celibate priesthood made headlines after the publication of a book written by retired Pope Benedict XVI, and a conservative Vatican official, Cardinal Robert Sarah, reaffirmed its necessity. Benedicts participation in the book created controversy since it appeared he was trying to influence the thinking of the current pope, despite promises to remain hidden from the world when he resigned seven years ago. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni noted that Francis finished his document in December, before the book came out, making clear he wasn't swayed by Benedict's intervention. 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. Francis avoided the issue altogether, dedicating the entire first half of the document to the injustice and crime committed against the Amazonian peoples and their environment by local governments, foreign corporate interests and illegal mining and extraction. We cannot allow globalization to become a new version of colonialism, he wrote, adding that the church in the Amazon must have social justice at the forefront of its spirituality. Clare Dixon, Latin America chief for the British Catholic aid agency CAFOD, said its environmental emphasis might help influence the climate change debate. But Francis is also imploring us to listen to the wisdom of the people of the Amazon, insisting that we learn from the way they live with the environment rather than in competition with it," she said. ___ AP writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, and Diane Jeantet in Rio de Janeiro contributed. Taken together, Tuesdays developments underscored why the case of actor Jussie Smollett matters less because of him than because of what all of us are learning about Foxxs judgment: She mishandled a case and now has citizens asking about equality under the law: whether some defendants in Cook Countys criminal justice system have to bear the brunt of the law while others get sweet deals from her prosecutors. A Queensland doctor has been found guilty of defrauding Medicare out of more than $360,000 by submitting thousands of false claims. A jury found Tony Mufutau Oluwatoyin Bakare guilty on Wednesday after deliberating for less than two hours. The doctor pleaded not guilty to the charges. Credit:AAP Bakare pleaded not guilty to a single count of obtaining financial advantage by deception at the start of the three-day Brisbane District Court trial. He lodged about 4000 false claims for providing services to patients who had died, or on dates when he was overseas. Embarcadero, Inner Sunset, SoMa Shanghai-style soup dumplings, pork and cabbage dumplings, and noodle soup at Dumpling Park. | Photo: Tina O./Yelp Here's the latest in SF food news. In this edition, a Ferry Building grocer gets a new owner, a dumpling spot debuts in the Inner Sunset and an izakaya plans to open in SoMa. Openings Embarcadero The Epicurean Trader (1 Ferry Building) The Epicurean Trader's Cow Hollow location. | Photo: Leslie Santarina On March 1, the Ferry Building's in-house grocer, Farm Fresh to You, will turn over the keys to a new tenant. The store, which sold fresh fruits and vegetables and specialty food products, for 17 years, is planning to refocus on its core business home deliveries of organic produce. But the space won't be vacant for long: specialty grocer The Epicurean Trader, which also has outposts in Bernal Heights, Hayes Valley and Cow Hollow, will move in this summer. The new location will be Epicurean Trader's largest yet, featuring artisan products and organic produce, prepared foods, sustainable wines, craft spirits, charcuterie, farmstead cheeses, speciality pantry items and more. Though 2020 is less than two months in, it's already brought an extensive level of turnover at the Ferry Building, where counter-service eateries Brown Sugar Kitchen and Mijita have shuttered and Dogpatch bagel spot Daily Driver recently launched a pop-up. We'll continue to keep you posted on changes there and if you see one, send us a tip. Inner Sunset Dumpling Park (1309 9th Ave.) Photo: Teresa Hammerl/Hoodline Dumpling Park is now open for business in the Inner Sunset. It debuted over the weekend in the former Howard's Cafe space. On the menu, you'll find a huge selection of dumplings, including the coveted xiao long bao (Shanghai-style soup dumplings) and sheng jian bao (pan-fried soup dumplings). A giant selection of boiled dumplings ranges from pork with chives to lamb with zucchini, and there are numerous vegetarian dumplings, too. Not feeling dumplings? The menu also offers a standard array of Chinese favorites, from fried rice to General Tso's chicken. Noodle enthusiasts should note that they're hand-cut, with a variety of soup bases in which to enjoy them. Story continues Reached via phone, an employee said Dumpling Park is aiming to be open seven days a week, but that hours may vary as they get going. Call them at (415) 702-6108 before heading over. SoMa Izakaya Hon (917 Folsom St.) Photo: Courtesy of Sushi Shio Last October, we broke the news about the closure of Giants-themed bar Pine Tar Grill. Now, tipster Simon informs us that a new tenant will be moving in at Fifth and Folsom streets: Izakaya Hon, specializing in classic Japanese entrees and bar bites. Izakaya Hon is the latest eatery from the increasingly prolific Mins Group, which opened two restaurants in 2019 alone: the Mission's Sushi Shio and SoMa's Sushi Ondo. The group also owns another Mission sushi spot, Sushi Hon; Cow Hollow's Tamashisoul Sushi Bar; and Barnzu, a Korean small-plates eatery in the Tenderloin. This will be its biggest restaurant yet, with over 200 seats. James Liao, the group's director of marketing, says he can't comment on specific menu items for Izakaya Hon, since chef Jason Shimizu (formerly of Sushi Hon) is still working on the menu. But he did say that the restaurant will offer a full dinner service until 9 p.m., before shifting to smaller Japanese bar bites like pork belly and chicken skewers. The izakaya has also picked up Pine Tar's full liquor license, allowing it to serve whiskey cocktails (like highballs) in addition to Japanese beer, sake and wine. Seating will be spread across booths, high-top communal tables and a bar. The restaurant expects to softly launch on March 1, with an official grand opening around April 1. Thanks to tipster Simon. If you've seen something new (or closing) in the neighborhood, text your tips and photos to (415) 200-3233, or email tips@hoodline.com. If we use your info in a story, we'll give you credit. [February 12, 2020] Devo Technology Introduces Next-Gen Security Operations Platform to Transform the SOC and Scale Security Analyst Effectiveness Devo Technology today announced Devo Security Operations, the first security operations solution to combine critical security capabilities together with auto enrichment, threat intelligence community collaboration, a central evidence locker, and a streamlined analyst workflow. This powerful combination transforms the security operations center (SOC) and scales security analyst effectiveness. Analysts no longer must rely on multiple tools to manually assemble the data, context, and intelligence required to identify and investigate the threats that matter most to their business. Devo Security Operations puts this information at analysts' fingertips across the entire threat lifecycle. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005525/en/ The Devo Security Operations dashboard displays the information SOC teams need to identify and investigate the threats that matter most to their business. (Graphic: Business Wire) With a rapidly expanding attack surface and increasingly sophisticated adversaries who can progress from initial access to lateral movement in minutes, legacy SIEMs are failing to meet the needs of analysts and SOCs. According to recent Ponemon Institute research, 53 percent of IT security practitioners believe their SOC is unable to gather evidence, investigate, and find the source of threats. Analysts must attempt to manually close the gap between detection and response, fueling the growing epidemic of analyst burnout and putting enterprises at risk. Delivered on the powerful Devo Data Analytics Platform, Devo Security Operations reduces analysts' workflow from hours to minutes, keeping SOCs ahead of even the most sophisticated adversaries. "With traditional SIEM solutions, SOC teams struggle with too many false-positive alerts, and broken workflows, as well as speed, scale and performance issues that hinder analysts' effectiveness," said Julian Waits, general manager, cyber, Devo. "We're reinventing the category by leveraging powerful data analytics, automating incident workflow, and designing technology with a security practitioner's mindset. Devo Security Operations arms analysts with new weapons and tactics for context-rich investigations, slashing the time from detection to response and significantly reducing or eliminating damage from an attack." An Analyst's Perspective "There is a need for a solution that incorporates new technologies to extend the capabilities of often-overtaxed security teams. Too often, these technologies are fragmented and poorly integrated," said Scott Crawford, research vice president, information security, 451 Research (News - Alert). "Devo Security Operations fills this need by combining key functionalities-including entity analytics, automation and hunting-into a single integrated platform." Devo Security Operations empowers SOC analysts to: Reduce noise, amplify signal with entity analytics More reliably identify and investigate high-impact threats by shifting focus to entities. Classify, model and associate entities as the foundation for detection and investigation to deeply understand the organization's environment and the behaviors of the business. More reliably identify and investigate high-impact threats by shifting focus to entities. Classify, model and associate entities as the foundation for detection and investigation to deeply understand the organization's environment and the behaviors of the business. Accelerate investigations and simplify workflow with auto enrichment Gain a context-rich picture of entities, alerts and investigations without having to manually collect or query data, speeding the investigation process. Bring enrichment in earlier by automatically populating events with actionable, real-time data and context, including indicators from the Devo Threat Data Service, the community, and partners. Gain a context-rich picture of entities, alerts and investigations without having to manually collect or query data, speeding the investigation process. Bring enrichment in earlier by automatically populating events with actionable, real-time data and context, including indicators from the Devo Threat Data Service, the community, and partners. Hunt more easily across all data and context Run queries across any volume of data, any number of sources, and any time horizon to proactively identify threats. Powered by the Devo Data Analytics Platform, Devo Security Operations aggregates an organization's diverse data for complete visibility at unprecedented speed, scale and performance. Run queries across any volume of data, any number of sources, and any time horizon to proactively identify threats. Powered by the Devo Data Analytics Platform, Devo Security Operations aggregates an organization's diverse data for complete visibility at unprecedented speed, scale and performance. Operationalize the knowledge of the global security community The Devo Threat Data Service enriches alerts with attributes and indicators ranging from IP addresses, emails, and files to hashes and domains. Organizations can consume indicators from, and collaborate with, the global MISP community and other internal or third-party sources, significantly expanding their scope and use of threat knowledge. The Devo Threat Data Service enriches alerts with attributes and indicators ranging from IP addresses, emails, and files to hashes and domains. Organizations can consume indicators from, and collaborate with, the global MISP community and other internal or third-party sources, significantly expanding their scope and use of threat knowledge. Triage centralized evidence and analyze it for DFIR The Devo Security Operations Evidence Toolkit for digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) provides an end-to-end workflow for centralizing and analyzing forensic evidence-PCAPs, memory dumps, PDFs, images and context-even enabling analysts to submit files to multiple sandboxes, all from a single location. Speed investigations and improve response time by providing analysts with access to the right evidence at the right time. Devo Security Operations combines these capabilities in an integrated workflow, accelerating detection and response with auto enrichment. This enables analysts to operate more quickly and efficiently, drastically cutting response time. Devo transforms the SOC to effectively address key security use cases, including threat hunting, threat detection, triage and investigation, and digital forensics. Devo Security Operations is available now worldwide. Devo at RSAC 2020 See Devo Security Operations in action at RSA (News - Alert) Conference 2020, booth 2339 (South Expo), Moscone Center, San Francisco, Feb. 24 to 27. About Devo Devo unlocks the full value of machine data for the world's most instrumented enterprises, putting more data to work-now. Only the Devo data analytics platform addresses both the explosion in volume of machine data and the new, crushing demands of algorithms and automation. This enables IT operations and security teams to realize the full transformational promise of machine data to move businesses forward. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Devo is privately held and backed by Insight Partners. Learn more at www.devo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005525/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday announced setting up of a Rs 2-crore fund for the welfare and rehabilitation of juveniles staying in shelter homes. The Juvenile Fund will be set up as per provisions of the section 105 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The Maharashtra Juvenile Justice Rules, 2018 also mandate formation of such fund. At present, 21,178 children stay in more than 560 shelter homes in the state. "The new fund will help in providing medical assistance, imparting skilled development and professional training, and higher education for the inmates of the shelter homes," the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An American father who just welcomed his second baby girl isn't smoking a cigar to celebrate but he is smoking something, wink wink. On Monday, Fred Lee from Baltimore, Maryland tweeted that his brother announced the birth of daughter number two, almost 16 months after daughter number one came into the world. And the happy parents were a bit, well, blunt in terms of picking a theme for naming their offspring: The first is called SaTiva, while the second is Indica. Con-ganja-lations! A proud uncle shared in 2018 that his first niece was born and his brother named her SaTiva Weeding out traditional names! This week, he said he had a second baby niece named Indica Smokin' hot names! The girls' parents named them after two species of the cannabis plant The girls' mother may have had a bun in the oven when she was expecting these two, but its seems that it's mom and dad who were baked. Sativa and Indica are two species of the cannabis plant, and the couple paid homage to their appreciation of marijuana in naming their children. The proud uncle shared the first unique name back in October 2018, posting several cute pictures and writing: 'My first neice is named SaTiva... I just....' On Monday, he followed up with the Indica's birth announcement. 'UPDATE: My brother is excited to announce the birth of his 2nd daughter! ....and before you ask, yes, her name is exactly what you think it is,' he said. Nature enthusiasts: The parents are clearly fans of smoking weed and paid homage to the plant (stock image) TH-see how proud he is! The girls' uncle, Fred Lee from Baltimore, Maryland, shared the news on Twitter Budding human: Fred also revealed he has a nephew presumably born to different parents born on the stoner holiday April 20 Away from the theme: The uncle said that if his brother has a boy, he plans to name it Junior He included a screenshot of their text exchange, in which the full name can be read: Indica Akili Kean Quin-Groce. 'Oddly enough, one of my nephews was born on 4/20.... I guess its just in the stars with us,' the uncle added, though it isn't clear if the child born on the widely-recognized stoner day was born to the same parents as Sativa and Indica. Fred also said that his brother admitted that if he has a boy, they'll name him Junior. Twitter commenters had other ideas, though, suggesting 'Hybrid,' 'Kush,' 'Code Red,' and 'Baja Blast.' High praise: Twitter commenters thought the names were funny and had some other ideas for future kids, suggesting 'Hybrid,' 'Kush,' 'Code Red,' and 'Baja Blast' Several said they liked the names, regardless of context but others worried about the girls' future. 'Not as bad as my cousin naming one of his girls MaryJane. They said the wanted pay tribute to bob Marley. I said to name her Marley then,' wrote one 'This is cute but kids are cruel,' said another. Fred responded, writing: 'I Cant wait to see how this is going to play out when they get older Of course their safety is my top priority, no one is going to f*** with them, but I want to see how they can blossom with these ... blossoming names.' WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. Rachel Cunningham of Midland has been accepted for the upcoming academic year at the University of the Cumberlands. Rachel, is welcomed into the UC Class of 2024. Located in the heart of Appalachia, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction that offers undergraduate degrees on-campus and online, along with several pre-professional graduate and doctoral programs. With a total enrollment of more than 10,000 students, UC is the largest private university in Kentucky. The Project NOLA crime camera network on Wednesday released a video clip purportedly showing the man accused of stealing French Quarter artists carts and rolling them into the Mississippi River last month. The independent nonprofit published the footage on Facebook as New Orleans police continue searching for Landon Semones, 42, who is wanted on a warrant calling for his arrest in connection with the cart thefts. An accompanying Facebook post from Project NOLA said the crime blamed on Semone is one of the most bizarre that the group has worked on. The post notes how the man in the clip falls while pushing a cart, becoming frustrated and revealing his face for a moment. Report: Person accused of stealing Jackson Square artist carts named by NOPD New Orleans police named a suspect accused of stealing multiple carts from artists in Jackson Square, according to a report on Monday from FOX 8. A crime that has very regrettably impacted the livelihood of many local artists, we hope that the NOPD finds the (suspect) before he may harm others, read the post from Project NOLA. Project NOLAs post asked the public to call 911 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 if they know where Semone is. 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 Roughly 10 painters and sketchers who sell their art around Jackson Square arrived the morning of Jan. 31 to find their supply carts missing. The victims each lost hundreds to thousands of dollars worth of supplies, one of the artists said. Carts, artwork and supplies were spotted floating in the river. The artists ordeal prompted an outpouring of support. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $17,000 as of Wednesday. Cafe Istanbul on Wednesday was also slated to host a benefit for the artists. Project NOLAs crime camera network is separate from the citys, which feeds into the Real Time Crime Center on the edge of the French Quarter. Nonetheless, Project NOLA frequently provides detectives with footage of crimes that they are investigating to assist their cases. The clip published Wednesday was taken on St. Peter Street near the river just after midnight on Jan. 31, hours before the artists noticed their carts were missing. Project NOLA's director is Bryan Lagarde, a former police officer who holds a criminology degree. IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunwest Bank is pleased to announce its newest product, SelfcareHSA. Developed internally, this new platform is targeted for employer-sponsored health savings accounts as part of their health and wellness benefit plan offerings to employees. SelfcareHSA was designed as an exciting product to take the pain out of managing your health savings account. We developed this in conjunction with our Director of Human Capital, Kara Trebs and our entire Human Resources team to get input from the professionals, and to ease the pain points they face as administrators. "We experienced a number of problems in the HSA banking space," Carson Lappetito, President of Sunwest Bank said. "So, we built our own platform, and we designed what HR and customers would want, ultimately building a product that solves industry pain points. Now, we are offering it out nationwide." A SelfcareHSA account lets holders gain access to a tax-exempt, interest-bearing health savings account that allows them to manage how they plan and pay for qualified medical expenses. Holders make these contributions through payroll deductions or rolling over another HSA. These contributions roll over year-to-year and can be saved for retirement as they are penalty-free after the age of 65. These funds are easy to distribute via debit cards, online banking and checks. SelfcareHSA was created to fill the gap in services provided both to consumers and employers managing health savings accounts. "Our focus was to create a solution for human resources that was easy to navigate as an administrator. Setting up and funding a health savings account for your employees should not be complicated," said Steve Avila, Sunwest Bank Vice President of Strategic Projects. "Drag and drop of a file gets the entire process moving. It's that simple." This new account offering comes during Sunwest Bank's 50th Anniversary as a leading community bank in the Western United States. Throughout the year, Sunwest Bank will host a series of stories on its half-century as a bank as well as its future. - https://www.sunwestbank.com/celebrating-50-years/ For more information on Sunwest Bank's products and services, visit https://sunwestbank.com About SelfcareHSA At SelfcareHSA, it's Your Journey, Your Money, Your Decision. To learn more visit selfcarehsa.com or reach us at [email protected] About Sunwest Bank Founded in 1969, Sunwest Bank is a privately held commercial bank with more than $1.3 Billion in assets. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, with operations in California, Arizona, Idaho and Utah; Sunwest is an entrepreneurial business bank with a long tradition of providing excellent service to entrepreneurs, privately held corporations, family offices, small-medium sized business and real estate developers throughout the Western United States. Sunwest Bank is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. * $1.3 Billion in assets as of 12/31/18 - 2020 Sunwest Bank Media Contact Tyler Lyon IDPR for Sunwest Bank Tel: +1 949 777-2424 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Sunwest Bank WASHINGTON Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee boycotted a rare public hearing organized by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., over objections to the committees impeachment investigation and lack of response to a report detailing abuses in the governments secret surveillance processes. Himes, who chaired the hearing Wednesday, blasted the Republicans decision not to attend the hearing on emerging technology and national security, as a completely unwarranted tantrum. Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, indicated Wednesday night that Republicans might sit out House Intelligence hearings in the future until they get a desired hearing on reported abuses of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Well Ill just say I hope we have a response," Stewart said. He said even when the committee was the epicenter of the polarizing impeachment debate, the lawmakers could prioritize national security in bipartisan cooperation. This is a sad and dangerous moment, Himes said. On Wednesday morning, Republicans on the committee sent House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a letter outlining their decision. The letter alluded to the committees lead role in the impeachment inquiry. It also objected to the fact that the committee did not hold a hearing or briefing on a bombshell December Department of Justice Inspector General Report finding that Federal Bureau of Investigations submitted two deficient warrants to surveil a Trump campaign adviser, among other errors and oversight issues. The House Intelligence Committee has strayed far from its mandate of overseeing the intelligence community, the letter from nine Republicans said. We hope this Committee can move past political investigations and publicity stunts and get back to the important work we have traditionally undertaken on a bipartisan basis. Himes called the letter as wrong-headed as it is mendacious. Himes attributed the Republican decision not to attend to the committee's impeachment work, referencing an earlier conversation with Stewart. Stewart said Himes should not have spoken about their private conversations publicly. "I texted him and I said, Private conversations should remain private, Stewart said. "And I was disappointed in him. The Republican boycott left half the hearing dais empty. Democrats not on the Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research subcommittee attended the hearing, including House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y. Maloney called the boycott "childish." Their argument seems to be because there are subjects of importance to them that are not happening at this hearing, there can be no hearings on any other subject which of course ignores how critical issues like 5G, quantum computing, advanced technologies are to our national security," Maloney said. The Senate Judiciary Committee is now preparing for hearings on the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the Justice Department's report, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. told CBS Monday. The Intelligence Committee will also have hearings regarding FISA oversight later this year, Himes said. "I think they will find a bunch of willing partners by the way one our side to talk about whatever abuses there may be in the FISA system," Maloney said. "This is a subject that were not afraid to discuss, but there are critical issues of U.S. national security that have nothing to do with that. This morning is a great example. Himes said that he had been planning the hearing for months and holding meetings with technology experts, data scientist and top national security minds to prepare. He invited Republicans to participate in every meeting and invite witnesses to the hearing, he said. In every case, I have been met with silence, he said. Four witnesses testified Wednesday to the committee about steps the U.S. should take to combat foreign advances in technology and computing and bolster American technological dominance to protect national security. They included the current commissioner on the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, the former and first U.S. Chief Data Scientist, a member of the National Science Board and the former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer. These same experts have also held leading positions in universities, technologies companies and venture capital outfits. They emphasized the need to bring government, academia and industry together to push U.S. advancements in emerging technology ahead. Over the next 50 years, the ongoing battle for technical supremacy will once again determine the winners and losers in great power competition in the world, said Chris Darby, president and CEO of In-Q-Tel, a non-profit strategic investor working on behalf of the U.S. intelligence community. This technology battle will likely determine the norms and values that govern our lives. Technological investments and advances by China and Russia formed a back-drop for the two-hour hearing, prompting lawmakers to worry about what happens if the U.S. falls behind or is it already? Multiple speakers compared the current race for technology innovation to the Cold War nuclear arms race. Borrowing the language of the 1960s when President John F. Kennedy announced a mission to put a man on the moon, DJ Patil, a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, advised the government to launch a moonshot approach a well-funded, all-government effort to spur advances in artificial intelligence, 5G wireless, microelectronics, bio-technology and other areas to protect American national security and soft power. The witnesses recommended that the government increase federal funding for research and development. They pitched the creation of a national technology strategy and the creation of interagency groups and offices to direct and implement it. Supporting education in science, technology, engineering and math, helping foreign students obtain visas to study and work in the U.S. in technology sectors, reducing student debt obligations for STEM-field workers, promoting collaborative projects between U.S. agencies and universities and facilitating fellowships and other career opportunities that move people from academia to government and vice versa should be top priorities, the witnesses said. The recommendations may form the basis for future legislation and changes to a 2021 bill authorizing intelligence operations, Himes said. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Greek scholars, including Hippocrates, initiated the use of the word herpes to describe these lesions caused by the virus we now call herpes simplex. The word herpes means to creep or crawl. The Greeks describe it as the manner in which these lesions spread. Herpes labialis or orolabial herpes is an infection which causes groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) . It is more commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters , but they have nothing to do with cold or fever. The first outbreak is confusing as the patient gets a tingling sensation that is accompanied with a burning and itchy sensation, and just when the patient feels that it will subside, a blister or cluster of small blisters appear at the corner or edge of the lips which are painful and reddish purple in color at first. Occasionally, they occur on the nostrils, chin or fingers. Although unusual, they may also occur inside the mouth (gums or hard palate). With each new breakout cold sores typically form in the same location as they have before. These blisters may break open and leak a clear fluid; then scab over after a few days. They usually heal in several days to 2-weeks. The herpes simplex virus is not completely eliminated from the body. Following orofacial infection, it remains dormant in the facial nerves, periodically reactivating to create sores in the same area of the mouth or face at the site of the original infection. An infected person typically experiences 1-3 outbreaks every year. The frequency and severity of the outbreaks decreases with time. Cold sores generally heal without any treatment in 7-10 days. Antiviral medications can help to decrease the severity and frequency of cold sores. Journalists wear protective suits during a media visit to Indonesian Health Ministry's Laboratorium for Research on Infectious-Diseases, following the outbreak of the new coronavirus in China, in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 11, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan By Stanley Widianto and Maikel Jefriando JAKARTA/BOGOR, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesia is not hiding anything over the coronavirus, the health minister said on Tuesday, after some medical researchers expressed concern that cases may have gone undetected in the world's fourth most populous country. While the virus has quickly spread from China throughout much of the rest of the region and beyond, the sprawling Southeast Asian country of more than 260 million people has not recorded any cases so far. Dozens of cases have been recorded in other regional countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, where one person has died, raising suspicions on social media in particular over a potential lack of vigilance in Indonesia. Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in the United States, then said in a study last week that Indonesia should rapidly strengthen outbreak surveillance and control - especially given that it had direct flights from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus. The Harvard team said that Indonesia's lack of confirmed cases "may suggest the potential for undetected cases" as air travel may contribute to cases being exported from China. The virus has killed over 1,000, with more than 42,000 confirmed cases in China and 319 cases in 24 other countries. Many of the cases outside China have been in people who have a history of travelling to the country. "We have the kits to check coronavirus and they're certified ... Nothing is concealed," Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said after a cabinet meeting at the Bogor presidential palace outside Jakarta, in response to the concerns. Indonesia has tested 64 samples from suspected coronavirus infections - 62 of which were declared negative with two still being tested, health ministry Research and development agency head Siswanto said during a tour of its laboratory in Jakarta. Navaratnasamy Paranietharan, the WHO's Indonesia representative, told a conference on Tuesday: "Indonesia has taken concrete measures and the World Health Organization is quite confident that Indonesia is ready to be able to respond to this situation." Story continues Indonesia has barred entry to visitors who have been in China for 14 days and stopped all flights to and from there. Vivi Setiawaty, another health ministry official, said it was unclear why Indonesia had not seen any cases but said authorities were better prepared since facing H5N1 avian influenza from 2005. "We remain cautious," she told reporters. Indonesia has readied 100 hospitals across the archipelago including three in Jakarta and has also quarantined more than 240 of its citizens evacuated from Hubei province, home to Wuhan, to the island of Natuna, north of Borneo. The WHO's Paranietharan said it appeared unlikely, as some have suggested, that the hot tropical climate could be a factor in curbing cases though more data would be required to be sure. "It doesn't make sense at this point whether that could be the reason why we don't have coronavirus cases in Indonesia," Paranietharan said. (Additional reporting by Nilufar Rizki; Editing by Ed Davies and Alison Williams) British travellers to the European Union will face onerous red tape because of Brexit, the government has confirmed. During the transition period for the remainder of the year, UK passports are valid for travel anywhere in the EU up to and including the date of expiry. But tough new rules will come into effect on 1 January 2021, which mean that a traveller whose British passport has almost 15 months to run could be turned away from the airport. HM Passport Office has issued a notice confirming: Youll need to have at least six months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe. Unfortunately for millions of British passport holders, the EUs definition of six months left may be very different from the date in the passport. Front pages mark Brexit Day Show all 13 1 /13 Front pages mark Brexit Day Front pages mark Brexit Day The Independent Front pages mark Brexit Day The Sun Front pages mark Brexit Day Daily Mail Front pages mark Brexit Day The Daily Telegraph Front pages mark Brexit Day The Guardian Front pages mark Brexit Day Daily Express Front pages mark Brexit Day Daily Star Front pages mark Brexit Day The Times Front pages mark Brexit Day Metro Front pages mark Brexit Day i Front pages mark Brexit Day Daily Mirror Front pages mark Brexit Day Financial Times Front pages mark Brexit Day The Scotsman The European Union has strict rules on passport validity for travellers visiting from outside the EU. Passports issued by non-member countries are regarded as expired once they have been valid for 10 years. For many years, until September 2018, the UK had the generous policy of allowing credit for unspent time when renewing a passport, issuing documents valid for up to 10 years and nine months. So a passport issued on 30 June 2011 could show an expiry date of 30 March 2022. This was not a problem while the UK was in the European Union. But now, while the expiry date printed in the passport remains valid for the UK and other non-EU countries around the world, within the European Union the issue date is critical. That passport issued on 30 June 2011 will be regarded as expiring on 30 June 2021. Therefore if its holder attempted to board a plane to the European Union on New Years Day 2021, it would have insufficient validity and the airline would be obliged to turn them away. The change and complexity are inevitable consequences of leaving the European Union, but until September 2018 the government appeared unaware of the issue. Once the problem was identified, the practice of giving up to nine months grace ended abruptly. The rules also apply to Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, as well as the small countries of Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Vatican City. They do not apply to Ireland, for which passports are not legally necessary due to the Common Travel Agreement between the Republic and the UK. At least 50 senior executives, including CEOs, of companies based in the National Capital Region (NCR) were among 150 people who fell victim over three months to racketeers who befriended them on Grindr a social networking app for gay, bisexual and transgender people and blackmailed them with intimate pictures, according to senior Gurugram Police officers. Members of the racket allegedly contacted their targets through the app, and, after befriending them, arranged dates on isolated stretches of the Western Peripheral Expressway and Southern Peripheral Road in Gurugram. In most cases, the victims were ambushed in their cars while meeting their dates by the gang members, photographed in the nude, beaten up, and robbed of their belongings, the officers said. Police said that the racket run by six men was busted in November after a decoy was sent to meet one of the members on Southern Peripheral Road following a complaint by a victim. Four of the six men were arrested on the spot and two are still at large, the police said. Police commissioner Muhammad Akil said they have tracked down at least 80 of the 150 victims in the last three months and the investigation is still on. Around 50 executives of top multinational companies in Delhi-NCR have been duped and robbed by them. The victims, fearing social stigma, are not ready to take legal action against the suspects and have refused to come forward and record their statements with the police. We have written to Grindr to get more details of the suspects and their accounts as two of the gang members are still absconding. They targeted people in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad, he said. Grindr, which is based in the US, did not respond to emails seeking comment. The gang Akil said a group of six men from Bhondsi formed the gang and hired three engineers who created fake profiles on Grindr in September last year. The engineers were promised a salary of Rs 30,000 a month for making calls and connecting with high-profile people. They downloaded random pictures from Google and used them as profile pictures on the app. Police said the gang members confessed to duping 150 people, but the police recovered data on 300 individuals from their possession. Police said the six gang members are school drop-outs and but hired educated people with good command over English. It took them almost a month to get friendly with the victims and once they gained [the victims] confidence and assured them that their identities were safe, they set up meetings in Gurugram, said Akil. The engineers would strike a friendship on the app and call the victims to Sector 29, a hub of restaurants and pubs, where one of the two members of the gang given this responsibility on account of their looks, turned up. Akil said most victims failed to realise that the person was different from the picture in the app or probably didnt mind the difference. Same-sex relations are not illegal in India, but there is still some stigma attached to it. In this particular case, many of the senior executives are married, have families, and are yet to come out, police said. The designated gang member would then suggest to the victim that they take a drive along the Southern Peripheral Road and Western Peripheral Expressway where police presence is low and the streets are not lit properly. The gang would follow, and ambush the two once they started making out or started performing a sexual act. Akil said the gang members used to surround the parked cars and threaten the couple with a pistol. They used to click pictures and force them to hand over their belongings, threatening to upload their nude photos and videos on several websites . Fearing exposure, especially to family and friends, the victims used to hand over cash, laptops and watches. In many cases, the victims were also blackmailed into transferring money into different accounts, he said. The victims In the first week of November, a resident of Gurugram approached the police and narrated his ordeal. He had already paid more than Rs 5 lakh to the suspects and they were still threatening him. I downloaded the application just weeks before the incident in October. I met this person online and talked to him for 11 days; he said he wanted to meet me. As I live in Gurugram, I agreed and we met in Sector 29 parking. I insisted that we should have drinks and food in a restaurant but he suggested that we go for a long drive, the 38-year-old victim (a senior executive) told HT on condition of anonymity. The executive said his date appeared to be in his early 20s and seemed well-educated. After we drove around for 45 minutes, he initiated intimacy. He asked me to park the car on the side, but within minutes another car intercepted my car and they forced open the car door and assaulted and robbed me. The man posing as my friend joined them and fled the spot, the executive added. The victim said he returned home but did not disclose the incident to his family. Soon after, one of the suspects allegedly called him and asked him to transfer Rs 2 lakh to a bank account . I transferred Rs 1 lakh to the given account number and switched off my mobile number and took a new connection. I could not sleep for many nights. I then shared my ordeal with my best friend who took me to the police. We met senior officials and got the case registered, said the victim. Akil said after getting all the details and mobile numbers, the police formed a team to contact members of the racket. One police official set up a meeting in Sector 29 from where the suspect took him to the Southern Peripheral Expressway. There the police ran into the gang and arrested the four men. Police said that during questioning, the gang members revealed that they had duped, robbed and assaulted around 150 people in three months. There was only one formal complaint with us, so after their arrest, we started calling victims and asked them to meet us in person. Most of them refused to file any formal complaint and said they do not want to pursue any legal action but shared their ordeal with us, said Akil. Another victim, a 43-year-old CEO of a multinational company based in Gurugram, who was approached by the police after they retrieved his contact details from the possession of the gang, said that creating a profile on the app had turned his life upside down. He said he was scared of the pictures taken by the gang members, despite the arrests. What if they have stored the pictures in their email or on some other device, and once they are out from jail, they can misuse them. This will not only disrupt my personal life but also embarrass me socially, he said on condition of anonymity. The victim said he used the app as it was a popular one. Searching for a same-sex partner has turned into a nightmare for me. It is not easy to find a partner other than on the internet where your identity is not revealed. I thought this was a platform where like-minded people were brought together, he said. Akil said the police were keen to identify more people involved in similar cases and were appealing to residents with any information to contact the police. We want to urge people who use these online dating applications not to share their personal details with strangers and not to meet them in isolated places; they should meet at public places, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leena Dhankhar Leena Dhankhar has worked with Hindustan Times for five years. She has covered crime, traffic and excise. She now reports on civic issues and grievances of residents. ...view detail Only curmudgeons would begrudge living things kindness, and only grumps would oppose laws to protect those living things. But a bill in the Illinois Senate, while clearly being proposed with good intentions, might be overdoing it. Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act already prohibits rabbits, ducklings and baby chicks as carnival prizes, but Senate Bill 2472 would expand the laws protections to all animals, including the goldfish that winners can take home in a plastic bag. Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, a Democrat from Western Springs, introduced a bill that would expand the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Acts protections to all animals. Existing law already prohibits rabbits, ducklings and baby chicks as carnival prizes. Glowiak Hiltons bill would extend that protection to all animals, including reptiles, hermit crabs and fish. Like goldfish, a carnival tradition. Bounce a ping pong ball into a bowl and take home the fish swimming inside. This isnt just a goldfish bill, Glowiak Hilton said. Carnivals across the country give out other animals as prizes, specifically iguanas and other exotic reptiles. But the goldfish make a good target for the romantics and those who grow weary of regulation of every phase of life. Our understanding of the lives of hermit crabs and reptiles have made us realize that to keep them as ideal healthy pets requires more than a passing amount of work. Goldfish are probably the easiest starter pet we have available. People can learn quickly whether theyre willing to follow through on the commitment needed to care for another living being. Since goldfish live in a world completely unlike our own, that care can also come without an overwhelming personal attachment. Glowiak Hiltons bill does not apply to fairs, but shes planning on an addendum. As we dig deeper into the story, it becomes a little ridiculous. Glowiak Hiltons bill suggests a coupon or voucher to be exchanged at a licensed pet store, which means for starters at least one additional trip somewhere, and probably not on the same day. That suggestion also takes away the immediate pleasure of walking away with a prize after a victory. Ken Tyrrell, president of the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs, suggests outlawing fish giveaways would be an economic hardship for carnival workers and a disappointment to nostalgic carnivalgoers would who miss the traditional competition. Maybe relax the bill a bit, Sen. Glowiak Hilton. If the time comes that we learn about the terrors of goldfish in captivity, then the idea can be revisited. Ahead of her visit to the SP stronghold Azamgarh where she is likely to meet family members of arrested anti-CAA protestors, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said raising voice in a democracy is not a crime. Her visit also comes in the backdrop of "missing" posters of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav surfacing in his parliamentary constituency.The posters had questioned the MP's absence in the wake of police action on women protesting against the CAA here last week. In a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Raising voice in a democracy is not a crime. And, it is my duty to stand with those, with whom crime has been committed. (Loktantra mein awaaz uthaana julm nahi hai aur mera kartavya hai ki jinke saath julm ho raha hai main unke saath kharhi hoon)." Several Muslim women had staged a protest at Maulana Jauhar Park area here last week against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) but were forcibly removed by police. An FIR was registered against 35 named and over 100 unidentified people involved in the protests. Of them, 20 people were arrested, police had said. This is the Congress general secretary's second visit to eastern UP in less than a week. On Sunday, she had visited Varanasi on the occasion of Ravidas Jayanti. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google has canceled plans to buy a 12.5 per cent stake in Africas largest wind farm after delays to the project, Danish wind turbine maker Vestas said yesterday. The 310 megawatt (MW) Lake Turkana wind farm in Kenya was initially set for completion 2017, after which Google had committed to buy the stake from Vestas. But the delay led to Google canceling in 2019, Vestas said. Due to delays relating primarily to the transmission line, the Vestas agreement with Google was canceled in 2019, a Vestas spokesman said, adding that it was in talks with other potential buyers of the stake. Google was not immediately available for comment. The bill, which was unanimously approved by the Indiana House of Representatives, would prohibit employers from requiring a potential employee or current employee to have a device implanted or otherwise incorporated into the candidates body as a condition of employment," or when being considered for a promotion or for additional compensation or benefits." Oil posted the biggest gain in almost six weeks as signs that the spread of Asias coronavirus may be slowing boosted investor confidence that crudes sell-off has peaked. Futures in New York climbed 2.5% on data from China that showed a drop in suspected coronavirus infections. The positive sentiment was largely undeterred by a government report showing U.S. crude stockpiles posted the largest build since November. Markets are pricing in that we may have hit peak coronavirus fear, said Daniel Ghali, a commodities strategist at TD Securities. Investors that were bearish are thinking they want to start to take their foot off the pedal. PREVIOUSLY: Oil clinches gain despite Russia indecision on OPEC+ output cut Prices have also drawn some support from signals that OPEC and its partners may intervene to shore up the market. The coalition slashed its estimate for demand growth in the first quarter by 440,000 barrels a day, as the coronavirus hits fuel consumption in China. In a meeting with Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Russias key oil producers voiced support for the idea of extending OPEC+ output cuts into the second quarter, but made no final decision. Saudi Arabia has been the strongest advocate for production cuts of an additional 600,000 barrels a day. Russia has remained noncommittal, saying more time was needed to study the proposal. The Energy Information Administration reported that nationwide crude inventories rose 7.46 million barrels last week, more than double the 3.2 million-barrel increase forecast by analysts in a Bloomberg survey. The report also showed a surprise gasoline draw of 95,000 barrels. Gasoline futures surged 4.4%, the biggest rise increase since September, after a fire broke out overnight at Exxon Mobil Corp.s Baton Rouge oil refinery in Louisiana, halting production at the fifth-biggest fuel-making plant in the U.S. FUEL FIX: Daily energy news right to your inbox. It's magic! West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery gained $1.23 to settle at $51.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent for April settlement climbed 3.3% to settle at $55.79 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London, putting its premium over WTI at $4.38. The markets structure also showed signs of strengthening with the discount on front-month Brent contracts versus the second month narrowing to 12 cents, suggesting fears of a supply glut may be easing. Still, discounts have held for Brent contracts for the majority of 2020, a pattern known as contango that typically reflects oversupply. Weve seen a lift because in the very near term, its all about the virus, says Judith Dwarkin, chief economist at RS Energy Group. Until were out of the woods the market will be laser focused on slowing demand growth and if OPEC waits to implement cuts until April, it may be too late to deal with the bulge in supply. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. But all the pre-chewed subtext doesn't necessarily earn Downhill a gold medal, as the degree of difficulty is so high. This is a challenging film, starring comedians in largely dramatic roles, and tonal shifts filled with hairpin turns. The big event happens early and the rest is all, well, downhill from there, as the avalanche draws out the big questions about what it means to be in a family. Despite the Stanton's fumblings and shortcomings, Faxon and Rash have a deep well of empathy, trying to explain them, in the hopes that audiences will empathize with these difficult (and ultimately human) characters, too. Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a Primary Night event at the SNHU Field House in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 11, 2020. Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images Bernie Sanders will win Tuesday's New Hampshire Democratic primary, NBC News projected, setting him up near the top of a fractured presidential field. The Vermont senator will edge out former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota will come in third, according to NBC. As of the latest results Wednesday afternoon, with 99% of precincts reporting, Sanders had nearly 26% of the vote, while Buttigieg had more than 24%. The difference was about 4,000 votes. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former Vice President Joe Biden were vying for fourth place as final results came in. Neither candidate will reach the 15% threshold needed to win pledged delegates, statewide and in both of its congressional districts. The victory gives Sanders an early boost in the push for the Democratic presidential nomination after he left the Iowa caucuses with the second-most pledged national delegates in the field. The process now enters a series of generally larger, more diverse states, where the Vermont senator has outperformed Buttigieg and Klobuchar in polls. "Let me say tonight that this victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump," he told supporters as news outlets started to project his victory. Sanders and Buttigieg are expected to be awarded the same share of New Hampshire's 24 delegates: nine each, according to NBC News. Klobuchar is projected to win six. Both Buttigieg and Klobuchar appeared to perform well with late-deciding voters. "Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has showed that we are here to stay," Buttigieg told supporters Tuesday night. The first-in-the-nation primary is a key proving ground for candidates in the field hoping to take on President Donald Trump, which was 11 people strong entering Tuesday. Buttigieg left the nation's first nominating contest, the Iowa caucuses, with the most pledged national delegates. Sanders followed closely behind him. The early nominating contests have typically narrowed the primary field. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang became the first candidate to suspend his campaign after the New Hampshire results started coming in Tuesday night, followed by Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado. They found themselves well behind the primary leaders as data trickled in. In speaking to supporters Tuesday night, several candidates argued they had the best shot to deny the president a second term. Klobuchar started her remarks by saying, "I'm Amy Klobuchar, and I will beat Donald Trump." Warren, despite a poor performance in the state that neighbors her home of Massachusetts, cast herself as "a nominee that the broadest coalition of our party feels they can get behind." WASHINGTON Sen. Bernie Sanders emerged as the winner in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday, but former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg trailed closely behind. Sen. Amy Klobuchar finished third. Thank you, New Hampshire, Sanders told supporters. Let me take this opportunity to thank the people of New Hampshire for a great victory tonight. But Sanders' narrow victory leaves the Democratic field unsettled, with no clear front-runner. Sanders, of Vermont, had been heavily favored to win the state, where he trounced Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 by more than 20 percentage points. In the days leading up to Tuesday's primary, Sanders had a comfortable 7 percentage point lead in state polling, according to an average by RealClearPolitics. Sanders also had the benefit of being from a neighboring state. Although Sanders will likely gain momentum from his win, it's not enough to allow him to break away from the pack. Sanders' first place finish comes days after he finished in the top two in the Iowa caucuses. The Iowa Democratic Party said Buttigieg won the most pledged delegates in that state, although Sanders won a slightly larger share of the popular vote. Buttigieg faces challenges in the next two Democratic contests: the Nevada caucus on Feb. 22 and the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29. The two states are much more diverse than Iowa and New Hampshire, and Buttigieg has struggled to gain support from black and Latino voters. Here are some of the top takeaways from New Hampshire's primary. 'Klomentum' Klobuchar is having a moment. At least, she did in New Hampshire. Klobuchar, of Minnesota, had finished in fifth in Iowa. But in New Hampshire, she bested Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who had the benefit of being from neighboring Massachusetts. More: Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar leading New Hampshire primary field as two candidates drop out "Thank you, New Hampshire. We love you, New Hampshire," Klobuchar told her supporters at her campaign headquarters in Concord, New Hampshire. "My heart is full tonight. While there are still ballots left to count, we have beaten the odds every step of the way." Story continues Klobuchar rose to the third spot in polling just a day before the primary, boosted by her strong debate performance Friday. Nearly half of voters said they made up their minds about who they were going to vote for in the final days leading up to the primary. Klobuchar has cast herself as a centrist alternative to progressives such as Sanders and Warren. "I do not have the biggest name up on this stage; I don't have the biggest bank account," she said in her closing statement at the debate. "I'm not a political newcomer with no record, but I have a record of fighting for people... I'm asking you to believe that someone who totally believes in America can win this, because if you are tired of the extremes in our politics and the noise and the nonsense, you have a home with me." Klobuchar's strong finish could help bring in needed money as she looks toward Nevada and South Carolina. Klobuchar is polling in the low single digits in both states, according to an average from RealClearPolitics. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks at her election night party, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Concord, N.H. Klobuchar, who has touted her Midwestern roots, has struggled to gain traction with black and Latino voters. According to a January Washington Post/Ipsos poll, Klobuchar is at 0% with black voters nationally. The next hurdle for Klobuchar is to see whether she can maintain momentum as the race moves to more diverse states. The acceleration of this race is hard to capture, David Plouffe, the 2008 campaign manager for Barack Obama, said on MSNBC. Shes got to now put together a national campaign overnight." Klobuchar campaign manager Justin Buoen wrote on Twitter that the campaign had raised more than $2.5 million since the polls closed in New Hampshire. Exit polls Surveys of voters taken before polls closed in New Hampshire highlighted the extent to which the race was in flux. Nearly half of those surveyed said they decided on their candidate in the past few days, according to an exit poll conducted for CNN and other television networks. In addition, about half of those surveyed said Fridays debate in Manchester was an important factor in deciding their vote for president. By a roughly 2-to-1 margin, voters said they were looking for a candidate who could beat President Donald Trump over one who agrees with them on the issues. Eight in 10 of those surveyed said they were "angry" about the Trump administration. About four in 10 cited health care as the most important issue, and six in 10 said they could support a single-government plan, such as Medicare for All, a proposal touted by Sanders. Climate change was the next most cited issue, with about 3 in 10 naming it their top concern. The exit polls, conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool, were based on interviews conducted throughout the day, with 1,947 randomly selected Democratic primary voters at 45 wards in New Hampshire. Results for the full sample had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. 'Weve accomplished so much together': Andrew Yang ends his campaign for presidency Joe Biden Former Vice President Joe Biden placed fifth in New Hampshire, behind Warren, a showing that raised new doubts about his viability. He came in fourth in Iowa. Long seen as the Democratic front-runner, Biden has seen his national poll numbers plummet following his Iowa loss. Biden didn't stick around for the New Hampshire results. He headed instead to South Carolina, a state with a large proportion of African American voters and where he has been leading in the polls. Over the past several days, Biden and his campaign had sought to lower expectations about New Hampshire and Iowa. They have argued that the two states, which are overwhelmingly white, are not representative of the broader Democratic electorate. Biden is polling at 31% in South Carolina, according to an average of surveys from RealClearPolitics. He video chatted into his New Hampshire rally from Columbia, South Carolina, as results from the primary continued to roll in. Biden went on to speak to supporters in South Carolina. He noted that "the most committed constituency in the Democratic Party, the African American community" and "the fastest growing segment of society, the Latino community," have yet to vote. So to hear all these pundits and experts, all these cable TV talkers talk about the race, tell them: It aint over, man. Were just getting started. Our votes count, too,'" he told voters at his Columbia rally. Biden has repeatedly argued that he is the best candidate to take on Trump. But his recent losses substantially undercut his electability argument. Contributing: Ledyard King, Nicholas Wu and Maureen Groppe This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Hampshire primary: Amy Klobuchar's strength, other takeaways The woman on whose statement police had detained a man for interrogation in a theft case is "missing" since Tuesday morning, the family members of Rajkumar Shaw, who died in custody at the Sinthee police station, alleged on Wednesday. The family members of Shaw (53) alleged that the police had "taken Ashura Bibi away to an undisclosed place to hide the actual story behind the case". The woman is "missing" since Tuesday morning from the night shelter, where she was staying, at ward no. 5 of borough no. 1, they alleged. "We have not been able to trace Ashura Bibi since Tuesday morning. She has not been seen anywhere around the night shelter. The police has taken her away to an undisclosed place to hide the truth behind the incident," Shaw's younger son alleged. "The police tried to take Ashura Bibi away through the backdoor of the Sinthee police station on Monday night. We caught them red-handed, after which she spoke to the media. But today, she has not been seen anywhere," he said. It was learnt that the police went to the night shelter, looking for the woman in connection with their probe into the matter, on Tuesday evening. Three policemen were booked and departmental proceedings initiated against them, following Shaw's death in police custody on Monday. The deceased's family members had alleged that Shaw died due to torture by policemen. The police had denied the charges, saying Shaw was ill and he died due to cardiac arrest. Shaw's relatives had ransacked the police station and also lodged a complaint against the policemen. A petition has also been filed in the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI probe into Shaw's death. A division bench comprising Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee has directed the Wst Bengal government to submit an action-taken report and Shaw's post-mortem report on February 25, the next date of hearing of the petition. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that Shaw was a party member. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON Rudy Giuliani, President Trumps personal attorney, is reemerging as a central figure behind efforts to continue investigating Democrats ties to Ukraine with work on a new documentary about Hunter Biden, three Republican sources familiar with the project told Yahoo News. Giuliani and his production team, led by veteran California Republican fixer Tim Yale, have been conducting interviews for the documentary, according to two of the people familiar with the effort. They have also approached potential investors in the film, showing them trailers with footage of former Vice President Joe Biden and actors portraying Hunter Biden and Ukrainian officials, according to one of those sources. Giuliani did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Yale, Giulianis partner on the documentary, also didnt return requests for comment. Just a few months ago, in the midst of the impeachment proceedings, Giuliani had become politically toxic for Trump, and some Republicans were urging Trump to dump him. But since Trumps acquittal last week in the Senate, Giuliani is attempting to retake the reins of the Ukraine investigation conducting interviews and promising to deliver evidence to the Justice Department. Rudy Giuliani and Hunter Biden. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP, Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images) It is unclear what wrongdoing Giuliani hopes to prove. Hunter Biden was a paid board member of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company with a history of corruption, while his father, Joe, served as vice president and was involved in efforts to pressure Ukraine to fight corruption. Though Hunter Biden, who had no prior experience in the energy sector, has been widely criticized for creating the appearance of a conflict of interest, there has been no evidence that his father took any action to benefit his son. Giuliani appeared on Fox News over the past weekend, promising documents that would prove accusations of wrongdoing against Hunter Biden. He has also said he is planning to reveal more documents in public when Senate Republicans begin holding public hearings in their investigation of the Bidens, said one person familiar with the effort. Story continues A lawyer representing Hunter Biden did not respond to a request for comment. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, one of the three Republican senators overseeing the broad effort to investigate the Bidens, said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation that Trumps Justice Department created a process that Rudy could give information [to them] and they would see if its verified. Attorney General William Barr said Monday that the Justice Department had an open door for information regarding Ukraine, including any evidence Giuliani provides, but cast doubt on the veracity of all intelligence coming out of Ukraine. We cant take anything we receive from the Ukraine at face value, he told reporters. Rudy Giuliani on "Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo" on Feb. 9. (Fox News) Its unclear how close Giuliani still is with Trump or the White House. Some Republicans have given him broad credit for helping carry Trump to acquittal, but a source close to the administration noted that Giuliani has created more problems for Trump than hes fixed. Following his acquittal, Trump thanked dozens of lawmakers in his hourlong victory speech at the White House last Thursday, but he notably left out Giuliani while handing out praise. A White House aide declined to comment on Giulianis activities, saying those questions should be directed to Giuliani. Pressed by Fox News Maria Bartiromo Sunday, Giuliani declined to say precisely if the Trump administration or Trumps supporters would be launching their own investigation of the Bidens and Ukraine, or whether he supported the ongoing Senate investigation outright. But the new documentary is the latest, and starkest, example that Giuliani is leading the way on the renewed effort. He also produced a separate program on Ukraine on the pro-Trump network One America News that aired in December. And hes been touting his podcast, including an interview with the former Ukrainian diplomat who touched off allegations of corruption against Hunter Biden, Andrii Telizhenko. One of the sources, who watched trailers put together to pitch the film, described it as more of a satirical mockumentary, and less serious than Giuliani and Trumps previous effort to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Giulianis earlier bid to investigate the Biden family, which witnesses in the House impeachment probe said was directed by Trump, led to the House charging the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Both Trump and Giuliani have repeatedly denied they tried to coerce an investigation of the Bidens disputing sworn testimony from government witnesses. Rudy Giuliani and Andrii Telizhenko, in a photo posted on Telizhenko's Facebook account last May 22. (Andrii Telizhenko/Facebook) Two days after the Republican-led Senate acquitted Trump on both charges, the White House removed one witness, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and his twin brother from the National Security Council. The president also recalled another witness, Gordon Sondland, who gave some of the most stunning testimony of the impeachment probe, from his post as U.S. ambassador to the European Union. In the meantime, the Republican pursuit of the Bidens appears to be continuing full speed, even as Joe Bidens presidential prospects are dimming after a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. Yahoo News reported last week that agencies including the Treasury Department were rapidly turning over documents to Senate Republicans investigating Hunter Biden. Similarly, Giulianis efforts to investigate the Bidens appear to be moving forward. He approached potential investors for the new documentary last month, offering a trip to Ukraine with him and his production team, according to one of the sources familiar with the project. Giuliani jettisoned his old team, including operatives Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, months ago, after they were indicted for funneling foreign money to Republicans. Giuliani already has some competition, however. Former Trump campaign adviser Michael Caputo is out with a documentary called The Ukraine Hoax, which repeats many of the same allegations leveled at Hunter Biden for his work with Burisma. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: New Delhi, Feb 12 : One-Third of global smartphones sold in 2019 had security embedded in the hardware and the sales of such smartphones grew 39 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in 2019, according to the latest report from Counterpoint Research. Apple and Huawei implement embedded hardware security through a secure element (eSE/inSE) while Samsung uses a physically unclonable function (PUF). "Smartphone users are increasingly storing personal and professional data including digital banking, payment and financial information on smartphones. "This attracts cyber attacks with victims losing real assets, such as money, personal data and loss of privacy. Securing smartphones should be a high priority for the smartphone industry," Satyajit Sinha, Research Analyst, Counterpoint, said in a statement. According to Counterpoint's IoT Security Service, systems based on a secure element accounted for 89 per cent of shipments, while those with a PUF represented 10 per cent of secure smartphone sales in 2019. "The secure element is a coprocessor within the SoC which assures tamper-resistance and is capable of securely hosting applications. From the iPhone 5s onwards, Apple has been embedding a secure enclave (eSE) provided by the Global Platform. "Huawei also implemented an integrated secure element (inSE) on its SoCs, the HiSilicon Kirin 960, 970, 980, 990 and 710. Qualcomm has adopted the secure element as a secure processing unit (SPU) in the Snapdragon 845, 855 and 855+ which enables brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, LG, Sony, Samsung and Google to implement hardware embedded security in its premium smartphones," Neil Shah, Counterpoint Research Vice President, noted. Labour today descended into civil war over trans rights after Rebecca Long-Bailey backed a campaign which labelled a women's rights organisation a 'trans-exclusionist hate group'. The Labour Campaign for Trans Rights has published a 12-point plan which it said is designed to 'rid the Labour Party of transphobia and to stand up for trans people'. Ms Long-Bailey tweeted: 'Please sign to show your support for the trans and non-binary community, for whom the Labour Party should always be a safe space.' The campaign states that there is 'no material conflict between trans rights and women's rights' and calls for the 'expulsion from the Labour Party of those who express bigoted, transphobic views'. However, one of the campaign's pledges calls for Labour to 'organise and fight against transphobic organisations such as Woman's Place UK, LGB Alliance and other trans-exclusionist hate groups'. Woman's Place UK, a group which was established to 'ensure that womens voices are heard and our sex based rights upheld', rejected the accusation which it said it believes is 'defamatory'. Rebecca Long-Bailey, pictured in Nottingham on February 8, sparked a Labour civil war after backing the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights Ms Long-Bailey urged Labour members to sign up to the group's 12 point plan amid a mounting backlash The co-founders of the group said they are Labour members and are 'extremely concerned by the scurrilous mischaracterisation' of the organisation which was seemingly backed by Ms Long-Bailey. The group said: 'We call on the Labour Party to demonstrate its opposition to this misogynistic abuse of women. Defend us or expel us.' Meanwhile, the LGB Alliance, a group set up to 'advance the interests of LGB people', said it will 'keep speaking the truth and remain open to reasonable discussion'. Woman's Place UK's ultimatum to the Labour leadership of 'defend us or expel us' was backed by a wave of party members on Twitter as they used the hashtag 'expelme'. One user told Ms Long-Bailey that she was effectively 'endorsing the expulsion of women and LGB people from the party' for supporting Woman's Place UK or LGB Alliance. Others said that they were 'gobsmacked' that Ms Long-Bailey had backed a campaign which 'calls a grassroots feminist org a "trans-exclusionary hate group"' while others warned the pledges could lead to a 'witch hunt'. Lisa Nandy, one of Ms Long-Bailey's Labour leadership rivals, said Labour should 'always be an open and safe space for all' as she tweeted the campaign pledges Deputy leadership candidate Angela Rayner also urged people to 'read and sign' up to the campaign pledges. Lisa Nandy tweeted the pledges with the following comment: 'We've seen a rise in transphobic hate crimes in this country over recent years. 'Rather than allow women to be pitted against one another, the Labour Party should always be an open and safe space for all.' There's something so utterly magical about seeing an Oscar De La Renta collection in person. Since taking the helm, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia have impressed the industry by staying true to de la Renta's classic aesthetics, but have found a way to give the pieces an effortless modern twist that's perfect for this generation. As I walked toward The New York Public Library - a quintessential NYC location that was fitting for the luxury brand - I was excited to see what this season had to offer. Guests sipped on Fiji water as they took in the gorgeous venue and waited for the show to begin. Bella Hadid opened the show in a cobalt blue trench coat paired with sleek green trousers and a red scarf. The collection was full of flirty mini dresses that were adorned in metallic tassels, much like the dress Scarlett Johansson just wore to the Oscars. Voluminous ballgowns fit with corset bodices and delicate embroidery filled the runway. The best, of course, was saved for last as Bella closed the show in a red minidress topped with a hot pink feathered hooded cape. Scroll on to see the dreamy collection ahead. Related: I Wasn't Ready For the Glamour (and Navarro Cheerleading) at Brandon Maxwell's Fall 2020 Runway Show Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Provenance Gold Corp. (CSE: PAU) (FSE: 3PG) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of an additional tranche of its previously announced private placement (the "Placement"). In connection with the completion of this additional tranche, the Company has issued 1,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of $150,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") with each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share (each, a "Warrant Share") of the Company at a price of $0.30 per Warrant Share for a period of twenty four (24) months from their date of issue. The Company expects to close on an additional tranche of funding later this quarter which will enable the Company to drill its Silver Bow gold and silver property now that all assays have been reviewed and several strong gold and silver targets have been identified. The initial drilling will focus on the property's Blue Horse target. This target is a bleached and silicified zone that is at least 100 meters wide and visibly extends for more than 600 meters before it goes under shallow alluvial cover. Local bedrock exposures suggest it continues much further to the northwest. All of Provenance's surface samples across and along the zone have been strongly gold and silver mineralized with several samples containing high-grade multigram gold and silver. The Company plans to complete a 5000-foot drill program of up to 15 holes as soon as the third tranche of funding is received. Proceeds of this Placement will be used to advance the Company's projects as previously announced and for general working capital. All securities issued in connection with the Placement will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. Rauno Perttu, P. Geo., a Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101), and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this News Release. About Provenance Gold Corp. Provenance Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company with a focus on gold and silver resources within North America. The Company currently holds interests in Nevada, USA and Yukon, Canada and is actively involved and working within both jurisdictions. For further information, sponsorship or funding enquiries please visit the Company's website at https://provenancegold.com or contact Rob Clark @ rclark@provenancegold.com. On behalf of the Board, Provenance Gold Corp. Rauno Perttu, Chief Executive Officer Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange, nor its regulation services provider, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52340 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) emir Hafiz Saeed has been convicted in a terror financing case by a Pakistan court and sentenced to five years jail, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday. This is the first time that Hafiz Saeed, who was arrested last year, has been convicted in a terror case. Reports of Hafiz Saeeds conviction comes right ahead of a crucial meeting of the anti-terror financing body, Financial Action Task Force, that will decide Pakistans listing colour code. Islamabad, which has been trying to get off FATFs grey list, has been trying to persuade the international community that it was serious about curbing terror financing. The grey list acknowledges that Pakistan is a country where terrorist groups can carry out activities and raise funds, a label that makes foreign investment and loans from global financial institutions difficult. Saeed-led JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) that carried out 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people. He has not been charged for the terror attack. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had last year ordered action against Hafiz Saeed in the face of intense international pressure and the FATF grey listing. Saeeds arrest in July last year over charges of terror financing was timed right ahead of Imran Khans three-day visit to the US. US President Donald Trump had then rushed to take credit for the arrest: After a ten year search, the so-called mastermind of the Mumbai Terror attacks has been arrested in Pakistan. Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him, he had tweeted. In December, Saeed was eventually charged with collecting funds for his banned organisations, which the U.N. and the United States have designated as terrorist groups. He pleaded not guilty. Hafiz Saeed and another of his close aides have been sentenced in two cases of terrorism financing, prosecutor Abdul Rauf Watto told Reuters. The total punishment in both the cases was 11 years but he will serve five and a half years in jail as the two punishments will run concurrently, Saeeds lawyer Imran Gill said, adding that Hafiz Saeed would appeal against the verdict. Today is of course the anniversary of the birth of Americas greatest president, Abraham Lincoln. As a politician and as president, Lincoln was a profound student of the Constitution and constitutional history. Perhaps most important, Lincoln was Americas indispensable teacher of the moral ground of political freedom at the exact moment when the country was on the threshold of abandoning what he called its ancient faith that all men are created equal. In 1858 Lincoln attained national prominence in the Republican Party as the result of the contest for the Senate seat held by Stephen Douglas. It was Lincolns losing campaign against Douglas that made him a figure of sufficient prominence that he could be the partys 1860 presidential nominee. At the convention of the Illinois Republican Party in June, Lincoln was the unanimous choice to run against Douglas. After declaring him their candidate late on the afternoon of June 16, the entire convention returned that evening to hear Lincoln speak. Accepting the conventions nomination, Lincoln gave one of the most incendiary speeches in American history. Lincoln electrified the convention, asserting that the institution of slavery had made the United States a house divided against itself. Slavery would either be extirpated or become lawful nationwide, Lincoln predicted, provocatively quoting scriptural authority to the effect that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Demonstrating how it changed the course of history, Harry Jaffa calls it [t]he speech that changed the world. On July 9 Douglas responded in a campaign speech to a raucous throng from the balcony of the Tremont House hotel in Chicago. Lincoln was in the audience when Douglas prepared to speak and invited Lincoln to sit on the balcony. In his speech Douglas sounded the themes of the momentous campaign that Lincoln and Douglas waged that summer and fall for Douglass Senate seat. Douglas paid tribute to Lincoln as a kind, amiable, and intelligent gentleman, a good citizen and an honorable opponent, but expressed his disagreement with Lincolns June 16 speech to the Illinois Republican convention that had named him its candidate for Douglass seat. According to Douglas, Lincolns assertion that the nation could not exist half slave and half free was inconsistent with the diversity in domestic institutions that was the great safeguard of our liberties. Then as now, diversity was a shibboleth hiding an evil institution that could not be defended on its own terms. Douglas responded to Lincolns condemnation of the Supreme Courts Dred Scott decision a condemnation that was the centerpiece of Lincolns convention speech. I am free to say to you, Douglas said, that in my opinion this government of ours is founded on the white basis. It was made by the white man, for the benefit of the white man, to be administered by white men, in such manner as they should determine. Lincoln invited Douglass audience to return the next evening for his reply to Douglass speech. Lincolns speech of July 10 concludes with an explanation of the meaning of the American creed with incomparable eloquence and insight, in words that remain as relevant now as then: * * * * * We are now a mighty nation, we are thirtyor about thirty millions of people, and we own and inhabit about one-fifteenth part of the dry land of the whole earth. We run our memory back over the pages of history for about eighty-two years and we discover that we were then a very small people in point of numbers, vastly inferior to what we are now, with a vastly less extent of country,with vastly less of everything we deem desirable among men,we look upon the change as exceedingly advantageous to us and to our posterity, and we fix upon something that happened away back, as in some way or other being connected with this rise of prosperity. We find a race of men living in that day whom we claim as our fathers and grandfathers; they were iron men, they fought for the principle that they were contending for; and we understood that by what they then did it has followed that the degree of prosperity that we now enjoy has come to us. We hold this annual celebration to remind ourselves of all the good done in this process of time of how it was done and who did it, and how we are historically connected with it; and we go from these [Independence Day] meetings in better humor with ourselveswe feel more attached the one to the other, and more firmly bound to the country we inhabit. In every way we are better men in the age, and race, and country in which we live for these celebrations. But after we have done all this we have not yet reached the whole. There is something else connected with it. We have besides these mendescended by blood from our ancestorsamong us perhaps half our people who are not descendants at all of these men, they are men who have come from EuropeGerman, Irish, French and Scandinavianmen that have come from Europe themselves, or whose ancestors have come hither and settled here, finding themselves our equals in all things. If they look back through this history to trace their connection with those days by blood, they find they have none, they cannot carry themselves back into that glorious epoch and make themselves feel that they are part of us, but when they look through that old Declaration of Independence they find that those old men say that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and then they feel that that moral sentiment taught in that day evidences their relation to those men, that it is the father of all moral principle in them, and that they have a right to claim it as though they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh of the men who wrote that Declaration [loud and long continued applause], and so they are. That is the electric cord in that Declaration that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men throughout the world. [Applause.] Now, sirs, for the purpose of squaring things with this idea of dont care if slavery is voted up or voted down [Douglass popular sovereignty position on the extension of slavery to the territories], for sustaining the Dred Scott decision [A voiceHit him again], for holding that the Declaration of Independence did not mean anything at all, we have Judge Douglas giving his exposition of what the Declaration of Independence means, and we have him saying that the people of America are equal to the people of England. According to his construction, you Germans are not connected with it. Now I ask you in all soberness, if all these things, if indulged in, if ratified, if confirmed and endorsed, if taught to our children, and repeated to them, do not tend to rub out the sentiment of liberty in the country, and to transform this Government into a government of some other form. Those arguments that are made, that the inferior race are to be treated with as much allowance as they are capable of enjoying; that as much is to be done for them as their condition will allow. What are these arguments? They are the arguments that kings have made for enslaving the people in all ages of the world. You will find that all the arguments in favor of king-craft were of this class; they always bestrode the necks of the people, not that they wanted to do it, but because the people were better off for being ridden. That is their argument, and this argument of the Judge [Douglas] is the same old serpent that says you work and I eat, you toil and I will enjoy the fruits of it. Turn in whatever way you willwhether it come from the mouth of a King, an excuse for enslaving the people of his country, or from the mouth of men of one race as a reason for enslaving the men of another race, it is all the same old serpent, and I hold if that course of argumentation that is made for the purpose of convincing the public mind that we should not care about this, should be granted, it does not stop with the negro. I should like to know if taking this old Declaration of Independence, which declares that all men are equal upon principle and making exceptions to it where will it stop. If one man says it does not mean a negro, why not another say it does not mean some other man? If that declaration is not the truth, let us get the Statute book, in which we find it and tear it out! Who is so bold as to do it! [Voicesme no one, &c.] If it is not true let us tear it out! [cries of no, no,] let us stick to it then [cheers], let us stand firmly by it then. [Applause.] * * * * * Thank you, Mr. Lincoln: Let us stick to it then, let us stand firmly by it then. (First posted on Lincolns birthday 2005.) Recent controversy about the Quebec government investing $30 million in a French airship company was like catnip for University of Manitoba logistics professor and world renowned airship expert, Barry Prentice. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Recent controversy about the Quebec government investing $30 million in a French airship company was like catnip for University of Manitoba logistics professor and world renowned airship expert, Barry Prentice. Prentice has been studying airships, talking to people about airships all over the world and holding an annual conference about using airships in the North, for about 15 years. The fact the Quebec government or any institution, for that matter would invest in a company developing such technology is encouraging for Prentice and likely anyone else who believes airships can solve many of the problems associated with northern development in Canada. It is not, however, any guarantee that such hybrid lighter-than-air vessels will be floating across the skyline anytime soon. It has taken Lockheed Martin, a company with as much technical/regulatory/financial wherewithal as any company on earth, more than 20 years to design, build and certify its version of a hybrid airship. But commercial production still has not begun. With such massive barriers to entry just designing a certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration took years and the potential for significant benefits to society, Prentice believes this is exactly the kind of investment governments should be making. "Somehow Canadians got the idea there was no need for governments to take on the risky effort of nation building," Prentice said, "If the current politicians were around during John A. Macdonalds time, the last spike would have been driven just a little west of Toronto." No doubt any investment in any airship company today would be a risky proposition. There are a handful of companies developing commercial versions of cargo-hauling airships including Lockheed Martin. Flying Whales, the French company that now intends to build a production facility in Quebec in the next couple of years, has not yet built its first vessel. Prentice believes the investment in Flying Whales by the government of Quebec which was preceded by investments by the French and Chinese governments is the first time in more than 80 years that any governments have invested in a civilian airship. With its partnership with that company, Quebec will become of strategic interest to the nascent industry. It may well also become the site of one of the very first airship construction hangars in the world, and it may also become the region where one of the first commercial test cases take place. Thats because the owner of a potential rare earth mine north of Schefferville, Que., has an agreement to provide air services for the transport of ore concentrate, supplies and personnel using Lockheed Martins hybrid airships. The plan is for the airships to shuttle between the mine in northern Quebec and Schefferville, a town with a direct rail link to the Port of Sept-Iles. Regardless of Prentices passionate advocacy of airships, he is first and foremost a logistics expert and understands transportation networks. He believes when it comes to government support of one industry or another, transportation networks are different. "Its not like the furniture business where the private sector does stuff and the government looks on and collects taxes," he said. "Government has to be involved. It provides the infrastructure and regulates the sector. Trucks dont provide the roads. The airlines dont provide the airports." 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. Since it was the fiery crash of the Hindenburg 80-plus years ago that effectively ended the first era of airships, it seems natural government regulation would need to be in place to ensure safety if airships are to have another crack at commercial operation. "It is a brand new transportation system," said Prentice. "If it does not get public support then the investor is left to take all the risk of a brand new system and that is a lot of risk. That is what has held back the industry." It may not be the only thing that has held the industry back. There is still plenty of debate as to what the optimum technical design ought to be and there is still little substantial planning as to what the landing base will look like. Even Prentice, who has seen plenty of aborted airship attempts over the years, believes current developments are encouraging. "I am hopeful this will lead to more," he said. "My view has always been that once the first big airship flies everyone will say. Oh, thats what were talking about. Then there will be lots who want to invest in it." martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Children who have been the victims of sexual assault are being retraumatised and further abused by being forced by the WA government to attend school with their perpetrators, a leading mental health and psychology expert has warned. WAs Australian of the Year for 2018, adjunct professor Tracy Westerman, who has extensive expertise in working with sex offenders and victims, said the government was harming child sexual assault victims by allowing the peers who offended against them to remain students at the same schools. In 2019 at least six child sexual offenders were enrolled at the same WA schools as their victims. Credit:John Woudstra This is not about more abuse potentially taking place, she said. The presence of a perpetrator in the environment of the victim is abuse - and the systems that are there to protect are failing to do so. It was revealed in WA Parliament after questions from opposition child protection spokesman Nick Goiran, that as of Tuesday, there were six alleged offenders attending the same public school as their victims. The new virus that's killed more than 1,000 people in China and infected thousands more will reach its peak in the south of the country by the second half of February, a top virus expert said on Tuesday. During a video conference with doctors in Wuhan, leading epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan said the increase of new coronavirus cases in China was gradually declining. He pointed out that the measures of containment nationwide were working. But he acknowledged the situation of Wuhan was still severe, where the increase of cases "had not been significantly reduced". "The problem of human to human transmission has yet been resolved," Nanshan said. The National Health Commission said in its daily update on Tuesday the total number of deaths in mainland China had risen to 1,016. The total has far exceeded the toll of the 2002-03 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which was caused by a different but related coronavirus. Turkey has sent additional troops to Syria, Sky News Arabia reported, citing sources. The TV channel added that Turkish troops crossed the Syrian border at dawn, heading for the western areas of the Aleppo province. According to Sky News Arabia, Turkish troops were establishing an observation point on a road connecting the Atarib and Al-Jinah settlements. On Saturday, Turkeys Anadolu news agency reported that Ankara was sending a convoy of 300 trucks and armored vehicles to the Syrian border, adding that the troop deployment had been going on for several days. WOULD ANYONE DARE TO EXPLIAN HOW PREZ TRUMP STANDING UP FOR SOME POLITICAL HACK THUG LIKE ROGER STONE HELPS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC?!??! Prez Trump Pushes Limits Trump's Roger Stone power play reveals a presidency unleashed By bulldozing into Roger Stone's sentencing, Donald Trump sparked a mutiny by four career prosecutors, raised fears about the impartial administration of justice and showed how his impeachment acquittal unchained an already rampant presidency. DOJ Double Take DoJ To 'Revise' Sentencing Request For Roger Stone Following Trump Tweet subscribe to The NPR Politics Podcast podcast The Justice Department plans to revise its recommendations for sentencing in the case of political consultant Roger Stone following a tweet about it by President Trump on Tuesday. Officials at the Justice Department's headquarters in Washington were "shocked" when they saw on Monday night that the U.S. Rachel Maddow Is MAD!!! Trump interference in Stone case triggers 'rule of law emergency' Rachel Maddow reports on the DOJ overruling of the front line prosecutors in the Roger Stone case after a complaint by Donald Trump that led to the prosecutors quitting the case in what is seen as political influence by way of Bill Barr. New Project For Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls for investigation into Roger Stone sentencing recommendation House Speaker (D-Calif) in a tweet Tuesday night accused of engaging in "political interference in the sentencing of , " and called for an investigation into the Department of Justice (DOJ). Pelosi also commended the four prosecutors who quit Stone's case Tuesday after the DOJ asked for a lighter sentence than what they had recommended. Prez Trump Tweet Storm Cont'd Trump taunts Roger Stone prosecutors who 'cut and ran' from case President Trump sounded off on Twitter on the four Justice Department (DOJ) attorneys who quit the Roger Stone case on Tuesday and accused them of cutting and running for political reasons. Trump asked if the lawyers were loyal to former special counsel Robert Mueller and said Stone's case was the offshoot of an illegal investigation. And Now A Word From Hillary Hillary Clinton compares Trump to a 'fascist' after he lashed out at a federal judge on Twitter over Roger Stone's case Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is engaged in a war of words with President Donald Trump on Twitter over the sentencing of his longtime ally Roger Stone. Federal prosecutors recommended a seven to nine-year sentence for Stone on Monday, which Trump derided on Twitter as "a horrible and very unfair situation." Dems Uncertain Democrats struggle to counter a post-impeachment Trump Yet so far, Democrats are offering an unsettled array of responses that a post-impeachment Congress can take to rein in Trump or highlight alleged transgressions by the president. Some are calling for new investigations and attempts at traditional congressional oversight. Others are suggesting that Democrats could withhold appropriations from key agencies to get answers to their investigative inquiries. Hot Talk Overview Jennifer Granholm Blasts Trump Pressuring DOJ on Roger Stone A CNN panel that featured former Midwest governors Jennifer Granholm and John Kasich tore into President Donald Trump for his transparently crude attempts at pressuring the Justice Department into reducing the sentence of his longtime confidante and now convicted felon, Roger Stone. GOP Pushed Back Republican senators shredded after Trump team strong-arms prosecutors on Stone: 'You made this possible' It has been one of the worst days for the Justice Department in history, one CNN commentator said, as prosecutors in the Roger Stone case lined up to resign from the case. The move came after being undermined by Attorney General Bill Barr and President Donald Trump. Probably, Hopefully Not Did Donald Trump Just Get Roger Stone's Prison Sentence Reduced? On Tuesday, four federal prosecutors withdrew from a high-profile case, and one resigned his position, after senior Justice Department officials overruled them and recommended that Roger Stone-a longtime friend and former campaign adviser of President Trump's-receive a lesser prison sentence. AG Takes Over Trump congratulates Barr on 'taking charge' of Roger Stone case, says it 'was totally out of control' President Trump offered "congratulations" to Attorney General Bill Barr after the Justice Department submitted an amended filing in Roger Stone's criminal case seeking a lighter sentence for the former Trump campaign adviser than prosecutors first recommended -- a move that comes as Democrats accuse the White House of politicizing the DOJ and career prosecutors are withdrawing from the case in apparent protest. PREZ TRUMP NOW TAKES ON FEDERAL JUDGE!!! Exuberant Trump Piles On Roger Stone Debacle, Attacks Judge And Ex-Prosecutors In Stone's Case Over the past 24 hours, President Donald Trump has been gleefully piling on the aftermath of the Justice Department's astonishing reversal of federal prosecutors' recommended prison sentence of Roger Stone. Again, another Prez Trump venture from the most powerful bully pulpit the world has ever witnessed resonates for every walk of life and might or might not contradict the "nation of laws" rhetoric politicos enjoy throwing around for the imagined benefit of the powerless plebs.Moreover and because we think our blog community deserves to be entertained . . .TKC loves tap dancing and would enjoy watching anybody try to spin this defense of. . . Seriously, we've got an open mind on this one but it's not out of line to say that this isn't a good look right out of the gate and whilst the Prez hasof fans . . . Even the most diehard mainstream Conservative won't tolerate being within smelling distance of Roger Stone., tried to find links from "many sides" of the debate and we're also sharing some of the Prez's greatest hits reported from friendly news outlets but the vast majority of the right-wing seems to be politely ignoring this one whilst Democratic Party loyalists unleash their typical impotent outrage . . .Developing . . . A 26-year-old woman from Arkansas has been left with second-degree burns after a flame 'exploded' in her face at a teppenyaki restaurant. Samantha Myers was celebrating her birthday with loved ones at Kimono Japanese Steak House in Paragould on Sunday. But when the chef squirted flammable liquid onto the hibachi grill in a heart shape then added a flame, it exploded in her face. 'It happened so fast, I kind of just jumped back and I was like, 'I'm on fire',' Myers told ABC 7. Samantha Myers was badly burned while celebrating her birthday on Sunday. She obtained second-degree burns on her neck and chest and her hair was singed When the chef squirted flammable liquid onto the hibachi grill in a heart shape then added a flame, it exploded in her face. Pictured is a 2014 image from Kimono Japanese Steak House She said the fireball erupted after the chef added another flammable heart while the first was still burning. The victim told the NEA Report that her father-in-law believes the lid popped off when the chef squirted the liquid. Myers said she was unsure whether she had nerve damage but she couldn't feel her lip. On Tuesday doctors were treating her for an eye infection and she think the incident may have affected her vision Myers thought the flame had hit her mother-in-law at first but then she realized she was alight. According to family members, the chef was also on fire. Myers ran to the bathroom and splashed her face with water. She said her charred hair was all over the sink. Her six-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter were present during the incident. Her little girl was in the bathroom at the time but was horrified when she saw her mother run in to use the sink. Myers also claimed that when family members asked restaurant staff for help, they did not come to the rescue. The victim noted that Kimono Japanese Steak House didn't charge them for the birthday meal. Myers was rushed to hospital and was treated for first-degree burns on her face and second-degree burns on her neck and chest. Her visit lasted four hours and she was given morphine and pain killers. Images showed her bubbled skin in the aftermath of the incident. She lost her eyelashes, eyebrows and hair on her head was singed, leaving her in tears when she noticed what had happened. Myers said she was unsure whether she had nerve damage but she couldn't feel her lip. General images from social media in 2019 show large flames at the restaurant where the chef was also set alight One Tuesday doctors were treating her for an eye infection and she fears her vision may have been affected by the incident. Additionally she claims to be having nightmares about being set on fire. Myers has called the restaurant 'careless' and now she plans to sue. ABC 7 reported that restaurant refused to comment on the incident. 'I just feel emotionally and physically drained,' Myers said. 'I'm tired and I'm hurting pretty badly.' Myers said: 'I just feel emotionally and physically drained. I'm tired and I'm hurting pretty badly' BISMARCK, N.D. - A North Dakota artist said Wednesday he has scrapped his plans for a mural honouring Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg following boycott threats against a Bismarck business that would have featured the outdoor image. Shane Balkowitsch had planned to put a 7-foot-tall (2.1-meter tall) mural of Thunberg on the brick exterior wall of a bakery. Balkowitsch took the photo of the teenage climate activist when she visited the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in October. Balkowitsch told The Bismarck Tribune he saw the planned mural as a celebration of art, not a dig at oil or coal companies in North Dakota. But after threats of boycotts and possible vandalism appeared when KFYR-TV posted a story about the planned mural on its Facebook page Tuesday, Balkowitsch said Wednesday he pulled his application with the city. There was no motivation other than install a very important piece of history that was captured here in North Dakota, in Bismarck, but I guess Bismarck doesnt want it, Balkowitsch said. Balkowitsch had secured permission for the mural from the bakery and the building owner. City planning staff had recommended approval, according to city documents. The Renaissance Zone Authority, acting as the Downtown Design Review Committee, was poised to give it final approval Thursday. I feel for the bakery, Balkowitsch said. I cant have some business being threatened for my work. In a statement, Brick Oven Bakery owners Steven and Sandy Jacobson said they had asked their landlord not to allow use of the building wall for the mural, after we realized the emotional impact that this photo may cause. According to a city staff analysis, the planned mural would have been made from two panels of thin aluminum composite with digitally printed and clear-coated graphics. The panels would have been mounted directly to the wall with decorative screw covers over the fasteners. At 16, Thunberg was Time magazines youngest Person of the Year. Balkowitsch donated his photograph of Thunberg looking into the distance during her visit to Standing Rock in southern North Dakota to the Library of Congress in Washington. The Dakota Access pipeline sparked massive protests near the reservation before it was completed and began moving oil in 2017. Balkowitsch said he is seeking another venue for the mural, and not necessarily in his hometown of Bismarck. I have to rethink everything, he said. The team of four career federal prosecutors who won felony convictions against Donald Trumps associate Roger Stone all withdrew from the case on Tuesday, as the Department of Justice revised its own sentencing recommendation to ask for more lenient treatment of Stonehours after the president tweeted that the original sentencing request, for seven to nine years in prison, was horrible and very unfair. The news appeared to mark the direct political use of the Justice Department, under Attorney General William Barr, to shield a Trump ally who was convicted of lying on the presidents behalf. Advertisement Stone was convicted in November of seven felony counts including lying to Congress, obstruction of Congress, and witness tampering.* Prosecutors made the case that he committed his crimes to protect Trump from political embarrassment. There were indications during the trial that Stone had conveyed to Trump that he had inside information about the WikiLeaks publication of emails from Democratic officials that were hacked by Russia and eventually used as part of Trumps campaign to defeat Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One witness, former Trump campaign official Rick Gates, testified that he was in a car with Trump in July 2016 when he overheard a phone call between Stone and Trump and that Trump afterwards indicated that there was more information coming from the hacks. Stone was prosecuted as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russias 2016 election interference and whether any Trump campaign officials had conspired with Russians or other foreign actors, which Mueller reported he could not ultimately prove. Advertisement Advertisement After months of speculation that Trump might pardon Stonewhose career as a self-styled dirty tricks expert for Republicans goes back to the Richard Nixon erathe possible sentencing intervention would be an aggressive use of executive power, from a president newly acquitted by the Senate on impeachment counts of abuse of office and obstruction of Congress. On Monday, prosecutors who had worked with Mueller had advocated for a sentence of seven to nine years in prison, claiming that Stones crimes demanded sentence enhancements because he threatened a witness with physical violence and impeded the administration of justice. (The witness in question said that he did not take the threat of violence seriously.) Overnight, Trump tweeted his displeasure about the recommendation: This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, in a series of court filings, all four members of the prosecution team removed themselves from the case, with one resigning from the department altogether and Timothy Sheaa longtime adviser to Barr and newly minted interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbiaissuing a new recommendation. The original sentencing recommendation, Shea wrote, does not accurately reflect the Department of Justices position on what would be a reasonable sentence in this matter and could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement The substitute request asked Judge Amy Berman Jackson to determine what specific sentence is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of this case and noted that a sentence of three to four years would be more typical. The memo also asked that the judge consider the defendants advanced age, health, personal circumstances, and lack of criminal history in fashioning an appropriate sentencea request more typical of defense counsel than of prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement As the new, more lenient recommendation was issued, the prosecutors behind the original one filed papers to step aside. Jonathan Kravis told the court that he had resigned as an Assistant United States Attorney and therefore no longer represents the government in the matter. Similarly, Aaron S.J. Zelinsky withdrew from the case and informed the court that he had resigned from a temporary position as a special assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. (The Washington Post reported that a department spokeswoman said he would retain his position as an assistant U.S. attorney in Baltimore). Adam C. Jed also withdrew from the case, as did Michael J. Morando. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats denounced the move. House Intelligence Committee Chairman and lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff said the change was in keeping with the gravest threat to the rule of law in America in a generation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz saying that the situation has all the indicia of improper political interference in a criminal prosecution and asking that Horowitz conduct an expedited review of this urgent matter and issue a public report with your findings and recommendations as soon as possible. Advertisement Trump claimed on Tuesday afternoon that he didnt speak to the Department of Justice about the situation, adding I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldnt believe. Advertisement Stones sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 20. In addition to determining the sentence, Judge Amy Berman Jackson could ask Zelinsky, Jed, Kravis, and Morando to explain why they withdrew from the case. In a previous rift between career government attorneys and the Trump administration, in July of last year, Judge Jesse Furman barred DOJ lawyers from withdrawing from the administrations defense of its attempt to add a citizenship question to the census until they explained the reason for their departures and why those departures wouldnt hamper the case. MONTREAL, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Digital Domain , the Academy Award-winning visual effects studio, officially launches Digital Domain Montreal, its ninth location worldwide. The Montreal studio will focus on feature films, episodic and streaming while supporting other groups within the multi-faceted VFX house. The official opening marks the fourth new location for Digital Domain since 2016, with all locations including the new Montreal office reporting directly to Los Angeles, the headquarters of Digital Domains VFX business. We are fully committed to our visual effects business in North America, as its integral to our global roadmap, said Group Executive Director and CEO Daniel Seah. Montreal is a vibrant city and a strategic location for us to expand our network of studios, rounding out the time zones of our 24-hour global organization. We are appreciative of the guidance and assistance weve received from the Quebec government, Montreal International and Investissement Quebec in welcoming Digital Domain to the Montreal VFX community. Digital Domain Montreal will immediately house around 130 new artists and staff who will collaborate and share work with the nearly 1,500 Digital Domain employees around the world. The new studio is already working on several projects and will soon be working on projects for Marvel, Sony and 20th Century Studios to name but a few. Digital Domain is currently in a renaissance. From films and episodic content to our pioneering work with digital humans, we are generating more exciting work than ever, creating a need to expand our global footprint to meet our growing demand, said Digital Domain VFX Global President John Fragomeni. To complement our strong talent base in Vancouver, Montreal was an obvious choice and one that our clients had been requesting from us. With a thriving VFX community and a deep talent pool, it was an easy fit, and the Quebec government itself has been a generous and supportive partner to us every step of the way. The new Montreal studio is located in the historic Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, known for its distinctive architecture and access to parks, along with several international tech companies and a booming startup community. The new 35,000 square-foot facility will include a state-of-the-art screening room, multiple editorial bays and room to expand to accommodate up to 500 artists and staff. Montreal is one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial cities in North America. By choosing Montreal as the location for its ninth studio, Digital Domain is contributing to the phenomenal growth of the visual effects industry in the city. Montreal's creative and cultural fields draw their strength from the 100,000 or so talents working there, making Montreal one of the world's digital creativity centers. Creativity is a true raw material in Montreal and we are convinced that Digital Domain will make good use of it," said Mr. Luc Rabouin, in charge of the economic and commercial development on the City of Montreal's executive committee. Since its founding in 1993, Digital Domain has remained at the forefront of visual effects, earning multiple Academy Awards nominations and wins for films like Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Avengers: Infinity War and Ready Player One. Digital Domains artists and developers have also won eight Scientific and Technical Achievement awards, 37 Clio Awards, 22 AICP awards, nine Cannes Lion, multiple BAFTAs, VES Awards and more. For more information on job openings at the new Montreal location, please click here. About Digital Domain Digital Domain creates transportive experiences that entertain, inform and inspire. Throughout the last 27 years, the studio has grown to lead the visual effects industry, expanding globally into digital humans, virtual production, previsualization and virtual reality, and adding commercials, game cinematics and episodics to the robust film roster. Digital Domains rich legacy consists of hundreds of blockbuster feature films for every major studio and thousands of commercials, music videos, game cinematics and digital content by world-renowned directors and brands. A creative force in visual effects and premium content, Digital Domain and its predecessor entities have brought artistry and technology to films including Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and blockbusters Avengers: Infinity War and Ready Player One. Staff artists have won more than 100 major awards, including Academy Awards, Clios, BAFTA awards and Cannes Lions. Digital Domain has successfully become the first independent visual effects studio to enter Greater China. In 2017, Digital Domain launched in Hyderabad. In 2018, Digital Domain acquired one of China's VR hardware equipment pioneers and leaders - VR Technology Holdings Ltd, Shenzhen3Glasses). Digital Domain has locations in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taipei and Hyderabad. Digital Domain Holdings Limited is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 547). Digital Domain: www.digitaldomain.com A letter bomb exploded in a Dutch bank headquarters today and another was disarmed at an IT firm as police hunt for the blackmailer behind two blasts at postal offices yesterday. An employee of ING was rushed to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation after a 'small explosion' at the banking group's offices in Amsterdam. Earlier, a device was found in a letter at information technology firm Unisys, in Leusden, near Utrecht, which police safely disarmed. The latest bomb is believed to be connected to two blasts that rocked postal sorting offices in Amsterdam and Kerkrade on Wednesday morning - one targeting banking giant AMB Amro and the other hitting Japanese electronics firm Ricoh. No injuries were reported from those explosions. Police say the perpetrator sent ransom notes along with the bombs demanding payment in Bitcoin, or else more explosives would be sent. The perpetrator appears to be copying the 2015 Jumbo bomber, who planted and posted explosives to Jumbo supermarkets around the Netherlands before also demanding ransom in Bitcoin. Police officers in the lobby of the ING offices in Amsterdam after a letter bomb exploded today Forensic investigators outside the headquarters of the ING banking group in Amsterdam where the latest in a series of letter bombs targeting businesses in the Netherlands went off It is thought the letter was in the sorting office of Dutch bank ABM Amro when it detonated A man identified only as Alex O, 51, was jailed for eight years for that crime in 2016 after police used DNA from a stamp that he licked to identify him. Police sources, who spoke to Dutch site De Telegraaf about the most recent cases, said they are investigating the crimes as extortion but refused to reveal how much had been demanded in ransom. Wednesday's explosions come a month after letter bombs were posted to addresses in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Maastricht. Police are probing whether the most recent attacks are linked to the attempted bombings last month. An employee in the Amsterdam sorting office heard a hissing sound as they were about to open a letter, the city's police said. 'The employee threw the letter away and there was a small explosion,' the force added on Twitter. ABN's chief executive, Kees Van Dijkhuizen said he had spoken to the man who had handled the letter at the sorting centre in the western outskirts of the city. 'Good news is that he is not wounded, bad news of course is that these things happen and that our people have to deal with it,' Dijkhuizen told journalists. 'Thankfully there were no injuries, but those involved are of course very shocked,' Ricoh said in a statement cited by Dutch media. It caused some damage, and the facility was closed for forensic analysis, police said. A letter bomb detonated in the postal office of a building on a business park in Amsterdam around 8am Wednesday, with no injuries reported A second device then exploded a short time later on this business park in the city of Kerkrade, around 120 miles south of Amsterdam The bomb is thought to have exploded in a mail sorting office in Kerkrade, though it is unclear if the premises was deliberately targeted The blasts come a month after another series of mail bombs, purporting to be from Dutch debt collection agency CIB, were sent out to business in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam The Okura Hotel and a petrol station in Amsterdam, a real estate agency in Utrecht, and a petrol station and car showroom in Rotterdam were all previously targeted. The sender of the packages was listed as the head offices of a debt collection company called CIB, located in Rotterdam. Police previously said that the CIB mail labels appeared to have been faked, and that the CIB was itself targeted. The packages, none of which exploded, were followed by a warning letter which Dutch police have not released. Detectives said at the time that they believe the bombs were sent by a single individual and that, while the motive was unclear, it could involve blackmail. No arrests have been made over the January bombs. Investigations into Wednesday's blasts are in the early stages, and police have not officially linked them together. Officers were also unable to say whether the fresh blasts were linked to the bombs sent out last month. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kyle Springer (The Jakarta Post) Perth, Australia Thu, February 13 2020 Center stage: President Joko Jokowi Widodo addresses a joint session of the Australian Parliament during his visit to the neighboring country earlier this week. Indonesia and Australia ratified a landmark comprehensive economic partnership agreement prior to Jokowis arrival. (Lukas Coch/pool/AFP) President Joko Jokowi Widodos visit to Australia earlier this week, culminating in a speech to Australian Parliament, bodes well for Australia-Indonesia relations. Over the past ten years, they have expanded their cooperation despite occasional diplomatic rows. However, there is one area that has been left behind in an otherwise improved friendship: their economic relations. For two neighboring countries of the Group of 20 with complementary economies, one would expect higher levels of trade and investment. 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 Slave markets, perpetual war and ethnic cleansing are happening in the Greater Middle East due to an obsession with human rights rather than traditional foreign policy, a new book has argued. Dr Philip Cunliffe, Senior Lecturer of International Conflict at the University of Kent, argues that human rights 'can no longer claim to be innocent' and should be ripped from foreign policy considerations in his new book, Cosmopolitan Dystopia. 'NATO's intervention to prevent massacre in Benghazi [Libya] in 2011 has left them in civil war ever since,' Dr Cunliffe told the MailOnline. 'Slave markets for migrants and ISIS setting up shop' have all emerged in the years since the interference to remove Libya's then dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi, he added. In an undated photo, a Yazidi woman freed from ISIS can be seen removing her burqa before burning it in Iraq. Dr Philip Cunliffe said examples of modern slavery have been brought about by Western countries focussing on human rights over traditional foreign policy considerations Dr Philip Cunliffe (pictured) is a Senior Lecturer in International Conflict at the University of Kent. Dr Cunliffe has argued that 'human rights can no longer claim to be innocent' in his new book, Cosmopolitan Dystopia 'Western countries have been pushing this global agenda [humanitarianism] for 30 years,' Dr Cunliffe told MailOnline. 'Part of this process creates a situation of being in perpetual war, like we see in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. 'The West is embroiled in these conflicts, and as seen in Libya and Iraq, we can knock states down but we're unable to replace them.' The result, Cunliffe said, has been 'chaos'. The moral dilemma presented to Western powers when human rights are infringed causes a necessity to act quickly with a grand show of military might, the book argues. This rapid reaction leads to a destruction of existing nations, without the long-term plan of rebuilding, like seen in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. It also allows non-state actors, like ISIS or the Taliban, to fill the void, Dr Cunliffe claims. During the Islamic State's murderous campaign across Iraq and Syria, the extremists captured 7,000 women and children from the Yazidi minority, who the Sunni-hardliners viewed as devil worshippers. While most of the men were slaughtered, females were traded as sex slaves among the militants for as little as 125 for a girl aged between one and 10. A September 2016 file photo shows Nadia Murad, a former Yazidi captive of ISIS, addressing the UN General Assembly. Murad said the militants 'touched us anywhere they wanted', while bartering for them in slave markets in Iraq In October last year, one of the brave survivors, Nadia Murad, 25, released her diary, where she recalled: 'The militants touched us anywhere they wanted, running their hands over our breasts and our legs, as if we were animals.' She said the women would 'double over and vomit on the floor' when the soldiers came to the market to buy them. Dr Cunliffe told MailOnline that ISIS would not have been able to hold such control over swathes of Iraq to set-up the stalls without the Anglo-American, human rights-propelled invasion of the country in 2003. 'Western interventions have left a chain of shattered states across the Greater Middle East that are locked in perpetual civil strife; Islamic State would never have emerged were it not for the Anglo-American intervention in Iraq of 2003,' Dr Cunfliffe wrote. Prime Minister Tony Blair, receiving a kiss from schoolboy, Abbas Adnan, in Basra, Iraq, Thursday May 29, 2003. In calling for the war in the House of Commons in 2002, Blair stressed the potential for extensive damage to the Iraqi population from Saddam's 'weapons of mass destruction' A US Marine covers the face of a statue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with a American flag in Baghdad on 9 April, 2003. Dr Cunliffe told MailOnline that ISIS would not have existed were it not for the coalition's invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam in 2003 An Iraqi woman is pictured collecting plastic and metal bottles from a garbage dump in Baghdad in 2008. In 2008, reports said that Iraqi women felt they were worse off than they were under the regime of Saddam Hussein and that their plight deteriorated year by year since the US-led invasion Most ISIS historians agree that the group surfaced from the chaos following the coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003. In ripping Saddam Hussein, an Arab nationalist dictator from power because of his potential to violate human rights, the coalition are said to have left a vacuum, which Sunnis and Shiites competed to fill, Dr Cunliffe argues. The invasion was supported by allegations of the production of weapons of mass destruction, chemical and biological agents which the dictator used against Iranians and Kurds during the Iran-Iraq war and at massacres such as Halabja and al-Anfal in 1988. Pictured are barrels found at a military training camp near Karbala in Iraq in April 2003. Tests revealed nerve agents sarin and tabun and the blister agent lewisite, but a general of the 101st US Airborne at the time said they could have had a less sinister purpose Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein listens as a list of charges against him is read in a Baghdad courtroom in 2004. The 2003 coalition invasion was pegged on the suspicion that Hussein was planning to violate the human rights of his people with chemical and biological weapons Iraqi Kurd victims are pictured after an Iraqi chemical gas attack four days earlier, in the Iraqi Kurd town of Halabja near the Iran-Iraq border on March 17, 1988 A forensic expert explains the images of bodies found in a mass grave during a trial on charges of genocide against Saddam and his associates in 2006. During the Anfal campaign thousands of Kurds were killed in the late 1980s With these previous examples of slaughter to support the case for war, congress and parliament ruled to end the possibility of these atrocities happening again. 'For the West, when human rights morality substitutes for foreign policy, then politics, post-war-planning, strategic thinking, all this goes out the window,' Dr Cunliffe argues. 'Without these, all we have is feel good wars we feel like something has been done, without thinking through the practical consequences.' Dr Cunliffe claims by taking up the banner of human rights, conflict zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, are now embroiled in continuous states of conflict. Last year, US President Donald Trump backed out of peace talks with the Taliban that had hoped to bring the 18-year grinding war to a long-awaited end. Since the invasion of Afghanistan shortly after the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001, 2,440 US military personnel have died, along with 111,000 Afghan civilians and armed forces. Trump cited reasons for the abrupt cancellation as the insurgent's ignition of a car bomb which killed an American troop and 11 others while the talks were happening. A volunteer carries an injured youth to hospital, following a bomb blast in Haska Mina district of Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan on October 18, 2019 US President Donald Trump (L) and Vice President Mike Pence (C) observe the dignified transfer of two US soldiers, killed in Afghanistan, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware yesterday A 2011 file photo shows US Army soldiers from the 2nd Platoon fire a howitzer artillery shell in Panjwai district, Kandahar province, in southern Afghanistan. Since the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 2,440 US military personnel have died, along with 111,000 Afghan civillians and armed forces At his state of the union address last week, the president told the rally that he would re-open talks and that he wasn't 'looking to kill hundreds of thousands of people in Afghanistan, many of them totally innocent,' in keeping the war going. Dr Cunliffe argues the only way to avoid the 'hundreds of thousands' of victims is to respect Afghanistan's individual state sovereignty and allow them to combat the Taliban alone. To do this, the US has to resign from its role as 'world policeman'. 'As long as we keep fighting for human rights, we will be fighting forever, because human rights requires us to be constantly fighting against human wrongs,' Dr Cunliffe said. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - HEMP FOR HEALTH INC. (CSE: HFH) (FSE: 9HH) (the "Company"), a cultivator and distributor of premium CBD products in Italy and other European countries, wishes to provide its shareholders and potential investors with an update on 2019 operations and our 2020 growth expectations. Our first year of operations was focused on a test crop which included the CBD Carmagnola strain in the Tuscan valley. Of the 3 Ha of this strain planted, we yielded approximately 3000 kilos of biomass and 340 kilos of hemp flower. This successful harvest is expected to generate approximately 700,000 Euros in gross revenue. The 2020 growing season is programmed to plant 150 hectares from 4 different strains of seed that have already been ordered. Based on our 2019 test crop results, the Company expects to yield over 100,000 kilos of biomass and 12,000 kilos of dried flower. "We are pleased with delivering on our promises to our shareholders as demonstrated by the results and cultivation of this year's test crop of Carmagnola hemp," reported CEO and founder, Robert Eadie. "2020 will be a transformative year. The Company has world class farmers and soil, a stake in a European distribution channel and results that ultimately will speak to our end goal of delivering wellness benefits to our consumers." About Hemp for Health Inc.: Hemp for Health is a cultivator and distributor of premium CBD products with an exclusive, long-term contract for land with farmers in the Tuscan region of Italy for the purpose of yielding the highest quality hemp-based CBD. Our focus is to offer the absolute best in natural and organic CBD products to our customers, and that starts with pristine soil, seeds, and sun. (See further details available in the Company's filings on SEDAR. www.sedar.com) ON BEHALF OF HEMP FOR HEALTH INC. (sgd.) Robert Eadie President & CEO The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Evan Eadie Telephone: 416-640-1936 x 203 Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935 Email: evan@hempforhealth.eu Reader Advisory Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities law. In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to (i) the monetization of the Company's current inventory of hemp, and (ii) the planting and harvesting of certain quantities of hemp during 2020. In connection with the forward-looking statements, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the ability to plant, grow and harvest hemp without significant loss due to adverse weather conditions or natural disasters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties and contingencies which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Risk factors include: general risks associated with agriculture including drought, infestation, fire, hail, flooding, and factors beyond the control of the Company; a material increase in the supply of hemp, regionally or worldwide which depresses the general price for hemp and hemp derived products; unanticipated operating delays or halts; competition from other growers or suppliers; failure to obtain or maintain all required approvals from regulatory authorities; and changes in regulations related to the growing, processing and distribution of hemp and hemp related products. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in its prospectus dated November 1, 2019 as filed on SEDAR. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52325 Information technology specialists gathered at an exclusive launch event for Au the new automatic coding language at Bahrain British Business Forums special interest group meeting for ICT professionals. The event, organised in partnership with Tamkeen, Aucoda and DHU3, was held at Le Meridien City Centre Bahrain hotel. Dr. Raj Curwen, the inventor of the new automatic coding language Au, was the keynote speaker at the meeting. Au has been in development for six years, and during this time has completed software development projects in the UK for multiple clients including the NHS, HMRC and the Metropolitan Police, generating over 20 million lines of code in the process. Au is quicker to learn than other comparable coding languages and has been proven to be more than four times more efficient, delivering solutions to the market faster and cheaper. Dr Raj Curwen said: Au is an enabler, and will open software development to a larger audience in Bahrain. We chose Bahrain as the first market outside the UK to launch Au because Bahrain has a large human capital resource of young, talented and well-educated individuals. We believe Au will help advance the local software development community, thus reducing the need to seek offshore software development. Id like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Tamkeen and the EDB for their support in bringing Au to Bahrain. The Au software development language can be adopted by all types of businesses from start-ups to SMEs and larger corporations. This month, Aucoda and its local partner DHU3 will work closely with Bahrain-based companies to help them identify suitable IT talent within their organisations, and then train them over the next few weeks. In March, Dr Curwen will return to Bahrain to hold a number of software master classes to complete the training. Paul Groom, Director of DHU3, commented: We will be identifying various software development projects in Bahrain for completion between March and September this year. We are creating an initiative called the Au Bahrain Bash and all delegates this week will be invited to participate in it. The Au Bahrain Bash will encourage companies of all sizes to nominate an employee to be trained in the Au language, or alternatively use Dhu3 developers. Each company will identify a key development project for the Au developer to complete within an agreed time limit. The objective is to deliver completed projects, faster, in full, and more efficiently than traditional offshore software development options. Aucoda and Dhu3 will provide support and assistance to all participating companies and developers throughout the Bahrain Bash. -- Tradearabia News Service Mejlis decides who needs to be exchanged first and who can wait The leader of the Crimean Tatar people, MP Mustafa Dzhemilev, said that the Crimeans should be given priority for the exchange, which turned out to be long periods. He said this in an interview with the publication Crimea.Realities. "The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU ed.) was given to us the whole list for approval. We have our priorities, whom to release first of all. We believe that our compatriots should first come out, who received the longest terms in Russian courts - 15-17 years, absolutely wild, for some kind of literature," Dzhemilev specified. According to him, those who are under house arrest and recognizance not to leave should be exchanged last, since they suffer much less than those who are in camps. As we reported before, the state of health of illegally convicted in Russia Ukrainians Volodymyr Dudka and Hennadiy Lymeshko deteriorated; they also complain about physical and physiological pressure. Due to this facts, the ombudsman appeals with the demand to Commission of Human Rights of Russia Tatiana Moskalkova to assume measures urgently to observe the rights of the citizens of Ukraine, provide the proper conditions of detention and security of Hennadiy Lymeshko and provide the necessary medical assistance to illegally convicted citizens of Ukraine A Western University student who developed the new coronavirus after returning to London from a visit to her parents in China last month has now been cleared. The unidentified young woman in her 20s has tested negative for the illness in two separate sets of nose and throat swabs taken 24 hours apart, Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer of health, said Wednesday. Her case is now considered resolved, Williams added in a statement. The individual is no longer infectious with the 2019 novel coronavirus. Tests conducted by Ontarios public health lab were confirmed by the national lab in Winnipeg. The womans parents in Wuhan, ground zero for the new variant of coronavirus never before seen in humans, were sick themselves but were not tested for it because of strains the massive outbreak created in Chinas health care system, said Londons chief medical officer of health, Dr. Chris Mackie. Her case was intriguing because initial tests conducted at University Hospital in London following her return to Canada Jan. 23 came back negative because the viral load was low. Subsequent analysis at the national lab in Winnipeg did detect enough of the coronavirus to make her a confirmed case. She had mild symptoms and was feeling back to normal in three days. Ontarios first two confirmed cases a husband and wife who returned to Toronto from China on China Southern Airlines flight CZ311 on Jan. 22 have not yet been cleared. The husband went into Torontos Sunnybrook hospital the day after his return and was in care for a week before being sent home, where his wife had remained in self-isolation with a milder case. Passengers within two metres of them on the plane were tracked down and notified to monitor themselves for symptoms that could include cough and fever. Ontario has now tested 313 people for the coronavirus, with nine people awaiting results as of Wednesday morning. The illness has killed more than 1,100, mostly in Chinas heavily stricken Hubei province. The World Health Organization has now named the disease resulting from the virus COVID-19. There are about 45,000 cases worldwide. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu has asked people coming to Canada from Hubei to consider staying home for 14 days as a precaution to make sure the coronavirus is contained. There have now been seven cases of the illness in Canada, with four in British Columbia and three in Ontario. The government said further details would be released in the spring. We will give the regulator the powers it needs to lead the fight for an internet that remains vibrant and open but with the protections, accountability and transparency people deserve, said Nicky Morgan, the secretary of Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the agency that announced the proposal on Wednesday. The push for tougher regulation shows a divergence from the American-led vision of the internet that is largely market driven and free of government oversight. In Europe, where free speech is more regulated than in the United States, there has been a growing willingness to impose new rules on the web, particularly related to hate speech, terrorism and material targeting children. In Germany, companies risk fines if hate content is not removed in as little as 24 hours. France is considering a similar proposal. The European Union is also debating changes to laws that protect internet companies from being liable for content posted on their platforms. Free-speech and human-rights advocates warned the policies would lead to censorship and be used as a template by more repressive governments. Europe has been targeting the tech industry for years over growing concerns that American tech giants have too much power and influence. A sweeping privacy law enacted in 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation, limits what personal information can be collected and shared online. Enforcement of European Union antitrust laws has resulted in billions of dollars in penalties against Google, Apple, Amazon and others for anticompetitive behavior. Advertisement At least 17 Kansas students were injured on Wednesday morning when their school bus slid off a snowy highway as Winter Storm Mabel continues to batter the Midwest before heading to the Northeast later this week. According to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, deputies assisted the Kansas Highway Patrol officers with the rollover bus accident that occurred along the Kansas Turn Pike in Chase County. All of the students sustained minor injuries. A photo of the accident shows the bus had rolled onto its side and landed in a ditch. 'At the time, the roads were a little slushy we do a good job of keeping those roads as clean as we can, but we can't really beat Mother Nature all the time,' KHP Lt Dave Hundley told The Weather Channel. The National Weather Service (NWS) said about two inches of snow had fallen in the area before the crash. Drivers in Kansas, North Dakota and other parts of the Midwest were subject to low visibility and dangerous road conditions on Wednesday. Winter weather alerts are in affect from Kansas City to Syracuse, New York. Officers from the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) shared video and images of areas with poor visibility that even prohibited plows from clearing snow from the roads. Scroll down for video According to the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, deputies assisted the Kansas Highway Patrol officers with the rollover bus accident that occurred along the Kansas Turn Pike in Chase County. All of the 17 students sustained minor injuries Drivers in Kansas, North Dakota and other parts of the Midwest were subject to low visibility (left and right) and dangerous road conditions on Wednesday Authorities said the bus crash occurred near Bazaar, Kansas (depicted above), Wednesday morning The North Dakota Department of Transportation said Interstate 29 was closed in both directions from the Canadian border to the state line of South Dakota, a distance of more than 250 miles because of blowing and drifting snow and areas of near zero visibility. By 1pm, the interstate reopened, authorities said. The [sun] is out, but visibility remains low. Visibility can be less than 100 ft to one mile +. Dont use cruise, slow down, wear your seat belt & dont blindly drive into snow fog,' the NDHP tweeted. Forecasters have posted a blizzard warning for the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota as snow, strong winds and plunging temperatures move in. The storm not only created difficult travel conditions,but it caused a large number of schools to cancel classes, including North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. The blizzard proved too much for researchers tracking the storm in the Red River Valley between North Dakota and Minnesota. Vince Goden, a meteorologist with the NWS in Grand Forks, North Dakota, told KFGO-AM that the NOAA/National Weather Service Severe Storm Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, sent a mobile, storm-chasing Doppler radar unit to the area to help study the blizzard. But Goden said the storm moved in 'a little sooner' than expected, and the radar truck got stranded in a ditch west of Grand Forks early Wednesday. Meteorologists expected wind gusts of 50mph and whiteout conditions, especially in open, rural areas. Snow accumulations will be low, at one inch to two inches. The storm is moving North where up to six inches of snow is forecast for parts of the Great Lakes and New England. On Wednesday, an area of snow, or a rain-and-snow mixture, is possible from north-central Oklahoma northeast as far as western Pennsylvania. Less than six inches of total snow is predicted for most other areas from the Texas Panhandle to the Midwest. However some six-plus-inch totals are possible from central Illinois, central Indiana and northern Ohio into the higher elevations of upstate New York and central New England. The storm system threatens millions of people with flooding in the Deep South, while up to six inches of snow is forecast for parts of the Great Lakes and New England. Meanwhile downpours continue across the Deep South. On Tuesday, the NWS issued flood alerts for a region stretching from east Texas to Tennessee and North Carolina, covering some 17 million people at risk of flooding. By Wednesday evening, the storm will begin moving toward the Northeast bringing a mix of precipitation Forecasts show that by Thursday morning, parts of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire will receive snow Thursday's forecast for rain and snow in the mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Northeast is seen above Winter storm warnings are in effect from for the Northeast through Friday. According to forecasts, Buffalo, New York, could see between five to eight inches of snow by the time the storm is over The weather system was expected to drop an additional two to three inches of rain into Wednesday on already-saturated ground, raising the risk of floods, the NWS said. In Tennessee, a hillside collapsed, roads were flooded and rivers were rising on Tuesday after a day of heavy rains, and in Mississippi a dam threatened to fail. On Wednesday, forecasters warned that short bursts of heavy rain starting in the evening could cause already high creeks and streams to overflow and lead to additional flooding in West Virginia. The NWS issued a flash flood watch for most of the state that started at 4pm Wednesday through Thursday morning. All schools in McDowell County were closed Wednesday and other counties have moved to end classes early, according to education officials. Gov Jim Justice on Tuesday told emergency officials to be ready for more flooding this week, saying they are monitoring water levels and will be on standby if local governments need assistance. Last week, Justice declared a state of emergency in seven counties and mobilized the states National Guard as a storm system moved through the region. Multiple school systems closed early as hard rains caused downed trees, rock slides and flooded streets. Meanwhile downpours continue across the Deep South. On Tuesday, the NWS issued flood alerts for a region stretching from east Texas to Tennessee and North Carolina, covering some 17 million people at risk of flooding Excessive rains flood the Oktibbeha County Lake campground in Starkville, Mississippi on Tuesday. In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level The NWS said minor to moderate flooding was expected from central Mississippi to north Georgia following downpours. The Tennessee River was predicted to crest about 7 feet above flood level at Perryville, Tennessee, on Sunday. Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee, tons of rock and soil slid off a 70-foot hillside and blocked the northbound side of a US 441 spur linking the tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, the National Park Service said. At least 45 dump truck loads will be required to clear the road, officials estimated, but no injuries were reported. Schools opened late or closed in parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana because of flash flooding. A flood watch stretched from eastern Texas to Mississippi, and parts of Alabama were under flood warnings. North of Birmingham in Cullman, the sheriff's office said Deputy Adam Clark and his police dog were badly injured in a wreck during heavy rains overnight. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Days of rain have also left parts of Alabama awash in millions of gallons of dingy water that overflowed from sanitary sewer systems. On Wednesday, reports submitted to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management showed that more than 18.5 million gallons of sewer water spilled over the past 10 days around Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, where the NWS said some spots have received more than six inches of rain so far this week. In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level just weeks after heavy rains caused a mudslide that put the earthen dam in danger of failing. Pumps had been used to lower the lake level by about eight feet since mid-January, but officials said the water had risen to an even higher than before because of recent storms. 'It has risen over 8.5 feet from our low elevation during pumping and continues to rise,' said a statement by Kristen Campanella, emergency management director in Oktibbeha County. Officials also were monitoring the site of a potential dam failure in Yazoo County, where the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said a 40-acre lake in a subdivision was leaking around a culvert and washing away dirt, threatening four homes and a church. Five homes were evacuated after a levee breach in Leake. Elsewhere in Mississippi, 25 homes had been damaged and four people were hurt in wrecks caused by vehicles hydroplaning on wet roads, according to the state. The damage was worst in Yazoo, where a dozen people were displaced from homes. Heavy rains fell Monday leaving the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area with high water and washed out roads, Tuesday. Gideon Altman plays near a flooded section of the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk under the supervision of his mother as waters from the Black Warrior River rise. Children in Tuscaloosa City and County schools got a day off due to the flooding A road crew from Tuscaloosa County repairs a washed out section of New Orleans Drive in the Coker community which is in Tuscaloosa County west of the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Tuesday Crews work to replace drainage pipes at the Oktibbeha County Lake dam in Starkville, Mississippi, as heavy rains cause water levels to rise on Tuesday. Fire Coordinator Kirk Rosenhan said this pipe wasn't pumping enough water Excessive rains flood the Oktibbeha County Lake campground in Starkville on Tuesday. In eastern Mississippi, officials in Starkville said the water at Oktibbeha County Lake had once again reached a critical level just weeks after heavy rains caused a mudslide that put the earthen dam in danger of failing Floodwaters are seen on Tuesday at the Oktibbeha County Lake campground where an earthen dam is in danger of failing In addition, the NWS confirmed Tuesday that an EF-1 tornado touched down Monday about 2.5 miles northwest of Piave, Mississippi, in Greene County. The twister caused minor roof damage and uprooted several trees, the weather agency said. The Tennessee Valley region has received 550 per cent of its normal rainfall during the past seven days, James Everett, senior manager of the Tennessee Valley Authority's River Forecast Center, said in a briefing. Rainfall averaged around six inches across the valley, but some places got as much as nine inches. 'We're getting a brief break in rainfall today, but we expect it to pick up tomorrow through Thursday,' Everett said on Tuesday. To manage all of the water, the TVA will continue storing water in large mountain reservoirs to help reduce flooding downstream, Everett said. The agency plans to adjust its strategy for water storage and flows depending on how much more water falls on the already saturated ground, he said. Isolated tornadoes and winds in excess of 60mph are possible in some areas of the South after nightfall Wednesday, the NWS said. Taiwan Says It Didnt Need Chinas Permission for WHO Meeting TAIPEITaiwans presence at a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting this week on the new coronavirus was the result of direct talks between the island and the body, and did not require Chinas permission, Taiwans Foreign Ministry said on Feb. 12. The islands lack of WHO membership, due to the objections of China, which considers it a wayward Chinese province and not a separate state, has been an increasingly sore point for Taiwan amid the coronavirus outbreak. Taiwan has complained it has been unable to get timely information from the WHO and has accused China of passing incorrect information to the organization about Taiwans total virus case numbers, which stand at 18. But in a small diplomatic breakthrough for the island, its health experts were allowed to attend an online technical meeting on the virus this week. Chinas Foreign Ministry said that was because China gave approval for Taiwans participation. Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said China was trying to take credit for something it didnt deserve. The participation of our experts at this WHO forum was an arrangement made by our government and the WHO directly. It did not need Chinas approval, Ou added. Taiwans experts took part in a personal capacity to avoid political disputes, and did not give their nationality when joining the online forum, she said. The WHO, responding to questions from Reuters, said the aim of the meeting was to gather leading global scientists to set research priorities and accelerate the generation of critical scientific information and the most needed medical tools to contribute to the emergency response to the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Taiwans WHO exclusion became another point of contention between China and the United States last week, after the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva told the WHOs Executive Board that the agency should deal directly with Taiwans government. Taiwans democratically elected government says that it alone has the right to represent the islands 23 million people, that it has never been a part of China, and that it has no need to be represented by them. By Ben Blanchard U.S. Sen. Ed Markey introduced a resolution Tuesday honoring the Chinese doctor who reportedly identified the severity of the coronavirus outbreak at its start. The Massachusetts Democrat, who is on the East Asia subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also called for transparency from the Chinese government in how it investigates and responds to the respiratory illness, named 2019-nCoV, according to a statement from Markey. I stand with those in China now demanding freedom of speech, and I thank the Chinese doctors, nurses, medical professions, and all who are providing assistance on the front lines during this critical time, the statement said. Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist who worked in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, raised concerns about the virus to his medical associates in December. He was summoned by officials, forced to retract his warnings and coerced into saying he had spread illegal rumors, Markey said. Wenliang later died from the coronavirus on Feb. 7 at Wuhan Central Hospital, where he worked. According to Markey, before the 34-year-old doctor died, he said, If the officials had disclosed information about the epidemic earlier, I think it would have been a lot better." The authorities silenced Dr. Li the medical professional, but Dr. Li the citizen made a call for greater openness and transparency that will reverberate long after his passing, the senator said in his statement. China continues to limit free expression and censor online criticism about its response to the coronavirus, according to Markeys resolution. Investigative reports from Chinese journalists showed officials underestimated and underplayed the threat of the illness, the senator said. Freedom House has listed China as the worst abuser of internet freedom in the world for the fourth year in a row, and in the aftermath of the outbreak of 2019nCoV, there are numerous and well-documented instances of the 'Great Firewall of China suppressing the free flow of critical and medically important information about the pandemic, the resolution said. Markey said the Chinese government has also endangered the people of Taiwan and the rest of the world by trying to limit the countrys access to the benefits of WHO membership. His resolution called on China to stop its efforts to exclude Taiwan from international organizations and cooperate with the U.S. in combatting the coronavirus. More than 43,000 people have contracted the illness since the outbreak began in early December, according to the World Health Organizations most recent situation report. Nearly 1,020 people have died from the infection in China, and, as of Tuesday, 108 new deaths were reported within 24 hours. The disease has reportedly killed more people than the SARS outbreak of the early 2000s. The fact that this virus has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread in China is concerning, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website says. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. The risk of 2019-nCoV to the general American public remains low, though, according to public health officials. Thirteen coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the U.S. Diagnoses were made in Arizona, California, Illinois, Washington state, Wisconsin and Massachusetts, according to the CDC. Around 315 people in the country have tested negative for the illness, and 68 patients are awaiting test results, including one person in Maine. A UMass Boston student who traveled to Wuhan is currently being isolated in his off-campus housing after being diagnosed with the virus earlier this month, the Boston Public Health Commission said. He is in good condition. There is no 2019-nCoV vaccine currently, but officials have urged the public to take measures similar to those taken during the flu season, including covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and staying home if ones sick. Related Content: FILE PHOTO: Roger Stone, former campaign adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, departs after he was found guilty on seven criminal counts in his trial on charges of lying to Congress, obstructing justice and witness tampering in this still image taken from video at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Fogarty Reuters All four prosecutors overseeing the US government's case against the longtime Republican strategist Roger Stone withdrew themselves from the case Tuesday after senior Justice Department officials publicly overruled their sentencing recommendation for Stone. The shocking public rebuke came after President Donald Trump weighed in on the prosecutors' initial sentencing recommendation, calling it "horrible and unfair." The four prosecutors who subsequently withdrew after the DOJ's announcement are Aaron Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed, and Michael Marando. Zelinsky also resigned from the US attorney's office in Washington, DC, but will go back to working at the US attorney's office in Baltimore, where he is based. Kravis left the Department of Justice altogether. The DOJ's new sentencing memo in Stone's case was signed only by John Crabb Jr., the acting head of the criminal division of the US attorney's office in Washington, DC. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The four prosecutors working on the US government's case against the longtime Republican strategist Roger Stone withdrew en masse Tuesday after senior Department of Justice officials publicly overruled their sentencing recommendation for Stone. In a filing Monday, the prosecutors requested Stone be sentenced to seven to nine years in prison. He was convicted last year of seven felony counts of obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and false statements. But on Tuesday, in a shocking rebuke of the career prosecutors, senior Department of Justice officials told reporters they would seek a lesser sentence for Stone. Their announcement came after President Donald Trump publicly defended Stone and called the prosecutors' initial sentencing recommendation "horrible and unfair." "That recommendation is not what had been briefed to the department," a senior official told The New York Times and The Washington Post. "The department finds the recommendation extreme and excessive and disproportionate to Stone's offenses. The department will clarify its position later today." Story continues The four prosecutors who withdrew after that announcement are Aaron Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed, and Michael Marando. Zelinsky also resigned from the US attorney's office in Washington, DC, but will go back to working at the US attorney's office in Baltimore, where he is based. Kravis left the Department of Justice altogether. The DOJ's new sentencing memo in Stone's case was signed only by John Crabb Jr., the acting head of the criminal division of the US attorney's office in Washington, DC. In their original memo, prosecutors wrote that "a sentence consistent with the Guidelines is appropriate based on the nature and extent of Stone's conduct, the length of time it transpired" nearly two years "and the matter of significant national importance that it centered upon." Prosecutors also noted that they did not come to their decision lightly, saying that it came "after days of tense debate" within the US attorney's office and that "a recommendation on the higher end prevailed." The new memo maintained that the original sentencing calculation of seven to nine years for Stone was correct. But at the same time, it said that the recommendation "could be considered excessive and unwarranted" and that the DOJ would defer to the court about how long Stone should be sentenced. It is extraordinarily unusual for prosecutors to withdraw from a case one by one as they did Tuesday, and the development raises immediate questions about whether the attorneys withdrew in protest of the DOJ's senior leadership to overrule them, particularly in light of the president's comments about the case. "I don't see how a prosecutor *could* explain this," Renato Mariotti, a longtime former federal prosecutor, wrote on Twitter. "Yesterday they told the judge that a sentence of seven to nine years was appropriate for Roger Stone. Today they're supposed to argue that they were wrong yesterday? Any judge would ask: What changed between yesterday and today?" Susan Hennessey, the former general counsel at the National Security Agency, wrote on Twitter that while US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is overseeing Stone's case, was unlikely to go along with the DOJ's shift, the move "would still give Trump cover to pardon Stone outright which presumably is the long game here." The special counsel Robert Mueller's office charged Stone in January 2019 with one count of obstruction of justice, five counts of making false statements to the FBI and congressional investigators, and one count of witness tampering, in connection with his contacts with people linked to the radical pro-transparency group WikiLeaks. The charging document against Stone contained a slew of details about his false statements to Congress about his interactions involving WikiLeaks; his extensive communications with the far-right commentator Jerome Corsi and the radio host Randy Credico about WikiLeaks' document dumps in summer 2016; and his prolonged efforts to prevent Credico from testifying to Congress or turning over information to the FBI. Read the original article on Business Insider Episcopal Diocese of Michigan consecrates its first lesbian bishop Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Episcopal Diocese of Michigan has consecrated its first openly lesbian bishop, in a move that the liberal mainline regional body is confident will not lead to further large-scale departures from the denomination. The Rev. Bonnie A. Perry was consecrated as the eleventh bishop of the diocese at a ceremony held Saturday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Perry had been elected bishop in June of last year on the fifth ballot of the Special Electing Convention held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit. She got the votes of 64 clergy and 118 laity, which surpassed the minimum requirement of 55 clergy and 94 laity, according to Anna Stania, director of Communications for the diocese. Stania also told The Christian Post that Perry did not experience any opposition to her candidacy because of her sexual orientation or that she is married to someone of the same-sex. We have experienced an overwhelming outpouring of joy, grace and excitement since her election and consecration, explained Stania. We have been an open and affirming diocese for many years. Bishop Perry brings many incredible talents and abilities to our diocese, including her talent for growing congregations and serving and engaging deeply within communities. These talents are something that all of our congregations are eager to utilize and to learn from. In 2003, The Episcopal Church garnered controversy when it consecrated the Rev. Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the denominations history. Robinsons consecration as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire led to large numbers of Episcopalians leaving the denomination in protest. Jeff Walton, Anglican program director with the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy, told CP that for many years after Robinson, few openly gay bishops had been elected. Following the much publicized election and consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003, the only openly partnered gay clergy elected was Mary Glasspool as a Bishop Suffragan for the Diocese of Los Angeles in 2009, said Walton. The consecration of Thomas James Brown as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine in 2019 was the first partnered gay clergy consecrated as a bishop in about a decade. Walton also explained to CP that over the past 20 years, the Michigan Diocese has seen a significant exodus of members. In general, Episcopal dioceses in the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions have shed a larger percentage of their parishioners than the Episcopal Church as a whole, he explained. Perrys election is one more item among many that push theological conservatives out of the church. A Chinese security guard takes the temperature of a couple as they enter a nearly empty commercial street in Beijing, China, on Feb. 12, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) China Hasnt Given CDC Access to Direct Data From Coronavirus Outbreak The United States hasnt received direct data from the outbreak of the new coronavirus from Chinese authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Feb. 12. Chinese officials also havent allowed U.S. experts into the country to help investigate the outbreak, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters in a phone call. Asked about the information being sent over by China, Messonnier said that there has been more data coming out recently than at the beginning of the outbreak, which was reported to have started in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan. But the direct data still hasnt been made available to U.S. experts, Messonnier said. Seeing a graph somebody else produced is never as good as seeing the data itself, she said. CDC staff themselves havent yet gained access to the direct data. We continue to be hopeful that well be invited to do that. Workers wearing masks are seen walking outside their dormitory, in an electronics manufacturing factory in Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the coronavirus, COVID-19, on Feb. 12, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters) Part of the reason the CDC wants to have experts on the ground in China is to get crucial data to support U.S. efforts to probe questions surrounding the virus. And U.S. leaders feel that American experts are some of the best in the world. But the Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly rebuffed U.S. offers of assistance. An advance team from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in China on Feb. 10 to help probe the outbreak of the virus, now known as COVID-19. The three members of the team were preparing for the arrival of the rest of the team, which was composed of 10 to 15 people in total. But China still hasnt approved any American experts to be part of the team, Messonnier said on Feb 12. People wearing masks are seen at a shopping mall in downtown Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus on Feb. 12, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters) The CDC stands ready to send staff to the affected areas in China to work on this investigation and as soon as we are given this invitation to do that we are happy to do that, but we havent been invited yet, she said. In nearly every telebriefing or press conference, U.S. officials have noted or answered questions about the latest status on offers to China for on-the-ground assistance. And theyve repeatedly said the invitations were rebuffed, save for one Feb. 3 statement from the White House. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for an update on the situation. If U.S. experts can get on the ground in China, they could add expertise in attempting to sort out the continuing uncertainties surrounding the virus, including the incubation period, whether it transmits asymptomatically, and the severity index, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said in January. Thirteen of the 25 possible WHO team members were American experts from the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an office at Azars department, he said. The CISF seized Rs 45 lakh worth of foreign currency hidden in cooked meat pieces, peanuts and biscuit packets from a passenger at the Delhi airport, officials said on Wednesday. The unique modus operandi of currency smuggling came to light on Tuesday evening when security personnel intercepted Murad Ali on the basis of his "suspicious" behaviour when he reached Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport to board an Air India flight to Dubai. "On physical checking of the passengers' baggage, high volume of foreign currencies were found concealed in cooked mutton pieces, peanuts, biscuit packets and other eatables," CISF spokesperson Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh said. "This is a unique and peculiar way of concealing foreign currency for smuggling," Singh said. A video of the interception provided by the force showed the security personnel cracking peanuts, unzipping sealed biscuit packets and digging into oily meat pieces to extract an assortment of Saudi Riyal, Qatari Riyal, Kuwaiti Dinar, Omani Riyal and Euro rolled and wrapped neatly inside. The estimated worth of this seized cache is Rs 45 lakh and the passenger and the currencies have been handed over to Customs authorities for investigation, the CISF spokesperson said. The Central Industrial Security Force guards the Delhi airport. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SCHENECTADY - A 44-year-old ex-felon, who once served time for buying firearms from an ex-cop despite a criminal record that said he couldn't, is headed back to prison - this time for spreading pornographic images of children on the internet. Lance Potter will spend at least the next eight years in state prison after admitting Tuesday he uploaded thousands of images of child pornography to the peer-to-peer, file-sharing network BitTorrent, prosecutors said. He was arrested last year after State Police said they linked him to troves of child porn he uploaded in April and September, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney's office. Troopers and their computer crimes experts raided Potter's Schenectady home Oct. 11, taking electronic devices that included a phone that held additional images of child porn. Potter vanished after his arraignment but U.S. marshals found him in December, living at an off-the-grid camp near San Diego, prosecutors said. District Attorney Robert Carney said the tent city was touted as one of the "last lawless places" and marshals headed in with warrants. "It's a place that people running from the law were gravitating toward," he said. Troopers brought Potter back to Schenectady in January and on Tuesday he pleaded guilty to charges of promoting a sexual performance by a child, possession of a sexual performance by a child and bail jumping. As part of his plea deal, Potter will serve eight to 11 years in prison followed by 10 years of post-release supervision. He will be sentenced by County Court Judge Matthew Sypniewski though a date was not immediately available. Carney called the case "one of the more egregious cases of child pornography that we have encountered." Potter's return to Schenectady was paid for by the DA's office, an expense Carney said he made in part to "discourage other defendants from fleeing to escape justice." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. It will not be Potter's first time in prison. He was ordered to serve nine months in federal prison after he admitted a decade ago that he bought firearms from a retired New York City transit police officer. At the time, Potter was already a convicted felon and it was illegal for him to buy guns. He faced up to 57 months in prison but was sentenced 14 months, in part because of his cooperation with federal prosecutors. His sentence was later reduced to nine months and he was released from custody in early 2011. Potter was previously listed in public records as a "reverend" with "Voice of Truth Ministries," a business that listed an address at a Green Street residence where Potter once lived. During that investigation the FBI recorded a series of cell phone calls between Potter and the ex-cop, Stephen Dorfman, as the pair made arrangements for Dorfman to sell Potter a .32-caliber revolver for $250 and a .223-caliber assault rifle for $1,500, plus $20 for ammunition, court records showed at the time. Dorfman, a sergeant with the transit police who retired in 1986, was later sentenced to three years probation. Banks asked to rescue the bourse but doubters are many whether this will boost dying economy Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal's recent announcement that all five state owned banks (SOBs) would be listed with the stock market in phases in next six months up to October to beef up the sagging market sounds good as the bourse is suffering from liquidity crisis and lack of good shares for investment. But many wonder if such move would bring the lasting boost to the bourse or otherwise would send them to the brink at the end further aggravating the crisis in the banking sector. Many also raised question is it right to force banks to come to rescue of the bourse only because the government wants to keep the bourse alive? Meanwhile, the central bank has also authorized all commercial banks early this week to set up Tk 200-crore special fund each for investment in the stocks. The new move comes as the stock market is in a dire situation and needs to be rescued. Evidently the market has positively responded to recent official moves. The prime DSE price index has surged more than 85 point in a single day on Tuesday to 4471 points following the announcement on Sunday last. Trading shot up to Tk 505.85 crore on the first trading day after the announcement jumping Tk 164 crore over the previous day. We must say these are encouraging developments but the question is whether such quick revival of the market from a rock bottom could be sustained or to be short lived only for a period that may allow market syndicates to grab the new fortunes. Serious irregularities are now prevailing in the bourse. Question also arises if pumping of fresh funds would be enough to remove the wounds of the market when the crisis is deep rooted and far reaching tied to very structure and malfunctioning of the bourse. It is now mainly the crisis of confidence that needs to be addressed. Most foreign investors have already left and if banks were to hastily mobilize funds to save the bourse, it is unlikely to produce lasting results. Their shares may also become junk in a highly unpredictable market when most banks have staggering default loans. Capital market in any country works on its own strength based on market confidence. People make investment of their spare money and live on profit while the economy collects capital to invest in new industries. Nowhere in the world the government intervenes or forces banks to make investment of depositors' money in the capital market. But it appears our finance minister is now working on a six-point programme of the Prime Minister that include off-loading share of public companies in the stock market. But such moves without correcting the basic structural ills of the market may prove counter-productive at the end. Here in Bangladesh money from stock market is regularly stolen by big businesses and powerful traders and what the government is doing by recalling public companies to bourse is just to make sure the survival of the bourse from being totally extinguished. Everyone here knows lack of good governance is destroying the bourse. Corruption at all levels from enlistment of companies, often bad firms with false financial statement and share price manipulation on the floor are basically destabilizing the market. People believe these problems must be solved - Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) should be dismantled, its long-time chairman now on third-time extension and blamed for sheltering serious irregularities need to be removed. It members need to be replaced too. The BSEC is now a den of corruption. This is how BASIC Bank was ruined by a chairman who similarly enjoyed a third-time extension. Why the government is not bringing change here is the big question. Dhaka Stock Exchange management is similarly in the hands of dishonest people. Market syndicates are regularly manipulating share prices ruining the future of investors. People believe if basic changes are not taking place in all those places, any piecemeal action like pumping fresh bank money may not deliver expected results. One may recollect never before such unrestraint investments by banks in the stocks were allowed without provisioning against risk as the special funds this time has been allowed. One must keep in mind most banks in 1995 and 2010 suffered heavy losses in stock market debacles and they had to struggle over years to recover the losses. Depositors are worried if their money will not disappear with the misadventure of the government. The doubters are many -- the stock exchange gamble will boost the plundered economy. She was unmissable in a pink feathered cloak at the Oscar de la Renta show the day before. Bella Hadid looked as if she'd traveled back in time to the 1950s while walking at the Rodarte Fall/Winter 2020 show for New York Fashion Week. The 23-year-old model looked elegant in a red and white dress while covering her face with a veil. Leading lady: Bella Hadid, 23, looked as if she'd traveled back in time to the 1950s while walking at the Rodarte Fall/Winter 2020 show for New York Fashion Week Bella's outfit was decorated with scarlet polka dots and featured a tightly pleated skirt that showed off her toned legs. The outfit was belted around her midriff to highlight her hourglass figure and had prominent red lapels. The 5ft9in star wore a pair of lustrous red and silver heels with a jeweled inset, and she had on a white lace veil covering her eyes and decorated on top of her head with a large red rose. She completed the retro look with white mesh gloves and dangling pearl earrings. Patterned: Bella's outfit was decorated with scarlet polka dots Fit figure: The outfit was belted around her midriff to highlight her hourglass figure and had prominent red lapels Legs for days: The outfit featured a tightly pleated skirt that showed off her toned legs Fancy footwear: The 5ft9in star wore a pair of lustrous red and silver heels with a jeweled inset Covered up: The model had on a white lace veil covering her eyes and decorated on top of her head with a large red rose Stunner: She completed the retro look with white mesh gloves and dangling pearl earrings Bella looked serious and reserved while showing off her dress, but she was considerably more playful on social media. The sister of Gigi Hadid shared a short video of herself posing with another model, who wore a headdress adorned with pale blue flowers. She captioned the clip 'my little lavender' and showed off her infectious smile and deep purple lipstick. Relaxing: Bella looked serious and reserved while showing off her dress, but she was considerably more playful on social media Fashion stars: The sister of Gigi Hadid shared a short video of herself posing with another model, who wore a headdress adorned with pale blue flowers Flaunting it: Bella showed off her outfit behind the scenes. 'she's beauty and she's grace @rodarte,' she wrote BTS: She looked more casual in a brown sweater before the show Lovely: She captioned the clip 'my little lavender' and showed off her infectious smile and deep purple lipstick Old school: Bella led a parade of models, most of them in similar retro looks Among the celebrities showing off their own stunning looks from the front row was Joker actress Zazie Beetz. She wore her natural raven locks in a high pile of curls and had on an intriguing white sequined dress with blue and green splashes that looked like veins of marble. She matched many of the runway looks with her puffy sleeves, and the dress featured a silky white collar and and a flourish of fabric running down one side. Actress and writer Tavi Gevinson was fierce in a leopard print blouse and a furry brown coat. Outlander's Caitriona Balfe stunned in a sultry black leather dress with a plunging neckline and a white sash tied around her waist. Booksmart star Beanie Feldstein looked lovely in a lilac dress with with multiple layers of ruffles and purple floral designs Dutch model Yasmin Wijnaldum had all eyes on her in a black blouse with similarly puffy sleeves and gold and purple beaded designs with black floral print pants. Woman in white: Zazie Beetz, who made an appearance Sunday at the Oscars, stunned in a marble-like white sequined dress Fierce: Actress and writer Tavi Gevinson wore a leopard print blouse and a furry brown coat Back in black: Outlander's Caitriona Balfe stunned in a sultry black leather dress Revealing: She highlighted her cleavage with a plunging neckline, and she had a white sash tied around her waist Pastel: Booksmart star Beanie Feldstein looked lovely in a lilac dress with with multiple layers of ruffles and purple floral designs Glowing: Dutch model Yasmin Wijnaldum had all eyes on her in a black blouse with similarly puffy sleeves and gold and purple beaded designs with black floral print pants Front row: Fashion journalist Derek Blasberg sported a denim jacket with fleece lining from the front row, while Lauren Santo Domingo was dressed in all black Casual: Musician and producer Jack Antonoff wore a baggy gray blazer and black jeans with white sneakers One model looked fierce in a black sequined jumpsuit with relaxed pants, multiple beaded decorations and a jeweled spider perched on one shoulder. Another rocked a sequined houndstooth skirt with a high slit, a matching top with floor-length black fringe and a lacy black bra that poked through. Bella's friend rocked a lighter beige dress decorated with delicate branches and grayblue flowers over her cleavage. Dark style: One model looked fierce in a black sequined jumpsuit with relaxed pants. Another rocked a sequined houndstooth skirt with a high slit and a lacy black bra Lightening up the room: Bella's friend rocked a lighter beige dress decorated with delicate branches and grayblue flowers over her cleavage One model rocked a piercing red dress with abstract black lines, a red mesh veil and a crown of lovely white flowers. Another model had on a similar dress, this time in black with large pink flower designs. She wore a black veil and topped her head off with a mass of matching pink flowers. Colorful display: One model rocked a piercing red dress with abstract black lines, a red mesh veil and a crown of lovely white flowers. Another had on a similar dress in black with large pink flower designs Inxeption Logo These promotions are designed to help our customers discover the many ways our platform can help them Do Business Better, says Inxeption Chief Operating Officer Mark Moore. Inxeption, the pioneer of I-commerce, is announcing a new initiative to inspire merchants (also called Inxeption Commerce Partners) to expand their use of its entire suite of business service offerings, including online commerce, marketing, shipping insurance, and financing. The goal of this campaign, in keeping with Inxeptions 2020 customer advocacy initiatives, is to make companies aware of the platforms valuable resources, tools, and services that enable our Commerce Partners to Do Business Better. The rewards campaign provides both free services and cash prizes that give businesses resources and tools to better manage and run their day-to-day operations. 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Our ability to negotiate the best rates and provide the most streamlined processes grows with each Commerce Partner who joins the Inxeption Business Community. Inxeptions Better Business Team works closely with Inxeption Commerce Partners to identify services that can help our partners. This rewards program is a way of saying thank you and provides additional resources for our partners to invest in their own success. Visit Inxeption's website for more information on the Inxeption platform and this new rewards campaign. About Inxeption: Inxeption is the pioneer of I-commerce. Its secure and scalable platform brings the ease of consumer e-commerce to business. From one digital dashboard, companies of any size in any industry can drive more sales, better manage their supply chain, and realize cost savings. At Inxeption, our invitation to companies of any size is: Let's Do Business Better. The heads-up display (HUD) market is expected to grow by USD 2.18 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005504/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the heads-up display (HUD) market from 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) The demand for air travel is likely to double over the next two decades, mainly driven by countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and the US. The year-over-year increase in air traffic has essentialized the induction of new aircraft, encouraging automotive OEMs to invest in capacity augmentation. HUDs help pilots during takeoff and landing in uncertain environmental conditions such as foggy weather. Moreover, most aviation administrations around the world have mandates on the use of enhanced flight vision systems to reduce accidents and increase passenger safety. As the aviation industry has in the past accounted for a major share of the HUD market, an increase in the orders for new-generation aircraft will also drive the growth of the HUD market. 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=IRTNTR41189 As per Technavio, the advances in AR HUD will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024. Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market: Advances in AR HUD AR HUDs generate a comprehensive view for the driver, which is a combination of the real scene viewed by end-users and an augmented, computer-generated virtual scene with additional information. AR HUDs allow a wide field of view, which enhances driver assistance systems such as blind spot detection, upcoming lane change, and exit directions. Camera, LiDAR-based sensors, GPS modules, and Wi-Fi are the essential building blocks required to manufacture AR HUD. WayRay SA, Continental AG, Denso Corp., and DigiLens Inc., are some of the vendors that manufacture AR HUDs. Moreover, vendors are collaborating with peer companies to improve product features. For instance, in October 2018, Continental AG launched a full-color demonstrator of an automotive-specific AR HUD that is based on waveguide technology. Thus, advances in AR HUD are expected to drive the growth of the market. "Factors such as the growing focus on development of autonomous vehicles, and the development of electric aircrafts will have a positive impact on the growth of the heads-up display (HUD) market 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 Heads-Up Display (HUD) Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the heads-up display (HUD) market by end-user (aviation, automotive and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America and South America). The European region led the heads-up display (HUD) market in 2019, followed by APAC, North America, MEA and South America. During the forecast period, the European region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as the rising penetration of HUDs in the commercial vehicle segment and increasing investments in aircraft manufacturing facilities. 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: End-user Aviation Automotive Others Geographic segmentation APAC Europe MEA North America South America Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005504/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ An orphaned bear cub is being nurtured back to health at a Russian rescue centre. Masha the cub was found abandoned in a Russian forest and is now being cared for at the Orphan Bear Rescue Centre (OBRC), based in the Russian Tver region. She is recovering alongside three other cubs, the first of the year to be brought to the centre. It is not known what happened to their parents but the centre said man-made disruption, such as logging and noise activity, is a likely factor. It is hoped Masha will eventually be strong enough to be returned to the wild. The OBRC rescues, raises and rehabilitates brown bear cubs and prepares them for release back into the wild. The centre is located in an area of dense natural forest, approximately 450km north west of Moscow. Cubs are typically brought to the centre between January and late April when temperatures are at their lowest. Some are only days old and often are in critical condition emaciated, injured or suffering from pneumonia or hypothermia. As well saving individual cubs, OBRC helps restore the micro-population of bears in the Bryansk Forest Nature Reserve. UTICA, N.Y. - Utica Police Chief Mark Williams and Sgt. Mike Curley spoke at a Downtown Community Forum Tuesday night to discuss difficulties the department is having with police recruitment, hiring, and retention due to the residency requirement. In 2008, a referendum was passed that requires anyone hired in the department after 2009 to live in the city of Utica and stay there throughout their entire career. Anyone hired before 2009 was grandfathered in. Chief Williams says in the past five years the department has lost more officers as a result of resignations as opposed to retirements, which is unusual. He says the number one reason is the residency requirement. When it comes to police recruitment, hiring and retention, it's severely impacting our ability to stay fully staffed and then it becomes a public safety issue, Chief Williams said. Chief Williams says the Utica Fire Department and neighboring police departments dont have this requirement. He says he understands that some residents believe the people that serve their community should live there, but it should be their choice. What is comes down to, all things being equal, were always going to show preference to the Utica city resident thats applying for the job, Chief Williams said. However, overall what Im looking for is the most qualified candidate regardless of where theyre coming from and I think if someone is a victim of a crime or is in a crisis and needed the help of a police officer, I dont think theyre going to care where that officer comes from or where he lives. The department is looking for an amendment on the 2008 referendum regarding the residency issue. The department is hoping for a vote by the Utica Common Council to change the charter revision and modify it. Maybe instead of having officers have to live in Utica their entire career at the police department, at least require them to live there the first five years with the police department, Chief Williams said. I think thats fair, especially for someone that lives out of the area that comes in and takes employment with us because they should get to know a little bit about the community before they have the opportunity to move out. Chief Williams says in the past two academy classes they had in the past two years, the department hired short of what they needed because they have a high standard for the officers they allow to serve and protect the city of Utica. There wasnt enough fully qualified candidates and I just wasnt going to hire someone just for the sake of hiring them, Chief Williams said. These are very difficult jobs to do, you have to have a multitude of skills, communication skills, thinking quick on your feet, being able to multitask and more importantly being technology savvy to do the job and were looking for the best. Chief Williams says he plans on attending more neighborhood association meetings and community forums to discuss the residency issue with residents and gain support from the public. A man convicted based on the casework of a former Houston narcotics officer in 2009 is actually innocent, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Wednesday. Steven Mallet, 60, is the second person whose case was tied to Gerald Goines the former narcotics officer at the center of a drug raid in 2019 that claimed the lives of two homeowners to be declared innocent. His brother, Otis Mallet, was declared innocent earlier this month. Justice dictates that we continue going through questionable cases and clearing people convicted solely on the word of a police officer we can no longer trust, Ogg said. When the only evidence of criminal culpability is the testimony of an untrustworthy officer, we are going to work as fast as possible to right the situation. Wrong Door: Botched Houston drug raid not the first Steven Mallet and his brother, Otis, were arrested in 2008 after Goines said that while undercover, he had bought drugs from the two men. At trial, a jury convicted Otis Mallet and sentenced him to eight years in prison. He served two behind bars before being paroled, but he always maintained his innocence and later challenged his conviction. In early February, prosecutors said they agreed with Otis Mallets attorneys, and Judge Ramona Franklin declared the 64-year-old former inmate actually innocent. In that hearing, Ogg and defense attorney Jonathan Landers wrote that Goines testimony served as the cornerstone of prosecutors case against Mallet. The filing also notes serious discrepancies, including the fact Goines never disclosed he had paid a confidential informant for information leading to the Mallet brothers arrests. It also notes that he told jurors he used police money to make the drug buy, but expense reports show he never filed any draw money the month he allegedly paid the Mallets $200 for a quarter of crack cocaine. And while he had testified hed seen Otis Mallet taking drugs from a blue can, later fingerprint testing failed to find Mallets fingerprints on the can Goines said he had handled. When Goines was subpoenaed to testify in court about Otis Mallets case, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Steven Mallet, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to time served in order to get out of jail. He said he did so rather than wait for a trial in which there was no guarantee that a jury could be persuaded that Goines was lying, according to a statement prepared for his Thursday court hearing. Prosecutors after the hearing for Otis Mallet labeled the entire alleged narcotics transaction a fraud. This same fraud infects Stevens case and conviction, prosecutors and defense attorneys wrote, in a statement filed in advance of a hearing the matter, which is scheduled for Thursday morning in the 178th District Court. Steven Mallets attorney could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. In a news release the Harris County District Attorneys Office said it has agreed with Steven Mallets defense to find relief based on actual innocence, false evidence and an involuntary plea. Questionable cases: Key Houston police narcotics officers at center of fatal Harding Street drug raid tallied few arrests, low-level busts Years after Mallets conviction, Goines has come under scrutiny after leading a January 2019 drug raid in south Houston that left homeowners Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas dead and himself and four other police officers injured. After the raid, authorities said Goines had lied about numerous circumstances leading up to the incident, which sparked investigations by the Houston Police Department, the Harris County District Attorneys Office and the FBI. Goines was charged with murder and other crimes, and accused of a raft of misconduct, including having sex with a confidential informant, keeping loose drugs in his car, and lying about casework. He has pleaded not guilty. In the midst of the scandal, prosecutors dismissed dozens of active criminal cases and announced a review of more than 14,000 past cases Goines and other members of his squad had worked on. The Mallet brothers cases mark widening fallout of possible misconduct by the former officer, stretching back at least 11 years. Now we know he was lying and using the district attorneys office as a tool to convict people wrongfully as early as 2008, Ogg said, when she announced prosecutors believed Otis Mallet was innocent. Anybody who was convicted as a result of Gerald Goines testimony, or involvement in a case that is significant or relevant, will now be given a presumption when they file their writ that Goines testimony or evidence in their case was false. RELATED: Judge declares Houston man innocent after prosecutors argue that his drug case was based on lies by former officer Goines st.john.smith@chron.com twitter.com/stjbs A High Court injunction is to be sought to halt works which have begun on a 71-apartment social housing scheme in Chapelizod village, Dublin. Last December, a residents group got permission from the court on a one side only represented basis to bring a judicial review challenge against the development at the Springvale site, opposite the local Roman Catholic Church. The action is against the Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government, the State, and Dublin City Council which has a building company on the site where over the last two months hoardings have been erected, ground cleared, earth moved and hard surfaces installed, among other works. Today John Kenny BL, for a company representing residents, the Chapelizod Community for Democracy and Sustainability (CCDS) said when his clients got permission to bring the challenge in December, it was their understanding that works would cease until the judicial review was determined. However, counsel said this had not happened and it was now going to be necessary to bring injunction proceedings stopping it. Mr Justice Charles Meenan, noting a stay on the works had not been sought at the time of the judicial review application, gave liberty to bring the injunction application next week. The CCDS is asking the court to quash the October 7, 2019, decision of the council to approve the development. It is claimed the council failed to provide reasons or the responses of its chief executive/city manager to issues raised during public participation on the plan. That, it is alleged, was in breach of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The CCDS seeks a declaration that the 2001 regulations arising from that 2000 Act are outside the power of the Minister and that Section 179(1) of the 2000 Act is unconstitutional. It seeks other declarations including that the council's decision to approve the plan was a breach of the EU Habitats Directive and of the directive governing environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Against the State and the Minister, it is also claimed there was a failure to adequately transpose the EIA directive. The residents say the plan was approved without properly determining whether an appropriate assessment (AA) or EIA was needed. The court heard in December the Springvale site had for sometime in the past been used as a dump and there was no consideration of leachate from toxic materials and its interaction with the nearby River Liffey. The council was obliged to analyse and assess whether there was a proven link between overcapacity in the Ringsend treatment plant, which will treat effluent from the development, and deleterious effects on the Natura 2000 sites in Dublin Bay, it was claimed. It is also the residents case the council failed to address in an EIA significant roosting sites for bats, a protected species, on the land. There is no coronavirus cure yet, and it is exceeding SARS by far. Some researchers are creating drugs to combat the coronavirus via its protease enzyme. Utilizing coconut oil as a coronavirus cure is urgent as of now. Scientists are looking at coconut as a source to synthesize a cure for coronavirus. Coconut oil is a source for anti-viral agents that might work, is less expensive than more expensive pharmaceuticals. How does coconut oil work as a cure? There are three stages of how lauric acid and monolaurin are effective anti-viral agents to stop the viral infection in host cells. The first step is when the anti-viral agents start to remove the covering of the virus, next is the coconut-based substances will attack the body of the virus and prevent reproduction. Last will be stopping the broken-down proteins from entering the cell wall. When the virus membrane is destroyed, it will be susceptible to anti-viral agents that kill the invading proteins. The membrane cover protects the virus and fools the host cell to let them in. One of the first steps for anti-bodies to annihilate the invading virus before enters the cell wall, and reproduce inside it. Lauric acid will then attack the viral proteins and break them down. Viruses need their proteins to develop and duplicate themselves to pass the cellular wall. When the viral proteins are prevented to develop, they are degraded and destroyed by lauric acid. Also read: Coronavirus Scare Hitting the Chinese Stock Market Hard Compared to SARS in 2003 Once the lauric acid starts to breakdown the viral enzymes, that cannot enter the cell membranes because of anti-viral action by lauric acid. Studying the properties of coconut oil, in synthesizing a coronavirus cure is very immediate. Other than lauric acid in coconut oil, other substances like capric acid (C10), momocaprin are promising against HIV. Capric acid is about 7% of coconut oil, with monoglyceride and fatty alcohols are useful against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2), depending on concentration and acidity levels. But, monocaprin (C10) has promise for use as a cure for influenza A virus. Are coconut oil and C12 derivatives good for humans and animals There are no ill effects on humans and animals from coconut oil and products from it. Its anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties are effective for most animals. Products with monolaurin and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are common ingredients in anti-bacterial solutions. Coconut oil has worked as anti-HIV, in some studies and the first tests were done in the Philippines. The potential of coconut oil as a coronavirus cure as evidenced by in vitro, animal, and human studies with lauric acid and derived substances that might halt the ravages of the coronavirus. Knowing what coconut oil-based enzymes can do against viral stages is a boost to the study. Giving researchers clues were to attack the virus, and stop it from replicating, to create a cure. In this context, pursuing studies to prove that coconut oil could be the next best option without any definite coronavirus cure in sight. Another is that it will not be expensive and no-risk too, with a positive benefit because it is easy to acquire as well. Related article: Chinese Journalist Missing After Revealing Information on Real Wuhan Coronavirus Situation @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Kapil Sharma Show is one of the most popular family shows. Not just the viewers, even celebrities love to watch and even be a part of the show. Of late, many popular celebrities graced the show to promote their upcoming films. TKSS is also one of the top 10 shows on the TRP chart. Recently, the show completed 100 episodes and the Khiladi of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar had graced the sets. The actor revealed one of the team member's fee, which took everyone by surprise! In one of the fun segments, Akshay Kumar was seen grilling the team members for what they do on the show and when he came to Chandu's turn, he asked him, "What do you do on the show except 'oye hoye oye hoye'?" Akshay then took the contract papers and revealed that Chandan charges Rs 5 lakh per show for a five-minute performance. The Good Newwz actor said, "Main aap sab ko batana chahunga ke Chandan Prabhakar 5 lakh leta hai ek show ka aur 5 min aata hai. Yani ki 1 min ka 1 lakh rupayaa leta hai ye admi." If Chandan's fee surprised everyone, the bigger shock would be of Kapil Sharma's fee! It has to be recalled that when Udit Narayan had visited the sets he had revealed Kapil's fee. He had said that the comedian-actor earns about Rs 1 crore from Sony TV for hosting each episode of the show. For the uninitiated, the conversation between Udit and Kapil started when the latter told Udit that his face is so innocent and voice is so magical that it doesn't look that he would have never fooled anyone for money, but looks like people definitely must have fooled him. Responding to this, Udit said that 'Kapil never had to struggle for money as he has heard that he charges Rs 1 crore for one episode'. Also Read: The Kapil Sharma Show Completes 100 Episodes: Team Parties Hard; Good Newwz Actors Grace Show (Newser) Late last year, Pope Francis gave hints that he might be open to the ordination of married men, letting them become priests in far-flung parts of the world like the Amazon region, after bishops representing indigenous areas made this push. Now, however, that idea has been officially quashed: The pontiff turned down the proposal, which was approved by over two-thirds of the bishops who showed up for an October summit on the topic. The decision came via "Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon)," a papal document that the Vatican released Wednesday, per CNN. The New York Times notes the decision has "raised the question of whether Francis' promotion of discussing once-taboo issues is resulting in a pontificate that is largely talk." The pope's rejection of the proposal was a surprise to many, though one archbishop tells CNN that Francis felt it simply wasn't the right time. story continues below The bishops' proposal had been designed to address the unique needs of remote areas of South America, where finding priests to cater to the faithful can be difficult. Per the AP, Francis didn't even mention the ordination of married men in his letter, though a Vatican spokesman noted to the Times that the pontiff had decided against "changes or further possibilities of exceptions." Nervous conservatives had pushed back on the idea, feeling that this limited type of ordination would open the door to completely lifting the celibacy mandate for priests. One thing the pope did mention specifically in the document: that ordination for women was out. Although he supports having more leadership roles within the Church, Francis noted that women need to find "other forms of service and charisms that are proper to women," not push for being ordained. (Read more Pope Francis stories.) A Maoist, carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakh on his head and suspected to be involved in the killing of an Andhra Pradesh MLA, surrendered before the police in Odisha's Malkangiri district on Wednesday. Thirty year-old Jipro Habika, who had joined the banned outfit CPI(Maoist) in 2012, decided to give up arms after getting disillusioned with the violent path of Naxalism, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Rishikesh D Khilari said. Habika, who carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh announced by the Odisha government, was an area committee member of the outfit's Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee, he said. Habika is suspected to be involved in the killing of MLA K S Rao and former legislator Siveri Soma in Dungriguda mandal of Andhra Pradesh's Araku valley in September 2018, a police statement said. His role is also suspected in the murder of naib sarpanch G Sundar Rao and burning of vehicles in Puteru village in Pottangi police station area in Odisha's Koraput district in December 2016, it said. He was also involved in exchanges of fire with police and security personnel on various occasions, the statement said. Habika, who hails from Narayanpatna area in Odisha's Koraput district, said he was disappointed with senior Maoist leaders, it said. The surrendered Maoist will be rehabilitated, the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israele: Gantz, 'no more alliances with Arab parties' Netanyahu's rival says yes to Trump plan ahead of vote (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 12 - Less than a month before March 2 elections in Israel, the main rival of Premier Benyamin Netanyahu, centrist leader Benny Gantz, has ruled out any coalition alliance with Arab parties (United List), adding that, if elected, he means to implement Trump's plan. At the same time, he explained that he does not accept the possibility in the plan that, in an exchange of lands, Arab Israeli cities in the north could go under Palestinian control. ''I am not afraid - said Gantz - to speak about any legitimate political party but the List will not be part of the government I will form. My disagreement with the List's leadership on national and security themes are deep, difficult and can't be overcome''. On Trump's plan, Gantz - a former army chief of staff - observed that he means ''to implement it in coordination with all other elements in the region''. (ANSAmed). The Supreme Court on Thursday will pronounce its verdict on a contempt plea which has raised the issue of criminalisation of politics. The court will decide whether directions can be issued to political parties to deny tickets to persons with a criminal background. Supreme Court lawyer and petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay has demanded that political parties should be prevented from giving tickets to criminals. Judgment on the plea filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay will be delivered today by a bench headed by Justice RF Nariman. In September 2018, a 5-judge constitution bench had asked the central government to immediately enact laws to ban those involved in serious crimes from contesting elections and becoming party officials. BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay had filed a contempt petition against the central government and the Election Commission alleging that no serious efforts were made in the last six months despite a court order to stop the criminalisation of politics. After hearing the arguments of advocate Ashwini, the court sought a response from the Cabinet Secretary and Law Secretary, Government of India. Earlier, in this case, expressing concern over criminalisation of politics, the Supreme Court had stressed the need to do something soon to stop it. The court asked the Election Commission to prepare and present the outline within a week. The court gave these instructions when the Election Commission said that the court's order to publish criminal details of the candidates is not having any effect to check criminalisation in politics. The commission said that the court should direct political parties not to give tickets to people of criminal background. A bench of justices RF Nariman and S Ravindra Bhatt had asked the Election Commission and the petitioner to sit together and look at interest within a week and prepare a roadmap to stop the criminalisation of politics. After that, both of them had presented the outline before the court in this case, after which the court reserved the decision in this case. In this case, the court had earlier ordered that each candidate will publish his criminal details in the newspaper thrice after the nomination is filed and will also advertise on the TV channel. The petitioner had alleged that the Election Commission has not attempted to implement it effectively, nor has it decided the time of listing and publicity of newspapers nor the TV channel in which the candidate has to publish the details. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was his film debut and he got to play Shah Rukh Khan and Kajols onscreen son in the Karan Johar-directorial, My Name Is Khan This was a decade ago and he was just 12. And even though he took a sabbatical to complete his education soon after the film released, he is now working hard to fulfil his acting dreams. Cant believe that a decade has gone by it feels unreal. The film was a life-changing experience for me, says an excited Arjan Singh Aujla, who is immediately reminded of the times when he shot for the film in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Goregaon, Mumbai. The actor goes on to share how everyone, including (now actors) Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra, who were assistant directors on the film, made sure hrje was comfortable. Sidharth would help me with my dialogues; wed do the dry run of the entire scene. He would speak SRKs or Kajols lines and Id say mine. I recently did an ad with Varun. When I introduced myself, he couldnt believe Ive grown up so much, he says. Reminiscing how Shah Rukh, Kajol and Karan were always caring towards him, Arjan adds, We were shooting in Goregaon and Shah Rukh walked up to me and asked my name. He was like, Dont be nervous, well do it. Do you want me to get you some fruits and water? You want to practice once. Kajol would also ask about my school, studies Karan sir would make sure I was taken care of and praised every time I gave a nice shot. Interestingly, Arjan was auditioned to portray young SRK, but later he got shortlisted from over 1,000 children to play Sameer Rathore, his onscreen son. Even for this character, he was auditioned five times. I had done few ads by then, and so I was confident. But I never had such an audition experience, he shares. Though the success of My Name Is Khan and the appreciation his performance garnered translated into more work for Arjan, he returned to the industry only after completing his Bachelors in Management Studies. He has starred in a web show and his latest music video is out. Hes now prepping for a short film, where he plays the role of a boxer. Before getting back, I did acting workshops and also worked on my physique. Ive started all over again, hopefully this time, too, the journey will be fascinating, he concludes. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON (Photo: 8 Must Visit Places in Laos) Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia. There are numerous must-visit places in Laos for exploration. This stunning country cannot boast of serene sandy beaches and several thousand tourists every year, but it makes it up with spectacular natural sceneries, ruins, ancient cities, and some of the most charming and warm locals on Earth. Laos is a laid-back country, and from here, you are sure to enjoy a fresh and relaxed environment as you enjoy extraordinary moments with friends or family. So on your first trip to Laos, make sure you visit these eight places and discover what other tourists have not yet explored. Bolaven Plateau Must visit place in Laos To the southern part of Laos lays the majestic Bolaven Plateau. It is a landscape filled with dense forests, thundering waterfalls, and astounding coffee and tea plantations. The plateau is found at an altitude of around 1000 meters, and it has cooler and milder temperatures than the other parts of the country. Plentiful of natural highlights like the Dong Hua Sao waterfalls and Tad Fane is the reason most travelers are dying to visit Laos. Van Vieng It is a top-rated destination in Laos for backpackers and budget travelers. The stunning environment is located in central Laos and occasioned by fascinating natural sceneries of Limestone Mountain, karst hills, caves, rivers, and tunnels. Ultimately this haven of tranquility can be considered an adventure capital for Laos. Several tour companies offer adventurous activities to tourists, such as kayaking, spelunking, hiking, and tubing. There is also a downtown bar at Vang Vieng, which is a must-visit once you come to this place. Plain of jars The plain of jars is technically one of the unique places on Earth. It is an unusual sight found in the Southern part of Asia, and it remains an archeological mystery. The jars are located in a vast area of land near Phonsavan. These jars are symmetrically arranged in several archeological sites, and no one is aware of how that came to be or what purpose they serve. It is, of course, one of the must-visit places in Laos. But how can you travel to Laos and discover these stunning places? Well, whether you require a visa to gain access to Laos will largely depend on the country you come from. Eligible citizens will be granted visas upon arrival to the country. The visa on arrival is, however, given to the visitors who are on tour to Laos. It usually lasts for 30-days. Laos government has even created an electronic visa for travelers to ease up the time taken. Travelers are expected to apply for this visa seven days before the due date to Laos. The application process is online, meaning that there is no time wasted at entry points to the country. Citizens from 150 countries are eligible to apply for this online visa as it saves a lot on time and resources. For the visa on arrivals, you need to have the following requirements: Cash for the visa application process An original passport Two passport size photographs A visa application form duly filled and signed. For more insights on this visa you can visit visalaos.com Pathet Lao Caves It is an attractive network of tunnels and caves that surround Vieng Xai town. Located to the northeast of Laos, this is one of the most magnificent scenes Laos has to offer visitors. It is a key highlight in this majestic country as these caves were used as a base during the popular Vietnam war. The caves were also once used as home to over 20,000 people. Inside these caves were numerous facilities such as shops, homes, hospitals, bakeries, and military barracks. The caves were, however, bombed by the United States troops and are now used as tourist attraction sites. Luang Prabang It is a remarkable place situated around the Nam Khan and Mekong Rivers. It was technically Laos' capital until 1975. In fact, Luang Prabang is the frequently visited city in Laos with diverse and incredible sites and sceneries in the country. It is also a UNESCO Heritage Site due to the perplexing features you can observe here, such as French colonial buildings, bald monks, and old temples bearing golden roofs. Wat Phou It is commonly referred to as Vat Phou. Typically means "mountain temple." Wat Phou is a facility housing the Khmer temple ruins that existed several years back. These Hindu Temples can be backdated to between the 13th and 11th century. It consists of pavilions, tall trees, pillars, shrines, palaces, and courtyards. The complex has great historical significance as it is already declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vientiane It is Laos' capital city, and it has lots of fascinating and mind-blowing features. The magnificent city is among the must-visit places in Laos as it has a luxurious waterfront and other attractions. Visit Vientiane and discover the numerous Buddha statues, Phat That Luang stupa and the triumphal Patuxai. There is a surprising mix of cultures and linguistics in this city as there are Vietnamese, Chinese, French, American, and the Lao roaming the streets of this dismaying city. Mekong River Mekong River is currently the greatest river in Southeast Asia, stretching for over 4,000 kilometers. The biggest section of this enormous river is in Laos, offering tourists and locals unique sceneries and panoramic views. The river also acts as a reliable means of transport. In a country with no well-established road network and the rugged terrain, the river remains the most reliable option to move about. In case you want to explore more of Laos amazing sceneries and plantations, then the Mekong River will deliver everything at your doorstep. Bottom Line These are the top must-visit places in Laos that you should never miss to visit when you plan a holiday to the Southeast part of Asia. You will have the opportunity to learn and appreciate the culture of the Asian people as you explore the breathtaking views of the beautiful country. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 A uranium sample from a critical mineral deposit glows under blacklight as a a gieger counter measures its radiation in San Bernardino County, Calif., in a file photo. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) Major Uranium, Rare-Earth Deposit Rediscovered in California A massive mineral deposit in San Bernardino County, California, might yield $2.5 billion in uranium alone, enough to supply the nations needs for the next 16 years, according to the miners who own the claim. Aside from uranium, the deposit is rich in 14 other critical mineralsincluding many rare-earth elements (REEs)said Ron Kliewer, one of five miners who own Sundown Resources, a privately held California-based company. These minerals and REEs are needed to build military weapons and defense systems as well as to develop many other high-tech products on the commercial market. They are used in everything from smart phones to computers to missile guidance systems. President Donald Trumps 2021 proposed budget, released Feb. 10, calls for uranium purchases of $150 million, an amount that miners expect Trump to extend to $1.5 billion over the next decade. The idea is to make the U.S. nuclear energy industry independent of imported uranium from Russia and other countries. Rediscovery of San Bernardinos Uranium The uranium deposit in San Bernardino was first discovered about 70 years ago, during the uranium boom after World War II and at the dawn of the nuclear age. But the price of uranium dropped before the family who owned the claim could get mining companies to start extracting it, and the familys dreams were dashed. In 2017, the family officially released the claim. That prompted one of Kliewers partners, Chad Gretzner, to talk to the son of one of the original claim owners, a man now in his 80s. That man, Richard Higginbothamnow one of the co-owners of Sundown Resourcesis poised to realize his familys forgotten dream. The swath of land in San Bernardino County, Calif., where a massive critical mineral deposit has been rediscovered. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) A sample from a critical mineral deposit in San Bernardino County, Calif. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) The miners re-staked and filed new claims last fall. Its a lost mine storya rediscovery, Kliewer said. It doesnt seem real. Its one of those sounds-too-good-to-be-true stories. It sounds unbelievable, so we try to be very conservative in our estimate and we have geologist reports and assays to prove it. While the site is estimated to hold 98 million pounds of U308 uranium and may be more than three times that big, more modern geological exploration and verification is needed to determine the exact size of the deposit, Kliewer said. We are in talks with several uranium mining companies. Its very early in the process, Kliewer said. One of the uranium companies wants some samples to run through their patented refining process just to see what its going to take to refine the ore. The mine consists of both lode and placer claims, and also contains precious metals such as gold and silver, he added. A sample from a critical mineral deposit in San Bernardino County, Calif. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) A sample from a critical mineral deposit in San Bernardino County, Calif. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) Gretzner said the uranium deposit was initially spotted in an aerial survey in the early 1950s, followed by ground surveys and sampling. Over the years, two mining engineers and three geologists have done reports on the mine, which Sundown claims is the largest known uranium deposit in the state. It was one of the best-kept secrets, he said. Gretzner was the first of the new claim owners to get out in the field and prospect the old mining site. He found some boxes of old documents buried in the back of the original claim-owners garage. It was only then that he fully realized the potential wealth of their investment. Its a bonanza, he said. Surface assaying was done and the previous owners got some companies to do some test drilling. They were able to demonstrate a reserve in 1968 at 16 million pounds of uranium of probable reserves, which is the second-to-the-highest reserve status you can have. The next status is proven reserves, Gretzner said. And later studies by prominent geologist Doug Litchfield confirmed the magnitude of the find was even bigger than originally thought. The swath of land in San Bernardino County, Calif., where a massive critical mineral deposit has been rediscovered. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) Some of the minerals listed in historical and current assays are: vanadium, cobalt, lithium, yttrium, germanium, magnesium, manganese, neodymium, rubidium, thorium, and lanthanum. Two of the critical minerals in the deposit are strontium and zirconium, which are used in the construction of nuclear reactors, Gretzner said. So, you have to have strontium and zirconium, but to produce them at the same mine as the uranium is rare. Sundown Resources is currently seeking outside expertise about the best way to mine and separate the uranium from the other REEs, Gretzner said. No two REE mines are so alike that they can use the same leaching method, he said. A sample from a critical mineral deposit in San Bernardino County, Calif. (Courtesy of Sundown Resources) When asked how they felt about striking it rich, both men laughed. When you start to run the numbers, you get that kind of deer-in-the-headlights look in your eyes. Who knows? I think we have a long road ahead of us still, Gretzner said. Kliewer added: Its not like we have a lottery ticket and we can go cash it in. It means a lot more work, and well have to put more money into the operation before it can pay out. Correction: This article has been updated to correct the classification of the minerals strontium and zirconium. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Photo: The Canadian Press People arrive at a train track blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont., on Tuesday. The RCMP has formally ended its enforcement operations in a region of northern B.C. that's at the centre of a pipeline dispute as protests across the country continue to cause disruptions, most notably to Canada's rail network. The economic impact of the demonstrations began to crystallize Tuesday as Canadian National Railway Co. warned it will have to close "significant" parts of its network unless blockades on its rail lines are removed. More than 150 freight trains have been idled since the blockades were set up last Thursday in British Columbia and Ontario. Passenger rail services have also been affected in Ontario, Quebec and B.C., with Via Rail cancelling service on its Montreal-Toronto and Ottawa-Toronto routes until the end of the day on Thursday because of a blockade near Belleville, Ont. Chief executive JJ Ruest said the CN network gives the company limited parking space for its trains, which means traffic is backed up from Halifax to Windsor, Ont., and in parts of B.C. approaching Prince Rupert. In Victoria on Tuesday, demonstrators also disrupted the business of the B.C. legislature as Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin delivered the NDP government's throne speech. Protesters, who have been camping outside the building since Friday, chanted "Shame" as politicians tried to enter the building with help from security. The RCMP began enforcing a court injunction last week near Houston against Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and their supporters who have been blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, a key part of the $40-billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export project. The Mounties concluded enforcement of the injunction on Monday after arresting 28 people. Of those, six were released without charges or conditions and 14 appeared before a judge and were released with a condition to obey the injunction. The RCMP said Tuesday that a temporary exclusion zone in the area was removed and everyone was free to enter the area. The police force is maintaining an office on a forest service road at the centre of the dispute to continue patrols. "The right to peaceful, safe and lawful protest, and freedom of expression, are important parts of Canada's democracy," the Mounties said in a statement. "However, blocking roadways is both dangerous and illegal." Via Rail said 157 passenger trains have been cancelled, affecting 24,500 travellers on routes between Montreal and Toronto, and Ottawa and Toronto. In addition to the service cancellations in Ontario, Via says a blockade near New Hazelton, B.C., also means normal rail service is being interrupted between Prince Rupert and Prince George. (Newser) It's illegal to hunt mountain lions in California, but if one harms pets or livestock despite the property owner taking nonlethal steps to stop it, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife can issue a depredation permit allowing the landowner to kill the animal under the state's "three-strike" law. For the first time, that law has been used to kill one of the mountain lions wearing a collar as part of the state's 18-year study tracking the creatures. The mountain lionalso known as a cougar or pumacalled P-56, a male between 4 and 5 years old, was suspected of multiple attacks on animals at a Camarillo property, CBS News reports. The landowner said 12 animals were killed during nine incidents over a two-year period, and that the landowner had taken multiple preventive measures. story continues below Those measures included bringing in livestock and penning animals close to buildings if they couldn't be brought in; using hot wire fencing, motion-activated lights, and radio hazing; and utilizing guard dogs. When none of that worked, he was issued a permit, and officials say P-56 was killed at the end of January. "The loss of a breeding male is a concern for the study, especially when the population is already very small," the lead field biologist for the tracking project says in a statement. "Currently, there is only one adult male in the Santa Monica Mountains that we are tracking and that is P-63," though he acknowledges "there are always animals out there that are not being tracked." Many commenters on the Facebook post announcing the killing expressed heartbreak or even disgust, but some acknowledged the complicated situation: "people would be horrified if this adult male started stalking people." (Read more mountain lion stories.) While Nigerias late dictator, Sani Abacha, relentlessly plundered public wealth, other senior military officers, one of them now a serving minister, were also, helping themselves with huge sums of money from the countrys treasury, an official report has shown. According to the report, the generals used the international banking system to launder their loots in a manner that has all the resemblance of an organised crime syndicate. The funds were proceeds of illegal oil lifting approved by Mr Abacha, a notorious kleptocrat listed alongside Indonesias Suharto and Mobutu Seko of Zaire (now DR Congo) among the worst state official thieves in the world by Transparency International. It is estimated that Mr Abacha stole between three billion and five billion dollars, most from Nigerias oil wealth. Siphoning off proceeds of natural resources is a common feature of kleptocrats. In Nigerias case under Mr Abacha, the junta chalked out a pattern of arbitrarily allowing officials to lift crude oil and retire the proceeds abroad using secret accounts. An Obasanjo era report from the office of the then National Security Adviser, Abdullahi Mukhtar, documented how Bashir Magashi, a retired major general and now defence minister; late Patrick Aziza, retired major general, and Oladipupo Diya, retired lieutenant general, admitted to having benefitted from criminal proceeds as members of the Provisional Ruling Council led by Mr Abacha. Taking the lid off For the Obasanjo administration in 1999, a key objective as Nigeria embarked on reforms, including setting up agencies, to fight corruption was to track and recover the countrys stolen money stashed abroad by the Abacha junta. To that end, Mr Obasanjo hired Swiss lawyer, Enrico Monfrini, who, as our investigations show, helped uncover secret (nominee) accounts for Mr Magashi, Mr Diya who was next to Mr Abacha before being locked up for alleged coup plot and Mr Aziza at the British dependency of Jessey branch of Bank PNP Paribus. Sources with direct knowledge of the matter said Mr Obasanjo directed his NSA, Mr Mukhtar, to go after the three retired generals and compel them to surrender the stolen funds. Maj Gen Aziza has a nominee account (NAP Nominee Account) with bank BNP Paribas, Jersey branch, UK, which received a total deposit of USD .$.2,235,985.,00. DM 3,150,00 and EURO 1,960,000.00, Mr Mukhtar stated in the report (NSA/A/225/1/C of October 26, 2006) to Mr Obasanjo. The source of the money was largely from proceeds of oil lifting he benefited as a member of the PRC under Late Gen Abacha. Mr Mukhtar further said that the Jersey authorities acting in collaboration with Nigeria placed a ban on the account in 2001, and that as at December, 2005 the balance in the account stood at USD $118,996.04, and EURO 518,536.15. Obasanjos magnanimity Mr Mukhtars report stated that Mr Obasanjo endorsed the pleas of the indicted officials to keep some parts of their loots. The president out of magnanimity directed that the Gen Aziza forfeits only the balance to FGN, reported Mr Mukhtar, adding that he communicated this to Mr Aziza, and he pleaded that some of the money be left for him contrary to Mr Presidents directive. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo. In the case of Mr Diya, a UK trustee company, Coutts (Guemsey) Ltd, invested about 600,000 British pounds, being proceeds of illegal oil lifting, on his behalf with BNP Paribas, Jersey. READ ALSO: The Jersey authorities later froze the account as laundered money suspected to be proceeds of corruption but Coutts smartly moved the money away from Jersey and by the time Mr Obasanjo instructed that the money be confiscated, it had gone out of jurisdiction of Jersey Authorities. Mr Diya had reportedly earlier lied to the NSA that the money was from his family business. But after his claim was rejected, he explained that 50% of it has been spent and the balance of 50% was invested in Tokyo Japan. Just as he did to Mr Aziza, Mr Obasanjo also magnanimously agreed that Mr Diya should return the 50 per cent which amounted to 300,000 British pounds but Mr Mukhtar reported that Gen Diya however pleaded that the investment in Tokyo was not with his consent and the matter was before the police in UK, and he thus needed time to recover the money. He has not paid to Government the 300,000.00 since-then (January 2006). Arrest and recover After Mr Obasanjo magnanimously directed that only the balance of Mr Azizas laundered money be forfeited, he contemptuously refused to honour invitations to complete the forfeiture process, the former NSA reported to Mr Obasanjo. In response, the former president remarked to the former NSA: Gen. Aziza should be arrested by the EFCC and the money be recovered. Mr Aziza was among the officers that cooperated with Mr Abacha to effect the November 1993 palace coup that ended the Interim National Government of Ernest Shonekan. As a top Abacha man, he chaired the tribunal that convicted Mr Obasanjo and late Shehu YarAdua, among others, for involvement in a 1995 coup plot, widely believed to be phantom. Late Patrick Aziza, retired major general Like Mr Obasanjo and Mr YarAdua, Mr Diya was also convicted for coup plot, also believed to be phantom. Apart from Mr YarAdua who died in prison in December 1997, others only regained freedom after the passing of Mr Abacha in June 1998. Barely different from the order on Mr Aziza, Mr Obasanjo also directed that without fail before December 31, 2006, Mr Diyas loot should also be recovered. Advertisements Unlike Mr Diya and Mr Aziza, the current defence minister, Mr Magashi, who also benefitted from Nigerias oil wealth, complied with the term of his negotiation with the government. Out of a sum of his $550,000, being proceeds of illegal oil lifting, he returned $400,000 as he did not want to be publicly humiliated and was allowed to keep the $150,000 balance, the report indicated. President Muhammadu Buhari [Photo: Presidency] But despite the indictment, many years after, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose anti-corruption vows many now see as a ruse, appointed Mr Magashi to head the countrys big-budget defence ministry. Mr Buhari is yet to act since PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Magashis abuse of office. Like Mr Magashi, an Abacha bagman, Atiku Bagudu, who helped the late dictator launder huge sums across international borders, is also a top political leader in Nigeria, now serving a second term as Governor of Kebbi State. With the illicit cash flow, the local populations in the Niger Delta, where the oil was lifted, have remained impoverished as the water and land they depend on for livelihoods became degraded due to oil industry activity. Nothing after all The report indicting Messrs Aziza, Magashi and Diya was dispatched at the end of October 2006, just months before Mr Obasanjos tenure ended in 2007. PREMIUM TIMES obtained another memo, dated November 1, 2006, from Mr Obasanjos office directing the former NSA to act on the presidential directives. But thats where it all ended, an aide to Mr Obasanjo, who also then worked in the State House, said. It was towards the end of the administration and there was nothing done. The moves to recover the stolen funds linked to the Abacha junta started just after Mr Obasanjo got to the office in 1999. In April 2002, the Abacha family returned $1 billion to Nigeria in a deal which involved the Swiss Federal Office of Justice. The deal allowed the family to keep $100 million and required the government to drop some criminal charges against Mohammed, Mr Abachas son, New York Times then reported. In 2006, another $723 million Abacha loot was returned to Nigeria from Switzerland but the use of the recovery was largely unaccounted, Transparency International said. Bashir Magashi That past experience led Switzerland to controversially attach conditions to the repatriation of this batch of Abacha loot (US$322 million in 2018), including third party oversight meaning that the World Bank will now monitor the distribution of the funds, reported Transparency International. Nigeria has also recovered other tranches of Abacha loot, including the latest, US$308 million, laundered by Kebbi governor, Mr Bagudu, from Jersey. But the dictators men such as Mr Magashi and Mr Diya have remained free to use the proceeds of the illegal oil business. Mr Aziza died in August 2014 without returning the illicit fund he had held. Mr Magashi has refused to respond to repeated enquiries by PREMIUM TIMES. He has not replied calls and text messages sent to him on the matter. Mr Diyas known telephone number did not go through at the time of this report. Indeed, the level of singing and acting stayed consistently high, with bass-baritone Samuel Youn imposing as Mimes comparably corrupt brother Alberich; and mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller magisterial in her Lyric debut as the entombed goddess Erda, her dramatic rise from her slumber another achievement for this production. As she ascended, the aforementioned actors made her enormous gown billow and quiver while she addressed the Wanderer (Wotan). The Forest Bird that led Siegfried through the thicket was equally magical, an actor holding the glowing puppet aloft, the beauty of its appearance and the flow of its motion very nearly making you forget that it wasnt airborne on its own. Soprano Diana Newman became the personification of the winged creature, her radiant upper register and anthropomorphic movement as poetic to see as to hear. (CNN) The Hubei health authority in China reported that 94 more people died of the coronavirus in Hubei province today, raising the death toll in the epicenter since the beginning of the outbreak to 1,068. This brings the total number of deaths in mainland China to at least 1,105. The global death toll is at least 1,107, with one death in Hong Kong and one death in the Philippines. Hubei authorities confirmed an additional 1,638 cases of the virus in Hubei today, which brings the total number of cases in the epicenter of the outbreak to 33,366. The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases is now at least 44,138, with the vast majority of cases in mainland China. Chinas National Health Commission is expected to release numbers for all of Chinas provinces later. Another 40 holidaymakers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including a 21-year-old Melbourne woman and a quarantine worker. The woman is the 12th known Australian to be diagnosed with the deadly virus aboard the cruise ship, which is docked off Yokohama in Japan, although authorities are yet to confirm her case. Passengers who tested positive for coronavirus were taken from the Diamond Princess to hospital on February 5. Credit:Hiroko Harima/Kyodo News via AP On Wednesday afternoon, the Japanese government confirmed that a quarantine officer working on board the ship had tested positive for the virus. The quarantine officer has been taken off the vessel and is being treated in hospital. Other people on board who had a high level of contact with the worker, most likely other quarantine workers, have been instructed "not to go out" by Japan's Ministry of Health. A company that sells vaginal detox pearls that promise to promote fertility and detox your ex is facing a class action lawsuit for false, misleading and deceptive marketing. According to Goddess Detox, the company that sells the goddess vaginal detox pearls, the product, described as "all-natural herbal vaginal suppositories," are meant to "promote overall womb and vaginal health". In addition to the claims of improved overall vaginal health, the company also claims that the pearls have helped more than "10,000 women with painful menstrual cramping, detoxing an ex-lover, smelly odour, dryness," getting "back their menstrual cycle after getting off birth control" and "overall vaginal reconnection". However, according to a court filing made in Broward County, Florida, on Friday, the companys claims on its website are "false, deceptive and misleading because the product is not safe and because the product cannot provide the claimed benefits". According to the class action suit, the false claims include the products ability to treat infertility, despite not being FDA-approved, and of being safe, as the pearls contain "at least one ingredient that has been recognised as toxic". The lawsuit also alleges that the product is marketed and advertised as providing solutions to problems that do not exist. Goddess Detox, which was founded by self-help writer Vanessa White, who goes by Olanikee Osi, previously came under fire in November from Dr Jen Gunter, gynaecologist and author of The Vagina Bible. According to Dr Gunter, who discussed the pearls in an interview with the CBC, the product, which she described as smelling like mothballs, is harmful because the vagina does not need to be detoxed - as it is self-cleaning. "I think there's a lot of this sort of false idea about what the normal vagina should be like," said Dr Gunter. "You don't need to detox anything at all. There's nothing in your reproductive tract that needs to be detoxed. Your whole body, you've got liver and kidneys - they take care of that." The gynaecologist continued: "We know that just douching with water changes your ecosystem enough that it would increase your risk of getting HIV if youre exposed. Thats just with water." Dr Gunter refuted the companys claims that the vagina is "affected by the stress of the world," as well, explaining: "You don't get ill in the way that they're describing from your vagina." According to Dr Gunter, the most harmful claim made by the product is that it can detox ex-partners - which she called very predatory. "I think that's very predatory," she said. "The idea that there is any kind of remnant in your vagina from sexual trauma is simply not true." On the Goddess Detox website, a disclaimer reads: We can not and do not make guarantees on curing any disease or ailment. The lawsuit against the company comes after the $33 detox pearls, which are instructed to be inserted into the vaginal canal for up to 48 hours, were banned in Canada last year. The Independent has contacted Goddess Detox for comment. Delhi Congress Subhash Chopra With the Congress failing to open its account in the Delhi Assembly elections this time as well, the party's Delhi unit Chief Subhash Chopra resigned as expected even as knives were out for the resignation of the party's Delhi affairs in-charge PC Chacko, who has been blamed for the dismal electoral show. Though Chopra did not get sufficient time to gear up the Congress for the electoral battle, it's a tradition with the party that the state unit owns up the defeat. The party may now focus on GenNext leaders since no election is round the corner. The party, which bagged 22 per cent of the polled votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, has got less than 5 per cent this time. The Delhi Congress has good leaders who can take the party forward but then the veterans have to come to terms with the younger generation that is more politically aggressive, a party leader said. Leaders like Rajesh Lilothia, Abhishek Dutt and Alka Lamba have displayed a fighting spirit that can turn around the political fortunes of the grand old party, though the next real test for the Congress will come only in municipal corporation elections in Delhi. The Congress has been a divided house in Delhi ever since 2010 when a section of the party tried to dislodge Sheila Dikshit. The bitterness between the two factions still persists as leaders from her camp blame the other for the rout of the party in these elections. So you want to import a rare monstera from Thailand but arent sure that it will make it through customs? The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the countrys national plant protection organization, and it regulates how plants enter and leave the country. The Star spoke with Patricia McAllister, a national manager with the CFIA to see what people need to do to ensure their plants make it to Canada safely. Answers have been condensed and paraphrased unless directly quoted. Can I buy a rare plant from overseas and have it shipped to Canada? First, check to see if your plant is on the CFIAs Horticulture Plant List. This is a list of plants considered low-risk that may be imported as long as you meet basic requirements. Some of the internets hottest plants monsteras, philodendrons and anthuriums are allowed. What are the basic requirements? You need to get an import permit from the CFIA through its online portal and the plants seller needs to make sure there is a phytosanitary certificate from the country of export. The plant needs to be free from soil, plant parts and other debris. All plant movement is essentially regulated under the International Plant Protection Convention, McAllister says. Essentially the goal is if you have a pest, keep it, if you dont have a pest, dont let anyone send it to you. It really is about preventing the movement of pests between countries with plant material. What is a phytosanitary certificate? It is a plant passport. It shows who grew the plant, where it is travelling to, where it originated from, and it confirms that the plant meets Canadas requirements. Only a National Plant Protection Organization can issue a phytosanitary certificate. (In Canada, the CFIA issues these certificates for people who are exporting plants to other countries. If youre planning to export a plant, contact your local CFIA office for next steps.) What happens if my plant doesnt have this paperwork? Your plant could be destroyed or returned to its country of origin. If youre buying from an international seller, its wise to confirm they are sending a phytosanitary certificate from their country with your plant. An import permit from the CFIA must be issued before your plant leaves its country of origin. You dont want to pay for (your plant) and have it taken away when were doing inspections on points of entry, says McAllister. What about endangered plants? Endangered plants are managed through Environment Canada. Certain plants have CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) restrictions and need to have CITES documentation in addition to the other paperwork. Monstera is not on the CITES list, although certain types of orchids are. What about bringing plants into Canada from the continental United States? A: If youre driving into Canada from the U.S. with your plants, the Canadian government has a personal exemption that allows you to bring up to 50 houseplants without paperwork as long as they are for personal use. The list of eligible plants is on the CFIA website.Generally, tropical and semi-tropical plants that cant survive outside in Canada, and have thus been deemed low-risk, are exempt. For smoother sailing at the border, McCallister says, it might help to print off the information about the exemption and your plant, in case a border agent needs more details. The exemption doesnt apply to houseplants that originate outside of the U.S., and it doesnt apply if youre ordering plants from the U.S. by mail. (In that case a permit to import is not required, but a phytosanitary certificate is.) The Americans discontinued their side of this exemption several years ago, so you cant drive 50 houseplants into the U.S. What if I buy a plant from a seller based in Canada? No paperwork is required. Schlapp knows as well as anyone that Romney is an honorable man who is surely believable when he says his Senate vote was a matter of principle and not, as some have suggested, revenge. (After publicly courting Romney for secretary of state, Trump chose someone else, seemingly to humiliate his at-the-time former critic.) Even if Romney might derive a tiny bit of satisfaction from the fact that his faith-driven principles didnt allow him to acquit Trump, what does he really get out of being an outlier other than the respect of liberals who would admire Hannibal Lecter if he feasted on Republicans? SAN DIEGO, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seismic, the market leader for sales and marketing enablement platforms, today announced Aragon Research, Inc. has named Seismic a "Leader" in the Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020. This is the fourth consecutive year Seismic has been named a "Leader." The report notes Seismic's strengths in content management, discoverability, analytics, and automation, along with the company's customer success initiatives and current installed base1. The Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020 also references Seismic's November 2019 acquisition of Percolate , a leading campaign orchestration and content management platform. Aragon Research refers to how the acquisition expands Seismic's overall content capabilities, empowering marketers and sellers to deliver compelling and personalized content throughout buyers' journeys. "It's deeply gratifying to be recognized as a 'Leader' in the Aragon Research Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms for the fourth time," said Doug Winter, CEO and Co-founder, Seismic. "We continue to work very closely with our customers to drive innovation across our platform - especially in the areas of content orchestration across the buyer journey, personalized content and compelling interactions, and data-driven insights. We feel fortunate to count many of the world's best brands as Seismic customers." Seismic was named one of the Leaders among the 17 sales enablement platforms that Aragon Research examined for The Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020 report. Analysts analyzed three main parameters, including strategy, which reflects the degree to which a vendor has the market understanding and strategic intent that are at the forefront of market direction; performance, which represents a vendor's effectiveness in executing its defined strategy; and reach, which is a measure of the global capability that a vendor can deliver. "Seismic has had longstanding success in the sales enablement market," said Jim Lundy, Founder, CEO and Lead Analyst at Aragon Research. "The company has shown a consistent commitment to innovation, especially around content automation, which has become a sales enablement must-have for its ability to save sellers and marketers time and be more strategic in their content delivery efforts." Seismic has been identified by Aragon Research multiple times for its category leadership and innovation. Prior to the Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020, Seismic won the Aragon Research 2019 Innovation Award for Sales Enablement, noted for standing out in the sales enablement industry on powerful content management, personalization, and intelligence. Resources: Read the full report , The Aragon Research Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020: The Race to Win the Customer. , The Aragon Research Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020: The Race to Win the Customer. Read more about Seismic's win in the 2019 Aragon Research Innovation Award for Sales Enablement. 1 Aragon Research "The Aragon Research Globe for Sales Enablement Platforms, 2020" by Jim Lundy, February 2020. About Seismic Seismic is the recognized leader in sales and marketing enablement, equipping global sales teams with the knowledge, messaging, and automatically personalized content proven to be the most effective for any buyer interaction. Powerful content intelligence and analytics enable marketers to prove and improve their impact on the bottom line, revealing what is really driving revenue and what needs to be adjusted. The result for global enterprises like IBM, American Express, PayPal, and Quest Diagnostics is better win rates, larger deals, and higher customer retention. Seismic is headquartered in San Diego with additional offices in North America, Europe, and Australia. To see how Seismic is being used by companies in your industry, visit seismic.com. About Aragon Research Aragon Research is an independent research and advisory firm that provides business and IT executives with the actionable insights they need to navigate technology's ever-evolving impact on business. Headquartered in Morgan Hill, CA, Aragon Research works with executives at every major level of the business and across industries to give them the tools they need to make more informed technology and strategy decisions. Aragon delivers high-impact advisory, research, and consulting services, and has a proven team of veteran analysts. For more information, visit www.aragonresearch.com. Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind. 2019 Aragon Research, Inc. and/or its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved. Media Contact Stephanie Jackman Public Relations Manager, Seismic [email protected] SOURCE Seismic Related Links http://www.seismic.com Donald Trump commands a remarkable level of support from virtually every elected official in his party and almost all voters likely to vote for his party. In this respect, he stands alone among presidents in modern history. The question arises: Why shouldnt he try to hold that base, drive his approval rating high above 50 percent and win a big national victory in November 2020? The answer is that in this century the Electoral College system strongly encourages candidates of both parties, and particularly any Republican candidate, to ignore the national popular vote. Thats especially true for President Trump: The system rewards him for focusing on a handful of states, located mostly in the Great Lakes region, with policies, promises and programs that may not resonate or even be consistent with the interests of all Americans. To uncover statistical proof of this incentive, our nonprofit Making Every Vote Count built a model of the upcoming election based on the history of voting in previous elections in the modern era. Our conclusion is that even if the general population prefers the Democratic nominee by much more than was the case in 2016, Mr. Trump has almost a one-third chance of winning the Electoral College while ignoring the national vote but only about a one-fifth chance of winning the national popular vote as a route to winning the Electoral College. With those odds, any rational strategist would tell Mr. Trump to campaign for victory in the swing states that hold the electors necessary to get to the magic 270 number, even if the message, the visits and the focus might turn off voters in the rest of the country. This sort of campaign and this type of presidency might not be best for the economy or society as a whole. But it is the way to win. " " The long, beaked mask of the plague doctor was typically filled with sweet or strong-smelling herbs, such as wormwood, the main ingredient in absinthe, which were believed to filter out miasma, or bad air. Roman Loft/Shutterstock Some of the creepiest things out there are the ones that are supposed to be funny, and some of the funniest things are the ones we're supposed to take seriously. For instance, clowns are supposed to be hilarious, and yet, according to one 2016 Vox survey, more Americans report being more afraid of clowns than climate change. Similarly, during the outbreak of the bubonic plague in Italy in the 1650s, the doctors taking care of the sick rich and poor alike were purportedly mocked for their strange and somewhat frightening uniforms. Although the plague that bedeviled southern Europe during this time wasn't nearly as destructive as the Black Death of the 14th century, it is estimated to have killed over a million people in Italy and surrounding areas over the course of the decade, but mostly between 1656 and 1658. No one was safe, and since the germ theory of disease wouldn't reinvent medicine for another 200 years, the Italians figured desperate times called for desperate measures, and so they sent their physicians out in the most bonkers costume imaginable. Advertisement The Plague Doctor Costume For starters, these doctors wore masks but not just any mask. It was the face of a white bird, wearing goggles and a top hat. They wore long, dark robes, heavy gloves, and carried batons they used to point to things maybe because it was hard to hear them through their masks? Paul Furst, a German visitor to Italy during this time, wrote about this outlandish Italian custom of physicians dressing like creepy bird people: "You believe it is a fable, what is written about Doctor Beak ... Oh, believe and don't look away, for the Plague rules Rome," he remarked. And though the 15th century Germans, like the rest of us, thought the outfit seemed a little much, there was a reason for it, even if the reasons don't have any scientific backing by today's standards. " " Frank To, a Glasgow-based artist, dresses in a medieval Plague Doctor costume while promoting his exhibition, "The Human Condition," in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images "All the parts of the plague doctor's outfit, and especially the shape of the mask, were believed to provide protection for the doctor," says Winston Black, an independent historian of medicine and religion in the Middle Ages and author of "The Middle Ages: Facts and Fictions," in an email interview. "However, the protection wasn't from germs or bacteria on the patient, which would not be understood until the modern era. Instead, doctors believed that some disease, like plague, was generated by poisoned air called miasma." Advertisement Miasma Theory of Disease Miasma also called "bad air" or "night air" was thought to emanate from rotting organic matter and infect people through their respiratory system or skin. Of course, contaminated water, poor hygiene and the lack of sanitation in settlements were the real culprits behind most of the epidemics that took place up until the 19th century, but how were they to know? Instead of remedying those problems, they spent their time tricking out their plague doctor costumes. "According to one set of instructions for plague doctors, the cloak and hat should cover the entire body and be made of oiled Moroccan leather, to prevent miasma entering the pores," says Black. "The most important element was the long, beaked mask. It was to be filled with sweet or strong-smelling herbs which were believed to block or 'filter' out the miasma. One of the most popular herbs was wormwood, the main ingredient of absinthe, which has a very sharp odor. The mask could also simply hold a vinegar-soaked sponge, since the strong smell of vinegar was also thought to block miasma." Advertisement The Life of a Plague Doctor Aside from the fact that they were made fun of by the Germans, not much is known about the plague doctors of the 17th century. Our best understanding is that they were municipal doctors, working in large cities for the urban government or the monarchy. They probably were most common in southern European cities like Rome, Milan, and some might even have been active in the south of France. "Because they were public servants, they probably did not have 'clients,' per se," says Black. "Instead they went around the city during a plague outbreak, making decisions about which houses to lock up or condemn, which neighborhoods to quarantine, and so on." Advertisement Did Plague Doctors Actually Wear This Costume? Although there were certainly doctors attending to victims of the plague during the outbreak in the 17th century in southern Europe, evidence that anyone actually wore these outfits in a real plague outbreak is thin on the ground. Most of what we have are satirical writings and images like modern political cartoons. " " A 1656 colorized version of Gerhart Altzenbach's copper engraving of Doctor Schnabel, i.e Dr. Beak, a plague doctor in 17th century Rome. Wikimedia Commons "It's telling that the most popular image, Gerhart Altzenbach's engraving of 1656, is called 'Doctor Beak from Rome,' which suggests few people took them seriously, and most considered them Italian," says Black. Our best evidence that the elaborate costume even existed comes from a description of the French royal physician Charles de Lorme. De Lorme is sometimes given credit for inventing the getup, but according to Black, that's probably unlikely: "There are already descriptions from the later 16th century of doctors wearing protective masks. Perhaps de Lorme should be credited with creating an outfit that was supposed to protect the entire body of the doctor. Despite this French claim to the creation of the outfit, most other Europeans agreed it was Italian in origin." But even if the outfit wasn't as widespread as we now imagine, the development of the plague doctor and his creepy, silly costume still suggests important changes were afoot in medicine and public health during this time: "Doctors were developing stronger ideas about how contagious diseases like plague could be, and more doctors were working in public capacities, hired to care for the health of entire cities or neighborhoods, and not just for individual, wealthy patients," says Black. Now That's Interesting The word "malaria" comes directly from the miasma theory of disease. It means "bad air" in Italian. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sat beside former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday and said he is ready to resume negotiations under an international umbrella on the peace deal they made significant progress on in 2008 not on the Trump administration's plan that he said destroys a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Olmert said he thinks Abbas made a mistake in not accepting his 2008 peace plan. But he said now there is a plan put forward by President Donald Trump based on a two-state solution, and if that is a U.S. commitment, it must be pursued further by all sides, including the Palestinian side. The rare joint appearance of the Palestinian Authority president and a former Israeli leader before international media appeared aimed at demonstrating to Israelis in particular, and the wider international community, that the Palestinians once had an Israeli partner they negotiated with seriously and that they could do so again under the right circumstance. Abbas welcomed Olmert as a dear friend and a man of peace, a man who believes in achieving peace, a man who continues to try to achieve peace. Olmert offered Abbas a peace plan in 2008 that included a near total Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, international control over Jerusalem's holy sites, and negotiations on the issue of Palestinian refugees under the Arab Peace Initiative. He said they were very, very close to agreement. But Olmert was forced to resign in July 2008 ahead of a corruption indictment that later sent him to prison for 16 months. Despite this, Olmert said he has remained in contact continually with Abbas over the last 11 to 12 years. And though they disagree on how to handle the U.S. plan, he said Abbas is a man of peace. The press event followed an open meeting of the U.N. Security Council at which the Palestinian leader vehemently rejected the Trump plan and called for an international conference to pursue the two-state solution based on borders before the 1967 Mideast war demanded in numerous U.N. resolutions. Abbas called the U.S. proposal an Israeli-American pre-emptive plan in order to put an end to the question of Palestine" and said the disjointed Palestinian state envisioned in the U.S. plan is like a Swiss cheese. He said the plan violates numerous U.N. resolutions and annuls Palestinian rights to self-determination, freedom and independence in our own state, and thus should not be considered a basis for negotiations. 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. The Trump plan would turn over key parts of the West Bank to Israel, siding with Israel on key contentious issues such as borders and the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements. At the council meeting, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said if Abbas really wants peace, he should be in Jerusalem talking to President Benjamin Netanyahu not at the United Nations. Only when he steps down can Israel and the Palestinians move forward," Danon said of Abbas. A leader who chooses rejectionism, incitement and glorification of terror can never be a real partner for peace." Abbas minutes earlier told the council: We are fighting terrorism. We are not terrorists." Later, he told reporters: Irrespective of the nature of relationships with our Israeli neighbors, we will not resort to violence. ... We want to achieve peace through peaceful negotiations. Olmert said he didn't come to the U.S. to criticize Trump, the U.S. plan or Netanyahu. But he strongly disagreed with Danon about Abbas, saying the U.S. plan aims to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians and the Palestinian leader is the only partner we can deal with. He expressed hope that Abbas and other Palestinian officials will not ignore the U.S. commitment for a two-state solution and will work to establish the necessary framework for negotiations that will promote it. These negotiations will take place, Olmert said. It will take some more time, but these negotiations will take place, and the partner of Israel to these negotiations will be Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority." Who will be the partner on the Israeli side, we will know later this year," he said, alluding to March elections scheduled in Israel, though two elections last year failed to produce a government. It had been expected that the 15-member Security Council would vote Tuesday on a resolution co-sponsored by Tunisia and Indonesia and backed by the Palestinians opposing the U.S. plan. But the Palestinians said consultations on the text were continuing. Diplomats said it was unclear whether the resolution would receive the minimum nine yes votes for approval. Olmert said everything he has done and is doing now is "for the state of Israel." He said he told Abbas: I didn't come to support him or the campaign of the Palestinian Authority or to speak for them. He added that he thinks the majority of Israelis are not on the right politically and do not oppose negotiations with the Palestinians or seek of territory in the West Bank. U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft said the U.S. aim is to get the Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table to discuss the Trump plan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CNN Opinion contributors weigh in with political analysis on the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary results. The views expressed in this commentary are their own. View more opinion articles on CNN. SE Cupp: A bad omen for the Warren campaign Having grown up north of Boston, just a few miles from the New Hampshire border, I can tell you New Hampshire voters and Massachusetts voters are dissimilar in some striking ways. But that notwithstanding, someone like Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Senator, should have done much, much better in tonight's New Hampshire primary. With more than 85% of the vote in, she is in a distant fourth behind Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. That should sound some loud alarms for her campaign, which is already reeling from a third place finish in Iowa, some embarrassing staff defections in Nevada and looming money woes. Warren was hoping New Hampshire would give her a much-needed jolt. My assessment? Warren has failed to capture a lane. Sanders came out swinging as a Democratic Socialist, out-lefting nearly everyone in the field. Klobuchar has emerged the more promising moderate than a flailing former Vice President Joe Biden. Buttigieg is the exciting newcomer, leaving Warren where, exactly? No man's land. Back in 2018, the Boston Globe editorial page told Warren not to run, that she'd missed her moment in 2016. The reason they offered was she was too divisive to take on Trump. But maybe it was that she was too inconsistent, vacillating on issues and losing steam this week. She even admitted herself that in the last debate before this primary, she 'just didn't say enough, didn't fight hard enough.' There are a number of contests where Warren could still be competitive, if she can last that long, but finishing fourth in a New England state full of white, older, female suburban voters is likely a very bad omen for her campaign. SE Cupp is a CNN political commentator and the host of 'SE Cupp Unfiltered.' Ian Sams: Sanders' victory underscores a new reality Don't get it twisted: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is the Democratic frontrunner. His New Hampshire victory, within a week of winning Iowa's popular vote, underscores a reality in this crowded primary: you don't need anywhere near a majority of the electorate to win. You just need a loyal base. Gone is the famous 'Obama coalition.' The 'Bernie Bloc' is in. Sanders' base of millennials and Gen Z, very liberal voters, men, non-black minorities and working class whites may be unconventional, but it sure looks big enough to keep delivering him narrow wins. It's taken everything former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar had to come close to Sanders in Iowa and New Hampshire, and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden are still competing with them for the driver's seat in the same lane. They're all scrambling to build a broader base for later states. Women, college educated suburbanites, rural moderates and black voters are split. The winner: Sanders. I will say: credit to Buttigieg, who showed that he is here to stay with a narrow second place New Hampshire finish. His near victory proved that his Iowa win in the delegate count wasn't a fluke, and voters in the states to come will give him another look. It's a remarkable rise for the largely unknown former small city mayor, but now his challenge is proving that he can grow his base beyond older voters in mostly white states. With the volatility to come, Sanders ought to be licking his chops. As others compete with each other for an expanded coalition within largely the same lane, in both homogeneous and diverse states the 'Bernie Bloc' may be enough to win. Ian Sams is a Democratic strategist with experience on seven state and federal campaigns. He was most recently national press secretary on Sen. Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. Errol Louis: What matters most is who lost As Democrats seek a candidate to run against President Trump, the party entered New Hampshire urgently needing to trim the size of the 10-candidate field. Some candidates are bumping into hard financial and logistical facts that will spell the end of their candidacies. Andrew Yang, a newcomer to politics, suspended his campaign shortly after the polls closed. His campaign had spent more than $3 million on television ads in New Hampshire and he campaigned in the state for 62 days -- far more than any other candidate except Tulsi Gabbard (who rented a home near Manchester and more or less moved into the state). Senator Michael Bennet dropped out as well. Former Vice President Joe Biden hasn't dropped out, but his likely 5th-place finish was a humiliating blow, coming after his self-described 'gut punch' of finishing 4th in the chaotic Iowa caucuses. Biden may finish with less than 10% of the vote in New Hampshire and likely won't win a single delegate. Any lingering sense of Biden's inevitability or electability died in the Granite State. In advance of the results, he hastily departed to South Carolina, which he has described as a 'firewall' of black supporters that will restore his electoral fortunes. 'The fight to end Donald Trump's presidency is just beginning,' Biden told supporters. 'It ain't over man. We're just getting started.' Sen. Elizabeth Warren was also a big loser, finishing no higher than fourth in a state adjacent to her home of Massachusetts. Her single-digit finish likely means that she, too, leaves New Hampshire empty-handed with zero delegates. In a speech to supporters, Warren warned her fellow Democrats to tone down the level of attacks between them. 'We cannot afford to fall into factions,' she said. 'We win when we come together.' Warren's back-to-back losses in Iowa and New Hampshire raise serious questions about how long she will stay in the race. Billionaire Tom Steyer spent more than $17 million on television advertising in New Hampshire, and with over 60% of precincts reporting holds less than 4% of the vote and zero delegates. If his luck doesn't change soon, it's possible that the wealthy businessman will call it quits. Errol Louis is the host of 'Inside City Hall,' a nightly political show on NY1, a New York all-news channel. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Jen Psaki: The real test is coming up After Tuesday night, a few things are clear: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is the Democratic frontrunner, and he is effectively tapping into a desire for change. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg's win in Iowa was not a fluke, and his support is broad and sustained. And Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's strong debate performance and weekend surge put her in the top tier. But after the Sanders, Buttigieg and Klobuchar supporters celebrate tonight, the real question will be what this means for the nomination fight moving forward. For Sanders, he is running on the promise of bringing new people into the process and expanding his group of supporters. The turnout numbers in Iowa do not help him tell that story. His campaign also continues to run the race as an outsider, but he is now the frontrunner and if he wants to win the nomination, he will need to build on his support beyond his committed and loyal base. For Butigieg, he is running on a message of bringing people together -- effectively drawing from the support of not just former Vice President Joe Biden, but also Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Still, there are major questions about his ability to draw support from people of color. He has growing operations in Nevada and South Carolina and he has invested in both paid advertising and staff resources, but if he wants to go the distance, he will need strong performances in both of those states. For Klobuchar, her rise over the final days leading up to the New Hampshire primary positions her as a real contender. But she is also playing catch up. The Nevada and South Carolina caucus and primary come quickly. Sanders, Buttegieg and even Warren and Biden have had operations in the next two states for months. As a top tier candidate, she will also be under much greater scrutiny -- including for her record as a prosecutor in Minnesota. No candidate is perfect in any race ever. But the test is how they capitalize on success during the primary process while also managing their individual weaknesses. Jen Psaki, a CNN political commentator, was the White House communications director and State Department spokeswoman during the Obama administration. She is vice president of communications and strategy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Follow her at @jrpsaki. Scott Jennings: Yang dropped out, perhaps Warren should Given that I'm a Republican, you'd think I would be happy when any of the Democrats running for president fails. But that's not true. I never met Andrew Yang, but it appeared to me that he was the only person running for president in their primary who was actually having fun. He had an optimistic message built on fixing things and modernizing various pieces of the government. He was running on a platform warning about the threats of automation one article said he 'ran on a platform warning against the threats of artificial intelligence and automation'-- which is a little technocratic for a presidential campaign but probably cemented him as an 'ideas guy' for the Democrats for years to come. And that's a good thing. We need more people like Yang in politics (I mean, some of his ideas were nutty but fun to talk about), not only because he seems like a good man but also because his platform wasn't built on punishing everyone liberal Democrats hate. That's the strategy that seems to animate many of the other candidates: demonize successful people, brand Republicans and Trump supporters as racists, attack the traditional values of people in rural areas. But I didn't sense Yang was motivated by that same sort of vindictive attitude; I'm not sure it ever dawned on him to use politics for that purpose. Which is the exact opposite of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who doesn't seem to realize her campaign is over. Her speech on Tuesday night gave the impression that she intends to stay until the bitter end, which will serve no purpose other than to let her push her vindictive platform and opinions, like the time at her CNN town hall when she took a mean-spirited jab at voters who believe in traditional marriage. Warren's message is not unifying, and her ongoing trouble with the truth about her own narrative has exposed her as inauthentic (she has told some whoppers about her heritage and her kids' private schooling, for example). Bernie Sanders appears to be in the driver's seat now, and the only question for Democrats is whether he will benefit from the same condition of protracted fragmentation within his party that helped Donald Trump win the 2016 GOP primary. With Warren's announcement of her intention to stay in and with Mike Bloomberg lurking in the wings, it seems perhaps that he may. Oh, sorry, Joe Biden. You've never finished higher than fourth in a presidential primary state in three national campaigns. Don't wait until South Carolina. Bow out now and save yourself the embarrassment. Scott Jennings, a CNN contributor, is a former special assistant to President George W. Bush and a former campaign adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell. He is a partner at RunSwitch Public Relations in Louisville, Kentucky. Follow him on Twitter @ScottJenningsKY. David Gergen: Bloomberg could be the heavyweight the Dems are waiting for Some late-night reflections after the New Hampshire primary: The biggest story of the campaign so far is the near-collapse of former Vice President Joe Biden's candidacy. One wonders whether in the controversy over Ukraine, the Trump team ultimately accomplished what it wanted -- a smearing that badly weakened Biden. To be sure, there were other factors: Biden has a long, disappointing record in national campaigns. This is his third, and he has yet to win a primary. Unless he now wins Nevada and South Carolina, pressures will rise for his exit. Biden's stumbles opened up the moderate lane for former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar -- and both have smartly seized their opportunity. 'Mayor Pete' has the talent to go all the way but perhaps, as with Jack Kennedy in his national debut, he will need more seasoning to get there. Klobuchar grows on people as a candidate but she, too, may need more gravitas. Give her credit; she has already shown she should be at the top of any short list for Vice President. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders deserves credit, too. In his case, he has already become the most popular socialist in American history. But he may have crested in the 2016 campaign. After all, he won New Hampshire by over 20 points then against Hillary Clinton; this time, he won New Hampshire by less than 2 percentage points. And across most of the Democratic Party, strategists are worried about his chances against President Donald Trump. To them, he is the Jeremy Corbyn (leader of Britain's Labor Party) of the American left. Biden's troubles have also opened the door to Michael Bloomberg -- and he, too, has smartly seized his opportunity. A national Quinnipiac poll last week found him rising to third place in preferences among Democrats. More importantly, in a head-to-head against Trump, he held the widest lead over the President: 9 points. One danger for him is that leaders on the Democratic left will try to destroy him before voters have had a say. One can already see signs of that. As some of the savviest observers believe -- see Tom Friedman in the New York Times -- Bloomberg could be the most effective heavyweight the party has in slugging it out with Trump. But will the Democratic left give him a fair hearing? As always these days: stay tuned! David Gergen has been a White House adviser to four presidents and is a senior political analyst at CNN. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is a professor of public service and the former director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Sery Kim: Sanders has a winning strategy -- and it's similar to Trump's As the Democrats comically fouled their Iowa caucuses and flew to New Hampshire, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden warned of the dangers posed by President Donald Trump's reelection. This stood in stark contrast to the approach that the eventual victor in New Hampshire's primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, offered -- radical change with a side of fun. Beyond his policy proposals, Sanders offered live music by The Strokes. He made the process of picking a presidential candidate as fun, engaging and accessible as could be. And the Sanders' choice here is critical, because voters, many of whom are exhausted by a prolonged primary process, want to have a good time when they pick a presidential candidate. They want to feel good about themselves, about the candidate they vote for -- and certainly about the direction of the country he or she will take it in. And you know who knows this best? Trump. 'They can't take a joke,' the President gleefully proclaimed in New Hampshire on Monday, as the crowd laughed and cheered. And keep in mind, this crowd stood in freezing New Hampshire rain for hours because seeing Trump in person was like seeing The Strokes in concert: Trump is their rock star. Moving forward, the Democrats need to lighten up and enjoy this process. Warren was never more popular than when people saw how much she loved taking selfies for hours on end. And Andrew Yang, who just exited the race, lasted longer than multiple senators and congressmen, in part, because he often looked like he was having a great time. Sery Kim is an attorney, Republican strategist and former senior adviser in the Trump Administration. She currently resides in Texas where she works at the law firm Scheef & Stone, LLP. Van Jones: Yang's race may have ended, but his ideas live on Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar will get most of the attention Tuesday night, and they deserve it. But one of the biggest stories out of New Hampshire was businessman Andrew Yang's decision to end his presidential campaign. A decade from now, he will appear to be a much more significant voice than we recognize right now. Yang's campaign did not ask you to hate anybody. So much of politics now is, 'Who do you hate?' Liberal elites? Immigrants? Billionaires? Socialists? But you could join the #YangGang and not hate anyone. He simply wanted to make sure we re-tooled the economy for the human, environmental and technological challenges to come. One year ago, Yang was an unknown technology entrepreneur with interesting ideas but limited organization. In the months that followed, he showed the power of ingenuity and authenticity. The fact that he lasted so long -- on stages with senators, governors and a former vice president -- is nothing short of remarkable. And he broke a color barrier as an Asian-American guy who inspired young Asian-Americans to get involved in the political process. He forced candidates to talk about automation, algorithms and how we measure what is important in society. A year ago, his ideas around universal basic income seemed like a fringe idea few had heard of. Now, UBI is right in the thick of conversation across the country. Yang's presidential campaign may have ended, but his ideas will live on. Van Jones is CEO of REFORM Alliance and co-founder of #cut50, a bipartisan criminal justice initiative of the Dream Corps. He is also the author of 'Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart, How We Come Together.' Sarah Isgur: We've got a long way to go Now everything changes. Nevada and South Carolina are contests totally unlike their more famous siblings in Iowa and New Hampshire, in which retail politics traditionally help win the day. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar may be leaving New Hampshire with the wind at their backs, but everything about their campaign structures -- ground game, messaging, voter targeting -- are going to have to shift into new gears. First, the voter demographics are completely different in the next two states. Race is the biggest factor. Iowa and New Hampshire are predominately white states. Nevada, on the other hand, is less than half white -- and more than a quarter of South Carolina voters are black. These more diverse states will have different needs and priorities -- and the candidates will have to speak to those. Second, these candidates are moving away from states that had held their first-in-the-nation status for decades. Nevada and South Carolina have only held two early nominating contests for Democrats -- in 2008 and 2016. This means there is no tried and true path to victory, and far fewer polls to guide the way. And it means there aren't the same traditional events -- like the famous wooden eggs handed out at New Hampshire's Politics & Eggs Forum -- where voters know to go to meet the candidates. While there's nothing unusual about finding an Iowa voter who has met four presidential candidates in person and asked them each a question, Nevada and South Carolina are still adjusting to their new role in the spotlight. And none of these states will have mattered if this turns into a true battle over delegates. The first four states combined award less than 200 of the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. The contests held across the country on Super Tuesday, including California and Texas this year, will award a third of the delegates needed for the nomination. So, what does all this mean for the candidates? In short: we've got a long way to go. Sarah Isgur is a CNN political analyst. She has worked on three Republican presidential campaigns and is an adjunct professor at George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Daniel Guild: More surprises lay ahead Of all the oddities of the American political system, surely the hardest to explain to a non-American is the role expectations play in primary politics. The idea that the candidate who finished third could be the 'winner' is, well, strange. Yet that may be exactly what New Hampshire has done. Because, though, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was the victor, with former Mayor Pete Buttigieg just behind him, the real winner -- at least in terms of expectations -- is Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. A mere three weeks ago, she was an afterthought in New Hampshire, mired in the mid-single digits. But a strong close in the Iowa caucuses gave her some measure of momentum. And one supporter told me on Monday that her exchange with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders during the debate over democratic socialism and health care is what energized her campaign. She made clear she was an alternative to the current Democratic frontrunner by offering a more moderate path. Notably, in the CNN exit poll, Klobuchar won among those who wanted to unite the country, while Sanders won those who wanted much-needed change. These two competing goals define the divide in the Democratic Party as much as ideology does. If identifying the winners was hard, the losers were easy to spot. Nothing so defined former Vice President Joe Biden's performance in New Hampshire as his decision to leave the state for South Carolina while voting was still underway. My candidate, Elizabeth Warren, fared little better. She organized early, and she actually led in October -- but struggled to maintain that momentum. So, where do we go from here? In the same CNN exit poll, 50% of New Hampshire voters said they did not decide until the last few days of the primary campaign. Perhaps the final lesson from New Hampshire is more surprises are ahead. Daniel Guild is lawyer, project manager and Democratic activist in New Hampshire. He writes for Bleeding Heartland, a progressive political blog. Joe Lockhart: The center-left is strong There are enough numbers out of New Hampshire to craft any narrative that supports your own view of the party and Democratic voters. So, let me get it out of the way right up top. The Democratic party is a center-left party, not an ultra-liberal or far-left party. Exit polls in New Hampshire show that 76% of voters consider themselves somewhat liberal or moderate. Only 21% say they are very liberal. The results tonight are no surprise, with Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Biden combined polling better than Sanders and Warren combined. Second, the Sanders victory is not the blowout we saw four years ago in New Hampshire from the Vermont senator when he won by almost a 2-1 margin over Hillary Clinton. There are more candidates this time around, but it is significant that youth turnout dropped from 2016 by 20%, according to a CNN exit poll. Sanders talks about bringing new voters into the party, but tonight the new voters are not showing up in growing numbers. But the most interesting race, as anticipated, was for third place. Amy Klobuchar, coming off a strong debate last week, has remade her candidacy as one of the top three and viable for the first time. Joe Biden came in a distant fifth, a second gut punch that will be hard to take. But he's in South Carolina tonight playing to his firewall, African Americans who could, emphasize could, put him back in the race. But even among African Americans, his support has dropped significantly nationally, although not as much in South Carolina. That leaves Elizabeth Warren. She has to be disappointed with a distant fourth place finish. And the question is what happened and what can cushion the descent. As to what happened, I don't think the political professional class has figured that out, since it happened so quickly. She went from a favorite in the race to someone fighting for her life. My best guess was her somewhat subtle move to the middle made the far left of the party much more comfortable going with the more ideologically dependable Bernie Sanders. Less apparent is that the rise of Pete Buttigieg has also eaten into her base of highly educated middle- and upper-middle-class voters. And she has no firewall in South Carolina, where she is polling poorly among African Americans and it's not clear where she can turn it around. That leaves Nevada. She has a good organization and it better book tickets to Vegas and get going. It may be her last stand. Joe Lockhart was White House press secretary from 1998-2000 in President Bill Clinton's administration. He co-hosts the podcast 'Words Matter.' After the second batch of foreign diplomats reached Jammu and Kashmir to take a note of the ground situation in the region, they met members from the civil society on Wednesday evening, in Srinagar. The delegation includes diplomats from countries like Canada, Austria, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Slovak Republic, Netherlands, Namibia, Kyrgyz Republic, Bulgaria, Germany, Tajikistan, France, Mexico, Denmark, Italy, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Poland, and Rwanda. Post their meeting with the Civil Society members, the foreign envoys gave positive feedbacks about their visit and stated that normalcy was returning to the valley. Jammu and Kashmir: The 25 foreign envoys of the second batch who are visiting Kashmir, met civil society members in Srinagar pic.twitter.com/xIlScQxAeq ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 While interacting with the media, Denmark's Ambassador to India Freddy Svane stated that it is important to have a 'holistic picture.' " You can't have a dialogue about Kashmiris if you haven't heard what expectations and wishes they have for the future. It is important to have a holistic picture," Freddy said. Uganda's High Commissioner to India, Dinah Grace also stated that she could see a lot of hope among the people of the Union territory and that they all want a better future. "This is a very important part of India. People I've been talking to want this region to be developed. I met people from sports, those interested in economic growth and those who want to bring investors here. I see a lot of hope now," she said. READ | Second batch of foreign envoys arrives in J&K; will visit Baramulla, Srinagar & Jammu Foreign envoys talk about 'mehman nawaz' people of Kashmir The foreign envoys also spoke very highly about the 'mehman nawaz' (good host) people of the valley. Afghanistan's envoy Tahir Qadiry stated that he and the other envoys met the members of the Civil Society and also spoke about how they too want peace and prosperity in Kashmir. "It is great to come to Kashmir, its good to see the 'mehman nawaz' people of Kashmir. We have been here only a couple of hours but can see shops open, children going to school, etc. Met civil society members also, they really want peace in Kashmir." READ | Valley journalists being intimidated by security agencies, says Kashmir Press Club Envoys say 'Commerce and trade' returning back Dean of Diplomatic Corps in India Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos informed the media about the trade and commerce in the valley and spoke about how things are returning to normalcy. Dean of Diplomatic Corps in India Ambassador Hans Dannenberg Castellanos in Srinagar: We've come here to see normalisation of situation after abrogation of Art370. We've seen commerce happening,streets full of people; normalcy returning,slowly but surely things will get better pic.twitter.com/Cn7WQnGTET ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 READ | Jammu and Kashmir administration reviews arrangements for Mahashivratri Envoy to meet Indian Army The Indian Army is expected to brief the visiting diplomats on the security situation in the Kashmir valley, and would also be giving a detailed presentation on Pakistan's involvement in propelling terror in the newly formed Union Territory. According to reports, the envoys will stay for the night in Srinagar before moving to Jammu next day where they are expected to meet Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and civil society groups. READ | 'Kashmir is with us physically but not emotionally': Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury READ | 92 pc revenue records in Jammu & Kashmir digitized, says Principal Secretary Pawan Kotwal A jihadist attack on a gendarme base in eastern Burkina Faso left two civilians dead along with nine assailants, the police said Wednesday. The attack took place in Tanwalbougou on Monday, it said in a statement, praising "the determination and professionalism" of the gendarmes in repelling the attack. The two civilians who were killed, along with 14 who were injured, were passengers on buses that were in the area when the attack took place, the statement said. One of the assailants was captured along with arms, munitions, cell phones and motorbikes, it said. Jihadist groups have killed nearly 800 people in Burkina Faso and displaced 600,000 more since the start of 2015, when extremist violence began to spread from neighbouring Mali, according to UN figures. Located in the heart of the vast Sahel region on the southern fringe of the Sahara, the country is is one of the poorest in the world. The north and east of the former French colony have been especially hard hit, while the capital Ouagadougou has suffered three attacks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He is a rising star of the fashion world and the son of actress Elizabeth Hurley. And Damian Hurley was the spitting image of his mother in a glamorous snap he shared via Instagram on Sunday. The aspiring model, 17, wrapped up against the strong gusts of wind from Storm Ciara by wearing a fluffy black hat over his luscious long locks. Cosy: Damian Hurley, 17, was the spitting image of mother Elizabeth as he donned a black furry hat while braving Storm Ciara in an Instagram snap shared on Sunday Damian kept off the winter chill by wearing a black padded jacket over a matching top, while he wrapped up in a thin scarf. He sported a clear complexion that meant he looked just like his mother, and he wore the same outfit as a snap taken on Christmas Day where he posed beside Elizabeth. In the festive selfie, the actress put on a stylish display in a tweed jacket and a black hat, ensuring she perfectly matched her son. While it seemed like Damian's snap was from his outing with his mother at Christmas, he wrote in the caption: 'wrapped up tight against storm ciara' Before: Damian matched his mother in the black hat like in a snap taken on Christmas Day with mother Elizabeth, though he claimed he was 'wrapped up tight against storm ciara' Damian rose to fame as the only child of Austin Powers actress Elizabeth, with the actress previously discussing the strong bond she has with her son in an interview with You magazine, claiming she had been 'blessed' with Damian. She said: 'I rather think I've simply been blessed with a child whose personality gels with mine. 'Friends who have several children always admit, although they love them all equally, inevitably there's one whose personality mirrors their own and they 'get' each other better. It's definitely nature not nurture.' Damian, who counts Hugh Grant and Elton John as godfathers, signed with agency Tess Management in September 2018 and made his modelling debut in a Pat McGrath make-up campaign. Liz confessed to the publication that she wants her only child to follow in her footsteps and said, while she'd support him no matter what, she's pleased he's gone into the creative industry. She quipped: 'You know, if he does a complete U-turn and wants to pursue a career in [gulps with horror] banking, then of course as his mother I will fully support him. Jaguar has confirmed that I-Pace production has temporarily halted as a result of battery supply issues. In a statement, the British firm said: Jaguar Land Rover has adjusted production schedules of the Jaguar I-Pace in Graz due to temporary supplier scheduling issues. We are working with the supplier to resolve this and minimise impact on customer orders. The all-electric SUV is built at vehicle production experts Magna in Austria, but the vehicles batteries are supplied by Polish firm LG Chem. The company supplies various manufacturers with batteries but has been struggling to cope with demand as sales of electric vehicles have increased. Its an issue being faced by a number of car makers, who are trying to ramp up EV production to meet strict emissions regulations. In 2019, wait times for electric vehicles were between three and 12 months, depending on the model. In January, Jaguar Land Rover announced 500 job losses at its Halewood plant in Merseyside. The job losses are understood to be caused by the adoption of a new shift system which is due to come into effect from April. The plant currently employs around 4,000 people and 500 agency staff, who work on the creation of the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport models. It said in a statement: Through its ongoing transformation programme, Jaguar Land Rover is taking action to optimise performance, enable sustainable growth and safeguard the long-term success of our business. Central to the Halewood manufacturing strategy, we are moving from a three shift to a two-plus shift pattern from April 2020. This will deliver significant operating efficiencies at the plant, while enabling us to meet the growing customer demand for our new Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. This change in shift pattern affects around 10% of Halewoods workforce. Jaguar Land Rover Halewood employees have the opportunity to leave through an enhanced voluntary redundancy programme. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday declared that his was a "pro-Kannada" government, even as several organisations have called for a statewide bandh on Thursday demanding implementation of theSarojini Mahishi report aimed at providing more jobs for Kannadigas in the state. Requesting the organisations to call off the protest, he appealed to the agitators not to cause inconvenience to the general public. "Those agitating, if they are willing to talk to me, I'm always ready to talk to them. We have already done several that are possible (to implement the report), what other things can be done, I'm ready to talk to them," Yediyurappa said. Speaking to reporters here, he said there was no need to call for bandh and cause inconvenience to public. "Let them come and meet me today itself if required, I will wait for them at my residence, let them come and discuss in the interest of the people. We are also pro-Kannada, want things to be favourable for Kannadigas, want children of Kannada get jobs. I'm ready to everything that is possible for it," he said, adding that he was with them and will extend full cooperation. Minister for Kannada and Culture C T Ravi said the government has shown commitment towards implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report and already implemented it in the government sector. "In the private sector, we are trying to implement it step by step," he added. Several pro-Kannada organisations have given a call for a statewide 'bandh' demanding implementation of the report. The Sarojini Mahishi Committee, headed by former Union Minister Sarojini Mahishi, was constituted in 1984 to recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas in Karnataka and it submitted the report two years later. Responding to a question on the Congress extending support to the bandh, Yediyurappa wanted to know what that party did while in power. "I don't want to speak about others. I want to ask- Congress was in power right. What did they do? They aregiving support to (agitation or bandh) while in opposition, what did they do while in power for five years? Rather than doing politics in the name of- Congress, BJP and JDS, honestly I'm ready work to solve issues in a non partisan way," he said. Congress leader and leader of opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah had recently met Kannada organisations agitating for the implementation of the report and extended full support to them. The protest organised by the "Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota", comprising a few factions of "Karnataka Rakshana Vedike", has been backed by Ola-Uber cab drivers' association, a few auto unions, farmers' associations, street vendors association, trade unions and transporters' associations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cybercriminal organizations shut down the two weeks between Christmas and New Year's, just like most legitimate companies. This finding provides further evidence to support Agari's observations that cybercriminal organizations operate like any other type of business. They form mentor/mentee relationships, purchase the same prospect list and tools that legitimate marketing departments use to discover potential "buyers," and they study target-market and "buyer" behaviors. With many employee targets out of the office those last two weeks of the year, it's clear scammers took some holiday downtime of their own or scammers are very cognizant of their targets' holidays and exert less effort in their attacks when there is a likelihood the targets are out of the office. Identity Deception When the CEO, CFO, or anyone in a role of authority asks a back-office employee to take action, the employee naturally wants to help. It's human-nature, and scammers bet on it. Email scams often-times work because the receiver trusts the sender name displayed on the email. This fact alone is the reason why individual impersonation attacks have skyrocketed. Individual impersonation was up to 32% between October and December, which is a significant jump from 12% in Q2 2019. Now phishing and BEC attacks impersonating specific individuals have come into closer parity with attacks impersonating trusted brands (36%). Cybercriminals continuously modulate the identity deception tactics they use in phishing and BEC scams to optimize efforts that will net the best financial results. Phishing Response It is widely known that 94 percent of breaches occur through the email channel. All it takes is for one email to slip through a company's security controls to experience a catastrophic cyber incident. The risk management stakes are higher today than at any other time in history for CISOs. Cyber incidents impact a company's stock price, corporate creditworthiness as well as the ability to attract top talent and retain marquee customers. In a landmark announcement , Moody's downgraded Equifax because of cybersecurity issues, related to its historic 2017 breach. These corporate risks keep executives up at night, but employees feel the heat too. The rank and file are now tasked and trained to be threat-hunters, in addition to being a graphic designer, bookkeeper, executive assistant, or payroll supervisor. An unfair ask, many think. If a malicious email seeps through and the bookkeeper pays it, her job is at risk. That's what happened to an accounts payable manager at a South Carolina-based company. After unwittingly paying a $1 million invoice to a scammer, she was fired. It's clear. When jobs are on the line, people will click the report-phish button, and that means the SOC has been bombarded with false-positives emails that aren't malicious. The report shows that 60% of employee-reported incidents turn out to be false-positives. It takes time for an overworked SOC analyst to triage a false-positive. This is a distraction companies cannot afford. Some companies get it. The Q1 report found that companies with automated phishing response technology were able to detect 44x the number of similar malicious email messages that were exclusively submitted by employees. And when companies used AI-based solutions informed by real-world intelligence on bad actors, like email addresses and subject lines, at least 3,500 latent threats that would have otherwise gone undetected post-delivery, were interdicted and neutralized. Phishing response automation is the next, next because it reduces time-to-containment of email threats and limits the potential scope of phishing campaigns. DMARC Protocol: Brand Spoofing The most foundational form of email security, DMARC authentication, goes unused by an astonishing number of Fortune 500 companies. The Q1 report shows clearly that 85 percent of the Fortune 500 cohort remains vulnerable to cybercriminals seeking to hijack their domains for use in phishing-based brand impersonation scams that put their customers, partners, shareholders, and the general public at risk of significant financial damage. In the UK, only 18% of the FTSE 100 are protected against brand spoofing, and in Australia the percentages are even lower at 10% of the ASX 100. DMARC is critical because it prevents cybercriminals from hijacking a brand for phishing attacks. When a company has a DMARC policy set at reject (p=reject), phishing-based impersonations are driven down to near zero. It's simple. If your company is protected with DMARC, email scammers leave your brand alone and search for a high-profile, trusted brand name to spoof that doesn't have a DMARC record or has a DMARC record policy set at quarantine or below. Use this free DMARC record lookup tool to find out whether your company is at risk of brand spoofing. The following comments may be attributed to: Patrick R. Peterson, founder and CEO, Agari People tend to snicker when they hear about email scams, because they immediately think of the old Prince of Nigeria schemes. But those schemes have matured into sophisticated, socially-engineered attacks that equate to billions of dollars in reported fraud loss. Phishing scams are a gateway to money-laundering crimes. So for the biggest companies in the world to overlook basic cybersecurity measures, like email authentication or automation, is baffling. Download the full report here. Check out more details on the report in this blog. Research Methodology For the attack categorization analysis, The Agari Cyber Intelligence Division (ACID) leveraged anonymous aggregate scoring data that automatically breaks out identity deception-based attacks that bypass upstream Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) into distinct threat categories, such as display name deception, compromised accounts, and more. See section on "Taxonomy of Advanced Email Attacks" in the report. The phishing incident response trends reported are the results from a survey of six large organizations in a cross-section of industries conducted by Agari in December 2019. For broader insight into DMARC policies beyond what ACID observed in email traffic targeting Agari's customer base, we analyzed 366 million domains, ultimately observing 11,628,125 domains with recognizable DMARC policies attached. This constantly updated list of domains serves as the basis for trend tracking in subsequent reports. About Agari Agari is transforming the legacy Secure Email Gateway with its next-generation Secure Email Cloud powered by predictive AI. Leveraging data science and real-time intelligence from trillions of emails, the Agari Identity Graph detects, defends and deters costly advanced email attacks including business email compromise, spear phishing and account takeover. Winner of the 2018 Best Email Security Solution by SC Magazine, Agari restores trust to the inbox for government agencies, businesses and consumers worldwide. Learn more at www.agari.com. Media Contact Jean Creech Avent Sr. Director, Global Corporate Communications Agari +1 843-986-8229 [email protected] SOURCE Agari Related Links https://www.agari.com/ From a recital to a yoga class, there's plenty to enjoy in Saint Paul this week. Read on for a rundown of ideas for how to fill your calendar. 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. Harpsichord Recital Series: The Dutch Influence with Faythe Vollrath From the event description: When: Friday, Feb. 14, 7:30-9 p.m. Where: The Baroque Room, 275 E. Fourth St., #280 Admission: $5-$25 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Australia Benefit From the event description: When: Friday, Feb. 14, 8-11 p.m. Where: Amsterdam Bar & Hall, 6 W. Sixth St. Admission: $10 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets C&G + Alchemy 365 From the event description: When: Saturday, Feb. 15, 9:15-10:15 a.m. Where: Crisp & Green Highland Park, 2111 Ford Parkway Admission: Free 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. Congress' PC Chacko on Wednesday tendered his resignation from the post of Delhi Congress in-charge, a day after the party failed to secure even one seat in Delhi election results. New Delhi: Congress' PC Chacko on Wednesday tendered his resignation from the post of Delhi Congress in-charge, a day after the party failed to secure even one seat in Delhi election results. Before submitting his resignation from the post, on Wednesday Chacko said that his party lost its hold on the National Capital after the late Sheila Dikshit took charge of the capital as the chief minister. The Congress leader said, "The downfall of the Congress party started in 2013 when Sheilaji was the chief minister. The emergence of a new party Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took away the entire Congress vote bank. We could never get it back. It still remains with the AAP." However, Chacko clarified his statement later and said that his statement was being misinterpreted. He said, "I did not say that we lost in Sheilaji's time, it is being wrongly interpreted. We lost in 2013, even in 2014, 2015, and 2017. I know who are the people behind all this issue, there is a deliberate campaign against me, I have seen this earlier also." PC Chacko, Congress: I did not say that we lost in Sheila Ji's time, it is being wrongly interpreted. We lost in 2013, even in 2014, 2015 & 2017. I know who are the people behind all this issue, there is a deliberate campaign against me, I have seen this earlier also pic.twitter.com/KawlPJo5e1 ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2020 On Tuesday, the ruling AAP scored a landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly elections for the second time in a row as it swept aside both BJP, which was again restricted to a single digit, and the Congress which could not win a single seat. AAP won 62 seats in the 70-member assembly, five seats short of its 2015 tally when it had won 67 seats. The BJP won eight seats, five more than its tally in the previous election. Singapore's largest bank DBS on Wednesday evacuated 300 staff from its head office here and told them to work from home after an employee was found to be infected with the deadly coronavirus. The infected employee was tested on Tuesday and the bank was informed of the confirmation on Wednesday morning, the DBS bank said in a statement. As a precaution, employees in the affected office space were told to work from home. "As a precautionary measure, as at 12pm on Wednesday, we ensured that all employees on the affected floor at Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 vacated the premises, to work from home," said the statement. The Financial Centre is a premier location within Singapore's downtown banking hub. The DBS said it was conducting contact tracing with all employees and other people the infected person may have come into contact with. The affected office space and common areas are being deep cleaned and disinfected according to Singapore's Health Ministry guidelines, it added. "During this difficult time, the bank will be providing this employee and his family with every support and guidance," it said. A total of 300 staff members at level 43 of the Marina Bay Financial Centre have been "evacuated" as a precautionary measure and will work from home, the bank told staff members in an internal memo, reported Channel Asia citing the memo. All bank employees will receive a "personal hygiene and protection care pack with effect from next week. The pack will include a thermometer, hand sanitiser and vitamin C, said DBS, Singapore's largest bank which will also rolling out webinars for medical health professionals to update employees and provide further information. The bank has also put in place plans for employees to work from home or from split sites "to ensure minimal disruption to operations". A total of 47 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Singapore so far. As of Tuesday, nine of these have since recovered. Among the popular places from where coronavirus cases have been report is the Resorts World Sentosa Casino, where one case is a Bangladeshi worker, according to media reports. Public events in Singapore are being postponed or cancelled due to the virus while major office buildings and public meeting places are screening employees and visitors both entering and existing the premises. Singapore is on orange alert, second to the dangerous red alert. The virus, originating from China's Wuhan city, has since spread to more than 20 countries, killing over 1,000 and hitting more than 44,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ontario Liberal leadership front-runner Steven Del Duca won 56 per cent of the partys weekend delegate elections, according to an official tally. As first reported by the Star on Sunday night, Del Duca dominated the leadership election meetings held across the province. That leaves the former cabinet minister poised to win a first-ballot victory at the Liberals delegated leadership convention in Mississauga on March 7. Of the 2,084 delegates elected, 1,171 of them are supporting Del Duca. That 56 per cent tally compares with runner-up Michael Coteau, the MPP for Don Valley East and a former minster, with 371 delegates or 18 per cent. In third place was rising star Kate Graham, a former candidate in London North Centre, with 273 delegates or 13 per cent. MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough Guildwood), another former minister, won 130 delegates or 6 per cent. Alvin Tedjo, a former candidate in Oakville North Burlington, won 72 delegates or 3 per cent. Ottawa lawyer Brenda Hollingsworth won 25 delegates or 1 per cent. Im humbled to learn today that 1,171 grassroots Ontarians have been elected to attend the leadership convention as part of my team! De Duca enthused on Twitter. Liberal president Brian Johns said he was heartened to see so many Ontarians take time out of their weekends to participate in the future of the Ontario Liberal Party. This speaks to the confidence people have in the leadership candidates and the party, said Johns. Only elected delegates and 640 ex officios sitting and past Liberal MPPs, current Grit MPs from Ontario, and party brass will be able to cast ballots at next months convention. Del Duca tweeted that he was thrilled that we are closing in on support from 200 ex-officio delegates. In total, there are 2,724 eligible delegates to the convention. Coteau, Del Duca, and Hunter served in former premier Kathleen Wynnes cabinet until the Liberals were toppled by Premier Doug Fordss Progressive Conservatives in the June 2018 election. My vow is to continue to fight and champion the issues that are important to Ontarians, said Hunter after a disappointing fourth-place delegate result. While she and Coteau were among the seven Liberals to survive the PC landslide, Del Duca lost his Vaughan seat to Tory Michael Tibollo. A new Campaign Research poll for the Star found the Liberals now tied with the Tories at 30 per cent apiece in public support with the New Democrats at 26 per cent and the Greens at 11 per cent. Fords Conservatives are taking seriously the threat of the Del Duca-led Liberals. Sources confide the Tories have spent tens of thousands of dollars on focus groups to determine how voters might view him. The first round of those group sessions was inconclusive, one senior Conservative said earlier this week. Nobody knew who the hell he was, noted the Tory official, speaking on condition on anonymity in order to share internal discussions. The Liberals governed Ontario under Wynne and her predecessor, Dalton McGuinty, for almost 15 years starting in 2003. Read more about: As New Hampshire voters headed to the polls for the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday, Elizabeth Warrens campaign looked towards the remaining 48 states to cast their ballots. Warren campaign manager Roger Lau released a memo Tuesday in which he argued Warren is the candidate to appeal to the widest coalition of Democrats across the nation and hit what he views as the weaknesses of other Democrats in the race. Warren placed third in the Iowa caucuses last week with 18% of the vote, trailing Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, both of whom are expected to see high vote totals in New Hampshire. While she did not place in the top two - behind Buttigieg and Sanders by a significant margin - Lau highlighted the support she received in the bluest and reddest counties of Iowa: Johnson County, which voted 65% for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general election, and Sioux County, where Clinton received 12.5% of the vote. He said Tuesday theyre looking towards the 98% of pledged delegates who will still be up for grabs after New Hampshire. As the race consolidates after Super Tuesday, we expect the results to show that Elizabeth Warren is the consensus choice of the widest coalition of Democrats in every corner of the country." Current Warren campaign internal projections show her at or above the 15% threshold in nearly two-thirds of districts voting on Super Tuesday. Just under a dozen Democrats are running for president, including: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet; former Vice President Joe Biden; former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg; Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; billionaire Tom Steyer; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; and Andrew Yang. The field is expected to narrow in coming weeks leading up to and following Super Tuesday. During that time, Lau argues Warren will pick up support from voters looking for another candidate to support. He also contrasted Warren with other Democratic presidential hopefuls. Sands, Lau said, started his 2020 campaign with a ceiling thats significantly lower than the support he had four years ago" in his race against former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Biden, the clear frontrunner when he announced his candidacy in April, has seen a dip in support, even among black voters, a core of the Democratic electorate he has highlighted since announcing. Biden left New Hampshire for South Carolina early Tuesday. The Biden campaign is placing their hopes for victory on South Carolina, where the majority of Democratic voters are black and Biden has seen strong support since announcing his candidacy for president. Whatever happens on Tuesday, Vice President Biden will still be in this race, Biden campaign senior adviser Symone Sanders said on CNN. We do believe we will be competitive. Again, regardless of what happens, we believe and we have said for a long time that this race absolutely runs through Nevada, South Carolina, and Super Tuesday. It would be a mistake for the media to try to count Joe Biden out before other folks in this party had their chance in this race. Buttigieg, who saw a surge in support following Iowa, will face tough questions about his record in South Bend among voters of color, Lau argued. He argued Warren, Sanders and Biden are the three most viable candidates. Of them, Lau said, In that three-way race, Elizabeth Warren is the candidate with the highest potential ceiling of support and the one best positioned to unite the party and lead the Democratic ticket to defeat Donald Trump. Last night, a liberal leaked the audio of a talk that Michael Bloomberg gave to the Aspen Institute in 2015. The audio apparently was recorded surreptitiously and the quality isnt good. Reportedly there is a video recording, but Bloomberg has blocked it from being released. You can listen to the audio here, along with left-wing palaver about it. These are the quotes that everyone is talking about. Bloombergs subject was crime and policing: 95 percent of your murders murderers and murder victims fit one M.O. You can just take the description, Xerox it and pass out to all the cops. They are male, minorities, sixteen to twenty-five. Thats true in New York, thats true in virtually every city. And thats where the real crime is. Youve got to get the guns out of the hands of the people that are getting killed. You want to spend the money on a lot of cops on the streets. Put the cops where the crime is, which means in minority neighborhoods. [The] way you get the guns out of the kids hands is to throw them up against the walls and frisk them And then they start Oh, I dont want to get caught. So they dont bring the gun. They still have a gun, but they leave it at home. Bloombergs comments were immediately denounced as racist across the political spectrum. President Trump tweeted about it: Trump later deleted the tweet, presumably after remembering that he, too, has supported stop and frisk. Several interesting questions emerge. First, was Bloomberg wrong? He spoke informally and he undoubtedly exaggerated. It isnt true that 95% of murderers are minority males between 16 and 25, but it certainly is true that murderers (especially urban murderers) disproportionately come from that demographic. FBI data suggest that something like 55 percent of murders are committed by African-Americans, overwhelmingly male and under 35, with an indeterminate additional number committed by Hispanics. Asians account for hardly any. So Bloomberg exaggerated a reality that is, to be honest, understood by everyone. Bloomberg was correct in saying that deploying police resources to high-crime areas has successfully reduced violent crime rates. Again, this shouldnt be a surprise. Leaders in African-American neighborhoods have been calling for increased police protection for decades. Where that increased police presence has been provided, violent crime has declined. Bloomberg was also correct, I am sure, when he said that increased police presence inevitably resulted in more arrests for relatively minor crimes. I am not sure that anyone is being arrested for marijuana possession these days, and as far as I know no one is going to jail for it. But the broader point is accurate. And I believe crime data support Bloombergs more important point, that stop-and-frisk works to reduce crime. So, was everything Bloomberg said true? No, it was exaggerated. But the points he made were broadly correct and until very recently were widely accepted. Second, this incident shows how rapidly the ground has shifted under law enforcement. Only a few years ago, the successful employment of aggressive police tactics that saved cities like Bloombergs New York was being celebrated. Now, in the Democratic Party and even some precincts of the Republican Party, law enforcement is anathema. Liberals are happy to live in urban areas that are far more peaceful than they were 30 years ago, while feeling no gratitude toward the police officers or the anti-crime tactics that created those conditions. Traditionally, aspiring politicians often began their careers as prosecutors and tried to establish a reputation as being tough on crime. Who knew that in 2020, being tough on crime would become a liability? Here in Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar, now running for President, began her career as Hennepin County Attorney. She portrayed herself as a tough prosecutor, which, as far as I know, she was. But within the last week or two a local group has attacked Klobuchar in connection with the conviction of a gang member for the murder of a girl who was, as I recall, 12 years old. Until recentlywhat, last month?putting away murderous gang bangers was a feather in the cap of any politician. Now, Klobuchar is being attacked for letting it happen. That story has not yet gone national, but if Klobuchar continues to rise in the polls, it will. Third, what does this story mean for Bloombergs presidential chances? I think it deals them a severe blow. Bloombergs only real asset is money, and money (above a reasonable level) is relatively unimportant in contemporary politics. Bloomberg is not a persona that intuitively relates well to African-Americans. Trump has much more inherent appeal to that demographic, and todays scandal would cause Bloomberg to hemorrhage black voters to Trump, should he get the nomination. In the shorter term, race-based attacks on Bloomberg will cost him quite a few votes among the woke whites who dominate most Democratic primaries. In short, the Democrats already desperate presidential hopes suffered another blow today, if you assume that Bloomberg was ever a viable candidate. Last year, St. Anthonys of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands officially adopted a Texas lock-up. Through several ongoing programs and twice-yearly weekend retreats, volunteers with the church minister to the men inside the Ferguson Unit in Midway. The Kolbe Prison Ministries has been helping area churches create these programs since 2009. Several years ago, Kolbe Ministries started reaching out to churches north of Houston to join with them to minister inside area prisons. With the help of Kolbe, St. Anthonys was able to set up the system they have now at the Ferguson Unit. Before adopting the unit, St. Anthonys had to raise the funds to be able to purchase a trailer that hauls up all the food and supplies necessary to hold a retreat, and solicit enough volunteers to run the program inside and the follow-up programs throughout the week. Were fortunate to have a strong group of volunteers from St. Anthonys, said Gerald Villaver, a volunteer from the church, who said St. Anthonys has been able to provide all the volunteers necessary for the retreats so far. We put out a sign-up sheet and we just leave it up to the Holy Spirit to be able to fill that sheet with about 25 to 30 men. The most recent St. Anthony retreat was just last month. Altogether, there were about 70 incarcerated individuals that were new to the program, and 25 who had been before who are called Stewards. Ideally, each retreat has around 30 Kolbe volunteers and around 66 incarcerated individuals, this helps keep everybody busy while also getting done everything that needs to get done. But the biggest determinant of how many people can participate is space, said Jerry Trzeciak, coordinator for Kolbe Ministries for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston on the North Side. The units are usually limited in the space available for programming. During the retreats, volunteers bring enough food to feed everybody for the weekend and prepare to hosts talks to share about their faith and the circumstances that led to their being there, whether they are incarcerated or not. The testimonies are key components, said Trzeciak. Whether its an inside individual or somebody from what we call the free world team. Beyond the retreats, the church organizes ongoing programs at the unit, including weekly Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults sessions, and bible timeline sessions. But Trzeciak said the retreats are open to everyone. For our brothers in the unit that come to the retreat that are Catholic, were there to deepen and enrich their understanding and appreciation of their faith, he said. For our brothers who arent - or who are on a different journey perhaps to gain a perspective of the faith and just a better understanding of our faith, and a better understanding from us of their journey - but ultimately the three days we spend there is just to share the love of Christ. In order to enter the unit the volunteers are required to go through two different kinds of training; one from Kolbe, and one from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The rules from TDCJ can be stringent. The 25-page volunteer handbook on the TDCJ website outlines what to look for, how to be vigilant, and what to do in any number of situations, including a hostage situation. Visiting the prison often changes how a volunteer thinks about incarceration. It just is going to give you a different perspective, Trzeciak said. You cant help but walk away feeling different. Currently, St. Anthonys does not have any programs in place to help the formerly incarcerated as they transition back to civilian life, but its something that Villaver said the church is thinking about. It will be a few years still until any of the men they work with at the Ferguson Unit could be released, but creating programs to help them at that time has been talked about. What they do now, Villaver said, is speak to the men they work with and make them aware of facilities like halfway houses and opportunities that might be able to help them when they are released, through the chaplain. But as volunteers, they are limited in what they can do and what they can say. Volunteers arent allowed to communicate with inmates families and are warned against sharing too much personal information. For the moment, Villaver said that what the volunteers on the retreats can do is help bring hope to the inmates of Ferguson Unit, a maximum-security jail established in 1962 with a capacity of 2,100, according to the TDCJ website. There are 17 state jails in Texas overseen by the TDCJ, according to the Texas Comptroller. On the north side of the Galveston-Houston archdiocese, four churches have adopted units with Kolbe Prison Ministries. jamie.swinnerton@chron.com The image captured from Instagram shows one of the messages posted by a Korean evacuee from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan who has complained about quality of meals offered to the government-run quarantine facility. By Jun Ji-hye A Korean evacuee from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan has been causing a stir after making numerous complaints about the quality of meals offered to those at the government-run quarantine facilities. The evacuee, who was quarantined in the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, has posted several photos of lunch boxes on Instagram and other social media services with messages mostly complaining about the dishes offered and temperature of the food. He was among the 368 Korean evacuees from Wuhan who arrived at Gimpo International Airport, Jan. 31, on the chartered Korean Air plane arranged by the government. Industry participants have attributed a number of factors to the rise of bitcoin, including some investors viewing the cryptocurrency as a sort of safe-haven asset in times of uncertainty. In the early morning on Wednesday, bitcoin hit $10,489.78, the highest price it has logged since September, according to data from Coindesk. That's a more than 44% increase from the start of the year. It comes after bitcoin logged its best January performance in seven years . Bitcoin hit its highest level this year and also in five months on Wednesday, jumping above $10,000 and continuing the recent bull run for the cryptocurrency. "External factors contributing to the rise above $10K include global uncertainty around the Coronavirus outbreak," Vijay Ayyar, head of business development at cryptocurrency exchange Luno, told CNBC by email. The new coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has claimed the lives of over a thousand people with the number of cases reported in excess of 44,000. Businesses were shut for longer than usual during the recent Lunar New Year holiday with some employees only just returning to work. Economists have raised concerns about the potential negative effect on the global economy. Ayyar also pointed to recent comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, that seemed to acknowledge the potential power of digital currencies, as another factor behind the surge in the last 24 hours. In his testimony in front of Congress on Tuesday, Powell was asked about central bank digital currencies and the Fed's view on a digital dollar. He acknowledged that Facebook's Libra project was a "wake-up call" that a digital currency could come "fairly quickly" and in a way that is "quite widespread and systemically important." But he said that there are still "many questions that need to be answered around digital currency for the United States." Libra has faced backlash from politicians and regulators around the world concerned that a private company with over 2 billion users could issue a currency. A number of Facebook's partners have also dropped out of the project. There have been growing calls for the U.S. to issue a digital dollar particularly as China has acknowledged that it's working on a digital yuan. Meanwhile, the bitcoin community is also looking forward to an event which as been dubbed the "halvening" which is taking place in May. It is a change written into bitcoin's underlying code. This is when rewards for so-called miners, which are key parts of the bitcoin network, are halved. The effect is to essentially reduce the supply of the cryptocurrency coming onto the market. Previous "halvening" events have preceded price rises in bitcoin. ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI Sheriffs deputies are looking for a man and woman accused of tossing six chihuahuas out of a minivan window, killing five of the them. Witnesses reported that the dogs were thrown from a passenger window in Wayland Township, Michigan. The witnesses brought the surviving chihuahua to a shelter and buried the others. Sheriffs deputies are in the process of recovering the dogs bodies and hope that they contain identifying information, Allegan County Undersheriff Mike Larsen said. The shelter contacted police on Tuesday about the abuse allegations. Police then contacted the witnesses and planned to retrieve the carcasses Wednesday morning, Larsen said. The surviving dog was dubbed Lucky Lu Lu. The pair in the van were described as very skinny, missing teeth. She had blond hair, while he had dark, longer hair described as big curly hair, police said. Both are white and in their 20s or 30s. The man was driving the Honda Odyssey, police said. Police asked anyone with information to call the sheriffs department at 269-673-3899 or Silent Observer at 800-554-3633. On a good day, air travel can be frustrating. You arrive two hours early. You pay to check your bag. You check in. You wait on the security line. You spend too much money on overpriced airport food. And then, at the gate, you learn youve been bumped from your flight. Youre not alone. From July to September 2019 the most recent three-month data available there were a total of 123,488 people bumped from flights out of nearly 225 million passengers, according to the U.S. Department of Transportations (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Want more personal finance news? Enter your email address to be the first to know: In the three months before that, there were 170,415 bumped passengers out of nearly 224 million fliers. (We bet you were wondering about Newark Liberty International Airport, but alas, DOT doesnt break the numbers down by airport. But you can see the breakdown by airline.) Before you get bumped, know your rights and the airlines responsibility. Heres what you need to know. How can airlines get away with it? Its absolutely legal to bump passengers, DOT said. Airlines regularly oversell their flights booking more fliers than there are seats on a plane to compensate for no-shows. Most of the time, airlines correctly predict the `no shows and everything goes smoothly, DOT said. But thats not what happens every time. Flights are often oversold, but even if a flight isnt oversold, an airline may bump passengers for other reasons, such as to make room for a Federal Air Marshal. Fortunately, consumers have rights, and you could be compensated sometimes a lot if youre forced to give up your seat. Who gets bumped? Before an airline can bump you, it first needs to ask if passengers would give up their seats voluntarily. If youre not in a rush and your travel plans are flexible, you could cash in. Depending on how desperately the airline needs seats, you might be offered travel vouchers, a free hotel room and meals, or even gift cards or cash. The best part? You can negotiate with the airline and there is no limit to the amount of money or vouchers an airline can offer. If the airline is unable to get enough volunteers, its going to start bumping passengers, a practice known as involuntarily denied boarding. Unfortunately for the customer, the airline can set its own policies to decide who gets bumped. Those policies might include a passengers check-in time, the fare paid by the passenger or the passengers frequent flyer status. So if you found a cheap flight and youre not in the airlines club, you could be the first to go. If you are bumped involuntarily, DOT rules state the airline must give you a written statement describing your rights and the airlines bumping policies. Does the airline have to pay me? If youre bumped from a flight against your wishes because a flight was oversold, the airline does have to compensate you. Airlines paid consumers more than $8.1 million in compensation for bumped flights in 2018, the most recent full year of data available. And for the first nine months of 2019, passengers received nearly $9.2 million in compensation, according to DOT data. There are certain circumstances where the airline can say tough luck when it comes to compensation. Those include if a larger plane has mechanical troubles and its replaced by a smaller plane or if theres a weight or balance issue for planes of certain sizes. But most of the time, the airline must compensate passengers who have a confirmed reservation, who have checked in to the flight and who have arrived at the gate on time. In these cases, you could be compensated if the airline cant get you to your destination within an hour of your initial arrival time. How much youll get is generally based on the price of your ticket, how long the delay is and whether the flight is domestic or international. For domestic flights, youll be paid 200% of your one-way fare, but not more than $675, for a delay of between one and two hours. For a delay of more than two hours, the airline has to shell out 400% of the ticket price up to $1,350. For international flights, youll get 200% of your ticket cost up to $675 for a delay of one to four hours, and for delays of more than four hours, youll get 400% of your fares value, topping out at $1,350. Working the system Frequent fliers have shared many stories of working the system, negotiating to get some hefty compensation when airlines ask for bump volunteers. One travel writer who planned a long weekend in Florida with her husband and child scored $11,000 in American Express gift cards for voluntarily missing their first flight, and then their second flight. In the end, they skipped their weekend away but gladly pocketed the money. Another traveler walked away with $4,000 after agreeing to take a flight that was nine hours later. Yet another bumped flier complained in real time on Twitter about getting tossed from a flight that was taking her to a friends bachelorette party. She ended up with a $10,000 travel voucher. Have you negotiated a great deal to miss a flight? Share your experiences in the comments section. And if youre curious which airlines bump the most often, take a look at this 2019 study. Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter. The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $700,000 performance agreement with Mack Trucks to offset some of the companys costs of opening a new manufacturing plant. Mack plans to invest $13 million in Roanoke County by opening a new facility in the Valley Tech Industrial Park, where it will manufacture medium-duty trucks. The project also received a $700,000 grant from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund, and the Virginia Jobs Investment Program will support employee training. Roanoke County and the countys economic development authority will be providing a $700,000 grant to match the money awarded from the Commonwealths Opportunity Fund. The county will reimburse the company new local tax revenue it generates over the next seven years, up to $700,000. New tax revenue will include new real estate, business personal property, and machinery and tools taxes generated annually, according to the agreement. The county board of supervisors unanimously approved the agreement Tuesday. The board agreed to adopt the performance incentive retroactively to accommodate a start date of Jan. 1, 2019. This would allow the company to include the investments it has made in the building during the past year. The grant funds are contingent upon meeting employment and investment goals. Jill Loope, economic development director for Roanoke County, said she didnt expect Mack would have trouble fulfilling its obligations, as the company has been in the building for about a year developing its prototype and already has 60 employees. The company, a subsidiary of Volvo, expects to eventually employ 250 people to work in the former LSC Communications building, which it is leasing from owner Camrett Logistics. Average annual wages will exceed $42,400, according to county officials. The Roanoke Valley Operation, as Mack is calling its new facility, expects to begin serial production of trucks this summer and already has started taking orders, said Martin Weissburg, president of Mack Trucks. An analysis by the Roanoke Regional Partnership indicates that, at full operation, Macks Roanoke County facility will have an overall annual economic impact of $364 million. 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. Plenty of people are still basking in misinformation, with sometimes deadly results. The mother of a 4-year-old Colorado boy consulted an anti-vaccine Facebook group when flu hit her house, according to media reports. She wrote that she had declined to fill a Tamiflu prescription written by a doctor, NBC News reported, but was treating her children with peppermint oil and lavender. Members advised her to use breast milk, thyme and elderberry. Her son died. Facebook said it is trying to reduce the spread of vaccine misinformation on its site. A former ice addict and gangster with the words 'notorious' inked across his face has been sentenced to six months supervision after bashing his girlfriend. Poutawa (Puk) Kireka, 32, struck his partner so hard in the face she fell onto the ground and broke her nose in Hastings, New Zealand in October last year. The former Mongrel Mob bikie gang member who was mocked by rapper 50 Cent for his face tattoo had been arguing with his partner before the assault and was later arrested by police. Poutawa (Puk) Kireka, 32, struck his partner so hard in the face she fell onto the ground and broke her nose in Hastings, New Zealand in October last year His partner had walked away from him after they started arguing before Kireka caught up to her and assaulted her. Kireka pleaded guilty to a charge of assault last December and appeared at Hastings District Court for sentencing on Wednesday. Judge Bridget Mackintosh acknowledge that in the wake of the assault, the couple were working to get through their issues. 'Both of you have been working hard to put it into perspective and put it behind you,' she said, Stuff reported. Kireka made headlines last year after starting his own fundraising page asking strangers to donate to his studies so he could land a job. He was later hired to work as a personal trainer in a gym while he continues to study at university. Kireka had been arguing with his partner before he assaulted her and was later arrested American rapper 50 Cent weighed in on Kireka's tattoo on Instagram in June, and said: 'What the f*** is really going on man. I wonder why he can't get a job.' Kireka fired back at the rapper's comments inviting him to come to New Zealand for a 'chat'. 'Someone like him to be mentioning me in his statuses, I feel privileged a little bit', Kireka said in video footage. 'But at the end of the day, if you've got something to say, come over.' On Wednesday, Judge Mackintosh said Kireka was distancing himself from his former gangster lifestyle. 'Your employer speaks very highly of you - you're working through EIT [Eastern Institute of Technology] to get a good qualification and whist you still have an affiliation through the Mongrel Mob, you are slowly, but surely distancing yourself from that life style - a deep involvement with the Mongrel Mob doesn't lead to good outcomes,' she said. Kireka was also asked to attend a domestic violence program and a drug and alcohol program. AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Capital Group, an alternative investment financial firm focused on private lending and private equity, announced today the rollout of its nationwide lending initiative, the Private Lender Network (PLN), to finance real estate investment projects and provide growth-oriented support to private lenders in select markets across the United States. The Private Lender Network will support the growth of private lenders by offering proven tools for business operations and marketing strategies, as well as providing loan underwriting and loan servicing. In addition to deploying capital, the initiative provides numerous loan structures aimed at funding many types of residential real estate investments, from renovations to multi-family and larger community development construction projects. Over the past few years, the private lending industry has grown rapidly as institutional investors have infused the sector with capital in search of a stable, predictable investment alternative. As interest in real estate investment and private lending continues to grow, and larger amounts of capital enter the market, there is an expanding need for proven processes, systems and business support like the PLN provides. "What we're doing with the Private Lender Network is very different than what the Wall Street banks are doing," said Romney Navarro, Partner at Noble Capital and Co-founder of the PLN. "They have done a great job investing in our space, but their focus is only on providing investment capital. The PLN is focused on deploying capital through Noble Capital's Funds and its newly launched REIT. But, more importantly, we're focused on the growth of our lending partners." The PLN helped its first lending partner and wholly-owned subsidiary, Streamline Funding, scale its annual loan originations to builders and developers in Texas from $82M in 2017 to more than $122M in 2019. "During the 18 years we've been in the private lending sector, we've developed a blueprint for operating a highly profitable private lending firm on Main Street which Streamline Funding has used successfully," Noble Capital Founder and CEO, Jadon Newman, said. "Now the Private Lender Network is going to take this proven formula nationwide, to private lenders looking to scale their operations." About Noble Capital Noble Capital is a Texas-based alternative investment firm specializing in private lending and private equity. The company was named Private Lender of the Year for 2019 by Think Realty Magazine. Noble Capital has built an extensive network of private lenders and real estate professionals and is rapidly growing its investment portfolio and its private investment funds. For more information, visit: www.noblecapital.com. Press Contact: Sean Harris [email protected] 512-492-3814 SOURCE Noble Capital Group Actor Richa Chadha will be seen playing the chief minister of a state in her next. To be directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film is titled Madam Chief Minister. The film has been shot in Lucknow in November and December in a start-to-finish 40-day schedule. In a press note, the makers mentions that Subhash Kapoor, who worked as a journalist before, went for Richa as his natural choice because the actor is an articulate, politically and socially aware actor. Her film, Section 375: Marzi Ya Zabardasti, saw her play a lawyer debating rape laws and Section 375 of the Indian Constitution. Richa is thrilled about the role. She said in a statement, Happy to announce that our labour of love Madam Chief Minister has been announced. My toughest part yet, am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with particularly witty Subhash Sir and with the splendid cast Manav, Akshay Oberoi and Saurabh Shukla. The film also stars Akshay Oberoi, Shubhrajyoti, Manav Kaul and Saurabh Shukla. It is scheduled to release on July 17. Richa was last seen in Ashwiny Iyer Tiwaris Panga, which starred Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. She was appreciated for her role in the film. The fact that Richa and Kangana do not belong to the same political spectrum was brought to her notice and she had told Pinkvilla, I have known Ashwiny Iyer Tiwaris style of working and thoroughly enjoyed my role. It was different from the recent roles I had done and I really liked the story and wanted to be a part of it. Our synergy as actors worked well on-screen. We had a good time and it is not necessary that you make friends on all sets. At the end of the day, we are all here to give in our best. Also read | Thappad trailer 2: Taapsee Pannu wants you to get her own trailer banned from YouTube, gives directions. Watch Richa recently shared a first look of her character from an untitled film. The statement released by the makers says that the film is an intense love drama. In the picture, we see Richa in a silk cotton sari, paired with a check blouse. She is wearing jewellery worn in rural areas. Follow @htshowbiz for more The European Commission has put EU member Romania on notice for failing to tackle illegal logging and not doing enough to protect some of Europes largest unspoiled forests. The February 12 move launches a sanctions procedure that could see Bucharest brought in front of a court and penalized. Illegal logging is a major problem for Romania, where six forest rangers have been killed in recent years by timber thieves -- two of them last year, prompting thousands to march in Bucharest demanding government action. Another 650 forest workers were beaten, attacked with axes or knives, or even shot at after catching illegal loggers in the act. Under the infringement procedure, an EU member state can be taken to the Court of Justice and be hit with financial sanctions. Bucharest was given one month to take steps to prevent timber firms from exporting illegally harvested wood to the European Union market. "Inconsistencies in the national legislation do not allow Romanian authorities to check large amounts of illegally harvested timber," the commission said in a so-called letter of formal notice, the first step in the EU's infringement procedure. Forests still cover some 7 million hectares, or almost one-third of Romania. More than 525,000 hectares are virgin primary forests -- more than any other EU country outside Scandinavia. Such forests, as well as containing ancient and protected tree species, provide a habitat for wildlife including bears, wolves, and lynx. Romania's timber industry, estimated to be worth more than 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion), is dominated by the Austrian company Holzindustrie Schweighofer, which has been accused by environmental and civic groups of buying large quantities of illegally chopped timber. A forest inventory commissioned by the government and leaked to the media last year showed that 20 million cubic meters of wood are cut illegally from the forests every year, while 19 million cubic meters are cut legally. According to the European Commission, Romanian authorities also "manage forests, including by authorizing logging, without evaluating beforehand the impacts on protected habitats" as required under EU rules. The European Commission blamed Romanian authorities for "shortcomings in the access of the public to environmental information in the forest management plans." Romanian Environment Minister Costel Alexe blamed the previous leftist government for the situation. "The first letter from the commission came three years ago.... Previous governments endlessly postponed solutions that could have stopped illegal logging," Alexe said, pledging to act swiftly. With reporting by RFE/RL's Romanian Service, Euronews, AFP, hotnews.ro, g4media.ro, and Digi24.ro President Donald Trump lauded the 'great reputation' of Lenin Moreno as he welcomed the Ecuadoran President to the White House on Wednesday. Trump talked up his counterpart, who is the only world leader to use a wheel chair, as the South American head of state came to the White House for meetings. Trump greeted Moreno and his wife, Rocio Gonzalez, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. He yelled out the brief praise for Moreno while photographers were snapping the arrival photos. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno and his wife, Rocio Gonzalez, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2020. He spoke of his 'great reputation' Later, the two leaders met in the Oval Office, where Trump tore into federal prosecutors who recommended a nine-year jail sentence for his longtime confidant Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering. Moreno lost the use of his legs after being shot during a robbery attempt in 1988, and has since become an advocate for people with disabilities. Trump also talked trade, saying Ecuador makes 'incredible product' and touted a potential trade deal. Ecuador is eager to 'refresh relationships,' Moreno told reporters. His own popularity is down at home. Earlier this month, Moreno scrambled to apologize for comments suggesting women tend to complain about sexual harassment by ugly people. Moreno said men were under threat of being denounced for harassment and added, 'at times, with harassment, they torment ugly people. 'That is to say, that the harassment is when it comes from an ugly person,' he added. 'But if the person looks good according to the standards, they tend not to think necessarily that it is harassment,' he added, sparking outrage from women's rights activists. President Donald Trump welcomes Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 12, 2020 President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he's working on a trade deal with Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno, who became the first chief of state from the small South American nation in 17 years to meet with an American president in Washington. "They have incredible product," Trump said about Ecuador's exports. "They grow it and they make it and we like it - and they need our product." "We are working on great deals. We're working on military options including the purchase of a lot of our military equipment," Trump said. Trump and Moreno shake hands in the Oval Office Relations between the U.S. and Ecuador deteriorated during the 10 years of leftist Rafael Correas presidency, but have been rekindled under Moreno. "Ecuador has, after having gone through very hard times, and especially in regards to its international relationships, has decided to come together again with the international community and refresh relationships," Moreno said in the Oval Office. "We need to remember that the U.S. is the main trading partner for Ecuador." Trump's trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, was expected to participate in the meeting. Moreno has welcomed U.S. cooperation on security, economic and cultural issues and has joined the U.S. and nearly 60 other nations in backing the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is working to oust Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro. Ecuador has received $72 million from the United States to assist with the influx of people leaving Venezuela. There currently are nearly 400,000 Venezuelans in Ecuador. Moreno said he also wanted to talk to Trump about drug trafficking and the fight against corruption and organized crime. Moreno is at a weak moment of his presidency after nearly two weeks of violent protests last year over his decision to end fuel subsidies. He later retracted that decision and reached an agreement with indigenous leaders to cancel an austerity package backed by the International Monetary Fund. But the economy is still growing at a sluggish pace and Morenos approval rating has hovered around 20%. Anti-Trump protesters and union workers who want the Trump administration to block the sale of a Philadelphia oil refinery gather outside the St. Francis de Sales School in West Philadelphia, where Vice President Mike Pence appeared last week. Read more When Vice President Mike Pence rolled into Philadelphia last week, he was greeted by hordes of sign-wielding activists. But they werent all there for the same reason. On one side of a West Philadelphia intersection were dozens of union workers asking Pence for help in reopening the bankrupt, shuttered Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery. Just a few feet away were protesters draped in rainbow flags. One woman held a sign that said, Move the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery to Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trumps Florida resort. The dueling demonstrations were the latest reflection of tensions between building trades unions and liberal activists. The building trades wield enormous political influence in Philadelphia Democratic circles and want refinery jobs restored. Environmentalists want to permanently close the refinery as part of their campaign against climate change and air pollution. That makes the political calculus around the refinery fraught for elected officials, many of whom depend on support from both labor unions and progressive groups. READ MORE: Vince Fumos old district is the scene of the latest battle between old and new Philadelphia politics The future of the 1,300-acre PES refinery has been in flux since last summer, when it shut down after a massive fire and later declared bankruptcy. On Wednesday, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court could approve a proposed reorganization plan that would sell it off to Chicago-based Hilco Redevelopment Partners, which says it would turn the site into a mixed-use industrial complex. Some labor leaders want the site to be sold to a bidder that would return it to oil processing, which they say is the only way to provide their members with the 1,000 or so high-paying jobs lost after the blaze. Those union leaders have found support in the Trump administration. Working with Peter Navarro, assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy, they have asked the White House to assert that closing the East Coasts largest oil refinery would make the United States too dependent on foreign oil. John J. Dougherty, leader of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said Tuesday that the refinery can be modernized and reopened quickly, pushing an ordinance to end its use of hydrogen fluoride, a toxic chemical that can pose a health threat when released in high concentrations. And Mayor Jim Kenney said Tuesday that legislation banning hydrogen fluoride in refinery operations and petroleum processing will be introduced in City Council this week. Energy policy has become an awkward fault line for these traditionally Democratic bases in Pennsylvania. This week, state trade unions criticized Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, who plans to veto a bill that would give tax breaks to new petrochemical manufacturers that use state natural gas and also create at least 800 jobs. In Western Pennsylvania, labor unions and environmental activists have clashed over proposals to ban fracking. Some union leaders there have said they would sooner support Trump before backing Sens. Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren, who have called for a fracking ban. Even some of the most liberal Pennsylvania politicians have said a fracking ban would devastate communities and pit climate activists against workers. Some elected officials in Philadelphia have urged PES to sell off the 150-year-old complex to a company vowing both to establish a sustainable future and create union jobs. In November, City Council passed a resolution urging bidders to adopt the citys clean-energy goals, calling the refinery the citys largest stationary source of toxic air pollution. The split between the camps was on display during a Jan. 30 rally organized by the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council that attracted about 500 people, who showered City Hall with boos. Labor leaders derided academic elitists and rich kids for valuing environmental causes over jobs. Local activists who want the refinery never to process oil again reject that assertion. Peter Winslow, an activist affiliated with a number of organizations including Green Justice Philly, said he and allies want to see a smooth transition that creates high-paying jobs while still advocating for a more sustainable future, rather than one where were poisoning ourselves." There is nobody in the environmental justice community who had any wish or responsibility for the refinery workers being out of work, Winslow said. Theyre out of work because of their bosses. Carolyn McCoy, the protester who held the Mar-a-Lago sign in West Philadelphia, said of the refinery workers: They were treated horribly. Similarly, labor leaders say they share concerns about emissions and climate change. Were not against clean energy, said Ed Harkins, political director of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 13. We got mortgages. At the City Hall rally, labor leaders complained about Democratic politicians who seek union support during elections but arent helping to save their jobs at the refinery. Jim Snell, business manager for Steamfitters Local 420, invoked State Sen. Larry Farnese, who wrote a letter urging the bankruptcy court to reject bids that dont align with the citys climate goals. We had a good relationship until that day, Snell said. This is serious. And when you turn your back on us, I cut you off. Youre done. Farnese has said he backs Kenneys push for the site to be developed, which may end its use as a refinery. I certainly want to be supported by all labor and I want to work with them, Farnese said. At the rally, Dougherty said he found 100% an ally for jobs during two visits with Trump officials. READ MORE: Newly revealed restrictions challenge redevelopment of bankrupt Philly refinerys land Dougherty also warned that a couple of tree-huggers had derailed energy development efforts in Boston, vowing to prevent the same from happening here. Around him, union members carried signs disparaging Brian Abernathy, the citys managing director, for his position on redeveloping the refinery site. One sign read: Brian, worry about the guns, not our jobs. Union leaders who lambasted Abernathy from the lectern made no mention of Kenney, his boss. Philly 2019, an independent political action committee funded by those same unions, raised $931,869 last year to support Kenneys bid for a second term, even though the mayor faced sparse competition in the primary or general elections. Local 98 put up $400,000 of that money, while Steamfitters Local 420 kicked in $200,000. A similar building trades PAC spent $1.8 million in 2015 to help Kenney win the Democratic primary for mayor. Progressive activists and labor leaders both say they want to find a way to bridge the gap in their interests. I know its a hard transition, said Tim Brown, an organizer with Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks. The fact is we absolutely, positively need to move to clean energy. ... Thats where our politicians need to step up to make sure our arrangements are worker-focused. Jim Gallagher, assistant business manager of Steamfitters Local 420, said he wants elected officials to help find a solution that doesnt involve sweeping job and pay cuts. Youre putting people in poverty, he said, and its hurting. When John McBurney started doing drag in the 70s, it was very much a DIY affair. McBurney, 65, remembers squeezing his mens size 13 feet into the largest womens shoes he could find because there were few other options. He made hip and butt pads from foam to add feminine curves to his 6-foot-4 frame, marking each piece with an L or an R to indicate which side of his body to wear them on. He also remembers transforming the egg-shaped containers that Leggs pantyhose came in into shoulder duster earrings, painting them and adding all sorts of sparkles. "from the sidewalk to the catwalk" Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Ive always come from that era of no money, working on a budget and making the best of what you had, said McBurney, a retired hair and makeup artist. So Ive gone from the sidewalk to the catwalk, if you will. Fifty years after he started, things are very different. McBurneys upcoming performance at Jump-Start Performance Co. is an example: Im having a dress made and have some shoes ordered, and Ive got some hair coming in, he said. So Im really, really excited. McBurney will appear as Jessica St. John, his drag persona, in a pair of performances at Jump-Start as part of the On and Off Fredericksburg Road Studio Tour, a self-guided look into art spaces in the Deco District taking place Feb. 22-23. A total of 80 artists are participating in the tour, which includes galleries, studios and private homes. Jump-Starts contribution includes the drag show, which will feature Jessica St. John and other performers, as well as an exhibit titled Jessica St. John: Memories of a Drag Queen. McBurney has a long-standing association with Jump-Start as a performer and a designer. And company members helped him cope when his partner of 34 years died three years ago. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Ive been working with Jump-Start for maybe 25, 30 years, roughly, and Ive been so blessed because theyve never put rules or restrictions on me, he said. Ive alwasy done drag to its fullest extreme, especially when Im around Jump-Start. Jump-Start has been like my home. With the exhibit, the company wanted to honor that relationship as well as bring some attention to drag artistry. Hes part of an unrecognized art form, said Jump-Start company member Chuck Squier. And we just thought that kind of fit nicely. McBurney brought stacks of photos and other material to the theater to prepare the exhibit, which reflects on his 50 years in drag. Some of the photos are of his late brother, William, who performed as Miss Abby and also specialized in appearing as Cher. He was attacked and killed after a performance in 1986. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer People still ask about his brother decades after his death, McBurney said. His imagination was just as great, if not bigger, than mine, he said. He took one of those Styrofoam Christmas cones and he put it under his wig, then he pulled back the hair and covered the cone. Then he took peacock feathers, that are pretty long, and stuck them into the Styrofoam all the way around. So he had this huge, massive Afro of peacock feathers. And it was spectacular. People still talk about it. McBurney got into drag through William when they were teenagers. William would stitch his own costumes, working late at night in the bedroom that they shared. In the beginning, I was like his bodyguard, McBurney said. He was my kid brother. Very few people knew that. They thought we were partners, but we were not. He was always my main concern that he was safe, that hed get paid and that wed go home and get out of there and wait for the next gig. Josie Norris /Staff Photographer Soon, McBurney was performing, too. The brothers and their next-door neighbor a young man who also performed in drag spent many late nights at the Ponderosa, an underground gay club in Von Ormy. Back then, he said, any time a drag queen went to a store to buy makeup, wigs and other supplies, they made it a point to reference a sister: Wed always have to go go and say, Can I have those earrings over there? Theyre for my sister. They werent. They were for us. Compared to now, its changed dramatically. Now you can go to Sephora and the other store, called Alta, and say, I want makeup in my skin tone and not have a problem. Hell go, Sit down, let me do a sample. Theyll do it right there, lip shade and all your colors, he said. Same with the wig Would you like to try the wig on? The exhibit also will include photos from McBurneys many creations for Cornyation, the campy Fiesta event. One of the things Im known for, for Cornyation, is Ive always done the multiples, he said. So Ive always had six or eight girls, and I dress them all alike. We did eight Monica Lewinskys and one President Clinton, which was real camp. File photo Michael Quintanilla, a retired Express-News fashion writer, was co-emcee one year, when McBurney outfitted several performers in giant baby doll heads. It was hilarious the way they crawled and gyrated on stage he took drag to a new level because it wasnt drag queen drag. It was over the top theatrical stage camp, Quintanilla said. Johns work is so inspiring because he is daring. McBurney likes to mentor up and coming drag queens, offering advice and hands-on help when needed. It makes me happy, he said. I love tearing a wig apart, I love sewing two or three wigs together for big hair. Ive always been very lucky and blessed to be able to stay in this field and keep doing what I love to do. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Jessica St. John: Memories of a Drag Queen can be seen from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 22 and from noon to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Jump-Start Performance Co., 710 Fredericksburg Road. The drag performances take place at 3 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 23. Admission is by donation. Visit jump-start.org for more information. The On and Off Fredericksburg Studio Tour kicks off with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21 at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Road. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 22 and from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 23. Catalogs, including a map showing all of the sites included, is available in advance for $10 and will be sold during the tour for $15. Visit onandofffred.org to order the catalog and for more information. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Data breaches are among the biggest issues of our time, and the US major credit reporting agency Equifax hosted one of the biggest ever, when 44% of Americansor a total of 147.9 million people--had their personal information revealed. Monday was a day of partial closure on this incident, with the U.S. Justice Department charging four members of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army with the breach, and momentarily taking the heat off Equifax and placing it on national security. U.S. Attorney General William Barr called the alleged hack an organized and remarkably brazen criminal heist of sensitive information of nearly half of all Americans. Separately, FBI officials said that there is no evidence that the data stolen has been used. According to the charges, the men ran roughly 9,000 queries on Equifaxs system to steal the data and then covered their tracks by routing traffic through over 30 servers in almost 20 countries. The four defendants, Wu Zhiyong, Wang Qian, Xu Ke and Liu Lei, were members of the PLAs 54th Research Institute, a component of the Chinese military. In short, this was an organized and remarkably brazen criminal heist of sensitive information of nearly half of all Americans, as well as the hard work and intellectual property of an American company, by a unit of the Chinese military, Barr said in announcing the charges. Chinas government denied being involved in the hacking incident, with Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang saying that the countrys institutions never engage in cybertheft of trade secrets. Still, the Equifax hack marks Washingtons latest clash with Beijing over the alleged cyber espionage. Chinese hackers have also been accused of infiltrating computers of steel manufacturers, healthcare institutions, a Marriott hotel chain and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Last July, Equifax agreed to pay up to $700 million to resolve U.S. federal and state investigations into the 2017 hack. Some $275 million is to be divided between 50 US states and territories and a penalty paid to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Its not a huge victory for affected users. Equifax was only ordered to pay up to $425 million to compensate consumers. That works out to a whopping $3 per affected individual, approximately. Related: Is A New Housing Bubble Forming? The final deadline for the victims to file a claim as part of the settlement was January 22nd, so the individual credit depends on the number of people that filed for the compensation. And with $3 at stake, its not likely to result in a rush of late-filed complaints. The compensation amount is much smaller than even the victims of Yahoo breach received. In that case, they were able to $375 at most, and $125 at least, depending on documented losses related to the breach. Yahoo has made the major hacking news twice in the past decade. First, in 2013, three billion accounts were compromised; in other words, the entire Yahoo! portfolio of emails at the time. Then, in 2014, 500 million accounts were hacked. Two massive data breaches undisclosed for some three years and affecting 3.5 billion users cost Yahoo $50 million in settlement damages. Target also was the focus of a massive cyberattack in 2013, right before the Christmas holiday, when hackers accessed the personal information of 70 million people. Targeting agreed in 2015 to pay the victims up to $10 million collectively. In 2018, Latvian hacker linked to Target breaches was sentenced to 14 years in prison. As for Yahoos data breach, the US authorities are pointing at Russia. China certainly doesnt have the market cornered on international high-profile hacking. By Fred Dunkley for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the central government is not taking the coronavirus threat seriously and added that timely action is critical in checking a potential outbreak. "The coronavirus is an extremely serious threat to our people and our economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously. Timely action is critical," Rahul tweeted. The new streak of coronavirus emanated in Wuhan city of China's Hubei province in December last year. It has spread to various countries since then, including India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Australia, UK and US. More than 1,000 people have died of the infection in China alone and there are over 42,000 confirmed cases across the country. The World Organization (WHO) has named the virus 'Covid-19'. In India, three persons have been confirmed of suffering from coronavirus infection so far, while other suspected patients are being tested. On Tuesday, Minister of State (MoS) for and Family Welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, said that the government has been taking all measures to monitor the situation in view of coronavirus outbreak. "All measures have been taken to monitor the situation in view of the Coronavirus outbreak. As of now, three confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus disease have been reported from Kerala. All the cases are clinically stable", said Choubey in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. He said the screening of passengers has been initiated at all 21 airports and universal screening has been made mandatory for all flights from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. Instructions have been issued to park these flights at earmarked aero-bridges to facilitate screening. Screening has also been initiated at all major seaports and minor ports wherein crew and passengers from China are expected. Besides this, screening has been initiated in border crossings. First Travel advisory was issued on January 17, 2020 and as the situation is evolving, the travel advisories are accordingly getting revised. "Existing visas (including eVisa already issued) are no longer valid for any foreign national travelling from China to India. People having compelling reasons to visit India may contact the Indian Embassy in Beijing or Indian Consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou," he said. People have already been advised to refrain from travel to China through an earlier advisory. People travelling to China henceforth will be quarantined on return. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LAKE CITY Owners of trailers on Marina Point in Lake City will see some changes in 2021, and some will see a change of scenery. The Lake City City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to approve payments of $6,500 to the nine trailer owners whose lots will become part of a new park and bath house on the point. The money will help those owners move their trailers. City workers sent letters to the nine trailer owners telling them that 2020 will proceed much like it normally has done, but 2021 will mean moving their mobile homes, either to a new lot at Marina Point or to a new mobile home park. One trailer was damaged in the Sept. 24 tornado, and city staff has heard those owners plan to abandon their spot. That, said Mayor Mark Nichols, means the city may only need to find room for eight new spots on the point to accommodate the nine trailers that need to be moved. The tornado also caused damage to the 300 Dock, the boat slips at Marina Point. City Administrator Rob Keehn said strong winds bent the dock and the piers. That led the city to move ahead with a planned replacement for the docks that was scheduled for 2022. ADVERTISEMENT The city council approved a $595,000 bid for replacement of the damaged docks. The city had reserve funds on hand of $950,000, but bids came back lower than expected. Keehn said city staff was extremely pleased with the bids, and the city was still working with the League of Minnesota Cities the property insurer for the city on a payout for the damages. In other business, the city approved a design and engineering agreement with WSB Engineering to develop plans for its Ohuta Beach redesign. Those plans will not include new pickleball courts. Nichols suggested the city could construct courts itself ,without paying for design and engineering. As part of the project, the city hired a grant writer to help secure a $250,000 DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant to help pay for the project. Finally, the city is going back to the drawing board in its efforts to sell farmland owned by the city in Lake Township. The city is seeking about $450,000 for the farmland and plans to use the funds to offset some costs of the U.S. Highway 61 project. Keehn said that while no bids were received, feedback from potential bidders indicated that some of the terms of the sale were unclear or unfavorable. "It sounds like the concerns werent price related," said Council Member Russell Boe. The study found that by creating additional customer demand for grocery stores, Instacart increased retail grocery employment by 23,000 net jobs and drove significant incremental revenue across four states. According to the study, the entry and expansion of Instacart into local markets acts as an economic complement to grocery store employment, bringing incremental business to the store while creating an e-commerce footprint for retailers. "Instacart is changing the way customers engage with grocery stores by creating a complementary online service that would be prohibitively expensive for traditional retailers to offer on their own. The result is increased grocery demand, which translates into higher grocery store employment and revenue. The data indicates that in 2019, "The Instacart Effect" was responsible for an increase of more than $620 million in revenue and over 23,000 jobs in the grocery sector in California, New York, Illinois, and Washington. These findings demonstrate that Instacart has played an important role in helping the grocery industry compete in a challenging economic environment," said Dr. Kulick. "It is often assumed that disruptive innovations necessarily displace traditional modes of commerce and employment. However, with Instacart the opposite is true. While Instacart is changing the way customers interact with grocery stores, it is an example of how innovation can benefit industries and their workers." Using rigorous statistical methods and analyzing data from California, Illinois, New York, and Washington, the study demonstrates a robust relationship between Instacart adoption in local markets and employment and revenue in the grocery industry. Key findings of the study include: Grocery Employment Increases When Instacart Enters a Market - When comparing retail grocery employment prior to and following Instacart's entry into a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), there is a direct connection between Instacart's entry and employment. On average, Instacart's entry is associated with a 4% increase in retail grocery employment in an MSA, as grocers add employees to support the increased business at their store. These roles are direct employees of grocery stores and include jobs such as cashiers, stocking associates, and deli counter clerks, among others. Instacart Creates Net Grocery Jobs - In 2019 specifically, Instacart's adoption was directly responsible for more than 23,000 jobs across MSAs in the four states studied. These are net retail grocery jobs that would not have existed had Instacart not entered and expanded in the market. Instacart Drives Significant Incremental Grocery Revenue - As online grocery grows, so does the revenue it drives across the grocery industry. Across MSAs, Instacart increased incremental grocery revenue by over $620 million in 2019 alone. "The Instacart Effect" is a National Phenomenon - The results indicate that the magnitude of "The Instacart Effect" is statistically equivalent for each state. Thus, the findings suggest that "The Instacart Effect" is a national phenomenon. At the state level, the study finds: In California , "The Instacart Effect" created over 11,500 additional jobs and $337 million in incremental revenue. , "The Instacart Effect" created over 11,500 additional jobs and in incremental revenue. In Illinois , "The Instacart Effect" created over 3,400 jobs and $75 million in incremental revenue. , "The Instacart Effect" created over 3,400 jobs and in incremental revenue. In New York , "The Instacart Effect" created over 6,600 jobs and $154 million in incremental revenue. , "The Instacart Effect" created over 6,600 jobs and in incremental revenue. In Washington , "The Instacart Effect" created over 1,900 jobs and $56 million in incremental revenue. The study provides strong evidence demonstrating that "The Instacart Effect" is causal. "The Instacart Effect" is apparent in the results of three distinct statistical models, each of which is validated by seven placebo tests involving other retail industries. In comparison to retailers such as bookstores, sporting goods stores and clothing stores, Instacart showed no effect on growth for any non-grocery retail industries. This further confirms that "The Instacart Effect" directly impacts retail grocery growth and is not a false positive driven by confounding factors in the broader retail industry. "Investing in an online retail experience is critical to the success of grocers competing for consumer attention today. The technology and fulfillment needs are complex, and the cost is prohibitive for many. But, with Instacart's support, more than 75 California retailers across 3,500 stores are now online, offering delivery and pickup services that meet the growing needs of their customers," said Ron Fong, California Grocers Association President and CEO. "What Instacart is bringing to the state of California and the rest of the U.S. is a growth runway for brick and mortar grocers that deserve the opportunity to continue to serve their local communities for many generations to come." "Today in the U.S., grocery is almost a $1 trillion industry but it's only now going through its first big wave of tech innovation. Change in a business sector often comes at the detriment of incumbents, and we've seen this play out again and again across industries. But, it doesn't have to be that way. Since day one, our goal at Instacart has been to lift up our brick and mortar grocery partners and give retailers of all sizes an edge in an increasingly competitive industry," said Nilam Ganenthiran, President of Instacart. "While we've long seen in our own internal data that Instacart can incrementally boost retail partner sales between 50% to 80%, this study shows that when Instacart enters a market the tides turn and 'The Instacart Effect' drives meaningful job creation and increased revenue for the grocery industry." The retail grocery industry represents 17% of retail employment and 13% of retail sales. The study highlights the increased competition facing grocers, which has led to significant economic pressure on the industry. More grocery retailers are turning to delivery solutions like Instacart to compete and this data provides statistical evidence that the partnerships are helping with retailers' overall growth. Instacart today partners with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers to offer delivery from more than 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Instacart delivery is currently available to more than 85% of households in the U.S. and more than 70% of households in Canada. To read the full study, click here . Methodology The study, conducted by Dr. Robert Kulick of NERA Economic Consulting, applies a broad array of rigorous statistical methods using data from California, Illinois, New York, and Washington to evaluate whether Instacart increases grocery employment by creating incremental demand for the retail grocery industry and quantifies Instacart's effect on incremental grocery sales. The findings are based on the results of three distinct statistical models, with multiple statistical techniques applied to each model to rule out alternative explanations for the relationship. The evidence for a causal relationship is further supported by the application of seven falsification or "placebo" tests to the results of each model. About Dr. Robert Kulick Dr. Robert Kulick is an Associate Director at NERA Economic Consulting, specializing in the economic analysis of competition, regulatory, intellectual property, and labor and employment issues. Much of his work involves the use of econometric analysis to evaluate the effects of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, entry of new firms, and competition on labor market outcomes, including employment, wages, and productivity. Dr. Kulick holds a PhD in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a BA in economics with high honors from Princeton University. About NERA NERA Economic Consulting is a global firm of experts dedicated to applying economic, finance, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. For half a century, NERA's economists have been creating strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony, and policy recommendations for government authorities and the world's leading law firms and corporations. NERA serves clients from more than 25 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. About Instacart Instacart is a North American leader in online grocery and one of the fastest growing companies in e-commerce. Instacart's same-day delivery and pickup services bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada in as fast as an hour. Instacart has partnered with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix, Sam's Club, Sprouts, Walmart Canada, and Wegmans, among others, to deliver from more than 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart's delivery service is available to more than 85 percent of U.S. households and 70 percent of Canadian households. The company's cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the e-commerce platforms of some of the world's biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information or to start shopping, visit www.Instacart.com . SOURCE Instacart Related Links http://www.instacart.com Carsales.com posted a strong half-year result on Wednesday despite weak new car sales in Australia, as consumers increasingly look to second-hand cars and put off buying new cars due to economic reasons or the prospect of electronic vehicles on the horizon. If you look at the Australian car park we have a bit over 19 million cars in our car park and the average age of those cars is actually increasing, chief executive Cameron McIntyre told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. The average Australian car is now more than 10 years old, giving us one of the oldest car fleets in the developed world. Secondhand car sales have continued to power Carsales results for the December half-year. The trend meant good business for Carsales in the December half-year, with the $4 billion online platform for automotive classified ads saying revenues rose across its core Australian business and profit margins rose to 50 per cent. The coronavirus outbreak in China has led to rare open calls for freedom of speech in the Communist nation amid growing public discontent over the handling of the epidemic, as the death toll continued to climb which prompted the government on Wednesday to announce fresh restrictions in top cities. So far, the virus outbreak has claimed 1,115 lives with 97 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province on Tuesday while the confirmed cases of infection jumped to 44,763, the state-run CGTN TV reported. The number of confirmed cases abroad rose to 440 with one death so far in the Philippines. Japan reported the highest number of 203 cases with a majority of them from a cruise ship. Two Indian crew on board the cruise ship off the Japanese coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Indian Embassy in Japan said on Wednesday. The virus, now named COVID-19, has spread to over 20 countries, including India. The outbreak which led to the lockdown of nearly 20 cities in China with over 50 million people in Hubei province has led to increasing calls for freedom of speech, especially after the death of 34-year-old doctor, Li Wenliang, who faced a stern warning from police when he along with eight others tried to inform authorities about the virus epidemic in December. Tragically, Li, an ophthalmologist died of the coronavirus on February 6, sparking a nation-wide outpouring rarely seen in China in recent years. Following his death, hundreds of Chinese, led by academics have signed an online petition calling on the national legislature to protect citizens' right to freedom of speech, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. The petition is addressed to the National People's Congress (NPC) often termed as the rubber-stamp parliament for its routine approval of the proposals of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). The NPC is scheduled to meet early next month but the spread of the virulent virus cast doubts about the meeting as the government discouraged large gatherings. The petition lists five demands to protect the people's right to freedom of expression, discussion on this issue at the NPC, make February 6, the day of Dr Li's death as a national day for free speech. The petition also demands the government to ensure no one is punished, threatened, interrogated, censored or locked up for their speech, civil assembly, letters or communication and to give equitable treatment, such as medical care, to people from Wuhan and Hubei province, the Post reported. The petition is gaining momentum online, but some of the signatories have already come under pressure, the report said. Those signed the petition included Tsinghua University sociologist Guo Yuhua and her colleague, law professor Xu Zhangrun, whose accounts on social media network WeChat have been blocked. Xu wrote a critical letter last week blaming that the crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression is making it impossible to raise the alarm about coronavirus outbreak, the report said. Another report said that a prominent blogger went missing from Wuhan after writing critical posts about the handling of the virus outbreak. Meanwhile, the authorities in Beijing and Shanghai, China's two biggest cities, have announced fresh restrictions on residential communities to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, joining dozens of mainland cities that have gone into partial lockdown since the epidemic began last month. Measures unveiled by the authorities on Monday include stricter controls on the movement of residents and vehicles, compulsory mask-wearing and shutting down leisure and other non-essential community services, the Post report said. The lockdown-style measures appear to be aimed at controlling possible community transmission of the virus as the country returns to work at the end of an extended Lunar New Year holiday. Millions of Chinese returned to the cities after the extended New Year Holiday on Monday. The government is encouraging people to work from home. While the government highlighted that the cases of the virus have started showing a declining trend, analysts however cautioned that the people should not be too optimistic as the turning point has not emerged yet, state-run Global Times reported. And the most challenging battleground is still in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, it said. Zhong Nanshan, China's top epidemiologist, told the newspaper that the inflection point of the outbreak cannot be predicted now. "It may peak in mid or late-February," he said. Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that the epidemic situation has shown positive changes due to concerted hard work and that the prevention and control work has achieved notable outcomes. "The results are hard-won progress made by all sides," Xi told a high-powered meeting of the CPC. Noting that epidemic prevention and control have entered a critical stage that requires stringent efforts, Xi stressed focusing on priorities without any let-up and strengthening prevention and control in areas where the epidemic situation is particularly serious or at greater risk, state-run Xinhua agency reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Nicaraguas Parliament approved the creation Tuesday of four state companies that will handle the importation, storage, distribution and sales of oil and gas, two months after the countrys main energy company was sanctioned by Washington for allegedly laundering money for family members of President Daniel Ortega and then sold to the government days later. The measure passed without debate, analysis in committee or consultation with other government or business entities under rules for urgent legislation in a Parliament controlled by Ortegas Sandinista party. Walmaro Gutierrez, a Sandinista who heads the legislatures economic commission, called the decision wise and said it would guarantee better service, high-quality and efficiency, through specialization by the different companies. Members of the opposition, who have accused Ortega of running the petroleum sector without being accountable to Parliament, saw self-interest behind the measure. Creation of the new companies is an attempt to evade the U.S. Treasury Department sanctions, in case they sanction them again, said lawmaker Jimmy Blandon of the opposition Liberal Constitutionalist Party. Treasury levied the sanctions Dec. 12 on the fuel distributor DNP, accusing it of being used by members of the Ortega family for their personal enrichment. DNP, along with Albanisa, had commercialized crude from Venezuela since 2007, the year Ortega returned to power. Albanisa was founded the same year and was linked to Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, also sanctioned by Washington in 2019. Days after the December sanctions were announced, Ortegas government nationalized the company and took over its assets a move that was also fast-tracked by Parliament. The four new entities are known as Enigas, Eniplanh, Enicom and Enih, the latter of which focuses on exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons. Sandinista lawmaker Edwin Castro said that in the case of Enih, the government offered incentives for exploration on Nicaraguas Pacific coast, though without identifying what outside company benefited. It is possible that if we do not find oil, at least we may find gas, Castro said. Israel on Wednesday rejected as "shameful" a United Nations list of 112 companies that do business in settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, which are considered illegal under international law. "It is a shameful surrender to pressure from countries and organisations who want to harm Israel," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, responding to the list produced by the UN human rights office that includes Airbnb, Expedia and TripAdvisor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 12 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey's car exports to Azerbaijan increased in January 2020, Trend reports with reference to the Turkish Trade Ministry. The total value of Turkey's car exports to Azerbaijan exceeded $10.8 million in January 2020, which indicates 119.03 percent increase compared to January 2019. The exports of Turkish car industry to Azerbaijan are expected show growth in February 2020 as well. The monetary value of Turkey's car exports to the world market amounted to just over $2.4 billion in January 2020, having grown by 3.2 percent, compared to January 2019. According to the ministry, car exports accounted for 16.38 percent of Turkey's total exports in January 2020. The monetary value of Turkey's total car exports exceeded $30.6 billion in 2019, which accounted for 16.9 percent of the country's total exports. In 2019, car exports from Turkey to Azerbaijan increased by 119.6 percent, compared to 2018, and amounted to over $137.5 million. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu DUBLIN, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Pharmacovigilance World 2020" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Pharmacovigilance World 2020 will provide a platform for the participants to discuss, share and stay updated with present state of affairs in Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety, and contribute to the public health. It will also allow all its participants to interact with the experts, discuss the various developments, challenges faced and innovations in the field. The conference will bring-forth the participants and the representatives from various fields of pharmacovigilance and drug safety under a common umbrella and will provide them an opportunity to network with various industry professionals including pharmaceuticals, biologics, devices, CROs and PV service providers. With the augmented incidence of diseases, and the non-medical use of prescription drugs, the incidence of drug abuse has increased enormously in the recent years, which is apparent with the excess documentation of adversities and drug toxicities. In this context, the drug safety and pharmacovigilance has emerged as a dynamic clinical and scientific discipline to provide adequate information and ensure health safety by the joint interaction of doctors and patients in choosing appropriate treatment method and drug. However, evidences suggest though avoidable, the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines continue to be the bigger life risk. In England, ADR was responsible for up to 6% of hospital admissions, carrying a mortality of 2% and costing the NHS 466 million per annum (654 million, US$ 602 million) in 2004. In some countries, ADR is ranked among the top 10 leading cause of mortality. The concept of drug safety and pharmacovigilance has evolved considerably and is highly necessary to keep the severity of ADR under check. In order to prevent or to reduce harm to patients and improve public health, it is vital to develop and practice mechanisms for evaluating and monitoring the safety of medicines in clinical use. Pharmacovigilance brief the potential implications of such trends on the evolution of the science. However, these days it is confronting issues to develop a better health care system in this global pitch. Some of the major challenges include globalization, web-based sales and information, broader safety concerns, public health versus pharmaceutical industry economic growth, monitoring of established products, developing and emerging countries, attitudes and perceptions to benefit and harm, outcomes and impact, etc. Key Highlights Pharmacovigilance and globalization Women and child health care medicines and pharmacovigilance Patient-centric approaches in PV Pharmacovigilance legislation and regulations Harmonization and pharmacovigilance Advanced therapeutic techniques and pharmacovigilance Pharmacovigilance and data management and eudravigilance Post-marketing surveillance in pharmacovigilance PV regulations and challenges Benefit-risk management strategies Risk management and minimization Adverse drug reactions reporting Signal detection and post-authorization safety Good Pharmacovigilance Practices Innovative approaches to drug safety Strategies to improve PV Real-World Evidence in PV Big data and AI in pharmacovigilance Pharmacovigilance Monitoring and automation in Social media Other emerging technologies in PV Agenda DAY 1 08:30 - Registration & Refreshments 08:50 - Chairperson's opening remarks 09:00 - Morning Keynote: Pharmacovigilance in the Elderly - The importance of monitoring adverse drug reactions in elderly patients 09:30 - Morning Keynote: Pharmacovigilance of women and child health care medicines and its challenges Pharmacovigilance - significance, scope and challenges Personalized medicines Safe drug use: Adverse drug reactions, Adverse-drug interactions, monitoring 10:00 - An Integrated care: Effective Implementation of vigilances systems Separated vigilance systems can lead to the emergence of divergence in terms, definitions, variety of reporting forms and methods and the build of specific databases where cross analysis is no more possible. To be more proactive and innovative in PV and to ensure that emerging problems are promptly recognized and solutions are effectively communicated This integrated approach is very useful, especially for emerging countries to strengthen regulatory processes and to promote high standards of product vigilance for the protection of the health and safety of Citizens. 10:30 - Morning Coffee/Tea & Networking Legislation & Regulatory update 10:50 - PV regulations and challenges and how to accommodate all the various national requirements in a global organization 11:20 - International harmonization and drug regulatory requirement Sales, information and knowledge of consumers Awareness, generic names, reduction of medication errors in private clinics Industrial association Inspection, Quality & Compliance 11:50 - Reason, Scope and Significance of establishing good PV system Quality system within organizations Critical PV process Training Risk management 12:20 - GxP inspections of PV system, scope, trends and challenges 12:50 - Networking & Luncheon 13:30 - Ensuring Quality Oversight in Pharmacovigilance Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and PV 14:00 - Advanced therapeutic techniques and pharmacovigilance Advanced therapeutic techniques and pharmacovigilance Challenges related with monitoring and safety Benefit-risk assessment of ATMP 14:30 - Major developments in regulatory framework The future of gene therapy, stem-cell therapy, and tissue engineering EU guidelines and updates - Good Manufacturing Practices for ATMPs 15:00 - Afternoon Tea/Coffee 15:20 - Interactive Roundtable Discussion All attendees will have a great opportunity to discuss a selection of the most interesting topics addressed during the conference in small groups with their peers. Every table will nominate a head of the table, who will summarize the topic discussed, present the main puzzles and questions posed. Strategies and Outsourcing 15:50 - Strategies to improve Pharmacovigilance 16:20 - Panel discussion: with session speakers and interaction with the floor PV Outsourcing: Challenges and Opportunities Economy PV Quality assurance post-authorization safety studies Building partnerships Identifying the key areas for outsourcing The main challenges faced and impact of new legislation Core competencies, activities-database, follow-up studies, case-studies, etc. 16:50 - Chairperson's closing remarks 17:00 - Networking Drinks Session DAY 2 08:30 - Registration & Refreshments 08:50 - Chairperson's opening remarks 09:00 - Keynote Case Study: Interim results of a PASS on ospemifene in postmenopausal women with Vulvar and Vaginal Atrophy (VVA) PSMF, Eudravigilance & Data Management 09:30 - PSMF - Pharmacovigilance system master file PSMF summary design, role of QPPV and managing audits Responsibilities of stakeholders. Accessibility of PSMF and Transparency and ensuring compliance Challenges in the managing data collection, audit information and documenting changes in logbooks, transferring information to license partners or third parties. 10:00 - Eudravigilance - how well has it been integrated and accepted by organizations Improvement in data analysis and exchange of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) between EMA, and various parties. The new and improved of Eudravigilance Connecting EMA with other regulatory bodies using Eudravigilance 10:30 - Morning Coffee/Tea & Discussion Postmarketing surveillance & drug safety 10:50 - Structured benefit risk in the post-marketing surveillance in pharmacovigilance 11:20 - PMS and globalization Limitations of premarketing clinical trials Adhering to various national and international regulatory bodies Adverse event reports, role of FDA/ CDER/ DPV/ FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Type of post-marketing surveillance - Role of MedWatch or similar Adverse Event Reporting and Signal Detection 11:50 - Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics studies to minimize adverse event Assessment and categorization - adverse event reporting clinical trial, pre-/post-marketing pharmacovigilance reporting timelines 12:20 - An industrial perspective: Post-marketing Signal Detection and management Present Drug safety signal detection systems and tools and what do they lack Emerging techniques and tools in the detection and management of signals Sources for identifying safety signals 12:50 - Networking & Luncheon Risk Management and Risk Minimisation 13:30 - Risk Minimization and Management Assessment with comprehensive data quality Compliant safety system (GxP compliant, inspection-ready system) Safety signals, effective trials, strategic risk assessment decisions 14:00 - Minimizing risk and innovative approaches for prediction such as the use of safety biomarkers and pharmacogenetics Next-Gen Technologies & Data Management 14:30 - Pharmacovigilance Monitoring and automation in Social media 15:00 - Afternoon Tea/Coffee 15:20 - Impact of Machine learning and artificial intelligence in PV Ever expanding data and its safety Importance and application of AI Improving speed, accuracy and reliability using AI 15:50 - Real-World Evidence for Assessing Drug Safety 16:20 - Improving patient involvement and wearables Role of internet/ communication techniques, advertisement Illegal effects Post-market surveillance of devices Therapeutic good administration Safety management 16:50 - Panel Discussion: Innovation and the future of Pharmacovigilance Importance of bringing patients on board The need for patient database and effective communication Emerging technologies, digitization and social platform Benefits of digital technology and regulatory hurdles 17:20 - Chairperson's closing remarks For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/81rn12 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 Irish building materials giant CRH may be well-placed to tap the billions of pounds in UK transport and infrastructure spending sanctioned by Boris Johnson. That is according to broker Davy, which referenced the HS2 high-speed rail project which has an estimated cost of 106bn (125bn) and 5bn of funding to build 250 miles of cycle routes, in a research note. CRHs Tarmac business is well-placed to benefit from greater infrastructure spending in the UK, said Davy analyst Robert Gardiner. CRHs second-largest end market is the UK, where the infrastructure outlook improved with the approval of HS2 and additional projects aimed at improving the countrys transport network, he said. Boris Johnson, this week, formally confirmed the decision to proceed with the first phase of HS2. Ultimately, the project aims to link London to the north of England by a high-speed train link. Tarmac which CRH bought in 2015 as part of its mega-purchase of assets from European peer LafargeHolcim operates from 400 locations in the UK. CRH also has cement, readymix concrete, contracting, and building products interests in Britain. Last year, CRH said it remained committed to its UK business despite falling profits and a looming Brexit. The company said at the time that the UK business was a core element of the group, and that it was unclear how much Britain would invest on infrastructure after leaving the EU. Davy also noted improved infrastructure spending in the US, which could top $1,000bn (918bn) trillion over the next 10 years. The US remains CRHs largest end-market, leaving the group ideally placed to benefit, said Mr Gardiner. The Congress on Wednesday said it suspected that the BJP was in the know of "some weak point" in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and exploiting it to make the JD(U) chief "dance to its tunes" on issues like CAA and the ongoing debate on whether reservations were a "fundamental right". AICC in-charge of the state Shaktisinh Gohil made the controversial remark at a press conference organized at the BPCC headquarters here and clarified that he was drawing an inference based on his knowledge of the style of functioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom he did not mention by name. "Had I known exactly what this weak point is, I would have announced the same at a press conference in New Delhi but I hail from Gujarat and know how these two gentlemen function. "All hell breaks loose on whosoever acts or speaks in a manner that harms their interests. It can be in the form of cases slapped by law enforcement agencies, some scandal involving a family member or a sleazy CD", Gohil said. He wondered if such was not the case with Kumar, "how come he supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament despite his ideological commitments and is once again silent on the issue of reservations". "I am sure, the truth will be out one day. May be it will be disclosed by Kumar himself", he added, tongue in cheek. The Congress leader also dismissed Shahs repeated assurances to Kumar that he would lead the NDA charge in the assembly elections due later this year and claimed it was a change of tack just ahead of by-elections to a few assembly seats last year wherein the NDA was expected to be drubbed. Prior to that, the BJPs national general secretary in- charge of the state Bhupendra Yadav had openly spoken about the partys ambition to form its own government in Bihar. "These people have a history of going back on their promises", Gohil alleged. The Congress leader, whose party is a part of the Grand Alliance, ducked queries about the coalitions Chief Ministerial candidate and resentment among some constituents over the RJDs "unilateral" announcement that Tejashwi Yadav will be the face of the five-party alliance. "RJD is our old, trusted ally. There are going to be no problems in our camp", the Congress leader asserted. About the partys dismal performance in Delhi where the Congress failed to win a single seat and lost deposits in most, Gohil said "we fought with all our might. But the people were in a mood to punish the BJP and they feared that a split in votes could benefit the saffron party. So we bore the brunt". "The verdict is, however, a resounding slap in the face of BJP which has been trying to brush under the carpet issues relating to peoples daily lives by focusing their campaign on non-essentials like Shaheen Bagh and Pakistan", he added. Gohil blamed the ongoing reservation controversy on the questionable approach of BJP-RSS towards affirmative action for the underprivileged and challenged the Centre to file a review petition against the Supreme Court judgement which "relied upon the submission made by the government of BJP- ruled Uttarakhand". "To pass the buck, Union minister Thavarchand Gehlot misled the Parliament with the claim that the Uttarakhand government went by the precedent set by previous Congress government our party will challenge the Supreme Court order. "Let the Centre do the same if the BJP is honest about its intentions and let its allies, including those in Bihar, come clean on the issue", Gohil fumed. "This has been a trait of BJP-RSS. Many Sangh stalwarts have spoken against reservations. For electoral gains, they change the tack and Narendra Modi was presented as a farji (fake) OBC. I had exposed this dubious claim prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and was immediately slapped with a number of FIRs in Gujarat. He claimed these were withdrawn when the party realized that the whole issue could backfire as he had evidences to adduce. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ANNE DRAGO, Stonington, Girls Basketball, Senior; Drago was named to the all-tournament team at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. In two games, she scored 38 points and had eight rebounds. DANTE WILK, Westerly, Boys Basketball, Senior; Wilk was named MVP of the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament after the Bulldogs beat Chariho in the title game. Wilk had a combined 35 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and eight steals in two tournament victories. TYLER LABELLE, Chariho, Boys Basketball, Junior; LaBelle scored 41 points in two games to earn all-tournament honors at the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament. LaBelle had 22 in a win against South Kingstown and 19 in a loss to Westerly. ADDIE HAUPTMANN, Wheeler, Girls Basketball, Senior; Hauptmann scored 32 points in two games in the Montville Christmas Tournament. She also had 20 rebounds, seven assists and eight steals. Vote View Results Senator Marsha Blackburn on Wednesday said she is introducing legislation that delivers tough financial consequences to states that flout federal immigration enforcement and harm public safety and national security. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) are cosponsoring the legislation and Rep. Ken Buck (CO-04) is leading 21 members in introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act blocks certain federal funds to sanctuary states, including states that defy federal immigration enforcement or that allow illegal aliens to get driver licenses without proof of lawful presence. "Tennesseans know all too well what can happen when illegal immigrants are granted driver licenses, said Senator Blackburn. While Tennessee and many other states prohibit driver licenses for illegal aliens, a growing number of states are moving in the opposite direction and unleashing dangerous open borders policies. Immigrants must follow the proper federal process and obtain citizenship or lawful status before obtaining a state driver license. In America, no one is above the law. Officials said Senator Blackburns legislation is the latest in a string of efforts to crack down on sanctuary cities and states and ensure that state and local governments are cooperating with immigration enforcement officials. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced it would be cutting New York out of the Global Trusted Traveler program following a new state law prohibiting immigration agents from accessing motor vehicle records. On Monday, Attorney General Bill Barr announced multiple lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions. In 2018, 22-year-old Pierce Corcoran of Knoxville, was fatally struck in a head-on collision caused by an illegal alien who was later deported. In 2019, another Knoxville resident, Debbie Burgess, was killed in a hit and run accident caused by an illegal alien with a lengthy criminal history. We shouldnt legitimize those who break our immigration laws by giving them driver licenses," said Senator Cotton. "Unfortunately, states like California give illegal immigrants driver licenses and help them hide from federal law. Our bill will make sure that federal grants will only go to states who uphold our rule of law. States granting licenses to illegal immigrants undermine our immigration laws and threaten public safety, said Senator Cramer. Our legislation imposes real consequences on states which ignore federal law but still take millions in federal funds. Its a commonsense step toward making America more safe. West Virginians believe that our immigration laws should be enforced, said Senator Capito, chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. State governments should not circumventor blatantly obstructfederal immigration law by providing driver licenses to those who choose to enter this country in violation of our laws. I am pleased to join Senator Blackburn in introducing this common sense bill that penalizes states whose actions are antithetical to the enforcement of federal immigration law. As weve seen time and time again, there are real public safety risks and tragic consequences that arise when cities or states refuse to help enforce immigration laws, said Senator Loeffler. Sanctuary states are evading federal laws and providing safe havens for illegal immigrants, some of which have criminal records. This is unacceptable and these states should face consequences for their dangerous policies. Thats why Im proud to join this effort to reduce funding for states that needlessly endanger public safety by enacting policies that directly contradict federal law. When our immigration laws go unenforced, our communities are less safe, said Senator Joni Ernst, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. These laws are on the books for a reason and it is inexcusable for them to be ignored. Our bill simply ensures that law enforcement across the country works to get criminals off the streets, to protect our nation, and to keep our communities safe. "We are a nation of laws," said Senator Rounds. "If state and local governments fail to uphold our laws that seek to stop dangerous criminals and keep families safe, there should be consequences. These laws are on the books to improve public safety and strengthen national security. I support withholding access to certain federal grants if states dont comply with these federal statutes." Just last year in my home state of Colorado, Sean Buchanan, a loving father of five, was struck and killed by Miguel Ramirez Valiente, an illegal immigrant who was driving under a suspended state-issued drivers license," Rep. Buck said. "Ramirez Valiente should have been deported after a DUI conviction, but because of Colorados sanctuary laws, officials provided him sanctuary and shielded him from deportation. Seans tragedy was completely preventable. Congress cannot stand by and let another family go through a tragic loss like the Buchanans did. Thats why I am proud to introduce legislation with Sen. Marsha Blackburn to stop these dangerous green-light sanctuary laws from wreaking havoc on communities across the country. BACKGROUND The Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Act halts certain Department of Justice grant funding to states that defy federal immigration law. Non-complying states will no longer enjoy access to millions of dollars in funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The JAG program provides support on a yearly basis to states for local law enforcement and criminal justice initiatives. In FY 2019, states that issued driver licenses to illegal immigrants received nearly $53 million from this program. This law will require states that issue driver licenses to illegal aliens or states that fail to share immigration enforcement information with the DHS to return unallocated funds to the JAG program within 30 days. Further, these states will be ineligible to receive future JAG funds until they comply with the driver license and federal information sharing provisions. The REAL ID Act was passed in the wake of 9/11, after the terrorist hijackers easily obtained state driver licenses allowing them to board planes to launch their deadly attacks. Now, less than 20 years later, over a dozen states are already working to reverse efforts to ensure identification security. Some state laws, like Californias law and New Yorks Green Light Law, go further than providing driver licenses to illegal aliens. Many of these sanctuary states also forbid local authorities from transferring information about potentially dangerous criminal aliens to DHS. The bill text is available here. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2020) The World Health Organization (WHO) cautions against speculation around the situation with the new coronavirus and urges to focus rather on its containment, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program Michael Ryan said at a press conference on Tuesday commenting on the recent reports saying that this virus could reach 60 percent of the world's population. Earlier on Tuesday, The Guardian reported citing the chair of public health medicine at Hong Kong University and an expert on coronavirus epidemics, professor Gabriel Leung, that the new deadly virus could be contracted by about two-thirds of the world's population unless it was controlled. "We have the opportunity to contain, to confine, to slow down, to prepare ... Every chance we get, you see, like we want to accelerate the infodemic, not contain the epidemic. So I think we need to be very balanced and careful here with our populations, with our communities ... So let us be careful in throwing around figures [that there is no basis for at the moment], speculation scaring people. Let us plan and focus . ..on containment, confinement and slowing the virus down," Ryan said. The executive director added that instead of raising concerns among people, the global community, including media, should empower them to take action and protect themselves as "there are things that every single human being on this planet can do to protect themselves from this disease." Meanwhile, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recalled that the same situation was during the Ebola virus outbreak when people were speculating on the scale of the virus' spread and its danger. Back then, the organization also called on the international community not to "go to extremes" and eventually found a way to contain the virus. The current death toll from the virus is over 1,000 people with more than 43,000 others being infected. To fight the virus, which has now been officially labeled COVID-19, a global medical forum for scientists and healthcare providers was launched earlier on Tuesday in Geneva. In addition, Ghebreyesus said earlier in the day that the anti-coronavirus vaccine could be ready in 18 months. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/11/2020 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 Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Michael Watson is slamming wife Meka Jones for oversharing their relationship problems during their honeymoon, saying it was difficult to see a way forward in their marriage at that point."I think for me, if you do more sharing with the people who are not in your marriage, you're setting it up for failure," Michael said during the February 5 broadcast of : Unfiltered.On the Unfiltered broadcast, Michael watched back a Season 10 clip of Meka informing the other four couples during a dinner in Panama she felt uncomfortable in her marriage to Michael and had never imagined the process being so hard. (This conversation took place after Michael allegedly gave Meka an off-camera sex ultimatum that upset and offended her)."You're already married to them, so there's nowhere you can go. There's nothing you can really do, and you're tied to this person," Meka was shown telling the group, with Michael quietly sitting next to her at the table."Everything feels forced. It shouldn't be hard for me to feel a connection or want to talk. Those things are hard for me, and so I don't even know the path... I don't know what the right answer is."As a result, Michael revealed to the other couples in the clip he had taken off his wedding ring and didn't plan on doing so until their marriage was restored and he could live up to Meka's expectations of him as a husband."Michael, what is it like talking about such personal things with all of the other couples?" Unfiltered host Jamie Otis asked. "Do you feel Meka is oversharing?""Definitely," Michael replied, before making his comment about Meka allegedly setting their marriage up to fail."Everything we do is being done for first time as a married couple, and we are not in a good place."Michael, however, tried to remain positive he could get his relationship with Meka back on track."So the goal was that through communication and re-establishing ourselves, we can come back from it," he said."But where we were at that time, it was just kind of difficult to see the way forward."Michael was joined by fellow Season 10 grooms Zach Justice and Brandon Reid on the Unfiltered episode, and Zach revealed what the vibe was like at that dinner in Panama."It seemed pretty tense," Jamie observed."Yeah, it definitely felt tense," Zach admitted. "But going back to [Michael]'s point, he has to be very diplomatic when she's explaining their personal struggles to the rest of the table.""Be careful about how you put that out there," Zach added, "because [Michael] is sitting right there and it's going to make him feel bad and he's not going to communicate."Brandon also said it was "wild" listening to Meka unload at the dinner table."I want everyone to make it through this entire process together, and to hear that my buddy over here, [Michael] and his wife are having issues, it sucks to hear," Brandon explained.Michael and Meka had argued over Michael allegedly giving his wife an ultimatum off camera while they were flying on a plane to Panama for their honeymoon.Meka alleged that Michael had said if they didn't consummate their marriage by the end of the honeymoon, he would probably want out of their relationship.Meka firmly stood by what she had heard, but Michael wouldn't confirm or deny on the show what his exact words were.Instead, Michael just insisted he was trying to be direct and straightforward with his wife in their discussion about intimacy in order to avoid problems or confusion in the future.In the latest episode of 's tenth season, Michael and Meka attempted to establish a friendship first by enjoying an excursion in Panama and getting to know each other better.At the end of a very busy but fun day, Michael told his wife he had high hopes for their marriage and really cared about her, and so Meka pulled him in for a genuine hug.'s tenth season also stars Brandon's wife Taylor Dunklin and Zach's wife Mindy Shiben as well as Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman 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 Govt to Publish Regulations under Civil Contingencies Act to Protect Against Coronavirus The Coronavirus Co-ordinating Group has taken active measures to protect Gibraltar from the spread of the virus. All areas of multi-agency planning and preparedness are reviewed weekly in meetings chaired by the Ministers for Public Health and Civil Contingencies, and involve representatives of all emergency services and other relevant departments and agencies. The Director for Public Health is also engaged in weekly teleconferences with Public Health England in order to share information and best practices. The Co-ordinating Committee of the Gibraltar Contingency Council is monitoring Gibraltars preparedness. Today, the Government will issue regulations under the Civil Contingencies Act that contain appropriate provision for the purpose of supplementing Gibraltars health protection regime to deal with the threat to Gibraltar from the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus. These regulations allow for the screening and imposition of restrictions and requirements on persons who meet certain conditions. These include there being reasonable grounds to suspect the person is or may be infected or contaminated, or has left a country listed in the schedule to the regulations within 14 days of their arrival in Gibraltar. These regulations closely mirror the English regulations published yesterday. As a result of the increased risk of infection, travel to any of the following countries is not recommended: China Hong Kong Japan Macau Malaysia Republic of Korea Singapore Taiwan Thailand Travellers who are currently in one of the at-risk countries listed above should report, as soon as possible and ahead of your return to Gibraltar, to the GHA by phoning 111 or using the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , with the subject line: self-isolation. Upon return to Gibraltar, all travellers arriving from an at-risk country have a legal duty under the new regulations to report to a Borders and Coastguard Officer if arriving by land or air, or an Officer of the Gibraltar Port Authority if entering by sea. Failure to co-operate will be imposed by regulation. If you have already returned to Gibraltar from any of the at-risk countries in the last 14 days, even if you do not have coronavirus symptoms, you should immediately: Call 111 to declare your recent travel Self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days from the date of your departure from the at-risk country by staying indoors and avoiding contact with others. The GHA is in constant liaison with the employers of those who have travelled to at-risk countries in the last 14 days, in order to support those who are in self-isolation. The Director for Public Health has delivered bespoke coronavirus awareness training to front-line Government staff, including: The Gibraltar Health Authority, including staff at Accident and Emergency, doctors and nurses, and cleaners and attendants Borders and Coastguard Agency HM Customs Department of Education The University of Gibraltar To support the Public Health departments internal and external information campaign, the Chief Secretary Darren Grech has issued a Bulletin to all Civil Service Heads of Department emphasising the importance of frequent, effective handwashing and the 'catch it, kill it, bin it' technique to prevent the spread of viruses and other infections. For further information and advice on how to keep yourself safe and protect those around you, please visit www.wuhan.gi NEW DELHI Shouting and crying, workers in an Indian denim factory struggled to claw their way up a ladder to a door, their only exit as a fire blazed through fabric and machinery, officials said. Seven people died in the weekend blaze, and families were still waiting Wednesday to recover their relatives bodies. Smoke kept billowing from the building as workers trapped inside screamed for help, said a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was worried hed lose his job. The factory where the fire occurred, Nandan Denim, has ties to major U.S. retailers, according to its website. Nandan says it supplies jeans, denim and other garments to more than 20 global brands including U.S. companies such as Target, Ann Taylor, Mango and Wrangler, and its sister company supplies Walmart and H&M. Some of the U.S. and multinational companies listed on the website said they were not actually customers, and many issued statements that strongly condemned dangerous work sites. Nandan Denim is one of the largest denim suppliers in the world. The fire broke out Saturday in its two-story factory on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, a fast-growing city of 8.6 million in western Gujarat state. The citys industrial area, once covered with mountains of garbage, has slowly shifted into a hub for factories that make clothes sold to brands across the world. Rajesh Bhatt, a senior fire official at the scene, said the factory had just one door that could only be reached by climbing a steep ladder. The workers, Bhatt said, were resting after long shifts when the fire started. There were hardly any means of escape from the blaze, he said. Police investigators said the factory had violated multiple regulations and the owner, a manager and a fire safety officer have been arrested. Local safety and health authorities asked the company to close until further notice. Its licenses have been suspended, and Nandan Denim has agreed to pay the families of those killed a reported $14,000 each. Purvee, a factory spokeswoman who goes by only one name, did not explain how it started but called the fire unfortunate. Factory officials would not comment on whether they had undergone required audits and reviews. Surviving workers, who are paid about 35 cents per hour, said conditions had been dangerous. We work almost 14 hours a day. But do we have an option? said Vimalbhai, a textile worker who goes by one name. Every once a while there is a fire in some factory or the other. Nobody cares and we keep on working. Some workers said they were given impossible assignments, stitching more than 400 pieces of garments a day. This forced many of them, mostly women, to work at a frantic pace, often forgoing meal breaks or using the toilet, survivors said. One victim, Dayabhai Makwana, made it out alive, but went back in to rescue co-workers and perished. I wish he hadnt gone back to save his colleagues, said his grieving brother, Dhanabai Makwana. He said more than 30 workers were in the factory at the time of the blaze. Sobbing families were still waiting Wednesday outside one of the citys hospital mortuaries to identify bodies charred beyond recognition. They were told DNA confirmation would not come before Friday. We cant even mourn our dead because we dont know which one is ours, said Mahesh Patel, whose nephew lost his life in the blaze. Amar Barot of the Textile Labour Association said working conditions in the textile factories across the city are grim, with rare inspections and few safety norms. These incidents are irreversible and only strict monitoring by the government and its agencies can help prevent such disasters, Barot said. He also said labor unions across the region have been declining over the last few decades, making it difficult for the voices of workers to be heard. Some of the major brands contacted, including Ann Taylor, Target, Zara and Pull&Bear, said they are not customers and dont have a relationship with Nandan Denim. Target said it is working to get its name off their website and out of their annual reports. Because thread, fabric cutting, weaving and sewing can be done in different locations, apparel supply chains can be complicated and it becomes nearly impossible to track a specific item to a specific factory. Joe Fresh, the fashion brand created for Canadas Loblaw Companies Ltd., said Nandan is not a supplier and doesnt make their goods. But company officials said they believe one of their approved suppliers has purchased bulk quantities of denim from Nandan, and they are further investigating. Target and others did not respond to queries about whether their authorized suppliers may have purchased denim from Nandan. Zaras parent company, Inditex, said Nandan Denim has produced 10,000 pairs of jeans for another of its brands, Lefties. Nandan Denims sister company, Nandan Terry, supplies towels and linens to many U.S. stores including Walmart and H&M, according to ImportGenius shipping records. Those corporations said they would also look into the situation. Kontoor Brands, maker of Wrangler jeans, said they last worked with the factory in 2014. Our thoughts are with the workers and their families impacted by the tragic situation, Kontoor said in a statement. Nandan Denim reported revenues of $218 million last year, and says it exports to more than 20 countries and has more than 4,500 employees. Shares of the company were tumbling after news of the fire. Scott Nova, executive director of Washington-based Workers Rights Consortium, said, It does not cost much to put fire exits in a textile factory. Brands and retailers are well aware of the safety risks in the garment and textile industry in India, yet they choose to do business with unsafe suppliers, he said. The result is that workers are losing their lives in factory disasters that could easily have been prevented. Forty-three people died in a December fire at a factory which produced handbags, caps and other garments in New Delhi. ___ Mendoza reported from Santa Cruz, California. When Anne Wiles saw an image of national treasure Mary Berry promoting pain-relief products, she felt confident placing an order. The 71-year-old had been scrolling through Facebook on her laptop when she found an article about the TV baker. It claimed the Great British Bake Off star had launched a line of cannabidiol (CBD) products, which contained parts of the cannabis plant but were legal in the UK. Scam: The fake Mary Berry advert for a line of cannabidiol (CBD) products, which contained parts of the cannabis plant. They are legal in the UK One click took Anne to the Bionic Bliss web page, where she was urged to place an order before stocks ran out that day. She thought the oil might help her 88-year-old husband, Geoffrey, with his knee pain and, using his credit card, paid 55 for a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Anne says: 'I knew that Mary Berry wasn't the sort of person who would endorse something without vetting it.' But Bionic Bliss took a second payment of 119, then a further 71. It also set up an arrangement that would allow it to take more cash from Geoffrey's account in future. And it has emerged that Mary Berry had no connection with the product whatsoever. About 50 Mary Berry fans have now raised concerns about Bionic Bliss's fake articles, in which the 84-year-old TV star is quoted describing the oils as a 'solution' for people who don't want to 'resort to opiates'. Mary Berry is said to be 'appalled' by the use of her name to push the product. The pretend articles are headed with the MailOnline logo and feature other false endorsements from stars including Dame Judi Dench and Ed Sheeran. All those who have taken up the special offer say the company has charged further unauthorised payments. It is not uncommon for scammers to use famous faces to lure people in. Each month, Action Fraud receives up to 50 reports of investment schemes that use fake celebrity endorsements. Last year, This is Money exposed a similar article purporting to be on ITV's website and featuring a string of stars promoting high-risk cryptocurrency investments. Jeremy Clarkson, Alan Sugar and Simon Cowell featured in the faked article. When we alerted Grand Tour host and ex-Top Gear star Clarkson, he told This is Money: 'I have absolutely no knowledge of this company. It is a scam. 'I've engaged the services of a lawyer to deal with this. And will now go online to see what a "bitcoin" is.' An online Bitcoin investment platform claimed Jeremy Clarkson said it was his best investment ever. Clarkson told us he had never heard of it and would be speaking to his lawyers Images of both Deborah Meaden, from the BBC's Dragons' Den, and MoneySaving Expert founder Martin Lewis have been used without their permission to tout unscrupulous schemes. Mr Lewis issued High Court proceedings against Facebook, which had promoted the fake adverts on its platform, in 2018. But he settled with the social media giant last year after it agreed to donate 3 million to a new anti-scam project. Anne, who lives on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, rang NatWest as soon as she realised something was amiss with her order. Above: The CBD capsules sent to Anne Wiles, which she did not order. She originally paid 55 before the seller Bionic Bliss took a second payment of 119, then a further 71 When she said the money had been taken without her permission, a bank employee told her she would have to wait for 30 days to be reimbursed. Anne found a phone number for Bionic Bliss on its website and, when she rang it, a man answered and introduced himself as 'Agent 007'. She told him she had not agreed to the extra payments, but Agent 007 told her the CBD products she had paid for were 'marvellous' and 'very good'. Anne, a retired shopkeeper, continued to complain and the man finally agreed to return 25 per cent of the money. The refund has since arrived in her account. She eventually received five bottles of CBD oil and three jars of CBD capsules, which she had not ordered. 'I'm so upset, as it was a lot of money for us,' she says. A NatWest spokesman confirmed the couple had raised a dispute in relation to the charges and that the bank was investigating the case. Geoffrey has not yet tried the oil, as he is concerned about what may be in it. ... and other stars who have been exploited Mary Berry isn't the only celebrity to have had her image hijacked by a company. MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis's face has been used to endorse energy products, risky investments, PPI reclaim firms and mortgage brokers. Mr Lewis took legal action against Facebook in 2018 over its promotion of the scam adverts, but dropped the case last year after Facebook agreed to give 2.5 million to a new Citizens Advice project to help tackle such adverts and 500,000 in advertising space. At the time, Mr Lewis said: 'When you have spent your entire career trying to help consumers, being accused of scamming is very unpleasant.' Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden, left, was used to promote cryptocurrency investments while pictures of Gordon Ramsay, right, were used to promote a fraudulent investment scheme Another company used Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden to promote cryptocurrency investments. The adverts took victims to a webpage where they were ordered to hand over their contact details. They would then be called and persuaded to part with their cash. Deborah Meaden said: 'All online advertising should be read against the premise of, 'If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is'. Her co-star Peter Jones was also used in advertisements for the same company. He said he was working to have the adverts removed and taking 'appropriate action' against the individuals involved. And photographs of Gordon Ramsay were used to promote a fraudulent investment scheme. Fake articles suggested the chef had earned 13.5 million by investing in the scheme. A spokesman for Ramsay declined to comment at the time. Companies House records show Bionic Bliss has an office address in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, while its website says its headquarters are in Belfast. However, when Money Mail called the number on its website, another 'agent' said they worked for a third-party call-centre based in Temple Terrace, Florida. Retired gift shop owner Jane Monk was sent a link to the Mary Berry article by a friend, who saw it while she was playing solitaire on her phone. Jane, 69, who lives in Somerset with her husband, Mike, 75, had been thinking about buying CBD oil for her eldest daughter, Lucy Bacon. The 41-year-old suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that causes pain all over the body. Jane clicked on the link while she was browsing on her iPad before she went to sleep. Like Anne, she thought she was signing up to the 'buy-one-get-one-free' offer but, after she confirmed her payment, another page flashed up to say she had also bought two more products for 119. The message displayed on her screen for only a few seconds, then disappeared. Jane had paid on her M&S credit card, so she made a frantic call to the bank at about 10pm. Like Anne, she is claiming back her money from the firm through a process called chargeback, where your bank requests the company's bank for the refund. It is not a legal protection, and is done at your bank's discretion It is understood that, once this claim has been made, the 119 payment will be returned and a subscription she unwittingly signed up to will be cancelled. Jane says: 'I'm so angry that I've fallen for something like this.' Continuous payment authorities (CPAs) allow companies to take money from your account when they decide you owe them money. But if you sign up to one without realising, you have the legal right to cancel the payments. Even if the company refuses to cancel a CPA, banks and card providers must do this if you ask them to. If further payments are taken from your account after you have requested a cancellation, the bank must refund you. If you order something and don't receive it, or if the product is faulty, you may be able to claim a refund through chargeback. Experts say that reporting these kinds of payments as fraud can sometimes slow the process down because they are not technically fraudulent. A spokesman for Mary Berry says: 'Mary has been appalled to learn of unaffiliated companies using her image to advertise products such as CBD oil and face cream. 'We have reported it to Facebook and our lawyers are working to get these adverts removed.' A Facebook spokesman says: 'We have already removed several ads featuring this scam and banned the accounts behind them.' Bionic Bliss did not respond to requests for comment. f.parker@dailymail.co.uk 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 Samsung refreshed its Galaxy smartphone line, introduced a new foldable phone, and upgraded its wireless earbuds offering at an event held Tuesday at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Its three new flagship phones, pictured above, are all 5G ready. The S20 is priced at US$999, while the S20 Plus will sell for $1,199, and the S20 Ultra for $1,399. The S20 is smallest of the trio, with a 6.2-inch display. The Plus display is 6.7 inches and the Ultras is 6.9 inches. All the units have three cameras wide angle, ultrawide and telephoto and the Plus and Ultra have a fourth camera for augmented reality applications. The cameras in the S20 and Plus have 64-megapixel sensors, while the Ultra supports a whopping 108 MP. The cameras also support 8K video. The Ultra has a 10x optical zoom. Thats unheard of in a phone, said Jack E. Gold, principal analyst atJ. Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Massachusetts. You dont even get that in some traditional cameras, he told TechNewsWorld. Samsung continues to amaze me in what theyre doing in video and photography category, said Mark N. Vena, senior analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy, a technology analyst and advisory firm based in Austin, Texas. Samsung clearly sees video and photography as a tremendous opportunity to completely replace traditional cameras, he told TechNewsWorld. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Pushing 5G Lever The use of multiple lenses in high-end phones and features powered by artificial intelligence will continue to evolve, predicted Gerrit Schneemann, senior analyst at IHS Markit, a research, analysis and advisory firm headquartered in London. Theres a big networking difference between this crop of flagship phones and the previous generation, he told TechNewsWorld. The whole lineup supports 5G, whereas before, only select models were 5G. Now Samsung is putting 5G into everything, Schneemann said. Very few people need 5G now, but it will be on every phone in the next couple of years, so Samsung is pushing the adoption lever as fast as they can, noted Stephen Baker, analyst at NPD Group, a market research firm in Port Washington, New York. We know the networks are going to be there in the next year or two, and we know from history that consumers arent afraid of future-proofing, especially when they buy a premium phone like the S20, he told TechNewsWorld. Folding Glass Samsungs new Galaxy Z Flip has a display made of foldable glass that measures 6.7 inches when flipped open. When closed, the phone is a compact 2.89 x 3.44 inches. Models will come in three mirror colors purple, gold and black. Galaxy Z Flip Smartphones are part of our everyday lives, but this is no ordinary smartphone, Samsung Electronics Marketing Director Rebecca Hurst told an enthusiastic crowd at Tuesdays event. It changes everything our phones shape, size and the very way we use it, she continued. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The Galaxy Z Flip is a statement smartphone, Hurst said. Its a standout smartphone for people who want to stand out. Innovative Flex Mode In addition to its main 2636 x 1080 AMOLED display, the Z Flip has 1.1-inch cover display for screening information like time and notifications. The unit has three cameras: an f/2.4 10-megapixel selfie camera; an f/2.2 12-MP ultra-wide camera; and an f/1.8 12-MP wide-angle camera. Three video resolutions are supported by the shooters 4K UHD, 1080p FHD and 720p HD. It has four shooting speeds Super Steady, Super Slow-mo, Slow Motion and Hyperlapse. The foldable, which is priced at $1,380, comes with 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. The phone supports an innovative flex mode that turns the unit into a dual screen phone when its folded at a right angle. We think foldables will fundamentally change how we think about and interact with smartphones, Google Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer said at the Samsung event. Razr Killer? Samsungs introduction of the Z Flip, which will go on sale Feb. 14, comes on the heels of another foldable arriving on the market, the Motorola Razr. The Flip is a more powerful phone than the Razr, observed Moors Vena. If foldable phones are going to gain traction in the market, the flip phone orientation is going to be a big deal because of the convenience factor, he pointed out. The Flip is a nicer device with its glass screen and variable hinge that can bend the phone at different angles, said Gold. Another potential issue for Motorola and its parent Lenovo are problems meeting demand in the early stages of the Razrs release. Thats the thing about Samsung, Gold remarked. Once they start making a device, they can turn the crank and produce a lot of stuff. Battle of Hinges Samsung has another advantage over Motorola. Samsung has a lot of brand, product equity and distribution strength, which is going to be a part of success in the market, noted NPDs Baker. The Flip is a pretty well-put-together product Samsung clearly learned a lot from the issues they had with the original Fold, he added. Its a very polished device. One of the issues with foldable devices is the strength of their hinges. At the Samsung event, Hurst noted that the Z Flips hinge had been opened and closed 200,000 times without any signs of damage. The hinge on the Flip seems to be sturdier and less prone to outside attack than the Razr because theres no visible gap when its shut, observed IHS Schneemann. The Flips two-camera system also raises the foldable a notch above its competition. Cameras are an area where Samsung has been strong in the past and where Motorola has struggled in the past, Schneemann recalled. Further, theres a price gap between the phones, with the Razr selling for $1,499 and the Flip for $1,380. New Buds In addition to the S20 line and the Z Flip, Samsung announced a refresh of its wireless earpods at its event. Galaxy Buds+ The Galaxy Buds Plus, priced at $149, have two speakers in each pod one for high range sound and one for bass as well as three mics. They even work with iOS devices via a Samsung app. At $149, the one thing missing is active noise cancellation, Schneemann said, but at that price thats not feasible. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the chancellor of the state universities, on Wednesday said he has "no information" about the convocation ceremony of a university in northern part of the state though ministers have been invited for the annual programme of the institute. The third annual convocation of the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University will be held on Friday. "Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Convocation will be held on Feb 14. Ministers Partha Chatterjee, Goutam Deb, Rabindra Nath Ghosh and Binay Krishna Barman are invited for the Convocation. Chancellor, who has right to preside, has just no information! Where are we heading!" the governor tweeted. The invitation card for the programme did not have the chancellor's name. Dhankhar has been engaged in a face-off with TMC government over a host of issues, since assuming charge as the governor of the state. Last year, former governor Keshari Nath Tripathi had attended the second convocation programme of the university. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This week, Oregon-based HempLogic will be unveiling Mobile Starts, a state-of-the-art mobile hemp seed propagation technology from Italy with the potential to transform hemp farming as we know it. With a goal of providing 20 million seedlings this year, Mobile Starts will help farms of all sizes; from large hemp operations to small co-ops, to buy and propagate their seeds. It answers the ever-pressing question of how can we propagate hemp seedlings at scale? In essence, Mobile Starts is a high-powered seed-line on wheels that comes to your farm or greenhouse. It sets the hemp seed into a tray configuration of the farmer's choice at up to 1000 trays an hour, allowing farmers to be in control of their own seedlings while cutting out the middleman for seedlings or clones. And because it's mobile, it has the capability of producing and delivering seed trays to virtually every corner of the United States. Mobile Starts has teamed up with Colorado CBD Seeds for high-end stable CBD genetics to offer clients who need a turn-key program. CFO Marc Brannigan says, "We are really excited to be able to supply HempLogic and Mobile Starts with Colorado CBD Genetics this year. It's a revolutionary service, one that we can plug into our seed sale pipeline and help our farmers get into the ground." Mobile Starts will offer start-up consulting services to their clients, to ensure a smooth start for the seedlings. The complete package includes: Genetics selection Seed propagation Greenhouse construction Temporary hoop houses Consulting services HempLogic is America's Hemp Industry Resource, offering hemp farms an array of specialized services to support their success in the hemp industry. From stabilized genetics, seeds and clones to consulting and farming contracts, HempLogic's services are designed to make hemp agriculture as seamless as possible for farmers. Founded by a group of experienced agriculture and business professionals with an unmatched track record of collective success, this team understands that farmers need expert counsel from seed to sale in this growing industry. For more information on MobileStarts visit us at www.hemplogicusa.com SOURCE HempLogic Related Links https://www.hemplogicusa.com/ For almost 2.5 years, Kenneth Caban Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen who grew up in Puerto Rico, had won over a case that grants him the right to be issued a state driver's license. The Kenneth Caban Gonzalez Lawsuit The lawsuit was filed in July 2019. The Department of Driver Services in Georgia had decided to implement changes to eliminate barriers for Puerto Rican immigrants who are living in Georgia who are trying to obtain a driver's license. An article from NBC News stated that one of the changes they are planning to implement is the nixing of the 'Puerto Rico Interview guide.' It gives a test to people to determine their knowledge about the island. This will help assure that these people are from Puerto Rico. This is a step that is not required for United States citizens who are applying for their driver's license. It was a long battle for Caban Gonzalez. On Monday he finally wins his legal battle. It was reported that in October 2017, he was accused by the Hinesville DDS office to have submitted falsified documents. Caban Gonzalez revealed how his victory was very emotional for him. However, he added that it should have been something that should've been granted to him right from the beginning. Initially, DDS officials had withheld his identification documents. These documents included his original driver's license, birth certificate, and social security card. These documents were confiscated before starting an investigation against him. After the confiscation of his identification documents, he was later detained for three days. He was charged with forgery and fraud felonies. However, these charges were later dropped. In December, the department relieved the deputy director in office and demoted a senior manager for a Georgia Bureau of Investigation case. The probe revealed that the two officials in the department had acted outside of the protocol. Fear of Identification Documents' Confiscation Atteeyah Hollie, one of the senior lawyers with the Southern Center for Human Rights and the LatinoJustice PRLDEF revealed that she was shocked to find out that the Puerto Rican residents in Hinesville had not considered applying for a driver's license. She found out that the Puerto Ricans in the area feared that their identification documents may also be taken from them if they apply for a driver's license in the DDS. Hollie revealed how the Puerto Ricans in Hinesville was scared of being arrested or prosecuted and defamed. An Inspiration to the Puerto Rican Community in Georgia Upon the victory of Kenneth Caban Gonzalez's case, his lawyers are hopeful that it will have a wide-ranging impact on the Puerto Rican community in their area. According to Kira Romero-Craft, the managing lawyer of the South Office of the LatinoJustice PRLDF, the victory of Caban Gonzalez's case has already influenced change towards his entire community. The office hopes that Puerto Ricans who will be entering Georgia for whatever purpose will feel empowered and part of the community. Romero-Craft shared how she felt disbelief when she was informed of the case of Caban Gonzalez. Based on the reports of the investigation conducted by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia is exerting immense efforts to fight fraud in comparison to other states in the US. (Bloomberg) -- Progressive U.S. House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is gaining support from a most unusual source, arch-conservative Republican Senator Ted Cruz, for her suggestion to ban lobbying by former members of Congress. "Heres something I dont say often: on this point, I AGREE with @AOC," wrote Cruz, an ally of President Donald Trump, in response to her message on Twitter Thursday. "The Swamp would hate it, but perhaps a chance for some bipartisan cooperation?" Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the most visible of Congresss new progressive insurgents, didnt immediately agree, tweeting back that shed only pair with Cruz if they could "agree on a bill with no partisan snuck-in clauses, no poison pills, etc." "Then Ill co-lead the bill with you," she wrote. "Youre on," Cruz responded. SERIOUS BUSINESS: Ted Cruz not laughing about space pirate jabs on MSNBC, Twitter Trump campaigned in 2016 on a promise to "drain the swamp" in Washington, but little has been done to tighten ethics rules aside from a bill passed this year by House Democrats and ignored by Senate Republicans. Current rules bar former members of the House of Representatives from lobbying their old colleagues for a year after leaving. The Senate has a two-year ban. "I dont think it should be legal at ALL to become a corporate lobbyist if youve served in Congress," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter. "At minimum there should be a long wait period." Yet many lawmakers -- such as former House Speaker John Boehner, who joined the board of marijuana company Acreage Holdings Inc. -- provide advice on policy for companies, which isnt covered by the lobbying ban because it doesnt involve cajoling their onetime colleagues in Congress. Ocasio-Cortez cited a report from the watchdog group Public Citizen that said almost 60% of the lawmakers who left Congress last year have taken have taken jobs influencing policy. "It is understandably unpopular to discuss giving Congress any raises or perks - & bc of that, theres incentive to keep $ loopholes open," she wrote. In March, Cruz tweeted a message by another ideological opposite, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who said Facebook Inc. has too much power over speech online. --With assistance from Bill Allison. 2019 Bloomberg L.P. [February 12, 2020] QuEST Global Strengthens its Leadership Position in 'Zinnov Zones - Engineering R&D Services 2019' SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- QuEST Global, a global product engineering and lifecycle services company, has strengthened its leadership position in the 'Zinnov Zones Engineering and R&D Services Ratings 2019'. The report was published by Zinnov after evaluating more than 35 global engineering service providers across major industry segments. The engineering service providers were evaluated based on their product development capabilities, innovation, client relationships, eco-system linkages, scalability, depth and maturity of engineering services, and specialization. In the ER&D services rating, Zinnov has recognized the leadership capabilities of QuEST Global in enterprise software, automotive, consumer electronics, transportation, aerospace, energy & utilities and medical devices industries. The company has gained presence in design and simulation engineering and platform engineering where Zinnov has placed QuEST Global in the expansive and established zone. Zinnov has also placed the company in the execution zone for industrial automation and semiconductor sectors. "QuEST Global is one of the few pure-play engineering services companies who continuously better themselves and make significant progress, year-on-year. QuEST's continual investments in onshore locations, their strategic focus on acquisitions, and the company's ability to leverage convergence of electronics, software, mechanical and digital engineering services has enabled them to offer innovative solutions to its customers across diverse verticals. This has enabled the company to retain and strengthen their leadership position in Zinnov Zones 2019 - Engineering and R&D services rating," said Sidhant Rastogi, Partner & Practice Head, Zinnov. Commenting on this achievement, Bob Harvey, President, QuEST Global, said, "AtQuEST Global, our constant endeavor is to understand the emerging needs of our customers and delight them with best-in-class and innovative engineering solutions. We are appreciative of this recognition from Zinnov, as it is a true reflection of how we are enabling our customers to Create their Frontiers by advancing the ways people travel, live, work and engage with each other. Our integrated local-global delivery approach, and our in-depth domain engineering experience across multiple industries enable us to carefully craft higher value solutions for specific needs of our customers, ensuring a positive impact on their businesses as their Trusted Thinking Partner." QuEST Global has been working with the world's most recognized companies across diverse verticals helping them address the growing demand of providing connected engineering experience to the end customers. Over the past two decades, the company has been helping its customers to identify problems, proactively create innovative solutions and make products safer and more reliable in today's digital age. About Zinnov Zinnov was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Bangalore, with presence in Gurgaon, Silicon Valley, and Houston. Since its inception, Zinnov has built in-depth expertise in Product Engineering and Digital Transformation. They assist their clients by: Research and strategy consulting for software service providers in the areas of Product Engineering and Digital Transformation; Enabling companies to develop and optimize a global engineering partner strategy to achieve higher throughput, innovation, productivity, and cost savings; Growing revenue for company's products and services in India and other emerging markets; and other emerging markets; Helping MNC GICs to consolidate their geographic footprint. With their team of experienced professionals and research teams, Zinnov serves clients across software, semiconductor, consumer electronics, automotive, storage, telecom & networking, healthcare, banking, financial services, and retail verticals in the US, Europe, Japan, and India. For more information, visit http://zinnov.com About QuEST Global For more than 20 years, QuEST Global has aimed to be a trusted global product engineering and lifecycle services partner to many of the worlds' most recognized companies in the Aero Engines, Hi-Tech, Aerospace & Defense, Transportation (Auto and Rail), Power and Industrial, Oil & Gas and Medical Devices industries. With a global presence in 15 countries, 67 global delivery centers and 13,000+ personnel, QuEST Global believes that it is at the forefront of the convergence of the mechanical, electronics, software and digital engineering innovations to engineer solutions for a safer, cleaner world. QuEST Global's deep domain knowledge and digital expertise aim to help its clients accelerate product development and innovation cycles, create alternate revenue streams, enhance consumer experience and make manufacturing processes and operations more efficient. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quest-global-strengthens-its-leadership-position-in-zinnov-zones---engineering-rd-services-2019-301001941.html SOURCE QuEST Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Secretary to the Coalition of Affected Savings And Loans Customers (CASLOC), Mr Ezekiel Annor Akagbo, has said the groups 3.3 million members who were customers of the 347 microfinance companies and the 23 savings & loans firms whose licences were revoked by the Bank of Ghana leading to the lock-up of their deposits and investments amounting to about GHS7 billion, have resolved to vote for President Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 general elections if he fulfils his promise to pay their deposits and investments in full. This is a U-turn to the groups mid-December 2019 threat to vote out the President for failing to address their plight. At the time, Mr Akagbo told Class91.3FMs Maxwell Atta that: Over half of us can be said to have had a very strong affinity with the ruling government. This affinity can be seen to be dwindling as a result of the untold hardships being experienced by us as a result of the financial sector clean-up exercise, he bemoaned. The groups U-turn comes on the back of a reiteration of President Akufo-Addos promise by Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday, 11 February 2020 at a town hall meeting in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. According to Dr Bawumia, the government has already spent over GHS13 billion paying depositors of banks and other financial institutions, and the President has given the assurance and I will like to repeat that no depositor of a bank, savings and loans or microfinance company would lose even a pesewa of their deposits. The Vice-President added: All depositors of these institutions will receive a 100% refund of their deposits since this was no fault of their own. Government has asked the receiver (working with the Bank of Ghana) to expedite the validation and payment of depositors so that all depositors will receive their monies after validation. I will also like to add that this refund will also extend to customers of DKM who have not as yet received the full refund of their deposits, he promised. In a direct response to a question about whether CASLOC will amend its position if the government fulfils its promise to them, Mr Akagbo told Class FM on Tuesday evening that: Of course, well do that [Vote for the government]. Well do exactly that because I even know of some of our members who are not members of the ruling party in government but they have expressed their interest of voting for this party should their monies be paid to them. And, I know ardent members of this party who have also threatened that if their monies are not paid to them, they would vote against them. So, if the President comes to do our wish for us, theres no doubt we are going to vote for them, including those who were in opposition to the party, Mr Akagbo added. Source: Class News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Using data from the World Economic Forum, Stacker compiled a list of the 25 countries with the largest income disparity. This article was first published on theStacker.com : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday presented his governments case to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of issues, including the plan to have three capitals for the state and the resolution to abolish the Legislative Council. The Chief Minister also invited the Prime Minister to attend a programme in the state on March 25 (Telugu New Year's Day Ugadi), wherein 25 lakh house-sites would be distributed to eligible families on a single day. The Chief Minister, who air-dashed to New Delhi on a call from the Prime Minister's Office, had a 100-minute meeting with him at the latters residence. He presented a 10-point memorandum to the Prime Minister for expeditious action by the Central government on issues related to the state, a press release from the CMO here said. Jagan told Modi that the idea behind "three capitals for the state" was to ensure comprehensive development of all regions of the state by removing the imbalances in growth. "In this direction, we have decided to decentralize the administration by locating the executive capital in Visakhapatnam, judicial capital in Kurnool and legislative capital in Amaravati. The state Cabinet has already approved this plan, while the Decentralisation Bill was passed by the state assembly, the release quoted Reddy as telling the Prime Minister. However, there was no mention about the legislative hurdle the Bill has been facing, as the Council decided to refer it to a Select Committee for further scrutiny. But Reddy complained to Modi that the Legislative Council was trying to block legislation brought in by the duly-elected government. "In this backdrop, the Assembly passed a resolution with two-thirds majority seeking abolition of the Council.I request you to direct the Union Law Ministry to take further action in this regard," Jagan added. He also requested the Prime Minister to direct the Law Ministry to initiate steps to shift the AP High Court to Kurnool, the proposed judicial capital, from Amaravati. Stating that his government enacted the AP Disha Act-2019 for expeditious trial of sexual harassment and assault cases against women and children, with death penalty as the maximum punishment, the Chief Minister requested the Centre to give its consent to it. Reddy also took up the Special Category Status issue, revenue deficit grant, Polavaram multipurpose project,backward districts development grant and the annual grants from the Centre that were due to the state, the release said. As the 15th Finance Commission left the SCS issue to the Centre's discretion, Jagan wanted Modi to take necessary decision in this regard. Of the Rs 22,948.76 crore revenue deficit grant the Centre owed the state post-bifurcation, Rs 18969.26 crore was still to be released, he pointed out, and requested that it be expedited due to the states precarious financial position. Referring to Polavaram, Jagan requested the Centre to immediately accord administrative approval to the enhanced project cost of Rs 55,549 crore, which the Water Resources Technical Advisory Committee had already cleared. Of this, Rs 33,010 crore would have to be spent on rehabilitation and resettlement of project oustees. Also, the Centre has to reimburse Rs 3,320 crore that the state already spent on Polavaram project works. "We are determined to complete Polavaram by 2021, so please arrange for quick disbursal of required funds for the project," the Chief Minister pleaded. Reddy requested that the money be released immediately. Noting that only Rs 10,610 crore was released to the state in the form of various Central grants in the current fiscal, he sought release of all pending grants. Among other things, the Chief Minister requested release of funds for construction of a new port at Ramayapatnam, steel plant in Kadapa district and inter-linking of Godavari and Krishna rivers in the state. He also wanted release of Rs 1,000 crore due from the Centre towards building the states new capital city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cases of young children being lured by adults to engage in sex acts while live-streaming jumped by more than 50 per cent last year, according to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 12/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Cases of young children being lured by adults to engage in sex acts while live-streaming jumped by more than 50 per cent last year, according to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. The organizations Cybertip.ca recorded 107 reports of adults contacting children ages 8 to 12 to engage in such acts on the internet, compared to 68 the year before an increase of 57 per cent. The centre does not have a breakdown of numbers by cities or provinces, or even if the reports originated in Canada, a spokesperson said Tuesday. "These are reports made to Cybertip.ca, Canadas national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children," the spokesperson said in an email to the Sun. "Because reports to Cybertip.ca can always be made anonymously, we cannot say whether or not all were made from Canada." Tuesday was Safer Internet Day, which is celebrated globally each February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people and to inspire a national conversation. "Parents may think their tween is not engaging in live streaming because theyre not old enough to know about these apps or websites," Signy Arnason, the centres associate executive director, said in a news release. "But through Cybertip.ca were seeing kids as young as eight years old being targeted by adults through live stream, so its important for parents to have these online safety conversations at every age in order to keep kids safe." The vast majority of apps, website, and online gaming platforms now include a live-stream component, the news release said. This opens tweens up to risks ranging from seeing unmoderated content, to inappropriate live chat, to adults viewing their streams and/or contacting them through private messages in order to move children to a private stream. In one example, an 11-year-old was contacted by an adult offering to share pornography if the tween would engage in masturbation together over a live stream. The offender also directed the tween to use a mobile device they could hide from their parents. "Open communication with children is very important when it comes to online activities. Building a relationship of trust with tweens can help them realize that they can come to you to discuss any online incidents," said RCMP Chief Superintendent Marie-Claude Arsenault, officer in charge of sensitive and specialized investigative services. "On Safer Internet Day, the RCMP encourages parents and guardians to read about the risks tweens are facing while live streaming, and tips for keeping them safe online." The centre offers the following tips for parents or guardians to help keep their kids safe online: Talk to your tween about the risks associated with live streaming. Screengrabs and video recordings from live streams can be used against tweens to embarrass or harm them. Help tweens set up privacy settings. With a private account, users can approve or deny followers, restrict who can view their content, and limit incoming messages to followers only. Work together to decide who to accept as followers. Many times tweens stream at night from bedrooms when parents are asleep or unware. Remove devices from tweens rooms before bed and consider disabling the Wi-Fi at night. More about the risks of live streaming, what parents can do to keep tweens safe, and age-appropriate points to talk about with tweens are available online (protectkidsonline.ca/live). The Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a national charity dedicated to the personal safety of children. The Brandon Sun Several New Mexicans have received awards for bringing fresh food to their communities and schools. Thursday was New Mexico Food and Farms and School Nutrition Day at the Legislature. A Senate memorial declaring the day acknowledged New Mexicos vibrant food and farming culture that is significant to the rural economy, and noted that communities benefit when they have better access to food from local farms and ranches. Food and Farms Day is a chance to lift up these state and federal programs that increase access to affordable, healthy food grown in New Mexico and offer economic opportunities for local farmers and ranchers, said Pam Roy, executive director of New Mexico Farm to Table and coordinator for the state Food & Agriculture Policy Council. Dorothy Bitsilly earned the Heart of the Land Award for Outstanding Leadership in Farming and Ranching. Bitsilly, 91, is the president of the Tohatchi Chapter Farm Board on the Navajo Nation, was a Bureau of Indian Affairs Education liaison for Navajo Nation youth for 30 years. She helped secure funding for an agricultural water well project that will serve more than 900 acres of Navajo farmland. Zuni Public School District was presented with the Seeding the Future Award for Best Farm To School Practices. The district uses the Lucha Greenhouse to grow fresh produce for four school cafeterias. The recently-renovated greenhouse also serves as a classroom to teach traditional agriculture to students. Gadsden Independent School District was recognized with the New Mexico Grown Award: Celebrating Best Practices in School Nutrition. The district purchases produce from family farms and educates students about food and nutrition. Roy said that last year, New Mexico farms sold $1.15 million in locally grown fruits and vegetables to state schools. Helga Garza, executive director of the Agri-Cultura Network, accepted the Sowing Change Award for Organizations Engaged in Creating Sustainable Food Systems. Agri-Cultura, a co-op of 45 local farms, recently celebrated the completion of the South Valley Farm Hub across from Ernie Pyle Middle School in Albuquerque. The council awarded the Good Food for New Mexico Award to the Tucumcari Farmers Market. The council also supports programs to increase fresh food access at grocery stores and farmers markets for limited-income seniors and New Mexico residents that qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Pilot program, at Columbia University, is first step in strategy to expand access to treatments for rare ALS subtypes Washington, DC, and New York, NY, Feb. 12, 2020--The ALS Association and Project ALS today announced a joint two-year, $900,000 commitment to fund a clinical research study at Columbia University Irving Medical Center of an experimental drug for patients with a rare genetic form of ALS. The program is a key step in developing a comprehensive program to treat rare forms of ALS associated with gene mutations. The drug, called jacifusen, is an investigational therapy for patients with mutations in a gene called FUS. Such gene mutations cause some of the most aggressive forms of ALS, including a type that begins in adolescents and young adults. To date, three ALS patients with FUS mutations have been treated with jacifusen under FDA-approved protocols. (The protocols were supervised by Neil Shneider, MD, PhD, Director of the Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.) The new clinical research program will allow an additional eight people with similar mutations to be treated with jacifusen. Jacifusen is named for Jaci Hermstad, the 26-year old Iowa woman who spurred its rapid development after she was diagnosed with FUS-ALS in February 2019. Hermstad lost her identical twin sister, Alex, to the same form of ALS in 2011, at age 17. Because FUS mutations are so rare, efforts to develop treatments for more common genetic forms of ALS have not been applied to FUS-ALS patients. "While it emerged from a tragedy, jacifusen represents teamwork at its best," said Valerie Estess, director of research for Project ALS. "Doctors, drug companies, regulators, the Hermstad family, and Project ALS came together with the same goal, and less than four months after her ALS diagnosis, Jaci received her first dose of jacifusen. We are thrilled, now, to partner with The ALS Association so that more FUS-associated ALS patients can receive jacifusen." The ALS Association is providing $650,000 for the project and Project ALS is providing $250,000. Additional support for ongoing pre-clinical studies of jacifusen and FUS-associated ALS, led by Dr. Shneider, is provided by Ionis Pharmaceuticals. "We want to develop simple pathways to treatments for all forms of genetic ALS including rare types, said Neil Thakur, PhD, executive vice president, mission strategy at The ALS Association. "This project is part of a larger strategy to resolve the scientific and regulatory impediments to making genetic therapies accessible and affordable for those who need them. We have been discussing this strategy with NINDS and FDA, and we look forward to carrying this work forward. We are grateful to Dr. Shneider for his leadership in piloting this approach." Said Dr. Neil Shneider: "Following Jaci Hermstad's initial treatment, we were immediately contacted by other ALS patients with FUS mutations about jacifusen. I am grateful to The ALS Association and Project ALS for providing the funding and infrastructure that allows our Center to expand access to jacifusen humanely, responsibly, and rapidly." ### About The ALS Association The ALS Association is the largest private funder of ALS research in the world. The Association funds global research collaborations, provides assistance for people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of chapters and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at http://www.alsa.org. About Project ALS Project ALS identifies and funds the most promising scientific and medical research that will lead to the first effective treatments and a cure for ALS. We recruit the world's best scientists and doctors to work together--rationally and aggressively--to develop a better understanding of the ALS disease process and, in parallel, better therapeutic strategies. For more information, visit projectals.org. Project ALS Contact: Erin Fleming erin@projectals.org 212-420-7382 About The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center at Columbia University provides comprehensive clinical care to ALS patients and families. We are an ALS Association Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence Center and an MDA/ALS Care Center. In addition, The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center leads an integrated ALS research program at Columbia University that spans basic, translational, and clinical efforts throughout our institution. Through a greater understanding of disease mechanisms, our efforts focus on the development of novel therapeutics for individuals and families with ALS. For more information about our Center, visit our website at alscenter.cuimc.columbia.edu. Atlanta, GA, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Piedmont Office Realty Trust (the Company or Piedmont) (NYSE: PDM) announced today that it has completed the purchase of the Galleria Office Towers, three Class-A office towers totalling approximately 1.4 million square feet with associated parking garages, and a 1.9-acre land parcel located at the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and LBJ Freeway (I-635) in the Lower Tollway submarket of Dallas, TX. Combined with Piedmonts existing holdings, the acquisition of Galleria Office Towers will increase the Companys Dallas footprint to 3.6 million square feet, making it Piedmonts second largest market and resulting in approximately 50% of its portfolio being located in the Sun Belt. The Galleria is a 3.7 million square foot master-planned, mixed-use development with unmatched connectivity to the DFW Metroplex. The Galleria Office Towers are seamlessly integrated through air-conditioned skybridges into the mixed-use amenity base, including the Galleria Dallas retail destination, encompassing over 30 dining options and 1.5 million square feet of shopping, along with the 448-room Westin Galleria Hotel, creating a vibrant and highly amenitized destination. The office towers are each 24 to 26 stories, range in size between 434,000 and 531,000 square feet, and are 90-100% leased to a roster of high-quality, diverse tenants including Amazon, Ryan LLC, Ansira Partners, Kimley-Horn, and Hospital Corp. of America, among many others. Commenting on the transaction, C. Brent Smith, Piedmonts President and Chief Executive Officer said, The Galleria Office Towers are an excellent strategic fit for our portfolio. They offer immediate scale in one of the most dynamic submarkets in Dallas, while allowing us to expand our current space offerings and capture additional synergies with our existing 2.1 million square foot Dallas portfolio. Like our recent Atlanta acquisitions, this transaction again exemplifies our strategy of aggregating high-quality, amenitized assets in dense, walkable environments which give us the ability to create unique community-building experiences for our tenants. Further, we plan to couple this acquisition with the disposition of one of our larger, mature, non-core assets, 1901 Market Street in Philadelphia, again demonstrating our ability to redeploy sales proceeds accretively into our targeted markets. For more information about the transaction, an investment overview presentation has been posted to the Investor Relations section of the Companys website, Piedmontreit.com, through the link entitled Galleria Office Towers Dallas - February 2020. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Company intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as applicable. Such information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, as well as known and unknown risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Therefore, such statements are not intended to be a guarantee of the Company`s performance in future periods. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "continue" or similar words or phrases that are predictions of future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. About Piedmont : Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: PDM) is an owner, manager, developer, redeveloper, and operator of high-quality, Class A office properties located primarily in select sub-markets within seven major Eastern U.S. office markets. Its geographically-diversified, almost $5 billion portfolio is currently comprised of approximately 18 million square feet. The Company is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) with local management offices in each of its major markets and is investment-grade rated by Standard & Poor's (BBB) and Moody's (Baa2). As of December 31, 2019, over 60% of the companys portfolio was ENERGY STAR certified and approximately 35% was LEED certified. For more information, see www.piedmontreit.com. A record 725 higher education faculty and staff gathered at the 18th annual National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) conference Feb. 5-7 in Atlanta to consider ways to reimagine the transfer student experience. "Creating meaningful change requires continuously thinking about how we can adapt and evolve; tapping into new ideas, influences, knowledge, and inspiration from multiple and perhaps seemingly unrelated sources to create what British designer John Thackara calls 'smart recombinations,'" said Dr. Janet Marling, NISTS executive director, in the welcome letter in the conference program. "Just like a mashup of your favorite songs that have been recombined into creative and catchy works of art, so too can approaches to transfer be altered to produce something wildly fantastic. These yet-to-be-discovered solutions may make all the difference for our students." Based on UNG's Dahlonega Campus, NISTS was founded in 2002 by UNG President Bonita Jacobs in response to a lack of professional development opportunities and research literature focused specifically on transfer students. In January, Jacobs was appointed to the American Council on Education National Task Force on Transfer of Credit. At the 2020 NISTS conference, 12 higher education faculty, staff and students were honored with awards. Four received the Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Catalyst Award, three were named Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Rising Stars, four were tapped as Transfer Student Ambassadors, and one earned the Research Grant Award. Dr. Janet Marling, the NISTS executive director shown on the far right in the front row, gave awards to these 12 professionals and students at the NISTS Conference in Atlanta. The Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Catalyst Award recognizes mid-career professionals who are game-changers in the transfer field and have worked over time to make a significant impact at the institutional, regional and/or state level. The winners were: Amanda Quintero, associate vice provost for student success and community engagement at California State University, Channel Islands. Janie Valdes, assistant vice president in enrollment management and services at Florida International University, where she founded Transfer & Transition Services. Heather Adams, director of College Learning Communities at UCLA. Kerin Hilker-Balkissoon, director of educational and career pathways at George Mason University. The Bonita C. Jacobs Transfer Champion Rising Star Award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions in the early stages of their careers, creating or improving programming that is responsive to the specific transfer student population and shows evidence of success. The awardees were: Jennifer Brown, transfer specialist and chair of the Manoa Transfer Coordination Center at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Sara Price, transfer admissions director at the University of Kentucky. Alexandrea Deerr, assistant director of academic advising, Ivy Tech Community College, Sellersburg. Transfer Student Ambassadors were selected through a national competition intended to recognize outstanding students who represent the heart of transfer work. All four demonstrated excellence in leadership, public speaking, and their potential for sharing meaningful information with higher education transfer professionals. They were: Kaylee Cheng of California State University, Channel Islands. Jahine Grady of Morehouse College. Tania Nasrollahi of UCLA. Macia Outlaw of Mississippi College. Jason Mastrogiovanni, executive director of the Office for Student Success at Texas A&M University, won the Research Grant Award. The title of his research is "Collaboration in Transfer Student Work: A Cultural Historical Activity Theory Study at Four-Year Institutions." By Abdul Kerimkhanov Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry leadership inaugurated the newly constructed facilities in the military unit of the Air Force on February 11. Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov visited the two-story headquarters building, the soldiers barracks, classrooms, warehouses, parade ground, checkpoint, as well as other service and administrative facilities, got acquainted with the quality of the work carried out. Hasanov viewed also the other facilities being under the construction and gave relevant instructions on the qualitative completion of the work. Under the instruction of President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, work on enhancing combat readiness and improving the social and living conditions of military personnel of the Air Force is being continued. Azerbaijan has the strongest army in the South Caucasus, according to Global Fire Power ranking 2020. The country ranked 64th among 138 countries considered for the annual Global Fire Power review this year. Azerbaijan is actively strengthening its armed forces. The army's power is growing from year to year; it is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons from the best manufacturers. Azerbaijani Armed Forces have three branches: the Azerbaijani Land Forces, the Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force, and the Azerbaijani Navy. Associated forces include the Azerbaijani National Guard, the Internal Troops of Azerbaijan, and the State Border Service, which can be involved in state defense under certain circumstances. Azerbaijan cooperates with about 60 countries in the military-technical sphere and has an agreement on military-technical cooperation with more than 30 countries. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Comedians Julia Morris and Nazeem Hussain have been crowned the queen and king of this years Melbourne Moomba festival. "Melbourne does have a wonderful culture around comedy and thats why were absolutely rapt to have these two," said Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp of the new monarchs. Julia Morris and Nazeem Hussain are crowned Moomba queen and king. Credit:Eddie Jim Morris, the host of Channel Ten's I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here, said she was surprised at the honour. "Not being born in Melbourne, I wouldnt have thought that I would ever be looked at as a Moomba monarch," she said. A new Italian restaurant will create up to 15 jobs when it opens in south Belfast next month. Kristian Nicolo and Stephen Toney, who co-own Nico's Pizza Pasta takeaway in south Belfast, are to expand their portfolio with the new restaurant situated at the former Doorsteps premises at 54 Lisburn Road. They took over the premises, which faces the City Hospital, a couple of months ago and it is currently undergoing a full refurbishment. They hope to open the doors of the Nico's Pizzeria restaurant at the beginning of next month. They have been trading at their takeaway for six years. It won best takeaway in Northern Ireland at the British Takeaway Awards on two occasions. Mr Nicolo said they wanted to expand into having a sit-in restaurant and will offer lunch and dinner menus. They have applied for a drinks licence for the new restaurant. "We have a popular takeaway in south Belfast and we also did operate a Nico's in east Belfast, but this branch is now closed to allow us to open and concentrate on our first sit-in restaurant which we have dreamed of doing for many years," said Mr Nicolo. "But we still deliver to the east Belfast area from our south Belfast store so our delivery customers remained unaffected." The restaurant will have capacity for 40 guests, with an additional 20 outside. The owners say they are hoping to build on the success of Nico's Pizza Pasta on Sunnyside Street, where they currently employ 30 staff. "Business is booming at the moment in Nico's and trade increases on a weekly basis. We have great feedback thanks to our dedicated staff that make this possible," he said. "Many of the staff have been working with us from day one." The menu will feature the same favourites from Nico's and will expand to include other pasta dishes and also cater to gluten-free and vegan diners. Mr Nicolo grew up working in his father's restaurant in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy and has lived in Belfast for 19 years. "We have been lucky to have the experience and family recipes that to this day are being used at Nico's and by our family in Calabria," he added. Initially, the new restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner and, down the line, Mr Nicolo said they may also offer a brunch menu. He said there has been great interest in their new venture from passers-by and on social media. "We have been getting a crazy amount of exciting social media messages from current customers looking forward to trying this new restaurant experience. We are expecting to start off with a bang," he added. By Jon Dolan Much has been written in this publication regarding legislation to increase the number of certified nursing assistants or CNAs in the states nursing centers. The theme of these articles and editorials has been the need for more of these nursing assistants to provide the appropriate care for residents and to ease the burden on these frontline caregivers. It has also been noted that they have one of the most physically demanding and emotionally heart-wrenching tasks in the healthcare sector. We couldnt agree more. Certified nursing assistants are the backbone of our healthcare centers. That said, there are several significant challenges and unintended consequences existing with some iterations of this legislation. As the trade association representing over 300 long term care centers statewide, the Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ) has had the solemn responsibility to take the most realistic approach for the best interests of all parties. Our goal is, and has always been, fair effective healthcare policy built on quality, access and affordability. It is in this spirit that, in addition to seeking sensible policies, we will spearhead a workforce initiative aimed at educating our young people about the rewards of caregiving and assisting those who choose this career path. Over 70% of residents cared for in our skilled nursing centers rely on Medicaid at some point. The providers who care for them are currently reimbursed by the Medicaid program $40 per resident, per day, less than it costs to provide that care. This shortfall is the fifth worst in the nation. Despite this, New Jersey is ranked 10th in the nation in overall quality. Our providers are doing more with less; but they cannot work magic. United Healthcare Workers Easts (1199SEIU) demands for increased certified nursing assistant-to-resident ratios will cost centers an additional $95 million annually. From where is this funding to come? Fixed costs and labor account for 80% to 85% of a nursing centers budget and the government is their primary funding source. This problem is only exacerbated by the new minimum wage law. Funding can, and should, be addressed by legislative action in conjunction with any new mandate. What cannot be legislated is the number of qualified individuals available to fill any newly mandated certified nursing assistant ratio requirements. According to the latest New Jersey Department of Labor data, there were over 2,000 CNA positions to be filled annually across the state. We have since seen that the use of signing bonuses, finders fees, staffing agencies, salary increases, and multi-state reciprocity fail to mitigate the ever-increasing shortage. Many centers run continuous employment ads for CNAs and have raised their wages well above the new $15 minimum wage. Yet, the shortage continues to grow. The 1199SEIU version of this legislation requires over 2,000 more nursing assistants. Where will we find these workers? We must find qualified workers suited to this calling - one which requires patience, compassion and resiliency. The unintended consequence of mandating higher staffing ratios will be a feeding frenzy among providers as they try to hire from the limited labor pool and move to hire staff away from other providers. This drives up the cost of recruitment and retention and drives down quality; adding fuel to the fire. Legislation or stakeholder groups failing to recognize the need to in some way address the workforce shortage and necessary funding, guarantee failure of our common goals and ensure that even the best centers will face insurmountable operational challenges. Within the limited opportunities HCANJ has had to sit down with all stakeholders over several years, we have worked in earnest to arrive at reasonable compromises. It is not difficult, since elsewhere, SEIU and long term care trade associations have balanced these major concerns. Their examples provide reasonable roadmaps for success. Regrettably, multiple suggested approaches utilized successfully in other states were denied time and again by 1199SEIU. The long term care profession has come further on this issue than nearly any other in recent memory. We agree with the editorial statement that lawmakers and stakeholders must sit in a room and nail this down, but our goal must be the best possible access and quality outcomes for residents and their caregivers. Jon Dolan is president and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By Kyle Lovern In the Bible, the apostle Paul reminded those who would listen of[Read More] A young boy has been rushed to hospital after being sucked down a drain on the Gold Coast. The nine-year-old was sucked into the drain at Latimers Crossing in Nerang on Wednesday afternoon, Nine News reported. A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said they were called to a home in Gilston just after 4.40pm. Paramedics treated the boy for minor scrapes to his head following a 'post immersion' incident. He has been taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition. More to come. In 1896, conservative Democrats loyal to the outgoing incumbent, Grover Cleveland, condemned Bryans talk of bashing big business and even mounted a third-party ticket they knew would help the Republican nominee. In 1972, the A.F.L.-C.I.O., headed by George Meany, blasted McGovern as an apologist for the communist world whose delegates were kooks and nuts. After McGovern was nominated, the labor body, the indispensable pillar of the New Deal coalition, refused to endorse anyone for president. The decision broke a tradition of backing Democratic nominees that stretched back almost four decades. At the 1964 Republican convention, Goldwaters extremist admirers loudly booed his moderate critics, and the intraparty bitterness provoked many lifelong Republicans to vote for Johnson that fall. For his part, Jesse Jackson, despite winning over a thousand delegates in 1988, came in second for the nomination to Michael Dukakis, whose bland rhetoric and cautious promises contrasted sharply with his rivals rousing style and left-wing policies. In his acceptance speech that summer, Dukakis declared: This election isnt about ideology. Its about competence. That line not only failed to win him enough votes to prevent the Republicans, under George H.W. Bush, from winning a third straight easy victory. It also betrayed a fundamental misunderstanding of how major changes have always occurred in our country. Americans who are seriously disenchanted with an incumbent president or his party tend to be moved more by a serious candidate who offers a sharply different alternative, one based on a set of moral convictions, instead of merely a sense of who might be a more efficient administrator of the existing order. Such voters are usually most numerous among the young. After their candidate loses, the fervent hopes he (and someday, she) inspired continue to motivate followers to convert their party to the same ideas and chart a path to future victory. Since he began running for president five years ago, Senator Sanders and his supporters have nudged Democrats to take stands to the left of where the center of the party was when Barack Obama moved out of the White House. Every remaining candidate for president now endorses either Medicare for All or a robust public option, doubling the minimum wage, much higher taxes on the rich, legislation to facilitate union organizing and a transition to an economy based on sources of renewable energy. Even if the delegates in Milwaukee this summer choose a different nominee, they will surely endorse such policies and make them central to the drive to make Donald Trump a one-term president. So whatever his electoral fate, the socialist from Vermont who is pushing 80 is likely to be remembered as a more transformative figure than many politicians who won an election but whom most Americans were quite glad to put behind them. Mr. Sanders wants to be the next Franklin Roosevelt but if he cant, better to be the next William Jennings Bryan or Jesse Jackson than the next William Howard Taft. Michael Kazin, a professor of history at Georgetown and a co-editor of Dissent, is writing a history of the Democratic Party. 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. Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang speaks during a campaign event in Keene, New Hampshire on Feb. 5, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Andrew Yang, Michael Bennet End Presidential Bids; Gabbard to Stay In Democratic presidential contenders Andrew Yang and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) ended their 2020 campaigns late on Feb. 11 after poor showings in New Hampshire. Yang, 45, a former tech executive, made the announcement in front of supporters in New Hampshire. I am the math guy, and it is clear tonight from the numbers that we are not going to win this race, Yang said. This is not an easy decision or something I made lightly with the team. Endings are hard, Yang added. I have been persuaded that the message of this campaign will not be strengthened by my staying in the race any longer. Bennet, 55, told supporters in New Hampshire that he would support whoever the Democratic party nominee is to make sure that we defeat Donald Trump. He said hed spend time campaigning for Senate candidates to try to flip the congressional body. Michael Bennett prepares pancakes at the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic Primary Live From Iconic Red Arrow Diner Day 2 in Manchester, New Hampshire on Feb. 11, 2020. (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for SiruisXM) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78, declared victory in the New Hampshire primary with 90 percent of the votes counted. He had 26 percent, followed by former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38, who had 24.4 percent; and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59, who had 19.7 percent. Yang had 2.8 percent of the votes and Bennet had 0.3 percent. In the Iowa caucuses, Yang received 1 percent of the final vote number and Bennet received 0 percent. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), another contender who hasnt gotten many votes in Iowa or New Hampshire, vowed to continue campaigning. Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) speaks during a campaign event in Lebanon, New Hampshire on Feb. 6, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Gabbard, 38, ended with about 3 percent in New Hampshire after earning zero delegates in Iowa. No matter what happens here tonight, I want you to know that we have already been victorious. We have already been victorious because of what we have built, Gabbard told supporters at a rally in New Hampshire. As much as they have tried to erase us from this election, we stand strong, she added. Were still here! Gabbard departed for South Carolina later Tuesday, joining former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, and other rivals. Biden left New Hampshire before the votes started being counted and addressed supporters in the state via video as his sister greeted them in person. The next primary or caucus is in Nevada on Feb. 22. South Carolinas Democratic primary is on Feb. 29. The Democratic presidential field is now composed of Gabbard, Biden, Sanders, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), 70, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, 63, businessman Tom Steyer, 62, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 77. The global drive to mitigate the impact of climate change and boost renewable energy is threatening the immense wealth that the Arab Gulf oil producers have accumulated from crude oil over the past decades. In less than a decade and a half, the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)could see their combined US$2 trillion wealth wiped out, if they do not significantly accelerate fiscal reforms and raise their non-oil revenues and non-oil share of their respective economies to be ready for a world of peak oil demand. This warning came from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said in a report last week that the GCC countries urgently need deeper reforms in their economies, revenues, and the way they are spending in order to preserve their net financial wealth over the next two decades, in which global oil demand is expected to peak. The Threat To Middle Easts Oil Wealth At the current pace of fiscal reforms, income, and spending, the six oil producers will see their current US$2-trillion wealth exhausted by 2034, the IMF said. The fundamental change in oil markets, with increased attention to climate policies and potential carbon taxes, poses a huge challenge to the GCC countries, which collectively produce over one-fifth of global oil supply. Some countries in the region have already started to implement some reforms, including cutting subsidies for fuel and water, or charging non-nationals the market prices of gasoline as compared to subsidized prices for nationals. Yet, the current reforms across GCC will not be enough, the IMF said. The mere economic diversification away from oila difficult goal to achieve in itselfwill not be sufficient to stop the wealth erosion in the key oil producers in the Middle East; GCC countries need a significant increase of their non-oil revenues, according to the fund. But then even higher non-oil revenues may not be enoughgovernments will likely be forced to downsize in order to rein in public spending, the IMF said. [T]here remains significant scope for rationalizing other categories of spending, including reforming the regions large civil service and reducing public wage bills which are high by international standards, the IMFs paper reads. Related: Could This Be The Decade Of Green Hydrogen? Besides strengthening public finances, these reforms would also reduce labor market distortions and facilitate private sector development, the fund noted. But The Middle East Is Not Kicking Its Oil Addiction The petrostates in the Middle East have started to implement some reforms after the oil price crash of 2014-2015 plunged most of the government budgets into deficits, as oil revenuesthe key source of income and government spending to support the economieshalved. The biggest producer in the region and the worlds top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, continues to run massive deficits five years after the oil price collapse. Although it has its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from oil, including funding part of the plan with proceeds from the Saudi Aramco IPO, the Kingdom continues to struggle to attract foreign direct investment. So it continues to bet big on locking in future demand for its oil with joint ventures in the key oil growth market, Asia. Aramco continues to strike downstream deals in China and India, looking to become a global leader in refining and marketing. Saudi Arabias oil and gas sector accounts for about 50 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), and about 70 percent of export earnings, as per OPEC figures. In other words, oil makes up half of Saudi Arabias economy, and Vision 2030 or not, the Kingdom will have a hard time kicking the oil habit, even if it were earnestly trying to do so. The dilemma for the Saudis here is that without oil, Saudi Arabia is losing a key leverage in regional and international politics. Its the Kingdoms vast oil reserves that have paid for and continue to pay for the lavish lifestyle of the House of Saud, the family ruling the absolute monarchy which is the only country in the world bearing the name of its rulers. The United Arab Emirates, one of the three OPEC members in the GCC alongside Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, has a mode modest exposure to oilaround 30 percent of the UAEs economy is directly based on oil and gas production. Abu Dhabi is the emirate most exposed to oil demand and oil prices, while Dubai, for example, is a top luxury tourist destination and is doing quite fine without oil reserves. Kuwait has a huge sovereign wealth fund, which could help it stave off the total wealth depletion until 2052, according to the IMF. But Kuwait is heavily dependent on oil, toothe oil and gas sector accounts for about 40 percent of its GDP and a whopping 92 percent of export revenues, according to OPEC. Weaning the economy off oil hinges on the emergence of a vibrant non-oil sector that creates jobs for the growing labor force, the IMF said in a report on Kuwait last month, noting that The current conjuncture and the exhaustible nature of oil underscore the need to diversify the economy and ensure adequate savings for future generations. Related: 5 Weird Ways To Generate Renewable Energy Oman and Bahrain of the GCC (but not OPEC members) are the most vulnerable producers to the looming peak oil demand, while Qatarthanks to its huge natural gas reserves and the expected continued rise in global gas demandcould be spared some of the fiscal pressure that its neighbors may feel over the next two decades, the fund says. Climate Change Dilemma Increased efforts to combat climate change have reached the largest oil producing companies in the Middle EastSaudi Aramco and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Aramco is now openly talking about climate change, touting research on lowering emissions, while ADNOC prides itself on being among the top five lowest GHG emitters in the oil and gas industry. The irony is that due to their geographical position, oil producers in the Middle East would be more affected by climate change in the coming years than oil producers further north. Jim Krane, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice Universitys Baker Institute, wrote in a paper last month the Gulf oil producers would benefit most from reducing ongoing accumulations of carbon in the atmosphere and associated adaptation costs. The petro-states of the Gulf should view climate change with more alarm than northern oil producers like Russia, Canada and Norway, which would experience milder short-run damage or even benefits from a warming climate, Krane wrote in the paper published in the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. A creeping risk to the Gulf oil windfall is materializing in the form of climate action, Krane wrote, while the IMF said in its report last week that oil-exporting countries may need to be ready for a post-oil future sooner rather than later. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A Pokemon Go player hunting for Pikachu was repeatedly stabbed after he failed to give a stranger $5 and a cigarette, a court has heard. Jonathan Peterson, 25, pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury and attempted armed robbery at Melbourne's County Court on February 5. The Bendigo man was wandering around town playing the augmented reality mobile game when Peterson threatened him at knife-point near a service station around 11pm on December 29, 2018. Jonathan Peterson (pictured), 25, pleaded guilty to to intentionally causing injury and attempted armed robbery at Melbourne's County Court last week The court heard Peterson, who had just been at a pub collecting cigarette butts, said 'give us what you got' before punching the victim and thrusting the weapon into his neck twice and shoulder once. He was sentenced to four years and six months in prison with a minimum of 32 months, the Herald Sun reports. The victim lost a lot of blood and was rushed to Bendigo hospital where he remained for days. Shortly after the offence, Peterson, who has a history of violent offences, bragged to a neighbour that he had 'just stabbed some c*** for a cigarette'. The Long Gully resident was arrested the following day after police discovered 'fresh blood' outside his home and on his shoes. Peterson, who has a history of violent offences, told a neighbour shortly after the attack that he had 'just stabbed some c*** for a cigarette' Judge Sarah Dawes condemned Peterson's behaviour as threatening, intimidating and violent. She said the random attack on the victim had left him emotionally distraught and distressed. The victim said it has been hard to find pleasure in life since the incident. 'Everything I enjoyed has been taken away and it is really difficult to pick up the pieces and try and live a normal life again,' he said. At the time of sentencing, Peterson had already served 402 days behind bars. Pokemon Go is a smart phone app that uses location tracking and mapping technology to create an augmented reality' where players catch and train Pokemon characters in real locations. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu expressed grief over the death of three firefighters in a building collapse here on Wednesday, an official spokesperson said. In his condolence message, the Lt Governor prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved families in their hour of grief, he said. Three firemen were killed and six people injured when a three-storey building collapsed while fire department personnel were trying to put out a blaze in it. Murmu has directed the administration to provide the best-possible medical treatment to the injured, the spokesman said. The Lt Governor lauded the valour of the firefighters and observed that they have always remained at the forefront during a fire outbreak or any other such emergency situations. Meanwhile, Director General of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, V K Singh briefed the Lt Governor about the health condition of the injured firefighters, the official said. He added that Murmu stressed on the importance of generating awareness regarding fire safety norms in all public buildings to avoid any such incidents in the future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Airbus 319 operated by American Airlines approaches for landing at Baltimore Washington International Airport near Baltimore, Md., on March 11, 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) American Airlines Extends Flight Suspensions to China, Hong Kong, Amid COVID-19 Outbreak American Airlines has extended its suspension of flights between the United States and mainland China and Hong Kong until late April, it announced on Feb. 10, as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of the coronavirus outbreak as a global threat potentially worse than terrorism. All flights from the United States to Shanghai and Beijing from the airlines Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles hubs will be suspended until April 24, while flights from its Texas and Los Angeles hubs will not recommence until April 23 and 24 respectively, American Airlines said in a statement. The announcement came after the airline initially said it would suspend flights to and from the Chinese mainland beginning Jan. 31 through March 27. The company was sued by the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing 15,000 American Airlines pilots, to try to halt flights to and from China. American Airlines said Tuesday it was extending the suspension due to the reduction in demand for flights to Hong Kong and mainland China from the United States. Dozens of the worlds airlines halted or curbed flights to and/or from China amid the outbreak, which has spread to roughly two dozen countries around the world. The announcement came as the virus was officially named COVID-19. CO for corona, VI for the virus, D for disease, and 19 for the year it emerged. WHO wanted a name that did not refer to a location or animal, WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said during a Tuesday news conference. Having a name matters, to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing, he told reporters. He said the world must wake up and consider this enemy virus as public enemy number one, adding the first vaccine was 18 months away. The U.S. confirmed its 13th case of coronavirus on Tuesdayan American who was among a group that had been flown out of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China, by the U.S. government. Health officials said he became the first evacuee to test positive for the coronavirus. The patient had arrived at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, in San Diego last week on one of the State Department flights that ferried Americans from Wuhan. The person was released from a hospital in San Diego and returned to federal quarantine after initial tests indicated they werent infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additional testing showed the patient was, in fact, infectedbringing the number of confirmed cases in the United States to 13, the CDC stated. The patient was returned to the hospital. Eleven patients acquired the virus while in Wuhan; the other two were infected by close contact with two of the patients in the United States. The new case is the seventh in California. Officials in Riverside County, California, also said on Feb. 10 that no one among the group of 195 evacuees at March Air Reserve Base has the virus. The group, the first to be evacuated from China, would be allowed to leave on Feb. 12, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the countys public health officer, said in a statement. The patients were being held in mandatory quarantine for 14 days. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said it has named 11 military bases that could be used as potential quarantine areas for patients infected with coronavirus in the United States if the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facilities are filled. These are tertiary locations, and HHS already has primary and secondary locations identified that are not DOD facilities, the Department of Defense said in a news release. Zachary Stieber and Reuters contributed to this report. Officials said they have three other unsolved hit-and-run incidents where pedestrians were killed in 2018 and 2019. Those cases happened on Dec. 29, 2018, in Reston; Feb. 26, 2019, in McLean, and a third was on Oct. 6, 2019, in Mount Vernon. One person is dead after a gas leak potentially sparked a house fire on the Northeast Side early Wednesday morning. When San Antonio Fire arrived at the 14800 block of Briarmeadow Street just before 6 a.m., the residence was fully engulfed in flame, said SAFD spokesman Woody Woodward. Crews attempted to go into the house, but had to retreat and quickly go into defensive mode, Woodward said. Neighbors said the house was technically vacant, but that the homeowners daughter often stayed there, he added. When crews were finally able to enter the house they found a body inside, though officials arent able to confirm whether it is the woman. Reports do indicate that she should have been staying in the house last night. When they found the body, the firefighters said it appeared she had been trying to get out of the house, Woodward said. By 7 a.m., flames were still visible on the roof as more than a dozen crews worked to contain hotspots inside. Woodward said the woman told friends and neighbors about a potential gas leak in the house, but didnt report it to authorities to fix the problem. Officials arent ruling a gas leak as the cause but did advise residents that if they have a gas or electrical problem, they need to get it fixed right away. Help India! Ahmed Raza The spectacular majority mark for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the BJP in Delhi assembly elections did not astonish people landslide victory of AAP with 67 out of 70 seats in 2014, followed by BJPs victory in local bodies in 2017 and then the parliamentary election in 2019 people have time and again shown different voting patterns in the last six years. This time, the BJP not only tried hard to lose no prospect in maligning AAP through insensitive and insensible remarks but also exercised routine communal propaganda through its campaigns. It has been instrumentally polarizing communities by setting narratives like Tukde-Tukde gang and portraying Shaheen Bagh protestors as anti national elements. However, the people of Delhi prioritized AAPs performances over the last five years casting their votes in favour of good governance. Support TwoCircles Although we are yet to witness the top leadership of BJP acknowledging how AAP has been tending to basic facilities in localities in accordance with the promises made in the 2014 election, a comment strong enough from a local BJP supporter outlines the truth. Against AAPs strong leadership face is Delhis present unit chief and former Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwari. When asked why he would vote for the local AAP candidate and not Tiwari, a staunch BJP supporter explained that even he were to discount Tiwaris theatrics, he could not vote for him as he is not from the Capital and has no real connect to understand the local issues. A closer look at the state of affairs gives us broadly five broad areas responsible for BJPs humiliating defeat in the Delhi assembly elections. Dominance of local issues over national issues Despite BJPs thumping victory in the previous general election, they failed to identify the relevance of local over national to secure trust of the people of Delhi. The electoral battle for Delhi government 2020 rounded up between AAP and BJP with local agendas and national issues respectively keeping Congress aside only as a spectator. On one hand, BJP tried to sell out its achievements made in the last five years under PM Narendra Modis rigorous marketing campaign; on the other hand, AAP continued engaging itself to reach out to the voters by publicizing the good governance focused on health, education, transportation, and social welfare. People in Delhi already happen to be an eye witness of both the social welfare measures taken by the AAP government and the polarizing hate speeches in BJPs election rallies. The manner in which BJP propagated its election campaigning through its faulty idea of nationalism and national security marginalized the local level issues which were actively addressed by the AAP government in the last five years. This rhetoric of an endangered national security that the BJP played acted as hit-wicket for its defeat. While BJP thrived on issues like abrogation of Article 370, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Ram Mandir dispute, AAP paid attention to local voices. Mohalla clinics, modernization of government schools, installation of WiFi, freebies for electricity, water supply and reduced transportation costs are some noteworthy schemes by the AAP that acted as catalysts for accommodating the party directly into the heart of its cross caste voters. Missing anti-incumbency factor The performance grade of AAP always stands on top on the basis of a number of surveys and reports conducted independently, leaving the minimum level of scope for criticisms as seventy percents of the promises made in 2014 election proved to be satisfactory. The AAP model of development including health sector and education emerged as a role model for other state governments as there have been outstanding transformations of schools and hospitals. The Mohalla clinic as initiatives towards free and easy accessibility of medical facilities reaching out to every strata of society with minimum government expenditures remained an inspiration and encouragement for other governments as well. Following the promises made in 2015, AAP again shocked the Opposition parties by introducing doorstep delivery, deployment of security personnel at government buses, free treatment for accident victims and so on. These measures increased the confidence level of voters from lower and middle classes and strongly backed in favour of AAP. Arvind Kejriwal Versus Manoj Tiwari The absence of the BJPs CM candidate against the dynamic and popular leadership of Arvind Kejriwal amounted to be a huge factor for underperformance of the BJP. Where Manoj Tiwari is not even remotely connected with local grievances and issues, Kejriwal has always been a front runner for the Chief Minister post among the voters due to his simplicity and citizen-friendly behaviour. Although, the top leadership in the BJP tried to convince the voters by portraying Narendra Modi as the stalwart and architect of New India, the campaign failed to make an impact due to absence of facts and figures supporting the claim. Violence in Delhi and dubious role of Police BJPs defeat in the Delhi election may also be linked with the inefficiency of Delhi Police in controlling the student protestors in Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, Jawaharlal Nehru University and other sites protesting against the draconian CAA. Hundreds of videos and images captured by students, bystanders and protestors are proof to the partiality with which the Delhi Police responded to the crowds, often peacefully protesting against the Act. The credibility of Delhi Police has been observed as dubious, qualm and distrusting and one does not have to be a political expert to see the Polices biased outrage against a particular group of protestors. The Police has actively been acting as politically guided perpetrators of these incidents where a section of them, including Sharjeel Imam, have been selectively punished while the large number of masked culprits responsible for JNUs violence remain free from police radar. Backfire of Shaheen Bagh issue BJPs campaigning for Delhi election speed up in just twenty days when it hailed Shaheen Bagh as the epicenter of polarization so as to accommodate voters on communal lines. BJP could not have thought how disastrous this would have emerged for the party. When it was not able to counter AAPs model of development, BJP launched its campaign of defaming Shaheen Bagh protesters. Leaders from the top levels, including the PM and Home Minister indulged in hate speech giving it a communal angle and turning the whole idea of reclaiming secularism into an anti national war of sorts. The political parties and leaders dissenting against the CAA, including AAP and Congress were directly hit out by the BJP as traitors and conspirators against the nation, inciting the voters to throw Kejriwal out of power from Delhi. Keeping this strategy as a master stroke, the BJP floated an idea of tarnishing the image of the AAP as anti national so as to polarize the voters on nationalist propaganda. It is praiseworthy how even after almost two months of the sit-in, Shaheen Bagh protest remains a legal and peaceful protest against the CAA having nothing to do with any political party. Consequences of VVIP hate speech The way AAP has shown its political maturity in countering BJPs top leaderships unprofessional remarks and unparliamentary speeches delivered during election campaigning played a decisive role for the voters in Delhi. The voters have shown sharp political awareness and sensibility in differentiating between hate speech and truth, thus failing BJPs strategy to incite selective hatred for sections dividing them into communal lines. The poll verdict of the Delhi assembly 2020 should be viewed as a foundation stone for secular and issue based politics proving that even a newly formed AAP can defeat the worlds largest political party BJP based solely on the principles of development, secularism and integrity. (Ahmed Raza is Author, Columnist & Assistant Professor of Department of Public Administration, MANUU (a central university) Hyderabad, India) Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), a leading telecom provider in Saudi Arabia, has been elected member of the Board of Directors of Samena Telecommunication Council for the period 2020-2022. Samena Board of Directors includes various companies present in more than 25 countries. Represented by CEO Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Badran, Mobily had participated in the conference on the Convergence of telecommunications technologies held recently in Bahrain. The event was organized by Samena Communications Council and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Bahrain to discuss 5G technologies, IoT, and set the digital vision for the region with the participation of experts from the ICT sector. The General Assembly meeting of the Samena Telecommunication Council members was held alongside the conference, and voted Mobily member of Board of Directors for the period 2020-2022. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Badran will represent Mobilys seat on the board. Samena Telecommunications Council is tri-regional, non-profit industry association spanning more than 25 countries. It represents the interests of more than 85 telecom operators and service providers in the fixed and mobile space, and stakeholders from the wider digital ecosystem, including technology, equipment and software manufacturers, internet companies, consulting companies, academia and regulatory authorities. TradeArabia News Service Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey will attack Syrian government forces anywhere in Syria if another Turkish soldier is injured. He said Turkey was determined to force the Syrian military back from the gains it has made in the north-western province of Idlib by the end of February. "As of today, in the event of any minor harm to our soldiers, I announce that we will strike regime forces everywhere without being bound to Idlib or the boundaries of the Sochi agreement," Erdogan told a ruling party meeting in Ankara. Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad, backed by Russian air cover, have been advancing into the last rebel-held areas of Idlib and nearby Aleppo countryside, seizing dozens of towns and sparking a large-scale humanitarian crisis. "We are determined to remove the regime to beyond the boundaries of the Sochi agreement, that is, behind our observation posts, by the end of February," Erdogan said. "We will do whatever is necessary, without hesitation, without wavering on land and by air." Under a 2018 agreement with Russia in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Turkey established a dozen military observation posts in Idlib, where it backs some opposition groups. Several of these posts have been surrounded by government forces in recent weeks. At least 13 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Syrian artillery fire this month. Erdogan said he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin by telephone about the situation in Idlib. New Delhi, Feb 12 : Blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for spreading only hate, Amantullah Khan, newly elected Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator, said here on Wednesday, two crore people of Delhi had given electric shock to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Speaking to IANS, a day after winning the Okhla seat with a margin of over 71,000 votes -- the second largest winning margin in this polls -- he said the people rejected the politics of hate. "I want to thank the people of my constituency for their love and support. The voters have proved that they wanted leaders to talk about issues concerning the people and not religions or playing the politics of hate. People have preferred politics of work over politics of hate," Khan said. Stating that the BJP could have bagged more seat if it had told people the work they wanted to do after polls, Khan said the hate had lost and the development had won. "People voted for the AAP as they trusted Arvind Kejriwal," he said. Rejecting the claims that he won because of religious factor, Khan said, "People voted me for my work." On his big margin victory, he said the people reposed faith in him because of the work done by him for the several years. The BJP had launched a vitriolic attack on the AAP and Khan saying they were supporting and instigating Muslims in and around Shaheen Bagh. Taking a jibe at Shah who had said during the campaign that people should press the EVM button so hard that "the current is felt in Shaheen Bagh," Khan said the people have given their reply. However, the Okhla MLA said the BJP should look into the Shaheen Bagh issue. "As an MLA, I would like to say that Shah should go to Shaheen Bagh. He should talk to people, ask them about the issue. "People are sitting there for the past two months. It's not a short time. It's time to resolve the issue." Stating that Shah is the Home Minister of India and the issue is related to the central government, Khan said, "If Shah himself can't go to the protest site, he should send someone." People, particularly women and children, are staging sit-in at Shaheen Bagh since December 15. (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Parliamentarians have called for the exploration of Zimbabwes nuclear energy potential, through uranium, as a fix to electricity shortages in the country WASHINGTON Nearly four decades after opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment declared the effort dead, House Democrats led by San Mateo Rep. Jackie Speier will vote Thursday to revive the fight to write womens rights into the Constitution. The House will take up Speiers bill to remove Congress 1982 deadline for states ratification of the constitutional amendment guaranteeing equality of rights under the law, regardless of sex. ERA approval stalled at 35 states before the deadline, three short of the three-fourths of the states that the amendment needed. Then, in 2017, the Nevada Legislature voted to ratify the ERA, followed the next year by Illinois. Last month, lawmakers in Virginia voted for the amendment, giving it the needed 38 states perhaps. The Trump administrations Justice Department has effectively prevented the amendment from becoming law by directing the national archivist, the librarian who records new amendments, from certifying its passage. The department argues that the Constitution doesnt give Congress authority to revive an amendment after its deadline has lapsed. Speier says her plan would negate the archivists dilemma. Her bill, HJR79, would erase any mention of a deadline for ratification. Its just a huge gaffe in our Constitution, and we need to fix it, Speier told The Chronicle. I do not want my daughter and, hopefully someday, my granddaughter, to still be arguing about this and still be fighting for equality. Congress sent the measure to the states in 1972, and at first it encountered little opposition. Then conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly began organizing a campaign against it, arguing that it could eliminate protections for women in child-custody and alimony cases and even lead to women being subject to the military draft. Congress extended its original deadline for ratification from 1979 to 1982, but proponents still fell short. If Speiers bill clears Congress, the ERA could take effect in two years. But its expected passage by the Democratic-run House is one thing conservatives still oppose it, and theyll be in control when the bill goes to the Republican-dominated Senate. The bill wouldnt require President Trumps signature, according to Speiers office. Eric Luse / The Chronicle Opponents of the ERA say the amendment is unnecessary because federal law already prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. They say the effort is really an attempt to curtail state laws that restrict access to abortions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was asked by reporters last week about the ERA revival effort. I havent thought about whether to allow a Senate vote on the issue, he said. Personally, Im not a supporter, McConnell added. Supporters say arguments against the law are baseless because women already have the right to abortions. They say complaints that the law is unnecessary ignore that women still earn less than men on average, and that sex-based cases of discrimination face a less rigorous legal test than other types of bias. ERA supporters are hopeful that all 47 senators in the Democratic Caucus will support it and that four Republicans can be persuaded to give it a majority. Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, are co-sponsoring the Senate legislation. We are closer than weve ever been, said Carol Jenkins, co-president of the ERA Coalition. We are now in the courts, and we will prevail. Several states have sued the federal archivist, seeking a court order that the ERA be allowed to take effect. But courts have historically given Congress the power to set its own deadlines for adopting amendments, a role the Constitution doesnt outline. Proponents of the ERA say Speiers bill would prepare for the likely outcome of the court fight a judicial decision to send the issue to Congress. Theres one other complication that would probably end up in court: Five of the states that ratified the amendment before 1982 have sought to rescind their approval. Proponents argue theres nothing in the Constitution allowing them to do so. Steve Helber / Associated Press For Speier, Thursdays vote is the culmination of decades of work on ERA-related legislation. She proposed similar bills for the past six years, an effort that received little attention until Virginias ratification. Text of the Equal Rights Amendment Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification. ERA-ratifying states Thirty-eight states have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, the number necessary to add it to the Constitution. However, three states did so after Congress' 1982 deadline, and five states are seeking to rescind their approval. Alaska, 1972 California, 1972 Colorado, 1972 Connecticut, 1973 Delaware, 1972 Hawaii, 1972 *Idaho, 1972 Illinois, 2018 Indiana, 1977 Iowa, 1972 Kansas, 1972 *Kentucky, 1972 Maine, 1974 Maryland, 1972 Massachusetts, 1972 Michigan, 1972 Minnesota, 1973 Montana, 1974 *Nebraska, 1972 Nevada, 2017 New Hampshire, 1972 New Jersey, 1972 New Mexico, 1973 New York, 1972 North Dakota, 1975 Ohio, 1974 Oregon, 1973 Pennsylvania, 1972 Rhode Island, 1972 *South Dakota, 1973 *Tennessee, 1972 Texas, 1972 Vermont, 1973 Virginia, 2020 Washington, 1973 West Virginia, 1972 Wisconsin, 1972 Wyoming, 1973 *State has attempted to rescind ratification See More Collapse Shes also been dedicated to the ERA before it was cool, said Kate Kelly, an attorney for Equality Now, a national advocacy group. In that way, she has been a visionary on the issue. Speier first worked on the ERA in 1978, when she was an aide to the late Peninsula Rep. Leo Ryan. She said she watched from the House gallery as Ryan, who had been undecided on the issue, voted to extend the deadline to 1982. I was sitting there thinking, If he doesnt vote for this, Im going to have to resign, Speier said. But he actually voted for it, and then I kept my job. Speier revived her fight for the ERA after she was elected to Congress in 2008, filling the seat once held by her former boss. At Trumps State of the Union speech last week, Speier passed out green ERA Yes pins to Democratic women, who wore white to symbolize their connection to suffragists who fought for the right to vote around the turn of the 20th century. Hanging in Speiers Capitol Hill office are two framed copies of letters from that era, which she said help explain why the ERA is an issue a full century after suffragist Alice Paul first proposed a three-line act banning discrimination on account of sex. One letter, written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other suffragists in 1871, urged Congress to recognize womens right to vote under the present federal Constitution. Below it, a letter from the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, written to Congress in 1917, declared that allowing women to vote would be an official endorsement of nagging as a national policy. Speier said while the fight for suffrage is long over, the sentiment expressed in that second letter is still relevant in the fight for ERA ratification. I have that here to show young people, Speier said. It shows you why we are still fighting for fundamental rights in this country, because there is a segment, and frankly its a very small segment, that fears women having equal rights. Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner A smart medical operating center applying artificial intelligence, a first in Vietnam, launched in HCMC on Tuesday. The pilot project will connect data collected from different medical departments, agencies, hospitals and clinics, conduct analysis and also collate public response. Amid epidemics like the current coronavirus developing complications, the center would join with the city health department to warn citizens and devise a counter strategy. The center will continually update information at 47 hospitals across the city, keeping track of their ability to receive or treat patients. It would also update the number of patients infected by the virus alongside suspected cases globally, keeping city health officials notified. Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the health department, said officials could use the center to easily contact the new coronavirus infected patients and those suspected to carry the virus, as well as confer directly with frontline doctors. Instead of having to travel to Cu Chi District on the outskirts where a field hospital has been set up to deal with new infections, health officials can easily observe activities there via camera and communicate directly with those in charge at the hospital. Nguyen Tan Binh, director of the department, said during the pilot stage, the center would keep making improvements and adjustments before final evaluation. The department plans to bid for investors in September. The center's target is to predict diseases and epidemics, connect medical experts in Vietnam with those living and working abroad, and improve medical service quality across the city by letting patients to choose services and doctors at home. Attending the pilot launch, city party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan said the center forms part of Saigons plans to become a smart city. With 13 million residents, including migrants, the city usually receives patients from other cities and provinces and needs to invest in human resources, infrastructure and make the best of information technology application to improve its healthcare services, Nhan said. He said last year the city should develop and use artificial intelligence (AI) towards realizing its Industry 4.0 potentials by working with experts, relevant units and companies that have developed AI related projects. Besides, Saigon should set up a board to develop and operate a master program for AI coordination and research. In 2017, the southern metropolis, Vietnams largest, started implementing a master plan to transform itself into a smart city by 2020. BALTIMORE A shooting at a Baltimore apartment complex Wednesday ended with the death of a former state corrections official who had been under investigation and the wounding of two fugitive task force officers, authorities said. The officers, one a Baltimore county detective and the other a detective in the city of Baltimore, were both assigned to the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and were trying to serve a warrant out of Pennsylvania for attempted murder, said U.S. Marshals Service spokesman David Lutz. Our worst fears became a reality when shots were fired and the two officers were hit, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said of the male officers, without specifying who fired. He said the suspect was fatally shot, but he did not say by whom. Neighbors at the scene of the shooting in the citys Frankford neighborhood told The Baltimore Sun that a suspect was shooting back at officers. A sheet at the scene covered what appeared to be a body. One officer was shot in the leg and the other in the stomach, Lutz said. One of the officers had surgery, and both were awake but still in very serious condition, said Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Scalea said one of them was likely saved when fellow officers at the site applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The male suspect was a former state corrections official who had been under investigation, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said at a news conference. He said the task force officers were going after a really bad guy. Hogan did not release the suspects identity or any other details. The shootings happened as officials have increased the presence of federal law enforcement officers in the city to stymie gang-related activity and violent crime as a whole. In December, the Department of Justice announced a plan to increase the overall number of federal agents in Baltimore and add more officers to task forces. Months earlier, the department unveiled a task force focused on gun- and drug-related crime in the city. Task force members, including agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, work from a shared location to increase coordination. The task force to which the wounded officers belong also includes Secret Service agents. This was a perfect example of that joint task force executing warrants on violent criminals, Hogan said. Unfortunately, it turned into a fairly tragic situation with wounded police officers. Baltimore has been plagued with gun violence for decades. The city ended 2019 with 348 homicides, its fifth year in a row with more than 300 slayings. As of Wednesday morning, authorities had recorded 40 homicides and 56 nonfatal shootings in 2020. ___ This story has been edited to correct that authorities identified the suspect as a former corrections official, not officer. ___ Associated Press reporter Michael Kunzelman in College Park, Maryland, contributed to this report. Smiles for Everyone Foundation In Partnership with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, Johnson Family Dental will provide free dental services at its Santa Barbara, CA office on Saturday, March 14th, from 8:30am to 2:00pm. Dental services provided include same-day procedures such as exams and x-rays, fillings, cleanings and extractions. To be eligible to receive care, individuals must be low income and underinsured. A limited number of appointments are available. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (714)-824-5119. 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About the Smiles For Everyone Foundation The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of delivering smiles for everyone by providing free dental care for those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. Since 2011, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has delivered over 22,000 smiles and over $16 million in donated dentistry. The foundation currently supports programs which provide free dental care to those in need in Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Thailand, and the United States. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.smilesforeveryone.org. Contacts: Smile Brands Inc. Jody Martin PR@smilebrands.com 714.427.1299 Smiles for Everyone Foundation Crystal Strait crystal.strait@smilesforeveryone.org 714.824.5037 live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are the stocks that are in news today: Quarterly earnings: Divis Laboratories, Dish TV, NBCC, Info Edge India, Omaxe, PFC, Religare, Hindalco, IRCTC, Aar Shyam India Investment Company, Aarti Industries, Aayush Food and Herbs, ABB India, Alchemist, Anjani Finance, Bajaj Steel Industries, Bannari Amman Group, Centrum Capital, Dharani Sugars & Chemicals, Jamna Auto Industries, Jaiprakash Power Ventures and Mahamaya Steel Industries are among the companies that will release their quarterly earnings on February 12. IndusInd Bank: Moody's revises outlook on the bank's rating to Negative versus Stable on the risk of worsening loan quality. Sun Pharma Advanced received complete response letter for Taclantis from USFDA CARE Ratings: SB Mainak resigns as chairman & independent director with immediate effect NRB Bearings: Tanushree Bagrodia resigns as chief financial officer w.e.f February 17 Aster DM - Aster DM Healthcare FZC, a material subsidiary of Aster DM Healthcare Limited, proposes to issue a 5-year dollar denominated listed Bond for USD 400 million Godrej properties acquired 20% issued and paid-up share capital of Vivrut Developers Ircon international recommended the proposal of splitting of the company's 1 equity share of face value of Rs 10 each into 5 equity shares of Rs 2 each Mercator - SBI and ICICI Bank have filed proceedings against the company under the Insolvency Act to recover the outstanding dues Reliance Naval & Engineering received a show-cause notice from the Ministry of Defense, for termination of contract relating to 5 Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels Glenmark Pharma to consider proposals to raise funds on February 14 NHPC: The firm raised Rs 1,500 crore via bonds on private placement basis. CRISIL: The board recommended a final dividend of Rs 13 per equity share. NRB Bearing: The board declared interim dividend at Rs 0.80 per equity share of Rs 2 each. CESC: The company announced an interim dividend of Rs 20 per share. Aster DM Healthcare: Q3 profit jumps 33.7 percent to Rs 151.4 cr, revenue rises 8 percent to Rs 2,321.7 cr YoY. Hexaware: Q4 profit dips 8.7 percent to Rs 167.7 cr, revenue rises 3.2 percent to Rs 1,528.8 cr QoQ. BHEL: Q3 profit falls 17.3 percent to Rs 158.8 cr, revenue declines 22.6 percent to Rs 5,679.3 cr YoY. IDBI Bank: Q3 loss at Rs 57.63 cr versus a loss of Rs 41.85 cr, NII rises 13 percent to Rs 15.3 cr YoY. Neuland Labs: Q3 profit jumps to Rs 11.1 cr versus Rs 4.7 cr, revenue rises 18.9 percent to Rs 203.8 cr YoY. Prince Pipes Q3: Net profit up 35.8 percent at Rs 24.3 crore versus Rs 17.9 crore, revenue up 9.7 percent at Rs 395.9 crore versus Rs 360.9 crore, YoY ITD Cementation Q3: Net profit down 68.6 percent at Rs 10.6 crore versus Rs 33.8 crore, Revenue up 10.4 percent at Rs 707.3 crore versus Rs 640.5 crore, YoY Coal India Q3: Net profit down 14.1 percent at Rs 3,921.8 crore versus Rs 4,566.8 crore, revenue down 7.4 percent at Rs 23,190.5 crore versus Rs 25,045.8 crore, YoY Jindal Stainless Q3: Net profit up 15.7 percent at Rs 51.7 crore versus Rs 44.7 crore, revenue down 0.1 percent at Rs 3,302.4 crore versus Rs 3,306.7 crore, YoY NLC India Q3: Consolidated net profit up 15 percent at Rs 398.7 crore versus Rs 346.7 crore, revenue up 2.1 percent at Rs 2,742.6 crore versus Rs 2,685.5 crore, YoY Jaypee Infra Q3: Consolidated net loss at Rs 426.9 crore versus loss of Rs 347.9 crore, revenue down 27.4 percent at Rs 304.1 crore versus Rs 418.8 crore, YoY Cochin Shipyard Q3: Net profit up 32.4 percent at Rs 169.8 crore versus Rs 128.2 crore, revenue up 25 percent at Rs 869.1 crore versus Rs 717.1 crore, YoY Ballarpur Industries Q3: Net loss at Rs 766.1 cr vs loss of Rs 152.2 crore, revenue down 14.5 percent at Rs 816.8 crore versus Rs 955.1 cr (YoY GNFC Q3: Net profit down 32.5 percent at Rs 111.8 crore versus Rs 165.7 crore, revenue up 4.8 percent at Rs 1,277.7 crore versus Rs 1,219.2 crore, YoY Allahabad Bank Q3: Net loss At Rs 1,986.3 crore versus loss of Rs 732.8 crore, NII down 4.4 percent at Rs 1,337.6 crore versus Rs 1,398.6 crore, YoY Fine Organic Q3: Consolidated net profit up 2 percent at Rs 36.2 crore versus Rs 35.5 crore, revenue up 1.3 percent at Rs 266.2 crore versus Rs 262.8 crore, YoY CESC Q3: Standalone net profit up 1.7% at Rs 176 crore versus Rs 173 crore, revenue down 3.5% at Rs 1,648 crore versus Rs 1,707 crore, YoY Building management staff conduct temperature screenings of visitors and tenants of a building in the financial district of Singapore on 10 February, 2020. (PHOTO: AFP via Getty Images) By Amir Hussain and Wong Casandra SINGAPORE The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (12 February) confirmed three new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases here to 50. The trio are all Singaporean men with no recent travel history to China. Two worked at the same church, Grace Assembly of God, at both its Tanglin and Bukit Batok branches, while another worked at DBS Asia Central at Marina Bay Financial Centre. This brings the total number of local transmissions of the virus to 28, more than half of the tally. In all, eight have no established links to any previous cases or travel history to mainland China. Meanwhile, six cases have been discharged, bringing the total to 15. Of the 35 currently warded in hospital, eight are in critical condition in the intensive care unit. Speaking at a press conference, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said, While most infected patients will recover, some may become seriously ill and a small number may succumb to the infection ultimately. We have to be prepared for the worst. Gan, who co-chairs the multi-ministerial task force handling the issue, also thanked healthcare workers and appealed to Singaporeans not to shun nurses and doctors. Reassuring the medical community, including general practitioners (GP) and specialists in the private sector, Gan said the government has put aside one million face masks for them. At the press conference, MOHs director of medical services Associate Professor Kenneth Mak also advised members of the public not to visit different GP clinics but return to the same one they had initially visited. One of the new cases announced on Wednesday had visited four different clinics over nine days. With the new cases, there are now at least five identified clusters here. They are associated with health products shop Yong Thai Hang along Cavan Road, The Life Church and Missions Singapore in Paya Lebar, a business meeting at the Grand Hyatt hotel, a worksite along Seletar Aerospace Heights as well as Grace Assembly of God church. Story continues Meanwhile, as of noon on Wednesday, 638 of the suspect cases have tested negative for the virus while results for the remaining 125 cases are pending. The MOH has also identified 1,090 close contacts as of noon. Of the 984 who are still in Singapore, 961 are quarantined or isolated while efforts are underway to contact the remaining 23 close contacts. Case 48: Church worker visited four different GPs The 34-year-old man was in Malaysia on 26 January. He first had symptoms on 1 February, and went to four different GP clinics on 2 February, 4 February, 7 February, Sunday and Monday. The man went to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) on Monday and is warded there. He tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Before he was hospitalised, he visited Plaza Singapura, Star Vista and Fusionopolis. He also went to work at Grace Assembly of God along Tanglin Road and Bukit Batok West Avenue 4. He stays along Bukit Batok Street 25. Case 49: Church worker initially discharged from NUH The 46-year-old man first had symptoms on 3 February and went to a GP clinic on 8 February before going to the emergency department at the National University Hospital (NUH) the same day. He was discharged from the hospital the same day before being admitted to NUH on Monday and remains in an isolation ward there. He tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. Before he was hospitalised, the man went to work at Grace Assembly of God along Tanglin Road and Bukit Batok West Avenue 4. He stays along Toh Guan Road. Case 50: DBS employee at MBFC The 62-year-old man is warded at NCID. Before he was hospitalised, he went to work at DBS Asia Central at Marina Bay Financial Centre. He tested positive for the virus on Wednesday morning. MOH has started epidemiological investigations and contract tracing to identify close contacts for the case. Risk of infection from transient contact low The MOH has said that the risk of infection from transient contact, such as on public transport or in public places, is assessed to be low for the general public. The ministry reiterated its advice for Singaporeans to defer all travel to Hubei province, home to Wuhan where the virus originated, and all non-essential travel to mainland China. By territory, Singapore has the second highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases after mainland China, with 50 cases. The global tally includes cruise ship Diamond Princess, moored off Japan, which has 175 cases. As of Wednesday, the death toll in mainland China has reached 1,113, while more than 44,600 people have now been infected by the coronavirus. Given the heightened risk, authorities last Friday raised Singapores Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) alert level from yellow to orange amid the increase in confirmed cases of the coronavirus. It also announced a series of measures to be taken, including the suspension of inter-school and external activities for schools until the end of the March school holidays and advising event organisers to cancel or defer non-essential large-scale events. (INFOGRAPHIC of Dorscon Alert Levels: Ministry of Health) Death toll surpasses SARS epidemic The novel strain belongs to the same family of coronaviruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people globally during a 2002-2003 outbreak and also started in China. It likely originated from Wuhans Huanan Seafood Market, where live animals or products such as foxes, wolf puppies, giant salamanders, snakes, porcupines, and camel meat are sold. Declared a global emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVID-19 has spread to 27 territories beyond mainland China. The WHO also said that cases of COVID-19 being transmitted by people who have never travelled to China could be the tip of the iceberg. China's death toll from the epidemic has surpassed the total fatalities globally from the SARS outbreak. On Saturday, the US embassy confirmed that a US citizen died that day in Wuhan. Two territories, Hong Kong and the Philippines, have each reported the death of a patient from the virus. Patients suffering from the new strain may exhibit fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as coughing or difficulty in breathing as well as pneumonia-like symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, and headache. However, some who have died from it have not displayed symptoms of fever, according to details released by Chinas National Health Commission, potentially complicating global efforts to check for infected travellers as they arrive at airports and other travel hubs. This means that temperature screening, the most common measure being used at transport links and airports to check travellers, may not identify some infected people. Chinese authorities, meanwhile, dismissed two senior health officials from Hubei province where some 56 million people, including in its capital Wuhan, have been under lockdown since late last month. They also tightened restrictions in the city, forbidding people with fever from visiting hospitals outside of their home districts and sealing off residential compounds. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: Coronavirus: How it's spreading in Singapore and the world Coronavirus: SAF to stagger meal times, step up disinfections Coronavirus: Singapore and Malaysia to set up joint working group to control spread Coronavirus: Singapore confirms 2 new cases RWS casino employee and 2nd Bangladeshi worker Coronavirus: Showing love for healthcare workers through free coffee and messages of support Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in a 2002 post-Godhra riot case in Gujarat will work as volunteers in the Narmada Kumbh beginning here in Madhya Pradesh on February 24, an official said on Wednesday. The Supreme Court last month granted bail to 15 convicts -- sentenced to life imprisonment for a massacre in Ode town of Gujarat's Anand district in which 23 people were burnt alive -- on the condition that they will stay outside Gujarat and do community service at Indore and Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. They arrived in Madhya Pradesh in two groups - one of seven convicts in Jabalpur and another of six convicts in Indore. They will take up social/community services, meditation drill and spiritual programmes ras per the Supreme Court directives. "Seven of these convicts reached Jabalpur on Tuesday night. They will be volunteering at the Narmada Kumbh," Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority member secretary Giribala Singh told PTI. The Narmada Kumbh, held every five years, is scheduled to be held from February 24 to March 3 on the banks of the Narmada river at Gwarighat on the city's outskirts. Apart from the Narmada Kumbh, these convicts will work as volunteers in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, at old age homes, and take care of patients, who have no one to look after, in hospitals, Singh said. Efforts will be made to help them in picking up work as per their choice under the smart city project underway here so that they can earn their livelihood, she said. "All these works will inculcate in them a feeling of serving the community," Singh said. Their identity was being withheld for safety reasons, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BEIJING The number of new cases of the coronavirus in China dropped for a second straight day, health officials said Wednesday in a possible glimmer of hope amid the outbreak that has infected over 45,000 people worldwide and killed more than 1,100. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, promised tax cuts and other aid to industry as the ruling Communist Party tries to limit the mounting damage to the economy. And in Japan, 39 new cases were confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama, bringing the total to 174 on the Diamond Princess. A look at the latest developments in the crisis, which started in December in the city of Wuhan: New cases decline The number of new cases has trended down in the past week, raising hopes that the epidemic may be plateauing. China's National Health Commission said 2,015 new cases had been tallied on Tuesday, the second straight daily decline and down from nearly 3,900 a week ago. Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the situation is still grim but "we have seen some positive changes." In Geneva, Dr. Mike Ryan, head of emergencies for the World Health Organization, said "it's way too early to try to predict the beginning of the end" of the outbreak in China. But he said it is reassuring that the number of daily cases appears to be stabilizing, mainly because of China's huge public health operation, which has placed an unprecedented 60 million people under lockdown. All but one of the deaths recorded so far have been in China, as have more than 99 percent of all reported infections in the world. Economic fallout China is struggling to restart its economy after the annual Lunar New Year holiday was extended to try to curb the spread of the virus. Traffic remained light in Beijing, and many people were still working at home. Xi's announcement of tax cuts came as companies face increasing losses because of the closing of factories, offices, shops and other businesses in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed. A large cluster of cases in Tianjin, a port city southeast of Beijing, has been traced to a department store, Chinese state media said. One-third of Tianjin's 104 confirmed cases are in Baodi district, where the store is located, the Xinhua News Agency reported. A salesperson in the store's home appliance section was the first diagnosed on Jan. 31, Xinhua said, and a series of cases followed. None of those infected had visited Wuhan recently, and with the exception of one married couple, they worked in different sections of the store and did not know one another. Elsewhere around the world, DBS bank in Singapore cleared its office, telling 300 employees to work from home after it learned that an employee had been infected. The city-state has 50 confirmed cases. A Formula One race in Shanghai in April became the latest event canceled because of the virus. Nokia, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom became the latest companies to pull out of a major wireless trade fair this month in Spain that usually draws 5,000 to 6,000 Chinese visitors. Citizen journalist disappears A citizen journalist reporting on the epidemic in Wuhan has disappeared, activists said, becoming the second to vanish in recent days amid tightening controls on information in China. Fang Bin, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, stopped posting videos or responding to calls and messages on Sunday, activists Gao Fei and Hua Yong said, citing Fang's friends. His phone was turned off Wednesday. Fang had posted videos of Wuhan's overcrowded hospitals, including bodies in a van waiting to be taken to a crematorium. The last video he posted was of a piece of paper reading, "All citizens resist, hand power back to the people." Another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, vanished on Friday. Non-sanctioned reporting on the outbreak by activists is challenging the Communist Party's tightly policed monopoly on information on an unprecedented scale. Cruise ship woes Passengers aboard a cruise ship that has been barred from docking by four governments may finally set foot on land again. Holland America Line said the MS Westerdam will arrive Thursday morning in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship has been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand, though its operator said no cases of the disease have been confirmed among the more than 2,200 passengers and crew. Two Russians flee quarantine Two Russian women who were kept in isolation over possible infection by the virus say they escaped from Russian hospitals because of uncooperative doctors, poor conditions and fear they would become infected. Both women said their hospital ordeals began after returning from Hainan, a tropical island in southern China popular with Russian tourists. One said she jumped out of a hospital window to escape her quarantine, while the other broke out by disabling an electronic lock. Many of those quarantined in Russian hospitals have complained about conditions in the isolation rooms and lack of cooperation from doctors who are uncertain about quarantine protocols. Two cases of the virus have been reported in Russia. No evidence yet of mother-to-baby spread In a study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet, Chinese scientists reported there is no evidence so far to suggest the virus can be passed from mother to baby. The study looked at nine pregnant women who all had the COVID-19 virus and delivered via cesarean section in a hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. After the babies were born, scientists tested samples from the newborns, including the amniotic fluid, cord blood and throat swabs. All tested negative for the virus. But the scientists acknowledged the study was small. To date, two cases of the virus have been confirmed in babies, including a newborn diagnosed just 36 hours after birth. It is unknown how the child was infected. BUFFALO, N.Y. Like breathing or blinking, behaviors regulated by our circadian rhythms, such as digestion and sleep-wake cycles, go unnoticed by most people. But when circadian rhythms malfunction, the result can be any one of a broad range of serious, chronic disorders, from insomnia and depression to obesity, diabetes and bipolar disorder. A key piece to the puzzle of circadian rhythms and the disorders theyre involved in is the hormone melatonin, which the brain produces in the evening, to facilitate falling asleep and fine-tune circadian adjustments. Now, a team of researchers from UC San Francisco (UCSF), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and the University at Buffalo (UB) has discovered through a vast and novel computational library the first molecules that can modulate circadian rhythms by binding with high selectivity to the MT1 melatonin receptor in the biological clock, located in the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. The research, published Feb. 10 online before print in Nature, will greatly facilitate the development of targeted therapies that can either mimic or counteract the actions of melatonin, which is implicated in numerous circadian disorders ranging from depression, blindness, seasonal affective disorder and sleep disorders to difficulties experienced as a result of jet lag and shift work. Rhythms in sync This discovery allows us to now focus on the development of unique new molecules to generate a response that will help bring sleep patterns and other biological rhythms in line with environmental light and dark cycles, providing the sense of well-being that is only experienced when such rhythms are in sync, said Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. Dubocovich is one of three corresponding authors, with Brian K. Shoichet, PhD, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at UCSF, and Bryan L. Roth, MD, PhD, Michael Hooker Distinguished Professor in the UNC School of Medicine. They note that the new research represents a remarkable confluence of major, complementary achievements and expertise at three institutions. They are all three members of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. These achievements are: The discovery of ligands unrelated to any known melatonin receptor ligands through the computational docking (simulating three-dimensional binding) of more than 150 million diverse, make-on-demand molecules (UCSF). The discovery that these molecules (UCSF 7447 and UCSF 3384) that never existed before, attach with high strength and selectivity to human or mouse MT1 melatonin receptors. They generate cellular responses opposite to that of melatonin, which provided the rationale for the mouse circadian behavior. (UNC) The discovery that the cellular responses seen in vitro translated directly to in vivo function, slowing down adjustment to a new environmental light/dark period in the mouse model of jet lag, with one unexpected finding demonstrating that they mimic melatonin to modulate rhythms in the absence of light cues (UB). This work was further facilitated by the publication last spring of the first crystal structure of the MT1 receptor, providing the team with the template to fit new melatonin molecules into the receptor pocket. For us, it was at first exciting to see the novelty of the new ligands that emerged from fitting members of an ultra-large chemical library into the receptor structure, said Shoichet. Thats what one always hopes for in a structure-based programfinding new chemistries not imaginable from knowing the endogenous ligand (here, melatonin). What made this doubly exciting was to see the new chemistries lead to new signaling, in the Roth lab experiments, and to unexpected animal pharmacology in the Dubocovich lab. Roth added: My UNC lab spent more than a year characterizing the pharmacology and drug-like properties of the molecules before we could hand them off for animal testing in the Dubocovich lab at UB. We were all excited to see that the new compounds Brian and I had discovered had interesting properties in mice. Fifteen-year search The new research caps what Dubocovich says has been her 15-year search to discover MT1 ligands. Ever since we demonstrated that melatonins effect of resetting biological clocks in vivo circadian models occurs through actions at the MT1 receptors, we have focused through various collaborations on searching for ligands that would better fit the human melatonin receptor, she said. Our hope has always been to find selective MT1 type molecules, either one that works to modulate circadian rhythms responses as with melatonin or its opposite as with the molecules discovered in this study. The ultimate goal, she said, was always to develop drugs that could address all the disorders that disrupted circadian rhythms can cause. So, she noted, when Brian Schoichet called to ask about our interest in testing in our circadian mouse models the novel molecules they had identified from his ultra-large library of over 150 million compounds, we were eager to collaborate! The availability of the UCSF vast virtual library was a critical aspect of the research. Dubocovich described it as a gold mine of millions of molecules with distinct shapes, many of which have never been synthesized or seen in nature, and all of them available for mining and docking (fitting) into the pocket of the targeted receptor. The team advanced the research directly from discovery of these molecules to the assessment of their ability to mimic or oppose the effect of melatonin, to in vivo demonstrations of how these molecules impact the animals circadian function. The team found it especially interesting that the two molecules discovered in this study generate two distinct and opposite mouse circadian responses that are dependent on clock time and the environmental light conditions that the animals experience. In the experiments where the onset of dark is advanced (known as reentrainment or the jet lag model) the molecules slow this reentrainment or adjustment, an effect opposite to that of melatonin. However, when mice were exposed to constant dark, the two molecules demonstrate an effect identical to that of melatonin. This could be potentially useful to entrain rhythms to the 24-hour day in populations removed from natural light/dark exposure, including the blind as well as some shift workers, submarine workers or those working in extreme environments, such as polar explorers, she said. Jet lag and chronopharmocology When the body is exposed to an abrupt change in the light/dark cycle, like what we experience when we travel across continents, there isnt sufficient time for the biological clock to adjust upon reaching the destination, Dubocovich explained. Giving these new molecules at the appropriate clock time under a light/dark cycle would allow us to decelerate our ability to adjust to the new environment, potentially providing a treatment for certain types of jet lag and, more importantly, addressing other conditions affected by circadian rhythm disruptions, such as shift work, sleep disorders and depression, she said. This finding reinforces the increased interest in chronopharmacology, the premise of which is that pharmaceuticals given at the time when a patients biological clock is ready to receive them given conditions of a precise time of day and environmental lighting will produce a more effective outcome. Dubocovich said the next step will be to identify the molecular and signaling pathways that translate the response exerted by these molecules from the time they interact with the receptors in the biological clock to the ultimate circadian behavior expressed in a mouse or human. In addition to Dubocovich, Schoichet and Roth, co-authors are: Reed M. Stein and John J. Irwin from UCSF; Hye Jin Kang, John D. McCorvy (now at Medical College of Wisconsin), Tao Che, Samuel Slocum, Xi-Ping Huang and Terry Kenakin of UNC; Anthony J. Jones and Grant C. Glatfelter of UB (now with the National Institute on Drug Abuse); Olena Savych of Enamine Ltd.; Yurii S. Moroz of National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv and Chemspace and Benjamin Stauch and Linda Johansson of the University of Southern California. The research was supported by NIH awards U24DK1169195 (to BLR & BKS), R35GM122481 (to BKS), the NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Contract (to BLR), GM133836 (to JJI), ES023684 (to MLD), UL1TR001412 and KL2TR001413 (to the University at Buffalo), PhRMA Foundation Fellowship (73309 to AJJ), Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences unrestricted funds (to MLD), R35GM127086 (to VC), EMBO ALTF 677-2014 (to BS), HFSP long-term fellowship LT000046/2014-L (to LCJ), postdoctoral fellowship from the Swedish Research Council (to LCJ), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) BioXFEL Science and Technology Center 1231306 (to BS & VC). Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 03:58:45|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close KIEV, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he feels it will be possible to hold the elections in the East of Ukraine this fall, Interfax-Ukraine reported on Tuesday. In an exclusive interview with the news agency, the president underlined that it is possible only after the active phase of the conflict stops in the East of Ukraine, and the foreign armed forces are withdrawn from the territory of Ukraine. "Once we agree, we will still need about three months, at least, to ensure security for everyone -- for journalists, for the CEC, for the observers... I believe that it is possible, for some reason, I have such a feeling," said Zelensky, noting that much will become clear after the Normandy Four summit scheduled for April this year. In October 2019, Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) signed the accord known as the Steinmeier Formula, giving the green light to the elections in the East of Ukraine. In December 2019, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany met in Paris for the Normandy Format summit dedicated to resolving the conflict in the East of Ukraine. The Budget session of the Uttar Pradesh legislature commencing here on Thursday is likely to be stormy with the opposition set to take on the Adityanath government on the law and order front. The session will commence with the customary address by Governor Anandiben Patel to the joint sitting of both houses of the UP Legislature. The state's annual budget - the fourth by the BJP government - will be tabled on February 18, a statement issued by the office of the UP Assembly Speaker said. Ahead of the session, Assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit convened an all-party meeting here to seek cooperation of members from all sides. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna, SP MLA Ujjwal Raman Singh, Leader of BSP in Assembly Lalji Verma, and Congress MLA Naresh Saini, among others. The Speaker's effort to ensure smooth conduct of the House might hit a roadblock as opposition parties are set to corner the government on employment, law and order and other issues. The government has decided to thwart the opposition attack by showcasing its achievements. UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu said, "The Congress will be raising a number of people-centric issues during the Budget session. Some of the key issues pertain to problems of stray animals, law and order, crime against women and rising unemployment. "The Uttar Pradesh government is not bothered about the people of the state and is living in its own pride," he said in a statement after a meeting of Congress legislators to work out a strategy to pillory the government. The state government has organised investor summits, but should tell, as to how many investors have come to UP, how many jobs have been generated, he said, adding the government must provide the figures. "The government is working as a dictator and has nothing to do with problems faced by the common man," he said and demanded that "false" cases registered against anti-CAA protestors must be withdrawn forthwith. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Nations human rights office has released a list of more than 100 companies it says has business ties to settlements in the occupied West Bank, in the first-ever attempt to name and shame firms, which sparked a fierce backlash from Israel. Among the 112 listed are international travel giants Tripadvisor, AirBnB, Booking.com, Opodo, Expedia and eDreams. Also named is British company JC Bamford Excavators Ltd, American telecommunications provider Motorola and food maker General Mills. The report was commissioned in 2016 by the human rights council that requested a database of companies deemed to be linked to or supportive of the settlements, which are illegal under international law. Following fierce objections by the US, it was repeatedly delayed until Wednesday. The office said the companies activities raised particular human rights concerns. Ninety-four are Israeli, the rest hail from six other countries, including the US, France, the Netherlands, Thailand and Britain. Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank Show all 7 1 /7 Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank Children play as their parents prepare for their homes to be destroyed (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank A toddler plays in the dirt of Khan al-Ahmar village (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank Palestinian flags festoon the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar as they await eviction (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank Children play as their parents brace themselves for the bulldozers (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank Iman, 7, says she does not want to leave her home (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank The demolition order includes the villages school, which provides education for some 170 children from five different Bedouin communities. (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent Palestinians await Israeli demolition of their homes in the West Bank The playground of the school which will likely be demolished in the coming days (Bel Trew) Bel Trew/The Independent I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in an accompanying statement. Her office said the report does not provide a legal characterisation of the activities in question, or of business enterprises involvement in them. That did little to assuage the anger in Israel, where many expressed concern the companies listed could be targeted for boycotts or divestment. Israels foreign minister, Israel Katz, called the publication of the list a shameful surrender to countries and organisations that want to hurt Israel. The countys Minister of Strategic Affairs, Gilad Erdan, called it a disgraceful decision that will hurt Palestinians working in Israeli settlements. Benny Gantz, Israels ex-army chief and main elections rival to Benjamin Netanyahu, called it a dark day for human rights saying the UNs rights office has lost touch with reality. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, however, lauded the report as a victory for international law. Rights groups, that had called for the list to be made public, also welcome the decision. Human Rights Watch said the database helps businesses end "complicity in rights abuses" and should put all companies on notice. To do business with illegal settlements is to aid in the commission of war crimes, Bruno Stagno, HRWs Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy, said. Airbnb said in November 2018 that it would remove listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank following backlash. But it reversed the decision the following April, adding that it would donate proceeds from any bookings in the territory to international humanitarian aid organisations. Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war. Palestinians deem the settlements, and the military presence needed to protect them, to obstacles to their goal of establishing a state. Israel disputes this. EAST ST. LOUIS Two former executives with companies that reaped $25 million by scamming more than 40,000 people in the Metro East and across the country with pop-up tech support ads were sentenced in federal court here to more than nine years in prison, prosecutors said Tuesday. Michael Austin Seward, 32, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, received a sentence Monday of more than nine years in prison on the charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Kevin James McCormick, 47, of Hollywood, Florida, got 11 years on the same charge. Both were ordered to pay back more than $11.5 million to victims. Seward founded the Boynton Beach, Florida, company Client Care Experts LLC, which was formerly known as First Choice Tech Support. McCormick was an executive there. The pair also ran a similar business known as ABC Repair Tech. The companies bought pop up ads that would appear on victims computers and falsely state that viruses, malware or other serious problems had been detected, prosecutors said. Victims were told to call a toll-free number where sales representatives tried to sell them unnecessary $250 remote tune-ups and anti-virus protection for $400, prosecutors said. MANISTEE, MI - Officials in one Northern Michigan town hope a contest entry video featuring the voice of James Earl Jones will capture the attention of HGTVs Home Town Takeover contest judges. Manistee is one of several Michigan towns that put itself in the running for a makeover from HGTV and Home Town hosts Ben and Erin Napier. The selected town will see renovations to homes and public spaces over a six-month period. The transformation will be captured in a six-episode limited series, Home Town Takeover, set to air on the network in 2021. Towns with populations under 40,000 were eligible for the search. Entries closed earlier this month, and are now under consideration. It is unclear when the winner will be announced. Judges are considering aspects of the towns that make them special, fascinating, historic or unique, like period architecture, destinations or a classic main street. With a 2010 population of about 6,200, Manistee is well within the small-town criteria. The entry video also highlights several features HGTV said its looking for. The video begins with a welcome message from actor James Earl Jones to Manistees historic Ramsdell Theatre, where he is known to have trained. The theater opened 120 years ago when Manistee was a bustling lumber town. With grit and determination, we are reinventing ourselves through the restoration of historic architecture in our neighborhoods and nationally registered historic downtown, the video says. Ben and Erin, historic downtown Manistee needs you. The Ojibewa Indian translation for Manistee means spirit of the woods. Please help us put the spirit back into our home town. READ MORE: Donated land to add to Northern Michigan snowmobile trail system Public 3D printer encourages creativity in Northern Michigan 2 otter babies born at Michigan zoo No, NASA hasnt left town and the Saturn V still towers over the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. And, yes, Huntsville is still the "Rocket City." But the point Mayor Tommy Battle wanted to make Tuesday is that while the Rocket City is still, well, the Rocket City, its more than that. And the groundbreaking for the expansion at Navistar was a prime opportunity to tout Huntsville beyond its space legacy. "The city of Huntsville is known for making propulsion, for making engines," Battle said. "At NASA, we made the SLS rocket, which is going to take men to the moon and, one day, take us to Mars. At (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama), we've made engines for 2-, 4-, 6-cyclinder automobiles. Here, we make engines that drive trucks for International all over the world. "We are truly the engine capital of the world." Related: Navistar plans $125 million Huntsville expansion, 145 new jobs Indeed, that's a lot of rev in the Rocket City and the zoom is getting more room, too. Navistar held a ceremonial groundbreaking on a misty morning outside its facility at the Jetplex Industrial Park near Huntsville International Airport. The setting included two International trucks on display in the parking lot and an engine on the inside that celebrated Navistar's 1 millionth built in Huntsville. The occasion celebrated the $125 million expansion that will add 110,000 square feet to the 300,000 square foot plant that overlooks I-565. The expansion -- scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2023 -- will also create 145 new jobs at whats formally known as Navistar Diesel of Alabama more than doubling a workforce of 130 employees already at the plant. The expansion, the company described in its press release, "will house the production of a fully integrated International big-bore powertrain, developed with Navistars global alliance partner TRATON." Over the past two decades, the city of Huntsville has been a valuable partner and we are eager to expand our presence here, Persio Lisboa, Navistar's executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in that press release. The local skilled workforce has proudly supported the implementation of our product strategy, and we look forward to incorporating some of the most advanced manufacturing standards into our Navistar Diesel of Alabama facility to continue to bring best-in-class products to the market. It also marks another peak in Navistars comeback after slashing operations in Huntsville in 2014 amid a consolidation effort aimed at saving the company money, dwindling to as few as 60 employees in Huntsville. Battle recalled those bleak days for Navistar, telling about a trip he and other community leaders made to the company's headquarters in Chicago to offer whatever assistance they could. Their response, Battle said, was to put their head down and plow through to prosperity. "Because of your work," Battle said of Navistar, "we're going to be able to expand the scope of what we do." Rick Tucker, CEO of the Port of Huntsville, joined Battle on that trip to Chicago in 2012. And while Navistar has benefited from locating in Huntsville, the Engine Capital of the World has benefited even more, Tucker said. "It was a great opportunity for (Navistar) as a company but an exceptional opportunity for our community to diversify," he said. "You coming to this community opened the door for us to expand in this industry in a big way. Its a growing part of our diversification and it started with you. Countries have a chance of stopping the global spread of the new coronavirus, the chief of the World Health Organization said Tuesday, urging them to work together against the outbreak. The WHO is holding a conference in Geneva on combatting the virus that Beijing is struggling to contain and which has killed more than 1,000, infected more than 42,000 and reached about 25 countries. If we invest now we have a realistic chance of stopping this outbreak, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. He urged countries to share data in order to further research the disease.- We have to use the current window of opportunity to hit hard and stand in unison to fight this virus in every corner. If we dont we could have far more cases and far higher costs on our hands, Tedros said. Viruses can have more powerful consequences than any terrorist action, he added. Although 99 percent of cases are in China, where it remains very much an emergency, it also holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world, Tedros said at the conference, where the virus was officially named COVID-19. WHO sent an advance team to China this week for an international mission to examine the epidemic. Chinese authorities have locked down millions of people in a number of cities, but another 108 deaths were reported on Tuesday the first triple-digit daily rise since the virus emerged in late December. Several governments have banned arrivals from China and major airlines suspended flights in a bid to keep the disease away from their shores. Although the death toll has reached 1,016, the mortality rate remains relatively low at 2.4 percent. But the case of a British man who passed on the virus to at least 11 other people without having been in China has raised fears of a new phase of contagion abroad. The 53-year-old said Tuesday he had fully recovered, but remained in isolation in a central London hospital. Bigger fire Most cases overseas have involved people who had been in Wuhan, the quarantined central Chinese city where the virus emerged late last year, or people infected by others who had been at the epicentre. The Briton caught the virus while attending a conference in Singapore and then passed it on to several compatriots while on holiday in the French Alps, before finally being diagnosed back in Britain. The detection of this small number of cases could be the spark that becomes a bigger fire, Tedros said on Monday. Im scared The biggest cluster of cases outside China is aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship moored off Japan, where 135 people have been positively diagnosed. The ship has been in quarantine since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week after the virus was detected in a former passenger who had disembarked in Hong Kong. More than 100 people were evacuated from a 35-storey Hong Kong housing block Tuesday after two residents in different apartments tested positive for the virus. Residents were forced to leave as health officials in masks and white overalls scrambled to work out whether the virus had spread through the complex of about 3,000 people. Of course Im scared, a 59-year-old resident, who gave her surname as Chan, told AFP. The United States said Tuesday it had authorised non-essential consulate staff to leave Hong Kong out of an abundance of caution linked to the virus. Torrent of criticism Chinese authorities dismissed two senior health officials from Hubei, the central province where around 56 million people have been under lockdown since late last month, including in its capital Wuhan. They also tightened restrictions in the city, forbidding people with fever from visiting hospitals outside of their home districts and sealing off residential compounds. Local authorities in Wuhan and Hubei have faced a torrent of criticism for hiding the extent of the outbreak in early January. The death of a whistleblowing doctor from Wuhan has sparked calls for political reform in China. Most deaths and cases are in Hubei. The problem of human-to-human transmission has still not been solved in Wuhan, the official Xinhua news agency quoted Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist, as saying I believe that with enough venues, enough doctors, better protective gear and our various support teams, the situation in Wuhan should improve quickly, but it is still at a rather difficult stage, he said, forecasting a mid- to late-February peak in the outbreak. Toward the end of January, Zhong had expected a peak in a week to 10 days. President Xi Jinping has largely kept out of the public eye since the outbreak spread across the country. But he emerged on Monday, pictured wearing a mask and having his temperature taken at a hospital in Beijing. Xi called the situation in Hubei still very grave and urged more decisive measures to contain the spread of the virus. SOURCE: AFP | PHOTO: AFP Searles is charged with killing Paul Williams Jr., 46, of Southeast Washington in the 800 block of R Street NW, a block north of Rhode Island Avenue. Williams was found about 8:15 p.m. July 24, 2018, lying in the street in front of a 7-Eleven on Seventh Street NW. He died later at a hospital. We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? So, the natural question for Microsaic Systems (LON:MSYS) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. View our latest analysis for Microsaic Systems Does Microsaic Systems 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. In June 2019, Microsaic Systems had UK4.1m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through UK2.9m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 17 months from June 2019. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. AIM:MSYS Historical Debt, February 12th 2020 How Is Microsaic Systems's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? In our view, Microsaic Systems doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just UK654k in the last twelve months. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. With the cash burn rate up 31% in the last year, it seems that the company is ratcheting up investment in the business over time. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. Microsaic Systems makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. So we'd generally prefer stocks from this list of stocks that have analysts forecasting growth. Story continues Can Microsaic Systems Raise More Cash Easily? While Microsaic Systems does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash to fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Since it has a market capitalisation of UK4.1m, Microsaic Systems's UK2.9m in cash burn equates to about 70% of its market value. Given how large that cash burn is, relative to the market value of the entire company, we'd consider it to be a high risk stock, with the real possibility of extreme dilution. Is Microsaic Systems's Cash Burn A Worry? Even though its cash burn relative to its market cap makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Microsaic Systems's cash runway was relatively promising. Summing up, we think the Microsaic Systems's cash burn is a risk, based on the factors we mentioned in this article. For us, it's always important to consider risks around cash burn rates. But investors should look at a whole range of factors when researching a new stock. For example, it could be interesting to see how much the Microsaic Systems CEO receives in total remuneration. If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow. 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. (Natural News) The United States military has set up mass quarantine camps in the United States to hoard people into. The Department of Defense has confirmed that the U.S. is following in Chinas footsteps. (Article by Mac Slavo republished from SHTFPlan.com) Areas to quarantine those infected with the coronavirus quickly become places similar to concentration camps and gulags. With China now forcing people from their homes and into mass quarantine camps, it might not be long before the police state in the U.S. comes crashing in to protect and serve the public. Eleven military bases near major airports in the United States are setting up quarantine centers for possible coronavirus patients, the Department of Defense said. The Department of Health and Human Services asked the Pentagon for quarantine space in case beds fill up at other coronavirus centers around the country, according to a DOD statement. Additionally, the Pentagon already agreed to house up to 1,000 people for quarantine after they returned to the United States from areas with the virus, the Associated Press reports. If you are traveling, a face mask is recommended, as that and good hand washing techniques are the two suggestions to prevent the contraction of this virus. No one knows just how far this will go. Right now, face masks are still few and far between, but some N100 face masks are becoming available again. As of this writing, there have been 40,651 official and confirmed cases of the virus and the death toll has surpassed that of SARS, at 910. The U.S. government is eventually going to use quarantining the infected as an excuse to round people up into camps. And what happens if you are healthy and tossed into a camp with a bunch of people infected with the coronavirus? I probably dont need to tell you Mass quarantine camps are tyranny, in the same way, that FEMA camps and gulags and concentration camps were. No one who is innocent should be forced into a living situation they havent deserved. Please prepare and make note that this is happening on American soil. Dont trust the government to save you. Save yourself. Constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead has covered the advancement of the police state in great detail in his book, Battlefield America: The War On The American People. All the authorities need is a crisis to implement complete domination over the voting and tax cattle. This book is not for the faint of heart or those unwilling to look at the evidence right in front of their faces. Its a brutal reality that has been forced on us all, and a terrifying one at that! In exchange for safe schools and lower crime rates, we have opened the doors to militarized police, zero-tolerance policies in schools, and SWAT team raids. The insidious shift was so subtle that most of us had no idea it was happening. This follow-up to Whiteheads award-winning A Government of Wolves is a brutal critique of an America on the verge of destroying the very freedoms that define it. Hands up!?the police state has arrived. Read more at: SHTFPlan.com (Bloomberg) -- WhatsApp now has 2 billion users -- 500 million more than it had just two years ago. The messaging service announced the latest tally Wednesday, about six years after Facebook Inc. acquired the app for $19 billion. WhatsApp is the largest messaging platform in the world, though it makes virtually no money and recently set aside plans to introduce ads. WhatsApp also defended its use of encryption just a few months after clashing with politicians in Washington over the technology. Facebook argues that encryption, which prevents anyone, including Facebook, from reading users messages, is good for user privacy, though it also makes it harder for law enforcement to track and monitor some criminal behavior. Strong encryption is a necessity in modern life, according to a WhatsApp blog post. We will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. Facebook is working to encrypt all of its messaging apps, including Messenger and Instagram. To contact the reporter on this story: Kurt Wagner in San Francisco at kwagner71@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Tony Robinson, Molly Schuetz 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru, Riau Wed, February 12, 2020 18:04 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206421428 1 National land-and-forest-fires,Riau,alert-status,emergency,BNPB,BMKG Free Riau has declared the emergency alert status for land and forest fires to warn residents of a possible haze crisis as the region enters the dry season. Three areas in the province, namely Siak regency, Bengkalis regency and Dumai city, had previously imposed the emergency alert to anticipate the expansion of forest and peatland fires that the areas, among other parts of Riau, had been experiencing earlier this year. Riau Governor Syamsuar said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that Riau would experience two dry seasons, one from late January to March, especially in northern Riau, and another from June to September. The provincial and city administrations will continue to mobilize the resources we have. The Riau wildfire task force will not only extinguish fires but also take action against perpetrators of illegal logging and land clearing by fire, he said at a meeting on Tuesday. Syamsuar said he would not give up in any crisis situation and would continue to try and tackle fires without taking a day off. Read also: Tourism in crisis: Forest fires cause foreigners to cancel trips He expressed regret over the repeated fire and haze crises in Riau since 1997 and the tremendous losses caused with schools having to be closed, flight being postponed or canceled and thousands of residents suffering from respiratory infections due to smoke. We cannot have this situation become [a regular occurrence], he said, adding that Riaus 4.9 million hectares of peatland made the province very vulnerable to fires. According to a disaster risk map of 2018, 80 villages are prone to land and forest fires in Riau. An update of the map in 2019 showed that the number had jumped to 346 villages spread across 99 subdistricts. One of the issues surrounding fire is land ownership. Therefore, the Riau administration will re-inventory permits for 387 plantation companies and 62 forestry companies to discover any overlapping land ownership, he said. Syamsuar also expressed hope that the central government, through the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), would continue to provide assistance, especially with regard to equipment and funding. The emergency alert status has been declared early so that the central government can hopefully provide immediate assistance to areas that are now trying to extinguish land fires, he said. Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Edwar Sanger said fires had occurred in 10 of 12 regencies and cities in Riau since the beginning of this year and had burned down a total area of 271 ha. The worst-hit areas were Siak regency, where 98.47 ha were affected, Bengkalis regency with 60.90 ha, Indragiri Hilir regency with 42.10 ha, Dumai city with 31.85 ha and Indragiri Hulu regency with 21.50 ha. Kepulauan Meranti regency (5.5 ha), Pelalawan regency (5 ha), Pekanbaru city (3 ha), Kampar regency (2.5 ha) and Rokan Hilir regency (0.25 ha) also reported fires. The number of hotspots with a confidence level above 70 percent is 60. The highest distribution is in Bengkalis regency with 27 spots, followed by Siak with 11, Pelalawan with seven, Indragiri Hilir with six, Dumai with five and Kepulauan Meranti with four hotspots, said Edwar. Read also: Indonesias raging forest fires, explained BNPB secretary Harmensyah said that Riau was the first province in Indonesia to impose an emergency alert status for land and forest fires. The Riau governor should immediately write to the BNPB so that helicopters can be sent immediately to help extinguish the fires that the task force was unable to reach in Riau, he said. On Feb. 3, Harmensyah said, the BNPB had asked the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) to send weather modification technology (TMC) specifically to Riau to create artificial rain. Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police personnel will be deployed to Riau as well, he added. Riau Military Resort commander Brig. Gen. Mohammad Fadjar claimed to have deployed around 3,000 personnel at the command posts for wildfires. There is far more personnel in the posts than last year. Hopefully, they are able to respond quickly to hotspots, Fadjar said. "We will also continue to take preventive action by patrolling with the police and other stakeholders for the sake of a smoke-free Riau 2020, he added. (syk) After a brief stint in second place, Jersey City is once again the most diverse city in the country, according to the annual WalletHub diversity rankings. Jersey City held the distinction as Americas most diverse city in 2017 and 2018 but dropped to second last year. Now, its back in the top spot among the 501 largest cities in the country, according to WalletHub. Gaithersburg, Maryland and Germantown, Maryland ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, followed by Spring Valley, Nevada and Silver Spring, Maryland. New York City is rated as the sixth most diverse city in the country, while Parkerburg, West Virginia was last on the list at No. 501. The rankings take three factors into account: ethnoracial diversity, linguistic diversity and birthplace diversity. Jersey City also ranked first in linguistic diversity and second in ethnoracial diversity. With immigration being an important topic nationally, these rankings only reaffirm the reason that Mayor Fulop has been vocal on this being that Jersey City is the most diverse city in the country, said city spokeswoman Kim Wallace-Scalcione. The Mayor believes our diversity is a huge strength and has set policies to welcome new residents as the city grows. We all should be proud to live in a city that holds this distinction nationally. The international agency Human Rights Watch has called on the Syrian and Kurdish authorities to investigate the fate of thousands of people who went missing while in the custody of the Islamic State armed group. More than 8,000 people, detained by IS when the terrorist militia controlled swathes of north and east Syria, remain unaccounted for, the New York-based watchdog said, citing figures from the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Among them are the British reporter John Cantlie and Italian Jesuit priest Paolo Dall'Oglio. Human Rights Watch said the Syrian government and the Kurdish authorities who now control former IS territory have so far failed to prioritise the search for the truth about what happened to the missing. Kurdish authorities in the northeast "rarely" provide answers to those in search of their relatives, HRW said. "People whose relatives had been in areas now under the control of Syrian government forces similarly said they received only speculation that Islamic State killed all its captives, or blanket denials of any knowledge," the report said. US-backed Kurdish-led forces overran the jihadists' last pocket of Syrian territory in the eastern village of Baghouz in March last year. Workers employed by George Calombaris' doomed restaurant empire only found out they had lost their job when he posted about the collapse on Instagram. Twelve Melbourne venues closed their doors this week after the celebrity chef's MAdE Establishment was put into voluntary administration on Monday, leaving about 400 workers in limbo. He continues to come under fire this week in the wake of the announcement - the culmination of months of scrutiny for the company after it emerged last year its staff had been underpaid $7.8million. Scroll down for video George Calombaris' has come under fire after it emerged workers employed by his doomed restaurant empire only found out they had lost their job when he posted about the collapse on Instagram The celebrity chef is pictured with wife Natalie Tricarico in 2017 Speaking via the United Workers Union, one anonymous staff member said they were furious they had not been told about the collapse before Calombaris' Instagram post. 'We had to learn the company was going into administration via George's post on Instagram,' the staff member. 'I feel very angry about what's happened. We haven't been told anything.' The worker also claimed while wages and superannuation entitlements had been paid up to Sunday, annual leave was still outstanding. 'I may have to go home if I can't keep this job,' the anonymous employee in Australia on a temporary visa said. ACTU president Michele O'Neil meanwhile accused Calombaris of 'shameless' behaviour. Claiming Calombaris 'stole $8 million from the people who do the hard work in his restaurants', Ms O'Neil accused him in a Facebook video on Wednesday of being 'the poster boy for the employers that were campaigning to cut penalty rates to workers'. Twelve Melbourne venues closed their doors this week as the celebrity chef announced MAdE Establishment was put into voluntary administration on Monday 'So now more than 400 jobs on the line, at risk because George wasn't prepared to run a fair legal business where he paid workers what they were entitled to,' she said. 'But do you think anything has happened to George? Is he being disqualified, is he being de-registered? No, we don't have a law for that.' Administrators Craig Shepard and Leanne Chesser hope to find buyers for the businesses quickly so some of the staff may keep their jobs under new operators. 'We could have them ready to go by Monday,' Mr Shepard told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday. Declining patronage and an inability to turn the business around forced Calombaris to close his Made Establishment Group. The decision came after it emerged last year staff were back-paid $7.8 million in wages and superannuation in 2017. The closed-down Hellenic Republic restaurant is pictured in Brunswick on Tuesday. ACTU president Michele O'Neil accused Calombaris of 'shameless' behaviour over his handling of MAdE Establishment Employees have been paid outstanding wages and superannuation up to Sunday, the administrators have been told. But the administrators KordaMentha will have to verify that claim after reports emerged of some workers not having been paid their annual leave. If the business cannot pay those entitlements through recovered funds, workers may be forced to apply for what they are owed through a Fair Work guarantee scheme. Oanh Tran, head of the Victorian Trades Hall Council's legal centre, said MAdE workers on temporary migrant visas may be forced to leave Australia. 'There are going to be at least some, and probably many, who are in that really vulnerable position.' KordaMentha and the unions don't know how many workers are on those visas but the United Workers Union, which covers hospitality workers, says at least one has approached them anonymously. To the Editor: A Feb. 3, 2020, letter, "Challenger calls on Sen. May to oppose elder parole,' " criticized state Sen. Rachel May for her principled stance on reforming New Yorks criminal justice system. Part of a statewide misinformation campaign, the author presented the issues in a way that mischaracterizes the needs for these and other reforms to gain political points on the backs of the poor and communities of color in Central New York. Mays support meant that communities in Madison and Onondaga Counties wouldnt continue to be over-policed and criminalized for being poor. Her stance to balance the scales of justice and work toward a system that doesnt hold legally innocent people in jail because they cant afford bail is praiseworthy. Recently published data shows that bail reform is already working. Before the reform, roughly 50 percent of people in Syracuse jail were detained for only one to three days. Now, they avoid being jailed entirely, to the benefit of more stable families and households. These reforms are working and shouldnt be used as a political punching bag but as a step toward more justice. As the chair of the Senates Aging Committee, Senator May knows that a crisis of aging in prison harms many New Yorkers, with 337 older adults in New York prisons from Onondaga County alone. By supporting elder parole, May and other lawmakers would be doing the right thing for people, families, and communities harmed by mass incarceration. It is one of many necessary initiatives that would promote hope and redemption over punishment and vengeance. Maurice Brown Syracuse The writer is a founding member of Uplift Syracuse, a progressive social justice advocacy organization in Syracuse. Related: CNY legislators: Bail reform equalizes treatment of rich and poor (Commentary) She is an international supermodel extraordinaire. And Alessandra Ambrosio oozed showbiz glamour even when she was glimpsed in a dressed-down ensemble in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The 38-year-old, who rose to fame as a Victoria's Secret Angel but has given up the title, was sleek and chic in high-waisted leggings. Off she goes: Alessandra Ambrosio oozed showbiz glamour even when she was glimpsed in a dressed-down ensemble in Los Angeles on Tuesday She bundled up against the wintertime chill in a loose-fitted white sweater, rolling her sleeves up and tucking the top partly in. The Brazilian bombshell swept her dark hair up into a bun and accessorized with a tan leather handbag for her day out. Alessandra, who is known affectionately to her fans as Ale, popped on a pair of bronze-tinted shades to ward off the California rays. She was the image of Old Hollywood style two nights previously when she attended the the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Looking fab: The 38-year-old, who rose to fame as a Victoria's Secret Angel but has given up the title, was sleek and chic in high-waisted leggings The look: She bundled up against the wintertime chill in a loose-fitted white sweater, rolling her sleeves up and tucking the top partly in Mover and shaker: The Brazilian bombshell swept her dark hair up into a bun and accessorized with a tan leather handbag for her day out Sizzling sensation: Alessandra, who is known affectionately to her fans as Ale, popped on a pair of bronze-tinted shades to ward off the California rays Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones threw the celebrity-strewn annual bash at the Wallis Annenberg Center For The Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Alessandra slid her sculpted figure into a floor-length hot pink strapless Armani gown with a black cape, adding a splash of dazzle with a diamond necklace. She could be seen mugging for the cameras at the event with her fellow internationally famous supermodel Heidi Klum. Alessandra has collaborated with her sister Aline Ambrosio and pal Gisele Coria to launch a new swimwear line called Gal Floripa, which debuted last March. Night to remember: She was the image of Old Hollywood style two nights previously when she attended the the Vanity Fair Oscar Party Place to be: Alessandra slid her sculpted figure into a floor-length hot pink strapless Armani gown with a black cape, adding a splash of dazzle with a diamond necklace The brand takes its title from a nickname for Florianopolis, the Brazilian city where Alessandra gave birth to both of her children. Ale is currently in a relationship with Italian hunk Nicolo Oddi, who founded the fashion brand Alanui with his sister Carlotta. In 2018, Alessandra broke her decade-long engagement to RE/DONE founder Jaime Mazur, with whom she shares two children - Anja, 11, and Noah, seven. WASHINGTON After three terms in Congress and an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate, El Paso Democrat Beto O'Rourke has made clear his view that immigrants should be welcomed as "human beings" and that "walls end lives." Now, signaling that he may soon announce a 2020 White House run, O'Rourke is putting a finer point on his immigration agenda, releasing a 10-point plan that calls for citizenship for both "Dreamers" and their parents, as well as for "millions more" who now live in the U.S. illegally. O'Rourke, long criticized for a lack of specifics in an otherwise sunny vision of cross-border relations, appears to be doubling down on the formulation he offered in a television interview last week in response to President Donald Trump's pro-wall rally in El Paso. BATTLING RALLIES: Trump goads O'Rourke in El Paso, for subscribers only Not only does the 46-year-old El Paso native oppose new wall construction, he would like to see an end to the physical barriers that already divide his home town from neighboring Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. "Yes, absolutely. I'd take the wall down," O'Rourke said in an MSNBC interview. Amid reports that his team is talking to national Democratic campaign strategists about a presidential run, O'Rourke's willingness to remove existing barriers could put him on the liberal edge of a burgeoning field of potential Trump challengers who oppose a border wall. "That is fairly to the left of where most of the people in the Democratic field are," said University of Houston political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus, noting that O'Rourke, as a border candidate, has been uniquely framed by the immigration debate. O'Rourke's list of policy proposals, however, does not include tearing down border barriers, an omission that is likely to raise new questions about his border policy positions. Even as he remains on the sidelines of the 2020 race, O'Rourke has kept up a national profile over the past week, beginning with a large counter-rally during Trump's visit to El Paso, major interviews on MSNBC and Oprah Winfrey's network, and then a weekend trip to the Midwest battleground state of Wisconsin. Trump's decision to use El Paso as the background for his hardline on immigration also provided a national forum for O'Rourke, who argues that the city was and remains one of the safest in the U.S. His contention on the city's crime rate is backed up by FBI statistics, but his statement about the wall also has put him in the line of fire of Trump and a host of GOP critics. "Beto O'Rourke, someone who should be well aware of how much Texans need protection, promised to 'absolutely' take the wall down in El Paso," said Texas U.S Sen. John Cornyn, in a campaign statement that seemed to treat O'Rourke as a potential 2020 Senate challenger. "That's backwards, and that's dangerous." STUMPING, NOT STUMPING: O'Rourke still weighing 2020 presidential bid while in Midwest For some Republicans, O'Rourke's remark laid bare what they see as the central weakness in the Democrats' opposition to Trump's wall. "At least Beto is honest about his open border policy," tweeted U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Republican from Houston. "Most Dems claim to support a secure border while simultaneously undermining it at every turn." With his views on border security front and center, O'Rourke responded with seven-page statement laying out a 10-point immigration policy to combat what he called "the 'Latino threat' narrative." Footnoted like a college paper, it cites academic studies chronicling the "unintended consequences" of federal immigration policy, one argument being that hardening the border encourages illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. rather return home. "Here's why," O'Rourke wrote, "as we made it harder for people to cross into the United States, we made it less likely that once here they would attempt to go back to their home country. Fearing an increasingly militarized border, circular patterns of migration became linear." But O'Rourke's plan does not specifically call for tearing down border walls or barriers. Instead, it calls for beefing up infrastructure, technology and personnel at ports of entry, where the majority of drug and human trafficking takes place. He also calls for better tracking of visa overstays, which studies show account for more than half of illegal entries into the U.S. His plan also calls for extending citizenship to more than one million Dreamers, or those who came or were brought into the U.S. illegally as children. He would also extend citizenship to their parents, whom he calls "the original Dreamers." The plan, however, does not lay out what O'Rourke would do about the more than 10 million people living in the U.S. illegally, other than to say that he would bring "millions more out of the shadows and on a path to citizenship by ensuring that they register with the government to gain status to legally work, pay taxes and contribute even more to our country's success." While efforts to legalize the status of Dreamers have broad support among Democrats and some Republicans in Congress, extending legal protections to others living in the country illegally has proven a tough sell politically. "He is now showing even more how out of touch he is and how little he cares for American citizens and those who have followed the law to seek to become citizens," said Texas Republican Party Chairman James Dickey. "Creating a whole new class of citizens whose status is a direct reward for breaking the law is just his latest dangerous extremist position." Conservative pundits have long maintained that O'Rourke rarely if ever talks about enforcing current immigration laws, how to stop illegal immigration, or say exactly who he would deport and who he would not. His new policy statement is unlikely to silence those critics. "There's still a lot of confusion about where exactly he stands on this," Rottinghaus said. "He's been too ambiguous about what he would do, and his positions tend to be on multiple sides of the issue." Rottinghaus cited O'Rourke's remark during his 2018 Senate campaign saying he would be "open" to doing away with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), then immediately walking it back and saying he was talking about abolishing "tactics that instill fear." At other times he has criticized the Trump administration policy of separating families but said that abolishing ICE "does nothing to solve any of those issues." O'Rourke's new policy paper does not call for abolishing ICE, but it does call for and "end to the global war on drugs" which he says has accelerated the erosion of civil society in Latin America and helped produce the resulting flow of immigrants and refugees. His paper is also a plea for ending what he calls the scapegoating of immigrants, a sentiment that is popular with the Democratic base that views Trump's national emergency declaration as a ploy to circumvent Congress on wall money. "The fear stoked by politicians," O'Rourke wrote, "produced the intended paranoia and political constituency demanding ever tougher immigration measures." NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday said that the United States finds it unbearable that the Islamic revolution remains in place even after 41 years of bringing down its ally, the Shah. As per international media reports, Rouhani while speaking at a rally in Tehran said that it was intolerable for the US to accept the victory of a great nation and the fact that a superpower has been driven out of the land. Rally to mark 41st anniversary of the Islamic revolution As per reports, the rally in Tehran was organised to mark the anniversary of the fall of the last Iranian monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. To commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, tens of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran and other major Iranian cities on February 11. According to Iran's local media, rallies took place in at least half a dozen cities outside the capital including Mashhad, Ahvaz and Kerman, with people holding signs that read, 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel'. Read: Pentagon: 109 Troops Suffer Brain Injuries From Iran Strike Read: 'CAA Cannot Be Questioned Or Deliberated In Any Manner', Kiran Bedi Tells Puducherry CM The celebration also took place against a backdrop of escalating tension with the United States. According to reports, missiles were also put on display as part of the anniversary celebrations and Irans' state TV even showed archival footage of missile launches and the underground missile storage facilities as part of its special coverage. However, it was further reported that the missile program is not intended for attacks on neighbouring countries. US-Iran tensions have skyrocketed ever since Trump withdrew from the JCPOA nuclear deal back in 2018 and last year Trump also reimposed all sanctions that had been lifted under the landmark 2015 deal. On January 8, Iran further fired multiple missiles on Iraqi military bases housing the US troops and called the attack it's retaliation to US' killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. The latest surge in tensions has also prompted calls for de-escalation from the international community that fears a wider conflict in the Middle East. Read: Venezuela Foreign Minister Meets Iranian President Rouhani Read: Iran President Hassan Rouhani Calls 'Trump Deal' Offer 'strange' If these films do get made, women face enormous challenges during the making of them. I have had the experience a few times of helping get female directors hired on projects which they were then forced out of because of the conditions they faced at work, Portman said. After they are made, female-directed films face difficulty getting into festivals, getting distribution and getting accolades because of the gatekeepers at every level. So I want to say, I have tried, and I will keep trying. While I have not yet been successful, I am hopeful that we are stepping into a new day. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adelia Pratiwi and Arista L. Kusuma (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 12, 2020 18:43 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206424f0f 3 Opinion tax-treaty,Singapore,Indonesia,economy Free After five years of negotiations, Singapore and Indonesia finally agreed in late January to renew their double-tax agreement, simply called the tax treaty, to resolve issues such as double taxation on certain types of active or passive income (dividends, royalties, interest). It regulates cross-border tax rates and overrules the general tax rates stated in the laws. There are currently only 3,000 bilateral income tax treaties in the world, which means tax treaties are targeted to specific partners, such as Singapore and Indonesia. Singapore-Indonesia economic ties have been expanding rapidly. Two-way trade in goods totaled US$34.4 billion in 2018, with a deficit of $8.5 billion for Indonesia due largely to oil and gas imports. Singapore is the biggest foreign investor to Indonesia with foreign direct investment (FDI) of $9.2 billion in 2018, or 31 percent of total FDI that year. That was ten times as much as in 2001. Japan (17 percent) and China (8 percent) followed in second and third place. Most of the FDI went to manufacturing at 26.56 percent. Given the broad economic ties, it simply makes sense for the two countries to better manage their tax affairs so as to improve tax administration and increase tax revenue for public sector (government) spending. Judging from the provisions in the renewed tax treaty, Indonesia is eager to attract more investment from Singapore. The treaty lowers royalties and tax rates on branch profit. The rate for branch profit has been cut from 15 to 10 percent, while royalties were cut from 15 to 8-10 percent. Under the old treaty, the tax rates were 25 percent for branch profit tax. The tax rate for manufacturing-related industries (8 percent) is lower than the general rate (10 percent). This reflects Indonesias aim to develop the manufacturing sector. However, the question is whether the cut in tax rates woo more investment to Indonesia. Research on the relationship between tax treaties and investment show varied results. Studies by Bawono Kristiaji (2020), Tom Coup, Irina Orlova, and Alexandre Skiba (2009) and Ronald Davies (2003) did not find any significant relation between tax treaties and FDI. Meanwhile, studies by Eric Neumayer (2007) and Fabian Barthel, Matthias Busse and Eric Neumayer (2010) show a significant positive relationship. A 2018 study by the Fiscal Policy Agency of the Finance Ministry shows no significant effect of the Indonesia-Singapore tax treaty on FDI flows. The study used the 1985-2016 period as a sample. The results suggest that trade cost instead is the significant determinant of FDI flow between the two countries. It indicates that Singaporean investors draw to Indonesia is resource-seeking, which means investors look particularly for natural resources, raw materials and cheap labor that are unavailable in Singapore. The final intention is to export the output back to Singapore. That is why the FDI is very cost sensitive. With the inconclusive academic results, we can assess the potential impact of the treaty by comparing tariffs of, for example, the branch profit tax and royalty tax rate with other countries. The data show that other countries in Southeast Asia actually have lower cross-border tax rates than Indonesia, such as Hong Kong and Vietnam. The fact that we lowered the tax rate for Singapore could be an incentive to potential new investors to invest in Indonesia. The government seems well aware of the inconclusive results of studies on the tax treaty impact on FDI and the nature of Singapores investment in Indonesia. But a tax treaty is not the only means or policy to attract investment from Singapore. Indonesia also uses regional economic groupings such as ASEAN and comprehensive economic partnership agreements to woo more FDI. Indonesia and Singapore also signed the agreement on Promotion and Protection of Direct Investment in 2018. Hence, the renewed tax treaty will broaden the bilateral economic relationship. Beside the fact that Indonesia has comparative advantages, such as natural resources, Indonesia could also work on other things, like regulatory reform, to increase FDI from Singapore. Given that Singapore is an investment hub, such facilities could hopefully multiply the investment potential from countries outside Singapore. *** The authors are economists at the Finance Ministrys Fiscal Policy Agency. The views are their own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. On February 8, the Intelligence Ministry arrested and took to the Ministrys prison in Tabriz, northwest Iran, these former political prisoners: Majid Mowtab, 59 Majid Zabihi, 55 Hassan Tarvardian, 61 Reza Qoli Shirmohammadi, 65, and his son, Yasser Shirmohammadi, 25 The first four were imprisoned for political reasons during the 1980s for several years. Last week, the regime arrested Mahmoud Yousefi in Behshahr and Mohammad Ali Karnama in Rostamkolah. Both men were also political prisoners in the 1980s. On January 28, in Zanjan, the regime arrested Ali Osanlou, 57, and his two sons, Morteza, 30, and Hamid, 24. These arrests are taking place because the mullahs fear that the popular uprisings of November and January will restart, especially given the increased activities of Resistance Units nationwide. (During the crackdown on peaceful protesters in those uprisings, the regime killed at least 1,500 people, wounded 4,000, and arrested 12,000. Those arrested are facing torture in prison to make false confessions and then the death penalty for supporting the MEK.) The timing of this is incredibly relevant, as it has just passed the anniversary of the 1979 anti-monarchic revolution, where the mullahs stole power from the people who risked everything to overthrow one dictatorship and ended up crushed by another. It is also coming up to the sham parliamentary election, scheduled for February 21, where infighting among the regimes factions has revealed the corruption that everyone already suspected. In an attempt to forestall the inevitable fall of the regime, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is consolidating his power by ensuring that his faction has the overwhelming majority of the seats. The Guardian Council, which is chosen directly and indirectly by Khamenei, is responsible for approving candidates to run in the elections. It has disqualified most of the candidates from the faction belonging to President Hassan Rouhani, including some 90 sitting members of parliament. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said in a statement on February 11: The Iranian Resistance urges the United Nations Security Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant rapporteurs, and all international human rights organizations to take immediate action to secure the release of those arrested recently. It again calls on the UN to dispatch a fact-finding mission to Iran to visit the prisons and political prisoners. Read more: Executions in Iran in 2020 and the Names of Those Executed Iran: Families of November Protests Detainees Gather Before Evin Prison YEREVAN. It is proposed to ban individuals and legal entities from posting outdoor advertising in Yerevan without the permission of Yerevan Municipality. The author of the respective bill, majority My Step faction MP Artur Hovhannisyan, stated this today at the sitting of the National Assembly of Armenia during the discussion of the bill on making amendments and additions to the Law on Advertising. In particular, as per this law proposal, it shall be prohibited to place advertisements in Yerevan's general use zones, poles, utility pole, fences, trees, as well as in any other public place, with the exception of banners intended for this purpose, and which are placed in apartment buildings and in the administrative districts of the capital city. And in case of violating these requirements, according to the lawmaker, the responsible persons will be subject to an administrative fine of 100 thousand drams. Hovhannisyan assured that these measures are proposed to ensure the proper appearance of Yerevan. This, he said, allows the city's litter problem to be resolved to a certain extent. RICHMOND (BCN) A Richmond school may soon be named after former first lady Michelle Obama, officials with the West Contra Costa Unified School District said. The district's board of education will consider the name change at a meeting Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at DeJean Middle School at 3400 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. Board members will consider renaming Wilson Elementary School following a request by the school's PTA president Maisha Cole and a Jan. 23 meeting of an ad hoc committee, which recommended the change. District officials said if the board approves the change, it will be the first time in Northern California a school has been named after Michelle Obama and the second school in the state to get such a name. ALSO: Has coronavirus scared people away from SF's Chinatown? Wilson Elementary School was named after Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States. 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. SPRINGFIELD Electric vehicle drivers could save money in charging costs by participating in Ameren Illinois Power Smart Pricing, according to a new study released Monday by the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). Charge for Less: An Analysis of Electricity Pricing for Electric Vehicles in Ameren Territory is online at CUBHelpCenter.com. It was written by CUB Data Scientist Ramandeep Makhija, Research Director Jeff Zethmayr and Executive Director David Kolata. The study found that Amerens Power Smart Pricing program, a special electricity plan available to residential customers, could have helped electric vehicle (EV) drivers reduce the annual cost for charging their vehicles by 50 percent to 51 percent, compared with what they would have paid under Amerens traditional electric prices. The potential savings ranged from $31 to $220 over the year studied, 2018. Power Smart Pricing charges a market-based price that can change hourly. The prices often plummet during off-peak times, typically nights and weekends, when electricity demand is low. Power Smart Pricing is a great choice for a lot of Ameren customers because the program is good for the planet and our pocketbooks, but it is especially beneficial for EV drivers, said CUB Executive Director David Kolata, an EV driver himself. Illinois urgently needs to develop smart charging policies that promote programs like Power Smart Pricing to prevent our costs from going up as more and more EVs hit Illinois roadways. CUB is advocating for the General Assembly to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act which includes a beneficial electrification provision that would encourage people to charge EVs at off-peak times. Power Smart Pricing participants save money by adjusting the time of day when they perform tasks such as operating the dishwasher, doing laundry or charging an EV. CUBs study compared what EV drivers would pay on the program versus the utilitys flat-rate energy price. The study estimated the savings for drivers of three popular EVs: the 2018 Toyota Prius Prime, the 2018 Chevy Bolt, and the Tesla 3 Long-Range using Level 2 and Level 3 DC fast charging. CUB used four typical daily driving amounts: 15 miles (light driver); 30 miles (average driver); 50 miles (heavy driver); and 100 miles (ride share driver). For more details, visit PowerSmartPricing.com or call 877-655-6028. Mr. Stone was convicted in November of obstructing the House Intelligence Committees examination of Russian interference in the 2016 election by lying to investigators under oath and trying to block the testimony of a witness who would have exposed his lies. The initial sentencing recommendation for Mr. Stone was filed late Monday. On Tuesday, it was amended and refiled stating that the earlier version did not accurately reflect the Department of Justices position on what would be a reasonable sentence in this matter. The department instead suggested an unspecified term. The departments action followed a Fox News report on the recommendation and a Twitter post by Mr. Trump, who said: This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! The decision to override the recommended sentence was made by officials from the offices of Mr. Barr and the deputy attorney general. The Justice Department said on Tuesday that the case was not discussed with anyone at the White House. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office before meeting with President Lenin Moreno of Ecuador on Wednesday, Mr. Trump denied that his tweet about Mr. Barr was political and called the prosecution of Mr. Stone a disgrace. Asked whether he would pardon Mr. Stone, the president said, I dont want to say that yet, but I tell you what: People were hurt viciously and badly by these corrupt people. He added that it was unfair that prosecutors recommended that Mr. Stone be sentenced to nine years in prison when James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, has not been jailed. He said that prosecutors ought to apologize to him. In the latest pledge for net zero carbon emissions from an oil major, BP said on Wednesday that it aims to become a net zero company by 2050 or sooner. A week after new CEO Bernard Looney took over from Bob Dudley as BPs boss, the UK-based supermajor unveiled a plan to achieve net zero carbon footprint across BPs operations on an absolute basis by 2050 or sooner. The oil major also aims to halve the carbon intensity of the products it sells by 2050 or sooner, joining other majors such as Shell and Equinor which also target to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy products they sell. Last week, Equinor unveiled a plan to reduce the net carbon intensity, from initial production to final consumption, of energy produced by at least 50 percent by 2050. Shell has also set short-term targets for reducing the net carbon footprint of the energy products it sells. BP, for its part, plans to install methane measurement at all its major oil and gas processing sites by 2023 and has plans to reduce methane intensity of operations by 50 percent. The group will also target to raise the share of investment in non-oil and gas businesses over time. Yet, BP will continue to stick to its fundamental commitment to shareholders to grow sustainable free cash flow and shareholder distributions over the long term, to cut debt, and to deliver its 2021 free cash flow targets. Commenting on the net zero plan, CEO Looney said in a statement: This will certainly be a challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity. It is clear to me, and to our stakeholders, that for BP to play our part and serve our purpose, we have to change. And we want to change this is the right thing for the world and for BP. Related: North Dakotas Crude Oil Production Could Peak Within 5 Years Looney deserves support and credit for starting BP on the journey towards carbon neutrality and policy leadership, Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund, said, commenting on BPs plan. Greenpeace UK also commented, saying: Bernard Looney wants the company to be seen as kinder and cleaner, committed to tackling climate change. But unless he pulls BP out of the fossil fuel business, anything else is just spin. BPs net zero carbon ambition might sound impressive, but means little in practice. The truth lies in where BP puts its money pumping billions of dollars into new oil and gas shows its not serious about climate change, Jamie Woolley of Greenpeace UK said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, and his wife Autumn are divorcing after 12 years of marriage. The couple said in a statement Tuesday that the separation was sad but amicable. They plan to share custody of daughters Savannah, 9 and Isla, 7. The 42-year-old Phillipa is the son of Princess Anne and will be the first of the queen's eight grandchildren to divorce. Three of the monarch's four children are divorced, including Anne, who split from Mark Phillips in 1992. Peter Phillips married Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly at Windsor Castle in 2008. Announcement of their separation comes after a tumultuous few months for Britain's royal family. Last month the queen's grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan quit royal duties, saying they wanted to seek financial independence and spend more time in North America. The queen's second son, Prince Andrew, also stepped down from royal duties in November amid controversy over his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A cafe has been ordered to pay 3,200 compensation to a waiter for unfairly dismissing him over eating a croissant while at work. The cafe is counting the cost of the unfair dismissal after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that the manner of the dismissal was entirely contrary to the principle of fairness and natural justice. The Kosovo-born waiter was sacked after his boss saw him eating the croissant behind the counter in full view of cafe customers on January 8, 2019. The two sides gave conflicting versions of the sequence of events around the croissant incident. The waiter stated that after he tried to explain that he needed to eat something before taking medication, the Head Manager told him: "you know what, you are finished, you can just go home". The waiter - who required the medication for back pain - said that when moments earlier the Head Manager had spotted him eating the croissant behind the counter, the head manager came down and asked: "What the f**k are you doing behind the counter?" The waiter said that the Head Manager stepped inside the counter, pushed the plate towards his hand and said: "Get the f**k to the back". Employed by the cafe since September 2017, the waiter said that he had paid for the croissant and that he was really embarrassed in how he was addressed by the Head Manager and dismissed in front of his work colleagues and customers who all know him. He said that he had permission from the cafes floor manager to eat the croissant. WRC Adjudication Officer, James Kelly said that the decision was made by the cafe to end the waiters source of income and livelihood without being in full sight of all the facts. Mr Kelly said the obvious missing piece in the investigation by the employer was the waiters side of the story which is entirely contrary to the principle of fairness and natural justice. He said that, on balance, he found that the manner in which the cafe failed to conduct any investigation in line with its own disciplinary procedure fails to comply with fair procedures and natural justice. Mr Kelly said: In the circumstances, I find that the Complainant was unfairly dismissed. According to the cafe, the waiter did not get permission from the Floor Manager to eat the croissant and eating the croissant in full view of customers was a breach of the staff food policy. The cafe stated that the Head Manager never verbally abused the waiter in front of the customers or staff. The cafe told the WRC that due to continued issues with the waiters performance over the previous few months leading up to the events in January 2019, it deemed that his performance was not acceptable, and the only course of action was for the waiter to be dismissed. The cafe said that the waiter was on a warning and that it was of the opinion that it went out of its way to help the waiter during the course of his employment and it even provided references for him to get accommodation. It said that it provided him with additional help and training but there were countless problems reoccurring. Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, who had many ties to Jacksonville in his pre-presidential days. Outside of Springfield and Bloomington, few communities in Illinois have more connections to Lincoln than Jacksonville. Lincoln not only argued legal cases in Jacksonville, but he spoke in the city on several occasions and had some of the best and worst moments in his personal life here. Lincoln visited the town often, and had plenty of friends and associates here. One of the earlier documented visits by Lincoln to Jacksonville was in July 1838, when Morgan County circuit court was in session. He also was acquainted with some of the top residents of the city, including Joseph Duncan, the governor of Illinois from 1834 to 1838. In 1840, Lincoln and Duncan campaigned together on Whig causes throughout central and southern Illinois. Records show that Lincoln voted for Duncan, a fellow Whig, in both 1834 and in a losing effort in 1842. Lincoln referred to Duncan in several letters, including one to Mary Owens, with whom Lincoln was romantically involved, in December 1836. Some researchers believe Lincoln also may have been involved with Matilda Edwards, a former student of the Jacksonville Female Academy who became a belle of Springfield society in the late 1830s and 1840s. Unlike Owens, Lincolns relationship with Edwards is unproven. Lincoln apparently liked Jacksonville, as did his future wife, Mary Todd. She visited Jacksonville in March 1842, eight months before her marriage to Abraham, and, as he later wrote, enjoyed the trip exceedingly. Lincoln himself enjoyed a Whig barbecue in Jacksonville on Oct. 6, 1843, when he was summoned to speak on tariffs, national currency and other party issues. One newspaper wrote he illustrated so plainly and so forcibly (each issue) in such a manner as to convince all present of their necessity. On July 3, 1858, Lincoln also had fun at a huge celebration in Jacksonville that featured several hundred Springfield residents, a cornet band and the German Turnverein. The celebration included a morning parade, a midday barbecue, a balloon display in the afternoon and fireworks that night. One source writes that Lincoln was accorded a place of honor at the event. Lincolns friendship with Jacksonville minister James Jaquess was more complex. The two met while riding different circuits Lincoln with the law and Jaquess with the Methodist Church. The friendship strengthened after Jaquess moved to Jacksonville. Years later, Jaquess sometimes was a sort of clandestine figure in the Lincoln administration. In 1863, Lincoln authorized Jaquess to cross enemy lines to discuss peace with southern leaders of the Methodist Church. In a well-publicized move the next year, Lincoln sent Jaquess and another man to listen to demands from Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Lincoln then proceeded to hire Jaquess as a kind of private agent, filling various roles, some secret and others public. Jaquess eventually was owed $6,179 for expenses, but Lincoln was assassinated before the claim was paid. Noting the closeness of the relationship between Lincoln and Jaquess, Congress eventually paid the bill on Feb. 12, 1873 eight years after the assassination. Elsewhere in town, Lincoln forged a working relationship with Richard Yates, who would serve as governor of Illinois during the Civil War. Yates, who also served in Congress from 1851 to 1855, hosted Lincoln in his Jacksonville home on the night of Aug. 25, 1854. The following day, both men spoke in Winchester, where Lincoln made his first public address on the Kansas-Nebraska Act. They then returned to Jacksonville, where Lincolns train schedule prevented his departure on Aug. 27. As a result, Lincoln spent the day with Yates, then filled in for him at an Aug. 28 speaking appearance in Carrollton. Lincoln came back to Jacksonville that Sept. 2, when he and Yates were featured at political meetings. That evening, Lincoln delivered a lengthy address on the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed the two territories to decide whether to allow slavery. During his presidency, some of Lincolns biggest political headaches were from his old Illinois friends, and Yates was no exception. He became a shrill critic of the Lincoln administration, writing an open letter on July 11, 1862, that the presidents conservative policy has utterly failed and the time has come for the adoption of more decisive measures. Yates, who has been described as hysterical, was terrified of Copperhead threats and other uprisings, and pressured Lincoln to send four or five regiments to Illinois to protect the homefront. Lincoln, rather aloofly and with political fallout likely in mind, said to Yates chagrin, Who can we trust if we cant trust Illinois? A fervent Unionist and supporter of emancipation, Yates said old Abe was too slow for me. Yates later was an active participant in the November 1862 Altoona Conference, a collection of Northern governors dissatisfied with Lincoln and his execution of the war. However, after Lincolns assassination and with Union victory assured, Yates conceded, The whole world now plainly sees and acknowledges that Abraham Lincoln always did the right thing in the right way, at the right time, and at the right place. Lincoln had a happier experience with Benjamin Grierson, a music teacher and merchant who eventually called Jacksonville home. They met while campaigning for Republicans, and Grierson penned a song for Lincolns 1860 presidential campaign. Another local associate was attorney David A. Smith, who was involved with Lincoln on 68 legal cases, either as co-counsel or in opposition. Lincoln frequently used Smiths grand Jacksonville home as a base when he was in town. The future president had an even closer friendship with Jacksonvilles Newton Bateman, who was nominated for state superintendent of education at the 1858 Republican State Convention, the same body that nominated Lincoln for the U.S. Senate. Bateman eventually was elected and had a great impact on public education in Illinois. The 6-foot, 4-inch Lincoln referred to the diminutive Bateman as my little friend and the big schoolmaster. However, for all of his virtues, Bateman is a somewhat controversial figure among Lincoln researchers for a discussion on religion he claimed to have had with Lincoln during the 1860 campaign. According to Bateman, Lincoln spoke of religion and Christianity in depth. Modern scholars have disputed Batemans account, citing that Lincoln rarely discussed religion at such length. Batemans other claim to fame was The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, a sweeping two-volume work he co-authored with Paul Selby, a longtime newspaper editor formerly of Jacksonville. Selby was the plaintiff in one of Lincolns celebrated cases in Morgan County. In fall 1853, Selby, then editor of the Morgan Journal, published derisive material on James Dunlap, a prominent Jacksonville businessman. Dunlap was enraged and responded violently, though there is discrepancy on the exact nature of that response. Some accounts say Dunlap gave Selby a severe horsewhipping. An 1858 account, which Selby seemed to corroborate, wrote that Dunlap struck Selby with a violent blow on the head with a heavy staff, causing the blood to flow freely. Selby arose and took the club from Dunlaps hand, and also a whip which his attendants furnished him with. Whatever the true story, Selby retained Smith as counsel and sued for $10,000 damages, while Lincoln was part of Dunlaps defense counsel. The judgment went for Selby, but only for $300. Lincoln knew, or corresponded with, plenty of other people from Jacksonville. One was Julian Sturtevant, president of Illinois College, who wrote Lincoln in 1856 urging him to run for Congress once again. In 1855, Lincoln had unsuccessfully sought a Senate seat, and would do so again in 1858. But in 1856, Lincoln was not interested. He responded to Sturtevant on Sept. 27 that I decline to be a candidate for Congress, on my clear conviction, that my running would hurt, and not help, the cause. Illinois College claims many ties to Lincoln, some stronger than others. One of the best is Charles Philbrick, an 1858 IC graduate who served as one of Lincolns White House secretaries in 1864-65. Lincoln also endured some lesser moments in Jacksonville. On Oct. 21, 1848, he seemed to falter in a joint speaking appearance with local politico Murray McConnel and was ripped by the Illinois State Register, an opposing newspaper from Springfield. As McConnel hammered away at his arguments, the Register with bias evident claimed that Lincoln crouched in silence beneath the blows that fell thick and fast around him, and his friends held down their heads in shame. The paper concluded with this zinger: Lincoln has made nothing by coming to this part of the country to make speeches. He should have stayed away. Six years earlier, Jacksonville played a role in one of the most embarrassing moments in Lincolns life. In 1842, he was challenged to a duel by James Shields, the state auditor, over disparaging comments attributed to Lincoln in a Springfield newspaper. Lincoln reluctantly accepted the challenge, which was set for Sept. 22 on Bloody Island, a renowned dueling spot on the Mississippi River near Alton. Believing he could not compete with Shields with pistols, the long-armed Lincoln selected broadswords, as his opponent was 7 inches shorter in height. Lincoln left Springfield for Alton on Sept. 20 and headed for Jacksonville, where he secured the broadswords. On the way, word was received by Jacksonville lawyer John J. Hardin, a Whig political rival of Lincoln and a cousin to Mary Todd, of the proposed duel. Hardin later arrived in Alton and, along with other friends, intervened. The matter finally was called off, much to Lincolns relief. He never spoke of the duel again. Though Hardin had helped save the day, the incident did little to strengthen the relationship with Lincoln. Paul Simon, the former U.S. senator and historical writer, declared that although Lincoln and Hardin worked together on many issues and projects, the relationship between the two was never very warm. Many of Lincolns appearances in Jacksonville were well-received. On the afternoon of Sept. 6, 1856, Lincoln opened a rally in the Jacksonville courthouse yard, urging the vote for John C. Fremont, the first-ever Republican presidential candidate. The Jacksonville Sentinel, a Democratic paper, was critical of the speech, though conceded that we regard Mr. Lincoln as a fine speaker. Lincoln also was in town during his legendary 1858 Senate campaign with Stephen A. Douglas. At 11 a.m. that Sept. 27, Lincoln arrived on the Great Western train from Springfield, accompanied by a large delegation from his hometown. Many from Cass and Scott counties were on hand in Jacksonville and Lincoln addressed the crowd that afternoon. The following day, a sizable party from Jacksonville accompanied Lincoln to an appearance in Winchester. One of Lincolns last appearances in Jacksonville was Feb. 11, 1859, the night before his 50th birthday. That evening, he delivered an address on Discoveries and Inventions at the Congregational Church in an event sponsored by the Phi Alpha Society of Illinois College. The Illinois State Journal of Springfield reported the address was received with repeated and hearty bursts of applause. The address would have reflected Lincolns interest in science and technology, a little-known aspect of his personality. Until Donald Trump, he was the only U.S. president to hold a patent. Lincolns many connections to Jacksonville did not help him in either of his presidential campaigns. He lost Morgan County by 107 of 4,731 votes cast in 1860 and fell by 62 of 4,646 tallies in 1864. Today, like the rest of Illinois, Jacksonville rightfully embraces its Lincoln legacy. Ten Looking for Lincoln interpretive signs, as well as an array of other historical markers, are found in the city to honor his presence here. In a small corner of a bustling market in southern Pakistan, Mohammad Azeem runs his fingers through a barrel of bright red paprika. He smiles. His spices are selling well today. For years, as an Afghan refugee with no access to the banking system, Mohammad was forced to rely on friends to cash cheques and keep his money safe. Now business is booming after new laws allowed him to open a bank account last year. Before, I dealt in cash only, he says, from the small stall he runs in Al-Asif Square, in Karachi, southern Pakistan. There is a threat to you when you have that kind of cash at home. Having a bank account is really important. We deposit cash in the account and then we can take cash out at the ATM. Money is safe there. It has helped us. Before, I dealt in cash only." Mohammad is among some 2.7 million Afghan registered refugees living out of their homeland nearly 40 years after conflict broke out, 90 per cent of whom live in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran. Later this month, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will attend a two-day conference in Islamabad seeking greater burden- and solidarity-sharing for the Afghan refugee situation. For four decades, Pakistan has worked to include refugees in its education and national health care systems, and boost support to host communities. Mohammad refills his spices at his shop in Al-Asif Square market, Karachi. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Mohammad, who opened a bank account last year, serves customers at his shop. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Sifat Ullah, 23, at his fabrics shop in Al-Asif Square market in Karachi. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Sifat worked as a tailoring apprentice for six years, before opening his own shop. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Sifat cradles his son in the small apartment where he lives with his family. UNHCR/Roger Arnold In February 2019, it also allowed Afghan refugees like Azeem to open bank accounts, providing them with access to safer and more secure forms of managing their finances while in exile. Among the beneficiaries is Afghan refugee Sifat Ullah, 23, who worked as a tailoring apprentice for six years, before opening his own carpet shop. As a refugee, he was forced to rely on cash and borrow from his boss to raise capital for his business. Now, with a bank account, Sifat can make regular repayments to his creditor and save for the future. It used to be hard to find the money, he says. Now we are at a point where were able to pay back our creditors and provide for my family. The upcoming conference in Islamabad on 17-18 of February will ask what other countries can learn from Pakistans commitment. It will also shed a light on conditions Afghan refugees wish to see for their voluntary return. A financial fund is entitled to possession of a property in Limerick city under a "lifetime" mortgage obtained by a man eight years before his death, the High Court has ruled. WF Shap (Ireland) DAC took possession proceedings against the administrator ad litem of the estate of Laurence Johnson concerning the property at Assumpta Park, Limerick. Mr Johnson had taken out a "lifetime" or "reverse" mortgage in 2007 with Senior Finance Ltd as a condition for getting a loan of 52,700. Such mortgages were designed to allow elderly homeowners to borrow against the value of their home, with the intention the principal monies will be paid out of their estate following their death. Under the arrangement, Mr Johnson was not required to make any repayments of principal or interest but the monies were to become payable if certain specified events happened, including his death. He died intestate in 2015. The fund, which acquired the relevant loan in 2016, sought possession in May 2018 of the property. The core issue in the High Court case was whether the possession application was brought within time and whether a two-year or 12-year time limit applied. In a judgment this week, Mr Justice Garret Simons said a mortgagee's right to possession does not arise automatically on death and a demand for repayment of the principal monies must be made thereafter. A letter of demand in proper form was sent to the administrator ad litem in February 2018 seeking payment of a sum of 101,599, he said. That demand remains unsatisfied. Another High Court judge had in March 2019 discharged an order made by the Master of the High Court that the case was statute barred, with the effect it came before Mr Justice Simons for hearing. The judge said an action to recover possession of mortgaged lands is generally subject to a limitation period of 12 years under the Statute of Limitations Act 1957 but special rules, set out under the Civil Liability Act, apply to limitation periods in respect of claims against the estate of a deceased person. Proceedings in respect of causes of action which were "subsisting" on the death of a person must generally be brought within two years of their death, he said. Mr Johnson died in December 2015 and the proceedings were instituted in May 2018, some two-and-a-half years later, he said. However, the cause of action did not accrue until a demand for repayment of the principal monies was made. No demand was made before the date of Mr Johnson's death and therefore there was no "subsisting" action, at the date of his death, to recover the lands. This meant the possession proceedings were not subject to the two-year limitation period, were instead subject to a 12-year limitation period and, accordingly were instituted "well within time". He was thus satisfied the conditions for making an order for possession had been fulfilled, he concluded. HAMMOND A federal magistrate has ruled a Gary man is mentally competent to stand trial on bank robbery charges. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Joshua Kolar made that finding Monday, two months after ordering Omarr R. Williams to undergo a psychiatric examination following Williams' disruptive behavior during earlier court hearings. He made the ruling after receiving a report from a psychiatric specialist ordered to examine Williams. Williams and co-defendant Anthony H. Day, 51, of Gary, are pleading not guilty to accusations they robbed three local banks: U.S. Federal Credit Union, 1 N. Buchanan St. in Gary; Horizon Bank, 1345 Calumet Ave., Hammond; and First Financial Bank at 2705 169th St., Hammond. The robberies happened Sept. 5, Sept. 23 and Oct. 8, respectively. Hammond and Lake County police arrested the pair in Gary after a car chase following the Oct. 8 bank robbery. Since his arrest, Williams threatened a U.S. Marshal, refused to come to pretrial court hearings and has insisted on acting as his own attorney after being placed in pretrial detention, according to court records. The former friend of the conman father charged with setting up a cult in his daughter's college dorm room says he 'deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life'. Lawrence Ray, 60, was charged on Tuesday with physical and psychological threats and coercion, extortion, forced labor, sex trafficking and money laundering after moving into his daughter's apartment at Sarah Lawrence College and dividing her group of friends by sexually manipulating them. Ray served as the best man at former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik's wedding, who tells DailyMailTV that his former friend is a 'predator'. 'He's a conman. He is somebody that's a detriment to society. Hopefully, justice will take its course and he'll be held accountable for his crimes,' Kerick says. Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik tells DailyMailTV that his former friend Lawrence Ray 'deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life' and called a 'detriment to society' Ray was Kerik's best man (shown) at his wedding and was friends with him for years until a dispute led him to exposing Kerik for corruption Kerik met Ray 25 years ago through mutual friends and they men ultimately became close. Kerik says the last time he saw Ray was about 21 years ago when the conman asked for his help in his criminal trial. 'Larry evidently got in some problems with the justice department and came to me and wanted my help with his criminal case and I told him I could not get involved. Ray, 60, pictured in his mugshot that was released on Tuesday, allegedly tortured victims over 10 years and subjected them to 'unspeakable' abuse through psychological , sexual and physical manipulation 'Back in 2000, Larry was angry because I would not help him in his criminal case and he went to the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI and made several complaints about me which ultimately turned into a long term state and federal investigation,' he explains. The former commissioner calls the crimes 'repugnant by nature that it defies description' and says he's happy with the indictment. 'It tells a story about Larry Ray that I was saying to the federal government 20 years ago. 'And that is that he was a conman, he was a liar, he deceived the FBI, he deceived the Department of Justice.' Without going into detail, Kerik also claimed Ray 'deceived every friend he had.' 'I didn't know this Larry Ray that's portrayed in this story but I believe it based on things I found out later in my own friendship with him.' Ray was indicted in 2000 along with 19 others for his part in an alleged security fraud scheme and was sentenced to five years probation. Four years later, when Kerik was nominated by George W. Bush to Secretary of Homeland Security, Kerik withdrew after admitting that he had once hired an undocumented worker as his nanny. Days later, Ray lashed out against him in the press, sharing stories of his impropriety and corruption. Years later, Kerik was convicted of tax fraud. When the allegations against Ray first emerged last year, Kerik said: 'Larry Ray is a psychotic con man who has victimized every friend hes ever had. 'Its been close to 20 years since I last heard from him, yet his reign of terror continues,' Kerik said. United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman read the indictment at a press conference on Tuesday where he said his conduct 'shocks the conscience' Pictured is the home where Lawrence Ray lived in for several years in Piscataway, New Jersey Authorities say Ray managed to extort $1million from five of the victims' families for over a period of nearly a decade. Of that money, $500,000 came from forcing one of the girls intro prostitution. He also instructed another of the students to drain $200,000 from their parents' savings account, and told others to open lines of credit for him or borrow from people they knew. When he was arrested in New Jersey on Tuesday, two of the alleged victims were in the home with him. At a press conference on Tuesday, Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., head of the F.B.I.s New York office, announced the charges. Berman said Ray 'ensnared' his victims when they were teenagers then 'preyed' on them for nearly a decade. He went on to describe how his conduct 'shocks the conscience'. 'There was no limit to the abuse his victims received,' Sweeney said, later describing his behavior as 'outrageous' and saying: 'Frankly, it makes me angry.' Last year, Ray denied all of the allegations against him and said the kids who had turned on him had been poisoned. The issues began in September 2010 when Ray was released from prison after six months. The group of students were college sophomores when Ray moved in with them into their shared on-campus apartment at Sarah Lawrence College (above) in 2010 'Ray targeted a group of college students for indoctrination and criminal exploitation,' the indictment reads. 'Ray lived with some of the victims, first in on-campus hosing at a college in Westchester County, New York, and thereafter at locations in Manhattan, New York, Pinehurst, North Carolina and elsewhere. 'Over the course of nearly a decade, between in or about 2010 through the present, Ray subjected the victims to sexual and psychological manipulation and physical.' Not only is he accused of abusing his daughter's friends but also manipulating them into thinking they had done him wrong. He told his victims they had damaged his property or were in debt to him then convinced them to work in forced labor or prostitution to give him all of their earnings. The forced labor included him forcing three female victims to install an irrigation system on his property in North Carolina, the indictment alleges. The indictment also claims he also extracted false confessions from seven of them that they had caused him harm. He extracted them, the indictment claims, 'through tactics that included sleep deprivation, psychological and sexual humiliation, verbal abuse, threats of physical violence, physical violence, and threats of criminal legal action.' He starved some of the girls, the indictment claims, by placing a lock on the refrigerator, while forcing them to carry out labor to 'repay him' for purported damages they had caused to his home in Manhattan. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin plans to seek $1.5 million from the mayors office to pay for a proposed auto burglary assistance fund that would reimburse city residents for the cost of their shattered windows. The request comes as San Francisco remains under siege by marauding thieves who ransack tens of thousands of vehicles every year, driving the citys property crime rate to the highest in the nation. According to the Police Departments statistics, 25,677 people reported having their vehicles broken into last year. The number is down from 2017, when San Francisco saw an all-time high of 31,000 reported break-ins. Even so, the city is still seeing near-record numbers of cases. Auto burglaries are the No. 1 way people in San Francisco are directly impacted by crime, Boudin said. While we know theres more work to do, this is something we can do today to step up and support victims. While criminals often target tourists who may be unaware of the crisis and leave their rental vehicles and luggage inside unattended, the district attorneys office estimated that 8,910 city residents last year were hit. The $1.5 million in the offices new budget includes money to pay for two victim advocates to process claims from people whose vehicles are registered in San Francisco. Boudin will unveil the new budget during a public hearing at the district attorneys office Wednesday. The process is part of a new policy requiring city departments to hold public hearings before submitting proposed budgets to the mayors office. Last year, the district attorneys office budget was just under $74.6 million. Some of that money comes from state and federal sources, but around 85% is funded by the city. The office is seeking nearly $75.3 million in next years budget to pay for the auto burglary assistance fund and other programs. Brandon Chew / The Chronicle 2015 Whether the mayors office will pony up the cash is unknown. District Attorney George Gascon, who left office in October to run for the same job in Los Angeles, asked the mayors office for $1 million to fund an auto-burglary task force in 2018. Then-Mayor Mark Farrell, however, turned it down. Boudin ran for district attorney on a platform that included expanding victims rights and restorative justice. During his campaign leading to the Nov. 5 election, he even suggested creating a mobile auto-glass repair operation to respond to the scenes of car break-ins and repair windows. He said that focusing on reimbursing city residents for their busted windows is a first step in a larger plan. We would love to make it a program for everybody if the city is willing to fund it, Boudin said. But given the nature of the mayors budget guidance thats asking agencies to decrease their budgets, we wanted to initiate a pilot program to serve San Francisco residents. In December, Mayor London Breed asked city departments to shrink their budgets by 3.5% in each of the next two fiscal years to deal with a projected $420 million budget shortfall over those fiscal years. 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. Since auto burglaries peaked in 2017, various city agencies have shifted how they respond to the problem. The perpetrators often strike quickly and vanish in a flash, making it challenging for police to catch anyone in the act. The Police Department only makes arrests in around 1.6% of cases. Police Chief Bill Scott has adjusted resources to include more foot patrols as a deterrent in the most troubled areas. The city has also required rental car companies to warn people about the problem and has posted signs at many popular tourist destinations like Alamo Square and the Palace of Fine Arts. Boudin said hes working with the Police Department to continue to combat the problem, but in the meantime, fixing victims windows is the minimum the city should do. I want to show leadership around victims rights, he said. I want the city to put its money where its mouth is. I hope the city would be willing to help me support victims. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky ThisFeb. 5, 2020, file photo provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows evacuees from China arriving at Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, Calif. (Krysten I. Houk/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services via AP, File) Labs Find Problem With US-Issued Coronavirus Test Kits Multiple state labs found a problem with coronavirus test kits issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) centered on inconclusive lab results, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of one of the CDCs centers, said on Feb. 12. Kits were sent to all 50 states, some of which already tested them as part of a normal procedure. Some state labs reported some inconclusive lab results, Messonnier told reporters on a phone call. We hoped everything would go smoothly as we rushed this, Messonnier said. When states receive the kits, they verify that the kit works the same in their lab that it worked at the CDC. When some states were doing the certification, they found that the tests didnt work as expected. Test results were not coming back as false positives or false negatives, but they were being read as inconclusive, Messonnier said. Officials evaluated the results and believe theyve identified an issue with one of the reagents performing inconsistently. Reagents are substances used to carry out laboratory tests. Not all of the states have performed the verification of the testing kits. Once results from every state are received by the CDC, federal authorities will see which labs can continue using the kits they received and which ones to send new reagents to. The kits were created and sent out by the CDC to enable testing of possible coronavirus cases outside of the Atlanta-based agency. The agency was receiving numerous samples from across the United States, causing delays in finding the results of suspected cases. All clinical specimens are still being sent to the agency for validation and the CDC will keep providing verification of the results even after state labs get the test kits up and running, Messonnier said. Passengers board buses after arriving on an 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) A man wearing a face mask rides a bicycle, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, in Beijing, China, on Feb. 12, 2020. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) U.S. officials have been testing two categories of people: those who have symptoms consistent with those linked to the new coronaviruscoughing, a fever, and respiratory symptomsand who have been to places where the outbreak is spreading, and those who have had contact with confirmed or suspected cases. Out of the 13 cases confirmed in the United States, 11 had been to China, where the virus started in December 2019, and two had close contact with confirmed cases. Five planes carrying Americans from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, have arrived in the United States in recent weeks. The group on the first plane that arrived was released from quarantine in California on Tuesday after none of them tested positive during the two-week isolation. The 195 people happily returned to their families and communities, Messonnier said. They pose no health threat to the surrounding communities or the community they will be returned to, she added, dismissing a Chinese study that said incubation periods for the virus lasted as long as 24 days. Of the four other groups, one each is at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California; Camp Ashland in Nebraska; and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. Only one case has been confirmed among the hundreds of evacuees. That patient was at the base in San Diego. That patient was initially released from a hospital and was being taken back to the base, federal officials have said. Messonnier said on Wednesday that the mistaken release stemmed from delayed testing of a sample from the patient. Once the sample returned positive, the patient was quickly returned to the hospital. Officials on Tuesday said the issue stemmed from a labeling error, citing differences between how the UC San Diego Medical Center and the CDC label samples. It was an issue with the labeling, Dr. Christopher Braden, who leads the CDC delegation in San Diego, said at a press conference in San Diego, according to the Associated Press. They have their procedures, we have our procedures. They didnt match exactly. Donald Trump has posted a tweet mocking Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on the night of the New Hampshire primary. Initial reports showed the Massachusetts senator in fourth place, although results were still in the process of being announced by the time the president posted his tweet blasting the White House hopeful. Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is having a really bad night, the president posted to Twitter. I think she is sending signals that she wants out. Calling for unity is her way of getting there, going home, and having a nice cold beer with her husband!" The message came as Ms Warren insisted she would continue to fight in the 2020 presidential race and has no intention of dropping out. Our best chance of beating Donald Trump is with a candidate that will work, she said earlier Tuesday evening, a candidate who can build a campaign to unite our party and a candidate who can build a movement who is ready to take on corruption and win. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters She insisted she would stay in the race for the White House despite a weak showing in New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary, telling her supporters in a speech: I am here to get big things done. The Massachusetts senator added: Tonight, I am here to say thank you. Recommended Elizabeth Warren vows to stay in race after weak New Hampshire showing She delivered the speech as initial results showed Mr Sanders in first place, followed by Mr Buttigieg and Ms Klobuchar, respectively. An earlier memo the campaign released to staffers and later obtained by multiple outlets cast Ms Warren as the underdog candidate who was primed for a long primary race. That speech sought to discredit her opponents in the Democratic primaries, which the senator has largely avoided doing along the campaign trail. It said Bernie Sanders had a "ceiling" of support in the race, and suggested Pete Buttigieg would not be capable of building the diverse coalition necessary to win the nomination. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday rejected the peace plan that was recently unveiled by the US administration. Abbas was addressing the Security Council and added that the PA would be willing to enter negotiations with Israel on the basis of International Resolutions. The PA rejects US peace plan Abbas said that the Palestinian position was that it rejects the proposed American-Israeli deal. According to reports, Abbas said that the proposed plan legalized what is illegal. Abbas was referring to the building of settlements, confiscation and annexation of lands from the Palestinians. He reaffirmed that this deal or any part of it should not be used as an international reference for future negotiations. The PA President said that the deal proposed by the Trump administration transforms his country into 'Swiss Cheese', referring to the fact that according to the plan, Palestine would become fragmented residential encampments. Read: Abbas Threatens To Cut Security Ties With Israel, US Read: Drake Reacts To Dance-off Between UFC Stars Israel Adesanya And Yoel Romero The Trump Administration's deal breaks away from past administrations as it foresees the creation of a Palestinian nation under the condition that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, disarm Hamas and other terror groups in the coastal enclave, and some other conditions. Quick backgrounder on Mahmoud Abbas "Map That Lies 2.0" Compromise??? pic.twitter.com/RxB7McDv9Q Elder Of Ziyon (@elderofziyon) February 11, 2020 The US plan would mean that Palestinian refugees would no longer be able to settle in Israel and would also give Israel control over the Jordan Valley. Abbas also informed the Security Council that he was willing to enter negotiations with Israel while the US, Russia, UN, and the European Union acted as mediators. Earlier this month, President Mahmoud Abbas had threatened to cut security ties with both Israel and the United States in relation to the White House plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abbas was giving a speech in Egypt's capital, in a meeting of the Arab league. (Image Credit: AP) (with inputs from agencies) Read: Israeli Tanks Attack Two Hamas' Military Posts After Extremists Fire Projectiles Read: Vandals Damage Dozens Of Cars In Arab Village In Israel A former Rutgers University chemistry department employee is suing the university for knowingly exposing him to hazardous chemicals, causing him to have two major seizures and develop extreme anxiety, a federal lawsuit alleges. In court documents filed in May 2019, Jacob Moskowitz said Rutgers hired him as a scientific glassblower with no knowledge or experience in the position, then tasked him with handling chemicals that pose serious health risks. The lawsuit was originally reported by the Courier News in Bridgewater. Moskowitz created and repaired laboratory glassware, and sealed vials containing hazardous source materials such as thorium, a radioactive metal found in rocks and soils. But over the course of his two-year tenure with the universitys chemistry department, Moskowitz repeatedly suggested ways to make the sealing process safer, and was ignored by university officials, the suit claimed. He was repeatedly exposed to hazardous radioactive thorium compounds known to be carcinogenic and that caused him to suffer major epileptic seizures and permanent epilepsy, the documents said. A Rutgers spokesman told NJ Advance Media that Rutgers does not comment on pending litigation. Moskowitz said he never directly communicated with two professors named in the suit department chair John Brennan and associate research professor Anna Kornienko but warned the latter in an email that it is important for glassblowers to have an understanding of the substances theyre handling. He also said he told Kornienko hazardous chemicals should be handled with a chemical hood to decrease the risk of exposure, but one was never installed in his workshop. While sealing vials, he inhaled or ingested vapor, powder or liquid chemical samples, the suit said. In September of 2017, Moskowitz suffered two major epileptic seizures that put him in a hospital, just months after he sealed several batches of thorium for Brennan, according to the suit. Moskowitz didnt have a history of seizures, and a neurologist told him it was extremely rare to begin having them at the age of 29, as he had. He also experienced muscle spasms, hallucinations, dizziness, fainting spells and extreme anxiety of future seizures, the suit said. Mr. Moskowitz continues to have anxiety over whether and when he will develop one of the various forms of cancer caused by radiation from thorium and thorium compounds, the documents said. He continued sealing thorium after his seizures, but his suggestions of how the process could be made safer werent implemented, the suit said. Moskowitz was hired by the university on a one-year contract in 2016. His contract was renewed twice, but was terminated just after its second renewal in May 2018, the suit said. He filed a complaint with the universitys Office of Employment Equity (OEE) shortly afterward, alleging he was fired for complaining about safety violations. Since I started at Rutgers, Ive been dealing with unsafe working conditions in a lab that is not safe, doing an experiment that is not safe to perform there, Moskowitz said in the OEE complaint. An investigation into Moskowitzs complaint revealed Brennan knew the glassblower was exposed to thorium, but didnt think it was enough to be hazardous, according to the suit. He is asking Rutgers to cover the costs of blood tests for radioactive exposure, as well as compensatory and punitive damages and attorneys fees. 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. Pawan Kalyan is busy shooting for a period drama directed by Krish. There are two female leads in the film, and the makers are trying to rope in a Hindi actress for one of these roles. According to a source, director Krish is in talks with Jacqueline Fernandez. Krish has good contacts with many Hindi actors, so he is in talks with this actress to rope her in for his Telugu film, says the source. If she agrees, it will be Jacquelines debut in Telugu. The source also reveals that Krish is in talks with Disha Patani too, to cover the possibility that Jacqueline might not be able to give dates for the film. In the meantime, the movie has been tentatively titled Viroopaksha. At present Krish is shooting a big action scene with Pawan Kalyan and others at the Aluminium Factory on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The goal is to complete the film by the end of June. Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - February 12, 2020) - Miami-based United American Corp (OTC Pink: UAMA) ("UnitedCorp"), a digital and telecommunications company, announced today that it has completed a transaction with its largest hosting client to eliminate its CD$1.94M debt with the client through a form of debt forgiveness. The transaction further provides immediate access to the client's 5,000 computer mining rigs under a lease agreement at CD$ 1 per month. This replaces the original hosting service agreement signed between the parties in March 2018 and subsequently amended in June 2018. Under the agreement, no new shares will be issued and the debt forgiveness will be reflected as a CD$ 2 million increase in UnitedCorp's net equity and recorded as a special gain for Q1 2020. The transaction reflects changes management is implementing to UnitedCorp's evolving business model through its continuous improvement process, which responds to rapid changes in today's digital economy as well as to the information technology, telecommunications and green sustainability industries. The company will make further announcements and provide additional details on Thursday, February 13. "We are very fortunate to have built such a tremendous relationship with our client over the past two years. Their confidence and support has allowed us to develop and implement our highly innovative technology," commented Benoit Laliberte, CEO of UnitedCorp. He further added, "This transaction will enable us to continue the transformation of our company in order to take advantage of the evolving marketplace and is a key element that will contribute to the prosperity of our respective businesses in the long term." About United American Corp Established in 1992, United American Corp is a Florida-based development and management company focusing on telecommunications and information technologies. The company currently holds the rights to manage a portfolio of patents and proprietary technology in telecommunications, social media and Blockchain technology, and owns and operates the Data Center Domes which are amongst the world's most efficient and green data centers, and are designed to provide heat for agricultural operations using computer equipment in naturally cooled data centers where efficiency and low-cost operations are a priority. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors that may be beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances in management's expectations or opinions change. Source: United American Corp Contact: Investor Relations investorrelations@unitedcorp.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52346 Fenix Outdoor International AG (STO:FOI B), which is in the specialty retail business, and is based in Switzerland, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the OM over the last few months, increasing to kr1,168 at one point, and dropping to the lows of kr902. 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 Fenix Outdoor International's current trading price of kr944 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 Fenix Outdoor Internationals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. View our latest analysis for Fenix Outdoor International What's the opportunity in Fenix Outdoor International? Great news for investors Fenix Outdoor International is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is SEK1499.10, but it is currently trading at kr944 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Fenix Outdoor Internationals share price also seems relatively stable compared to the rest of the market, as indicated by its low beta. If you believe the share price should eventually reach its true value, a low beta could suggest it is unlikely to rapidly do so anytime soon, and once its there, it may be hard to fall back down into an attractive buying range. Can we expect growth from Fenix Outdoor International? OM:FOI B Past and Future Earnings, February 12th 2020 Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. 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. With profit expected to grow by 42% over the next couple of years, the future seems bright for Fenix Outdoor International. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Since FOI B is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to increase your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on FOI B for a while, now might be the time to make a leap. Its buoyant future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy FOI B. 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 buy. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Fenix Outdoor International. You can find everything you need to know about Fenix Outdoor International in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Fenix Outdoor International, 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. Gregory Keith Wyatt, 34, from a Georgia sheriff's office on Monday, before being tracked down 24 hours later in Alabama An inmate who escaped from a Georgia sheriff's office through a ceiling light has been tracked down and rearrested 60 miles away in Alabama. Gregory Keith Wyatt, 34, performed the daring escape from Haralson County Sheriff's Office on Monday night, leading cops on a chase that lasted nearly 24 hours. Wyatt had been in custody since last June on a number of charges, including reckless driving, hit and run, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. On Monday night, he managed to flee confinement by climbing up into a ceiling light fixture before working his way into a pipe chase. Wyatt then escaped through the north side of the building. On Tuesday afternoon, the Haralson County Sheriff's Office Facebook page shared a post informing locals that they were desperately searching for the criminal. 'Investigators have worked through the night and are currently working to locate the escapee,' the post stated. Wyatt escaped through a ceiling light ceiling light at Haralson County Sheriff's Office on Monday night Wyatt had been in custody since last June on a number of charges, including reckless driving, hit and run, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident. He is pictured in an old mugshot However, just hours later, authorities managed to track down Wyatt who had fled interstate to Alabama. The fugitive barricaded himself in a house in Talledega County, 60 miles from where he escaped, leading to a short standoff with police. However, the situation ended peacefully around 9pm, and Wyattt was taken back into custody. 'We knew early on that he had headed to Alabama and the search was concentrated there throughout the day [Tuesday],' Haralson County Sheriff Eddie Mixon stated on Facebook. 'The Talladega County Sheriff's Office was very helpful in searching and taking Wyatt into custody.' Syracuse, N.Y. For some, Valentines Day calls for high-priced candlelit dinners. For others, its a reason to avoid the restaurant rush, stay home and show off your cooking chops for your significant other. Somewhere in the middle lies the heart-shaped pizza. Low-cost and cheesy in more ways than one, its an ideal pairing for a night of Netflix rom-coms, The Great British Bake Off or whatever floats your Valentines Day boat. For all the pizza-loving lovebirds around Syracuse, heres a look at some of the pizzerias where you can get a heart-shaped pizza. Do you know a place not listed here? Email jpucci@syracuse.com and well add it to the list. Toss & Fire Wood-Fired Pizza: Give your valentine a pizza your heart this Friday! Well have 10 heart shaped pizzas all day long this Valentines Day. Posted by Toss & Fire Wood-Fired Pizza on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Address: 315 N. Main St., North Syracuse Phone: (315) 458-9380 The Pizza Cutters Dont be fooled. The best heart pizzas are coming from #thepizzacutters Posted by The Pizza Cutters on Thursday, February 14, 2019 Address: 2410 Court St., Syracuse Phone: (315) 455-5111 Poppis Pizza Address: 1349 Cold Springs Road, Liverpool. Phone: (315) 457-3334 Top This Pizza Each pizza is hand tossed and made into a heart with love. Be sure to mention you want a heart shaped pizza when ordering!!! Posted by Top This Pizza on Thursday, February 14, 2019 Address: 9664 Brewerton Road, Brewerton. Phone: (315) 668-1810 Pies Guys Addresses: Locations in Eastwood, Fairmount, North Syracuse, Clay, Western Lights and Oswego. Cams Pizzeria February=Heart-Shaped Pizzas! Tag the other pizza your heart. Posted by Cam's Pizzeria on Thursday, February 1, 2018 Addresses: Syracuse-area locations in Camillus, Clay, Phoenix, Oswego, and Geneva. Trappers II Pizza & Pub Heart shaped pizza...will you be my Valentine?! *Preorder any time this week for Valentines Day this Friday* Posted by Trappers II Pizza & Pub - T2 on Monday, February 10, 2020 Address: 101 N. Main St., Minoa. Phone: (315) 656-7777 Pizzaz Pizza Our Heart Shapped Pizza! Sizes come in Small and large (shown) Photo Credit: Wendy Vossler Posted by Pizzaz Pizza on Sunday, February 8, 2015 Address: 1916 South Ave., Syracuse. Phone: (315) 422-1033 Francos Pizzeria & Deli Never a wrong time to send some love! Valentine's Day is every day <3 call now and place your order 315-475-1100 Posted by Franco's Pizzeria and Deli on Sunday, February 9, 2020 Address: 901 E. Genesee St, Syracuse Phone: (315) 475-1100 Peppinos Valentine's Day ONLY! Turn any large pizza into a heart shaped pizza for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE! Also, personalize your heart shaped pizza! Is there a better Valentine's Day card than a Peppino's Pizza? Posted by Peppino's Syracuse on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Address: 1849 Grant Blvd., Syracuse. Phone: (315) 474-3663 Tops Friendly Markets Addresses: Multiple locations Pizza Hut The Heart-Shaped Pizza is back just in time for #NationalPizzaDay. Posted by Pizza Hut on Thursday, February 9, 2017 Addresses: Syracuse-area locations in East Syracuse, Liverpool, Cicero, Baldwinsville, Auburn and Fulton. Papa Johns Address: 2921 James St, Syracuse. Phone: (315) 463-7272 Jacob Pucci finds the best in food, dining and culture across Central New York. Contact him by email at jpucci@syracuse.com. 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 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: Valentines Day 2020 free food, drinks, deals: Huge list from McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, Ben & Jerrys, more Anything But Beer opens, plus cookie decorating class: The CNY Foodie 5 Will you dine out or stay home on Valentines Day? (poll) The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution that would endorse a 55-point plan for ending the war in Libya and condemn the recent increase in violence. The British-drafted resolution demands the warring parties commit to a lasting ceasefire without preconditions. It also insists on full compliance with a UN arms embargo that has been repeatedly broken, as called for in the plan approved by leaders of 12 world powers and other key countries that met on January 19 in Berlin. It also recalls the commitment of all participants at the Berlin meeting to refrain from interfering in Libyas conflict and its internal affairs and expresses concern over the growing involvement of mercenaries in Libya. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that the agreement has been repeatedly violated by continuing arms deliveries to the warring parties and escalating fighting. He called the current offensives by rival forces a scandal, saying the commitments apparently were made without a true intention of respecting them. Draft resolution calls for permanent ceasefire Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi who was later killed. A weak UN-recognised administration, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, holds the capital of Tripoli and parts of the countrys west and is backed by Turkey, which recently sent thousands of soldiers to Libya. On the other side is a rival government in the east that supports self-styled renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces launched an offensive to capture the capital last April and are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt. The Tripoli authorities and US officials have accused Haftar of relying on hundreds of Russian mercenaries. Sudanese armed groups from the Darfur region recently joined the fighting on both sides, according to a report by UN experts. The draft resolution welcomes last weeks ceasefire talks between Libyas warring sides in Geneva and calls for their continuation without further delay in order to agree [to] a permanent ceasefire. It asks Guterres to submit his views on conditions for a ceasefire and proposals for effective monitoring of a truce, with a view to making detailed recommendations when a ceasefire is announced. The Security Council on Tuesday voted 14-0 with Russia abstaining on a resolution extending the arms embargo, travel ban, asset freeze and other sanctions on Libya and Libyans until April 30, 2021. It also extended the mandate of the UN panel of experts monitoring the implementation of the sanctions until May 15, 2021. The draft resolution condemns attempts to illicitly export oil and refined petroleum products from Libya and it asks the UN experts to report on illicit exports or imports to Libya of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia objected to the reference to oil imports. Reports of Tripoli shelling Meanwhile, there were reports that artillery shells on Tuesday hit the centre of the Libyan capital, which Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have been trying to take in a near year-long war. Shells landed late at night in the central Nouflin and Souq al-Jumaa districts, which had been mostly spared so far from the conflict, according to Reuters News Agency. Parts of the capital were plunged into darkness as power failed. There was no immediate word on casualties from authorities and no more details available. According to the UN, the war has displaced some 150,000 people. "Jason has demonstrated outstanding leadership capabilities and sound credit judgment, strengthening and expanding our credit risk management capabilities, in support of the bank's strategic priorities," said President and CEO John R. Ciulla. Soto joined Webster in 2015 as senior credit executive, supporting the Middle Market Banking and Sponsor & Specialty Finance Groups, following a long and distinguished career in credit risk management at GE Capital. A resident of Wayland, Massachusetts, Soto received his bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Active in his community, he lends his leadership skills to the board of Families First, a Watertown, Mass.-based nonprofit focused on early childhood parent education. He also has volunteered with Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, and as a local elementary school mentor. *** About Webster Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and its HSA Bank division. With $30.4 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, financial planning, trust, and investment services through 157 banking centers and 309 ATMs. Webster also provides mobile and online banking. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation; the equipment finance firm Webster Capital Finance Corporation; and HSA Bank, a division of Webster Bank, which provides health savings account trustee and administrative services. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com. SOURCE Webster Bank ANN ARBOR--If you're an environmentally conscious consumer, you've probably heard that today's highly efficient dishwashers use less energy and water than traditional hand-washing techniques. While that's true in most cases, there's one manual washing technique--the two-basin method, in which dishes are soaked and scrubbed in hot water and then rinsed in cold water--that is associated with fewer greenhouse gas emissions than machine dishwashing. That's one of the surprising findings of a new study from University of Michigan researchers that includes a list of tips for greener dishwashing. The study was published online Feb. 12 in the journal Environmental Research Communications and is the result of a collaboration between U-M researchers and Michigan-based Whirlpool Corp. The study also found that: Avoiding pre-rinsing and deselecting the "heated dry" setting can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with machine dishwashers. The common "running tap" method of manual dishwashing used more energy and more water than any other dishwashing method tested. If by-hand dishwashers switched from the running tap to the two-basin method, they could reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions by about two-thirds. "This is the first comprehensive life cycle assessment of manual washing and machine washing, and it provides useful guidance to households on how to improve environmental performance of both methods," said study senior author Greg Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability. The study builds on a SEAS master's thesis by lead author Gabriela Porras. Data were collected at Whirlpool's dishwasher manufacturing plant in Findlay, Ohio, and a small-scale laboratory study was conducted at the company's headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Whirlpool also provided funding. Several previous studies have concluded that consumers can save time, energy and water by using a machine dishwasher instead of washing by hand. But many of those studies failed to account for real-world behavior--such as pre-rinsing and varying the cycle selection--by those who rely on machine dishwashers. And while the earlier studies compared the in-the-kitchen environmental impacts of manual versus machine dishwashing, most of them did not consider lifetime, cradle-to-grave environmental costs, including the manufacture and disposal of dishwashers. The new U-M-led study took a comprehensive look at the environmental burdens of manual and machine dishwashing, including greenhouse gas emissions, water and energy consumption, solid waste production and cost. The study also compared recommended best practices for hand and machine washing with typical behaviors observed during the Benton Harbor lab study. When typical manual and machine practices were followed, machine dishwashers were associated with less than half the greenhouse gas emissions and used less than half the water. Most of the emissions are tied to the energy used to heat the water. The common "running tap" method of manual dishwashing, which involves washing and rinsing dishes beneath a steady stream of hot water, used more energy and water than any other method tested. The outcome changed dramatically when the less-common two-basin method of manual dishwashing was used. Under that scenario, manual dishwashing produced lower greenhouse gas emissions than any other alternative examined in the study--18% lower than machine washing using recommended best practices. Not ready to give up the time-saving convenience of a machine dishwasher? The new study offers several tips to reduce the environmental impact of your appliance, including three key "don'ts": Don't pre-rinse before loading dishes into the dishwasher; don't select the "heat dry" setting; and don't choose the "heavy" cycle over a normal wash, except for tougher loads. In the observational study, 38 Whirlpool employees were asked to load a dishwasher as they typically would at home, to manually wash dishes as they would at home, and to answer survey questions related to their dishwashing behaviors. The testing room at Whirlpool's Benton Harbor campus was designed to replicate a common kitchen sink area in an average household. The study assumed that natural gas is used to heat the water. Lifetime greenhouse gas emissions increase significantly if an electric water heater is used. Porras conducted the study for her master's thesis at the Center for Sustainable Systems at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability. The other authors are Keoleian, Geoffrey Lewis of the Center for Sustainable Systems and Nagapooja Seeba of Whirlpool Corp. ### The research was supported by Whirlpool Corp. and U-M's Rackham Graduate School, School for Environment and Sustainability, and Center for Sustainable Systems. Study: A guide to household manual and machine dishwashing through a life cycle perspective The presiding judge in Kem Sokhas treason trial offered to postpone the hearing for three weeks to give the opposition leaders lawyers time to examine evidence in the case file, after defense lawyers complained that they had not got the evidence on time nor had they been able to review it. Kem Sokhas trial kicked off its fifth week of hearings on Wednesday morning with lawyers on all sides continuing to argue and fight over two main issues admissibility and veracity of evidence sourced from anonymous Facebook page Kon Khmer and the prosecutions reluctance to exactly identify evidence it was using to cross examine Kem Sokha. The second issue turned into heated back-and-forth, after defense lawyers asked prosecutor Plang Sophal to exactly identify the piece of evidence in the case file he was using to question Kem Sokha. The evidence was seemingly a joint statement by Kem Sokha and opposition leader Sam Rainsy announcing the formation of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. The court had just begun discussing Kem Sokhas career and activities from 2012, starting with the formation of the CNRP, to 2017, right before his arrest. A request from defense lawyer Meng Sopheary to exactly identify to the evidence led Plang Sophal to only say document no.5, with the defense lawyer asking for the exact location of the evidence in the case file. My job is it to tell you the document number not exactly where it is, Plang Sophal shot back. There are a lot of documents so I am asking for help to find the document, Meng Sopheary said in return. Interjecting, presiding judge Kuy Sao said that if the defense needed time to look for the document he would permit it, but also proceeded to suggest they take a two- or three-week recess to allow the defense to review all the evidence. The defense immediately rejected any postponement of the trial, instead asking for more specificity when referring to documents in the case file. Defense lawyers have consistently complained about not getting the case file on time, giving them little chance, they said, to counter evidence produced by the prosecution and government. At one point, judge Kuy Sao asked a court clerk, who did not identify himself, to address the court and recollect if the defense had asked for the case file on time. The court clerk then seemed to accuse the defense for asking the clerks to submit the case file as soon as possible, which was not possible he said because they had to follow certain procedures to copy the evidence before handing it over. The copying [process] is not about dropping it at the copy shop, the court clerk said. It has to be done carefully. At the start of the hearing, the defense again took umbrage with the prosecutions use of evidence from the anonymous Kon Khmer Facebook page, calling the evidence inadmissible and unverified. The court then spent the next 80 minutes going back and forth to debate the admissibility of the evidence, with Kem Sokha saying little during bickering. The one time he asked to comment on the issue, the presiding judge asked him to stop speaking. The prosecution and government lawyer continued to push that if investigating agencies and the investigating judge had reviewed the evidence and used it in their reports, then it had been found to be accurate and admissible in the trial. The prosecution has so far not provided information to show that any forensic analysis was conducted on contents of the Facebook page, its ownership or its origins a point raised by defense lawyer Pheng Heng. How is it being used as evidence against my client? Pheng Heng said. What if some people created the page to frame my client? You should have gone and interviewed the owner of the Kon Khmer Facebook page and ask him to testify, he added. The council of judges, under Article 321 of the Criminal Procedures Code, have the free choice to determine the value of the evidence submitted to the court on the ground of its true belief. However, the council of judges did not take a concrete stand on the defenses objection, leaving it to the government lawyers and prosecution to make the case for admissibility of the evidence. It is not even 10 percent of the evidence, judge Kuy Sao said. Why are you talking about this over and over again. The prosecution has used a Facebook post from Kon Khmer while questioning Kem Sokha about his daughters and their education abroad. At the time, the opposition leader refused to answer questions based on information sourced from Facebook. In between the two time-consuming arguments, the government played a video of opposition leader Sam Rainsy speaking to purportedly party supporters in Massachusetts, US, in 2011. In the 50 second clip, he is heard talking about unseating Hun Sen from his treasonous position and wanting Hun Sen to leave his position as soon as possible. Both government lawyers and the prosecution attempted to link Sam Rainsys speech to Kem Sokha, by suggesting that Kem Sokhas agreement to merge their parties and form the CNRP meant that he agreed with Rainsys speech. I dont know about this. I have not followed everything he has ever said, said Kem Sokha in response. The court will resume for the afternoon session, where questioning will continue to revolve around the formation of the CNRP till the 2013 national election. Peter Phillips has been pictured in Australia for the first time since his split from Autumn was announced, as it's revealed one of them will move to another part of Princess Anne's Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. Peter, 42, and Autumn, 41, informed their families of their 'amicable' decision to divorce 'last year' after deciding it was 'the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship'. And while the Queen's grandson and his wife of 12 years currently live under the same roof at their marital home at Aston Farm on the estate - next door to sister Zara and her husband Mike Tindall - one will eventually move to another part of the 700-acre country residence. It comes as Peter, who is an ISPS Handa ambassador, attended a golf tournament for players who are blind or disabled in Australia on Tuesday - marking his first public appearance since the bombshell news. Peter Phillips (pictured), who is an ISPS Handa ambassador, at the Women's Australia Open Pro am party with personal trainer and golf instructor, Andrea McGann Peter Phillips (pictured right), 42, made his first public appearance since the bombshell news that he and wife of 12 years Autumn, 41, have split. He stepped out at the Women's Australia Pro AM Party on Tuesday Peter Phillips, (left) and Autumn, (right) leave St George's Chapel in Windsor after their marriage vows on May 17 2008 He was snapped smiling alongside personal trainer and golf instructor, Andrea McGann. It's a regular event for Peter Phillips, who was pictured playing a shot during day one of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Golf Open at The Hills Golf Club in 2018 in Queenstown, New Zealand. Gatcombe is located in the heart of the Cotswolds, and is just a few miles away from Highgrove, Prince Charles' home in nearby Tetbury. It boasts five main bedrooms, four secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms, a library, a billiard room, and a conservatory. The Queen bought the Grade II-listed manor house for her only daughter and her then husband Captain Mark Phillips as a wedding present, and the couple moved in 1977 - and raised their two children, Peter and Zara, on the estate. After their divorce in 1992, Mark moved into adjoining Aston Farm, where he is now accompanied by his second wife. Peter (pictured) was pictured in Australia as reports surfaced that he and wife Autumn will live separately at Princess Anne's sprawling 700-acre estate The Queen bought Gatcombe Park (pictured) for her only daughter and her then husband Captain Mark Phillips as a wedding present, and the couple moved in 1977 Peter Phillips (pictured) was photographed at at the ISPS Women's Open in Australia yesterday - marking his first public appearance since the news Peter Phillips, who attended the ISPS Women's Open in Australia on Tuesday, currently lives with Autumn in their martial home next to Zara and Mike Tindall While the Princess Royal maintains a London residence at St James's Palace, she now spends most of her time at the large manor house with second husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, is run as a working farm with a range of livestock, such as breeding horses and cattle - but it is also home for Princess Anne's expanding family. Zara and Mike Tindall moved onto the estate in 2013 after selling their 1.2million white stucco marital home 20 miles away in Cheltenham. They have since welcomed their two daughters, Mia, 4, and Lena, one, who was born in September 2018, there. And in 2018, Stroud District Council granted permission for a two-storey extension to a lodge within the grounds of Gatcombe. The Princess Royal's house stables Zara's horses and is where she trains both racehorses and her three-day eventers. The couple have often been pictured enjoying family days out at the horse trials along with Peter and Autumn Phillips and their children, Savannah and Isla. Peter Phillips and Autumn Phillips arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor on May 19, 2018 Peter Phillips' marriage was in crisis last summer, his wife Autumn WON'T move back to Canada, and they plan to share custody of their children: RICHARD KAY reveals the truth behind the latest royal split For both parties it looked like a marriage made in heaven a classic case of opposites attracting. Peter Phillips had all the prestige of being the Queen's favourite grandson. Handsome, confident and popular, he enjoyed every advantage of his birthright without the impediment of a title or the inconvenience tof actually having to work for the Royal Family. The young woman he married came from very different beginnings. Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly was a hairdresser's daughter from a tough, working-class suburb of Montreal. One brother was a bricklayer, another a chef and there was a wayward uncle who once ran a strip club. Friends say this is one attitude that hasn't changed since she became the Princess Royal's daughter-in-law What both Peter and Autumn possessed, however, was a love of making money. Now they will have to divide their ample assets. After all, this is a couple who even made money out of their wedding day, selling the pictures to Hello! magazine for a reported 500,000. Eight years later, Peter's celebrity management company was paid 750,000 to oversee a 150-a-head party in the Mall to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday. And only last month as revealed in the Mail Phillips drew withering criticism for using his family connections to sell milk on Chinese TV. His firm has also negotiated deals for his Olympic medal-winning sister Zara. So far, so lucrative. But Peter and Autumn have made the brutal discovery that by financially enriching themselves through their royal links, they have opened up their private lives to scrutiny. It is an object lesson for Prince Harry as he and Meghan begin their post-royal life as paid guests of a banking giant. All the same, the couple's decision to part after almost 12 years of marriage and two daughters Savannah, nine, and seven-year-old Isla has not only saddened the Queen and members of the Royal Family but also surprised courtiers. For a long time, Peter, 42, filled a special role in the Queen's family. He kept an eye on his cousins Prince William and Prince Harry, who looked up to him and was their constant companion in the dark days immediately after the death of Princess Diana. Sadly, Peter Phillips will now be the first of the Queen's grandchildren to divorce Autumn's arrival in the Royal Family was seen as a sign of change. State school-educated, she grew up in a home where money was tight but was remembered at her old school as someone who liked to party Recently he has been a regular fixture at the bedside of his grandfather Prince Philip, and last month he was the only other family member present at Sandringham as the Queen, Prince Charles and William struck the agreement with Harry that allowed him to walk away from his royal life. Yesterday, in a joint statement, Peter and Autumn, 41, described their separation as 'sad but amicable' and said it was 'the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship'. What also became clear is that this was no new development. A divorce is already under way and they announced that they will be sharing custody of Savannah and Isla. They have denied reports that the decision to split had anything to do with Autumn wishing to return to her home country. It was suggested, wrongly, that she might have been influenced by Harry and Meghan's departure from the UK to Canada. In fact, the couple separated long before news about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's shock move was disclosed. Peter spent Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family but without Autumn. Last month he hosted his annual shoot on the Norfolk estate and once again his wife was absent. I understand they told the Queen during a private visit to Balmoral late last summer. And only last month as revealed in the Mail Phillips drew withering criticism for using his family connections to sell milk on Chinese TV All the same, the couple's decision to part after almost 12 years of marriage and two daughters Savannah, nine, and seven-year-old Isla has not only saddened the Queen and members of the Royal Family but also surprised courtiers During their stay, Autumn travelled to church with the Queen, who has grown very fond of her spirited granddaughter-in-law. She urged them not to make a hasty decision. But the couple, who also attended the annual Braemar Gathering Highland games in September with the Queen and Prince Charles, had already told Peter's mother and father, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, and Autumn's divorced parents, Brian and Kitty, of their plans. For now at least, Autumn and their daughters remain at the couple's country home, a barn conversion on Princess Anne's Gatcombe estate near Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire. Peter has been spending part of his working week in London there is a flat in Kensington and weekends at the family home. While it is unclear where they will live in the immediate future, Autumn has no plans to go home to Canada. She has put down strong roots in the Cotswolds and is said to have a wide circle of friends. So what prompted the split? Some are bound to think of that old cliche that an apple doesn't fall far from the tree and wonder if Peter is a chip off his father's block. Mark Phillips's 19-year marriage to Princess Anne was hardly a textbook success story. It ended in 1992; she went on to marry a former royal equerry, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and five years later Phillips married U.S.-born dressage rider Sandy Pflueger. That marriage produced a daughter a half-sister for Peter and Zara but ended in divorce in 2012 amid reports that he had begun an affair with another U.S. equestrian, Lauren Hough, almost 30 years his junior. He also fathered another daughter following an affair with a New Zealand art teacher in the 1980s. Autumn's arrival in the Royal Family was seen as a sign of change. State school-educated, she grew up in a home where money was tight but was remembered at her old school as someone who liked to party. Friends say this is one attitude that hasn't changed since she became the Princess Royal's daughter-in-law. 'She is part of a fairly noisy Gloucestershire set and is a bit of a party girl,' I am told. 'You'll see her downing cocktails while sitting on friends' knees having fun.' Certainly, this is far from the conventional image she has presented as a much-admired and dutiful member of the Royal Family. 'She's a great mother and everyone thinks she has fitted in really well,' says a figure close to the Queen. 'She's a favourite of the Queen but then so is Peter. He was her first grandchild, the first to marry and the first to make her a great-grandmother.' Sadly, Peter Phillips will now be the first of the Queen's grandchildren to divorce. The truth is that being neither a royal nor exactly a commoner has been both a burden and a blessing for him. It was commendable that on his birth in 1977, Princess Anne declined her mother's offer of a title. How the Queen would have loved to bestow one to mark the arrival of her grandson during Silver Jubilee year. But Anne took the view that Peter and his sister Zara, who is married to former England rugby star Mike Tindall, should make their own ways in the world. They would not be working royals. For Peter, that has meant a decidedly more low-key life than that of his first cousins William and Harry and, to a lesser extent, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. What both Peter and Autumn possessed, however, was a love of making money. Now they will have to divide their ample assets And until this week's news, life has dealt a remarkably benign hand to the young man whom Prince Philip christened 'the winner' because of his independence. Easygoing and rarely flustered, he wore his royalty lightly. 'Where Prince Andrew will never cease dropping his mother's name though he refers to her as Her Majesty at any opportunity, Peter does his best never to mention his grandmother,' says a friend. Alas, this modesty never applied to his money-making. All the same, he was allowed to grow up removed from the royal spotlight that might have shone on him as the Queen's grandson. He was educated at Port Regis where a parent says he was 'one of those prep-school gods, handsome, marvellous at rugby and admired by everyone' and then Gordonstoun, where he rose to be head boy, or 'guardian' as they call it. The school has strict rules on alcohol, and even those pupils old enough to consume it are limited to three glasses of beer, cider or wine at the Saturday socials. 'But that didn't stop Peter,' said a contemporary. 'He had his own secret supply. 'On a Saturday he would go into Elgin, the nearest town, load up a taxi with cans of beer, smuggle them into school and hide them in his trunk.' So when the official supply had run out, Peter could always be relied upon to produce a bit more. 'When he was guardian he used to give jolly good parties in his room,' the friend recalled. 'There would be music playing and we'd be drinking beer, boys and girls together, and there would be a bit of snogging.' It was just one cherry brandy that got his uncle Prince Charles threatened with the cane when he was at Gordonstoun. But Peter was never caught and left the school with three A-levels and an excellent final report. His romances, too, remained very much his own affair. At the co-ed school he dated several fellow pupils. One was army officer's daughter Penny Taylor, two years his senior; another was Emily Ayre, the daughter of an Edinburgh businessman, who was two years his junior. After graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in sports science, Peter worked for Jaguar as a corporate hospitality manager before taking a position at the Williams Grand Prix Engineering team. From then on, there was always a pretty girl on his arm. For both parties (Peter and Autumn Phillips pictured in the last photo of them) it looked like a marriage made in heaven a classic case of opposites attracting He dated American cod-liver oil heiress Elizabeth Iorio, who shared his cosy Belsize Park flat but who, after they parted, suggested he needed to 'grow up'. Then came a four-month romance with British Airways stewardess Tara Swain. It was on a business trip at the 2003 Montreal Grand Prix that he met the glamorous Autumn, who was working as a Budweiser girl a model promoting the beer at the event and didn't realise he was the Queen's grandson. The pair embarked on a relationship and she moved to London. Four years after that, Peter popped the question. Autumn, who was born and brought up a Roman Catholic, renounced her faith shortly before their wedding at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in 2008, so her husband-to-be didn't have to give up his claim to the throne. But such sensitivity was soon forgotten amid a furious public backlash over the couple selling their wedding photos, which was branded a 'serious error of judgment' by an MP at the time. When photos were later released of their honeymoon in South Africa, it prompted speculation that they'd had free accommodation or a reduced rate in exchange for publicising their stay. These days, they are no strangers to leveraging their royal celebrity. Even so, friends can't help wondering if Peter agreed to his infamous milk commercial to help him through the unpredictable costs of divorce. WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thycotic , provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions to more than 10,000 organizations, including 25 of the Fortune 100, today announced its 2019 accomplishments in cloud-based PAM. Successes this past year included award wins for its Secret Server Cloud solution, customer adoption, new cloud-focused product releases and more. With more than 90 percent of the world's data stored in the cloud, adoption of a cloud-based PAM solution has been more important than ever. Thycotic's Secret Server Cloud solution allows customers to benefit from an infrastructure and platform built to meet the requirements of the most security-sensitive organizations. Thycotic was able to add an abundance of new customers to its cloud-PAM solution roster in 2019, a few of which included DXC Technology and Delta Dental of Colorado. "Security is our top priority. We chose Secret Server Cloud because it perfectly meets our needs for enterprise Privileged Access Management. Plus, the ease of use for both admins and users is exceptional," said Peter Loach, IT Manager - DXC Eclipse at DXC Technology. "We chose Secret Server Cloud for our PAM requirements because it is easy to use and is a fully functional solution that meets all of our needs. The product is fantastic. It just works," said Andy Blanton, System Administrator at Delta Dental of Colorado. "It's not only simple, but also complex in what it can do for us as an IT department." Thycotic's additional 2019 cloud-based accomplishments, include: Achieved a 405 percent YOY increase in cloud bookings in 2019 Added upwards of 350 new PAM cloud customers in 2019, now accounting for more than 650 cloud customers overall Added a new cloud data center in Singapore , giving the company four PAM cloud data centers across multiple geographies across the United States , Germany and Australia with plans to add more in 2020 , giving the company four PAM cloud data centers across multiple geographies across , and with plans to add more in 2020 Launched two new PAM cloud products, Account Lifecycle Manager and Devops Secrets Vault Launch of Privilege Manager Cloud 10.6 , making all products within the company's end-to-end PAM solution now available in the cloud with full enterprise-grade functionality , making all products within the company's end-to-end PAM solution now available in the cloud with full enterprise-grade functionality Successful transition of Loyola University Maryland from Secret Server on-premises PAM solution to Secret Server Cloud from Secret Server on-premises PAM solution to Secret Server Cloud Thycotic rated ahead of BeyondTrust and CyberArk for its cloud-based PAM solutions in Cyber Management Alliance's (CM-Alliance) report entitled, "Securing Your Organization with Cloud-Based Privileged Access Management (PAM)" entitled, "Securing Your Organization with Cloud-Based Privileged Access Management (PAM)" CEO James Legg named one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs by The Software Report one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs by The Software Report Secret Server Cloud named a winner of the TMC 2019 Cloud Computing Product of the Year award, presented by Cloud Computing Magazine of the TMC 2019 Cloud Computing Product of the Year award, presented by Cloud Computing Magazine Publishing of two cloud-based reports and surveys: 2019 Global Research Report: " Security-as-a-Service on the Rise " " 2019 RSA Conference Survey "Migration of workloads to public cloud infrastructures, like AWS and Azure, has greatly increased the enterprise attack surface. We have been committed to delivering best-in-class PAM capabilities as SaaS, to ensure ROI through instant deployment, while extending our PAM controls to IaaS," said Jai Dargan, vice president of Product Management at Thycotic. "2019 was a banner year for our cloud roadmap and we will be delivering several new advanced solutions in the coming months." For more information on Thycotic and its cloud-based PAM solutions, visit www.thycotic.com . Heading to RSA Conference, February 24 28, 2020, in San Francisco? Visit Thycotic booth #655 in the South Hall and you could #DriveAwayFromRSA in the CEO's Jeep! Not attending? Join the conversation virtually with Thycotic CISO, Terence Jackson, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. (PT), as he participates in the live video panel, " The Changing Face of Compromise ," presented by BrightTALK. About Thycotic Thycotic is the leading provider of cloud-ready privilege management solutions. Thycotic's security tools empower over 10,000 organizations, from small businesses to the Fortune 100, to limit privileged account risk, implement least privilege policies, control applications, and demonstrate compliance. Thycotic makes enterprise-level privilege management accessible for everyone by eliminating dependency on overly complex security tools and prioritizing productivity, flexibility and control. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Thycotic operates worldwide with offices in the UK and Australia. For further information, please contact: Steve Kahan Jacqueline Velasco Thycotic Lumina Communications T: 202-802-9399 T: 408-680-0564 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] SOURCE Thycotic Related Links https://thycotic.com Mary Cease, 68, is a certified medical marijuana patient who uses marijuana to treat chronic pain. After the Housing Authority of Indiana County denied her application for a Section 8 housing voucher, she is taking her appeal to Commonwealth Court. She was photographed on Aug. 21, 2018. Read more A panel of three Pennsylvania judges will hear an appeal from an impoverished disabled veteran who said she was denied federally subsidized housing solely because she is a medical marijuana patient. Mary Cease, 68, was discharged from the U.S. Navy decades ago due to an injury that left her with metal rods in her back, PTSD, and chronic pain. Cease became a state-approved medical marijuana patient in 2018 after she became worried about becoming addicted to her pain-killing opioids and her doctor recommended that she substitute newly state-legal cannabis for the hard prescription narcotics, her lawyer said. She didnt know that decision would jeopardize her housing, said her lawyer, Judith D. Cassel, of Hawke McKeon & Sniscak in Harrisburg. On Thursday, Cassels law firm colleague, appellate lawyer Kevin McKeon, will argue the case before Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg. Cease had been living in Section 8 housing in Wilkes Barre, but fled that city when she became a victim of domestic violence. When she applied two years ago for new federally subsidized housing in Indiana County near Pittsburgh, Cease was placed on a waiting list. On her housing application, she admitted that she used a portion of her meager $10,000-a-year Social Security payments to pay for her medical marijuana. An Indiana County official spotted the admission and disqualified her from the program. Under federal law, marijuana is considered a Schedule 1 substance on par with heroin and LSD. The [Housing Authority of Indiana County] concluded that it had no choice but to deny M. Cease housing because a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidance memo advised that if a household member is illegally using a controlled substance, e.g., marijuana, denial is mandatory, according to court documents filed by Cease. A spokesperson for Housing Authority of Indiana County was not available late Wednesday afternoon to comment. Cease previously appealed to the housing authority twice but was turned down each time. This case isnt just about me, Cease said in an interview this week with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Im setting a precedent for thousands of other people in the same situation due to bureaucratic nonsense. Cassel, her lawyer, said impoverished marijuana patients across the state run the risk of being shut out of subsidized housing because of their doctor-recommended medication. If youre low-income or indigent, you have to go on opioids. Thats what were trying to get people to understand," said Cassel, who took on the case pro bono. People shouldnt have to choose between a roof over their head and their medication. At least one bill is pending in Congress that would stop the fed government from refusing housing to state-legal marijuana patients. Ceases appeal argues that the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act prohibits discrimination for using the medicine and that the only class of people specifically prohibited from residing in federally subsidized housing is sex offenders. It argues that the housing authority can use discretion to accommodate her. Further, it argues that her use of medical marijuana does not constitute the illegal use of a controlled substance because it is recognized as a medicine by the State of Pennsylvania. Cassel said her client, who prefers to vape her medicine, has no criminal record. [The housing authority is] not even complaining about smoke, Cassel said. Yet my client would gladly change consumption formats. Vape is not smoke, but theyve never argued about that. "Their sole argument against her is that marijuana is illegal under federal law. Medics are 'psychologically affected' by caring for a four-month-old boy they say has been brain dead since October and the parents are begging judges not to withdraw life support. A judge found that the baby at the centre of the dispute has passed the 'grey area' between life and death and suffered total brain failure as he heard of the impact on the doctors who continue to run scans and give the infant life support. 'Awfully for this child he's not in the grey area that the difference between the two codes might meet, because the MRI scan shows that his condition had moved beyond what even the American code would accept as part alive,' Sir Andrew McFarlane said. Four-month-old Midrar Ali was pronounced brain dead after his brain was deprived of oxygen, leading medics to say it would be 'unkind' to keep him alive Mr Davy, for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said that despite little Midrar's heart still beating in further tests would only reveal how badly his condition has deteriorated. 'Where brain stem death is identified, that is death as a matter of law,' Mr Davy said. 'Total brain failure has actually occurred, the extra that the US test requires. 'We have got to the point of establishing, in addition, gross infarction. The UK code doesn't require that, the US tests suggests that can be helpful in establishing that whole brain element.' Lady Justice King acknowledged staff had been suffering from stress as a result of being asked to care for the little boy. Karwan Ali (left) and Shokhan Namiq (right) are pictured outside the Court of Appeal last month as they fight for their baby to be kept alive 'There's no personal criticism of the father who knows how any of us would react in the desperate position this man finds himself,' the judge said. 'All I'm drawing to your attention for whatever reasons the father has made very serious allegations against the staff and it has made them very anxious and it will place them in a desperate situation. 'Staff have been psychologically affected by having to maintain care for Midrar when death has been confirmed,' Mr Davy said. 'The staff, who are obviously very used to dealing with sick babies, have been put in a very unusual position and that has had psychological effects.' His parents Karwan and Shokhan Ali, 35 and 28, had said their child was still breathing three months after being deemed brain stem dead Four-month-old Midrar Ali was starved of oxygen due to complications at birth, with medics at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester claiming it would be 'undignified' and 'unkind' to keep him on a ventilator. But his parents, Karwan Ali, 35, a biomedical scientist, and Shokhan Namiq, 28, from Manchester, disagree and believe he is 'still growing'. Last month at a hearing in Manchester, High Court judge Mrs Justice Lieven ruled little Midrar's life support should be turned off. Court of Appeal judges Sir Andrew McFarlane, Lord Justice Patten and Lady Justice King will today consider the case at a hearing in London. After last month's hearing Mr Ali described Mrs Justice Lieven's ruling as 'wrong' and vowed to appeal the decision. Their solicitor David Foster added: 'Baby Midrar is in an unusual position: tested as brain stem dead but growing in other facets,' said Mr Foster, who is based at law firm Barlow Robbins. The family deserve every support.' Lawyers representing the hospital's governing trust, the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said three tests confirmed brain stem death. Mrs Justice Lieven said she had 'no doubt' that Midrar was brain stem dead and the medical evidence presented to the court has been 'clear and consistent'. She said: 'Sadly, I have no doubt that Midrar is brain stem dead and meets the DNC criteria. The medical evidence is both clear and consistent.' Those tests were 'entirely supported' by other evidence that there was no electrical activity in the brain and the stem structure was 'fundamentally undermined' which she said was 'undoubtedly irreversible'. She went on: 'It is perfectly understandable that the parents should cling to hope by pointing to Midrar's movements, including chest movements. 'However, all four consultants who gave evidence said there was an obvious and well-known reason for these movements, namely spinal cord reflexes.' Noting Mr Ali's examination of medical records and detailed observations of monitoring equipment, Mrs Justice Lieven said: 'He and the mother's love and commitment to Midrar cannot be in any doubt. 'However, his desire to cling on to any hope does appear to have led him to interpret material in the way he wanted rather than at times listening to the evidence.' She said the facts of the case were 'tragic' and added that 'one can only have the greatest sympathy for what the parents are going through'. Mr Ali shook his head as the court was told doctors only performed the second MRI to 'reassure' the parents. Sir Andrew McFarlane said: 'As I understand it the MRI on 5 November was a test which in fact clinicians didn't think was necessary in order to confirm diagnosis of brainstem death. 'That was done to help the parents so they could see the steady deterioration of the brain,' he said. According to a doctor's report the baby's 'brain structures are no longer identifiable as they have disintegrated and liquefied'. The hearing was adjourned until Friday morning when judges will reach a conclusion on the dispute. 'This will in effect be exhibited as an oral judgment. I don't think [adjourning until next week] is in humane terms of interest to anyone,' Sir McFarlane added. New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend AAP chief Arvind Kejriwals swearing-in ceremony on February 16. Mamata will leave for the national capital on February 15 by Air India Flight at 5:30pm, and will be back in Kolkata on February 16 evening. The West Bengal Chief Minister on Tuesday congratulated Arvind Kejriwal on his victory, saying "People have rejected BJP. Only development will work, CAA, NRC, and NPR will be rejected." On Wednesday evening, the AAP chief wrote to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal staking claim to form the government in Delhi. Notably, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh today presented Constitution notification with the list of the newly-elected MLAs to LG Anil Baijal. According to sources, all the faces in the Kejriwals cabinet will be repeated this time around, but the portfolios may be shuffled. In the recently concluded Delhi Assembly poll, AAP has won 62 seats, the BJP got eight seats, while the Congress failed to open its account. Meanwhile, BJP president JP Nadda today chaired a meeting of senior party functionaries at the party headquarters to discuss organisational elections and other issues in the wake of BJP's debacle in Delhi Assembly election. The party was restricted to single-digit seats despite launching a high-voltage election campaign under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Why didnt Congress spend as much time discussing the invasion of Iraq (which cost thousands of American and Iraqi lives) as the time spent on the impeachment of the President of the United States? Walter J. Kiley, Ludlow Her father has different legal representation and is being held at an ICE facility in Kankakee. Meydi Guzman Rivas has been detained at an ICE facility in Pulaski County in southern Illinois. The girls mom and siblings are believed to still be in Honduras. It is unclear why they did not come to the U.S., attorneys said in December. DUNEDIN, Fla. - Toronto Blue Jays catcher catcher Reese McGuire is facing an indecent exposure charge in Florida. Deputies were dispatched to a shopping centre parking lot in Dunedin on Friday afternoon following reports that a man sitting inside an SUV was exposing himself, according to a Pinellas County Sheriffs Office news release. Deputies said they spoke with McGuire, 24, who was co-operative and did not deny the allegations. The release didnt say what exactly McGuire was doing. McGuire was charged with a misdemeanour count of exposure of sexual organs and given a notice to appear in court on March 16. He was not taken to jail. The Blue Jays released a statement Wednesday saying that theyre aware of McGuires arrest. He has been in communication with the Blue Jays and we are working to gather more information, the statement said. Out of respect for the legal process, neither he nor the club will comment any further at this time. The teams spring training facility is located in Dunedin, just a few miles from where McGuire found by deputies. Jeremy Corbyn suggested Boris Johnson should have been deported over his own past brushes with the law today as he attacked Government plans to kick out foreign criminals. In a heated Prime Minister's Questions exchange the Labour leader insinuated there was a racial element to the decision to send 50 convicted crooks to Jamaica, despite many of them having lived in the UK for decades. There is fury in the government after the expulsion of more than half of them - including violent offenders - was blocked by the courts after claims that they had been denied access to legal advice. Mr Corbyn cited the Prime Minister's past confession to having tried cocaine, being implicated in a planned - but never carried out - attack by an old friend on a News of the World journalist who was investigating him and referenced his birthplace of New York. In front of a packed House of Commons this afternoon, Mr Corbyn said: 'If there was a case of a young white boy with blond hair who later dabbled in class A drugs and conspired with a friend to beat up a journalist, would he deport that boy, or is it one rule for young black boys from the Caribbean and another for white boys from the United States?' In a heated Prime Minister's Questions exchange the Labour leader insinuated there was a racial element to the decision to send 50 convicted crooks to Jamaica, despite many of them having lived in the UK for decades Mr Corbyn cited the Prime Minister's past confession to having tried cocaine and being implicated in a planned - but never carried out - attack by an old friend on a News of the World journalist who was investigating him Campaigners are pictured outside Downing Street demanding that the government halt the deportation flight entirely The accusation sparked a blunt response from the Prime Minister, who replied: 'I think quite frankly that Mr Corbyn demeans himself and by the way besmirches the reputation of the Windrush generation who came to this country to work in our public services, to teach our children in this country, to make lives better for people in this country. Drugs offender, 26, is desperate to remain in the UK to look after his paralysed mother and his three daughters 'To be separated from my kids, I would rather die,' were the words of Adam Goulbourne inside a London deportation on Monday night. The 26-year-old from St Jude's was then taken to a coach with dozens of other detainees bound for Jamaica. But upon arrival an officer got on and said he was one of four passengers going back to the detention centre. He has lived in England since he was six years old. In 2017, he was found guilty of intent to supply Class A drugs and spent two years in prison before being released in April last year. Since then he has been fighting a legal battle to remain in the UK to care for his mother, who suffered a stroke last year, and his three daughters. The law was changed in 2012 to allow the deportation of criminals to their birth country, despite them being raised in Britain. At the end of 2019 judges turned down his case and his final hope was pinned on his solicitor being able to win a last-minute reprieve from the courts, which he secured on Tuesday. Advertisement 'He has no right to conflate them with those foreign national offenders that we are deporting today.' Mr Johnson was born in the United States in 1964 while his father Stanley studied there. But although he gave up his US citizenship in 2016 he has always been a UK citizen as well, so he would not be liable for deportation under the laws governing the flights. Last year during the Tory leadership campaign Mr Johnson blustered his way past questions regarding a 2008 admission that he had tried cocaine while a teenage student in Oxford. He was also linked to a planned assault by old Eton friend Darius Guppy. At a trial in 1994, a 1990 phone call between the pair came to light in which he agreed to give Guppy, a convicted fraudster, the contact details of a News of the World reporter investigating his business affairs so he could give him 'a couple of black eyes'. The attack never happened and Mr Johnson said in 2013 he was just 'humouring' an old acquaintance. The flight to Jamaica was supposed to be carrying 50 people that ministers categorised as having committed serious crimes. But the plane left for Kingston at about 7.30am yesterday, taking just 17 people on the journey. It went ahead despite legal challenges being underway, but the Prime Minister said that those on board 'should have taken the precaution of not being serious criminals'. Johnson (left) is said to be furious at the decision and Cummings (right) said the Court of Appeal's review showed the dysfunction at work in Britain The government now fears that those remaining will secure bail within days and be released from immigration removal centres. Under the UK Borders Act 2007, the Home Office must make a deportation order where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. This is subject to several exceptions, including where to do so would breach someone's human rights or the UK's obligations under the Refugee Convention. In the Commons today Mr Corbyn said the Government had 'learned nothing' from the Windrush scandal. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Corbyn asked: 'Does the Prime Minister think that someone who came to this country at the age of five and was the victim of county lines grooming and compelled to carry drugs released five years ago and never re-offended deserves to be deported?' Boris Johnson replied: 'I think the whole country would agree that, while I cannot comment on individual cases, it is entirely right that foreign national offenders should be deported from this country in accordance with the law.' TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Friday, February 21, elementary and secondary teachers and education workers represented by the four major education unions in Ontario will stand up to the Ford governments education cuts by participating in a one-day walkout across the province. Members of the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) will all strike on February 21. This is the first time since the political protest of 1997 that teachers and education workers from Ontarios main education affiliates will all be out of their classrooms on the same day. Nearly 200,000 teachers and education workers will strike across 72 school boards, affecting nearly 5,000 schools across the province in protest of the government funding cuts to education. It is clear to all four Ontario education unions and our members that the Ford government and Education Minister Lecce care nothing about students or educators and everything about taking money out of the publicly funded education system, says AEFO President Remi Sabourin. "To achieve their cuts, they have knowingly thrown students, families, educators and the system into chaos. We are already seeing the effects of this governments reckless education cuts, says OECTA President Liz Stuart. The Ford government is reducing supports for students with special education needs and mental health issues. It is squeezing students into overcrowded classes and forcing high school students to take e-learning courses. If we allow the government to implement its plan fully, thousands of teaching positions and tens of thousands of course options will be lost. Educators in every school board will not stay silent as the Ford government proceeds to decimate our publicly funded education system, says ETFO President Sam Hammond. Our unions and members helped build Ontarios world-class education system. By not seriously addressing the issues critical to students and student learning, the Ford government has made a sham of contract talks over the last seven months. It is now evident that the Ford governments agenda is entirely ideological and not at all concerned with providing quality education, says OSSTF/FEESO President Harvey Bischof. They are pulling resources out of the public education system and, with schemes like mandatory e-learning, laying the groundwork for private interests to profit from our students education. We are heartened that so many parents are standing with us against the dismantling of Ontarios public education system. Typically, fungal infections progress slowly and do not pass from one person to another, except in the case of certain superficial skin infections. Fungal infections are becoming a source of major health concern nowadays due to the use of potent immunosuppression for certain diseases and in transplant recipients, with the use of invasive devices in the hospital to monitor critically ill patients and with the increase in the incidence of diseases such as AIDS that cause immunosuppression. due to the use of potent immunosuppression for certain diseases and in transplant recipients, with the use of invasive devices in the hospital to monitor critically ill patients and with the increase in the incidence of diseases such as AIDS that cause immunosuppression. Fungal spores (structures formed during fungal reproduction and adapted for survival in unfavorable environmental conditions) exist in the air and in the soil and can cause infection in susceptible individuals. (structures formed during fungal reproduction and adapted for survival in unfavorable environmental conditions) and can cause infection in susceptible individuals. Fungal spores can thus be inhaled or come in contact with human skin. As a result, fungal infections usually begin in the skin or the lungs . . Fungi can exist in two morphological forms namely, single rounded cells, also known as yeast forms, and the mold forms where many cells join together to form long threadlike structures called hyphae. and the mold forms where many cells join together to form long threadlike structures called Superficial skin and mucous membrane fungal infections are treated with topical application of powders or gels. Serious infections are treated with anti-fungal drugs given by mouth or by injections. Antibiotics are not effective in fungal infections and should not be used. Fungal infections may be described as primary or opportunistic. They can be localized i.e. limited to one region e.g. localized in a part of the skin,mouth or vagina, or be invasive i.e spread to multiple sites. Skin and nail bed infections are also described as superficial while invasive and systemic infections are referred to as deep infections. Primary infections affect persons with a normal immune system. Opportunistic infections, as the name suggests, occur in persons with a weakened immune system (the fungi availing the opportunity) and persons with normal immunity are rarely affected. Fungal infection remains localized in persons with good immunity but can become invasive and threatening in persons with a poor and ineffective immune system. Localized infections include involvement of sinuses. This typically occurs with Aspergillus spp which can form a fungal ball within the sinuses causing features of chronic sinus infection such as fever with cough and headache. 1. Superficial Fungal Infections Fungi that cause skin infections are referred to as dermatophytes. They live on dead body tissues such as hair and nails. They cause disease on skin that is weakened or injured or constantly moist. Candida or yeast is another fungus that can also cause superficial infections. Dermatophyte infection Infection caused by dermatophytes is referred to as tinea or ringworm infection. Ringworm infection can spread by contact with skin or clothing of infected persons. Depending on the location, the various types include: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) Barber's itch occurring in the beard (tinea barbae) Jock itch (tinea cruris) occurring in the groin Scalp infection (tinea capitis) Hand infection (tinea manuum) Infection in other parts of the body (tinea corporis) Nail bed infection (tinea unguium) Cutaneous yeast or Candida infection Cutaneous yeast infection or cutaneous candidiasis can involve any part of the skin but occurs most commonly in warm, moist and creased areas such as armpits, groin and underneath body folds. It often occurs in obese persons, persons suffering from diabetes and those on longterm antibiotics. Other yeast infections include oral thrush occurring in the mouth, vaginal yeast infections (also referred to as moniliasis) in women and fungal diaper or nappy rash in babies. 2. Deep or Systemic Fungal Infections Systemic fungal infections include the following - Invasive aspergillosis Systemic candidiasis Mucormycosis Cryptococcosis Histoplasmosis Blastomycosis Coccidioidomycosis Paracoccidioidomycosis Fungal infections, as mentioned earlier, are acquired by inhalation of spores or contact of spores on the skin. Superficial skin infections are spread from one part of the body to another by scratching the lesions and touching other parts of the body, or through contact with the skin or clothing of infected persons. Deep seated or systemic infections enter the body via inhalation of spores. In invasive disease, the organisms are carried to different parts of the body through the bloodstream. A persons immunity may be suppressed due to drugs that are administered for the treatment of other conditions or a disease occurring in the person that naturally suppresses his or her immunity. Thus, the risk factors of developing a fungal infection include the following: Drugs that suppress immunity Corticosteroids Drugs used to prevent transplant rejection e.g. methotrexate, cyclosporine, azathioprine Drugs used to treat cancer Drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions e.g. tumor necrosis factor inhibitors Diseases that suppress immunity Cancers like leukemia, Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphomas Diabetes Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Others: Preterm infants Persons undergoing intensive care treatment Longterm broad spectrum antibiotic therapy Elderly and weak individuals Insertion of indwelling catheters or other devices Inherited causes of immune deficiency Here are some of the Clinical features of various types of fungal infections. Clinical features of tinea or ringworm infections include the following: Itchy, red and scaly ring-shaped patches Loss of hair in affected area Peeling and cracking of skin Cracking or breaking and thickening of nails with discoloration Symptoms and signs of yeast infection affecting the skin and mucus membranes include the following: Skin rash that is itchy, especially in skin folds Tiny bumps on the skin Skin lesions that ooze clear fluid Discolored nails that break from the nail bed (nail bed infection) White patches on the tongue or inner aspect of cheek (oral thrush) White or yellow thick vaginal discharge (vaginal candidiasis) Redness and itching on the skin of the external genitalia Systemic fungal infections may be primary or opportunistic Primary systemic fungal infections These infections occur in persons with normal immunity and include Histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis infections that are acquired by inhalation of spores in the air. The main symptoms are related to the respiratory tract and may include: Fever with cough Difficulty in breathing Flu-like illness Chest pain In some persons when large amounts of spores are inhaled or in individuals with weakened immunity, the infection may spread to other parts of the body resulting in a serious infection like: Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis, characterized by enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes, brain involvement and ulcers in mouth and intestines characterized by enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes, brain involvement and ulcers in mouth and intestines Progressive blastomycosis , which may cause multiple skin lesions and may involve the prostate, bone and even the brain , which may cause multiple skin lesions and may involve the prostate, bone and even the brain Progressive coccidioidomycosis, characterized by skin lesions, bone and joint involvement, and even brain disease Opportunistic systemic infections These typically occur in immunosuppressed persons. Opportunistic fungi generally do not cause infection in normal individuals. They include Mucor, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus and Candida. Some of the systemic infections caused by these fungi include the following: Invasive bronchopulmonary aspergillosis The infection starts in the lungs and can spread via the bloodstream to involve organs like the brain, liver, heart and kidneys. The infection starts in the lungs and can spread via the bloodstream to involve organs like the brain, liver, heart and kidneys. Rhinocerebral mucormycosis The infection occurs in persons with poorly controlled diabetes. It can affect the eye causing swelling of eye and protrusion of the eye from the socket (proptosis). There may be loss of vision. Facial and nasal bones can be destroyed by invasive disease and appear black. The brain may be involved with development of paralysis, seizures and coma. The infection occurs in persons with poorly controlled diabetes. It can affect the eye causing swelling of eye and protrusion of the eye from the socket (proptosis). There may be loss of vision. Facial and nasal bones can be destroyed by invasive disease and appear black. The brain may be involved with development of paralysis, seizures and coma. Systemic candidiasis: Systemic Candida infection can involve multiple organs such as the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and spleen. It is commonly seen in hospitalized and ill patients with indwelling catheters or other devices. It can be fatal unless promptly treated. Systemic Candida infection can involve multiple organs such as the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and spleen. It is commonly seen in hospitalized and ill patients with indwelling catheters or other devices. It can be fatal unless promptly treated. Cryptococcal meningitis Infection is acquired via inhalation of spores and rapidly spreads from the lung to the brain. It is often seen in AIDS patients. Superficial Infections Clinical examination: Fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails are often diagnosed by the characteristic symptoms and appearance of the lesions. KOH preparation A KOH (potassium hydroxide) preparation is a simple laboratory test to confirm the diagnosis. A sample from the lesion is treated with KOH and examined under the microscope to detect fungal elements. The use of stains such as Gram stain Giemsa and India ink increase the chances of detection. Woods lamp examination Direct examination of the skin lesion with a Wood's ultraviolet lamp is another simple and convenient method to detect the presence of a fungus. Culture and sensitivity Culture of the organism from the lesion on special fungal media can be used for a more definitive diagnosis. Systemic Fungal Infections Blood tests Serological tests to detect fungal antigens in the tissue/lesion samples or antibodies in the serum may be done. Culture The organism can be cultured from samples of sputum, urine, blood or other infective lesions for a more definite diagnosis. Molecular methods Tests based on amplification of DNA e.g. polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be useful when the diagnosis is difficult. Tissue biopsy Histological examination of the tissue sample by employing routine and special stains gives a definitive diagnosis. Superficial Infections Mild superficial fungal infections usually respond to topical anti-fungal creams or sprays such as tolnaftate, clotrimazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, miconazole nitrate, econazole, ketoconazole, ciclopirox, naftifine, terbinafine or Whitfield's tincture containing salicylic acid and benzoic acid. Infections that do not respond to local applications may also need the addition of an oral anti-fungal drug such as itraconazole, ketoconazole or griseofulvin. Systemic Infections Systemic infections may be treated with one of the azoles e.g. fluconazole or itraconazole which are the least toxic. Other agents include flucytosine used alone or with another agent. For life-threatening infections, amphotericin B may be used, although it is a highly toxic drug and can cause kidney damage. Some extensive fungal infections may need surgery to remove dead and damaged tissue. The following measures may help reduce or prevent superficial fungal infections: Maintain good personal hygiene Keep the skin clean and dry Avoid scratching lesions and immediately touching other parts of the body Avoid sharing or borrowing of bed linen and other clothes Clothes and contact surfaces of infected person should be washed in hot water and disinfected Avoid wearing heavy clothes in warm weather Systemic infections can be controlled by the following: FORT EDWARD The New York Authorities Budget Office issued an official warning to the Fort Edward Local Property Development Corp. last week because the organization is in violation of the state public authorities law. According to the ABO, the public authorities compliance office, the FELPDC budget was due to the ABO last November, but as of Feb. 3, the development group had not filed the documents. New York law requires local development corporations to file a budget report 60 days prior to the start of the fiscal year. Formed at the end of 2018, the somewhat nebulous FELPDC was gifted 80 acres of the former General Electric Co. dewatering site by then-owner WCC, a DA Collins real estate holding company that had been embroiled in property tax litigation with the town and village of Fort Edward and the Fort Edward school district for years. At the time of the gift, WCC still owed nearly $400,000 in back taxes, an amount that was later drastically reduced in the legal settlement. Still flying somewhat under the radar, little is known about the FELPDC, its current activities and its members, although the most recent information lists former Fort Edward town councilman Neal Orsini as its president. Orsini could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In 2019, the FELPDC entered into a management agreement with the Fort Edward Development Corp., with its members tied to WCC. According to the draft agreement, obtained through a Post-Star Freedom of Information Law request, the FELPDC and the FEDC would share in the profits of any property sale and they would handle the FELPDC taxes and other business. It is not known at this time if the management agreement included taking care of the public authorities law requirements. Additionally, WCC still owns all the access points to the property. In addition to a public authorities law violation, the FELPDC owes Washington County $863,000 in delinquent property taxes that County Treasurer Al Nolette said FELPDC is unable to pay. Currently, the FELPDC is hedging on the sale of 26 acres of its 80 acres to WL Plastics, a Texas plastics manufacturer, to alleviate the tax burden. Still, in a meeting late last year, FELPDC board member Zachary Middleton said that the property has to be subdivided before the sale to WL Plastics can go through and that cannot happen without the taxes being paid. Until Friday, with barely two weeks remaining before a March 1 property tax deadline that would raise the existing delinquency to $1.2 million, it looked like the delinquencies would continue to accrue. But in an 11th-hour decision, the Fort Edward tax assessor changed the FELPDC property to tax exempt, meaning the taxes will stop accruing. Explaining that they are in over their heads, FELPDC asked the Warren-Washington Counties Industrial Development Agency if the agency would buy the 80 acres for $1. The WWCIDA has been meeting about the situation but has not yet taken action. And the FELPDC still owns the property. Gaining tax-exempt status might be a tourniquet-sized fix, but it is merely part of a much larger and more complicated issue. On Tuesday, the ABO said it does enforce violations. Penalties or next steps can include recommending the suspension or dismissal of officers or directors. FELPDC special mkeeting There will be a special meeting of the Fort Edward Local Property Development Corp. at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Rogers Island Visitors Center, 11 Rogers Island Drive, Fort Edward. There is a special meeting of the FELPDC scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday at the Rogers Island Visitors Center. Kathleen Phalen-Tomaselli is a reporter and photographer covering Washington County, arts and life, features and breaking news. 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. Ballia : , Feb 12 (IANS) In an incident that displays the utter lack of sensitivity of a medical official in Uttar Pradesh, the senior health officer in Ballia has been caught on camera misbehaving with a relative of Nirbhaya. The incident took place during a protest against unavailability of doctors at the hospital built in the Uttar Pradesh district in the name of the 2012 gang rape and murder victim. In the video that has gone viral on the social media, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Ballia is seen telling a group of villagers that they do not deserve a doctor because the district has not 'produced' any doctors in recent years. "Has the village produced any doctor in the last 70 years? If this village does not have the ability to produce doctors, then how can they expect them?" the CMO asks a relative of the Nirbhaya, who was sitting on a dharna along with other villagers outside the hospital built in the name of Nirbhaya. A visibly hurt relative of Nirbhaya tells the CMO that the government built a hospital in the her name so that her dream can be fulfilled. To this, the CMO asks, "Who is Nirbhaya? If she was from Ballia and studying medicine, then why did you send her to Delhi?" The CMO further says it is not a doctor's job to make a hospital. WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Lata Mangeshkar admitted to ICU in Mumbai Hospital after testing positive for Covid Coronavirus: 19 Chinese crew allowed to enter Kolkata after being quarantine India oi-Mousumi Dash Kolkata, Feb 12: Nineteen Chinese crew of a vessel coming from Shanghai via Singapore quarantined at Sagar Island near Kolkata, West Bengal, they were allowed to enter Kolkata on Wednesday. In the wake of the noble coronavirus, thermal scanning of the crew will again be done on Thursday. The Kolkata Port Trust last month began mandatory screening of the crew of shipping liners coming and leaving the two ports under it in view of the novel coronavirus scare. Earlier, a social media post by a Bengal man last week from the Japanese cruise Diamond Princess, urging PM Modi and WB CM Mamata Banerjee to request Japanese government to take measure to keep coronavirus infected people separate went viral. 2 Indian crew on board cruise ship off Japanese coast test positive for coronavirus Presently, two Indian crew onboard a cruise ship off the Japanese coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Indian Embassy in Japan said on Wednesday as authorities confirmed that 174 people have been infected with the deadly disease. The noble coronavirus has claimed 1,016 lives so far with 108 new fatalities reported mostly in the worst-affected Hubei province while the confirmed cases of infection have soared to 42,638. From action to acceleration: UNICEF Executive Board pledges to take forward the agenda for children NEW YORK, United States of America, 12 February 2020 The UNICEF Executive Board opened its first regular session yesterday, welcoming its new President for 2020, H.E. Ms. Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Bangladesh. In her opening remarks, Ambassador Fatima emphasized the importance of the UNICEF mandate. Its mission is to protect the rights of children. Central to that is the nurturing they need to develop into happy, healthy and productive adults. This includes proper care in the early years to give children the best start in life, a cross-cutting theme of four new country programmes that were presented to the Board for approval this morning. Ambassador Fatima underlined the importance of the Board keeping certain issues front and centre during the coming year, including mental health, children with special needs and disabilities, climate change, and the continuing gender gap in education. Twenty-five years ago in Beijing we made a promise to the girl child to empower her, and we must keep that promise, she stated, referring to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore expressed her satisfaction on hearing of the Presidents planned focus on girls empowerment and education. This has been at the core of our work for 70 years and remains at the heart of our programming and Strategic Plan, she said. When I meet girls and young women in refugee camps, in urban slums, in rural areas they tell me of their dreams to become scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, innovators, presidents and prime ministers, and their dreams and rights demand our unwavering support. >> Watch: UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore's opening remarks at the 2020 Executive Board UNICEF/UNI213325/Kanobana Juliet, 16, participates in UNICEF's innovative tablet-based learning activities in Burundi. "[The] games on the tablets have taught us that there are no differences between boys and girls..." 2020: A year to take stock and take action The year 2020 marks the midpoint of implementation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018-2021, and five years since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a timely moment to evaluate and course correct to accelerate progress in several priority areas from the humanitarian-development continuum and the Generation Unlimited partnership, to real-time data collection, strengthened partnerships and climate change. The midterm review of the UNICEF Strategic Plan in June will enable the organization to consider lessons learned, take into account new developments and make course changes. The Secretary-General has called for the coming decade to be a decade of action towards the Goals, said Executive Director Fore. She emphasized that it must also be a decade of acceleration. Ambassador Fatima stated, as UNICEF gears up to accelerate progress over the next decade, the Board will focus on how best it can help in that effort. UNICEF/UNI288170/Markisz UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner co-host The Big Think Challenge aimed at identifying innovative solutions that will generate greater efficiencies in the agencies combined programmes and operations (February 2020). Innovation within UNICEF and across the United Nations A key factor identified for acceleration is innovation. As an organization with profound significance and operations in more than 190 countries and territories, UNICEF must always be open to innovation and adaptive to change, building upon the good progress made so far, remarked Ambassador Fatima. She said that UN reform has provided a mandate to improve the Boards working methods, while the Board itself will continue to support innovative processes. She welcomed the progress that had been made on this issue during the UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board session during the previous week. Executive Director Fore reaffirmed that UNICEF would continue to make progress on its own working methods, including by becoming nimbler, faster and simpler, while also ensuring that the Board has the information and briefings it needs. She also emphasized how UN reform is critical to achieve results for children, particularly how UNICEF works with other agencies to support countries. Working as a more efficient and effective 'one UN' development system is, in many ways, the most important accelerator of all, she added. Delegations remarked that enhancing the working methods of UN funds and programmes should maximize efficiencies; ensure quality oversight; and strengthen cross-Board coordination. The central role of Member States in driving the reform process was also underlined by speakers. Ms. Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for the West and Central Africa Region, shared her experience with the implementation of UN reform in the region, where a new Resident Coordinator (RC) system is being put in place to build a stronger UN country team (UNCT). "A number of country offices have highlighted the positive ways in which the RC is raising the profile of the UN, she remarked, by taking on an advocacy role on behalf of the UNCT and mobilizing resources for the country team, for example with the SDG Fund." Delegations welcomed the effort to build on the UN reform momentum and strengthen cooperation with other UN agencies, with many highlighting the midterm review as a key moment to prioritize areas that need acceleration. UNICEF was encouraged by a number of delegates to keep up the momentum generated by 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2019, and to bring a sharper focus to address the rights and needs of the girl child. The need to accelerate progress to achieve the rights of every child is urgent. We must accelerate progress in making all childrens rights real. Boys and girls. No matter where they live, said Executive Director Fore in her prepared remarks. We must commit to bold and immediate action, said Ambassador Fatima, because their future cannot wait. ****** The Executive Board session will continue through 13 February. A total of seven draft decisions are being considered by the Board for its adoption. AUSTIN After nearly three months of back-and-forth, the Mower County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional use permit Tuesday morning for a new transmission power line. The CUP had been held up over the possibility of future road construction along the power line's path, said Trish Harren, Mower County's administrator. Scott Anderson, an attorney for the county contracted to negotiate with Dairyland Power over the conditions for approving the 8.5-mile, 69-kilovolt line, said the county's concern stemmed from the path of the power line. The line would start on 210th Street, about three miles south of Grand Meadow, and proceed south along Mower County Road 8 until it reached near Minnesota Highway 56. Anderson said the road along the right-of-way being used for the transmission line does not meet state standards for "inslope," the slope of the road and shoulder heading toward the ditch. ADVERTISEMENT "They think it would need another 10 feet of clear space to prevent rollovers," he said. Because of the need to meet inslope standards if the road is ever repaved means someone either the county or Dairyland would need to pay to move the poles during road construction. Anderson said the county and Dairyland, working with road engineers, had reached a compromise to ensure the poles would leave at least 4 feet of space, and if a pole needed to be moved after that, Dairyland would absorb the cost. The board unanimously agreed to the new condition and approved the CUP. The Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) has been instrumental in exposing the regimes wrongdoings since the mullahs came to power, most notably surrounding human rights abuses and the secretive nuclear program. They have also been helping the Iranian people to organize their anti-regime protests over the past few years. Once the Iranian regime has been crushed, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) will rule for a six-month transition period until free and fair elections can be held. The NCRI is a coalition of Iranian Resistance groups, with the MEK as its largest member, and serves as a parliament-in-exile. But what will they do when in power? Well, the NCRI has adopted a 10-Point political platform to tell you exactly what theyll do. Lets look at it now. 1) Free and fair elections: The MEK believes the only way to achieve political legitimacy is to be voted in with a democratic election. They want a republic with universal suffrage. 2) Pluralism: The NCRI seeks a pluralist system, with freedom of parties and all individual freedoms, including assembly, expression, and the press. They also support unconditional access to the Internet for all. 3) Human Rights: The NCRI is committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international covenant and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. 4) Gender Equality: The NCRI believes in total gender equality in political, social, and economic arenas. They would abolish any form of discrimination against women and allow women the freedom that men enjoy in areas of clothing, marriage, divorce, political leadership, education, and employment. 5) Judicial System: The NCRI and of course MEK believes in justice and the rule of law, so they would establish a modern judicial system based on the principles of presumption of innocence, the right to defense, and the right to be tried in public in front of an independent judge. They would also get rid of the mullahs Sharia law, which would involve banning the death penalty. 6) Religion and State: The MEK would also separate Religion and State, as well as ban any form of discrimination against the followers of any religion and denomination. 7) Equality: The NCRI and the MEK is committed to the equality of all nationalities and supports the plan for an autonomous Iranian Kurdistan, adopted by the NCRI. 8) Market Economy: The MEK recognizes private property, private investment, and the market economy, so they believe that all Iranian people should enjoy equal opportunity in employment and business ventures. 9) Foreign Policy: The MEKs foreign policy is based on peaceful coexistence, international and regional peace and cooperation, as well as respect for the United Nations Charter. 10) Nuclear Policy: The MEK wants a non-nuclear Iran, free of weapons of mass destruction. Read more: A Brief Look at the MEK: Part 1: History A Pennsylvania senior care facility has been slapped with a federal lawsuit accusing the center of discharging an 81-year-old New Jersey man without proper notice and sending him home on a three-hour Uber ride, during which he suffered a heart attack and stroke that led to his death. Eugene Hamill, of Toms River, was discharged because Twin Cedars Senior Living in Shohola, Pennsylvania couldnt profit off him staying there, the wrongful death and negligence suit filed Tuesday in federal court in Scranton said. It also alleged Pennsylvania health officials warned the owner of the facility that putting Hamill in an Uber was unsafe and could constitute abandonment of an older adult by a care giver. Hamill moved into Twin Cedars on July 6, 2018 and while there suffered from hypertension, heart disease, and bone cancer, the suit filed by his family said. He was also required to wear a cardiac life vest. Twin Cedars concocted a plan to send Hamill home on Sept. 11, 2018, disregarding discharge instructions from a licensing supervisor at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, according to the lawsuit. While in the Uber en route to his Toms River home, Hamill began vomiting and eventually became unresponsive, according to the suit. By the time he arrived, Hamill suffered a stroke and heart attack and had to be brought to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was intubated and placed on a ventilator in the hospitals intensive care unit, the suit said. Hamill was transferred to Whiting Health Care Center on Oct. 9, 2018 and died on Sept. 26, 2019 a day before his 83rd birthday, the suit said. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services revoked Twin Cedars license for failure to provide a 30-day discharge notice in December 2018 for violating the licensing regulation, that a resident may not be neglected, intimidated, physically, or verbally abused, mistreated, subjected to corporal punishment, or disciplined in any way. It has since operated under a provisional license. A representative for Twin Cedars couldnt immediately be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone said the administrator who arranged to discharge Hamill no longer worked there. 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. In celebration of the grit and eclectic glamour of his adopted New York City, Prabal Gurung staged his New York Fashion Week show Tuesday night at the famed Rainbow Room high above Midtown with his favourite street musician on a piano emblazoned with the message: This Machine Kills Fascists. But Gurung, a fashion darling who has dressed Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton and Oprah Winfrey, went distinctly non-political this go-around, choosing to honour the citys impossible dreamers and creative energy instead in a colourful, sensuous collection that included a strapless ice blue taffeta gown made of recycled plastic bottles. Last September, he draped models in beauty pageant style sashes that read: Who Gets to be American? In the Rainbow Room, the Nepal native put out looks of black, white and jewel tones, along with lively surrealist floral prints by the painter Isabelle Menin as Washington Square Park pianist Colin Huggins played while models from around the globe in a range of sizes and ages walked a circular runway. He showed evening gowns along with jacket and trouser sets, and elegant coats and jackets. There was one coat in mint and a jacket in white with fluttery ostrich feathers. Expressing the dichotomy of New Yorks boroughs and neighbourhoods, from high society to bohemian, Gurung included a Fair Isle turtleneck, a tartan draped dress in ivory and black, and a leopard print coat with matching boots, all after Huggins opened the show with a rousing rendition of the Frank Sinatra standard New York, New York. Theres no place like New York, Gurung told The Associated Press backstage. I left Nepal 20 years ago to come here because I wanted to live my American dream. I wanted to come to the Rainbow Room because its such an iconic place. ... I wanted to remind all of us why we do what we do when the relevance of New New York Fashion Week and the city itself is being questioned. Lets not forgot what it stands for. Its a true melting pot of diversity. Gurung lives near Washington Square Park and since his days at the Parsons School of Design has taken solace there, sketching and often listening to Huggins play the piano. He was thrilled when the classical pianist agreed to compose music for his show, matching the emotion of the collection at Gurungs direction. I used to miss home, and classical music always calms me down, Gurung said. There are so many memories attached to Colin and his music in Washington Square Park. As for the taffeta gown made of recycled bottles, he said he wanted to do his part in an industry counted among the worlds greatest polluters. If you can just do the smallest bit we can collectively become such a force, he said. Gurung also worked in a different shade of blue from the bottle dress with a crystal-encrusted neckline. It was a sky blue color he used in a voluminous skirt worn with a feather-adorned oxblood turtleneck, and for a riot of taffeta at the shoulders of a low cut top worn with black trousers and long black gloves. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan will be the showstopper for fashion designer Amit Aggarwal at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer-Resort 2020. The upcoming season runs from February 12 to 16. Kareenas stint at the 20th edition of the fashion gala coincides with the actors debut in Hindi cinema. Filmmaker JP Duttas 2000 cross-border drama Refugee launched both Kareena and Abhishek Bachchan. I absolutely love the thrill of walking down a runway and while Ive been at so many fashion events in the country and in my career worked with so many designers, the Lakme Absolute Grand Finale holds a place like no other in my life. As you all probably know, 2020 is also a very special year for me. It is my 20th year in Bollywood and coincidentally its also the 20th year of Lakme Fashion Week. Its been a fabulous journey and I really thank everyone for all the support Ive received in my 20 years in the industry, Kareena, 39, said in a statement. The Good Newwz actor said she is looking forward to this seasons theme, Better in 3D. Its an ode to the woman who is multi-dimensional, who has depth, and more than one aspect to her personality. Its an ode to the modern woman. Im also really looking forward to not only sporting the new 3D makeup but also try on finale designer Amit Aggarwals futuristic showstopping outfit, Kareena said. The finale is scheduled to be held at Mukesh Mills here. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed with a few modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter FLORA, Ind. (WLFI) - After two months of community members battling against this decision, the Carroll Consolidated School board made its final vote. It will not renew Carroll Elementary School Principal Amanda Redmon's contract. News 18 has been following this story since December. There has consistently been a group of 50 to 100 people showing up to meetings in support of Principal Redmon. More than 850 people signed an online petition asking the board not to end her contract. Tuesday's meeting started with several prayers. One was a large prayer circle including everyone in the room. They prayed that the board would reconsider its stance on Principal Redmon. Next, the board opened the start of the meeting with a prayer, urging people to "accept things that can't be changed." The meeting quickly progressed and the decision of Redmon's fate was over in a matter of minutes. The motion was read out to not renew Redmon's contract. Secretary Patrick Hickner quickly took roll call, and it was decided. President Bordner, Vice President Allbaugh, Secretary Hickner and Member Jon Johnson all voted in favor of the motion. Member Eric Johnson voted against it. "I hoped our voices would be heard," said Kristen Ray, a supporter of Principal Redmon. After the decision was made, there were several audience members left in tears. Some shouted at the board members as they left the stage. One mom stood and said her child will not take the ILEARN test this year. She told News 18 this was because he told her he was scared his teacher would be fired next. This is also the first time we are hearing a response from the school board in the form of a written statement. News 18 has asked school board members to speak on camera after each meeting, to which they have declined. The statement read this in full: "The Board of Trustees would like to first express their thanks to the residents of the School Corporation for their civic engagement over the past two months. It is encouraging to see so many people aware of and invested in their child's education. We have thoughtfully reviewed all public input shared with us through social media, email and phone calls. The law does not require public input at this meeting, and we are confident that there have been ample opportunities for public input over the past two months. Further public comment during the meeting would not have been productive. For that reason, we decided to forgo any additional public comment at tonight's meeting. To protect the privacy of the School employees, the School Corporation does not discuss details pertaining to individual employees. Because of this, we cannot discuss the factors that went into our decision. We have carefully considered the responsibility of tonight's vote, and as the Board of Trustees, it is our duty to consider not just one employee, but what is best for the students, for the staff, for the school corporation as a whole, and for the taxpayers and community served by Carroll Consolidated School Corporation. We believe our decision tonight reflects that obligation." Many in the crowd of the Carroll Junior-Senior High School auditorium felt otherwise. "I'm incredibly disappointed as both a community member, as a staff member and as a parent of an elementary aged student," said Ray. Dana Crum and Megan Longenecker are long-time friends of Redmon's. They said they were floored, shocked and confused when they first heard Redmon's job was on the line. "She deserves her position," said Longenecker. "She's here for the right reasons, she's here for the kids and for the community," said Crum. "We don't live in this community but we're here to support her." Staff members were also told they were not allowed to hold posters of support for Redmon during the meeting. They all passed their signs to non-staff members in the crowd to still be held up. "It feels very much like we were dismissed," said Ray. "As a community member, I'm angry that a panel of elected officials did not listen to what the public wanted." Principal Redmon will continue to serve as principal at Carroll Elementary School until the end of the school year. After the meeting, Redmon's husband urged the crowd to get out and vote in the next school board election. The spectre of want is haunting Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa as they grapple with a long and devastating drought. AFP reporters who travelled across the three countries saw widespread suffering in rural areas where successive harvests have been hit by lack of rain or shortened rainfall seasons. Across the 16-nation southern African region, 45 million people are "gravely food insecure," the World Food Programme (WFP) said on January 16. In some regions, the drought is three years old -- in others, five. The lucky ones: A volunteer in Simumbwe, Zambia, reads out the names of people who will receive food aid. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) In the Zambian village of Simumbwe, hundreds waited for food to be distributed by the NGO World Vision and the UN. "The children ask me: 'What are we going to eat?'" said Loveness Haneumba, a mother of five. "I answer: 'Just wait. Let me look around'." The water level at the Kariba dam, a crucial source of electricity for Zimbabwe and Zambia, has shrunk to a near-record low, leading to long power cuts. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) A teacher, Teddy Siafweba, said about 15 children in his class were absent that day because of hunger. In the classroom next door, about 30 were missing -- nearly half of the rollcall of 70. In South Africa's Northern Cape province, at the gateway of the Kalahari desert, the wild animals are used to extreme temperatures but even they are succumbing to the conditions. According to Wildlife Ranching South Africa, two-thirds of wild animals in the province have died in the last three years. In two years, half of the 4,500 buffaloes, hippopotamuses and kudus at the Thuru Lodge game farm near Groblershoop have disappeared. Lethal drought: The bones of an animal lie on the ground of the Thuru Lodge game farm near Groblershoop, South Africa. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) The average rainfall here is 250 millimetres (one inch) a year. "But 250 millimetres, that's what we have had in five years," said its manager, Burger Schoeman. At the top of a hill that overlooked the 22,000-hectare (54,000-acre) private reserve, two huge holes served as mass graves. The drought represents a financial black hole for the lodge, which spends 200,000 rand (12,000 euros) per month to feed the animals while cancelling the reservations of tourists on the lookout for "trophies." Waterbucks run through the Thuru Lodge game reserve. Thousands of animals have been killed by the drought. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) "We need to offer a fair hunt. Hunters can't shoot weak animals," said Schoeman. Johan Steenkamp, a 52-year-old farmer with a spread of 6,000 hectares, said he had lost up to 70 percent of his stock. Sheep still give birth, but they abandon their newborn lambs. South African farmer Johan Steenkamp says there is 'no future' for his son on the drought-stricken family farm. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) "They have no milk," Steenkamp said. "They leave them there." Hand-in-hand with the desperation are signs of hope as some farmers adapt to climate shock. Three years ago, Imelda Hicoombolwa, a single Zambian mother and small farmer, gambled on agricultural diversification, opting for nutritious vegetables and using techniques adapted to climate change. "Food is not a problem. I have it," she beamed. Climate resilience: Imelda Hicoombolwa, a Zambian small farmer and single mother, sows cowpeas and other crops that are less thirsty than corn -- they have a better chance of surviving in the relentless drought. By Guillem Sartorio (AFP) Before 2017, Hicoombolwa cultivated almost only maize. Today, she harvests cowpeas, which need very little water, as well as peanuts, pumpkins and sunflowers. "I can make 18,000 kwacha (1,100 euros, $1,222) a year. Before, I was making 8,000 kwacha a year," she said. "Before, the children were missing school because I could not always pay the tuition fees. Not any more." Gardai have tasked volunteers with the Cork Missing Persons Search and Recovery group to search the south channel of the river Lee as they issued an appeal for help tracing Cormac Ryan, 31, who was last seen on Sunday. Two divers are in the water, two shore crews are monitoring the river surface from the quays, and a boat with side-scanning sonar is sweeping the river between Parliament bridge and the Port of Cork. Job Title: Project Coordinator Organisation: Uganda Development and Health Associates (UDHA) Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: Executive Officer About US: Uganda Development and Health Associates (UDHA) strives to empower, promote and strengthen key health and development interventions in communities we work. We envision a society in which people are fully empowered to manage their health and development needs. UDHA is Sub Recipient to Global Fund (UGA-C-TASO 1449) under the new funding model implemented in partnership with TASO and aims to support the implementation of Ugandas Response to the HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Job Summary: The Project Coordinator will provide technical leadership to the project staff implementing activities in areas of operation and ensure timely reporting and accountability for all project activities in areas of jurisdiction. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Project managements and Co-ordination: Coordinating, planning and reporting and ability to actively support project teams to manage competing work priorities. Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual project work Plans and Budgets Supervise staff within jurisdiction, while mentoring them to deliver Project results and deliverables Supervise and monitor implementation and compliance with the approved donor budget and work Plans Ensure proper utilization and accountability for all resources allocated to staff Represent UDHA in the Sector Working Groups at district levels Build sound and mutually respectable relations with the communities and stakeholders served by the project Grant Management Support in the effective monitoring of donor grants allocated to projects, ensuring appropriate reporting and documentation is in place Communication Ability to build productive working relationships, influence and engage others, excellent interpersonal skills, working effectively with others, listening, understanding and achieving appropriate results. Internal Reporting: Compile reports and success stories on the project, developing and enforcing protocols for storage and use of information. Logistics and Administration: Support and organize key project meetings and events Maintain records set up and maintain project files, establishing document control procedures Maintain quality register, other registers and logs as necessary. Monitoring and Evaluation: Ensure project documentation is collected and maintained in such a way to assist donor reporting and the M&E requirements of the programme Prepare timely periodic progress reports as determined by the Executive Officer for submission to donors and UDHA board Perform any other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Executive Director or his/her designee. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences, Education, Development studies or related disciplines. Post Graduate qualifications in Development studies, Project planning and management, training in HIV/AIDs care and programs, M&E and related courses will be an added advantage. Three years of working experience in SRHR, HIV, TB, family planning, and health Systems strengthening and programming Familiar with working with Non-Governmental organizations in a rural settings of Uganda, and familiar with health system functions. Presentation, facilitation and training, analytical and report writing skills Good communication skills and positive attitude to team work Ability to work under minimum supervision Ability to multi task and meet tight deadlines Time management skills with strong organizational management skills. Knowledge of programme management standards, tools and techniques applicable to the project. Self-motivated, ability to use own initiative, flexibility. Decision making Sound judgment and the confidence to take independent action; A high degree of initiative and persistence combined with high levels of discretion and diplomacy. Ability to analyze and synthesize complex information, use initiative in seeking solutions. How to Apply: All interested competent and qualified persons should send their applications, curriculum vitae, certified copies of Academic transcripts, day time telephone contacts and e-mail addresses of three referees addressed to the; The Acting Executive Officer, Uganda Development and Health Associates, P.O. Box 77, Iganga. Electronic Submissions (not exceeding 2MBS in PDF) can be sent to udhagrants@gmail.com Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and women are particularly encouraged to apply. Deadline: 21st February 2020 by 5:00pm For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline The shows were built with artists such as Buddy, Dizzy Fae, Dodgr, Tay Keith, Jamila Woods, Sky Rompiendo, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. Megan was unveiled at the show on a massive mechanical carousel horse, representative of the unique and creative production the Presents program is known for. A school district in Pennsylvania called the police on a six-year-old with Down syndrome because she made a finger-gun gesture at her teacher, the girls mother says. Maggie Gaines, the mother of six-year-old Margot, told her local CBS affiliate that Tredyffrin-Easttown School District filed a police report on her daughter, who is a student at Valley Forge Elementary School. The finger-pointing incident reportedly happened in November, but made headlines after Gaines spoke to CBS about the police report this month. They get this phone call and I was fine with everything up until calling the police, Gaines told the news source. And I said, You absolutely do not have to call the police. You know, this is ridiculous. My daughter got frustrated and pointed her finger at her teacher and said, I shoot you, Gaines added. At that point, they went to the principals office and it was quickly assessed that she didnt even really know what she was saying. Of course, anyone sane would say that Gaines is being totally reasonable but, believe it or not, CBS reports that the district is actually defending its decision and saying that calling the cops was necessary according to its policy. An article about the incident published Wednesday in the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the district said a school board committee was evaluating that policy now, and thats obviously a good thing but honestly, I think that we need to start evaluating how and why such a stupid policy could ever exist in the first place. This is especially true considering that this is far from the first time weve seen a story like this. For example: As the Washington Post notes in its article about Margot, a 13-year-old in Kansas was facing felony charges in October over her own finger-gun gesture. Before that, two boys (a six-year-old in Maryland and a ten-year-old in Ohio) were suspended over the same thing. Last year, a 16-year-old boy was suspended, and his father was contacted by the police, because he had posted a Snapchat video of the guns he was planning to shoot while he was at the range with his mom. Story continues This has to stop. After all, what happened to Margot would have been awful and absurd even if she didnt have Down syndrome, and the fact that she does makes it actually indescribable. It never should have happened; any moderately reasonable person would agree with that. Unfortunately, however, the exact problem with zero-tolerance policies is that they explicitly prohibit reasonable adults from using their reason. The truth is, every situation is different and has its own unique set of circumstances. That is reality, plain and simple. So why should so many schools and districts have policies in place that run counter to that fact? Now, of course, I want to make sure to acknowledge that it is important to take real threats of violence seriously. If there is any question about whether or not something is a credible threat, then it should be treated as if it is one. The thing is, though, most adults are intelligent enough to distinguish between what is a credible threat, or even a potentially credible threat, and something that is clearly not one and I cant think of a better example of something unquestionably nonthreatening than a finger gesture made by a six-year-old with Down syndrome. I have complete, total faith that the adults working in our schools would have the ability to figure that one out. In fact, the adults in Margots situation reportedly did figure it out. According to Gaines, the teacher and the principal quickly assessed that Margot didnt even know what she meant by her actions which is a pretty clear indication that she didnt present any danger to herself or others. Honestly, I cant imagine being a student in the education system now. If my friends and I had had teachers calling the cops on us every time we joked around and said, for example, Im going to kill you! because one of us was teasing another about a guy we liked while he was close to the lunch table, our local police would never have had time to do anything else. Its important for schools to keep their students safe, but its also clear that these kinds of zero-tolerance policies tend to do more harm than good. Getting the police involved or levying an absurd punishment just because thats what some zero-tolerance rule mandates even though its clear that the student in question wasnt a danger doesnt make anyone safer. Worse, it can actually cause harm. Its true: When these sorts of situations happen, the parents of the students involved often report that their kids are traumatized by them. They worry about going back to school, they feel embarrassed, and theyre afraid of being bullied. In Margots case, Gaines said shes worried that the police report, although confidential, could potentially affect Margots future when it comes to things like school placement. Now, I have no idea how likely that is, but I do know that it shouldnt be something that Gaines even has to worry about and that she wouldnt have to worry if this schools policy allowed teachers and administrators to exercise even the slightest amount of discretion. More from National Review The assault of a 17-year-old girl on a ward by a 62-year-old man in 2018 has led Cork University Hospital to review its admission protocols. But it has refused to say when it conducted the review, who carried it out and what action it has taken since the review. In addition, its PR firm declined to say whether the age for admission to adult wards has since been raised to 18. Andrew ODonovan, from Butlersgift, Drimoleague, County Cork, was given an 18-month suspended jail term on Tuesday for sexually assaulting the girl. He has a diagnosed schizophrenic condition and had been attending mental health services since the 1980s for anxiety, agitation, euphoria and insomnia. Yet he was placed beside the young girl, who was recovering from serious injuries when he started sexually assaulting her. Her injuries were so bad she was due to stay in hospital for six weeks, but instead and because of the sexual assault, left after just 11 days. Because of her physical injuries at the time she could not reach the call-button over her head. Staff were only alerted to what was going on when the mans heart monitor set off an alarm that his heart rate was rising and they thought he was having a heart attack. Judge Sean O Donnabhain questioned how it was that the girl was placed in a ward with a man with a diagnosed schizophrenic condition. "You have to question in circumstances like this what management was doing, said the judge in his summing up. This is a very acute problem in the hospital. You have to question the management of the ward system. There appears to be no system of management or supervision. "The only thing that brought it to hospital notice was his heart rate rising and they thought he was having a heart attack. "This was minutes after the incident happened. You have to question the placing of these patients in this ward together. Despite a number of questions to its PR firm, the hospital issued only a brief statement. It read: Management at Cork University Hospital has noted the comments of Mr Justice Sean O Donnabhain and wish to advise that following this incident a review of protocols for the admission of patients to hospital wards was undertaken. Factors such as accommodation, staffing, and patient safety were examined as part of this review process. The victim, who cannot be named, said: I thought I would be safe in the hospital and never imagined I would be in danger. When the defendant began to sexually assault me I was petrified and helpless as the call button was above me. "I couldnt reach it due to my injuries. From this horrible situation I really hope paediatrics are raised to 18 years of age instead of 16 years." T ROUBLED Government contracting giant Babcock on Wednesday suffered another major blow to its credibility after a shock downgrade on profits. The shares tumbled 5% after the latest in a run of warnings from the business that has damaged its reputation. After a devastating profit alert last May due to a drying-up of Government orders, today it admitted to problems in its business flying workers by helicopter to North Sea oil rigs. The firm, founded in 1891, supplies the Royal Navy and is a key plank of Britains defence capabilities. It has been battling to rebuild its image amid murmurings of Government discontent over how it operates contracts. Boris Johnsons powerful adviser Dominic Cummings last week reportedly attacked the company for ripping off taxpayers over Government contracts ahead of a pivotal defence spending review this year. Babcock insists it helps reduce costs for the Government. Last year it won a key 1.25 billion contract from the Government for the Type 31 frigate and has a 34 billion order book. A boardroom reshuffle last week has also raised question marks over the future direction of the firm, which is still reeling from an attack by a hedge fund called Boatman Capital last year. Boatman claimed the Ministry of Defence was unhappy with how the company was running its contracts. On Wednesday Babcock warned of a big writedown on leases for its fleet of North Sea helicopters. The 85 million charge will hit profits, dumping more bad news on the business and chief executive Archie Bethel who is due to leave this year. Bethel said it was a frustrating quarter. Analysts at Royal Bank of Canada said whoever takes over from the 67-year-old must rebuild credibility in the City. It said todays update was another typical Babcock statement with further pressure on forecasts and exceptionals, that will likely impact cashflow. Profits will now be around 540 million, down from the 544 million pencilled in by analysts after last years profit warning. The shares fell 28p to 529p, the lowest since the turn of the year. One analyst said people were sick to the back teeth of bad news from Babcock. Its death by a thousand cuts. Chinas National Health Commission reported 97 new coronavirus deaths on February 11 for the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities nationwide to 1,113. The total number of confirmed cases of the illness in mainland China stands at 44,643. However, the number of new cases -- 2,015 -- has declined for a second day. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named the disease caused by the virus as COVID-19. Twenty-five countries as of February 12 have confirmed cases, including one death -- in the Philippines. A U.S. citizen died in China. Including China, more than 45,100 people worldwide have been infected with the virus. At a conference in Geneva on combating the virus on February 11, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyes urged countries to work together against the "grave threat" posed by the outbreak. He said viruses have "more powerful consequences than any terrorist action." China, where 99 percent of the illnesses are, remains in a state of "emergency,"Tedros said at the conference, adding that the virus also "holds a very grave threat for the rest of the world." COVID-19 is believed to be highly contagious and the case of a British man who transmitted the virus to at least 11 other people has raised fears of a new phase of it spreading abroad. The biggest case of contagion outside China is aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off Japan, where 175 people have tested positive, including two Ukrainians and a quarantine officer. The ship originally had 3,700 passengers and crew on board. It is expected to remain in quarantine until February 19. The mortality rate for the illness remains at around 2 percent. Due to the outbreak, 22 airlines have cancelled all flights to China and 15 airlines have suspended some flights or routes to the country. With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters The first half of the Budget session of Parliament, marred by protests over the contentious Citizenship Amended Act, ended on Tuesday after some key debates and introduction of four bills. The government managed to introduce three legislations apart from the all-important Finance Bill 2020. These bills are: The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, The Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill and The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill. Before adjourning for the second half, the Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill amends the Scheduled Tribes list of Karnataka to add the Paliwara, Parivara and Siddi communities to it. The second half of the session, which will run from March 2 to April 3, will see more legislative action and the possibility of continuous protests by the Opposition. The budget session started on a stormy note with rare protests during the Presidents speech itself. The Opposition raised slogans and posters as President Ram Nath Kovind invoked Mahatma Gandhis quotes to justify the CAA. The citizenship law also emerged as the key theme of the debate on Kovinds speech as many Opposition leaders demanded a roll back of the law which fast-tracks citizenship to people from persecuted mon-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014 . The Delhi elections also cast a shadow over the debates as the BJP fielded its West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma, who was temporarily barred from campaigning in the Delhi polls, to initiate the debate on the Presidents speech. Amid protests, Verma spared no chances to hit out at the Congress and categorically ruled out any roll-back in the law. He stated that his was the Modi government and not the one of Rajiv Feroze Khan, a reference to a conspiracy theory that Feroze Gandhi, late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis father was a a Muslim (he was actually a Parsi). Finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans budget speech on February 1, went on to set the record for the longest-ever presentation of the general budget. The budget saw new income tax proposals aimed to increase the disposable income of most tax-payers. It also announced the divestment of LIC, through a partial IPO. The two houses, however, grappled with issues related to the attendance of members. On Tuesday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu expressed concern over low attendance in the House. The ruling BJP issued a three-line whip on Monday evening, triggering speculations of introduction of a major legislation in the House. But Naidu clarified that the whip was issued simply to improve the attendance. That is for the health of the House because today is the last day (before the break) and we have seen in the past that attendance normally is very less (on these days) sending a very wrong message as if members are not interested in the Budget and the House, he said. Naidu also quipped that he will be happy if a whip is issued regularly to ensure attendance of more MPs. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds designates Feb. 12 as SHIIP Volunteer Appreciation Day Fortunately for Iowans, we have more than 350 dedicated SHIIP volunteers across the state trained to help Iowans make informed decisions regarding Medicare plans. For many Iowans on Medicare and their caretakers, Medicare plans can be confusing. Choosing the wrong plan can lead to your provider no longer being in-network, your prescriptions costing hundreds of dollars more or travel plans ruined due to gaps in your medical coverage. Each year it seems there are changes to Medicare, making complicated products and processes even more complex for the consumer, said Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. Fortunately for Iowans, we have more than 350 dedicated SHIIP volunteers across the state trained to help Iowans make informed decisions regarding Medicare plans. In fact, Iowa was an early adopter and among the first states to implement a peer-to-peer Medicare counseling program, initiating the program in 1990. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Iowa Insurance Divisions SHIIP program by designating Feb. 12 as SHIIP Volunteer Appreciation Day. Joining Commissioner Ommen at the Governors proclamation-signing celebration were SHIIP volunteers and staff, including Kris Gross, Iowas SHIIP director since the programs inception 30 years ago, and Kristin Griffith, Iowas incoming SHIIP director effective when Gross retires at the end of the month. I want to welcome Kristin as our new SHIIP director, who comes to us with great experience, having formerly served as executive director of the Young Womens Resource Center, said Commissioner Ommen. I also want to thank Kris Gross for her 30 years of service to the State of Iowa. I commend her for managing the SHIIP program, whose volunteers have saved Iowans hundreds of millions of dollars over the past three decades. Kris will be missed by our team, by her dedicated SHIIP volunteers and by all the Iowans she has helped. We wish Kris the very best in her retirement. There are very large shoes to fill, but I know SHIIP and its hundreds of volunteers and amazing staff are ready to continue the great work were known for, Griffith said. I look forward to working with people in communities all around Iowa to help Iowans make informed choices about Medicare and hopefully save them lots of money while doing so. Gross reflected on major changes to Medicare plans over her 30-year tenure, including the standardization of Medicare supplement plans in 1992 and the addition of Part D prescription drug benefits and Medicare Advantage plans in 2006. Iowas SHIIP volunteers are simply the best, said Gross. They must constantly learn new, complicated information and they give so much of their time to help their fellow Iowans. When asked about recent trends affecting those on Medicare, Gross said many people are delaying retirement and Medicare enrollment past age 65. She said this retirement delay along with changes to employer retirement benefits brings another layer of choices and regulations people need to understand. Every day, SHIIP volunteers are helping Iowans with this retirement transition, said Gross. And, through our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program, our volunteers also work with Iowans to prevent, detect and report Medicare fraud. SHIIP volunteers are such wonderful resources for our state, allowing Iowans to receive free, unbiased and confidential assistance to find the best Medicare plan for their personal medical needs. I cannot thank them enough for their service. They are so deserving of SHIIP Volunteer Appreciation Day. Iowans are encouraged to visit SHIIP.Iowa.gov to learn about Medicare, Medicare fraud and volunteer opportunities. Iowans can also call SHIIP and SMP at 1-800-351-4664 (TTY 800-735-2942). # # # Lee Universitys School of Nursing hosted the Lower East Tennessee regional competition for Health Occupations Students of America. This event welcomed hundreds of students to Lees campus for a full day of activities. HOSA is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education Division of Association for Career and Technical Education. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health professions, said Christina Isong, state advisor for HOSA and FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). High school students from the East Tennessee region participated in various competitions and leadership/educational sessions throughout the day. Topics such as forensic medicine, dental science, interview skills, clinical nursing, and State Officer Candidate testing were featured. Lee University also hosted the HOSA Bowl. Hosting the HOSA competition is a fantastic opportunity for us each year, said Jake Fast, Lees School of Nursing enrollment and advising specialist. The students involved are excellent representatives of their schools. We love having them on campus and giving them a glimpse of the exceptional programs that Lee University offers for their future endeavors. According to HOSA's two-fold mission, its goal is to both promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA's goal is also to encourage all health science instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSE-HOSA partnership. HOSA's mission is especially critical when considering the acute shortage of qualified workers for the health care industry, said Ms. Isong. To learn more about HOSA, visit http://www.hosa.org/. English French Paris, France, February 12, 2020 Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, has extended its strategic partnership by signing a new contract with French multinational automotive manufacturer Groupe PSA. This program is to build an SAP S/4HANA enterprise platform which integrates the two Opel-Vauxhall and Peugeot-Citroen-DS entities on a joint accounting system, in order to accelerate digital transformation across the Groupe. This program is the first phase of a Groupe PSA core system, designed to be run on SAP S/4HANA. It will foster improvements in business processes for better end-to-end efficiency enhanced indirect stock transparency, plant maintenance efficiency, and optimized shared services by centralizing functions. The project also aims at improving IT efficiency on several axes: user experience, landscape rationalization, and data management. Atos brings its solid expertise and experience garnered from managing Groupe PSAs current legacy SAP landscape, as well as its expertise as a global leader in SAP solutions, delivering end-to-end SAP HANA solutions, as ranked by NelsonHall in its Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) for SAP HANA and S/4HANA services . Atos leverages its team of more than 13,500 SAP experts and supports more than 3 million SAP end-users in over 90 countries. The Groupe PSA project is one of the first major S/4HANA transformations in the automotive market, and the whole Atos group is focused on a successful delivery. This project demonstrates our strong capabilities and expertise in large end-to-end S/4HANA transformation programs worldwide and in delivering industrialized services in a factory model said Eric Grall, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Global Operations and Infrastructure & Data Management at Atos. This program is key and sensitive, as it will be one of the future major core systems of Groupe PSA, expected to provide enhanced agility for group management in many core central functions. Im pleased to have our strong partner as Atos to support this endeavour. said Jean-Luc Perrard, CIO at Groupe PSA. ### About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with over 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of over 11 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. The group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index. The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information technology space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education as well as multicultural and pluralistic approaches to research that contribute to scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the group enables its customers, employees and collaborators, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably and confidently in the information technology space. Press contact: Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau Attachment Updated 11am: A child fled the scene of a shooting looking for help shortly after two men were killed in Omanawa, neighbours say. Police were called to an Ormsby Lane address about 7.40pm following a report of shots having been fired. Shocked neighbours told Stuff as many as five people lived at the property and a child ran from the house looking for help after the shooting. People are believed to live in a caravan, a large shed and a house at the property. Earlier 10:30am Two armed police remain at the entrance to Ormsby Lane, Omanawa this morning following the death of two men last night. The street is quiet apart from the occasional car going past, a reporter at the scene says. A woman arrived in a car and spoke to the scene guards wanting to access the property, she was visibly upset, and told by police she could not go down there. Earlier: Two men are dead following a shooting at a property in Omanawa last night. Police were called to an Ormsby Lane address about 7.40pm following a report of shots having been fired. Two men were found deceased upon arrival, says district manager criminal investigations Mark Loper. Police are working to understand the full circumstances of what has occurred. A homicide inquiry has been launched, and a scene examination will continue at the property today. Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious behaviour in the area around the time of the incident, or anyone with knowledge of those involved, to get in touch. People can call Bay of Plenty Police on 105, or give information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The Iranian government dismissed the latest in a series of reports that President Hassan Rouhani is resigning from his post. Government spokesman and presidential aide Ali Rabiee dismissed the rumors in an interview with reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran Feb. 12. As I have written before, Rouhani will stay with the nation to the end of his tenure, Rabiee declared, adding that he denies in advance any other such reports that may surface in the future. The resignation report has been circulating this week across Irans hard-line media with no clear origin. But pro-Rouhani outlets blamed Alireza Zakani, a conservative former lawmaker with close links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The government is seeking to negotiate with [US President Donald] Trump And if they fail to do so, the president will step down, Zakani told a meeting of conservatives in Tehran last week. Zakani said his account came from a Rouhani government official working with the parliament. But Rouhanis deputy for parliamentary affairs Hossein-Ali Amiri dismissed the claim as baseless and challenged the ex-lawmaker to name the official. The wish for Rouhani's resignation, nevertheless, has not been exclusive to hard-liners. In the fallout of the deadly November protests against the governments controversial fuel price hikes, senior Reformist figure Abbas Abdi proposed that the president step down for a snap presidential election to restore stability to the country. Abdi claimed that even some ministers within the Rouhani cabinet had advised the president to do so because they believed that nothing could be done to resolve the crisis. A month later, word spread that Rouhani will resign if the parliament refuses to pass his proposed budget bill for the upcoming Iranian fiscal year (March 21, 2020-March 20, 2021). This time, the denial came from another Rouhani deputy, Mohammed Bagher Nobakht, who heads the countrys Plan and Budget Organization. In the immediate aftermath of the downing of a Ukrainian jetliner Jan. 8 by the IRGC, Rouhani was reported to have threatened to step down if the corps failed to make the truth public. Irans armed forces admitted to shooting down the plane in a statement Jan. 11. According to Reformist daily Arman, the latest claim about Rouhani's resignation, on the eve of nationwide rallies celebrating the 41st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, were fabricated by hard-line opponents as part of a campaign to undermine the president and his government. It is a pity that the news about Rouhani is not true. The resignation could have made us happy, tweeted Jalil Mohebbi, an ultraconservative cleric and staunch Rouhani opponent. Mohebbi is the secretary of the department for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a judiciary-affiliated entity in charge of implementing strict religious regulations in Iranian society. In a sign that the Rouhani circle may no longer tolerate such reports, the presidents top adviser Hesameddin Ashena, who has a history of working in the intelligence apparatus, warned, An organized fabrication of rumors against senior officials is an act that harms national security. Elsewhere, presidential media chief Alireza Moezi called the resignation claim an old trick that lacks creativity. Moezzi suggested that by disseminating such rumors, hard-liners are attempting to shift attention from their infighting before the Feb. 22 parliamentary elections. A mass removal of pro-Rouhani candidates by the hard-line Guardian Council ahead of the vote has enraged the Reformist camp, which has too few prominent candidates for its final list. On the other end of the spectrum, however, an overcrowded conservative camp has too many hopefuls to narrow down. With 10 days to the election, they have released competing lists for the key Tehran constituency and Reformists are celebrating the divides as an indication of deep-lying internal rifts. I have always said that a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing, he said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in identifying a man sought for questioning in connection to a grand larceny pattern across Staten Island. It was reported to police that on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at approximately 8:30 p.m., a 68-year-old man returned to his parked vehicle in the vicinity of West Cedarview Avenue and Gilbert Street and discovered that his wallet was missing, according to a written statement from the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. An NYPD investigation determined that on Feb. 8, 2020, at approximately 3 p.m., an unidentified man was seen inside a Brooklyn Target location attempting to make purchases with the victims credit card, the statement said. It was unclear if any merchandise was purchased, and the individual fled the location in a dark colored minivan, according to police. The NYPD provided a photo of the vehicle an individual sought for questioning in connection to a grand larceny pattern on Staten Island fled from a Brooklyn Target in. (NYPD surveillance photo) On the same day, the aforementioned 68-year-old victim discovered that his wallet was missing, a 50-year-old woman reported to police that she returned to her parked vehicle in the vicinity of Gurley Avenue and Brookfield Avenue and discovered property was missing, the NYPD statement said. Subsequent investigation revealed that an unknown man entered the victims locked vehicle and removed her property, which police said had no intrinsic value, police said. A third incident on Jan. 19, 2020, in which a 58-year-old man entered his parked vehicle and discovered that his wallet was missing, was reported to police at approximately 2:30 p.m., according to the statement. An NYPD investigation determined that an unknown man, earlier the same day, entered the 58-year-olds locked car and removed the victims property, which included a wallet and cash with an estimated value of $2,300, the statement said. Police provided a surveillance photo and video taken from the Brooklyn Target location. Anyone with information in regard to the identity of the male is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477, or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or on Twitter @NYPDTips. By Trend The European Union (EU) issued a statement in connection with the early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, Trend reports on Feb. 11 referring to the EU. The EU shares the initial assessment by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The EU looks forward to continuing dialogue and working closely with Azerbaijani institutions, including the newly elected parliament, for the benefit of all citizens. The parliamentary elections were held in Azerbaijan on February 9. Some 1,314 candidates were registered within the early parliamentary elections. The candidacies of 246 people were nominated by 19 political parties, 1,057 were self-nominated, 11 - by initiative groups. Twenty-one percent accounted for female candidates while 79 percent male candidates. As many as 5,426 permanent polling stations operated in 125 constituencies of the country. Some 883 international observers and 77,790 local observers were monitoring the voting process. Among the local observers, 35,152 were representatives of political parties. International observers represented 58 countries and 59 organizations. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Less than a month after quitting the royal family for a more private life in Canada, it has been revealed Prince Harry held talks with Goldman Sachs. Harry and his wife Meghan are looking ahead to their life outside the royal family during which they're expected to earn billions of dollars. However sources insisted the Prince's talks with the bank were about his charities rather than bolstering the Sussex Royal brand. Goldman Sachs is one of the world's best known investment banks, but its conduct has sometimes been called into question in episodes which could clash with Harry and Meghan's modern 'woke' values. Perhaps most famously the New York based company was accused by the US government and senate of misleading investors about the value of subprime mortgages and contributing to the financial crisis. Other controversies have ranged from being linked to the 1MDB fraud and a lawsuit brought by former female employees to the bank's role in the financial crisis. Prince Harry is said to have spoken with one of the world's best known investment banks, Goldman Sachs, but its conduct has sometimes been called into question. Right is Fabrice Tourre who was charged with fraud and found liable in a massive mortgages fraud case in 2013 PROFITING FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS Goldman Sachs sold clients billions in sub-prime mortgage products before the financial crisis, according to the Justice Department, while making its own bets on the collapse of the US housing market. By doing this Goldman Sachs eventually netted massive profits, critics say at the expense of some of its customers and ordinary Americans who lost their homes. In April 2016 the bank agreed to pay $5.06 billion to the government to settle claims it misled mortgage bond investors during the financial crisis. At the time, US associate attorney general Stuart Delery said: 'This resolution holds Goldman Sachs accountable for its serious misconduct in falsely assuring investors that securities it sold were backed by sound mortgages, when it knew that they were full of mortgages that were likely to fail.' The settlement comprised a $2.385 billion civil penalty and $1.8 billion in other relief, including funds for homeowners whose mortgages exceed the value of their property, as well as distressed borrowers. SECURITIES FRAUD CONVICTION OVER SUB-PRIME MORTGAGES Goldman Sachs was also prosecuted for one specific deal during the financial crisis that involved the sale of subprime mortgage products to one client while another profited from the demise of the same product. The bank was accused in 2010, by the The Securities and Exchange Commission, of committing fraud in a complicated transaction involving securities known as collateralized debt obligations. It was fined a record $550m for selling its clients a financial product linked to sub-prime mortgages called a CDO that it knew was doomed to fail in 2007. The deal allowed another of its clients Paulson and Co to make profits of up to $1bn by betting against the CDOs, and cashing in when the value of sub prime mortgages plummeted. Goldman Sachs collected fees from both trades meaning they couldn't lose out and shared information about the CDOs with Paulson before they were sold. The bank's trader Fabrice Tourre, who was known as Fabulous Fab, was found guilty of six counts of securities fraud for the deals which netted him a $1.7 million bonus in 2007. Goldman Sach's trader Fabrice Tourre (pictured centre), who was known as Fabulous Fab, was found guilty of six counts of securities fraud for his deals involving subprime mortgages Tourre, a known party lover who grew up in France and moved to the U.S. in 2000 to study at Stanford, insisted at the trial that he never misled anyone. His attorneys portrayed him as a scapegoat in the economic downturn which they said was caused by larger economic forces. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal back in 2013, Tourre said that he knew the case would haunt him. 'I'm not naive,' he said. 'It's going to stay with me forever... You cannot erase Google searches. You will forever get the same articles, forever get the fabulous Fab.' 'BOYS' CLUB' GENDER DISCRIMINATION Other controversies to hit the banking firm include an ongoing law suit from 2014 which saw two women accusing their former employers of running a 'Boys' Club'. They claimed women were 'sexualized or ignored' and claimed that visits to strip clubs were common. H Cristina Chen-Oster and Shanna Orlich petitioned a Manhattan federal judge to let them sue on behalf of current and former female associates and vice presidents. They said in a filing back in 2014 they have statements by former employees, expert statistical analyses and evidence of earnings and promotions from the firm's records to support their claims. The suit alleges that the firm routinely paid female employees less and gave male employees unfair career advantages. The women filed a class action suit on behalf of 1,000 former female employees and the legal action is still ongoing. Ms Chen-Oster and Ms Orlich also sued Goldman back in 2010 for unspecified damages and an order requiring the firm to fix the alleged gender bias. With the 2014 filing they hope broaden their case to include more than a decade of claimed discrimination at the firm, reported Bloomberg. Goldman Sachs denied their claims and is fighting the lawsuit. The case is still ongoing. 'This is a normal and anticipated procedural step for any proposed class action lawsuit and does not change the cases lack of merit,' spokesman David Wells said in an e-mailed statement at the time. 1MDB SCANDAL While in more recent years - and in a case which is still ongoing - Goldman Sachs was caught up in the scandal surrounding the 1MDB fund.This was a Malaysian state investment fund from which several billion dollars was stolen. Financer Jho Low is accused of stealing the money from the Malaysian public and blowing it on luxury properties, artwork and financing Leonardo DiCaprio film The Wolf of Wall Street. Goldman Sachs helped arrange some of the deals with Low in 2012 and a former senior partner pleaded guilty to money laundering and bribery. Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein met Jho Low at least twice while the bank was doing business with him, according to reports. However, the bank maintained that Low lied about how money from the fund was being used. INSIDER TRADING AND STOCK PRICE MANIPULATION As well as this a number of Goldman bankers have been convicted of insider trading London-based vice president Bryan Cohen pleaded guilty in January this year to providing tips to an international trading ring that generated tens of millions of dollars in profits. While in 2010 former Goldman Sachs employee Rajat Gupta was convicted of insider trading by proving a tips to an associate that led to profits of more than $23million. Goldman Sachs was also embroiled in claims of stock price manipulation and in 2003 settled a lawsuit that alleged it artificially inflated the share price of RSL Communicatons. In 2016 Goldman Sachs was also fined $15million for violating federal regulations by making improper representations to customers. Prince Harry is said to have spoken with the banking giant in November - when he and wife Meghan were holed up in a Vancouver mansion with Archie and decided they would be quitting as senior royals. Stars are not paid a fee for a Talks at Goldman Sachs appearance - but sources have told the Daily Mirror that it will 'pave the way for the Sussexes to forge a lucrative future relationship' with the bank. Renowned PR agent Mark Borkowski said courting big banks will bring huge riches to the couple in the US, adding: 'Theyre going to earn fortunes, whether through speeches or ambassador work these are 1billion handshakes'. Harry and Meghan's team at Kensington Palace declined to comment - but a royal insider said it 'categorically untrue', adding: 'It was one of The Dukes charitable patronages that was in discussion with Goldman Sachs'. India: Hindu extremists beat Christian children during Sunday morning worship Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Hindu extremists in southern India beat Christian children during a worship service before filing a false police complaint against the congregation, according to one worshiper. Christians in Malasamudra village, Karnataka state had begun worship on Jan. 19 when about 20 radical Hindus came up the stairs to the terrace and began taking photos and videotaping them, Mary Bellary, who along with her husband Hanumanthappa Bellary was hosting the worship, told Morning Star News. They flashed camera lights at children, and we requested them to please go and not disturb the prayers, she said. But they continued taking pictures, videotaping us and passed comments, saying, Look! Christians gathered here on the terrace to carry out conversions.'" Bellary and other women tried to stop the Hindu extremists from video recording the 12 children present, but were pushed away. When the Christians asked them to leave, the intruders put their hands on the womens chests and pulled their sarees, tearing them, Bellary said. They punched my 15-year-old son in his stomach, and other kids also got hurt, she told Morning Star News. They were kicked to the floor and were beaten up on their backs. My uncle and husband tried hard to protect the women and children, but those men were very aggressive and physically stronger than us. The children just kept looking at us crying for help, she added. Terrified by the attacks, the Christians did not leave their homes in Gadag District for the rest of the day, according to Bellary. If we hear that you stepped out of your homes and told anybody about this, we will set your homes on fire and will burn you alive, the assailants reportedly told the Christians. Later that evening, officers from Gadag Town Police Station told the Christians that the Hindu extremists had filed a complaint against them, she said. The police officer told us that we had attacked some people during Christian prayers that morning, and that they were injured and hospitalized, she said. After attacking us on Jan. 19 morning, the Hindu extremists got themselves admitted in a hospital and filed a false complaint against us. Our people were injured, yet we didnt step out of our homes fearing for our lives, and there at the police station our attackers were influencing the police to frame us in cases." At the police station, an inspector informed the Christians counsel that since police had already received a complaint from the village president who had led the attack and his cohorts the previous day, he had no option but to book cases against the Christians. The inspector added that due to immense pressure from the Hindu extremist mob, he must arrest the Christians who could then be released on bail. This discussion with police officers and the Hindu extremist leaders went on till 11 p.m., Alliance Defending Freedom-India volunteer Johnson David told Morning Star News. Finally, the leaders had themselves agreed that the Hindu extremist mob had attacked the Christians, and the police effected a compromise that cases will not be booked against either of the parties. India is ranked 10th on Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position has worsened since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party rose to power in 2014. Over 1,400 incidents of persecution against Christians in the country have been reported since 2014, according to an initiative of ADF India. Voice of the Martyrs USA spokesman Todd Nettleton recently told Mission Network News that the Hindu nationalist movement has organized a nationwide network of people to report Christian activity. They want to have radical Hindu nationalists stationed in every one of Indias villages watching for Christian activity, watching for the Gospel to be going forward, and then actively trying to strike that down, he said. While Indian Christians are concerned about the direction their government is going, Nettleton said they are also reporting that God is still at work, and our churches are still growing in spite of this Hindu nationalist movement, in spite of the power that Prime Minister Modi and his government have. In an interview with The Christian Post, Pastor Samuel, an indigenous missionary working on the ground in India, revealed that Hindu extremists often wont kill Christians, but they will terrorize and intimidate them, or maim or mutilate them so they cannot live a normal life. Christians are being targeted by the government; its seeking to halt the growth of Christianity and wipe out the church, Samuel said. In one instance, Hindu extremists raped the 4-year-old daughter of a pastor in central India because he refused to stop sharing the Gospel, according to Pastor Samuel. Its increasing day by day, he said. Its so unsafe, even for children. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who finished third in the Iowa caucuses and fourth in Tuesdays New Hampshire primary, is reinvesting more than $300,000 in campaign spending previously meant for the next two contests in Nevada and South Carolina. Ad Analytics, which tracks political spending, tweeted Wednesday that the Massachusetts senator was cutting spending in Nevada and South Carolina, where voters head to the polls to pick their top Democrat among a dwindling field of candidates on Feb. 22 and Feb. 29, respectively. She has ads running in both states until the 16th, but looks like shes going off the air after that. So far weve seen over $300k cut, Ad Analytics said. .@ewarren is cutting spending in both #Nevada and #SouthCarolina. She has ads running in both states until the 16th, but looks like she's going off the air after that. So far we've seen over $300k cut #Election2020 Advertising Analytics (@Ad_Analytics) February 12, 2020 The move comes less than a month before candidates will vie for 14 states on March 3, Super Tuesday, including Warrens home state of Massachusetts. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and former Vice President Joe Biden have pledged to compete in Massachusetts. The presidential race to see who will face President Donald Trump will be one of those long primary fights that lasts for months, Warren told supporters in Manchester as New Hampshire results rolled in Tuesday night. Warren said either Sanders or Buttigieg would make a better president than Trump, but she also decried the recent negative campaigning in the party and pledged to keep her campaign clean. The fight between factions in our party has taken a sharp turn in recent weeks, with ads mocking other candidates and with supporters of some candidates shouting curses about other Democratic candidates, she said Tuesday. These harsh tactics might work if youre willing to burn down the rest of the party in order to be the last man standing. Warren on Tuesday night and Wednesday issued a fundraising push, saying there are 98% of delegates left up for grabs and shes going to keep fighting for them. In emails and tweets, she has asked supporters to chip in at least $2. Like Sanders, she has run a grassroots campaign focused on small donations. The New York Times reported that Warren cut nearly $217,000 from spending in South Carolina, where recent polling averages according to Real Clear Politics place her in fourth behind former Vice President Joe Biden, billionaire activist Tom Steyer and Sanders. The week prior, she cut about $233,000 in spending from South Carolina, the Times reported. She has recently polled in third place behind Biden and Sanders in the Nevada caucuses. Sanders won New Hampshire with less than a 2% edge over former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who has polled behind Warren in South Carolina but has picked up steam following a tight win over Sanders in the Iowa caucuses. Meanwhile, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, whos touting a strong third-place finish in New Hampshire as a boost for the campaign, will have her first ads on air in Nevada on Wednesday. MSNBC reported that the Klobuchar campaign is spending $70,000 on ads in Las Vegas and $94,000 on cable ads statewide. MARYVILLE Justin B. Mattea Law has announced the addition of Justice Philip J. Rarick, retired, at the firm. I am honored and thrilled to welcome Justice Rarick, said Justin Mattea. His vast knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to the firm as we continue to grow our presence in the Metro East. Rarick will focus his attention on personal injury, workers compensation, criminal law, probate administration, wills, trusts and appeals. Born in Troy in 1940, Rarick received his bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University and his law degree from St. Louis University. He engaged in private law practice in Collinsville from 1966 until 1975, during which time he served as city attorney for Collinsville, township attorney for Collinsville and Jarvis Townships and Assistant Madison County States Attorney. He assumed judicial office in 1975 and served was Chief Judge to the Third Judicial Circuit from 1985 to 1987. He also served as Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division in Madison County from 1982 to 1985 and from 1987 to 1988. He served as a member of the Illinois Courts Commission from 1992 through 1999 and as an alternate member from 1999 to 2000. From 1987 to 2002, he was on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Judicial Conference and was chairman of the Complex Litigation Study from 1988 through 2001. He also served on a number of other Judicial Conference Committees in past years. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Judges Association. He was elected to the Appellate Court, Fifth District, in 1988, and was retained in 1998. He also served on the Industrial Commission Division of the Appellate Court from 1992 until 2002. Rarick has participated as a faculty member for numerous education conferences and regional seminars as well as new judges seminars. Rarick was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court effective September 2002 and served on that court until his retirement in December 2004. He is widowed and has one granddaughter. He is a member of the Illinois State, Madison County and Appellate Lawyers Associations. Rarick was of counsel to the firm of Callis, Papa & Szewczyk, P.C. in Granite City from 2005 until 2019. Since 2019 he has been of counsel to the firm of Justin B. Mattea Law, LLC in Maryville. I am very pleased to join Justin B. Mattea Law, Rarick said. Justin is a very capable and conscientious attorney with an experienced staff, and I look forward to my association with the firm. Justin B. Mattea Law is at 2416 N. Center, Maryville. For more details, call 618-223-8200 or visit justinmattealaw.com. Northern Ireland will be the only part of the UK where emergency legislation to block terrorists being automatically freed from jail wont apply. The Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons yesterday and all stages of the emergency legislation will be considered today. Ministers moved to bring in the laws urgently after the Streatham terror attack and aim to pass the legislation before the next terrorist is due to be released from prison on February 28, with more scheduled in March. Two attacks in three months have been carried out by convicted terrorists after they were released from prison. Police chiefs have also warned the threat of terrorism is not diminishing. The plans, which will affect around 50 prisoners, aim to make sure terrorist offenders serve two-thirds of their sentence before they are considered eligible for release, rather than the current halfway mark. The legislation, which applies in England, Scotland and Wales, is aiming to get royal assent on February 27. It may not have been considered for Northern Ireland as it could conflict with the early release provisions for paramilitary prisoners in legislation that followed the Good Friday Agreement. However, the Northern Ireland Office did not respond to a request for comment. But Ulster Unionist justice spokesman and Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie said Northern Ireland should be included in the latest reforms. A terrorist attack in Belfast or anywhere else in Northern Ireland should be treated as seriously as a terrorist attack in Manchester or London, he said. The same penalties should therefore be available UK-wide for those who seek to attack our people and our way of life, in any part of our country, he said. TUV leader Jim Allister added: The Terrorism Act is UK-wide legislation. Accordingly, there is no logical reason why these important changes reducing remission should not equally apply in Northern Ireland. President Donald Trump praised his attorney general Wednesday for intervening to seek a lighter prison sentence for a former Trump adviser convicted as part of the Russia probe. The action Tuesday of the Justice Department under Bill Barr in the case of Roger Stone brought new accusations of abuse of power by Trump the week after he was acquitted in his impeachment trial over the Ukraine scandal. Stone, a veteran Republican activist who advised Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, was convicted in November last year of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to cheat in that election. Four government attorneys who prosecuted Stone resigned from the case Tuesday after their original sentence proposal of seven to nine years for Stone was reversed by the Justice Department following a critical late-night tweet from Trump. On Wednesday, Trump insisted Barr had done the right thing. "Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought," Trump tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BUTTE, Mont. and SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2019. Net income for the period was $202.1 million, or $3.98 per diluted share, as compared with net income of $197.0 million, or $3.92 per diluted share, for the same period in 2018. This $5.1 million increase in net income is primarily due to a reduction in revenue in 2018 related to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act regulatory settlements, higher volumes due to colder winter weather and customer growth, and a larger income tax benefit recognized in 2019. These improvements were partly offset by a smaller benefit related to an electric Qualifying Facilities (QF) adjustment and higher operating expenses in 2019. Non-GAAP Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the period were $3.42; within the $3.38 - $3.48 guidance range communicated for the year. See "Significant Items Not Contemplated in Guidance" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" sections below for more information on these measures. "2019 is behind us but we have much to look forward to in building on the great foundation laid during the year. We planned for higher expenses in 2019 to focus on risk mitigation, system maintenance and planning for the future. We accomplished this while delivering another year of record customer satisfaction, solid safety and reliability performance, and modest earnings growth. Additionally, we took an important step in 2019 by announcing our Carbon Vision for NorthWestern Energy in Montana; a commitment to reducing our carbon intensity in Montana by 90% by 2045," said Bob Rowe, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Looking ahead, construction will soon be underway on a project to replace 60 megawatts of capacity with more reliable and cost-effective natural gas units in South Dakota. These newer and more efficient - and therefore lower carbon - units will allow us to get more benefit for our customers from participating in the Southwest Power Pool. In Montana we just kicked-off an all-resource competitive solicitation process to add up to 280 megawatts of much-needed capacity and have recently filed our request with the Public Service Commission to approve acquisition of an incremental 185 megawatts of capacity at Colstrip for a one dollar purchase price - without taking on additional closure responsibility for the amount purchased and keeping customer rates flat. These added capacity resources will be valuable in our planning as we prepare to join the Western Energy Imbalance Market just over a year from now. Much like the Southwest Power Pool has done for our South Dakota customers, this real-time energy market to the west is expected to provide lower cost energy for our Montana customers, provide greater power grid reliability and more efficient use of renewables." Additional information regarding this release can be found in the earnings presentation found at www.northwesternenergy.com/our-company/investor-relations/presentations-and-webcasts. Year Ended December 31, (in thousands, except per share amounts) 2019 2018 Revenues $ 1,257,910 $ 1,192,009 Cost of sales 318,020 272,883 Gross Margin (1) 939,890 919,126 Operating, general and administrative expense 318,229 307,119 Property and other taxes 171,888 171,259 Depreciation and depletion 172,923 174,476 Total Operating Expenses 663,040 652,854 Operating income 276,850 266,272 Interest expense, net (95,068) (91,988) Other income, net 413 3,966 Income before income taxes 182,195 178,250 Income tax benefit 19,925 18,710 Net Income 202,120 196,960 Basic Shares Outstanding 50,429 49,985 Earnings per Share - Basic $ 4.01 $ 3.94 Diluted Shares Outstanding 50,752 50,237 Earnings per Share - Diluted $ 3.98 $ 3.92 Dividends Declared per Common Share $ 2.30 $ 2.20 (1) Gross Margin, defined as Revenues less Cost of Sales, is a non-GAAP financial measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for more information. Significant Highlights and Regulation Electric Resource Planning - Montana In August 2019, we issued our final 2019 Electricity Supply Resource Procurement Plan (Montana Resource Plan) that included responses to public comments. The Montana Resource Plan supports the goal of developing resources that will address the changing energy landscape in Montana to meet our customers' electric energy needs in a reliable and affordable manner. We are currently 630 MW short of our peak needs, which we procure in the market. We forecast that our energy portfolio will be 725 MW short by 2025, considering expiring contracts and a modest increase in customer demand. Based on our customers' future energy resource needs as identified in the Montana Resource Plan, we issued a competitive solicitation request in February 2020 for up to 280 megawatts of peaking and flexible capacity to be available for commercial operation in early 2023. An independent administrator and evaluator is being used to administer the solicitation process, with the successful project(s) selected by the first quarter of 2021. We expect the process will be repeated in subsequent years to provide a resource-adequate energy and capacity portfolio by 2025. The solicitation process will allow us to consider a wide variety of resource options. These options include power purchase agreements and owned energy resources comprised of different structures, terms and technologies that are cost-effective resources. The staged approach is designed to allow for incremental steps through time with opportunities for different resource type of new technologies while also building a reliable portfolio to meet local and regional conditions and minimizing customer impacts. Proposed Colstrip Unit 4 Capacity Acquisition - In February 2020, we filed an application for pre-approval with the Montana Public Service Commission (MPSC) to acquire Puget Sound Energy's 25% interest, 185 megawatts of generation, in Colstrip Unit 4 for one dollar. In addition, we are seeking approval to sell 90 megawatts to Puget Sound Energy for roughly 5 years at a price indexed to hourly prices at the Mid-Columbia power hub, with a price floor reflecting the recovery of fixed operating and maintenance and variable generation costs. Our proposal includes zero net effect on customer bills while setting aside the benefits from the transaction - estimated to be $4 million annually - to address environmental compliance, remediation and decommissioning costs associated with our existing 222 megawatts of ownership. Puget Sound Energy remains responsible for its presale 25% ownership share of all costs for remediation of existing environmental conditions and decommissioning regardless of the proposed acquisition or when Colstrip Unit 4 is retired. We expect the MPSC to establish a procedural schedule in this docket in the first quarter of 2020. If this capacity acquisition is approved, this will reduce our need for capacity identified above in our resource plan by 170 MW, which is the accredited capacity. We also entered into an agreement with Puget Sound Energy to acquire an additional 95 MW interest in the 500 kV Colstrip Transmission System for net book value at the time of the sale, if the generation transaction is approved. The net book value is expected to range between $2.5 million to $3.8 million. After expiration of the roughly 5-year purchase power agreement with Puget Sound Energy, we will have the option to acquire another 90 MW interest in the 500 kV Colstrip Transmission System for net book value at that time. These transmission acquisitions are conditioned upon approval and closing of the Unit 4 acquisition. Recovery of the additional rate base from these transactions, if completed, will be subject to review in the next Montana general electric rate case. Electric Resource Planning - South Dakota In April 2019, we issued a request for proposals for 60 MW of flexible capacity resources to begin serving South Dakota customers by the end of 2021. As a result of a competitive solicitation process, we expect to own natural gas fired reciprocating internal combustion engines at Huron, South Dakota. Dependent upon selection of manufacturer, we anticipate 55 - 60 MW to be online by late 2021 at a total investment of approximately $80 million. The selected proposal is subject to the execution of construction contracts and obtaining the applicable environmental and construction related permits. We anticipate financing this project with a combination of cash flow from operations, first mortgage bonds and equity issuances. Based on current expectations, any equity issuance would be late 2020 or early 2021 and would be sized to maintain and protect current credit ratings. Montana General Electric Rate Case In December 2019, the MPSC issued a final order approving our electric rate case settlement for rates effective April 1, 2019, resulting in an annual increase to electric revenue of approximately $6.5 million (based upon a 9.65% return on equity (ROE) and rate base and capital structure as filed) and an annual decrease in depreciation expense of approximately $9.3 million. Various parties have filed petitions for reconsideration of parts of that December 2019 order, and we expect the MPSC to issue an order on these requests during the first quarter of 2020. FERC Filing - In May 2019, we submitted a filing with the FERC for our Montana transmission assets. The revenue requirement associated with our Montana FERC assets is reflected in our Montana MPSC-jurisdictional rates as a credit to retail customers. We expect to submit a compliance filing with the MPSC upon resolution of our Montana FERC case adjusting the proposed credit in our Montana retail rates. Significant Earnings Drivers Gross Margin Consolidated gross margin for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $939.9 million compared with $919.1 million for the same period in 2018. This $20.8 million increase was a result of a $20.2 million increase to items that have an impact on net income and $0.6 million increase to items that are offset in operating expenses, property tax expense and income tax expense with no impact to net income. Consolidated gross margin for items impacting net income increased $20.2 million, due to the following: $22.1 million increase related to revenue deferred in 2018 for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act customer refunds; increase related to revenue deferred in 2018 for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act customer refunds; $17.3 million increase in electric and gas retail volumes due primarily to colder winter weather and customer growth; increase in electric and gas retail volumes due primarily to colder winter weather and customer growth; $4.4 million increase in Montana electric retail revenue recognized consistent with the order in our electric rate case, effective April 1, 2019 , as discussed above; increase in electric retail revenue recognized consistent with the order in our electric rate case, effective , as discussed above; $3.9 million increase related to the recovery of Montana electric supply costs resulting from changes in the associated statute, partly offset by higher supply costs in 2019 as compared with 2018; and increase related to the recovery of electric supply costs resulting from changes in the associated statute, partly offset by higher supply costs in 2019 as compared with 2018; and $0.5 million increase in other miscellaneous margin items. These increases were partly offset by the following items: $20.9 million decrease related to the adjustment of our electric Qualifying Facility (QF) liability as compared with 2018 due to the combination of: decrease related to the adjustment of our electric Qualifying Facility (QF) liability as compared with 2018 due to the combination of: A lower periodic adjustment of approximately $14.2 million due to price escalation, which was less than previously estimated; and due to price escalation, which was less than previously estimated; and A lower impact of the adjustment to actual output and pricing for the contract year resulting in approximately $6.7 million in higher supply costs for these QF contracts due primarily to outages at two facilities in 2018. in higher supply costs for these QF contracts due primarily to outages at two facilities in 2018. $5.6 million reduction in demand to transmit energy across our transmission lines due to market conditions and pricing; and reduction in demand to transmit energy across our transmission lines due to market conditions and pricing; and $1.5 million decrease in Montana natural gas rates associated with the annual step down for our Montana gas production assets. The change in consolidated gross margin for items that had no impact on net income represented a $0.6 million increase primarily due to the following: $3.0 million increase in revenues for property taxes included in trackers, offset by increased property tax expense; increase in revenues for property taxes included in trackers, offset by increased property tax expense; $1.7 million decrease in revenue due to the increase in production tax credit benefits passed through to customers in our tracker mechanisms, which are offset by decreased income tax expense; and decrease in revenue due to the increase in production tax credit benefits passed through to customers in our tracker mechanisms, which are offset by decreased income tax expense; and $0.7 million decrease in revenues for operating costs included in trackers, offset by a decrease in associated operating expense. Operating, General and Administrative Expenses Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 were $318.2 million compared with $307.1 million for the same period in 2018. This $11.1 million increase was a result of a $17.3 million increase to items that have an impact on net income and $6.2 million decrease to items that are offset in gross margin and other income (expense) with no impact to net income. Consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses for items impacting net income increased $17.3 million, including: $4.2 million higher hazard tree line clearance costs; higher hazard tree line clearance costs; $3.7 million higher maintenance costs at our electric generation facilities; higher maintenance costs at our electric generation facilities; $2.2 million increased labor costs due primarily to compensation increases; increased labor costs due primarily to compensation increases; $1.7 million higher distribution costs due to proactive system maintenance; higher distribution costs due to proactive system maintenance; $1.5 million higher natural gas transmission maintenance due to compressor repairs and increased compliance costs; higher natural gas transmission maintenance due to compressor repairs and increased compliance costs; $1.5 million higher general legal costs; higher general legal costs; $1.2 million higher technology costs associated with security measures and maintenance agreements; higher technology costs associated with security measures and maintenance agreements; $1.2 million higher employee benefit costs due primarily to increased pension expense as a result of higher funding of our Montana plan, partly offset by lower medical costs; and higher employee benefit costs due primarily to increased pension expense as a result of higher funding of our plan, partly offset by lower medical costs; and $0.9 million higher costs associated with preparation to enter the Western Energy Imbalance market. This was partly offset by an higher costs associated with preparation to enter the Western Energy Imbalance market. This was partly offset by an $0.8 million decrease in other miscellaneous expense items. The change in consolidated operating, general and administrative expenses for items that had no impact on net income decreased $6.2 million primarily due to the following: $7.8 million decrease due to the regulatory treatment of the non-service cost components of pension and postretirement benefit expense, which is offset in other income; decrease due to the regulatory treatment of the non-service cost components of pension and postretirement benefit expense, which is offset in other income; $0.7 million lower operating expenses included in trackers recovered through revenue; and lower operating expenses included in trackers recovered through revenue; and $2.3 million increase in the value of non-employee directors deferred compensation due to changes in our stock price, offset in other income. Property and Other Taxes Property and other taxes were $171.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, as compared with $171.3 million in the same period of 2018. This increase was primarily due to plant additions and higher estimated property valuations in Montana. We estimate property taxes throughout each year, and update based on valuation reports received from the Montana Department of Revenue. Under Montana law, we are allowed to track the increases in the actual level of state and local taxes and fees and adjust our rates to recover the increase between rate cases less the amount allocated to FERC-jurisdictional customers and net of the associated income tax benefit. Depreciation and Depletion Expense Depreciation and depletion expense was $172.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, as compared with $174.5 million in the same period of 2018. This decrease was primarily due to the depreciation adjustment consistent with the final order in our Montana electric rate case, as discussed above, partly offset by plant additions. Operating Income Consolidated operating income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $276.9 million as compared with $266.3 million in the same period of 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher gross margin, as discussed above, offset in part by the overall increase in operating, general, and administrative expenses. Interest Expense Consolidated interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $95.1 million, as compared with $92.0 million in the same period of 2018, due primarily to higher borrowings. Other Income Consolidated other income was $0.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $4.0 million during the same period of 2018. This decrease was primarily due to a $7.8 million increase in other pension expense that was partly offset by a $2.3 million increase in the value of deferred shares held in trust for non-employee directors deferred compensation, both of which are offset in operating, general, and administrative expense with no impact to net income. This decrease was also partly offset by $1.6 million higher capitalization of AFUDC (Allowance for Funds Used During Construction). Income Tax Consolidated income tax benefit for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $19.9 million as compared with $18.7 million in the same period of 2018. The income tax benefit for 2019 reflect the release of approximately $22.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits, including approximately $2.7 million of accrued interest and penalties, due to the lapse of statues of limitations in the second quarter of 2019. The income tax benefit in 2018 reflects a benefit of approximately $19.8 million associated with the final measurement of excess deferred taxes associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Our effective tax rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was (10.9)% as compared with (10.5)% for the same period of 2018. We currently estimate effective tax rate will range between (2)% to 3% in 2020. The following table summarizes the differences between our effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate for the periods: (in millions) Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 Income Before Income Taxes $ 182.2 $ 178.3 Income tax calculated at federal statutory rate 38.3 21.0 % 37.4 21.0 % Permanent or flow-through adjustments: State income, net of federal provisions 1.2 0.7 % 1.6 0.9 % Release of unrecognized tax benefit (22.8) (12.5) % % Flow-through repairs deductions (19.7) (10.8) % (19.3) (10.8) % Production tax credits (11.5) (6.3) % (10.9) (6.1) % Plant and depreciation of flow-through items (4.0) (2.2) % (2.2) (1.2) % Amortization of excess deferred income tax (1.7) (0.9) % (3.7) (2.1) % Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (0.2) (0.1) % (19.8) (11.1) % Prior year permanent return to accrual adjustment 0.6 0.3 % (3.0) (1.7) % Other, net (0.1) (0.1) % 1.2 0.6 % Subtotal (58.2) (31.9) % (56.1) (31.5) % Income Tax Expense $ (19.9) (10.9) % $ (18.7) (10.5) % Net Income Consolidated net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 was $202.1 million as compared with $197.0 million for the same period in 2018. Reconciliation of Primary Changes from 2018 to 2019 Year Ended December 31, ($millions, except EPS) Pretax Income Net Income (1) Diluted EPS 2018 reported $178.3 $197.0 $3.92 Gross Margin Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impact 22.1 16.5 0.33 Natural gas retail volumes 10.9 8.1 0.16 Electric retail volumes 6.4 4.8 0.10 Montana electric rates 4.4 3.3 0.07 Montana electric supply cost recovery 3.9 2.9 0.06 Electric QF adjustment (20.9) (15.6) (0.31) Electric transmission (5.6) (4.2) (0.08) Montana natural gas rates (1.5) (1.1) (0.02) Other 0.5 0.4 0.01 Subtotal: Items impacting net income 20.2 15.1 0.32 Property taxes recovered in trackers 3.0 2.2 0.04 Production tax credits flowed-through trackers (1.7) (1.3) (0.03) Operating expense recovered in trackers (0.7) (0.5) (0.01) Subtotal: Items not impacting net income 0.6 0.4 Total Gross Margin 20.8 15.5 0.32 OG&A Expense Hazard trees (4.2) (3.1) (0.06) Generation maintenance (3.7) (2.8) (0.06) Labor (2.2) (1.6) (0.03) Distribution maintenance (1.7) (1.3) (0.03) Gas transmission maintenance (1.5) (1.1) (0.02) Legal (1.5) (1.1) (0.02) Technology costs (1.2) (0.9) (0.02) Employee benefits (1.2) (0.9) (0.02) Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) costs (0.9) (0.7) (0.01) Other 0.8 0.6 0.01 Subtotal: Items impacting net income (17.3) (12.9) (0.26) Pension and other postretirement benefits 7.8 5.8 0.11 Operating expenses recovered in trackers 0.7 0.5 0.01 Non-employee directors deferred compensation (2.3) (1.7) (0.03) Subtotal: Items not impacting net income 6.2 4.6 0.09 Total OG&A Expense (11.1) (8.3) (0.17) Other items Depreciation and depletion expense 1.6 1.2 0.02 Property and other taxes (0.6) (0.4) (0.01) Interest expense (3.1) (2.3) (0.05) Other income (includes pension / comp. offset above) (3.6) (2.7) (0.05) Permanent and flow-through adjustments to income tax 2.1 0.04 Impact of higher share count (0.04) Total Other items (5.7) (2.1) (0.09) Total impact of above items 3.9 5.1 0.06 2019 reported $182.2 $202.1 $3.98 (1) Income Tax Benefit (Expense) calculation on reconciling items assumes blended federal plus state effective tax rate of 25.3%. Liquidity and Capital Resources As of December 31, 2019, our total net liquidity was approximately $141.1 million, including $5.1 million of cash and $136.0 million of revolving credit facility availability. This compares to total net liquidity one year ago at December 31, 2018 of $124.7 million. Dividend Declared NorthWestern's Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.60 per share - a 4.3% increase - payable March 31, 2020 to common shareholders of record as of March 13, 2020. Significant Items Not Contemplated in Guidance A reconciliation of items not factored into our adjusted non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance of $3.38 - $3.48 for 2019 and $3.35 - $3.50 for 2018 are summarized below. The amount below represents a non-GAAP measure that may provide users of this data with additional meaningful information regarding the impact of certain items on our expected earnings. More information on this measure can be found in the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below. (in millions, except EPS) Actual Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Q4 2019 Full Year 2019 Pre-tax Income Net(1) Income Diluted EPS Pre-tax Income Net(1) Income Diluted EPS Pre-tax Income Net(1) Income Diluted EPS 2019 Reported GAAP $122.0 $142.1 $2.80 $60.1 $60.0 $1.18 $182.2 $202.1 $3.98 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Remove impact of (favorable) unfavorable weather (8.0) (6.0) (0.12) 0.7 0.5 0.01 (7.3) (5.5) (0.11) Remove impact of unrecognized income tax benefit (22.8) (0.45) (22.8) (0.45) 2019 Adj. Non-GAAP $114.0 $113.3 $2.23 $60.8 $60.5 $1.19 $174.9 $173.8 $3.42 Actual Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Q4 2018 Full Year 2018 Pre-tax Income Net(1) Income Diluted EPS Pre-tax Income Net(1) Income Diluted EPS Pre-tax Income Net(1) Income Diluted EPS 2018 Reported GAAP $135.1 $130.5 $ 2.61 $43.2 $66.5 $1.31 $178.3 $197.0 $3.92 Non-GAAP Adjustments: Remove impact of unfavorable (favorable) weather (2.3) (1.7) (0.03) 1.0 0.7 0.01 (1.3) (1.0) (0.02) Gain on QF Liability (2) (17.5) (13.1) (0.26) (17.5) (13.1) (0.26) Impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Settlements 9.4 (12.8) (0.25) 9.4 (12.8) (0.25) 2018 Adj. Non-GAAP $115.3 $115.7 $2.32 $53.6 $54.4 $1.07 $168.9 $170.1 $3.39 (1) Income Tax Benefit (Expense) calculation on reconciling items assumes blended federal plus state effective tax rate of 25.3%. (2) Due to our expectations regarding remeasurement of our Qualifying Facilities (QF) liability, we no longer reflect this adjustment as a non-GAAP measure. Absent a QF liability adjustment, our 2018 Adjusted Non-GAAP Diluted EPS would have been $3.65 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The 2019 QF adjustment, as noted in our gross margin discussion herein, was $6.3 million ($3.3 million liability reduction plus $3.0 million lower actual output and pricing). 2020 Earnings Guidance Affirmed NorthWestern affirms its 2020 earnings guidance range of $3.45 - $3.60 per diluted share based upon, but not limited to, the following major assumptions and expectations: Normal weather in our electric and natural gas service territories; A consolidated income tax rate of approximately (2%) to 3% of pre-tax income; and Diluted shares outstanding of approximately 50.9 million. Company Hosting Investor Conference Call NorthWestern will host an investor conference call and webcast on Thursday, February 13, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time to review its financial results for the year ending December 31, 2019. The conference call will be webcast live on the Internet at www.northwesternenergy.com under the "Our Company / Investor Relations / Presentations and Webcasts" heading or by visiting https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1050/32737. To participate, please go to the site at least 10 minutes in advance of the webcast to register. An archived webcast will be available shortly after the call and remain active for one year. About NorthWestern Energy NorthWestern Corporation, doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 734,800 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We have generated and distributed electricity in South Dakota and distributed natural gas in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and have generated and distributed electricity and distributed natural gas in Montana since 2002. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as other financial measures, such as Gross Margin, Adjusted Non-GAAP Pre-Tax Income, Adjusted Non-GAAP Net Income and Adjusted Non-GAAP Diluted EPS, that are considered "non-GAAP financial measures." Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that exclude (or include) amounts that are included in (or excluded from) the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. We define Gross Margin as Revenues less Cost of Sales as presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Management believes that Gross Margin (revenues less cost of sales) provides a useful measure for investors and other financial statement users to analyze our financial performance in that it excludes the effect on total revenues caused by volatility in energy costs and associated regulatory mechanisms. This information is intended to enhance an investor's overall understanding of results. Under our various state regulatory mechanisms, as detailed below, our supply costs are generally collected from customers. In addition, Gross Margin is used by us to determine whether we are collecting the appropriate amount of energy costs from customers to allow for recovery of operating costs, as well as to analyze how changes in loads (due to weather, economic or other conditions), rates and other factors impact our results of operations. Our Gross Margin measure may not be comparable to that of other companies' presentations or more useful than the GAAP information provided elsewhere in this report. Management also believes the presentation of Adjusted Non-GAAP pre-tax income, net income and Diluted EPS is more representative of normal earnings than GAAP pre-tax income, net income and EPS due to the exclusion (or inclusion) of certain impacts that are not reflective of ongoing earnings. The presentation of these non-GAAP measures is intended to supplement investors' understanding of our financial performance and not to replace other GAAP measures as an indicator of actual operating performance. Our measures may not be comparable to other companies' similarly titled measures. Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, the information under "Significant Items Not Contemplated in Earnings". Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will." These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual future business and financial performance may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: adverse determinations by regulators, as well as potential adverse federal, state, or local legislation or regulation, including costs of compliance with existing and future environmental requirements, could have a material effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition; changes in availability of trade credit, creditworthiness of counterparties, usage, commodity prices, fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, weather conditions, transportation problems or other developments, may reduce revenues or may increase operating costs, each of which could adversely affect our liquidity and results of operations; unscheduled generation outages or forced reductions in output, maintenance or repairs, which may reduce revenues and increase cost of sales or may require additional capital expenditures or other increased operating costs; and adverse changes in general economic and competitive conditions in the U.S. financial markets and in our service territories. Our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE NorthWestern Energy Related Links http://www.northwesternenergy.com Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke over phone with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on Tuesday night, expressing confidence in a full victory in the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic and achieving goals of economic and social development. Xi noted that at this critical juncture when China is battling the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, President Joko's phone conversation with him reflects Indonesia's friendship with and support to China as a comprehensive strategic partner. Xi expressed appreciation for the trust and understanding extended by Indonesian friends. China and Indonesia, both major developing countries, should join hands in shouldering the responsibilities of major countries and achieve new progress, Xi said. China is ready to continue to carry forward the traditional good-neighborly friendship with Indonesia, continue to deepen the synergy of their development strategies, and well implement key projects on the joint construction of the Belt and Road, such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, to bring more benefits for the two peoples, Xi said. Xi stressed that fighting the epidemic is currently the top priority of the Chinese government. China has given full play to its system advantage, waged a people's war in epidemic prevention and control, adopted the most rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures, and achieved positive results, he said. The Chinese nation is one that has endured hardships and possesses an indomitable spirit, with ever stronger rallying power and combat capability in face of greater difficulties and challenges, Xi said. China has the capability, confidence and certainty to score an outright victory over the epidemic, and at the same time achieve goals of economic and social development, he said, expressing belief that China will attain greater prosperity after overcoming the epidemic. With its commitment to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has been safeguarding the life and health of the Chinese people, and at the same time fulfilling responsibility for the cause of global public health, Xi said. China will continue to strengthen cooperation on the prevention and control of the epidemic with Indonesia and other countries in an open and transparent manner to safeguard regional and global public health security, Xi said, stressing that China will continue to take good care of foreign nationals, including Indonesians, in China in the same way as it looks after its own citizens. A friend in need is a friend indeed, Xi stressed. Since the epidemic broke out, China's neighboring countries, including Indonesia, have provided valuable support for China in various ways, giving testimony to the fact that they as neighbors have been sharing weal and woe, sticking together through thick and thin, and helping each other in difficult times, he said. Xi expressed hope that regional countries will work hard to maintain bilateral exchanges and cooperation while taking appropriate steps in epidemic prevention and control, acting in a way that serves the common interests of both sides and countries in the region. Joko expressed sympathies to the Chinese government and people over the epidemic on behalf of the Indonesian government and people. At this difficult time when China is battling the epidemic, Joko said, Indonesia as China's sincere partner will always firmly stand by the Chinese people and work with the Chinese people to score a victory over the epidemic as soon as possible. Indonesia has provided a batch of medical supplies to China, he said, adding that the country is ready to continue to offer necessary assistance in response to the needs of the Chinese side. Indonesia is willing to work with China to continue to promote the construction of the Belt and Road, Joko said, expressing belief that the Indonesia-China friendship will be deepened and bilateral ties will be elevated to higher levels following the test of the epidemic. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, chief secretary Somesh Kumar, home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao at the collectors meeting on Tuesday. Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday made it clear to district collectors that they should not fix their own priorities. Addressing the district collectors meeting, he said that the priority for the district administration should be implementation of government policies aimed at the people's welfare and development. The meeting was attended by ministers and senior officers of all departments along with the district collectors and additional collectors. Mr Rao asserted that in a democratic country like India, bureaucrats are required to implement the decisions taken by an elected government of the people. The state governments priorities, Mr Rao said, was bringing new reforms and laws with a realistic approach after consulting subject experts and holding brainstorming sessions with state legislators. Implementation of the laws, policies and schemes introduced by the government should be given utmost priority. The district administration, especially the collectors, should ensure that the fruits of welfare and development reach the people, he added. After the formation of Telangana State, within a short span of time, we have achieved wonderful progress in several sectors. Telangana State stood first in the country in the welfare sector. Peoples welfare programmes are being implemented in the state at a cost of `40,000 crore, Mr Rao said. He reminded his audience that there was a severe power crisis in the initial days of the formation of the state but we got over the power crisis within a short time. It is a proud moment for us that Telangana is the only state in the country which is supplying 24x7, quality power to all sectors in the state. The drinking water problem of the people is totally solved with the Mission Bhagiratha programme. He told the collectors to organise a Panchayat Sammelan at the district level in the next 15 days to acquaint elected representatives and Panchayat secretaries with how development must be done in the villages and also inform them about the duties and responsibilities of each person. He said collectors are given `1 core so that they can undertake works that come to their attention. Mr Rao acknowledged that the state's literacy levels were disappointingly low. Take a pledge to make the state totally literate. Sarpanches should take the responsibility of turning illiterate to literate in the village, he said. Collectors too should take responsibility to make their districts totally literate and enter literacy rates in the Population Register and give top priority to improving literacy among Scheduled Castes and Tribes. He advised collectors to help increase the green cover across the state and cities by planting saplings and also told them to take measures to decrease diesel vehicles and increase use of electric vehicles. He also gave directions to the collectors on issues pertaining to effective implementation of government schemes, timely redressing of public grievances, greater accessibility of the authorities to people and responsible governance and effective implementation of the new Municipal Act and Panchayat Raj Act, besides the proposed new Revenue Act aimed at ending land disputes. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov will pay an official visit to Switzerland in March 2020, the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland has reported. "March 2020 will be significant for Ukraine and Switzerland. In early spring, a meeting of two leaders, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga, will take place in Kyiv for the first time. At the invitation of the Swiss side, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov will arrive in Bern on an official visit," the embassy wrote on its Facebook page. A two-day working visit of the Ukrainian delegation took place in Bern. The main purpose of the visit was to establish fruitful contacts with the newly elected members of the Swiss Parliament, who are responsible for cooperation with Ukraine, as well as to identify outdated problematic issues in relations that require a priority solution. The main topics of negotiations were international cooperation, economic and business relationship, and a series of humanitarian issues. ish Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday visited Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav parliamentary constituency Azamgarh and met family members of jailed anti-CAA protesters, asserting that raising voice in a democracy was not a crime. Accusing the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of trying to destroy the Constitution, she dubbed both governments as "anti-poor and anti-people". Addressing people at Bilhariaganj locality here from the rooftop of her SUV, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Whatever happened with you was wrong, was an injustice. All of us will stand against the injustice. The government which is at the Centre, and the one which is in UP, is anti-people and anti-poor, and is working to destroy the Constitution. "If you and we do not save it, the Constitution will be destroyed," she cautioned the people. "You have seen the BJP government in Uttarakhand said the reservation is not a constitutional right," she said, alleging that the state government was talking of destroying the Constitution. "You all have to stand up because all the laws which they are planning to bring in are not against one community, but against the entire Constitution," she said amid slogan shouting by the crowd. Asserting that the Congress party will stand with peaceful protesters, the party general secretary said, "I heard the women folk. I had gone to Bijnor, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow and Varanasi and other places where the police and the administration committed atrocities. A report was drafted by our party and given to the NHRC." She said she would also send names of policemen who committed atrocities in Azamgarh. "The Congress party stands by you today, it will stand by you tomorrow, and will continue to stand by you until you get justice," she added. Several Muslim women had staged a protest at Maulana Jauhar Park area here last week against the amended Citizenship Act and the proposed creation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) but were dispersed by the police. An FIR was registered against 35 identified and over 100 unidentified people involved in the protests that day. Of them, 20 people were arrested, police had said. This is the Congress general secretary's second visit to eastern UP in less than a week after her Varanasi trip on Sunday on the occasion of Ravidas Jayanti. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to secure Nigerians. He said this in re... Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to secure Nigerians. He said this in reaction to a statement credited to Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, that the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is a one-man army. NEF had criticised Buhari over his failure to secure Nigerians but in his response, Adesina said the forum lacked credible membership and is known to show antipathy to the president. But in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Lamido said the issues raised by NEF are real and that every Nigerian shares same concerns. He reminded Buhari that before he became president, many members of NEF were his loyal troops through thick and thin and never abandoned him in defeat. He said Buhari needs to ask himself why they have abandoned him now. I urge Mr President to reflect deeply on the response in his defense made on the statement of the Northern Elders Forum on the STATE OF NATION ON SECURITY by Femi Adesina, he wrote. Sir, if you reflect on your political evolution from APP, ANPP, CPC to ACN the likes of Prof Ango and Hakeem Baba Ahmed and many more in the NEF have been your loyal troops through thick and thin and have never abandoned you even in defeat! The question you should ask yourself is why have they abandoned you in Victory to political mercenaries like Femi and Garba who are with you only for the pay? Sir the issues they raised are real and each and every Nigerian except Femi and Garba share these concerns, even you as our C in C claimed not to be aware of our insecurity situation until the likes of NEF raised the red alarm! You need to also read the warning written by Elder Statesman Bashir Tofa to Nigerian Big Men on the analysis of Insecurity in Nigeria, our Sub Region and Africa. I hope the General without troops Femi was referring to sarcastically is not you sir! You have many capable hands around you sir, listen to them, engage them. You are the man of the moment. Ignore Femi, ignore Garba, keep paying them if only for charity, but please secure us! A University of Oklahoma professor allegedly used the n-word during a lecture after taking offense to a students comments about older journalists. Students told the Universitys student newspaper OU Daily that Mass Communications professor Peter Gade was discussing the changes in journalism when he called on a student, who said journalists need to keep up with younger generations. According to the article published Tuesday, Gade, who is white, said the comment was offensive and it was like saying, OK, Boomer, to him. The lecture then allegedly took an unexpected term when Gade further elaborated on his disdain for the phrase, which is a new viral term, typically used to mock the baby boomer generation. Calling someone a boomer is like calling someone a n, Gade allegedly said, according to the OU Daily article. RELATED: James Charles Denies Singing N-Word Lyric in Instagram Story: How Stupid Would I Have to Be? OU Dailys assistant culture editor Molly Kruse called out Gade during the lecture but alleged that the professor defended his use of the word and then changed the subject, according to the article. Following the class, Ed Kelley dean of Gaylord College University of Oklahomas Journalism School met with students from the class. RELATED: New Vanderpump Rules Star Max Boyens Used the N-Word Multiple Times in Resurfaced Racist Tweets Im not sure that [type of language] does [have a place in the classroom] Kelley said, according to the OU Daily. Perhaps it did once upon a time. Perhaps he was using it as an educational tool. We have no record at all of Dr. Gade, a distinguished professor whos been on the faculty here for more than 20 years, of him ever using this term, much less any kind of other racially inflamed language. Nonetheless, students are refusing to attend Gades class as long as hes the professor, OU Daily reported. Story continues Gade did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. University of Oklahoma | Getty Images Since the alleged incident, University of Oklahoma Interim President Joseph Harroz Jr. has released a statement, condemning Gades alleged behavior. Today a professor stated in his senior journalism class that there is an equivalence between the offensiveness of OK, Boomer and the use of the N-word, using the actual word itself. While the professors comments are protected by the First Amendment and academic freedom, his comment and word choice are fundamentally offensive and wrong, Harroz Jr. said. RELATED: Gina Rodriguez Apologizes for Singing N-Word Lyric in Instagram Video The use of the most offensive word, by a person in a position of authority, hurt and minimized those in the classroom and beyond. Our University must serve as an example to our society of both freedom of expression and understanding and tolerance. His words today failed to meet this standard. #WeAre speaks for our community; his words today do not, the statement concluded. Whether or not Gade will remain a professor at the university is not immediately clear. Heyva Sor a Kurdistane, the Kurdish Red Crescent, has been on the frontlines of the Syrian civil war for the past eight years, emerging as the primary provider of medical care and aid for civilians wounded during battles and for the waves of displaced people fleeing fighting in the northeast. You cant imagine how it feels to be near a wounded person who is bleeding and not be able to go anywhere because the drones and missiles are falling between you and that wounded person, Jamila Heme, co-founder and co-president of Heyva Sor a Kurdistane said, describing moments in Ras al-Ain/Sari Kani and Tell Tamer during Turkey's Operation Peace Spring. The only thing you can imagine is that they want to prevent us from rescuing [people], or they simply want to kill us as well. Heyva Sor, the largest Kurdish humanitarian organization in northeastern Syria, is not affiliated with the International Red Cross because the Kurdish area in northeast Syria is not recognized as an independent state. That said, the two organizations sometimes cooperate on the ground as a practical matter. In recent months Heyva Sor and other medical organizations operating in Syria have faced one of their biggest challenges: rescuing their own members and volunteers after attacks. Its incredible to have to drive the ambulance toward injured civilians and return to the hospital with wounded doctors, said Dildar Abdelkarim, a volunteer and ambulance driver for Heyva Sor. Theres no mercy, not even for the rescuers. As Heme and Abdelkarim testified, ambulances were targeted during the latest Turkish offensive, leaving at least five medics dead and another seven injured. Isn't an attack on medical personnel and health facilities a war crime? Heme asked rhetorically. Why has no country reacted? Heme has served as medical coordinator for the Kurdish branch of Heyva Sor since its establishment in 2012. The parent organization was founded in Germany in 1993. From 2014 until 2019, during the battle to dislodge the Islamic State (IS) from territories it controlled in the Kurdish region, was a particularly intense period for Heme and Heyva Sor. Originally from Qamishli, Heme was elected co-president of the organization in 2018 together with Sherwan Beri, a Syrian Yazidi also from Qamishli. Beri had studied in Damascus to become a dentist and went on to help co-found Heyva Sor with a small group of volunteers, including Heme. Co-leadership of an organization by a man and a woman, as with Heme and Beri, reflects the governing philosophy of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, which seeks to empower women by ensuring them political, social, military, cultural and decision-making responsibilities. Heme also coordinated the team working in Tell Tamers Legerin Hospital, named after Alina Sanchez, an Argentinian doctor who died in a car accident in Syria in March 2018 while volunteering as a medic. Sanchez had been given the Kurdish name Legerin Ciya. We started with very few means with which to respond to the crisis, especially medical care and ambulances, Beri told Al-Monitor. Civilians are always left on their own in the midst of the conflict, and the national health system gradually collapsed. At the beginning of the Syrian revolution, we hoped that there would be more justice and freedom, but instead it became a nightmare. We witnessed comrades from universities joining jihadist groups and an endless war. In August 2014 when IS attacked the Iraqi province of Sinjar, along the Syrian border, killing and kidnapping Yazidis and taking control of territory, Heme and Beri were in the first line of an emergency corridor opened by the Syrian Kurdish forces to rescue Yazidis escaping what has been described as a genocide against their people. As fighting decreased in northeastern Syria in past weeks, with only occasional clashes, the people of Idlib province, in the northwest, came under intense attack by government forces, prompting large waves of internal displacement. Heyva Sor teams have been active in schools in the northeast under the control of the autonomous administration where internally displaced people have been provided shelter. They also visit IDP camps to provide medical assistance for those suffering in the cold weather. Meanwhile, the organization also continues to train volunteers. One of the schools Heyva Sor visits often to offer psycho-social support, among other things, is the Mahmood Darwish School in Hasakah, where displaced families have settled into classrooms. Our students are attending three-hour shifts at schools since displaced people now live in 64 schools in the city, said Farhade Mohammed, a Kurdish geography teacher from Hasakah who is currently responsible for Mahmood Darwish. Heyva Sor nurses attend weekly funerals of fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed in battle, walking in the processions to Qamishlis Shahid Dalil Sarukhan Cemetery and providing aid and comfort to those who faint as a result of their sorrow and grief. Heyva Sor ambulances follow at the rear of the processions, which can include hundreds of people. After the military defeat of IS, we thought we would have rested a bit, Heme said. We were wrong. It never ended. In late 2019, Heyva Sor engaged in pushing the United Nations to investigate the suspected use of chemical weapons in October 2019 by Turkey during Operation Peace Spring. Ankara has denied the allegation. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has announced it would remove regulations limiting foreign ownership in local intermediary payment firms from its draft Decree No 101. A customer pays using the Momo e-wallet at a convenient store in HCM City. (Photo courtesy of Momo) Last November, the SBV announced the draft decree on the management of non-cash payments and set a foreign ownership limit of 49 percent in intermediary payment firms. Many fintech firms expressed concern over the regulation, as foreign investors have not only made great contributions in terms of investment but also in technology and know-how. Three months later, on the SBVs website, the central bank said the removal was based on the consideration that foreign investment played an important role in the development of local firms. The SBV thought the restriction may affect the attraction of foreign investment capital to local firms and the fintech sector. In addition, there are a number of big firms with foreign investor equity ratio of more than 49 percent and the change in the rate could affect their activities, said the website. Nghiem Thanh Son, Deputy Head of the SBVs Payment Department, said by the end of Q1, Vietnam was home to 27 e-wallets, including five big ones with more than 90 percent market share. Foreign ownership in the five firms accounted for between 30 and 90 percent. For example, the foreign ownership in Di Dong Truc Tuyen Services Joint Stock Company operating MoMo, the biggest e-wallet in the country, was 66 percent, according to data from the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The SBV said the removal would also help make finance more inclusive for those not yet bankable, especially in remote areas. At the same time, the development of intermediary firms has helped banks reach customers without having to expand their network of branches and offices, saving costs and improving business efficiency./.VNA Vietnam's MB Bank expands foreign ownership limit to 20.9% The move would allow MB Bank to transfer 21.43 million in treasury shares to foreign investors. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 11, 2020 | 06:43 PM | PADUCAH Barkley Regional Airport says the first flight from Paducah to Chicago departed ten years ago, on February 11, 2010. At the time, it was the first time jet service had served Paducah since the late 1970s. On Tuesday, current team members, including two people who were working for SkyWest ten years ago, celebrated with a reception. We are pleased to celebrate this milestone with SkyWest and United, they have been a strong and important partner with us, said Airport Executive Director Dennis Rouleau. They have made it possible for everyone in our region to get anywhere in the world, and back home again, with just one stop. This level of connectivity is something that other communities wish they had, and is an important factor in the growth of the region both in the last 10 years and moving forward." Since 2010, almost 30,000 trips and over 400,000 passengers have traveled between Paducah and Chicago, and the airline has completed 96% of scheduled flights. Barkley shared an interesting fact, saying that 6-8 percent of annual traffic is international, which had not happened until United Express began flights to O'Hare International Airport. SkyWest was recently awarded another three year Essential Air Service contract by the US Department of Transportation, ensuring that twice-daily flights to and from Chicago will continue until 2023. Rouleau said, We are excited about what lies ahead for Barkley and the region, from the new terminal to other improvements we are looking at to improve the experience for our passengers, we want to be the airport that everyone chooses to fly out of, no matter the destination. United Express and SkyWest Airlines have reached a milestone in their service to Paducah. Leading Dubai developer Emaar Properties has exhibited a resilient performance in FY 2019 by recording a net profit of Dh6.2 billion ($1.69 billion) as compared to net profit of Dh6.139 billion ($1.671 billion) in FY 2018, said its top official. Emaar maintained its positive performance in 2019 recording property sales in Dubai of Dh14.949 billion ($4.07 billion) and a revenue of Dh24.586 billion ($6.694 billion), remarked its Chairman Mohamed Alabbar. "This performance is a result of Emaars ongoing investment in customer-centric innovation across its businesses and continued interest from foreign investors in both residential and commercial developments as well as new, first time home buyers entering the UAE property market," stated Alabbar. "Emaars performance in 2019 was resilient, maintaining growth within a challenging market. Emaars sales achievements in 2019 are a testament to the products and people behind these innovations. Each year we set the bar higher, raising expectations across the business to ensure Emaar maintains the level of excellence the brand is synonymous with," said the top official. "Optimizing resources, improving efficiency and maximizing our productivity has directly contributed to enhancing our performance and positively impacted our results," he added. According to him, Emaar's main focus was to bring the best talent to achieve its goals consistently. "Our resources are focused on enhancing our customer happiness while providing superior results to our shareholders. We are also implementing new digital initiatives which will significantly enhance the value of our properties and assets to our customers whilst enabling us to innovate through new products and services," he stated. To date, Emaar has handed over more than 63,000 residential units in Dubai and other international markets, said Alabbar. More than 30,000 residences are under development in the UAE and over 14,000 units in global markets. Emaar now has a total sales backlog of Dh45.795 billion ($12.468 billion) of which Dh33.736 billion ($9.185 billion) is in UAE, to be recognized as revenue in the coming years, he noted. On the Emaar Development, the chairman said it had recorded a net profit of Dh2.7 billion ($735 million) and revenue of Dh12.746 billion ($3.47 billion). Last year, Emaar Development had launched 22 new projects across various master plans in Dubai and sold 70 per cent of its units launched in 2019, indicating a stronger connection of customers with Emaars strong brand value. Emaar Development has also introduced 3 new master-planned communities in 2019, Arabian Ranches III, Mina Rashid and The Valley, with a sell-out response, demonstrating the demand for expansive communities and family homes, he stated. The notable launches of 2019 include: The Palace, Bay Shore and Creek Edge in Dubai Creek Harbour, Sun, Joy and Spring in Arabian Ranches III, Grand Bleu and South Beach Holiday Homes in Emaar Beachfront, Green View and Parkside in Emaar South. Other than this we have also launched couple of projects in Dubai Hills Estate, Mina Rashid and The Valley master-planned developments.-TradeArabia News Service One of New Hampshires many voters. Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images After a lackluster showing in Iowa, Democrats flooded New Hampshires polling places. By Tuesday night, it was clear that turnout would surpass the 254,780 votes cast in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. And on Wednesday, the record 288,672 votes cast in 2008 fell. According to CNN, when all the votes are counted, at least 295,000 ballots will have been cast in the Democratic primary. Thats good news for Democrats who were closely watching that number after the less-than-eye-popping number of people who attended the Iowa caucuses last week. A central message of the Bernie Sanders campaign has been that the candidate will swell the voting ranks by inspiring nonvoters and those who rarely cast ballots to show up at the polls. But it appears that the rise in attendance Tuesday night happened mostly in towns not especially friendly to the Vermont senator though he did manage to prevail over his moderate rivals. By my calc, NH Dem turnout (vs. '16) in towns won by... Buttigieg: +26.5% Klobuchar: +25.2% Sanders: +12.0% Takeaway: most of Dems' turnout increase was attributable to Kasich/Rubio types crossing over from '16 GOP primary - not heightened progressive/Sanders base enthusiasm. Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) February 12, 2020 Only 176,000 showed up in Iowa last week, a slight uptick from 2016, but far below the 238,000 who caucused in 2008. Turnout in Iowa also fell far short of some of the loftiest expectations of the top campaigns, which were estimating a possible turnout of 300,000, according to the Times. The numbers out of Iowa had the Trump campaign celebrating None of the Democrats running for president are inspiring voters, the Trump War Room tweeted and Democrats wringing their hands. New Hampshires turnout will slow some of that anxiety ahead of a general election in which Democrats are hoping massive turnout will help defeat President Trump. While the numbers in New Hampshire are promising for Democrats, it is worth noting that the first-in-the-nation primary allows voters registered with neither party to vote in whichever primary they choose. With an uncompetitive primary on the Republican side, independent voters were free to vote in the Democratic primary. Another caveat, as noted by FiveThirtyEight: In 2020, New Hampshire has around 89,000 more eligible voters than it did 12 years ago. That means 26 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in a primary this year, compared to 29 percent in the opening contest between Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards in 2008. Family dynamics are explored and tested in the Moat Theatres powerful production of Offaly playwright Marina Carrs On Raftetys Hill which runs this week until Saturday, February 15, from 8pm. The Rafterys live in the house on the Hill and their farm encompasses the best of land in this small Midlands community in Offaly. The prominent family of the area, they fed the neighbourhood during the famine and supported smallholders in times of unrest. But now dead animals lie rotting in the fields and the stink from the hill sweeps down to the valley as the family prepares for the wedding of youngest child 18-year-old Sorrel. As rumors seep out in the Valley about young Sarah Brophy and her stillborn baby, the several generations of Rafterys on the Hill face extreme circumstances of their own and their carefully guarded dark secrets bubble to the surface. Dinah asks her father Red Raftery where he will stop. Marina Carr leaves us wondering where this epic tragedy started and how it will end. The ensemble cast from the Moat Club includes All-Ireland Drama Festival award winners with Gerard OShea, who plays Dara Mood Sorrels love interest, the reigning All-Ireland best supporting actor, Conor OConnell, who plays Ded Raftery, a former all-Ireland best actor, Conal Boyce (Red Raftery) winner of best supporting actor award on two occasions, and three-time winner of the best actress award Bredha Sexton (Shalome Raftery). Also sharing the stage are Eilish Rafferty (Dinah Raftery), Clodagh Cummins (Sorrel Raftery) and Michael McHugh (Isaac Dunn). The play is directed by Lianne OShea, an all-Ireland best lighting winner. On Rafterys Hill had its opening night on Tuesday, February 11 at 8pm in the Moat Theatre, which quickly filled with those eager to see Carrs work brought to life as the play explores the complex subjects of sexuality, violence and power in this dark yet deeply compelling family saga. The talented cast are very believable in their roles as the dysfunctional Raftery clan, with some truly comedic moments from Bredha Sexton (Shalome Raftery) and family friend Isaac (Michael McHugh) that is sure to leave the audience in stitches. Meanwhile, Conal Boyce (Red Raftery), Eilish Rafferty (Dinah Raftery), Clodagh Cummins (Sorrel Raftery) and Conor OConnell (Ded Raftery) and Gerard O'Shea (Dara Mood), truly express their characters raw pain and rage in equal measures as each family member deals with challenging moments throughout the play, which is sure to pull at the heartstrings of viewers. 'On Raftery's Hill' stars Michael McHugh as Isaac Dunn and Conal Boyce as Red Raftery The play also stars Clodagh Cummins (Sorrel Raftery) and Gerard OShea (Dara Mood) Also, a special mention goes to the excellent props and spectacularly created set onstage which brings to life for the audience a run-down, formerly grand farmhouse complete with staircase that is the Rafterys home. In On Rafterys Hill the audience will reassess what they believe to be acceptable to family life, which makes for a powerful and emotional production touching on challenging issues of violence and sexuality. The Moat has said some patrons might find some scenes distressing. Marina Carr's celebrated play was first staged at the Town Hall Theatre Galway in 2000 in a co-production of Druid and the Royal Court Theatre. After the performance on Friday, February 14, Dr Brenda Donohue will chair a post-show discussion with invited guests along with director, Lianne OShea, in which they will consider On Raftery's Hill in the context of Carr's other works, examining themes such as sexual violence, power, community and the family. All ticket holders from the week are welcome to attend the post-show discussion this Friday. Tickets for the show cost 15/12 on www.moattheatre.com Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Wednesday asserted that the electronic voting machines cannot be tampered with and that there was no question of going back to the ballot paper. He also said that the Commission would engage with political parties in the coming days on various electoral reforms and the model code. Addressing the 'Times Now Summit', the CEC lamented that day-to-day dialogue is becoming "more coarse " and it should be "avoided". He said EVMs can malfunction like a car or a pen but they cannot be tampered with, adding the machines are in use for 20 years now and there was no question of returning to the ballot paper. Various courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the use of the machines to cast votes, he pointed out. Responding to a question on holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously, Arora said the call on the subject has to be taken at the political level. Once a decision is take, the Commission can only facilitate its implementation. He also informed the gathering that his colleagues in the EC are collaborating with IIT-Madras to set up a "block chain" system where, say a person from Rajasthan working in Chennai can vote for elections in Rajasthan while remaining in the Tamil Nadu capital. He clarified that this does not mean people can vote from home but will have to visit designated places to exercise their franchise. It may require changes in law, an EC official later said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 12) The Taiwanese government is working on a response to the Philippines ban on travel to and from the territory to prevent the spread of the corona virus disease (COVID-19), the Philippine representative office said Wednesday. The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei said Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called for a special Cabinet meeting to discuss "calibrated response measures" on the order that barred foreign nationals coming from Taiwan from entering the Philippines. MECO Board Chairman Angelito Banayo told CNN Philippines that Taiwan is not pleased or "masama ang loob" with the ban since it appears that it is based on the One-China Policy Tsai said Taiwan has been separately governed. Banayo said he already raised the concern to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who said that the task force on COVID-19 will convene to reassess the matter. Banayo added that he brought this up to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan and the ministry has asked Tsai to wait for the Philippine government to reconsider the policy. The Health department announced Taiwan's inclusion in the ban on Monday, explaining that the World Health Organization noted the territory as part of China, including Hong Kong and Macau. Earlier, Malacanang also maintained that the development was upon the WHO's recommendation since it counted Taiwan as one of the countries hit by COVID-19. "Doon sa mga affected areas, sinama nila 'yung Taiwan [They included Taiwan in the affected areas]," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters. Panelo, however, assured that he will bring the appeals for reconsideration to the President's attention. The Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) also denounced the travel ban. The agency maintained that Taiwan is a "sovereign and independent state" and urged the government to immediately retract the restriction. "The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines expresses its grave concern about the travel ban, in which Taiwan was wrongly included," it said on Tuesday. "We urge the Philippine government to immediately correct its decision on Taiwan and remove Taiwan from the travel ban." The measure also restricted Filipinos from going to the self-administered island. This prompted some local airlines to cancel flights to Taiwan indefinitely, affecting the travel plans of several overseas Filipino workers and tourists. Taiwan has reported at least 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 but this figure falls behind the number of cases in other Asian countries which were not included in the ban such as Japan with 28 cases, Singapore with 47, South Korea with 28 and Thailand with 33. TECO noted that no other countries in Asia other than the Philippines banned travel from Taiwan. "Taiwan has taken all measures needed to contain the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus," said TECO. CNN Philippines Digital Producer Janine Peralta, Researcher Zsastee Villanueva and Correspondent Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report. GODFREY Cars, mental health and Black History Month were discussed Tuesday night at the Lewis and Clark Community College Board meeting. Chris Reynolds, associate professor of Automotive Technology, addressed the board about the need for a new facility for the automotive program. This comes after the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation the programs accrediting agency made recommendations for a new facility. As faculty, we must maintain compliance with ASE Education Foundation for employment requirements, Reynolds said. He said that, under these compliances, students need to be assigned specific tool packages. The colleges program has a significant amount of equipment, he said, noting that with enrollment in the past decade averaging 54 to 120 students over the last four years, the need for space has not declined. When asked if the program could use a site off campus, Reynolds said that would be possible but it might interfere with the students general education schedules. Also on Tuesday, the board heard from Dr. Sean Hill, Vice President of Student Engagement, about Black History Month plans. Hill, along with other colleagues, organized events to mark this month, such as a soul food dinner, a student art show and an interactive game called Mad City Money. There also have been guest speakers, including Associate Judge Veronica Amouti. Hill is organizing an Underground Railroad bus tour planned 1-4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. People dont realize the extense of which the Underground Railroad went through this community, Hill said. There are several buildings which still have underground passages and hiding places within the Underground Railroad. Other events include: Feb. 18: Be a Better Public Speaker with D.C. Cooper at Reid Memorial Library, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 20: Beyond the March panel discussion, Reid Faculty/Staff Dining Room, noon Feb. 24: Black Student Association Blood Drive, The Commons, 10 a.m. These event are another way of bringing communities together, Hill said. The board also approved creating an expert panel as required by the Illinois Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. The Illinois General Assembly describes the acts intent as providing more mental health awareness on public college campuses. The board of trustees at each institution is to designate an expert panel to develop and implement policies and procedures that advise students, faculty and staff on proper procedures to identify and address needs of students exhibiting poor mental health. The act goes into effect July 1. Jill Lorsbach and Renee Baur, both with LCCCs Disability Services, spoke about the importance of the act and adopting it into the college. We are living in a microcosm of what is going on in the world today, Baur said. Terri Austin, Transitional Counselor, also spoke about the acts importance and how many students are coming to them (the counselors) with lack of support. We can literally save these kids lives, not just their education, Austin said. They have to know that there is somebody out there that will listen. A van of the German Red Cross carrying German citizens repatriated from the Wuhan arrives at the German Red Cross hospital in Berlin Kopenick, on 9 February. (John MacDougall/AFP) The coronavirus outbreak could cause the German economy to fall into recession this year, according to a study published by Deutsche Bank Research. We expect the coronavirus to dampen gross domestic product by 0.2 percentage points in the first quarter, making a technical recession highly possible in the winter half-year," the study says. The economists said that the coronavirus poses a risk to the global recovery, as hopes rest on a recovery in the Chinese economy. Germanys export-driven economy is heavily reliant on China, its most important trading partner. Germanys exporters already felt the effects of the cooling Chinese economy in 2019, and its car manufacturing industry is particularly vulnerable to any weakening demand from the enormous Chinese automotive market. Read more: European stocks hit new highs as coronavirus fears recede However, the bank said that if the spread of the coronavirus soon peaks as expected, demand may simply shift to the later course of 2020." The number of deaths from the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has hit 1,113, according to the Chinese authorities, and the total number of infected has now soared past 44,000. Deutsche Bank said that its January data had suggested that German economic growth would stablise, but that the data had been collected before the coronavirus outbreak became public knowledge. S&P Global ratings on Wednesday estimated that the coronavirus outbreak is likely to shave cut 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points off the UKs economic growth this year. Germanys federal statistics office will publish its GDP data for the last quarter of 2019 on Friday. Harveys Real Estate has assured property manager Lynette Snook (pictured) didn't post the 'racist' ad for a rental home on the South Auckland Buy and Sell Facebook group A real estate has hit back at online backlash, saying a 'racist' rental ad posted in the name of its agent which caused a social media uproar is a fake. The South Auckland Buy and Sell Facebook group went into meltdown on Tuesday night after a profile under the name of local property manager Lynette Snook uploaded a post advertising a house for $530 per week. 'No Indians, no Maoris, no n******... we prefer white people,' the ad stated. She was depicted in the fake post as having replied in the comments that 'We prefer white people as tenants'. The fake post was inundated with angry comments over the preference of tenants described in the ad. Ms Snook's employer was quick to address the incident and assured the ad wasn't posted by Ms Snook or the real estate company. 'It has been bought to our attention earlier today that a fake property advertisement post has been messaged to several groups through Facebook,' Harveys Real Estate principal Darren Brady posted on the agency's Facebook page later that night. 'It would seem that someone has created a bogus Facebook page for one of our employees Lynette Snook and they have used this as a means to send this post.' 'We do not condone such behaviour in our office or of our employees nor do we subscribe to any type or form of racism that was in the wording of the post. 'We sincerely apologise to anyone that may have been offended by this and we would appreciate everyone's understanding as we try and get to the bottom of this. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the real estate company and Ms Snook for comment. The fake posted was uploaded onto the South Auckland Buy and Sell Facebook group Mr Brady told the New Zealand Herald the incident has been reported to police and Netsafe. 'We are pretty disappointed that someone has done this,' he told the publication. 'Anyone with half a brain would look at the ad and say, 'If you look at that sort of comment on Facebook, it's just very poor taste'. 'It's a case of most people have looked at it and said it's a fake thing.' Ms Snook added she didn't want to comment further. Local police confirmed the incident is being investigated and warned online threats can be regarded as a crime and may result in prosecution. The real estate has been inundated with support since addressing the incident. Among the replies on the Facebook post was an apology from an administrator of the South Auckland Buy and Sell Facebook group. The private group has 32,000 members. 'Some petty person has no life but to ruin others, I hope you find out who it was,' she posted. 'We do not want to have to deal with all the misinformation and bullying so am keeping an extra eye out. So sorry Lynette that these lies were spread about you.' Many others came to the defence of Ms Snook, who has 15 years' experience in property management, according to her profile on the real estate agent's website. 'I hope she's doing fine, no one should be put through something like this,' one person commented. A tenant added: 'I have had Lynette as a real estate agent and know she is not racist. Some people are so cruel.' 6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard As Democratic primary voters turned out to cast their ballots in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Donald Trump and William Barr were busy creating what MSNBCs Rachel Maddow called a rule of law emergency. The MSNBC host called Tuesday one of those days that you will tell your kids and your grandkids what you were doing after four veteran prosecutors resigned en masse following Trumps meddling in his former campaign adviser Roger Stones case. The Justice Department at the highest levels intervened to overturn the prosecutors recommendation for a serious seven to nine year long prison term for the presidents longtime friend Roger Stone following public tweets by the president in which that recommended sentence was criticized in harsh tones by the president last night, Maddow reported. Video: Maddow said: One of those days that you will tell your kids and your grandkids what you were doing when this unspooled. I mean, weve got this crucial primary unfolding in real time right before our very eyes while simultaneously a rule of law crisis what some people are calling rule of law emergency is unfolding in the incumbent administration. All four veteran prosecutors who has been handling the Roger Stone case today resigning one after the other in a story that has unspooled dramatically over the course of the day. The resignations coming, of course, after the Justice Department at the highest levels intervened to overturn the prosecutors recommendation for a serious 7-9 year long prison term for the presidents longtime friend Roger Stone following public tweets by the president in which that recommended sentence was criticized in harsh tones by the president last night. The Department of Justice is effectively dead It seemed that with each passing hour on Tuesday, the story of Donald Trump taking complete control of the Justice Department via Bill Barr continued to get worse. As PoliticusUSAs Jason Easley wrote a short time ago, The DOJ is now a sham, as Trump has an attorney general who is willing to trash the law and become an accomplice in his criminal endeavors. At this point, even calling it the Department of Justice is laughable as it has just become an extension of Donald Trumps criminal enterprise. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Saving for retirement is one of life's necessities. Determining how best to accumulate enough wealth to live a comfortable life is no easy task. On face value, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews support for lifting the superannuation guarantee to 15 per cent would seem a step in the right direction, forcing workers to save more for the future. If only it were that simple. The Morrison government has legislated for the super guarantee, which is the amount employees must pay to workers, to rise from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent by next year, then creep up each year until it hits 12 per cent by 2025. That has set off a heated debate about how effective super is for workers in the long run. Some backing an increase in the super guarantee are motivated by self-interest. Credit:Jessica Shapiro Some in the Coalition, with backing from research by the Grattan Institute, argue that increasing the guarantee will leave some workers worse off over time. Its a credible argument given most employers wont lift the price of their products or cut their profit margins to pay for super increases but instead dip into revenue set aside for future wage increases. As The Age's Ross Gittins puts it: "Raising the contribution rate as planned would force many workers to accept a lower-than-otherwise standard of living during their working lives so their living standard in retirement could be higher than they ever were used to when working." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Angus Whitley, Kyunghee Park and Anurag Kotoky (Bloomberg) Singapore Wed, February 12, 2020 14:30 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20640f711 2 Business Boeing-737-MAX,Singapore,production Free Boeing will resume production of the 737 Max before the best-selling plane is allowed back in the air as the company attempts to recover from one of the worst crises in its 104-year history. The Chicago-based manufacturer halted production in January, 10 months after the jet was grounded worldwide following two crashes that killed 346 people. Boeing failed to sell any commercial planes in January, the second month with no orders since the flying ban was imposed. Boeing expects global regulators to start clearing the aircraft to fly in the middle of this year, though senior sales executive Ihssane Mounir said Wednesday at the Singapore Airshow that the timings of their decisions may be different. Vice president of commercial marketing, Randy Tinseth, outlined the timetable to restart manufacturing and said any resumption would begin slowly. The timing is a balancing act for Boeing. A prolonged suspension of manufacturing would put extra stress on jobs, supply chains and future airplane orders. At the same time, prematurely restarting production would only add to the 700 Max jets already on the tarmac, a backlog that Boeing says will take several quarters to clear. Mounir said no customers were scrapping 737 Max fleet plans. Boeing is also in talks over widebody aircraft and expects to secure some orders soon, he said. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, a maker of fuselage, engine pylons and wing components that depends on the Max for half of its sales, has slashed its dividend to preserve cash and laid off 2,800 employees. Tinseth mapped out some of the other elements of Boeings plan to get the Max flying again. He reiterated the manufacturer will help train Max pilots on simulators as part of the compensation packages for airline customers. While Boeing expects the Max to fly again mid-2020, regulators that are reviewing a fix to the jets flight-control software -- implicated in both crashes -- will have the final word. In Singapore on Tuesday, Federal Aviation Administration head Steve Dickson said theres no schedule for the Maxs recertification flight. The 737 is a workhorse for airlines globally plying short- to medium-haul routes on fast turnarounds. The importance of getting the Max back in the air was underscored by Boeings market forecast for Southeast Asia, a region it said will need 4,500 new aircraft worth $710 billion over the next two decades to meet demand from a growing middle class. At a briefing in Singapore on Wednesday, Mounir said the coronavirus hasnt had an impact on supply chains yet, but some deliveries for Chinese customers have been held up in Seattle. He also said Boeing is a little over a year away from entering the 777X into service. The long-range widebody aircraft, which is so big that its wings are hinged, completed its first successful test flight last month. Carly provides an easy-to-use solution throughout the lifecycle of car ownership, giving consumers control through access to valuable car health data, enabling users to save time and money Carly, the cartech company that connects drivers with the information hidden inside their cars, has launched its latest product in the U.S. -- the Universal Adapter. A first of its kind diagnostic solution for car health, the universal plug-in adapter works with a car's on-board diagnostics (OBD) port and pairs with an easy-to-use app. The adapter is available for purchase today, with the Carly app available on both the Apple and Google Play stores. Given its success in the European market with hundreds of thousands of subscribers and over 80,000 diagnostics run daily Carly sees huge potential in the U.S. market. "We saw that there was already a lot of demand for a product like Carly in the U.S., with 30% of our existing sales coming from U.S. customers organically and our company seeing 50-100% growth annually," said Carly founder and CEO Avid Avini. "Most American consumers aren't aware of this potential access to their car's data. We're excited to educate and empower U.S. drivers, transforming the relationship they have with their cars." As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, digital information is locked inside cars, creating a sort of black box that takes control away from car owners. As a consumer-centric company, Carly is dedicated to unlocking this data in order to empower car owners to make well-informed decisions regarding their vehicles. Carly's advanced technology delivers this solution to all brands and models built from 2000 onwards, enabling drivers to make wise used car purchases, discover problems in their vehicle, customize their car to fit their needs, and much more. Carly's Universal Adapter offers users a number of key benefits, including: Health Identify the current health state of your car. The feature gives you a rating (from "Excellent" to "Very Bad") of your car's health. It is based on the number and severity level of faults that were detected. You can view, download and email health reports as pdf files. This feature works for all car brands and can identify potential issues 3-6 months before they show as a warning light on the dash. Used Car Check check your vehicle's data and mileage info to detect any instances of mileage tampering. This is helpful when looking to buy a used car to ensure the seller's claims are accurate. This works for car brands including BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda. Customization unlock the hidden features in your car, like changing the behavior of your lights, turning off certain audible notifications and many more. This feature works for car brands including BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda. Live Data see live engine parameters and advanced data meant for knowledgeable car enthusiasts (e.g., oil temperature). This feature helps car owners make more informed decisions about possible problems. This feature works for all car brands. "Aside from a home purchase, your car is one of your biggest investments you will make in life," says Avini. "With Carly, users can save an average of $500 on car maintenance a year. By using Carly to diagnose issues ahead of a mechanic, you can save on additional diagnostic tests as well as avoiding a problem before it even starts." Carly's Universal Adapter is available to purchase for $79.90. The annual subscription ranges from free to $64, depending on the car brand and feature you'd like to use, and offers unlimited access to all features and updates supported by your car. The Carly app is available on both the Apple and Google Play stores. About Carly Founded in 2014 in Munich, Germany, Carly is a cartech company that connects drivers with the information hidden inside their cars. Carly provides an easy-to-use solution throughout the lifecycle of car ownership, delivering control to consumers with valuable data and empowering them to save time and money. Carly offers the only direct-to-consumer cartech solution that works for all car brands and allows car owners to access data and hidden features in their vehicle. The device connects drivers with the data inside their vehicles, helping them to make fully informed decisions at every stage of car ownership whether on purchasing, maintenance, or customization. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200212005157/en/ Contacts: Carly Avid Avini press@mycarly.com IIT-B professor Amit Singh analyses how the phrase 'We, the People of India' entered the Preamble in part 6 of IIT Bombay for Justice's #PreambleLectures series Editor's Note: The following was originally published on 12 February. It is being republished on the occasion of India's Constitution Day the day in 1949 on which the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India. The words of the Preamble to the Indian Constitution, like the National Anthem, come easily to our lips. We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all Fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation; In our Constituent Assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution. And yet, glibly though we pronounce these words, few among us have dwelt on and fully understood their meaning. A lecture series organised by the IIT-Bombay for Justice group between 16-26 January 2020 attempts to address just this gap. Even as the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India has shown up the fault lines amid the people of this country, IIT-Bombay for Justices Preamble lecture series endeavours to go back to the basics; to examine what it means to be a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, to reaffirm the ideals enshrined in the Constitution justice, liberty, equality, fraternity that Indians must hold on to, more than ever in these fractured times. More from the series, here. *** In lecture 6, Amit Singh, assistant professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering IIT Bombay, analyses the Preamble's opening phrase "We, the People of India". Watch it here: It's difficult as an Irrfan Khan fan to not have him around or to not see more of him in Hindi Cinema. However, after a long wait and a tough struggle to battle cancer, Irrfan is finally all pumped up for the release of his much-awaited release, Angrezi Medium. Ahead of the trailer release tomorrow, the makers of the much-awaited comedy-drama Angrezi Medium released the first official poster of the film on Wednesday. The poster features the 53-year-old actor in the outfit of a Queen's guard and Radhika Madan, who is sporting a school uniform with braids, hugging him. Because of his health reasons, Irrfan won't be actively promoting the film but he made sure that he makes his fans feel connected to the film. The makers of Angrezi Medium shared a recorded heart-touching voice note with stills from the upcoming film. In the voice note, Irrfan Khan sheds light on being restricted because of his health. He added that he also knows that his fans will love his film the same way they loved all his previous films. he begins the voice-over in Hindi and says: Hello, brothers and sisters. I am with you and not with you. This film, Angrezi Medium, is very special to me. I truly wanted to promote this film as passionately as we made it, but there are some unwanted guests in my body and theyre keeping me busy. Ill keep you informed on that front. Irrfan continues, Theres a saying, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. It feels good to hear, but when life really hands you lemons, making lemons is really difficult. He added that even though he will not be a part of the film's promotions with the team, he would invite all his fans to watch this "labour of love and hard work". The video with Irrfan's voice-note has visuals of his co-stars, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan, and Ranveer Shorey, on set, interacting with each other and the crew. In the voice note, he adds, One doesnt have any other choice but to remain positive. Whether you are able to make lemonade in such situations is entirely up to you. Weve made this film with the same sort of positivity. I hope this film is able to make you laugh and cry in equal measure. He concludes the voice note by saying, Enjoy the trailer, and be kind to each other, and enjoy the film. And yes, wait for me. Watch the video with Irrfan's voice-note here: Irrfan was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor and thereafter he left for London in March 2018. He had made his fans a part of his journey by sharing updates of his health. He broke the news on social media by saying, The unexpected makes us grow, which is what the past few days have been about. Learning that I have been diagnosed with NeuroEndocrine Tumour as of now has admittedly been difficult, but the love and strength of those around me and that I found within me has brought me to a place of hope. Irrfan had successful surgery after wrapping up the shoot for Angrezi Medium in London and he was also undergoing treatment before the shoot. Apart from shooting the film in Udaipur and London, Irrfan has maintained a graceful low profile since his diagnosis in 2018. The original Hindi Medium (2017) was directed by Saket Choudhary and Pakistani actor Saba Qamar played the female lead opposite Irrfan. A man from New Jersey, one of numerous tourists taking advantage of the mild weather to visit Organ Pipe last week, pulled his car over near the new wall. Standing on the dirt road that runs next to the border, he had a eureka moment when he saw a small square of metal poking out of the dirt. He picked it up and dusted it off, excited about having a souvenir of the wall. Nearby, a construction crew was installing bollard panels with large openings at the bottom in a wash that ran south into Mexico. As they worked, a woman who said she was a naturalized U.S. citizen splitting her time between Thailand and San Francisco drove a van up to the workers and offered to cook for them or help in any way she could. Tourists drove along South Puerto Blanco Drive, a dirt-and-gravel road that meanders through the southern portion of Organ Pipe. The road was rutted last fall, but a steady stream of heavy construction vehicles appeared to have smoothed its surface. About 10 miles west of the construction crew, several cars were parked near Quitobaquito Springs as drivers waited to tour the pond fed by the springs, which have slaked the thirst of countless travelers and animals for centuries. The parents of a missing British backpacker who hasn't been seen since leaving for a hike in New Zealand are flying to the country to help with the desperate search. Stephanie Simpson, 32, told friends on Friday she was going hiking over the weekend at Mount Aspiring National Park on the South Island. The alarm was raised when Miss Simpson, originally from Essex, failed to turn up at her landscaping job on Monday. Stephanie Simpson, 32, told friends on Friday she was going hiking over the weekend at Mount Aspiring National Park on the South Island Sam Hazelton, Ms Simpson's brother-in-law, told Sky News her parents were flying to New Zealand to help find their 'beautiful and kind-hearted' daughter. 'The last time the family heard from Stephanie was on the family WhatsApp group early on Thursday morning,' Mr Hazelton said. 'This was something Stephanie would do most weekends, it was her main reason for staying in Wanaka in New Zealand as it offered so many different trails.' He said Miss Simspon was competent, physically fit and was experienced in hiking. 'She is such a fun-loving, kind, determined and adventurous woman, we are asking anyone who might know anything to please get in touch with police,' he said. New Zealand Police reportedly told the family there had been two sightings of Ms Simpson. The alarm was raised when Ms Simpson, originally from Essex, failed to turn up at her landscaping job on Monday Sam Hazelton, Ms Simpson's brother-in-law, told Sky News her parents are flying to New Zealand to help find their 'beautiful and kind-hearted' daughter Search teams continued to look for Miss Simpson overnight before being joined by thermal imaging drones and a helicopter. The search will continue to focus on areas around Fantail Falls to Mt Brewster, the Brewster Hut and Mt Armstrong track, and Makarora Valley. Sergeant Mark Kirkwood, who is in charge of the search, told the New Zealand Herald, it is believed Ms Simpson only went travelling with a day pack. He also said overnight temperatures have not been cold. It's understood Ms Simpson did not take a search beacon with her. 'Until they get some news, [the family] are in the dark. Just really hoping we may hear something today from the foot searches,' a family spokesperson previously told the publication. They are trying to spread the word to any trampers who have been in the area over the weekend. 'The police, search and rescue and friends are all trying very hard for her safe return,' the spokesperson said. Search teams continuing looking for Ms Simpson overnight before being joined by thermal imaging drones and a helicopter after the family were disappointed by the lack of news on Tuesday Miss Simpson told friends she planned to make a four-hour trek to Brewster Hut before heading to the Blue Pools on Saturday. Friends say she is an experienced hiker, who is strong and fit. 'She's a really beautiful, kind-hearted person. She can make friends in an instant, she's awesome. She's just here to tramp and see the country,' a friend earlier told the New Zealand Herald. Anyone who may stayed in the Cameron Flat area on Friday and may have spoken to Stephanie are encouraged to contact police. Residents in parts of Colbert County left flooded from recent rains are urged to seek shelter before tonights storms. The Colbert County Emergency Management Agency said people who live in flooded areas where roads are closed and barricaded should make advanced arrangements for finding shelter tonight. The storms are expected to arrive in northwest Alabama between 5 and 6 p.m. We have a chance of severe weather tonight which may include tornadoes, EMA said. If you live in a modular or mobile home and the flood waters are affecting your ability to leave, please seek higher ground and stronger shelter now before the storms come in. Anyone with questions about shelters can call Colbert EMA at 256-386-8558. Colbert County and much of the state remains under a slight risk for severe storms starting this afternoon. The risk of flash flooding will rise as the storm moves through. To prepare, residents are urged to: Make sure fresh batteries are in weather radio. Check media outlets for updates through the day. Assembly a safety preparedness kit with needed supplies as well as any necessary medications. Know where the safest sheltering places are located. Never drive around barricades if a road is closed. Also, do not attempt to drive over a road you cannot see. A few severe storms possible tonight, and more rain too A 101-year-old Italian man was told by the Home Office that his parents had to confirm his identity if he wanted to stay in the country, despite living in London since 1966. Giovanni Palmeiro applied for the EU settlement scheme at an advice centre in Islington, north London but was told by the volunteer helping him that he needed to provide details about his parents. The Home Office's computer system appeared to mistakenly take the great-grandfather's birth year as being 2019 - rather than 1919. Giovanni Palmeiro, 101, was told by the volunteer helping him to apply to remain in the UK that he needed to provide details about his parents The volunteer, Dimitri Scarlato, scanned Mr Palmeiro's passport into the EU settled status app to share the biometric data with the Home Office, which led to the computer glitch. Mr Scarlato, an activist who works with campaign groups that help people of Italian descent, told the Guardian: 'I phoned the Home Office and it took two calls and a half an hour for them to understand it was the app's fault not mine.' The Home Office accepted the mistake and took Mr Palmiero's actual identity details over the phone. Last Thursday, he was told he could resume his application as a 101-year-old and not as a one-year-old. However, he was then asked to prove that he'd been a resident in the country for five years - even though he'd been living in the UK since 1966. The Home Office is thought to have access to national insurance and tax records, which means it can resolve issues of residency itself. Mr Palmiero is believed to have worked at a restaurant in Piccadilly after coming to the UK and, up until the age of 94, in a fish and chip shop every day 'until 11pm at night'. He has been married to his wife Lucia, 92, for 75 years and they have four children, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Mr Palmiero is believed to have worked at a restaurant in Piccadilly after coming to the UK and, up until the age of 94, in a fish and chip shop every day 'until 11pm at night' His son Assuntino said: 'It's like a humiliation, you've been here so long and then all of a sudden this happens. 'He is not going to be chucked out, but people of his age should not have to go through this process. 'They say you have to prove you have been here that long, but come on, they have HMRC records, council tax records. My parents are being sent their pensions, so how come they can't find him on the system? If they wanted to check, they could easily.' Mr Scarlato later told an online newspaper Londra Italia the family had subsequently received an apology 'for the inconvenience' from the Home Office. However, they are still waiting for Palmiero's settled status to be approved. The Home Office said: 'When Mr Palmiero's case was raised our dedicated EU settlement scheme team contacted him and those supporting him to assist with his application,' it said. With several pro-Kannada outfits calling for a Karnataka bandh on February 14, demanding implementation of theSarojini Mahishi report by providing more jobs for Kannadigas in the state,the Karnataka government on Wednesday said that it is committed to fulfilling it. "Our government has shown commitment towards implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report. We have already implemented the report in the government sector. In the private sector, we are trying to implement it step by step. A cabinet decision has been taken to implement it step by step," Minister for Kannada and Culture C T Ravi said. Stating that its implementation was not easy in the private sector as availability of skilled work force, among others, should be looked into, Ravi said "we can say it should be compulsory, but we will have to look into the consequences also. So we are discussing (with the private sector). After imparting required training (to locals), it can be implemented. Or else it may lead to closure of industries," The Sarojini Mahishi Committee, headed by former Union Minister Sarojini Mahishi, was constituted in 1984 to recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas in Karnataka. It submitted the report two years later. Ravi hit out at the leader of the opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah for recently announcing his support for the agitation, calling it a "joke". He pointed out that after the report was submitted, the former Chief Minister had been in power for the "most period", either as a member of the Janata Dal or the Congress. "Was he eating groundnut then (while in power)? Now that he has lost power, he has remembered the Sarojini Mahishi report. Was he sleeping while in power?" he asked. Siddaramaiah had recently met Kannada outfits agitating for implementation of the report and had extended his full support to them. Ravi also said the government desired that the medium of instruction should be Kannada, but as the Chief Minister recently said, it cannot succeed without the cooperation of society. "The Supreme Court has already said it is the choice of parents to choose the medium of instruction and it cannot be imposed. This has made the government helpless. When we desire that the administration should be in Kannada, without making it compulsory in education, how can it remain in administration?" he asked. Worried that a situation may arise when the future generations may not be in a position to understand Kannada, he said "without making it (Kannada) compulsory in education, how can it be implemented in administration? It is a complex problem." The Minister said that the government was committed to promotion of Kannada. It has been decided to call a meeting of opposition leaders, literary figures, thinkers, regarding filing an appeal for "reexamination" of the Supreme Court decision to explore if there is an opportunity, or else bring in an constitutional amendment taking on board other states, who share the sentiment. He also said several government Ministers,including Chief Minister Yediyurappa, have spoken to those who have called for the bandh on Thursday and tried to convince them against it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Laurence Fox has hit out at the Mayor of London for praising a diversity campaign on the Underground that does not include any white people. Sadiq Khan tweeted to congratulate the Nubian Skin fashion brand, which specialises in nude underwear for people of colour, on winning Transport for London's Diversity in Advertising competition. The Mayor described the adverts as 'empowering' and 'inclusive', but Mr Fox, 41, replied: '*Hands @SadiqKhan dictionary with the page open at definition of 'diversity'*' Soon after he was elected, Mr Khan banned 'body-shaming' adverts of naked women after a Protein World billboard appeared on the Tube asking 'are you beach body ready?' that he claimed was demeaning to women. The Nubian adverts shows a group of men and women of colour posing in their underwear. Sadiq Khan tweeted to congratulate the Nubian Skin fashion brand, which specialises in nude underwear for people of colour, on winning Transport for London's Diversity in Advertising competition Laurence Fox hit out at the Mayor of London for praising the diversity campaign He tweeted this week: 'I'm proud to unveil Nubian Skin as the winner of this year's TfL Diversity in Advertising competition, Look out for their empowering, inclusive adverts on the @TfL network. 'London's greatest strength is our diversity, so we challenged advertisers to produce ads that better represented our BAME communities.' Nubian Skin have won 500,000 of prominent advertising space around the capital after bagging the prize. Mr Fox re-tweeted another news outlet's post about the prize that branded Mr Khan a 'hypocrite' before describing him as a 'spanner'. Mr Fox's followers responded: 'Diversity' simply means 'no white people'. Someone else wrote: 'So diversity = no white people. Got it.' Another follower posted: 'Mayor Khan wasting resources again.' Soon after he was elected, Mr Khan banned 'body-shaming' adverts (Protein World example pictured) of naked women that he claimed were damaging and demeaning, from the Tube network Others hit out at the Mayor for banning adverts of half-naked women, but encouraging them as part of a diversity campaign. One follower re-posted an article about the Mayor's plans to ban body-shaming adverts, saying: 'This aged well.' Fox is pictured arriving at the Good Morning Britain studios in central London Someone else wrote: 'Yep ... @SadiqKhan is certainly duplicitous ... I see no difference between the nature of the adverts.' But others rubbished Mr Fox's suggestion the advert isn't diverse, saying: 'What's your problem with this?' A Mayor of London spokesman told MailOnline: 'London is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, but the adverts Londoners see do not always reflect that. 'These images celebrate the fact that people's bodies vary both in shape and skin tone. They represent people of colour in a way that is unfortunately all too rare in advertising today.' Mr Fox has hit headlines on several occasion in the past few months in his crusade against the term 'white privilege'. Appearing on Newsnight, the Lewis star accused Rachel Boyle, an academic at Edge Hill University on Merseyside, of 'being racist' after she called him 'a white privileged male' for denying the Duchess of Sussex was hounded from Britain for being mixed-race. He also rubbished the Oscar-nominated film 1917 for 'forcing diversity' after Sikh soldiers were included in the plot. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 4:55AM There must've been a positive response to the Galaxy Buds for Samsung to introduce a new one. Sorry, we had to. But yes, there's also a new Samsung Galaxy Buds+ launched alongside the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Flip. The Galaxy Buds+ promises an impressive 11-hour listening time on a single charge, which you can double with the included case. But if you're in a hurry, Samsung claims that three minutes of charging can give you "around one hour" of listening time. The Galaxy Buds+ comes with a two-way dynamic speaker to give you a rich combination of high notes and deep bass. It's also equipped with three microphones to block out ambient noise when you're talking to someone. The wireless earbuds also have ambient sound control and the usual touch controls. There is no active noise cancellation, though. If you pre-order one of the new Galaxy S20 phones, the Galaxy Buds+ will come with the phone for free. The earbuds come with the same colours as last year, except the yellow variant is swapped with a new Cloud Blue colour to match the new colour scheme for the phones. The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ will arrive in Canada on March 3 for $199. Source: Mashable + MobileSyrup SALEM, Ore. A bill aimed at banning all online and telephone sales of vaping products in Oregon has passed the House of Representatives, Democrats announced on Tuesday. Supporters of the bill say that it is intended to rein in the prevalence of vaping among teens. In 2018, I conducted a 'There Oughta Be a Law' contest in my district, said Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, the chief sponsor of the bill. I received many interesting and worthy entries, but one submitted by a group of Ashland High School students stood out. These students reported that, despite age restrictions, their peers obtain e-cigarettes by ordering them on the internet. They said we should ban internet sales. They were right. Lawmakers cited reports from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that demonstrate a spike in youth vaping over the past several years. OHA says that one in four 11th graders in Oregon report having used a nicotine vaping product, and overall use of e-cigarettes by youth has risen 80 percent between 2017 and 2019. A 2019 Healthy Teens survey also from OHA reportedly found that 71 percent of youth who use "conventional tobacco products" started with vaping products. In her testimony to lawmakers, Grants Pass High School student Abby Durant said "if I really wanted to get a vaping product, I could. It's not that hard." Rep. Rachel Prusak, D-West Linn, a nurse practitioner and another sponsor of the legislation, said she is tired of seeing her patients die premature and painful deaths because of the impacts of tobacco. Too often, the working poor are targeted by big tobacco in their youth, Rep. Prusak said. Recognizing that most tobacco and nicotine users become addicted at a young age, I am very supportive of a policy specifically aimed at creating barriers to youth access and would further support recommendation that e-cigarettes be regulated and legislated in the same ways as combustible cigarettes and other tobacco products. The bill passed in the House with little resistance, 41 to 18. Democrats all voted in favor of the bill, while Republicans largely voted against with a handful crossing party lines to vote in favor. House Bill 4078 now goes on to the Senate for consideration. If passed, the policy would be enforced by the the Oregon Department of Justices Tobacco Enforcement Unit. Dublin, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "South East Asia Industrial Automation and Process Control Market by Product Type (DCS, PLC, SCADA, PLM), Industry Vertical (Textile, Oil and Gas, Food and Beverages, Life Sciences, Automotive, Packaging) - Industry Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Southeast Asia Industrial Automation & Process Control Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2019 to 2025 to reach $4.97 billion by 2025. The growth of industrial automation and process control in Southeast Asia is majorly supported by government initiatives, growing demand for industrial automation backed by growing production demands, and the advent of Industry 4.0. Growing needs for mass production and mounting pressure for reducing operational cost is also contributing to the overall growth of this market. However, high capital investment and the direct impact of industrial automation on employment are the major restraining factors for the consistent growth of this market. Based on product type Southeast Asia industrial automation & process control market is segmented into product lifecycle management, distributed control system, supervisory control, and data acquisition system, variable frequency drive, general motion control, programmable logic controller, sensors & transmitters, manufacturing execution system, flowmeters, machine safety systems, enterprise asset management, human-machine interface, process safety system, operator training simulators. At present, product lifecycle management commanded the largest share of the Southeast Asia industrial automation & process control market by product type and expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The large share of this segment is attributed to the fact that product lifecycle management reduces the product time to market. It also aids industry verticals to decrease their overall production cost and facilitates better communications between departments. However, a programmable logic controller is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period. PLC can continuously monitor and help industry to make decisions based on the data collected. This certainly helps industries to save a considerable amount of time, money, and energy spent on impulsive decisions. Based on industry vertical, the Southeast Asia industrial automation & process control market is majorly segmented into the process industry and discrete industry. In 2019, the process industry dominated the overall Southeast Asia industrial automation and process control market and is expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period. The process industry offers immense opportunities to incorporate disruptive technologies such as robots and automation & process control. The process industry consists of some of the fastest-growing industries such as oil & gas, energy & power system, food & beverage, and chemical & petrochemical among others. All these industries are rapidly incorporating automation & process control especially, in Southeast Asia region. Furthermore, local government's encouragement for improving existing manufacturing systems and boost efficiency is helping the process industry grow with the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period. An in-depth analysis of the geographical scenario of the market provides detailed qualitative and quantitative insights about the major countries including Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In 2019, Singapore commanded the largest share of Southeast Asia industrial automation & process control market followed by Vietnam and Thailand. The large share of this country is attributed to the high per capita income in the region with the manufacturing industry as a major contributor to it. The high advent of Industry 4.0 and rapid automation of industrial manufacturing & processing industry backed by strong government initiatives such as National Robotics Program is also aiding Singapore to emerge as the most dominating country in the Southeast Asia industrial automation & process control market. Key players operating in the Southeast Asia industrial automation & process control market are Siemens AG (Germany), ABB Group (Switzerland), Fanuc Corporation (Japan), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Emerson Electric Corporation (U.S.), Universal Robots (Denmark), Schneider Electric S.E. (France), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Eaton Corporation (Ireland), Scott Automation and Robotics (Australia), and Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Japan) among others. Key Topics Covered 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Market Share Analysis, by Key Players 4. Executive Summary 5. Market insights 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Market Dynamics 5.2.1. Drivers 5.2.1.1. Government Initiatives to Promote the Adoption of Automated Systems in Various Industrial Verticals 5.2.1.2. Increasing Demand for Automation from Various Manufacturing Sectors 5.2.1.3. Growing Innovations in Industrial Automation Systems 5.2.1.4. Growing Need for Mass Production with Reduced Operation Cost 5.2.2. Restraints 5.2.2.1. Growing Risk of Unemployment 5.2.2.2. High Capital investments 5.2.3. Opportunities 5.2.3.1. Digital Transformation and Rapid Technological Advancements 5.2.3.2. Industry 4.0 Revolution 5.2.3.3. Growing Manufacturing Sector in Emerging Economies 5.2.4. Challenges 5.2.4.1. Lack of Skilled Workforce 5.2.4.2. Automated Cyber Threat 6. Southeast Asia Automation and Process Control Market, by Product Type 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Product Lifecycle Management 6.3. Distributed Control System 6.4. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (Scada) 6.5. Variable Frequency Drive 6.6. General Motion Control 6.7. Programmable Logic Controller 6.8. Sensors and Transmitters 6.9. Manufacturing Execution System 6.10. Flowmeters 6.11. Machine Safety Systems 6.12. Enterprise Asset Management 6.13. Human-Machine interface 6.14. Process Safety System 6.15. Operator Training Simulators 7. Southeast Asia Automation and Process Control Market, by Industry Verticals 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Process Industry 7.2.1. Oil and Gas 7.2.2. Chemicals and Petrochemicals 7.2.3. Food and Beverage 7.2.4. Life Sciences 7.2.5. Water and Wastewater 7.2.6. Energy and Power System 7.2.7. Pulp and Paper 7.2.8. Cement and Glass 7.2.9. Metal and Mining 7.2.10. Textile 7.2.11. Rubber and Plastic 7.2.12. Metal Fabrication 7.3. Discrete Industry 7.3.1. Automotive 7.3.2. Semiconductors and Electronics 7.3.3. Medical Devices 7.3.4. Aerospace and Dfense 7.3.5. Machine Manufacturing 7.3.6. Packaging 7.3.7. Printing 8. Southeast Asia Automation and Process Control Market, by Geography 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Singapore 8.3. Vietnam 8.4. Thailand 8.5. Malaysia 8.6. Indonesia 8.7. Philippines 8.8. Others 9. Competitive Landscape 9.1. Introduction 9.2. New Product Launches 9.3. Partnerships, Collaborations, Alliances & Agreements 9.4. Expansions 9.5. Mergers & Acquisitions 10. Company Profiles (Business Overview, Financial Overview, Product Portfolio, Strategic Developments) 10.1. Siemens AG 10.2. ABB Group 10.3. Fanuc Corporation 10.4. Rockwell Automation, Inc. 10.5. Emerson Electric Corporation 10.6. Universal Robots 10.7. Schneider Electric SE 10.8. Honeywell International, Inc. 10.9. Panasonic Corporation 10.10. Eaton Corporation 10.11. Scott Automation & Robotics (Subsidiary of Scott Technology) 10.12. Yokogawa Electric Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1vsytv Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. This article is published through a partnership with New York Medias Strategist . The partnership is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected by New York Media. If you buy something through our links, Slate and New York Media may earn an affiliate commission. If youre an avid coffee drinker and toying with the idea of a zero-waste (or lower-waste) lifestyle, your first step should be bringing your own thermos or mug to your local java spot. Trading your daily paper to-go cup for a more eco-conscious reusable mug isnt just about sustainability. Experts like Natalie Slavutsky of Brooklyn Diamond Coffee agree that coffee actually tastes better out of ceramic, glass, or stainless steel than paper or plastic. Youre just getting a better cup of coffee than in a paper cup. says Slavutsky. Advertisement If that doesnt convince you to make a change, many cafes reward customers who bring in reusable drink ware with a discount for helping them move towards being more sustainable, says Allie Caran, director of education at Partners Coffee. Here are the best reusable mugs and tumblers to bring into your local coffee shop according to baristas, coffee entrepreneurs, and one environmentally minded former Strategist editor. KeepCup 12oz Reusable Coffee Cup More than any other brand, KeepCup kept coming up in our conversations. These small glass cups were originally designed by two former baristas in Melbourne, Australia, making it easier for people like Joanna Lareau, barista at Blue Bottle Coffee to do their jobs. I like KeepCups because theyre made for baristas to pour into so theyre the easiest for us to make latte art in, says Lareau. She also notes that, because of their small size, KeepCups are easier to use when making cortados or cappuccinos. Some reusable cups are so big they dont fit into the espresso machine, she says. Ryan Fisher, Director of Operations and Roaster at GoodBoyBob Coffee in Santa Monica, California, likes KeepCups because theyre stylish, and the glass gets his coffee to the exact temperature he likes quickly. Nearly all of the baristas we talked to say that their biggest pet peeve is customers bringing in less-than-clean reusable cups. So finding one thats simple to rinse out will both make your barista happy and keep your lattes tasting fresh. According to Samya Said, barista training manager for Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, KeepCups are just as good as any rival mugs in this category. Plus theyre made with an inner slope, which she says allows baristas to pour amazing art every time. $23 from Amazon MiiR 12-oz. Insulated Camp Cup Two of the coffee experts we spoke to gave this stainless-steel insulated mug with a lid top billing. Emily Orendorff, a barista at Intelligentsia Coffee, prefers the MiiR Camp Cup because, as she explains, its shaped just like the mugs we use in the cafe (short and wide with a great handle) so its a breeze for baristas to make your drink in it, as well as easy to clean and to drink out of. While Caleb Chauncey, a barista at East Pole Coffee Co. in Atlanta, likes that its insulated interior keeps drinks warm or cold for long periods of time and it keeps a consistent temperature on the outside too. It wont burn your hand if you have a hot beverage inside and it wont sweat when you have a cold one, he says. Like Orendorff, Chauncey also called out the mugs handle as something most travel mugs dont include and says hes partial to the matte black finish. $20 from Amazon Kinto To-Go Tumbler Haley Boyd, a designer and sustainability enthusiast, has tried more than a her fair share of reusable coffee cups over the last few years. She likes this simply shaped option from Japanese brand Kinto best, mostly because of the design. This cup is my favorite. Its attractive and comes in a solid color without a huge logo, which is surprisingly hard to find, she says. $45 from Amazon Kinto Travel Tumbler If youre hoping to keep your coffee hot all day long, Kinto also makes an attractive tumbler. Chris and Lindsay Grodski of S&S Cornershop in Springs, New York, love these simple Japanese tumblers. These travel tumblers keep your drinks hot or cold for hours, says Grodski, who appreciates how easy they are to clean and use again. Our customers love these, and so do we, she says. From $28 from Amazon JOCO 16oz Glass Reusable Coffee Cup Weve definitely seen a movement to eliminate single-use drinkware grow in coffee industry, particularly in the past year, says Caran. According to her if youre using a mug for coffee, glass or stainless steel is best, because it wont absorb strong flavors or aromas. At Partners, we really like the glass mugs made by Joco, an Australian brand that makes a beautiful and functional line of products that are entirely plastic-free, Caran says. $22 from Amazon Frank Green Travel Coffee Mug Fisher says hes been seeing more and more customers with Frank Green travel mugs. Though theyre made of a special thermoplastic thats BPA-free and dishwasher-safe (as opposed to ceramic, glass, or stainless steel), Fisher says these tumblers keep drinks either hot or cold for hours. He prefers when customers use reusable mugs, cups, or tumblers that are similarly shaped to standard paper cups or ceramics mugs, as thats what he is used to pouring into. This 12-ounce tumbler fits easily in your hand or your cars cupholder, and according to Fisher, has a totally spill-proof lid. $30 from Amazon Miir 12oz Travel Tumbler with Flip Lid For a thermal mug, Caran loves the minimal and functional design of this tumbler from Miir. Its super-sleek, retains heat (and cold) really well, and never leaks, she says. $25 from Amazon Hydro Flask 12 oz Leak Proof Stainless Steel BPA Free Thermos Former Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens uses this Hydro Flask for her daily caffeine dose. I drink lattes, which are eye-rollingly expensive when you add the almond milk and the tip and maybe get it iced. I got this thermos-like container for my morning coffee. Its stocky profile reminds me of the soup containers we all lugged around in elementary school. From $30 from REI Otterbox Elevation 20 Tumbler Vivienne Weidmann of Blue Bottle reminds us how important good lid design can be with her pick for the best travel tumbler. What I like about the design of this lid in particular is that the mouth piece is big enough for me to sip the coffee without burning myself and theres no space for milk or coffee or whatever Im drinking to dry up and collect in. $25 from Amazon YETI Rambler 30 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler As a former espresso slinger at Marlow & Sons in Brooklyn, Derek Van Heule of Sticks Coffee Roasting in Mariposa, California, has had a while to refine his tumbler tastes. His go-to is the Yeti Rambler. It fits into my car cupholder a lot of travel mugs dont and it keeps my coffee hot for a long time. I like that its simply designed and durable, he says. $35 from Amazon Contigo Byron Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug For something that wont break the bank (or upset you too much if you lose it) Casey Roberts of Everyman Espresso is a fan of this snap-top thermos that doesnt spill or leak. The Contigo brand is good, especially if youre looking for something that travels well in a bag. $9 from Amazon Zojirushi 12 oz. Stainless Steel Travel Mug Coffee director Gina Gerfao of Blue State Coffee knows its important to encourage people if you want to make real change. Part of our mission is to minimize our environmental impact through sustainable practices, so we try to incentivize customers to bring their own mug by offering a 50-cent discount. Her pick, the Zojirushi insulated travel mug, has also been a Strategist favorite for years. $22 from Amazon By Josep Borrell and Michel Barnier Josep Borrell Michel Barnier We have grave concerns about the Bexar County Sheriffs Office and operations at the jail. For years now, deputies have been arrested, reflecting a broken culture. Staffing shortages have plagued morale. Inmates at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, which has struggled to meet state standards, have repeatedly been mistakenly released. And we are haunted by a spate of inmate deaths at the jail, raising questions about medical care and a lack of broader oversight. These seemingly intractable conditions make it easy to recommend Willie Ng in the Republican primary. Ng, a former San Antonio Police Department officer and the president and CEO of Blue Armor Security Services, is an exceptional candidate. He faces longtime Bexar County Deputy Gary W. Garcia and former Bexar County Clerk Gerry Rickhoff. Garcia is better suited to following orders than giving them, and Rickhoff has no law enforcement background. Ng, on the other hand, has extensive law enforcement background and runs his own security company. He would separate himself from his security company if elected, he said. His work with the San Antonio Police Department has ranged from patrol to detective to a lengthy assignment as a member of the SAPD with the U.S. Secret Service. He has a bachelors degree from Wayland Baptist University, a masters degree in public administration from St. Marys University and is completing his Ph.D. in organizational leadership with University of the Incarnate Word. He also told us he has earned his jailers license. This should be a no-brainer for Republican primary voters. The Democratic primary is less clear, but we recommend Sheriff Javier Salazar. The two questions Democratic primary voters will have to ask: How much responsibility does Salazar bear for the conditions at the jail and the culture at the agency? And are any of his primary opponents better suited to address these pervasive concerns? Having been in office for three years, Salazar must take some responsibility of whats gone wrong at the jail and the turmoil at the agency. The erroneous releases occurred under his watch, after all. He also has struggled to find an effective and lasting jail administrator, but recently hired Deputy Chief James Rios, the former Maverick County jail administrator, to ensure compliance with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. But we are also mindful that many of these issues go back years across various administrations. To his credit, Salazar has been forthright and open with the public when things have gone wrong, and he has shown zero tolerance for deputies who are accused of breaking the law. Hes also taken steps to relieve pressures deputies may be facing by hiring a staff psychologist and including Alcoholics Anonymous and domestic violence awareness as part of deputy training. Hes stepped up internal affairs. We are also mostly underwhelmed by his Democratic challengers. Former Precinct 2 Constable Michelle Barrientes-Vela has been indicted, Sharon Rodriguez has nominal law enforcement experience, and Pete Lozano is a former Republican who would be better suited for that partys primary. One other Democratic candidate, Jose Trevino, is the most interesting and credible challenger, having served in many roles with the Bexar County Sheriffs Office over 26 years before joining the Texas attorney generals office, where he is part of the Medicaid fraud unit. But he didnt espouse big ideas, and we wonder if he would change the agencys culture. Salazar has had a challenging first term, but hes also pushed for greater accountability and professionalism at the agency. Still, if he advances to the general election, Salazar would be wise to take some of the criticisms raised by his challengers to heart, particularly in regard to low morale and the agencys staffing shortage. Appointment 12 February 2020 Hotel Revival, an award-winning Joie de Vivre hotel located in the heart of Baltimore's historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, is pleased to announce Donal Neilan as its new director of food and beverage. Neilan is responsible for overseeing and bringing fresh ideas to the hotel's food and beverage program, which includes Topside and B-Side Cocktails and Karaoke as well as the hotel's private events and room service. Growing up with parents who owned and managed a local pub and grocery store in Ireland, Neilan's experience in hospitality began at a young age. At 18, he secured his first management position at a pub in Ireland. He went on to manage three Irish bars and restaurants in Belgium and then worked in the restaurant business in Holland and France. Following his experience in Europe, Neilan desired change and ventured to the United States. Neilan's first job in the U.S. was manager at McGinty's Public House in Silver Spring, Md. H is most recent position was at B&O American Brasserie in Baltimore as director of food and beverage and general manager, where he oversaw restaurant staff, banquet operations and worked closely with the general manager of the adjacent hotel to ensure maximum customer service and guest satisfaction. The first batch of 240 officers and soldiers from the 6th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) sets out on November 19 for a 12-month peacekeeping mission there. (Photo by Jiao Xiaochen, Zhou Junfeng,Jiang Hongyang) By Yu Donghai and Chen Kaikai JUBA, South Sudan, Feb. 10 -- Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey, military adviser of the United Nations Secretary-General, visited the camp of the 6th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) and spoke highly of their peacekeeping capability on February 10, local time. Lt. Gen. Loitey viewed the exhibition board and the display of weapons and equipment. Later in the duty room, Lt. Gen. Loitey gave thumbs up to the construction of the Chinese infantry battalion and said: "You are professional and highly motivated. I am sure you will become one of the key forces for maintaining peace in South Sudan." Lt. Gen. Loitey also expressed concern and sympathy for the current novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outbreak in China and praised the Chinese governments rapid response. Since its deployment to the mission area more than two months ago, the 6th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) has completed patrols in weapons exclusion zone and the city, comprehensive UN defense exercises, and six UN armed escort tasks as well. Colonel Han Tao, commander of the 6th Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba), said that Sudan is in the critical period of the peace process and the Chinese peacekeepers have been maintaining combat readiness at all times to ensure effective response to various emergencies. The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto archdiocese, Mathew Kukah, has described the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in Nigerias history. Mr Kukah made this remark in an address delivered during the burial ceremony of a Catholic seminarian from the Sokoto diocese, Micheal Nnadi. Mr Nnadi died three weeks after he was abducted by armed men dressed in military uniforms on January 9, at the good shepherd major seminary in Kaduna State. He was abducted with three others, identified as Pius, Peter and Stephen. While the other three survived the abduction, 19-year-old Mr Nnadi, an orphan, was found dead in Kaduna State, days after the abductors called his grandmother, Eunice Nwokocha, to inform her that they had executed her grandson. Mr Kukah, whose speech was shared with PREMIUM TIMES by the Catholic secretariat, recounted the pre-election promises made by President Buhari at the Chatham House, London, and expressed regret at what he described as the apparent disappointment of Nigerians over the current state of affairs, especially with regards to the nations security. According to Mr Kukah, Mr Buhari, whom the cleric repeatedly described as a military leader, had promised to revamp the military and address the root causes of terrorism with proactive steps that will prevent the escalation of security threats across the country. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary Security Agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution, Mr Kukah said. The Bishop accused Mr Buhari of displaying the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our countrys rich diversity. Mr Kukah also said the president has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The bishop, who heads the Catholic community in Sokoto State, said the nepotistic conducts of President Buhari has resulted in a convulsion of the noble religion of Islam. Today, in Nigeria, the noble religion of Islam has convulsed. Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and intellectuals have continued to cry out helplessly, asking for their religion and region to be freed from this chokehold. The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His north has become one large grave yard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country, Mr Kukah said. According to the bishop, the sad events across the country are the results of Nigerias years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism. Mr Kukah also disagreed with the arguments that the Boko Harams central objective had no religious inclination. We are being told that this situation has nothing to do with Religion. Really? It is what happens when politicians use religion to extend the frontiers of their ambition and power. Are we to believe that simply because Boko Haram kills Muslims too, they wear no religious garb? Are we to deny the evidence before us, of kidnappers separating Muslims from infidels or compelling Christians to convert or die? If your son steals from me, do you solve the problem by saying he also steals from you? Again, the Sultan got it right: let the northern political elite who have surrendered the space claim it back immediately. READ ALSO: Mr Kukah called on Nigerian Christians to return the hatred of the terrorist with love by praying for their conversion, as Jesus Christ instructed. Through Violence, you can murder the Terrorist, but you cannot end Terrorism. Through Violence, you can murder the Violent, but you cannot end Violence. These are the ways of the flesh. This is the challenge for us as Christians. Put back your sword (Mt. 26: 52). Turn the other cheek (Mt. 5:38). Pray for your enemy (Mt. 5: 44). Give the thief your cloak (Lk. 6:29). None of these makes sense to the human mind without faith, Mr Kukah said. About 2,436 persons from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Madagascar, South Africa, Congo, Mali, Spain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia responded to the calls for candle-light prayers on behalf of the late seminarian, the cleric said. Police are investigating whether the death of a man whose body was found dumped in bushland on the NSW South Coast was a gay hate crime. A dog walker found 56-year-old Peter Keeley's bound body in bushland in Broulee earlier this month with injuries to his face and head. A post mortem was "inconclusive", police said in a statement. Early on Thursday morning, police arrested two 17-year-old boys at their family homes in connection with the death. An indigene of Asante Akyem Central, Kofi Kyei Adu-Aboagye has petitioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary, John Boadu to ensure the release of nomination forms to candidates contesting the partys impending Parliamentary Primaries in the Ashanti Region. He expressed concern over the shortage of the nomination forms and in a statement, impressed upon the General Secretary saying please Uncle John; there is growing discontentment with your leadership, however minute the problem might seem now. One case in point is the shortage of forms for our parliamentary primaries this year, which appears man-made. The John I used to know would have acted long ago to avert the mess we have at our hands now. He appealed to John Boadu to quickly address his concerns. Read full statement below: Open letter My General Secretary, I personally appreciate all the diligent effort and hard work that you put into winning the party power in 2016. Your dedication to work was not only unparalleled; it was also inspiring for our youth who nursed ambitions to climb the political ladder. Before then, we had painfully lost power in 2008 as a result of apathy and complacency, among other things. If the belief in historical destiny is anything to go by, then we should revisit the books on the shelves and remind ourselves how power slipped from us when we thought we had it in firm grips. Please Uncle John; there is growing discontentment with your leadership, however minute the problem might seem now. One case in point is the shortage of forms for our parliamentary primaries this year, which appears man-made. The John I used to know would have acted long ago to avert the mess we have at our hands now. And I must mention my excitement at the news that you were going to handle this issue in the Ashanti Region. However, what I see now is a protracted suppression of the democratic rights of those candidates who are have not been been able to access forms for the parliamentary primaries and this does not put us in a good light as the kingpins of democracy. We cannot preach what we dont practice! I believe the leadership will take steps to resolve this but we shouldnt have been here in the first place, so the earlier the better. There is no underestimating the challenge that confronts us now by merely assuming that only one region is affected. Certainly you cannot underestimate anything that happens in your stronghold, Ashanti Region! The earlier you act the better because a monster is been nurtured in your safe haven and has the potential to cause irreparable damage that will divide and destroy us. Let me wrap up by alluding to the loud silence from your office when Manaf was denied the opportunity to contest in Asawase and the concomitant repercussions which dont need mentioning. We can live to the tag of beacons of democracy. All hope is not gone Uncle John but please lets make hay while the sun is still shining. Signed Kofi Kyei Adu-Aboagye Asante Akyem Central Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The relatives of an e-rickshaw driver, who was found dead along with his wife and three children in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura on Wednesday, suspect it is a case of murder and not suicide. The decomposed bodies of Shambhu Chaudhary (43), his wife Sunita (37) and his children Shivam (17), Sachin (14) and Komal (12) were found inside their rented house in the morning, police said. The e-rickshaw driver, who hailed from Bihar's Supaul district, had move into the house five to six months ago. "I got the information regarding the bodies from locals. I went inside the flat along with a forensic team. There was no issue in the family. It cannot be suicide. It is a murder case," Shambhu's cousin Dinanath Chaudhary said. He claimed that he had gone to the children's school and "found out that they had last attended classes on February 3". Shambhu's brother Roshan Chaudhary said that he was in Bihar and returned to Delhi on Wednesday morning. "I went to Bihar and returned to Delhi today. I spoke to Shambhu around 10 to 12 days ago. He used to drive an e-rickshaw and the relation between him and his wife was good. He had three children who used to study in a government school in Yamuna Vihar," the 20-year-old said. Police were informed at 11.16 am by Shambhu's neighbours about foul smell emanating from the house. Police personnel broke open the door of the house and found the five decomposed bodies. The bodies have been sent to the GTB Hospital for postmortem. Srikant Sharma, Shambhu's neighbour, said a foul smell was emanating from the house, but when he tried to enter, he found the main gate locked from the outside. "The foul smell was coming from the house. Some people thought that the smell was coming from the sewer but I was sure that something was wrong. I wanted to go inside but the gate was locked," he said. When police reached, they broke open the door and found the bodies, Sharma said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The mainstream media have so debased themselves that their attacks on a candidate can actually drive support to the target. This has already happened among Republicans, only 15% of whom express trust in the media. The astronomical levels of support for President Trump among Republicans is in part due to the unfairness of the unrelenting media attacks on him. A similar phenomenon seems to be taking place among supporters of Bernie Sanders, who react to media attacks from establishmentarian outlets by embracing him even more fervently. They are, after all, angry about what they see as unfairness and are suspicious of the powerful. They still see the media as among the powers that be. See, for example, this precious moment when a voter tells MSNBC that its criticism of Bernie turned her into a supporter: Yesterday, the geniuses at the MSM added fuel to the public's distrust with four count them: four false stories from major outlet. Becket Adams of The Examiner has the story. Read the whole thing to grasp the full extent of the incompetence (or is it dishonesty?), but here are the four: One: The New York Times's Maggie Haberman, for example, tweeted the following falsehood at around 5:30 p.m. Monday evening: "Republican voter registration in NH is down roughly 20k voters from 2016 to now. It's a reminder that Trump's increased GOP popularity is in part because in some places, the GOP registration rolls have shrunk." This is not only false, but it has been debunked several times. At some point, repeating the lie becomes a choice. Two: MSNBC's Katy Tur, who hosts a politics news show, sought to throw cold water on the strong economic numbers touted by the Trump White House, arguing that the economy is not working for the individual who spends up to 360 months paying off his car loan. "When I ask people if they're voting for Donald Trump, I hear about their 401(k)s a lot," she said during a live broadcast from New Hampshire, "but there are those out there who don't have a 401(k), and there are those out there who this economy is not really working for them." Tur added, "They might have a job, but it's not a job that pays their bills. They can get a car, but it's a loan that will take 30 years." Twitter video screen grab. This is aggressively stupid. Tur, obviously, has never bought a car. Three years used to be the standard for a car loan, but it is now five years. Repossessing a ten-year-old car (with 70% of its balance still due) is not worth the effort. With her high income, she sees families with average income as unable to pay their bills and doesn't realize how incomes have climbed under President Trump and tax cuts have made them go farther. But aggressive stupidity is a familiar habit of Tur, who just a few days ago expressed the opinion that the Senate could be flipped to the Dems via gerrymandering, oblivious to the basics of the Constitution. Three: No chronicle of fake news would be complete without an appearance from CNN. CNN's Cristina Alesci warned viewers to be wary of recently surfaced audio of 2020 Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg proudly promoting the stop-and-frisk policies he championed as mayor of New York City. After all, the CNN reporter claimed, as we don't have the full audio of the former mayor's remarks, we don't have the full context. But this is not true. The full audio of Bloomberg's comments has been available online since 2015. "So, here's the thing, important context here," she said. "We don't have the full tape." Alesci, who, by the way, is an alumna of the Bloomberg News empire, continued, "So, this is obviously snippets that have been released, the podcaster and the writer that released this sound is clearly a Bernie supporter, if you look at his twitter feed, he's very anti-Bloomberg. He's promoting a hashtag '#BloombergIsARacist.'" A simple Google search brings up the full audio, which was posted shortly after Bloomberg delivered his address in 2015. Four: NBC News's Heidi Przybyla. She shared a conspiracy theory at around 7:30 a.m. alleging that the Kremlin is responsible for making the hashtag "#BloombergIsRacist" a top-trending news topic on social media. The hashtag, which is definitely organic, cropped up Tuesday morning following the release of the Bloomberg audio. Przybyla later deleted her tweet promoting the conspiracy theory, which she had not even bothered to double-check. Keep it up, MSM. You are becoming an involuntary asset for the GOP. Reigning champion Al Boum Photo is one of 20 horses still in contention for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup following the latest scratchings deadline for the six non-novice Grade Ones at next months Festival. The eight-year-old provided Willie Mullins with an elusive first victory in the blue riband last March and is clear favourite with most bookmakers to become the first back-to-back winner since Best Mate. Mullins could also saddle Kemboy who defeated Al Boum Photo in an epic Punchestown Gold Cup last spring that will forever be remembered as Ruby Walshs swansong as well as Real Steel. Another leading contender for Ireland is Gordon Elliotts Delta Work, who has won both the Savills Chase and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown this season. Henry de Bromheads Monalee and Pat Kellys Presenting Percy are other potential challengers. Leading hopes for home team include Nicky Hendersons Santini, Colin Tizzards pair of Lostintranslation and Native River and the Paul Nicholls-trained dual King George hero Clan Des Obeaux. Among the 11 horses scratched are last years Irish Gold Cup winner Bellshill and the sidelined pair of Road To Respect and 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup victor Sizing John. Klassical Dream and Saldier are two of five horses scratched from the Unibet Champion Hurdle, leaving 31 going forward for the feature event on the opening day of the Festival. The betting is currently headed by Hendersons mare Epatante and her stablemate Pentland Hills. The potential Irish challenge still includes De Bromheads Irish Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle, while Elliotts brilliant youngster Envoi Allen retains the option of stepping out of novice company. Dual winner Altior, Chacun Pour Soi and Defi Du Seuil have all stood their ground for what promises to be a mouthwatering renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Hendersons superstar Altior returned to winning ways at Newbury last Saturday, the Mullins-trained Chacun Pour Soi impressed at the Dublin Racing Festival the previous weekend and Defi Du Seuil has won the Tingle Creek and the Clarence House Chase for Philip Hobbs. The latter also had the option of running in the Ryanair Chase in the Cotswolds, but has now been scratched from that event, leaving the Champion Chase as his confirmed target. A Plus Tard, Min, Un De Sceaux and Lady Buttons are also among the 18 still in the mix for the Champion Chase, with Cyrname, Douvan and Footpad among the 13 taken out. Several of the same horses retain the Ryanair option, including A Plus Tard, Min and Cyrname. Last years winner Frodon has also stood his ground, with Riders Onthe Storm and Real Steel also among the 29. Footpad and La Bague Au Roi are two of 15 taken out. Last years winner Paisley Park is very much the headline act in a 29-strong entry for the Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle. Emma Lavelles pride and joy is a short priced favourite to successfully defend his crown and beat the likes of Summerville Boy, City Island and The Worlds End. If The Cap Fits was one of 11 scratchings. Mullins-trained mare Benie Des Dieux retains the option of both the Stayers Hurdle and the Close Brothers Mares Hurdle. Her possible rivals should she run against her own sex include Honeysuckle, Apples Jade and last years winner Roksana. Presidents Day 2020, also known as Washingtons Birthday, is on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. Its a day dedicated to celebrating all U.S. presidents, past and present. Like a number of other federal holidays, some retailers hold huge sales around Presidents Day. Amazon, for example, just slashed prices on some of its top tech devices. If you look in the right spots, youll find some deals out there on home goods and appliances especially if youve had your eyes on a big-ticket item. Mattress Firm is offering savings up to $600 for its Presidents Day Preview Sale. As part of the sale, a king bed is the price of a queen bed, and a queen bed is the price of a twin bed. Sleepys Curve 12 Plush Memory Foam Mattress, one of Mattress Firms best-sellers, is now up to 50% off. Wayfair is having a Presidents Day Blowout on select furniture, decor, kitchenware and more with savings up to 75% off. Some top picks from the sale are the popular KitchenAid Artisan Mini Plus Stand-Mixer for 21% off, and the DeLonghi Espresso and Cappuccino Machine for 30% off. Best Buy is offering discounts up to 40% on select appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, dryers and ovens. Seeking to give your kitchen a full-blown makeover? Save up to $2,000 when you buy three or more GE Profile kitchen appliances. Lowes is also holding a similar sale. Home Depot has savings up to 40% off on bathroom items, such as vanities, which are as low as $139. If looking to spruce up your home aesthetics, select decor is up to 30% off, along with select chandelier and pendant lighting up to 25% off. Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips MORE RETAIL AND SHOPPING COVERAGE: Trader Joes taking the necessary steps to open another N.J. store Macys to close 125 stores over the next 3 years Kmart to close another store, only 4 will remain in N.J. A former detective who led the investigation into William Tyrrell's disappearance says he was told by his superior that "no one cares" about the toddler and the case should be moved "off the books" to unsolved homicide. The comment can be revealed after the NSW Police Commissioner was temporarily granted a court order blocking its publication. The order was withdrawn on Wednesday afternoon. Gary Jubelin, 57, is facing a hearing in Downing Centre Local Court accused of illegally recording four conversations with person of interest Paul Savage, 75, during the investigation into William's disappearance. He maintains he had a legitimate operational need for the recordings. William, 3, vanished from his foster-grandmother's home in the NSW Mid North Coast town of Kendall on September 12, 2014. New Delhi, Feb 12 : The BJP has launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he tweeted a distorted map of India where a portion of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir is shown as part of Pakistan. BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted: "Why would you repeatedly use a map which shows a mutilated J&K?" Interestingly, soon after BJP pointed out the alleged anomaly, Gandhi deleted his original tweet on the coronavirus with a world map. Following the embarrassment, Gandhi tweeted a story link on the spread of coronavirus that has created a worldwide scare. Ellensue Kaplan Gross, 73, an artist whose female friends became the subjects for a series of oil paintings, died Monday, Feb. 10, of an autoimmune lung disorder at her Southwest Center City home. As a child, Mrs. Gross showed promise as an artist. After graduating from Germantown High School in 1964, she worked in the jewelry, fashion, and medical technology industries before finding her niche as an oil painter in the 1990s. She began by painting furniture and tableware, then moved to portraiture and renderings of the human figure. Her goal was to bring out the character, emotions, personality, and spirit of her subjects, she posted online. Her most celebrated project was a series of 12 portraits of her friends, ages 65 to 73, who agreed to pose without makeup or artifice. All appeared in early morning or workout attire, some seminude. I wanted to show their natural beauty, she told WHYY in a 2016 interview. Over her career, Mrs. Gross also painted marionettes, dolls, and dancers. She challenged herself by expanding into watercolors, and drawings in pen and ink or pencil. Mrs. Gross artwork appeared in a dozen shows from 2008 to 2017 at the Muse Gallery, Wayne Art Center, and juried student exhibits at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and Fleisher Art Memorial, where she studied. She received awards from Wayne Art Center, PAFA, and Fleisher. Jill Porter, a retired Daily News columnist and a longtime friend, said Mrs. Gross personal aesthetic informed every aspect of her life. A striking figure with a cascade of curly blond hair and stylish clothes, she stood out on Philadelphia streets with her black standard poodle, Cosette. After meeting at a Mount Airy party as teenagers in the early 1960s, she and Mike Gross married in 1966. They had two children and moved numerous times before settling in Southwest Center City 13 years ago. Her family and painting were the touchstones that carried her through multiple moves across the country for her husbands work as a developer of medical devices for the pharmaceutical industry. Mrs. Gross had many friends with whom she stayed in touch over the years. She favored visits and phone calls over text messages and also sent birthday cards. She put others first to a fault, her husband said. The couple enjoyed dancing, camping, day trips to the Jersey Shore, and traveling the world. She set such a fast pace walking along the Schuylkill that she would leave her companions in the dust, the family said. An excellent cook and gracious hostess, Mrs. Gross loved experimenting with recipes for home cooking and entertaining at frequent dinner parties. She accepted her death with dignity and grace. Somehow Ellensue replaced fear of dying with candor and acceptance in the face of truly wishing for more, her friend Sue Goldstein-Rubel said. Her legacy to all lucky enough to have been in her orbit is to live with honesty, through to the end, and love the life you have. Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Peter; a daughter, Mindy; three grandchildren; two nieces; and two nephews. The family will receive visitors at home from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 16. Burial is private. The family plans to offer some of Mrs. Gross paintings for sale on her website, http://www.ellensuegross.com/. The proceeds will be donated to charity in her name. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 16:45:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Disinfect the soles of your shoes and iron your outerwear before entering the workplace. Dine in the cafeteria in rotation and sit at least two meters away from your fellow workers. These are just some of the measures Japanese company Musashino Chemical (China) Co., Ltd. has put in place to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, as the firm located in east China's Jiangxi Province resumed operations this week after an extended Spring Festival holiday. "We have taken full precautions as the safety of our employees is our top priority," said Fan Guizeng, the executive vice general manager of the firm, where nearly all of its 150 employees have returned to work. Like Musashino, many Japanese companies in China have gradually resumed operations this week after implementing detailed safety measures. Some of them have offered flexible working hours and working-from-home options for their employees due to the virus outbreak. At Suzhou Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., a Japanese firm specializing in crystal-related products, about half of its 1,128 employees had returned to work since Monday. Fujiwara Nobumitsu, the president of the company, said the local government had set up a service team to provide timely information for foreign firms, which greatly helped their resumption of operations. "Our staff in human resources and manufacturing are fully cooperating with the government to provide information about our employees and take precautionary measures against the virus," said Fujiwara. But the president also expressed concerns over his company's current production output, citing the absence of the company's out-of-province employees as well as those in its downstream partners. "We are looking forward to seeing our suppliers resume operation in a timely manner while giving full consideration to combating the outbreak," said Fujiwara. "Through our concerted efforts, I am confident we will overcome the obstacles, and the Chinese economy will be back to normal." In Pinghu Economic Zone in east China's Zhejiang Province, over 80 percent of the 30-plus Japanese companies had resumed operation by Tuesday. At Nidec Shibaura (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd., more than 1,100 workers have returned to work. The company has disinfected all public spaces and ordered workers to dine in rotation. "Though the precautionary measures have added a lot of work, they are crucial to containing the virus and the development of our firm," said Zhang Yuping, a manager at the company's general affairs department. "We will fully implement these measures." On Monday, the Ministry of Commerce issued a circular urging local authorities to provide better services for foreign-funded enterprises amid the outbreak of the virus. Efforts should be made to help foreign-funded companies resume production and operation in an orderly manner. Despite the toll the epidemic has taken on business activities in China, many executives expressed confidence that the negative impacts are short-lived and the country will resume its growth momentum. In Ricoh China's Shanghai office, mask-wearing office workers had to undergo body temperature checks before work and sat at least a meter apart from each other. The company also extended lunch hours to avoid the gathering of people. "The epidemic is short-lived but we are pursuing long-term development," said Koji Miyao, CEO of Ricoh China, in a letter to the company's employees and business partners. This year, the company will further tap its technological advantages and push forward a digital-based working mode, said the CEO. Hideki Ozawa, president and CEO of Canon (China), said the company has donated 3 million yuan (about 429,000 U.S. dollars) worth of high-end Aquilion Lightning CT equipment to the virus-affected regions to combat the epidemic. Eying greater development in the Chinese market, Canon will introduce more advanced products and technologies, and strengthen cooperation with its Chinese partners, said Ozawa. While gradually resuming some of its business operations, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation encouraged all staff members to work from home for the time being. "The company's business might be negatively affected to a certain degree from the epidemic as some employees still need in-house isolation for a few more days and some clients are based in Wuhan," the epicenter of the virus, said Tomizawa Katsuyuki, corporate executive of Mitsubishi and its chief representative in China. "But I see opportunities for the company's long-term development in China." "Industries such as 5G and investments on food and healthcare are growing fast, which are positive," said the executive. "I believe China will fulfill its goal of high-quality development." As defined by the Texas Optometric Association (TOA), young optometrists are defined as those who have been in active practice ten years or less, including residency or fellowship who often show remarkable leadership skills when serving their profession, their patients, and their community. The TOA recognizes the deserving young optometrist for performance of outstanding services on behalf of the profession and to the visual welfare of the public. Dr. Reid Robertson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Brigham Young University. He attended the University of Houston College of Optometry, where he was awarded the Zelda Schiffman Neuro Ophthalmology Award for excellence in clinical assessment and patient care at the MS Eye Clinic in Houston, TX. He has worked with leaders in glaucoma research at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has received additional training working with the Cherokee Nation through Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He is experienced in pre & post-operative LASIK and cataract surgery management. Dr. Reid Robertson is also very involved in his community and is an active member of the Allen Chamber of Commerce and the Allen Lions Club. He has volunteered his time and expertise at assisted living communities around Dallas to educate Dallas residents about their eye health and changes they can expect in the aging eye. Dr. Reid Robertson strives to give each and every patient a memorable experience by focusing on individual needs and concerns. "It is an honor to receive the Young Optometrist of the Year Award. I am thankful for all the great people that have supported me and helped me grow, mainly: my wife, friends and the great doctors of TSO. I have great respect for the doctors and staff of the TOA who sacrifice so much to help build a better future for our profession. I am happy to give them my support and help. I hope that all optometrists can participate in their state associations so that we can remain an independent, proud profession," said TSO Chairman of the Board Dr. Reid Robertson. "TSO Network is pleased to have such an outstanding young optometrist to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. His commitment to the profession stands above the rest. We are confident in Dr. Robertson's forward-thinking leadership, and his abilities to guide the next wave of optometrists. Being recognized by the TOA is promising of a successful career for Dr. Robertson, and in line with our long-term strategic plan for the Doctors of TSO and TOA partnership," said John Marvin, President of TSO. TSO's Board of Directors and Officers will continue to oversee the long-term strategic plan for TSO, enabling the Doctors of TSO to advance their mission, vision and strategic objectives to become Texan's first choice in eye care. About TSO Texas State Optical, founded in 1936, operates today as a member-owned cooperative consisting of more than 120 locations across Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. While independent, the Doctors of TSO collectively uphold the TSO brand and commitment to caring for the eyes of Texas. At TSO.com you can easily find a doctor, request an appointment with your local office, or consider a career in the optometry industry. Visit tso.com for more information. SOURCE Texas State Optical Related Links http://www.tso.com The ongoing coronavirus contagion that is spreading far and wide from Wuhan, is prompting the need for a coronavirus cure. One of the problems is researchers have to start from virtually nothing. For the few coronaviruses already known to science, neither of them has a definite treatment. Most cures are just minimizing the symptoms, but a true cure is not finally realized. Viral treatments for other diseases like Ebola and HIV has some efficacy, but have not yet been confirmed. Stephen Morse from Columbia University said that the coronavirus uses RNA to transmit their proteins, not DNA to infect host cells. RNA is used a lot for many cellular processes and it bypasses cell anti-bodies. For the meantime, without a definite cure for the contagion, testing existing drugs as a remedy is not out of the question. It will be less expensive as well, for research and development as a more affordable and available treatment. The first American patient was given an experimental drug called "Remdesivir" when his symptoms continued to get worse. This drug was developed to treat the Ebola virus, according a report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Doctors was required to ask permission from the Food and Drug Administration before giving any drugs to the patient. No side effects were experienced by the patient and he was later released from the hospital. Also read: Coronavirus Updates: Pangolins Possible Link to Outbreak, Hoax Mass Killing Story of 20k Chinese Spreads Use of animal models of remdesivir in simulations will affect other types of coronaviruses, like MERS and SARS. More studies are needed to release the drug conclusively as an alternative cure. An ongoing study is now being done to determine exactly what anti-virals are a coronavirus cure. Several chemicals like chloroquine for malaria and autoimmune disease may be able to stop the coronavirus in human cells. Both drugs show potential at lower concentrations, and are not toxic to human cells. Fanxia Zhu, a professor at Florida State University noted that results from tests are good, and show promise. However, these drugs require more testing as the escalating contagion continues. Initial performance results of the drugs Chloroquine and Remdesivir were noted in the lab within a short time. More studies and tests are in line to see if the drugs are a definite cure. There is a good chance that these anti-virals might have worked on animals, but not humans. Until human trials, it will be an unknown factor whether they work or not. Treating viruses is not that easy with the variety of their types, specific treatments are needed and not just a general cure for all. Giving the right treatment is important, or cells can be compromised rather than cured. Once a virus finds a way to enter the cell, hijack the cellular machines, the host cell gets infected and mutated then kills the host cells. The process continues unless the right anti-viral bodies are used against the virus. In 2003, the SARS virus was active but was cured by the right anti-viral medicine. The coronavirus however, is different, which makes the need to find the right cure even more crucial. Finding the right coronavirus cure is underway, but for now, any anti-viral that will stave off its symptoms for the time being is incredibly important. Related article: China Fast Tracks Coronavirus Testing to Cope with Mounting Death Toll @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Aviation security regulator BCAS has banned e-cigarettes and similar products on all airports and aircraft in India, according to an official document. "Upon the prohibition of electronic-cigarettes by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it has been decided that e-cigarettes includes all forms of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), heat not burn products, e-hookah and the like devices," stated the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security circular dated January 10. Distribution, sale, storage and advertisement of such products is prohibited on any airport premises or any aircraft departing or arriving in India, the regulator added. In September last year, the Central government banned production, sale and import of e-cigarettes and similar products citing health risk to people, especially the youth. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite the promises made by Ukrainian top officials a few years ago, Ukraine was not able to achieve a significant breakthrough in the matter of providing its needs with gas extracted from domestic mineral resources. Moreover, in 2019, production even declined by 1.4% Open source Officials assured that by 2020 the country would completely abandon gas imports, but we did not come close to this level: with a consumption of 29.8 billion cubic meters production amounted to only 20.7 billion cubic meters. The largest gas producer in the country - Ukrgasvydobuvannya - according to the 20/20 program was supposed to reach 18.3 billion cubic meters by 2019, but it has produced only 15.5 billion. There are no grounds for optimism yet: no significant breakthrough is expected in the next year or two. How gas production declined in Ukraine The intentions of Ukraine to become an energy independent state by the end of 2020 were repeatedly voiced by representatives of the previous government, Volodymyr Groysman, Petro Poroshenko, Igor Nasalyk. All of them claimed that during 2016-2020 our country will be able to abandon gas imports. But, despite the fact that gas consumption has fallen due to the worsening economic situation, domestic production volumes are still far from its level. According to ExPro, citing data from the Ministry of Energy and the Environment, over the course of 2019 the volume of natural gas consumption in the country fell by 8% to 29.8 billion cubic meters. Such reduction rates were record-breaking over the past 10 years: 2018 year consumption was relatively stable between 32.2-32.4 billion cubic meters. It is noted that metallurgical enterprises reduced consumption by 4.4%, sugar factories - by 29%, population - by 14%. The total gas production, according to the IV quarter digest of Association of Gas Production Companies, in 2019 decreased by 1.4% to 20.7 billion cubic meters. The reduction is due to the updated strategy of Ukrgasvydobuvannya UGV (it accounts for about 70% of total production) for exploration and production of gas, the text of the digest says. It is worth saying that the issue of UGV production volumes is one of the most resonant today. And this is understandable because billions of investments were allocated under the company's promises to significantly increase production volumes. The six-figure sum of the company ex-head Oleg Prokhorenko's official salary was also impressive. In accordance with the 20/20 program, under which investments were allocated, the UGV was supposed to increase the production of natural gas from 14.5 billion cubic meters in 2015 and 2016 to 15.2 billion cubic meters in 2017, 16.5 billion cubic meters in 2018, 18.3 billion cubic meters in 2019 and 20.1 billion cubic meters in 2020. And now, apparently, it will be difficult to find out if we are talking about commercial gas or gross production. The reason for the growth of production volumes was the cooperation of private owners with state-owned companies to develop mothballed wells. In addition, effective work with the existing fund, which included capital repairs and intensification methods, in particular hydraulic fracturing, was noted by the executive director of the Association of gas producing companies. As an example, he recalled Ukrnafta, which has no opportunity to invest in the drilling of new wells, but it showed growth of more than 7% due to overhaul of wells and conducting operations to stimulate production. Last year, Ukrnafta produced 4.7% more oil and condensate than a year earlier and increased gas production by 7%. In 2018-2019 it conducted 24 hydraulic fracturing operations, completed an overhaul at 281 wells, and 150 operations to stimulate production. In 2019, the company removed 121 wells from inaction, receiving an additional 259 thousand tons of oil and condensate and 224.7 million cubic meters of natural gas. At the same time, an unresolved problem for the company remains historical tax debt, which for many years has been holding back its opportunities for development. The company has repeatedly stated that they spend money on servicing tax debt (constantly increasing fines and penalties) instead of investing in production and drilling. At the same time, Ukrnafta spent twice as much on servicing debt than on investments. As a result, only one well was drilled last year. Should we expect an increase in gas production? In 2020, Ukrgasvydobuvannya will strive to maintain gas volumes at the level of 2019. In July, the company announced an update to its production strategy. Taking into account global changes in the international gas market, namely a 50% drop in gas prices on world markets and an increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to Europe, major global gas companies adjusted their business strategies, and the Ukrainian Naftogaz group was no exception," the press service of the UGV says. According to the implementation of the updated strategy, the UGV plans for 2020 are to maintain the volume of marketable gas at the level of the previous year. Ukrgasvydobuvannya said that they would continue to implement partnership projects launched in 2019, in particular, on concluding PEC (production enhancement contract) contracts (concluded with oil and gas companies that own modern technologies to stimulate production) to increase the volumes extracted at depleted fields in the West region. They will also "attract experienced international players to participate in competitions for the production sharing agreements." As you know, UGV attracted the Canadian Vermilion for this form of cooperation. Also, the company officially announced its interest in shelf gas production, which it had not previously commented on: The Black Sea shelf has significant potential for increasing Ukrainian gas production. For Ukrgasvydobuvannya, this is one of the promising directions. Today there are a large number of companies that are successfully developing the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. Ukrgasvydobuvannya is ready to attract world-renowned partners to work on the Ukrainian shelf, but the state must ensure a stable regulation base. The Association of Gas Production Companies noted that in addition to the existing well stock and traditionally developed areas, Ukraine held a series of oil and gas auctions and tenders last year, for which a record number of blocks with a total area of 29,000 square km were put up. As a result of 5 rounds of auctions 19 sites were sold, 14 of which were acquired by Ukrgasvydobuvannya, one site was bought by a foreign investor, the Slovak Nafta company, and the rest - by domestic independent enterprises. In addition to oil and gas auctions, 13 blocks were put up for other contests. For 9 contests, the approval of texts of agreements between investors and the Interdepartmental Commission is ongoing. According to the law, agreements must be concluded within a year after the announcement of the winners of tenders. It is worth noting that the process of concluding production sharing agreements is delayed in connection with the lawsuits that are ongoing in relation to the two sites. As reported, one of the areas has become the subject of litigation. So, the company Ukrnaftoburinnya, which is owned by Igor Kolomoisky, Vitaliy Khomutynnik, and Pavlo Fuchs and filed the appeal on Zinkovska Square, was not recognized as a winner. It won the courts cancellation of the clause for competitive conditions, which may jeopardize the results for other areas. In addition, on December 13, 2019, the UGV filed a lawsuit to annul the decision of the Interagency Commission to determine the winner on Varvinska Square. "Based on the results of the statement, the court opened the proceedings and scheduled a preparatory hearing. The company hopes for an unbiased review of the case and a lawful and fair decision regarding the repeated objective consideration of applications by the interdepartmental commission in order to ensure equal rights for potential investors and receive the most benefits from the agreement concluded. The offer of Ukrgasvydobuvannya regarding Varvinska Square meets the minimum requirements approved by the Cabinet. The company has offered an investment of 1.5 billion USD and the work program on the 750 sq km of 3D seismic,"- the message reads. Note that the winner on Varvinska Square was the Aspect Energy company, which submitted an application together with the Sigma Bleyzer Foundation, which has long been operating in Ukraine. Its founder Mikhail Blazer emigrated to the USA in 1978, and from the 90s began to do business in Ukraine. The Association of Gas Production Companies then reported that Aspect Energy (headquartered in Denver, Colorado, USA) specializes in hydrocarbon exploration and has a fairly successful portfolio of various projects in the USA, also operates in the Middle East and Central Europe. Between 1998 and 2010, Aspect and its partners invested more than $ 1 billion in the drilling of 525 wells. The success rate was 60%, and the total stock was 20 billion cubic meters of gas. Aspect is one of two foreign companies that are now showing interest in the Ukrainian subsoil. Others keep a respectful distance. Slovak Nafta also won the auction and bought through its subsidiary Nafta RV a license (for 20 years) for Vatazhkovska Square (near Poltava). "The decision on drilling will be made based on the results of geophysical work. If there are no delays with permits and approvals of individual government bodies, we expect that the first reserves can be confirmed within two to three years," the company said. It is worth noting that work in other new areas will also not begin earlier. Since the areas were sold last year, companies will only be able to start working on them after an environmental impact assessment, which usually takes at least 6-8 months. Before obtaining this conclusion, gas producers have virtually no right to carry out any work. Therefore, if we talk about those sites that were sold in the first round in spring 2019, then the winners only in October-November completed the EIA procedure (environmental impact assessment, ed.). Accordingly, the first except work (in particular, seismic, which precedes the drilling of exploration wells) can start only in the first quarter of this year", - said Artem Petrenko. UGV also reported that 3-4 years pass from the moment of obtaining a special permit to a new area until receiving the first cubic meters of gas. "Now, the available geological information and the decision regarding the need for additional geological studies are being considered on the sites that the company acquired in 2019. In accordance with the data obtained, the drilling of exploration wells will be planned." At the same time, given the significant drop in gas prices on international markets and the high cost of drilling new wells, Ukrgasvydobuvannya revised approaches to the selection of wells for drilling. "The company analyzes the economic feasibility of production projects in accordance with the new market conditions and selects only the best wells where there is confidence in the return on investment." Given the low gas prices, investors and private gas producers are more likely to optimize their plans. *** Unfortunately, all this is clear evidence that promises in gas production are the one pleasant thing. Projects are implemented within 3-4 years, so you can safely take budget money and not be afraid of responsibility: no one asks us for unfulfilled promises. The programs, in the end, can be reviewed, and officials who received millions of salaries can be fired without any assessment of the implementation of their KPI and punishment for their non-compliance. This is especially true on the eve of March when the contract with current Naftogaz executive board of Andriy Kobolev expires. It cannot be ruled out that it will not be extended, and new people will be put at the helm of the same Ukrgasvydobuvannya who will again promise energy independence, production gains and other benefits for multi-billion investments in the foggy future. Experience shows that this should be taken with skepticism, as well as statements by officials regarding the creation of a positive investment climate and conditions for foreign companies wishing to produce gas in Ukraine. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, is a relatively new form of treatment to this area, but it's actually been around since the 1960s. Though it was originally known as the primary form of treatment for deep sea divers suffering from "the bends," HBOT has been adapted to a variety of uses. For one Park Rapids, Minnesota, man, it meant the difference between an eventual, full healing and further amputation of a limb on which he already used a prosthetic. Chennai, Feb 12 : The Puducherry Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Central government to withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Citizens Register (NRC). The resolution was moved by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy at a special session and was supported by the DMK and the Congress. The members of the AIADMK and the All India N.R. Congress boycotted the session while the three nominated members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) walked out of the house in protest. A mother has shared the secret to cooking the perfect roast potatoes - and it requires just two supermarket ingredients. The Australian woman said all you need is potatoes and a dried packet of French onion soup mix, which costs just 95 cents. 'When doing roast spuds, peel, cut and place in a baking dish then get French Onion dry soup mix and sprinkle over top of spuds,' she said in a Facebook group. An Australian mother has shared the secret to cooking the perfect roast potatoes The recipe requires a dried packet of French onion soup mix, which costs just 95 cents Next, she drizzles oil over the top and then places the tray into the oven to bake. 'It's the only way I do roast spuds now,' she said. 'It's the bomb my mum taught me.' Many were amazed by the simple recipe, while others said they have been using this method for years. Some suggested using Vegeta stock powder instead of the French onion mix because it 'tastes better'. While others said their secret ingredient is duck fat - or just a simple salt and oil would do the trick. Last year, Australian consumer organisation CHOICE revealed why putting your pre-boiled potatoes in the fridge before you roast them is the secret to perfectly crispy spuds. The food experts said putting your potatoes in the fridge or freezer, will result in 'world-class chips with a delicious glass-like crunch'. Choice said if you want 'world-class chips with a delicious glass-like crunch' you should put pre-boiled potatoes in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes before putting them in the oven 'The super-dry air in your fridge or freezer is just what you need to remove moisture and prime them for roasting,' they said. 'After 10 minutes or so, take them out, toss them with fat and oil and throw them in the oven.' For restaurant-perfect chips, Choice also said you should 'rough them [the potatoes] up a bit' and give them a good shake to break down the starch on the surface of the vegetable and maximise their surface area. And while many home cooks think you should add salt and pepper before you put your potatoes in the oven, the opposite is true. 'Salt your potatoes at the end of the cooking process - not the start,' CHOICE said, because salt draws moisture from the inside of the potato to the surface, undoing all of your fridge's good work. Vice President Mike Pence will visit Oakland County later this month. Pence will travel to Michigan for a bus tour with stops in Lansing and Troy on Tuesday, Feb. 25. While in Lansing, he will deliver remarks at the Michigan Farm Bureau Lansing Legislative Seminar. Later in the day, he will host a Keep America Great rally at the Detroit Marriott, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd. Doors open to the general public at 3 p.m. for the 5 p.m. event. The Michigan Farm Bureau Lansing Legislative Seminar is held annually to discuss policy and issues affecting agriculture. Its attended by stakeholders, farmers, and legislative leaders. Pences visit comes two weeks before the states presidential primary on Tuesday, March 10. The vice president has visited Michigan multiple times during the current election cycle including stops in Saginaw, Portage, and Holland in December. In 2016, voters in Troy chose Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton over then Republican nominee Donald Trump by a 314-vote margin, according to the Oakland County Elections Division. Trump lost to Clinton in Oakland County by eight percentage points, a 53,867-vote margin. Bernie Sanders edges Buttigieg in NH, giving Dems 2 front-runners Last month, President Trump held a rally in Warren at Dana Manufacturing Inc., an automotive supplier, one day following his signing of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). It was the presidents second visit to Michigan in a six-week span after holding a re-election Christmas rally in Battle Creek in December. Although Trump won Michigan in 2016 by a 10,704-vote margin, hes currently trailing all of the top Democratic presidential candidates in state head-to-head polling including former Vice President Joe Biden (six-point lead), Sen. Bernie Sanders (five-point lead), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (three-point lead), former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (seven-point lead), and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (four-point lead). Trump says new trade agreement is whole different ballgame during Warren visit Bloomberg opens offices in battleground Macomb County, three other sites Elizabeth Warrens challenge: Breaking out of murky middle Sometimes its the simple moments in life that spiral into the most beautiful ones. For Mallory and Chazz Romeo, that moment was a seemingly mundane office encounter that turned into fish tacos and eventually a fairytale proposal atop a waterfall. In hindsight, however, a little matchmaking made their story possible. I used to work with Chazzs brother in an attorneys office a few years ago, Mallory explains. So, his brother kind of played matchmaker and had Chazz come in a couple times. He just thought we had a lot in common and would have a good time together. After seeing Chazz a second timeand Mallory admits there were a few butterflies from the get-gothe pair took their budding interest from the office to Little Donkey, where they shared a meal and later exchanged numbers. The rest, as Mallory says, is history. Chazz and Mallory dated for four years after that, sharing a mutual love for dogs, the outdoors, and exploring Birmingham. It wasnt until they took a family trip to Cherokee National Forest, however, that the pair would start the next chapter of their life together. It was our first trip to the mountains with my family, Mallory says. We were going to explore Blue Ridge and Copperhill, visit Mercier Orchards, whitewater raft on the Ocoee, hike, and just enjoy each others company. Near the end of the trip, Chazz suggested a hike to Benton Falls, a beautiful 65-foot waterfall with breathtaking views of the sprawling Georgia landscape. When they got to the top, Chazz began to explain the true meaning of the tripwhich was to ask Mallory if she would spend the rest of her life with him. Since we were at the top of the falls, it was almost like we were on stage, entertaining everyone at the bottom, Mallory says. But in that moment, it just felt like he and I were the only ones in the Cherokee National Forrest. Mallory, of course, said yes and the pair began planning their dream day. Similar to how their engagement unfolded, they opted for an intimate wedding with a mountainous backdrop. Instead of having a long engagement with ample time for planning, the pair chose to use Simply Eloped, a service that provides planning resources for small destination weddings. Mallory and Chazz were wed in Hot Springs, North Carolina at Paint Rock Farm. The couples family, close friends, and pups made the journey from Birmingham with the wedding dress, florals, and all other details in tow. We made our own bouquets and boutonnieres the night before, Mallory says of the laidback wedding. The next day, we woke up, had breakfast, and got ready at the cabin. It was a very relaxed day. One of Mallorys most cherished moments leading up to the ceremony was her first look with her father. And, of course, being surrounded by her closest friends and familywith a gorgeous backdrop of rolling green hillsmade the day unforgettable. Mallory wore a simple, romantic dress she found at a sample sale and says the day was quaint, sweet, and everything she envisioned it would be. It just kind of felt like a family gathering more than anything, she says. After the ceremony and reception, guests gathered at the cabin for a post-wedding evening filled with bonfire chats and yard games. The whole affair, Mallory says, was an accurate depiction of her and Chazzs relationshipeasy, relaxed, and full of love. Society a lot of times makes you feel like you need to have some huge, elaborate wedding and throw a great party for your guestswhich is great, but if thats not something that you want, its OK to keep it simple and keep it about your commitment to each other, Mallory says. You dont have to go over the top to do that. We kept it simple, and we enjoyed every moment. Vendors Makeup: Emily Dover Invitation Suite: Ann Leigh Art & Design Florals: Davis Wholesale Florist Planning: Simply Eloped This story appears in Birmingham magazines February 2020 issue. Subscribe today! Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Patriot-News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. Story by Matt McKinney of Spotlight PA The sister and niece of a childless widow have won a 'fight to the death' over her fortune amid claims she was 'stitched up' into leaving her estate to her brother. Shirley Guymer, 78, died in 2016 but changed her will two months earlier meaning her Hampshire home was left to Terry Crook and his sons Malcolm and Andrew. Previously her will split 95 per cent of her estate - estimated to be worth 825,000 - between her 11 nieces and nephews, the children of all five of her siblings. Mrs Guymer's sister Diane Stoner, 77, and niece Karen Reeve, 51, accused Mr Crook and his sons of 'stitching up an old lady' with the 'shocking' change. Today the case was dramatically halted when the men agreed that the will leaving them the house should be scrapped. Shirley Guymer, 78, died in 2016 but changed her will two months earlier so her Hampshire home was left to brother Terry Crook and his sons Malcolm and Andrew (pictured left to right). Today they agreed this will should be scrapped and an earlier one dividing her estate between 11 nieces and nephews used as the final one Instead the 2015 will - which was backed by Mrs Stoner, Mrs Reeve and the rest of the family - will be pronounced as her final will, lawyers said. Despite hearing six full days of evidence, Judge Robin Hollington QC did not make a ruling on the specific allegations against the men. Speaking after the hearing in London, Mrs Reeve said: 'We are absolutely delighted with the outcome and that Shirley's wishes will be carried out. 'We are really pleased that Rowans Hospice, in Waterlooville, will now be receiving a legacy for the care that they gave to my late uncle, Shirley's husband. 'This has taken four years of hard work. I would like to thank my mum Diane Stoner, my husband and all of my family.' During the hearing the women had claimed the three men guided Mrs Guymer's hand as she left the 645,000 house, on Butser Hill near Petersfield, that made up the bulk of her estate, to his side of the family. That will, which she signed in hospital, had trumped a previous which split the estate and meant other family members would not inherit a share of Mrs Guymer's estate. The women said the cancer-stricken pensioner was 'bullied and coerced' by Mr Crook and his 'clan' into changing her will just two months before she died. Mrs Guymer's will originally said 95 per cent of her estate would be split between her 11 nieces and nephews, the children of all five of her siblings (pictured is her sister Diane Stoner, 77) But Mr Crook, Andrew and Malcolm insisted the last will was valid and 'stubborn and strong' Shirley, a former nurse, knew her own mind when she signed it in hospital. The men and women faced each other across court in what Judge Robin Hollington QC called 'a fight to the death' over the widow's 850,000 will and ownership of the house. The court heard how Mrs Guymer worked as a nurse at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, and lived with her dockyard electrician husband Bernard at the Butser Hill house from 1972. The land on which the house stood had been bought by Mr Crook and he lived next-door to his sister and brother-in-law after handing over part of the plot to them. The couple did not have children and, after Bernard's death in 2014, Mrs Guymer wrote a will, splitting almost everything equally between her nieces and nephews. However two months before her death two new documents were signed, first handing over part of her land to Mr Crook and the next a new will completely different to her previous one. Mrs Guymer's new will, which she signed in hospital, stated her brother Terry would get 50 per cent of the house and his two sons 25 per cent each. The rest of her fortune was split between the rest of the family (pictured left her nephew Malcolm Crook and right niece Karen Reeve) The new will instead left half of her house, known as Heatherdown and now valued at 645,000, to Mr Crook, 78, with his sons Andrew, 50, and Malcolm, 54, getting a quarter share. The rest of her fortune, which amounted to about 180,000 in cash and investments, was split in various amounts between her five siblings and their children. Challenging the 2016 will, barrister Julian Sidoli claimed that Mrs Guymer did not have the mental capacity to understand what she was doing when she signed it. He claimed the will - signed in a hospital waiting room - was 'procured by undue influence' of the three men and it was Malcolm who was the driving force behind it to ensure the house stayed on Mr Crook's side of the family. 'Between you and the rest of your clan, you stitched up an old lady,' Mr Sidoli put to Mr Crook in the witness box. 'She lacked knowledge of the 2016 will, she lacked capacity to make it in the first place, she was bullied and coerced by you and your family. The 2016 will is Malcolm's will, not Shirley's.' Denying all the accusations, Mr Crook branded them 'rubbish'. His sister had simply changed her mind, knowing that she was terminally ill, he claimed. Brother and sister Mr Crook and Mrs Guymer lived side by side on Butser Hill (pictured the two houses). Mr Crook bought the land on which the homes stood and handed over part of the plot to his sister and her husband. Mrs Guymer lived at the address from 1972 Carol Davies, for Mr Crook and the brothers, said Mrs Guymer's own GP thought she was well enough to make the will and that her change of heart could easily be explained by the fact that the house was originally owned by Mr Crook and she wanted it to revert back to him on her death. 'The purported allegations are in reality 'mud-slinging' with attempts to cast aspersions on the defendants with implications that they unduly influenced the deceased,' she said. 'There is nothing credible in the claimants' case or evidence to support any findings of undue influence by any of the defendants, their wives or family or others, by inference or otherwise.' Giving evidence, Malcolm denied any wrongdoing and said his aunt Shirley had been like a 'second mum' to him. He and his brother had grown up next to her on Butser Hill and she referred to them as her 'sons of Butser,' he claimed. 'She looked after me as a baby. She looked after me through the years we lived together and then I looked after her when she became poorly and ultimately until she passed away,' he said. Mrs Stoner's barrister claimed Mrs Guymer did not have the mental capacity to understand what she was doing when she signed the new will, however Mr Crook's representation hit back saying her GP thought she was well enough to make a will (pictured is the gate to the property) But Mr Sidoli claimed Malcolm had 'actively participated' in the making of the new will in January 2016, going beyond 'merely helping' his increasingly vulnerable aunt. 'It appears it is Malcolm giving the instructions,' he told the judge. 'He is not acting as a conduit....she is a passive passenger.' The court heard Mrs Stoner's and Karen's case is supported by all of the family, except Mr Crook, Andrew, Malcolm and their immediate family. Mrs Stoner told the court she would get nothing if the 2016 will is overturned, but is still fighting against it. 'I'm not happy because my sister told us all that she had left it to her nieces and nephews and they were all aware of it,' she said. 'The disappointment was acute for them and the whole family. I'm not here for myself. It's more of a moral issue.' Her sister, Dee Parker, who is also supporting the case, told the judge that Mr Crook had constantly 'controlled and belittled' Mrs Guymer. 'She didn't hate him. She loved him, but she was frightened of him. I don't hate him,' she added. 'But I am ashamed of him.' Karen, who is Mrs Stoner's daughter, said her aunt had never had 'much regard' for Mr Crook. 'She always said "Terry is not having my land". Then suddenly to have a will written in favour of Terry was shocking,' she said. 'I personally am not interested in receiving money, but I was shocked at the turnaround, and the change.' The case began at Central London County Court last week, but it was only on the eighth day that it settled. The two women's solicitor, Laura Rolls, of Hampshire-based Glanvilles Legal Services, said she was delighted with the outcome. She said: 'I am over the moon with the outcome for my clients. It's been a long, hard journey.' The decision means 95 per cent of the value of the house and approximately 180,000 in cash and investments will be split equally between Shirley's 11 nieces and nephews. Rowan's Hospice, in Waterlooville, will receive five per cent of the value of the net estate. A French schoolgirl died in her bath after a charging phone fell onto her chest and slipped into the water in France, it has emerged. The 15-year-old, identified only as Tiffenn, was electrocuted after the device slipped into the water at her home in Marseille on Sunday. Emergency crews rushed the girl to the city's Timone hospital and tried to resuscitate her but to no avail. A French schoolgirl died in her bath after a charging phone fell onto her chest and slipped into the water in France, it has emerged. The tragedy happened in Marseille (stock picture) The teenager is said to have died of cardio-respiratory failure as a result of an electrocution. Reports claim she was in her bath with her smartphone on charger when it fell onto her chest and slipped into the water. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of death. The make and model of the charging phone has has not yet been revealed. The magazine Closer have reported that the girl's first name is Tiffenn. According to local media, the schoolgirl's tragic death has provoked a 'wave of emotion' on social media. BFMTV report that 40 people die electrocuted every year in France with 3,000 injured. Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-6th, said Bruce White, of White Lodging, said he was no longer interested in pursuing his proposed $350 million multi-use development, the Farm at Crossroad Commons, at the former Radisson site in Merrillville after the Lake County Council refused to pass the tax to help pay for the underground parking that would have been built there. The Permanent Representative of Vietnam in Geneva, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai on February 11 chaired a meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva (ACG) in the WTO, the first in her capacity as the new head of the committee. Permanent Representative of Vietnam in Geneva, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai (in yellow shirt) chairs a meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva (ACG) in WTO on February 11. At the meeting, delegations of ASEAN member states in Geneva reached agreement on steps of preparation for WTO-related work in the time ahead, including the drafting of a ASEAN joint statement to be issued at the upcoming Trade Policy Review of the European Union, accelerating negotiations on fisheries subsidies and strengthening dialogues with ASEAN partners on WTO reforms. Meetings of the ACG in WTO provide a platform for ASEAN member states to share views and infomation, foster their coordination on work of the WTO and contribute to strengthening the intra-bloc solidarity./. VNA Chinese authorities hid a tortured political prisoner in a coronavirus quarantine facility to cover-up signs of abuse and to stop him seeing his family, according to an activist website. News of the alleged abuse and suspected subsequent cover-up was reported on Minghui.org, a website that highlights abuses of followers of Falon Gong, a Chinese religious practice that has been subject to persecution from authorities. Gong Fengqiang, 48, was allegedly hurled into a coronavirus quarantine facility on January 27 near Yilan County, Heilongjiang Province, after passing out from the abuse sustained in his torture chamber at a nearby detention facility. 48-year-old Gong Fengqiang was allegedly taken to a quarantine room for coronavirus patients after he lost consciousness from being abused in a detention center for practicing Falun Gong in Yilan County, China More than 42,000 people have contracted the new strain of coronavirus now named as COVID-19 which originated in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China, and there have been more than 1,000 deaths. After the outbreak, China has erected a series of new hospitals, hoping to isolate and treat patient of the virus. However, Minghui.org, alleges that some coronavirus quarantine centres are being used to cover-up the abuses against political prisoners. The site claims that Gong and his late wife, Li Yanjie, were repeatedly arrested and tortured over a 20-year period for failing to renounce their faith. Yanjie died less than a month before Gong's arrest, the site claims. Chinese authorities allegedly chased her and she fell to her death trying to get away. The report adds that Gong was first jailed in 2001 for two years, then in 2007 for five. He reportedly suffered a mental break down after being tortured in custody. Gong's wife, Li Yanjie, is said to have died a month earlier after Chinese authorities chased her and she fell to her death while evading arrest in Yilan County, China An undated photo shows shackles on a person at a Chinese labor camp from footage Among the torture, the site claims Gong was force-fed, beaten and denied use of the toilet at the prison. According to the site, this caused significant health problems once he was released in 2008, including amnesia and an inability to look after himself. Around 2,000 Falun Gong members have died in custody since 1999, the Guardian reported supporters outside the country having said. The UN reported that they are disproportionately tortured in detention centres in China. Chinese authorities have classed the movement as a cult, despite no proven plans for violence or illegal activity. An undated photo shows an image of the Jilin womens labor camp (shown), where members of the Falun Gong have been held in the past A 2019 report found that followers of Falun Gong, were 'certainly' among those used as a source for 'forced organ harvesting' in recent decades. Persecution of the Falun Gong began in 1999 after it had attracted tens of millions of followers and came to be seen as a threat to the communist party. Former Falun Gong inmates gave testimonies of undergoing repeated blood tests and organ scans in Chinese jails. Some claimed that several inmates had disappeared after being tested. Jennifer Zeng, 52, a Falun Gong follower, said she was imprisoned for a year. She said she was held against her will, physically and mentally tortured, and kept in cramped conditions in a labour camp in 2000. 'On the day we were transferred to the labour camp, we were taken to a medical facility where we underwent physical check-ups. We were interrogated about what diseases we had and I told them I had hepatitis C,' she told the Guardian. 'The second time, after about a month in the camp, everyone was handcuffed and put in a van and taken to a huge hospital. That was for a more thorough physical check-up. We were given X-rays. On the third occasion in the camp, they were drawing blood from us. We were all told to line up in the corridor and the test were given,' she added. She fled China in 2001. It noted that the persecution has been lucrative for some communist officials, through extortion, slave labor, and forced organ harvesting. Independent investigators, in a report last year, confirmed a vast state-run system of hospitals used in organ harvesting. While its unclear exactly how many Falun Gong practitioners have been killed for their organs, the report estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 transplants are performed each year. Because of the inefficiency of Chinas organ transplantation system, the investigators believe in most instances one organ transplanted means one victim killed. The Minghui report also comes as officials at several crematoriums in the coronavirus epicenter of Wuhan, China, told The Epoch Times that their intake has skyrocketed in recent weeks, suggesting that more people are dying of the disease than officially reported. The new coronavirus is in the same family of pathogens as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which caused hundreds of deaths in China in 2003, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed more than 500 worldwide since 2012. Critics say the move means hundreds, including children, will be left stranded and stateless, and could breach Indonesias constitution. Hundreds of Indonesians who left the country to join ISIL will be unable to return. The Indonesian governments decision to ban former ISIL fighters and their families from returning affects nearly 700 men, women and children, most of them in Syria. Critics say the move means hundreds will be left stranded and stateless, and could breach Indonesias constitution. Al Jazeeras Jessica Washington reports from Jakarta. Agencies campaigning against domestic violence have welcomed the first conviction for coercive control and hope it is the first of many. The sentencing of a man to 21 months for the new offence which was enacted into law a year ago comes as gardai reveal they are investigating 35 such incidents. At Letterkenny Circuit Court on Tuesday, local man Kevin Dunleavy, aged 33, was sentenced to 21 months for harassing his girlfriend Caoimhe Crossan with almost 65,800 calls over three months. The court heard that the mother of three was fearful for her safety. In one phone call, Dunleavy is heard screaming to Ms Crossan: I'll kill you, I'll kill you stone dead. I'll cut your throat out. I'll get you. Mark my words, I'll get you tomorrow night. In a statement issued after the sentencing, Detective Chief Superintendent Declan Daly, Garda National Protective Services Bureau, said: "Coercive control is an insidious and demeaning crime designed to degrade and debilitate an individual and their persona. It is a deeply dangerous and personal crime against the person usually committed over a prolonged period. He added: "This conviction and sentencing, the first of its kind in the state, further demonstrates An Garda Siochana's dedication to fully investigate all matters related to this vital legislation in order to protect some of Ireland's most vulnerable persons." His colleague, Superintendent Gerry Murphy praised the work of local gardai, under Supt Dave Kelly, and said the NPSB provided advice to them. He told RTEs News at One that gardai were investigating 35 incidents of coercive control, all of them women. He predicted the number would increase the more awareness spread of the offence. Anyone with information of coercive control is advised to contact their local Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. Reacting to the conviction and sentencing, Sarah Benson, CEO of Womens Aid, said: The first ever conviction for coercive control is an important step forward for victims of domestic abuse. Womens Aid sees this as an important test case for the legislation and we hope that this is the first of many such convictions. She said one of the challenges for the new offence was that it was not just a single incident, which the courts are geared towards, but multiple incidents. Coercive control is far more insidious and it's a pattern of behaviour. Coercive control is usually done over a prolonged period of time. "It can have a serious impact including the fear of violence, cause serious alarm and distress and can result in a woman giving up work, changing her routines, losing contact with family and friends. Its impact can be devastating. Caitriona Gleeson, Programme and Communications Manager of Safe Ireland, said: Coercive control is at the very heart of domestic abuse. It is a crime since the implementation of the ground-breaking Domestic Violence Act 2018. We commend the Gardai and the DPP for moving on this case so quickly. She said tracking the pattern of behaviour required resources and an understanding of the crime. We need a commitment to adequate resourcing for first responders to women so that the true nature of domestic violence can be prosecuted, she said. Suspected letter bombs have caused explosions at two post offices in the Netherlands, police have said. The first blast went off in the mail-sorting office of Dutch bank ABN Amro in the capital Amsterdam just after 8am on Wednesday. Half an hour later a second explosion was reported 125 miles away in the southern town of Kerkrade, in the post room of Japanese electronics firm Ricoh. There were no reported injuries. Dutch police were already investigating a spate of letter bombs, all apparently sent by the same person over the last few weeks. A hotel, a petrol station, a garage, an estate agent, and a payment collection service have been targeted with explosive devices, none of which had previously detonated, since 3 January. In the previous cases, the letter bombs were followed by warning letters the contents of which have not been made public by detectives. 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 It was not immediately clear Wednesdays explosions were linked to the previous devices. Police believe the motive for the latest bombs to be extortion, according to Dutch news agency ANP. An employee in ABN Amros Amsterdam office heard a hissing sound as they were about to open a letter on Wednesday morning, the citys police said. The employee threw the letter away and there was a small explosion, the force added on Twitter. ABNs chief executive, Kees Van Dijkhuizen said he had spoken to the man who had handled the letter at the sorting centre in the western outskirts of the city. Good news is that he is not wounded, bad news of course is that these things happen and that our people have to deal with it, Mr Dijkhuizen told journalists. Ricoh said the blast in Kerkrade caused some damage to its post room, which has been closed for forensic analysis. The firm added in statement: Thankfully there were no injuries, but those involved are of course very shocked. No arrests have been made by police investigating any of the bombs. The campaign and its allies have signaled it is seeking to retool in several ways beyond the strengthened unity pitch: renewing outreach to minority voters, especially women; signaling that Warren will tell more personal stories on the stump; seeking to steadily win delegates even in states where she does not come in first; and relying on potential allies such as the Culinary Union. Judge refuses to block Oklahoma law banning telemedicine abortions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A judge has refused to block an Oklahoma law banning telemedicine abortions, or abortions in which a doctor guides a patient via video conference through a medication-induced termination of pregnancy. Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai rejected a motion for a preliminary injunction on Oklahomas telemedicine ban, as well as another state law mandating that only physicians perform abortions. Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said in a statement on Friday that the litigation against the laws was extreme and sought to overthrow commonsense safety laws. Abortion advocates used to say that abortion should be between a woman and her doctor, but now they are attempting to take the doctor out of the room, and out of the picture altogether, stated Hunter. We look forward to our continued defense of these laws and others that have been enacted to protect Oklahoma womens health and safety, as well as the dignity of the unborn. Hunter also labeled the judges decision thoughtful and believed that it stays faithful to the U.S. Supreme Courts repeated assertion that there is no doubt that these types of laws are reasonable and constitutional. Last November, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a lawsuit attempting to strike down the two Oklahoma laws, labeling them unnecessary. Filed in the District Court of Oklahoma County, the suit also had among its plaintiffs Trust Women of Oklahoma City, a gynecologist who performed abortions, and an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice in the state. As clinics shutter across the country, telemedicine is a crucial way to keep services available, said CRR President and CEO Nancy Northup in a statement released at the time. If we get these senseless laws off the books, we can expand abortion access in Oklahoma, which has very few abortion providers. Last July, a judge ruled against a request by the Trust Women Foundation for an injunction blocking implementation of Kansas ban on telemedicine abortions. Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson stated at the time that the Trust Women abortion clinic had failed to show that it or its patients will suffer irreparable injury in the absence of a temporary injunction for the period of time between now and a decision on the merits. The Telemedicine Act does not authorize or prohibit any specific medical procedure. Rather, it clarifies that the same federal privacy protections afforded patients apply equally to care provided in person and via telemedicine, concluded Watson last year. Because the Telemedicine Act does not limit or prohibit abortion in this state, Plaintiffs constitutional challenge to Sections 6 and 7 of the Telemedicine Act in this context fails as a matter of law. BT and Nokia have joined the growing list of tech firms to pull out of the world's biggest mobile phone showcase due to coronavirus fears, amid rumours the organisers are poised to cancel the event entirely. Mobile World Congress (MWC), which takes place every year in Barcelona, is due to kick off on February 24. However, both BT and Nokia announced today they are pulling out, following the lead of Amazon, LG, Sony, Intel and Facebook, who have also withdrawn from the event. The GSM Association (GSMA), which organises MWC, will decide on Wednesday whether to cancel the event entirely, according to sources cited by Reuters. A report in Wired Magazine suggests that GSMA is desperate to cancel MWC, and is pleading with Spanish authorities to declare a health emergency so they can claim on insurance. An operator at the entry of the Fira Barcelona Montjuic centre in Barcelona, Catalonia, 12 February 2020, where the Mobile World Congress (MWC) is supposed to take place from 24 to 27 February. Reports suggest the event will be called off entirely due to the coronavirus and the large number of companies that will no longer be attending BT said withdrawing from the event was the 'most responsible decision' it could make. 'After careful discussions and planning, BT has decided that we will not attend GSMA Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2020,' the company said in a statement. 'We value our participation in important industry groups like GSMA and deeply respect the steps they have already taken to protect attendees. 'Unfortunately, the most responsible decision is to withdraw our participation from the event to safeguard our employees and customers.' Operators install a welcoming placard at the entry of the Fira Barcelona Montjuic centre in Barcelona, 12 February 2020 BT and Nokia have withdrawn from the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, joining a growing list of big tech companies that won't be there WHO HAS PULLED OUT OF MWC 2020? Facebook Amazon Sony LG Intel Nvidia Nokia/HMD Global Ericsson BT Deutsche Telekom AT&T Cisco Other smaller companies have also confirmed they won't be attending Advertisement Nokia said it had taken the decision to withdraw from MWC 2020 after a 'full assessment of the risks related to a fast-moving situation'. 'Primary focus has been to safeguard the health and well-being of employees and others while also recognising responsibility to the industry and customers,' the company said in a statement. 'The conclusion of that process is that we believe the prudent decision is to cancel our participation at Mobile World Congress. 'We want to express our thanks to the GSMA, the governments of China and Spain as well as Catalonia's Generalitat, and many others who have worked tirelessly to address the challenges resulting from the novel coronavirus, and they have our full support as they move forward.' Nokia said it would instead hold a number of smaller events to make announcements it had planned for MWC. In addition to Nokia's telecoms business, HMD Global the firm that makes its mobile handsets has also confirmed it would not attend. In its own statement, HMD Global said: 'After much deliberation, and following recommendations from the relevant health authorities, we have decided to withdraw from exhibiting and participating at MWC Barcelona 2020. Pictured: The 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This year it is due to be held between 24-27 February 2020 but the organisers are on the brink of calling the event off 'MWC Barcelona has always been a key event in our annual calendar and we were very excited to showcase our new products to our partners, customers, media and fans. MWC 2020 SAFETY MEASURES GSMA is putting the following saefty measures in place at MWC: * All travellers from the Hubei province will not be permitted access to the event. *All travellers who have been in China will need to demonstrate proof they have been outside of China 14 days prior to the event (passport stamp, health certificate) *Temperature screening will be implemented. *Attendees will need to self-certify they have not been in contact with anyone infected. *Medical support on-site will be doubled from last year. *There will be increased presence of disinfectants and sanitisers across high-volume touchpoints such as WCs, entrances and exits and handrails. *A 24-hour telephone Security and Medical service is available for all attendees from 12-29 February 2020 Advertisement 'However, the health and safety of our employees, customers and stakeholders is our highest priority.' The annual event which showcases new products and feature announcements attracts more than 100,000 visitors. GSMA had said earlier this week the conference would go ahead as planned but reports on Wednesday suggest otherwise. GSMA was due to hold a 'virtual' meeting of its board, consisting of 25 industry bosses, at 13:00 GMT on Wednesday to discuss its options, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reports. 'They have to cancel,' said a source with one exhibitor that has decided to pull out. The organisers have not commented on the latest round of dropouts, but a source close to the organisation has said it is preparing a statement which could be a complete cancellation. MailOnline has contacted GSMA for more information regarding MWC 2020. GSMA had introduced a number of new safety measures to prevent the spread of the strain of coronavirus, officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organisation. MWC banned attendees from the Chinese province of Hubei where the strain Covid-19 is thought to have originated. Anyone who has recently been to China will be asked to confirm that they have been outside the country for 14 days prior to the show if it takes place. Organisers have also confirmed that temperature screening will be in place and it is encouraging those attending to adopt a 'no-handshake' policy. As of Wednesday morning, the total number of cases of Covid-19 was around 45,000 globally, with the number of deaths in mainland China reaching 1,113. RED WING -- City Council unanimously voted to approve Police Chief Roger Pohlmans request that city police officers begin wearing body cameras. The process of implementing these cameras began in 2017 when, based on a community survey, $45,000 was designated for cameras. In his report Monday night to City Council, Pohlman laid out the possible negative and positive impacts of implementing this policy. The report explains: "This program is not expected to have a negative effect on our community as privacy protection under Minnesota Government Data Practices requirements provide for handling video." After using the $45,000 set aside for the cameras, it is predicted that the most expensive aspects of this policy will be the computer server to store video data ($15,000 every five years) and a biennial audit ($5,000 to $7,000). ADVERTISEMENT Pohlmans report also laid out when officers will use the body worn cameras: "When responding to all calls for service and during all law enforcement-related encounters and activities. However, officers need not activate their cameras when it would be unsafe, impossible or impractical to do so." Officers can decide whether to record general contact with citizens. Pohlman also has the ability to instruct the use of capturing video in individual cases, for example, community rallies and demonstrations. This policy, Pohlman told the council, would be used in situations where he and the police department had obtained intelligence that an individual or group planned to disrupt an event. "Its not to circumvent the policy by no means, and its also, our desire is not to capture any citizens exercising their constitutional rights. Our desire is to capture the individuals trying to violate our citizens trying to execute their constitutional rights," he said. Council member Evan Brown voiced his support for implementing the body cameras. "Anything, I believe, that helps accountability across the spectrum is a good thing," he said. ADVERTISEMENT The implementation of the body-worn camera policy is estimated to begin on April 15. Sixgill, an Israeli cyberthreat intelligence company that specializes in monitoring the deep and dark web, today announced that it has raised a $15 million funding round led by Sonae IM, a fund based in Portugal, and London-based REV Venture Partners. Crowdfunding platform OurCrowd also participated in the round, as did previous investors Elron and Terra Venture Partners. According to Crunchbase, this brings the company's total funding to $21 million to date. Sixgill, which was founded in 2014, plans to use the new funding to expand its efforts in North America, EMEA and APAC. In addition to expanding its geographic focus, Sixgill plans to expand its product's capabilities, including its Dynamic CVE Rating. Its current customer base mostly includes large enterprises, law enforcement and other government agencies, as well as other security providers. Given its focus, that client list doesn't come as a surprise. The company uses its technology to automatically monitor dark web forums and marketplaces for potential threats and then find those that could affect its clients. Users can either access Sixgill through its SaaS platform or install it on-premises. For enterprises and agencies that don't have their own staff to run the service, Sixgills also offers access to its internal analysts. "Sixgill uses advanced automation and artificial intelligence technologies to provide accurate, contextual intelligence to customers. The solution integrates seamlessly into the platforms that security teams use to orchestrate, automate, and manage security events," said Sharon Wagner, CEO of Sixgill. "The market has made it clear that Sixgill has built a powerful real-time engine for more effective handling of the rapidly expanding threat landscape; this investment will position us for significant growth and expansion in 2020." Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya returned to the courtroom here on Wednesday, the second day of hearing at the UK High Court, where the former billionaire has appealed against the extradition decision of Westminster Magistrates Court in December 2018. On being asked about his expectations from the lengthy appeals process against the extradition order as today is the last day for Mallya to present his defence, the embattled former Kingfisher Airlines boss replied, "I have no clue. You see. I'll also see it. Let's not get into a speculative game." When asked on what would happen if Mallya loses the case and has to return to India, the liquor baron responded: "We do have arguments." The UK High Court, on Tuesday, had also heard Mallya's appeal against the Westminster Magistrates' Court order extraditing him to India to face alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya was present in the court along with his counsel Clare Montgomery during the hearing. Officials from Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) along with counsel Mark Summers representing the Indian government were also present. When the judge asked if there was a timeline in the case, Clare said," This is a very dense case," involving multiple individuals and organisations and that not everything had been taken into account by the magistrate Emma Arbuthnot in her ruling against Mallya. Montgomery contended that the magistrate's ruling had been riddled with "multiple errors". She also brought into question the admissibility of documents submitted by the Indian government - including witness statements and emails that proved crucial in the ruling by judge Arbuthnot, who found "clear evidence of misapplication of loan funds" and that there was a prima facie case of fraud against Mallya. As she had done throughout the trial, Montgomery continued to assert that Mallya had not acted in a fraudulent manner or run a pyramid and that the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines was, in fact, the failure of a business in difficult economic circumstances. She also reiterated concerns about the conduct of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in bringing charges against Mallya, claiming that the tycoon had been made a scapegoat. Montgomery also stated that the Indian government had presented the loan taken out by Kingfisher Airlines, not as a simple business loan but was part of a larger and elaborate attempt at defrauding the banks by Mallya and Kingfisher Airlines management. This, Montgomery contended, was but one example of a wider misinterpretation of the case by judge Arbuthnot. The High Court justices reprimanded Montgomery for concentrating on the evidence - in essence rehashing the case presented at the lower court - rather than the apparent "mistakes" made by judge Arbuthnot in her ruling. Mallya remains on bail of 650,000 as he has done throughout this legal process. The Crown Prosecution Service which is representing the Government of India will present its case for the extradition of Mallya on Wednesday. The 63-year-old businessman fled India in March 2016 and has been living in the UK since then. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump glided to victory in New Hampshires Republican primary on Feb. 11, The Associated Press reported. The president led with roughly 83 percent of the vote and had already amassed more votes in the New Hampshire primary than any incumbent president in history. Meanwhile, the former Governor of neighboring Massachusetts, William Weld, came in at a distant second with 9 percent of the vote. The Washington Examiner reported that the president won over 100,000 votes among Republican and independent voters, more than double that of former President Barack Obama when he won among Democratic voters in New Hampshires 2012 primary, when he ran uncontested for reelection. Trump previously won the New Hampshire primary in 2016, but narrowly lost to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the November general election. Trump has since benefited from strong support from the Republican Party, and his campaign has worked to take control of the nominating process to turn Augusts GOP convention into a four-day infomercial for his campaign. Trump held a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on the evening of Feb. 10. Throughout his attendance at the New Hampshire primary, the president remained typically vocal on Twitter, sharing a number of tweets about his rivals. The president also retweeted a number of tweets declaring he had won the New Hampshire primary, before criticizing what he called the fake news media for looking hard for the Big Democrat Story. Wouldnt a big story be that I got more New Hampshire Primary Votes than any incumbent president, in either party, in the history of that Great State? Not an insignificant fact! Trump wrote. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) declared victory in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, narrowly beating Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) finished fourth and former Vice President Joe Biden followed closely behind in fifth place. Sanders pledged to unite a fractured party if he becomes the Democratic nominee to challenge Trump in the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3. From The Epoch Times WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Center for Urban and Racial Equity (CURE) announced the addition of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to its 2020 Racial Justice Presidential Candidate Scorecard . Bloomberg received an "F" grade, placing him among the lowest ranked of the presidential candidates including Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and Tom Steyer (D). While Bloomberg's proposed Greenwood Initiative includes promising economic justice strategies for Black America and landed him high scores in the Housing and Racial Wealth Gap category of the scorecard, his criminal justice record in NYC should give any racial justice voter cause for concern. During his tenure, stop-and-frisk police stops exploded, with police making over 5 million stops of mostly Black and Latinx men and boys during Bloomberg's three terms as mayor. Stop-and-frisk was eventually ruled unconstitutional and found to be ineffective in reducing crime but not before it caused lasting harm to many New Yorkers of color. Bloomberg also has not released plans in several areas evaluated in the scorecard including police reform and universal pre-k. The latest candidate scores as of 2/11/2020 are as follows: The Rankings Elizabeth Warren A- 91/100 Bernie Sanders B+ 88/100 Pete Buttigieg B+ 86/100 Amy Klobuchar C 73.5/100 Tom Steyer D 67/100 Joe Biden D 61/100 Michael Bloomberg F 55.5/100 Tulsi Gabbard F 55/100 Donald Trump F 3.25/100 Since its launch in December 2019, the scorecard has been featured in theRoot, Ebony, NewsOne, HuffPost and other national media. The scorecard analyzes presidential candidates' policy proposals through a racial equity lens across critical areas including criminal justice reform, education, health care, voting rights, reparations, environmental justice, immigration, indigenous rights, the racial wealth gap, and candidates' past and current rhetoric and language around racial justice issues important to communities of color. The scorecard has had an impact on the race as presidential campaigns have contacted CURE to explore ways to improve their scores. Most importantly, the scorecard is a resource for voters who care about racial justice issues, with the website averaging 12,000 weekly unique visitors. CURE is co-hosting events with community organizations to engage voters in dialogue on where the candidates stand on racial justice. Upcoming events include policy forums in Miami, FL and Spartanburg, SC ahead of the primaries in those states. For more information, visit www.racialjustice2020.org. SOURCE Center for Urban and Racial Equity Related Links urbanandracialequity.org Elaine Smyth of Catalyst and Ian McConnell of PwC Business advisory firm PwC has joined up with Catalyst, Northern Ireland's innovation community, in a new collaboration. The partnership will see the firm's tech-enabled Operate delivery division work with the innovation community to help shape programmes and support entrepreneurship. Operate was set up in 2017 and now employs over 1,000 people in Belfast. It helps businesses overcome operational challenges, like financial crime operations and regulatory testing. Catalyst is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Oregons governor, a member of Congress and two district attorneys pushed Wednesday for investigations of wrongdoing by police in the rogue theft case against a black Portland man that has developed into a full-blown scandal with allegations of racially motivated cronyism. In a day of fast-moving developments, authorities also announced that the two officers central to the case have been placed on leave. The 2017 arrest of Michael Fesser has led to settlements of more than $1 million, admissions in court documents of officers lying and ignoring basic civil rights and accusations of good-old-boy racism against West Linn police. An account of the case this week in The Oregonian/OregonLive prompted calls by residents for further investigation. Clackamas County District Attorney John Foote and Multnomah County Attorney Rod Underhill both answered the calls, saying the report raised serious concerns about law enforcement in their jurisdictions. As a result, the lead West Linn investigator in the case, Sgt. Tony Reeves, was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the scrutiny, West Linn Chief Terry Kruger announced. Gov. Kate Brown also weighed in, directing the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to conduct a full and thorough review of this matter as swiftly as possible.'' Browns demand came a day after the departments director said the agency will be doing fact finding to gather more information about the case. Former West Linn Lt. Mike Stradley, who helped get the Portland police gang enforcement team involved in Fessers arrest, also has been placed on paid administrative leave by the states police training academy, where he now works as a supervisor of survival tactics training for police recruits. If what Oregonians are hearing about this case is true, everything about it is egregious, horrific and completely unacceptable. Law enforcement officers take a pledge to uphold the law and keep everyone safe - which is the opposite of active abuse of power, cronyism, hate crimes, and obstruction of justice,'' Brown said in a statement. The U.S. Attorneys Office wouldnt comment whether it, too, planned to open an investigation. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland, said he plans to make sure Oregons U.S. attorney is aware of Fessers arrest and considers whether it merits a criminal or civil rights investigation. A Portland commissioner also directed the citys Bureau of Transportation to sever ties with one of its biggest towing contractors, A&B Towing, which is at the heart of the controversy. In Clackamas County, Foote said his office will work to determine if any of the West Linn officers involved committed crimes in his county. "We want to look at everything,'' Foote said. Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owen will supervise the investigation and will review the civil case record and Multnomah County arrest and prosecution files, Foote said. His office also will determine if credibility concerns raised in the case about the involved officers should trigger a so-called Brady notice, an obligation under the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brady v. Maryland that requires prosecutors to disclose to defense lawyers any material that could impeach the credibility of a government witness. Document: Clackamas County District Attorney John Footes letter to West Linn Chief Terry Kruger Fesser, 48, sued West Linn police in 2017, alleging racial discrimination and unlawful arrest. He said they targeted him for arrest in Portland that February as a favor to a fishing buddy of former West Linn Chief Terry Timeus. The fishing buddy was Eric Benson, Fessers employer at the time. Fesser said his arrest was in retaliation for his complaints about a racially hostile workplace at Bensons A&B Towing in Southeast Portland. Depositions from the federal civil suit and court records revealed West Linn police, with civilian help, made a surreptitious audio recording of Fesser at work in Portland without a warrant or court order, then arrested him without probable cause with the help of Portland gang enforcement officers. They also seized Fessers cash, cellphone and personal documents without a search warrant, according to the records. The city of West Linn this week agreed to settle Fessers federal suit for $600,000. West Linns mayor, city manager, police chief and two police captains have agreed to meet with Fesser and his lawyer, a provision that Fesser sought in the settlement. Fesser and his lawyer earlier negotiated a $415,000 settlement with Benson and his company stemming from a separate civil racial discrimination and retaliation suit Fesser filed in state court. In Multnomah County, Underhill announced that his office would initiate its own review of what led to Fessers arrest and indictment in Portland. Theft charges were twice dismissed against Fesser in the case. "Maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system is at the forefront of the work we do each day,'' Underhill said in a statement. "As such, we have initiated a full review of this case. This examination will be exhaustive. We will be looking at what information law enforcement provided us when they submitted the case for criminal consideration, what information was learned at grand jury, and what information weve learned since.'' In other fallout from the case, Portland Police Chief Jami Resch announced that she has asked her agencys Professional Standards Division to look into the role that Portlands gang enforcement team played in helping arrest Fesser. The review is standard bureau practice when there are civil lawsuits, Resch said. Fessers lawsuit uncovered unprofessional, racist and crude banter between West Linns Reeves, who was a detective then, and the A&B Towing owner as they secretly recorded Fesser at work on Feb. 25, 2017. Later that night, West Linn officers, drawing on the help of the Portland officers, moved in to arrest Fesser during his drive home. Stradley, a retired Portland police veteran working as a lieutenant for West Linn police at the time, had told Reeves that Fesser was a gang associate. Stradley helped connect Reeves to Portlands gang enforcement team for the arrest. Stradley admitted in a deposition, however, that he hadnt had any contact with Fesser in more than two decades and didnt have specific information about Fesser. Resch said in a statement that Portland participated in Fessers arrest "at the request'' of West Linn police "based upon probable cause for his investigation.'' The Portland Police Bureau released a report from that time that said: (West Linn) Det. Poitras had been in contact with (Portland) Sgt. (Ken) Duilio and stated that he had probable cause to arrest Michael Fesser. Poitras is the former name of West Linns Tony Reeves. (In a deposition, the West Linn officer said he changed his name to his stepfathers last name, Reeves, because thats the man who raised him. He said his biological father, Daniel Poitras, was sentenced in Multnomah County in 2015 for running an illegal tow business in Portland. Theres no indication from the case reports that the senior Poitras was in any way associated with A&B Towing. ) Fessers lawyer, Paul Buchanan, has said Portland police didnt ask West Linn police about the details of their investigation into Fesser before agreeing to pull him over, based on his depositions of the West Linn officers in the case. Multnomah County prosecutors chose not to pursue an aggravated theft charge against Fesser when he appeared for arraignment in February 2017. A Multnomah County grand jury in November 2017 indicted Fesser on five counts of first-degree theft after Benson, the A&B Towing owner, pressed West Linn to revive the case, and West Linn police, in turn, urged the prosecutors to again pursue the theft allegations, according to court depositions. A grand jury indictment was based on the testimony of Reeves, Benson and two other men who West Linn police repeatedly described as "dirty'' and "shady'' individuals, according to depositions taken in the federal civil case. The indictment was dismissed as a civil compromise when Fesser settled with A&B Towing. Portland Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who oversees the citys Bureau of Transportation, Wednesday directed the bureau to sever our business relationship with A&B Towing. Were exploring how to do that expeditiously, said John Brady, a transportation spokesman. The citys contract with A&B Towing was signed in October 2013 and was to run through September of this year. Its valued at $750,000, meaning thats the maximum amount the towing company could receive during the term of the contract, not a guaranteed figure, Brady said. I was sickened by the story of Portland resident, Michael Fesser, who was the victim of racially motivated harassment, surveillance, and arrest by former West Linn Police Chief, in collusion with Mr. Fessers employerA&B Towing in SE Portlandafter Mr. Fesser raised concerns about racial harassment in his workplace, Eudaly said in a statement. It came to my attention today that PBOT has a contract with A&B Towing. I have directed the bureau to sever the contract immediately. A&B Towings owner Benson did not return messages seeking his comment. -- 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 In a nutshell: With every day bringing news of another big company dropping out of Mobile World Congress over coronavirus fears, its starting to look as if the event might be canceled. According to new reports, organizer GSMA is holding a meeting this Friday to decide the fate of the upcoming show. The list of tech firms dropping out of MWC is growing by the day. It started with LG and Ericsson before Nvidia, Sony, Amazon, Intel, Vivo, and many other companies followed suit. In a statement earlier this week, GSMA assured the 2,800 exhibitors that the show would go ahead as planned, but weve since had confirmation that other big names wont be attending. Facebook, Nokia, Royole, Cisco, McAfee, AT&T, and Sprint won't be participating, and more will doubtlessly drop out before the February 24 start date in Barcelona. Canceling an appearance is proving costly for smaller firms. Israel/New York-based software startup Lightico told the BBC it expected to lose the $15,000 it had invested in its place at the event by not attending, though it will have a virtual booth. Spanish publication El Pais writes that GSMA will meet this Friday to decide its next steps, which could include suspending the event. It adds that Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom are also considering skipping the show. According to Wired, GSMA is pleading with the Spanish government to declare a health emergency, which would allow it to cancel the world's biggest phone show. Its sources say a decision on whether the event will go ahead could arrive as soon as today. Canceling MWC would be a massive decision, leaving the 100,000+ attendees dealing with potentially non-refundable flights and hotel bookings. GSMA has announced new precautions to protect against the spread of the coronavirus. These include banning all travelers from the Hubei province and temperature screening. Reuters SANTIAGO (Reuters) - German automakers Volkswagen and Daimler have launched a study to push for more "sustainable" lithium mining in Chile, according to lobbyist filings reviewed by Reuters, a sign of growing supply chain concerns ahead of an expected electric vehicle boom. Chile's Atacama salt flat is by far the biggest source of supply of the ultralight battery metal in South America's so-called "lithium triangle." The region, whose fragile ecosystem relies on a limited water supply, is home to the globe's top two producers, U.S.-based Albemarle and Chile's SQM. But concerns over sustainability have long plagued Atacamas miners, which extract the metal from pools of brine beneath the world's driest desert. Residents and environmental groups worry about potential damage to a regional ecosystem home to an ancient indigenous culture, lagoons inhabited with rare flamingos and a booming tourism industry. Lobbying records show a team from German development agency GIZ and the public-private Fundacion Chile met with Cristobal De La Maza, chief of top Chilean environmental regulator SMA, early this year to formally present plans for the "feasibility study." "This project is driven by the Volkswagen and Daimler companies," the filings read. "The growing importance of batteries has made the sustainability of lithium a key priority for these companies." Volkswagen and Daimler did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters reported exclusively on Monday that Volkswagen had visited the salt flat in January, amid a broader push to encourage sustainable production of key links in the EV supply chain. The filings suggest work has already begun on the "feasibility study," commissioned by Volkswagen and Daimler, including talks with local communities, regulators and miners. The goal of the meetings, according to the filings, is to develop a "joint action plan" and in time, "implement prioritized actions" to address the growing concerns about lithium mining in the region. The water usage issue and concerns about sustainability have emerged as a key vulnerability for Chile as a lithium mining hot spot. Australia, the world's No. 1 producer of the white metal, produces its lithium from hard rock, not brine. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Christian Plumb and Steve Orlofsky) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A loyal dog refused to leave its owners side after he was struck and killed by a tree branch in post-Storm Ciara winds. The man, aged in his sixties, died on Tuesday after being hit in Black Wood, Liverpool. It came after gusts of almost 100mph battered the UK over the weekend. According to the Liverpool Echo, police said the dog was found by its owners body and its microchip helped identify the walker. Police at the scene in Woolton, Liverpool / PA Pensioner Elizabeth Sorsky, 79, who lives in the area, told MailOnline: "We have been on about the trees for a long time - we have sent letter after letter and have complained and complained and complained to the council. "And now a man who went out for a walk in the morning has died. It's horrendous - the dog was still waiting for him. "The trees are so close to the road that they could fall on school children going to the local school, or on our house." A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: A man in his 60s has died after apparently being struck by a falling branch at Black Wood in Woolton during the high winds this morning. The council is shocked and saddened to hear of this death and all thoughts are with the gentlemans family and friends. The ancient woodland belongs to Liverpool City Council and the council will cooperate fully with any subsequent investigation. A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: We can confirm that the man hit by the falling tree branch in Black Wood in Woolton has sadly passed away. The man, who is in his 60s and from the Liverpool area, has now been identified and his next of kin have been informed. Apparently, we're supposed to be upset that a group of four prosecutors, who told the Department of Justice one thing about what they'd recommend as a sentence for former Trump adviser Roger Stone and then told a federal judge another, are out of that job. According to National Review: All four Justice Department prosecutors who sought seven to nine years of jail time for Roger Stone have withdrawn from the case after reportedly misleading DOJ officials over the sentencing recommendation. And according to Fox News (hat tip: The Federalist), they left quite a mess for the DoJ to do over: The Justice Department is preparing to change its sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone after top brass were "shocked" at the stiff prison term initially being sought, according to a senior DOJ official. Federal prosecutors had recommended that Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentence Stone to between 87 and 108 months in prison for his conviction on seven counts of obstruction, witness tampering, and making false statements to Congress on charges that stemmed from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. "The Department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the filing in the Stone case last night," the official told Fox News. "The sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to the Department." Good riddance to people who can't tell the truth. This hasn't stopped House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer from leading a call for yet another investigation. According to Axios: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to the Justice Department inspector general requesting an investigation into the reduced sentencing recommendation, writing: "This situation has all the indicia of improper political interference in a criminal prosecution." According to a second story from Axios: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is leading calls for an investigation after the Department of Justice made a downgraded sentencing recommendation for President Trump's associate Roger Stone. "By tweet @realDonaldTrump engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone. It is outrageous that DOJ has deeply damaged the rule of law by withdrawing its recommendation. ' Stepping down of prosecutors should be commended & actions of DOJ should be investigated." Apparently, objecting to prosecutors who lie is now a new "impeachable" for Trump for this bunch, which ought to be engaging in some kind of introspection (or therapy to control their rage), given the spectacular failure of their earlier impeachment bid, which has affected their political fortunes. The real story is that Trump-crazed overzealous prosecutors trapped themselves in their own web of lies by being unable to restrain themselves from dishing out a reasonable sentence recommendation against what they told their bosses. For that, they need to get the boot. As you might expect, the people who recommended the draconian sentence for Stone had been Mueller team operatives, who, recall, were exclusively Democrat, many Democrat donors. The Federalist's Sean Davis, who's been keeping tabs on this story like a rat-dog dick, explained very well what was really going on: Stone's sentencing recommendation isn't the first to raise eyebrows. In January, the prosecutors overseeing the case against former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn also abruptly changed their sentencing recommendation for him from parole potential time in prison. That sentencing recommendation was filed just one day after former D.C. U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu was nominated by Trump for a position outside DOJ. The name of Brandon Van Grack, the former Mueller prosecutor who wrote that particular sentencing memorandum, was conspicuously missing from the most recent government filings in the Flynn case, raising questions about whether he was still allowed to work on the case. Flynn is currently in the process of trying to withdraw his guilty plea of lying to the FBI. The arrest of Stone, with the big SWAT team show and CNN cameras, was clearly a dirty-cop affair, and so was the freelance draconian sentence recommendation for Stone, who was convicted of process crimes such a lying to Congress, which was done after telling the DoJ the recommendation would be lighter. Their claim that Stone merited a long sentence due to "witness intimidation" was nonsense, too, given that the witness said he wasn't threatened. Seriously, nine years for an old man for lying to Congress? As if that place isn't a spectacular repository of lying in itself, Exhibit A: Adam Schiff? Here in San Diego yesterday, a guy who shot a college student dead in a scuffle got six years. But Stone, see, gets nine. Just don't tell the bosses. Sleight of hand, see? We are talking dirty cops. Shockingly, all four with this record of lying are still on the job in other capacities, with one going back to corrupt Baltimore to be a U.S. attorney. Any defense attorney in any case he works on is going to use this record of lying to get clients off. Yet now the press is reporting this as political interference in sentencing (since when is tolerating lies from politically interested people 'political interference'?) and Pelosi and Schumer are back at it, calling for more Get Trump. It just doesn't stop. One can only hope that the whole thing can come to nought for Stone, who's been put through the mill on stupid and unimportant stuff, and Pelosi and Schumer can find themselves trapped again in their own web of lies. Image credit: DonkeyHotey caricature via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Turkey has discussed a recent meeting in Moscow, between the heads to the Turkish and Syrian intelligence heads, with factions of the National Liberation Front writes Nadaa Syria. The Turks briefed the revolutionary factions affiliated with the National Liberation Front on the results of the security meeting that brought together the head of the intelligence service, Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk, Bashar al-Assads deputy for security affairs, in the Russian capital, Moscow, last week. A source told Nadaa Syria that Ankara had reviewed the results of the meeting with the factions in a meeting between the two sides, where Turkish officials confirmed that the main goal of the meeting with Mamlouk was to negotiate a truce in Idleb province, and that details were not discussed, such as the question of the future relations between the Assad regime and Turkey. The source denied that Turkey had recently asked the rebel groups to work to open international roads, and Ankara confirmed that Russia and the Assad regime are only interested in a military solution in Idleb province and nothing else. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke to Turkish media about the need for the Syrian opposition to defend itself against the Assad attacks, stressing that the Syrian regime believes in a military solution, and said that if the conflict turns into a street war, it will not end. 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. On February 12, at about 8 a.m., an explosion occurred at the post office of Amsterdam (the Netherlands). According to police, most likely the parcel with a bomb exploded. Local news agency Hart van Nederland reports. No one was injured in the explosion, partly due to the quick action of a company employee. It is known that when processing mail, a thick envelope made a "hissing noise." Then the employee decided to throw out the letter and soon there was an explosion. Half an hour after the explosion in Amsterdam, an explosion was also heard at a mail sorting company in Kirkrad, Limburg. All employees of the postal company were evacuated, there were no victims of the terrorist attack. Local law enforcement officials regard the incident as a terrorist attack. The police noted that earlier this year several letters with bombs were sent to companies in Amsterdam, Maastricht, Utrecht, and Rotterdam. However, the parcel never exploded. As we reported before, On February 8, a soldier opened fire on people in a shopping center in Thailand. 17 people were killed, 16 were held hostage. NAPERVILLE, Ill., Feb. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicor Gas has made a two-year, $100,000 commitment to two local Habitat for Humanity affiliates to support construction of new homes for families in the DuPage and Fox Valley areas. Nicor Gas employees will also volunteer their personal time to aid building efforts at Habitat for Humanity locations across the state throughout the summer. "At Nicor Gas, we understand how significant having a warm place to return to each day can be for families," said Pat Whiteside, vice president of Business Support for Nicor Gas. "Our employees' support for Habitat for Humanity is an extension of the hard work they put in every day to ensure our communities feel the comfort of home." This is the second, two-year commitment between Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity. In 2018, Nicor Gas donated $60,000 and 850 volunteer hours by employees, family and friends, who together helped build 11 homes for families through the Fox Valley and DuPage Habitat for Humanity affiliates. "Nicor Gas employees get up close and personal with our families, transforming their lives forever," said Jeffrey J. Barrett, executive director at Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity. "Our four-year partnership extends beyond funds, they give their hands and feet and minds and hearts." To date, Nicor Gas employees' construction efforts have benefitted 54 families in Illinois, including work on Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity's first Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant home in Aurora and DuPage Habitat for Humanity's townhome development in Hanover Park. "We are grateful for the continued efforts of corporate partners like Nicor Gas," said Dave Neary, executive director of DuPage Habitat for Humanity. "They are actively supporting our vision of a world where everyone has a place of their own to call home." To learn more about Nicor Gas and volunteerism, please visit nicorgas.com/community/volunteerism. About Nicor Gas Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.2 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com. About Southern Company Gas Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 700,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com. About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org. SOURCE Nicor Gas Related Links http://nicorgas.com Representative image Indian medical devices industry expressed concern over government notification to regulate all medical devices as drugs, on grounds that the move may impose additional costs of compliance and could be detrimental for medium and small enterprises engaged in low-risk medical devices manufacturing. The government on February 11 announced that all medical devices will now be considered as drugs, bringing them under the purview of regulation by the Central Drugs and Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) from April 1. The notification comes in force from April 1, will be implemented in a phased manner. For Class A and Class B - the low risk and low moderate risk devices like certain types of catheters, disinfectants, needles, syringes, among others, the government has given 30 months for mandatory compliance. For devices under Class C and Class D used to treat orthopedic implants, surgical dressings, cardiac stents, among others, the government has given 42 months for compliance. Apprehensions "While manufacturers hav no problem coming under the Risk Proportionate Medical Devices Rules 2017, we are highly uncomfortable to be regulated under the very rigid and prescriptive Drugs Act as any non conformity can be treated as a criminal offence by any drug Inspector at his discretion and we can be taken to a court," said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD). AiMeD is the domestic industry lobby that claims to have around 300 members. "We have been seeking an assurance from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) that this is a temporary measure until the NITI Aayog drafted bill to regulate devices separately from drugs becomes a separate law," Nath added. The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), that represents multinational device makers, however, welcomed the government's move. "We welcome the government's decision to regulate all devices, which has also been a long standing ask of the industry. These regulations, that are a continuation of the Medical Devices Rules 2017, which were launched after meticulous deliberations for 2 years, are in line with the government's vision to provide equitable access to quality healthcare. We are also happy that the Health Ministry is recruiting competent resources to cater to the additional workload that these new regulations will bring," said Pavan Choudary, Chairman and Director General, MTaI. Need regulatory certainty But analysts, while welcoming the decision to regulate medical devices sought more certainty on whether this will be a stop gap arrangement, as the government policy think tank is working on having a separate regulatory body for medical devices. They say that medical devices and drugs are different, as the nature of risk and product life-cycle of drugs is very different from medical devices that typically have varied risk and lower product life cycles. "Rather than stop gap arrangements which increase regulatory uncertainty and ambiguity, the medical devices sector is desperately in need of a well thought out and balanced legislation which needs to be within the ambit of the law and caters to requirements of the industry and patients. Anything other than this would impact this a multi-billion dollar industry and also carries with it the danger of limiting access to quality healthcare for Indians," said Ashwin Sapra, Partner - Pharma, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. The medical device industry in India is valued at $5.2 billion and is growing at 12-15 percent. Public health groups welcome the notification to cover all the devices, but said that it will be a long wait before all its higher risk devices are regulated. The expressed skepticism about the Indian drug regulator ability to regulate devices of such wide order. "While this is positive, consumer groups remain skeptical about how the CDSCO's current ability to regulate devices under the wider scope. We are particularly wary of the CDSCOs competence, expertise and most importantly its commitment towards patient safety given its dismal track record. "We urgently need comprehensive reforms to strengthen the regulatory mechanism in relation to patients safety. These may include guidelines for the approval of devices including clinical investigation requirements, oversight of marketing and promotion, putting in place a robust and functioning system of adverse event reporting accessible to the public, rules for voluntary and statutory recalls, and patient compensation scheme," said Malini Aisola, Co-Convenor, All India Drugs Action Network (AIDAN). Japanese car giant Nissan on Wednesday filed a civil lawsuit to reclaim some 10 billion yen ($90 million) from former chairman Carlos Ghosn for what it called "years of his misconduct and fraudulent activity". The 65-year-old faces multiple charges of financial misconduct in Japan but fled to Lebanon before he could face trial. He denies any wrongdoing. Nissan said the damages had been calculated on the basis of the cost to the firm of Ghosn's "corrupt practices". It accused Ghosn of "the use of overseas residential property without paying rent, private use of corporate jets, payments to his sister, payments to his personal lawyer in Lebanon". It said the amount was likely to rise and added that the company would also seek to sue Ghosn for "groundless and defamatory remarks" he made when he briefed the media in Lebanon. Once hailed as a corporate saviour for rescuing Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy, Ghosn was facing a trial in Japan over a series of alleged crimes, including under-reporting his compensation to the tune of around $85 million. Ghosn spent more than 100 days in detention in Japan after his sudden November 2018 arrest, but launched an audacious escape plan while out on bail in Tokyo and managed to travel to Lebanon apparently undetected. He believes Nissan turned on him because executives there were concerned he was moving the firm closer to French partner Renault, part of a three-way alliance with Mitsubishi Motors. A source close to the executive scoffed at the firm's latest move. "Nissan's games continue. This suit was announced the day before the financial results of the group are published," said this source, who asked not to be identified. "We note that after calling for months for damages of 35 billion yen, today Nissan is demanding a lower sum (10 billion yen)," added this source. Now that its completely restored, its facade illuminated at night by purple and gold lights, the Kennedy-Cox House is a shining example of historic preservation on Government Street in downtown Mobile. Its hard to believe that just a few years ago this majestic home was an eyesore with boarded-up windows, facing an uncertain future. But thanks to a $2 million restoration, the home is now a showplace once again. The 1857 Foundation, a nonprofit group formed to purchase and renovate the building, partners with one of Mobiles most popular mystic societies that uses it for its den. If you know anything about Mardi Gras, you know that the organization cant be named. Its the worst-kept secret in Mobile, James Alexander, president of the foundation, admits with a laugh. Even so, he respects the citys Mardi Gras traditions that go back more than 300 years and wont reveal the identity of the society that now calls the Kennedy-Cox House home but he stresses that the renovation couldnt have happened without that prominent group. The transformation is nothing short of a miracle, he says as he gives a tour of the grand home, which was built in 1857 by Joshua Kennedy Jr. His father and brothers were major landowners in Mobile and helped to lay out the streets and establish the city as a commercial shipping port in the 19th Century. Kennedy didnt live there long, though, because he died just a few years later in the 1862 Battle of Seven Pines. Over the years, the house changed hands a couple of times and ended up being home to the Seamans Bethel and, since 1948, the American Legion. Photos on the 1857 Foundations website show the progress of the painstaking restoration of the home. Its astonishing what occurred in this building, says Alexander. Its a window into the past from an architectural and cultural standpoint and an example of how members of the community can come together for preservation. The project has already received three awards. Last April, the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation presented the 1857 Foundation its highest award for rehabilitation of the Kennedy-Cox House, which had been placed on the Alabama Places in Peril list in 2003. It also received an architectural award from the Historic Mobile Preservation Society, as well as the Mobile Historic Development Commissions banner and shield, indicating that the home was restored in compliance with their guidelines. A new state historical marker will soon stand out front, telling the story of the house. Every part of the Greek Revival/Italianate structure that faces Government Street is original, from the massive two-story columns on the impressive 40-foot-high portico to the arched double front doors and the wrought-iron fence thats been restored to its original location. Throughout the home, the arched windows feature ornately carved original wooden cornices. The plaster walls have been repaired and painted, the dentil molding restored to its original glory. Inside, the highlight of the entry is the curved wooden staircase. Double parlors are separated by pocket doors with rare glass panels. Five of the homes seven fireplaces have been restored to their original grandeur. All of the striking arched windows were removed, restored and returned to their original frames. Much of the original glass has survived the past century and a half. The 1950s-era cinder-block addition in the back has been modified so that the exterior now matches that of the original house, down to the arched windows. This new space seats 240 people, and the walls bear photos of the mystic societys past queens. The basement, an unusual feature in Mobile, now resembles an old speakeasy for the members of the Mardi Gras organization. The original brick footings that can be seen in the basement reveal how solidly the 163-year-old house was built. Upstairs, in the landing area, glass cases display some of the mystic societys treasures collected over the years. Two bedrooms were combined to create the Presidents Room, which is occupied by a long meeting table and chairs. The adjacent queens dressing room and spacious bathroom give the societys queen a place to prepare for the annual parade. One of the most popular and unique spaces in the house is the rooftop terrace, which includes a covered seating area and a beautiful view of the downtown Mobile skyline. In addition to serving as home to the mystic society, the house will continue to be a meeting place for the members of the Lamar Y. McLeod American Legion Post 3 for the next 10 years, at no charge. One of my favorite aspects of the project is the fact that we were able to help veterans in our area, says Allan Gustin, the projects volunteer design chairman. My father was a veteran, and it was mainly this aspect that drew me to the project. Its a big deal for us to help them and, quite frankly, its the right thing to do. The mystic society, the Legion and even the city of Mobile benefit from the renovation of the Kennedy-Cox House. This is a win-win for everybody, says Thad Hendrix, an 1857 Foundation board member who served on the design team. This project would not have been possible without a vibrant and healthy Mardi Gras celebration in our community. Mardi Gras is funded in large part by private citizens but would not be possible without our partnership with the city of Mobile. The city provides police protection and crowd control for parades attended by more than a million people, as well as the use of the Mobile Civic Center for elaborate balls hosted by mystic societies. Over the years, Mobile has experienced unprecedented growth in Mardi Gras, says Hendrix. Without this partnership, and without the growth in Mardi Gras, this project would not have been possible. This thing is bigger than we are, says Alexander. It didnt take us long to figure that out. Every space is elegant, every space is unique, and every space tells its own story. NEW YORK - Canadian poet and fiction writer M. NourbeSe Philip and British playwright Tom Stoppard are among those being honoured next month by PEN America, the literary and human rights organization. PEN announced Wednesday that Toronto-based Philip, whose books include the poetry collections Thorns and Salmon Courage and the novel Looking for Livingstone, has won the $50,000 PEN/Nabokov Award for international literature. Others given the Nabokov award include Edna OBrien and Philip Roth. Stoppard will receive the $25,000 PEN/Mike Nichols Writing for Performance Award for Leopoldstadt, a new work set in the Jewish quarter of early 20th century Vienna that the 82-year-old Stoppard has said may be his last play. The Nichols prize, established last year and named for the late film and stage director, was previously given to the playwright-filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan. PEN will present the awards March 2 at Town Hall in Manhattan, with Seth Meyers serving as host. Others receiving prizes will be The Call playwright Tanya Barfield, who will be given the PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award, and Rigoberto Gonzalez, winner of the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry. Gonzalezs poetry books include Other Fugitives and Other Strangers and Black Blossoms. Another proposal from Mayor Jim Langfelder to explore placing a cap on the number of cannabis dispensaries within city limits was met with stiff resistance by members of the city council. Langfelder, long wary of the expansion of recreational cannabis sales, proposed a resolution asking the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission to study the merits of an ordinance that would limit the number of dispensaries to five citywide and to just one per ward. This, Langfelder said, would prevent a proliferation of cannabis dispensaries in the way video gaming terminals have bloomed across the capital city over the past decade. "It doesn't bother me that we have recreational marijuana," Langfelder said. "But if we have a proliferation, then I would be bothered by it. Because I don't think you need a proliferation with a commodity of that sort. I think that it can be done thoughtfully." Langfelder proposed similar language late last year, but that proposal failed to muster enough support from the council. And aldermen quickly threw cold water on the mayor's latest proposal at their Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday night. They choose not to advance it out of committee. Several aldermen noted that anyone seeking to open a dispensary within city limits already has to receive approval from the council. And in any case, the Springfield metropolitan area, which includes Sangamon and Menard counties, is initially limited to five dispensaries per state law. "This is entirely unnecessary," said Ward 8 Ald. Erin Conley. "We've already established an ordinance for the siting of these facilities with (conditional permitted uses). Every single one of these will come back before city council. Every one of us will have a chance to weigh in on every proposed location for any of these facilities." Ward 6 Ald. Kristen DiCenso was more frank, saying that it was time to "just knock if off with all this cannabis hullabaloo." "Once again, we are stigmatizing something that is legal," DiCenso said. "This is a legal product, you can go buy it. Pretty soon, you're going to be able to go sit in a 9,000 square-foot lounge and consume it. And I feel like we're having the same conversation over and over and over at the city council regarding cannabis." Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner added that that type of ordinance would be "a very slippery slope" for the council to go down. "I think that we do not only our city, but we do potential investors a disservice by telling them where they can locate their business," Turner said. "... We don't do that with anything else." In November, the council approved zoning parameters for the sale and cultivation of recreational marijuana within city limits. So far, Illinois Supply & Provisions, 627 E. Adams St., is the only dispensary in the capital city offering recreational sales. It plans to open a secondary site for recreational sales at the former Outback Steakhouse at 3201 Horizon Drive on the city's east side sometime in March or April. The downtown dispensary also received the green light from the council last month to host on-site consumption in a 9,000 square-foot lounge area connected to the retail operation. Company officials hope to be up and running in April. Grandview's Maribis of Springfield, 2272 N. Grand Ave E., has yet to begin recreational sales in order to ensure enough supply for medical patients. They plan a secondary site strictly for recreational sales. This leaves one additional license up for grabs during the initial rollout of the state's recreational marijuana law. The only council member to voice support for Langfelder's proposal was Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, long an opponent of recreational marijuana. You can still get in trouble for some pot use Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The family of a British holidaymaker who was killed in a moped accident in the Philippines suffered further anguish when they were told to pay for the damaged scooter. Jack Whitelaw died on the island of Siargao last Monday when he crashed on a dark road and ploughed into a tree with nails sticking out of it. His father Paul said the 20-year-old had been allowed to hire a motorcycle from a hostel despite not having a licence - accusing the hostel of breaking the law. To make matters worse, the 57-year-old father then received a text from the hostel asking him and his wife Suzy to pay for repairs to the crashed scooter. 'My thoughts right now are that anger has turned to rage,' he said. 'The company want me to pay for the motorcycle that he broke. Well my son has paid with his life, so I am fighting for justice for Jack.' Jack Whitelaw, pictured with his sister Molly, died on the island of Siargao last Monday when he crashed on a dark road and ploughed into a tree with nails sticking out of it Jack, pictured with his father Paul (centre) and sister Molly (right), had hired a moped from the Lukay Resort hostel in the Philippines Paul Whitelaw received these texts from a staff member at the Philippine hostel, asking about 'repairs/fees' for the crashed scooter Jack's father received the message from the Lukay Resort hostel when he arrived in the Philippines to repatriate his son's body yesterday. A staff member called Novelyn made contact after speaking to Jack's work friend Ben Sinclair, with whom he was travelling. The message read: 'Hi good afternoon. I hope you arrived well in Siargao. 'I was in contact with Ben and he told us you would be one taking care of the repairs/fees for the scooter. 'We just wanted to ask news as the bike is still at the police station as of today. Sorry to bother you with that.' An outraged Mr Whitelaw replied: 'Are you kidding me! You murdered my son. 'You gave him a motorbike without a licence and as soon as I have finished getting him home, I'm going to get a Philippines lawyer and sue for what you did to him.' Undeterred, the hostel worker then sent Mr Whitelaw a copy of the form Jack filled in when he hired the bike. Mr Whitelaw replied: 'I'll give this to our lawyer. He's never driven a motorcycle in his life. No licence. 'Philippine law says you MUST have a licence to use one. Why would you give one? My son paid with his life.' The father of Jack Whitelaw (pictured) was asked to pay for the scooter when he arrived in the Philippines yesterday to repatriate his son's body Jack died after crashing into a tree which had nails sticking out of it (pictured) on a dark road on the island of Siargao Jack, of Bracknell, Berkshire, was hailed by his sister Molly as a 'best friend' who 'lived life until the absolute fullest and made every moment count'. 'There are no words to describe how much my heart hurts and how much I miss you already,' she said. 'You made every single person in every room laugh until their cheeks hurt. 'I told you everyday, but you'll never fully understand how much I really love you. I feel so lucky that I got to be your big sister. 'You inspired me everyday with your positivity, loyalty and commitment to life. 'Gosh I loved every minute of being your sister. I love you so so so so so much. 'You made me so proud. I'm already counting down the days until I get to see that big cheesy grin on your face with open arms for the best cuddle ever. 'My best friend. I love you.' Jack's father said: 'Jack will forever remain in our memories as the boy who will never grow up, our very own Peter Pan. 'Free living, generous, kindhearted soul who saw good in everyone, lived each and every day making other people smile.' Jack was hailed by his sister Molly (pictured together) a 'best friend' who 'lived life until the absolute fullest and made every moment count' Mr Whitelaw, the director of a musical company, added: 'What happened to Jack was avoidable. 'In the Philippines, and I hope, anywhere in the world, you have to have a licence to ride a moped. 'Jack had no licence, he could drive a car, he hated tests of any kind, and so, had never passed his driving test. 'He had no experience in riding in a pothole ridden island at night during the rainy season in the tropics. 'They added an "illegal" waiver, saying he'd be responsible in case of an accident. Jack, being a lad, signed it, and lived for a day.' The hostel later sent Paul another message in which they retracted the request for payment but said they had not done anything illegal. It read: 'Is very hard to live with it even though we did not do anything illegal but I feel responsible. 'We do our best to accommodate our customers and we do our best to protect them from the danger of motorbike providing strong helmet and signing documents. 'Unfortunately in Siargao every week and sometimes everyday there is a fatal accident. The roads are dark and people are drinking. 'I do apologise for asking you to pay for the damage but as I mentioned to you the police told me I should contact you. 'Sir I will not ask you anything, as I know it is really hard situation to handle for you. I am sorry if there was any misunderstanding. We will never forget your Son. Novelyn.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 07:38:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A drone carrying a QR code placard is seen near an expressway toll station in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 11, 2020. As a measure to help prevent and control novel coronavirus, an online register system for vehicles coming back to Shenzhen has been put into use since Feb. 8. To increase the efficiency, local police officers used drones to carry a QR code at the expressway exits for drivers to get registered with less contact with other people. (Photo by Lai Li/Xinhua) Australia's 'black summer' provides glimmer of hope for climate policy action FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Protesters demonstrate over Australia's bushfires crisis, in London By Sonali Paul MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's deadly wildfires have opened up a small window of opportunity for the country to break a decade-long impasse on climate policy, as some politicians and big business push for major change. Independent politician Zali Steggall this week unveiled proposed legislation to target zero carbon emissions by 2050, aiming to take advantage of a subtle shift in rhetoric from the conservative Liberal-led coalition government. "Eighty percent of the public wants to see us addressing climate change. The impacts are real. We are experiencing them now," Steggall, who plans to introduce the bill into parliament next month, told Reuters. Steggall and other crossbench politicians are pushing for all lawmakers to be allowed a conscience vote on the bill. That would enable members of the Liberal Party and main opposition Labor Party who oppose building new coal-fired plants and have constituents pressing for more climate action to unite to pass the legislation. But it will be an uphill battle as Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces fresh calls by some in his conservative government to fund new coal-fired power stations, a policy popular with some voters because it stabilises jobs, boosts power supplies and keeps a lid on energy prices. Without substantial support from Labor and moderates in the Liberal-led coalition government, the bill is unlikely to pass. The issue of climate change has plagued leaders of Australia for the past decade, contributing to the downfall of at least three prime ministers. As the world's biggest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas and one of the world's biggest carbon emitters per person, Australia has also come under fire from global climate activists and the United Nations for not taking more responsibility to curb global warming. Morrison acknowledged last week climate change was a factor in what he has dubbed Australia's "Black Summer", in which bushfires have killed 33 people, charred nearly 12 million hectares (29.7 million acres) of land and wreaked billions of dollars in damage. Story continues That was a slight shift from remarks made as recently as January, when he largely blamed a lack of preemptive burn-off to clear hazardous vegetation and a three-year drought for the devastating bushfires. "What it shows is there's a recognition that climate change is problematic for Australia and we need to take more action to protect ourselves against the consequences," said Mark Howden, director of the Climate Change Institute at Australian National University. BUSINESS SUPPORT The Business Council of Australia (BCA) is backing Steggall's proposed legislation, which includes a call for five-year plans to meet specific emissions budgets, to create certainty for investors. "If we could get the two political parties to agree to that and legislate it, we would have made a massive advance in this country, because we would know where we're going," BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott said on Australian television on Monday. The quandary for politicians is that Australia's big manufacturers are heavy power consumers, in turn dependent on the country's abundant, but heavily polluting, coal and gas supply. Protecting those sectors and keeping energy prices down has led to a decade of flip-flops on climate policies. That has left the country on track to miss its emissions reduction target under the Paris Climate Accord, according to the government's own projections. Labor, which failed to oust the coalition government in an election last May after alienating voters in coal mining-heavy districts, urged Morrison to allow debate on Steggall's bill but stopped short of endorsing it. "Labor welcomes any constructive effort to progress climate action and looks forward to continuing to engage with Zali Steggall about her Climate Change Bill," the shadow minister for climate change and energy Mark Butler said in a statement. MISSING TARGETS Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor did not directly answer questions from Reuters about whether the government would support the bill, but said he expects to deliver a long term emissions reduction strategy before the next U.N. climate summit in Glasgow in November. "The pathway to meaningful impacts on global emissions is through development and deployment of new technologies. The answer is not a new tax or more bureaucracy," Taylor said in emailed comments. For Australia to meet its Paris accord target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 26% from 2005 levels by 2030, it needs to cut annual emissions to 462 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e). Despite Morrison repeatedly boasting that Australia will meet that "in a canter", the government forecast in December that Australia's emissions would fall to 511 Mt in 2030, only 16% below 2005 levels. Making the challenge even harder, emissions are growing from Australia's largest industrial facilities, offsetting reductions in the power sector since 2005, research firm RepuTex said. "The tension gets higher and the need to act gets more pressing, but the fundamentals that have slowed governments to date haven't gone away," said Matthew Warren, a former energy industry leader working as a consultant with the BCA. "That's what we're trying to wrestle with." (Reporting by Sonali Paul; editing by Jane Wardell) (Newser) There were dueling messages on Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the White House on Tuesday, with President Trump suggesting the impeachment witness might be disciplined by the military and national security adviser Robert O'Brien insisting he had not been retaliated againstor even fired. Vindman, the National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, was escorted from the White House on Friday, months before his placement was due to end. His twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, played no role in impeachment proceedings but was also ousted. "We sent him on his way to a much different location and the military can handle him any way they want," Trump said of Alexander Vindman on Tuesday, predicting that the military will "certainly" at least "take a look" at disciplining him for his testimony. story continues below O'Brien told CNN that the brothers were "reassigned" and it was "standard procedure" to escort them from the White House. He said the US is not a "banana republic" where lieutenants colonels can dictate policy. "The president is entitled to a staff that he has confidence in," he said. "I can absolutely tell you they were not retaliated against." Lawyers for the brothers say they were clearly fired because Alexander Vindman testified that he considered Trump's Ukraine phone call inappropriate and alarming. "There is no question in the mind of any American why this mans job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House," Vindman lawyer David Pressman said, per the Guardian. "Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth." (Read more Alexander Vindman stories.) Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won the Assembly polls in Delhi with a massive mandate with some of the candidates winning from their respective seats by huge margin but there were constituencies where there was a neck-to-neck fight between contestants and the winner emerged victorious by a thin margin. AAP candidate Bhupinder Singh Joon who contested from Bijwasan won by 753 votes against BJP's Sat Prakash Rana. According to the data available on Election Commission website, Joon got 57271 or 45.83 votes as against Rana who got 56518 or 45.22 per cent votes. BJP candidate from Laxmi Nagar, Abhay Verma won by 880 votes. AAP had fielded Nitin Tyagi from the seat. While Verma got 65735 (48.04 per cent) votes, Tyagi finished a close second with 64855 (47.4) per cent votes. From Adarsh Nagar constituency, AAP candidate Pawan Sharma defeated BJP's Raj Kumar Bhatia by 1589 votes. Sharma fetched 46892 or 45.2 per cent votes while Bhatia got 45303 or 43.66 per cent votes. Among the largest margins - AAP's Sanjeev Jha won by more than 88,000 votes defeating JDU's Shailendra Kumar who got 51,440 votes. Jha secured 139598 or 62.81 per cent votes. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP galloped to a landslide victory by winning 62 of the 70 seats in the face of a high-voltage election campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers in its poll campaign, spearheaded by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, Feb 12 : The 6th International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO), recently held in India, witnessed participation from over 50 countries and jury members from different nations. Among them were Professor David Foskett and Chef Brian Turner from the UK. Previously the Dean and Head of the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London, Foskett is a member of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Craft Guild of Chefs and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality. In June 2002 in the Queen's birthday honours list, Turner was awarded a CBE for his services to tourism and training in the catering industry. Since then Turner has been made an Honourary Professor of The University of West London, a Fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute as well as receiving Honorary Doctorates of Science at Leeds Metropolitan and Sheffield Hallam Universities. IANSlife got in a conversation with both the experts to learn about their views on Indian food and how Indian cuisine is perceived abroad. Excerpts: Have you ever been to India? Foskett: Yes! I've been to India many times before. I love the vegetarian food; I like the colour and most importantly the Indian hospitality. Hospitality is in the DNA of Indian people and I think that India is the most hospitable country in the world. How is Indian food perceived abroad? Foskett: Indian food is perceived as one of the best food cultures in the world. I come from the United Kingdom where the most favoured dish is curry, which comes from India. Indian food is everywhere in the UK and curry has become like our national dish. Turner: What I really like is how Indian cuisine embraces vegetarianism and it's become really popular all of a sudden, back in the UK, Europe and America. Veganism and vegetarianism have become really strong, where Indian cuisine dominates and produces some really flavoursome and fantastic dishes. How do you see Indian food placed on a global platter? Foskett: Interestingly, the use of spices has some major healing properties. There's a huge movement in the US and now in the UK on culinary medicine, which majorly derives its inspiration from Indian Ayurveda and spices. Turner: I think from a global point of view, Indian food has shot through the roof. UK has always had a very strong following of Indian food, but what has happened now is that it's a lot more authentic. About 20-30 years ago in the UK, Indian food was available very much in a westernized version. But now that people are travelling more, they understand what proper cuisine is from different parts of India and they understand what great Dals are, what great curries are. The authenticity is changing and it's spreading through the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and it's really becoming popular. In your experience as a chef, what are the three most important attributes to be exhibited while in the kitchen? Turner: Determination; you can't do a lot without determination. Passion; it's a widely used phrase in hospitality about being passionate but if you don't love what you do, you cannot really excel in it. And commitment; it doesn't happen overnight, you've got to commit time to being a chef. Those are the three key things. What are the three most important ingredients in your kitchen? Turner: I like to experiment with different cuisines. I like a lot of the Indian spices and also like to use and blends of those. Turmeric is used, Saffron is used in a lot of my cuisines and also the Garam Masala. I've been able to use that in different ways apart from the typical ways. Which is your favourite cuisine and why? Foskett: Indian vegetarian cuisine is the best and the most flavoursome in the world. Turner: Indian cuisine done properly is one of my favourites. Thai is also close up there and there's a connection between the two over some of the spices as well. I think Indian and Thai are the most interesting and versatile. Do you think it is important to experiment with cuisines? How important is it to maintain the authenticity of any cuisine? Foskett: There's a big discussion happening around food and culture. Food is a part of our culture. Food also unites us. We must never lose the concept of basic food culture. It's okay to have lots of experiments with food and I am all for it but we must never lose sight of basic culture and basic dishes because that's what we are! Turner: I think it's extremely important. There are people who modernize and do different versions of cuisines and it's happening here in India as well. But as long as they stay true to their roots, there's nothing wrong with modernising presentations and putting a slight twist on something. But when you do too much, that takes it away from the real root of what that dish is and you're starting to ruin it. You must never forget where the history of that dish comes from and the authenticity of it. Cooking as a profession is now taken seriously unlike few years back. What do think has driven this change? Foskett: We must see cookery as a profession and as a business. If you see the science and art of professional cookery as a business opportunity, then it is a very credible subject. People have now realised that running a business around food and creativity is important and entrepreneurs have found great satisfaction in hospitality and culinary business. Turner: I think there are a lot of chefs on TV now and that has attracted a lot of people. I also think when you are creative, it is a great career to get into and to be able to be creative in. You can work in some fantastic establishments; you never go hungry, which is always good. It gives you some great opportunities; I have lived abroad for 21 years and worked in Europe, South Africa and SouthEast Asia. Giving you the ability to travel with your job and to try different cuisines is really exciting. Sustainability was the theme this year at YMO? Tell us more about it. Foskett: The previous successful editions of the Young Chef Olympiad weren't based on a theme. This year, the competition adopted the theme' as today, the world is very conscious of issues like sustainability. The young people have a voice on how the planet is suffering from climate change and what should be done. This is the reason why the need for a theme was felt. Turner: Sustainability is something that is really close to my heart and it's really important to ensure that we don't waste food, that we respect food, we ensure that the element of packaging and traceability and also transporting your food and remember to use more local food. Although it is an international competition, I think it has a really strong message to send back to the colleges, back to the countries to say, this is something that hospitality can really start to affect and change. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the existing double tax avoidance agreement with Sri Lanka, a move aimed at curbing tax evasion. The existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Sri Lanka was signed in January 2013 and entered into force in October the same year. The Cabinet approved the signing and ratification of the protocol amending the agreement between India and Sri Lanka for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar at a press briefing. "Updation of preamble text and inclusion of Principal Purpose Test, a general anti- abuse provision in the DTAA will result in curbing of tax planning strategies which exploit gaps and mismatches in tax rules," said an official release in this regard. India and Sri Lanka are members of the inclusive framework and as such are required to implement the minimum standards under G-20 OECD BEPS Action Reports in respect of their DTAAs. Minimum standards under BEPS Action 6 can be met through the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (MLI) or through agreement bilaterally. India is a signatory to the MLI. However, Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the MLI as of now. Therefore, amendment of the India-Sri Lanka DTAA is required to update the Preamble and also to insert Principal Purpose Test (PPT) provisions to meet the minimum standards on treaty abuse under Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project. A new study published this week has revealed that the use of marijuana or cannabis can implant false memories. The study titled, "Cannabis increases susceptibility to false memory," was published in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Cannabis increases susceptibility to false memory. Image Credit: GuruXOX / Shutterstock The researchers at the Maastricht University in The Netherlands found that using marijuana could at least double the number of false memories or memories that never occurred in the first place. Researchers led by Professor Johannes Ramaekers, a professor of psychopharmacology at Maastricht University, compared marijuana users with placebo users and noted this phenomenon. They explained that false memories are those recounting an event or detail which did not actually occur but is a result of a trigger from the environment. The team explained that when a series of events take place, the insertion of a small detail from outside can often help form a fake or false memory. This is seen in all individuals, even without marijuana use. False memories are heightened when there is the use of cannabis. Ramaekers reiterated, saying, "We are all prone to the formation of false memories, independent of cannabis use. The susceptibility for false memory, however, increases with cannabis. Under cannabis, users can easily accept fake truths for true memory." Elizabeth Loftus, a professor of psychological science in the department of criminology at the University of California, Irvine, added that this finding could be valuable in the perspective of the legalization of marijuana. She said that false memories could be significant in eyewitnesses and criminal matters as well as other issues such as interactions with friends, colleagues, and family. She said in a statement, "This new work is suggesting authorities need to be extra careful when interviewing somebody." She noted that "contamination of memories" should be taken into account. Loftus added, "There are lots of situations where somebody's memory matters. For example, a family dispute such as two siblings arguing about what happened in the past over a Thanksgiving table." Ramaekers said, "Formation of false memories may alter the interpretation of work-related activities and social interactions with others." Loftus and colleagues found that there is an effect of misinformation and this has occurred in infamous criminal trials. She said, "It's easy to distort memory for the details of an event." She had been working on this for the past three decades and added that memories could be implanted in the minds long after the event has occurred. The team explained that this was a placebo-controlled trial where both immediate and long term effects of intoxication with 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or marijuana was tested against a placebo. The study included 64 healthy volunteers. The participants were divided into two groups, with one group taking placebo and another group marijuana without their knowing the contents of their intake. The users were asked to use a Volcano Vaporizer to vape or inhale the marijuana or placebo. The amount in the vapourizer was regulated, and the participant smoked one whole balloon per dose. Under the influence of the drug or place, their memories were tested immediately and again after a week. Three different methods were used to test for memories the first was a list of associative words that were read out to them, and they had to repeat them back. The second and third tasks were visuals of virtual reality where the participants were asked to witness an event (for example, a fight on the platform while in a train compartment). Two scenarios were created one as a virtual reality eye witness scenario and another as a perpetrator scenario (they become a student in need of money and steal a wallet in virtual reality). Results revealed that those who were intoxicated had a higher number of false memory insertion compared to those who were on placebo. In the associated word list, those on marijuana had a higher level of false recognition (saying a word was on the list when it was not). This false recognition or false insertion of words was seen both immediately and after one week of the intoxication. False memories were observed in both the virtual reality scenarios among those using marijuana. Ramaekers said, "This study showed that cannabis increased the number of false memories across all three memory paradigms." It could be due to the activation of the hippocampus - the memory center of the brain, wrote the researchers. Ramaekers said that there might be a "fragmentation of thought, loosening of associations and heightened distractibility," with marijuana that could be causing this phenomenon. First author Lilian Kloft, a psychopharmacology researcher at Maastricht University, said that this also meant that persons under the influence could admit to committing a crime they did not commit. The team wrote in conclusion, "Cannabis seems to increase false-memory proneness, with decreasing strength of association between an event and a test item, as assessed by different false-memory paradigms." This, wrote the researchers, could have an impact on police interviews of suspects as well as eyewitnesses high on marijuana. File image The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party on February 11 swept Delhi, winning 62 of the total 70 Assembly seats. The BJP, which had campaigned vociferously in the run-up to the polls, came a distant second, winning eight seats, marginally upping their seat tally from three in the 2015 Assembly elections. The Congress, however, was decimated, with zero seats and a record low vote share of 4.26 percent, lower than their 2015 vote share of 9.7 percent. The Grand Old Party is even believed to have lost its deposit in 63 of the 66 seats they fought from. What the Congress has also lost in the process is a loyal vote bank the Muslim community. The run-up to the Delhi election was riddled with aggressive protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with sporadic protests across the capital city, and a consistent one, now running into almost 60 days, at Shaheen Bagh. In fact, Shaheen Bagh, a Muslim-dominated area in southeast Delhi, was at the centre of anti-CAA protests. The BJP had also tried to make it a central poll plank, throwing various baits at Kejriwal to draw him into the debate. However, the Delhi chief minister maintained a safe distance from the protest, commenting on the issue only when asked about it, and in a rather diplomatic way. On the other hand, BJP leaders passed controversial remarks at Shaheen Bagh and overall anti-CAA protesters, referring to the poll battle in Delhi as one between India and Pakistan. The Delhi election results have suggested the emergence of a different narrative. For instance, AAP candidate Amanatullah Khan won from the Okhla constituency, which houses Shaheen Bagh as well as Jamia Nagar, which saw strong anti-CAA protests. Not only this, Khan recorded the second biggest win in these elections, beating BJP candidate Braham Singh by over 71,000 votes. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Parvez Hashmi got only 5,107 votes, significantly less as compared to approximately 20,000 votes won by then Congress candidate Asif Mohd Khan in 2015. This is despite the party taking a firm stance against the Citizenship Act, coupled with a proposed NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise. The Grand Old Party had even promised a resolution against CAA as well as abandoning NRC and NPR (National Population Register) in its current form, in their poll manifesto. A similar trend was evident in other Muslim-dominated constituencies too, some of which saw hostile protests against the Citizenship Act. These include Seelampur, Matia Mahal and Chandni Chowk. Seelampur, which saw people taking to streets to protest, followed by Delhi Police shelling tear gas to disperse the crowd, also saw AAP candidate Abdul Rehman winning with a comfortable margin of about 37,000 votes. Congress candidate and senior leader Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed was pushed to the third place. Chandni Chowk, which houses the Jamia Masjid, again an epicentre of peaceful demonstrations against CAA, as well as Daryaganj, where protests took a violent turn and vehicles were set ablaze, had a similar story to tell. AAP candidate Parlad Singh Sawhney won with a margin of close to 30,000 votes, while Congress key candidate Alka Lamba was a distant third with 3,800 votes. Other Muslim-dominated areas like Matia Mahal and Ballimaran also saw AAP candidates win by a handsome margin. Although, Muslims in Delhi have traditionally voted for Congress, a shift in their votes to AAP had emerged in 2015 itself. This time around, however, the communitys support to AAP seems to be more absolute. In a controversial decision, the Supreme Court, by the closest possible margin of a 5-to-4 vote, held that a person has a right to express disagreement with governmental policies by burning the American flag. In a decision at least as controversial, the leadership of the People`s Republic of China decided that citizens who peacefully express disagreement with government policies may be slaughtered. On the surface, these two events may seem to bear little relationship to one another, but deep and fundamental lessons can be drawn from their comparison. The American flag is a cherished symbol of our national aspirations. It is the closest object to a national icon, rivaled only by the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Given the widespread and deeply felt reverence for this symbol of what we perceive to be the best of our civilization, what is the harm in insisting upon a modicum of respect for it? After all, no one can seriously equate a prohibition on flag burning with the imposition of governmental orthodoxy in political speech. Any messages that burning the flag might convey easily can be communicated in other ways. Those are powerful points, deserving the greatest respect. If not rebutted, they compel the conclusion that the Supreme Court was wrong in its decision. Advertisement The Supreme Court was not wrong. Indeed, a decision contrary to the one reached would have been a definitive step away from our national aspirations. A commitment to the intertwined freedoms of conscience and expression is at the core of those aspirations. What most distinguishes our civilization from both its predecessors and its contemporary competitors is a belief in the sanctity of the human conscience. Each individual is to have the freedom to develop by his or her own lights, and not by the command of officialdom. That requires not just the right to be let alone, but also the right to communicate with, to learn from and test views in conversations. It is, thus, no surprise that the 1st Amendment is where it is in the Bill of Rights, for it is first in importance. A concomitant of the commitment to freedom of conscience, in a sense its mirror image, is that no one has better access to truth than anyone else. Official dogma is not better (perhaps no worse) than the beliefs of private citizens. Advertisement The dissenters in the flag-burning case and their supporters might at this juncture note an irony in my argument. My point is that freedom of conscience and expression is at the core of our self-conception and that commitment to it requires the rejection of official dogma. But how is that admittedly dogmatic belief different from any other dogma, such as the one inferring that freedom of expression stops at the border of the flag? The crucial distinction is that the commitment to freedom of conscience and expression states the simplest and least self-contradictory principle that seems to capture our aspirations. Any other principle is hopelessly at odds with our commitment to freedom of conscience. The controversy surrounding the flag-burning case makes the case well. The controversy will rage precisely because burning the flag is such a powerful form of communication. Were it not, who would care? Thus were we to embrace a prohibiton on such communication, we would be saying that the 1st Amendment protects expression only when no one is offended. That would mean that this aspect of the 1st Amendment would be of virtually no consequence. It would protect a person only when no protection was needed. Thus, we do have one official dogma-each American may think and express anything he wants. The exception is expression that involves the risk of injury to others and the destruction of someone else`s property. Neither was present in this case. At the core of what the flag symbolizes, then, is tolerance. More than anything else, the flag stands for free expression of ideas, no matter how distasteful. The ultimate irony would have been to punish views expressed by burning the flag that stands for the right to those expressions. The lesson of toleration is not easily learned, however, as events in recent months in Chicago and President Bush`s regrettable response to the flag-burning issue demonstrated. Both controversies at the Art Institute, over the flag display and the caricature of Mayor Washington, should have been easy to resolve. The ''artists'' had the right to their expressions, no matter how distasteful. Demonstrating their hatefulness, rather than suppressing it, would have been the proper response. The furor over the attempts to suppress the flag display, for example, in a sense made the young man`s point very eloquently. His point, as I understood it, is that our nation mouths pieties while acting inhumanely. It would have been much better if the veterans who were so upset with the exhibit confronted the young man who created it with the fact that it was his right to create such works that, among other things, they had fought to protect. Further, they could have told him that while he and his attempt at art were odious in their eyes, they would again risk mutilation and death in the service of their country to protect his right to express his views. Similarly, it would be much better if President Bush were to demonstrate an understanding of the central role of freedom of conscience and expression. He could do that not by calling for a highly problematic amendment to the Constitution, but by defending a person`s freedom of speech, while vigorously opposing its content. By now it is obvious as to how this all relates to China. If there is not a commitment to freedom of conscience and expression, no matter how distasteful the ideas held by others, there is no obvious point to stop the proliferation of official orthodoxy-and there is no obvious reason to restrain the use of force in its imposition. That`s not to say that if the Supreme Court had decided differently we soon would be shooting protesters. But we would have taken a noticeable step away from commitment to freedom of conscience and a step toward Tiananmen Square. That is the most troubling aspect of the Supreme Court`s decision. With the change of one vote, that troublesome step would have been taken. One wonders if the social consensus is really as fragile as that vote makes it seem. Perhaps, though, there is another way to look at it-to acknowledge that not even such a fundamental value as the commitment to freedom of conscience should be free from controversy. With controversy comes debate, enlightenment and renewed commitment. Perhaps, then, we are in the court`s debt for not treating the flag-burning case like the simple case it is. Let the controversy rage. After all, it is in robust debate that we are most true to ourselves. Ronald J. Allen is a professor of law at Northwestern University. CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- John R. Agar, DDS, MA, FACP, was honored with the Major General Bill B. Lefler Federal Services Award by the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP). Dr. Agar received this award at the 49th Annual Session of the ACP in Miami, Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. Named for the late Maj. Gen. Bill B. Lefler, who had an active military career of over 34 years and was a dedicated member and Fellow of the ACP, the award recognizes excellence in leadership, patient care, mentorship, and service to community. "General Bill Lefler was a special person that sincerely cared about everyone he encountered," said Dr. Agar. "He had a phenomenal memory that he used to relate and extend positive energy to support you during good and difficult times. He was an exceptionally outstanding humanitarian, prosthodontist, educator and leader. He had a more profound effect on my professional and personal life than I am able to explain. I am tremendously honored and appreciative of receiving this award." Dr. Agar is retired from the U.S. Army in which he served as clinician, educator, consultant and commander. He is a professor at the University of Connecticut, where he previously served as Director of Graduate Prosthodontics from 1996 to 2014. He is a past president of the ACP and the American Board of Prosthodontics. About Prosthodontists A prosthodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the restoration and replacement of missing teeth and other oral or facial issues. Prosthodontists specialize in helping patients with implants, dentures and veneers, all the way to full mouth and jaw reconstructions. About the ACP The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) is the association that represents the specialty of prosthodontics. Founded in 1970, the ACP is dedicated to advancing the art and science of prosthodontics and promoting the specialty to the public and dental professionals. For more information, consumers can visit GoToAPro.org and dental professionals can visit Prosthodontics.org. Evan Summers [email protected] SOURCE American College of Prosthodontists Related Links http://GoToAPro.org Ankara, Feb 12 : The Russian and Turkish presidents had a phone conversation and discussed the escalation in Idlib in northwestern Syria, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. Regarding his telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Erdogan said "we evaluated the ongoing process in Idlib. We especially dealt with the damage to our soldiers by Syrian forces and even by Russia," Xinhua news agency reported. "We reached an agreement about the meeting of our officials of foreign affairs, defence and intelligence in Moscow. We will hold these talks as soon as possible," he told reporters. Erdogan recalled a refugee influx to Turkish borders from Idlib province of Syria, and said "we do not want to look at this asylum movement with much tolerance. We are carrying out some work on the Syrian territory to stop this. We want to settle people there." A Russian delegation held talks in Turkey's capital Ankara on Saturday and Monday over the escalating tension in Syria's Idlib, but the talks failed to yield an outcome. Turkey has recently sent reinforcements to Syria following several exchanges of fire with the Syrian government forces, which killed 13 Turkish soldiers in two separate incidents in Idlib since last week. [February 11, 2020] Journey Announces Andrew Miller as New Board Member and Advisor to the CEO DENVER, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Journey Inc., has developed a revolutionary trusted digital identity platform that allows enterprises to transform their identity practices - preserving privacy of individuals, preventing fraud, and streamlining the customer experience simultaneously. As Journey prepares to come out of stealth mode and announce its powerful new trusted identity solution that will change the way enterprises interact with their customers forever, Journey announces the addition of a new Board of Directors member and key strategic advisor, Andrew Miller. Mr. Miller has joined Journey as a Board member with a hands-on role to assist the Executive team in areas focused on strategy, investors and key customers. Miller joins an impressive group of leaders including Brett Shockley (Avaya CTO/SVP, Cisco VP/GM, Founder: Spanlink, Calabrio), Michael Frendo (Juniper SVP/GM, Polycom EVP, Cisco VoIP employee #1), Mark Bakies (Symbolic, Cisco, Bell Labs), and Alex Shockley (AOR, Unreasonable, Founder: Shocking Creations). Andrew Miller has served as CEO for two $1B plus public companies - Tandberg and Polycom - as well as senior positions at Cisco Systems and IPC Systems. During more than two decades in th technology and telecom industries, he has been a Director on 6 public company boards including Gigamon, BroadSoft, and Bridgepoint, and collaborated on two successful enterprise communications IPOs. He founded the Andrew Miller Foundation (http://andrewmillerfoundation.org) in 2017 to increase awareness and financial support for under-recognized charitable organizations and San Francisco-based consulting firm Marina Growth Strategies (https://marinastrategy.com) which donates a portion of its revenue to the Foundation. In addition to guest lecturing at UCLA, USC and Stanford, Miller has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the Aspen Ideas Festival. "We are very excited to have Andrew Miller join our Board as an active member to assist us with our growth in areas such as Strategy, Investors and Key Customers. Andy's experience in the Enterprise and service provider Software and SaaS space, as well as a focused Contact Center background, is a perfect fit for Journey during our critical growth phase," said Brett Shockley, Journey CEO. About Journey.ai, Inc. Journey reduces operating costs, eliminates fraud, and improves user experience in the contact center and beyond by fundamentally solving digital identity from the network up throughout the complete user-journey. More details will emerge on the patent-pending, and industry changing, zero-knowledge network when they emerge from stealth mode in spring 2020. If you would like more information, please email press@journey.ai. CONTACT: Alex Shockley PHONE: 952-465-5717 EMAIL: press@journey.ai View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/journey-announces-andrew-miller-as-new-board-member-and-advisor-to-the-ceo-301003308.html SOURCE Journey [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] President Ramnath Kovind on Wednesday attended the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Institute of Bank Management and said that 50 years of service to the nation is a matter of pride. Addressing the gathering he said, "It gives immense pleasure to be here in the Golden Jubilee celebration of Institute of Bank Management. 50 years of service to the nation is a matter of pride." He congratulated everybody who is associated with the institute. "It was a great foresight of Reserve Bank of India and Banks to have set up the Institute of Bank Management for capacity building," he said in his address. "It was found as an autonomous apex institution for research, training, education, and consultancy in bank management. More than 1.1 lakh bankers have been trained here," he added. President Kovind said that the IBM campus has hosted nearly 9,000 international students thus the institute has also contributed to the building of India's soft power abroad. "During my visit to foreign countries, I am glad to see youngsters from India as well as foreigners who are trained in India making an impact," he said. President outlined that the banks have played a sterling role in fuelling India's economic growth. "At the time of Independence the banks had faced many challenges but the growth of banks since then can be viewed with a sense of satisfaction," he added. The Reserve Bank of India governor, Shaktikanta Das was also present in the event. He said that since its inception in 1969 the IBM has contributed immensely to the capacity building needs of the banking sector in India. "It continues to facilitate the sector's transition into the 21st century which is witnessing a rapid confluence of ideas, knowledge and innovation-driven change", he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It may have taken him 30 minutes, but Jack Pytel came up with the biggest catch of his life. Pytel, an 18-year-old from Needville, caught what he called a "powerful" 7-foot, 190-pound alligator gar Feb. 1 in a creek near the Brazos River in Fort Bend County. CAIRO - Three weeks after a summit in Berlin elicited promises from a handful of nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Russia, to end their supply of arms and the flow of mercenaries to Libya, the war has only become more intractable. A key reason for this, analysts say, is that European and American leaders in attendance did not apply decisive pressure on the primary outside powers fueling Libya's war. There were no sanctions to compel respect for a U.N. arms embargo. Nor were the violators shamed for their role in the conflict. "The Berlin summit's softness and toothlessness indicated to Turkey and the UAE that the international community wasn't about to institute a mechanism capable of making arms-embargo violations the slightest bit costly to the perpetrators," said Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya expert at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague. "This helps understand why the volume of weapons injected in Libya by Abu Dhabi and Ankara exploded to the upside right after Berlin, which was perceived as a go-ahead." Days after the summit, the weapons shipments to both sides increased. Turkey sent air defense systems, heavy guns and anti-mortar radars, along with as many as 3,500 pro-Turkey Syrian fighters, military advisers and trainers, to support the U.N.-backed government based in Tripoli, according to U.N. and Western officials, military analysts, and images and videos posted on social media. Several dozen cargo planes, meanwhile, took off from the UAE carrying weapons for the forces of Khalifa Hifter, the eastern commander whose offensive in April triggered the North African nation's turmoil, according to U.N. officials and researchers tracking flights from the UAE to eastern Libya. UAE officials did not respond to requests for comment. Russia has denied any connections to Russian mercenaries working for the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked firm, who are fighting alongside Hifter. U.S. and European officials have said they remain engaged in Libya and are applying appropriate measures to achieve a cease-fire and a political solution. Hami Aksoy, a spokesman for Turkey's Foreign Ministry, said Ankara was intervening in Libya at the request of the U.N.-installed government. He said that the support is not a violation of the U.N. embargo and that it mainly consists of military expertise and training. The United Nations is in talks with the warring sides to disarm militias, launch new economic measures and reach a cease-fire. Any progress hinges on stopping weapons flows into Libya, say U.N. officials and analysts. The broken promises of Berlin, however, underscore the extent to which the arms embargo has become toothless. Today, Libya's fate remains in the control of at least six foreign powers that seek to ensure that the country's future becomes aligned with their own geopolitical, economic and ideological interests. These external powers have funneled weapons, mercenaries, military trainers and other support into Libya since as early as 2011, when a populist revolt backed by NATO air power ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Yet the United Nations and Western nations have never applied sanctions or found other ways to punish the perpetrators. "I am deeply frustrated with what's happening in Libya," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters last week in New York, describing the broken promises by foreign powers as "a scandal." "They committed not to interfere in the Libyan process, and they committed not to send weapons or participate in any way in the fighting," he said. "The truth is that the Security Council [arms] embargo remains violated." The U.N. special envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, said last week that the resolutions agreed upon in Berlin were not being "respected" and that "new mercenaries, new equipment, are arriving for both parties in Libya by air and by sea." In Libya, both Russia and Turkey are seeking to access billions of dollars in oil and construction contracts and to extend their influence in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. The UAE, Egypt and other regional powers are wary of the growing influence of Turkey, which backs Islamists they have branded as terrorists. Hifter's drive to take Tripoli has stalled as pro-government militias have risen to fight his forces. In September, Kremlin-linked Russian mercenaries arrived on the front lines, bringing sophisticated weaponry and tactics. The U.N.-backed government then turned to Turkey for more military help, enticing Ankara with economic and security agreements. By last month, Turkey and Russia were the most influential power brokers in Libya. Russian President Vladimir Putin brought both sides to Moscow to seal a cease-fire, but Hifter abruptly left without signing the pact. European powers sought to become more relevant in Libya with the Berlin summit. "It didn't really make anything binding," said Emadeddin Badi, a Libya analyst with the Middle East Institute. "It wasn't coercive. It didn't leverage any big political capital. The initiative became numbing because of lack of political will." While the fighting is not as intense as before the Berlin summit, clashes have continued on several fronts, as has indiscriminate shelling, repeatedly striking civilian areas. Since April, several thousand people have been killed or wounded in the conflict, and more than 150,000 people have fled their homes. In the coastal city of Sirte, much of it captured last month by Hifter's forces, a Sufi shrine was destroyed last week, allegedly by ultraconservative Salafist militiamen. It was a sign that the war is becoming, at least for some warring elements, religious and sectarian in nature. On the eve of the Berlin summit, pro-Hifter tribes blockaded key oil ports. Oil production has been hit severely, Salame said. In a nation where oil and gas exports account for more than 90 percent of all state revenue, Libya is producing only 72,000 barrels compared with 1.3 million barrels before the closure. "This situation is not sustainable," Salame said. "I would be grateful if some of the largest countries in the world, who have been helping us in solving previous crises in oil production and export, do the same in this particular crisis." Last month, the United Nations released a scathing report about a June airstrike that killed at least 53 people, mostly African migrants, at a detention center in Tripoli. It concluded that the airstrikes were "likely conducted by aircraft belonging to a foreign state" - without naming the country. Last year, five officials with the United Nations and Western aid agencies said that the UAE's warplanes were behind the attacks. The United States, European powers and the United Nations have consistently refrained from singling out the UAE as a main driver of the conflict. They "don't wish to alienate an Arab Sunni country they see as assertive, dynamic and willing to spend on shaping the political and security landscape of the northern half of Africa," said Harchaoui, of the Clingendael Institute. "As long as this is the case, the U.N.'s arms embargo will likely continue to be empty rhetoric." France and other nations that back Hifter, meanwhile, have strongly criticized Turkey for its interference. "The problem is you can't really tackle the Libya crisis with this one-sided approach," Badi said. Farm Bills: Farmers' organisations call for Karnataka bandh, likely to be held on September 28 Karnataka bandh over Maratha board: What is open, what is closed Karnataka Bandh today: Are schools closed? All you need to know India oi-Deepika S Bengaluru, Feb 12: Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, a congregation of various pro-Kannada organisations has called for a dawn to dusk bandh demanding reservation of jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors. Check out the important updates on schools, colleges and what one can expect. There are possibilities that the bandh may impact the bandh the school going children as transportation is likely to be hit. It is not clear on whether schools and colleges across Karnataka will stay closed tomorrow in view of the bandh. Karnataka bandh tomorrow: What is open, what is closed The government has asked the respective district deputy commissioners to take a call on the closure of educational institutions Thursday, in view of the state-wide bandh. The Department of Public Instruction has said that based on the availability of public transport and safety aspects in their respective districts. Private schools, however, are yet to take a call in this regard. NEWS AT 3 PM FEB 12th, 2020 The organisation is demanding the implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report which recommends a certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in the public sector undertakings, private companies, and multinational companies. The report was submitted in 1984 but is yet to be implemented. Karnataka bandh tomorrow: Autos, taxis not to ply The auto and taxi unions have extended support to the bandh. Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners Association have extended support to the bandh. The bandh would last between 6 am and 6 pm. Ivanka Trump told CNBC on Wednesday the American economy under her father's leadership has helped deliver unprecedented success to women in the workforce. "Women are thriving like never before," the senior White House advisor said in an interview on "Closing Bell." Ivanka Trump, who was speaking to CNBC ahead of an event to mark the one-year anniversary of Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, said there is ample evidence of that success under President Donald Trump. She said unemployment rates for women are the lowest they've been in 75 years. In September, the unemployment rate for women was 3.4%, reaching its lowest figure since September 1953. The rate has stayed close to that since, registering at 3.5% in January. It was 4.7% in January 2017, the month her father was inaugurated. Ivanka Trump also noted women accounted for more of the workforce than men for only the second time in U.S. history, pointing to Labor Department figures released in January. Those numbers showed women held 50.04% of jobs in December. And in 2019, she said, 72% of new jobs secured went to women. These successes stem from "the fact that we've backed policies that not only create the growth, but enable that type of economic opportunity," she said. One way the administration has done so is by recognizing "the complexity of being a woman by supporting high-quality child care for parents who are working and can't afford it," she added. "That is an undeniable work-related expense." She called attention to the "largest-ever expansion" of the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a $2.37 billion increase that Congress approved in 2018. And more recently, President Trump in December signed into law a bill that gave 2.1 million nonmilitary federal workers 12 weeks of paid leave. "We've moved the ball more on paid family leave than in the 25 years since FMLA was passed," she said, referencing the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. "So women are thriving in the Trump economy," she said. "And our track record ... of success backs that up." She pushed back on the suggestion that the Trump administration was not supportive of women. Critics point to the administration's strong anti-abortion stances, as well as the president's history of making demeaning comments on the appearances of women. They also highlight the leaked 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape, in which her father brags about grabbing women's genitals, and the numerous allegations of sexual assault against him. The president denies those allegations. Also Wednesday, Ivanka Trump announced that Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., are working to codify into law her Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative. Graham are seeking to pass legislation that would establish economic empowerment of women an official U.S. foreign policy goal. In the 12 months since the initiative launched, an estimated 12 million women in the developing world have been impacted through funding and other partnerships, Ivanka Trump said. The goal is to reach 50 million women by 2025. PITTSFIELD Documents released by the Berkshire district attorney indicate that Luke Karpinski acted with premeditation on the day he killed his family and himself and set fire to their Sheffield home nearly a year ago. Police concluded that Karpinski got two of his children out of school in the middle of day, making up a story about them having a dentist appointment. The twins, Alex and Zoe, age 7, as well as son Marek, age 3, were found dead in a second-floor bedroom, their bodies too badly burned for the medical examiner to determine a cause of death. Karpinski attacked and killed his wife, Justine Wilbur, within minutes after she arrived home from work, police determined. She was found with a trauma injury to the back of her head and a deep laceration to her neck. She was killed in the most violent and aggressive manner possible, police said. After the others were dead, Karpinski doused parts of the house in gasoline and set it on fire. He then went to a third-floor bedroom, where he swallowed some oxycodone pills and fell asleep as the house filled with smoke. The medical examiner determined that only Karpinski had traces of soot in his lungs, meaning only he was alive when the fire started. A long knife with a black handle and a multi-purpose butane lighter were found nearby. Police also found the bodies of two dogs in the second-floor closet. They had been shut inside and were unable to escape during the fire. Eleven months after the bodies were found at 1343 Home Road on March 13, the case remains both shocking and a mystery in this small town of 3,200 people. District Attorney Andrea Harrington said this week she was closing the case. She released thousands of pages of investigative documents to the press and public Tuesday that provide some answers about what happened, but nothing definitive about why Karpinski killed his family. I asked the Massachusetts State Police to conduct a thorough investigation in this matter because the victims cannot speak for themselves and I felt that a full accounting of what occurred was in the interests of justice, Harrington said in a statement. I thank the State Police led by the Berkshire Detective Unit for going above and beyond in this investigation. Harrington expressed condolences to the family and friends of the victims of this horrific and unimaginable crime. She also thanked the firefighters who responded to the fire only to stumble onto a murder scene. District Attorney Andrea Harrington, center, speaks during a news conference Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at Sheffield Town Hall about a house fire on Home Road that took the lives of five people in Sheffield, Mass. Behind Harrington are Sheffield Fire Chief Brent Getchell, left, and Massachusetts State Police Lt. Detective Ed Culver. (Ben Garver/The Berkshire Eagle via AP) The documents Harrington released include redacted statements from neighbors and co-workers of Karpinski and Wilbur; a social worker who met with the couple two days before their deaths; and firefighters who discovered the bodies while battling the blaze. Karpinski was a patent examiner with the federal Patent and Trademark Office in Sheffield. Wilbur was a patent attorney with Hoffman Warnick Intellectual Property Offices in Albany, New York. Wilburs co-workers described her to police as a smart, effective lawyer who likely would have made partner in the future. The family had only recently moved into the Berkshires. The documents point to potential sources of strain at home, including marital difficulties and behavioral issues with their youngest child. A parent educator with Berkshire Children and Families met with Wilbur and Karpenski on March 11. The social worker, whose name is redacted in the documents, told police that Wilbur admitted to being under stress because of Mareks behavior. The social worker recalled Karpinski seeming friendly and courteous and active in the conversation. She told investigators she found no indications of marital problems or child abuse. Johan de Nysschen, with Volkswagen, talks about direction the company is going with electric vehicles and the 2021 Atlas at the Chicago Auto Show, Feb. 6, in Chicago. AP-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul LG Chem and SK Innovation (SKI) have been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle over alleged theft of trade secrets relating to electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion battery technology, an industry experts expect to generate over $23 billion by 2027. The story dates back to when LG Chem, LG Group's crucial battery affiliate, filed a lawsuit against the SK Group affiliate in a Delaware court. the United States and a parallel action with the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) alleging "trade secret misappropriation." This was based on SK's hiring of over 100 former LG employees including engineers who were reportedly asked to relay "confidential facts" and business secrets during the hiring process; and downloaded thousands of documents from LG's database, according to company officials and court filings. SKI flatly denied such allegations stressing growth in its battery business was largely due to the result of a steady investment in relevant patented technologies. Also, SK said the hiring was based on an open application process. Regardless of the challenges and difficulties the two South Korean battery suppliers face during their legal battle, the stakes are very high and the two companies don't want a drawn out fight. The battery industry is on an expansionary track and both are leading players in the segment, securing "big automakers" as their clients. Any disruption in battery production would possibly disrupt the launch of advanced EVs by the world's leading carmakers. The battery industry is seeing the impact of the coronavirus epidemic, giving LG and SKI the "right chance" to lift their market share. But the reality is the two companies are exchanging a "war of words" over the conflict, regarding the issue as a "matter of pride." "This is a fight LG can't afford to lose. LG has no doubt SKI is also aware that losing this legal tussle will be a serious blow and the companies also acknowledge the estimated negative impact both in terms of national interest and the industry's relevant eco-system if the battle continues. More precisely, SKI wants to reach a settlement," said an industry official. While LG is seeking to block U.S. imports of SKI's batteries and related manufacturing equipment, the request is a necessary measure for LG before initiating an "exit strategy." SKI also sued LG in South Korea seeking compensation in an apparent effort to use this as legal grounds ahead of the USITC ruling on the case. As LG and SKI attempt to protect trade secrets at the international level, the upcoming ruling from USITC will matter, patent experts said. As seen in the blockbuster Samsung-Apple patent litigation case, the USITC is unlikely to rule in favor of LG Chem or SKI because the result of the upcoming ruling will have a flip-side and an adverse effects. If the USITC rules in favor of LG Chem, that will jeopardize SKI's plans to supply Volkswagen in the United States with batteries from Georgia, court filings said. The United States presidential election is coming up and U.S. President Donald Trump wants to use earlier decisions by foreign companies to make huge investments in the U.S. as "political achievements" in terms of making a positive impact on the U.S. job market. From that standpoint, the South Korean companies don't want to see the case passed to the USTR. President Moon Jae-in, who's been actively embracing the risk of "top-down personal diplomacy" with Trump to move forward with his ambitious rapprochement toward North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un hopes to avoid "unnecessary noise" with Cheong Wa Dae officials asking LG and SKI's top management to settle the case both directly and indirectly, sources with knowledge of the issue told The Korea Times. "There are big demand from SKI's major battery clients to resolve the conflict," another official said. A spokeswoman for SKI admitted the fight had already "cost them a lot" and added the SK unit was hoping to settle the conflict soon. In response to whether or not SKI plans to issue a public apology and to provide compensation if the company is asked to do so by LG, she declined to comment. The SKI official said the construction of the company's Georgia plant is underway without any setbacks, which means SKI was likely hoping the USITC will rule in favor of the SK affiliate. If not, then its Georgia plant will be hit. Two explosions have hit postal offices in the Netherlands after suspected letter bombs which were delivered exploded. The blasts reportedly went off in two separate mail depots, one in Amsterdam city centre and another in the city of Kerkrade, 120 miles to the south. The first explosion occurred around 8am on Wednesday (Feb.12) in a business park in west Amsterdam, while the second in Kerkrade took place shortly after. The sender of the packages was listed as the head offices of a debt collection company called CIB, located in Rotterdam. No injuries have been reported at the mail depots, but police are currently at the scenes of the explosions. Kees van Dijkhuizen, ABN Amro CEO, said an employee went to open the letter when a device inside exploded but wasn't hurt by the blast. The explosion occurred shortly after ABN Amro presented its annual figures for 2019 on Wednesday morning. Last month, there was also a similar letter bomb attack on companies in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Maastricht last month. But none of the devices exploded and police are yet to make an arrest in connection with the incidents. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video After 20 days of treatment at Saigon's Cho Ray Hospital, a 66-year-old Chinese patient, one of Vietnam's first victims of the new coronavirus, was discharged Wednesday. Li Ding (2nd from R), his son and wife pose with a doctor at Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC as he is discharged on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. Li Ding from Wuhan City in China's Hubei Province, center of the nCoV epidemic, had tested negative for the virus twice since Tuesday and was released at 5 p.m., said Nguyen Tri Thuc, the hospital director. His health is now completely restored. The Chinese man became the seventh patient infected with the virus to be discharged from hospital in Vietnam. Others were his son Li Zichao, a Nha Trang hotel staff member, and four workers returning from training in Wuhan. Dings treatment experienced many difficulties, taking longer due to the patient also suffering from diabetes, hypertension and coronary insufficiency, apart from an operation for lung cancer, doctors said. Ding and his son Zichao, released from hospital on February 4, who remained behind to care for his father, were the first two cases infected with the new coronavirus in Vietnam. Ding arrived in Hanoi from Wuhan City, epicenter of the epidemic, in Hubei Province, on January 13, before proceeding to Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province. Zichao, residing in Long An Province the previous four months, went to visit him in the coastal resort. Both traveled to Saigon and the neighboring Long An later. Ding developed a fever on January 17, with Zichao following suit on January 20. Both were admitted to Cho Ray Hospital and tested positive for infection on January 23. Li Ding walks toward a doctor at Cho Ray Hospital, HCMC, where he has stayed for treatment of the new coronavirus infection, February 3, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa. Ding's wife was quarantined at District 11 Hospital from January 24 and discharged on February 6 after revealing no symptoms of infection. 28 people who had previously been in contact with the father and son have nearly passed the quarantine period of 14 days, with doctors reporting no signs of infection, Thuc said. Vietnam officially declared the novel coronavirus outbreak an epidemic on February 1 and has confirmed 15 cases of infection as of Tuesday, including a three-month-old girl in the northern Vinh Phuc Province. Six of the patients have recovered and been discharged. As of Wednesday, the global 2019-nCoV death toll had climbed to 1,115 and confirmed infections topped 45,000, of whom over 4,500 have recovered. The Academy has finally broken its silence over the exclusion of actors Luke Perry and Cameron Boyce from the Oscars' In Memoriam section that honours the artistes who died in the previous year. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) was severely criticised on social media over its decision to leave out the two actors as well as Sid Haig and Orson Bean from the segment. In its response, the Academy said it receives many requests for the section every year and both Perry and Boyce are "remembered" on the Oscars website. "The Academy receives hundreds of requests to include loved ones and industry colleagues in the Oscars In Memoriam segment. An executive committee representing every branch considers the list and makes selections for the telecast based on limited available time," "All the submissions are included on Oscar.com and will remain on the site throughout the year. Luke Perry and Cameron Boyce are remembered in the Oscar.com gallery," the Academy said in a statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. Perry, the star of hit 90's television show "Beverly Hills, 90210", passed away aged 52 in March 2019. Boyce, best known for his performances in the Disney Channel's various television shows and series, died at the age of 20 in July last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai: Actor Samir Soni, a former "Bigg Boss" contestant, says no show or game can be above "decency and class". He cites that as the reason why he hopes actress Arti Singh wins "Bigg Boss 13" and not Sidharth Shukla, who is considered a favourite by many. With a few days to go for the finale, Samir took to social media to post a sweet photo of him and Arti, who is currently locked in the "Bigg Boss" house. He captioned it: "Last week of #BiggBoss13 and I hope my sister @artisingh5 wins. I hate to say this, but it would be setting a TERRIBLE precedence if Sidharth wins. No show/game, can be above decency and class. In fact, the show is a test of maintaining your sanity and dignity in-spite of the provocations. If I had behaved, like he abused Arti, my own mother would have slapped me and taken me out of the show. #RespectWomen." "I'm sorry I'm singling out Sid and I don't know who deserves the most, but I'm against anyone who behaves this way," wrote Samir. Sharing his own experience in the controversial reality show, he wrote: "I spent over hundred days in season 4 and there were hardly any abuses or physical aggression, it's not that we didn't feel like it, we just knew how to conduct ourselves on national TV. I sometimes wonder how many girls would be ok to be abused by their boyfriends or told to F-off just because he was upset (right or wrong). Sorry not the way I was raised." Actress Delnaaz Irani, also a former "Bigg Boss" contestant, commented on his post saying: "I so agree with you. It's a mad house agreed but people should be sane, calm and cool. That's the beauty. We have gone through this but sadly does being NICE sell....NO." The current season has seen contestants verbally abusing each other, beating up someone with a pan, throwing water at each other and acting in violent ways. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI Support is high for turning the former Nugent Sand mining location into a 377-acre Lake Michigan park, judging from the reaction of people who packed a public meeting Tuesday. About 100 people attended a public meeting at the Norton Shores public library on Feb. 11 to learn about Muskegon Countys proposal to turn the former sand mining operation into a recreation area. Last week, the county announced that it would try to acquire the property off of Sherman Boulevard and Lincoln Street in Norton Shores and develop it for recreational use. County officials, including Administrator Mark Eisenbarth, are now bringing the proposal and planned financial timeline before the public. The county plans to apply for a state grant to fund the project and, if it is approved, could make a purchase offer for the property by December at the earliest, officials said. In all, development plans would take more than a year. The property consists of 1,662 feet of lake frontage with two inland lakes and Lake Michigan access across from the northern lake, which is visible from Sherman Boulevard near the city of Muskegons Kruse Park. The Nugent Sand company mined the area for Lake Michigan dune sand, used in the regions famed foundries, for more than 100 years, beginning in 1912. Citizens packed a public meeting on Feb. 11, 2020, to learn about Muskegon County's proposal to purchase 377 acres of former sand mining property for recreational use. (Anya van Wagtendonk | MLive) Citizens packed Tuesdays standing-room-only meeting to learn about the countys plans. At one point, an audience member who spoke out in support of the project asked for a show of hands to determine who wanted to see the county move forward. Nearly every hand in the room went up. Eisenbarth said property owner Robert Bob Chandonnet is "anxious to work through this with us. He really likes this idea, and hes willing to work with us," Eisenbarth said. "Hes very excited about this working out. Eisenbarths claim was in response to an audience question about whether private development remains an option. Daniel Denny Cherette, founder of the Grand Haven-based Cherette Group real estate development and management firm overseeing the propertys sale, did not completely rule out private development, but agreed with Eisenbarths assessment. This is a multicentennial opportunity, said Cherette. We are putting an incredible amount of faith in the opportunity. The first phase of the countys exploratory process will be to put together an application for a funding grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, said Eisenbarth. The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners would have to approve the application, which must be submitted to the state by April 1, according to Eisenbarth. State agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, would assess the project over the course of summer and fall. If the county is approved for the grant, the board would still have to decide whether to move forward with the project by December. This means that December is the earliest that the county could formally make an offer to the landowner. The county would also need to do a formal appraisal, as well as an environmental analysis, Eisenbarth said. Pending all of that, the purchase of the property could take place in April of 2021, he added. Grants from the states trust fund are very, very competitive, said April Scholtz of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, who was present in the audience on Tuesday. Scholtz told MLive that the Land Conservancy has experience applying for such grants, and will offer unofficial advice to the county during the application process. The conservancy may also partner with the county to purchase a portion of the property later in the year, pending the grants approval, in order to facilitate the sale, she said. Receipt of the trust fund grant would require a 25 percent match from private donors, foundation funding, or other grants, said Caitlin Hegedus, marketing and operations manager for Visit Muskegon, who presented the proposal on Tuesday. County general fund dollars would not be used for the purchase, officials said. The property had been considered for private development in the past, including a 2013 proposal to construct a $50 million gated residential community on 200 acres of the property. Cherette said on Tuesday that his firm had been involved in assessing that project, which ultimately failed due to lack of financing. In the long term, the county seeks to implement a master plan for recreational use that could include hiking, fishing and kayaking, as well as installing parking areas and restrooms. Certain activities would make the proposal more attractive for the grant, said Eisenbarth. Other elements, like a campground, would not win the project any points of approval, but could be a source of revenue, he said. The countys public engagement process will continue at a county community development meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the county courthouse, 990 Terrace Street. A required public hearing will then take place on Tuesday, March 3, at 3:30 p.m. at the countys ways and means committee meeting at the same location. Read more: Former Nugent Sand property eyed for park development by Muskegon County Nugent Sand South Lake: New developer has resurrected residential plans for Norton Shores site Muskegon native sets sights on sand mine for future properties Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday questioned protestors for raising 'azadi' slogans when the country is already free, and slammed the opposition for "demeaning" constitutional bodies in public. He said freedom of speech is exercised in the country under Article 19 (1) of the Constitution, but reminded of "reasonable restrictions" on such freedom. "We hear slogans of 'azadi-azadi' these days at some places. Azadi from what? The country is free. People criticise the government freely. They can elect or vote out anyone. Some of them even gherao universities and resent against police also. Then azadi from what?," Prasad said on Twitter. Addressing the 'Times Now Summit', the senior BJP leader said, "Your freedom is to the level where you even gherao your university, even fight with police. Then from whom do you want freedom? This question has to be debated". He also accused the opposition of filing "collusive" public interest litigations with an agenda to run the country through the corridors of Supreme Court. Prasad slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his series of allegations against the government and constitutional bodies. "Who castigated the Election Commission of India? Who publicly derided the CAG? Who gave oblique comments against the Supreme Court? Who is making these kinds of allegations against the media, because Rahul Gandhi cannot face you (government) directly. "Who compromised the integrity of Indian armed forces and other institutions? Who was seeking evidence of Balakot? These are very troubling moments in the polity of India," he said. The Union minister also hit out at those personalities who had offered to return their awards in protest against the government. "I want to ask those who are so excited about occasional and selective Award Wapsi Programme as to why they maintain silence when young Hindu girls are raped and minorities forced to convert in Pakistan? Does their plight not provoke them?" Prasad said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Elizabeth Warrens campaign addressed apparent flaws among her fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls leading the pack in the 2020 primaries in a new memo obtained by multiple outlets ahead of a crucial vote in New Hampshire. The memo, written by the Massachusetts senators campaign manager, Roger Lau, reportedly described a ceiling of support for Bernie Sanders, another progressive candidate who has polled at the top of the crowded field ahead of the states first-in-the-nation primary. It also predicted Joe Bidens campaign could soon collapse following the former vice presidents weak showing in Iowa, according to the Associated Press. The campaign memo also foreshadowed darker days ahead for Pete Buttigieg, who claimed victory in the Iowa caucus on the night of the event, despite significant delays in the official results due to complications with an app used to transmit vote counts from precincts across the state. The memo said Mr Buttigieg, who appeared to have virtually tied with Mr Sanders in Iowa, would face challenges building a strong enough coalition in more diverse states throughout the primary process. Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters In writing the memo, Mr Lau was seemingly attempting to reassure the progressive candidates voters that she would maintain a shot in the Democratic primaries after the vote in New Hampshire, where Mr Sanders was expected to win as he did in the state during the 2016 primaries. Both Ms Warren and Mr Sanders home states border New Hampshire, which is seen as one of the states that successfully predicts which candidates become the partys eventual nominee. Recommended Why this Iowa voter is caucusing for Elizabeth Warren Ms Warren has largely avoided comparing herself to Mr Sanders and the other Democratic candidates, focusing instead on releasing a series of sweeping plans meant to deliver bold, structural changes to the US. In recent months, however, the candidate has attacked Mr Buttigieg over receiving funding from corporate donors and wealthy billionaires, while touting her campaigns grassroots organisational efforts. Mr Lau also cited the campaigns organisation on a national level in the memo obtained on Tuesday, saying Ms Warren has staffers across nearly 30 states. He said the campaign was capable of continuing well past New Hampshire, as the other candidates flaws addressed the memo begin to show along the campaign trail. Harrison Ford has called US President Donald Trump a son of a b**** in a televised interview. Talking to Jimmy Kimmel on the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the Star Wars actor was asked if he had seen the reviews for his new film, Jack London adaptation The Call of the Wild. Kimmel gestured towards an mocked-up poster for the film, plastered with quotes from Trump, such as this was a perfect call and this was a great call. The comments obviously were not made in reference to Fords film, but about the Presidents infamous phone call to Ukraine that sparked the recent impeachment inquiry. Enjoying the joke, Ford responded: Thats the first thing that son of a b**** has done for me ever. Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Show all 13 1 /13 Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Bolton Trump claimed to have fired Bolton, his national security adviser, while Bolton claimed he offered to resign. An anonymous White House source that Bolton's departure came as a result of the national security adviser working too independently of the president AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Anthony Scaramucci Scaramucci lasted only six days in his role as Trump's communications director before being fired by John Kelly, the incoming chief of staff Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rick Perry Rick Perry announced his resignation just as he became embroiled in the president's impeachment scandal. The White House said Mr Perry was asked by Donald Trump to work with Rudy GIuliani in regards to Ukraine. AP Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rex Tillerson Tillerson, Trump's first secretary of state, was fired after a series of clashes with the president over policy Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Mattis Mattis served as secretary of defense from the beginning of Trump's administration until retiring on 1 January 2019. However, the president later claimed that he had "essentially fired" Mattis Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Comey Comey was fired as director of the FBI early in Trump's presidency after serving in the role for four years prior. His dismissal is widely thought to have been related to the Russia investigation Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Reince Priebus Priebus, Trump's first chief of staff, was forced out after six tumultuous months AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out David Shulkin Veterans affairs secretary Shulkin claims that he was fired, the White House claims that he resigned Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Kelly Kelly, Trump's second chief of staff, was forced out after 17 months in office. His departure was a confused affair though it is clear that Trump wanted Kelly out AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Michael Flynn Flynn lasted 24 days as Trump's national security adviser before being fired for lying to the FBI Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Lee Cisna Cisna served as director of citizen and immigration services between October 2017 and June 2019 before being asked to resign amid a major personnel change in the department of homeland security Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Madeline Westerhout Westerhout served as Trump's personal assistant after leaking private information about his family AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Mira Ricardel Ricardel was forced out of her role as Deputy National Security Advisor after first lady Melania Trump publicly called for her to be fired The 77-year-old actor has criticised Trump before for his regressive environmental policies, saying he was on the wrong side of history. Trump was acquitted of impeachment in the Republican-majority Senate, with the decision not to subpoena witnesses stirring up a great deal of controversy in the States. Revealing a new secret in Rome: the original marble steps of the Scala Santa. The modern city of Rome is a complex place for those who live here and especially for those who visit. With its thousands of years of history and its hidden ancient treasures, it continues to surprise. Among the most historic and unusual places in this city, the Scala Santa (Holy Stair) complex deserves special attention. Standing next to the Basilica of S. Giovanni in Laterano, the focus of Christian Rome from the time of Emperor Constantine, this architectural complex of historical, artistic and religious significance is an important destination. The Holy Stair itself, said to have been brought from Jerusalem by St Helen in 326 AD, is believed to be the same one that Jesus climbed for his judgement before the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. It has always been part of the Lateran complex and believers mount it on their knees. It became an important part of a major pontifical sanctuary commissioned by Pope Sixtus V and built by his architect Domenico Fontana between 1588 and 1590. The building was decorated by a 40-man crew of artists headed by Cesare Nebbia and Giovanni Guerra; among them was Paul Bril, a Flemish painter and printmaker best known for his landscapes. They also painted every square metre of the walls in the complex, including the central stairway dedicated to the theme of the Passion and two of the five flanking staircases depicting a series of stories from the Old Testament. They lead to the Sancta Sanctorum, the holiest of holies the first papal chapel, which was commissioned by Pope Nicolo III in 1277 and dedicated to the early Roman martyrs. Workers removing the walnut wooden casing from the Holy Stair for the first time since 1723. Photo CNS-Paul Haring. Since 2000, an international project initially funded by the Getty Foundation has progressively restored the vibrancy and colours of the decorative scheme of the Holy Stair complex. Thanks to the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, a team of restorers led by Paolo Violini has worked tirelessly on the treatment of more than 1,700 square metres of frescoes, many unseen for centuries. The venture, coordinated by Mary Angela Schroth, is now in its final stages and will be finished by Easter 2020. The restoration project will be completed by late March 2020 with a special benediction by Cardinal De Donatis, the archpriest of St John Lateran. Thanks to the transformation of the Holy Stairs the Passionist Fathers, its custodians, are now able to offer the faithful from all over the world a new reading of the biblical stories from the Passion of Christ and the Old Testament that underline the importance of faith and spiritual salvation. Between April and July 2019 the walnut wood protection placed over the Holy Stair was removed for the first time since 1723 for the restoration. Thousands of hand-written notes, photographs, ex-votos and coins found beneath the wood, and conserved by the Passionists in the Sanctuary, are being documented for future study. The 28 marble steps were revealed in their original condition: heavily worn away by countless pilgrims over the centuries, leaving deep furrows in the marble. It became evident that the steps were of the same stone from Asia Minor that is found in other sites in Jerusalem, and that there were subtle differences in the marble colours as well, typical of building in the time of the Roman occupation of Jerusalem. The original marble steps were heavily furrowed by the knees of countless pilgrims over the centuries. Three precious mediaeval bronze and marble crosses were found embedded on the second, the eleventh and the last stair, where legend recounted that a drop of Christs blood was found. The conservators were struck by the remarkable visual impact of the monument, and Violini was able to convince both the Vatican Museums and the Passionist Fathers to open the uncovered stairs for public viewing from April to July 2019. The emotional and spiritual response from both pilgrims and the public was overwhelming, increasing the number of visitors three-fold from the usual attendance. Long lines formed at the entrance of the sanctuary to have the privilege of climbing the original stairs on ones knees. The press coverage was equally strong, garnering attention worldwide, and according the project its just role as one of the most fascinating and unusual destinations in the Eternal City. In the beauty of the decorations of the past, the ancient tradition of the Scala Santa continues to live in the form of renewed devotion. The entire sanctuary has come to light thanks to the international collaboration of philanthropists, restorers and art historians, as well as the recognition of the faithful and the lay visitor. The conservation and resurrection of the Holy Stair has added a new value to one of the oldest and most revered sites in history. By Sara Esposito The Patriarchio, official headquarters of the Roman Church until 1305 when the popes moved to the Vatican, was composed of various buildings. The Holy Stair was part of this ancient complex, as well as the Sancta Sanctorum, the papal chapel commissioned by Pope Nicolas III in 1277. The stairs were moved in 1588 when Pope Sixtus V commissioned a new sanctuary to the Passion of Christ which included the Holy Stair and the chapel of the Sancta Sanctorum at the top of the stairs. Five Charged for Conspiracy to Sell Sanctioned Iranian Oil to Chinese Refinery Five people were arrested and charged for conspiring to sell sanctioned Iranian oil to a refinery in China, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Feb. 11. The complaint accuses four Texans and one New Yorker of conspiring from July 2019 to February 2020 to purchase oil from Iran, in violation of U.S. economic sanctions against the country, then sell it to a Chinese buyer for great profit, the DOJ said in a press release. The defendants planned two shipments of oil per month, the complaint said. Each defendant was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). With the goal of illegally enriching themselves, the defendants conspired for over eight months to devise a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran, particularly the ban on foreign oil sales, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement. The sale of oil is the lifeblood of the Iranian economy. At the same time the United States was increasing its sanctions in order to pressure Iran to stop its malign activities, these defendants put greed ahead of country. China is the worlds biggest importer of Iranian oil despite the Trump administration reimposing sanctions on Tehrans petroleum exports in 2018 after withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. President Donald Trump hopes the sanctions will also pressure Tehran into limiting its ballistic missile program and backing of terrorist groups across the Middle East. Chinese customs data released in late January showed that China took in 14.77 million tonnes, or 295,400 barrels per day, of Iranian oil in 2019about half the imports of 2018. Prosecutors said the defendantsNicholas Hovan of New York, James Fuchs and Robert Thwaites of Dallas, Texas, and Daniel Ray Lane of McKinney, Texasarranged to buy the oil and sell it to a refinery represented by defendant Zhenyu Wang, known as Bill Wang, of Dallas, Texas. The complaint alleges that the defendants planned to use a Polish shell company as a straw seller of the sanctioned oil. Lane offered to launder the profits through his company, STACK Royalties, it added. Prosecutors also allege defendants Fuchs and Thwaits agreed to apply for foreign passports to set up offshore accounts to avoid reporting to U.S. authorities. The defendants each face up to 25 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $1.25 million if convicted. Reuters contributed to this report. Production of fur Open source The Environmental Committee of the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) is about to consider the bill No.2360 (the ban on fur production in Ukraine). However, prior to that, the Committee members would like to hear both sides interested in this issue - the fur production lobbyists and the animal rights defenders. The rally of the activists will take place in Kyiv, as they approach the House of Committees at Hrushevskoho street in the downtown capital. Half an hour after that, at 9.30 a.m., the MPs will hold the debates on this issue. Previously, a record-large number of Ukrainians supported the petition of the KhutroOFF animal rights movement; it urged the parliament to forbid the production of fur in Ukraine, as an extremely harmful activity aimed against animals and the environment in general. A workgroup of parliamentarians and Yedyna Planeta (United Planet) civil movement developed a draft law based on European practices; it also takes into account the common Ukrainian practice and legal framework. PETA and Fur Free Alliance urge the Ukrainian Parliament to pass the law No. 2360. It foresees that the fur enterprises in Ukraine would be shut down by 2025 - just like European countries do. It also offers job retraining and employment for former workers of these enterprises, as well as imposing criminal responsibility for killing animals for fur. Distribution Partner Tessco and Integrator Partner Winn-Marion Demonstrating New Products and Solutions Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), Feb. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation, the exclusive provider of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, is presenting its optimized upstream processes for onshore oil and gas. Rajant, along with distribution partner Tessco and integrator partner Winn-Marion, will demonstrate how Rajant is delivering fully mobile, mission-critical data, video, and voice communications O & G enterprises require in rugged and remote environments. Operational efficiency and profitability will be a key highlight of all three companies when they showcase during DUG Bakken and Rockies 2020 in Denver, Colorado, February 18th and 19th at the Colorado Convention Center, Booth 413. Rajants multi-band, multi-radio network optimally overcomes interference in dense fracking operations, unleashing newfound economic viability for legacy oil and gas wells. Moreover, Rajant enables downhole pump control from a central command center by providing connectivity over hundreds to thousands of square miles to improve well production rates. Rajants proven use case for military and mining demonstrates the network can withstand the harshest oilfield climate conditions with environmentally sealed and ruggedized nodes, known as BreadCrumbs running on patented InstaMesh software. By supporting communication link redundancy and enabling networks with no single point of failure, Rajant ensures the uptime of mission-critical applications running across expansive oil and gas operations. Products on display and recommended for sale via Rajants sales channel are the KM3, ES1, and DX2. The KM3 is intended for deployment inside pre-existing outdoor NEMA enclosures. Rajants ES1 BreadCrumb is an IP67 network device intended for use in IIoT applications and light-duty vehicles. If employing drones for sensing and monitoring, Rajants newest BreadCrumb, the DX2, may also be of interest. The DX2 is Rajants smallest and lightest BreadCrumb, forming a mesh network when used in conjunction with other Rajant models, which operate using proprietary InstaMesh protocol. Story continues Al Rivero, PE, is Rajants Director of Sales for Oil and Gas, who will be on-hand during DUG, shared, "This is not the first show targeting the industry that Rajant has done with Tessco and Winn-Marion. Together, we are driving awareness about Rajants latest products aimed at the oil and gas segment and showing our delivery, distribution, and technology scale. #### About Tessco TESSCO Technologies, Inc. (TESS) is a value-added technology distributor, manufacturer, and solutions provider serving commercial and retail customers in the wireless infrastructure and mobile device accessories markets. The company was founded more than 30 years ago with a commitment to deliver industry-leading products, knowledge, solutions, and customer service. Tessco supplies more than 50,000 products from 350 of the industrys top manufacturers in mobile communications, Wi-Fi, Internet of Things (IoT), wireless backhaul, and more. Tessco is a single source for outstanding customer experience, expert knowledge, and complete end-to-end solutions for the wireless industry. For more information, visit tessco.com. About Winn-Marion The Winn-Marion Companies trace their roots back to 1972 and a Georgia Tech Chemical Engineer with a vision of solving customer problems utilizing emerging technology and the idea of there always being a better way. Over the years we've grown from our base in Denver, Colorado adding eleven offices throughout the Rocky Mountain region, and expanding into Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Winn-Marion proudly serves the industrial and semiconductor process markets with over 200 employees assisting our customers throughout the Rocky Mountain and Northeast regions of the USA. About Rajant Corporation Rajant Corporation is the exclusive provider of private wireless networks powered by the patented Kinetic Mesh network, BreadCrumb wireless nodes, and InstaMesh networking software. With Rajant, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajants Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in more than 55 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, oil & gas, petrochemical plants, municipalities, and agriculture. Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania with additional facilities and offices in Arizona, Kentucky, and Alabama. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and Twitter. Attachment Alice DiSanto Rajant Corporation 914-582-8464 adisanto@rajant.com Vicky Kaushal is not exactly new when it comes to walking the ramp for established designers; time and again, he has dropped some major style goals. However, when it comes to walking the ramp in Indian Ethnic Wear, Vicky seems to be operating on an entirely different level. Viral Bhayani He has been so good with acing the quintessential Indian aesthetic, albeit with a contemporary touch, that we strongly believe that most men like us would do well if we take a few cues from him. Viral Bhayani Recently, when walking the ramp for ace designer Kunal Rawal, Vickys wore an ensemble that could be a perfect marriage between traditional Indian ethnic sensibilities with contemporary and modernistic aesthetics. Viral Bhayani Vicky was wearing a rather quirky dual-toned kurta-shirt, which thanks to the subtle camouflage like print, really looked swell. The kurta-shirt was paired with yet another elegant piece, a finely quilted achkan, and black pyjamas. The quilt-like work on the achkan is quintessentially Kunal Rawal and has become a sort of his signature mark. Viral Bhayani The silhouette, and the drape, again, was a classic example of Kunals design aesthetic sensibilities. Of course, given Vickys lean and tall built, the ensemble did shine, all the way through. The finely quilted texture on both, Vickys achkan and Kunals bandi, does add a very subtle character to the aesthetic of the ensembles. Viral Bhayani Saying that Vickys ensemble oozed finesse and panache, would be grossly understating the fact. Add to that the pair of dual-toned oxfords that was paired with the clothed, further elevated the ensemble, quite significantly. Viral Bhayani Vicky shared the ramp with Janhvi Kapoor, who was dressed by one of Indias most celebrated designers, Rahul Mishra. Having just returned from the Paris Haute Couture Week, where he was the first Indian designer ever to showcase his creations, Rahuls selection for Janhvi was a sublime one. Titled, The Soneva Atmosphere Hand Embroidered Aqua Gown from his collection named Home, the dress was first showcased at the Paris Haute Couture Week. Instagram/rahulmishra_7 The evening also saw a number of other prominent designers, showcased what they think would be the trends will be explosive this year. From all the stuff that was showcased, what really caught our eye was Ujjawal Dubeys creation under his label, Antar Agni. Viral Bhayani A classic, monochromed kurta and a hybrid between a dhoti and a jodhpur trousers, paired with a free-falling jacket and a french beret, is not only a little unusual but a quite elegant way to pull off the Indian aesthetic with grace and a slight modernist touch. Viral Bhayani It will be interesting to see what this year holds for fashion, especially considering what we get to see in street style. Also, given how this time around, designers are really going big on sustainability, it will be interesting to see how this year unfolds. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was the one who alerted the press to his successor Francois Hollande's affair in 2014, two journalists have claimed. Fabrice Lhomme and Gerard Davet, who work for the renowned French publication Le Monde, made the revelation during a radio show on Europe I on Tuesday, reported French tabloid Voici. The two men claimed that they were tipped off about Hollande's infidelity by none other than Nicolas Sarkozy, who summoned them to his offices because he was annoyed with their investigation into allegations of financial irregularity during his 2012 re-election campaign. Mid-rant, he reportedly told them to 'look into Hollande's business,' and added that the president regularly visited a 'good friend', despite being a long-term relationship with author Valerie Treierweiler. Julie Gayet (pictured at the Robin Hood premiere in Cannes in May 2010) and Francois Hollande have been dating since news of their affair broke in 2014, while he was President of France While the two men did not follow through themselves, the news hit the French tabloids three months later, with pictures of Hollande riding a scooter to Gayet's Parisian apartment, a scandal that no one has forgotten yet. 'We go see Nicolas Sarkozy in his offices, we get told off for half an hour - it's always quite violent,' recalled Gerard Davet. 'Then, he says: "You should look into Francois Hollande. Rumour has it he rides a scooter out of the Elysee to see his good friend. Very often," and bam, three months later it's in Closer.' They added that there was a lot of animosity between the rivals, with Hollande unseating Sarkozy in the 2012 election, making him the first incumbent president to lose since 1981. Two French journalists have revealed that former French president Nicolas Sarkozy tipped them off about the affair between then president Francois Hollande and actress Julie Gayet in 2013. Pictured: French president Francois Hollande during a visit by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden in December 2015 'They all hate each other. They're ready to mutually bury each other,' Davet explained. After losing out to Hollande in the French presidential election of 2012, Sarkozy has been the focus of several investigations and allegations regarding his campaign ever since. In France, a candidate for the presidency can only spend up to 22 million on their campaign, but it was alleged soon after the 2012 election that Sarkozy had superseded his budget, having planned a series of impressive rallies to catch up with the other candidates in the polls. The former president and his associates denied knowing about the state of their campaign finances in the early months of the scandal. By the time what was called the Bygmalion Affair hit the press, Sarkozy and members of his close circle were under scrutiny, and Lhomme and Davet suggested in the Europe I interview that he sent them on the Hollande trail as a diversion from his own affairs. When the scandal hit, Francois Hollande had been dating author and journalist Valerie Trierweiler for five years. The couple are pictured visiting the Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial on January 10 2014 (the day the news of the affair broke in France) In January 10 2014, when news of the Gayet indiscretion hit the news stands, Hollande was dating journalist and author Valerie Trierweiler, whom he had met following his separation from his wife Segolene Royal - who ran for French presidency against Sarkozy in 2007. The couple had been together for five years, and Trierweiler was the first unmarried First Lady to live at the Elysee Palace. The news of the affair rocked the French landscape at the time. Hollande was said to be sneaking out of the palace for nights of passion with the French actress in a room not too far from his residence. Rumours soon followed, including incorrect reports that Gayet, then 41, was expecting Hollande's child for June 2014. Hollande and Gayet are reportedly still dating, though their joint appearances are rare. They were spotted together in November 2019 in New York, where they visited the community organisation 'Dream' in Harlem. Just a day after the stunning victory of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi Assembly election, poster war erupted between ruling Janata Dal (United) and main opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, which is expected to witness Assembly election in September-October, 2020. JD(U) supporters put up posters referring to former Bihar chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad as 'Thugs of Bihar' at the roundabout near I-T office, one of the busiest places in Bihar capital city Patna. In the poster, Lalu has been accused of allowing the massacres of people on the basis of caste during his regime. The JDU poster also highlights how the law and order situation has touched its nadir in Bihar when Lalu Yadav was the chief minister of the state. In its poster, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has urged the voters to remember the tough times they faced during 15 years of the RJD government in Bihar. On the other hand, the RJD also launched a scathing attack on CM Nitish Kumar calling his government 'shikari sarkaar'. The RJD said in its poster that Bihar has been destroyed badly under JD(U)'s regime and the current government is focused on harassing the people of the state. Through its poster, the RJD has tried to depict the deteriorating situation of health, education and law and order in Bihar. The poster also takes a dig at CM Nitish Kumar depicting as someone who is power-hungry and a 'kursi pujari' (one who wants to remain in power). It is expected that the ongoing poster war between the JD(U) and RJD is would intensify in the coming weeks as election near. Open source The State Duma of Russia adopted the bill on the possibility of the abolishing of interviews for the citizens of Ukraine and Belarus during the obtaining of the status of native speakers of Russian, as TASS reported. According to the bill, the citizens of Belarus and Ukraine fluent in the Russian language might be recognized as native speakers of Russian without passing the interview during the personal filing of the application on the recognition of them as native speakers and with the existence of grounds. The grounds mean that the applicants or their immediate relatives reside permanently or earlier resided permanently in the territory of Russia or in the territory relating to the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union, within the state border of the Russian Federation. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stated earlier that the bill restores justice toward people who have common culture, language, history with Russia. He noted that the bill would allow the compatriots from Ukraine and Belarus to avoid the bureaucratic process of interview for fluency in Russian to obtain Russian citizenship. The adoption of the bill will simplify the procedure for almost 172,000 of Ukrainians and 32,000 citizens of Belarus who constantly live in Russia and have a residence permit. As we reported, Russian passports were given to 227,000 inhabitants of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2019. Besides, 229,422 Ukrainians received Russian citizenship last year. A Delhi court has acquitted the brother, father and the uncle of a woman's husband on charges of raping her in 2017 as she turned hostile and there could be no evidence regarding the incident. Additional Sessions Judge Umed Singh Grewal acquitted the brother of the woman's husband, his father and the uncle of rape charges. According to the woman's complaint, she suspected her husband of having an affair and when she objected to it, she was allegedly beaten up by her husband and in-laws. On April 21, 2017, the woman was raped by her husband's brother, father and uncle and was left near her parental house two days later, the complaint alleged. She had also alleged in her complaint that upon intimation, police had visited her in-laws' house thrice in 2017. However, the matter was compromised every time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GARDAI are investigating an assault on the University of Limerick writer in residence who was injured in an alleged homophobic attack in Dublin earlier this month. Author Gavin McCrea was attacked by a group of six boys, aged between 12 and 14 in Dartry Park, Rathmines on February 1. McCrea suffered a broken nose and a broken cheekbone when he was assaulted by the youths, who allegedly pushed him to the ground and proceeded to further assault him. It is believed that gardai are treating the assault as a possible hate crime He was taken to St James Hospital for treatment. McCrea is the author of the novel Mrs Engels, which was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize and Desmond Elliott Prize in 2016 News of the assault was first reported in El Pais, a newspaper based in Madrid. A garda spokesperson confirmed that they were investigating that assault, and that thus far, no arrests had been made. Gardai are investigating an assault on a man in his early 40s that occurred at approximately 5.50pm on Saturday 1st February 2020 at Dartry Park, Rathmines, Dublin 6, a garda spokesperson said. It's reported the man was approached by a number of juveniles who allegedly pushed him to the ground and proceeded to further assault him. He was taken to St James Hospital with facial injuries. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing. Gardai are appealing to anyone with information in connection with this assault to contact Rathmines Garda Station on 01 6666700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. The political storm surrounding bail and discovery reforms was gathering strength at the state Capitol as more than 100 uniformed law enforcement officers and Republican lawmakers assembled on the Million Dollar Staircase earlier this month. Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. warned of public safety threats posed by new reforms passed by Democrats that set more rigid limits on when defendants can be required to post cash bail in order to be released before their trial. Local officials lamented the unfairness of the new laws giving prosecutors 15 days to disclose their evidence to defendants after an arraignment. And GOP state lawmakers were doubling down on attacking Democrats as subverting law and order. They took the whole criminal justice system and turned it on its head, state Senate Minority Leader John Flanagan said of the laws that took effect Jan. 1. We will do everything we can to change this. What Flanagan might not know is that eight state Senate Democrats were already working to update the reforms. Across the state Capitol a little over an hour later, a dozen Democratic lawmakers and activists rallied outside the Senate chamber to push back. Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz accused law enforcement of cherry-picking cases, weaponizing trauma and lying to communities based on media reports of criminal defendants allegedly committing offenses after being released. State Sen. Jamaal Bailey said the new laws were helping people keep their jobs because they werent missing work due to being jailed while they wait to prove their innocence in court. What about focusing on that? he asked. The combination of pressure from constituents, cops, prosecutors, Republicans and the news media has made many Democrats in Albany fearful that new limits on cash bail and changes to discovery laws are a liability for their party in moderate areas upstate, in the suburbs and in the deep outer boroughs of New York City. With Democrats two seats away from a supermajority in the 63-member state Senate, there is a lot more at stake than criminal justice reforms in the November elections. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he is in favor of allowing judges to have more discretion to require bail, while Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has said it is too soon to change laws that went into effect less than two months ago. State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins thinks changes are likely, but she hasnt said what exactly will change in the law or when. City & State has learned that Stewart-Cousins plans depend on eight Democratic state senators in a working group developing a broadly acceptable proposal for how they should address an issue that could threaten their potential supermajority in the 2020 elections. A bipartisan majority of state senators including more than a dozen Democratic senators from Long Island, the Hudson Valley and the outer boroughs of New York City favor amending the reforms to either make more criminal offenses eligible for cash bail or giving judges more leeway in deciding whether a defendant is jailed before trial. Pressure from constituents, cops, prosecutors, Republicans, and the news media has made many Democrats in Albany fearful that the new laws are a liability. Stewart-Cousins appointed the working group after the governors Jan. 8 State of the State address with the same senators who served on a criminal justice working group last year. The group includes five lawmakers from safe Democratic districts in New York City: Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, Bailey, and state Sens. Zellnor Myrie, Luis Sepulveda and Brian Benjamin. Three suburban moderates, state Sens. Todd Kaminsky and James Gaughran of Long Island and state Sen. Jen Metzger of the Hudson Valley, are on the team as well and will be pushing the working group to support amending the reforms. Appointing an eight-member working group keeps moderate lawmakers away from straying toward divisive actions like using their leverage as swing voters in the state budget process or working directly with the 22-member minority conference to push for changes. The working group also puts Democratic senators, who have yet to discuss the issue as a conference, in a stronger negotiating position by already having a unified position if Cuomo makes proposals of his own during the state budget process, one Democratic source told City & State. No member of the working group, which meets several times per week, would speak about its inner workings on the record, but Kaminsky, Gaughran and Metzger have all argued publicly in recent weeks that some rollbacks on bail reform are necessary. They are among the senators pushing for judges to have more discretion in deciding whether someone is jailed before trial. There is also broad support among suburban senators for making more offenses eligible for cash bail. At least one lawmaker, state Sen. Monica Martinez of Long Island, has vowed to vote no on the state budget if changes to bail and discovery reforms are not made by the April 1 budget deadline. These same Democratic senators have also distanced themselves from their involvement in passing the new laws in the first place by suggesting that they voted for the budget for other reasons. I was not supportive of the bail reforms as it was originally proposed, Gaughran, the sponsor of a bill that would broaden the use of cash bail, told The Capitol Pressroom last month. There are some advantages to the working-group approach: In a microcosm of the conference, Senate Democrats get to curb divisions within their ranks by mixing racial, geographic and ideological composition. The collaboration represented by a working group also reflects the image that Stewart-Cousins has cultivated as a consensus-driven leader. Her conference turned to the working group model last year to bridge their differences on state rent laws, congestion pricing and climate change. Like with other high-profile issues, a deliberative process allows the majority to say they are making progress without having to provide details in the short term. If the working group does nothing else, it allows state Senate Democrats to say they are willing to tweak controversial reforms when issues come up, whether or not the working group develops specific proposals for the conference at large. We are not a set it and forget it conference, state Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy said, echoing recent comments from Stewart-Cousins on the states voting laws. State Sen. Monica Martinez of Long Island, has vowed to vote "no" on the state budget if changes to bail and discovery reforms are not made Based on public statements, bill sponsorships and interviews with City & State, it appears that most Democratic lawmakers from outside New York City have joined forces with outer-borough state Sens. Andrew Gounardes and Simcha Felder of Brooklyn, Diane Savino of Staten Island and Joseph Addabbo Jr. of Queens to push for changes. It would be my hope, in a macro sense, that the governor, the Senate and the Assembly could come to an understanding in the budget, said state Sen. Pete Harckham of the Hudson Valley. We want to make targeted adjustments based on facts, not hyperbole and sensationalism. One suburban Democratic senator expressed optimism that the working group is up to the task of presenting proposals in the coming weeks. The criminal justice reforms that passed last year represented a compromise among lawmakers and Cuomo, who included criminal justice reforms among his legislative demands in budget negotiations. Cash bail was eliminated for most, but not all, misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. Judicial discretion was limited and prosecutors lost significant leverage in extracting plea bargains because defendants have better access to the evidence against them. We needed to reform the system, Harckham said. The second piece is, if there are holes in that, which it appears there may be, we are certainly open (to changes). For now at least, Cuomo appears to be taking a light hand with lawmakers on the issue, but his ability to get congestion pricing approved last year, over the objections of some suburban and outer-borough lawmakers, underscored how strong his leverage is in the budget process. While support for recalibrating criminal justice reforms is gathering steam in the Senate, there are tougher odds in the Assembly. Democratic members from suburban and outer-borough districts are currently meeting with law enforcement and sponsoring bills modifying the reforms, but they have limited sway with Heastie. The speakers majority is centered on New York City liberals, some of whom face primary challengers from the left, and any broadening of bail or weakening of discovery would provoke a backlash on the left, which only further incentivizes Heastie to protect them by refusing to revisit the issue. One member facing a primary challenge is Assemblyman Joseph Lentol of Brooklyn, who chairs the Codes Committee that oversees criminal justice issues. Heasties public comments also suggest a personal commitment to an issue that is particularly important to his own black and Latino constituents in the Bronx. In the month and four days that this law has been in place, we saw thousands of people have been arrested and processed, he told the Times Union on Feb. 4. But were just hearing about six, seven, eight sensationalized stories. Heastie, however, has not categorically ruled out supporting changes in the future. Ive simply said it is too early to determine whether this law is highly successful, he told the Times Union. Theres never been, in the history of any government, a perfect law that is going to be taking care of every single issue. The speaker also faces additional pressure to amend the reforms from avowed progressives in New York City, such as Mayor Bill de Blasio and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. "Because of weak leadership at Governor & Mayor, stand away (water thrown at them) regulations, and lack of support, our wonderful NYC police are under assault. Stop this now!" - President Donald Trump, in a tweet A Jan. 21 Siena College poll found that voter support for bail reform had fallen six points to 49% from the majority that had supported the idea in April 2019. The same day that Heastie made those comments to the Times Union, state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, a top Cuomo ally, sided with the GOP when he urged lawmakers to roll back reforms by giving judges more discretion or risk the consequences in upcoming elections. A day earlier, NY1 reported that Heastie was trying to muffle dissent among rank-and-file members. Many liberal urban lawmakers and activists are urging Heastie to hold the line on bail. "No exchanges. No rollbacks, said Victor Pate, statewide organizer for the HALT Solitary Campaign. Others appear to be more flexible, given the opportunities they see in the give and take of the budget process to advance other criminal justice reforms. If we lose a little here and gain more there, then theres a net gain, said JoAnne Page, president and CEO of the Fortune Society, a nonprofit that serves formerly incarcerated people. On Feb. 9, a tweet by President Donald Trump made cash bail more prominent than ever by using the issue to stoke opposition against the new laws. Because of weak leadership at Governor & Mayor, stand away (water thrown at them) regulations, and lack of support, our wonderful NYC police are under assault. Stop this now! Trump tweeted. GOP state leaders followed his lead in castigating Democrats over bail reform, drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants and the shootings that injured three NYPD officers. Swing district lawmakers are caught in between these competing forces. Their political future may hinge on whether Democrats strike the right balance on the issue. The working group is meeting and moderates want to get something done as soon as possible. For me, the timetable was yesterday, said state Sen. Anna Kaplan of Long Island. Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr spoke publicly on stage for the first time about the struggles hes faced navigating life after a childhood defined by violence and conflict and about what can be done to protect children in the future. The discussion event Monday evening (February 10) featured Khadr, a Canadian citizen who was injured and captured in conflict in Afghanistan at age 15 and spent 10 years in detainment at Guantanamo Bay prison, as well as another former child soldier Ishmael Beah, who at age 13 was coerced and used as a solider in Sierra Leones civil war. Hosted by the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, in partnership with Dalhousie's Open Dialogue series, the event, held in the Dalhousie Arts Centres Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, provided a unique opportunity for attendees to hear from Khadr about his experiences. Khadr told the capacity crowd that, while hes still figuring out his future, he knows he has a role to play in the world and that "theres nowhere better to start than [here], given the Dallaire Initiatives mission to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers around the world. He considered the event an opportunity to share his story in a platform hosted by an organization "who understand people like myself." Omar Khadr The event took place just ahead of Red Hand Day today (February 12) the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. Tickets were by donation with all proeeds going to the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. Challenging perceptions Lieutenant-General The Honourable Romeo Dallaire (Ret.) himself was on hand to deliver opening remarks, as were Frank Harvey, dean of Dals Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Shelly Whitman, executive director the Dallaire Initiative and moderator of the nights discussion. Tonight we are here to challenge and unpack our perceptions about who is a child soldier, said Dr. Whitman in her introductory remarks. We live in time when war is complex, she later added. Conflict transcends national boundaries. Globalization impacts greed and grievance and competition for short attention spans appears to be more important than taking the time to delve deep and question perceptions versus realities. Lieutenant-General The Honourable Romeo Dallaire (Ret.) Nothing will erase the moral dilemma that we face in this new era of conflict where we face child soldiers, said Lt. Gen. Dallaire, who led the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda during that countrys genocide in 1994. He said he wants to prevent future peacekeepers from becoming casualties of this moral dilemma, stating that action must be taken to take children out of the inventory of war. Catching up on whats lost Ishmael Beah, the speaker joining Khadr on stage Monday night, was once one of those children, drawn into the civil war in Sierra Leone in the early 1990s. Today, hes a father of three, a human rights activist and author of several books including a memoir of his experiences. A confident speaker, Beah said he still feels exhausted sometimes from being unable to escape other peoples perceptions of his past, and the need to constantly prove himself. Ishmael Beah It becomes both a public and a private sort of trauma and memory, he says. The expectation from the public is usually to ask you every question possible. Sometimes it comes from a genuine place of understanding, but sometimes it comes from a place of fear. Though Khadr was unable to discuss some elements of his experience, he did share his thoughts on what its like growing up in a world of war and violence, and how that affects children like him. War almost becomes a part of normal life, said Khadr, who was born in Canada but was moved to Afghanistan with his family at a young age and grew up immersed in conflict. He said it made him desensitized to what was happening around him. Beah said he lost everything during the Sierra Leone Civil War and that becoming a soldier became his new life and his new reality. War became my life and thats all I ever knew, he said. I knew how to survive, but I didnt know how to live. All the circumstances that you come out of, they consume you. Looking to the future The speakers also shared their respective experiences coming out of that world. Beah recalled going through rehabilitation and psychosocial therapy to address the stigma of being a former child soldier. The stigma can destabilize you and it can very easily drag you back into your old self, he said. Dr. Whitman, Khadr and Beah. For Khadr, hope was important. But I couldnt find it in anything worldly, so I had to find hope in my faith and that sustained me, said Khadr. He said how important it was to have others who helped him see beyond his past experiences towards something different for his future. Both men also conveyed their concern for children living in conflict zones children at risk of getting caught up in those conflicts as they were. I worry about the sheer number of kids and their vulnerabilities and wonder how theyll be treated by the world, said Khadr. Considering humanity Throughout the discussion, Beah was often asking as many questions of Khadr as Dr. Whitman and the audience were. (Attendees at the event, including students from several local high schools, were able to submit questions online for consideration.) He clearly shared the crowds eagerness to learn more about the human being behind the headlines. In one of the final questions of the night, Khadr was asked what he wanted the Canadian people to know about him. Khadr (right) with Dr. Whitman. I hold no grudges against anybody. I understand that certain people are not going to like me and thats okay. Some people are going to disagree with me and thats also okay. In the end, we are all human beings: we all have the same needs, we all feel the same pain. I believe a lot of situations, what makes it so complicated is we have so many barriers between us and our essence whether its our nationalities, our faith, our political views, our ethnicities all these things come between us and the other human being. I hope people can make a fair judgement of me, he added. Im a person thats just trying to figure things out in life having been in survival mode for many years of my life. The Galaxy Z Flip isnt Samsung Electronics Co.s first foldable device, but its the first to carry the Z designation, which the company is dedicating exclusively to foldables. Announced at an event in San Francisco on Feb. 11, the Z Flip was going on sale on Valentines Day at a price of $1,380. Its shaping up to be the most refined and complete foldable phone to date, and though its price remains high, it is actually the most affordable foldable from a big-name manufacturer. In the space of a few months, Samsung has shrunk both the size and price of the $1,980 Galaxy Fold into a compact square device, and its decided the foldable category has earned a distinct division in its phone portfolio. With the Z Series, we are adopting a new naming convention for our foldable portfolio that shows our commitment to expanding the category to offer a variety of experiences, a Samsung spokesperson told Bloomberg News in Seoul. We chose Z for this series because it intuitively communicates the idea of a fold while delivering a dynamic, youthful feel. Galaxy V would have been even more evocative of the Z Flips profile, but alas, Samsung already used that letter on a forgettable phone back in 2014. Bloombergs Mark Gurman contributed to this report. Millennials are drawing personal loans from Rs 30,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh for travel purposes, according to a report by digital lending platform IndiaLends. 85 percent of those who seek loans for travel are millenials, the report said. The company reported a 55 percent growth in personal loans for travel purposes. "The emergence of 'leisure consciousness across India's younger generation and the realisation that a balanced lifestyle is important, has led to increasing in domestic as well as international travel." IndiaLends CEO Gaurav Chopra said in a statement. Millenials typically prefer countries that have visa on arrival for Indian citizens, since they tend to make plans at the last minute. Countries such as Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka offer visa on arrival to India citizens. There are also those who take luxury vacations to countries such as Europe, USA, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. For young, salaried individuals who lack credit history, availing loans from the digital lending space is easier than approaching banks. The process of getting a loan from a bank can be lengthy and tedious, which makes it a less attractive option for young professionals. "For a new generation customer, the ease of services is one of the important criteria for choosing the servicing company," Chopra added. Indians are increasingly spending more time and money on travel. Dutch travel firm Booking.com has said India is one of its top five markets. Social status and relaxation are some of the major reasons Indians travel, according TO a Booking.com report BEIRUT - The Lebanese government led by Hassan Diab and backed by pro-Iranian Hezbollah has obtained a vote of confidence in Parliament. And shortly afterwards it was invited by western countries to pass reforms to stem the country's financial and economic crisis. In a statement released on Wednesday in Beirut, the International Support Group (ISG) for Lebanon, which includes Italy, called for action a few hours after the vote of confidence. The premier was urged to take action quickly and decidedly through reforms that are ''tangible, credible and comprehensive'' to stop the deep crisis and invert the trend while responding to the needs and requests of the Lebanese people, according to the statement. The international support group has repeatedly promised to Lebanese governments economic and financial support in case of reforms. The government last night won a confidence vote in Parliament, which took place amid anti-government protests that were first launched in mid-October last year. The parliamentary debate before the vote lasted nearly the entire day and ended only late at night with a large majority of lawmakers voting in favor of the executive. The cabinet is supported by parties of the coalition led by pro-Iranian Hezbollah. Addressing Parliament, Premier Diab admitted that he is faced with a particularly hard mission due to the deep economic and financial crisis and growing lack of confidence of a significant part of Lebanon's public opinion. MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) Bernie Sanders won New Hampshires presidential primary Tuesday night, edging moderate rival Pete Buttigieg and scoring the first clear victory in the Democratic Partys chaotic 2020 nomination fight. In his win, the 78-year-old Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, beat back a strong challenge from the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The dueling Democrats represent different generations, see divergent paths to the nomination and embrace conflicting visions of America's future. As Sanders and Buttigieg celebrated, Amy Klobuchar scored an unexpected third-place finish that gives her a road out of New Hampshire as the primary season moves on to the string of state-by-state contests that lie ahead. Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden posted disappointing fourth and fifth place finishes respectively and were on track to finish with zero delegates from the state. The New Hampshire vote gives new clarity to a Democratic contest shaping up to be a battle between two men separated by four decades in age and clashing political ideologies. Sanders is a leading progressive voice, having spent decades demanding substantial government intervention in health care and other sectors of the economy. Buttigieg has pressed for more incremental change , preferring to give Americans the option of retaining their private health insurance while appealing to Republicans and independents who may be dissatisfied with Trump. Their disparate temperaments were on display Tuesday as they spoke before cheering supporters. We are gonna win because we have the agenda that speaks to the needs of working people across this country, Sanders declared. This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump. Buttigieg struck an optimistic tone: Thanks to you, a campaign that some said shouldn't be here at all has shown that we are here to stay." Both men have strength heading into the next phase of the campaign, yet they face very different political challenges. While Warren made clear she will remain in the race, Sanders, well-financed and with an ardent army of supporters, has cemented his status as the clear leader of the progressive wing of the party. Meanwhile, Buttigieg must prove he can attract support from voters of color who are critical to winning the nomination. And unlike Sanders, he still has multiple rivals in his own ideological wing of the party to contend with. They include Klobuchar, whose standout debate performance led to a late surge in New Hampshire and a growing national following. While deeply wounded, Biden promises strength in upcoming South Carolina. And though former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was not on Tuesday's ballot, he looms next month when the contest reaches states offering hundreds of delegates. After a chaotic beginning to primary voting last week in Iowa, Democrats hoped New Hampshire would h elp give shape to their urgent quest to pick someone to take on Trump in November. At least two candidates dropped out in the wake of weak finishes Tuesday night: moderate Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and political newcomer Andrew Yang, who attracted a small but loyal following over the past year and was one of just three candidates of color left in the race. The struggling candidates still in the race sought to minimize the latest results. Warren, who spent months as a Democratic front-runner, offered an optimistic outlook as she faced cheering supporters: Our campaign is built for the long haul, and we are just getting started." Having already predicted he would take a hit in New Hampshire after a distant fourth-place finish in Iowa, Biden essentially ceded the state. He traveled to South Carolina Tuesday as he bet his candidacy on a strong showing there later this month boosted by support from black voters. Still, history suggests that the first-in-the-nation primary will have enormous influence shaping the 2020 race. In the modern era, no Democrat has ever become the partys general election nominee without finishing first or second in New Hampshire. Sanders and Buttigieg were on track to win the same number of New Hampshire delegates with most of the vote tallied, with Klobuchar a few behind. Warren, Biden and the rest of the field were shut out, failing to reach the 15% threshold needed for delegates. The AP allocated nine delegates each to Sanders and Buttigieg and six to Klobuchar. The action was on the Democratic side, but Trump easily won New Hampshire's Republican primary. He was facing token opposition from former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld. With most of the vote in, Trump already had amassed more votes in the New Hampshire primary than any incumbent president in history. His vote share was approaching the modern historical high for an incumbent president, 86.43% set by Ronald Reagan in 1984. Weld received about 9% of the vote of New Hampshire Republicans. The political spotlight quickly shifts to Nevada, where Democrats will hold caucuses on Feb. 22. But several candidates, including Warren and Sanders, plan to visit other states in the coming days that vote on Super Tuesday, signaling they are in the race for the long haul. ___ By Steve Peoples, Kathleen Ronayne and Hunter Woodall. Seth Borenstein, Will Weissert, Holly Ramer and Thomas Beaumont contributed. Saline High School as seen on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. The city and the school made national news on Monday when at a parent meeting on diversity and inclusion, racist language was used from one parent to another. SALINE, Mich. Four Saline High School students suspended for using racist emojis and derogatory terms on Snapchat are suing the school district, alleging their free speech rights were violated. The federal lawsuit alleges because the messages in question happened off school property, outside of school hours or events and on personal devices, the actions taken against the students violate their rights to free speech protection and violated school policies and procedures. "This case boils down to a simple question: When a child misbehaves at home, who disciplines the local public school or the parent? If a child gets stopped for drunk driving on a Saturday night, does the school have the right to expel that student? The answer is obvious. No," said attorney David Kallman in a news release. "The conversation of these children had nothing to do with the school. It has no authority to discipline students for out of school misbehavior." The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, lists Saline Area Schools, Saline Area Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Scot Graden, among others as defendants. A legal representative for the school district could not immediately be reached for comment. The lawsuit argues that the school and superintendent violated policy by punishing the students for behavior that took place off-campus, not at a school-sponsored event and not on district devices. The district and the superintendent "acted outside the scope of their authority and violated (the students) rights by suspending all four of them and recommending the expulsion of two of them for the expression contained in the text messages," according to the lawsuit. Two of the suspended students returned to school Feb. 10, while the other two remain suspended and were recently notified of the school's recommendation for expulsion, according to the lawsuit. Stop racism by saying the 'n' word Story continues Here is how the events played out, as described by the lawsuit: Two youths, one white and one African-American, created the Snapchat group message Jan. 26. The four students, who later were suspended, were added to the group. The two original members of the group message used offensive language and terminology as well as memes containing the same language and understood it to be a joke. One of the African-American students in the conversation jokingly suggested that everyone in the group message should say the "N" word at the same time to "stop racism." Many of the group members did so accordingly. After the African-American students left the messages, erasing earlier notes, another African-American child logged on and saw the messages and recorded a video of the Snapchats and shared the messages to social media. There was no intent on behalf of the students to make the messages public, according to the lawsuit. One of the involved students later messaged the African-American student to clarify the messages were meant as a joke and were just a misunderstanding, to which the African-American child responded he knew but they "can't (expletive) around like that at all." The suit alleges the four students were suspended without written notice and without a notice of their rights to due process. One of the involved students was questioned by a police officer and told he was under criminal investigation on Jan. 27 without notifying the student of his legal rights or notifying his parents. None of the African-American students in the original group messages were disciplined, according to the lawsuit. Following the public statements from the district and meetings, the suit alleges the students were "alienated and stigmatized" from classmates and the general community. The lawsuit argues the students have suffered academically and states the district should reinstate the students, expunge their record and award the students damages and coverage of legal fees incurred. People marched with a variety of signs against racism and bigotry during a rally up and down on Michigan Avenue in downtown Saline, Michigan on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. The city and the school made national news on Monday when at a parent meeting on diversity and inclusion, racist language was used from one parent to another. Catapulted to the national spotlight Saline Area Schools responded swiftly to the release of the messages with a letter from Superintendent Scot Graden on Jan. 27 and announced the district investigated the incident and deemed it an act of racism harmful to the students. Superintendent: Saline High School students posted racist comments on social media, In a meeting on diversity and inclusion in the days following the messages in question, a parent shared that his son dealt with racist remarks while at the school, including being called "taco," "enchilada" and "nacho." In response to Adrian Iraola, the parent, another parent, who identified himself as Tom Burtell, asked, "Then why didn't you stay in Mexico?" The racist remark launched Saline into the national spotlight. Students, families and Saline community members gathered Feb. 5 for a rally for diversity and inclusion, which drew nearly 250 people. Follow Meredith Spelbring on Twitter: @mere0415. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan students suspended over racist Snapchat sue school district When Renee Zellweger took home an Academy Award on Sunday night for her performance as Judy Garland in Judy, it wasnt her first trip to the Oscar podium. But youd be forgiven if youd forgotten that shed previously won, since its been 16 years since her first Academy Award. Renee Zellweger won an Oscar in 2004 for Cold Mountain Renee Zellweger with Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Charlize Theron at the 2004 Oscars | Jeff HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images In the early 2000s, Zellweger was one of the hottest actresses around. She gained fame after appearing in movies like Empire Records, Jerry Maguire, and Me, Myself & Irene. Then, in 2001, she starred in Bridget Joness Diary, a rom-com about a frustrated single woman living in London. That role earned Zellweger her first Academy Award nomination, for best actress, in 2002. The next year, she was nominated again for best actress, this time for Chicago. She starred alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere in the critically acclaimed musical. While Zellweger lost the best actress race to Nicole Kidman, who won for playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours, the movie did take home best picture. Zeta-Jones also won best supporting actress. Zellweger received a third consecutive nomination in 2004, when she was recognized in the best supporting actress category for Cold Mountain. Not everyone loved her performance as brash mountain woman Ruby Thewes in the Civil War drama, but Academy voters thought it was trophy-worthy. Zellweger says this win is different Renee Zellweger, at the 2020 Academy Awards | Rachel Luna/Getty Images While Zellwegers 2004 Academy Award should have propelled her to new heights in Hollywood, that didnt happen. She continued to work, sporadically, appearing in movies like Miss Potter and Bridget Joness Baby. But her career seemed to stall. From 2010 to 2016, she wasnt in any movies at all. Then came Judy. In the film, she plays the Wizard of Oz star near the end of her life, when she was beset by addiction and personal troubles. The role was hailed as a comeback for the 50-year-old Zellweger. Backstage after accepting the award, she was asked about how her 2020 win was different from her previous one. Im a little more present now, Zellweger said, explaining that when she won her first Oscar, she had just returned to the U.S. from the U.K., where she was filming the sequel to Bridget Joness Diary. I think I was so busy that I wasnt actually in the moment, she said. I just look at it in a different way, what it represents is a little bit different, the actress added. Zellweger said she was glad to offer a different take on Garlands story, which people dismiss as tragic. This is about this wanting to tell that story and to celebrate Judy Garland and to shine a light on, perhaps, the nuances of the circumstances of her life, she said. She dedicated her award to Judy Garland In her acceptance speech, Zellweger dedicated her award to Garland, who died of an accidental overdose in 1969 at 47. Garland never received an Academy Award during her lifetime. She was nominated twice and received an honorary Juvenile Oscar in 1940. Judy Garland did not receive this honor in her time, Zellweger said. I am certain that this moment is an extension of the celebration of her legacy that began on our film set Miss Garland, you are certainly among the heroes who unite and define us, and this is certainly for you. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Dane Hinshelwood. A MAN has been jailed for over four years for raping a woman in Whiston three years ago. Dane Hinshelwood (33), of Manor Park Road, Manor Park, London, was found guilty of rape at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday following a six-day trial. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The court heard Hinshelwood had been out drinking in Sheffield in July 2017. He then travelled to Whiston, where he was living at the time, and raped a 37-year-old woman. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, immediately reported the rape to police and an investigation was launched. Hinshelwood was identified and arrested the same day. Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Det Con Carly Booth said: The victim in this case has shown remarkable courage in coming forward to report this awful crime, as well as a tremendous amount of dignity and patience as we have progressed the criminal investigation and brought the case before the courts. Hinshelwood refused to admit his crime, forcing the victim to relive her terrifying ordeal before a jury. It is testament to her strength and bravery that she was able to face her abuser in court and give powerful evidence. I am pleased Hinshelwood is behind bars and I hope the victim is able to take some closure from this court hearing, knowing that the person who committed this horrific crime has been found guilty and is in prison. Hinshelwood will also be placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Holden Matthews: Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal A Louisiana man burnt churches to promote his Black Metal brand according to reports from local law enforcement. Holden Matthews, 22, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act. He set three churches on fire in the Opelousas, Louisiana area over the course of 10 days in late March 2019. The churches targeted were Greater Union Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and St Mary Baptist Church. They had predominantly African American congregations. Hate crimes are among the charges Matthews pleaded guilty to, but authorities have not revealed whether or not race explicitly played into his actions. Matthews said he torched the churches to pay homage to black metal-associated church arsons in Norway in the 1990s. Varg Vikernes, of the black metal band Mayhem, became infamous for his church arsons and, later, a murder, during that time period. Vikernes, who was released from prison in 2009 after serving time for the murder of his band-mate, Euronymous, has a history of having neo-Nazi and white supremacist views. Matthews, the son of a local sheriffs deputy, bragged about the arsons in a video posted to Facebook. He said his intention was to raise his profile in the Black Metal community. He was a member of the band Vodka Vultures. Dustin Charles Talbot, Matthews's lawyer, told the New York Times that his client only had the reasoning capacities of an adolescent and that he was not motivated by racial means. Holden now fully understands the seriousness and gravity of his actions and is deeply remorseful for what he has done and the pain he has caused the congregations of these churches, Mr Talbot said. FBI Special Agent Bryan Vorndran condemned Matthewss crimes, saying: His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations, as well as all of St Landry Parish. Matthews could face betweem 10 and 70 years in prison. The Army's 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade will deploy to Africa in coming weeks to train forces in an effort to contend with Russia and China on the continent, the Pentagon announced today. The deployment is the result of a review that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has been conducting to assess how U.S. military forces, programs and activities within each combatant command support the National Defense Strategy, according to Pentagon spokeswoman Alyssa Farah. "As part of this review and in order to better compete with China and Russia in Africa, the secretary is directing the deployment of elements of the Army's 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade to the continent to conduct train, advise, and assist missions in spotlight African countries," Farah said in the release, adding that U.S. Africa Command was the first to present its findings and recommendations in the review. "This is the first of many decisions regarding AFRICOM's mission." The 1st SFAB is based at Fort Benning, Georgia and is one of five active SFABs, plus one SFAB in the National Guard. The Army deployed the 1st SFAB for the first time in 2018 to Afghanistan. SFABs are the first permanent Army units whose core mission is conducting security cooperation activities, which in the past had been conducted by regular brigade combat teams. "In addition to meeting combatant command requirements on the continent, the deployment of the SFAB will help improve Army readiness by reducing the demand for brigade combat teams to conduct security force assistance operations there," Farah said in the release. Related: US Military Response Force Arrives in Kenya After Terrorist Attack The deployment of the SFAB will allow the Army to return elements of an infantry brigade from the 101st Airborne Division back to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky "allowing it to train and prepare for high intensity conflict operations," Farah said. The company-sized element of 101st deployed to Kenya in early January as part of the East African Response Force (EARF) after an attack by al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab on a base in Kenya killed one U.S. soldier and two American contractors. The EARF falls under Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, based in Djibouti, and is designed to conduct military operations such as protecting Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities as well as supporting noncombatant evacuations. "Deployment of the 1st SFAB and return of 101st Airborne Division personnel will commence in the coming weeks," Farah said. "This realignment and rightsizing of mission requirements demonstrates the Department's commitment to implementing the National Defense Strategy and our continuing commitment to our African partners." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Read More: Army to Deploy 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade to Afghanistan The Bono Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe aka Abronye DC has thrown shade at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) describing their manifesto as the devils bible. According to him, NDC is a party full of lies and deceit. NDC manifesto page 92 promised to reduce the cost of electricity production, thus lower electricity tariff to be charged yet increased electricity tariff by 89% in 2010, 10% in 2011, 78% in 2013, 28.36% in 2014 and 59.2% in 2015NDC manifesto and energy promises were wagadri , he stated. Abronye DC also commended President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for delivering on their promises. Under Nana Addo, nursing training allowance has been paid for. 80,000 out of 120,000 teachers unpaid salary has been paid forDumsor is now a thing of the past. Road infrastructure has been fixed. Gas Debt has been paid, he said on UTV Late News. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Fifth Third Bank reverses decision, will give to scholarship fund despite Christian schools beliefs Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Fifth Third Bank has announced that it's reversing a previous decision to stop donating to a Florida school voucher program due to the beliefs of some of the participating religious schools on issues such as homosexuality and transgenderism. Last month, Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo decided to quit donating to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which is administered in part by Step Up for Students, following an Orlando Sentinel report noting that some of the schools involved in the program held biblical views on LGBT issues. In a statement released last Friday, Fifth Third Bank explained that it was reversing its earlier decision to halt their donations after meeting with representatives of the AAA Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit that helps to oversee the program. Following what it described as a thorough review and evaluation of the program, Fifth Third said it could support the program once AAA implemented two mutually agreed upon changes. AAA has agreed to develop a roadmap to help parents navigate the school selection and application process. This roadmap will include identifying issues parents may wish to consider in choosing a school and informing parents about how they may access school-specific information or policies, stated the company. Additional oversight through an annual meeting with AAA leadership to provide Fifth Third with an opportunity to assess the program and the impact our investment is having in the lives of students, and to ensure our expectation of transparency is being fulfilled. Fifth Third also championed its past involvement in the program, noting that for the past three years, they have given millions of dollars in scholarships through the program directly to 2,500 students and their families so that they could attend the participating school of their choice. The two major bank companies previously decided to cut ties with the program following an article by The Orlando Sentinel titled Anti-LGBT Florida schools getting school vouchers. According to the Sentinel, over 20,800 students received state tuition scholarships that went to 156 private schools where homosexuality was condemned or, at a minimum, unwelcome. These included holding official stances against homosexuality and transgenderism, having policies that prohibited students from engaging in homosexual conduct among other sexual activities, and refusal to admit openly LGBT students, explained the Sentinel. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was among the critics of the earlier decision by Wells Fargo and Fifth Third to end their donations. In an interview with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins earlier this month, Rubio said their withdrawing of support was only going to hurt lower-income families. Rubio explained that the program allows parents to choose which school to send their children to and many of the options are schools without official biblical stances on LGBT issues. Doing what they did is not going to hurt those schools. Those schools are not going to abandon the Bible over a government program. They existed before this program, said Rubio at the time. Who they are hurting are low-income kids, because they are not going to be able to go to school and probably not go to a school that doesnt have those policies, by the way. US special envoy visits Turkey over Idlib attacks James Jeffrey said he came to Ankara to re-evaluate the situation with the Turkish government, adding that the US will give as much as possible support to Turkey. The US special envoy for Syria visited Turkey on Tuesday to re-evaluate the recent developments in the region. Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga International Airport, James Jeffrey said Turkey, as a NATO ally, encountered a great threat in Idlib, northwestern Syria, coming from the Assad regime and Russia. "US STRONGLY CONDEMNS SYRIAN REGIME'S ATTACKS" He also extended condolences to the country for the martyred Turkish troops by the regime attacks in Idlib earlier Monday. Accompanying Jeffrey, the ambassador's senior advisor Rich Outzen said the US "strongly condemned the attacks of the Damascus regime." US special envoy visits Turkey over Idlib attacks WATCH Stressing the importance of solidarity, Outzen said his country will continue to be in close contact with Turkey. In Ankara, Ambassador Jeffrey will meet with senior Turkish officials to discuss the Assad regimes Russian-backed destabilizing military offensive in #Idlib and how we can work together toward a political solution to the Syrian Conflict, the US Embassy in Turkey said on Twitter earlier. The destabilizing actions of Russia, the Iranian regime, Hizballah & the Assad regime are hindering the establishment of a nationwide ceasefire in Syria as called for an UNSCR 2254 & the safe return of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in northern Syria to their homes, it added. The embassy also called for an immediate ceasefire 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. T he Archbishop of Canterbury has told of his shame as he admitted the Church of England remains "deeply institutionally racist". The Most Reverend Justin Welby apologised in a speech as the General Synod unanimously backed a motion to "lament" and apologise for both conscious and unconscious racism. The vote was taken to apologise for its decades-long failures towards black and minority ethnic people since the arrival of the Windrush generation in the UK. Mr Welby told the church's national assembly: "Personally, I am sorry and ashamed. I'm ashamed of our history and I'm ashamed of our failure." Synod member Reverend Andrew Moughtin-Mumby, from Southwark Diocese, spoke of the "horrible, humiliating racism" experienced by the family of one of his parishioners who were turned away from a south London church because they were black. The Archbishop apologised to black and minority ethnic people / Getty Images Rev Moughtin-Mumby said Doreen Browne's family had been barred from St Peter's Church in Walworth in 1961 "due to the plain fact of the colour of their black skin". "They eventually found a home in a nearby parish church - but we know that many cradle Anglicans from the Caribbean did not, and simply left the Church of England: that is a scandal of our own," he said. "Doreen's family suffered a horrible, humiliating racism which still affects Doreen's relationship with the Church even today." Mr Welby, in off-the-cuff remarks given after he said he felt the need to "ditch" his prepared speech following Rev Moughtin-Mumby's words, told the Synod he was "almost beyond words". He said the "hostile environment" must be transformed / PA The Archbishop continued: "There is no doubt when we look at our own Church that we are still deeply institutionally racist. Let's just be clear about that. I said it to the College of Bishops a couple of years ago and it's true." He said the "hostile environment" must be transformed into a "hospitable, welcoming one", and urged "radical and decisive" progress on the issue in order to put an end to institutional racism. Mr Welby added: "Unless we are radical and decisive in this area in the future, we will still be having this conversation in 20 years' time and still doing injustice - the few of us that remain, deservedly." Looking to how to address the issue in the future, Mr Welby said "basic rules" were needed going forward, including having ethnic minorities or other discriminated-against minorities represented on appointment panels within the church. "It doesn't work when long lists are simply one colour," he said. "It does not work." By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 11, 2020 | 07:39 PM | FULTON The Fulton County Sheriff's Department and Obion County Sheriff's Office partnered to execute a search warrant on Beech Grove Road in the Brownsville community. Deputies say they found marijuana, a large amount of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia, along with several guns. Kara Dunavant, Misty Turner and Joshua Roney, all of Obion County, Tennessee, were arrested at the home and taken to Fulton County Detention Center. All three face charges of trafficking in a controlled substance 1st degree 1st offense and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dunavant and Roney were both charged with trafficking in marijuana. Roney faces additional charges of possession of a firearm by convicted felon and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. All of the charges against Dunavant and Roney are firearm enhanced. Three people from Tennessee were arrested Monday after an investigation in Fulton County. Buster Dean/Staff The sun will soon shine again in Houston, believe it or not. After days of dreary overcast, sunshine will peak through clearing clouds Thursday making way for 48 hours free of rain, according to the National Weather Service. However, Wednesday is still predicted to be wet and cloudy, meteorologists say. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting on providing the youth living in the temporarily occupied territories with opportunities to obtain a passport of a Ukrainian citizen and assisting them in entering Ukrainian higher education institutions, the presidential press service said. "We need to establish contact with civilians in the occupied territories who cannot live in Ukraine-controlled territory for some reason," Zelensky noted. During a meeting, the head of state emphasized that the Russian Federation was massively issuing its passports to people living in the temporarily occupied territories as war in the east of Ukraine continued. According to the president, such a situation is unacceptable and Ukraine must fight for its citizens. Therefore, there is a need to develop a special program aimed at providing the youth with documents proving Ukrainian citizenship. Minister of the Interior Arsen Avakov and his deputy Tetiana Kovalchuk outlined proposals that could form the basis of the future program, inter alia, simplification of the procedure of obtaining administrative services, in particular as regards obtaining a Ukrainian birth certificate and passports by residents of the occupied territories. The parties also consider the possibility of providing distance learning of Ukrainian language and history of Ukraine - subjects that are not currently taught in the temporarily occupied territories, expanding the number of higher education institutions which children of this category could enter, increasing quotas for state-funded places in them, hotline for entrants and more. The President also stressed that such measures should motivate young people to get Ukrainian education and contribute to their future life in the territory controlled by Ukraine. Representative image The year 2019 saw a dampened growth in the number of foreign tourist arrivals, as per government data cited in a report by The Economic Times. Consequently, foreign exchange earnings from the same took a hit as well, growing at the slowest pace in over a decade. the report noted. While the government has not assessed the impact of the countrywide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), experts from the tourism industry quoted in the report link the slowed growth in foreign tourist arrivals to factors like the anti-CAA protests and high levels of air pollution in the northern parts of the country. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. In 2019, only a 3.1 percent increase from the year before was recorded in foreign tourist arrivals in India, with around 10.89 million tourists having visited the country, according to the ET report. This was lower than the 5.2 percent and 14 percent growth seen in 2018 and 2017 respectively. Meanwhile, earnings from foreign tourists in the country saw an 8.2 percent increase in 2019, as opposed to the 9.6 percent growth in 2018 and the 15 percent growth in 2017, the report said citing data from the tourism ministry and the Reserve Bank of India. Towards the end of 2019, as many as seven countries had issued travel advisories to their citizens asking them to either avoid visiting or exercise caution while visiting parts of India affected by the anti-CAA protests. These countries were the United States, Britain, Russia, Israel, Singapore, Canada and Taiwan. The severe deterioration of the air quality in the national capital region also raised concerns amid travelers who either rescheduled or cancelled their trips to the country, especially to Delhi and other pollution affected parts of India. The Cuttack district administration on Wednesday pulled down at least nine temples and six club buildings built illegally on government land for renovation and expansion of the SCB Medical College and Hospital here, officials said. The authorities have also identified another temple and a club building located on roads leading from Ranihat bridge to the hospital for demolition as part of the eviction drive for the medical college expansion, said Deputy Commissioner of Cuttack Municipal Commissioner (CMC), AC Rout. Wednesdays eviction was part of the third phase of the ongoing drive and the authorities were very conscious and concerned as it involved demolishing places of worship, an official said, adding the demolition drive went off peacefully without any untoward incident. Meanwhile, the SCB Medical College and Hospital employees resented the one-month notice given to them to vacate their residential houses. A large number of Class III and Class IV employees with their families protested in front of the office of the hospital superintendent demanding recall of the notice. The hospital expansion plan also involves demolition of around 500 residential quarters and about 90 shops located inside the campus and adjacent areas. The employees are demanding alternative arrangements before they vacate their quarters. The premier teaching hospital is set for a massive expansion with acquisition of another 25 acres of adjacent land. The eviction drive will be completed by the end of this month, so that the expansion work will begin from the beginning of March, an official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CAIRO - Economic fallout continues from the shutdown of Libyas vital oil fields, with losses surpassing $1.3 billion, the national oil corporation announced Tuesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 11/2/2020 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CAIRO - Economic fallout continues from the shutdown of Libyas vital oil fields, with losses surpassing $1.3 billion, the national oil corporation announced Tuesday. The latest contest over oil assets in Libya started last month, when powerful tribes loyal to eastern-based forces laying siege to the capital, Tripoli, seized large export terminals and choked off major pipelines. The brazen move came just days before Germany hosted a high-profile international summit aimed at ending end Libya's long-running conflict. Allies of Khalifa Hifters eastern forces, which control the vast oil reserves of southern and eastern Libya, are looking to gain political leverage and cripple the embattled U.N.-backed government in Tripoli by slashing a main source of its revenue. The Tripoli government controls only a shrinking corner of the countrys west. But it enjoys a different advantage: its control over Libyas Central Bank, which holds the countrys oil revenue. The opaque finances of the bank has drawn sharp criticism. Hifters forces accuse the bank of diverting oil assets to pay Syrian mercenaries to defend the capital. The oil corporation has also called repeatedly for increased transparency. In a statement this week, the cash-strapped bank reported it had not received any oil revenues for the month of January. With that income gone, it said it would postpone the payment of all government salaries. The Tripoli governments finance ministry rolled out a series of vague reforms Tuesday toward regulating its management systems to ensure fiscal prudence. The announcement reflected mounting pressure on the government to hold its public financial institutions accountable. The tug-of-war over Libyas oil revenues has been going on for years. Even so, recent losses are dramatic. The national corporation said current production, which has collapsed to roughly 183,000 barrels a day from about 1.2 million, is at the lowest point since the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi. 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 corporation reiterated its warning that the blockade is quickly depleting fuel that supplies Libyan power stations. The tribal groups closed yet another pipeline over the weekend, exacerbating a looming fuel crisis, the statement added. Hifters forces have been waging an offensive on Tripoli since April. An aspiring strongman with an anti-Islamist bent, the commander has drawn the support of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. On the other side, Turkey, Italy and Qatar back the Tripoli administration. The international sponsors have pledged to uphold a widely flouted U.N. arms embargo and push a cease-fire. Regardless, weapons keep pouring into the war-ravaged country in what U.N. chief Antonio Guterres has bluntly called a scandal. Powerful Western countries, like the United States, have come under criticism for failing to take a strong stance. In a meeting with the Tripoli governments interior minister late Monday, U.S. envoy to Libya Richard Norland reaffirmed U.S. support for ongoing efforts by Libyan authorities to dismantle and disarm militias," which he said pose a serious threat to national unity. The statement's apparent reference to disbanding armed groups defending Tripoli strongly evokes Hifter's previous demands. Despite ostensible American recognition for the U.N.-backed government, President Donald Trump called to commend Hifter last spring after he launched his assault on the capital. Artem Sytnyk, Head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau Open source On February 10, G7 ambassadors made a statement regarding the fate of the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), Artem Sytnyk. It is important, diplomats noted, that the election and dismissal of the leadership of anti-corruption bodies should take place in accordance with applicable law. This means the following: fire Sytnyk if you want but follow the legal procedure, in compliance with legal comme il faut. Western officials have withdrawn from the protection of the official - they are no longer interested in him. Moreover, the G7 is now led by the United States. So all the talks that Americans will cover Sytnyk are just talks. But what happened to Sytnyk and what does the United States have to do with it? Bad rest A week ago, 170 MPs of the Verkhovna Rada, armed with pencils and pens, collected signatures for the resignation of the chairman of the NABU Artem Sytnyk. The formal basis for this intention is the decision of the Sarnivsky District Court, which found Sytnyk guilty of not having included information about his vacation in the hunting grounds in the Rivne region in the period 2017-2019 in the declaration. The court even sent Sytnyk to a fine of 140 USD. But this was not enough for the MPs, and they decided to initiate the resignation of the chairman of NABU. Strana.ua writes that Sytnyk stopped at least five times in Sarny, and each time his wishlist contained expensive whims, including elite varieties of alcohol and the like. "The main fighter against corruption was out of breath so much that he managed to break up two ATVs of the Bagi BRP 1000 brand, the repair of which cost about 4,000 USD," the article says. And strangers paid for all this luxury. Elite relaxation cost at least 4,000 USD each. But he forgot to indicate it in the declaration. By the way, now Sytnyk intends to appeal the decision of the Sarnivsky court. He promises even to get to the ECHR and there to demand a review of the administrative penalty. "I helped Hillary" About a year ago, in March 2019, MP Boryslav Rosenblatt, a defendant in the "amber case," released a recording in which a man with the voice of the director of NABU, Artem Sytnyk, tells how he helped US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. Rosenblatt entrusted his exposure to Facebook. "I have irrefutable evidence that the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau worked for one of the presidential candidates in the United States of America, disclosing the investigation materials and transmitting them to a foreign state in order to influence the election process in support of one of the presidential candidates," he said. How did Sytnyk help Americans? According to Rosenblatt, by publishing the black books of the Party of Regions. Recall that the relevant documentation was found in Mezhyhirya residence after the ex-president Yanukovych escaped from there. The materials from which it followed that the Party of Regions members paid for public relations and consulting to Trump's lawyer Paul Manafort cast a shadow on both Manafort and Trump. So, to "highlight" this data was beneficial to the then-rival of Trump, the candidate for US presidency from the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton. On the record, a man with the voice of Sytnyk says: "I helped Hillary." And he adds: Hillary has just lost when I investigated black bookkeeping, we released the data of Manafort, who was imprisoned... Manafort was the head of Trumps high headquarters, Sytnyk tells his interlocutor. "The role of Sytnik in supporting Hillary Clinton is obvious. He played the role of a reputation killer, and his behavior led to the deterioration of Ukrainian-American relations after the victory of Donald Trump in the election," says Ruslan Bortnyk, director of the Ukrainian Institute for Policy Analysis and Management. It is becoming increasingly clear that Trump will be re-elected for a second term. If Trumps enemies stay in the Ukrainian government, it will not positively affect relations between the countries. And this, to a certain extent, frees up the hands of those representatives of the establishment, who until recently have hesitated. Now there is no doubt: representatives of the Democratic Party and Soros can be cleaned up, says Ruslan Bortnyk. Oligarch factor Ruslan Bortnyk tells that the current president cannot but strive to remove the protege of the previous president from power. Sytnyk was appointed even under Poroshenko, he has good contact with Poroshenko. Presidential Office is interested in appointing their own person to this position. But the struggle around the new figure will continue no less fierce, Bortnyk assures. Sytnyk is really known for his friendship with Poroshenko. The former head of state a couple of years ago even received him at night in his own residence, as the Scheme program found out. According to Sytnyk, the conversation between him and the president was about the creation of the Anti-Corruption Court, and there was no crime in these visits. One way or another, but it is the name Poroshenko that causes Zelensky acute idiosyncrasy. And that means the name of Sytnyk as well. The environment of the director of NABU is too toxic for the current government, our experts are unanimous in this. Not only Zelensky does not like Sytnyk. His unwritten curator Igor Kolomoisky also does not like him. After all, since November 2019, NABU has been dealing with the PrivatBank case (the former owners of which consider the nationalization of the financial institution illegal). And the sympathies of his head in this dispute are clearly not on the side of Igor Kolomoisky. Now the "confrontation continues between the conditional group "AntiSoros" (which includes Privat group and Kvartal 95) and those people who are focused on external partners. Sytnyk and PM Honcharuk are just focused on external influence. The court decision on Sytnyk is a good reason to weaken this influence and dismiss Sytnyk. And the presidents team is interested in his dismissal, says Ruslan Bortnyk. Sytnyks position Meanwhile, Sytnyk himself believes that he is unreasonably suspected of playing along with the oligarchy. He not only did not play into the hands of the powers that be but, on the contrary, fell victim to their intrigues. In particular, he is convinced that Interior Minister Arsen Avakov could put pressure on the judges of the court. In this case, as you know, the NABU accused Avakovs son Oleksandr and Deputy Minister Serhiy Chebotar of organizing a budget order bypassing the legal tender procedure. Subsequently, the case was closed by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. By the way, Sytnik also claims to it, believing that the head of the SAP, Nazar Kholodnytsky, has a biased attitude towards him. Without going into the details of this battle as well, we agree with our experts that "there was and will be competition in law enforcement agencies. Moreover, NABU took the tidbit from the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs," said Andrei Zolotariov, head of the Third Sector Center. The National Bureau simply turned out to be an extremely inefficient structure. When a new leadership arrives, some things will be put in a box, there was a lot of PR and little concrete work. Most likely, NABU will be reformatted, Zolotariov says. Political analyst Yevhen Bulavka also believes that with the dismissal of Sytnyk some of the affairs of NABU will be reviewed. But perhaps this was the goal of collecting signatures for his resignation. "If Sytnyk is fired now, many of the cases of NABU would be frozen," he says. "The decisive factor is that Sytnyk has complicated relations with the Ukrainian authorities and with bodies such as the State Security Service, as well as with the judiciary," Director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov said. However, he adds, its not so much about Sytnyk, but about the need to reduce the influence of NABU as a structure that was created under external influence. The rest of the law enforcement agencies are trying to bracket this effect. Its like an implant that was screwed into the body, but not took root in it. Andrei Zolotariov does not doubt the dismissal of Sytnyk. The environment around him is too toxic, and external partners too will begin to understand this. But whoever succeeds him will be a compromise between them and Bankova, Zolotariov said. However, the candidacy of a successor is still too early to discuss. The procedure for dismissing the chairman of NABU is not easy, Vadym Karasiov recalls. The last word here belongs not to the parliament and not to the president. First, an auditor should be elected and an audit of the activities of this structure. If you follow the procedure, the process will drag on for months. There is no doubt that during this time we will witness repeated throws of compromising evidence, accusations and mutual debunking of all persons involved in this game. [February 11, 2020] Marfeel Announces AdDealer Technology that Optimizes Mobile Ad Placement For Maximum ROI Impact BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marfeel, the publisher platform that optimizes the traffic, engagement, and monetization of publishers' mobile websites, today announced their advertising technology named AdDealer that optimizes mobile ad placement for maximum ROI impact. AdDealer uses an algorithm to place ads in the right location, at the right time, measuring frequency, proximity and the level of aggression of each ad impression to increase publisher revenue. The Better Ads Standards recommends that the ad density or the ratio of ads to content on a mobile page not exceed 30%. If there are too many ads, publishers risk them being blocked at the browser level and it can be detrimental to the website's user experience. Typically, publishers can't measure each article to maintain that balance; therefore, Marfeel developed technology that automates the exact ad density of each article by the pixel so that publishers maintain 30% ad content, at all times. The technology enables publishers to achieve a balance that maximizes revenue while ensuring an unintrusive advertising experience. Typically, most ad strategies follow the same rules for all content, Marfeel's AdDealer steers away from that approach, maximizing the full potential of each page by tailoring the ad for particular content. For years publishers feared that ad blocking would decrease their revenue stream; however, since the industry has improved the overall mobile ad experience those fears have not been realized. The Association of Online Publishers notes that ad blocking rates are at 8% to 2.4%, in order to keep those numbers low it is important to implement strategic ad placement. "Marfeel's AdDealer has helped the Phoblographer thrive and grow in a time when niche publications need it. Most mobile visitors don't want to pay for content behind a paywall, and mobile platforms usually don't lend themselves well to this anyway without building an app. But combined with effective navigation of the Phoblographer's website, Marfeel AdDealer is critical to ensure that we can pay our journalists an ethical wage," says Chris Gampat, Editor in Chief at U.S. based photography blog thephoblographer.com. "The combination of placing ads in the right location and maintaining the perfect balance of ad density, optimizes each page to generate higher revenue from each user," says Alexian Chiavegato, CMO of Marfeel. "Marfeel ensures that every ad is viewable, relevant and does not disrupt the viewer, providing users with a positive experience and publishers with higher ROI." Additionally, Marfeel utilizes ad formats that won't detract from the user experience, outlined by the Coalition for Better Ads, with members that include the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), Google, and Facebook. Marfeel's approach is to implement ad formats that are effective and pertinent to the user so that publishers generate more revenue with fewer ads. About Marfeel Marfeel is the publisher platform that revolutionizes the way news websites and digital publishers create, optimize, and monetize mobile websites. Marfeel's proprietary technology analyzes publishers' unique audiencesuser habits, behavior and usage patternsand dynamically adjusts their mobile site layouts to maximize readership, engagement, page views, loading time, and ultimately ad revenue. Marfeel guarantees top-paying ads from premium advertisers. Now reaching more than 1 billion website sessions every month, Marfeel's mobile monetization solution has been recognized by leading industry brands such as Google and the IAB. Media companies that already benefit from Marfeel include Leaf Group, The Washington Times (US), and Euronews. The company is growing rapidly, appearing in the FT 1000 two years in a row, and the Inc. 5000 three years in a row. To learn more about Marfeel, please visit https://www.marfeel.com/ . CONTACT: DeeDee Rudenstein, [email protected], (267) 521-9654 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marfeel-announces-addealer-technology-that-optimizes-mobile-ad-placement-for-maximum-roi-impact-301003361.html SOURCE Marfeel [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] spacex is trying to buy up the homes of retirees in Texas so they can build their nearby Mars prototype site without complaints from neighbors. More than half of the properties left in Boca Chica Village have now sold to Elon Musk's company but the CEO is reportedly having a tough time making deals with residents who refuse to move out. The company moved into the area after scoring a deal that included $15million in tax breaks in 2013. Job incentives were also included in the package, according to Business Insider. But the retiree-age residents of Boca Chica which is about a 30-minute drive from Brownsville, where half the population lives below the poverty line have complained they'll have a tough time buying a home with similar perks, even with SpaceX offering three times the base appraisal rate. Elon Musk is reportedly 'losing patience' and wants Texas neighbors out by March 31 so he can work freely on SpaceX Company is trying to buy up the homes of retirees in Boca Chica Village, Texas but some residents are reportedly in talks with non-profit legal representatives Musk himself even met with a group while he was in town on business for Starship (pictured) The community enjoys low taxation and is nearby an undeveloped beach. A new report states that while Musk's company was approved on local, state and federal level in July 2014, it only started to become unbearable living there in recent years. 'At the very, very beginning, I saw surveyors outside our windows. I thought, "Oh god, people here are going to burn me on a cross if I'm not with SpaceX,"' Maria Pointer said. 'We can't sleep anymore. It's impossible to sleep. If you don't hear sounds, you feel vibrations. You feel pile drivers outside your window.' Many of the homes purchased for anywhere from $100,000 to more than $1 million - became workshops, storage sites, and delivery centers years ago, and spacecraft-tracking antennas from NASA's old space-shuttle program replaced a corner store. Business was slow in 2015 and 2016 when there were rocket failures and low demand for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launchers. However SpaceX still disrupted residents' lives and they soon needed a badges to get around the area. Many of the homes purchased for anywhere from $100,000 to more than $1 million - became workshops, storage sites, and delivery centers years ago. But work on SpaceX recently picked up and residents are feeling the pressure September 12, the company sent every homeowner a buyout offer letter with a two-week deadline but they had to relax the deadline as some residents refused An investigation from Business Insider found that SpaceX hosted private meetings with neighbors in a bid to get them to sell and even offered to pay for accommodation in Brownsville hotels amid rocket launch activities. Last August, the company finally had lift-off as the Starhopper prototype rose 500 feet above the launchpad and touched back down safely in its most ambitious test to date. One resident who ended up selling to SpaceX in December complained in April that he and his wife were not getting the information they needed. 'They did not like to answer any questions,' Sam Clauson told Business Insider. 'They tell their people to basically don't answer any questions.' One anonymous resident said that in the past, SpaceX expected homeowners to approach them with a deal and their attitude to neighbors was 'indifferent'. The investigation found that on September 12, the company sent every homeowner a buyout offer letter with a two-week deadline. SpaceX was forced to relax the deadline after some residents didn't react in their favor and Musk himself even met with a group while he was in town on business for Starship. Residents told Business Insider the meeting was brief and awkward, and while Musk refused to offer more than three times the base appraisal figure, some residents worked with SpaceX's real-estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) to increase the base appraisal value. Residents claim Musk wants them out before March 31 and SpaceX senior director of finance Dave Finlay told them to take their offer before Musk 'loses his patience'. One resident said: 'We can't sleep anymore. It's impossible to sleep. If you don't hear sounds, you feel vibrations. You feel pile drivers outside your window' A view of the topography and construction site at Boca Chica, Texas at SpaceX's Starship Assembly Site January 7, 2019, for the test vehicle Starship SN1 Recently SpaceX has tried to be more friendly and helpful as some residents refuse to budge and some are even in talks with non-profit Institute for Justice which takes on cases at no cost. 'I work at SpaceX in California and would really appreciate the opportunity to discuss the SpaceX offer to purchase your property,' SpaceX senior director of finance Dave Finlay emailed one resident on January 3. 'My goal is to provide any support that I can.' He followed up two days later saying: 'I am very willing to work with you to correct any error in your appraised value that drives the $ amount of the purchase offer. 'My goal is to make it as accurate as possible and if any mistakes were made we will fix them. I will be in the Village all day on Monday should you be willing to meet in person I'd like to explore any opportunities I may have to help you.' Residents of Boca Chica Village say the company has become more desperate. 'They really need these houses. They're being very foolish,' one resident who recently sold to SpaceX said. 'As smart as they are about technological stuff, they're not smart about people. The Ministry of Information with its aim of ensuring that effective communication plays a major role in the national agenda has designed the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to disseminate government information nationwide and to also receive feedback and engage the citizenry at the local level. The MMDCEs were to organize the programme and render account of their stewardship from 2017 to date to the people through the media. This, according to the Information Ministry, should have emphasis on flagship programmes of the government and provision of account of development projects with pictorial evidence of projects executed during their reign within their respective jurisdictions. In response to the call, the Sunyani Municipal Assembly held its MEET THE PRESS SESSION on Monday, February 24, 2020 at the VAG Hall where about 42 journalists, 15 stakeholders including representatives from the Sunyani Traditional Council and other institutions, Heads of Department and Unit Heads as well as the Regional Information Officer and representatives from the Bono Regional Coordinating Council were in attendance. In his welcome address, the Sunyani Municipal Coordinating Director, Kingsley Kofi Sencherey stated that, the Municipal Assembly, under the leadership of the Municipal Chief Executive has carried out a lot of developmental and social projects and would need the media to make it known to the public hence the meeting. He said, the doors of the Assembly are opened to all media practitioners and the general public for any information and clarification of issues. The Bono Regional Director of Information Services Department (ISD), Imoro Tebra Ayibani who represented the Minister for Information, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah charged the media to be circumspect in their reportage and go by the ethics of the profession. He said, this is an election year and any little unbalanced and unverified reportage could trigger political chaos in the country. This is why we must apply all the techniques in writing our reports by verifying and researching thoroughly before publishing and or broadcasting our stories, he implored. Mr. Imoro further urged the media to focus more on the positive things the Assembly is embarking upon rather than always portraying the negatives. This, he said, would attract investors to invest in the Municipality thus creating jobs for the people. The results, he said, would be rapid development in transforming the lives of the people. In her presentation, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon Justina Owusu Banahene disclosed that, her outfit has undertaken a lot of projects in the areas of Education, Health, Agric, Sanitation, Revenue, Roads as well as some social interventions and stressed the need for the electorates to renew the mandate of the NPP administration to complete its promise for the nation. Though admitting that inability to charge realistic rates due to non-valuation of most properties, huge sum of Assemblys finances spent on waste management and problem of land management without recourse to the planning scheme due to different land ownership as some serious challenges the Assembly is encountering, Hon. Banahene championed the need for Nananom to join hands with the Assembly in the collection of Revenue and find a lasting solution to their land tenure disputes while challenging the media to play the advocacy role in due course for the development of the municipality and Ghana as a whole. There was an open forum where the media asked pertinent questions on issues bothering their comprehension of which equal responses were given them by the high table and some Heads-of-Department concerned. Workers at the Songyo Knitwear Factory in Pyongyang, North Korea, produce masks for protection against the coronavirus (AFP via Getty) North Korea has sent hundreds of workers to its border with China in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it has been reported. South Korean news agency Yonhap said that 500 staff had been dispatched to prevent an outbreak on North Korean soil. It quoted a report by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that said North Koreas Red Cross had sent the workers to assist with quarantine operations at the border at the governments request. The report did not contain details of when and where the staff were sent. Doctors in medical masks and protective suits by an ambulance vehicle in Pyongyang, North Korea (Getty) Although the North Korean government in Pyongyang has not reported any cases of coronavirus, there are fears that its weak health system would be unable to cope with the spread of the disease. Yonhap said North Korea has increased its border controls and checks on Chinese travellers. The death toll from the virus in mainland China has passed 1,000 people, authorities announced on Tuesday. The daily number of deaths from the virus has also topped 100 for the first time as the contagion continues to spread. Read more Coronavirus 'super-spreader' speaks out from hospital quarantine Cruise ship stranded at sea after being refused entry to Thailand over coronavirus fears Coronavirus: What is a 'super spreader' and how many people has one British man infected? Another 108 deaths were reported over the previous 24 hours, the countrys National Health Commission said in a daily update. That increased the total to 1,016 deaths, while the number of cases rose to 42,638. The Chinese government has also removed a number of senior officials from their posts over their handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Two officials at the Hubei Health Commission lost their jobs, as well as the deputy director of the Red Cross, the BBC reported. A passenger wearing a full-body protective suit walks out of Beijing railway station (AP) More than 440 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed outside mainland China, including two deaths in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Of those, 135 are from a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Story continues Japan's health minister Katsunobu Kato said the government was considering testing all of the 3,711 passengers and crew on board the Diamond Princess, which would require them to remain on the vessel until results were available. In a separate case, a cruise ship has been left stranded off the coast of Thailand after being refused entry because of coronavirus fears, despite having no reported cases on board. In the UK, the number of people known to be infected with coronavirus is eight. On Tuesday, Steve Walsh, the Briton linked to 11 cases, released a statement from hospital to say he had fully recovered from the illness. Newly obtained public records offer a window into one of the most troubling political developments in recent years. That is the enlistment of state attorneys general by activists and tort lawyers to advance an agenda when stymied by democracy. These new emails provide a case-study in the capture of an AGs office. For background, recall how in 2012 activists and a plaintiffs tort lawyer named Matt Pawa famously called for a single sympathetic state attorney general to begin subpoenaing private parties records to give a lift to a flagging litigation campaign against energy companies. [E]ven grand juries convened by a district attorney could result in significant document discovery. Ingenious. But no AG would actually do that, right? Well. New Yorks Eric Schneiderman subpoenaed ExxonMobil in November 2015, and another subpoenaed think tanks and 100 other opponents of the climate agenda in April 2016. In March 2016, nearly twenty AGs held a Manhattan press conference, vowing to use their law enforcement offices in whatever means necessary to investigate those very same companies targeted by the tort bar. Briefing the participants beforehand was none other than the same Matt Pawa. Which fact AG offices sought to keep from the media. One of the participating AGs, Massachusetts Maura Healey, even announced an investigation that day into what the tort lawyer titled his slide show, What Exxon Knew. Lately, Pawa has lost several of his climate nuisance clients to a plaintiffs tort firm called Sher Edling. Sher Edlings stealthy campaign recruiting plaintiffs has been revealed to some extent by open records productions, as has its recruiters sensitivity to public records laws. Which brings us to these new revelations, from the Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Emails obtained by the nonprofit transparency group Energy Policy Advocates show that, soon after Ms. Nessel assumed the Office (OAG) in 2019, it brought in a consultant named Stanley Skip Pruss. Pruss is a former OAG employee more recently with a green consultancy called 5 Lakes Energy (he is no longer on the companys website, but is still using its email system, both as his OAG account and for his other activities). Officials acknowledge in emails that Prusss arrangement and email situation are unprecedented. Dozens of OAG emails show that Pruss, with the title Special Assistant Attorney General, serves as a direct conduit for environmentalists priorities to Deputy AG Kelly Keenan, Environment Division chief Peter Manning, and to Nessel. Emails reveal that both Sher Edling and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV) went through Pruss to approach Nessels office about also suing ExxonMobil. For example, Environment chief Manning wrote to the AG and others that Pruss mentioned his conversation with [MI LCVs] Lisa Wozniak regarding the lawsuits against Exxon for failure to disclose the impacts of its activities on climate change. I am happy to be part of a meeting with the [LCV]. Manning also wrote that Pruss contacted the firm handling the Exxon matters [to] arrange for a discussion, by which, emails confirm, he means Sher Edling. Manning told Pruss, Thanks. Will you please include me when you set something up with them. Consistent with the timeline Pruss laid out in emails to Sher Edling, the AG, Pruss, and Nessels top deputies Keenan and Manning arranged a Climate Change Litigation meeting for October 4, 2019. Line-items in Prusss heavily redacted bills to the Michigan taxpayer match up with emails referencing phone calls with LCV and Sher Edling. The same is true for emails mentioning Prusss calls with David Hayes, who leads billionaire climate activist Michael Bloombergs project for placing privately hired lawyers in OAGs to advanc[e] progressive clean energy, climate change, and environmental legal positions. Pruss emailed Nessel, David is keenly interested in supporting the MI AG officeDavid and his Deputy Director Elizabeth Klein would like to come to Michigan to meet you both. About that, Nessel wrote back, Sounds good to me. Bloomberg, too, wants AGs to sue Exxon and other energy companies. Pruss was brought in ostensibly as Nessels alternate on a body called the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), which meets three times a year. He was capped at $20,000 per year for this, which was soon doubled to $40,000. This arrangement seems pretextual, as Pruss is broadly influential as the greens Swiss Army knife, a taxpayer-funded direct conduit to the AG and senior officials on all the top priorities of environmentalists and the plaintiffs bar from investigating private parties to blocking a replacement for Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline under the Mackinac Straights. These records detail the best example yet of how the activist Left is capturing law enforcement offices to advance its various priorities, and at taxpayer expense. Chris Horner is on the board of directors of Government Accountability & Oversight, P.C., a non-profit public interest law firm. Earlier on Tuesday, China's National Health Commission said 2015 new cases had been tallied on Tuesday, the second straight daily decline and down from nearly 3900 a week ago. Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the situation is still grim but "we have seen some positive changes". All but one of the deaths recorded so far have been in China, as have more than 99 per cent of all reported infections in the world. The country has put an unprecedented 60 million people in a near quarantine. Economic fallout China is struggling to restart its economy after the annual Lunar New Year holiday was extended to try to curb the spread of the virus. Traffic remained light in Beijing, and many people were still working at home. Cambodian security officials take the temperatures of Chinese entering an apartment complex in the Chinatown enclave next to Diamond Island in Phnom Penh. Credit:Getty Xi's announcement of tax cuts came as companies face increasing losses because of the closing of factories, offices, shops and other businesses in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed. A large cluster of cases in Tianjin, a port city south-east of Beijing, has been traced to a department store, Chinese state media said. One-third of Tianjin's 104 confirmed cases are in Baodi district, where the store is situated, the Xinhua News Agency reported. A salesperson in the store's home appliance section was the first diagnosed on January 31, Xinhua said, and a series of cases followed. None of those infected had visited Wuhan recently, and with the exception of one married couple, they worked in different sections of the store and did not know one another. Elsewhere around the world, DBS bank in Singapore cleared its office, telling 300 employees to work from home after it learned that an employee had been infected. The city-state has 50 confirmed cases. A Formula One race in Shanghai in April became the latest event cancelled because of the virus. Nokia, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom became the latest companies to pull out of a major wireless trade fair this month in Spain that usually draws 5000 to 6000 Chinese visitors. Citizen journalist disappears A citizen journalist reporting on the epidemic in Wuhan has disappeared, activists said, becoming the second to vanish in recent days amid tightening controls on information in China. Fang Bin, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, stopped posting videos or responding to calls and messages on Sunday, activists Gao Fei and Hua Yong said, citing Fang's friends. His phone was turned off Wednesday. Fang had posted videos of Wuhan's overcrowded hospitals, including bodies in a van waiting to be taken to a crematorium. The last video he posted was of a piece of paper reading, "All citizens resist, hand power back to the people." Another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, vanished on Friday. Non-sanctioned reporting on the outbreak by actitivists is challenging the Communist Party's tightly policed monopoly on information on an unprecedented scale. Cruise ship woes Passengers aboard a cruise ship that has been barred from docking by four governments may finally set foot on land again. Holland America Line said the MS Westerdam will arrive on Thursday morning in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship has been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand, though its operator said no cases of the disease have been confirmed among the more than 2200 passengers and crew. Two Russians flee quarantine Two Russian women who were kept in isolation for possible inflection by the virus say they escaped from Russian hospitals because of unco-operative doctors, poor conditions and fear they would become infected. Both women said their hospital ordeals began after returning from Hainan, a tropical island in southern China popular with Russian tourists. One said she jumped out of a hospital window to escape her quarantine, while the other broke out by disabling an electronic lock. Many of those quarantined in Russian hospitals have complained about conditions in the isolation rooms and lack of co-operation from doctors who are uncertain about quarantine protocols. Two cases of the virus have been reported in Russia. No evidence yet of mother-to-baby spread In a study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet, Chinese scientists reported there is no evidence so far to suggest the virus can be passed from mother to baby. The study looked at nine pregnant women who all had the COVID-19 virus and delivered via caesarean section in a hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. After the babies were born, scientists tested samples from the newborns, including the amniotic fluid, cord blood and throat swabs. All tested negative for the virus. But the scientists acknowledged the study was small. To date, two cases of the virus have been confirmed in babies, including a newborn diagnosed just 36 hours after birth. It is unknown how the child was infected. It was 30 years ago this week that Nelson Mandela was released from prison. I remember the news story quite well. As expected, there were lots of good vibrations that day. Remember the live coverage of Mandela walking out of prison? Wife Winnie Mandela accompanies Nelson as he walks away from prison gate 30 years ago. YouTube screen grab. Within a short time, I began to have serious doubts about Nelson Mandela. His hugs with Fidel Castro and his sympathies for leftists turned me off. Was Mandela naive or another communist hiding behind the curtains of social justice? Thirty years later, Mandela is dead, and South Africa is a country going downhill. Today, the news out of that country is all bad, from land expropriations to leftist policies destroying the economy. Some are asking: Three decades after anti-apartheid leader was released from prison, how has life changed for South Africans? As for Mandela's legacy, he will be remembered as the darling of the international left but not much more. Mandela did not speak up when his followers destroyed the country to correct "injustices" from the past. Many of those farmers targeted for land seizure left the country for fear of their lives. Unfortunately, their talents have moved elsewhere and not compensated for their lands. Tragically, it reminds me of Cuba or today's Venezuela. Yes, we will see lots of stories about the great Mandela. Yet his release turned out to be a big zero, or a gigantic missed opportunity for South Africa. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Three-day hearing is the latest installment in a decade-long antitrust clash between Google and the European Commission. Google and European Union lawyers are waging a courtroom battle over whether the company is a key internet innovator or a colossus of the digital age that shields its position by crushing rivals. As many as seven billion daily searches make the U.S. giant the front page of the internet, Nicholas Khan, a lawyer for the European Commission told a panel of judges in the opening session of a three-day hearing at the EU General Court in Luxembourg. The case is, in a nutshell, about what users are presented with, having made a search, Khan said. Google search provides an immensely powerful lever to direct users attention to any specific search market where Google might wish to develop a presence. No other internet player is in any remotely comparable position. The Alphabet Inc. unit earlier on Wednesday argued that a 2017 EU fine, then a record 2.4 billion euros ($2.6 billion), and an order to change how it shows shopping search results from rivals, went too far. Such a ruling a decade earlier would have forced Google to abandon its innovative technologies and its improved designs, said Thomas Graf, a lawyer for the Mountain View, California-based company. The court face-off over the EUs first Google case sets the stage for pending appeals over separate fines by the Brussels regulator for unfairly linking apps to Android software and for thwarting advertising rivals. Google also risks early stage antitrust scrutiny into local search, jobs and vacation rentals services. The judges initial ruling expected in the coming months would mark the end of another chapter in the decade-long antitrust battle between Google and the European Commission, which accused the company of using its vast market power to crush competition when users search for products online. The company claims its ultimate aim was always to provide pertinent results for users that were also relevant for advertisers. Changes to the way it ranked results, such as the Panda algorithm change in 2011 that pushed down several rival shopping search services, were intended to filter out poor-quality sites and dramatically improved Googles results, Googles lawyer Meredith Pickford told the court. Khan, the EU lawyer, said there was nothing natural about the way the shopping unit was prominently placed in boxes with photos above the usual search results. Google doesnt contest many of the EUs findings, he said, such as how it used demotion algorithms to give less prominence to search rivals. Stakes are high for this case and a loss for EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager could set back a wave of enforcement thats seen her also pursue Amazon.com Inc. and start looking at Facebook Inc. The path to punishing Google was circuitous. Regulators appeared to waver by seeking a settlement where Google would make changes to search display to end the probe without fines. That sparked fury from European publishers and politicians and led to the EU reversing direction and moving toward a penalty after Vestager took charge in 2014. The case is: T-612/17, Google and Alphabet v. Commission. (Updates with EU comments, more from hearing starting in first paragraph) Ten people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College last week, police said. New Delhi: Ten people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College last week, police said. The accused are between 18 and 25 years of age, they added. Over 11 police teams were looking into the technical details available and also visiting various sites in NCR to identify the suspects and investigate the case, the police said. Many people are being questioned and multiple suspects have been identified, they added. According to the police, the accused persons were outside the college when the fest was underway. A senior police official said the accused are students of various colleges in Delhi and NCR areas. They gathered outside the gate of the college, vandalised a car and then broke in, he added. Police said the accused jumped over the barricades placed by the college security staff, outnumbered them and then misbehaved with the women students. Officials said the investigation was on and more people could be arrested. Students of Gargi College have been boycotting classes, demanding that the fact finding committee constituted following the incident show its findings. A case was registered on 10 February at the Hauz Khas police station under IPC sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). A group of men had broken into the institute during the 'Riverie' fest on 6 February and allegedly groped, harassed and molested the attendees. The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their ordeal. Students and teachers also posted on other social media websites about the incident. Over 100 students held a protest on 10 February outside Gargi College. The students had alleged that Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police personnel were deployed close to the gate from where the men entered. Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-12 22:43:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close WUHAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan compatriots stranded in the coronavirus outbreak epicenter on the Chinese mainland have urged the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan to facilitate their return, said a spokesperson of the cross-Strait affairs office of central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday. Nearly a thousand Taiwan compatriots who need to return to the island are stranded in the province due to obstructions made by the Taiwan authority, said Xing Junzhi, also deputy director of the provincial office, adding that the compatriots are being taken care of. The two confirmed novel coronavirus cases of Taiwan compatriots in Hubei have received timely and effective treatment with assistance from the cross-Strait affairs office, Xing said. Information concerning the 979 Taiwan compatriots listed in the mainland's chartered flight plan of China Eastern Airlines was given to the Taiwan authority on Feb. 6, nearly 85 percent of whom stayed in Hubei for a short time, according to Xing. Among them, nearly 400 are under the age of 18 or elderly aged 60 or above, and nearly 80 have chronic diseases. They are all eager to return to work, go back to school and seek medical treatment, he added. Xing stressed that China Eastern Airlines and all parties have made full preparations for the flights, but the Taiwan authority has repeatedly delayed their return and has not agreed to the arrangements so far, which has made Taiwan compatriots very disappointed and anxious. The Taiwan compatriots called for the DPP administration to have less political manipulation and cooperate with the arrangements of the mainland's chartered airliner as soon as possible, Xing said. WhatsApp has revealed that two billion people now use the messaging service more than a quarter of the worlds population. The Facebook-owned chat platform has celebrated the impressive milestone by reiterating its commitment to user privacy and encrypted messages. The company has got into hot water with governments in the past, over its stance on end-to-end encryption, which prevents user messages from being intercepted. However, it said that, as users conduct more of their lives online, protecting their conversations is 'more important than ever'. WhatsApp reiterated its commitment to end-to-end encryption as it celebrates 2 billion users 'There are so many significant and special moments that take place over WhatsApp and we are humbled and honoured to reach this milestone, WhatsApp said in a blog post. 'We know that the more we connect, the more we have to protect.' WhatsApp, which was bought by Facebook in 2014 for about $19 billion, said that every private message sent using WhatsApp is secured with end-to-end encryption by default. WHAT IS END-TO-END ENCRYPTION? End-to-end encryption ensures only the two participants of a chat can read messages, and no one in between not even the company that owns the service. End-to-end encryption is intended to prevent data being read or secretly modified when it is in transit between the two parties. The cryptographic keys needed to access the service are automatically provided only to the two people in each conversation. In decrypted form, messages are accessible by a third party which makes them interceptable by governments for law enforcement reasons. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is already encrypted, and now Mark Zuckerberg is looking to do the same with Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct. Advertisement This acts like an unbreakable digital lock that keeps the contents of messages secure and viewable to no-one except the sender and the recipient. Strong encryption is a necessity in modern life,' WhatsApp says. We will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to introduce end-to-end encryption to more areas of its family of apps, which also includes Messenger and Instagram. While end-to-end encryption sounds great for the user, WhatsApps privacy policy was recently criticised by the NSPCC as facilitating a one-stop grooming shop for paedophiles. The UK childrens charity is concerned that Zuckerberg's plans to boost the privacy protection on WhatsApp makes it much harder to detect criminal activity. Home Secretary Priti Patel has also criticised Zuckerberg's stance, suggesting blanket encryption acts as barrier to the identification and pursuit of criminals operating on his platforms. Media reports from last year suggest that UK and US governments will force WhatsApp and other social media platforms to disclose messages as part of a new treaty, in the interest of catching sex offenders and other criminal activity. Despite this, Zuckerberg is still planning to eventually bring end-to-end encryption to Facebook Messenger although this change could be years away. WhatsApp users sent more than 100 billion messages via the chat platform on New Years Eve alone WhatsApp recently revealed that more than 100 billion messages were sent via the chat platform on New Years Eve alone the most ever sent in a single day. Around 900 million of the 100 billion total were sent in the UK, and an incredible 20 billion were sent in India. WhatsApp were unable to confirm the content of the messages due to its end-to-end encryption. 'WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption ensures that only you and the person you're communicating with can read what's sent, and nobody else not even WhatsApp,' it said. Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby, PhD Cici and Hyatt Brown Hall will foster interdisciplinary collaboration in health, and bring the vision of creating innovation in health and science to the benefit of the greater Daytona Beach-Orlando community. Provost Noel Painter Stetson Universitys new health and science facility will bear the names of two longtime Stetson supporters, Cici and Hyatt Brown, in honor of their generosity and support. The move was unanimously approved by the universitys Board of Trustees at its February meeting on Stetsons College of Law campus in Gulfport. The Cici & Hyatt Brown Hall for Health and Innovation is in the planning stage, along with the renovation of Stetsons current science facility, Sage Hall. Provost Noel Painter, PhD, and Elizabeth Skomp, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, updated trustees on the progress of design and construction plans. It is encouraging to me to see how the building process has sparked broad conversation about how we build and renovate spaces that we need at Stetson to advance excellent education for our students," said Painter. Consistent with the original vision for the building, Cici and Hyatt Brown Hall will foster interdisciplinary collaboration in health, and bring the vision of creating innovation in health and science to the benefit of the greater Daytona Beach-Orlando community. During the meeting, the university Board of Trustees, with members of the College of Law Board of Overseers in attendance, announced the establishment of the Dr. Wendy B. Libby Scholarship in honor of retiring president Libby. Recipients will be Stetson law students who have an undergraduate degree from the historic campus in DeLand, and a devotion and commitment to social justice. The Board of Trustees, Board of Overseers, advisory boards for the School of Music, School of Business Administration and College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Alumni Board raised more than $100,000 to establish the scholarship and fundraising is continuing. Other actions were approved and announced at the meeting, as well: At the universitys Facilities Management Committee meeting, Stetson University CFO and EVP Bob Huth officially announced the sale of the universitys facility in Celebration, Florida. Further information will be issued in the near future. The impact on students will be minimal since most classes at that location have already been moved to the DeLand campus and the remaining few will continue at Celebration until the end of the spring semester. The Finance Committee and overall board also approved changes to graduate tuition and fees in the 2020-2021 academic year. The graduate School of Business Administration increased various MBA programs costs approximately 5%, and the College of Arts and Sciences reduced its Educational Leadership program cost by 3.4%. Changes for the College of Law will be announced in the coming weeks. The board approved the nominations of two alumni to receive honorary degrees at this years commencement ceremonies: Trustee Emeritus Nestor de Armas, a 1973 graduate of Stetson, will receive an Honorary Doctorate at the undergraduate commencement ceremony in DeLand. The College of Law will be making an announcement soon on its selection of a recipient of its Honorary Doctor of Laws. About Stetson University Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 5 on U.S. News & World Reports 2019 list of Best Regional Universities (South), and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Reviews 385 Best Colleges, 2020 edition. Stay connected with Stetson on social media. [February 12, 2020] OurCrowd to Boost Investment in Seed, Early-Stage Startups In defiance of global trends, OurCrowd is intensifying its incubator and early-stage investment activity to help grow young technology companies. OurCrowd, the global crowdfunding venture investing platform and Israel's leading venture investor, invests in - and already operates - five tech incubators with partners in Israel and globally. "As we approach the next decade, we realize that there is huge opportunity to invest in game-changing technology companies at their earliest stage - in pre-seed, seed, and series A funding rounds," said OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved (News - Alert). "Early stage investing is at best stagnant, and in many cases down, both in Israel and around the world, as most venture capitalists chase unicorns and are showering later stage companies with unprecedented amounts of capital at increasingly nosebleed inducing valuations. We want to increase our activity and focus where the next generation of breakthrough technologies will emerge. Nature abhors a vacuum, and now there is vast and underappreciated potential in early-stage investing. It's a thrill to help these companies grow and thrive." OurCrowd has competed for, and over the last two years has won, government licenses to operate four incubators in Israel, together with an array of leading partners. These include Labs/02 in Jerusalem (with Reliance Industries and in collaboration with Hebrew University's Yissum); Labs/08 in Beersheva (with Reliance Industries the owner of Jio telecommunications company, and in collaboration with Soroka Medical Center, and the Israel National Cyber Directorate); Freshstart in Kiryat Shemonah (with Tnuva, Tempo, and Finistere Ventures); and CanNegev in Yeruacham (with Perrigo and BoL Pharma). OurCrowd also recently announced its participation in a global consortium to run an agtech/foodtech incubator in New Zealand together with Sprout (News - Alert), Finistere, Fontera, and Gallagher. This is the first of a planned major expansion of incubator opportunities globally. "As other countries look to adopt the Israeli model, whereby the government assumes a substantial amount of the risk through funding - in Israel, done by the Israel Innovation Authority - we are in discussions with half a dozen countries about establishing incubators," Medved added. Moshe Raines, Managing Director for Labs/02 and Labs/08 commented, "We will continue to cultivate local talent in the OurCrowd incubator ecosystem, and we expect to see more entrepreneurs join us from prominent tech companies to pursue their own projects." Ori Sobovitz, Partner and Head of Government Relations at OurCrowd also noted, "The incubator model creates cross-sector collaborations between venture capital funds and industrial companies, and in our case, also between our technological incubators around the world. With government support this is a win-win situation helping entrepreneurs find funding, and providing investors with incentives, with a great positive impact on the wider economy. This is a model we would like to replicate across the globe." The decision to focus on early-stage investment contrasts with current trends in the venture capital industry, which saw a decline in early-stage investment despite a significant increase in funding later-stage startups in recent years. January's IVC-Meitar Israel Tech Exits report on the decade up to 2019, noted that Israeli tech companies raised a record $8.29 billion in 2019, a 400% increase since 2010. The report revealed that late-stage companies increased their share of total investment in recent years, while total seed funding fell. A total of $149 million was invested in seed rounds in 2019, down from $169 million the previous year. From 2010 to 2019, the percentage of deals involving rounds under $1 million dropped from 24% to 17%. About OurCrowd: OurCrowd is a global venture investing platform that empowers institutions and individuals to invest and engage in emerging companies. The most active venture investor in Israel, OurCrowd vets and selects companies, invests its capital, and provides its global network with unparalleled access to co-invest and contribute connections, talent and deal flow. OurCrowd builds value for its portfolio companies throughout their lifecycles, providing mentorship, recruiting industry advisors, navigating follow-on rounds and creating growth opportunities through its network of multinational partnerships. With $1.4 billion of committed funding, and investments in 200 portfolio companies and 20 venture funds, OurCrowd offers access to its membership of 41,000 individual accredited and institutional investors, family offices, and venture capital partners from over 183 countries to invest alongside, at the same terms. OurCrowd's portfolio is diversified across sectors and stages, ranging from seed and series A through late stage and pre-IPO firms. Since its founding in 2013, OurCrowd portfolio companies have been acquired by some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including Uber, Canon, Oracle (News - Alert), Nike, and Intel. To register and get involved, visit www.ourcrowd.com. About OurCrowd Incubators: Labs/02, OurCrowd's first incubator based in Jerusalem, opened in January 2018. Twelve companies have been admitted so far with substantial success. Force Nock was acquired last year by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (CHKP), a leading provider of cyber security solutions globally. Other startups have signed agreements with major global tech companies: C2A with NXP Semiconductors (News - Alert) ITsMine with Ingram Micro; IXden with Enel and InfraLab. Reliance Industries Ltd., and the Israeli innovation Authority are OurCrowd's partners in Labs/02 and Labs/08. Labs/08, an offshoot of the Jerusalem incubator, is located in Beersheva and focuses on cyber security in the medical field. Partners include Reliance Industries, and the Israel Innovation Authority and in collaboration with National Cyber Directorate, and Soroka Medical Center. FreshStart, an incubator for foodtech, has been opened in Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. Partners are Finistere Ventures, Israel's largest food manufacturer Tnuva, and Israel's Pepsi and Heineken franchise-holder Tempo Beverages. CanNegev is the medical cannabis incubator located in Yeruham in the south of Israel. Partners are Perrigo, the world's largest non-prescription drug company, and BOL Pharma, Israel's leading medical cannabis company. Sprout, the New Zealand incubator, was established in December, after a consortium including OurCrowd won a New Zealand government tender for a foodtech and agtech incubator. The consortium also includes Sprout, Finistere Ventures, Fonterra, and Gallagher, a leading animal management company. About the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit: "Where the startup world gathers" The 2020 OurCrowd Global Investor Summit is one of the premier events in the tech industry, and the largest business conference in Israel. The 2020 Summit will take place February 13. In 2019, over 18,000 people from 189 countries registered to attend what has become the fastest-growing tech conference in the world. The Summit provides unprecedented insight into the world of startup venture capital, with exclusive exposure to cutting-edge technologies, the entrepreneurs behind them, and the corporate leaders deploying them. Top investors, venture capitalists, corporate partners, entrepreneurs and journalists come from around the world to get business done. The Summit anchors a week of events that include corporate meetups, VC forums, insider access to accelerators and labs, and cultural excursions, as well as nightly opportunities for great food, drink and networking with the global crowd. As Forbes reported, Summit Week in Israel was "the place to be." Thousands more will participate through livestreaming. Learn more at summit.ourcrowd.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200211006048/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Watertown, NY (13601) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 8F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 4F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said the Reserve Bank's enhanced regulatory role will deter malpractices and make the nation's financial system more credible. "Regulatory oversight of the RBI has also brought greater stability of banking operations," the president said in his address at the golden jubilee celebration of the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) here. He said recently the role of RBI as regulator has been enhanced, and "We trust that this will deter malpractices and make our financial system more credible". Banks are fulcrum of the country's economic ecosystem, and have played a sterling role in fuelling India's growth over the years, he stated. Through financial inclusion, we have taken rapid strides to cover the un-banked population, and the increase of deposit insurance from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh is a positive step in assuring our savers, he added. Statement of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on travel ban for OFWs to Taiwan We call on the Department of Health to clarify the reason behind the inclusion of Taiwan in the travel ban. With the restriction, thousands of Filipino travelers have been affected -- including an estimated 154,000 overseas Filipino workers who earn their living from Taiwan. Is the ban due to the novel coronavirus? Are there health risks posed for Filipinos going to and coming from Taiwan? Averting the spread of the virus and protecting the health of the Filipinos are the only justifiable reasons for the prohibition, not political considerations to China, which counts Taiwan as one of its Special Administrative Regions. The administration's adherence to the so-called One China Policy should not be above the welfare of our OFWs in Taiwan who stand to lose their job and their only source of income. TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Discovery Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DSV, OTCQX: DSVMF) (Discovery or the Company) is pleased to announce results from the second set of diamond drill holes completed at its flagship Cordero project (Cordero or the Project) located in Chihuahua State, Mexico. Discovery acquired Cordero through the acquisition of Levon Resources Ltd. (Levon) in August 2019. The holes are part of the previously announced 30,000-35,000 metre (m), Phase 1 drill program planned for completion in 2020. The focus of this program is to define and delineate areas of higher-grade mineralization within the existing Cordero resource. Taj Singh, President and CEO, states: We are pleased with this second set of drill results, as it further validates the near-surface high-grade potential at Cordero. Drilling completed to-date clearly shows that there is excellent continuity and higher grades within the breccia-hosted mineralization. With the addition of two new drill rigs in January, we are excited to now have four drill rigs turning at Cordero and we look forward to the results from this increase in drill activity over the next few quarters. HIGHLIGHTS1: Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) AgEq2 (g/t) Mineralization C19-297 272.9 274.0 1.1 522 0.21 6.6 18.3 1,533 Vein and 285.5 286.1 0.6 931 0.09 6.0 10.1 1,569 Vein C19-299 43.4 101.2 57.8 24 0.21 0.3 0.6 78 Breccia including 61.2 81.6 20.4 32 0.26 0.5 1.2 122 Breccia C19-301 63.5 157.8 94.3 30 0.21 0.4 0.3 75 Breccia including 88.9 126.0 37.2 58 0.32 0.9 0.5 135 Breccia C19-302 14.0 80.5 66.6 33 0.16 0.4 0.4 77 Breccia including 32.0 55.0 23.1 62 0.28 0.8 0.7 142 Breccia C19-303 125.5 125.9 0.5 1,035 0.11 5.1 12.6 1,743 Vein and 246.6 267.6 21.1 60 0.10 0.2 0.5 94 Breccia C19-304 76.8 182.7 105.9 74 0.38 1.1 1.1 188 Breccia including 76.8 102.8 26.0 104 0.41 1.5 1.4 250 Breccia including 115.1 145.7 30.6 78 0.42 1.1 0.9 185 Breccia including 153.9 175.0 21.1 110 0.52 1.8 2.1 302 Breccia C19-305 0.6 65.6 65.0 74 0.05 0.5 0.5 113 Breccia including 49.6 65.6 16.0 122 0.12 1.6 1.5 249 Breccia C19-306 58.4 78.8 20.5 39 0.17 0.6 0.5 95 Breccia and 103.0 165.1 62.1 35 0.21 0.5 0.4 84 Breccia including 132.7 141.0 8.3 109 0.43 1.6 1.2 251 Breccia and 347.2 422.5 75.3 24 0.01 0.3 1.9 114 Breccia including 388.3 401.3 13.1 42 0.01 0.6 3.9 185 Breccia * Complete assay results for holes C19-297 through C19-306 can be found at the link in the Discussion section below. Please, refer to the Technical Notes section below for details on assumptions & calculations. Grams per tonne is abbreviated as g/t, silver equivalent is abbreviated as AgEq. DISCUSSION: Discoverys focus at Cordero is on upgrading the economic potential of the Project through understanding the nature of the higher-grade zones within the larger mineralized system. Based on Discoverys review of previous work and the re-logging of core from historic drilling, higher-grade mineralization is currently understood to be predominantly associated with two styles of mineralization: (1) sulphide mineralization within a breccia host; and (2) discrete sulphide veins. The goal of the Phase 1 program is to gain an understanding of the geology, geometry (strike, dip, orientation) and controls on these styles of mineralization in order to define and delineate the higher-grade zones. Twenty-three holes totaling 8,214 m have been completed to-date, with assays from 15 holes pending. All holes were drilled in the southwest portion of the resource area as defined by Levon3 and were drilled roughly perpendicular to the northeast trend of higher-grade blocks outlined in the Levon resource model. Holes C19-297 through C19-306 comprise the second set of drill results released by Discovery (see January 8, 2020 press release for the results of holes C19-293 through C19-296). Seven of the ten holes were successful in targeting higher-grade sulphide mineralization within a breccia host. In several holes, mineralization was also intercepted in dacite and sedimentary rocks adjacent to the mineralized breccias. Sulphide mineralization consists predominantly of sphalerite, galena and pyrite as breccia matrix fill within dacite clast-dominated breccias. Holes C19-297 and C19-303 intercepted sulphide vein-style mineralization with highlight intercepts including 1.1 m of 1,533 g/t AgEq2 and 0.6 m of 1,569 g/t AgEq2. The Company will conduct mapping of historical underground workings to improve its understanding of the structural and geological controls on the sulphide veins. Drilling of the vein targets will ramp up during Q2 once the initial phase of the mapping program is complete. Supporting maps and sections, drill hole locations and full assay results can be found at the link below: https://dsvmetals.com/site/assets/files/5187/20200212_pr_plan_map_sections_assays.pdf A full version of this press release with supporting maps and sections can be found at the link below: https://dsvmetals.com/site/assets/files/5361/2020-02-12-dsv-nr.pdf 2020 EXPLORATION PROGRAM: The Phase 1 drill program will encompass 30,00035,000 m of drilling. Approximately 6,000 m of the drill program was completed in 2019. The remainder of the drill program is expected to be completed during the first three quarters of 2020. The majority of the drilling in 2020 will be focused on higher-grade breccia mineralization, with the remainder targeting sulphide vein mineralization. The results from Phase 1, in conjunction with the ongoing relogging program of historical drill core, will be incorporated in an updated resource estimate for Cordero, targeted for completion in early 2021. In addition to this work, the Company anticipates the completion of metallurgical test work in the second half of 2020. Discovery also expects to advance reconnaissance targets on the large 35,000 hectare Cordero property package to drill-ready status in 2020, through mapping, sampling and interpretation of a recently completed, property-wide geophysical survey. The total exploration budget at Cordero for 2020 is C$11.0 million. The Company is well positioned to fund this exploration program given a cash balance as of January 1, 2020, of approximately C$24.0 million. About the Cordero Project Cordero is located on the eastern edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in the northern part of the Central Mexican Silver Belt, Mexicos premier porphyry and carbonate replacement deposit district. Mineralization at Cordero is similar in nature to well-known nearby bulk tonnage precious metals mines and projects (e.g. Newmont Corporations Penasquito Mine and Orla Mining Ltd.s Camino Rojo project). The bulk tonnage potential of the Cordero deposit was first recognized by Levon in 2009 and the resource was defined by 132,000m of drilling in 292 holes. The most recent resource estimate3 as shown in the table below was released in 2018 (technical report available on Discoverys website and Levons SEDAR profile) and was based on a base case cutoff grade of 15 g/t AgEq. The table includes a sensitivity analysis that also shows tonnage and grade estimates at higher AgEq cutoff grades within the resource shell. AgEq3 (g/t) Cutoff Tonnage & Grade within Mineral Resources Pit Shell Total Contained Ag (Mozs) Total Contained AgEq3 (Moz) Class M (tonnes) AgEq3 (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) 15 Indicated 990 32 13 0.04 0.2 0.4 408 1,022 Inferred 282 56 21 0.04 0.3 0.8 188 513 25 Indicated 467 46 19 0.06 0.3 0.5 278 686 Inferred 183 77 28 0.05 0.4 1.0 163 451 50 Indicated 99 95 40 0.11 0.6 1.0 128 303 Inferred 100 112 41 0.06 0.7 1.5 131 360 Historical mine workings and prospects at Cordero date back to the 17th century. There are currently about 40 identified shallow, vertical shafts and associated workings at Cordero, generally developed along outcropping, southwest-striking, high-grade silver-zinc-lead-gold sulphide veins as well as high-grade skarn mineralization. Local artisanal miners report most of the past and recent production was direct shipping ore, which was hand-sorted, shipped, and processed in the nearby town of Parral. Despite a long history of mining, these veins have never been explored by drilling, and have the potential to add significantly to the high-grade mineral endowment at Cordero. About Discovery Discovery Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DSV, OTCQX: DSVMF) is a Canadian exploration and development company headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and focused on historic mining districts in Mexico. Discoverys flagship is its 100%-owned Cordero silver project in Chihuahua State, Mexico. The 35,000-hectare property covers a large district that hosts the announced resource as well as numerous exploration targets for bulk tonnage diatreme-hosted, porphyry-style, and carbonate replacement deposits. In addition, Discovery is also exploring multiple high-grade carbonate replacement-style silver-zinc-lead showings in a land package of approximately 150,000 hectares in Coahuila State, Mexico. The land holdings contain numerous historical direct-ship ore workings and significant underground development, but no drill-testing has ever been carried out on them. For further information contact: Forbes Gemmell, CFA VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations forbes.gemmell@dsvmetals.com 416-613-9414 On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Taj Singh, M.Eng, P.Eng, CPA, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director TECHNICAL NOTES & REFERENCES: 1 All results in this news release are rounded. Assays are uncut and undiluted. Widths are drilled widths (not true widths). Composites for this release were chosen at a 25 g/t AgEq cutoff, whereby no more than 5m of below-cutoff material is included in any composite interval. 2 AgEq calculations for reported drill results are based on USD $16.50/oz Ag, $1,350/oz Au, $0.85/lb Pb, $1.00/lb Zn, and assume 100% metallurgical recovery. Refer to note four below for metallurgical recoveries assumed in the 2018 PEA completed on Cordero. 3 Refer to the About the Cordero Project section of this release for details on the most recent resource estimate for Cordero. Resource commodity prices used for the resource estimate were (USD): $17.14/oz Ag, $1.11/lb Zn, $0.96/lb Pb, $1,262/oz Au. Further information on the resource estimate is available on Discoverys website. 4 A PEA was completed by M3 Engineering, Resource by IMC, Mar. 1, 2018 (available on Discoverys website). Resource commodity prices used ($US): $17.14/oz Ag, $1.11/lb Zn, $0.96/lb Pb, $1,262/oz Au; Mine plan uses a subset of Indicated and Inferred Resources at 15 g/t AgEq cutoff. PEA assumes metallurgical recoveries of 89% Ag, 84% Pb, 72% Zn, 40% Au. Sample analysis and QA/QC Program: True widths of reported drill intercepts have not been determined. Assays are uncut except where indicated. All core assays are from HQ drill core unless stated otherwise. Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core storage facility located at the project site 40km north of the city of Parral. Core samples from the program are cut in half, using a diamond cutting saw, and are sent to ALS Geochemistry-Mexico for preparation in Chihuahua City, Mexico, and subsequently pulps are sent to ALS Vancouver, Canada, which is an accredited mineral analysis laboratory, for analysis. All samples are prepared using a method whereby the entire sample is crushed to 70% passing -2mm, a split of 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples are analyzed for gold using standard Fire Assay-AAS techniques (Au-AA24) from a 50g pulp. Over limits are analyzed by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Samples are also analyzed using thirty three-element inductively coupled plasma method (ME-ICP61). Over limit sample values are re-assayed for: (1) values of zinc > 1%; (2) values of lead > 1%; and (3) values of silver > 100 g/t. Samples are re-assayed using the ME-OG62 (high-grade material ICP-AES) analytical package. For values of silver greater than 1,500 g/t, samples are re-assayed using the Ag-CON01 analytical method, a standard 30 g fire assay with gravimetric finish. Certified standards and blanks are routinely inserted into all sample shipments to ensure integrity of the assay process. Selected samples are chosen for duplicate assay from the coarse reject and pulps of the original sample. No QAQC issues were noted with the results reported herein. Qualified Person: Gernot Wober, P.Geo, VP Exploration, Discovery Metals Corp., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and has reviewed and validated that the information contained in this news release is accurate. 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. This news release is not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including 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, as amended (the 1933 Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although Discovery 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 or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the Private Placement will close on the announced terms. Discovery does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws. Chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party Troy Price exits the stage after speaking about the technical issues that delayed the Iowa Democratic caucuses results during a news conference at the Iowa Events Center on February 4, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa. The Iowa Democratic Party chairman is stepping down from his position, he announced on Wednesday, eight days after the Iowa caucuses became a national fiasco for the Democrats. "The fact is that Democrats deserved better than what happened on caucus night. As chair of this party, I am deeply sorry for what happened and bear the responsibility for any failures on behalf of the Iowa Democratic Party," Troy Price wrote in his resignation letter to the State Central Committee. "While it is my desire to stay in this role and see this process through to completion, I do believe it is time for the Iowa Democratic Party to begin looking forward, and my presence in my current role makes that more difficult." The reporting totals were put out by the IDP in fits and spurts in the days after the caucus. Results were delayed by what Price said were "coding issues" with a smartphone app that was being used to help tabulate results in the contest for the first time. That wasn't the only issue. The caucus results were also rife with potential errors and inconsistencies that could affect the outcome of the contest, according to a review by the NBC News Decision Desk. Both Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg claimed victory in the contest, and the confusion resulted in delegates not being awarded until Friday three days after the election. Buttigieg was awarded 14 delegates and Sanders 12. The Democratic National Committee and the Sanders and Buttigieg campaigns have asked for a recanvass of certain areas, essentially a double-checking of the vote. The party said earlier Wednesday the recanvass would begin Sunday and last two days. President Donald Trump has repeatedly mocked the Democrats for vote counting mess, and did again earlier on Wednesday. "We were actually able to quickly count our votes. We knew within minutes after the poll how many votes we had, unlike the Democrats," he told reporters at the White House during a meeting with Ecuador's president. While Price accepted ultimate responsibility for what happened, he said in his resignation letter that there's plenty of blame to go around. "There is no doubt that the process of reporting results did not work. It was simply unacceptable," he said. "It is why I called for an independent review of the decisions and processes that lead to this failure. While this process is just beginning, know that the IDP is not the only party to blame for what happened last week. We worked collaboratively with our partners, our vendors, and the DNC in this process, and I am confident the review will be able to determine exactly what went wrong, what went right, and how we can avoid this from ever happening again." Price also defended his staff's handling of the caucus fallout, saying that they "worked under immense pressure" and endured "threats to personal safety, taunts, and anger from people around the globe." "These are people who are working hard towards our common goal of electing Democrats in November, and I deeply regret that these dedicated employees of our party had to endure such abuse," he said. The party will hold a meeting to elect an interim chair on Saturday. Help.org, a trusted online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones, has announced the Best Rehab Facilities in Black Mountain, North Carolina for 2020. The informational guide recognizes the top 5 rehab facilities based on cost, treatment options, location, accompanying services and more. According to recent studies, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people under age 50. In Black Mountain, deaths related to opioid abuse increased significantly from 2011 to 2015. Substance abuse among adolescents is also escalating in Black Mountain with 55 percent of high school students reported using alcohol, 38 percent reported using marijuana, 8 percent reported using prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and 2 percent reported using heroin. With the growing need for accessible and high-quality rehab programs, Help.org has developed a unique ranking process to help connect individuals with treatment providers that meet their needs. The Help.org research team analyzed thousands of facilities across the country and then identified the most cost-effective and highest rated programs in larger cities like Black Mountain. Each facility was evaluated based on rehabilitation services, treatment approaches, cost, special programs for unique demographics and ancillary services. The website also provides information about drug use and side effects as well as educational articles. For a detailed listing of the Best Rehab Facilities in Black Mountain, North Carolina please visit https://www.help.org/best-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centers-in-black-mountain-nc/ 2020 Best Rehab Facilities in Black Mountain, North Carolina (in alphabetical order) FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc. 32 Knox Road, PO Box 40 Ridgecrest, NC 28770 828-669-0011 Holly Hill Hospital 3019 Falstaff Road Raleigh, NC 27610 919-250-7000 Johnston Counseling Services 212 Bridge Street Smithfield, NC 27577 919-938-0921 Mountain Treatment Center 370 N. Louisiana Avenue, Suite G2 Asheville, NC 28806 828-255-8655 Wilmington Treatment Center 2520 Troy Drive Wilmington, NC 28401 888-606-2057 ABOUT HELP.ORG Help.org is an online resource for individuals who struggle with addiction and their loved ones. The website provides the latest research through scientifically proven methods, community recovery resources as well as information about local financial assistance. Help.orgs team of researchers, activists and writers work together with addiction counselors and other professionals to offer useful and accurate resources to help individuals seeking recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.help.org/. Arjuna Capitals proposed resolution asks Comcast for an independent review and a report on the company's "failures to prevent workplace sexual harassment," citing the need to avoid legal and reputational risk. The resolution also cites NBCs 2017 firing of former "Today" show host Matt Lauer over sexual harassment claims, and questions how NBC News has handled workplace sexual misconduct, among other things. Read more An activist investor with a track record of drawing attention to gender discrimination issues at large companies has called on Comcast to conduct an independent investigation into the companys failures to prevent workplace sexual harassment. Arjuna Capital, based in Boston, filed a proposed shareholder resolution asking Comcast for an independent review and a report on such failures, citing the need to avoid legal and reputational risk. Comcast wants to exclude the proposal from resolutions that shareholders would get to vote on at its annual shareholder meeting, typically held in June. The Philadelphia-based media giant argues that the proposal deals with the companys ordinary business operations, which are outside the purview of shareholders, according to a Jan. 31 letter it filed with the U.S. stock market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Arjuna Capitals proposed resolution cites NBCs 2017 firing of former Today show host Matt Lauer over sexual harassment claims, and questions how NBC News has handled workplace sexual misconduct, among other things. The proposal said a report should assess how the company could better hold employees accountable when they cause harm. The firm, which describes itself as a sustainable and impact investment firm that works with wealthy individuals and institutions, said it represents investors owning more than 1.4 million Comcast shares. Comcast has a total of 4.6 billion shares. Natasha Lamb, a managing partner at Arjuna Capital, said in a statement that investors are concerned about the possibility of regulatory fines and court-imposed judgments. The firms resolution cited a $3 billion loss in the market capitalization of Wynn Resorts over two days following harassment allegations against CEO Steve Wynn. Lamb said Comcasts intent to exclude the resolution before it can reach an investor vote is not a credible corporate response. On its face, the decision by Comcast/NBCUniversal to kill our sex-discrimination resolution before it reaches an investor vote suggests they just dont get it, Lamb added. Comcast declined to comment, beyond the SEC letter. In that document, a lawyer for Comcast cited SEC rules that allow companies to omit shareholder proposals if they deal with the companys ordinary business operations. The SEC has said the policy is meant to confine ordinary business problems to management and boards of directors, since it is impracticable for shareholders to decide how to solve such problems at an annual shareholders meeting, according to the letter from Comcasts lawyer, William Aaronson, of the Davis Polk & Wardwell law firm in New York. The letter also said Comcast has revised policies related to sexual-harassment allegations and enhanced workplace training in 2017 and 2018. Companies can ask the SECs Division of Corporation Finance for informal, nonbinding views on whether there is a legal basis to exclude shareholder proposals. We respectfully request the concurrence of the [SEC] staff that it will not recommend enforcement action against the company if the company omits the proposal, Comcast wrote. Lamb said Arjuna Capital will challenge Comcasts attempt to block the proposal, arguing that sexual harassment is beyond the purview of ordinary business, and represents a significant social policy issue that is exempt from exclusion. Arjuna Capital said it has persuaded major companies, including Wells Fargo, Mastercard, and Progressive, to publish gender and racial pay gaps. It filed 17 shareholder resolutions in 2019. The firms proposal is backed by UltraViolet, a national womans group, which has called on Comcast to address its toxic workplace culture. The group circulated a letter signed by six current and former Democratic presidential candidates that called for an independent investigation. NBCUniversal has come under fire for its handling of sexual assault allegations against Lauer. He was accused of raping an NBC colleague, Brooke Nevils, during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, according to an account in New Yorker staff writer Ronan Farrows book, Catch and Kill, released in October. Lauer has denied any wrongdoing, saying it was a consensual sexual encounter. Farrow also reported that NBC managers were aware that Lauer behaved inappropriately before firing him. NBC has said it fired Lauer as soon as managers learned of a sexual misconduct complaint against Lauer. The network also conducted an internal investigation that found NBC News executives werent at fault because there were no previous formal complaints. Critics have said NBC should hire an outside firm to conduct an investigation. Bhopal: Seven people convicted in 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat late on Tuesday night arrived in Jabalpur and Indore to do community service, a condition on which they were granted bail by the Supreme Court recently. While one of them arrived in Jabalpur, other six convicts reached Indore, officials said on Wednesday. The seven convicts will work as volunteers in the Narmada Kumbh, scheduled to be held from February 24 to March 3 this year on the banks of Narmada at Gwarighat on the outskirts of Jabalpur, MP state legal services authority member Giribala Singh told reporters here. According to her, they are scheduled to do community services, meditation drill and spiritual programmes during the Kumbh, held on the banks of Narmada every five years, as per the directive by the apex court. The Supreme Court last month granted bail to 15 people who have been sentenced to life imprisonment after convicting them in gruesome killing of 23 people who were burnt to death in Ode in Gujarats Anand district, on the condition that they do community services. Seven of them arrived in MP to do community service. The seven convicts would also work as volunteers in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, at old age homes and would take care of patients who have no one to look after them in the hospitals, she said. They may also be engaged in the works of the Smart City project being undertaken in some cities in MP to enable them to earn money, Ms Singh said. Membership in a white supremacist or neo-Nazi group won't necessarily get a U.S. service member tossed out of the military, defense officials told a House subcommittee Tuesday. The officials, including representatives of Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Army's Criminal Investigation Division, appeared to make a distinction between membership in an extremist organization and "active participation" in deciding on recruitment and retention. The officials also told a hearing of the House Armed Services subcommittee on personnel that they had no reliable data on how many service members had been administratively discharged for espousing white supremacist ideology or how many potential recruits had been barred from enlisting. The testimony appeared to stun several members of the committee. Related: Lawmaker Wants More Funds to Confront White Supremacy in the Ranks "I am flummoxed by what I've heard today," Rep. Jackie Speier, D-California, chair of the Subcommittee, said after questioning Robert Grabosky, deputy director of Law Enforcement at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Grabosky said that membership in a white nationalist group "is not prohibited," but "active participation" in the group could lead to an administrative discharge, at a commander's discretion. "I find that astonishing," Speier said. "If you're a member, that's an activity. I think we need to take a look at that." Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Mississippi, an Iraq veteran, brigadier general in the Army National Guard and ranking member of the subcommittee, said the bottom line for white nationalists in the military was, "what can we do better to keep 'em out and what can we do to get 'em out?" In his opening statement, Kelly said "we don't have a lot of reliable data" on the spread of extremist ideology in the military. "The definitive data we do have comes from the Department of Defense, where there have been 21 criminal cases involving white supremacy over the last five years" in the service branches, Kelly said. Several of the subcommittee members pointed to the case of Air Force Master Sgt. Cory Reeves, allegedly a leader in the Colorado branch of the supremacist group Identity Evropa, who posted racist memes and spread far-right propaganda. In November 2019, the Air Force demoted Reeves to technical sergeant, but he was initially allowed to remain in the service. In December, the Air Force announced that proceedings had begun to dismiss him from the service. In a separate panel at the hearing, advocacy groups warned of the spread of white supremacist and hate group ideology in the military. "I want to start by saying that, right now, the white supremacist movement in the United States is surging and presents a distinct and present danger to this country and its institutions, including the U.S. Armed Forces," said Lecia Brooks of the Southern Poverty Law Center. "Recent investigations have revealed dozens of veterans and active-duty servicemembers who are affiliated with white supremacist activity," Brooks said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read More: The Marine Corps Must Get Smaller to Get Better, Commandant Says Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Matthew Tostevin and Aradhana Aravindan (Reuters) Bangkok/Singapore Wed, February 12, 2020 16:08 699 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206415c64 2 News travelers,tourism,Tourist,coronavirus,Asia Free As a driver of one of Thailand's renowned "tuk tuk" motorized rickshaws, Amonchai Laodoungdee is used to busy days ferrying tourists around Bangkok, but on Tuesday he waited for four hours at a shopping mall without a single customer. Since word of the new coronavirus spread from China last month, he's seen his daily income drop from about 1300 baht ($41) per day to around 400 baht. At first, he noticed not as many Chinese tourists were around. Now, there are few tourists from any country. "Not too many foreigners come to visit Thailand now," Amonchai said. "Now is very difficult." Such laments are becoming more common across Asia's tourism industry, from street food hawkers to luxury tour operators, as more countries advise citizens to be cautious as the coronavirus toll surpassed 1,000 deaths, most of them inside China. Many Asian tourism professionals say the drop in tourism has spread from Chinese tourists to visitors from other Asian and Western countries now also staying away, raising fears that much of the 2020 travel season may be severely diminished. "It's not just China. Travelers from other countries are also postponing or canceling visits not just to Singapore, but we are seeing evidence across Asia, Keith Tan, chief executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, told reporters. Some tourism officials says the market is resilient and may well bounce back once the virus is contained. Still, as the number of total confirmed cases surpassed 40,000 this week, many worried that the slump would continue for months. "We forecast an overall decline of up to 50 percent in the number of bookings for the first half of the year, compared with same period last year," Alicia Seah, director of communications at travel agency Dynasty Travel, based in Singapore. Read also: Cruise ship rejected by four nations runs out of options Sharp decline Tourism-heavy economies like Thailand, which derives around 12 percent of its GDP from foreign visitors, are especially affected by travel restrictions and warnings. "Today the impact has not been just on Chinese tourists but on all tourists," Chairat Triratanajaraspon, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told Reuters. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has predicted a revenue loss of 95 billion baht ($3.05 billion) from fewer Chinese tourists from January to April, but that number could rise higher as travelers from other countries are now staying away. The decline has been swift and sharp. From Feb. 1 to Feb. 10, arrivals booked by the Association of Thai Travel Agents dropped by were down 71 percent from last year overall and 99 percent from China, according to the associations. Chairat said 50-60 percent of the usual 3 million expected tourists for February are expected to now stay away, adding "This situation is likely to continue into March." In Indonesia, the tourist island of Bali alone has seen 20,000 cancellations, said Hariyadi Sukamdani, head of Indonesias hotels and restaurants association. He did not know how many were from Chinese tourists or from other countries, but he said there is concern of a sustained slump because from now until April is usually when bookings for summer holidays usually are made. Read also: Airlines suspend China flights due to coronavirus outbreak "In the toilet" In Vietnam, cancellations are coming in for well into the year. The official state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA) said last week that many inbound tours to Vietnam scheduled for March and April had been canceled. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism estimated the damage to Vietnams tourism sector from the virus will range from $5.9 billion to $7.7 billion, VN Express reported on Friday. A tourism source in Hanoi, who did not wish to be identified given the sensitivity of the situation, said hotels were suffering from a 20 percent drop in budget in terms of occupancy. "It's really pretty bad. We are re-forecasting now. But February and March are of course in the toilet. Thai tour operator Virat Chatturaputpitak, managing director of Marwin Tours (Asia) Co. Ltd., said he has seen a reduction of tourists from Canada, the United States, and also the United Kingdom. "For me, the Easter outlook in April is also not good," Virat said. "We simply don't know how long it will take to contain this virus and every day the news of more infection mean more people are reluctant to travel," he added. Topics : travelers tourism Tourist coronavirus Asia